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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.