2004

Seismic ship here in January for Pogo's 1100 sq km 3D programme

23 December 2004 - US independent Pogo Producing Company is to begin an approximately 1100 sq km 3D seismic acquisition programme in its three offshore north Taranaki permits early in January.

Swift Energy to drill three more Kauri wells in first quarter 2005

17 December 2004 - Swift Energy New Zealand Ltd plans to drill three more appraisal wells in its Kauri field in southern onshore Taranaki in the first quarter of 2005.

Ballance urea plant goes upstream with Swift in search of gas supply

17 December 2004 - Downstream fertiliser company Ballance Agri-Nutrients Ltd says it will drill for natural gas in Taranaki in 2005 to try to find replacement feedstock for its Kapuni urea manufacturing plant.

Vector completes purchase of controlling interest in NGC

17 December 2004 - Auckland-based energy networks company Vector Ltd has completed its purchase of a two-thirds interest in New Zealand's major gas pipeline company NGC Holdings Ltd from previous majority shareholder Australian Gas Light Company Ltd (AGL).

Westech takes stronger role in four coal seam gas permits

17 December 2004 - Denver-based petroleum exploration company Westech Energy New Zealand has taken a more prominent role in coal seam gas exploration by taking full ownership of four permits in the South Auckland, Waikato and King Country areas of the North Island.

Solid Energy to help fund rebuilding of key Spring Creek mine access bridge

15 December 2004 - Solid Energy New Zealand Ltd is to help fund a long rail bridge which will handle large volumes of coal from the underground Spring Creek coal mine on the West Coast of the South Island.

Government launches new Petroleum Minerals Programme

10 December 2004 - Associate Minister of Energy, Hon Harry Duynhoven, today announced that the Governor-General had given royal assent to the Minerals Programme for Petroleum 2005.

Seismic Survey to be acquired off east coast of North Island

10 December 2004 - A significant reconnaissance seismic survey will be acquired off the east coast of the North Island this summer. The survey will be acquired over an area of more than 100,000 square kilometres, between Te Kaka, in the eastern Bay of Plenty, and Castle Point. The survey will extend as far north as 360 km NNE of East Cape. It is expected that acquisition will commence in the first half of January, and take up to 6 weeks to complete.

Technology speeds response times

10 December 2004 - The passing of the Electronic Transactions Act 2002, which governs the use of electronic communications, has enabled Government Departments to examine their business practices in the field of communications with their clients. Having been through the telegram, telex and facsimile eras, Crown Minerals is now embracing websites, for both exhibiting and finding information, and emails for instantaneous transmissions.

Crown Minerals reflections on 2004

4 December 2004 - At the start of 2004, Crown Minerals emerged from a previous year that had seen major changes to the structure and personnel of the Group. With such extensive change it would have been unsurprising if this year had been one of steady consolidation. However, as the list of achievements below shows, 2004 has been a year of exciting developments and significant milestones.

Two new Solid Energy permits in Waikato

8 December 2004 - Coal producer Solid Energy has been granted two new exploration permits in the Waikato area, as the Christchurch-based company continues its widespread programme of coal exploration.

Release of Regulatory Impact Statement for the replacement Minerals Programme for Petroleum 2005

8 December 2004 - As part of the process for introducing the replacement Minerals Programme for Petroleum 2005, a Regulatory Impact Statement and Business Cost Compliance Study has been prepared.

Martha gold returns up 44% in quarter with higher 2004 yield forecast

8 December 2004 - Gold production from the Martha gold mine at Waihi rose 44% in the September quarter to 37,600 oz compared with the same period of 2003, the US-owned Newmont Mining Corporation has reported.

Contact improves future gas portfolio to give more breathing space

7 December 2004 - Contact Energy, one of the country’s largest energy suppliers, says the gas deals which it has signed in the past six months has lifted its forward gas entitlements by almost 60% providing valuable breathing space.

