Gulf starts at Sheikh Adi-2 25/05/2012
Iraq-focused oil explorer Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) has begun drilling at the Sheikh Adi-2 well in the Sheikh Adi block.
Battle-scarred electronic payments company Earthport has joined the finance industry's SWIFT network.
AIM-quoted Earthport, which recently appointed ex-Mayfair Group private equity specialist David Fife at 36 to be chief executive officer, says joining the SWIFT co-operative, supplier of secure, standardised messaging services and interface software to 8,000 institutions in 206 countries, will bring a range of benefits. These include direct access to interbank transfers, the ability to receive 'intra-day and per movement reporting', improved account opening processes, increased efficiency in sending payment instructions and improved communication with banks.
Chairman Mike Harrison enthuses 'joining SWIFT is a landmark step. Membership will radically improve the company's ability to provide cost-effective, fast and secure payment services'. Earthport's shares have perked up 5.5p to 25p, valuing the company at £8 million.
That is still a fraction of the 125p at which the company's shares were floated on AIM in 2000 and a faint shadow of the near-£7 levels reached previously on the OFEX (now PLUS) market in the dotcom and electronics boom. In the six months to last December, Earthport turned a £2.8 million loss into a £468,000 pre-tax profit, but the fightback still has a long road to recover.
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Iraq-focused oil explorer Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) has begun drilling at the Sheikh Adi-2 well in the Sheikh Adi block.
Oil giant Shell is extending its offer period for Mozambique-focused Cove Energy (COV) after having its bid trumped by Thai government-owned PTT Exploration & Production.
Kazakhstan-focused Roxi Petroleum (RXP) has declared that its NK7 well in the Galaz aea has drilled to a depth of 1,360 metres.
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Oil concern Heritage Oil (HOIL) has reported its Miran West-3 well in Iraq could deliver 1,000 barrels per day of condensate.