Perpetual Energy Inc. Releases Second Quarter 2012 Financial And Operating Results
CALGARY, Aug. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – (TSX:PMT) – Perpetual Energy Inc.
(“Perpetual” or the “Corporation”) releases its financial and operating
results for the second quarter of 2012. A copy of Perpetual’s unaudited
interim consolidated financial statements and notes and related
management’s discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) for the three and six
months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 can be obtained through the
Corporation’s website at www.perpetualenergyinc.com and SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Second Quarter Summary
Perpetual continued to make progress on its key priorities for 2012,
which include:
1. Profitable capital investment in chosen proven diversifying growth
plays to increase oil and natural gas liquids ("NGL") production;
2. Debt reduction;
3. Manage downside risks; and
4. Continue to advance the assessment of high impact, longer term
growth opportunities with risk-managed investment.
Operational Highlights
-- Oil and NGL production increased 92 percent from the second
quarter of 2011 to 3,446 bbl/d, representing 16 percent of
total production versus seven percent in the 2011 period.
Mannville heavy oil production grew 407 percent from last
year's second quarter and 17 percent from the first quarter of
2012 to average 2,605 bbl/d. Heavy oil sales were slightly
lower than expected due to wet weather which impaired trucking
and delayed drilling and completion operations.
-- Perpetual executed a $9.6 million second quarter capital
program focused on heavy oil exploration and development in the
Mannville area of eastern Alberta. Six gross (6.0 net)
horizontal wells were drilled in the quarter.
-- Perpetual completed construction of a new compression facility
at West Edson to bring on highly successful Wilrich horizontal
natural gas wells drilled in late 2011 and the first quarter of
2012. Production through the new facility began in late March
and continued at maximum throughput capacity for much of the
second quarter, with an average NGL yield of over 430 bbl/d.
Gas Storage Disposition
-- The Corporation closed the disposition of 90 percent of its
Warwick gas storage business ("WGSI") on April 25, 2012 for
cash proceeds of $80.3 million net of transaction costs. The
interest was acquired by a partnership sponsored by Brookfield
Asset Management. As part of the agreement, Perpetual has the
option, exercisable within one year of closing, to buy back up
to an additional 30 percent ownership interest in WGSI at the
same price as the initial sale plus adjustments, for a final
ownership interest of up to 40 percent. In addition, Perpetual
has a separate agreement to provide management services and
operate the facility for an annual fee over an initial two-year
term.
Financial Results
-- Perpetual repaid its $74.9 million 6.5% unsecured convertible
debentures (the "6.50% Debentures") at maturity on June 30,
2012.
-- Total net debt was reduced 17 percent to $401.9 million at the
end of the quarter from $483.6 million at March 31, 2012. Net
debt has decreased by $125 million in the first six months of
2012 through an asset disposition program announced in late
2011. Bank debt outstanding was $85.5 million on a borrowing
base of $140 million as of June 30, 2012.
-- The AECO Monthly Index price decreased 51 percent to $1.84 per
Mcf from $3.74 per Mcf for the second quarter of 2011. North
American natural gas prices continued to experience pressure
from strong supply from shale gas plays in the United States
combined with unseasonably high natural gas storage levels
after an unusually warm winter.
-- Perpetual's natural gas price before derivatives declined 47
percent to $2.12 per Mcf from $4.01 per Mcf for the comparative
quarter in 2011. Perpetual's gas price before derivatives was
15 percent higher than the AECO Monthly Index price mainly due
to the benefit of a physical natural gas delivery contract for
25,000 GJ/d at a price of $2.59 per GJ ($2.73 per Mcf).
-- Perpetual's realized natural gas price, including hedging
activities was $3.28 per Mcf, 17 percent lower than the second
quarter of 2011, but 78 percent higher than the AECO Monthly
Index price for the quarter.
