Cameroon Reserves Report and Operational Update

1 November 2018

Tower Resources plc

Cameroon Reserves Report and Operational Update

Tower Resources plc (the "Company" or "Tower" (TRP.L, TRP LN)), the AIM listed oil and gas company with its focus on Africa, is pleased to announce the results of an independent Reserves Report that conforms to SPE_PRMS guidelines ("Reserves Report") from Oilfield International Limited ("OIL") on behalf of the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, Tower Resources Cameroon S.A, across its Thali licence, offshore Cameroon in which it holds a 100% licence interest. The Company is also pleased to provide an operational update on Cameroon.

The OIL Reserves Report has quantified contingent and prospective resources across multiple fault block prospects on the Thali licence, including the existing oil discovery at Njonji in the southern part of the licence, together with their calculated Expected Monetary Value ("EMV"), as detailed below.

Reserve Report and other highlights:

§ Gross mean contingent resources of 18 MMbbls of oil across the proven Njonji-1 and Njonji-2 fault blocks (with low/best/high estimates of 5/15/34 MMbbls) and with a development contingency probability of 80% on first phase and 70% on second phase; 

§ Gross mean prospective resources of 20 MMbbls of oil across the Njonji South and Njonji South-West fault blocks (with low/best/high estimates of 5/16/39 MMbbls);

§ Gross mean prospective resources of 111 MMbbls of oil across four identified prospects located in the Dissoni South and Idenao areas in the northern part of the Thali licence (with low/best/high estimates of 21/84/237 MMbbls);

§ Calculated EMV10s of US$118 million for the contingent resources, and US$82 million for the prospective resources, respectively;

§ A Letter of Commitment has been executed to secure a modern and suitable jack-up rig for the drilling of the NJOM-3 well in Q2 2019;  

§ An offer of financing from an industry partner for the Thali licence has also been received and is being considered alongside other funding options.    

The Reserves Report was independently compiled by UK-based industry specialist Oilfield International Limited and was based on the work that Tower has undertaken during the past year including a reprocessing and reinterpretation of all of the existing 3D seismic data over the licence area, and substantial further analysis of the data including an independent fault seal analysis undertaken by Dr Tim Needham of the University of Leeds Institute of Applied Geoscience that suggests that the Njonji 1 fault block may be in communication with the Njonji South structure. As part of the Reserves Report process, Tower has also developed a preliminary plan for the further exploration and development of the licence, subject to agreement with the Société National de Hydrocarbures ("SNH") in Cameroon, which envisages a Phase 1 of four wells at Njonji including the proposed NJOM-3 well which is currently planned for April 2019 and an extended well test ("EWT") commencing at the end of 2019. This Phase 1 would proceed in parallel with additional exploration in the northern part of the Thali licence, and would be followed by a Phase 2 of work on Njonji which will be further defined based on the results of Phase 1 and the additional exploration. 

The well planned for Q2 2019 at Njonji ("NJOM-3") is identified in the Reserves Report as a key gateway for the development at Njonji, as it will provide confirmation of the expected flow rates from the Njonji reservoirs, which can presently only be inferred from wireline modular formation tests ("MDT") on the previous two wells because the previous operator did not conduct flow tests to surface. A successful drill stem test ("DST") on this well may then, subject to the usual criteria, allow a reclassification of much of the Phase 1 contingent resources into reserves.

OIL has also calculated an EMV10 of US$118 million for the contingent resources on Njonji-1 and Njonji-2, equivalent to approximately US$6.50 per mean bbl of oil, which is the risked value of the contingent resources before making the investment required to develop them, and taking into account the cost and risk of the NJOM-3 well.

As part of the Reserves Report, OIL undertook a geologic risk assessment on the eight prospects/fault blocks, including the existing oil discoveries on Njonji-1 and Nonji-2, identified by Tower and conducted an independent review of the individual prospect risking. OIL has categorised the volumetrics on Njonji-1 and Njonji-2 as a contingent resource with an 80% chance of commercialisation (based on an estimated chance of success of NJOM-3 of 90%), and OIL has applied a 70% chance of commercialisation to the Phase 2 contingent resources, as their commercialisation is dependent on Phase 1 being executed.

The prospective resources in Njonji South and South West have been given an overall chance of development of 30% and 16% respectively. The larger Njonji South prospective Resources will be tested at low cost by one of the Phase 1 wells planned for Njonji, which can be deviated and extended to test the deeper Njonji South reservoirs, potentially adding some 18 MMbbls (Pmean) of gross resources and over US$100 million of NPV10 to the value of the Njonji project. At present, OIL estimates an EMV10 of US$22 million for the Njonji South and South West prospective resources.

