SecProbe.io

Filing text and metadata
Intelligence Terminal Search Probe Scores Topics IPO Watchlist Monthly Activity About API

SEC Comment Letter for GRAN TIERRA ENERGY INC. (GTE) (CIK 0001273441) (GTE) — May 15, 2006

GRAN TIERRA ENERGY INC. (GTE) (CIK 0001273441)
Date: May 15, 2006 · CIK: 0001273441 · Accession: 0000000000-06-022867

AI Filing Summary & Sentiment

Sentiment
Urgency
Document Type
Confidence
SEC Posture
Company Posture

Summary

Reasoning

File numbers found in text: 333-111656, 333-132352

Referenced dates: April 7, 2006, April 7, 2006

Date
May 10, 2006
Author
Not clearly detected
Form
UPLOAD
Company
GRAN TIERRA ENERGY INC. (GTE) (CIK 0001273441)

Letter

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 DIVISION OF CORPORATION FINANCE Mail Stop 7010 May 10, 2006 Mr. Dana Coffield President and Chief Executive Officer Gran Tierra Energy Inc. 300, 611-10th Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2R 0B2, Canada Form 10-KSB/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, Filed April 21, 2006 File No. 333-111656 Form 8-K Filed April 7, 2006 File No. 333-111656

Re: Gran Tierra Energy Inc. Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form SB-2 Filed April 21, 2006 File No. 333-132352

Dear Mr. Coffield:

We have reviewed your amended filings on Form SB-2 and Form 10- KSB, filed in response to our comment letter dated April 7, 2006, along with the filings on Form 8-K noted above and have the following comments. Where indicated, we think you should revise your documents in response to these comments. If you disagree, we will consider your explanation as to why our comment is inapplicable or a revision is unnecessary. Please be as detailed as necessary in your explanation. In some of our comments, we may ask you to provide us with information so we may better understand your disclosure. After reviewing this information, we may raise additional comments.

Please understand that the purpose of our review process is to assist you in your compliance with the applicable disclosure requirements and to enhance the overall disclosure in your filing. We look forward to working with you in these respects. We

welcome any questions you may have about our comments or any other aspect of our review. Feel free to call us at the telephone numbers listed at the end of this letter.

General

1. You will expedite the review process if you address each portion of every numbered comment that appears in this letter. Provide complete responses and, where disclosure has changed, indicate precisely where in the marked version of the amendment you file we will find your responsive changes. Similarly, to minimize the likelihood that we will reissue comments, please make corresponding changes where applicable throughout your documents. For example, we might comment on one section or example, but our silence on similar or related disclosure elsewhere does not relieve you of the need to make appropriate revisions elsewhere in the same document or other document as appropriate.

Registration Statement on Form SB-2

Recent Developments, page 2

2. Expand this section to clearly discuss the reverse takeover cited in prior comment 3. We note your discussion on page 39.

3. We note your response to our prior comment 5. We note your updated disclosure in regard to the loan. Please explain what you mean when you say the loan "will be extinguished."

4. We note your response to our prior comment 6. You indicated in your response that you provided copies of the private placement memorandum and Canadian offering memorandum. However, these documents were not included in the package you sent us. Please provide these documents.

5. Please separate your discussion of the first and second private placements to more clearly state the total proceeds received from each placement (we note that you discuss the first placement and the first closing on the second placement together), the amount of cash commissions paid from the proceeds, identifying the persons who received the commissions, the net proceeds to you, and the use of proceeds. Please also provide the same information for the third offering.

6. You provide two different dates for the date of the first closing on the second private placement, September 27 and October 27. Please revise or advise.

Selling Stockholders, page 17

7. We note your response to our prior comment 11. However, there are still several entities for which the identity of the natural persons with power to vote or to dispose of the securities offered for resale has not been provided. Please provide this information.

Management`s Discussion and Analysis

Overview, page 28

8. We note you have included a discussion about your ability to continue as a going concern in response to prior comment 13 in our letter dated April 7, 2006. As previously explained, you should also disclose that there is substantial doubt about your ability to continue as a going concern, and include details of your plans to overcome your financial difficulties, to comply with the guidance in FRC Section 607.02; comparable disclosure is generally required in your financial statements under this guidance. In addition, indicate what you believe the outcome will be in the event your plans are unsuccessful in addressing the going concern uncertainty.

