logo


Stealth Increases Reserves by 71% on Alberta Shale Gas Play
Friday, March 20, 2009 9:00 AM


SLV tsxventure

CALGARY, March 20 /CNW/ - Stealth Ventures Ltd. ("Stealth" or the "Company") in accordance with disclosure requirements prescribed by National Instrument 51-101 Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities ("NI 51-101") is pleased to announce the results of its 2008 independent reserve evaluation report by Sproule Associates Limited (Sproule).

Highlights
-   Moved the Cretaceous Colorado from an Exploration play to a
    Development play in 2008.
-   Total Proved Plus Probable reserves (TP+P) increase of 71% in 2008
    from 2007.
-   Increase to 3.22 MBOE on TP+P (gross) exclusively through the drill
    bit
-   Decrease in 2008 full cycle (drill, complete and tie-in) capital
    expenditures from $373,000/well to $300,000/well. This represents a
    20% reduction from 2007
-   Reserve Life Index of 12.6 years based on gross TP+P divided by 2009
    yearly production as forecasted by Sproule
-   The net present value (NPV) of Stealth's TP+P with forecast price and
    10% discount before tax is $29.1 million, a 111% increase over the
    2007 Sproule report
-   Per share NPV TP+P per above is approximately 32 cents per share at
    December 31, 2008

Stealth has experienced substantial growth in 2008, building itself from a pure exploration play to a high impact (400+ immediate development drilling locations) lower risk production company. Stealth has proven the production and reserves potential of the Colorado shales. In addition, ongoing reductions in capital costs have made the Cretaceous Colorado shales a substantial classic resource play. The 2008 capital program has resulted in improvements to reservoir quality and increased potential land prospects. The Company has expanded its inventory of resource through the development of lower geological zones in the Wildmere area. The development program in Alberta has demonstrated good productive capability and will form a key corporate focus for solid growth in 2009 and beyond.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              NI 51-101
                   Summary of Oil and Gas Reserves
                       as of December 31, 2008
                      Forecast Prices and Costs
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Reserves
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                Natural Gas      Natural
                     Light and              (non-associated          Gas
                    Medium Oil    Heavy Oil    & associated)     Liquids
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reserve Category  Gross    Net  Gross    Net  Gross     Net  Gross   Net
                  (Mbbl) (Mbbl) (Mbbl) (Mbbl) (MMcf)  (MMcf) (Mbbl)(Mbbl)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proved
Developed
 Producing          0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0  6,212   5,603    0.0   0.0
Developed
 Non-Producing      0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0    918     871    0.0   0.0
Undeveloped         0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0  7,729   7,027    0.0   0.0
Total Proved        0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0 14,860  13,501    0.0   0.0
Probable            0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0  4,479   4,067    0.0   0.0
Total Proved
 Plus Probable      0.0    0.0    0.0    0.0 19,339  17,568    0.0   0.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reference: Item 2.2(1) of Form 51-101F1

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              NI 51-101
                  Summary of Net Present Values of
                         Future Net Revenue
                       as of December 31, 2008
                      Forecast Prices and Costs
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Net Present Values of Future Net Revenue
----------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Before Income Taxes
                                  Discounted at (%/Year)
----------------------------------------------------------------
Reserves Category        0        5       10       15       20
                       (M$)     (M$)     (M$)     (M$)     (M$)
----------------------------------------------------------------
Proved
Developed
 Producing           18,976   16,203   14,058   12,395   11,086
Developed
 Non-Producing        2,375    1,971    1,631    1,358    1,141
Undeveloped           9,653    4,433      788   -1,723   -3,465
Total Proved         31,003   22,607   16,477   12,029    8,762
Probable             22,000   16,194   12,621   10,302    8,715
Total Proved Plus
 Probable            53,004   38,801   29,098   22,331   17,476
----------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Net Present Values of Future Net Revenue
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   After Income Taxes             Future
                                 Discounted at (%/Year)          Net Val
----------------------------------------------------------------
Reserves Category        0        5       10       15       20    10%/yr
                       (M$)     (M$)     (M$)     (M$)     (M$)   ($/boe)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Proved
 Developed
  Producing          18,976   16,203   14,058   12,395   11,086    15.05
 Developed
  Non-Producing       2,375    1,971    1,631    1,358    1,141    11.24
 Undeveloped          9,653    4,433      788   -1,723   -3,465     0.67
 Total Proved        31,003   22,607   16,477   12,029    8,762     7.32
 Probable            22,000   16,194   12,621   10,302    8,715    18.62
 Total Proved Plus
  Probable           53,004   38,801   29,098   22,331   17,476     9.94
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reference Item 2.2(2) of Form 51-101F1
Notes: NPV of FNR include all           Income Taxes:
       resource income:                    Includes all resource income
          Sale of oil, gas,                Apply appropriate income tax
           by-product reserves              calculations
          Processing third party           Include prior tax pools
           reserves
          Other income
       Unit Values are based on net reserve volumes

