CALGARY, Aug. 10, 2017 /CNW/ – Altura Energy Inc. (“Altura”, the “Company”, or the “Corporation”) (TSXV:ATU) is pleased to announce its financial and operating results for the second quarter of 2017 as well as an operational update and the results of a mid-year independent evaluation of the Company’s oil and natural gas reserves. The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and related management’s discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) will be available at www.sedar.com and www.alturaenergy.ca.
OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL SUMMARY |
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Three months ended |
Six months ended |
|||||
June 30, |
March 31, 2017 |
June 30, 2016 |
June 30, 2017 |
June 30, 2016 |
||
OPERATING |
||||||
Average daily production |
||||||
Light and medium oil (bbls/d) |
652 |
539 |
259 |
595 |
294 |
|
Heavy oil (bbls/d) |
346 |
309 |
12 |
327 |
12 |
|
Natural gas (mcf/d) |
1,098 |
909 |
289 |
1,004 |
319 |
|
NGLs (bbls/d) |
25 |
16 |
4 |
20 |
5 |
|
Total (boe/d) |
1,205 |
1,015 |
323 |
1,110 |
364 |
|
Total boe/d per million shares – basic |
11.1 |
9.3 |
3.0 |
10.2 |
3.3 |
|
Average realized prices |
||||||
Light and medium oil ($/bbl) |
50.69 |
53.52 |
44.60 |
51.96 |
35.47 |
|
Heavy oil ($/bbl) |
45.36 |
46.23 |
35.43 |
45.77 |
28.08 |
|
Natural gas ($/mcf) |
3.03 |
2.96 |
1.53 |
3.00 |
1.76 |
|
NGLs ($/bbl) |
36.44 |
40.56 |
52.30 |
38.02 |
35.02 |
|
Total ($/boe) |
43.93 |
45.76 |
39.08 |
44.76 |
31.60 |
|
NETBACK AND COST ($/boe) |
||||||
Petroleum and natural gas sales |
43.93 |
45.76 |
39.08 |
44.76 |
31.60 |
|
Royalties |
(4.41) |
(4.20) |
(2.06) |
(4.31) |
(1.65) |
|
Operating |
(10.52) |
(9.96) |
(11.45) |
(10.27) |
(10.46) |
|
Transportation |
(2.71) |
(2.26) |
(2.88) |
(2.51) |
(2.84) |
|
Operating netback(1) |
26.29 |
29.34 |
22.69 |
27.67 |
16.65 |
|
General and administrative |
(3.28) |
(3.83) |
(17.65) |
(3.53) |
(13.20) |
|
Exploration expense |
– |
– |
(1.01) |
– |
(0.45) |
|
Interest and financing expense |
(0.27) |
(0.07) |
(0.70) |
(0.18) |
(0.41) |
|
Interest income |
0.03 |
0.16 |
1.79 |
0.09 |
1.46 |
|
Corporate netback(1) |
22.77 |
25.60 |
5.12 |
24.05 |
4.05 |
|
FINANCIAL ($000, except per share amounts) |
||||||
Petroleum and natural gas sales |
4,818 |
4,178 |
1,149 |
8,996 |
2,095 |
|
Funds from operations(1) |
2,496 |
2,337 |
149 |
4,833 |
266 |
|
Per share – basic and diluted(1) |
0.02 |
0.02 |
– |
0.04 |
– |
|
Cash flow from (used in) operating activities |
2,269 |
2,794 |
28 |
5,063 |
(109) |
|
Per share – basic and diluted |
0.02 |
0.03 |
– |
0.05 |
– |
|
Income (loss) |
594 |
13 |
(692) |
607 |
(1,445) |
|
Per share – basic and diluted |
0.01 |
– |
(0.01) |
0.01 |
(0.01) |
|
Capital expenditures, acquisitions and dispositions |
3,078 |
8,952 |
2,294 |
12,030 |
2,498 |
|
Working capital surplus |
1,156 |
2,436 |
20,011 |
1,156 |
20,011 |
|
Common shares outstanding (000) |
||||||
End of period – basic |
108,921 |
108,921 |
108,921 |
108,921 |
108,921 |
|
Weighted average for the period – basic |
108,921 |
108,921 |
108,921 |
108,921 |
108,921 |
|
Weighted average for the period – diluted |
109,082 |
109,289 |
108,921 |
109,191 |
108,921 |
(1) |
Funds from operations, funds from operations per share, corporate netback, and operating netback, do not have standardized meanings prescribed by generally accepted accounting principles and therefore should not be considered in isolation. These reported amounts and their underlying calculations are not necessarily comparable or calculated in an identical manner to a similarly titled measure of other companies where similar terminology is used. Where these measures are used they should be given careful consideration by the reader. Refer to the Non-GAAP Measures paragraph in the Advisories section of the MD&A. |
SECOND QUARTER 2017 HIGHLIGHTS
- Production volumes averaged 1,205 boe per day, a per share increase of 273 percent from the second quarter of 2016.
