Operational update

RNS Number : 9771I

San Leon Energy PLC

23 June 2011

 



23 June 2011

SAN LEON ENERGY

("San Leon" or the "Company")

Operational update

San Leon, the AIM-traded oil and gas exploration and development company focusing on projects in Poland, Morocco, Albania and the Atlantic Margin, is pleased to provide the following Operational Update.

Poland - Exploration programme continues as planned

§ Interpretation and prospect evaluation is ongoing in Szczecinek Block 106 (San leon 50%).  San Leon and its partner, Gas Plus, are looking at further studies including a regional core study to evaluate the paleogeography and continued evaluation of the newly acquired 3D survey.  Gas Plus, the operator of the licence, are likely to delay drilling until 2012 (from Q3 2011) due to internal planning considerations.

§ The Baltic Basic 2D seismic programme, over the Gdansk W, Braniewo and Szczawno Concessions, was completed in June 2011.  The Company successfully acquired 480 km of 2D data.  The programme was completed with a perfect HSE (Health, Safety and   Environment) performance. A drilling rig has been booked for 1 August 2011, which will be used to drill three back-to-back wells.

§ Geofizyka Krakow completed 120 km of high quality 2D seismic over the Company's 100% owned Nida Concession in May 2011.  The data has been interpreted and confirmed three high potential structures on trend with the prolific Grobla and Plowice oil fields.  A San Leon subsidiary, Vabush Energy, plans to drill two of these prospects commencing in July/August 2011.

§ Acoustic Geophysical has started the acquisition of 165 km² of 3D seismic on the Company's 100% owned Nowa Sol Concession.  The survey is currently c.20% complete and is seeking to delineate numerous prospects and leads along the southern Fore Sudetic Monocline of the Permian Basin.  This survey is designed to support an upcoming drilling campaign in the Nowa Sol Concession which is currently planned to start in Q4 2011.

§ Work is ongoing in the Carboniferous shale play across the Wschowa, Gora, Winsko and Rawicz Concessions (San Leon 100%).  The Company continues to evaluate the existing core and well data in preparation for the first exploration well in the area which is planned for Q4 2011.  Core analysis is being performed by TerraTek (Schlumberger) and the Polish Oil & Gas Institute in Krakow.  Petrophysics on the existing well logs has been performed by NuTech.

Morocco

§ The Tarfaya Oil Shale pilot project is well advanced.

§ The base camp has been constructed and all operational personnel are on site with all communications systems in place.

§ The pilot plant site construction and the assembly of the process equipment has been completed.

§ Two wells have been drilled at a distance of 10 meters apart confirming the presence of 30 metres of prospective oil shale at a depth of 195 meters.  This is slightly thicker than the original prognosis. The initial model provided by ONHYM (Morocco National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines) has also been confirmed by the well logs.

§ A pre frac injection test with water was applied to collect data concerning the natural connectivity between the two wells and was followed by a mini hydro frac.  This was unable to establish connectivity between the wells.

§ Initial analysis of these tests has suggested the presence of natural fractures in the shale. San Leon is encouraged by the possibility of these natural fractures which could enhance the propagation of heated gas throughout the prospective intervals.

§ The Company is re-evaluating the technical programme to incorporate the new data gained from these tests into its model for commercial extraction of oil from the Tarfaya Shale.

§ The Company plans to drill a third test well using the same rig in August 2011. Core data will be collected, from this well, in order to evaluate the local geologic parameters of the prospective shale interval as well as the presence and orientation of any natural fractures at the pilot location. Following the drilling of the third well, San Leon will again perform a small frac on the shale to establish connectivity between the wells. Based upon these results injection tests will be designed to take advantage of the fractures.

§ Upon successful flow testing with water, followed by nitrogen, propane will subsequently be brought to the pilot plant to test the process of heating the shale with natural gas.

§ San Leon's new seismic acquisition subsidiary, NovaSeis, is up and running in Morocco. NovaSeis plans to start the acquisition of 1,200 km of 2D seismic in its Tarfaya and Zag Licences by July 1, 2011.

§ Full re-interpretation of the seismic data on the offshore Foum Draa and Sidi Moussa Licences is near completion. Once this is successful, the Company is likely to seek farm-in partners for drilling.

Ireland

§ Following the Company's acquisition of Island Oil & Gas plc, San Leon continues to appraise its high impact Atlantic Margin assets and is seeking farm-in partners. 

