The new stakes will come from Trinity Gas Resources (TGR) which is offloading a 30% interest in the Patricia Baleen gas field and associated processing facilities in eastern Victoria and an additional 15% interest in the Sole gas field. TGR is 75% owned by Mitsubishi Corporation and 25% owned by Tokyo Gas Co.

The Patricia Baleen gas field is located in VIC/L21, 20km off the Victorian coast and the Sole gas field is located in VIC/RL3, 45km off the Victorian coast in the Gippsland Basin.

Santos will earn its 30% additional equity in the Patricia Baleen gas field by meeting TGR’s remaining share of drilling costs on Baleen-4 which is a side track well of Baleen-3.

The Ocean Bounty semi-submersible offshore drilling rig has been contracted to drill the horizontal Baleen-4 production well in September.

Santos will earn its 15% additional equity in the Sole gas field by meeting certain development costs on behalf of TGR, if and when the Sole joint venture partners proceed to develop this gas resource.

The joint venture participants will then hold the same interests in both Patricia Baleen and Sole, aligning their interests for future development and ongoing operations.

“This acquisition provides Santos with a material position in the Patricia Baleen gas processing facility which is important to the eastern Australia gas market”, said Santos’ managing director, John Ellice-Flint.

“It also provides Santos with additional exposure to any commercialisation of the Sole gas field.

“Coupled with our Casino gas development and the offshore Otway Basin exploration program, the increased 50% interests in Patricia Baleen and Sole significantly expands our Victorian based business”, he said.

This transaction follows Santos’ recent announcement that it had sold its non-core onshore Otway Basin assets to Origin Energy Resources Limited for $25.75 million.

The interests in VIC/L21 are Santos 50%, Basin Oil (OMV) (operator) 35%, OMV Timor Sea Pty Ltd 5% and TGR 10%. The interests in VIC/RL3 are Santos 35%, Santos Offshore 15%, Basin Oil (OMV) (operator) 40% and TGR 10% 30%.