American Oil & Gas Receives $11.5 Million From Sale Of Big Sky Project
April 03 2006 - 8:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
American Also Reports Estimated Revenues and Net Income For 2005
DENVER, April 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- American Oil & Gas,
Inc. (AMEX: AEZ) has closed on the sale of its ownership interest
in its Big Sky Project, for cash of $11.5 million. American's Big
Sky Project includes working interests in 25 gross (approximately
1.11 net) producing wells and approximately 1,660 net undeveloped
leasehold acres in the Elm Coulee field located in Richland County,
Montana. Andrew Calerich, President and CFO said, "our Big Sky
Project proved to be everything we had hoped for when we positioned
into this play in late 2003. It has provided us meaningful oil and
gas production and has greatly assisted us in understanding the
tremendous production potential of the Mississippian Bakken
formation. This project also demonstrates how the combination of
horizontal drilling and modern stimulation methods can greatly
enhance production and proved reserves." The history of the Big Sky
Project area dates back to the early 1990's, when the majority of
wells drilled vertically to the Bakken formation resulted in
initial production rates of up to 50 barrels of oil per day, and
were marginally economic. With the advent and application of
horizontal drilling and modern fracture stimulation technologies,
many wells that American participated in resulted in production
rates in excess of 1,000 boe per day. "Despite our success, we
believe that the future upside that the Big Sky Project offered to
American was limited by the fact that we were at or near peak
production from the project with production from new wells
offsetting declines from older ones," Calerich commented. "By
monetizing this asset, and capturing multiple years' of future cash
flow now, we can redeploy this capital into our Goliath, Fetter and
Krejci projects where we believe our upside is much greater."
During 2005, American recorded approximately $4.5 million of
revenues from oil and gas production from the Big Sky Project.
American currently owns a 75% working interest in the approximate
65,000 gross (45,000 net) acre Goliath project, which also targets
the Bakken formation, in the Williston Basin of North Dakota. The
first of an initial two well program is expected to commence
drilling at the Goliath project in early summer, 2006. In addition,
American has secured a drilling rig and plans to commence drilling
the first of two new test wells in the approximate 59,700 gross
(41,200 net) acre Fetter project beginning in late May, 2006 and
also expects to commence drilling the first of two new test wells
in the approximate 79,750 gross (51,500 net) acre Krejci project by
July 1, 2006, subject to obtaining a suitable drilling rig.
American also announced today that it expects to report oil and gas
revenues of $4,691,381 and net income to common stockholders of
$602,874 (net income of two cents per share basic and diluted), for
the year ended December 31, 2005, as compared to oil and gas
revenues of $746,242 and a net loss to common stockholders of
$499,651 (net loss of two cents per share, basic and diluted), for
the prior fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. American expects to
file its Annual Report on Form 10-KSB on or before April 10, 2006.
American Oil and Gas, Inc. is an independent oil and natural gas
company engaged in exploration, development and production of
hydrocarbon reserves primarily in the Rocky Mountain region.
Additional information about American Oil and Gas, Inc. can be
found at the Company's website:
http://www.americanoilandgasinc.com/. This release and the
Company's website referenced in this release contain
forward-looking statements regarding American Oil and Gas, Inc.'s
future plans and expected performance that are based on assumptions
the Company believes to be reasonable. A number of risks and
uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from
these statements, including, without limitation, the success rate
of drilling efforts and the timeliness of development activities,
fluctuations in oil and gas prices, and other risk factors
described from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the
SEC. In addition, the Company operates in an industry sector where
securities values are highly volatile and may be influenced by
economic and other factors beyond the Company's control. This press
release may include the opinions of American Oil and Gas, Inc. and
does not necessarily include the views of any other person or
entity. Contact: Andrew Calerich, President Neal Feagans, Investor
Relations 303.991.0173 Fax: 303.595.0709 Feagans Consulting, Inc
1050 17th Street, Suite 1850 - 303.449.1184 Denver, CO 80265
DATASOURCE: American Oil & Gas, Inc. CONTACT: Andrew Calerich,
President, +1-303-991-0173, Fax, +1-303-595- 0709; Neal Feagans,
Investor Relations, Feagans Consulting, Inc, +1-303-449- 1184 Web
site: http://www.americanoilandgasinc.com/
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