Earnings Release • Nov 30, 2016
Earnings Release
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UNAUDITED FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE QUARTER ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2016
Please find enclosed African Petroleum Corporation
Limited's (the "Company" or "African Petroleum")
unaudited financial report for the quarter ended 30
September 2016.
HIGHLIGHTS
- During the quarter the Company continued working
with Ophir Energy and Petroci on planning for the
first exploration well to be drilled on the CI-513
licence (Company 45%, Ophir Energy (Operator) 45%,
Petroci 10%) in Côte d'Ivoire in Q2 2017.
- The CI-513 exploration well will be targeting the
Ayame West prospect with a gross mean prospective
resource of 350 million barrels (ERC Equipoise CPR).
- On 31 August 2016 the Company announced that it had
signed a Letter of Intent with an undisclosed
International E&P company with respect to Licences A1
and A4, offshore The Gambia.
- On 4 August 2016 the Company announced that further
to the announcement on 2 December 2015, the Company's
wholly owned subsidiary European Hydrocarbons
Limited's ("EHL") had received formal ratification
from the authorities in Sierra Leone for the entry
into the First Extension Period on the SL-03 licence.
As previously announced, the Petroleum Directorate
agreed to modify the work programme, minimum
expenditure requirements and social obligations in
favour of EHL during the First Extension Period on the
licence.
- The Company is continuing discussions with the
Senegalese and Gambian governments regarding possible
licence extensions and amendments to existing and
future work obligations. Concurrently, the Company
remains in farm-out negotiations with several
potential farm-in partners for certain licences across
the portfolio, including Côte d'Ivoire, The Gambia and
Senegal.
- Post period end, the Company announced that Liberian
production sharing contracts LB-08 and LB-09 ("PSCs")
had expired and will not be extended. The Company had
been in discussions with the relevant Liberian
authorities regarding the possible amendment of terms
and extension of these PSCs to enable the Company
additional time to attract an industry partner whilst
not enduring costly work commitments; however,
agreement could not be reached.
- Post period end, the Company reached agreement with
the Government of Sierra Leone to proceed into the
First Extension Period of the SL-4A-10 licence and to
modify the work programme, minimum expenditure
requirements and social obligations in favour of the
Company during the First Extension Period on the
licence.
- Approximately US$0.7 million cash at bank as at 30
September 2016, together with US$10.9 million
restricted cash.
- The Company has continued to operate with a reduced
running cost base (implemented in late 2015).
COMPANY BACKGROUND
African Petroleum, listed on the Oslo Axess (APCL) and
the Open Market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange
(A1C1G9), is an independent oil and gas exploration
company led by an experienced Board and management
team, with substantial experience in oil and gas
exploration, appraisal, development and production.
The Company is a significant net acreage holder in
West Africa with estimated net unrisked mean
prospective oil resources in excess of 7.4 billion
barrels.
African Petroleum has equity interests in 8 licences
across four countries offshore West Africa (Côte
d'Ivoire, Senegal, The Gambia and Sierra Leone). The
Company's assets are located in proven hydrocarbon
basins, where several discoveries have been made in
recent years, including significant discoveries by
Total and Anadarko in Côte d'Ivoire, Cairn Energy in
Senegal and by Kosmos Energy in Senegal and Mauritania.
The Company has acquired more than 13,400km2 of 3D
seismic data on its existing licences and drilled
three exploration wells in West Africa.
CEO STATEMENT
"The Company continues to make headway with the
negotiations with our host governments and potential
partners, albeit progress has been slower than we
anticipated as a result of the challenging market
backdrop for exploration activities. We were pleased
to have signed a Letter of Intent ("LOI") with a
highly credible industry partner for our licences in
The Gambia which further demonstrates to the industry
and market our ability to attract partners for our
licences. We now hope to convert this LOI into a
formal agreement, subject to the Government of The
Gambia providing the amendments for the licences upon
which this provisional agreement is based.
On the operational side, we are working closely with
our partner Ophir Energy as we plan our high impact
exploration well on the CI-513 licence in Côte
d'Ivoire which we expect to be drilled in Q2 next
year. The well, which lies in relatively close
proximity to discoveries made by Total and Anadarko,
has the potential to be completely transformational
for African Petroleum and we are excited to have a
firm operational catalyst on the near horizon. The
licence continues to attract industry interest and the
Company may consider farming down its equity interest
further in order to mitigate our cost exposure whilst
still retaining a material interest in the upside
potential of this high impact well.