Heritage begins underground drilling programme at Karangahake

7 December 2004 - Heritage Gold NZ Ltd says results from exploration of the Dominion Knoll area of its Talisman gold prospect at Karangahake in the southern Coromandel, suggest the scale of the targets could be significantly increased.

Tap to target Miromiro-1 well next after Hihi-1A dry

6 December 2004 - Perth-based explorer Tap Oil Ltd plans to drill the second of five onshore Taranaki wells Miromiro-1 in PEP 38765 in early December after its first well Hihi-1A in PEP 38748 was plugged and abandoned after gas shows.

Austral Pacific reports good oil flow rates for Cheal-A4

1 December 2004 - Early production tests at Austral Pacific Energy Ltd’s Cheal-A4 appraisal well in the Cheal field (PEP 38738) onshore Taranaki, have flowed in the “hundreds of barrels per day” range.

Two Swift Kauri wells each test flow at 10 mmcfe/d of gas

29 November 2004 - Swift Energy has achieved its best results so far from the Kauri gas, condensate and oil field in onshore south Taranaki with two development wells each flow testing at up to 10 million cubic feet equivalent of gas per day.

Large land rig coming for onshore Pohokura as project contracts awarded

23 November 2004 - The largest land drilling rig ever used in New Zealand is to be imported to drill three production wells and a water disposal well next year from onshore for the 700bcf Pohokura gas field development in PMP 38154 offshore near New Plymouth.

OceanaGold finds thicker, richer Frasers gold extension at Macraes

23 November 2004 - OceanaGold Ltd reports some of the best results yet from drill programme for its underground Macraes gold mine extension in eastern Otago.

NZOG plans other developments offshore Taranaki

22 November 2004 - New Zealand Oil and Gas Ltd has spelled out in recent reports some offshore Taranaki petroleum prospects which it plans to drill in the near future.

Tui area oil fields commercially viable, partners report

22 November 2004 - The Tui area oil discoveries, involving the Tui-Amokura-Pateke oil fields in offshore Taranaki, have been determined as commercially viable to develop by the PEP 38460 joint venture partners.

NGC steps up gas output

11 November 2004 - NGC Holdings Ltd has expanded its Kapuni plant’s treated gas output by almost 55% in the past year, is planning a second gas pipeline from Huntly to Auckland and is experiencing fast growth in the LPG market.

Solid Energy's record sales growth continues

11 November 2004 - Coal producer Solid Energy Ltd’s coal sales were up 3% to a record 4.21 million tonnes in the year to June 2004 from 4.09 million tonnes the previous year.

Solid Energy outlines expansion plans at major mines

10 November 2004 - Solid Energy, in the company's 2004 annual report, has outlined plans for expansion of coal production from its Spring Creek and Stockton Plateau mines in the South Island and at its Huntly mines in the North Island.

Large tender of New Zealand petroleum permits planned for next year

5 November 2004 - The Crown Minerals Group of the Ministry of Economic Development announced today that the public tender for exploration bids in the offshore Northland basin would be extended and incorporated into a larger tender planned for next year.

New Reefton gold exploration planned as mine construction begins

4 November 2004 - OceanaGold has approved a NZ$6.6 million budget for more exploration in the Reefton Goldfield on the South Island West Coast, the company said in its September quarter report.

Australasia Gold takes fresh look at historic Lawrence gold deposit

4 November 2004 - The Wetherstones gold deposit near the town of Lawrence in Otago is being evaluated by Australasia Gold Ltd under its exploration permit EP 40 664, for potential mining.

OceanaGold find gold beyond second underground panel at Macraes

2 November 2004 - Step out drilling exploration beyond the existing large Frasers orebody at the Macraes gold mine has recorded significant and higher grade intercepts, OceanaGold says in its report for the September quarter.

Solid Energy and Toll sign 13 year agreement to rail more coal

2 November 2004 - Solid Energy New Zealand Ltd and rail operator Toll NZ Ltd have signed a 13-year heads of agreement for the transport of greater quantities of coal from the west coast of the South Island to the export port of Lyttleton.

