Hess Bids High to Extend Utica Footprint

- Hess Bids High to Extend Utica Footprint

Wednesday, September 07, 2011
Hess Corp.

Hess has entered into an agreement with CONSOL Energy Inc. to acquire a 50 percent interest in CONSOL's nearly 200,000 acres in the Utica Shale in eastern Ohio for aggregate payments of $593 million.

"We are delighted with our entry into the Utica Shale, which enables us to build a strategic acreage position in an emerging unconventional play in the United States," said John Hess, Chairman and CEO of Hess Corporation. "We believe that this acquisition offers significant potential for future growth in reserves and production with most of the land either owned in fee or held by production with high net revenue interests. We are honored to partner with CONSOL, which has a long history and an excellent safety and operating record in the Appalachian basin. We believe that together our companies will build a profitable business and deliver important economic benefits for the residents of eastern Ohio."

Hess will pay CONSOL $59 million at closing, which is expected in October, and $534 million in the form of a 50 percent drilling carry of certain CONSOL working interest obligations over a five year period. The joint exploration and development plan calls for Hess to operate approximately 80,000 acres in Jefferson, Harrison, Guernsey and Belmont counties while CONSOL will operate approximately 120,000 acres elsewhere in eastern Ohio, including Portage, Tuscarawas, Mahoning and Noble counties. Appraisal drilling is expected to commence in the fourth quarter.

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ITF Extends International Footprint with New Offices

- ITF Extends International Footprint with New Offices

Thursday, August 25, 2011
ITF

ITF is increasing its international footprint by opening two new offices in the Asia-Pacific region to drive new technology solutions to tackle global oil and gas challenges.

The Aberdeen headquartered organization is opening bases in Perth and Kuala Lumpur to unite technology developers with its membership of major oil and gas operators and has revealed plans to invest AUD $9 million (£5.7 million) in groundbreaking solutions there by 2015.

Peter Brazier has been appointed as regional manager for Australia, and will head up the office in Perth. With 30 years' industry experience, Mr. Brazier will promote the organization in the region and encourage more operators and service companies to join ITF.

He said, "ITF currently has a good position with major companies such as Woodside and Chevron already signed up as members, who see the benefits of collaborating on funding new technologies. However, there is a growing demand for next generation technologies that will recover hydrocarbons from increasingly challenging environments and I want to make sure that local companies benefit from the funding being offered. I'm looking forward to building strong relationships with oil and gas operators, innovative technology companies and academic institutions."

Mr. Brazier joins ITF following eight years at the Commonwealth Science and Industry Research Organization (CSIRO), where he held several prominent research managerial positions. This included secondment as chief executive of the Western Australian Energy Research Alliance and secondment as CEO of the research joint venture between WA:ERA and Woodside Energy.

Prior to this he also worked for companies including Woodside Energy and Halliburton Energy. Mr. Brazier is a member of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists, and Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association. Mr. Brazier will also facilitate a workshop at Offshore Convention: Australasia on Advances of Subsea Technologies in Australia this month.

ITF's regional director for the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, Ryan McPherson will oversee the Kuala Lumpur base with plans to appoint a full time technology analyst there next year.

Mr. McPherson said, "There is definitely an appetite for concerted technology development in Australia and Malaysia and our aim is to invest $9 million in new technologies over the next four years. We are extremely pleased to welcome Peter to the team and are certain his extensive network of contacts and industry knowledge will enable us to successfully bring more technology to market."

The new offices come as ITF also issues a Call for Proposals for subsea technologies. This was the result of a Technology Challenge Workshop which took place in Perth in June.

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Endeavour Expands Marcellus Shale Footprint

- Endeavour Expands Marcellus Shale Footprint

Monday, July 18, 2011
Endeavour International Corporation

Endeavour International Corporation has entered into purchase and sale agreements with SM Energy Company and certain other minority owners to acquire the leasehold and producing interests held by SM Energy and its partners in the Marcellus shale in north central Pennsylvania, as well as a pipeline and related facilities for aggregate consideration of $110 million. The transaction provides Endeavour with significant production and reserve potential on acreage that is adjacent to the Company's existing Marcellus acreage and is readily available for development in one of the most economically attractive shale gas plays in the United States.

