Origin Energy advises that L-8 operator Apache Corporation has, on behalf of the joint venture, commenced drilling the Mbawa Prospect in Kenya. The Mbawa 1 exploration well spudded at 6:00 hours local time on 10 August 2012.

Origin will only advise the market again when well operations have been completed with a summary of results, or of any event that is material.

Mbawa 1 is located in the Mbawa Prospect in offshore Kenya. The drillship Deepsea Metro 1 is expected to take about 60 days for this drilling operation, which will reach a total depth of 3,250m subsea in a water depth of 864m.

The well will be plugged and abandoned after the evaluation program is completed.

Origin Energy is the leading Australian integrated energy company focused on gas and oil exploration and production, power generation and energy retailing. Through Australia Pacific LNG, its incorporated joint venture with ConocoPhillips and Sinopec, Origin is developing one of Australia’s largest CSG to LNG projects based on Australia’s largest 2P CSG reserves base.

Press Release, August 13, 2012