CALGARY, Alberta, Nov. 15, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Strategic Oil & Gas Ltd. (“Strategic” or the “Company”) (TSXV:SOG) reports financial and operating results for the three months ended September 30, 2017. Detailed results are presented in Strategic’s interim unaudited consolidated financial statements and related Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) which will be available through the Company’s website at www.sogoil.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
NEW MUSKEG WELL RESULTS
During the third quarter, the Company drilled one horizontal Muskeg well at west Marlowe (10-9) and one at North Marlowe (15-34). Both wells were 1,900 metres in lateral section; the 10-9 well was completed with 20 stages while the 15-34 well was completed with 40 stages. Initial production rates from these new wells on a producing day basis are as follows:
IP30 | IP60 | |||||||
Well | Oil (bbl/d) | Total (boe/d) | % oil | Oil (bbl/d) | Total (boe/d) | % oil | ||
15-34 | 186 | 189 | 98% | 194 | 203 | 96% | ||
10-9 | 144 | 144 | 100% | 191 | 202 | 95% | ||
These results demonstrate the significant potential of the Muskeg light oil play at Marlowe. Strategic also drilled a Slave Point horizontal well which was recently tied in and is on clean up. Positive results from the Slave Point well would provide the company with a new zone of development in addition to the Muskeg.
FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL SUMMARY
Three months ended September 30 |
Nine months ended September 30 |
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Financial ($thousands, except per share amounts) | 2017 | 2016 | % change | 2017 | 2016 | % change | |||||||
Oil and natural gas sales | 8,271 | 5,478 | 51 | 27,471 | 16,157 | 70 | |||||||
Funds from (used in) operations (1) | (333 | ) | (140 | ) | 135 | 5,043 | (1,881 | ) | – | ||||
Per share basic (1) (3) | (0.01 | ) | (0.01 | ) | – | 0.11 | (0.07 | ) | – | ||||
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities | 2,149 | 2,245 | (4 | ) | 4,029 | 4,589 | (12 | ) | |||||
Per share basic (3) | 0.05 | 0.08 | (38 | ) | 0.09 | 0.17 | (47 | ) | |||||
Net loss (2) | (36,779 | ) | (5,985 | ) | 515 | (48,237 | ) | (15,268 | ) | 216 | |||
Per share basic (3) | (0.79 | ) | (0.22 | ) | 256 | (1.05 | ) | (0.56 | ) | 88 | |||
Net capital expenditures | 13,991 | 10,812 | 29 | 44,840 | 20,261 | 121 | |||||||
Adjusted working capital (comparative figure is as of December 31, 2016) (1) | 13,331 | 49,956 | (73 | ) | 13,331 | 49,956 | (73 | ) | |||||
Net debt (comparative figure is as of December 31, 2016) (1) | 93,418 | 51,141 | 83 | 93,418 | 51,141 | 83 | |||||||
Operating | |||||||||||||
Average daily production | |||||||||||||
Crude oil (bbl per day) | 1,806 | 1,231 | 47 | 1,793 | 1,390 | 29 | |||||||
Natural gas (mcf per day) | 3,472 | 2,074 | 67 | 3,886 | 2,401 | 62 | |||||||
Barrels of oil equivalent (boe per day) | 2,384 | 1,577 | 51 | 2,440 | 1,791 | 36 | |||||||
Average prices | |||||||||||||
Oil & NGL ($ per bbl) | 46.63 | 44.23 | 5 | 50.62 | 39.07 | 30 | |||||||
Natural gas ($ per mcf) | 1.64 | 2.46 | (33 | ) | 2.54 | 1.93 | 32 | ||||||
Operating netback ($ per boe) (1) | |||||||||||||
Oil and natural gas sales | 37.70 | 37.77 | – | 41.24 | 32.93 | 25 | |||||||
Royalties | (3.94 | ) | (6.42 | ) | (39 | ) | (4.67 | ) | (4.60 | ) | 2 | ||
Operating expenses | (25.65 | ) | (22.97 | ) | 12 | (21.08 | ) | (22.26 | ) | (5 | ) | ||
Transportation expenses | (1.41 | ) | (0.87 | ) | 62 | (1.25 | ) | (0.79 | ) | 58 | |||
Operating Netback (1) | 6.70 | 7.51 | (11 | ) | 14.24 | 5.28 | 170 | ||||||
Common Shares (3) (thousands) | |||||||||||||
Common shares outstanding, end of period | 46,391 | 27,121 | 71 | 46,391 | 27,121 | 71 | |||||||
Weighted average common shares (basic & diluted) | 46,391 | 27,120 | 71 | 46,111 | 27,120 | 71 |
(1) Funds from operations, adjusted working capital, net debt and operating netback are Non-GAAP measures; see “Non-GAAP measures” in this MD&A.
