Earnings Release • Jan 17, 2019
Earnings Release
Open in ViewerOpens in native device viewer
Aker BP's Capital Markets Day 2019
Strong performance in 2018 puts Aker BP in a good position to raise its growth ambition to organically triple its production by 2025, to cut production costs from USD 12 to USD 7 per barrel and to significantly increase the dividend payments to shareholders.
– Excellent execution and rapid change towards lower cost, lower emissions and improved efficiency are key ingredients to value creation in Aker BP. As we deliver profitable projects and grow the company, we also increase our ambitions for cash dividends to our shareholders, says Karl Johnny Hersvik, Chief Executive Officer of Aker BP.
He continues: – The future of the E&P industry belongs to the most competitive and efficient oil companies.
Aker BP also reports increased reserves and resources and maintains excellent results in exploration, drilling and wells, projects and production. The company has a strong cash flow outlook and a robust balance sheet.
| 2018 preliminary | 2019 Guidance | |
|---|---|---|
| Production | 155.7 mboepd | 155-160 mboepd |
| Capex | USD 1.20 billion | USD 1.6 billion |
| Exploration spend | USD 359 million | USD 500 million |
| Abandonment spend | USD 243 million | USD 150 million |
| Production cost per boe | USD ~12 | USD ~12.5 |
| Dividend proposal | USD 450 million | USD 750 million |
Aker BP continues to be an operator with low carbon emissions intensity; less than half the global average, and below the average for the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
– In cooperation with other great companies, we are going to reduce emissions, improve safety and increase efficiency through the entire value chain, says Hersvik.
Leveraging strong industrial alliances and enabling new business models with its partners continues to be an important part of Aker BP's strategy going forward.
The company is developing and adopting industry-leading digital solutions. Effective from 16 January 2019, Aker BP is the first company in Norway to control a manned platform from shore after the successful onshoring of the Ivar Aasen control room. Both on the Ivar Aasen platform and on Skarv FPSO, operators are using hand-held tablets connecting them with live data in Aker BP's Industrial Data Platform. The roll-out continues on the company's remaining assets.
– Sharing of industrial data will help us drive innovation in all areas of the E&P industry. We are already seeing design improvements and onshore monitoring of our equipment. This has facilitated smarter contracts with suppliers, enabling new business models for the future. This is only the beginning, says Karl Johnny Hersvik, Chief Executive Officer of Aker BP.
Aker BP produced 155.7 mboepd, in line with the guidance for 2018. Production costs in 2018 were USD 12 per boe. Capital spending amounted to USD 1.2 billion, USD 100 million below plan, and all current field developments remain on track.
Aker BP increased its reserves to 917 mmboe in 2018, driven by conversion of resources to reserves, especially in the Valhall area. Through license acquisitions and discoveries, the company's contingent resources increased to 946 mmboe.
The company has a large and robust opportunity set in its existing portfolio. These opportunities represent a potential to triple Aker BP's production by 2025.
Aker BP's ambition to rejuvenate Ula as an area hub includes increased oil recovery from the Ula reservoir, tie-ins of discoveries including King Lear, and exploration potential in the area.
We see large opportunities for value creation from all our assets. Digital innovations and industrial alliances will help us achieve our growth ambitions in an efficient manner, says Hersvik.
The profitable growth projections and the strong balance sheet facilitate a higher dividend payout from the company. The Board proposes dividends for 2019 of USD 750 million, up from USD 450 million in 2018, with an ambition to increase the dividend payments by USD 100 million per year to 2023.
The company has a large and promising exploration program for 2019. In total, Aker BP plans to participate in 15 exploration wells, targeting 500 mmboe of net prospective resources.
The Capital Markets Day presentations will be given today at Fornebuporten (Grand Hall, building B), Oksenøyveien 10, Lysaker, Norway. Registration from 08:30 (CET).
A live webcast of the presentations will be available on our website www.akerbp.com, and will start at 09:00 (CET) today.
Kjetil Bakken, VP Investor Relations, tel.: +47 91 889 889
Lars Mattis Hanssen, Senior IR Professional, tel.: +47 99 459 460
Tore Langballe, VP Communications, tel.: +47 907 77 841
Ole-Johan Faret, Press Spokesman, tel.: +47 402 24 217
Aker BP is a fully-fledged E&P company with exploration, development and production activities on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Aker BP is the operator of Alvheim, Ivar Aasen, Skarv, Valhall, Hod, Ula and Tambar. The company is also a partner in the Johan Sverdrup field. Aker BP is headquartered at Fornebu, Norway, and is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker 'AKERBP'. More about Aker BP at www.akerbp.com.
This information is subject to disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
Building tools?
Free accounts include 100 API calls/year for testing.
Have a question? We'll get back to you promptly.