UPDATE 1-Thai PTTEP hopes for Montara start-up in 2010

* Needs more time to assess damage, start-up date

* Q4 earnings seen "good" despite higher costs

* Shares rebound after hitting four-month low (Adds details)

BANGKOK, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Thailand's PTT Exploration and Production PTTE.BK (PTTEP) said on Wednesday the start-up of the Montara field in Australia might be delayed from the first quarter of 2010 to an unspecified date later in the year.

Chief Executive Anon Sirisaengtaksin told an analysts' meeting the company's financial performance would be "good" in the fourth quarter even though it had to book more expenses related to an oil spill at Montara from late August.

"We'll try to make it within 2010. We have to wait for the result of the assessment on the damage. It should become clearer next week," Anon said.

Last week Anon had said operations at Montara might start in the second quarter of next year.

A PTTEP subsidiary said on Tuesday it had stopped the oil leak and doused the main fire on the Montara and West Atlas oil rig in the Timor Sea. [ID:nSYD410182]

PTTEP shares hit a four-month low this week on concern the delay in Montara's start-up would hit its earnings in 2010, and that damage costs might exceed its insurance coverage of $270 million.