There are also a further 111 MMbbls of Pmean prospective resources identified in the Dissoni South and Idenao fault blocks in the Northern part of the block, to which OIL has estimated chances of development ranging between 13% and 19%, and EMV10 of US$60 million.

The tables below are summaries of some of the key tables in the Executive Summary of the Reserves Report. The "Gross" figures refer to the recoverable volumes from a given structure, the "Net Attributable to Tower" figures refer to the equivalent volumes that Tower can actually expect to receive for its own account in respect of its cost recovery and profit oil under the terms of its licence.

 

NJONJI - OIL CONTINGENT RESOURCES (Gross, MMbbls)
Operator: Tower	Low Estimate			Best Estimate			High Estimate				Mean Estimate (Phase 1&2)			Chance of Development
Development Unclarified
Phase I	5.0			11.8			19.6				17.9			80%
Phase II	0.0			3.4			14.8							70%
TOTAL	5.0			15.2			34.4
NJONJI - OIL CONTINGENT RESOURCES (Net Attributable to Tower, MMbbls)
Operator: Tower	Low Estimate			Best Estimate			High Estimate							Chance of Development
Development Unclarified
Phase I	3.1			6.9			10.0							80%
Phase II	0.0			2.0			7.1							70%
TOTAL	3.1			8.9			17.1
NJONJI - OIL PROSPECTIVE RESOURCES (Gross, MMbbls)
Operator: Tower	Low Estimate	Best Estimate			High Estimate			Mean Estimate		Chance of Discovery			Chance of Commercial Success			Chance of Development
Prospects
Njonji South	4.7	14.9			35.4			18.2		42%			70%			30%
Njonji SW	0.2	1.1			3.6			1.6		32%			50%			16%
TOTAL	4.9	16.0			39.0			19.8
NJONJI - OIL PROSPECTIVE RESOURCES (Net Attributable to Tower, MMbbls)
Operator: Tower	Low Estimate	Best Estimate			High Estimate					Chance of Discovery			Chance of Commercial Success			Chance of Development
Prospects
Njonji South	2.5	7.2			15.9					42%			70%			30%
Njonji SW	0.1	0.7			1.9					32%			50%			16%
TOTAL	2.6	7.9			17.8
DISSONI & IDENAO - OIL PROSPECTIVE RESOURCES (Gross, MMbbls)
Operator: Tower	Low Estimate	Best Estimate			High Estimate			Mean Estimate		Chance of Discovery			Chance of Commercial Success			Chance of Development
Leads
Dissoni South A	8.3	30.9			76.2			37.8		24%			80%			19%
Dissoni South B	1.3	5.6			16.8			7.8		17%			80%			13%
Idenao East FOI2	5.1	21.2			62.0			28.6		18%			80%			14%
Idenao East FOI1	6.4	26.6			82.1			37.1		18%			80%			14%
TOTAL	21.2	84.3			237.1			111.3
DISSONI & IDENAO - OIL PROSPECTIVE RESOURCES (Net Attributable to Tower, MMbbls)
Operator: Tower	Low Estimate		Best Estimate			High Estimate			Chance of Discovery			Chance of Commercial Success			Chance of Development
Leads
Dissoni South A	5.2		16.3			34.7			24%			80%			19%
Dissoni South B	0.8		2.7			7.8			17%			80%			13%
Idenao East FOI2	2.9		10.0			27.2			18%			80%			14%
Idenao East FOI1	3.4		11.6			33.9			18%			80%			14%
TOTAL	12.3		40.6			103.6

 

NJONJI - CONTINGENT RESOURCES (Attributable to Tower NPV10 and EMV10 US$ millions)
Operator: Tower	After Tax NPV10				EMV10
	Low Estimate	Best Estimate	High Estimate	Chance of Development	Swanson's Rule
Development Unclarified
Phase I	4.0	139	206	80%	91
Phase II	0.0	19	1114	70%	27
TOTAL	4.0	158	320		118

Swanson's Rule: 40% P50+30% P90+30% P10

THALI LICENCE - PROSPECTIVE RESOURCES (Attributable to Tower NPV10 and EMV10 US$ millions)
Operator: Tower	After Tax NPV10				EMV10
	Low Estimate	Best Estimate	High Estimate	Chance of Development	Swanson's Rule
Prospective Resources
Prospects
Njonji South	31	117	262	30%	30
Njonji SW	-3	7	29	16%	-8
Leads
Dissoni South A	33	204	467	19%	33
Dissoni South B	10	37	110	13%	-3
Idenao East FOI2	35	138	381	14%	14
Idenao East FOI1	39	142	390	14%	16
TOTAL	145	646	1639		82

Swanson's Rule: 40% P50+30% P90+30% P10

The Executive Summary extracted from the Reserves Report includes more detailed versions of these tables and additional figures, tables, details relating to the initial development plan and a summary of risk factors. The Executive Summary is available on the Tower Resources website at www.towerresources.co.uk.

