CALGARY, ALBERTA–(Marketwired – Feb. 23, 2017) – Zargon Oil & Gas Ltd. (the “Company” or “Zargon”) (TSX:ZAR)(TSX:ZAR.DB) announces fourth quarter 2016 production volumes and announces 2016 year end reserves. Zargon intends to release its 2016 audited financial results on March 15, 2017, after market close.
2016 FOURTH QUARTER PRODUCTION VOLUMES:
Fourth quarter 2016 production averaged 1,952 barrels of oil and liquids per day, a 33 percent decrease from the preceding quarter rate of 2,915 barrels of oil and liquids per day, reflecting $92.1 million of third quarter 2016 Southeast Saskatchewan and Killam, Alberta property sales. Similarly, fourth quarter 2016 natural gas production declined 12 percent from the preceding quarter’s rate of 3.39 million cubic feet per day, to 2.98 million cubic feet per day.
Total fourth quarter 2016 production averaged 2,449 barrels of oil equivalent per day, and compares with fourth quarter 2016 and calendar 2017 production guidance levels of 2,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day. The 2017 guidance levels are based on a $7.8 million 2017 capital budget that is fully funded by corporate cash flows (after hedging) based on a $52 US per barrel (West Texas Intermediate) oil price. Additional details regarding guidance, capital budgets, oil exploitation opportunities, hedging and corporate outlook are provided in Zargon’s December 12, 2016 press release and our website at www.zargon.ca.
2016 YEAR END RESERVES:
- Reflecting the 2016 property sales, Zargon’s 2016 year end proved and probable total reserves decreased 38 percent to 12.91 million barrels of oil equivalent. These reserves were appraised by Zargon’s independent reserves evaluator McDaniel & Associates Consultants Ltd. (“McDaniel”) and are effective as of December 31, 2016. On a 6:1 equivalency basis, oil and liquids comprised 87 percent (11.18 million barrels) of Zargon’s total proved and probable reserves at year end 2016, down slightly from an 89 percent weighting at the end of 2015. Zargon did not drill any wells in 2016, and did not acquire reserves in 2016; and consequently did not calculate finding, development and acquisition costs.
- Similarly, Zargon’s 2016 year end proved developed producing reserves decreased 32 percent to 7.08 million barrels of oil equivalent and included 6.28 million barrels of oil and liquids. Zargon’s proved developed producing reserve totals represent 55 percent of the Zargon’s total proved and probable reserves.
- Zargon’s oil properties are characterized by pressure supported reservoirs (waterflood, tertiary schemes or natural aquifers) that provide long-life, low-decline oil production, and consequently the McDaniel proved developed producing oil and liquids first year predicted decline is only 8 percent (11 percent excluding the Little Bow Alkaline Surfactant Polymer “ASP” project). Zargon’s proved developed producing oil and liquids reserve life index is 8.8 years and Zargon’s proved and probable producing oil and liquids reserve life index is 11.7 years. Finally, Zargon’s total proved and probable oil and liquids reserve life index is 15.6 years. The relatively large developed producing reserve life indices are indicative of low decline oil production from relatively mature properties.
- Excluding the conversion provisions of Zargon’s recently amended convertible debentures, Zargon’s year end 2016 “produce-out” proved and probable net asset value is calculated to be $3.27 per basic share. On a proved developed producing basis the “produce out” net asset value is calculated to be $1.70 per basic share. These calculations reflect McDaniel’s estimate of the Zargon properties’ future cash flow using a before tax 10 percent discount rate and forecast prices and costs plus an independent appraisal of Zargon’s undeveloped land less an allowance for the full future face value of the $57.5 million convertible debenture and working capital. The estimates do not include the potential conversion of $57.5 million of debentures into common shares at a price of $1.25 per share. Assuming the entire $57.5 million of debentures are converted into common shares, the “produce out” net asset values are $1.44 and $2.07 per basic share, for the respective proved developed producing and proved and probable reserve cases.
DETAILED RESERVE INFORMATION:
Reserves included herein are stated on a gross company working interest basis unless otherwise noted. All reserves information has been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 51-101 Standards of Disclosure (“NI 51-101”). In addition to the detailed information disclosed in this press release, more detailed information will be included in Zargon’s 2016 Annual Information Form to be filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and posted on our website (www.zargon.ca) in March 2017.
Based on the independent reserves evaluation conducted by McDaniel effective December 31, 2016, and prepared in accordance with NI 51-101, Zargon had proved and probable reserves of 12.91 million barrels of oil equivalent.