- Corporate netback of $22.77 per boe, an increase of 345 percent from the second quarter of 2016.
- Funds from operations were $2.5 million, up seven percent from the first quarter of 2017 and up $2.4 million from the second quarter of 2016.
- Earnings of $594,000 compared to earnings of $13,000 in the first quarter of 2017 and a loss of $692,000 in the second quarter of 2016.
- Net capital expenditures totaled $3.1 million. This included $2.2 million for completing five 100% working interest horizontal oil wells including: three Sparky oil wells at Eyehill; one Sparky oil well at Macklin; and one Rex oil well at Killam. Equipping the new wells and facility costs related to the multi-well battery upgrade in the Eyehill area totaled $1.0 million. Additionally, Altura disposed of undeveloped land in the Provost area for proceeds of $750,000 (the “Provost Disposition”).
- Ended the quarter with a Liability Management Rating (“LMR”) of 8.0 with the Alberta Energy Regulator.
- The credit facility was increased to $7.5 million from $4.0 million based on the year-end 2016 reserve report.
- Ended the quarter with a $1.2 million working capital surplus and no debt.
OPERATIONAL UPDATE
Leduc-Woodbend
In Leduc-Woodbend, the new 102/12-15-049-26W4 (“12-15”) horizontal well that was drilled in the first quarter of 2017 commenced production at the end of March and continues to deliver strong results with an average IP(90) rate of 198 boe per day (81% oil). For the month of July, the 12-15 well produced 158 boe per day (70% oil) with a 55% water cut. Altura’s initial Leduc-Woodbend horizontal well, 100/13-15-048-26W4, which was initially placed on production in November 2016, produced 70 boe per day (80% oil) in July with a 75% water cut.
Altura plans to build upon this success by re-allocating $5.3 million of the Company’s second half 2017 drilling capital budget to drill two extended reach horizontal (“ERH”) wells at Leduc-Woodbend in the third quarter. The ERH wells will have a horizontal length of 2,000 metres and a total of 44 frac stages which represents a 45 percent increase in the horizontal length and stage count from the previous one-mile wells drilled in the area. The Corporation anticipates these ERH wells will result in a positive impact to the already strong economics of Altura’s development plan for the area.
In the second half of 2017, Altura is also accelerating $2.2 million of infrastructure projects in the Leduc-Woodbend area. This includes capital investments to build, pipeline connect and operate a gas gathering, emulsion and produced water pipeline and water disposal facility. Altura will also commence equipment purchases and initial construction of an expandable multi-well battery having an initial capacity of 3,000 barrels of oil per day. The pipeline will allow Altura to conserve gas and reduce produced water trucking and disposal costs associated with pool development and production. Altura has acquired two water disposal wells and pipelines that will facilitate this initiative. Altura estimates the new water handling and disposal facilities will reduce corporate operating costs by approximately $0.80 per boe commencing in the fourth quarter of 2017. As previously disclosed, the Corporation has acquired eight multi-well drilling pads to maximize efficiencies of initial pool development.
Eyehill
In Eyehill, the Company successfully completed and equipped the three Sparky horizontal wells that were drilled in the first quarter of 2017. After 95 days of production, the wells continue to produce as expected and have added a total of 300 boe per day to our base production for the area.
In addition, Altura converted the 100/03-11-037-03W4 one-mile horizontal well to a water injector and commenced the waterflood pilot in August. This is expected to improve the rates of offsetting producing wells and further reduce operating costs related to water trucking and disposal.
Macklin
In the first quarter of 2017 Altura drilled the first horizontal well in the Macklin Sparky oil pool. The well was successfully completed and equipped in early April and commenced production at the end of April. Initial results from this well are very encouraging with an IP(60) rate of 73 barrels of oil per day. After 80 days of production, the well is producing at 75 barrels of oil per day. The solution gas of 26 mcf per day (4 boe per day) is used at the lease for fuel gas and is not sold.
Altura is planning to drill additional wells from this initial multi-well pad in 2018.
Killam
In Killam, the 100/15-15-044-13W4 (“15-15”) horizontal well that was drilled in the first quarter of 2017 was successfully completed and equipped in the second quarter of 2017. The 15-15 horizontal well was the first in this Rex oil pool to be completed with a multi-stage hydraulic fracture stimulation. It was placed on production in April 2017 and produced 55 boe per day (78% oil) from July 1 to July 25, 2017, at which time it was shut-in for temporary third-party pipeline maintenance and is expected to resume production mid-August. It is believed that approximately 30% of the horizontal lateral was impacted by a localized coal seam in the Rex which has resulted in reduced production rates from the well. Altura is evaluating the impact, if any, on future drilling opportunities in this local region of the pool.
OUTLOOK
Altura has accumulated a large oil-weighted drilling inventory with exposure to several different plays and continues to pursue conventional crude oil plays in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin with a focus in central Alberta targeting the shallow, multi-zone, oil-weighted section of the Upper Mannville Group. This area is expected to generate strong cash netbacks with competitive drilling and completion costs for these shallow targets, thereby delivering attractive economics in the context of the current commodity price environment.
Through the remainder of 2017, Altura plans to drill two extended reach horizontal wells at Leduc-Woodbend and to build, pipeline connect and operate a gas gathering, emulsion and produced water pipeline and water disposal facility to reduce operating costs associated with pool development and production. Additionally, the Company plans to commence equipment purchases and initial construction of a multi-well battery at Leduc-Woodbend that is expected to be commissioned in the first half of 2018.
Altura has accumulated a large land position totaling 56 net sections in the Leduc-Woodbend area with encouraging early results from the two horizontal wells drilled to date. As a result, the board of directors of the Company has approved a $3.0 million increase to the capital development budget for 2017 with all of the increase directed towards advancing the larger scale opportunity at Leduc-Woodbend. The capital development budget is now expected to total $20.0 million with $14.6 million to drill, complete, equip and tie-in a total of eight 100% working interest wells. Approximately 60% of the total budget will be invested in the Leduc-Woodbend area.
Assuming $14.6 million of well-related capital, the planned eight net well drilling program is forecast to add approximately 750 boe per day by December 2017, which delivers a capital efficiency of approximately $19,500/boe per day. The incremental production is expected to offset forecast base declines and grow overall production to exit 2017 at a rate of approximately 1,350 boe per day which represents a 37% increase over fourth quarter 2016 of 988 boe per day.
RESERVES
Due to the Company’s successful first half of 2017 drilling program, Altura requested the independent reserve evaluator, McDaniel & Associates Consultants Ltd. (“McDaniel”), to prepare a mid-year reserve report (the “McDaniel Report”) as of June 30, 2017.
Mid-Year 2017 Reserves Highlights
- Proved developed producing (“PDP”) reserves increased by 33 percent from 1,099 mboe at year-end 2016 to 1,464 mboe. Total proved (“1P”) reserves increased by 43 percent from 1,821 mboe at year-end 2016 to 2,604 mboe. Total proved and probable (“2P”) reserves increased by 43 percent from 3,195 mboe at year-end 2016 to 4,568 mboe.
- Leduc-Woodbend PDP reserves increased by 123 percent to 157 mboe, 1P reserves increased by 800 percent to 631 mboe, and 2P reserves increased by 522 percent to 1,460 mboe, all from respective year-end 2016 reserves.
- First half of 2017 finding, development and acquisitions (“FD&A”) costs1 were $21.26 per boe for PDP, $22.33 per boe for 1P and $17.06 per boe for 2P reserves, including the changes in future development costs (“FDC”). This includes $2.6 million (21% of total capital expenditures) pertaining to costs not directly related to reserve additions, including: land costs, geologic and geophysical costs, facilities costs, the Provost Disposition, and capitalized G&A.
- Recycle ratio1 of 1.3 times for PDP, 1.2 times for 1P, and 1.6 times for 2P reserves based on June 30, 2017 FD&A costs and Altura’s first half of 2017 operating netback1 of $27.67 per boe.
- Replaced1 282 percent of first half of 2017 production with new PDP reserves, 490 percent of first half of 2017 production with new 1P reserves and 784 percent of first half of 2017 production with new 2P reserves based on first half of 2017 production of 201 mboe.
June 30, 2017 Independent Reserves Evaluation
The McDaniel Report was prepared in accordance with the definitions, standards and procedures contained in the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook (“COGE Handbook”) and National Instrument 51-101 (“NI 51-101”). The reserve evaluation was based on McDaniel’s forecast pricing and foreign exchange rates at July 1, 2017. The Reserves Committee of the Board and the Board of Directors of Altura have reviewed and approved the evaluation prepared by McDaniel.
