EXHIBIT 10.84
PRODUCTION SHARING CONTRACT
BETWEEN
THE REPUBLIC OF EQUATORIAL GUINEA
AND
TRITON EQUATORIAL GUINEA, INC.
FOR BLOCK G
Translated by Diego Giordano
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PAGE
SECTION I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SCOPE AND DEFINITIONS 1
SECTION II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TERM, TERMINATION, AND CANCELLATION 5
SECTION III. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SURRENDER OF AREAS 9
SECTION IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WORK PROGRAM AND EXPENDITURES 10
SECTION V. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CONDUCT OF PETROLEUM OPERATIONS BY CONTRACTOR 13
SECTION VI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES,DETERMINATION OF
PRODUCTION LEVELS 15
SECTION VII -. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RECOVERY OF PETROLEUM OPERATING COSTS, SHARING OF
PRODUCTION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF PRODUCTION 19
SECTION VIII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VALUATION OF CRUDE OIL 23
SECTION IX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BONUSES AND SURFACE RENTALS 25
SECTION X. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAYMENTS 26
SECTION XI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TITLE TO EQUIPMENT 26
SECTION XII. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UNITIZATION 26
SECTION XIII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CONSULTATION AND ARBITRATION 27
SECTION XIV. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BOOKS AND ACCOUNTS AND AUDITS 28
SECTION XV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS 30
SECTION XVI. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LAWS AND REGULATIONS 30
SECTION XVII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FORCE MAJEURE 30
SECTION XVIII. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TEXT 31
SECTION XIX. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EFFECTIVENESS 31
ANNEX "A". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MAP OF CONTRACT AREA
ANNEX "B". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CONTRACT AREA COORDINATES
ANNEX "C". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ACCOUNTING PROCEDURE
ANNEX "D". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LETTER OF PERFORMANCE GUARANTY BY PARENT FOR CONTRACT
AREA G, THE REPUBLIC OF EQUATORIAL GUINEA
ANNEX "E". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COORDINATES FOR THE 200M ISOBATH
PRODUCTION SHARING CONTRACT
BETWEEN
THE REPUBLIC OF EQUATORIAL GUINEA
AND
TRITON EQUATORIAL GUINEA, INC.
FOR BLOCK G
THIS CONTRACT, made and entered into on this ___th day of March, 199_ by
and between the REPUBLIC OF EQUATORIAL GUINEA (hereinafter referred to as the
"STATE"), represented for purposes of this Contract by the MINISTRY OF MINES AND
ENERGY of the REPUBLIC OF EQUATORIAL GUINEA (hereinafter referred to as the
"MINISTRY"), and TRITON EQUATORIAL GUINEA, INC., a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands (hereinafter referred to as
"CONTRACTOR"), represented for purposes of this Contract by Thomas G. Finck, its
President. STATE and CONTRACTOR hereinafter are referred to either individually
as "Party" or collectively as "Parties."
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, all Hydrocarbons existing within the territory of the Republic of
Equatorial Guinea, including adjacent submerged lands, are national resources
owned by the Republic of Equatorial Guinea; and
WHEREAS, the STATE wishes to promote the development of hydrocarbon
deposits in and throughout the Contract Area and CONTRACTOR desires to join and
assist the STATE in accelerating the exploration and development of the
potential resources within the Contract Area; and
WHEREAS, CONTRACTOR, has the financial ability, technical competence and
professional skills necessary to carry out the Petroleum Operations hereinafter
described; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with the Hydrocarbons Law of the Republic of
Equatorial Guinea, agreements in the form of Production Sharing Contracts may be
entered into between the STATE and foreign investors;
THEREFORE, in consideration of the undertakings and covenants herein
contained, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
I. SCOPE AND DEFINITIONS
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1.1 Scope
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This Contract is a Production Sharing Contract. In accordance with the
provisions herein contained, the MINISTRY shall be responsible for the
supervision of the Petroleum Operations contemplated in this Contract.
CONTRACTOR shall:
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(a) be responsible to the STATE for the execution of the Petroleum
Operations in accordance with the provisions of this Contract, and is hereby
appointed and constituted the exclusive company to conduct Petroleum Operations
in the Contract Area for the term hereof;
(b) provide all necessary capital, machinery, equipment, technology and
personnel necessary for the efficient conduct of Petroleum Operations;
(c) bear the risk of Petroleum Operations Expenditures required in carrying
out Petroleum Operations and shall therefore have an economic interest in the
rapid development of any commercial hydrocarbon deposits in the Contract Area.
Such costs shall be included in Petroleum Expenditures as recoverable or not
recoverable as provided in Section VII and Annex "C" of this Contract.
During the term of this Contract, the total production achieved in the conduct
of the Petroleum Operations shall be divided between the Parties in accordance
with the provisions of Section VII of this Contract.
1.2 DEFINITIONS
In this Contract, words importing the singular include the plural and vice
versa, and except where the context otherwise indicates, shall have the meanings
set forth in this Section. Words that are not defined herein, but are defined
in the Hydrocarbons Law, shall have the meanings set forth in the Hydrocarbons
Law.
(a) Person means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
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association, trust, estate, unincorporated organization of government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof.
(b) Affiliated Company or Affiliate of any specified Person means any other
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Person directly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to
direct, administer and dictate policies of such Person, through the ownership of
fifty percent (50%) or more of such Person's voting rights; and the terms
"control" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
(c) Crude Oil - means Hydrocarbons which are produced at the wellhead in
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liquid state at atmospheric pressure and asphalt and ozokerites and the liquid
Hydrocarbons known as condensate obtained from Natural Gas by condensation or
extraction by means of field separation units.
(d) Natural Gas - means all Hydrocarbons that at atmospheric conditions of
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temperature and pressure are in a gaseous state. Included in this definition
are wet mineral gas, dry mineral gas, wet gas and residue gas remaining after
the extraction processing or separation of liquid Hydrocarbons from wet gas.
(e) Exploration Operations means works to include without limitation
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geological studies; geophysical studies; aerial mapping; investigations relating
to the subsurface geology; stratigraphic test drilling; exploratory and
appraisal wells; and related activities such as drillsite preparation,
surveying, and all work necessarily connected therewith, that is conducted in
connection with exploration for and commercial assessment of Crude Oil and/or
Natural Gas.
(f) Development and Production Operations means all operations other than
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Exploration Operations, including those to facilitate extraction, production,
local transportation and storage of Crude Oil and Natural Gas produced as part
of the offshore operations.
(g) Petroleum Operations means all Exploration Operations and Development
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and Production Operations.
(h) Exploration Expenditures means direct expenditures on Exploration
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Operations and overhead expenses made in connection with exploration and
commercial assessment within the Contract Area. These expenditures shall be
determined in accordance with the Accounting Procedure attached hereto as Annex
"C," but expenditures made within the area of a Field after Commercial Discovery
has been declared shall be excluded.
(i) Development and Production Expenditures means direct expenditures on
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Development and Production Operations and general expenses made in connection
with the development of a Field, excluding expenditures made within the area of
a Field before Commercial Discovery has been declared. These expenditures shall
be determined in accordance with the Accounting Procedure attached hereto as
Annex "C."
(j) Petroleum Operations Expenditures means expenditures made and
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obligations incurred in carrying out Petroleum Operations hereunder, determined
in accordance with the Accounting Procedure attached hereto as Annex "C" and
made a part hereof.
(k) Barrel means a quantity or unit of Crude Oil equal to 158.9874 liters
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(forty-two (42) United States gallons) at a temperature of 15.56 degrees
Centigrade (sixty (60) degrees Fahrenheit) under one atmosphere of pressure.
(l) Field means an area within the Contract Area, as determined in
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accordance with Section 2.6.
(m) Well means any opening in the ground or seabed made or being made by
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drilling or boring, or in any other manner, for the purpose of discovering, and
delineating and/or producing Crude Oil or Natural Gas, or for the injection of
any fluid into an underground deposit, other than a seismic hole or a structure
test hole or stratigraphic test hole.
(n) Commercial Discovery means a discovery of Hydrocarbons that, in the
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judgment of CONTRACTOR, can be produced commercially, based on its consideration
of all pertinent operating and financial data.
(o) Work Program means an itemized statement of the Petroleum Operations to
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be carried out in the Contract Area as set forth in Section IV.
(p) Budget of Petroleum Operations Expenditures means the estimate of the
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costs of all items included in the Work Program.
(q) Calendar Year or Years means a period of twelve (12) months commencing
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January 1 and ending on the following December 31, according to the Gregorian
Calendar.
(r) Contract Year means a period of twelve (12) consecutive months according
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to the Gregorian Calendar, starting from the Effective Date of this Contract or
from the anniversary of such Effective Date.
(s) Gross Receipts means the sum of all sales proceeds and the monetary
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equivalent value of other Hydrocarbons dispositions from the Contract Area in
any given calendar year.
(t) Income Tax means the tax levied on CONTRACTOR's net income pursuant to
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the Tax Law of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.
(u) Calendar Quarter means a period of three (3) consecutive months
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beginning January 1, April 1, July 1 or October 1 and ending March 31, June 30,
September 30 or December 31, respectively.
(v) Effective Date means the approval date of this Contract by the STATE in
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accordance with the provisions of the Hydrocarbons Law as evidenced by
publication of this Contract in the Official Bulletin of the Republic of
Equatorial Guinea or in the national information media (whichever publication
occurs first), after approval of this Contract by the Supreme Court of Justice
of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and ratification by the President of the
Republic of Equatorial Guinea.
(w) Foreign Exchange means currency acceptable to the Parties other than that
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of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.
(x) Hydrocarbons Law means Decree-Law No. 7/1981 of 16 June, as amended.
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(y) Contract Area means the geographic territory of the Republic of
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Equatorial Guinea the subject of this Contract. Such Contract Area is described
in Annex "B" and delineated in Annex "A" attached hereto and incorporated
herein.
(z) Royalty means for each Field, the percentages listed below corresponding
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to the cumulative production of all the Crude Oil produced, saved and sold from
the said Field and not otherwise utilized in Petroleum Operations:
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CUMULATIVE FIELD PRODUCTION ROYALTY
The first 100 million barrels 10%
Greater than 100 million barrels to 300 million barrels 12.5%
Greater than 300 million barrels. 15%
and ten percent (10%) of all the Natural Gas produced, saved and sold from the
Contract Area and not otherwise utilized in Petroleum Operations.
(ab) Maximum Efficient Rate means the maximum rate of Hydrocarbons
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production in a Field, without excessive decline or loss of reservoir pressure,
and in accordance with the norms and practices of the petroleum industry and
Section 6.3 of this Contract.
(ab) Semester, as used in Section 7.8 means a period of six (6) consecutive
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months, commencing the first of January and the first of July of each Calendar
Year.
(ac) Hydrocarbons means all natural, organic substances composed of CARBON
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and HYDROGEN including crude oil and natural gas and all other mineral
substances, products, subproducts and by-products encountered in association
therewith.
(ad) Area of Provisional Discovery is defined in Section 2.4
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(ae) Tax Law means Decree Law No. 1/1986 of February 10, of the Republic of
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Equatorial Guinea, as amended prior to the Effective Date.
(af) Exploration Well means a Well that is not a development, evaluation or
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injection well, and its only objective is to determine the existence of
Hydrocarbons in a structure.
(ag) Evaluation Well means a Well drilled following a discovery of
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Hydrocarbons to delineate and locate the reservoir and to estimate the quantity
of recoverable Hydrocarbons.
II. TERM, TERMINATION, AND CANCELLATION
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2.1 CONTRACTOR is authorized to conduct Exploration Operations during an
initial exploration period of five (5) years, starting from the Effective Date.
