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DNO Raises Kurdistan Output Forecast

DNO ASA, the Norwegian oil and gas operator, today reported strong second quarter operational and financial results powered by high oil and gas prices and by solid production in its operated flagship Kurdistan Tawke license.

Spurred by quarterly revenue of USD 361 million and free cash flow of USD 167 million, the Company reduced debt and exited the quarter in a positive net cash position for the first time since 2018.

“DNO is committed to put its capital to work in its core competency and capture new opportunities created as peers and even some of the largest European companies scale back spending and focus instead on harvesting,” said Executive Chairman Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani. “We believe in the oil and gas business and in our responsibility to all stakeholders, including host governments who want to capitalize on current prices and consumers who now call for more production, not less,” he added.

Operational cash flow totaled USD 341 million, including USD 50 million towards arrears built up by Kurdistan from non-payment of certain 2019 and 2020 Tawke invoices. These arrears, which stood at USD 259 million at yearend 2020, were reduced to USD 87 million as of 30 June 2022, excluding interest.

The Company’s operational spend in the second quarter totaled USD 198 million in line with the USD 800 million projection for the year. During the quarter, operational spend of USD 81 million in Kurdistan was divided between the Tawke license (USD 66 million) and the Baeshiqa license (USD 15 million); operational spend in the North Sea stood at USD 117 million.

Operating profit dropped to USD 81 million from USD 236 million in the previous quarter due to asset impairments of USD 127 million primarily related to the Ula area in the North Sea and expensed exploration of USD 48 million.

The Company reduced its interest-bearing debt through a USD 200 million bond redemption and exited the quarter with cash deposits of USD 801 million. With USD 671 million in bond and reserves-based lending debt, net cash stood at USD 129 million.

Gross production at the Tawke license averaged 106,900 barrels of oil per day (bopd) during the second quarter, of which Peshkabir contributed 62,300 bopd and Tawke 44,600 bopd, the latter representing the first quarterly production increase since 2015 at this legacy field as new wells are drilled, workovers conducted on existing ones and gas injection continued.

Of total Kurdistan production, 80,400 bopd were net to DNO’s interest. North Sea net production averaged 11,600 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), bringing the Company’s total quarterly net production to 92,000 boepd.

In the second quarter, four new production wells were brought onstream in the Tawke license with three at Tawke and one at Peshkabir. Together with wells drilled in the first quarter, natural field decline has been arrested and reversed, including at Tawke, raising the Company’s full-year projection to 107,000-109,000 bopd.

Following government approvals, DNO commenced trucking of production in mid-June from the Zartik-1 discovery well in the operated Baeshiqa license for export at an average rate of 600 bopd. Production from the well has been choked back as the Company targets zones with lower gas-to-oil ratios to avoid flaring. Development of the license continues with the drilling of Zartik-2 and Zartik-3, to be followed by Baeshiqa-3 in the fourth quarter.

In the North Sea, operated Brasse field development progressed into front end engineering and design ahead of planned project sanction by yearend 2022. The Company remains an active North Sea explorer with three more exploration wells to be drilled this year in addition to the four already drilled in the first half of 2022, one of which, Kveikje (DNO 29 percent), is considered a likely commercial discovery, as previously reported.

Key figures

Q2 2022 Q1 2022 Full Year 2021
Gross operated production (boepd) 107,178 106,465       108,713
Net production (boepd)    91,937    92,548         94,477
Revenues (USD million)       361        339          1,004
Operating profit/-loss (USD million)         81        236             321
Net profit/-loss (USD million)         72        140             204
Free cash flow (USD million)       167        152             362
Net debt (USD million)      -129          27             153

(Source: DNO)

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Tawke Oilfield: First Quarterly Production Increase since 2015

Genel Energy notes that DNO ASA, as operator of the Tawke PSC (Genel 25% working interest), has today issued an update on licence activity.