Unless noted otherwise, reserves included herein are stated on a company gross basis, which is the Company’s working interest before deduction of government royalties and excluding any other additional royalty interests. This news release contains several cautionary statements under the heading “Reader Advisory” and throughout the release. In addition to the information contained in this news release, more detailed reserves information will be included in an updated Statement of Reserves and Resource Data and Other Oil and Gas Information filed on SEDAR by August 31, 2017.
_________________________ |
|
1 |
“Operating netback”, “Finding, development & acquisitions costs” or “FD&A costs”, “Recycle ratio”, and “Reserve replacement”, do not have standardized meanings. See “Non-GAAP Measures” and “Oil and Gas Metrics” contained in this news release. |
Company Gross Reserves as of June 30, 2017
The following table summarizes the Company’s gross reserve volumes at June 30, 2017 utilizing McDaniel’s forecast pricing and cost estimates outlined further below in this press release.
Company Gross Reserves(1)(2) |
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Category |
Light and |
Heavy Oil |
Conventional |
Natural |
June 30, |
December |
Percent |
||
Proved |
|||||||||
Developed Producing |
893.0 |
280.4 |
1,609.0 |
22.7 |
1,464.2 |
1,099.2 |
33% |
||
Non-producing |
32.0 |
– |
27.2 |
0.5 |
37.0 |
– |
– |
||
Undeveloped |
303.0 |
622.6 |
962.7 |
16.6 |
1,102.6 |
722.2 |
53% |
||
Total Proved(3) |
1,228.0 |
903.0 |
2,598.9 |
39.7 |
2,603.8 |
1,821.4 |
43% |
||
Total Probable |
642.8 |
1,037.8 |
1,498.8 |
33.8 |
1,964.3 |
1,373.8 |
43% |
||
Total Proved & Probable(3) |
1,870.8 |
1,940.8 |
4,097.6 |
73.5 |
4,568.1 |
3,195.2 |
43% |
(1) |
Gross reserves are Company working interest reserves before royalty deductions. |
(2) |
Based on McDaniel’s July 1, 2017 forecast prices. |
(3) |
Numbers may not add due to rounding. |
Reconciliation of Company Gross Reserves from December 31, 2016 to June 30, 2017(1)(2)
Total Proved Oil |
Total Probable Oil |
Total Proved & |
||
December 31, 2016 |
1,821.4 |
1,373.8 |
3,195.2 |
|
Extensions & Improved Recovery |
748.0 |
772.7 |
1,520.7 |
|
Technical Revisions |
235.4 |
(182.3) |
53.1 |
|
Discoveries |
– |
– |
– |
|
Acquisitions & Dispositions |
– |
– |
– |
|
Economic Factors |
– |
– |
– |
|
Production |
(201.0) |
– |
(201.0) |
|
June 30, 2017 |
2,603.8 |
1,964.3 |
4,568.1 |
(1) |
Gross reserves are Company working interest reserves before royalty deductions. |
(2) |
Numbers may not add due to rounding. |
Technical revisions for the 1P reserve category is positive due to the conversion of probable reserves to proved reserves and well performance exceeding the previous year’s forecast. Technical revisions for the 2P reserve category is positive due to well performance exceeding the previous year’s forecast.
Future Development Costs (“FDC”) and Well Schedule
The following is a summary of the estimated FDC and number of wells required to bring 1P and 2P undeveloped reserves on production.
Total Proved |
Total Proved |
Total Proved & |
Total Proved & |
||
2017 |
2,650 |
1 (1.0) |
5,300 |
2 (2.0) |
|
2018 |
7,874 |
5 (5.0) |
11,705 |
7 (7.0) |
|
2019 |
9,101 |
8 (7.0) |
14,644 |
14 (11.7) |
|
Total Undiscounted |
19,625 |
14 (13.0) |
31,649 |
23 (20.7) |
|
Total Discounted 10% |
17,207 |
27,856 |
(1) |
Numbers may not add due to rounding. |
(2) |
FDC as per the McDaniel Report and based on McDaniel’s July 1, 2017 forecast prices. |
The forecasted future net operating income for the next two and a half years from the McDaniel Report based on the July 1, 2017 forecasted pricing is estimated to be $32.5 million for 1P reserves and $46.6 million for 2P reserves, which is sufficient to fund Altura’s FDC for the next three years.
Summary of Before Tax Net Present Value (“NPV”) of Future Net Revenue as of June 30, 2017
Benchmark oil and NGL prices used are adjusted for quality of oil or NGL produced and for transportation costs. The calculated NPVs are based on McDaniel’s forecast pricing and foreign exchange rates at July 1, 2017 as outlined in the price forecast table further below in this press release. The NPVs include a deduction for estimated future well abandonment and reclamation but do not include a provision for interest, debt service charges and general and administrative expenses. It should not be assumed that the NPV estimate represents the fair market value of the reserves.