When CONTRACTOR has fulfilled its obligations hereunder for the initial
exploration period, then upon application of CONTRACTOR made not later than
ninety (90) calendar days prior to the fifth, sixth, and seventh anniversary of
the Effective Date, as the case may be, the MINISTRY shall extend the period
when Petroleum Operations may be conducted as follows:
(a) after the fifth (5th) Contract Year for an additional period of one (1)
Contract Year during which year CONTRACTOR shall drill in areas covered by
waters less than two hundred (200) meters deep at least one (1) Exploration
Well;
(b) after the sixth (6th) Contract Year for an additional period of one (1)
Contract Year during which year CONTRACTOR shall drill in areas covered by
waters less than two hundred (200) meters deep at least one (1) Exploration
Well;
(c) if after the fifth (5th) Contract Year CONTRACTOR commits to drill at
least one (1) Exploration Well in an area covered by water deeper than two
hundred (200) meters, for an additional period of two (2) Contract Years; and
(d) if during the seventh (7th) Contract Year CONTRACTOR encounters a show
of Hydrocarbons that CONTRACTOR believes is sufficient to warrant further
evaluation drilling, for a period of one (1) Contract Year during which year
CONTRACTOR shall drill one (1) Evaluation Well in an area designated by mutual
agreement of MINISTRY and CONTRACTOR.
2.2 Notwithstanding anything contained herein, CONTRACTOR, at its sole
discretion, after fulfilling its minimum Work Program for the first two (2)
Contract Years pursuant to 4.3(a), may terminate this Contract in its entirety
without further obligation except with respect to any obligation under this
Contract due and owing at the time of said termination. Furthermore, CONTRACTOR
shall have the option to extend the exploration period and to conduct Petroleum
Operations beyond the first two (2) Contract Years as indicated below:
(a) After the second Contract Year, CONTRACTOR may elect to continue this
Contract for an additional period of one (1) year, during which year CONTRACTOR
will fulfill the minimum Work Program under Section 4.3(b)(i);
(b) After the third Contract Year, CONTRACTOR may elect to continue this
Contract for an additional period of one (1) year, during which year CONTRACTOR
will fulfill the minimum Work Program under Section 4.3(b)(ii);
(c) After the fourth Contract Year, CONTRACTOR, may elect to continue this
Contract for an additional period of one (1) year, during which year CONTRACTOR
will fulfill the minimum Work Program under Section 4.3(b)(iii);
After fulfilling the minimum Work Program for each of the extension periods
above, CONTRACTOR shall have the right to terminate this Contract in its
entirety without further obligation except with respect to any obligations under
this Contract due and owing at the time of said termination. CONTRACTOR shall
make its election, if any, to extend the exploration period as provided in
Sections 2.2(a), (b) and (c) above not later than ninety (90) calendar days
prior to the second, third and fourth anniversary of the Effective Date, as the
case may be.
2.3 If CONTRACTOR has not elected to terminate this Contract pursuant to
Section 2.2 and no Commercial Discovery has been made, and if CONTRACTOR does
elect to extend the Contract beyond the fifth (5th) Contract Year pursuant to
Section 2.1, then this Contract shall terminate automatically in its entirety
except with respect to Areas of Provisional Discovery, which shall remain part
of the Contract Area pending final determination by the CONTRACTOR as to whether
said Area of Provisional Discovery will be declared a Commercial Discovery.
However, an extension of one (1) year may be granted by the MINISTRY so
CONTRACTOR may finish drilling and testing any Well actually being drilled or
tested at the end of the fifth (5th), sixth (6th), seventh (7th) or eight (8th)
Contract Year.
2.4 Upon encountering indications of a substantial accumulation of
Hydrocarbons in the Contract Area, the CONTRACTOR as soon as possible will
notify the MINISTRY of this fact, indicating in the notice the particular
details of the location, nature and size of the accumulation. After giving such
notification to the MINISTRY, the CONTRACTOR as soon as practicable will submit
to the MINISTRY a report showing the results of any preliminary production tests
carried out, including, when necessary, the estimate of the oil or gas in place
and the recoverable reserves of the accumulation and the approximate extension
of said discovery in the Contract Area (hereinafter referred to as the "Area of
Provisional Discovery"). The decision to delineate the Area of Provisional
Discovery shall be at CONTRACTOR's discretion taking into account a reasonable
interpretation of the data and shall be in accordance with normal petroleum
industry practices.
2.5 Within each Area of Provisional Discovery CONTRACTOR shall carry out
evaluation work, including, as appropriate, seismic work and drilling. As soon
as possible, CONTRACTOR shall determine whether the discovery is a Commercial
Discovery. Provided that if there is insufficient time to properly evaluate the
discovery within the then current exploration period, upon CONTRACTOR's request,
the MINISTRY shall grant CONTRACTOR a reasonable extension to fully evaluate
such discovery.
2.6 When it is determined that the discovery of Hydrocarbons is a Commercial
Discovery in accordance with Section 2.5, CONTRACTOR shall notify the MINISTRY,
and CONTRACTOR shall submit to the MINISTRY, in writing, for its written
approval, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld the following:
(a) a report including a map showing the extension of the area of Commercial
Discovery within the Contract Area; the area when said report is accepted by
MINISTRY will constitute a Field;
(b) a Work Program for development of the Field, including an estimate of
the costs of Development and Production Expenditures necessary for the
development of the Field;
(c) the estimated Maximum Efficient Rate of production (that shall be
established in accordance with Section 6.3) that CONTRACTOR intends to produce
the Field; and
(d) the schedule of the most accelerated program consistent with good
international petroleum industry practice for implementation of CONTRACTOR's
Work Program.
Any report submitted by CONTRACTOR to the MINISTRY will be deemed accepted by
the MINISTRY ninety (90) calendar days after CONTRACTOR's submittal unless
CONTRACTOR is notified otherwise in such time period by the MINISTRY.
2.7 This Contract will continue in existence with respect to each Field for
a period of thirty (30) years with respect to Crude Oil and for forty (40) years
with respect to Natural Gas starting from the date CONTRACTOR, in accordance
with the provisions of Section 2.6, receives approval from the MINISTRY that the
discovery of Hydrocarbons in such Field is a Commercial Discovery. In case of
new Commercial Discoveries as a result of new exploratory drilling on formations
that underlie or overlie each other or other deposits found within the extension
of the area of the original Commercial Discovery, such formations will
constitute only one Field; and the Field will be defined or redefined as may be
necessary, to incorporate all of the underlying and overlying formations and all
deposits located within the extension of the area of the original Commercial
Discovery, and the provisions of Section 2.6 shall apply mutatis mutandis to any
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such new Commercial Discovery.
2.8 CONTRACTOR shall have the right to terminate this Contract totally or
partially;
(a) with respect to any part of the Contract Area other than a Field then
producing or that prior thereto had produced Crude Oil or Natural Gas upon
giving ninety (90) calendar days written notice of its intention to do so; and
(b) with respect to any field then producing or that prior thereto had
produced Crude Oil or Natural Gas, upon giving one hundred eighty (180) calendar
days written notice of its intention to do so.
2.9 Subject to Section 2.10, the STATE shall have the right to cancel this
Contract upon giving sixty (60) calendar days written notice of its intention to
do so, if CONTRACTOR:
(a) fails to make any monetary payment required by law or under this
Contract for a period of thirty (30) days after the due date for such payment;
(b) fails to comply with any other material obligation that it has assumed
under this Contract;
(c) fails to comply with any regulations issued in accordance with this
Contract by the MINISTRY, or any governmental department or agency of the
Republic of Equatorial Guinea materially affecting the Petroleum Operations or
the interests of the STATE referred to in this Contract;
(d) suspends its payments under this Contract, because of insolvency or
makes a settlement with its creditors; or
(e) has not commenced production from a Field within the period of time
specified in the development plan according to the terms and conditions
specified in Section 2.5 without reasonable justification;
provided that CONTRACTOR's actions or inactions, as the case may be, have a
material impact on the petroleum Operations and are not in accordance with
industry standards.
2.10 If the circumstance or circumstances that would otherwise result in
cancellation under Sections 2.9(a), (b), (c) or (d) are remedied by CONTRACTOR
or CONTRACTOR begins to remedy the circumstance and proceeds with such remedy
with due diligence within the sixty (60) calendar day period following the
notice of termination as aforesaid, then such termination shall not become
effective. If CONTRACTOR cannot completely rectify or remedy the cause or
causes within the sixty (60) day period, the CONTRACTOR may request from the
MINISTRY an extension or extensions to complete the remedies and the MINISTRY,
according to the criteria generally accepted in the industry, shall not
unreasonably withhold the approval of such extensions if CONTRACTOR is
diligently pursuing the remedies.
2.11 The termination or cancellation of this Contract, for whatever reason,
shall be without prejudice to the obligations incurred and not carried out by
the STATE or CONTRACTOR before the termination of this Contract.
2.12 In the event of cancellation pursuant to Section 2.9, the MINISTRY may
require CONTRACTOR to continue for the account of the STATE Crude Oil or Natural
Gas production activities until the right to continue such production has been
transferred by the MINISTRY to another Person. In this case, all provisions
relevant to CONTRACTOR's entitlement under this Contract will remain in force.
In no event shall CONTRACTOR have any obligations under this Section for more
than ninety (90) calendar days after such termination, unless otherwise agreed
to by the Parties.
2.13 Within ninety (90) calendar days after the termination of this
Contract, unless the MINISTRY has required an extension of this period,
CONTRACTOR shall have the obligation to take any reasonably necessary action as
directed by the MINISTRY, including the cessation or continuation of Petroleum
Operations to prevent pollution, environmental damage or a hazard to human life
or third party property.
III. SURRENDER OF AREAS
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3.1 Subject to Section 3.3, CONTRACTOR shall surrender thirty percent (30%)
of the original Contract Area no later than the end of the third Contract Year.
3.2 Subject to Section 3.3, if CONTRACTOR elects to extend the exploration
period pursuant to Section 2.1 above, CONTRACTOR shall surrender an additional
area equal to twenty percent (20%) of the remaining Contract Area no later than
the end of the fifth Contract Year.
3.3 CONTRACTOR shall not be obligated to surrender any portion of the
original Contract Area declared an Area of Provisional Discovery or a Field.
CONTRACTOR's surrender obligations under Sections 3.1 and 3.2 shall apply to the
area remaining after excluding from the original Contract Area areas declared to
be an Area of Provisional Discovery or a Field and areas previously surrendered
by CONTRACTOR.
3.4 After the mandatory surrenders as set forth in this Section III,
CONTRACTOR shall maintain a reasonable exploration effort with regard to the
remaining portion of the Contract Area.
3.5 Upon at least thirty (30) calendar days written notice to the MINISTRY
prior to the end of the first Contract Year and similarly prior to the end of
any succeeding Contract Year, CONTRACTOR may surrender any portion of the
Contract Area, and such portion shall then be credited against that portion of
the Contract Area CONTRACTOR is next required to surrender under the provisions
of Sections 3.1 and 3.2 hereof.
3.6 CONTRACTOR shall notify the MINISTRY sixty (60) calendar days prior to
the date of surrender, the description of the portion of the area to be
surrendered. The individual portions being surrendered, whenever possible,
shall be of sufficient size and convenient shape, taking into account contiguous
areas already relinquished and not the subject of a further contract, to enable
Petroleum Operations to be carried out thereon and the boundaries of such areas
shall be delineated in exact degrees, minutes and seconds of longitude and
latitude.
