Vanguard to Acquire Gas Properties in Wyoming, USA

Vanguard Natural Resources announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire natural gas and oil properties in the Pinedale and Jonah fields of Southwestern Wyoming for a purchase price of $581 million from an unnamed source.

The properties being sold consist of approximately 87,000 gross acres that are currently producing approximately 113.4 Mmcfe per day with approximately 80% being natural gas, 4% oil and 16% natural gas liquids. The effective date of the acquisition is October 1, 2013 and the company anticipates closing this acquisition on or before January 31, 2014.

Scott W. Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Acquiring an interest in one of the country’s most prolific natural gas fields, operated by companies with an unparalled history of successful development, is a milestone event for Vanguard. At closing, our reserves and daily production will increase approximately 80% and 55% respectively, and we will add an inventory of approximately 970 proved undeveloped drilling locations. This property will be an excellent addition to our portfolio of long life, mature assets and represents a great start to our 2014 acquisition program.”

Richard Robert, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, added, “This acquisition will mark an important change in the Vanguard strategy. For the first time in its history, Vanguard will be allocating capital to drilling wells on these acquired properties which is expected to not only maintain cash flow but grow cash flow. Based on the numerous proved undeveloped drilling locations and the current number of drilling rigs in use by the operators, this combined maintenance and growth capital program will be sustainable for over ten years. Furthermore, this strategy change will allow Vanguard to more effectively compete for new acquisitions that contain both mature stable production and a significant inventory of proven undeveloped drilling locations.”

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LNG World News Staff, December 31, 2013; Image: Vanguard