Gross production at the Tawke licence averaged 106,900 bopd during the second quarter, of which Peshkabir contributed 62,300 bopd and Tawke 44,600 bopd, the latter representing the first quarterly production increase since 2015 at this legacy field as new wells are drilled, workovers conducted on existing ones and gas injection continued.

In the second quarter, four new production wells were brought onstream on the Tawke licence with three at Tawke and one at Peshkabir. Together with wells drilled in the first quarter, natural field decline has been arrested and reversed, including at Tawke, raising DNO’s full-year projection to 107,000-109,000 bopd (previously 105,000 bopd).

Genel’s production guidance for 2022 is unchanged, with net portfolio production currently expected to be between 30-31,000 bopd for the full-year.

(Source: Genel Energy)

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Genel Energy issues update on Trading and Ops

Genel Energy has issued the following trading and operations update ahead of the Company’s Annual General Meeting (‘AGM’), which is being held today:

Bill Higgs, Chief Executive of Genel, said:

“Our robust financial position continues to strengthen, supporting investment in our organic portfolio as well as our progressive dividend. Despite the result of Sarta-5, the well delivered useful data that we will incorporate together with the results of our next well, Sarta-6, into our forward plans for the field. As we look to add production and further bolster our progressive dividend and create value for stakeholders, we continue to review both organic and inorganic opportunities.”

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

  • $95 million cash proceeds received in Q1 2022 from the Kurdistan Regional Government
  • Free cash flow of $43 million in Q1 2022
    • Margin of $30/bbl in Q1 2022 (2021: $24/bbl), with Brent averaging $102/bbl (2021: $71/bbl)
    • Capital expenditure of $35 million in Q1 2022, of which $19 million was spent at Tawke, and $12 million at Sarta
    • Of the $35 million total invoiced for December 2021 oil sales, $17 million was received in Q1 2022, with $18 million of invoices being received after period end
  • Cash of $356 million at 31 March 2022 ($314 million at 31 December 2021)
  • Net cash of $86 million at 31 March 2022 ($44 million at 31 December 2021)

PRODUCTION

  • Net production of 30,520 bopd in Q1 2022, in line with guidance
  • Zero lost time injuries or Tier 1 losses of primary containment in Q1 2022
  • Tawke PSC (25% working interest)
    • Gross production of 106,470 bopd in Q1 2022, 26,620 net to Genel, of which Peshkabir contributed 64,500 bopd and Tawke 41,970 bopd
    • A high level of activity was maintained at Tawke in Q1 2022, with five wells spud across the Tawke and Peshkabir fields, with a fourth drilling rig set to be added
    • The Peshkabir-Tawke gas project has captured 12 billion cubic feet of otherwise flared gas, equivalent to 766,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, since start up in mid-2020 through the first quarter of 2022. Phase 2 is a $25 million expansion underway at the Tawke field to capture breakthrough gas, set to start in the fourth quarter of 2022. The operator, DNO, is also debottlenecking the Peshkabir gas plant originally designed for 50,000 bopd to handle larger volumes of associated gas from higher field production, which is now averaging 65,000 bopd
  • Sarta (30% working interest and operator)
    • Gross production of 5,590 bopd in Q1, 1,670 bopd net to Genel
    • Sarta-1D was brought onto production on 8 March from the Mus and Upper Adaiyah reservoirs, the same zone on production at Sarta-2. On well test at Sarta-1D the Lower Adaiyah produced at low oil rates with a high water cut while oil was discovered in the Butmah, achieving flow rates of over 1500 bopd, but again with a high water cut. Since coming onstream, production from the Mus and Upper Adaiyah reservoirs at Sarta-1D has been choked back in order to manage pressure decline between the two adjacent take points of Sarta-1D and Sarta-2, and water cut at Sarta-1D
    • Total field production has averaged c.6,150 bopd in May, as we continue to work through a programme to optimise production from the three producing wells
    • Sarta-5 testing completed on 9 May and the well is now suspended. As previously stated, the presence of oil associated with both the primary and secondary Jurassic reservoir intervals, 12 km southeast of the Sarta pilot EPF, will be subject to further investigation and integration into the joint venture’s understanding of the Sarta field and future planning
    • Test results from the Sarta-6 well, c.6 km to the west of the pilot EPF, are expected in Q3
  • Taq Taq PSC (44% working interest and joint operator)
    • Gross production of 5,070 bopd, 2,230 bopd net to Genel
    • As the margins at Taq Taq have increased, planning is underway for the resumption of drilling, with a well expected to spud around the end of 2022