3.7 CONTRACTOR shall plug and abandon all Wells drilled by Contractor on the
area to be surrendered in accordance with generally accepted oilfield practices.
3.8 No surrender made in accordance with this Section III shall relieve
CONTRACTOR or its surety of the obligation to pay surface rentals accrued, or
making payments due and payable as a result of exploration and development
activities conducted through the date of surrender.
IV. WORK PROGRAM AND EXPENDITURES
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4.1 CONTRACTOR shall commence Petroleum Operations hereunder not later than
ninety (90) calendar days after the Effective Date.
4.2 CONTRACTOR shall be entitled to employ any person qualified, in the
judgment of CONTRACTOR, to undertake on its behalf such geological and
geophysical surveys, drillings or similar investigations as it may decide. Any
subcontractor retained by CONTRACTOR shall have the necessary professional
experience to perform the task assigned and shall be required, by written
agreement with CONTRACTOR, to abide by all relevant terms of this Contract and
all applicable laws and regulations of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.
CONTRACTOR within thirty (30) calendar years and shall advise the MINISTRY of
the name and address of any subcontractor retained.
4.3 During the first five (5) Contract Years, CONTRACTOR agrees to perform the
following minimum Work Program:
(a)FIRST TWO CONTRACT YEARS:
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(i) Reprocess approximately one-thousand eight-hundred (1,800) kilometers
of existing seismic data;
(ii) Acquire one-thousand (1,000) kilometers of new seismic data;
(iii) Drill one (1) Well; and
(iv) Prepare and submit an interpretive geologic study of the hydrocarbon
potential of the Rio Muni area.
(b)THIRD, FOURTH AND FIFTH CONTRACT YEARS:
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CONTRACTOR shall perform the following work in the event it exercises the
option to extend pursuant to Sections 2.2(a), 2.2(b) or 2.2(c):
(i) Drill one (1) Well in third Contract Year contingent upon the
identification of a structure which, in CONTRACTOR's opinion, is a drillable
prospect, and conduct additional geological studies and associated analyses of
technical data as CONTRACTOR deems appropriate;
(ii) Drill one (1) Well in the fourth Contract Year and conduct additional
geological studies and associated analyses of technical data as CONTRACTOR deems
appropriate;
(iii) Drill one (1) Well in the fifth Contract Year contingent upon the
identification of a structure, which, in CONTRACTOR's opinion, is a drillable
prospect, and conduct additional geological studies and associated analyses of
technical data, as CONTRACTOR deems appropriate.
4.4 In case the work completed by CONTRACTOR during any phase referred to in
Section 4.3 exceeds the minimum work for that phase, the excess work may be
carried forward and credited against the minimum work obligation in the next
succeeding phase.
4.5 As a condition precedent to the effectiveness of this Contract,
CONTRACTOR shall provide a security by means of a parent company performance
guarantee to the MINISTRY substantially in the form of the guaranty set forth in
ANNEX "D" and corresponding to Four Million United States Dollars (U.S.
$4,000,000) for each Well CONTRACTOR commits to drill and One Million United
States Dollars (U.S. $1,000,000) for other Petroleum Operations CONTRACTOR
commits to conduct during the first two (2) Contract Years. If CONTRACTOR
extends the period for Exploration Operations pursuant to Section 2.1 or 2.2,
then CONTRACTOR on or before the date any such extension becomes effective shall
provide an additional parent company performance guarantee as security
substantially in the form of the guaranty set forth in Annex "D" and
corresponding to an amount to be determined at the time of the extension by the
MINISTRY and CONTRACTOR for Petroleum Operations CONTRACTOR commits to conduct
during the period of any such extension. If at the end of the period of the
phases for Exploration Operations, including any extension thereof made pursuant
to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof, or upon the date of termination of this
Contract, whichever first occurs, CONTRACTOR has not performed the obligations
described in the minimum Work Program, the balance of the security corresponding
to the minimum expenditures for Petroleum Operations and the entirety of the
security corresponding to the Well shall be paid automatically to the STATE in
accordance with the provisions of Annex "D."
4.6 One hundred twenty (120) calendar days prior to the beginning of each
Calendar Year or at such other time as otherwise mutually agreed by the parties,
CONTRACTOR shall prepare and submit for approval to the MINISTRY a Work Program
and Budget of Petroleum Operations Expenditures for the Contract Area setting
forth the Petroleum Operations CONTRACTOR proposes to carry out during the
ensuing Calendar Year. After thirty (30) calendar days and within a period of
ninety (90) calendar days of its submission, the MINISTRY may ask for
clarification of the Work Program and Budget of Petroleum Operations
Expenditures and/or submit proposals for consideration by the Contractor for the
revision of specific features thereof relating to the type and cost of the works
and operations. In the absence of such proposals or a request for
clarification, the Work Program and Budget of Petroleum Operations Expenditures
shall be deemed to have been approved by the Ministry. Approval by the MINISTRY
of the proposed Work Program and Budget of Petroleum Operations Expenditures
will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. If the Parties cannot agree on
the Work Program and Budget of Petroleum Operations Expenditures, CONTRACTOR is
hereby authorized to begin work necessary to carry out its proposed Work Program
in a timely and practical manner until the Parties reach a mutually acceptable
Work Program and Budget of Petroleum Operations Expenditures. The MINISTRY
shall give a letter to CONTRACTOR authorizing in a provisional manner the
beginning of said provisional Work Program and Budget of Petroleum Operations
Expenditures until the MINISTRY approves the final Work Program and Budget of
Petroleum Operations Expenditures. The Parties shall meet within a period of
fifteen (15) days from date of issuance of the provisional Work Program and
Budget of Petroleum Operations Expenditures from the MINISTRY and use all
diligence to reach a mutually acceptable agreement.
4.7 It is recognized by the Parties that the details of a Work Program may
require changes in the light of unforeseen circumstances and nothing herein
contained shall limit the right of CONTRACTOR to make such changes, provided
such changes do not alter the general objectives of the Work Program.
4.8 The Parties further recognize that in the event of an emergency or
extraordinary circumstances requiring immediate action, either Party may take
actions it deems proper or advisable to protect its interests and those of its
employees and any costs so incurred by CONTRACTOR shall be included in the
Petroleum Operations Expenditures. Costs incurred by CONTRACTOR related to
measures of prevention and protection related to the environment shall be
included as costs of Petroleum Operations Expenditures as cost recoverable.
Costs incurred by CONTRACTOR related to cleaning up pollution or damage to the
environment caused by CONTRACTOR shall not be included in Petroleum Operations
Expenditures and shall not be cost recoverable except the first Two Hundred
Thousand United State Dollars (U.S. $200,000) per occurrence related to such
cleanup or damages per incident shall be included as costs of Petroleum
Operations Expenditures and shall be cost recoverable.
4.9 Within ninety (90) calendar days after the expiration of a Calendar
Year, CONTRACTOR shall submit to the MINISTRY detailed accounts showing the
Exploration and/or Development and Production Expenditures CONTRACTOR has
incurred during the past Calendar Year. The accounts shall be certified by an
independent outside accountant acceptable to both Parties. It is understood
that the MINISTRY retains the authority to review and audit occasionally
CONTRACTOR's books with respect to Petroleum Operations conducted hereunder.
Such audit right will terminate two (2) years after closure of the subject
year's accounts. Any exceptions to Contractor's accounts must be officially
communicated to the CONTRACTOR within three (3) years of the closure of the
subject year's accounts.
4.10 During the term of this Contract, CONTRACTOR in accordance with good
petroleum industry practice shall be responsible for carrying out all the
necessary work in connection with abandonment (which includes the removal,
proper disposal, alternative innovative recycling or salvage) of any Petroleum
Operations Facilities, including, but not limited to, platforms, artificial
structures, wellhead equipment, tubulars, and flowlines deemed by the MINISTRY
to be unusable or no longer required for future operations. CONTRACTOR shall
submit for the MINISTRY's approval detailed work plans for such removal,
disposal or salvage. All costs incurred by CONTRACTOR to remove, dispose or
salvage such facilities shall be cost recoverable. For the purpose of setting
up a financial mechanism to recover such costs earlier in the life of a Field,
CONTRACTOR and the MINISTRY shall agree on a mechanism and modality for setting
aside a reserve on CONTRACTOR's books as part of Petroleum Operations
Expenditures, subject to cost recovery, to be used for such removal, disposal or
salvage operations, no later than two years after commencement of the first
commercial production.
V. CONDUCT OF PETROLEUM OPERATIONS BY CONTRACTOR
--------------------------------------------------
5.1 CONTRACTOR shall conduct the Petroleum Operations diligently and in
accordance with generally accepted standards of the petroleum industry designed
to enable production at the Maximum Efficient Rate of Crude Oil and at the level
of production of Natural Gas specified in Section 6.3. CONTRACTOR shall ensure
that all equipment, plant and installations used by CONTRACTOR or its
subcontractors comply with generally accepted engineering norms and are of
proper and accepted construction and are kept in optimal working order.
5.2 CONTRACTOR shall in particular take all reasonable steps necessary in
accordance with generally accepted standards of the petroleum industry to:
(a) without prejudice to Section 5.3, ensure that Crude Oil or Natural Gas
discovered and produced within the Contract Area does not escape or is not in
any other way wasted;
(b) prevent damage to under or over Crude Oil or Natural Gas-bearing strata;
(c) prevent the nonintentional entrance of water through Wells to Crude Oil
or Natural Gas-bearing strata;
(d) Prevent damage to under or over water-bearing strata;
(e) Conduct all Petroleum Operations under this Contract in accordance with
applicable law and regulations and in a manner that does not conflict with
obligations imposed on the Republic of Equatorial Guinea by international law;
(f) Take necessary precautions for protection of navigation and fishing and
to prevent pollution of the sea or rivers;
(g) Indemnify, defend and save the STATE harmless against all claims, losses
and damage of any nature, whatever, including without limitation, claims for
loss or damage to property or injury to persons caused by, or resulting from,
any operation conducted by or on behalf of CONTRACTOR; provided that the
CONTRACTOR shall not be held responsible to the STATE under this subsection for
any loss, claim, damage, or injury caused by, or resulting from any negligent
action of personnel of the STATE including, but not limited to, subcontractors
of the STATE, other than CONTRACTOR, and employees of the State;
(h) Subject to Section 2.4, drill and produce a Field without regard to
CONTRACTOR's contractual interest, if any, in an adjacent contract area.
5.3 The Natural Gas CONTRACTOR does not utilize in its own operations in the
Contract Area, or sell, shall be reinjected into the subsurface structure. When
the existing technical and financial circumstances require the flaring of
Natural Gas, the MINISTRY may authorize such flaring. The MINISTRY shall,
nevertheless, authorize the flaring of Natural Gas for periods of relatively
short duration during production tests, and in cases when the flaring of
relatively small quantities of Natural Gas is a necessary part of Crude Oil
production and is in accordance with good practice within the petroleum
industry.
5.4 If any works or installations erected by CONTRACTOR or any operations
undertaken by CONTRACTOR endanger Persons or third-party property or cause
pollution or harm marine life to an unacceptable degree, the CONTRACTOR, in
consensus with the MINISTRY, shall take opportune remedial measures within a
reasonable period established by the MINISTRY and the CONTRACTOR to repair any
damage to the environment. CONTRACTOR shall, if required by the nature and
severity of the damage, suspend the Petroleum Operations in whole or in part,
until CONTRACTOR has taken such remedial measures or has repaired the damage.
