U.S. Oil & Gas Plc.
(“U.S. Oil” or the “Company”)
Consolidated Audited Annual Results for 30 September 2013
The Company is pleased to report its consolidated annual results for the year
ended 30 September 2013.
Operational Highlights
* Prospective Resources estimate upgraded to Contingent Resources of 19
Million barrels (C50) through a successful exploration and appraisal
programme;
* Two producer zones on Eblana #1 with high quality oil of 33 and 28.5 API;
* Forrest A. Garb & Associates (FGA) estimate for US Oil’s 88 Sq km lease
area, 283 million barrels (P50) Prospective Original Oil-in-Place (OOIP)
and 3.3 billion barrels at P10;
* New land survey results highly promising for hydrocarbons;
* Listing on OTC Markets in New York; and
* Field Development Plan in preparation.
Financial Highlights
* Administration expenses $1,599k (2012: $1,243k). The increase in
expenditure was primarily due to the exploration activity over the period.
* Total comprehensive loss $1,599k (2012: $1,221k); and
* Cash and cash equivalents $986k (2012: $3,518k). As a result of VAT refunds
the cash and cash equivalents on hand as at 26 February 2014 amount to just
over $1m.
Review of the year ended 30 September 2013
The twelve months to 30 September 2013 was a period of intense activity for the
company culminating in an independent report advancing the classification of
part of our Hot Creek Valley asset from Prospective to Contingent Resources.
On May 23, 2013, the Company announced the findings of an independent Competent
Person’s Report (CPR) prepared by Forrest Garb & Associates (FGA). The report
considered all the collected data and concluded that, although the Eblana #1
well had not been proved commercial, it did establish the presence of
hydrocarbons. Best Estimate (P50) of Total Prospective Recoverable oil for the
Company’s full acreage was 57.2 million barrels. Contingent Recoverable oil
for the immediate area of the Eblana #1 well (P50) was estimated at 19,256
million barrels. The High estimate (P10) for the Hot Creek Valley Prospect was
3,342,163 million barrels. The oil gravity was measured to be 28.5 and 33 API
in two zones, which is higher quality than oil found in nearby producing wells
in Railroad Valley and constitutes the first discovery of light, sweet crude in
Nevada for thirty years.
The Forrest Garb CPR was based on the intensive programme of data collection
from the Eblana #1 well undertaken by the Company from May 2012 to April 2013.
The board believes that the quality of that data was exceptionally high, a
tribute to the skill and dedication of the technical team, and the data has
informed all of US Oil’s subsequent exploration activities. I am also pleased
to report that FGA confirmed that the Company used a thorough, rigorous process
to identify possible oil and gas accumulations, mitigate risk, and determine
the location of Eblana #1. Since the publication of the CPR, we have followed
FGA’s recommendation that further surveying be undertaken to establish the
direction of `updip’ from Eblana #1 and, at the time of writing, three
additional surveys, including Geochemical and Gravity Magnetic, have been
carried out and data analysis is underway.
Throughout the period, the Company’s activities were fully supported by the US
Bureau of Land Management and the Nevada Division of Minerals, and I would like
to thank them once again for their efforts.
Corporate and Planning
The period from July 2013 to the present saw an energetic programme of
corporate activity directed at establishing strategic partnerships. I am happy
to report that significant progress has been made in our discussions with
potential partners, and relationships have been established at the highest
levels with major industry players. Such discussions do, however, take time;
and although little more can be said at this stage, I have every reason to
believe that we will be able to make further announcements within a reasonable
time-frame.
As part of this process, the Company was invited to submit to potential
partners a Field Development Plan for the Hot Creek Valley property. The plan
demanded a considerable investment of time and effort and is being developed
closely with Forrest Garb & Associates. The document will guide exploration and
production activities, projects resource requirements and outlines company
infrastructure development.
Post Balance Sheet Events
In late 2013 and into 2014, the Company undertook a reconnaissance Geochemical
survey of its hitherto unsurveyed acreage and carried out Gravity Magnetic and
Geochemical surveys of the area around the Eblana #1 well.
Preliminary results from the reconnaissance Geochemical survey of US Oil’s
hitherto unsurveyed wider lease area confirm that the oil reservoir previously
identified, and targeted by the Eblana-1 well, extends significantly further
South to South West into the Company’s acreage. In addition, a second fault
line, intersecting the first, strikes East-West and is wholly contained within
the lease acreage. The intersection of the two lines shows stronger indications
of the presence of hydrocarbons than does anywhere else on the acreage.
Additional surveys including Passive Seismic and 3D Seismic may be carried out
to further define these structures.
