CALGARY, Nov. 25, 2015 /CNW/ - ArPetrol Ltd. ("ArPetrol" or the "Company") (TSXV: RPT) announces its financial and operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and provides an operational update on activities to date this year as well as an outlook for the remainder of 2015. The Company's interim condensed consolidated financial statements and management's discussion and analysis (MD&A) for the reporting period have been filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and posted on the Company's website at www.arpetrol.com.

Summary of the Third Quarter 2015

Operating and Financial

Operational difficulties during the third-quarter had a negative effect on the Company's operating results in the period.

In the third week of August 2015, an operational difficulty at the ENAP SiPetrol Argentina S.A. operated third party production facility reduced gas deliveries to ArPetrol's Faro plant to approximately 35 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d).  For the third quarter of 2015 third-party processing volumes averaged 57.5 MMcf/d, a decrease of almost 19 MMcf/d from the same period in the prior year.

In mid-September 2015 a compressor failure at ArPetrol's Faro field shut-in production for 17 days until the compressor was replaced at the beginning of October.  Production for the third quarter of 2015 was 160 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d), down from the 218 boe/d produced during the second quarter of 2015. 

Both operational difficulties were fixed by the first week of October.  Third party processing volumes for  October 2015 averaged 79 MMcf/d and production volumes for October 2015 averaged over 250 boe/d. 

ArPetrol's funds flow from operations was $(497,586) during the third quarter of 2015, a decrease of $787,167 over the third quarter of 2014.  The decrease in funds flow resulted from both higher cost and lower production and processing volumes.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 funds flow from operations was $728,695, a decrease of $249,269 from the nine months to September 30, 2014. 

The third quarter 2015 average realized natural gas price was $5.80 per Mcf, $0.50 per Mcf higher than the price realized in the second quarter of 2015.  The average realize natural gas price during the third quarter of 2015 increased by $0.97 per Mcf over the third quarter of 2014.  The period over period increases in gas prices are primarily driven by the strengthening $US against the $Cdn.  The Companies natural gas prices are set in $US.

The Company sells its natural gas liquids in the spot market at prices denominated in $US.  During the third quarter of 2015 the Company averaged a net realized price for natural gas liquids (NGL) of $US75 per barrel (bbl) compared to $US68 per bbl for the second quarter of 2015 and $US84 per bbl for the third quarter of 2014.  In Canadian dollars terms the average net realized prices for NGL was $98.09 per bbl for the third quarter of 2015, $86.14 per bbl for the second quarter of 2015 and $84.29 per bbl for the third quarter of 2014.  The strengthening $US versus the $CDN contributed to improve $CDN prices during each period.  

In the third quarter of 2015 the Company recognized an impairment in the carrying value of its property, plant and equipment (PPE). The decline in world oil prices has resulted in a lack of available capital investment which in turn has changed management's planned future development spending on its oil and gas assets.  At September 30, 2015, management performed an impairment analysis of the carrying value of the Company's PP&E and determined it exceeded the recoverable amount.  The recoverable amount was determined based on the estimated fair value less expected cost of disposal.  This resulted in an impairment loss of $10.5 million relating to the Company's oil and natural gas assets and was reported in the Argentina segment.

The Company's net loss for the third quarter was $11,275,886, compared to a net loss of $68,760 for the third quarter of 2014. 

As at September 30, 2015 the Company had working capital of $2.6 million compared to $2.9 million at June 30, 2015 and $1.5 million at December 31, 2014.  The Company has no long-term debt.

All values in the news release are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.

Outlook

ArPetrol had a challenging third quarter but returned to stable operations in October 2015.   The Company's outlook for the fourth quarter estimates processing volumes of 67 to 75 MMcf/d and production of 225 to 275 boe/d.   Finally, ArPetrol continues to evaluate at all strategic opportunities available to the Company. 

About ArPetrol Ltd.

ArPetrol is a Calgary-based publicly traded company engaged in oil and natural gas exploration, development and production and third-party natural gas processing in Argentina, where it owns and operates a gas processing facility with capacity of 85 MMcf per day. The Company's common shares are listed on the TSXV under the symbol "RPT".

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking information relating, but not limited, continued positive cash flow in 2015, processing revenue and cash flow, estimated production volumes and processing volumes, the pursuit of strategic opportunities and the repurchase of shares under the normal course issuer bid.  Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "forecast", expect", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "propose", "project", or similar words suggesting future outcomes.  The Company cautions readers and prospective investors in the Company's securities not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as, by its nature, it is based on current expectations regarding future events that involve a number of assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company. Forward-looking information is based on management's current expectations and assumptions regarding, among other things, the ability to sustain consistent processing and production volumes, future production and processing revenue, the extension of third party gas processing contracts, future economic conditions, future currency and exchange rates, the ability to repatriate funds from Argentina, future pricing, continued political stability in the areas in which the Company is operating, the reduction of G&A and expenses, and the Company's continued ability to obtain and retain qualified management and staff and equipment in a timely and cost-efficient manner. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company, including but not limited to risks associated with the oil and natural gas industry (e.g., operational risks; the ability to retain staff and equipment; and health, safety and environmental risks), weather delays and natural disasters, union activities, change in government policies, currency fluctuations and controls, a change in the manner and rates at which the Company is exchanging its currency, the risk of disruptions at the gas plant, increased maintenance costs or other expenditures at the gas plant, interruptions to production and processing revenue, the expiration of third party gas processing contracts, production declines, changes in commodity prices and revenues, increased costs, unavailability of funding, and other risks associated with international activity and Argentina. ArPetrol operates outside of Canada and as such, is subject to a number of political risks over which it has no control. The forwardlooking information included herein is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. The forwardlooking information included herein is made as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

Any financial outlook or future oriented financial information in this news release is provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

Non-IFRS Measures

This news release includes references to financial measures commonly used in the oil and natural gas industry. The terms "operating netback" (production and processing revenue less royalties, turnover taxes and operating expenses) and "funds flow from operations" (cash generated from operating activities before changes in non-cash working capital) do not have any standardized meaning under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and may not be comparable with similar measures presented by other companies. Funds flow from operations should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, cash generated from operating activities, net income (loss) or other measures determined in accordance with IFRS, as an indicator of the Company's performance.

See the MD&A for more information regarding non-IFRS measures used herin including a reconciliation of funds flow from operations to cash generated from operating activities which is the most directly comparable measure calculated in accordance with IFRS. There is no IFRS measure that is reasonably comparable to operating netbacks and a detailed calculation of such netbacks is presented in the "Results of Operations" section of the MD&A.

BOE Presentation. Production information is commonly reported in units of barrels of oil equivalent (boe). For purposes of computing such units, natural gas is converted to equivalent barrels of oil using a conversion factor of six thousand cubic feet (Mcf) to one barrel (bbl). The 6:1 conversion ratio represents energy equivalency, which is primarily applicable at the burner tip, and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Such disclosure of boe may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation.

Additional information relating to the Company is also available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE ArPetrol Ltd.