Cardinal Operational Update
Cardinal Resources plc
08 May 2007
CARDINAL RESOURCES PLC ISSUES OPERATIONS UPDATE
LONDON - Tuesday, 8 May 2007
Cardinal Resources plc (AIM:CDL) ('Cardinal' or 'the Company'), an
independent oil and gas exploration and production company operating in
Ukraine, today provides an update on development drilling and production
operations.
GAS GATHERING AND SEPARATION FACILITY
Construction activities on the gas gathering and separation facility
continue with operations expected to commence by the end of the second
quarter of 2007 as originally projected.
The status of work to date on the project is as follows:
Overall:
• approximately 80% completed, estimated as follows:
- Process area equipment and piping: 90% completed
- Civil works: 95% completed
- Electrical and Instrumentation works: 40% completed.
Pictures of construction progress to date are available on the company's
web-site: www.cardinal-uk.com.
WORK PROGRAMME UPDATE
2007 Work Program(1)
1Q 2Q 3Q
Gas Gathering and Separation Facility X
DB licence area 25km sq 3D seismic survey X
BC licence area 65 km sq 3D seismic survey X X
The following is the detailed status of the works to date:
Bilousivsko- Description of work Timeline
Chornukhinska (BC) completed to date
licence area
Well #3A Work completed. Tie in to the gas
gathering and separation
facility at the end of
the second quarter.
Well #13 The plunger lift operations Tie in to the gas
successfully completed. gathering and separation
Switched to full automatic facility at the end of
operations after successful the second quarter.
operations on manual and
timer mode.
Well # 111 Plunger lift equipment being Production tests are
installed. ongoing. If successful,
the well will be tied
into the facility at the
end of the second
quarter.
Well #110 Plunger lift equipment The equipment delivery
requirements have been is expected in early
finalised. May and will be
installed and
tied into the facility
at the end of the second
quarter.
Well #17 Land use agreements have been Forecasted completion by
Well # 9 granted. Final revisions are year end.
being made to a contract to
use a western style rig that
would result in quicker and
more effective workovers.
Preparatory workover
activities are underway.
Well #13A Land permit allocation has The land permit
Well # 7 been delayed due to a recent allocation is expected
land decree(2). to be granted before the
year end.
EXPECTED PRODUCTION PROFILE
As stated on 20 March 2007, the Company expects net production to increase
from approximately 800 boepd to a run rate of approximately 3,000 boepd by
the end of 2007. This is now subject partially to availability of
sufficient funds for 3 workovers planned in the second half of the year
from the recommencement of JAA gas sales(3).
3-D SEISMIC SURVEYS
The 25km sq 3-D seismic survey on the DB licence area was completed within
the budget in terms of both cost and time and identified one side track
opportunity and two additional potential well locations in the area.
The 3-D seismic survey over approximately 65 km sq of the BC licence area
has begun as scheduled in April 2007. The field work and processing is
expected to be completed in four months. The acquisition of a 3-D seismic
survey over the proposed area will not only assist in exploitation efforts
but also the refinement of future development drilling locations. It will:
• enhance the ability to direct development wells to the optimal subsurface
locations
• guide the efforts to expand the development potential of the area by
substantially increasing the quality of known locations and the
probability of identifying additional locations.
The Company is also considering a 35 km sq 3-D survey on the NY licence
area for the third quarter and completion by the year end.
OIL AND CONDENSATE SALES
Oil and condensate sales and production volumes for the first quarter were
both above the budget. Prices were at and above those internally projected
and not subject to any restrictions.
JAA GAS SALES
As announced in a press release dated 13 February 2007, a resolution of
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine had amended an existing regulation on
fixed pricing of gas sales by state-owned companies to extend the scope of
the regulation to potentially include Joint Activity Agreements with those
entities. As previously announced - the Ministry of Fuel and Energy has
verbally informed the Company that its net portion of JAA production will
not be affected but Cardinal has sought further written clarification on
the actual implementation of the resolution and, as a precaution, has
elected with its partner Ukrnafta to transfer all JAA associated gas
production to storage for future sales at higher prices. Free market
prices are approximately 2 to 3 times those of controlled prices
No further written clarification has been received regarding the near term
effect of proposed new legislation. Cardinal has therefore also elected
with its other JAA partner Ukrgaz to transfer all production on JAA 429 on
the BC Field to storage. 58,542 boe of Cardinal's share of JAA gas
produced in the first quarter of 2007 from both the RC Field and the BC
Field JAA 429 has been placed in storage for future sale and Cardinal will
continue to store all JAA gas produced until satisfactory clarification is
received.
To resolve the current issue Cardinal is:
• negotiating its own direct marketing arrangements for RC Field JAA gas
sales and BC Field JAA 429 and
• continues to seek clarification on implementation of the amended
regulation.
