Oil price rallying27 Jun 2018 22:13
This would be an opportunity for all parties given the recent strength of the commodity.
Squirrelling is right.
“Providence shares were trading as high as 625p when the excitement over Barryroe was at its height in 2013.
The subsequent decline underlines how difficult it has been for the Irish company to move the project forward.
A weak oil price will have had some impact, but the Chinese commitment can see the field turn into a significant cash generator.
Six wells have been drilled at the prospect thus far – four by Esso/Exxon in the 1970’s, one by Marathon in 1990 and Providence/Lansdowne’s well in 2011/12.
Estimated resources are 311mln barrels of oil (ignoring gas) on a 50/50 chance or 2C basis.
Should the project now advance to production, as Providence now anticipates, then it will give it a strong cash generative base.
Based on past projections, the field is itself a very significant and potentially world-class asset with production estimated at an initial 30,000 barrels per day.
Formal closure of the farm-out is expected in the third quarter this year, after which the drill targets will be selected.
Steve Boldy, Lansdowne’s chief executive, added: "The Chinese Consortium brings a wealth of technical and operational expertise.
“Upon closing, Lansdowne will retain a net 34.5MMboe of contingent resources (2C) for its 10% ownership of Barryroe, with significant additional upside in terms of further exploration potential.
“The third party funded drilling program will look to convert a sizeable amount of these resources into proven and probable (2P) reserves ahead of subsequent development and production.
"With a current market cap of just $10M, Lansdowne’s valuation equates to less than $0.3 per contingent barrel for its 10% ownership.”
Lansdowne shares rose 38% to 1.82p and Providence 18% to 11.1p.”