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Gulfsands Petroleum, San Leon Energy, Capital Drilling news briefs

Gulfsands Petroleum PLC today provided an update on operations in Syria. Drilling, logging and well testing operations have now concluded at the Khurbet East 102 ("KHE-102") appraisal well, which has tested the structural elevation, reservoir quality and reservoir fluids present in the Triassic Butmah and Kurrachine Dolomite Formations on the north flank of the field some 2.3 kilometres north of the Khurbet East 101 well ("KHE-101") drilled earlier in 2011. San Leon Energy today announced the formation of an advisory committee. Capital Drilling The group announced that it has concluded a comprehensive debt refinancing package to support current contract awards and expected continued growth.

European Goldfields, African Minerals, Metminco news briefs

European Goldfields Ltd announced that the Supreme Court of Yukon has granted the Company an interim order to commence the process of securing the required approvals pursuant to which Eldorado Gold Corporation will acquire all of the issued and outstanding securities of the Company via a plan of arrangement under the Yukon Business Corporations Act. African Minerals Ltd announced the launch of a book-build offering of up to US$350 million of Convertible Bonds due 2017. Metminco Limited announced its quarterly activities report for the 3 months to December 2011.

Afferro Mining, African Eagle Resources, Firestone Diamonds, Goldplat, Hambledon Mining, London Mining, Noricum Gold Limited, Orosur Mining news briefs

Afferro Mining Inc. announced that it has received final approval from the TSX Venture Exchange for completion of the Sale and Purchase Agreement dated 23 December 2011, under which the Company will sell its remaining 38.5% interest in the Putu iron ore project, located in Liberia, to Lybica Holdings B.V., an affiliate of ZAO Severstal Resources. African Eagle Resources plc announced that it has selected atmospheric tank leaching as the metallurgical process method to be employed at its Dutwa nickel oxide project in Tanzania.

Afren, Range Resources, Cove Energy, San Leon Energy news briefs

Afren plc have announced a new oil discovery at their Okoro East exploration well, offshore Nigeria. Range Resources Limited together with its joint venture partners, Horn Petroleum Corporation (TSX: HRN) and Red Emperor Resources, today announced the spudding of the Shabeel-1 well on the Dharoor Block in Puntland, Somalia. Cove Energy, together with the operator Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, today provided an update of the results of the Lagosta 2 appraisal well, which lies 7km north of the Lagosta discovery in the Rovuma Basin Area 1 block, Offshore Mozambique ("Area 1 Rovuma Offshore"), the seventh well in the discovery area. San Leon Energy today announced significant progress on its 100% owned Durresi License (4,208 km2) in Albania.

Alecto Minerals, Arian Silver Corporation, Beowulf Mining, KEFI Minerals, Paragon Diamonds Limited, Sylvania Platinum news briefs

An independent consultant who said he was commissioned by Areva to produce a confidential report on its deal with UraMin has announced that Areva may have been fraud victim in its $2.5 billion deal to buy UraMin, whose principal asset was the Trekkopje uranium mining project in Namibia.The nuclear energy group has launched an internal enquiry into the 2007 deal after a drop in world uranium prices and disappointing results at UraMin's mines in Africa forced the group to take $2.4 billion of charges on the unit.

Jubilant Energy, Bahamas Petroleum news briefs

Jubilant Energy today announced that KPL-F, the fifth of the seven development wells of the Phase-III drilling campaign in the oil producing Kharsang Field, Arunachal Pradesh was spudded on 13 January 2012. Bahamas Petroleum Corporation announced that the initial processing of the Pearl 3D seismic survey has been completed. Data quality is excellent and data volumes have been received in both time and depth.

