EARNINGS / Gulfstream Resources reports 1st 3 months Results
CALGARY, Feb. 24 /CNW/ - Gulfstream Resources Canada Limited - GUR, Toronto - recorded a profit of $2,724,631 or 5 cents per share for the three month period ended December 31, 1997. Income for the quarter is more than double the income level of $1,359,814 or three cents per share for the same period in the prior year. Per share calculations are based on 58,876,320 common shares outstanding for the first quarter of 1998 compared to 48,972,294 for the first three fiscal months of 1997.
Financial results reflect payment of a 2 cent per share dividend on December 31, 1997, payable to shareholders of record on December 19, 1997.
Gross revenues for the quarter totaled $11,255,166 compared to $6,384,693 for the same period in 1997. Expenses were $6,618,402 to the end of the quarter compared to $3,521,216 for the prior year period. Operating cashflow was $3,790,299 for the first quarter of 1998 compared to $1,078,894 for the first quarter of 1997.
Expenditures on oil and gas interests totaled $14,977,616 compared to $9,477,482 for the three-month period in 1997. Cash at quarter-end was $34,606,717.
Two additional production wells were brought on stream at Al-Rayyan offshore Qatar in late-November, 1997, increasing the number of producing wells in the field to six. Oil production from Al-Rayyan averaged 32 thousand barrels per day in December and 23 thousand barrels per calendar day for the quarter. No production was recorded from Al-Rayyan in the quarter ended December 31, 1996 as commercial production from the field did not begin until January 1, 1997.
A Plan of Development for longer-term development of the Al-Rayyan field has been submitted to the Government of the State of Qatar. In Madagascar, a 320 kilometre seismic program was completed in late-November, 1997. Plans are underway to initiate seismic and drilling activity in Oman for 1998. Subsequent to December 31, the Company secured a $73 million, 3-year revolving credit facility with a consortium of international banks.
The Annual General Meeting of Shareholders will be held in Calgary on March 24th at 3:00 PM in the Lakeview Room of the Westin Hotel. |