Foreign Filer Report • Apr 12, 2016
Foreign Filer Report
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Gaffney, Cline & Associates Limited
Bentley Hall, Blacknest Alton, Hampshire GU34 4PU. UK Telephone: +44 (0)1420 525366 Fax: +44 (0) 1420 525367
www.gaffney-cline.com
7th March, 2016
Mr. Pietro Consonni Vice President Reserves Eni S.p.A. Via Emilia 1 20097 San Donato Milanese Milano, Italv
Dear Mr Consonni,
This proved reserves audit has been conducted by Gaffney, Cline & Associates (GCA) at the request of Eni S.p.A. (Eni or "the Client"), in certain properties located in Europe. This third party report, completed on February 16, is intended for inclusion in Eni's filings to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
This statement relates specifically and solely to the subject matter as set out herein and is conditional upon the specified assumptions. The report must be considered in its entirety and must only be used for the purpose for which it was intended.
On the basis of technical and other information made available to GCA concerning these properties, GCA has conducted an independent audit examination, as of 31st December, 2015, of the proved crude oil and natural gas reserves as prepared by Eni in certain properties in Europe, based on the definitions and disclosure guidelines of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) contained in Title 17, Code of Federal Regulations, Modernization of Oil and Gas Reporting, Final Rule released January 14, 2009 in the Federal register.
Reserves included herein are expressed as net reserves as represented by Eni.
Eni has advised GCA that the net proved reserves of the properties that GCA reviewed represent 0.2 percent of Eni's total net proved reserves as of December 31, 2015, on an oilequivalent basis. GCA is not in a position to verify this statement as it was not requested to review Eni's other oil and gas assets.
Reserves Assessment
This audit examination was based on reserves estimates and other information provided by Eni to GCA through 31st December, 2015, and included such tests, procedures and adjustments as were considered necessary. All questions that arose during the audit process were resolved to GCA's satisfaction. For the purposes of this assessment, Eni provided GCA with a set of data and presentation material that included production, reservoir studies and a selection of static and dynamic models. GCA audited the data provided for consistency and reasonableness. GCA also had discussions and meetings with Eni technical and commercial personnel.
As part of the audit GCA developed independent production forecasts, employing decline curve analysis, material balance and type well methods, in addition to auditing and reviewing Eni's static, dynamic and material balance models, to ensure consistency with the volumetric and other methods performed by Eni. The properties are all mature producing fields and it is GCA's opinion that performance-based methods are appropriate for the purposes of estimating remaining recoverable volumes and reserves. The audited proved gas volumes include gas consumed in operations as reserves. GCA has also performed an economic limit test to establish the economic limit and commerciality of the properties in aggregate.
Up to the economic limit, the GCA estimates of proved reserves for the reviewed properties are, in aggregate, reasonable and within 5.0 percent of Eni's estimates, when compared on the basis of net equivalent barrels.
The economic tests for the 31st December, 2015 net proved reserves were based on a flat oil price of US\$53.20 per barrel and a flat gas price of US\$4.71/Mscf, based on an unweighted average of the first day of the month realized prices over the preceding 12 months, as per SEC rules. Future capital costs were derived from development plans prepared by Eni for the fields. Recent historical operating expense data were used as the basis for operating cost projections. GCA has reviewed Eni's estimates of capital and operating costs and considers them to be reasonable. Excluding abandonment costs, GCA has found that Eni has projected sufficient capital investments and operating expenses to economically produce the projected volumes.
It is GCA's opinion that the estimates of net proved reserves as of 31st December, 2015, are, in the aggregate, reasonable and the reserves categorization is appropriate and consistent with the definitions for reserves in Part 210 Rule 4-10(a) of Regulation S-X of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (see Appendix I).
GCA concludes that the methodologies employed by Eni in the derivation of the proved reserves estimates are appropriate, and that the quality of the data relied upon and the depth and thoroughness of the reserves estimation process are adequate.
This document reflects GCA's informed professional judgment based on accepted standards of professional investigation and, as applicable, the data and information provided by the Client, the limited scope of engagement, and the time permitted to conduct the evaluation.
In line with those accepted standards, this document does not in any way constitute or make a guarantee or prediction of results, and no warranty is implied or expressed that actual outcome will conform to the outcomes presented herein. GCA has not independently verified any information provided by, or at the direction of, the Client, and has accepted the accuracy and completeness of this data. GCA has no reason to believe that any material facts have been withheld, but does not warrant that its inquiries have revealed all of the matters that a more extensive examination might otherwise disclose.
