Mining Exploration News - Australia & SE Asia

BLACK RANGE MINERALS NL (30 June 2000)

FLETCHER CHALLENGE LIMITED (30 June 2000)

HOMESTAKE MINING COMPANY (30 June 2000)

NORTH LIMITED (30 June 2000)

NORWEST ENERGY NL (30 June 2000)

OIL COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED (30 June 2000)

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

WELL: Moomba 107
TYPE: Gas Development
LOCATION: PPL 7, Moomba Block, 1.95km W of Moomba 93, 2.1km SW of Moomba 58, and some 9km NW of the Moomba Gas Plant.
STATUS AT 29/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Moomba 107 has been cased and suspended as a future Permian Gas Producer. The well reached a total depth of 2643m with no progress for the week. The rig was released on 24/06/2000 and has moved to Moomba 116, a Permian Gas Development well.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 2635m

WELL: Moomba 116
TYPE: Gas Development
LOCATION: PPL 7, Moomba Block, 1.6km W of Moomba 91, 1.0km SW of Moomba 113, and some 9km NW of the Moomba Gas Plant.
STATUS AT 29/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Preparing to run surface casing. The current depth and progress for the week is 919m. The well spudded on 28/06/2000.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 2789m

WELL: Toolachee West 1
TYPE: Gas Exploration
LOCATION: PPL 14, Toolachee Block. 1.5km S of Toolachee 46, 2.0km W of Toolachee 14 and some 60km SE of the Moomba Gas Plant.
STATUS AT 29/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Toolachee West 1 has been cased and suspended as a Permian Gas Discovery. The well reached a total depth of 2305m with no progress for the week. The rig was released on 25/06/2000 and has moved to Stokes 7, a Permian Gas Development well in PL 84, Queensland.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 2292m

WELL: Pondrinie 17DW1
TYPE: Gas Development
LOCATION: PPL 90, Merrimelia - Innamincka Block, 1km WNW of Pondrinie 15DW, 1.8km WSW of Pondrinie 8 and 75km NE of the Moomba Gas Plant.
STATUS AT 29/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Preparing to run intermediate casing. The current depth is 2327m MD with 468m progress for the week. The well was directionally kicked off at 1777m. Pondrinie 17DW is a high angle gas development well designed to drain gas reserves in the Permian aged Toolachee and Tirrawarra/Merrimelia Formations.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 2820m

OIL COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED (30 June 2000)

OFFSHORE WESTERN AUSTRALIA

WELL: Bantha 1
TYPE: Oil Exploration Wildcat
LOCATION: TL 3, Offshore West Coast Barrow Island, WA
STATUS AT 29/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Bantha 1 has been plugged and abandoned. The well reached a total depth of 1472m with 1082m progress for the week. The rig was released on 26/06/2000 and has moved to Triller 1.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 1450m

WELL: Triller 1
TYPE: Oil Exploration Wildcat
LOCATION: TL 3, Offshore West Coast Barrow Island, WA
STATUS AT 29/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Cementing 508mm casing. Current depth and progress for the week is 102m. The well spudded on 28/06/2000.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 1552m

USA
WELL: Webb 1
TYPE: Gas Exploration
LOCATION: Suemaur Moore Prospect, San Patricio County, Texas
STATUS AT 28/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Pressure testing intermediate casing prior to drilling ahead. The current depth is 2882m with 130m progress for the week.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 4115m

WELL: State Tract 157#1
TYPE: Gas Exploration
LOCATION: South Long Reef Prospect, Aransas County, Texas
STATUS AT 28/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Drilling ahead. The current depth is 2816m with 210m progress for the week.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 3048m

WELL: Mew Estate 1
TYPE: Gas Exploration
LOCATION: Edge-Queen City 111 Prospect, Duvual County, Texas
STATUS AT 28/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Drilling ahead. The current depth is 1829m with 617m progress for the week.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 2743m

OIL COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED (30 June 2000)

QUEENSLAND

WELL: Stokes 7
TYPE: Gas Development
LOCATION: PL 84, former Total 66 Block, 1.3km E of Stokes 6, 2.0km NE of Stokes 2, and some 130km SW of the Ballera Gas Centre.
STATUS AT 29/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Preparing to spud well.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 2591m

WELL: Challum 18 DW1
TYPE: SWQ Unit Gas Development
LOCATION: PL 59, Aquitaine B Block, 1.25km NE Challum 1 and 20km W of the Ballera Gas Centre.
STATUS AT 29/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Attempting to free stuck drillstring. The main hole reached a depth of 2902m MD, with no progress for the week. The upper lateral has been abandoned due to mechanical difficulties. The drill string became stuck while attempting to drill ahead in the lower lateral. It is planned to recover the drill string prior to completing the well. Challum 18 is a high angle well with two sub- horizontal lateral well bores designed to drain separate reservoirs in the Permian age Toolachee Formation. Challum DW1 is designated the lower lateral wellbore while Challum DW2 is designated the upper lateral wellbore.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: DW1 3121m MD
DW2 3100m MD

WELL: Merrivale 9
TYPE: Gas Development
LOCATION: PL 44, Dennison Trough, 0.2km NNW of Merrivale 2, 0.5km N of Merrivale 8, and some 140km N of the township of Roma.
STATUS AT 29/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Running in hole with new bit to drill ahead. The current depth and progress for the week is 1116m. The well spudded on 24/06/2000.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 2107m

OIL COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED (30 June 2000)

PRECIOUS METALS AUSTRALIA LIMITED (30 June 2000)

TAP OIL NL (30 June 2000)

UNITED ENERGY LIMITED (30 June 2000)

BRANDRILL LIMITED (29 June 2000)

COPPER MINES AND METALS LIMITED (29 June 2000)

LIHIR GOLD LIMITED (29 June 2000)

Increase in Reserve Position

Total Reserves increase by 2.2 million ounces (+20%) to 13.4 million ounces
Gold price assumption reduced from US$350/oz to US$325/oz

Lihir announces that it has completed a re-modelling of its ore reserves to take into account:

the improved geological understanding of the Minifie orebody
the results of the drilling programme in the Lienitz-Minifie Bridge, Borefields and South-East Minifie performed during 1999 and the first quarter of 2000
updated geotechnical data including the results of the Seawall investigation
and, importantly, the benefits of Lihir's cost reduction achievements and projections that have significantly increased the reserve tonnage and contained metal.

ORE RESERVES (1)

RESERVE
CATEGORY TONNES
(millions) AVERAGE
GRADE
(g Au/t) CONTAINED
OUNCES
(millions)

Reserves at end May 2000 Proved 23.2 3.82 2.8

Probable 82.7 3.52 9.4

Sub total
105.9 3.59 12.2

Stockpiled Ore(2) Proved 12.0 3.03 1.2

Total Reserves (3)
117.9 3.53 13.4

NORMANDY MINING LIMITED (29 June 2000)

TAP OIL NL (29 June 2000)

Dalrymple Resources (27 June 2000)

Energy Resources of Australia (28 June 2000)

Fletcher Challenge (27 June 2000)

Gindalbie Gold (27 June 2000)

Macmin (27 June 2000)

Molopo Australia NL (28 June 2000)

Normandy Mining (28 June 2000)

Tap Oil NL (28 June 2000)

Western Metals (28 June 2000)

Anglogold / Ashanti (27 June 2000)

Astro Mining / Conquest Mining (27 June 2000)

Monto Minerals (27 June 2000)

CREST MAGNESIUM NL (27 June 2000)

Tasmania's Deputy Premier, Paul Lennon has confirmed the Government's support of Crest's $835 million magnesium metal project by announcing the construction of a 50km rail line to the mine site.

As well as providing transport for the distribution of logs out of the region, the public support will assist Crest in securing financial backing for the project. The cost of transport is now at $10 a tonne for the ore to be railed from the mine to the proposed processing plant at Bell Bay, and the line will join the existing TasRail system near Burnie.

Mr Lennon stated that once a deal with Duke Energy was signed on their plan to pipe gas into Tasmania from Bass Strait, they could provide competitive rates on energy delivery to the Bell Bay plant.

The President of an overseas magnesium company has been appointed as new Managing Director for Crest, replacing Peter Salter who will become a Non-Executive Director.

NOVUS PETROLEUM LIMITED (27 June 2000)

HERALD RESOURCES LIMITED (24 June 2000)

SPECTACULAR START TO DAIRI ZINC-LEAD PROJECT IN NORTH SUMATRA

International Annax Ventures Inc. announce that it has completed 3 successful drill holes of the planned 7 hole program at the south-eastern end of the Sopokomil prospect at the Dairi project in North Sumatra. All holes have intersected massive sulphides indicating an apparent continuity of the main mineralised horizon in this area. The preliminary assay results for the first hole SOP 22D are reported below. This hole intersects the mineralised zone approximately 100m down-dip of previously announced hole SOP 18D (17m grading 18% Zn and 12% Pb).

Hole Interval Intersection

SOP22D 161-163.7m 2.7m @ 29.0% Zn, 22.2% Pb, 21.4 g/t Ag

174.2-193.3m 19.1m @ 16.0% Zn, 7.54% Pb, 4.8 g/t Ag

Herald is entitled to 9,204,124 shares (representing 64% of the issued capital) in its subsidiary, Canadian-listed company International Annax Ventures Inc. Herald operates all exploration programs on behalf of IAX for an expenditure-based fee.

For further information, click here

Mineral Commodities / Goldfields (24 June 2000)

Goldfields announced that its $9 million bid for Mineral Commodities NL's (ASX: MRC) 49% interest in the Mungari West JV (MWJV) has been successful.
The MWJV owns the White Foil deposit that contains a resource of 11.8 million tonnes at 2.42g/t gold for 915,000 oz of gold and is located 8 kms south of Goldfields' Kundaria operation. Mines & Resources Australia Pty Ltd (MRA), a wholly owned subsidiary of the French Cogema group holds the remaining 51% and is the current manager. Under the terms of the MWJV, MRA can choose to exercise its 30 day pre-emptive right over MRC's interest, from 22 June.

Molopo Australia (24 June 2000)

Due to inclement weather in China, the spudding of LW-L2 well, the second well in the current three well coalbed methane drilling program, has been delayed by several days.

PERILYA LIMITED (24 June 2000)

Drilling has recommenced on the Tampang Prospect in Sabah, Malaysia, where the Company has a 50:50 joint venture with Mamut Copper Mining Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mega First Corporation Bhd.

Drilling commenced in late May to follow up on exploration success on the Bongkud anomaly where previous drilling had given a best result of 331 metres at 0.31% copper and 0.70 grams/tonne gold. Geophysical surveys have been completed since the last drill programme aimed at identifying potentially higher grade zones within the Bongkud mineralised porphyry copper system.

Assay results have been received for the first hole in the current programme. TRD017 was drilled from 4931N, 8222E as a vertical hole to a depth of 337 metres. The hole intersected strongly veined and mineralised intrusive to a depth of 252 metres, where a late stage unmineralised intrusive was intersected.

NORTH LIMITED / RIO TINTO (24 June 2000)

TAKEOVER BID FOR NORTH LIMITED

Rio Tinto Limited announced that it will make a cash offer ofA$3.80 per share for all the issued shares of North Limited. Rio Tinto Limited purchased a 14.5% holding in North today at A$3.80 per share.

The offer represents a premium of approximately:

30% to yesterday's closing price of A$2.93 (the day before Rio Tinto entered the market to acquire its holding);
35% to the weighted average price for North over the past three months.

The offer values North at A$2.80 billion compared with its market value at yesterday's close of A$2.16 billion.

ALCASTON MINING NL (23 June 2000)

Alcaston Mining NL advise that Swedish subsidiary, Alcaston Diamond Exploration AB, has received the results of a geophysical interpretation of the airborne geophysical data over the Company's main Swedish diamond exploration licence.

The interpretation was undertaken by the Company's consulting geophysicist Mr Nigel Hungerford of Flagstaff Geo-Consultants, and was based on data purchased from the Swedish Geological Survey covering an area of approximately 15,000 square kilometres.

Approximately 300 targets have been identified of which 22 are high priority targets, having geophysical signatures appropriate to kimberlite pipes.

AUSTRALIAN MINING INVESTMENTS LIMITED (23 June 2000)

On advice from Galillee Energy Ltd the Directors announce that the Rodney Creek #6 well, (the last of four wells drilled to complete a five well pilot project) reached the target total depth of 1,123m on June 21. After completion of logging, casing and cementing the rig will be moved to Rodney Creek #3.

The Rodney Creek #3 well (drilled in 1995) will be cleaned out and new rods, tubing and progressive cavity pump run. The well will be put on pump test immediately (June 25 target), to provide water for stimulation of upper Betts Creek zones in the balance of the wells in the project.

Fracture stimulation operations are expected to commence on the Rodney Creek #7 on June 29.

CLUFF RESOURCES PACIFIC NL (23 June 2000)

The Company announce the recovery of a further 529 diamonds weighing 67.3 carats from 638 tonnes mined from the Monte Christo Mine at Bingara, NSW. The largest stone recovered was a 0.9 carat white, with the nature of the diamonds being different from those previously mined, with many macles (triangular stones) recovered, and a higher proportion of yellows amongst the finer stones.

The stones were recovered from a bed of poorly sorted gravel about two metres thick underlying the previously mined bedded gravels. The bed extends to the southwest of the working face, and mining is continuing in that direction. The average grade recovered was 10.5 carats per hundred tonnes, higher than in the overlying bedded gravels.

FLETCHER CHALLENGE LIMITED (23 June 2000)

Fletcher Challenge
Drilling & Production Testing Report
For the week ending 21/06/2000

Country : Canada

Block Area: Baldwinton
Well Name : 2A-10-44-23W3M
Objective : A Development well testing Sparky Oil
Current Status : * Spud: 16/06/00
* Cased for Sparky Oil
* Rig Released: 18/06/00

Block Area: Wolf Creek
Well Name : 7-6-42-6 W5M
Objective : A Development well testing Ostracod Oil
Current Status : * Spud 03/06/00
* Cutting core#2 at 2524mKB(MD)

Block Area: Baldwinton
Well Name : 14-6-40-15 W4M
Objective : A Development well testing Sparky Oil
Current Status : * Spud: 18/06/00
* Cased for Sparky Oil
* Rig Released: 20/06/00

Block Area: Baldwinton
Well Name : 8A-10-44-23W3M
Objective : A Development well testing Sparky Oil
Current Status : * Spud: 19/06/00
* Cased for Sparky Oil
* Rig Released 21/06/00

Block Area: Riverbend
Well Name : 9-10-36-9W4M
Objective : An Exploration well testing for Colony Gas
Current Status : * Spud: 14/06/00
* Cased for Viking Gas
* Rig Released: 18/06/00

FLETCHER CHALLENGE LIMITED (23 June 2000)

Fletcher Challenge
Drilling & Production Testing Report
For the week ending 21/06/2000

Country : New Zealand

Block Area: PEP 38459
Well Name : Pohokura-2
Objective : Appraisal well evaluation Pohokura-1 gas condensate
discovery in the sands of the Kapuni Group.
Current Status : * Drill stem testing was successfully completed
with results announced earlier this week. Being
an appraisal well, and therefore not optimally
located as a long term producer, the well was
plugged and abandoned.

Country : Brunei

Block Area: Block A & CD
Well Name : East Egret-1
Objective : (a) Primary Pliocene objectives 3390m.
(b) Secondary Miocene objectives 3700m.
(c) Primary Miocene objectives 4120m.
Current Status : * Spudded well on 18 June 2000.
* Drilled 36" hole to 157m.
* Ran and cemented 30" conductor @ 157m.
* Drilled 26" hole to 945m.
* Currently running 20" casing.

FLETCHER CHALLENGE LIMITED (23 June 2000)

Fletcher Challenge
Drilling & Production Testing Report
For the week ending 21/06/2000

Country : New Zealand

Block Area: PML381012
Well Name : MB-7
Objective : Horizontal development well in the Maui B D1.10 oil
reservoir
Current Status : * Drilled 8(1/2)" hole from 2967m to 3377m. Angle
built to 72 degrees.
* Current operation @ 0600hrs 22nd June, preparing
for wiper trip, prior to drilling ahead in 8(1/2)"
hole.

Block Area: PML381012
Well Name : MB-6
Objective : Horizontal development well in the Maui B D1.10 oil
reservoir
Current Status : * Suspended well with stuck 4(1/2)" liner pending
evaluation of sidetrack or completion options while
operations proceed on MB-7

Block Area: PML 38036
Well Name : McKee-9A
Objective : Sidetrack development infill well in the McKee oil reservoir
Current Status : * Completed drilling to a TD of 2280 maHBRT.
* All tops as expected.
* A 70 metre column of oil was intersected,
exceeding mean expectations by approx 25 metres.
This well will now be completed and brought on to
production through the McKee Production Station.
* As a consequence of the success in this well a
further infill well, McKee-2B, is to be drilled
immediately to access additional bypassed oil.

KINGSGATE CONSOLIDATED NL (23 June 2000)

The board of directors of Kingsgate announce that the Thai Ministry of Industry has granted the 4 mining leases covering the proposed Chatree Gold Mine for a period of 20 years.

Construction of the mine will commence during the current monsoon season and is scheduled to take 12 months.

Gold and silver production in the first operating year is expected to be 146,000 ounces of gold equivalent at a cash cost of US$86 per ounce gold equivalent making Chatree one of the world's lowest cost gold mines.

MONTO MINERALS NL (23 June 2000)

Mulgildie Basin Water Bore Drilling Commenced

1. Drilling of the first water bore to approximately 660 metres commenced today at a site about 2.5km to the north-west of Mulgildie near Monto in Central Queensland. The bore is intended to access water from the Precipice Sandstone in the Mulgildie Basin. Following drilling, construction and development of the bore, testing is to be carried out by using a step-drawdown pumping test and a 100 hour constant drawdown test. Work is expected to be completed by mid July. The bore construction represents a major step in verifying availability of a reliable water supply which is critical to the Goondicum Crater Ilmenite and Titano-magnetite Project.

2. Construction of the bore and subsequent testing of water flow volume is intended to provide a level of certainty which will assist the facilitation of funding of the project.

3. The bore being constructed is one of possibly three which would be required to provide processing water for the Goondicum project and represents a viable alternative to the construction of a weir as proposed in earlier studies. Water from the Mulgildie Basin is expected to require minimal processing and would be pumped via a 32 km pipeline to the project site.

OIL COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED (23 June 2000)

QUEENSLAND

WELL: Challum 18 DW1
TYPE: SWQ Unit Gas Development
LOCATION: PL59, Aquitaine B Block, 1.25km NE Challum 1 and 20km W of the Ballera Gas Centre

STATUS AT 22/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Milling window in casing for upper lateral. The mainhole reached a depth of 2902m MD, with 30m progress for the week. It is planned to drill the upper lateral DW2 before proceeding with DW1.
Challum 18 is a high angle well with two sub-horizontal lateral well bores designed to drain separate reservoirs in the Permian age Toolachee Formation. Challum DW1 is designated the lower lateral wellbore while Challum DW2 is designated the upper lateral wellbore.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: DW1 3121m MD DW2 3100m MD

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

WELL: Bantha 1
TYPE: Oil Exploration Wildcat
LOCATION: TL3, Offshore West Coast Barrow Island, WA
STATUS AT 22/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Nippling up wellhead and blow out preventors. The current depth and progress for the week is 390m. Bantha 1 spudded on 18/06/2000.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 1450m

USA

WELL: Runnels 1
TYPE: Gas Exploration
LOCATION: Amerada 8 Prospect, Clopper Ranch Joint Venture, Matagorda County, Texas, USA
STATUS AT 21/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Runnels has been plugged and abandoned. The well reached a total depth of 3654m with no progress for the week. The rig was released on 16/06/2000.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 3749m

WELL: Webb 1
TYPE: Gas Exploration
LOCATION: Suemaur Moore Prospect, San Patricio County, Texas
STATUS AT 21/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Drilling ahead. The current depth is 2752m with 1049m progress for the week
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 4115m

WELL: State Tract 157#1
TYPE: Gas Exploration
LOCATION: South Long Reef Prospect, Aransas County, Texas
STATUS AT 21/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Drilling ahead. The current depth is 2606m with 1051m progress for the week. The well spudded on 8/06/2000.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 3048m

WELL: Mew Estate 1
TYPE: Gas Exploration
LOCATION: Edge-Queen City 111 Prospect, Duvual County, Texas
STATUS AT 21/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Drilling ahead. The current depth and progress for the week is 1212m. The well spudded on 16/06/2000.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 2743m

OIL COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED (23 June 2000)

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

WELL: Moomba 107
TYPE: Gas Development
LOCATION: PPL 7, Moomba Block, 1.95km W of Moomba 93, 2.1km SW of Moomba 58, and some 9km NW of the Moomba Gas Plant.
STATUS AT 22/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Running wiper trip prior to wireline logging. The well reached a total depth of 2643m with 904m progress for the week.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 2635m

WELL: Toolachee West 1
TYPE: Gas Exploration
LOCATION: PPL 14, Toolachee Block. 1.5km S of Toolachee 46, 2.0km W of Toolachee 14 and some 60km SE of the Moomba Gas Plant.

STATUS AT 22/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Running in hole with test tools to conduct a drill stem test over the Permian Epsilon Formation. The well reached a total depth of 2305m with 1099m progress for the week.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 2292m

WELL: Pondrinie 17DW1
TYPE: Gas Development
LOCATION: PPL 90, Merrimelia-Innamincka Block, 1km WNW of Pondrinie 15DW, 1.8km WSW of Pondrinie 8 and 75km NE of the Moomba Gas Plant.
STATUS AT 22/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Drilling ahead. The current depth is 1859m MD with1747m progress for the week. The well was directionally kicked off at 1777m.
Pondrinie 17DW is a high angle gas development well designed to drain gas reserves in the Permian aged Merrimelia Formation.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 2820m

OIL COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED (23 June 2000)

Oil Company of Australia on behalf of the PL 101 Joint Venture, advise that:

Peat No 25, a coal gas development well situated approximately 850 metres southwest of Peat No 3, latitude 26 deg 00 min 35.87 sec south, longitude 150 deg 05 min 54.59 sec east, was spudded at 20:30 hours on June 15, 2000. Surface casing was set at 99.4 metres RT at 03:30 hours, June 18, 2000, the well reached a total depth of 820 metres RT. The well was cased and suspended with the rig released at 06:00 hours June 19, 2000. At 06:00 hours today the rig was being moved to the Merivale No 9 well location. Progress for the week was 820 metres.

The primary target of the well was coal seams in the Baralaba coal measures.

ROC OIL COMPANY LIMITED (23 June 2000)

ONSHORE UK (ROC 100%)

As of noon on 21 June 2000 (UK time), the Keddington 2y sidetrack well had reached a final total depth of 2,634 metres in the basal Westphalian section. While pulling out of the hole prior to running the completion, the bottom of the drilling assembly became differentially stuck and subsequent fishing operations were unsuccessful.

For production, the lower 20 metres of the casing (2,369 to 2,389 metres) has been perforated across the oil bearing Unit 1 sandstone. The uncased portion of the hole above the fish has been left open to production. The current operation is running production tubing and preparing to move the drilling rig off-site.

TAP OIL NL (23 June 2000)

Tap Oil provide the following update on the Intrepid-1 exploration well which spudded on 14 June 2000.

LOCATION
The well is located in WA-277-P, approximately 400 kms West of Darwin in the Timor Sea at latitude 12deg 56' 02.36" South and 125deg 50' 51.90" East.
PROGRESS
As at 06.00 hours on 22 June 2000, the well has drilled ahead to a revised total depth of 1,394 metres and is currently finalising the wireline logging programme. The well will be plugged and abandoned having failed to encounter hydrocarbon shows.

TAP OIL NL (23 June 2000)

Tap Oil provides the following update on Tanami-4 appraisal well which was spudded on 8 June 2000.

LOCATION
The well is located in TL/6, 2 kilometres south of Varanus Island at the surface location of latitude 20deg40'25.08"S and longitude 115deg35'02.40"E.

PROGRESS
Formation Pressure testing and fluid sampling has confirmed the presence of an 18.9 metre thick gross oil column at the top of the Flag sandstone reservoir between depths of 1,824 metres true vertical depth ("TVD") and an oil water contact of 1,842.9 metres TVD. The net pay within the Flag sandstone is estimated to be 15 metres.

In addition a 4 metre thick sandstone reservoir interval between depths of 1,811 and 1,815 metres TVD, within the Muderong Formation and immediately overlying a thin seal to the Flag reservoir, has been shown to also be oil filled. This oil zone has a different pressure gradient than that in the Flag sandstone and is thus interpreted at this stage to be a separate accumulation.

TAP COMMENT
It is interpreted from oil water contacts and the oil character that the oil accumulation at Tanami-4 is a new field discovery separate to that at Tanami-1 and hence, will add significantly to the reserves in the overall Tanami area.

Although the significance of the discovery of oil in basal sands of the Muderong Formation has yet to be fully determined, this is the first such discovery within the basin and will represent an important new objective in the joint venture's exploration program.

FORWARD PROGRAMME

On completion of all wireline logging, the Tanami-4 well will be suspended as a future oil producing well. Following a full analysis of the well results, the Harriet Joint Venture will then evaluate development options to Varanus Island 2 kms to the north. The unsuccessful Tanami-5 well will be used as a water disposal well.

AUSTRALIAN WORLDWIDE EXPLORATION (22 June 2000)

Yolla Gas - The Project on the Move

The developers of the Yolla Gas and Liquids Project, offshore from Burnie, have spent $50 million over the last two years proving that, in one small area alone, there are adequate reserves to provide natural gas and liquid fuels to Tasmania for at least the next 20 years based on existing market demand.

BROKEN HILL PROPRIETARY COMPANY LIMITED (22 June 2000)

BHP has announced that it had encountered a significant oil column in the Griffin 8 well offshore Western Australia. The results will enable BHP to book additional reserves at Griffin and significantly increase short term production, thereby delivering high margin production revenues.

Griffin 8, drilled as part of an infill drilling program in the Griffin area, was drilled to a total vertical depth of 2813 meters subsea and encountered an oil column in the Zeepaard formation which was significantly greater than predicted. Wireline logging data and pressure testing confirmed a gross oil column of around 63 meters. After casing and completing, the well flowed at a stabilised flow rate in excess of 8000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) although the true potential was not realised because of equipment limitations on the rig.

HARDMAN RESOURCES NL (22 June 2000)

Hardman Resources NL advise that it has committed to the Year Two Seismic Programme for Blocks 1, 7 and 8 offshore Mauritania. Earlier this week the Joint Venture Operator, Dana Petroleum, presented the results of the Year One seismic mapping and technical study to the Government of Mauritania. A number of significant hydrocarbon leads have now been identified in both the shallow and deep water portions of the three PSC areas. The Year Two Seismic Programme is expected to further upgrade the potential of the identified leads.

Blocks 1, 7 and 8 are located to the south and north of the Woodside Petroleum and British-Borneo/Agip Joint Venture areas, currently subject to farmin agreements with Hardman. The three blocks cover a large area of approximately 34,000 square kilometres and extend from the coastline to beyond 2,000 metres water depth.

NEW HAMPTON GOLDFIELDS LIMITED (22 June 2000)

EXPLORATION RESULTS

Recent drilling at Noble 5 intersected 8 metres at 148.8 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold from 29 metres, 6 metres at 18.3 g/t gold from 43 metres and 11 metres at 9.7 g/t gold from 28 metres, which is in addition to the previous high grade intersections of 8 metres at 60.5 g/t gold from 32 metres and 10 metres at 41.8 g/t from 28 metres. The mineralisation is open along strike and at depth. Resources and reserves for this near surface high grade mineralisation will be estimated at the completion of the current drilling program. Noble is located 9 kilometres south east of Coolgardie.

TALON RESOURCES NL (22 June 2000)

Talon Subsidiary, Supersorb Minerals NL has commenced a programme of mine remediation trials at an overseas mine site of a major international mining company.

Following on from successful initial small scale trials that have been previously carried out, a two tonne sample of a specialised mix of activated zeolite, kaolinite and other additives have been despatched to the mining site for aerial spreading over an approximate 2 hectare trial area. The trials are aimed at regenerating growth in contaminated soils, and, if successful, could lead to a major rehabilitation contract for Supersorb at the mine site involved.

FIRST AUSTRALIAN RESOURCES NL (21 June 2000)

Progress Report

CLEAR BRANCH FIELD, JACKSON PARISH, NORTH LOUISIANA

Location building is complete and a land rig has been mobilized to commence a 12,200 foot test of the Clear Branch Field Gas Prospect. The well is expected to have a duration of around 30 days.

The location lies on trend with significant Hosston and Cotton Valley production which blankets a portion of North Louisiana. Hunt Oil discovered the field in 1976 and has produced in excess of 55 billion cubic feet from multiple Hosston reservoirs.

Importantly, all of the gas completions within the field were natural and no infill drilling or stimulation has been applied at Clear Branch. Engineering studies suggest significant amounts of producible gas could remain within the Hosston reservoirs and be captured by wells drilled on smaller spacing. In addition the deeper Cotton Valley gives the prospect considerable upside with overall potential being in the 50 plus billion cubic foot range. The test well is designed to evaluate both objectives.

SOUTH DREW FIELD, OUACHITA PARISH, NORTH LOUISIANA

The Silmonietal #1 well, the first well in the Company's year 2000 multi prospect program in Louisiana, is currently producing around 1 million cubic feet of gas and 15 barrels of oil per day from a strandline Cotton Valley sand. Further wells are planned within the field where sub surface geology, engineering studies and modern fracturing technology support a potential target of 10 billion cubic feet of gas.

LAKE LONG PROSPECT, LAFOURCHE PARISH, SOUTH LOUISIANA

FAR has been invited to participate in the NW Segment Prospect within the Lake Long Field where FAR holds existing producing interests. A well is planned for late next quarter.

The prospect will require the drilling of a deviated well to test thirteen Miocene zones, eleven of which are productive in a major field fault block immediately south and adjacent to the NW Segment Fault Block. The southern block has produced 25 million barrels of oil.

FLETCHER CHALLENGE LIMITED (21 June 2000)

Fletcher Challenge Energy has achieved further excellent flow test results from the Pohokura-2 well confirming the significance of the gas and condensate discovery.

The well was perforated from 3582.0 metres to 3603.0 metres along hole during the weekend and subsequently cleaned up and stabilised. The main flow period commenced at 7.45am on Monday 19 June.

The well is currently shut in for a pressure build-up survey, a further part of the testing programme that measures the recovery response of the reservoir.

TAP OIL NL (21 June 2000)

Tap Oil NL provides the following update on Tanami-4 and Tanami-5 appraisal wells which spudded on 8 June 2000 and 9 June 2000 respectively.

LOCATION

The wells are located in TL/6, 2 kilometres south of Varanus Island at latitude 20 deg 40'25.08"S and longitude 115 deg 35'02.40"E.

PROGRESS

TANAMI-4
As at 10.30am this morning, Tanami-4 has drilled ahead to 2,100 metres measured depth. MWD (Measured While Drilling) logs indicate a gross hydrocarbon column of 18 metres within the Flag sandstone interval at a depth of 2,012 metres measured depth, being approximately 9 metres higher than the top of the Flag sandstone in the currently producing Tanami-1 oil well.

TANAMI-5
Tanami-5 has drilled ahead to its total depth of 2,114 metres measured depth. The Top Flag reservoir sandstones were encountered at 2,054 metres measured depth (1,881.8 metres true vertical depth), approximately 28 metres low to prognosis. MWD logging indicates the reservoir sands to contain no hydrocarbons. This well has been suspended as a possible future water injection well.

FORWARD PROGRAMME
Logging of Tanami-4 will be completed. Pressure data and fluid samples will be obtained by wireline to confirm the nature of the hydrocarbons. Should the sampling programme demonstrate an oil accumulation, development will be immediately evaluated.

TAP OIL NL (21 June 2000)

Tap Oil NL provides the following update on the Corkybark-l appraisal well which spudded on 10 June 2000.

LOCATION

The well is located in the offshore permit WA-234-P at latitude 20 deg 53'38.80"S and longitude 114 deg 58'20.33"E.

PROGRESS

Due to drilling difficulties, Corkybark-1 was respudded as Corkybark-1A on 13 June 2000.

As at 8.30am today, the well has drilled ahead to 1,400 metres measured depth and will continue to drill ahead to the planned total depth of 2,800 metres measured depth.

TAP COMMENT

The Corkybark-lA well is designed to evaluate potential reserves in an independent anticlinal structure situated approximately 5 kilometres to the east north east of the Woollybutt Oil Field. The well will target the Upper Barrow group sandstone reservoir.

The well is expected to take a further 15 days to reach its projected total depth of 2,800 metres measured depth. Should it be successful, mean reserves are estimated at 20mmbbls.

BeMaX Resources NL (20 June 2000)

BeMaX RESOURCES NL/ BASIN MINERALS NL JOINT VENTURE OUTLINES SIGNIFICANT RESOURCE POTENTIAL AT YABBIE - SHAMROCK

In the Murray Basin, BeMaX Resources N.L. is earning up to 70% interest in EL 5532 and EL 5578, located to the south east and contiguous to EL5474, which contains the large Ginkgo mineral sand deposit.

For further information, click here

BROKEN HILL PROPRIETARY COMPANY LIMITED (20 June 2000)

BHP advise that wholly-owned subsidiary, BHP Petroleum (Trinidad) Ltd., has made a second natural gas discovery with its second exploration well in the Block 2(c) Production Sharing Contract area, offshore Trinidad.

