Update: Hyperdynamics Signs Agreement to Begin 2-D Seismic Survey Offshore Guinea
01 October 2009 - 2:08AM
PR Newswire (US)
SUGAR LAND, Texas, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hyperdynamics
Corporation (NYSE Amex: HDY) announced today that it has signed a
contract with Bergen Oilfield Services AS of Norway to conduct a
9,000 kilometer 2-D marine seismic survey on portions of its oil
and gas concession offshore Republic of Guinea. The survey is
expected to get under way by the end of October. "This survey will
help us make a final determination of which portions of our
31,000-square mile concession area we want to maintain for future
exploration," said Ray Leonard, Hyperdynamics' President and Chief
Executive Officer. "Under a new September Memorandum of
Understanding that reaffirms the validity of our Production Sharing
Contract, we are required to relinquish 64% of the acreage by
December 31, 2009. This new data will enable us to choose the best
acreage to retain from this vast area, and it will also help us
high-grade our better prospects so we can choose the areas where we
want to shoot a more limited 3-D survey next year." "The raw field
records or the Brute Stacks from the 'new' 2009 2-D seismic survey
will be delivered by BOS in almost real time as it is acquired,"
according to James Spear, Hyperdynamics' Vice President of
Exploration and Development. "The processing of this data will be
done onboard one of BOS's modern seismic vessels, as each line
segment or sequence is acquired offshore Guinea. The BOS vessel is
equipped with modern-day, state-of-the-art, Sercel recording
instrumentation along with Sentinel Solid streamers. The
contractor's vessel is prepared to continue on 3-D acquisition on
short notice." The cost of the project is estimated to be $10
million. Hyperdynamics plans to fund the survey using proceeds from
a farm-in arrangement it expects to complete with another oil and
gas producer during the fourth quarter and/or with proceeds from a
potential capital raise. The company will make an upfront payment
of $500,000. In addition, as a guarantee to Bergen Oilfield
Services (BOS), Hyperdynamics will allow seismic work to begin
ahead of the farm-out and/or financing period. Hyperdynamics will
issue the seismic contractor 2.5 million restricted common shares,
or approximately 4.4% of outstanding shares. The deposit shares
would serve as collateral for a mobilization payment of $1,100,000,
and for three subsequent payments due as the data is processed and
delivered to our office in southwest Houston (Sugar Land, Texas).
About Hyperdynamics Hyperdynamics is committed to providing energy
for the future by exploring internationally for new sources of oil
and gas. It holds the largest exploration and production license in
West Africa in the Republic of Guinea covering 31,000 square miles.
To find out more, visit the corporate 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, 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
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