Mining Exploration News - Australia & SE Asia

LAKES OIL (29 DECEMBER 2000)

TRIFON-1 DRILLING

Lakes Oil N.L. ("Lakes") wishes to announce that as at 6 am this morning the Trifon-1 well, located in PEP 157 in the onshore Gippsland Basin, was at a depth of 2570 metres and pulling out of the hole.

Drill Stem Test No. 3, testing fractures within the interval 2188 to 2218 metres, flowed water and gas to surface. The water flow was measured at 900 barrels per day, whilst the gas flow was estimated at 4 to 5 mcf/day.

Drill Stem Test No. 4 tested part of the interval tested in Drill Stem Test No. 3, over the interval 2170 to 2200 metres. This test also flowed water and gas to surface, at the same rate as in Drill Stem Test No. 3.

Although none of the gas flows recorded at Trifon-1 have yielded a commercial flow rate, the extent of gas show at depth points to an active petroleum system with significant implications for future exploration within onshore Gippsland.

The rig will now be moved to the site of the Gangell-1 well, approximately 1 km south, towards the coast.

The Gangell prospect is interpreted as a fan associated with an east-west trending fault located approximately 2.5 km south of the North Seaspray-3 well. Seismic suggests the fan has a maximum thickness of the order of 300 metres, and extends southwards from the fault for a distance of approximately 1.5 – 2 km. Estimates range up to 200 bcf of recoverable gas for Gangell prospect should gas be present.

For more information on Trifon-1, including the latest photos, click here.

LAKES OIL (28 DECEMBER 2000)

TRIFON-1 DRILLING

Lakes Oil N.L. ("Lakes") wishes to announce that as at 6 am this morning the Trifon-1 well, located in PEP 157 in the onshore Gippsland Basin, was at a depth of 2570 metres and preparing to run Drill Stem Test No. 3.

Wireline logs were run at 2570 metres.

Drill Stem Test No. 3 will be run over the interval 2188 to 2288 metres, and will test a set of fractures in Strzelecki Formation sands.

Trifon-1 is designed to test the potential of alluvial fans in the Strzelecki Formation, which lie below the traditional Latrobe Group reservoirs of the Gippsland Basin.

For more information on Trifon-1, including the latest photos, click here.

BLIGH OIL & MINERALS (28 DECEMBER 2000)

Drilling Activity and Project Status Report -

NEW ZEALAND - PEP38719, TARANAKI BASIN, BLIGH INTEREST: 5.00%
The Rimu-A2 spudded on 26th December. 14(1/2) inch hole was drilled to 108 metres. Current operation is cementing 13(3/8) inch casing.
The Rimu-A2 well is being drilled directionally to 4000m TVD, with an approximate bottom hole location 760 metres north-northeast of the Rimu-A1 exploratory well, which tested at rates up to 1,525 barrels of oil per day and 4.8 million cubic feet of natural gas per day from the Upper Tariki sandstone.

NEW ZEALAND - PEP38718, TARANAKI BASIN, BLIGH INTEREST: 10.00%
The Tuihu-1 exploration well is currently drilling ahead at a depth of 4059 metres.
Tuihu-1 is being drilled to evaluate the Tariki sandstones, on a structure with approximately 30 square kilometres of closure. Depending upon the results encountered in the Tariki formation, the well may be deepened to test the Kapuni formation.

NEW ZEALAND - PEP38728, TARANAKI BASIN, BLIGH INTEREST: 40.00%
Recording of the Tangahoe seismic survey was completed on 19th December. Processing of the seismic data is currently underway.
The tangahoe seismic survey was recorded over 3 structural leads located on the Rimu-Huinga trend, to mature a prospect for drilling.

FIRST AUSTRALIAN RESOURCES (28 DECEMBER 2000)

CLEAR BRANCH FIELD, JACKSON PARISH, NORTH LOUISIANA
Gas production has commenced on the Terry Ewing No 1 well. The well was placed on line on Wednesday 20 December at an initial rate of 800 thousand cubic feet per day on a 10/64 inch choke at a flowing tubing pressure of 2,000 psi. The Operator has proposed a foam frac treatment for the well bore scheduled for mid to late January. No further reports will be issued until the fracture stimulation has been performed.

MOSAIC OIL (28 DECEMBER 2000)

EXPLORATION ACTIVITY - SURAT BASIN QLD

SILVER SPRINGS 11 (MOSAIC 100%)
Last on production in December 1994 has been brought back online using thin production tubing at a stabilised rate over the last week of 100,000 cubic ft/day.

TAYLOR 5. (MOSAIC 100%)
Last on production in August 1995 has been brought back online at a stabilised rate over the last week of 600,000 cubic ft/day and 30 barrels of oil a day.

PEMBROKE 2 (MOSAIC 85%)
The drilling operation at Pembroke 2 was plugged and abandoned on 23rd December 2000.

LAKES OIL (27 DECEMBER 2000)

TRIFON-1 DRILLING

Lakes Oil N.L. ("Lakes") wishes to announce that as at 6 am this morning the Trifon-1 well, located in PEP 157 in the onshore Gippsland Basin, was at a depth of 2569 metres and preparing to pull out of the hole.

Drill Stem Test No. 2, which was run over the interval 1388 to 1415 metres, flowed gas at a rate too small to measure and recovered approximately 197 metres of water cut mud.

As a result of persistent gas shows a decision was made over the Christmas break to deepen the well. It is now planned to run wireline logs to the current TD, after which a decision will be made as to whether to further deepen the hole or if additional tests will be required.

The results of this well to date have demonstrated the potential of the Strzelecki Formation to generate hydrocarbons at depth which will have significant implications for exploration of the onshore portion of the Gippsland Basin should a satisfactory reservoir be located.

Trifon-1 is designed to test the potential of alluvial fans in the Strzelecki Formation, which lie below the traditional Latrobe Group reservoirs of the Gippsland Basin.

For more information on Trifon-1, including the latest photos, click here.

MACMIN (27 DECEMBER 2000)

Cluff announced the recovery of a further 134 gem quality diamonds weighing 24.0 carats from 120 tonnes mined from the Monte Christo Mine at Bingara, NSW. The grade recovered was 20.0 carats per hundred tonnes, with the average size of the diamonds being 0.18 carat. No dry screening of the rocks processed was carried out.
The gravels being mined are from beneath a layer of volcanic ash several metres thick from which low grades of gem diamonds were previously reported. They are from the deepest part of the crater mined to date.

EAST COAST MINERALS (22 DECEMBER 2000)

A large Silver Specimen weighing 128kgs was recovered from the Elizabeth Hill Mine.
The Joint Venture will display this primary silver specimen at the WA Museum Department of Earth and Planetary Services.
The first unique specimen called "Elizabeth Hill Block Buster" is exhibited at the Perth Mint.

FIRST AUSTRALIAN RESOURCES (22 DECEMBER 2000)

CLEAR BRANCH FIELD, JACKSON PARISH, NORTH LOUISIANA
Production equipment has arrived on the Terry Ewing No 1 well location. The Operator has advised that the well will be turned to production this morning with gas sales into the Louisiana State Gas Pipeline commencing immediately.

HARDMAN RESOURCES (22 DECEMBER 2000)

Hardman announced that Woodside Mauritania Pty Ltd ("Woodside"), as Operator of the Joint Venture for Blocks 2-6 offshore Mauritania, has signed a contract for the use of the Saipem drilling rig "Scarabeo 7", which has been chosen to carry out the drilling program offshore Mauritania scheduled for 2Q 2001.

MOSAIC OIL (22 DECEMBER 2000)

Mosaic Oil N.L. has re-entered the Glen Fosslyn No 1 well and perforated a deep zone never previously tested.
Glen Fosslyn No 1 is located in the Surat Basin of Central Queensland and was drilled on a structure of approximately 1 sq km.
A 3-metre zone of an interpreted 15-metre hydrocarbon section was perforated. The intervals perforated were 2088.79 metres to 2090.62 metres and 2099.16 metres to 2100.38 metres.
The zone immediately flowed oil into the well casing. Pumping was undertaken and 120 barrels of oil and no water were produced in one day without any significant change in oil levels. No estimate of reserves is possible at this stage. A pump will be installed as quickly as possible to place this zone on production.

The drilling operation at Pembroke 1 is 1476.5 meters. Hydrocarbon shows occurred in the interval 1474.5 - 1476.5 meters which is the top of the main target section. Drill Stem Test No 1 over the interval failed for mechanical reasons and Drill Stem test No 2 over 1455.33 - 1476.5 meters was run late yesterday and recovered 24 barrels of mud and formation water. The rest of the section (approximately 50 meters) will now be drilled.

NIDO PETROLEUM (22 DECEMBER 2000)

Nido Petroleum Philippines Pty Ltd reports that it has withdrawn from block GSEC-84, Cagayan Basin, Luzon, in the Philippines.
Nido initially held a 10% interest in the block.

ROC OIL COMPANY (22 DECEMBER 2000)

1. ESKDALE-13 WELL SPUDDED
Onshore UK (ROC: 5% free carried interest)
The Eskdale-13 appraisal well in PEDL002 commenced drilling on 5 December 2000. The surface hole was drilled to a depth of 120 metres by 8 December 2000 by the Operator, Star Energy Limited, using a water well rig. 13(3/8)" casing was set and cemented to surface. It is planned to re enter the hole and drill to a total depth of 2,000 metres using the Boldon 28 drill rig, commencing in January 2001.

2. CHESTNUT EXTENDED WELL TEST ("EWT") PLAN PROGRESSING
UK North Sea (ROC: 29.75%)
Work is progressing on preparations for the drilling of the Chestnut appraisal well, which is scheduled to commence drilling in early January 2001. Following completion of the well, and subject to its success, an EWT will be undertaken commencing late in the first quarter 2001. Brovig Production Services will pay all costs associated with the well and the EWT.

3. CLAYMORE - INFILL WELL DRILLING
UK North Sea (ROC: 0.4605%)
The Claymore 14/19-C64 well has reached TD of 3,379 metres and at 0600 hrs local time 20 December 2000 was preparing to log. The Claymore Oil Field is operated by Talisman.

4. UK OIL PRICE AND GAS PRICE HEDGING
ROC, through wholly owned subsidiaries in the UK, has entered into oil price and gas price hedging contracts with Barclays Capital, covering a portion of the Company's 2001 oil and gas production.
The oil price hedge, covering 383,000 barrels of oil over the period from 1 May to 31 December 2001, was implemented at an average Brent oil price of US$24.54, approximately 14% below the average price achieved during 2000.
The gas price hedge, covering 1.7 bcf of sales gas over the whole of 2001, was implemented at an average price of 23.3 pence per therm (US$3.75/mcf), more than 25% above the average price achieved for spot gas sales during 2000.
The volumes hedged represent relatively small proportions (in both cases less than one third) of ROC's 2001 uncontracted production and both hedges were made at prices above the Company's budget forecast to protect some of 2001's revenue potential at a time when the forward price curves are falling.

5. COMPANY SECRETARY
On 29 November 2000, Mr Robert Gerrard was appointed Company Secretary of ROC, replacing Mr Bruce Clement, Chief Financial Officer of ROC, in the role. Mr Clement maintains his connection with the Board as alternate Company Secretary.

SIPA RESOURCES INTERNATIONAL (22 DECEMBER 2000)

Outokumpu Zinc Australia has commenced a Feasibility Study at the Sulphur Springs Zinc-Copper deposit within the Panorama joint-venture area 110km southeast of Port Hedland.
The Sulphur Springs Deposit may be classified as a Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide deposit with similarities to the Golden Grove, Scuddles and Thalanga deposits. The mineralisation is emplaced at the boundary of the Strelley Volcanics and the Gorge Creek sedimentary unit. The dominant mineral assemblage is typically pyrite with subordinate sphalerite and chalcopyrite and siliceous gangue.
Assay results from 16 diamond holes of a 17 hole programme have been received.

Results from three drillholes (SSD 52, 53 & 54) were released in Sipa's September Quarter 2000 ASX Report .
It is considered significant that SSD 53 (27.3m @ 10.4% Zinc) is largely unconstrained to the north.
It is anticipated that a new resource estimate for the Sulphur Springs deposit will be available in the first quarter of 2001 and that a final report for Stage 1 of the Feasibility Study will be complete in the second quarter.

