This announcement contains inside
information
88 Energy
Limited
Highly Prospective New Leases
in Alaska
88 Energy Limited (ASX:88E, AIM:88E,
OTC:EEENF) (88 Energy or the Company) is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary,
Captivate Energy Alaska, Inc. has been declared the highest bidder
on four (4) lease blocks immediately adjacent to the existing
Project Leonis leases (refer to Figures 1 and 2). The new lease
blocks cover approximately 10,203 acres, expanding Project Leonis'
footprint to a total of fourteen (14) leases covering approximately
35,634 contiguous acres.
Project Leonis Investment
Highlights
· New leases were
strategically targeted following the identification of additional
prospectivity within Canning Formation turbidites.
· Addition of the
new blocks substantially expands the Company's acreage position at
Project Leonis creating a multi-zone exploration opportunity of
considerable scale.
· Newly
identified Canning prospect indicates significant resource
potential, with an approximate areal extent of 43km2 and
a thick reservoir succession of up to 336 feet.
· Quantitative
interpretation (rock physics, AVO and seismic inversion) of the
previously identified Upper Shrader Bluff (USB) and Canning Formation
(Canning) prospects is in
the progress of being finalised.
· Selection of
potential drilling locations will occur in early 2025, leveraging
results from the quantitative interpretation study, ahead of a
planned well anticipated in 1H'26.
· Project Leonis
is emerging as a highly attractive exploration opportunity which is
located adjacent to TAPS and the Dalton Highway, significantly
enhancing the future development and commercialisation
potential.
Managing Director,
Ashley Gilbert, commented:
"The award of these
new blocks meaningfully expands Project Leonis' acreage position
and reinforces our ongoing commitment to exploration on Alaska's
North Slope. The new leases were targeted following identification
of additional prospectivity within the Canning Formation,
transforming Project Leonis into a multi-zone exploration
opportunity of considerable scale.
Our enhanced
position benefits from access to data from historical wells that
indicated oil shows and calculated pay in both the USB reservoir as
well as the recently mapped Canning Formation reservoir accompanied
by the existing Storms 3D data suite. We are extremely pleased to
have secured this additional acreage and look forward to further
de-risking the opportunity through continuing analysis ahead of
selecting an optimal drilling location to access both reservoirs.
The Company is targeting a partial farm-down before any future
potential drill event currently targeted for 1H 2026."
Project Leonis: Addition of Four New Targeted Leases
88 Energy (via its wholly owned subsidiary, Captivate Energy
Alaska, Inc) has been announced as the highest bidder on four
additional leases, covering approximately 10,203 acres immediately
adjacent to the existing Project Leonis leases. The leases are
subject to adjudication and regulatory approvals in advance of
formal award, expected in 1H 2025. The lease blocks were
specifically targeted due to additional prospectivity identified
and mapped within the deeper Canning Formation reservoir
interval.
Additional
Prospectivity Identified
Reprocessing and interpretation
of the Storms 3D seismic data identified a significant geological
feature attributed to basin-wide erosion during the Mid Campanian.
The erosional event led to canyon-like scours within the Hue shale
providing prominent accommodation space for the subsequent
deposition of high-energy Canning Formation toe-of-slope turbidite
sequences. These turbidites, which form a thick reservoir
succession of up to 336 feet and have an aerial extent of
43km
2, indicate a prospect of considerable scale.
Figure 1: New Project Leonis blocks identified in red with
Canning Formation prospect overlayed.
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Notably, this feature is yet to be
penetrated by offset wells in the immediate vicinity. However, oil
shows, ("oil over shakers") and calculated pay was observed at the
chronostratigraphic equivalent sequence in Hemi Springs Unit 3 well
(Figure 3). The corresponding Canning Interval in Hemi Springs Unit
3 has porosities of up to 28%, with the reservoir within the
canyon-like feature anticipated to be greater. Analogous to the
Tiri prospect, high net-to-gross turbidites are being produced from
Hue Shale scours in Conoco Phillips' Tabasco field, just 23 miles
to the north-west. Encouragingly, the Tabasco field outline bears a
remarkable resemblance to the Canning prospect at
Leonis.
A
comprehensive Quantitative Interpretation (QI) study commenced in Q3 2024 to
leverage the reprocessed Storms 3D seismic data. The primary
objective of the study is to identify anomalous responses within
the Canning feature, while the secondary aim is to pinpoint "sweet
spots" within the Upper Schrader Bluff (Tiri Prospect). Results from AVO and
inversion analysis are expected in early Q1 2025.
Figure 2: Conoco Phillips' Tabasco field, just 23 miles to the
north-west of Project Leonis.
Recognising the Canning Formation's potential, 88 Energy submitted
bids for four additional blocks. These blocks also contain further
prospectivity within the USB formation, currently not included in
the existing Tiri Prospective Resource estimate of 381
MMbbls1,2 of oil (net mean, unrisked) for Project
Leonis. With the addition of the Canning prospect, 88 Energy
believe that Project Leonis is a compelling farm-in
opportunity.
