Egdon Resources plc (AIM:EDR) notes the announcement made today by IGas Energy plc (“IGas”) as it relates to UK Onshore Petroleum Exploration and Development Licences PEDL139 and PEDL140 located in the Gainsborough Trough geological basin, where Egdon holds a 14.5% interest.

IGas have reported the completion of 3-D seismic acquisition on PEDL139/140 and a forward plan to appraise the results with a view to site selection, before preparing both an Environmental Risk Assessment and subsequently a full Environmental Impact Assessment for the identified exploration well.  In parallel a comprehensive community engagement programme in the selected area will commence.

UK Onshore Petroleum Exploration and Development Licences PEDL139 and PEDL140 (“The Licences”) are located in the Gainsborough Trough geological basin where shale-gas potential has been identified in rocks of Carboniferous age which exist at depth beneath the area.  The licences are subject to a farm-in by Total as announced in January 2014.   Under the terms of The Agreement Total will earn a 40% interest in The Licences through the funding of a fully carried work programme of up to $46.5 million (ca. £29 million).  Total has the option to exit after an initial period of this work programme corresponding to a minimum commitment of $19.5 million (ca. £12 million).  The programme includes the acquisition of 3D seismic, the drilling and testing of a vertical exploration well and associated well pad construction, and, conditional on the success of the testing of the exploration well, the drilling and flow testing of a second appraisal horizontal well.

The Licences cover an area of 240 square kilometres and are immediately adjacent to licences PEDL209 (which is subject to a farm-in option with Total) and PL161/162 where Egdon has further interests.