First Calgary Petroleums Ltd. Reports First Quarter Results

 

    CALGARY, May 10 /CNW/ - First Calgary Petroleums Ltd. (FCP, First Calgary

or the Company) announces its financial results for the three months ended

March 31, 2006.

 

    Highlights

 

    -   Successful production test results from the LES-3 and MLE-6 wells;

    -   New oil pool discovered in the TAGI zone in the LES area;

    -   Commercialisation and gas marketing discussions on the MLE field

        progressing with Sonatrach targeting field development approval in

        2nd half 2006;

    -   Successful C$165 million (US $142 million) net equity financing in

        April - funds expanded exploration and appraisal drilling through

        2006 and into 2007;

    -   Three rigs in operation, currently drilling exploration prospects

        ZER-1, GSME-1 and GSM-1.

 

    Richard Anderson, President and CEO, commented:

 

    "Our recently announced drilling and testing successes, together with

ongoing commercialisation activities, confirm the excellent progress we are

making with our strategy. We are delighted with the support received from

shareholders in the oversubscribed equity capital raising, which enables us to

extend our exploration and appraisal activities well into next year."

 

    Management's Discussion and Analysis

 

    Management's discussion and analysis (MD&A) should be read in conjunction

with the unaudited interim financial statements for the three month periods

ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 and the 2005 Annual Report incorporating the

audited financial statements and MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2005. In

this discussion and analysis $ refers to the U.S. dollar and C$ refers to the

Canadian dollar. Additional information is available on FCP's website at

www.fcpl.ca or on SEDAR's website at www.sedar.com.

    FCP is building momentum in 2006, working towards commercialisation

milestones and achieving excellent drilling results on Block 405b.

    During the quarter, First Calgary continued to execute its strategy that

focuses on two principal initiatives:

 

    -  commercialise Block 405b with a staged development plan initially

       based on the MLE area of the Block; and

 

    -  increase proved and probable reserves through a programme of

       exploration, appraisal drilling and completion activities.

 

    Ledjmet Block 405b

 

    Exploration and Appraisal Activities

 

    FCP recently announced very positive production test results from the 

LES-3 and MLE-6 wells. LES-3 encountered a new oil pool in the TAGI zone,

while MLE-6 completes a successful appraisal of the MLE field. Completion and

production testing activities are ongoing, currently at LEW-2.

    First Calgary is now operating three rigs which are currently drilling

three exploration prospects. The first prospect, ZER-1, will satisfy FCP's

remaining drilling commitment on Block 405b and explore the northwest quadrant

of the Block. The second and third prospects are exploring the southern

portion of the Block. It is important that these exploration prospects are

drilled prior to the expiration of the exploration period in December 2006, so

that FCP can optimise its retention of acreage for further appraisal and

potential exploitation.

    During the three months ended March 31, 2006, First Calgary spent

$22.1 million on the following exploration and appraisal activities on the

Block:

 

    -  ongoing geological and geophysical analysis and studies;

    -  completed and production tested the LES-3 and MLE-6 wells;

    -  drilled and cased the LEW-2 well;

    -  commenced drilling the ZER-1 exploration well;

    -  performed various testing and reservoir stimulation activities; and

    -  prepared access roads and drill platforms for future drilling

       locations.

 

    MLE Commercialisation

 

    During the quarter, FCP and Sonatrach have progressed discussions

regarding potential terms for marketing the natural gas and have been working

towards commencement of FEED (Front End Engineering and Design). Once the

marketing terms are finalized, an Exploitation License Application (ELA) will

be submitted to the Algerian Ministry of Energy and Mines. FCP continues to

target an ELA submission mid-2006, with approval sought in the second half of

2006.

 

    Rhourde Yacoub Block 406a

 

    The exploration period of the Block 406a joint venture agreement ends on

August 10, 2006 at which time FCP is required to complete appraisal activities

and, if appropriate, submit a development plan for the ZCH discovery. During

the first quarter of 2006, First Calgary spent $3.5 million on completing,

production testing and evaluating the ZCH-2 results. A decision will be made

regarding any future activity on the Block prior to the end of the exploration

period.

