18 Apr 2012 10:35
18 April 2012 Red Emperor Resources NL ("Red Emperor" or "the Company") Market Update
Red Emperor Resources NL is aware of negative statements and commentary being circulated in respect of progress with the Shabeel-1 well currently being drilled in Puntland by a joint venture between the Company, Horn Petroleum Corp (the operator of the well) and Range Resources Ltd . The Company wishes to confirm that the well has not yet reached depths targeting primary reservoir and refers investors to the drilling update released to the market on 12 April 2012.
The forward plan on the well (currently at 2,953 metres) is to drill ahead to the originally planned depth of 3800 metres to evaluate the primary and secondary reservoir targets (which to date have not been reached) in the Lower Cretaceous and Jurassic intervals equivalent to the main productive section seen in the analogous fields in Yemen. A testing program including the zones of interest seen to date and any deeper potential pay zones identified will be agreed with partners at that time. Upon completion of this well, the Joint Venture plans to move the rig to the Shabeel North location on which construction is nearing completion.
The Company will provide a more detailed update on the progress of drilling in Puntland in conjunction with its Joint Venture partners as the well progresses.
For further information please visit www.redemperorresources.com or contact:
Red Emperor
Greg Bandy +61 8 9225 2826
Rebecca Sandford +44 20 7025 7040
Cairn Financial Advisers LLP (Nominated Adviser)
Jo Turner +44 20 7148 7900
Tony Rawlinson
Old Park Lane Capital plc (Broker)
Luca Tenuta +44 20 7493 8188Michael ParnesTavistock CommunicationsPaul Youens +44 20 7920 3150Ed PortmanBackground
Red Emperor Resources NL is a natural resources exploration company with interests in the frontier state of Puntland, Somalia and the Republic of Georgia.
* In Puntland, Red Emperor holds a 20% working interest in two licences encompassing the highly prospective Dharoor and Nugaal valleys. These two exploration areas cover over 36,000km2. The operator and 60% interest holder, Horn Petroleum Corp. has spud the first well in a two well programme in early 2012 targeting 300mmbls and 375mmbbls of best estimate Prospective Resources (100% basis). Site construction has commenced on the second well with the setting of the 30 inch surface casing and drilling of a 50 meter pilot hole in readiness for spudding following completion of the first well. * In the Republic of Georgia, Red Emperor has a 20% working interest in onshore blocks VIa and VIb, covering approx. 6,500km2. Joint Venture partner Range Resources Limited previously funded a 410km 2D seismic program with independent consultants RPS Energy identifying 68 potential structures containing an estimated 2.045 billion barrels of undiscovered oilâ€"inâ€"place (on a mean 100% basis) with the first (Mukhiani-1) of two exploration wells having spudded in July 2011. Re-interpreted seismic supported by the Mukhiani-1 vertical seismic profiling has identified new fault and stratigraphic trapping potential with the possibility of a side track well to be drilled post additional seismic in 2H 2012.
XLON