Particle Drilling Technologies Completes
Successful GTI-Catoosa Testing Program and Announces Fourth
Quarter and Year End Results
- Particle Impact Drilling (“PID”) penetration rates meet
expectations
- Shot injection system performs reliably
- PID system ready for commercial field trials
Houston – November 9, 2005 – Particle
Drilling Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: PDRT) today announced
that it has completed its testing program at the GTI Catoosa
(Catoosa) drilling facility and also announced its financial
results for the fourth fiscal quarter and the year ended
September 30, 2005. At Catoosa, the Company was able to
successfully run the patented Particle Impact
Drilling (PID) system while drilling multiple hard and
abrasive intervals. Additionally, the Company was able to
evaluate performance and further develop operating procedures
for the PID system.
As a result of the tests at Catoosa, the Company
accumulated meaningful hours on the PID system and increased
its operating knowledge of how it performs under several
different operating conditions. The Company also successfully
developed and tested procedures for items that did not perform
satisfactorily in its prior tests at Catoosa in July of this
year, including enhancing the shot injection system, reducing
the connection time and developing improvements in the
handling of shot in the wellbore and at the surface. The shot
injection system was improved and functioned and performed
reliably during the test.
The various operating conditions tested include two drill
bit (PID bit) designs; two PID bit sizes; both low and high
flow rates of drilling fluid ranging from 425 to over 600
gallons per minute, and different shot injection rates. All
conditions tested were effective at delivering target level
rates of penetration through very hard and abrasive intervals.
During testing the Company identified certain engineering and
design improvements that will be implemented to make the
system more robust. In some instances, the high flow PID bits
suffered erosion problems associated with the nozzles. The
Company is confident that with minor changes this issue will
be overcome, as it was not a prevalent problem with all PID
bits tested. More importantly the Company believes that with
the existing PID bit it will be able to drill 300 feet a day
in its target market thus achieving its stated goal for
success. The modifications needed to improve performance can
be fully evaluated in the Company’s research facility in
Houston, Texas avoiding the need to return to Catoosa or
TerraTek.
During the test program, representatives from potential
customers visited the test site and witnessed testing. The
Company received positive feedback and now believes the system
is ready for commercial trials in target application areas.
The immediate market for this drilling system will focus on
wells that are drilling less than 100 feet per day in a normal
pressure environment utilizing a 7 7/8” or 8 ½” bit. Based on
current customer inquiries, management estimates the PID
system will be deployed in a revenue generating mode by the
first calendar quarter of 2006.
In its continuing effort to enhance the PID technology, the
Company has retained Beeken TechQuest, Ltd (Beeken) to develop
a more efficient and cost effective shot injector system.
Beeken is led by Dr. B.N. Murali, formerly the Vice President
of Technology for Halliburton Energy Services. During his last
9 years at Halliburton, Dr. Murali was in charge of developing
new technology for all product service lines. Beeken is
designing a system to replace the existing shot injection
system with a simpler, less expensive approach. Once
successfully designed and tested, this system has the
potential to reduce the cost of the PID system while providing
redundant injection capability.
The financial results reflect the Company’s continuing
status as a development stage company generating no revenue as
well as ongoing planned investment in the Particle Impact
Drilling (PID) system. The following is a summary of the
quarterly and full year results:
|
Three Months
Ended September 30, |
|
Year Ended
September 30, |
|
|
2005 |
|
2004 |
|
2005 |
|
2004 |
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
(Unaudited) |
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
|
| Revenues |
$
-
|
|
$
-
|
|
$
-
|
|
$
-
|
|
| Gross
profit |
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
| Loss
from operations |
(1,851,844) |
|
(833,660) |
|
(5,547,118) |
|
(3,304,776) |
|
| Net
loss |
(1,737,953) |
|
(842,192) |
|
(5,287,068) |
|
(3,331,000) |
|
| Net
loss per share - basic and diluted |
$
(0.07) |
|
$
(0.05) |
|
$
(0.24) |
|
$
(0.25) |
|
The Company’s interim President and Chief Executive
Officer, John Schiller, commented, “The team at Particle
Drilling continues to build upon its previous achievements as
reflected in the significant progress we made during our
recent test at Catoosa. We are confident that our drilling
system is robust enough for specific commercial field work. As
previously announced, I will be shifting my focus to Energy
XXI Acquisition Corporation (AIM:EGY), which recently raised
$300 million, through an IPO on the London Stock Exchange AIM
market, to acquire oil and gas properties. On November 15,
2005, I will be stepping down from the day-to-day operations
of the Company and Chris Boswell will step in as interim CEO
until the Board has the opportunity to identify a full time
CEO. Due to my confidence in Chris and the rest of the
Particle Drilling team, I will remain as an active Board
member.”