TAP OIL (22 DECEMBER 2000)

The Harriet Joint Venture ("HJV") has entered into an exclusive Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with Oswal Projects Ltd ("Oswal") a member of the Oswal Group of Companies. It is Tap's understanding that the Oswal Group is one of the top five companies in India with a capitalisation in excess of US$2 billion.
Whilst the MOU is subject to a number of conditions the parties intend to commence negotiations immediately with the intention of signing a gas sales agreement in the first half of 2001.

WOODSIDE PETROLEUM (22 DECEMBER 2000)

The North West Shelf Joint Venture today awarded a contract with a value in excess of $25 million for site preparation works on the Venture's proposed LNG expansion project.
The contract was awarded to a West Australian company, BGC Contracting Pty Ltd.
Site works are expected to start in late January 2001, using a largely Karratha-based workforce of up to 120 people. The site preparation is expected to take about nine months.

BHP Limited (BHP) announced the sale of a parcel of interests in its Algerian oil and gas exploration and development activities to Woodside Petroleum Ltd. The move is consistent with BHP's strategy of actively managing its asset portfolio.
Woodside will take a 15 per cent interest in the Ohanet Risk Service Contract (RSC), a 50 per cent interest in the Boukhechba Production Sharing Contract and a 50 per cent interest in the Ouest Hassi R'Mel Gas Study Agreement. The transaction is subject to Algerian government and SONATRACH approvals.

Woodside Energy Ltd and BHP Petroleum have taken the first step in a long-term co-operative arrangement in North Africa.
Woodside will acquire a 15% interest in the 0hanet Risk Service Contract; a 50% interest in the Boukhechba Production Sharing Contract; and a 50% interest in the Quest Hassi R'Mel Gas Study Agreement for total payment to BHP of US$22.5 million. The transaction is subject to approvals from the Algerian Government and Sonatrach, Algeria's national oil and gas company.

ZIMBABWE PLATINUM MINES (22 DECEMBER 2000)

The directors of Zimplats are pleased to announce the signing of a Framework Agreement with the Government of Zimbabwe. The Agreement enables Zimplats to complete the acquisition of BHP's 67% interest in the Hartley Platinum Joint Venture and its 61.3% interest in the Mhondoro Platinum Joint Venture by Zimplats for US$1, resulting in Zimplats owning 100% of these assets.
The Agreement also enables Zimplats to proceed with the Ngezi/SMC Project under the existing fiscal regime established for the Hartley Platinum Joint Venture until the new fiscal legislation for the Zimbabwe mining industry has been implemented.

HERALD RESOURCES (21 DECEMBER 2000)

Directors are pleased to announce results of recent geochemical drilling at Gunbarrel.

In November, 2000 Cullen carried out a 1,780m programme of base-of-hardpan (BOH) sampling over selected gold target areas at the Gunbarrel Project located in the highly productive Northeast Goldfields of WA, approximately 45km east of the Yandal Belt. The Gunbarrel Project includes two granted tenements, Eureka North E 53/568 (100% Cullen) and Eureka Joint Venture E 53/535 (81% Cullen, 19% North Coolgardie Resources NL).

Areas drilled included Taipan, Taipan South, Jake-Rattle, Cobra (all in E 53/535) and Northern and Dry Blowing (E 53/568). Results are encouraging with significant gold anomalies detected at Cobra, Northern and Dry Blowing, all of which require follow-up drilling. The BOH technique has proved to be effective in the Gunbarrel area, whereas geochemical sampling by previous explorers was limited to surface soil/lag sampling or wide spaced RAB interface sampling without proper regolith control. The technique involves sampling what is interpreted to be a cemented fossil soil horizon where anomalous gold, if present, can be trapped at the base of the layer and as such provides a more useful sampling medium than more conventional methods.

Some 865 shallow holes were drilled with a Vacuum rig, mostly at 200 x 50m spacings within the 10.5 sq km of area covered. Holes averaged 2.1m deep. The basal section of the hardpan layer was sampled and analysed for Au and base metals.

Orientation BOH drilling was carried out at the Taipan prospect where gold mineralisation occurs in zones of quartz veining, pyrite and carbonate alteration hosted by sheared mafic schists. Known mineralisation at Taipan extends for 700m strike and is up to 100m wide (best previous drill intercept 22m @ 2.2 g/t Au). A broad +10 ppb Au anomaly was obtained over Taipan over widths of 160 to 320m and peaking at 180 ppb Au. The anomaly establishes the effectiveness of BOH sampling in this area.

BOH drilling in the Cobra area north of Taipan outlined a significant +10ppb Au anomaly extending for approximately 1000m NW-SE and from 200 to 400m wide with a peak value of 434ppb Au. Three wide spaced RAB holes drilled by earlier explorers in the general vicinity are strongly anomalous in gold (eg 4m @ 1g/t Au from 12m) but do not effectively test the anomaly.

A strong BOH anomaly was also located on the northern most line drilled on the Eureka Grid, 1km NW of the Eureka gold prospect. This anomaly is designated Eureka NW. Gold is anomalous over a 250m width (+10 ppb Au, maximum 281 ppb Au). There are no RAB or RC holes drilled by previous explorers in the immediate vicinity of the Eureka NW anomaly. The anomaly is open to the north and further drill traverses to the north are warranted.

The Dry Blowing North BOH anomaly is approximately 2km SSW of Eureka NW. It extends for 800m NS, is up to 200m wide and peaks at 158 ppb Au. There is no previous RAB or RC drilling within this anomaly.

These targets warrant follow-up drilling which will commence at the start of next year's field season. More details will be released in the next quarterly report. Tenement and general prospect locations can be seen at www.cullenresources.com.au.

BALLARAT GOLDFIELDS (21 DECEMBER 2000)

Ballarat Goldfields NL (‘BGF’) has entered into an agreement with Alliance Gold Limited whereby Alliance may acquire various Central Victorian exploration and mining tenements controlled by BGF’S Subsidiary, Highlake Resources NL. For more information on Ballarat, click here.

ACCLAIM EXPLORATION (21 DECEMBER 2000)

Having received approval from the Traditional Owners for the relevant area, Acclaim has registered Mining Licence 69/71 ("the lease") with the Department of Minerals and Energy.
The Lease encompasses a seven kilometre strike of the Wingellina orebody, situated within the West Musgrave Block and covered by Exploration Licence 69/535.

BENDIGO MINING (21 DECEMBER 2000)

Drill testing on the Sheepshead and Deborah anticlines has now identified four unmined ribbons containing seven gold bearing reefs.
These are within the vicinity of the Swan decline. Two of the ribbons, D3 and D4, are on the Deborah line and two, S3 and 84, are on the Sheepshead line of reef.
Preliminary Fire Assay results have identified what are considered ore grade intersections such as 9 metres @ 21.4 gAu/t, 13 metres @ 5.1 gAu/t and 13 metres @ 8.0 gAu/t within the reefs.

CENTAUR MINING & EXPLORATION (21 DECEMBER 2000)

The Company advises that given the current favourable price of platinum/palladium it is reviewing its landholding for these metals. In particular it is aware of the existence of anomalous platinum/palladium within the weathering profile and host rocks of the Ora Banda Sill.
The Company is the major tenement holder in this area and now plans to immediately commence an exploration program to search for platinum/palladium.

SUN RESOURCES (21 DECEMBER 2000)

Sun advised commencement of drilling of Waitaria 2 in mid January 2001 in PEP 38335, East Coast Basin on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. Sun will contribute 10.0% of the dry hole drilling costs of the Waitaria Prospect after which its ongoing contribution will be at its 7.5% interest. Westech Energy New Zealand ("Westech") is the operator of the permit.

HERALD RESOURCES (20 DECEMBER 2000)

DRILLING UPDATE , DAIRI ZINC/LEAD PROJECT
Herald's 71% owned subsidiary, International Annax Ventures Inc. (IAX) reports as follows:
Sopokomil Prospect - Anjing Hitam Zone
SOP 43D, the third hole at the southernmost section drilled to date (9475N), has now been completed with an intercept of 9m of typical pyrite/sphalerite rich massive sulphide mineralization. This hole was intended to intersect the target at 100m downdip from hole SOP 41D (6.6m grading 15.6% Zn, 9.1% Pb). However, excessive drill stem deviation resulted in the intercept only being about 40m east of hole 41D, and therefore possibly still near the western edge of the Anjing Hitam trend.
Plans for completion of at least one hole targeting the zone on Section 9300N, have been postponed due to end of year shutdown. Further drilling is warranted at the southern extension and downdip, the mineralization remaining open in these directions.

For more information on Herald, click here.

LAKES OIL (20 DECEMBER 2000)

TRIFON-1 DRILLING

Lakes Oil N.L. ("Lakes") wishes to announce that as at 6 am this morning the Trifon-1 well, located in PEP 157 in the onshore Gippsland Basin, was drilling ahead at a depth of 1921 metres.

It is planned to deepen the well while gas shows continue.

Full evaluation of the well will take place after running electric logs to assess the potential of the sections drilled thus far.

Trifon-1 is designed to test the potential of alluvial fans in the Strzelecki Formation, which lie below the traditional Latrobe Group reservoirs of the Gippsland Basin.

For more information on Trifon-1, including the latest photos, click here.

QUEENSLAND GAS (20 DECEMBER 2000)

The Directors of Queensland Gas Company Limited (QGC) announce that the fourth well in their five well Initial Coalbed Methane (CBM) Drilling Program, Pinelands No. 1 reached a depth of 368 m at 1600 hours on Tuesday 19 December 2000. Mechanical drilling problems have been encountered and the well is now being prepared for wireline logging prior to suspension of drilling operations over the Christmas period.

As a result of the successes in the first three wells in the coals of the upper part of the Walloon Coal Measure, a decision was made to drill Pinelands No. 1 to an increased total depth to evaluate the CBM potential of the coals within the lower part of the Walloon Coal Measures at this location.

An additional air compression unit will be obtained and drilling is expected to resume after the Christmas period.

Pinelands No. 1 is located approximately 31 kilometres south of the township of Wandoan in the Surat Basin in Queensland and approximately 39 kilometres north-west of the third QGC well, Avon Downs No. 1 which flowed gas at a rate of 220,000 cubic feet per day.

Pinelands No. 1 is now programmed to a revised total depth of approximately 560 metres and is located within Authority to Prospect for Petroleum No. 574-P in which QGC can earn a 75% interest in the Walloon Coal Measures.

For more information on Queensland Gas, including the latest maps, click here.

ANGLOGOLD (20 DECEMBER 2000)

The board of directors of AngloGold announced that agreement in principle has been reached for the sale by AngloGold of the assets and liabilities of the South African gold mining operations known as Deelkraal and Elandsrand ("the transaction") to Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited ("Harmony").
Harmony will pay AngloGold R1 billion in cash as consideration for the assets and liabilities of Deelkraal and Elandsrand.

AMITY OIL (20 DECEMBER 2000)

Two zones in the Danismen Formation between 1201 metres and 1231 metres in the Velimese-1 well were perforated at 0740 hrs Turkish time on the 18 December. Gas was observed at the surface at 0819 hrs and flowed at a rate too small to measure. The gas was clean burning. This test indicates the two reservoirs tested are gas bearing, but of low permeability and non-commercial at this location. The three remaining zones of interest in the Danisment Formation will not be tested at this time.

AUSTRALIAN WORLDWIDE EXPLORATION (20 DECEMBER 2000)

Australian Worldwide Exploration Limited advised on behalf of its wholly owned subsidiary AWE Argentina Pty Limited ("AWE") that the Puesto Carrelini-1 well in CNQ-16/A in the Neuquen Basin, Argentina, was plugged and abandoned on December 15, 2000 after encountering only minor hydrocarbon indications.

GUTNICK RESOURCES (20 DECEMBER 2000)

Further High-Grade Gold Intersections at the Saxon Extended Gold Discovery.
Total gold resources to June 2000 at Saxon Extended totalled 170,000 ounces at a grade of 4 g/t. Since that time, additional gold has been discovered including 60 metres at 5.3 g/t gold from 136 metres in PINC59.
The Company is encouraged by the success of its exploration and drilling at the prospect is continuing.

IVANHOE MINES (20 DECEMBER 2000)

Ivanhoe Mines Ltd's President Daniel Kunz and Chairman Robert M Friedland announced today that the merger between Ivanhoe Mines and ABM Mining Limited is expected to be completed by year end. The merger was approved by 94.22% of the votes cast by Ivanhoe Mines' minority shareholders at the company's Special Meeting of Shareholders on December 15th.

