Panoro Energy (PEN NO)C; Target Price: NOK23.00: BW Energy (BWE NO) provides update in Gabon – BW indicated that 4Q20 gross production from the Tortue field was ~13,500 bbl/d, as an 11 day downtime took place in October for the annual maintenance program and to comply with Gabonese production allocations to meet OPEC quotas. A drilling contract for one development well (DTM-7H) and one exploration well has been recently awarded. There is also the option for another exploration well subject to the results of the drilling campaign. Pharos Energy (PHAR LN)C; Target Price: £0.40: Raising US$11.7 mm of new equity – Pharos has raised US$11.7 mm of new equity price at 19.25 p per share. The proceeds will be invested in Egypt to arrest production decline and boost production ahead of securing a farm in partner. IN OTHER NEWS ________________________________________ AMERICAS ExxonMobil (XOM US): Dry hole in Guyana – The Hassa wildcat on the Stabroek block was dry. Gran Tierra Energy (GTE LN/CN): Transaction to divest shares in PetroTal terminated – Gran Tierra, has terminated the purchase agreement with Remus Horizons regarding the proposed sale of 218,012,500 common shares in the capital of PetroTal. In a separate announcement Gran Tierra reported that 109 mm shares with private purchasers for US$14.8 mm Kosmos Energy (KOS US/LN): Discovery in the US Gulf of Mexico – The Winterfell well on the Green Canyon Block 944 encountered ~26 meters of net oil pay in two intervals in the sub-salt Upper Miocene. The well de-risks prospectivity in several neighbouring blocks held by Kosmos, with approximately 100 mmbbl of gross potential within Kosmos' acreage position. Pantheon Resources (PANR LN): Acquisition of acreage in Alaska - Pantheon Resources is acquiring 10.8% WI in each of the 16 leases in the 44,463 acre Talitha Unit from Otto Energy. The consideration consists of 14,272,592 shares of Pantheon. Upon completion of the acquisition, Pantheon will own a 100% WI in the Talitha Unit. Predator Oil & Gas (PRD LN): Operation update in Trinidad – The Pilot CO2 EOR results support pre-injection desktop production plateau forecasts of 243 -547 bbl/d from the Herrera #2 Sand. The CO2 sequestration potential is confirmed. At WTI oil price of US$50/bbl, projected EBITDA net-backs for the P50 and P10 pre-Pilot CO2 EOR production profiles at plateau production are estimated to be in the range US$15 – 25/bbl. Trinity Exploration & Production (TRIN LN): Operating update in Trinidad – 4Q20 production was 3,206 bbl/d. Trinity held net cash of US$17.5 mm at YE20. Westmount Energy (WTE LN): Acquiring further interest in Guyana explorer – Westmount has purchased 287,500 common shares in JHI for an aggregate cost of C$718,750. Westmount holds a total of 5,651,270 shares in JHI, representing ~7.7% of the issued common shares in JHI. Drilling operations at the first well in the Canje drilling campaign, Bulletwood-1, are ongoing, with completion of the well anticipated around mid to late February. Additional Canje drilling will follow-on in 1H21. EUROPE Aker BP (AKERBP NO): Trading update in Norway – Aker BP produced 223.1 mboe/d in 4Q20. FY20 capex was US$1.3 bn, exploration spend was US$246 mm and abandonment spend was US$178 mm. YE20 net debt was US$3.6 bn. Cairn Energy (CNE LN): Trading update – FY20 net production at Catcher and Kraken was just over 21,000 bbl/d, in line with guidance. FY20 cash capex was US$160 mm. FY21 net production is estimated to be 16,000 – 19,000 bbl/d with capex of US$85 mm (including US$10 mm at Kraken and Catcher). At YE20 Cairn held US$570 mm in cash with no drawn debt. In 2021, Cairn is planning to drill an exploration well on Block 10 in Mexico and there is an optional drilling opportunity for an appraisal well of the Saasken discovery (Cairn 15% WI). In the UK, Cairn will participate in the Shell-operated Jaws exploration well on P2380 (Cairn 50% WI). In Côte d’Ivoire, Cairn has assumed Operatorship (90% WI) in blocks CI-301 and CI-302 from Tullow which has exited both licences. The JV has exited blocks CI-518, CI-519, CI-521 and CI-522 effective end December 2020. ExxonMobil (XOM US): Progress at selling UK assets – Media reports indicated that ExxonMobil has entered exclusive discussions with HitecVision/NEO Energy with regards to the divestment of Central and Norther North Sea assets. Repsol (REP SM): Trading update – 4Q20 production was 628 mboe/d. Norway: Exploration licence award – Norway has awarded 61 licences to 30 companies. Equinor, Aker BP, Lundin Energy, DNO, Neptune Energy, Wintershall DEA, OKEA Energy, Var Energy and Spirit Energy were awarded interests in respectively 17, 10, 19, 10, 6, 16, 4, 10 and 3 licences. Serica Energy (SQZ LN): Operating update in the UK North Sea – Estimated FY20 net production from Serica's interests in Bruce, Keith, Rhum (BKR) and Erskine averaged 23,800 boe/d. With regards to the R3 operations, the removal of the 2005 completion is taking longer than anticipated due largely to the unexpectedly poor condition of the equipment being recovered from the well. As a result, R3 operations are now expected to continue into March 2021. Union Jack Oil (UJO LN): Further acquisition of interests in UK asset – Union Jack Union is acquiring a 15% interest in PEDL253, containing the Biscathorpe project from Humber Oil & Gas, increasing its interest to 45%. The consideration consists of £0.5 mm in cash plus a contingent payment of £0.5 mm. FORMER SOVIET UNION JKX Oil & Gas (JKX LN): Operating update in Ukraine and Russia – FY20 production was 10,238 boe/d including 5,389 boe/d in Russia and the balance in Ukraine. JKX held US$24.5 mm in cash at YE20. IG146 was completed to the Devonian in Ignativske (Ukraine) and encountered 2.6 m of net hydrocarbon bearing thickness. After initially testing of the IG146 well at an oil rate of 497 bbl/dd and a gas rate of ~200 boe/d in November the rate declined and the well is currently producing 35 boe/d. MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Apex International Energy: Discoveries in Egypt – The SEMZ-1X well discovered Bahariya oil with 17 feet of indicated pay and and tested at a rate of 100 bbl/d. The well will be fracced to maximize flow rate. The SEMZ-11X well encountered 65 feet of oil pay in the Cretaceous sandstones of the Bahariya and Abu Roash G formations. Testing of the Bahariya resulted in a peak rate of 2,100 bbl/d of oil and no water. DNO (DNO NO): Operating update – FY20 WI production was 95,100 boe/d including 17,300 boe/d in Norwar and the balance in Kurdistan. FY20 capex was US$515 mm increasing to US$700 mm in 2021. DNO held US$475 mm in cash at YE20. The KRG has put a plan in place to make payments towards DNO’s arrears (US$259 mm) such that if Brent prices exceed US$50/bbl in any month, the incremental revenue will be shared 50 50 between the KRG and the Tawke license partners. Energean (ENOG LN): Trading update – FY20 pro forma WI production was ~48.3 mboe/d with pro forma capital expenditure (including exploration expenditure) of US$558 mm. FY21 production is expected to be 35.0 40.0 mboe/d with capex of US$515 – 590 mm, Genel Energy (GENL LN): Operating update in Kurdistan – Gross operated production from the Tawke licence averaged 110,300 bbl/d in 2020, about evenly split between the Tawke and Peshkabir fields. FY20 production at Taq Taq was 9,670 bbl/d with a production rate of 8 mbbl/d at YE20. Sarta produced 520 bbl/d. The Sarta-3 well has produced at an average of ~5,500 bbl/d so far in 2021. Production from Sarta-2 is now expected in February. The 2021 appraisal drilling campaign is targeting a material portion of the 250 mmbbl of existing contingent resources, and prospective resources, in Jurassic formations. The Qara Dagh 2 well is expected to be spudded in 1Q21. FY21 WI Production is expected to be slightly above FY20 (31,980 bbl/d) with capex of US$150-200 mm. Genel held US$354 mm in cash (net cash of US$10 mm) at YE20. The KRG has submitted a reconciliation model for repayment of the receivable relating to the US$159 mm in unpaid invoices, whereby for each cent above a monthly dated Brent average of US$50/bbl, 0.5 cent per working interest barrel shall be paid towards monies owed. TransGlobe Energy (TGL LN): Operating update – Production averaged 12.4 mboe/d (including 11,178 boe/d in Egypt) in 4Q20 and 13.5 mboe/d during FY20. At YE20, TransGlobe held >US$30 mm in cash and had no net debt. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA BW Energy (BWE NO): Equity raise – BWE has raised US$75 mm of new equity priced at NOK27 per share, representing a 9.5% discount to the previous day close. The net proceeds will be used for capital investments in the Dussafu licence in Gabon, development of the Maromba discovery in Brazil, new ventures and for other general corporate purposes. Total (FP FP) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDSA/B LN): Divestments in Nigeria – Oil Mining Lease (OML) 17 in the Eastern Niger Delta, and associated infrastructure, have been sold to TNOG Oil and Gas for a consideration of US$533 mm net to Shell (30% WI) and US$180 mm net to Total (10%). EVENTS TO WATCH NEXT WEEK ________________________________________ 27/01/2021: Tullow Oil (TLW LN) – Trading update 28/01/2021: Lundin Energy (LUNE SS) – 4Q20 results
