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PetroChina Company Limited
Annual Report 2008

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PetroNeft Resources plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2008

Годовой Отчет 2008

4 oil fields 70mmbo 2P reserves

26 prospects and 4 leads 
529mmbo 3P reserves

Production  
due to commence 2010

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Successful  
equity placing  
raising US$17.2m

US$25.5m  
capital expenditure 

Active exploration and development 
of oil resources in Western Siberia

PetroNeft Resources plc
Dublin Office 
1 Wainsfort Drive 
Terenure 
Dublin 6W, Ireland

Houston Office
10333 Harwin Dr., Suite 518
Houston, TX 77036
USA

www.petroneft.com

 
 
 
 
 
 
At a glance

Group Information

PetroNeft Resources plc is a public  
company registered in Ireland.
The Group was established in 2005 to develop oil and gas 
assets in Russia and the FSU and was admitted to the 
London AIM and Dublin IEX Markets in 2006. The main 
asset of the Company is a 100% interest in a 4,991 km2  
oil and gas licence in the Tomsk Oblast in Russia.

1.

2.

3.

1. Drilling rig at West Lineynoye oil field. 
2. Site preparation at proposed Lineynoye production pad A. 
3. Crew change helicopter.

PetroNeft Resources plc 
incorporated

Acquired LLC Stimul-T with  
100 per cent interest in Licence 61

Reprocessing of old well and 
seismic data commenced

First of two 2D 
seismic programmes 
commenced

Admitted to AIM and IEX 
Markets

2005

2006

2007

Four years of achievement

Solicitors 
Eversheds O’Donnell Sweeney 
One Earlsfort Centre
Earlsfort Terrace
Dublin 2
Ireland

White & Case
5 Old Broad Street
London
EC2N 1DW
United Kingdom

White & Case
4 Romanov Pereulok
125009
Moscow
Russia

Registered Number 
408101

Registrar 
Computershare
Heron House
Corrig Road
Sandyford Industrial Estate
Dublin 18
Ireland

Directors1
David Golder (U.S. citizen)
Non-Executive Chairman

Dennis Francis (U.S. citizen)
Chief Executive Officer

Paul Dowling
Chief Financial Officer
(Appointed on 29 April 2008)

David Sanders (U.S. citizen)
Executive Director and General  
Legal Counsel

Vakha Alvievich Sobraliev  
(Russian citizen)
Non-Executive Director

Thomas Hickey
Non-Executive Director

1 Irish Citizens unless otherwise stated

Registered Office 
One Earlsfort Centre
Earlsfort Terrace
Dublin 2
Ireland

Secretary 
David Sanders

Auditors 
Ernst & Young
Chartered Accountants
Harcourt Centre
Harcourt Street
Dublin 2
Ireland

Business Address 
1 Wainsfort Drive
Terenure
Dublin 6W
Ireland

Nominated and IEX Adviser 
Davy
49 Dawson Street
Dublin 2
Ireland

Bankers 
AIB Bank
1 Lower Baggot Street
Dublin 2
Ireland

JP Morgan Chase Bank
Texas Market
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
USA

The PEFC Council (Programme for the 
Endorsement of Forest Certification 
schemes) provides an assurance 
mechanism to purchasers of wood and 
paper products that they are promoting 
the sustainable management of forests.

PetroNeft Resources plc	 Annual	Report	and	Accounts	2008  01

01 Introduction

01	 Highlights
02	 About	PetroNeft
04	 PetroNeft	Reserves
06	 Questions	&	Answers

02 Review of 
the year

08	 Chairman’s	Statement
10	 Chief	Executive	Officer’s	Report	
14	

	Health,	Safety	and		
Environmental	Report

16	 Financial	Review	

03 Governance/ 
Accounts

20	 Board	of	Directors
22	 Directors’	Report
26	 Independent	Auditors’	Report
28	 Consolidated	Income	Statement
29	 Consolidated	Balance	Sheet
	Consolidated	Statement	of	
30	
Changes	in	Equity
	Consolidated	Cash	Flow	
Statement

31	

32	 Company	Balance	Sheet
33	

	Company	Statement	of	Changes	
in	Equity

34	 Company	Cash	Flow	Statement
35	

	Notes	to	the	Financial	
Statements
	Notice	of	Annual	General	
Meeting

56	

60	 Glossary	
IBC	Group	Information	

Financial highlights

US$17.2m

•		Discussions	with	

International	Banks	on	
financing	options	ongoing.

July	2008	equity	placing	
	(2007:	US$15.4m)

US$25.5m

Capital	Expenditure		
(2007:	US$18.0m)	

•		Appointment	of	

Canaccord	Adams	as		
joint	broker	with	Davy.

•		Expanding	Institutional	

shareholder	base.

Operational highlights

6

6	wells	drilled	from	March	2007		
to	September	2008

109%

Increase	in	2P	reserves	since	IPO

•		Further	increase	in		
2P	reserves	in	2008.

•		Board	sanction		
of	development		
in	June	2008.

•		Production	due		
to	commence		
second	half	2010.

First	exploration	well	
spudded

New field discovery at  
West Lineynoye

Pipeline	tie-in	and	sharing	
agreed	with	Bashneft

2008

First	pilot	production	from	Lineynoye	
and	West	Lineynoye	oil	fields

New field discovery at 
Kondrashevskoye

Development	of	Lineynoye	and		
West	Lineynoye	fields	sanctioned

Exploration work programme 
completed for full 25 year Licence term

	
02  PetroNeft Resources plc	 Annual	Report	and	Accounts	2008

About PetroNeft

Where we operate

The Tomsk Oblast lies in the south-eastern West Siberian 
plain. The West Siberian oil and gas basin is the largest oil  
and gas basin in the world in terms of area and second largest 
to the Middle East in terms of reserves. The Tomsk Oblast 
has large reserves of natural resources and raw materials. 
With production of approximately 210,000 bopd, oil accounts 
for 62.1% of exports from the region. Oil production is carried 
out mainly in the north-west and in the north of the Oblast. 
There have been recent discoveries to the east of the Ob River 
including those by PetroNeft.

According to the most recent data from the Federal State 
Statistic Services, there are 1,036,500 residents in the Oblast. 
About 50% of the population lives in the capital city of Tomsk.

Scale
0	

1000km

Russia

Moscow

Tomsk

Tomsk Oblast

Strezhevoy

61

PetroNeft
Rosneft
Gazprom
Gazpromneft
ONGC	(Imperial	Energy)
TNK	BP
Other

Kargasok

Parabel

Kolpashevo

Tomsk

Scale
0	

100km

osneft
Rosneft

Gazprom

Gazpromn eft

Imperial

TNK BP

Other

PetroNeft Resources plc	 Annual	Report	and	Accounts	2008 0 3

1.

2.

1.	Coat	of	Arms	of	Tomsk	Oblast.	
2.		Drilling	Engineer,	Dmitry	Shelkovnikov,		

at	Lineynoye	No.	8	well	site.

21

20

9

1

5

8

7

19

22

23

Scale
0	

25km

2

14

16

18

•	

•	

Top Five Prospects and Trends
Sibkrayevskaya Prospect 
•	
Upper	Jurassic	potential		
–	44	mmbo
Varyakhskaya Prospects 
Upper	Jurassic	potential		
–	31	mmbo
Tuganskaya Prospects 
Cretaceous	and	Jurassic	potential		
–	103	mmbo
Traverskaya 
Cretaceous	and	Jurassic	potential		
–	24	mmbo
Kirillovskaya Prospects 
Cretaceous	and	Jurassic	potential		
–	118	mmbo

•	

•	

 4 Oil Fields
1	 Lineynoye	Oil	Field	
2	 Tungolskoye	Oil	Field
3	 West	Lineynoye	Oil	Field
5	 Kondrashevskoye	Oil	Field

 26 Prospects 
2	 Tungolskoye	West	Lobe	and	North	(2)
4	 Lineynoye	Lower
6	 West	Korchegskaya	(Lower	Jurassic)
7	 Varyakhskaya	
8	 Varyakhskaya	North	&	Upper	(2)
9	 Emtorskaya	East
10	 Emtorskaya	Crown
11	 Sigayevskaya	
12	 Sigayevskaya	East
13	 Kulikovskaya	Group	(2)

14	 Kusinskiy	Group	(2)
15	 Tuganskaya	Group	(3)
16	 Kirillovskaya	(4)
17	 North	Balkinskaya	
18	 Traverskaya
19	 Tungolskoye	East
20	 Sibkrayevskaya

 4 Potential Prospects
21	 Emtorskaya	North
22	 Sibkrayevskaya	East
23	 Sobachya	
24	 West	Balkinskaya	

Oil	field
Prospect	ready	for	drilling
Prospect	identified
Potential	prospects
Wells

Licence 61

11
12

10

3

4

6

13

15

17

24

	
04  PetroNeft Resources plc	 Annual	Report	and	Accounts	2008

PetroNeft Reserves

Since acquiring Licence 61 in 2005, proved and probable reserves 
have grown by 151% to 70 million barrels. This has been achieved 
through a systematic programme of reprocessing and interpreting 
old seismic data and well logs, acquiring new 2D seismic and 
drilling six exploration/delineation wells. This detailed process 
led to the discovery of two new oil fields, the sanctioning of the 
development of the Lineynoye and West Lineynoye oil fields and 
the identification of 26 further prospects for exploration.

SPE 2P Reserve Movement (million barrels)

100

80

60

40

20

0

1.

Kondrashevskoye

West Lineynoye

Lineynoye

Tungolskoye

C1+C2
95.06

70.00
8.11
23.30

23.82

14.77

C1+C2
74.80

60.63
28.82

16.32

15.49

27.89
9.34

18.55

33.53
15.61

17.92

2005

2006

2007

2008

•	

2P	reserves	are	as	estimated	by	Ryder	Scott,	Petroleum	
Consultants,	each	year	and	conform	to	the	definitions	approved	
by	the	Society	of	Petroleum	Engineers	(SPE)	and	the	World	
Petroleum	Congress.

•	

Oil	water	contact	not	defined	at	Kondrashevskoye	–	reserves	
could	approach	20	million	bbls	if	oil	water	contact	is	at	spill		
point	of	structure,	which	is	common	for	fields	in	the	region.

•	

Russian	C1	+	C2	Reserves	equal	95.06	million	bbls	as	approved		
by	the	Russian	State	Reserves	Committee	in	January	2009.

1.	Well	head	at	Lineynoye	No.	6.

16%

Increase	in	2P	reserves	in	2008	
(2007:	81%)

51%

Increase	in	3P	reserves	in	2008	
(2007:	8%)

PetroNeft Resources plc	 Annual	Report	and	Accounts	2008 0 5

Cretaceous Prospects

North Kusinskiy
(7.88)

Kusinskiy
(7.38)

Traverskaya
(11.47)

Kiev-Eganskoye

East Tuganskaya
(33.30)

Tuganskaya
(36.15)

South Tuganskaya
(7.48)

(8.30)

East Kirillovskaya
(28.31)

West
(9.15)

South
(6.75)

Licence 61

Licence 80

Legend
Wells

0

12	kms

Cretaceous	prospects	identified	in	the	southern	half	of	the	Licence	area	in	2008	following	
Cretaceous	discovery	at	neighbouring	Licence	80	and	reinterpretation	of	old	wells	at	
Traverskaya	and	Tuganskaya.	Numbers	denote	the	possible	(P50)	Cretaceous	prospect	
reserves	in	million	barrels.

SPE 3P Reserve Movement (million barrels)

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

324.21

350.09

183.62

Cretaceous

Middle/Lower 
Jurassic

Upper Jurassic

529.37
156.17

63.06

310.14

2005

2006

2007

2008

•	

•	

3P	reserves	are	as	estimated	by	Ryder	Scott,	Petroleum	Consultants,	each	year		
and	conform	to	the	definitions	approved	by	the	Society	of	Petroleum	Engineers	(SPE)	
and	the	World	Petroleum	Congress.	

Possible	reserves	have	been	added	for	Lower	to	Middle	Jurassic	and	Cretaceous	
structures	in	southern	part	of	Licence	61	as	a	result	of	new	petrophysical	study	by	
Tomsk	Geophysical	Company	which	identified	potential	by-passed	pay	in	Tuganskaya	
and	Traverskaya	wells.

•	

The	study	was	undertaken	following	Cretaceous	discovery	in	adjacent	Block	80	by	
Imperial	Energy.

•	

The	West	Korchegskaya	No.	1	well	identified	potential	pay	in	Lower	Jurassic	J6	interval.

06  PetroNeft Resources plc	 Annual	Report	and	Accounts	2008

Questions & Answers

Dennis Francis, Chief Executive Officer, and 
Paul Dowling, Chief Financial Officer, address 
some key questions about our business:

Dennis Francis (left)
Paul Dowling (right)

Q. STRATEGY:
In addition to operations on Licence 
61, PetroNeft continues to evaluate 
new projects for acquisition, with 
the objective of acquiring new ‘Core 
Exploration and Production Areas’.  
How is this strategy progressing?

A.	This	strategy	was	slowed	last	autumn	
as	a	result	of	the	financial	crisis	and	
falling	oil	prices.	However	most	recently	
asset	valuations	are	more	in	line	with	
the	overall	financial	situation	and	the	
deal	flow	is	increasing.	While	PetroNeft’s	
share	price	had	declined	since	late	2008,	
our	acreage,	management,	governance	
structure	and	access	to	capital	markets	
are	an	attractive	currency	for	other	
acreage	holders	and	potential	partners.	
We	are	actively	investigating	a	number	
of	potential	opportunities	and	alliances	
which	would	allow	PetroNeft	to	
broaden	its	business	and	progress	its	
development	and	production	plans.		
Any	transaction	will	be	undertaken	
following	extensive	due	diligence	and	
with	the	objective	of	enhancing	the	long	
term	potential	of	the	business	for	any	
new	and	all	existing	shareholders.

Q. POLITICAL CLIMATE:
Are there particular challenges faced 
by PetroNeft as a result of the political 
climate in Russia?

A.	PetroNeft	strives	to	be	considered	
as	a	‘well	intentioned’,	fully	compliant	
organisation	by	authorities	in	the	areas	
where	we	operate	and	a	good	corporate	
citizen	by	stakeholders	generally.	

This	means	that	in	addition	to	obeying	
laws,	meeting	our	licence	obligations	
and	paying	our	taxes	we	respect	our	
employees,	the	environment	and	the	
community	around	us.	Our	experience	
has	been	that	both	Regional	and	
Federal	authorities	have	welcomed	
and	supported	our	activities.	The	most	
difficult	challenge	we	face	in	Russia	
is	in	meeting	the	approval,	reporting	
and	permitting	process	of	a	large	and	
occasionally	bureaucratic	government.	
Our	Tomsk	team	is	very	experienced	in	
this	process,	but	it	remains	a	high	priority	
area	for	PetroNeft.	

Q. INVESTMENT  
CASE FOR RUSSIA:
In light of the previous question can  
you summarise why an investor would 
want to invest in the Russian oil and  
gas industry and more particularly  
in PetroNeft?

A. Russia	has	the	largest	oil	and	gas	
reserve	base	in	the	world	after	the	
Middle	East.	The	political	regime	is	stable	
and	the	fiscal	policy	which	has	evolved	
through	years	of	legislation	is	stable	and	
provides	comparatively	attractive	returns	
for	investors.	The	local	workforce	is	
knowledgeable	and	low	cost	by	western	
standards.	The	Russian	government	
appreciates	the	importance	of	the	oil	and	
gas	industry	and	recent	tax	changes	have	
been	beneficial	to	producers.	PetroNeft	
has	a	core	area	in	Licence	61	with	
significant	reserves,	future	production	
and	exploration	upside	which	serves	as	
a	basis	for	future	expansion.	PetroNeft’s	

focus	is	building	a	business	based	on	
small	oil	and	gas	fields	which	are	not	
strategic	to	Russia	and	below	the	radar	
screen	of	the	major	Russian	and	foreign	
companies.	In	fact	Russian	majors	are	
divesting	of	these	sorts	of	assets	as	
they	allocate	their	human	resources	to	
their	larger	assets.	PetroNeft	could	be	
a	significant	consolidator	in	this	sphere	
over	the	next	few	years.	

Q. TAX INCENTIVES:
You mention that the Russian 
government has been responsive to  
the financial crisis by providing some 
tax relief to mitigate the low oil prices. 
Are there any additional areas where 
the government can improve the 
situation for PetroNeft?

A.	PetroNeft,	in	conjunction	and		
co-operation	with	many	other	smaller		
oil	companies,	has	been	actively	lobbying	
for	additional	tax	relief	in	the	area	of	the	
Mineral	Resources	Tax	(MRT).	This	is	
an	extraction	tax	that	has	a	significant	
impact	on	project	economics	and	the	
availability	of	finance.	The	government	
currently	provides	a	seven	year	MRT	tax	
holiday	for	projects	in	remote	locations	
such	as	East	Siberia	and	Timan	Pechora,	
primarily	as	an	incentive	to	compensate	
for	new	infrastructure.	The	situation	in	
Western	Siberia,	particularly	on	the	less	
developed	eastern	side	of	the	Ob	River	
where	our	Licence	is	located,	is	not	that	
different	as	we	need	to	build	significant	
new	infrastructure	for	the	project.	A	two	
or	three	year	MRT	tax	holiday	would	
significantly	improve	the	financibility	of	

1.

2.

PetroNeft Resources plc	 Annual	Report	and	Accounts	2008 0 7

The Company plans growth  
for shareholders through:
 Active exploration and 
• 
development of oil 
resources on Licence 61.
 Selective acquisition of 
new projects to develop an 
integrated portfolio.
 Active asset management 
to give best returns to 
shareholders.

• 

• 

1.	 Korchegskaya	No.1	well.	
2.	 Storage	tanks	at	Lineynoye	oil	field.	

PetroNeft’s	project	at	low	oil	prices,	and	
enhance	the	opportunity	set	for	smaller	
companies	generally	throughout	Russia.

Q. FINANCIAL CRISIS:
What has been the effect of the financial 
downturn on PetroNeft and what have 
you been doing to mitigate its effect on 
the Group?

A.	Financial,	operational	and	strategic	
flexibility	are	vital	to	small	companies	
such	as	PetroNeft.	When	conditions	in	the	
financial	markets	began	to	deteriorate	
during	2008	PetroNeft	was	quick	to	
adapt	and	the	Board	took	the	decision	
to	delay	Phase	1	of	the	development	of	
the	Lineynoye	and	West	Lineynoye	oil	
fields.	This	was	not	an	easy	decision	at	
the	time	but	it	was	the	correct	decision	
in	the	context	of	the	Group’s	long	term	
strategy	and	ambitions.	Since	then	we	
have	implemented	pay	cuts	throughout	
the	Group	and	focused	our	work	activities	
on	further	cost	reductions	and	project	
optimisation	of	the	Phase	1	development	
plan.	We	delayed	our	decision	on	winter		
production	until	late	December	when	
we	were	sure	that	oil	prices	had	
stabilised	and	we	could	make	a	profit	
on	the	production.	These	decisions	have	
ensured	that	PetroNeft	remains	debt-free	
and	has	minimal	commitments,	thereby	
enabling	the	Group	to	look	at	a	wide	
range	of	alternative	development	and	
value	optimisation	opportunities	for	its	
acreage	and	its	business.

Q. FUNDING:
How does a lower oil price environment 
affect the Group and its ability to raise 
funds?

A.	When	the	Board	took	the	decision	in	
October	2008	to	delay	the	development	
of	the	Lineynoye	and	West	Lineynoye	oil	
fields	it	was	against	a	backdrop	of	the	
financial	crisis,	rapidly	falling	oil	prices	
combined	with	development	costs	still	at	
the	level	reached	when	oil	prices	peaked	
in	July	2008.	Since	then	development	
costs	have	also	started	to	fall.	

Today	we	are	seeing	a	drop	in	rouble	
prices	for	drilling	and	key	services	of	
approximately	20%	from	peak	prices.		
The	rouble	has	also	depreciated	almost	
30%	to	the	US	dollar	from	July	2008.		
Our	efforts	are	also	focused	on	
optimising	the	development	of	the		
Phase	1	project	in	order	to	further		
reduce	or	defer	costs.	This	combination	
reduces	our	project	financing	
requirements	from	US$65	million	to	
US$40	million.	This	lower	borrowing	
requirement	in	itself	means	that	bank	
funding	should	be	easier	to	obtain.

It	is	also	clear	that,	given	the	importance	
of	the	oil	and	gas	industry	to	the	Russian	
economy,	there	is	a	close	relationship	
between	the	oil	price	and	the	US	dollar/
rouble	exchange	rate	whereby	the	rouble	
will	typically	weaken	on	lower	oil	prices	
and	strengthen	on	higher	oil	prices.	

Russia	is	one	of	the	few	countries	in		
the	world	where	the	oil	services	industry	
is	developed	to	such	an	extent	that	most	
of	the	costs	are	incurred	in	the	local	
currency	as	opposed	to	US	dollars.		
All	our	development	and	Russian	
operating	costs	are	based	on	rouble	
denominated	contracts.

Q. CULTURE:
How would you describe the culture 
of PetroNeft and what are your core 
values?

A. While	PetroNeft	is	a	relatively	new	
Group,	its	culture	and	core	values	are	
based	on	the	past	experiences	and	
common	beliefs	of	the	western	and	
Russian	management	team.	Our	core	
values	are	based	in	honesty,	hard	work,	
professionalism,	respect	for	others	and	
teamwork	throughout	the	Group.	

08  PetroNeft Resources plc	 Annual	Report	and	Accounts	2008

Chairman’s Statement

“ The Group has a solid asset base. It is well positioned, 
having met all of its licence obligations, is debt free 
and has sufficient cash reserves for 2009.”

David Golder
Chairman

Since	the	formation	of	PetroNeft	in	2005,	
our	primary	strategy	for	building	a	long	
term	profitable	company	has	been	to	
focus	on	rapid	exploration	and	early	
production	of	oil	from	Licence	61	in	the	
Tomsk	Oblast	in	Western	Siberia.		
A	secondary	strategy,	as	resources	allow,	
is	to	acquire	new	assets,	both	exploration	
and	producing,	that	will	help	the	
Company	to	grow	beyond	Licence	61.		
The	worldwide	recession	and	turmoil	in	
the	financial	and	commodities	markets		
in	2008	have	slowed,	but	not	stopped,		
our	progress	on	these	strategies.		
We	have	built	a	strong	foundation	from	
which	to	grow	as	economic	conditions	
improve,	based	upon	sound	technical	
data,	a	successful	and	systematic	
exploration	programme,	compliance		
with	government	requirements,	detailed	
planning	for	production	development		
and	good	working	relationships	with		
the	financial	and	equity	markets.	

