Although, Tap managing director Paul Underwood has not confirmed Bennett's appointment, several industry sources have told EnergyReview.Net that Bennett is to go to Tap, after declining to take up a new position within the recently restructured Crown Minerals.

Underwood earlier this month confirmed Tap was setting up a Wellington office to oversee its New Zealand field operations and liaise with government agencies and local companies.

Meanwhile, Crown Minerals' publicity unit looks to be the big loser of the MED restructuring.

About 11 of the original 25 positions within the MED unit are to disappear from early next month, although a number of new roles are to be created - particularly within the policy and investment units.

The publicity unit, which has done such a good job under MED veteran Roger Gregg, is being 'disestablished'. Another long-time employee minerals manager Paul Stigley, also looks likely to lose his job, while it is unclear how resource data manager Lyn Ellis and her team are affected.

When news first broke of the restructuring, commentators warned against any downgrading of Crown Minerals in the face of looming major gas shortages caused by the rapid depletion of the formerly giant Maui field.

"More players are now involved in more oil and gas exploration than ever before and this I believe is due in part to the excellent promotional work of the publicity unit in recent years," said one commentator.

"Every petroleum conference since the inaugural one at Wairakei in 1987 has been bigger and better, and these events in themselves have been major drawcards for the international exploration fraternity," said another.

It is not known whether Gregg and some of his team will be retained on a consultancy basis to ensure the success of the 2004 NZ Petroleum Conference in Auckland next March.

Crown Minerals head Darryl Thorburn could not be contacted for comment as he does not return to his office until early November.