Industry News

JADESTONE Energy has posted record cash from operations, as revenue soared four-fold to US$171.7 million (A$254.2 million) in the first six months of the calendar year, compared to just $35 million in the first half of 2018.

Profit after tax for the six-month period to June 30 was $30.9 million, a major achievement considering the company made a loss of $21.5 million in the first half of 2018. 

The Singapore-headquartered mid-cap's strong results were driven by its acquisition of the Montara oilfield off Western Australia, which once online more than tripled the company's production over the last six months.  

Overall production from Montara and the nearby Stag fields reached 13,315 barrels of oil per day in the second quarter, despite a shutdown due to cyclone Veronica in April.   

With increased production, sales also lifted to a total of 2.3 million barrels over the six months, at an average realised price of $71.7/bbl.  

"We are building a material business that is strongly cash flow generative, while providing growth through organic investment, both within our existing producing assets in Australia, as well as the new gas developments in Vietnam," CEO Paul Blakeley said.  

"Our balance sheet is in excellent shape, with net debt effectively eliminated by mid-year, just nine months since we closed the Montara acquisition with a US$120 million RBL financing arrangement." 

Jadestone was formally awarded operatorship for the Montara field in early this month, but had effectively operated the field since acquiring it from PTTEP last year.  

It conducted a riserless light well intervention program in June to restore gas lift to the Skua-11 and Swift-2 wells as well as perforated additional sands in the Swallow-1 well.  

The work delivered rapid payback and marked the company's first major investment in the field this year.  

Jadestone planned to drill an additional infill well, H6, at Montara in the latter half of this calendar year; however, its guidance noted a tightening rig market would likely push the drilling of the well into next year. 

Source: Energy News Bulletin

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GLOBAL oilfield service provider and tech developer TechnipFMC will separate into two independent, publicly-traded companies following a unanimous decision by the board of directors.

It has been two years since the formation of TechnipFMC following an initial merger of Technip and FMC Technologies, however on Monday the company said it would spin off its engineering and construction operations into a separate company called SpinCo.

SpinCo will focus on LNG, downstream and petrochemicals, building on the legacy Technip position in those areas.

The second company, RemainCo, will be a technology and services provider focused on energy development.

According to analysis from Wood Mackenzie, the demerger is a "bold move" that is less about ‘correcting' something but a "proactive positioning move for a longer-term market shift."

"The upstream company, termed RemainCo for now, will be in essence, the legacy FMC Technologies' equipment and services business, plus Technip's subsea, umbilical, riser and flowline manufacturing business," WoodMac principle analyst Mhairidh Evans said.

"The demerger provides focus and flexibility for each of its divisions, which were already fairly distinct. We'd expect the subsea division to build on its market leadership - perhaps by considering other acquisitions or strategic directions that the wider TechnipFMC couldn't support."

Source: Energy News Bulletin

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JOINT VENTURE partners Falcon Oil & Gas (30%) and operator Origin Energy (70%) have received approval to drill the planned Kyalla 117 N2 horizontal appraisal well.

Falcon said yesterday afternoon that its plans to drill, frac, and test the well had been approved by the Northern Territory Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

According to Falcon well pad construction is now underway and civil works is nearing completion. Drilling is expected to begin as soon as next month.

Kyalla 117 will be drilled to a vertical depth of 1,875 metres, before drilling horizontally targeting the Kyalla shale liquids rich gas fairway for a further 3,000m.

It will then be fracced over 20 stages.

 "Today's announcement relating to the approval of the Kyalla 117 N2 well EMP targeting the Kyalla shale liquids rich gas fairway is an exciting development for Falcon shareholders. We look forward to the commencement of drilling operations," Falcon CEO Philip O'Quigley said.

The approval from the Northern Territory government is the final hurdle the joint venture needed to jump over before the drilling campaign could get underway.

Kyalla 117 N2 will be the second horizontal well following Amungee NW1-H in 2016 which was completed just before the moratorium was introduced.

Kyalla 117 N2 is the first of two wells under stage 2 of Origin's farm-in with Falcon. Origin plans to drill and frac a second well before the wet season returns in November.

Source: Energy News Bulletin

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ENVIRONMENTAL activists in Western Australia and the Northern Territory are stepping up their campaign against fraccing following state and Territory government decisions to relax moratoria on operations.

