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| August 24, 2009 CBM Asia Development Acquires Interest In South Sumatra Production Sharing Contract | |
| CBM Asia Development Corp. has signed a letter of intent with Batavia Energy Inc. to acquire 48 per cent of South Sumatra Energy Inc. (SSE) which, together with PT Medco CBM Sekayu, holds a production-sharing contract for coal bed methane on a 58,349-hectare block located in the South Sumatra basin (the Sekayu block PSC), Indonesia. Awarded May 27, 2008, the Sekayu block PSC marked the first time the government of Indonesia awarded a PSC for the exploration and development of coal bed methane in Indonesia. PT Medco Energi Internasional Tbk (Medco), Indonesia's leading independent oil and gas company, and operator of the Sekayu block PSC, has forecast that the first commercial coal bed methane production will begin in 2011 and peak in six years. Indonesia's estimated coal bed methane resource of 453 trillion cubic feet of gas in place is among the largest in the world after the United States and China. The South Sumatra basin, the largest coal bed methane basin in Indonesia, is estimated to contain in-place resources of approximately 183 trillion cubic feet (Society of Petroleum Engineers, 2004). Under the LOI, the company will earn a participation interest in Batavia's 31.5-per-cent working interest in the Sekayu block PSC, and has committed to exploration and appraisal expenditures over the next three years to determine the commercial feasibility of coal bed methane production. "We are happy to secure this rare capital acquisition opportunity in Indonesia's rapidly emerging coal bed methane industry. As Indonesia moves to develop its large prospective coal bed methane resources for delivery to domestic and global markets, we look forward to working with our new partners in the Sekayu block PSC where initial exploration drilling is scheduled to commence by early September, 2009. This acquisition will diversify our interests in the coal bed methane sector in Indonesia and complement our already outstanding prospects in the Kutai basin," said Alan Charuk, the company's president and chief executive officer. Successful completion of the Sekayu block PSC test well will mark the first government-approved commercial coal bed methane well drilled in Indonesia. Closing of the LOI is subject to, among other things, completion of the company's due diligence review, execution of definitive agreements, and applicable third party consents and approvals. ABOUT CBM ASIA DEVELOPMENT CORP. CBM Asia Development Corp ("CBM Asia" or the "Company") is a Canadian-based unconventional gas company with significant coalbed methane ("CBM") exploration and development opportunities in Indonesia. The Company has 24 percent net participation interest in a Production Sharing Contract ("PSC") for CBM on a 58,349 hectare block located in the South Sumatra Basin of Indonesia where initial exploration drilling of a production test well is scheduled to commence in the second half of 2009. The Company also has an 18 percent net working interest in a PSC for CBM on a 76,000 hectare block located in the Kutai Basin of East Kalimantan. As geotechnical lead, the Company is responsible for directing a US$5.6 million exploration and appraisal program over the next three years (to November 2011), to determine commercial feasibility of CBM production for the Kutai West PSC and submit a Plan of Development to the Government of Indonesia. The Company has 40 percent net working interests in a second 56,300 hectare block also in the prolific Kutai Basin. Indonesia has one of the largest CBM reserves in the world with a potential 453 trillion cubic feet ("TCF"), more than double the country's natural gas reserves. The South Sumatra Basin, the largest CBM basin in Indonesia, is estimated to contain in-place resources of approximately 183 TCF; and the Kutai Basin, the third largest CBM basin, is estimated to contain in-place resources of approximately 80 TCF (SPE, 2004). Between May 2008 and August 2009, 15 CBM PSC's were granted by the Government of Indonesia, representing exploration commitments of US$95.68 million over the next 3 years. The Company trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "TCF". ON BEHALF OF CBM ASIA DEVELOPMENT CORP. "Alan T. Charuk" President & CEO For further information on CBM Asia Development Corp., please contact Alan Charuk at (866) 504-4755, email info@cbmasia.ca or visit our website at www.cbmasia.ca. The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Gas in place resource estimates make no allowance for recovery of the gas. The volumes of gas which may be recoverable will depend on the reservoir characteristics encountered and future economic conditions. These gas in place estimates are not compliant with volumes of oil and gas resources classified as "discovered petroleum initially-in-place" within the meaning of the Canadian Oil & Gas Evaluation Handbook (COGE Handbook). The term "discovered petroleum initially-in-place" is equivalent to discovered resources, and is defined in the COGE Handbook to mean that quantity of petroleum that is estimated, as of a given date, to be contained in known accumulations prior to production. This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. | |
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