Elixir confident of North Sea oil
June 20, 2005 - 6:29PM
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North Sea oil and gas explorer Elixir Petroleum Ltd is confident one of the five projects it plans to drill over the next two years could be a company maker.
Elixir will spend five to nine million pounds sterling drilling these wells, including the Marquis prospect which was spudded on Saturday.
Managing director Russell Langusch said there had been a discovery drought for Australian explorers and was hoping the next discovery would be Elixir's.
"We are drilling prospects that have a got a chance of success of about one in five on average. If we drill five wells, one of them will hopefully work," Mr Langusch said at an investor briefing.
The Marquis prospect was the sole asset of the company when it listed on the Australian Stock Exchange last July, raising $3.3 million.
Mr Langusch said there could be 100-150 million barrels of oil at Marquis.
"There is very little risk that it is not there," he said.
If the current testing renders positive results, Elixir could be a producer within six to 12 months.
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AdvertisementIf the project proved to be bigger than originally thought and warranted the construction of a platform, the lead time to production would be extended to two to three years.
Marquis is located close to the Forties pipeline, controlled by BHP Billiton and currently running at about one third capacity.
Elixir had already been approached by BHP to consider using the pipeline but Mr Langusch said he hadn't ruled on any transportation methods, including the possibility of a floating processing plant.
He also said Elixir was not wedded to the idea of becoming a producer and would consider selling any project.
Since its ASX listing, Elixir has reduced its exploration risk by acquiring more prospects in the North Sea region.
It hoped to increase its holding again when the next round of licences were awarded by the British government, expected within the next few months.
It has applied for licences both on its own, and in conjunction with UK-based Granby Enterprises.
In line with its business model, Elixir will conduct early work on any licences it is awarded and farm them out.
Mr Langusch said Elixir would ideally hold between 15 and 30 per cent of any prospective project.
It has already farmed out its wholly owned Jaguar prospect with Norwegian company DNO.
The Jaguar prospect will be drilled next year as part of a bigger program by DNO.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Business/Elixir-confident-of-North-Sea-oil/2005/06/20/1119250923995.html?oneclick=true
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