VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 26,
2024 /CNW/ - MCF Energy Ltd. (TSXV: MCF) (FRA:
DC6) (OTCQX: MCFNF) ("MCF", "MCF Energy" or the "Company") is
pleased to announce its agreement to acquire ("Acquisition") oil
and gas production and exploration licences in the Czech Republic, which hold valuable reserves,
offer immediate production opportunities, and have potential for
further exploration to strengthen Europe's energy security. Located in the
Vienna Basin of Czechia within the
Carpathian Mountains, the Acquisition consists of three production
licences covering 6,880 acres (27.8 sq km), and three exploration
licences covering 42,551.5 acres (172.2 sq km).
"This acquisition was driven by the opportunity to quickly start
natural gas production by reopening three closed wells and using
fifteen ready-to-drill sites in the NT Ridge area," said
James Hill, CEO and a Director of
MCF Energy Ltd. "The main advantage of this project is the
potential to boost production by shallow, low-cost drilling of
nearby areas with available pipeline capacity."
Immediate Production
Potential
The production licences are NT Ridge (2,800 acres or 11.3 sq
km), Krasna NP-823 (497 acres or 11.3 sq km), and LM (3,583 acres
or 14.5 sq km).
There are two proved and productive targets, the Miocene sands
and Devonian carbonates. Significant untested potential exists in
the oil-productive fractured basement.
MCF Energy anticipates returning one currently shut-in
production well at NT Ridge to production in Q1 2024. Five
additional development locations at NT Ridge and one Proved
Undeveloped drilling location are ready to drill this year. At
least three additional drilling locations are contemplated in
2025.
Additional Proved Undeveloped locations are present within the
production licences. Krasna NP 823 and the LM Production licences
are currently under review; both have wells that can be reworked
and returned to production at low cost.
Independent Reserve
Report
An Independent Reserve report by Boury Global Energy Consultants
(the "Report") reviewed the NT Ridge area which is located about 28
km southeast of Ostrava, the third largest city in the Czech Republic. Reviewing the geology, the
Report confirmed 15 Proved Undeveloped locations for development
having an estimated 11.9 BCF of Proved and Probable reserves within
the NT Ridge area. The Report gives an estimated Net Present
Value before tax (discounted at 10%) for the Proved and
Probable reserves of US$53.55 million
for the NT Ridge area. The two other production concessions,
Krasna NP and LM, are not included in the Report and represent
significant additional upside for MCF Energy shareholders.
Exploration Upside
The exploration licences are Skalice-Ropice (North) (11,712.8
acres or 47.4 sq km), Moravka (South) (14,801.6 acres or 59.9 sq.
km) and Trinec (North-East) (16,037.1 acres or 61.9 sq km).
MCF Energy will continue the exploration work started by the
previous operator, using improved technology. The Company
anticipates developing the Skalice-Ropice (North) exploration
licence by drilling four wells in 2025 and five wells in 2026 and
one in 2027. Nine of these locations have Proved Undeveloped plus
Probable plus Possible reserves, and one is assigned Probable plus
Possible reserves. Drilling will test for proved Miocene and
Devonian reservoirs and could prove four potential 'bonus' zones
could lead to significantly increased inventory of drilling
locations and reserves across the acreage. These potential zones,
not evaluated by the Report, include thicker Miocene sands, shallow
Silesian reservoirs, thicker Devonian carbonates, and fractured
basement targets which have shown to produce oil in other
production concessions.
Transaction Details
With the Acquisition, the Company will gain full ownership of
the Czech licences. This involves issuing 17.5 million MCF Energy
shares to the seller, with resale limits, and a cash payment of
US$1,325,000. The 17.5 million
consideration shares are subject to voluntary pooling restrictions
with releases over a period of 12 months. Additionally,
350,000 shares will go to Fiore Management & Advisory Corp for
their advisory services, which shares are subject to a four month
hold period from closing.