5.5 To ensure that CONTRACTOR shall meet its obligations to third parties or
to government agencies that might arise in the event of damage or injury
(including environmental damage or injury ) caused by Petroleum Operations,
notwithstanding its accidental nature, CONTRACTOR shall maintain in force a
third party liability insurance policy covering its Petroleum Operations.
CONTRACTOR shall provide to the MINISTRY, within thirty (30) calendar days after
the Effective Date, documents that prove the effectiveness of CONTRACTOR's third
party liability insurance covering its Petroleum Operations. To the extent such
third party liability insurance is unavailable, or is not obtained, or does not
cover part or all of any claim or damage caused by or resulting from Petroleum
Operations, including damage to the environment as mentioned in Section 4.8,
CONTRACTOR shall remain wholly responsible and shall defend, indemnify and hold
harmless the MINISTRY and the State against all claims or loss, except for
claims arising from the negligence of the MINISTRY or STATE to their employees
or their subcontractors other than CONTRACTOR.
5.6 If, after the Effective Date of this Contract, others are granted
permits or licenses within the Contract Area for exploration/production of any
minerals other than Crude Oil or Natural Gas, CONTRACTOR shall use his best
efforts to avoid obstruction or interference with such licensees' operations
within the Contract Area. The MINISTRY shall use its best efforts to ensure
that operations of third parties do not obstruct CONTRACTOR's Petroleum
Operations within the Contract Area.
5.7 CONTRACTOR shall provide acceptable working conditions, living
accommodations on offshore installations, and access to medical attention and an
infirmary for all personnel employed by CONTRACTOR or its subcontractors in its
Petroleum Operations.
5.8 CONTRACTOR's Well design and drilling, including, but not limited to,
CONTRACTOR's casing, cementing and drilling programs shall be in accordance with
generally accepted industry practice.
5.9 Every Well shall be identified by a number, and shall be shown on maps,
plans and similar records CONTRACTOR is required to keep. The MINISTRY shall at
once be notified of any change on the identification numbers.
5.10 No Well shall be drilled through any vertical boundary of the Contract
Area. A directional Well drilled to an objective under the Contract Area from a
nearby surface location not covered by the Contract shall be deemed to have the
same effect for all purposes of the Contract as a Well drilled from a surface
location on the Contract Area. In such circumstances and for purposes of this
Contract, production of Crude Oil or Natural Gas from the Contract Area through
a directional Well surfaced nearby, or drilling or reworking of any such
directional Well, shall be considered production or drilling or reworking
operations (as the case may be) on the Contract Area for all purposes of this
Contract. Nothing contained in this paragraph is intended or shall be construed
as granting to the CONTRACTOR any leasehold interests, licenses, easements, or
other rights the CONTRACTOR may have to acquire lawfully under the Hydrocarbons
Law or from the MINISTRY or third parties.
5.11 Before commencing any work on drilling of any Well covered by a Work
Program and Budget of Operating Expenditures or recommencing work on any Well on
which work has been discontinued for more than six (6) months, CONTRACTOR shall
give the MINISTRY seven (7) calendar days written notice; however, if the
estimated amount to be spent on said work is less than One Hundred Thousand
United States Dollars (U.S. $100,000), notice shall not be required.
5.12 Before abandoning any Field, CONTRACTOR shall give ninety (90) calendar
days notice to the MINISTRY of its intention to abandon. Upon receipt of such
notice, the MINISTRY may elect to assume operation of the Well or Wells proposed
for abandonment; however, MINISTRY's operations shall not interfere with those
of CONTRACTOR. The MINISTRY's failure to so elect, by notice to the CONTRACTOR
in writing within the aforementioned ninety (90) day period, shall be deemed
approval of the CONTRACTOR's proposal to abandon.
5.13 CONTRACTOR shall securely plug any Well that it intends to abandon to
prevent pollution, damage to the environment, and possible damages to the
reservoir.
VI. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES, DETERMINATION OF PRODUCTION
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEVELS
------
6.1 Subject to the provisions of paragraphs (e) and (f) of this Section 6.1,
CONTRACTOR shall have the following rights and obligations:
(a) advance all necessary funds and purchase or lease all material,
equipment and supplies required in connection with the Petroleum Operations;
(b) furnish all technical aid, including foreign personnel, required for the
performance of the Petroleum Operations;
(c) furnish all such other funds for the performance of the Petroleum
Operations as may be required, including payment to foreign entities performing
services as subcontractors;
(d) retain control to all leased property paid for with Foreign Exchange and
brought into the Republic of Equatorial Guinea under the rules of temporary
importation, and as such, shall have the right to freely export same from the
Republic of Equatorial Guinea in accordance with the Hydrocarbons Law;
(e) have the right prior notification to the Ministry to sell, assign,
transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of any part or all of the rights and
interests and obligations under this Contract to any Affiliated Company;
(f) have the right to sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of
all or any part of its rights and interests and obligations under this Contract
to parties other than Affiliated Companies with the prior written consent of the
MINISTRY, such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, and shall be deemed
granted if the MINISTRY does not respond to CONTRACTOR within sixty (60)
calendar days of CONTRACTOR's written request for consent;
(g) have the right at all times to enter and exit the Contract Area and any
facilities used in the Petroleum Operations, wherever located;
(h) have the right to use and have access to all geological, geophysical,
drilling, Well, production and other information held by the MINISTRY or by any
other governmental agency or enterprise, or enterprise in which the STATE
participates, relating to the Contract Area, including Well location maps. The
MINISTRY must supply the same to the CONTRACTOR;
(i) submit in an appropriate form to the MINISTRY copies of all such
geological, geophysical, drilling, Well, production and other data, reports,
interpretations and maps, and cuttings of all samples that have been obtained or
compiled during the term hereof;
(j) include in the Work Program and Budget of Petroleum Operations
Expenditures the following sums to be spent on training personnel of the
MINISTRY and citizens of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea for professional,
skilled and technical jobs in CONTRACTOR's Petroleum Operations. In conjunction
with the preparation of the annual Budget of Petroleum Operations Expenditures,
CONTRACTOR and MINISTRY will jointly agree on a training program where these
sums will be expended. CONTRACTOR agrees to be responsible for the
implementation and direct funding of the referenced training programs, and the
expenditures will be included as cost recoverable in its Petroleum Operations
Expenditures:
(i) Fifty Thousand United States Dollars (U.S. $50,000) in each of the first
and second Contract Years;
(ii) Seventy-Five Thousand United States Dollars (U.S. $75,000) in the third
Contract Year and in every year thereafter until a Commercial Discovery is
determined in accordance with Section 2.5. For the year when Commercial
Discovery is determined, the training obligation to be spent under this Section
6.1(j)(ii) will be prorated from January 1 of that year through the date on
which Commercial Delivery is determined;
(iii) One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (U.S. $100,000) per year
from the time of determination of Commercial Discovery to the date of first
commercial production. For the year when the training obligation under this
Section 6.1(j)(iii) takes effect, the amount to be spent will be prorated from
the date of determination of Commercial Discovery through December 31 of that
year; and
(iv) Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (U.S. $200,000) per year
from the time of first commercial production and for each year thereafter until
termination of the Contract. For the year when the training obligation under
this Section 6.1(j)(iv) takes effect, the amount to be spent will be prorated
from the date of first commercial production through December 31 of that year.
CONTRACTOR shall make all reasonable efforts to employ and train citizens of the
Republic of Equatorial Guinea in Petroleum Operations. CONTRACTOR may employ
non-citizens, if in the opinion of CONTRACTOR and not contested by the MINISTRY,
no Equatorial Guinean citizens can be found with sufficient skill and technical
qualifications. CONTRACTOR shall make similar requirements of any
subcontractor. At intervals of not more than one year CONTRACTOR shall submit
to the MINISTRY reports detailing the personnel employed and their residence
when employed. CONTRACTOR shall provide, as CONTRACTOR deems necessary,
on-the-job training for citizens of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea to
undertake skilled and technical jobs in the Petroleum Operations. Costs and
expenses of training citizens of Equatorial Guinea as well as costs and expenses
for a program of training for the MINISTRY's personnel, shall be included in
Petroleum Operation Expenditures;
(k) appoint an authorized representative for the Republic of Equatorial
Guinea with respect to this Contract, who shall have an office in Equatorial
Guinea;
(l) give preference to goods and services that are produced in the Republic
of Equatorial Guinea or rendered by citizens of the Republic of Equatorial
Guinea, provided such goods and services are offered at equally advantageous
conditions with regard to quality, price, and immediate availability in the
quantities and to the specifications required;
(m) pay to the STATE the corresponding taxes in accordance with the Tax Law;
(n) pay to the STATE the corresponding Royalty pursuant to the terms and
conditions of this Contract;
(o) except as provided in Section 7.10 hereof, have the right during the
term hereof to freely lift, dispose of and export its share of Crude Oil, and
retain abroad the Foreign Exchange proceeds obtained therefrom;
(p) notify the MINISTRY at least forty-eight (48) hours before the abandonment
of any Well.
6.2. THE MINISTRY SHALL:
------------------
(a) except with respect to CONTRACTOR's obligations to pay the taxes set
forth at paragraph 6.1(m) of this Section VI, assume and discharge all other
taxes CONTRACTOR would otherwise be subject, including transfer tax, import and
export duties on materials, equipment and supplies brought into the Republic of
Equatorial Guinea by CONTRACTOR, its contractors and subcontractors; likewise,
it will comply with all taxes required with regard to property, capital, net
worth, operations, remittances or transactions (whether exacted directly or by
the requirement of stamp taxes on documents or the use of sealed paper),
including any tax or levy on or in connection with operations performed
hereunder by CONTRACTOR in accordance with this Contract. The MINISTRY shall
not be obligated to pay CONTRACTOR's Royalty, Income Tax, nor taxes on tobaccos,
liquor and personal income tax; nor shall it be obligated to pay the Income Tax
and other taxes not listed in the preceding sentence payable by contractors and
subcontractors. The obligations of the MINISTRY hereunder shall be deemed to
have been complied with by the delivery to CONTRACTOR within one hundred and
twenty (120) calendar days after the end of each Calendar Year, of documentary
proof in accordance with fiscal laws of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea that
liability for the above-mentioned taxes has been satisfied, except that with
respect to any of such liabilities that CONTRACTOR may be obligated to pay
directly, the MINISTRY shall reimburse it within sixty (60) calendar days after
receipt of invoice. The MINISTRY shall be consulted prior to payment of such
taxes by CONTRACTOR or by any other party on CONTRACTOR's behalf;
(b) otherwise assist and expedite CONTRACTOR's execution of the Work Program
by supplying or otherwise making available all necessary visas, work permits,
import licenses, and rights of way and easements as may be required by
CONTRACTOR or its subcontractors and made available from the resources under the
MINISTRY's control;
(c) have title to all original data resulting from the Petroleum Operations
including, but not limited to, geological, geophysical, petrophysical,
engineering, well logs and completion, status reports, samples and any other
data CONTRACTOR may compile or obtain during the term of this Contract;
provided, however, that CONTRACTOR may retain copies of such data and further
provided that such data shall not be disclosed to third parties by the MINISTRY
without the consent of CONTRACTOR while this Contract remains in effect.
However, for the purpose of obtaining new offers, the MINISTRY may show any
third party geophysical and geological data with respect to that part or parts
of the Contract Area acquired by CONTRACTOR and adjacent to the area of such new
offers, provided that no such data shall be disclosed that was in the possession
of the MINISTRY for less than eleven (11) months. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the MINISTRY may show data to advisors and consultants of the
MINISTRY that agree to keep the data confidential;
(d) have the right at all reasonable times to inspect CONTRACTOR's Petroleum
Operations, Hydrocarbon measuring devices, logs, plans, maps, and records
relating to Petroleum Operations and surveys or investigations on or with regard
to the Contract Area. MINISTRY shall make every effort to coordinate inspection
activities to avoid interference with Petroleum Operations.