 

    Capital Expenditures

 

    The Company's capital expenditures in the first three months of 2006

totaled $34.9 million, compared to $12.5 million in the comparable 2005

period, reflecting an increased level of activity on Block 405b.

 

   

    Three Months Ended March 31, 2006   Block 405b   Block 406a      Total

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Drilling, completion and testing    $   21,220   $    3,451   $   24,671

    Geological and geophysical                 830           25          855

    MLE commercialisation                    5,375            -        5,375

    Training bonuses                           150          150          300

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                        $   27,575   $    3,626   $   31,201

    Block management and administration                                3,668

    Corporate                                                             34

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                  $   34,903

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

    Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

    In April 2006, FCP raised gross proceeds of C$174 million (approximates

US $142 million in net proceeds) from an equity financing of 19,340,000 common

shares. These proceeds, together with the Company's $58 million of existing

working capital as at the end of March, will enable FCP to continue its

aggressive three rig drilling operation into 2007.

    Additional funding is derived periodically from the exercise of stock

options and warrants. During the three months ended March 31, 2006 FCP issued

204,533 common shares from the exercise of employee stock options, resulting

in $0.2 million in proceeds. Without revenue from oil and gas operations, FCP

relies upon equity to fund its short-term operations and capital programmes.

    Development of the Ledjmet Block 405b reserves through to commercial

production will require significant funding. This funding is expected to be in

the form of debt, equity, joint ventures or some combination thereof. With the

current high commodity price environment, the capital markets appear receptive

to the oil and gas industry and the Company believes this environment will

continue into the foreseeable future. First Calgary has been approached by a

number of parties seeking to fund the Ledjmet development. To date, no

arrangements have been entered into, however the Company is optimistic the

necessary funding will be available when required under reasonable commercial

terms.

    The Company's working capital at March 31, 2006 was $58.5 million

compared to $92.2 million at last year end. Changes in the Company's working

capital were primarily a function of the magnitude of its capital

expenditures, as detailed below:

 

    SOURCES (USES) OF WORKING CAPITAL

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Working capital at December 31, 2005                          $   92,920

      Capital expenditures                                           (34,234)

      Proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options               157

      Net administrative costs                                          (369)

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Working capital at March 31, 2006                             $   58,474

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

    The Company is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the AIM market of

the LondonStock Exchange. The fully-diluted number of shares outstanding at

the following dates were:

 

                                        May 9,      March 31,    December 31,

    SHARES OUTSTANDING                   2006          2006          2005

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Common shares                    222,513,002   203,052,127   202,847,594

    Employee stock options             9,837,625     9,708,500     9,132,033

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Fully-diluted shares

     outstanding                     232,350,627   212,760,627   211,979,627

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

    Contractual Obligations

 

    The Company has the following contractual obligations outstanding as at

March 31, 2006:

 

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS                   Payments Due by Period

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                      Remainder       2007 -

                                           Total         2006         2010

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Operating Leases                    $      742   $      421   $      321

    Exploration Commitment(1)                5,000        5,000            -

    Drill Rig Contracts(2)                   8,985        6,690        2,295

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                        $   14,727   $   12,111   $    2,616

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (1) Relates to the last exploration well commitment under the Block 405b

        PSC, partially drilled to date.

    (2) Amounts are the minimum payments required under the rig contracts.

 

 

    Operating Results and Selected Quarterly Information

 

                              2006                     2005

 

    (000's of U.S. dollars)    Q1        Q4        Q3        Q2        Q1

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Interest                $    886  $    887  $  1,039  $    428  $    659

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Expenses

      General and

       administrative          1,272     1,192     1,001     1,414     1,139

      Stock-based

       compensation              911     3,892       373       503       746

      Foreign exchange

       loss (gain)                (6)      (70)   (2,181)      932     1,527

      Other expenses              22        54        49        46       (33)

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

                               2,199     5,068      (758)    2,895     3,379

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Income (loss)             (1,313)   (4,181)    1,797    (2,467)   (2,720)

    Income (loss) per share    (0.01)    (0.02)     0.01     (0.01)    (0.01)

