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Galleon reports 2008 earnings of $79.3 million and operations update
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 9:14 PM


CALGARY, March 11 /CNW/ - (GO: TSX) Galleon Energy Inc. ("Galleon" or the "Corporation") announces record revenues, earnings and funds from operations in 2008.

2008 Performance
One of the key highlights in 2008 was the successful capture and
development of the Eastern and Central Montney resource projects. Horizontal
drilling and multi-stage fracture technology has advanced the development of
the Eastern Montney project and one of the Central Montney projects. These
resource projects are expected to deliver predictable, sustainable growth
throughout the multi-year drilling program.
-   Net present value of estimated future net revenue before tax from
    gross proved plus probable reserves based on forecast prices and
    costs discounted at 10% reached $1.3 billion, a 10% increase over
    December 31, 2007; Gross proved plus probable reserves grew to 80.4
    million BOE, an increase of 35% over December 31, 2007;
-   Gross proved reserves grew to 49.3 million BOE, an increase of 45%;
-   Gross proved producing reserves grew to 23.6 million BOE, an increase
    of 53%;
-   Gross proved plus probable reserve life index was 11.9 years based
    on average Q4 2008 production;
-   Production on a gross proved plus probable basis was replaced 4.3
    times;
-   A drilling success rate of 89%: drilled 107 gross wells resulting in
    56 (53.2 net) natural gas wells, 35 (32 net) light oil wells, 3 (3
    net) heavy oil wells and 1 (1 net) water injection well.
2008 Financial Highlights
-   Revenues reached $418.2 million, an increase of 71% compared to 2007;
-   Funds from operations of $241.3 million ($3.39 per basic share) were
    generated, an increase of 84% from 2007;
-   Earnings of $79.3 million ($1.11 per basic share) were recorded;
-   Daily production averaged 17,216 BOE: natural gas - 59 Mmcf and crude
    oil and NGLs - 7,385 Bbl, an increase of 28% from 2007;
-   Investment in exploration and development activities was $273.6
    million.

Operational Update

As commodity prices have continued to weaken over the past 4 to 6 months, Galleon has focused on low cost projects that also provide strong reserve growth. The majority of the drilling program has targeted the Eastern and Central Montney projects.

To date in Q1 2009, 7 (7.0 net) Eastern Montney horizontal wells, 1 (0.9 net) Central Montney horizontal well, 1 (1.0 net) Puskwa Beaverhill Lake infill well have been drilled and cased and 1 (0.1 net) non-operated well, a 100% success rate. One well targeting a new light oil resource play is currently drilling.

Current production based on field report estimates is approximately 18,000 BOE/d with in excess of 1,500 BOE/d of tested production behind pipe. Approximately 1,000 BOE/d of this production is scheduled to be on stream during Q4 2009 pending completion of the natural gas plant expansion in the Central Montney. The remaining 500 BOE/d, at Puskwa, is expected to be on stream in Q3 2009/Q4 2009 subject to receipt of regulatory approval for water injection.

Eastern Montney Update
The Eastern Montney horizontal program has continued to exceed
expectations.
-   The project is viable at low commodity prices.
-   The horizontal well program will focus on drilling from pad locations
    to reduce costs and improve drilling and tie-in efficiencies.
-   Horizontal well initial production rates and associated proven
    reserves have been on average approximately 2 to 3 times the rates of
    offset vertical wells. The horizontal well costs have been on average
    1.5 times the cost of a typical vertical well.
-   Horizontal well performance is more consistent and repeatable and
    production decline rate is lower and more stable compared to vertical
    wells.
-   Gas, water and oil are co-produced which is typical in tight immature
    reservoirs. All horizontal wells have associated water production
    which is not part of an active bottom water drive. Such water is not
    expected to materially impact total recoverable reserves.
-   Production life is expected to exceed 10 years based on original
    analog pools.

There have been 31 (30.6 net) Eastern Montney horizontal wells drilled by Galleon since March 2008. The average initial production rate is 1.3 Mmcf/d with 20 Bbls/d of oil per Mmcf. As the project has evolved, tests have been done on the length of the horizontal lateral, size of fractures, fracture density and fracture fluid to maximize productivity and reduce costs. The optimal configuration appears to be a 900 to 1000 meter lateral with 8 stages of 2 to 3 tonne water based fractures. Average initial production rates for the wells drilled to date in Q1 2009, have increased to 1.6 Mmcf/d. Total drilling and completion costs to date have been approximately $1.3 million per well on average.

