Earlier this week EnergyReview.Net published comments by Greymouth principal Mark Dunphy, who said Indo-Pacific Energy was refusing to meet Greymouth over its claims to Goldie, which lies within the Ngatoro mining licence PMP 38148.
However, Indo-Pacific chief executive Dave Bennett refutes such suggestions, saying Indo-Pacific, through its subsidiary Ngatoro Energy which holds a 5% stake in PMP 38148, has never refused to discuss Goldie matters with Greymouth.
"Indeed Ngatoro Energy has attempted to instigate discussion," said Bennett.
"In addition, Ngatoro Energy has not excluded Greymouth from purchasing the gas produced in association with Goldie oil, and has previously offered Greymouth this gas on attractive commercial terms; but as yet has been unable to finalise a contract with Greymouth.
"Over the past few months, Greymouth has aggressively pursued certain claims regarding title, operatorship and revenue ownership relating to the Goldie sole risk discovery; and has now chosen to take these claims to court, where Ngatoro Energy will vigorously defend its position," Bennett added from Wellington before his scheduled flight to Australia earlier today.
Greymouth Petroleum filed High Court proceedings against Ngatoro Energy in the High Court at Wellington last month.
Sketchy details of the spat between the two Ngatoro partners first surfaced earlier this year, though further details were revealed to Indo-Pacific's North American shareholders more recently.
Ngatoro Energy Ltd assumed 100% of the cost and risk of drilling the Goldie-1 discovery well, is the only Goldie sole-risk party and operates the Goldie field, which has so far produced over 205,000 barrels of oil from the one well.
However, Greymouth, which bought the former Fletcher Challenge Energy 59.57% stake in Ngatoro from Shell New Zealand earlier this year, claims it has the right to a 92.2564% interest in Goldie and the right to sell Goldie gas.
Earlier this week Dunphy also claimed Indo-Pacific, through Ngatoro Energy, was not following what Greymouth regarded as normal oil field practice. The current operational arrangements at Goldie, including flaring of gas, were having a significant negative impact on the ultimate recovery of hydrocarbons from Goldie, he said.
Greymouth had also been trying to take delivery of all gas produced from the Ngatoro mining licence, not just from the Goldie pool situated within PMP 382148, Dunphy added.