                              NI 51-101
               Net Present Value of Future Net Revenue
                         by Production Group
                       as of December 31, 2008
                      Forecast Prices and Costs
                                        Future Net          Unit Value
                                      Revenue Before       Before Income
                                       Income Taxes            Taxes
Reserves                              (Discounted at      (Discounted at
Category   Production Group              10%/Year)            10%/Year)
                                            (M$)               ($/boe)
Proved     Light and Medium Crude
            Oil (including solution
            gas and associated
            by-products)                          0                   0
           Heavy Oil (including
            solution gas and
            associated by-products)               0                   0
           Natural Gas (including
            associated by-products)(x)       16,477                7.32
Proved
 Plus
 Probable  Light and Medium Crude
            Oil (including solution
            gas and associated
            by-products)                          0                   0
           Heavy Oil (including
            solution gas and
            associated by-products)               0                   0
           Natural Gas (including
            associated by-products)(x)       29,098                9.94
Reference Item 2.1(3)(c) of Form 51-101F1
(x) Includes corporate Capital GCA, if applicable
Unit Values are based on net reserve volumes

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              NI 51-101
          Summary of Pricing and Inflation Rate Assumptions
                       As of December 31, 2008
                      Forecast Prices and Costs
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Natural Gas(1) AECO Gas Prices   Inflation Rate(1) (%/Yr)
                            ($Cdn/MMBtu)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Historical
2004                               6.87                    1.4
2005                               8.58                    1.3
2006                               7.16                    1.5
2007                               6.65                    2.0
2008 (Est.)                        8.15                    1.0
Forecast
2009                               7.20                    2.0
2010                               7.89                    2.0
2011                               8.21                    2.0
2012                               8.72                    2.0
2013                               9.24                    2.0
Thereafter                                      Various Escalation Rates
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inflation rates for forecasting prices and costs. Notes: Product sale
prices will reflect these reference prices with further adjustments for
quality and transportation to point of sale.
Reference Item 3.2 of Form 51-101F1

Net Present Value

The following table sets forth the estimated future net revenue attributed to proved plus probable reserves, estimated using forecast prices and costs on a before tax basis and calculated using a discount rate of 10 percent, included in the reserves data of the Company evaluated by Sproule as of December 31, 2008 and identifies the respective portions thereof that Sproule have audited, evaluated and reviewed and reported on to the Company's management and Board of Directors:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Independent  Description   Location     Net Present Value of Future Net
Qualified        and      of Reserves     Revenue Before Income Taxes
Reserves     Preparation   (Country)          (10% Discount Rate)
Evaluator      Date of               ------------------------------------
or Auditor   Evaluation              Audited  Evaluated  Reviewed  Total
               Report                 (M$)      (M$)       (M$)     (M$)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sproule     Evaluation of   Canada
            P&NG Reserves
             of Stealth
            Ventures Ltd.,
            As of December
              31, 2007,
              prepared
              January to
            February 2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                                  Nil     29,050      Nil    29,098
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detailed reserve information will be presented in the Company's upcoming fourth quarter and year-end financial results press release and in the National Instrument Form 51-101F1, Statement of Reserves Data and Other Oil and Gas Information scheduled to be filed on SEDAR on or before April 30, 2009.

Stealth Ventures Ltd. is a Calgary-based junior oil and gas company whose expertise and focus is on "unconventional" gas reserves from shale gas, CBM and tight gas sand reservoirs.

STEALTH VENTURES LTD.
"Derek Krivak"
Per: DEREK KRIVAK
Chief Executive Officer

READER ADVISORY

Forward Looking Statements: Certain information regarding the Company in this news release including management's assessment of reserve and production estimates, reserves additions and estimates of future net revenue and net asset value may constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws and necessarily involve risks 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, the timing and length of plant turnarounds and the impact of such turnarounds and the timing thereof, delays resulting from or inability to obtain required regulatory approvals and ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources.

The recovery and reserve estimates of Stealth's reserves provided herein are estimates only and there is no guarantee that the estimated reserves will be recovered. In addition, 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. As a consequence, the Company's actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly no assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or, if any of them do so, what benefits the Company will derive there from. Although Stealth 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 Stealth can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. In addition to other factors and assumptions which may be identified herein, assumptions have been made regarding, among other things; the impact of increasing competition; the general stability of the economic and political environment in which Stealth operates; the timely receipt of any required regulatory approvals; the ability of Stealth 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 Stealth has an interest in to operate the field in a safe, efficient and effective manner; the ability of Stealth 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 and exploration; the timing and cost of pipeline, storage and facility construction and expansion and the ability of Stealth to secure adequate product transportation; future commodity prices; currency, exchange and interest rates; the regulatory framework regarding royalties, taxes and environmental matters in the jurisdictions in which Stealth operates; and the ability of Stealth to successfully market its oil and natural gas products. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. Additional information on these and other factors that could effect the Company's operations and financial results are included in reports on file with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and may be accessed through the SEDAR website (www.sedar.com), and the Company's website (www.stealthventures.ca). Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company 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

Disclosure provided herein in respect of BOEs may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A BOE conversion ratio of 6 Mcf: 1 Bbl is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead.

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. THIS NEWS
RELEASE MAY CONTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION. ACTUAL FUTURE RESULTS
MAY DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE CONTEMPLATED.

%SEDAR: 00008195E

(Source: CNW )


(0)
No Comments
Post Comment
Name:  
Alert for new comments:
Your email:
Your Website:
Title:
Comments:
   
 
 
 
 
   
 

  
Related Press Releases
Advertisement
Popular Articles
Special Offers
Partner Center
Fundamental data is provided by Zacks Investment Research, market data is provided by AlphaTrade. , and Commentary and Press Releases provided by Quotemedia