PRE-PRODUCTION

  • Qara Dagh (40% working interest and operator)
    • The evaluation of the QD-2 well and its results is underway, with a decision on licence next steps to be taken later this year
  • Somaliland (51% working interest and operator)
    • Following the successful farm-out in December 2021, preparation is under way for the drilling of a well on the highly prospective SL10B13 block around the end of 2023
  • Morocco (75% working interest and operator)
    • Petroleum Agreement and Association Contract expected to be signed with ONHYM in Q2 2022, with a farm-out programme scheduled to begin later this year

ESG

  • Genel’s 2021 Sustainability Report has been issued today, detailing our environmental performance and the positive impact that we strive to have on the communities in which we operate. 2021 highlights include:
    • 11 social investment and community projects funded and delivered in 2021
    • Zero waste to landfill from operations at Sarta, with 92% recycled
    • Renewable energy feasibility study progressing at Sarta
  • Genel is marking twenty years of operating in the KRI with its Genel20 programme, increasing the scope of our social activities, including a new education initiative set to be launched next week at an event in Dohuk

2022 OUTLOOK AND GUIDANCE

  • Guidance reiterated, with production for 2022 at around the same level as the 2021 average
  • The Board is recommending the approval of a final dividend of 12¢ per share (2021: 10¢ per share) at today’s AGM, a distribution of $33.5 million, as we continue to fulfil our aim of paying a progressive dividend

(Source: Genel Energy)

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DNO releases latest Production Data

By John Lee.

DNO has issued an update on production and sales volumes for the quarter as well as other key financial information.

Volumes (boepd):

Gross operated production Q1 2022 Q4 2021 Q1 2021
  Kurdistan 106,465 107,472 111,985
  North Sea – – –
Net entitlement production Q1 2022 Q4 2021 Q1 2021
  Kurdistan 26,670 29,367 28,593
  North Sea 12,700 13,571 15,173
Sales Q1 2022 Q4 2021 Q1 2021
  Kurdistan 26,670 29,367 28,593
  North Sea 10,689 23,289 10,953

Selected cash flow items

During the quarter, DNO received USD 206.6 million net from the Kurdistan Regional Government, of which USD 160.7 million represents the entitlement share of October, November and December 2021 Tawke license crude oil deliveries.

Of the balance, USD 13.8 million represents override payments equivalent to three percent of gross October and November 2021 Tawke license revenues and USD 32.1 million represents payments towards arrears built up from non-payment of certain invoices in 2019 and 2020.

DNO paid one tax installment of USD 12.6 million in Norway as tax losses for 2021 ended lower than estimated tax losses that were the basis for tax refunds received during H2 2021.

The Company paid a dividend of NOK 0.20 per share, totaling USD 22.2 million.

(Source: DNO)

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DNO reports Record Revenues

DNO ASA, the Norwegian oil and gas operator, today reported record revenues exceeding USD 1 billion in 2021, up 63 percent from a year earlier, on the back of high oil and gas prices and solid production performance. Annual operating profit climbed to USD 321 million, reversing operating loss of USD 315 million in 2020.

Strong 2021 free cash flow of USD 362 million drove a 68 percent reduction in net debt to USD 153 million at yearend.

