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$ECA Encana Corp Texas - A resource play located primarily in East Texas. http://www.encana.com/operations/
Gee, I haven't touch an O&G play in years. O&G was hot back when I started this board, but after getting burned on what I thought was a sound play, I haven't touched another O&G stock, since.
GLTY
$ECA Encana Ended 1Q With $2.2B In Cash, Cash Equivalents
$CLNE Clean Energy Fuels Web Address:
http://www.cleanenergyfuels.com
$ECA "Calgary, Alberta-based Encana is the second largest gas producer in North America, and holds a highly competitive land and resource position in a number of the region's most promising shale and tight gas resource plays. This provides the company with a low risk, long life and sustainable growth profile. We also appreciate Encana’s strategy of disposing assets that do not fit into its long-term growth plan." http://finance.yahoo.com/news/encana-acquire-oil-rich-assets-201505775.html
$CLNE Clean Energy Fuels Corp’s Revenue Surged on Higher Volumes http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/05/08/clean-energy-fuels-corps-revenue-surges-on-higher.aspx
$ECA Encana Encana Corporation (Encana) is a North American energy producer. Web Address:
http://www.encana.com
$GSPI big news coming next week or the week after, joe gets back from China next week
COGLF .13: Chelsea Announces 2013 2P Reserves of 1.133 Million Boe, 3P Reserves of 6.351 Million Boe and Filing of Annual Information Fo...
Date : 03/31/2014 @ 5:00PM
Chelsea Announces 2013 2P Reserves of 1.133 Million Boe, 3P Reserves of 6.351 Million Boe and Filing of Annual Information
Chelsea Oil and Gas Ltd. (OTCQB: COGLF) ("Chelsea" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its 2013 year-end reserves and an operational update.
The financial and operational information contained below is based on the Company's unaudited expected results for the year ended December 31, 2013. The Company is required to file its audited financial statements and related management discussion & analysis for the year ended December 31, 2013 on or prior to April 30, 2014.
Highlights
· Probable reserves of 1.113 million boe
· Probable plus possible reserves of 6.351 million boe
· Net present value of Chelsea's probable oil reserves of US$5.1 million, and probable plus possible oil reserves of US$13.9 million (discounted at 10%, before income taxes)
· Net present value of Chelsea's probable natural gas and NGL reserves of A$19.9 million, and probable plus possible natural gas and NGL reserves of A$107.1 million
· Arthur Creek unconventional prospective resources best estimate of 688.5 mmboe net to Chelsea
Reserves
In this press release, all references to reserves are to gross company reserves, meaning Chelsea's working interest reserves before deductions of royalties and before consideration of Chelsea's royalty interests. The oil reserves of the Company's PL 18 and PL 280 concessions in Australia were evaluated by Sproule International Ltd ("Sproule"), and the natural gas and natural gas liquids reserves of the Company's PL 40 concession were evaluated by Chapman Engineering Ltd. ("Chapman"), both in accordance with National Instrument 51-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities ("NI 51-101") effective December 31, 2013. Chelsea's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2013 (the "AIF") contains the Company's reserves data and other oil and natural gas information as mandated by NI 51-101. A copy of the AIF will be available under Chelsea's profile at www.sedar.com, www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml? or at www.chelseaoilandgas.com.
The summary information provided below should be read in conjunction with the detailed information in the AIF.
As at December 31, 2013, Chelsea's total gross probable plus possible reserves were 6.351 mmboe. Chelsea's 2013 total probable additions were 1.1 mmboe and its 2013 total possible additions were 5.2 million mmboe.
The following table is a summary, as at December 31, 2013, of Chelsea's petroleum and natural gas reserves as evaluated by Sproule and Chapman. It is important to note that the recovery and reserves estimates provided herein are estimates only. Actual reserves may be greater or less than the estimates provided herein. Reserves information may not add due to rounding.
