CALGARY, ALBERTA–(Marketwired – June 15, 2016) – Strategic Oil & Gas Ltd. (“Strategic”, or the “Company”) (TSX VENTURE:SOG) announces its second half 2016 drilling program and capital spending budget. This drilling program marks the beginning of pad development activity along the drilling corridor at west Marlowe, following the Company’s successful delineation drilling program during first quarter of 2016.
BUDGET
Strategic’s Board of Directors has approved a capital expenditure budget of $21 million for the second half of 2016. The plan includes four horizontal Muskeg wells, all weather roads, pipelines and a plant turnaround. The first four well pad is approximately 3 kilometers from the existing wells at West Marlowe, moving toward the Muskeg horizontal well 14-35 which was drilled and tested in the first quarter of 2016. The well 14-35 tested at a rate of 1,060 boe/day over the last 48 hours of a nine day production test.
The Company expects to achieve further drilling efficiencies with longer horizontal wells using a larger drilling rig, and intends to complete up to an additional five stages per well to increase production performance. Construction activities to the new pad have begun and drilling activities are scheduled to commence in July 2016.
OPERATIONS UPDATE
The Company’s focus on cost cutting efforts in both the field and office continued in the second quarter of 2016. Lower operating and general and administrative costs, in combination with the recent increase in oil prices are leading to positive corporate cash flows during the second quarter. Production volumes from existing Muskeg wells at west Marlowe have continued to meet or exceed the Company’s internal type curve.
Current corporate production is approximately 1,800 boe/day with an annual decline rate of 25%. Including projected additions from the four new Muskeg wells, Strategic expects to exit 2016 with a production rate of 2,800 boe/day. The announced program is the first step towards exploitation of the delineated, high-impact development corridor at west Marlowe. The Company anticipates continuing to drill along this corridor and executing its growth strategy in 2017.
ABOUT STRATEGIC OIL & GAS
Strategic is a junior oil and gas company committed to becoming a premier northern oil and gas operator by exploiting its light oil assets primarily in northern Alberta. The Company relies on its extensive subsurface and reservoir experience to develop its asset base and grow production and cash flows while managing risk. The Company maintains control over its resource base through high working interest ownership in wells, construction and operation of its own processing facilities and a significant undeveloped land and opportunity base. Strategic’s primary operating area is at Marlowe, Alberta. Strategic’s common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol SOG.