WesternZagros Resources Ltd
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WesternZagros Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:WZR) ("WesternZagros" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that Sproule International Ltd. ("Sproule") has completed an independent audit which confirms the Company's best estimate contingent resources of 523 billion cubic feet (BCF) of natural gas and 21 million barrels (MMBBL) of condensate from the Tertiary interval of the Kurdamir-1 well as of November 23, 2009. Sproule has also confirmed additional prospective resources of either oil or gas from this Tertiary interval. These resource estimates do not include any assessments for the deeper Cretaceous reservoir targets yet to be drilled. WesternZagros is currently widening the existing wellbore at the Kurdamir-1 well in preparation to set the 9 5/8 inch casing at approximately 2,700 metres, prior to drilling into the Cretaceous reservoir targets.
"While we still have more work to do on this well and on our longer-term drilling program, this confirmation of a significant hydrocarbon accumulation is an important milestone for WesternZagros," said Simon Hatfield, WesternZagros' Chief Executive Officer. "Finding the world-class Oligocene reservoir present on our block is good news. We drilled 168 metres of it at Kurdamir-1 and achieved high test rates in both of our drill stem tests. We look forward to the possibility of discovering significant quantities of oil, both in the deeper Cretaceous targets and on the flanks of the Kurdamir structure."
WesternZagros' estimated range of discovered gas initially-in-place is from 635 BCF to 1,098 BCF and the estimated range of gross unrisked contingent resources is from 379 BCF to 696 BCF of gas and from 13 MMBBL to 32 MMBBL of condensate. The discovered gas initially-in-place and the contingent resources estimates were assigned across the crest of the Kurdamir structure down to a depth of 2,312 metres, which is the lowest known gas in the Kurdamir-1 wellbore as determined by wireline logs. These estimates do not include any potential in the as yet undrilled downdip flanks of the Kurdamir structure in the Tertiary reservoir deeper than 2,312 metres. This undrilled potential is classified as undiscovered prospective resource, and was also confirmed in the Sproule report.
The Kurdamir-1 well encountered no porous reservoir below 2,312 metres. It is therefore uncertain whether the gas and condensate encountered is associated with other prospective resources. The gas and condensate may be in a gas cap associated with a deeper oil column downdip on the flanks of the structure; it may be in a non-associated accumulation with a deeper gas and condensate column downdip on the flanks of the structure (without any downdip oil column); or it may be in association with a water column; or it may be in association with any combination of these. Additional information, likely to be obtained by drilling a well on the flank of the structure, will be required to confirm the existence of these prospective resources and, if present, whether they are gas and condensate, oil or a combination of both.
If the Tertiary reservoirs below 2,312 metres on the flank of the Kurdamir structure contain gas and condensate only, WesternZagros' estimated range of undiscovered gas initially-in-place is from 371 BCF to 1,032 BCF and the estimated range of gross unrisked prospective resources is from 180 BCF to 609 BCF of gas and from 8 MMBBL to 25 MMBBL of condensate.
Alternatively, if the Tertiary reservoirs below 2,312 metres on the flank of the structure contain oil only, WesternZagros' estimated range is from 164 MMBBL to 508 MMBBL of gross undiscovered oil initially-in-place and from 32 MMBBL to 207 MMBBL of gross unrisked prospective oil resources (recoverable).
These prospective resources, whether gas and condensate or oil, would be in addition to any hydrocarbons that may be discovered in the deeper Cretaceous reservoir targets yet to be drilled.
Sproule carried out its audit in accordance with the standards established by the Canadian Securities Administrators in National Instrument 51-101 Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities. Those standards require that prospective resource estimates are prepared in accordance with the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook (the "COGE Handbook"). In Sproule's opinion, WesternZagros' estimates were determined in accordance with industry practice and the guidelines and definitions contained in the COGE Handbook.
The estimated contingent and prospective resources for Kurdamir-1 are expressed in the tables below as a range of estimates.
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Table 1
Kurdamir-1 Tertiary Gross Unrisked Discovered and Contingent
Resources(1)(3)(10)(11)
Gas and Condensate
(As of November 23, 2009)
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Low Estimate Best Estimate High Estimate Mean
P90(6) P50(7) P10(8) Estimate(9)
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Gas Initially-
In-Place(4) 635 847 1,098 856
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Gas Contingent
Resources (BCF) 379 523 696 532
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Condensate Contingent
Resources (MMBBL) 13 21 32 22
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Table 2
Kurdamir-1 Tertiary Gross Unrisked Undiscovered and Prospective
Resources(2)(3)(10)(12)(13)
If Gas and Condensate Only
(As of November 23, 2009)
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Low Estimate Best Estimate High Estimate Mean
P90(6) P50(7) P10(8) Estimate(9)
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Undiscovered Gas
Initially-In-Place(5) 371 692 1,032 699
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Gas Prospective
Resources(BCF) 180 363 609 381
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Condensate Prospective
Resources (MMBBL) 8 15 25 16
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Table 3
Kurdamir-1 Tertiary Gross Unrisked Undiscovered and Prospective
Resources(13)
If Oil Only
(As of November 23, 2009)
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Low Estimate Best Estimate High Estimate Mean
P90(6) P50(7) P10(8) Estimate(9)
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Undiscovered Oil
Initially-In-Place
(MMBBL)(5) 164 328 508 333
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Gross Unrisked
Prospective
Resources
Oil (MMBBL)
(2)(10)(12) 32 100 207 112
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Notes to the tables:
(1) The contingent resources are the gross volumes estimated for the
Tertiary carbonate reservoirs at Kurdamir-1, without any adjustments
for working interest or encumbrances.
