Exploration Licences Issued

4^th March 2014

 

 

Petrel Resources plc

("Petrel" or the "Company")

 

Frontier Exploration Licences issued in Irish Atlantic

 

Highlights

 

·    Frontier Exploration Licences issued on 1,050km² of Irish Atlantic acreage

·    85% of historical expenditure to be recovered by Petrel

·    Petrel substantially carried through the technical work programme

·    Regional and additional Block data being loaded

 

 

Petrel Resources plc (Petrel) is pleased to announce the award, by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, of Frontier Exploration Licences 3/14 and 4/14 in the Irish Atlantic's Porcupine Basin.  The acreage licensed collectively covers approximately 1,050km² or 75% of the 1,400km² previously held under Licensing Options 11/4 and 11/6.  In August 2013, Petrel farmed out 85% of its interest in, and operatorship of, the Licensing Options to Woodside Energy (Ireland) Pty Ltd (Woodside).

The Frontier Exploration Licences are split into logical phases under best international practice, facilitating orderly permitting and progress.  The Frontier Exploration Licences are valid for 15 years, with an initial 3 year phase, followed by three phases of 4 years each.

The main elements of the first phase are reprocessing of historic 3D seismic, environmental studies and, subject to regulatory rules and permits, may include the acquisition of new, state-of-the-art 3D seismic.  Preparatory technical and environmental work is underway.

Petrel is 100% carried through phase one of the work programme, which covers the next three years.

The main element of the second phase, should the parties elect to enter it, would be the drilling of a well on each Frontier Exploration Licence, for which Petrel would be substantially carried. 

As set out in the Company's technical update announcements in respect of these Licences, Petrel launched the farm-out process with the objective of finding the best partner with the vision as well as technical and financial resources and strategic intent to pioneer new hydrocarbon plays in an under-explored, deep-water frontier basin. The Woodside transaction and Licence awards represent the successful conclusion of this process.

 

 

David Horgan, Managing Director of Petrel, commented:

 

"Petrel is delighted to announce the award of two Frontier Exploration Licences in priority areas of the prospective Porcupine Basin.  Past explorers have generally applied 'North Sea type' approaches without sufficient regard to the different geology of the Atlantic Margin."

"Petrel had already identified a number of geological plays on this acreage, justifying additional technical work. Our operating partners, Woodside, have brought additional ideas, based on their technical expertise and past successes elsewhere.  The next phase of the work programme is already underway."

 

                                                                                         

ENDS

 

Enquiries:

 

Petrel Resources Plc

David Horgan, Managing Director                                                              +353 (0) 87 292 3500

John Teeling, Executive Chairman                                                              +353 (0)1 833 2833

 

Northland Capital Partners Limited

John Howes / Alice Lane                                                                              + 44 (0)20 7382 1100

Edward Hutton / Gavin Burnell                                                                    

 

Blythe Weigh Communications                                                                    +44 (0) 207 138 3204

Tim Blythe                                                                                                       +44 (0) 781 692 4626

Eleanor Parry                                                                                                 +44 (0) 755 129 3620

Halimah Hussain                                                                                           +44 (0) 772 597 8141

 

Pembroke Communications

Natalie Tennyson                                                                                           +353 (0) 1 649 6340

 

 

 

www.petrelresources.com