High winds of 35 knots plus and a three metre swell means the rig has been sitting on site since June 14. Conditions are not expected to clear until next weekend.

Australian company Sun Resources farmed into the Apache-operated WA-257-P in late December 2002 to earn a 7.5% by funding on a promoted basis the dry hole well cost to rig release of either Kilauea 1 or Hekla 1.

Sun Resources managing director Brad Farrell, said the area is one of a number of significant, high impact volume prospects, delineated by quality 3D seismic coverage over the south-eastern portion of the permit area.

"The potential of Kilauea ranges from a mean case of 419 billion cubic feet of gas with a possible oil leg of 10 million barrels of oil, to a P10 case of 938 billion cubic feet of gas with a possible oil leg of 26 million barrel of oil.

"Also the proximity to the existing and planned production infrastructure at the Harriet field will facilitate the speedy development of a discovery," said Farrell.

Kilauea is a similar North Rankin - Mungaroo Formation buttress trap located in the same fault block as the on trend Corvus gas discovery in eastern adjacent WA-246-P. A flat spot is visible on seismic in Kilauea which is coincident with the gas-water contact of the upper North Rankin gas column in Corvus.

The water depth of the location is estimated to be around 50-60 metres.

Participants in Kilauea 1 are Sun Resources (7.5%), Apache (operator - 40.25%), Wandoo (22.25%) and Kupfec 30.00%.