AKTOBE, KAZAKHSTAN — (Marketwire) — 04/13/12 — Tethys Petroleum (TSX: TPL)(LSE: TPL), an oil and gas exploration and production company focused on Central Asia with activities currently in the Republics of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, announced it has completed the first shipment of commercial oil production through its Aral Oil Terminal (the “AOT”) at Shalkar – a purpose built oil storage and rail loading facility to connect the Company–s Doris oilfield to the Kazakh rail system.
Highlights
AOT key points:
AOT is owned and operated jointly through a 50:50 joint venture by Tethys and its Kazakh oil trading partner–s company, Olisol Investment Ltd. It is located approximately 230kms from the Doris oil field, significantly reducing the distance oil is currently trucked by road from the field. The opening of AOT will allow the Company to initially double production to approximately 4,000 bopd due to a halving of the road trucking distance.
Furthermore, whilst the current rail loading point at Emba experiences bottlenecks due to overuse by many different companies; AOT will be dedicated solely to Tethys oil sales.
In addition, a long-term contract has been signed with Kazakh railways to allocate up to 13,500 bpd of railcar capacity to AOT giving significant flexibility for the future.
To date, over 13,000 bopd have been tested from exploration and appraisal wells in and around the Doris accumulation and it is believed that a sustainable production level of 5 – 6,000 bopd can realistically be achieved from these wells. Once the Phase 2 of AOT has been completed, plans will be implemented to increase production up to this level in H2 2012.
Production from future wells will be put through the terminal including any production realised from the next appraisal/exploration well, AKD07, which is planned to spud this summer. The AKD07 well will be drilled to the south-east of the original AKD01 discovery well targeting 3P reserves at the Cretaceous Aptian sand level in what is believed to be a channel sand system, whilst simultaneously targeting an exciting exploration prospect (named “Dyna”) that has been identified on the new seismic data from a bright amplitude anomaly at a slightly shallower level which is interpreted to be part of a different, larger sand fan system. The prospective resource for this and other prospects will be disclosed after the completion of a new independent Kazakhstan Resource Report, which is expected in Q2 2012.
The first phase (Phase 1) of three planned phases of construction on the Aral Oil Terminal in 2012 is now complete. These three phases comprise:
Phase 1 – Completed
The Phase 1 facility has a loading capacity of 4,200 bopd and a storage capacity of 1,300 barrels (“bbls”). Under Phase 1 operations, the terminal will have the ability to unload 10 road tankers and to simultaneously load 5 rail tankers.
Phase 2 – Estimated Completion: H2 2012
The Phase 2 facility will have a loading capacity of 6,300 bopd and a storage capacity of 12,580 bbls. Under Phase 2 operations, the terminal will have the ability to unload 10 road tankers and to simultaneously load 5 rail tankers but with the additional storage capacity increasing the terminal–s throughput.
During Phase 2 operations the facility will become operational 24 hours a day. Further enhancements during Phase 2 operations include oil and water metering systems and a heating capability for winter operations. All process equipment will be automated during Phase 2 operations.
Phase 3 –
On completion of Phase 3, the facility will have an estimated loading capacity of 12,000 bopd and a storage capacity of 125,800 bbls of crude oil, plus an additional 12,580 bbl storage for refined products. Under Phase 3 operations, the terminal will have the ability to unload 10 road tankers and to simultaneously load 10 rail tankers.
The additional rail loading capacity under Phase 3 operations will be achieved via the construction of a second rail loading rack, adjacent to the first. Under Phase 3 operations, the facility will incorporate an electrical dehydrator for the commercial treatment of crude oil and will also have the ability to receive and store refined products (principally diesel and gasoline), which can be used to service the Company–s drilling operations and/or can be sold locally. In addition it will be able to act as a shipment terminal for equipment to be moved to and from the Doris oil field and surrounding operations.
Dr. David Robson, CEO and President of Tethys, said:
“The first shipment of Doris crude oil through the Aral Oil Terminal is a milestone event for the Company enabling higher production levels, which will significantly transform the cash flow of the Company. We look forward to further drilling success this year and to steadily increasing the throughput of the terminal.
“I would like to thank our staff and our partners for their hard work in extremely difficult weather conditions in completing the terminal and bringing on-stream these higher production levels.”
Notes to Editors
Tethys is focused on oil and gas exploration and production activities in Central Asia with activities currently in the Republics of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. This highly prolific oil and gas area is rapidly developing and Tethys believes that significant potential exists in both exploration and in discovered deposits.
This press release contains “forward-looking information” which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to our operations. Such forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. See our Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2011 for a description of risks and uncertainties relevant to our business, including our exploration activities (which are incorporated herein by reference). The “forward looking statements” contained herein speak only as of the date of this press release and, unless required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise such information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contacts:
Tethys Petroleum Limited: North America
Sabin Rossi
Vice President Investor Relations
Office: +1 416-941-1257
+1 416-947-0167 (FAX)
Tethys Petroleum Limited: Europe
Veronica Zhuvaghena
Vice President Corporate Communications
Office: +44 1481 725911
+44 1481 725922 (FAX)
Quam IR: Asia Pacific
Anita Wan
Office: +852 2217 2999
+852 2217 2999 (FAX)
FTI Consulting
Ben Brewerton / Edward Westropp
Office: +44 (0) 207 831 3113