“Notwithstanding the continued impact of the pandemic, DNO became a billion-dollar company last year on the fiftieth anniversary of its founding,” said DNO’s Executive Chairman Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani. “We are as committed as ever to explore for and produce oil and gas in a commercially attractive but also socially responsible and environmentally sensitive manner,” he said, adding, “This is our business model, this is DNO’s DNA.”

As previously reported, gross production at the Company’s flagship Tawke license in Kurdistan averaged 108,700 barrels of oil per day (bopd) last year, of which the Peshkabir field contributed 61,800 bopd and the Tawke field 46,900 bopd. Of the total, 81,500 bopd were net to DNO’s interest. North Sea net production averaged 12,900 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), bringing the Company’s total 2021 net production to 94,500 boepd.

In 2022, DNO plans an operational spend of USD 800 million across the portfolio.

In Kurdistan, DNO is ramping up its drilling activities to maintain Tawke license gross production at around 105,000 bopd during the year, as well as a contribution from the operated Baeshiqa license in excess of 4,000 bopd. In December, the first phase field development plan for the license was approved by the Kurdistan Regional Government, clearing the way for a fast-track project to deliver early production from previously drilled but suspended discovery wells. Three additional Baeshiqa development wells will also be drilled this year.

In the North Sea, DNO projects net production in 2022 to remain around 13,000 boepd. The Company will participate in drilling the highly anticipated Edinburgh exploration well in the UK and six additional prospects offshore Norway, aiming to build on last year’s successes with the Røver Nord exploration well and the Bergknapp appraisal well.

Also in Norway, the DNO-operated Brasse project as well as the partner-operated Iris-Hades, Gjøk and Orion discovieries target 2022 project sanction, supporting the Company’s North Sea growth ambitions.

The Company’s net reserves stood at 321 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe) of proven and probable reserves (2P) at yearend 2021 with additional contingent resources (2C) of 189 MMboe, according to preliminary numbers.

A videoconference call with executive management will follow today at 10:00 (CET). Please visit www.dno.no to access the call.

Other key figures

Q4 2021 2021 2020
Gross operated production (boepd) 107,472 108,713 110,282
Net production (boepd) 94,175 94,477 100,063
Revenues (USD million) 396 1,004 615
Operating profit/-loss (USD million) 128 321 -314
Net profit/-loss (USD million) 65 204 -286
Free cash flow (USD million) 227 362 150
Net debt (USD million) 153 153 473

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Genel Energy Rise on Trading Update

Shares in Genel Energy rose by nearly 5 percent on Tuesday morning after the company issued the following trading and operations update in advance of the Company’s full-year 2021 results, which are scheduled for release on 15 March 2022. The information contained herein has not been audited and may be subject to further review.

Bill Higgs, Chief Executive of Genel, said:

“In 2021 we generated significant free cash flow of $86 million, and in 2022 we are set to build on this as the strength of the oil price and our positive outlook means that free cash flow is expected to more than double. Our focus in 2022 is on growing the business and supporting our progressive dividend long-term.

“We aim to increase cash flow through the progression of our asset development plans and the addition of income streams. Our priority is the derisking and commercialisation of Sarta, while the successful farm-out on our Somaliland licence opens the way to drill an exploration well on this exciting opportunity.“

