Gulfsands Flows Rate of 5516 bopd at Khurbet East Well

- Gulfsands Flows Rate of 5516 bopd at Khurbet East Well

Monday, August 08, 2011
Gulfsands Petroleum plc

Gulfsands provided an update on operations in Syria.

Flow Testing of Khurbet East 19H ("KHE-19H")

The Khurbet East 19H ("KHE-19H") well has achieved a flow rate of 5516 barrels of oil per day ("bopd") on production test with an oil gravity of approximately 26 degrees API, similar in quality to the oil produced in the central portion of the Khurbet East Field. This production rate was obtained during a 2 hour main flow period under a 48/64th inch choke size and with an average wellhead pressure of 132 psi and with no associated production of formation water. The choke size was subsequently reduced to 32/64th inch, after which the well was flowed for a further 3 hours at an average rate of 3828 bopd, at an average wellhead pressure of 210 psi and with no production of water. The test was then terminated due to all available oil storage tank capacity being filled. The 67 meter horizontal productive section of this well is located in a sidetrack drilled in a south-southeasterly direction from the original KHE-19 vertical hole.

The oil flow rate of 5516 bopd from KHE-19H is the highest yet measured from any well within the Khurbet East field. This well has demonstrated that excellent reservoir quality exists from the central portion of the field all the way to the northern limit of the field.

Commissioning of Khurbet East Sub-station Production Facility

The oil processing capacity for the Khurbet East Field has been increased by approximately 3000 bopd after the construction and commissioning of a new oil processing sub-station ("EFP 2") with a design capacity of approximately 3000 bopd and located approximately 1.8 kilometers west of the Khurbet East Early Production Facility ("EPF"). At this new facility, gas is separated from the produced oil and the stabilized crude is pumped into storage tanks located within the EPF complex followed by subsequent delivery into the Khurbet East export pipeline. Well KHE-19H has been tied into the new sub-station and is estimated to be producing at a rate of more than 2900 bopd on a restricted choke.

As a result of these operational and construction activities, Block 26 oil production facility capacity is now more than 24,000 bopd. The reconciled production rate achieved at the expanded facilities as of 6th August, 2011 was 24,054 bopd, comfortably achieving and exceeding the Company's previously announced year-end 2011 production target of 24,000 bopd.

Block 26 Drilling Operations

Gulfsands drilling operations in Syria Block 26, using the Crosco E-401 and E-501 drilling rigs, are continuing as planned on the Yousefieh East and Safa exploration prospects. The results of these exploration drilling operations will be the subject of a future news release.

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Apache Reports Record IP Rate at Forties Field

- Apache Reports Record IP Rate at Forties Field

Wednesday, July 06, 2011
Apache Corp.

Apache announced the results of two development wells completed in June at the company's Forties field in the UK sector of the North Sea.

• Charlie 4-3 commenced production at a rate of 12,567 barrels of oil per day (b/d). This well's initial production (IP) rate is the highest in the Forties since 1990 and follows the previously disclosed Charlie 2-2, which was completed in March with an IP rate of 11,876 b/d.
• Delta 3-5 commenced production at 8,781 b/d.

Apache acquired a new 4-D (time-lapse) seismic survey over Forties during 2010, which enhances the company's ability to identify accumulations of by-passed oil within the field area. Charlie 4-3 and Delta 3-5, the eighth and ninth development wells brought on production at Forties during 2011, successfully targeted two of these accumulations. Additional 4-D driven targets are being identified across the field. Apache expects to drill a total of 16 wells in the Forties field during 2011.

"The safe and very successful delivery of our 2011 drilling program reflects the experience, teamwork, technical skill and commitment of the Apache North Sea region," said James L. House, region vice president and managing director of Apache North Sea Ltd.

When Apache acquired Forties in 2003, the field was producing 40,000 b/d. With the onset of these new wells in mid-June, gross daily production rates have reached as high as 70,000 barrels of oil equivalent, even with output constraints due to construction projects and temporary pipeline closures. At the Charlie platform alone, Apache development drilling has increased production from a low of less than 5,000 b/d in 2006 to a present rate of approximately 30,000 b/d. Apache expects full transmission capacity to become available during the third quarter as planned repair and maintenance work is completed and the Bravo pipeline comes back online.

