Drilling Ops Commenced at Polish Kutno Well

- Drilling Ops Commenced at Polish Kutno Well

Monday, August 29, 2011
FX Energy Inc.

FX Energy announced the start of drilling on the Kutno-2 well in the Company's 700,000 acre Kutno concession. The Kutno-2 well is planned to test a large (approximately 35,000 acres or 140 square kilometers) 2-D defined Rotliegend structure at a depth of approximately 6,500 meters (21,000 feet).

"FX Energy is pleased to be joined in this project by PGNiG, the most experienced explorer in Poland," said David Pierce, the Company's CEO. "Given that Poland currently imports approximately one-third of a Tcf of gas annually, and the Kutno prospect could have an EUR of up to 9.5 Tcf, both companies recognize that this project has the potential to change the energy balance in the entire region."

The current rig will be used to drill the first sections of the well prior to moving Nafta Pila's larger IDM 2000 rig with 500 ton load capacity onto location for the bottom sections of the well. Drilling is expected to take approximately eight to nine months. FX Energy is the operator and will be 50% owner of the Kutno concession; PGNiG will earn 50%.

Plawce-2

The Plawce-2 tight gas well reached total depth of 4,200 meters. Gas shows were encountered as expected throughout the Rotliegend sandstone reservoir. Cores and logs are currently being analyzed. Based upon the results of this analysis, the well is expected to be perforated at the deepest part of the well to determine whether the entire Rotliegend reservoir is water-free. Thereafter, current plans call for perforating and fracking approximately 50 meters of Rotliegend in the upper portion of the well where porosity is approximately 9-10%. After testing, the well is expected to be completed as a vertical producer.

The Plawce-2 well is located on an uplifted tight Rotliegend block that could contain as much as 500 Bcf of gas in place within the Fences concession. The Company holds a non-operating 49% interest in the Fences concession and the Plawce-2 well; PGNiG operates and holds 51% interest.

U.S. Alberta Bakken

In Montana, FX Energy is in the early stages of appraising the Alberta Bakken oil potential in approximately 75,000 net acres. The Company has drilled and fracced a vertical well in its Cutbank acreage and is currently monitoring the flow back. The Company has drilled a second vertical well in another of its acreage blocks and plans to frac the vertical section. In three to four weeks the Company plans to drill a lateral section of approximately 4,000 feet at this location. Two further wells are planned in the fourth quarter, one vertical and one with a lateral section, assuming results of the Company's first two wells meet technical expectations. FX Energy is operator and holds a one-third working interest in approximately 75,000 net acres; American Eagle Energy, Inc., and Big Sky Operating, LLC, each own a one-third working interest.

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Drilling Commenced at Sunwing's 1st Mongolian Exploration Well

- Drilling Commenced at Sunwing's 1st Mongolian Exploration Well

Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Ivanhoe Energy Inc.

Ivanhoe and Sunwing announced that N16-1E-1A, Sunwing's first exploration well on its Nyalga Block XVI in Mongolia, spudded Saturday, August 13. As of Tuesday, the well has been drilled to 437m and surface casing has been run and cemented.

"This is an important step in our exploration program in Mongolia," said David Dyck, President and COO of Ivanhoe. "Given the results of our 2D seismic study, we are optimistic of the potential to discover oil resources in Mongolia."

The well is located on a structure approximately 32 km2 in size and will be drilled to a total depth of approximately 2500m. The well is being drilled by the Daqing Exploration Company and drilling of the well will take approximately 30 days, with completion and testing to be carried out as required. The Company intends to drill two wells on two separate structures, with the option to drill up to three additional wells in this initial exploratory program.

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Drilling Commenced at Suroco's Pinuna-6 Well

- Drilling Commenced at Suroco's Pinuna-6 Well

Friday, August 12, 2011
Suroco Energy Inc.

Suroco announced that the Pinuna-6 well has commenced drilling in the Suroriente Block in Colombia.

Pinuna-6 Well

The Pinuna-6 well will target the Villeta U and T reservoirs in an undrilled area located between the Pinuna-1 and Quillacinga-1 oil wells. It is expected that the well will reach the target in approximately 25 days and, if successful, will take approximately 20 days to complete and tie-in to existing production facilities.

