Overview

Falcon holds interest in a 7.5 million acre Technical Cooperation Permit in the southwest Karoo Basin. In August 2010, Falcon submitted an application for an exploration license covering the same area.

The Karoo Basin reaches 600,000 sq km in central and southern South Africa and contains thick, organic rich shales such as the Permian Whitehill Formation. Until recently, the Karoo Basin was not considered prospective for productive hydrocarbons resulting in very limited modern hydrocarbon exploration onshore in South Africa.

With the advances in modern drilling technology and shale exploration, the United States Energy Information Administration’s April 2011 report “World Shale Gas Resources: An Initial Assessment” estimates 485 TCF of technically recoverable shale gas resources in South Africa’s Karoo Basin. (pg. 288/365).

Activity

Technical Cooperation Permit

Falcon holds a Technical Cooperation Permit (TCP) covering an area of approximately 7.5 million acres (approximately 30,327 km2) onshore Karoo Basin, South Africa. In geological terms the Karoo refers to a geological period lasting some 120 million years and the rocks laid down during that period of time. These rocks were deposited in a large regional basin and resulted in the build-up of extensive deposits, some of which have been identified as having excellent shale gas potential. The TCP grants Falcon an exclusive right to apply for an exploration right over the underlying acreage. 

Moratorium 

In February 2011, a moratorium on the processing of all new applications relating to the exploration and production of shale gas in the Karoo Basin was put in place, and in April 2011 the processing of all existing applications was suspended whilst the South African Department of Mineral Resources conducted an environmental study on the effects of hydraulic stimulation and has been developping a system to regulate onshore exploration activities. In September 2012, the South African Government announced a decision to lift the moratorium on the processing of existing shale gas exploration permit applications following the publication of regulations (expected in Q2 2013), and consequently the Board expects that the exploration right over the acreage will be awarded in the second half of 2013.

Cooperation agreement with Chevron

In December 2012, Falcon entered into an exclusive cooperation agreement with Chevron to jointly seek unconventional exploration opportunities in the Karoo Basin. The Chevron Agreement provides for Falcon to work exclusively with Chevron for a period of five years to jointly seek to obtain exploration rights in the Karoo Basin subject to the parties mutually agreeing participation terms applicable to each right.