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square miles of newly released 3-D seismic
data licensed in early 2003, now covers significant areas of Liberty
and Hardin Counties, Texas. Since January 1, 2000, we have been
successful on six of eight wells drilled, including one Yegua well,
one Frio well and five Cook Mountain wells. In 2002, we completed
one well that produced an average of 9,787 Mcfe per day during the
first 90 full days of production. We operate this well and own a
40% working interest. In 2003, we had another drilling success in
this area with a well producing an average of 13,030 Mcfe per day
during the first 90 full days of production. We operate this well
and own a 46.3% working interest.
LOUISIANA AREA
The South Louisiana area primarily contains
objectives in the Middle and Lower Miocene intervals. We have acquired
licenses for approximately 1,850 square miles of 3-D data (including
1,416 square miles of newly released data delivered in 2003), and
approximately 2,700 net acres of leasehold. The 3-D seismic data
sets are concentrated in one general area including St. Mary, Terrebonne
and LaFourche Parishes.
Currently, we have identified over eight
exploratory drilling locations with an additional three potential
extension locations in the South Louisiana area over which we have
licenses for 3-D seismic data. Two of the eight exploratory locations
we have identified are relatively lower risk and generally shallower
with the other six being relatively higher risk and deeper with
greater upside potential. From January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2003,
we drilled and completed seven wells (1.7 net) on 14 attempts in
this area. We incurred capital expenditures of $5.6 million and
drilled three wells (0.7 net) in the South Louisiana area in 2003
and expect to devote approximately $8.9 million to drill five wells
(2.5 net) in this area in 2004.
LaRose
During 2002, we successfully drilled and
completed an offset well to the discovery well in this area. We
operate the two wells and own a 40% working interest. The discovery
well produced at an average of 15,581 Mcfe per day during the first
90 full days of production. We plan to participate in three to four
additional wells (1.3 to 1.8 net) in the general area during 2004.
Patterson
In December 2003, we announced the discovery
of Shadyside #1 well in this area, which logged over 77 feet of
apparent net pay. The well commenced production during March 2004
and was producing 12,900 Mcf of natural gas and 245 barrels of oil
(13,890 Mcfe) per day on March 25, 2004. We operate the well and
have an approximate 35% working interest. We believe there are two
potential extension wells in the Patterson area.
OTHER AREAS OF INTEREST
Our other areas of interest are contained
in:
- East Texas, where we have our Camp Hill
heavy oil project and our Tortuga Grande Cotton Valley prospect;
- the Barnett Shale trend in North Texas,
a new area of interest in 2003 on which we have acquired leases
on over 4,000 net acres and have participated in the drilling
of six wells (2.6 net) as of December 31, 2003. Since that time,
we have drilled another eight wells (4.0 net) and, through an
$8.2 million acquisition (see "Barnett Shale Trend" below) along
with an acreage leasing program, have increased our holdings in
the trend by 5,800 gross acres (3,500 net) and 21 gross wells
(6.7 net);
- coalbed methane interests in the Rocky
Mountains, largely related to our minority interest in Pinnacle
Gas Resources, Inc., a corporate joint venture formed with an
affiliate of Credit Suisse First Boston in 2003; and
- our recently obtained offshore licenses to
explore on approximately 210,000 acres in the U.K. North Sea,
which we plan to promote to third parties and for which our estimated
project commitments from commencement through mid-2005 are $0.9
million.
For 2004, we expect to obtain a mezzanine
project facility to finance a majority of (1) the $8.2 acquisition
in the Barnett Shale trend in February 2004 and (2) our exploration
and development program in the Barnett Shale play in 2004 and 2005.
With the mezzanine facility, our 2004 capital spending program in
the Barnett Shale trend could be $20 to $30 million. For the remainder
of our other areas of interest, we expect to spend less than $2.5
million total in these areas. We believe that each of these areas
has
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