CALGARY, Alberta, May 14, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Condor Petroleum Inc. (“Condor” or the “Company”) (TSX: CPI), a Canadian based oil and gas company focused on exploration and production activities in Turkey and Kazakhstan, announces the release of its unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2019 together with the related management’s discussion and analysis. These documents will be made available under Condor’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Condor website at www.condorpetroleum.com. All financial amounts in this news release are presented in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated.
Q1 2019 Highlights
Oil production in Kazakhstan increased 36% to an average of 571 bopd in the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to 421 bopd in the first quarter of 2018 and 22% compared to 468 bopd in the fourth quarter of 2018 and additional oil production growth is planned for 2019. Total production decreased 32% to an average of 942 boepd compared to 1,395 boepd in Q1 2018 and 7% compared to 1,016 boepd in Q4 2018 due mainly to gas production declines in Turkey.
Realized crude oil and natural gas sales of $3.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 which represents a decrease of 25% versus Q1 2018 and 14% versus Q4 2018.
Realized an operating netback1 of $2.6 million or $32.46 per boe which represents a 24% decrease from $3.4 million and a 12% increase from $29.07 per barrel, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2018.
Generated cash from operating activities of $1.5 million or $0.03 per basic share during the three months ended March 31, 2019 versus cash from operating activities of $2.1 million or $0.05 per basic share during the same period in 2018.
Preparations are underway for a five well workover program and one well drilling program to increase oil production in Kazakhstan. The workover program is scheduled to commence in Q2 2019 and the drilling program in Q3 2019.
Discussions are ongoing for a potential farm-in partner to drill the Yakamoz 1 side-track well in Turkey.
The Company has submitted an extension application to the Ministry of Energy of the Government of Kazakhstan (“Ministry”) and expects the exploration period to the Zharkamys Contract will be extended by 630 days commencing in 2019.
The Company recorded a net loss of $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 (three months ended March 31, 2018: net loss of $0.8 million).
Operations
The Company produces crude oil in Kazakhstan and natural gas and associated condensate in Turkey. Overall production for the three months ended March 31, 2019 decreased 32% to 84,773 boe or an average of 942 boepd from 125,567 boe or an average of 1,395 boepd for the same period in 2018. The production decreases in 2019 are a result of gas production declines in Turkey due to greater variability in reservoir quality and continuity. The 2019 workover and infill drilling programs are expected to increase the overall production rate.
Oil production in Kazakhstan increased 36% to 51,352 barrels or an average of 571 bopd with an operating netback1 of $28.91 per barrel in Kazakhstan for the first quarter of 2019 as compared to the first quarter of 2018 in which the Company produced 37,910 barrels or an average of 421 bopd with an operating netback1 of $23.07 per barrel.
Since March 31, 2019, Kazakhstan production has averaged 627 bopd and the Company expects to exceed 800 bopd once a five well workover program has been executed. The program is expected to begin in May 2019, with two pump changes at Taskuduk and zone isolation activities for three Shoba wells. One additional Shoba development well is planned for Q3 2019 to further grow Kazakhstan oil production and cash flows.
The Company produced 33,421 boe in Turkey or an average of 371 boepd and received an operating netback1 of $37.61 per boe for the three months ended March 31, 2019 (three months ended March 31, 2018: produced 87,657 boe or an average of 974 boepd and an operating netback1 of $31.56 per boe). The production decline rate is now decreasing and a stimulation workover program is being developed that is intended to realize commercial gas flow rates for the lower permeability reservoirs.
Discussions are on-going for a potential farm-in partner to drill the Yakamoz 1 side-track well. The Company previously drilled Yakamoz 1 and encountered numerous gas shows while drilling. A revised geological model has been created by integrating the Yakamoz 1 well data with recently reprocessed seismic data and has identified up-dip targets for the side-track. These side-track locations target both the proven Miocene and Upper Eocene reservoirs, in addition to the deeper Middle to lower Eocene reservoirs, which have not yet been tested. A successful Yakamoz 1 side-track well would be tied into the existing Poyraz Ridge gas plant for processing and onward sales.
Cash from operating activities decreased to $1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 versus $2.1 million for the same period in 2018 and cash from operating activities before changes in non-cash working capital decreased to $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $1.8 million for the same period in 2018.
Zharkamys Contract
The Company’s Zharkamys Contract was due to expire on December 14, 2016. Prior to this date, the Kazakhstan Chamber of International Commerce and subsequently the Kazakhstan Civil Court (“Civil Court”) confirmed that a force majeure event had occurred which, under Kazakhstan subsurface use law, can be the basis for the Zharkamys Contract validity period to be extended for a period of 630 days. In May 2017, the Kazakhstan Court of Appeal (“Court of Appeal”), pursuant to an appeal filed by the Ministry, ruled that the force majeure event was not recognized and reversed the decision of the Civil Court. The Company referred the case to the Kazakhstan Supreme Court (“Supreme Court”) and in November 2017 the Supreme Court ruling overturned both the Civil Court and the Court of Appeal rulings and referred the case back to the Civil Court for further review by a new panel of judges. In March 2018 the Civil Court ruling confirmed that the force majeure event had occurred. In April 2018 the Ministry appealed the Civil Court ruling and in May 2018 the Court of Appeal upheld the Civil Court ruling that the force majeure event had occurred. The Ministry did not appeal to the Supreme Court within the six months permitted by Kazakhstan law. The Company has submitted an application to the Ministry for the 630 day extension and expects the exploration period to the Zharkamys Contract to be extended during 2019.