Gross Company Reserves Summary (1)
2013
Oil(2) Natural Gas(3) NGL(3) Total Oil Equivalent
(mbbl) (mmcf) (mbbl) (mboe)
Probable(2) 141 2,905 508 1,133
Possible(3) 260 14,525 2,538 5,219
Total Probable Plus Possible 401 17,430 3,045 6,351
(1) Company Reserves means the Company's working interest reserves before calculations of royalties and before consideration of the Company's royalty interests.
(2) Per Sproule.
(3) Per Chapman.
Net Present Value of Future Net Revenue - Oil
Sproule completed an evaluation of the Company's PL 18 and PL 280 concessions onshore Australia. Chelsea holds a 100% working interest in the following oil fields with assigned reserves: Yellowbank, Yellowbank Creek North, Thomby Creek and McWhirter. The following table summarizes the net present value of future net revenue in US dollars for Chelsea's oil properties:
US$ Before Deducting Income Taxes Discounted At
0%
(M$) 5%
(M$) 10%
(M$) 15%
(M$) 20%
(M$)
Probable 6,251 5,637 5,113 4,662 4,271
Possible 12,606 10,491 8,820 7,484 6,402
Total Probable Plus Possible 18,856 16,128 13,933 12,145 10,673
Net Present Value of Future Net Revenue - Natural Gas and NGL's
Chapman completed an evaluation of the Company's PL 40 concession onshore Australia. Chelsea holds a 100% working interest in the Louise gas field. The following table summarizes the net present value of future net revenue in Australian dollars for Chelsea's natural gas and NGL properties:
A$ Before Income Tax Expenses and Discounted at
0% 5% 10% 15% 20%
(M$) (M$) (M$) (M$) (M$)
Probable 36,738 26,572 19,916 15,327 12,027
Possible 191,907 127,078 87,177 61,256 43,658
Total Probable Plus Possible 228,646 153,650 107,093 76,583 55,685
Georgina Basin Resource Report
Chelsea's wholly-owned subsidiary, Cooper-Eromanga Oil Inc. ("CEO") engaged Ryder Scott Petroleum Consultants Ltd. ("Ryder Scott") in a report dated effective March 31, 2013 (the "Resource Report"). The Resource Report evaluated the unconventional resources of the Arthur Creek "Hot Shale" in the Georgina Basin, Queensland, Australia in Authority to Prospect 582 ("ATP 582"). ATP 582 is approximately 5.02 million acres (20,323 square kilometers) in size, of which approximately 0.91 million acres were established by Ryder Scott through review of previous seismic and well data to be prospective for unconventional hydrocarbons.
The evaluation by Ryder Scott assigned resource estimates to one horizon in the Georgina Basin, the Arthur Creek Hot Shale (the "Hot Shale"). The Hot Shale is defined as a radioactive shale which exhibited high total organic content in historical wells on, and offsetting ATP 582. The following table summarizes the Resource Report:
Unrisked Prospective Recoverable Resources(1)
Hydrocarbon Low Estimate (P90) Best Estimate (P50) High Estimate (P10)
Oil (mmbbls) 21.1 32.8 51.0
Gas (Tcf)2 2.5 3.4 4.6
Condensate (mmbc) 40.8 89 155.5
Total (mmboe) 479.0 688.5 973.1
(1) Reflects gross (100%) working interest in ATP 582.
(2) Includes associated gas.
The Resource Report has been prepared in accordance with the standards contained in the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook (the "COGE Handbook") and NI 51-101. The Resource Report is based on certain factual data supplied by the Company and Ryder Scott's opinion of reasonable practice in the industry. The extent and character of ownership and all factual data pertaining to the Company's petroleum properties and contracts (except for certain information residing in the public domain) were supplied by the Company to the Ryder Scott and accepted without any further investigation. Ryder Scott accepted this data as presented and neither title searches nor field inspections were conducted. The recovery and resources estimates for the Company's assets and properties described herein are estimates only and there is no guarantee that the estimated resources will be recovered. The actual resources for the Company's assets and properties may be greater or less than those calculated. There are partially risked prospective resources that have been risked for change of discovery, but have not been risked for chance of development. 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.
