REPORT FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2013

Stockholm, 2013-05-07 07:00 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  

Three months ended 31 March 2013 (31 March 2012)

Comments from C. Ashley Heppenstall, President and CEO
Our production for the first quarter of 2013 was 35,600 boepd. About 75 percent of our current production comes from Norway where the Alvheim and Volund fields have outperformed expectations over recent years and still continue to generate the majority of our production.

Our three development projects namely Brynhild, Bøyla and Edvard Grieg are all progressing satisfactorily. These projects will commence production in 2013, 2014 and 2015 respectively and when the Edvard Grieg project is onstream in the fourth quarter of 2015 we will exit that year at a production rate of 70,000 boepd or double our current production. This will result in a significant increase to our cash flow and profitability.

Lundin Petroleum discovered Johan Sverdrup in the Norwegian North Sea. It was the largest oil discovery in 2010 and one of the largest discoveries ever made in the North Sea. It is a world class asset in respect of size and quality and represents the number one priority for ourselves and our partners in respect of development.

Despite Lundin Petroleum's increased development and production activities over recent years our key focus remains exploration. We firmly believe that in the upstream oil and gas business the major value creation is through access to resources and the best way to do this is through successful exploration.

In Norway our major focus for 2013 is continued exploration in the Utsira High area of the North Sea where we have already made the Edvard Grieg, Johan Sverdrup and Apollo discoveries. The recent Luno II discovery is a further validation of our view that there will be more discoveries in this area.

Listen to President and CEO Ashley Heppenstall and CFO Geoffrey Turbott comment on the report at the live webcast presentation on Wednesday 7 May at 8.00 CET.

The presentation and slides will be available on www.lundin-petroleum.com following the presentation. Please dial in to listen to the presentation on the following telephone numbers:
UK: + 44 (0) 203 043 24 36, International Toll Free Number: +1 866 458 40 87


 

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 202 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe).

For further information, please contact:

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 "Risks and Risk Management" 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 2012, 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"). Unless otherwise stated, all reserves estimates contained herein are the aggregate of "Proved Reserves" and "Probable Reserves", together also known as "2P Reserves". For further information on reserve and resource classifications, see "Reserves, Resources and Production" in the Company's annual report.

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.