East Timor's Ramos-Horta Sees Woodside Deal in 2012

Woodside Petroleum Ltd., Australia’s second-biggest oil producer, said it’s in talks with companies for a potential partnership to enter Canada’s natural gas industry to tap rising Asian demand. “It’s natural in an area that has the sort of hydrocarbon resource that Canada does that Woodside is in there talking to people,” Chief Executive Officer Peter Coleman said Thursday in an interview in Sydney, declining to name any companies.

Woodside Petroleum Ltd., Australia’s second-largest oil and gas producer, is looking to make investments of about $5 billion in projects globally as development costs at home remain high.

Kurt Wulff (McDep Associates) submits: Contrarian Buy-recommended Woodside Petroleum Ltd (WOPEY.PK) aims to start up its Pluto liquefied natural gas (LNG) Train 1 in the first quarter of 2011, which will double LNG production.

With the world's attention locked on the World Cup in South Africa, it might be an odd time for East Timor to try to boost its international profile with a simple foot-race.But that's what President Jose Ramos-Horta is hoping to do with the Timor Marathon on June 20, billed as the climax of events to mark the fledgling nation's eighth anniversary of independence from Indonesia.Five hundred runners including 300 foreigners have already registered, but few will compete with more pride than national sports heroine Aguida Amaral.

Kurt Wulff (McDep Associates) submits: We initiate coverage of Woodside Petroleum Ltd. (WOPEY.PK) with a buy recommendation for long-term growth in Australian liquefied natural gas.