Lundin Petroleum increases interest in PL359, offshore

Stockholm, 2014-06-17 08:04 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  

Lundin Petroleum AB (Lundin Petroleum) through its wholly owned subsidiary Lundin Norway AS (Lundin Norway) is pleased to announce that it has entered into agreements to acquire an additional 25 percent interest in PL359, which contains the Luno II discovery.  Lundin Norway will acquire a 30 percent interest from Premier Oil for a cash consideration of USD 17.5 million and at the same time will sell a 5 percent interest to OMV (Norge) AS. The effective date for both transactions is 1 June 2014. The Luno II discovery was made by Lundin Petroleum in 2013 and is located in PL359 in the central North Sea sector of the Norwegian Continental Shelf on the south western flank of the Utsira High approximately 15 kilometres south of the Lundin Petroleum-operated Edvard Grieg field.  An appraisal well will be drilled on the Luno II discovery and is expected to spud during June 2014. PL359 also contains numerous drill-ready exploration prospects and the next exploration well on the licence is likely to target the stacked Luno II North and Fignon prospects, estimated to contain gross unrisked prospective resources of 46 mmboe. These transactions remain subject to Norwegian government approval. Lundin Norway is the operator of PL359 and following completion of these transactions, will have a 65 percent interest. Statoil Petroleum ASA has a 15 percent interest and following completion of these transactions, OMV (Norge) AS will have a 20 percent interest.  

Lundin Petroleum is a Swedish independent oil and gas exploration and production company with a well balanced portfolio of world-class assets primarily located in Europe and South East Asia. The Company is listed at the NASDAQ OMX, Stockholm (ticker "LUPE") and at the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) (Ticker "LUP"). Lundin Petroleum has proven and probable reserves of 194 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe).

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This information has been made public in accordance with the Securities Market Act (SFS 2007:528) and/or the Financial Instruments Trading Act (SFS 1991:980). Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements made and information contained herein constitute "forward-looking information" (within the meaning of applicable securities legislation). Such statements and information (together, "forward-looking statements") relate to future events, including the Company's future performance, business prospects or opportunities. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to estimates of reserves and/or resources, future production levels, future capital expenditures and their allocation to exploration and development activities, future drilling and other exploration and development activities.  Ultimate recovery of reserves or resources are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. Statements concerning proven and probable reserves and resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements and reflect conclusions that are based on certain assumptions that the reserves and resources can be economically exploited. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements". 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These risks and uncertainties are described in more detail under the heading "Risks and Risk Management" and elsewhere in the Company's annual report.  Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Reserves and Resources Unless otherwise stated, Lundin Petroleum's reserve and resource estimates are as at 31 December 2013, and have been prepared and audited in accordance with National Instrument 51-101 Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities ("NI 51-101") and the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook ("COGE Handbook")."). Unless otherwise stated, all reserves estimates contained herein are the aggregate of "Proved Reserves" and "Probable Reserves", together also known as "2P Reserves". For further information on reserve and resource classifications, see "Reserves, Resources and Production" in the Company's annual report. Contingent Resources Contingent Resources are those quantities of petroleum estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from known accumulations using established technology or technology under development, but are not currently considered to be commercially recoverable due to one or more contingencies. Contingencies may include factors such as economic, legal, environmental, political and regulatory matters or a lack of markets. There is no certainty that it will be commercially viable for the Company to produce any portion of the Contingent Resources. Unless otherwise stated, all contingent resource estimates contained herein are the best estimate (“2C”) contingent resources. Prospective Resources Prospective Resources are those quantities of petroleum estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from undiscovered accumulations by application of future development projects. Prospective Resources have both a chance of discovery and a chance of 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 Prospective Resources. Unless otherwise stated, all Prospective Resource estimates contained herein are reflecting a P50 Prospective Resource estimate. Risked Prospective Resources reported herein are partially risked. They have been risked for chance of discovery, but have not been risked for chance of development.   BOEs BOEs may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation.  A BOE conversion ratio of 6 Mcf : 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.