NIUGINI MINING (20 DECEMBER 2000)

Niugini Mining (Australia) Pty Ltd yesterday resumed control of its Red Dome mining lease following its decision not to transfer the lease.
Earlier this year, Niugini Mining signed an agreement to sell the closed Red Dome mine. A prospective purchaser was to assume responsibility for all subsequent site operations as well as maintaining environmental control measures that were put in place during the mine's closure phases.

SYDNEY GAS COMPANY (20 DECEMBER 2000)

Logan Brae #9 was spudded at 12:00hrs on 18 December 2000. As of this morning the conductor casing has been set at 9 metres and drilling is progressing at 50 metres.
This is the fifth well in the current drilling programme in the Johndilo Pilot Project bringing the total wells to date to 22. Total target depth for Logan Brae #9 is 820 metres to below the base of the Tongarra coal seam.

TAP OIL (20 DECEMBER 2000)

Saratoga-1 Update Timor Sea - The well has reached a total depth of 2,139 metres measured depth ("MD"). A gas bearing reservoir of 9 metres gross thickness was intersected within the Flamingo Sandstone at a depth of 1,759 metres MD.

GOLDEN CROSS RESOURCES (19 DECEMBER 2000)

RESOURCE EXTENDED TO THE NORTH

GCR recorded positive results from the recent drilling programme at its 100%-owned Kempfield silver-barite project near Blayney, NSW. Kempfield hosts significant silver, barite, lead and zinc resources along a 3 km strike length in Silurian Volcanics.
The 288m programme comprised three reverse circulation percussion (RC) holes, numbered GKF90 to GKF92 inclusive. The programme consisted of infill drilling aimed at increasing the silver and barite resources in the BJ Zone and extending the zone at depth.
All three holes intersected broad widths of mineralisation including narrower widths of high grade silver and barite mineralisation. All holes were at a declination of 55 degrees and an azimuth of 110 degrees. Best results are set out below:

Kempfield Silver-Barite Project, Results of Recent Drilling Programme at BJ Zone

Hole No.	East (m)	North (m)	Hole Depth (m)	From (m)	Interval (m)	Silver (g/t)	Lead (%)	Zinc (%)	Barite (%)
GKF90	1960	3218.5	96	20	68	61	0.12	0.42	28.40
incl				26	2	169	0.04	0.23	59.80
incl				40	8	113	0.03	0.15	28.40
incl				76	12	48	0.32	1.15	34.40
GKF91	1983	3149	114	40	59	52	0.16	0.70	27.45
incl				42	8	155	0.07	0.32	31.79
incl				84	15	69	0.14	0.74	31.93
incl				90	2	184	0.19	0.89	45.64
GKF92	1950	3145	78	28	50	110	0.04	0.09	30.80
incl				28	24	183	0.05	0.07	33.60
incl				30	4	317	0.10	0.02	52.64
incl				76	2	158	0.07	0.36	26.61

Drill holes GKF91 and 92 were fill-in holes drilled one behind the other on a section near the centre of the deposit. The geology and tenor of results confirm the original model and upgrade the confidence level in the resource.

Drill hole GKF90 was drilled approximately 72 metres to the north. On this section the original model suggested that mineralised horizons were truncated by a fault to the south of the section. However hole GKF90 intersected mineralisation and extended the known resource northward. In addition, geological and geochemical interpretation of the hole suggests that another zone of silver mineralisation occurs in an undrilled area immediately to the east of hole GKF90. A follow-up drilling programme will be commenced in the new year.

Additional resources identified in hole GKF90 and the grade identified in hole GKF92 will have a positive impact on the resource and economics of a potential operation to produce silver-lead, zinc and barite concentrates.
Revised resource calculations are underway. These calculations will be used for the scoping study presently being conducted for GCR on the BJ Zone by consultants Resource Management Group Pty Ltd.

Pan Australian Resources N.L. and Normandy Anglo Pte Ltd have agreed to extend the due diligence period to 9 February 2001 in accordance with the Call Option Agreement between the parties.

Under the Agreement, Pan Australian has the option to acquire an 80% interest in Phu Bia Mining Limited a company registered in Laos and a wholly owned subsidiary of Normandy Anglo. The purchase price will be US$500,000 of shares in Pan Australian Resources N.L. to Normandy Anglo. There are put and call options for Pan Australian to acquire Normandy Anglo’s retained 20% share.

Phu Bia Mining is party to a Mineral Exploration and Production Agreement ("MEPA") with the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. The MEPA incorporates an extensive Contract Area (Figure 1) that contains copper and gold deposits that fit well with Pan Australian’s Puthep Copper Project in Thailand.

Pan Australian has completed its investigations of all technical matters relating to the mine development potential of the deposits within the Contract Area and has also completed its review of all corporate and commercial matters relating to the proposed transaction.

Pan Australian is satisfied that the Phu Kham deposit, located 100 km north-east of the Lao capital Vientiane, has significant potential to be developed into a gold and copper-gold mine through a three-phase development.

This concept is based on initial development of the 300,000 ounce gold cap (from surface to a depth of 20 metres) followed by the development of a copper heap leach zone of 40 million tonnes at 0.5% copper.

Finally, the third phase of the development concept would be exploitation of the primary copper-gold zone where an Inferred Mineral Resource of 85 million tonnes at 1.1% copper and 0.5 g/t gold has been estimated by Pan Australian.

However, the review of the corporate and commercial matters pertaining to the acquisition of shares in Phu Bia Mining Limited has identified several technical and procedural issues. It was not possible to resolve all of these issues within the previously agreed time frame and therefore, Pan Australian and Normandy Anglo have agreed to extend the due diligence period in order that these issues can be resolved.

ADELAIDE RESOURCES (18 DECEMBER 2000)

The Directors announce that the successful conclusion of negotiations with the Central Land Council and the recent signing of agreements has cleared the way for the granting of six gold prospective Exploration Licences located on Freehold Aboriginal Land in the Tanami district of the Northern Territory. This is a significant milestone in the company's exploration effort in the Tanami Province.
The six licences total 1331 sq km in area and are subject to the Mount Solitaire Joint Venture between Adelaide Resources NL and Western Australian based gold producer Troy Resources NL.

ALCASTON MINING (18 DECEMBER 2000)

The Company's Swedish subsidiary, Alcaston Diamond Exploration AB, has reported the completion of its year 2000 detailed reconnaissance sampling program.
Alcaston's main diamond exploration licence covers an extensive area and is situated within in Archean craton that is known to host diamond-bearing kimberlite pipes in other parts of the craton in north-west Russia and in Finland.
Previous work undertaken by the subsidiary Company has included a broad spaced orientation sampling program during the 1999 year and the acquisition and processing of airborne geophysical data.
Analysis of samples from the orientation sampling program have highlighted an area for further follow-up and investigation following the discovery of a kimberlitic indicator mineral.

ARROW ENERGY (18 DECEMBER 2000)

The company has received notification from Santos Limited, the operator of NT/P52, that the Northern Territory Department of Mines and Energy (NTDME), has cancelled NT/P52 for non completion of work programs.
Arrow had argued strongly that the NTDME was not entitled to take this course of action and that this action is prejudicial and premature. Arrow is considering it's position and the rights available to it with respect to the NTDME and it's joint venture partners.

The Amberley No 1 well has been plugged and abandoned at a total depth of 256 metres. The well encountered several water flows in porous and permeable sand units in the Marburg Formation in the zone between 215 metres and 256 metres. Weak gas shows were also encountered in this zone and were associated with tighter units.

ASHANTI GOLDFIELDS / SPINIFEX GOLD (18 DECEMBER 2000)

Ashanti , which for the past one year has been exploring on some of Spinifex Gold Ltd's Tanzanian properties (Buckreef / Rwamagaza and Kitongo projects) pursuant to a farm-in and joint venture agreement has notified its withdrawal from the agreement.
The withdrawal coincides with the first anniversary of the agreement, which would have required Ashanti to reimburse Spinifex a cash sum of USD$1.75 million as well as spend a further USD$3 million on exploration over the next twelve Months.
Spinifex is aware of a number of major mining houses who have shown keen interest in these projects and will commence negotiations with these parties with a view to continuing development of these highly prospective properties.

BHP / QCT RESOURCES (18 DECEMBER 2000)

South Blackwater's Laleham underground mine will be closed by the end of February 2001 because of limited economic reserves and high production costs.
South Blackwater's Kenmare underground mine will complete development of three panels in the upper seam by March 2001. Longwall mining of these panels is expected to be completed by the end of 2001, when Kenmare will be closed due to geological constraints.
The South Blackwater open cut operations will be combined with those of the CQCA Blackwater mine to produce an estimated 13.5 million tonnes of coking and thermal coal a year.
QRL's Brisbane corporate office will be closed.

DIAMOND ROSE (18 DECEMBER 2000)

A joint Venture agreement his been concluded with BHP with respect to Diamond Rose's Upper Beta Creek tenements.
Both companies hope that this project will produce Australia's next major diamond mine(s). BHP has agreed that as and when the project warrants, it will sole fund the project through to bankable feasibility, which on average costs tens of millions of dollars. Upon completion of the bankable feasibility study Diamond Rose will share its equity in the project 50-50 with BHP.

LAKES OIL (15 DECEMBER 2000)

TRIFON-1 DRILLING

Lakes Oil N.L. ("Lakes") wishes to announce that as at 6 am this morning the Trifon-1 well, located in PEP 157 in the onshore Gippsland Basin, was at a depth of 1233 metres. Intermediate casing has been set at a depth of 1232 meters and the well is currently installing BOP’s prior to drilling out later today.

Trifon-1 is designed to test the potential of alluvial fans in the Strzelecki Formation, which lie below the traditional Latrobe Group reservoirs of the Gippsland Basin.

For more information on Trifon-1, including the latest photos, click here.

AQUILA RESOURCES (15 DECEMBER 2000)

Aquila announced the successful completion of a Reverse Circulation Drilling ("RC") program comprising of 9 holes for 1,232 metres and a 5,679 metre RAB Drilling program at the Enterprise Project.
The RC drilling at the United North area has been successfully drilled to the north and south of previously reported holes UNRC02 and UNRC03 Drilling tested a 300 metre strike length and the down dip extensions to the known gold mineralisation. The RC drill holes have intersected both the previously reported gold mineralised zones in the United North area, being a quartz stockwork within basalts and a sheared mafic - granite contact. A best result in hole UNRC010 with 4 metres @ 4.39 g/t gold from 112 to 116 metres depth was recorded.

ARROW ENERGY (15 DECEMBER 2000)

At 6.00am yesterday the well had reached a depth of 151 metres and was drilling ahead.
The well is located approximately 40km west of Brisbane and 9km south of the Roma - Brisbane gas pipeline.
Amberley No 1 is prognosed to test gas-bearing sand in the Jurassic Marburg Formation at a depth of approximately 200 metres. A sample of the gas taken by BNG Operations Pty Ltd from the wellhead of a nearby coal borehole was analysed at approximately 78% methane.

BRANDRILL (15 DECEMBER 2000)

Brandrill's 51% owned South African mining services subsidiary, Brandrill Torrex Pty Ltd, today announced it has secured a R200 million (AUD50 million) underground mine development contract at Anglo American Platinum Corporation Limited's ("Anglo Platinum") new Maandagshoek platinum mine near Steelport, Northern Province, in South Africa.

BULLION MINERALS (15 DECEMBER 2000)

Bullion has made a strong start to exploration at its Lake Johnston nickel tenements in Western Australia, announcing encouraging results from its Round Top Hill project - which is located immediately adjacent to the Emily Ann nickel sulphide project.
Bullion announced two encouraging intersections from re-assaying previous drilling samples on the 100%-owned Round Top Hill tenements, both of which resulted in significant improvements on the previous results.
The results included 4 metres at 1.56% nickel within an intercept of 18 metres grading 0.57% nickel from 24 metres to the end of the hole RTRB 27, and 4 metres at 0.46% nickel from 8 metres in hole RTRB 24. The two holes are only 4 kilometres apart along strike, as interpreted from aeromagnetics.

COBRA RESOURCES (15 DECEMBER 2000)

Anaconda has advised the company that it has withdrawn from three of the projects which were included in the Heads of Agreement that is Wowo Gap, Marlborough and Lucknow. The company is now free to deal with these three projects in its own right or with other interested parties.