UK companies snapshots: Aggreko (LON:AGK) Pre-Close Trading Update, HMV (LON:HMV) Interim Results

UK companies snapshots: BP (LON:BP) Gulf of Mexico Settlement, Sportingbet (LON:SBT) AGM Statement

UK companies snapshots: Sports Direct (LON:SPD) Interim Results, Balfour Beatty (LON:BBY) Preferred Bidder, Wood Group (LON:WG) Pre-Close Trading Update

UK companies snapshots: BG Group (LON:BG) Agreement, Thomas Cook (LON:TCG) Final Results

UK companies snapshots: Whitbread IMS, Petrofac Trading Update, IG Group Pre-Close Trading Update

UK companies snapshots: Pearson Disposal

UK companies snapshots: Centrica, Polar Capital Holdings Interim Results

FMC Technologies news briefs

FMC Technologies announced that it has signed an agreement with LLOG Exploration Company for the design, manufacture and supply of subsea production systems to support its Who Dat project in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The award is valued at approximately $40 million in revenue to FMC. FMC's scope of supply includes seven subsea production trees and control systems.

African Barrick Gold, Alecto Minerals, Kalahari Minerals, Karelian Diamond news briefs

African Barrick Gold announced that it has completed the full implementation of additional diesel generated back-up power at its Buzwagi mine, providing full back-up power in the event of disruptions to grid electricity supply, adding that the expected quarterly production run rate at the mine won't be achieved and as a result the Company is likely to fall just short of 700,000 ounces of gold production in 2011. Alecto Minerals has appointed a Senior Geologist to strengthen its initial reconnaissance work at its 945.5 sq km Wayu Boda Gold Project in southern Ethiopia.

Max Petroleum, Ithaca Energy news briefs

Max Petroleum today announced that the ASK-2 well in the Asanketken field has been drilled to a total depth of 3,412 metres without encountering any viable reservoirs in the deeper Triassic section, which was the primary objective. Ithaca Energy today announced progress on the BW Athena Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel. The FPSO conversion scope, which is the responsibility of BW Offshore, has proved to be more extensive than was envisaged at the start of the project.

Plexus Holdings, Aker Solutions news briefs

Plexus Holdings the owner of the proprietary POS-GRIP® method of wellhead engineering, has agreed to supply, subject to finalisation of the contract, Santos Ltd, a major Australian oil and gas exploration and production company, with wellhead equipment, mudline casing support system and services for oil and gas exploration activities in Western Australia. Aker Solutions today announced at the company's capital markets day, that it is maintaining its ambition of 9-15% annual revenue growth for the period 2011-15 due to a favourable market outlook for the oil services industry.

Mindoro Resources, Kirkland Lake Gold, Ormonde Mining, Beacon Hill news briefs

Mindoro Resources today announced the first drillhole result from the Archangel drilling programme, testing for feeding structures underlying the near surface Archangel resources at the Batangas project. To date, three holes have been completed. Kirkland Lake Gold today released its Q2 operational update and financial results. Ormonde Mining today provided an update for operations at the La Zarza Joint Venture (JV) with Antofagasta Minerals SA.

EnCore Oil, Northern Petroleum news briefs

EnCore Oil today announced an update on operations on the Tudor Rose well 14/30a-5 in Central North Sea block 14/30a. As previously announced, this well was expected to take 20 days. However, to date, some thirteen days have been lost due to bad weather and some minor operational delays. Northern Petroleum today announced the sale of its interest in the Vinkega gas field for approximately EUR3.2 million.

UK companies snapshots: Standard Chartered Pre-Close Trading Update, Tesco IMS

Subsea news briefs

Subsea announced  the award of a SURF contract valued at approximately $200 million from Petrobras on Campos Basin, 80km from the Brazilian coast. The contract scope includes the management, engineering, procurement and installation of two rigid oil lines of 4.5km x 34"OD at water depths of 70 metres, umbilicals and subsea related equipments.

Thor Mining, Paragon Diamonds, Chaarat Gold, Baobab Resources, ATH Resources, Alba Mineral news briefs

Thor Mining announced that the Company has raised £112,500 (approximately A$172,000) by way of a Placing of 11,250,000 new Ordinary Shares of 0.3p each in the capital of the Company to UK sophisticated clients of Simple Investments, the Company's Broker, at 1.00p per share. Paragon Diamonds Limited announced that the Company has appointed Fox Davies Capital Limited to act as its Nominated Adviser with immediate effect. Chaarat Gold Holdings Limited announced a project update on the Tulkubash Project, which is part of the Chaarat project area in north western Kyrgyzstan.

