Apache to Develop Macedon Field in Western Australia

HOUSTON, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Apache Corporation (NYSE, Nasdaq: APA) said today that it will proceed with development of the Macedon gas field in the Exmouth Basin in Western Australia.

The project will commercialize natural gas from offshore production license WA-42-L, located 60 miles (100 km) west of Onslow. First production is expected during 2013. Apache has a 28.57-percent interest and its share of the estimated $1.5 billion cost is approximately $430 million. BHP Billiton owns the remaining interest and will operate the project.

Four offshore production wells will supply gas to an onshore gas processing plant with a capacity of 200 million cubic feet of gas per day. After gas is processed at the facility, which will be located at Ashburton North, 11 miles (17 km) southwest of Onslow, it will be sent via sales pipeline to the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline for sale in Western Australia's domestic gas market.

"By introducing a new source of gas and a new processing hub, the Macedon development will provide much-needed gas to meet rising demand and increase the diversity of supply for Western Australia's growing resource-based economy," said Rodney J. Eichler, Apache's co-chief operating officer and president – International.

Apache's Varanus Island processing and transportation hub currently supplies approximately one-third of Western Australia's domestic gas needs. The Devil Creek project, now under construction approximately 25 miles (40 km) southwest of Dampier, will process gas from Apache's Reindeer field with first production expected in the second half of 2011.

Apache also is a foundation partner in the Chevron-operated Wheatstone liquefied natural gas (LNG) hub, which will provide gas from the company's Julimar and Brunello discoveries for export to growing Asian markets. A final investment decision on the first phase of the Wheatstone project is slated for 2011, after completion of front-end engineering and design.

In addition to these gas projects, Apache commenced production from its operated Van Gogh and BHP Billiton-operated Pyrenees offshore oil developments in February 2010.

Apache Corporation is an oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the United States, Canada, Egypt, the United Kingdom North Sea, Australia and Argentina. Apache posts announcements, updates and investor information, in addition to copies of all recent press releases, on its website, www.apachecorp.com.

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including, without limitation, expectations, beliefs, plans and objectives regarding production and exploration activities. Any matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking and, accordingly, involve estimates, assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K available on our website, http://www.apachecorp.com/, and in our other public filings and press releases. There is no assurance that Apache's expectations will be realized, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. We assume no duty to update these statements as of any future date. However, readers should review carefully reports and documents that Apache files periodically with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

APA-AU

SOURCE Apache Corporation