Plan of Operations, page 28 9. Within your response to prior comment 16 in our letter dated April 7, 2006, you state the consummations of the acquisitions you announced in the Form 8-Ks are not considered probable. Given that you had deemed information about these agreements to be material to security holders in filing the Form 8-K`s, coupled with the level of detail of the terms of the agreements you have provided in the press releases, it is unclear to us how you reached the conclusion that these acquisitions are not probable.

The determination of a transaction`s probability of occurrence is based on facts and circumstances; however, FRC 506.02.c.ii, states that the consummation of a transaction is considered probable whenever the registrant`s financial statements alone would not provide investors adequate financial information with which to make an investment decision. Based on the information you have disclosed, these potential acquisitions would appear to be material to your current and future financial position, results of operations and cash flows, and would therefore trigger a reporting obligation under this guidance.

Please provide further detail to support the conclusions you have reached regarding the probability of these acquisitions as well as the potential acquisition of Argosy Energy International, announced in the Form 8-K that you filed on April 7, 2006. It should be clear how you have evaluated each aspect of each transaction, including the likelihood of satisfying each of the contingencies mentioned.

If you continue to regard these transactions as being not probable, you should submit the draft disclosure revisions that you would file in amendments to each of the Form 8-Ks to advise readers of your skepticism and uncertainty surrounding the prospect of completing these acquisitions, including details sufficient to understand the basis for your earlier disclosures, and the reasons that you believe financial information about the targets is no longer relevant. Under these circumstances, disclosure in your registration statement would also be essential to correct any misperceptions over the likelihood of occurrence.

To the extent these business combinations are considered probable, you will be required to include financial statements of these businesses along with related pro forma financial information to comply with Item 310(c) and (d) of Regulation SB. Please note we presume these acquisitions would be considered significant at the greater than 50% level; therefore, the acquiree financial statements would need to be included within the registration statement.

In addition, please discuss the terms of each of these agreements (including the amount of any break-up fees), how you intend to fund the acquisitions, your increase in your capital expenditures, and how you anticipate these interests will impact your future results of operations and cash flows. If required by Item 601(10)(C) of Regulation S-B, please also file the acquisition agreements as exhibits.

10. You state that no drilling is planned for 2006 and that your current cash and expected cash flow will fund operations through 2006. Please add a discussion of how your 2006 business plan will change if you close on any of your three planned acquisitions. We note that in the press release filed as an exhibit to the Form 8-K filed April 7, 2006, you state that "[a] total of nine (gross) wells have been planned for 2006/early 2007...." You also state that the corresponding capital budget is approximately $25 million.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity, page 29

11. We note your response to our prior comment 20. You state that after escrow is terminated, you will still be subject to additional cash calls. Please discuss the reasons for any additional cash calls, their amount and their anticipated timing.

Business

The Argentina Acquisitions, page 38

12. We note your response to our prior comment 22. We re-issue this comment in light of your need to discuss the CGC acquisition in the registration statement. Please state whether your pending acquisition of interests of CGC include any of the properties listed in this section. If so, please discuss how the acquisition would affect your operations.

Directors, Executive Officers, Promoters and Control Persons

Board Committees, page 47

13. We note your statement that your audit committee charter will be available on your website as soon as practicable. We also note that you filed your audit committee charter as an exhibit to your Form 10- KSB filed on March 10, 2006. Please advise as to when your audit committee charter will be posted to your website.

2005 Equity Incentive Plan

Duration, Amendment and Termination, page 52

14. You state that the plan terminates on November 10, 2005. The incentive plan filed as an exhibit states that the plan will expire on November 10, 2015. Please revise or advise.

Description of Securities

Exchangeable Shares, page 57

15. We note your response to our prior comment 35. Please add a description of the exchangeable shares` preferences over the common stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the company. Please state that 1203647 Alberta Inc. is a subsidiary of Gran Tierra Energy, and describe how 1203647 Alberta Inc. will acquire the shares necessary to satisfy its obligations.

Indemnification; Limitation on Liability, page 58

16. We note your response to our prior comment 36. We re-issue this comment in part. Please identify any executive officers or directors who have signed such indemnity agreement(s).