2022 OUTLOOK AND GUIDANCE

  • Production in 2022 is expected to be around the same level as 2021
  • Genel expects to generate free cash flow of up to $200 million in 2022, pre dividend payments, at a Brent oil price of $75/bbl
    • An increase or decrease in Brent of $10/bbl impacts annual cash by $50 million
    • Under the terms of the Receivable Settlement Agreement signed in August 2017, the last override payment will be made relating to Tawke PSC production in July 2022. Given payments are received three months in arrears from the Kurdistan Regional Government (‘KRG’), 10 override payments are expected in 2022
    • 2022 capital expenditure is expected to be between $140 million and $180 million, with key asset spending including:
      • c.$75 million expenditure forecast at the Tawke PSC, an increase of c.$25 million compared to 2021 as drilling increases at the Tawke field
      • c.$45-80 million expenditure forecast at Sarta, with higher spend the result of appraisal success
      • c.$10-20 million expenditure forecast at Taq Taq
      • Work is underway on planning a well in Somaliland, with expenditure in 2022 expected to be under $5 million
    • Operating costs expected to be c.$50 million (2021: $44 million), equating to under $5/bbl, retaining our advantageous low operating cost position
  • Following the termination of the Bina Bawi and Miran PSCs by Genel on 10 December 2021, Genel will be claiming substantial compensation from the KRG. Genel’s claims will be brought in a private London seated international arbitration
  • Genel remains committed to paying a material and progressive dividend, as we look to offer a compelling mix of value-accretive growth and shareholder returns
  • Genel continues to invest in the host communities in which we operate. 2022 represents twenty years of operations in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, which we will commemorate through the Genel20 programme, launching significant new social activities throughout the year, aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals

2021 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

  • $281 million of cash proceeds were received from the KRG in 2021 (2020: $173 million)
  • Capital expenditure of $165 million (2020: $109 million), with c.$45 million spent at the Tawke PSC and c.$110 million at Sarta and Qara Dagh
  • Free cash flow of $86 million in 2021, pre dividend payments (2020: $5 million free cash outflow), comparison impacted by:
    • Higher oil price of $71/bbl in 2021, compared to $42/bbl in 2020
    • 10 entitlement payments received in 2021, compared to 12 in 2020, following industry-wide reversion to payments three months in arrears by the KRG
    • Receivable recovery payments of $35 million received in 2021, with the resumption of Tawke override payments contributing a further $72 million ($23 million in override payments received in 2020)
  • Dividends paid in 2021 of 16¢ per share (2020: 15¢ per share), a total distribution of c.$45 million
  • Cash of $314 million at 31 December 2021, net cash of $44 million ($10 million at 31 December 2020)

2021 OPERATING PERFORMANCE

  • Genel strives for safe operations with zero lost time injuries (‘LTI’) and zero tier one loss of primary containment events at Genel and TTOPCO operations. One LTI was reported in 2021 at Sarta-5 drilling operations and all corrective actions have been implemented
    • 1.2 million work hours subsequently completed across our operations without an LTI
  • Net production averaged 31,710 bopd in 2021, with net production in Q4 averaging 30,843 bopd
    • Production cost of c.$4/bbl, with margin per barrel of $24/bbl
  • Production by field was as follows:
(bopd) Gross production

2021

 Net production

2021

 Net production

2020
Tawke 108,710 27,180 27,570
Taq Taq 5,940 2,610 4,250
Sarta 6,400 1,920 160
Total 121,060 31,710 31,980
  • Genel expects our confirmed 2021 carbon intensity to be c.15 kgCO2e/bbl for scope 1 and 2 emissions, significantly below the global oil and gas industry average of 20 kgCO2e/boe
    • Expected carbon intensity in 2021 has increased from 13kg CO2e/bbl in 2020 due to full year production at Sarta where associated gas is currently being flared. The gas management project to cease routine flaring is underway

