Leor Energy
{{Short description|Gas company founded in Texas}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Leor Energy
| industry = Petroleum industry
| foundation = {{Start date and age|2003}}
| founder = Thomas Kaplan
Guma Aguiar
| defunct = {{end date and age|2015|09|15}}
| hq_location = Houston, Texas
| products = Petroleum
Natural gas
Natural gas liquids
}}
Leor Energy was a company engaged in hydrocarbon exploration, primarily in East Texas. It was based in Houston. It sold most of its assets to Encana (now Ovintiv) in November 2007 for $2.55 billion and, in September 2015, the company was acquired by Comancheria Energy Resources.
History
Thomas Kaplan and Guma Aguiar founded Leor in 2003. Kaplan, Aguiar's uncle, took the role of Chairman. He was formerly the chairman of Apex Silver Mines.{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanvardi/2012/06/28/the-tragedy-of-guma-aguiar-and-a-2-billion-texas-gas-fortune/ | title=The Tragedy Of Guma Aguiar And A $2 Billion Texas Gas Fortune | work=Forbes | date=June 28, 2012}}{{Cite news | url=https://www.barrons.com/articles/SB126602914540245565 | title=There's (Possibly) Gold in Them Thar Hills | first=Bill | last=Alpert | work=Barron's | date=February 15, 2010}}
While Aguiar did not have experience in the petroleum industry, he met with geologist John Amoruso and acquired 30,000 acres of leasehold interests in East Texas in 2003.
In July 2005, Leor and EnCana (now Ovintiv) entered into an agreement to explore and develop Leor's Amoruso Prospect in Robertson County, Texas whereby Encana acquired a 30% interest in the joint venture, increased to 50% in June 2006.
In November 2005, Leor closed a $30.0 million senior secured note financing from Amaranth Advisors. In January 2006, Leor closed a $45.0 million private placement of equity securities with Goldman Sachs.{{cite press release | url=https://www.chron.com/news/article/BW-Leor-Energy-Closes-Significant-Equity-1480707.php | title=Leor Energy Closes Significant Equity Transaction; Transaction to Accelerate the Development of the Amoruso Field | publisher=Business Wire | date=May 9, 2006}}
In July 2006, Leor sold approximately {{convert|3360|acre|km2|0}} net in its holdings in the Amoruso Prospect to EnCana (now Ovintiv), for $242.9 million. The transaction resulted in Leor and EnCana each having a 50% stake in the prospect. After the transaction Leor held a {{convert|23725|acre|km2|0|sing=on}} net position in the prospect.{{cite press release | url=https://www.chron.com/news/article/BW-Leor-Energy-Announces-Partial-Sale-Leor-1874590.php | title=Leor Energy Announces Partial Sale; Leor Energy Announces Important New Production Results | publisher=Business Wire | date=July 28, 2006}}
In January 2007, Leor closed a $150.0 million private placement of equity securities with Merrill Lynch to fund additional drilling.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2007/01/22/daily66.html | work=American City Business Journals | title=Merrill Lynch invests $150M in Leor Energy | date=January 25, 2007}}
In April 2007, gross gas production from the Amoruso Field and the company's other properties in Robertson County, Texas, reached {{convert|200|e6ft3|e6m3|abbr=off|sp=us}} per day.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2007/04/02/daily41.html | title=East Texas gas play a winner for Leor Energy | work=American City Business Journals | date=April 5, 2007}}
In May 2007, Leor increased its footprint in the Deep Bossier by making an equity investment in Navasota Resources Ltd., LLP for over $100.0 million. Navasota held a two-thirds working interest in approximately {{convert|15000|acre|km2}} gross of Deep Bossier land in Robertson County, Texas. Navasota's land is adjacent to Leor's Amoruso Prospect.{{cite news | url=https://www.ogj.com/general-interest/article/17286728/leor-energy-invests-in-navasota-energy | title=Leor Energy invests in Navasota Energy | work=Oil & Gas Journal | date=June 5, 2007}}
In November 2007, Leor sold its Deep Bossier natural gas and land interests (including its 50% stake in the Amoruso Field) to EnCana (now Ovintiv) for $2.55 billion. This was Leor's first exploration program in the Deep Bossier during which time, in 24 months, production from the Amoruso Field grew from zero to more than 240 million gross cubic feet per day.{{cite press release | title=EnCana to acquire partner Leor Energy's interests in highly prolific Deep Bossier gas fields of East Texas for US$2.55 billion | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2007-11-05/encana-to-acquire-partner-leor-energy-s-interests-in-highly-k5wvm68s | publisher=PR Newswire | date=November 5, 2007}}{{Cite news | url=https://www.ogj.com/general-interest/article/17286201/encana-acquiring-leor-energys-deep-bossier-assets | title=EnCana acquiring Leor Energy's Deep Bossier assets | work=Oil & Gas Journal | date=November 5, 2007}}{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB119426233219982423 | title=EnCana to Buy Natural-Gas Interests From Leor Energy for $2.55 Billion | first=Kathy | last=Shwiff | work=The Wall Street Journal | date=November 5, 2007 | url-access=subscription}}{{Cite news | url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/encana-drops-25-billion-for-control-of-texas-gas-field/article22502905/ | title=EnCana drops $2.5-billion for control of Texas gas field | first=JOHN | last=PARTRIDGE | work=The Globe and Mail | date=November 5, 2007 | url-access=registration}}{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/06/business/worldbusiness/06fobriefs-ENCANABUYSGA_BRF.html | title=Canada: Encana Buys Gas Partner | work=Bloomberg News | publisher=The New York Times | date=November 6, 2007 | url-access=subscription}}
Aguiar was recognized by Oil and Gas Investor magazine as its 2007 Executive of the Year.{{cite news | url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/new-clues-in-the-mysterious-disappearance-of-multimillionaire-guma-aguiar | title=New Clues in the Mysterious Disappearance of Multimillionaire Guma Aguiar | first=Matthew | last=DeLuca | work=The Daily Beast | date=July 13, 2017}}
In 2012, Aguilar disappeared at sea off the coast of Florida.
In September 2015, the company was acquired by Comancheria Energy Resources.{{cite press release | url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comancheria-energy-resources-llc-acquires-leor-resources-llc-300151104.html | title=Comancheria Energy Resources, LLC acquires Leor Resources, LLC | publisher=PR Newswire | date=September 29, 2015}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Category:2003 establishments in Texas
Category:2015 disestablishments in Texas
Category:American companies disestablished in 2015
Category:American companies established in 2003
Category:Defunct energy companies of the United States
Category:Energy companies disestablished in 2015
Category:Energy companies established in 2003
Category:Non-renewable resource companies established in 2003