Following yesterday's announcement that the Territory government had granted Origin Energy and venture partner Falcon Oil & Gas permission to finally drill and frac the Kyalla 117 N2 appraisal well, Lock the Gate hit out at Origin calling them a "dodgy gas company" which showed ‘total disregard" for the health and safety of Territorians.

The JV was in fact granted permission August 13 but the news onl;y made public yesterday. 

"Many of the data sheets for the chemicals Origin plans to use are data deficient, stating there is ‘no data available'," Lock the Gate spokesperson Graeme Sawyer said.

"There are also a number of threatened and endangered bird species, such as the Gouldian Finch, that could inadvertently drink from open air toxic sludge ponds - the so called mitigation measures put forward are not enough."  

"The Pepper Inquiry recommended that these pits be covered, yet the government has caved to industry lobbying and allowed Origin to leave them open anyway."

In Perth, veteran Frack Free campaigner Jane Hammond hit the streets of the CBD with a small group of activists to gather signatures on a petition that called on the WA McGowan government to reinstate a complete moratorium on fraccing.

Source: Energy News Bulletin

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Origin Energy Environment Management Plan approved for onshore gas drilling, stimulation and well testing in the Beetaloo Sub-basin

Minister for Environment and Natural Resources, Eva Lawler, has approved Origin Energy’s Environment Management Plan (EMP) for onshore gas drilling, hydraulic fracture stimulation and well testing for Exploration Permit 117 (EP117) N2 in the Beetaloo Sub-basin.

The approved EMP was prepared with reference to the NT Petroleum (Environment) Regulations 2016 and the Code of Practice: Onshore Petroleum Activities in the Northern Territory.

This is the first EMP to be approved for hydraulic fracturing activities since all 31 pre-exploration recommendations within the Hydraulic Fracturing Inquiry report were completed in July 2019.

The scope of the EMP covers the regulated activities required to enable Origin to drill, hydraulic fracture stimulate, test, maintain and decommission a horizontal petroleum exploration well at one location (N2-1) within the 2019-2024 period.

A total of 6,311 public submissions, including 275 from Territorians, were received and considered by the Minister in making her decision. The Minister also obtained advice from the independent Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority to inform her decision.

The approved EMP and the Minister’s statement of reasons can now be viewed at www.denr.nt.gov.au/onshore-gas

To read the Implementation Plan or access additional information, please visit hydraulicfracturing.nt.gov.au
To read the Inquiry report and recommendations, please visit frackinginquiry.nt.gov.au
Or you can contact the Hydraulic Fracturing Inquiry Implementation Taskforce at hydraulic.fracturing@nt.gov.au

FLOW control and general service provider Flowserve has been awarded a five-year maintenance contract for Shell Australia’s Prelude FLNG facility offshore Western Australia.

Flowserve will support Prelude from its recently refurbished Quick Response Centre in Darwin to provide the maintenance services, and said today it was looking to substantially increase its workforce from local pools to meet the contract.

"Flowserve values the successful projects and relationships we have developed with Shell through the years," Flowserve CEON Scott Rowe said.

"We look forward to helping maximize the uptime and productivity of the Prelude facility with highly responsive maintenance and repair services."

It said today it has expanded its capabilities to include repair services for centrifugal pumps and heat exchangers.

Flowserve did not reveal the financial value of the contract.

It will also expand its repair services to cater for fans and blowers and hydraulic power units.

Flowserve said it would look to increase its indigenous workforce and offer skills training to lead to permanent employment opportunities.

Shell Australia was not able to confirm the scope of the work, but reiterated the importance of using a local workforce.

Source: Energy News Bulletin

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Australia’s energy technology ecosystem is being supported with the announcement of $2 million in new funding to help drive the future of energy resources innovation.

The funding, which is being provided by NERA (National Energy Resources Australia), was announced today by Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, the Hon. Karen Andrews MP and Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Matt Canavan.

NERA Chief Executive Miranda Taylor said the funding will support industry-led projects that can strengthen Australia's position as a global hub for excellence in energy resources innovation.

“We know collaborative partnerships between industry and innovators can produce truly transformational results, and NERA is committed to continuing to support our sector adopt and adapt to new technologies that generate competitive industry outcomes, efficiencies and deliver value and jobs across the nation,” Ms Taylor said.

