Aurora Oil & Gas Corporation Provides Operational Update
November 08 2007 - 2:30PM
PR Newswire (US)
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Nov. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aurora Oil
& Gas Corporation (AMEX:AOG) today provided an operational
update of drilling and production activities for the third quarter
of 2007. William W. Deneau, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
stated, "We have been focused on delivering positive drilling
results in the New Albany Shale and growing our production in the
Antrim Shale. During the third quarter, we have achieved each of
these goals and have created opportunities that will propel us into
2008." The Company's drilling activities have been focused
primarily in the New Albany Shale of southwestern Indiana and the
Antrim Shale of northern Michigan. During the third quarter of
2007, the Company drilled or participated in 35 gross (26.21 net)
wells with a 92% completion rate. A summary of third quarter
drilling activity is provided below. The category, "Resource
Assessment" has been provided to designate those wells located in
project areas undergoing assessment for future development:
Drilling Activities Operated Non-Operated Total - Q3 2007 Gross Net
Gross Net Gross Net Producing 13 13.00 5 1.57 18 14.57 Waiting on
Hook-Up 6 6.00 6 2.66 12 8.66 Resource Assessment 2 0.98 0 0.00 2
0.98 Dry 1 1.00 2 1.00 3 2.00 Total 22 20.98 13 5.23 35 26.21 Total
company production during the third quarter averaged 9.1 net
million cubic feet of natural gas equivalent (mmcfe) per day, a
9.4% improvement over the previous quarter. The exit rate for the
quarter was in excess of 10.5 net mmcfe per day. A summary of
production from the third and second quarters of 2007 is provided
below: Estimated Production by Q3 2007 Q2 2007 Play/Trend (net
mcfe) Total Daily Average Total Daily Average Antrim Shale 780,834
8,487 709,155 7,793 New Albany Shale 14,361 156 12,548 138 Other
46,551 506 39,320 432 Total 841,746 9,149 761,023 8,363 Operated
608,959 6,619 572,414 6,290 Non-operated 232,787 2,530 188,609
2,073 Total 841,746 9,149 761,023 8,363 New Albany Shale Projects
During the third quarter, Aurora drilled or participated in 9 gross
(5.13 net) horizontal wells. Three of the wells, in which the
Company has a 5% carried working interest, were drilled by El Paso
Production Company. The remaining 6 wells were drilled by Aurora in
2 project areas known as "South Knox" and "Wabash". A summary of
the third quarter New Albany Shale drilling activities is provided
below: New Albany Shale Drilling Activities - Q3 2007 Operated
Non-Operated Total Gross Net Gross Net Gross Net Producing 2 2.00 1
0.05 3 2.05 Waiting on Hook-Up 2 2.00 2 0.10 4 2.10 Resource
Assessment 2 0.98 0 0.00 2 0.98 Dry 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 Total 6
4.98 3 0.15 9 5.13 The South Knox project area is 100% owned and
operated by Aurora. It was the target of 4 horizontal wells drilled
during the third quarter and 1 horizontal well drilled in early
October. All of these wells were recently flow-tested and the
results of those tests, in chronological order of the spud date,
are 50, 30, 200, 700, and 850 mcf per day, respectively. This
equates to a per well average of approximately 366 mcf per day,
which is 20% above the average initial production rate expected by
the Company. This is expected to result in an average estimated
ultimate recovery of over 1 billion cubic feet (bcf) of natural gas
per well. On the last 3 wells drilled, the test rate averaged over
580 mcf per day, which is substantially above the type curve and
strongly supports the economic potential of the New Albany Shale in
this area. These wells were drilled using a new technique which
appears to not only provide better production results but is less
costly than previously employed methods. Mr. Deneau commented, "The
recent changes to our drilling strategy in this play are allowing
us to prove what we have believed all along - we can economically
drill and produce natural gas from the New Albany Shale. Our South
Knox project includes 40,000 net acres, which may offer up to 125
well sites for full-scale development." The first 2 South Knox
wells were placed into production for a short time during the third
quarter, flowing directly to a grain processing facility via a
local pipeline operator. However, after September 30, the local
pipeline operator ceased operations, so the wells were shut-in with
the other South Knox wells and are now awaiting hookup to an
interstate pipeline. In the Wabash project area the Company drilled
2 horizontal wells during the quarter. In this project, Aurora is
the operator and owns 48.75% working interest. Of the 2 wells
drilled in this project, only 1 well was flow- tested. The "Corbin
C4-10 HD", which has been discussed in previous public
communications, exhibited a test rate in excess of 700 mcf per day.
