Why the Cue Energy (ASX:CUE) share price is soaring 9% today

Cue Energy Resources Limited (ASX:CUE) shares have accelerated upwards today. This comes after the company announced it has started oil production from Mahato PSC in Indonesia.

At the time of writing, the oil and gas company’s shares are up 9.21% to close at 8.3 cents.

What did Cue announce?

Cue Energy advised that it has now begun extracting oil from its PB field in the Mahato PSC.

Located in Indonesia, Mahato PSC is a 5,600sq km basin that is close to several producing oil fields. Multiple surveys and exploration results have mapped the area to contain a highly lucrative resource opportunity.

According to Cue’s release, the start of operations follows the settled dispute between the company and its joint venture partners. The disagreement arose from Texcal Mahato EP, which operates the Mahato PSC.

Cue previously stated that Texcal and other joint venture partners attempted to exclude the company from two wells, named PB-1 and PB-2. Cue’s subsidiary, Cue Mahato holds a 12.5% interest in Mahato PSC.

As part of the settlement, Texcal will issue a cash call for roughly US$300,000 from Cue to conduct exportation activities in PB-2.

Furthermore, Cue will pay US$380,000 to the joint venture partners, which it will tap into its existing cash reserves of US$111,000. The remaining amount will be paid from the company’s share of the PSC performance bond.

Both payments are due to be finalised at the end of this month.

What is the status of both wells?

Since the resolved dispute, Cue revealed that the PB-1 well is producing around 600 barrels of oil per day. The oil is refined and exported through existing third-party facilities.

In regards to PB-2, Cue noted that is it working to bring the well into production with 3 further drills planned. Its anticipated that the drilling program will start sometime in the current quarter.

What did the CEO say?

Commenting on the production launch, Cue Energy CEO Matthew Boyall said:

Cue is excited to see oil production from the PB field after exploration success in late 2019. This is a rapid progression from exploration to production. The PB field will be a third revenue stream for Cue and will further strengthen our business.

The differences between the joint venture partners and Cue have now been resolved and we look forward to a fruitful partnership as production from the PB field increases and further exploration is undertaken in the Mahato PSC.

About the Cue Energy share price

The Cue share price was gaining ground through the course of last year before it lost more than 60% in December. This is when it advised the market it was abandoning the Ironbark-1 exploration well.

Its shares hit a low of 6 cents in March and reached a multi-year high of 24 cents prior to the December announcement.