DENVER,
July 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gasco Energy, Inc. (Amex: GSX
- News) today
provided an interim operations update on its Riverbend Project
in Utah's Uinta Basin.
Quarterly
Production
Estimated
cumulative net production for the quarter ended June 30, 2005
was 281.9 million cubic feet equivalent (MMcfe), an increase
of 92% over the first quarter of 2005 production of 147.1
MMcfe, and 116% above second quarter 2004's production of
130.3 MMcfe. Net production increases are attributed to the
completion of new wells during the quarter and to a higher
average working interest in those wells partially offset by
normal production declines in existing wells.
Gross
production from the second quarter of 2005 increased 55% to
863.4 MMcfe over gross production of 558.5 MMcfe for the first
quarter of 2005.
Gasco Net Production Detail
Three months Three months
ended ended
June 30, March 31, % June 30, June 30, %
2005 2005 Change 2005 2004 Change
Natural Gas / MMcf 269.3 137.8 95% 269.3 122.7 119%
Oil / Bbls 2,091 1,549 35% 2,091 1,265 65%
Natural Gas Equivalents
/ MMcfe 281.9 147.1 92% 281.9 130.3 116%
Six months
ended
June 30, June 30, %
2005 2004 Change
Natural Gas / MMcf 407.1 249.5 63%
Oil / Bbls 3,640 2,785 31%
Natural Gas Equivalents / MMcfe 429.0 266.2 61%
Drilling Activity
During
the second quarter of 2005 Gasco spudded six gross wells (3.9
net) and reached total depth on four gross wells (1.9 net).
The Company continues to run three rigs, which were in the
process of drilling three wells as of the end of the quarter.
Year-to-date Gasco has spudded 11 gross wells (6.8 net) and
reached total depth on nine gross wells (4.8 net) keeping
the Company on track to drill and complete the previously
announced target of 20 gross wells (13 net) for the full-year
2005.
Completion
Activity
Gasco
conducted initial completion operations on seven wells and
re- entered four wells to complete behind-pipe pay zones during
the second quarter of 2005. At June 30, 2005, Gasco had 30
gross wells on production, and one well flowing back frac
fluids from recent completion operations. During the first
six months of 2005, the Company conducted initial completion
operations on 12 wells and re-entered eight well bores to
complete behind-pipe pay.
The
Company's current drilling strategy entails frac'ing of a
well in two mobilizations. In the first mobilization a well
is completed in the Blackhawk and Lower Mesaverde formations
in five to six frac stages. The well is then produced until
flowing pressures have dropped sufficiently to allow substantial
production contribution from the uphole zones. This usually
occurs six months from initial production. The well is then
re-entered and frac'ed in four to five stages in the Upper
Mesaverde and Wasatch formations.
Mike
Decker, Chief Operating Officer said, "While our production
growth validates our play concept, equally important are operational
improvements. During 2004, the first frac crew mobilization
on wells drilled to the Blackhawk only completed the Blackhawk
Formation in order to gather important production and pressure
decline data. After sufficient data was gathered, a second
mobilization added the Lower Mesaverde and still later a third
mobilization added the Upper Mesaverde and Wasatch. Well data
gained from drilling and completing these 2004 wells now allows
Gasco to complete Blackhawk wells in two mobilizations, thereby
reducing capital costs. We expect to identify additional operational
efficiencies in the project to help further reduce drilling
time and completion costs while increasing estimated ultimate
recoveries in our wells."
Second
Quarter Financial Results
Gasco
expects to announce its second quarter and year-to-date results
on or before August 9, 2005. The Company will schedule a conference
call to be announced at a later date to discuss quarterly
and year-to-date operational and financial progress.
About
Gasco Energy
Gasco
Energy, Inc. is a Denver-based natural gas and oil exploitation
and development company that focuses on natural-gas-rich prospects
in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The Company
currently is active in the Uinta Basin in Utah and controls
acreage in the Greater Green River Basin of Wyoming. To learn
more, visit http://www.gascoenergy.com
.
Forward-looking
statements
Certain
statements set forth in this press release relate to management's
future plans, objectives and expectations. Such statements
are forward- looking within the meanings of Section 27A of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements
other than statements of historical facts included in this
press release, including, without limitation, statements regarding
the Company's future financial position, potential resources,
business strategy, budgets, projected costs and plans and
objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking
statements. In addition, forward-looking statements generally
can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology
such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "project," "estimate,"
"anticipate," "believe," or "continue" or the negative thereof
or similar terminology. Although any forward-looking statements
contained in this press release are to the knowledge or in
the judgment of the officers and directors of the Company,
believed to be reasonable, there can be no assurances that
any of these expectations will prove correct or that any of
the actions that are planned will be taken. Forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties
that may cause the Company's actual performance and financial
results in future periods to differ materially from any projection,
estimate or forecasted result. Some of the key factors that
may cause actual results to vary from those the Company expects
include inherent uncertainties in interpreting engineering
and reserve or production data; operating hazards; delays
or cancellations of drilling operations because of weather
and other natural and economic forces; fluctuations in oil
and natural gas prices in response to changes in supply; competition
from other companies with greater resources; environmental
and other government regulations; defects in title to properties;
increases in the Company's cost of borrowing or inability
or unavailability of capital resources to fund capital expenditures;
and other risks described under "Risk Factors" in Item 1.
of the Company's 2004 Form 10- K filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2005.