Exploration success and 
further reserve upgrade
Our	successful	exploration	drilling	
programme	on	Licence	61	continued		
in	2008	with	the	Korchegskaya	No.1	
discovery	at	the	Kondrashevskoye	oil	
field,	the	Lineynoye	No.	8	delineation		
well	and	the	discovery	of	a	new	but	as		
yet	untested	Lower	Jurassic	oil	zone		
in	the	West	Korchegskaya	No.1	well.	
These	wells,	together	with	an	exciting	
programme	to	re-examine	and	re-
interpret	the	data	from	the	pre-existing	
exploration	wells	on	Licence	61	to	look	
for	by-passed	or	previously	unidentified	
oil	bearing	zones	have	resulted	in		
yet	another	significant	upgrade	to		

PetroNeft’s	reserves.	Our	proved	and	
probable	(2P)	reserves	have	increased		
by	16%	to	70	million	barrels	of	oil	and	
proved,	probable	and	possible	(3P)	
reserves	are	now	estimated	at	529	million	
barrels	of	oil,	51%	greater	than	before.	
The	2008	drilling	programme	also	
completely	fulfilled	our	exploration	
obligations	for	the	full	25	year	term	of	
Licence	61,	although	we	will	continue		
to	explore	in	the	Licence	area	for	years		
to	come.

Oil field development
The	successful	Lineynoye	No.	8	
delineation	well	allowed	the	Board		
to	sanction	the	development	of	the	
Lineynoye	and	West	Lineynoye	fields		
in	June	2008.	This	would	permit	the	
development	of	2P	reserves	of	more		
than	47	million	barrels	of	oil	(as	
estimated	by	Ryder	Scott;	the	Russian	
State	Reserves	Committee	estimates	
about	60	million	barrels	of	oil	of	
comparable	C1	+	C2	reserves	in		
these	fields).

Preparations	were	nearing	completion		
to	mobilise	pipeline,	drilling	and	
production	equipment	to	begin	the	
development	as	soon	as	project	financing	
became	available.	The	funding	of	the	
project	was	delayed	in	October	2008	by	
the	collapse	of	the	financial	markets.		
The	Board	is	confident	that	funding	will	
become	available	later	in	2009,	however	
the	delay	means	production	will	not	now	
commence	until	2010	instead	of	2009		
as	previously	planned.

We	are	taking	advantage	of	this	delay		
to	seek	ways	to	reduce	the	cost	of	the	
development,	both	by	redesign	and	by	
securing	some	of	the	lower	priced	goods	
and	services	now	available	due	to	a	
slowing	of	competing	projects	and	to	
substantially	more	favourable	rouble/
dollar	exchange	rates.	With	the	cost	
reductions	the	project	economics	should	
be	robust	enough	to	allow	development	
to	proceed	in	the	current	lower	oil	price	
environment,	once	debt	financing	
becomes	available	again.

To	obtain	more	reservoir	and	well	
performance	data	from	our	fields	to	aid		
in	optimising	the	project	design,	we	have	
once	again	conducted	a	winter	pilot	
production	programme,	trucking	the	oil	
over	winter	roads	to	two	small	refineries	
in	the	Tomsk	Oblast.	In	addition	to	the	
Lineynoye	No.	6	and	No.	7	wells	that	were	
produced	in	early	2008,	we	have	added	
the	original	discovery	well,	Lineynoye		
No.	1,	which	was	successfully	re-entered	
in	2008	and	equipped	for	production.	
Lineynoye	No.	1	flowed	at	a	stabilised	
rate	of	271	bopd	without	artificial	lift	or	
reservoir	stimulation,	confirming	the	
original	test	results	from	1972.	In	addition	
to	gaining	valuable	well	and	reservoir	
performance	data,	the	winter	pilot	
production	in	early	2009	has	paid	for	all		
of	our	operational	costs	plus	a	modest	
profit,	while	providing	additional	
operating	experience	for	our	personnel.

	
PetroNeft Resources plc	 Annual	Report	and	Accounts	2008 0 9

1.

3

Exploration	and	delineation		
wells	drilled	in	2008

271bopd

Natural	flow	rate	at	Lineynoye	No.	1	
well	which	was	re-entered	in	2008

1.	 MI	8	helicopter	used	for	crew	change	and	supplies	transport.

I	am	confident	that	the	Group’s	staff	and	
management	will	meet	the	array	of	
challenges	we	are	facing	and	move	
forward	in	2009	and	beyond	on	both		
of	our	strategic	focus	areas,	developing	
Licence	61	and	providing	growth	for		
the	Group.	

Finally,	I	know	that	I	speak	for	all	the	
management	and	staff	of	the	Company		
in	giving	sincere	thanks	to	our	
shareholders,	both	old	and	new,	for	your	
confidence	and	continued	support	
through	the	past	year.	

David Golder
Non-Executive	Chairman

Successful equity financing
PetroNeft	successfully	raised	US$17.2	
million	of	financing	for	our	development	
project	through	a	placing	in	July	2008,	
prior	to	most	of	the	market	turmoil.		
The	money	was	raised	primarily	to		
satisfy	the	terms	of	the	mandate	with	
Standard	Bank	and	to	enable	the	
purchase	of	pipe	for	the	pipeline,	works	
associated	with	field	development	and	
general	corporate	overhead.

Board changes
In	April	2008	Paul	Dowling,	Chief	
Financial	Officer,	joined	the	Board.		
Paul	joined	PetroNeft	in	October	2007	
and	has	already	made	a	significant	
contribution	to	the	development	of	the	
Group.	Paul	is	a	Fellow	of	the	Association	
of	Chartered	Certified	Accountants	and		
a	member	of	the	Irish	Taxation	Institute	
and	has	many	years	experience	in	
corporate	finance	and	financial	reporting.

In	March	2009	Executive	Director	Des	
Burke	retired	from	the	Board.	Des	was	a	
founding	Director	of	PetroNeft	and	
established	many	of	the	key	relationships	
with	advisers	and	early	investors	in	the	
Company	as	well	as	being	closely	
involved	in	the	Company’s	IPO	and	listing	
on	the	AIM	and	IEX	markets	in	2006.		
I	would	like	to	note	both	the	Board’s	and	
my	own	personal	appreciation	of	the	
contribution	to	PetroNeft	made	by	Des	
over	the	past	number	of	years.

Planning for the future
While	the	main	objective	of	the	Group	
remains	the	development	of	the	northern	
oil	fields	on	Licence	61,	we	have	not	lost	
sight	of	our	other	main	objective	of	
securing	assets	outside	of	Licence	61		
to	provide	growth	for	the	future.		
The	financial	downturn	has	provided	
numerous	opportunities	for	new	asset	
acquisitions,	both	exploration	and	
producing,	and	we	have	been	actively	
evaluating	and	prioritising	opportunities	
to	pursue	at	the	appropriate	time.		
In	addition	we	have	continuously	sought	
ways	to	manage	our	current	assets	and	
programmes	as	cost	effectively	as	
possible,	to	provide	the	strongest	possible	
base	from	which	to	eventually	secure	and	
manage	a	broader	portfolio	of	assets.	

The	Group	has	a	solid	asset	base.	It	is	
well	positioned,	having	met	all	of	its	
licence	obligations,	is	debt	free	and	has	
sufficient	cash	reserves	for	2009.	It	is	
also	working	to	increase	and	diversify		
its	asset	base,	through	a	variety	of	
opportunities	that	are	arising,	related	to	
the	business	downturn.	The	oil	and	gas	
industry,	just	like	the	financial	markets,	
is	cyclical	in	nature	and	it	is	expected	that	
pricing	will	improve	from	current	levels.	
PetroNeft	has	a	highly	experienced	
management	team	and	the	size	of	the	
organisation	allows	us	to	be	flexible	and	
responsive	to	changing	times	in	order	to	
take	advantage	of	the	opportunities	that	
current	circumstances	bring.	Details	of	
the	current	activities	to	secure	the	future	
funding	of	PetroNeft	are	included	in	the	
Financial	Review.

	
10  PetroNeft Resources plc	 Annual	Report	and	Accounts	2008

Chief Executive Officer’s Report

“ The foundations of the Group are set in high quality  
technical data, systematic exploration, compliance  
with government requirements and detailed 
planning towards production.”

Dennis Francis
Chief Executive Officer

General
The	primary	strategy	of	PetroNeft		
is	to	bring	its	existing	oil	fields	to	
production	thereby	generating	sufficient	
cash	flows	to	enable	the	exploration		
of	the	many	remaining	prospects	on	
Licence	61.	The	foundations	of	the	Group	
are	set	in	high	quality	technical	data,	
systematic	exploration,	compliance	
with	government	requirements	and	
detailed	planning	towards	production.	
The	Group	has	developed	a	good	working	
relationship	with	the	financial	markets		
in	order	to	fund	these	developments		
and	has	established	clear	Health,		
Safety	and	Environmental	(HSE)		
policies.	A	secondary	strategy	has		
been	the	acquisition	of	new	assets,		
both	exploration	and	producing,	that	will	
bring	about	more	rapid	expansion	of	the	
Group.	Both	strategies	slowed	in	2008	
because	of	the	worldwide	financial	crisis.

The	2008	drilling	successes	at	the	
Korchegskaya	No.	1	exploration	
well	(Kondrashevskoye	oil	field)	and	
particularly	at	the	Lineynoye	No.	8	
delineation	well	enabled	the	Board	to	
sanction	the	development	of	Licence	61	
commencing	with	the	northerly	fields		
of	Lineynoye	and	West	Lineynoye.		
The	project	was	then	delayed	in	October	
due	to	volatility	in	the	financial	and		
crude	oil	markets.

Oil field development
Despite	the	schedule	delay	the	Group	
has	continued	to	advance	the	established	
oil	fields	toward	full	year-round	pipeline	
production.	Pilot	production	was	achieved	
in	early	2008	from	the	Lineynoye	and	
West	Lineynoye	fields	by	way	of	long	term	
flow	tests	from	wells	drilled	in	2007.	
These	efforts	were	continued	in	2009	with	
the	addition	of	the	Lineynoye	No.	1	well	
which	was	re-entered	and	re-completed	
in	2008.	Lineynoye	No.	1	flowed	at	a	
stabilised	rate	of	271	bopd	without	the	aid	
of	artificial	lift	or	reservoir	stimulation	
which	confirmed	the	test	results	achieved	
in	1972.	This	long	term	test	production	
was	trucked	via	winter	roads	to	two		
small	refineries	located	at	Parabel		
in	the	Tomsk	Region.	In	addition	to	
generating	a	modest	profit	over	the	period	
this	production	data	will	help	in	planning	
the	optimal	development	for	the	fields.

A	major	milestone	early	in	the	year	
was	the	agreement	with	Bashneft,	
a	producer	in	the	Khanty	Mansiysk	
Oblast,	immediately	to	the	north	of	
Licence	61,	to	receive	and	process	as	
required	oil	from	the	Group’s	oil	fields	
and	transport	to	the	TransNeft	export	
pipeline	system,	at	favourable	tariff	
rates.	This	focuses	the	initial	production	
development	on	the	northern	oil	fields	
of	the	Licence	area,	Lineynoye	and	West	
Lineynoye,	where	the	main	2P	reserves	
have	been	established.	The	new	field	at	
Kondrashevskoye,	Tungolskoye	and	any	
other	new	discoveries	will	be	developed	
later	on	an	incremental	basis.	The	delay	

has	not	changed	this	basic	development	
philosophy,	but	studies	are	now	underway	
to	cut	costs	and	further	optimise	the	
development	project.

As	stated	above,	the	initial	focus	of	
development	to	oil	production	(Phase	1)		
will	be	on	the	Lineynoye	and	West	
Lineynoye	oil	fields.	The	2P	reserve	base	
of	these	fields	is	47.12	million	barrels	
of	oil,	as	reported	by	Ryder	Scott,	with	
8.40	million	barrels	in	the	P1	category.	
The	Russian	State	Reserves	Balance	for	
these	two	fields	was	updated	during	the	
year	with	registered	C1+C2	reserves	of	
59.91	million	bbls	including	13.41	million	
barrels	in	the	C1	category.	The	Plan	of	
Development,	as	designed	in	conjunction	
with	the	Tomsk	branch	of	the	Siberian	
Scientific	Institute	of	Geology,	Geophysics	
and	Mineral	Resources	(SNIIGGMS),	
demonstrates	that	the	economics	of	
Phase	1	are	sufficiently	robust	to	support	
the	export	pipeline	and	common	field	
processing	facilities.	These	economics	
are	based	on	an	export	oil	price	of	
US$65.00	per	barrel	and	domestic	sales	
at	US$36.44	per	barrel	beginning	in		
July	2010.	These	economics	are	subject	
to	continuing	review	based	on	lower	
oil	prices,	decreasing	capital	costs	and	
changes	in	the	Russian	taxation	system	
for	oil	producers.	Additions	of	production	
from	other	oil	fields	and	possible	future	
discoveries,	developed	on	an	incremental	
basis,	will	also	enhance	these	economics.	

PetroNeft Resources plc	 Annual	Report	and	Accounts	2008  11

107

Total	number	of	production	wells	
expected	to	be	drilled	at	Lineynoye		
and	West	Lineynoye	oil	fields

1.

4,000bopd

Expected	production	by	end	2010

1.	 	MI	26	helicopter	transporting	workover	equipment	to	Lineynoye		

No.1	site.

SNIIGGMS	also	obtained	approval	of	
Russian	classified	reserves	by	the	
Russian	State	Reserve	Committee	
and	approval	of	the	Development	Plan	
from	the	Russian	Central	Development	
Committee.	The	Institute	has	a	great	deal	
of	experience	in	preparing	such	plans	
and	in	getting	the	necessary	approvals		
to	proceed	with	the	development.	

Even	though	the	financing	has	been	
delayed	the	basic	Development	Plan		
for	Phase	1	remains	intact,	with	ongoing	
efforts	to	cut	costs	and	further	optimise	
the	design.	A	general	outline	for		
Phase	1	of	the	Development	Plan	will		
be	as	follows:

(a)  Pipeline development to Bashneft 

terminal

	The	design	engineering,	soil	sampling	
survey	and	environmental	studies	for	the	
pipeline	and	pipeline	route	have	been	
completed	and	approvals	are	underway.	
The	design	of	the	custody	transfer	point	
has	been	completed	but	is	under	further	
review	for	possible	optimisation.		
The	Company	purchased	65	km	of	273	mm		
diameter	pipe	in	July	2008	which	was	
transported	by	rail	and	then	river	barge	
to	a	staging	area	on	the	Vakh	River	24	km	
north	of	the	Lukpaiskaya	custody	transfer	
point.	The	pipe	is	currently	stored	at	this	
location	until	the	project	recommences.

(b) Processing facilities for the oil 

(e) Production

Field	oil	processing	facilities	are	simple	
and	of	standard	design	for	the	region.	
The	initial	requirements	are	minimal	
and	efforts	are	underway	to	design	and	
time	the	construction	to	carefully	align	
with	the	development	needs	and	defer	
expenditures	that	are	not	needed	early	on.

(c)   Infrastructure development at  

oil field site

These	include	the	development	of	
production	crew	accommodation	and	
facilities,	the	installation	of	roads,	
power	generation	capacity,	oil	gathering	
facilities	and	water	injection	lines,	etc.	
Again	the	development	of	these	will	be	
delayed	to	avail	of	capital	reductions.

(d) Drilling of production wells 

This	will	commence	in	2010	using	one	
platform	drilling	rig	in	the	first	year	and	
two	drilling	rigs	thereafter.	Approximately	
nine	deviated	production	wells	will	be	
drilled	each	year	by	each	rig	from	a	
drilling	pad.	At	peak	production	there	
will	be	over	100	production	and	water	
injection	wells.	The	drilling	programme	
has	been	designed	around	the	Russian	
BU	3000	EUK	production	rig	which	is		
cost	efficient	and	technically	proven		
in	the	area.	All	producing	wells	are	likely		
to	utilise	hydraulic	fracturing	and	
electrical	submersible	pumps	in	order		
to	maximise	production.	

Initial	production	from	the	Lineynoye	and	
West	Lineynoye	oil	fields	is	planned	at	
approximately	4,000	bopd	in	year	one	of	
production,	peaking	at	12,000	bopd	three	
years	later.

Exploration and reserve 
expansion
Drilling

Since	the	IPO	in	September	2006	the	
Company	has	discovered	two	new	fields	
and	increased	its	2P	reserve	base	from	
33.53	million	barrels	to	70.00	million	
barrels.	The	Russian	Registered	reserves	
in	the	C1+C2	category	now	stand	at		
95.06	million	barrels.	These	reserves	
are	not	calculated	on	exactly	the	same	
criteria	as	the	SPE	reserves,	but	there	
should	be	general	alignment	between		
the	C1+C2	and	2P	numbers.

Five	of	the	six	wells	drilled	by	the	Group	
to	date	have	intersected	oil	reservoirs	at	
the	predicted	horizons.	West	Lineynoye	
was	a	significant	discovery	and	we	
expect	further	delineation	will	show	
the	Kondrashevskoye	field	also	to	be	
a	significant	discovery.	The	discovery	
well	at	Kondrashevskoye	was	drilled	on	
the	crest	of	the	structure	and	the	main	
reservoir	was	oil	saturated	throughout.	
In	order	to	define	the	location	of	the	oil	
water	contact	and	the	ultimate	size	of	the	
field,	a	further	delineation	well	will	be	
required.	Ryder	Scott	currently	estimate	
Kondrashevskoye	2P	reserves	at		
8.11	million	barrels,	but	the	ultimate	
figure	could	be	significantly	greater.	

	
12  PetroNeft Resources plc	 Annual	Report	and	Accounts	2008

Chief Executive Officer’s Report (continued)

“ PetroNeft has now drilled the required six wells and  
has met all of its exploration drilling and seismic  
requirements for the 25 year term of the Licence.”

41°

	API

Typical	gravity	of	oil	from	wells		
drilled	to	date

2,750 metres

Typical	total	depth	of	exploration	well

The	last	exploration	well	of	the	2008	
season,	West	Korchegskaya	No.	1,		
was	disappointing	in	that	the	main		
Upper	Jurassic	reservoir	interval	was	
	not	present	in	the	well.	However,	a		
25	metre	thick	sandstone	interval,	with	
hydrocarbon	potential,	was	identified	
in	the	secondary	Lower	Jurassic	
objective.	This	reservoir	is	tight	and	will	
require	hydraulic	fracturing	for	proper	
testing.	The	well	has	been	cased	and	
will	be	tested	in	the	future	when	proper	
equipment	for	the	testing	is	available		
in	the	field.

PetroNeft	has	now	drilled	the	required	six	
wells	and	has	met	all	of	its	exploration	
drilling	and	seismic	requirements	for	the	
25	year	term	of	the	Licence.

Geological and geophysical 
studies
In	2006	and	2007	the	Group	acquired	
1,055	km	of	high	resolution	2D	seismic	
data,	thereby	completing	its	1,000	km	
seismic	obligation.	As	a	result	several	
prospects	and	potential	prospects	have	
moved	into	the	‘ready	to	drill’	category,	
further	enhancing	the	potential	of	
Licence	61.	A	significant	amount	of	
reserve	has	also	been	moved	from		
the	P4	exploration	resource	category,		
to	the	P3	possible	category.

In	2008	a	well	in	the	Kiev-Eganskoye		
field	in	adjacent	Block	80	to	the	east		
of	Licence	61	successfully	tested		
Lower	Cretaceous	oil	pay	that	had	been	
by-passed	by	previous	exploration.		

The	KE	361	well	tested	over	1,500	bopd	
without	stimulation	or	pumping	from		
a	7	metre	thick	Lower	Cretaceous	
sandstone.	Following	this	successful	
test	PetroNeft	commissioned	Tomsk	
Geophysical	Company	(TGK)	to		
re-interpret	the	geological	and	
geophysical	data	from	select	exploration	
wells	in	Licence	61.	TGK	is	the	same	
contractor	that	identified	the	by-passed	
pay	in	old	wells	at	Kiev-Eganskoye	and	
they	interpret	potential	by-passed	pay	in	
both	the	Cretaceous	and	Lower	to	Middle	
Jurassic	sections	in	the	Tuganskaya		
No.	1	and	Traverskaya	No.	1	wells.		
These	structures	are	located	in	the	
southern	portion	of	the	Licence	and	are	
believed	to	have	a	similar	geological	
history	to	the	Kiev-Eganskoye	structure.	
In	fact	the	Traverskaya	structure	is	the	
western	extension	of	the	Kiev-Eganskoye	
structure	and	was	already	believed	to	
have	by-passed	Upper	Jurassic	pay	in	

tight	reservoir	above	the	field-wide	oil	
water	contact	for	the	Kiev-Eganskoye	
field.	The	TGK	study	also	confirmed	
this	potential	Upper	Jurassic	pay	in	
Traverskaya	No.	1	as	well	as	8.4	metres	
of	potential	Upper	Jurassic	by-passed	
pay	in	Sibkrayevskaya	No.	1	located	in	the	
northeast	part	of	the	Licence.	This	is	a	
very	large	structure	and	could	potentially	
represent	a	very	significant	oil	field.	

Ryder	Scott	used	the	results	of	the	TGK	
study	and	calculated	possible	reserves	
for	the	Lower	to	Middle	Jurassic	and	
Cretaceous	prospects	in	the	Licence	area.	
These	two	new	potentially	productive	
intervals	significantly	add	to	the	overall	
prospectivity	of	the	Licence	area.	As	
a	result	P3	possible	reserves	have	
increased	from	289.46	to	459.37	million	
barrels.	Total	3P	(P1+P2+P3)	reserves	for	
the	Licence	have	increased	from	350.09	
to	529.37	million	barrels.

Summary of reserves of Licence 61 as per Ryder Scott report dated 31 December 2008:

Proved 
1P mmbo 

5.69	
2.71	
.39	
1.42	

10.21	

Lineynoye	field	
West	Lineynoye	field	
Kondrashevskoye	field	
Tungolskoye	field	

Total	
Upper	Jurassic	–	24	prospects	
Cretaceous	–	10	prospects	
Lower	to	Middle	Jurassic	–	11	prospects	

Proved and  
probable  
2P mmbo 

Proved, probable 
and possible 
3P mmbo

23.82	
23.30	
8.11	
14.77	

70.00	

28.65
29.19
26.10
18.91

102.85
207.29
156.17
63.06

529.37

Total 

10.21 

70.00 

	
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
1.

2.

PetroNeft Resources plc	 Annual	Report	and	Accounts	2008  13

Winter Oil Production
PetroNeft commenced winter oil 
production in February 2008 from the L-6 
and L-7 wells.

