Subject to government approval, the sale involves Origin’s 100% interest in PL 94 and PPL 26, the Dawson Valley Pipeline, and its 50% interest in the PL 94 north sublease, ATP 564P and ATP 602P.

With a sale date effective on May 1 2005, the deal was expected to contribute about $4.5 million to Origin’s December half-year profit.

In the financial year ended 30 June 2005, Origin’s gas sales from these assets amounted to 2.7 petajoules (PJ) and at 1 July 2005 the company’s share of proved and probable reserves for the Moura CSG Field was 51.5 PJs.

Managing director Grant King said the Moura field was a small, non-core component of Origin’s CBM portfolio and the company would now focus on developing its larger CBM interests at Spring Gully and Fairview.