Faroe Petroleum, Roxi Petroleum, Petroceltic International news briefs

Faroe Petroleum today announced the completion of a successful initial side-track well on the Butch oil discovery (Faroe 15%) located in the Norwegian North Sea. Roxi Petroleum announced that it has been advised by the Ministry of Oil & Gas of the Republic of Kazakhstan that its operating Company, BNG Ltd LLP, ("BNG") has received approval for gas flaring for the period 2012 to 2014, which is the final regulatory consent needed before pilot production can commence on its South Yelemes field (Airshagyl Area).

UK companies snapshots: Kesa Electricals Interim Results, Carillion Trading Statement, Stagecoach Interim Results

African Eagle Resources, Conroy Gold and Natural Resources, ENK, Metminco Limited, Patagonia Gold, Red Rock Resources news briefs

African Eagle Resources reported that its joint venture partner BrightStar Resources Ltd has announced high grade gold results from its drilling programme at Miyabi gold project in Tanzania. Conroy Gold and Natural Resources announced that it has been granted seven Prospecting Licences in Counties Clare, Tipperary and Kilkenny. ENK advised that it has completed the tank leach laboratory test work with the Beijing General Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy in China. Metminco Limited announced a non-renounceable pro rata rights issue of up to approximately 68,584,428 new shares, on the basis of one new share for every twenty fully paid ordinary shares held by eligible shareholders at an offer price of 14 cents per new share, with a maximum raising of approximately AUD$9.6 million.

Dominion Petroleum, PetroNeft Resources, Silvermere Energy, Oilex Ltd news briefs

Dominion Petroleum Limited announced that following unconditional approval by the Government of Tanzania, all matters required for the farm-out of Block 7, deepwater Tanzania to Mubadala Oil & Gas Company  have been completed. PetroNeft Resources provided an update on its operations in Licences 61 and 67, Tomsk Oblast, Russian Federation. Silvermere Energy announced that preparations for production from the I-1 well on its Mustang Island asset located in Kleberg County, Texas waters in the Gulf of Mexico, are on schedule for production to commence at the end of 2011.

UK companies snapshots: Wolseley Q1 Results, Xstrata Underground Mining Update, Anglo American Project Approval

EMED Mining, Firestone Diamonds, Goldstone Resources, Lonmin, Noricum Gold, Vatukoula Gold news briefs

EMED Mining Public Ltd. reported that the Andalucian Government has advised that the company should introduce environmental management and restoration programs on all Rio Tinto Copper Mine lands that are not already owned by the Company. Firestone Diamonds announced results from its fourth diamond sale of 2011. Goldstone Resources  announced results for four new drill holes at the Homase/Akrokerri project in Ghana. Lonmin released details of the two-year wage agreement signed with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).

Solo Oil, Xcite Energy, Max Petroleum, Gulfsands Petroleum, Faroe Petroleum news briefs

Solo Oil today announced an update on drilling of an exploration well, Ntorya-1, in the Mtwara Block of the Ruvuma Basin PSA ("PSA") in Tanzania with its partners Aminex plc ("Aminex") and Tullow Oil plc ("Tullow"). Xcite Energy announced that, as expected, the Rowan Norway jack-up rig has been made available to Xcite Energy Resources Limited ("XER") and is now on hire, subject to a satisfactory audit and inspection prior to acceptance. Max Petroleum today announced that it has commenced drilling the SAGW-2 appraisal well on the Sagiz West Field in Block E.  

UK companies snapshots: TUI Travel Preliminary Results, Carillion Contract, Trinity Mirror New Chairman Designate

FMC Technologies, Lufkin Industries news briefs

FMC Technologies announced today that it has signed a global alliance agreement with Anadarko Petroleum Corporation to provide subsea systems and life-of-field services for their worldwide subsea development projects. Lufkin Industries announced today the completion of its previously reported acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Quinn's Oilfield Supply Ltd., including certain affiliates ("Quinn's"), for $311 million in cash after closing adjustments.