FIRST AUSTRALIAN RESOURCES (15 DECEMBER 2000)

CLEAR BRANCH FIELD, JACKSON PARISH, NORTH LOUISIANA TERRY EWING NO 1 WELL
An acid treatment has been performed on the Terry Ewing No 1 well. The well is currently being swabbed in and is continuing to improve, making more gas and fluid behind each successive swab run. Provided these procedures are successful the well will be turned to sales from the Yellow and Orange Hosston Sands.
LAKE LONG FIELD, LAFOURCHE PARISH, SOUTH LOUISIANA STATE LEASE 328 NO 7 WELL (N W SEGMENT PROSPECT)
The Operator, Kriti Exploration, Inc has advised daily contact with R&B Falcon, the rig contractor, who have confirmed they will move on to the Lake Long No 7 well location as soon as the first barge rig is released by any Operator in the area. Equipment is in high demand due to record natural gas prices in the USA.

GUNSON RESOURCES (15 DECEMBER 2000)

Scoping Study - Coburn Project
The results of a scoping study on the Amy Zone heavy mineral sand discovery in Western Australia have given considerable encouragement for the Company to continue its exploration drilling program next year. Amy Zone is a major dune hosted deposit averaging about 1% heavy minerals, which was discovered by reconnaissance drilling earlier this year.

MINCOR RESOURCES (15 DECEMBER 2000)

MCR Reko Diq Project, Pakistan - Mincor has completed the drilling of 14 holes since late October 2000, comprising 5 diamond drill holes totalling 587.42 meters, and 9 reverse circulation drill holes totalling 995 meters. These holes bring the total number of drill holes at the H4 Project to 30, the other 16 having been drilled by BHP in the mid-nineties.
Visual logging of diamond core and percussion chips indicates that supergene copper mineralisation was intersected in 11 of the 14 holes.
Assay results for the first hole, diamond hole RDDD84, completed 4 November 2000, have been received. Using a 0.7% cut-off the following intersections are recorded:
30m @ 1.39% copper from 45m to 75m down hole
10m @ 1.08% copper from 89m to 99m down hole
15m @ 1.24% copper from 105m to 120m down hole

The hole was drilled at an angle of 60 degrees from the horizontal. It ended at 130m (down-hole depth) in hypogene copper mineralisation grading 0.4% copper.
These assay results are considered excellent. RDDD84 is located in an area previously modelled as having only low copper grades.

OIL COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA (15 DECEMBER 2000)

Kenmore no 26 an oil development well situated approximately 340 metres north-west of Kenmore no 09, latitude 26 deg 39 min 52.33 sec south, longitude 143 deg 26 min 19.79 sec east. The well was spudded at 18:00 hours on December 03, 2000. 245 mm surface casing was set at 172.4 metres rt. The well reached a total depth of 1580 metres rt at 08:00 hours, on December, 11,2000. 140mm production casing was set at 1580 metres rt. The rig was released from drilling operations at 22:00 hours, December, 11, 2000. progress for the week was 370 metres. The well was completed as future oil producer.

TRIBUNE RESOURCES (15 DECEMBER 2000)

RALEIGH DEPOSIT, KALGOORLIE WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Goldfields as Manager of the East Kundana Joint Venture ("EKJV") has announced an updated resource estimate for the Raleigh gold deposit that lies 2.5 kilometres south of the Kundana Gold Mine and 22 kilometres west of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.
A total Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resource of 747,000t at 41.7g/t gold for 1.0 million ounces is estimated for the Raleigh Deposit. This comprises a Measured Resource of 23,000 tonnes at 8l.1g/t gold, an Indicated Resource of 365,000 tonnes at 54.8g/t gold and an Inferred Resource of approximately 148,000 tonnes at 5.8g/t gold for the Raleigh Vein, and a further Inferred Resource of approximately 211,000t @ 5.8g/t gold for the Hangingwall Vein and Spur Vein zones.

LAKES OIL (14 DECEMBER 2000)

TRIFON-1 DRILLING

Lakes Oil N.L. ("Lakes") wishes to announce that as at 6 am this morning the Trifon-1 well, located in PEP 157 in the onshore Gippsland Basin, was at a depth of 1233 metres and preparing to cement intermediate casing. It is expected that the well will drill out of the casing into the underlying Strzelecki Formation on Friday 15 December 2000.

Trifon-1 is designed to test the potential of alluvial fans in the Strzelecki Formation, which lie below the traditional Latrobe Group reservoirs of the Gippsland Basin.

For more information on Trifon-1, including the latest photos, click here.

QUEENSLAND GAS (14 DECEMBER 2000)

QUEENSLAND GAS COMPANY’S FOURTH WELL SPUDS

The Directors of Queensland Gas Company Limited (QGC) are pleased to announce that the fourth well in their five well Initial Coalbed Methane (CBM) Drilling Program, Pinelands No. 1 spudded at 0900 hours on Tuesday 12 December 2000.

The well is located approximately 31 kilometres south of the township of Wandoan in the Surat Basin in Queensland, and approximately 39 kilometres north-west of the third QGC well, Avon Downs No. 1 which flowed gas at a rate of 220,000 cubic feet per day.

Pinelands No. 1 is programmed to a total depth of approximately 350 metres and is located within Authority to Prospect for Petroleum No. 574-P in which QGC can earn a 75% interest in the Walloon Coal Measures. At 1700 hours on 13 December 2000 the well was drilling ahead at a depth of 244 metres.

For additional information, click here.

The Company's Swedish subsidiary, Alcaston Diamond Exploration AB, has advised that analysis of a sample obtained from recently completed field work contains an indicator mineral designated as "possibly kimberlitic" by the laboratory which analysed the samples.
This positive result, obtained from a chrome spinel indicator mineral, has a similar chemistry to the original positive result obtained in the previous year's orientation sampling program.

AMITY OIL (14 DECEMBER 2000)

The Velimese-1 well reached a total depth of 1733 metres at 0945 hours on 12 December. Wireline logs are presently being run in the 8 (1/2) inch hole between 1551.5 metres and 1733 metres. The interval being logged includes the Osmancik Formation.
Since the last ASX report, a 12(1/4) inch hole was drilled to 1551.5 metres and the hole wireline logged before setting and cementing 95/8) inch casing. Drilling then continued in 8(1/2) inch hole size to TD.
Wireline log analysis of the Danismen Formation in the 12(1/4) inch hole has defined several potentially gas bearing zones for testing through casing. A test programme has been formulated for the Danismen.

BALLARAT GOLDFIELDS / ALLIANCE GOLD (14 DECEMBER 2000)

Ballarat has entered into an agreement with Alliance Gold Limited whereby Alliance may acquire various Central Victorian exploration and mining tenements controlled by BGF's subsidiary, Highlake Resources NL.
The tenements comprise: the Dunolly-Moliagul licences (MIN 4837, EL 4351, EL 4300, EL 3115); the Campbelltown Project (EL 3377); and the Maryborough Project (EL 3626).
Alliance may, subject to its due diligence assessment and receipt of all regulatory approvals, move to full ownership and operation of the projects by satisfying agreed permitting and production targets.
In return, BGF will receive a royalty revenue stream from gold produced from the properties.
Alliance will fund all exploration, production and rehabilitation expenses and intends to utilise its nearby Maldon treatment plant to process ore sourced from the tenements.

BLIGH OIL & MINERALS (14 DECEMBER 2000)

NEW ZEALAND - PEP38719, TARANAKI BASIN, BLIGH INTEREST: 5.00%
Following completion of an initial testing programme, the Rimu B-2 well has been suspended and the drilling rig is being moved to the Rimu-A pad location for the drilling of the Rimu-A2.
The Rimu-A2 well will be drilled directionally, with an approximate bottom hole location 2,500 feet North/Northeast of the Rimu-A1 exploratory well, which tested at rates up to 1,525 barrels of oil per day and 4.8 million cubic feet of natural gas per day from the Upper Tariki sandstone.

NEW ZEALAND - PEP38718, TARANAKI BASIN, BLIGH INTEREST: 10.00%
The Tuihu exploration well is currently preparing to drill out of 9(5/8)" intermediate casing at a depth of 3750 metres.
Tuihu #1 is being drilled to evaluate the Tariki sandstones, on a structure with approximately 30 square kilometres of closure. Depending upon the results encountered in the Tariki formation, the well may be deepened to test the Kapuni formation.

NEW ZEALAND - PEP38728, TARANAKI BASIN, BLIGH INTEREST: 40.00%
Line surveying and shot hole drilling operations on the Tangahoe seismic survey have been completed. Recording commenced on 9th December.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA - PPL206, BOSAVI, FORELAND/DARAI PLATEAU. BLIGH INTEREST: 50.00%
The first phase of seismic acquisition of the Okari survey has been completed, and the data is currently being processed. Initial indications are that a potentially drillable structure appears to be present, although this is subject to further processing and interpretation.

BUKA MINERALS (14 DECEMBER 2000)

Buka is pleased to advise that written notice has been received from Noranda Pacific Pty Ltd that it intends to exercise its option to acquire a 75% interest in the Lady Loretta zinc/lead/silver deposit for $21 million.

CENTRAL PACIFIC MINERALS / SPP (14 DECEMBER 2000)

The Companies (SPP/CPM) advise that shale processing and oil production operations resumed at the Stuart Stage 1 Plant in late November after a planned three-month turnaround. Over $6 million of new equipment was installed in the plant to reduce air emissions and noise, together with extensive preventative maintenance.
Shale was re-introduced into the ATP shale processor on 29 November 2000 with the objective to test the effectiveness of the new emissions and noise abatement equipment. Shale target rates of 150-160 tonnes per hour (60-64% of capacity) were maintained through 4 December, by which time all parts of the plant, including the naphtha hyrotreater, had been placed onstream. Preliminary odour sampling and noise measurement during this period indicated an improvement from prior runs.

CLUFF RESOURCES (14 DECEMBER 2000)

Cluff has recovered of a further 125 gem quality diamonds weighing 23.3 carats from 100 tonnes mined from the Monte Christo Mine at Bingara, NSW. The largest stones recovered were 1.6 and 1.2 carat whites. The grade recovered was 23.3 carats per hundred tonnes, with the average size of the diamonds being 0.18 carat. This is a significant increase in size from the average of 0.13 carats per stone in many parts of the early development of the pit. No dry screening of the rocks processed was carried out.
The larger stones are interpreted to reflect the higher energy geological setting of the crater floor gravels from which they were obtained. The gravels being mined are from beneath a layer of volcanic ash several metres thick from which low grades of gem diamonds were previously reported. They are from the deepest part of the crater mined to date.

DIAMOND ROSE (14 DECEMBER 2000)

Diamond Rose is pleased to announce that it has concluded an agreement to acquire an option to purchase the interests of the Joint Venture Partners in the Upper Beta Creek Project.
The agreement is significant as it secures for the Company a 100% direct interest in the project, which according to Maureen Muggeridge, consultant geologist to the Company ".. is at the forefront of current diamond exploration ventures."

Vageta Pty Ltd decreased its relevant interest in Diamond Rose NL on 12/12/2000, from 69,144,005 ordinary shares (51.55%) to 63,644,005 ordinary shares (47.45%).

GUTNICK RESOURCES (14 DECEMBER 2000)

Gutnick announced the publication of a new explanation for the origin of the Witwatersrand gold deposits of South Africa. These ideas in turn lead to a new methodology to discover similar goldfields elsewhere in the World.

HELIX RESOURCES / HUNTER RESOURCES (14 DECEMBER 2000)

Helix advised that the dispute between Hunter Resources Limited (Hunter) and plainters concerning the 65 square kilometre Munni Munni mining leases has now been successfully resolved by Helix. Ministerial approval has recently been received which now enables Hunter to transfer 100% ownership of the Munni Munni project to Helix. Accordingly, Helix will accelerate its activities on the project with a view to completing a Scoping Study by February 2001. The Scoping Study report will include new ore resource calculations, current underground and open cut mining costs and will be the precursor to a full Feasibility Study planned to commence on the project in March 2001.

Helix also announced that the Directors have agreed to place up to 3.5 million fully paid shares at an issue price of $0.55 each to clients of D J Carmichael & Co. The placement will raise up to $1,925,000 less costs of the issue.

LAKES OIL (13 DECEMBER 2000)

TRIFON-1 DRILLING

Lakes Oil N.L. ("Lakes") wishes to announce that as at 6 am this morning the Trifon-1 well, located in PEP 157 in the onshore Gippsland Basin, was at a depth of 1233 metres.