Post period end, we exited our licences in Liberia
after taking the decision that our efforts and
resources were best deployed in the licences within
our portfolio that continue to attract the most
industry interest due to the proximity to proven world
class commercial discoveries. The near term priority
will be conclusion of negotiations in Senegal and The
Gambia and we hope to reach a positive outcome in the
coming weeks and months."
OPERATIONAL & CORPORATE UPDATE
FARM OUT PROCESS
African Petroleum seeks to build on the success of
attracting Ophir Energy plc as a partner on the CI-513
Licence in Côte d'Ivoire by forming other strategic
partnerships to explore the Company's blocks in Côte
d'Ivoire, Senegal, The Gambia, and Sierra Leone. The
strategy, supported by detailed technical work and
prospect definition, is to use the significant equity
held in this prospective portfolio to fund a high
impact exploration drilling campaign. The industry
interest in Côte d'Ivoire, The Gambia and Senegal
licences in particular, due to the regional context of
hydrocarbon discoveries being made in adjacent blocks
in this part of the Atlantic Margin, provides
management with confidence that agreements will be
concluded in due course.
Côte d'Ivoire
Further to the announcement on 16 March 2016 that the
new Production Sharing Contract ("PSC") with Ophir
Energy plc covering the Company's CI-513 licence area
in Côte d'Ivoire became effective, the Company and
Ophir Energy have been working on planning for the
first exploration well to be drilled in Q2 2017. It
is expected that the CI-513 exploration well will be
targeting the Ayame West prospect with a gross mean
prospective resource of 350 million barrels. Due to
the proximity of recent discoveries made by Total and
Anadarko, the short time frame to drilling and the
material prospect size, the Company is in discussions
with several companies who have expressed interest in
farming in to the CI-513 licence. The Company is in
active discussions with these companies.
The Gambia & Senegal
The Company is continuing meetings and discussions
with the Governments of The Gambia and Senegal with a
view of aligning the requirements of the potential
incoming partners with the respective licence terms
and obligations.
On 31 August 2016 the Company announced that that it
had signed a Letter of Intent ("LOI") with an
undisclosed International E&P company with respect to
Licences A1 and A4, offshore The Gambia. The LOI
represents a non-binding commercial proposal regarding
the possible acquisition of interests in Licences A1
and A4 where African Petroleum holds 100% operated
working interest in both blocks. The proposal set
forth within the LOI is conditional upon African
Petroleum confirming the extension of the exploration
periods of both licences by at least 12 months by the
Government of The Gambia, and is subject to ongoing
due diligence and commercial negotiations.
This part of the Atlantic Margin has become highly
active with the recent exploration success of third
party operators, namely Cairn Energy in Senegal and
Kosmos Energy in Senegal and Mauritania. A
significant level of activity in the region is ongoing
as Cairn Energy and its partners commenced a multi-
well exploration and appraisal drilling programme
across their Senegal acreage in December 2015, with
the first three appraisal wells SNE-2, SNE-3 and SNE-4
being announced as successful in January 2016, March
2016 and May 2016 respectively. In addition, Kosmos
Energy extended their Mauritania drilling campaign
further south and commenced drilling in Senegal in
December 2015. This has led to a string of very
successful drilling programmes by Kosmos Energy
through the first half of the year, including
significant gas discoveries at Tortue, Geumbeul-1 and
Ternanga-1, and the successful appraisal well at
Ahmeyim-2.
Despite the challenging market conditions for
exploration activity and the prolonged nature of
discussions with potential partners and governments,
the Company remains confident that current advanced
discussions can yield farm-outs in due course. Further
announcements will be made when appropriate.
LICENCE PHASES
African Petroleum is actively engaged in discussions
with a number of governments regarding possible
licence extensions and amendments to existing and
future work obligations. The Company maintains strong
relationships with host governments founded upon
recognition of the Company's efforts to progress the
exploration of these licences. Based on the dialogue
experienced to date with the governments of Senegal,
The Gambia, Côte d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone, we are
confident that we will achieve outcomes that are
mutually beneficial for our host countries, potential
industry partners and African Petroleum.
