Ithaca Energy Inc.: Athena Production Rates
7 hours ago
ca.finance.yahoo.com
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM and CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - June 7, 2012) -
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES
Ithaca Energy Inc. (TSX: IAE.TO - News)(AIM: IAE.L - News) announces initial peak gross oil production rates from the Athena field of 22,000 barrels of oil per day ("bopd") (4,950 bopd net to Ithaca) as metered into the BW Athena's storage tanks. Oil export operations have commenced.
The flow from each of the four oil production wells is being supported by electrical submersible pumps, the operating parameters for which are being monitored to stabilise long term production rates. Water injection will be used to support the reservoir pressure of the field and thereby maintain and sustain production rates.
An initial cargo has already been offloaded from the BW Athena to the shuttle tanker "Betty Knutsen". This and future cargoes will be transferred to Ithaca's Nigg oil terminal from where Athena crude will be sold to the market under the Company's marketing contract with BP.
At current oil prices, the project is anticipated to achieve payback within twelve months.
John Woods, Chief Developments Officer, commented:
"The successful start-up of all the Athena wells and completion of commissioning activities on the FPSO mark major milestones for both the Athena development and the continued growth of the Company. These achievements are testament to the expertise of our project team and contractors who have created an efficient and highly valuable development solution for the field. Completion of the Athena project again demonstrates the Company's ability to deliver major North Sea projects and we look forward to continuing to grow the Company with the ongoing Greater Stella Area development."
Joint Venture partners in the Athena field are: Ithaca, operator (22.5%), Dyas UK Limited (47.5%), EWE Energie AG (20%) and Zeus Petroleum Limited (10%).
The Company's petroleum and natural gas reserves are independently evaluated by Sproule ("Sproule") (www.sproule.com) in accordance with the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook ("COGEH") reserves definitions and evaluation practices and procedures as specified by National Instrument 51-101 ("NI 51-101"). Sproule's estimate of the initial gross production rate from the field in the Company's last reserves assessment dated December 31st, 2011, was approximately 22,000 bopd.
Notes to oil and gas disclosure:
In accordance with AIM Guidelines, Hugh Morel, BSc Physics and Geology (Durham), PhD Hydrogeology (London) and senior petroleum engineer at Ithaca Energy is the qualified person that has reviewed the technical information contained in this press release. Dr Morel has 30 years operating experience in the upstream oil industry.
About Ithaca Energy
Ithaca Energy Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary Ithaca Energy (UK) Limited ("Ithaca" or "the Company"), is an oil and gas exploration, development and production company active in the United Kingdom's Continental Shelf ("UKCS"). The goal of Ithaca, in the near term, is to maximize production and achieve early production from the development of existing discoveries on properties held by Ithaca, to originate and participate in exploration and appraisal on properties held by Ithaca when capital permits, and to consider other opportunities for growth as they are identified from time to time by Ithaca.
Not for Distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or for Dissemination in the United States
Forward-looking statements
Some of the statements in this announcement are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the intent, belief and current expectations of Ithaca Energy Inc. or its officers with respect to various matters. When used in this announcement, the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "plan", "should", "believe", "could", "target" and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, whether used in connection with production and operation activities of the Athena field or otherwise are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are not promises or guarantees, and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this announcement. Ithaca Energy Inc. expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based except as required by applicable securities laws.
Contacts
Iain McKendrick
Ithaca Energy Inc.
CEO
+44 (0) 1224 650 261
imckendrick@ithacaenergy.com
Graham Forbes
Ithaca Energy Inc.
CFO
+44 (0) 1224 652 151
gforbes@ithacaenergy.com
Philip Dennis
Pelham Bell Pottinger Public Relations
+44 (0) 207 861 3919
pdennis@pelhambellpottinger.co.uk
Rollo Crichton-Stuart
Pelham Bell Pottinger Public Relations
+44 (0) 207 861 3918
rcrichton-stuart@pelhambellpottinger.co.uk
Jon Fitzpatrick
Cenkos Securities plc
+44 (0) 207 397 8900
jfitzpatrick@cenkos.com
Beth McKiernan
Cenkos Securities plc
+44 (0) 131 220 6939
bmckiernan@cenkos.com
Tim Chapman
RBC Capital Markets
+44 (0) 207 653 4641
tim.chapman@rbccm.com
Matthew Coakes
RBC Capital Markets
+44 (0) 207 653 4871
matthew.coakes@rbccm.com |