Pike River coal mine access arrangement signed

1 November 2004 - A detailed access arrangement for the planned Pike River underground coking coal export mine north of Greymouth has been signed between the Pike River Coal Company Ltd and the Department of Conservation.

Technical data now downloadable from Crown Minerals website

29 October 2004 - Petroleum, minerals and coal technical data can now be downloaded from the Crown Minerals website through the online catalogue.

Mine Your Own Data - Online Services coming soon for industry

29 October 2004 - Crown Minerals announces plans for new information systems and technical reporting requirements.

Government releases revised draft replacement minerals programme for petroleum

29 October 2004 - The Associate Minister of Energy, the Hon Harry Duynhoven, today gave public notification of the revised Draft Replacement Minerals Programme for Petroleum.

Methanol price rises to NZ$350 per tonne

29 October 2004 - World methanol prices have risen strongly in a tight market with average realized prices at US$245 (NZ$351) per tonne for the September quarter, Methanex Corporation reports.

Origin Energy outlines Kupe Gas Project plans

28 October 2004 - Origin Energy, operator and major equity holder of the Kupe gas-condensate mining licence (PML 38146), has outlined proposed developments for the Kupe Gas Project.

London-based gold explorer HPD awarded more permits

28 October 2004 - The London-based gold exploration company HPD New Zealand Ltd has recently acquired four more exploration permits and two propsecting permits with its focus remaining largely on the Otago and Southland prospects.

Solid Energy obtains three more coal exploration permits

28 October 2004 - Coal producer Solid Energy has been awarded three more coal exploration permits in South Canterbury, Buller and the Waikato.

Maui pipeline to be open to non-Maui gas

27 October 2004 - The Maui pipeline is expected to be available to other gas industry users later this year following an agreement between the pipeline owner Maui Development Ltd (MDL) and gas transmission operator NGC Holdings Ltd.

Pohokura contains mean reserves of 700 bcf gas, 42 mmbbls condensate

27 October 2004 - The work programme contained in the mining permit for the Pohokura gas-condensate field now being developed in the offshore Taranaki Basin, shown that the field contains 700 billion cubic feet of gas and 42.8 million barrels of condensate.

Updated well tables show very high level of drilling in 2004

27 October 2004 - Twenty two oil and gas wells have been drilled in New Zealand so far in 2004 with another seven wells planned before the end of the year, updated Crown Minerals drilling tables show.

AGL to sell controlling NGC stake to NZ energy company Vector

21 October 2004 - The Australian Gas Light Company (AGL) Ltd is to sell its 66.05% interest in the North Island’s major gas pipeline company NGC Holdings Ltd to Auckland-based energy networks company Vector Ltd.

NZ's Energy Future Improves With Award of Pohokura Mining Permit

8 October 2004 - Hon Harry Duynhoven, Associate Minister of Energy, today granted a mining permit for the Pohokura field, which he said was of enormous benefit to New Zealand's growing energy demands.

Solid Energy examines lignite-fired power project in Southland

6 October 2004 - A lignite-fired power station in Southland of up to 400MW output is being investigated by coal producer Solid Energy.

Possible coal-fired powerstation for the Buller

5 October 2004 - Solid Energy is investigating the feasibility of building a 150-250MW coal-fired power station near Westport.

New geochemical database released

30 September 2004 - Details of a new comprehensive and standardised geochemical database for 30 major Taranaki oils has been released by geological research agency the Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences (GNS).

AAPG Distinguished Lecture here in Wellington on 18 October 2004

30 September 2004 - Come and listen to Robert S Tye present his lecture on Alluvial Basin Filling Processes and Quantitative Determination of Channel and Channel-Belt Dimensions Using Cores and Logs.

Bridge finds gas, oil in deep Radnor-1 well in onshore Taranaki

30 September 2004 - Natural gas and oil has been discovered by the Radnor-1 well, in onshore Taranaki near Stratford, by Bridge Petroleum Ltd, a privately-owned New Zealand company.