Galleon plans to continue to use pad drilling throughout the 57 sections of land in the main fairway which has received approvals for down spacing to 4 wells per section. Up to 25 Eastern Montney horizontal wells are planned for 2009. As at December 31, 2008, a total of 59 gross proved plus probable horizontal drilling locations were recognized in the independent reserve evaluation report. Based on vertical well control and geologic mapping, an additional 300 horizontal locations with no reserves assigned have been identified. Galleon has access to over 200 sections (average interest 90%) of prospective land in the delineated Eastern Montney fairway which is approximately 35 miles long by 10 miles wide.

Central Montney Update
As the drilling program on the two Central Montney projects commenced in
July 2008, the projects are in the early stages of development. Galleon has
delineated some very significant reserves.
-   The project is viable at low commodity prices.
-   Central Montney project No.1 can be developed using inexpensive
    vertical wells with average drilling, completion and tie-in costs of
    $1.1 million to date.
-   Galleon plans to develop the Central Montney project No.2 using a
    combination of vertical and horizontal wells. Vertical wells cost on
    average $1.0 million to date in total and serve to identify the depth
    of each of the 7 gas charged Montney sands. The vertical wells can be
    produced but they also provide an accurate reference for the location
    of follow up horizontal legs. In this play horizontal wells have
    generally produced at rates of 2 times the vertical wells with well
    costs averaging 1.5 times the vertical well costs.

Four Montney wells were drilled in the Central Montney project No.1 in the last half of 2008. These wells provided ample justification for the plant expansion which occurred in fourth quarter 2008. The plant was up and running by January 10, 2009 and, since that time, net production has been stable at 14 Mmcf/d. The discovery well plus the 4 wells drilled in 2008 are contributing approximately 11.6 Mmcf/d of net production. No follow up wells have been drilled in Q1 2009 as the plant capacity is full and there is 6 Mmcf/d of tested net gas production currently behind pipe. Plans are underway to expand the plant capacity to up to 28 Mmcf/d in Q4 2009. At least 2 more Montney vertical wells are planned to be drilled on this project in 2009.

Since July 2008, 3 Montney wells (2 horizontal wells and 1 vertical well) have been drilled and one Montney recompletion has been performed in the Central Montney project No.2. One of the Montney horizontal wells was drilled in Q1 09. Including the original discovery well, this project is currently producing at approximately 7.4 Mmcf/d net from the Montney. There are no plant capacity constraints in this area and up to 4 more Montney wells (two vertical wells and two horizontal wells) are planned to be drilled in 2009. Drilling risk on these wells has been lowered due to approvals being received for down spacing to 4 wells per section on the two key sections. At least one exploitation well is planned to test the expansion of the play along trend.

Puskwa Beaverhill Lake Light Oil Update

Puskwa continues to be a solid light oil project. Net production has been stable over the last year at approximately 2,500 BOE/D. Two wells (100% interest) have been drilled since July 2008. The first well was drilled to be a water injection well. This well was drilled in August 2008 and has not yet received regulatory approval to commence injecting water. The second well was drilled in Q1 2009. This is the first well drilled on the recently approved 80 acre down spacing. This well flowed at 550 Bbl/d and 1.2 Mmcf/d gas for a period of 62 hours on test. The production rate has not yet been determined. The well is expected to be eligible for the Alberta Government transitional royalty rate. The number of wells planned for Puskwa in 2009 will depend on receiving water injection approval on the two outstanding applications.

Management's Discussion and Analysis

This Management's Discussion & Analysis ("MD&A") is intended to assist in the understanding of the trends and significant changes in the financial condition and results of operations of Galleon Energy Inc. ("Galleon" or the "Corporation") for the year ended December 31, 2008 with comparisons to the year ended December 31, 2007. The MD&A has been prepared by management in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Petroleum and natural gas reserves and volumes are converted to a common unit of measure on a basis of six thousand cubic feet (Mcf) of gas to one barrel (Bbl) of oil. BOEs may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. The forgoing conversion ratio is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead.

Amounts are shown in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated. All production volumes disclosed herein are sales volumes.

This MD&A is based on information available as of, and is dated, March 11, 2009.

