CALGARY, March 9, 2017 /CNW/ – Enerplus Corporation (TSX & NYSE: ERF) announces that it has entered into definitive agreements to sell various Canadian properties located in Alberta and southwest Saskatchewan for aggregate proceeds of $67.3 million, before customary closing adjustments. Enerplus is making corresponding adjustments to its 2017 guidance to reflect the impact of these divestments.
The properties to be divested include the majority of Enerplus’ shallow gas assets, as well as its Brooks waterflood property. These divestments are a part of Enerplus’ portfolio optimization strategy as the Company continues to focus on its larger-scale, higher-margin assets in Canada and the United States that are expected to drive long-term profitable growth.
With these divestments, Enerplus expects to realize a $0.60 per BOE reduction in overall corporate operating expense, driving further margin improvement, and a 60% reduction in its overall well count as Enerplus continues to actively manage its abandonment and reclamation liabilities.
Key information regarding the divestments:
Current production: |
7,300 BOE per day (66% Natural Gas) |
Operating cost: |
$18.00 per BOE |
Net wells divested: |
3,200 |
These transactions are expected to close by mid-April 2017.
Scotia Waterous and RBC Capital Markets are acting as financial advisers to Enerplus.
2017 Adjusted Guidance
Enerplus is adjusting its 2017 guidance to reflect the divestments announced today. With minimal capital allocated to the divested assets, the Company’s 2017 capital budget is unchanged. Production has been adjusted to reflect the approximate nine-month impact of the divested volumes on annual average production, as well as the full impact on fourth quarter production. As a result of the higher proportion of U.S. production following the divestments, the Company’s average royalty and production tax rate is forecast to increase by 1% to 24%. As mentioned above, annual operating expense guidance has been reduced by $0.60 per BOE. Transportation expense is expected to increase by $0.10 per BOE due to the higher proportion of U.S. production, and G&A expense per BOE is expected to modestly increase due to the lower overall production volumes.
The table below provides the Company’s updated guidance.
Revised Guidance |
Original Guidance |
|
Capital spending |
$450 million |
$450 million |
Average annual production |
81,000 – 85,000 BOE/d |
86,000 – 90,000 BOE/d |
Q4 average production |
86,000 – 91,000 BOE/d |
92,000 – 97,000 BOE/d |
Average annual crude oil and natural gas liquids production |
38,500 – 41,500 bbls/d |
40,000 – 43,000 bbls/d |
Q4 average crude oil and natural gas liquids production |
43,000 – 48,000 bbls/d |
45,000 – 50,000 bbls/d |
Average royalty and production tax rate |
24% |
23% |
Operating expense |
$7.25 per BOE |
$7.85 per BOE |
Transportation expense |
$4.00 per BOE |
$3.90 per BOE |
Cash G&A expense |
$1.85 per BOE |
$1.80 per BOE |
About Enerplus
Enerplus Corporation is a responsible developer of high quality crude oil and natural gas assets in Canada and the United States committed to creating value for its shareholders through a disciplined capital investment strategy.