BHP Petroleum is the operator and holds 45per cent working interest in Block 2(c). Elf Petroleum Trinidad B.V. (30%) and Talisman (Trinidad) Ltd. (25%) are the other participants.

The Aripo-1 exploration well is located 40 kilometres off Trinidad's east coast in approximately 30 metres of water. The well commenced drilling on 4 May 2000 and encountered natural gas in a similar section to that successfully tested in the first exploration well, Angostura-1. A cased hole test was conducted and the well flowed natural gas at a stabilized rate of 21.6 million standard cubic feet per day on a 44/64th inch choke. The maximum rate flow test was 46.3 million standard cubic feet per day on a 80/64th inch choke.

Forward plans for Block 2(c) will be determined after information obtained from the well is evaluated, which will include assessing the cumulative impact of the Aripo-1 discovery with the previously announced (14 May 1999) Angostura-1 well (30 million standard cubic feet per day on a 56/64 inch choke). Angostura-1 is also located in Block 2(c), 4 kilometres to the southwest of Aripo-1.

BHP will drill another exploration well in adjacent Block 2(ab) which is held by BHP Petroleum (operator, 50%) and Talisman (Trinidad) Holdings Ltd. (50%). Operations will commence later this year.

Blocks 2(c) and 2(ab) were acquired in 1996 and are included in BHP's gas strategy. The area is a proven hydrocarbon province and, in addition to a local gas market based on petrochemical manufacturing, there are established liquefied natural gas facilities exporting gas to eastern US markets.

DELTA GOLD LIMITED (20 June 2000)

President Mugabe corrected international press reports on Thursday, 15 June 2000 concerning the Zimbabwe Government's policy on foreign ownership of mines in Zimbabwe. He was quoted in the State-controlled Zimbabwe Herald newspaper on Saturday, 17 June 2000 as follows:

"I was misquoted by the international press. I did not say we were going to take the gold mines. I never said so. I said we shall pursue the policy of empowerment and indigenisation with vigour. That means we want to see more of our people entering manufacturing, mining and commerce. There won't be any seizure, never ever of gold mines, but what we would pursue is the policy of empowerment and get our multi-national companies to open up to some of the black entrepreneurs. That is what I said. That is the policy."

LAKES OIL NL (20 June 2000)

NORTH SEASPRAY-3

Lakes Oil advise that as at 6 am this morning the North Seaspray-3 was at total depth of 1170 metres

During the last 48 hours air drilling was terminated, and the hole converted to mud before drilling ahead to its planned total depth. Wireline logs were run which revealed much of the hole was well oversize, as well as a considerable accumulation of formation debris beneath the 7 inch casing shoe. Because of these factors it became apparent that further testing of the gas sands was unlikely to be successful. However a drill stem test was run, and a much reduced flow of gas, measured at 22 thousand cubic feet per day, was recorded at surface. In view of these results the well has been temporarily suspended.

While Lakes Oil is disappointed by the reduced flow rate, the fact that gas flowed to surface at all is regarded as significant in view of the hole conditions.

For further information, click here

MACMIN N.L (20 June 2000)

The drilling program completed at the proposed Twin Hills Mine, Texas Project, Queensland has defined additional mineralisation both within the proposed open pit and to the south of the proposed pit. Updating of ore reserves by independent mining consultants will commence this week with new ore reserve figures likely to be available in mid July.

For further information, click here

MACMIN N.L (20 June 2000)

Some twin hills drill hole intersections - APRIL/MAY PROGRAM 2000

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Mount Burgess Gold Mining Company (20 June 2000)

TSUMKWE PROJECT AREA - NAMIBIA

Despite the discovery of numerous kimberlites in Namibia, most notably in the Gibeon province, no primary diamond production from host kimberlites occurs in the country.

The potential to find economic diamond host rocks, which could account for some of the diamonds found offshore from Namibia, has led Mount Burgess into the country.

Our area of interest, the Tsumkwe project area, is located in northeast Namibia, in the Kalahari region commonly referred to as "Bushmanland".

The aim of my address this afternoon is to firstly introduce Mount Burgess from a corporate point of view, cover a little of the background as to how and why the Company became involved with a project in Africa and then outline the exploration strategies in place and the results of our exploration work so far.

For full presentation, click here

ARC ENERGY NL (17 June 2000)

TIMOR SEA SUCCESS

The current multi-rig Timor Sea drilling program resulted in three recent exploration successes, two of which involve small listed Australian companies.

The participation of listed Australian petroleum companies in the Puffin 5 oil discovery and the Prometheus 1 gas discovery has highlighted the potential of this very prospective area as shown on the attached map.

Of particular significance to ARC in relation to these recent discoveries is the Crux-1 gas/condensate discovery close to AC/P27. ARC and its 50/50 joint venture participant in AC/P27, Flare Petroleum (a subsidiary of CDNX listed Daytona Energy Corporation), believe that Crux-1 has significantly upgraded the prospectivity of AC/P27.

CRUX-1 DISCOVERY

Crux-1 was drilled by Nippon Mitsubishi Oil as operator, to a total depth of 3950 metres in permit AC/P23, fifteen kilometres from AC/P27.

As announced by Nippon Oil on 25 May, the well was tested at a combined rate of 65.5 million cubic feet of gas per day and 1,921 barrels of 52deg API condensate a day from a gross pay column of 280 metres. The well has now been plugged and abandoned pending assessment of the commerciality of the discovery.

ARC's technical review of the geophysical data over the structure suggests that it could hold recoverable reserves of up to 1.5 TCF of gas and 50 mmbbls of condensate. However, industry sources suggest reserves could be significantly higher than this. Further technical details in relation to the Crux-1 well and its relationship to AC/P27 are available on ARC's website.

AC/P27
The Crux discovery lies adjacent to AC/P27 which contains the large Sleeper prospect. The Sleeper prospect has the potential to hold in excess of 300 million barrels of recoverable oil if hydrocarbons are present. The Crux-1 discovery has established a proven hydrocarbon migration pathway directly into the Sleeper prospect with the large size and shallow depth of Sleeper making it a very attractive target.

ARC and Flare are in discussion with a number of parties in relation to their participation in the drilling of a well on the Sleeper prospect in late 2000.

BOULDER STEEL LIMITED (17 June 2000)

Encouraging Assay Results from Stillwater Montana

Idaho Consolidated Metals Corp announce it has received the first of a series of platinum group metal (PGM) assays on samples recently submitted from Idaho Consolidated properties in the Stillwater Complex.

The highest-grade assay came from a shallow 110-foot hole, the last two feet of which graded 19.66 grams per ton of combined platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd) and rhodium (Rh). Idaho Consolidated's geologist described the two-foot interval entered at 108 feet below surface as a "pegmatoidal zone" with chromite blebs. The hole was drilled in 1985, apparently for assessment work, by Anaconda Corp. The core was not split for assaying. This sample is the first of the previously drilled core samples sent to the lab from the Company joint-venture property with Chrome Corp.

DELTA GOLD LIMITED / PLATSEARCH (17 June 2000)

PlatSearch signed a joint venture agreement with Delta Gold Exploration Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Delta Gold Limited, whereby Delta can farm in to PlatSearch's Kalabity Project EL 2671 located in the Curnamona Craton region, approximately 35 kilometres north from Olary. The tenement is currently held by PlatSearch 80% and Eaglehawk Geological Consultants Pty Ltd 20%.
Delta can earn a 75% interest in the tenement by completed expenditure of $500,000. This expenditure includes a commitment to complete a programme of RAB drilling over two selected magnetic anomaly targets within the first 12 months. Further, Delta must complete 500 metres percussion or diamond drilling within the first 18 months to stay in the joint venture. When Delta has earned a 75% interest, PlatSearch and Eaglehawk can contribute or convert their respective 20% and 5% interests to net smelter royalty interests.

LAKES OIL NL (17 June 2000)

NORTH SEASPRAY-3

Lakes Oil advises that as at 6 a.m. this morning the North Seaspray-3 well was at a depth of 1155 metres.

During the previous 24 hours the well encountered gas in the target zone between 1135 metres and 1155 metres, with a flow of gas measured at 150 thousand cubic feet per day, including hydrocarbons within the range C1 to C5. Difficulties are now being experienced in the hole, and it has been decided to cease air drilling, return to conventional mud drilling, drill to the programmed total depth, then run wireline logs and look at the possibility of increasing the flow rate, which will involve further testing.

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Woodside Petroleum (17 June 2000)

Shell Group ('Shell') confirmed that, as part of its recent proposal to the Board of Woodside Petroleum Ltd ('Woodside'), it has offered Woodside an opportunity to join Shell in the redevelopment of the Soroosh and Nowrooz oil fields in Iran, together with upstream oil and gas assets in New Zealand.
Shell said these assets would supplement the Australian oil and gas portfolio involved in the proposal, which include Shell's 1/6th interest in the North West Shelf Oil and Gas Venture, 25% interest in the Laminaria oilfield, 28.57% interest in the undeveloped Greater Gorgon gas resource, 12.5% in WA267-P, 8.33% in Scott Reef-Brecknock gas/condensate resource, 85% interest in Evans Shoal gas resource, and interests ranging from 25%-33% in the Sunrise-Troubadour gas/condensate resource in the Northern Territory and Zone of Cooperation Area, as well as other upstream interests.
Under the proposal, Shell's intention is to develop Perth as a third centre of excellence for its global exploration and production activities. This would complement its existing centres in The Hague and Houston and would result in Perth becoming a primary hub for the advancement of Shell's and Woodside's strategic ambitions in the wider Asia Pacific region.

DIORO EXPLORATION NL (16 June 2000)

On 25 May 2000 Dioro Exploration NL announced that the Mungari Joint Venture (49% Dioro and 51% Mines and Resources Australia Pty Ltd) would commence a program of 10,200 metres of drilling in June 2000 over the Frog's Leg gold project. The drilling will comprise reverse circulation and diamond drilling and will include initial drilling under the lake to test a 600 metre north westerly extension of the existing mineralised zone.

FLETCHER CHALLENGE LIMITED (16 June 2000)

Country : Canada

Block Area: Wimborne
Well Name : 3-26-32-26 W4M
Objective : An Exploration well testing Glauconite Oil
Current Status : * Spud: 03/06/2000
* Cased for Glauconite Oil
* Rig Released: 12/06/2000

Block Area: Wolf Creek
Well Name : 7-6-42-6 W5M
Objective : A Development well testing Ostracod Oil
Current Status : * Spud: 03/06/2000
* Directionally drilling ahead

Block Area: Bart
Well Name : 14-6-40-15 W4M
Objective : An Exploration well testing Glauconite Gas
Current Status : * Spud: 06/06/2000
* Cased for Glauconite Gas
* Rig Released: 13/06/2000

Block Area: Latern
Well Name : 16-19-38-6 W4M
Objective : A Development well testing for McLaren Gas
Current Status : * Spud: 05/06/2000
* Cased for McLaren Gas
* Rig Released: 08/06/2000

FLETCHER CHALLENGE LIMITED (16 June 2000)

Country : New Zealand

Block Area: PML 381012
Well Name : MB-7
Objective : Horizontal development well in the Maui B D1.10 oil reservoir
Current Status : * Completed side-track and drilled 8(1/2)" hole to 2967m
* Current operation @ 0600hrs 15th June, making up new 8(1/2)" BHA to drill on

Block Area: PML 381012
Well Name : MB-6
Objective : Horizontal development well in the Maui B D1.10 oil reservoir
Current Status : * Suspended well with stuck 4(1/2)" liner pending evaluation of side-track on completion options while operations proceed on MB-7

Block Area: PEP 38459
Well Name : Pohokura-2
Objective : Appraisal well evaluating Pohokura-1 gas condensate discovery in the sands of the Kapuni Group
Current Status : * Ran cement band tog on 7" liner
* Ran in with 18 metre perforating gun assembly
* Perforated DST#1 interval 3614.0 - 3632mAH
* Flowed well 8 hours on clean-up to LP well test clean-up vessel
* Conducted multi-rate test with consecutive four hour flows. 1st rate 6.8mmscfd at 3680psi flowing pressure, second rate 11.3mmscfd at 2730psi flowing pressure, 3rd rate 18.4mmscfd at 1370psi flowing pressure. Average condensate ratio throughout flow test was 70 - 80bbls/mmscf
* Present operations at 0600hrs 15th June preparing for second production test. Planned DST#2 perforation interval in 3582.0 - 3603.0mAH
* DST#2 test should commence Saturday 17th June 2000

Block Area: PML 38036
Well Name : McKee-9A
Objective : Sidetrack development infill well in the McKee oil reservoir
Current Status : * Tripping for bit change and continue drilling
* Currently in McKee formation at 2212m, estimated
TD of 2280m
* Estimated tops coming in as per expectations
* Expected logging overnight

Country : Brunei

Block Area: Block CD
Well Name : LKU-1
Objective : (a) Secondary Pilocene objectives 2187m
(b) Secondary Miocene objectives 2207m
(c) Primary Miocene objectives 2877 - 3062m
(d) Secondary Miocene objectives 3237 - 3457mss
Current Status : * Laksamana Utara-1 spudded at 2030hrs on 20th May
* Drilled 8(1/2)" hole to 2518m. Ran logs and cemented liner
* Drilled with 6-7" bicentred bit to 3145m
* Ran logs including checkshot survey
* Confirmed objectives penetrated
* No significant hydrocarbons encountered. Deeper intervals not expected to contain sufficient hydrocarbons
* Commenced abandonment
* Rig to move to East Egret well location

LAKES OIL NL (16 June 2000)

NORTH SEASPRAY-3

Lakes Oil N.L. wishes to announce that, as at 6 am this morning, Thursday 15 June, 2000, the North Seaspray-3 well remained at a depth of 1104 metres, with preparations underway to drill out of the casing. Repairs to air drilling equipment have now been completed and it is anticipated that the well will penetrate the target section today.

For further information, click here

OIL COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED (16 June 2000)

QUEENSLAND

WELL: Challum 18 DW1
TYPE: SWQ Unit Gas Development
LOCATION: PL 59, Aquitaine B Block, 1.25km NE Challum 1 and
20km W of the Ballera Gas Centre
STATUS AT 15/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Drilling ahead. Current measured depth is 2872m, with 460m progress for the week.
Challum 18 is a high angle well with two sub-horizontal lateral well bores designed to drain separate reservoirs in the Permian age Toolachee Formation. Challum DW1 is designated the lower lateral wellbore while Challum DW2 is designated the upper lateral wellbore.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: DW1 3121m MD DW2 3100m MD

NORTHERN TERRITORY

WELL: West Mereenie 17
TYPE: Gas Development/Appraisal
LOCATION: PL 4, Mereenie Block, Amadeus Basin, 2.0km SE of West Mereenie 16, and approx. 230km W of Alice Springs
STATUS AT 15/06/2000 0600 HOURS: West Mereenie 17 has been cased and suspended as a future gas producer. The well reached a total depth of 1286m with no progress for the week. The rig was released on 08/06/2000.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 1414m

USA

WELL: Runnels 1
TYPE: Gas Exploration
LOCATION: Amerada 8 Prospect, Clopper Ranch Joint Venture, Matagorda County, Texas USA
STATUS AT 14/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Runnels has been plugged and abandoned. The well reached a total depth of 3654m with 298m progress for the week.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 3749m

WELL: Webb 1
TYPE: Gas Exploration
LOCATION: Suemaur Moore Prospect, San Patricio County, Texas
STATUS AT 14/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Drilling ahead. The current depth is 1703m with1185m progress for the week.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 4115m

WELL: State Tract 157#1
TYPE: Gas Exploration
LOCATION: South Long Reef Prospect, Aransas County, Texas
STATUS AT 14/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Drilling ahead. The current depth and progress for the week is 1555m. The well spudded on 08/06/2000.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 3048m

OIL COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED (16 June 2000)

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
WELL: Moomba 107
TYPE: Gas Development
LOCATION: PPL 7, Moomba Block, 1.95km W of Moomba 93, 2.1km SW of Moomba 58, and some 9km NW of the Moomba Gas Plant.
STATUS AT 15/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Drilling ahead. Current depth and progress for the week is 1739m. The well spudded on 11/06/2000.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 2635m

WELL: Toolachee West 1
TYPE: Gas Exploration
LOCATION: PPL 14, Toolachee Block. 1.5km S of Toolachee 46, 2.0km W of Toolachee 14 and some 60km SE of the Moomba Gas Plant.
STATUS AT 15/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Drilling ahead. Current depth and progress for the week is 1206m. The well spudded on 11/06/2000.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 2292m

WELL: Pondrinie North 2
TYPE: Gas Development
LOCATION: PPL 90, Merrimelia-Innamincka Block, 0.8km NNE of Pondrinie North 1, 1.3km NE of Packsaddle 3, and some 75km NE of the Moomba Gas Plant.
STATUS AT 15/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Pondrinie North 2 has been plugged and suspended. The well reached a total depth of 2392m, with no progress for the week. The rig was released on 11/06/2000 and moved to Pondrinie 17DW, a PPL 90 high angle gas development well.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 2393m

WELL: Pondrinie 17DW1
TYPE: Gas Development
LOCATION: PPL 90, Merrimelia-Innamincka Block, 1km WNW of Pondrinie 15DW, 1.8km WSW of Pondrinie 8 and 75km NE of the Moomba Gas Plant.
STATUS AT 15/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Drilling ahead. Current depth and progress for the week is 112m. The well spudded on 14/06/2000. Pondrinie 17DW is a high angle gas development well designed to drain gas reserves in the Permian aged Merrimelia Formation.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 2820m

OIL COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED (16 June 2000)

Oil Company Of Australia Limited, on behalf of the PL 101 Joint Venture advise that:

Peat No 9 a coal gas development well, situated approximately 536 metres northeast of Peat No 4, latitude 26 deg. 01 min. 53.38 sec. south, longitude 150 deg. 05 min. 53.08 sec. east, was spudded at 08:00 hours on June 10, 2000. Surface casing was set at 104.0 metres RT. At 04:30 hours, June 13, 2000, the well reached a total depth of 869.5 metres RT. The well was cased and suspended with the rig released at 12:00 hours June 14, 2000. At 0600 hours today the rig was being moved to the Peat 25 well location. Progress for the week was 869.5 metres.

The primary target of the well was coal seams in the Baralaba coal measures.

ROC OIL COMPANY LIMITED (16 June 2000)

ONSHORE UK (ROC 100%)

As of 12:00pm on 14 June 2000 (UK time), the Keddington 2 well had reached a depth of 2,602 metres (2,201 metres TVD) and was tripping to change bits. Keddington 2 well is targeting oil productive sandstones in the basal Westphalian section.

TAP OIL NL (16 June 2000)

Tap Oil NL advise that the Intrepid-1 exploration well spudded at 16.00 hours on 14 June 2000.

LOCATION
The well is located in WA-277-P, approximately 400 kms West of Darwin in the Timor Sea at latitude 12 deg 56' 02.04" South and 125 deg 50' 51.72" East.

PROGRESS
As at 06.00 hours on 15 June 2000, the well has drilled ahead to 146 metres and will continue to drill ahead to the planned total depth of 1,287 metres measured depth.

TAP COMMENT
The Intrepid prospect is a fault bounded structure overlying basement.

The Intrepid-1 well is targeting Permian and Upper Carboniferous sandstone reservoirs. The well is expected to take 8 days to reach its planned total depth of 1,287 metres. Should it be successful in discovering oil, mean recoverable reserves are estimated at 70 mmbbls.

TECTONIC RESOURCES NL (16 June 2000)

Kundip Joint Venture

Current interpretation of the mineralisation indicate a zone of gold/copper mineralisation accessible by open pit mining that is located close to the surface with the polymetallic zone of mineralisation below and to the east gold/copper resource.

It would be proposed to initially exploit the gold/copper mineralisation with the polymetallic mineralisation being viewed as a longer-term production opportunity.

BEACH PETROLEUM NL (15 June 2000)

Beach Petroleum advise that Taipan-1 has reached a total depth of 7,090 feet (2,161 metres) and, at 0800 hours on 14 June 2000, the operation was preparing to run cement plugs prior to abandoning the well.

DST #1 was conducted within the Basal Jurassic over the interval 6449-6485 feet and recovered 65 barrels of formation water.

FLETCHER CHALLENGE LIMITED (15 June 2000)

Fletcher Challenge Energy announce that it has successfully completed the first of two planned flow tests on the Pohokura-2 well and achieved excellent flow rates.

The well was perforated from 3,614m to 3,632m along hole at 10am on Sunday 11th June and subsequently cleaned up and stabilised. The main flow period commenced at 7.40 am on Tuesday 13th June. Three separate flow tests were conducted with preliminary results as follows:

CHOKE SIZE
(inches) GAS FLOW RATE
(mmscf per day) CGR*
(bbl/mmscf) FTHP*
(psi) BS&W CO(2)

20/64 6.8 75 3680 3% 5%

30/64 11.3 79 2730 5% 6%

56/64 18.4 89 1370 6% 6%

Note: CGR = Condensate to Gas Ratio
FTHP = Flow Tubing Head Pressure
BS&W = Basic Sediment and Water

The well is currently shut in for a pressure build-up survey, a further part of the testing programme that measures the recovery response of the reservoir.

LAKES OIL NL (15 June 2000)

NORTH SEASPRAY-3

Lakes Oil N.L. announce that, as at 6 am, Wednesday 14 June, 2000, the North Seaspray-3 well remained at a depth of 1104 metres. Following installation of newly arrived parts for the rotating blow out preventer, the well is now unloading drill fluids. The blowout preventer, however, still requires further replacement parts and, much to the annoyance of Lakes Oil, these parts must be installed prior to drilling out into the target sands.

We are awaiting advice as to when these additional parts will be available and we anticipate that drilling out will now take place late today.

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MOLOPO AUSTRALIA NL (15 June 2000)

The Directors announce that the LW-L1 well, at the Company's Liulin coalbed methane project in China, has reached total depth. The well will now be cased and prepared for fracture stimulation, which will occur after the drilling of LW-L2 and LW-L3 wells. The target seam 8 was intersected as prognosed at a depth of 664-673 metres.

Spudding of the LW-L2 well is expected to commence after geophysical logging of LW-L1.

MOUNT BURGESS GOLD MINING COMPANY NL (15 June 2000)

EXPLORATION - TSUMKWE DIAMOND PROJECT, NAMIBIA

In the Quarterly Report for the quarter ended 31 March 2000 the Company announced the recovery of a >1mm macrodiamond and indicator minerals comprising 237 pyrope garnets and 3 picro-ilmenite grains from a total of 127 loam samples collected within the Tsumkwe project area.

Subsequent electron microprobe analysis of 168 of the pyrope garnets confirmed all to be peridotitic in origin. Five of the garnets were classified as G10 (from Dawson and Stephen’s 1975 garnet grouping methodology) and 163 reported to the G9 group.

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WEST OIL NL (15 June 2000)

Norwest Energy NL advise Puffin 5 located in AC/P22 within the Timor Sea is in the process of being suspended as a potential oil producer. It is expected that the operator will propose drilling a further appraisal well into the Puffin Oil Field this year.

This oil accumulation is additional to and separate from the located in the vicinity of Puffin 2. Originally drilled in 1974, Puffin 2 flowed 4608 barrels of oil per day during a drill stem test.

ASHANTI GOLDFIELDS COMPANY LIMITED (14 June 2000)

Accra - Ashanti's Geita mine in Tanzania has poured its first gold more than three months ahead of schedule. Weighing more than six kilograms, this gold pour was achieved in less than 12 months after the first concrete pour. The mine, which is currently being commissioned, is scheduled to be opened formally on August 3.

AURORA GOLD LIMITED (14 June 2000)

MINING COMMENCES AT PBH PIT AS ILLEGAL MINERS CLEARED

Aurora's Chief Operating Officer-Indonesia, Mr Joe Ariti announced today that clearance and removal from the area of illegal miners from the Company's Permata-Batu Badinding-Hulubai mining area at Mt Muro has been completed.

Mr Ariti said that government authorities, assisted by a task force of local villagers re-established access to the PBH complex on 9 June and mining activities commenced on 11 June.

CENTAUR MINING & EXPLORATION LIMITED (14 June 2000)

Cawse Nickel Operations achieved another record month of metal production in May 2000 and cash operating costs continue to improve.

ESMERALDA EXPLORATION LIMITED (14 June 2000)

AURUL TO RECOMMENCE OPERATIONS AT BAIA MARE

Aurul S.A. is to recommence its tailings retreatment project at Baia Mare on 13 June, 2000, having received approval from the Romanian government and environmental authorities and strong local support.

FLETCHER CHALLENGE LIMITED (14 June 2000)

Fletcher Challenge Energy today announced that testing has begun on the first of two planned Drill Stem Tests (DST-1 36,14 metres to 3,632 metres along hole) in the Pohokura-2 well.

The well was perforated at 10.00 am on Sunday June 11th and at 7 am on Monday June 12th gas was flowing to surface. Following cleanup and stabilisation the well was shut in overnight and today has been opened up to conduct multi-rate flow tests. These tests will be followed by a 12 hour build-up test later today. The preliminary results of DST-1 should be available tomorrow.

JUBILEE MINES NL (14 June 2000)

Jubilee has received the analytical results from JCD113 and JCD114, the recently completed diamond core holes in the Cosmos Deeps nickel sulphide deposit. These holes intersected several zones of massive, semi-massive and stringer mineralisation. Results, using a cut-off grade of 1.0% nickel, are:

JCD113 (6944780mN / 261080mE; -60 deg / 270 deg)
3.6% Ni over 3.65m from 645.3m
7.2% Ni over 0.55m from 665.6m
12.3% Ni over 3.2m from 681.3m

JCD114 (6944620mN / 260980mE; -60 deg / 270 deg)
5.3% Ni over 2.95m from 549.45m
9.0% Ni over 0.8m from 571.7m

These two drill holes are located on the northernmost and southernmost sections drilled into the deposit to date. Adjacent to and within these intersections are zones of disseminated and stringer sulphide mineralisation which contain nickel grades in the range 0.5 - 1.0% Ni.

Further diamond drilling is continuing to test the extensions and the internal continuity of the Cosmos Deeps deposit.

KAGARA ZINC LIMITED (14 June 2000)

Kagara Zinc Ltd is pleased to provide the following update on the feasibility study at the Mt Garnet deposit.

The emphasis since the last report has been on infill drilling on a 20 metre by 25 metre pattern within the top 80 metres of the deposit representing the first 2 years of production at 500,000 tonnes per year.

Since the last report 34 reverse circulation holes have been completed for which assays have been received for 26 holes. Nine of these were drilled as part of a sterilisation programme beneath the proposed tailings dam area and two were drilled in the oxide zone above the ore body. The remaining 15 infill holes for which assays have been received are tabulated below.

In addition, 8 diamond drill holes have been completed. Four of these were drilled to provide geotechnical information in the vicinity of the proposed open pit margins. The remaining four were either infill holes or exploration holes which are tabulated below.

The results received to date have confirmed the continuity and grades within the deposit and returned intersections including 30 metres at 11.66% zinc in GTR16, 29 metres at 10.32% zinc in GTR 37 and 7.6 metres at 19.08% zinc in GTD 73. Horizontal widths of all intersections approximate 70% of drilled widths.

LAKES OIL NL (14 June 2000)

Lakes Oil N.L. wishes to announce that, as at 6 am this morning, Tuesday 13 June, 2000, the North Seaspray-3 well was at a depth of 1104 metres and waiting on parts to repair the rig. This delay has been brought about by a breakdown in the rotating blow out preventer. It is unlikely that it will be possible to drill out for at least 24 hours. Parts are being air freighted in from Perth and will need to be fitted prior to commencement of air drilling into the target sands. 7 inch casing has been set at 1103.8 metres thus sealing off the potentially troublesome Latrobe Formation coal section.

This delay, although annoying and costly, does not effect our planned test of the Lower Golden Beach sands, which flowed gas to surface in the North Seaspray-1 well drilled in 1962. It is anticipated that drilling will recommence late tomorrow (Wednesday).

For further information, click here

MINCOR RESOURCES NL (14 June 2000)

HIGHLIGHTS

1.1 Mincor has elected to further postpone the drilling programme at its Sabeto Licence in Fiji.
1.2 Mincor's next drilling is conditionally planned as follows:
Exploration drilling of gold targets:
* Geita Project, Tanzania, July-August 2000;
* Bankole Project, Guinea, October-November 2000;
Resource drilling (copper):
* H4 Project, Reko Diq, Pakistan, September 2000.
1.3 Australian-focused business development activities continue.
1.4 Mincor is an active and well-funded exploration company with an exclusive focus on mineral resources in the "real" economy.

NORWEST ENERGY NL (14 June 2000)

Norwest advises that the AC/P-22 Joint Venture Operator, Alberta Energy Corporation (AEC), is proposing that Puffin-5 will be suspended as a potential oil producer.

Initial test results indicate that the joint venturers have discovered a high quality oil reservoir. Core samples, log data and preliminary drill stem test results indicate that the reservoir is highly permeable and may be very productive. The drill stem test had to be terminated earlier than expected due to mechanical difficulties and production testing equipment not being on site to control the unexpected sand production from unconsolidated sand in the reservoir. While the drill stem test flowed oil to surface, no stabilized production flow rate data was obtained. Wireline logs indicate a total of 9 meters of net oil pay in the well. AEC is assessing plans to drill an appraisal well in the late third or fourth quarter of 2000 to confirm the commercial viability of the discovery.

NORWEST ENERGY NL (14 June 2000)

Operator AEC announced today an oil discovery at Puffin-5 in West Oil's AC/P22, Timor Sea, Northwest Shelf of Western Australia. It is proposed that Puffin-5 will be suspended as a potential producer but because of the seismically defined extent of the field, AEC is already assessing plans to drill an appraisal well in the late third or fourth quarter 2000 to the southwest of Puffin-5.

West Oil's remapping of the structure calculated using information gathered from the Puffin-5 well including velocities and porosities shows that the Updip structure potentially contains up to 55 million barrels of oil recoverable.

RED BACK MINING NL (14 June 2000)

The fourth Red Back drilling program at Chirano was completed in May.
Sixty holes (CHRC 177 to 236) were completed for a total of 5992 metres. The drilling was chiefly infill rather than exploratory in nature. The main aim was to improve the Company's understanding of the structure of the deposits and to lift the level of confidence in the defined resources. Overall total metres drilled to date at Chirano is 23,747 metres.

Resource Service Group is currently using the new drill results to update the Chirano resource inventory. The RSG model and pit optimisation due for completion in early July, forms part of the Chirano pre-feasibility study designed to identify the optimum development path for Chirano.

Suraw is the most southerly of the Chirano deposits. New drilling here was concentrated on infilling the high grade core of the deposit. The new work confirmed that the lode is thin by Chirano standards, but of unusually high grade with individual assays up to 18 g/t in the new holes. The best new intersection is 20 metres at 4.75g/t in CHRC 179, including 5 metres at 12.32g/t.

Akoti South, 500 metres north of Suraw, is a small but strong gold in soil anomaly, which had previously been tested by only two drill holes. The best new result (15 metres at 2.0g/t) lies 25 metres north of an earlier intercept of 21 metres at 1.09g/t. Deeper drilling is needed here.

At Akoti North the new drilling confirmed that the structure and grade distribution is well understood, and delivered thick intersections of good grade comparable to previous results. The best new intersection is 57 metres at 4.85g/t in CHRC 235. The vertical plunge of the deposit was confirmed, and it remains open at depth.

The new holes at Akoti Extended confirmed that there are two lodes side by side. The presence of a steeply plunging high grade shoot was confirmed, (24m at 6.46g/t including 9m at 12.50g/t in CHRC 208) and the mineralisation was traced to a vertical depth of 100 metres.

Immediately along strike to the north of Akoti Extended two new holes at Paboase gave encouraging intersections, the best being 19 metres at 5.97g/t in CHRC 210, including a best assay of 25.8g/t. The strike and dip of the Paboase mineralisation is now clear for the first time, and further drilling can now be tackled with confidence.

Intensive new drilling at Obra was designed to increase confidence in the resource and more accurately define small high grade shoots within the lode. The results have not been fully assessed, but include numerous very thick intersections ranging up to 76 metres at 2.26g/t in CHRC 218.

Sarlehu is the most northerly prospect drilled to date. New drilling along strike to the north and south gave only weak intersections. Three new holes within the deposit returned results comparable to previous programs.

A single hole tested a dipole-dipole induced polarisation anomaly west of Akoti Extended. CHRC 236 intersected 10 metres at 6.75g/t. This intersection is 25 metres north of the only previous hole into this geophysical anomaly (which intersected 4 metres at 5.32g/t). Further drilling here is a high priority.

Elsewhere, known mineralisation at Chirano has been discovered by drilling beneath significant >0.5g/t gold in soil anomalies. There is only a small soil geochemical anomaly over this new lode, and the drill results demonstrate the potential of geophysics for finding new buried deposits at Chirano. The results also add to other evidence that there are multiple parallel lodes within the structural jog between Tano and Akoti North area. The host granite here thickens from the usual 50 to 100 metres width to as much as 600 metres. This large mass is divided by many thin screens of mafic rock and these seem to be an important factor in controlling the occurrence of the gold deposits.

So far only three dipole-dipole traverses have been done in the entire area and further geophysical traverses particularly in the 2km long Tano-Akoti North jog are clearly warranted.

Current exploration is focussing on tracing and sampling the Chirano and Bibiani shear zones throughout the concession to identify additional drilling targets.

RIMFIRE PACIFIC MINING NL (14 June 2000)

Acquisition of 290 line kilometres of high definition ground magnetics has been completed over the Nareena Anomaly at Bingara, NSW. The survey was conducted by Geophysical Technology Limited of Armidale.