Post period end, the Company announced that Liberian
production sharing contracts LB-08 and LB-09 ("PSCs")
had expired and will not be extended. The Company had
been in discussions with the relevant Liberian
authorities regarding the possible amendment of terms
and extension of these PSCs to enable the Company
additional time to attract an industry partner whilst
not enduring costly work commitments; however,
agreement could not be reached.
Please refer to the next section "Licence Information"
for further information on specific licences.
LICENCE INFORMATION
Côte d'Ivoire: Blocks CI-509 & CI-513
In Côte d'Ivoire, African Petroleum holds:
i) 90% working interest in offshore licence CI-509,
with the remaining 10% held by Petroci, the National
Oil Company of Côte d'Ivoire. The Company was awarded
CI-509 in March 2012; and
ii) 45% non-operated interest in offshore licence CI-
513, with a 45% operated interest held by Ophir Energy
plc and the remaining 10% held by Petroci. A new PSC
for CI-513 was signed in December 2015 and became
effective in March 2016.
The two licence interests have a combined net acreage
of 1,633km2.
The current phase of licence CI-509 ended in March
2016; however, the Company has not received a formal
notice of termination and the Company remains in
positive dialogue regarding the proposed suspension of
the licence to enable sufficient time for a regional
technical study and the introduction of a new partner
by the Company, at which point it is anticipated the
licence will be renewed.
Independent petroleum consultant ERC Equipoise
prepared an assessment of prospective oil resources
attributable to the Company's Côte d'Ivoire licences
and estimates the net unrisked mean prospective oil
resources at 1,273MMStb (adjusted for Ophir Energy's
45% interest in CI-513).
Senegal: Rufisque Offshore Profond & Senegal Offshore
Sud Profond
In Senegal, African Petroleum Senegal Limited holds a
90% operated working interest in exploration blocks
Rufisque Offshore Profond ("ROP") and Senegal Offshore
Sud Profond ("SOSP"). The National Oil Company
Petrosen, holds the remaining 10% equity. The
Company's Senegal licences are located offshore
southern and central Senegal, with a net acreage of
14,216km2.
The current phase of the ROP licence ended in October
2015; however, the Company has lodged a request for an
extension with the Government of Senegal and remains
in positive dialogue regarding this extension request.
The Company was required to elect whether to continue
with the current phase of the SOSP licence in June
2016 by committing to the drilling of an exploration
well; however, the Company has not elected to commit
to the drilling of the exploration well and has
entered into dialogue regarding the possible amendment
of this licence commitment.
Independent petroleum consultant ERC Equipoise
prepared an assessment of prospective oil resources
attributable to the Company's Senegal Licences and
estimates the net unrisked mean prospective oil
resources at 1,779MMStb.
The Gambia: Blocks A1 & A4
African Petroleum holds a 100% operated working
interest in offshore licences A1 and A4, with a
combined net acreage of 2,672km2. The Company has
completed a 3D seismic survey with data covering
2,500km2 and has found a number of analogous leads and
prospects in its acreage to that of the recent SNE-1
and FAN-1 discoveries and the SNE-2, SNE-3 and SNE-4
successful appraisal wells drilled by Cairn Energy in
Senegal.
The A1 and A4 licences required the Company to drill
an exploration well on either of the licences no later
than 1 September 2016. The Company was unable to meet
this drilling commitment and is in positive dialogue
with the Government of The Gambia regarding an
extension of this licence commitment.
Independent petroleum consultant ERC Equipoise
prepared an assessment of prospective oil resources
attributable to the Company's Gambian Licences and
estimates the net unrisked mean prospective oil
resources at 3,079MMStb.
Sierra Leone: Blocks SL-03 & SL-4A-10
In Sierra Leone, the Company holds a 100% operated
working interest in offshore licences SL-03 and SL-4A-
10. African Petroleum was awarded a 100% interest in
SL-03 in April 2010, while licence SL-4A-10 was
awarded as part of Sierra Leone's third offshore
licencing round in 2012. The Company's Sierra Leone
licences cover a combined net acreage of 3,925km2 and
are located to the south of Freetown, offshore Sierra
Leone.
