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Oryx Petroleum Q3 2014 Financial and Operational Results and 2015 Capital Budget

05.11.2014  |  CNW

Development progress and increased production capacity at Demir Dagh

CALGARY, Nov. 5, 2014 /CNW/ - Oryx Petroleum Corporation Ltd. ("Oryx Petroleum" or the "Group") today is pleased to announce its financial and operational results for the quarter ended September 30, 2014 and its capital expenditure budget for 2015.

Highlights:

CEO´s Comment

Commenting today, Oryx Petroleum's Chief Executive Officer, Michael Ebsary, stated:

"The third quarter was eventful for companies operating in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq with some interruptions resulting from regional security developments. However, in late August the security situation in the region stabilised and subsequent improvements have permitted us to resume operations in most of the Hawler license area.

Notwithstanding the interruptions during the quarter, we have achieved substantial progress with our development of the Demir Dagh field.  We have been drilling appraisal/development wells, upgrading facilities infrastructure, completing a large scale 3D seismic program, commissioning a new production facility and continuing works on a larger production facility on track to be commissioned in 2015.  This activity is allowing us to ramp-up our production and production capacity.

Looking ahead to 2015, our capital plans again reflect our expectations for a very dynamic year. The principal focus of our budget is the continued development of Demir Dagh and associated increases in production and sales revenue. Our budget has been designed to provide maximum flexibility with the majority of our more discretionary exploration and appraisal expenditures planned to occur during the second half of the year, thereby allowing us to better align our planned expenditures with our expected revenues.  2015 promises to be another exciting and pivotal year for Oryx Petroleum on its path to becoming a balanced exploration, development and production company."  

Selected Financial Highlights

Financial results are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and the reporting currency is US dollars. The following table summarises the selected financial highlights for Oryx Petroleum for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013 and the year ended December 31,2013:








Three Months Ended
September 30


Nine Months Ended
September 30


Year Ended
December 31

($ in millions unless otherwise indicated)

2014

2013


2014

2013


2013









Revenue

10.4

-


11.8

-


-









Working Interest Production (bbls)

154,000

-


179,000

-


-

Average WI Production per day (bbl/d)

1,700

-


1,700

-


-

Working Interest Sales (bbls)

152,000

-


172,000

-


-

Average Sales Price ($/bbl)

57.47

-


57.51

-


-









Operating Expense

3.6

-


4.8

-


-

Field production costs ($/bbl)(1)

18.12

-


21.17

-


-

Field Netback(2) ($/bbl)

9.95

-


6.92

-


-

Operating expenses ($/bbl)

23.70

-


27.69

-


-

Oryx Petroleum Netback(3) ($/bbl)

15.52

-


11.55

-


-









Net Loss

1.6

65.1


17.1

150.6


185.8

Loss per Share ($/sh)

0.01

0.65


0.16

1.72


2.04









Operating Cash Flow(4)

1.8

(5.5)


(4.3)

(12.1)


(20.4)

Net Cash generated by (used in) operating activities

10.0

2.6


(10.6)

(6.9)


(8.7)

Net Cash used in investing activities

81.9

62.5


312.1

164.6


234.1

Capital Expenditures(5)

81.4

64.7


 

260.4

 

155.0


200.2

License Acquisition Costs

-

-


21.6

17.6


48.2









Cash and Cash Equivalents

190.0



190.0



306.0

Total Assets

1,152.3



1,152.3



976.2

Total Equity

963.2



963.2



766.0

 

(1)


Field production costs represent Oryx Petroleum's working interest share of gross production costs and exclude the partner share of production costs carried by Oryx Petroleum.

(2)


Field Netback is a non-IFRS measure that represents the Group's working interest share of oil sales net of the Group's working interest share of royalties, the Group's working interest share of operating expenses and the Group's working interest share of taxes. Management believes that Field Netback is a useful supplemental measure to analyse operating performance and provides an indication of the results generated by the Group's principal business activities prior to the consideration of production sharing contract and joint operating agreement financing characteristics, and other income and expenses. Field Netback does not have a standard meaning under IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies.

(3)


Oryx Petroleum Netback is a non-IFRS measure that represents Field Netbacks adjusted to reflect the impact of carried costs incurred and recovered through the sale of cost oil during the reporting period. Management believes that Oryx Petroleum Netback is a useful supplemental measure to analyse the net cash impact of the Group's principal business activities prior to the consideration of other income and expenses. Oryx Petroleum Netback does not have a standard meaning under IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies.

(4)


Operating Cash Flow is a measure that represents cash generated from operating activities before changes in non-cash working capital and changes in the retirement benefit obligation balance. The term Operating Cash Flow should not be considered an alternative to or more meaningful than "cash flow from operating activities" as determined in accordance with IFRS. Management considers Operating Cash Flow to be a key measure as it demonstrates the Group's ability to generate the cash flow necessary to fund future growth through capital investment. Operating Cash Flow does not have any standardised meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies.

