Red Emperor Resources NL ALASKA OPERATIONS UPDATE: WINX-1 FINAL REPORT (7096S)

TIDMRMP

RNS Number : 7096S

Red Emperor Resources NL

13 March 2019

13 March 2019

Red Emperor Resources NL

ALASKA OPERATIONS UPDATE:

WINX-1 FINAL REPORT

The Board of Red Emperor Resources NL (ASX/AIM: RMP) ("RMP", "Red Emperor" or the "Company"), announces an operational update with respect to the drilling of the Winx-1 exploration well ("Winx-1"), located on the Western Blocks, North Slope of Alaska.

Highlights

-- Comprehensive wireline logging program successfully completed at Winx-1, full petrophysical analysis and review commenced

-- Provisional petrophysical analysis of the wireline logging program indicates low oil saturations in the primary Nanushuk Topset objectives; testing and fluid sampling indicates that reservoir quality and fluid mobility at this location is insufficient to warrant production testing, despite encouragement from oil shows and logging while drilling (LWD) data

-- Zones of interest in the Torok formation, secondary objectives, were identified on wireline logs, which similarly exhibited low oil saturations and did not flow hydrocarbons during the Modular Formation Dynamics Test (MDT) pressure testing and fluid sampling program

88 Energy Limited (ASX/AIM: 88E), in its capacity as consortium operator, has advised Red Emperor that the petrophysical interpretation of the LWD data at Winx-1 indicated elevated resistivities associated with increased mud gas ratios (C1-C5) in the distinctive Nanushuk Topset sequence comparable with other successful neighbouring wells in the Nanushuk play fairway. Early indications were encouraging and, on this basis, a comprehensive wireline program was undertaken to further evaluate the interval of interest.

The wireline program was designed to fully evaluate and quantify the reservoir potential and associated shows in the Nanushuk Topsets. The suite comprised specialist logging tools capable of quantifying laminated pay zones, including nuclear magnetic resonance; a triaxial induction tool that measures both horizontal and vertical resistivity, FMI (formation micro imager) and an MDT program to determine pressure gradients and sample fluids from the zones of interest.

Provisional wireline results indicate low oil saturations in the Nanushuk Topsets not conducive to successfully flowing the formation, as borne out by the MDT sampling results, which did not retrieve hydrocarbon samples. Reservoir properties appear to be compromised by dispersed clay in the matrix at Winx-1. This clay is often present in other successful Nanushuk wells but in discrete laminations with decent quality, high resistivity, oil saturated sandstones in between. The dispersed clay in the Nanushuk at Winx impacts both fluid mobility and oil saturations. The clay serves to bind much of the fluid present in place so it cannot flow. It also occupies pore space within the formation, resulting in a lower relative hydrocarbon saturation. This means that, whilst oil is present in the reservoir, there is less of it and it is not mobile. Further evaluation will be undertaken post drill to fully understand the implications of the petrophysical results.

The reservoir performance in the Torok Channel Sequence was better than the Nanushuk in the Winx-1 well as evidenced by relatively faster influx of fluid during MDT sampling. On completion of the wireline logging program it is apparent that the oil saturations in the zone of interest are also low and not conducive to hydrocarbon flow. While the oil saturations are evidence of an active petroleum system and charge, further work is required to determine whether there is an effective trapping mechanism at this location.

The forward plan is to further evaluate and integrate the valuable data acquired at Winx and reprocess the Nanuq 3D seismic (2004) in order to evaluate the remaining prospectivity on the Western Leases, including the Nanushuk Fairway potential. Winx-1 will now be plugged and abandoned.

Competent Person's Statement

The technical information in this announcement was compiled by technical employees of 88 Energy Limited, the consortium operator, and subsequently reviewed by Mr Gracjan Lambert BSc (First Class Honours) (Geophysics), PhD (Exploration Geophysics), who has consented to the inclusion of such information in this announcement in the form and context in which it appears. Mr Gracjan Lambert is an employee and Chief Executive Officer of RMP and member of the Petroleum Club of Western Australia and the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN) and therefore a qualified person under the AIM Guidance Note for Mining and Oil & Gas Companies.

For further information, please visit www.redemperorresources.com or contact:

 
 Red Emperor Resources NL                     [phone] 
 Greg Bandy 
 
 Strand Hanson Limited (Nominated Adviser)    [phone] 
 James Harris 
 
 Brandon Hill Capital (UK Broker)             [phone] 
 
 708 Capital Pty Ltd (Australian Broker)      [phone] 
 
 

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 596/2014.