6.3 CONTRACTOR shall produce Crude Oil from the Contract Area at the Maximum
Efficient Rate. CONTRACTOR and MINISTRY shall conduct a review of CONTRACTOR's
production programs prior to the commencement of production from any Field and
establish at that time by agreement the Maximum Efficient Rate and the
production rate for Natural Gas and the dates the Maximum Efficient Rate and the
production rate for Natural Gas will be reviewed and established in the future.
In the case of Natural Gas, the production rate shall not be less than that
required to satisfy any contracts then in existence for the sale of Natural Gas.
6.4 Subject to Section 5.2(b), the Crude Oil production rate shall not be
less than that required to satisfy any contract in existence for the sale of
Crude Oil. In no case the production rate shall damage the reservoir or
reservoirs.
VII. RECOVERY OF PETROLEUM OPERATING COSTS, SHARING OF PRODUCTION, AND
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTION OF PRODUCTION
----------------------------
CRUDE OIL:
- ----------
7.1 The respective production shares of the STATE and the CONTRACTOR of
Crude Oil produced and saved shall be determined in accordance with the
definitions and procedures set forth in this Section VII.
7.2 After making Royalty payments to the STATE, CONTRACTOR shall be entitled
to recover all Petroleum Operations Expenditures out of the sales proceeds or
other disposition of Crude Oil produced and saved hereunder and not used in
Petroleum Operations. Any Crude Oil remaining after making the Royalty payments
to the STATE and after all Petroleum Operations Expenditures are recovered by
CONTRACTOR shall be referred hereinafter as "Net Crude Oil." Net Crude Oil
shall be shared between the STATE and the CONTRACTOR in accordance with the
procedures outlined below, designed to ensure total cost recovery by CONTRACTOR,
followed by an escalation of the STATE's share based on increases in the
CONTRACTOR's pre-tax rate of return:
TOTAL TOTAL
CONTRACTOR'S PRE-TAX STATE SHARE CONTRACTOR SHARE
RATE OF RETURN (% OF NET CRUDE OIL) (% OF NET CRUDE OIL)
Less than 18% 0% 100%
Greater or equal to 18% and less than 25% 10% 90%
Greater or equal to 25% and less than 40% 35% 65%
Equal or Greater than 40% 55% 45%
7.3 To determine STATE's share of Net Crude Oil, it shall first be necessary
to calculate Net Cash Flow from Petroleum Operations ("Net Cash Flow"). Net
Cash Flow for any given Calendar Year shall be determined by subtracting Royalty
and Petroleum Operations Expenditures from Gross Receipts.
7.4 To calculate the STATE's Share of Net Crude Oil produced from the
Contract Area, there are hereby established three (3) accounts: First Share
Account ("FSA"); Second Share Account ("SSA"); and Third Share Account ("TSA").
7.4.1 First Share Account:
-------------------
a. For purposes of calculating the First Share Account, the following
formula shall be used:
FSA(Y) = FSA(Y-1)(1 + .18 + i) + NCF(Y)
Where: FSA = First Share Account
Y = the Calendar Year in question
NCF = Net Cash Flow
i = the percentage change for the calendar year in
question in the index of U.S. Consumer prices as reported for the first
time in the monthly publication, "International Financial Statistics" of the
International Monetary Fund.
b. In any Calendar Year when FSA(Y) is negative, the STATE's share of Net
Crude Oil determined with reference to the First Share Account shall be zero.
c. In any Calendar Year when FSA(Y) becomes positive, the CONTRACTOR for
purposes of this section shall be deemed to have earned a pre-tax rate of return
that is equal to or greater than eighteen percent (18%), and the STATE's share
of Net Crude Oil determined with reference to the First Share Account shall be
valued at an amount of Net Crude Oil equal to ten percent (10%) of FSA(Y).
d. In any Calendar Year immediately subsequent to a Calendar Year when
FSA(Y) is positive, for purposes of applying the formula set forth in subsection
(a) of this Section 7.4.1, FSA(Y-1) shall be equal to zero.
7.4.2 Second Share Account
a. For purposes of calculating the Second Share Account, the following
formula shall be used:
SSA(Y) = SSA(Y-1)(1 + .25 + i) + (NCF(Y) - GS I(Y))
Where: SSA = Second Share Account
Y = the Calendar Year in question
NCF = Net Cash Flow
GS I = STATE share of Net Crude Oil determined with
reference to the First Share Account
i = the percentage change for the Calendar Year in
question in the index of U.S. consumer prices as reported for the first
time in the monthly publication "International Financial Statistics" of the
International Monetary Fund.
b. In any Calendar Year when SSA(Y) is negative, the STATE's share of Net
Crude Oil determined with reference to the Second Share Account shall be zero.
c. In any Calendar Year when SSA(Y) becomes positive, the CONTRACTOR for
purposes of this section shall be deemed to have earned a pre-tax rate of return
that is equal to or greater than twenty-five percent (25%), and the STATE's
share of Net Crude Oil determined with reference to the Second Share Account
shall be valued at an amount of Net Crude Oil equal to twenty-seven and 778/1000
percent (27.778%) of SSA(Y).
d. In any Calendar Year immediately subsequent to a Calendar Year when
SSA(Y) is positive, for purposes of applying the formula set forth in subsection
(a) of this Section 7.4.2, SSA(Y-1) shall be equal to zero.
7.4.3 Third Share Account
-------------------
a. For purposes of calculating the Third Share Account, the following
formula shall be used:
TSA(Y) = TSA(Y-1)(1 + .40 + i) + (NCF(Y) - GS I(A) - GS II(Y))
Where: TSA = Third Share Account
Y = the Calendar Year in question
NCF = Net Cash Flow
GS I = STATE share of Net Crude Oil determined with reference
to the First Share Account
GS II = STATE share of Net Crude Oil determined with reference
to the Second Share Account
i = the percentage change for the Calendar Year in
question in the index of U.S. consumer prices as reported for the first time
in the monthly publication "International Financial Statistics" of the
International Monetary Fund.
b. In any Calendar Year when TSA(Y) is negative, the STATE's share of Net
Crude Oil determined with reference to the Third Share Account shall be zero.
c. In any Calendar Year when TSA(Y) becomes positive, the CONTRACTOR for
purposes of this section shall be deemed to have earned a pre-tax rate of return
that is at least forty percent (40%), and the STATE's share of Net Crude Oil
determined with reference to the Third Share Account shall be valued at an
amount of Net Crude Oil equal to thirty and 769/1000 percent (30.769%) of
TSA(Y).
d. In any Calendar Year immediately subsequent to a Calendar Year when
TSA(Y) is positive, for purposes of applying the formula set forth in subsection
(a) of this Section 7.4.3, TSA(Y-1) shall be equal to zero.
7.4.4 Total STATE Share
-------------------
The total STATE Share of Net Crude Oil in any Calendar Year shall be the sum of
the STATE Share of Net Crude Oil determined with reference to the First Share
Account, the Second Share Account and the Third Share Account for such calendar
year.
7.5 CONTRACTOR, if so directed by the STATE, shall be obligated to market
all crude Oil produced and saved from the Contract Area subject to the
provisions hereinafter set forth.
7.6 Except as provided in paragraph 7.10, CONTRACTOR shall be entitled to
take and receive and freely export Crude Oil allocated for recovery of Petroleum
Operations Expenditures as well as its share of Net Crude Oil.
7.7 Title to the CONTRACTOR's share of Net Crude Oil under this Section VII,
as well as to that portion of Crude Oil exported and sold to recover Petroleum
Operations Expenditures, shall pass to CONTRACTOR at the wellhead.
7.8 If the MINISTRY elects to take any of the STATE's share of Net Crude Oil
in kind, it shall so notify CONTRACTOR in writing not less than ninety (90)
calendar days prior to the commencement of each Semester of each Calendar Year
specifying the quantity that it elects to take in kind, such notice to be
effective for the ensuing Semester of that Calendar Year (provided, however,
that such election shall not interfere with the proper performance of any Crude
Oil sales agreement for Crude Oil produced within the Contract Area that
CONTRACTOR has executed prior to the notice of such election). Failure to give
such notice shall be conclusively deemed to evidence the STATE elects not to
take in kind. Any sale of the STATE's portion of Net Crude Oil shall not be for
a term of more than one Calendar Year without the STATE's consent.
7.9 If the MINISTRY elects not to receive in kind the STATE's share of Crude
Oil, then the MINISTRY may direct the CONTRACTOR to market or buy the STATE's
share of production, whichever CONTRACTOR shall elect to do; provided, however,
the price paid to the MINISTRY for the STATE's share of production shall not be
less than the market price determined in accordance with Section VIII hereof.
CONTRACTOR shall pay the STATE for the STATE's share of the production produced
and saved for each Calendar Quarter; such payment shall be made within thirty
(30) calendar days after the end of the Calendar Quarter when the production
occurred.
7.10 In addition to the State's production share in accordance with the
terms of this Contract, CONTRACTOR is obligated to sell to the STATE at not less
than the market price in accordance with Section VIII hereof, if requested in
writing, a portion of CONTRACTOR's share of Crude Oil for the internal
consumption of the country in accordance with Section 15 of the Hydrocarbons
Law; provided that CONTRACTOR's obligation hereunder does not interfere with any
of CONTRACTOR's contracts with third parties.
7.11 Should the STATE and CONTRACTOR consider that the processing and
utilization of Natural Gas is economical and choose to participate in the
processing and utilization thereof, in addition to that used in secondary
recovery operations, then the construction and installation of facilities for
such processing and utilization shall be carried out pursuant to an approved
Work Program. The recovery of costs of operations, sharing of production, and
handling of production shall be effected according to the same general framework
as that utilized for Crude Oil.
7.12 In the event that CONTRACTOR considers the processing and utilization
of Natural Gas is not economical, the STATE may choose to take and utilize such
Natural Gas that would otherwise be flared in accordance with the provisions of
Section 5.3; all costs of taking and handling will be for the sole account and
risk of the STATE.
VIII. VALUATION OF CRUDE OIL
----------------------
8.1 Crude Oil sold to third parties shall be valued as follows:
(a) All Crude Oil taken by CONTRACTOR including its share and the share for
the recovery of Petroleum Operations Expenditures, and sold to third parties
shall be valued at the net realized price received by CONTRACTOR for such Crude
Oil F.O.B. the Republic of Equatorial Guinea at the point Crude Oil passes
through the inlet flange of the export tanker.
(b) Except for the Royalty, all of the STATE's Crude Oil taken by CONTRACTOR
and sold to third parties shall be valued at the net realized price received by
CONTRACTOR for such Crude Oil F.O.B. the Republic of Equatorial Guinea at the
point Crude Oil passes through the inlet flange of the export tanker, less costs
incurred by CONTRACTOR related to the sale of STATE's Crude Oil.
(c) The MINISTRY shall be duly advised before the sales referred to in
paragraph (b) of this subsection are made.
(d) Subject to any existing Crude Oil sales agreement, if a more favorable
net realized price is available to the STATE for the Crude Oil referred to in
paragraph (b) of this subsection, then the MINISTRY shall so advise CONTRACTOR
in writing not less than ninety (90) calendar days prior to the commencement of
the deliveries under the State's proposed sales contract. Forty-five (45)
calendar days prior to the start of such deliveries, CONTRACTOR shall notify the
MINISTRY regarding CONTRACTOR's intention to meet the more favorable net
realized price in relation to the quantity and period of delivery pursuant to
said proposed sales contract. In the absence of such notice the STATE shall
market its Crude Oil.
