TGA

[par_putt]

TransGlobe Energy Corporation Acquires Operated Interest in the South Alamein Concession Agreement in Egypt 06/29 03:40 PM

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CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - June 29, 2011) - TransGlobe Energy Corporation (TGA:$11.20,00$0.21,001.91%) ("TransGlobe" or the "Company") announces the signing of a Sale and Purchase Agreement ("SPA") to acquire a 50% operated working interest in the South Alamein Concession in the Arab Republic of Egypt ("Egypt") from Cepsa Egypt SA B.V. ("Cepsa Egypt"), a wholly owned subsidiary of COMPANIA ESPANOLA DE PETROLEOS, S.A. (CEPPF:$28.2500,$0.0000,0.00%) (of Spain) subject to the approval of the Egyptian Government and customary closing conditions. All dollar values are expressed in United States dollars unless otherwise stated.

The transaction highlights include:


-- $3.0 million all-cash deal;
-- An expansion of TransGlobe's portfolio in Egypt's Western Desert,
located approximately 150 kilometres northwest of Cairo;
-- Near term appraisal / development of the oil discovery well, Boraq-2X,
which tested a combined 1,700 barrels of oil per day ("Bopd") of light
oil from two zones;
-- Current size of the South Alamein concession is 2,258 square kilometres
(558,120 acres) and includes portions of the Alamein and Tiba basins,
surrounded by several oil and gas fields producing from the Cretaceous
and Jurassic formations;
-- Significant number of ready to drill exploration prospects developed
from recently acquired 3-D seismic which covers the entire South Alamein
Concession area; and
-- A map showing the purchased acreage can be found on TransGlobe's web
site http://www.trans- globe.com/operations/egypt/south-alamein.


South Alamein, Egypt (50% operated working interest)

TransGlobe South Alamein Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of TransGlobe Energy Corporation (TGA:$11.20,00$0.21,001.91%) , has entered into a SPA to acquire Cepsa Egypt's 50% operated working interest in South Alamein for $3.0 million plus an inventory adjustment, effective on and subject to approval from the Egyptian Government. El Paso South Alamein ("El Paso SA"), a subsidiary of Houston-based El Paso Corporation, holds the remaining 50% interest in the South Alamein Production Sharing Contract ("PSC"). Ancillary to this transaction is an agreement between TransGlobe and El Paso SA on a go-forward appraisal program in exchange for El Paso SA waiving its preferential right under its joint operating agreement with Cepsa Egypt. TransGlobe will assume operatorship of the South Alamein Concession upon closing of this transaction.

The South Alamein Concession is located onshore in the Western Desert of Egypt and includes portions of the prolific Alamein and Tiba basins. The current size of this exploration concession is 2,258 square kilometres (558,120 acres). The concession includes an oil discovery well, Boraq-2X, which tested a combined 1,700 Bopd of 38 degrees to 40 degrees API oil from two Cretaceous zones. Initial work by TransGlobe will focus on appraising and developing the Boraq-2X discovery which includes drilling at least two appraisal wells and readying the Boraq-2X well for production.

Upon successful completion of the appraisal program, it is expected that a development plan would be submitted to the Egyptian Government for approval. The Boraq-2X discovery is close to existing infrastructure which should reduce development time and capital.

The South Alamein PSC is in the first, two-year extension period which expires on April 5, 2012. A further two-year extension is available under the concession agreement. An extensive 3-D seismic acquisition program was executed over the entire South Alamein Concession area. This has resulted in several well- defined prospects throughout the area and will provide TransGlobe with numerous exploration drilling opportunities.

TransGlobe expects to close the acquisition after receiving the necessary Egyptian Government approvals and securing the waiver of the preferential right by El Paso SA. TransGlobe cannot make assurances that it will successfully close the subject transaction.

Operations Update

West Gharib second quarter average to-date production has increased to approximately 11,370 Bopd, up 30% from first quarter average production of 8,738 Bopd. Two drilling rigs continue to focus on the development of the Upper and Lower Nukhul reservoirs in the Arta / East Arta fields, with a third rig currently working in the Hoshia field. Total production for the second quarter average to-date has increased to approximately 11,850 Bopd, including production from Block 32 in the Republic of Yemen ("Yemen"). Production of approximately 2,300 Bopd from Block S-1 in Yemen continues to be shut-in since March 17, 2011.

TransGlobe has collected in excess of $68 million year-to-date from the Egyptian Government related to West Gharib oil sales.

TransGlobe Energy Corporation (TGA:$11.20,00$0.21,001.91%) is a Calgary-based, growth-oriented oil and gas exploration and development company focused on the Middle East/North Africa region with production operations in the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Yemen. TransGlobe's common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol TGL and on the NASDAQ Exchange under the symbol TGA.

[ghrcap]

If you are at risk to potentially losing out on this deal to the holder of a preferential right, why would you talk glowingly of the deal in public until you absolutely had to?

"...TransGlobe expects to close the acquisition after receiving the necessary Egyptian Government approvals and securing the waiver of the preferential right by El Paso SA. TransGlobe cannot make assurances that it will successfully close the subject transaction...."

I hope the answer is that there is really no risk as it sounds like a nice property. Perhaps El Paso stays in with TGA operating.

[dan_s]

Per my forecast model, TGA's Q2 results will be:
EPS = $0.32
CFPS = $0.46

Significant improvement over Q1 results.

Even if West Yemen (Block S-1) is shut-in all year, TGA should exit the year with ~20,000 bopd of production, compared to 9,957 bopd in 2010. Not to shabby.

[ghrcap]

The light bulb has gone on in somebody's head. TGL is trading in Canada today up 11% on good volume. We'll have a nice catch up rally tomorrow in the US.

[dan_s]

George:
Did you notice that it is up on 6X the normal trading volume? Something big could be happening on this one.