PRODUCTION ASSETS

  • Tawke PSC (25% working interest)
    • Gross production at the Tawke PSC averaged 108,710 bopd in 2021 (110,280 bopd in 2020)
    • Drilling activity is set to ramp up in 2022
  • Sarta (30% working interest and operator)
    • The results of early production from the Sarta pilot continue to help shape the view of full field development
    • Gross production averaged 6,400 bopd in 2021, with just over 2.5 million barrels having been produced from start up in late November 2020 to year end 2021
    • Drilling and completion operations at Sarta-1D concluded in November 2021, the Viking I-21 Rig was subsequently mobilised to Sarta-4 to workover the legacy exploration well for use as a produced water disposal well
    • Rigless well testing at Sarta-1D is now underway, with results expected early this quarter. This will allow for the performance of the thicker and more volumetrically significant Adaiyah reservoir to be fully evaluated. Oil produced from Sarta-1D will be delivered to the early production facility via a short c.2 km flowline that was installed in Q4 2021 removing any lag time between well testing results and monetisation of the resource
    • The Sarta-5 and Sarta-6 step out wells are designed to appraise the field away from the pilot production facility and will be key in resolving the current uncertainty over the size and shape of the Sarta field
    • Drilling and completion operations concluded at Sarta-5 at the end of 2021, and the Parker 265 Rig is currently mobilising to the Sarta 6 location with spud expected in the coming weeks
    • Rigless well-testing operations will be conducted at Sarta-5 in Q1 2022
    • As of 1 January 2022, Genel became PSC operator of Sarta in line with the agreement with Chevron
    • Genel has embarked on a renewable energy appraisal programme at Sarta, with the initial phase of this study assessing wind, solar and hydro options to power the early production facility. The study began in Q3 2021 and will be completed in 2022, as Genel aims to reduce GHG emissions from our facilities
  • Taq Taq PSC (44% working interest and joint operator)
    • Gross production at Taq Taq averaged 5,940 bopd in 2021, following the ongoing suspension of drilling activity
    • Activity at Taq Taq continues to be focused on optimising cash flow, and drilling may resume in H2 2022

PRE-PRODUCTION ASSETS

  • Qara Dagh (40% working interest and operator)
    • As announced on 4 January, drilling operations on the QD-2 well have been suspended and the well temporarily abandoned
    • The evaluation by licence partners Genel and Chevron of the QD-2 well and its results is now underway, and this will inform next steps on the licence
  • Somaliland (51% working interest and operator)
    • Following the signing of a farm-out agreement with OPIC Somaliland Corporation relating to the SL10B13 block, field partners are now working together to plan exploration drilling, with an aim of drilling a well in 2023
  • Morocco (75% working interest and operator)
    • A farm-out campaign continues to be planned relating to the Lagzira block offshore Morocco (75% working interest and operator), with the aim of bringing a partner onto the licence prior to considering further commitments

(Source: Genel Energy)

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DNO reports Third Quarter 2021 Results

DNO ASA, the Norwegian oil and gas operator, today reported third quarter revenues of USD 253 million, a 38 percent quarter-on-quarter increase driven by higher North Sea sales and strengthening commodity prices.

The Company’s operating profit climbed seven percent to USD 65 million, weighed down by non-cash net impairments of USD 40 million primarily related to revised Ula area cost and production profiles in the North Sea.

Cash flow from operating activities totaled USD 163 million in the third quarter. Net debt was reduced by USD 36 million to USD 360 million, the lowest level since 2018.

“Like much of the rest of our resilient industry, we are recovering rapidly from the early ravaging of the oil and gas markets by the runaway pandemic,” said DNO’s Executive Chairman Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani. “We are back delivering value to our host countries, shareholders and other partners in an efficient and responsible manner,” he added.

Gross operated production at the Company’s flagship Tawke license in Kurdistan averaged 105,200 barrels of oil per day (bopd) in the third quarter, of which the Peshkabir field contributed 59,900 bopd and the Tawke field 45,300 bopd. Of the total, 78,900 bopd were net to DNO. In the North Sea, net production averaged 13,100 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), bringing the Company’s total third quarter net production to 92,000 boepd.

DNO’s USD 110 million Peshkabir-Tawke gas project, which was commissioned in mid-2020, has injected eight billion cubic feet of otherwise flared gas through the end of the third quarter, capturing 480,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. In September, the Company initiated a USD 25 million second phase of the gas capture project to reinject and retain gas in the Tawke reservoir and avoid flaring. Having already eliminated routine venting of methane in operations in 2019, DNO recently launched a leak detection and repair initiative to measure, monitor and mitigate fugitive methane emissions.

