Canadian Overseas Petroleum Ltd Q3 2017 Results (2468W)

TIDMCOPL

RNS Number : 2468W

Canadian Overseas Petroleum Ltd

13 November 2017

Canadian Overseas Petroleum

Files Q3 2017 Results

Calgary, Canada, November 10, 2017 - Canadian Overseas Petroleum Limited ("COPL" or the "Company") (XOP: TSX-V) & (COPL: LSE), an international oil and gas exploration and development company focused on offshore West Africa, today announced the filing of the third quarter ended September 30, 2017.

During the period, COPL and its partner in block LB-13, offshore Liberia, both have elected not to enter into third exploration period and accordingly, surrendered their rights to the LB-13 license, resulting in the expiration of LB-13 production sharing contract on September 25, 2017. Accordingly, the Company recognized an impairment of its exploration and evaluation assets of $15.6 million that related to Liberia project.

Subsequent to the end of Q3, the Company raised GBP2.5 million of additional equity in London England to strengthen COPL's balance sheet.

Meanwhile, the Company continued to work with its investment bankers to source funds for its appraisal/development project at OPL 226, offshore Nigeria, held through COPL's partnership with Shoreline Energy. In addition, the Company held numerous discussions with potential contractors and suppliers to drill an appraisal well in early 2018.

Arthur Millholland, President & CEO, commented:

"We continue to focus on developing our attractive oil appraisal and development project in OPL 226, offshore Nigeria. The initial work program will be to drill an appraisal well to the NOA-1 oil discovery and place it on production through an Early Production Scheme. This would be followed by the drilling of up to three additional similar wells on the NOA Structure. This phase of the project would precede a full field development. Two investment banks have been engaged to assist our subsidiary ShoreCan with the financing required to commence drilling at OPL 226. Unlike equity financings that are straightforward and fast, project financings are complex and require a lot more paperwork and legal review. We hope to update the market and our shareholders at an early opportunity."

The results and associated interim filing documents, including the Financial Statements and the Management's Discussion and Analysis, can be viewed under the Company's name at www.sedar.com or at the Company's website at www.canoverseas.com.

About the Company:

The Company is an international oil and gas exploration and development company focused in offshore West Africa. The Company is actively pursuing opportunities in Nigeria in partnership with Shoreline Energy International Limited ("Shoreline") as part of its strategy to generate stable cash flow from secure offshore assets. The Company and Shoreline, through their jointly held affiliated company Shoreline Canadian Overseas Petroleum Development Corporation ("ShoreCan"), have acquired 80% of the share capital, and have taken over the management, of Essar Exploration and Production Limited (Nigeria) ("Essar Nigeria"). Essar Nigeria holds an attractive oil appraisal and development project in shallow to mid-water offshore Nigeria on its 100% holding in OPL 226. Drilling of the first appraisal well is planned to commence in early 2018. ShoreCan is currently waiting for final approval from the Government of Nigeria for the acquisition.

ShoreCan is building a portfolio of exploration and development assets in sub-Saharan Africa. To date, ShoreCan has taken a position in Nigeria. It continues to evaluate a variety of additional assets in Nigeria, and Mozambique.

The Common Shares are listed under the symbol "XOP" on the TSXV and under the symbol "COPL" on the London Stock Exchange.

For further information, please contact:

 
 Mr. Arthur Millholland, President 
  & CEO 
  Canadian Overseas Petroleum 
  Limited 
  Tel: + 1 [phone] 
 
  Cathy Hume 
  CHF Investor Relations 
  Tel: [phone] ext. 
  231 
  Email: [e-mail] 
 
  Harriet Jackson/Charles Goodwin 
  Yellow Jersey PR Limited 
  Tel: [phone] 
  Email: [e-mail] 
 
  Broker: London Stock Exchange 
  Shore Capital Stockbrokers 
  Limited 
  Edward Mansfield 
  Phone: T: [phone] 
 

This news release contains forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "initial, "scheduled", "can", "will", "prior to", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "should", "forecast", "future", "continue", "may", "expect", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company, including, but not limited to, the ability to raise the necessary funding for operations, delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements since the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties most of which are beyond the control of Canadian Overseas Petroleum Ltd. For example, the uncertainty of reserve estimates, the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, cost overruns, health and safety issues, political and environmental risks, commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations, changes in legislation affecting the oil and gas industry could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and Canadian Overseas Petroleum undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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November 13, 2017 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)