The growth of oil and gas projects in the Asia-Pacific region has been unprecedented in recent years. Our team has significant experience working throughout the region acting for public and private sector sponsors, developers, bidders, concession holders, project financiers and contractors on major international projects.
We have acted on significant oil and gas transactions and projects in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, West Africa, the North Sea and North and South America.
This experience includes acting for participants in the upstream, midstream and downstream areas of the sector to: advise on all aspects of exploration and production activities (including environmental and native title approvals); develop and negotiate supply and off-take agreements and associated transportation arrangements; assist with the acquisition, financing or disposal of infrastructure and assets; develop and negotiate engineering, procurement and construction contracts; and advise on competition and regulatory issues.
Through this work, we have been part of multi-disciplinary teams – a distinctive feature of major project work in this sector. Often, our advice is required in a competitive bid context, where our experience enables us to offer solutions on tendering and negotiation tactics and transaction risk identification and allocation.
Our lawyers are also regular presenters at the annual conference of the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA), which is the peak national body representing the interests of Australia’s upstream oil and gas exploration and production industry.
Upstream
Although many offshore basins with hydrocarbon potential remain unexplored throughout the Asia-Pacific region, the upstream sector has been very active in recent years. MinterEllison’s team assists industry participants involved in the search, recovery and production of natural gas, ensuring their legal issues and risks are managed.
Midstream and downstream
MinterEllison has been servicing the mid- and downstream sector since the 1970s, advising on the sale and distribution of natural gas and products, including coal seam gas and LNG. We have worked with clients to establish refineries, petrochemical plants, petroleum product distribution networks, retail entities and natural gas distribution companies.