BAAR, Switzerland, Nov. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Manas
Petroleum Corp. ("Manas") (TSX-V: MNP; OTCBB: MNAP) has filed its
quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the nine months ended
September 30, 2012 on EDGAR and on
SEDAR. (www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov). The following provides you
with a review of some of the highlights:
Highlights Q3 2012
- Mongolia: Finalized seismic
campaign of 335km and completed two wells in the Ger Chuluu
sub-basin
- Tajikistan: Santos exercised
its farm-in option to acquire 70% of our equity in Somon Oil
subject to finalization of transaction documents
- Business Development: Exercised option agreement to purchase
producing assets in Central Asia
in 4th quarter 2012
Operations Review
Mongolia
During the third quarter 2012, our Mongolian subsidiary, Gobi
Energy Partners LLC finalized the 2D seismic acquisition of 335
kilometers in Block XIII and Block XIV. Processing and
interpretation are still ongoing. Also, Gobi Energy Partners LLC
spudded its first well, Ger Chuluu A1, on August 23, 2012. It stopped drilling at a depth
of 1098 meters without having encountered any seal. The initially
planned second well East Sainshand A1 is located in another
sub-basin 170 kilometers away. In order to have a conclusive
evaluation of the Ger Chuluu sub-basin, it was decided to drill a
second well before moving to East Sainshand.
Ger Chuluu D1 was spudded on September
21, 2012 and was stopped after reaching 600 meters without
any hydrocarbon shows. Seal and Reservoir were encountered as
expected; however, this basin did not seem to generate any
hydrocarbons and therefore is not considered anymore as a
target. Due to seasonal conditions, the next prospect, East
Sainshand A1, can only be drilled in 2013. The evaluation of the
Southeastern part of Block XIII will be finalized in the fourth
quarter.
Tajikistan
During the third quarter 2012, our Tajik subsidiary, CJSC Somon
Oil has been finalizing processing and interpretation of the
seismic acquisition program finished in April 2012. Preparations for drilling of the
first two wells, West Supetau and Karykkum, are ongoing. Pursuant
to a deed dated August 6, 2012,
Santos International Ventures Pty Ltd ("Santos") exercised its
option to acquire 70% of the equity of Somon Oil.
As provided in the deed, the exercise of the option, which was
originally granted to Santos under an Option Agreement dated
December 10, 2007, is subject to the
negotiation and execution of definitive agreements, including a
farm-in agreement and a shareholder agreement. As provided in the
deed and after settlement of the definitive agreements, Santos
Netherlands B.V., an affiliate of Santos, together with a third
party, intends to farm-in to 70% of the equity interest in Somon.
The remaining 30% will be owned by DWM Petroleum AG ("DWM"), a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Manas (as to 20%) and Anavak Limited
Liability Company (as to 10%). The negotiations on the farm-in and
shareholder agreement have not been finalized yet.
Kyrgyzstan
During the third quarter of 2012, South Petroleum Company, in
which we own a 25% minority equity interest, continued to provide
support for drilling planning and seismic operations in
Tajikistan. Finalization of the
reports in Kyrgyzstan is
ongoing.
Albania (15.8%
equity investment in Petromanas Energy Inc.)
Petromanas continued to drill and expects the well to reach
target depth of approximately 6,100 metres either in late 2012 or
early 2013. Testing is expected to follow reaching total depth.
Further, drilling of the Juban-1 well is expected to begin in the
fourth quarter of 2012. Petromanas intends to drill the well to a
target depth of approximately 2,600 meters.
On June 30, 2012, we owned
200,000,000 shares of Petromanas Energy. Since that date, we sold
100,000,000 of these shares to various purchasers and we have
agreed not to resell the remaining 100,000,000 until August 14, 2013 without prior agreement with some
of those purchasers, unless, before that date, the market price per
share equals or exceeds CAD 0.60 for
five business days. Of the 100,000,000 common shares of
Petromanas held by us at September 30,
2012, none were currently eligible for immediate resale.
More details on www.petromanas.com.
Business Development
During the second quarter of 2012, DWM Petroleum AG, a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into an option
agreement with an unrelated third party pursuant to which the third
party granted to DWM Petroleum an option to purchase 80% of the
equity of a company that owns producing oilfield assets in Central
Asia.
On May 8, 2012, DWM Petroleum
wired an initial refundable cash deposit to the third party in the
amount of USD 5 million. On
July 3, 2012, DWM Petroleum made a
second refundable cash deposit in the amount of USD 2 million. On August
17, 2012 a third refundable cash deposit in the amount of
USD 3 million was paid. These
cash deposits have been recorded on our balance sheet as
"Transaction Prepayment". Under the terms of the option
agreement, this cash deposit remains fully refundable until DWM
Petroleum exercises the option and the parties sign a definitive
purchase agreement.
On October 23, 2012, DWM Petroleum
exercised the option subject to the seller taking certain actions
and to successful negotiation of the share purchase agreement. The
transaction prepayment of USD 10
million will be netted against the final purchase price
which remains to be negotiated.
