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Peshkabir Production Pushes 50,000 bpd

DNO ASA, the Norwegian oil and gas operator, today announced production at the Peshkabir field in the Kurdistan region of Iraq has ramped up to 50,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd), meeting the end-2018 target ahead of schedule and below budget.

One of two recently completed wells, Peshkabir-7, is producing over 10,000 bopd from nine Cretaceous zones through temporary test facilities and exported. The other, Peshkabir-6, drilled as a production well, but with the additional objective of appraising deeper formations, has established a deeper Cretaceous oil/water contact level than previously estimated. Further testing is underway, including test production of multiple producing zones.

The Peshkabir-8 well, spud in late August, is drilling ahead at 2,325 meters. Once completed, the rig will move to spud Peshkabir-9 in November.

Four other wells at Peshkabir now produce at a combined rate of close to 40,000 bopd following a workover at Peshkabir-3 which boosted production from that well to 11,000 bopd from 8,000 bopd.

Peshkabir production is processed through temporary test facilities until commissioning of a central processing facility with a capacity of up to 50,000 bopd by end-2018. The Company is also installing a 10-inch pipeline from Peshkabir to Fish Khabur with a capacity of 60,000 bopd. Field production is currently transported to Fish Khabur by tanker truck and a 6-inch pipeline.

At the Company’s flagship Tawke field, the Tawke-50 shallow Jeribe well drilled to a depth of 320 meters will be brought on production within several days. The Tawke-49 Cretaceous well is drilling ahead at 2,245 meters and will be completed later this month. Two additional Tawke wells, one each in the Jeribe and the Cretaceous, will be drilled by the end of the year. Workovers are also underway at two wells. Tawke production currently stands at just over 80,000 bopd.

Elsewhere in Kurdistan, the Company is about to spud its first well at the Baeshiqa license. Baeshiqa contains two undrilled structures with multiple target reservoirs in the Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic. The first well will target the Cretaceous and will be followed by a back-to-back well to test the deeper Jurassic and Triassic on the same structure. A third well to test the Jurassic and Triassic on a separate structure will be drilled in 2019.

“We are all in on our Kurdistan operations and delivering,” said DNO’s Executive Chairman Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani (pictured). “Peshkabir continues to exceed expectations and we are eager to probe the promising potential at Baeshiqa,” he added.

In Norway, the Company will participate in two exploration wells to be spud in 2018. DNO currently holds 21 licenses in the country and plans an additional five exploration wells next year. The Company’s growing Norway portfolio is complemented by a 28.22 percent shareholding in UK-listed Faroe Petroleum plc.

“With USD 1 billion in financial assets, including more than USD 600 million in cash and the balance in marketable securities and treasury shares, we are well-positioned to grow our footprint in Kurdistan and Norway with the drill bit and the acquisition of producing assets,” said Mr. Mossavar-Rahmani.

(Source: DNO)

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DNO Presses Foot on Accelerator in Kurdistan

DNO ASA, the Norwegian oil and gas operator, today announced plans for its first dividend distribution to shareholders in 13 years following release of strong half-year 2018 results, including revenues of USD 289 million which were up 83 percent from the same period last year. The Company also reported a net profit of USD 61 million and free cash flow of USD 142 million during the first half of the year.

“With growing production and robust and reliable revenues, the dividend announcement underscores confidence in our strong growth prospects,” said DNO’s Executive Chairman Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani (pictured). “Kurdistan is back and so is DNO,” he added.

The Company continues to ramp up activity in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, where fast track development of the Peshkabir field is expected to boost output by another 15,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) to 50,000 bopd by yearend.

The Company, the most active driller in Kurdistan, has three rigs operating across its licenses with a fourth to be added next month.

Two rigs will be active at the flagship Tawke field to reverse natural field decline through workovers and the drilling of two wells in the main Cretaceous reservoir and two wells in the shallow Jeribe reservoir.

Operations will commence at the Baeshiqa license with another rig to be mobilized to spud the first well in September as part of a back-to-back, three-well exploration program. DNO acquired a 32 percent interest in and operatorship of the Baeshiqa license last year, joining ExxonMobil (32 percent), the Turkish Energy Company (16 percent) and the Kurdistan Regional Government (20 percent).