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure, page 60

17. We note you have filed an Item 4.01 Form 8-K to announce your change in accountant in response to our prior comment 37 in our letter dated April 7, 2006. Please note that you must also provide the information required by Item 304 of Regulation SB in the Form SB- 2. Refer to Item 23 of the Form SB-2 if you require further clarification.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities, page II-2

18. We note your response to our prior comment 38. We re-issue this comment in part. Please file as an exhibit(s) the Escrow Agreement(s) referred to in the Subscription Agreements.

Exhibits, page II-5

19. The term of the agreement filed as exhibit 10.17 ended on March 31, 2006. Please file a current copy of the agreement.

Engineering Comments

Risk Factors, page 4

Risks Related to Our Business, page 4 20. Regarding response number 43 revise this proposed risk factor to include, as originally requested, the fact that in Argentina natural gas prices tend to be materially lower than in North America. Describe the effects this may have on your results as compared to operating in North America. Remove the disclosure concerning the full cost rule of accounting as it does not address this particular risk factor.

21. Regarding response number 44 revise your proposed risk factors to specifically explain the conditions in Argentina including current Argentine policies on the export of oil and gas. In addition, please disclose the fluctuations in Argentine exchange rates; whether you receive payment for your production in pesos rather than U.S. currency, and how all this may affect your future results.

Markets and Competitions, page 39 22. As previously requested expand your disclosure to include the price you receive in Argentina for your gas production.

Description of Property, page 41 23. As required by Industry Guide 2 disclose the amount of production of oil in barrels and gas in Mcf and the average price received for both oil in dollars per barrel and gas in dollars per Mcf for each of the last three years or for the amount of time you owned the properties.

Form 10-KSB/A for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2005

Amend your Form 10-KSB/A in response to the following comments within ten business days of the date of this letter. Also, comply with these comments in the Form SB-2 as applicable.

Financial Statements, page 20

General 24. We have read your response to prior comment 54 in our letter dated April 7, 2006, regarding your predecessor financial statements. Unfortunately, we are unable to waive the financial statement requirements of Item 310(a) of Regulation S-B, and the accommodation for Statements of Gross Revenues and Direct Lease Operating Expenses that is sometimes available under IRQ 7 to SAB Topic 2:D, in satisfying the requirements of Item 310(c) of Regulation S-B, is not generally extended to situations calling for the financial statements of a predecessor entity.

Therefore, we continue to believe it will be necessary for you to present complete audited financial statements of your predecessor for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2004. You must also present audited interim period predecessor financial statements for the period January 1, 2005 through August 31, 2005, and unaudited comparative interim period financial statements for the eight months ended August 31, 2004. In the event you are not able to provide these financial statements, we will be unable to declare any registration statements effective until you have filed audited financial statements for the operations of the predecessor for a time span equal to the periods for which audited financial statements are required by Item 310(a) of Regulation S-B.

You may correspond directly with the Division of Corporation Finance`s Office of Chief Accountant to the extent there is additional pertinent information you wish to have considered regarding this matter. 25. In your response to prior comment 54 in our letter dated April 7, 2006 you state that you believe your predecessor is only the 14% interest in the Palmar Largo joint venture. Please explain to us why you believe your 50% interests in the Nacatimbay and Ipaguazu concessions are not part of the predecessor entity. We understand currently the Nacatimbay property has a single producing well and the Ipaguazu property is non-producing. Within your response, please describe for us exploration and drilling activities that were occurring on these properties as of the date of the acquisition.

Report of Independent Registered Chartered Accountants, page 21 26. We have read your response to prior comment 56 in our letter dated April 7, 2006, setting forth your reasons for using an auditor based in Canada. Based on your specific facts and circumstances, we will not object to the use of a Canadian audit firm, provided that your independent accountant sends us a letter representing that it will follow the procedures set forth in Appendix K of the AICPA`s SEC Practice Section Reference Manual, when performing its audit of your financial statements. 27. Given that all of your operations are located in Argentina, coupled with your statement that you place reliance on your auditor`s relationship with its affiliate in Argentina, it appears the Argentinean affiliate of Deloitte & Touche participated in the audit of your financial statements, although the extent of it

Show Raw Text
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>LETTER
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.txt
<TEXT>

