Indian upstream company, Bharat PetroResources Ltd ('BPRL') has executed a letter of intent with Norwest, for a farm into two of Norwest's Perth Basin permits-EP413 and TP/15, by providing up to $15m in exploration and drilling funding.

BPRL will contribute up to A$10m towards the drilling and testing program to evaluate the shale gas potential in EP413 to earn 50% of Norwest's 55.606% interest.

In Norwest's fully owned TP/15 permit, BPRL will provide up to A$4.5m of the estimated costs of A$7.5m of the drilling costs for Red Hill South (including testing and completion, and geological and geophysical studies) to earn 50% interest in the permit. NWE will fund up to A$3m of the total estimated drilling program.

Norwest will also receive re-imbursement of A$500,000 of past costs from BPRL BPRL has received the necessary approvals to proceed with the transaction and is currently conducting its formal due diligence process, to be completed within 20 days of the date of this announcement. The farm-out transaction is also subject to Western Australian Department of Mines and Petroleum approval.

Drilling Norwest plans to drill at both EP413 and TP15 by the end of 2010 or early 2011 and is in the process of sourcing a suitable drill rig capable of drilling both drill targets.

EP413 is considered to have good potential for shale gas and it is proposed to drill at Arrowsmith. In the 1960's, Arrowsmith 1 flowed gas at 4MMcf/d. In the event of success, commercial quantities of gas would readily find a market.

EP413 is close to the Dampier to Bunbury, and Parmelia gas pipelines and near to the Perth/Southwest industrial and domestic markets. WA also has large unmet future gas demand underpinned by gas prices of circa $8mcf. These factors augur well for Norwest. The Red Hill South prospect in TP/15 has potential oil recoverable of 9MMbbl. Well planning and permitting is advanced and subject to sourcing a suitable drill rig will be drilled towards the end of Q4/2010 or early 2011.

Tags: Bharat Petroleum, Norwest Energy NL