Stockholm, 2012-03-27 08:12 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Lundin Norway AS (Lundin Norway), as operator of PL501, has signed a Pre-Unit Agreement with the partners within PL501 and PL265 for the joint field development of the Johan Sverdrup field. The main focus is to jointly deliver a common field development plan to the Norwegian authorities for sanctioning by the government.
The agreement also covers data exchange within the respective production licensees. Statoil has been elected as working operator for the pre-unit phase. Lundin Norway is the operator of PL501 and also has an interest in PL265.
Lundin Norway AS is the operator of PL501 with a 40 percent interest. Partners are Statoil Petroleum AS with a 40 percent interest and Maersk Oil Norway AS with a 20 percent interest.
Lundin Norway is a partner with a 10 percent interest in PL265. Statoil ASA is the operator with a 40 percent, Petoro has 30 percent and Det Norske 20 percent.
Ashley Heppenstall, President and CEO of Lundin Petroleum comment:"The signing of the Pre-Unit Agreement is an important milestone in respect of moving forward the development of the North Sea's largest discovery for many years. We are pleased that Statoil have agreed to lead the development and that they share the common goal of developing Johan Sverdrup in a way to maximise resources and bring the development onstream as quickly as possible. We will as operator continue to be responsible for the appraisal of the Johan Sverdrup field located in PL501 and support Statoil through secondment of staff. In tandem with the development studies, negotiations will progress regarding a unitisation agreement between the various licences covering the Johan Sverdrup field."
For further information, please contact:
C. Ashley Heppenstall,
President and CEO
Tel: +41 22 595 10 00
or
Maria Hamilton
Head of Corporate Communications
maria.hamilton@lundin.ch
Tel: +41 22 595 10 00
Tel: +46 8 440 54 50
Mobile: +41 79 63 53 641
Lundin Petroleum is a Swedish independent oil and gas exploration and production company with a well balanced portfolio of world-class assets primarily located in Europe and South East Asia. The Company is listed at the NASDAQ OMX, Stockholm (ticker "LUPE") and at the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) (Ticker "LUP"). Lundin Petroleum has proven and probable reserves of 211 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe).
This information has been made public in accordance with the Securities Market Act (SFS 2007:528) and/or the Financial Instruments Trading Act (SFS 1991:980).
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made and information contained herein constitute "forward-looking information" (within the meaning of applicable securities legislation). Such statements and information (together, "forward-looking statements") relate to future events, including the Company's future performance, business prospects or opportunities. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to estimates of reserves and/or resources, future production levels, future capital expenditures and their allocation to exploration and development activities, future drilling and other exploration and development activities. Ultimate recovery of reserves or resources are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management.
All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. Statements concerning proven and probable reserves and resource estimates may
also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements and reflect conclusions that are based on certain assumptions that the reserves and resources can be economically exploited. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations and assumptions will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements should not be relied upon. These statements speak only as on the date of the information and the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties relating to, among other things, operational risks (including exploration and development risks), productions costs, availability of drilling equipment, reliance on key personnel, reserve estimates, health, safety and environmental issues, legal risks and regulatory changes, competition, geopolitical risk, and financial risks. These risks and uncertainties are described in more detail under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's annual report. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
Reserves and Resources
Unless otherwise stated, Lundin Petroleum's reserve and resource estimates are as at 31 December 2011, and have been prepared and audited in accordance with National Instrument 51-101 Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities ("NI 51-101") and the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook ("COGE Handbook").
Contingent Resources
Contingent Resources are those quantities of petroleum estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from known accumulations using established technology or technology under development, but are not currently considered to be commercially recoverable due to one or more contingencies. Contingencies may include factors such as economic, legal, environmental, political and regulatory matters or a lack of markets. There is no certainty that it will be commercially viable for the Company to produce any portion of the Contingent Resources.
Prospective Resources
Prospective Resources are those quantities of petroleum estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from undiscovered accumulations by application of future development projects. Prospective Resources have both a chance of discovery and a chance of development. There is no certainty that any portion of the Prospective Resources will be discovered. If discovered, there is no certainty that it will be commercially viable to produce any portion of the Prospective Resources.
BOEs
BOEs may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A BOE conversion ratio of 6 Mcf : 1 Bbl is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead.
