CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/23/17 -- Zargon Oil & Gas Ltd. (the "Company" or "Zargon") (TSX: ZAR)(TSX: ZAR.DB) announces fourth quarter 2016 production volumes and announces 2016 year end reserves. Zargon intends to release its 2016 audited financial results on March 15, 2017, after market close.
2016 FOURTH QUARTER PRODUCTION VOLUMES:
Fourth quarter 2016 production averaged 1,952 barrels of oil and liquids per day, a 33 percent decrease from the preceding quarter rate of 2,915 barrels of oil and liquids per day, reflecting $92.1 million of third quarter 2016 Southeast Saskatchewan and Killam, Alberta property sales. Similarly, fourth quarter 2016 natural gas production declined 12 percent from the preceding quarter's rate of 3.39 million cubic feet per day, to 2.98 million cubic feet per day.
Total fourth quarter 2016 production averaged 2,449 barrels of oil equivalent per day, and compares with fourth quarter 2016 and calendar 2017 production guidance levels of 2,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day. The 2017 guidance levels are based on a $7.8 million 2017 capital budget that is fully funded by corporate cash flows (after hedging) based on a $52 US per barrel (West Texas Intermediate) oil price. Additional details regarding guidance, capital budgets, oil exploitation opportunities, hedging and corporate outlook are provided in Zargon's December 12, 2016 press release and our website at www.zargon.ca.
2016 YEAR END RESERVES:
-- Reflecting the 2016 property sales, Zargon's 2016 year end proved and
probable total reserves decreased 38 percent to 12.91 million barrels of
oil equivalent. These reserves were appraised by Zargon's independent
reserves evaluator McDaniel & Associates Consultants Ltd. ("McDaniel")
and are effective as of December 31, 2016. On a 6:1 equivalency basis,
oil and liquids comprised 87 percent (11.18 million barrels) of Zargon's
total proved and probable reserves at year end 2016, down slightly from
an 89 percent weighting at the end of 2015. Zargon did not drill any
wells in 2016, and did not acquire reserves in 2016; and consequently
did not calculate finding, development and acquisition costs.
-- Similarly, Zargon's 2016 year end proved developed producing reserves
decreased 32 percent to 7.08 million barrels of oil equivalent and
included 6.28 million barrels of oil and liquids. Zargon's proved
developed producing reserve totals represent 55 percent of the Zargon's
total proved and probable reserves.
-- Zargon's oil properties are characterized by pressure supported
reservoirs (waterflood, tertiary schemes or natural aquifers) that
provide long-life, low-decline oil production, and consequently the
McDaniel proved developed producing oil and liquids first year predicted
decline is only 8 percent (11 percent excluding the Little Bow Alkaline
Surfactant Polymer "ASP" project). Zargon's proved developed producing
oil and liquids reserve life index is 8.8 years and Zargon's proved and
probable producing oil and liquids reserve life index is 11.7 years.
Finally, Zargon's total proved and probable oil and liquids reserve life
index is 15.6 years. The relatively large developed producing reserve
life indices are indicative of low decline oil production from
relatively mature properties.
-- Excluding the conversion provisions of Zargon's recently amended
convertible debentures, Zargon's year end 2016 "produce-out" proved and
probable net asset value is calculated to be $3.27 per basic share. On a
proved developed producing basis the "produce out" net asset value is
calculated to be $1.70 per basic share. These calculations reflect
McDaniel's estimate of the Zargon properties' future cash flow using a
before tax 10 percent discount rate and forecast prices and costs plus
an independent appraisal of Zargon's undeveloped land less an allowance
for the full future face value of the $57.5 million convertible
debenture and working capital. The estimates do not include the
potential conversion of $57.5 million of debentures into common shares
at a price of $1.25 per share. Assuming the entire $57.5 million of
debentures are converted into common shares, the "produce out" net asset
values are $1.44 and $2.07 per basic share, for the respective proved
developed producing and proved and probable reserve cases.
DETAILED RESERVE INFORMATION:
Reserves included herein are stated on a gross company working interest basis unless otherwise noted. All reserves information has been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 51-101 Standards of Disclosure ("NI 51-101"). In addition to the detailed information disclosed in this press release, more detailed information will be included in Zargon's 2016 Annual Information Form to be filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and posted on our website (www.zargon.ca) in March 2017.
