News

PetroNeft (AIM: PTR) an oil & gas exploration and production company operating in the Tomsk Oblast, Russian Federation, and 50% owner and operator of Licences 61 and 67 is pleased to report its results for the 6 months ended 30 June 2019.

Highlights

• Gross production from Licence 61 in H1 2019 was 1,755bopd (877.5bopd net to Petroneft)

• Achieved approval from GKZ (Russian State Reserves Board) for 19.26mmbbls of C1 + C2 reserves as a result of the drilling of the C-4 well on the Cheremshanskoye field in 2018. This is a key milestone as it enables the company to start looking at development options for the field.

Loan facility

PetroNeft has entered into a convertible loan facility of US$1.3 million with a group of five lenders. The convertible loan matures on 31^st December 2020 or on the sale of either Licence 61 or Licence 67.   The loan facility will be used for general corporate and ongoing operational purposes and carries an interest rate of 8% above USD LIBOR. Lenders can elect at any time to convert up to 65% of the outstanding loan to shares at a conversion price of US$0.01547 (1.547 cent).

PetroNeft (AIM: PTR) owner and operator of Licences 61 and 67, Tomsk Oblast, Russian Federation, is pleased to report its final results for the year ended 31 December 2018.

Highlights

·         C-4 well at Cheremshanskoye produced about 450 bopd on test

·         Gross production at Licence 61 in 2018 was 713,603 barrels of oil or an average of 1,955 bopd

o   While this represents a reduction in production it is ahead of expectations due to continued good performance of horizontal wells at South Arbuzovskoye

·         64.2 mmbbls total proved and probable (2P) reserves net to PetroNeft

PetroNeft (AIM: PTR) an oil & gas exploration and production company, operating in the Tomsk Oblast, Russian Federation, and 50% owner and operator of Licences 61 and 67 (the remaining 50% held by Arawak Energy), is pleased to give the following update in relation to reserves at its Licence 67.

 Highlights

 ·         New reserves approved for Licence 67, Cheremshanskoye field.

 ·         Approximately 19.26 mmbbls of C1 + C2 reserves (gross) for the Jurassic Reservoirs.

 ·         Currently examining development options for Licence 67.

 ·         Material additional exploration potential of the overlying Cretaceous section being studied.

PetroNeft has agreed to issue 13,884,594 Ordinary Shares in settlement of liabilities as follows:

“I have now been in my new position as CEO for just over two weeks and thought it would be an appropriate time to update you on my initial thoughts."

Loan facility

In January 2018 PetroNeft agreed a loan facility for up to US$2 million with Swedish company Petrogrand AB (“Petrogrand”) secured on the assets of PetroNeft.  The loan facility was fully drawn down and was used to finance the drilling of the successful C-4 well in 2018 and for general corporate purposes.  The parties have agreed an increase in the facility by US$500,000 to US$2.5 million and a revised maturity date of 15 December 2019 (which may be extended by mutual consent of the parties).

Paul Dowling, CFO and Company Secretary, will depart the Company at the end of January 2019 to pursue other opportunities. Paul will be available to the Company for a transition period while a suitable candidate is identified by the Company..

PetroNeft (AIM: PTR) an oil & gas exploration and production company, operating in the Tomsk Oblast, Russian Federation, and 50% owner and operator of Licences 61 and 67, is pleased to announce the selection and appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”).

 Mr. David Sturt, who has been a Non-Executive Director of the Company since 2016 will become CEO with effect from 25 March 2019. In the meantime, Karl Johnson, VP of Operations, will continue as Interim CEO.

Loan facility

In January 2018 PetroNeft agreed a loan facility for up to US$2 million with Swedish company Petrogrand AB (“Petrogrand”) secured on the assets of PetroNeft. The loan facility was fully drawn down and was used to finance the drilling of the successful C-4 well in 2018 and for general corporate purposes. The loan matured on 31 December 2018, however discussions are ongoing to agree an extension and an increase to the facility. We will update shareholders in due course.

Dennis Francis, Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and a founder of the Company, has informed the Board that he has elected to retire as CEO following his recent 70^th birthday. Mr Francis will remain as a Non-Executive Director in the Company and has agreed to assist the Company on a consulting basis as required to ensure a smooth transition for his replacement and to assist in examining options to maximise shareholder value including the potential disposal of Licences 61 and 67.

The Board has initiated a search for a new CEO to succeed Mr Francis and has asked Karl Johnson, VP of Operations, to assume the position of interim CEO with immediate effect.

PetroNeft (AIM: PTR) an oil and gas exploration and production company operating in the Tomsk Oblast, Russian Federation, and 50% owner and operator of Licences 61 and 67 is pleased to announce that cased-hole testing of the J1-1 and J1-3 intervals of the Cheremshanskoye No.4 (C-4) well in Licence 67 has confirmed the excellent results from the open-hole testing reported on 28 August.

 Highlights

·         Excellent results of open-hole testing confirmed and upgraded by extensive cased-hole test of the J1-1 and J1-3 intervals. The well productivity from the cased-hole test indicates that the combined intervals should achieve in excess of 450 bopd when produced on an electric submersible pump.

·         The C-4 well proves up the northern half of the Cheremshanskoye field with oil tested from two horizons.

·         The well is the first one drilled with the help of 3D seismic data acquired by PetroNeft in 2014 and is approximately 5km from two previous oil wells which were drilled along the southern boundary of the field (C-1 & C-3 wells).

·         Result has the potential to increase gross reserves by 40 mmbbls (20 mmbbls net to PetroNeft)

Highlights

•         Gross production from Licence 61 in H1 2018 was 2,135 bopd (1,068 bopd net to PetroNeft).

•         Testing of C-4 well continuing

o    Testing will continue for several week

Highlights

·         Successful well proves up significant northern half of the Cheremshanskoye field with oil tested from two horizons at a combined prorated flow of 399 bfpd, exceeding expectations.

·         The well is the first one drilled with the help of 3D seismic data acquired by PetroNeft in 2014 and is approximately 5km from the previous two oil wells which were drilled along the southern boundary of the field (C-1 & C-3).

·         Result has the potential to increase reserves by 40 mmbbls (20 mmbbls net to PetroNeft)

·         Total net pay across both Jurassic intervals is 10.4 m

Oil production at Licence 61 for the second quarter of 2018. 

Licence 61 Gross Production	Q2-2018	Q1-2018	Q4-2017	Q3-2017	Q2-2017	FY 2017	FY 2016	FY 2015
Total gross production bbls	183,368	203,114	198,708	192,956	200,208	816,476	990,887	737,655
Gross bopd	2,015	2,257	2,160	2,097	2,200	2,237	2,707	2,021
PetroNeft 50% share bopd	1,008	1,128	1,080	1,049	1,100	1,118	1,354	1,010

 

Drilling of the Cheremshanskoye No. 4 (C-4) well has commenced in recent days. The C-4 well is designed to further delineate and de-risk the Cheremshanskoye field in advance of field development. 

It has come to our attention that the above fake website has been setup in an attempt to defraud potential buyers of oil products. We have contacted the website Registrar to have the site removed.

PetroNeft (AIM: PTR), notes the speculation in media regarding the potential disposal of Licence 61.  The Company is examining a number of options in relation to maximising shareholder value.   This process is at a very early stage and there is no certainty that any transaction will be completed.  Further announcements will be made in the event of a material development.