-- Oil and NGL prices before derivatives decreased 21 percent from
last year's second quarter to $61.10 per bbl, which reflects
heavy oil making up a larger proportion of liquids production,
and a widening of the price differential between the heavy oil
benchmark Western Canadian Select ("WCS") and West Texas
Intermediate ("WTI").
-- Realized gains on derivatives totaled $10.3 million for the
three-month period, primarily from natural gas price risk
management contracts.
-- Total cash costs were down nine percent from the second quarter
of 2011, led by a 67 percent reduction in royalties and a 41
percent decline in cash general and administrative expenses.
-- Quarterly funds flow measured $12.7 million or $0.09 per common
share, compared to $17.9 million or $0.12 per common share for
the same period in 2011. Lower natural gas prices and
production were partially offset by increasing heavy oil
production and lower total cash costs.
Subsequent Events
-- Recently, AECO Monthly Index prices have reversed their
downward trend as a result of relatively hot weather and strong
summer heating demand across the continent. In addition, low
natural gas prices have favoured fuel switching in the power
generation sector with significant coal-to-gas switching in the
second quarter. Given these favorable trends, Perpetual
terminated its 2013 forward natural gas sales positions for a
net gain of $1.2 million in July 2012.
-- Heavy oil production now represents close to 40 percent of
Perpetual's revenue. To provide downside price protection, oil
price management positions have been put in place for a minimum
of 2,000 bbl/d for the remainder of 2012 and 2013, protecting
an average WTI floor price of $US 84.25 per bbl and $US 88.00
per bbl respectively. In addition, recent transactions provide
downside WTI oil price protection for 1,000 bbl/d at $US 85.00
per bbl for 2014.
2012 Outlook and Sensitivities
The Board of Directors approved a capital spending budget of $65 million
for 2012, of which $40.7 million was spent in the first half of the
year. Capital spending for the remainder of the year is expected to
remain within funds flow. Spending will be focused primarily on heavy
oil drilling activities in the Mannville area, where Perpetual plans to
drill up to 12 (11.3 net) wells. In addition in the Edson area,
Perpetual is preparing to drill up to 2 (1.5 net) wells to secure
additional land rights and further delineate its high deliverability
Wilrich prospect, in addition to modest spending to secure land rights
and increase the prospect inventory for future drilling.
Longer term, high impact growth opportunities are being evaluated with
risk-managed investment:
-- Evaluation of Perpetual's extensive bitumen resources is
continuing with a project at Panny. Minor expenditures are
planned for testing, reservoir simulation and field preparatory
work to advance a Low Pressure Electro Thermally Assisted Drive
("LEAD") bitumen extraction pilot project for the development
of the significant bitumen resource established in the Bluesky
formation.
-- Completion and testing work is continuing to define a pilot
project to evaluate technical and commercial development
parameters for the Viking/Colorado shallow shale gas play in
east central Alberta.
-- At the Warwick gas storage facility, two new wells are planned
and application work for delta-pressuring is underway for the
step-wise expansion of working gas capacity. Perpetual
continues to operate the WGSI facility and hold a 10 percent
ownership interest.
Aggressive downside risk management is a key priority:
-- Perpetual has very little exposure to further weakness in
natural gas prices in 2012. An average of 99,250 GJ/d of
natural gas sales is hedged through physical forward sales and
financial contracts for the period July through October at an
average price of $3.13 per GJ and 89,250 GJ/d for November
through December at $3.17 per GJ.
-- Oil price management contracts are also in place to provide an
average WTI floor price of $US 84.25 for the second half of
2012 and the WTI to WCS differential at $24.22 on 2,000 bbl/d
for September through December 2012.
The following sensitivity table reflects Perpetual’s projected funds
flow for the second half of 2012 at various commodity price levels.
These sensitivities incorporate average daily production of 3,800 bbl/d
of oil & NGL, 96 MMcf/d of natural gas, operating costs of $43 million,
cash general and administrative expenses of $14 million and an interest
rate on bank debt of 5.4 percent.
