Sun Resources NL (ASX:SUR) has executed a binding agreement with Petro-Hunt LLC to jointly explore and develop an area of mutual interest (AMI) consisting of approximately 7,832 acres in northern Leon County, Texas.

Sun and Petro-Hunt will each contribute oil and gas leases that they own within the area of the AMI for the purpose of drilling and exploring for oil and gas in the so-called “Dexter” or Woodbine “C” or “Lower Woodbine” interval of the Woodbine Formation.

Sun is contributing 810 net acres (in which it currently has a 100%WI) from its northern Delta Oil Project acres which lie within the agreed AMI to the joint venture. Petro-Hunt is contributing 2,430 net acres that it owns or will own and which also lie within the AMI. The combined 3,240 net acres will be owned by Petro-Hunt (75%) and Sun (25%). The total area of the AMI is 7,832 acres so there is the capacity for the joint venture to expand in size by way of additional lease acquisitions.

Petro-Hunt will be the operator of the joint venture and the intention of the joint venture partners is for the first horizontal well into the “Dexter” or Woodbine “C” or “Lower Woodbine” interval of the Woodbine Formation to be drilled in the final quarter of 2013.

The parties have agreed to enter into a formal joint operating agreement (JOA) and all costs going forward (including but not limited to exploring, drilling, production and additional lease acquisitions within the AMI) will be shared on the ownership percentages of Petro-Hunt (75%) and Sun (25%). Under the JOA, the AMI area shall remain in force and effect for a period of three (3) years from the date of the executed JOA.

Delta Oil Project

Sun currently has 11,820 net acres in its 100% owned and operated Delta Oil Project. This transaction sees it retain the same number of net acres by way of retaining 100% of 11,010 acres and owning 25% of the 3,240 combined net acres the subject of the joint venture with Petro-Hunt. This agreement with Petro-Hunt is a significant first step in the exploration and development of northern acres that Sun has in its Delta Oil Project.

Govert van Ek, managing director of Sun, commented:

“To date Sun’s focus has been on developing its Woodbine acres located in central and lower Leon County. With this important transaction, exploration and development of our most northern Leon County acres in the Delta Oil Project will soon get underway. We look forward to our partnership developing with Petro-Hunt and to the drilling of a Woodbine “C” horizontal well into this AMI in the last 3 months of 2013.”

The first horizontal well into the “Dexter” or Woodbine “C” interval of the Woodbine Formation is currently planned for the final quarter of 2013.

Petro-Hunt is one of the largest privately-held companies in the world and is the largest shareholder in Halcon Resources Corp. (NYSE:HK) with a 27.9% shareholding.