Company Reserves(1) | Barrels of Oil | ||
At December 31, 2016 | Oil and Liquids (mmbbl) |
Natural Gas (bcf) |
Equivalent (2) (mmboe) |
Proved producing | 6.28 | 4.75 | 7.08 |
Proved non-producing | 0.51 | 1.62 | 0.78 |
Proved undeveloped | 0.36 | 0.01 | 0.36 |
Total proved | 7.15 | 6.38 | 8.22 |
Probable additional producing | 2.08 | 1.43 | 2.31 |
Probable non-producing and undeveloped | 1.95 | 2.55 | 2.38 |
Total probable additional | 4.03 | 3.98 | 4.69 |
Total proved and probable producing | 8.36 | 6.18 | 9.39 |
Total proved and probable | 11.18 | 10.36 | 12.91 |
Proved producing reserve life index, years (3) | 8.8 | 4.4 | 7.9 |
Proved reserve life index, years (3) | 10.0 | 5.8 | 9.2 |
Proved and probable producing reserve life index, years (3) | 11.7 | 5.7 | 10.5 |
Proved and probable reserve life index, years (3) | 15.6 | 9.5 | 14.4 |
1. Company working interest reserves are gross reserves before deduction of royalties, boe (6:1). |
2. Boes may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion ratio of 6 mcf:1 bbl is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. |
3. Reserve life is calculated using annualized fourth quarter 2016 production. |
A reconciliation summary of the 2016 year end reserve assignments with the reserves reported in the 2015 year end report based on McDaniel’s forecast prices and costs is presented below:
Reserve Reconciliation (All Categories) | ||||||||||||||||||
Oil and Liquids (mmbbl) | Natural Gas (bcf) | Equivalents (mmboe) | ||||||||||||||||
Proved | Probable | Proved & Prob. |
Proved | Probable | Proved & Prob. |
Proved | Probable | Proved & Prob. |
||||||||||
December 31, 2015 | 11.67 | 6.91 | 18.58 | 8.45 | 5.45 | 13.90 | 13.08 | 7.82 | 20.90 | |||||||||
Discoveries and extensions | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |||||||||
Revisions | 0.20 | (1.43 | ) | (1.23 | ) | 0.87 | (0.57 | ) | 0.30 | 0.34 | (1.53 | ) | (1.19 | ) | ||||
Acquisitions and dispositions | (3.64 | ) | (1.45 | ) | (5.09 | ) | (1.66 | ) | (0.90 | ) | (2.56 | ) | (3.91 | ) | (1.60 | ) | (5.51 | ) |
Production | (1.08 | ) | – | (1.08 | ) | (1.28 | ) | – | (1.28 | ) | (1.29 | ) | – | (1.29 | ) | |||
December 31, 2016 | 7.15 | 4.03 | 11.18 | 6.38 | 3.98 | 10.36 | 8.22 | 4.69 | 12.91 |
In calendar 2016, Zargon’s net dispositions totaled 5.51 million barrels of proved and probable reserves and realized net proceeds of $92.1 million (unaudited). Excluding acquisitions and dispositions, Zargon’s 2016 capital program totaled $6.9 million (unaudited) and did not include the drilling of any wells. During the year, probable reserves for the peripheral regions of the Little Bow Phase 2 ASP project were removed which were partially responsible for a $47.8 million reduction in a McDaniel future proved and probable development capital from $112.1 million at December 31, 2015 to $64.3 million at December 31, 2016.
Reserve Reconciliation (Developed Producing) | ||||||||||||||||||
Oil and Liquids (mmbbl) | Natural Gas (bcf) | Equivalents (mmboe) | ||||||||||||||||
Proved | Probable | Proved & Prob. |
Proved | Probable | Proved & Prob. |
Proved | Probable | Proved & Prob. |
||||||||||
December 31, 2015 | 9.41 | 2.81 | 12.22 | 6.14 | 2.18 | 8.32 | 10.44 | 3.16 | 13.60 | |||||||||
Discoveries and extensions | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |||||||||
Revisions | 0.96 | 0.23 | 1.19 | 1.26 | (0.25 | ) | 1.01 | 1.17 | 0.19 | 1.36 | ||||||||
Acquisitions and dispositions | (3.01 | ) | (0.96 | ) | (3.97 | ) | (1.37 | ) | (0.50 | ) | (1.87 | ) | (3.24 | ) | (1.04 | ) | (4.28 | ) |
Production | (1.08 | ) | – | (1.08 | ) | (1.28 | ) | – | (1.28 | ) | (1.29 | ) | – | (1.29 | ) | |||
December 31, 2016 | 6.28 | 2.08 | 8.36 | 4.75 | 1.43 | 6.18 | 7.08 | 2.31 | 9.39 |
Zargon’s reserves are characterized by long-life, low-decline oil production with a high producing developed component that provides a corresponding high confidence level. In calendar 2016, net positive reserve revisions of 1.17 and 1.36 million barrels of oil equivalents were booked for the respective proved developed producing and proved and probable developed producing cases. As of December 31, 2016, proved developed producing reserves represent 86 percent of total proved reserves and 55 percent of the total proved and probable reserves.
NET ASSET VALUE:
Zargon’s oil, liquids and natural gas reserves were evaluated using McDaniel’s price forecasts effective January 1, 2017, prior to provisions for income taxes, interest, debt service charges, transaction costs and general and administrative expenses. The estimated values of future net revenue disclosed do not represent the fair market value of the reserves.
