FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

 8 November 2022

Predator Oil & Gas Holdings Plc / Index: LSE / Epic: PRD / Sector: Oil & Gas
 
LEI 213800L7QXFURBFLDS54

Predator Oil & Gas Holdings Plc

("Predator" or the "Company" and together with its subsidiaries "the Group")

MOU-2 well preparations

Highlights

·    Estimated MOU-2 will commence drilling within the first two weeks of December

·    Well costs prudently managed and as for MOU-1 despite cost inflation

·    Gas sales and CNG financing agreements triggered by release of test results

·    Corporate transaction to monetise shareholder value will be considered

after MOU-2 and MOU-1 rigless testing

Predator Oil & Gas Holdings Plc (LSE: PRD), the Jersey based Oil and Gas Company with near-term gas operations focussed on Morocco, is pleased to provide an update on progress towards finalising its drilling operation to enable the MOU-2 well to commence drilling.

Currently it is estimated that the well will commence drilling within the first two weeks of December. The exact date will be determined by when all pre-ordered drilling materials have cleared Moroccan customs in the coming weeks. Materials have been sourced from Canada, Egypt, France, the UK and the Middle East, reflecting the pressure on logistics and the supply chain that the war in Ukraine has created for the larger drilling services companies.

Re-assessing and adjusting the components of the drilling mud system and carefully adjusting mud weights based on the information gathered from MOU-1 is anticipated to afford greater reservoir protection whilst drilling and to facilitate a successful rigless testing programme.

Optimisation of the overall drilling programme by using the MOU-1 experience together with our ability to connect to multiple service providers to overcome supply chain issues has enabled the Company to make significant cost savings such that the budgeted cost of MOU-2 remains very close to the final well cost for MOU-1. This is despite the significant increase in the cost of equipment, materials and personnel as a result of challenging global market conditions.

Following initial discussions during this year with a number of parties it is anticipated that the Company will sign agreements shortly after the announcement of the MOU-2 test results with certain companies that it has prioritised for gas sales and an initial financing package for a simple Compressed Natural Gas ("CNG") pilot development. CNG is easily scalable, unlike a fixed pipeline development, and is attractive for developers of gas seeking a near-term increase in gas revenues.

Paul Griffiths, Executive Chairman of Predator Oil & Gas Holdings Plc commented:

"We are delighted to have made excellent progress towards commencing the drilling of the MOU-2 well as a result of being able to develop a diverse supply chain to ensure that all drilling materials are available at the well site to enable operating a successful well.

We are please with the level of interest being generated within Morocco and amongst those groups seeking gas to address the rise in demand for secure new gas resources.

We have multiple gas prospects in this area of the Guercif licence for further "running room" without any requirement to expand our licence portfolio.

The option to prudently finance further step-out drilling on the back of revenue generation from CNG sales is an attractive business development strategy. However MOU-2 and MOU-1 rigless testing could potentially confirm continuity of the Moulouya Fan over an area of 30km² to support a case for the higher end of the net contingent gas resources to the Company of 708 BCF, as defined in the independent SLR Consulting Ireland Ltd. ("SLR") Competent Persons Report ("CPR"), (February 2020 and January 2022 "MOU-4" updated). If this were the case the Company would not hesitate to initiate a corporate transaction to monetise shareholder value. In the current climate gas assets attract a significant premium as they can contribute to security of energy supply and the Energy Transition to help stabilise the near-term cost of energy."

For further information visit www.predatoroilandgas.com

Follow the Company on twitter @PredatorOilGas.

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 on market abuse

For more information please visit the Company's website at www.predatoroilandgas.com: 

Enquiries:

Notes to Editors:  

Predator is operator of the Guercif Petroleum Agreement onshore Morocco which is prospective for Tertiary gas in prospects less than 10 kilometres from the Maghreb gas pipeline.  The MOU-1 well has been completed and a follow-up testing programme is being finalised to coordinate with a further drilling programme beginning in 2022.

Predator is seeking to further develop the remaining oil reserves of Trinidad's mature onshore oil fields through the application of CO2 EOR techniques and by sequestrating anthropogenic carbon dioxide to produce "greener" oil.

In addition, Predator also owns and operates exploration and appraisal assets in licensing options offshore Ireland, for which successor authorisations have been applied for, adjoining Vermilion's Corrib gas field in the Slyne Basin on the Atlantic Margin and east of the decommissioned Kinsale gas field in the Celtic Sea.

Predator has developed a Floating Storage and Regasification Project ("FSRUP") for the import of LNG and its regassification for Ireland and is also developing gas storage concepts to address security of gas supply and volatility in gas prices during times of peak gas demand.

The Company has a highly experienced management team with a proven track record in operations in the oil and gas industry.