Companies: AKERBP CNE DNO ENOG XOM GENL GTE JKX KOS PEN TAL PHAR REP RDSA SQZ FP TGL
Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC LN)C; Target: 6.7p: Exploration well spudded in the Bahamas - Drilling of the Perseverance #1 well has commenced. The well is anticipated to take 45 - 60 days to complete. Perseverance #1 is targeting P50 prospective oil resources of 0.77 bnbbl, with an upside of 1.44 bnbbl. Our unriksed NAV for the well is 15.3p per share (ReNAV of 3.8p per share) assuming 0.77 bnbbl. These numbers also assume that BPC retains only 25% of the value of the discovery – retention of a higher stake increases this value pro rata. ________________________________________ AMERICAS Parex Resources (PXT CN): Share buyback programme – Parex is launching a buy back programme for up to 10% of its share capital. Westmount Energy (WTE LN): Update in Guyana – Westmount has acquired 250,000 shares in JHI Associates for US$0.4 mm. Westmount now holds ~ 7.2% of JHI. JHI’s main asset is a 17.5% carried interest in the Canje Block with ExxonMobil as operator. It is anticipated that the first well in the Canje drilling campaign, Bulletwood-1, will be spudded around YE20, with additional wells to follow-on in 1H21. ASIA PACIFIC Cairn Energy (CNE LN): Award in India in Cairn’s favour –The tribunal ruled unanimously that India had breached its obligations to Cairn under the UK-India Bilateral Investment Treaty and has awarded to Cairn damages of US$1.2 bn plus interest and costs. EUROPE ADX Energy (ADX AU)C: Access and Tariff Agreement with RAG in Austria – ADX has agreed terms with RAG to access RAG’s processing and transportation infrastructure in Upper Austria. This reduces development capex requirements and reduce the minimum size required for a discovery to be commercial. ConocoPhillips (COP US): Discovery in Norway - ConocoPhillips has discovered 75-200 mmboe at the Slagulge prospect in the Norwegian Sea. Royal Dutch Shell (RDSA/B LN): 4Q20 update – 4Q20 oil and gas production is expected to be between 3,175 3,290 boe/d. Serinus Energy (SENX LN): Operational update - The Moftinu–1008 well is expected to be spudded in January 2021. The Sancrai–1 exploration well located approximately 7 km to the south west of Moftinu is expected to be drilled in 2Q21. SSE Selling UK North Sea assets – SSE is selling a package of North Sea assets with 15,000 boe/d (FY21e) production to Viaro for £120 mm. SSE’s package includes non-operated stakes in 15 producing fields in three areas of the UK continental shelf, including 20% of Total’s Greater Laggan Area (GLA), west of Shetland. It has interests ranging from 22-50% in fields in the Bacton catchment area and 29-50% in the Easington area. The transaction between Viaro and SSE is made up of £25 mm in cash, payable at completion, with the remainder forming a loan repayable over three years. An additional £40 mm is payable depending on forward gas prices. SSE will pay 60% of the decommissioning costs. Viaro is selling its stakes in the Greater Brae Area to a company owned by the emirate of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates for US$1. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Vaalco Energy (EGY LN/US): No pre-emption on acquisition of additional interests in Etame Marin – The other joint owners in the Etame Marin block have not exercised their pre-emptive rights to acquire Sasol’s 27.8% WI in the Gabonese licence. However, in Block DE-8 offshore Gabon, Perenco, has exercised its preferential rights and, as a result, Perenco is acquiring Sasol's 40% non-operated participating interest. The maximum future contingent payments by Vaalco under the acquisition agreement have been reduced from US$6 mm to US$5 mm. Savannah Energy (SAVE LN): Update in Nigeria – Gross production in the year-to-date period ended 30 November 2020 was 19.2 mboe/d. At the end of November, Savannah held US$96.6 mm in cash and had net debt of US$419.7 mm. Savannah has revised its FY20 administrative and operating costs guidance from US$68-72 mm to US$43-47 mm and its capex guidance from US$45 mm to US$8-10 primarily due to rescheduling of the capital expenditure programme and the deferral of drilling a new gas production well on the Uquo field. The contracted volumes to be delivered to Lafarge are reduced from 38.7 to 24.2 mmcf/d. In return for this reduction , the revised GSA includes an advance payment of US$20 mm and a prepayment structure over the period to 2027, which effectively results in a gas price of US$7.50/mcf on take-or-pay volumes during this period. EVENTS TO WATCH NEXT WEEK
Companies: SAVE EGY COP BPC ADX CNE PXT RDSA SEN
Right before the strategic update in February, the group announced another round of $3.5-4.5bn post-tax impairments. This is a combination of three ones (upstream / refining / LNG) for a total of $22bn for the year, at the top end of the guidance provided in Q2. The one in upstream is the most surprising as it concerns the Appomattox field, which came on stream last year.
Companies: Royal Dutch Shell Plc Class A
Panoro Energy (PEN NO)C; Target price of NOK23.00: Delivering production growth in Tunisia – Gross production in Tunisia has averaged 4,850 bbl/d in October, up from ~4,000 bbl/d in 1Q20 following the restart of operational activities in 3Q20. The Guebiba-10 sidetrack has encountered net pay in both the Berino and shallower Douleb reservoirs. Initially bringing the Berino onstream will add a few 100s bbl/d from mid November. There are three other work-overs due in the next few months on the field and while gross production of 5,000 bbl/d now represents a new very solid base, there is also potential to quickly take gross production in Tunisia to 6,000 bbl/d. The potentially more important story of Guebiba-10 is the Douleb reservoir. While the net pay in the Douleb is smaller than at the Berino, the reservoir is of better quality and this formation, once opened (after the Berino is depleted), could generate 1.0-1.5 mbbl/d production from Guebiba-10 only. Panoro has already identified new Douleb well locations with an ongoing remapping of the field. The results of the remapping and the associated work programme should be available in 1H 2021 and could offer material opportunities for further production growth. Tethys Oil (TETY SS)C; Target price of SEK75.00: Taking control of Block 56 – Tethys is acquiring a further 45% interest in the exploration and production license covering Block 56 onshore Oman. The consideration consists of US$5 mm in cash and up to US$2 mm by way of a carry of future expenditure. The agreement further includes additional consideration in the case of a declaration of commerciality. The transaction will increase Tethys’ interest in Block 56 from 20% to 65%. Tethys is also assuming operatorship. Given that Tethys had undertaken drilling and testing activities earlier this year, we view this additional commitment as very encouraging. Block 56 has a lot of similarities to Blocks 3 & 4 and Tethys could add value by applying its knowledge of the geology of Blocks 3 & 4 to Block 56. Medco acquired Ophir Energy for >£400 mm in cash last year and, in the context of lower oil prices, we can understand Medco’s need to reduce its capital exposure to its diversified portfolio of assets. With Tethys now in control of operations, there could be more activity taking place on Block 56 in 2021 including seismic and perhaps further drilling. The share price has dropped to its lowest point in 2020, which represents a ~35% discount to our Core NAV. The core dividend represents >5% yield. Our unrisked NAV for the Thameen prospect, assuming 15 mmbbl resources, is SEK17 per year (~50% of the current share price). The current share price represents EV/DACF multiples of only 2.2x for 2020 and 1.9x for 2021. IN OTHER NEWS ________________________________________ AMERICAS BP (BP LN): Exiting Brazilian assets – BP is transferring the operatorship of a deep-water exploration block in the Foz do Amazonas basin off Brazil. Diversified Gas & Oil (DGOC LN): 3Q20 results and dividend increase– 3Q20 production in the USA was 107 mboe/d. Production from the legacy assets has been maintained at 69 mboe/d. Net debt at the end of September was US$730 mm. The company has declared a dividend for 3Q21 of US$0.04 per share up 7% versus 2Q20 dividend (US$0.0375 per share). Hess Corporation (HES US): Resources increase in Guyana – Gross resources encountered in Guyana have been increased from 8 bn boe to 9 bn boe. Maha Energy (MAHA-A SS): Strategy update – Maha plans to grow production to 15 mboe/d in Brazil, Oman and the USA over a five year horizon. President Energy (PPC LN): 1H20 results and update in Argentina – The LB-1001 well has now been tested with net pay 32% ahead of expectations. The company is expected to add ~1,030 boe/d of new gas production by the end of November including ~590 boe/d from the LB-1001 well. Production in 1H20 was 2,747 boe/d. Net debt at the end of June stood at US$11.3 mm. The exploration well EVN-x1 near the Estancia Vieja