CALGARY, Alberta, Nov. 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Razor Energy Corp. (“Razor” or the “Company”) (TSXV:RZE) (www.razor-energy.com) is pleased to announce its third quarter 2017 financial and operating results. Selected financial and operational information is outlined below and should be read in conjunction with Razor’s unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and the Company’s website.
This has been the first full quarter of operations for Razor with both the Swan Hills assets acquired in the first quarter of 2017 and the Kaybob assets acquired in the second quarter of 2017. With continued efforts toward increasing production through reactivations and other optimization activities, Razor has achieved record production levels since October 1, 2017 of over 4,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day (“boe/d”), of which approximately 88% was light oil and NGLs.
THIRD QUARTER 2017 HIGHLIGHTS
- Achieved Q3-2017 production of 4,207 boe/d (88% liquids), up 33% from Q2-2017;
- Maintained a strong balance sheet, with net debt of $20.8 million and $12.2 million in cash;
- Capital expenditures totaled $4.2 million, focused on well reactivations, and pipelines and facilities upgrades; and
- Generated adjusted funds flow of $1.6 million ($0.10/share basic and diluted).
Razor’s strategy of growing production through well reactivations continued its momentum in the third quarter of 2017 with production growth of 33% from the second quarter of 2017, attributable to well reactivations and a full quarter of Kaybob production, with additional production growth from well reactivations expected in the fourth quarter of 2017, resulting in an anticipated December 2017 exit rate of 4,600 boe/d. Razor has also focused on reducing operating costs. Electricity, which accounted for 22% of operating costs in the third quarter of 2017, is down from 26% in the second quarter of 2017, and down over 8% on a per boe basis.
NEAR AND MEDIUM TERM OBJECTIVES
The Company’s near to medium term objectives include:
- Reducing operating costs;
- Reactivating suspended wells;
- Improving production efficiency through perforations, recompletions, workovers, stimulations, and waterflood optimizations;
- Completing technical and economic evaluations of future vertical and horizontal drilling locations; and
- Acquiring and consolidating complementary assets.
FINANCIAL AND OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS
The following tables summarizes key financial and operating highlights associated with the Company’s financial performance.
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
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($000’s unless otherwise stated) | 2017 | 2016 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||
Production 1 | ||||||||||||||||
Oil (bbl/d) | 2,702 | — | 2,324 | — | ||||||||||||
Gas (mcf/d) | 2,984 | — | 2,125 | — | ||||||||||||
NGL (bbl/d) | 1,009 | — | 861 | — | ||||||||||||
Total (boe/d) | 4,207 | — | 3,538 | — | ||||||||||||
Oil and natural gas revenue | ||||||||||||||||
Oil and NGL sales | 16,051 | — | 37,709 | — | ||||||||||||
Natural gas sales | 469 | — | 1,076 | — | ||||||||||||
Other revenue | 1,273 | — | 2,966 | — | ||||||||||||
Total revenue | 17,793 | — | 41,751 | — | ||||||||||||
Weighted average number of shares outstanding (basic and diluted) | 15,920,374 | — | 13,042,372 | — | ||||||||||||
Adjusted funds flow 2 | 1,584 | — | 3,684 | — | ||||||||||||
Adjusted funds flow per share (basic and diluted) | 0.10 | — | 0.28 | — | ||||||||||||
Funds flow 2 | 666 | — | 2,014 | — | ||||||||||||
Funds flow per share (basic and diluted) | 0.04 | — | 0.15 | — | ||||||||||||
Net loss | (2,519 | ) | (1 | ) | (5,906 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||||||
Net loss per share (basic and diluted) | (0.16 | ) | (5.44 | ) | (0.46 | ) | (5.44 | ) | ||||||||
Netback ($/boe) | ||||||||||||||||
Oil and gas sales | 42.68 | — | 45.29 | — | ||||||||||||
Other revenues | 3.29 | — | 3.46 | — | ||||||||||||
Revenue | 45.97 | — | 48.75 | — | ||||||||||||
Royalty | 8.24 | — | 9.3 | — | ||||||||||||
Operating expenses | 30.86 | — | 30.31 | — | ||||||||||||
Operating netback 2 | 6.87 | — | 9.14 | — | ||||||||||||
General and administrative costs | 3.44 | — | 3.82 | — | ||||||||||||
Acquisition and transaction costs | 0.02 | — | 1.33 | — | ||||||||||||
Interest expense | 1.99 | — | 2.35 | — | ||||||||||||
Corporate netback 2 | 1.42 | — | 1.64 | — | ||||||||||||
Capital expenditures | 4,229 | 20 | 6,182 | 20 | ||||||||||||
Net assets acquired | (1,082 | ) | — | 27,478 | — | |||||||||||
1) Production for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 represents the daily average production from February 1 to September 30, 2017. | ||||||||||||||||
2) Refer to “Non-IFRS measures”. | ||||||||||||||||
September 30, | December 31, | |||
($000’s) | 2017 | 2016 | ||
Total assets | 122,477 | 83 | ||
Cash | 12,191 | 8 | ||
Long-term debt (principal) | 30,000 | — | ||
Net debt 1 | 20,777 | 442 | ||
1) Refer to “Non-IFRS measures”. | ||||
OPERATIONAL UPDATE
Production in the third quarter of 2017 averaged 4,207 boe/d, of which 88% was light oil and NGLs. Production in the third quarter was up 33% from the second quarter of 2017 due to a full quarter of production from the Kaybob assets, acquired during the second quarter, and Razor’s well reactivation program.