 

    Total Assets            $491,776  $482,776  $478,103  $475,286  $375,384

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

                                       2004

 

    (000's of U.S. dollars)    Q4        Q3        Q2

    -----------------------------------------------------

    Interest                $    386  $    251  $    238

    -----------------------------------------------------

    Expenses

      General and

       administrative          1,165       904     1,048

      Stock-based

       compensation            1,442       975     1,375

      Foreign exchange

       loss (gain)              (820)   (2,151)    1,137

      Other expenses            (102)      109        92

    -----------------------------------------------------

                               1,685      (163)    3,652

    -----------------------------------------------------

    Income (loss)             (1,299)      414    (3,414)

    Income (loss) per share    (0.01)     0.00     (0.02)

 

    Total Assets            $393,042  $179,912  $169,229

    -----------------------------------------------------

 

    General and administrative costs were $1.3 million in the first quarter

of 2006 compared to $1.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2005. The increase

is primarily the result of growing employee levels required to operate the

Algerian projects.

    Stock-based compensation declined in the first quarter compared to the

fourth quarter of 2005, primarily the result of an initial up front expense

recorded in Q4 relating to a company-wide stock option grant and options

granted to new employees. In addition, First Calgary capitalized $0.7 million

of stock-based compensation expense in the three months ended March 31, 2006

(three months ended March 31, 2005 - nil).

 

    Business Risks and Uncertainties

 

    The MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2005 includes an overview of

certain business risks and uncertainties facing the Company. Those risks

remain in effect as at March 31, 2006.

 

    Outlook

 

    First Calgary's strategy is primarily to commercialise Block 405b and

increase proved and probable reserves. The plan for 2006 is to make progress

with both of these, through its commercialisation discussions with Sonatrach

and capital investment programme. In addition, financing alternatives are

currently being investigated to enable the Company to proceed to the

development phase.

 

    Advisory Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

    Certain information with respect to the Company contained in this report,

including management's assessment of future plans and operations, contains

forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on

assumptions and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which

are beyond FCP's control, including the impact of general economic conditions,

industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, currency exchange rate

fluctuations, reserve estimates, environmental risks, competition from other

explorers, stock market volatility and ability to access sufficient capital.

FCP's actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from

those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and,

accordingly, no assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the

forward-looking statements will transpire or occur.

 

    May 9, 2006

 

 

 

    FIRST CALGARY PETROLEUMS LTD.

    Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

    (Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                       March 31  December 31

                                                           2006         2005

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                     (Unaudited)    (Audited)

    Assets

 

    Current assets:

      Cash and short-term deposits (note 2)          $   81,981   $  107,882

      Accounts receivable                                   314          338

      Deposits and prepaid expenses                         440          387

      -----------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                         82,735      108,607

 

    Property, plant and equipment                       409,041      374,169

 

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                     $  491,776   $  482,776

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

    Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

 

    Current liabilities:

      Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

       (note 3)                                      $   24,261   $   15,687

 

    Asset retirement obligations                            438          436

 

    Shareholders' equity:

      Capital stock (note 4)                            484,892      484,694

      Contributed surplus (note 4)                       15,969       14,430

      Cumulative translation adjustment                   6,502        6,502

      Deficit                                           (40,286)     (38,973)

      -----------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                        467,077      466,653

 

    Operations and commitments (note 1)

    Subsequent event (note 6)

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                     $  491,776   $  482,776

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

    See accompanying notes to interim consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

    FIRST CALGARY PETROLEUMS LTD.

    Consolidated Statements of Operations and Deficit

 

    (Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

    (Unaudited)

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                          Three months ended

                                                                    March 31

                                                           2006         2005

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

    Revenue:

      Interest                                       $      886   $      659

      -----------------------------------------------------------------------

 

    Expenses:

      General and administrative                          1,272        1,139

      Stock-based compensation (note 4)                     911          746

      Capital tax recovery                                  (11)         (54)

      Foreign exchange loss (gain)                           (6)       1,527

      Depreciation and accretion                             33           21

      -----------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                          2,199        3,379

 

    Loss for the period                                  (1,313)      (2,720)

 

    Deficit, beginning of period                        (38,973)     (31,402)

 

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Deficit, end of period                           $  (40,286)  $  (34,122)

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

    Loss per share (note 4)                          $    (0.01)  $    (0.01)

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

    See accompanying notes to interim consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

    FIRST CALGARY PETROLEUMS LTD.

