TIDMMSMN
RNS Number : 5450C
Mosman Oil and Gas Limited
18 April 2017
18 April 2017
Mosman Oil and Gas Limited
("Mosman" or the "Company")
Strawn Oil Project Acquisition
Mosman Oil and Gas Limited (AIM:MSMN) the oil exploration and
development company, announces it has executed contracts to acquire
50% of the Strawn Oil Project (the "Project" or Project") located
in Young County, Texas for a consideration of USD$75,000.
The Project will be operated as a joint venture and Mosman's
Strategic Alliance Partner Blackstone Oil & Gas, Inc.
("Blackstone") has acquired the other 50% of the Project. Mosman
will act as operator on the Project.
Mosman has examined a number of production projects
internationally and in the USA. The acquisition announced today is
a small part of a larger overall strategy and other potential
acquisitions continue to be examined and evaluated. This process is
not limited to the previously announced Strategic Alliance or the
Strawn Oil Project.
Details of the Strawn Oil Project Acquisition
The Project is located in Young and Archer Counties, Texas,
approximately 200 km west of Dallas. The Project consists of 27
existing wells most of which are not currently in production due to
oil prices and historic low levels of maintenance (6 are currently
producing). The Project is some 1,300 acres spread over 7
established leases which are documented in accordance with local
requirements. The leases do not currently have a resource
identified though production on the leases by the vendor has been
occurring since 2003.
Mosman plans to immediately commence a detailed programme of
maintenance and workovers to order to significantly increase the
current rate of oil production (approximately five barrels per
day). Local staff and a workover company have been contracted, with
work scheduled to start within weeks.
The Project has previously produced at rates of over 600 barrels
per day and has production facilities in place. This includes
equipment such as pump jacks, small tank farms and other
infrastructure which are included in the acquisition price.
The total acquisition price for 100% of the project is
USD$150,000 (which Mosman is sharing with its Strategic Alliance
Partner; Blackstone, with each having a 50% joint venture interest.
In addition total transaction costs, of which half are net to
Mosman, are estimated to be USD$30,000.
Initial estimates are that approximately USD$150,000 will be
spent in the next six months on the maintenance and site workover
plan (such costs to be split with Blackstone).
In order to assess the resource potential on the leases,
Mosman's technical team will examine aspects of the Project by
applying a number of modern exploration techniques, which had not
previously been exploited.
John W Barr, Chairman, said: "This acquisition is one of a
number that Mosman has reviewed and continues to review and
negotiate. These additional potential acquisitions are not
geographically or scale limited, and have independent sellers
although remain subject to ongoing diligence by Mosman, and
contract and regulatory approvals, as appropriate. We look forward
to providing further information as and when these additional
projects are agreed.
Jointly Funded Acquisition and Ongoing Alliance
As noted above, Mosman has agreed with its Strategic Alliance
Partner; that Blackstone will jointly acquire 50% of the Project by
contributing 50% of acquisition, transition, and ongoing costs with
Mosman retaining Operatorship. Mosman will act as operator.
Blackstone's involvement will reduce the cash impost whilst also
solidifying the recently announced strategic alliance.
Other general information
1. The selling parties are collectively known as S.B Street
Operating, INC. ("SB Street") who in 2016 recorded Oil production
exceeding 11,000 Barrels which includes producing assets in
addition to those being acquired by Mosman and Blackstone;
2. In 2016 it is estimated that the acquisition made a financial
loss of USD$93,000 assuming a management overhead allocation of
USD$120,000. Without this allocation the operating profit across
the leases is estimated to have been USD$33,000;
3. Importantly, any financial loss or profit will be shared with Blackstone;
4. Planned development to increase production levels through the
work over plan should increase revenue and increase
profitability;
5. Mosman has incorporated two new Texas registered entities to
establish its growing US presence. Mosman Texas LLC and Mosman
Operating LLC have both been established to hold Mosman's local
assets and the operatorship of the Texas leases respectively.