The opinions expressed herein are subject to and fully qualified by the generally accepted uncertainties associated with the interpretation of geoscience, engineering and production data and do not reflect the totality of circumstances, scenarios and information that could potentially affect decisions made by the report's recipients and/or actual results. The opinions and statements contained in this report are made in good faith and in the belief that such opinions and statements are representative of prevailing physical and economic circumstances.
There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating reserves, and in projecting future production, development expenditures, operating expenses and cash flows. Oil and gas resources assessments must be recognized as a subjective process of estimating subsurface accumulations of oil and gas that cannot be measured in an exact way. Estimates of oil and gas reserves prepared by other parties may differ, perhaps materially, from those contained within this report.
The accuracy of any reserves estimate is a function of the quality of the available data and of engineering and geological interpretation. Results of drilling, testing and production that post-date the preparation of the estimates may justify revisions, some or all of which may be material. Accordingly, reserves estimates are often different from the quantities of oil and gas that are ultimately recovered, and the timing and cost of those volumes that are recovered may vary from that assumed.
GCA's review and audit involved reviewing pertinent facts, interpretations and assumptions made by Eni or others in preparing estimates of reserves and resources. GCA performed procedures necessary to enable it to render an opinion on the appropriateness of the methodologies employed, adequacy and quality of the data relied on, depth and thoroughness of the reserves estimation process, classification and categorization of reserves appropriate to the relevant definitions used, and reasonableness of the estimates.
Reserves are estimated remaining quantities of oil and gas and related substances anticipated to be economically producible, as of a given date, by application of development projects to known accumulations. In addition, there must exist, or there must be a reasonable expectation that there will exist, the legal right to produce, or a revenue interest in, the production, installed means of delivering oil and gas or related substances to market, and all permits and financing required to implement the project.
Proved oil and gas reserves are those quantities of oil and gas, which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible-from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations—prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation. The project to extract the hydrocarbons must have commenced or the operator must be reasonably certain that it will commence the project within a reasonable time.
GCA is not aware of any potential changes in regulations applicable to these fields that could affect the ability of Eni to produce the estimated reserves.
GCA has not undertaken a site visit and inspection because it was not requested. As such, GCA is not in a position to comment on the operations or facilities in place, their appropriateness and condition, or whether they are in compliance with the regulations pertaining to such operations. Further, GCA is not in a position to comment on any aspect of health, safety, or environment of such operation.
This report has been prepared based on GCA's understanding of the effects of petroleum legislation and other regulations that currently apply to these properties. However, GCA is not in a position to attest to property title or rights, conditions of these rights (including environmental and abandonment obligations), or any necessary licenses and consents (including planning permission, financial interest relationships, or encumbrances thereon for any part of the appraised properties).
In performing this study, GCA is not aware that any conflict of interest has existed. As an independent consultancy, GCA is providing impartial technical, commercial, and strategic advice within the energy sector. GCA's remuneration was not in any way contingent on the contents of this report.
In the preparation of this document, GCA has maintained, and continues to maintain, a strict independent consultant-client relationship with Eni. Furthermore, the management and employees of GCA have no interest in any of the assets evaluated or related with the analysis performed, as part of this report. The qualifications of the technical person primarily responsible for overseeing this audit are provided in Appendix II.
Staff members who prepared this report hold appropriate professional and educational qualifications and have the necessary levels of experience and expertise to perform the work.
Notice
This report was prepared for public disclosure in its entirety in conjunction with filings to the SEC by Eni S.p.A.
Yours sincerely,
Fodeare $\subset$
Project Manager Tony Goodearl, Senior Petroleum Engineer
John Bark
Reviewed by Dr. John W Barker, Technical Director
Appendix | SEC Reserves Definitions Appendix II Technical Qualifications of Person Responsible for Audit
Gaffney,
Cline &
Associates
Eni S.p.A.
March, 2016
Acquisition of properties. Costs incurred to purchase, lease or otherwise acquire a property. $(1)$ including costs of lease bonuses and options to purchase or lease properties, the portion of costs applicable to minerals when land including mineral rights is purchased in fee, brokers' fees, recording fees, legal costs, and other costs incurred in acquiring properties.
