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Canadian-UK energy firm eyes $27M for exploration
Posted: 2:33 AM | Jun. 07, 2005
Abigail L. Ho
Inquirer News Service
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FORUM Energy PLC, the newly formed joint venture between Canada's Forum Energy Corp. and the United Kingdom's Sterling Energy PLC, is considering raising another $27 million in additional funds to develop oil, gas and coal resources in the Philippines, according to a statement posted on the Forum Energy Corp. website.
The new company's plan to list shares on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange can raise the amount, Forum Energy Corp. president and chief executive Larry Youell said in the statement.
The joint venture has already received pre-listing commitments of $6.2 million.
The recent approval of the joint venture by shareholders of Forum Energy Corp. effectively transferred the Canadian firm's 66.67-percent interest in Philippine company Forum Energy Inc. to Forum Energy PLC.
Forum Energy Inc. holds Service Contract 40, an oil and gas license covering onshore and offshore areas in the northern part of Cebu province, and coal operating contracts in central and southern Cebu.
Sterling Energy's Geophysical Survey and Exploration Contract (GSEC) 101, for oil and gas exploration over offshore northwest Palawan Island, in the South China Sea, has also been transferred to the new company.
GSEC 101 contains the Sampaguita gas find, which a recent assessment by PGS Reservoir Consultants (UK) Ltd. says has potential gas reserves of 2.3 trillion cubic feet.
Seven prospects and three discoveries now under Forum Energy PLC's licenses have total potential "unrisked" reserves of about 900 million barrels of oil and 5,500 billion cubic feet (BCF) of gas.
On a "risked" basis, potential reserves from the three discoveries amount to 2,330 BCF of gas, while those from prospects within the licenses total 93 million barrels of oil and 320 BCF of gas. Proven and probable coal reserves are placed at 4.9 million tons.
"This transaction will deliver accelerated growth and value to both the company and our shareholders," Youell said. "Not only will the FEI assets receive fast-track development as a result of the considerable investment from London-based institutional investors, but the company will also additionally benefit from exposure to the potentially world-class GSEC 101 asset."
Forum Energy PLC "has already received commitments for approximately $6.2 million and an aggressive work program in the Philippines is underway commencing with a seismic survey of the Central Tanon prospect offshore Service Contract 40,'' he added. With INQ7.net
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