August 22, 2001
Xx. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Pannonian Energy, Inc.
00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Xx. Xxxxxx Xxxx
Alpine Oil & Gas
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
RE: Sublette County, Wyoming AMI's
Gentlemen:
Pursuant to our discussions, Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company by
XXXX XX Inc., Pannonian Energy, Inc., and Alpine Gas Company have tentatively
agreed to terms for the creation of separate exploration agreements covering 7
areas outlined on Exhibit "A", attached hereto and made a part hereof.
Burlington, Pannonian and Alpine are currently negotiating the final draft of
the Exploration Agreement for the Muddy Creek Unit. It is the intent of the
parties to use the Muddy Creek Exploration Agreement as the base form of
agreement for each of the 7 areas, except where specific terms of the
transactions differ. Where specific terms differ, the related portions of the
Exploration Agreement will be re-written to accommodate the difference in terms.
This letter is intended to outline the general terms and provide a framework for
each agreement. The provisions that will be common to each agreement are as
follows:
Seismic-Subject to the Force Majeure provisions to be included in the formal
agreement, By November 15, 2001 Xxxxxxxxxx will acquire approximately 180 miles
of new 2-D seismic data covering the combined areas identified on Exhibit "A".
Burlington will pay for and own the data in all AMI areas but will provide
Pannonian and Alpine with copies of the data as detailed in the formal agreement
and a license agreement covering such data.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any party may propose to shoot
additional seismic data beyond the obligatory seismic to be acquired by
Burlington. The party proposing the acquisition of such additional data will
submit the proposed program including the parameters and costs relating to such
program to the non-proposing parties. The non-proposing parties will have 30
days from receipt of such proposal to elect to participate in the acquisition of
such data. The parties who elect to participate in the acquisition will own the
data. The participating parties will bear any non-participating party's share of
such costs according to their interest. Any party who elects not to participate
in such acquisition shall not be entitled to any seismic data acquired as a
result of such program.
Area of Mutual Interest-Each agreement shall provide for the creation of an Area
of Mutual Interest ("AMI") covering each respective area outlined on Exhibit
"A". The AMI provision to be included in each agreement shall be substantially
identical to the AMI provision contained in the Muddy Creek Exploration
Agreement.
A description of the general terms, conditions and provisions that are
unique to each agreement are described under the heading for each area below.
MUDDY CREEK UNIT
The parties are negotiating changes to the final draft of the
Exploration Agreement for the Muddy Creek Unit.
CD UNIT
Obligation Well-Burlington will agree to drill the second obligation well
required under the CD Unit Agreement. Such well must be drilled to a depth of at
least 200' below the top of the Xxxxx Formation and must utilize an
under-balanced drilling method through the Fort Union Formation that allows
formation fluids to flow while drilling. As in the Muddy Creek Exploration
Agreement, Pannonian and Alpine will bear the incremental costs ("incremental
costs" means the costs to drill to 200' below the base of the Fort Union
Formation in an under-balanced manner, including but not limited to air,
corrosion chemicals, parasite string equipment, and an intermediate casing
string if required for hole integrity or to conduct production testing in the
Fort Union Formation minus the costs to drill such well in a conventional
manner) associated with drilling the Fort Union Formation under-balanced.
Pannonian, Alpine and Burlington will each have the same options in the same
sequential order as set forth in the Muddy Creek Exploration Agreement with
respect to the aforementioned obligation well.
Option Xxxxx-By acquiring the seismic as identified in Exhibit "A" and drilling
the obligation well set forth above Burlington will have the right and option to
drill option xxxxx below the top of Xxxxx Formation within the CD Unit boundary.
