Following a change in management and board during the year, Canadian firm Pacific Tiger prevented Carnarvon from accessing production records and refused to disburse revenue to Carnarvon, its partner in the Wichian Buri SW1A oilfield in Thailand.
But there was no hometown advantage for Pacific Tiger with Carnarvon’s action in the Canadian legal system proving successful. The Alberta Court also ordered immediate access to the joint venture records, immediate payment of past due amounts and monthly reporting.
Carnarvon director David Orth said the result was only the first of several, with the company pursuing similar payments for the months of August, September, October and November.
He said to the best of his knowledge the field was still producing around 180 barrels of oil per day.
Carnarvon may be able to use the Canadian petroleum authorities to wrest operatorship of the Wichian Buri SW1A joint venture from Pacific Tiger. Industry standard joint operating agreements provide for such moves when gross negligence or serious acts of bad faith have been proved.
Pacific Tiger was also ordered to deliver a proposed work program to Carnarvon by December 15.