Agreement of Proposed Acquisition, Completion and Risk
The Acquisition is conditional on standard settlement
issues.
Settlement is expected to be completed in May 2017.
Project Life and Abandonment Liabilities
The leases are "held by production". Typically, these projects
continue as long as revenue exceeds operating cost, which is mainly
a function of oil price. Based on current production, Mosman
anticipates the field will produce for the foreseeable future.
The established regulatory system in Texas requires that 10% of
inactive wells need to be restored to production, or abandoned.
Mosman intends to meet this obligation by restoring wells to
production. The hypothetical total (for both joint venturers) cost
of an immediate full abandonment of the Asset is estimate to be
USD$364,000 but as noted above Mosman does not expect this to be
applicable to the field in the foreseeable future.
The regulator currently holds a bond for USD$50,000 on behalf of
the Vendor which Mosman Operating LLC will be required to replace.
This will also be a joint cost to be shared with Blackstone.
Royalties and Taxes
Royalties vary for each lease and average 20%, which is in the
normal range for leases in the area.
A state severance tax of 4.6% applies to the market value of oil
produced in Texas. In addition, any profits resulting from oil
production will be subject to US income tax.
WELLS, LANDS, LEASES & UNITS
The 27 wells across the seven leases being acquired by Mosman
are identified as summarised below:
1. Worth Gragg Lease: Well #1, 3, 4, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 16, 22,
A-1
RRC Lease ID 20373
2. Farmer Lease: Well #1, 2, 3
RRC Lease ID 28465
3. Lindemann-Lemmonds Lease: Well #1
RRC Lease ID 28430
4. Lemmonds Lease: Well # 1, 2
RRC Lease ID 28441
5. Prideaux-Hawkins-Owen (P-H-O) Lease: Well # 1, 2, 3, 1B
RRC Lease ID 28173; Well # 1B, RRC Lease ID: 28040
The 160 acre tract of land out of the BBB & CRR Co. Survey
No. 1, Abstract No. 35 in Young
6. Prideaux-Hawkins-Owen (P-H-O) Lease: Well # 4
RRC Lease ID 28040
7. Stewart Lease: Well # 1, 1A, 2, 3
RRC Lease ID 28304
Competent Person's Statement
The information contained in this announcement has been reviewed
and approved by Andy Carroll, Technical Director for Mosman, who
has over 35 years of relevant experience in the oil industry. Mr
Carroll is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Risks
The proposed Acquisition remains subject to completion which is
anticipated during May 2017.
Mosman has in the ordinary course of business accepted certain
historic information from the vendor as being fact, and has not
attempted to independently verify each statement, rather it has
focussed on key facts which have been subject to due diligence both
internally and using external consultants.
As is usual in the oil industry, the Asset has subsurface,
reserve and production risk.
A number of assumptions have been made in determining the
operational targets, production rates and expected cost reductions
possible that may not be achieved or may be influenced negatively
by factors outside Mosman's control.
This RNS contains forward-looking statements which have not been
based solely on historical facts but rather on Mosman's and its
technical advisers' current expectations about future events and a
number of assumptions which are subject to significant
uncertainties and contingencies.
Hydrocarbon prices in the world environment remain volatile.
Exchange rates are volatile.
Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure
Certain information contained in this announcement would have
been deemed inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of
Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 until the release of this
announcement.
Enquiries:
Mosman Oil & Gas Limited NOMAD and Broker
John W Barr, Executive SP Angel Corporate Finance
Chairman LLP
Andy Carroll, Technical Stuart Gledhill / Richard
Director Hail
jwbarr@mosmanoilandgas.com +44 (0) 20 3470 0470
acarroll@mosmanoilandgas.com
Gable Communications Limited
Justine James / John Bick
+44 (0) 20 7193 7463
mosman@gablecommunications.com
Updates on the Company's activities are regularly posted on its
website
www.mosmanoilandgas.com
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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