Alberta Star Provides Progress on Well Completions and In-Fill Drilling Programs
CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwire) -- 10/01/10 -- Alberta Star Development Corp. (TSX VENTURE: ASX)(OTCBB: ASXSF)(FRANKFURT: QLD) ('Alberta Star' or the 'Company') announces that it has completed the second of the five (5) standing cased wells that had been previously drilled but not completed by a former operator in late 2009. The Company acquired a 33 1/3 % net interest in the five (5) standing cased heavy oil wells interest from its working interest partner and operator, Western Plains Petroleum Ltd. ('Western Plains') in late August 2010. The second completed well, located on 06-24-50-2 W4M in Lloydminster, Alberta is expected to have production similar to the first completed well situated on 10-06-50-1 W4M which is currently producing at approximately 40 bbls/day of heavy oil (13 bbls/day net to Alberta Star) from the Sparky oil formation. Combined production from both wells is expected to be 80 bbls/day of heavy oil (26 bbls/day net to Alberta Star). Completion of the third well is scheduled for next week, with the fourth standing cased well to be completed by early October. The production rates from each completed well is expected to be approximately 40 bbls/day (13 bbls/day net to Alberta Star) for a total estimated production from all completed wells to be approximately 160 bbls/day (53 bbls/day net to Alberta Star).
PROGRESS UPDATE- IN-FILL DRILLING
In addition to the pending completion of the five cased wells, the Company expects to drill and complete an additional four (4) in-fill wells on section 6-50-25-W3M in Landrose, Saskatchewan by the end of October. The Company is expecting to spud its first well by this weekend on C11-06-50-25 W3M (50% net interest to Alberta Star). This drill location will be offsetting the Company's producing well located at C-12-06-50-25-W3M. The C-12 well is currently producing approximately 80bbls/d gross of heavy oil (4 bbls/s day net BPO and 20 bbls net APO to the Company).
Drilling completion and equipping costs are expected to average $400,000 per well ($200,000 net to Alberta Star). Alberta Star holds a 50% working interest in these assets and Western Plains is the operator. The locations of the four (4) in-fill wells are adjacent to the Company's successful C12-06-50-25 W3M well which was drilled and completed in July 2010 in accordance with a farm-out with Arctic Hunter Uranium Inc.
ALBERTA STAR DEVELOPMENT CORP.
The Company is a Canadian resource exploration and development company that identifies, acquires and finances oil and natural gas assets in Western Canada and advanced stage mineral exploration projects in North America. The Company has recently made two strategic oil & gas acquisitions in Lloydminster, Alberta and Saskatchewan which has expanded its diversification into the oil and natural gas resource sector with the acquisition of revenue producing resource assets which compliments its existing, advanced stage mining interests. The strategic acquisitions further strengthen the Company's relationship with an experienced working interest partner and industry leader, for future aggressive expansion into the oil and natural gas resource sector through exploration drilling, existing asset development and asset acquisition.
The Company maintains a strong balance sheet and a qualified management team in exploration and development of natural resources. The Company is committed to creating long term shareholder value through the acquisition, exploration and development of petroleum and natural gas resources and the discovery of base and precious metals and by seeking to acquire additional exploration, development and production resource projects.
INVESTOR RELATIONS
Investors are welcomed to contact Benjamin Curry of Progressive I.R. Consultants Corp. at (604) 689-2881, the Company's Investor Relations specialists for all corporate updates, and investor inquiries, or Morgan Brewster, Corporate Development of the Company at (778) 989-2739 or mbrewster@alberta-star.com.
The calculation of barrels of oil equivalent ('boe') are based on a conversion rate of six thousand cubic feet ('mcf') of natural gas to one barrel of crude oil. Boe's may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion ratio of 6 mcf:1 bbl is base on energy conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead.
Reader Advisory
Certain information in this Press Release is forward-looking within the meaning of certain securities legislation, and is subject to important risks, uncertainties and assumptions. This forward-looking information includes, among other things, information with respect to Alberta Star's beliefs, plans, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions, including the licensing, completion and success of future drilling and development activities, the performance of existing wells, the performance of new wells, general economic conditions, availability of required equipment and services and prevailing commodity prices. The words 'may', 'could', 'should', 'would', 'suspect', 'outlook', 'believe', 'anticipate', 'estimate', 'expect', 'intend', 'plan', 'target' and similar words and expressions are used to identify forward-looking information. The forward-looking information in this Press Release describes Alberta Star's expectations as of the date of this Press Release.
Material factors which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, among others, risks arising from general economic conditions and adverse industry events, risks arising from operations generally, changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of reserve estimates; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses, and health, safety and environmental risks, commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations; reliance on contractual rights such as licenses and leases in the conduct of its business, reliance on third parties, reliance on key personnel, possible failure of the business model or business plan or the inability to implement the business model or business plan as planned, competition, environmental matters, and insurance or lack thereof.
Alberta Star cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive, is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. When relying on Alberta Star's forward-looking information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. It has also assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking information to differ materially from actual results or events. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as the term is defined in the Policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contacts:
Alberta Star Development Corp.
Tim Coupland
President and CEO
(604) 681-3131
(604) 408-3884 (FAX)
www.alberta-star.com