NEWS! Farm out! source: https://www.newswire.ca/en/story/954135/eco-atlantic-signs-definitive-farm-out-agreement-in-licenses-offshore-namibia
Eco Atlantic Signs Definitive Farm-out Agreement in Licenses Offshore Namibia
Provides Onshore License Update
TORONTO, April 12, 2012 /CNW/ - ECO (ATLANTIC) OIL AND GAS LTD. (TSX-V:EOG) Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas Ltd. ("Eco Atlantic" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a definitive Farm-out Agreement with Azimuth Ltd. ("Azimuth") of Hamilton, Bermuda, an exploration and production company backed by majority-owner Seacrest Capital Ltd. and Petroleum Geo-Services ASA ("PGS") (Letter of Intent announced on December 22, 2011).
Pursuant to the agreement, Azimuth will earn a 20% working interest in each of Eco Atlantic's offshore Namibia licenses, namely the "Cooper License" (Block 2012A), the "Sharon License" (Blocks 2213A & 2213B) and the "Guy License" (Blocks 2111B & 2211A) (jointly, the "Licenses") in return for funding 40% of the cost of 3D seismic surveys covering 2,500 square kilometers across all three Licenses, the acquisition of which is expected to cost in excess of US$25 million.
The assignment of a 20% working interest in the Licenses to Azimuth is subject to the approval of Namibia's Ministry of Mines and Energy.
Eco Atlantic currently holds a 90% working interest in the Licenses through its wholly-owned subsidiary Eco Oil and Gas Namibia (PTY) Ltd. ("Eco Namibia") and NAMCOR, the Namibian national oil and Gas Company, holds a 10% working interest. As a result of this transaction, Eco Namibia's interest will be 70%, Azimuth will earn a 20% interest, and NAMCOR will retain its 10% carried interest. Eco Atlantic, through the project management group of Kinley Exploration and Azimuth will be responsible for designing, sourcing and operating all aspects of the 3D seismic program.
Gil Holzman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eco Atlantic commented, "Eco Atlantic is excited to have executed the Farm-out Agreement thereby securing the relationship with Azimuth as a license and technical partner. This partnership will enhance the technical ability brought to analyze the Licenses, thereby reducing the execution risk and strengthening the Company's technical ability to perform its offshore Namibia 3D Geophysical program. The cost of the 3D program is approximately US $25million on all three offshore blocks, and the Company's current balance sheet combined with Azimuth's contribution covers the majority of the cost associated with our program."
Aaron D'Este, Managing Director of Azimuth Management Ltd., commented, "We are delighted to have executed the Farm-out Agreement with Eco Atlantic. Namibia is a very promising petroleum province and we have evaluated numerous farm-in opportunities across the country. Eco Atlantic's portfolio of offshore acreage is among the most exciting, spanning three distinct environments, each with excellent prospectivity. Azimuth has access to the world's largest library of 3D seismic and to a team of 85 subsurface experts with extensive experience in West Africa. Our team assessed Eco's assets independently and we support the volumetrics and conclusions in Gustavson's reports. The quality and diversity of the prospects on Eco Atlantic's offshore acreage is excellent. We look forward to working closely with Eco Atlantic to define and execute the technical program required to produce robust drilling targets as quickly and safely as possible."
Update on Onshore Licenses.
On December 8, 2011, the Company announced that it had entered into a Farm-out Agreement (the "FOA") with West Bay Investments, Ltd. ("West Bay") in which West Bay farmed into both of the Company's CBM onshore license blocks (Blocks 2013B, 2014B, 2114 and 2418 collectively the "Onshore Licenses"). Eco Atlantic announces that it has terminated the FOA with West Bay due to West Bay's material breach of the terms and conditions set out therein. The failure of West Bay to satisfy the terms and conditions of the FOA renders the 50% working interest it was to have to in the onshore licenses null and void. Subsequent to the termination of the FOA, the Company's interest in the Onshore Licenses reverts to 90% with NAMCOR maintaining a 10% interest.
The Company is pleased to announce that it has successfully completed and submitted its desk top studies and the Environmental Assessment Surveys on both its Onshore Licenses. Based on the desk top studies, the Company intends to identify drilling targets on its blocks. For that purpose, the Company has been granted an extension to complete the drilling of at least 1 well on its onshore Licenses, to a time no later than the expiry of the first term, being March 2015.
About Eco Atlantic
Eco Atlantic is an oil and gas exploration company focused on the new and bourgeoning energy play in Namibia. Through its wholly owned Namibian subsidiary, Eco Namibia, it holds five petroleum licenses issued by the Government of the Republic of Namibia. Eco Namibia holds three offshore license blocks covering more than 25,000 square kilometers (6,177,000 acres). Eco Namibia also holds two onshore license blocks covering 30,000 square kilometers (7,413,000 acres). Eco Namibia, founded in 2008, enjoys a strong local presence, and has a longstanding relationship with the energy and oil and gas sector in Namibia and in the region. The terms and conditions of these licenses are regulated by agreements signed by Eco with the Government of the Republic of Namibia in March 2011.
About Azimuth
Azimuth Limited is a specialist E&P company based in Hamilton, Bermuda. The business is backed by majority-owner Seacrest Capital Ltd, a Bermuda based energy investment group, and Petroleum Geo-Services ASA (PGS).
Azimuth leverages the strength of its shareholders to acquire interests in prospective acreage worldwide, developing 'drill-ready' targets through robust geophysical and commercial analysis. Funding from Seacrest fuels Azimuth's global activities and ensures that the company is ready to advance its properties without delay. A collaboration agreement with PGS gives Azimuth unparalleled insight into petroleum basins worldwide, including access to the world's largest multiclient seismic library, to leading edge geophysical expertise and to 85 subsurface specialists distributed in key locations around the world.
With four attractive assets already in hand, Azimuth Ltd is a well-funded, rapidly-growing exploration company equipped with the technical capabilities of a mid-cap E&P firm. Azimuth's management team is led by Aaron D'Este.
Forward Looking Statements
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: Certain information in this press release constitutes forward-looking statements under applicable securities law. Any statements that are contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Eco Atlantic to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
Such factors include, without limitation, risks associated with oil and gas production and exploration, marketing and transportation; loss of markets; volatility of commodity prices; currency and interest rate fluctuations; environmental risks; competition; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources; government regulation of petroleum and natural gas matters; environmental risks; unanticipated reclamation expenses; title disputes or claims, termination or amendment of existing contracts; actual results of drilling activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the petroleum and natural gas industries and delays in obtaining or failure to obtain any governmental approvals or licenses. . Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive.
Although Eco Atlantic believes in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because Eco Atlantic can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and Eco Atlantic undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward- looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
For further information: Gil Holzman
President and Chief Executive Officer
gil@ecooilandgas.com
Tel: +972.508 884529
Julia Maxwell
Manager, Investor Relations
jmaxwell@ecooilandgas.com
Tel: +1.416.361.2211