据世界能源新闻2019年2月19日休斯敦报道，亚太地区知名油气生产商澳大利亚桑托斯公司日前与上市伙伴海滩能源公司（Beach Energy）达成了一项合资协议，两家公司将在位于澳大利亚北部海上的波拿巴特盆地(Bonaparte basin)的4个勘探许可证区块上进行合作。

这两家公司将各自持有4份勘探许可证的50%合资权益，桑托斯公司将担任这4份勘探许可证的运营商。

桑托斯公司在波拿巴特盆地的位置已经包括在Bayu-Undan天然气凝析气田和达尔文液化天然气厂的11.5%的权益以及在Barossa气田的25%权益。Barossa气田目前处于前端工程设计阶段，是今后向达尔文液化天然气厂提供天然气的主要候选气田。

桑托斯公司总经理兼首席执行官凯文?加拉格尔表示：“这种股权与作业权的结合将为该地区下一阶段的勘探提供更具战略性的途径。我们将在澳大利亚北部海上继续寻找物质资源机会来支持我们已在达尔文市建立的基础设施，同时兼顾出口和国内市场。”

桑托斯公司还持有WA-459-P的100%股权，并可选择收购WA-488-P 40%的运营权益，在那里，在大型Beehive远景构造上的三维地震测量的处理工作已接近完成。

李峻 编译自 世界能源新闻

原文如下：

Santos Broadens Offshore Exploration in N.Australia

The oil and gas producer in the Asia-Pacific region Santos has struck a joint venture (JV) agreement with fellow-listed Beach Energy to partner over four exploration permits in the Bonaparte basin, offshore northern Australia.

The two companies will each hold a 50% JV interest in the four permits, with Santos acting as operator.

Santos’ position in the Bonaparte basin already includes an 11.5% interest in the Bayu-Undan gas-condensate field and the Darwin LNG plant, as well as a 25% interest in the Barossa field, which is currently in front end engineering and designand is the leading candidate to backfill Darwin LNG.

Santos Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Mr Kevin Gallagher said: “This alignment of equity and operatorship will allow for a more strategic approach to the next phase of exploration in the region. We continue to chase material resource opportunities offshore Northern Australia to support our established infrastructure position at Darwin, with an eye to both export and domestic markets.”

Santos also holds 100% of WA-459-P and has an option to acquire a 40% operated interest of WA-488-P, where processing of a new 3D seismic survey over the large Beehive prospect is nearing completion.