Metgasco Selects Drilling Contractor for Rosella E01 Well in NSW

The letter’s suggestion that the 2013 protest actions at Doubtful Creek led to the suspension of the company’s current operations is wrong and misleading. This protest has no bearing on Metgasco’s decision, and operations were suspended, not terminated.

Prior to the NSW Government’s announcement, Metgasco had successfully completed a seismic acquisition program and the drilling of two CSG wells, despite protest action. During drilling operations there were on average about 30 routine protestors on site, with 100 to 200 protestors during short rig mobilization periods. Many of the protestors were “professional protestors” and/or from outside the operational areas. The protests caused some delay to the program, comparable to a delay due to adverse weather often experienced in this region. The financial effects of the protests was not material and, again, the protest action was not the reason for Metgasco’s suspension decision.