Magellan Petroleum Announces Production and Exploration Activities for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2009
OIL & GAS SALES
Natural Gas
The Company’s share of natural gas sales during the quarter ended
Field (Magellan Share) Million Cubic Feet Terajoules Variance
Total Daily
Mereenie 1,129 12 1,327 -11%
Palm Valley 341 4 388 -12%
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Total Gas 1,470 16 1,715 -11%
Crude Oil and Condensate
The Company’s share of crude oil and condensate sales during the quarter ended
Fields (Magellan Share) Barrels Kilolitres Variance
Total Daily
Mereenie 23,203 258 3,689 -13%
Nockatunga 16,253 180 2,584 -40%
Kiana 361 4 57 -62%
Aldinga - - - -
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Total Crude Oil and Condensate 39,817 442 6,330 -28%
PRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTION
Palm Valley Gas Field (PL 3) – Amadeus Basin NT (52.023% Interest)
The Palm Valley gas field which is operated by Magellan produced an average of approximately 7.3 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/D) of natural gas for sale during the quarter. The Palm Valley Joint Venture’s objective is to maximise gas production from the existing facilities while maintaining a safe and efficient operation, conducted in accordance with good oil field practice.
Mereenie Oil and Gas Field (PL 4 & 5) – Amadeus Basin NT (35% Interest)
The Mereenie oil and gas field which is operated by Santos Ltd produced an average of approximately 36 MMcf/D of natural gas and 712 barrels of oil and condensate per day for sale during the March quarter. No major projects were undertaken on the Mereenie field during the quarter.
Nockatunga Oil Fields (PLs 33, 50, 51, 244, 245 & ATP 276P) – Cooper Basin Qld (40.936% Interest)
The Nockatunga oil fields which are operated by Santos Ltd produced an average of approximately 501 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) for sale during the March quarter.
Advice was received that Petroleum Leases 244 and 245 were granted with effect from
The Maxwell-Kaos 3D seismic survey was conducted during the period. The 254 square kilometer survey covered PL 50 & PL 245 over the Maxwell field and Noccundra lease as well as a significant portion of the ATP-267-P exploration block. Processing of the data acquired is in progress.
Kiana Oil Field (PPL 212) – Cooper Basin SA (30% Interest)
Production from the Kiana-1 well averaged 19 BOPD during the quarter. The well is currently producing from only the upper Patchawarra Formation zone.
Aldinga Oil Field (PPL 210) – Cooper Basin SA (50% Interest)
Aldinga-1 well was shut-in during the period, waiting on repairs. There are no current plans to develop the field further.
CANADIAN PRODUCTION
Kotaneelee Gas Field, YT (2.67% interest)
Magellan has a 2.67% carried interest in the Kotaneelee gas field in the
EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES
AUSTRALIAN EXPLORATION
Exploration evaluation of ATP 267P (Magellan 40.936% – refer above), PEL 94 (Magellan 35% interest), PEL 95 (Magellan 50% interest), PEL 107 (Magellan 20% interest) and PEL 110 (Magellan 60% interest) is ongoing. Beach Petroleum withdrew from the PEL 110 joint venture and license, and as a consequence Magellan’s interest in the area increased from 37.5% to 60%.
In ATP 613P, ATP Application 674P and ATP Application 733P in the Maryborough Basin of
In the Weald Basin, Magellan (40% interest) will participate in the Markwells Wood-1 exploration well in PEDL 126 in 2009. Northern Petroleum, operator of the PEDL 126 Joint Venture, has commenced site construction for the well. The Markwells Wood-1 well will target a prospect that is interpreted to be an eastward extension of the currently producing
Northern Petroleum, operator of the PEDL 155 Joint Venture (Magellan 40%), has also received planning approval from the Hampshire County Council to drill the
Magellan holds interests (ranging from 22.5% to 50%) in seven other exploration licences in the Weald-Wessex Basin (PEDLs 098, 125, 152, 153, 154, 155 and 240), which are also operated by Northern Petroleum. Elsewhere in the Weald Basin, PEDLs 135, 136, 137, 242 and 246 are held and operated by Magellan with a 100% interest. Well sites have been selected and applications for local council planning consents for the drilling of two prospects, one in PEDL 135 and one in PEDL 137 are being progressed. Magellan also operates recently granted PEDLs 231, 232, 234 and 243 with a 50% interest.
EXPENDITURES
Expenditures incurred on exploration, appraisal and development activities during the
Forward- Looking Statements
Statements in this release which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements about Magellan and MPAL may relate to their businesses and prospects, revenues, expenses, operating cash flows, and other matters that involve a number of uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. Among these risks and uncertainties are pricing and production levels from the properties in which Magellan and MPAL have interests, the extent of the recoverable reserves at those properties, the future outcome of the negotiations for gas sales contracts for the remaining uncontracted reserves at both the Mereenie and Palm Valley gas fields in the Amadeus Basin, including the likelihood of success of other potential suppliers of gas to the current customers of Mereenie and Palm Valley production. In addition, MPAL has a large number of exploration permits and faces the risk that any wells drilled may fail to encounter hydrocarbons in commercially recoverable quantities. Any forward-looking information provided in this release should be considered with these factors in mind. Magellan assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
SOURCE Magellan Petroleum Corporation