field encountered net pay of a total of 10 metres (including 7 metres of oil). These results provide support for the pre-drill projections of production of ~350 boe/d of gas and 188 bbl/d of oil. Westmount Energy (WTE LN): Drilling programme update in Guyana – Westmount holds small indirect interests in the ExxonMobil operated Kaieteur and Canje blocks, offshore Guyana. The Exxon Mobil drilling programme on both blocks has commenced, with the Tanager 1 well on the Kaieteur block currently drilling and a further two wells expected on the Canje Block over the next six to nine months. It is anticipated that the first well on the Canje Block, Bulletwood-1, will be spudded in November/December 2020. The Bulletwood-1 prospect is reported to be a 'Liza look-alike' confined channel complex and will target prospective resources of ~500 mmbbl of oil. The second well on the Canje Block will target either Sapote-1 in the east of the block or Jabillo-1, in the northwest of the block, which is reported as a billion-barrel class basin floor turbidite fan. The Tanager-1 well on the Kaieteur block (currently being drilled) targets unrisked gross prospective oil resource of 136 mmbbl to 452 mmbbl, with an aggregate chance of success 72%. EUROPE ADX Energy (ADX AU): 3Q20 update in Austria – 3Q20 production is Austria was 308 boe/d. ADX had A$2.1 mm in cash at the end of September. Aker BP (AKERBP NO): 3Q20 results – 3Q20 production in Norway was 201.6 mboe/d. The company maintains its FY20 production estimate and has narrowed the guidance range to 210-215 mboe/d from 205-220 mboe/d. Net debt at the end of September was US$3.64 bn. BP (BP LN): 3Q20 results – 3Q20 adjusted net profit was US$0.1 bn with overall production of 3,318 mboe/d (including Rosneft). 4Q20 production is expected to be slightly lower due to maintenance activities. ENI (ENI IM): 3Q20 results – 3Q20 production was 1,701 mboe/d. The company reported an adjusted net loss over the period of EUR 153 mm. The FY20 production guidance of 1.72-1.74 mmboe/d has been reiterated. Equinor (EQNR NO): 3Q20 results – 3Q20 adjusted net income was US$0.27 bn with 1,994 mboe/d production. Organic capital expenditures are estimated at ~US$8.5 bn for 2020 and ~US$10 bn for 2021, and ~US$12 bn annual average for 2022-2023. For the period 2019–2026, production is expected to grow by ~3% per year. IGas Energy (IGAS LN): Hydrogen MOU – IGas has signed a heads of terms with BayoTech, a manufacturer of modular hydrogen generation systems, to produce hydrogen IGas' existing gas resources. IGas has initially identified two of its existing sites, in the South East, where the gas resource can be reformed into hydrogen which will then be sold to local or national customers. Lundin Energy (LUNE SS): 3Q20 results – 3Q20 production in Norway was 157.5 mboe/d with free cash flow of US$164 mm. The FY20 production guidance increased from 157 mboe/d to 161-163 mboe/d with 4Q20 production targeting ~175 mboe/d. The company held US$3.7 bn net debt at the end of September. Neptune Energy: Small discovery in Norway – Well 6406/12-G-1 H (Fenja area) did not encounter reservoir rocks in either the primary or secondary exploration target. However, the well did encounter a total oil column of 38 m above the secondary exploration target in the lower part of the Intra-Melke Formation. The preliminary calculation of the 6406/12-3 A (Bue) oil discovery has now been reduced to between ~1.2 and 10 mmboe, while the estimate for the new oil discovery is between 3 and 10 mmboe. OMV (OMV AG): 3Q20 results – 3Q20 Adjusted net income was EUR80 mm with 444 mboe/d production. OMV expects total production to be between 450 mboe/d and 470 mboe/d in 2020 with total organic capex of EUR1.7 bn. Repsol (REP SM): 3Q20 resuts – 3Q20 adjusted net earnings were EUR7 mm with 616 mboe/d production. Royal Dutch Shell {RDSA/B LN): 3Q20 results – 3Q20 adjusted earnings were US$955 mm with 3,081 mboe/d production. 4Q20 production available for sales is forecasted to be 3,130-3,370 boe/d. Shell is increasing the 3Q20 dividend by 4%. Total (FP FP): 3Q20 results – 3Q20 adjusted net earnings were US$0.85 bn with 2,715 mboe/d production. Total is maintaining its quarterly dividend of EUR0/66 per share. FY20 production is expected to be ~2.9 mmboe/d with net investments of less than US$13 bn including US$2 bn in renewables and electricity. FORMER SOVIET UNION Epsilon Development: Discovery in Uzbekistan – Media reported indicated that Epsilon has discovered ~600 bcf of natural gas and 3 mmbbl of condensate at the Alouddin-4 well on the Kultak-Kamashinsky block. Overall, the company has discovered a total of ~1.4 tcf and 7 mmbbl of condensate since January. Nostrum Oil & Gas (NOG LN): 3Q20 update in Kazakhstan - Average sales volumes over the first 9 months of 2020 were 22,269 boe/d. FY20 production forecast has been increased to 21,000 boe/d, corresponding to sales volumes of 20,000 boe/d (19,000 boe/d previously). At the end of September, Nostrum held cash in excess of US$88 mm and net debt is expected not to exceed approximately US$1,074 mm. The upcoming reserves estimate may lead to a material downgrade in the company's Proven and Probable reserves. Petroneft (PTR LN): 1H20 results – 1H20 WI production in Russia was 783 bbl/d. The company held net debt of US$3.8 mm at the end of June. Zoltav Resources (ZOL LN): 1H20 results – 1H20 production in Russia was 24.3 mmcf/d for gas and 215 bbl/d for condensate. Zoltav has US$0.45 mm in cash at the end of June. MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Chariot Oil & Gas (CHAR LN): Potential debt funding for Moroccan offshore project – Chariot received a non-binding Expression of Interest Letter from Africa Finance Corporation for the provision of development debt finance for the Anchois Gas Discovery and the development of future discoveries from the wider prospect portfolio of the Licence. Chariot has also received a non-binding Expression of Interest for the provision of Reserves Base Lending for the development of the Anchois Gas Discovery with a Multinational Investment Bank. Both expressions of interest take into account an estimated capex of US$300-500 mm. Dana Gas: Selling Egyptian assets – Dana Gas is selling its Egypt onshore gas and condensate assets to IPR Energy for US$236 mm. The assets include 100% WI in the El Manzala, West El Manzala, West El Qantara and North El Salhiya onshore concessions and associated development leases. During 1H20, these concessions produced 30,950 boe/d, and contributed US$38 mm to the Company’s EBITDA. The consideration comprises (i) a base cash consideration of US$153 mm and (ii) contingent payments of up to US$83 mm subject to average Brent prices and production performance between 2020-2023 as well as the realization of potential third party business opportunities. DNO ASA (DNO NO): 3Q20 results – 3Q20 WI production was 97,900 boe/d, of which Kurdistan contributed 80,200 bbl/d and the North Sea 17,700 boe/d. DNO expects to exit the year with Kurdistan and North Sea production at 3Q20 levels. DNO held US$652 mm net debt at the end of September. Genel Energy (GENL LN): Update at in Kurdistan – 3Q20 gross production at the Tawke licence increased 12% versus 2Q20 to 113,700 bbl/d (50/50 split between the Tawke and the Peshkabir fields) following a campaign of quick turnaround, low cost well interventions and the startup of the Kurdistan region of Iraq’s first enhanced oil recovery project. Genel has received US$9.4 mm for crude sales in September. Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP LN): Payment in Kurdistan - Gulf Keystone has received a net payment of US$7.7 mm from the Kurdistan Regional Government for Shaikan crude oil sales during September 2020. ShaMaran Petroleum (SNM CN): Payment in Kurdistan – ShaMaran received a net payment of US$5.4 mm from the Kurdistan Regional Government for Atrush oil sales invoice entitlements for the month of September 2020. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Africa Oil (AOI SS/CN), Africa Energy (AEC SS/ AFE CN), Total (FP FP) and Impact Oil & Gas: Second gas and condensate discovery in South Africa – The Luiperd-1X deepwater exploration well on Block 11B/12B encountered 73 metres of net gas condensate pay over a mid-Cretaceous high-quality reservoir interval and did not encounter the water contact. The well will now be tested. The net pay encountered in the Luiperd target objective is much larger than the main reservoir at the Brulpadda discovery. The joint venture is now proceeding with development studies and will engage with authorities on the commercialization of gas instead of drilling another exploration well in this program. LEKOIL (LEK LN): 1H20 results - Otakikpo (Nigeria) production averaged 5,676 bbl/d over the period (2,271 bbl/d net to LEKOIL). Net debt at the end of June stood at US$15.6 mm. Seplat Petroleum (SEPL LN): 3Q20 results – Production in Nigeria over the first 9 months of 2020 was 50,653 boe/d including 100 mmcf/d for natural gas. There was a 77% uptime for the Trans Forcados Pipeline during the period and the produced liquid volumes from OMLs 4, 38 and 41 were subject to 8.6% reconciliation losses. Seplat was advised of production quota cuts of between 20%-30% across its assets in July and August. The cuts are expected to hold through January 2021. As a result, the FY20 production guidance is narrowed to 48-52 mboe/d (including 31-34 mbbl/d for liquid). The completion of the Amukpe-Escravos pipeline has been delayed again and the company now expects commencement of export of the initial permitted volume of 40 mbbl/d through the Escravos terminal in 2H21. First gas at the NOH project continues to be expected to occur in 4Q21. Seplat has declared an interim dividend of US$0.05 per share. Over the first 9 months of 2020, Seplat received a total of US$147 mm from NPDC towards the settlement of outstanding dollar-denominated cash calls and US$100 mm in Naira to offset Naira cash calls. Net debt at the end of September was US$480 mm. Victoria Oil & Gas (VOG LN): Update in Cameroon – 3Q20 gross sales rate were 4.7 mmcf/d of natural gas. During October 2020 weekday gas sales have occasionally exceeded 5 mmcf/d with a peak at 6.1 mmcf/d. One more thermal and power customer will be tied in shortly. Net debt at the end of June stood at US$12.5 mm. EVENTS TO WATCH NEXT WEEK ________________________________________ 03/11/2020: Tethys Oil (TETY SS) – 3Q20 results 03/11/2020: Genel Energy (GENL LN) – 3Q20 update 03/11/2020: Gran Tierra Energy (GTE LN/CN) – 3Q20 results 04/11/2020: GeoPark (GPRK LN) – 3Q20 results 05/11/2020: Frontera Energy (FEC CN) – 3Q20 results
Companies: AKERBP BP/ LUNE MAHAA RDSA TETY TETY AOI DGOC DNO ENI EQNR GENL HES NOG OMV PEN PTR REP SEPL SNM FP VOG
Since the group is in the middle of a major reorganization, the strong cash generation will help generate interest in the strategy update scheduled for 2021. The CFO stood at $10.4bn, vs $2.5bn in Q2, thanks to the oil price rebound, positive working capital movements and Shell cashing in on trading derivatives. Net debt was down by $4bn, enabling the group to announce a 4% increase in the quarterly dividend to $16.65cts.
Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB LN) – Shell raises its dividend following upbeat Q3 results | Diversified Gas & Oil (DGOC LN): Q3 2020 results, healthy dividend maintained | Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP LN): September 2020 payment received from the KRG | Lekoil* (LEK LN): Strategic Alliance Agreement signed with NAMCOR | Touchstone Exploration (TXP LN): Cascadura Deep-1 well spudded ahead of schedule | Zoltav Resources* (ZOL LN) H1 2020 results, strong operational progress
Companies: RDSA DGOC GKP LEK TXP ZOL
PetroTal (PTAL LN/TAL CN)C; Target price £0.45 per share: Resumption of production - PetroTal has recommenced production at Bretana with current production of 11 mbbl/d. This followed multiple agreements between the Peruvian government and local communities. Although the export pipeline is not open yet, Petroperu has been carrying out maintenance activities. The government is expecting the pipeline to be re-opened in time to receive Bretana’s oil production. Meanwhile PetroTal is also selling ~1.3 mbbl/d to Iquitos. We view the resumption of production as an important step, demonstrating the support of the local communities. This is encouraging for the forthcoming re-opening of the export pipeline. We have factored in our forecasts the delays associated with the prolonged shut-in with only one development well to be drilled in 4Q20 boosting production from December. With an inventory of eight new oil wells to develop the 2P reserves, we anticipate the company to ramp-up development activities in 2021. We are currently assuming FY21 cash capex of US$40 mm (including the repayment of payables) to grow production to ~14 mbbl/d by YE21 (12.5 mbbl/d in average over 2021). Assuming production of just ~10 mbbl/d during 4Q20, this would lead to FY20 operating cash flow (before working capital movement) of ~US$30 mm (including ~US$15 mm in 4Q20), resulting in EV/DACF multiples of ~4x in 2020. On only ~12.5 mbbl/d production in 2021, we estimate EV/DACF of ~1x at US$48/bbl. Our Core NAV for the company at a Brent price of US$45/bbl (flat, no escalation) and 12.5 mbbl/d production in 2021 (declining thereafter) is £0.25 per share, representing >120% upside to the current level. At US$50/bbl for Brent, our Core NAV would be £0.35 per share (x3.5 current level). IN OTHER NEWS ________________________________________ AMERICAS Bahamas Petroleum (BPC LN): Update in Trinidad and the Bahamas and US$12 mm placing– Drilling at the Perseverance #1 well in the Bahamas is expected to start in late 2020. The well is targeting recoverable P50 prospective oil resources of 0.77 bn bbl with an upside of 1.44 bn bbl. In Trinidad, the work programmes look to increase production from 400-450 bbl/dd to 500 bbl/d by YE20 and to 2,500 bbl/dd by YE21. In a separate statement, BPC indicated that the unrisked NPV10 of the Perseverance prospect is estimated at >US$2.5 bn at US$40/bbl. Bahamas Petroleum has also raised US$12 mm of new equity priced at 2p per share representing 30% discount to the previous close. The transaction to divest 100% WI in the Inniss-Trinity asset will not complete and BPC will retain the asset. Echo Energy (ECHO LN): 1H20 results – 1H20 production in Argentina was ~2,150 boe/d. The company held US$1.2 mm in cash at the end of the period with a loan of US$24.2 mm. Occidental Petroleum (OXY US): Selling Colombia onshore to Carlyle - Occidental Petroleum is selling its onshore assets in Colombia to Carlyle for US$825 mm. The Colombia assets sale includes the company’s operations and working interests in the Llanos Norte, Middle Magdalena and Putumayo Basins. Total (FP FP): Exiting Foz do Amazonas in Brazil – Total is transferring to Petrobras its equity interest in five exploration blocks in the Foz do Amazonas Basin, located 120 kilometers offshore Brazil. EUROPE Cairn Energy (CNE LN): 1H20 results – 1H20 net oil production was 22.4 mbbl/d. The company held US$84 mm in cash at the end of June and no debt. FY20 net production guidance has been set at 21-23 mbbl/d in the upper range of the previous guidance of 19-23 mbbl/d with US$135 mm capex. The company plans to pay a US$250 mm special dividend following the divestment in Senegal. A ruling on the India tax dispute continues to be expected after the summer. Equinor (EQNR NO): Discovery in Norway - Equinor has encountered 13-38 mmboe recoverable resources at the Swisher prospect in PL 248 C. Lundin Energy (LUNE SS): Increasing reserves at Norway field – The gross 2P reserves at the Greater Edvard Grieg Area have been increased by ~50 mmboe) to 350 mmboe due to the continued outperformance of the field. The expected plateau production period from the Greater Edvard Grieg Area has been extended by a further year to late 2023. Royal Dutch Shell (RDS A/B LN): 2Q20 update – 2Q20 production is expected to be 2,970-3,110 mboe/d. Total (FP FP): Maintaining dividend distributions – Total announced that its dividend is supported at Brent price of US$40/bbl. This is in stark contrast to BP and Shell that have materially reduced distributions. FORMER SOVIET UNION Block Energy (BLOE LN): Update in Georgia - Block has shut-in the West Rustavi field's production at wells WR 16aZ and WR-38Z to conserve gas resources until the gas sales pipeline is complete late in 2020. The company held US$2.3 mm in cash at the end of June. Enwell Energy (ENW LN): Ruling overturned in Ukraine – A previous ruling that had found that the Svystunivsko-Chervonolutskyi exploration licence had not been awarded regularly has been overturned in favour of Enwell by the Appellate Administrative Court. Petroneft (PTR LN): FY19 results – FY19 gross production in Russia was 1,614 bbl/d. The company held ~64 mmbbl WI 2P reserves at YE19. At YE19, Petroneft held US$0.3 mm in cash with current debt of US$4.3 mm. MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Gulf Keystone Petroleum (EKP LN): Receives payment from the KRG – Gulf Keystone has received net payment of US$9.8 mm for Sales at Shaikan in August. ShaMaran Petroleum (SNM CN): Receives payment from the KRG – ShaMaran has received net payment of US$6.8 mm for sales at Atrush in August. United & Gas (UOG LN): 1H20 results – WI production in Egypt from the end of February to the end of June averaged 1,975 boe/d, increasing from 1,709 boe/d on the 1st of March to 2,716 boe/d on the 30th of June. 2H20 WI production is forecasted at 2,300 boe/d. The company held US$1.3 mm at the end of June. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Savannah Energy (SAVE LN): Update in Nigeria – Average gross production in the year-to-date period ended 31 August 2020 was 20.4 mboe/d. At the end of August, the group held US$84.7 mm in cash (including US$34.9 mm set aside for debt service) with net debt of US$426.8 mm. The company forecasts FY20 production of 21 23 mboe/d with capex of US$45 mm. Vaalco Energy (EGY US/LN): Operating update in Gabon – 3Q20 net production is estimated at 4,370 bbl/d at the midpoint of the FY20 guidance. The company expects to have US$37 mm in cash at the end of 3Q20. A 3D seismic campaign will be run in 4Q20.