In January 2009, having negotiated 
favourable crude oil sales agreements 
with two small refineries at Parabel in 
the Tomsk Region, another season of 
production was commenced. Oil was 
produced from the L-1, L-6 and L-7 wells 
up until the end of March 2009 while 

winter roads were in place to truck the oil. 
Valuable production data was obtained 
during both test periods which will further 
help in the optimisation of the field 
development plan. Generally the crude 
is of high quality, 40°API gravity, and 
no reservoir pressure decline or water 
production was observed during the test 
period. The Group made a modest profit 
on the 2009 production.

1.	 	Loading	of	crude	oil	transport	trucks	at	

Lineynoye	oil	field.

2.	 	Convoy	of	crude	oil	trucks	en	route	to	market.

Business Development
With	the	initial	phase	of	exploration	
on	Licence	61	completed	and	the	
development	plan	for	Phase	1	in	place	
in	mid	2008,	the	Group	began	to	focus	
more	on	the	expansion	of	its	asset	
portfolio	to	expand	both	its	exploration	
and	production	capacity.	A	number	of	
opportunities	have	been	examined	and	
some	of	them	met	the	Group’s	strict	
technical	and	commercial	criteria	for	
acquisition.	The	Group	was	in	the	process	
of	agreeing	terms	for	the	acquisition		
of	some	assets	when	the	financial	
markets	collapsed.	The	Group	is	still	
pursuing	these	assets	and	reviewing	
others	and	it	is	clear	that	sellers’	
expectations	are	beginning	to	reflect		
the	new	financial	environment.

Also,	in	August	2008	the	Group	entered	
into	a	strategic	alliance	to	jointly	pursue	
opportunities	outside	of	License	61	in	
Western	Siberia	with	Arawak	Energy.	
Under	the	terms	of	the	agreement	
PetroNeft	would	have	the	first	right	of	
refusal	to	operate	any	projects.	

While	the	Group’s	focus	remains	the	
development	of	the	already	discovered	
fields	in	the	northern	portion	of	the	
Licence	area	as	soon	as	practicable,	
it	will	continue	to	look	for	ways	to	
accelerate	the	evaluation	of	the	
numerous	remaining	prospects	on	
Licence	61	through	a	farm-out	and	
to	consider	acquisitions	or	other	
opportunities	which	could	enhance		
the	value	of	the	Company.

Health, Safety and 
Environmental
The	Group	is	fully	committed	to	
high	standards	of	Health,	Safety	and	
Environmental	(HSE)	management	and	to	
act	responsibly	within	the	communities	
where	we	operate.	More	details	of	our	
HSE	activities	are	included	in	our	Health,	
Safety	and	Environmental	report	on	
pages	14	and	15.

Conclusion
2008	was	a	year	of	both	progress	and	
setbacks.	Proved	and	probable	reserves	
have	been	increased	and	moved	towards	
ready	for	production	status.	A	Plan	of	
Development	for	the	Lineynoye	and	West	
Lineynoye	fields	is	now	in	place.	Potential	
by-passed	oil	pay	has	been	identified	in	
several	old	exploration	wells	and	as	a	
result	possible	reserves	have	increased	
significantly.	Firm	foundations	have	been	
laid	upon	which	to	build	the	Group.	The	
Group	has	a	solid	asset	base	in	terms	of	
both	reserves	and	people	and	will	be	well	
positioned	to	move	forward	once	liquidity	
returns	to	the	financial	markets.	

Dennis Francis
Chief	Executive	Officer

14  PetroNeft Resources plc	 Annual	Report	and	Accounts	2008

Health, Safety and Environmental Report

“ There are inherent risks in the oil and gas industry and 
these are managed through policies and practices which 
stress the need for individual and collective responsibility 
within our staff structure and with contractors that 
operate for the Group.”

The	Group	is	fully	committed	to	high	
standards	of	Health,	Safety	and	
Environmental	(HSE)	management		
and	social	responsibilities	within	the	
communities	we	work	in.	There	are	
inherent	risks	in	the	oil	and	gas	industry	
and	these	are	managed	through	policies	
and	practices	which	stress	the	need	for	
individual	and	collective	responsibility	
within	our	staff	structure	and	with	
contractors	that	operate	for	the	Group.	

Alexey	Balyasnikov,	the	General	Director	
of	LLC	Stimul-T,	has	primary	responsibility		
for	all	aspects	of	Health,	Safety	and	
Environmental	management.	As	well	as	
reporting	directly	to	Group	CEO	Dennis	
Francis	he	attends	all	Board	meetings	to	
report	to	the	full	Board	on	HSE	issues.

There	were	no	lost	time	incidents	in	the	
year	and	no	events	which	breached	the	
stringent	environmental	regulations	that	
exist	in	Russia.

Health and Safety 
Management
2008	was	a	year	of	major	advances	for	
the	Group	in	the	area	of	Health	and	
Safety.	Having	previously	outsourced	the	
monitoring	and	implementation	of	Health	
and	Safety	guidelines	in	our	operations,	
in	September	2008	Elena	Morgunova	
joined	LLC	Stimul-T	in	a	full	time	position		
as	Labour	Safety	and	Industrial		
Security	Engineer.

The	role	of	the	Labour	Safety	and	
Industrial	Security	Department	is	to	
minimise	the	risks	to	employees	and	
contractors	from	the	day	to	day	operation	
of	our	business,	to	train	all	staff	in	safety	
awareness,	and	to	prepare	contingency	
plans	to	minimise	the	potential	impact		
of	any	unplanned	incidents	or	events.		
For	that	purpose	we:

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

Control	compliance	of	all	employee	
operations	with	labour	safety	
requirements	and	ensure	that	
employees	are	adequately	trained	in	
the	use	of	relevant	equipment

Monitor	all	contracts	the	Group	enters	
into	in	order	to	ensure	that	contractors	
are	informed	of	the	labour	safety	
policies	of	the	Group

Make	Group	employees	and	
employees	of	contractors	aware	of	
labour	safety	policies	of	the	Group	

Carry	out	regular	site	inspections	to	
ensure	full	compliance

Developed	and	delivered	labour	safety	
and	industrial	security	training	to	
Group	employees

Developed	Emergency	Response	Plan	
for	explosion	and	fire	hazard	facilities	
of	the	Group

•	

Developed	and	approved	with	state	
authorities:

	≥

Regulation	for	control	of	industrial	
safety	compliance	at	hazardous	
facilities	

	≥

Regulation	for	order	of	accidents	
investigation	at	hazardous	industrial	
facilities	of	the	Group

•	

Implemented	a	vaccination	and	
insurance	programme	for	tick-borne	
encephalitis,	a	disease	common	in	the	
West	Siberian	environment	

The	Russian	Federal	Service	for	
Ecological,	Technical	and	Atomic	
Supervision,	Rostechnadzor,	carried	out	
inspections	at	some	of	our	operations	
during	2008	and	no	significant	breaches	
were	identified.	

Environmental Impact 
Management
The	Board	recognises	that	the	Group’s	
activities	can	have	a	significant	impact		
on	the	environment.	As	part	of	its	
responsibilities	under	Russian	law	an	
environmental	assessment	of	the	Licence	
area	was	carried	out	before	any	drilling	
work	commenced	in	2007.	This	was	to	
establish	the	state	of	the	environment	
within	the	Licence	area	in	advance	of	any	
major	works.	

Since	early	2007	there	has	been	a	
dedicated	full	time	Environmental	
Engineer,	Elena	Nepriyateleva,	on	staff		
in	our	Tomsk	office.	Her	responsibilities	
include:

•	

•	

•	

Monitoring	of	exploration	and	
production	activities

Monitoring	activities	of	sub-contractors	

Maintaining	compliance	with	various	
environmental	laws	and	regulations

	
1.

PetroNeft Resources plc	 Annual	Report	and	Accounts	2008  15

2.

3.

1.	Typical	landscape	of	Western	Siberia.	
2.	Elena	Morgunova,	Labour	Safety	and	Industrial	Security	Engineer,	appointed	in	September	2008.	
3.	Safety	signage	at	Lineynoye	oil	field.

During	2008	a	new	Oil	Spill	Recovery	plan	
was	also	implemented	and	a	contract	
entered	into	with	a	local	company	that	
provides	emergency	support	in	the	event	
of	a	major	oil	spill.

Community
One	of	PetroNeft’s	key	philosophies	is	to	
operate	as	a	compliant	well	intentioned	
Group	within	the	communities	where	we	
work.	This	entails	ensuring	compliance	
with	laws	and	regulations	and	returning	
and	paying	our	taxes	on	time.

During	2008	we	also	made	contributions	
to	orphanages	in	the	Tomsk	Oblast	and	
contributed	to	social	programs	run	in	the	
Alexandrovskoye	region	of	Tomsk	where	
our	Licence	area	is	located.

The	completion	of	our	new	bridge	over	
the	Kiev-Egan	River	has	also	helped	local	
communities	as	it	opens	up	an	area	for	
hunting,	fishing	and	mushroom	gathering	
that	had	previously	been	inaccessible	in	
summer	time.

In	2008	the	main	activities	from	an	
environmental	perspective	were	the	
monitoring	of:

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

Drilling	of	Korchegskaya	No.	1	well

Drilling	of	West-Korchegskaya		
No.	1	well

Drilling	of	Lineynoye	No.	8	well

Re-entry	and	workover	of	Lineynoye	
No.1	well

Construction	of	bridge	over	Kiev-Egan	
River	including	borrow	pit	and	access	
ways	to	construct	the	bridge

•	

Pilot	production	activities	from	
January	to	March	2008

This	included	the	use	of	an	independent	
company	to	supervise	the	work	of	both	
our	own	staff	and	staff	of	contractors	
working	at	our	sites.	

Significant	progress	has	also	been	made	
in	the	permitting	and	approvals	process	
associated	with	the	plan	to	develop	the	
Lineynoye	and	West	Lineynoye	fields.	
Environmental	approvals	are	required	in	
the	following	areas	associated	with	the	
development	of	the	fields	and	the	
construction	of	the	pipeline:

•	

•	

•	

•	

Forestry	and	tree	cutting	permits

Land	management	approvals	for	
pipeline	route

Environmental	aspect	of	engineering	
survey

Project	design	and	expert	opinions	
from	State	expert	assessment	
department	

16  PetroNeft Resources plc	 Annual	Report	and	Accounts	2008

Financial Review 

“ During 2008, PetroNeft made significant  
advances towards its core strategy of bringing  
existing reserves to commercial development.”

During	2008,	PetroNeft	made	significant	
advances	towards	its	core	strategy	of	
bringing	existing	reserves	to	commercial	
development.	A	US$17.2	million	equity	
fund	raising	in	July	enabled	the	Group	
to	purchase	the	65	km	of	pipe	required	
for	construction	of	the	pipeline	from	
Lineynoye	to	Lukpaiskaya.	In	July	
PetroNeft	entered	into	a	mandate	with	
Standard	Bank	in	respect	of	the	debt	
required	to	complete	the	development	
of	the	Lineynoye	and	West	Lineynoye	oil	
fields.	In	October,	against	the	backdrop	
of	the	turmoil	in	the	world	financial	
markets,	the	Board	took	the	decision	to	
postpone	the	development	of	Lineynoye	
and	West	Lineynoye.	

The	mandate	with	Standard	Bank	
remains	in	place	and	PetroNeft	is	
continuing	to	work	with	Standard	Bank	
and	a	number	of	other	banks	in	order		
to	finance	the	project.	

Paul Dowling
Chief Financial Officer

Key Financial Metrics 

Overheads	
Share-based	payment	expense	
Foreign	exchange	loss/(gain)	on	intra	group	loans	
Other	foreign	exchange	loss/(gain)		

Administrative	expenses	

Exceptional	item	–	write	off	of	survey	costs		
for	previous	pipeline	route	

Loss	for	the	year	attributable	to	equity		
holders	of	the	parent	

2008 
US$ 

2007  
US$

2,871,339	
727,164	
3,010,932	
1,225,010	

7,834,445	

2,467,459	
958,468	
(386,239)
(439,127)

2,600,561	

–	

815,827

7,911,968	

3,203,262	

Capital	expenditure	in	the	year	

25,475,299	

18,043,960	

Net	proceeds	of	equity	share	issues	

17,516,291	

14,686,870	

Bank	and	cash	balance	at	year-end	

2,168,197	

8,304,295	

Net Loss
The	net	loss	for	the	year	increased		
to	US$7,911,968	from	US$3,203,262		
in	2007.	The	main	reason	for	the	increase	
in	losses	relates	to	a	foreign	exchange	
loss	of	US$3,010,932	on	US	Dollar	
denominated	loans	from	PetroNeft	
to	its	wholly	owned	subsidiary,	LLC	
Stimul-T	whose	functional	currency	is	
the	Russian	Rouble.	This	loss	arises	due	
to	the	weakening	of	the	Russian	Rouble	
against	the	US	Dollar	in	the	last	six	
months	of	the	year.	Once	LLC	Stimul-T	
is	earning	income	from	oil	sales	some	
of	this	income	will	be	in	US	dollars	and	
LLC	Stimul-T	will	therefore	be	capable	of	
repaying	its	US	Dollar	denominated	debt	
out	of	US	Dollar	income.	

Overheads	increased	by	16%	to	
US$2,871,339	which	primarily	reflects	
some	additional	staff	costs	as	we	move	
towards	development	of	oil	fields.

Finance Revenue
Finance	revenue	of	US$128,487	arises	
from	bank	interest	received	on	bank	
deposits.	A	combination	of	less	funds	on	
deposit	and	lower	interest	rates	was	the	
reason	for	the	reduction	in	the	year.	

Taxation
The	current	tax	charge	arises	on	finance	
revenue	earned	from	bank	deposits.		
The	deferred	tax	charge	arises	on	finance	
revenue	earned	by	PetroNeft	on	loans	to	
its	wholly	owned	subsidiary	LLC	Stimul-T.

  
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
		
	 
		
		
		
	
 
	
		
	
		
		
	
PetroNeft Resources plc	 Annual	Report	and	Accounts	2008  17

1.

2.

1.	 Pipe	in	storage	near	Lukpaiskaya.
2.	 	Pipe	at	rail	yard	near	Nizhnevartovsk	prior	to	being	loaded	onto	barges	

for	onward	transport.

16%

Increase	in	overheads	in	2008

104%

Increase	in	staff	numbers	in	2008	
(From	28	to	57	employees)

Capital Investment
Three	wells	were	drilled	during	2008	at	
a	cost	of	approximately	US$10	million.	
This	work	programme	enabled	the	
sanctioning	of	the	development	of	the	
Lineynoye	and	West	Lineynoye	oil	fields	
by	virtue	of	the	successful	Lineynoye	
No.	8	development	well.	It	also	added	
8.1	mmbo	to	our	2P	reserves	with	the	
discovery	of	the	Kondrashevskoye	oil		
field	which	is	likely	to	have	reserves		
of	up	to	20	million	barrels	once	a	
delineation	well	can	prove	the	oil	water	
contact	of	the	field.	The	Russian	State	
Reserves	Committee	have	approved	
C1+C2	reserves	of	19	mmbo	in	respect		
of	Kondrashevskoye.	

The	third	well	drilled	at	West	Korchegskaya	
was	initially	disappointing	as	the	primary	
objective	in	the	Upper	Jurassic	horizon	
was	absent	but	a	potentially	oil	productive	
25	metre	sand	was	intersected	at	the	
Lower	Jurassic	horizon	which	will	require	
further	testing	to	confirm.

In	2008	we	also	completed	a	bridge	over	
the	Kiev-Egan	River	within	our	Licence	
area	at	a	cost	of	US$789,843.	This	bridge	
significantly	extends	the	all	weather	roads	
further	within	our	Licence	area	which	will	
lead	to	cost	savings,	particularly	on	the	
use	of	helicopter	transport.

Oil and gas properties
Once	the	Board	sanctioned	the	
development	of	the	Lineynoye	and	
West	Lineynoye	oil	fields,	expenditure	
incurred	to	date	relating	to	these	oil	
fields	was	transferred	from	exploration	
and	evaluation	assets	to	oil	and	gas	
properties	in	accordance	with	IFRS	6,	
Exploration	for	and	Evaluation	of	Mineral	
Resources.	Total	expenditure	amounted	
to	US$11,202,901	and	it	was	necessary	
to	carry	out	an	impairment	review	in	
accordance	with	IAS	36,	Impairment	
of	Assets.	This	review	did	not	result	in	
any	impairment	to	the	carrying	value	of	
these	assets.	Expenditure	during	2008	in	
respect	of	oil	and	gas	properties	totalled	
US$16,767,510	including	US$9,542,923		
in	respect	of	65	km	of	pipe.

Russian VAT
Prior	to	2008	PetroNeft’s	Russian	
subsidiaries	had	not	received	any	refunds	
of	Russian	VAT	incurred	on	the	work	
carried	out	to	date.	The	amount	due	as	at	
31	December	2007	was	US$3,311,690	and	
it	had	been	accounted	for	at	that	date	as	
part	of	exploration	and	evaluation	costs	
in	non-current	assets	as	the	Group	was	
uncertain	whether	this	amount	would	be	
recoverable.	This	matter	was	resolved	
during	the	year	and	refunds	were	received	
for	all	periods	up	to	30	June	2008	before	
the	year-end.	In	March	2009	the	refund	
for	the	quarter	ending	30	September	
2008	was	received	and	we	now	expect	to	
receive	future	refunds	on	a	timely	basis.	
The	Board	would	like	to	acknowledge	the	
efforts	of	our	in	house	finance	and	legal	
team	in	Tomsk	for	their	diligence	and	
perseverance	in	this	matter.

Cost cutting in 2009
In	January	2009,	as	part	of	a	review	of	
costs,	the	current	Executive	Directors,	
Dennis	Francis,	Paul	Dowling	and	
David	Sanders,	as	well	as	all	staff	in	the	
Group	agreed	to	a	voluntary	10%	pay	
cut	effective	immediately.	The	Executive	
Directors	also	elected	to	receive	some	of	
their	remuneration	for	2008	by	way		
of	shares.	These	shares	will	be	issued	
once	the	close	period	for	the	2008	
accounts	has	passed	at	the	higher	of	
the	market	price	at	date	of	issue	or	the	
IPO	price	of	the	shares	of	£0.198.	The	
Board	has	also	agreed	to	allow	Directors	
elect	to	have	their	Directors	fees	paid	in	
shares.	Where	this	option	is	exercised	by	
a	Director	it	is	binding	for	a	minimum	of	
12	months.	The	Group	is	also	working	to	
reduce	all	other	overhead	costs.

Future funding of PetroNeft 
In	order	to	achieve	first	production	in	
2010	the	pipeline	must	be	laid	in	the	first	
quarter	of	2010	and	drilling	of	production	
wells	commenced	in	the	first	half	of	2010.	
This	requires	finance	to	be	in	place	so	
that	contracts	can	be	completed,	advance	
payments	made	and	materials	purchased	
in	time	for	the	key	winter	months	when	
the	materials	required	for	the	2010	
drilling	programme	can	be	moved	into	
place	in	the	most	efficient	manner.

The	Group	have	prepared	budgets	and		
forecasts	until	31	December	2010	and,	
based	on	this,	the	current	development	
funding	requirement	is	US$40	million		
(including	estimated	fees	and	interest	
costs	of	US$5	million).	This	is	significantly	
lower	than	the	previous	requirement	

	
18  PetroNeft Resources plc	 Annual	Report	and	Accounts	2008

Financial Review (continued)

“ The reduction in the funding requirement is due 
to the weakening of the rouble as compared to the 
dollar and a softening of rouble prices for oilfield 
services and equipment across the Tomsk region.”

65

Investor	relations	meetings		
held	in	2008	(2007:	61)

Investor Relations
During	2008,	the	CEO	and	CFO	held	regular	
meetings	with	analysts	and	institutional	
investors	and	the	fund	raising	in	July	
2008	widened	the	base	of	institutional	
investors	in	the	Company.	In	February	2008,	
PetroNeft	hosted	analysts	and	bankers	
in	Tomsk,	which	included	a	trip	to	the	
field	and	presentations	from	our	various	
technical	partners	in	Tomsk.

The	target	for	2009	is	to	continue	our	
programme	of	meetings	and	specifically	
to	get	more	analyst	coverage	in	order	to	
further	increase	our	visibility	within	the	
investment	community.	

In	May	2009	PetroNeft	appointed	
Canaccord	Adams	as	our	London	based	
joint-broker	in	addition	to	our	Nomad	Davy.	

Paul Dowling
Chief	Financial	Officer

of	approximately	US$65	million	which	
existed	at	peak	oil	prices	in	mid	2008.	
The	reduction	in	the	funding	requirement	
is	due	to	the	weakening	of	the	rouble	as	
compared	to	the	dollar	and	a	softening	
of	rouble	prices	for	oilfield	services	and	
equipment	across	the	Tomsk	region.	
Work	is	also	ongoing	to	optimise	the	
development	so	as	to:

If	this	was	the	case	then	PetroNeft	would	
require	US$3	million	to	fund	its	base	
operations	through	to	31	December	2010	
without	any	further	cost	cutting	measures.	
The	Board	and	its	advisers	believe	that	
this	funding	could	be	raised	through	either	
the	placement	of	new	ordinary	shares	
and/or	the	sale	of	some	of	the	stock	of	
pipe	that	is	currently	in	storage.

•	

•	

•	

reduce	or	modify	field	facilities	where	
possible;

delay	expenditures	where	possible;	

reduce	costs	by	utilising	existing	
facilities	at	the	pipeline	tie-in	point.	

Once	this	optimisation	work	is	complete	it	
is	hoped	that	the	final	funding	requirement	
will	be	lower	than	US$40	million.

Based	on	the	above	the	Board	have	
approved	a	development	plan	and	
discussions	are	ongoing	with	selected	
banks,	including	Standard	Bank	in	relation	
to	funding.	Considering	progress	to	date	
the	Board	is	confident	that	it	can	fund	
the	project	wholly	or	substantially	with	
debt	finance.	However,	should	sufficient	
funding	not	be	available	by	the	fourth	
quarter	of	2009	it	is	likely	that	the	project	
would	have	to	be	delayed	by	at	least		
12	months	as	the	winter	season	is	the		
only	time	when	the	pipeline	can	be	laid.	

In	addition	to	the	measures	discussed	
above,	the	Group	is	in	discussions	with	
potential	strategic	investors	to	invest	in	
Licence	61.	Such	an	investment	would	
provide	funding	for	the	development	
project	as	part	of	any	agreement	to	invest.	
The	Group	is	also	examining	a	number	
of	acquisition	opportunities	for	producing	
assets	that	would	bring	both	immediate	and	
ongoing	positive	operational	cash	flows.

Financial Risk Management
The	Board	sets	the	treasury	policies	and	
objectives	of	the	Group,	which	include	
controls	over	the	procedures	used	to	
manage	financial	risk.	The	Group’s	
activities	expose	the	Group	to	a	variety	of	
financial	risks	including	foreign	currency,	
commodity	price,	credit,	liquidity	and	
interest	rate	risks.	These	financial	risks	
are	managed	by	the	Group	under	policies	
approved	by	the	Board.	Details	of	the	
Group’s	financial	risk	management	policies	
are	set	out	in	detail	in	Note	22	to	the	
consolidated	financial	statements.