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

         DIVISION OF
CORPORATION FINANCE
Mail Stop 7010
      May 10, 2006

Mr. Dana Coffield
President and Chief Executive Officer
Gran Tierra Energy Inc.
300, 611-10th Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta T2R 0B2, Canada

      Re:	Gran Tierra Energy Inc.
      Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form SB-2
      	Filed April 21, 2006
      	File No. 333-132352

      	Form 10-KSB/A for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2005
      	Filed April 21, 2006
      	File No. 333-111656

      	Form 8-K
      	Filed April 7, 2006
      	File No. 333-111656

Dear Mr. Coffield:

      We have reviewed your amended filings on Form SB-2 and Form
10-
KSB, filed in response to our comment letter dated April 7, 2006,
along with the filings on Form 8-K noted above and have the
following
comments.  Where indicated, we think you should revise your
documents
in response to these comments.  If you disagree, we will consider
your
explanation as to why our comment is inapplicable or a revision is
unnecessary.  Please be as detailed as necessary in your
explanation.
In some of our comments, we may ask you to provide us with
information
so we may better understand your disclosure.  After reviewing this
information, we may raise additional comments.

	Please understand that the purpose of our review process is
to
assist you in your compliance with the applicable disclosure
requirements and to enhance the overall disclosure in your filing.
We
look forward to working with you in these respects.  We

welcome any questions you may have about our comments or any other
aspect of our review.  Feel free to call us at the telephone
numbers
listed at the end of this letter.

General

1.	You will expedite the review process if you address each
portion
of every numbered comment that appears in this letter.  Provide
complete responses and, where disclosure has changed, indicate
precisely where in the marked version of the amendment you file we
will find your responsive changes.  Similarly, to minimize the
likelihood that we will reissue comments, please make
corresponding
changes where applicable throughout your documents.  For example,
we
might comment on one section or example, but our silence on
similar or
related disclosure elsewhere does not relieve you of the need to
make
appropriate revisions elsewhere in the same document or other
document
as appropriate.

Registration Statement on Form SB-2

Recent Developments, page 2

2.	Expand this section to clearly discuss the reverse takeover
cited
in prior comment 3.  We note your discussion on page 39.

3.	We note your response to our prior comment 5.  We note your
updated disclosure in regard to the loan. Please explain what you
mean
when you say the loan "will be extinguished."

4.	We note your response to our prior comment 6.  You indicated
in
your response that you provided copies of the private placement
memorandum and Canadian offering memorandum.  However, these
documents
were not included in the package you sent us. Please provide these
documents.

5.	Please separate your discussion of the first and second
private
placements to more clearly state the total proceeds received from
each
placement (we note that you discuss the first placement and the
first
closing on the second placement together), the amount of cash
commissions paid from the proceeds, identifying the persons who
received the commissions, the net proceeds to you, and the use of
proceeds.  Please also provide the same information for the third
offering.

6.	You provide two different dates for the date of the first
closing
on the second private placement, September 27 and October 27.
Please
revise or advise.

Selling Stockholders, page 17

7.	We note your response to our prior comment 11.  However,
there
are still several entities for which the identity of the natural
persons with power to vote or to dispose of the securities offered
for
resale has not been provided.  Please provide this information.

Management`s Discussion and Analysis

Overview, page 28

8.	We note you have included a discussion about your ability to
continue as a going concern in response to prior comment 13 in our
letter dated April 7, 2006.  As previously explained, you should
also
disclose that there is substantial doubt about your ability to
continue as a going concern, and include details of your plans to
overcome your financial difficulties, to comply with the guidance
in
FRC Section 607.02; comparable disclosure is generally required in
your financial statements under this guidance.  In addition,
indicate
what you believe the
outcome will be in the event your plans are unsuccessful in
addressing
the going concern uncertainty.

Plan of Operations, page 28
9.	Within your response to prior comment 16 in our letter dated
April 7, 2006, you state the consummations of the acquisitions you
announced in the Form 8-Ks are not considered probable.  Given
that
you had deemed information about these agreements to be material
to
security holders in filing the Form 8-K`s, coupled with the level
of
detail of the terms of the agreements you have provided in the
press
releases, it is unclear to us how you reached the conclusion that
these acquisitions are not probable.

