"Everybody is sitting waiting to hear and I do not think it's ever happened before that everything is announced bar one block. Usually Crown Minerals ensures all conditions had been agreed to and all parties had been contacted before releasing the results," one commentator told EnergyReview.Net today.

Associate Energy Minister Harry Duynhoven announced the long-awaited results of the September bidding round on February 5. He awarded 13 new onshore and offshore Taranaki permits, specifying the successful parties for all new licences, except Block J.

He said the industry and media would be advised of the identity of the successful applicants for Block J, now renamed PEP 38762, at a later date.

Rumours have since circulated that Crown Minerals had trouble contacting and finalising negotiations with the party concerned, or, that it is being particularly careful with the licence conditions. Kiwi company Greymouth Petroleum, which was not mentioned last week, has been rumoured to have been a likely bidder for Block J.

Block J is an onshore block immediately adjacent to and south of the possible 1tcf Pohokura gas-condensate field off north Taranaki. It is known one of the conditions attached to the awarding of the block was that Pohokura operator Shell Todd Oil Services be allowed to drill deviated development wells from the coast out into the southern part of that field.

"It's probably not a case of people being unavailable; it's far more likely that Crown Minerals is being very, very careful with the granting of this Block J, ensuring they or other parties cannot be challenged at a later date," the commentator added.

A total of 23 bids were received for the blocks on offer and the permits awarded went to a combination of new firms, including Aussie company Roc Oil and America's Pogo Producing Company, and local companies ranging from junior explorers to multinationals.

Duynhoven said the new petroleum exploration permits would involve over NZ$130 million of new investment in the Taranaki region.