10th Apr 2014 07:00
Frontera Resources Corporation
Farmout of Taribani Field and Taribani Field Complex in Georgia
for carry of up to US$36 million
FRONTERA RESOURCES CORPORATION
("Frontera" or the "Company")
Houston, Texas, U.S.A. - 10 April 2014
Frontera Resources Corporation (London Stock Exchange, AIM Market - Symbol: FRR), an independent oil and gas exploration and production company, is pleased to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Frontera Resources Georgia Corporation, has signed a farmout agreement with Varang Exploration Limited ("Varang Exploration"), a wholly owned subsidiary of a privately held independent natural resources investment group, for the farmout of up to a 50% working interest in Frontera's Taribani Field and Taribani Field Complex, situated within Block 12 in Georgia.
In consideration for the transaction, Frontera will receive a carry on its future expenditure on the Taribani Field and the greater Taribani Field Complex of up to approximately US$36 million, for the costs associated with a seven well drilling program over three phases. Frontera will continue to act as managing Operator for all planned operations. The Company will retain 100% working interest throughout the balance of its Block 12 holdings.
During Phase I, Varang Exploration will hold a 40% working interest in return for funding 100% of the costs associated with the completion of three wells (estimated to be approximately US$17 million) over a period of 18 months. These wells are designed to continue exploitation of the Taribani Field's main reservoir objectives, as well as other associated horizons situated within a potentially prospective 1,000 meters geologic column situated between 2,000 meters and 3,000 meters in depth.
Specifically, operations will include the re-entry, sidetrack and frac-completion of the Niko #1 well. When the Niko #1 well was originally drilled and tested, it flowed at a peak rate of 960 bopd and produced 10,400 barrels during its 40 day production test. However, production was suspended as a result of a poor completion and failed packer. Today, reservoir performance modeling by Frontera from this planned operation calculates a "most-likely" case of approximately 1,000 bopd. In addition, Phase I operations will include side track of the T-#31 and T-#16 wells in order to apply frac-completions to Zones 14 and 15. Based on the Company's reservoir performance modeling, it is anticipated that these two wells can achieve daily production rates of 300 bopd per well.
During Phase II, at Varang Exploration's option, once Phase I is completed, over a period of six months, it will hold an additional 10% working interest in return for funding 100% of the costs associated with the drilling of a new well (estimated to be approximately US$7 million). The new well, T-#46, will be drilled at a mutually agreed location at the Taribani Field with a frac-completion in the same target zones as T-#31 and T-#16, with similar anticipated results.
During Phase III, at Varang Exploration's option, once Phases I & II are completed, over a period of 18 months, it will hold a 50% interest in the greater Taribani Field Complex in return for funding 100% of the costs associated with three wells (estimated to be approximately US$12 million). Specifically, operations will include the twinning and frac-completion of existing well I-#13a at the Iori Field, penetrating Zones 9-25 to a TD of 1,800 meters; the twinning and frac-completion of existing well B-#16a at the Baida Field, penetrating Zones 14-25 to a TD of 1,100 meters, and; the twinning and frac-completion of existing well K-#7a at the Kila Kupra Field, penetrating Zones 9-19 to a TD of 2,100 meters.
This agreement is subject to the approval of the Georgian government and includes standard representations and warranties given by both parties.
The Taribani Field Complex is an area that encompasses approximately 1,400 square kilometers and includes the discovered yet undeveloped Taribani, Kila Kupra, Baida and Iori fields within Block 12. Internal preliminary analysis suggests that there could be as much as 18 billion barrels of oil in place throughout this complex.
The Taribani Field proper is a large oil accumulation with 788 million barrels original oil in place ("OOIP") independently assessed by Netherland, Sewell & Associates ("NSA") in 2005 for Zones 9, 14, 15 and 19. NSA assigns a 15% recovery factor giving "Technical Possible Reserves" of 118 million barrels for the field. An additional 36 million barrels are assessed as un-risked Prospective Resources in five deeper zones in the field.
Enquiries:
Frontera Resources Corporation
Liz Williamson
Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
(713) 585-3216
lwilliamson@fronteraresources.com
Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker:
finnCap Limited
Matt Goode/Christopher Raggett
+44 (0) 20 7220 0500
Co-Broker:
Cornhill Capital Limited
Nick Bealer / Stefan Olivier
+44 (0)20 7710 9610
Financial PR:
Buchanan
Tim Thompson / Helen Chan
+44 (0)20 7466 5000
timt@buchanan.uk.com
Notes to Editors:
1. Frontera Resources Corporation is an independent Houston, Texas, U.S.A.-based international oil and gas exploration and production company whose strategy is to identify opportunities and operate in emerging markets in Eastern Europe around the Black Sea. Frontera Resources Corporation shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange, AIM Market - Symbol: FRR. For more information, please visit www.fronteraresources.com.
2. Varang Exploration Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of an European based privately held independent natural resources investment group.
3. Information on Resource Estimates: The contingent and prospective resources estimates contained in this announcement were determined by the independent consulting firm of Netherland, Sewell & Associates (NSA) in accordance with the definitions and guidelines set forth in the 2007 Petroleum Resources Management System (PRMS) adopted by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE). Gerard Bono, Frontera's Vice President and Chief Reservoir Engineer, who is a member of the SPE, is the qualified person who reviewed and approved the statements in this announcement.
4. This release may contain certain forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, expectations, beliefs, plans and objectives regarding the transactions, work programs and other matters discussed in this release. Exploration for oil is a speculative business that involves a high degree of risk. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are: risks inherent in oil and gas production operations; availability and performance of needed equipment and personnel; the Company's ability to raise capital to fund its exploration and development programs; seismic data; evaluation of logs, cores and other data from wells drilled; inherent uncertainty in estimation of oil and gas resources; fluctuations in oil and gas prices; weather conditions; general economic conditions; the political situation in Georgia and relations with neighboring countries; and other factors listed in Frontera's financial reports, which are available at www.fronteraresources.com. There is no assurance that Frontera's expectations will be realized, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements.
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Frontera Resources