Option xxxxx will be drilled in a checkerboard configuration from the acreage
currently owned by Pannonian and Alpine, excluding those sections where
Pannonian and Alpine have established production below the top of the Xxxxx
Formation prior to the date of our agreement. Burlington, Pannonian and Alpine
understand and agree that Pannonian and Alpine do not own all of the acreage
within the CD Unit. From time to time Burlington may elect to drill a well on
lands not owned by Pannonian and/or Alpine. To the extent that any such well
satisfies a commencement date required by the CD Unit agreement or the plan of
development then in effect for such unit, Burlington shall maintain its right
and option to drill option xxxxx under our agreement.
Interests Earned-When Burlington drills a well in a section where it has not
previously earned an interest, whether as a producer or as a dry hole, Pannonian
and Alpine will assign to Burlington 100% of their working interest and
operating rights, in the section where such well is drilled, below the base of
the Fort Union Formation to 100' below total depth drilled. Any assignment will
deliver to Burlington an 80% net revenue interest, proportionately reduced.
Jointly Owned Lease-A "Jointly Owned Lease", hereinafter referred to as JOL,
means a lease or other interest acquired after the date of the formal
exploration agreement in which all parties have elected to participate in the
acquisition of pursuant to the AMI provisions of the formal agreement. A party
electing not to participate in a well drilled on a JOL within the AMI shall
relinquish to the parties participating in such well 100% of such
non-participating parties interest in the section where such well is drilled.
Any assignment involved in such relinquishment of interest shall be limited in
depth from surface of the earth to 100' below total depth drilled.
GAMMA RAY UNIT
Burlington is not currently prepared to drill the next obligation well under the
Gamma Ray Unit. We are, however, prepared to acquire the 2-D seismic identified
on Exhibit "A" and create an AMI providing Burlington, Pannonian and Alpine the
opportunity to jointly acquire unleased interests within the referenced unit.
Burlington will have no right or option to earn any leasehold interest currently
under lease to Pannonian and or Alpine.
Jointly Owned Lease-A "Jointly Owned Lease", hereinafter referred to as
JOL, means a lease or other interest acquired after the date of the formal
exploration agreement in which all parties have elected to participate in the
acquisition of pursuant to the AMI provisions of the formal agreement. A party
electing not to participate in a well drilled on a JOL within the AMI shall
relinquish to the parties participating in such well 100% of such
non-participating parties interest in the section where such well is drilled.
Any assignment involved in such relinquishment of interest shall be limited in
depth from surface of the earth to 100' below total depth drilled.
XXXXX CANYON AMI
Burlington is currently negotiating a seismic option from Ultra
Petroleum within the referenced area. As currently proposed to Ultra, Burlington
must acquire the 2-D seismic outlined on Exhibit "A" for the referenced area
during 2001. Copies of the data and a license to the data will be provided to
Ultra under the proposed agreement. In order to earn an interest in the Ultra
acreage a well must be drilled in 2002 to evaluate the Xxxxx Formation. By
drilling such well Ultra will convey an undivided 75% of their leasehold
interest within such block. Any assignment will deliver an 80% net revenue
interest in the entire Ultra block. Ownership of any farmout acquired in this
AMI will be owned 50% by Burlington, 25% by Pannonian and 25% by Alpine, subject
to the reversionary interests contained in such farmout agreement.
If a party elects not to participate in the drilling of the earning
well pursuant to any farmout agreement within this AMI then such party will earn
no interest in any of the farmout acreage.
RIO VERDE UNIT
XxXxxxxx Energy, operator of the referenced unit, Alberta Energy and
Aztec Energy are the majority owners within the said unit. XxXxxxxx has advised
the owners plan to allow the unit to terminate. Burlington will attempt to
negotiate seismic option agreements with the three companies listed above in
order to acquire 2-D seismic as identified on Exhibit "A" as well as the other
owners within the referenced unit. Ownership of any seismic option agreement
acquired in this AMI will be owned 50% by Burlington, 25% by Pannonian and 25%
by Alpine, subject to the reversionary interests contained in such seismic
option agreement.