Projected funds flow,
second half of 2012 (2) AECO gas price (1) ($/GJ)
($ millions)
WTI oil price (1) $2.00 $2.50 $3.00 $3.50
($US/bbl)
$75.00 18 19 20 21
$85.00 18 19 20 21
$95.00 23 24 25 26
$105.00 24 25 26 27
(1) The current settled and forward average AECO and WTI prices for
2012 as of August 13, 2012
were $2.27 per GJ and $91.02 per bbl, respectively.
FINANCIAL AND OPERATING Three Months Ended June Six Months Ended June 30
HIGHLIGHTS 30
($Cdn thousands except 2012 2011 % 2012 2011 %
volume and per share Change Change
amounts)
Financial
Revenue (1) 50,762 66,671 (24) 107,489 128,571 (16)
Funds flow (2) 12,668 17,852 (29) 27,169 41,775 (35)
Per share (3) 0.09 0.12 (25) 0.18 0.28 (36)
Net earnings (loss) 25,899 (5,626) 560 12,859 (32,886) 139
Per share - basic 0.18 (0.04) 550 0.09 (0.22) 141
(3)
Per share - diluted 0.17 (0.04) 525 0.09 (0.22) 141
(3)
Total assets 840,118 999,709 (16) 840,118 999,709 (16)
Net bank debt outstanding 91,940 85,624 7 91,940 85,624 7
(2)
Senior notes, at 150,000 150,000 - 150,000 150,000 -
principal amount
Convertible debentures, 159,972 234,897 (32) 159,972 234,897 (32)
at principal amount
Total net debt (2) 401,912 470,521 (15) 401,912 470,521 (15)
Shareholders' equity 93,958 148,429 (37) 93,958 148,429 (37)
Capital expenditures
Exploration, 9,606 14,184 (32) 40,668 70,726 (42)
development and gas
storage
Acquisitions, net (80,650) (20,777) 302 (143,342) (29,212) 391
of dispositions
Other 14 104 (87) 153 203 (25)
Net capital (71,030) (6,489) 995 (102,521) 41,717 (146)
expenditures
Common Shares outstanding
(thousands)
End of period 147,114 147,694 - 147,114 147,694 -
Weighted average 147,056 148,187 (1) 147,016 148,239 (1)
Shares outstanding at 147,126 147,126
August 10, 2012
Operating
Daily average production
Natural gas 105.1 139.5 (25) 109.4 135.3 (19)
(MMcf/d)(5)
Oil and NGL (bbl/d) 3,446 1,795 92 3,460 1,707 103
(5)
Total (MMcfe/d) (5) 125.8 150.3 (16) 130.2 145.6 (11)
Gas over bitumen 27.7 25.6 8 27.7 24.2 14
deemed production
(MMcf/d) (4)
Average daily 153.5 175.9 (13) 157.9 169.8 (7)
(actual and deemed
- MMcfe/d) (4,5)
Per common share 1.04 1.19 (13) 1.07 1.15 (7)
(cubic feet
equivalent/d/Share)
(3)
Average prices
Natural gas, before 2.12 4.01 (47) 2.32 4.06 (43)
derivatives ($/Mcf)
Natural gas, 3.28 3.97 (17) 3.20 4.09 (22)
including
derivatives ($/Mcf)
Oil and NGL, before 61.10 77.38 (21) 65.43 72.12 (9)
derivatives ($/bbl)
Oil and NGL, 58.58 77.38 (24) 62.61 72.12 (13)
including
derivatives ($/bbl)
Land(thousands of net
acres)
Undeveloped land 1,756 1,834 (4) 1,756 1,834 (4)
holdings
Drilling(wells drilled
gross/net)
Gas -/- 1/1.0 (100)/ 4/3.5 5/4.5 (20)/
(100) (22)
Gas storage -/- 1/1.0 (100)/ -/- 2/2.0 (100)/
(100) (100)
Oil 6/6.0 6/6.0 -/- 22/21.3 15/14.0 47/52
Oil sands -/- -/- -/- -/- 7/7.0 (100)/
evaluation (100)
Total 6/6.0 8/8.0 (25)/ 26/24.8 29/27.5 (10)/
(25) (10)
Success rate (%) 100/100 100/100 -/- 100/100 100/100 -/-
(1) Revenue includes realized gains (losses) on derivatives.
