Sydney Gas, which is an equal partner in the JV with AGL Energy, said yesterday that the award of PPL 5 for a period of 21 years, represented only the fifth production licence to have been granted in that state.

Thanks to PPL 5, Sydney Gas said the JV now had 206.9sq.km of production lease acreage and would add additional gas resources for NSW energy consumers.

The Camden gas project, over 82sq.km, is certified with 56.95 billion cubic feet of proved (1P) reserves, 79.95Bcf of proved and probable (2P) and 104.98Bcf of proved, probable and possible (3P) reserves.

The partners are currently producing 12.6 million cubic feet of gas per day (13 terajoules per day) from areas in PPLs 1, 2 and 4.

“The granting of PPL 5 will enable higher average production for the Camden gas project in view of the encouraging production results obtained from the recently drilled SIS well GL14, located adjacent to the boundary between PPL 4 and PPL 5,” Sydney Gas managing director Dr Philip Moore said.