The determination of a transaction`s probability of occurrence is
based on facts and circumstances; however, FRC 506.02.c.ii, states
that the consummation of a transaction is considered probable
whenever
the registrant`s financial statements alone would not provide
investors adequate financial information with which to make an
investment decision.  Based on the information you have disclosed,
these potential acquisitions would appear to be material to your
current and future financial position, results of operations and
cash
flows, and would therefore trigger a reporting obligation under
this
guidance.

Please provide further detail to support the conclusions you have
reached regarding the probability of these acquisitions as well as
the
potential acquisition of Argosy Energy International, announced in
the
Form 8-K that you filed on April 7, 2006.  It should be clear how
you
have evaluated each aspect of each transaction, including the
likelihood of satisfying each of the contingencies mentioned.

If you continue to regard these transactions as being not
probable,
you should submit the draft disclosure revisions that you would
file
in amendments to each of the Form 8-Ks to advise readers of your
skepticism and uncertainty surrounding the prospect of completing
these acquisitions, including details sufficient to understand the
basis for your earlier disclosures, and the reasons that you
believe
financial information about the targets is no longer relevant.
Under
these circumstances, disclosure in your registration statement
would
also be essential to correct any misperceptions over the
likelihood of
occurrence.

To the extent these business combinations are considered probable,
you
will be required to include financial statements of these
businesses
along with related pro forma financial information to comply with
Item
310(c) and (d) of Regulation SB.  Please note we presume these
acquisitions would be considered significant at the greater than
50%
level; therefore, the acquiree financial statements would need to
be
included within the registration statement.

In addition, please discuss the terms of each of these agreements
(including the amount of any break-up fees), how you intend to
fund
the acquisitions, your increase in your capital expenditures, and
how
you anticipate these interests will impact your future results of
operations and cash flows.  If required by Item 601(10)(C) of
Regulation S-B, please also file the acquisition agreements as
exhibits.

10.	You state that no drilling is planned for 2006 and that your
current cash and expected cash flow will fund operations through
2006.
Please add a discussion of how your 2006 business plan will change
if
you close on any of your three planned acquisitions.  We note that
in
the press release filed as an exhibit to the Form 8-K filed April
7,
2006, you state that "[a] total of nine (gross) wells have been
planned for 2006/early 2007...."  You also state that the
corresponding capital budget is approximately $25 million.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity, page 29

11.	We note your response to our prior comment 20.  You state
that
after escrow is terminated, you will still be subject to
additional
cash calls.  Please discuss the reasons for any additional cash
calls,
their amount and their anticipated timing.

Business

The Argentina Acquisitions, page 38

12.	We note your response to our prior comment 22.  We re-issue
this
comment in light of your need to discuss the CGC acquisition in
the
registration statement. Please state whether your pending
acquisition
of interests of CGC include any of the properties listed in this
section.  If so, please discuss how the acquisition would affect
your
operations.

Directors, Executive Officers, Promoters and Control Persons

Board Committees, page 47

13.	We note your statement that your audit committee charter will
be
available on your website as soon as practicable.  We also note
that
you filed your audit committee charter as an exhibit to your Form
10-
KSB filed on March 10, 2006. Please advise as to when your audit
committee charter will be posted to your website.

2005 Equity Incentive Plan

Duration, Amendment and Termination, page 52

14.	You state that the plan terminates on November 10, 2005.  The
incentive plan filed as an exhibit states that the plan will
expire on
November 10, 2015. Please revise or advise.

Description of Securities

Exchangeable Shares, page 57

15.	We note your response to our prior comment 35.  Please add a
description of the exchangeable shares` preferences over the
common
stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the
distribution of
assets in the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up
of
the company.  Please state that 1203647 Alberta Inc. is a
subsidiary
of Gran Tierra Energy, and describe how 1203647 Alberta Inc. will
acquire the shares necessary to satisfy its obligations.

Indemnification; Limitation on Liability, page 58

16.	We note your response to our prior comment 36.  We re-issue
this
comment in part.  Please identify any executive officers or
directors
who have signed such indemnity agreement(s).