(2) These are non-GAAP measures. Please refer to "Non-GAAP Measures"
included in management's discussion and analysis.
(3) Based on weighted average basic or diluted Common Shares
outstanding for the period.
(4) The deemed production volume describes all gas shut-in or denied
production pursuant to a decision report, corresponding order or
general bulletin of the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board
("AEUB"), or through correspondence in relation to an AEUB ID 99-1
application. This deemed production volume is not actual gas sales
but represents shut-in gas that is the basis of the gas over
bitumen financial solution which is received monthly from the
Alberta Crown as a reduction against other royalties payable.
(5) Production amounts are based on the Corporation's interest before
royalties expense.
See the Corporation’s MD&A for the three and six months ended June 30,
2012 and 2011, a copy of which is available on Perpetual’s SEDAR
profile at www.sedar.com
Forward Looking Information
Certain information regarding Perpetual in this news release including
management’s assessment of future plans and operations and including
the information relating to the Corporation’s key priorities for 2012
and contained under the heading 2012 “Outlook and Sensitivities” may
constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws.
The forward looking information includes, without limitation,
statements regarding expected production and timing thereof;
anticipated operations, drilling, development and the timing thereof;
amount, funding, allocation and timing of capital spending; forecast
and realized commodity prices and funds flow; cash costs; projected
ending net debt; use of funds flow; marketing and transportation; and
estimated funds flow sensitivity. Various assumptions were used in
drawing the conclusions or making the forecasts and projections
contained in the forward-looking information contained in this press
release, which assumptions are based on management analysis of
historical trends, experience current conditions and expected future
developments pertaining to Perpetual and the industry in which it
operates as well as certain assumptions regarding the matters outlined
above. Forward-looking information is based on current expectations,
estimates and projections that involve a number of risks, which could
cause actual results to vary and in some instances to differ materially
from those anticipated by Perpetual and described in the
forward-looking information contained in this press release. Undue
reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information, which is
not a guarantee of performance and is subject to a number of risks or
uncertainties, including without limitation those described under “Risk
Factors” in the Corporation’s Annual Information Form and MD&A for the
year ended December 31, 2011 and the quarter ended June 30, 2012 and
those included in other reports on file with Canadian securities
regulatory authorities which may be accessed through the SEDAR website
(www.sedar.com and at Perpetual’s website www.perpetualenergyinc.com). Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of risk factors is not
exhaustive. Forward-looking information is based on the estimates and
opinions of Perpetual’s management at the time the information is
released and Perpetual disclaims any intent or obligation to update
publicly any such forward-looking information, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise, other than as expressly
required by applicable securities laws.
Non-GAAP Measures
This news release contains financial measures that may not be calculated
in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards
(“GAAP”). Readers are referred to advisories and further discussion on
non-GAAP measures contained in the “Non-GAAP Measures” section of the
Corporation’s MD&A.
Mcf equivalent (Mcfe) may be misleading, particularly if used in
isolation. In accordance with National Instrument 51-101 (“NI 51-101″),
an Mcfe conversion ratio for oil of 1 Bbl: 6 Mcf has been used, which
is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily
applicable at the burner tip and does not necessarily represent a value
equivalency at the wellhead.
Perpetual is an energy company with legacy shallow gas assets, a growing
base of diversifying oil and NGL assets and substantial, longer term
growth opportunities. Perpetual’s shares and convertible debentures are
listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “PMT”, “PMT.DB.D”
and “PMT.DB.E”, respectively. Further information with respect to
Perpetual can be found at its website at www.perpetualenergyinc.com.
The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the
information contained herein.
SOURCE Perpetual Energy Inc.