Initial evaluation indicates that the data provides excellent definition of rock units and structure with at least two pipe like features recognisable. Internal variation within the pipes is also evident. It is noted by GTL that "the source extends to depth and is not simply a flow residual". Further interpretation and modelling of the data is now under way.

The result of this survey further enhances the prospectivety of this pipe and follows from the positive indicator mineral results received from stream sampling. A heavy rare earth element analysis of garnet grains from the anomaly is currently underway and being supervised by Dr B J Barron.

TAP OIL NL (14 June 2000)

Tap Oil NL advises that the Tanami-4 appraisal well spudded at 12.30 hours on 9 June 2000.

LOCATION

The well is located in TL/6, 2 kilometres south of Varanus Island at latitude 20 deg. 40' 25.08"S and longitude 115 deg. 35' 02.40"E.

PROGRESS

As at 6.00am today, the well has drilled ahead to 516 metres measured depth and will continue to drill ahead to the planned total depth of 2,081 metres measured depth (1,899 metres true vertical depth).

TAP COMMENT

The Tanami-4 well is designed to test the western extension of the existing Tanami Oil Field. The well is expected to take 8 days to reach its projected total depth of 2,081 metres measured depth. Should it be successful, mean reserves are estimated at 4.3 mmbbls.

The well is being drilled in tandem with Tanami-5 by the same rig, at the same surface location, whereby the same section is drilled consecutively in each well.

TAP OIL NL (14 June 2000)

Tap Oil N.L. provides the following update on the Prometheus-1 exploration well which spudded on 28 May 2000.

LOCATION

The well is located in WA-278-P, approximately 400 kilometres west of Darwin in the Timor Sea at latitude 12(deg)50'21.03"South and 126(deg)22'07.83"East.

PROGRESS

At 05.00 hours on 7 June 2000, the well reached total depth (TD) of 2,360 metres.

A gas column of 72 gross metres was intersected between 1,372 metres and 1,444 metres measured depth (MD), within Upper Permian sandstones. Reservoir properties are excellent with porosities estimated from logs to be in excess of 20% in clean blocky sandstones. A significant volume of gas is estimated to be contained in the structure and it is planned to apply to the Government for a Retention Lease over the discovery.

The result is significant to Tap's exploration programme in the area.

* Significant volumes of hydrocarbons have been demonstrated to have been generated and migrated into Tap's permits.

* Excellent reservoirs have been intersected in Upper Permian aged sandstones.

* Seismically mapped structural features have been demonstrated to be valid hydrocarbon traps as the target reservoirs are now known to be effectively sealed.

* The Prometheus structure is the first drilled valid structural closure in the area, and a discovery in Prometheus-1 is encouraging.

The Prometheus-1 well will be plugged and abandoned as a gas discovery as planned.

Immediately following Prometheus-1, the next well to be drilled by Tap in the Bonaparte blocks is Intrepid-1 in block WA-278-P.

TAP OIL NL (14 June 2000)

Tap Oil N.L. advises that the Corkybark-1 appraisal well spudded at 02.45 hours on
Saturday, 10 June 2000.

LOCATION

The well is located in the offshore permit WA-234-P at latitude 20(deg)53'38.95"S and longitude 114(deg)58'20.18"E, being 5kms east of Woollybutt-1.

PROGRESS

As at 6.00am today, the well has drilled ahead to 572 metres measured depth and will continue to drill ahead to the planned total depth of 2,800 metres measured depth.

TAP COMMENT

The Corkybark-1 well is designed to evaluate potential reserves in an independent anticlinal structure situated approximately 5 kilometres to the east of the Woollybutt Oil Field. The well will target the Upper Barrow group sandstone reservoir.

The well will provide important velocity control to the east of the main Woollybutt structure, allowing more accurate depth mapping of the Woollybutt Oil Field and hence a better estimate of reserves.

The well is expected to take 15 days to reach its planned total depth of 2,800 metres measured depth. Should it be successful, mean reserves of the Corkybutt feature are estimated at 20mmbbls recoverable.

AUSTRALASIAN GOLD MINES (10 June 2000)

Dalgaranga Tantalum Project Development Update

Exploration to date has focussed on evaluating the potential to a depth of 40 metres for:

1. The immediate extension of high grade mineralisation adjacent to the existing open pit at the Dalgaranga prospect.

2. Repetition of pegmatites at the Dalgaranga prospect mining lease along a strike of 1.5 kilometres.

3. Extensions to the pegmatite at the Tantalus prospect.

This exercise has been very successful at both Prospects. The high grade mineralisation at Dalgaranga has been extended south and east of the pit whilst eight additional tantalite bearing pegmatite repetitions have also been identified. Exploration at Tantalus has confirmed a large flat lying tantalum bearing pegmatite with a strike length of at least 550 metres and an average thickness of about 30 metres.

The company has commenced a study to determine the viability of a mining operation and an associated gravity separation treatment plant based on the known high grade tantalum deposit at Dalgaranga.

COPPER MINES & METALS (10 June 2000)

The Company has entered into a Letter of Intent with Mr Andrew J M Border to joint venture into the Company's Conjuboy Diatomaceous Earth Project (EPM 4436 and 10419).
The Agreement provides for an initial payment of $35,000 to be paid at settlement of the transfer of the CDE assets and for a second payment of $25,000 to be made twelve months after receipt of renewal of the exploration licenses.

HARDMAN RESOURCES NL (10 June 2000)

The Philippines National Oil Company (PNOC), as operator of the Aparri Basin GSEC 84 Joint Venture has advised that at 6.00am, 8 June 2000, (Philippines time) 31 days after spudding, the Fuga 1 exploration well had reached a depth 1,796 metres. Plug and abandon operations have commenced as the deepest Early Miocene target zone has been penetrated with no hydrocarbon shows.

HERON RESOURCES NL (10 June 2000)

RESOURCE DEFINITION DRILLING AND MINING ASSESSMENT, GOONGARRIE NICKEL PROJECT

1. GOONGARRIE SOUTH, RC DRILLING RESULTS

Heron Resources NL has continued to receive significant drill results from the Goongarrie Nickel Project. Ongoing drilling at the Project is returning exceptionally high grade intercepts of nickel and cobalt mineralisation, between vertical depths of 12 to 84 metres (still open at depth). Intercepts in the high grade Eastern Contact Zone include 34m at 1.36% Ni and 0.14% Co, 41m at 1.30% Ni and 0.11% Co, and 51m at 1.39% Ni and 0.24% Co.

These excellent results have facilitated the Company attaining the Inferred Mineral Resource milestone of 402 million tonne at 0.8% Ni and 0.06% Co, for 3.3 million tonne contained nickel (0.5% lower Ni cut-off grade). For comparison, at Cawse which is a successfully operating nickel laterite mine, the published resource is 275 million tonne at 0.7% Ni and 0.04% Co, for 1.9 million tonne contained nickel (0.5% lower Ni cut-off grade).

LAKES OIL NL (10 June 2000)

Lakes Oil N.L. wishes to announce that, as at 6 am this morning, Friday 9 June, 2000 the North Seaspray-3 well was at a depth of 1104 metres and running 178 mm intermediate casing.

Activity summary for 8 June 2000:

Reamed to bottom of the hole with a new bit, drilled to 1140 metres, ran wiper trip and pulled out of hole to run 178 mm casing.

During drilling gas shows of up to 6 units (methane with small percentages of ethane and propane) were recorded from 1045 to 1104 metres.

A maximum of 26 units of trip gas was recorded during the wiper trip.
Anticipated next 24 hours:

Run and cement 178mm intermediate casing prior to drilling out to target zone. It is anticipated that this will occur over the weekend.

For further information, click here

NIDO PETROLEUM (10 June 2000)

Nido announced that the Fuga Island-1 well is being plugged and abandoned. The well penetrated the deepest Early Miocence target zone with no hydrocarbon shows. The well reached a depth of 1,796 metres.

NORTH LIMITED (10 June 2000)

North announced that it had entered a strategic alliance with the North American based miner, PolyMet Mining Corporation.
The project known as NorthMet, encompasses an extensive base and platinum group metals deposit in north-eastern Minnesota. The resource was first identified in the late 1960's primarily as a copper and nickel deposit, however in recent years, the additional platinum and palladium potential of the ore-body has started to become evident.

"North has initially agreed to contribute US$500,000 as the start of a staged arrangement with Polymet," Mr Broomhead (MD) said.
"This financial commitment will enable North to assess the pilot plant processing program and associated issues. North then has the option to proceed to the next stage of the project," Mr Broomhead said.

PANCONTINENTAL OIL & GAS NL (10 June 2000)

The Philippines National Oil Company, as operator of the Aparri Basin GSec 84 Joint Venture has advised that at 6.00am, 8 June 2000, (Philippines time) 31 days after spudding, the Fuga 1 exploration well had reached a depth of 5,892 feet (1,796 metres). Plug and abandon operations have commenced as the deepest Early Miocene target zone has been penetrated with no hydrocarbon shows.

Pancontinental Oil & Gas NL has a fully carried interest of 6.875% through the drilling, evaluation, completion and testing of this exploration well which has an estimated dry hole cost of US$3.4 million (US$4.3 million tested).

TAP OIL NL (10 June 2000)

Tap Oil NL advises that the Tanami-5 appraisal well spudded at 18.00 hours on 8 June 2000.

LOCATION
The well is located in TL/6, 2 kilometres south of Varanus Island at latitude 20deg40'25.08"S and longitude 115deg35'02.40"E.

PROGRESS
As at 6.00am today, the well has drilled ahead to 52 metres measured depth and will continue to drill ahead to the planned total depth of 2,108 metres measured depth (1,901 metres true vertical depth).

TAP COMMENT
The Tanami-5 well will test the southern extension of the existing Tanami Oil Field. The well is expected to take 8 days to reach the target Flag sandstone reservoir. Should the well be successful, mean recoverable reserves are estimated to be 7.7mmbls.

The next well to be drilled, Tanami-4, which is designed to test the western extension of the Tanami Field, is currently being spudded. In order to effect drilling cost savings, the Tanami-4 and Tanami-5 wells will be drilled in tandem by the same rig, at the same surface location, whereby the same hole section is drilled consecutively in each well.

AUSTRALIAN MINING INVESTMENTS LIMITED (9 June 2000)

The Directors are pleased to announce further progress with the drilling program in central Queensland. The drilling sites are located between Longreach and Winton about 20 km east of the Thompson River where unseasonably high flood levels occurred during recent rains but the area has now dried out and drilling of the third well (the Rodney Creek #5 well) was completed on Friday 2 June.

The first well was spudded in on 18th April and reached the design depth of 1,152 meters on 23rd April. The second well was commenced on 19th May and reached its designed depth of 1,130 meters on 24 th May. The third well was commenced on 30th May and reached the target depth of 1,128 meters on Friday 2 June.

Electric logging and geological monitoring of all of the wells has confirmed the presence of thick coal seams as was predicted from the Enron Drilling Program.

A fourth well is to be drilled before the wells will be prepared for gas flow tests, which are expected to be conducted in July.

Enron in their studies had estimated that:

*800 BCF of gas could be recovered from the two areas in a 20 year period:
* the average well at Crossmore and Rodney Creek is projected to recover 5BCF of gas
* the Crossmore wells peak early at 2.5mmcf/d, then decline rapidly the Rodney Creek wells build slowly to a peak of 1.2 mmcf/d and decline slowly

The present program by Galilee Energy is intended to establish gas production rates and demonstrate the commercial potential of the gas field through a pilot program.

AUSTRALIAN OIL & GAS CORPORATION LIMITED (9 June 2000)

Australian Oil & Gas Corporation Limited reports that low activity for its oilfield drilling rigs has continued in the second half of the financial year despite some early signs of an improvement. These low levels of activity are being experienced worldwide with the exception of the United States and Canada where drilling activity has increased dramatically in response to the continued and sustained increases in prices of crude oil and natural gas. Historically, activities outside the USA are slower to recover due to higher costs and long lead times.

The Company's operations have been affected by a number of critical events over which it has no control. Key factors influencing the second half current financial year operations are:

* Flooding in the Cooper Basin area of Queensland and South Australia as well as in Argentina. In all of these areas the Company's rigs were preparing for mobilisation to new contracts.
* Native title considerations in Australia, which continue to limit the activity of many potential explorationists.
* Management changes within multi-national exploration and production companies following a number of takeovers and mergers, which are inhibiting decision making by those companies.
* Restriction by Exploration and Production Companies of their exploration programs in order to enhance earnings and improve their balance sheets after the prolonged period of low oil prices endured in 1998.
* The continuing effects of the Asian economic slowdown including political change in Indonesia.

Although the Company is cash flow positive, the loss for the second half of the financial year is expected to be greater than that of the first half.

On the positive side, half of the Company's drilling and workover units are now contracted for work in the July - December 2000 half-year versus only one third for the six months to June 2000. As a result, the Company expects to return to profit, in the first half of the 2000/2001 financial year.

In addition, the Company is well advanced in a number of international negotiations, which if successful, would ensure a significant improvement in the Company's level of activity with resultant contribution to profitability in the coming years.

BEACH PETROLEUM NL (9 June 2000)

Beach Petroleum advises as follows: This afternoon the Operator has reported that at 0800 hours on 8 June 2000, Taipan-1 had reached a depth of 6663 feet (2031 metres) and was drilling ahead within Basal Jurassic sandstones. Some traces of fluorescence have been reported, principally from within Basal Jurassic section and to a lesser extent from the Hutton Sandstone.

DELTA GOLD LIMITED (9 June 2000)

Delta Gold Limited has moved all mine personnel at its Gold Ridge mine in Solomon Islands to Honiara and has suspended operations at the mine. These measures have been taken following discussions between relevant authorities and the Company.

EAST COAST MINERALS NL (9 June 2000)

ELIZABETH HILL SILVER MINE: Munni Munni (Karratha, WA)

East Coast Minerals NL (ECM) 70% - Legend Mining NL (LEG) 30%

1. The Joint Venture Partners advise that an Underground Drilling Programme is scheduled to commence in a few days to optimise mining operations and delineate further ore reserves.

2. The primary target of this bout of exploration is a repeat pod of mineralisation similar to the one presently being mined.

3. Reconnaissance holes of up to 300 metres total length have been planned. Two additional, supplementary potential ore position have also been noted for evaluation.

4. Drilling results and any additional holes planned will be announced progressively, after all results and geological data have been properly evaluated.

5. Since beginning of April 2000, six shipments of silver concentrates totalling 46,783 kgs were sent to Rand Refinery in South Africa for refining and sale of silver. The estimated silver content is 10,176 kgs (327,178 ozs) of silver. During the same period other concentrates were sent to AGR Perth Mint for direct smelting, resulting in 774 kgs (24,874 ozs) of silver.

6. The Joint Venture also announces that the first round of selected tender submissions for the mine tailings re-treatment proposal (previously announced) being considered by the Joint Venture closes on 10th June 2000. The Joint Venture plans to select its option re-treatment shortlist by end June 2000, with a final decision being made towards the end of July 2000.

EXCO RESOURCES NL (9 June 2000)

Exploration drilling will commence this week at Exco's Mt Margaret project located 40 kilometres north east of Cloncurry in Queensland.

Mt Margaret contains the E1 copper-gold deposits with a combined mineral resource of 17 million tonnes at 0.83% copper and 0.22g/t gold using a cut-off grade of 0.3% copper.

The project also hosts 20 strike kilometres of the Mt Margaret Fault that is interpreted to be a major control over the E1 deposits and the Ernest Henry copper-gold deposit.

FLETCHER CHALLENGE LIMITED (9 June 2000)

Country : New Zealand
Block Area: PEP 38459
Well Name : Pohokura-2
Objective : Appraisal well evaluating Pohokura-1 gas condensate discovery in the sands of the Kapuni Group
Current Status : * Completed logging programme including taking two downhole fluid samples with MDT-DP
* Ran and cemented 7 inch liner to 3793mAH
* Present operations at 06:00 hrs 8th June: conducting liner cement bond logging runs.
* Preparing for two Drill Stem Tests (DSTs). DSTNo1 planned interval is 3608.0 - 3635mAH, DSTNo2 planned interval 3581.5 - 3588.0mAH
* DST No1 test should commence Sunday 11th June 2000

Country : New Zealand
Block Area: PML381012
Well Name : MB-7
Objective : Horizontal development well in the Maui B D1.10 oil reservoir.
Current Status : * Drilled 8(1/2)" hole from 2907 to 3204m. Plugged back to 2900m to build hole angle.
* Current operation @ 0600hrs 8th June, preparing to side-track in 8(1/2)" hole.

Country : New Zealand
Block Area: PML381012
Well Name : MB-6
Objective : Horizontal development well in the Maui B D1.10 oil reservoir.
Current Status : * Suspended well with stuck 4(1/2)" liner pending evaluation of side-track or completion options while operations proceed on MB-7

Country : New Zealand
Block Area: PML38036
Well Name : McKee-9A
Objective : Sidetrack development infill well in the McKee oil reservoir
Current Status : * Moved in Parker 252 rig.
* Cut and pulled tubing string.
* Cut 5(1/2)" casing off at 650m and pulled out of hole.
* Set cement plug at 650m for whipstock.
* Currently drilling out cement plug.

Country : Brunei
Block Area: Block CD
Well Name : LKU-1
Objective : (a) Secondary Pliocene objectives 2187m.
(b) Secondary Miocene objectives 2207m.
(c) Primary Miocene objectives 2877-3062m.
(d) Secondary Miocene objectives 3237m-3457mss.

Current Status : * Laksamana Utara-1 spudded at 20:30hrs on 20th May.
* Drilled 26/36" hole and set 30" conductor at 218m.
* Drilled 16" hole and set 13(3/8)" casing at 936m.
* Drilled 12(1/4)" hole, ran logs (PEx-DSI) and set 9(5/8)" casing at 2077m.
* Drilled 8(1/2)" hole to 2518m. Ran logs (PEx-DSI). Ran MDT did not recover sample.
* Ran 7" liner to 2517m and performed cementation.
* Drilled to 2532 and obtained poor leak off test.
Currently preparing to run remedial cement job.

FLETCHER CHALLENGE LIMITED (9 June 2000)

Country : Canada
Block Area: Leduc
Well Name : 9-11-49-26 W4M
Objective : An Exploration well testing Basal Quartz Gas
Current Status : * Spud: 24/05/2000.
* Cased for Basal Quartz Gas.
* Rig Released: 02/06/2000.

Country : Canada
Block Area: Viking
Well Name : 11-26-35-5 W4M
Objective : A Development well testing Viking Gas
Current Status : * Spud: 30/05/2000.
* Cased for Viking Gas.
* Rig Released: 02/06/2000

Country : Canada
Block Area: Alliance
Well Name : 11-21-40-12 W4M
Objective : A Development well testing Viking Gas
Current Status : * Spud: 30/05/2000.
* Cased for Viking Gas.
* Rig Released: 31/05/2000.

Country : Canada
Block Area: Dry Lake
Well Name : 2-26-36-4 W4M
Objective : An Exploration well testing Dina Oil
Current Status : * Spud: 31/05/2000.
* Run abandonment plugs. D & A.
* Rig Released: 04/06/2000.

Country : Canada
Block Area: Riverbend
Well Name : 4-26-36-9 W4M
Objective : A Development well testing Colony Gas
Current Status : * Spud: 02/06/2000.
* Cased for Viking gas.
* Rig Released: 05/06/2000.

Country : Canada
Block Area: Wimborne
Well Name : 3-26-32-26 W4M
Objective : An Exploration well testing Glauconite Gas
Current Status : * Spud: 03/06/2000.
* Drilling ahead.

Country : Canada
Block Area: Wolf Creek
Well Name : 7-6-42-6 W5M
Objective : A Development well testing Ostracod Oil
Current Status : * Spud: 03/06/2000.
* Run surface casing and cement.
* Rig down for repairs.

Country : Canada
Block Area: Bart
Well Name : 14-6-40-15 W4M
Objective : An Exploration well testing Glauconite Gas
Current Status : * Spud: 06/06/2000.
* Drilling and survey ahead.

LAKES OIL NL (9 June 2000)

Lakes Oil NL wishes to announce that, as at 9.30 am this morning, Thursday 8 June, 2000 the North Seaspray-3 well was at a depth of 1055 metres and drilling ahead.

For further information, click here

NORWEST ENERGY NL (9 June 2000)

West Oil NL announces that as at 6:00am (CST) Monday, 8th June, Puffin 5 is at total depth of 2414m. The 7" liner has now been cemented and preparations for the test continue. On the current operations schedule it is likely that the test will begin on Sunday 11th June or Monday 12th June.

OIL COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED (9 June 2000)

SUMMARY OF DRILLING

QUEENSLAND
WELL: Challum 18 DW1
TYPE: SWQ Unit Gas Development
LOCATION: PL 59, Aquitaine B Block, 1.25 km NE Challum 1 and 20kw W of the Ballera Gas Centre.
STATUS AT 08/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Drilling ahead. Current measured depth is 2412m, with 904m progress for the week.
PLANNED Challum 18 is a high angle well with two sub-horizontal lateral well bores designed to drain separate reservoirs in the Permian age Toolachee Formation. Challum DW1 is designated the lower lateral wellbore while Challum DW2 is designated the upper lateral wellbore.
TOTAL DEPTH: DW1 - 3,121m MD DW2 - 3,100m MD

WELL: Scotia 7
TYPE: Gas Appraisal
LOCATION: ATP 378P, Surat Basin, Queensland, 2.0km N of Scotia 4, and 125km NE of the Wallumbilla Gas Plant.
STATUS AT 8/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Scotia 7 has been cased and suspended as a future coalbed methane gas producer from the Baralaba Coal Measures. The well reached a total depth of 1,037m with 725m progress for the week. A Drill Stem Test conducted over the Baralaba Coal Measures (894m -864m) recovered 25m of rat hole mud. The rig was released on 7/6/00.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 926m

WELL: New Royal 7
TYPE: Oil Appraisal
LOCATION: PL 22, Surat/Bowen basin, 230m NW of Regatta 1, 21km WNW of the Surat Township.
STATUS AT 08/06/2000 0600 HOURS: New Royal 7 has been cased and suspended. The well reached a total depth of 1,545m with 1,378m progress for the week. The rig was released on 6/6/2000.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 1541 m

NORTHERN TERRITORY
WELL: West Mereenie 17
TYPE: Gas Development/Appraisal
LOCATION: PL 4, Mereenie Block, Amadeus Basin, 2.0km SE of West Mereenie 16, and approximately 230km W of Alice Springs.
STATUS AT 08/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Preparing to release rig having run production casing. The well reached a total depth of 1,286m with 16m progress for the week. An open hole flow test at total depth flowed gas to surface at a rate of 847,900 cubic metres per day (29.94 million cubic feet per day) through a 38mm orifice plate.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 1,414m

USA
WELL: Runnels 1
TYPE: Gas Exploration
LOCATION: Amerada 8 Prospect, Clopper Ranch Joint Venture, Matagorda County, Texas, USA.
STATUS AT 08/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Drilling ahead. The current depth is 3,356m with186m progress for the week.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 3,749m

WELL: Webb 1
TYPE: Gas Exploration
LOCATION: Suemaur Moore Prospect, San Patricio County, Texas
STATUS AT 08/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Drilling ahead. The current depth and progress for the week is 518m. The well spudded on 6/6/00.
DEPTH: 4,115M

OIL COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED (9 June 2000)

New Royal No 7, an oil appraisal well situated approximately 230 metres northwest of Regatta No 1, latitude 27 deg 06 min 19.84 sec south, longitude 148 deg 52 min 27.07 sec east, was spudded at 01:00 hours on May 31, 2000. Surface casing was set at 163.4 metres R.T. The well reached a total depth of 1545 metres R.T. on June 4, 2000. The well was cased and suspended with the rig released at 12:00 hours June 6, 2000. At 0600 hours today the rig was being moved to Peat 9 well location. Progress for the week was 1378 metres.

The primary target of New Royal 7 was the showgrounds sandstone. The secondary targets were the intra moolayember formation and the basal evergreen sandstone.

ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED (9 June 2000)

SUMMARY OF DRILLING

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
WELL: Moomba 110
TYPE: Gas Development
LOCATION: PPL 7, Moomba Block, 1.0km S of Moomba 93, 1.1km N of Moomba 50, and some 9km NW of the Moomba Gas Plant.
STATUS AT 08/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Moomba 110 has been cased and suspended as a future Permian gas producer. The well reached a total depth of 2602m with 560m progress for the week. The rig was released on 08/06/00 and is moving to Moomba 107, a Permian gas development well.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 2614m

WELL: Della 21
TYPE: Gas Development
LOCATION: PPL 15, Nappacoongee-Murteree Block, 600m N of Della 5A, 1km SW of Della 10, and some 50km E of the Moomba Gas Plant.

STATUS AT 08/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Della 21 has been cased and suspended as a future Permian gas producer. The well reached a total depth of 2012m with 1577m progress for the week. The rig was released on 07/06/00 and is moving to Toolachee West 1, a Permian gas appraisal well.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 2061m

WELL: Pondrinie North 2
TYPE: Gas Development
LOCATION: PPL 90, Merriemlia-Innamincka Block, 0.8km NNE of Pondrinie North 1, 1.3km NE of Packsaddle 3, and some 75km NE of the Moomba Gas Plant.
STATUS AT 08/06/2000 0600 HOURS: Running wireline logs at total depth. The well reached a total depth of 2392m with 728m progress for the week.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 2393m

ROC OIL COMPANY LIMITED (9 June 2000)

1. FIRST SIGNIFICANT NORTH SEA OIL SALE - KYLE OIL FIELD (ROC: 12.5%)

On 7 June the Kyle Joint Venture sold its first cargo of crude oil produced during the Extended Well Test (EWT) at the 29/2c-12z well in the Kyle Oil Field in the UK North Sea. The first sale shipment was 169,793 barrels (net ROC: 21,224 bbls), sold at a modest premium to the prevailing Brent spot price. Since the EWT commenced on 24 May 2000, production has continued at a choked-back rate of 13,000 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) with a stable gas-oil ratio and no water cut.

2. DRILLING ACTIVITY - KEDDINGTON OIL FIELD (ROC: 100%)

As of mid-day 7 June 2000, Keddington-2, the first appraisal well in the Keddington Oil Field, was drilling ahead in a sidetrack at 2460 metres drill depth, with the intention of penetrating the top Dinantian seismic marker, which is expected at about 2470 metres. During the week the well drilled 205 metres of horizontal section, partially through a Basal Westphalian reservoir sand of relatively modest thickness and quality compared to the reservoir in Keddington-1. The decision to plug back and drill a "punch through" sidetrack hole into the top Dinantian was made in order to gain a better understanding of the local stratigraphy. When this "punch through" sidetrack has been drilled and logged, the well will be plugged back and a horizontal sidetrack will be drilled within the targeted Basal Westphalian reservoir section.

3. GAS PRODUCTION - SALTFLEETBY GAS FIELD (ROC: 100%)

Saltfleetby Gas Field production continues to out-perform Prospectus forecast producing approximately 47 MMSCFD for the month of May, approximately 44% above the Prospectus forecast (Attachment 1).

In addition to better than forecast gas production ROC is also deriving benefit from the current strong spot and forward gas prices in the UK as a result of having already fulfilled its current quarter contract sale obligations to Northern Electric and Gas Limited. Therefore, during June, ROC expects to sell approximately half of its gas production at prevailing spot gas prices which are currently about 19.5 pence per therm (A$5.57/MCF at a GBP:A$ currency exchange rate of 0.38) approximately 77% higher than ROC's internal May 2000 gas price estimates, which were used as the basis for the Prospectus forecast. The balance of ROC's June 2000 production has now been sold forward at a price approximating to 18.0 pence per therm (A$5.14/MCF), 64% above Prospectus price forecast for June 2000.

The recent spike in UK gas prices saw prices climb by 70% during the last several weeks. Some industry observers anticipate that prices on both sides of the UK-Continental Europe Interconnector pipeline will remain high in the medium term, reflecting the oil price indexation of European gas contracts, despite the fact that there is no direct or formal linkage between UK gas prices and international oil price trends.

4. NEAR TERM EXPLORATION PROGRAMME - MONGOLIA (ROC- 100%)

ROC is continuing with its preparations for the drilling of two exploration wells in the East Gobi Basin of southern Mongolia. The wells will be drilled on a back-to-back basis with the first one due to commence in August 2000. The two prospects to be tested have an estimated combined original oil in place potential considerably in excess of 200 million barrels, although neither prospect is more than 35km from the Zuunbaayan rail head, which means that a discovery could generate revenue very quickly.

ROC also continues to produce oil at a rate of approximately 130 BOPD from three wells in the East Gobi Basin. The oil is stored in ROC's tank farm at Zuunbaayan where a total of approximately 32,000 barrels of oil is currently awaiting export shipment and sale via rail car link to the Mongolian-Chinese border crossing. ROC expects the first export shipment for 2000 to be at the border sale point during July 2000.

SIPA RESOURCES INTERNATIONAL NL (9 June 2000)

DRILLING AT ZEUS GOLD PROSPECT (PARABURDOO GOLD PROJECT) CONTINUES TO TURN UP RESULTS

(Ashburton Mineral Field, Western Australia - Lynas 100% Sole Risk)

Lynas has a 100% interest (subject to a royalty payment to Sipa Exploration NL) in the exploration potential of the near minesite gold anomalies, surrounding the Paraburdoo Gold Project.

Since the Company's announcement of 3 May 2000, an additional thirty reverse circulation drill holes (for 975 metres) have been completed at the Zeus Prospect. The Zeus Prospect is located one kilometre south east of the Lynas owned treatment plant.

This current campaign of drilling (due for completion later this month) mostly targeted the East Hill, with some additional drilling on the Main and West Hills.

A resource estimate for the Zeus Prospect is expected to be available in July.

AUSTRALIAN GAS LIGHT COMPANY (8 June 2000)

Sydney Gas Company NL is pleased to advise that following the recent satisfactory chromatographic analysis of gas produced from the wells of the Johndilo Project SGC is progressing with the construction of the pipeline to deliver coal bed methane gas from the Johndilo Gasfield to the AGL gas network at Camden.

SGC is currently finalising arrangements with AGL Construction, an entity of the AGL Group, that would enable AGLC to undertake the complete project delivery of the necessary transportation infrastructure covering current and future projects of SGC, starting as a first phase the presently planned pipeline.

EMPIRE OIL & GAS NL (8 June 2000)

Empire Oil & Gas NL, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Rough Range Oil Pty Ltd, announces the status of the Central Rough Range No 1 well.

At 0600 7 June 2000 after running and interpreting electric wireline logs the decision has been made to plug and abandon the Central Rough Range No 1 well as the reservoir objective. Top Birdrong Sandstone was intersected at 1111.5 metres RKB being 3 metres below the oil water contact. The Birdrong Sandstone was water wet. Formation tops from the electric wireline logs are:

Top Cardabia Formation 283m RKB, 221.7m TVDSS 2.5m low to RR#1B
Top Korojon Formation 403m RKB, 342.2m TVDSS 0.9m high to RR#1b
Top Toolonga Calcilutite 419m RKB, 357.7m TVDSS 7.4m high to RR#1B
Top V Gearle Siltstone 432m RKB, 371.2m TVDSS 5.4m high to RR#1B
Top L Gearle Siltstone 468m RKB, 406.7m TVDSS 9.4m low to RR#1B
Top Windalia Radiolarite 1035m RKB, 972.7m TVDSS 6.6m low to RR#1B
Top Mudering Shale 1074.5m RKB, 1012.1m TVDSS 9.0m low to RR#1B
Top Birdrong Sandstone 1110.5m RKB, 1048.0m TVDSS 12.0m low to RR#1B
Top Wogatti Sandstone 1121m RKB, 1058.5m TVDSS 11.5m low to RR#1B

LAKES OIL NL (8 June 2000)

Lakes Oil N.L. wishes to announce that, as at 6 am this morning, Wednesday 7 June, 2000 the North Seaspray-3 well was at a depth of 966 metres and drilling in the lower Latrobe Group sediments.

For further information, click here

NORWEST ENERGY NL (8 June 2000)

Operations are underway to prepare for Drill Stem Tests of Puffin 5. It is not expected that testing will commence until Monday 12th June 2000.

This oil accumulation is additional to and separate from the located 1 the vicinity of Puffin 2. Originally drilled in 1974, Puffin 2 flowed 4608 barrels of oil per day during a drill stem test.

NORWEST ENERGY NL (8 June 2000)

West Oil NL announces that as at 6:00am (CST) Monday, 7th June, Puffin 5 is at total depth of 2414m. Wireline logging has been completed and the 7" liner has been landed at total depth prior to cementing.

Current and proposed operations are to continue to prepare for the test. On the current operations schedule it is likely that the test will begin on Monday 12th June.

ASHTON MINING LIMITED (7 June 2000)

Ashton Mining Limited has been advised by the operator that diamond mining operations have resumed at the Cuango Project in northeastern Angola. Sociedade de Desenvolvimento Mineiro de Angola SARL (SDM - Ashton 33.3%), the owner and operator of the project, informed Ashton that improved security conditions allowed the remobilisation of staff who were evacuated as previously reported. SDM also advised that due to the precautionary withdrawal and other security considerations, production during the quarter will be below expectations.

BOULDER STEEL LIMITED (7 June 2000)

The geophysical survey field report covering Boulder Steel Ltd's wholly owned subsidiary Chrome Corporation of America's (CCA) land holdings in the Stillwater Complex, Montana has been received from Idaho Consolidated Metals Inc's (Idaho) consultant geophysicist, Terry Crebs.

