Preliminary Final Report & On-Market Buy-Back

Document date:  Wed 03 Nov 1999
Published:  Wed 03 Nov 1999 11:05:50
Document No:  154638
Document part:  D
Market Flag:  Y
Classification:  

HOMEX - Sydney                                                        

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                 PRELIMINARY FINAL REPORT 
                    (Not Equity Accounted)

Name of entity
Oil Search Limited 

ACN or ARBN        Half    Preliminary     Financial year
                   yearly     final        ended
                   (tick)    (tick)        ('current period')         
055 079 868                     x            31/12/1998


Sales (or equivalent operating)
revenue (item 1.1)                       down     25.84% to    59,444

Abnormal items after tax 
attributable to members (item 2.5) )     gain            of     3,944

Operating profit (loss) after tax
(before amortisation of goodwill)
attributable to members (item 1.26)      down      3.66% to    23,167

Operating profit (loss) after tax
attributable to members(item 1.10)       down      3.66% to    23,167

Extraordinary items after tax
attributable to members (item 1.13)      gain/loss       of         - 

Operating profit (loss) and 
extraordinary items after tax 
attributable to members (item 1.16)      down      3.66% to    23,167


Dividends (distributions)                 Amount per    Franked amount
                                           security      per security
                                                          at 36% tax

Final dividend(Preliminary final
 report only - item 15.4); 
Interim Dividend(Half yearly report
 only - item 15.6)                            0.86 c                 c

Previous corresponding period
(Preliminary final report - item 15.5; 
 half yearly report - item 15.7)              0.92 c               - c
                                 
Record date for determining entitlements to the dividend,
(in the case of a trust, distribution) (see item 15.2)    08/04/1998

Brief explanation of omission of directional and percentage changes 
to profit in accordance with Note 1 and short details of any bonus 
or cash issue or other item(s) of importance not previously released
 to the market:

 na 

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