RE: Clarity of Debt15 Mar 2024 19:16
Politically, COPL is in a great spot. Biden has approved the Willow Project in Alaska. Trump, when asked how to fix the economy, simply said ‘Drill baby, drill!’ Both Presidents know that the key to reducing inflation is cheap oil — the Alaskan Prudhoe Bay Oil Field n the 1980s helping cure inflation back in the day.
A dream field is in play, smack bang in the middle of the continental United States just as rare political bipartisanship turns to drilling.
However, there needs to be a joint venture. COPL does not have the financial firepower to develop this new Wyoming asset properly. Chevron, BP, ExxonMobil, Occidental Petroleum, EOG Resources, Hess, Devon Energy, Ultra Petroleum, Cimarex Energy, and QEP all operate in the state — arguably any would be happy to sign a deal.
On 20 April 2023 — literally one month ago — COPL noted that:
‘Discussions with a large oil company who approached the Company regarding the exploitation of its Frontier oil resources are continuing with current focus on commercial terms. These discussions, as well as the identity of the party involved, will remain confidential until their disclosure is appropriate by agreement. Substantial additional technical evaluation has been undertaken during this period, which has led to a better understanding, and increased confidence, of this resource.’
While the market may have forgotten the good news, they won’t have. And if I had to guess, I expect that JV negotiations are already happening.