Companies: BPC CNE EQNR GKP LUNE OXY PTR TAL RDSA SAVE SNM EGY FP
GeoPark (GPRK US)C; Target price US$20.00 per share: All eyes on CPO-5 - We see the CPO-5 block becoming a key area of focus in the next 18 months and the main reason behind the acquisition of AMERISUR in January 2020. By YE20, GeoPark will drill two wells on the highly prospective CPO-5 block. This will include an imminent development/appraisal well in the Indico light oil field followed by an exploration well. The only existing well in the Indico field is still flowing naturally at >5 mbbl/d since first oil in December 2018. The implied very strong reservoir performance and the fact that the oil pool boundaries have not been encountered yet suggest the field offers production and reserves upside that could start to be unlocked with upcoming drilling. In 2021, GeoPark could drill an additional 5-7 wells at CPO-5 comprising a combination of exploration, delineation and development wells. According to the latest CPR, 3-4 new Indico wells could add 7.5-12.5 mbbl/d gross production (2.5-4.2 mbbl/d net to GeoPark) in 1-2 years. The exploration program for 2021 will likely test the continuity of the Guadalupe play encountered on Llanos-34 into CPO-5. The share price trades at ~55% discount to our Core NAV of ~US$17. Overall there could be 350-700 mmboe gross prospective resources across the Llanos blocks (including CPO-5) that GeoPark is imminently starting to explore. Our target price of US$20 per share reflects our ReNAV. It represents ~150% upside to the current levels. IN OTHER NEWS ________________________________________ AMERICAS Gran Tierra Energy (GTE CN/LN): Production update in Colombia – During 3Q20 to date, production has averaged ~18.700 boe/d increasing to an average of 21,250 boe/d during September, reflecting the resumption of production at the Suroriente and PUT-7 Blocks in the southern Putumayo region, as well as at several minor fields, and by the recommencement of workover activities at the Acordionero oil field. As of August 31, 2020, Gran Tierra has collected total VAT and income tax receivables of ~US$51 mm; the company expects to collect approximately another US$25 to $35 mm before YE20. FY21 WI production is expected to be >30,000 boe/d. Pantheon Resources (PANR LN): Resources update in Alaska – The SMD horizon at the Talitha prospect is estimated to hold 302 mmbbl prospective resources. 91 wells would be required to develop the field that would reach 90 mbbl/d peak production. Pantheo holds 89.2% of the project. EUROPE IGas Energy (IGAS LN): 1H20 results – 1H20 net production in the UK was d ~1,940 boe/d. Cash balances as at 30 June 2020 were £2.6 mm with net debt of £11.2 mm. IGas reiterated its FY20 production guidance 1,850 - 2,050 boe/d, with underlying cash operating expenses anticipated to be $34/boe. Royal Dutch Shell (RDSA/B LN): Selling assets in Norway – Shell is selling its interests in the Kvitebjørn and Valemon fields in the North Sea to PGNiG. UK Oil & Gas (UKOG LN): Updated volumetric at UK asset – The Loxley Accumulation is now expected to hold 23-70 bcf recoverable resources. ~78% of the overall Loxley gas accumulation's gas resource are interpreted to lie within the Company's PEDL234 acreage. MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Genel Energy (GENL LN): Receives payment from the KRG – Genel has received a total net payment of US$10.8 mm for sales at Tawke and Taq Taq in August. Maha Energy (MAHA-A SS): Oman entry – Maha has been awarded 100% WI in the onshore Block 70 that includes the shallow undeveloped Mafraq heavy oil field. The Block is located in the middle of the oil producing Ghaba Salt Basin in the central part of Oman. The Mafraq oil field was discovered by Petroleum Development Oman in 1988 and was further delineated by four wells and 3D seismic in stages until 2010. The Mafraq field is estimated to contain between 185 – 280 mmbbl of original oil in place. The productive reservoir is located at approximately 430 m below ground level. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Africa Energy (AEC SS/AFE CN): Private placement – Africa Energy has raised US$28 mm of new equity priced at SEK3.00 per share. San Leon Energy (SLE LN): 1H20 results – Gross oil sales at OML-18 were 25.2 mbbl/d during 1H20 with gas sales of 39.1 mmcf/d. Production downtime and “losses” were respectively 15% and 20% over the period. San Leon held US$22.6 mm in cash as at 18 September (US$6.8 mm is held in escrow for the Oza transaction).
Companies: GENL GPRK MAHAA RDSA UKOG
Companies: JSE HUR RDSA
PetroTal (PTAL LN)C; Target price £0.45: Production at Bretana restarts – In anticipation of the re-opening of the ONP, Bretana oil production recommenced on July 15, 2020 and achieved over 12,000 bbl/d when all seven wells were online. Oil deliveries have also already commenced to the Iquitos refinery and approximately 40,000 bbl are expected be delivered during July 2020. Oil is being barged to the Saramuro Pump Station and will be delivered into the ONP immediately after it reopens , now expected in early August 2020. To manage the company’s inventory and barge storage capacity, Bretana production has been reduced to approximately 8,000 bbl/d pending the restart of the pipeline. While the share price has already increased 30% over the last three weeks, we continue to see PetroTal as a value and growth stock. The company’s value based on its 2P reserves only (2P NAV of £0.28 per share) represents 2x the current share price and our Core NAV is 3x current levels. Assuming production of ~12 mbbl/d in 2021 (i.e. the level achieved when the field was restarted) PetroTal’s share price implies EV/DACF multiples of 1.7x in 2021 and 0.2x in 2022. On a production/capex low case, we estimate that PetroTal generates aggregate Free Cash Flow over 2021-2022 equal to the company’s market cap. IN OTHER NEWS ________________________________________ AMERICAS ExxonMobil (XOM US): Further volumes discovered in Guayana | Karoon Energy: Softening terms for acquisition of Brazilian asset | President Energy (PPC LN): Operational update in Argentina | Total (FP FP): Significant discovery in Suriname ASIA PACIFIC Jadestone Energy (JSE LN): 2Q20 update | Repsol (REP SM): Compensation in Vietnam | ENI (ENI IM): Large volume confirmed in Vietnam EUROPE ADX Energy (ADX AU): Operational update in Austria and Romania | ENI (ENI IM): 2Q20 results, lower capex | EnQuest (ENQ LN): UK Acquisition | Equinor (EQNR NO): Dry hole in Norway | Hurricane Energy (HUR LN): Operational update in the UK | Lundin Energy (LUNE SS): 2Q20 results | OMV (OMV AG): 2Q20 results/dividend reduction/Volumes discovered at Hades (Norway) reduced | Royal Dutch Shell (RDSA/B LN): 2Q20 results | Total (FP FP): 2Q20 results, Dividend distributions maintained | Zenith Energy (ZEN LN): Acquisition of Italian assets terminated FORMER SOVIET UNION Enwell Energy (ENW LN): Negative licence update | Nostrum Oil & Gas (NOG LN): 1H20 trading update in Kazakhstan MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA BP (BP LN), ENI (ENI IM), Total (FP FP): Discovery in Egypt | DNO (DNO NO): 2Q20 results | ShaMaran Petroleum (SNM CN), Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP LN) and Genel Energy (GENL LN): Payment in Kurdistan | Sound Energy (SOU LN)C: Raising up to £4.5 mm of new equity SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Angola lowering tax | Cairn Energy (CNE LN): Divesting Senegal and returning cash to shareholders | Total (FP FP): Divesting mature assets in Gabon | Savannah Energy (SAVE LN): FY20 results and update in Nigeria | Seplat Petroleum (SEPL LN): 1H20 results | Tullow Oil (TLW LN): 1H20 update | Victoria Oil & Gas (VOG LN): 2Q20 update in Cameroon EVENTS TO WATCH NEXT WEEK ________________________________________ 04/08/2020: BP (BP LN) – 2Q20 results 04/08/2020: GeoPark (GPRK US) – 2Q20 results 04/08/2020: Gran Tierra Energy (GTE LN/CN) – 2Q20 results 05/08/2020: Parex Resources (PXT CN) – 2Q20 results 07/08/2020: Frontera Energy (FEC CN) – 2Q20 results
Companies: XOM KAR BP/ CNE DNO ENI ENQ EQNR GENL HUR JSE LUNE NOG OMV TAL REP RDSA SAVE SEPL SOU FP TLW VOG
There was less tension this quarter, as Shell had already cut its dividend in Q1. The trading units rose to the occasion, bringing a positive surprise in this horrendous quarter. The company has recorded a very large impairment, and is poised to announce a strategic shift once 2020 is in the books.
