Investment Update

RNS Number : 8698Q

Xtract Energy plc

11 August 2010

 



11 August 2010

AIM: XTR

XTRACT ENERGY PLC

("Xtract" or the "Company")

Investment Update

Further to the announcement made on 5 July 2010, Xtract provides the following update on the status of the Sarikiz-2 well operated by its Turkish business Extrem Energy AS ("Extrem Energy").

Following installation of a mechanical bridge plug at a depth of 1680 metres, the Sarikiz 2 well was recompleted including the installation of a down hole pump.  Production from selected perforated zones between 1544 metres and 1660 metres commenced under pumped flow with production of the well work over fluid. Unfortunately production ceased owing to the mechanical failure of certain components associated with the pump.  The pump was removed from the well pending replacement of these components.  Attempts are now being made to re-establish natural flow from Sarikiz-2 well.

The initial promise of this well to produce commercial oil has not yet been fulfilled. The technical evaluation to date supports the case that there is a working petroleum system and that good quality sands containing oil are present at Sarikiz.  Nevertheless, the subsurface reservoir geology is proving more complex than originally prognosed and the hydrocarbon migration path from the source rocks to effective reservoir traps is not yet properly understood.  Further evaluation of the greater Sarikiz area acreage is ongoing.

Further 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 gas 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	Peter Moir, Director	[phone]
Cenkos Securities Plc	Jon Fitzpatrick Ken Fleming Alan Stewart	[phone] [phone]

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 50% 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 50.0% 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 exploration licence in the Kyrgyz Republic. Xtract has entered a farm-out agreement to fund a seismic and drilling programme for 2008-10. 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.

 

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