The assets include the following:

Approximately 50,000 net acres of leasehold with 100 percent operated working interests in McKean and Potter counties; Current production from three existing wells of approximately three to four million cubic feet of natural gas per day, including the Potato Creek #3H well that initially flowed 11 million cubic feet of gas per day and is expected to recover in excess of 4 billion cubic feet of gas;
100 percent ownership of Potato Creek LLC, which owns a midstream gathering system and related facilities in southern McKean County, including a 10-mile 16" trunkline connected and flowing to Tennessee Gas Pipeline's 24" mainline; and Proprietary and fully processed 3-D seismic survey covering the entire Potato Creek lease block.


Following the completion of the transaction, Endeavour's leasehold interests in the Marcellus Shale will total approximately 93,000 gross (68,000 net) acres. A new 7-year lease will be issued at closing on the key 21,000 net acre Potato Creek block that requires only five wells to be drilled in the first three years. Minimal capital is required over the next three years to hold all acreage in McKean County, including the key Potato Creek leasehold. The transaction is expected to close within 60 days and is expected to be financed with proceeds from the issuance of convertible debt securities.

"This acquisition represents a significant step forward in the growth of our domestic onshore business in a play that offers some of the highest returns in the United States today," said William L. Transier, chairman, chief executive officer and president. "The acreage is located on trend with several major industry developments and complements our existing acreage position in Cameron County immediately to the south. Our development model indicates recoverable natural gas potential from 1.0 to 1.3 trillion cubic feet with more than 300 identified drilling locations on our McKean and Cameron County leasehold. As operator of these assets, including the gathering infrastructure, we have the opportunity to accelerate our development plans in an effort to realize the value of our investment while expanding our position in this three county area."

Operational and Financial Update

Bacchus Update

The Rowan Gorilla VII rig has arrived at the Bacchus field and has commenced drilling operations for the three planned development wells. The Bacchus development is located in the Central UK North Sea and Endeavour has a 30% working interest in the field.

Senior Term Loan

In support of the Company's growth plans, Cyan Partners and certain lenders under the Senior Term Loan have amended the terms of the Company's Senior Term Loan and agreed to expand the facility by $75 million. Endeavour intends to use this additional capital to accelerate its development activities throughout the Company, particularly its Greater Rochelle development and its expanded position in Pennsylvania following the Marcellus acquisition.

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BHP Billiton Bids High to Extend US Shale Footprint

- BHP Billiton Bids High to Extend US Shale Footprint

Friday, July 15, 2011
BHP Billiton plc

BHP Billiton and Petrohawk have entered into a definitive agreement for BHP Billiton to acquire Petrohawk for US $38.75 per share by means of an all-cash tender offer for all of the issued and outstanding shares of Petrohawk, representing a total equity value of approximately US $12.1 billion and a total enterprise value of approximately US $15.1 billion, including the assumption of net debt. The Petrohawk board of directors has unanimously recommended to Petrohawk shareholders that they accept the offer.

The transaction would provide BHP Billiton with operated positions in the three world class resource plays of the Eagle Ford and Haynesville shales, and the Permian Basin. Petrohawk's assets cover approximately 1,000,000 net acres in Texas and Louisiana, with estimated 2011 net production of approximately 950 million cubic feet equivalent per day (MMcfe/d), or 158 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (Mboe/d). At year-end 2010, Petrohawk reported proved reserves of 3.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent (Tcfe). The company has a current non-proved resources base of 32 Tcfe for a total risked resource base of 35 Tcfe. Petrohawk reported gross assets of US $8.2 billion as at 31 March 2011 and US $390 million of profit before tax for the year ended 31 December 2010.