PetroNeft Resources plc	 Annual	Report	and	Accounts	2008  19

Significant Shareholders
So	far	as	the	Directors	are	aware,	the	names	of	the	persons	other	than	the	Directors	
who,	directly	or	indirectly,	are	interested	in	3%	or	more	of	the	Issued	Share	Capital	at		
2	June	2009	are	as	follows:

Name of Shareholder 

Shares 

Percentage

RAB	Octane	Fund	Limited	
Ali	Sobraliev	
Davycrest	Nominees	Limited	
JP	Morgan	Asset	Mgt	(UK)	Limited	
Arawak	Energy	
Lynchwood	Nominees	Limited	

37,868,791	
23,014,273	
31,694,191	
11,149,400	
10,101,010	
9,432,900	

16.52%	
10.04%	
13.83%
4.86%
4.41%	
4.12%

1.

2.

1.	Kiev-Egan	bridge	under	construction.	
2.	Completed	bridge.	

Principal Risks and Uncertainties 
The	principal	risks	and	uncertainties	affecting	the	Group	are:

Risk Category 

Issue 

Mitigation

Country	Risks	

Political	–	federal	risks	

Political	–	local	risks	

Ownership	of	assets	

Changes	in	tax	structure	

Technical	Risks	

Exploration	risk	

Drilling	risk	

Production/Completion	risk	

Financial	Risks	

Reserve	risk	
Availability	of	finance	

Oil	price	

Industry	cost	inflation	

Other	Risks	

Uninsured	events	
HSE	incidents	
Export	quota	

Third	party	pipeline	access	
Transneft	pipeline	access	

Fields/acquisitions	below	500	million	boe	not	considered	strategic.
State	is	encouraging	small	operators.
Oblast	administration	very	supportive	of	development.
Local	management	well	respected	in	region.
Licence	received	at	government	auction	–	work	programme	is	complete.
25	year	Licence	term	can	be	extended	based	on	approved	production	plan.
Fiscal	system	is	stable	and	recent	changes	benefit	oil	&	gas	companies.
Proactive	lobbying	effort	in	area	of	tax	legislation.	
Proven	oil	and	gas	basin	with	multiple	plays.
Good	quality	2D	seismic.	
Knowledgeable	exploration	team	with	proven	track	record	in	region.
Relatively	shallow	wells	with	proven	technology.
Good	rig	availability.
Experienced	operations	team.
Routine	completion	practices	including	fracture	stimulation.
	Reserves	high	graded,	extensive	reservoir	simulation	and	reservoir	management	will		
be	undertaken.
Performance	of	similar	fields	in	region.
SPE	and	Russian	reserves	updated	and	in	alignment.
	Bank	mandate	entered	into	in	July	2008.	Numerous	other	financing	options		
continue	to	be	explored.	Regular	Investor	Relations	meetings	held.
Robust	project	sanction	economics	–	conservative	base	case	assumptions.	
	Board	will	consider	use	of	appropriate	hedging	instruments	once	year-round		
production	commences.
	Rigorous	contracting	procedures	with	competitive	tendering.	Also	the	relationship		
of	the	dollar/rouble	exchange	rate	to	the	dollar	provides	a	natural	hedge	on	costs		
as	compared	to	income.
Comprehensive	insurance	programme	in	place.
HSE	standards	set	and	monitored	regularly	across	the	Group.
	Conservative	assumption	in	economics	–	domestic	net	back	price	now	largely	in	alignment	
with	export	net	back.
Transportation	agreement	in	place.
Available	capacity	and	access	confirmed.
	East	Siberia-Pacific	Ocean	(ESPO)	pipeline	will	allow	export	of	West	Siberian	Light	to		
Pacific	market.

		
	
		
	
	
		
	
	
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
	
	
	
	
		
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
20  PetroNeft Resources plc	 Annual	Report	and	Accounts	2008

Board of Directors

The Group’s strategy is to develop an oil 
exploration, development and production 
business in Russia, using the combined  
skills, experience and resources of the  
Group’s Directors and employees. 

1.

2.

1. David Golder
Non-Executive Chairman (Age 61)
Mr.	Golder	has	been	Non-Executive	
Chairman	of	the	Company	since	2005.		
He	is	also	Chairman	of	the	Remuneration	
Committee	and	a	member	of	the	Audit	
Committee.	He	has	over	38	years	
experience	in	the	petroleum	industry	
and	was	formerly	Senior	Vice	President	
of	Marathon	Oil	Company	(‘‘Marathon’’),	
retiring	in	2003.	From	June	1996	to	1999,	
Mr.	Golder	was	seconded	from	Marathon	
to	Sakhalin	Energy	Investment	Company	
where	he	was	Executive	Vice	President	
–	Upstream.	Located	in	Moscow,	he	
managed	all	upstream	activities	which	
focused	on	the	oil	development	and	
company	infrastructure	aspects	of	the	
Sakhalin	II	Project	onshore	and	offshore	
Sakhalin	Island.	Mr.	Golder	is	a	member	
of	the	Society	of	Petroleum	Engineers.		
He	has	a	BSc	degree	in	Petroleum	
&	Natural	Gas	Engineering	from	
Pennsylvania	State	University	and	has	
completed	the	Program	for	Management	
Development	at	Harvard	University.

2. Dennis Francis 
Chief Executive Officer and Executive 
Director (Age 60)
Mr.	Francis	has	been	Chief	Executive	
Officer	and	an	Executive	Director	of	the	
Company	since	its	formation	in	2005.	
He	has	over	37	years	experience	in	
the	petroleum	industry	and	was	with	
Marathon	for	30	years.	From	1990,	
Mr.	Francis	was	USSR/FSU	task	force	
manager	responsible	for	developing	new	
opportunities	for	Marathon	in	Russia.	
Marathon	and	its	partners	ultimately	
won	the	first	Russian	competitive	
tender	which	was	to	develop	the	
Sakhalin	II	Project	offshore	Sakhalin	
Island.	Mr.	Francis	was	instrumental	
in	the	formation	of	Sakhalin	Energy	
Investment	Company	and	was	a	Director	
in	that	Company.	He	is	a	member	of	
the	American	Association	of	Petroleum	
Geologists	and	Society	of	Exploration	
Geophysicists.	He	has	a	BSc	degree	
in	geophysical	engineering	and	an	
MSc	degree	in	geology,	both	from	the	
Colorado	School	of	Mines.	He	has	also	
completed	the	Program	for	Management	
Development	at	Harvard	University.

3. Dr. David Sanders 
General Legal Counsel, Executive 
Director and Company Secretary  
(Age 60)
Dr.	Sanders	has	been	General	Legal	
Counsel,	Executive	Director	and	Company	
Secretary	of	the	Company	since	its	
formation	in	2005.	He	is	an	attorney	of	law	
and	has	over	32	years	experience	in	the	
petroleum	industry,	including	14	years	
of	doing	business	in	Russia	and	three	
years	in	the	oil	and	gas	litigation	division	
of	the	law	firm	of	Fulbright	&	Jaworski	
LLP.	In	1988,	Dr.	Sanders	joined	Marathon	
where	he	analysed	and	reviewed	joint	
venture	agreements	for	worldwide	
production	until	his	assignment	in	1991	
to	the	negotiating	team	for	the	Sakhalin	
II	Project	in	Russia.	Dr.	Sanders	has	a	
degree	in	electronics	from	Pennsylvania	
Institute	of	Technology,	a	liberal	arts	
degree	from	the	University	of	Houston		
and	a	doctorate	of	jurisprudence	from	
South	Texas	College	of	Law.	He	is	a	
member	of	the	State	Bar	of	Texas	and		
of	the	American	Bar	Association.

PetroNeft Resources plc	 Annual	Report	and	Accounts	2008  21

3.

4.

5.

6.

4. Paul Dowling 
Chief Financial Officer and Executive 
Director (Age 37)
Mr.	Dowling	joined	the	Company	on		
1	October	2007	and	was	appointed	to		
the	Board	of	Directors	on	29	April	2008.	
He	has	17	years	experience	in	the	areas	
of	accounting,	auditing,	taxation,	financial	
reporting,	AIM/IPO	reporting,	corporate	
restructuring,	corporate	finance	and	
acquisitions/disposals.	Most	recently		
he	was	a	Partner	in	the	accounting	firm,	
LHM	Casey	McGrath,	located	in	Dublin.	
Mr.	Dowling	is	a	fellow	of	the	Association	
of	Chartered	Certified	Accountants	(ACCA)	
and	a	member	of	the	Irish	Taxation	
Institute.	He	currently	represents	the	
ACCA	with	the	Consultative	Committee	of	
Accountancy	Bodies	–	Ireland	(CCAB-I).

5. Thomas Hickey 
Independent Non-Executive Director 
(Age 40)
Mr.	Hickey	has	been	a	Non-Executive	
Director	of	the	Company	since	2005.	
He	is	Chairman	of	the	Audit	Committee	
and	a	member	of	the	Remuneration	
Committee.	He	was	Chief	Financial	
Officer	and	a	Director	of	Tullow	Oil	plc	
from	2000	to	2008.	During	this	time	
Tullow	grew	via	a	number	of	significant	
acquisitions.	Prior	to	joining	Tullow	
Oil	plc	he	was	an	Associate	Director	of	
ABN	AMRO	Corporate	Finance	(Ireland)	
Limited.	In	this	role,	he	advised	public	
and	private	companies	in	a	wide	range	
of	industry	sectors	in	the	areas	of	fund	
raising,	stock	exchange	requirements,	
mergers	and	acquisitions,	flotations	
and	related	transactions.	Mr.	Hickey	is	a	
Commerce	graduate	of	University	College	
Dublin	and	a	Fellow	of	the	Irish	Institute	
of	Chartered	Accountants.	

6. Vakha A. Sobraliev 
Non-Executive Director (Age 54)
Mr.	Sobraliev	has	been	a	Non-Executive	
Director	of	the	Company	since	2005.	
He	is	a	member	of	both	the	Audit	and	
Remuneration	Committees.	He	has	
over	30	years	experience	operating	and	
managing	energy	service	companies	
and	state	operating	units	exploring	
for	and	exploiting	oil	resources	in	the	
Western	Siberian	oil	basin.	Mr.	Sobraliev	
is	currently	a	shareholder	and	General	
Director	of	Tomskburneftegaz	LLC,	an	
oil	and	gas	well	drilling	and	services	
company	operating	in	Western	Siberia.	
From	1975	to	2000,	Mr.	Sobraliev	worked	
for	Tomskneft	and	Strezhevoy	drilling	
boards	in	various	drilling	and	economic	
capacities	including	chief	engineer	and	
chief	accountant.	He	has	degrees	in	
mining	engineering	and	economics	from	
Tomsk	Polytechnic	Institute	and	the	Tomsk	
State	University	respectively.	Mr.	Sobraliev	
is	a	resident	of	Tomsk,	Russia.

Senior Management
1. Alexey Balyasnikov
General Director
LLC Stimul-T

1.

2. Alexander Frenovsky
Executive Director
LLC Stimul-T

2.

3. Nikolay Karapuzov
Chief Geologist
LLC Stimul-T

3.

For	biographies	of	senior	management	see	www.petroneft.com

	
22  PetroNeft Resources plc	 Annual	Report	and	Accounts	2008

Directors’ Report
For	the	year	ended	31	December	2008

The Directors present herewith their Annual Report and the audited financial statements of PetroNeft Resources plc (the ‘Company’) 
and its subsidiaries (collectively, the ‘Group’) for the year ended 31 December 2008.

Principal Activity 
The principal activities of the Group are that of oil and gas exploration, development and production. The Group was established to 
acquire and develop, directly or indirectly, oil and gas exploration, development and production interests in Russia and other countries 
of the former Soviet Union. A detailed business review is included in the Chief Executive Officer’s Report and in the Financial Review.

Results and Dividends
The loss for the year before tax amounted to US$7,705,958 (2007: US$2,950,993). After a tax charge of US$206,010 (2007: US$252,269) 
the loss for the year amounted to US$7,911,968 (2007: US$3,203,262). The Directors do not recommend payment of a dividend. 
Accordingly, an amount of US$7,911,968 has been debited to reserves.

Review of the Development and Performance of the Business
In compliance with the requirements of the Companies Acts, 1963 to 2006, a fair review of the performance and development of the 
Group’s business during the year, its position at the year-end and its future prospects is contained in the Chief Executive Officer’s 
Report on pages 10 to 13 and the Financial Review on pages 16 to 19. The key performance indicators used by management are set 
out in the Financial Review on page 16.

Corporate Governance
The Company is not subject to the Combined Code on Corporate Governance applicable to companies with full listings on the Dublin 
and London Stock Exchange. The Company does, however, intend, in so far as is practicable and desirable, given the size and nature 
of the business and the constitution of the Board, to comply with the Corporate Governance Guidelines for AIM Companies (the ‘QCA 
Guidelines’) as published by the Quoted Companies Alliance (the ‘QCA’).

The QCA Guidelines were devised, in consultation with a number of significant institutional small company investors, as an alternative 
corporate governance code applicable to AIM companies. An alternative code was proposed because the QCA considered the Combined 
Code on Corporate Governance to be inappropriate to many AIM companies.

The QCA Guidelines state that ‘the purpose of good corporate governance is to ensure that the Company is managed in an efficient, 
effective and entrepreneurial manner for the benefit of all shareholders over the longer term.’ The guidelines set out a code of best 
practice for AIM companies. Those guidelines require, among other things, that:

a) certain matters be specifically reserved for the Board’s decision;
b)  the Board should be supplied in a timely manner with information (including regular management financial information) in a form 

and of a quality appropriate to enable it to discharge its duties;

c)  the Board should, at least annually, conduct a review of the effectiveness of the Company’s system of internal controls and should 

report to shareholders that they have done so;

d)  the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive should not be exercised by the same individual or there should be a clear explanation of 

how other Board procedures provide protection against the risks of concentration of power within the Company;

e)  a Company should have at least two independent Non-Executive Directors on the Board and should not be dominated by one 

person or group of people;

f)  all Directors should be submitted for re-election at regular intervals subject to continued satisfactory  performance;
g) the Board should establish audit, remuneration and nomination committees; and
h) there should be a dialogue with shareholders based on a mutual understanding of objectives.

Major corporate decisions of the Group are subject to Board approval. The Board is supplied in a timely manner with information 
in a form and of a quality appropriate to enable it to discharge its duties. These matters include approval of the Group’s general 
commercial strategy, financial statements, Board membership, significant acquisitions and disposals, major capital expenditures  
and risk management and treasury policies. The Company holds regular Board meetings throughout the year.

In accordance with the QCA Guidelines, the Board has established audit and remuneration committees, as described below, and 
utilises other committees as necessary in order to ensure effective governance.

Audit Committee

The members of the Audit Committee are Thomas Hickey, David Golder and Vakha Sobraliev. It is chaired by Thomas Hickey. The Audit 
Committee’s responsibilities include, among other things, reviewing interim and year end financial statements, accounting principles, 
policies and practices, internal controls, and overseeing the relationship with the external auditor, including the planned scope and 
results of their audit.

Remuneration Committee

The members of the Remuneration Committee are David Golder, Thomas Hickey and Vakha Sobraliev. It is chaired by David Golder. 
The Remuneration Committee’s responsibilities include, among other things, determining the policy on remuneration provided, 
however, that no Director shall be directly involved in any decisions as to their own remuneration.

PetroNeft Resources plc	 Annual	Report	and	Accounts	2008  23

Nomination Committee

Given the current size of the Group, a Nominations Committee is not considered necessary. The Board reserves to itself the process by 
which a new director is appointed.

The recent retirement of Des Burke as an Executive Director of the Board means that the percentage of Non-Executive Directors on 
the Board is now equal to the recommended 50%. The Group has adopted a model code for Directors’ dealings that is appropriate for 
an AIM company. The Group complies with Rule 21 of the AIM Rules relating to Directors’ dealings and will take all reasonable steps to 
ensure compliance by the Directors and the Group’s applicable employees and their relative associates.

Shareholder Communication

Shareholder communication is given high priority by the Group and there are regular meetings between senior executives,  
institutional shareholders, analysts and brokers. These meetings, which are governed by procedures designed to ensure that price 
sensitive information is not divulged, are designed to facilitate a two way dialogue based upon the mutual understanding of objectives. 
The Annual General Meeting (‘AGM’) affords individual shareholders the opportunity to question the Chairman and the Board, and 
their participation is welcomed.

The Chairmen of the Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee are available at the AGM to answer questions. In addition,  
major shareholders can meet with the Chairman or Executive and Non-Executive Directors on request.

The Board is kept appraised of the views of shareholders, and the market in general, through feedback from the meetings 
programme. Analysts’ reports on the Company are also circulated to the Board on a regular basis. The Group’s website,  
www.petroneft.com, is also a key communication tool with all shareholders. News releases are made available on the website 
immediately after release to the Stock Exchange.

Internal Control
The Directors have overall responsibility for the Group’s system of internal control and have delegated responsibility for the 
implementation of this system to executive management. This system is reviewed annually and includes financial controls that enable 
the Board to meet its responsibilities for the integrity and accuracy of the Group’s accounting records.

The Group’s system of internal financial control provides reasonable, though not absolute, assurance that assets are safeguarded, 
transactions authorised and recorded properly and that material errors or irregularities are either prevented or detected within a 
timely period. 

Directors
The present Directors are listed on pages 20 and 21. On 29 April 2008 Paul Dowling was appointed to the Board. His appointment was 
ratified at the Annual General Meeting on 14 August 2008 in accordance with the Articles of Association. On 31 March 2009 Desmond 
Burke retired from the Board. 

In accordance with the Articles of Association, Thomas Hickey and Vakha Sobraliev retire by rotation and being eligible offer 
themselves for re-election.

Directors, Company Secretary and their Interests
The Directors and Secretary who held office during the year had no interest, other than those shown below, in the shares of the 
Company. All interests shown below are beneficial interests.

David Golder 
Dennis Francis 
Paul Dowling* 
David Sanders# 
Vakha Sobraliev† 
Thomas Hickey 
Desmond Burke‡ 

Ordinary  
shares 
As at 
2-Jun-09 

Ordinary 
shares 
As at 
31-Dec-08 

Ordinary 
shares
As at
1-Jan-08

3,165,458 
22,409,045 
48,000 
2,102,802 
– 
1,535,057 
n/a 

3,165,458 
22,409,045 
48,000 
4,205,605 
23,014,273 
1,535,057 
5,623,396 

3,165,458
20,388,843
–
4,205,605 
23,014,273
896,226
5,304,204

* 
# 

† 

‡ 

  Paul Dowling was appointed to the Board on 29 April 2008. He held 48,000 ordinary shares on the date of his appointment.

 In April 2009, pursuant to a court order, David Sanders transferred 2,102,803 ordinary shares or 50 per cent of his shareholding to his  
former-wife.
 On 12 February 2009 Vakha Sobraliev transferred his entire holding of 23,014,273 to his adult son Ali. Ali Sobraliev has advised the Company that 
he intends to remain a long term holder of the shares.
  Desmond Burke retired from the Board on 31 March 2009. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
24  PetroNeft Resources plc	 Annual	Report	and	Accounts	2008

Directors’ Report (continued)

For	the	year	ended	31	December	2008

In addition to the above the Directors hold the following share options:

Director 

David Golder 
Dennis Francis 
Paul Dowling  
David Sanders 
Vakha Sobraliev 
Thomas Hickey 
Desmond Burke* 

Options held  
as at  
1 January 2008 

440,000 
880,000 
400,000 
880,000 
440,000 
308,000 
660,000 

Granted 
in Year 

55,000 
330,000 
175,000 
280,000 
35,000 
45,000 
175,000 

Exercised 
in Year 

  Options held as at 
31 December 
 2008 

Exercise price

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

495,000  €0.295-£0.36
1,210,000  €0.295-£0.36
575,000  €0.420-£0.36
1,160,000  €0.295-£0.36
475,000  €0.295-£0.36
353,000  €0.295-£0.36
835,000  €0.295-£0.36

* Desmond Burke retired from the board on 31 March 2009.

Details of the terms and conditions of the option scheme are included in Note 26 to the financial statements.

Principal Risks and Uncertainties
The Group has a risk management structure in place which is designed to identify, manage and mitigate business risks. Risk assessment 
and evaluation is an essential part of the Group’s internal control system.

Details of the principal risks and uncertainties affecting the Group as required to be disclosed in accordance with the Companies Acts, 
1963 to 2006, are detailed in the Financial Review.

Remuneration Committee Report
The Group’s policy on senior executive remuneration is designed to attract and retain people of the highest calibre who can bring their 
experience and independent views to the policy, strategic decisions and governance of the Group.

In setting remuneration levels, the Remuneration Committee takes into consideration the remuneration practices of other companies 
of similar size and scope. A key philosophy is that staff must be properly rewarded and motivated to perform in the best interests 
of the shareholders. Bonuses for Executive Directors are based on various performance targets such as shareholder return and 
individual performance.

 Directors’ remuneration during the year was as follows:  

Remuneration and other emoluments – Executive Directors* 
Remuneration and other emoluments – Non-Executive Directors 
Ex-gratia payment to retiring director 
Remuneration and other emoluments payable in shares 
Share-based payment expense 

2007
US$

765,009
77,432

2008  
US$  

780,124  
80,177  
92,704  –
45,065  –

338,082  
  –––––––––––– 
1,336,152  
  –––––––––––– 

460,125
––––––––––––
1,302,566
––––––––––––

*  Paul Dowling was appointed to the Board on 29 April 2008 and his remuneration is only included above with effect from that date.

The share option scheme is designed to incentivise performance and loyalty of Directors and key employees. Options vest when 
certain operational and total shareholder return targets are met. Share option holdings of the Directors are disclosed above.  
During 2008 the Executive Directors elected to receive a portion of their remuneration in shares instead of cash. These shares will  
be issued once the close period relating to the 2008 accounts has passed at the higher of the IPO price of 19.8p or the market price  
at date of issue.

The Board has also agreed to allow Directors elect to have their Directors’ fees paid in shares. Under this scheme the number of shares 
issued will be based on the closing price at each quarter end. Elections under this scheme must be for a minimum of one year. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008  25

Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities in respect of the Financial Statements
Company law in the Republic of Ireland requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true 
and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company and of the Group and of the profit or loss of the Group for that period. 

In preparing these financial statements of the Group, the Directors are required to: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

make judgments and estimates that are reasonable;

comply with applicable International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union; and 

prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group and Company will 
continue in business.