Over the next 24 hours we expect to run wireline logs and commence running 244 mm intermediate casing. After the completion of setting the intermediate casing drilling will re-commence with the target zones within the Strzelecki Formation, our objective. The top of the Strzelecki Formation was intersected at 1230 metres.

Trifon-1 is designed to test the potential of alluvial fans in the Strzelecki Formation, which lie below the traditional Latrobe Group reservoirs of the Gippsland Basin.

For more information on Trifon-1, including the latest photos, click here.

AUSTRALIAN WORLDWIDE EXPLORATION (13 DECEMBER 2000)

AWE advised on behalf of its wholly owned subsidiary AWE Argentina Pty Limited that, as at 2000 hours on 11 December, the Puesto Carrelini-1 well in CNQ-16/A in the Neuquen Basin, Argentina, was drilling ahead at 2384m. Progress for the week was 697m.
No significant hydrocarbons have been encountered.

BEACH PETROLEUM (13 DECEMBER 2000)

Beach reported continued success in its current five well drilling program in southwest Queensland. Following the success of Kenmore-24, the Kenmore-26 well has encountered good quality, hydrocarbon bearing sands in the Birkhead Formation/Hutton Sandstone and flowed oil and water to surface during testing of the Basal Jurassic.
A drill stem test of the Basal Jurassic flowed 5.4 barrels of oil and 11.3 barrels of water to surface over a 60 minute flow period. A further 8.5 barrels of oil and 24.2 barrels of water were recovered from pipe.
Kenmore-26 has reached a total depth of 1580 metres. The well has achieved its objectives and is currently being cased and completed for oil production from the Birkhead Formation/Hutton Sandstone.
The next well in the program, Kenmore-25, is expected to spud on Thursday 14th December 2000.

BURDEKIN PACIFIC (13 DECEMBER 2000)

Gutnick Resources, manager of the Pinjin Joint Venture, has released significant drill hole results from the first three holes of a recently commenced reverse circulation drilling program. The most significant result, in PINC59, comprised a down hole intersection of 60m at 5.3 g/t gold including 20 metres at 10.3 g/t gold. The announcement released by Gutnick is attached.

The drilling program is being conducted on mining leases surrounding the Anglo Saxon deposit at Pinjin. Gutnick is earning 70% equity from Burdekin in this Joint Venture, the "Trouser Legs Tenements JV", by the expenditure of $2 million. The manager advises that they expect to complete a further 20 RC drill holes before the end of December 2000.

The manager also advises that the deposit remains open along strike and at depth. Continued exploration could result in a major new gold discovery at Saxon Extended where the current reported resource stands at 170,000 contained ounces of gold at a grade of 4 grams per tonne.

LAKES OIL (12 DECEMBER 2000)

TRIFON-1 DRILLING

For more information on Trifon-1, including the latest photos, click here.

MACMIN (12 DECEMBER 2000)

Re: TEXAS SILVER PROJECT, QUEENSLAND

The Twin Hills feasibility study has confirmed that an economic silver mine, (based on open pit mining, heap leach processing of the ore and economic criteria valid as at the end of November 2000), can be established at Texas in S.E.Queensland.

The feasibility study envisages a three stage mine development.

Stage 1 – a higher grade pit which would mine approximately 65% of the present Probable Ore Reserve
Stage 2 – an extended pit to mine the remaining Probable Reserve and the part of the present Indicated Resource not included in the Reserve, but which may be converted to Reserve category by drilling over the next 9 months
Stage 3 – a further enlargement of the pit (probably to the south) to mine additional ore which may be proven up from the present Inferred Resource by additional drilling over the next 30 months

Cash flow forecasts suggest that stage one would yield a $12 million net cash flow to Texas Resources Pty Ltd (wholly owned subsidiary of Macmin Ltd) over a 21 month period probably commencing from July 2001and after repayment of approximately $5 million in capital expense.

Stage 2 could yield a further net cash flow of approximately $14 million over the 18 to 36 month period after the commencement of production, and the completion of stage 1. There would be some overlap between stages 1 and 2. A decision on whether or not to proceed with stage 2 will probably not be made until the end of 2001.

Stage 3 could add further earnings which at this point in time cannot be quantified.

The company believes there is excellent potential to locate and develop other silver deposits in the Texas Silver District.(see earlier releases to the ASX) The company has exploration licenses totalling 379 sq kms in the district which, as far as we are aware cover all silver potential areas in the Texas Silver District.

Director’s wish to caution shareholders that the development and cash flows outlined above are subject to the silver prices and other economic criteria which were valid at the end of November 2000, obtaining the grant of a mining lease by the Queensland Government, and finalisation of mine capital financing. In addition, stage 2 and 3 forecasts are less certain, should be regarded as higher risk than stage 1 forecasts and are dependent on infill drilling results.

The company is proceeding with plans to "spin off" Texas Resources Pty Ltd to Macmin shareholders by way of an in species distribution of Macmin’s shares in Texas Resources Pty Ltd. Texas Resources Pty Ltd will change its name to Texas Silver Mines Limited and will become a silver focussed company, initially concentrating on silver mine development and exploration in the Texas district of Queensland. This new company should have appeal to silver investors and may be the sole silver focussed company in Australia.

Shareholder approval for the "spin off" will probably be sought in late February 2001.

For more information on Macmin, click here.

ARROW ENERGY (12 DECEMBER 2000)

Amberley No 1, spudded at 9.30am Sunday. As at 8.00 am Saturday, the well had reached a depth of 95 metres and was setting casing.

BLIGH OIL & MINERALS (12 DECEMBER 2000)

Bligh advised that it has successfully completed initial testing of the Rimu B-2 well, the third well drilled by the Company in the Rimu area in the onshore Taranaki Basin in New Zealand. During a forty-nine hour test period, the well flowed at rates up to 1,384 barrels per day of 46-degree API gravity crude oil and 9.4 million cubic feet of natural gas per day with no measurable water. Preliminary PVT analyses indicate a high liquids content in the gas, in the range of 30-50 barrels per million cubic feet, which would be incremental to the oil production. This rate was obtained on a (32/64) inch choke with flowing tubing pressure of 2,389 pounds per square inch (psia). The open hole test included sections of both the Upper Tariki sandstone and the Upper Rimu limestone from 11,221 feet (3,421 metres) to 11,647 feet (3,551 metres). Further testing to determine maximum sustainable flow rate and to confirm reservoir extent at both Rimu Limestone and Upper Tariki sandstone levels will be conducted once a 4(1/2)" production liner has been set. It was considered inadvisable to flow the well at higher rates in open hole.

ARROW ENERGY (12 DECEMBER 2000)

Amberley No 1, spudded at 9.30am Sunday. As at 8.00 am Saturday, the well had reached a depth of 95 metres and was setting casing.

DOMINION MINING (12 DECEMBER 2000)

With the recent acquisition of Resolute's 50% interest in the Gawler Joint Venture, Dominion Mining Limited intends to focus its efforts in Australia with the development of the Challenger gold project and advancement of its promising exploration areas in the south west Yilgarn region of Western Australia and the Gawler Craton in South Australia.

Dominion has entered into an agreement with a Canadian company, Orezone Resources Inc for Orezone to earn an interest in Dominion's Ghanaian properties. The agreement is subject to a condition precedent, namely satisfactory completion of Orezone's due diligence on the properties which must be completed by 31 January 2001. Up to that date Orezone can withdraw from the agreement without penalty.
Under the terms of the agreement, Orezone can earn a 50% interest by spending US$2,500,000 on the properties over a four year period with annual commitments of US$500,000 in the first year and a minimum of US$300,000 in subsequent years. A minimum of US$250,000 dollars must be spent before they can withdraw. Orezone will be responsible for expenditure from 1 January 2001.
If Orezone earns the initial 50% interest they have the option to acquire the remaining 50% by the issue to Dominion of fully paid ordinary shares, equivalent to 20-35% of the issued capital of Orezone.

GUTNICK RESOURCES (12 DECEMBER 2000)

High-grade gold intersections discovered at the Saxon Extended Gold Deposit.

DETAILS OF ANNOUNCEMENT
The following results have been received from the first three drillholes of a reverse circulation ("RC") drilling program in progress at the Company's Saxon Extended Gold Deposit:

HOLE # SECTION FROM (METRES) WIDTH (METRES) GRADE (G/T GOLD)*

PINC 59 19520N 136 60 5.3
Includes 168 20 10.3
PINC 60 19600N 40 4 20.0
68 8 11.8
PINC 61 19760N 8 16 3.7

* All results to date are four-metre composite samples. Drillhole results approximate true width of mineralisation intervals.

The Saxon Extended Gold Deposit is located 150 kilometres north east of Kalgoorlie and as at the 30 June 2000 total resources reported were 170,000 ounces at a grade of 4 grams per tonne ("g/t"). These current drilling results are very encouraging and should result in a significant upgrade of the current resource base at Saxon Extended.

The Company is encouraged by the success of its exploration and drilling at Saxon Extended and is continuing with another 20 RC holes planned to be completed before the end of December 2000. Given that the deposit remains open along strike and at depth continued exploration success could result in a major new gold discovery at Saxon Extended.

These results continue to demonstrate the prospectivity of the large land position of approximately 2,300 square kilometres secured by the Company in the Southern Laverton Tectonic Zone, which the Company has identified as extension of the Laverton Gold Province.

TAP OIL (12 DECEMBER 2000)

Saratoga-1 exploration well spudded at 04:15 hours on Monday, 11 December 2000. As at 06.00 hours on 11 December 2000, the well has drilled ahead to 154 metres and will continue to drill ahead to the planned total depth of 2,093 metres measured depth which is expected to take 7 days.

LAKES OIL (11 DECEMBER 2000)

TRIFON-1 DRILLING

Lakes Oil N.L. ("Lakes") wishes to announce that as at 6 am this morning the Trifon-1 well, located in PEP 157 in the onshore Gippsland Basin, was at a depth of 1005 metres and drilling ahead within the Latrobe Group.

The top of the Lakes Entrance Formation was intersected at 633 metres, and the top of the Latrobe Group at 689 metres. Circulation was lost at the top of the Latrobe Group section, believed to be associated with fracturing in the coal.

Circulation was quickly restored, and drilling resumed.

A strong gas show was encountered at the Top Latrobe Group level, but the source of the gas has not yet been determined. The full significance of this show will be evaluated after logging, with the option to test through pipe at a later date.

Trifon-1 is designed to test the potential of alluvial fans in the Strzelecki Formation, which lie below the traditional Latrobe Group reservoirs of the Gippsland Basin.

For more information on Trifon-1, including the latest photos, click here.

QUEENSLAND GAS (11 DECEMBER 2000)

THIRD COALBED METHANE WELL AVON DOWNS NO. 1 FLOWS GAS AND IS COMPLETED AS FUTURE POTENTIAL GAS PRODUCER

The Directors of Queensland Gas Company Limited (QGC) are pleased to announce that the third well in their five well Initial Drilling Programme, Avon Downs No 1 coalbed methane (CBM) well, encountered free gas in at least one coal seam of the Walloon Coal Measures while drilling in the interval 91 metres to 97 metres and flowed CBM gas to surface at a rate of 220,000 cubic feet per day (6,226 cubic metres per day) through a _ inch choke. Other coal seams intersected in the interval 51.5 metres to total depth of 168.9 metres were water filled and cumulatively produced approximately 980 barrels per day of water to the surface while air drilling.

The Managing Director of QGC Mr Norm Zillman said that in addition to the good CBM gas flow in Avon Downs No 1, the high water production rate from other seams was also very encouraging as it indicated very good permeability within those seams. Nett coal over the interval 51.5 metres to 168.9 metres totaled 20.3 metres. Mr Zillman said that once the water filled coal seams in the well were dewatered, significantly increased CBM gas flow rates could be anticipated.

Avon Downs No 1 is located approximately 50 kilometres northwest of QGC’s first well Wyalla No 1 which flowed CBM gas at a rate of approximately 75,000 cubic feet per day, and approximately 28 kilometres north of QGC’s second well Argyle No 1 which flowed CBM gas at a rate in excess of 1 Million cubic feet per day; all flows being from coal seams in the upper part of the Walloon Coal Measures. Mr Zillman said that the excellent results from the first three wells were extremely encouraging for the early commercial production of CBM from the Walloon Coal Measures within QGC’s Surat Basin areas.