Non-GAAP Measurements

The MD&A contains terms commonly used in the oil and gas industry, such as funds from operations, funds from operations per share, and operating netback. These terms are not defined by GAAP and should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, cash provided by operating activities or net earnings as determined in accordance with Canadian GAAP as an indicator of Galleon's performance. Management believes that in addition to net earnings, funds from operations is a useful financial measurement which assists in demonstrating the Corporation's ability to fund capital expenditures necessary for future growth or to repay debt. Galleon's determination of funds from operations may not be comparable to that reported by other companies. All references to funds from operations throughout this report are based on cash flow from operating activities before changes in non-cash working capital and abandonment expenditures. The Corporation calculates funds from operations per share by dividing funds from operations by the weighted average number of Class A shares outstanding.

Galleon uses the term net debt in the MD&A and presents a table showing how it has been determined. This measure does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by Canadian GAAP and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements that are not historical facts may be considered forward looking statements including management's assessment of future plans and operations, growth expectations within the Corporation, expected production and production increases, length of drilling program in the Montney, expected general and administration, operating and transportation expenses in 2009, expected royalty rates in 2009 and the impact of the New Alberta Royalty Framework and the transitional royalties and incentives provided in connection therewith, expected levels of cash flow and earnings in 2009, drilling and completion plans and the timing thereof, facilities to be constructed or expanded and the timing thereof, capital expenditures, the timing thereof and the method of funding thereof. These forward-looking statements sometimes include words to the effect that management believes or expects a stated condition or result. All estimates and statements that describe the Corporation's objectives, goals or future plans are forward-looking statements. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, risks associated with oil and gas exploration, development, exploitation, production, marketing and transportation, loss of markets, volatility of commodity prices, currency fluctuations, imprecision of reserve estimates, environmental risks, competition from other producers, inability to retain drilling rigs and other services, incorrect assessment of the value of acquisitions, failure to realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions, delays resulting from or inability to obtain required regulatory approvals and ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources. As a consequence, Galleon's actual results may differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of factors and assumptions which have been used to develop such statements and information but which may prove to be incorrect. Although the Corporation believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because the Corporation can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. In addition to other factors and assumptions which may be identified in this document, assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: the impact of increasing competition; the general stability of the economic and political environment in which the Corporation operates; the timely receipt of any required regulatory approvals; the ability of the Corporation to obtain qualified staff, equipment and services in a timely and cost efficient manner; drilling results; the ability of the operator of the projects which the Corporation has an interest in to operate the field in a safe, efficient and effective manor; the ability of the Corporation to obtain financing on acceptable terms; field production rates and decline rates; the ability to replace and expand oil and natural gas reserves through acquisition, development of exploration; the timing and costs of pipeline, storage and facility construction and expansion and the ability of the Corporation to secure adequate product transportation; future oil and natural gas prices; currency, exchange and interest rates; the regulatory framework regarding royalties, taxes and environmental matters in the jurisdictions in which the Corporation operates; and the ability of the Corporation to successfully market its oil and natural gas products.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of all factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect Galleon's operations and financial results are included elsewhere herein and in reports on file with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and may be accessed through the SEDAR website (www.sedar.com), or at Galleon's website (www.galleonenergy.com). Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained herein are made as at the date hereof and Galleon does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

Annual Information
($000s)                                  2008         2007          2006
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues                              418,233      245,203       157,931
Funds from Operations(1)              241,298      131,052        85,151
  Per share, basic(1)                    3.39         2.18          1.60
  Per share, diluted(1)                  3.35         2.12          1.52
Net Earnings                           79,264        8,286        13,826
  Per share, basic                       1.11         0.14          0.26
  Per share, diluted                     1.10         0.13          0.25
Total Assets                        1,181,003      799,359       614,565
Net debt                              282,446      193,557       151,213
Bank debt                             249,015      163,378       122,996
Total Long-term Financial Liabilities       -            -             -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Funds from operations and funds from operations per share is not a
    standard measure under GAAP and may not be comparable to similar
    measures presented by other companies. Management believes that funds
    flow per share is a useful supplementary measure that may assist
    investors in assessing the underlying per share value of the
    Corporation.
(2) See " Non-GAAP Measurements"

On January 16, 2008, the Corporation acquired all of the outstanding common shares of Exalta Energy Inc. ("Exalta"). The Exalta acquisition was accounted for by the purchase method and shares were acquired for an aggregate of $62.5 million by the issuance of 4,334,856 Class A shares of Galleon at a value of $14.42 per share plus the assumption of $48.5 million of net debt including capital leases.

