Sino Gas And Energy Holdings Limited (ASX:SEH) Announce Linxing Production Sharing Contract Extension and Potential Unconventional Gas Cooperation in China

Perth, Sep 5, 2011 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Sino Gas And Energy Holdings Limited (ASX:SEH) has signed a Modification Agreement to extend the exploration period on the Linxing Production Sharing Contract (PSC) for a further two years through to August 2013.

The Modification Agreement signed between Sino Gas and CUCBM, which is 50% owned by CNOOC, also serves to accelerate activity on the PSC's development area and, in addition, to increase focus on the PSC's shallow CBM resources.

Commenting on the Modification Agreement, Mr Wu Wei Feng, President of CUCBM, said that, "CUCBM and Sino Gas have enjoyed a strong working relationship since early in 2006. CUCBM, which is now backed by the Chinese International oil-major, CNOOC (NYSE:CEO) (HKG:0883), had recently announced a strong strategic focus on unconventional resources for its long-term growth.

Our Modification Agreement with Sino Gas opens up avenues for CUCBM and Sino Gas to cooperate on new coal bed methane, shale gas and other unconventional gas opportunities in the future", said Mr Wu.

Sino Gas's Managing Director, Mr Stephen Lyons, said that the new agreement represented another milestone as Sino Gas builds a significant gas business in one of China's most productive gas basins.

"The Modification Agreement is a key step that enables Sino Gas and CUCBM to focus on obtaining the Chinese Reserves Report, and renews the partners' commitment to appraise the shallow CBM resources on the PSC", said Mr Lyons.

The Modification Agreement will now be submitted by CUCBM to the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) in China for formal approval.

Sino Gas holds 100% and is operator of the Linxing and Sanjiaobei PSC's. The Company's interests decrease to 70% and 49% respectively in the development and production phases.

These PSC's occupy over 3,000 km2 in China's Ordos Basin, as shown in Figure 1.

As is standard under the PSC regime, Sino Gas is required to relinquish acreage as it moves to development.

The signing of the Modification

Agreement, which relates only to the Linxing PSC has relinquished an area of 745 km2 of largely unexplored and less prospective acreage in the centre of the PSC.

Sino Gas has retained 71.5% of the acreage equating to 1,874km2 in two parts referenced as Linxing West and Linxing East.

In its key Linxing West Area, Sino Gas has mid case, 100%, 2P Reserves of 13 Bcf, mid case Contingent Resources of ~ 747 Bcf and mid case Prospective Resources of ~ 663 Bcf (after adjusting for the area that has been relinquished).

On the Sanjiaobei PSC, Sino Gas has mid case, 100%, 2P Reserves of 6 Bcf, mid case Contingent Resources of 158 Bcf and mid case Prospective Resources of 291 Bcf.

These figures are before updating the Reserves & Resources certification for the extensive 2011 work program which includes the:

- significant commercial gas flows currently being achieved;

- results from new wells as they are drilled and tested over the remainder of 2011;

- high density seismic program on the Sanjiaobei PSC which is expected to expand the potential reserves area from 70km2 to more than 400km2; and

- results from the increased focus on the shallow CBM Resources (refer below).

On the Linxing East Area, which will now be the subject of additional appraisal, the CBM resources had previously been assessed by Netherland Sewell & Associates in 2008 as containing 852 Bcf of Gas Initially in Place (GIIP) and 324 Bcf of Mid case Contingent and Prospective Resources (all mid case and 100% figures). These resources have not previously been included in Sino Gas's independent reserves and resources certification.

The increased focus on the Linxing East CBM Resources comes off the back of a base of robust and increasing gas prices and incentives in China and technological advancements both in China and internationally. In particular, as part of China's new 12th 5 year plan additional pipelines are being constructed in Shanxi Province in close proximity to the CBM Resources on Linxing East.

Linxing PSC moving towards Development

On Linxing West, Sino Gas recently announced the completion of the 1st phase of its 2011 well testing program which had delivered gas rates well in excess of its commerciality threshold, in particular a very commercial rate of 1,150,500 scf/day being achieved on its TB09 well.

In this area, Sino Gas is also working with CUCBM to agree a location for a new well to be drilled during 2011. The well is likely to be in close proximity to the TB06 Gas Discovery Well which recorded a strong gas flow in excess of 1,000,000 scf/day during recent testing.

The focus on the shallow CBM in Linxing East will be preceded with a detailed study involving CUCBM, Sino Gas and appropriate international experts. Depending on the results of the study it is likely that 1 or 2 CBM wells will be drilled in Linxing East in close proximity to the existing LXSG01 well.

For the complete Sino Gas And Energy Holdings including maps, please view:
http://media.abnnewswire.net/media/en/docs/ASX-SEH-555818.pdf

Contact

Stephen Lyons Managing Director Sino Gas and Energy Tel: +86-139-1148-1669 +86-10-6530-9260 Email: slyons@sinogasenergy.com Gavin Harper Chairman Sino Gas & Energy Email: gharper@sinogasenergy.com http://www.sinogasenergy.com