Record of interview:openbriefing.comRange Resources Limited...

Record of interview:

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Range Resources Limited (ASX: RRS, AIM: RRL) yesterday announced the completion
by operator Horn Petroleum of drilling of the Shabeel-1 well (Range Resources Limited
20%, Horn Petroleum 60%, Red Emperor Resources NL 20%) in the Dharoor Block in Puntland
approximately 300 metres above planned target depth (TD). You've suspended
drilling the well for future testing. What is your assessment of the result?

MD Peter Landau

The well has been a significant success to date with the discovery of a 12 to
20 metres net hydrocarbon pay zone in the Jesomma sands. The zone needs to be
commercially flow tested and this will be undertaken after the completion of
the second well, Shabeel North, which will spud early June. Based on Range's
internal technical team's review of the net pay zone and results to date, a
successful flow test could result in 70 to 130mm barrels of recoverable oil
from the well of which 14 to 26mm bbls would be attributable to Range.

It is also important to remember that this is the first hydrocarbon well
drilled in the Dharoor Valley for over 50 years and it is a massive credit to
all involved, namely Horn Petroleum, the Puntland Government and the local
Puntland communities that the well has been successfully drilled to date.
Globally, the average discovery rate is between one in five and one in 10 for a
`wildcat' well, which essentially is what Shabeel-1 is, hence we consider the
well successful to date with both the net pay and the confirmation of an active
petroleum system.

Whilst the market and short term traders may have been anticipating further
success in the deeper sections of the well, what we have discovered is
extremely significant and the chances of a commercial hydrocarbon operation in
Puntland are far greater now than when the well was spudded. And it must be
remembered that we did encounter additional potential net pay sands in a
Jurassic aged formation over a 184 metre section at a depth of 3,246 metres to
3,430 metres. The fact that hydrocarbons were encountered at a number of levels
is particularly significant moving ahead.

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Is there a reason the commercial flow test cannot occur immediately before
moving to Shabeel North?

MD Peter Landau

Obviously the preference would be to flow test immediately but timing and
logistics would mean that the rig and crew would be idle for four to six weeks
at what are expensive day rates in the region. Previous test equipment flown in
was designed for open hole, smaller diameter testing as opposed to the now
cased well requiring high performance perforation. This is quite standard
practice across the world, particularly in remote areas.

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You've already begun preparing for Shabeel North with a 50 metre pre-drill hole
and drill pad constructed at. What is the expected timing for drilling at
Shabeel North and to what extent will this well be contingent on the Shabeel-1
outcome?

MD Peter Landau

The Shabeel North well is scheduled to spud early June with a revised Target
Depth of 2,400 metres. The well has an identified Jessoma formation
significantly thicker and of better quality than the Shabeel-1 well providing
the joint venture is with great comfort in moving the rig immediately to drill
the second well. Internal technical estimates suggest recoverable oil of
between 100 to 150mm barrels from a successful discovery in the Jessoma
formation, of which 20 to 30mm barrels would be attributable to Range.

It is also important to note that given the Jessoma discovery in the first
well, the second well will be drilled with smaller casing to ensure that open
hole testing can be undertaken with the equipment already on site. So no, the
well is not contingent on the Shabeel-1 outcome, but the success there
certainly gives us greater confidence moving forward.

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