Financial Status as of September 30,
2012
Condensed Statement of Operations (in
USD)
|
9M
2012
|
9M
2011
|
General
& Administration
|
3,267,401
|
2,889,534
|
- of which
Personnel
|
1,978,122
|
1,446,244
|
Consulting
|
1,416,390
|
518,537
|
Exploration
|
4,958,255
|
2,327,222
|
Total
Operating Expenses
|
9,642,046
|
5,735,293
|
Total operating expenses increased in all segments. Increased
exploration activity, especially in Mongolia, resulted in higher exploration and
personnel costs. Consulting expenses increased due to
increased exploration activity at our projects in Mongolia and Tajikistan.
Net loss for the nine month period ended September 30, 2012 was USD
6,800,120 as compared to net loss of USD 54,858,940 for the same period in 2011.
Liquidity and Capital Resources (in
USD)
|
9/30/2012
|
12/31/2011
|
Cash and
Cash Equivalents
|
6,483,593
|
13,629,370
|
Refundable
transaction prepayment
|
10,000,000
|
-
|
Investment
in associate (Petromanas)*
|
20,049,078
|
29,366,063
|
Eligible
for Resale
|
-
|
16,678,651
|
Total
Shareholders' Equity
|
35,696,875
|
41,621,337
|
* On September 30, 2012, we
owned 100,000,000 common shares of Petromanas representing
approximately 15.85% of the issued and outstanding common shares of
Petromanas. On December 31, 2011 we
owned 200,000,000 common shares representing approximately 31.7% of
the company.
The value of our investment in associate Petromanas (TSX-V: PMI)
was positively affected by USD
6,306,060 due to the PMI share price appreciation from
CAD 0.155 at the beginning of the
year to CAD 0.20 at September 30, 2012. The value was reduced through
the sale of 100,000,000 shares worth USD
15,623,045 (gross proceeds of USD
12,115,648). The proceeds are used to fund our proposed
acquisition of producing assets in Central Asia and for working capital.
About Manas Petroleum Corp.
Manas Petroleum is an international oil and gas company with
primary focus on exploration and development in South-Eastern
Europe, Central Asia and
Mongolia. In Albania, Manas
participates in a 1.7 million acre exploration project through its
15.8% equity interest in Petromanas Energy Inc., a Canadian public
company. In the Kyrgyz Republic,
Manas has a USD 54 million farm-out
agreement with Santos International Holdings Pty Ltd., a subsidiary
of Australia's third largest oil
and gas company. In addition to the development of its
Kyrgyz Republic project, Santos is
developing the company's neighboring Tajikistan licenses under an option farm out
agreement. In Mongolia,
Manas owns 74% working interest in two Production Sharing Contracts
covering Blocks XIII and XIV through its wholly-owned subsidiary
DWM Petroleum AG.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
For further information please contact:
Ari Muljana
Corporate Secretary
Manas Petroleum Corp.
Bahnofstr. 9, P.O. Box 155
CH-6341 Baar, Switzerland
Phone: +41 44 718 1030
Fax: +41 44 718 1039
Email: info@manaspete.com
Web: www.manaspete.com
Cautionary Note:
Information provided in this Press Release pertaining to the
exploration projects in the Kyrgyz
Republic and Albania has
been provided to Manas Petroleum Corporation by the operators of
those projects, with which Manas Petroleum deals at arms length,
and is included in this Press Release in an effort to share that
information with the public. Although Manas Petroleum has no
reason to doubt the accuracy of this information, it expressly
disclaims responsibility therefor and makes no representation or
warranty that it is complete or correct.
Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer
This press release contains forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are projections of events, revenues,
income, future economic performance or management's plans and
objectives for future operations. In some cases you can identify
forward-looking statements by the use of terminology such as "may",
"should", "anticipates", "believes", "expects", "intends",
"forecasts", "plans", "future", "strategy", or words of similar
meaning. Forward-looking statements in this press release include
statements about Manas' intension to acquire producing assets in
Central Asia through an option
agreement entered with a third party, its plans to drill in
Mongolia, the third of three wells
in 2013, and its expectation that the evaluation of the
Southeastern part of Block XIII will be finalized in the fourth
quarter, statements about the proposed percentages of the equity
interest in Somon and Petromanas' expectation and intention
regarding the depth of a well and testing following reaching total
depth and drilling of the Juban-1 well. While these forward-looking
statements and any assumptions upon which they are based are made
in good faith and reflect current judgment regarding the direction
of Manas' business, actual results will almost always vary,
sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections,
assumptions or other future performance suggested in this press
release. These statements are only predictions and involve known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the
risks presented by the market price and volume of trading in shares
of Petromanas Energy Inc., field conditions and the risks described
in Manas' periodic disclosure documents filed on SEDAR and EDGAR,
copies of which are also available on the company's website at
www.manaspetroleum.com. Any of these risks could cause Manas' or
its industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance or
achievements to be materially different from any future results,
levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or
implied by these forward-looking statements. Except as required by
applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States and Canada, Manas does not intend to update any of
the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to
actual results.
SOURCE Manas Petroleum Corp.