The report details preliminary results from Fugro Airborne Surveys, 1928 line kilometre, helicopter borne, electromagnetic survey. The Basal Zone nickel copper sulphide mineralization on CCA's property, which is potentially platinum group metal (PGM) bearing, yielded strong conductance and magnetisation anomalies in the Mouat, Nye Basin, Benbow and Chrome Lake areas.

The conductors extend continuously over 8 kilometres of strike length. It appears that the strongest conductors have yet to be tested by drilling. Chromite units that host PGM mineralization also gave a distinctive magnetic expression and can be traced throughout CCA's ground. The data are undergoing final post survey processing.

BUKA MINERALS LIMITED (7 June 2000)

The Directors of Buka Minerals Limited are pleased to announce details of a substantial upgrading in the mineral resource estimate at the Lady Loretta zinc-lead-silver deposit.

The new resource estimate represents an over 60% increase in the previously quoted tonnage resource estimate at the Lady Loretta zinc-lead-silver deposit, for an over 50% increase in contained zinc metal.

EMPIRE OIL & GAS NL (7 June 2000)

Empire Oil & Gas NL, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Rough Range Oil Pty Ltd, announces the status of the Central Rough Range No 1 well as of 6 June 2000.

At 0600 6 June 2000 Central Rough Range No 1 was at a depth of 1113m RKB where circulation of drilling fluid was lost in the well bore in an interpreted highly porous formation.

The preliminary formation top for the Birdrong Sandstone was at 1101m RKB 2.5 metres low to Rough Range 1B. The Birdrong Sandstone is of poor quality being a fine grained glauconitic and silicious cemented sandstone with dull oil fluorescence.

HARDMAN RESOURCES NL (7 June 2000)

Hardman Resources NL provides the following update on the Fuga # 1 exploration well, Philippines to 06.00 hours, 6 June 2000:-

PROGRESS: (SINCE 30 MAY 2000)

The well was drilled from 1,389 metres to 1,672 metres in 12(1/4) inch (311mm hole size). Run wireline logs from 552 metres to 1,672 metres commence running 9(5/8) inch (244mm) intermediate casing.

The geology consists of Siltstone dark grey, interbedded with silty Sandstone and several Basalt layers up to 20 metres thick. Basalt layers decreasing in frequency and thickness with depth.

No significant hydrocarbon shows were encountered with trace background gas recorded in the drilling mud.

LAKES OIL NL (7 June 2000)

Lakes Oil N.L. ("Lakes") wishes to announce that, as at 6 am this morning, Monday 5 June, 2000 the North Seaspray-3 well was at a depth of 807 metres and tripping for a new bit.

For further information, click here

NORWEST ENERGY NL (7 June 2000)

West Oil NL announces that as at 6:00am (CST) Monday, 6th June, Puffin 5 is at total depth of 2414m and completing wireline logging prior to testing.

AEC has proposed a test of the 9 metre oil column at Puffin-5 and West Oil has elected to participate on a working interest basis. The purpose of the test is to establish a stabilized flow rate and to acquire information on the potential performance of the reservoir.

Preliminary log analysis indicates that porosity, net sand percentage over the gross oil column and oil saturation are all higher than were predicted for the Puffin-5 well.

NORWEST ENERGY NL (7 June 2000)

Norwest Energy NL has elected to participate in a drill stem test of the 9 metre oil column intersected in Puffin 5.

This oil accumulation is additional to and separate from that located in the vicinity of Puffin 2. Originally drilled in 1974, Puffin 2 flowed 4608 barrels of oil per day during a drill stem test.

PANCONTINENTAL OIL & GAS NL (7 June 2000)

The Philippines National Oil Company, as operator of the Aparri Basin GSec 84 Joint Venture has advised that at 6.00am, 6 June 2000, (Philippines time) 29 days after spudding, the Fuga 1 exploration well had reached a depth of 5,485 feet (1,671.8 metres) and is preparing to drill ahead after running electric logs, RFT's (repeat formation tests), sidewall cores and VSP's (velocity seismic profile).

No hydrocarbons were recovered by the RFT's. Paleontological information indicates that the age of strata at this depth are of Early Miocene age, the age of the deepest objective.

TAP OIL NL (7 June 2000)

Tap Oil NL provides the following update on the Prometheus-1 exploration well which spudded on 28 May 2000.

LOCATION
The well is located in WA-278-P, approximately 400 kilometres west of Darwin in the Timor Sea at latitude 12 deg 50' 21.03" South and 126 deg 22' 07.83" East.

PROGRESS
As at 06.00 hours on Tuesday 6 June 2000, the well has drilled ahead to 2,247 metres.

Following a change of drilling bit, the well is currently preparing to drill ahead to intersect the Keyling sandstones (being the primary objective of the well). Wireline logs will then be obtained to evaluate the reservoir intervals.

VICTORIA PETROLEUM NL (7 June 2000)

Victoria Petroleum NL advises that Berkley Petroleum Corp, Operator of the East Lost Hills drilling project, issued a press release on June 2, 2000 on the current status of the production testing of the Berkley East Lost Hills No 1 well in the San Joaquin Basin, California, 12 kilometers to the north west of the currently preparing for production testing, EKHO-1 well.

"* The flow test portion of the completion of Berkley East Lost Hills #1 was commenced on Wednesday May 31, 2000 at 12:30h PDT.

* The well has been flowed at gas rates between 7 mmcfpd and 15 mmcfpd Tubing head pressure has been maintained above 9,900 psi. The well has also been producing condensate and formation water.

* The flow test is continuing as planned and gas rates, pressures and liquids rates will be further assessed during this period."

While the Berkley East Lost Hills No 1 preliminary testing results cannot be used to determine the hydrocarbon production potential for EKHO-1 currently preparing to test 12kms to the south east of Berkley East Lost Hills No 1, the Berkley East Lost Hills No 1 testing results are considered very encouraging for the hydrocarbon potential of this area of the Deep San Joaquin Basin, including the Pipeline/EKHO Prospect.

Victoria Petroleum NL further advises that the EKHO Project consortium, participants in the EKHO-1 well issued a press release on June 5, 2000 advising the EKHO-1 well has finished completion and can now proceed to commencing production testing of the EKHO-1 well.

The Production Testing Phase is budgeted to last 30 days. Results will be released as appropriate."

EKHO No 1 is located approximately 45 miles northwest of Bakersfield, between the 31X-10 and the 66X-3 wells, which flowed at rates as high as 1,000 and 700 barrels a day, respectively in the early 1970's, despite completion problems. The 66X-3 well ultimately produced 11,936 barrels of 42 degree API oil and 13 MMCF of natural gas before abandonment due to bottomhole technical difficulties. Other intervals with significant shows were left untested.

XENOLITH GOLD LIMITED (7 June 2000)

We advise that the following information has been released to the North America market with respect to the above project in which Xenolith has an indirect interest via its equity in Kookaburra Resources Ltd and KOB Energy Inc;

"JUNE 5, 2000 (PDT)

* The flow test portion of the production test on the Berkley East Lost Hills #1 well, which commenced on Wednesday May 31, 2000, was completed on schedule on Monday June 5, 2000 at 16.00h PDT.

* During the flow periods, gas has been produced at restricted and controlled rates up to 23 mmcfpd.

* The extended test rate was 13.1 mmcfpd at a flowing wellhead pressure of 8,100 psi on a 20/26" choke. The water/gas ratio was stable at 295 bbls/mmcf. The natural gas liquids/gas ratio is estimated at 75 bbls/mmcf. The final natural gas liquids rates will be determined through laboratory analysis. The reservoir drawdown at this rate is estimated at approximately 5%. Based on this drawdown, the reservoir open flow potential is in excess of 100 mmcfpd and the wellhead open flow potential is estimated at 25 mmcfpd due to current tubing restrictions. These drawdown estimates will be confirmed when downhole pressure recorders are recovered at the end of the build-up period which will be in seven to ten days.

* At these gas, natural gas liquids and water rates, the well is highly commercial and plans are underway to tie-in the well and begin production prior to year-end.

* The tested interval, between 19,370 feet and 19,698 feet is at the base of an estimated hydrocarbon column of approximately 2,750 feet in the East Lost Hills structure. The fact that commercial production rates have been achieved from the base of the extensive gas column is very encouraging.

* Opportunities to both reduce water production from the perforated zone or complete further potential pay zones uphole are being reviewed. Untested zones that flowed hydrocarbons to surface while drilling remain un-perforated in Berkley #1.

* Berkley #3 commenced drilling on the west flank at East Lost Hills May 28, 2000. Further drilling at East Lost Hills, including the Berkley #2 location and the potential whipstock or redrill of the Bellevue #1-17R well are intended to encounter the high deliverability reservoir at a significantly higher structural elevation in the hydrocarbon column."

The above announcement was released after the Toronto market closed and we take this opportunity to commend the East Lost Hills partners for what we believe is a very responsible and informative report.

DELTA GOLD LIMITED (6 June 2000)

Delta Gold has received reports from management at the Gold Ridge gold mine, situated 30km from Honiara in Solomon Islands, that operations are continuing and employees are not facing any immediate danger.

EMPIRE OIL & GAS NL (6 June 2000)

Empire Oil & Gas NL, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Rough Range Oil Pty Ltd, is pleased to announce the status of the Central Rough Range No. 1 well.

At 0600 hours on 5 June 2000 the Central Rough Range No. 1 well has been drilled to a depth of 1032 metres KB. The current operation is to drill ahead with 8 1/2" hole to approximately 1050 metres (predicted Top of Muderong Formation) and then trip for a new bit before drilling ahead to the Birdrong Sandstone reservoir objective and then to total depth of 1140 metres, prior to running electric wireline logs.

The Provisional Formation Tops from (picked lithologies only) demonstrate that the Central Rough Range No. 1 well is approximately 16 metres high at the Top Windalia Radiolarite level to that intersected in Rough Range 1B (RR#l B).

LAKES OIL NL (6 June 2000)

Lakes Oil wishes to announce that, as at 6 am this morning, Monday 5 June, 2000 the North Seaspray-3 well was at a depth of 575 metres and drilling in the basal Lakes Entrance Formation.

For further information, click here

MOSAIC OIL NL (6 June 2000)

Mosaic's testing program continues.

Sirrah 2 (last flowed in 1988) was flowed at 500,000 cubic ft/day for ten days and is now shut-in for build up test.

East Glen (last flowed in 1994) has been re-entered and downhole junk has been successfully retreived. Testing will occur this week.

NIDO PETROLEUM LIMITED (6 June 2000)

Nido Petroleum today announced successful results from its third Zhongyuan (onshore China) well, Hu 12-155.

The Hu 12-155 well has encountered a number of oil bearing sands.

The well was planned to produce oil from the S3M7, S3M8 and S3L1 units, but also found oil in the S3M6, S3M9 S3M10, S3M11, and S3M12 reservoirs. Of particular importance, an unexpected 5m thick channel sand was found in the S3M9 reservoir that appears to have high oil saturation and very good porosity.

The well is currently being completed and should start production late this week. For reservoir management reasons, the current plan is to produce from the lowest reservoir, the S3L1, before producing the higher quality upper reservoirs.

NORWEST ENERGY NL (6 June 2000)

West Oil NL announces that as at 6:00am (CST) Monday, 5th June, Puffin 5 has reached a total depth of 2414m and wireline logging of the well has commenced. Preliminary interpretation of the electric logs run so far indicates that there is a 9 metre net oil column at the top of the K1a Sandstone reservoir. It is interpreted that this sandstone has excellent porosity and is expected to have excellent permeability.

While the primary objective was intersected low to prediction, the Puffin-5 well was not designed to be drilled on the crest of the structure and preliminary remapping of the seismic data indicates that the Puffin-1 Updip structure may contain significant quantities of hydrocarbons updip of Puffin-5. The structure may contain sufficient quantities of hydrocarbons to warrant testing - data from such a test will provide important reservoir information to determine economics of the field.

A decision to test or not will be made once logging has been completed. We expect to make an announcement relating to testing shortly. This oil accumulation is additional to and separate from that located in the vicinity of Puffin 2. Originally drilled in 1974, Puffin 2 flowed 4608 barrels of oil per day during a drill stem test.

NORWEST ENERGY NL (6 June 2000)

Puffin 5 has reached a total depth of 2414m and wireline logging of the well has commenced.

Preliminary interpretation of the logs run so far indicates that there is a 9 metre net oil column at the top of the K1a Sandstone reservoir. It is interpreted that this sandstone has good porosity and is expected to have good permeability.

While the primary objective was intersected low to prediction, available data indicates that the Puffin Horst may contain sufficient quantities of hydrocarbons to warrant testing. Data from such a test will enhance feasibility studies to determine economics of the field.

A decision to test or not will be made once logging has been completed. We expect to make an announcement relating to testing shortly.

This oil accumulation is additional to and separate from that located in the vicinity of Puffin 2. Originally drilled in 1974, Puffin 2 flowed 4608 barrels of oil per day during a drill stem test.

XENOLITH GOLD LIMITED (6 June 2000)

AQUARIUS PLATINUM LIMITED (3 June 2000)

Aquarius Platinum Limited wishes to announce that it is at an advanced stage of negotiations with Impala Platinum Holdings Limited, a major producer of platinum group metals to acquire a package of PGM properties from Implats comprising the Everest Properties and Chieftains Plain.

AUSTRALASIAN GOLD MINES NL (3 June 2000)

The following is an update of the ongoing exploration activity at the Dalgaranga and Tantalus tantalum prospects. Tantalus is located about 28 kilometres northnorthwest of the Dalgaranga prospect. Work completed has included RC drilling at both prospects to further determine the extent of the tantalum bearing pegmatites. PQ diamond drilling was also conducted adjacent to the old Dalgaranga open cut (Peg 1) designed to provide samples for metallurgical test work.

DALGARANGA

DIAMOND DRILLING

In May, a short drilling program to acquire sample material for metallurgical testing was completed. Nine vertical PQ core holes were drilled for a total of 71.9m. (not including short RC precollars). The deepest hole was completed at 22.9m and only oxidised material was collected (all holes terminating in footwall sediments) from each hole.

RC DRILLING

Recent follow up RC drilling of the Dalgaranga tantalum project concentrated on investigating the continuity and orientation of pegmatite veins at Dalgaranga (M59/106) and at the Tantalus prospect (M20/131) situated about 28km to the north.

At Dalgaranga a two pre-existing holes were deepened and three deeper holes (most earlier holes were less than 35m depth) were completed to determine the association, if any, between the Peg 1 pegmatite and the Peg 2 pegmatite. These two units crop out approximately 350m apart, but, whilst Peg 1 strikes northwest it appears to be folded on northeast axes which keep the vein near the surface.

TANTALUS

At the Tantalus prospect 18 RC holes (697m) have been completed on six traverses 80m apart. Mapping has shown a single lozenge-shaped vein, striking about 010 degrees and dipping about 201 eastwards, extends over (at least) 400m of strike. The inclined drilling has not tested the full width of the vein (on every section) but near the centre of the zone the vein is in excess of 60m thick. Samples from this and future drilling programs will be evaluated for Ta(2)O(5) content by gravity separation of the entire sample to produce a heavy mineral concentrate for final analysis. Results from this process are expected by late June.

The prospect is open to the south and will be evaluated with further RC drilling.

RC drilling is planned to recommence early in June in order to determine the extent and resource potential of the pegmatites at Peg 1 to 8 and at Tantalus to a depth of 50 metres below surface.

The results to date at each of the prospects are considered very encouraging. At Dalgaranga it appears that at least eight tantalum bearing pegmatites exist and are stacked vertically to at least a depth of 100 metres. The Tantalus prospect appears to be a large near surface pegmatite at least 500 metres in length, averages 30 metres in thickness and 100 metres wide. Tantalite and microlite have been observed in pan sampling of drill cuttings at all the prospects. Crystals of tantalite up to several centimetres in size and weighing up to 200 grams have been collected from the surface exposures of all the pegmatite units.

Cluff Resources (3 June 2000)

The Company's 10,000 tonne bulk sampling program at the Gloucester Ruby Project has commenced with overburden removed from part of the first trench, and the first truckloads trucked to the plant.
Concentrate from the first 10.5 tonnes of gravel has been picked, with the recovery of 86.5 carats of ruby and 29.0 mats of sapphire. The largest ruby recovered was a 1.4 carat deep red stone.

EMPIRE OIL & GAS NL (3 June 2000)

Empire Oil & Gas NL, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Rough Range Oil Pty Ltd, is pleased to announce that the Central Rough Range No. 1 well was spudded in at 2100 hours 1 June 2000 with 0 D & E Rig 34.

The 9 5/8" (244mm) casing shoe, set previously with a smaller rig, was drilled out at a depth of 146 metres below RKB. The spudding of the well commenced with the drilling of new 8 1/2" (216mm) hole with new formation being drilled below 149 metres.

At 0600 hours on 2 June 2000 the current activity was the drilling ahead with 8 1/2" hole at 334 metres in the Cardabia Group. The Central Rough Range No. 1 well is located on the highest mapped culmination by the Company of the Rough Range Oilfield and is located 400 metres to the South West of the Rough Range 1B well. The Rough Range 1B well flowed at a stabilised rate of 1106 barrels of oil per day during a 24 hour production test conducted between 23 May to 24 May 2000.

MACMIN NL (3 June 2000)

DRILLING PROGRAM AT THE TEXAS PROJECT (QUEENSLAND) COMPLETED LATE IN MAY – RESULTS TO BE ANNOUNCED IN APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS

The drilling program in and around the conceptual pit at the Twin Hills silver development, Texas Project was completed late in May. All assays have not yet been received but it is anticipated that drill hole results will be announced in approximately two weeks together with an update on the progress of mine planning and proposed mine development.

For further information, click here

LAKES OIL NL (3 June 2000)

Lakes Oil N.L. wishes to announce that as a 6 am, Thursday 1 June 2000, the North Seaspray-3 well was still at a depth of 187 metres and pressure testing BOP’s. North Seaspray-3 is being drilled to evaluate the gas sands(s) encountered in North Seaspray-1 which was drilled in 1962 by Arco/Woodside. The sand(s) is anticipated to be intersected at approximately 1130 metres. It is planned to drill the target section with air in order to minimise damage to the reservoir sand.

For further information, click here

NORWEST ENERGY NL (3 June 2000)

At 0600 hours Central Standard Time today, Puffin 5 was drilling ahead in 8(1/2) inch hole at 2088m towards the planned total depth 2377m. Core #2 was cut immediately below core #1 and recovered 5.1m of sandstone.

The sandstone intersected in core #2 is described as colourless, translucent, loose, fine to dominantly medium grained, trace of coarse grained, moderately sorted, with subround to spherical grains. No visible matrix, occasional pyrite cement and common trace pyrite nodules. It is interpreted that the sandstone in core #2 has very good visual porosity and is considered to be below the oil-water contact.

NORWEST ENERGY NL (3 June 2000)

West Oil NL announces that as at 6:00am (CST) Friday, 2nd June, Puffin-5 was at 2,090 metres and drilling ahead having completed coring of the primary objective.

A further 5.5 metres of core has been recovered in the last 24 hours making a total of 14.5 metres of core from the primary objective.

Pancontinental Oil & Gas (3 June 2000)

The Philippines National Oil Company (PNOC), as operator of the Aparri Basin GSec 84 Joint Venture has advised that at 6.00am, 2 June 2000, (Philippines time) 25 days after spudding, the Fuga 1 exploration well has reached a depth of 5385 feet (1641 metres).

Strike Mining / BHP (3 June 2000)

Under the terms of the May 1998 Hodgkinson Gold Project Agreement with BHP Minerals Pty Ltd (BHP), Strike Mining NL (Strike) was committed to expend an amount of $1.5 million on exploration over a two year period, approximately half of which was to be directed towards the drilling of existing and future targets.
Significant progress was made toward this commitment by the expenditure of approximately $1.2 million on programmes involving geological mapping, geochemical sampling, geophysics, target generation and initial drilling of anomalies. However, with the 2000 field season being delayed by an extended North Queensland wet season and with a shortfall of expenditure evident, a variation to the Agreement was confirmed with BHP whereby the commitment to expend an amount of $1.5 million was extended by one year to May 2001. This provides the opportunity to follow-up further anomalies interpreted from a recent aerial geophysical survey conducted by the Department of Mines and Energy.

TECTONIC RESOURCES NL (3 June 2000)

Tectonic Resources NL is pleased to announce that the recent reverse circulation (RC) grade control drilling program in the upper levels of the RAV 8 Nickel (Ni) sulphide deposit has increased the total resource from 184,120 tonnes at 6.07% Ni to 207,350 tonnes at 5.95% Ni. The intersections obtained in these drilling programs were previously reported on the 3rd and 17th May 2000.

ANACONDA NICKEL LIMITED (2 June 2000)

In the month of May 2000, Murrin Murrin achieved a monthly production of 1210 tonnes of nickel and 104 tonnes of cobalt, which is 100% above the monthly average for the first quarter.
Almost all nickel production achieved 99.8% contained metal LME specification, as did cobalt for LMB high purity specification.
This is a satisfactory result as (over the entire period) the plant was forced to operate without major pieces of equipment due to design errors by the EPC contractor. These materials deficiencies will be addressed over the next few months by Anaconda (and back charged to the EPC contractor). Production will accordingly be flat this month before the next significant increases in LME/LMB quality production expected in July.

DOMINION MINING (2 June 2000)

Dominion has withdrawn from the farm-in agreement with Western Metals Limited on the Hellyer Tailings Project in Tasmania.
Dominion entered into the agreement in September 1999 to earn a 50% interest in the Project by funding and managing a A$5 million Feasibility Study into extracting an estimated 1 million ounces of gold, 30 million ounces of silver and 300,000 tonnes of zinc.
Due to the refractory nature of the gold and silver, only a small proportion of these metals were recovered from the original Hellyer mining operations using conventional processing techniques.

During the first phase of the Feasibility Study which commenced in October 1999, Dominion, with the assistance of international consultants Bateman Engineering, evaluated a number of alternative processing methods to determine the most suitable approach to recover a significant proportion of the gold and silver and maximise the recovery of the base metals.
Unfortunately, none of these options met Dominion's expectations technically or commercially to form the basis of a bankable proposal and enable project development to proceed.

HERALD RESOURCES LIMITED (2 June 2000)

Herald owns, (prior to the issue below) 7,776,499 shares representing 60% of the issued capital of its subsidiary, Canadian-listed company International Annax Ventures Inc.

DRILLING PROGRAM AND FUNDING IN PLACE

The Directors of International Annax Ventures Inc. are pleased to announce that the Forestry Department of Indonesia has issued the necessary permitting to allow a continuation of drilling at the IAX Dairi Project in North Sumatra. IAX has a 70 to 80 percent interest in the Dairi Project, which interest may vary based on future participation elections of underlying interest holders.

Drilling will now commence in the forestry reserve covering IAX's Dairi Project's Sopokomil Zn-Pb-Ag prospect. Delays in obtaining such permit to enable future drilling contributed to the recent decision by the Company's former joint venture, partner to withdraw from the Dairi Project.

For further information, click here

IVANHOE MINES LIMITED (2 June 2000)

HIGHLIGHTS - First Quarter
(All amounts stated in US dollars)

Ivanhoe Mines' 50%-owned S&K Copper Mine, the first phase of the Monywa Copper Project in Myanmar, produced 7,061 tonnes (15.6 million pounds) of cathode copper in the first quarter ended March 31, 2000, a 14% increase over the same period in 1999.
Copper sales from the S&K Mine totalled 6,290 tonnes (13.9 million pounds) in the quarter. Ivanhoe Mines' share of revenue from copper sales was $5.3 million, up 9% from a year earlier. The company's share of net profits from copper sales was $1.4 million, compared to $0.7 million during the same period in 1999.
The average copper price received by S&K during the quarter was approximately 80 cents a pound, a 29% increase over the average price of 62 cents a pound received in the first quarter of 1999.
Minegate production cash costs at S&K were approximately 25 cents a pound of copper. Total costs, including depreciation, depletion and royalties, were approximately 64 cents a pound. S&K is one of the lowest-cost primary copper mines in the world.
Work began on an expansion to increase S&K's annual production capacity by 40% to 35,000 tonnes (77 million pounds). The expansion is being funded from the mine's operating cash flow.
The S&K Mine paid $11.8 million from its operating cashflow into an escrow account to meet the second scheduled instalment payment on its long-term project loan. The outstanding balance on the loan, originally $90 million, will be reduced to $75 million when the escrowed funds are applied in August of this year.
The S&K Mine reached another international safety benchmark when it surpassed two million hours worked without a disabling injury. The mine has operated for more than 18 months without a disabling injury to any of its 540 workers.
Sample shipments of S&K's cathode were submitted to independent copper users appointed by the London Metal Exchange (LME). The users are testing the purity of the cathode as part of the procedure for registration of the mine as a producer of LME Grade A copper. Upon receipt of the LME registration, S&K will realize a premium for its cathode of approximately $30 a tonne, or 1.4 cents a pound.
The final, independent development plan for the large Letpadaung deposit, the second phase of the Monywa Copper Project, was completed and submitted to the company's joint venture partner for its review. Subject to financing and government approval, Letpadaung is expected to produce 125,000 tonnes (276 million pounds) of cathode copper a year beginning in 2003, with cash operating costs of 35 cents (US) a pound over the projected 20-year mine plan.
The company's ongoing exploration program in Northeast Kalimantan, Indonesia, recorded one gold discovery - the Seruyung prospect - and three base-metal discoveries - the Gupak, Mamak and Kelapis prospects. Exploration is also continuing on prospects in Myanmar and South Korea.
In May, the company entered into an agreement with BHP Limited which gives Ivanhoe the right to earn a 100% interest in the Turquoise Hill (Oyu Tolgoi) copper/gold discovery in Mongolia. Exploration is now underway to confirm the project's potential to host a large, long-life, copper deposit amenable to open-pit mining and the low-cost, high-efficiency SX-EW recovery process that Ivanhoe has successfully implemented at the S&K Mine.

LAKES OIL NL (2 June 2000)

Lakes Oil NL wishes to announce that as at 6am this morning, Thursday 1 June 2000, the North Seaspray-3 well was still at a depth of 187 metres. Anticipated operations for the next 24 hours; running mast proof test, installation and testing of BOP's.

For further information, click here

NORWEST ENERGY NL (2 June 2000)

Core 1 in Puffin 5 has been cut from a depth of 2047.3m to 2056.6m. This core which is being flown to Darwin for further analysis confirms hydrocarbons have been intersected in Puffin 5.

Current operation is cutting core number 2 through the K1a Sandstone reservoir.

The sandstone intersected in core 1 is described as colourless, translucent, friable to loose, fine to dominantly medium grained, trace of coarse grained, moderately well sorted, with subround to spherical, trace pyrite nodules and trace of glauconite. It is interpreted that the sandstone has very good visual porosity.

NORWEST ENERGY NL (2 June 2000)

West Oil NL announces that as at 6:00am (CST) Thursday, 1st June, that the operator was preparing to run Core No 2 after having run Core No 1 over 9.2 metres.

Observations from 1 metre intervals from Core No 1 indicated a 9 metre section of sandstone dominantly medium grained with very good visible porosity, 100% bright yellow white fluorescence extended from the top of the core down to 2054 metres which is equivalent to the oil water contact in Puffin-1.

OIL COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA (2 June 2000)

Progress Report PL 22 New Royal 7

New Royal No 7, an Oil Appraisal Well, situated approximately 230 metres northwest of Regatta No 1, lattitude 27 deg 06 min 19.84 sec south, longitude 148 deg 52 min 27.07 sec east, was spudded at 01:00 hours on May 31, 2000. Surface casing was set at 163.4 metres RT at 06:00 hours today. The well was at a total depth of 167 metres RT and installing blow out preventors. Progress for the week was 167 metres.
The primary target of the well is the showgrounds sandstone. The secondary targets are the intra moonlayember formation and the basal evergreen sandstone.

Weekly Drilling Summary :

Moomba 110 - Drilling ahead. Current depth and progress for the week is 2042m. The well spudded on 26/05/00.

Della 22 - Dela 22 has been cased and suspended as a future Permian gas producer. The well reached a total depth of 2,108m, with no progress for the week. The rig was released on 27/5/00 and moved to Della 21, a PPL 15 gas development well.

Della 21 - Drilling ahead. Current depth and progress for the week is 435m. The well spudded on 30/5/00.

Pondrinie North 2 - Drilling ahead. Current depth and progress for the week is 1,664m. The well spudded on 25/05/00.

Challom 18DW - Drilling ahead. Current measured depth is 1,508m, with 493m progress for the week.

Challum 18 is a high angle well with two sub-horizontal lateral well bores designed to drain separate reservoirs in the Permian age Toolachee Formation. Challum DW1 is designated the lower lateral wellbore while Challum DW2 is designated the upper lateral wellbore.

Scotia 6 - Scotia 6 has been cased and suspended as a future gas producer from the Baralaba Coal Measures. The well reached a total depth of 926m, with no progress for the week. The rig was released on 27/5/00 and moved to Scotia 7, an ATP 378P Gas Appraisal well.

Scotia 7 - Drilling ahead. Current depth and progress for the week is 312m. The well spudded on 30/5/00.

New Royal 5 - New Royal 5 has been cased and suspended. The well reached a total depth of 1,538m, with no progress for the week. The rig was released on 25/5/00 and moved to New Royal 7, a PL22 oil appraisal well.

New Royal 7 - Pulling out of hole to run surface casing. Current depth and progress for the week is 167m. The well spudded on 31/5/00.

West Mereenie 17 - rilling ahead. An open hold flow test in the Pacoota Sandstone at a depth of 1,190 m flowed gas to surface at a rate of 757,277 cubic metres per day (26.74 mmcfd) across a 38mm (1(1/2))" orifice plate. Current depth is 1,270m, with 765m progress for the week.

Runnels 1 - Preparing to drill ahead having run and cemented 178mm (7") intermediate casing. Current depth is 3,170m. The well spudded on 14/5/00.

Alkane Exploration NL (1 June 2000)

Zirconia product ranging in quality up to 98.5% and 99.1% ZrO(2) (+HfO(2)) has been produced from laboratory scale testwork carried out over the last few months as part of the feasibility study to produce high purity zirconia (ZrO(2) + HfO(2)), a yttria-rare earth concentrate (Y(2)O(3) - REO) and a niobium-tantalum concentrate (Nb(2)O(5) - Ta(2)O(5)) from the Dubbo deposit located 400km north west of Sydney in the central west of New South Wales.

Samples of these products are currently being distributed world wide to potential consumers and/or marketing agents for their analysis and comment on market acceptability and price.

Australian Mining Investments Limited (1 June 2000)

Australian Mining Investments announce the drilling program, which had been delayed due to the adverse weather conditions that recently occurred in central Queensland is now 50% complete. The drilling sites are located between Longreach and Winton about 20 km east of the Thompson River where unseasonably high flood levels occurred during recent rains.

The first well was spudded in on 18th April and reached the design depth of 1,152 meters on 23rd April. The second well was commenced on 19th May and reached its designed depth of 1,130 meters on 24th May. The third well was commenced on 30th May. Drilling is expected to be complete in June with fraccing and de-watering to follow prior to gas flow testing.

Diamond Ventures NL (1 June 2000)

BUTTERFLY NORTH
The postulated northerly projection of the Butterfly Shear was targeted with vertical RAB drilling on 80 m x 20 m centres at the Butterfly North prospect, which is located within granite 500 m north of Butterfly. Anomalous historic drill intersections, including a 1989 drill intersection of 6m @ 9.0 g/t from 52m, define this prospect area. Best results from the current drilling - 28 m @ 3.2 g/t from surface, 8 m @ 7.1 g/t from 28 m and 4 m @ 11.6 g/t from 44 m - were returned from holes DVRB 119, 34 and 35 respectively, drilled adjacent to this early intersection. (It should be noted that the intersection in hole DVRB 119 has been determined from assays of 4m composite samples and although drilling was dry the results should be regarded as approximate). The attitude of this mineralisation is not clear at this stage although it appears to be unrelated to the Butterfly Shear. Further drilling is required to understand its geometry. Assay results are awaited from the last three RAB holes drilled on this prospect.

BUTTERFLY
Drilling of twelve vertical RC holes both up dip and down dip with respect to historic drillholes at the Butterfly deposit has returned best results of 7m @ 2.34 g/t from 13 m (up dip hole DVRC 18), 2 m @ 8.39 g/t from 9 m (up dip hole DVRC 11), 14 m @ 4.2 g/t from 24 m (infill hole DVRC 19), 4 m @ 10.9 g/t from 38 m (infill hole DVRC 9), 5 m @ 8.1g/t from 72 m (down dip hole DVRC 10) and 3 m @ 4.36 g/t from 54 m (down dip hole DVRC 7). True width is 85% of down hole width. These intersections lie within the 30 deg east dipping Butterfly Shear from which some 35,000 tonnes @ 7.7 g/t Au were mined in the early 1900's. Subsequently drilling since the mid-1980's has shown the Shear to be mineralised over a 250 m strike length and a down dip dimension of up to 100 m. The drilling just completed is resolving this mineralisation into several high grade shoots which appear to pitch at high angles down the plane of the Shear. This geometry is similar to that of the Admiral mineralisation and the host rock at Butterfly is also a highly magnetic dolerite or gabbro.

These results will be followed up with further drilling.

