Pluris Energy Group (OTCBB: PEYG), a Houston, TX based energy company, recently entered into an agreement to acquire San Enrique Petrolera, an Argentina based oil and gas upstream and midstream company. The transaction involves 251,000 net acres in the prolific Neuquén, Austral and Golfo de San Jorge basins, 49 million barrels of oil equivalent, 1,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in current production and three gas processing plants. Here is why positioning in Argentina represents an extraordinary opportunity for Pluris Energy and its shareowners:
Over the past two decades, multinational oil and gas companies including BP and ChevronTexaco paved the way for the now burgeoning energy industry in Argentina. In the past few months alone, several maverick groups have announced significant investments in the sector. Among them, George Soros committed to invest up to $300 million dollars in the Argentine energy sector, Apache Corporation (NYSE:APA) completed a $675 million dollar acquisition of non-operated oil and natural gas properties in the Neuquén, Austral and Golfo de San Jorge basins and the Chinese government has committed to invest up to $5 billion in oil and gas exploration and development.
Why Argentina?
· Sizable reserves: With around 2.7 billion barrels of oil and 21 trillion cubic feet of natural gas proven reserves, Argentina is considered one of the most important energy producers in South America. However, only five of the nineteen existing basins in the country have been explored and therefore proven reserves are expected to increase substantially in the near future.
· Growing production: While most energy producing regions are experiencing declining reserves, Argentina’s largely unexplored basins and excellent geology have resulted in steadily increasing gas production over the past decade. In the past few years, Argentina has transformed from a hydrocarbon importer to a major exporter and the largest natural gas producer in Latin America.
· Extensive infrastructure: With major oil and gas deposits in South America located on the eastern side of the Andes, Argentina has immediate access to extensive hydrocarbon infrastructure on the Atlantic seaboard. Infrastructure expansion continues with an additional 5,000 miles of pipelines currently being built to accommodate future growth.
· Stable and growing economy: Argentina is one of South America’s fastest growing economies. GDP grew by more than 23% from 2003 to 2005 with fuel and energy export earnings as a major contributor to GDP growth. By 2010, Argentina’s energy business is expected to grow exponentially driven by large scale privatization of hydrocarbon fields and extensive foreign investment in the energy sector.
· Increasing energy demand: Argentina’s hydrocarbon development model primarily services the growing international market. However, Argentina and its neighboring countries, specifically Chile and Brazil, are emerging economies that have enjoyed robust growth in recent years, contributing to escalating demand for Argentina’s hydrocarbons.
As Argentina continues to develop into a significant player in the world’s energy market, international companies are jockeying to position themselves. Large American and European multinationals including BP (NYSE:BP), ChevronTexaco (NYSE:CVX), Total (NYSE:TOT), Repsol-YPF (NYSE:REP), Petrobras Energía (NYSE:PZE) and Apache Corporation (NYSE:APA) are well positioned with substantial concessions and producing fields. And now that the multinationals have developed the infrastructure and baseline industry, aggressive, smaller international energy companies are also looking to Argentina for significant growth and development.
Petrolifera Petroleum (TSX:PDP) is one example of the success that can be achieved by small companies in Argentina. Petrolifera controls 95,000 acres in the Neuquén basin with proved, probable and possible recoverable reserves estimated at 29 million barrels of crude oil and 14 Billion cubic feet of natural gas. Their production has increased from approximately 300 barrels of oil equivalent after completing its listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange in November of 2005 to over 9,000 barrels of oil equivalent at the end of Q2-2006. Petrolifera anticipates 2006 revenue will approximate $110 million in its first full year as a public company, compared to 2005 revenue of $2.8 million. Petrolifera’s shares have traded from a low of $1.55 CND in Q4-2005 to recent highs above $25 CND on 42.5 million shares I/O.
Pluris Energy is exceptionally well positioned for rapid growth similarly to Petrolifera through the development of San Enrique’s Argentina properties. San Enrique’s properties include over 251,000 net acres in the Neuquén, Austral and Golfo de San Jorge basins, the three most prolific basins in Argentina, with proved, probable and possible recoverable reserves estimated at 25 million barrels of crude oil and 142 Billion cubic feet of natural gas. Current production exceeds 1,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day and is expected to grow rapidly through an aggressive development program currently underway. Three company-owned gas processing plants and robust pipeline infrastructure is already in place.
Pluris Energy is currently placing a $65,000,000 convertible bond instrument of which the capital raised will be used to close the purchase of San Enrique as well as other acquisitions targeted by Pluris Energy. Upon closing the San Enrique acquisition, Pluris Energy plans to file a prospectus for Initial Public Offering on the Oslo Bors main market, while maintaining a dual listing and quotation in the United States.
As an emerging energy company with a foothold on what is quickly becoming one of the world’s premier hydrocarbon regions of the world, Pluris Energy has laid the foundation for sharply increased value and financial metrics in the near term and sustained growth and development well into the future. Pluris Energy shares are quoted on the NASDAQ OTCBB under the symbol PEYG and trade in the $0.50 range on 14 million shares I/O.
About Pluris Energy
Pluris Energy Group Inc. is an international energy company engaged in the acquisition and development of non-operated producing oil and gas interests in global high profile development plays. Pluris Energy is also investing in the research and development of energy efficiency technologies aiming to maximize the diversification of the worldwide energy grid. For further information, please visit the Company’s website at www.plurisenergy.com
Company Contact
Louis J. Fruchier
Senior V.P. Corporate Developments
Pluris Energy Group Inc.
281-383-9403
fruchier@plurisenergy.com
The information contained herein does not purport to provide a complete analysis of any company’s financial position and is not in anyway an offer to buy or sell securities. Any investment should be made only after consulting a professional investment advisor and only after reviewing the financial statements and pertinent corporate information about the company. Investing in securities is speculative and carries a high degree of risk. Furthermore, The information contained herein may include FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 27A OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND SECTION 21E OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED, WITH RESPECT TO ACHIEVING CORPORATE OBJECTIVES, DEVELOPING ADDITIONAL PROJECT INTERESTS, THE COMPANY’S ANALYSIS OF OPPORTUNITIES IN THE ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT OF VARIOUS PROJECT INTERESTS AND CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS. THESE STATEMENTS ARE MADE UNDER THE “SAFE HARBOR” PROVISIONS OF THE UNITED STATES PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995 AND INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES WHICH COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS CONTAINED HEREIN.
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