CALGARY, Alberta, March 07, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Questerre Energy Corporation (“Questerre” or the “Company”) (TSX,OSE:QEC) reported today that it has executed a definitive purchase and sale agreement with a senior exploration and production company (the “Agreement”) to acquire all their assets in Quebec. This follows the letter of intent signed in early 2018 as set out in the Company’s press release dated June 4, 2018.
Pursuant to the Agreement, Questerre will acquire the exploration rights to 753,000 net acres in Quebec, associated wells and equipment, geological and geophysical data and other miscellaneous assets. Upon closing of the transaction, both parties will release each other from all claims related to outstanding litigation. For more information, please see the Company’s press releases dated June 4, 2018. Other consideration including cash and contingent payments and the security required for the assumption of abandonment and reclamation liabilities (“A&R Liabilities”) is approximately $11 million in aggregate. Questerre may post a letter of credit as security for the A&R Liabilities. Closing of the transaction is subject to the approval by the Government of Quebec for the transfer of the exploration permits and licenses to Questerre.
Michael Binnion, President and Chief Executive Officer of Questerre, commented, “On closing we will own almost 90% of 1.10 million acres covering a well-established natural gas resource. Based on an independent resource assessment as of December 31, 2017 for the majority of this acreage where we hold a working interest, the best estimate of unrisked gross contingent and prospective resources was 3.9 Tcf and 21.3 Tcf respectively. We are looking forward to updating this assessment for the newly acquired acreage once the transaction has closed.”
He added, “With this binding agreement signed, we will regain operatorship of our giant natural gas discovery later this year. This puts us in the driver’s seat to advance our plans for social acceptability for a new clean tech energy approach and benefit sharing proposals with local communities and other stakeholders.”
He further added, “We have already begun discussions with the Government to complete the transfer of these assets. We expect to be able to provide an update of the status of the judicial review of the actions taken by the previous government in our annual report at the end of this month.“
Questerre Energy Corporation is leveraging its expertise gained through early exposure to shale and other non-conventional reservoirs. The Company has base production and reserves in the tight oil Bakken/Torquay of southeast Saskatchewan. It is bringing on production from its lands in the heart of the high-liquids Montney shale fairway. It is pursuing oil shale projects with the aim of commercially developing these massive resources.
Questerre is a believer that the future success of the oil and gas industry depends on a balance of economics, environment and society. We are committed to being transparent and are respectful that the public must be part of making the important choices for our energy future.
For further information, please contact:
Questerre Energy Corporation
Jason D’Silva, Chief Financial Officer
(403) 777-1185 | (403) 777-1578 (FAX) | Email: info@questerre.com
December 31, 2017 Resource Report
GLJ Petroleum Consultants Ltd. (“GLJ”) prepared an independent resource assessment of the Company’s 735,910 gross (190,800 net) acres in the St. Lawrence Lowlands Quebec that have potential for the Upper Utica Shale effective December 31, 2017 in a report dated March 5, 2018 (the “GLJ Resource Assessment”). The GLJ Resource Assessment was prepared in accordance with NI 51-101 and the standards contained in the COGE Handbook. The GLJ Resource Assessment did not include any of the Corporation’s other properties. All anticipated results disclosed herein were prepared by GLJ, which is an independent qualified reserves evaluator.
“Gross” resources are Questerre’s working interest (operating or non-operating) share before deduction of royalties and without including any royalty interests of Questerre. “Net” resources are Questerre’s working interest (operating or non-operating) share after deduction of royalty obligations, plus Questerre’s royalty interests in contingent resources
“Best Estimate” resources are considered to be the best estimate of the quantity that will actually be recovered. It is equally likely that the actual remaining quantities recovered will be greater or less than the best estimate. If probabilistic methods are used, there should be at least a 50 percent probability (P50) that the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the best estimate.
Contingent resources are defined in the COGE Handbook as those quantities of petroleum estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from known accumulations using established technology or technology under development, but which are not currently considered to be commercially recoverable due to one or more contingencies. There is no certainty that it will be commercially viable to produce any portion of the contingent resources or that Questerre will produce any portion of the volumes currently classified as contingent resources. The estimates of contingent resources involve implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions, that the resources described exists in the quantities predicted or estimated, as at a given date, and that the resources can be profitably produced in the future.
Prospective resources are defined in the COGE Handbook as those quantities of petroleum estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from unknown accumulations by application of future development projects. Prospective resources have both an associated chance of discovery (CoDis) and a chance of development (CoDev). There is no certainty that any portion of the prospective resources will be discovered. If discovered, there is no certainty that it will be commercially viable to produce any portion of the prospective resources or that Questerre will produce any portion of the volumes currently classified as prospective resources. The estimates of prospective resources involve implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions, that the resources described exists in the quantities predicted or estimated, as at a given date, and that the resources can be profitably produced in the future.
For further details regarding the GLJ Resource Assessment, including definitions and terminology, the classification of resources, methodology, significant positive and negative factors relative to the estimate, and risks associated with development of the resource, please see the Company’s press release dated March 12, 2018.