Chelsea is encouraged with the Hot Shale resource potential as established by Ryder Scott. In addition to the Hot Shale, the Company has identified considerable resource potential in horizons above the Hot Shale, defined as the Upper Arthur Creek and Lower Arthur Creek formations. These formations were penetrated by all of the historical wells present on ATP 582, and were tested in one well, Mirrica-1 ("Mirrica") drilled in 1989. Mirrica was drilled over-balanced, and exhibited strong gas shows of up to 100 units while drilling through the Upper and Lower Arthur Creek formations. 6 drill stem tests ("DST") were over a 600m meter interval, which resulted in no hydrocarbon or water recovery. The Company believes the significantly overbalanced drill program resulted in formation damage, which impaired the DST's. Well logs over the Upper and Lower Arthur Creek indicate these formations to be gas saturated, but tight. The Company intends to conduct additional analysis on these horizons during the year, and obtain an independent resource assessment to the extent sufficient evidence can be obtained to justify the assignment and classification of Prospective Resources.
Undeveloped Land
The largest undeveloped license in Chelsea's portfolio is ATP 582. This license is approximately 5.02 million acres in size and provides exposure to two separate sedimentary basins: the Georgina Basin and the Simpson Basin.
In 2012, Total S.A. ("Total") entered into the Georgina Basin through a farm-in whereby it would spend up to A$190.0 million by 2016 to earn up to a 68% working interest in an offsetting operators Georgina Basin lands. As well in 2012, Statoil ASA ("Statoil") entered into the Georgina Basin through a farm-in whereby it would spend up to A$210.0 million in separate offsetting Georgina Basin lands to earn up to an 80% working interest. The average of these farm-ins on an Australian dollar per acre basis is approximately A$32.78 / acre. Ryder Scott estimate ATP 582 contains approximately 0.91 million acres of Georgina Basin sediments. After giving effect to the A$ / acre on offsetting lands, this would suggest Chelsea's Georgina Basin undeveloped acreage could have a value of up to A$29.8 million.
In 2012, Santos Ltd. entered into the Amadeus, Pedirka and Simpson Basin's through a farm-in with another operator whereby it would spend up to A$150.0 million to earn up to a 70% working interest. The total potential investment on an Australian dollar per acre basis is A$11.28 / acre. Chelsea estimates it has up to 2.0 million acres of Simpson basin sediments. After giving effect to the A$ / acre on offsetting lands, this would suggest Chelsea's Simpson Basin undeveloped acreage could have a value in excess of up to A$22.6 million.
Georgina Basin Drilling
Statoil recently announced their intentions to drill five vertical wells in the Georgina Basin during 2014, on lands offsetting ATP 582. They further announced their intention to fracture stimulate up to three wells. The first well is slated to begin in May, targeting the Toko Syncline.
Total and their partner Central Petroleum Ltd. ("Central") made application to fracture stimulate up to eight wells, with drilling to begin in 2014 and stimulation in 2015. The proposed well locations lie within the Toko Syncline, the nearest proposed well is less than 5 kilometers from Chelsea's ATP 582, the farthest is approximately 70 km from ATP 582.
Total's drilling programme is exclusively evaluating the Toko Syncline, on lands geologically equivalent to Chelsea. Statoil's wells in the Northern Territory which are targeting the Toko Syncline will be testing thinner target zones at a shallower depth than those present on ATP 582. The target sediments in the Toko Syncline on Chelsea's and Total/Central's lands are believed to be thicker than those present in the Northern Territory, and in the opinion of Chelsea, more prospective. Success in either the Statoil or Total drilling programme will validate Chelsea's lands, as the proposed well locations are in close enough proximity to provide a regional evaluation of the play on ATP 582.
Reader Advisories
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains information that constitutes "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. This forward-looking information includes, among others, statements regarding: estimated reserves and resources (in place and recoverable), productivity, land value and other expectations, beliefs, plans, goals, objectives, assumptions, information and statements about possible future events, conditions, results of operations or performance. Information regarding business plans generally assumes that the extraction of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids remains economic.