Financial Results
For the three months ended March 31
2019
2018
Oil ($000’s)
Gas ($000’s)
Condensate ($000’s)
Total ($000’s)
Oil ($000’s)
Gas ($000’s)
Total ($000’s)
Sales
1,811
1,782
99
3,692
1,344
3,608
4,952
Royalties
(26)
(217)
(13)
(256)
(25)
(433)
(458)
Production costs
(420)
(277)
(7)
(704)
(357)
(407)
(764)
Transportation and selling
-
(121)
(20)
(141)
(167)
(143)
(310)
Operating netback1
1,365
1,167
59
2,591
795
2,625
3,420
Oil ($/bbl)
Gas ($/boe)
Condensate ($/bbl)
Total ($/boe)
Oil ($/bbl)
Gas ($/boe)
Total ($/boe)
Sales
38.36
56.40
98.90
46.26
38.98
43.38
42.09
Royalties
(0.55)
(6.87)
(12.99)
(3.21)
(0.72)
(5.21)
(3.89)
Production costs
(8.90)
(8.77)
(6.99)
(8.82)
(10.35)
(4.89)
(6.49)
Transportation and selling
-
(3.83)
(19.98)
(1.77)
(4.84)
(1.72)
(2.64)
Operating netback1
28.91
36.93
58.94
32.46
23.07
31.56
29.07
Sales volume (boe)
47,212
31,596
1,001
79,809
34,483
83,163
117,646
1 Operating netback is a non-GAAP measure and is a term with no standardized meaning as prescribed by GAAP and may not be comparable with similar measures presented by other issuers. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this news release. The calculation of operating netback is aligned with the definition found in the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
The Company refers to “operating netback” in this news release, a term with no standardized meaning as prescribed by GAAP and which may not be comparable with similar measures presented by other issuers. This additional information should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Operating netback is calculated as sales less royalties, production costs and transportation and selling on a dollar basis and divided by the sales volume for the period on a per barrel of oil equivalent basis. The reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure is presented in the “Financial Results” section of this news release. This non-GAAP measure is commonly used in the oil and gas industry to assist in measuring operating performance against prior periods on a comparable basis and has been presented in order to provide an additional measure to analyze the Company’s sales on a per barrel of oil equivalent basis and ability to generate funds.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this news release constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities legislation. Such statements are generally identifiable by the terminology used, such as “anticipate'', “appear”, “believe'', “intend”, “expect”, “plan”, “estimate”, “budget'', “outlook'', “scheduled”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would”, “in the process of” or other similar wording. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, information concerning: the timing and ability to drill new wells and the ability of the drilled wells to become producing wells; projections and timing with respect to crude oil and natural gas production; expected markets, prices and operating netbacks for future oil and gas sales; the timing and ability to increase production and cash flow by executing the planned drilling and workover programs; the timing and ability to obtain various approvals and conduct the Company’s planned exploration and development activities; the timing and ability to access oil and gas pipelines and oil and gas domestic and export sales markets; anticipated capital expenditures and cash flows; sources and availability of financing for potential budgeting shortfalls; the timing and ability to obtain future funding on favorable terms, if at all; general business strategies and objectives; possible outcomes regarding the Zharkamys Contract including the possibility that the term may be extended or, conversely, that it may revert back to the Ministry; the timing and ability to obtain exploration contract, production contract and operating license extensions; the timing and ability to obtain a farm-in partner for Yakamoz; and the timing and ability to tie the Yakamoz field into the Company’s exiting gas plant.
By its very nature, such forward-looking information requires Condor to make assumptions that may not materialize or that may not be accurate. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, levels of activity and achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such information. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: regulatory changes; the timing of regulatory approvals; the risk that actual minimum work programs will exceed the initially estimated amounts; the results of exploration and development drilling and related activities; imprecision of reserves estimates and ultimate recovery of reserves; historical production and testing rates may not be indicative of future production rates, capabilities or ultimate recovery; the historical composition and quality of oil and gas may not be indicative of future composition and quality; general economic, market and business conditions; industry capacity; uncertainty related to marketing and transportation; competitive action by other companies; fluctuations in oil and natural gas prices; the effects of weather and climate conditions; fluctuation in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates; the ability of suppliers to meet commitments; actions by governmental authorities, including increases in taxes; decisions or approvals of administrative tribunals and the possibility that government policies or laws may change or government approvals may be delayed or withheld; changes in environmental and other regulations; risks associated with oil and gas operations, both domestic and international; international political events; and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Condor. Capital expenditures may be affected by cost pressures associated with new capital projects, including labor and material supply, project management, drilling rig rates and availability, and seismic costs.
These risk factors are discussed in greater detail in filings made by Condor with Canadian securities regulatory authorities including the Company’s Annual Information Form, which may be accessed through the SEDAR website (www.sedar.com).
Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of important factors affecting forward-looking information is not exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and, except as required by applicable law, Condor does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
ABBREVIATIONS
The following is a summary of abbreviations used in this news release:
bbl
Barrels of oil
bopd
Barrels of oil per day
boe
Barrels of oil equivalent *
boepd
Barrels of oil equivalent per day
Mscf
Thousand standard cubic feet
/
Per
* Barrels of oil equivalent (“boe”) are derived by converting gas to oil in the ratio of six thousand standard cubic feet (“Mscf”) of gas to one barrel of oil based on an energy conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Given the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil as compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6 Mscf to 1 barrel, utilizing a conversion ratio at 6 Mscf to 1 barrel may be misleading as an indication of value, particularly if used in isolation.
The TSX does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
For further information, please contact Don Streu, President and CEO or Sandy Quilty, Vice President of Finance and CFO at 403-201-9694.
