I must admit that I expected a bigger rise today & was slightly baffled as to why the drop yesterday. They have found oil for pete's sake & considering a couple of months ago the price rose to 97p surely there is a lot of catching up to do for the share price to reflect the value of the discovery.

Mmmmmm yes.

I feel the other factors to bear in mind is that this was already reported, subject to the wire tests, all the RNS did was put a number on it.

I would have expected a better reaction and today is not yet over trouble is we have to recover back to tyhe early morning high.

Oz went up just over 6% and we need 2p more at mid proce to get the same result. I do note that there is not really much activity in respect of buys and sells, this is a repeat of Tuesday at the same time. Big buys came in later, that day.

Also shows that there was a leaking of the news last week, as out of the blue came some big buys. I may take much more note of those in future in respect of this stock.

The big deal will be when it is declared commercial, around mid 2005.

Loads of other news to come including the new CEO end of this month.

I do expect it to creep up bit by bit in the mean time.

I have seen ideas from a few learned posters that 1 to 130 this year would not be unrealistic.

Whatever prospects are great and I feel this is a wortwhile addition to a long term strategy.

If that happens I will top skim and play with some of the profit.

If it does not happen, I can wait........................

Straight lift from TMF (superhard).

Arrives August 2005 looks like a very good possibilty of the first oil in Q3 2005.

Excellent news...............

Press Releases - Offshore & Marine

23-November-2004

Keppel Shipyard wins FPSO contract


Keppel Shipyard recently secured the conversion and upgrade works of the FPSO Berge Helene from Bergesen Offshore, a part of the Bergesen Worldwide Group.

The 28-year old tanker, Berge Helene, will sail into Keppel Shipyard in December, and is expected to be redelivered in August 2005.

Major workscope includes the installation of additional topside process modules, boilers and HV power generators, the replacement of existing spread mooring with an external turret, as well as the upgrading of engine room equipment and accommodation units. Other works include tank coating and fabrication of a new pump room.

Upon redelivery, Berge Helene is capable of handling a daily production capacity up to 75,000 bopd and has a storage capacity of 1.6 million barrels of oil. The vessel will be deployed at the Woodside's Chinguetti Field off Mauritania, West Africa.

Said Mr Nelson Yeo, Executive Director of Keppel Shipyard, Keppel Shipyard will continue to focus on fast track conversions to strengthen our market position.

The Bergesen Worldwide Group is one of the world's largest ship owning groups with subsidiaries Worldwide Shipping present in the tanker market, and Bergesen being the world's largest owner and operator of large LPG and LNG carriers, being a significant player into large dry bulk vessels, and a growing presence within the FPSO market, mainly for waters off West Africa and other benign areas.

Keppel Shipyard, a leading shiprepair and conversion yard, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore-listed Keppel Corporation, through Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd. The Group has a network of 16 yards worldwide including the Asia Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan, Middle East and the North Sea.

The contract secured is not expected to have any significant impact on the net tangible assets and earnings per share of Keppel Corporation for the financial year ending 31 December 2004.

Technical Specifications of FPSO Berge Helene

Length Overall (LOA): 348 metres (including existing Helideck & bow turret)
Breadth Moulded: 51.9 metres
Draft Moulded: 27.4 metres
Dead Weight Tonne (DWT): 274,467 tonnes


For further information, please contact

Sarah Seah
Deputy General Manager
Keppel Group Corporate Communications
Tel: (65) 6413 6420
Email: sarah.seah@kepcorp.com "
=======================================================================
For further information on Woodside's decision to use a floating, permanent, single-hulled, turret-mounted FPSO (vs a fixed, disconnectable, double-hulled, spread FPSO - or some other combination of the options) and the decision process to get there, see the following link. I found it quite interesting
http://www.woodside.com.au/NR/rdonlyres/ewufm5epqx56sakxwct436zd6re3h5nhovnpthr2kr5wkeb2j6tlnji62m7dgmcr23nv3p27ks5qin/Tofloatornottofloatkeystochoosingoffshoreoilandgas.pdf

Here he is........

Looks impressive.

Maybe the City will be happy now?

Hardman Resources Limited
19 January 2005

STOCK EXCHANGE / MEDIA RELEASE

RELEASE DATE: 19 January 2005

CONTACT: Scott Spencer

TELEPHONE: Within Australia: 08 9261 7600
International: +61 8 9261 7600

RE: APPOINTMENT OF NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Hardman Resources Limited is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Simon
Potter as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director, with
immediate effect.

Mr Potter joins Hardman Resources from BP, and most recently, the joint venture
(JV) operation between BP and Alfa Group in Russia, TNK-BP. As Chairman or CEO
of a group of Russian subsidiary companies, Mr Potter had overall charge of the
Orenburg/Saratov division of the JV, a group of 150 fields between the Volga and
the Russian border with Kazakhstan, which collectively produce 330,000 barrels
per day. These companies refine 150,000 barrels per day and operate some 65 oil
drilling rigs.

