NuVista Energy Ltd. Announces Fourth Quarter and Year End 2013 Results

CALGARY, ALBERTA–(Marketwired – March 6, 2014) – NuVista Energy Ltd. (“NuVista”) (TSX:NVA) is pleased to announce results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2013 and provide an update on its future business plans. 2013 was a turning point year for NuVista, and one where all of our key business and strategic targets were met or exceeded. We have:

• Transitioned the Bilbo (South) and Elmworth (North) sub-blocks of our Wapiti Montney play from delineation phase to full repeatable development;
• Continued our successful delineation and land expiry management program in the Wapiti area;
• Continued our rolling annual non-core divestiture program towards ever-enhanced focus;
• Significantly increased natural gas and natural gas liquids reserves and contingent resources;
• Substantially increased condensate yields in the Wapiti Montney play;
• Reduced well costs and cycle times, using advanced technology to improve our drilling and completion execution;
• Created a clearer than ever line-of-sight to increasing our Wapiti Montney typecurves and future growth initiatives; and
• Improved corporate netbacks and prudently managed our balance sheet.

All of the above has placed NuVista in a position where our growth outlook and financial strength have never been brighter. Although we expect stronger gas pricing to prevail, we have now positioned the company to provide strong long-term profitable growth in a $3.00 to $3.50/GJ AECO natural gas price environment due to our significant and high value condensate production. The fiscal environment has improved significantly due to the recent gas price increase in late 2013 and early 2014. There is a high probability this strength will continue throughout 2014 due to very low gas storage levels in North America, driven by the cold winter experienced in most regions. As a result of the recent price strength, we have increased our hedge positions to ensure a strong baseline price underpinning our capital plans and economic threshold. Beyond 2014, we expect natural gas prices to moderate but retain a higher base compared to the environment of 2012 and 2013. In this environment NuVista is in an excellent position to grow and thrive.

As we kick off 2014, our key strategies are centered upon rapid profitable Wapiti Montney development, continued delineation drilling, the completion and startup of our South Bilbo block compressor station and the new Keyera Pipeline to the Simonette Plant late in the second quarter of 2014. We will continue to enhance our focus through our non-core asset divestiture program and improve profitability as our higher netback Montney production increases. We are very pleased to reach yet another turning point for the company – where increasing cash flow and profitability provides the ability to grow on a self-funding basis in a $3.00 to $3.50/GJ AECO gas price environment, with any dependency on outside funding being merely related to the optionality of choosing an accelerated pace of growth.

Significant highlights for the fourth quarter and full year of 2013 include:

• Continued to reach IP30’s on additional Montney wells since our last announcement on February 6, 2014 including another Bilbo (South) block test with excellent results as shown below. Well 17, a new record high result, is at the far Southwestern end of the Bilbo block resulting in strong encouragement as our two strongest Bilbo wells bracket the Northeast and Southwest edges of the block:

• Increased our Elmworth (North) block typecurve assumptions from an ultimate recovery of 4.4 Bcf/well to 6.0 Bcf/well;
• Achieved the higher end of our annual guidance range. For the fourth quarter of 2013, NuVista’s average production was 18,034 Boe/d compared to average production of 17,692 Boe/d for the fourth quarter of 2012 and 18,532 Boe/d for the third quarter of 2013. The increase in production from the fourth quarter of 2012 is due to strong performance of new and existing Wapiti Montney wells offset by the sale of production as a result of 2012 and 2013 non-core dispositions;
• Achieved funds from operations of $21.5 million ($0.17/share, basic) for the three months ended December 31, 2013, a 32% increase from $16.3 million ($0.15/share, basic) for the three months ended December 31, 2012 due to stronger pricing and an increased contribution of higher netback Wapiti Montney volumes. For the year ended December 31, 2013, NuVista’s funds from operations were $75.3 million ($0.63/share, basic), a slight decrease from $75.7 million ($0.75/share, basic) in the same period of 2012 due to lower oil prices and divestitures offset by higher natural gas prices;
• Achieved corporate netbacks for the twelvemonths ended December 31, 2013 of $12.99/Boe and $11.91/Boe for the three months ended December 31, 2013. Netbacks are expected to continue rising as the higher netback Wapiti Montney production increasingly dominates our corporate production;
• Successfully executed an annual capital program of $224 million. Drilled 16 wells (15.6 net) in our Montney condensate rich resource play for 100% success rate while initiating spending on our Bilbo block compressor station and trunk lines;
• Entered into significant firm processing contracts, strategically providing our Wapiti Montney play with space to grow to at least 2016, with reduced operating cost and guaranteed downstream liquids fractionation access;
• Increased proved plus probable reserves (“2P”) by 48% versus 2012, to 129 MMBoe (up 64% excluding the effect of divested volumes) thereby increasing our proved plus probable reserves life index from 14.6 to 22.2 years. Organic 2P reserves additions replaced 950% of production in the year;
• Increased Montney 2P operating recycle ratio to 2.3x with full year Montney operating netbacks of $27.88/Boe and Montney 2P finding and development costs (“F&D”) of $12.05/Boe;
• Continued our trend of efficiency improvements, with average well drilling and completion costs, as well as well cycle times falling significantly;
• Ensured our capital programs are funded through until at least 2015 or longer depending on the pace of capital spending, through a combination of rolling divestitures, improved cash flows, and equity issued in 2013;
• Completed the disposition of certain gross overriding royalty volumes, undeveloped land, and non-core assets producing 1,800 Boe/d in our W3/W4 operating areas for gross proceeds of $43.4 million; and
• Exited 2013 with no bank debt. Net debt, including the working capital deficiency was $48 million and net debt to annualized fourth quarter funds from operations was 0.6x.

As noted above, on the strength of Elmworth (North) block out performance from wells drilled in 2011 to 2013 and even stronger IP30 production results from our recently drilled Elmworth block wells and nearby industry wells, we have increased our internal typecurve assumptions to 6 Bcf/well ultimate recovery compared to our original typecurve assumption of 4.4 Bcf/well. The condensate yield for this area remains unchanged at 45 Bbls/MMcf but the higher overall production results in very strong economics. This recovery applies to the Elmworth block only until more proof points are established on other blocks, and it corresponds to initial IP30 rates of 7.4 MMcf/d compared to our original typecurve assumption of 5.8 MMcf/d. We are very pleased to now have demonstrated proof of this trend which we believe is the natural evolution of a repeatable resource play where drilling and completions techniques can be optimized over time.

2014 Guidance

2014 is the year where NuVista will enter full development mode in the Wapiti Montney resource play. We have increased our capital budget in 2014 compared to 2013, to the range of $240 million to $260 million with a commensurate increase in rig count to three rigs for most of the year. The capital will be focused approximately 90% in the Wapiti area, with approximately 80% of that in the condensate rich Bilbo development block. We expect to drill and complete 16 to 18 horizontal wells in the year, complete and start up the Bilbo compressor station, and begin delivering to the Keyera Simonette plant late in the second quarter of 2014. This new infrastructure will provide the capacity for significant growth over the next few years.

Our entrance production rate in 2014 after the previously announced December divestitures was approximately 16,500 Boe/d. Production for 2014 is expected to be in the range of 17,500 to 18,500 Boe/d. Behind pipe capacity is continuing to build in order to accommodate the ramp in infrastructure capacity later in the year, with fourth quarter production expected in the range of 20,000 to 21,000 Boe/d. Cash flows for 2014 are expected in the range of $130 million to $140 million based on current strip prices of $4.50/GJ AECO for natural gas and US$98/Bbl for WTI.

Looking beyond 2014, we are excited about our ability to drive and internally fund significant growth with an increased pace of drilling and significant facility capacity. For 2015, we anticipate annual production of approximately 23,000 Boe/d which, at $3.50/GJ AECO gas and US$85/Bbl WTI oil prices, would drive cash flow to approximately $170 million.

With corporate netbacks and production rising quickly, and efficiencies continuing to be built into every aspect of our Wapiti Montney play, NuVista is confident to continue accelerating the pace of activity in the future. We will continue to work with area midstreamers to provide an ever-increasing facility capacity to underpin long-term profitable growth. We would like to thank our shareholders for their continued support, and our exceptionally dedicated and talented staff for their significant contributions to the bright future we are delivering together.