At Peshkabir, the fourth rig will spud Peshkabir-8 in 10 days followed by Peshkabir-9 in October. Early production and successful appraisal have raised previous field proven (1P) and proven and probable (2P) reserves. Two newly completed wells, Peshkabir-6 and Peshkabir-7, will commence testing by the end of this month before being placed on production. Peshkabir-6 is key to unlocking further Cretaceous and Triassic reserves.

“Peshkabir is proving prolific in production and has generated over USD 300 million in gross revenue since startup last year or three times the investment,” said Mr. Mossavar-Rahmani.

Elsewhere, DNO recently completed the sale of its Tunisia assets and relinquished Block SL18 in Somaliland as part of the Company’s ongoing rationalization of its portfolio through divestment of non-core assets and focus on expanding operations in Kurdistan and Norway.

Offshore Norway, the Company recently added six new exploration licenses for a total of 21 licenses and plans to participate in one exploration well in the fall, followed by at least five wells next year.

DNO retains indirect interests in North Sea assets through its 28.23 percent strategic stake in Faroe Petroleum plc and, given the size of its shareholding, will request seats on the board and has asked for an extraordinary general meeting to be called for this purpose.

DNO exited the second quarter with a cash balance of USD 584 million in addition to USD 288 million in marketable securities and treasury shares. The Company’s outstanding bond debt stands at USD 600 million.

The planned annual dividend distribution of NOK 434 million (USD 50 million equivalent), payable in two tranches, is subject to shareholder approval. To facilitate the distribution of the planned dividend, the DNO Board of Directors will convene an extraordinary general meeting on 13 September 2018 (i) to seek approval for payment of a dividend of NOK 0.2 per share in H2 2018 to be distributed to shareholders of record on 13 September 2018 (as registered in the VPS on 17 September 2018), and (ii) to seek authorization to approve an additional dividend payment of NOK 0.2 per share in H1 2019.

(Source: DNO)

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DNO Picks Up Peshkabir Production in Kurdistan

DNO ASA, the Norwegian oil and gas operator, today announced a two-thirds increase in production from the Peshkabir field in the Tawke license in the Kurdistan region of Iraq to 25,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) following completion of the Peshkabir-4 well testing program.

The well has been placed on production at a rate of 10,000 bopd through a 72/64″ choke with 790 psi wellhead pressure through temporary, capacity-constrained test facilities and the oil trucked to Fish Khabur for export.

The Peshkabir-4 well was designed as a high angle well to assess the central part of the structure four kilometers west of the Peshkabir-3 well and drilled to a measured depth of 3,525 meters, including a 1,150 meter extended reach reservoir section. A total of 11 zones were tested and flowed between 1,500 bopd and 7,000 bopd per zone.

The next well in the 2018 field development campaign, Peshkabir-5, has been drilled seven kilometers west of Peshkabir-3 and has successfully proved the westward extension of the field. Completed in June, it is currently undergoing final testing; a total of four zones have been tested so far and flowed between 4,000 bopd and 7,500 bopd per zone.

DNO will bring this well onstream in August and expects to reach and surpass its previously announced summer 2018 Peshkabir production target of 30,000 bopd.

“The pickup in Peshkabir production puts new meaning to the fast in fast track in development of this field by the DNO team,” said Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani, DNO’s Executive Chairman.  “And we expect Peshkabir to continue to surprise to the upside,” he added.

Two other wells, Peshkabir-6 and Peshkabir-7, are drilling ahead at 3,900 meters and 3,100 meters, respectively. Peshkabir-6, a near vertical well, will explore the field’s deeper Triassic formation and establish the Cretaceous oil/water contact level. Peshkabir-7 is a high angle producer well located between Peshkabir-4 and Peshkabir-5.

The Peshkabir field was brought on production in 2017 and two drilled wells last year, Peshkabir-2 and Peshkabir-3, have produced at a constant combined rate of around 15,000 bopd.

DNO operates and has a 75 percent interest in the Tawke license, which contains the Tawke and Peshkabir fields, with partner Genel Energy plc holding the remainder. Together, output from the two fields has averaged 106,000 bopd year-to-date.

(Source: DNO)

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DNO Expands and Accelerates Kurdistan Operations

DNO ASA, the Norwegian oil and gas operator, today announced expansion and acceleration of operations in the Kurdistan region of Iraq while building up its North Sea exposure.

First quarter revenues, the highest in nearly four years, stood at USD 142 million and net profit at USD 18 million. The Company exited the quarter with cash balances of USD 518 million plus USD 76 million in treasury shares and marketable securities.

The Company added a third license in Kurdistan following government and partner approvals of the previously announced transaction with ExxonMobil. Effective 10 April 2018, DNO assumed operatorship of the Baeshiqa license with a 40 percent (32 percent participating) interest alongside ExxonMobil, Turkish Energy Company and the Kurdistan Regional Government.

At the Tawke license, the Company fast tracked development of the Peshkabir field with three new wells. The recently completed Peshkabir-4 well will shortly undergo production testing and the Peshkabir-5 well is drilling ahead at 2,250 meters. The Peshkabir-6 well was spudded as a development well last week and will also explore the field’s deeper Triassic formation.

“We have the wind on our back,” said DNO’s Executive Chairman Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani, “with higher oil prices, timely export payments in Kurdistan, a growing portfolio of quality assets, efficient drilling and bold strategy execution.“

On the DNO-operated Tawke license containing the Peshkabir and Tawke fields, 15,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) of production from two Peshkabir wells are comingled with 90,000 bopd from the flagship Tawke field for export through Turkey.

A new Tawke Cretaceous well was brought onstream earlier this month at more than 5,000 bopd. The Company will drill additional Tawke development wells in 2018 following mobilization of a fourth rig.

Elsewhere, the Company acquired 28.71 percent of North Sea-focused Faroe Petroleum plc at a price of GBP 1.25 per share through four separate transactions in April, complementing DNO’s existing portfolio of 19 exploration licenses offshore Norway and the United Kingdom.

DNO’s current cash balance stands at USD 356 million plus USD 280 million in treasury shares and marketable securities. The Company’s outstanding bond debt remains at USD 400 million and the equity ratio at 61 percent.

(Source: DNO)

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Genel Energy Returns to Profit

Genel Energy has announced a return to profit.

In its audited results for the year ended 31 December 2017, Murat Özgül (pictured), Chief Executive of Genel, said:

“Another year of consistent payments by the KRG and a disciplined capital allocation strategy helped to generate material free cash flow in 2017. This was enhanced in the latter part of the year by the Receivable Settlement Agreement, from which Genel expects to generate sustainable and significant free cash flow going forward.

“The strong financial performance of 2017, and the promise of more to come, facilitated the successful refinancing in December, which solidified a significant improvement in the balance sheet and provides a strong platform for growth.

“We will continue with our strategy of maximising free cash flow as we focus investment on our producing assets, specifically on the Tawke PSC, where the performance of Peshkabir remains highly encouraging. Prudent expenditure will also be made on the other assets within our portfolio that provide material value creation opportunities.

“We will continue to construct the building blocks for value creation from Bina Bawi and Miran, while cost-effectively progressing our exploration assets in Africa.”

Results summary ($ million unless stated)

2017

2016

Production (bopd, working interest)

35,200

53,300

Revenue

228.9

190.7

EBITDAX1

475.5

130.7

  Depreciation and amortisation

(117.4)

(128.9)

  Exploration expense

(1.9)

(815.1)

  Impairment of property, plant and equipment

(58.2)

(218.3)

  Impairment of receivables

–

(191.3)

Operating profit / (loss)

298.0

(1,222.9)

Cash flow from operating activities

221.0

131.0

Capital expenditure

94.1

61.2

Free cash flow before interest2

141.8

59.1

Cash3

162.0

407.0

Total debt

300.0

674.6

Net debt4

134.8

241.2

Basic EPS (¢ per share)

