KULOB, TAJIKISTAN, Jan 16, 2009 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) — Tethys Petroleum Limited (“Tethys” or the “Company”) (TSX: TPL) today announced that its subsidiary, Kulob Petroleum Limited, (“KPL”) has signed a 1-year gas sales contract with OJSC Kulyabgaz to supply gas to the town of Kulob in Southern Tajikistan.
The price under the contract is fixed for the period of the contract at 300 Somoni (approximately USD86 per thousand cubic metres (“Mcm”) (USD2.44 per thousand cubic feet (“Mcf”)) and the initial contract is to supply up to 65,000 cubic metres (2.3 million cubic feet) of gas per day. Initial limited gas supply has now commenced and the gas is being delivered through a 12 kilometer (7.5 mile) pipeline from the Khoja Sartez Field on which KPL has commenced initial work on existing wells that it has rights to under the Bohktar Production Sharing Contract (the “PSC”) signed in June 2008. Work on upgrading the gas delivery system is now being considered.
Tethys recently announced gas has been successfully tested from the Khoja Sartez 22 well (“KJZ22”) at estimated rates (based on wellhead pressures) up to 80,000 cubic metres (2.8 million cubic feet) per day on a 12mm (30/64ths of an inch) choke with a flowing tubing head pressure of some 40 atmospheres (588 psig), with these rates being subject to verification when more accurate metering equipment arrives onsite. The Khoja Sartez gas condensate field is located on the north east flank of one of the several large salt domes in the Kulob area, and Tethys believes that there is further potential both for additional gas production from existing wells, and from deeper, as yet undrilled horizons within the structure, and around other parts of the Khoja Sartez salt dome.
In parallel with this work KPL, through the Operator under the PSC, Tethys Services Tajikistan Limited, is also working on the Komsomolsk gas field near Dushanbe, the capital city of Tajikistan. where it is currently working on three existing gas wells. Once sustained production is achieved it is planned to conclude a similar contract there where it is expected to realise a higher price than this contract due to higher demand and the fact in Dushanbe pricing will be related to a formula linked to the current import price. Tajikistan has little domestic gas production and is a net importer of gas with the gas being transported from Uzbekistan. It has been recently announced that Uzbekistan has increased the price of its gas to Tajikistan to USD240 per Mcm (USD6.80 per Mcf).
Dr. David Robson, CEO and President of Tethys, commented, “We are delighted to have concluded this initial gas contract and hence begin to monetise our work in Tajikistan. It is our company strategy to generate early cash flow in all our focus areas, whilst moving forward with an active exploration program for potentially large oil and gas prospects. This is an important first step to achieving this and we expect the demand in the Kulob area to be much larger than the quantity we have currently agreed. In the near future we hope to replicate this success in the Dushanbe area where the dynamics of the gas pricing should be even more favourable.”
Tethys is focused on oil and gas exploration and production activities in Central Asia with activities currently in the Republics of Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. This highly prolific oil and gas area is rapidly developing and Tethys believes that significant potential exists in both exploration and in discovered deposits.
This press release contains “forward-looking information” which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to our operations. Such forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. See our Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2007 for a description of risks and uncertainties relevant to our business, including our exploration and development activities.
Contacts:
Tethys Petroleum Limited
Sabin Rossi
Vice President Investor Relations
(416) 572-2065
(416) 572-2201 (FAX)
Email: info@tethyspetroleum.com
Website: www.tethyspetroleum.com
In Kazakhstan:
PG Communications
Ardak Akanov, Managing Director
Office phone/fax: +7 (727) 272 8867, +7 (727) 272 8237,
+7 (727) 272 7745
Email: development@pressclub.kz
SOURCE: Tethys Petroleum Limited
mailto:info@tethyspetroleum.com
http://www.tethyspetroleum.com
mailto:development@pressclub.kz