Bonterra Energy Corp. Announces Second Quarter 2013 Results

CALGARY, ALBERTA–(Marketwired – Aug. 13, 2013) –

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

Bonterra Energy Corp. (Bonterra or the Company) (TSX:BNE) is pleased to announce its operating and financial results for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2013. The related unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes, as well as management’s discussion and analysis, are available on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com and on Bonterra’s website at www.bonterraenergy.com

The second quarter of 2013 has been an exceptional quarter. The Company had record production, revenue, funds flow, net earnings and a debt level that is favourable amongst its peers. On a six month basis, funds flow is $3.25 per share if the Spartan assets contribution is for 181 days or $3.12 for 157 days using the January 25, 2013 closing date. Kindly review the following disclosure for additional positive highlights.

Highlights

• Generated record fund flows from operations of $50.6 million ($1.65 per share) in the second quarter of 2013, as compared to $40.8 million ($1.47 per share; note 1) in the first quarter of 2013, an increase of 24.0 percent and $16.6 million ($0.84 per share) in the second quarter of 2012, an increase of 204.8 percent;

• Achieved a new average daily production record of 12,621 boe per day during the second quarter of 2013, compared to 11,887 boe per day in the first quarter of 2013 and 6,037 boe per day in the second quarter of 2012. Average daily production for the six month period was 12,256 (note 2; results would have been 12,870 boe per day), an increase of 96.5 percent over the same period in 2012. The increased production year over year is mainly due to the Spartan acquisition while quarter over quarter growth resulted primarily from strong production additions from the Pembina and Willesden Green Cardium drilling program;

• Substantially decreased operating costs to $11.44 per boe in the second quarter of 2013, a reduction of 11.4 percent over the first quarter of 2013 and 28.3 percent over the second quarter of 2012;

• Recorded cash netbacks of $43.52 per boe in the second quarter of 2013, an increase of 15.3 percent quarter over quarter and an increase of 43.9 percent over the same period in 2012 due mainly to higher realized commodity prices and decreased operating costs;

• Paid out $0.84 per share in cash dividends to shareholders in Q2 2013. This represents a payout ratio of 51 percent of funds flow which is on the very low end of the Company’s payout ratio guidance of 50 to 65 percent of funds flow;

• Completed a bought deal financing of 553,725 common shares at a price of $49.85 per common share for gross proceeds of $27.6 million. The financing closed subsequent to quarter end on July 2, 2013 and the funds will be used to increase the 2013 capital development budget from $90 million to $105 million and commence with studies to attempt to increase recovery of commodities;

• Maintained its strong balance sheet and reduced its net debt to cash flow ratio at June 30, 2013 to 1.25 to 1 times. This ratio has been further reduced as of July 2, 2013 with the proceeds of the bought deal financing of $27.6 million;

• Announced the promotion of Adrian Neumann, Vice President, Engineering and Operations to the position of Chief Operating Officer.

Note 1: Quarterly figures for Q1 2013 include the results of Spartan Oil Corp. (Spartan) for the period of January 25, 2013 to March 31, 2013; 65 days for Spartan and 90 days for Bonterra.

Note 2: Quarterly figures for Q1 2013 include the results of Bonterra and Spartan for 90 days.

Operations

Bonterra’s operational focus in the first half 2013 was to integrate the Spartan assets into its operations, accelerate its winter drilling program in the first quarter to minimize the impact of spring break-up and to actively manage its corporate decline. As a result, the Company has maintained its full year 2013 average daily production guidance at 12,000 boe per day, preserved its balance sheet strength, continued to pay out a large percentage of funds flow in the form of a monthly dividend and is in a position to continue to provide steady annual production and reserves growth of approximately five to 10 percent on both a total and per share basis.

Bonterra spent approximately $59.2 million on its capital development program during the first six months of the year and drilled 15 gross (14.8 net) operated Cardium horizontal wells and two (0.3 net) non-operated wells. In addition, Bonterra placed on production six (5.8 net) operated horizontal wells and four (1.0 net) non-operated horizontal wells that Spartan had drilled prior to Bonterra’s acquisition in January, 2013. The increased operating activities led to record production levels in the second quarter of 12,621 boe per day. Due to spring break-up, the Company typically spends little capital in the second quarter each year and now looks to focus its operations on an active second half of 2013.

As referenced above, Bonterra’s management and Board have elected to increase the capital development budget to $105 million for the year. The Company currently plans to drill an additional 16 (15.9 net) operated wells and 21 (4.25 net) non-operated wells in the third and fourth quarters. The capital development program will continue to delineate the main Pembina pool and in the fourth quarter of the year the focus will shift to pad drilling in the Company’s Carnwood area.

Bonterra’s land position in the Carnwood area includes 38 gross (35 net) sections representing approximately 152 gross (140 net) locations at four wells per section. As the Company continues to explore increased well density within its land base to increase its ultimate oil recovery factor, it estimates that six to eight wells per section will likely become the standard for development of its Cardium assets. This would increase the Carnwood drilling inventory substantially to approximately 305 gross (280 net) locations at eight wells per section for this one area of its Cardium land base.