Avon Downs No 1, is located approximately 32 kilometres west-northwest of the township of Chinchilla within part of Authority to Prospect 676-P in which QGC can earn a 50% interest in the Walloon Coal Measures. Wireline logs have been run and the well has now been completed as a future potential gas producer.

The Mitchell Drilling rig will now move to Pinelands No 1, the fourth well in QGC’s Initial Drilling Programme.

For additional information, click here.

ARROW ENERGY (9 DECEMBER 2000)

Glamorgan # 2 reached a total depth of 200 metres on Friday 8 December 2000. There were no gas shows encountered. The operator BNG Operations Pty Ltd is preparing to run logs prior to plugging and abandoning the well.

The next well location is Amberley # 1 (formerly Normanton # 1) approximately 10 km to the south east of Glamorgan # 2. Amberley # 1 is prognosed to test shallow structures in the Marburg Formation at a depth of approximately 200 metres and believed to be updip of gas occurrences in a coal exploration hole nearby. A sample of the gas taken from the wellhead by BNG Operations Pty Ltd was analysed at approximately 78% methane. In addition, the well may test 2 seismic amplitude anomalies currently prognosed to be in the Ipswich Coal Measures at depths approximately 500 and 750 metres.
Amberley # 1 is scheduled to spud on Monday 11 December 2000 and take approximately 1 week to drill.

CENTENNIAL COAL COMPANY (9 DECEMBER 2000)

The Company has today completed the purchase of the entire economic interest of GC Springvale Pty Ltd which owns 50% of the Springvale Mine near Lithgow.
Centennial is paying a total of US$36 million with the effective date of acquisition being 1 January 2000. The majority of the funds were paid today with a second instalment due in six months time.

EAST COAST MINERALS (9 DECEMBER 2000)

A reverse circulation surface drilling programme was completed at the Elizabeth Hill Project. The main area of interest adjacent to the Munni Munni fault, 40 holes were drilled at intervals 7-(1/2) metres. They were drilled in a westerly direction at a dip off -60deg, and were designed to be collared in the ultramafic and drilled through the ultramafic into the western & eastern granite.
Hole EC106 was drilled at an azimuth of 360deg and was designed to test possible mineralisation associated with an east-west fault at 7780N.
Holes EC102, EC103 and EC104 were drilled approximately 100 metres to the east of the Munni Munni fault and were designed to test a parallel fault (the Magazine fault) known to be mineralised at the surface.

DRILLING RESULTS
The drilling programme confirmed the presence of shallow silver mineralisation encountered in previous drilling north of the section 7775N and clarified the geological structure associated with the mineralisation.
An east-west fault, with a north block up displacement of approximately 50 metres, elevates the intersection of the basal contact with the Munni Munni fault from RL225 at 7775N to RL470 at 7785N.

Mineralisation associated with the intersection of the basal contact and the Munni Munni fault was encountered in holes drilled on sections 7775N, 7780N, 7785N, 7790N, 7795N and 7800N. Drill hole EC106, drilled at an azimuth of 360deg, intersected mineralisation on the east-west fault at approximately 7780N.
Drilling to the south of 7775N failed to verify high grade intersections in drill holes EC47 and EC49 drilled previously.
Drill holes EC102, EC103, and EC104, drilled to test the Magazine fault 100 metres to the east of the Munni Munni fault, failed to intersect significant mineralisation.

PRELIMINARY RESOURCE CALCULATION
A formal resource calculation has not yet been undertaken.
A preliminary manual calculation based on cross sectional areas gives an estimated figure of 5100 tonne at a grade of 810ppm Ag to a depth of 30 metres using a 200ppm Ag cut off grade.

KIMBERLEY OIL (9 DECEMBER 2000)

Kimberley Oil NL (KBO) has entered into an agreement with Otto Oil Pty Ltd to acquire the rights to apply for the Canning Basin Oil Application Areas 5/97-8 and 6/97-8.
The Application Areas are adjacent to KBO's EP391 prospect (which is 100% owned by KBO) and are to the north and north east respectively.

Under the agreement KBO will:

Pay $5,000 cash on signing for a 30 day exclusive rights period in which to undertake due diligence.
Upon satisfactory progress of the initial 30 day due diligence, KBO will pay $20,000 and issue 250,000 ordinary shares for a 12 month exclusive right to progress the opportunity, including carrying out native title negotiations as Otto Oil Pty Ltd's agent.
Subject to certain other conditions, KBO may extend the exclusion right period, progress the spudding of Yulleroo 2, progress to converting the Application Areas into Exploration Permits and having those Exploration Permits transferred into KBO's name, for a combination of cash and KBO shares in varying amounts and quantities depending upon the particular circumstances and the outcomes of the Yulleroo 2 drilling program.

KBO is currently preparing a formal agreement to document the agreement. A further more detailed announcement will be made on signing of the formal agreement.

PLENTY RIVER CORPORATION (9 DECEMBER 2000)

Heads of agreement have been executed between the company and Helm Dungemittel GMBH of Germany for the offtake of product from Plenty River's ammonia/urea plant which is to be located on the Burrup Peninsula of Western Australia.
Under this agreement, Helm will purchase as principal up to 760,000 tonnes of granular urea and 190,000 tonnes of anhydrous ammonia per annum.

LAKES OIL (8 DECEMBER 2000)

TRIFON-1 DRILLING

Lakes Oil N.L. ("Lakes") wishes to announce that as at 6 am this morning the Trifon-1 well, located in PEP 157 in the onshore Gippsland Basin, was at a depth of 261 metres, and installing blow-out preventers, prior to drilling ahead. Drilling is expected to resume this afternoon.

Trifon-1 is designed to test the potential of alluvial fans in the Strzelecki Formation, which lie below the traditional Latrobe Group reservoirs of the Gippsland Basin.

Lakes Oil N.L. via its wholly-owned subsidiary Petro Tech Pty. Ltd. holds a 100% interest in the permit, subject to a 5% royalty over the permit held by Roma Petroleum.

For more information on Trifon-1, including the latest photos, click here.

AKD LIMITED (8 DECEMBER 2000)

Rio Tinto, on behalf of the participants of the Ashton Exploration Joint Venture, has withdrawn from the Company's Seppelt Range diamond project located in the Northern Kimberley region of Western Australia.
The withdrawal follows two years of detailed exploration by Rio Tinto for diamonds without success.

ARROW ENERGY (8 DECEMBER 2000)

Arrow has entered into an agreement with SEQ0il Pty Ltd and Falcon Resources Pty Ltd to earn a 50.5% interest in part of ATP 676P in an area covering highly prospective coal bed methane acreage over the Walloon Coal Measures near Chinchilla in South East Queensland
The agreement on the Chinchilla Project Area provides Arrow with the opportunity to significantly expand its Walloon Coal Bed Methane exploration areas which also include Arrow's 100% owned Eastern Surat Basin project over the Cecil Plains area.(ATP 683P). Arrow's 1,665km²Chinchilla Project Area lies immediately north east of and updip from the Queensland Gas Corporation Ltd ('Queensland Gas') farmin area, also on ATP 676P, where Queensland Gas is earning a 50% interest from SEQoil and Falcon. A recent well Wyalla #1, drilled by Queensland Gas in that area flowed at 75,000 cubic feet of gas per day.

FIRST AUSTRALIAN RESOURCES (8 DECEMBER 2000)

TERRY EWING NO 1 WELL
The Hosston Yellow Sand intervals between 9,896 to 9,906 feet and 9,920 to 9,940 feet have been perforated and opened to the pit with gas flaring up to 25 feet. The well was then shut-in and tested with various choke and back pressure combinations. The well is presently shut-in for further pressure build up tests.
Early indications are that the well has suffered skin damage most likely caused by drilling fluid (skin damage causes an excess pressure drop around the wellbore and reduces formation flow into the wellbore). The Hosston Sands may require stimulation in the form of acidisation or fracture treatment to achieve commercial production rates.

FLETCHER CHALLENGE (8 DECEMBER 2000)

Drilling & Production Testing Report

Tuihu-1

Drilled 12 1/4' hole to 3754m in Taimana and Tikorangi Formation.
Low level gas and oil shows detected through the Tikorangi Formation.
Ran wireline logs.
Planned operation: Run 9 5/8" casing and drill ahead in 8 1/2" hole to primary objective in the Tariki Sandstone Formation.

CSJ.RN.PC.x-1 (Puesto Carrelini)

Spudded on 23rd November 2000.
Drilling ahead at 2006m.

6A2-26-40-1 W4M

Spud: 23 Nov 00
Cased for Glauconite Oil
Rig Released: 29 Nov 00

A8-10-48-24 W3M

Spud: 30 Nov 00
Cased for Waseca Oil
Rig Released: 03 Dec 00

6-26-39-24 W3M

Spud: 02 Dec 00
Cased for Lloydminster Oil
Rig Released: 04 Dec 00

9-16-47-25 W3M

Spud: 05 Dec 00
Run surface casing

14-32-62-7 W4M

Spud: 05 Dec 00
Run surface casing

MAJESTIC RESOURCES (8 DECEMBER 2000)

Majestic Resources NL has clinched a lucrative marketing agreement to buy and sell diamonds from six concessions in the Central African Republic ("CAR").
The agreement is a 50 / 50 joint venture with the Central African Diamond Company, who currently hold a Government licence and rights to the concessions.
Majestic stands to make a profit of A$8 million to A$12 million a year from the venture through the acquisition of Diamond Traders Ltd ("the Company"), which will be funded by a scrip offer.
Under the agreement, Majestic has the right to purchase diamonds from the six concessions that have been mined since 1978 in the CAR and market them through its Antwerp connections.

OIL COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA (8 DECEMBER 2000)

Kenmore No 26 an oil development well situated approximately 240 metres North-West of Kenmore no 9, Latitude 26 deg 39 min 52.30 sec South, Longitude 143 deg 26 min 19.79 sec East. The well was spudded at 18:00 hours on December 03, 2000. At 06:00 hours today the rig was at a depth of 1210 metres RT and drilling ahead. 245MM surface casing was set at 172.4 metres RT. Progress for the week was 1210 metres.
The primary targets of the well are the sands of the Birkhead Formation, Hutton Sandstone and the Basal Jurassic. Proposed total depth of the well if 1582 metres RT.

SANTOS (8 DECEMBER 2000)

Weekly Drilling Summary

Papua New Guinea
SE Gobe 9 ST1 - Running in hole with casing scraper. SE Gobe 9 ST 1 has been cased prior to completion as a Jurassic oil producer. The sidetrack well reached a total measured depth of 2652m, with 38m for the week. As previously reported, the well was sidetracked to intersect the oil bearing Iagifu Sandstone at an optimum production location.

USA
Wilkinson #1 - Wilkinson 1 has been plugged and abandoned. The well reached a total measured depth of 3455m, with no progress for the week. The well was unable to drill ahead due to deteriorating hole conditions.

Runnells #3 - Runnells 3 has been production tested at 623,000 cubic meters (22 million cubic feet) of natural gas per day and 78.5 cubic meters (494 barrels) of condensate per day from a 9.5m interval below 4267m. The test was conducted through an 8.33mm choke. The well reached a total depth of 4421m.

QUEENSLAND
Ramses 1 - Preparing to run production casing. The well reached a total depth of 2991m with 106m progress for the week. A drill stem test of the Permian Patchawarra Formation over the interval 2895m-2901m, flowed gas to surface at a rate of 9374 cubic meters per day (0.33 mmcfd) through a 13mm surface choke.

Winninia North 2 - Pulling out of hole with test tools. The well reached a total depth of 2447m, with 165m progress for the week. A drill stem test of the Permian Patchawarra Formation over the interval 2373m-2413m flowed gas to surface at a rate of 34834 cubic meters per day (1.23 mmcfd) through a 13mm surface choke.

Barrolka 5 DW1/ST1 - Conditioning hole to run intermediate casing. Current measured depth in the side-track is 2719m, with 137m progress for the week. Barrolka 5DW1 reached a depth of 2762m. Mechanical difficulties required the well to be plugged back and sidetracked. A kick off plug was set at 2502m.

Kenmore 26 - Drilling ahead. The current depth and progress for the week is 1210m. The well was spudded on 03/12/00.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Raven 2 DW1 - Drilling ahead sidetracked hole. The current measured depth is 2529m with 284m progress for the week. Raven 2 reached a total depth of 2999m. A cement kick off plug was set at 2210m.