Following the announcement of possible renewed elections in Ukraine
further delays may now be encountered before further clarification is
received
Now that all of Cardinal's JAA production is being placed in storage, this
affects approximately 80%(4) of Cardinal's current oil and gas production by
volume. Monthly sales and EBITDA/cash flow have been reduced by
approximately US$450,000 and $360,000 respectively(5). However sales may be
made at any time at controlled prices.
Cardinal believes that the decision to store JAA gas production, although
impacting on cash flow and working capital in the short term, will be of
benefit to the Company once clarification is received and arrangements are
made to sell the gas at the higher free market price.
Although storage of JAA gas has an adverse effect on the cash flow at
present, this should be offset by the increase in production from the BC
licence area upon completion of the gas gathering and separation facility
at the end of the second quarter. All projected production enhancements in
non-JAA portion of the BC licence area which are enabled by the completion
of the gas facility will be free from such price restrictions and are
expected to be sold at free market prices.
Cardinal will continue to concentrate its present development efforts and
current production increase programme on licences that it owns 100% and
operates, until the economics of JAA well activities are clarified.
Silver Point Capital has granted a waiver to covenants to reflect the
present shortfall in cash flow due to the suspension of JAA gas sales.
Notes
(1)This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. These
statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect
management's expectations regarding Cardinal's growth, results of
operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities. Such
forward-looking statements reflect the Directors' current beliefs, are
based on information currently available to the Directors and are based on
reasonable assumptions as of this date. No assurance, however, can be
given that the expectations will be achieved. A number of factors could
cause actual results to differ materially from the projections,
anticipated results or other expectations expressed in this press release.
While Cardinal makes these forward-looking statements in good faith,
neither Cardinal, nor its Directors and management, can guarantee that the
anticipated future results will be achieved.
(2)On 19 December 2006 Ukraine adopted amendments to the Land Code, which
are effective for 2007. These amendments (specifically, Article 15 of the
Code) forbid any changes of the purpose of use of agricultural lands such
that agricultural land should remain as agricultural land, and can not be
used for other purposes, other than social needs. These amendments will
not be effective after 31 December 2007 unless extended.
(3)The table set out below summarises the Company's expected production
profile for the second half of 2007 and is based on the following
assumptions: (i) current production rates of approximately 800 BOEPD from
existing producing wells continue at the same rate; (ii) successful
completion of Cardinal's new gas processing plant and tie-in to existing
Ukrainian pipelines; and (iii) the current well workover programme
continuing to progress according to plan and (iv) recommencement of JAA
gas sales at market prices. Production estimates are based upon (v) the
Company's assessment of recent test results of wells ready to tie into
production; and (vi) the Company's interpretation of historic records of
test results from the early 1980s for workover wells drilling and or to be
drilled. A number of factors, such as technical difficulties in completion
and or tie-in could cause actual production to differ materially from
current expectations. The expected uplift in daily production does not
include any additional uplift that could arise in the event that Cardinal
consummates the RC re-instatement.
Projected Net Production Rate at 31 December 2007 boepd (000s)
March 2007 run rate 0.8
Ready to tie-in 1.4
3 workover wells to be completed 0.8
____
Expected December 2007 run rate 3.0
====
(4)The shift from 20% (as previously announced on the 13 February 2007) to
80% is explained by the management's decision to store all gas production
from all JAA licence areas for future sale at the higher market price when
the price restriction is waived. The previous statement was based upon
December 2006 data whereas the latest statement is based upon March 2007
data.
(5)Estimates of monthly sales, and EBITDA/cash flow by the Directors are
based upon March 2007 production and December 2006 approximate realised
prices and costs.
Glossary of Terms
boe Barrels of oil equivalent
boepd Barrels of oil equivalent per day
BC licence area Bilousivsko-Chornukhinska licence area (also known as
Rudis)
DB licence area Dubrivska licence area
RC licence area Rudivsko-Chernovozavodske licence area
NY licence area North Yablunivska licence area
Cliff West, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of
Cardinal (Member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists -
Certified Petroleum Geologist # 1563) is the qualified person that has
reviewed and approved the technical information within this press
announcement.
For further information please contact:
Cardinal Resources Brunswick Group
Charles Green / Natalia Egorova Paul Scott
+44 (0) 20 7936 5250 +44 (0) 20 7404 5959
investor.relations@cardinal-uk.com cardinal@brunswickgroup.com
Nominated Adviser
Nabarro Wells & Co. Limited
John Wilkes / Marc Cramsie
+44 (0) 20 7710 7400
cardinal@nabarro-wells.co.uk
Notes to Editor
Cardinal Resources plc is an independent oil and gas company engaged in
the acquisition, development, production and exploration of oil and
natural gas properties in Ukraine. Cardinal is an experienced operator in
the country focused on expanding its existing operations through the
farm-in or acquisition of additional upstream oil and gas assets that can
be further developed through the application of modern technology and
expertise.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange