CALGARY, Alberta, Aug. 02, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Delphi Energy Corp. (“Delphi” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce its financial and operational results for the quarter ended June 30, 2017 and to provide an update on plans for the remainder of 2017.
Based on strong results from drilling and completions in the first half of 2017, Delphi will continue to execute an accelerated capital program for its liquid-rich Bigstone Montney property through the remainder of 2017.
Second Quarter 2017 Highlights
- Produced an average of 9,420 barrels of oil equivalent per day (“boe/d”) based on field estimates during the 55 days of the second quarter of 2017 which were not affected by the turnaround of the SemCAMS K3 natural gas processing facility. Production in July averaged 9,730 boe/d;
- Produced 6,484 boe/d in the second quarter of 2017, a twelve percent increase from 5,802 boe/d in the comparative quarter of 2016. Production was curtailed by approximately 2,500 boe/d due to a 36 day long turnaround of SemCAMS K3 natural gas processing facility and a concurrent nine day turnaround of Company’s 7-11-60-23W5 compression and dehydration facility (“7-11 Montney facility”);
- Montney field and plant condensate yield averaged 81 barrels per million cubic feet of natural gas (“bbls/mmcf”) or 70 percent of the total 122 bbls/mmcf of Montney liquids yield;
- Realized an operating netback of $16.44 per barrel of oil equivalent (“boe”) before gains on risk management contracts, up from $3.55 per boe for the same period in 2016;
- Closed a $65.0 million financing by way of private placement consisting of $35.0 million of equity priced at $1.27 per common share and $30.0 million of senior secured notes;
- Repaid the Company’s senior secured revolving credit facility;
- Generated adjusted funds from operation of $7.0 million in the second quarter, a 69 percent increase over the comparative period in 2016, and net earnings of $4.6 million;
- Drilled four gross (2.5 net) wells and completed five gross (3.2 net) wells on the Company’s Bigstone Montney property; and
- Completed the turnaround and upgrade of the 7-11 Montney facility and expansion of the 5-8-59-22W5 compression and dehydration facility (5.8 Montney facility”).
FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS | ||||||||||||||||||
Three months ended June 30 | Six months ended June 30 | |||||||||||||||||
2017 | 2016 | % Change | 2017 | 2016 | % Change | |||||||||||||
Operating | ||||||||||||||||||
(boe conversion – 6:1 basis) | ||||||||||||||||||
Production: | ||||||||||||||||||
Field condensate (bbls/d) | 1,540 | 1,060 | 45 | 1,738 | 1,382 | 26 | ||||||||||||
Ethane (bbls/d) | 5 | 6 | – | 5 | 7 | (3 | ) | |||||||||||
Propane (bbls/d) | 473 | 412 | 15 | 527 | 501 | 5 | ||||||||||||
Butane (bbls/d) | 331 | 304 | 9 | 367 | 350 | 5 | ||||||||||||
Pentanes & plant condensate (bbls/d) | 210 | 301 | (30 | ) | 261 | 322 | 19 | |||||||||||
Total field condensate and natural gas liquids | 2,559 | 2,083 | 23 | 2,898 | 2,562 | 13 | ||||||||||||
Natural gas (mcf/d) | 23,551 | 22,311 | 6 | 26,628 | 27,219 | (2 | ) | |||||||||||
Total (boe/d) | 6,484 | 5,802 | 12 | 7,336 | 7,099 | 3 | ||||||||||||
Average realized sales prices, before financial instruments |
||||||||||||||||||
Field condensate ($/bbl) | 59.74 | 46.26 | 29 | 60.39 | 43.77 | 38 | ||||||||||||
Natural gas liquids ($/bbl) | 27.02 | 20.16 | 34 | 29.92 | 16.53 | 81 | ||||||||||||
Natural gas ($/mcf) | 4.31 | 2.22 | 94 | 4.24 | 2.72 | 56 | ||||||||||||
Netbacks ($/boe) | ||||||||||||||||||
Crude oil and natural gas revenues | 34.17 | 20.72 | 65 | 34.51 | 21.87 | 58 | ||||||||||||
Marketing revenue | 1.72 | – | – | 0.77 | – | – | ||||||||||||
Realized gain (loss) on financial instruments | 0.77 | 11.51 | (93 | ) | – | 9.32 | – | |||||||||||
Revenue, after realized financial instruments | 36.66 | 32.23 | 14 | 35.28 | 31.19 | 13 | ||||||||||||
Royalties | (1.49 | ) | (2.43 | ) | (39 | ) | (2.48 | ) | (2.42 | ) | 2 | |||||||
Operating expense | (12.72 | ) | (7.95 | ) | 60 | (10.21 | ) | (7.88 | ) | 30 | ||||||||
Transportation expense | (5.24 | ) | (6.79 | ) | (23 | ) | (5.81 | ) | (6.09 | ) | (4 | ) | ||||||
Operating netback(1) | 17.21 | 15.06 | 14 | 16.78 | 14.81 | 13 | ||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses | 1.69 | 2.82 | (40 | ) | 2.24 | 2.32 | (3 | ) | ||||||||||
Paid out restricted share units | – | 0.37 | – | – | – | – | ||||||||||||
Interest | 3.63 | 4.01 | (9 | ) | 3.11 | 2.78 | 12 | |||||||||||
Cash netback (1) | 11.89 | 7.86 | 51 | 11.43 | 9.71 | 18 | ||||||||||||
Financial | ||||||||||||||||||
($ thousands, except per share) | ||||||||||||||||||
Oil and natural gas revenues | 20,162 | 10,942 | 84 | 45,833 | 28,258 | 62 | ||||||||||||
Adjusted funds from operations(1) | 7,020 | 4,152 | 69 | 15,184 | 12,342 | 23 | ||||||||||||
Per share – basic and diluted | 0.04 | 0.03 | 33 | 0.09 | 0.08 | 13 | ||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) | 4,578 | (18,638 | ) | – | 12,930 | (13,379 | ) | – | ||||||||||
Per share – basic and diluted | 0.03 | (0.12 | ) | – | 0.08 | (0.09 | ) | – | ||||||||||
Net debt(1) | 90,638 | 117,959 | (23 | ) | 90,638 | 117,959 | (23 | ) | ||||||||||
Capital expenditures, net of dispositions | 22,610 | (186 | ) | – | 52,861 | 11,889 | 345 | |||||||||||
Weighted average shares (000s) | ||||||||||||||||||
Basic | 164,591 | 155,510 | 6 | 160,712 | 155,510 | 3 | ||||||||||||
Diluted | 165,612 | 155,510 | 6 | 162,171 | 155,510 | 4 |
(1) Refer to non-GAPP measures
MESSAGE TO SHAREHOLDERS
Delphi continues to successfully execute its planned 2017 development program at its Bigstone Montney property ahead of schedule as a result of an active drilling program through spring break-up in the second quarter. Through the first six months of 2017, the Company has drilled 8.0 gross (5.1 net) wells compared to 2.0 gross (1.7 net) wells in the first six months of 2016.
Delphi’s production capability remains ahead of forecast despite a larger impact than originally expected from the scheduled turnaround of the SemCAMS K3 processing plant. With the five wells completed in the second quarter now on production and currently restricted during their initial frac water clean-up phase, and two wells drilled after the end of the second quarter ready for completions later in August, production is forecast to continue to grow through the second half of 2017, on track with the of the Company’s production guidance.
Well results continue to meet or exceed our expectations. Although full production capability has not yet been realized from the new wells, in general, initial condensate yields continue to trend higher than forecast supporting continued attractive returns on capital invested in the current commodity price environment. The new wells continue to deliver strong field netbacks in the current pricing environment, resulting in a recycle ratio of approximately two times, achieving our objective of returning $2.00 for every $1.00 invested.
The Company continues to maintain a significant risk management program with 65 percent of its natural gas hedged through the remainder of 2017 at $4.20 per thousand cubic feet (“mcf”) and 42 percent of its field condensate hedged at an average WTI price of CDN$66.67 per barrel (“bbl”). The Company also continues to contract approximately 90 percent of its natural gas production into the Chicago market through firm transportation on the Alliance pipeline.
With an undrawn $80.0 million credit facility, a growing production base focused on increased condensate yields, and superior marketing arrangements with a significant hedge position, Delphi remains well positioned to execute its 2017 drilling plans.
Financial Update
Delphi continued an active development program at its Bigstone Montney property in the second quarter of 2017 drilling four gross (2.5 net) wells, performing completions operations on five gross (3.2 net) wells and completing various infrastructure upgrade and expansion projects. Capital expenditures in the second quarter amounted to $22.6 million of which $21.4 million was for drilling and completion operations.
Production volumes in the second quarter of 2017 were impacted by the planned turnaround of the SemCAMS K3 natural gas processing facility and the concurrent turnaround of Delphi’s 7-11 Montney facility which together curtailed production from the Bigstone Montney by about 2,500 boe/d. Based on field estimates, Delphi produced an average of 9,420 boe/d during the 55 days of the second quarter of 2017 which were not affected by the plant turnarounds and an average of 9,730 boe/d during July. For the full second quarter of 2017, including the impact of the turnarounds, production volumes averaged 6,484 boe/d. On a boe basis, production volumes in the second quarter were 40 percent weighted to condensate and natural gas liquids and 60 percent to natural gas.
Delphi’s realized prices before hedging gains in the second quarter were $4.31 per mcf for natural gas, $59.74 per bbl for field condensate and $27.02 per bbl for natural gas liquids. Hedging gains in the second quarter increased the realized price of natural gas by $0.15 per mcf and the realized price of field condensate by $1.00 per bbl.
In the second quarter of 2017, Delphi generated revenue of $20.2 million and adjusted funds from operations of $7.0 million, equivalent to $0.04 per basic and diluted share. As at June 30, 2017, Delphi had no debt outstanding under its $80.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility while net debt, comprised of senior secured notes and working capital deficiency, amounted to $90.6 million dollars.
Operating expenses in the first half and second quarter of 2017 were impacted by a number of factors some of which are ongoing and others which were one-time or intermittent. Ongoing factors include a reclassification of certain costs from transportation expense to operating expense, an additional processing tariff commencing on January 1, 2017 and lasting for three years to recover operating costs associated with the SemCAMS K3 natural gas plant turnaround, and loss of processing income through the disposition of a 35 percent interest in certain facilities as part of the industry partner transaction completed in December 2016. Non-recurring or intermittent factors included operating costs associated with turnaround of the Company’s 7-11 Montney facility and the costs of handling large amounts of produced frac water from the significant increase of new wells completed in the first half of 2017. The capacity of Delphi’s 16-34-59-21W5 water disposal facility (“16-34 water disposal facility”) along with restricted access due to wet weather and road bans forced Delphi to truck water greater distances to third-party facilities for disposal. An upgrade and expansion of Delphi’s 65 percent owned water disposal facility will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2017 and will reduce the costs of trucking and disposal of water at third-party facilities.
Operations Update
Despite wet weather conditions during the second quarter of 2017, Delphi remained active in the field at Bigstone. Following a busy first quarter where the Company drilled four (2.6 net) wells and brought four (2.6 net) wells on production, two rigs continued drilling through spring break-up, rig releasing four (2.5 net) horizontal Montney wells. Average horizontal lateral length for these second quarter wells was 2,858 metres. All four of these wells, plus a fifth that was drilled in the first quarter, were also completed in the second quarter, each with a forty stage fracture stimulation. Over 47 million pounds of sand were used to complete these five wells with sand concentrations ranging 850 to 1,150 pounds per horizontal lateral foot.
Three of these wells, 13-09, 14-09 and 15-09-60-23W5 (all 61.8 percent working interest) are located just to the east of Delphi’s successful western-most drill, 15-08-60-23W5. After short clean-up tests, the wells were all brought on production at the end of June at restricted rates in order to handle continued load water recovery. Initial average production rates over the first 30 days for the three wells were 895 boe/d, 865 boe/d and 756 boe/d respectively, including an estimated plant natural gas liquids yield of 46 bbls/mmcf of sales gas. Field condensate to natural gas yields were 185 bbls/mmcf sales, 213 bbls/mmcf sales and 196 bbls/mmcf sales respectively, placing these three wells in the top five of the richest Delphi Montney wells at Bigstone, behind only 15-8-60-23W5 and 13-21-60-23W5.
The other two completed wells, at the southern portion of the field, at 13-17 and 16-18-59-22W5 (both 65 percent working interest) were tied-in to the Company’s 5-8 Montney facility in late July and brought on production at restricted rates. Although early time, the Company is encouraged about initial field condensate to gas ratios being higher than initial ratios at the direct offset at 12-17-59-22W5, validating design enhancements with Delphi’s third and fourth generation fracs. Initial production performance over the first 30 days of these wells will be reported when available. During the second quarter, Delphi completed an upgrade and expansion of the 5-8 Montney facility bringing capacity of the facility to ten million cubic feet per day (“mmcf/d”) of natural gas with fluid storage of 2,600 bbls.
During the 36 day scheduled turnaround at the SemCAMS K3 natural gas processing plant, Delphi took advantage of this outage by completing the triennial turnaround at its 7-11 Montney facility over a nine day period. With major repair and maintenance now completed at these facilities, Delphi expects related downtimes to be minimal. Based on field estimates, corporate production for the month of July averaged 9,730 boe/d.
Delphi’s amine project at the 7-11 Montney facility to sweeten a portion of its slightly sour Montney production for processing at the 14-28-59-22W5 Bigstone Gas Plant, where the Company owns a 25 percent working interest, has commenced with the submission of regulatory applications and procurement of equipment. Construction is expected to start early in 2018 with start-up planned for the second quarter of 2018.
During second quarter operations, significant flow-back load volumes from fracturing operations that took place on all five wells within approximately one month of each other, caused longer wait times for water disposal as well as having to truck volumes to third party water disposal facilities. In order to reduce costs associated with water disposal, Delphi has begun an expansion of the 16-34 water disposal facility that will double the fluid storage and increase pumping capacity of its 16-34 disposal well. The expansion is expected to be completed early in the fourth quarter of 2017 to help handle the volumes associated with the significant increase in activity.
Both drilling rigs remain active with one currently drilling the first of three horizontal Montney wells from a surface pad located at 13-31-59-23W5, making these the western-most Montney wells drilled by the Company at Bigstone. Completion operations for this pad are expected to commence in November with first production expected later in 2017 or early in 2018. The second rig has finished drilling the 9-21-59-22W5 well (“9-21”) to a total depth of 5,865 metres with a horizontal lateral in the Montney of 2,841 metres. 9-21 was drilled from spud of the well to total depth in a Company record 22.6 days; a full two days faster than the previous record. Completion operations for 9-21 are scheduled to start in August and will be done consecutively with the 13-10-59-23W5 well that finished drilling in early July.
Marketing and Risk Management
The Company has approximately 22 mmcf/d, or 65% of its remainder of 2017 forecast natural gas production, hedged at an average price of CDN$4.20 per million British thermal units (“mmbtu”) and approximately 900 barrels per day (“ bbls/d”) of condensate hedged at an average WTI price of CDN$66.67 per barrel. Delphi has mitigated the persistent widening of the AECO and Station 2 basis differentials by contracting most of its gas into the Chicago market where pricing has materially outperformed local western Canada pricing, even with the incremental transportation costs.
Natural Gas | Q3 – Q4/17 | 2018 | 2019 | ||||||
Percent Hedged * | 65% | 54% | 21% | ||||||
Hedge Price (CDN $/mmbtu) | $4.20 | $3.92 | $3.89 |
Crude Oil | Q3 – Q4/17 | 2018 | 2019 | ||||||
Percent Hedged * | 42% | 14% | 14% | ||||||
Hedge Price (WTI CDN $/bbl) | $66.67 | $70.00 | $70.00 |
* Based on average 2017 production of 33.5 mmcf/d of natural gas and 2,150 bbls/d of field condensate.
Outlook
The Company continues to forecast absolute and per share growth during 2017, while maintaining balance sheet strength, highlighted by a significant increase in drilling activity over 2016 levels.
Having remained active through spring break-up, the Company is ahead of its planned drilling schedule, with a total of nine (5.7 net) new wells on production and two additional wells scheduled for completion later in August. With a growing production base, significant hedge position in 2017 and 2018 as well as an undrawn credit facility, Delphi remains well positioned to execute its 2017 drilling plans.
Delphi has secured the required firm service transportation for 100 percent of forecasted 2017 natural gas production growth. The contracted Alliance full path service to Chicago with its incremental priority interruptible service handles approximately 90 percent of the current Company’s natural gas sales, and together with the existing and incremental 2018 contracted firm TCPL service, will provide the Company with firm service to handle growth plans beyond 2017.
The Company’s primary focus remains on creating significant value for its shareholders through its successful development of the Bigstone Montney property, while maintaining an adequate level of financial flexibility given the volatile commodity price environment. Delphi is continuing with its planned 2017 capital program, but will re-assess its contemplated pace of capitalization into the 2017-18 winter program commensurate with the commodity price environment.
The existing Board of Directors welcomes the addition of Mr. Glenn A. Hamilton, Mr. Peter T. Harrison, and Mr. Ian Wild to the Board of Directors, elected at the Annual General Meeting in May. “Glenn, Peter and Ian bring tremendous depth to our Board,” said David J. Reid, President and CEO.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and all the employees of Delphi, we would like to thank our shareholders for their continued support.
CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST
A conference call and webcast to review second quarter 2017 results is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. Mountain Time (11:00 a.m. Eastern Time) on Thursday, August 3, 2017. The conference call number is 1-844-358-8760. A brief presentation by David J. Reid, President and CEO and Mark D. Behrman, CFO, will be followed by a question and answer period. The conference call will also be broadcast live on the internet and may be accessed through Delphi’s website at www.delphienergy.ca or by entering http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/qbucc4nw in your web browser. A rebroadcast will also be available on Delphi’s website or at http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/qbucc4nw on your web browser.