Alan Burns, Chairman and founder of Hardman Resources, commented:

'The Board is pleased to have secured Simon as CEO and Managing Director to lead
our next growth phase. His appointment follows the Board's decision to conduct
an extensive search and interview process among candidates of international
calibre across the oil and gas industry. Simon's skills and contacts make a
strong fit with Hardman's broad growth and expansion ambitions.

'On behalf of the Board, I should like to give our full thanks to Scott Spencer,
Executive Director, for his thorough and effective stewardship of the company's
affairs for a considerable period.'

Simon Potter, CEO and Managing Director, Hardman Resources, commented:

'I am very pleased to be joining Hardman Resources. The company has strong core
operating assets, an entrepreneurial spirit and a track record of delivering
value growth for shareholders. I look forward to working with my new colleagues
to build on this record and to enhance the company's growth profile in the
coming years.'

Enquiries:

Scott Spencer Hardman Resources Limited Telephone: +61 8 9261 7600
Dean Richardson


Patrick Handley Brunswick Group LLP Telephone: +44 20 7404 5959
James Crampton
Phoebe Buckland



Notes to Editors:

1. Simon Potter - Biography

Simon Potter, 47, brings to the posts of CEO and Managing Director of Hardman
Resources a broad range of international oil industry experience in both
commercial and technical operations. He first qualified with a BSc in Geology
from the Royal School of Mines, Imperial College, London. His professional
career began as a geologist in the Copperbelt in Zambia. Simon subsequently
completed an MBA at Imperial College and then embarked upon a 20-year career
with BP.

Simon began at BP in international business development, negotiating leases and
contracts covering a broad international spectrum from the North Sea to the
Middle East, Asia and Africa in both oil and gas. From 1991 to 1995 Simon was
Business Development Manager, based in Melbourne, covering BP's Asian interests.
These included the North West Shelf project where he gained first-hand
experience as a partner in a Woodside-operated JV. Following his role in
Australia, Simon managed increasingly more complex operations offshore in the UK
North Sea, Alaska, Indonesia and latterly Russia.

Prior to his role in TNK-BP, Simon was President and CEO of BP's LNG JV
operating company in Indonesia - VICO. VICO produces 1,200 TJ/day (1.2 bcf/day)
and acts as the Technical Advisor to the seven-train Bontang LNG plant.

In addition to these roles, Simon completed the Executive programme at Stanford
University in 1999 and served as Executive Assistant to the CEO of BP
Exploration in 1996/97.

Simon is a British national and will be resident in Perth with Monique and their
two children who are Australian. Simon's sporting interests include rugby union
and rowing; he has represented Zambia in rugby and the UK in rowing.

Summary Contract Details

Five year term


Base salary: A$700,000


Superannuation at statutory minimum


Participation in an annual bonus scheme that may deliver additional cash
payments with a target payout of 50% of salary, based on performance
measured against criteria to be determined by the Remuneration Committee and
approved by Board. To be determined.


Participation in a long term incentive scheme targeted to deliver
rewards based on performance measured against criteria to be determined by
the Remuneration Committee and approved by Board but to include comparative
performance against peer E&P companies. To be determined.


Sign-on and loyalty incentives to be paid in cash and based on the
movement in the Company's share price over certain defined periods.



SCOTT SPENCER
DIRECTOR

I am more & more confused each day about HNR/HDR. A new CEO & the price drops on the ASX. Yesterdays RNS re Drilling update which I thought was positive also took the price down both on LSE & ASX. What is it about any form of news with this stock its always viewed negatively? If Hardman took the stance that they would only publish an RNS when anything significant happened then I do believe this stock would still be in the 90p region.

I appreciate your point grenvillegiles, but I disagree with you. I've been in this one for over two years and one of the reasons why is that I like their upfront approach. I'd rather know what they are up to, good or bad, instead of having to guess or assume.
I know the price has drifted, especially of late but I am sure within the next few months we will all be laughing our heads off!

Thanks for your post sandrew. I have to say that you are absolutely right its brilliant knowing exactly whats going on. I can't think of any stock that have regular updates & tell the news like it is. I am happy to be holding this stock & also have a substantial holding on the ASX although have taken a battering over there as I bought in at A$2.15 the price being A$1.70 at the moment. The positive side to all this is that I am always happy to top-up so I do ultimately benefit from the dips.

Cheers

Well he read's good and has plenty of incentive to do well. I like incentives linked to the share price. Performance related cash always focuses the mind.
Fingers crossed.

MS

Posted by thecannyinvestor on ADVFN


Hardman appoints BP's Potter to top post
January 20, 2005


Hardman Resources, a partner in Woodside Petroleum's Mauritanian oil exploration venture, has appointed former BP executive Simon Potter as chief executive to lead the company through the start-up of its African fields.

Mr Potter, a UK national, was most recently the chairman of a unit of TNK-BP, a venture between BP and Russia's Alfa Group, Hardman said in a statement.

He has been hired for a five-year term at a base salary of $700,000 and succeeds Ted Ellyard, who resigned in October due to ill health.

Hardman's value soared to more than $1.1 billion from less than $5 million during Mr Ellyard's eight years as chief executive, mostly because of discoveries off Mauritania.

