1 September 2009
AIM: XTR
XTRACT ENERGY PLC
("Xtract" or the "Company")
Investment update - Elko Energy
Xtract Energy Plc ("Xtract") notes below the Shareholder Update which
was issued by Elko Energy Inc ("Elko Energy") to its shareholders on
Friday 28 August. Xtract currently owns approximately 35.0% of the
issued capital of Elko Energy.
Xtract takes this opportunity to update investors on the progress of
the conditional agreement with Lysander Minerals Corporation
("Lysander") which was announced to the market on 28 April 2009. The
conditional agreement involves the possible injection of Xtract's
holding in Elko Energy into Lysander in exchange for new Lysander
shares. At the present time, discussions with Lysander are paused
while Lysander works on its other planned investments. Negotiations
on the conditional agreement may or may not resume at a later date.
Further updates will be provided as appropriate.
"Elko Energy Inc. ('Elko') is pleased to provide this further update
on the ongoing development of the Elko business.
Disposal of Shares in Dragon Energy Inc. ("Dragon")
The respective boards of Elko and Dragon have been in negotiation for
some time in relation to Elko exiting its equity position in Dragon
so that it can dedicate its management efforts and financial
resources to its Dutch and Danish North Sea assets. On August 26,
2009, Elko and Dragon signed an overriding royalty agreement whereby
Elko will benefit from a 2.5% overriding royalty from future revenues
from the Kotaneelee field *, over a maximum term of five years, such
five year period commencing August 26, 2009, capped at an aggregate
value of CDN$750,000. In exchange Elko has returned to Dragon
15,600,000 common shares representing its 51% ownership. Jack Bray,
Peter Moir and Andy Morrison have resigned from the board of Dragon.
* Dragon holds a 30.667% working interest in the Kotaneelee field in
the Yukon territory Canada operated by Devon. Gas production at
Kotaneelee is in decline and gas prices in North America are
currently depressed resulting in a significantly weakened revenue
stream from current production levels.
Business Update
1) Netherlands
The geology, geophysical and reservoir engineering definitions of the
P1-FA field have been further developed to create an outline field
development plan. An appraisal well location has been identified and
this will be discussed with our Dutch state partner EBN in the near
future.
Discussions with offshore facilities and pipeline infrastructure
owners have identified a number of options for the offshore removal
and storage of CO2 and the onward transportation of sales gas to
European markets. Discussions continue with selected infrastructure
owners to identify the best economic route to commercialize the P1/P2
assets.
Elko has had discussions with a number of potential new financing
partners to replace Oyster via a promoted farm out of a percentage of
Elko's working interest in Blocks P1 and P2. These partnering
discussions continue in parallel with our discussion with
infrastructure owners.
2) Denmark
Reprocessing of approximately 3,000 km of seismic data is now
complete on our 02/05 Danish licence and work has commenced in
evaluating the potential of the Chalk interval and to reevaluate the
Rotliegendes sandstone horizon. The results will be part of a planned
marketing initiative aimed at securing an additional financing
partner or partners.
Peter Moir
President
August 28, 2009"
Further information on Elko can be found at www.elkoenergy.com. As an
unquoted company, Elko is not subject to the AIM Rules and the
information contained in this announcement has not been reviewed by a
named "qualified person" as defined and required by the AIM Guidance
Note for Mining, Oil and Gas Companies.
Enquiries please contact:
Xtract Energy Andy Morrison, CEO +44 (0)20 3205 1148
Smith & Williamson David Jones +44 (0)20 7131 4000
Corporate Finance Azhic Basirov
Barrie Newton
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.
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
34% of the issued share capital of Extrem Energy.
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 60% operating interest in gas-bearing license blocks P1
and P2 in the Dutch North Sea. Xtract owns approximately 35.0% of
Elko's issued share capital.
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.
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. In addition to evaluating third party technologies, XOL
has been developing proprietary technology for the commercial
extraction of liquid hydrocarbon products from oil shale.
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 12.6% of the issued share capital of Wasabi.
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This announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer is
solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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