(2) The prospective resources are the gross volumes estimated for the
Tertiary carbonate reservoirs at Kurdamir-1 below 2,312 metres, without
any adjustments for working interest or encumbrances.
(3) The gross unrisked contingent resources and gross unrisked prospective
resources for gas reflect reductions for condensate recovery, surface
losses, and fuel gas.
(4) Discovered Resources (equivalent to discovered petroleum initially-in-
place) are those quantities of petroleum that are estimated, as of a
given date, to be contained in known accumulations prior to production.
The recoverable portion of discovered petroleum initially-in-place
includes production, reserves and contingent resources; the remainder
is unrecoverable.
(5) Undiscovered resources (equivalent to undiscovered petroleum initially-
in-place) are those quantities of petroleum that are estimated, as of a
given date, to be contained in accumulations yet to be discovered. The
recoverable portion of the discovered petroleum initially-in-place is
referred to as prospective resources, the remainder is unrecoverable.
(6) Low Estimate is considered to be a conservative estimate of the
quantity that will actually be recovered. It is likely that the actual
remaining quantities recovered will exceed the low estimate. If
probabilistic methods are used, there should be at least a 90 percent
probability (P90) that the quantities actually recovered will equal or
exceed the low estimate.
(7) Best Estimate is considered to be the best estimate of the quantity
that will actually be recovered. It is equally likely that the actual
remaining quantities recovered will be greater of less than the best
estimate. If probabilistic methods are used, there should be at least a
50 percent probability (P50) that the quantities actually recovered
will equal or exceed the best estimate.
(8) High Estimate is considered to be an optimistic estimate of the
quantity that will actually be recovered. It is unlikely that the
actual remaining quantities recovered will exceed the high estimate.
If probabilistic methods are used, there should be at least a 10
percent probability (P10) that the quantities actually recovered will
equal or exceed the high estimate.
(9) Mean Estimate is the average from the probabilistic assessment.
(10) The gross contingent and prospective resource estimates are based on
115 kilometres of 2D seismic lines (10 lines), wireline logs and two
drill stem tests. Logging results indicated a gross hydrocarbon pay of
168 metres, penetrated from the top of the porous Tertiary carbonate
reservoir at 2,144 metres to the base of the porous reservoir at 2,312
metres. The two drill stem tests conducted were between 2,195 metres
and 2,235 metres and between 2,280 metres and 2,352 metres. Combined
test rates indicate approximately 27.5 million cubic feet per day of
gas and 1,172 barrels per day of 61° API natural gas liquids
(condensate). Test rates were limited due to testing equipment
restrictions; however, initial well test analysis conducted by an
independent third party indicates that reservoir production potential
of approximately 52 million cubic feet per day of gas and 2,240 barrels
per day of condensate could be expected from these intervals. No
formation water was recovered during the testing.
(11) 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 which
are not currently considered to be commercially recoverable due to one
or more contingencies. Contingent resources have an associated chance
of development (economic, regulatory, market and facility, corporate
commitment or political risks). These estimates have not been risked
for the chance of development. There is no certainty that the
contingent resources will be developed and, if developed, there is no
certainty as to the timing of such development or that it will be
commercially viable to produce any portion of the contingent resources.
(12) 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 an associated chance of discovery
(geological chance of success) and a chance of development (economic,
regulatory, market and facility, corporate commitment or political
risks). The chance of commerciality is the product of these two risk
components. These estimates have not been risked for either the chance
of discovery or the chance of development. There is no certainty that
any portion of the prospective resources will be discovered. If a
discovery is made, there is no certainty that it will be developed or,
if it is developed, there is no certainty as to the timing of such
development or that it will be commercially viable to produce any
portion of the prospective resources. In this case, prospective
resources are undiscovered resources that indicate development
potential in the event the discovery is made and is commercial and they
should not be construed as reserves or contingent resources.
Prospective resources are provided for gas and condensate in Table 2,
if the remainder of the Tertiary below 2,312 metres is a non-associated
accumulation without any oil downdip, and for oil in Table 3, if there
is a deeper oil column downdip on the flanks of the structure.
Additional information, likely through the drilling of an appraisal
well, will be required to confirm the existence of these prospective
resources and determine if this is a non-associated accumulation
without any oil downdip or whether there is a deeper oil column downdip
on the flanks of the structure.
(13) The volumes reported in Table 2 and Table 3 are for separate cases and
are not additive.
There are several contingencies that prevent the classification of the contingent resources as reserves. WesternZagros has no definitive plans to develop the gas and/or condensate resources at this time and accordingly these are considered contingent resources. An evaluation has yet to be conducted in order to determine the economic viability of these contingent resources. Currently there is limited local infrastructure and markets for natural gas and condensate, and export infrastructure to access other markets has not yet been developed. WesternZagros will work with its co-venturers, the Kurdistan Regional Government and Talisman Energy Inc., to evaluate the commercial potential and technical feasibility of the gas and condensate discovered to date at Kurdamir-1, together with any additional discoveries yet to be made. Beyond this contingency, no federal Iraq legislation has been agreed to or enacted to address the future organization of Iraq's petroleum industry or the sharing of petroleum and other revenues within Iraq. Failure to enact legislation (or the enactment of federal legislation contradictory to Kurdistan Region legislation) could materially adversely impact WesternZagros' interest in the Kurdistan Region and the PSC.
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WesternZagros Resources Ltd
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