Apache owns a 97.14 percent interest in the Forties field. Forties is the largest single oil accumulation discovered in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea and 40 years after its discovery is the second-highest producing oil field.

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Brigham Notes Bakken Well's Early Peak Rate

- Brigham Notes Bakken Well's Early Peak Rate

Monday, June 27, 2011
Brigham Exploration Co.

Brigham announced the successful completion of the Gobbs 17-8 #1H Montana Bakken well at an early 24-hour peak rate of approximately 1,818 barrels of oil equivalent (1,544 barrels of oil and 1.64 MMcf of natural gas) after being fracture stimulated with 36 stages. The Gobbs 17-8 #1H, which is located approximately 16 miles west of the border between North Dakota and Montana in Roosevelt County, represents Brigham's second best early peak rate in Montana, relative to Brigham's Johnson 10-19 #1H which is located just under five miles from the border. Brigham anticipates that it will complete and bring on line to production four additional Montana Bakken wells over the next several months.

Bud Brigham, the Chairman, President and CEO, commented, "Our operations department has delivered another outstanding Montana Bakken well. We believe the Gobbs' result clearly begins to de-risk our Roosevelt County acreage, given that the well is located approximately 17 miles northwest of Brigham's Johnson 10-19 #1H, which came on line at a Montana Bakken well record of 2,962 barrels of oil equivalent per day. Finally, our operational activity in the Williston Basin continues to accelerate, we currently anticipate bringing on line to production a record operated 10 gross, or 5.8 net wells in the month of June, which will positively impact third quarter production and beats our previous record of 6 gross, or 3.9 net wells."

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Statoil, Partners Aim to Boost Recovery Rate at Njord License

- Statoil, Partners Aim to Boost Recovery Rate at Njord License

Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Statoil

Statoil and its partners in the Njord license in the Norwegian Sea have decided to invest in low-pressure field production. This, combined with other measures, will prolong the lifetime of the field until 2020.

Reservoir pressure on Njord is falling and the field has entered tail-end production. By lowering the pressure on the first and second stage separators it will be possible to increase production from individual wells and maintain production in each for an extended period.

"Owing to the complexity of the Njord reservoir the recovery rate of proven resources is currently roughly 23%. The aim is to increase the recovery rate to 30%. This type of measure is important with a view to maintaining production on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS)," stated Ivar Aasheim, head of NCS field development.

There is currently a great deal of activity in the Njord area. The Njord northwest flank project six kilometers northwest of the Njord platform is now being carried out. It consists of two new long-distance wells drilled directly from Njord and tied back to the platform.

Several wells will be drilled in coming years. In addition, Hyme fast-track is being processed via Njord.

"In combination with the low-pressure production project these measures will prolong the lifetime of Njord until 2020," explained Njord production head Arve Rennemo.

The low-pressure production project on Njord will boost volumes by roughly 18.5 million barrels of oil equivalents alone and extend the field's working life by two to three years.

Investments in low-pressure production amount to roughly NOK 500 million.

The contracts for Njord low-pressure production modification and the Hyme topside has been awarded to Reinertsen. The contract for compressor procurement and installation was awarded in March of this year to GE Oil & Gas.

Project execution will take place in the autumn of 2012 and the start-up of low pressure production on Njord is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2012.

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McMoRan Runs at Rate of 54 MMcf/d at Laphroaig Well

McMoRan Runs at Rate of 54 MMcf/d at Laphroaig Well

Wednesday, April 13, 2011
McMoRan Exploration Co.

McMoRan announced a successful production test at the Laphroaig No. 2 well in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. The production test indicated a gross rate of approximately 54 million cubic feet of natural gas per day (MMcf/d) (approximately 15 MMcf/d net to McMoRan) and zero barrels of water on a 30/64th choke with flowing tubing pressure of 9,989 pounds per square inch (PSI). McMoRan will use the results of the production test to determine the optimal flow rate for the well. The well is expected to commence production in the second quarter of 2011 using facilities in the immediate area. McMoRan has a 37.3 percent working interest and a 28.5 percent net revenue interest in the Laphroaig field. EXXI holds an 18.6 percent working interest.