97.1

(448.6)

1.     EBITDAX is earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation, exploration expense and impairment which is operating profit / (loss) adjusted for the add back of depreciation and amortisation ($117.4 million), exploration expense ($1.9 million) and impairment of property, plant and equipment ($58.2 million)

2.     Free cash flow before interest is net cash generated from operating activities less cash outflow due to purchase of intangible assets and purchase of property, plant and equipment (oil and gas assets only)

3.     Cash reported at 31 December 2017 excludes $18.5 million of restricted cash

4.     Reported debt less cash

Highlights

  • $263 million of cash proceeds received in 2017 (2016: $207 million), with strong free cash flow generation of $142 million (2016: $59 million)
  • Year-end net debt of $135 million, a 44% reduction year-on-year (2016: $241 million)
  • Year-end gross debt of $300 million, a 56% reduction year-on-year (2016: $675 million), with debt extended until 2022 and interest cost reduced by 40%
  • Receivable Settlement Agreement resulted in cash benefit of $26 million in Q4 2017
  • Focused capital allocation – 66% of capital expenditure was spent on cash-generative producing assets, and has been cost recovered
  • Drilling success at Peshkabir, with gross production rising to c.15,000 bopd at year-end
  • Taq Taq field production stabilised in H2 2017, with Q4 average of 14,035 bopd in line with Q3 average of 14,080 bopd
  • In January 2018 Bina Bawi and Miran CPRs confirmed c.45% uplift to gross 2C raw gas resources to 14.8 Tcf

Outlook

  • Combined net production from the Tawke and Taq Taq PSCs during 2018 is expected to be close to Q4 2017 levels of 32,800 bopd, unchanged from previous guidance
  • Genel expects to continue the generation of material free cash flow in 2018
  • Tangible steps to be taken to further de-risk gas resources and unlock value from Bina Bawi and Miran, including the high-value oil resources
  • Capital allocation discipline to continue, with ongoing prioritisation of spend on cash-generative producing assets. Capital expenditure guidance unchanged at c.$95-140 million net to Genel
  • Opex and G&A cash cost guidance unchanged at c.$30 million and c.$15 million respectively

More here.

(Source: Genel Energy)

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DNO announces Higher Revenues, Profits, Production, Reserves

DNO ASA, the Norwegian oil and gas operator, today released its 2017 Annual Report and Accounts together with its 2017 Annual Statement of Reserves and Resources and reported improvements across key financial and operational metrics.

Annual 2017 revenues climbed to USD 347 million, up 72 percent from year earlier levels. Operating profit totaled USD 521 million, up from USD 6 million in 2016, with the recognition as other income of USD 556 million under the August 2017 Kurdistan Receivables Settlement Agreement.

Excluding the settlement agreement and non-cash impairments, operating profit in 2017 more than doubled to USD 72 million. And notwithstanding a doubling of operational spend to USD 259 million, the Company ended the year with a cash balance of USD 430 million.

Company Working Interest (CWI) production increased to 73,700 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) from 69,200 boepd in 2016 (operated production in 2017 was 113,500 boepd, up from 112,600 boepd in 2016). Lifting costs last year averaged USD 3.6 per barrel of oil equivalent.

Iraqi Kurdistan

DNO’s production continues to be driven by the Tawke field in Kurdistan, where output in 2017 averaged 105,500 barrels of oil per day (bopd).

The adjacent Peshkabir field, brought on stream midyear, contributed another 3,600 bopd to bring total Tawke license production to 109,100 bopd in 2017. The Company plans to bolster production from the license with 10 new wells in 2018.

“We are committed this year to continue to outdrill, outproduce and outperform all other international companies in Kurdistan – combined,” said DNO’s Executive Chairman Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani.

At yearend 2017, DNO’s CWI 1P reserves climbed to 240 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe) from 219 MMboe at yearend 2016, after adjusting for production during the year, technical revisions and an increase in DNO’s operated stake in the Tawke license from 55 percent to 75 percent.