Undue reliance should not be placed on forward looking information. Forward looking information is based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of risks which could cause actual results to vary and in some instances to differ materially from those anticipated by Chelsea and described in the forward looking information contained in this press release or otherwise. The material risk factors include, but are not limited to: the risks of the oil and gas industry, such as operational risks in exploring for, developing and producing crude oil and natural gas, reduced commodity prices and market demand and unpredictable facilities outages; risk and uncertainties involving geology of oil and gas deposits; uncertainty related to securing sufficient egress and markets to meet shale gas production; the uncertainty of reserves, resources and ultimate recovery estimates, and underlying risks related to the novelty of industry and Company understanding of reservoirs of the nature of the reservoirs the Company is exploiting and plans to exploit; the new and rapidly evolving technology used to exploit those reservoirs, the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses (which in many cases are of necessity based on extrapolations of short term performance); potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; fluctuations in oil and gas prices, interest rates; health, safety and environmental risks; changes in general economic and business conditions; the possibility that government policies or laws may change or governmental approvals may be delayed or withheld and the possibility that third parties may interfere with the Company conducting its business. The foregoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive. Forward looking information is based on the estimates and opinions of the Company's management at the time the information is presented. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward looking information should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change, except as required by law.
Statements contained in this press release and corporate information relating to future results, events and expectations are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, scheduling, re-scheduling and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, estimates, projections, resource potential and/or reserves, interpretations, prognoses, schedules or achievements of the Corporation, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include, among others, those described in the Corporations' annual reports on Form 40-F or Form 20-F on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Users are cautioned that these values represent resources, and not reserves as defined by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Under SEC standards, mineralization may not be classified as a reserve unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all of measured or indicated resources will ever be converted into reserves.
Barrels of Oil Equivalent
The term barrels of oil equivalent (" boe ") may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. Per boe amounts have been calculated using a conversion ratio of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas (6 mcf) to one barrel of oil (1 bbl). This boe conversion ratio of 6 mcf to 1 bbl is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Given that the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil as compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6:1, utilizing a conversion on a 6:1 basis may be misleading as an indication of value.
Reserves Data
The determination of oil and natural gas reserves involves the preparation of estimates that have an inherent degree of associated uncertainty. Categories of proved and probable reserves have been established to reflect the level of these uncertainties and to provide an indication of the probability of recovery. The estimation and classification of reserves requires the application of professional judgment combined with geological and engineering knowledge to assess whether or not specific reserves classification criteria have been satisfied. Knowledge of concepts including uncertainty and risk, probability and statistics, and deterministic and probabilistic estimation methods is required to properly use and apply reserves definitions.
The recovery and reserve estimates of oil, NGL and natural gas reserves provided herein are estimates only. Actual reserves may be greater than or less than the estimates provided herein. The estimated future net revenue from the production of Chelsea's natural gas and petroleum reserves does not represent the fair market value of Chelsea's reserves.
In this press release, Chelsea also discloses prospective resources as of the dates indicated herein. Prospective Resources are defined as those quantities of petroleum estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from undiscovered accumulations by application of future development projects. Reserve, resource and forecast production and values prepared by any third party are identified as such; all other estimates have been prepared by management.
The reserve and resource data provided in this news release presents only a portion of the disclosure required under NI 51-101. All of the required information is contained in Chelsea's AIF.
We seek safe harbor.
CONTACT: For further information on Chelsea, please visit our website at www.chelseaoilandgas.com or call +1 403 457 1959.
Chelsea Oil and Gas Limited
$GEVO GASOLINE BIOFUELS ON ALERT
Interested in Oil & Gas stocks - you should check out AMSE!
Ground floor opportunity!
~FOGC~ Best Oil Play, 1,000% Gains Easy from ~.0002 ~ .0020~
AGRT Next mega Oil & Gas undervalued stock pick here at ground floor!! Shell just Bought CEO Big Wig in Oil & Gas!!
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=72548729
I think I would agree. A better chart might reveal just how close it is.
MM's seem to be holding it down. Looks like a short squeeze to me. Symn going to pop anytime.
