CALGARY, Dec. 10, 2013 /CNW/ – TORC Oil & Gas Ltd. (“TORC” or the “Company”) (TSX: TOG) is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has approved a 2014 capital budget of $125 million. TORC’s strategic objectives associated with the 2014 capital budget are consistent with the Company’s long term objectives of delivering disciplined growth in combination with a sustainable and growing dividend.
TORC’s 2014 capital budget is specifically focused on:
- Investing in high rate of return light oil opportunities across the Company’s deep development drilling inventory;
- Improving capital efficiencies through development program cost reductions achieved by pad drilling, rig efficiencies, and drilling and completion advancements;
- Achieving per share production growth through an efficient capital program focused on high graded drilling opportunities;
- Maintaining the Company’s 25% production decline rate by managing the pace of development drilling; and
- Maintaining TORC’s strong financial position and flexibility to take advantage of additional growth opportunities as they arise.
TORC’s $125 million capital program in 2014 is focused on light oil development projects with the majority of the capital directed to drilling, completions and tie-ins (approximately 90%). The capital program is concentrated on the Company’s three primary core areas of the Cardium in central Alberta, Monarch in southern Alberta and southeast Saskatchewan.
2014 Budget Highlights
In the Cardium, TORC plans to drill 29 gross (17.9 net) wells across the Company’s land position. The Company has identified over 90 net light oil focused development sections in the Cardium with over 300 net undrilled locations. The 2014 budget represents less than 6% of this high quality development inventory. TORC’s development plans for the Cardium trend represent approximately 55% of the Company’s 2014 budget.
At Monarch, TORC plans to drill 3 gross (3.0 net) development wells in addition to completing the Company’s first development well which is currently being drilled. This initial development project is focused on demonstrating repeatability of results and cost reductions to further enhance economics of this large scale light oil play. The Company has identified over 20 net sections that will be the focus of the initial development project. TORC continues to have exposure to over 150 net prospective sections in the Monarch play. Monarch will comprise approximately 25% of the Company’s 2014 budget.
In southeast Saskatchewan, TORC plans to drill 14 net wells in 2014. These 14 net wells will all be focused on the Company’s conventional assets in southeast Saskatchewan. This represents approximately 10% of the Company’s currently identified conventional development drilling inventory of over 130 net locations. These wells are characterized by their lower risk nature and high rates of return driven by their lower capital costs, high netbacks and the favourable royalty regime in southeast Saskatchewan. Southeast Saskatchewan activity will comprise approximately 20% of the Company’s 2014 budget.
Production Guidance
2013 exit guidance is for production to exceed 9,800 boepd (85% light oil and liquids). TORC anticipates that the 2014 budget will result in 2014 average production of greater than 10,100 boepd (85% light oil and liquids). TORC expects to exit 2014 at greater than 10,450 boepd (85% light oil and liquids) representing a 7% growth rate over exit 2013. The Company continues to maintain its outlook of a steady 25% decline profile even with the projected growth in production. This steady and predictable decline profile continues to provide TORC with the production base to achieve disciplined growth and a sustainable dividend.
Dividend Increase
Commensurate with increasing production per share, TORC’s Board of Directors has approved an 8% increase to the Company’s annual dividend. Accordingly, effective December 16, 2013, TORC’s annual dividend will be increased from $0.50 per year ($0.0417 per month) to $0.54 per year ($0.045 per month). On this basis, TORC shareholders of record on December 31, 2013 will receive the increased dividend for the month of December payable January 15, 2014.
Financing Disciplined Growth Budget and Increased Dividend
Annual cash flow for 2014 is anticipated to be approximately $165 million based on average production of 10,100 boepd and C$90 Edmonton light oil and C$3.00 per mcf AECO pricing. TORC’s cash requirement in 2014 to fund the $125 million capital program plus $38 million in cash dividends is approximately $163 million, which is expected to provide a payout ratio of less than a 100% while achieving 7% production growth.
TORC’s net debt to cash flow continues to be below one times, as year-end 2013 net debt is estimated to be less than $150 million relative to a $350 million credit facility providing significant financial strength and flexibility.
To provide additional certainty around its guidance, TORC has undertaken an active commodity hedging program to further protect core capital spending requirements and dividend policy. TORC currently has 5,000 bbls/d of oil production hedged through the remainder of 2013 and an average of 3,000 bbls/d currently hedged in 2014.
OUTLOOK
TORC has built a sustainable growth platform of light oil focused assets. The stability of the high quality, low decline, light oil assets in southeast Saskatchewan combined with the low risk Cardium development inventory in central Alberta and exposure to the emerging light oil resource play at Monarch in southern Alberta positions TORC to provide a sustainable dividend along with value creation through a disciplined growth strategy.
TORC has the following key operational and financial attributes:
High Netback Production | 2013E Exit: greater than 9,800 boepd (~85% light oil & NGLs) 2014E Avg: greater than 10,100 boepd (~85% light oil & NGLs) 2014E Exit: greater than 10,450 boepd (~85% light oil & NGLs) |
Reserves (1) | 25.9 mmboe (85% light oil & NGLs) Total Proved |
40.3 mmboe (84% light oil & NGLs) Total Proved plus Probable | |
Southeast Saskatchewan Light Oil Development Inventory |
Greater than 130 net undrilled locations |
Cardium Light Oil Development Inventory |
Greater than 300 net undrilled locations |
Emerging Light Oil Resource Exposure | Greater than 150 net sections at Monarch |
Sustainability Assumptions | Corporate decline ~25% Light Oil Full Cycle Capital Efficiency ~$40,000/boe/d (IP 365) $45 per boe cash netback ($90 Edm light) |
2014E Cash Flow (2) | ~$165 million |
2014 Maintenence Capex 2014 Growth Capex 2014 Total Capex |
~$100 million ~$25 million $125 million |
Annual Dividend (paid monthly) | $0.54 per share $50 million $38 million (net of CPPIB share dividend participation) |
Targeted Growth | 7% ($90 Edm light) |
Targeted All-in-Payout Ratio | Less than 100% |
Net Debt & Bank Line | Estimated net debt of less than $150 million at year-end 2013 Bank line of $350 million, greater than 55% undrawn at year-end |
Debt/Cash Flow | <1.0x (year-end 2013) |
Pro Forma Shares Outstanding | 91 million (basic) |
99 million (fully-diluted) | |
Tax Pools | Greater than $1 billion |
Notes: | ||
(1) | Company gross reserves being pro forma TORC’s working interest share before deduction of royalties and without including any royalty interests of pro forma TORC. Based on the independent reserves reports effective as of December 31, 2012 of the southeast Saskatchewan acquisition and TORC , respectively, prepared by GLJ Petroleum Consultants and Sproule Associates Limited, respectively, prepared in accordance with NI 51-101 and the COGE Handbook. | |
(2) | Based on $90 Edmonton Light and $3.00 AECO. |
READER ADVISORIES
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively “forward-looking information”) within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the Company’s plans and other aspects of TORC’s 2014 capital budget, strategic objectives, anticipated future operations, dividend increases, financial, operating and production results, including expected 2013 exit production,net debt and debt