SAN DIEGO, Aug. 21, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Royale Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq:ROYL) today, in cooperation with Rampart Energy, is pleased to announce the results of a study performed by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. Worldwide Petroleum Consultants, (NSAI), www.netherlandsewell.com, to evaluate the prospective resources in their shale acreage on the North Slope of Alaska. Using available data from existing wellbore penetrations and analog shale plays, they determined that the acreage is a qualified Prospective Resource with an average recovery rate of 3,995 barrels of oil per acre from the combined shale intervals.
Based upon estimated drilling density of 160 acres per well, this equates to 639,119 barrels of oil per well drilled. Total Original Oil in Place and Total Recovery per acre is divided between the three intervals as follows:
| OOIP Total (BBL/acre) | EUR Total (BBL/acre) | |||||||
| Low | Best | High | Mean | Low | Best | High | Mean | |
| HRZ | 2,723 | 13,255 | 35,174 | 16,635 | 123 | 578 | 1,775 | 809 |
| Kingak | 6,631 | 37,383 | 96,748 | 45,091 | 263 | 1,459 | 4,661 | 2,120 |
| Shublik | 4,934 | 16,327 | 35,298 | 18,747 | 246 | 899 | 2,037 | 1,066 |
| Total | 14,288 | 66,965 | 167,220 | 80,473 | 632 | 2,936 | 8,473 | 3,995 |
The report covers 96,882 acres including 39,539 acres that the companies have agreed to jointly develop (Western Block), 17,139 acres owned by Royale (Central Block) in which Rampart has future rights to acquire, and 40,204 acres (Eastern Block) owned exclusively by Royale. The table below represents the total Estimated Ultimate Recovery (EUR) from the combined acreage:
| EUR Total (MBBL) | |||||
| Area | Gross Acres | Low | Best | High | Mean |
| West | 39,539 | 24,998 | 116,091 | 335,031 | 157,938 |
| Central | 17,139 | 10,836 | 50,322 | 145,226 | 68,462 |
| East | 40,204 | 25,418 | 118,044 | 340,665 | 160,595 |
| Sub Total: | 96,882 | 61,252 | 284,457 | 820,922 | 386,995 |
Preparation for a seismic survey has already begun with the field work on an archeological survey of the area. Final engagement of the contractor is expected imminently, and data is expected to be available by the second quarter of 2014.
An image accompanying this release is available at http://media.globenewswire.com/cache/17632/file/21605.pdf.
List of Definitions
| Original Oil-in-Place (OOIP) | The quantity of petroleum estimated, as of a given date, to be contained within accumulations yet to be discovered. |
|
Prospective Resources |
Those quantities of petroleum which are estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from undiscovered accumulations by application of future development projects. Prospective Resources have both an associated chance of discovery and a chance of development; these figures are necessarily revised upward or downward as additional data becomes available. |
|
Barrels of Oil |
The oil resources shown include crude oil only. Oil volumes are expressed in barrels of oil (BBL) or thousands of barrels (MBBL); a barrel is equivalent to 42 United States gallons. |
About the Company
Headquartered in San Diego, Royale Energy, Inc. is an independent energy company. The company is focused on development, acquisition, exploration, and production of natural gas and oil in California, Texas and the Rocky Mountains. It has been a leading independent producer of oil and natural gas for over 20 years. The company's strength is continually reaffirmed by investors who participate in funding over 50% of the company's new projects. Additional information about Royale Energy, Inc. is available on its web site at www.royl.com.
Forward Looking Statements
In addition to historical information contained herein, this news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those in the "forward-looking" statements. While the company believes its forward looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, there are factors that are difficult to predict and that are influenced by economic and other conditions beyond the company's control. Investors are directed to consider such risks and other uncertainties discussed in documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