Bonterra’s drilling in the Carnwood area has included the 1-10-048-07 well on the western edge which was completed with a nitrogen foam frac with 80 meter spacing and the 03-34-047-05 well which was completed with a nitrified slickwater frac with 80 meter spacing on the eastern edge of the area. These wells have recorded some of Bonterra’s best production results to date and have produced 29,139 barrels of oil and 32,636 barrels of oil, respectively, over a five month cumulative period. With the outer edges of the Carnwood area delineated, the Company now intends to target increased well density throughout the area with a targeted pad drilling program. Pad drilling involves drilling multiple horizontal wells from a single surface location and should result in fewer drilling days, reduced costs, onstream efficiencies and a smaller environmental footprint. Based on the results of the Carnwood program, the Company anticipates that increased well density and pad drilling will be used across its Cardium asset base to lower costs, drive higher recovery rates and ultimately produce higher rates of return.

Bonterra has had great success thus far in applying new drilling and completion technologies, improving well performance and reducing costs. In addition, Bonterra is also investigating the potential for secondary recovery methods on its Cardium lands and will look to further calibrate its development of the Cardium assets to optimize overall recoveries.

Financial

Oil and natural gas prices continued to increase during the second quarter of 2013 and the Company’s average realized price for crude oil was $89.38 per barrel in Q2 2013, an increase of 6.2 percent over the first quarter of the year and an increase of 10.4 percent over the second quarter of 2012. As a result of this improved price environment and the significant production volume increases, revenue and cash flow from operations for the first six months of 2013 increased 114.6 percent and 134.6 percent, respectively, over the same period in 2012.

The Company’s netback of $40.74 per BOE for the first six months of 2013 represents an increase of 22.7 percent year over year but remains below the Company’s 2013 annual guidance of approximately $43.00 per BOE as natural gas accounted for 29 percent of production within this timeframe. However, the cash netback for the second quarter of 2013 was $43.52 per boe and the Company continues to anticipate that the cash netback will be within guidance for the full year 2013 as the remaining wells in the 2013 drilling program are expected to have an increased liquids/gas ratio.

Bonterra has maintained its focus on balance sheet strength and conservative financial management. Subsequent to quarter end, the Company closed a bought deal financing of 553,725 common shares at a price of $49.85 per common share for gross proceeds of $27.6 million. The funds will be used to temporarily reduce outstanding bank debt which will result in a reduction of the debt to cash flow ratio. The Company believes it is vital to maintain its net debt to cash flow ratio in the 1 to 1 to 1.5 to 1 times range. At June 30, 2013, the Company was well within its guidance at 1.25 to 1 times and the Company will continue to closely monitor this ratio by managing its cash flow, capital expenditure ranges and dividend payment over the year to ensure that it remains within its targeted guidance for the full year 2013.

Outlook

Bonterra is very well-positioned for continued improvements in operational performance and results across the second half of the year and well into the future. It has one of the largest inventory of drilling locations in the industry. The Company looks forward to maintaining its focus on the long-term development of its extensive and high-quality Cardium assets and in the near-term, will execute on the Company’s highest economic return opportunities to maximize returns and enhance shareholder value.

Cautionary Statement

This summarized news release should not be considered a suitable source of information for readers who are unfamiliar with Bonterra Energy Corp. and should not be considered in any way as a substitute for reading the full report. For the full report, please go to www.bonterraenergy.com.

Use of Non-IFRS Financial Measures

Throughout this release the Company uses the terms “payout ratio” and “cash netback” to analyze operating performance, which are not standardized measures recognized under IFRS and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. These measures are commonly utilized in the oil and gas industry and are considered informative by management, shareholders and analysts. These measures may differ from those made by other companies and accordingly may not be comparable to such measures as reported by other companies.

The Company calculates payout ratio by dividing cash dividends paid to shareholders by cash flow from operating activities, both of which are measures prescribed by IFRS which appear on our statements of cash flows. We calculate cash netback by dividing various financial statement items as determined by IFRS by total production for the period on a barrel of oil equivalent basis.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this release include statements which contain words such as “anticipate”, “could”, “should”, “expect”, “seek”, “may”, “intend”, “likely”, “will”, “believe” and similar expressions, relating to matters that are not historical facts, and such statements of our beliefs, intentions and expectations about development, results and events which will or may occur in the future, constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and are based on certain assumptions and analysis made by us derived from our experience and perceptions. Forward-looking information in this RELEASE includes, but is not limited to: expected cash provided by continuing operations; cash dividends; future capital expenditures, including the amount and nature thereof; oil and natural gas prices and demand; expansion and other development trends of the oil and gas industry; business strategy and outlook; expansion and growth of our business and operations; and maintenance of existing customer, supplier and partner relationships; supply channels; accounting policies; credit risks; and other such matters.

All such forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors we believe are appropriate in the circumstances. The risks, uncertainties, and assumptions are difficult to predict and may affect operations, and may include, without limitation: foreign exchange fluctuations; equipment and labour shortages and inflationary costs; general economic conditions; industry conditions; changes in applicable environmental, taxation and other laws and regulations as well as how such laws and regulations are interpreted and enforced; the ability of oil and natural gas companies to raise capital; the effect of weather conditions on operations and facilities; the existence of operating risks; volatility of oil and natural gas prices; oil and gas product supply and demand; risks inherent in the ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to meet current and future obligations; increased competition; stock market volatility; opportunities available to or pursued by us; and other factors, many of which are beyond our control.

Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, this forward-looking information and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking information will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what benefits will be derived there from. Except as required by law, Bonterra disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

The forward-looking information contained herein is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

The TSX does not accept responsibility for the accuracy of this release.