Gas exploration tax change to cover development, seismic ships

29 September 2004 - The Government is to extend a recently announced tax measure to cover drilling rigs undertaking gas field development work and to seismic survey ships involved in gas exploration, Revenue Minister Michael Cullen announced last week.

Origin Energy announces full bid for Contact Energy

21 September 2004 - Australian company Origin Energy, which in July bought a 51.2% stake in Wellington-based Contact Energy for NZ$1.7 million or $5.67 per share from Californian-based Edison Mission Energy, has made a takeover offer for the remaining shares.

Kahili mining permit awarded to Austral Pacific and partners

20 September 2004 - A petroleum mining permit (PMP 38153) for the production of gas and condensate has been granted to operator Austral Pacific Energy Ltd (45%) and its partners Tap (New Zealand) Pty Ltd (30%) and International Resource Management Corporation (25%), effective from 1 September 2004 for a 15 year term.

Kiwi-1 dry but AWE sees potential for more offshore oil finds

20 September 2004 - The Transworld-operated joint venture’s Kiwi-1 well in PEP 38460 has proved dry. The well was a follow up to three successful oil discoveries a few kilometres away at Tui-1, Amokura-1 and Pateke-2.

Minerals production tops $1billion for first time

14 September 2004 - The mining industry is experiencing growth with the value of minerals production topping the $1 billion mark for the first time in 2003.

Early results from Otago lignite shows coal seam gas potential

14 September 2004 - Preliminary coal seam gas results from the Hawkdun lignite field in northern central Otago indicate the potential to contain 25 to 60 petajoules of gas, Kenham Holdings Ltd exploration director David Manhire told the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy conference in Nelson recently.

Newmont Waihi's high-margin Favona gold mine will target four shoots

9 September 2004 - The underground Favona gold project being developed by Newmont Waihi Gold at Waihi, 150 km south east of Auckland, will be based on two main zones of quartz veining up to 25 m wide, the Favona north and south shoots.

Very positive outlook for New Zealand mineral exploration with rapid growth in activity

9 September 2004 - Exploration activity in New Zealand has risen dramatically in the last 24 months, with the promise of new and exciting finds on the horizon according to Rob Smillie - Crown Minerals Manager for Exploration and Mining Services – who spoke at the recent AusIMM conference in Nelson.

Solid Energy to stop home coal sales as part of pro-environment stand

9 September 2004 - New Zealand’s largest coal producer Solid Energy Ltd has taken a pro-environmental sustainability stand by planning to stop all sales of coal for household use because of air pollution from home coal fires.

Government to release investment strategy for minerals

8 September 2004 - The Government is to release in the next few months an investment strategy for minerals, similar to the recently completed petroleum investment strategy, the Associate Minister of Energy Hon. Harry Duynhoven told the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy conference in Nelson.

Heritage Gold to begin underground drilling on Talisman gold prospect

8 September 2004 - Heritage Gold NZ Ltd is to begin underground diamond drilling and sampling as part of its resource development programme at its Talisman gold prospect at Karangahake in the southern Coromandel.

Frontier petroleum basins represent NZ's exploration future

6 September 2004 - The Associate Minister of Energy, Harry Duynhoven, described the arrival of the Ocean Patriot drilling rig as a major vote of confidence in New Zealand's frontier petroleum basins by international explorers.

Austral Pacific awarded offshore Taranaki licence north of Kupe

3 September 2004 - Austral Pacific Energy (NZ) Ltd has been granted a small offshore Taranaki permit area between the Kupe mining permit and the south Taranaki coast.

Todd acquires large permit in southern offshore Taranaki Basin

3 September 2004 - Todd Petroleum Mining Company Ltd has been awarded a large petroleum exploration permit in the south of the offshore Taranaki Basin.