Antrim Shale Projects During the third quarter, the Company
targeted 2 new northern Michigan projects, known as Chandler and
Black Bear East, for its Antrim Shale drilling operations. Each of
these projects is an offset to currently producing units, which the
Company believes increases the potential for developing immediately
productive sites. A summary of the third quarter Antrim Shale
drilling activities is provided below: Antrim Shale Drilling
Operated Non-Operated Total Activities - Q3 2007 Gross Net Gross
Net Gross Net Producing 11 11.00 4 1.52 15 12.52 Waiting on Hook-Up
4 4.00 1 0.38 5 4.38 Resource Assessment 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 Dry 1
1.00 0 0.00 1 1.00 Total 16 16.00 5 1.90 21 17.90 As noted in the
summary, 15 gross (12.52 net) of the drilled wells were put into
production. In addition, approximately 10 net wells which were
previously waiting for hookup by Aurora or other operators were
also put into production. As a result, over 22 net wells were put
into production during the third quarter. Another addition to
Aurora's production was a purchase of non-operated working
interest, effective September 1, 2007. This purchase included
interest in over 33 net wells generating nearly 500 net mcf per
day. Two other operated project areas known as Arrowhead and
Tomahawk are located along the northern rim of the Antrim Shale
trend. Previously the Company reported that this was an area which
was not expected to be a sizable contributor to production in the
near-term due to its extensive natural fracturing which results in
extended dewatering requirements. As of September 30, 2007, that
expectation has not changed. At this time, the Company has
installed sufficient water disposal capacity and other
infrastructure necessary to evaluate these projects. More
information will be provided on these projects as testing is
completed. Woodford Shale Project Since the announcement of
Aurora's ownership of acreage in the Woodford Shale, the Company
has continued acquiring acreage in the same locale. During the
third quarter, the acres under lease in this project area increased
by 22% to a total of 35,858 gross (31,950 net) acres. Other
Projects Another project in which additional wells were drilled is
a non-operated oil-producing prospect located in northern Texas.
This project area has provided a completion rate of over 80%.
During the third quarter, 3 gross (2.18 net) oil wells were
successfully drilled. These new wells are expected to increase
Aurora's production to nearly 100 net barrels of oil production
daily. The Company has agreed to participate in 5 wells per quarter
on this project with a potential drilling inventory of up to 50
locations. Near-Term Development Expectations On September 19,
2007, the Company announced that its board of directors had
retained Johnson Rice & Company L.L.C. ("JRCO") to evaluate the
Company's strategic alternatives. As a result of this process, the
Company anticipates reducing its drilling activities and postponing
significant asset divestitures, but intends to maintain current
operations pending the outcome of the evaluation process. The
Company is currently in the middle of the process and will
communicate as its board of directors and advisors deem
appropriate. During the fourth quarter, the Company expects to
complete the South Knox project infrastructure and initiate
production by year end. This is expected to add over 1,500 mcf per
day to the Company's total net production. Mr. Deneau stated,
"Though we will experience a temporary slowdown in drilling
activity, we have two exciting catalysts in the next 3 months that
will be very important to our Company. First, we expect to see our
first 100% owned and operated natural gas sales to a major market
from the New Albany Shale. Secondly, Johnson Rice & Company
will conclude their evaluation of strategic alternatives and report
to our board of directors. We have high expectations for each of
these exercises." Earnings Release Date and Conference Call
Information The Company will file its Form 10-Q for the period
ended September 30, 2007 with the Securities Exchange Commission
(SEC) on November 14, 2007. At the recommendation of its advisors,
the Company will not be hosting a quarterly conference call. All
questions may be directed to the Investor Relations contact
provided below. About Aurora Oil & Gas Corporation Aurora Oil
& Gas Corporation is an independent energy company focused on
unconventional natural gas exploration, acquisition, development
and production with its primary operations in the Antrim Shale of
Michigan, the New Albany Shale of Indiana and Kentucky and the
Woodford Shale of Oklahoma. Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking
Statements Statements regarding future events, occurrences,
circumstances, activities, performance, outcomes and results,
including a strategic evaluation, anticipated capital expenditures,
drilling results, and plans for future growth through drilling and
production are forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Although we believe that the
forward-looking statements described are based on reasonable
assumptions, we can give no assurance that they will prove
accurate. Important factors that could cause our actual results to
differ materially from those included in the forward-looking
statements include the timing and extent of changes in commodity
prices for oil and gas, drilling and operating risks, the
availability of drilling rigs, changes in laws or government
regulations, unforeseen engineering and mechanical or technological
difficulties in drilling the wells, operating hazards,
weather-related delays, the loss of existing credit facilities,
availability of capital, and other risks more fully described in
our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All
forward-looking statements contained in this release, including any
forecasts and estimates, are based on management's outlook only as
of the date of this release and we undertake no obligation to
update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of subsequent developments or otherwise. Contact: Aurora Oil
& Gas Corporation Jeffrey W. Deneau, Investor Relations (231)
941-0073 http://www.auroraogc.com/ DATASOURCE: Aurora Oil & Gas
Corporation CONTACT: Jeffrey W. Deneau, Investor Relations of
Aurora Oil & Gas Corporation, +1-231-941-0073 Web site:
http://www.auroraogc.com/
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