Chris Boswell, the Company’s current CFO who will assume
the interim CEO role on November 15, 2005, commented “We wish
John continued success in his new endeavors, but know that we
can rely on him for leadership and guidance as we move toward
commercialization. In fact, we have already tapped into his
network in the industry to assist with operational matters and
to further existing conversations with potential customers. We
are excited about the market potential of this product, and
while we are still in the early stage of development, I
believe acceptance of our PID technology will expand rapidly
as we commercialize our technology and further demonstrate its
compelling value proposition.”
The Company will hold a conference call at 10:00 a.m.
Eastern time on Thursday, November 10, 2005, to discuss its
quarterly results and to provide an operational update. To
participate in the call, dial 303-262-2143 and ask for the
Particle Drilling call at least 10 minutes prior to the start
time, or access it live over the Internet by logging onto the
web at www.particledrilling.com, on the “Investor Relations”
section of the Company’s website. To listen to the live call
on the web, please visit the web site at least fifteen minutes
prior to the call to register, download and install any
necessary audio software.
If you cannot listen to the live webcast, an archive will
be available shortly after the call for a period of 90 days on
the “Investor Relations” section of the Company’s website. A
telephonic replay of the conference call will be available
through November 17, 2005 and may be accessed by calling
303-590-3000 and using the pass code 11043355.
Particle Drilling Technologies, Inc., headquartered in
Houston, Texas, is a development stage oilfield service and
technology company owning certain patents and pending patents
related to the Particle Impact Drilling technology. The
Company’s technology is designed to enhance the
rate-of-penetration function in the drilling process,
particularly in hard rock drilling environments.
Certain statements in this press
release that are not historical but are forward-looking are
subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which
may cause PDTI’s actual results in future periods to be
materially different from any future performance that may be
suggested in this press release. Such risks and uncertainties
may include, but are not limited to, PDTI’s ability to raise
equity capital, if necessary, and its ability to obtain equity
financing on acceptable terms, if at all, a severe worldwide
slowdown in the energy services sector, working capital
constraints and other risks described in PDTI’s filings with
the SEC. Further, PDTI is a development stage company that
operates in an industry sector where securities values are
highly volatile and may be influenced by economic and other
factors beyond PDTI’s control such as announcements by
competitors and service providers.
PARTICLE
DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (a development stage
enterprise) CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
OPERATIONS
|
|
|
Three Months
Ended September 30, |
|
Year Ended
September 30, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2005 |
|
2004 |
|
2005 |
|
2004 |
|
(Unaudited) |
|
(Unaudited) |
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Revenues |
$
-
|
|
$
-
|
|
$
-
|
|
$
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Research and development |
1,080,693 |
|
344,887 |
|
2,802,155 |
|
621,752 |
| General and administrative |
771,151 |
|
488,773 |
|
2,744,963 |
|
2,683,024 |
|
|
| Total
operating expenses |
1,851,844 |
|
833,660 |
|
5,547,118 |
|
3,304,776 |
|
|
| Loss
from operations |
(1,851,844) |
|
(833,660) |
|
(5,547,118) |
|
(3,304,776) |
|
|
| Other
income (expenses) |
|
| Interest income |
83,203 |
|
-
|
|
209,305 |
|
-
|
| Rental
income |
23,282 |
|
-
|
|
27,162 |
|
-
|
| Gain
on debt extinguishment |
8,293 |
|
-
|
|
35,283 |
|
-
|
| Interest expense |
(887) |
|
(8,532) |
|
(11,700) |
|
(26,224) |
|
|
| Total
other income (expenses) |
113,891 |
|
(8,532) |
|
260,050 |
|
(26,224) |
|
|
| Net
loss |
$
(1,737,953) |
|
$
(842,192) |
|
$
(5,287,068) |
|
$
(3,331,000) |
|
| Net
loss per common share, |
|
| basic and
diluted |
$
(0.07) |
|
$
(0.05) |
|
$
(0.24) |
|
$
(0.25) |
|
| Weighted average
number of |
|
| common
shares outstanding, |
|
| basic and
diluted |
24,418,861 |
|
17,979,414 |
|
22,150,365 |
|
13,364,183 |
|
|
|
PARTICLE
DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (a development stage
enterprise) CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
|
|
|
September
30, |
|
September
30, |
|
2005 |
|
2004 |
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
| ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
| Current assets: |
|
|
|
| Cash
and cash equivalents |
$
10,504,646 |
|
$
20,363 |
| Accounts receivable - related party |
42,330 |
|
-
|
| Prepaid expenses |
229,963 |
|
110,535 |
|
|
|
| Total
current assets |
10,776,939 |
|
130,898 |
|
|
|
|
| Property, plant & equipment, net |
