Eni signs agreement on Heron and Blackwood gas discoveries in Northern Australia

San Donato Milanese (Mi), 17 May 2011 – Eni has signed an agreement with MEO Australia Limited to farm-in to the Heron and Blackwood gas discoveries in the permit NT/P68 in the Timor Sea, northern Australia.

The agreement involves Eni earning 50% in the Heron gas discovery by funding the drilling of two wells in the Heron Area. Eni may withdraw from the agreement after the first well has been drilled. 

Eni has a further option to earn 50% in the Blackwood gas discovery by acquiring a minimum of 500 square km of 3D seismic and drilling one well in the Blackwood area.

Eni has a further option to acquire an additional 25% interest in the discoveries by funding the work programme required to reach a Final Investment Decision (FID) in either Heron or Blackwood or both. Once completed Eni would make a one off bonus payment to MEO.

Eni Australia Limited will be the Operator of the permit NT/P68 with a 50% share with its partner MEO Australia Limited.

This agreement represents a significant opportunity in line with Eni’s strategy to increase its business presence in Australia, an OECD country, and the south-east Asian region generally, through organic and acquisitive growth of quick to market hydrocarbon discoveries.

Eni entered Australia in 2000 and is the Operator of the Woollybutt oil field (65% interest), the Blacktip Project (100% interest) and the Kitan Development Project (40% interest) and is a partner in the Bayu Undan gas and condensate field and Darwin LNG (10.99% interest). Eni has interests in 13 exploration permits and production licenses in Australia, Timor-Leste and the Joint Petroleum Development Area (JPDA), 10 of which it operates and covering a total area of about 50,000 square km.