ADMIRAL
At Admiral three vertical RC holes were drilled on 20 m centres to test for the easterly down-plunge extension of a high grade shoot identified within the gently northeast dipping Admiral Shear. The Admiral Shear has been drilled by previous operators on 20m centres down dip beyond the Pit limits and the shoot can be traced in this drilling from the floor of the Pit eastwards for 180 m. Two of the holes drilled, DVRC 2 and DVRC 3, returned 5m @ 6.0 g/t from 106 m depth and 3 m @ 6.1 g/t from 105 m respectively, these intersections being essentially true width. These grades and widths encourage consideration for infill and additional step-out drilling along the shoot to evaluate its underground potential. The better grades of gold mineralisation in the Admiral Shear occur where it intersects a magnetite bearing gabbro and early interpretation suggests the high grade shoot within the Admiral Shear is developed within the magnetite bearing gabbro near its contact with an overlying basalt. An improved understanding of the controls on the localisation of the gold mineralisation will enable better targeting of the shoot in subsequent drilling programmes.

CLARK
The Clark prospect is located directly between Admiral and Butterfly and on the same magnetic dolerite/gabbro which hosts these two deposits. very little drilling is evident at Clark but observations at the old workings suggest the mineralisation to plunge and dip gently eastward as at Admiral and Butterfly. Best results from vertical RAB drilling on 40 m x 20 m centres are 8 m @ 4.54 g/t from 28 m, 4 m @ 7.59 g/t from surface, 8 m @ 6.99 g/t from 16 m and 8 m @ 3.82 from 40 m in holes DVRB 108, 109, 112 and 117 respectively. These intersections, compiled from assaying of 4 m composite samples, confirm the easterly dip of the mineralisation. Further drilling will be necessary here to explore for extensions of this mineralisation.

Drilling on the other six prospects returned numerous anomalous intersections but at this stage follow-up drilling is warranted only at the Duke North prospect.

East Coast Minerals NL (1 June 2000)

East Coast Minerals NL and Legend Mining NL announced on 24th May 2000, the recovery of what is believed to be the largest specimen of massive primary silver mineralisation in Australia today, if not the world.

We are pleased to advise that this unique specimen is being exhibited at the Perth Mint for the next three weeks.

Jubilee Mines NL (1 June 2000)

Jubilee is continuing the intensive exploration of the Cosmos Deeps massive nickel sulphide deposit. To date, diamond drilling has completed a total of 15 primary core holes and 12 wedge holes, over an area of 200 x 160 metres. The mineralisation is located approximately 300 metres vertically beneath the planned base of the Cosmos open pit.

Molopo Australia NL (1 June 2000)

Molopo Australia has commenced a pilot production test drilling program at it's Liulin coalbed methane gas project in China with the spudding of the LW-L1 well on May 30th, 2000.

The Company's 4 well pilot production test has been designed to test production rates and suitable completion techniques at Liulin, where an earlier 3 well exploration programme indicated a substantial in-place coalbed methane gas resource.

Norwest Energy NL (1 June 2000)

Puffin 5 intersected the top Puffin Lower K1a primary objective Sandstone reservoir at a depth of 2046m.

Current operation is pulling out of the hole to cut a core of this sandstone reservoir. No prediction can be made as to the gross and net hydrocarbon columns until the core is retrieved. A decision to test or not will be made once wireline logs have been run at total depth.

The sandstone intersected thus far is described as Arkosic: colourless, loose, fine to coarse grained, predominantly medium, moderately sorted, with subround to rounded grains, moderate to good sphericity, trace pyrite. It is interpretated that the sandstone has very good visual porosity.

Novus Petroleum Limited (1 June 2000)

Salam North-7X exploration well

Concession: Khalda Concession, Western Desert, Egypt
Location: 4.5 kilometres SE of the Tut field and 3.6 km north of the Salam field

Well Objectives: The main objective of the well is to confirm the extension of the Salam field to the north and test the potential of the Jurassic age Ras Qattara Formation
Primary objectives - Gas reserves in Jurassic age Ras Qattara Formation
Secondary objectives - Oil potential in Jurassic age Khatatba Formation
Final Drilled Depth: 3,851 metres
Results to Date: Final electric logging programme has been completed. A total of 9m of oil pay was identified in the Jurassic age Khatatba (2A and 2B) reservoirs. In addition, a total of 19m of gas pay was identified in the Khatatba 2F reservoir.

No pay was identified in the primary objective-Ras Qattara

Status of Well: The Joint Venture is considering whether or not to test the oil zone in Khatatba 2A and 2B and initially complete the well as an oil producer.The gas reserves will be exploited once the oil has been produced.

Pancontinental Oil and Gas NL (1 June 2000)

The Philippines National Oil Company (PNOC), as operator of the Aparri Basin GSec 84 Joint Venture has advised that at 6.00am, 31 May 2000, (Philippines time) 23 days after spudding, the Fuga 1 exploration well has reached a depth of 4799 feet (1462.7 metres). The well is drilling ahead in a 12(1/4)" hole.

No significant reservoir rocks have been encountered and the well is significantly beyond the prognosed depth at which the primary objective was anticipated. Rock chip samples are still being evaluated and the prospect of intersecting the Middle Miocene primary objective has not yet been ruled out by the operator.

Lakes Oil NL (31 May 2000)

Lakes Oil N.L. wishes to announce that as a 6 am this morning, Wednesday 31th May 2000, the North Seaspray-3 well was still at a depth of 187 metres and waiting on cement to dry prior to running a mast proof test.

For further information, click here

Auiron Energy Limited (31 May 2000)

* Phillipson Coalfield Shown To Have Commercial Potential To Supply Both SASE and Local Industry

* Phillipson Trial Pit Under Consideration

IRON ORE

AuIron Energy reports that substantial intervals of high-grade haematite and magnetite intersected during the South Australian drilling programmes recently completed by its SASE Pty Ltd subsidiary have confirmed previous work by the South Australian Government that extensive high-grade iron ore resources are present in the Hawks Nest area, 1201km south of Coober Pedy.

COAL

The recent programme also included additional drilling for large diameter core samples for smelting tests of the Ingomar coal deposit. Ingmoar lies within the Company's 5 billion tonne Phillipson coalfield, 60km north-west of Hawks Nest and close to the existing railway connecting to Whyalla. The intersected coal is 4m closer to surface than in previously delineated contiguous areas. As a result, the amount of overburden stripping required to open up the deposit will be significantly reduced and the estimated mining costs will be lowered. The estimated costs were already in the lowest quartile of international mining costs.

The potential exists to establish the Phillipson coalfield as a major source of coal within South Australia capable of supplying other industrial customers as well as the SASE project itself.

DEMONSTRATION PLANT

A Demonstration Smelter now under construction at Whyalla is on schedule and nearing completion. Commissioning is slated to start in July 2000.

COMMERCIAL PLANT

A decision on the preferred location of the commercial smelter (near Coober Pedy or on the Spencer Gulf) could be made as early as October 2000.

Beach Petroleum NL (31 May 2000)

Beach Petroleum reports that Taipan-1 spudded at 1400 hours on 29 May. At 0800 hours on 30 May the operation was running 9 (5/8)" casing at 1,008 feet (307 metres).

Taipan-1 is located in ATP 548P, southwest Queensland, approximately 16 km northeast of the Inland Oil Field. Primary objectives of the well are the Namur and Hutton Sandstones of Jurassic age. The well has an anticipated total depth of 6,945 feet (2,117 metres).

Hardman Resources NL (31 May 2000)

Hardman Resources provides the following update on the Fuga #1 exploration well, Philippines to 06.00 hours, 30 May 2000:-

PROGRESS:(since 23 May)

The well was drilled from 709 metres to 1,389 metres in 12(1/4) inch (311mm) hole size.

The geology consists predominately of Siltstone, dark greenish grey, in part grading to claystone.

No significant hydrocarbon shows have been encountered in the section drilled. At about 885 metres two thin limestone beds were encountered with minor associated gas recorded in the drilling mud of up to 0.4% C1.

Note: The two main objective zones have not yet been reached.

Mount Burgess Gold Mining Company (31 May 2000)

The Company would like to announce that it has now completed the initial phase of its Electromagnetic (EM) survey over the Vauni geochemical (Ni and Au) anomaly at its Tay Project, situated in the Southern Yilgarn region of Western Australia.
A total of 137 line kilometres of moving loop time domain EM was conducted over a strike length of 15 kilometres covering the extents of an ultramafic sequence within the project area.
The survey has generated six significant electromagnetic anomalies and numerous other lesser anomalies.
Drilling on the first of the major anomalies has commenced today. For additional information, click here.

Norwest Energy NL (31 May 2000)

Norwest Energy announces that as at 6.00am (CST) Monday, 30th May, Puffin-5 was at 2003 metres and completing operators associated with setting 9(5/8)" casing. It is planned to drill ahead this afternoon to the primary objective K1a sandstone.

Puffin-5 will test the Puffin-1 Updip Prospect which has P50 potential recoverable reserves of 75 million barrels. The well is 1.1kms northwest and updip of Puffin-1 which intersected a 2 metre oil column in the Lower K1a Sand in 1973. Puffin 1 recovered about 20 litres of oil from a wireline testing tool while Puffin 2 drilled in 1974 on a drillstem test flowed 4608 Barrels of oil per day.

Pancontinental Oil & Gas NL (31 May 2000)

The Philippines National Oil Company as operator of the Aparri Basin GSec 84 Joint Venture has advised that at 6.00am, 29 May 2000, (Philippines time) 20 days after spudding, the Fuga 1 exploration well has reached a depth of 4518 feet (1377.1 metres). The well is drilling ahead in a 12(1/4)" hole.

The Late Miocene section in this well is considerably thicker than originally predicted and the objective section has not yet been encountered.

Fuga 1 has a proposed total depth of 2200 metres and is anticipated to take 34 days after spud to reach that depth.

Pancontinental Oil & Gas NL has a fully carried interest of 6.875% through the drilling, evaluation, completion and testing of this exploration well which has an estimated dry hole cost of US$3.4 million (US$4.3 million tested).

Based on the operator's estimates, the potential recoverable reserves of the Fuga Island prospect are 5,240 billion cubic feet of gas from the sum of the Labuagan, Sicalao and Ibulao reservoirs.

Pilbara Mines Limited (31 May 2000)

Pilbara Mines Ltd (Pilbara) takes this opportunity to provide an update on its activities during May 2000, all of which are progressing to plan, and on schedule, with respect to Request DSL (80% Pilbara) and the Teutonic Bore Project:

REQUEST DSL

* The granting of a Carrier Licence to Request DSL by the Australian Communications Authority, effective 2 May 2000, maintaining Request DSL on track with its business plan to provide broadband DSL services by the lost quarter of 2000.

* The signing of an evaluation agreement with Clearband, a leading developer of multicasting technology in the US, allowing the delivery of a true, TV-quality experience with full-screen streaming video, over Request DSL's trial DSL network in Australia.

* The visit by the Request DSL Management Team to Silicon Valley in the US, to receive an executive briefing from Cisco Systems, with whom Request DSL have an agreement for a four phase roll-out plan of a nationwide ADSL network in Australia, and to meet with other broadband content providers.

* The appointment of BNP Equities (Australia) Pty Ltd as Corporate Advisor to Pilbara, to provide financial, strategic, and tactical advice in relation to Pilbara's 80% investment in Request DSL and the launching of its national DSL network.

* All the above milestones, in conjunction with discussions with a number of major investors, place Request DSL on track, as per the business plan, to be rolling out a national DSL Network in Australia, by the last quarter of 2000.

TEUTONIC BORE PROJECT

* The pre-feasibility study into extracting Zinc, Copper, Silver and Gold from surface resources at the Teutonic Bore mine is progressing on target, with encouraging metallurgical recoveries having been reported recently and the commencement of Stage 2 of the study to evaluate flow sheets, capital and operating costs and project cash flows. Results are due toward the end of the month of June 2000.

* The approval to commence an air core exploration drilling programme on Pilbara's tenements to the south of the Teutonic Bore mine, in an area of highly prospective but poorly tested host stratigraphy where previous exploration has shown base and precious metal anomalism. Re-interpretation of high-resolution aero-magnetics has further enhanced this area.

* The above progress is in line with Pilbara's stated objectives to develop the surface resources at Teutonic Bore and to discover further economic base and precious metal mineralisation within Pilbara's project area.

QCT Resources Limited (31 May 2000)

Delays brought about by deteriorating roof conditions during longwall support recovery will affect production at South Blackwater's Kenmare underground mine until the end of July. This will reduce production by 200,000 tonnes in the current financial year. South Blackwater's results for the second half will be further affected by the recent delays and are expected to be comparable with the first half.

On the basis of a successful recommencement of longwall production in August, budgeted production from South Blackwater in the 2000/01 financial year will be reduced to 5.5 million tonnes as a result of the delayed longwall relocation.

Xenolith Gold Limited (31 May 2000)

The following information was today released to the North American market with respect to the above project in which Xenolith has an indirect interest via its equity in Kookaburra Resources Ltd and KOB Energy Inc;

EAST LOST HILLS, CALIFORNIA

* The Berkley East Lost Hills #1 well was perforated Sunday May 28, 2000 at approximately 06:30h PDT.

* The well was flowed on clean-up during the day at highly restricted rates. Gas rates increased steadily during this period from four mmcfpd to in excess of 12 mmcfpd. Condensate rates also increased during this period to over 1,000 bpd.

* The flowing wellhead pressure was maintained above 11,500 psi throughout the clean-up period.

* The well was shut in during the early morning May 29, 2000. Down hole pressure recorders will be run and an extended multi-point production test is scheduled to commence Wednesday May 31, and is expected to last three to four days. On completion of the main flow test the well will be shut in for approximately 10 days for build up.

Eagle Bay Resources NL (30 May 2000)

NORTHRIGHT OIL PROSPECT, GIPPSLAND BASIN, OFFSHORE VICTORIA (VIC P-41) (EAGLE BAY RESOURCES 100%)

The Board of Directors wish to advise that the Company is planning to drill its Northright Oil Prospect in September 2000.

The proposed well is located within a granted shallow water permit measuring 2364sqkm, in one of Australia's major producing petroleum basins. The permit contains the oil structure "Northright" which has an aerial extent of some 30sqkm. The nearest oil and gas field is Sole, l5km to the south. The Sole field is full to spill point, immediately down dip from Northright. A 189km seismic survey over Northright has been completed, its interpretation by a number of independent groups has confirmed a major fault bound structure which could hold up to 100 million barrels of recoverable oil.

Emporer Mines Limited (30 May 2000)

Emperor Mines is pleased to announce an update of the resources at its Tuvatu exploration lease.

The result of the review exceeded our expectations, returning a total Mineral Resource of:

Total Mineral Resource of 1.8 million tonnes @ 9.2 g/t Au (545,000 contained ounces)

composed of 1.1 million tonnes @ 8.4 g/t Au classified as Indicated Resource with the remaining 0.7 million tonnes @ 10 g/t Au in the Inferred Resource category, above a cut-off of 3 g/t Au. The Mineral Resource is classified and reported in accordance with the JORC code of practice. Mr Vigar is a member of the AusIMM and considered a competent person having 20 years of experience in this style of deposit.

T he Indicated Resource was converted to a Probable Ore Reserve of:

1.3 million tonnes @ 6.6 g/t Au (269,000 ounces)

using parameters reflecting a long-hole mining method. A gold price of US$280, 3 g/t Au cut-off and minimum width of 1.6m (fully diluted) for stopes, 2 g/t Au cut-off and dimensions of 3 x 2.8m (fully diluted) for development drives.

Gunson Resources (30 May 2000)

Following the announcement by WMC last week of encouraging drilling results from nickel-copper targets in the West Musgrave area of Western Australia, a study of the regional geological controls on this mineralisation has been made.
As a result of the Company's study and the examination of old exploration data, application has been made for five contiguous exploration licences approximately 400 kilometres south of the West Musgrave area. These exploration licences cover an area of approximately 850 square kilometres and straddle a major northerly trending discontinuity evident in continental geophysical data. This discontinuity runs from the north coast to the south coast of Australia and passes close to the Argyle diamond mine and the West Musgrave area.

Data in the area the Company has applied for indicates the presence at shallow depths of less than 100 metres of favourable mafic to ultramafic intrusive rocks which can be tested for nickel sulphide mineralisation with relatively shallow drilling. These rocks appear to occur within a basement high between the Officer sedimentary basin to the north and the Eucla sedimentary basin to the south.

Gympie Gold Limited (30 May 2000)

Gympie Gold has announced that a previously unrecognised orebody has been found and drilled in its Monkland Mine at Gympie in southeast Queensland.

The orebody is located adjacent to the new rail heading on Level 12, at 550 metres depth and only 370 metres northwest of the recently expanded No 2 production shaft.

It has been named the Scottish Gympie Stockwork A because of a strong resemblance to the Stockworks mined historically from the Bas Lewis shaft which produced over 1 million tonnes at 12.1 g/t gold (390,000 ounces) using bulk mining methods. These "stockwork" orebodies are large dimension gold ore zones amenable to mechanised bulk mining. Dimensions of 80 metres long, 100 metres high and 50 metres wide are not unusual for this ore type.

Lakes Oil NL (30 May 2000)

Lakes Oil wish to announce that the North Seaspray-3 well spudded at 1600 hours on 28th May 2000 and, as at 6 am on the 29th May 2000, the well was drilling 311mm hole at a depth of 175 metres.

For further information, click here

Mincor Resources NL (30 May 2000)

We advise that due to the political situation in Fiji Mincor has postponed the drilling programme that was due to start at Banana Creek today.

All drill preparations are complete and, pending a favourable resolution to the political crisis, the programme is capable of immediate activation. Mincor will continue to monitor events in Fiji and will make a further announcement within the next ten days.

Nido Petroleum Limited (30 May 2000)

Nido Petroleum has provided a status report on Philippine and Chinese operations it is involved in.

CHINA - ZHONGYUAN REHABILITATION PROJECT

Work on the first sidetrack well, CH12-14, has been successful. It is now producing 15 - 20 Barrels of oil per day, with a water cut of 55%. When first drilled, logs identified oil bearing sands, as expected, but when put on production, the well produced 99% water at high rates, contrary to log interpretation and the position of the well in the structure. A temperature log was run to identify the source of water and a bridge plug was then set to isolate the thin sand producing the water. The current oil production rate is lower than pre-drilling forecasts but has confirmed the oil potential in this part of the field and opportunities to stimulate production and improve sweep efficiency have yet to be carried out.

It is likely at this stage that the CH12-14's production performance will be monitored for some time before the higher S3M9/10 sands are tested. The oil potential from the S3M9/10 sands was identified with the original logs and was an upside not expected when drilling the sidetrack. Confirmation of oil in these sands is likely to open up additional potential in this part of the field.

The second well, the C7-43 sidetrack has been completed. Logs identified oil in a number of different sands. It was decided to perforate a poor quality sand in one of the lower sections, the S3M10m, as a test of its production capacity as well as a means of effectively draining this particular sand. The well has been producing about 20 Barrels of oil per day with a 82% water cut, which is quite encouraging.

The third well, H12-155,has just been drilled to a total depth of 2780m and is being logged. The well is intended as a long term injection well, but it may have some immediate production potential.

During May to date, 9 small workovers have been completed. These workovers include polymer injection to control water injection and reperforations to increase productivity.

As a result of the new wells, workovers and repair of several other wells, field production has increased steadily and over the past few days has been more than 350 Barrels of oil per day or 45% higher than when Nido's incremental oil production began on 22 April.

Discussions are proceeding with several parties to fund the ongoing project.

The Zhongyuan Redevelopment Project is a joint venture project between Nido (40%) and its USA partner, the Monde Group (60%), and the Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration Bureau.

PHILIPPINES - GSEC 84, FUGA ISLAND-1

As at 0600 hours on 26th May 2000, the Fuga Island-1 well was at a depth of 1089 metres and drilling ahead in 12(1/4)" hole. In Fuga Island-1's drilling to date, 13(3/8)" (340mm) casing has been set at 552 metres, and wireline logs have been run over the 17(1/2)" hole section.

The well has drilled a sequence of interbedded claystone, siltstone, and sandstone with some calcarenite (limestone) stringers. A number of small gas shows were observed between 306 and 885 metres, which were generally associated with thin sandstone intervals. An initial review of the wireline logs suggests that the gas shows have no commercial significance.

The well has a proposed total depth of 2200 metres which is anticipated to take another 19 days to reach.

Nido Petroleum is being fully carried through drilling, evaluation and testing of the well for a 2.5% interest.

PHILIPPINES - SERVICE CONTRACT (SC) 14

The Operator, Alcorn has advised that a deal has been negotiated with Caltex to lift crude oil production from the Nido platform complex. Liftings have already commenced.

This will have a positive impact on the operation's cashflow. Over the past 12 months the Matinloc field has produced consistently, but Nido field production has been minimal because of logistics and marketing constraints.

Nido has a 17.5% interest in SC 14.

Norwest Energy NL (30 May 2000)

Norwest Energy announces that as at 6.00am (CST) Monday, 29th May, Puffin-5 was at 2003 metres and setting 9(5/8)" casing prior to drilling ahead.

Puffin-5 will test the Puffin-1 Updip Prospect which has P50 potential recoverable reserves of 75 million barrels. The well is 1.1 kms northwest and updip of Puffin-1 which intersected a 2 metre oil column in the Lower Kla Sand in 1973. Puffin 1 recovered about 20 litres of oil from a wireline testing tool while Puffin 2 drilled in 1974 on a drillstem test flowed 4608 Barrels of oil per day.

Tap Oil NL (30 May 2000)

Tap Oil advises that the Prometheus-1 exploration well spudded at 20.00 hours on Sunday 28 May 2000.

LOCATION

The well is located in WA-278-P, approximately 400 kilometres West of Darwin in the Timor Sea at latitude 12deg50'21.03" South and 126deg22'07.83" East.

PROGRESS

As at 06.00 hours on Monday 29 May 2000, the well has drilled ahead to 141 metres and will continue to drill ahead to the planned total depth of 2,227 metres measured depth. Estimated drilling time is 15 days.

TAP COMMENT

The Prometheus prospect is a fault bounded structure with vertical relief interpreted to be approximately 110 metres at the near top Permian level. The well is targeting sandstone reservoirs at the Upper and Lower Permian levels.

It is interpreted that the well could have the potential to contain 50 mmbls (mean volume) of oil if successful.

This well will be immediately followed by the Intrepid-1 well in the adjacent block in which Tap also has a 12% interest.

WMC Limited (30 May 2000)

Following the announcement by WMC last week of encouraging drilling results from nickel-copper targets in the West Musgrave area of Western Australia, a study of the regional geological controls on this mineralisation has been made.

As a result of the study and the examination of old exploration data, application has been made for five contiguous exploration licences approximately 400 kilometres south of the West Musgrave area. These exploration licences cover an area of approximately 850 square kilometres and straddle a major northerly trending discontinuity evident in continental geophysical data. This discontinuity runs from the north coast to the south coast of Australia and passes close to the Argyle diamond mine and the West Musgrave area.

Woodside Petroleum Limited (30 May 2000)

Woodside Petroleum has approved expenditure of A$54.6 million to progress the development of the oil discoveries in Permit WA-271-P (Woodside equity 100%). This follows the completion of screening studies which have demonstrated that a stand-alone field development of Enfield is likely to he commercially viable.

An appraisal well is planned for Enfield in Q3 2000 which will assist in optimising development planning for the field. Production testing of this well will be undertaken to confirm the connectivity of the reservoir.

Mosaic Oil (27 May 2000)

TESTING PROGRAM (QLD)-TINKER 1, LARK 1, FAIRYMOUNT 8 (MOSAIC 100%)
Mosaic's testing program continues.
Lark 1 last produced in 1998 is on controlled flow at 300,000 cubic ft/day from a 2 meter interval. Plans are now being made to perforate 8 meters of upper section which have never been tested.
Tinker 1 (last produced in 1994) has on controlled flow at 1,300,000 cubic ft/day for the week and is now being shut-in for downhole testing to determine reserves.
Some delays in the programme are expected this week due to rain.

Norwest Energy (27 May 2000)

At 0600 central standard time yesterday Puffin-5 was at a depth of 1,780 metres and drilling ahead.
Puffin-5 will test the Puffin-1 updip Prospect which has P50 potential recoverable reserves of 75 million barrels. The well is 1.1 kms northwest and updip of Puffin-1 which intersected a 2 metre oil column in the Lower K1a Sand in 1973. Puffin-1 recovered about 20 litres of oil from a wireline testing tool while Puffin-2, drilled in 1974, on a drill stem test flowed 4,608 barrels oil per day.

Pancontinental Oil & Gas (27 May 2000)

The Philippines National Oil Company (PNOC), as operator of the Aparri Basin GSec 84 Joint Venture has advised that at 6.00am, 26 May 2000, (Philippines time) 18 days after spudding, the Fuga 1 exploration well has reached a depth of 3,574 feet (1,089.4 metres). The well is drilling ahead in a 12(1/4)" hole.
The well is drilling Late Miocene sediments and has not reached the objective section.
Fuga 1 has a proposed total depth of 2,200 metres and is anticipated to take 34 days after spud to reach that depth.

Pilbara Mines (27 May 2000)

Pilbara announced the approval to commence an air core exploration drilling programme on Pilbara's tenements to the south of the Teutonic Bore mine, in an area of highly prospective but poorly tested host stratigraphy.
Previous exploration in the area has shown base and precious metal anomalism and the proposed exploration programme will further test these zones with deeper and more widespread drilling. Drilling is due to commence in June 2000, having been delayed by unseasonal wet weather in the north eastern Goldfields region of WA.

Roc Oil (27 May 2000)

KYLE WELL COMES ON AT 19,000 BOPD; KEDDINGTON-2 INTERSECTS TOP RESERVOIR AND SALTFLEETBY CONTINUES TO OUTPERFORM PROSPECTUS FORECAST

1. OIL PRODUCTION STARTS AT THE KYLE OIL FIELD, UK NORTH SEA (ROC: 12.5%)
On 24 May 2000 an Extended Well Test ("EWT") commenced at the 29/2c-12z well in the Kyle Oil Field in the UK North Sea. A stabilised rate of 19,000 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) was achieved prior to the well being choked back to 13,000 BOPD in accordance with the production testing schedule. Production from the well is through the Petrojarl-1 Floating Production Storage and Offloading facility (FPSO) which has a well established North Sea production and operational track record. The EWT is scheduled to last approximately 130 days during which time approximately 1.7 million barrels of oil is expected to be produced. The results of the EWT will be taken into account by the Kyle Joint Venture as it actively considers the drilling of a further appraisal well during the northern summer so as to enable a commitment to be made to a life-of-field development. In this context various full field development options are being reviewed including stand alone development schemes and a tie-back to existing infrastructure in the area (Attachment 1).

2. KEDDINGTON-2 REACHES RESERVOIR TARGET (ROC: 100%)
Keddington-2, the first appraisal well on the Keddington Oil Field, has encountered the top of the reservoir objective approximately 5 metres high to prognosis. After encountering hydrocarbon shows at the top of the reservoir, 5(1/2)-inch casing was set to a depth of 2,389 metres. The reservoir section will be drilled 400 metres horizontally to a total drill depth of in the order of 2,700 metres.

3. SALTFLEETBY GAS FIELD CONTINUES TO OUTPERFORM PROSPECTUS EXPECTATIONS (ROC: 100%)
The Saltfleetby Gas Field continues to exceed Prospectus forecast, producing up to a maximum rate of 50 million standard cubic feet of gas per day.

Tap Oil (27 May 2000)

Tap advised that the North Alkimos-1 exploration well spudded at 15.30 hours on 25 May 2000. The well is located in TL/6, 4 kilometres southwest of Harriet Alpha Platform at latitude 20deg36'37.63"S and longitude 115deg34'08.12"E. The well is expected to take 9 days to reach its projected total depth of 2,418 metres measured depth.
North Alkimos-1 is being drilled as a deviated well targeting the Lower Cretaceous Flag Sandstone in a four-way dip closed structure only 4 kilometres from existing production facilities.

West Oil (27 May 2000)

Timor Sea Update - West Oil reports that Nippon Oil announced yesterday that it's Crux-1 well in AC/P23 discovered a 280 metre gross hydrocarbon column. The well reached a total depth of 3,950 metres.
AC/P23 is adjacent and to the east of West Oil's 100% AC/P28 and to the south and east of West Oil's AC/P22 (Puffin) and AC/P26 permits.
On test the well flowed at 65.5 million cubic feet of gas per day and 1,921 barrels per day of 52 degree API condensate. The well is being plugged and abandoned and Nippon is assessing the commercial significance of the discovery.
Crux-1 was only the second well to be drilled on the PGS Onnia 3D seismic survey after Brontosaurus-1 (P&A'd dry hole). Puffin-5 is the third.

Inpex also reported that its 4,562 metre Dinichthys-1 well in WA-285-P flowed 22 million cubic feet of gas per day and 1,300 barrels per day of condensate through 40/64" choke. It was reported that operational constraints prevented higher flow. WA-285-P is in the Browse Basin approximately 100km to the south west of West Oil's AC/P28 permit.

Beach Petroleum NL (26 May 2000)

CANTERBURY-1 (ATP 548P SOUTHWEST QUEENSLAND): OPERATIONS UPDATE

Beach Petroleum reports that Canterbury-1 reached a total depth of 2,285 in (7,496 ft) at 10.00 pm on Tuesday, 23 May 2000, with the well encountering minor hydrocarbon shows during drilling. Wireline logs were subsequently recorded and evaluated confirming that no economic hydrocarbons are present. The well is currently being plugged and abandoned.

The rig will move to Taipan-1, which is located closer to the Inland Oil Field, and approximately 26 km to the southwest of Canterbury-1. The well is expected to spud on Tuesday 30 May. The Taipan structure is on the same structural trend as the Inland Field and very similar in structural style.

Dioro Exploration NL (26 May 2000)

PRELIMINARY INFERRED RESOURCE TO 130M DEPTH - 314,000 OUNCES - OPEN AT DEPTH AND ALONG STRIKE

Mines and Resources Australia Pty Ltd, as manager of the Mungari East joint venture between Dioro (49%) and Mines and Resources (51%), have completed an inferred polygonal resource estimate in relation to the Frog's Leg prospect within the joint venture tenements. The estimate is based upon all drilling data to the end of March, including diamond, reverse circulation and aircore drilling results. The purpose of this preliminary inferred resource estimate is to model the geological and mineralisation continuity and to evaluate the resource potential of the project.

The drilling information utilised for the purposes of the calculation covered a vertical depth of only 130 metres, over a strike extent of 750 metres. This has identified a potential 1,950,000 tonnes of ore grading 5g/t gold for an inferred resource of 314,000 ounces. Significant additional resource potential exists at depth and along strike, especially within 600 metres of untested lake covered ground along strike to the North West towards the Gilt-Edged Mining and Goldfields Limited mineralisation.

No high grade thresholds have been applied to this estimate.

The directors also wish to advise the more significant results received from a program of 8 diamond holes recently drilled at Frog's Leg.

This was a very limited diamond program, and was primarily conducted to gain a better understanding of the structural setting of mineralisation prior to calculating the preliminary inferred resource figure.

Dragon Mining NL (26 May 2000)

Dragon Mining commenced a major resource infill and extension reverse circulation drilling program at its Svartliden Gold Project in Sweden in April. Previously 49 diamond core holes have been drilled into the Svartliden mineralisation over a strike length of over 1,000m.

Glengarry Resources NL (26 May 2000)

Glengarry Resources announce that field work has commenced at the Larranganni Project in the Tanami Region of WA. This project is a Joint Venture between Glengarry and Tanami Gold NL (56% 44% respective equities). Both companies are contributing pro rata to expenditure with Glengarry being the manager and operator.

Lakes Oil NL (26 May 2000)

Lakes Oil NL announce that, as at 6.00 am Eastern Standard Time, the rig to be used for the drilling of the North Seaspray-3 exploration well in PEP 137 had arrived on site and that rigging up procedures were underway. It is now anticipated that the well will spud (commence) late tomorrow night (Friday, May 26th).

For further information, click here

Lakes Oil NL (26 May 2000)

Lakes Oil announce that, as at 6.00 am Eastern Standard Time, the rig to be used for the drilling of the North Seaspray-3 exploration well in PEP 137 is currently rigging up. It is anticipated that the well will commence late tonight or early tommorrow.

For further information, click here

Murray Basin Minerals NL (26 May 2000)

Murray Basin Minerals has announced that exploration drilling at the Amiens Strandline, north of Mindarie in South Australia, has identified a potentially significant extension to the strandline.

"Drilling of the Amiens Strandline's Line KD 359, six kilometres southeast of the previous drill line, encountered the mineralisation at a depth of approximately 19 metres," Murray Basin Minerals' Managing Director, Mr Chris Neal, said today.

"Assay results indicated an average heavy mineral grade of 6.08% with a thickness of 2.75 metres over a width of 75-100 metres."

Norwest Energy NL (26 May 2000)

At 0600 hours central standard time today Puffin 5 was at a depth of 1,383m and drilling ahead.

Puffin-5 will test the Puffin-1 Updip Prospect which has P50 potential recoverable reserves of 75 million barrels. The well is 1.1 kms northwest and updip of Puffin-1 which intersected a 2 metre oil column in the Lower K1a Sand in 1973. Puffin 1 recovered about 20 litres of oil from a wireline testing tool while Puffin 2 drilled in 1974 on a drillstem test flowed 4,608 Barrels of oil per day.

Oil Company of Australia (26 May 2000)

Oil Company of Australia on behalf of the PL 22 Joint Venture advises that:

New Royal No 5 an Oil Appraisal Well situated approximately 790 metres north of Caxton No 2, latitude 27 deg 05 min 15.24 sec south, longitude 148 deg 52 min 35.10 sec east, was spudded at 1930 hours on may 18 2000. At 0600 hours today the well was at a total depth of 1547 metres RT and running 73mm (2.875 inch) production casing. Surface casing was set 170 metres RT.

