Egdon Resources (LON: EDR)
Announced the commencement of production from the Waddock Cross oil field in UK Onshore Production Licence PL090, located in Dorset around 10 kilometres to the east of Dorchester. Waddock Cross is mapped by Egdon as containing mean in-place volumes of over 30 million barrels of oil in the Lower Jurassic Bridport Sandstone reservoir. Initial production will be from the Waddock Cross-2 well which has had larger production tubing and a higher capacity pump installed and is expected to produce at gross rates of around 30 barrels of oil per day. The plan for the first phase of the development thereafter is to restore production from the Waddock Cross-3 horizontal well and to drill two further horizontal producer wells by 2015. Egdon estimate gross Proven and Probable Reserves for the field for this initial phase to be about 300,000 barrels of oil. The interest in the Waddock Cross oil field is Egdon Resources 45% (Operator)
Europa Oil & Gas (LON: EOG)
Reported the renewal of its 100% owned Béarn des Gaves permit in the proven Aquitaine Basin, onshore France. The Permit includes Berenx Deep, the large gas appraisal prospect, and the recently identified Berenx Shallow prospect. The permit is located 20km to the southeast of the producing 9 trillion cubic feet Lacq gas field.
Falkland Oil & Gas (LON: FOGL)
The boards of FOGL and Desire Petroleum (LON: DES) announced that they have reached agreement on the terms of a recommended combination of FOGL with Desire, pursuant to which FOGL will acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Desire in exchange for FOGL Consideration Shares. The Combination is to be effected by way of a Scheme of Arrangement of Desire under Part 26 of the Companies Act. The boards of FOGL and Desire believe that the Combination will diversify the activities of the two companies, resulting in a balanced portfolio with enhanced long-term prospects, a strong balance sheet and improved financing options. FOGL has also signed heads of agreement with Premier Oil (LON: PMO) and Rockhopper Exploration (LON: RKH) with respect to a farm-out of licences PL004a and PL004c. Premier & Rockhopper will farm-in to the Licences and, in exchange, will fund the Combined Group’s share of the cost of two exploration wells, one on each of the Licences. Completion of the Farm-Out is subject to, inter alia, the Scheme becoming effective, any required approvals from the Falkland Islands Government and completion of definitive documents in respect of the Farm-Out. The Combination and the Farm-Out together will enable the execution of an enhanced drilling programme of five wells in the next drilling campaign, including: two wells in the South Falkland Basin, partnered with Noble Energy and Edison International; and three wells in the North Falkland Basin, one of which will target the Zebedee prospect. The next drilling campaign is expected to be fully funded from existing cash, the Farm-Out and other previously completed farm-out agreements.
Magnolia Petroleum (LON: MAGP)
Issued a Quarterly Operations Update for the Period Ended 30 September 2013. You can read it HERE.
Matra Petroleum (LON: MTA)
Which now starts its epistles with this “the oil and gas investing company” provided the following strategy update on progress towards implementing its investment policy and making a value accretive acquisition. The Company has appraised and evaluated a number of opportunities in Russia and the CIS and has concluded that the valuations expected by vendors are currently proving unattractive. Therefore, the Board of Matra has decided to currently focus its efforts on pursuing opportunities in the United States of America. A favourable tax regime, extensive established infrastructure and a large number of independent players makes the USA a very attractive place for the Company to pursue the implementation of its investment policy. The Board remains committed to the declared investment policy, and believe that such a shift in our geographic preferences will work in favour of our Shareholders. The Company will focus on acquiring assets with conventional oil reserves and depleted fields, where our Executive team has extensive experience and expertise. The Management has already identified a number of investment opportunities and the Company is in the process of conducting extensive technical and legal due diligence on several of these opportunities. Maxim Barskiy, CEO, commented: “We have been working hard to identify opportunities that will provide value for Matra’s shareholders. We have therefore taken the strategic decision to focus on the US, where favourable market conditions mean that attractive targets are more readily available to the Company.”
Max Petroleum (LON: MXP)
Two RNS’s this week from Max. First one. SAGW-6 appraisal well in the Sagiz West Field electric logs indicating 30 metres of net oil pay over a 93 metre interval at depths ranging from 1,194 to 1,287 metres. Reservoir quality appears good with porosities ranging from 15% to 23%. The Company is running production casing in the well, which will be completed and placed on test production after obtaining the requisite governmental approvals. The ZJ-30 drilling rig will next move to drill the SAGW-14 appraisal well near the southern end of the Sagiz West Field. Second one. Successful drilling results with appraisal wells in the Eskene North and Uytas fields. The ESKN-2 appraisal well in the Eskene North field has reached a depth of 1,523 metres with electric logs indicating 29 metres of net pay over a 173 metre gross interval in the Triassic Formation. The Company is setting production casing in the well and will begin testing ESKN-2 as soon as practicable. In the Uytas field, the UTS-12 appraisal well successfully reached a total depth of 450 metres, with electric logs indicating seven metres of net oil pay in Cretaceous and Jurassic reservoirs, including two metres of net oil pay over a four metre interval ranging in depths from 119 to 123 metres in the Cretaceous Aptian formation, two metres of net oil pay ranging in depths from 245 to 247 metres in the Lower Cretaceous formation and three metres of net oil pay over a seven metre interval ranging in depths from 311 to 318 metres in the Jurassic section. Reservoir quality is excellent. The Company plans to complete the well and place it on test production as soon as practicable. The Company will now drill the UTS-9 well targeting Jurassic reservoirs with a total vertical depth of approximately 550 metres. After UTS-9, an additional five wells remain to be drilled as part of the initial appraisal programme in the Uytas field.
