GeoPark Limited (“GeoPark” or the “Company”) (NYSE:GPRK), a leading
independent Latin American oil and gas explorer, operator and
consolidator with operations and growth platforms in Colombia, Chile,
Brazil, Argentina, and Peru, today announced it has obtained final
regulatory approval for its acquisition of the Morona Block in Peru.
In its first project returning to the upstream business, the Peruvian
state-owned company Petróleos del Perú S.A. (“Petroperu”) awarded a 75%
working interest (“WI”) in and operatorship of the Morona Block to
GeoPark by a Joint Investment and Operating Agreement dated October 1,
2014, and its amendments (the “Agreement”). The Agreement was subject to
Peru regulatory approval, which was completed on December 1, 2016
following the issuance of Supreme Decree 031-2016-MEM.
The Morona Block covers an area of 1.9 million acres in the Marañón
Basin, a priority target basin for GeoPark and one of the most prolific
hydrocarbon basins in Latin America, with over 1 billion barrels of oil
produced. The Morona Block contains the Situche Central oil field, which
has been delineated by two wells (with short term tests of approximately
2,400 and 5,200 bopd of 35-36° API oil) and by 3D seismic. The block
also includes extensive geophysical surveys, an operating field camp and
logistics infrastructure. The area has undergone oil and gas exploration
activities for the past 40 years, with ongoing association agreements
and cooperation projects with the local communities.
DeGolyer & MacNaughton, the independent reserve engineering firm, has
certified 2P reserves of 40.2 million barrels of oil (mmbo) and 3P
reserves of 82.9 mmbo for the Situche Central oil field (at 100% WI)
with no oil-water contact yet encountered in the field. Gaffney, Cline &
Associates has audited a maximum unrisked upside potential in the
Situche Central oil field to be approximately 200 mmbo (at 100% WI). The
total Morona Block also includes a large exploration potential with high
impact prospects and plays – including gross unrisked exploration
resources ranging from 300 to 500 mmbo, as audited by Gaffney, Cline &
Associates.
In accordance with the terms of the Agreement, GeoPark has committed to
carry Petroperu on a work program that provides for testing and start-up
production of one of the existing wells in the field, subject to certain
technical and economic conditions being met. Expected capital
expenditures in 2017 for the Morona Block are mainly related to facility
maintenance and environmental and engineering studies.
James F. Park, Chief Executive Officer of GeoPark, said: “We appreciate
the support of the Peruvian government to advance the Morona Block and
we very much look forward to partnering with Petroperu and the local
communities in developing and exploring this exciting project. The
Morona Block is the type of high-value project we look for in Latin
America – with an already-discovered big oil field and the opportunity
to convert existing reserves into production and cash flows, combined
with high impact exploration potential in a proven and prolific
hydrocarbon system. The timing and size of this project also fits very
well within GeoPark’s existing high quality portfolio of production and
exploration assets across the region and represents an important piece
of GeoPark’s ambitious medium to long term growth plans.”
GeoPark can be visited online at www.geo-park.com.
NOTICE
Additional information about GeoPark can be found in the “Investor
Support” section on the website at www.geo-park.com.
Rounding amounts and percentages: Certain amounts and percentages
included in this press release have been rounded for ease of
presentation. Percentage figures included in this press release have not
in all cases been calculated on the basis of such rounded figures, but
on the basis of such amounts prior to rounding. For this reason, certain
percentage amounts in this press release may vary from those obtained by
performing the same calculations using the figures in the financial
statements. In addition, certain other amounts that appear in this press
release may not sum due to rounding.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS RELEVANT TO FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking
statements. Many of the forward looking statements contained in this
press release can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such
as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "expect," "should," "plan,"
"intend," "will," "estimate" and "potential," among others.
Forward-looking statements that appear in a number of places in this
press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the
intent, belief or current expectations, regarding various matters,
including the drilling plan and capital expenditures for 2017.
Forward-looking statements are based on management’s beliefs and
assumptions, and on information currently available to the management.
Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual
results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the
forward-looking statements due to various factors.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and
the Company does not undertake any obligation to update them in light of
new information or future developments or to release publicly any
revisions to these statements in order to reflect later events or
circumstances, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. For
a discussion of the risks facing the Company which could affect whether
these forward-looking statements are realized, see filings with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission.
The reserve estimates provided in this release are estimates only, and
there is no guarantee that the estimated reserves will be recovered.
Actual reserves may eventually prove to be greater than, or less than,
the estimates provided herein. Statements relating to reserves are by
their nature forward-looking statements.
Readers are cautioned that the exploration resources disclosed in this
press release are not necessarily indicative of long term performance or
of ultimate recovery. Unrisked prospective resources are not risked for
change of development or chance of discovery. 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. There is no
certainty that any portion of the Prospective Resources will be
discovered. If discovered, there is no certainty that it will be
commercially viable to produce any portion of the resources. Prospective
Resource volumes are presented as unrisked.
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