(e) The STATE's marketing of such Crude Oil as referred to in paragraph (d)
of this subsection shall continue until forty-five (45) calendar days after the
STATE's net realized price on said Crude Oil becomes less favorable.
CONTRACTOR's obligation to market said Crude Oil shall not apply until after the
STATE has given CONTRACTOR at least sixty (60) calendar days advance notice that
the STATE does not desire to continue such sales. As long as the STATE is
marketing the Crude Oil referred to above, it shall notify CONTRACTOR of the
more favorable net realized price.
8.2 Crude Oil sold to other than third parties shall be valued as follows:
(a) By using the weighted average per unit price received by CONTRACTOR and
the STATE from sales to third parties F.O.B. at the point Crude Oil passes
through the inlet flange of the export tanker in the Republic of Equatorial
Guinea, net of commissions and brokerages paid in relation to such third party
sales, during the three (3) months preceding such sale, adjusted as necessary
for quality, grade and gravity, and taking into consideration any special
circumstances with respect to such sales;
(b) If no such third party sales have been made during such period of time,
then on the basis used to value Crude Oil of similar quality, grade and gravity
and taking into consideration any special circumstances with respect to sales of
such similar Crude Oil.
8.3 Third party sales referred to in this section shall mean sales by
CONTRACTOR to independent purchasers of CONTRACTOR, entered into in an arm's
length transaction between a willing seller and a willing purchaser on
commercial terms reflecting current international open market conditions.
8.4 Commissions or brokerages incurred in connection with sales to third
parties, if any, shall not exceed the customary and prevailing rate.
8.5 During any given Calendar Year, the handling of production (i.e., the
implementation of the provisions of Section VII hereof) and the proceeds thereof
shall be provisionally dealt with on the basis of the relevant Work Program and
Budget of Petroleum Operations Expenditures based upon estimates of quantities
of Crude Oil to be produced, of internal consumption in the Republic of
Equatorial Guinea, of marketing possibilities, of prices and other sale
conditions as well as of any other relevant factors. Within thirty (30)
calendar days after the end of said given Calendar Year and to comply with the
provisions of this Contract, adjustments and cash settlements between the
Parties shall be made on the basis of the actual quantities, amounts and prices
involved.
8.6 In the event the Petroleum Operations require the segregation of Crude
Oils of different quality and/or grade and if the Parties do not otherwise
mutually agree:
(a) any and all provisions of this Contract concerning valuation of Crude
Oil shall apply individually to each segregated Crude Oil;
(b) Crude Oil produced and segregated in a given year shall contribute to:
(i) the "required quantity" allotted in such year to the recovery of all
Petroleum Operations Expenditures pursuant to Section VII;
(ii) the "required quantity" of Crude Oil a Party is entitled in such Year
pursuant to Section VII.
with quantities that bear the same proportion to the respective "required
quantity" (referred to in (i) or (ii) above) as the quantity of such Crude Oil
produced and segregated in such given Year bears to the total quantity of Crude
Oil produced in such Year from the Contract Area.
IX. BONUSES AND SURFACE RENTALS
------------------------------
9.1 On the Effective Date, CONTRACTOR shall pay the STATE the sum of Seven
Hundred Fifty Thousand United States Dollars (U.S. $750,000) as a signature
bonus.
9.2 On the date CONTRACTOR notifies MINISTRY it has made a Commercial
Discovery, CONTRACTOR shall pay the STATE the sum of Seven Hundred Fifty
Thousand United States Dollars (U.S. $750,000).
9.3 CONTRACTOR shall pay the STATE a one-time payment of One Million Five
Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (U.S. $1,000,000) after daily production
from the Contract Area averages for the first time twenty thousand (20,000)
barrels per day for a period of sixty (60) calendar days; CONTRACTOR shall also
pay the STATE a one-time payment of Two Million Five Hundred Thousand United
States Dollars (U.S. $2,500,000) after daily production from the Contract Area
averages for the first time thirty thousand (30,000) barrels per day for a
period of sixty (60) calendar days. Such payments shall be made within thirty
(30) calendar days following the last day of the respective sixty (60) calendar
day period.
9.4 From the Effective Date and throughout the period CONTRACTOR is
conducting Exploration Operations, CONTRACTOR shall pay to STATE an annual
surface rental of One United States Dollar (U.S. $1.00) per hectare for all
parts of the Contract Area covered by less than two hundred (200) meters of
water and Fifty United States Cents (U.S. $.50) per hectare for all parts of the
Contract Area covered by two hundred (200) meters or more of water where
CONTRACTOR is authorized to conduct Exploration Operations. From the expiration
of the Exploration Operations until termination of this Contract, CONTRACTOR
shall pay to the STATE an annual surface rental of Two United States Dollars
(U.S.$2.00) per hectare for all parts of the remaining Contract Area. The
MINISTRY and CONTRACTOR agree that the coordinates shown in Annex "E" attached
hereto represent the boundary where the two hundred (200) meter depth occurs and
the basis for calculating the rental payments. For the year this Contract is
signed, the surface rentals shall be prorated from the Effective Date through
December 31 of that year, and shall be paid thirty (30) calendar days after the
Effective Date. For succeeding years the surface rentals shall be paid in
advance, thirty (30) calendar days before the beginning of each Calendar Year.
9.5 (a) The production bonus payments required by Section 9.3 hereof
shall be included in Petroleum Operations Expenditures as cost recoverable.
(b) The signature bonus, Commercial Discovery bonus and surface rentals
required by Sections 9.1, and 9.2, and 9.4 of this Contract shall not be
included as cost recoverable in Petroleum Operations Expenditures.
X. PAYMENTS
--------
10.1 All payments to be made by CONTRACTOR to the STATE pursuant to this
Contract shall be made to the Treasury of the STATE in United States currency,
or at CONTRACTOR's election, in other currency acceptable to the STATE.
10.2 All payments due CONTRACTOR shall be made in United States Dollars, or
at the STATE's election, in other currency acceptable to CONTRACTOR, at a bank
to be designated by CONTRACTOR.
10.3 Unless otherwise specifically provided herein, any payments required to
be made pursuant to this Contract shall be made within thirty (30) calendar days
following the end of the month when the obligation to make such payments occurs.
10.4 At the end of each accounting period any gain or loss on the
CONTRACTOR's books caused by variations in the exchange rates will be deducted
or added, as the case may be, from its costs and expenses for that period, in
case CONTRACTOR's accounting is done in FCFA (French Africa Confederation
Francs) or in any other currency agreed to by the Parties other than United
States Dollars.
XI. TITLE TO EQUIPMENT
--------------------
11.1 The equipment and fixed installations purchased by CONTRACTOR for use
in Development and Production Operations becomes the Property of the STATE when
the term of this Contract expires. Nevertheless, the equipment and fixed
installations amortized before the expiration of the Contract, could be used by
the STATE providing such use does not interfere with CONTRACTOR's activities.
11.2 The provisions of Section 11.1 of this Section XI shall not apply to
the equipment of CONTRACTOR or any of its subcontractors that constitute an
indispensable element in the production of Hydrocarbons; such equipment may be
freely exported from the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, if it has not been
amortized.
XII. UNITIZATION
-----------
12.1 If a Field is designated within the Contract Area and it extends to
other parts of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea where other parties have
obtained a Contract for exploration and production of Crude Oil or Natural Gas,
or where another Contract has been granted to the CONTRACTOR, the MINISTRY may
demand the production of Crude Oil and Natural Gas be carried out in
collaboration with the other contractors. The same rule shall be applicable if
deposits of Crude Oil or Natural Gas, within the Contract Area, not commercially
recoverable are deemed as commercially exploitable if the production includes
those parts of the deposits extending to areas controlled by other contractors.
12.2 If the MINISTRY so orders, CONTRACTOR shall collaborate with other
contractors in preparing a collective proposal for approval by the MINISTRY for
common production of the deposits of Crude Oil or Natural Gas.
12.3 If the proposal for common production has not been presented within the
time period established, or if the MINISTRY does not approve that proposal (such
approval shall not be unreasonably denied or delayed), the MINISTRY may prepare
or cause to be prepared for the account of the parties involved, a plan for
common production. If the MINISTRY adopts such plan, the CONTRACTOR shall
comply with all the conditions established in such plan.
12.4 This Section XII shall also be applicable to discoveries of deposits of
Crude Oil or Natural Gas within the Contract Area that extend to areas not
within the dominion of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea; provided that with
respect to the production of such deposits of Crude Oil or Natural Gas, the
MINISTRY is empowered to impose the special rules and conditions necessary to
satisfy obligations under agreements with international organizations or
adjacent states.
12.5 Within one hundred eighty (180) calendar days following a request by
the MINISTRY, CONTRACTOR shall agree and proceed to operate under any
cooperative or unitary plan for the development and operation of the area, Field
or pool, or a part of the same, including areas covered by this Contract, the
MINISTRY deems feasible and necessary or advisable for purposes of conservation.
If a clause of a cooperative or unitary development plan approved by the
MINISTRY that by its terms affects the Contract Area or a part of the same or
contradicts a clause of this Contract, the clause of the cooperative or unitary
plan shall prevail.
12.6 Notwithstanding Section 12.5, in the event of conflicting clauses
between the terms of the Contract and the cooperative or unitary plan,
CONTRACTOR shall retain the right to conciliation and arbitration under Section
XIII.
XIII. CONSULTATION AND ARBITRATION
------------------------------
13.1 The STATE and CONTRACTOR hereby consent to submit to the jurisdiction
of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (hereinafter
the "Centre") for any dispute arising out of or relating to this Contract or
relating to any investment made under it, for settlement by conciliation
followed, if the dispute remains unresolved within three (3) months of the
communication of the report of the Conciliation Commission to the parties, by
arbitration, pursuant to the Convention of the Settlement of Investment Disputes
between States and Nationals of Other States (hereinafter the "Convention").
13.2 The MINISTRY is a governmental agency of the Republic of Equatorial
Guinea that has been designated to the Centre by the STATE pursuant to Articles
25(1) and 25(3) of the Convention and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea has
notified the Centre that the agreements executed by the MINISTRY do not require
approval (the Government has approved said Consent Agreement by decree
______________________________)
13.3 It is agreed by the Parties to this Contract that CONTRACTOR is a
citizen of the Cayman Islands.
13.4 It is hereby agree by the Parties that the consent to the Centre's
Jurisdiction stipulated above, shall equally bind any successor in interest to
the Government of Republic of Equatorial Guinea and CONTRACTOR to the extent
that Centre can assume jurisdiction over a dispute between the successor and the
other Party.
13.5 It is hereby agreed that the right of CONTRACTOR to request the
settlement of a dispute by the Centre or to take any step as a party to a
proceeding in accordance with this clause shall not be affected by CONTRACTOR
receiving partial compensation, conditional or absolute, from any Third Party
(whether a private person, a state, a government agency or an intentional
organization) with respect to any material loss or injury that is the subject of
the dispute; provided that the Republic of Equatorial Guinea may require
evidence that such third party agrees to the exercise of those rights by
CONTRACTOR.
13.6 Since the Republic of Equatorial Guinea is not a signatory to the
Convention, it is hereby agreed that Section XIII shall be in force on the
effective date of the convention as regards this STATE, and that date shall be
considered as the date the Parties consented to submit disputes to the Centre.