Based on the independent reserves evaluation conducted by McDaniel effective December 31, 2016, and prepared in accordance with NI 51-101, Zargon had proved and probable reserves of 12.91 million barrels of oil equivalent.
Company Reserves(1) Barrels of Oil
Oil and Liquids Natural Gas Equivalent (2)
At December 31, 2016 (mmbbl) (bcf) (mmboe)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proved producing 6.28 4.75 7.08
Proved non-producing 0.51 1.62 0.78
Proved undeveloped 0.36 0.01 0.36
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total proved 7.15 6.38 8.22
Probable additional
producing 2.08 1.43 2.31
Probable non-producing and
undeveloped 1.95 2.55 2.38
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total probable additional 4.03 3.98 4.69
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total proved and probable
producing 8.36 6.18 9.39
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total proved and probable 11.18 10.36 12.91
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proved producing reserve
life index, years (3) 8.8 4.4 7.9
Proved reserve life index,
years (3) 10.0 5.8 9.2
Proved and probable
producing reserve life
index, years (3) 11.7 5.7 10.5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proved and probable reserve
life index, years (3) 15.6 9.5 14.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Company working interest reserves are gross reserves before deduction of royalties, boe (6:1). 2. Boes may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion ratio of 6 mcf:1 bbl is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. 3. Reserve life is calculated using annualized fourth quarter 2016 production.
A reconciliation summary of the 2016 year end reserve assignments with the reserves reported in the 2015 year end report based on McDaniel's forecast prices and costs is presented below:
Reserve Reconciliation (All Categories)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oil and Liquids (mmbbl)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proved
Proved Probable & Prob.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 31, 2015 11.67 6.91 18.58
Discoveries and extensions - - -
Revisions 0.20 (1.43) (1.23)
Acquisitions and dispositions (3.64) (1.45) (5.09)
Production (1.08) - (1.08)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 31, 2016 7.15 4.03 11.18
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reserve Reconciliation (All Categories)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Natural Gas (bcf)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proved
Proved Probable & Prob.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 31, 2015 8.45 5.45 13.90
Discoveries and extensions - - -
Revisions 0.87 (0.57) 0.30
Acquisitions and dispositions (1.66) (0.90) (2.56)
Production (1.28) - (1.28)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 31, 2016 6.38 3.98 10.36
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reserve Reconciliation (All Categories)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equivalents (mmboe)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proved
Proved Probable & Prob.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 31, 2015 13.08 7.82 20.90
Discoveries and extensions - - -
Revisions 0.34 (1.53) (1.19)
Acquisitions and dispositions (3.91) (1.60) (5.51)
Production (1.29) - (1.29)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 31, 2016 8.22 4.69 12.91
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
In calendar 2016, Zargon's net dispositions totaled 5.51 million barrels of proved and probable reserves and realized net proceeds of $92.1 million (unaudited). Excluding acquisitions and dispositions, Zargon's 2016 capital program totaled $6.9 million (unaudited) and did not include the drilling of any wells. During the year, probable reserves for the peripheral regions of the Little Bow Phase 2 ASP project were removed which were partially responsible for a $47.8 million reduction in a McDaniel future proved and probable development capital from $112.1 million at December 31, 2015 to $64.3 million at December 31, 2016.
Reserve Reconciliation (Developed Producing)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oil and Liquids (mmbbl)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proved
Proved Probable & Prob.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 31, 2015 9.41 2.81 12.22
Discoveries and extensions - - -
Revisions 0.96 0.23 1.19
Acquisitions and dispositions (3.01) (0.96) (3.97)
Production (1.08) - (1.08)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 31, 2016 6.28 2.08 8.36
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reserve Reconciliation (Developed
Producing)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Natural Gas (bcf)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proved
Proved Probable & Prob.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 31, 2015 6.14 2.18 8.32
Discoveries and extensions - - -
Revisions 1.26 (0.25) 1.01
Acquisitions and dispositions (1.37) (0.50) (1.87)
Production (1.28) - (1.28)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 31, 2016 4.75 1.43 6.18
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reserve Reconciliation (Developed
Producing)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equivalents (mmboe)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proved
Proved Probable & Prob.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 31, 2015 10.44 3.16 13.60
Discoveries and extensions - - -
Revisions 1.17 0.19 1.36
Acquisitions and dispositions (3.24) (1.04) (4.28)
Production (1.29) - (1.29)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 31, 2016 7.08 2.31 9.39
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zargon's reserves are characterized by long-life, low-decline oil production with a high producing developed component that provides a corresponding high confidence level. In calendar 2016, net positive reserve revisions of 1.17 and 1.36 million barrels of oil equivalents were booked for the respective proved developed producing and proved and probable developed producing cases. As of December 31, 2016, proved developed producing reserves represent 86 percent of total proved reserves and 55 percent of the total proved and probable reserves.