About Red Emperor Resources NL

Red Emperor Resources NL is an Australian natural resource exploration company listed on both the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: RMP) and the AIM Market (AIM: RMP). Red Emperor has oil and gas interests on the Alaska North Slope and in South East Asia.

Alaska

Red Emperor has entered into Definitive Agreements with its consortium partners 88 Energy Limited and Otto Energy Limited that will see the Company participate in the drilling of a highly prospective Nanushuk oil trend exploration well on the Alaska North Slope in early 2019. The drill target is immediately adjacent to and a direct analogue of the third party Horseshoe-1/1A oil well drilled in 2017. Horseshoe is part of the billion-barrel plus Nanushuk oil play-fairway, one of the largest conventional oil fields discovered in the US in more than 30 years.

Technical work on the Western Blocks has identified a gross best estimate prospective resource volume of 400 MMbbls (126 MMbbls net to RMP), and a geological chance of success of 25%-35%. The estimated quantities of petroleum that may potentially be recovered by the application of a future development project(s) relate to undiscovered accumulations. These estimates have both an associated risk of discovery and a risk of development. Further exploration, appraisal and evaluation is required to determine the existence of a significant quantity of potentially moveable hydrocarbons.

Philippines

Red Emperor also holds an equity interest of 37.5% of Block SC55, which is located in the southwest Palawan Basin. SC55 covers an area of 9,880km(2) and was awarded to Otto Energy Investments Ltd (formerly NorAsian Energy Ltd) in 2005. It is a deep-water block in the middle of a proven regional oil and gas fairway that extends from the productive offshore Borneo region in the southwest to the offshore Philippine production assets northwest of Palawan.

Red Emperor participated in a USD25m exploration well (Hawkeye-1) within the block in 2015 and contributed in excess of AUD5m towards drilling costs. Over USD50m has been spent exploring SC55 to date and a number of drill-ready targets remain, including the "Cinco" gas prospect which has a best estimate prospective resource of 1.6 trillion cubic feet ("tcf") recoverable gas.

Prospective Resources Reporting Notes

The Company announced the prospective resources estimate for the Western Blocks in its announcement titled "Red Emperor to acquire interest in large oil prospect in prolific Alaska North Slope" made on 25 June 2018. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in that announcement, and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in that announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed.

(i) The prospective resources information in this announcement is effective as at 30 April 2018. (ii) The prospective resources information in this announcement has been estimated and is classified in accordance with SPE PRMS (Society of Petroleum Engineers Petroleum Resources Management System). (iii) The prospective resources information in this announcement is reported according to the Company's economic interest in each of the resources and net of royalties. (iv) The prospective resources information in this announcement has been estimated and prepared using the deterministic method. (v) The prospective resources information in this announcement has been estimated using a 6:1 BOE conversion ratio for gas to oil; 6:1 conversion ratio is based on an energy equivalency conversion method and does not represent value equivalency. (vi) The prospective resources information in this announcement has been estimated on the basis that products are sold on the spot market with delivery at the sales point on the production facilities. (vii) Prospective resources are reported on a best estimate basis. (viii) For prospective resources, the estimated quantities of petroleum that may potentially be recovered by the application of a future development project(s) relate to undiscovered accumulations. These estimates have both an associated risk of discovery and a risk of development. Further exploration, appraisal and evaluation is required to determine the existence of a significant quantity of potentially moveable hydrocarbons. (ix) In respect to the prospective resources referred to in this announcement, Red Emperor's working interest in the four leases (ADL#s 391718, 391719, 319720 and 391721), totalling 22,711 acres all of which are located on the North Slope, Alaska, USA will be 31.5% upon completion of the transaction. (x) The prospective resources have been estimated on the following basis: the best estimate prospective recoverable resource calculation was based on a consideration of offset well information and seismic expression; a combination of volumetric assessment and field analogues have

been used to estimate the prospective resources; exploration drilling will be required to assess these resources. (xi) The chance of discovery is considered moderate as the prospective resources are near developed and undeveloped reserves and in a proven oil and gas producing province. There is a risk that exploration will not result in sufficient volumes of oil and/or gas for a commercial development. (xii) Prospective resources are un-risked and have not been adjusted for an associated chance of discovery and a chance of development.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact [e-mail] or visit www.rns.com.

END

UPDGLGDXUXBBGCX

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 13, 2019 03:02 ET (07:02 GMT)