Milluna 3 - Conducting formation integrity test, preparing to drill ahead. The current depth and progress for the week is 759m. Milluna 3 spudded on 03/12/00.

Moomba 126 - Drilling ahead. The current depth is 2175m with 1925m progress for the week. The well spudded on 30/11/00.

Moomba 134 - Running in hole on wiper trip, prior to conducting an on penetration drill stem test of the Permian Epsilon Formation. Current depth is 2777m, with 560m progress for the week.

WESTERN AREAS (8 DECEMBER 2000)

PLUMRIDGE PROJECT (WSA 100%)
Western Areas has applied for three new Exploration Licences at the Plumridge Project located 400km northeast of Kalgoorlie. These tenements extend 25km south from the company's existing tenements and were until recently held by Gutnick Resources. Western Areas now holds contiguous granted tenements and tenement applications covering the central 65km strike length of the Plumridge intrusive complex. This is interpreted to be highly prospective for nickel and coppersulphides, platinum group metals and chromite. Most of the known chromite and platinum occurrences (including surface assays up to 34% chromium and 4.0g/t platinum) reported by previous explorers in the region are now included within Western Area's tenements.
Previous exploration in the Plumridge region is minimal. It includes trenches dug to expose ultramafic units and chromite seams, widely spaced traverses of shallow drillholes and airborne magnetic and EM surveys.

LAKES OIL (7 DECEMBER 2000)

TRIFON-1 DRILLING

Lakes Oil N.L. ("Lakes") wishes to announce that as at 6 am this morning the Trifon-1 well, located in PEP 157 in the onshore Gippsland Basin, was at a depth of 261 metres, and waiting on cement. 340 mm of surface casing was set at 261 metres.

The well commenced drilling at 1.30 pm Tuesday, December 5. The scheduled Monday commencement had been delayed whilst problems associated with the rig were rectified. Trifon-1 is designed to test the potential of alluvial fans in the Strzelecki Formation, which lie below the traditional Latrobe Group reservoirs of the Gippsland Basin.

Lakes Oil N.L. via its wholly-owned subsidiary Petro Tech Pty. Ltd. holds a 100% interest in the permit, subject to a 5% royalty over the permit held by Roma Petroleum.

For more information on Trifon-1, including the latest photos, click here.

ALCASTON MINING (7 DECEMBER 2000)

Alcaston has completed its preliminary drilling program at Hiles Lagoon in South Australia.
Initial evaluation indicates that the target feature is not a kimberlite body - the nature of the feature remains uncertain at this stage.
Further testing and a detailed evaluation of the results will now be undertaken.

ARROW ENERGY (7 DECEMBER 2000)

Arrow Energy wishes to advise that at 0800 hours today 6 December 2000 Glamorgan # 2 was at a depth of 20 metres and setting surface casing.
Glamorgan # 2 is being drilled to a targeted depth of 200 metres to test a prognosed gas bearing sand in the Jurassic Marburg Formation.

GOLDFIELDS / THIRD RAIL LIMITED (7 DECEMBER 2000)

Third Rail Limited announced the sale of its Golden Cities and Kunanalling gold projects (Projects) to Goldfields Limited for a total consideration estimated at A$12.5 million.
Golden Cities is an advanced development project. Past exploration expenditure at Golden Cities exceeds $11 million and has resulted in the discovery of resources estimated by Third Rail to be 741,000 ounces in six separate deposits including Havana / Suva.
Goldfields will assume the 60,000 ounce call option contract between Third Rail and N M Rothschild & Sons (Australia) Limited which is currently approximately A$4.6 million out of the money.

KIMBERLEY DIAMOND COMPANY (7 DECEMBER 2000)

KIM is poised to launch an intensive lamproite exploration program after the latest results from its Blina Diamond Project indicated a likely source area for the diamonds on a small tributary to the north of its rich Terrace 5 gravels.
KIM announced the exciting news after receiving the results of two bulk samples from Pits 72 and 73, located at the upstream extent of the Terrace 5 gravels, which provide strong evidence that it had already passed the source of the diamonds.
Pit 72 returned 3 diamonds weighing 0.63 carats from a 160-tonne bulk sample with a largest diamond of 0.3 carats, while Pit 73 contained a single stone weighing 0.16 carats. These pits are located respectively 1 kilometre and 0.5 kilometre upstream of Pit 61, where Kimberley recovered 46 diamonds weighing 21.6 carats in September.

SYDNEY GAS COMPANY (7 DECEMBER 2000)

Logan Brae # 10 was spudded at 3:00 pm Tuesday. This is the fourth well in the current drilling programme in the Johndilo Pilot Project bringing the total wells to date to 21. Total target depth for Logan Brae # 10 is 840 metres to below the base of the Tongarra coal seam. Five main coal seams are expected in the Illawarra coal measures, namely Bulli, Wongawilli, Hargreaves, American Creek and Tongarra.

TANAMI GOLD (7 DECEMBER 2000)

LARRANGANNI PROJECT
(Tanami Gold NL 92.5%; Glengarry Resources NL a 7.5% free carried interest; and Joint Ventured to Homestake Gold of Australia Limited as announced on 4 December 2000)

Tanami Gold NL recently completed two RC Percussion drill holes at the Sandpiper Prospect and both have returned encouraging results including 8 metres at 4.4 g/t Au, 20 metres at .22 g/t Au and 8 metres at 3.9 g/t Au. Importantly, the results demonstrate the significant potential to add to the existing resources at Larranganni (186,000 ounces) through further drill testing along strike and at depth.

LAKES OIL (6 DECEMBER 2000)

TRIFON-1 DRILLING

Lakes Oil N.L. ("Lakes") wishes to announce that as at 6 am this morning the Trifon-1 well, located in PEP 157 in the onshore Gippsland Basin, was at a depth of 261 metres, and preparing to run and cement surface casing.

The well commenced drilling at 1.30 pm Tuesday, December 5. The scheduled Monday commencement had been delayed whilst problems associated with the rig were rectified. Trifon-1 is designed to test the potential of alluvial fans in the Strzelecki Formation, which lie below the traditional Latrobe Group reservoirs of the Gippsland Basin.

For more information on Trifon-1, including the latest photos, click here.

QUEENSLAND GAS (6 DECEMBER 2000)

QUEENSLAND GAS COMPANY’S THIRD WELL SPUDS

The Directors of Queensland Gas Company Limited (QGC) are pleased to announce that the third well in their five well Initial Coalbed Methane (CBM) Drilling Program, Avon Downs No. 1 spudded at 0915 hours on Tuesday 5 December 2000.

The well is located approximately 32 kilometres west-northwest of the township of Chinchilla in the Surat Basin in Queensland, approximately 50 kilometres northwest of the first QGC well, Wyalla No. 1 which flowed gas at a rate of approximately 75,000 cubic feet per day; and approximately 28 kilometres north of the second QGC well, Argyle No. 1 which flowed gas at a rate in excess of 1 million cubic feet per day.

Avon Downs No. 1 is programmed to a total depth of approximately 120 metres and is located within part of Authority to Prospect for Petroleum No. 676-P in which QGC can earn a 50% interest in the Walloon Coal Measures.

For additional information, click here.

AUSTRALIAN WORLDWIDE EXPLORATION (5 DECEMBER 2000)

As at 2000 hours on 4 December, the Puesto Carrelini-1 well in CNQ-16/A in the Neuquen Basin, Argentina, was drilling ahead at 1687m. Progress for the week was 1048m.
The well is planned to be drilled to a total depth of 2400 meters, with the primary targets expected between 2000m and total depth.

BEACH PETROLEUM / MAGELLAN PETROLRUM (5 DECEMBER 2000)

An in principle agreement on major issues, subject only to final acceptance by the South Australian Government, has been reached with Native Title Claimants over its Cooper Basin acreage blocks C098-G, C098-I and C098-J.
Such agreement, when executed, will enable the South Australian Government to issue Petroleum Exploration Licences over the areas covered by C098-G, C098-I and C098-J with drilling planned to commence in the second quarter of 2001.

BLIGH OIL & MINERALS (5 DECEMBER 2000)

NEW ZEALAND - PEP38719, TARANAKI BASIN, BLIGH INTEREST: 5.00%
Testing operations are under way on the Rimu B-2 well. A 130 metre section of open hole below a depth of 3421 metres is being evaluated. This section includes a 5-10 metre edge development of the Upper Tariki sands, and the Rimu limestone, both of which yielded sample and gas shows. Significant lost circulation occurred in the Rimu limestone, as a result of which at least 1000 barrels of drilling mud were lost to the zone. The well is currently flowing oil, gas and slugs of drilling fluid at high pressures on restricted chokes sizes while well cleanup is under way. Once cleanup is complete, a four-point test and build-up will be conducted to determine gas/oil ratio, flow potential and to investigate reservoir extent. This process will take another 3-5 days. Test results will be released immediately upon completion of testing. The initial results of the testing are considered to be encouraging, but must still be treated with caution.

At bottom hole, the Rimu B-2 well is only 290 metres north of the Rimu B-1 and 2100 metres south of the Rimu A-1. Initial evidence appears to suggest that the Rimu B-2 well is running less than 10 metres low to the Rimu B-1, and is testing a similar structural position and fault block. Clearly, relative to the B-1 well, it has encountered a marginally improved reservoir development in the Upper Tariki sand, and a substantially improved reservoir in the Rimu limestone. The areal extent of this reservoir can only be demonstrated by production testing and pressure analysis, and no conclusions can be reached as to its commercial potential at this time. Nevertheless, the results of the B-2 well to date have confirmed the immense potential of the Kauri-Rimu-Tuihi trend, in terms of the presence of hydrocarbons, and the presence of a multi-zone accumulation on the Rimu-Kauri structure.
Following the completion of drilling and testing of the Rimu B-2 well, the decision has been made to move the rig back to the "A" pad for the drilling of the A-2 development well. This will probably be followed by the drilling of the Kauri exploratory test, four kilometres to the south, on the same regional structure.

The Tuihu exploration well is at a depth of 3754 metres. Logs have been run and preparations are being made to run 9(5/8)" intermediate casing before drilling ahead to the Tariki primary objective at approximately 4300 metres. Minor hydrocarbon shows were encountered in the Tikorangi limestone, although these are thought to be non-commercial. The well appears to be running within 50 metres of pre-drilling geological prognosis.
Tuihu #1 is being drilled to evaluate the Tariki sandstones, on a structure with approximately 30 square kilometres of closure. Depending upon the results encountered in the Tariki formation, the well may be deepened to test the Kapuni formation.

NEW ZEALAND - PEP38728, TARANAKI BASIN, BLIGH INTEREST: 40.00%
Line surveying and shot hole drilling operations on the Tangahoe seismic survey are continuing. Recording is expected to commence in mid December.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA - PPL206, BOSAVI, FORELAND/DARAI PLATEAU. BLIGH INTEREST: 50.00%
The first phase of data acquistion of the Okari survey has been completed, and the first line is currently being processed. Initial indications are that a potentially drillable structure appears to be present, although this is subject to further processing and interpretation.

UNITED STATES - BAYOU CHOCTAW PROJECT, IBERVILLE PARISH, LOUISIANA. BLIGH INTEREST: 100%
Bligh intends to effect a sidetrack of the Lear Schwing #1 wellbore, by milling a window in the 7" casing at approximately 9200 feet, and redrilling the well to a depth of approximately 12,000 feet. Depending upon rig availability, this operation should be conducted prior to year end.

The Lear Schwing #1 has 10 feet of proven gas pay, at a depth of 11,816 feet. It is believed that this zone was prematurely abandoned, and that remaining reserves of approximately 1.5 billion cubic feed of gas are present. The proposal has been made to sidetrack the well, to a point 750 feet northeast, to place this zone on a production as a source of early cash flow, and to test for the presence of Bol Mex oil. It is anticipated that at the proposed bottom-hole location, both the 11,800 foot zone and the Bol Mex will lie 30-50 feet high to the Lear Schwing #1. Bligh believes that the 11,800 foot zone alone, has the potential to yield Bligh approximately $2 million per year net cash flow, after royalties and operating costs. Re-completion of this well will be the first step towards the re-establishment of Bligh's cash flow, one of the primary reasons for the Company's involvement in the Bayou Choctaw project. Alternative strategies are being considered for the testing of the multiple deep plays which are present on the Schwing prospect area.

