ENERGY INDUSTRIES – AUSTRALIA

Santos makes major gas discovery off WA

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Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 17-Apr-19

Santos has had promising results from a drilling program at its Corvus-2 well in the WA-45-R permit, which it acquired via the takeover of Quadrant Energy. Wood Mackenzie has suggested that the Corvus-2 discovery may hold 2.5 trillion cubic feet of gas and 25 million barrels of condensates. Meanwhile, Oil Search has reported revenue of $US398.1m for the March quarter, which is 21 per cent lower than the three months to December. Production fell by three per cent, to 7.25 million barrels of oil equivalent.

CORPORATES
SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, OIL SEARCH LIMITED – ASX OSH, WOOD MACKENZIE

LNG Asia price slump irks east coast manufacturers

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Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 20 : 28-Mar-19

The Asian spot price of LNG has fallen to a three-year low of around $US4.50 per million British thermal units, which equates to about $6.30 per gigajoule. In contrast, the spot price in Sydney is trading at around $11.25/GJ. Some gas buyers have urged the federal government to intervene by imposing restrictions on Queensland’s LNG exporters, but Resources Minister Matthew Canavan says the best way to put downward pressure on domestic prices is to find new sources of supply.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, WESTON ENERGY, INCITEC PIVOT LIMITED – ASX IPL, CLAYPAVE PTY LTD, REMAPAK PTY LTD, WORRELLS SOLVENCY AND FORENSIC ACCOUNTANTS

WA ditches carbon offset rules

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Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 4 : 15-Mar-19

Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority has agreed to shelve new guidelines on emissions-intensive projects following intervention by the state government. Premier Mark McGowan stepped in following meetings with representatives of energy producers. The EPA will undertake further consultation regarding its proposed rules on carbon offsetting for new industrial projects. Oil and gas producers had expressed concern that the proposed guidelines would jeopardise a number of new projects in the state.

CORPORATES
WESTERN AUSTRALIA. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, CHEVRON CORPORATION, ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Carbon offsets threaten projects

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Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 17 & 20 : 14-Mar-19

The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority’s new guidelines on the carbon neutrality of resources projects continue to attract scrutiny. Macquarie Group has warned that the guidelines are likely to result in Woodside Petroleum’s Browse LNG project being delayed, and its modelling suggests that the cost of Browse could blow out by more than $US5bn. Woodside COO Meg O’Neill has told a conference in Perth that the EPA guidelines could jeopardise both the Browse and Scarborough projects, as well as the long-term future of the North West Shelf venture.

CORPORATES
WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, REPUTEX ENERGY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF MINES, INDUSTRY REGULATION AND SAFETY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, ADANI MINING PTY LTD, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, THE CHAMBER OF MINERALS AND ENERGY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED, BP PLC, ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC

US-China trade deal puts pressure on LNG exporters

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Original article by Glenda Korporaal
The Australian – Page: 20 : 12-Mar-19

China has sourced about 80 per cent of its LNG imports from Australia, Qatar, Malaysia and Indonesia over the last eight years. However, there is speculation that negotiations for a trade deal with the US could see China agree to significantly increase its LNG imports from the US. Any such deal could have major implications for Australia’s LNG exports to China, while other exports could also be affected if China agrees to ramp up its trade with the US.

CORPORATES
CHINA PETROLEUM AND CHEMICAL CORPORATION, CHENIERE ENERGY INCORPORATED, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, CHEVRON CORPORATION, PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED, CHINA NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Santos CEO comes out firing on Narrabri

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Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 27-Feb-19

New South Wales Opposition Leader Michael Daley says Labor will block Santos’s proposed Narrabri coal seam gas project if it wins the state election on 23 March. He has warned that the $3bn project presents an "unacceptable risk" to water resources, farming and indigenous communities. Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher has stressed that protecting the environment and water resources is a priority for the oil and gas group. He adds that failure to develop the state’s gas resources will result in higher gas and electricity prices, as well as the loss of manufacturing jobs and investment in the state.

CORPORATES
SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED

Gas shortage to hit within three years

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Original article by Perry Williams
The Australian – Page: 19 & 22 : 27-Feb-19

EnergyQuest has forecast that states on the east coast of Australia will experience a shortage of gas by 2022, and they will have insufficient gas to meet peak demand by 2026. The consultancy has also warned that while Queensland will be able to increase supply to the east coast in the near-term, the state’s own production will begin to decline from 2025. EnergyQuest CEO Graeme Bethune says the expected shortfall means importing LNG is likely to be the best option. The looming gas shortage is also forecast to result in gas prices remaining high over the long-term.

CORPORATES
ENERGYQUEST PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIAN ENERGY MARKET OPERATOR LIMITED, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED

Oil Search says gas output will double in PNG

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Original article by Perry Williams
The Australian – Page: 22 : 20-Feb-19

Oil Search has posted a 2018 net profit of $US341.2m, which is 13 per cent higher than previously, with revenue up six per cent to $US1.535bn. A sharp rise in the price of LNG and crude oil during the year helped offset a decline in full-year production due to an earthquake in Papua New Guinea early in the year. Oil Search still aims to double LNG production in PNG by 2024. Shareholders will receive a final dividend of $US0.085 per share, and a full-year payout of $US0.105 a share.

CORPORATES
OIL SEARCH LIMITED – ASX OSH, EXXONMOBIL CORPORATION, TOTAL SA, RBC CAPITAL MARKETS

Beach lifts profit guidance as more growth tipped

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Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 14-Feb-19

Beach Energy has posted a 2081-19 interim net profit of $282.9m and underlying earnings of $278.8m. Sales rose by 169 per cent to $1.057bn, and Beach has upgraded its full-year EBITDA forecast in response to its strong performance in the first half. CEO Matt Kay says the oil and gas group will consider acquisitions, but he stresses that any deals would need to add value for shareholders. Shares in Beach closed 5.3 per cent higher at $1.78 on 13 February.

CORPORATES
BEACH ENERGY LIMITED – ASX BPT, LATTICE ENERGY LIMITED, SEVEN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX SVW, BP PLC, CUE ENERGY RESOURCES NL – ASX CUE, JP MORGAN AUSTRALIA LIMITED, CITIGROUP PTY LTD

BHP’s $1.3bn to lift US oil projects

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Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 20 : 14-Feb-19

Production at the Atlantis oil field in the Gulf of Mexico will increase by about 38,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day following BHP’s decision to invest $US696m ($976.3m) in the third stage of the project. BHP will also spend $US256m on drilling an additional appraisal well at its Trion project off the coast of Mexico. The capital investment is part of BHP’s strategy to increase its conventional oil and gas output.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, BP PLC