On 4 August 2016 the Company received formal
ratification from the authorities in Sierra Leone for
the entry into the First Extension Period on the SL-03
licence. As previously announced in December 2015,
the Petroleum Directorate agreed to modify the work
programme, minimum expenditure requirements and social
obligations in favour of the Company during the First
Extension Period on the licence.
The current phase of the SL-4A-10 licence ended in
September 2015, having fulfilled the commitment to
acquire 3D seismic over the licence. Post period end,
the Company reached agreement with the Government of
Sierra Leone to proceed into the First Extension
Period of the SL-4A-10 licence and to modify the work
programme, minimum expenditure requirements and social
obligations in favour of the Company during the First
Extension Period on the licence.
Independent petroleum consultant ERC Equipoise
prepared an assessment of prospective oil resources
attributable to the Company's Sierra Leone licences
and estimates the net unrisked mean prospective oil
resources at 1,354MMStb.
Liberia: Blocks LB-08 & LB-09
African Petroleum, through its wholly owned subsidiary
European Hydrocarbons Limited, held a 100% working
interest in production sharing contracts LB-08 and LB-
09 ("PSCs").
Post period end, the Company announced that the PSCs
had expired and will not be extended. The Company had
been in discussions with the relevant Liberian
authorities regarding the possible amendment of terms
and extension of these PSCs to enable the Company
additional time to attract an industry partner whilst
not enduring costly work commitments; however,
agreement could not be reached.
HEALTH, SAFETY, ENVIRONMENT AND SECURITY
As an operator of offshore concessions, it is the duty
of African Petroleum to provide a safe working
environment and minimize any adverse impact on the
environment. Health, safety, environment and security
policies are embedded throughout all of the Company's
core operations. In this regard, we strive for
continuous improvement as lessons learnt from past
operations are incorporated into business practices
going forward.
PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
As an exploration company in the oil and gas industry,
the Company operates in an inherently risky sector.
Oil and gas prices are subject to volatile price
changes from a variety of factors, including
international economic and political trends,
expectation of inflation, global and regional demand,
currency exchange fluctuations, interest rates and
global or regional consumption patterns. These
factors are beyond control of the Company and may
affect the marketability of oil and gas discovered.
In addition, the Company is subject to a number of
risk factors inherent in the oil and gas upstream
industry, including operational and technical risks,
reserve and resource estimates, risks of operating in
a foreign country (including economic, political,
social and environmental risks) and available
resources. We recognise these risks and manage our
operations in order to minimise our exposure.
OUTLOOK
We are pleased to have a firm operational catalyst on
the horizon in the form of the high impact exploration
well that we will be drilling with our partner Ophir
Energy next year on licence CI-513 in Côte d'Ivoire.
Due to the high level of industry interest that we
continue to receive for this licence, the Board is
considering its options with regards to minimising its
cost exposure to the well by farming down further
equity interest. In any event, we will retain a
material interest in a near term, high impact well,
the prospectivity of which has the potential to be
truly transformational for African Petroleum.
The market backdrop for exploration activities remains
challenging; however, we have confidence in the world
class acreage within our portfolio and the strength of
our relationships with our host governments and
leading industry players with whom we maintain
progressive dialogue.
We continue to focus on our dual objectives of
obtaining licence extensions and formalising
partnerships. The outcome of these two objectives are
largely intertwined which adds to the complexity of
our ongoing negotiations, however we are encouraged by
the dialogue that we are having with the relevant
authorities and potential industry partners and hope
to formalise agreements in due course.
STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY
We confirm that, to the best of our knowledge, the
condensed set of financial statements for the third
quarter of 2016, which has been prepared in accordance
with IAS34 Interim Financial Statements, provides a
true and fair view of the Company's consolidated
assets, liabilities, financial position and results of
operations, and that the management report includes a
fair review of the information required under the
Norwegian Securities Trading Act section 5-6 fourth
paragraph.
For further information, please contact:
Jens Pace, Chief Executive Officer
Stephen West, Chief Financial Officer
Tel: +44 20 3655 7810
Angeline Hicks, Company Secretary
Tel: + 61 401 489 883
Media Contacts:
Buchanan
Ben Romney/Chris Judd
Tel: +44 207 466 5000
This information is subject to disclosure requirements
pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities
Trading Act.
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