Elsewhere in Kurdistan, commerciality was declared on the DNO-operated Baeshiqa license and plans submitted for a fast-track development.

DNO’s active North Sea exploration program notched up a success in the third quarter with appraisal drilling on the 2020 Bergknapp discovery (DNO 30 percent) resulting in a 35 percent upgrade of DNO’s recoverable resource estimate. Also during the quarter, DNO made an oil discovery on the Gomez prospect (DNO 65 percent and operator). Due to uncertainty of producibility, no estimate of recoverable volumes has been established pending further analysis. Another third quarter 2021 appraisal well, Black Vulture (DNO 32 percent), was dry. Following the end of the quarter, the Mugnetind exploration well (DNO 30 percent) encountered limited hydrocarbons and is unlikely to be commercial.

The Brasse development (DNO 50 percent and operator) is on track for a 2022 project sanction with DNO recently entering into a strategic framework agreement with Technip FMC covering subsea deliveries (SURF and SPS).

During the third quarter, the Company completed the placement of USD 400 million of new five-year senior unsecured bonds with at a coupon rate of 7.875 percent, lowering DNO’s average interest rate on its debt while extending the maturity profile.

A videoconference call with executive management will follow today at 15:00 (CET). Please visit www.dno.no to access the call.

(Source: DNO)

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KRG Approves DNO Purchase of Exxon Stake in Baeshiqa

By John Lee.

DNO ASA, the Norwegian oil and gas operator, today announced that the Kurdistan Regional Government has approved the Company’s acquisition of ExxonMobil‘s remaining 32 percent interest in the Baeshiqa license, doubling DNO’s stake.

In parallel, commerciality has been declared on the license with plans submitted for fast-track development including early production from previously drilled but suspended wells.

DNO has already demonstrated proof of concept of producing these wells through temporary test facilities, having trucked some 15,000 barrels of 40 degree API and 22 degree API oil for export in 2019 and 2020 from the Baeshiqa-2 and Zartik-1 discovery wells.

Following the transaction, the joint venture comprises DNO as operator with a 64 percent (80 percent paying) interest, the Turkish Energy Company (TEC) with a 16 percent (20 percent paying) interest and the Kurdistan Regional Government with a 20 percent carried interest.

Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani, DNO’s Executive Chairman, said:

“This acquisition and plans for fast-track development underscore our belief in the potential of the Baeshiqa license and more broadly our long-term commitment to Kurdistan.

“Once we get the green light from the authorities to proceed, first production will be a matter of months rather than years.“

DNO’s 3,204 meters discovery well, Baeshiqa-2, tested hydrocarbons to surface from multiple stacked Jurassic and Triassic zones. Two zones flowed naturally at rates averaging over 3,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) of light gravity oil each and another averaged over 1,000 bopd also of light gravity oil. DNO drilled Zartik-1, the second discovery well, 16 kilometers to the southeast of Baeshiqa-2, to a depth of 3,021 meters. This well tested hydrocarbons to surface from several Jurassic zones, with one zone flowing naturally at rates averaging 2,000 bopd of medium gravity oil.

DNO acquired its first 32 percent interest and assumed operatorship of the Baeshiqa license from ExxonMobil in 2018. As consideration for both acquisitions DNO has covered ExxonMobil’s share of exploration costs since January 2019 and the seller will receive payment of USD 15 million.

In addition to the 327-square kilometer Baeshiqa license, DNO operates the Tawke license containing the Tawke and Peshkabir fields in Kurdistan. Combined production from these fields averaged 110,300 bopd in the second quarter of 2021.

(Source: DNO)

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KRG Bureaucracy Delays DNO Investment

DNO ASA, the Norwegian oil and gas operator, has reported operating profit of USD 61 million in the quarter ending 30 June 2021, its second consecutive profitable quarter since the onset of the COVID pandemic. Revenues totaled USD 184 million, up USD 14 million from the previous quarter, as higher oil and gas prices more than compensated for lower North Sea volumes sold.