First test gas from Kahili field flows to NGC's Kapuni treatment station

26 August 2004 - First test gas has begun flowing from the Kahili gas-condensate field in permit PEP 38736 onshore Taranaki through new and old pipelines and a new separation plant to NGC's gas treatment plant at Kapuni.

Transworld begins drilling Kiwi-1 well after oil discovered at Pateke-2

26 August 2004 - The fourth well into a cluster of oil prospects in PEP 38460 north-west of the Maui field in offshore Taranaki has begun with the drilling of the Kiwi-1 exploration well by the Transworld joint venture.

NGC positions for future growth

26 August 2004 - Natural gas transportation, processing and sales company NGC Holdings Ltd says that recent repositioning to its core gas and LPG activities and renewed business certainty have strongly positioned the company for growth.

Government to remove 183-day-rule obstacle to gas exploration

25 August 2004 - The government will introduce legislation to remove a tax obstacle to gas exploration in New Zealand, as part of its package of measures to boost exploration over the next five years, Revenue Minister Michael Cullen announced today.

Plan to use coal in converted Marsden B power station

23 August 2004 - Electricity generator Mighty River Power Ltd plans to convert to coal its mothballed Marsden B oil-fired generation station in Northland — never used since completion in 1978.

West Coast-Lyttelton rail line plan to boost coal transport capacity

23 August 2004 - Coal carrying capacity of the West Coast to Lyttelton rail line is to be upgraded to 2.7 million tonnes a year by making coal trains up to 25% longer.

Ocean Patriot rig arrives to drill Tap's Tawatawa-1 well on East Coast

17 August 2004 - An offshore oil rig has arrived to begin drilling soon off Wairarapa on the East Coast Basin making it the second offshore rig to be operating in New Zealand waters.

Greymouth to drill Tiwakawaka-1 well inland Taranaki

16 August 2004 - Greymouth Petroleum is to drill a wildcat well Tiwakawaka-1 in rugged inland Taranaki in its PEP 38739 permit about 25km inland from Stratford.

Genesis to go ahead with new gas-fired generation power plant at Huntly

16 August 2004 - Genesis Energy is to proceed with its new gas-fired 385MW e3p plant at Huntly the first major power generation plant using gas to be built for five years.

CanAlaska to explore PuhiPuhi gold prospect in Northland

15 August 2004 - Canadian exploration company CanAlaska Ventures Ltd, has been awarded an exploration permit EP 40669 over the PuhiPuhi epithermal gold-silver system in Northland.

Pogo awarded extension to permit near Maui

11 August 2004 - Pogo New Zealand has been granted a 119 sq km extension to the south of its offshore Taranaki permit PEP 38490 adjoining the north-eastern edge of the Maui gas field.

US-based GCO Minerals awarded third exploration permit

6 August 2004 - Houston-based company GCO Minerals Ltd has been awarded its third mineral exploration permit in the Coromandel-Taupo region.

Swift using higher oil income to drill three extra Taranaki wells

5 August 2004 - Houston-based Swift Energy Company is to drill two additional development wells in its onshore Taranaki Kauri permit (PEP 38719) this year following a boost to its capital expenditure mid-year mainly because of strong oil and gas prices.

Oceana Gold reopens Blackwater gold mine shaft

3 August 2004 - Oceana Gold Ltd has begun site activities to reopen the underground Blackwater gold mine on the Reefton gold fields, the goldmining company said in its report for the second quarter to June 30, 2004.

Solid Energy undertaking large coal exploration programme

2 August 2004 - Coal producer Solid Energy Ltd has begun a large-scale coal exploration programme throughout New Zealand and has been awarded 12 prospecting permits and five exploration permits in past eight months.

Pike River coal mine pre-production planning progresses

2 August 2004 - The Pike River Coal Company is beginning planning for its Pike River coal mine north of Greymouth with keen international interest in its future coal production.

Earnscleugh alluvial gold mine clears final resource consents

2 August 2004 - Christchurch-based L&M Mining Ltd has cleared all its resource consents to go ahead with its Earnscleugh alluvial gold project near Alexandra.

