Australia. Total E&P Australia is making available the possibility for a selected company to take an interest of 40% in exploration permits WA-402-P and WA-403-P situated in the Bonaparte Basin off the north coast of Australia around 400 km from Darwin.

Aukland. The Maari oil field and its adjacent Manaia field in offshore Taranaki have been confirmed as containing more than 100 million barrels of recoverable oil. This is twice as much as the 50 million barrels originally estimated for the main Moki sands reservoir at Maari.

Australia. A fire-ravaged oil rig and platform in the Timor Sea remain highly dangerous despite the operators claiming it is stable, federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson says.

Australia. Engineering and construction company Clough Limited advised that PTTEP Australasia has terminated for convenience its contract for the installation of the balance of the offshore facilities at the Montara field as a result of the turn of events over the last few days.

Sidney. PTTEP Australasia, a subsidiary of PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP), reported on November 3, 2009 that the fire at the West Atlas rig at Montara wellhead platform has been put out after heavy mud had been successfully injected into the leaking well. The company is closely monitoring the situation and its experts are ready to assess the damages and to make plans for future work.

Sidney. Australia listed Lakes Oil said gas was found in the Wombat-4 well drilled in Victoria state’s Gippsland basin.

Sidney. WWF today called on Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to become directly involved in the environmental emergency that still surrounds the oil spill at PTTEP’s Montara project.

Australia. A blaze at an oil rig off Australia was brought under control on Tuesday when experts managed to plug a leak that has spewed tonnes of crude over the past 10 weeks, the well's operator said.