Hyperdynamics Corporation Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Guinea Government
14 September 2009 - 8:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
SUGAR LAND, Texas, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hyperdynamics
Corporation (NYSE Amex: HDY) today announced that following a week
of negotiations, Ray Leonard, Chief Executive Officer, and Minister
of Mines, Energy and Hydraulics of the Republic of Guinea, Mahmoud
Thiam, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU"). The MOU
is a binding agreement reaffirming the validity of Hyperdynamics'
concession. Leonard stated, "I am pleased that the government
supports Hyperdynamics' continuing program to explore for oil and
gas offshore Guinea. This agreement clarifies key points such as
the relinquishment dates of portions of our acreage and continuing
rights, which allows us to move forward on our planned seismic
program in the fourth quarter 2009." Key terms of the agreement
include the following: -- The Government of Guinea reaffirms the
validity of Hyperdynamics' concession and the Company's right to
choose 36%, being 28,800 square kilometers, (11,160 square miles)
of the initial acreage and carry it through the exploration period.
-- The required relinquishment of 64% of the acreage by the
Company, as stated in the 2006 Hydrocarbon Production Sharing
Contract, must take place by December 31, 2009. -- The Company must
spud its first well no later than calendar year 2011. --
Hyperdynamics has the right of first refusal on any new concessions
Guinea offers within the 64% relinquished area, granting
Hyperdynamics the right to match the terms offered by another
party. -- The contract in its entirety will be reviewed to assure
it is in conformity with international standards. If this process
has not come to a satisfactory conclusion within six months, any
unresolved points will be submitted to international arbitration. A
joint working team of Hyperdynamics Corporation and the Ministry of
Mines, Energy and Hydraulics technical experts will begin joint
work in October to identify outstanding points in the contract and
begin transference of data to Guinea to allow the Ministry to
prepare for the handling of the released acreage. About
Hyperdynamics Hyperdynamics Corporation is committed to providing
energy for the future by exploring internationally for new sources
of oil and gas. It holds the exploration license for the offshore
area of the West African Republic of Guinea. To find out more about
Hyperdynamics, visit its website at http://www.hyperdynamics.com/.
Forward Looking Statements This news release and the Company's
website referenced in this news release contain forward looking
statements as defined by the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission regarding Hyperdynamics Corporation's future plans and
expected performance that are based on assumptions the Company
believes to be reasonable. A number of risks and uncertainties
could cause actual results to differ materially from these
statements, including without limitation, funding and exploration
efforts, risks associated with operating in a developing country in
Africa, political developments in Guinea, fluctuations in oil and
gas prices and other risk factors described from time to time in
the Company's reports filed with the SEC. The Company undertakes no
obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to
reflect events or circumstances that occur after the issuance of
this news release or to reflect any change in the Company's
expectations with respect to these forward-looking statements.
HDY-IR Contacts: Dennard Rupp Gray & Easterly, LLC Ken Dennard,
Managing Partner Jack Lascar, Partner (713) 529-6600 Anne Pearson,
Sr. Vice President (210) 408-6321 DATASOURCE: Hyperdynamics
Corporation CONTACT: Ken Dennard, Managing Partner, or Jack Lascar,
Partner, +1-713-529-6600, or Anne Pearson, Sr. Vice President,
+1-210-408-6321, all of Dennard Rupp Gray & Easterly, LLC, for
Hyperdynamics Corporation Web Site: http://www.hyperdynamics.com/
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