Origin Energy to acquire 51% stake in Contact Energy

30 July 2004 - Australian energy company Origin Energy has moved to acquire a controlling interest in Contact Energy, New Zealand's largest wholesaler and retailer of natural gas with substantial gas-fired electricity generation.

Maui B crude oil production to end with decommissioning of FPSO vessel

30 July 2004 - Shell Todd Oil Services has announced the decommissioning of its floating Maui B oil production vessel which will mean the end of crude oil production from New Zealand’s largest oil as well as gas field.

Bridge awarded offshore permit with Transworld plus two onshore permits

27 July 2004 - Bridge Petroleum Ltd, a New Zealand exploration company with strong US connections, has been awarded three new permits, one offshore north Taranaki, one a shallow natural gas prospect in south Auckland, and a coal seam gas prospect in the Waikato area.

Honeysuckle-1 oil shows encouraging for new series of Mt Messenger wells

26 July 2004 - Austral Pacific Energy Ltd, operator of PEP 38741’s Honeysuckle-1 well in onshore Taranaki which was recently plugged and abandoned, says that the oil saturation found within the well was insufficient to justify flow testing the well.

Associate Minister of Energy welcomes Privy Council decision on Glenharrow

26 July 2004 - The Associate Minister of Energy, Hon Harry Duynhoven, today welcomed the decision of the Privy Council to uphold the New Zealand Court of Appeal's decision in Glenharrow Holdings Limited v. The Attorney General & Te Runanga O Ngai Tahu.

New Australian explorer Aurora Minerals has strong NZ gold focus

23 July 2004 - Six prospecting permits have been awarded to Aurora Minerals, an Australian gold exploration company with a strong New Zealand focus.

Downstream company Genesis Energy farms in to Cardiff deep gas drill

21 July 2004 - Downstream electricity generator and energy retailer Genesis Energy has confirmed that it will help fund the drilling of the Cardiff deep prospect in onshore Taranaki for operator Austral Pacific Energy Ltd later this year.

Methanex enters agreement with Bridge to help fund Radnor-1 well

21 July 2004 - Another major gas consumer Methanex New Zealand is to help fund drilling of a deep gas prospect in onshore Taranaki.

Glass Earth Ltd's gold exploration venture on Volcanic Plateau seeks listing on Toronto exchange

13 July 2004 - A New Zealand gold exploration company Glass Earth Ltd, seeking to discover large epithermal gold systems in the central North Island with 'new generation' technology, plans to attract Canadian investment by listing on the Toronto TSX Venture Exchange.

Pohokura field to have only one offshore platform and three onshore wells

12 July 2004 - The Pohokura gas-condensate field, New Zealand's largest petroleum development since Maui, will be developed from a single offshore platform plus three onshore development wells accessing the southern portion of the field.

Newmont Mining increases exploration effort in New Zealand

9 July 2004 - Newmont Mining, the world's largest gold company, is to intensify its New Zealand gold exploration efforts around its Waihi mine because of the potential it offers when judged on a worldwide basis.

Kupe engineering design contract awarded to Worley

9 July 2004 - The initial engineering design contract for the development of the Kupe gas-condensate field off the south Taranaki coast has been awarded to the Australian-based company Worley.

Underground gold mining era begins at Macraes mine

2 July 2004 - A new underground era for New Zealand's biggest gold mine at Macraes began in mid-June with work starting on the underground portal of a 2.5 km long access tunnel that will be a gateway to the large Frasers underground mine developments.

Draft minerals programme for Petroleum presentation to Energy Law Association

2 July 2004 - Draft minerals programme for Petroleum presentation to Energy Law Association

NZ agencies join research into storing carbon dioxide emissions in underground structures

1 July 2004 - Three New Zealand organisations involved in coal mining, thermal power generation and geological research have joined a trans-Tasman research project to seek ways of storing carbon dioxide emissions underground in coal seams, oil and gas reservoirs or other geological structures.

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