Status of Pinuna-4 Well Operations

The Pinuna-4 well that preceded the Pinuna-6 well encountered drilling difficulties which resulted in delays in running the casing after the well reached total depth. Well logs run in the Pinuna-4 well indicate the presence of approximately 21 feet of oil pay in the primary target Villeta Middle U sand and minor indications of hydrocarbons in the secondary Villeta T and Caballos sands. Testing operations commenced in the Villeta T and Caballos sands, which subsequently produced significant amounts water with non-commercial amounts of oil. Testing operations in the U sand have been inconclusive and the well did not flow under natural conditions although the reservoir quality from the well logs appears to be similar to other wells that are on production from the same zone. Well operations are continuing in order to establish production from the Villeta U zone, as the test results so far may have been compromised by problems related to the complexity of the completion equipment and the multi-zone test procedures.

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Fracking, Testing Ops Commenced at Global Petroleum's Eagle Ford Well

- Fracking, Testing Ops Commenced at Global Petroleum's Eagle Ford Well

Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Global Petroleum Ltd.

Texon has advised that fracking and testing operations on the second Eagle Ford well in which Global has an interest (Tyler Ranch EFS #2H) began on August 8, 2011. The project involves 17 stages (compared with 15 in the first Eagle Ford well), with fracking expected to take about a week followed by testing.

Initial flow test results are expected to be available in two weeks.

The surface location of the well is close to the production facilities associated with the first Eagle Ford well so the well will be able to be immediately connected for production.

Global has a 7.939% working interest in approximately 1,651 acres beneath the Olmos formation including the Eagle Ford Shale. Global's interest in the Leighton prospect also includes a 15% working interest in approximately 873 acres from the surface down to the stratigraphic equivalent of the Olmos formation.

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Drilling Commenced at Nostra Terra's Colorado Well

- Drilling Commenced at Nostra Terra's Colorado Well

Monday, August 01, 2011
Nostra Terra O&G Co. plc

Nostra Terra O&G announced that drilling has begun on it's initial well in the Verde prospect, located in south-eastern Colorado.

The Company has a 16.25% working interest in the Verde prospect. The initial well will be drilled to a depth of approximately 5300 feet.

Drilling of the well is expected to be completed by the end of August, depending on operations and possible formation tests. Drilling will be followed by completion and initial production testing.

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Second Seismic Survey Commenced at Manas' Tajikistan Licenses

- Second Seismic Survey Commenced at Manas' Tajikistan Licenses

Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Manas Petroleum Corp.

Manas announced the commencement of the second seismic survey on CJSC Somon Oil Company's WEST and NORTH WEST licenses in the Republic of Tajikistan. This program includes up to 774 km of 2D seismic survey, which up to 115 km will be acquired over the WEST license and up to 659 km will be acquired over the NORTH WEST license. An additional 24 km will extend across the Kyrgyz-Tajik border into Manas' Tuzluk license in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Somon Oil, a 90% owned subsidiary of DWM Petroleum AG, signed the agreement for Seismic Services with the Tajikistan branch of the Kazakh company, DANK Scientific Industrial Firm ("DANK"), on June 29, 2011. DANK has extensive experience in the hydrocarbon exploration industry performing seismic work in the larger Caspian region. DANK also performed Somon's seismic survey in 2010. The seismic work will be conducted with vibrators, airguns (a significant volume of the data is to be acquired across the Karakum Reservoir, for the first time), with the remainder utilizing dynamite as a source.

This seismic survey is being carried out to improve the quality of the existing prospect data, and hence increase the chances of success of the exploratory wells to be drilled upon completion and interpretation of the new seismic data. The first well is anticipated to be spudded at the end of the first quarter of 2012.

