Drilling Update
4 December 2008
AIM: XTR
XTRACT ENERGY PLC
("Xtract" or the "Company")
DRILLING UPDATE
Further to the announcement made on 26 November 2008, Xtract provides
the following update on the Sarikiz-2 well in Turkey which is being
drilled on behalf of Extrem Energy A.S. ("Extrem Energy").
The well was spudded at 1930hrs on Friday 31 October 2008. As at
0800hrs on 26 November, drilling was in progress at a depth of
1,454m. Subsequently, at 1,478m, 3 cones of the drilling bit were
broken and became detached in the well. This was due to a sudden
lithology change upon entering into hard sandstones of Alasehir
formation from very soft clays of Adala formation.
To recover the cones (junk) a new string was prepared and drilled
with junk basket. While working with the junk basket, core from the
sandstones of the Alasehir formation was recovered together with some
pieces of metal from the cones of the bit. The cores taken from the
sandstone contained high API oil and showed bright yellow to white
fluorescence. The sandstone layer extended 25m from 1,478m to
approximately 1,503m. This is an additional sandstone layer to the
one previously tested during the drilling by Sarikiz-1, so the
existence of oil in it provides possible upside potential. The main
reservoir sands are expected to be encountered between 1,640m and the
target depth.
After 3 days of recovery operations, normal drilling restarted at
0430hrs on 2 December. As at 0600hrs on 4 December, normal drilling
was going on at 1,542m. Sandstones are inter-bedded with the marls
and clays of the Alasehir formation. The programmed target depth of
the well is 1,800m +/-50m which is now expected to be reached on or
before Sunday 7 December. Depending on the drilling results, first
production could be expected in the first half of 2009.
The rig is operated by Guney Yildizi of Turkey.
Xtract currently holds a 20% interest in Extrem Energy and has the
option of increasing its shareholding to 34% by contributing a
further investment of US$3.5m before June 2009.
Further progress updates will be provided as appropriate.
The above information has been reviewed and approved by Ongun
Yoldemir, Managing Director of Extrem Energy, who has a masters
degree in Geological engineering and worked as an explorationist in
the oil and sector in the middle east, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and
north sea, has over 28 years' experience in the resource and energy
sector and is a member of the American Association of Petroleum
Geologists, European Association of Geologists and Engineers, the
Society of Exploration Geophysicists and several related Turkish
institutions.
Enquiries please contact:
Xtract Energy Andy Morrison, CEO +44 (0)20 7079 1798
Smith & Williamson David Jones +44 (0)20 7131 4000
Corporate Finance Azhic Basirov
Scott Harris Ian Middleton +44 (0)20 7653 0030
James O'Shaughnessy
About Xtract Energy
Xtract identifies and invests in a diversified portfolio of early
stage energy sector technologies and businesses with significant
growth potential. The Company aims to work closely with the
associated management teams to achieve critical project milestones,
to finance later development stages, and to build and crystallise
value for all shareholders and partners.
For further information on Xtract please visit www.xtractenergy.co.uk
A short description of the principal assets of Xtract is set out
below. These assets are either held directly or through wholly owned
subsidiaries of the Company.
MEO Australia Ltd ("MEO")
MEO (ASX: MEO) aims to become an integrated Australian Gas-to-Liquids
("GTL") company. In 2008, MEO made significant gas discoveries in the
Australian Timor Sea, in an area of shallow water known as Tassie
Shoal. Early commercialisation of these discoveries is planned
through construction of Liquified Natural Gas ("LNG") and Methanol
plants and export terminals on the off-shore Tassie Shoal. MEO has
already secured Australian Government environmental approvals for two
large scale (1.8 Mtpa) methanol plants and a 3 Mtpa LNG plant on
Tassie Shoal. Xtract owns approximately 13.9% of MEO's issued share
capital.
Elko Energy Inc. ("Elko")
Elko is a Canadian registered oil & gas exploration company which has
interests in exploration and production licences in the Danish and
Dutch North Sea. Its major asset is in the Danish North Sea; an 80%
interest on 26 offshore blocks in a 5,400 sq km exploration and
production licence close to the prolific Central Graben oil field.
Technical work indicates the potential for significant reserves. Elko
also holds a 33% operating interest in gas-bearing license blocks P1
and P2 in the Dutch North Sea. Xtract owns approximately 35.4% of
Elko's issued share capital.
Extrem Energy AS ("Extrem Energy")
Extrem Energy is an exploration and production joint venture with
Merty Energy of Turkey. The JV's aim is to create a new medium-sized
oil and gas exploration and production business, initially focused on
Turkey where Merty Energy has particular experience and expertise.
Extrem Energy has a portfolio of licence interests including the high
potential prospect at Candarli Bay in south-west Turkey. Xtract owns
20% of the issued share capital of Extrem Energy and has the option
of increasing its shareholding to 34% before 30 June 2009.
Xtract Oil Ltd ("XOL")
Xtract's wholly owned subsidiary, XOL, is focused on the development
of the Company's oil shale resources in Australia and the technology
for oil extraction from oil shale resources. Xtract has oil shale
exploration rights over mining tenements in the Julia Creek area of
Queensland. XOL is also developing proprietary technology for the
commercial extraction of liquid hydrocarbon products from oil shale
which could partially address the global decline of conventional oil
reserves with significant environmental benefits and higher yields
over previously employed extraction methods.
Xtract Energy (Oil Shale) Morocco SA ("XOSM")
XOSM is a joint venture with Alraed Limited Investment Holding
Company WLL, a company controlled by His Highness, Prince Bandar Bin
Mohd. Bin Abdulrahman Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia. XOSM has signed a
Memorandum of Understanding with the Office National des
Hydrocarbures et des Mines for the purposes of evaluation and
possible development of an oil shale deposit near Tarfaya, in the
south west part of Morocco. Xtract currently holds 70% of the joint
venture.
Wasabi Energy Ltd ("Wasabi")
Wasabi (ASX: WAS) is a diversified investor in traditional and
renewable energy technologies. Amongst its listed assets it holds
approximately 38% of Rum Jungle Uranium Ltd (ASX: RUM) which has
interests in uranium exploration licenses covering some 4,150 sq km
of Australia's Northern Territory and approximately 12.5% of
Greenearth Energy Ltd (ASX:GER) which aims to explore and develop
geothermal resources in Australia and the wider Pacific Rim. Xtract
owns approximately 19.4% of the issued share capital of Wasabi.
Zhibek Resources Ltd ("Zhibek Resources")
Zhibek Resources is an oil and gas exploration and production company
which has a 72% interest in the Tash Kumyr and Pishkoran exploration
licences in the Kyrgyz Republic. Xtract has entered a farm-out
agreement to fund a seismic and drilling programme for 2008-09.
Xtract owns 25.0% of the issued share capital of Zhibek Resources.
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