The Directors are responsible for keeping proper books of account that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial 
position of the Company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Acts, 1963 to 2006.  
They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and 
detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Books of account
The measures taken by the Directors to ensure compliance with the requirements of Section 202, Companies Act 1990, regarding 
proper books of account are the implementation of necessary policies and procedures for recording transactions, the employment  
of competent accounting personnel with appropriate expertise and the provision of adequate resources to the financial function.  
The books of account of the Company are maintained at 1 Wainsfort Drive, Terenure, Dublin 6W, Ireland.

Going Concern
In preparing the consolidated financial statements the Directors consider it appropriate to continue to use the going concern 
assumption on the basis that the Board has approved a plan to raise funds required in order to bring sanctioned fields to commercial 
production and further develop the business. As described in the Financial Review and Note 2 to these financial statements the Group 
is in discussions with International Banks, Corporate Finance advisers and potential strategic investors in this regard. The Directors 
believe that this will enable the Group and the Company to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and to continue 
to meet its obligations as they fall due.

Important Events after the Balance Sheet Date
There were no events affecting the consolidated financial statements after the year-end.

Auditors
Ernst & Young, Chartered Accountants, have indicated their willingness to continue in office in accordance with the provisions of 
Section 160(2) of the Companies Act, 1963.

Annual General Meeting
Your attention is drawn to the Notice of Meeting set out on page 56. 

Your Directors believe that the Resolutions to be proposed at the Meeting are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders 
as a whole and, therefore, recommend you to vote in favour of the Resolutions. Your Directors intend to vote in favour of the Resolutions 
in respect of their own beneficial holdings of 29,260,362 Ordinary Shares.

Approved by the Board on 3 June 2009.

Dennis Francis 
Director 

Paul Dowling
Director

 
26  PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008

Independent Auditors’ Report
To the members of PetroNeft Resources plc

We have audited the Group and Parent Company financial statements (the ‘financial statements’) of PetroNeft Resources plc for the 
year ended 31 December 2008 which comprise the Consolidated Income Statement, the Consolidated and Parent Company Balance 
Sheets, the Consolidated and Parent Company Cash Flow Statements, the Consolidated and Parent Company Statement of Changes 
in Equity, and the related notes 1 to 27. These financial statements have been prepared under the accounting policies set out therein. 

This report is made solely to the Company’s members, as a body, in accordance with section 193 of the Companies Act, 1990.  
Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company’s members those matters we are required to state to 
them in an auditors’ report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility 
to anyone other than the Company and the Company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we 
have formed.

Respective responsibilities of Directors and Auditors
The Directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with applicable Irish law and International 
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union as set out in the Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities.

Our responsibility is to audit the financial statements in accordance with relevant legal and regulatory requirements and International 
Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland).

We report to you our opinion as to whether the financial statements give a true and fair view and have been properly prepared in 
accordance with the Companies Acts, 1963 to 2006. We also report to you our opinion as to: whether proper books of account have 
been kept by the Company; whether, at the balance sheet date, there exists a financial situation which may require the convening of 
an extraordinary general meeting of the Company; and whether the information given in the Directors’ Report is consistent with the 
financial statements. In addition, we state whether we have obtained all the information and explanations necessary for the purposes 
of our audit and whether the Company Balance Sheet is in agreement with the books of account.

We also report to you if, in our opinion, any information specified by law regarding directors’ remuneration and other transactions  
is not disclosed and, where practicable, include such information in our report.

We read the other information contained in the Annual Report and consider whether it is consistent with the audited financial 
statements. The other information comprises only the Chairman’s Statement, the Chief Executive Officer’s Report, the Financial 
Review and the Directors’ Report. We consider the implications for our report if we become aware of any apparent misstatements  
or material inconsistencies with the financial statements. Our responsibilities do not extend to any other information.

Basis of audit opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) issued by the Auditing Practices 
Board. An audit includes examination, on a test basis, of evidence relevant to the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. 
It also includes an assessment of the significant estimates and judgements made by the directors in the preparation of the financial 
statements, and of whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the Group’s and Company’s circumstances, consistently applied 
and adequately disclosed.

We planned and performed our audit so as to obtain all the information and explanations which we considered necessary in order to 
provide us with sufficient evidence to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, 
whether caused by fraud or other irregularity or error. In forming our opinion we also evaluated the overall adequacy of the 
presentation of information in the financial statements.

 
PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008  27

Opinion
In our opinion the financial statements give a true and fair view, in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union,  
of the state of affairs of the Group and of the Company as at 31 December 2008, and of the loss of the Group for the year then ended 
and have been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Acts, 1963 to 2006.

We have obtained all the information and explanations we consider necessary for the purposes of our audit. In our opinion proper 
books of account have been kept by the Company. The Company Balance Sheet is in agreement with the books of account.

In our opinion the information given in the Directors’ Report is consistent with the financial statements.

In our opinion, the Company balance sheet does not disclose a financial situation which under section 40(1) of the Companies 
(Amendment) Act, 1983 would require the convening of an extraordinary general meeting of the Company.

Emphasis of matter – going concern

In forming our opinion, which is not qualified, we have considered the adequacy of the disclosures made in Note 2 to the financial 
statements concerning the Group and the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. These conditions indicate the existence  
of a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt about the Group and the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. 

The financial statements do not include any adjustments to the carrying amount or classification of assets and liabilities that would 
result if the Group or the Company was unable to continue as a going concern. 

Ernst & Young 
Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors
Dublin
3 June 2009

28  PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008

Consolidated Income Statement
For the year ended 31 December 2008

Revenue 

Administrative expenses – normal 
Administrative expenses – exceptional 
Exchange (loss)/gain on intra group loans 

Group operating loss 

Finance revenue 

Loss for the year for continuing operations before taxation 

Income tax expense 

Loss for the year attributable to equity holders of the parent 

Note	

5 
6 

6 

7 

9 

2008	
US$	

–	 

2007
US$

– 

(4,823,513)	 
–	 
(3,010,932) 
  –––––––––––– 
(7,834,445)	 

(2,986,800)
(815,827)
386,239
––––––––––––
(3,416,388)

128,487	 
  –––––––––––– 
(7,705,958)  

465,395 
––––––––––––
(2,950,993)

(206,010)	 
  –––––––––––– 

(252,269)
––––––––––––

(7,911,968)  
  –––––––––––– 

(3,203,262)
––––––––––––

Loss per ordinary share attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent:
Basic and diluted – US dollar cent 

10 

(3.81) 

(1.74)

Approved by the Board on 3 June 2009.

Dennis Francis 
Director 

Paul Dowling
Director

	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
		
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
	
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008  29

Consolidated Balance Sheet
as at 31 December 2008

Note	

2008	
US$	

2007
US$

11 
12 
13 
15 

17 
18 

21 

20 
9 

19 
20 

23,769,980  
1,867,397	 
18,684,771	 
181,009 
  –––––––––––– 
44,503,157	 
  –––––––––––– 

– 
1,591,324 
29,415,286 
181,110 
––––––––––––
31,192,720 
––––––––––––

3,067,736  
2,168,197	 
  –––––––––––– 

5,235,933 

  –––––––––––– 

3,542,741 
8,304,295 
––––––––––––
11,847,036 
––––––––––––

49,739,090	 

  –––––––––––– 

43,039,756 
––––––––––––

2,919,041	 
57,193,950	 
1,904,829  
(12,280,851)  
(5,024,070)	 
336,000	 
  –––––––––––– 

2,343,864 
40,252,836 
1,177,665 
(4,368,883)
1,466,092 
336,000 
––––––––––––

45,048,899	 
  –––––––––––– 

41,207,574 
––––––––––––

254,646  
546,984	 
  –––––––––––– 
801,630	 
  –––––––––––– 

131,243 
372,708 
––––––––––––
503,951 
––––––––––––

3,888,561	 
–	 
  –––––––––––– 

3,888,561	 

  –––––––––––– 

851,147 
477,084 
––––––––––––
1,328,231 
––––––––––––

4,690,191	 
  –––––––––––– 

1,832,182 
––––––––––––

49,739,090	 
  –––––––––––– 

43,039,756 
––––––––––––

Assets
Non-current Assets 
Oil and gas properties 
Property, plant and equipment 
Exploration and evaluation assets 
Leasehold land payments 

Current Assets 
Trade and other receivables 
Cash and cash equivalents 

Total Assets 

Equity and Liabilities 
Capital and Reserves 
Called up share capital 
Share premium account 
Share-based payment reserve 
Retained loss 
Currency translation reserve 
Other reserves 

Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent 

Non-current Liabilities 
Provisions 
Deferred tax liability 

Current Liabilities 
Trade and other payables 
Provisions 

Total Liabilities 

Total Equity and Liabilities 

Approved by the Board on 3 June 2009.

Dennis Francis 
Director 

Paul Dowling
Director

	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
	
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 		
 
 
 
 
 
 
 		
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
		
 
 
 
 	
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
	
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 		
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
	
 
 
 
 
30  PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
For the year ended 31 December 2008

Share		
Capital		
US$		

Share	
Premium		
US$		

Other	
reserves		
US$		

Translation	
reserve		
US$		

Retained
Losses	
US$		

Total
US$

At 1 January 2007 

Loss for the year 
Currency translation adjustments 

2,132,436 
–––––––––––– 
– 
– 
–––––––––––– 

25,777,394 
–––––––––––– 
– 
– 
–––––––––––– 

555,197  
–––––––––––– 
– 
– 
–––––––––––– 

269,861 
–––––––––––– 
– 
1,196,231 
–––––––––––– 

(1,165,621) 
–––––––––––– 
(3,203,262) 
– 
–––––––––––– 

27,569,267 
––––––––––––
(3,203,262)
1,196,231 
––––––––––––

Total recognised income and expense 

– 

– 

– 

1,196,231 

(3,203,262) 

(2,007,031)

New share capital subscribed 
Transaction costs on issue of share capital 
Share options exercised 
Share-based payment expense 

209,493 
– 
1,935 
– 
–––––––––––– 

15,216,010 
(795,720) 
55,152 
– 
–––––––––––– 

– 
– 
– 
958,468 
–––––––––––– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
–––––––––––– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
–––––––––––– 

15,425,503 
(795,720)
57,087 
958,468 
––––––––––––

At 31 December 2007 

2,343,864 
–––––––––––– 

40,252,836 
–––––––––––– 

1,513,665 
–––––––––––– 

1,466,092 
–––––––––––– 

(4,368,883) 
–––––––––––– 

41,207,574 
––––––––––––

At 1 January 2008 

Loss for the year 
Currency translation adjustments	

2,343,864	

40,252,836	

41,207,574	
––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––
(7,911,968)
(6,490,162)
––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––

(7,911,968)	
–	

(6,490,162)		

(4,368,883)	

1,513,665	

1,466,092	

–	
–	

–	
–	

–	
–	

–	

Total recognised income and expense	

–	

–	

–	

(6,490,162)		

(7,911,968)	

(14,402,130)

New share capital subscribed 
Transaction costs on issue of share capital 
Shares issued on exercise of warrant 
Share options exercised 
Share-based payment expense 

532,538		
-		
41,621		
1,018		
-		

17,152,320 
(666,044)
1,000,000	
30,015	
727,164	
––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––

16,619,782		
(666,044)		
958,379		
28,997		
-		

-		
-		
-		
-		
727,164		

-		
-		
-		
-		
-		

-		
-		
-		
-		
-		

At 31 December 2008 

2,919,041	

45,048,899
––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––

(12,280,851)	

(5,024,070)		

57,193,950	

2,240,829	

	
	
		
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
	
	
	
	
PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008  31

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
For the year ended 31 December 2008

Loss before taxation 

(7,705,958)	 

(2,950,993)

Note	

2008	
US$	

2007
US$

Adjustment to reconcile loss before tax to net cash flows 
Non-cash 
  Depreciation and amortisation 
  Share-based payment expense 
  Unwinding of fair value discount on decommissioning  

Deduct finance revenue  

Working capital adjustments 
  Decrease in trade receivables 
Increase in trade payables 
Income tax paid 

Net cash flows from operating activities 

Investing activities 
Purchase of oil and gas properties 
Purchase of property, plant and equipment 
Exploration and evaluation payments 
VAT refund 
Acquisition of subsidiary undertaking 
Finance revenue 

Net cash used in investing activities 

Financing activities 
Proceeds from exercise of share options 
Proceeds from exercise of warrant 
Proceeds from issue of share capital 
Transaction costs of issue of shares 

Net cash received from financing activities 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents 
Translation adjustment 
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year    

238,013  
727,164	 
17,062 –

42,527 
958,468

(128,487)	 

(465,395)

475,005	 
2,918,821 

(25,387)	 
  –––––––––––– 

85,912 
632,064 
(106,329)
––––––––––––

(3,483,767)	 
  –––––––––––– 

(1,803,746)
––––––––––––

(15,047,118)	 
(1,008,545)  
(6,744,993)  
3,311,690	 
-	 
128,487	 
  –––––––––––– 

- 
(1,223,125)
(16,634,725)
- 
(186,110)
465,395 
––––––––––––

(19,360,479)	 
  –––––––––––– 

(17,578,565)
––––––––––––

30,015	 
	1,000,000  
17,152,320	 
(666,044)	 
  –––––––––––– 

57,087 
– 
15,425,503 
(795,720)
––––––––––––

17,516,291	 
  –––––––––––– 

14,686,870 
––––––––––––

(5,327,955)	 
(808,143)  
8,304,295  
  –––––––––––– 

(4,695,441)
127,420 
12,872,316 
––––––––––––

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 

18 

2,168,197 
  –––––––––––– 

8,304,295 
––––––––––––

	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
	
 
 
 
 	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 	
 
 
 
 
 	
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
		
 
 
 
 	
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 	
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 	
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
	
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 	
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 	
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
	
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 	
 
 
 
 	
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
32  PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008

Company Balance Sheet
As at 31 December 2008

Non-current Assets 
Property, plant and equipment 
Financial assets 

Current Assets 
Trade and other receivables 
Cash and cash equivalents 

Total Assets 

Equity and Liabilities 
Capital and Reserves 
Called up share capital 
Share premium account 
Share-based payment reserve 
Retained loss 
Other reserves 

Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent 

Non-current Liabilities 
Deferred tax liability 

Current Liabilities 
Trade and other payables 

Total Liabilities 

Total Equity and Liabilities 

Approved by the Board on 3 June 2009.

Dennis Francis 
Director 

Paul Dowling
Director

Note	

2008	
US$	

2007
US$

12 
14 

17 
18 

21 

9 

19 

5,700 
40,049,269 
  –––––––––––– 

40,054,969 

  –––––––––––– 

16,910,265 
1,659,810 
  –––––––––––– 

18,570,075 

  –––––––––––– 

6,464 
30,161,546 
––––––––––––
30,168,010 
––––––––––––

8,025,309 
5,077,802 
––––––––––––
13,103,111 
––––––––––––

58,625,044 
  –––––––––––– 

43,271,121 
––––––––––––

2,919,041 
57,193,950 
1,904,829 
(4,654,272)	
336,000 
  –––––––––––– 

2,343,864 
40,252,836 
1,177,665 
(1,586,406)
336,000 
––––––––––––

57,699,548 
  –––––––––––– 

42,523,959 
––––––––––––

546,984 
  –––––––––––– 

372,708 
––––––––––––

378,512	 
  –––––––––––– 

374,454 
––––––––––––

925,496	 
  –––––––––––– 

747,162 
––––––––––––

58,625,044 
  –––––––––––– 

43,271,121 
––––––––––––

	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 	
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 	
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
	
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
		
 
 
 
 	
 
 
 
 	
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008  33

Company Statement of Changes in Equity
For the year ended 31 December 2008

At 1 January 2007 

Loss for the year 

Total recognised income and expense 

New share capital subscribed 
Transaction costs on issue of share capital 
Share options exercised 
Share-based payment expense 

Share		
Capital	
US$		

Share	
Premium		
US$		

Other	
reserves		
US$		

Retained
Losses		
US$		

Total	
US$

2,132,436 
–––––––––––– 
– 
–––––––––––– 
– 

25,777,394 
–––––––––––– 
– 
–––––––––––– 
– 

555,197 
–––––––––––– 
– 
–––––––––––– 
– 

(270,381)  
–––––––––––– 
(1,316,025)  
–––––––––––– 
(1,316,025)  

28,194,646 
––––––––––––
(1,316,025)
––––––––––––
(1,316,025)

209,493 
– 
1,935 
– 
–––––––––––– 

15,216,010 

(795,720)  
55,152 
– 
–––––––––––– 

– 
– 
– 
958,468 
–––––––––––– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
–––––––––––– 

15,425,503 
(795,720)
57,087 
958,468 
––––––––––––

At 31 December 2007 

2,343,864 
–––––––––––– 

40,252,836 
–––––––––––– 

1,513,665 
–––––––––––– 

(1,586,406)  
–––––––––––– 

42,523,959 
––––––––––––

At 1 January 2008	

Loss for the year	

Total recognised income and expense	

New share capital subscribed 
Transaction costs on issue of share capital 
Shares issued on exercise of warrant 
Share options exercised 
Share-based payment expense 

At 31 December 2008	

2,343,864	

40,252,836	

(1,586,406)		 42,523,959	
	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––
(3,067,866)
	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––
(3,067,866)

(3,067,866)		

(3,067,866)		

1,513,665	

–	

–	

–	

–	

–	

–	

17,152,320
(666,044)
1,000,000 
30,015 
727,164	
	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––

16,619,782		
(666,044)		
958,379		
28,997		
-		

-		
-		
-		
-		
727,164		

532,538		
-		
41,621		
1,018		
-		

-		
-		
-		
-		
-		

(4,654,272)		 57,699,548	
	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––

57,193,950	

2,240,829	

2,919,041	

	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
  
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
34  PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008

Company Cash Flow Statement
For the year ended 31 December 2008

Loss before taxation 

(2,861,856)	 

(1,063,756)

Note	

2008	
US$	

2007
US$

Adjustment to reconcile loss before tax to net cash flows 
Non-cash 
  Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 
  Share-based payment expense 

Deduct finance revenue 

Working capital adjustments 
Increase in trade receivables 
(Decrease)/increase in trade payables 
Income tax paid 

Net cash flows from operating activities 

Investing activities 
Purchase of property, plant and equipment 
Advances to subsidiary undertakings 
Acquisition of subsidiary undertaking 
Finance revenue 

Net cash used in investing activities 

Financing activities 
Proceeds from exercise of share options 
Proceeds from exercise of warrant 
Proceeds from issue of share capital 
Transaction costs of issue of shares 

2,009	 
407,978	 

1,884 
648,686 

(824,040)  

(1,048,805)

(7,517,797)	 
(2,289)	 
(25,387)	 
  –––––––––––– 

(630,436)
229,706 
(106,329)
––––––––––––

(10,821,382)	 
  –––––––––––– 

(1,969,050)
––––––––––––

(1,245)	 
(9,568,537)	 
-	 
126,936  
  –––––––––––– 

(4,822)
(21,192,488)
(186,110)
465,395 
––––––––––––

(9,442,846)	 
  –––––––––––– 

(20,918,025)
––––––––––––

30,015	 
1,000,000 -
17,152,320	 
(666,044)	 
  –––––––––––– 

57,087 

15,425,503 
(795,720)
––––––––––––

Net cash received from financing activities 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents 
Translation adjustment 
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year   

17,516,291	 

  –––––––––––– 

14,686,870 
––––––––––––

(2,747,937)	 
(670,055)	 
5,077,802	 
  –––––––––––– 

(8,200,205)
439,127 
12,838,880 
––––––––––––

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 

18 

1,659,810	 
  –––––––––––– 

5,077,802 
––––––––––––

	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 	
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 	
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 	
 
 
 
 	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 		
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
 
 
	
  
 
 
	
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008  35

Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2008

1.  General information on the Company and the Group
PetroNeft Resources plc (‘the Company’, or together with its subsidiaries, ‘the Group’) is a Company incorporated in Ireland under 
the Companies Acts, 1963 to 2006. The Company is listed on the Alternative Investments Market (‘AIM’) of the London Stock Exchange 
and the Irish Enterprise Exchange (‘IEX’) of the Irish Stock Exchange. The address of the registered office is One Earlsfort Centre, 
Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2. The business address in Ireland is 1 Wainsfort Drive, Terenure, Dublin 6W. The Company is domiciled in 
the Republic of Ireland. 

The principal activities of the Group are oil and gas exploration, development and production. 

2.  Going Concern
As described in more detail in the Financial Review on pages 17 and 18 the Board has approved a plan to raise the funds required 
in order to bring sanctioned fields to commercial production and further develop the business. The Group have prepared budgets 
and forecasts until 31 December 2010 and, based on this, the current development funding requirement is US$40 million (including 
estimated fees and interest costs of US$5 million). The Group is in discussions with selected International Banks, Corporate Finance 
advisers and potential strategic investors in this regard. Should debt funding or a strategic investment agreement not be available 
within the required timescale an amount of US$3 million will be required to enable the Group to fund its base operations for a further 
12 months. The options to fund this base requirement include the disposal of some of the 65 km of pipe currently held in storage or  
the raising of funds through a new equity issue. In the event of the sale of the pipe it may not realise its carrying value. The Directors 
are of the opinion that these alternatives are reasonably practicable should debt funding not be secured. 

These circumstances represent a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt upon the Group and the Company’s ability to 
continue as a going concern. Nevertheless, after making enquiries, and considering the uncertainties described above, the Directors 
are confident that the Group and the Company will have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable 
future. For these reasons, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the annual report and accounts. 

Accordingly, these financial statements do not include any adjustments to the carrying amount or classification of assets and 
liabilities that would result if the Group or Company was unable to continue as a going concern.

3.  Accounting policies
3.1  Basis of Preparation

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis, except for derivative financial instruments that 
have been measured at fair value. The consolidated financial statements are presented in US dollars (‘US$’).

(a)  Statement of Compliance
The consolidated financial statements of PetroNeft Resources plc and its subsidiaries have been prepared in accordance with 
International Financial Reporting Standards (‘IFRS’) as adopted by the European Union (‘EU’). In addition to complying with its legal 
obligation to comply with IFRS as adopted for use in the EU, the Group has also complied with IFRS as issued by the International 
Accounting Standards Board (‘IASB’).

(b)  Basis of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements comprise the financial statements of PetroNeft Resources plc and its subsidiaries as at  
31 December each year.

Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date of acquisition, being the date on which the Group obtains control, and continue  
to be consolidated until the date that such control ceases.

The financial statements of the subsidiaries are prepared for the same reporting period as the parent company, using consistent 
accounting policies.

All intra-group balances, income and expenses and unrealised gains and losses resulting from intra-group transactions are 
eliminated in full.

3.2  Significant Accounting Judgments, Estimates and Assumptions

The preparation of the Group’s consolidated financial statements requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions 
that affect the reported amounts of revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities and contingent liabilities. However, uncertainty about these 
assumptions and estimates could result in outcomes that could require a material adjustment to the carrying amount of the asset or 
liability affected in the future. 