(2) The comparative condensed statement of loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 has been adjusted to reflect a $3.8 million adjustment to deferred tax recovery related to the issuance of convertible debentures.
(3) Adjusted for the share consolidation on a 20:1 basis announced on March 6, 2017.
QUARTERLY SUMMARY
- Capital expenditures of $14.0 million were incurred in the quarter, primarily related to the summer drilling program, a plant turnaround at the 9-17 processing facility and the installation of Production Plus Heal systems on certain Muskeg wells.
- Average daily oil production increased 47% from the three months ended September 30, 2016 to 1,806 bbl/d, while total production increased 51% from the third quarter of 2016 to 2,384 boe/d for the current period, primarily due to new production from the winter Muskeg drilling program. Average production decreased 10% from 2,661 boe/d for the second quarter of 2017 due to production restrictions driven by third party pipeline maintenance and a plant turnaround during the current period.
- Funds used in operations increased to $0.3 million for the quarter from $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. Funds used in operations for the current period were impacted by $1.0 million in isolated environmental remediation costs, as well as severance costs related to executive departures of $0.7 million.
- Strategic maintained capital discipline with its summer drilling program, reducing capital expenditures from the original budget of $24 million by removing two development wells from the program. At September 30, 2017, the Company had $20.5 million in cash and $13.3 million in adjusted working capital.
- The Company issued $3.9 million of additional convertible debentures as payment in kind of interest payable on August 31, 2017 to preserve cash while pursuing its capital spending program. The additional debentures have the same terms as the original debentures except that they are convertible into common shares of the Company at a price of $2.03 per share.
PERFORMANCE OVERVIEW, STRATEGY AND OUTLOOK
Corporate production volumes were 2,384 boe/d for the quarter, which is consistent with the Company’s earlier estimate of 2,400 boe/d. Corporate production was curtailed for a portion of the third quarter due to third party restrictions driven by sales pipeline maintenance and a 9-day plant turnaround at Marlowe. Initial production once all wells were brought back online was approximately 2,926 boe/d for the last 9 days of September compared to corporate guidance of 3,500 boe/d, with the shortfall attributable to a longer than expected cleanup period for the 10-9 well and continued underperformance from four of the Muskeg wells drilled in the first quarter of 2017.
In planning the first quarter 2017 drilling program, the Company made several adjustments to the well placement targeting lower in the pay zone to achieve a faster drilling pace. Strategic management has completed a detailed review of the drilling and production techniques used in this program and believes that certain adjustments made may have limited the productivity of those Muskeg wells drilled. As a result of the shortfall in production on the early 2017 wells and higher than expected costs per well, Strategic recorded an asset impairment charge of $30.4 million in the current quarter. The Company does not believe that recent results are reflective of the potential of the Muskeg play. Strategic intends to apply the knowledge obtained from this capital program to improve well design, reduce costs and restore well productivity in future drilling activities.
Capital spending for the quarter was estimated to be $16 million but totaled only $14.0 million due to delays in completion and well equipping projects. Currently all wells drilled in 2017 are equipped and on production.
About Strategic
Strategic is a junior oil and gas company committed to becoming a premier northern oil and gas operator by exploiting its light oil assets primarily in northern Alberta. The Company relies on its extensive subsurface and reservoir experience to develop its asset base and grow production and cash flows while managing risk. The Company maintains control over its resource base through high working interest ownership in wells, construction and operation of its own processing facilities and a significant undeveloped land and opportunity base. Strategic’s primary operating area is at Marlowe, Alberta. Strategic’s common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol SOG.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Additional information is also available at www.sogoil.com and at www.sedar.com.
For more information, please contact:
Cody Smith COO and Interim CEO |
Aaron Thompson, CPA, CA CFO |
Strategic Oil & Gas Ltd. 1100, 645 7th Avenue SW Calgary, AB T2P 4G8 |
Strategic Oil & Gas Ltd. 1100, 645 7th Avenue SW Calgary, AB T2P 4G8 |
Telephone: 403.781.2970 Fax: 403.767.9122 |
Telephone: 403.767.2952 Fax: 403.767.9122 |