
Press Release
Source: Avalon Oil & Gas, Inc.
Avalon Expands into Colombian Oil Operations
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – November 12, 2007
-- Avalon Oil and Gas, Inc. (Avalon) (OTCBB: AOGN / FWB: A3MA.F)
announced the company has executed a Letter of Intent for the acquisition
of an interest in the Mecaya 1 oil discovery in Colombia. This
acquisition is the result of a two year search to evaluate suitable
development projects in Colombia, one of the most active exploration
areas in Latin America.
Under the terms of the Letter of Intent, Avalon
will acquire a 15% interest in the 74,000 acre Mecaya Block in
Colombia. This concession contains the Mecaya 1 oil discovery and
two other wells which have tested oil. Avalon’s acquisition further benefits from its
qualification for the highly favorable National Hydrocarbon Agency
(ANH) fiscal terms. The Mecaya 1 well was drilled by the Colombian
National Oil Company, Ecopetrol, in 1989. It tested approximately
665 BOPD (barrels of oil per day) of 27 ° API oil, with no water
from a sand reservoir at approximately 7,200 feet.
Mecaya Discovery
The Mecaya discovery is offset by the Caiman
3 well located 1.6 kilometers to the west, which tested 38 BOPD
of 25 ° API oil
from a separate sand reservoir. The consortium holding this block
plans to reenter the Mecaya 1 well and place it on long term production
test within six months to establish a stable production rate and
assess the size of the oil accumulation. While the full extent of
the Mecaya discovery is not known at this time, based upon the existing
seismic data it is believed to range from 3 to 10 million barrels
of recoverable oil.
Kent A. Rodriguez, Avalon’s President and CEO, commented, “This
participation in the Mecaya contract is an important addition to
Avalon’s portfolio of oil and gas properties. We believe that
obtaining access to high-quality producing concessions in Latin America
will greatly enhance shareholder value.”
“At current oil prices, it is rare for a company to be able to
acquire an interest in a development project at near ground floor terms,
especially in an area which has among the best fiscal terms in Latin
America, as is the case with the Mecaya project” added Avalon
Director, Stephen Newton.
Talora Block
The Letter of Intent also provides for Avalon to earn a 20% interest
in the Talora Block, which is located in the Middle Magdalena basin
of Colombia. This 108,000 acre block is located 75 kilometers west
of Bogota and is near several producing oil fields, including the
117 million barrel Guando field which is operated by Petrobras. It
is also adjacent to the Mana field which contains 10 wells which
typically flow 500 to 600 BOPD of 30 ° API oil from high quality
sands at approximately 5500 feet. Partners in the Talora Block include
PEI, a Colombian operator of several exploration and development
blocks in the country, and PetroSouth Energy (OTCBB: PSEG). According
to PetroSouth, the Talora Block contains 5 prospects with combined
potential reserves of 209 MMBO.
“Avalon is extremely fortunate to be able to layer the rich
potential reserves in Talora on top of the existing production that
will be realized in the short term from the Mecaya Block,”,
commented Menno Wiebe, Avalon’s Colombian exploration strategist. “We
will continue to identify additional investment opportunities in
Colombia to complement our expanded portfolio.”
Colombian Oil Industry
Colombia is currently the scene of one of
the highest levels of exploration and development activity in Latin
America, with investment at a 20-year high. This recent surge in
activity is the result of the country’s dramatically improved fiscal terms which were
introduced in 2004; along with greatly enhanced security in most
parts of the country. The new fiscal terms include: the elimination
of the state oil company back-in right; reduced, field size-adjusted
royalties; and low annual ground rents. Colombia has recently augmented
these bold initiatives by eliminating the remittance tax and reducing
the corporate tax rate to 35%. Avalon moved to invest in the expanding
oil industry as the resilience of the positive new operating environment
conditions was demonstrated. The recent success in Colombia of a
number of small companies such as: Gran Tierra Energy (OTCBB: GTRE),
Pacific Stratus, Solana Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: SOR / AIM: SORL),
C & C, Lewis Energy Group, and PetroSouth Energy, as well as
the entry into the country of large players such as ExxonMobil and
BHP Billiton validates this assertion. Avalon’s management
looks forward to participating in this exciting new exploration arena.
About Avalon Oil & Gas, Inc.
Avalon Oil & Gas, Inc. is an oil and gas investment company engaged in
the acquisition of oil and gas producing properties. In addition, Avalon's
technology group acquires and develops oil production enhancing technologies.
Avalon is building an asset portfolio of innovative technologies in the oil
and gas industry to maximize enhancement opportunities through Oiltek, Inc.,
Avalon’s majority-owned subsidiary.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements, which may constitute "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief
or current expectations of Avalon Oil & Gas, Inc., and members of its management
as well as the assumptions on which such statements are based. Prospective
investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees
of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual
results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking
statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking
statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated
events or changes to future operating results.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, please visit the company’s website at www.avalonoil.com,
or contact:
Avalon Oil & Gas, Inc., Minneapolis
Kent A. Rodriguez, CEO
P: +1-952-746-9655
F: +1-952-746-5216
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