Blast Energy Services Acquires Interest in Abrasive Jetting Technology
August 10 2005 - 11:14AM
PR Newswire (US)
HOUSTON, Aug. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Blast Energy Services,
Inc. (OTC:BESV) (BULLETIN BOARD: BESV) has agreed to purchase from
Alberta Energy Holdings (Alberta) up to a fifty percent (50%)
interest in the intellectual property behind their abrasive fluid
jetting technology. The parties are also amending their exclusive
worldwide licensing agreement to encompass any additional
processes, products or services that may be developed once Blast
Rig #1 is commercially deployed and modifying their construction
agreement, which had been delayed until recently when funding for
the rig was secured. "This acquisition of the abrasive fluid
technology early in the process puts us in control of our own
destiny," said David Adams, President and co- CEO. "Alberta and
Blast shareholders are now totally aligned to benefit from the
future value that may be created as we expand the scope and
application of this technology." Under the Term Sheet, Alberta will
initially receive three million restricted shares of Blast common
stock with registration rights and a disproportionate interest in
future sublicensing revenues until they have earned $2 million from
those revenues. From that point forward, the companies will share
equally in future sublicensing revenue. Blast will initially hold a
twenty percent (20%) interest in the intellectual property and, as
total sublicensing revenues reach $2 million, Blast's ownership
interest will also increase to a maximum of fifty percent under a
sliding scale. Additionally, under the terms of the existing
licensing agreement, the 750,000 three-year warrants Alberta will
earn when Blast Rig #1 is commercialized will have a revised
exercise price of $0.45 per share. Blast has invested more than 50%
toward the cost of construction of the initial drilling rig, using
existing coiled tubing technology as the base platform. The
capabilities of this next generation abrasive rig, when fully
implemented, should allow Blast to expand their market
opportunities to a wider range of well services, including
specialty casing cutting, long reach perforating, lateral jetting,
and specialty completions. As previously reported, Blast entered
into an agreement to fund their initial abrasive jetting rig with
Berg McAfee Companies, a major shareholder. The arrangement
involves a loan of $1 million to fund the completion of the initial
rig and sharing in the expected rig revenues for a ten-year period.
To date, the Company has received $600 thousand in funding under
this agreement and is scheduled to receive the balance in several
payments before the end of September 2005. Berg McAfee also has the
option to build up to a total of four rigs. With positive
acceptance from its customers, Blast expects to commission the
building of additional rigs prior to the end of this year. Some of
the amendments to the licensing agreement include a much broader
definition of the abrasive technology, provisions for entering into
new business ventures for abrasive jetting applications, and
revised royalty and consulting terms. The construction agreement
was also modified to recognize additional cost items for Blast Rig
#1 and to provide Alberta with an option to build future rigs at
invoice cost plus $50,000 per rig. Alberta has now agreed to
deliver Blast Rig #1 on or before October 1, 2005 on a best efforts
basis. About Blast Energy Services, Inc. Blast Energy Services,
Inc. is a publicly traded company based in Houston. Our mission is
to substantially improve the economics of existing oil and gas
operations through the application of our worldwide licensed and
proprietary technologies. Using specially fabricated mobile
drilling rigs we intend to operate a commercially viable energy
service business, including: specialty casing cutting, perforation,
fracturing services and lateral drilling with the potential to
penetrate through well casing and into reservoir formations to
stimulate oil and gas production. This service should provide oil
and gas producers with an attractive, lower cost alternative to
existing well stimulation or horizontal drilling services.
Additionally, we are providing satellite services to oil and gas
producers. This service allows them to monitor and control well
head, pipeline or drilling operations through low- cost broadband
data and voice services from remote operations where conventional
land based communication networks do not exist or are too costly to
install. Please visit our website:
http://www.blastenergyservices.com/ . Safe Harbor Statement Any
statements made in this news release other than those of historical
fact, about an action, event or development, are forward looking
statements. Forward looking statements involve known and unknown
risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual
results in future periods to be materially different from any
future performance that may be suggested in this release. Such
factors may include risk factors including but not limited to: the
ability to raise necessary capital to fund growth, the introduction
of new services, commercial acceptance and viability of new
services, fluctuations in customer demand and commitments, pricing
and competition, reliance upon lenders, contractors and vendors,
the ability of Blast Energy Services' customers to pay for our
services, together with such other risk factors as may be included
in the Company's filings on Form SB-2 and its periodic filings on
Form 10-KSB, 10-QSB, and other current reports. DATASOURCE: Blast
Energy Services, Inc. CONTACT: John MacDonald of Blast Energy
Services, Inc., +1-281-453-2888, or +1-713-725-9244, or Web site:
http://www.blastenergyservices.com/
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