Leor Energy
| Industry | Petroleum industry |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founder | Thomas Kaplan Guma Aguiar |
| Defunct | September 15, 2015 |
| Headquarters | Houston, Texas |
| Products | Petroleum Natural gas Natural gas liquids |
Leor Energy was a company engaged in hydrocarbon exploration, primarily in East Texas. It was based in Houston. It sold most of its assets to Encana (now Ovintiv) in November 2007 for $2.55 billion and, in September 2015, the company was acquired by Comancheria Energy Resources.
History[edit]
Thomas Kaplan and Guma Aguiar founded Leor in 2003. Kaplan, Aguiar's uncle, took the role of Chairman. He was formerly the chairman of Apex Silver Mines.[1][2]
While Aguiar did not have experience in the petroleum industry, he met with geologist John Amoruso and acquired 30,000 acres of leasehold interests in East Texas in 2003.[1]
In July 2005, Leor and EnCana (now Ovintiv) entered into an agreement to explore and develop Leor's Amoruso Prospect in Robertson County, Texas whereby Encana acquired a 30% interest in the joint venture, increased to 50% in June 2006.[3]
In November 2005, Leor closed a $30.0 million senior secured note financing from Amaranth Advisors. In January 2006, Leor closed a $45.0 million private placement of equity securities with Goldman Sachs.[4]
In July 2006, Leor sold approximately 3,360 acres (14 km2) net in its holdings in the Amoruso Prospect to EnCana (now Ovintiv), for $242.9 million. The transaction resulted in Leor and EnCana each having a 50% stake in the prospect. After the transaction Leor held a 23,725-acre (96 km2) net position in the prospect.[5]
In January 2007, Leor closed a $150.0 million private placement of equity securities with Merrill Lynch to fund additional drilling.[6]
In April 2007, gross gas production from the Amoruso Field and the company's other properties in Robertson County, Texas, reached 200 million cubic feet (5.7 million cubic meters) per day.[7]
In May 2007, Leor increased its footprint in the Deep Bossier by making an equity investment in Navasota Resources Ltd., LLP for over $100.0 million. Navasota held a two-thirds working interest in approximately 15,000 acres (61 km2) gross of Deep Bossier land in Robertson County, Texas. Navasota's land is adjacent to Leor's Amoruso Prospect.[8]
In November 2007, Leor sold its Deep Bossier natural gas and land interests (including its 50% stake in the Amoruso Field) to EnCana (now Ovintiv) for $2.55 billion. This was Leor's first exploration program in the Deep Bossier during which time, in 24 months, production from the Amoruso Field grew from zero to more than 240 million gross cubic feet per day.[9][3][10][11][12]
Aguiar was recognized by Oil and Gas Investor magazine as its 2007 Executive of the Year.[13]
In 2012, Aguilar disappeared at sea off the coast of Florida.[13]
In September 2015, the company was acquired by Comancheria Energy Resources.[14]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "The Tragedy Of Guma Aguiar And A $2 Billion Texas Gas Fortune". Forbes. June 28, 2012.
- ^ Alpert, Bill (February 15, 2010). "There's (Possibly) Gold in Them Thar Hills". Barron's.
- ^ a b "EnCana acquiring Leor Energy's Deep Bossier assets". Oil & Gas Journal. November 5, 2007.
- ^ "Leor Energy Closes Significant Equity Transaction; Transaction to Accelerate the Development of the Amoruso Field" (Press release). Business Wire. May 9, 2006.
- ^ "Leor Energy Announces Partial Sale; Leor Energy Announces Important New Production Results" (Press release). Business Wire. July 28, 2006.
- ^ "Merrill Lynch invests $150M in Leor Energy". American City Business Journals. January 25, 2007.
- ^ "East Texas gas play a winner for Leor Energy". American City Business Journals. April 5, 2007.
- ^ "Leor Energy invests in Navasota Energy". Oil & Gas Journal. June 5, 2007.
- ^ "EnCana to acquire partner Leor Energy's interests in highly prolific Deep Bossier gas fields of East Texas for US$2.55 billion" (Press release). PR Newswire. November 5, 2007.
- ^ Shwiff, Kathy (November 5, 2007). "EnCana to Buy Natural-Gas Interests From Leor Energy for $2.55 Billion". The Wall Street Journal.
- ^ PARTRIDGE, JOHN (November 5, 2007). "EnCana drops $2.5-billion for control of Texas gas field". The Globe and Mail.
- ^ "Canada: Encana Buys Gas Partner". Bloomberg News. The New York Times. November 6, 2007.
- ^ a b DeLuca, Matthew (July 13, 2017). "New Clues in the Mysterious Disappearance of Multimillionaire Guma Aguiar". The Daily Beast.
- ^ "Comancheria Energy Resources, LLC acquires Leor Resources, LLC" (Press release). PR Newswire. September 29, 2015.
- 2003 establishments in Texas
- 2015 disestablishments in Texas
- American companies disestablished in 2015
- American companies established in 2003
- Defunct energy companies of the United States
- Energy companies disestablished in 2015
- Energy companies established in 2003
- Non-renewable resource companies established in 2003