The spending figure was announced to the annual general meeting of the company in Sydney today by chairman Gordon Cairns.

The company anticipates spending the $100 million within the 2020 financial year.

"The project has the potential to not only provide greater energy security and support local industry but to provide substantial opportunities for local traditional owners and there communities."

There was criticism before the AGM involving traditional owners who claim they had not given approval for the gas search.

A delegation of Territorians rallied outside the AGM before presenting their case directly to shareholders and the board inside, Lock the Gate said.

"We want Origin to show its shareholders what information it presented to Traditional Owner groups before making agreements to frack," said Ray Dimakarri Dixon, a Newcastle Waters Native Title holder from Marlinja community at the centre of Beetaloo basin drilling activity.

"We know Origin didn't get proper, informed consent. These agreements were made back in 2004 and 2005. At the time, our old people didn't understand how many wells would be drilled, or the risks to our land and water from fracking."

Origin Energy countered the claims by saying it continued to work with the Northern Land Council on its search and also invited Traditional Owner Gordon Jackson to speak to the meeting today.

Mr Cairns spoke of the search for Beetaloo gas and its "potential liquids rich plays".

He said Origin had exploration permits over 18,500 square kilometres of the NT "with initial appraisal indicating a very large natural gas resource of outstanding potential, with 6.6 trillion feet recognised as a contingent resource".

Many millions of dollars are being spent and hundreds of jobs are being created in these early days of the Northern Territory's onshore gas industry.

Two big energy companies, Santos and Origin Energy, are both spending up in their rush to "prove" the gas resource deep below the Beetaloo.

Drill gear is being trucked in from all parts of Australia as the companies rush to beat the wet season.

Junior player Empire Energy has also joined the race and is keen to finish its seismic surveys of the Beetaloo before starting its drilling program after the wet.

Origin's Kyalla 117 is the first of two new wells to be drilled to help the energy companies determine the potential of resources in the Beetaloo Basin.

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