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
Financial Disclosure, page 60

17.	We note you have filed an Item 4.01 Form 8-K to announce your
change in accountant in response to our prior comment 37 in our
letter
dated April 7, 2006.  Please note that you must also provide the
information required by Item 304 of Regulation SB in the Form SB-
2.
Refer to Item 23 of the Form SB-2 if you require further
clarification.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities, page II-2

18.	We note your response to our prior comment 38.  We re-issue
this
comment in part.  Please file as an exhibit(s) the Escrow
Agreement(s)
referred to in the Subscription Agreements.

Exhibits, page II-5

19.	The term of the agreement filed as exhibit 10.17 ended on
March
31, 2006.  Please file a current copy of the agreement.

Engineering Comments

Risk Factors, page 4

Risks Related to Our Business, page 4
20.	Regarding response number 43 revise this proposed risk factor
to
include, as originally requested, the fact that in Argentina
natural
gas prices tend to be materially lower than in North America.
Describe the effects this may have on your results as compared to
operating in North America.  Remove the disclosure concerning the
full
cost rule of accounting as it does not address this particular
risk
factor.

21.	Regarding response number 44 revise your proposed risk
factors to
specifically explain the conditions in Argentina including current
Argentine policies on the export of oil and gas.  In addition,
please
disclose the fluctuations in Argentine exchange rates; whether you
receive payment for your production in pesos rather than U.S.
currency, and how all this may affect your future results.

Markets and Competitions, page 39
22.	As previously requested expand your disclosure to include the
price you receive in Argentina for your gas production.

Description of Property, page 41
23.	As required by Industry Guide 2 disclose the amount of
production
of oil in barrels and gas in Mcf and the average price received
for
both oil in dollars per barrel and gas in dollars per Mcf for each
of
the last three years or for the amount of time you owned the
properties.

Form 10-KSB/A for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2005

	Amend your Form 10-KSB/A in response to the following
comments
within ten business days of the date of this letter.  Also, comply
with these comments in the Form SB-2 as applicable.

Financial Statements, page 20

General
24.	We have read your response to prior comment 54 in our letter
dated April 7, 2006, regarding your predecessor financial
statements.
Unfortunately, we are unable to waive the financial statement
requirements of Item 310(a) of Regulation S-B, and the
accommodation
for Statements of Gross Revenues and Direct Lease Operating
Expenses
that is sometimes available under IRQ 7 to SAB Topic 2:D, in
satisfying the requirements of Item 310(c) of Regulation S-B, is
not
generally extended to situations calling for the financial
statements
of a predecessor entity.

Therefore, we continue to believe it will be necessary for you to
present complete audited financial statements of your predecessor
for
the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2004.  You must also present
audited interim period predecessor financial statements for the
period
January 1, 2005 through August 31, 2005, and unaudited comparative
interim period financial statements for the eight months ended
August
31, 2004.  In the event you are not able to provide these
financial
statements, we will be unable to declare any registration
statements
effective until you have filed audited financial statements for
the
operations of the predecessor for a time span equal to the periods
for
which audited financial statements are required by Item 310(a) of
Regulation S-B.

You may correspond directly with the Division of Corporation
Finance`s
Office of Chief Accountant to the extent there is additional
pertinent
information you wish to have considered regarding this matter.
25.	In your response to prior comment 54 in our letter dated
April 7,
2006 you state that you believe your predecessor is only the 14%
interest in the Palmar Largo joint venture.  Please explain to us
why
you believe your 50% interests in the Nacatimbay and Ipaguazu
concessions are not part of the predecessor entity.  We understand
currently the Nacatimbay property has a single producing well and
the
Ipaguazu property is non-producing.  Within your response, please
describe for us exploration and drilling activities that were
occurring on these properties as of the date of the acquisition.

Report of Independent Registered Chartered Accountants, page 21
26.	We have read your response to prior comment 56 in our letter
dated April 7, 2006, setting forth your reasons for using an
auditor
based in Canada.  Based on your specific facts and circumstances,
we
will not object to the use of a Canadian audit firm, provided that
your independent accountant sends us a letter representing that it
will follow the procedures set forth in Appendix K of the AICPA`s
SEC
Practice Section Reference Manual, when performing its audit of
your
financial statements.
27.	Given that all of your operations are located in Argentina,
coupled with your statement that you place reliance on your
auditor`s
relationship with its affiliate in Argentina, it appears the
Argentinean affiliate of Deloitte & Touche participated in the
audit
of your financial statements, although the extent of it