§ San Leon completed a 250 km² 3D seismic survey on the North Porcupine Licence (FEL 1/04) in May 2011. The offshore survey was designed to evaluate the highly prospective C1 Lead. PGS Exploration UK Limited was contracted to carry out the survey using the M/V Ramform Vanguard. San Leon has a seismic services agreement with PGS Ventures AS, who is providing a US$50m facility for seismic services, part of which was used for this survey. We expect to finalise the data processing contractor(s) in the coming weeks. Seismic processing is expected to be complete in early Q4 2011. 

§ The Company continues to interpret the 300 km² Slyne Licence (FEL 4/06) 3D survey. Delays in processing and interpretations are the result of very complex structural issues and significant surface volcanics which have made imaging some areas of the survey very difficult.  The initial interpretation is encouraging and the Company plans to open a data room in August/September 2011.

§ Following the completion of the assignment of OMV's 50% interest in Rockall Licence (FEL 3/05) to San Leon in March 2011, the Company had insufficient time to secure a seismic survey vessel for the licence in Summer 2011. San Leon expects to apply to the Irish Government for a licence extension.

§ The company is also considering several options for data acquisition/analysis of the South Porcupine Licence (FEL 3/08) including 2D/3D seismic and controlled source electro magnetic data acquisition with a view to seeking a farm-in partner to the licence.

§ 3D seismic acquisition operations have commenced on Barryroe Licensing Option (08/01)  in the north Celtic Sea, offshore Ireland. Polarcus has been contracted to carry out a 220 km²  survey, which is expected to be completed by the end of June.

Albania

§ The 840 km² Durresi Block 3D seismic acquisition survey was completed in April 2011. The data is currently being processed by Western Geophysical in London, who are expected to deliver the final processed data in early Q4 2011. Parallel interpretation and prospect generation will continue in the interim.

§ The 3D seismic programme will evaluate a number of highly prospective structures in the Block, including the A4-1X discovery, in preparation for a planned 2012 exploration and appraisal drilling programme.

Netherlands

§ GDF Suez E&P Nederland B.V, the new 50% owner in the Amstel Field, offshore Netherlands, has successfully completed the drilling of an appraisal well on 29 March 2011. The partners are currently evaluating a development plan for the oil field, in which San Leon Energy holds a 2.5% royalty.

Italy

§ San Leon has notified the Italian authorities that it is relinquishing two offshore Sicily permits. The Company has made the decision following the publication of a new Italian Environmental Law in June 2010 which placed tighter restrictions on oil and gas exploration within five nautical miles of the coast and twelve nautical miles of any protected environmental area. In effect, San Leon would not have gained an environmental authorisation to drill exploration or appraisal wells in two permit areas, D.352 CR-SL (Narciso) and D.354 CR-SL (Sciacca). The relinquishment will become effective upon publication of a notice in the official Italian Ministerial Gazette, B.U.I.G.. San Leon will continue to retain D.353 CR-SL (Narciso South) and its two onshore Po Valley assets Sorbolo and Sospiro.

Oisin Fanning, Chairman of San Leon Energy commented:

"We continue to make steady progress and meet our objectives as we move from seismic acquisition to drilling on many of our licences. The completion of three seismic acquisition programmes in Poland, particularly the 2D seismic acquisition in the Baltic Basin, and the start of another programme on our Nowa Sol Concession mean our shareholders can now look forward to drilling these prospects over the coming months.

Furthermore, our new seismic acquisition company, Novaseis, is about to begin the first of two seismic acquisition programmes in Morocco and this follows the successful completion of our offshore Albania and Atlantic Margin Ireland surveys.

The Company's operational and technical capacity continues to grow in line with our increasing activity, particularly in Poland, where our knowledge base and expertise is geared towards delivering near term value for our shareholders." 

ENQUIRIES

San Leon Energy plc	Oisin Fanning, Executive Chairman	[phone]
	John Buggenhagen, Director of Exploration
Macquarie Capital (Europe) Limited		[phone]
	John Dwyer
	Paul Connolly
	Ben Colegrave
Fox-Davies Capital Limited	David Porter	[phone]
Arbuthnot Securities Limited	Nominated Adviser	[phone]
	Nick Tulloch
	Henry Willcocks
College Hill	Investment Relations Adviser	[phone]
	Nick Elwes

Qualified person

John Buggenhagen has over 15 years experience in the oil & gas industry. He has a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Geophysics from the University of Wyoming and a B.Sc. in Geophysics from the University of Arizona. He is currently the Director of Exploration for the San Leon Energy Group and based in San Leon's Warsaw

office in Poland.

 

END

 

 

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