The primary target of the well was the showgrounds sandstone.

PARTICIPANTS AND INTERESTS IN THE WELL ARE:

Oil Company of Australia Limited 64.0 percent
Oil Investments Limited 19.0 percent
Alliance Minerals Australia Pty Ltd 12.5 percent
Angari Pty Limited 04.5 percent

Santos Limited (26 May 2000)

SUMMARY OF DRILLING - WEEK ENDING 25/05/2000

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

WELL: Moomba 113
TYPE: Gas Development
LOCATION: PPL 7, Moomba Block, 1.1km SW of Moomba 78, 1.2km NW of Moomba 91, and some 9km NW of the Moomba Gas Plant.
STATUS AT 25/05/2000 0600 HOURS: Moomba 113 has been cased and suspended as a future Permian gas producer. The well reached a total depth of 2,611m, with 343m progress for the week. The rig was released on 22/05/2000 and is currently moving to Moomba 110, a PPL 7 gas development well.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 2,626m

WELL: Della 22
TYPE: Gas Development
LOCATION: PPL 15, Nappacoongee-Murteree Block, 500m NE of Della 13, 700m SW of Della 8, and some 50Km E of the Moomba Gas Plant.
STATUS AT 25/05/2000 0600 HOURS: Conducting wireline logging operations. The well reached a total depth of 2,108m, with 1,491m progress for the week.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 2,128m

QUEENSLAND

WELL: Challum 18 DW
TYPE: SWQ Unit Gas Development
LOCATION: PL 59, Aquitaine B Block, 1.25km NE Challum 1 and 20km W of the Ballera Gas Centre.
STATUS AT 25/05/2000 0600 HOURS: Running 244mm surface casing. Current depth and progress for the week is 1,015m. The well spudded on 22/05/2000.
Challum 18 is a high angle well with two sub-horizontal lateral well bores designed to drain separate reservoirs in the Permian age Toolachee Formation. Challum DW1 is designated the lower lateral wellbore while Challum DW2 is designated the upper lateral wellbore.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: DW1 - 3,121m MD; DW2 - 3,100m MD

WELL: Scotia 6
TYPE: Gas Appraisal
LOCATION: ATP 378P, Surat Basin, Queensland, 1.8km SSE of Scotia 2 and 2km N of Scotia 4, and 125km NE of the Wallumbilla Gas Plant.
STATUS AT 25/05/2000 0600 HOURS: Conducting wireline logging operations. Total depth and progress for the week is 926m. A drill stem test conducted over the Baralaba Coal Measures (755m to 774m) flowed gas to surface at a rate of 5,891 cubic meters per day (208 Mscfd). The well spudded on 18/05/2000.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 926m

WELL: New Royal 5
TYPE: Oil Appraisal
LOCATION: PL 22, Surat/Bowen Basin, 1.4km N of Caxton 2, 21km WNW of the Surat township.
STATUS AT 25/05/2000 0600 HOURS: Running 2(7/8)" tubing. New Royal 5 is to be cased and suspended. The well spudded on 18/05/2000, and reached a total depth of 1,538m.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 1,550m

NORTHERN TERRITORY

WELL: West Mereenie 17
TYPE: Gas Development/Appraisal
LOCATION: PL 4, Mereenie Block, Amadeus Basin, 2.0km SE of West Mereenie 16, and approximately 230km W of Alice Springs.
STATUS AT 25/05/2000 0600 HOURS: Preparing to run 273mm surface casing. Current depth and progress for the week is 505m. The well spudded on 23/05/00.
PLANNED TOTAL DEPTH: 1414m

Victoria Petroleum NL (26 May 2000)

RE: KESTREL ENERGY REPORTS PROGRESS ON FRACTURE STIMULATION OF GREENS CANYON #1 WELL AND PREPARATION FOR FRACTURE STIMULATION OF GREENS CANYON #2 WELL

Victoria Petroleum advises that the company has a 18.5% indirect interest in the Greens Canyon Gas Project, in the major gas-producing Green River Basin in South-West Wyoming, USA, through its 18.5% holding in Kestrel Energy Inc.

Kestrel report, "the Company successfully fractured the Second Frontier Formation with more than 225,000 pounds of high-strength bauxite proppant. Management reports the initial flowback from the well was excellent, with 43% of the stimulation liquids recovered in the first 24 hours and strong gas flows in excess of 2,000 MCFD (2 million cubic feet per day). However, this performance was not sustained due to what was determined to be a hole in the tubing string, which ultimately slowed the recovery of the remaining stimulation fluids. The tubing hole has now been repaired."

WMC Limited (26 May 2000)

WMC Resources Ltd have announced some encouraging results from recent drilling of two nickel/copper targets in the West Musgrave area in Western Australia.

Croesus Mining NL (25 May 2000)

Exploration drilling will commence this week at Croesus' 560 sqkm Davyhurst project located 120km northwest of Kalgoorlie. The beginning of a $2 million exploration program to be carried out over the next 12-18 months in the Davyhurst area.

East Coast Minerals NL (25 May 2000)

East Coast Minerals and Legend Mining Joint Venture partners have recovered what is believed to be the largest specimen of massive primary silver mineralisation in Australia today, if not the world. The silver specimen, weighing approximately 165kgs, is truly exceptional in size and occurrence. The dimensions are approximately 800mm in length, 400mm width and 350mm in depth.

Empire Oil & Gas NL (25 May 2000)

Empire Oil & Gas through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Rough Range Oil Pty Ltd, is pleased to announce the stabilised production test result from its Rough Range No 1B well.

A production test of the Rough Range 1B well has been conducted and completed over a 24-hour period from 1100 hours 23 May 2000 to 1100 hours 24 May 2000. During this 24-hour period the well has demonstrated a stabilised flow rate that averaged 1,106 barrels of oil per day with zero water production. The production test was conducted by British-based international and independent completion and testing service company, Expro Group Australia Limited.

Norwest Energy NL (25 May 2000)

As at 6:00am (CST) Wednesday, 24th May, Puffin-5 was at 927 metres. The 13 3/8" casing was run and cemented at 917 metres and the 12 1/4" bottom hole assembly is being made up prior to drilling ahead.

Puffin-5 will test the Puffin-1 Updip Prospect which has P50 potential recoverable reserves of 75 million barrels. The well is 1.1 kms northwest and updip of Puffin-1 which intersected a 2 metre oil column in the Lower K1a Sand in 1973. Puffin 1 recovered about 20 litres of oil from a wireline testing tool while Puffin 2 drilled in 1974 on a drillstem test flowed 4,608 Barrels of oil per day.

Oil (25 May 2000)

Oil exports have exceeded imports for the first time in eight years.

Figures reached 5.8 billion litres in the March quarter and Laminaria, the massive new oil field in Timor Sea, largely attributed to the increase in production.

In operation since November 1999, Laminaria is expected to produce 170,000 barrels per day, a figure that places it in the top three reserves in Australia.

Pancontinental Oil and Gas NL (25 May 2000)

The Philippines National Oil Company as operator of the Aparri Basin GSec 84 Joint Venture has advised that at 6.00am, 23 May 2000, (Philippines time) 14 days after spudding, the Fuga 1 exploration well has reached a depth of 2327 feet (709.3 metres).

After drilling out from the 13 (3/8") (340mm) casing shoe at 1815 feet (553.2 metres), the well has drilled through a sequence of interbedded dark greenish gray siltstones, calcarenites and fine grained sandstones. Above background mudlog gas shows were recorded in fine to medium grained sandstone lenses at 1910 feet (582.2 metres) and 2127 feet (648.3 metres).

This sequence is interpreted to be of late Miocene age and overlies the early to mid Miocene Sicalao limestone, the first major target zone.

Fuga 1 has a proposed total depth of 2200 metres and is anticipated to take 34 days after spud to reach that depth.

Diamond Rose NL (24 May 2000)

Diamond Rose' final results from heavy mineral analysis of 75 scout air-core drill samples from geophysical targets at Upper Beta Creek, indicate a far greater number of kimberlite pipes than was originally anticipated.

Energy Equity Corporation Limited (24 May 2000)

Two new Indonesian contracts have been signed with Pertamina.

The Bone Production Sharing Contract (PSC) is an offshore contract in Bone Bay, South Sulawesi. The contract covers an area of 4,451sqkm and is immediately adjacent to the producing onshore Sengkang PSC in which EEC has a 50% interest.

The Gajah Besar Technical Assistance Contract (TAC) in located in South Sumatra near to EEC's other TAC's - Biru and Talang Babat. The Gajah Besar TAC covers an area of 39.4sqkm and contains a suspended gas well which previously was tested dry sweet gas at rates in excess of 10 MMscf/d. EEC plans a fast track development with gas sales into the existing 240 MMscf/d South Sumatra gas market.

Empire Oil & Gas NL (24 May 2000)

Empire Oil & Gas through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Rough Range Oil Pty Ltd, is pleased to announce further results from its Rough Range No.1B well. Successful flow testing of the well continues and the produced crude is being loaded into tank storage facilities on site with road train tankers transporting the crude to the BP Kwinana Refinery for processing. Flow testing will continue until a stabilised flow rate can be recorded or on-site tankerage is at full capacity.

Hardman Resources NL (24 May 2000)

Update on the Fuga #1 exploration well, Philippines to 06:00 hours, 23 May 2000:-

Progress since 16 May:

The well was drilled to 552 metres where the 13(3/8) inch (340mm) intermediate casing was run and cemented. Drilling has recommenced in the 12(1/4) inch (311mm) hole size and at reporting date has reached a depth of 709 metres.

The geology from 552 metres to 709 metres comprises an interbedded sequence of siltstone, sandstone and limestone. Minor gas shows were recorded in the drilling mud with up to 0.3% C1 and trace C2.

Future Programme:

Drill ahead in 12(1/4) inch hole to approximately 1,676 Metres, run wirelines logs and then install 9(5/8) inch (244mm) intermediate casing. Drill ahead in 8(1/2) inch (216mm) hole size to total depth.

Lakes Oil NL (24 May 2000)

NORTH SEASPRAY-3

Lakes Oil wishes to announce that the drilling contractor has advised that the rig to be used for the drilling of the North Seaspray-3 exploration well in PEP 137 (onshore Gippsland Basin) is due to arrive at the drill site tomorrow, Wednesday, May 24th.

For further information, click here

New Hampton Goldfields Limited (24 May 2000)

Summary

* Increase in Ore Reserves at Big Bell Gold Operations from 510,000 ounces to 861,000 ounces as a result of an independent study by Australian Mining Consultants Pty Ltd. Life of mine estimate revised to five years.

* Very significant high grade mineralisation, including 8 metres at 60.5 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold from 32 metres and 10 metres at 41.8 g/t gold from 28 metres has been intersected in new and existing zones at Noble, near Coolgardie.

Norwest Energy NL (24 May 2000)

Norwest Energy advises that Puffin 5 well reached casing point at 927m at 1700 hours central standard time, following which 13(3/8)" casing was run. It is expected that the well will recommence drilling ahead today.

Puffin-5 will test the Puffin-1 Updip Prospect which has P50 potential recoverable reserves of 75 million barrels. The well is 1.1 kms northwest and updip of Puffin-1 which intersected a 2 metre oil column in the Lower Kla Sand in 1973. Puffin 1 recovered about 20 litres of oil from a wireline testing tool while Puffin 2 drilled in 1974 on a drillstem test flowed 4,608 Barrels of oil per day.

WMC Limited (24 May 2000)

WMC Resources Ltd is encouraged by the results from recent drilling of two nickel/copper targets in the West Musgrave area, in Western Australia.

The West Musgrave Project is located within the Musgrave Ranges north east of Laverton near the South Australian border. The tenements lie entirely within Aboriginal Reserve No. A17614, administered by the Ngaanyatjarra Land Council.

Two diamond drill holes, four kilometres apart, intersected sulphide mineralisation. Final results from the first hole which tested an electro magnetic anomaly at least 800 metres long, are 26.55 metres (apparent
width) @ 2.45% nickel, 1.78% copper, and 0.09% cobalt from 58m - 84.55 metres down hole (true width not known). The first batch of samples from the second hole which tested an IP and a weak electro magnetic anomaly at least 1.5 kilometres long has returned a preliminary result of 37.9 metres (apparent width) @ 0.31% nickel, 0.45% copper, and 0.01% cobalt from 54.1 metres - 92 metres down hole (true width not known). Analyses below 103.3 metres in the second hole are still awaited. Further results will be included in the Quarterly Report due for issue in mid-July.

WMC Exploration Executive General Manager Jack Parry said that while the results were encouraging, it was still too early to speculate on the findings.

Mr Parry said that the company had a long history of exploration in the general area in the 1960s, and acquired the current leases at West Musgrave in 1997.

'Our relationship with the local people dates back to the 1960s. We will continue the full and open consultation process first established over 30 years ago.'

Austindo Resources Corporation NL (23 May 2000)

International Antam Resources has received the assay results for the first three drill holes on the Cibaliung Gold Project from its joint venture partner, Austindo.

The Cibaliung Gold Project is a high grade epithermal gold vein system located 150 km southwest of Jakarta in West Java, Indonesia. Previous expenditures totalling US$2.8 million identified two high-grade mineralized zones in an extensive epithermal system. The property is currently joint ventured with Austindo who is required to fund the next stages of exploration expenditure to a total of US$1.425 million, after which the Company will be required to provide its pro rata share of expenditures or accept dilution of its current 37% interest.

These three initial holes are part of a 10,000 metre drill program designed to confirm the current Inferred Resources of Cikoneng and Cibitung ore shoots, upgrade these to Indicated status, explore extensions to the zones and test priority targets adjacent to the Cibitung and Cikoneng zones. All three holes intersected the targeted Cikoneng ore shoot in the expected positions. Assay results are reported below:

VEIN INTERCEPTS DOWNHOLE ASSAY RESULTS CORE

HOLE FROM(M) TO(M) LENGTH(M) AU (G/T) AG (G/T) RECOVERY

AC-1 221.7 232.2 10.5 25.88 193.0 77.2%

AC-2 83.0 91.0 8.0 13.68 153.0 98.9%

AC-3 170.7 180.0 9.3 8.11 Pending 93.6%

An independent review by a "Competent Person" as defined in the "Australasian Code for Reporting Mineral Resource and Ore Reserves" previously confirmed total Inferred Resources occurring in the adjacent Cikoneng and Cibitung zones to be:

993,000 tonnes grading 9.78 g/t Gold and 57.4 g/t Silver

These resources equate to 312,230 contained ounces of gold and 1,830,000 ounces of silver.

The success of the first three holes in confirming vein geometry and grade has increased the joint venture partner's confidence in the economic potential of the Cikoneng shoot and the next phase of drilling that is designed to test for extensions of the zone has commenced.

International Antam Resources Ltd. is a gold and silver producer carrying on mining and mineral exploration in Indonesia.

Burdekin Pacific Limited (23 May 2000)

Burdekin Pacific advises that no immediate disruptions have been encountered at the Mt Kasi Mine as a result of recent events in Fiji.

Empire Oil and Gas NL (23 May 2000)

Production testing of the Rough Range 1B well commenced at 0900 hours on Sunday 21 May 2000.

The oil produced was flowed to oil storage facilities on site. During the cleanup the flow rates were measures up to a maximum of 1608 barrels of oil per day (BOPD).

The average measured production rate was 837 BOPD over the initial flow period of 4.45 hours.

The well cleaned up as the oil to surface temperature increased and the oil flow rates were measured at 1200 BOPD over the final two hours before the well was shut in overnight.

Emperor Mines Limited (23 May 2000)

Emperor Mines wishes to advise that the national curfew, imposed by Fijian authorities on Saturday 20 May, resulted in disruptions to the afternoon and night shifts over the weekend. Management has successfully re-organised shifts to minimise the impact.

Gold (23 May 2000)

The World Gold Council has released it's March quarterly report on world gold demand trends. Their research concludes Gold prices had the potential to soar during the period; however Australian producers kept prices modest with renewed forward selling near the end of the quarter.

Prices rose sharply twice during the period when major overseas producers such as AngloGold, Barrice, Placer Dome and Normandy ceased hedge positions and entering new hedge contracts.

Prices increased from $US280 ($490) per ounce, first to $US290 in January then to $US322 per ounce in February before the renewed forward selling commenced.

Molopo Australia NL (23 May 2000)

UPDATE

CHINA
On May 20, 2000 a contract was signed for the drilling, completion and production testing of a four well pilot production test on the Company's coalbed methane gas project in the Liulin block located in the Hedong Fairway in Central China. Drilling is expected to commence on or around May 29, 2000.

NORTH KOREA
The Company's gold production plant has arrived at the Changjin alluvial mine site in North Korea and expects to commission the plant and commence test gold production within the next two weeks. Upon completion of successful test production and the arrival of additional earth moving equipment, the Company expects the plant will be fully operational by late June 2000.

Normandy Mining Limited (23 May 2000)

Joint venture partner, Normandy has now mobilised a field crew to commence this season's drilling operations over the Isdell Joint Venture properties in the Telfer region of Western Australia.

Norwest Energy NL (23 May 2000)

Norwest Energy advises Puffin 5 Spudded at 12.30 hours central standard time (CST) 20th May 2000. The 30 inch casing was set at 160 meters.

At 6.00 hours (CST) Puffin 5 was at a depth of 515m and drilling ahead.

Victoria Petroleum NL (23 May 2000)

Press Conference EKHO NO. 1 Drillsite 3 miles east of Interstate 5, 1/4 mile South of Highway 46.

Tri-Valley Oil & Gas Co. believes its Ekho No.1 will usher in The third century of Kern County Petroleum activity with a world-class discovery. The Company is now completing the fastest well ever drilled in California below 19,000 feet and will shortly begin production testing to see if Mother Nature actually agrees with all the log data and calculations by several independent sources.

Beach Petroleum (20 May 2000)

Beach reports that at 9.00 am on 19 May 2000, Canterbury-1 was drilling ahead at 2,008 metres (6,588 ft). Progress since the last report (May 12) was 950 m (3,117 ft). The well has a planned total depth of 2,250 metres (7,381 ft).

Buka Minerals (20 May 2000)

Buka is pleased to advise that it has received notice from Noranda Pacific Pty Ltd. (Noranda) that Noranda has committed to a Feasibility Study on the Lady Loretta zinc-silver-lead project in Queensland.
Under the terms of the Lady Loretta J.V. Option Agreement Noranda has an option until 22nd December 2000 to purchase 75% of the Lady Loretta deposit from Buka for $21 million. Since January 1999, Noranda has been actively drilling and conducting metallurgical assessment on Lady Loretta.

Ashton Mining (19 May 2000)

Ashton Mining of Canada Inc ("AMCI") announced the start of the 2000 Superior craton exploration program in eastern Canada. The current program will build on AMCI's existing exploration initiatives in this region, both in Quebec and in the western portion of the craton.

Beaconsfield Gold NL (19 May 2000)

BeMaX Resources (19 May 2000)

I wish to advise that the Board of BeMaX (BMX) has approved the commencement a new drilling program in the Murray Basin as part of it's 'earn in" requirements with Basin Minerals NL on Exploration Licenses 5532 and 5578. These licenses are adjacent to and to the South-East of Exploration License 5474, which contains the Ginkgo deposit. For further information, please click here

Bligh Oil & Minerals (19 May 2000)

Bligh advised the execution of a seismic option and farmout agreement with Chevron Niugini Limited, concerning a portion of Bligh's interest in PPL 206. Bligh controls a 48.00% participating interest (50.00% of cost through the drilling of the first well) in PPL 206 through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Bligh Kanau Limited and Bligh Papua Limited. The Permit is operated by Santos Niugini Exploration Limited.
PPL 206 is located in the Foreland area of the Papua New Guinea Basin, adjacent to the Kutubu and Gobe fields in the Fold Belt, which lie 25 kilometres to the north and northeast respectively. The Koko gas discovery, drilled in 1999, lies 40 kilometres to the southwest. The northeast corner of the Permit is traversed by the proposed path of the PNG-Queensland gas pipeline.

Cluff Resources (19 May 2000)

Cluff has received approval from the Department of Mineral Resources to proceed with the Company's large scale bulk sampling program at the Gloucester Ruby Project. Accordingly the Company's large scale bulk sampling program will commence immediately with results of the program to be released on a regular basis.
It will involve the mining of 80,000 carats of ruby and 40,000 carats of sapphire which is expected to involve the extraction of approximately 10,000 tonnes of gravel, with processing at 100 tonnes per day in an operation expected to take approximately six months with a total cost of $250,000.

Emperor Mines (19 May 2000)

Emperor advises that its operations in Fiji are currently unaffected by the reported coup.
At this stage no disruptions are anticipated at the Vatukoula Mine which is situated on the northwest coast, approximately 380 kilometres from Suva by road.

First Australian Resources (19 May 2000)

SOUTH DREW FIELD, OUACHITA PARISH, LOUISIANA
The Vaughn Cotton Valley sand (between 9,568 and 9,580 feet) in the Silmon etal #1 well, has been fracced and is currently flowing back gas, condensate and frac fluid with a gas flare to 18 feet.
The well has tested 1.07 million cubic feet of gas and 15 barrels of condensate per day on a 16/64 inch choke and flowing tubing pressure of 852 psi. Technical difficulties experienced during the frac job have affected the potential flow rate. The operator believes the well is capable of higher rates and will monitor production after remaining frac fluid has unloaded.

Golden Valley Mines (19 May 2000)

GVM advised that drilling utilizing two drilling rigs is under way at its Tumpangpitu prospect in East Java, Indonesia. The programme of exploration, including a planned 1500 metres of drilling, is being undertaken in accordance with the terms of the Heads of Agreement ("HoA") entered into with Placer Dome Inc earlier this year (see announcement dated 17 February 2000).
The purpose of the drilling is to test for strike extensions of the high sulphidation mineralization previously intersected in hole GT005 (65m @ 2.2 g/t Au, 14 g/t Ag).

Heron Resources (19 May 2000)

Heron has this week received a number of significant drill results from the Goongarrie Nickel Project. Ongoing drilling at the Project has returned exceptionally high grade intercepts of nickel and cobalt mineralisation, between depths of 12 and 75 metres.
Since the release of the March 2000 Quarterly Report on 30 April 2000, Heron has engaged a second drilling contractor to expedite Resource Definition Drilling at Goongarrie. Results have been received for an additional 62 drill holes completed on an 80 x 80m pattern (GSRC287-335, 401-413, average depth 53m). Drill hole coverage is on high grade targets previously identified at Goongarrie South, with the current program planned for completion in late June 2000.

Results from the current drilling program will permit the estimation by independent consultants of an Indicated Mineral Resource for the Goongarrie Nickel Project, for use in the Centaur Mining & Exploration Ltd Cawse Stage IT Pre-feasibility Study, scheduled for completion in July 2000.

Drilling to date at Goongarrie South confirms two high grade and parallel NNW trending zones, both exceeding 1,200 metres in strike length, and highlighted with "metre percent" values commonly above 20m.% NiCo. Elsewhere in Australia, 10m.% NiCo is considered a good outcome in nickel-cobalt laterite exploration. In terms of Australian dry nickel laterites, the Goongarrie South discovery is evolving with the current drilling into an exceptionally well mineralised occurrence.

Kimberley Diamond Co (19 May 2000)

KDC wishes to advise of amendments to the following agreements.

1. NAMAKWA DIAMOND PROPERTY - SOUTH AFRICA
The grant of the tenement licence has been unduly delayed due to overlapping claims covering the same area. KDC expects the permit to be granted in the near future once the competing claims are resolved.
As a result of the delay, John Firth of Namakwa Diamond Company NL (50 percent owned by KDC) has renegotiated the purchase price reducing it from R5 million (A$1.25 million) to R3.5 million ($0.875 million), payable within six months of the date of grant of the permit. KDC is confident the permit will be issued.

2. TENEMENT E04/728 - AURIDIAM CONSOLIDATED NL
KDC had an option to acquire this tenement, adjacent to the Ellendale Field, from Auridiam upon payment of the sum of $2.5 million. KDC has withdrawn from this option.
An agreement has now been reached whereby KDC has been credited with its past inground expenditure entitling it to a 34 percent interest in the tenement.
KDC has until 15 December 2002 to earn a 51 percent interest in the project by expenditure of a further $595,000.
KDC can earn an additional 9 percent (increasing its interest from 51 percent to 60 percent) by spending a further $630,000 before 15 December 2003, whereafter KDC and Auridiam have the choice of contributing pro rate to further expenditure or diluting their respective interests.

Legend Mining (19 May 2000)

Results from RC drilling carried out at Carlow Castle last month have now been received, and confirm the presence of significant copper, gold and cobalt mineralisation. An identified mineral resource has been estimated for the Carlow South zone, which was discovered by Legend less than a year ago in a flat soil-covered area several hundred metres south of the historic high grade copper workings.

A resource estimate has been calculated - Main Lode Halo:
Total - 1.24 million tonnes at 0.75g/t Au, 0.50% Cu to 100m depth (Inferred)
These mineral resources contain approximately 57,000 ounces of gold and 7,470 tonnes of copper. A metallurgical testwork programme to establish treatment and recovery parameters is underway.

Marlborough Resources (19 May 2000)

An additional drilling programme has commenced on the Yithan Lead (Ardlethan Tin Project ). It is expected that this 102 hole programme will result in additional tin resources being defined.

Mineral Commodities (19 May 2000)

Due to limited cash reserves to meet our ongoing obligations and repay the facility to New Hampton Goldfields, the board recommends that shareholders approve the sale of our interests in the Mungari West Joint Venture (which includes the White Foil Deposit).
A tender process has commenced with the logical gold industry participants in the region and given the shortage of resources within the area compared with plant capacity, we are optimistic that a suitable price will be offered for Mineral Commodities interest in the joint venture.
Upon completion of the tender process, which is subject to shareholders approval, the company should have sufficient cash reserves to continue development of its Queensland interests - including the Trekelano copper/gold deposit - and pursue other opportunities.

Mosaic Oil (19 May 2000)

Silver Springs Testing Program (OLD)-Tinker 1 (Mosaic 100%).

Mosaic has mobilised a rig and testing equipment to use various methods to stimulate, test or bring back onto production various wells in the Silver Springs area owned 100% by Mosaic Oil N.L.
The Tinker 1 well was shut-in since 1994 after four months of production. A wellhead has been installed and the well has been successfully brought on production on control flow for over two weeks at a rate of 1.3 million cubic ft/day with a surface wellhead flowing pressure of 1,700 psi. Downhole tests will be conducted in the next month to ascertain reserves accessible from this well.

Norwest Energy (19 May 2000)

AEC International has advised the AC/P22 Joint Venture that the semisubmersable drilling rig "Ocean General" reached location at 0100 hrs (Central standard time) today. Present operation, running anchors.
Puffin-5 will test the Puffin-1 Updip Prospect which has P50 potential recoverable reserves of 75 million barrels. The well is 1.1kms northwest and updip of Puffin-1 which intersected a 2 metre oil column in the Lower K1a a Sand in 1973. Puffin 1 recovered about 20 litres of oil from a wireline testing tool while Puffin 2 drilled in 1974 on a drillstem test flowed 4609 Barrels of oil per day.

Petsec Energy (19 May 2000)

GRAND ISLE 45 A-2
The flowline has been installed and the well was brought into production on 11 May 2000. On initial test the well flowed at the rate of 2.351 million cubic feet of gas and 208 barrels of condensate per day through a 10/64" choke at 4,170psi flowing tubing pressure.

Pancontinental Oil & Gas (19 May 2000)

The Philippines National Oil Company (PNOC), as operator of the Aparri Basin GSec 84 Joint Venture has advised that at 6.00am, 19 May 2000, (Philippines time) 11 days after spudding, the Fuga 1 exploration well has reached a depth of l815 feet (553.2 metres).
On reaching 553.2m, electric logs were run and 13(3/8)' (340mm) casing run and cemented to that depth. The electric log data over the zones with anomalous hydrocarbon shows previously encountered during drilling are being reviewed by the operator.

Roc Oil (19 May 2000)

As of 06:00am on 17 May 2000, the Keddington 2 well had reached a depth of 2,284 metres in 6(3/4) inch hole. The operation at that time was running in hold and rig service following a trip to change the bit. The well is planned for a total depth of 2,700 metres (2,194 metres TVD). Keddington 2 is an onshore well targeting basal Westphalian Sandstones.

Santos (19 May 2000)

SUMMARY OF DRILLING

Moomba 113 - Preparing to drill ahead. Current depth is 2268m with 1739 progress for the week

Della 20 - Della 20 has been cased and suspended as a future
Permian gas producer. The well reached a total depth
of 2019m with no progress for the week. The rig was
released on 13/05/2000 and moved to Della 22, a gas
development well.

Della 22 - Nippling up blow out preventors have set surface
casing. Current depth and progress for the week is
617m. The well spudded on 16/05/2000.

Challum 16 - Challum 16 DW1/DW2 has been completed as a gas
producer from the Permian age Toolachee Formation.
The rig was released on 15/05/2000 and is currently
moving to Challum 18DW, a dual lateral high angle gas
development well.

West Mereenie 17 - Moving rig onto location. Expecting to spud well
early next week.

Tap Oil (19 May 2000)

The Harriet Charlie-4 appraisal well spudded at 23.30 hours on 10 May 2000.

LOCATION
The well is located in TL/1, 8.5 kilometres northeast of Varanus Island at latitude 20deg 35'25.2"S and longitude 115deg 37'33.0"E.

PROGRESS
The well reached its total depth of 2,593 metres measured depth (2,009 metres true vertical depth) at 15.00 hours on 17 May 2000. A 3.9 metre oil column was intersected and hence the well is now being completed for the production of oil. The well is planned to commence first oil production mid next week.
A reserve estimate will be made in due course.

Xenolith Gold (19 May 2000)

Initiation of the production test of Berkley #1 is currently planned for between May 26 and 28, the full production test is expected to take 3 weeks.
The perforating guns have been prepared to perforate 278 feet at 6 shots per foot and are on location.
Nabors Rig 633 commenced rig move to Berkley #3 on May 9 and is expected to spud on or about May 25th.
Berkley #2 will spud in early July utilizing Nabors Rig 339, subject to completion operations at Berkley #1."

Boulder Steel Limited (18 May 2000)

STILLWATER PGM JOINT-VENTURE, MONTANA, USA

Boulder Steel is pleased to announce that formal Montana State approval was granted for a drilling programme on a joint-venture project with Idaho Consolidated Metals Corp (ICMC) in the Stillwater Complex. The drilling programme, to be carried out by ICMC, will explore for Platinum Group Metals (PGM) on ground that was previously drilled and shown to contain significant nickel/copper/cobalt mineralisation.

Empire Oil and Gas NL (18 May 2000)

ROUGH RANGE NO 1B

At 0600 hours on 17 May 2000 the Company is finalising the cementing of 7" casing and is to run the completion equipment including 3 (1/2)" production tubing in the well before perforating the top of the oil pay zone and conducting production testing. Testing of Rough Range 1B is planned to commence Saturday 20 May 2000.

Majestic Resources NL (18 May 2000)

Majestic Resources have pleasure in announcing results of the first phase of the bulk sampling programme on two locations and the extension of the exploration programme to another location at the Pniel Estate Diamond Project, Kimberley, in the Republic of South Africa.

BULK SAMPLING OF THE UPPER TERRACE PLATEAU GRAVELS

This area is located along the southern boundary of the Pniel Estate, where approximately 17.0 million tonnes of near surface "Rooikoppie" style gravels have been identified. The area extends for some 20 kilometres in length by approximately 1.5 kilometres in width, covering an area of 2,800 hectares (6,900 acres). To date, only 20% of the area has been bulk sampled.

Sampling commenced at the end of January 2000 and by mid May 2000, 16,328 tonnes of gravels had been processed through a single 14 foot Pan Recovery Plant. A total of 119 diamonds were recovered weighing 163.79 carats. This equates to a recovery rate of 1.0 carat per 100 tonnes. Sizes recovered ranged from 16.36 carats to 0.04 carats, with 47 diamonds above 1.0 carats and 113 diamonds above 0.1 carats.

The bulk sampling programme will continue until at least 5 million tonnes has been outlined as a potential mineable resource, within the 2,800 hectare area.

BULK SAMPLING OF THE DROOGEVELD EXTENSION GRAVELS

This area is located near the south-western boundary of the Pniel Estate, where approximately 5.0 million tonnes of palaeochannel style gravels, intermixed with a significant amount of calcrete has been identified. Six pits were dug within the 5 kilometre palaeochannel that runs north to south across the Estate. A total of 20,705 tonnes of gravels were processed between January and April 2000 through a twin 14 foot Pan Recovery Plant. To date 15 diamonds have been recovered weighing 35.39 carats, with sizes ranging from 9.61 carats to 0.46 carats.

Further testing of this area is under consideration.

NATAL KOPJE EXPLORATION RESULTS

This area is located on the north-western boundary of the Pniel Estate, and is adjacent to the Droogeveld System that was extensively mined in the early 1900's.

To date, a series of narrow palaeochannels have, been identified trending in an east-west direction. The Directors believe that the style of gravels is different to the Droogeveld Extension and the Upper Terrace Plateau Gravels. Initial bulk sampling yielded 5 diamonds, weighing 4.11, 1.15, 1.06, 0.42 and 0.36 carats.

A detailed trenching and drilling programme will continue to outline the extent of the palaeochannels in this area.