You could be right. A Demonstration Plant could be the forerunner to perhaps hundreds, like a franchise or chain.
SYNM is a diamond in the rough. We could see a huge spike in price. Word looks like to be out!!
http://twitter.com/sincitylv
http://twitter.com/chinasolar
http://twitter.com/macauchina
http://twitter.com/lvhotels
http://twitter.com/hiphopfashions
http://twitter.com/stimulusplans
Wow!!
While it's a start I suppose, 80 bopd isn't exactly alotta production for a $112M company.
Sinopec and Syntroleum Announce Grand Opening of Coal to Liquids Demonstration Plant
Syntroleum Corp. (MM) (NASDAQ:SYNM)
Monday 1 August 2011
China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) (NYSE:SNP) and Syntroleum Corporation (Nasdaq:SYNM) announced today the grand opening of the Sinopec/Syntroleum Demonstration Facility (SDF) located in Zhenhai, China. SDF is an 80 barrel per day facility utilizing the Syntroleum-Sinopec Fischer Tropsch technology for the conversion of coal, asphalt and petroleum coke into high value synthetic petrochemical feedstocks.
This was $10.00 a share in 2005. Now they finally did it and SYNM is only $1.38 a share!!
SYNM -Syntroleum Initiating Testing Program with Coal-Derived Synthesis Gas
Tuesday November 29, 8:17 am ET
TULSA, Okla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 29, 2005--Syntroleum Corporation (Nasdaq:SYNM - News) announced that it has signed an agreement to conduct laboratory-scale demonstration of Syntroleum's Fischer-Tropsch (FT) catalyst with coal-derived syngas produced at an established gasification facility.
During the last two years at Syntroleum's 70 barrel per day gas-to-liquids (GTL) facility at the Port of Catoosa near Tulsa, Okla. Syntroleum utilized its proprietary FT-410 cobalt catalyst to successfully demonstrate the Syntroleum® Process by producing ultra-clean diesel and jet fuels from natural gas feedstock for various U.S. government programs.
This new testing program will demonstrate the effectiveness of the Syntroleum FT catalyst with proven coal-derived syngas clean-up and treatment processes for use in a coal-to-liquids (CTL) application. Syngas, which consists of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, is the building block for many chemical processes including FT ultra-clean fuels produced from the Syntroleum® Process.
"This testing program is an important step for Syntroleum in demonstrating that our proven natural gas-to-liquids technology is also applicable to coal-to-liquids as well," said Ken Roberts, senior vice president of business development for Syntroleum. "We see this as an opportunity to develop our position toward participation in future coal-to-liquids plants."
The testing protocol will include two bench-scale FT reactors and gas sampling connections to the clean syngas production flow. The testing program is planned to begin in January and run for approximately six months. Syntroleum specialists will work with the personnel from the gasification company in this program funded by Syntroleum.
"Coal-to-liquids technology has the potential of providing a tremendous source of ultra-clean fuels from abundant coal reserves in the United States and other regions of the world," Roberts said. "The U.S. has the world's largest estimated recoverable coal reserves equaling over 268 billion tons. If only 5 percent of this coal were converted to FT liquids, it would be equivalent to the entire oil reserves currently held by the U.S.
"As the U.S. seeks energy independence and security of supply, Syntroleum believes that advancement of technologies such as the Syntroleum® Process is essential to achieve that goal. Our 20-year history in gas-to-liquids is a foundation for successful transition into coal-to-liquids in the coming years."
Syntroleum Corporation owns a proprietary GTL process for converting natural gas or synthesis gas derived from coal into synthetic liquid hydrocarbons. The company plans to use its technology, as well as other third party gas processing technologies, to develop and participate in gas and coal monetization projects in a number of global locations.