NET ASSET VALUE:
Zargon's oil, liquids and natural gas reserves were evaluated using McDaniel's price forecasts effective January 1, 2017, prior to provisions for income taxes, interest, debt service charges, transaction costs and general and administrative expenses. The estimated values of future net revenue disclosed do not represent the fair market value of the reserves.
Before Tax Present Value of Future Net Revenue
(Forecast Prices and Costs)
Discount Factor
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
($ millions) 0% 5% 10% 15%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proved producing 124.7 102.0 84.3 71.4
Proved non-producing 14.0 9.0 6.0 4.1
Proved undeveloped 7.1 4.6 2.9 1.7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total proved 145.8 115.6 93.2 77.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Probable additional producing 71.2 41.7 27.1 19.3
Probable additional non-producing and
undeveloped 46.7 24.8 12.0 4.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total probable additional 117.9 66.5 39.1 23.5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total proved and probable producing 195.9 143.7 111.4 90.7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total proved and probable 263.7 182.1 132.3 100.7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following net asset value table shows what is customarily referred to as a "produce-out" net asset value calculation under which the current value of Zargon's reserves would be produced at McDaniel's forecast future prices and costs. The value is a snapshot in time as at December 31, 2016, and is based on various assumptions including commodity prices and foreign exchange rates that vary over time. In this analysis, the present value of the proved and probable reserves is calculated at a before tax 10 percent discount rate. In the net asset value calculation, Zargon's 45 thousand net acres of land is valued at $2.2 million based on the independent firm of Seaton-Jordan & Associates Ltd. valuation as at December 31, 2016.
Net Asset Value Proved
Developed Proved and
Producing Probable
Reserves Reserves
As at December 31, 2016 ($ millions)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proved and probable reserves (PVBT 10%) (1) 84 132
Undeveloped land 2 2
Working capital (excluding unrealized
derivative assets/liabilities) - unaudited 24 24
Bank debt - unaudited
Convertible debenture - unaudited (58) (58)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value 52 100
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value per share ($/basic share) (2) 1.70 3.27
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. McDaniel's estimate of future before tax cash flow discounted at PV 10
percent.
2. Calculated using basic total shares outstanding at December 31, 2016 of
30.607 million shares, but does not incorporate the dilutive effect of the
potential conversion of some of the convertible debentures into equity at
$1.25 per share.
McDaniel & Associates Consultants Ltd. Price Forecast (effective January 1, 2017)
Alberta
Bow Western
River Canadian Alberta
WTI Edmonton Hardisty Select Heavy
Crude Oil Light Crude Crude Oil Crude Oil Crude Oil
$US/bbl Oil $C/bbl $C/bbl $C/bbl $C/bbl
2017 55.00 69.80 54.40 53.70 46.50
2018 58.70 72.70 58.90 58.20 50.50
2019 62.40 75.50 62.70 61.90 54.00
2020 69.00 81.10 67.30 66.50 58.00
2021 75.80 86.60 71.90 71.00 61.90
2022 77.30 88.30 73.30 72.40 63.10
2023 78.80 90.00 74.70 73.80 64.40
2024 80.40 91.80 76.20 75.30 65.60
2025 82.00 93.70 77.80 76.80 67.00
2026 83.70 95.60 79.30 78.40 68.40
2027 85.30 97.40 80.80 79.90 69.60
2028 87.00 99.40 82.50 81.50 71.10
2029 88.80 101.40 84.20 83.10 72.50
2030 90.60 103.50 85.90 84.90 74.00
2031 92.40 105.50 87.60 86.50 75.40
Therea
fter +2%/yr +2%/yr +2%/yr +2%/yr +2%/yr
Sask
Cromer U.S. Henry Alberta US/CAN
Medium Hub Gas AECO Spot Exchange
Crude Oil Price Price Rate
$C/bbl $US/MMBtu $C/MMBtu $US/$CAN
2017 62.80 3.40 3.40 0.750
2018 67.60 3.20 3.15 0.775
2019 70.20 3.35 3.30 0.800
2020 75.40 3.65 3.60 0.825
2021 80.50 4.00 3.90 0.850
2022 82.10 4.05 3.95 0.850
2023 83.70 4.15 4.10 0.850
2024 85.40 4.25 4.25 0.850
2025 87.10 4.30 4.30 0.850
2026 88.90 4.40 4.40 0.850
2027 90.60 4.50 4.50 0.850
2028 92.40 4.60 4.60 0.850
2029 94.30 4.65 4.65 0.850
2030 96.30 4.75 4.75 0.850
2031 98.10 4.85 4.85 0.850
Therea
fter +2%/yr +2%/yr +2%/yr 0.825
