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CAMP HILL PROJECT
The Company owns interests in eight leases
totaling approximately 619 gross acres in the Camp Hill field in
Anderson County, Texas. The Company currently operates seven of
these leases. During the year ended December 31, 2002, the project
produced an average of 58 Bbls/d of 19 API gravity oil. The wells
produce from a depth of 500 feet and utilize a tertiary steam drive
as an enhanced oil recovery process. Although efficient at maximizing
oil recovery, the steam drive process is relatively expensive to
operate because natural gas or produced crude is burned to create
the steam injectant. Lifting costs during the year ended December
31, 2002 averaged $14.99 per barrel ($2.50 per Mcfe). In response
to high fuel gas prices, steam injection was reduced in mid 2000.
Because profitability increases when natural gas prices drop relative
to oil prices, the project is a natural hedge against decreases
in natural gas prices relative to oil prices. The oil produced,
although viscous, commands a higher price (an average premium of
$1.00 per Bbl during the year ended December 31, 2002) than West
Texas intermediate crude due to its suitability as a lube oil feedstock.
As of December 31, 2002, the Company had 7.7 MBbls of proved oil
reserves in this project, with 750 MBbls of oil reserves currently
developed. The Company anticipates drilling additional wells and
increasing steam injection to develop the proved undeveloped reserves
in this project, with the timing and amount of expenditures depending
on the relative prices of oil and natural gas. The Company has an
average working interest of 90% in this field and an average net
revenue interest of 74%.
WYOMING/MONTANA COALBED METHANE PROJECT AREA
The Company, through CCBM, acquired interests
from RMG in certain oil and gas leases covering 233,875 gross acres
and 43,711 gross acres in options during 2001 in areas prospective
for coalbed methane in the Powder River Basin ("PRB") in southwestern
Wyoming and Montana. The Company's working interest ranges from
6.25% to 50.00% in the leases. As consideration for the interests,
CCBM paid RMG $7.5 million in the form of a non-recourse promissory
note (the "CCBM Note"), secured solely by CCBM's interest in the
undeveloped acreage. In addition, the Company committed to spend
up to $5.0 million to drill and test coalbed methane wells on this
acreage during 2001 through 2003, 50% of which would be spent pursuant
to an obligation by Carrizo to fund $2.5 million of drilling costs
on behalf of RMG. As of December 31, 2002, the Company has participated
in the acquisition and/or drilling of 75 gross wells (28 net) satisfying
approximately $3.0 million of the $5.0 million drilling commitment.
All of the wells encountered coal accumulations and are in various
stages of development and/or stages of production. Coalbed methane
wells typically first produce water and then, as the water production
declines, begin producing methane gas at an increasing rate. As
the wells mature the production peaks and begins declining.
At the "Clearmont Project" in Wyoming, in
which CCBM owns an average 50% working interest, 32 wells have been
drilled and completed to date, including 19 wells currently on pump
in the dewatering stage of development. As there are only a few
other coalbed methane projects/wells in the immediate vicinity,
the dewatering process has taken longer than originally estimated.
All of the wells on pump are producing small amounts of gas consistent
with expectations given the current development stage of the project.
The gas gathering, compression facilities and sales pipeline are
in place, and depending upon the progress of the dewatering process,
commercial production could commence in late 2003.
At the 1,940 gross acre "Bobcat Project"
in Wyoming, in which CCBM owns an average working interest of approximately
28%, gross production has reached a level of over 2,600 Mcf/d, with
wellhead prices in excess of $4.00 per Mcf. Many of the 24 production
wells in the project area are still in the dewatering stage and
as such, production is expected to increase in the months ahead.
In addition to the existing wells, the Company believes that there
are numerous additional potential drilling locations which could
target the coal seams currently being produced as well as three
additional deeper prospective coal seams.
Of the 55,167 net mineral acres held by CCBM
as of December 31, 2002, approximately 25,600 net mineral acres
are located in the state of Montana. The issuance of new coalbed
methane drilling permits in Montana has been temporarily halted
pending a final Record of Decision for Montana's Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) which is expected to be issued by the Federal Bureau
of Land Management (BLM) in mid-year 2003. The Company anticipates
a favorable outcome and as a result new drilling permits could be
issued soon and new wells could again be drilled by coalbed methane
industry participants in Montana. Opponents of coalbed methane drilling
in Montana could continue their legal challenge, but the Company
believes that the decision will ultimately be upheld which would
allow new coalbed methane development to commence in Montana as
early as late 2003. RMG, CCBM's partner and project operator, holds
approximately 114 grandfathered drilling permits in Montana for
acreage in which CCBM also has an interest. There can be no assurances
when, if ever, any new permits will be obtained.
OTHER PROJECT AREAS
In addition to the specific project areas
described above, the Company has 15 additional active project areas
in various stages of development as of December 31, 2002. These
project areas are located in the onshore Texas and Louisiana Gulf
Coast regions.
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