Westside Emerges as New Force in Coal Seam Gas with Finalisation of Dawson Acquisition (Australia)

WestSide Corporation Limited  and joint venture partner Mitsui E&P Australia Pty Ltd (MEPAU) have emerged as a new force in Queensland coal seam gas (CSG) after today finalising their acquisition of the Dawson CSG fields.

WestSide’s $26.8 million acquisition of its 51% operating stake transforms it from a gas explorer into one of Queensland’s largest dedicated ASX-listed CSG producers and operators.

The change in ownership has necessitated a renaming of the gas field which will now be known as the Meridian SeamGas field.

The name reflects the 1500 ‘Meridian Line’ which passes through the gas fields.

WestSide Chairman and CEO Mr Angus Karoll said he was extremely pleased to confirm the completion of the purchase which was announced on 30 December 2009 when initial agreements were reached.

“This acquisition is the most significant event since WestSide listed in 2007, transforming us from an explorer into a gas producer and operator in joint venture with Mitsui, a global leader in LNG,” Mr Karoll said.

“WestSide is extremely positive about our prospects now that we have completed what we believe is a very well-priced purchase of an asset that has enormous potential.

” Mr Karoll said WestSide and Mitsui would now pursue an expansion program targeting a significant increase in field production and gas reserves.

“The ultimate goal for the joint venture is to export LNG and to supply new domestic contracts from 2015 when the current supply contracts that are in place will finish,” Mr Karoll said.

Mr Karoll said a WestSide team was now operating the Meridian SeamGas field and had been onsite for some weeks familiarising themselves with the operations to ensure a seamless transition.

WestSide holds a 51% operating interest in the Meridian SeamGas fields and MEPAU holds the remaining 49%. The assets were purchased from coal miners Anglo American (Anglo) and Mitsui Moura Investment Pty Ltd (MMI) respectively.

The joint acquisition followed a decision by MMI (which was a 49 per cent partner), in concert with MEPAU, to waive its pre-emptive rights to acquire Anglo’s stake in the producing CSG field and negotiate separate agreements with WestSide.

The Meridian SeamGas fields have certified Proved (1P) gas reserves of 60 petajoules (PJ), 186 PJ of Proved and Probable (2P) reserves and 334 PJ of Proved, Probable and Possible (3P) reserves.

WestSide raised $64.4 million in equity through an entitlement offer (completed in May) to fund the purchase and planned field expansion, attracting two significant new cornerstone investors – New Hope Corporation Ltd (NHC), through its wholly-owned subsidiary Uniford Pty Ltd, and Infrastructure Capital Group Ltd (ICG), through its managed entity Energy Infrastructure Trust (EIT).

“The commitment from New Hope and EIT, along with the significant interest from the investment community has validated WestSide’s investment in these assets”, said Mr Karoll.

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Source: westsidecorporation , July 6, 2010