Origin: APLNG 75 pct complete

Origin Energy said that the Australia Pacific LNG project is progressing well with the Upstream component of the project approximately 76 percent complete and the Downstream component 75 per cent complete.

“Australia Pacific LNG remains on track to deliver first LNG in mid-2015. During the past quarter, 141 Phase 1 development wells were drilled, bringing the total to 821, and Condabri Central Train 1 gas processing facility was commissioned,” Origin Chief Executive Officer LNG, David Baldwin said.

For the year ended 30 June 2014, Origin recorded production of 142 PJe, a 15 percent increase on the prior year, and a 32 percent increase in revenues to $1,122 million. Production during the June quarter increased by 8 percent compared with the March quarter while sales volumes and revenues rose by 12 per cent and 11 per cent respectively.

Origin Chief Executive Officer Upstream, Paul Zealand said, “Origin’s increased annual production and revenue results can be directly attributed to investments made in prior periods, with improved asset availability driving higher contributions from Otway, Kupe and BassGas assets.”

During the past 12 months, Origin successfully added to its overall reserves position. At 30 June 2014, Origin’s Proved plus Probable (2P) reserves (including its 37.5 per cent share of Australia Pacific LNG reserves) totalled 6,473 PJe, representing a 4 percent increase on the prior year net of production.

Australia Pacific LNG’s 2P reserves increased by 709 PJe during the year to 14,091 PJe and 3P reserves increased by 1,304 PJe to 17,459 PJe. Origin’s 37.5 per cent share of Australia Pacific LNG’s 2P reserves was 5,284 PJe, an increase of 266 PJe. The increase in Australia Pacific LNG’s 2P reserves was driven by the project’s exploration and appraisal program and extensive development drilling as part of the Phase 1 project.

Excluding Australia Pacific LNG, Origin more than replaced its 2014 production through additions to its 2P reserves position, primarily at its Ironbark CSG field in Queensland, which increased by 94 PJe following favourable appraisal well drilling results.

“A particularly pleasing feature of the past quarter was Origin’s completion of farm-in agreements in the Cooper and Beetaloo Basins as well as being successfully awarded new exploration acreage in the Bonaparte Basin subsequent to quarter end. In addition, Origin continues to progress its planned acquisition of Karoon Gas’s Browse Basin exploration permits, WA-315-P and WA-398-P,” Zealand said.

Given its growing portfolio of exploration opportunities within Australia, the company’s international exploration activities were reviewed and it was decided not to seek a new Production Sharing Contract for the Kenya acreage, and to progress the relinquishment of the Botswana acreage. The $25 million capitalised against Kenya and Botswana is likely to be expensed.

In addition, an evaluation of the Caravel-1 exploration well in New Zealand’s Canterbury Basin has deemed it uncommercial. As a result, an additional $41 million in expenditure relating to the well is likely to be expensed.

Press Release, July 31, 2014; Image: Origin