Until thirty (30) days after the ratification of the Convention by the Republic
of Equatorial Guinea of the procedures for settlement of disputes provided for
in this Section, all disputes shall be settled by procedures similar to those
applicable under the Convention, except that the proceedings shall be initiated
by direct communication between the Parties, and if the Tribunal is not
constituted within ninety (90) calendar days following the receipt of such
communication, either party may request the Centre's Secretary General to
appoint any arbitrators not yet appointed.
Any Tribunal constituted regarding a dispute submitted to the Centre pursuant to
this Section shall consist of one arbitrator appointed by each Party, and an
arbitrator appointed by the Centre's Chairman of the Administrative Council who
shall be President of the Tribunal.
13.7 Any Tribunal constituted pursuant to this Contract shall apply the law
of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. Such Tribunal constituted pursuant to
this Contract shall have the power to decide a dispute ex aequo et bono.
13.8 Notwithstanding Section 13.6, if conciliation or arbitration under the
Convention are unavailable because the jurisdictional requirements ratione
personae of Article 25 of the Convention is unfulfilled at the time a proceeding
is instituted pursuant to this Section XIII, the Parties agree to conciliation
or arbitration, as the case may be pursuant to Section 13.1, in accordance with
the Arbitration (Additional Facility) Rules of the Centre.
13.9 The place of arbitration shall be Washington, D.C., United States of
America, and the arbitration shall be held at the seat of the Centre. The
language of the proceedings shall be Spanish.
XIV. BOOKS AND ACCOUNTS AND AUDITS
-----------------------------
CONTRACTOR shall be responsible for keeping books and accounts reflecting all
Petroleum Operations Expenditures as well as revenue received from the sale of
Crude Oil and Natural Gas, consistent with modern petroleum industry practices
and proceedings as described in Annex "C" attached hereto. Such books and
accounts shall be maintained in United States Dollars. Should there be any
inconsistency between the provisions of this Contract and the provisions of
Annex "C," the provisions of this Contract shall prevail.
14.2 AUDITS
------
The STATE shall have the right to inspect and audit CONTRACTOR's books and
accounts relating to this Contract in accordance with Section 4.9 If
CONTRACTOR's books and accounts are not available for inspection in the Republic
of Equatorial Guinea, the STATE shall have the right to audit the CONTRACTOR's
books and accounts at the CONTRACTOR's headquarters; in this case, the expenses
of the audit shall be paid by the CONTRACTOR. Moreover, the STATE will require
CONTRACTOR to engage independent accountants to examine, in accordance with
generally accepted auditing standards, CONTRACTOR's books and accounts relating
to this Contract for any Calendar Year or perform auditing procedures as deemed
appropriate by the STATE. A copy of the independent accountant's report or any
exceptions shall be forwarded to the STATE within sixty (60) calendar days
following the completion of such audit. Any cost incurred by CONTRACTOR in
complying with this requirement by the STATE shall be included in Petroleum
Operations Expenditures and shall be cost recoverable. CONTRACTOR's books and
accounts shall be deemed accepted by the STATE twenty-four (24) months after the
end of the Calendar Year when the cost was incurred, unless the MINISTRY
notifies CONTRACTOR otherwise within such time.
XV. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
---------------------
15.1 NOTICES
-------
Any notices required or given by either Party to the other, shall be deemed to
have been delivered when properly acknowledged for receipt by the receiving
Party. All such notices shall be in Spanish and shall be addressed to :
MINISTRY OF MINES AND ENERGY
----------------------------
Malabo-Bioko Norte
Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial
Telephone: (240)-9-3567, -3405, -2086
Facsimile: (240)-9-3353
Telex: GBNOM 5405 EG
CONTRACTOR
----------
Triton Equatorial Guinea, Inc.
Wellington House, 5th Floor
125 Strand Street
London, WC2R 0AP
United Kingdom
Attn: Project Coordinator
Telephone: 44-171-533-7000
Facsimile: 44-171-533-9000
Telex: None
Either party may substitute or change such address on written notice thereof to
the other.
XVI LAWS AND REGULATIONS
--------------------
16.1 For purposes of this Contract, the laws of the Republic of
Equatorial Guinea shall govern in accordance with generally accepted principals
of international law.
16.2 In the event of changes in the legislation regarding Petroleum
Operations, and if as a consequence of their implementation, said changes cause,
to the detriment of any of the Parties, the reduction of rights or an increase
in the economic obligations contained in this Contract, the Parties shall meet
and take the suitable measures to achieve the necessary economic balance at any
time during the Effectiveness of this Contract.
XVII. FORCE MAJEURE
--------------
17.1 Except as otherwise provided in this Subsection 17.1, each Party shall
be excused from complying with the terms of this Contract, except for the
payment of monies then due, if any, for so long as such compliance is hindered
or prevented by irresistible circumstances or beyond the reasonable control of
the Party concerned, including, but not limited to, change of government,
violent storms, cyclones, thunderstorms, navigation dangers, destruction of
machinery or whatever kind of installations, hostilities, blockades, embargoes,
criminal disturbances, national emergencies, the inability to obtain, import or
use any of the required materials, equipment or services, and the inability to
obtain the necessary rights of passage, riots, strikes, wars (declared or
undeclared), insurrections, rebellions, terrorist acts, civil disturbances,
dispositions or orders of governmental authority, whether such authority be
actual or assumed, acts of God, such circumstances being herein sometimes called
"Force Majeure"; provided, however, inability to obtain equipment, supplies or
fuel shall not be a cause of Force Majeure, unless caused by one of the factors
described in this Subsection 17.1. If any failure to comply is occasioned by a
governmental law, rule, regulation, disposition or order of the Government of
the Republic of Equatorial Guinea as aforesaid and the affected Party is
operating in accordance with good petroleum industry practice in the Contract
Area and is making reasonable efforts to comply with such law, rule, regulation,
disposition or order, the matter shall be deemed beyond the control of the
affected Party. In the event that either Party hereto is rendered unable,
wholly or in part, by any of these causes to carry out its obligations under
this Contract, it is agreed that such Party shall give notice and details of
Force Majeure in writing to the other Party within seven (7) calendar days after
its occurrence. In such cases, the obligations of the Party giving the notice
shall be suspended during the continuance of any inability so caused, and the
term of the Contract shall be extended to coincide with the duration of the
condition of Force Majeure. Both Parties shall do all within their power to
remove such cause.
XVIII. TEXT
----
18.1 This Contract is written in the Spanish and English languages. In the
event of a controversy between the two texts, the Spanish text shall prevail.
XIX. EFFECTIVENESS
-------------
19.1 This Contract shall come into effect on the Effective Date.
19.2 This Contract shall not be annulled, amended or modified in any
respect, except by the mutual consent in writing of the Parties or their
successors hereto. Nevertheless, the MINISTRY when requested by CONTRACTOR,
once all works described in Section 4.3(i)(ii) are completed, shall approve
within sixty (60) calendar days from said request an amendment authorizing
CONTRACTOR to transfer the minimum drilling obligation described in Section 4.3
from this Block to Block "F" including all the obligations and rights associated
with said drilling. CONTRACTOR shall be entitled to recover the costs
associated with drilling on the Block where the well is drilled. Any amendments
or modifications agreed to in writing by the Parties shall not require approval
by the Supreme Court of Justice of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea or
ratification by the President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Contract, in
triplicate and in the Spanish language, as of the day and year first above
written.
THE REPUBLIC OF EQUATORIAL GUINEA
REPRESENTED BY THE MINISTRY OF
MINES AND ENERGY OF THE REPUBLIC
OF EQUATORIAL GUINEA
By:___________________________________
Minister of Mines and Energy
TRITON EQUATORIAL GUINEA, INC.
By:___________________________________
Thomas G. Finck, President
ANNEX "B"
DESCRIPTION OF CONTRACT AREA
BLOCK G
CORNER POINTS LATITUDE NORTH LONGITUDE EAST
A 1 41' 05" 9 37' 34"
B 1 41' 07" 9 25' 37"
C 1 40' 15" 9 25' 37"
D 1 40' 15" 9 17' 41"
E 1 34' 38" 9 17' 41"
F 1 34' 34" 9 00' 25"
G 1 15' 00" 8 51' 38"
H 1 15' 00" 9 23' 47"
From corner point H the Block is defined by the coast in low tide until the
intersection with corner point A at latitude North 1 41' 05" and 9 37' 34"
longitude East
ANNEX "C"
ACCOUNTING PROCEDURE
Attached to and made an integral part of the Production Sharing Contract
(the "Contract") for Block G between the REPUBLIC OF EQUATORIAL GUINEA,
represented for purposes of this Contract by the Ministry of Mines and Energy,
and TRITON EQUATORIAL GUINEA, INC., CONTRACTOR, dated the 26th day of March,
1997.
Article I
General Provisions
1. Purpose. The accounting procedure herein provided and attached to the
-------
Contract is to be followed and observed in the performance of either Party's
obligations under the Contract.
2. Accounts and Statements. CONTRACTOR's accounting records and books will
------------------------
be kept in accordance with generally accepted and recognized accounting systems,
consistent with modern petroleum industry practices and procedures. Books and
reports will be maintained and prepared in accordance with methods established
by the MINISTRY. The chart of accounts and related account definitions will be
prescribed by the MINISTRY. Reports will be organized for the use of the
MINISTRY in carrying out its management responsibilities under the Contract.
Article II
Petroleum Operations Expenditures
1. Definition for Purposes of the Recovery of Costs and Calculation of
--------------------------------------------------------------------
the Income Taxes. For any year when commercial production occurs, Petroleum
- ------------------
Operations Expenditures shall consist of a) current year's non-capital costs, b)
current year's capital costs, and c) current year allowed recovery of prior
year's unrecovered Petroleum Operations Expenditures.
2. Non-Capital Expenditures. Non-capital expenditures means those
-------------------------
Petroleum Operations Expenditures, whether related to Crude Oil or Natural Gas.
or relating to current year's operations. Moreover, non-capital expenditures
shall also include the sums agreed and designated by the MINISTRY and CONTRACTOR
for the abandonment of the Petroleum Operations. In addition to costs relating
only to current operations, U.S. $93,000 spent by CONTRACTOR for data acquired
prior to the Effective Date shall be classified as non-capital expenditures
authorized in writing by the MINISTRY, and the costs of surveys and the
intangible costs of drilling exploratory and development wells, as described in
paragraph (c), (d) and (e) below, will be classified as non-capital costs.
Non-capital expenditures include, but are not limited to the following:
(a) Labor, materials and services used in day to day crude oil well
operations, crude oil field production facilities operations, secondary recovery
operations, natural gas well storage, handling, transportation, and delivery
operations, natural gas field production facilities operations, natural gas
transportation and delivery operations, natural gas processing auxiliaries and
utilities, cleaning up pollution or related damages as set forth in Section 4.8
of this Contract, and other operating activities, including maintenance, all of
which comprise Petroleum Operations.
(b) Office, services and general administration - General services including
overhead allocation, insurance premiums, technical and related services,
material services, transportation, rental of heavy engineering equipment, site
rentals and other rentals of services and property, personnel expenses, public
relations, and other expenses abroad.
(c) Development and production drilling - Labor, materials and services used
in drilling wells with the object of penetrating a proven reservoir, including
the drilling of delineation wells as well as redrilling, deepening or
recompleting wells, and access roads, if any, leading directly to wells.
(d) Exploratory drilling - Labor, materials and services used in the
drilling of wells with the object of finding unproven reservoirs of crude oil
and natural gas, and access roads, if any, leading directly to wells.
(e) Surveys - Labor, materials and services used in aerial, geological,
topographical, geophysical and seismic surveys, and core hole drilling.
