TSX, NYSE MKT: BXE
CALGARY, Dec. 12, 2013 /CNW/ – Bellatrix Exploration Ltd. (“Bellatrix” or the “Company”) (TSX, NYSE MKT: BXE) is pleased to confirm its 2014 guidance and announce that it has completed its mid-year review of its 2013 credit facilities and provides an update of its recent commodity price risk management activities.
2013 has been an extraordinary year earmarked by significant production growth, announcing three separate joint ventures designed to accelerate our program on a promoted basis, an equity financing, redemption of its convertible debentures and closing on December 11, 2013 of an impactful corporate acquisition. These strategic transactions strengthen the Company by accelerating our ability to provide shareholder value accretion.
2014 Guidance
Bellatrix expects its 2013 calendar year average daily production will be +/- 22,250 boe/d and that its exit rate guidance will be +/- 40,000 boe/d with total crude oil, condensate and NGLs at exit at approximately 37%.
Since November 2013 and for all of 2014, Bellatrix plans to continue to be active in drilling with 10 rigs operating in its two core resource plays, the Cardium oil and Mannville condensate rich gas, utilizing horizontal drilling multi-fracturing technology. With the closing of the acquisition of Angle Energy Inc. (“Angle”) in December 2013, an initial gross budget of $610 million (including JV partner capital) for a net capital budget of $370 million has been set for fiscal 2014. Based on the timing of proposed expenditures, downtime for anticipated plant turnarounds and normal production declines, execution of the 2014 budget is anticipated to provide 2014 average daily production of approximately +/- 44,000 boe/d and an exit rate of approximately +/- 47,000 boe/d.
The net capital budget of $370 million is comprised of drilling and completion costs of $250 million; facility and infrastructure costs of $100 million and land, geological and other related costs of $20 million. The Company plans to drill/participate in 146 gross (76.27 net) wells in 2014 resulting in 115 gross (65.71 net) Cardium oil wells and 31 gross (10.56 net) Mannville condensate rich gas wells.
Increased Credit Facilities
A syndicate of lenders led by National Bank of Canada recently completed its semi-annual borrowing base review for November 30, 2013. Based on Bellatrix’s 2013 mid-year review, effective December 11, 2013, the Company’s borrowing base was increased by $245 million to $500 million. This 96% increase from the previous borrowing base of $255 million is a direct result of Bellatrix’s closing of its acquisition of Angle, as well as, the strong 2013 drilling results which delivered significant reserves and production growth in the first half of 2013.
Effective December 11, 2013, the Company’s credit facilities were increased to $500 million (subject to the semi-annual borrowing base test on May 31 and November 30 each year), available on an extendible revolving term basis. The credit facilities are available on a fully revolving basis until June 24, 2014 (subject to annual extension at the option of the lenders), and if not extended, will be due in full 366 days thereafter. The expanded credit facilities consist of a $50 million operating facility provided by a Canadian bank and a $450 million syndicated facility provided by nine financial institutions. The increased credit facilities will be available to finance Bellatrix’s ongoing capital expenditures, working capital requirements and for general corporate purposes. Amounts borrowed under the credit facilities will bear interest at a floating rate based on the applicable Canadian prime rate, U.S. base rate, CDOR rate or LIBOR margin rate, plus between 1.00% and 3.50%, depending on the type of borrowing and the Company’s debt to cash ratio. A standby fee is charged of between 0.50% and 0.875% on the undrawn portion of the credit facilities, depending on the Company’s debt to cash flow ratio.
The credit facilities are secured by a $1 billion debenture containing a first ranking charge and security interest. Bellatrix has provided a negative pledge and undertaking to provide fixed charges over its properties in certain circumstances.
Additional 2014 Price Risk Management Contracts
In summary, Bellatrix has the following crude oil and natural gas commodity price risk management contracts in place for 2014. The conversion of $/GJ to $/mcf is based on an average corporate heat content of 40.8 Mj/m3. The conversion to CDN$ from US$ is based on an exchange rate of $0.94 CDN/US.
| Product | Term | Volume | Average Price |
| Crude Oil | Jan 1, 2014 to Dec. 31, 2014 | 6,000 bbl/d | $97.07 CDN/bbl |
| Natural gas | Jan. 1, 2014 to Jun. 30, 2014 | 47.8 mmcf/d | $3.84 CDN/mcf |
| Natural gas | Jul. 1, 2014 to Dec 31,, 2014 | 34.8 mmcf/d | $3.97 CDN/mcf |
Bellatrix recently entered into two commodity price risk management contracts consisting of two natural gas fixed price swaps for 20,000 GJ/d and 20,000 GJ/d respectively for the period January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014 at a prices of CDN$3.30/GJ (CDN$3.78/mcf) and CDN$3.60/GJ (CDN$4.13/mcf). In addition, Bellatrix assumed crude oil hedges as part of the acquisition of Angle, which includes three crude oil fixed price contracts for 500 bbl/d each, for the period January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014, at prices of US $93.30/bbl, US $95.00/bbl and CDN $98.30/bbl respectively. Bellatrix also recently bought back 1,500 bbl/d of 2014 call options of US $105.00 at no cost and entered into two crude oil fixed price contracts for a total volume of 1,500 bbl/d, for the period January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014. The first contact was for 1,000 bbl/d at a price of CDN $99.50/bbl and the second contract was for 500 bbl/d at CDN $99.60/bbl.
As at December 11, 2013, Bellatrix has entered into commodity price risk management arrangements for 2014 as follows:
| Type | Period | Volume | Price Floor | Price Ceiling | Index | |||||||
| Crude oil fixed | Jan. 1, 2014 to Dec. 31,2014 |
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