    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

    (Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)

    (Unaudited)

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                          Three months ended

                                                                    March 31

                                                           2006         2005

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Operating activities:

      Loss for the period                            $   (1,313)  $   (2,720)

      Items not involving cash:

        Stock-based compensation                            911          746

        Unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain)             (63)       1,863

        Depreciation and accretion                           33           21

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                           (432)         (90)

      Change in non-cash working capital                  2,499       (2,821)

      -----------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                          2,067       (2,911)

 

    Financing activities:

      Proceeds from exercise of options and warrants        157          378

      Issue costs                                             -          (15)

      -----------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                            157          363

 

    Investing activities:

      Capital expenditures                              (34,234)     (12,509)

      Change in non-cash working capital                  6,039      (12,944)

      -----------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                        (28,195)     (25,453)

 

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Change in cash and short-term deposits              (25,971)     (28,001)

 

    Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash

     and short-term deposits                                 70       (1,863)

 

    Cash and short-term deposits, beginning

     of period                                          107,882       81,874

 

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Cash and short-term deposits, end of period      $   81,981   $   52,010

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

    See accompanying notes to interim consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

    FIRST CALGARY PETROLEUMS LTD.

    Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

 

    Three months ended March 31, 2006 (unaudited)

    (Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated)

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

    The interim consolidated financial statements of First Calgary Petroleums

    Ltd. ("FCP" or "the Company") have been prepared by management in

    accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in Canada

    following the same accounting policies as the consolidated financial

    statements for the year ended December 31, 2005. The disclosures included

    below are incremental to those included with the annual consolidated

    financial statements. The interim consolidated financial statements

    should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements

    and the notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2005.

 

    1.  Operations and commitments:

 

        The Company's operations are in Algeria where it has the rights to

        explore, appraise and develop two blocks, Ledjmet Block 405b ("Block

        405b") and Yacoub Block 406a ("Block 406a"). The Company's rights and

        obligations in each block are set out in agreements with Sonatrach,

        the national oil company of Algeria.

 

        (a) Block 405b:

 

            In 2001 the Company entered into a production-sharing contract

            (PSC) with Sonatrach to explore and appraise Block 405b in the

            Berkine Basin. The five year exploration period of the PSC ends

            on December 26, 2006. FCP's remaining work commitment under the

            PSC is to finish drilling one exploration well (ZER-1) prior to

            the end of the exploration period, which has a remaining cost of

            approximately $5 million. If the Company fails to satisfy this

            work obligation, the rights, other than for which an exploitation

            permit has been granted or requested, will be returned and the

            Company will be liable to pay Sonatrach a penalty of

            $6.25 million. In addition, the Company is obligated to pay an

            annual training bonus in the amount of $150 for the duration of

            the contract, including exploitation periods.

 

            Each oil and gas discovery made during the exploration period is

            subject to an appraisal work programme that may extend up to two

            years beyond the exploration period of the PSC. Following the

            appraisal of each discovery, the Company and Sonatrach will

            obtain exploitation permits for any reserves determined to be

            commercial and all lands not subject to an exploitation permit

            will be returned to the government. During the exploitation

            period, the PSC allocates hydrocarbon production between FCP,

            Sonatrach and the Algerian State in accordance with a sliding

            scale formula based on such factors as production levels, product

            prices, project investment and rates of inflation. Pursuant to

            the formula, the Company's annual share of production may range

            from 27.72 to 8.16 percent. All Algerian state royalties and

            income taxes are paid by Sonatrach from its share of hydrocarbon

            production. Exploitation periods for each commercial oil and

            natural gas discovery are 25 and 30 years, respectively.

