07.01.09
Award of Exploration Block, Proposed Farm-Out Agreement
7 January 2009
PetroLatina Energy Plc
(“PetroLatina” or “the Company”)
Award of Exploration Block, Proposed Farm-Out Agreement
and
Operations Update re Colon-1 Exploration Well
PetroLatina (AIM: PELE), an independent oil and gas exploration, development and production company focused on Latin America, is pleased to announce that Colombia’s hydrocarbon regulatory agency, (the Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos (“ANH”)), confirmed on 26 December 2008, that Petroleos del Norte S.A. (“PDN”), PetroLatina’s wholly owned Colombian operating subsidiary, was the successful bidder for the Putumayo-4 block in the recent Colombian licence bidding round ‘Mini-Ronda 2008’.
The Putumayo-4 block covers an area of 51,333 hectares located in the Putumayo Basin of southern Colombia and has over 400km of pre-existing 2D seismic data from which PetroLatina has already identified promising leads. The Putumayo Basin is considered by ANH to be one of the most promising exploration areas in Colombia and is rapidly becoming a prolific hydrocarbon producer with companies such as Gran Tierra Energy Inc., Petrominerales Ltd. and Ecopetrol S.A. amongst others operating in the region.
Under the proposed terms of the exploration and production contract (the “E&P Contract”) with ANH, PetroLatina will be required to shoot a minimum of 103km of 2D seismic data and to drill at least one exploratory well within the first three years of the work programme. PetroLatina’s proposal for the Putumayo-4 block also included additional work commitments, comprising US$1.6 million in additional seismic work, and a 1 per cent. net production revenue payment after royalties to ANH. The E&P Contract comprises two 3 year exploration phases and a 24 year production phase.
PetroLatina expects to finalise and sign the formal E&P Contract with ANH during the first quarter of this year.
In addition, through PDN, PetroLatina has also entered into a memorandum of understanding for a proposed farm-out agreement for the project with La Cortez Energy Inc. (“La Cortez”) (OTC: LTCZ), an early stage oil and gas exploration and production company currently focusing on the energy sector in South America. Pursuant to the terms of the proposed farm-out agreement, La Cortez will assume two-thirds of the cost of the first seismic campaign (estimated to be US$2.6 million), which will be reimbursed in full by PetroLatina should the initial exploratory well ultimately prove to be a producing well. La Cortez will also be entitled to a 50 per cent. Net Working Interest in the Putumayo-4 block. The proposed farm-out agreement is intended to be finalised shortly after signature of the E&P Contract.
Operations Update
Further to the announcement made on 1 December 2008, PetroLatina is also pleased to provide an operational update in respect of the Colón-1 exploration well.
The Company previously announced the commencement of drilling operations on Colon-1, the first exploratory well to be drilled on the La Paloma block, with an expected total drilling depth of 9,072ft in order to test the La Paz, Lisama and Umir formations. The well has to date been drilled to a total depth of 8,825ft. At 6,700ft a gas show was registered in the Eocene La Paz Formation and at 8,700ft good oil shows and gas were observed in the Cretaceous Umir Sandstones. At a depth of 8,825ft, the current drilling program had to change as a result of the overpressure zone penetrated in the Umir formation and a cement plug has now been set up in the original hole at a depth of approximately 2,275ft. A side track has been started at 2,370ft in order to reach an intended revised target depth of up to approximately 9,200ft. This side track operation is expected to result in an increase of approximately US$1.6 million in the original projected costs of US$6 million, but the Directors of PetroLatina remain encouraged by the well’s progress to date.
The remaining programme, including completion of the side track drilling operation to a total depth of approximately 9,200ft (about 41m from the original bottom coordinates), wireline logging and initial production testing, is expected to take a further 12 days to complete.
The Company retains an 80 per cent. working interest in the Colón-1 well and is the operator.
Juan Carlos Rodriguez, CEO of PetroLatina, commented:
“PetroLatina is delighted to have secured this block in a proven hydrocarbon basin with exceptional exploration potential. The award underlines the reputation and technical abilities of our operational team in Colombia. This has been further evidenced by the proposed farm-out agreement with La Cortez which substantially reduces the exploration risk for our shareholders.”