On a 2P basis, DNO’s CWI reserves stood at 384 MMboe (up from 368 MMboe) and on a 3P basis, DNO’s CWI reserves stood at 666 MMboe (up from 521 MMboe). DNO’s yearend 2017 CWI contingent resources (2C) were estimated at 99 MMboe, down from 161 MMboe at yearend 2016, following reclassification of certain contingent resources to reserves.

On a gross basis, at yearend 2017, 1P reserves at the Tawke license containing the Tawke and Peshkabir fields totaled 348 MMboe (353 MMboe at yearend 2016) after adjusting for production of 40 MMboe during the year and technical revisions; 2P reserves totaled 513 MMboe (536 MMboe at yearend 2016); 3P reserves totaled 880 MMboe (725 MMboe at yearend 2016) and 2C resources totaled 91 MMboe (211 MMboe at yearend 2016) following reclassification.

International petroleum consultants DeGolyer and MacNaughton carried out the annual independent assessment of the Tawke and Peshkabir fields. DNO internally evaluated the remaining assets.

(Source: DNO)

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DNO: Revenues and Investment Rise Sharply

DNO ASA, the Norwegian oil and gas operator, today announced a 50 percent hike in 2018 spending in the Kurdistan region of Iraq to USD 250 million net to the Company on the back of higher revenues and regular export payments.

Annual 2017 revenues stood at USD 347 million, up 72 percent from 2016, bolstered by fourth quarter revenues of USD 116 million, the highest quarterly level in more than three years.

The Company fast tracked the development of the Peshkabir field with two wells currently producing a total of 16,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) and commingled for export with another 97,000 bopd from the other DNO-operated field, Tawke, on the same license.

DNO’s Executive Chairman Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani:

“We made the Peshkabir Cretaceous discovery early in 2017, initiated early production in June, tripled output by year’s end and already have exported two million barrels with an estimated value of USD 100 million – more than twice the investment to date. And we have only started to appraise and develop this field which continues to surprise to the upside.”

A total of six Peshkabir wells will be drilled this year with field production expected to reach 30,000 bopd by summer and continue to ramp up in the second half of the year.

At the Tawke field, plans are being finalized with partner Genel Energy plc to drill four wells in 2018, in addition to the currently drilling Tawke-48 well slated for completion by end-February.

Elsewhere in Kurdistan, DNO has re-entered and sidetracked the Hawler-1 well to appraise the Benenan heavy oil field in the Erbil license, achieving a technical milestone with the first ever multilateral well and the first ever dual completion in Kurdistan. Testing will commence shortly, and if successful, will be followed by additional wells.

The Company received 12 monthly Kurdistan export payments during 2017 totaling USD 380 million net to DNO. The landmark August 2017 receivables settlement agreement, which increased DNO’s stake in the Tawke and Peshkabir fields from 55 percent to 75 percent plus three percent of gross license revenues over five years, contributed to higher export payments.

Operational cash flow more than tripled to USD 339 million in 2017 and DNO exited the year with a net cash position of USD 30 million versus net debt of USD 139 million at end-2016.

(Source: DNO)

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DNO: Revenues and Investment Rise Sharply

DNO ASA, the Norwegian oil and gas operator, today announced a 50 percent hike in 2018 spending in the Kurdistan region of Iraq to USD 250 million net to the Company on the back of higher revenues and regular export payments.

Annual 2017 revenues stood at USD 347 million, up 72 percent from 2016, bolstered by fourth quarter revenues of USD 116 million, the highest quarterly level in more than three years.

The Company fast tracked the development of the Peshkabir field with two wells currently producing a total of 16,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) and commingled for export with another 97,000 bopd from the other DNO-operated field, Tawke, on the same license.

DNO’s Executive Chairman Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani:

“We made the Peshkabir Cretaceous discovery early in 2017, initiated early production in June, tripled output by year’s end and already have exported two million barrels with an estimated value of USD 100 million – more than twice the investment to date. And we have only started to appraise and develop this field which continues to surprise to the upside.”

A total of six Peshkabir wells will be drilled this year with field production expected to reach 30,000 bopd by summer and continue to ramp up in the second half of the year.

