6 Jun 2013 07:00
FRONTERA RESOURCES CORPORATION
("FRONTERA" OR THE "COMPANY")
Houston, Texas, U.S.A. - 6 June 2013
FRONTERA RESOURCES RELEASES OPERATIONS UPDATE
Frontera Resources Corporation (London Stock Exchange, AIM Market - Symbol: FRR), an independent oil and gas exploration and production company ("Frontera" or the "Company"), today releases an operations update for its holdings in the country of Georgia as well as its Greater Black Sea strategic initiative prior to the Company's Annual General Meeting ("AGM") which is being held today at 10:00 AM Central Daylight Time at 3050 Post Oak Boulevard, 2nd Floor Conference Room, Houston, Texas 77056.
Operations Update
Mtsare Khevi Gas Complex:
As previously announced on 13 March 2013, the Company has continued to make progress on the installation of an eight kilometre pipeline and related facilities within the Mtsare Khevi Field following the Georgian government's approval. It is expected that the pipeline will be completed by mid-July 2013 as previously announced and the Company looks forward to producing first gas early in the third quarter of 2013. The infrastructure will accommodate production from currently shut-in wells which the Company believes could produce from the outset approximately two million cubic feet per day of gas (57,000 cubic metres per day).
The Mtstare Khevi Field is situated within a larger play area of approximately 80 square kilometres referred to as the Mtsare Khevi Gas Complex and encompasses gas targets found between 300 metres and 5,000 metres in depth. Based on Frontera's internal estimates, analysis has revealed significant gas potential throughout this area of up to approximately 1.2 tcf of gas in place (28 billion cubic metres) and up to approximately 700 bcf of recoverable gas (19.8 billion cubic metres). An integrated geologic study, including data from a number of existing wells within the area such as the V #18 well, previously referenced in the Company's announcement on 31 January 2012, is currently in progress to better understand and define the extent of this potential throughout the greater Mtsare Khevi Gas Complex.
Taribani Field:
Ongoing operations within the Taribani Field continue to provide important technical information related to the field's main reservoir objectives. A series of routine workovers, including an exprimental "mini-frac" associated with existing well #32, have helped to provide an updated design input for the Company's anticipated 4 well drilling campaign within the field. In particular, the workover and mini-frac at well #32 has yielded continued validation of the effectiveness of frac completions as this well had been producing approximately 2 bopd pre-treatment, and has been averaging approximately 21 bopd for nearly 40 days post-treatment. While production rates are not material in the context of expectations for more standard full scale applications, the result provides continued validation of the enhancement that can be achieved from frac completions similar to that obtained from the Dino-#2 and T-#45 wells.
As announced last year, the Company is continuing its negotiations with strategic financing partners for development of the Taribani Field prior to commencement of operations on a 4 well campaign designed to continue exploitation of Zones 9, 14, 15 and 19 within the field, as well as other associated horizons situated within a potentially prospective 1,000 metre geologic column that has emerged as a result of ongoing study.
When operations commence, plans are to begin with 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 predicts a "most-likely" case of approximately 1,000 bopd. In addition, Frontera plans to side track the T-#31 and T-#16 wells in order to apply frac-completions to Zones 14 and 15, as well as drill the new T-#46 well location with similar frac-completion in the same target zones. The Company believes that the three wells can achieve daily production rates of 300 bopd per well.
Additionally, an ongoing geologic study initiative continues across an area referred to as the Taribani Field Complex. This is an area that encompasses approximately 1,400 square kilometres and includes the discovered yet undeveloped Taribani, Kila Kupra, Bayda and Iori fields within Block 12. Frontera is currently reassessing the extensive potential associated with this complex and is seeking to determine if the fields are interconnected within the complex as part of a more extensive unconventional reservoir/resource play for oil. Internal preliminary analysis suggests that there could be as much as 18 billion barrels of oil in place throughout this complex. Ongoing work throughout the remainder of this year will continue to study and assess the viability of this analysis and larger scale development potential. Independent assessment of the Company's conclusions will not take place until 2014.
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.
