Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.: Transformational Far...
FOR: FALCON OIL & GAS LTD.
TSX VENTURE SYMBOL: FO
AIM SYMBOL: FOG
May 2, 2014
Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.: Transformational Farm-Out of Beetaloo Unconventional Acreage, Northern Teritory,
Australia
DUBLIN, IRELAND--(Marketwired - May 2, 2014) - Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:FO)(AIM:FOG)(ESM:FAC)
("Falcon" or the "Company") is delighted to announce that its 98% subsidiary, Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Ltd
("Falcon Australia"), has executed Definitive Agreements including a Farm-Out Agreement and Joint Operating
Agreements (collectively "the Agreements") with Origin Energy Resources Limited, a subsidiary of Origin Energy
Limited ("Origin") and Sasol Petroleum Australia Limited, a subsidiary of Sasol Limited ("Sasol"), collectively
referred to herein as "the Farminees", to each farm into 35% of Falcon's Exploration Permits in the Beetaloo
Basin, Australia ("the Permits"). The Agreements are subject to conditions inter alia Government, statutory
authority consents and relevant Stock Exchange approvals.
Transaction details
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-- Farminees to carry Falcon in a nine well exploration and appraisal
program over five years, detailed as follows:
-- 3 vertical exploration/stratigraphic wells and core studies
-- 1 hydraulic fracture stimulated vertical exploration well and core
study
-- 1 hydraulic fracture stimulated horizontal exploration well,
commercial study and 3C resource assessment
-- 4 hydraulic fracture stimulated horizontal exploration/appraisal
wells, micro-seismic and 90 day production tests
-- Drilling to commence as soon as possible following completion of the
Agreements - targeting 2014 subject to the normal regulatory
requirements and rig availability.
-- Drilling/testing specifically planned to take the project towards
commerciality.
-- Farminees to pay Falcon A$20 million cash on completion of the
Agreements.
-- Origin and Sasol to each earn 35% interest in the Permits.
-- Falcon to retain a 30% interest in the Permits.
-- Origin to be the Operator.
-- Farminees will pay for the full cost of completing the first five wells
estimated at A$64 million, and will fund any cost overruns. This work is
expected to be completed within the first three years.
-- Farminees to pay the full cost of the following two horizontally
fracture stimulated wells, 90 day production tests and micro seismic
with a capped expenditure of A$53 million, any cost overrun funded by
each Party in proportion to their working interest. This work programme
is expected to be undertaken in year 4.
-- Farminees to pay the full cost of the final two horizontally fracture
stimulated wells and 90 day production tests capped at A$48 million, any
cost overrun funded by each Party in proportion to their working
interest. This work programme is expected to be undertaken in year 5.
-- As part of the agreements to reduce the overriding royalties from what
was originally 12% to 1%, Farminees will pay their pro-rata share (US$14
million) of the two five year call options entered into by Falcon as
part of agreements announced on 1 November 2013 with CR Innovations AG
and 17 December 2013 with the TOG Group, should Farminees and Falcon
decide to exercise the call options.
-- Farminees may reduce or surrender their interests back to Falcon only
after:
-- the drilling of the first five wells or
-- the drilling and testing of the next two horizontally fracture
stimulated wells.
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Renewal and Relinquishment:
Three (EP-76, EP-98 and EP-117) of Falcon Australia's four Beetaloo Permits were due for renewal at 31 December
2013. As part of the renewal process, Falcon agreed to relinquish approximately 26% of the three Permits which
was not considered to be core to the unconventional play in the Beetaloo Basin by Falcon, Origin and Sasol. The
renewal of the three Permits was completed on 30 April 2014. Falcon Australia's fourth permit, EP-99, which was
due for renewal at 31 December 2014 was surrendered as it too was not considered to be core to the
unconventional play.
Philip O'Quigley, CEO of Falcon commented:
"We are delighted that we have brought two great fit for purpose partners, Origin and Sasol to work alongside
us in the evaluation of our highly prospective acreage in the Beetaloo Basin as we move the project towards
commercial reality.
The Farm-Out announced today marks a significant milestone in the history of Falcon as it provides for a five
year, nine well, technically comprehensive exploration work program in the Beetaloo. Together with A$20 million
cash up front, the deal is worth up to approximately A$200 million to Falcon.
This Farm-Out marks the end of a very busy period for Falcon. In July 2013 we consolidated our interest in
Falcon Australia and increased our shareholding from 73% to 98%. In November and December 2013 we completed two
agreements that will result in the reduction of the 12% privately held Overriding Royalty Interests on the
Permits to just 1%.
Origin brings with it an enormous wealth of expertise as an Unconventional Operator in Australia. Sasol,
through its interest in the Montney unconventional shale play in North America brings with it enormous
expertise of operating unconventional shale plays and is a world leader in gas to liquids. In addition, Origin
and Sasol offer many potential options for the monetisation of any natural gas discovered on the Permits".
John Craven, Chairman of Falcon said:
"This is a monumental deal for Falcon. Apart from the value of the carried, no cost drilling programme to
Falcon, the real value is that with Origin/Sasol we now have the financial and technical fire-power to unlock
the real hydrocarbon potential of the Beetaloo Basin. I am particularly pleased that the initial focus of
evaluation will be on the Middle Velkerri formation which according to RPS(i) has prospective potentially
recoverable oil and gas resources of over 12.7 billion BBLS of oil and 74.5 TCF of natural gas in the Beetaloo.