Hardman owns about 22 per cent of Woodside's $625 million Chinguetti field, which will be the nation's first production when it starts up in 2006.

"It looks as if Potter fits the bill pretty well at first glance," said Oliver Foster, an oil analyst at Euroz Securities. "He's got big company experience and some good overseas experience which is obviously important for them."


Hardman shares fell 1c to $1.70 yesterday.

At TNK-BP, Mr Potter was responsible for the Orenburg/Saratov division, a group of 150 fields between the Volga River and the Kazakhstan border that produced 330,000 barrels a day of oil, Hardman said.

He has also worked with BP in Australia, the UK, Alaska and Indonesia, where he was president of VICO, BP's liquefied natural gas operating company.

"Simon's skills and contacts make a strong fit with Hardman's broad growth and expansion ambitions," Hardman chairman Alan Burns said.

Bloomberg

Update by way of interview with the ROC CEO.

Roc Oil Company Limited
20 January 2005


Attention ASX Company Announcements Platform
Lodgement of Open Briefing



Roc Oil Company Limited
Level 14
Market St
Sydney NSW 2000



Date of lodgement: 20-Jan-2005
Title: Open Briefing. Roc Oil. Update on Operations

Record of interview:

corporatefile.com.au
The joint venture partners involved in the Mauritanian drilling program have
released a lot of information to ASX over the last few months. What is ROC's
view on the drilling results and the progress you've made over the last few
months?

CEO John Doran
ROC's view of what is happening in Mauritania hasn't changed in the last many
months. The area is developing into an important new petroleum province offshore
Northwest Africa - but it is still very early days. We still have a huge amount
to learn about the detailed nature of the various oil and gas plays - and, in
this regard, every new well helps.

Development of the Chinguetti Field is progressing and first oil in still
expected in early 2006. It's worth reminding ourselves that this is a deep water
development in a remote part of Northwest Africa where, until very recently,
there was no industry infrastructure. Consequently, the development of
Chinguetti is a significant project for Woodside as operator.

Clearly, the Tiof Field is large. However, with six wells drilled into the
reservoir and, for a variety of valid operational reasons, none tested, I think
we would all like to flow oil and recover some oil samples to help us determine
the best way to develop this substantial resource. A testing programme is
scheduled to happen soon.

The Tevet discovery gave us a 1 in 4 success rate from the exploration wells
drilled in late 2004. That is less than our previous strike rate, which was 100%
for the Miocene Channel play. Of course, if you are batting at a 100% success
rate there's only one way it can go - sooner or later, it will change for the
worse and you will inevitably drill some dry exploration holes. In our case, it
just so happened that those wells were the ones that were drilled most recently.
Elsewhere in the petroleum world a 1 in 4 exploration success rate would be
considered a good result.

We should also remember that ROC has interests throughout offshore Mauritania,
not just in the Woodside-operated area. Although the other offshore sub-basins
are at an even earlier point on the exploration learning curve than the
Woodside-operated area, there is no reason why, given time, they shouldn't also
enjoy a similar measure of success.

Perhaps, the biggest danger that faced the market in relation to Mauritania last
year was an understandable over exuberance fuelled by expectations that were
unrealistically high and running well ahead of industry statistics - but, then,
I guess, that's just a normal situation in an area where the drilling results
have been so good.


corporatefile.com.au
Thank you John.

Price dropping back, it will I suppose till the tall ships return to flow test.

Problem is, doi I sell at my current profit or hold and buy more at the new low where ever that is?

I guess around 62p without any other news.

That's it, I will hold and top up if the opportunity arrives.

I'm doing the same SWW.

I'm holding because I've got no choice. As soon as I get back to break-even I'm out. There are much better investments out there.

MS

Probably right ms.

You have been tettering for a while.

Me I will stick to my 6 month game plan and see what happens. I am still in profit so I can do that, but it may not suit all.

LOL then SWW.

MS

Reading the signs I think you have done well with soco ms.

http://boards.fool.co.uk/Messages.asp?mid=9052893&bid=50765

Is a good place to have a look see whats occuring there.

Like all successes it's never enough. Now if SEY comes good that could make my life a lot easier.

MS

ms I missed that boat altogether.

gav has given me loads of info, and checked me before I bought in, just as well as consolidation set in then.

I would like to be on that but it's picking the moment.

Some on TMF say that anything under 5.50 is a good buy in price, and that is the best place to bone up on E & P, probably more.....

Not quite caught up yet need to see whats happening today.

All the very best Old Fellow.

Chin, chin, and all that.

Hardman Quaterly Report

http://moneyam.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200501310930539782H.html

No nonesense, dynamic and exciting.

This is looking very good people.

Quite a change of style already from Ted Ellyard's last.

All imho etc.

Flow testing Tiof 6 now result before the end of the month this should fly if it's good.

Remember MS, oil floats on water and has a gas cap when laid down in rock.

As Tiof 6 showed no water or gas, then this is most likely a very significant find.

You may do wrong to fly this one, CSH columns are minor in comparison to the Mauritannian ones.

I feel patience as you have with SEY would be benficial in the long run.

Up to you though.