Gross operated production at the Company’s flagship Tawke license in Kurdistan averaged 110,300 barrels of oil per day (bopd) in the second quarter, of which the Peshkabir field contributed 63,000 bopd and the Tawke field 47,300 bopd. Of the total, 82,700 bopd were net to DNO’s interest during the quarter.

DNO’s North Sea net production dropped to 9,900 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) in the second quarter, primarily due to planned summer maintenance shutdowns at Marulk and Alve and infill drilling at Ula and Tambar. The Company expects the North Sea contribution to average 13,000 boepd for the year.

In the wake of an ongoing reorganization of Kurdistan’s Ministry of Natural Resources, the Company has experienced extended delays to the final approval of its 2021 Tawke field work program and budget as well as to the approvals necessary to fast track early production from the Baeshiqa license. The delays are expected to defer USD 50 million in 2021 DNO net spending in Kurdistan which could have generated up to 15,000 bopd gross production across DNO’s three operated fields (Tawke, Peshkabir and Baeshiqa) going into 2022.

With no new wells coming on production at the Tawke field in more than a year, the natural production decline has been partially offset by pressure support from reinjection of over 20 million cubic feet of gas per day from the Peshkabir field in addition to workovers and interventions of existing wells.

“We are eager to invest and produce more oil in Kurdistan,” said DNO’s executive chairman Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani. “In nearly two decades of operations in Kurdistan, DNO has confronted and overcome multiple challenges and we are well positioned to continue to do so,” he added.

In the North Sea, DNO maintains an active drilling program in 2021, including two appraisal wells on previous discoveries and three exploration wells, the first of which has been drilled leading to a discovery. In addition, the Company plans 10 development wells this year.

Recently, the DNO-operated Brasse project selected the Equinor-operated Oseberg facilities as the preferred development host. With total field reserves of 35 million boe and a relatively modest topside construction scope on Oseberg, Brasse has robust project economics based on a 2022 project sanction target.

With an operational cash flow of USD 160 million, an increase of 135 percent from the first quarter, the Company reduced its bond debt to USD 700 million through a USD 100 million partial bond redemption. DNO exited the quarter with a net interest-bearing debt of USD 396 million, the lowest level since yearend 2018.

DNO received USD 159 million in the second quarter from Kurdistan, up from USD 75 million in the first quarter of 2021. Additional payments this week bring the total 2021 receipts from Kurdistan to USD 290 million year-to-date. The arrears built up as a result of Kurdistan’s withholding of payment of certain invoices to DNO in 2019 and 2020 total USD 214 million, excluding any interest.

(Source: DNO)

The post KRG Bureaucracy Delays DNO Investment first appeared on Iraq Business News.

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Genel Energy receives March Oil Payments from KRG

Genel Energy has announced that payments have been received from the Kurdistan Regional Government (‘KRG’) for its entitlement for oil sales during March 2021.

Those payments are made up as follows:

(all figures $ million) Payment
Tawke 14.3
Taq Taq 2.1
Sarta 3.4
Total 19.8

As announced on 13 May, Genel and other KRI operators received a letter from the KRG proposing an amendment to the recovery mechanism and payment schedule for monies owed for oil sales from November 2019 to February 2020 and the suspended override from March to December 2020.

The entitlement payments for oil sales were, in line with other operators, received ahead of the proposed amended schedule.

The Company has not yet received payments for March’s invoices under the recovery mechanism, regarding which it is engaging with the KRG on their proposed amendments, nor the Tawke override.

Assuming the proposed revision to the terms of recovery stands, the recovery payment will be $3.1 million. The override payment will be $8.2 million. Given the proposed new schedule, Genel expects to receive both payments shortly.

(Source: Genel Energy)

The post Genel Energy receives March Oil Payments from KRG first appeared on Iraq Business News.