BHP Billiton CEO, Marius Kloppers, said the acquisition was a natural fit with BHP Billiton's strategy.

"The proposed acquisition of Petrohawk is consistent with our well defined, upstream, Tier 1 strategy and provides us with even greater exposure to the world's largest energy market, while also broadening our geographic and customer spread. Importantly, our offer and the associated substantial premium represent a unique opportunity for Petrohawk shareholders and recognize the growth opportunities embedded in its portfolio immediately.”

BHP Billiton Petroleum Chief Executive, J. Michael Yeager, said the Petrohawk acquisition would add high quality growth to the company.

"Petrohawk has a focused portfolio of three world class onshore natural gas and liquids rich shale assets. With over a decade of significant investment and volume growth ahead, this transaction would build on our recent acquisition of the Fayetteville shale in Arkansas and provides the potential to more than double our existing resource base. Following completion of the Petrohawk transaction, BHP Billiton Petroleum will be on track to deliver a compound annual production growth rate of more than 10 per cent for the remainder of the decade as we accelerate our shale development program and leverage our strategic capability in the deep water.

"Importantly, BHP Billiton would retain Petrohawk's sizable U.S. based workforce, which has been at the forefront of the technological innovation that brought about the economic viability of U.S. shales. We look forward to extending our dedication to safeguarding the environment and the communities where we operate and continuing our commitment to safe and responsible operating practices across all of our shale gas plays, including the world-class assets that Petrohawk would bring to our portfolio."

Petrohawk CEO, Floyd Wilson, stated, "We believe these premium oil and natural gas assets would benefit significantly by residing within a larger entity that can employ more capital intensity to accelerate their realized value. We are excited to see this transaction completed and to be part of the BHP Billiton organization."

The tender offer is expected to commence by July 25, 2011. The acquisition is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the merger agreement, including a condition that at least a majority of the outstanding Petrohawk shares are tendered, that the waiting period under the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, has expired or been terminated and that clearance is obtained from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, and other customary conditions. If the tender offer is completed, un-tendered shares of Petrohawk will be converted into the right to receive the same US $38.75 per share price paid in the tender offer. The transaction is to be financed from existing cash resources and a new credit facility and is not subject to any financing contingency. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2011.

BHP Billiton has engaged Barclays Capital and Scotia Waterous as financial advisors in connection with this Offer. Its legal advisors are Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP in the United States. Barclays Capital will act as Dealer Manager for the offer. Petrohawk has engaged Goldman Sachs as its financial advisor in connection to this Offer. Its legal advisor is Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.

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Key Extends Eagle Ford Footprint with Acquisitions

- Key Extends Eagle Ford Footprint with Acquisitions

Thursday, July 14, 2011
Key Energy Services Inc.

Key Energy has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Edge Oilfield Services and Summit Oilfield Services (collectively "Edge") for consideration of approximately $300 million, consisting of approximately 7.5 million shares of Key common stock and approximately $164 million in cash, which is subject to working capital and other adjustments at closing. Key anticipates funding the cash portion of the consideration from available cash and borrowings under its credit facility. In addition to the $300 million of consideration, Key has also agreed to reimburse or fund up to $40 million of Edge's pre-closing capital expenditures related to Edge's expansion into the Eagle Ford shale, which began generating revenue this quarter.

The closing of this transaction, which is expected to occur this quarter, is subject to customary conditions including the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.

Edge primarily rents frac stack equipment used to support hydraulic fracturing operations and the associated flow back of frac fluids, proppants, oil and natural gas. It also provides well testing services, rental equipment such as pumps and power swivels, and oilfield fishing services. Following the close, Edge's results will be reflected within Key's existing Fishing & Rental Services line of business, which is included in its U.S. reportable segment.

Key's Chairman, President, and CEO, Dick Alario, stated, "Edge's high performance frac stack equipment enjoys strong growth opportunities, particularly in unconventional shale markets. Furthermore, its high revenue and profit per employee fits with our overall investment strategy and should prove beneficial, especially in today's tight labor market."