Tectonic Resources NL (18 May 2000)

Tectonic Resources is pleased to announce that a 17 hole follow-up Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling programme at the RAV 8 Nickel Project, aiming to test the full extent of near surface orezone extensions discovered in first pass grade control drilling, has resulted in all holes intersecting mineralisation outside the currently defined ore reserve.

Anaconda Nickel Limited (17 May 2000)

Anaconda has announced the discovery of a major water resource, located 400 kilometres North East of Kalgoorlie with enough water capable to service Perth for the next 4000 years.

Discovered while exploring for new water reserves necessary to extend Anaconda Nickel's nickel processing facilities within the region, the discovery - Officer Basin - extends from 50 to 2000 metres deep, 700 kilometres long by 200 kilometres across and has a total surface area of 200,000 square kilometres.

The water quality varies between 1200 and 2000 mg/L total dissolved solids, which can be used directly in processing or agricultural use.

Hardman Resources NL (17 May 2000)

Hardman Resources provides an update on the Fuga # 1 exploration well, Philippines to 06:00 hours, 16 May 2000:-

The well has been drilled to a depth of 527 metres in 17(1/2) inch (444.5 mm) hole size.

The geology encountered comprises a sequence of interbedded claystone, siltstone and sandstone. Minor background gas up to 0.9% C1 have been recorded whilst drilling from 306 metres to 527 metres.

Norwest Energy NL (17 May 2000)

Norwest announces that Puffin-5 is expected to commence drilling on Friday 19th May.

The operator, AEC International (Australia) has informed the Joint Venture that it will take possession of the semi-submersible drilling rig "Ocean General" by Wednesday 17th May and that Puffin-5 is expected to spud on Friday 19th May 2000.

WMC Limited (17 May 2000)

WMC's Queensland Fertilizer Operation has brought forward and begun the shutdown previously planned for June. This follows an inspection of reactor agitator blades in the phosphoric acid plant by the vendor, Mitsui-ABB-Clough, who has decided to modify the housing supporting the blades.

Ashanti Goldfields (16 May 2000)

Ashanti announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Ashanti Goldfields Teberebie Limited ("AGTL"), has reached agreement with Pioneer Group Inc ("Pioneer") on the acquisition (the "Acquisition") of a 100% interest in Pioneer Goldfields Limited ("PGL") from Pioneer Goldfields II Limited ("PGL II"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Pioneer.
PGL's principal asset is its 90% interest in Teberebie Goldfields Limited ("TGL"), which in turn owns 100% of the Teberebie gold mine located in Ghana, West Africa. Through the Acquisition, Ashanti acquires the Teberebie gold mime, which is located adjacent to Ashanti's Iduapriem gold mine. The Iduapriem mine is 100% owned by Ghanaian-Australian Goldfields Limited ("GAG), which is 80% owned by Ashanti and 20% owned by the International Finance Corporation.

Conquest Mining (16 May 2000)

Shareholders of Perth-based diamond exploration company Conquest Mining have overwhelming endorsed the acquisition of Durack Resources Pty Ltd. Conquest will acquire Durack Resources for $650,000 and the allotment and issue of 7 million shares and 7 million option.
Durack is the registered holder of Smoke Creek, located in the Kimberley mineral field of Western Australia. The Smoke Creek tenement completes Conquest's portfolio of ground now surrounding the Bow River alluvial processing plant.

Mincor Resources (16 May 2000)

Mincor has completed a resource estimate of the copper and gold mineralisation at the Reko Diq Project in Pakistan.
The resource estimate is based on data produced by drilling and surface sampling completed by BHP during the mid-1990's.
Mincor's resource estimations for the H4 Project confirm its earlier view that there is as yet insufficient data with which to calculate a Resource to the standards set by the Joint Ore Reserves Committee of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, The Australian Institute of Geoscientists and the Minerals Council of Australia (the JORC Code). Nevertheless, based on the 16 drill holes into the mineralisation, Mincor believes that a resource of approximately 60 million tonnes at a grade of about 0.9% copper is a reasonable target.

Stirling Resources (16 May 2000)

The Operators of the Fuga-1 exploration well, Philippine National Oil Corporation (PNOC) currently being drilled on Fuga Island, Northern Luzon, the Philippines, have advised they have now reached the 900 feet mark.

In an earlier release the PNOC advised they had entered an agreement with Shell Philippines Exploration BV (Spex). The agreement gives Spex, following completion of Fuga-1, the option to assume operatorship, and acquire 50% of PNOC's (78.78%) interest, for the possible joint development of the natural gas that may follow from the success of Fuga-1. Shell currently has an extensive presence in the Philippines.

Australian Kimberley Diamonds NL (15 May 2000)

North Ltd have advised AKD's subsidiary, Terrace Gold NL, that they have today commenced a diamond drilling program over copper and gold targets at Terrace's El Molino Cu-Au project in Peru.

El Molino borders North's Cu-Au porphyry deposit at the El Galeno project (405MT @ 0.59% Cu, 0.15g/t Au) where approximately 10% of the deposit exists within Terrace's ground at El Molino.

The diamond drilling program at El Molino will consist of 6 diamond drill holes totalling 1800 metres and is expected to take up to 7 weeks to complete.

Beach Petroleum NL (15 May 2000)

Beach Petroleum reports that Canterbury-1, located 40km northwest of the Inland Oil Field, was drilling ahead at 1,058 metres (3,471 ft). The well has a planned total depth of 2,250 metres (7,381 ft).

Interest holders in Canterbury-1 are:

IOR Exploration Pty Ltd (Operator) - 62%
Beach Petroleum NL - 23%
APS Oil Pty Ltd - 15%

R Nelson
GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Cluff Resources Pacific NL (15 May 2000)

The existing inferred resource of 4,600,000 carats of ruby (500,000 tonnes at 8 carats per tonne and 100,000 tonnes at 6 carats per tonne) extends over 1.5 kilometres of river flats and raised terraces. Recent work has confirmed the presence of ruby and sapphire 3 kilometres upstream from this inferred resource.

Empire Oil & Gas NL (15 May 2000)

Empire Oil and Gas through Rough Range Oil Pty Ltd is pleased to announce further progress on its Rough Range 1B Well from 0600 hours the 11 May 2000 to 0600 hours the 12 May 2000 is as follows:

Electric wireline logs run and evaluated have confirmed an oil saturated column of between 9 and 11 metres with the properties of the Birdrong Sandstone reservoir interpreted to be excellent, with porosities up to 26% and indicative permeabilities in excess of 1000 millidarcies. Both these parameters are suggestive of excellent oil low rates from the well.

Current operations at 0600 hours the 12 May 2000 were the running of 7" casing to total depth of 1155 metres and cementing prior to running 3(1/2)" production tubing.

Production testing of the well is programmed for the 16 and 17 May 2000.

Tap Oil NL (15 May 2000)

Tap Oil advises that the Harriet Charlie-4 appraisal well spudded at 23.30 hours on 10 May 2000.

Empire Oil and Gas NL (12 May 2000)

Empire Oil and Gas through its 100% owned subsidiary, Rough Range Oil is pleased to announce that the Rough Range 1B Well, at total depth of 1155 metres, has intersected a 9 metre oil column in the Birdrong Sandstone from 1098 metres to 1107 metres.

The Company plans to further evaluate the well using wireline logs and testing through 7" casing and 3(1/2)" tubing. The Company considers the well will flow at a very economical rate.

Hardman Resources NL (12 May 2000)

Nido Petroleum wishes to advise that the Fuga Island-1 well spudded at 0600 hours WST on Monday 8th May 2000. At last report (0600 hours 11th May) 20" casing had been run and the BOP stack had been installed. It is anticipated that drilling of 17.5" hole section will commence in the next 24 hours.

Austindo Resources (11 May 2000)

The Company is pleased to announce the results of the first three holes of the drilling programme that commenced at its Cibaliung Project in March. All three holes intersected the vein in the expected positions. Results included 10.5m @25.88 g/t Au and 193 g/t Ag, 8m @ 13.68 g/t Au and 153 g/t Ag, and 9.3m @ 8.11 g/t Au (Ag pending).

Empire Oil & Gas (11 May 2000)

Empire Oil and Gas NL through its 100% owned subsidiary, Rough Range Oil Pty Ltd is pleased to announce that the Rough Range 1B Well, at total depth of 1155 metres, has intersected a 9 metre oil column in the Birdrong Sandstone from 1098 metres to 1107 metres.
The Company plans to further evaluate the well using wireline logs and testing through 7" casing and 3(1/2)" tubing. The Company considers the well will flow at a very economical rate.

Kingsgate Consolidated (11 May 2000)

The Mineral Act Committee of the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR), Thailand has approved the Chatree Gold Project.
This is the final approval required from the DMR and incorporates previous approvals by the local communities, land owners, district councils, provincial governors, DMR survey, economic geology, mining engineering, mineral processing, tenement and legal departments, Office of Environmental Policy and Planning of the Science Ministry, Forestry, Fine Arts and Lands Departments and the Department of Commercial Registration of the Ministry of Finance.
The mining lease documents will now move up to the Ministry of Industry for grant and issue. This is expected to occur in the current quarter.
Mine construction will commence upon mining lease grant.

Roc Oil (11 May 2000)

As of 6:00am on 10 May, the Keddington 2 well had been drilled to a total depth of 1,918 metres in the top of the Carboniferous. The directional drilling programme in 6(3/4) inch hole has commenced with an intended total depth of 2,700 metres (2,194 metres TVD) including a 400 metre horizontal reservoir section in the anticipated basal Westphalian sandstone reservoir.

Beach Petroleum (10 May 2000)

Empire Oil & Gas (10 May 2000)

Hardman Resources (10 May 2000)

Ivanhoe Mines / BHP (10 May 2000)

Marymia Exploration / Delta Gold (10 May 2000)

Tap Oil (10 May 2000)

Lakes Oil (9 May 2000)

Lakes Oil N.L., as operator of PEP 137 (onshore Gippsland Basin, Victoria), advises that the Company has received a Compliance Statement issued under the Occupational Health and Safety (Plant) Regulations 1995 in respect of the rig to be used for the drilling of the Company’s North Seaspray-1 exploration well. The final approval of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment is required prior to the commencement of the drilling.

Lakes anticipates that the rig will arrive at the well site during the week beginning May 15th, with the drilling to commence shortly thereafter. For details, click here.

Empire Oil & Gas (9 May 2000)

Lakes Oil (8 May 2000)

Lakes Oil N.L., as operator of PEL 62 (onshore Otway Basin, South Australia), advises that further attempts to log the bottom section of the Porthos-1 well below 730 metres have proved unsuccessful.
Accordingly, the joint venture has decided to plug and abandon the well forthwith. For details, click here.

Minasco Australia (8 May 2000)

Empire Oil & Gas (6 May 2000)

Roc Oil (6 May 2000)

Victoria Petroleum (6 May 2000)

Amadeus Petroleum (5 May 2000)

Empire Oil & Gas (5 May 2000)

Lakes Oil (5 May 2000)

Tap Oil (5 May 2000)

Cluff Resources (4 May 2000)

Hardman Resources (4 May 2000)

Lynas Gold (4 May 2000)

Beach Petroleum (3 May 2000)

Cobra Resources (3 May 2000)

Craton Resources (3 May 2000)

Novus Petroleum (3 May 2000)

BeMaX Resources (1 May 2000)

Completion of Assays and Independent Resource Estimation confirm the size and potential of the Ginkgo Deposit.

BeMaX Resources N.L. announced today the results of an independent resource estimation of the Ginkgo Deposit by Snowden Mining Industry Consultants Pty Ltd (Snowden). The estimation by Snowden was undertaken after receipt of more than 11,000 assays from AMDEL laboratories in Adelaide.

The Ginkgo deposit, situated approximately 120km north of Mildura in the northern Murray Basin mineral sands province, is owned by a joint venture comprising BeMaX Resources N.L. (50% and operator), Imperial Mining N.L. (25%) and Probo Mining Pty Ltd (25%). (Figure one)

The deposit is approximately 12 km long and has been drilled on 29 traverses mostly 400m apart with drill hole spacing ranging from 25 to 100m on each line. (Figure two).

Snowden reported that:

"The resource estimate for the Gingko Deposit is 252 Mt at 2.8% total heavy mineral ("HM") above a 1% HM cut-off. ...."
For more information, click here.

Lakes Oil (1 May 2000)

Mincor Resources (30 April 2000)

Mincor is pleased to announce that it has signed an Option Agreement with BHP Minerals International Exploration Inc. The main elements of the Option Agreement are:

Mincor is granted an option to enter into an Exploration Alliance with BHP. The purpose of the Alliance will be to explore and develop the copper potential of the Chagai Hills region of Pakistan;
The Alliance will be centered on the giant copper-gold system known as Reko Diq. Mincor may acquire all of BHP's interest in the advanced stage copper project known as H4 (part of Reko Diq) by carrying out a regional exploration programme over 3 years.
Mincor may seek financing in a specialist vehicle to ensure the early development of the H4 Project. Resource drilling followed by a Feasibility Study is planned over the next three years.
Mincor will also have the right to exploit any other discovery it makes on BHP's Licence, subject to BHP's right to buy back into a resource with an in-situ value of more than US$2.5 billion.

Novus Petroleum (30 April 2000)

Buchis West-1X exploration well , Khalda Offset Concession, Western Desert, Egypt - Plugged and abandoned.

Lakes Oil (28 April 2000)

Australian Kimberley Diamonds (28 April 2000)

AKD has joint ventured out its Echunga diamond project in South Australia to Flinders Diamonds Limited. Flinders is an unlisted diamond explorer and has several diamond projects in the region.
AKD currently has a 75% interest in the Echunga project with the remaining 25% held by private company, Statelink Holdings Pty Ltd. The project area contains a number of diamond targets.
The joint venture allows for Flinders to earn initially a 51% interest by expending $500,000 over five years. This interest can be increased to 75% by expending a further $500,000 (total $1 million). Flinders is committed to spend at least $100,000 prior to withdrawal. The agreement is subject to due diligence.

Lake Resources NL (28 April 2000)

Lake Resources (Lake) has signed an Exploration Agreement with Zinkgruvan Mining AB (ZMAB), a member of the North Group, Australia, for exploration for zinc in the vicinity of the Zinkgruvan mine in Sweden.
Key points of the agreement include:

ZMAB will make available large public domain and proprietary datasets to Lake.
Lake will manage and fund exploration up to the stage of identification of drilling targets, at which stage, ZMAB will have the first right of refusal to enter a joint venture agreement with Lake for the purpose of drill testing the target.
ZMAB can earn an 80% interest in the target by undertaking all further work to completion of a feasibility study.
At mine development stage, Lake can elect to retain a 20% contributing interest or take a 3% net smelter royalty.
Assessment of the relevant data is now under way in Sweden and field work is scheduled to begin in June. For further details, see Lake Resources' web site at www.lakeresources.com.au

Equinox Resources (27 April 2000)

Equinox Resources Limited and its subsidiary Equinox Ventures Pty Ltd (collectively "Equinox") announce that they have signed an agreement with Billiton Plc and its subsidiaries Billiton Sweden Resources B.V. and Billiton Development (Zambia) Limited (collectively "Billiton") to jointly explore for Iron Oxide Copper-Gold deposits. Billiton and Equinox will form Equinox OreSearch Limited ("Equinox OreSearch") and register it in the United Kingdom as the vehicle to carry this exploration alliance forward.

Equinox OreSearch will incorporate funding by Equinox, Billiton and new private investors; the transfer of interests in advanced projects in Zambia (from Billiton) and Sweden (from Equinox); a generative exploration program to develop new target areas and a proposed future stock exchange listing of the company.

Victoria Petroleum (27 April 2000)

RE: KESTREL ENERGY ANNOUNCES SUCCESSFUL FRACTURING OF FRONTIER FORMATION IN GREENS CANYON-1 WELL, COMPLETION OF FLOW LINE FOR WELLS IN WYOMING'S GREEN RIVER BASIN AND PRIVATE PLACEMENT COMPLETED.
Victoria Petroleum NL advises that the company has a 18.5% indirect interest in the Greens Canyon Gas Project, in the major gas-producing Green River Basin in South-West Wyoming, USA, through its 18.5% holding in US-listed NASDAQ company Kestrel Energy Inc (Nasdaq SmallCap-KEST).
Kestrel Energy, Inc., the Operator and 100% interest holder before payout, issued a press release on April 25th, 2000 reporting successful fracturing of the Frontier Formation in the Greens Canyon-1 well, Greens Canyon Gas Project.

Lakes Oil (26 April 2000)

Roc Oil (22 April 2000)

As of 06:00 am on 19 April, the Keddington 2 well had been drilled to a total depth of 578 metres. Well operation at that time was pulling out of hole in preparation to running to 10(3/4) inch casing, as per the well program. The well is to be drilled to a total depth of 2700 metres (2194 metres TVD) including a 400 metre horizontal section, and is targeting basal Westphalian Sandstones.

Santos (22 April 2000)

Beckler 2 - has been cased and suspended pending completion as a Permian gas producer. The well reached a total depth of 2975m with 99m progress for the week. The rig was released on 19/4/2000 and is moving to Della 20, a unit gas development well in PPL 15.

Cuttapirrie 7 - Running abandonment programme. Cuttapirrie 7 reached a total depth of 2957m with no progress for the week. Subsequent testing of the Permian Epsilon. Formation failed to recover commercially producible hydrocarbons.

Challum 16DW - Changing out directional assembly prior to drilling ahead in Lateral 1. The current depth is 2750m MD with 90m progress for the week.
Challum 16DW is a high angle well with two sub- horizontal lateral well bores designed to drain separate reservoirs in the Permian Age Toolachee Formation.

Jabiru ST 2 - kicked off from 1354m in the Jabiru St1 wellbore and reached a total depth of 1830m with 476m progress for the week. Jabiru ST1 reached a total depth of 2161m MDRT. Jabiru ST1 has been abandoned and Jabiru ST2 has been plugged and suspended. The rig was released on 17/04/2000.
Jabiru ST2 was designed as a deviated oil development well in the Jurassic Plover Sandstone.

Victoria Petroleum (22 April 2000)

Victoria Petroleum NL advises that, according to a press release issued on 14 April, 2000 by David Patterson Chairman of the EKHO Project consortium, the EKHO-1 well is reported to be coring ahead at a depth below 5,486 metres (18,000 feet).
The press release of 14th April 2000 is repeated as follows;

"David Patterson Chairman of the EKHO Project consortium is pleased to announce that the EKHO No.1 test well, spudded February 7, 2000, has drilled past 18,000 feet and has reached the Vedder Sands. The total target depth for the well is 19,500 feet. On the way to 18,000 feet the EKHO No.1 has passed through numerous zones of interest. These zones will be tested after the well has reached its target depth.

Acclaim Exploration (20 April 2000)

Acclaim has purchased a 60% controlling interest in two strategic tenements at Wingelinna (E69/1090 and 1091).
These tenements lie immediately west and surround the south of the Wingelinna Nickel Project. Acclaim Exploration NL is currently acquiring a 60% controlling interest in the Wingelinna Nickel Project.
A resource has been identified at Wingelinna by more than 110 kilometres of various types of drilling. The early resource estimates (which do not conform with the current Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) requirements range from 54 million tonnes up to 130 million tonnes at grades of 1.2% nickel and 0.085% cobalt. The deposit commences at the surface and extends to a depth of approximately 46 metres.

Croesus Mining (20 April 2000)

Croesus announced that it had reached agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Davyhurst Gold project from NM Rothschild & Sons.
The 560sqkm project has gold resources of approximately 400,000 ounces and the acquisition includes a 1.3mtpa gold treatment plant and associated infrastructure.
Project tenements consist predominantly of granted mining leases providing maximum benefit for mining and exploration development.
Consideration for the project is

Three million dollars cash - payable in 3 equal 6 monthly instalments of $1 million each.
One million fully paid ordinary Croesus Mining NL shares.
Two million 35 cent, five year options.

Galilee Energy (20 April 2000)

Drilling has commenced at site and one well has been spudded with drilling continuing.

Jubilee Mines (20 April 2000)

Jubilee is continuing to explore the Cosmos Deeps massive nickel sulphide deposit with diamond core drilling. The Company is pleased to announce that a recent hole has intersected two zones of high grade nickel mineralisation which significantly expands the size of the mineralised zone. Details of the intercepts are:

JCD 108 (6944620mN/260980mE;-60 deg/270 deg)

10.5% Ni over 12.35 metres from a depth of 552.50m; and

4.1% Ni over 1.85 metres from a depth of 584.25m.

This hole has extended, by a further 40 metres, the known strike length of the Cosmos Deeps mineralised zone. It indicates that the large widths and high grades of mineralisation intersected in earlier holes continue along strike. The mineralisation remains open and exploration is continuing.
Drilling results received to date indicate that the Cosmos Deeps deposit is likely to be larger than and of a similar grade to Cosmos.

Lakes Oil (20 April 2000)

Norwest Energy (20 April 2000)

Norwest is poised for its most exciting period of growth since the company floated in 1997, with involvement in two highly prospective wells in the Timor Sea.

The first well, Puffin 5, is scheduled for June this year and will be drilled by the semi-submergible drill rig "Ocean General". Following the successful farmout to Alberta Energy of Canada, Norwest retains 20% free-carried interest through the drilling of Puffin 5. This prospect has the potential to contain recoverable reserves of 75 million barrels of oil.

The second well, Coleraine 1, will be drilled on a structure with the potential to contain 200 million barrels of oil, of which 150 million recoverable could be contained within ZOCA96-16. Norwest retains 14% equity in the ZOCA96-16 project, in which Phillips will fund approximately 94% of drilling and, if warranted, testing of the Coleraine 1 well. Norwest Energy will fund approximately 6% of such costs.

Nugold Hill Mines (20 April 2000)

Nugold has now received confirmation that the long awaited exploration permit covering the Sunshine epithermal gold prospect in Mindanao, Philippines has been issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau to Boston Mineral Mining Corporation (Boston). Boston is the applicant and the company incorporated by the small scale mining permittees.
The exploration permit will be transferred under the current arrangements with the holders to Sunlight Resources (Philippines) Inc, a company held 70% by Sunshine Gold Pty Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of Nugold Hill Mines NL, 20% by Boston and 10% by Fil-Aus Mining Corporation.

The company believes that the Sunshine gold project is a significant high grade epithermal gold/silver deposit that has never been drill tested or subjected to modern exploration techniques. Preliminary geological investigations have shown that the gold mineralisation occurs in a low sulphidation quartz vein stockwork over an area of approximately 700m by 300m. The bonanza style quartz veins are worked by hand by small scale miners in shallow pits, adits and dog holes.

The company intends to move rapidly towards finalising this matter and progress activity on the tenement.

Platsearch (20 April 2000)

Preliminary Drilling Results-Centennial JV Broken Hill

Assay results from a programme of 22 RC percussion drillholes have now been received. The drillholes were completed by joint venturer Triako Resources Limited ("Triako") and were located on a series of prospects in the Centennial area EL 5479, shown on the accompanying map. Those prospects were selected on the basis of detailed RAB drilling, geological mapping and rock-chip sampling completed by Triako in late 1999.

All 22 drillholes intersected strongly anomalous zinc values ranging from wide intervals (5 to 36 metres) at low grades (0.5) to 2% zinc) to narrower higher grade intervals up to 3 metres at 8.9% zinc. Some high lead and silver values were also obtained (1 metre @ 125g/t silver, 6.46% lead). The more significant intersections are shown in the following table. A full tabulation and report on the results will be presented and announced following completion of check assaying, compilation of geological logging and plotting of drill sections.

The joint venture partners regard these results as highly encouraging, given that this is the first drilling programme completed by the joint venture in this area and the holes are relatively shallow. It is likely that follow up drilling to search for lode extensions along strike and at depth will be undertaken.

Roc Oil (20 April 2000)

Petrobras UK Limited (Petrobras), as operator for and on behalf of the Blane Joint Venture, in which ROC has a 15.24% interest, has formally advised industry contractors that it is currently evaluating and wishes to progress, the development of the Blane Oil Field in the UK North Sea.

Amadeus Petroleum (19 April 2000)

The revised target depth of Fairlight No.1 is now 940 metres, which is 220 metres deeper than originally planned.
The well is presently at 717 metres and coring will continue through to the new target depth. Slight oil shows were encountered between 706 metres and 717 metres.

Kagara Zinc (19 April 2000)

Kagara reported that exploration drill hole GTD 068 at Mt Garnet has significantly extended the mineralized envelope of the Mt Garnet deposit.
GTD 068, located 4475 N, 11776 E, on an azimuth of 090 and dipping at - 55 deg encountered three zones of base metal and silver mineralization - including 21m @ 2.73%Zn, 0.54% Cu, 0.36% Pb and 53g/t Ag. The hole is unusual in that all three zones contain higher lead and silver values than normal with the interval from 211-216 metres in particular reporting very high silver values of almost 13 ounces per tonne. Drilling is continuing.

Lakes Oil (19 April 2000)

The Board of Directors of Lakes Oil NL ("Lakes Oil") wishes to announce that the rig which has been commissioned to drill the Porthos-1 exploration well in PEL 62 (onshore Otway Basin) has arrived on site. It is envisaged that the well will spud (commence) tomorrow, Wednesday April 19th. For details, click here.

Macmin NL (18 April 2000)

EMOS (Environmental Management Overview Strategy) AND OTHER STUDIES LEADING TO GRANT OF MINING LEASE ARE ON SCHEDULE WITH SILVER PRODUCTION STILL ANTICIPATED BY YEAR END. ADDITIONAL EXPLORATION LICENCE APPLICATION COMPLETED TO COVER FURTHER RECENTLY DEFINED PROSPECTIVE ZONES

The present drilling program in and around the conceptual pit at the Twin Hills development, Texas Project is approximately 70% complete. Results to date continue to be encouraging with likely increases in Indicated Resource and Reserves, although this cannot be confirmed until June 2000.

All results have not yet been collated and evaluated but hole 215 is particularly exciting. This hole was drilled in a westerly direction from 4212N, 2522E, at a 70 degree angle and passed below hole 145 (previously announced).

The hole intersected 38m from surface averaging 430g/t Ag or 52m from surface averaging 364g/t Ag. This is an excellent result and confirms that high grade silver mineralisation is still open to the south west and extends to greater depth than previously known.

For additional information, click here.

New Zealand Oil & Gas (19 April 2000)

Corvus-1 is in permit WA-246-P which is located in the Carnarvon Basin about 100km northwest of Dampier and 50km north east of the Harriet joint venture's Campbell gas field.

DRILL STEM TEST #3
New Zealand Oil & Gas Ltd advises that results from drill stem test #3 (DST#3) are as follows:

- The interval 3,460-3,508m was perforated under overbalance.

The test valve was opened for a period totalling 7 hours, but no significant flow was observed.

Preparations are currently underway to plug the well as a gas discovery.

It is likely that the lack of flow from the DST#3 Zone is due to formation damage as the well was open for 26 days before testing. In contrast, the open hole DST#2 was open for only 2 days before testing and has estimated flow capacity of 26-30 million cubic feet per day.
Over the next several weeks the Joint Venture will analyse the data collected during drilling and testing in order to assess reserves.

Goldfields / Gilt-Edged Mining (17 April 2000)

The Directors are pleased to announce the signing of a formal Sale and Purchase Agreement between SteriCorp Limited ("SteriCorp") and Gilt Edged Mining NL ("Gilt Edged") in respect of the Cutters Ridge Joint Venture, West Kalgoorlie Joint Venture and Gentle Annie projects in the Kundana area of Western Australia.
The terms of the agreement are as follows:

Payment of $50,000 plus the issue of 3.5 million fully paid Gilt Edged shares on settlement. The $50,000 has been received by SteriCorp and the shares issued.
Payment of a further $100,000 within 6 months of settlement.
A further payment of $150,000 on the commencement of commercial mining operations following a decision to mine in respect of an ore reserve of at least 100,000 ounces.

Rimfire Pacific Mining (15 April 2000)

Abudant Diamond Indicator Minerals Located:

The samples were found to "contain abundant minerals of prime interest for diamond exploration",
The results from over 2000 individual microprobe samples have now been assessed by Dr Jane Baron, in eastern Australia diamond expert,
Garnet shedding from Rimfire's main Nareena pipe has been confirmed as Group I (Diamond Eclogite). Worldwide diamonds are only found with in association with group 1 eclogites,
Abundant eclogite garnet in the Bingara samples is "unusual and fortuitous",
Very abundant angular chips of eclogitic garnet indicates a "proximal diatreme source",
Rimfire's Directors are extremely excited by these very positive results as they significantly upgrade the diamond carrying potential of these previously unrecognised diatremes in the Bingara region.

Rio Tinto (15 April 2000)

Hamersley Iron has relinquished six Temporary Reserves in the Karijini National Park to the State Government.
The Reserves were granted to Hamersley in 1973, prior to the establishment of the Karijini National Park.
The relinquishment of the Reserves removes mining tenure held by Hamersley.
Hamersley Iron Managing Director Sam Walsh said the relinquishment recognised the important conservation values of the Park and was part of Hamersley's tenement rationalisation program. At the same time that the Karijini Reserves were relinquished, Hamersley converted two Temporary Reserves at its Homestead project to Mining Leases.

Amadeus Petroleum (14 April 2000)

Amadeus announced that drilling on Fairlight No. 1 has reached a depth of 567.1 metres. Coring has commenced and will continue through to the target depth of 720 metres.

Austindo Resources (14 April 2000)

FIRST QUARTER - OVERVIEW

CIBALIUNG JOINT VENTURE - WEST JAVA, INDONESIA

The Company commenced drilling at the Cibaliung Project in the latter part of the quarter where an Inferred Resource of 993,000 tonnes @ 9.78 g/t Au and 57.4 g/t Ag containing 312,230 ounces of gold and 1.83 million ounces of silver has previously been announced.

SARAN PROJECT - WEST KALIMANTAN, INDONESIA

ARX has appointed Investor Resources Ltd, to seek third party interest in the Saran Project.

EXPENDITURE

Total exploration expenditure for the quarter was A$217,000.

Cairn Energy (14 April 2000)

Cairn Energy PLC announces that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cairn Energy India Pty Limited ("CEI") has today signed a PSC with the Government of India for Block KG-DWN-98/2 ("the Block") offshore Eastern India in the Krishna-Godavari Basin ("K-G Basin").
The Block lies to the south of the producing Ravva oil and gas field and adjacent to Block KG-OS/6, both of which are operated by Cairn, thereby consolidating and complementing the Group's existing interests offshore Eastern India.

Dragon Mining (14 April 2000)

Dragon has commenced a 7,500m resource infill and extension drilling program at its Svartliden Gold Project in Sweden. A total of 100 RC drill holes will be completed within and near the known lode systems. The program is scheduled for completion by the end of May.
The current resource totals 2.5 million tonnes @ 5.4 g/t Au.

Gold Mines of Sardinia / Homestake Mining (14 April 2000)

Homestake announced that it had agreed to exchange its 6,500,000 shares of Navan Resources plc for newly issued shares of Gold Mines of Sardinia Limited ("GMS"). The exact number of new shares will be determined by reference to the market price of the shares of GMS and Navan prior to the closing, which is contemplated to take place during the second quarter. The agreement between Homestake and GMS provides Homestake with a three-year option to select up to 20% of the GMS' gold-prospective ground on the Island of Sardinia for inclusion in a joint venture with Homestake holding a 75% interest and GMS a 25% interest. Homestake would he responsible for carrying 100% of all joint venture costs through completion of the first of any final feasibility studies prepared by the venture. Homestake and GMS expect to collaborate with respect to exploration efforts on the Island.

Hardman Resources (14 April 2000)

THIRD QUARTER ACTIVITY - HIGHLIGHTS

The large 3D seismic survey being conducted by Woodside over the PSC areas in offshore Mauritania was completed on 27 March 2000. A total of 3,466 square kilometers of 3D data was acquired over the deep water portions of Blocks 3, 4 and 5 (Joint Venture Areas A and B). In addition to the original programme, 114 square kilometers of 3D data was also acquired in Block 6 (Joint Venture Area C), which will possibly provide a drilling location for the third farmin well.
In December 1999, Woodside and British-Borneo committed to drilling the first farmin well, which will be drilled in the deep water part of either PSC Area A or PSC Area B. Recently, Woodside have advised that they are considering the possibility of drilling at least two offshore wells, most likely to be in the first quarter 2001.
Drilling of Colombo #1 gas exploration well near Rome commenced on 10 April 2000, following the completion of site construction work on 4 April 2000.
Hardman has signed a Farmin Agreement whereby the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) will fund 100% of the cost to drill the Fuga #1 well. PNOC has also signed a long term access agreement with the owners of Fuga Island and the well is now expected to spud in early May 2000.
Seismic reprocessing work has upgraded prospects in Hardman's offshore Malta licence.

Petsec Energy (14 April 2000)

WEEKLY DRILLING REPORT - 13 APRIL 2000 -

MUSTANG ISLAND 883S #1 ST
Production facilities and flowline are being installed and the well was placed on production 9 April 2000.

GRAND ISLE 45 A-2
The well has been drilled to a total depth of 4,456 metres (14,615 feet). Open hole log results and sidewall core indicate a net 14 metres (45 feet) true vertical thickness of hydrocarbon pay within two sand intervals. The well is being cased and will be completed for production.

Santos (14 April 2000)

Weekly Drilling Summary :

Beckler 2 - Drilling ahead. The current depth is 2876m with 931m progress of the week.

Moomba 111 - Moomba 111 has been cased and suspended pending completion as a Permian gas producer. The well reached a total depth of 2611m with 75m progress for the week. The rig was released on 10/04/00 and is moving to Moomba 112.