Before Tax Present Value of Future Net Revenue | ||||
(Forecast Prices and Costs) | ||||
Discount Factor | ||||
($ millions) | 0% | 5% | 10% | 15% |
Proved producing | 124.7 | 102.0 | 84.3 | 71.4 |
Proved non-producing | 14.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | 4.1 |
Proved undeveloped | 7.1 | 4.6 | 2.9 | 1.7 |
Total proved | 145.8 | 115.6 | 93.2 | 77.2 |
Probable additional producing | 71.2 | 41.7 | 27.1 | 19.3 |
Probable additional non-producing and undeveloped | 46.7 | 24.8 | 12.0 | 4.2 |
Total probable additional | 117.9 | 66.5 | 39.1 | 23.5 |
Total proved and probable producing | 195.9 | 143.7 | 111.4 | 90.7 |
Total proved and probable | 263.7 | 182.1 | 132.3 | 100.7 |
The following net asset value table shows what is customarily referred to as a “produce-out” net asset value calculation under which the current value of Zargon’s reserves would be produced at McDaniel’s forecast future prices and costs. The value is a snapshot in time as at December 31, 2016, and is based on various assumptions including commodity prices and foreign exchange rates that vary over time. In this analysis, the present value of the proved and probable reserves is calculated at a before tax 10 percent discount rate. In the net asset value calculation, Zargon’s 45 thousand net acres of land is valued at $2.2 million based on the independent firm of Seaton-Jordan & Associates Ltd. valuation as at December 31, 2016.
Net Asset Value | Proved Developed Producing Reserves |
Proved and Probable Reserves |
||
As at December 31, 2016 ($ millions) | ||||
Proved and probable reserves (PVBT 10%) (1) | 84 | 132 | ||
Undeveloped land | 2 | 2 | ||
Working capital (excluding unrealized derivative assets/liabilities) – unaudited | 24 | 24 | ||
Bank debt – unaudited | ||||
Convertible debenture – unaudited | (58 | ) | (58 | ) |
Net asset value | 52 | 100 | ||
Net asset value per share ($/basic share) (2) | 1.70 | 3.27 |
1. McDaniel’s estimate of future before tax cash flow discounted at PV 10 percent. |
2. Calculated using basic total shares outstanding at December 31, 2016 of 30.607 million shares, but does not incorporate the dilutive effect of the potential conversion of some of the convertible debentures into equity at $1.25 per share. |
McDaniel & Associates Consultants Ltd. Price Forecast (effective January 1, 2017)
WTI Crude Oil $US/bbl |
Edmonton Light Crude Oil $C/bbl |
Alberta Bow River Hardisty Crude Oil $C/bbl |
Western Canadian Select Crude Oil $C/bbl |
Alberta Heavy Crude Oil $C/bbl |
Sask Cromer Medium Crude Oil $C/bbl |
U.S. Henry Hub Gas Price $US/MMBtu |
Alberta AECO Spot Price $C/MMBtu |
US/CAN Exchange Rate $US/$CAN |
|
2017 | 55.00 | 69.80 | 54.40 | 53.70 | 46.50 | 62.80 | 3.40 | 3.40 | 0.750 |
2018 | 58.70 | 72.70 | 58.90 | 58.20 | 50.50 | 67.60 | 3.20 | 3.15 | 0.775 |
2019 | 62.40 | 75.50 | 62.70 | 61.90 | 54.00 | 70.20 | 3.35 | 3.30 | 0.800 |
2020 | 69.00 | 81.10 | 67.30 | 66.50 | 58.00 | 75.40 | 3.65 | 3.60 | 0.825 |
2021 | 75.80 | 86.60 | 71.90 | 71.00 | 61.90 | 80.50 | 4.00 | 3.90 | 0.850 |
2022 | 77.30 | 88.30 | 73.30 | 72.40 | 63.10 | 82.10 | 4.05 | 3.95 | 0.850 |
2023 | 78.80 | 90.00 | 74.70 | 73.80 | 64.40 | 83.70 | 4.15 | 4.10 | 0.850 |
2024 | 80.40 | 91.80 | 76.20 | 75.30 | 65.60 | 85.40 | 4.25 | 4.25 | 0.850 |
2025 | 82.00 | 93.70 | 77.80 | 76.80 | 67.00 | 87.10 | 4.30 | 4.30 | 0.850 |
2026 | 83.70 | 95.60 | 79.30 | 78.40 | 68.40 | 88.90 | 4.40 | 4.40 | 0.850 |
2027 | 85.30 | 97.40 | 80.80 | 79.90 | 69.60 | 90.60 | 4.50 | 4.50 | 0.850 |
2028 | 87.00 | 99.40 | 82.50 | 81.50 | 71.10 | 92.40 | 4.60 | 4.60 | 0.850 |
2029 | 88.80 | 101.40 | 84.20 | 83.10 | 72.50 | 94.30 | 4.65 | 4.65 | 0.850 |
2030 | 90.60 | 103.50 | 85.90 | 84.90 | 74.00 | 96.30 | 4.75 | 4.75 | 0.850 |
2031 | 92.40 | 105.50 | 87.60 | 86.50 | 75.40 | 98.10 | 4.85 | 4.85 | 0.850 |
Thereafter | +2%/yr | +2%/yr | +2%/yr | +2%/yr | +2%/yr | +2%/yr | +2%/yr | +2%/yr | 0.825 |