I see this is as a win win for all stakeholders, particularly the people of Northern Territory where any
success will have a major impact.
I would like to thank shareholders for their patience. It is because of our belief in the potential of the
Beetaloo Basin that management has in recent months focussed on maximising shareholders' upside to the Beetaloo
play by increasing Falcon's stake in our Australian affiliate and significantly reducing legacy royalties, both
of which were necessary to allow a successful farm out process to occur.
Finally I would like to thank and congratulate all those who have worked on this project for their hard work
and diligence in making this happen".
About Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.
Falcon is an international oil & gas company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of
conventional and unconventional oil and gas assets, with the current portfolio spread between Australia, South
Africa and Hungary. Falcon is incorporated in British Columbia, Canada and headquartered in Dublin, Ireland
with a technical team based in Budapest, Hungary. Falcon Australia is a 98% subsidiary of Falcon and is the
registered holder of three Exploration Permits covering approximately 4.6 million acres in the Beetaloo Basin,
Northern Territory, Australia.
For further information on Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. please visit www.falconoilandgas.com.
About Origin
Origin Energy (ASX: ORG) is the leading Australian integrated energy company focused on gas and oil exploration
and production, power generation and energy retailing. A member of the S&P/ASX 20 Index, the company has more
than 6,000 employees and is a leading producer of gas in eastern Australia. Origin is Australia's largest
energy retailer servicing 4.3 million electricity, natural gas and LPG customer accounts and has the country's
largest and one of the most flexible generation portfolios with approximately 6,010 MW of capacity, through
either owned generation or contracted rights. Through Australia Pacific LNG, its incorporated joint venture
with ConocoPhillips and Sinopec, Origin is developing one of Australia's largest CSG to LNG projects based on
Australia's largest 2P CSG reserves base.
In New Zealand, Origin is the major shareholder in Contact Energy, a leading integrated energy company,
operating geothermal, thermal and hydro generation facilities and servicing electricity, gas and LPG customers
across both the North and South islands. Origin is also a major operator and participant in petroleum
exploration acreage in New Zealand.
For more information go to www.originenergy.com.au
About Sasol
Sasol Limited, through its subsidiary Sasol Canada, owns a 50 per cent working interest in two natural gas
fields in British Columbia and is pursuing the opportunity to build Canada's first gas-to-liquids (GTL)
facility to convert natural gas into high-quality transportation fuels. Sasol entered Canada in early 2011
through a $2 billion acquisition for a 50 per cent working interest in Talisman Energy's natural gas assets in
one of the most prolific shale plays in North America: the Montney shale basin located in northeast British
Columbia. The Sasol/Talisman partnership holds 108,000 total net acres of land in the Montney basin with
approximately 20 TCF of contingent resource. 134 production wells have been drilled to date.
Sasol Limited is an integrated energy and chemical company and is the world's largest producer of synthetic
fuels. It is the World leader in gas-to-liquids (GTL) and coal-to-liquids (CTL) technology with over 60 years'
experience. Sasol is present in 38 Countries and employs 34,000 people Worldwide. Sasol is listed on the JSE
and NYSE with a market capitalisation of A$36 billion.
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Glossary of terms
TCF Trillion cubic feet
BBLS Barrels of oil
BCF Billion cubic feet
A$ Australian dollars
MW Megawatt
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(i) Source: RPS Energy in its Competent Person Report ("CPR") titled "Evaluation of the Hydrocarbon Resource
Potential Pertaining to Certain Acreage Interests in the Beetaloo Basin, Onshore Australia and Mako Trough,
Onshore Hungary" (the "RPS 2013 Report") dated 1 January 2013 (filed on www.sedar.com and on Falcon Oil & Gas
Ltd's website at www.falconoilandgas.com). Prospective Resources are those quantities of petroleum estimated,
as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from undiscovered accumulations by application of future
development projects. Prospective resources have both an associated chance of discovery and a chance of
development. There is no certainty that any portion of the undiscovered resources will be discovered and that,
if discovered, it may not be economically viable or technically feasible to produce any of the resources.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies
of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Certain information in this press release may constitute forward-looking information, including comments made
with respect to the type and number of wells and expected costs of the work program under the Farm-out and the
project being brought towards commerciality. This information is based on current expectations that are subject
to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially
from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. Falcon assumes no obligation to update the forward-
looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the
forward looking-statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to Falcon. Additional
information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in Falcon's filings with the Canadian securities
regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.
Philip O'Quigley
CEO
+353 87 814 7042 or +353 1 417 1900
OR
Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.
John Craven
Non-Executive Chairman
+353 1 417 1900
OR
FTI Consulting
Edward Westropp
+44 207 269 7230
OR
Davy (NOMAD & Joint Broker)
John Frain / Anthony Farrell
+353 1 679 6363
OR
GMP Securities Europe LLP (Joint Broker)
Rob Collins / Liz Williamson
+44 20 7647 2800
OR
Cantor Fitzgerald Europe (Joint Broker)
David Porter / Richard Redmayne
+44 207 894 7000
INDUSTRY: Energy and Utilities-Oil and Gas
SUBJECT: OEX
Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.
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