Salamander Energy plc, the Asia focussed independent oil and gas exploration and production company, announces that its subsidiary Salamander Energy Group Limited, has signed a Sale & Purchase Agreement to acquire the entire share capital of Elnusa Bangkanai Energy Ltd. (“EBE”) from PT Elnusa Tbk. EBE holds a 69% interest and operatorship of the Bangkanai PSC, located in the Barito Basin, onshore East Kalimantan, Indonesia. The Bangkanai PSC contains the Kerendan gas field.
Transaction Summary
- Salamander to acquire EBE for a cash consideration of $11.2 million, transaction expected to close before end November 2010
- EBE’s sole asset is a 69% interest in and operatorship of the Bangkanai PSC, which contains the Kerendan gas field together with a number of step out exploration prospects
- The field has an approved plan of development, certified proven resources of 157 Bcf and proven and probable resources of 207 Bcf
- Production from the Kerendan gas field is forecast to start up in 2014
- Exploration prospects identified in the PSC with mean gross prospective resources in excess of 1.5 Tcf. Two exploration prospects to be drilled Q1 2011 with combined net mean resource potential of c. 340 Bcf.
- No additional approvals are required to close the transaction
Background
With strong demand for gas in Indonesia and the wider SE Asian region, Salamander has been targetting access to gas resources with both commercial and technical upside. This acquisition broadens Salamander’s portfolio through the addition of an operated development project that fits the Company’s portfolio of gas assets in East Kalimantan. This includes the Tutung discovery in the North Kutei basin and the South Sebuku gas discovery and South Sembakung gas field development in the Tarakan basin. This East Kalimantan gas portfolio will add materially to the Group’s production and cash flow from 2013 onwards.
Bangkanai PSC
The Kerendan gas field is comprised of a Late Oligocene carbonate reef, the top of which is at approximately 2,750 m depth and which has been penetrated by three wells. The discovery well K-1, was put on long term production test and stabilised at flow rate of over 15 MMscfd and 300 barrels of condensate per day. A resource assesment by DeGolyer & MacNaughton assigned 157 Bcf proved and 207 Bcf of proved plus probable resources to the field. A Plan of Development for the field has been approved by the Indonesian authorities and Salamander expects to progress the development during 2011.
The Kerendan gas has less than 3% CO2 and no H2S. The gas is to be used for local power generation from which electricity will be fed into the regional transmission grid. Negotiations for gas sales to PLN, the Indonesian State power company, are on-going.
Further upside lies beneath the field in the Eocene Tanjung clastics which are yet to be tested. Five prospects have been identifed in the PSC, two of which are to be drilled early in 2011. The transaction will add c. 100 Bcf of 1C contingent resources net to Salamander and is expected to contribute between 14 - 17 MMscfd to Group production from 2014.
James Menzies, Chief Executive of Salamander Energy, commented:
“This acquisition of an operated interest in the Bangkanai PSC complements our existing portfolio and offers potential synergies with our other gas appraisals and development projects in East Kalimantan. The Kerendan gas field development is a good fit, being of a scale that is operationally manageable yet material for the Company. We continue to see access to low cost, un-contracted gas resources in the region as a major prize, particularly where there is substantial commercial and technical upside.”
Enquiries:
| Salamander Energy | 020 7960 1580 |
| James Menzies, Chief Executive | |
| Geoff Callow, Head of Corporate Affairs | |
| Brunswick Group LLP | |
| Patrick Handley | 020 7404 5959 |
| Fiona Micallef-Eynaud |
About Salamander
Salamander is an Asia focussed, independent, FTSE 250, upstream oil and gas exploration and production company. Salamander has a balanced portfolio of production, development and exploration assets with interests located in Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Lao PDR.