Before Tax Net Present Value ($000) (1)(2)(3) |
|||||||
Discount Rate |
|||||||
Category |
Undiscounted |
5% |
10% |
15% |
20% |
||
Proved |
|||||||
Developed Producing |
38,685 |
33,938 |
30,141 |
27,127 |
24,716 |
||
Non-producing |
1,414 |
972 |
704 |
532 |
416 |
||
Undeveloped |
13,939 |
9,860 |
6,827 |
4,593 |
2,938 |
||
Total Proved |
54,038 |
44,770 |
37,671 |
32,252 |
28,069 |
||
Total Probable |
55,168 |
37,988 |
27,523 |
20,822 |
16,302 |
||
Total Proved & Probable |
109,206 |
82,758 |
65,194 |
53,074 |
44,372 |
(1) |
Based on McDaniel’s July 1, 2017 forecast prices. |
(2) |
Includes abandonment and reclamation costs. |
(3) |
Numbers may not add due to rounding. |
Performance Metrics(1)
Altura’s first half of 2017 FD&A costs were $21.26 per boe for PDP reserves, $22.33 per boe for 1P reserves and $17.06 per boe for 2P reserves, including the change in FDC. The following table highlights Altura’s FD&A, recycle ratio, reserve replacement and reserve life index as of June 30, 2017.
June 30, 2017 |
||
Total H1 2017 capital expenditures, acquisitions and dispositions ($000) |
12,030 |
|
Change in FDC – Total Proved ($000) |
9,928 |
|
Change in FDC – Total Proved & Probable ($000) |
14,827 |
|
Q2 2017 production (boe/d) |
1,205 |
|
H1 2017 Operating netback ($/boe)(2) |
27.67 |
|
Proved Developed Producing |
||
FD&A costs ($/boe)(2) |
21.26 |
|
Recycle ratio(2) |
1.3 |
|
Reserve replacement(2) |
282% |
|
Reserve life index (“RLI”) (years)(2) |
3.3 |
|
Total Proved |
||
FD&A costs ($/boe)(2) |
22.33 |
|
Recycle ratio(2) |
1.2 |
|
Reserve replacement(2) |
490% |
|
RLI (years)(2) |
5.9 |
|
Total Proved & Probable |
||
FD&A costs ($/boe)(2) |
17.06 |
|
Recycle ratio(2) |
1.6 |
|
Reserve replacement(2) |
784% |
|
RLI (years)(2) |
10.4 |
(1) |
Financial and production information is per the Company’s unaudited interim condensed financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017. |
(2) |
“Operating netback”, “Finding, development & acquisitions costs” or “FD&A costs”, “Recycle ratio”, “Reserve replacement”, “Reserve life index” or “RLI” do not have standardized meanings. See “Non-GAAP Measures” and “Oil and Gas Metrics” contained in this news release. |
Price Forecast
The reserve evaluation was based on McDaniel’s forecast pricing and foreign exchange rates at July 1, 2017 as outlined below.
WTI |
Western Canadian Select |
Alberta AECO |
Foreign Exchange |
||||||
2017 (6 mos) |
50.00 |
47.60 |
2.85 |
0.760 |
|||||
2018 |
56.10 |
54.60 |
2.85 |
0.775 |
|||||
2019 |
59.80 |
57.90 |
3.05 |
0.800 |
|||||
2020 |
63.70 |
61.80 |
3.25 |
0.800 |
|||||
2021 |
70.40 |
66.40 |
3.60 |
0.825 |
|||||
2022 |
74.50 |
70.40 |
3.90 |
0.825 |
|||||
2023 |
78.80 |
72.30 |
4.00 |
0.850 |
|||||
2024 |
80.40 |
73.80 |
4.05 |
0.850 |
|||||
2025 |
82.00 |
75.30 |
4.15 |
0.850 |
|||||
2026 |
83.70 |
76.80 |
4.25 |
0.850 |
|||||
2027 |
85.30 |
78.30 |
4.30 |
0.850 |
|||||
2028 |
87.00 |
79.90 |
4.40 |
0.850 |
|||||
2029 |
88.80 |
81.50 |
4.50 |
0.850 |
|||||
2030 |
90.60 |
83.10 |
4.60 |
0.850 |
|||||
2031 |
92.40 |
84.80 |
4.70 |
0.850 |
|||||
thereafter |
+2.0%/yr |
+2.0%/yr |
+2.0%/yr |
0.850 |
ABOUT ALTURA ENERGY INC.
Altura Energy Inc. is a public oil and gas Company active in the exploration and development of oil and natural gas in east central Alberta.