NR loi Romania and Kazackstan.....good expansion
posted on
Feb 04, 2010 09:19PM
Edit this title from the Fast Facts Section
29 January 2010 The Manager Company Announcements Office ASX Ltd 4th Floor, 20 Bridge Street SYDNEY, NSW 2000 ACTIVITY UPDATE Dear Sir, Mailisu III Well #6 Following good shows recorded in the main reservoirs (Beds V & VII) in Mailisu III #6, the well was cased as a future oil producer in November 2009. During December 2009 perforations were undertaken over Bed VII. After the initial test of Bed VII failed larger, deeper-penetrating charges were ordered and used to reperforate the zone. The re-perforation was successful and an inflow into the wellbore was observed with oil being recovered on the perforating line. Swabbing of the well will be undertaken to confirm oil quantity. Following this tubing will be run, the zone acidized and production testing undertaken to determine flow rates. AMI Agreements Caspian is pleased to announce that it has signed two Area of Mutual Interest Agreements (AMIs) – one with Audax Petroleum and Sibinga Petroleum with respect to Romania and another with Sibinga Petroleum with respect to the Republic of Kazakhstan. Romania After entering the European Union (EU) in 2007 the Romanian Government released production and exploration licences for bid throughout 2007 and 2008. In Q2 2009 the largest petroleum licence relinquishment in Romania’s history took place (approximately 40,000sqkm relinquished by Petrom & Romgaz). These blocks will become available through future bidding rounds. Bids for the first tranche (30 blocks in Pannonian, Danube Delta & Black Sea) are due in May 2010 with the winning bids notified in early July 2010. AuDAX (ADX), an ASX listed company, is operator of the AMI and throughout 2008 and 2009 has undertaken studies to identify the regions and key productive reservoirs with the greatest future hydrocarbon potential. Significant remaining undiscovered hydrocarbon potential has been identified in all four major hydrocarbon basins with the AMI group able to leverage off publicly available data and local in-country experience and networks. The emerging eastern European economies are a ready market for both oil and gas, with currently regulated gas prices being in the order of 5 USD/mscf whilst the near term expectation is in the order of free market 10 USD/mscf due to the European accession treaty to which Romania is a signatory. Romania itself is an emerging hydrocarbon market (240,000bbls/d & 644BCF/year domestic consumption) with an extensive and interconnected pipeline network of high pressure and low pressure (40psia) grids. Romania has a large refining capacity of 517,000bbls/day from its 10 refineries. Caspian has a 20% position in the AMI group. Kazakhstan Following discussions which identified a shared interest in Central Asia, Caspian (operator) has formed an AMI (50/50) with Sibinga Petroleum. Sibinga Petroleum is a private organisation actively pursuing producing asset opportunities in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. During the last 6 months Caspian has been evaluating various opportunities in Kazakhstan which will allow Caspian’s regional expertise and operating capacity in Central Asia to be fully utilized. During 2010 it is planned to highgrade and bid on several opportunities following technical and commercial evaluation. Caspian has a 50% position in the AMI group.