TXCO Txco Resources (MM)

TXCO Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:TXCO) today provided estimated oil and gas sales volumes for the third quarter and nine months of 2008 and updated current operations. Highlights include: Record third-quarter and nine-month combined oil and gas sales; Ten rigs drilling currently; A total of 89 wells spudded to date this year out of a planned 100+ wells. Net, third-quarter oil and gas sales were approximately 3,184 bopd and 7.7 mmcfd, a combined rate of approximately 26.8 mmcfde, a 3.7 percent increase above last year�s July-September quarter. This rate was down 7.4% from the second quarter due to hurricane-related shut-ins of non-operated Gulf Coast production, as well as the previously reported sale of 15 non-core properties with 1.3 mmcfd of production. TXCO Estimated Oil and Gas Sales Volumes* � � 3Q 2008 � 3Q 2007 � %Change � 9 mo. 2008 � 9 mo. 2007 � %Change Natural gas/mmcf 706.7 652.0 +8.4% 2,184.9 1,517.3 +44.0% Oil/bbls 293,000 287,500 +1.9% 848,000 679,600 +24.8% Natural Gas Equivalent/mmcf 2,465 2,377 +3.7% 7,273 5,595 +30.0% Barrels Equivalent/boe 410,800 396,200 +3.7% 1,212,200 932,500 +30.0% *2008 periods unaudited. mmcf=million cubic feet, bbls=barrels, boe=barrels of oil equivalent Operations Review Currently, TXCO has 10 rigs running, including eight on its core Maverick Basin acreage, one in the East Texas Fort Trinidad Field and one in Oklahoma. The Company has had record drilling activity this year, starting 89 wells through early October, and is on target to achieve its record $125+ million CAPEX program, which calls for drilling or re-entering more than 100 wells in 2008. Based on current commodity prices, the Company has adequate capital and equipment resources to complete its 2008 drilling program. Maverick Basin TXCO is currently developing three major projects in the Maverick Basin, including the Pearsall/Eagleford shale plays, Glen Rose Porosity oil play and San Miguel heavy oil sands. TXCO�s Pearsall shale gas resource project area consists of 848,300 gross (341,000 net) acres covering 1,325 gross (533 net) sections, with estimated recoverable gas of 16 to 24 bcf per section. TXCO is currently drilling and producing wells to evaluate the long-term commercial viability of the play on acreage farmed-in from Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. Each farm-in agreement has substantially similar terms and conditions, consisting of three phases. A horizontal Pearsall well drilled by TXCO under the EnCana farm-in agreement, the Myers 2-683H (50 percent working interest) was placed on production in late September at 2.8 mmcfd on a 10/64-inch choke with 3,239 psi flowing tubing pressure. The well averaged 2.2 mmcfd during the first 12 days of production even though it was curtailed by the low-pressure pipeline system into which it is producing. This well was drilled horizontally and completed using a cemented 4.5-inch liner with a five-stage fracture stimulation job. This was the third and final well required to be drilled under Phase I of the farm-in. Based on the success of the three initial wells, TXCO has elected to move to Phase II and will drill four additional Pearsall wells before July 1, 2009. On the Anadarko farm-in, four wells have been drilled. A fracture stimulation is under way on the Briscoe Chupadera 1 (50% WI through completion). The re-entry was limited to 1,800 feet laterally and a 2.875-inch liner run and cemented in place. The San Pedro 2H (50% WI through completion) is a newly drilled well with a 3,050-foot lateral and a 4.5-inch liner and is waiting on a fracture stimulation which has been delayed as result of a current tight supply of high-strength proppants. This was the fourth well drilled under Phase I of the Anadarko farm-in agreement requiring two Pearsall and two Eagleford test wells. Following stimulation of the San Pedro 2H, TXCO intends to exercise its right to move to Phase II of the agreement and drill four additional wells within the next year. St. Mary Land & Exploration Company also is participating with TXCO under the agreement. On the Eagleford shale play, the Briscoe Catarina Ranch 1H (50% WI) was re-entered and drilled 3,300 feet horizontally. After a five-stage fracture stimulation, the well went on production at the end of August and has averaged 80 bopd and 533 mcfd for the first 30 days. The San Pedro 1H (50% WI through completion) was re-entered and drilled 3,450 feet horizontally and currently is flowing back following a five-stage fracture stimulation performed in early October. The well has averaged 236 bopd and 664 mcfd during the first seven days of flowback. Elsewhere in the Maverick Basin, the Glen Rose Porosity oil play�s quarterly sales were approximately 218,000 barrels, or 2,370 bopd, in the third quarter, a 5 percent increase from the year-earlier period, and 5 percent below record second-quarter 2008 levels due primarily to lower production levels from non-operated properties on the Comanche lease. The Company has completed or spudded 29 of 35 Porosity wells scheduled for this year. An annual hunting season drilling moratorium that impacts certain Porosity leases will start in November, extending into January 2009. On TXCO�s San Miguel oil sands project, high-temperature steam injection