“We remain excited by the potential of the Colón-1 prospect which we believe has possible recoverable reserves of up to 19.8 million barrels of oil. We hope to be able to announce initial production testing results in the coming weeks following completion of the side-track process.”
Enquiries:
PetroLatina Energy Plc
Juan Carlos Rodriguez, Chief Executive Officer / Sebastien Garnier, Chief Financial Officer Tel: +57 1627 8435 / + 44 7525 009616
Pawan Sharma, Executive Vice President - Corporate Affairs Tel: +44 (0)207 956 2821
Strand Partners Limited
Simon Raggett / Matthew Chandler Tel: +44 (0)20 7409 3494
Financial Dynamics
Ben Brewerton / Susan Quigley Tel: +44 (0)20 7831 3113
Additional Information on PetroLatina Energy Plc:
PetroLatina Energy Plc (AIM: PELE), formerly known as Taghmen Energy Plc, was founded in 2004. The Company is presently focused on Colombia after the sale of its assets in Guatemala in which it retains a 20% interest in the first three wells and a 20% working interest in future wells. In Colombia, the Company currently holds 40% and 20% interests in the Los Angeles and Santa Lucía fields on the Tisquirama licence respectively, and a 100% interest in the Doña María field. In November 2007 the Company secured the extension of the Tisquirama licence for the economic life of the fields. In April 2006 the Group acquired an interest in two exploration blocks with an 85% interest in Midas and an 80% interest in La Paloma. PetroLatina also owns the Río Zulia-Ayacucho pipeline in the prolific Catatumbo basin which transports crude oil. Present exploration/exploitation activities in this area should increase the volume of crude oil transported resulting in an increased cash flow. Further information is available on the Company’s website (www.petrolatinaenergy.com).
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21.01.09 Operations Update re Colon-1 Exploration Well
21 January 2009
PetroLatina Energy Plc
(“PetroLatina” or the “Company”)
Operations Update re Colon-1 Exploration Well
and
Subscription for a US$4.875 million tranche of up to a proposed US$9.875 million Convertible...
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07.01.09 Award of Exploration Block, Proposed Farm-Out Agreement
7 January 2009
PetroLatina Energy Plc
(“PetroLatina” or “the Company”)
Award of Exploration Block, Proposed Farm-Out Agreement
and
Operations Update re Colon-1 Exploration Well
PetroLatina (AIM: PELE), an...
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01.12.08 Operations Update
PetroLatina (AIM: PELE), an independent oil and gas exploration, development and production company focused on Latin America, announces a further operational update to that released on 7 November 2008.
La Paloma
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07.11.08 Operations Update
PetroLatina Energy Plc
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Operations Update
New drilling campaign to commence this month
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04.11.08 Director's Dealing
PetroLatina Energy Plc (“PetroLatina” or the “Company”)
Director’s Dealing
PetroLatina (AIM: PELE), the oil and gas exploration and production company focused on Latin America, was today notified that on Friday 31 October...
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06.10.08 Director’s Dealing
PetroLatina Energy Plc (“PetroLatina” or the “Company”)
Director’s Dealing
PetroLatina (AIM: PELE), the oil and gas exploration and production company focused on Latin America, was today notified that on Friday 3 October...
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06.10.08 Director's Dealing
PetroLatina Energy Plc (“PetroLatina” or the “Company”)
Director’s Dealing
PetroLatina (AIM: PELE), the oil and gas exploration and production company focused on Latin America, was today notified that on Friday 3 October...
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30.09.08 Holding in Company
PetroLatina Energy Plc
(“PetroLatina” or the “Company”)
Holding in Company
PetroLatina (AIM: PELE), the oil and gas exploration and production company focused on Latin America, received notification on 30 September 2008...
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30.09.08 Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2008
30 September 2008
PetroLatina Energy Plc
(“PetroLatina” or “the Company”)
Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2008
On track to commence drilling campaign in early November
PetroLatina, the oil and gas...
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30.09.08 Change of Registered Office
30 September 2008
PetroLatina Energy Plc
(“PetroLatina” or “the Company”)
Change of Registered Office
PetroLatina (AIM: PELE), the oil and gas exploration and production company focused on Latin America, announces that...
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