Santos International Ventures Pty Ltd ("Santos International")., a wholly owned subsidiary of Santos Ltd., has an option to farm-in to Somon Oil pursuant to an option agreement signed between DWM Petroleum AG, Santos International (and others) on December 10, 2007. The Production Sharing Agreement has yet to be ratified and remains one of the hurdles for Santos exercising the option. Prior to exercise of that option, Santos International has agreed to provide preliminary discretionary funding towards the costs of the abovementioned seismic, although binding fully funded commitments are not intended to arise until exercise of the option. Once exercised, it is intended that (subject to further agreement on terms), Santos International will fully fund the seismic survey and that these costs will be credited to the total funding commitments to be agreed.

Somon has also commenced the process of obtaining all required permits to commence drilling operations in the Chkalovsk area (WEST license) as well as in the West Supetau area (NORTH WEST license).

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Drilling Commenced at Pacific Rubiales' Colombia Well

- Drilling Commenced at Pacific Rubiales' Colombia Well

Monday, July 11, 2011
Petroamerica Oil Corp.

Petroamerica announced the July 3, 2011 spud of the Torodoi 1-X exploration well, targeting Tertiary and Cretaceous reservoir formations in the Arauca Block situated in the Llanos Basin of Colombia. The operator on the block, Pacific Rubiales, who holds a 95% participating interest in the block, will drill the well using the Petrex 22 drilling rig and is expecting to reach a total depth of 7,198 feet (measured depth) by early August, 2011. Shortly after completion of this well, it is expected that a second well on the Arauca Block will be spudded using the same rig.

Petroamerica, pursuant to a Farm-in Agreement with Pacific Rubiales, holds a 5% participating interest in the Arauca Block, but will be fully carried by Pacific Rubiales for the costs of both this and the second well.

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Drilling Commenced at GMX's Williston Well

- Drilling Commenced at GMX's Williston Well

Thursday, July 07, 2011
GMX Resources Inc.

GMX has begun drilling its first well in the Williston Basin.

The Company has spudded its first Williston Basin well in Stark County, North Dakota. The Wock 21-2-1H is a Three Forks well being drilled in Township 140N, Range 98W. The Company expects the well to be completed in the third quarter of 2011.

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Drilling Commenced at Aurelian's Krzesinki-1

- Drilling Commenced at Aurelian's Krzesinki-1

Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Aurelian O&G plc

Aurelian provided the following operational and corporate update.

Highlights

• First Siekierki South-West well, Krzesinki-1, spudded on 24th June 2011
  • Target depth of 4,150 meters expected to be reached in early 4Q 2011
  • Targeting mid case of 44bcf net to Aurelian
  • Well on trend with conventional producing fields and at present horizontal drilling and fraccing are not planned
• Completion of disposal of Romanian non-core interests generates initial payment of €6.85 million plus future upside potential
  • Consideration made up of €6.85 million initial proceeds, plus future potential payments depending on ongoing exploration success of Aurelian Oil & Gas Romania SRL
  • Deal structure also adjusts up and down depending on future gas prices and final production achieved from the Bilca and Climauti Gas Project Areas
  • Disposal allows Aurelian's resources to be redirected towards Romanian Carpathian Thrust Fold Belt Core Area

First Siekierki South-West well

Krzesinki-1, the fourth well to be drilled in the Greater Siekierki appraisal program, spudded on June 24, 2011. It will test a structural high 6 kilometers south west of the core area where Trzek-1, 2 and 3 have been drilled. The structure lies on trend and to the north of a number of conventional Rotliegendes fields developed by PGNiG and FX Energy in the license to the south. It is therefore possible that a discovery could be developed without any requirement for the fraccing technology which was utilized in the core area. The well is expected to take three months to reach target depth of 4,150 meters and is targeting mid case net resources to Aurelian of 44bcf with an upside case of 465bcf.

The Siekierki project is located on the Poznan licenses which are 100% held by Energia Zach?d Sp. z.o.o., a company owned 90% by Aurelian and 10% by Avobone N.V.

Completion of the disposal of Romanian non-core interests

Following the Company's announcement of February 4, 2011 advising of the strategic review of its Romanian business and the reorganization and refocusing of its Romania operations on its Carpathian Fold Belt Core Area, the Company is pleased to announce that all regulatory and third party approvals have now been received allowing the completion of the disposal of Aurelian Oil and Gas Romania SRL ("AOGR"). AOGR holds Aurelian's non-core Romanian interests in the Bilca Gas Project Area of the Brodina Concession, the Suceava Concession, and the Bacau North Areas (A and B) of the Bacau Concession.

