MELBOURNE, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Oil Search (OSH) said on Tuesday...

MELBOURNE, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Oil Search (OSH) said on Tuesday that landowner concerns in Papua New Guinea that had threatened to disrupt operations over the long term were easing, after the government and landowners recently began talks to resolve royalty payment issues.

"It's very pleasing to see now that that has developed into a very strong and positive dialogue and a dialogue that's very open with the government," Oil Search general manager Keiran Wulff said at an analyst briefing.

"That is really reducing what we've seen as long term risk in PNG LNG, which is the risk of having landowner disputes about the distriubtion of benefits," he said.

Recent protests had had a very minor impact on gas production from the Hides field, and output was now back to normal, he said.