Alario continued, "Edge's existing business currently generates an annual EBITDA run rate of approximately $65 million. With the expansion into the Eagle Ford that is already underway, Edge believes its EBITDA run rate will be approximately $80 million by year-end 2011. We anticipate Edge's business to be accretive to Key's margins and earnings beginning in 2011. With Edge's experienced oilfield industry veterans, we intend to aggressively expand Edge's service offerings across Key's existing infrastructure, particularly in emerging unconventional shale markets."

Edge's CEO, Darrell Brewer, stated, "We look forward to becoming a part of Key, a high quality, industry leading company, where we can better leverage our business potential via Key's extensive U.S. footprint and financial resources and where our employees will continue to enjoy a bright future."

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Noble Extends Footprint in West Africa

- Noble Extends Footprint in West Africa

Wednesday, June 08, 2011
Noble Energy Inc.

Noble has joined a venture that is exploring the AGC Profond block located offshore Senegal and Guinea-Bissau in West Africa. The AGC Profond block, covering more than two million gross acres in water depths up to 11,500 feet, is in a designated cooperation area between the two countries. The venture has identified a number of prospects and leads on the acreage. Approximately 45 percent of the block is covered by existing 3D seismic.

The first target to be drilled is the Kora prospect in the northern part of the block, nearly 65 miles offshore in approximately 8,600 feet of water. The Kora prospect has a Cretaceous oil target with gross resources estimated at 450 million barrels of oil equivalent. The chance of success at the prospect is estimated by Noble Energy to be 20 percent. Total well depth is planned to be approximately 15,200 feet. Drilling is anticipated to begin in late June 2011 utilizing the Maersk Deliverer rig, with results expected by the end of August 2011.

David L. Stover, Noble Energy's President and COO, commented, "We are pleased to be adding this new exploration area to the portfolio. Offshore West Africa is a region where the industry has had numerous recent exploration successes, including our own offshore Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon. The AGC Profond block is an area that has not previously been explored and we believe it has significant oil potential. Our new ventures team did a great job of capturing this opportunity for Noble Energy, expanding our already large exploration inventory."

Ophir will operate the Kora-1 exploration well and, in the event of a discovery, Noble Energy will become the operator for appraisal and development activities. Noble Energy has a 30 percent working interest. Other interest owners are Ophir with 36.7 percent, Rocksource AGC Profond AS with 12.5 percent, and FAR Ltd. with 8.8 percent. The remaining interest is held by L'Entreprise, the AGC state-owned entity, with 12 percent.

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Eni Extends Footprint in Indonesia

- Eni Extends Footprint in Indonesia

Monday, May 23, 2011
Eni S.p.A.

In the 2nd Indonesian International Bid Round 2010, Eni has been awarded the 100% participation interest and operatorship of Block Arguni I located on and offshore in the West Papua Province, Eastern Indonesia.

The Block Arguni I covers an area of 5,386 square km in the Bintuni Basin, a mainly gas prone, prolific hydrocarbon province, with several giant gas discoveries already in production. The deal involves the drilling of 2 wells and the carrying out of 500 km of 2D and 200 square km of 3D seismic surveys during the first 3 years of exploration. The Tangguh LNG processing facility is located about 10 km west of the Arguni I acreage.

This award confirms Eni as one of the major oil companies committed to invest in E&P activities in Indonesia. Eni has recently made an important discovery at Jangkrik in the offshore Kutei (Muara Bakau PSC), which has been successfully appraised and whose POD is currently being submitted.

Eni has been operating in Indonesia since 2001. The company holds working interests in twelve permits and operates six of them. The offshore activities are located in the Tarakan and Kutei Basins, offshore Kalimantan, north of Sumatra and West Timor. In the Kutei Basin, Eni is also participating in the development of the significant gas reserves located in the Ganal and Rapak blocks.

