Zion Oil & Gas enters LOI to Purchase a Drilling Rig for Israel Operations

Zion announces the incorporation of two subsidiaries: Zion Drilling, Inc., and Zion Drilling Services, Inc.

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Feb 05, 2020, 17:55 ET

DALLAS and CAESAREA, Israel, Feb. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Zion Oil & Gas, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZN) announces they have entered a partially binding letter of intent to purchase a drilling rig and has formed two wholly owned subsidiary corporations.

"We have signed a letter of intent to purchase a drilling rig for Zion's ongoing 2020 exploration plans," Zion's COO, Robert Dunn said. "This rig will have increased capabilities for onshore drilling in Israel, and we see it as a vital part of our operations going forward."

1600 horsepower AC Top Drive equipped rig capable of 20,000ft depth

"We were fortunate to find this rig and believe it is an ideal fit for our plans," stated Zion's President, Bill Avery. "We are thankful for our shareholders' ongoing support which will enable us to close the purchase of the rig with immediately available cash at closing."

LETTER OF INTENT FOR DRILLING RIG

Zion has entered into a partially binding letter of intent to purchase a drilling rig, drill pipe, and all related equipment for importation into Israel to continue its exploration plans.

The rig is a 1600 horsepower AC Top Drive equipped rig with a twin 1600 horsepower mud pump system with a depth capability of 20,000 ft. The rig will be equipped with 15,000 ft of heavy 5" drill pipe along with associated well control equipment.

The rig underwent a full CAT III & IV certification in late 2017, reassuring the quality of the rig and ancillary equipment, and it has drilled two wells since certification.

Zion and the seller plan to immediately begin negotiating a definitive purchase agreement to close the purchase of the rig for the agreed sum of $5,600,000, subject to satisfactory due diligence. The rig purchase will be a cash purchase payable in full at closing, with no financing required.

TWO SUBSIDIARIES FORMED

On January 24, 2020, Zion incorporated a wholly-owned subsidiary, Zion Drilling, Inc., a Delaware corporation, for the purpose of owning the rig and related equipment, and on January 31, 2020, Zion incorporated another wholly-owned subsidiary, Zion Drilling Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation, to act as the contractor providing such drilling services.

When Zion is not using the rig for its own exploration activities, Zion Drilling Services may contract with other operators in Israel to provide drilling services at market rates then in effect.

Zion has the trademark "ZION DRILLING" filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and with the World Intellectual Property Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, under the Madrid Agreement and Protocol. Also, Zion has the trademark filed with the Israeli Trademark Office in Israel.

Zion Oil & Gas, a public company traded on NASDAQ (ZN), explores for oil and gas onshore in Israel on their 99,000-acre Megiddo-Jezreel license area.

"The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
Deuteronomy 31:8

"Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you."
Isaiah 12:5-6

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains forward-looking statements. Statements in this communication that are not historical fact, including statements regarding Zion's planned operations, anticipated attributes of geological strata that may be drilled or tested in the future, Zion's ability to enter into an acceptable definitive purchase agreement for a qualified drilling rig, Zion's ability to successfully close the purchase of a qualified drilling rig, import the rig into Israel in a timely manner and Zion's ability to successfully raise the funds needed to undertake all of its planned exploration efforts; Zion's ability to continue as a going concern; Zion's ability to have its common stock continue to be listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market; the timing and completion of the 3-D seismic survey processing, interpretation of the results and plans contingent thereon, and operational risks in ongoing exploration efforts, are forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that are subject to significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unpredictable factors, many of which are described in Zion's periodic reports filed with the SEC and are beyond Zion's control. These risks could cause Zion's actual performance to differ materially from the results predicted by these forward-looking statements. Zion can give no assurance that the expectations reflected in these statements will prove to be correct and assumes no responsibility to update these statements.

Contact Info:
Andrew Summey
VP, Marketing and Investor Relations
Zion Oil & Gas, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZN)
12655 North Central Expressway, Suite 1000, Dallas, TX 75243
Telephone: 888-891-9466
Email: [email protected]
www.zionoil.com

SOURCE Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.