Forward-Looking Statements - This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to our plans and operations as at February 23, 2017. Forward-looking statements typically use words such as "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "forecast", "may", "will", "project", "should", "plan", "intend", "believe" and similar expressions (including the negatives thereof). In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements relating, but not limited to: our business strategy, plans and management focus; the timing of release of our 2016 financial results and 2016 Annual Information Form, plans with respect to our Little Bow ASP project, other costs associated with the ASP project and the anticipated results from this project, sources of funding for our conventional and ASP project capital expenditure program, plans with respect to our 2017 capital program, including ASP, our forecasted 2017 production guidance and our plans for our strategic alternatives process. In addition, all statements relating to reserves, including ASP reserves, in this press release are deemed to be forward-looking as they involve an implied assessment, based on certain assumptions and estimates, that the reserves described, can be properly produced in the future.
By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond our control, such as those relating to results of operations and financial condition, general economic conditions, industry conditions, changes in regulatory and taxation regimes, volatility of commodity prices, escalation of operating and capital costs, currency fluctuations, the availability of services, imprecision of reserve estimates, geological, technical, drilling and processing problems, environmental risks, weather, the lack of availability of qualified personnel or management, stock market volatility, the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources and competition from other industry participants for, among other things, capital, services, acquisitions of reserves, undeveloped lands and skilled personnel. Risks are described in more detail in our Annual Information Form, which will be available on sedar and our website. Forward-looking statements are provided to allow investors to have a greater understanding of our business.
You are cautioned that the assumptions, including, among other things, future oil and natural gas prices; future capital expenditure levels (including ASP); future production levels; future exchange rates; the cost of developing and expanding our assets; our ability to obtain equipment in a timely manner to carry out development activities; our ability to market our oil and natural gas successfully to current and new customers; the impact of increasing competition; our ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms; and our ability to add production and reserves through our development and acquisition activities used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Our actual results, performance, or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. We can give no assurance that any of the events anticipated will transpire or occur or, if any of them do, what benefits we will derive from them. The forward-looking information contained in this document is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Our policy for updating forward-looking statements is that Zargon disclaims, except as required by law, any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Other Advisories - Boe's may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion ratio of 6 Mcf: 1 bbl is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. In addition, given that the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil as compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6:1, utilizing a conversion ratio on a 6:1 basis may be misleading as an indication of value. The estimates of reserves and future net revenue for individual properties may not reflect the same confidence level as estimates of reserves and future net revenue for all properties, due to the effects of aggregation.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Based in Calgary, Alberta, Zargon's securities trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange and there are currently approximately 30.670 million common shares outstanding.
Zargon Oil & Gas Ltd. is a Calgary based oil and natural gas company working in the Western Canadian and Williston sedimentary basins and is focused on oil exploitation projects (waterfloods and tertiary ASP) that profitably increase oil production and recovery factors from existing oil reservoirs.
In order to learn more about Zargon, we encourage you to visit Zargon's website at www.zargon.ca where you will find a current shareholder presentation, financial reports and historical news releases.
Contacts:
C.H. Hansen
President and Chief Executive Officer
Zargon Oil & Gas Ltd.
403-264-9992
zargon@zargon.ca
www.zargon.ca