 
36  PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

3.  Accounting policies (continued) 
(a)  Judgments
In the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies, management has made the following judgments, apart from those involving 
estimations, which have a significant effect on amounts recognised in the consolidated financial statements.

Exploration and evaluation expenditure
Exploration and evaluation expenditure represents active exploration projects. These amounts will be written off to the Income 
Statement as exploration costs unless commercial reserves are established, or the determination process is not completed and there 
has been no impairment. The outcome of ongoing exploration, and therefore whether the carrying value of these assets will ultimately 
be recovered, is inherently uncertain.

Going Concern
In preparing the consolidated financial statements the Directors consider it appropriate to continue to use the going concern 
assumption on the basis that the Board have approved a plan to raise funds required in order to bring sanctioned fields to commercial 
production and further develop the business. As described in the Financial Review and Note 2 to these financial statements the Group 
are in discussions with International Banks, Corporate Finance advisers and potential strategic investors in this regard. The Directors 
believe that this will enable the Group and the Company to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and to continue 
to meet its obligations as they fall due.

Impairment of non-financial assets
The Group assesses whether there are any indicators of impairment for all non-financial assets at each reporting date. When value-
in-use or fair value less costs to sell calculations are undertaken, management must estimate the future expected cash flows from 
the asset or cash-generating unit and choose a suitable discount rate in order to calculate the present value of those cash flows. 

The Group has capitalised intangible exploration and evaluation assets in accordance with IFRS 6, which are evaluated for indicators 
of impairment. Any impairment review, where required, involves significant judgment related to matters such as recoverable reserves, 
production profiles, oil and gas prices, development, operating and offtake costs and other matters. The carrying amount of intangible 
exploration and evaluation assets at 31 December 2008 is US$18,684,771 (2007: US$29,415,286).

It is reasonably possible that the oil price assumption may change, which may then impact the estimated life of the field and may then 
require a material adjustment to the carrying value of the assets. The Group continuously monitors internal and external indicators of 
impairment relating to its tangible and intangible assets.

In June 2008 the Board sanctioned the development of the Lineynoye and West Lineynoye oil fields. In accordance with IFRS 6 
amounts included in exploration and evaluation assets in respect of these oil fields were transferred to oil and gas properties following 
an impairment review. In addition, in accordance with IAS 36, the Group conducted an impairment review at 31 December 2008 on oil 
and gas properties as they were not in use at year-end.

Information in respect of the impairment review process and the key estimates and judgments used in carrying out the impairment 
review are described in Note 11.

Investments in subsidiaries are stated at cost and are reviewed for impairment if there are indications that the carrying value may not 
be recoverable.

Reserves base
Oil and gas properties will be depreciated once in use on a unit-of-production basis at a rate calculated by reference to proved and 
probable reserves determined in accordance with Society of Petroleum Engineers rules and incorporating the estimated future cost 
of developing and extracting those reserves. Commercial reserves are determined using estimates of oil in place, recovery factors 
and future oil prices. Future development costs are estimated using assumptions as to number of wells required to produce the 
commercial reserves, the cost of such wells and associated production facilities, and other capital costs. The current long-term Urals 
blend oil price assumption used in the estimation of commercial reserves is US$65.00. 

The level of estimated commercial reserves is also a key determinant in assessing whether the carrying value of any of the Group’s oil 
and gas properties are impaired. The carrying amount of oil and gas properties at 31 December 2008 is shown in Note 11.

.

PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008  37

(b)  Estimates and Assumptions
The key assumptions concerning the future and other key sources of estimation uncertainty at the balance sheet date, that have  
a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities within the next financial year,  
are discussed below:

Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss 
The Group measures the cost of financial liabilities at fair value. Estimating fair value requires determining the most appropriate 
valuation model for the financial liability, which is dependent on the terms and conditions of the financial liability. This also requires 
determining the most appropriate inputs to the valuation model and making assumptions about them. 

Share-based payment transactions
The Group measures the cost of equity-settled transactions with employees by reference to the fair value of the equity instruments 
at the date on which they are granted. Estimating fair value requires determining the most appropriate valuation model for a grant of 
equity instruments, which is dependent on the terms and conditions of the grant. This also requires determining the most appropriate 
inputs to the valuation model; including the expected life of the option, volatility and dividend yield, and making assumptions about 
them. The model and assumptions used are discussed in Note 26.

Decommissioning costs 
Decommissioning costs will be incurred by the Group at the end of the operating life of certain of the Group’s facilities and properties. 
The ultimate decommissioning costs are uncertain and cost estimates can vary in response to many factors including changes to 
relevant legal requirements, the emergence of new restoration techniques or experience at other sites. The expected timing and 
amount of expenditure can also change, for example, in response to changes in reserves or changes in laws and regulations or their 
interpretation. As a result, there could be significant adjustments to the provisions established which would affect future financial 
results. Note 20 includes details of this reserve and related assumptions.

3.3  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(a)  Foreign currencies
The consolidated financial statements are presented in US dollars, which is the Group’s presentational currency. The US dollar 
is also the Company’s functional currency. Each entity in the Group determines its own functional currency and items included 
in the financial statements of each entity are measured using that functional currency. The Company’s Russian subsidiaries’ 
functional currency is the Russian Rouble. Transactions in foreign currencies are initially recorded at the rate ruling at the date of 
the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rate of exchange ruling 
at the balance sheet date, including foreign exchange differences arising on intercompany loans from the Company in the Russian 
subsidiaries. All differences are taken to profit or loss. Non-monetary items are translated using the exchange rates ruling as at the 
date of the initial transaction.

The assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated into US dollars at the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet 
date and their income statements are translated at the average exchange rates for the year. The exchange differences arising on 
the translation are taken directly to a separate component of equity. On disposal of a foreign entity, the deferred cumulative amount 
recognised in equity relating to that particular foreign operation is recognised in profit or loss.

The relevant average and closing exchange rates for 2007 and 2008 were:

US$1	=	

Russian Rouble 
Euro 
British Pound 

2008	

2007

Closing	

Average	

Closing	

Average

29.477	
0.710	
0.691	

24.870 
0.683 
0.545 

24.511 
0.679 
0.501 

25.579
0.731
0.500

(b)  Business Combinations and Goodwill
On the acquisition of a subsidiary, the purchase method of accounting is used whereby the purchase consideration is allocated to the 
identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities on the basis of fair value at the date of acquisition. Those petroleum reserves and 
resources that are able to be reliably valued are recognised in the assessment of fair values on acquisition. Other potential reserves, 
resources and rights, for which in management’s opinion, values cannot be reliably determined, are not recognised. When the cost of 
acquisition exceeds the fair values attributable to the Group’s share of the identifiable net assets the difference is treated as purchased 
goodwill. If the fair value attributable to the Group’s share of the identifiable net assets exceeds the cost of acquisition, the difference is 
immediately recognised in the Income Statement.

After initial recognition, goodwill is measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. For the purpose of impairment 
testing, goodwill acquired in a business combination is, from the acquisition date, allocated to the Group’s cash-generating units that 
are expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination, irrespective of whether other assets or liabilities of the acquiree are 
assigned to those units.

	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
38  PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

3.  Accounting policies (continued) 
(c)  Oil and gas exploration, evaluation and development expenditure
Oil and gas exploration, evaluation and development expenditure is accounted for using the successful efforts method of accounting.

Pre-licence costs
Pre-licence costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred.

Exploration and evaluation costs
Payments to acquire the legal right to explore and costs directly associated with an exploration well are capitalised at cost as 
an intangible asset until the drilling of the well is complete and the results have been evaluated. These costs include employee 
remuneration, materials and fuel used, rig costs and payments made to contractors. If oil is not found, the exploration expenditure 
is written off as a dry hole. If extractable oil is found and, subject to further appraisal activity, which may include the drilling  
of further wells, is likely to be developed commercially, the costs continue to be carried as an intangible asset. All such carried costs 
are subject to technical, commercial and management review as well as review for impairment at least once a year to confirm the 
continued intent to develop or otherwise extract value from the discovery. If this is no longer the case, the costs are written off.  
When proved reserves of oil are determined and development is sanctioned, the relevant expenditure is transferred to oil and gas 
properties after impairment is assessed and any resulting impairment loss is recognised.

Development costs
Expenditure on the construction, installation or completion of infrastructure facilities such as platforms, pipelines and the drilling 
of development wells, including unsuccessful development or delineation wells, is capitalised within oil and gas properties and 
depreciated from the commencement of production.

(d)  Oil and gas properties and other property, plant and equipment
Oil and gas properties and other property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation.

The initial cost of an asset comprises its purchase price or construction cost, any costs directly attributable to bringing the asset into 
operation, the initial estimate of the decommissioning obligation, and for qualifying assets, relevant borrowing costs. The purchase 
price or construction cost is the aggregate amount paid and the fair value of any other consideration given to acquire the asset.  
The net proceeds/costs of pilot production are allocated to oil and gas properties.

Depreciation
Oil and gas properties are depreciated on a unit-of-production basis over the proved and probable reserves of the field concerned.  
The unit-of-production rate for the amortisation of field development costs takes into account expenditures incurred to date, together 
with sanctioned future development expenditure. As at 31 December 2008 production, other than pilot production, which is offset 
against capitalised costs where it occurs prior to development sanction, had not commenced and therefore no depreciation has been 
charged to the 2008 Income Statement.

Other property, plant and equipment are generally depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives at the 
following annual rates:

• 

• 

• 

Land and buildings 

– 3% or remaining term of the lease, whichever is shorter

Plant and machinery 

– 10% to 30%

Motor vehicles – 20%

(e)  Impairment of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets
At each balance sheet date, the Group reviews the carrying amounts of its property, plant and equipment and intangible assets to 
determine whether there is any indication that those assets may be impaired. If such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the 
asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of any impairment loss. 

The recoverable amount is determined as the higher of the fair value less costs to sell for the asset and the asset’s value-in-use.  
If the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its recoverable amount, the asset is impaired and an impairment loss is charged to the 
Income Statement so as to reduce the carrying amount in the balance sheet to its recoverable amount.

Fair value is determined as the amount that would be obtained from the sale of the asset in an arm’s length transaction between 
knowledgeable and willing parties. Direct costs of selling the asset are deducted. Fair value for oil and gas assets is generally 
determined as the present value of the estimated future cash flows expected to arise from the continued use of the asset,  
including any expansion prospects, and its eventual disposal, using assumptions that a market participant could take into account. 
These cash flows are discounted by an appropriate discount rate to arrive at a net present value (NPV) of the asset.

PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008  39

Value-in-use is determined as the present value of the estimated future cash flows expected to arise from the continued use of 
the asset in its present form and its eventual disposal. Value-in-use is determined by applying assumptions specific to the Group’s 
continued use and cannot take into account future development. These assumptions are different to those used in calculating fair 
value and consequently the value-in-use calculation is likely to give a different result (usually lower) to a fair value calculation.

Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the Group estimates the recoverable amount  
of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.

(f)  Leasehold land payments
Leasehold land payments are upfront payments to acquire long-term leasehold interests in land. These payments are stated at cost 
and amortised on a straight-line basis over the respective period of the leases. 

(g)  Financial assets - investment in subsidiaries
Investments in subsidiaries are stated at cost and are reviewed for impairment if there are indications that the carrying value may not 
be recoverable.

(h)  Cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents on the balance sheet comprise cash at bank and on hand and short-term deposits with an original 
maturity of three months or less.

(i)  Financial assets
Financial assets within the scope of IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement (‘IAS 39’) are classified as financial 
assets at fair value through profit or loss, loans and receivables, held-to-maturity investments, or available-for-sale financial assets, 
as appropriate. When financial assets are recognised initially, they are measured at fair value, plus, in the case of investments not at 
fair value through profit or loss, directly attributable transaction costs. The Group determines the classification of its financial assets 
on initial recognition and, where allowed and appropriate, re-evaluates this designation at each financial year-end.

The Group does not have held-to-maturity investments or available-for-sale financial assets.

Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. 
After initial measurements, loans and receivables are carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method less any allowance 
for impairment. Gains and losses are recognised in profit or loss when the loans and receivables are de-recognised or impaired, as 
well as through the amortisation process.

The Group assesses at each balance sheet date whether a financial asset or group of financial assets is impaired. If there is objective 
evidence that an impairment loss on assets carried at amortised cost has been incurred, the amount of the loss is measured as the 
difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows (excluding future expected credit 
losses that have not been incurred) discounted at the financial asset’s original effective interest rate (i.e. the effective interest rate 
computed at initial recognition). The carrying amount of the assets is reduced through use of an allowance account. The amount  
of the loss is recognised in profit or loss.

If, in a subsequent period, the amount of the impairment loss decreases and the decrease can be related objectively to an event 
occurring after the impairment was recognised, the previously recognised impairment loss is reversed, to the extent that the 
carrying value of the asset does not exceed its amortised cost at the reversal date. Any subsequent reversal of an impairment loss is 
recognised in profit or loss.

In relation to trade receivables, a provision for impairment is made when there is objective evidence (such as the probability of 
insolvency or significant financial difficulties of the debtor) that the Group will not be able to collect all of the amounts due under the 
original terms of the invoice. The carrying amount of the receivable is reduced through use of an allowance account. Impaired debts 
are de-recognised when they are assessed as uncollectible.

(j)  Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss includes financial liabilities held for trading and financial liabilities designated 
upon initial recognition as at fair value through profit or loss. 

Financial liabilities are classified as held for trading if they are acquired for the purpose of selling in the near term. Derivatives, 
including separated embedded derivatives are also classified as held for trading unless they are designated as effective hedging 
instruments. Gains or losses on liabilities held for trading are recognised in profit or loss.

40  PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

3.  Accounting policies (continued) 
(k)  Provisions
General
Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event and it is probable 
that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation and a reliable estimate can be 
made of the amount of the obligation. Where the Group expects some or all of a provision to be reimbursed, for example, under an 
insurance contract, the reimbursement is recognised as a separate asset but only when the reimbursement is virtually certain.  
The expense relating to any provision is presented in the income statement net of any reimbursement. If the effect of the time value 
of money is material, provisions are discounted using a current pre tax rate that reflects, where appropriate, the risks specific to the 
liability. Where discounting is used, the increase in the provision due to the passage of time is recognised as a finance cost.

A contingent liability is disclosed where the existence of an obligation will only be confirmed by future events or where the amount of 
the obligation cannot be measured with reasonable reliability. Contingent assets are not recognised, but are disclosed where an inflow 
of economic benefits is probable.

Decommissioning provision
A decommissioning provision is recognised when the Group has an obligation as a result of past events, and it is probable that  
an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation, and a reliable estimate of the amount of obligation can be made.  
A corresponding amount equivalent to the provision is also recognised as part of the cost of the related property, plant and equipment 
or in exploration and evaluation expenditure. The amount recognised is the estimated cost of decommissioning, discounted to its 
present value. Changes in the estimated timing of decommissioning or decommissioning cost estimates are dealt with prospectively 
by recording an adjustment to the provision, and a corresponding adjustment to property, plant and equipment or in exploration and 
evaluation expenditure. 

(l)  Taxes
Current income tax
Current income tax assets and liabilities for the current and prior periods are measured at the amount expected to be recovered from 
or paid to the taxation authorities. The tax rates and tax laws used to compute the amount are those that are enacted or substantively 
enacted by the balance sheet date. Current income tax relating to items recognised directly in equity is recognised in equity and not in 
the Income Statement.

Deferred income tax
Deferred income tax is provided using the liability method on temporary differences at the balance sheet date between the tax bases 
of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts for financial reporting purposes. Deferred income tax liabilities are recognised for 
all taxable temporary differences, except:

• 

• 

where the deferred income tax liability arises from the initial recognition of goodwill or of an asset or liability in a transaction that is 
not a business combination and, at the time of the transaction, affects neither the accounting profit nor taxable profit or loss; and

in respect of taxable temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries, associates and interests in joint ventures, 
where the timing of the reversal of the temporary differences can be controlled and it is probable that the temporary differences 
will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

Deferred income tax assets are recognised for all deductible temporary differences, carry forward of unused tax credits and unused 
tax losses, to the extent that it is probable that taxable profit will be available against which the deductible temporary differences, and 
the carry forward of unused tax credits and unused tax losses can be utilised except:

• 

• 

where the deferred income tax asset relating to the deductible temporary difference arises from the initial recognition of an asset 
or liability in a transaction that is not a business combination and, at the time of the transaction, affects neither the accounting 
profit nor taxable profit or loss; and

in respect of deductible temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries, associates and interests in joint 
ventures, deferred income tax assets are recognised only to the extent that it is probable that the temporary differences will  
reverse in the foreseeable future and taxable profit will be available against which the temporary differences can be utilised.

The carrying amount of deferred income tax assets is reviewed at each balance sheet date and reduced to the extent that it is no 
longer probable that sufficient taxable profit will be available to allow all or part of the deferred income tax asset to be utilised. 
Unrecognised deferred income tax assets are reassessed at each balance sheet date and are recognised to the extent that it has 
become probable that future taxable profit will allow the deferred tax asset to be recovered.

 
 
PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008  41

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply to the year when the asset is 
realised or the liability is settled, based on tax rates (and tax laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the balance 
sheet date.

Deferred income tax relating to items recognised directly in equity is recognised in equity and not in the Income Statement.

Deferred income tax assets and deferred income tax liabilities are offset if a legally enforceable right exists to set off current tax assets 
against current income tax liabilities and the deferred income taxes relate to the same taxable entity and the same taxation authority.

(m)  Share-based payments
Employees (including senior executives) of the Group receive remuneration in the form of share based payment transactions, whereby 
employees render services as consideration for equity instruments (‘equity-settled transactions’). 

Equity-settled transactions
The cost of equity-settled transactions with employees is measured by reference to the fair value at the date on which they are 
granted. The fair value is determined by an external valuer using an appropriate pricing model, further details of which are given in 
Note 26.

The cost of equity-settled transactions is recognised, together with a corresponding increase in equity, over the period in which the 
performance and/or service conditions are fulfilled, ending on the date on which the relevant employees become fully entitled to the 
award (‘the vesting date’). The cumulative expense recognised for equity-settled transactions at each reporting date until the vesting 
date reflects the extent to which the vesting period has expired and the Group’s best estimate of the number of equity instruments that 
will ultimately vest. The profit or loss charge or credit for a period represents the movement in cumulative expense recognised as at 
the beginning and end of that period.

No expense is recognised for awards that do not ultimately vest, except for awards where vesting is conditional upon a market 
condition, which are treated as vesting, irrespective of whether or not the market condition is satisfied, provided that all other 
performance and/or service conditions are satisfied.

Where the terms of an equity-settled award are modified, the minimum expense recognised is the expense as if the terms had not 
been modified. An additional expense is recognised for any modification, which increases the total fair value of the share-based 
payment arrangement, or is otherwise beneficial to the employee as measured at the date of modification.

Where an equity-settled award is cancelled, it is treated as if it had vested on the date of cancellation, and any expense not yet 
recognised for the award is recognised immediately. However, if a new award is substituted for the cancelled award, and designated 
as a replacement award on the date that it is granted, the cancelled and new awards are treated as if they were a modification of the 
original award, as described in the previous paragraph. 

Where appropriate the dilutive effect of outstanding options is reflected as additional share dilution in the computation of earnings  
per share.

(n)  Share issue expenses
Costs of share issues are written off against the premium arising on the issues of share capital.

(o)  Operating leases
The determination of whether an arrangement is, or contains, a lease is based on the substance of the arrangement at inception date, 
or whether the fulfilment of the arrangement is dependent on the use of a specific asset or assets or the arrangement conveys a right 
to use the asset.

Operating lease payments are recognised as an expense in profit or loss on a straight line basis over the lease term.

(p)  Finance revenue
Interest income is recognised as the interest accrues (using the effective interest rate) to the net carrying amount to the financial asset.

 
42  PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

3.  Accounting policies (continued) 
3.4  Future Changes in Accounting Policies

New standards and interpretations issued but not yet effective

International	Accounting	Standards	(IAS/IFRSs)	

IFRS 1 and IAS 27 
IFRS 2 
IFRS 3 
IFRS 7 
IFRS 8 
IAS 1  
IAS 23 
IAS 27 
IAS 32 and IAS 1 
IAS 39 

Cost of an Investment in a Subsidiary, Jointly Controlled Entity or Associate (Amendment) 
IFRS 2 – Vesting Conditions and Cancellations (Amendment) 
Business Combinations (Revised January 2008) 
Financial instruments: Disclosures (Amendment) 
Operating Segments 
Presentation of Financial Statements (Revised September 2007) 
Borrowing Costs (Revised March 2007) 
Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements (Amendment) 
Puttable Financial Instruments and Obligations Arising on Liquidation (Amendment) 
Eligible Hedged Items (Amendment) 
Improvements to IFRS 

International	Financial	Reporting	Interpretations	Committee	(IFRIC)		

IFRIC 12 
IFRIC 13 
IFRIC 15 
IFRIC 16 
IFRIC 17 
IFRIC 18 

Service Concession Arrangements 
Customer Loyalty Programmes 
Agreements for the Construction of Real Estate 
Hedges of a Net Investment in a Foreign Operation 
Distributions of Non-Cash Assets to Owners 
Transfers of Assets from Customers 

Effective	date*

1 January 2009
1 January 2009
1 July 2009
1 January 2009
1 January 2009
1 January 2009
1 January 2009
1 July 2009
1 January 2009
1 July 2009
Various effective 
dates 

Effective	date

1 January 2008*
1 July 2008*
1 January 2009
1 October 2008*
1 July 2009
1 July 2009

* 

 The effective dates stated here are those given in the original IASB/IFRIC standards and interpretations. As the Group prepares its financial 
statements in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the European Union, the application of new standards and interpretations will be subject to their 
having been endorsed for use in the EU via the EU Endorsement mechanism. In the majority of cases this will result in an effective date consistent 
with that given in the original standard or interpretation, but the need for endorsement restricts the Group’s discretion to early adopt standards.

IFRS 2 Share-based Payments – Vesting Conditions and Cancellations
This amendment to IFRS 2 Share-based Payments restricts the definition of ‘vesting condition’ to a condition that includes an explicit 
or implicit requirement to provide services. Any other conditions are non-vesting conditions, which have to be taken into account to 
determine the fair value of the equity instruments granted. In the case that the award does not vest as the result of a failure to meet 
a non-vesting condition that is within the control of either the entity or the counterparty, this must be accounted for as a cancellation. 
The Group has not entered into share-based payment schemes with non-vesting conditions attached and, therefore, does not expect 
significant implications on its accounting for share-based payments.

