Tethys Petroleum Stock Price, News & Analysis

Tethys Petroleum Limited (traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol TPL and on other markets under TETHF) is an oil and gas company focused on crude petroleum and natural gas extraction. The company describes itself as being focused on oil and gas exploration and production activities in Central Asia and, in several disclosures, in the Caspian Region. Its sector classification is Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction.

Tethys reports that a key area of activity is the Republic of Kazakhstan, where it is engaged in both producing fields and exploration blocks. According to multiple corporate updates, the company’s operations in Kazakhstan include oil production, natural gas production and processing, and ongoing seismic and exploration work across several licenses and contracts.

Core operations and fields

Tethys highlights the Kul-Bas Oil Field as an important oil asset. The company has reported oil production from wells identified as KBD-02, KBD-06, and KBD-07, and has described a transition of the Kul-Bas field to a Production Period (Commercial Production) under a subsoil use contract. The Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan issued an approval for the transition of the Kul-Bas oil field to the Production Period through July 27, 2048, with Tethys expecting to sign an addendum to the Kul-Bas subsoil use contract reflecting the approved terms.

The company has also described plans and activities related to the Central Processing Facility at the Kul-Bas Oil Field, including upgrading oil processing and storage capacity and executing construction phases. These activities include design and construction work on the field camp, oil processing and storage capacity at the Central Processing Facility, and related infrastructure.

On the natural gas side, Tethys reports production from the Kyzyloi and Akkulka Gas Fields in Kazakhstan. The company has indicated that natural gas production is sourced from multiple gas wells and that workover and well services operations have been undertaken to reactivate previously suspended gas wells. Tethys has also submitted an application to extend the subsoil use contract for the Akkulka Gas Field beyond its current expiry date, and has described this extension process as involving review and addendum procedures with the Ministry of Energy.

Exploration and seismic activities

In addition to producing assets, Tethys emphasizes exploration potential in its portfolio. The company has reported ongoing evaluation of the Aral-4 prospect, including seismic fieldwork, processing, and structural interpretation, with the goal of identifying drilling sites. Tethys has also referenced exploration work in the Diyar, Zhanasu, and Nurzhau blocks, including seismic processing, interpretation, and amendments to exploration contracts.

According to the company, amendments to exploration contracts for the Diyar, Zhanasu and Nurzhau blocks provide time to decide whether to drill deep wells or to return portions of geological allotments deeper than a specified depth in the Pre-Caspian blocks. The company states that it continues to analyze seismic data for prospectivity in these areas, including both northern and southern parts of certain blocks.

Infrastructure and processing projects

Tethys has described several infrastructure projects intended to support its oil and gas operations. These include:

• Upgrading the Central Processing Facility at the Kul-Bas Oil Field to increase oil processing and storage capacity through multiple construction phases.
• Work on gas turbines and gas compressors to increase gas utilization capacity and support higher oil production levels.
• Design and construction work for a Gas Processing Facility and a 6-inch, 18 kilometer gas pipeline, with the aim of processing and treating associated gas and increasing gas utilization capacity.
• Relocation and installation of a shift camp and installation of an overhead power line between the Central Processing Facility and the shift camp.

The company has stated that these projects are at various stages, including design, contract signing, construction, commissioning, and pre-commissioning, and that they are expected to support increased production and processing capabilities.

Regulatory and contractual environment

Tethys operates under subsoil use contracts in Kazakhstan, which govern the terms of exploration and production. The company has reported several regulatory developments, including:

• Approval by the Ministry of Energy for transitioning the Kul-Bas field to a Production Period, with an associated addendum to the subsoil use contract.
• An application to extend the subsoil use contract for the Akkulka Gas Field, with an expectation of regulatory review and subsequent contract addendum.
• Legal proceedings and appeals related to the Akkulka Oil contract (license #265), where Tethys has described court decisions and its intention to pursue further appeals.

These regulatory and legal processes are presented by the company as important to maintaining and extending its contractual rights over oil and gas assets.

Corporate governance, legal matters, and shareholder issues

Tethys has reported on several corporate and legal matters that affect its capital structure and governance. The company has disclosed an arbitration ruling issued by the International Arbitration Centre in Kazakhstan ordering a payment to Tethys and the cancellation of 18 million shares issued to Olisol Petroleum Limited. Subsequent court proceedings have confirmed enforcement of the award, and Tethys has described steps to enforce the judgment and clarify its authority to cancel these shares.

The company has also reported on challenges to the arbitration award by DSFK, Olisol, and related parties, and on court decisions rejecting these challenges. Tethys has described how the arbitration award and cancellation of shares affected voting at its Annual General Meeting, including the exclusion of a portion of shares held by Gazexport Limited from voting based on the arbitral award and related share transfers.

In addition, Tethys has disclosed that Fincraft Group LLP announced a non-binding letter of intent to acquire all issued and outstanding ordinary shares of Tethys not already owned by Fincraft. The company reports that its Board of Directors formed a Special Committee of independent Directors to review the proposal, requested additional information from Fincraft, and has engaged in ongoing communications regarding updated proposals. Tethys has also responded to statements made in a Fincraft press release and has provided its own perspective on the company’s progress and governance decisions.

Listing status and markets

Tethys states that its primary listing and principal trading market are on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV). The company has also reported a voluntary delisting process from the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE). According to a corporate update, the Board of Directors approved a resolution to proceed with voluntary delisting from KASE, submitted an application under the established procedure, and cited the absence of meaningful trading activity on KASE as the reason for concluding that maintaining a secondary listing there does not provide practical benefits to shareholders.

Financial reporting and investor information

Tethys has announced the filing of interim results for specific quarters with Canadian securities regulatory authorities, including financial statements, Management’s Discussion and Analysis, and other required forms. The company indicates that these documents are available through Canadian regulatory platforms and on its own website. Tethys has also mentioned updating a corporate presentation under its investor relations materials to provide more information and visibility into its operations and business outlook.

Geographic focus and strategy

Across multiple disclosures, Tethys consistently describes its strategy as focusing on oil and gas exploration and production in Central Asia and the Caspian Region. The company has stated that it believes significant potential exists in both exploration and in discovered deposits in this area. Its reported activities span producing oil and gas fields, infrastructure development, exploration prospects, seismic programs, and contractual arrangements that shape its long-term access to resources.

Company status

The available information indicates that Tethys continues to operate as an oil and gas exploration and production company with active operations, regulatory interactions, and corporate governance processes. The company has not reported a completed acquisition transaction or a cessation of operations in the provided materials. Instead, it continues to issue corporate updates, report financial results, and describe ongoing projects and legal matters.