“Through this new project funding announcement, we hope to work with local innovators to build their capacity and capability in fields of robotics and artificial intelligence, which are critical to improving the future productivity and safety of the energy resources sector, as well as developing transferable skills and technologies with benefits across the Australian economy,” Ms Taylor said.

“By continuing our sector-wide initiatives, we can unlock more than $10 billion in new value and achieve our vision of Australia as a global energy powerhouse, a sought-after destination for investment and the leading source of knowledge and solutions.”

NERA’s $2 million future technology project fund is open to all applicants who meet the Expression of Interest guidelines, and NERA is encouraging applicants with projects/initiatives that have one or more of the following focus areas impacting the energy resources sector:

·         Remote operations, robotics and Artificial Intelligence

·         Unconventional gas technologies

·         Hydrogen

·         Decommissioning

Project proponents who can demonstrate innovative approaches, clear commercialisation applications and clear project timeframes should consider applying.

Projects must have matched industry funding, be undertaken in Australia and address one or more of the Knowledge Priorities identified in the NERA Sector Competitiveness Plan — a strategic roadmap for Australia's oil, gas, coal and uranium industries and value chains.

Applications must be received by 30 September 2019. The funding is part of NERA’s collaborative $15.6 million Project Fund. For more information, visit www.nera.org.au.

INPEX chief outlines road ahead following meeting with Prime Minister Morrison and Darwin board

ENERGY News spoke with INPEX President and CEO Takayuki Ueda last week following his meeting with Prime Minister Scott Morrison to discuss the future of the company in Australia. This comes as the company's board held its annual meeting in Darwin, the first time it has been held outside of Japan.

"We are using this opportunity to showcase our achievements here to our directors, many of whom are visiting Australia for the first time, and to discuss opportunities to expand our business here," Mr Ueda said.

"Ichthys LNG is the crown jewel in our global portfolio of projects.

"Ichthys is vital to the future of INPEX. Australia is very important in this regard and Ichthys LNG is our pride and joy."

INPEX announced the final investment decision for the project in January 2012, with the first LNG cargo departing the Ichthys LNG onshore facilities at Bladin Point near Darwin on 22 October 2018.

Since that first cargo, more than 100 cargoes of all product types (LNG, LPG and condensate) have safely departed Australia - with each cargo supporting a brighter future for communities here in Australia and across the globe.

"We are currently focused on the smooth ramping up of our Ichthys LNG onshore facilities, but at the same time there is potential to expand production in Australia through onshore and offshore opportunities" he said.

 "We consider surrounding areas in the vicinity of the Ichthys Field to be highly prospective. In the future, offshore gas could be accessed through the five tie-in points that are strategically located along the Ichthys Gas Export Pipeline.

"We have room for up to four additional LNG processing trains in Darwin. For example, gas to feed an expansion train could come from the onshore Beetaloo Basin, or large gas fields in the offshore Bonaparte Basin.

"Of course, any new gas find would need to be commercially viable to support the development of a third train at Bladin Point."

Recently securing agreement from the Indonesian government for the Abadi LNG Project Plan of Development, INPEX is also looking to this huge development as a cornerstone of future expansion and production in the region.

Source: Energy News Bulletin

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CANBERRA has approved the Timor-Leste maritime border treaty, with the legislation to end the decades-long dispute finally passing both houses of parliament on Monday night after Dili signed it into effect last week.

The treaty was first signed in March last year by both nations' foreign ministers at United Nations headquarters in New York and apart from demarcating a final and agreed boundary also mandates how revenue from oil and gas fields, including the giant Sunrise gas field are carved up between the two.  

In passing the treaty parliament made way for Prime Minister Scott Morrison to officially sign it at his next visit to Timor-Leste next month.

 "This treaty is an historic achievement for Australia and Timor-Leste and its implementation is firmly in Australia's national interest," foreign minister Marise Payne said in parliament last night.

"Through this treaty, Australia and Timor-Leste have settled a long-running dispute over our maritime boundaries, agreed upon a pathway for the development of Greater Sunrise and laid the foundation for a new chapter in our bilateral relations."