 

            The PSC provides the Company with the right to appraise and

            develop the MLE reserves discovered with the MLE-1 well. As

            compensation for this right, the Company is committed to pay

            Sonatrach a reserve-based access fee of twenty-five cents per

            barrel of oil equivalent calculated on the total estimated

            recoverable MLE reserves. The access fee will be determined at

            the time MLE reserves are declared commercial by Sonatrach and

            will be payable as a deduction from Sonatrach's share of the MLE

            development expenditures.

 

        (b) Block 406a:

 

            In 2000 the Company entered into a joint venture agreement (JVA)

            with Sonatrach to explore Block 406a in the Berkine Basin. The

            exploration period ends on August 10, 2006 at which time FCP

            needs to complete its appraisal and delineation of the ZCH

            reserves and to submit a development plan.

 

            Pursuant to the JVA, exploitation periods for each commercial oil

            and natural gas discovery are 15 and 20 years respectively, plus

            a five year extension option. During the exploitation period, the

            JVA allocates 49 percent of the hydrocarbon production or

            equivalent volume thereof to the Company. FCP is responsible for

            paying Algerian state royalties and income taxes on its share of

            production. A portion of the total recoverable natural gas

            reserves above a certain threshold will be considered strategic

            reserves and excluded by Algerian law from the JVA. In addition,

            the Company is obligated to pay an annual training bonus in the

            amount of $150 for the duration of the contract, including

            exploitation periods.

 

        While the Company currently has sufficient resources to meet its

        required work commitments, these resources may be directed to other,

        optional capital programmes depending on the success of expenditures

        and other opportunities which become available to the Company. In

        addition, the development of the Company's reserves through to

        commercial production will require additional funding in the form of

        debt, equity, joint ventures or some combination thereof. FCP is

        currently evaluating several development scenarios for the MLE field.

        The gross development costs of the various scenarios range up to

        $860 million (FCP net $645 million). To develop the Block 405b total

        proved, probable and possible reserves, gross development costs could

        reach $2.75 billion (FCP net $2.1 billion). FCP is obligated to

        finance 75 percent of the development expenditures assuming Sonatrach

        will exercise its right to participate in the development.

 

    2.  Cash and short-term deposits:

 

        The Company considers deposits in banks, certificates of deposit and

        short-term investments with original maturities of three months or

        less as cash and short-term deposits. The components of cash and

        short-term deposits are as follows:

 

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                       March 31  December 31

                                                           2006         2005

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

        Cash on deposit:

          U.S. dollars                               $    9,073   $    2,759

          Canadian dollars                                  735          438

          Algerian dinars                                   313        1,614

          British pounds                                     84          152

          Euro                                               14            -

 

        Bank term deposits:

          U.S. dollars                                   69,615       98,454

          Canadian dollars                                1,799        3,672

          British pounds                                    348          793

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                     $   81,981   $  107,882

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 

    3.  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:

 

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                       March 31  December 31

                                                           2006         2005

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

          U.S. dollars                               $   20,204   $   12,352

          Algerian dinars                                 3,492        2,760

          Canadian dollars                                  431          456

          British pounds                                    127          119

          Euro                                                7            -

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                     $   24,261   $   15,687

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 

    4.  Capital stock:

 

        (a) Issued share capital:

 

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                      Number of

                                                         Shares       Amount

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

        Common shares:

          Balance, December 31, 2005                202,847,594   $  484,694

            Issued on exercise of employee

             stock options                              204,533          157

            Transfer from contributed surplus on

             exercise of stock options                        -           41

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

          Balance, March 31, 2006                   203,052,127   $  484,892

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 

        (b) Employee stock options:

 

            The Company has 10,104,563 common shares reserved for issuance

            pursuant to the Stock Option Plan. Stock options granted under

            the plan have a term of five years and vesting terms are

            determined at the discretion of the Board, ranging between two

            and three years. The exercise price of each option is equal to

            the closing market price of the shares on the date preceding the

            date of the grant. The following table summarizes the changes in

            stock options outstanding at March 31, 2006:

 

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                    Weighted

