RE: RE: NRWhat's perplexing...I think the transaction is brilliant.
PTA has never mentioned the prospectivity of the the El Sancy block and had no plans for it going forward in their presentation. Clearly it wasn't a block that was high on their list.
Trading 50% in El Sancy for 50% in the entire El Eden block, including the Chiriguaro oil discovery, for which PTA previously held 0% WI in is a great transaction for PTA. I suspect PTA will also be named the operator of this block which will be the first block they operate. So, in the first step, PTA increased their interest from 25% to 75% on the El Eden block, excluding the Chiriguaro discovery, and from 0% to 50% in the Chiriguaro discovery.
As part of the Talisman farmin announced in October 2010, PTA only acquired an option to purchase a 25% interest in the Chiriguaro-1 discovery in the El Eden Block and the option was to remain in force for a period of 18 months from the closing date of the transaction, at a price to be determined.
Secondly, PTA then farmed out 35% of their 75% WI in the El Eden block, excluding the Chiriguaro discovery, to Parex, arguably the best, most active and niblest operators in the Llanos, for $3.5 million and 65% of the exploration well cost (to be spud prior to June 9th 2012). This farmout helps derisk the exploration and reduces PTA's go forward capital commitments.
As for the Chiriguaro oil discovery, I understand it is flanked by two other oil discoveries La Gloria Norte and La Gloria South, in the Casanare blocks which are operated by Perenco. Also, PTA and Talisman will have 50/50 interest in the Chiriguaro oil discovery, Parex is not involved in the discovery. Can't find anything on the size of the Chiriguaro discovery, but I did some digging and found a reference to the La Gloria fields on C&C's presentation on slide 9 (
https://www.ccenergialtd.com/upload/media_element/16/01/may-2011-corporate-presentation-%5Bcompatibility-mode%5D.pdf) the North field has produced 25 million barrels and South field has produced 20 million barrels as at June 30, 2010 as reported by the ACIPET - Colombian Association of Petroleum Engineers. The Casanare blocks are two small blocks that include the La Gloria fields and are essentially islands within PTA's El Eden block.
In summary, another great transaction for PTA, and another check mark for the management team in regards to executing on their plans to rationalize their portfolio and bring in proven operating partners to explore their high working interest blocks. PTA now has three oil discoveries in their portfolio and has most likely acquired their first operatorship of a block with a discovery and the prospectivity of the block was validated by the fact that Parex was willing to pay a promote to enter the block ($3.5MM and 65% for 35%)...just like the transaction between PTA and Parex on the Los Ocarros block which resulted in the Las Maracas discovery.