Other activities are located in the Mahakam River Delta, East Kalimantan. Eni has an equity production of approximately 20,000 boed in this area and has been awarded an interest in Sanga Sanga CBM, a new coal-bed methane production sharing contract (PSC), through its operated joint venture affiliate VICO CBM Limited (Eni 50%, BP 50%). The coal-bed methane coming from Sanga Sanga would be liquefied at the Bontang plant, representing the first LNG facility to be supplied with CBM.

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Kinder Morgan to Boost Footprint in Eagle Ford, Haynesville

Kinder Morgan to Boost Footprint in Eagle Ford, Haynesville

Thursday, May 05, 2011
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. (KMP) on Thursday announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to pay approximately $855 million to Petrohawk Energy Corp. and assume approximately $65 million in debt for Petrohawk's 50 percent interest in KinderHawk Field Services (the natural gas gathering and treating services provider in the Haynesville Shale) and a 25 percent interest in Petrohawk's natural gas gathering and treating business in the Eagle Ford Shale. Additionally, KMP will invest approximately $220 million to build a new crude/condensate pipeline with a capacity of approximately 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) that will initially transport 50,000 bpd of condensate for Petrohawk from its production area in the Eagle Ford to the Houston Ship Channel.

"We are pleased to increase our footprint in the Eagle Ford and Haynesville shale plays by acquiring these fee-based assets from Petrohawk and building a crude/condensate pipeline," said Chairman and CEO Richard D. Kinder. "As we detailed at our recent investor conference, we expect opportunities in the prolific natural gas shales to be a primary driver of future growth at KMP. In addition to our Natural Gas business segment, which will benefit from the acquisition, our Products Pipelines segment will realize growth from the construction and operation of the new pipeline that will transport condensate and crude oil. We have executed a long-term anchor agreement with Petrohawk for 50,000 bpd of condensate, and this new pipeline offers the potential to ship significant incremental third-party volumes above that amount."

Upon closing, which is expected in the third quarter this year, KMP will own 100 percent of KinderHawk, the largest natural gas gathering and midstream business in the Haynesville Shale of northwest Louisiana. KinderHawk currently has more than 400 miles of pipeline with over 2 billion cubic feet (Bcf) per day of pipeline capacity and throughput of over 0.9 Bcf per day. Throughput is expected to reach 1.2 Bcf per day by year end.

In the Eagle Ford Shale in south Texas, KMP and Petrohawk will form a joint venture (KMP will own 25 percent and Petrohawk 75 percent) that will own two midstream gathering systems in and around Petrohawk's Hawkville and Black Hawk fields. The joint venture, which will have a life of lease dedication of Petrohawk's reserves, will provide Petrohawk and other area producers with gas and condensate gathering, treating and condensate stabilization services. Combined, the joint venture assets will consist of more than 280 miles of gas gathering pipelines and approximately 112 miles of condensate gathering lines to be in service by year end. KMP already has a significant presence in the Eagle Ford through its existing assets and its joint venture with Copano Energy, L.L.C. (Nasdaq: CPNO), which provides natural gas gathering, transportation, processing and fractionation services to various customers.

KMP's crude/condensate pipeline will consist of about 61 miles of new-build construction and 109 miles of existing natural gas pipeline that is being converted. Service to KMP's natural gas customers in the Houston Ship Channel will not be affected by this optimization of the company's Texas intrastate pipeline system. The pipeline will originate in Petrohawk's Black Hawk Field near Cuero, Texas, and extend to the Houston Ship Channel where it will initially deliver condensate to multiple terminaling facilities with access to local refineries, petrochemical plants and docks. The new pipeline is expected to be in service in the second quarter of 2012.

