Each one in plain English, with the numbers worked through for a shareholder.
20 Feb 2006investor presentation● Neutral
Presentation of the half-year results, repeating known figures: profit $194 million, up 14%, and a 9 cent dividend. It states Otway Gas Project is on target for commissioning in June 2006 and Kupe drilling is planned for the first half of 2007.
Origin and Contact Energy agreed to merge via a dual-listed company structure, ContactOrigin, with a combined value over A$7 billion. Origin shareholders would hold 75.7%, Contact minorities 24.3%. Origin's 51.4% Contact stake is amalgamated. Subject to regulatory, court and shareholder approval.
Half-year profit to December 2005 rose 14% to $193.7 million on revenue of $3,008 million, helped by a full six months of Contact. Interim dividend is 9 cents, up 29%. Full-year earnings still expected 10-15% above restated prior year; BassGas full output in fourth quarter.
Origin's share registrar, Link Market Services, moved its Sydney street address to Level 12, 680 George Street, effective 13 February 2006. Administrative notice only.
Partner Comet Ridge began drilling core holes at Mahalo, a Queensland coal seam gas prospect. The Mahalo 2 test is delayed to mid-year for a more capable rig. Comet Ridge would hold 40%, with Santos and Origin 30% each.
ARC's Snottygobble 1 flowed gas at a maximum of about 0.5 million cubic feet a day on test, which ARC's managing director called 'more like a sniffle than a sneeze'. ARC will pause onshore drilling until mid-year, and Origin, a 50% partner in the permits, did not take part in the well.
Kyeen Creek 1 reached 2,587 metres and found only thin shows with low permeability. It is being plugged and abandoned, a dry hole. The rig moves to the Merriwee oil well in PL14. This resolves the earlier weak Basal Rewan test.
Origin notified the ASX that it will announce half-year results for the period to 31 December 2005 on 20 February 2006. No financial figures are included.
ARC's Snottygobble 1 hit the Dongara Sandstone at about 3,028 metres with elevated gas readings over about 12 metres. Logging tools were not working, so significance is unclear. Origin is not participating.
Origin forwarded Contact Energy's notice that it will release half-year results on 20 February 2006. Origin holds 51.36% of Contact. No financial results are included.
3 Feb 2006asset acquisition disposition▲ GoodMajor
Origin won two offshore Northland Basin exploration permits in New Zealand (PEP 38618 and 38619). It holds 50% as operator, with OMV holding the rest. Seismic surveys are being planned.
Kyeen Creek 1 tested the Basal Rewan Sandstone at 2,347 to 2,358 metres. Gas reached surface but the rock has low permeability, and no main flow occurred. The well was drilling at 2,411 metres.
Operator Queensland Gas Company welcomed Origin as partner in Argyle. It says Origin's $70 million purchase carries a further $20 million of development spending for the Incitec Pivot supply contract starting in 2007.
1 Feb 2006asset acquisition disposition▲ GoodMajor
Origin agreed to buy Pangaea's stakes in the Argyle coal seam gas project in Queensland for $70 million. The 40.625% Argyle interest carries 117 PJ of 2P reserves, about 30 PJ already contracted to Incitec Pivot. It sits next to Origin's Talinga project. Subject to approvals.
Partner NZ Oil & Gas (15% of Kupe) re-released the news that ENSCO won the three-well Kupe drilling contract. It adds that a revised development budget will now be completed. Final investment decision still targeted for the first half of 2006.
ENSCO won the contract to drill three development wells at the Kupe gas field in New Zealand, starting in the first half of 2007. Origin holds 50% as operator. A final investment decision is expected in the first half of 2006, with production in 2008.
December quarter: production steady at 19.8 PJe, with revenue down 6% to $99.1 million. Origin lifted its BassGas stake by 5% and farmed into Kenya's L8 and L9 blocks. A Moomba insurance claim settled at $30.5 million to Origin.
Partner AWE re-released Origin's BassGas update: start-up delayed about a month, with product sales from March and full production from late April 2006. AWE holds 30%. Nothing new beyond Origin's own release.
Origin says the BassGas Project start-up is delayed about one month. Product sales are now expected from March and full production from late April 2006. Origin holds 37.5% as operator plus 5% through a subsidiary.
ARC's Snottygobble 1 well, which Origin is not participating in, was drilling ahead at 1,870 metres. The target Dongara Sandstone is expected at about 2,865 metres. No result yet.
Origin's weekly report shows Kyeen Creek 1 started on 18 January 2006 in the Surat Basin (ATP470P) and reached 399 metres. Ausam funds about 68% of well costs to lift its stake to 45%, cutting Origin to 49.5% after the well.
ARC Energy began drilling the Snottygobble 1 gas well in the Perth Basin's L1 licence, a 50/50 permit with Origin. Origin declined to join, so ARC carries the well alone as a sole-risk project. Target is about 20 BCF (P50).