U.S. futures and European stocks dropped on Friday as investors mulled a reported conflict among policy makers over a stimulus package for the single-currency region, as well as political upheaval in France. The Stoxx 600 Index fell after Bloomberg News reported the European Central Bank is facing a potential rift over how much their emergency bond-purchase program should stay weighted toward weaker countries such as Italy. The euro fluctuated following French President Emmanuel Macron's decision to name a new prime minister after asking his government to resign. Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc slumped after the British jet-engine maker said its exploring options to raise funds to strengthen its balance sheet. The dollar was slightly down, posting its first weekly drop in a month, while American cash equity and bond markets were shut for Independence Day. President Donald Trump will attend an early July 4 celebration at Mount Rushmore with thousands of guests who won't be required to wear masks, while his U.K. counterpart Boris Johnson urged Britons to act responsibly as pubs prepare to re-open and the government lifts quarantine rules on travel for 60 countries. The friction at the ECB highlights the risk to markets should promised stimulus measures fall short. Investors continue to weigh policy support and upbeat economic data against relentless new outbreaks of the virus. U.S payrolls figures Thursday fuelled optimism of a V-shaped recovery in the world's biggest economy, even as Florida reported that infections and hospitalizations jumped the most yet, and Houston had a surge in intensive-care patients. Emerging-market stocks posted the biggest weekly gain in a month. Elsewhere, crude oil dipped but remained on track for a weekly gain.
Companies: TGL JSE IAE ADME BP/ DGOC ENOG NTQ NTOG PMO RBD ZPHR RDSA UKOG TRIN
Wentworth Resources (WEN LN)c; £0.40 Price Target: Initiation of coverage - Wentworth Resources is one of the very few small cap E&P names whose profile should be appealing to ESG focused investors. Wentworth is solely focused on producing natural gas, the cleanest fossil fuel (and the preferred transition fuel to renewable energy). Gas is used instead of coal to support the rapidly growing electricity demand in Tanzania where Wentworth is one of only two established gas producers. The company is headed by Katherine Roe, one of the few female CEOs in the sector. With gas sold at a fixed price, the business is profitable irrespective of the oil price. Wentworth is member of a very small group of E&P juniors that offers a dividend yield (almost 8% for 2020, one of the highest in the sector). The dividend distribution could grow. FY20 WI production is estimated at ~21 mmcf/d. With ~150 bcf of WI 2P reserves and 230 bcf of WI 3P reserves, production is expected to grow by ~50-100% as power capacity is added. While the production plateau is very long, the shares trade at EV/DACF multiples of only 2.0x in 2020 and 1.0x in 2021. The current share price is 45% below our Core NAV (NPV15% on the 2P reserves). Maintaining 27 mmcf/d WI production until licence expiry recovers the 1P reserves and requires hardly any capex. The shares are worth £0.26-0.33 under these assumptions (NPV10%-NPV15%). (1) Adding a compressor should boost WI production to 35 mmcf/d in 2024 and adds £0.06-0.08 per share. (2) Extending the licence duration beyond 2031 would allow the drilling of a sixth well to increase WI production to 42 mmcf/d, convert 80 bcf of possible reserves into the 2P category and boost our valuation to £0.64 per share (~3.8x current levels). (iii) Wentworth estimates 0.6 tcf of WI prospective resources on the licences. At US$1/boe, this has an additional unrisked value of £0.40 per share. Our target price of £0.40 per share represents >2x the current share price. Diversified Gas & Oil (DGOC LN): Borrowing base update | Jadestone Energy (JSE LN): Acquisition in Indonesia and arbitration in Vietnam | Premier Oil (PMO LN): Not acquiring the additional 25% WI in Tolmount | Reabold Resources (RBD LN)/ADX Energy (ADX AU): Well test results in Romania | Royal Dutch Shell (RDSA/B LN): 2Q20 update | UK Oil & Gas (UKOG LN): Planning consent rejected in the UK | PetroNeft Resources (PTR LN): Update in Russia | Energean (ENOG LN): Update on acquisition of Edison E&P | Sound Energy (SOU LN)C: LNG head of terms in Morocco | Solo Oil (SOLO LN): US$5 mm Equity facility
Companies: PMO RDSA WRL UKOG
Research Tree provides access to ongoing research coverage, media content and regulatory news on Royal Dutch Shell Plc Class A. We currently have 140 research reports from 10 professional analysts.
Trinity has proven the sustainability and resilience of the Company's business model, increasing both production and cash despite significant challenges in 2020. FY20 average production volumes increased 7% on 2019 to 3,226bopd despite no new drilling activity in 2020. Cash at 31 December 2020 was US$20.2m, a 27% YoY increase – driven by strong operating cash flow, and achieved despite a 36% reduction in average oil price realisations versus 2019. Average production volumes in Q4/20 increased by 2% on Q3/20 to 3,206bopd, with Trinity offsetting natural production declines through its rigorous approach to production management. Post-period, the Trinidad and Tobago Government lifted the threshold for the imposition of SPT for small onshore producers from US$50/bbl to US$75/bbl in 2021 and 2022, providing a considerable boost to Trinity's cash generation potential. With a high number of growth initiatives underway across the energy spectrum, Trinity is well positioned to broaden its portfolio and create further value as it looks to further scale the business. We increase our price target to 34p (from 32p), almost 3x the current share price and reiterate our BUY recommendation.
Companies: Trinity Exploration & Production Plc
Bluejay Mining* (JAY LN) – BUY, Valuation 29.4p – Bluejay agrees jv with Rio Tinto over the Enonkoski Project in Finland Bushveld Minerals* (BMN LN) – BUY - Valuation 37.7p – Ferro-Vanadium prices jump 11.6% in the US Edenville Energy* (EDL LN) – Funding agreement refinanced and £900k raised Kodal Minerals* (KOD LN) – Further progress at West African gold assets Lucara Diamonds (LUC CN) – Karowe mine yields 341 carat diamond Serabi Gold* (SRB LN) –Q4 production results continue modest recovery of Q3
Companies: LUC JAY BMN EDL KOD SRB
Gas composition data from the Kyalla 117 well has confirmed the presence of liquids-rich gas within the Lower Kyalla Shale, with less than 1% CO2. Analysis of the Kyalla 117 well has shown that the gas stream contains c65% methane gas, with c33% being other liquid gases such as ethane and butane. The analysis also supports the view that the Kyalla gas stream will have elevated LPG and condensate yields. Operations are scheduled to recommence at Kyalla 117 at the beginning of the dry season in Q2/21 and will initially focus on flowing back sufficient hydraulic fracture stimulation water to allow the Kyalla 117 well to flow continually without assistance.
Companies: Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.
Jubilee put out an intraday press release yesterday updating on the performance in the first half (ending Dec 2020) of the FY 2021. Once again Jubilee delivers; significantly increased revenues and profits from its chrome and PGM division in South Africa and a small, but important, contribution from Zambia. Notably this improvement isn't just from commodity price performance; rather increased production, productivity, throughput, renegotiated contracts and all set alongside the strong performance of commodity prices –rhodium, palladium and platinum. We see this as still only the start for Jubilee as we look forward to the first copper oxide concentrates from the Roan project in Zambia to the Sable Refinery – where the Roan plant is currently under construction. Once again we are struck by the speed at which Jubilee moves to advance its projects and, with its South African cash engine showing no signs of slowing down. Jubilee can choose to move its wider ambitions in Zambia forward from internally generated cash flow. On the back of the strong performance we put our forecasts under review.