This document includes forward-looking statements as well as historical information. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the impact of the energy bill on Syntroleum and the coal-to-liquids industry, the testing, certification, characteristics and use of synthetic fuels FT catalyst and alternative fuels, the Syntroleum Process and related technologies and products, GTL or coal-to-liquids plants using the Syntroleum Process, government support for the construction and operation of such plants, the economic use of such plants and the continued development of the Syntroleum Process. When used in this document, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intent," "may," "project," "plan," "should," and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify forward-looking statements. Although Syntroleum believes that its expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties and no assurance can be given that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements include the potential that commercial-scale GTL plants will not achieve the same results as those demonstrated on a laboratory or pilot basis or that such plants will experience technological and mechanical problems, the potential that improvements to the Syntroleum Process currently under development may not be successful, the impact on plant economics of operating conditions (including energy prices and government support for such plants), construction risks, risks associated with investments and operations of GTL and coal-to-liquids plants, the ability to implement corporate strategies, competition, intellectual property risks, Syntroleum's ability to obtain financing and other risks described in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
® "Syntroleum" is registered as a trademark and service mark in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
http://twitter.com/canadapetro
Any thoughts on FEEC? OTCBB with $121 M market cap
Been following it for two years, trading in and out. Huge story, massive potential, but still no revenues showing in SEC Filings after all this time. Lot's of money has been poured into this company and big names are involved, so I do think it's worth digging deeper, but I'm not an expert in this industry.
Any of the folks willing to do some DD on this company? Take a look at this news for an idea on potential...
Far East Energy Reports Net Present Value of Shouyang Block Contingent Resources
HOUSTON, April 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Far East Energy Corporation (OTC BB:FEEC.ob - News) today announced the results of an independent report by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. (NSAI) evaluating, as of December 31, 2010, the contingent gas resources and Net Present Value at 10% Discount ("NPV10") of the net contingent cash flow for the three target coal seams in Far East Energy's 485,000 acre (1960 square kilometers) Shouyang Block, situated in Shanxi Province, China.
The report gives a Best Estimate of NPV10 of $738.3 million, and a High Estimate of $1.46 billion, net to Far East.
"Obviously, this is a very strong report, and one with which we are well pleased," said Michael R. McElwrath, CEO and President of Far East. "These estimates highlight the robust economic potential of the Block. And, it is important to note that we hope and believe that these numbers are just the beginning, as meaningful improvements in well-by-well gas rates and sustainability – which we certainly expect as we further develop, dewater, and optimize production – should have the impact of increasing these estimates, as well as reclassifying some of these resources as reserves."
McElwrath continued, "This report includes only our interest in the Contingent Resources and, of course, does not constitute a reserves report. While, under the terms of our gas sales agreement, we received payment for gas at year-end 2010, we did not flow gas through the system until mid-January, and even then that was frequently interrupted as we worked out the bugs in the gathering system during the testing and commissioning process. That lack of gas flow at year-end and our anticipation of frequent interruptions as testing and commissioning occurred, led us to decide that under the applicable rules we did not have a sufficiently completed gas sales system functioning as of year-end to recognize proven gas reserves in our December 31, 2010 financials. We will recognize proved gas reserves as appropriate in 2011, and will also provide a report indicating the probable and possible gas reserves at that time."
McElwrath continued, "With our current cash balance of $34 million, we will again accelerate the pace of our drilling program, and drilling should be funded until approximately the end of 2011. Additionally, we are also targeting a total of 200 to 250 wells in 2012, and 300 to 400 in 2013. Of course, the costs of these accelerated outyear drilling programs will be partially offset by growing revenues from gas sales, and discussions are underway with several international banks and other institutions for debt financing. Shouyang's potential becomes more apparent with each successive independent analysis that we receive, and we will proceed apace to realize the value of the underlying resource."
ON THE GULF OF MEXICO -- BP said Monday it has now spent $2 billion responding to the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
And with no end yet in sight, that number is expected to keep rising.
BP PLC agreed last week to set up a $20 billion fund to compensate victims of the disaster on the Gulf coast. The company said Monday it has so far paid out $105 million to 32,000 claimants. Its shares were down 4 percent Monday in early trading in London at $5.12.
The news came as teams drilling the relief wells designed to stop the oil gushing into the Gulf continue a daunting task -- hit a target roughly the size of a salad plate about three miles below the water's surface.
