29 April 2013
San Leon Energy Plc
(“San Leon” or the “Company”)
Awarded Two Further Spanish Onshore Exploration Licences
Highlights
- Grant of Aquiles Licence, totalling 252,927 acres in Zaragoza Basin
- Grant of Cronos Licence, totalling 239,596 acres in the Almazan Basin
- Targeting Unconventional and Conventional Resources
San Leon Energy is pleased to announce that it has been awarded two new exploration licences in Spain. The two new licences, Aquiles and Cronos (“Licences”), have been granted to Frontera Energy, San Leon’s wholly owned subsidiary, by the Spanish Council of Ministers.
The Aquiles Licence, which is located in the Zaragoza and Navarro regions, covers 252,927 acres of the Zaragoza Basin. The Cronos Licence, which is situated in the Soria and Guadalajara regions, covers 239,596 acres in the Almazan Basin.
Both Licences contain unconventional Paleozoic resource potential where the Company is targeting Permian, Carboniferous, Silurian and Devonian shales. Historical well data and geochemical data from nearby outcrops show the potential for a world-class unconventional play. The Company also sees potential for conventional targets in shallower sections within the Licences.
The Licences have been granted for a period of six years and divided into three two-year stages. During Stage One, the Company will analyse existing seismic, well, and outcrop data and prepare for a seismic acquisition programme. Seismic acquisition, processing and interpretation will be carried out in Stage Two, while Stage Three will require a commitment to drill one exploration well in each licence.
These are the second and third licences to be granted to San Leon Energy in Spain, following the grant of the Geminis and Libra licences in the Cantabrian Basin. The company now holds 704,351 acres under licence in Spain. There are a further six licence applications pending with the authorities covering 1,523,757 acres across the Pyrenees and Solsona Basins.
Executive Chairman, Oisin Fanning commented:
“The award of the Aquiles and Cronos Licences give our shareholders further exposure to the European-wide drive to unlock new unconventional hydrocarbon plays across the continent. Spain is regarded by the industry as a country with growing exploration potential. It is almost 100% dependent on imported gas and offers attractive fiscal terms. We already have two licences in Spain and are confident we will be granted further licences to enhance our position.
I would also like to thank the Ministry and everyone involved in the grant of the Aquiles and Cronos licences. We are very much looking forward to the challenge ahead and working with all the stakeholders to realise the areas’ potential.”
For further information contact:
| San Leon Energy Plc | Tel: +353 1291 6292 |
| Oisin Fanning, Executive Chairman | |
| John Buggenhagen, Exploration Director | |
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| Macquarie Capital (Europe) Limited | Tel: +44 (0) 20 3037 2000 |
| John Dwyer | |
| | |
| Fox Davies Capital | Tel: +44 (0) 20 3463 5000 |
| Daniel Fox-Davies | |
| Richard Hail | |
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| FirstEnergy Capital LLP | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7448 0200 |
| Hugh R. Sanderson | |
| David van Erp | |
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| Westhouse Securities (Nominated Advisor) | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7601 6100 |
| Richard Johnson | |
| Antonio Bossi | |
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| College Hill Associates | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7457 2020 |
| David Simonson | |
| Alexandra Roper | |
Qualified person
John Buggenhagen, who has reviewed this update, has over 15 years experience in the oil & gas industry. He has a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Geophysics from the University of Wyoming and a B.Sc. in Geophysics from the University of Arizona. He is currently the Director of Exploration for the San Leon Energy Group and based in San Leon's Warsaw office in Poland.