                                                                     Average

                                                      Number of     Exercise

                                                        Options        Price

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

        Outstanding, December 31, 2005                9,132,033   C$    4.95

          Grants                                        831,000         9.00

          Exercised                                    (204,533)        0.89

          Cancelled                                     (50,000)       10.95

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

        Outstanding, March 31, 2006                   9,708,500   C$    5.35

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 

        The following table summarizes information about the options

        outstanding and exercisable at March 31, 2006:

 

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

                                    Options Outstanding  Options Exercisable

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

                                     Weighted

                                      Average

                                    Remaining  Weighted             Weighted

        Range of                  Contractual   Average              Average

        Exercise                         Life  Exercise             Exercise

        price            Options       (years)    Price    Options     Price

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

        C$0.50-0.82      715,000   0.57          C$0.68    715,000    C$0.68

        C$1.25-1.25      505,000   1.17            1.25    505,000      1.25

        C$2.36-2.95      893,000   1.84            2.60    893,000      2.60

        C$4.72-4.72    2,487,500   2.58            4.72  2,487,500      4.72

        C$6.21-6.39    3,378,000   4.66            6.27  1,109,331      6.27

        C$7.45-8.59      710,000   3.71            7.80    475,001      7.67

        C$8.65-10.95     731,000   4.76            9.07     73,335      9.63

        C$11.10-15.77    289,000   3.26           11.85    174,001     11.57

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

                       9,708,500   3.28 years    C$5.35  6,432,168    C$4.43

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 

        (c) Stock-based compensation expense:

 

            For the three months ended March 31, 2006, the Company recorded

            $1.6 million (2005 - $0.7 million) of stock-based compensation

            expense, of which $0.7 million was capitalized (2005 - nil). The

            fair value of the options granted in the three months ended

            March 31, 2006 was estimated to be C$4.50 per option and was

            determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the

            following assumptions: expected volatility of 65 percent,

            risk-free interest rate of 4 percent and expected lives of

            3.7 years. There were no options granted in the first quarter of

            2005.

 

        (d) Contributed surplus:

 

            The changes in the contributed surplus balance are as follows:

 

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

        Balance, December 31, 2005                                $   14,430

          Options granted                                              1,580

          Options exercised                                              (41)

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

        Balance, March 31, 2006                                   $   15,969

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 

        (e) Per share amounts:

 

            The loss per share is based on the weighted average shares

            outstanding for the period. The weighted average shares

            outstanding for the three month period ended March 31, 2006 were

            203,033,422 (2005 - 183,535,492).

 

    5.  Segmented information:

 

        The Company's activities are conducted in two geographic segments:

        Canada and Algeria. All activities relate to exploration and

        development of petroleum and natural gas in Algeria.

 

                                           Canada      Algeria       Total

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 

        Capital Expenditures -

         three months ended March 31

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

        2006                            $       34   $   34,869   $   34,903

        2005                            $       17   $   12,492   $   12,509

 

        Assets - as at March 31

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

        2006                            $   82,607   $  409,169   $  491,776

        2005                            $   52,360   $  323,024   $  375,384

        ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 

    6.  Subsequent Event:

 

        In April 2006, the Company closed a financing arrangement by issuing

        19,340,000 common shares for gross proceeds of C$174 million

        (9,439,822 common shares at C$9.00 per share and 9,900,178 common

        shares at pnds stlg 4.40 per share). As part of the agreement, FCP

        has granted the underwriter an over-allotment option, which provides

        the underwriter an option to purchase 2,901,000 common shares at

        C$9.00 per share. The over-allotment option is exercisable, at the

        sole discretion of the underwriter, prior to June 3, 2006.

 

   

    For further information: First Calgary Petroleums Ltd., Richard G.

Anderson, President and CEO or John van der Welle, Finance Director and CFO,

Tel: (403) 264-6697, Website: www.fcpl.ca; Other contacts: James Henderson,

Pelham Public Relations, Tel: +44 (0) 207 743 6673; Carina Corbett, 4C -

Burvale Limited, Tel: +44 (0) 207 907 4761

    (FPL)



END



First Calgary Petroleums (LSE:FPL)
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First Calgary Petroleums (LSE:FPL)
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