The purchaser of AOGR is Raffles Energy Netherlands B.V., a subsidiary of the Raffles Energy Group, a private equity investor that has a significant focus in natural resources, energy projects and commodities trading.

As well as enabling Aurelian to redirect resources to focus on its Romanian Carpathian Thrust Fold Belt Core Area, the Company will receive an initial payment of €6.85 million made up of a 'base' cash consideration of €5.3 million plus a further cash consideration of €1.55 million relating to final working capital and other completion adjustments. The consideration mechanism also provides Aurelian with exposure to future exploration success in AOGR by way of a deferred cash consideration structure whereby payments will be made, starting on first production, for each discovery equating to €50,000 for each Bcf of gas discovered (AOGR's share) and €300,000 for each million barrels of oil discovered (AOGR's share) based on the volumes of proved and probable reserves approved in the relevant Field Development Plans. The deal structure also provides for further adjustments (up and down) to the 'base' consideration depending on future gas prices and final production achieved from the Bilca and Climauti Gas Project Areas.

In the year ended 31 December 2010, AOGR achieved net turnover of approximately RON 10.80m (€2.56m) and a loss before tax of approximately RON 10.97m (€2.61m) under Romanian GAAP.

Interests in the Bilca Gas Project Area are Aurelian Oil & Gas (Romania) SRL 62.5% and S.N.G.N. Romgaz S.A. 37.5%.

Interests in the Suceava Concession are Aurelian Oil & Gas (Romania) SRL 50%, Regal Petroleum PLC 50%.

Interests in the Bacau North Area (A) are Aurelian Oil & Gas (Romania) SRL 41.0%, S.N.G.N. Romgaz S.A. 40.0% and Europa Oil & Gas SRL 19.0%.

Interests in the Bacau North Area (B) are Aurelian Oil & Gas (Romania) SRL 60.0%, S.N.G.N. Romgaz S.A. 40.0%.

Interests in the Brodina Exploration Area are Aurelian Petroleum SRL 33.75%, S.N.G.N. Romgaz S.A. 37.50% and Europa Oil & Gas SRL 28.75%.

Interests in the Cuejdiu Concession Area are Aurelian Petroleum SRL 45.0%, S.N.G.N. Romgaz S.A. 37.50% and Europa Oil & Gas SRL 17.5%.

Rowen Bainbridge, Chief Executive commented, "We are pleased to have spudded the Krzesinki-1 well on time and look forward to reaching target depth early in 4Q 2011. Krzesinki-1 is an exciting prospect which, if successful, could add significant conventional gas to the existing 346 bcf (net to Aurelian) in the Siekierki Tight Gas Project.

"We have now completed the refocusing of our business in Romania and look forward to moving ahead with the appraisal of Voitinel and our oil exploration activities in the Romanian Carpathians. The exit of our Romanian non-core interests has been achieved at a value that we are pleased with whilst also providing us with further upside based upon the future exploration success of AOGR."

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Drilling Commenced at AWE's Arrowsmith Well

- Drilling Commenced at AWE's Arrowsmith Well

Tuesday, May 31, 2011
AWE Ltd.

AWE reported that the Arrowsmith-2 exploration well, located in Exploration Permit 413 (EP- 413) commenced drilling at 0830 hours (Western Standard Time) on May 29, 2011. At 0600 hours (WST) the well was drilling ahead at a measured depth of 580 meters.

The Arrowsmith-2 well is designed to test the unconventional gas potential of the Carynginia Formation, Irwin River Coal Measures and Kockatea Shale and will be drilled to a proposed total depth of approximately 3,420 meters.

The well is located approximately 25 kilometers from the Woodada Deep-1 well (deepened by AWE in April 2010 to acquire cores over the Carynginia Shale interval), and approximately 500 meters south east of the Arrowsmith-1 well, which tested gas from the Carynginia Formation.

