The 20 cent issue opened at 23.5c and traded as high as 26 cents with buyers not accepting anything less than 26.5c at press time.

Games 'R' Us shareholders approved the change of activities at the same time as a reconstruction in November last year and today the entity relisted as Orchard Petroleum in a float that raised almost $11.5 million.

Orchard is farming into a range of permits in California with a US$3.3 million five well drilling program, the first of which spudded on 18 May.

The McCormack Rd well is a 15 bcf gas prospect of which Orchard is earning an non-operating 50%. It is expected to take around 30 days.

Orchard's farmin partner is a modest Californian operator, NEG, with an extensive 30 year history. Orchard's managing director is accountant Stephen Warrener who was involved in the float of Novus and said it was ex-Novus colleagues, now the technical consultants for Orchard in the US, that brought the opportunity to the table for the Games 'R' Us shareholders.

It is thought that the former shareholders now have around 10% of Orchard after the recent capital raising.