Buccaneer Energy Clarifies Termination of Archer Drilling
December 21 2012 - 11:01AM
Business Wire
Buccaneer Energy Limited (“Buccaneer” or “the Company”) provides
the following update in respect to the termination of Archer
Drilling, LLC (“Archer Drilling”) as the project manager of the
modifications and repairs of the “Endeavour – Spirit of
Independence” (“Endeavour”) jack-up rig.
The Endeavour is owned by Kenai Offshore Ventures, LLC (“Kenai
Offshore”), which is a joint venture between Buccaneer, Singapore
based Ezion Holdings Limited and the Alaska Industrial Development
and Export Authority (“AIDEA”). Buccaneer is the designated Manager
of Kenai Offshore.
Archer Drilling was engaged by Kenai Offshore in October 2011
under a Master Services Agreement (“MSA”) to provide project
management services for the modifications and repairs required to
be undertaken to the Endeavour to allow it to operate in the Cook
Inlet, Alaska.
Archer Drilling was chosen through a competitive tender process
undertaken in 2011, where part of Archer Drilling’s claim was that
they “set the standard in providing drilling maintenance and rig
management services”. Additionally Archer Drilling personnel had
worked on the Endeavour (then called the Adriatic XI) while
undergoing shipyard work in 2008 through its subsidiary Rig
Inspection Services (“RIS”).
Prior to the finalization of the acquisition of the Endeavour in
November 2011 Archer Drilling and RIS inspected the Endeavour while
cold stacked and were involved in the initial engineering surveys
of the Endeavour. Additionally Archer Drilling and RIS compiled the
detailed engineering scopes of work required to allow various
contractors to submit quotes for the modification and repair work
to be undertaken in Singapore. All of these early services provided
by Archer Drilling were consistent with the terms of the MSA and
for which Archer Drilling and RIS received full payment.
Kenai Offshore has been continually forced to undertake
unanticipated work and to contribute unanticipated expenses. Archer
Drilling’s failure to live up to its representations and
contractual responsibilities under the MSA seriously undermined
Buccaneer’s confidence in their ability to complete their work
under the MSA and subsequently operate the Endeavour within the
Cook Inlet while undertaking drilling operations, requiring the
termination of Archer Drilling services and the identification of a
replacement.
In connection with Archer Drilling’s termination, Buccaneer, as
Manager of Kenai Offshore, has contacted each of those contractors
hired by Archer Drilling to perform services on the Endeavour with
the understanding that Kenai Offshore will review each of their
cases and will step in and make payments for legitimate expenses
associated with work performed by those contractors on the
Endeavour.
Kenai Offshore is currently withholding payments to Archer
Drilling for amounts that it has formally disputed with Archer
Drilling as allowed under the terms of the MSA executed with Archer
Drilling in October 2011. Kenai Offshore has paid all undisputed
amounts owed to Archer Drilling and has done so within payment
terms.
Dean Gallegos, Finance Director at Buccaneer Energy commented on
the termination of Archer Drilling:
“We are disappointed to see it come to this, as initially we had
hoped that Archer Drilling would be the Endeavour’s long-term
operator. As the Manager of Kenai Offshore, and to act in the
manner to protect the interests of our joint venture partners and
shareholders, we were left with no choice other than to terminate
Archer Drilling’s work on the Endeavour. Given the timing we did
not make this decision lightly”
Mr. Gallegos continued:
“Buccaneer is currently reviewing the lawsuit lodged by Archer
Drilling and believe that the allegations are entirely without
merit. When served with the lawsuit, Buccaneer will respond fully,
and such response will include its own claims for the damage caused
by Archer Drilling’s actions and inaction.”
As previously reported, Spartan Drilling is in the process of
being engaged to operate the Endeavour, and we are looking forward
to benefit from their operational expertise and experience working
in the Cook Inlet. We believe the Endeavour’s operations will be
enhanced through Spartan’s oversight, and therefore de-risk our
offshore projects.
About Buccaneer
Buccaneer Energy Limited is an Australian listed company focused
on developing its 100% owned oil & gas assets in Alaska. The
Company's flagship projects are a series of onshore and offshore
developmental and exploration prospects in Alaska’s Cook Inlet.
Buccaneer Energy has a 3 pronged cash flow strategy:
- Developing the 100 % owned Kenai Loop
onshore gas project with independently assessed 4.8 MMBOE1 in 2P
Reserves;
- Operating a Offshore Jack Up rig for
use by third parties in the Cook Inlet; and
- Developing its 100% owned offshore Cook
Inlet projects that have independently assessed 73.3 MMBOE in 2P
Reserves / P50 Resources using the acquired Jack Up rig.
Buccaneer Energy has a 50/50 joint venture with Singaporean
based Ezion, a leader in the development, ownership and
chartering of strategic offshore assets and the Alaskan
Industrial Development and Export Authority (“AIDEA”). This joint
venture has acquired the jack-up rig “Endeavour” which is capable
of drilling in all areas of the Cook Inlet, the Beaufort Sea and
the Chukchi Sea. Mobilisation of the Endeavour into the Cook Inlet
is expected in 2Q 2012.
The Alaskan Government is supportive of oil and gas in the Cook
Inlet. There are a number of fiscal incentive programs for
exploration and development in the Cook Inlet.
Buccaneer Energy has drilled the onshore Kenai Loop #1 well. The
well was tested to have a flow rate of 6 – 8 mmcfd (750 - 1,000
BOEPD1) and the Company constructed both the pipeline and
facilities at Kenai Loop, the well started production and selling
gas in early January 2012. The Company plans to drill Kenai Loop #2
in 2Q 2012. Full development of the onshore Kenai Loop field could
exceed 10 producing wells.
Buccaneer Energy also has major working interests in two
producing projects in Texas, USA. Pompano is an offshore gas
project located in the Gulf of Mexico, drilled by the Company in
2008 and has an additional pipeline of ‘drill-ready’ gas prospects.
Lee County is an onshore oil project, currently producing a small
amount of oil.
1 Using a Gas to Oil conversion ratio of 8:1
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