Companies: Jubilee Metals Group PLC
Foresight Group , the award-winning infrastructure and private equity investment manager to IPO on the Main Market (premium). The Offer will primarily comprise a sale of shares by existing shareholders (c.80% of the Offer) with a smaller offering of new shares (c.20% of the Offer) to be issued by the Company. Details TBA. Cornish Metals (TSX-V: CUSN) intends to list on AIM. The Company is proposing to raise £5 million by way of private placement of new Common Shares (the "Fundraising") to advance the United Downs copper-tin project. The Company expects that Admission will become effective in February 2021. The Company's Common Shares will continue to be listed and trade on the TSX-V in Canada. VH Global Sustainable Energy Opportunities plc, a closed-ended investment Company focused on making sustainable energy infrastructure investments, today announces intends to launch an initial public offering of shares on the Official List (Premium) of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. Due by Early Feb.
Companies: TYM W7L BEG CRPR EUZ IRR CMCL FARN KETL AUG
Oil slid by the most in three weeks as a stronger dollar and weak US economic data stoked concerns over an economic rebound. Futures in New York tumbled 2.3% on Friday after a rally in oil earlier in the week pushed the benchmark into overbought territory. The US dollar strengthened, reducing the appeal of commodities priced in the currency. US consumer sentiment cooled more than forecast in January and other economic data such as sluggish retail sales and producer prices also portray the obstacles still facing the country as it emerges from the pandemic. Meanwhile, President-elect Joe Biden said he will ask Congress for $1.9 trillion to fund immediate relief for the US economy that has been pummelled by the pandemic. But the large price tag and inclusion of initiatives opposed by many Republicans set up the aid package for a drawn out legislative battle. Despite the pullback in oil futures, vaccine breakthroughs and Saudi Arabia's pledge earlier this month to deepen output cuts are expected to support prices. JPMorgan Chase & Co said a “nasty deficit” could emerge in the oil market later this year. Meanwhile, technical indicators had been flashing warnings signs all week. The 14-day Relative Strength Index for both US and global benchmark crude futures traded above 70 this week in a sign they were overbought, though both slipped under that level Friday. Prices West Texas Intermediate for February delivery fell $1.21 to settle at $52.36 a barrel. Futures rose less than 1% this week. Brent for March settlement lost $1.32 to end the session at $55.10 a barrel. The contract fell 1.6% during the week. The market's structure has also softened. Brent's prompt timespread dipped back into contango on Friday, a bearish structure where nearby prices are cheaper than later-dated ones. This week has seen the annual commodity index rebalancing take place -- a move that was expected to see as much as $9 billion flow into the oil market. Since it began last Friday, there has been a surge in so called trading-at-settlement volumes, an instrument often used by participants with index exposure. For Brent, average volumes over the last five days have reached a record. Other oil-market news:
Companies: FO PRP 88E DGOC EME TRIN UOG
Central Asia Metals (CAML LN) has reported Q4 2020 production with 3,365t of copper taking full year output to 13,855 in line with our forecast of 13.9kt and at the top end of guidance. Q4 lead output was 7,442t meaning 29,741t over the full year, up 2% YoY and in line with our forecast of 30kt while zinc output of 5,848t took full year output to 23,815t again in line with our forecast of 24kt and up 2% YoY despite the disruption at Sasa which CAML has overcome rapidly as we expected.
Companies: Central Asia Metals Plc
Results from the 2020 soil-till sampling campaign have been reported today and are positive with widespread anomalous gold values, including the highest soil-till assay results to date, along strike to the east and west of BAM Gold for a total length of 8 kilometres. Numerous new drill targets have been identified which have the potential of being advanced into additional resources to continue the rapid growth of the BAM Gold Project. Drilling has commenced in the area to the west and has intersected similar geological lithology and mineralisation to BAM Gold. The drilling programme for 2020-21 at the BAM Gold Deposit is progressing as planned with a total of 6,518 metres of HQ diamond core, comprising 30 drill holes, completed to date. All drill holes have successfully intersected prospective mineralised zones associated with the BAM Gold Deposit. The drill core has been logged, processed, and sent to ALS Minerals of Thunder Bay for analysis to date. Assay results are pending, with increased exploration activity in Canada, the labs are full, with assays now taking 7-8 weeks. The current funded drilling programme is expected to complete in April 2021.
Companies: Landore Resources Limited
Salt Lake Potash Lake Way Project is nearing completion with the Process Plant and NPI well advanced. The overall project, including all on-lake infrastructure, was 81% complete on 31 December 2020. The Project remains on track for first SOP production in March 2021 and first SOP sales in April, with the project capital budget unchanged at A$264m. Funds from the first US$105m tranche of the Project Development Facility have been received enabling repayment of the US$45m Bridge Facility and completion of project construction. The Process Plant was 88% complete on 31 December 2020 (on an earned value basis). Approximately 27kt of potassium rich kainite and schoenite salts have been harvested for commissioning plant feed from the Train 1 cells. Harvesting activities will re-commence in March ahead of plant commissioning. Process Plant commissioning is expected to commence in February with introduction of first feed salts to the plant in March.
Companies: Salt Lake Potash Limited
AEX Gold Inc (AEXG LN) –Operational update Cornish Metals* (CUSN LN) – AIM Admission – Writing the next chapter in Cornwall's long mining history Cornish Metals* (CUSN CN) – CLICK FOR PDF Europa Metals Limited (EUZ LN) – Drilling starts at Europa's Toral zinc, lead, silver project in Spain Caledonia Mining* (CMCL LN) – Record mine production at Blanket GoldStone Resources (GRL LN) – Settlement of Claim by Former Director IronRidge Resources* (IRR LN) – Further results from Zaranou gold exploration project, Cote d'Ivoire Oriole Resources (ORR LN) – Exploration projects update Tertiary Minerals* (TYM LN) – New copper exploration project in Nevada
Companies: CUSN CMCL AEX GRL ORR TYM EUZ IRR
Companies: AAZ AAU CNR GLEN RIO TSG CCZ IRR
Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC LN)C; Target Price: 6.70p: Funding update – BPC has exercised a put option to raise £3.75 mm priced at 2p per share. PetroTal (PTAL LN/TAL CN)C: Target Price increased from £0.45 to £0.50: US$100 mm bond to accelerate activities and grow production - PetroTal is launching a bond issue to raise US$100 mm. This would allow the firm to accelerate drilling and development activities at Bretana (~US$40 mm), clean up its balance sheet, put in place a hedging programme and allow the firm to consider regional acquisitions. Assuming the extra funding is put in place, we are increasing our capex programme for 2021 from US$40 mm to US$90 mm. We are also increasing our production forecast for 2021 from ~11 mbbl/d to ~15 mbbl/d that we maintain broadly flat in 2023 as we assume PetroTal will drill additional wells before production starts to decline from 2024. We note that the 3P case only assumes five additional wells (~US$70 mm) compared to the 2P case. With more production, we are now forecasting operating cashflow of ~US$170 mm in 2022 and ~US$155 mm in 2023. We are also increasing our Core NAV from £0.43 per share to £0.52 per share. The additional funding would also allow the company to drill exploration wells such as the 70 mmbbl Constitucion prospect (£0.40 per share Unrisked). Pharos Energy (PHAR LN)C; Increasing our target price from £0.35 to £0.40 per share on reserves uplift – The highlight of Pharos’ operational update is the ~40% increase in 2P reserves in Egypt expected as at YE20 (YE19 28.5 mmbbl). This reflects improved waterflood performance based on recent field data, and a new drilling and workover plan for 2021 onwards. Drilling is expected to recommence in Vietnam in 3Q21, a quarter earlier than previously announced. We have increased our target price from £0.35 per share to £0.40 per share to factor in the expected increase in reserves in Egypt. We estimate the value of Pharos based on Vietnam only at £0.23-0.27 per share. This is 15-35% above the current share price. Securing a partner to fund a development programme with four rigs in Egypt would increase the value of the ~ 40 mmbbl 2P reserves in Eqypt and unlock the contingent and 108 mmbbl prospective resources. Our incremental unrisked value for the four rig programme is £0.17-0.19 per share (~85% upside to the current share price). Successfully negotiating new terms with EGPC could lead to an improvement of up to US$6/bbl in the breakeven price. We have previously estimated that securing similar terms to TransGlobe would boost our Core NAV by £0.10-0.12 per share and ReNAV by £0.13-0.15 