Hess Corp close to Carnarvon deal
Hess Corp has sparked talk it is close to a deal over its much-hyped Equus gas field in the Carnarvon Basin after disclosing talks with prospective partners were under way "right now".
Hess did not reveal which party it was talking to though it has long been suggested either of the Woodside Petroleum-operated LNG plants on the Burrup Peninsula, the North West Shelf and Pluto were in the frame to process Equus gas.
An aggressive drilling program by Hess in permit WA-390-P is thought to have discovered up to three trillion cubic feet of gas, spread across several smaller fields.
Addressing investors at Hess' annual strategy day in the US on Monday night, exploration and production chief operating officer Gregory Hill said "every asset has its day" in response to the company's progress in Australia.
"We have a real key meeting going on right now in Australia," Mr Hill said.
"We have a significant volume of gas in the best gas market in the world. The only thing I need is a place to ship it, and then I need a buyer that's willing to buy it. Those are the two pieces of information that I need to then finalise what I want to do with it.
"And one thing is clear. We got 100 per cent (of Equus) but we don't want 100 per cent of it.
"Once we get all those pieces of information we'll be in an informed position to say what we do with Australia."
