L&M COAL SEAM GAS: Former Arrow Energy executive Kent Anson has been appointed chief executive of the private Christchurch-based company, effective from August 11.

Anson, an Australian citizen and professional engineer, has more than 10 years experience in CSM exploration and production, initially with Tri-Star Petroleum, a pioneering Australian coal seam gas explorer and producer.

He also held several senior positions encompassing all operational aspects of CSM exploration, development and production, ranging from reservoir testing to gas sales during his seven years with Australian Securities Exchange-listed Arrow Energy.

Anson, most recently India country manager with Arrow, will lead L&M CSG through the production testing, reserve certification and development phases of its already defined, and future, coal seam methane resources in Southland and Otago.

L&M CSG's exploration program so far has involved drilling 50 wells in 14 different permits and the company has outlined more than 340 petajoules of CSM potential within its permits.

Anson will work with the existing L&M team taking three separate projects, which are ready for pilot stage testing, towards reserve certification and commercialisation.

"This is a new position created to enable us to pursue the development and hopeful commercialisation of CSG, moving our CSG resources into the reserves category," L&M group general manager Greg Hogan told PNN.

PAN PACIFIC PETROLEUM: The company has appointed Tom Prudence as general manager, exploration and production. This newly-created position reflects the directors' commitment to expand the company's activities.

For the past four years Prudence has worked with RISC, an international consultancy in Perth, WA, where he has held the position of principal adviser/chief geoscientist.

In this capacity he has advised on multiple diverse projects throughout South-East Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Australia and New Zealand, including valuations of exploration and producing assets, reserves auditing, and strategy and new business development.

His experience prior to that covered a range of international positions with the Shell group over 25 years including working in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Nigeria, the United States, Australia and Brunei, where he was exploration and technical services manager.

Prudence will take up his position with Pan Pacific Petroleum in Sydney at the start of

September.

ADVANCE ENERGY: The company wishes to advise the resignation of Gordon Sklenka, and the appointment of David Ballantyne as company secretary, effective immediately. Sklenka continues as a director.

PETRATHERM: The company is pleased to announce that John King has been appointed project manager of Petratherm's flagship Paralana Geothermal Energy joint venture project.

Reporting to the managing director, this senior role will be responsible for the project management and implementation of activities relating to the company's Paralana Project - a JV between Petratherm and Beach Petroleum.

As a former principal consultant with GHD, King has a wealth of engineering and project management experience built over 30 years, primarily in the oil and gas industry.

His appointment is timed to coincide with the ramping up of Paralana Project activities as it enters the next key stage of drilling the 4 km deep Paralana 2 well.

KEY PETROLEUM: The company advises that Terence Nilsen has resigned as a director of the company with immediate effect, to pursue personal interests.

Nilsen has been with the company since its listing on the ASX in April 2007 and has provided valuable input into the company's successful exploration program.

The board of Key Petroleum expresses its gratitude to Nilsen for all the hard work he has undertaken and wishes him well for the future.

Nilsen will remain with the company while a replacement is sourced and will provide ad hoc consultancy services to the company in the future.

CASPIAN OIL & GAS: The directors are pleased to announce that the company's chief operating officer, Graeme Parsons has been appointed as chief executive.

Parsons will lead the strategic development of the company as it continues successful exploration programs in Central Asia and will guide the company in its development as an oil and gas producer.

The board has agreed, subject to receipt of shareholder approval, to grant a total of 4 million options to Parsons; 2 million options would be exercisable at 10 cents each and the other 2 million options would be exercisable at 12 cents each over a 30-month exercise period.

RIALTO ENERGY: The directors are pleased to announce the appointment of Simon Potter as a non executive director of the board, with immediate effect.

Potter joins Rialto after his successful tenure at Hardman Resources where, as managing director and CEO, he led the growth of the company as an oil producer in Mauritania and as an explorer with considerable success in the rift valley of Africa, before its acquisition by Tullow Oil for $1.47 billion.

Prior to Hardman, Potter worked for 20 years with BP where he held a number of senior positions including chairman or CEO of a group of Russian subsidiary companies. Potter had overall responsibility for the Orenburg/Saratov division of the TNK-BP joint venture, a group of 150 fields between the Volga and the Russian border with Kazakhstan, which collectively produce 330,000 barrels per day.

Potter brings invaluable corporate experience to the board of Rialto and will be a vital part in the company's growth in the foreseeable future.

Rialto chairman Ted Jacobson said: "We are very pleased to have Simon join our board. His skills, experience and contacts make a strong fit with Rialto's international growth and expansion ambitions".

AMADEUS ENERGY: The directors are pleased to announce the appointment of two senior executives, Craig Coleman and Stephen Pearce, as non executive company directors, effective from July 7. Coleman and Pearce bring a wealth of experience to the company and will play an important role in developing future strategies.

Coleman is a senior advisor and non executive director of Wyllie Group PL and former managing director of Home Building Society. He previously held senior executive positions and directorships with ANZ, including managing director banking products, managing director wealth management and non executive director of E*Trade Australia.

Coleman's other current appointments include non executive director of Bell Financial Group, non-executive director of Bell Direct, non executive chairman of Viburnum Funds and chairman of Rubik Financial Led.

Coleman was born in Melbourne and educated at the University of Western Australia (B Com).

Pearce has more than 20 years experience in senior financial roles in the mining, oil and gas and utilities industries. He is a chartered accountant and a chartered secretary, and was previously chief financial officer with Alinta Ltd, an $A8 billion energy and utility company based in Perth.

Pearce is currently chairman of Surtron Technologies PL director (elect) of the Prime Health Group and a member of the business and industry committee of the Salvation Army (WA).

The board of the company now comprises: Hon Andrew Peacock AC (chairman);

Robert Scott (non executive director and deputy chairman); Geoffrey Towner (managing director); Caroline Bentley (executive director and company secretary);

Peter Lehle (non executive director); Craig Coleman (non executive director); and

Stephen Pearce (non executive director).

The new board has the appropriate range of skills and experience to drive the growth of the business. The board recognises the inherent value in the company's oil and gas assets and will be focused on increasing shareholder returns.

GEODYNAMICS: The company is pleased to advise that Keith Spence has been appointed non executive director of the company.

Spence was most recently executive vice president enterprise capability for Woodside and was responsible for ensuring the business operated with the best people, technology and processes. He was also responsible for building a skilled and technologically advanced workforce through targeted recruiting and enhanced training, and played a key role in representing Woodside's interests to the Government and the public. In addition, he was responsible for Woodside's Western Australian gas supply interests.

Spence has held many roles during his time with Woodside, including chief operating officer, acting CEO, director - oil business unit, director - northern business unit and exploration manager - North West Shelf.

Spence has gained a broad knowledge across the industry having more than 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry including 18 years with Shell.

Spence is a non-executive director of Clough, chairman of the State Training Board of Western Australia and the Industry Advisory Board of the Australian Centre for Energy and Process Training. He is a member of the board of Skills Australia, the Australian Institute of Management (WA) and the Curtin University of Technology Council.

Spence graduated from the University of Tasmania with a bachelor of science in Geophysics (first class hons) and is married with two adult children.