Management has a heightened focus on improving operational efficiencies to drive down key cost drivers. Specifically, the Company is considering alternatives to reduce reliance on grid based electricity through electrical contract buydowns to align with current demand and investigating alternatives to grid supplied electrical power. Management is also executing various well reactivation projects to increase production and offset fixed lifting costs.
The top five cost drivers, fuel and electricity, labour, property taxes, repairs and workovers, accounted for 64% (72% – Q2-2017) of total operating expenses in the third quarter of 2017, with repairs and workovers accounting for 28% of operating expenses and fuel and electricity following closely at 24% of operating expenses.
CAPITAL PROGRAM
In the third quarter of 2017, Razor reactivated 12 gross (7.7 net) wells adding 391 boe/d (166 boe/d average in the third quarter) of production at a cost of $2.0 million. The Company also spent $725 thousand on non-operated facility and pipeline upgrades primarily in the Kaybob area along with $1.1 million on pipeline upgrades in the Swan Hills area which will enable the Company to reactivate 4 wells. These activities are expected to result in approximately 150 boe/d of additional production in the fourth quarter of 2017.
Board and management continue to take a cautious approach to capital spending, balancing operational growth and financial durability.
ABANDONMENT, RECLAMATION, AND REMEDIATION EXPENDITURES
Razor inherited decommissioning liabilities included in its Swan Hills and Kaybob acquisitions. The Company spent $0.9 million in Q3 2017 and a total of $1.7 million year to date. Razor estimates it will spend approximately $2.6 million in 2017 on these activities.
Furthermore, the Company has met the Alberta Energy Regulator’s requirements under its 2017 Inactive Well Compliance Program and continues to invest in end-of-life well and facility operations.
NORMAL COURSE ISSUER BID
On September 11, 2017, Razor announced its intention to commence a Normal Course Issuer Bid (NCIB) to repurchase shares in open market transactions on the TSXV. Under the NCIB, the Company may purchase for cancellation up to 796,861 of its common shares, which represents 5% of outstanding common shares at September 11, 2017. The NCIB will expire no later than September 13, 2018. During the third quarter of 2017, the Company repurchased and cancelled 115,900 common shares for $187 thousand.
As at September 30, 2017, the Company had a total of 15,821,334 common shares outstanding, and as at November 23, 2017, a total of 15,775,434 common shares outstanding.
ABOUT RAZOR
Razor is a publicly-traded junior oil and gas development and production company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, concentrated on acquiring, and subsequently enhancing, producing oil and gas properties primarily in Alberta. The Company is led by experienced management and a strong, committed Board of Directors, with a long term vision of growth focused on efficiency and cost control in all areas of the business.
Razor started operations in the first quarter of 2017, through an acquisition of producing assets in the Swan Hills area. In the second quarter of 2017, Razor added to its asset base with the acquisition of complementary assets in the Kaybob area. These predominantly light oil assets provide a foundation for strong shareholder return through abundant low risk operations. Razor plans to concurrently grow Swan Hills and Kaybob, and execute on similar acquisitions, using its experience to extract upside value.
Razor is a pivotal leading-edge enterprise, balancing creativity and discipline, focused on growing an enduring energy company.
Razor currently trades on TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker “RZE”.