continues at the steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) pilot and initial oil shows have begun. Pre-heat steam circulation continues on the separate fracture-assisted steamflood technology (FAST) pilot. The FAST pilot includes both a vertical, inverted five-spot well pattern and a horizontal three-well pattern that utilizes a modified FAST process. The Company hopes to have a meaningful response on the SAGD project by the end of first-quarter 2009 and on the FAST projects by the end of second-quarter 2009. Fort Trinidad In East Texas, TXCO has five wells targeting Glen Rose shoals in the Fort Trinidad Field in completion or drilling horizontal sidetracks. Results on these wells are expected by year end. Marfa Basin In West Texas, an advanced, 26-mile, 2-D swath seismic survey is nearing completion on TXCO�s 147,000-acre lease block in the Marfa Basin. Processing of the data is expected to be completed by December. Management Perspective �TXCO had robust operating results in the third quarter and we are on pace to meet our target for record drilling activity in 2008,� said CEO James E. Sigmon. �We believe our strong cash flow will enable us to fully fund our CAPEX requirements for the year. However, like all oil and gas companies, we are watching commodity prices closely and are prepared to scale back drilling if necessary. �We are particularly excited about the results on our Pearsall gas shale play and the Eagleford oil shale play,� Sigmon added. �We and our partners, EnCana, Anadarko and St. Mary, are in the planning stages to delineate our acreage positions by drilling additional horizontal wells. We now expect to add additional activity in the fourth quarter of this year and into 2009.� Earnings Announcement and Conference Call TXCO will hold a conference call with investors, analysts and other interested parties, scheduled for November 5, to discuss third-quarter and nine-month 2008 financial results and current operations. The call will be broadcast live over the Internet at http://www.txco.com/concall.html. The Company will release earnings prior to the conference call. Date: � Wednesday, November 5, 2008 Time: 11:00 a.m. EST 10:00 a.m. CST 9:00 a.m. MST 8:00 a.m. PST Call: 877-387-9209 (US/Canada) and 706-643-3820 (International) Passcode 69738976 Internet: Live and rebroadcast over the Internet: Log on to http://www.txco.com/concall.html Replay: Available through Friday, November 7, 2008, at 800-642-1687 (US/Canada) and 706-645-9291 (International) with passcode 69738976 and for 30 days at http://www.txco.com/concall.html. About TXCO Resources TXCO Resources is an independent oil and gas enterprise with interests in the Maverick Basin, the onshore Gulf Coast region and the Marfa Basin of Texas, and the Midcontinent region of western Oklahoma. It has a consistent record of long-term growth in its proved oil and gas reserves, leasehold acreage position, production and cash flow through its established exploration and development programs. TXCO�s business strategy is to build shareholder value by acquiring undeveloped mineral interests and internally developing a multi-year drilling inventory through the use of advanced technologies, such as 3-D seismic and horizontal drilling. It accounts for its oil and gas operations under the successful efforts method of accounting and trades its common stock on Nasdaq�s Global Select Market under the symbol �TXCO.� Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release that are not historical, including statements regarding TXCO�s or management�s intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations, representations, projections, estimations, plans or predictions of the future, are forward-looking statements and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include those relating to estimated financial results, or expected prices, production volumes, well test results, reserve levels and number of drilling locations expected, drilling plans, including the timing, category, number, depth, cost and/or success of wells to be drilled, expected geological formations or the availability of specific services, equipment or technologies. It is important to note that actual results may differ materially from the results predicted in any such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainty, including without limitation, the costs and accidental risk inherent in exploring and developing new oil and natural gas reserves, the price for which such reserves can be sold, environmental concerns affecting the drilling of oil and natural gas wells, impairment of oil and gas properties due to depletion or other causes, the uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved reserves and cash flows, as well as general market conditions, competition and pricing. TXCO undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. More information about potential factors that could affect TXCO�s operating and financial results is included in TXCO's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, and its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008. These reports and all previously filed documents are on file at the Securities and Exchange Commission and can be viewed on TXCO's Web site at www.txco.com. Copies are available from TXCO without charge.