If the workers aboard Transocean Ltd.'s Development Driller II or its sister rig DDIII miss or move too slowly, oil will keep pouring into the sea.
Millions of gallons of oil have leaked into the Gulf of Mexico from a blown-out well at the site of the Deepwater Horizon, which exploded on April 20 and sank two days later.
No one on the rig has done this before because these deep sea interventions are so rare.
Still, the workers said they're confident they can stop the worst oil spill in U.S. history.
"It's really not a tough thing to do," says Mickey Fruge, the wellsite leader aboard the DDII for BP, which was leasing the rig that blew April 20 and is responsible for stopping the oil.
The relief wells are slowly grinding their drill bits 13,000 feet below the seafloor until they intersect the damaged Deepwater Horizon, the Transocean rig that exploded, killing 11 workers and triggering the massive oil leak. A group of reporters that included The Associated Press had a rare chance to tour the rig Saturday.
Reporters flew by helicopter above the patchy wetlands along the Mississippi River Delta and past the floating boom and skimmers that have failed to protect the Gulf Coast.
About 40 miles from the coast, a fleet of ships becomes visible. They look like toys packed in a two-mile-square patch of dull water. The approaching drill rig is easy to spot with its 200-foot derrick, offering what is likely the best chance for permanently stopping the nation's worst environmental disaster.
After the Sikorsky chopper settles on its landing pad, the thwack of the rotors quiets down, and a rig worker steps into the helicopter cabin.
"OK, welcome to the DDII," he says.
Glancing from the rig deck, it's clear this situation is not normal.
Out in the distance, another drilling rig is siphoning off oil and natural gas from the undersea well and burning it in a multi-nozzled flare. It looks like the flames are radiating from an oversized showerhead. Other ships hose off that rig's deck to keep the heat from building.
Meanwhile, a boom attached to a drill ship called the Discoverer Enterprise flares off natural gas taken from a containment cap that is sucking up oil from the well head. The distant flames are a constant reminder that crude and gas are leaking beneath the feet of those aboard the DDII as they walk across the see-through grating on its floor.
The Enterprise sits where the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded. Some of the DDII crew knew Transocean workers on that rig.
It's "always, always on our mind," said Wendell Guidry, Transocean's drilling superintendent on the rig.
BP has said a relief well should be ready by August, and the DDIII is farther along, having reached a depth of nearly 11,000 feet below the seafloor. Still, Guidry said, it's unclear which rig will hit the target first.
"Never know what will happen," he said. "You never know."
Work goes around-the-clock on the DDII, which can hold 176 people. Eight thrusters on the rig keep it precisely positioned over the well it's drilling. The ship is so large that those aboard cannot feel it move on the water most of the time -- unusually still for a vessel at sea.
Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the top federal official in the spill response, has said construction on the relief wells remains ahead of schedule. Jackson, however, noted that setbacks are routine on a drilling rig. Hydraulic hoses can snap. Early Saturday morning, one set of tongs used to tighten the riser pipe broke down, forcing the teams to switch to a backup set.
"It's business as usual, man," said Eric Jackson, a tourpusher. "Everybody tells us to be, 'Hey, don't let the pressure get to you.' This is what we do for a living, man. We drill wells. It's the same as any other day."
Once one of the two relief wells intersects the damaged line, BP plans to pump heavy drilling mud in to stop the oil flow and plug the blown-out well with cement.
It's a tricky task and it's not guaranteed to work. A pair of relief wells took months to stop an undersea gusher in Mexico that started in the summer of 1979.
Guidry, who has been in an oil field for 27 years and worked his way up from a clothes washer, insists in his Louisiana drawl that the job is business as usual.
"We try to keep the guys focused," he said. "We're just treating this like we treat any other well that we drill."
At 35-70,000psi the oil leak in the gulf is uncontainable, The leak is at 5000ft below sea level and the well is 25-30,000 below that. This is uncontrolable and may change this planet. Pass this off to everyone you know.
How much longer is the FL coastline going to be oil free? I am planning a vacation down that way in the upcoming weeks, hopefully it will stay off the coast till after that. I need myself some scuba.