"We believe the crude/condensate pipeline will be very attractive to other Eagle Ford producers who are looking to get their products into the marketplace," Kinder said. "We are in the advanced stage of discussions with other producers, which are expected to result in substantial additional throughput agreements in the future." Those interested in obtaining more detailed information about the pipeline project can visit the Kinder Morgan web site or contact Don Lindley, vice president of business development for the company's Products Pipelines business segment, at (713) 369-8840 or Don_Lindley@kindermorgan.com.

The acquisition of Petrohawk's assets is expected to be accretive to cash available to unitholders upon closing, even including the assumption that KMP finances the transaction with about 60 percent equity. The general partner of KMP (Kinder Morgan, Inc. (KMI)) has agreed to forego a portion of its incremental incentive distributions in 2012 and 2013 of approximately $26 million and $4 million, respectively, to support this transaction. The new condensate pipeline will be accretive to cash available to unitholders when it begins service next year.

The transaction will be immediately accretive to KMI's cash available to pay dividends, even after foregoing a portion of the incremental incentive distributions this transaction is expected to produce. The increase in KMI's cash available to pay dividends (net of the amounts voluntarily foregone in 2012 and 2013) is expected to be approximately $6 million in 2011, $17 million in 2012 and $25 million in 2013, and is expected to grow thereafter.

From an accounting perspective, because KMP is paying less for the second half of the Haynesville assets than it paid for the first half, KMP will take a second quarter non-cash write down of the carrying value of the first half of the Haynesville assets estimated to be less than $200 million. From an economic perspective, KMP expects to earn an attractive return well in excess of the company's cost of capital on the total investment in the Haynesville and the other components of this transaction.

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. is a leading pipeline transportation and energy storage company in North America. KMP owns an interest in or operates approximately 28,000 miles of pipelines and 180 terminals. Its pipelines transport natural gas, gasoline, crude oil, CO2 and other products, and its terminals store petroleum products and chemicals and handle such products as ethanol, coal, petroleum coke and steel. KMP is also the leading provider of CO2 for enhanced oil recovery projects in North America. One of the largest publicly traded pipeline limited partnerships in America, KMP has an enterprise value of over $33 billion. The general partner of KMP is owned by Kinder Morgan, Inc. Combined, KMI and KMP have an enterprise value of approximately $55 billion.

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Chevron Bids High to Extend Footprint in Norwegian Sea

Chevron Bids High to Extend Footprint in Norwegian Sea

Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Chevron Corp.
by SubseaIQ

Chevron Upstream Europe has successfully bid for the exploration rights in four blocks awarded in the Norwegian 21st Licensing Round.

The blocks are located in the Outer Vøring Basin in the Norwegian Sea, approximately 335 miles (540 kilometers) west of the coast of Bodø, in 6824 feet (2080 meters) of water. Chevron Norge AS has been appointed as the operator with a 40 percent equity in Production License PL598 comprising the blocks 6601/6 and 9 and 6602/4 and 7. The other participants in the blocks are ExxonMobil Exploration & Production Norway AS with 30 percent equity interest, Idemitsu Petroleum Norge AS with 10 percent equity interest and Petoro AS with 20 percent equity interest.

"Chevron is committed to building a focused portfolio of key exploration prospects worldwide," said Guy Hollingsworth, President of Chevron Europe, Eurasia and Middle East. "We view the deep waters of the Norwegian Sea as an area of significant resource potential and this acquisition advances our strategy of pursuing attractive and high-impact growth opportunities." Hollingsworth added, "This is Chevron's second award in the deep water of the Norwegian Sea and as operator, we look forward to working with our partners and bringing our technical expertise and capabilities to this high-potential area."

"Rick Cohagan, Managing Director of Chevron Upstream Europe said, "We are very pleased with the partnership which will complement the strengths of the four companies – Chevron's exploration experience from the West of Shetland and ExxonMobil, Petoro and Idemitsu's significant regional knowledge and long-term operational experience in the Norwegian Sea. We appreciate the strengthened license criteria imposed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy in Norway deep water operations and we will continue to apply Chevron's safety standards in all aspects of our operations."