Orica strikes gas deal to counter price rise ORICA boss Ian Smith has finally expressed concern over an expected export-driven surge in east coast gas prices, signing a deal with Cooper Basin coal-seam gas player Strike Energy to fund up to $52.5 million of exploration and development in return for a potential 20-year supply of cheap gas. Under the deal, explosives maker Orica will give $2.5m towards fast-tracking a pilot program in some of Strike's South Australian Cooper Basin ground, where a term sheet has been signed for the supply of 150 petajoules of gas over 20 years for a total cost of more than $450m.