(f) Other exploration expenditures - Auxiliary or temporary facilities
having useful lives of one year or less used in exploration and purchased
geological and geophysical information.
(f) The bonus payments payable in accordance with Section 9.3 of the
Contract. All payments made in accordance with Section 9 of the Contract shall
be deductible for purposes of calculation of Income Tax.
(h) Interest on loans shall be considered non-capital expenditures for tax
purposes; however, three percent (3%) shall be cost recoverable in accordance
with Article III.3 of this Annex "C".
3. Capital Expenditures. Capital expenditures means expenditures made for
---------------------
items that normally have a useful life beyond the year incurred. Capital
expenditures include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) Construction utilities and auxiliaries - Work shops, power and water
facilities, warehouses, and field roads other than the access roads mentioned in
paragraphs 2(c) and 2(d) above. Cost of oil jetties and anchorages, treating
plants and equipment, secondary recovery systems, gas plant and steam systems.
(b) Construction housing and welfare - Housing, recreational facilities and
other tangible property incidental to construction.
(c) Production facilities - Offshore platforms (including the costs of
labor, fuel, hauling, and supplies for both the offsite fabrication and onsite
installation of platforms, and other construction costs in erecting platforms
and installing submarine pipelines), wellhead equipment, subsurface lifting
equipment, production tubing, sucker rods, surface pumps, flow lines, gathering
equipment, delivery lines and storage facilities.
(d) Movables - Surface and subsurface drilling and production tools,
equipment and instruments, barges, floating craft, automotive equipment,
aircraft, construction equipment, furniture and office equipment and
miscellaneous equipment.
Article III
Accounting Methods To Be Used to Calculate Recovery
of Petroleum Operations Expenditures and Income Taxes
As indicated below, the following accounting methods shall be used to
calculate the recovery of Petroleum Operations Expenditures and Income Taxes.
1. Depreciation. Depreciation will be calculated from the year in which
------------
the asset is placed into service, with a full year's depreciation allowed the
initial year. Depreciation of Capital Costs, for purposes of Income Tax
calculation and cost recovery, will be calculated over a period of four (4)
years using the straight line method.
The lives to be used for items for which Capital Expenditures are incurred
shall be four (4) years. The undepreciated balance of assets taken out of
service will not be charged to Petroleum Operations Expenditures but will
continue to depreciate based upon the lives described above, except where such
assets have been subjected to unanticipated destruction, for example, by fire or
accident.
2. Overhead Allocation. General and administrative expenditures, other
-------------------
than direct charges, allocable to this operation should be determined by a
detailed study, and the method determined by such study shall be applied each
year consistently. The method selected must be approved by the MINISTRY. Either
the MINISTRY or CONTRACTOR may request by notification of the other Party that
the method selected be changed; provided, however that only one change to the
method be allowed in any given Calendar Year.
3. Interest Recovery. Interest on loans obtained by a Party from
------------------
Affiliated Companies, or parent companies, or from third parties non-affiliated
may not be recoverable as Petroleum Operations Expenditures, except for the
three percent (3%) interest, but the interest may be deductible from income for
the purposes of calculating CONTRACTOR's Income Tax. The interest on said loans
cannot be over the prevalent commercial rates for Petroleum Operations
investments. Details of any sums to be financed shall be included in each year's
Budget of Petroleum Operations Expenditures for the review of the MINISTRY.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any law
regulation rule order or decree of the STATE, non-resident lenders shall not be
subject to withholding tax or other income tax.
4. Natural Gas Costs. Petroleum Operations Expenditures directly
-------------------
associated with the production of Natural Gas will be directly chargeable
against Natural Gas revenues in the manner agreed by the Parties. Petroleum
Operations Expenditures incurred for production of both Natural Gas and Crude
Oil will be allocated to Natural Gas and Crude Oil as agreed by both Parties.
5. Inventory Accounting. The costs of non-capital items purchased for
--------------------
inventory will be recoverable in the year the items have been landed in the
Republic of Equatorial Guinea. The CONTRACTOR shall present two types of
inventories, one for non-capital assets or articles and another for capital
assets or articles.
6. Insurance and Claims. Petroleum Operations Expenditures shall
----------------------
include premiums paid for insurance normally required to be carried for the
operations relating to CONTRACTOR's obligations conducted under the Contract and
shall also include expenditures incurred and paid by CONTRACTOR in settlement of
any and all losses, claims, damages, judgments, and other expenses, including
monies relating to CONTRACTOR's obligations under the Contract. Any sums
CONTRACTOR receives for settlements from insurance carried for the benefit of
the Petroleum Operations shall be deducted from Petroleum Operations
Expenditures for the year any such settlement is received.
ANNEX "D"
LETTER OF PERFORMANCE GUARANTY BY PARENT
FOR CONTRACT AREA G, THE REPUBLIC OF EQUATORIAL GUINEA
WHEREAS, Triton Energy Limited, a company validly existing under the laws
of the Cayman Islands ("Parent"), with its principal place of business c/o
Caledonian House, Mary Street, Post Office Box 1043, Georgetown, Grand Cayman,
Cayman Islands; and
WHEREAS, Triton Equatorial Guinea, Inc., a company validly constituted under
the laws of the Cayman Islands ("Company"), is a wholly owned subsidiary
of the Parent; and
WHEREAS, Company has contemporaneously herewith entered into that
certain Production Sharing Contract (the "Contract") with the Republic of
Equatorial Guinea (the "STATE") for Contract Area G; and
WHEREAS, Company holds the participating interest as specified in the
Contract; and
WHEREAS, the STATE desires that the performance by Company under the
Contract be guaranteed; and
WHEREAS, the Parent accepts that it fully understands and assumes
the legal contractual undertakings of the Company under the Contract;
and
NOW THEREFORE, it is hereby agreed and stipulated as follows:
1. Parent shall be bound as Guarantor by virtue of this Letter of
Performance Guaranty by Parent (this "Guaranty") to the STATE for the
fulfillment of the obligations assumed by the Company in accordance with Section
4.3(a) of the Contract.
2. In accordance with Section 4.5 of the Contract, the amount of any
guaranty by Parent hereunder in the then Contract Year phase shall be discharged
of the minimum expenditure obligation for such Contract Year phase when the
minimum expenditure obligation for such phase has been satisfied. If at the end,
the Exploration Expenditures incurred by Company during the two (2) first years
of the Contract is less than the minimum expenditure obligation described in
Section 4.5 of the Contract, then Parent agrees it shall pay to the STATE on
first demand without proof or conditions the balance of the amounts not
incurred. The STATE's first demand shall be given within thirty (30) calendar
days from the end of the related initial exploration period. Failure by the
STATE to make a timely demand as provided above shall discharge Parent from its
liabilities under this Guaranty. Demand shall be made by an original written or
faxed statement from the Ministry of Energy and Mines of the Republic of
Equatorial Guinea ("Ministry") certifying that "Triton Equatorial Guinea, Inc.
did not comply with the work program in the Contract covering Block G." The
Ministry shall state specifically how Triton failed to comply with such work
commitment. The Minister shall deliver the demand to the Parent at 6688 N.
Central Expressway, Dallas, Texas, 75206 U,S.A.; or fax number 1-214-691-0198.
3. This Guaranty shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of Equatorial Guinea.
4. This Guaranty shall expire at the earlier of two (2) years and
thirty (30) consecutive days from the Effective Date of the Contract or the date
when Company and/or its permitted assignee has been recognized by the Ministry
of Mines and Energy of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea to have fulfilled its
minimum expenditure obligations for the initial exploration period pursuant to
the Contract.
5. Said act to be effective in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea shall
be previously elevated to a public deed by a notary or other competent authority
named by the Principal, and said public deed shall comply with all legal
requisites. The costs incurred for said process shall be the responsibility of
the Company, and shall not be recoverable.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent and Company have signed this Guaranty on ______
day of _______, 1997.
PARENT:
TRITON ENERGY LIMITED
By:___________________________
Name:______________________
Title:_____________________
COMPANY
TRITON EQUATORIAL GUINEA, INC.
By:___________________________
Name:______________________
Title:_____________________
STATE OF TEXAS
COUNTY OF DALLAS
BEFORE ME, the undersigned Notary Public in and for the State of Texas, on
this day personally appeared _________________________, ____________________ of
TRITON ENERGY LIMITED, and acknowledged to me that he executed the foregoing
instrument for the purposes and consideration therein expressed, as the act and
deed of TRITON ENERGY LIMITED, and that he has the capacity to make such
authorization.
WITNESS MY HAND AND SEAL OF OFFICE this ____ day of ____________, 19___.
___________________________________________
Notary Public in and for the State of Texas
___________________________________________
Printed Name
My Commission Expires: _______________
STATE OF TEXAS
COUNTY OF DALLAS
BEFORE ME, the undersigned Notary Public in and for the State of Texas, on
this day personally appeared _________________________, ____________________ of
TRITON EQUATORIAL GUINEA, INC., and acknowledged to me that he executed the
foregoing instrument for the purposes and consideration therein expressed, as
the act and deed of TRITON EQUATORIAL GUINEA, Inc., and that he has the capacity
to make such authorization.
WITNESS MY HAND AND SEAL OF OFFICE this ____ day of ____________, 19___.
___________________________________________
Notary Public in and for the State of Texas
___________________________________________
Printed Name
My Commission Expires: _______________
ANNEX "E"
COORDINATES FOR THE 200M ISOBATH
The MINISTRY and CONTRACTOR agree the following coordinates represent the
boundary for the 200 meter water depth for purposes of calculating the rental
payments due pursuant to Section 9.4 of the Contract.
Offshore Equatorial Guinea, Block G:
Coordinates for the 200m isobath
Latitude (Decimal deg.) Longitude (Decimal deg)
1.669636050000000 9.420002540000000
1.718255996704102 9.432461738586430
1.736657977104187 9.442479133605960
1.746453046798706 9.449187278747560
1.778007030487061 9.461318016052250
1.833732008934021 9.487948417663570
1.852141976356506 9.498534202575680
1.915503978729248 9.540432929992680
1.933310031890869 9.548749923706050
1.962574005126953 9.560340881347660
1.999791979789734 9.569559097290040
2.018069982528687 9.571042060852050
2.034588098526001 9.569132804870610
2.048221111297607 9.564983367919920
2.074255943298340 9.550439834594730
2.119595050811768 9.529401779174800
2.174201011657715 9.517924308776860
2.206674098968506 9.514681816101070
2.240891933441162 9.513693809509280
2.265940904617310 9.509973526000980
2.314485073089600 9.513362884521480
2.421205043792725 9.515472412109380
2.438366889953613 9.518675804138180
2.475511074066162 9.522773742675780
2.587642908096313 9.544161796569820
2.606426000595093 9.541087150573730
2.621166944503784 9.534647941589360
2.642630100250244 9.519592285156250
2.651741027832031 9.518342018127440
2.657460927963257 9.519410133361820
2.695396900177002 9.538861274719240
2.729363918304443 9.560067176818850
2.744920969009399 9.570688247680660
2.777837038040161 9.598164558410640
2.789410114288330 9.609403610229490
2.794575929641724 9.611616134643550
2.804290056228638 9.612635612487790
2.807696104049683 9.611455917358400
2.810491085052490 9.607439041137700
2.814825057983398 9.591453552246090
2.818197965621948 9.587999343872070
2.822141885757446 9.584536552429200
2.826673030853271 9.582205772399900
2.850533008575439 9.575085639953610
2.951327085494995 9.561904907226560
2.976335048675537 9.555339813232420
3.001311063766479 9.546500205993650