On May 9, 2008 the Corporation acquired all of the outstanding common shares of Adamant Energy Inc. ("Adamant"). The Adamant acquisition was accounted for by the purchase method and shares were acquired for an aggregate of $65.2 million by the issuance of 4,193,288 Class A shares of Galleon at a value of $15.55 per share. Cash of $2.4 million was acquired and positive working capital of $5.9 million was assumed in the acquisition.

The increase in revenues, funds from operations and net earnings in 2008 compared to 2007 was due to strong commodity prices in the majority of 2008 and to an increase in production volumes throughout 2008. Total assets and net debt increased in 2008 due to the capital expenditure program and the acquisitions of ExAlta and Adamant.

On February 1, 2007, the Corporation closed a transaction resulting in an acquisition of an interest in a partnership and the minority partnership's holdings resulting in a 100% consolidated interest. The partnership held oil and gas assets within Galleon's core area of Dawson, Alberta. The total consideration of $28.7 million was paid in cash. The acquisition of the partnership increased funds from operations and total assets compared to 2006. The decrease in net income in 2007 compared to 2006 is due to the fair value of financial derivatives recorded based on quoted market prices. At December 31, 2007 the fair value was an unrealized loss of $9.3 million.

Results of Operations
Year ended December 31                 2008                  2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                6,300,970 BOE         4,901,518 BOE
($000s)                                      $/BOE                 $/BOE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues                        418,233      66.38    245,203      50.03
Other income                        438       0.07          -          -
Royalties                       (86,717)    (13.76)   (51,586)    (10.52)
GCA(1)                           15,595       2.48     10,033       2.05
Transportation costs             (8,537)     (1.35)    (6,024)     (1.23)
Operating costs                 (75,807)    (12.03)   (44,759)     (9.13)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                263,205      41.79    152,867      31.20
G&A                             (13,326)     (2.11)    (7,281)     (1.49)
Interest costs                  (11,138)     (1.77)   (10,110)     (2.06)
Gain (loss) on financial
 derivative                       3,621       0.57     (3,545)     (0.72)
Capital and other taxes          (1,064)     (0.17)      (879)     (0.18)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Funds from operations(2)        241,298      38.31    131,052      26.75
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) GCA means Gas Cost Allowance
(2) See "Non-GAAP Measurements"
Petroleum and Natural Gas Revenues
Year ended December 31                 2008                  2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
($000s)                                          %                     %
Light oil                       189,435         45     98,564         40
Heavy oil                        41,503         10     27,776         11
NGLs                             11,434          3      5,736          3
Natural gas (net of
 physical gas contracts)        175,122         42    112,299         46
Royalty income                      739          -        828          -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                           418,233        100    245,203        100
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2008 increased 71% to $418.2 million from $245.2 million in the prior year due to a 28% increase in average production volumes. As well overall revenues increased by 33% to $66.38/BOE from $50.03/BOE in 2007 as a result of higher commodity prices. A portion of Galleon's petroleum products are sold at either spot reference prices or prices subject to commodity contracts based on U.S. dollars for crude oil and AECO for natural gas. The Corporation also enters into fixed price and costless collar commodity contracts on a portion of its petroleum products. Refer to "Commodity Pricing and Marketing" section.

Production
Year ended December 31                 2008                  2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  BOE/d          %      BOE/d          %
Light oil (Bbls/d)                5,187         30      3,562         26
Heavy oil (Bbls/d)                1,686         10      2,005         15
NGLs (Bbls/d)                       512          3        246          2
Natural gas (Mcf/d)              58,986         57     45,697         57
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOE/d (6:1)                      17,216        100     13,429        100
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Average production volumes for 2008 of 17,216 BOE/d increased by 28% compared to 13,429 BOE/d in 2007. By product, light oil volumes increased by 46%, natural gas volumes increased by 29% and heavy oil volumes decreased 16%. Light oil production increased in 2008 as a result of drilling success at Puskwa, Eaglesham, Culp/Kimiwan and McLeans Creek. Natural gas volumes increased in 2008 as a result of the significant resource gas brought on production in the Central Montney project as well as the production additions realized from horizontal drilling and multi-stage fracture technology in the Eastern Montney project. Heavy oil production suffered a set back in Q2 2008 with a number of wells not recovering their oil production rates after being shut in during spring breakup. Current heavy oil production levels remain stable, but at lower levels.