$(2)$ Analogous reservoir. Analogous reservoirs, as used in resources assessments, have similar rock and fluid properties, reservoir conditions (depth, temperature, and pressure) and drive mechanisms, but are typically at a more advanced stage of development than the reservoir of interest and thus may provide concepts to assist in the interpretation of more limited data and estimation of recovery. When used to support proved reserves, an "analogous reservoir" refers to a reservoir that shares the following characteristics with the reservoir of interest:
Instruction to paragraph $(a)(2)$ : Reservoir properties must, in the aggregate, be no more favorable in the analog than in the reservoir of interest.
$(3)$ Bitumen. Bitumen, sometimes referred to as natural bitumen, is petroleum in a solid or semisolid state in natural deposits with a viscosity greater than 10,000 centipoise measured at original temperature in the deposit and atmospheric pressure, on a gas free basis. In its natural state it usually contains sulfur, metals, and other non-hydrocarbons.
$(4)$ Condensate. Condensate is a mixture of hydrocarbons that exists in the gaseous phase at original reservoir temperature and pressure, but that, when produced, is in the liquid phase at surface pressure and temperature.
$(5)$ Deterministic estimate. The method of estimating reserves or resources is called deterministic when a single value for each parameter (from the geoscience, engineering, or economic data) in the reserves calculation is used in the reserves estimation procedure.
$(6)$ Developed oil and gas reserves. Developed oil and gas reserves are reserves of any category that can be expected to be recovered:
1 Extracted from 17 CFR Parts 210, 211, 229, and 249 [Release Nos. 33-8995; 34-59192; FR-78; File No. S7-15-08] RIN 3235-AK00].
$(7)$ Development costs. Costs incurred to obtain access to proved reserves and to provide facilities for extracting, treating, gathering and storing the oil and gas. More specifically, development costs, including depreciation and applicable operating costs of support equipment and facilities and other costs of development activities, are costs incurred to:
$(8)$ Development project. A development project is the means by which petroleum resources are brought to the status of economically producible. As examples, the development of a single reservoir or field, an incremental development in a producing field, or the integrated development of a group of several fields and associated facilities with a common ownership may constitute a development project.
$(9)$ Development well. A well drilled within the proved area of an oil or gas reservoir to the depth of a stratigraphic horizon known to be productive.
$(10)$ Economically producible. The term economically producible, as it relates to a resource, means a resource which generates revenue that exceeds, or is reasonably expected to exceed, the costs of the operation. The value of the products that generate revenue shall be determined at the terminal point of oil and gas producing activities as defined in paragraph (a)(16) of this section.
$(11)$ Estimated ultimate recovery (EUR). Estimated ultimate recovery is the sum of reserves remaining as of a given date and cumulative production as of that date.
$(12)$ Exploration costs. Costs incurred in identifying areas that may warrant examination and in examining specific areas that are considered to have prospects of containing oil and gas reserves. including costs of drilling exploratory wells and exploratory-type stratigraphic test wells. Exploration costs may be incurred both before acquiring the related property (sometimes referred to in pail as prospecting costs) and after acquiring the property. Principal types of exploration costs, which include depreciation and applicable operating costs of support equipment and facilities and other costs of exploration activities, are:
$(13)$ Exploratory well. An exploratory well is a well drilled to find a new field or to find a new reservoir in a field previously found to be productive of oil or gas in another reservoir. Generally, an exploratory well is any well that is not a development well, an extension well, a service well, or a stratigraphic test well as those items are defined in this section.
$(14)$ Extension well. An extension well is a well drilled to extend the limits of a known reservoir.
Field. An area consisting of a single reservoir or multiple reservoirs all grouped on or related $(15)$ to the same individual geological structural feature and/or stratigraphic condition. There may be two or more reservoirs in a field which are separated vertically by intervening impervious strata, or laterally by local geologic barriers, or by both. Reservoirs that are associated by being in overlapping or adiacent fields may be treated as a single or common operational field. The geological terms "structural feature" and "stratigraphic condition" are intended to identify localized geological features as opposed to the broader terms of basins, trends, provinces, plays, areas-of-interest, etc.
Instruction 1 to paragraph (a)(16)(i): The oil and gas production function shall be regarded as ending at a "terminal point", which is the outlet valve on the lease or field storage tank. If unusual physical or operational circumstances exist, it may be appropriate to regard the terminal point for the production function as:
Instruction 2 to paragraph $(a)(16)(i)$ : For purposes of this paragraph $(a)(16)$ , the term saleable hydrocarbons means hydrocarbons that are saleable in the state in which the hydrocarbons are delivered.
(D) Production of geothermal steam.
