Harvest Natural Resources has commenced drilling operations on the Bar F No. 1-20-3-2 well on Harvest's Antelope project located in the Uinta Basin of northeastern Utah. Mobilization of Unit Drilling Corporation Rig # 109 to the drilling location commenced in early June and the well is expected to spud approximately June 15. The permitted depth of this exploration well is 18,000 feet. Harvest is the operator and has a 50 percent working interest in the project.

Drilling is anticipated to require approximately 80 days, and will be followed by about 90 days of production testing, if warranted. Results from the Bar F No. 1-20-3-2 well may lead to appraisal and development drilling programs on the project, which would likely be undertaken in late 2009 and 2010. The well is being drilled as a tight hole, and therefore no further reports will be made public until testing and evaluation is complete.

The Antelope project is targeted to explore for and develop oil and natural gas from multiple horizons in the Uinta Basin, Duchesne and Uintah counties, Utah. Specifically, three horizons have been identified as most prospective.

Harvest President and CEO James Edmiston said, "We are excited to see the initiation of drilling activity on our Antelope project. There are a number of additional prospects, leads and ideas within our 52,000 gross acre (26,000 net) land position. We anticipate the Antelope project to be a source of multiple exploration and development drilling opportunities over the next several years."

Tags: Harvest Natural Resources