IFRS 8 Operating Segments 
This IFRS replaces IAS 14 Segment Reporting and adopts a management approach to segment reporting. The information reported 
would be that which management uses internally for evaluating the performance of operating segments and allocating resources to 
those segments. The Group does not expect this new standard to affect the current disclosure on segment reporting.

IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements (Revised)
The revised IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements separates owner and non-owner changes in equity. The statement of  
changes in equity will include only details of transactions with owners, with all non-owner changes in equity presented as a  
single line. In addition, the Standard introduces the statement of comprehensive income: it presents all items of income and  
expense recognised in profit or loss, together with all other items of recognised income and expense, either in one single statement, 
or in two linked statements. The Group is still evaluating whether it will have one or two statements.

IAS 23 Borrowing Costs (Revised)
This standard has been revised to require capitalisation of borrowing costs when such costs relate to qualifying asset. A qualifying 
asset is an asset that necessarily takes a substantial period of time to get ready for its intended use or sale. In accordance with the 
transitional requirements in IAS 23, the Group will adopt this as a prospective change. Accordingly, borrowing costs will be capitalised 
on qualifying assets with a commencement date after 1 January 2009. No changes will be made for borrowing costs incurred to this 
date that have been expensed.

The Directors do not anticipate that the adoption of the remaining standards and interpretations will have a material impact on the 
Group’s financial statements in the period of initial application.

	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
 
 
PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008  43

4.  Segment information
The Group’s primary format for segment reporting is business segments and the secondary format is geographical segments.  
The risk and returns of the Group’s operations are primarily determined by the nature of the activities that the Group engages in, 
rather than the geographical location of these operations. This is reflected by the Group’s organisational structure and the Group’s 
internal financial reporting systems. At present the Group has one reportable operating segment, which is oil exploration and 
production. As a result, there are no further disclosures required in respect of the Group’s primary reporting segment.

Secondary reporting format – Geographical segments
The Group does not have sales reported in the income statement as revenues and costs arising from the sale of production testing  
in the exploration and evaluation phase are offset against the related assets. Substantially all of the Group’s capital expenditures  
are in Russia.

Total Assets
Total assets are allocated based on where the assets are located:

Russia 
Ireland 
United States 

2008		
US$		

2007
US$

48,032,845	 
1,697,947  
8,298	 
  –––––––––––– 
49,739,090	 
  –––––––––––– 

37,915,033 
5,119,259 
5,464 
––––––––––––
43,039,756 
––––––––––––

5.   Administrative expenses – exceptional, year ended 31 December 2007
The exceptional item of US$815,827 in 2007 relates to amounts due to an independent contractor in respect of surveying and 
engineering work on a proposed pipeline route to the Raskino pumping station. In December 2007, the Group entered into a protocol 
of intent with Russian company, Bashneft, to connect a pipeline from the Group’s Licence area to Bashneft’s Lukpaiskaya pumping 
station, a route some 90 km shorter than original route to Raskino. Some of the work carried out by the independent contractor will 
be used in the design and engineering of field facilities and the new pipeline route; however the amount charged to the 2007 Income 
Statement relates to those works that are not transferable to the revised route. 

A provision of US$477,084 as at 31 December 2007 relating to the amounts payable under the above contract is disclosed in Note 20. 
This provision was settled in 2008.

6.  Operating loss

Operating loss is stated after charging (crediting):
Included in administration expenses 
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 
Amortisation of leasehold land payments 
Foreign exchange loss/(gain) on intra group loans 
Other foreign exchange loss/(gain) 
Minimum lease payments recognised as an operating expense 
Auditors’ remuneration 

7.  Finance revenue   

Bank interest receivable 

2008		
US$		

2007
US$

233,829	 
4,184 –
3,010,932	 
1,225,010 
125,516	 
167,840	 
  –––––––––––– 

42,527 

(386,239)
(439,127)
96,518 
107,975 
––––––––––––

2008	

2007

128,487 
  –––––––––––– 

465,395 
––––––––––––

128,487 
  –––––––––––– 

465,395 
––––––––––––

 
  
  
 
		
		
		
	
	
		
		
		
	
	
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 	
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
		
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
		
	
		
	
	
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 	
  
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
  
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
44  PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

8.  Employees 
Number of employees 
The average monthly number of employees
(including the Directors) during the period was:

Directors 
Senior Management 
Support Staff 

Employment costs (including Directors)
Wages and salaries 
Social welfare costs 
Share-based payment expense 

2008	
	Number	

2007
	Number

7 6
5 5
45 
  –––––––––––– 
57 
  –––––––––––– 

18
––––––––––––
29
––––––––––––

2008	
US$	

2007
US$

2,309,840  
290,849	 
727,164  
  –––––––––––– 

1,440,519
149,729
958,468
––––––––––––

3,327,853	 
  –––––––––––– 

2,548,716
––––––––––––

An amount of US$739,915 (2007: US$501,493) included in employment costs were capitalised during the year.

Directors’ emoluments

Remuneration and other emoluments – Executive Directors 
Remuneration and other emoluments – Non-Executive Directors 
Ex-gratia payment to retiring director 
Remuneration and other emoluments payable in shares 
Share-based payment expense 

9.  Income Tax
The tax expense comprises:

Current income tax 
Current income tax charge 

Deferred tax 
Relating to origination and reversal of temporary differences 

Income tax expense reported in the Income Statement   

2007
US$

765,009
77,432

2008	
US$	

780,124 
80,177 
92,704 –
45,065 –

338,082 
  –––––––––––– 
1,336,152 
  –––––––––––– 

460,125
––––––––––––
1,302,566
––––––––––––

2008	
US$	

2007
US$

31,734 

106,329

174,276 
  –––––––––––– 
206,010 
  –––––––––––– 

145,940
––––––––––––
252,269
––––––––––––

 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 	
  
 
 
	
  
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
	
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008  45

Reconciliation of the total tax charge
The tax assessed for the year differs from that calculated by applying the standard rate corporation tax in the Republic of Ireland of 
12.5%. The differences are explained below:

Loss before income tax 

Accounting loss multiplied by Irish standard rate of tax of 12.5% 

Share-based payment expense 
Effect of higher tax rates on investment income 
Non-deductible expenses 
Tax deductible timing differences 
Other 
Losses available at higher rates 
Taxable losses not utilised 

Total tax expense reported in the Income Statement 

Deferred income tax

Deferred income tax at 31 December relates to the following:

Deferred income tax liability
Accrued interest income 

2008	
US$	

2007
US$

(7,705,958) 

(2,950,993)

(963,245) 

(368,874)

90,895 
103,005 
431,568 
(265,064) 
83,381 
(667,432) 
1,392,902 
  –––––––––––– 

119,808
131,101
284,962
(305,500)
28,479
(333,309)
695,602
––––––––––––

206,010 
  –––––––––––– 

252,269
––––––––––––

2008	
US$	

2007
US$

546,984 
  –––––––––––– 
546,984 
  –––––––––––– 

372,708
––––––––––––
372,708
––––––––––––

The Group has tax losses which arose in Russia that are available for offset against future taxable profits of the companies in which 
the losses arose. Deferred tax assets, which expire in 8 to 10 years, of US$982,000 have not been recognised in respect of these losses 
as they may not be used to offset taxable profits elsewhere in the Group and they have arisen in subsidiaries that have been loss 
making for some time.

Factors that may affect future tax charges

The Group expects to commence oil production in Russia in the future. Such production is likely to result in taxable profits in Russia, 
where the applicable tax rate is 20% following a change to Russian tax legislation, which reduced the rate from 24% with effect from  
1 January 2009.

10.   Loss per Ordinary Share
Basic loss per ordinary share amounts are calculated by dividing net loss for the year attributable to ordinary equity holders of the 
parent by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year.

Basic and diluted earnings per ordinary share are the same as the potential ordinary shares are anti-dilutive.

Numerator 
Net loss attributable to equity shareholders of the parent  
for basic and diluted loss 

Denominator  
Weighted average number of ordinary shares for basic  
and diluted earnings per ordinary share 

2008	
US$	

2007
US$

(7,911,968) 
  –––––––––––– 

(7,911,968) 

  –––––––––––– 

(3,203,262)
––––––––––––
(3,203,262)
––––––––––––

 		 207,499,468	 

 	 207,499,468	  183,670,598 
  –––––––––––– 
––––––––––––
183,670,598 
––––––––––––

  –––––––––––– 

Basic and diluted loss per ordinary share - US dollar cent 

(3.81)	 

(1.74)

	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
46  PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

10.   Loss per Ordinary Share (continued)
The Company has instruments in issue that could potentially dilute basic earnings per ordinary share in the future, but are not 
included in the calculation for the reasons outlined below:

•   Employee Share Options – Refer to Note 26 for the total number of shares related to the outstanding options that could potentially 
dilute basic earnings per share in the future. These potential Ordinary Shares are anti-dilutive for the years ended 31 December 
2008 and 2007;

•  At 31 December 2007, 2,673,498 shares were subject to a warrant which was exercised in June 2008.

11.   Oil and gas properties 

Cost  
At 1 January 2008 
Additions 
Transfer from exploration and evaluation assets 
Transfer from property, plant and equipment 
Translation adjustment 

At 31 December 2008 

Oil	and	gas		
properties
US$

–
16,767,510	
11,202,901	
281,243	
(4,481,674)

 	 ––––––––––––

23,769,980	
	 ––––––––––––

In accordance with IFRS 6, once commercial viability is demonstrated the capitalised exploration and evaluation costs are transferred 
to oil and gas properties or intangibles, as appropriate after being assessed for impairment. 

In June 2008, following successful testing of the Lineynoye No. 8 delineation well, the Board of PetroNeft Resources plc sanctioned 
the development of the Lineynoye and West Lineynoye oil fields. The No. 8 well was required in order to confirm that the fields were 
commercially viable.

Exploration and evaluation costs of US$11,202,901 were identified and this amount was transferred to oil and gas properties including 
an allocation of US$1,983,440 of the initial cost of acquiring the Licence area. Further expenditure of US$16,767,510 was incurred 
in 2008 relating to these fields including US$9,542,923 on 65 km of pipe required for construction of a pipeline from Lineynoye to 
Lukpaiskaya. The net costs of the pilot production project in early 2008 were allocated to oil and gas properties.

In assessing whether an impairment is required in the carrying value of an asset, its carrying value is compared with its recoverable 
amount. Assets are tested for impairment either individually or as part of a cash generating unit. The recoverable amount is the higher 
of the asset’s fair value less costs to sell and value-in-use. The impairment calculation is most sensitive to the following assumptions:

•  Production volumes;
•  Discount rates;
•  Commodity prices.

Estimated production volumes are based on detailed data for the fields and take into account development plans for the fields agreed 
by management as part of the long-term planning process estimated by Ryder Scott Petroleum Consultants in their annual report 
on the Group’s reserves as at 31 December 2008. It is estimated that, if all production were to be reduced by 15% for the whole of the 
next 15 years, this would not be sufficient to reduce the excess of recoverable amount over the carrying amounts of the oil and gas 
properties to zero. Consequently, management believes no reasonably possible change in the production assumption would cause the 
carrying amount of oil and gas properties to exceed their recoverable amount.

The Group estimates fair value less costs to sell using a discounted cash flow model. The future cash flows are adjusted for risks 
specific to the asset and discounted using a pre-tax discount rate of 31%. Management also believes that currently there is no 
reasonably possible change in discount rate which would cause the carrying amount of the oil and gas properties to exceed their 
recoverable amount.

It is estimated that if the long-term price of Urals blend crude oil fell by 15% for the whole of the next 15 years, this would not be 
sufficient to reduce the excess of recoverable amount over the carrying amounts of the oil and gas properties to zero. 

 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
 	
  
  
  
 
 	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
12.   Property, Plant and Equipment 

Group	

Cost  
At 1 January 2007 
Additions 
Translation adjustment 

At 1 January 2008 
Additions 
Transfer to oil and gas properties 
Translation adjustment 

At 31 December 2008 

PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008  47

Land	and	
buildings	
US$	

Plant	and	
machinery	
US$	

Motor	
vehicles	
US$	

Total
US$

261,883  
87,249  
23,342  
–––––––––––– 
372,474		
–		
–		
(61,669)		
–––––––––––– 
310,805	
–––––––––––– 

24,694  
1,116,377  
49,945  
–––––––––––– 
1,191,016		
1,157,574		
(281,243)		
(335,799)		
–––––––––––– 
1,731,548		
–––––––––––– 

50,467  
19,499  
4,597  
–––––––––––– 
74,563		
–		
–		
(12,561)		

–––––––––––– 
62,002		
–––––––––––– 

337,044 
1,223,125 
77,884 
––––––––––––
1,638,053 
1,157,574	
(281,243)
(410,029)
––––––––––––
2,104,355	
––––––––––––

Depreciation 
At 1 January 2007 
Charge for the period 
Translation adjustment 

At 1 January 2008 
Charge for the year 
Translation adjustment 

At 31 December 2008 

Net book values 
At 31 December 2008 

At 31 December 2007 

At 31 December 2006 

Company		

Cost 
At 1 January 2007 
Additions 

At 1 January 2008 
Additions 

At 31 December 2008	

Depreciation  
At 1 January 2007 
Charge for the period 

At 1 January 2008 
Charge for the period 

At 31 December 2008 

Net book values 
At 31 December 2008 

At 31 December 2007 

At 31 December 2006 

941  
969  
113  
–––––––––––– 
2,023		
19,036		
(3,315)		

2,336 
42,527 
1,866 
––––––––––––
46,729	
233,829	
(43,600)
	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––
236,958	
	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––

–  
10,962  
478  
–––––––––––– 
11,440		
15,211		
(4,305)		

1,395  
30,596  
1,275  
–––––––––––– 
33,266		
199,582		
(35,980)		

196,868		

17,744		

22,346		

293,061		
–––––––––––– 

1,534,680		
–––––––––––– 

39,656		
–––––––––––– 

1,867,397 
––––––––––––

370,451  
–––––––––––– 

1,157,750  
–––––––––––– 

63,123  
–––––––––––– 

1,591,324
––––––––––––

260,942  
–––––––––––– 

23,299  
–––––––––––– 

50,467  
–––––––––––– 

334,708 
––––––––––––

Plant	and	
machinery	
US$

4,599 
4,822 
–––––––––––– 
9,421	
1,245	
  ––––––––––––	

10,666	
	 ––––––––––––	

1,073 
1,884 
–––––––––––– 

2,957	

2,009	
	 ––––––––––––	

4,966	

	 ––––––––––––	

 	 ––––––––––––	

5,700	

6,464 
–––––––––––– 
3,526 
–––––––––––– 

 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 	
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
48  PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

13.   Exploration and evaluation assets 

Group	

Cost  
At 1 January 2007 
Additions 
Translation adjustment 

At 1 January 2008	
Additions 
Transfer to oil and gas properties 
Russian VAT refund transferred to current assets 
Translation adjustment 

At 31 December 2008 

Net book values 
At 31 December 2008 

At 31 December 2007 

At 31 December 2006 

Exploration	&		
evaluation		
expenditure
US$

11,139,043 
16,765,968 
1,510,275 
–––––––––––– 
29,415,286	
7,550,215	
(11,202,901)
(3,311,690)
(3,766,139)
	 ––––––––––––	
18,684,771	
	 ––––––––––––	

18,684,771	
	 ––––––––––––	

29,415,286 
–––––––––––– 

11,139,043 
–––––––––––– 

Exploration and evaluation expenditure represents active exploration projects. These amounts will be written off to the Income 
Statement as exploration costs unless commercial reserves are established, or the determination process is not completed and there 
are no indications of impairment. The outcome of ongoing exploration, and therefore whether the carrying value of these assets will 
ultimately be recovered, is inherently uncertain.

Prior to 2008, PetroNeft’s Russian subsidiaries had not received any refunds of Russian VAT incurred on the work carried out to date. 
The amount due as at 31 December 2007 was US$3,311,690 and it had been accounted for at that date as part of exploration and 
evaluation expenditure as the Group was uncertain whether this amount would be recoverable. This matter was resolved during the 
year and the subsidiaries started receiving Russian VAT refunds in April 2008. All Russian VAT refunds due are now accounted for in 
current assets. 

14.   Financial assets  

Company	

Cost  
At 1 January 2007 
Advances to subsidiary undertakings (Note 25) 
Capital contribution in respect of share-based payment expense 
Acquisition of subsidiary undertaking (Note 16) 

At 1 January 2008	
Advances to subsidiary undertakings (Note 25)	
Capital contribution in respect of share-based payment expense	

At 31 December 2008	

Net book values 
At 31 December 2008	

At 31 December 2007 

At 31 December 2006 

Investment	in		
Subsidiaries
US$

8,473,166 
21,192,488 
309,782 
186,110 
–––––––––––– 
30,161,546	
9,568,537	
319,186	
	 ––––––––––––	
40,049,269	
	 ––––––––––––	

40,049,269	
	 ––––––––––––	

30,161,546 
–––––––––––– 

8,473,166 
–––––––––––– 

 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
 
 	
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
 
  
	
	
	
	
	
  
  
  
 
 	
	
	
	
	
	
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008  49

Details of the Company’s holding in direct and indirect subsidiaries at 31 December 2008 are as follows:

Name	of	subsidiary	

Registered	
Office	

Proportion	of	
Ownership	Interest	

Proportion	of	
Voting	power	held	

Principal	Activity

WorldAce Investments Limited 

LLC Stimul-T 

LLC Lineynoye 

LLC Pervomayka 

3 Themistocles Dervis Street,  
Nicosia, Cyprus 
147, Prospekt Lenina, Tomsk,  
634009, Russia 
147, Prospekt Lenina, Tomsk,  
634009, Russia 
Pobedy, Kolpashevo,  
Tomsk, 634460, Russia

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

100% 

Holding Company 

Oil and Gas 
 exploration
Construction 

Property Holding 

15.   Leasehold land payments

Net book value at 1 January 
Acquired on acquisition (Note 16) 
Translation adjustment 
Amortisation 

Net book value at 31 December 

2008	
US$	

2007
US$

186,110 –

– 
(917) 
(4,184) –

  –––––––––––– 
181,009 
  –––––––––––– 

186,110 
– 

––––––––––––
186,110 
––––––––––––

Leasehold land payments relate to a lease held by LLC Pervomayka. The term of the lease expires in 2052.

16.   Business combinations
Acquisitions in 2007

On 17 December 2007, the Company acquired 100% of the voting shares of LLC Pervomayka, an unlisted non-trading company based 
in Russia. The fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities of LLC Pervomayka as at the date of acquisition and the corresponding 
carrying amounts immediately before the acquisition were:

Leasehold land 

Net assets 

Goodwill arising on acquisition 

Consideration, satisfied by cash 

17.   Trade and other receivables 

Group	

Russian VAT 
Other receivables 
Other receivables from related parties (Note 25) 
Prepayments 

Company	

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings 
Prepayments and accrued income 

Previous	
carrying	
value
US$

4,500
––––––––––––
4,500
––––––––––––

Fair	value		
recognised		
on	acquisition	
US$	

186,110 
–––––––––––– 
186,110 

– 
–––––––––––– 
186,110 
––––––––––––

2008	
US$	

2007
US$

2,083,341 
351,943 
591,974 –
40,478 
  –––––––––––– 
3,067,736  
  –––––––––––– 

– 
131,701 

3,411,040 
––––––––––––
3,542,741 
––––––––––––

2008	
US$	

2007
US$

16,846,818 
63,447 
  –––––––––––– 

16,910,265 

  –––––––––––– 

7,983,851 
41,458 
––––––––––––
8,025,309
––––––––––––

	
 
 
  
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 	
 
 
 
 
50  PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

17.   Trade and other receivables (continued)
The Directors consider that the carrying amount of trade and other receivables approximates their fair value.

Other receivables are non-interest bearing and are normally settled on 60-day terms.

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings are interest-bearing. Interest is charged at rates ranging from 6% to 10%. 

At time of approval of the financial statements all of the Russian VAT outstanding as at 31 December 2008 had been recovered.

18.   Cash and Cash Equivalents 

Group	

Cash at bank and in hand 

Company	

Cash at bank and in hand 

2008	
US$	

2007
US$

2,168,197 
  –––––––––––– 
2,168,197 
  –––––––––––– 

8,304,295 
––––––––––––
8,304,295 
––––––––––––

2008	
US$	

2007
US$

1,659,810 
  –––––––––––– 

1,659,810 

  –––––––––––– 

5,077,802 
––––––––––––
5,077,802 
––––––––––––

Bank deposits earn interest at floating rates based on daily deposit rates. Short-term deposits are made for varying periods of 
between one day and one month depending on the immediate cash requirements of the Group, and earn interest at the respective 
short-term deposit rates. 

19.   Trade and other payables

Group	

Trade payables 
Trade payables to related parties (Note 25) 
Corporation tax 
Other taxes and social welfare costs 
Other payables 
Accruals and deferred income 

Company	

Trade payables 
Corporation tax 
Other taxes and social welfare costs 
Other payables 
Accruals and deferred income 

2008	
US$	

2007
US$

2,268,180 
1,106,407 
6,346 
174,120 
75,762 
257,746 
  –––––––––––– 
3,888,561 
  –––––––––––– 

55,217 
362,200
– 
79,987 
46,919 
306,824 
––––––––––––
851,147 
––––––––––––

2008	
US$	

2007
US$

11,600 
6,346 
62,537 
40,283 
257,746 
  –––––––––––– 
378,512 
  –––––––––––– 

1,602 
– 
35,188 
46,919 
290,745 
––––––––––––
374,454 
––––––––––––

The Directors consider that the carrying amount of trade and other payables approximates their fair value. 

Trade and other payables are non-interest bearing and are normally settled on 60-day terms.

Trade payables and accruals principally comprise amounts outstanding for trade purchases and ongoing costs.

 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 	
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 	
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008  51

20.   Provisions
20.1   Decommissioning Costs – Non current 

At 1 January 
Additions 
Unwinding of discount 
Translation adjustment 

At 31 December 

2008	
US$	

2007
US$

131,243	 
172,462	 
17,062 –
(66,121)	 
  –––––––––––– 
254,646  
  –––––––––––– 

– 
131,243 

– 
––––––––––––
131,243 
––––––––––––

The decommissioning provision represents the present value of decommissioning costs relating to the Russian oil interests, which are 
expected to be incurred up to 2030. These provisions have been created based on the Group’s internal estimates. Assumptions, based 
on the current economic environment, have been made which management believe are a reasonable basis upon which to estimate the 
future liability. 

These estimates are reviewed regularly to take into account any material changes to the assumptions. However, actual 
decommissioning costs will ultimately depend upon future market prices for the necessary decommissioning works required, which 
will reflect market conditions at the relevant time. Furthermore, the timing of decommissioning is likely to depend on when the fields 
cease to produce at economically viable rates. This in turn will depend upon future oil prices, which are inherently uncertain.