1,277,982 |
|
451,825 |
|
|
|
|
| Intangibles, net |
1,102,403 |
|
982,612 |
|
|
|
|
| Other
assets |
391,089 |
|
5,250 |
|
|
|
| Total
assets |
$
13,548,413 |
|
$
1,570,585 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
| Accounts payable |
$
1,056,733 |
|
$
864,177 |
| Short-term notes
payable |
79,880 |
|
340,304 |
| Current portion of long-term debt |
11,597 |
|
10,891 |
| Accrued liabilities |
242,633 |
|
216,553 |
|
|
|
| Total
current liabilities |
1,390,843 |
|
1,431,925 |
|
|
|
|
| Long-term debt |
9,463 |
|
20,201 |
|
|
|
|
| Commitments and
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Stockholders' equity: |
|
|
|
| Common
stock, $.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares
authorized, |
|
|
|
| 27,441,472
issued and 24,441,472 outstanding at September 30,
2005, |
|
|
| and
18,095,447 issued and outstanding at September 30,
2004 |
27,441 |
|
18,095 |
| Additional paid-in capital |
22,781,518 |
|
3,974,148 |
| Treasury
stock at cost, 3,000,000 shares and -0- shares |
|
|
|
| at
September 30, 2005 and September 30, 2004,
respectively |
(1,500,000) |
|
-
|
| Deficit accumulated during the development
stage |
(9,160,852) |
|
(3,873,784) |
|
|
|
|
| Total
stockholders' equity |
12,148,107 |
|
118,459 |
|
|
|
|
| Total
liabilities and stockholders' equity |
$
13,548,413 |
|
$
1,570,585 |
|
PARTICLE
DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (a development stage
enterprise) CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH
FLOWS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
September 30, |
|
inception)
to |
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
2005 |
|
2004 |
|
2005 |
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Cash
flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Net
loss |
$
(5,287,068) |
|
$
(3,331,000) |
|
######### |
|
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
used in operating |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Gain
on debt extinguishment |
(35,283) |
|
-
|
|
(26,990) |
|
| Depreciation and amortization expense |
391,467 |
|
147,409 |
|
267,875 |
|
| Short-term note issued for services |
-
|
|
44,000 |
|
44,000 |
|
| Common
stock issued for services |
(66,500) |
|
968,000 |
|
931,500 |
|
| Warrants issued for services |
57,999 |
|
5,830 |
|
63,829 |
|
| Stock-based
employee compensation |
177,550 |
|
50,814 |
|
212,614 |
|
| Changes in operating assets and
liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Increase in accounts receivable - related
party |
(42,330) |
|
-
|
|
(37,627) |
|
| Increase in
prepaid expenses |
(68,428) |
|
(49,545) |
|
(37,627) |
|
| Decrease in
other current assets |
-
|
|
7,500 |
|
-
|
|
| Increase in accounts payable |
221,329 |
|
362,527 |
|
341,577 |
|
| Increase in accrued liabilities |
26,080 |
|
79,774 |
|
161,439 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Net
cash used in operating activities |
(4,625,184) |
|
(1,714,691) |
|
(3,995,669) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Cash
flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Payments to purchase property and equipment |
(1,167,134) |
|
(16,555) |
|
(410,826) |
|
| Proceeds from sale of property and
equipment |
-
|
|
20,957 |
|
20,957 |
|
| Payments to purchase intangibles |
(170,281) |
|
(185,468) |
|
(270,269) |
|
| Payments to purchase other assets |
(385,839) |
|
(5,250) |
|
(395,233) |
|
| Payments
issued for note receivable |
-
|
|
(24,447) |
|
(300,783) |
|
| Payments
issued for note receivable - related party |
-
|
|
(56,783) |
|
(56,783) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Net
cash used in investing activities |
(1,723,254) |
|
(267,546) |
|
(1,412,937) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Cash
flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Proceeds from issuance of common stock |
18,647,666 |
|
1,746,196 |
|
######### |
|
| Purchases of treasury stock |
(1,500,000) |
|
-
|
|
(1,500,000) |
|
| Proceeds
from issuance of convertible notes |
-
|
|
553,500 |
|
553,500 |
|
| Repayments of notes
payable |
(314,945) |
|
(277,403) |
|
(554,953) |
|
| Proceeds from borrowings under loan agreements
- related parties |
-
|
|
-
|
|
23,195 |
|
| Repayment of borrowings under loan agreements
- related parties |
-
|
|
(23,195) |
|
(23,195) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Net
cash provided by financing activities |
16,832,721 |
|
1,999,098 |
|
######### |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Net
increase in cash and cash equivalents |
10,484,283 |
|
16,861 |
|
######### |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Cash
and cash equivalents - beginning of period |
20,363 |
|
3,502 |
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Cash and
cash equivalents - end of period |
$ 10,504,646
|
|
$
20,363 |
|
######### |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contacts:
J. Chris
Boswell, SVP & CFO Particle Drilling Technologies,
Inc. 713-223-3031 ext. 204.
Ken Dennard, Managing Partner Jack Lascar, Partner
DRG&E / 713-529-6600
|