Figure
3: Seismic cross-section highlighting new Canning Formation
reservoir and noted live oil over shakers at corresponding interval
within this formation at the Hemi-Springs #3 well
log.
An Expanded Multi-zone Opportunity of Significant
Magnitude
Post formal award expected in 1H
2025, Project Leonis will comprise 14 leases, totalling 35,634
contiguous acres, expanding 88 Energy's position in this highly
prospective region. The USB reservoir provides an attractive
appraisal drilling opportunity targeting a Prospective Resource of
381 MMbbls of oil (net mean,
unrisked). The addition of the Canning
Formation as a secondary reservoir further enhances Project Leonis'
multi-zone drilling potential.
Volumetric analysis of the Canning
Formation reservoir is underway and is anticipated to rival the USB
prospective resources in magnitude. In parallel, AVO analysis for
both the USB and Canning intervals continues, aiming to identify
sweet spots and refine drilling locations for a potential
exploration well in 1H 2026.
Historical
data reinforces the prospectivity of Project Leonis. The Hemi
Springs Unit 3 well (drilled in 1985) targeted deeper reservoirs
without the benefit of modern seismic data, leading to overlooked
low-resistivity oil pay. Re-evaluation of petrophysical data has
since identified net oil pay within both the USB and Canning
Formation. Oil shows from the Hemi Springs Unit 3 well correlate
with extensive areal mapped potential.
Modern advances in understanding
low-resistivity pay have unlocked substantial reserves across
Alaska's North Slope, exemplified by the Willow and Pikka fields.
Similarly, 88 Energy's re-evaluation of legacy wells led to the
successful drilling and testing of Hickory-1 in CY23-24. Our
approach to Project Leonis follows this proven strategy.
Project Leonis is strategically
positioned for efficient development, located near existing
infrastructure including export pipelines and major service
hubs.
Figure 4: 88 Energy acreage position on the
North Slope, Alaska showing the position of Project Leonis'
expanded acreage position including the 4 new
blocks.
Project Leonis: Advancement
Strategy
88 Energy has engaged Fairweather to
initiate planning and permitting for the Tiri-1 exploration well,
which will target the USB and Canning reservoir zones at an optimal
location within Project Leonis. Drilling remains contingent on
securing a farm-out partner, with Llamas and Bannister Energy
Advisors Ltd (LAB)
in London recently appointed to manage a relaunched and expanded
active farm-out process to attract new potential partners to the
project.
Analysis utilising the Storms 3D
seismic data continues, focusing on refining exploration targets
and identifying an optimal drilling location. The USB reservoir's
mapped amplitude anomalies and fault-bound trapping mechanism
highlight its robust technical case. Similarly, ongoing analysis of
the Canning Formation will enhance the overall understanding of the
acreage's potential.
The expansion of Project Leonis'
acreage position and the addition of the Canning Formation
reservoir opportunity are significant for 88 Energy. This
multi-zone opportunity presents a compelling case for future
exploration and potential development. Guided by modern seismic
re-evaluation and aided by a strategic location. Project Leonis is
firmly positioned as a key asset in 88 Energy's
portfolio.
Figure 5: Hemi Springs Unit-3 well gravel pad and well head,
March 2024. A potential location for the drilling of the Tiri-1
well.
This
announcement has been authorised by the Board.
Media and Investor Relations:
88
Energy Ltd
Ashley Gilbert, Managing
Director
Tel: +61 8 9485 0990
Email:investor-relations@88energy.com
Fivemark Partners, Investor and
Media
Relations
Michael
Vaughan
Tel: +61 422 602 720
EurozHartleys Ltd
Dale
Bryan
Tel: + 61 8 9268 2829
Cavendish Capital Markets
Limited
Tel: + 44 131 220 6939
Derrick Lee / Pearl Kellie
Pursuant to the requirements of the
ASX Listing Rules Chapter 5 and the AIM Rules for Companies, the
technical information and resource reporting contained in this
announcement was prepared by, or under the supervision of, Dr
Stephen Staley, who is a Non-Executive Director of the Company. Dr
Staley has more than 40 years' experience in the petroleum
industry, is a Fellow of the Geological Society of London, and a
qualified Geologist/Geophysicist who has sufficient experience that
is relevant to the style and nature of the oil prospects under
consideration and to the activities discussed in this document. Dr
Staley has reviewed the information and supporting documentation
referred to in this announcement and considers the resource and
reserve estimates to be fairly represented and consents to its
release in the form and context in which it appears. His academic
qualifications and industry memberships appear on the Company's
website and both comply with the criteria for "Competence" under
clause 3.1 of the Valmin Code 2015. Terminology and standards
adopted by the Society of Petroleum Engineers "Petroleum Resources
Management System" have been applied in producing this
document.