OXIANA RESOURCES (5 DECEMBER 2000)

Oxiana Resources is on track with the Sepon Project Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) and has further drilling and metallurgical results to hand. Sepon is a copper-gold resource in southern Laos owned 80% by Oxiana and 20% by Rio Tinto and contains approximately 1 mt copper and 3.5m oz gold.

METALLURGY
Preliminary carbon-in-leach (CIL) testwork has been completed on drill core samples from all five gold resources - Nalou, Discovery, Namkok, Discovery West and Khanong Laterite (which overlies the Khanong copper deposit).
The gold resources contain oxidised, partially oxidised and primary mineralisation. The focus of the testwork for the gold BFS will be on the oxidised and partially oxidised material.
The preliminary results confirm the Rio Tinto testwork and are indicative of excellent metallurgical recoveries from the Sepon gold resources.

DRILLING RESULTS
Drill results announced on 18th October confirmed Rio Tinto work on the thickness and grade of the Nalou and Khanong resources.
A 33,000m diamond and reverse-circulation (RC) infill drilling programme is in progress on the four gold deposits (Nalou, Discovery, Namkok and Discovery West) and the Khanong copper deposit.

To date 109 holes for 4023 metres have been completed on the Nalou and Namkok gold resources with excellent geological continuity observed at both. Assays have been received for 17 holes with initial results from the first four infill holes on the eastern end of Nalou highlighting better than anticipated near surface high grade mineralisation.

SANTOS (5 DECEMBER 2000)

Esenjay Exploration Inc, the Operator of the Runnells-3 well in which Santos USA Corp has a 30% working interest, today announced a natural gas discovery in the Ashland Deep prospect, in the onshore Texas Gulf coast, 85 miles southwest of Houston, Texas.
Runnells #3, a wildcat discovery well, was production tested at an unstimulated daily flow rate of 22 million cubic feet (MMCF) of natural gas and 494 barrels of condensate, with flowing tubing pressure of 9,300 pounds per square inch through a 21/64" choke.

The Runnells #3 well was drilled to test deep, geopressured Frio Sands. Due to mechanical difficulties, the well did not reach its original target depth of 15,700 feet. Consequently, drilling was halted at 14,505 feet. A total of 168 feet of net pay was logged in four Frio pay intervals. The production test was from 31 feet of perforations in the Lower Claughton formation (below 14,000 feet), which is the deepest of the four pay intervals penetrated.
Sales of gas from the well have commenced, at the daily rate of 15 MMCF of natural gas plus condensate. Current US gas prices (ex Henry Hub) are US$7.60 (approximately A$14) per thousand cubic feet.

STUART PETROLEUM (5 DECEMBER 2000)

Stuart Petroleum announced that an in principle agreement on major issues, subject only to final acceptance by the South Australian Government, has been reached with Native Title claimants over its Cooper Basin acreage blocks C098E and C098H.
Such agreement, when executed, will enable the South Australian Government to issue Petroleum Exploration Licences over the areas covered by C098E and C098H with drilling planned to commence in early 2001.

TAP OIL (5 DECEMBER 2000)

Rubicon-1 Gas Discovery Update - As at 06.00 hours on 5 December 2000, the well has drilled to the total depth of 1,775 metres measured depth. The well has encountered a 30 metre gross gas column at 1,415 metres measured depth within Permian aged sandstones. The gas water contact occurs at the same depth as that in the adjacent Prometheus-1 discovery located 3 kms to the west, and it has been interpreted that the two discoveries are contiguous. Samples of the gas have been taken by wireline tools for analysis.
The sandstone reservoir is of excellent quality with an average porosity of 25% estimated from log data.

WOODSIDE PETROLEUM (5 DECEMBER 2000)

Woodside reports that the Gaea-1 exploration well located in the Carnarvon Basin has been drilled to a total depth of 4362 metres. On 5 December 2000, wireline formation evaluation operations were being completed prior to plugging and abandoning the well.
Gas has been discovered in two separate reservoir intervals. A 30 metre gross gas column was encountered in the upper reservoir and a 210 metre gross gas column was intersected in the lower reservoir. Logging and evaluation are ongoing.

BEACH PETROLEUM (4 DECEMBER 2000)

Beach Petroleum reports that the Kenmore-26 development well spudded at 6.00 pm on 3 December. The well has a planned total depth of 1,582 metres.

GUTNICK RESOURCES / TANAMI GOLD (4 DECEMBER 2000)

Following negotiations with Tanami Gold , the Strategic Corporate Alliance between the parties has been terminated and Mr Joseph Gutnick has resigned as Non-Executive Chairman.
The decision to cancel the Strategic Corporate Alliance is as a result of the Company's desire to focus on its own projects namely; the Rand Project and the Southern Laverton Tectonic Zone Project.

MAJESTIC RESOURCES (4 DECEMBER 2000)

Majestic Resources NL has recovered a massive gem quality diamond from its new mine at Riet River in South Africa, just two weeks after commissioning.
The Company's Executive Chairman, Mr Bob Wilde, said an 83 carat diamond, named the "Riet River Royal", had been recovered from operations on Friday, 1 December 2000, and was a world-first for an Australian producer.
The Riet River Royal is a perfect octahedral diamond shape and is near-flawless. It is of the pale yellow colour sought after by enthusiasts, being on the paler end of the scale of the famed Cape Yellow diamonds.
Whilst a valuation has yet to be carried out, based on past valuations of larger Riet River diamonds, the value of the uncut diamond is expected to be in the range of $500,000 to $850,000.
In total, more than 330 carats of gem quality diamonds have now been found at Riet River during the first two weeks of full operations.

MURRAY BASIN MINERALS (4 DECEMBER 2000)

The change of name from Murray Basin Minerals NL to Southern Titanium NL ("STN") has been effected by ASIC.

At a General Meeting of Shareholders' held in Perth, on 4 December 2000, that all resolutions were passed.

Included in those resolutions was approval for;

The sale of gold exploration assets to Quaestus Ltd
An in-specie distribution of Quaestus shares to certain STN Shareholders
Amendment of the Constitution to allow for the in-specie distribution, and
A reduction in the exercise price for Unlisted Options held by Directors, pursuant sub-section 256(2) of the Corporations Law and the Company's Constitution.

LAKES OIL (4 DECEMBER 2000)

TRIFON-1 DRILLING

Lakes Oil N.L. ("Lakes") wishes to announce that the Trifon-1 well will commenced drilling by midday today. Daily reports are expected to be made on the progress of the drilling.

Trifon-1 has a programmed total depth of 1,800 metres, and is designed as a test of Cretaceous age alluvial fans identified on seismic. The first of the target fans is expected to be intersected at 1,412 metres. The overlying fluvial sands which flowed gas at North Seaspray-3 will be a secondary target in the well.

The Trifon-1 well is located in the onshore Gippsland Basin approximately 25 kilometres south east of Sale in permit PEP 157, (formerly PEP 137). Lakes Oil N.L. via its wholly-owned subsidiary Petro Tech Pty. Ltd. holds a 100% interest in the permit, subject to a 5% royalty over the permit held by Roma Petroleum.

For more information on Trifon-1, including the latest photos, click here.

QUEENSLAND GAS (4 DECEMBER 2000)

The Directors of Queensland Gas Company (QGC) are pleased to announce that the second well in their five well Initial Drilling Program, Argyle No. 1 Coalbed Methane (CBM) well has been completed as a future gas producer.

As reported previously, Argyle No. 1 flowed CBM gas from coal seams of the Walloon Coal Measures over the interval 220 metres to 253 metres to the surface through a 1 inch choke at a rate in excess of 1 million cubic feet per day (28,300 cubic metres per day).

For additional information, click here.

RESOLUTE / DOMINION MINING (4 DECEMBER 2000)

The Resolute group has entered into an agreement to sell its 50% interest in the Gawler Joint Venture in South Australia to Dominion Mining Limited for consideration comprising:

Cash of $750,000:
2,500,000 Dominion fully paid ordinary shares; and
A $20/ounce gold royalty payable by Dominion on any future gold production after 100,000 ounces of production from within the acquired tenements.

The sale agreement excludes the Yumbarra magnetic anomaly, which will remain as a 50/50 Joint Venture between Resolute and Dominion. Dominion will assume the role as manager of the joint venture, which covers a large but untested circular magnetic anomaly north of Ceduna in South Australia.

SYDNEY GAS COMPANY (4 DECEMBER 2000)

Logan Brae #7 reached total target depth of 836 metres in the Tongarra coal seam on Saturday 2 December 2000.
After logs have been run the well will be cased, cemented and prepared for fracturing operations. Thereafter the well will be completed and put on production flow test.
Logan Brae #9 site is presently being prepared for spudding.

TANAMI GOLD (4 DECEMBER 2000)

Tanami Gold NL and major international gold producer Homestake Gold of Australia Limited have announced a wide-ranging joint venture and funding agreement which will result in a major boost to exploration in the highly prospective Tanami-Arunta Province, widely regarded as one of Australia's last underexplored mineral provinces.
Tanami today announced an agreement which will see Homestake inject $1.5 million into the Perth-based Company through a share placement, giving it a stake of approximately 7.5% in the Company, and establish joint ventures on various highly prospective areas within Tanami's extensive portfolio.

ASHANTI GOLDFIELDS COMPANY (1 DECEMBER 2000)

Ashanti and AngloGold Limited have agreed that the agreement for the sale of a 50% interest in the Geita gold mine to AngloGold and the entering into of a joint venture to jointly manage Geita is now unconditional. The US$205 million consideration is being placed by AngloGold in an account pending closure of the Transaction.

CARNARVON PETROLEUM (1 DECEMBER 2000)

The company announced further particulars of its acquisition of a 40% interest in the SW1A Petroleum Concession, central Thailand. The acquisition is subject only to the finalisation of the Joint Operating Agreement with the Concessionaire, Pacific Tiger Energy (Thailand) Limited (60% and Operator). The new joint venture will be called the SW1 Joint Venture.

The SW1 Concession has produced 360,000 barrels of oil since the discovery of oil in WB#1 by Petrocorp (now Fletcher Challenge Energy) in 1988.

Production of oil within the SW1A Concession is now mainly from the Wichian Buri oilfield. Southern Petchabun Basin, and current production is approximately 225 bopd. Figure 1 shows the location of Wichian Buri within the Concession.

Most likely remaining proven and probable recoverable reserves are approximately 2.4MMBO with upside of around 7.1MMBO.

To facilitate this growth the company announces the appointment of a new, highly experienced technical team headed by Dr Ken Tregonning, BSc (Hons), PhD and David Orth, BSc, DipGeoSci.

EAGLE BAY RESOURCES (1 DECEMBER 2000)

Eagle Bay has entered into a number of arrangements with an unlisted public company Terramin Australia Ltd which is the operator and is acquiring a 100% interest in the ANGAS lead/zinc prospect and surrounding exploration title (Rankine Deposit) whose current indicated resource position is:

780,000 Tonnes @ 24% zinc equivalent

Eagle Bay directors believe a profitable modest tonnage, high grade mine with considerable exploration upside can be established at Angas (some 50km east of Adelaide) utilising the processing facilities of Eagle Bay's Uley mine.

STRATA MINING CORPORATION / GOLDFIELDS (1 DECEMBER 2000)

Strata Mining Corporation NL's 96% owned subsidiary, Media Fusion Limited, has farmed out its 2.4 sqkm Kopai Lake Tenements (P15/3800 and 3801) 20 km west of Kalgoorlie, to Goldfields Exploration Pty Limited.
Goldfields can earn 65% interest by the expenditure of $200,000 over three years, leaving Media Fusion with a 25% participating interest and PocketMail Group Limited with 10% free carried to a Decision to Mine.

All resolutions were passed on a show of hands by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting of shareholders.

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The information contained in these pages serves as a guide only. Digital Reflections shall not be liable for any accidents, injury, irregularity, loss or damage caused by or arising as a result of information contained within this World Wide Web site.

Hole	North	East	Dip/ Azimuth (mag.)	From (m)	To (m)	Width (m)	Zinc (%)	Lead (%)	Zinc + Lead (%)	Description
SOP43D	9475	5255	-85º/71º	381.5	390.3	8.8	13.2	7.7	20.9	MMH

Hole	North	East	Dip/ Azimuth (mag.)	From (m)	To (m)	Width (m)	Zinc (%)	Lead (%)	Zinc + Lead (%)	Description
SOP45D	12350	3920	-64º/246º	99.0	104.5	5.5	14.6	8.5	23.1	Sedex

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Proposed New Floats/
Share Issues