Commodity Pricing and Marketing

Petroleum products are sold to major Canadian marketers at either spot reference prices or prices subject to commodity contracts based on US WTI for crude oil and AECO for natural gas. As a means of managing the risk of commodity price volatility in 2008, Galleon entered into one term natural gas contract and six crude oil financial contracts. The natural gas contract for 10,000 GJ/day was put in place on January 8, 2008 and had a term from February 1 to December 31, 2008 with pricing subject to a costless collar of $6.00/GJ and $8.00/GJ Canadian.

An additional natural gas contract was acquired with Adamant. This second contract was for 8,500 GJ/day and was put in place from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008 with pricing subject to a costless collar of $6.00/GJ to $7.00/GJ Canadian. At the date of acquisition, this contract represented a $5.3 million liability which has been fully amortized into income in 2008 and recorded as a realized non cash gain of $5.3 million. For the year ended December 31, 2008, realized losses of $2.7 million were recorded from these contracts.

In 2008, Galleon had the following crude oil costless collar contracts in
place:
January 1, 2008 -         2,000 Bbl/d        WTI CDN $70.00-$80.75/Bbl
 December 31, 2008
January 1, 2008 -         1,000 Bbl/d        WTI USD $75.00-$100.00/Bbl
 December 31, 2008
July 1, 2008 -            1,000 Bbl/d        WTI CDN $110.00-$177.30/Bbl
 December 31, 2008
October 1, 2008 -         1,000 Bbl/d        WTI USD $100.00-$120.00/Bbl
 December 31, 2008
October 1, 2008 -         1,000 Bbl/d        WTI USD $100.00-$120.00/Bbl
 December 31, 2008
January 1, 2009 -         1,000 Bbl/d        WTI USD $100.00-$115.00/Bbl
 June 30, 2009
For the year ended December 31, 2008, the crude oil contracts resulted in
realized gains of $3.6 million. In addition, the 2009 contract was unwound in
2 separate transactions in December 2008 which resulted in a realized gain of
$10.8 million.
In the last two months of 2008, the Corporation entered into the following
natural gas financial fixed price contracts:
January 1, 2009 - June 30, 2009       5,000 GJ/d       CDN $6.00/GJ
January 1, 2009 - June 30, 2009       5,000 GJ/d       CDN $6.00/GJ
April 1, 2009 - October 31, 2009      5,000 GJ/d       CDN $7.40/GJ
Unrealized gains of $1.2 million were recorded as an asset based on the
mark to market value at December 31, 2008 of these natural gas financial
contracts.
Subsequent to December 31, 2008 the Corporation has entered into the
following financial fixed price contracts:
Natural Gas:
March 1, 2009 - March 31, 2010        5,000 GJ/d       CDN $5.96/GJ
March 1, 2009 - March 31, 2010        5,000 GJ/d       CDN $6.01/GJ
Crude Oil:
March 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009     1,000 Bbl/d      WTI CDN $68.25/Bbl
February 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009  500 Bbl/d        WTI CDN $63.30/Bbl
February 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009  500 Bbl/d        WTI CDN $63.85/Bbl
March 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009     500 Bbl/d        WTI CDN $60.00-
                                                        $70.00/Bbl

Prices (net of transportation)
Year ended December 31                                 2008         2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Light oil ($/Bbl)                                     96.94        74.77
Heavy oil ($/Bbl)                                     71.77        37.39
Total oil including financial
 derivative contract ($/Bbl)                          92.20        59.56
Total oil with out financial
 derivative contract ($/Bbl)                          90.76        61.31
Natural gas ($/Mcf)                                    7.87         6.54
NGLs ($/Bbl)                                          61.06        63.94
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The average light oil price (excluding the financial derivative contract) received for 2008 was $96.94/Bbl, an increase of 30% compared to $74.77/Bbl in the prior year. The average heavy oil price was $71.77/Bbl, an increase of 92% compared to $37.39/Bbl in the prior year. The 2009 budget is based on an average price of $65 WTI USD and a foreign exchange rate of $0.85 USD to $1.00 CAD. This budget has been modified to reflect current and future prices.