Under the treaty Timor-Leste will hold the rights to the largest share or revenue from the Greater Sunrise field and will pocket 80% of the revenue from the field should the gas be processed in Australia and 70% if it is processed onshore Timor-Leste.

Morrison said the parliament's decision to approve the treaty would establish a "stable legal framework" for the development of oil and gas in the Timor Sea.

"It upholds Australia's commitment to international rules and the peaceful resolution of disputes, and reflects our full commitment to the independence, sovereignty and economic sustainability of Timor-Leste," Morrison said.

"With the passage of the treaty's implementing legislation today, Australia is now ready to partner with Timor-Leste to jointly develop the Greater Sunrise gas fields for the benefit of both countries."

The Timor-Leste government has been pushing to have the gas processed at an LNG plant on its southern coast.

Source: Energy News Bulletin

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THE Northern Territory finally approved the first environmental plan since lifting its fraccing moratorium early last year, giving Santos the greenlight for its two-well campaign in the Beetaloo Sub-basin for this year’s dry season.

It has cheered industry but those with unconventional NT acreage are watching especially closely, hoping to ramp up drilling campaigns of their own; however, much land is now designated reserved and off limits permanently to exploration the road isn't clear yet.

Yesterday in its quarterly Origin Energy said it expects drilling approval this month and to that end preparation work continues for its two planned horizontal appraisal wells this year, with a water extraction licence already in hand for its well to target the Kyalla liquids-rich gas play.

Water bores have been drilled and the access road and well pad construction are near built.

Meanwhile for its Velkerri play the water license is in place, while the water board and access roads have been approved, it is just waiting on well pad civils and drilling approval, but did not give an expected date.

Earlier week the Reg Nelson-led Vintage Energy told the market it expected some delays to its planned campaign in the Northern Territory thanks to conservation issues and may now have to wait until next year's dry season.

Nelson likes the distant onshore Bonaparte Basin acreage so much he bought it twice. Once, when heading up Beach Energy in 2014 and then from Beach this February.

Blue Energy, which has NT onshore holdings along with its Bowen and Galilee basin permits in Queensland, said yesterday in its quarterly said it is watching the space closely, especially since Santos was greenlit in July.

Blue has three exploration permits with work permits that have been suspended until February next year.

"The main Beetaloo Basin Operators, Santos and Origin are "road testing" the new Government approvals process for Environmental Management Plans plus the approvals process to drill, frac and test oil and gas wells, which now sit in two different Government Departments," it said,

"If Origin and Santos can successfully drill, frac and test their wells this dry season, it will go some-way to establish the new process as effective, and give the broader industry some confidence that the new legislation and approval process is navigable in a reasonable timeframe.

In its quarterly of yesterday Empire Energy it notes shortly after the end of the June quarter the NT Department of Environment and Natural Resources had accepted the company's 2D seismic environmental management plan for final assessment.

Empire is hoping to gain a better understanding of the same thing both Santos, and Origin Energy and joint venture partner Falcon Oil & Gas are targeting: the Velkerri shale and Empire too thinks approval of Santos' plan has opened the way for drilling this year.

It noted that earlier this year the Federal budget allocated A$8.4 million for feasibility studies of the Beetaloo

"The Federal government recognises that the Beetaloo and McArthur basins have the potential to be a major source of cost-effective gas supply fir the critically supply constrained east coast gas market in coming years," it said.

Empire too will see some of its former acreage potentially off-limits to exploration but has made submissions to the government,

Importantly its "key near term" blocks EP127 and EP(A)188, which target the Velkerri will not affected and it said yesterday its "continuing to progress its exploration programs according to schedule".

Consultancy EnergyQuest has will be watching Santos' and Origin's upcoming campaigns too. Several months ago it published a rundown of wells to watch this year, putting the Beetaloo spuds at the top of its list.

"These are no ordinary onshore wells. Falcon Oil & Gas disclosed last month as part of a US$9 million capital raising that the gross estimated capex for stages 2 and 3 (a total of four wells drilled and fracture stimulated) was US$130 million," it said.  

"The wells in 2019 will go a long way to establishing whether the hype about the Beetaloo is justified. There is plenty of scepticism, due in part to disappointments with unconventional exploration in other Australian onshore basins." 

Source: Energy News Bulletin

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