At the Tawke field, plans are being finalized with partner Genel Energy plc to drill four wells in 2018, in addition to the currently drilling Tawke-48 well slated for completion by end-February.

Elsewhere in Kurdistan, DNO has re-entered and sidetracked the Hawler-1 well to appraise the Benenan heavy oil field in the Erbil license, achieving a technical milestone with the first ever multilateral well and the first ever dual completion in Kurdistan. Testing will commence shortly, and if successful, will be followed by additional wells.

The Company received 12 monthly Kurdistan export payments during 2017 totaling USD 380 million net to DNO. The landmark August 2017 receivables settlement agreement, which increased DNO’s stake in the Tawke and Peshkabir fields from 55 percent to 75 percent plus three percent of gross license revenues over five years, contributed to higher export payments.

Operational cash flow more than tripled to USD 339 million in 2017 and DNO exited the year with a net cash position of USD 30 million versus net debt of USD 139 million at end-2016.

(Source: DNO)

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DNO Steps Up Production at Peshkabir Field

DNO ASA, the Norwegian oil and gas operator, today announced a tripling of production from the Peshkabir field in the Tawke license in the Kurdistan region of Iraq to 15,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) following completion of the Peshkabir-3 well testing, stimulation and cleanup program.

A total of 11 zones in a 1.2 kilometer horizontal section of Cretaceous and Jurassic reservoir in the Peshkabir-3 well were individually tested and flowed successfully, of which ten were oil zones and one a gas zone.

The oil zones tested an average of 5,340 bopd per zone on a 64/64″ choke, with the highest individual test rate of 7,200 bopd. A multi-zone combined production test totaled 12,500 bopd on a 128/64″ choke from five zones.

Production from the previously drilled Peshkabir-2 well, in operation since May, together with that of the new Peshkabir-3 well are currently processed through temporary test package facilities and trucked to DNO’s adjacent Tawke field facilities for export.

As previously announced, the Tawke license partners are proceeding with fast track plans to commission an early production facility by yearend and complete installation of pipeline connections early in 2018 to allow ramp up of output at the Peshkabir field.

Preparations are underway to drill the Peshkabir-4 well which will also be designed to test the underlying Triassic reservoir.

DNO operates and has a 75 percent interest in the Tawke license, with partner Genel Energy plc holding the remainder. The license contains the Tawke and Peshkabir fields whose combined year-to-date production has averaged 110,000 bopd.

(Source: DNO)

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DNO Flows Peshkabir-3 Well

DNO ASA, the Norwegian oil and gas operator, today announced flow rates of more than 3,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) from the first zone tested in the Peshkabir-3 well in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Nine other oil zones and one gas zone have been identified for testing in a 1.2 kilometer horizontal section of Cretaceous and Jurassic reservoir.

The Company has fast tracked the development of the field and an early production facility will be commissioned by year-end. The previously drilled Peshkabir-2 well has produced at a steady rate of 4,700 bopd since May and comingled with over 100,000 bopd from the adjacent Tawke field for export. DNO’s operations in Kurdistan continue uninterrupted.

DNO is the most active driller in Kurdistan with three rigs deployed and 15 wells in 2017 across three operated fields in various stages of production, development and appraisal. Most recently, the Company spud the Hawler-1A multilateral well in October to appraise the Benenan heavy oil field in the Erbil license.

The Company has received year-to-date export payments totaling USD 297 million net to DNO, up from USD 210 million during the full-year 2016. With continuing export payments, DNO will step up investments in Kurdistan in 2018.

The Company today released its third quarter operating and financial update, reporting an operating profit of USD 469 million during the quarter. This follows recognition of USD 556 million as other income following the receivables settlement agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government in August 2017.

Pursuant to the agreement, DNO was assigned an additional 20 percent in the Tawke license, bringing the Company’s operated stake to 75 percent. Partner Genel Energy plc holds the remaining 25 percent interest.

DNO’s cash balance stood at USD 399 million at the end of the third quarter, up from USD 261 million at end-2016. With the strengthening of its balance sheet, the Company’s equity ratio has increased to 60 percent.

(Source: DNO)