Apache Has Successful Day In Gulf Of Mexico Lease Sale, Recording High Bids In 90 Shelf And Deep Water Blocks
HOUSTON, June 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Apache Corporation (NYSE, Nasdaq: APA) announced it was the high bidder on 90 shelf and deep water blocks in the Central Gulf of Mexico offshore lease sale held today by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) in New Orleans.
Of the 56 companies submitting bids for Gulf of Mexico acreage, Apache Corp. was ranked No. 1 overall for its 61 high bids on the shelf, while Apache Deepwater LLC, the company's deep water arm, was ranked No. 4 overall with 29 high bids.
The sum of the combined high bids was nearly $96 million gross.
"We're excited about these blocks and our expanding presence in the Gulf of Mexico," said G. Steven Farris, Apache chairman and chief executive officer. "The Gulf of Mexico is integral to Apache's long-term growth. The shelf provides some of the best margins, highest returns and most free cash flow, and the deep water has some of the best exploration potential of any region in our global portfolio."
Bidding on acreage in the shelf was focused on areas where Apache is acquiring proprietary seismic data, along with moderate to deep exploration prospects based on recently acquired and reprocessed seismic data. Successful deep water bids were focused on Pliocene and Miocene trends where Apache has acquired a significant seismic data base. Deep water bid partners included Stone Energy, Samson, Noble, Repsol, Nexen and Ecopetrol.
"This was a very robust lease sale with premium acreage," said Jon Jeppesen, executive vice president of Apache's Gulf of Mexico regions. "These blocks strengthen our position on the shelf and in the deep water. In both areas, Apache has the fiscal wherewithal, technical prowess and experience to capture the value of these opportunities."
The shelf and deep water Gulf of Mexico currently represents 15.5 percent of Apache's overall daily production.
About Apache
Apache Corporation is an oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the United States, Canada, Egypt, the United Kingdom North Sea, Australia and Argentina. Apache posts announcements, operational updates, investor information and copies of all press releases on its website, www.apachecorp.com.
Forward-looking statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "seeks," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts" and similar references to future periods. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about Apache's ability to execute on exploration, production and development plans for the shallow and deep water blocks in the Gulf of Mexico that are referenced in this release. While forward-looking statements are based on our assumptions and analyses that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, whether actual results and developments will meet our expectations and predictions depend on a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results, performance and financial condition to differ materially from our expectations. See "Risk Factors" in our 2011 Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of risk factors that affect our business. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this news release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future development, or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
APA-G
SOURCE Apache Corporation
WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?
Newsrooms &
Influencers
Digital Media
Outlets
Journalists
Opted In
Share this article