per share. TransGlobe Energy’s share price has tripled since the new terms on its licences were announced. Tethys Oil (TETY SS)C; Target Price: SEK75.00: Production update in Oman – Production at Block 3&4 in December was 11,481 bbl/d. Vaalco Energy (EGY LN/US)C; Target Price: £4.00: Initiating Coverage - VAALCO is a US and UK listed ~£75 mm market cap, ~10 mbbl/d oil producer (pro-forma) with West African assets. VAALCO has an excellent track record as an operator having grown a 30 mmbbl discovery in Gabon to a field that has produced >118 mmbbl so far with an additional 37 mmbbl remaining 2P reserves plus ~80 mmbbl upside at YE19. The shares have suffered in the past from (1) a lack of materiality as VAALCO held only ~31% of its main asset, with G&A viewed as representing a disproportionate amount of cash flow and (2) lack of visibility on how the significant amount of cash on the balance sheet would be deployed. The US$44 mm acquisition of an additional ~28% WI in Etame announced in November, thereby almost doubling production, reserves and resources overnight, has addressed these issues. The story is now about continuing to grow reserves at the producing Gabonese field and to replicate this success elsewhere. With estimated net cash of >US$25 mm at the end of 1Q21, VAALCO’ s shares trade at less than half our 2P NAV of ~£2.70 per share. The current share price discounts an EV/DACF multiple of 1.2x in 2021. Low risk infill drilling of contingent resources could add ~£0.45 per share (30% of share price) with an overall unrisked value for the upside at the producing asset of £4.80 per share (~4x the current share price). Finalizing the farm out of its asset in Equatorial Guinea could start unlocking a further £4.20 of unrisked value. Our target price of £4.00 per share (~ our ReNAV) represents ~230% upside. Wentworth Resources (WEN LN)C; Target Price: £0.40: >100 mmcf/d reached in December - FY20 gross production was 65.36 mmcf/d (in the middle of the 60-70 mmcf/d guidance) with ~83 mmcf/d on average during the month of December. Repairs to the MB-2 flowline were completed on 9 December, increasing the capacity of the field to over 100 mmcf/d. Production reached 103 mmcf/d for five days during that month. Gross production guidance for FY21 is 65-75 mmcf/d, below the 80 mmcf/d we were carrying as production growth is pushed back by a year. Cash on hand of ~US$18 mm is in line with our expectations. With 70 mmcf/d gross production in 2021 and almost no capex, we forecast FY21 Free Cash Flow of ~US$10 mm. With FY20 dividends of only US$3.2 mm and ~US$18 mm in cash, we believe there is scope to increase the dividend. At the current share price, the FY20 dividend represents a yield of ~6%. Even after the recent share price appreciation, the shares continue to trade at EV/DACF multiples of 2.9x in 2021 and 2.2x in 2022. This compares with 3.8x for 2020, suggesting there is room for multiple expansion given the stable nature of the business. IN OTHER NEWS ________________________________________ AMERICAS 88 Energy (88E LN/AU): Acquisition in Alaska – 88 Energy is acquiring the Umiat Oil Field, located on the North Slope of Alaska. The proceeds consist of a 4% overriding royalty interest and the assumption of the abandonment liability of two historic wells (at an estimated cost of ~US$1 mm). Umiat is an historic oil discovery, made in 1945 in shallow Brookian (Nanushuk) sandstones, located immediately adjacent to southern boundary of Project Peregrine. The Umiat-23H well was flow tested at a sustained rate of 200 bbl/d with no water in 2014. Gross 2P reserves were estimated at 123.7 mmbbl on 1 December 2015. Equinor (EQNR NO): Farming down Argentinian offshore exploration to Shell - Equinor and YPF farm-down 30% interests in the CAN 100 block, located in the North Argentinian Basin to Shell. Pantheon Resources (PANR LN): Dispute in East Texas and acquisition of new acreage - Kinder Morgan has filed a petition against Pantheon, seeking payment of ~US$3.35mm with respect to the early termination of a Gas Treating Agreement between Kinder Morgan and Vision Operating Company. In a separate statement, the company indicated it has acquired 100% interest in ~66,000 acres in the State of Alaska's North Slope Areawide Lease Sale. The new leases are positioned in two areas contiguous to the company’s current acreage. Parex Resources (PXT CN): Operation update in Colombia – 4Q20 production was 46,550 boe/d compared to Parex’ guidance of 45,500-47,500 boe/d. 1Q21 production is expected to average 46,500-47,500 boe/d. The Brent/Vasconia differential is currently ~US$2/bbl. Parex estimates a cash position of US$325 mm at YE20. Total (FP FP): Discovery in Suriname - The Keskesi East-1 well, in Block 58, encountered a total of 63 meters net pay of hydrocarbons, comprised of 58 meters net black oil, volatile oil, and gas pay in good quality Campano-Maastrichtian reservoirs, along with 5 meters of net volatile oil pay in Santonian reservoirs. EUROPE Independent Oil & Gas (IOG LN): Operating update in the UK – Phase 1 remains on schedule for First Gas in 3Q21. Drilling is expected to start in early 2Q21. Hurricane Energy (HUR LN): Operating update in the UK North Sea - Production for the final four months of 2020 averaged 12,500 bbl/d. Current water cut is 25%. YE20 net free cash was US$106 mm, compared to US$87 mm at 30 November 2020. Lundin Energy (LUNE SS): Resources increase in Norway – YE20 2P reserves are 670.9 mmboe (+ 39.3 mmboe versus YE19). The YE20 2C resources are 275.5 mmboe (+90.2 mmboe et YE19). OMV (OMV AG): Trading update – 4Q20 production was 472 mboe/d including 290 mboe/d of natural gas. FORMER SOVIET UNION Enwell Energy (ENW LN): Operating update in the Ukraine – 4Q20 production was 4,444 boe/d. At YE20, the company held US$61 mm in cash. Petroneft (PTR LN): Potential acquisition in Russia – Petroneft is looking to acquire an additional 40% interest in Licence 67 from Belgrave Naftogas for US$2.9 mm including US$1.2 mm in shares and the balance in cash. MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP LN): Operating update in Kurdistan – FY20 gross production at Shaikan was 36,625 bbl/d with current production of 44,000 bbl/d. As at 12 January 2021, the Company had a cash balance of US$147 mm. FY21 gross production guidance has been set at 40,000 to 44,000 bbl/d with US$15 to $20 mm net capex and US$2.5 to US$2.9/bbl opex. ShaMaran Petroleum (SNM CN): Terms update for bonds – ShaMaran is looking to use free cash in excess of US$15 mm to buy back its Bonds in the market to satisfy the cash sweep redemption requirements. United Oil & Gas (UOG LN): Production update in Egypt – 2H20 WI production was 2,340 boe/d in line with guidance for the period of 2,300 boe/d. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA BW Energy (NEW NO): Farm-in transaction in Namibia – BW Energy is acquiring 39% WI in the Kudu offshore licence from the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR). BW will pay US$4 mm in cash and carry NAMCOR’s share of development costs until first gas. NAMCOR will also have the opportunity to acquire an additional 5% working interest post first gas. Orca Energy (ORC.A/B CN): Update in Tanzania – FY20 sales volumes were 57.7 mmcf/d. Cash and short-term investments totalled US$103.8 mm at YE20. As at YE20 there were no current receivables due from TANESCO. The TANESCO long-term trade receivable was US$27.6 mm. EVENTS TO WATCH NEXT WEEK ________________________________________ 18/01/2021: Repsol (REP SM) – Trading update 19/01/2021: Genel Energy (GENL LN) – 4Q20 trading update 20/01/2021: Cairn Energy (CNE LN): Trading update
Companies: 88E BPC EQNR HUR LUNE PXT PHAR SNM TETY TETY FP EGY WEN
European Metals has recently enjoyed a long overdue share price re-rating. The shares have increased ten-fold from Covid lows in April 2020 on the back of a marked improvement in lithium sector sentiment. EMH’s market cap is now £127m. Covid has in many ways accelerated the push towards EVs and the low carbon agenda. Europe is now the battleground for Electric Vehicles (“EVs”) where material sources, security of supply and the entire value chain is coming under ever increasing scrutiny. The DFS at EMH’s Cinovec project is due for completion by the end of 2021.The time has come for EMH and over the next 12 months we should see with more clarity how Cinovec fits into Europe’s growing EV and battery industry. We see no other project better placed to dovetail into the European battery market and supply battery-grade lithium at scale.
Companies: European Metals Holdings Limited
Pantheon announced that it is acquiring the 10.8% of the Talitha Unit it does not already own, bringing its interest to 100% in the unit. The vendor, Otto Energy Alaska, will be provided with 14,272,592 shares in Pantheon Resources as consideration. The company continues to drill ahead with the Talitha#A well. The transaction is value accretive for Pantheon and we increase our fair value estimate to 89p from 83p. As a reminder, our fair value estimate includes 25% of our successcase valuations in respect of two of the four targets that the Talitha#A well is intended to evaluate, namely, the Talitha Brookian Shelf Margin Deltaic and the Talitha Kuparuk
Companies: Pantheon Resources plc
Today's news & views, plus announcements from RIO, EXPN, BLND, GLEN, PFD, HMSO, WG, WJG, HOTC, KAPE, QTX, BOOM
Companies: Rio Tinto plc
