looks like its hit oil, don't know whats gonna happen, any idea's ???

Thanks for that myown , very mysterious , the mind boggles at what it could be.

Your right there, espaceman.
I bought in at 90 and they have zoomed nearly every day.
They seem a good solid company, can't wait for the news.

I've only just bought , mainly at 160 and a small amount at 134 , so it's early days for me , but I agree this company seems well run.

Espaceman,

Thanks for your mention of the Independent - managed to locate the mention of NOP being "tipped by its brokers as a potential takeover target". Hmmm . . . That is the kind of thing brokers like to say, so one wonders how serious it actually is. IMO any offer would have to be over 3.00 to be interesting. I think NOP has plenty of potential as an independent company. Looking at Holland plus the potential in Italy I think they have a great future ahead of them and it would be a pity for the long-term shareholder if they got swallowed up by one of the majors. However, if they got more than 300p a share I shouldn't complain, since my average is 60p and some I got at 22.5p . . . Let's see what the next few days bring.

Yes I agree, even though I bought at 64p before the 5 for 1 offer, I would feel cheated if we were sold down the viver at 1.50 - 2.00; like you I think at least 3.00 - 4.00 would be more realistic.

There seems to be a deafening silence coming from the rumour mill in the last few days. Has anyone heard any news, or was last week's excitement just the result of the brokers giving the pot a stir?

Off a penny at the close, but 5p higher than the day's low. Due for another strong upward run?

The onshore oil prospect Avington-3 is apparently ready for testing in Q2, the well having been logged and a liner set, according to EDR's interim results released today.

Jeremy, I bought NP shares at ten pence, then sold them, and now i'm back in again for the long term.

My only concern is are we going to have a problem with the dutch assets: such as biodegradation of the like we encounted at Sandhills?
If not, with the latest revaluation, i would say the shares are well undervalued, and i won't be selling... even if the Avington well comes up dry.

Barclay of Huddersfield

Barclay,

I'm not an expert on biodegradation, but let's say I'm hopeful that it won't rear its ugly head again. The shares do seem cheap at present, which I take to be the market just waiting for a little more reassurance after the disappointments last summer. If it turns out that Avington is a bust then personally I don't think it deserves to have much of an effect on the SP, given its relatively low importance in the overall scheme of things and it certainly wouldn't put me off. NOP has much bigger fish to fry and will be doing so shortly. Any weakness in the SP at present ought to be a buy signal, IMO.

ST

More institutions getting on board. RNS out today:

Northern Petroleum PLC - Holding(s) in Company

Embargoed for release: 0700 on 06 April 2006

Northern Petroleum Plc

('the Company')

Notification of Shareholding

The Board of Northern Petroleum Plc received notification on 05 April from
Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited ('CSSEL') that, as a result of
acquisitions on 03 April, CSSEL has an interest in 1,775,000 ordinary shares,
which represents 3.29% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company.

-Ends-


orthern Petroleum PLC
Major Shareholders

Shares in issue: 53.9m 5p Ords
Major Shareholders Amount % Holding
Chase Nominees Limited 6,712,200 12.46
TD Waterhouse Noms (Europe) 3,277,802 6.09
Barclayshare Nominees Ltd 2,763,577 5.13
ISIS Asset Mgmt PLC 2,166,666 4.02
LR Noms Ltd 2,011,972 3.74
Invesco English & Int'l PLC 1,840,000 3.42

Other Directors Amount % Holding
Derek Raymond Musgrove 922,796 1.714
Richard Henry Latham 695,087 1.291
David Arthur Roberts 100,296 0.186
Jeremy Mark White 94,776 0.176
Christopher J Foss 3,000 0.006

Up 4.5p so far today, to 157/159. Nudged its all-time high of 162p earlier this morning too. To my untutored eye this looks as if it's gathering itself for another advance. WDIK/DYOR.

Lets hope so Soul Trader , looking good so far.

Yep - now at 160/164, up 8.5p!! Which is nice, as it's the only thing going blue in my portfolio today. Doubly nice is the fact that at this price, I'm making a pound a share profit :o))

Yes, me too. I am in on average @ 64 pence... Does anyone have any estimates as to the likely value / share price once oil starts flowing in the Netherlands?

Gerry

RNS out just now: CSSEL has changed its mind! I wonder what on earth they must have bought with the proceeds that they thought would be a better investment. Anyhow, mine not to reason why.

Northern Petroleum PLC - Holding(s) in Company
For immediate release: 07 April 2006

Northern Petroleum Plc

('the Company')

Notification of Shareholding

The Board of Northern Petroleum Plc received notification on 06 April from
Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited ('CSSEL') that, as a result of
disposals on 04 April, CSSEL no longer has a notifiable interest in the issued
ordinary share capital of the Company.

-Ends-

Panmure Brokers have put a price target of 360 for NOP , how realistic this is I don't know .

Gerry,

I've seen no estimates of NOP's likely performance - a bit of an oversight I'd say, given this company's recent upturn in its fortunes. However with Papekop and its associated power generation plus the gas from the other Dutch licences, I'd say pick a number between 220 and the broker target of 360.

So definitely looks like a long term hold. Thank you sould traders.

Gerry, how's this for a consolation prize? Panmure's reports are all posted on the company website at

http://www.northpet.com/research/index.html

Anyhoo, here's the detail of their upgraded reserves report of 23rd March. (note the bits about which reserves are stated gross and which are net to Northern!)

The juciy part is that NAV is actually reckoned at 341p per share and Panmure think that the current low market valuations are grossly unfair.

NORTHERN PETROLEUM

Buy 94.5p (Remains Unchanged) Target Price: 360.0p (145.0p) Stock Codes: NOP.L / NOP.LN EPS Dec 2004A -0.91p Dec 2005E -2.04p Dec 2006E -1.67p
Panmure Gordon Estimates
Market Cap: 51m
Analyst Tim Heeley +44 (0)20 7459 3606 tim.heeley@panmure.com

Northern Petroleum Reserves update

Northern Petroleum has released a competent-party update on the new NAM licences.

The addition of 21mmboe 2P net to Northern is a significant addition to its reserve base.

The recent loan from Standard Bank for 40m is for the development of these reserves.

Sorry, I'm having difficulty posting the whole article in one go.

Here's the rest (I hope).

The report was done for the Andel, Brakel, Geesbrug, Grolloo and Ottoland fields, and states 1P reserves of 35mmboe gross, 2P reserves of 72.6mmboe gross and 3P reserves of 91.7mmboe gross.

The reserves are stated gross. The licence interests are subject to the Minister of Economic Affairs designating Energie Beheer Nederland BV, a state-owned company, as a 40% participant in the field developments in return for a pro-rata share of sunk costs and a pro-rata share of all future costs of the joint ventures. The Northern interests are subject to a NAM 50% Net Profits Interest (NPI) after Northern has recovered 130% of its capital costs. Northern effectively, therefore, has a 30% working interest.

The vast majority of the reserves are behind pipe and Proven and, as such, can be relatively easily monetised. Being mostly gas and situated at a major hub in the European gas distribution network, the market for the gas is certainly present. The project financing for this project has been secured from Standard Bank.

Based on these additional reserves, Northern is now booking 34.6mmboe net 2P reserves and we move our NAV to 341p and our target to 360p from 145p. Shares should thus experience solid growth, but keep an eye out for a potential takeover as NOP is trading so significantly below Proven and Probable reserves.