During drilling, the joint venture is planning to cut conventional cores from the middle Carynginia Shale and Irwin River Coal Measures. On completion of drilling, the well will be suspended for future fracture stimulation and testing which is planned for later in the year.

The participants in EP 413 are:

• AWE Limited (via subsidiaries) 44.252%
• Norwest Energy NL (Operator) 27.945%
• Bharat PetroResources Ltd 27.803%

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Directional Drilling Commenced at North Oklahoma Project

- Directional Drilling Commenced at North Oklahoma Project

Wednesday, May 25, 2011
American Petro-Hunter Inc.

American Petro-Hunter updated the drilling progress of the NOM1H Horizontal well at the Company's North Oklahoma Project.

Directional drilling has now commenced. The K.O.P. (kick off point) has been reached, and the well is now entering the curved section of the hole. The well plan calls for approximately 1,600 feet of lateral to be drilled in the Mississippi formation before reaching a total depth of about 5,300 feet, with a true vertical depth of about 3,900 feet.

The NOM1H well is the first of a planned series of horizontal wells designed to test and develop oil and gas in the 100 foot thick limestone Mississippi Formation. Once the lateral portion reaches its engineered length, a period of testing and evaluation will commence.

In related news, a neighboring major independent oil company has received a permit to proceed with the drilling of its first horizontal test of the Woodford Shale in Payne County. This nearby well is engineered for a total depth of 9,177 feet with a true vertical depth of 4,300 feet. As American Petro-Hunter is planning a horizontal well into the Woodford Shale as part of our 2011 development program, the results of this neighboring well will prove instrumental towards the timing of our first horizontal efforts in the formation.

Company President Robert McIntosh stated, "The lateral turn of the drill into the horizontal phase means we are now entering the objective pay zone in the Mississippi Formation. Over the next week, drilling operations will be closely monitored by the directional drilling engineer to ensure we stay in the Mississippi for the duration of the operation. The upcoming testing phase is a critical step in the determination of our next well as we gear up for a very busy summer of drilling."

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Drilling Commenced at Caza's O.B. Ranch Well

- Drilling Commenced at Caza's O.B. Ranch Well

Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Caza O&G Inc.

Caza O&G announced that drilling has commenced on the Company's O.B. Ranch #2 appraisal well. As announced on May 12, 2011, O.B. Ranch #2 is a direct offset to the O.B. Ranch #1 discovery well. The well is targeting the Eocene, Cook Mountain interval between 12,400 and 12,900 feet, which is the stratigraphic interval producing in the O.B. Ranch #1 well, with an anticipated total depth of 13,500 feet.

Caza has a 45.28% working interest and a 33.51% net revenue interest in the Bongo property and wells.

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Drilling Commenced at Petroamerica's Las Maracas Well

Drilling Commenced at Petroamerica's Las Maracas Well

Friday, April 29, 2011
Petroamerica Oil Corp.

Petroamerica announced the April 27, 2011 spud of the Las Maracas-2 exploration well in the Los Ocarros Block, situated in the Llanos Basin of Colombia. The Las Maracas-2 well is targeting the Carbonera C7, Mirador and Une reservoir formations in a fault trap defined by 3D seismic. The well will be directionally drilled by the Parker 268 drilling rig and is expected to reach its total depth of 13,100 feet (measured depth) by end June, 2011.

The Company, pursuant to a Farmin Agreement with Talisman Oil & Gas Colombia Limited, is entitled to a 50% participating interest in the Los Ocarros Block, subject to the approval of the National Hydrocarbon Agency (ANH) and the operator of the block, Cepsa Colombia S.A., a subsidiary of the Cepsa Group.

Drilling Commenced at Neon's San Ardo Field

Drilling Commenced at Neon's San Ardo Field

Thursday, April 21, 2011
Neon Energy Ltd.

Neon Energy is pleased to announce commencement of a two well development drilling program on it's 100% owned North San Ardo oil field, onshore California.