A glossary of technical terms is included at the end of this announcement.

 

Cameroon Operational Update:

In addition to receiving the Reserve Report, Tower's subsidiary Tower Resources Cameroon S.A has also executed a Letter of Commitment in respect of a modern and suitable jack-up rig, to drill the NJOM-3 well between April and June 2019. The LoC is subject to contract, which Tower expects to be completed by the end of November 2018, and the terms are confidential. However, the economics set out in the LoC are consistent with Tower's current drilling cost estimates, and Tower will be able to provide more details about the rig when the contract is finalised.

Tower has also received a proposal for partnership on the Thali licence, including a possible project financing for the NJOM-3 well, which it is considering. The Company is also discussing reserve-based financing options which could be established after a successful flow test of the NJOM-3 well.

 

Jeremy Asher, Chairman and CEO, commented:

"We are delighted to present our Reserve Report on the Thali licence in Cameroon, the first such report on this licence. The 18 million barrels of Pmean Contingent Resources on the Njonji structure, which we expect the NJOM-3 well to transform into Reserves, are crucial and transformative for our Cameroon project. We are already planning for production from NJOM-3 as early as the end of 2019, with three further wells being designed to increase production and also access considerable further reserves. The current EMV10 of $118 million is a good starting point for us to aim for in terms of delivering value to shareholders, but we hope to go much further as the development unfolds.

We are also pleased to be negotiating final terms of a contract for an excellent jack-up rig that is already proven in Cameroon waters and other West African territories".

 

Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure

Certain information contained in this announcement would have been deemed inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 until the release of this announcement.

 

Contacts

 

Tower Resources plc	[email protected]
Jeremy Asher Chairman and CEO
Andrew Matharu VP - Corporate Affairs
SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP Nominated Adviser and Broker	+44 20 3470 0470
Stuart Gledhill
Caroline Rowe

 

Notes:

In accordance with the guidelines for the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange, Dr. Mark Enfield, BSc Geology, PhD Geology, Advisor to the Board of Tower Resources plc, who has over 30 years' experience in the oil & gas industry, is the qualified person that has reviewed and approved the technical content of this announcement.

Tower Resources Cameroon S.A, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tower Resources plc, holds a 100% interest in the shallow water Thali (formerly known as "Dissoni") Production Sharing Contract (PSC), in the Rio del Rey basin, offshore Cameroon. Tower was awarded the PSC on 15 September 2015 for an Initial Exploration Period of 3 years. A 12-month extension to the Initial Exploration Period was awarded on 14 September 2018.

The Thali PSC covers an area of 119.2 km², with water depths ranging from 8 to 48 metres, and lies in the prolific Rio del Rey basin, in the eastern part of the Niger Delta. The Rio del Rey basin has, to date, produced over one billion barrels of oil and has estimated remaining reserves of 1.2 billion barrels of oil equivalent ("boe"), primarily at depths of less than 2,000 metres. The Rio del Rey is a sub-basin of the Niger Delta, an area in which over 34.5 billion barrels of oil has been discovered, with 2.5 billion boe attributed to the Cameroonian section.

 

Glossary:

Best Estimate: At least a 50% probability (P50) that the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the Best Estimate (in statistical terms, a median).

Chance of Development: The chance of discovery multiplied by the chance of commercial success

Contingent Resources: Those quantities of Petroleum estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from known accumulations, by the application of development Project(s) not currently considered to be Commercial due to one or more contingencies.

DST: Drill Stem Test.

EMV10: Expected Monetary Value derived from a discount rate of 10%.

EWT: Extended Well Test.

High Estimate: At least a 10% probability (P10) that the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the High Estimate.  

Low Estimate: At least a 90% probability (P90) that the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the Low Estimate.

MDT: Modular Dynamic Formation Test.

Mean Estimate: The expected value of the full probability distribution of resource volumes.

MMbbls: Millions of barrels.

NPV10: Net Present Value at a discount rate of 10%.

Prospective Resources: Those quantities of petroleum estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from undiscovered accumulations by application of future development projects.

Recoverable: Those quantities of hydrocarbons which are estimated to be producible from accumulations, either discovered or undiscovered. Note that Contingent and Prospective Resources as estimated herein are all estimates of recoverable quantities.

Risked: Quantities that have been adjusted for the probability of success or loss/failure.

Swanson Rule: A methodology for calculating the EMV of an oil or gas prospect.

Unrisked: Quantities which have not been adjusted for the probability of success or loss/failure.