Australia. Australian authorities refloated the Chinese ship on Monday that had been stranded on the Great Barrier Reef for over a week after running aground, averting a potential environmental crisis.

Australia. Origin Energy Ltd. Chief Executive Grant King said Tuesday that its liquefied natural gas joint venture with ConocoPhillips still hopes to find a customer by the middle of the year.

Australia. Australia's Arrow Energy Ltd has found a potential major coal-seam gas resource in New South Wales state and plans to rapidly determine its production potential, the firm said on Thursday.

Australia. Australian salvage crews are preparing for the delicate task of pumping nearly 950 metric tonnes of heavy engine oil off of a coal carrier that ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef.

Australia. Royal Dutch Shell and PetroChina have secured approval from the Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board to buy into Australia-based Arrow Energy Ltd, the Australian Financial Review reported yesterday, without indicating sources.