$(17)$ Possible reserves. Possible reserves are those additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than probable reserves.
$(18)$ Probable reserves. Probable reserves are those additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than proved reserves but which, together with proved reserves, are as likely as not to be recovered.
Probabilistic estimate. The method of estimation of reserves or resources is called $(19)$ probabilistic when the full range of values that could reasonably occur for each unknown parameter
(from the geoscience and engineering data) is used to generate a full range of possible outcomes and their associated probabilities of occurrence.
$(21)$ Proved area. The part of a property to which proved reserves have been specifically attributed.
$(22)$ Proved oil and gas reserves. Proved oil and gas reserves are those quantities of oil and gas. which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible—from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations-prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation. The project to extract the hydrocarbons must have commenced or the operator must be reasonably certain that it will commence the project within a reasonable time.
proved classification when:
$(24)$ Reasonable certainty. If deterministic methods are used, reasonable certainty means a high degree of confidence that the quantities will be recovered. If probabilistic methods are used, there should be at least a 90% probability that the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the estimate. A high degree of confidence exists if the quantity is much more likely to be achieved than not, and, as changes due to increased availability of geoscience (geological, geophysical, and geochemical), engineering, and economic data are made to estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) with time, reasonably certain EUR is much more likely to increase or remain constant than to decrease.
Reliable technology. Reliable technology is a grouping of one or more technologies (including computational methods) that has been field tested and has been demonstrated to provide reasonably certain results with consistency and repeatability in the formation being evaluated or in an analogous formation.
$(26)$ Reserves are estimated remaining quantities of oil and gas and related Reserves. substances anticipated to be economically producible, as of a given date, by application of development projects to known accumulations. In addition, there must exist, or there must be a reasonable expectation that there will exist, the legal right to produce or a revenue interest in the production, installed means of delivering oil and gas or related substances to market, and all permits and financing required to implement the project.
Note to paragraph (a)(26): Reserves should not be assigned to adjacent reservoirs isolated by major, potentially sealing, faults until those reservoirs are penetrated and evaluated as economically producible. Reserves should not be assigned to areas that are clearly separated from a known accumulation by a non-productive reservoir (i.e., absence of reservoir, structurally low reservoir, or negative test results). Such areas may contain prospective resources (i.e., potentially recoverable resources from undiscovered accumulations).
$(27)$ Reservoir. A porous and permeable underground formation containing a natural accumulation of producible oil and/or gas that is confined by impermeable rock or water barriers and is individual and separate from other reservoirs.
$(28)$ Resources. Resources are quantities of oil and gas estimated to exist in naturally occurring accumulations. A portion of the resources may be estimated to be recoverable, and another portion may be considered to be unrecoverable. Resources include both discovered and undiscovered accumulations.
Service well. A well drilled or completed for the purpose of supporting production in an $(29)$ existing field. Specific purposes of service wells include gas injection, water injection, steam injection, air injection, salt-water disposal, water supply for injection, observation, or injection for insitu combustion.
$(30)$ Stratigraphic test well. A stratigraphic test well is a drilling effort, geologically directed, to obtain information pertaining to a specific geologic condition. Such wells customarily are drilled without the intent of being completed for hydrocarbon production. The classification also includes tests identified as core tests and all types of expendable holes related to hydrocarbon exploration. Stratigraphic tests are classified as "exploratory type" if not drilled in a known area or "development type" if drilled in a known area.
$(31)$ Undeveloped oil and gas reserves. Undeveloped oil and gas reserves are reserves of any category that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion.
Gaffney,
Cline & Associates
Gaffnev. Cline & Associates
Dr. John Barker is a Technical Director with Gaffney, Cline & Associates (GCA) in the UK and was responsible for overseeing the preparation of the audit. Dr. Barker has over 30 years of international industry experience as a reservoir engineer, both in major oil companies and in consulting. He has worked on conventional oil, gas and gas condensate fields of all types in many different parts of the world, including naturally fractured reservoirs and enhanced oil recovery projects, and also on some tight gas and heavy oil fields. He is an acknowledged expert in all aspects of reservoir simulation and has extensive experience in estimation, auditing and reporting of reserves and resources.
Dr. Barker is a former Executive Editor of the SPE Reservoir Engineering journal, and has authored 34 technical publications, of which 20 have appeared in peer reviewed journals. He holds an M.A. in Mathematics from the University of Cambridge and a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the California Institute of Technology. He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and of the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers.
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