Shares in BPH Energy Ltd (ASX: BPH) are gaining today, following news the company is tendering for drilling services at the Baleen Prospect. At the time of writing, the BPH share price is $0.9 ­– 2.27% higher than yesterday's closing.

Located off the coast of Newcastle, the Baleen Prospect is a joint venture between BPH's investee company, Advent Energy Ltd, and Bounty Oil & Gas NL (ASX: BUY). The majority of the license to explore the Baleen Prospect is held by Advent at 85%, while 15% is held by Bounty. 

Let's take a closer look at today's news from BPH.

Baleen tender

According to today's announcement, the Baleen-1 well is to be drilled in 125 metres of water – taking around 40 days to reach its total depth.

A tender for the supply of drilling services has been sent to multiple companies with drilling equipment in the area.

The drilling is the first physical step of the prospect's exploration, and is being conducted with two objectives. First, for an expected gas target. Last month, a review of a Geoscience Australia research report found the companies have a high likelihood of striking gas at the Baleen Prospect.

The second objective is for carbon capture storage (CCS). If the well is found suitable for CCS it could offer the potential for carbon sequestration near the Sydney and Newcastle areas ­– where approximately one third of Australia's carbon emissions are created.

BPH recognises that CCS has the potential to address climate change by lessening the impacts of carbon emissions.

BPH share price snapshot

The BPH share price has been performing well on the ASX lately, with today's news bringing its latest boost.

Currently, the BPH share price is 109.3% higher than it was at the start of 2021. It has also gained 1,197.13% since this time last year.

The company has a market capitalisation of around $59 million, with approximately 664 million shares outstanding.

The post Here's what's driving the BPH Energy (ASX:BPH) share price today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Shares in BPH Energy Ltd (ASX: BPH) are soaring with news of its subsidiary's Offshore Sydney Basin gas prospect. At the time of writing, the BPH share price has gained 21.9% as shares in the company trade for 8.9 cents.

BPH's investee company, Advent Energy Ltd, has reviewed a Geoscience Australia research report that uncovered geophysical gas indications in the basin.

The company, which has several interests including gas and oil exploration, said the basin was the closest potential new gas source to the New South Wales gas market.

BPH also advised on the potential for Advent's Baleen Well to be used for carbon capture and storage (CCS). Let's take a closer look at the news announced by BPH today.

Offshore Sydney Basin's potential 

According to BPH, the Australian government agency Geoscience Australia has found a high likelihood of striking gas in Advent Energy's Offshore Sydney Basin.

Geoscience claimed the likely presence of gas was evident from a series of pockmarks.

Advent is part of a joint venture in the promising part of the Offshore Sydney Basin, offshore license PEP-11, located off the coast of Newcastle.

The PEP-11 joint venture is between Advent and Bounty Oil & Gas NL (ASX: BUY), with 85% of the license held by Advent and 15% is held by Bounty. 

According to BPH's release, the development of Australia's energy resources is critical for Newcastle's industries, job creation, and power generation.

Further, Advent and Bounty believe a gas discovery in PEP-11 would be in line with the Federal Government's ambition to find gas supplies to help the region transition to electric power.

Carbon capture and storage

BPH also updated the market on an additional objective of Advent and Bounty's drilling in the Baleen Well, an area in the PEP-11 licence.

According to the company, the Federal Budget includes incentives for CCS technology.

BPH has previously announced the Baleen Well program could offer CCS for the greater Sydney and Newcastle area.

If successfully implemented, the Baleen Well would be the closest point of CCS to the area, producing approximately one-third of Australia's carbon emissions.

BPH Energy share price snapshot

The BPH Energy share price is having a ripper year on the ASX so far, with today's news bringing its latest boost.

Currently, BPH shares have gained 120% since the start of 2021. They've also gained 790% over the last 12 months.

The company has a market capitalisation of around $49.5 million, with approximately 664 million shares outstanding.

The post Here's why the BPH Energy (ASX:BPH) share price is up 22% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The BPH Energy Ltd (ASX: BPH) share price saga continues today after the company's shares were placed in a trading suspension, soon followed by a trading halt.

BPH shares started the trading day at 13 cents apiece and dipped to 12 cents soon after. But someone lit a rocket under the company around 1pm which saw the BPH share price explode up 73.6% all the way to 22 cents each by 2pm. But that's where it ended for BPH for the day.

At 2.56pm, the company released a market announcement that told investors trading would be suspended pending a further announcement. Then at 3.38pm, another update was released. This told investors that the ASX would suspend BPH shares from trading until at least Friday 19 February, or whenever this announcement is finally… announced.

Today's move is just the latest chapter in what has been a very dramatic saga to watch. Back on 21 January, BPH shares were only 5 cents each. But by 28 January, the company was asking as much as 33 cents a share, a 560% surge in around a week. The catalyst?

Well, it's a little unclear. But soon after this move (on 1 February), BPH Energy announced it proposed to use the drilling program in the Sydney Basin to investigate the potential for a carbon, capture and storage (CCS) project with partner, Bounty Oil & Gas NL (ASX: BUY). It also announced a capital raise program to help fund this endeavour. The shares were placed in a trading halt. After it completed the capital raise, BPH shares rose 31% on its return to market trading.

BPH on a rollercoaster

However, soon after this, the company fell sharply (around 21%) following comments from the New South Wales Deputy Premier John Barilaro. Mr Barilaro stated that he was not in favour of the PEP11 oil project that BPH is aiming to deploy its CCS project within, and the application should be rejected. Mr Barilaro also reportedly stated that he would "refuse further applications to extend the life of PEP11".

It's these comments that have likely sparked the surge in BPH shares we have seen today. This morning, before market open, BPH issued an announcement which clarified that its PEP11 project was subject to approval from both the NSW government and the Federal government.

The release points out that, under the relevant legislation, if the state and the Commonwealth disagree on a permit, it's the Commonwealth opinion that prevails. That essentially renders Mr Barilaro's comments impotent regarding PEP11.

Thus, investors who might have assumed that PEP11 would be cancelled (meaning BPH had raised capital for nothing) are possibly breathing easier today. Or at least they were before the trading halt. We shall have to wait until (probably) Friday to see what BPH has up its sleeves for investors next.

The post Why BPH Energy (ASX:BPH) shares are now in a trading halt appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.