East West Petroleum Provides Operational Update
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Feb 18, 2014) - East West Petroleum Corp. (TSX VENTURE:EW) (the "Company" or "East West") is pleased to provide the following operational update on its operations in the Taranaki Basin of New Zealand and in Romania. The Company's joint venture partner, TAG Oil Ltd. ("TAG"), is the operator of all licenses in New Zealand, while in Romania the Company's partner Naftna Industrija Srbije ("NIS") is the operator of all concessions.
Update on production from Cheal E-site, New Zealand
The Company is pleased to report that to Feb. 15, 2014 the gross production from the Cheal E-site totaled over 50,000 boe. The Cheal-E1 well is currently producing at a rate of over 500 boepd (87% oil) through a 17/64" choke. The Cheal-E4 has been on test production since January 1, 2014, with an average production rate of over 280 boepd (83% oil). The Cheal-E4 well will soon be placed on permanent production following a temporary shut-in period to allow for temperature and pressure analysis while other E-site wells are flow tested, starting with Cheal-E5. The initial production testing data is being used to determine the long-term production scheme for the site.
Under the joint operating agreement with TAG, East West paid 100% of the first C$5 million in drilling costs on the Cheal E site and is entitled to receive 100% of the first C$5 million in revenue, while paying 100% of the costs to produce that revenue, after which all revenue and costs will be shared 70:30 between TAG and EW. To date, over 23,000 barrels of oil have been sold at an average price of over US$109/b from which the Company estimates it will receive cash netbacks of over US$80 per barrel. East West expects to have recovered the $5 million in revenue by the end of Q1 2014.
2014 Proposed Capital Budget
The Company also announces that the minimum committed 2014 capital expenditures in New Zealand for East West are expected to total C$10.4 million, which will include the drilling of three wells from the Cheal G-site, one well at Southern Cross, and at least one well from the Cheal E-site. In addition, seismic acquisition and reprocessing is planned for the Taranaki and East Coast permits in 2014. Further wells to the 2014 drilling program are expected to be added following the completion and interpretation of the results of the current drilling program. Capex for the 2014 committed work program and any additional wells will be financed from the Company's existing cash balance and from production from Taranaki Basin permits.
In Romania (15% working interest), seismic acquisition is ongoing on the Tria licence in preparation for spudding the first of three wells in the committed Phase I work program later this year. Seismic acquisition will commence on the Baile Felix, Periam and Biled concessions following the award of contracts for 2D and 3D seismic acquisition on the respective blocks. Under the farm out agreement with NIS, East West will be fully carried through to commerciality which includes all Phase I and Phase II work on the concessions. NIS and the Company will be targeting conventional resources and all work will be done in accordance with local and international regulations and best practices.
Further details on the East West's 2014 planned capex and work program can be found in the Company's corporate presentation available at www.eastwestpetroleum.ca.
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