|
Successful Oil Field Startup with Target of 1,000 Barrels of Oil Per
Day
September 12, 2008
VANCOUVER, BC Lexaria Corp. (OTC BB: LXRA)
(the "Company" or "Lexaria") is very pleased
to announce that Belmont Lake oil field in Mississippi is expected
to be back into production next week. For the first time our wells
will be producing with the aid of artificial lift (pumping).
We now
have our first good early indications of the potential for this oil
field. It is the Company’s goal that the Belmont
Lake oil field ultimately produce from existing and potential future
wells at least 1,000 barrels of oil per day. Our operator has received
approval from the Mississippi State Oil Board to develop the Belmont
Lake oil field on an as-needed basis, which should assist us to optimize
production and ultimate field recovery.
Work completed recently includes
rebuilding of access roads and drill pads and workovers of the two
existing wells at Belmont Lake. This included assessments of the wells;
removal of the paraffin blockages; treatment of the oil field with
chemicals designed to reduce future paraffin buildup; and installation
of down-hole pumps driven by natural gas pressure that do not require
electricity or mechanical power at the well locations.
The PP F-12 well
originally went into production on October 2, 2007. It produced intermittently
until Feb 14, 2008, when a down-hole screen was blocked by paraffin
buildup. During that time it produced roughly 10,000 barrels of oil
and production was limited both by paraffin buildup and by lack of
artificial lift. We were not able to perform the simple procedures
to deal with paraffin buildup at the time, due to the flooding of the
Mississippi River which had prevented surface access. As a result,
production was interrupted from Feb 14.
Stepout well PP F-12-3 is also
expected back into production next week, with pump. This well produced
intermittently from Nov 11, 2007 until May 25, 2008. During that time
the well produced roughly 11,000 barrels of oil with no pump. It also
suffered from paraffin buildup which had limited production rates.
Lexaria expects the production rates of both of these Belmont Lake
wells to stabilize in the weeks to come.
During 2008 and 2009 Lexaria
expects to complete development of the Belmont Lake oil field with
between 3-12 additional wells. Each new successful well that is drilled
will be immediately commissioned with pumps; and the necessary chemical
treatment to help ensure maximized stable production. The Company expects
to be able to drill all or most of these wells from its existing cash
flow.
With the successful installation of down-hole injection
lines and the non-mechanical pumps, we believe we have removed to the
fullest extent possible, the probability of extended future production
shut-downs due to paraffin build up or lack of access to the wellhead
due to difficult surface conditions.
Subject to acceptable weather conditions,
Lexaria expects to conduct similar workover operations on the PP F-52
well, located some 9 miles north of Belmont Lake oil field. Although
the PP F-52 well was completed as a gas discovery, it also began producing
oil from Oct 23, 2007, until Feb 15, 2008 during which time it produced
approximately 5,500 barrels. Although the production rate from the
PP F-52 well is expected to be lower than from the Belmont Lake oil
field wells, the Company believes it to be significant because it demonstrates
our success in finding repeat occurrences of oil production within
our exploration areas in Southern Mississippi.
Lexaria is attempting
to discover as-yet unidentified oil fields in the region that may have
characteristics similar to our Belmont Lake discovery, and believes
that pursuing this strategy could produce significant shareholder value.
There
was no known damage to any of Lexaria’s wells or production
facility from the recent Hurricane Gustav. Typical damage in the area
consisted of fallen trees. The latest reports on Hurricane Ike project
it to not come closer than 200-300 miles of our Belmont Lake oil field.
Lexaria
currently has a 30% working interest in the Belmont Lake oil field
and in the PP F-52 well mentioned above, as well as additional producing
gas wells. Lexaria also holds a 50% working interest in future exploration
wells to be drilled on lands surrounding Belmont Lake in all directions.
Investors
are invited to visit the Lexaria Corp.IR Hub at www.agoracom.com/IR/Lexaria where they can post questions and receive answers or review questions
and answers already posted by other investors. Alternatively, investors
are able to e-mail all questions and correspondence to
where they can also request to be added to the investor e-mail list
to receive all future press releases and updates in real time.
About Lexaria Corp.
Lexaria Corp. is an oil & gas company active
in Mississippi, Oklahoma and in Alberta, Canada. The main focus currently
is Mississippi, where it holds between 30% and 50% gross interests
in various gas and oil projects. Lexaria routinely evaluates additional
oil & gas projects and corporate opportunities.
Contact: Leonard MacMillan, 1-800-287-2885
www.lexariaenergy.com
Statements which are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. The Company makes forward-looking public statements concerning its expected future operations, performance and other developments. Such forward-looking statements are estimates reflecting the Company's best judgment based upon current information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that other factors will not affect the accuracy of such forward-looking statements. It is impossible to identify all such factors but they include and are not limited to the existence of underground deposits of commercial quantities of oil and gas; cessation or delays in exploration because of mechanical, operating, financial or other problems; capital expenditures that are higher than anticipated; or exploration opportunities being fewer than currently anticipated. The Company has no official gas or oil reserves at this time and may not have sufficient funding to thoroughly explore, drill or develop its properties. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated by the Company include, but are not limited to, government regulation, managing and maintaining growth, the effect of adverse publicity, litigation, competition and other factors which may be identified from time to time in the Company's public announcements and filings.
|