The Lombardi 20-27H and Lombardi 21-27H horizontal production wells will be drilled back to back, targeting the southern lobe of the field. These wells are anticipated to significantly increase production at a time of strong oil prices.

The two well program is budgeted at US $1.6 million, and the wells are each expected to take two weeks to drill, complete and commence production. The Company will provide further information as and when initial production rates become available

Drilling Commenced at Eni's Guendalina Gas Field

Drilling Commenced at Eni's Guendalina Gas Field

Monday, April 18, 2011
Mediterranean O&G plc

Mediterranean O&G provided the following operational update on the Guendalina Gas Field.

Italy - Concession AC 35 AG - Guendalina Gas Field (MOG interest 20%, ENI 80% and Operator)

The Operator, ENI, has informed the Company that following the installation of the platform jacket which was successfully completed in March, the Transocean jack up rig, GSF Key Manhattan, commenced drilling of the two development wells Guendalina 2D ("Gue 2D") and Guendalina 3 ("Gue 3") on 7th April 2011. The two wells are being drilled in parallel, by implementation of the skid drilling technique.

To date

• The Gue 2D well has been drilled to a depth of 400 meters. The set up of the casing has been completed.
• The Gue 3 well has been drilled to a depth of 350 meters. The set up of the casing is ongoing.

The planned total depth of the Gue 2D well is 3,290 meters (3,225 meters true vertical depth), while the planned total depth of the Gue 3 well is 3,190 meters. The Pliocene gas sand levels are expected to be encountered from a depth of about 3,000 meters.

ENI estimates that the drilling campaign, including completion of the two wells for production, will be completed by the end of July 2011. In parallel, the construction of the platform deck is progressing. Its installation is forecast to occur immediately after the completion of the development drilling phase.

Based on the information received from ENI, the Guendalina field development plan is progressing on schedule and first gas is forecast in September 2011.

Background

The Guendalina gas field is located 47 km off of the northeast coast of Italy in 42 meters of water, outside the offshore restricted area for E&P activities, which was introduced in August 2010 by the Italian Government.

ENI has independently certified 2P gas reserves of 22 Bcf (4.5 Bcf net MOG). An additional 5 Bcf (1.0 Bcf net MOG) of potential gas resources will be assessed during the current development drilling campaign by the Gue 2D well. Based on studies performed by ENI, the aggregate gas production from the field is expected to be around 20 MMcf/day (100% basis); 4MMcf/day net to the Company.

Funding

As announced on March 3, 2011 it is necessary for the Company to raise further funds to develop and progress its exploration, development and producing assets, as well as to meet the Company's working capital requirements. Negotiations for funding are on-going and the Company is hopeful it can conclude an agreement to resolve the Company's financial position satisfactorily. There can be no certainty that these discussions will result in a satisfactory outcome.

Sergio Morandi, the Company's CEO, stated, "The Guendalina development is entering the most exciting phase, with the development project remaining on schedule and progressing well.

The Guendalina development represents one of the key milestones of the Company's business plan that from the point of first gas is expected to generate significantly higher net gas production and revenues than those currently realized by the Company."

Drilling Commenced at Butlers Appraisal Well

Drilling Commenced at Butlers Appraisal Well

Friday, April 08, 2011

Cooper Energy

Cooper reported that the Butlers-2 appraisal/development well in PEL92 spudded at Friday, April 8, 2011. The current operation is drilling the surface hole.

Butlers-2 is the first appraisal/development well on the Butlers Oil Field and the third well in the current drilling program and follows the recent successes at Parsons-3 and Parsons-4.
Butlers-2 is targeting the Namur oil reservoir and is to be located 0.95km to the northeast of the Butlers-1 discovery well.

The well will be drilled to a total depth of about 1,360 meters and is expected to take 9 days to drill and complete.

The Butlers oil field is currently producing nearly 1,400 barrels of oil per day from the Butlers-1 discovery well in the Namur reservoir. It is expected that additional Butlers development wells will more efficiently develop the field and will accelerate production.

The drilling will be accompanied by an upgrade of the Butlers surface facilities to handle the increased production. Oil production from Butlers is exported via the pipeline to Tantanna.