An important objective of the Geochemical and Gravity Magnetic surveys of the
area immediately around the Eblana #1 well was to confirm the direction of
`updip.’ Extremely harsh soil conditions hampered the Geochemical study,
although it confirmed light hydrocarbons and indicated favourable readings
north and slightly west of the well. The Gravity Magnetic survey produced good
quality data. Initial analysis indicates that an integrated interpretation will
allow further development of the geological model of the target area and will
provide the structural information required for targeting the next drills. This
analysis and modelling activity continues. The objective of our planned drills
will be to progress the project towards a commercial find in Hot Creek Valley,
to move the asset further up the value chain to Proved Reserves and to further
delineate the extent and size of the oil system.
Cash Position
The cash position as at 31 September 2013 was $985,985 excluding VAT rebate.
Following a partial VAT rebate, as at 26 February 2014, the company had just
over $1m cash and cash equivalents with c. $35k still due from VAT rebates.
This sum does not include a repayable Bond of $100,000 lodged with US
regulatory authorities to cover possible future well reclamation costs, and
part or all of which may be recoupable.
Currently, the available cash is sufficient to drill and complete a well
targeted on the tertiary volcanics in the Company’s area of exploration or to
carry out a horizontal drill from Eblana #1. However, the Board is currently
reviewing all drilling options as geological modeling and field development
planning continues.
Outlook
Given the unpredictable nature of oil and gas exploration in terms of time and
cost, the Board feels entitled to point out that its policy to date of
minimising fixed costs and conserving funds has been entirely vindicated. This
approach has placed an enormous burden on the team and has delayed certain
desirable developments in terms of recruitment and company infrastructure but
has undoubtedly contributed to the company’s relative stability to date.
I believe that US Oil & Gas has, in this last period, made excellent progress.
We not only have an independently verified discovery on our first drill, but
part of that discovery has been classified as Contingent Resources. In
addition, the estimates for Prospective Resources featured in the Competent
Person’s Report, and the indications from our recent surveys of the wider
acreage, suggest the possibility of a large-scale field in Hot Creek Valley.
As always with oil and gas exploration, firm commitments to timetables are not
always practical or advisable, but the Company has spared no effort in
advancing its programme as speedily as possible consistent with conserving
funds in the short term and protecting shareholder value in the longer run.
Brian McDonnell
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
for the year ended 30 September 2013
Continuing Operations
30 Sep ’13 30 Sep ’12
$ $
Administrative expenses -1,600,536 -1,242,527
Operating loss -1,600,536 -1,242,527
Finance Income 1,422 21,535
Loss for the year before taxation -1,599,114 -1,220,992
Income tax expense – –
Loss for the year from continuing -1,599,114 -1,220,992
operations
Other Comprehensive Income – –
Total Comprehensive Loss for the year -1,599,114 -1,220,992
Loss attributable to:
Equity holders of the Company -1,599,114 -1,220,992
Total Comprehensive Loss attributable
to:
Equity holders of the Company -1,599,114 -1,220,992
Earnings per share from continuing
operations
Basic and diluted loss per share -3.84 -2.95
(cent)
Consolidated Statement of Financial
Position
as at 30 September 2013
30 Sep ’13 30 Sep ’12
$ $
Assets
Non-Current Assets
Intangible Assets 5,089,878 3,947,199
Total Non-Current Assets 5,089,878 3,947,199
Current Assets
Trade and other receivables 187,416 294,352
Cash and cash equivalents 985,985 3,517,730
Total Current Assets 1,173,401 3,812,082
Total Assets 6,263,279 7,759,281
Equity
Capital and Reserves
Share capital 5,670 5,670
Share premium 9,742,553 9,742,553
Share based payments reserve 168,305 –
Retained Loss -3,943,322 -2,344,208
Attributable to owners of the Company 5,973,206 7,404,015
Total Equity 5,973,206 7,404,015
Liabilities
Current Liabilities
Trade and other payables 290,073 355,266
Total Current Liabilities 290,073 355,266
Total Liabilities 290,073 355,266
Total Equity and Liabilities 6,263,279 7,759,281
THE DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONTENTS OF THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT
For further information contact:
Brian McDonnell, Chief Executive Officer +353 (0) 1 6319022
Alexander David Securities Ltd – Corporate Finance Adviser
Fiona Kinghorn/David Scott +44 (0) 20 7448 9800
GXG Markets
Simon Kiero-Watson +44 (0) 20 7653 1935
Alex Benger +44 (0) 20 7653 1935
Notes to Editors
U.S. Oil & Gas plc is a GXG quoted (Ticker: USOP) oil and gas exploration
company with a strategy to identify and acquire oil and gas assets in the early
phase of the upstream life-cycle and mature them. The Company’s main asset is
in Nye County, Nevada where it holds the entire share capital of US-based
company Major Oil International LLC (“Major Oil”). Major Oil has acquired
rights to exploration and development acreage in Hot Creek Valley, Nye County,
adjacent to the oil and gas rich Railroad Valley area of Nevada, both of which
are part of the Sevier Thrust of central Nevada and western Utah, USA.
For further information please refer to our website at: www.usoil.us
Ends
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