Endeavour International Invests in North Sea Oil Fields

Endeavour International Corporation today announced that its subsidiary, Endeavour Energy UK Limited, has entered into a purchase and sale agreement to acquire ConocoPhillips’ interest in three producing U.K. oil fields in the Central North Sea for $330 million, including approximately $94 million of tax attributes.

Current net production from this asset group is approximately 10,000 boepd. Endeavour estimates of proved and probable reserves (“2P reserves”) as of June 30, 2011 are in excess of 33 mmboe.

“This acquisition increases our current ownership interest in the Alba Field, a late Eocene reservoir that has been producing since 1994. Additionally, we add ownership interests in the MacCulloch and Nicol fields. We believe these fields have valuable upside potential,” said William L. Transier, chairman, chief executive officer and president. “The production from these Central North Sea fields is almost 100% oil, which will generate a large increase in cash flow to Endeavour and provides a mechanism to accelerate the recognition of our current U.K. tax benefits of almost $300 million after this acquisition. This transaction, which our team has been working on since the beginning of this year, adds significantly to our two existing U.K. development projects, which are estimated to start production during 2012. Upon completion of this transaction and after the start-up of Bacchus and the Greater Rochelle development projects, Endeavour will become one of the largest independent producers in the U.K. North Sea.”

(1) Endeavour’s aggregate working interest in the Alba field would be 25.68% following the closing of the acquisition.

(2) Endeavour anticipates assuming operatorship, subject to final partner agreement.

Pro forma for the acquisition, Endeavour’s proved plus probable reserves would increase to almost 80 mmboe from 44 mmboe at December 31, 2010. Production would increase from current levels of approximately 4,500 boepd to in excess of 20,000 boepd with the start up of Bacchus and Greater Rochelle anticipated in 2012 and the closing of the acquisition.

Endeavour expects to close this transaction in the first half of 2012, with an effective date of January 1, 2011. In addition to customary closing conditions, the purchase is subject to approval of normal governmental regulatory authorities and partner consents.

The Company has obtained a $500 million senior secured financing commitment from Citigroup Global Markets Inc. to fund the purchase price and retire the Company’s existing Senior Term Loan, if needed. Endeavour plans to pursue permanent financing for the transaction and the retirement of the Senior Term Loan before the transaction closes in 2012 through an issuance of high-yield notes.

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Offshore Nieuws Staff , December 28, 2011