Uruguay Update

RNS Number : 2098Q

Challenger Energy Group PLC

27 June 2022

 

27 June 2022

Challenger Energy Group PLC

("Challenger Energy" or the "Company")

Uruguay Update

Challenger Energy (AIM: CEG), the Caribbean and Atlantic-margin focused oil and gas company, with oil production, appraisal, development and exploration assets across the region, notes recent commentary on the recent Uruguay licensing round and in relation to its AREA OFF-1 petroleum licence offshore Uruguay, and provides the following context:

· On 23 June 2022 ANCAP, the Uruguayan state-owned petroleum company, advised publicly that three offshore blocks in Uruguay have been licenced following bids received in the most recent ANCAP 2022 Open Bidding Round.

· Two blocks have been awarded to Shell - the shallow offshore block immediately adjacent to Challenger's OFF-1 block (AREA OFF-2), and one deep-water block (AREA OFF-7). ANCAP has reported that the work Shell committed to undertake in relation to these blocks in the initial 4-year exploration period includes the acquisition of new 3D seismic.

· One deep-water block (AREA OFF-6) has been awarded to APA Corporation (formerly Apache). ANCAP has reported that the work APA Corporation committed to undertake in relation to this block in the initial 4-year exploration period includes the drilling of an exploration well.

· The award of these three blocks is in addition to the OFF-1 block previously awarded to Challenger. Of the three new blocks awarded, the OFF-2 block, which is directly adjacent to Challenger's OFF-1 block, was the only block which received competing bids, with both Shell and APA Corporation having submitted proposals.

· The aggregate value of work committed across blocks OFF-2, OFF-6 and OFF-7 by Shell and APA Corporation in the next 4 years, in respect of both technical and exploration activities including well drilling by APA Corporation, is stated by ANCAP to be approximately US$200 million.

· The full text of the announcement by ANCAP is available on ANCAP's website - www.ancap.com.uy

Challenger Energy considers the entry into Uruguay of two well regarded international companies, and the commitment by both to undertake sizeable and meaningful work programs during an initial exploration period (including 3D seismic acquisition and new well drilling), to be a highly positive development, validating both the Company's decision to enter Uruguay in 2020 and underscoring the solid technical foundation and excellent value proposition represented by the OFF-1 block.

The Company's considers its OFF-1 licence area and the broader offshore Uruguay play system to be analogous to the recent prolific, conjugate margin discoveries made offshore Namibia by TotalEnergies (the Venus well) and Shell (the Graff well), where reported multi-billion-barrel Cretaceous turbidite reservoirs have been encountered. The AREA OFF-1 licence exhibits the same Aptian play source rock and petroleum systems being present.

As noted in previous Company releases, the OFF-1 block contains a management estimated resource potential exceeding 1.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent recoverable (BBOE), based on current mapping from multiple exploration plays and leads in relatively shallow waters, and with significant upside running room. This estimate is corroborated by formal resource estimates provided by ANCAP of 1.35 BBOE as a P50 expected ultimate recoverable resource.

It is noted that in addition to work that will now be undertaken by Shell and APA Corporation on their Uruguayan blocks, various public statements and news releases indicate that relevant additional work and drilling activities are currently underway or being planned by multiple parties for the balance of 2022 and 2023, including additional exploration and appraisal wells being drilled in Namibia, and 3D seismic acquisition in Northern Argentina. These activities are expected to further the technical understanding of the OFF-1 block.

An updated presentation in relation to the OFF-1 block will be placed on the Company's website - www.cegplc.com .

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This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014, which forms part of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended).

In accordance with the AIM Note for Mining and Oil & Gas Companies,  CEG   discloses that Mr. Randolph Hiscock the Company's New Business Director and Uruguay Project Lead, is the qualified person   who has reviewed the technical information contained in this document. He has a Masters in Science (Geology) and is a member of the AAPG & PESGB.  He has over 35 years' experience in the oil and gas industry.  Randolph Hiscock consents to the inclusion of the information in the form and context in which it appears.

For further information, please contact:

Challenger Energy Group PLC Eytan Uliel, Chief Executive Officer	Tel: [phone]
Strand Hanson Limited - Nomad Rory Murphy / James Spinney / Rob Patrick	Tel: [phone]
Arden Partners plc - Broker Simon Johnson / Antonio Bossi	Tel: [phone]
CAMARCO Billy Clegg / James Crothers / Hugo Liddy	Tel: [phone]

Notes to Editors

Challenger Energy is a Caribbean and Atlantic margin focused oil and gas company, with a range of  exploration, appraisal, development and production assets and licences, located onshore in Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname, and offshore in the waters of The Bahamas and Uruguay. In Trinidad and Tobago, Challenger Energy has five (5) producing fields, two (2) appraisal / development projects and a prospective exploration portfolio in the South West Peninsula. In Suriname, Challenger Energy has on onshore appraisal / development project. Challenger Energy's exploration licences in Uruguay, the South West Peninsula of Trinidad, and The Bahamas offer high-impact value exposure within the overall portfolio value.

Challenger Energy is quoted on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange. 

https://www.cegplc.com  

ENDS

 

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