(5)


Excludes license acquisition costs.




The following tables summarise the Group's capital expenditure incurred by activity and by license area for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2014 and September  30, 2013.






License Area


Three months ended


Nine months ended



September

 30, 2014


September

 30, 2013


September

 30, 2014


September

30, 2013



($ million)


($ million)


($ million)


($ million)

Middle East









Exploration drilling


19.2


29.3


57.5


59.5

Appraisal and development drilling


16.1


5.7


66.9


6.2

Facilities


25.9


-


65.4


-

Seismic acquisition


7.2


3.7


13.2


7.5

Studies and administrative


7.0


4.5


27.3


11.5

Sub-Total Middle East


75.4


43.2


230.3


84.7










West Africa









Exploration drilling


1.1


11.7


16.2


53.8

Seismic acquisition


0.4


-


4.0


0.8

Studies and administrative


3.4


9.0


8.3


13.8

Property, plant & equipment


-


-


-


0.1

Sub-Total West Africa


4.9


20.7


28.5


68.5










Corporate


1.1


0.8


1.6


1.8










Total capital expenditures


81.4


64.7


260.4


155.0











Note: The above table excludes license acquisition costs






License Area


Three months ended


Nine months ended



September
 30, 2014


September
 30, 2013


September
30, 2014


September
30, 2013



($ million)


($ million)


($ million)


($ million)

Middle East









Hawler


75.2


40.9


229.5


77.1

Wasit


0.2


0.7


0.8


3.6

Sindi Amedi


-


1.6


-


4.0

Sub-Total Middle East


75.4


43.2


230.3


84.7










West Africa









AGC Shallow


1.6


0.7


4.9


2.0

OML 141


0.5


2.6


2.1


46.0

Haute Mer A


1.5


17.4


16.2


20.5

Haute Mer B


1.3


-


5.3


-

Sub-Total West Africa


4.9


20.7


28.5


68.5










Corporate


1.1


0.8


1.6


1.8










Total capital expenditures


81.4


64.7


260.4


155.0

Note: The above table excludes license acquisition costs


Cash and cash equivalents increased to $190.0 million at September 30, 2014 from $55.2 million at June 30, 2014 reflecting the impact of Operating Cash Flow, capital expenditures, movements in working capital and net proceeds from the issuance of common shares in July 2014. Oryx Petroleum had no borrowings as of September 30, 2014.

Selected Operational Highlights

Kurdistan Region of Iraq

AGC

Congo (Brazzaville)

2014 Capital Expenditure Forecast and 2015 Capital Expenditure Budget

2014 Capital Expenditure Forecast

Capital expenditures for 2014 are forecasted to total approximately $360 million versus the previously announced forecast of $370-$410 million. The following table summarises Oryx Petroleum's revised 2014 capital expenditure forecast.














Location


License


Drilling


Facilities


Seismic &
Studies


Other


Total

2014

Reforecast





$ millions


$ millions


$ millions


$ millions


$ millions

Kurdistan Region


Hawler


178


100


16


26


320

Wasit Province


Wasit


-


-


0


1


1

Nigeria


OML 141


-


-


0


3


3

AGC


       Shallow


3


-


0


3


6



Central


-


-


-


0


0

Congo


HMA


14


-


1


3


18



HMB


-


-


4


3


7

Corporate


Corporate


-


-


-


3


3



Capex Total


195


100


21


42


358

Note:
(1)   The above table excludes amounts relating to license acquisition costs. Totals in rows and columns may not add-up due to rounding

Approximately 90% of the 2014 capital expenditures is focused on the Hawler license area, predominantly for drilling and facilities related to the development of the Demir Dagh field.  The revisions to the forecast reflects the deferment of the exploration well planned for the Haute Mer B license area into 2015, lower drilling costs in the Hawler license area due to the deferral of appraisal activities at the Banan, Ain Al Safra and Zey Gawra fields, and higher facilities expenditures due primarily to increasing the technical specifications of the EPF and related infrastructure. The full year forecast includes capital expenditures of approximately $100 million expected to be incurred in Q4 2014. Fourth quarter 2014 capital expenditures are almost exclusively related to drilling and facilities in the Hawler license area.

2015 Capital Expenditure Budget

Oryx Petroleum has recently completed its annual budget process. Total budgeted capital expenditures for 2015 amount to approximately $350 million.  Development of the Demir Dagh field in the Hawler license area continues to be the key area of focus representing approximately $200 million of total budgeted capital expenditures. The remaining $150 million includes approximately $60 million for appraisal activities related to the Banan, Ain Al Safra and Zey Gawra discoveries in the Hawler license area, and approximately $90 million for exploration drilling in Congo (Brazzaville) and the AGC.  More than 70% of the Hawler appraisal and West Africa exploration expenditures are expected to occur in the second half of 2015.

