HOUSTON, April 12, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Goodrich Petroleum Corporation /quotes/comstock/13*!gdp/quotes/nls/gdp (GDP 18.24, -0.24, -1.30%) today announced it has entered into agreements to acquire an average 70% leasehold interest in approximately 50,000 gross (35,000 net) acres within the oil window of the Eagle Ford Shale play in La Salle and Frio Counties, Texas. The purchase price equates to an average of $1,675 per net acre, with approximately $15.0 million in upfront cash and the option to drill to earn its full interest through $44.0 million in carried drilling costs. The transactions are subject to customary due diligence, with closing anticipated within 30 days.
The Company is currently maintaining its 2010 capital expenditure budget of $255.0 million, but reallocating approximately $50.0 million or 20% of the amount to leasehold, drilling and completion costs associated with the Eagle Ford Shale oil play. The Company expects to spud its initial Eagle Ford Shale well later in the second quarter and run 1 - 2 rigs in the play during the second half of the year and currently expects to spud 7 - 8 Eagle Ford Shale wells during 2010.
In the Haynesville/Bossier Shale Play, the Company has also announced that it has entered into agreements to drill to earn an approximate 58% average leasehold interest in 7,300 gross (4,200 net) acres primarily in Shelby and northern Sabine Counties, Texas. The Company expects all of the acquired acreage to be prospective for both the Haynesville and Middle Bossier Shale. There is no upfront cash consideration, with an estimated $9.6 million or $2,285 per net acre in carried drilling costs, all of which is included in the Company's 2010 capital expenditure budget. With the acquisitions, the Company's Haynesville Shale acreage inventory includes approximately 89,500 net acres.
OTHER INFORMATION
Certain statements in this news release regarding future expectations and plans for future activities may be regarded as "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. They are subject to various risks, such as financial market conditions, operating hazards, drilling risks, and the inherent uncertainties in interpreting engineering data relating to underground accumulations of oil and gas, as well as other risks discussed in detail in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.
Goodrich Petroleum Corporation is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The majority of its properties are in Louisiana and Texas.
SOURCE Goodrich Petroleum Corporation
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