20.2   Onerous contract – Current 

At 1 January 
Additions (Note 5) 
Settled in year 

At 31 December 

2008	
US$	

2007
US$

477,084	 
–	 
(477,084)	 
  –––––––––––– 
–	 
  –––––––––––– 

– 
477,084 
– 
––––––––––––
477,084 
––––––––––––

This contract relates to an accrual as at 31 December 2007 for the balance due for surveying and engineering works on a proposed 
pipeline route to the Raskino pumping station as detailed in Note 5. The amount of US$477,084 was settled in 2008.

21.   Share capital – Group and Company

Authorised Ordinary shares of €0.01 each 

Allotted,	called	up	and	fully	paid	equity	

At 1 January 2007 
Issued in the year 
Share options exercised in the year 

At 1 January 2008 

Issued in the year	
Warrant exercised in the year	
Share options exercised in the year	

At 31 December 2008	

2008		
€		

2007
€

6,000,000 
  –––––––––––– 

6,000,000 

  –––––––––––– 

6,000,000
––––––––––––
6,000,000 
––––––––––––

Number	
of	Shares	

Called	up	
share	capital
US$

176,625,258 
15,199,137 
132,000 
–––––––––––– 
2,343,864	

2,132,436 
209,493 
1,935 
––––––––––––

191,956,395	

34,527,141	
2,673,498	
66,000	

532,538	
41,621
1,018	
	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––

229,223,034		

2,919,041	
	 ––––––––––––	 ––––––––––––

The proceeds of the share issues in 2007 and 2008 were used to finance expenditure on oil and gas properties, exploration and 
evaluation costs and corporate overhead.

  
  
  
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 	
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
  
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
		
		
		
	
		
		
		
		
	
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 	
 
 
 
 
		
	
	
	
	
		
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
		
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 	
		
	
	
		
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
52  PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

22.   Financial risk management objectives and policies
The Group and Company’s principal financial instruments comprise cash and cash equivalents. The main purpose of these financial 
instruments is to provide finance for the Group and Company’s operations. The Group has various other financial assets and liabilities 
such as receivables and trade payables, which arise directly from its operations.

The Group also enters into derivative transactions, primarily forward currency contracts. The purpose is to manage the currency risks 
arising from the Group and Company’s operations and its sources of finance.

It is the Group and Company’s policy that no trading in derivatives be undertaken.

The main risks arising from the Group and Company’s financial instruments are foreign currency risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, interest 
rate risk and capital risk. Management reviews and agrees policies for managing each of these risks which are summarised below.

Foreign currency risk

The Group undertakes certain transactions denominated in foreign currencies. Hence, exposures to exchange rate fluctuations arise. 
Exchange rate exposures are managed within approved policy parameters utilising forward exchange contracts where appropriate. 

At 31 December 2008 and 31 December 2007, the Group had no outstanding forward exchange contracts.

Foreign currency sensitivity analysis

The Group’s principal currency exposures arise in the currencies of Russian rouble, Euro, UK sterling and US dollar. The Group 
has an exposure to US dollars because the functional currency of its Russian subsidiaries is Russian roubles. A change in the US 
dollar:Russian rouble exchange rate will therefore result in a foreign exchange gain or loss on the US dollar denominated balances in 
these subsidiaries.

In accordance with IFRS 7, the impact of foreign currencies has been determined based on the balances of financial assets and 
liabilities at 31 December 2008. The sensitivity analysis includes only outstanding foreign currency denominated monetary items and 
largely results from trade payables and receivables, and adjusts their translation at the period end for a 5% change in foreign currency 
rates. A positive number below indicates an increase in profit and other equity where the US dollar strengthens 5% against the 
relevant currency. For a 5% weakening of the US dollar against the relevant currency, there would be an equal and opposite impact  
on the profit and other equity, and the balances following would be negative.

If the US dollar had gained/(lost) 5% against all currencies significant to the Group at 31 December 2008 loss would have been 
US$82,689 lower/(higher) (2007: US$253,744 lower/(higher)) and net equity would have been US$108,057 lower/(higher) (2007: 
US$415,068 lower/(higher)). 

Credit risk

Credit risk refers to the risk that a counterparty will default on its contractual obligations resulting in financial loss to the Group.  
As the Group does not, as yet, have any sales to third parties, this risk is limited. At 31 December 2008, the Group has a receivable of 
US$591,974 arising from co-shared helicopter services with a related party (refer to note 25). This amount is overdue at year-end due 
to a dispute between the parties. The Directors are confident that the amount will be received in full. 

The Group and Company’s financial assets comprise receivables and cash and cash equivalents. The credit risk on cash and cash 
equivalents is limited because the counterparties are banks with high credit ratings assigned by international credit-rating agencies. 
The Group and Company’s exposure to credit risk arise from default of its counterparty, with a maximum exposure equal to the 
carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents in its consolidated balance sheet.

The Group does not have any significant credit risk exposure to any single counterparty or any group of counterparties having similar 
characteristics. The Group defines counterparties as having similar characteristics if they are connected entities. 

Liquidity risk management

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will not have sufficient funds to meet liabilities. Ultimate responsibility for liquidity risk 
management rests with the Board of Directors, which has built an appropriate liquidity risk management framework for the 
management of the Group and Company’s short, medium and long-term funding and liquidity management requirements. The Group 
manages liquidity risk by continuously monitoring forecast and actual cash flows and matching the maturity profiles of financial 
assets and liabilities. Cash forecasts are regularly produced to identify the liquidity requirements of the Group. To date, the Group has 
relied on shareholder funding to finance its operations. The Group had no borrowing facilities at 31 December 2008.

The Group and Company’s financial liabilities as at 31 December 2008 and 31 December 2007 were all payable on demand.

 
PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008  53

The expected maturity of the Group and Company’s financial assets (excluding prepayments) as at 31 December 2008 and  
31 December 2007 was less than one month.

The Group expects to meet its other obligations from operating cash flows with an appropriate mix of funds, equity instruments 
and debt financing (refer to Note 2). The Group further mitigates liquidity risk by maintaining an insurance programme to minimise 
exposure to insurable losses.

The group had no derivative financial instruments as at 31 December 2008 and 31 December 2007.

Interest rate risk

The Group and Company’s exposure to the risk of changes in market interest rates relates primarily to the Group and Company’s 
holdings of cash and short term deposits. 

It is the Group and Company’s policy as part of its disciplined management of the budgetary process to place surplus funds on short 
term deposit in order to maximise interest earned. 

The effect of a 10% reduction in interest rates obtainable on cash and short term deposits would be to increase loss before tax by 
US$10,310 (2007: US$46,540).

Capital risk management

The Group manages its capital to ensure that entities in the Group will be able to continue as a going concern while maximising the 
return to stakeholders through the optimisation of the debt and equity balance. The Group manages its capital structure and makes 
adjustments to it, in light of changes in economic conditions. To maintain or adjust its capital structure, the Group may issue new 
shares or raise debt. No changes were made in the objectives, policies or processes during the years ended 31 December 2008  
and 31 December 2007. The capital structure of the Group consists of equity attributable to equity holders of the parent, comprising  
issued capital, reserves and retained losses as disclosed in the consolidated statement of changes in equity. 

Fair values

The carrying amount of the Group and Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities is a reasonable approximation of the  
fair value.

Hedging

At the year ended 31 December 2008 and 31 December 2007, the Group had no outstanding contracts designated as hedges.

23.   Loss of holding Company
The Company is availing of the exemption set out in section 148(8) of the Companies Act 1963 and section 7(1) (a) of the  
Companies (Amendment) Act 1986 from presenting its individual profit and loss account to the annual general meeting and  
from filing it with the Registrar of Companies. The amount of the loss dealt with in the parent undertaking for the year was 
US$3,067,866 (2007: US$1,316,025).

24.   Capital commitments 
24.1   Details of capital commitments at the balance sheet date are as follows: 

Contracted for but not provided in the financial statements 

Authorised by the Directors but not yet contracted for 

2008	
US$	

2007
US$

– 
  –––––––––––– 
– –
  –––––––––––– 

7,395,527
––––––––––––

––––––––––––

The commitments relate to future payments due under drilling contracts entered into by the Group during 2007 which were completed 
in 2008.

24.2   Future minimum rentals payable under non-cancellable operating leases as at 31 December are as follows:

Within one  year 
After one year but not more than five years 
More than five years 

2008	
US$	

57,890 
37,197 
– –
  –––––––––––– 
95,087 
  –––––––––––– 

2007
US$

68,954 
– 

––––––––––––
68,954 
––––––––––––

  
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
54  PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

25.   Related party disclosures
Transactions between PetroNeft Resources Plc and its subsidiary LLC Stimul-T have been eliminated on consolidation. Details of 
transactions between the Group and other related parties are disclosed below.

In February 2006 LLC Stimul-T entered into a contract with Nizhnevartovskservis (“NVS”) for the drilling of 3 wells in 2007.  
The contract was a “Turnkey” contract under which NVS assumed substantially all liabilities in relation to the health and safety, 
environmental and other risks associated with drilling operation. The total value of the contract was approximately US$11.98 million. 
Vakha Sobraliev, a director of PetroNeft Resources Plc, is the principal of NVS. Payments totalling US$ 447,461 were made in 2008 
(2007: US$6,024,003). An amount of US$2,472 is outstanding as at 31 December 2008 to NVS (2007: US$362,200).

In 2007, LLC Stimul-T entered into a contract with Tomskburgneftegaz (“TBNG”) for the drilling of 3 wells in 2008. The contract 
was a “Turnkey” contract under which TBNG assumed substantially all liabilities in relation to the health and safety, environmental  
and other risks associated with drilling operation. The total value of the contract was approximately US$10.47 million. Vakha 
Sobraliev, a director of PetroNeft Resources Plc, is the principal of TBNG. Payments totalling US$6,937,093 were made in 2008  
(2007: US$3,084,232). An amount of US$1,103,935 is outstanding as at 31 December 2008 to TBNG (2007: US$Nil).

Any differences between the total contract amount and amounts paid relate to movements in the rouble/dollar exchange rate.

LLC Stimul-T invoiced US$697,868 to TBNG in 2008 for the shared use of helicopter services where the service provider billed the 
entire amount to LLC Stimul-T. At 31 December 2008, an amount of US$591,974 remained outstanding due to a dispute between  
the parties. The Directors are confident that the amount will be received in full. 

LLC Stimul-T invoiced US$42,408 to TBNG and US$23,066 to NVS in 2008 for supply of crude oil as part of the 2008 pilot production 
programme. No amounts are outstanding in this regard as at 31 December 2008.

Remuneration of key management

Compensation of key management personnel amounted to US$1,275,262 and US$1,074,568 for the years ended 31 December 2008  
and 31 December 2007, respectively, which corresponds to short-term employee benefits. The share-based payment expense 
pertaining to key management amounted to US$445,039 and US$663,845 for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 31 December 
2007, respectively. Key management comprise the Directors of the Company, the General Director and Executive Director of the  
Russian subsidiary LLC Stimul-T, and the Chief Geologist.

Transactions with subsidiaries

The Company had the following transactions with its subsidiaries during the years ended 31 December 2008 and 31 December 2007:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

The Company made contributions to the assets of LLC Stimul-T in the amounts of US$9,531,169 and US$20,849,110 during the 
years ended 31 December 2008 and 31 December 2007 respectively.

The Company granted an interest bearing loan to LLC Stimul-T in the amount of US$7,954,382 during the year ended 31 December 2008.

The Company earned interest on loans to LLC Stimul-T in the amounts of US$697,104 and US$583,410 during the years ended  
31 December 2008 and 31 December 2007 respectively. All interest on loans to LLC Stimul-T remains outstanding.

The Company charged amounts of US$211,481 and US$193,644 for technical services provided to LLC Stimul-T during the years 
ended 31 December 2008 and 31 December 2007 respectively. 

The Company made contributions to the assets of LLC Lineynoye in the amount of US$331,855 and US$653,160 during the years 
ended 31 December 2008 and 31 December 2007 respectively.

The Company made contributions to the assets of LLC Pervomayka in the amount of US$24,699 during the year ended 31 
December 2008.

PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008  55

26.   Share-based payments
The expense recognised for employee services during the year is US$727,164 (2007: US$958,468). The Group share-based payment 
plan is described below. There were no cancellations or modifications to any of the plans during 2008 and 2007. 

Under the Group share option plan, employees of the Group can receive conditional awards of share options depending on their 
performance, seniority and length of service. The options typically vest in four instalments and are subject to vesting conditions such 
as milestones for the Company such as drilling, production and shareholder return. The maximum term for options is seven years. 
There are no cash settlement alternatives.

Movement in the year

The fair value of the options is estimated at the grant date using an option pricing model considering the terms and conditions upon 
which the instruments were granted. The following table illustrates the number and weighted average exercise prices (WAEP) of, and 
movements in, share options during the year.

2008	
Number	

2008	
WAEP	

2007	
Number	

2007
WAEP

Outstanding as at 1 January 
Granted during the year 
Forfeited during the year 
Exercised during the year 

Outstanding at 31 December 

Exercisable at 31 December 

7,963,000  €0.297/£0.32 
2,525,000 
£0.36 
(350,000)  €0.295/£0.36 
€0.295 
(66,000) 
–––––––––––– 
–––––––––––– 
10,072,000   €0.32/£0.31 
–––––––––––– 
–––––––––––– 
4,219,600  €0.297/£0.32 
–––––––––––– 

–––––––––––– 

€0.297
6,815,000 
£0.32
1,280,000 
–
– 
€0.295
(132,000) 
––––––––––––
–––––––––––– 
7,963,000   €0.297/£0.32
––––––––––––
2,044,500  €0.297/£0.32
––––––––––––

–––––––––––– 

–––––––––––– 

The range of exercise prices for options outstanding at the year-end is €0.295 to €0.42 (2007: €0.295 to £0.32).

The weighted average remaining contractual life for the share options outstanding as at 31 December 2008 was 5.2 years  
(2007: 5.8 years). 

The weighted average fair value of options granted during the year was £0.17 (2007: £0.15).

The weighted average share price of the exercised options at the date of exercise was €0.38.

The following table lists the inputs to the models used for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 31 December 2007:

Grant	date	

Dividend yield 
Expected volatility 
Risk free interest rate 
Expected life of option 
Expected early exercise % 
Share price 
Model used 

2008	
February	

2007	
December	

2006	
November	

2006
September

0% 
60% 
4.4% 
7 
5% 
£0.36 
Binomial/ 

0%
48%
3.62%
7
5%
€0.30
Binomial/ 
  Monte Carlo  Monte Carlo  Monte Carlo  Monte Carlo

0% 
48% 
3.71% 
7 
5% 
€0.42 
Binomial/ 

0% 
45% 
5% 
7 
5% 
£0.32 
Binomial/ 

The expected life of the options is based on the expectation of management and is not necessarily indicative of exercise patterns 
that may occur. The expected volatility was determined based on historical data of peer companies, and reflects the assumption that 
historical volatility is indicative of future trends, which may also not necessarily be the actual outcome. The fair value is measured at 
the grant date.

27.   Approval of financial statements
The financial statements were approved, and authorised for issue, by the Board of Directors on 3 June 2009.

	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
56  PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008

Notice of Annual General Meeting

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of PetroNeft Resources plc will be held at the Herbert Park Hotel, Ballsbridge, 
Dublin 4 at 11.00 am on Monday 14 September 2009, for the purposes of considering and, if thought fit, passing, the following Resolutions 
of which Resolutions numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be proposed as Ordinary Resolutions and Resolution numbered 5 will be proposed as a 
Special Resolution.

Ordinary Business
1.  To receive, consider and adopt the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2008 together with the Directors’ and Auditors’  

reports thereon.

2.  To re-elect Mr. Hickey as a Director, who retires by rotation in accordance with Article 83 of the Articles of Association of the 

Company.

3.  To re-elect Mr. Sobraliev as a Director, who retires by rotation in accordance with Article 83 of the Articles of Association of the 

Company.

4.  To reappoint Ernst & Young, Chartered Accountants, as Auditors and to authorise the Directors to fix the remuneration of the 

Auditors.

Special Business
5.  That the Directors be and are hereby empowered pursuant to Sections 23 and 24 (1) of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1983 to 
allot equity securities (within the meaning of the said Section 23) for cash pursuant to the authority conferred by Article 5(a) of the 
Articles of Association of the Company as if the said Section 23 does not apply to any such allotment provided that this power shall 
be limited to the allotment of equity securities;

  a) in connection with the exercise of any options or warrants to subscribe granted by the Company;

  b)  (including, without limitation any shares purchased by the Company pursuant to the provisions of the 1990 Act and held as 

Treasury Shares) in connection with any offer of securities, open for a period fixed by the Directors, by way of rights, open offer or 
otherwise in favour of ordinary shareholders and/or any persons having a right to subscribe for or convert securities into ordinary 
shares in the capital of the Company (including, without limitation, any person entitled to options under any of the Company’s 
share option schemes or any other person entitled to participate in any of the Company’s profit sharing schemes for the time 
being) and subject to such exclusions or other arrangements as the Directors may deem necessary or expedient in relation to 
legal or practical problems under the laws of or the requirements of any recognised body or stock exchange in, any territory; and

  c)   up to an aggregate nominal value equal to the nominal value of 10% of the Issued Share Capital of the Company from time to time:

 each of (a), (b) and (c) above being separate powers, which powers shall expire on the earlier of the date of the next annual 
general meeting of the Company held after the date of passing of this Resolution and at the close of business on 14 December 
2010, save that the Company may before such expiry make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities 
to be allotted after such expiry and the Directors may allot equity securities in pursuance of such offer or agreement as if the 
power conferred hereby had not expired.

David Sanders
Secretary

for and on behalf of the Board.
One Earlsfort Centre
Earlsfort Terrace
Dublin 2
3 June 2009

 
 
 
Notes 

PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008  57

58  PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008

Notes 

Notes 

PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008  59

60  PetroNeft Resources plc  Annual Report and Accounts 2008

Glossary

1P	
2P 
3P 
AGM	 
AIM 
API	Gravity 

Proved reserves according to SPE standards
Proved and probable reserves according to SPE standards
Proved, probable and possible reserves according to SPE standards
Annual General Meeting
Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange
 A specific gravity scale developed by the American Petroleum Institute (API) for measuring the relative 
density of various petroleum liquids, expressed in degrees
Barrel
Barrel of oil equivalent
Barrels of oil per day
PetroNeft Resources plc
Corporate and Social Responsibility

bbl	 
boe 
bopd  
Company  
CSR  
Custody	Transfer	Point  Facility/location at which custody of oil transfers to another operator
ESPO	pipeline 
Group  
IAS  
IEX 
IFRIC  
IFRS  
km  
km2/	sq	km 
KPI  
Licence	61 
mmbbl  
mmbo 
P1 
P2 
P3 
PetroNeft 
SPE 
Spud  
TSR  
VAT  
WAEP  

East Siberia-Pacific Ocean pipeline which is expected to be completed in 2012
Company and its subsidiary undertakings
International Accounting Standard
Irish Enterprise Exchange of the Irish Stock Exchange
International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee
International Financial Reporting Standard
Kilometres
Square kilometres
Key Performance Indicator
The Group’s Exploration and Production Licence in the Tomsk Oblast, Russia
Million barrels
Million barrels of oil
Proved reserves according to SPE standards
Probable reserves according to SPE standards
Possible reserves according to SPE standards
PetroNeft Resources plc
Society of Petroleum Engineers
To commence drilling a well
Total Shareholder Return
Value Added Tax
Weighted Average Exercise Price

At a glance

Group Information

PetroNeft Resources plc is a public  
company registered in Ireland.
The Group was established in 2005 to develop oil and gas 
assets in Russia and the FSU and was admitted to the 
London AIM and Dublin IEX Markets in 2006. The main 
asset of the Company is a 100% interest in a 4,991 km2  
oil and gas licence in the Tomsk Oblast in Russia.

1.

2.

3.

1. Drilling rig at West Lineynoye oil field. 
2. Site preparation at proposed Lineynoye production pad A. 
3. Crew change helicopter.

PetroNeft Resources plc 
incorporated

Acquired LLC Stimul-T with  
100 per cent interest in Licence 61

Reprocessing of old well and 
seismic data commenced

First of two 2D 
seismic programmes 
commenced

Admitted to AIM and IEX 
Markets

2005

2006

2007

Four years of achievement

Solicitors 
Eversheds O’Donnell Sweeney 
One Earlsfort Centre
Earlsfort Terrace
Dublin 2
Ireland

White & Case
5 Old Broad Street
London
EC2N 1DW
United Kingdom

White & Case
4 Romanov Pereulok
125009
Moscow
Russia

Registered Number 
408101

Registrar 
Computershare
Heron House
Corrig Road
Sandyford Industrial Estate
Dublin 18
Ireland

Directors1
David Golder (U.S. citizen)
Non-Executive Chairman

Dennis Francis (U.S. citizen)
Chief Executive Officer

Paul Dowling
Chief Financial Officer
(Appointed on 29 April 2008)

David Sanders (U.S. citizen)
Executive Director and General  
Legal Counsel

Vakha Alvievich Sobraliev  
(Russian citizen)
Non-Executive Director

Thomas Hickey
Non-Executive Director

1 Irish Citizens unless otherwise stated

Registered Office 
One Earlsfort Centre
Earlsfort Terrace
Dublin 2
Ireland

Secretary 
David Sanders

Auditors 
Ernst & Young
Chartered Accountants
Harcourt Centre
Harcourt Street
Dublin 2
Ireland

Business Address 
1 Wainsfort Drive
Terenure
Dublin 6W
Ireland

Nominated and IEX Adviser 
Davy
49 Dawson Street
Dublin 2
Ireland

Bankers 
AIB Bank
1 Lower Baggot Street
Dublin 2
Ireland

JP Morgan Chase Bank
Texas Market
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
USA

The PEFC Council (Programme for the 
Endorsement of Forest Certification 
schemes) provides an assurance 
mechanism to purchasers of wood and 
paper products that they are promoting 
the sustainable management of forests.

PetroNeft Resources plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2008

Годовой Отчет 2008

4 oil fields 70mmbo 2P reserves

26 prospects and 4 leads 
529mmbo 3P reserves

Production  
due to commence 2010

P
e
t
r
o
N
e
f
t
R
e
s
o
u
r
c
e
s
p
l
c

A
n
n
u
a
l

R
e
p
o
r
t
a
n
d
A
c
c
o
u
n
t
s
2
0
0
8

Successful  
equity placing  
raising US$17.2m

US$25.5m  
capital expenditure 

Active exploration and development 
of oil resources in Western Siberia

PetroNeft Resources plc
Dublin Office 
1 Wainsfort Drive 
Terenure 
Dublin 6W, Ireland

Houston Office
10333 Harwin Dr., Suite 518
Houston, TX 77036
USA

www.petroneft.com