Cuttapirrie 7 - Running in hole with test tools for Drill Stem Test 1 Cuttapirrie 7 reached a total depth of 2957m with 543m progress for the week.

West Mereenie 17 - Preparing to ream out conductor hole with mineral rig. The current depth and progress for the week is 36m.
West Mereenie 17 developed circulation problems while attempting to set the surface conductor. The rig has been rigged down while a conductor hole is detailed out and set 20m south of the original location.

Jabiru 14 ST2 - Drilling ahead at 1477m with 123m progress in sidetrack 2. Jabiru ST2 has been kicked off from 1354m in the Jabiru ST1 wellbore. Jabiru ST1 reached a total depth of 2161m MDRT with 712mprogress for the week. Jabiru ST1 has been abandoned.
Jabiru ST2 is designed as a deviated oil development well in the Jurassic Plover Sandstone.

Strategic Minerals Corp (14 April 2000)

REPORT ON COMPANY ACTIVITIES
FOR THE THREE MONTH PERIOD ENDING 31st MARCH 2000

GOLD

WOOLGAR PROJECT, QUEENSLAND
SALE AND PURCHASE AGREEMENT
During the quarter, shareholders at a general meeting approved of the sale and purchase agreement between company and Pacific Energy Ltd, whereby Strategic acquired Pacific's 45.6% equity in the Woolgar gold project in Queensland in exchange for the issue to Pacific of 36,644,978 ordinary fully paid shares in the issued capital of Strategic. The sale and purchase agreement has now been settled and the shares issued to Pacific represent 22.5% of the issued capital of Strategic. As a result of the transaction Strategic is now the owner of 100% of the Woolgar project.

RESOURCE EXTENSION DRILLING
Drilling at the Lost World resource has confirmed that the mineralised zone exhibits strong continuity and the quartz textures and associated mineral assemblages encountered suggest that the holes drilled remain within the upper zones of the epithermal system. Untested bonanza style targets are defined within what constitutes a dialational jog within the fault zone at the centre of the known Lost World orebody. Potential exists for enrichment to result where the primary structures intersect reactive or brittle host rocks (psammitic/graphitic schists), or where boiling zones occurred in the epithermal system. A deeper drilling program has now been planned to target the potentially high-grade mineralisation with the objective of enhancing the profitability of the project and allowing for project development schedules to be decoupled from the gold price cycle.

Sun Resources (14 April 2000)

THIRD QUARTER - HIGHLIGHTS

The pioneering, Cadart 1 well in New Caledonia, was completed on 17 February 2000, at 1,930 metres with a non-commercial gas flow from the Cretaceous target sequence below 1,620 metres. New permit application is being made for further exploration.
Boyd 1, EP 395, Carnarvon Basin completed 4 January 2000. Encouraging results from Mardie reservoir for possible updip accumulation.
White Opal 1 completed post quarter (4 April 2000) at 2,579 metres in target Mungaroo Formation. Significant fluorescence and gas levels reported in two sand intervals in target, but sand units appeared to have been flushed of their hydrocarbons.
Porthos 1, PEL 62, now scheduled to spud 19 April 2000, targeting up to 38 million barrels of oil recoverable. Target adjacent to Killanoola oil discovery.

Victoria Petroleum (14 April 2000)

Victoria Petroleum NL advises according to the press release issued on 10 April, 2000 by Tri-Valley Oil & Gas Co. (TRIL.OTC) the operator for the drilling of EKHO-1 well, it is reported to be drilling ahead at a depth 5,395 metres (17,500 feet).
The drilling results of EKHO-1 will be of great significance to the San Joaquin Basin Joint Venture, in which Victoria Petroleum NL currently has a 50% interest increasing to 100% with shareholder approval, as Victoria Petroleum NL's Pipeline Prospect is contained within the much larger EKHO Prospect with Victoria Petroleum holding leases within one kilometre of the EKHO-1 drillsite.

Australian Gold Council / Explorers Index (13 April 2000)

The AGC announced the start-up of the "Explorers Index" from next Monday. The index comprises 200 companies with shares traded on the ASX - and currently has a market cap of about $4 billion. Standard & Poors will calculate their performance daily.
The Explorers Index is designed to heighten awareness and promote the exploration sector.

Gold Mines of Sardinia / Homestake (13 April 2000)

Gold Mines of Sardinia Limited ("GMS") has conditionally agreed to buy 6,500,000 ordinary shares (10.53%) in Navan Resources plc ("Navan") from Homestake Mining Company of California ("Homestake") in exchange for the issue to Homestake of new ordinary shares in GMS.

Gold Mines of Sardinia has also agreed that, subject to the acquisition taking place, and subject to Homestake retaining at least 50% of the shares it acquires, Homestake may have:

For a period of up to 3 years, the right to nominate up to 20% of GMS's licence area, excluding Furtei and Osilo, as a joint venture area. In any such joint venture GMS would have a 25% interest and Homestake would have a 75% interest and would be obligated to pay 100% of all of the costs of the joint venture through to the completion of the final feasibility study.
the right to match within 30 days any offer GMS may receive from a third party to acquire any part of GMS's Licence Area or any other interest in GMS's Sardinian subsidiary.

New Zealand Oil & Gas (13 April 2000)

New Zealand Oil & Gas Ltd advises that results from drill stem test #2 (DST#2) [Corvus-l exploration well] to date are as follows:

A sidetrack 6 inch hole was drilled from 3557-3709 metres but with minimum deviation of approximately 2 degrees, which places the bottom of the sidetrack within a few metres of the original wellbore.
DST#2 was conducted after setting a packer at 3535 metres within 7" liner above the sidetrack hole.

Over a flow period of 12.5 hours, the well flowed at a stabilised rate of 15 million cubic feet of gas per day and 20 barrels of condensate, with the choke set at 7/16" and a wellhead flowing pressure of 3100 psi. The well was then shut in to record pressure build-up. Analysis of recorded data indicates that the zone would have flowed at 26 to 30 million standard cubic feet per day with a larger choke size to reduce wellhead pressure.

St Barbara Mines (13 April 2000)

Speech presented at the Australian Gold Conference - SUMMARY

In summary, around 12 months ago we identified a value play in St Barbara. Since then the Company has undergone a complete metamorphosis under the direction of its new board.
We have put in place the people and systems to capture the value and bring it to account.
We have sold non-core and underperforming assets and restructured the balance sheet. We now have a strong balance sheet, undrawn lines of credit and strong cashflow.
Furthermore, we have put in place mine planning to profitably produce 150,000 ounces per annum. There is now a provisional five year mine plan based on a through-put rate of 3 million tonnes per annum.
With the significant exploration potential we've got from our tenements and various corporate activities - some of which are in play at the moment, we expect to add significantly to our gold reserves.
As a result of this we expect to increase production to 300,000 ounces per annum in the medium term.
Finally we believe that the building blocks are now in place for the company to progress forward and become a significant producer in the Australian gold industry.

Strategic Minerals Corp (13 April 2000)

Strategic wishes to announce that the Directors have resolved to make a placement of up to 15,000,000 ordinary fully paid shares in the, capital of Strategic at an issue price per share not less than 80% of the market price of fully paid ordinary shares in the capital of Strategic on Australian Stock Exchange Limited in the last 5 days on which sales of such shares are recorded before the day on which the shares under the placement are issued.
The purpose of the placement is to provide capital to fund a deep drilling program in relation to Strategic's Woolgar Gold project and additional working capital.

Triako Resources (13 April 2000)

A new gold discovery has been made 1000 metres to the northwest of the Mineral Hill plant. High grade intersections have been drilled in two reverse circulation holes on the Pearse Prospect. The target was a strong soil geochemical anomaly with outcropping sulphides in sheared volcanics located at the northern extremity of a 2.5 kilometre long zone of buried strong sulphide mineralisation.
Hole TMH 356 intersected 5 metres at 6.0 g/t gold and 126 g/t silver from 126 metres and hole TMH 358, located updip about 20 metres to the east, intersected 8 metres at 5.4 g/t gold and 73 g/t silver from 96 metres, including 3 metres at 11.2 g/t gold and 108 g/t silver. The new zone is interpreted to be steeply dipping to the west and plunging to the south. Drilling is continuing to outline the extent of this zone and to provide metallurgical and mining data.
To date eleven shallow reverse circulation holes have been completed on the broad arsenic, gold soil anomaly with encouraging wide lower grade gold intersections and sulphide intersections indicating that the area may host a large gold deposit.
Based on the geochemical, geophysical and structural interpretation of the area, the Pearse Prospect is underlain by a deeply buried intrusive at the north end of a strongly sulphidic zone, which is associated with structures on the margins of a rhyolite dome. Modelling of the induced polaisation anomalies and recent drilling indicates that the sulphide mineralisation becomes stronger with depth.

Xenolith Gold (13 April 2000)

We advise that the following update on activities was issued, in North America, with respect to the East Lost Hills Oil/Gas Project - California USA - in which Xenolith has an indirect interest via its equity in Kookaburra Resources Ltd and KOB Energy Inc;

"Berkley Petroleum provides the following activity update at East Lost Hills;

Berkley East Lost Hills #1 has reached av depth of 19,724 feet and a production liner will be run to total depth. The current status for Berkley #1 is a potential gas well.
The current open hole section, extending from 18,280 feet to total depth, has been wireline logged. A total of 2,474 feet of the Temblor Formation was penetrated by Berkley #1, with a net sand interval of 1,410 feet. Net hydrocarbon pay within this interval will be determined via production testing.
Natural gas and condensate has been flared from the current open hole section on four separate occasions while drilling with mud weights in excess of 17 pounds per gallon.
Mechanical preparation of the wellbore for the production test will commence immediately. Production testing is expected to commence in May and operations will extend for approximately four weeks.
Two step out wells, Berkley East Lost Hills #2 sec 36-25S-20E, and Berkley East Lost Hills #3 sec 20-26S-21E will spud in the next two months."

Amadeus Petroleum (12 April 2000)

Amadeus advised that drilling on Fairlight No. 1 has reached 550 metres at the base of the Upper Bulgo Sandstone. The well flowed gags at approximately 100,000 cubic feet per day while tripping out of the hole to change over from drilling to coring. The gas was not combustible and is believed to be carbon dioxide. The well has stabilised and the proposed program is to continue tripping out of the hole to change over to coring.
While the gas flow is not commercially significant, it is encouraging as it strongly infers the presence of a structural trap at Fairlight.

Anzoil (12 April 2000)

Anzoil is pleased to announce that it has recently entered into an agreement with Success Oil Company (SOC) to apply on innovative Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) technology that will increase and extend profitable oil production from most declining oil fields. Anzoil and its co-venturer and major shareholder Maurel & Prom have each taker a 40% interest in this venture with SOC having the remaining 20%. This venture requires a relatively low capital investment upfront and has the potential to provide early cashflow and a quick "pay-out".

Ashton Mining (12 April 2000)

Ashton Mining of Canada Inc. (AMCI) reports the discovery of one now kimberlite on the Roundrock property in the Northwest Territories as winter drilling continues. In April of this year, two exploratory core holes were drilled into a nearby magnetic anomaly and each intersected 20 metres of kimberlite in an apparently flat-lying body. The kimberlite, named Cygnus, is capped by approximately 35 metres of granite breccia containing veinlets of kimberlite, which in turn is overlain by 11 metres of glacial overburden. Microdiamond testing of core samples from Cygnus will be carried out at AMCI's laboratory in North Vancouver during the second quarter.

Beach Petroleum (12 April 2000)

Beach will next month embark on one of the largest drilling programs in the Company's near 40-year history with the spudding of two wells in southwest Queensland.
The exploration wells, Taipan-1 and Canterbury-1 in ATP 548P in the Cooper/Eromanga Basin, will spearhead a 13-well drilling program by Beach Petroleum over the next 15 months.

BHP (12 April 2000)

Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML) today said it was concerned that litigation over the settlement agreement for the Ok Tedi mine in PNG would have an adverse impact on consultation with PNG communities affected by the mine.
OTML Managing Director, Dr Roger Higgins, said that OTML rejected claims that it was in breach of the 1996 settlement which related to environmental mitigation options at the PNG copper mine.
He said that OTML had met all of its obligations under the settlement agreement.

Goldsearch Ltd (12 April 2000)

Goldsearch Limited has negotiated an extension of the date for exercising its option to earn an equity in 13 Mining Leases and 1 Exploration Permit Area at the Mt Kelly copper/gold prospect located 120kms by road north of Mt Isa. Reefway Pty Limited, the current holder of the Mining Leases and Exploration Permit Area, has agreed to extend the date to 30 September, 2000.
The Company intends to undertake a drilling program of at least 1,600 metres in 8 boreholes to more accurately define and increase the potential resource of high grade copper/gold mineralisation previously identified around borehole MK 475. A recently completed assessment of the results to date from the project by an independent consultant has confirmed approximately 240,000 tonnes of potential mineralisation grading in the order of 2.5gms/tonne gold and 3% copper within a strike length of 120 metres. It is our intention to continue exploration in the immediate vicinity of borehole MK 475 in order to extend the strike length of the potential resource to 230 metres which could result in defining an additional 300,000 tonnes.
The proposed drilling program will also investigate other prospective targets located within the project area which have similar mineral potential to that already identified.

Hampton Hill Mining (12 April 2000)

DUCHESS OF YORK PROJECT (Hampton 100%) - AUGER SOIL PROGRAM IN PROGRESS
The Duchess of York Project is located 60 kilometres southeast of Kalgoorlie in the Mt Monger district. Results received to date include an interesting soil anomaly of greater than 50 parts per billion gold. It is 500 metres long and is north northwest trending, located 1.5 kilometres south of the Duchess of York prospect.

NORTHLANDER PROJECT
The Northlander Project is located 30 kilometres west of Kalgoorlie, in an area which has seen recent gold discoveries such as White Foil and Hornet-Rubicon.
Exploration on the Northlander joint venture focused on completing the diamond drilling program commenced in the December quarter at Rayjax, rotary airblast drilling of gold in soil auger anomalies at the Sylvester and Granite margin prospects and completion of auger soil coverage of the tenements.
DIAMOND DRILL HOLE RESULTS FROM RAYJAX
Four diamond drill holes totalling 478 metres were completed during the quarter at the Rayjax prospect. This program was designed to follow up previous encouraging results from the December drill program including 11 metres averaging 3.25 g/t gold.

Hardman Resources (12 April 2000)

The Colombo #1 gas exploration well near Rome Italy was spudded on 10 April 2000 and has been drilled to 53 metres depth.

Heron Resources / Centaur Nickel (12 April 2000)

Centaur Nickel is extending the offer period for Heron for one (1) month so that the offer period will remain open until the close of trading on 25 May 2000.

Oil Search (12 April 2000)

Mr Trevor Kennedy, Chairman of Oil Search Limited, today announced the lodgement of the prospectus for the issue of up to $130 million of new Converting Preference Shares (CPS 2000). As released on 5 April 2000, the issue incorporates an offer to buy back a significant proportion of the 1998 Converting Preference shares (CPS 1998) and also allows for the issue of $30m through a Fundraising Offer. Merrill Lynch International (Australia) Limited is underwriting the Fundraising Offer.

Tap Oil (12 April 2000)

Update on the drilling of the Corvus-1 exploration well. DST2 was carried out as an open hole test of the side track interval of 152 metres, between 3,557 metres and 3,709 metres depth.
The test recorded a stabilised flow of 15 MMcf per day of gas and 20 barrels of condensate on a (7/16)th inch choke over a 12(1/2) hour period at a wellhead flowing pressure of 3,100 p.s.i. This flow rate meets expectations and modelling indicates that flow rates of 26 to 30 MMcf per day can be achieved over this interval with a larger choke size to reduce wellhead pressure.

Tectonic Resources (12 April 2000)

The production profile associated with the at the RAV8 nickel deposit at Ravensthorpe in WA is expected to be as follows:

MINING RESERVES TONNES % Ni
Open Cut 118,990 5.62
Underground 45,943 6.40
Total Reserves 164,933 5.83

ANTICIPATED CONCENTRATE PRODUCTION
47,800 tonnes at 16-20% Ni producing approximately 19.19 million pounds of nickel metal.

CASH OPERATING COSTS - A$1.33/lb
(Operating costs are gross costs and do not include copper or cobalt credits. Tectonic receives income for copper and cobalt produced under the terms of the offtake agreement).

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
Prestrip A$3.62 million
Plant & Infrastructure A$5.97 million
Underground Development A$4.76 million

Tectonic Resources also advises that it has sold forward in excess of 70% of anticipated nickel production in recent weeks taking advantage of the nickel price spikes that were experienced.

Exco Resources (7 April 2000)

Exco has announced a mineral resource of 17 million tonnes at 0.83% copper and 0.22g/t gold using a cut-off grade of 0.3% copper for the combined El-North & El-South copper-gold prospects at its Mt Margaret Project in Queensland.
Exco said it had completed a scoping study for the two prospects as they currently stand, but will need to add further mineral resource tonnage to justify a stand-alone development. The mineral resource includes a higher grade component of 8 million tonnes at 1.20% copper and 0.34g/t gold using a cut-off grade of 0.7% copper.

Jervois Mining (7 April 2000)

QUARTERLY REPORT TO 31 MARCH 2000
HIGHLIGHTS

YOUNG - NICKEL/COBALT/SCANDIUM
A 46% increase in resources containing 1% nickel to 44 million tonnes at 1.00% nickel and 0.07% cobalt. Total resources now stand at 196 million tonnes, containing 1.1 million tonnes of nickel metal and 117,000 tonnes of cobalt metal.
LAKE INNES - NICKEL/COBALT/SCANDIUM
Possible markets for scandium metal being sought.
MT MOSS - ZINC/COPPER
Three groups have expressed interest now that the new zinc smelter in Townsville is operative.
FOREST REEFS - GOLD/COPPER - JOINT VENTURE NEWCREST
A programme of deep reverse circulation percussion drilling of various targets is in progress.
NORTH PERTH BASIN - OIL/GAS - EP111
The Jago seismic survey hat yielded 3 prospects for drilling near the producing Mt Honner oilfield.

Petsec Energy (7 April 2000)

WEEKLY DRILLING REPORT - 6 APRIL 2000
MUSTANG ISLAND 883S #1 ST
Production facilities and flowline are being installed.

GRAND ISLE 45 A-2
The rig is drilling ahead at a depth of 3,548 metres (11,636 feet).

Roc Oil (7 April 2000)

Brovig Production Services Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Brovig Offshore ASA, and Premier Oil Exploration Ltd, on behalf of the partners in Block 22/2a UKCS, signed a Letter of Intent (Lol) for the provision of services for the development and production of the Chestnut Field. The parties are proceeding with the negotiation of a full agreement.
It is anticipated that the field will be developed in two phases, with the first phase comprising a production test of a newly drilled horizontal producer with subsea completion. The second phase will involve the drilling of a water injection well to further enhance production subject to the results of the first phase.
Subject to regulatory consents and approvals, first oil is expected during the fourth quarter of this year.

Gindalbie Gold (6 April 2000)

Gindalbie has completed an initial drilling campaign on its Minjar Project. The program commenced in February 2000 and comprised 4,536m of RC percussion and 1,753m of Diamond drilling.
Managing Director David McSweeney said today, "drilling was undertaken to define reserve potential of three established deposits at Minjar North as part of preliminary development studies. The established deposits the subject of the recent program were M1, Silverstone and Winddine Well.

SUMMARY
The results of our first round of drilling at Minjar are highly encouraging. Two of the four resources have now been drilled out and will be reported as measured resources (M1 and Winddine Well).
The Silverstone Oxide Resource will require a limited round of further infill drilling to convert it to a measured category. It is expected that this will take place prior to the end of the financial year.
The recent drilling at the Minjar Project has significantly increased confidence levels of all resources and in addition provided significant new information as the basis of ongoing economic and resource models.
Preliminary scoping studies are continuing to examine the economics of all the development options. It is anticipated that further discussion of economic options will be addressed in the March Quarterly Report.
Deep drilling at Ml and Winddine Well has identified mineralisation at depth within the primary zone, which will be targeted in the future for underground resources to compliment existing potential open pittable resources.
The drilling at all three deposits has confirmed the relatively high grade nature of the Minjar North resources with average grades of in excess of 3 g/t at Silverstone, 4 g/t at M1 and 3 g/t at Winddine Well.
The Company has clearly identified good potential for small high grade deposits within the project area.
The upside for increased resources on the Minjar Project consists of the depth potential at M1 and Winddine Well, the Sulphide Deep's at Silverstone and additional resources in the region. The Company has identified twelve high priority prospects within the company's wholly owned 600sqkm Minjar package of tenements for drill testing. The potential of the Minjar resources to be brought into early production to provide a cash-flow remain the Company's priority.

Hardman Resources (6 April 2000)

Hardman provides the following update on the Colombo #1 gas exploration well near Rome, Italy. Site construction was completed on 4 April 2000 and the drilling rig is expected to commence rig-up operations tomorrow. Spud date is expected to be on or about 12 April 2000.

Normandy Mining (6 April 2000)

Important transactions have been completed or initiated which will reposition and fundamentally change Normandy, streamlining the corporate structure, increasing cash flow and providing clear strategic direction toward the goal of profitable growth in gold.
These transactions comprise:

GREAT CENTRAL MINES - immediate acquisition of the outstanding 42 percent interest and termination of management contracts for a net cash outlay of $21.0 million, and simplification of outstanding financial arrangements with Edensor. With full ownership, significant reductions in administration costs can now be achieved, and reviews of asset carrying values and the gold hedge book structure can be undertaken.
AUSTRALIAN MAGNESIUM CORPORATION - sale of Normandy's equity to Queensland Metals Corporation for shares, and intended subsequent in-specie distribution to Normandy shareholders.
NORMANDY INDUSTRIAL MINERALS - sale (including Larvik and Commercial Minerals) negotiations with major international companies well advanced and expected to be concluded in three months.

These transactions simplify and strengthen the core gold business, and are complemented by the recent acquisition of a further 13.33 percent interest in the Perama (Greece) gold project (increasing total interest to 80 percent.) The net effect is:

a 15 percent increase in attributable gold production to an annualised 2.3 million ounces; and
a substantial increase in attributable reserves and resources (basis 30 June 1999, but excluding subsequently sold or closed operations) to 18.4 million ounces and 52.5 million ounces respectively.

Net excess funds generated from these transactions may be directed to the buy-back of a maximum of 87 million shares (being 5 percent of Issued capital), dependent on price.

Oxiana Resources (6 April 2000)

Oxiana Resources is pleased to advise on Wednesday 5th April a Share Sale Agreement was executed with Rio Tinto providing for the purchase by Oxiana of Rio Tinto's Sepon copper and gold project in Laos. Settlement of the transaction is targetted for end April.

Amadeus Petroleum (5 April 2000)

The Directors of Amadeus Petroleum NL wish to advise that drilling on Fairlight No.1 reached 406 metres last night. The well casing is presently being cemented and drilling is expected to recommence this Thursday morning, 6 April, 2000. Well coring will commence from 530 metres and continue to the target depth of 720 metres.
Target depth is expected to be reached by Wednesday, 12 April, 2000.

Empire Oil & Gas (5 April 2000)

Empire Oil & Gas NL has entered into a Letter of Intent to use O D & E Rig No 34 to drill Central Rough Range No 1, Exmouth, Western Australia. The Company expects to settle the final Rig 34 Contract shortly.
Rough Range Oil Pty Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Empire Oil & Gas NL has a 100% equity in EP 41 Part 3 which contains the Rough Range Oilfield and a number of other prospects called South Rough Range, Parrot Hill and Roberts Hill and a number of separate simple anticlines highly prospective for oil accumulations.
Empire Oil & Gas NL plans to commence Central Rough Range No 1 in late April 2000 to test the highest culmination mapped on the Rough Range Anticline.

Gindalbie Gold (5 April 2000)

The Managing Director of Gindalbie Gold NL - Mr David McSweeney said yesterday, "Gindalbie Gold has today entered into an option agreement with unlisted company Orlando Resources NL where-in Orlando Resources NL have now been granted an option to acquire Gindalbie's wholly owned subsidiary, Nickel Ventures NL. Nickel Ventures NL is Gindalbie's holding company for the East Kimberley Project. The East Kimberley Project consists of 7 Exploration Licences in the Halls Creek mobile zone prospective for gabbro-hosted sulphide nickel and copper mineralisation.
Three of the Exploration Licences held by Nickel Ventures NL are subject to the ongoing joint venture with BHP Minerals Ltd who have earned a 51% interest. The remaining four exploration tenements are 100% owned by Nickel Ventures NL."

Minotaur Gold (5 April 2000)

Base Metals Assets Proposal

In order to enhance the value currently residing in Minotaur's base metals assets and the company's relationship with Billiton Exploration Australia Pty Ltd ("Billiton"), Minotaur wishes to announce that it proposes to unlock the current unrecognised value of its base metal assets by transferring them to a newly created wholly owned subsidiary, Minotaur Exploration Ltd, and to subscribe for $1.5 million of shares in the new subsidiary at an issue price of 20 cents per share.

Minotaur proposes to distribute the shares it will then hold in the newly created subsidiary by way of a distribution in specie to Minotaur shareholders.

Minotaur proposes that Minotaur Exploration Ltd will issue a prospectus to raise $0.75m to fund all of its base metal joint ventures including those with Billiton to facilitate the listing of Minotaur Exploration Ltd on the ASX. For additional information, click here.

Tap Oil (5 April 2000)

The Corvus-1 well has drilled 591 metres (gross) of gas shows from 3,835.2 metres to total depth at 4,027.5 metres MD. The reservoir is interpreted to be divided into two parts. A 192 metre deeper lower permeability section of sandstone between 3,835 metres and 4,027 metres which was tested for flow rate by DSTI. The upper reservoir interval of approximately 399 metres thickness, between 3,436 metres and 3,835 metres MD, will be tested.

Tectonic Resources (5 April 2000)

The Directors of Tectonic Resources NL are pleased to announce that mining has commenced at the RAV 8 Nickel Sulphide Operation, near Ravensthorpe Western Australia.
The operation will recover nickel from the RAV 8 deposit, which is estimated to produce approximately 48,000 tonnes of concentrate, or 19 million pounds of contained nickel metal.
A mine life of two years is anticipated, though this may be extended with further exploration of the RAV 8 deposit.
The mining operation will employ open cut methods to extract the nickel ore for the first 18 months, followed by underground mining techniques for the final six months.
The Mining Tenders for both open-cut and underground contracts were awarded to Barminco Pty Ltd at the end of February. Mining equipment was mobilised immediately and mining operations started on March 16.

Victoria Petroleum (5 April 2000)

Victoria Petroleum NL, advises that the white Opal-1 exploration well reached a Total Depth of 2,597m on 31st March 2000.
Wireline logs has indicated the target Triassic Mungaroo sandstones contained minor residual hydrocarbons only, and the well is being plugged and abandoned.

West Oil (5 April 2000)

Interpretation Results for Sea Permit AC/P28
West Oil NL is pleased to announce that interpretation of 454sqkm of 3D and 4,750 of 2D seismic has been completed.
The results of the 3D and 2D seismic interpretation and depth mapping have defined four main prospects, Galileo North, Galileo South, Arlo and Hubble. Total potential recoverable reserves are 452 million barrels. There are also a number of smaller prospects that may be reassessed if there was a major discovery in the area

Australian Worldwide Exploration (5 April 2000)

In Argentina, AWE's wholly owned subsidiary AWE Argentina Pty Limited, advises the Ramblon Verde-1 well in CNQ-16/A has been cased and suspended awaiting future production testing.
Wireline logging has identified thin potential oil-bearing intervals that will be tested when a workover rig moves to the drilling site.

Adelaide Resources (1 April 2000)

Directors announce the intersection of gold mineralisation of potential economic significance in the first pass rotary air blast (RAB) drilling program over the Barns gold in calcrete geochemical anomaly (Barns Gold Prospect Wadinna South Australia).
Hole BNRH 50, drilled to 76 metres depth at an inclination of 70 degrees, intersected 12 metres at 2.0 g/t gold from 30 to 42 metres. An additional 4 metres at 1.5 g/t was intersected in the extreme bottom of the hole from 72 to 76 metres. Shallower vertical holes collared 10 to 40 metres west and east of BNRH 50 showed strongly anomalous gold values.
A number of additional holes, both on the same section line and on another line 800 metres to the south, contain anomalous gold intercepts the potential significance of which can only be determined by further assaying and more detailed geological interpretation.

BHP (1 April 2000)

The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Ltd (BHP) announced today it has entered into a significant Joint Venture Agreement with Total Exploration Production USA, Inc (Total) covering 21 leases owned by BHP in the Walker Ridge Area of the Gulf of Mexico.
Under the terms of this agreement, Total will earn a 30 per cent interest in the Chinook Prospect comprising Walker Ridge Blocks 425, 426, 468, 469 and 470, and the Klondike Prospect comprising Walker Ridge Blocks 419, 420, 421, 422, 464 and 465. This agreement also provides Total with the option to earn a 30% interest in the Cascade Prospect comprising Walker Ridge Blocks 161, 163, 204, 206, 207, 248, 250, 251, 293 and 294. BHP will retain a 70 per cent interest in the leasehold acreage and serve as Operator for the Joint Venture.

Dioro Exploration (1 April 2000)

QUARTERLY REPORT - SUMMARY
GOLD
The major focus of exploration activity during the quarter ended 29 February 2000 was Dioro's interest in the Mungari gold project.
SIGNIFICANT RESULTS
4m @ 81.18g/t; 2m @ 50.91g/t; 27m @ 34.29g/t; 10m @ 23.78g/t;
9m @ 10.68g/t; 30m @ 7.16g/t; 5m @ 27.83g/t; 6m @ 23.59g/t;
13m @ 7.14g/t; 5m @ 15.13g/t; 2m @ 30.86g/t; 8m @ 17.11g/t;
5m @ 15.14g/t; 20m @ 7.51g/t; and l8m @ 6.56g/t.

The Mungari project is a joint venture between Dioro (49%) and Mines and Resources Australia Pty Ltd (51%) (part of the Cogema group). The tenements lie East of and immediately adjacent the White Foil ore body, and South of and adjoining the Gilt-Edged gold project.

DIAMONDS
The 1999 field season was extremely successful for Dioro. Seventy- three macro diamonds were recovered from a limited bulk sampling operation over the Kimberley exploration areas, and indicator mineral results have confirmed the identity of newly discovered kimberlites.
Two new lamproite bodies were discovered at the Company's Ellendale project area.
The 2000 diamond field season should commence in mid to late June, depending upon weather conditions in the Kimberley allowing access by this time.
The 2000 exploration program will focus on increased exploration over the Kimberley area to determine the size of the diamondiferous kimberlite, and to determine whether newly discovered kimberlites are diamond bearing. Further work will also be carried out in the Ellendale region to determine whether the lamproites are diamondiferous, and to source further new discoveries.

GTN Resources Ltd (1 April 2000)

GTN Resources Limited (GTN) today announced it had reached agreement with Phelps Dodge Corporation to acquire a 100% interest in the Tohono Copper Project (Tohono). GTN has agreed to pay a cash consideration of US$7.5 million for all the shares in the holding company of Tohono and GTN will also assume mine reclamation liabilities which are estimated to be US$15 million.
Tohono, which is located in the heartland of the copper industry in southern Arizona, USA, is an existing open cut mine, currently on care and maintenance. Permitting is substantially in place to allow expansion of Tohono to over 60,000 tonnes (130 million pounds) of copper production per annum.

Victoria Petroleum (1 April 2000)

Victoria Petroleum NL, as Operator for the EP 325 Joint Venture, advises that the White Opal-1 exploration well is drilling ahead at a depth of 2,539 metres in 216mm hole.
The White Opal Prospect is seismically interpreted to have a most likely potential to contain 247 million barrels of oil or 880 billion cubic feet of gas, in the target sands of the Mungaroo Formation, if hydrocarbons are present. White Opal-1 is located 22km to the southwest of the Leatherback-1 oil discovery, that flowed 2400 BOPD from the Mungaroo Formation, and 20km north of the Rivoli-1 gas discovery.
White Opal-1, which commenced drilling on 10th March 2000, is programmed for a Total Depth of 3 100m, and is expected to take 24 days to drill.

	RESERVE CATEGORY	TONNES (millions)	AVERAGE GRADE (g Au/t)	CONTAINED OUNCES (millions)
Reserves at end May 2000	Proved	23.2	3.82	2.8
	Probable	82.7	3.52	9.4
Sub total		105.9	3.59	12.2
Stockpiled Ore(2)	Proved	12.0	3.03	1.2
Total Reserves (3)		117.9	3.53	13.4

Hole	Interval	Intersection
SOP22D	161-163.7m	2.7m @ 29.0% Zn, 22.2% Pb, 21.4 g/t Ag
	174.2-193.3m	19.1m @ 16.0% Zn, 7.54% Pb, 4.8 g/t Ag

CHOKE SIZE (inches)	GAS FLOW RATE (mmscf per day)	CGR* (bbl/mmscf)	FTHP* (psi)	BS&W	CO(2)
20/64	6.8	75	3680	3%	5%
30/64	11.3	79	2730	5%	6%
56/64	18.4	89	1370	6%	6%

	VEIN	INTERCEPTS	DOWNHOLE	ASSAY	RESULTS	CORE
HOLE	FROM(M)	TO(M)	LENGTH(M)	AU (G/T)	AG (G/T)	RECOVERY
AC-1	221.7	232.2	10.5	25.88	193.0	77.2%
AC-2	83.0	91.0	8.0	13.68	153.0	98.9%
AC-3	170.7	180.0	9.3	8.11	Pending	93.6%

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