(Frontera, 11.Apr.2019) — Frontera Energy Corporation announces a first quarter 2019 operational update. All values in this news release and the company’s financial disclosures are in United States dollars, unless otherwise noted.
Richard Herbert, Chief Executive Officer of Frontera, commented:
“2019 is off to a strong start for Frontera, with our production and exploration proceeding in line with guidance for 2019 and our plan to sustain production in Colombia at current levels for the next five years as we grow production and reserves from new projects in the North Andean region. We also have made significant progress unwinding legacy transportation commitments, which will have long-term benefits for the company’s profitability and flexibility. Our upstream investments are moving forward, with drilling soon to start on the VIM-1 block in Colombia and on the Corentyne block offshore Guyana. Lastly, we demonstrated our commitment to enhancing shareholder returns with ongoing share repurchases and dividends.”
Production Update
Frontera delivered estimated first quarter 2019 production of 67,930 boe/d within 2019 production guidance range of 65,000 to 70,000 boe/d despite production from Block 192 in Peru being off line for most of the quarter.
Current production is estimated at over 75,000 boe/d, as production from Block 192 in Peru continues to ramp back up towards pre-force majeure volumes. Current Block 192 production is over 10,000 bbl/d with total Peru production estimated at 10,650 bbl/d.
Colombia
Colombia production averaged approximately 65,560 boe/d in the first quarter of 2019, an increase of 4% from the fourth quarter of 2018 as a result of increased production at Quifa following the commissioning of the water handling expansion project and continued stable production at Guatiquia, assisted by the Candelilla-7 development well which is currently producing at a stable rate of approximately 2,000 bbl/d. The company’s first quarter 2019 Colombia production was the highest since the fourth quarter of 2017.
The company drilled 29 development wells in Colombia during the first quarter of 2019 compared to 27 development wells planned, including 26 in the Quifa area, two in the Copa field (in the Cubiro block) and one in the Guatiquia block. There were two exploration wells drilled compared to four planned, one at Sabanero and one at Jaspe, while two additional exploration wells at Mapache and Jaspe which were initially planned for the first quarter were deferred until later in 2019. At the Copa field, five additional development wells and one or two water injector wells are planned in 2019. This increased development drilling, combined with increased water injection drilling in 2019, is expected to increase field level production from approximately 4,000 bbl/d currently to over 10,000 bbl/d by the end of 2020.
During the second quarter of 2019, the company plans to drill 37 development wells, including 30 in the Quifa area, four in the CPE-6 block, two in the Copa field, and one in the Guatiquia block. The company will drill three exploration wells (two in the Mapache block, one in the CPE-6 block) and will convert one production well into a water injector well in the Orito block. Parex which is the operator of the VIM-1 block has informed the company that the exploration well planned for this block will now spud in the third quarter compared to a previously planned spud in the second quarter. The Company’s 50% participating interest in the VIM-1 block is subject to Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos (ANH) approval.
In March 2019 the company drilled the Copa A Norte-10 well on the western flank of the Copa A field which was intended to be a water injector well, part of the planned expansion of the water flood program. However, the well penetrated 15 feet of oil bearing sandstone in the Carbonera C5D2 zone. As a result, the lowest known oil level for the pool is now 20 feet structurally lower than previously mapped. The well is undergoing testing and is now expected to be completed as a production well.
Frontera recently drilled the Coralillo-6 well on the western flank of the Coralillo field on the Guatiquia block. The well was spud in March 2019 and reached a depth of 11,159 feet TVD in April 2109. The well penetrated hydrocarbon bearing reservoirs in the Guadalupe B, Guadalupe C and the Lower Sand-1 formations. The Coralillo-6 well is currently being completed and the company expects to test the well during the coming weeks.
In January 2019, the company began drilling the Coralillo-2 development well on the Guatiquia block. On February 7, 2019 the well reached a TVD of 11,159 feet, encountering 5 feet of net pay in the Lower Sand-1 formation and 32 feet of net pay in the Guadalupe formation. The well was completed in the upper 5 feet of the Lower Sand-1A formation and in the upper 12 feet of the Guadalupe formation with an electrical submersible pump. The well flow tested from the Guadalupe formation for 17 days in March 2019 at an average rate of 700 bbl/d of 17 degree API oil with an average water cut of 13% at a stabilized bottomhole pressure with a 24% drawdown. The well flow tested from the Lower Sand-1A formation for 18 days in March 2019 at an average rate of 753 bbl/d of 17 degree API oil with an average water cut of 19% at a stabilized bottomhole pressure with a 23% drawdown. Since discovery, the well has produced a total of 18,011 bbls. The ANH has approved the well to be produced on a co-mingled basis, which has resulted in the well being put on production at over 1,200 bbl/d in recent days.
On January 5, 2019, the company began drilling the Seje-1 exploration well on the Sabanero block targeting a separate structural closure from the Chaman-2D exploration well. The well was drilled to a total depth of 3,584 feet MD on January 14, 2019. The well encountered 21 feet of net pay in the Basales sandstone. The well was completed in the Basales formation with an electrical submersible pump. The Basales formation was tested between January 30,2019 and February 6, 2019 with a maximum average oil rate of 119 bbl/d of 12 degree API oil and an average water cut of 27%. A total of 752 bbls of oil were recovered during the test and the well has been on commercial production since February 2019.