Alexander Nubia Internationa, Emerging Metals, London Mining, Obtala Resources, Stratex International news briefs

Alexander Nubia International announced results from the current drilling program at its Abu Marawat gold-copper-zinc-silver property. Best results include 11.6 m grading 10.8 g/t gold, 185 g/t silver, 0.86 % copper and 4.64 % zinc, and 5.7 m grading 0.99 g/t gold, 25.2 g/t silver, 0.28 % copper and 1.22 % zinc. Emerging Metals Limited announced that it has now exercised its option to acquire all the issued and to be issued ordinary shares of Ferrum Resources Limited, representing some 62.77% of Ferrum's issued ordinary share capital.

Providence Resources news briefs

Providence Resources gave an update on its operation in Dublin. It announced that it has been awarded Standard Exploration Licence 2/11 ("Licence") in the Kish Bank Basin, offshore Dublin by the Irish Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

The Sage Group (LON:SGE): Reports Strong Profit on Increased Sales

On 30 November 2011, Sage Group reported its full year results stating that’s its adjusted pretax profit surged 8% to 352.6 million pounds as revenue during the period grew 4% to  1.33 billion pounds. Adjusted earnings per share rose 16% to 20.8 pence. The company also reported a 3% rise in its  software and software-related service revenues and a 5% increase in subscription revenues. The Newcastle-based company reported a strong operating cash flow of £405.1m, up 2.6 per cent from last year’s £394.5 million.

UK companies news: Berkeley Group Interim Results, Rio Tinto Investment, Royal Bank of Scotland Disposal

Transocean Ltd., FMC Technologies news briefs

Transocean Ltd. today announced that the underwriters for Transocean's previously announced share offering have exercised in full their option to purchase up to an additional 3,900,000 shares. FMC Technologies announced that its Australian subsidiary has signed an agreement with Chevron Australia Pty Ltd for the design, manufacture and supply of subsea production systems to support the Wheatstone Project. The contract has an approximate value of $325 million in revenue to FMC Technologies.

Bisichi Mining, EMED Mining, Kalahari Minerals, Paragon Diamonds, Rio Tinto news briefs

Bisichi Mining announced that on 24 June 2011, it disposed of its 49% shareholding in Ezimbokodweni Mining (Pty) Ltd ("Ezimbokodweni") to Hasty Shelf Trade and Invest 17 (Proprietary) Limited ("HSTI"). EMED Mining Public Ltd announced the appointment of Canadian based Mr Robert Francis as a non-executive director of the Company as of 1 December 2011. Kalahari Minerals noted that Extract Resources Ltd in which Kalahari's subsidiary, Kalahari Uranium Limited, holds a 42.74% interest, has announced that it has been awarded a Mining Licence for the world-class Husab Uranium Project in Namibia.

Antrim Energy, Leni Gas & Oil, Xcite Energy news briefs

Antrim Energy today announced the preliminary results of the Erne exploration well, 21/29d-11, in the UK Central North Sea. Leni Gas & Oil today announces plans for additional drilling at the Eugene Island Field in the US Gulf of Mexico. Xcite Energy today announced that in response to feedback from the Department of Energy and Climate Change ("DECC") on the Bentley field development plan, the Company has re-configured its approach to the first phase of development of Bentley to provide a more financially efficient outcome.

UK companies news briefs: Rolls-Royce Contract, Kingfisher Q3 Results, GKN Disposal

Wood Group, Transocean news briefs

Wood Group today launched Wood Group Kianda, its joint venture with their Angolan business partner Amílcar Nascimento, looking to provide design, construction management, operations, maintenance and support services to deep sea, shallow and onshore facilities in the Angolan market. Transocean Ltd. the world's largest offshore drilling contractor and a leading provider of drilling management services worldwide announced that it has priced its previously-announced public offering of 26,000,000 of its shares at a public offering price of U.S. $40.50 per share, or 37.32 Swiss francs per share at an exchange rate of 0.9215 Swiss francs per U.S. $1.00.