HOUSTON, TX -- (Marketwire) -- 10/08/08 -- Frontera Resources Corporation (London Stock
Exchange, AIM Market - Symbol: FRR; OTCQX Market, U.S.A. - Symbol: FRTE),
an independent oil and gas exploration and production company, today
announced early results of its ongoing development drilling program at the
Mtsare Khevi Field in its Shallow Fields Production Unit, Block 12, in the
country of Georgia.
Development drilling operations at the Mtsare Khevi Field have continued to
progress rapidly since the announcement of the completion of the MK#12 and
MK#25 wells in August. Four additional wells have been drilled, each
targeting the Upper Pliocene age Akchagil formation as part of a total
20-well rolling development program this year. The MK#13, MK#14, MK#22 and
MK#23 wells were drilled to total measured depths of approximately 355
meters and, as expected, each encountered three hydrocarbon bearing zones
between depths of 200-315 meters (Horizons I, II and III). As expected, mud
log oil shows exist in these horizons in all six wells, and well log
analyses continue to indicate approximately 20-30 meters of potential gross
pay in each well.
The combined results of the first six wells have revealed a structure
larger in area than previously thought. In addition, the presence of a
substantial gas cap in the field has been confirmed and continuous
development drilling has successfully pushed the limits of the lowest known
oil on the structure further down the flank than originally mapped, thereby
increasing the size of the oil bearing portion of the field. Individual
wells are also drilling more quickly than originally projected. As a
result, this new information has initiated a structural remapping of the
field, and current plans call for at least 40 additional locations to be
drilled in 2009.
Of the six development wells drilled to date, wells MK#12 and MK#13 are
currently producing a combined total of approximately 31 barrels of oil per
day of good quality 21 degree API oil from Horizon I, greater than original
projections. As part of planned development operations, Horizons II and
III will shortly be added into production within each well, which is
expected to significantly enhance per-well productivity.
The MK#25, MK#23 and MK#14 wells are currently being brought into
production in a similar manner, with each well undergoing planned
production tests of 30-60 days in order to optimize production parameters.
Development drilling operations are continuing on a rolling basis with the
MK#18 well currently in progress while additional surface locations are
being prepared in advance of planned continuous drilling operations.
Dedicated rigs and equipment from within Georgia are being utilized to
undertake this ongoing development program, from which Frontera expects to
yield approximately 250 bbls per day by year-end.
The Mtsare Khevi Field is located in the western portion of Block 12 with
multiple objective reservoirs situated at depths between 200 meters and
1,100 meters. It was discovered and partially delineated with multiple
exploration wells from 1989 to 1994, but never developed and produced.
After completing a field study in 2007 that indicated this field
potentially contains as much as 5 million barrels of recoverable oil
reserves, Frontera designed a plan to bring the shallow reservoirs from the
Akchagil formation into production. Additional potential exists in deeper
Miocene age sandstone horizons that have previously tested and flowed oil.
This potential is currently under study and will become the focus of future
operations to fully develop the Mtsare Khevi Field.
Steve C. Nicandros, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented:
"We are very pleased with the uninterrupted progress that has been achieved
since the commencement of development drilling operations in August at the
Mtsare Khevi Field. The low cost nature of drilling and operations combined
with better than expected flow rates from a larger than anticipated
structural area confirms our belief in the field's substantial value."
Frontera's Shallow Fields Production Unit is located in the central portion
of Block 12 and represents what the company believes to be an extensive
trend of low-cost, low-risk undeveloped oil and gas reserves. Containing
four discovered yet undeveloped or underdeveloped fields that have
additional exploration potential, objectives are considered to be
traditional, well-known reservoirs of Pliocene and Miocene age that are
situated at depths from 10 meters to 1,500 meters. Together with
anticipated production from the Mtsare Khevi Field, Frontera expects total
daily production from this Unit to be approximately 400 bbls per day by the
end of 2008.
Notes to Editors:
1. Frontera Resources Corporation is an independent Houston, Texas,
U.S.A.-based international oil and gas exploration and production company
whose strategy is to identify opportunities and operate in emerging markets
around the world. Frontera has operated in Georgia since 1997 where it
holds a 100 percent working interest in a production sharing agreement with
the government of Georgia. This gives Frontera the exclusive right to
explore for, develop and produce oil and gas from a 5,060 square kilometer
area in eastern Georgia known as Block 12. For more information about
Frontera Resources, please see www.fronteraresources.com. For more
information about Frontera's Shallow Fields Production Unit, please see
www.fronteraresources.com/Operations.php?link_id=43.
2. Gerard Bono, Frontera's Vice President and Chief Reservoir Engineer, is
the qualified person who reviewed and approved the estimated reserve
information contained in this announcement. These estimates are currently
being reviewed by Netherland, Sewell & Associates and will be released as
soon as practicable.
3. This release contains certain forward-looking statements, including,
without limitation, expectations, beliefs, plans and objectives regarding
the potential transactions, potential drilling schedule, well results and
ventures discussed in this release, as well as reserves, future drilling,
development and production. Among the important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such
forward-looking statements are: future exploration and development
activities; availability and performance of needed equipment and personnel;
seismic data; evaluation of logs and cores from wells drilled; fluctuations
in oil and gas prices; weather conditions; general economic conditions; the
political situation in Georgia and neighboring countries; and other factors
listed in Frontera's financial reports, which are available at
www.fronteraresources.com/Investors.php?link_id=23. There is no assurance
that Frontera's expectations will be realized, and actual results may
differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements.
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Enquiries:
Frontera Resources Corporation
Liz Williamson
Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
(713) 585-3216
Email Contact
Brunswick Group LLP
Patrick Handley / Camilla Gore
London: +44 207 4045959
Nominated Advisor:
Morgan Stanley
Jon Bathard-Smith
+44 20 7425 8000