· Company Pleased with Support Received from Prime Minister and
Minister for Petroleum and Energy
· InterOil LNG Project Expected to Generate Competitive Economic Returns and
Create Thousands of New Jobs and Economic Benefits for
· Independent Resource Evaluations from GLJ Petroleum Consultants Ltd. and
Knowledge Reservoir Provided to
PORT MORESBY, Mon Sept 7: INTEROIL Corporation today confirmed it would develop a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in PNG soon to underpin its commitment as a long-haul investment and development partner.
InterOil and its joint venture partners, Petromin PNG Holdings Limited and Pacific LNG Operations Ltd., have submitted a project agreement to the government of
The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare and the Minister for Petroleum and Energy, William Duma, have stated their support for the proposed project and associated agreement.
As previously announced, the proposed LNG project targets a $6.0 billion two-train LNG facility, with each train capable of producing approximately 4 million tons of LNG per annum. Current plans call for first production of LNG towards the end of 2014 or beginning of 2015.
“We are pleased with the support that our proposed project and associated agreement have received from key government officials,” said Phil Mulacek, Chief Executive Officer of InterOil.
“By creating thousands of new jobs and other economic benefits, InterOil’s project has the potential to provide significant prosperity to the people of
The proposed LNG project is expected to have competitive investment returns compared to other projects under consideration in the region.
In particular, the high total volume of liquid content of the hydrocarbon resources estimated at the Elk/Antelope field as well as existing infrastructure in place, including the 99-year lease on government owned land for the LNG facility, deep-water harbour rights, jetty system with two berths for loading and off-loading ships, electricity, housing and roadways support the cost-competitiveness of the project and are expected to enhance investment returns when compared with other projects under consideration in the region.
Additionally, InterOil’s wells in the Elk/Antelope field are located in moderate foothills terrain, close to the coast and LNG plant site at
At least 5,000 jobs are expected to be created at peak construction of the InterOil facility.
Economic returns from the project are expected to help fund public infrastructure and community services in
In addition to the previously noted support received from the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea and the Minister for Petroleum and Energy, the proposed project and associated agreement are also supported by other key members of the
To support the project agreement, InterOil has recently provided two separate independent resource evaluations, one developed by GLJ Petroleum Consultants Ltd. and one developed by Knowledge Reservoir.
“Based on two separate independent resource evaluations prepared for InterOil and recently provided to Papua New Guinea officials, as well as the Company’s own results attained to date, InterOil believes that the likelihood of further successful exploration efforts for more gas and gas condensate, and for the potential discovery of oil in commercial quantities, have increased,” continued Mr Mulacek.
“Like the Prime Minister, we recognize how important this project is to the development and reputation of
About the Elk/Antelope Field
InterOil has three exploration licenses surrounding the Elk/Antelope field onshore in
Since late 2006, InterOil has drilled three gas or gas and condensate wells in the Elk/Antelope field and, in so doing, has established its wells as the first, second and third highest flow rates for onshore gas wells in
After preliminary testing for several weeks in March 2009, the Company’s Antelope-1 well flowed at 382 million cubic feet of natural gas per day (MMcfd) with 5,000 barrels of condensate per day (BCPD) for a total 68,700 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOEPD).
GLJ Petroleum Consultants Ltd., an independent qualified reserves evaluator, prepared an evaluation of the potential resources of gas and condensate for the Elk/Antelope field, effective as at December 31, 2008 (the “GLJ Evaluation”) in accordance with the definitions and guidelines in the COGE Handbook and the Canadian Securities Administrators’ National Instrument 51-101 Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities.
A summary of the GLJ evaluation is included in InterOil’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2008, a copy of which is located at www.sedar.com.
Additional data from the drilling of the Antelope 1 well has been obtained since December 31, 2008, which data is included in the evaluation prepared by Knowledge Reservoir of the potential resources of gas and condensate for the Elk/Antelope field, effective as at March 31, 2009.
Knowledge Reservoir is not an independent qualified reserve evaluator, as such term is defined in NI 51-101.
Based on these evaluations, as well as Company results attained to date, InterOil believes that the likelihood of further successful exploration efforts for new gas and gas condensate, and for the potential discovery of oil in commercial quantities, has increased.
About InterOil
InterOil Corporation is developing a vertically integrated energy business whose primary focus is
InterOil’s assets consist of petroleum licenses covering about 4.6 million acres, an oil refinery, and retail and commercial distribution facilities, all located in Papua New Guinea, where the Company has invested more than $2 billion kina to date.
In addition, InterOil is a shareholder in a joint venture established to construct an LNG plant on a site adjacent to InterOil’s refinery in
InterOil’s common shares trade on the NYSE in US dollars. The Company is headquartered in
Investor Contacts for InterOil:
Wayne Andrews
V. P. Capital Markets
The Woodlands, TX
Phone: +1-281-292-1800
Anesti Dermedgoglou
Phone: +61 7 4046 4600
Media Contact for InterOil:
Ed Trissel/Andrea Priest
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
Phone: +1-212-355-4449
For further in formation in PNG please contact
Susuve Laumaea
Senior Manager Media Relations/Public Affairs (PNG)
InterOil Corporation
Ph: (675) 321 7040
Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com or slaumaea@digicelpacific.blackberry.com
So, what are the odds Interoil has their LNG plant up on hold?
ReplyDeleteAlso, could you share your thoughts on why this kind of political delay would be anything but bad for PNG?
I would seem only natural anybody thinking of investment in other mining / exploration to be given pause by such move. Why would anyone spend millions of dollars exploring for resources in PNG if the government will not allow them to monetize their work?
Seems very very counter productive.