Ophir provides operations and trading update

On Jan 12, 2017

Equatorial Guinea Monetisation

The Fortuna FLNG project remains firmly on schedule for a Final Investment Decision in 1H 2017. Ophir and its partner, OneLNG, are making good progress against all key milestones.

Kerendan Monetisation

PLN has informed Ophir that the last transmission pylon required to complete the 290 km Tanjung line was installed in December 2016 and cables are currently being pulled. The line will connect the Kerendan gas field into the regional power grid and will enable gas production from Kerendan to ramp up to the full daily contract quantity (“DCQ”) of 20 MMscfd.

Meanwhile Ophir continues to accrue a take-or-pay receivable due from PLN for 80% of the DCQ volume.

Separately, SKKMigas has recently approved the West Kerendan-1 Put on Production plan. This is a critical step to enabling Ophir to monetise an additional 50 Bcf of gas in the Kerendan area which is expected to add c. 7 MMscfd to the production profile from 2019.

Exploration

Preparations for Ophir to recommence operated deepwater oil exploration with the Ayame-1 well in Cote D’Ivoire are at an advanced stage. This well is expected to spud in late May and will target approximately 240 mmbbl Pmean recoverable resources with an estimated 28% chance of commercial success. Ophir has a 45% operated interest in the licence.

Separately, investment decisions will be made during 2017 regarding the options to commence further wildcat activity in Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia and EG, in the next 6-18 months.

In December 2016 Ophir secured its first exploration footprint outside Asia and Africa when it won the Block 5 licence, offshore Mexico, in the latest Mexico bid round. This was the first deepwater bid round in Mexico since the government’s move to liberalise the energy sector and provide greater access for international companies. Block 5 is in an underexplored, proven oil basin, and it was the most contested acreage in the bid round.

Ophir will have a 23.3% non-operated interest in Block 5. Other partners in Block 5 are Murphy Oil (operator), Petronas Carigali and Sierra Oil and Gas.

Trading and 2017 Guidance

Production from the Bualuang and Sinphuhorm fields was ahead of forecast in 2016, but the Kerendan field ramped up more slowly than expected resulting in a full year production average of 10,800 boepd (guidance: 10,500-11,500 boepd). Underlying 2016 operating cash flow from production (including Sinphuhorm) was in line with previous guidance of $50-70 million. In addition the Group accrued a $14 million receivable to the balance sheet for the take or pay obligation for the contracted volumes not drawn by the off-taker of Kerendan gas during 2016.

Capital expenditure for 2016 was approximately $170 million, at the high-end of previous guidance. A farm out of Block AD-03 in Myanmar, with Ophir being reimbursed for back costs, was assumed in previous cash guidance for 2016 of $175-225 million. If this deal had been completed then net cash at year end would have been in line with guidance. As it is, net cash at year end was approximately $165 million.

Following redetermination of the Group’s reserves based lending facility at year-end, the Group elected not to draw the additional funds available leading to a gross debt position at year-end 2016 of $203 million. The Group closed the year with gross cash and funds available of $368 million and with year-end gearing (on a gross debt basis) of ca. 10%.

2017 production guidance is estimated at 12,500-13,500 boepd and is expected to generate underlying operating cash flow from production (including Sinphuhorm) of $80-120 million. Production is due to increase in 2017 as a result of a ramp up to full production at Kerendan and the drilling in mid-2017 of three infill production wells at the Bualuang field.

Capital expenditure for 2017 is expected to be $150-200 million. The Group commenced a refinancing of its debt facilities at the end of 2016 which should complete in 2Q 2017.

The Group expects to finish 2017 with a net cash position of $75-100 million, and with the refinancing of the Group’s debt facilities in 2017, a gross cash position of $350-400 million.