If a party elects not to participate in the drilling of the
earning well pursuant to any seismic option agreement within this AMI then such
party will earn no interest in any of the seismic option acreage.
EAST PINEY AMI
Burlington will conduct the 2-D seismic program identified on Exhibit
"A" to evaluate the referenced area. Burlington will evaluate the seismic data
and the information from the drilling programs conducted on the other units and
AMI's described in this letter during 2002. On or before August 1, 2003
Burlington shall have the option to drill a well to test the interval below the
base of the Fort Union Formation in the referenced AMI'. If Burlington elects to
drill a well in the referenced AMI in 2003 Burlington shall have the right and
option to drill additional option xxxxx within the AMI by drilling at least one
option well per year to a depth below the top of the Fort Union Formation. Said
option xxxxx must be drilled on a checkerboard configuration.
Interests Earned-When Burlington drills a well in a section where it
has not previously earned an interest, whether as a producer or as a dry hole,
Pannonian and Alpine will assign to Burlington 100% of their working interest
and operating rights, in the section where such well is drilled, below the base
of the Fort Union Formation to 100' below total depth drilled. Any assignment
will deliver to Burlington an 80% net revenue interest, proportionately reduced.
Jointly Owned Lease-A "Jointly Owned Lease", hereinafter referred to as
JOL, means a lease or other interest acquired after the date of the formal
exploration agreement in which all parties have elected to participate in the
acquisition of pursuant to the AMI provisions of the formal agreement. A party
electing not to participate in a well drilled on a JOL within the AMI shall
relinquish to the parties participating in such well 100% of such
non-participating parties interest in the section where such well is drilled.
Any assignment involved in such relinquishment of interest shall be limited in
depth from surface of the earth to 100' below total depth drilled.
ASPEN RIDGE AMI
Burlington will conduct the 2-D seismic program identified on Exhibit
"A" to evaluate the referenced area. Burlington will evaluate the seismic data
and the information from the drilling programs conducted on the other units and
AMI's described in this letter during 2002. On or before August 1, 2003
Burlington shall have the option to drill a well to test the interval below the
base of the Fort Union Formation in the referenced AMI. If Burlington elects to
drill a well in the referenced AMI in 2003 Burlington shall have the right and
option to drill additional option xxxxx within the AMI by drilling at least one
option well per year to a depth below the top of the Fort Union Formation. Said
option xxxxx must be drilled on a checkerboard configuration.
Interests Earned-When Burlington drills a well in a section where it
has not previously earned an interest, whether as a producer or as a dry hole,
Pannonian and Alpine will assign to Burlington 100% of their working interest
and operating rights, in the section where such well is drilled, below the base
of the Fort Union Formation to 100' below total depth drilled. Any assignment
will deliver to Burlington an 80% net revenue interest, proportionately reduced.
Jointly Owned Lease-A "Jointly Owned Lease", hereinafter referred to as
JOL, means a lease or other interest acquired after the date of the formal
exploration agreement in which all parties have elected to participate in the
acquisition of pursuant to the AMI provisions of the formal agreement. A party
electing not to participate in a well drilled on a JOL within the AMI shall
relinquish to the parties participating in such well 100% of such
non-participating parties interest in the section where such well is drilled.
Any assignment involved in such relinquishment of interest shall be limited in
depth from surface of the earth to 100' below total depth drilled.
If the terms set forth in this letter are consistent with your
understanding of our discussions in our most recent meeting please sign and
return on copy of this letter to the undersigned. Consummation of our
transaction covering each of the areas identified on Exhibit "A" is contingent
upon execution by all parties to this letter agreement of a mutually acceptable
Exploration Agreement covering each respective area.
Very truly yours,
Xxxxx X. (Xxxx) Xxxxxxxx, III
Land Advisor
Pannonian Energy, Inc. Alpine Gas Company
By:_________________________ By:__________________________
Title:________________________ Title:________________________
Date:________________________ Date:________________________
