Noble Energy Announces Farm-in Agreement With Falkland Oil and Gas Limited

HOUSTON, Aug. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Noble Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NBL), through its affiliate Noble Energy Falklands Limited, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Falkland Oil and Gas Limited ("FOGL") under which Noble Energy is acquiring an interest in FOGL's extensive license areas consisting of approximately 10 million acres located South and East of the Falkland Islands.  In conjunction with this agreement, FOGL issued the following release today:

FOGL, the oil and gas exploration company focused on its extensive licence areas to the South and East of the Falkland Islands, is pleased to announce the execution of a farm-out agreement with Noble Energy Falklands Limited ("Noble"), an affiliate of Noble Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NBL), a leading global exploration and production company.  The licence position consists of 40,000 square kilometers (10 million acres).

Summary terms of the Farmout Agreement:

• Noble will farm-in to the Northern Area Licences for a 35% interest except for two excluded areas. FOGL will continue as operator of the entire Northern Area Licences until early 2013, when operatorship of the farm-in area will be transferred to Noble.
• The excluded areas within the Northern Area Licences will be delineated both geographically and stratigraphically and comprise the Loligo complex and the Nimrod-Garrodia complex. Noble will not participate in certain stratigraphic horizons in these excluded areas and FOGL will retain a 75% interest and operatorship with Edison International S.p.a ("Edison") holding the remaining 25% interest. However, Noble will remain a participant in the excluded areas regarding other horizons.
• Noble will also farm-in to the Southern Area Licences for a 35% interest, with FOGL  continuing as operator of these licences until no later than early 2014, when Noble will become the designated operator.
• FOGL will be proposing to the partners that the Scotia prospect in the Northern Area Licences will be drilled in the fourth quarter of 2012 immediately following the FOGL Loligo well.

Noble's financial contribution comprises the following elements:

• 60% of the Scotia well costs, including associated costs incurred during 2011.
• A $25 million cash contribution to be paid in January 2013 predominantly relating to certain historical costs.
• 60% of the costs of the Southern Area Licences commitment well.
• 45% of a discretionary exploration well, should Noble elect to participate in the well.
• Noble's total investment over the next 3 years is currently estimated to range between $180 million and $230 million.

Resulting licence interests post farm-out

This farm-out brings in another significant industry partner for FOGL whose interests and expertise complement those of Edison. The farm out substantially improves FOGL's financial position. In the event that the Loligo and Scotia exploration wells are drilled within budget, it is estimated that on completion of the wells the Company's cash balances will not be less than $200 million which will provide the Company with significant funds for additional exploration work. Given suitable encouragement from the 2012 drilling results, this is likely to include two 3D seismic surveys to be acquired in the Northern and Southern Area licences commencing in early 2013. Further exploratory drilling is then anticipated to commence in late 2014 and may include a programme of up to four exploration wells.

The farm-out to Noble is subject to the approval of the Falkland Islands Government.

Tim Bushell, Chief Executive of FOGL, said:

"We are delighted that Noble is joining us in our exciting exploration programme. Noble brings strong technical expertise and an excellent track record of exploration and development success."

"We have now brought in two highly respected international exploration and production companies and with this strong partnership in place, we have the financial and technical resources to help realise the potential from our large acreage position in the Falkland Islands."

Charles D. Davidson, Noble Energy's Chairman and CEO, said:

"Noble Energy is looking forward to working with FOGL and Edison in this new exploration joint venture.  After careful study, we believe this region is very consistent with our new ventures exploration strategy of entering regions that provide prospects that are not only material in size, but also where initial success can de-risk subsequent opportunities. In this particular case we have already identified numerous oil leads on 2D data with an unrisked gross resource potential exceeding 6 billion barrels of oil. Once completed, this transaction will increase our worldwide leasehold by over 70 percent gross and 40 percent net." 

Noble Energy is a leading independent energy company engaged in worldwide oil and gas exploration and production. The Company has core operations onshore in the U.S., primarily in the DJ Basin and Marcellus Shale, in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, offshore Eastern Mediterranean, and offshore West Africa. Noble Energy is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is traded under the ticker symbol NBL. Further information is available at www.nobleenergyinc.com.

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "indicates," "anticipates," "suggests," "possibility," "believes," "expects," "intends,"  "will," "should," "may," and similar expressions may be used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and reflect Noble Energy's current views about future events. They include planned development activities, business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations. No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements contained in this news release will occur as projected and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks include, without limitation, exploration and development risks, drilling and operating risks, the presence or recoverability of estimated reserves, the negotiation and execution of definitive agreements, the volatility in commodity prices for crude oil and natural gas,,environmental risks, competition, government regulation or other actions, the ability of management to execute its plans to meet its goals and other risks inherent in Noble Energy's business that are discussed in its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and in other reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These reports are also available from Noble Energy's offices or website, http://www.nobleenergyinc.com. Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management at the time the statements are made. Noble Energy does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change.

SOURCE Noble Energy