The following table summarises the Corporation's 2015 budgeted capital expenditure program:














Location


License


Drilling


Facilities


Seismic &
Studies


Other


Total

2015

Budget





$ millions


$ millions


$ millions


$ millions


$ millions

Kurdistan Region


Hawler


144


84


14


19


261

AGC


       Shallow


38


-


-


5


43



Central


-


-


-


1


1

Congo


HMA


9


-


1


3


12



HMB


26


-


1


5


32

Corporate & Other




-


-


-


4


4



Capex Total


216


84


16


37


353

Note:
(1) The above table excludes license acquisition costs. Totals in rows and columns may not add-up due to rounding

Budgeted capital expenditures for 2015 include the anticipated drilling of 10 wells (3 appraisal and 7 development wells), facilities construction and a 3D seismic acquisition program in the Hawler license area. 2015 budgeted expenditures also include the drilling of three exploration wells in the Group`s West Africa license areas. Key activities expected in each license area are as follows: 

Liquidity Outlook

Oryx Petroleum has sufficient cash to fund the balance of its 2014 forecasted capital expenditure program.  The Group's 2015 budget has been developed on the basis that forecasted cash at the end of 2014 together with forecasted Operating Cash Flow in 2015, assuming only domestic sales at the current prevailing prices, will fund its planned development expenditures at the Demir Dagh field as well as a major portion of its budgeted appraisal and exploration activities. In order to fund the balance of the expenditures for its appraisal and exploration activities, the Group will be dependent on either higher realised oil sales pricing, either in the domestic market or via international export, on higher production and sales volumes, or on external financing sources. Alternatively, the Group has the flexibility to defer certain budgeted exploration and appraisal expenditures, most of which are planned for the second half of 2015. In the event that Operating Cash Flow is lower than projected, the Group is also able to adjust the timing of its expenditures on the development of the Demir Dagh field.  Slowing the rate of development expenditures related to the Demir Dagh field is likely to impede the Group's ability to achieve expected production and sales levels.

Oryx Petroleum has no debt and enjoys a considerable degree of control over both the extent and timing of its planned capital expenditures.

Regulatory Filings

This announcement coincides with the filing with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities of Oryx Petroleum's unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and the related management's discussion and analysis thereon.  Copies of these documents filed by Oryx Petroleum may be obtained under Oryx Petroleum's profile at www.sedar.com, and on the Group's website, www.oryxpetroleum.com. 

ABOUT ORYX PETROLEUM CORPORATION LIMITED

Oryx Petroleum is an international oil exploration and production company focused in Africa and the Middle East. Oryx Petroleum's shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "OXC". The Oryx Petroleum group of companies was founded in 2010 by The Addax and Oryx Group P.L.C. and key members of the former senior management team of Addax Petroleum Corporation. Oryx Petroleum has interests in seven license areas, two of which have yielded oil discoveries and five of which management of Oryx Petroleum believe are prospective for oil. The Group is the operator or technical partner in five of the seven license areas. Two license areas are located in the Kurdistan Region and the Wasit governorate (province) of Iraq and five license areas are located in West Africa in Nigeria, the AGC administrative area offshore Senegal and Guinea Bissau, and Congo (Brazzaville). Further information about Oryx Petroleum is available at www.oryxpetroleum.com or under Oryx Petroleum's profile at www.sedar.com.

Reader Advisory Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking information", including statements related to the Group's reserves and resources estimates and potential, business strategies, drilling plans, development plans and schedules and chance of success, results of exploration activities, future drilling of new wells, ultimate recoverability of current and long-term assets, expected well production rates, possible commerciality of its projects, future expenditures, and statements that contain words such as "may", "will", "could", "should", "aim", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "expect", "plan", "estimate", "potentially", "project", or the negative of such expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical fact, constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation.

Although Oryx Petroleum believes these statements to be reasonable, the assumptions upon which they are based may prove to be incorrect. For more information about these assumptions and risks facing the Group, refer  to the Group's annual information form dated March 12, 2014 available at www.sedar.com and the Group's website at www.oryxpetroleum.com. Further, statements including forward-looking information in this news release are made as at the date they are given and, except as required by applicable law, Oryx Petroleum does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  If the Group does update one or more statements containing forward-looking information, it is not obligated to, and no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking information.  The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Reader Advisory Regarding Production Figures

Unless provided otherwise, all production and capacity figures and volumes cited in this news release are gross (100%) values, indicating that figures (i) have not been adjusted for deductions specified in the production sharing contract applicable to the Hawler license area, and (ii) are attributed to the license area as a whole and do not represent Oryx Petroleum's working interest in such production, capacity or volumes.

SOURCE Oryx Petroleum Corporation Ltd.



Contact
For additional information about Oryx Petroleum, please contact: Craig Kelly, Chief Financial Officer, Tel.: +41 (0) 58 702 93 23, craig.kelly@oryxpetroleum.com; Scott Lewis, Head of Corporate Finance, Tel.: +41 (0) 58 702 93 52, scott.lewis@oryxpetroleum.com