The average natural gas price received for 2008 was $7.87/Mcf, an increase of 20% compared to $6.54/Mcf in the prior year. The 2009 budget is based on an average AECO price of $7.00/Mcf CAD. This budget has been modified to reflect current and future prices.

Performance by Property
Year ended
 December 31              2008                    2007
---------------------------------------  ----------------------
                                 Oper-                   Oper-
                                 ating                   ating      2008
                                  net-                    net-     Funds
                                 backs/                  backs/     from
                     Average       BOE       Average       BOE    opera-
                   Production    (1)(2)    Production    (1)(2)  tions(2)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   BOE/d     %       $     BOE/d     %       $         %
East Montney       3,818    22   33.60     3,668    27   25.63        19
Eaglesham          3,066    18   42.15     1,975    15   28.07        19
Puskwa             2,573    15   57.71     2,129    16   52.08        22
North Peace
 River Arch        1,318     8   26.59         -     -       -         5
Alexis/St. Anne    1,198     7   35.45         -     -       -         6
Edam               1,174     7   24.73     1,856    14    8.38         4
Culp/Kimiwan         803     5   59.91       804     6   37.14         7
McLeans Creek        618     4   80.25       154     1   68.25         7
Kakut                549     3   30.08       273     2   22.87         2
Western Montney      278     1   30.52       212     2   26.07         1
Other              1,821    10   26.28     2,358    17   22.21         8
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total             17,216   100   39.65    13,429   100   29.15       100
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Operating netbacks/BOE exclude GCA and crude oil and gas hedging
    gains or losses, and are calculated by subtracting royalties and
    operating costs from revenues and dividing the result by average
    production for the period.
(2) See "Non-GAAP Measurements".

Daily production for the year averaged 17,216 BOE/d, an increase of 28% compared to 13,429 BOE/d in 2007. Volume growth in 2008 was primarily driven by Galleon's light oil drilling in the first half of the 2008, Montney resource gas drilling in the second half of the year and production from the ExAlta and Adamant acquisitions. Light oil volumes increased due to the drilling of more oil wells in response to higher oil prices in the first part of 2008. Natural gas volumes increased in 2008 compared to 2007 as a result of the success of the significant Eastern Montney gas horizontal drilling program. Twenty of the 24 horizontal wells drilled in 2008 were brought on production during the second half of 2008. Drilling in the Central Montney project commenced in the second half of the year. The drilling focus shifted between the first half and the second half of 2008. The Corporation moved from conventional plays with smaller size and high initial declines toward resource projects that have repeatability, predictability and comparably larger in size.

The Eastern Montney natural gas project represents a significant resource to Galleon and is currently the largest producing area contributing 19% to total funds from operating activities in 2008 based on 22% of production volumes. The operating netback of $33.60/BOE has improved by 31% from the prior year as a result of stronger 2008 natural gas prices. Production averaged 3,818 BOE/d (91% natural gas and 9% oil and liquids) during 2008 compared to 3,668 BOE/d in 2007.

Galleon's first Montney horizontal well was drilled in Q1 2008 and commenced production in the latter part of June 2008. In 2008, twenty-four (23.6 net) Eastern Montney horizontal wells were drilled and completed with multi-staged fractures and twenty wells are currently producing approximately 3,600 BOE/d net (20 Mmcf/d and 267 BOE/d of oil and liquids). The production data suggests that horizontal wells have a higher production profile (2 to 3 times better) and lower initial production decline rates than the vertical wells. To date, the economics of the horizontal wells have proven to be better than the vertical wells on a rate of return and reserve optimization basis. On stream costs (including drilling, completion, tie-in and facility costs) on average for the project are less than $10,000 per producing BOE. Galleon has delineated a gas charged fairway with vertical well control that is 35 miles long by 12 miles wide.

Production at Eaglesham averaged 3,066 BOE/d making it Galleon's second largest producing property in 2008. Production is comprised of 71% natural gas and 29% oil and liquids. Average production was 55% higher in 2008 compared to 1,975 BOE/d in the prior year. This increase has come from success in Wabamun light oil and Montney resource gas drilling. Eaglesham contributed 19% of the 2008 funds from operations from 18% of production volumes.



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