On January 10, 2019, the company began drilling the Jaspe-8D exploration well in the Quifa North area in the Quifa block. The well was drilled to a total depth of 4,710 feet (3,437 feet TVD) on January 14, 2019. The well encountered 24 feet of net pay, oil on rock, in two zones of the Basales formation. The well was completed in the Basales formation with an electrical submersible pump. The well was tested between February 11, 2019 and February 18, 2019 with a maximum average oil rate of 188 bbl/d of 12 degree API oil and an average water cut of 9%. A total of 538 bbls of oil were recovered during the test and the well has been on commercial production since February 2019.
Peru
Peru production in the first quarter of 2019 averaged an estimated 2,370 bbl/d a decrease of 73.6% compared to the fourth quarter of 2018 due to the shutdown of Block 192 as a result of a force majeure event relating to the NorPeruano pipeline from November 27, 2018 until March 1, 2019. Production from Block 192 in Peru contributed approximately 1,720 bbl/d in the first quarter of 2019 as production from the block gradually restarted during March 2019. The company expects that the contract relating to Block 192 will be extended to at least January 2020, from September 7, 2019 previously as a result of the force majeure event. Current production from Peru is approximately 10,640 bbl/d.
Ecuador
On April 9, 2019, as part of the Intracampos bid round held on March 12, 2019, the Hydrocarbons Bids Committee resolved to recommend to the Ministry of Energy and Non-Renewable Natural Resources the award of the Tender Blocks in the XII Round. In that round Frontera was awarded the Perico and Espejo blocks in the Intracampos bid round in Quito, Ecuador (Frontera 50% WI).
The Perico and Espejo blocks are attractive, low-risk exploration blocks located in Sucumbíos Province in the north-eastern part of Ecuador in the Oriente basin. Both blocks are covered with 3D seismic and are adjacent to multiple producing fields and existing infrastructure. More than five multilayer and ready-to-drill light oil prospects and leads have been identified on these blocks. Geoscience evaluation is ongoing and field operations are expected to start in late 2019 or early 2020.
The winning bid consisted of a minimum investment program including 55 sq km of 3D seismic in the Espejo block and drilling four exploration wells in each block, with a total estimated investment commitment of $60 million ($30 million net to Frontera) over the next four years. GeoPark Limited has a 50% working interest in the consortium.
Final award of the blocks is contingent upon regulatory approvals and the execution of the contracts, expected in the second quarter of 2019.
Guyana
Progress continues to be made with respect to the finalization of a joint venture agreement with CGX Energy Inc. A definitive rig agreement has been executed with ROWAN RIGS S.A R.L and CGX for the use of the Ralph Coffman offshore jack-up rig, which is targeted to commence during the second quarter of 2019 with an expected spud date in the third quarter of 2019. All the required activity is being undertaken to ensure the Utakwaaka-1 exploration well will be drilled by November 27, 2019 to satisfy the contractual commitment.
Shareholder Enhancement Initiatives
As at April 9, 2019 the company has repurchased for cancellation 2,662,105 shares at an average cost of C$13.72 per share for a total of C$36.5 million ($27.6 million). A further 2,338,478 shares are available for repurchase under the terms of the amended Normal Course Issuer Bid.
A dividend of C$0.165 per share is payable on April 16, 2019, to shareholders of record as of April 2, 2019. The dividend reinvestment plan was taken up by 0.4% of shareholders of the company’s outstanding shares as of the record date. The company’s dividend policy is to pay a quarterly dividend of approximately $12.5 million during periods in which Brent oil prices sustain an average price of $60/bbl or higher. The declaration and payment of any specific dividend, the actual amount, the declaration date, the record date, and the payment of each quarterly dividend will be subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Additional Value Creation Initiatives
On March 22, 2019 the company acquired Pacific Midstream Limited’s (PML) ownership interest in the Bicentenario pipeline for approximately $85 million. The net cash cost of the acquisition was approximately $34 million after the proceeds of the transaction were distributed by PML to its shareholders. As previously disclosed, this acquisition was triggered by the International Financial Corporation and related funds (the IFC) pursuant to the PML shareholders agreement, due to the Bicentenario pipeline being non-operational for six consecutive months, and as a result, the Bicentenario ship or pay contracts with the company’s affiliates were terminated. With the completion of the transaction, Frontera’s aggregate indirect ownership interest in the Bicentenario Pipeline has increased to 43.03% (previously 26.39%).
On April 1, 2019 Transporte Incorporado S.A.S. exercised the right to early terminate the temporary assignment agreement, which purpose was to enable the company to use Ocensa’s pipeline transportation capacity in exchange for a monthly premium payable to Transporte Incorporado S.A.S. Pursuant to such termination, the company became a definitive assignor under the transportation agreement with Ocensa, the monthly premium expired, and the company was under the obligation to pay Transporte Incorporado S.A.S. a net cash consideration of approximately $48 million, which has now been satisfied. As a result of the transaction, the company will save $18 million per year in transportation costs as it no longer has to pay the monthly premium.
Hedging
As of April 9, 2019, the company has hedged approximately 41% of expected 2019 production after royalties, using put options with strike prices of between $55/bbl and $60/bbl Brent and costless collars with a floor of $57/bbl and ceiling over $75/bbl. The cost of the put option premiums has been $7.8 million. This provides downside oil price protection for 41% of budgeted Q2 2019 production, 39% of budgeted Q3 2019 production and 38% of budgeted Q4 2019 production. Consistent with Frontera’s risk management goals and priorities, the put option strategy helps protect the company’s capital program, finance costs, as well as potential future dividends, without limiting the benefits from higher oil prices.
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