New World Oil & Gas (LON: NEW)
Has secured an eight-month extension (Breathing space) in work programme commitment deadlines for Licence 1/08 at its Danica Resources Project in Southern Denmark. This extension was discussed with Danica Resources ApS and the Danish North Sea Fund, the Company’s 20% full-paying partner, and approved by the Danish Energy Agency. In order to secure the extension, New World has committed to a geochemical survey to high grade its existing prospect inventory in an effort to determine the best possible candidate for a 3-D seismic survey prior to making a commitment to drill. While more problems continue with the transfer of funds required to complete the subscription for new shares in the Company by Niel Petroleum S.A. which has not yet occurred. Notwithstanding the continuing delay in the receipt of funds, the Board believes that the Subscriber fully intends to complete the investment in the Company and consequently is continuing to work with Niel to finalise the necessary steps to resolve matters. Hope springs eternal.
Nighthawk Energy (LON: HAWK)
Has posted an explanatory circular to shareholders containing details of a proposed reduction of the Company’s share capital and a request for shareholder authority for the purchase by the Company of its own Ordinary Shares, together with formal notice of the requisite general meeting to be held at 11.00 a.m. on 18 October 2013. The Circular also contains the Company’s unaudited interim results for the six month period ended 30 June 2013. The Circular (containing the Notice and the Interim Results) will shortly be made available on the Company’s website at www.nighthawkenergy.com
Northcote Energy (LON: NCT)
An onshore US oil and gas exploration and production company, is pleased to announce plans to drill its first horizontal well targeting the Mississippi Lime formation on its 100% owned Mathis lease prior to end of December 2013. In addition as part of the well planning process, the first two undeveloped locations on Mathis have been designated P1 PV-10% reserves of US$14.8million, which combined with the previously announced reserves brings the value of the Northcote’s P1 reserves to US$76.7 million.
Nostra Terra Oil & Gas (LON: NTOG)
Finally get their hands on the Richfield Note cash. On 2 October 2013 it was determined by the Court that US$1.15 million of the $1.3 million deposited with the Court be released to Nostra Terra. Following this successful outcome for the Company a further hearing will now take place later this year to determine any additional sums owed to Nostra Terra, including attorneys’ fees, costs of collection, and reimbursement for operating expenses. Nostra Terra’s liens will remain in place until final settlement is determined. Matt Lofgran, Chief Executive Officer of Nostra Terra, commented:”It’s great to be receiving this cash as it will fund additional scheduled drilling. Plans are already in place for additional drilling at Chisholm Trail throughout the remainder of the year, along with further development of the High Plains Prospect and additional prospects we will operate. The funds allow us to expand our drill programme at no cost to shareholders.”
Ophir Energy (LON: OPHR)
Reported the successful completion of the Pweza-3 appraisal well and flow test in Block 4, Tanzania. Ophir holds 40% of Blocks 1, 3 and 4.BG Group operates with 60%. The Pweza-3 appraisal well was drilled approx. 2km north of the original Pweza discovery well and encountered 61m of gross pay on prognosis. A Drill Stem Test was performed which achieved an equipment constrained flow-rate of 57mmscfd with minimal drawdown and no observable depletion after 5 days of flow. The implied unconstrained flow-rate is expected to be in excess of 150mmscfd. The DST has confirmed that the Tertiary reservoirs in Block 4 have similar excellent characteristics to those in Block 1. This result is expected to dramatically reduce the number of development wells required in Block 4, thereby simplifying the development plan and having a positive impact on the project’s economics.
The Parkmead Group (LON: PMG)
The Pharos exploration well has commenced drilling in the UK Southern North Sea. The Pharos gas prospect has the potential to contain up to 500 billion cubic feet of gas-in-place (86 million barrels on an oil equivalent basis) and is located in Blocks 47/4d, 47/5d and 47/10c. The Pharos structure is located only 14km south west of Parkmead’s Platypus gas field, which was discovered in 2010 and successfully appraised with a horizontal well in 2012. Pharos is mapped as a much larger structure than Platypus and has the potential to contain almost three times more gas-in-place than the targeted amount at the successful Platypus discovery.
Urals Energy (LON: UEN)
Released an update in relation to its current operations as well as in relation to the requisitioned EGM. The directors of Urals Energy believe that the preliminary review of the results (Passive Seismic Spectroscopy and a separate Micro-Seismic survey) show the possibility of significantly increasing production at Arcticneft from the current horizons with limited capital and operational expenditure. This is based on five main trends of hydrocarbon potential as revealed by the results of the Surveys and is consistent with the Company’s existing exploration strategy. The Company continues to review the results of the Surveys in more depth, including encouraging data on possible future deeper drilling sites at Arcticneft. Urals Energy expects to conclude the drilling of Well #53 during the next two weeks and will make further announcements at the appropriate time. The EGM. Pursuant to Cypriot law, a notice convening the requisitioned extraordinary general meeting must be posted by the Company to the shareholders of Urals Energy on or before 15 October 2013 and the requisitioned extraordinary general meeting will be held within the requisite period following the date of the Notice.
