Origin Energy has held production for the March quarter largely steady on the previous three months despite a planned shutdown at part of its Australia Pacific liquefied natural gas project in Queensland.
The energy producer and retailer said production for the three months to March 31 was 79.7 petajoules, marginally lower from the 80.1 petajoules it achieved in the December quarter.
Sales volume for the quarter was down two per cent from the prior three months, at 80.4 petajoules, but oil and gas revenue still rose three per cent to $562.9 million because of higher prices.
"This strong performance was driven primarily by the commencement of production by Australia Pacific LNG's second LNG train," chief executive Frank Calabria said.
Production was up 31 per cent from the same period a year ago, while sales revenue jumped 78 per cent.
APLNG, in which Origin holds a 37.5 per cent stake, has ramped up production over the past 18 months, and produced the first cargo from its second train in October 2016.
The plant shipped a total of 27 cargoes during the March quarter.
Origin also supplies gas from its coal seam wells to the Conoco Phillips-operated project.
RBC Capital Markets analyst Ben Wilson said Origin's third quarter production was lower than his estimate but this was partly offset by better-than-expected LNG pricing.
"Overall a solid performance which keeps Origin well on track to meet, and maybe exceed, FY17 underlying EBITDA guidance for APLNG and meet exploration and production guidance," he said in a note.
Friday's quarterly report only covers Origin's oil and gas production business, and has no details on its utilities business.
The company in December outlined plans to spin off its conventional oil and gas exploration assets - estimated to be worth at least $1.5 billion - in an effort to streamline its business and reduce debt.
The $26 billion APLNG project will, however, be retained within the parent company.
At 1419 AEST, Origin Energy shares were down 1.3 per cent at $7.165 each, in a weak Australian market.
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