Hess says makes second gas discovery off Australia

PERTH, July 21 (Reuters) - U.S. energy firm Hess Corp (HES.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Monday it has found natural gas off western Australia, its second discovery on Australia's gas-rich Northwest Shelf.

Hess said the well encountered 46 metres of net gas pay, in line with estimates before the well was drilled.

The Briseis-1 well, located on the WA-390-P permit, was the second of four exploration wells drilled in the area and follows the Glencoe-1 discovery last month, Hess said.

Australia's Northwest shelf is home to a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project operated by Woodside Petroleum (WPL.AX: Quote, Profile, Research). It has drawn several energy majors to conduct exploration in recent years, in hopes of making big gas discoveries to power their own LNG projects.

Other energy firms which have acquired permits in the Northwest Shelf region include China's CNOOC Ltd (0883.HK: Quote, Profile, Research) (CEO.N: Quote, Profile, Research), France's Total SA (TOTF.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) and India's Reliance Industries (RELI.BO: Quote, Profile, Research).

Hess holds a 100 percent interest in the 780,000 acre WA-290-P permit. (Reporting by Fayen Wong)