RNS Highlights25 Jun 2018 14:45
Nanushuk Topset Oil Trend
Great Bear holds a working interest in four leases totalling over 22,710 acres located in the heart of the prolific Nanushuk oil fairway. The Horseshoe-1 well, which discovered oil in 2017, is located less than one mile to the west of these leases. Horseshoe extended the Nanushuk play fairway, which has been drilled since 2013, by well over 20 miles to the south of previous drilling.
The Horseshoe-1 discovery has signalled the presence of an extensive previously overlooked hydrocarbon province which is in now attracting major development capital, including the recent acquisition by Oil Search Limited (ASX: OSH or "Oil Search") of operatorship of the Pikka Unit and a number of oil exploration assets on the Alaska North Slope.
The Horseshoe-1 discovery well was drilled by the Repsol-led joint venture in 2017 to a total depth of 6,000 ft. (1,828 meters) and encountered more than 150 ft. of net oil pay in several reservoir zones in the Nanushuk section. The deviated Horseshoe-1A side-track was drilled to a total depth of 8,215 ft. and encountered more than 100 ft. of net oil pay in the Nanushuk interval as well.
Recent in-house technical work conducted by Otto on its Alaskan acreage in the Western Blocks has resulted in the identification of an oil prospect with a gross best estimate prospective resource volume of 400 MMbbls and a geological chance of success in the range of 25-30%. RMP's 31.5% working interest (before Great Bear 10% back in) would be 126 MMbbl net to RMP. The prospective resource calculation was based on a consideration of offset well information and seismic expression.
Funding
The well is estimated to cost approximately US$15 million (100% dry hole cost) of which Red Emperor's share will be US$5.25 million. There is also a performance bond of US$3 million (RMP share US$1.05m) to be posted to the Alaska DNR by 31 July 2018. The bond will be refunded if the well is drilled before 31 May 2019.
Red Emperor expects to fund cost of the bond and drilling of the well from its current, strong cash position.