| November 17, 2009 |
| Heritage Oil Interim Management Statement |
CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Nov. 17, 2009) -
THIS PRESS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
Heritage Oil Plc ("Heritage" or the "Company") (TSX:HOC)(LSE:HOIL), an independent upstream exploration and production company, issues its Interim Management Statement for the period from 1 July 2009 to 16 November 2009, in accordance with reporting requirements of the EU Transparency Directive.
Highlights
-- Appraisal drilling on Miran West structure, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, to
commence later this month with further appraisal and development
drilling planned in 2010
-- Exploration drilling on the neighbouring Miran East structure planned
for 2010
-- High-impact exploration and appraisal, multi-well drilling campaign to
commence in Block 1, Uganda, in early 2010
-- Strong cash position of US$222 million, sufficient for current planned
work programmes in 2010
-- Discussions with Genel Energy International Limited ("Genel") are
ongoing and it is hoped that a signed implementation agreement and
prospectus will be published before the end of the year
-- Commencement of Heritage's busiest schedule of exploration, appraisal
and development work programmes ever
EXPLORATION ASSETS
Uganda
Activity in Block 1 will recommence in early 2010 with a high-impact, six well, exploration and appraisal programme which will target the Buffalo East, Crocodile and Leopard prospects. This drilling campaign has the potential to add significantly to both the proven and contingent volumes of oil in Block 1. Site preparation work has already begun for well locations. The successful drilling campaign, which concluded in January 2009, has substantially lowered the risk applied to many of the analogous prospects in this block.
Drilling in Lake Albert in Block 3A, targeting the Pelican and Crane prospects, is planned for 2010.
Heritage is planning for early commercialisation of the Ugandan oil resources, with potential first production in 2011, and discussions with the government of Uganda are in progress. Heritage's Ugandan oil production from Blocks 1 and 3A will form part of a phased development plan for the region, which will focus initially on development of the Kingfisher Field and utilise the existing railway network in East Africa. An export pipeline to the coast is also being considered by Heritage, as well as a scheme to service local markets. A number of parties have approached Heritage with a view to financing large scale infrastructure programmes in Uganda and discussions with these parties continue.
Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Drilling of the Miran West-2 well is expected to commence later this month and has been planned to appraise the reservoir sections previously encountered in the Miran West-1 discovery well, whilst minimising the risk of formation damage. The rig for Miran West-2 is currently moving approximately four kilometres north-west of the Miran West-1 well to the new location.
Miran West-2 constitutes the start of a multi-well drilling programme in 2010 on the Miran Block, which includes an exploration well on the Miran East structure.
Planned Exploration and Appraisal Drilling Activity
Country Block Prospect(s) Interest Estimated Spud Date
Uganda Block 1 Buffalo East-1, 50% Q1 2010
Prospects 2 & 3
Uganda Block 1 Crocodile-1, 50% Q2 2010
Leopard-1,
Prospect 6
Kurdistan Region of Miran Miran West-2 75% November 2009
Iraq
Kurdistan Region of Miran Miran East-1 75% Q2 2010
Iraq
Work programmes in Mali, Malta, Tanzania and Pakistan continue with the acquisition of seismic data and some drilling planned for 2010.
PRODUCING ASSET
Russia
Production for the third quarter averaged 422 bopd, 83% higher than during the first half of this year. Shipment of crude oil to Transneft commenced in November 2009, expanding oil marketing opportunities in addition to supplying local buyers. A Full Development Plan is being prepared and should be submitted to the authorities by year end.
FINANCING
Heritage has a strong cash position of US$222 million at 30 September 2009, which covers ongoing work programmes and current plans for 2010 comfortably.
CORPORATE
Discussions with Genel are continuing with the terms of the merger nearing formal agreement. Both sides remain committed to completing the proposed transaction. It is hoped that the implementation agreement can be signed and the prospectus published before the end of the year.
Tony Buckingham, Chief Executive Officer, commented:
"Operationally, Heritage is about to embark on its busiest period ever with high-impact multi-well drilling programmes in Kurdistan and Uganda, providing the potential for a significant increase in oil volumes. The previous successful drilling campaign in Block 1, Uganda, has de-risked the prospects for the upcoming programme in Uganda significantly."
Notes to Editors
-- Heritage is listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange and
is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. The trading symbol is HOIL.
Heritage has a further listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:HOC).
-- Heritage is an independent upstream exploration and production company
engaged in the exploration for, and the development, production and
acquisition of, oil and gas in its core areas of Africa, the Middle East
and Russia.
-- Heritage has a producing property in Russia and exploration projects in
Uganda, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, the Democratic Republic of Congo,
Malta, Pakistan, Tanzania and Mali.
-- All dollars are US$ unless otherwise stated
-- For further information please refer to our website,
www.heritageoilplc.com
If you would prefer to receive press releases via email please contact Lindsay Carpenter (lindsay@chfir.com) and specify "Heritage press releases" in the subject line.
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:
Except for statements of historical fact, all statements in this news release - including, without limitation, statements regarding production estimates and future plans and objectives of Heritage - constitute forward-looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results include risks and uncertainties such as: risks relating to estimates of reserves and recoveries; production and operating cost assumptions; development risks and costs; the risk of commodity price fluctuations; political and regulatory risks; and other risks and uncertainties as disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in its Prospectus and elsewhere in Heritage documents filed from time-to-time with the London Stock Exchange and other regulatory authorities. Further, any forward-looking information is made only as of a certain date and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking information or statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management of the Company to predict all of these factors and to assess in advance the impact of each such factor on the Company's business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking information. | |