EL DORADO, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 26, 2007--Murphy Oil
Corporation (NYSE:MUR) announced today that two of its wholly owned
subsidiaries have, together with partner PETRONAS Carigali Sdn. Bhd.,
signed two separate Gas Sales Agreements (GSA), one to supply the
existing PETRONAS Bintulu LNG facility and one to supply a
PETRONAS-owned methanol plant, onshore Labuan.
Murphy and PETRONAS Carigali will initially supply the Bintulu LNG
facility 250 million cubic feet of gas per day (mmcfpd) for a firm
period of five years, with a provision to supply up to 350 mmcfpd for
another 10 years. The gas will be sourced from multiple fields located
in Blocks SK 309 and SK 311 in shallow waters offshore Sarawak. The
first sales under this agreement are projected to be in the first half
of 2009.
"We have had a long and sustained exploration program offshore
Sarawak that has resulted in a number of gas discoveries. Today, with
the signing of this important GSA, we can move forward with our
partner PETRONAS Carigali and start to bring these reserves to
market," said Claiborne P. Deming, Murphy Oil Corporation's President
and Chief Executive Officer. "We also see a continued active program
of both appraisal and exploration alongside this development program
that we believe will add even further resources in the future," he
added.
Murphy, as operator, has an 85% working interest in the discovered
gas fields in SK 309 and SK 311 while PETRONAS Carigali Sdn. Bhd.
holds the remaining interest.
The methanol plant in Labuan will be supplied directly from the
Kikeh field, currently under development in offshore deepwater Sabah
Block K. A new natural gas pipeline will be installed connecting the
field to the plant.
"The Kikeh field remains on track for first oil in the second half
of 2007," said Deming. "By working closely with our partner PETRONAS
Carigali and with PETRONAS, we are pleased to secure an important
market to monetize the Kikeh field's associated gas. We expect first
gas sales in early 2008," he further explained.
Murphy, as operator, has an 80% working interest in the Kikeh
field with PETRONAS Carigali Sdn. Bhd. holding the remaining interest.
The forward-looking statements reflected in this release are made
in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. No assurance can be given that results
discussed herein will be attained, and certain important factors that
may cause actual results to differ materially are contained in
Murphy's January 15, 1997 Form 8-K report on file with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT: Murphy Oil Corporation
Investor/Media Relations: Mindy West, 870/864-6315
SOURCE: Murphy Oil Corporation