Please refer to the corporate presentation on our website which will be updated on or before the end of March 10, 2014 to include further details and context regarding the information in this press release.

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND MD&A

December 31, 2013 audited consolidated financial statements and notes to the consolidated financial statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis for NuVista Energy Ltd. have been filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under NuVista Energy Ltd. and can also be accessed on NuVista’s website at www.nuvistaenergy.com.

[expand title=”Advisories & Contact”]ADVISORY REGARDING OIL AND GAS INFORMATION

This news release contains the terms barrels of oil equivalent (“Boe”), millions of barrels of oil equivalent (“MMBoe”) and thousand cubic feet equivalent (“Mcfe”) and trillion cubic feet equivalent (“Tcfe”). Natural gas is converted to a Boe using six thousand cubic feet of gas to one barrel of oil. In certain circumstances natural gas liquid volumes have been converted to a Mcfe on the basis of one barrel of natural gas liquids to six thousand cubic feet of gas. Boes, MMBoes, Mcfes and Tcfes may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. The foregoing conversion ratios are based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. As well, given than the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil to natural gas is significantly different from the 6:1 energy equivalency ratio, using a conversion ratio on a 6:1 basis may be misleading as an indication of value.

Any references in this news release to initial or test production rates are useful in confirming the presence of hydrocarbons, however, such rates are not determinative of the rates at which such wells will continue production and decline thereafter. Additionally, such rates may also include recovered “load oil” fluids used in well completion stimulation. While encouraging, readers are cautioned not to place reliance on such rates in calculating the aggregate production for NuVista.

ADVISORY REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words “will”, “expects”, “believe”, “plans”, “potential” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. More particularly and without limitation, this press release contains forward looking statements, including management’s assessment of: NuVista’s future strategy, plans, opportunities, growth initiatives and operations; the expectations of creating significant shareholder value from NuVista’s properties and opportunities; our ability to internally fund these opportunities and initiatives; forecast production; production mix; drilling, development, completion and tie-in plans and results; plans to reduce drilling times and costs and to optimize completions; plans relating to future access to processing facilities, transportation and markets; expectations of future results, including future production levels, typecurves, well economics, and operating costs, future disposition plans, targeted debt level; the amount, timing, allocation and efficiency of NuVista’s capital program and the results therefrom; plans and expectations regarding facility construction and infrastructure development, the timing thereof and the benefits to be obtained therefrom; the anticipated potential of NuVista’s asset base including expectations regarding repeatable development and improved drilling and completion techniques; forecast cash flow; the source of funding of NuVista’s capital program; and plans to internally fund future growth and acceleration of our future opportunities;

NuVista’s risk management strategy; expectations regarding future commodity prices and netbacks; industry conditions and the timing of release of future results. By their nature, forward-looking statements are based upon certain assumptions and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond NuVista’s control, including the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, current and future commodity prices, currency and interest rates, anticipated production rates, borrowing, operating and other costs and funds from operations, the timing, allocation and amount of capital expenditures and the results therefrom, anticipated reserves and the imprecision of reserve estimates, the performance of existing wells, the success obtained in drilling new wells, the sufficiency of budgeted capital expenditures in carrying out planned activities, access to infrastructure and markets, competition from other industry participants, availability of qualified personnel or services and drilling and related equipment, stock market volatility, effects of regulation by governmental agencies including changes in environmental regulations, tax laws and royalties, the ability to access sufficient capital from internal sources and bank and equity markets; and including, without limitation, those risks considered under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Information Form. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. NuVista’s actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements, or if any of them do so, what benefits NuVista will derive therefrom. NuVista has included the forward-looking statements in this press release in order to provide readers with a more complete perspective on NuVista’s future operations and such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. NuVista disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

NuVista Energy Ltd.
Jonathan A. Wright
President and CEO
(403) 538-8501NuVista Energy Ltd.
Robert F. Froese
VP, Finance and CFO
(403) 538-8530
www.nuvistaenergy.com