Third Source Energy S.R.O. ("Manager"), familiar with local
operations, will manage the Czech assets from its office in
Prague. Third Source is wholly
controlled by Sean Pearson, an
energy executive with an 18-year track record of success in
resource management and production growth, most recently with TBNG
UK (Turkish assets), and previously with DeGolyer &
MacNaughton, Aramco and CNRL. The Manager's compensation
includes a set fee of US$48,000 per
month in cash, and cash bonuses, based on performance up to a
maximum of US$595,000. In
addition, the Manager will be granted a net profit royalty from
successful wells varying between 10% and 2.5% for seven years, and
a flat 2.5% thereafter. If, by the later of 24 months
from closing, or fiscal year end 2025, less than US$3.7 million has been deployed in connection
with MCF's assets or operations in the Czech Republic, the royalty gets extended one
year before reverting to a flat 2.5%. If after 36
months less than US$3.7 million has
been deployed, the Manager shall have the option to purchase 50% of
the working interest in certain lands for US$370,000.
The Czech assets will be part of MCF Energy Czechia Ltd., a
fully owned subsidiary of MCF Energy Ltd.
MCF Energy invites all stakeholders, including shareholders,
employees, and the general public, to stay updated on the Company's
progress and its role in Europe's
energy future, through its corporate website and social media.
About MCF Energy
MCF Energy was established in 2022 by leading energy executives
to strengthen Europe's energy
security through responsible exploration and development of natural
gas resources within the region. The Company has secured interests
in several significant natural gas exploration projects in
Austria and Germany with additional concession
applications pending. MCF Energy is also evaluating additional
opportunities throughout Europe.
The Company's leaders have extensive experience in the European
energy sector and are working to develop a cleaner, cheaper, and
more secure natural gas industry as a transition to renewable
energy sources. MCF Energy is a publicly traded company (TSX.V:
MCF; FRA: DC6; OTCQX: MCFNF) and headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. For further
information, please visit: www.mcfenergy.com.
Additional information on the Company is available at
www.sedarplus.ca under the Company's profile.
Cautionary
Statements:
NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES
PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE
EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF
THIS RELEASE.
Advisories:
Forward-Looking
Information
This press release contains forward-looking statements and
forward-looking information (collectively "forward-looking
information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws
relating to the Company's plans and other aspects of our
anticipated future operations, management focus, strategies,
financial, operating and production results, industry conditions,
commodity prices and business opportunities. In addition, and
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this press
release contains forward-looking information regarding the
anticipated timing of development plans and resource potential with
respect to the Company's right to assets in Czech Republic. Forward-looking information
typically uses words such as "anticipate", "believe", "project",
"expect", "goal", "plan", "intend" or similar words suggesting
future outcomes, statements that actions, events or conditions
"may", "would", "could" or "will" be taken or occur in the
future.
The forward-looking information is based on certain key
expectations and assumptions made by MCF Energy's management,
including expectations and assumptions noted subsequently in this
press release under oil and gas advisories, and in addition with
respect to prevailing commodity prices which may differ materially
from the price forecasts applicable at the time of the respective
Resource Audits conducted by GCA and Reserve Audits conducted by
Boury Global Energy Consultants, and differentials, exchange rates,
interest rates, applicable royalty rates and tax laws; future
production rates and estimates of operating costs; performance of
future wells; resource volumes; anticipated timing and results of
capital expenditures; the success obtained in drilling new wells;
the sufficiency of budgeted capital expenditures in carrying out
planned activities; the timing, location and extent of future
drilling operations; the state of the economy and the exploration
and production business; results of operations; performance;
business prospects and opportunities; the availability and cost of
financing, labour and services; the impact of increasing
competition; the ability to efficiently integrate assets and
employees acquired through acquisitions, the ability to market
natural gas successfully and MCF's ability to access capital.
Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions
on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable,
undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking
information because MCF Energy can give no assurance that they will
prove to be correct. Since forward-looking information addresses
future events and conditions, by its very nature they involve
inherent risks and uncertainties. MCF Energy's actual results,
performance or achievement could differ materially from those
expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking information and,
accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events
anticipated by the forward-looking information will transpire or
occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that we will derive
therefrom. Management has included the above summary of assumptions
and risks related to forward-looking information provided in this
press release in order to provide securityholders with a more
complete perspective on future operations and such information may
not be appropriate for other purposes.
Readers are cautioned that the foregoing lists of factors are
not exhaustive. These forward-looking statements are made as of the
date of this press release and we disclaim any intent or obligation
to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a
result of new information, future events or results or otherwise,
other than as required by applicable securities laws.
Oil & Gas
Advisories
Boe means a barrel of oil equivalent on
the basis of 6 Mcf of natural gas to 1 barrel of oil
equivalent. Mcfe means one thousand cubic feet of natural gas
equivalent on the basis of 6 Mcfe: 1 barrel of oil. A boe
conversion ratio of 6 Mcf: 1 Boe and 6 Mcfe: 1 bbl. are based on an
energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the
burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the
wellhead. Given the value ratio based on the price of crude
compared to the price of natural gas at various times can be
significantly different from the energy equivalence of 6 Mcf: 1 boe
or 6 Mcfe: 1 bbl., using Boe's and Mcfe's may be misleading as an
indication of value.
Statements herein are made consistent with Canadian Oil and
Gas Evaluation (COGE) Handbook. The resources definitions used in
preparing this report are those contained in the COGE Handbook and
the Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument
51-101 (NI 51-101). Readers should give attention to the estimates
of individual classes of resources and appreciate the differing
probabilities of recovery associated with each class as explained
herein. "Proved" reserves are those reserves that can be
estimated with a high degree of certainty to be recoverable. There
is a 90% probability that the actual remaining quantities recovered
will equal or exceed the estimated proved reserves. "Probable"
reserves are those additional reserves that are less certain to be
recovered than proved reserves. It is equally likely that the
actual remaining quantities recovered will be greater or less than
the sum of the estimated proved plus probable reserves. "Possible"
reserves are those additional reserves that are less certain to be
recovered than probable reserves. There is a 10% probability that
the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the sum of
proved plus probable plus possible reserves. "Discovered petroleum
initially-in-place" or "discovered resources" or "DPIIP"
Definition: That quantity of petroleum that is 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. "Developed"
reserves are those reserves that are expected to be recovered from
existing wells and installed facilities or, if facilities have not
been installed, that would involve a low expenditure to put the
reserves on production. "Developed Producing" reserves are those
reserves that are expected to be recovered from completion
intervals open at the time of the estimate. These reserves may be
currently producing or, if shut-in, they must have previously been
on production, and the date of resumption of production must be
known with reasonable certainty. "Developed Non-Producing" reserves
are those reserves that either have not been on production, or have
previously been on production, but are shut-in, and the date of
resumption of production is unknown. "Undeveloped" reserves are
those reserves expected to be recovered from known accumulations
where a significant expenditure is required to render them capable
of production. They must fully meet the requirements of the
reserves classification (proved, probable) to which they are
assigned. P = proved undeveloped, PP = Proved + Probable
undeveloped, PPP = Proved + Probable + Possible undeveloped
"Prospective resources" Definition: 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 and a chance of development. Both risked and unrisked
prospective resources are referred to in this document.
Abbreviations:
|
|
|
|
Bcf
|
billion cubic
feet
|
Bcfe
|
billion cubic feet of
natural gas equivalent
|
Bbl
|
barrels
|
Boe
|
barrels of oil
equivalent
|
M
|
thousand
|
MM
|
million
|
MMbbls
|
million barrels of
oil
|
MMBOE
|
million barrels of oil
equivalent
|
MMBC
|
million barrels of
condensate
|
Mcfe
|
thousand cubic feet of
natural gas equivalent
|
MMcfe/d
|
million cubic feet
equivalent per day
|
Tcf
|
trillion cubic
feet
|
Km2
|
square
kilometres
|
€
|
Euros
|
SOURCE MCF Energy Ltd.