Proactive Investors8 Feb 2012 08:48
SacOil (LON:SAC) has agreed changes to the terms of its farm-in partnership for the OPL 281 licence in Nigeria, which mean it does not have to carry the operator on capital expenditure costs to first oil.
Transcorp remains the operator of the onshore licence and will pay its 60 per cent of the costs to first production, compared to the company and other partner Energy Equity Resources (EER) carrying 100 per cent of the costs as previously agreed.
In today statement, SacOil also announced it has drawn down on its Yorkville equity line to ensure it has enough short term cash to pay for the plans for the licence.
The company has issued 10, 926, 906 shares to Yorkville Advisors at a price of 0,44 South African Rand each under the US$25 million equity credit line agreed last year. That price equates to around 3.49 pence per share, raising around £381,000 for SacOil.
Transcorp owns 60 per cent of the licence, EER and SacOil each have 20 per cent.
Under the new terms, which were initiated by Transcorp due to a change of control, there has been a reduction in farm-in fees for SacOil and technical partner EER to $24.5 million from $32.5 mln.
Transcorp's aim is now to take full responsibility for the operation of the concession, said SacOil.
The partners estimate a phase 1 work programme budge of $15 million for exploration on the licence, which involves the drilling of at least one well.
SacOil's chief executive Robin Vela said: "We are pleased with the revised terms as we will no longer be required to provide Transcorp with a carry on CAPEX costs from the point of entry to first oil.
"All costs are now carried proportionately to the equity owned by Transcorp, EER and SacOil. SacOil and EER will be actively involved in the operations through the operations and management committees."
A competent person's report (CPR) has attributed a gross unrisked contingent resource of around 100 million barrels of oil equivalent, with additional potential in two further prospects and deeper zones, the company added.