Mirzaani Field:
At the Mirzaani Field, the Company has planned a 5 well drilling campaign with the intention of exploiting the undeveloped northwestern portion of the field, with individual wells each believed to be able to deliver approximately 100 bopd. As previously announced, the Company is in ongoing discussions with a potential partner to secure a funding package and it is anticipated that these negotiations will be finalized and the Company will commence the drilling program later this year.
The Mirzaani Field is located in the eastern portion of the Shallow Fields Production Unit amidst a complex of several existing oil fields. Discovered in 1932, the Mirzaani Field has historically produced oil from a small developed portion of the field but contains extensive undeveloped and underdeveloped areas. After acquiring approximately 100 kilometres of new 2D seismic data as part of an effort to re-map and identify new potential associated with the field, Frontera drilled the Mirzaani #1, #2 and #5 discovery and appraisal wells, which were the first wells to be drilled in the field since the Soviet-era.
In 2010, NSA assigned a "Best Estimate" for gross OOIP for the Mirzaani Field and Mirzaani Northwest Extension of 541.7 million barrels, with a "low"-to-"high" range of 343.8-857.3 million barrels; and a "Best Estimate" for remaining recoverable gross contingent and unrisked prospective oil resources of 43.8 million barrels, with a "low"-to-"high" range of 20.5-86.1 million barrels. This assessment is consistent with Frontera's internal estimates.
Basin Edge Play Unit:
Ongoing technical analysis of Frontera's historical work relating to the Basin Edge "A", "B" and "C" prospects has continued. Technical studies have served to further validate historical interpretations associated with each prospect and provide better understanding of potential reservoir targets related to this exploration play. Additionally, discussions continue with a potential strategic partner in order to return to work in this Unit later this year.
The Basin Edge Play Unit is located along the northern border of Block 12 and represents what the Company believes to be one of the newest and potentially most prolific exploration plays in the Upper Kura Basin, with large potential structures in Cretaceous carbonate reservoirs. In 2005, NSA estimated total unrisked prospective resource potential to be in excess of 680 million barrels within the primary Cretaceous and secondary Miocene (Sarmatian) reservoir targets of the "B" and "C" prospects within the play.
Shale Play Unit/Unconventional Reservoir Studies:
Extensive studies continue across a potentially prospective area associated with the regional Maykop shales within Block 12. Work to date has focused on assessing potential for oil and gas across all of Block 12, however, Block 12 is hypothesized to have significant unconventional reservoir potential. Study work to further define the play's prospectivity is ongoing and to date has included analysis of historical data bases, extensive new geologic field work and outcrop sampling, as well as laboratory analysis. Work is expected to continue throughout the remainder of this year with the results expected to be announced following the completion of this work.
Greater Black Sea Strategy:
In February 2012, Frontera signed a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with the State Service For Geology and Mineral Resources of Ukraine that allows the Company to select an area for exploration and production work in the country. Since that time, work has advanced in support of securing a new license and establishing an operating presence in the country. Frontera's objective is to build on its extensive regional geologic knowledge and extend into the west through the acquisition of an expanded exploration and production portfolio.
Corporate:
Frontera plans to issue audited year end 2012 results on 28 June 2013.
Oil production for the period January 1 through June 1, 2013 totaled approximately 29,947 bbls. The Company believes that production volumes will increase over the remainder of the financial year such that production will be in line with current market forecasts.
This operations update, along with a short series of slides, will be presented to the Company stockholders at the AGM on 6 June 2013. The presentation slides will be posted to the Company website (www.fronteraresources.com) simultaneously with the commencement of the AGM at 10:00 AM Central Daylight Time.
Enquiries:
Frontera Resources CorporationLiz WilliamsonVice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications(713) 585-3216lwilliamson@fronteraresources.com
Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker:
finnCap LimitedMatt Goode/Christopher Raggett+44 (0) 20 7220 0500
Co-Broker:
Cornhill Capital LimitedNick Bealer / Stefan Olivier+44 (0)20 7710 9610
Financial PR:
BuchananTim Thompson / Tom Hufton+44 (0)20 7466 5000timt@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. 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.
3. 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.