CALGARY - Seven Generations Energy Ltd. (TSX: VII) When the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the world in March, our 7G team rapidly adapted to a new way of working that prioritized the health and safety of our workforce.
We also responded quickly and decisively to protect our balance sheet from the pandemic-related plunge in oil prices. With nearly 100% working interest in our assets and critical infrastructure, we have flexibility and control over our pace of development. We reduced our 2020 capital program by 41% which led to an 11% reduction in our 2020 production guidance. I'm proud of the exceptional performance of our 7G team during this challenging time.
Seven Generations began to transition our strategic focus from production growth to free cash flow generation in 2018. We focused our efforts on enhancing our scientific knowledge of our high-quality asset base and improving our execution. Innovations in our drilling and completion practices, structural cost reductions and decline rate moderation, culminated in free cash flow in 2019 and the first half of 2020. With the economic recovery now in its early stages, condensate demand and oil pricing has improved, and we have reinstated our drilling and completion program in accordance with our revised 2020 budget that was released on May 7, 2020. We recognize that we can grow free cash flow on a per share basis in the current commodity price environment while maintaining our production profile. For the time being, our priority for free cash flow will be debt reduction.'
Forward-looking information advisory
This news release contains certain forward looking information and statements that involve various risks, uncertainties and other factors. The use of any of the words 'anticipate', 'continue', 'estimate', 'expect', 'may', 'will', 'should', 'believe', 'plans', and similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking information or statements. In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, this document contains forward-looking information and statements pertaining to the following: the company being on-track to achieve its revised guidance for 2020 with continuous cost management and improving commodity prices; the current stage of economic recovery; the belief that the company can grow free cash flow on a per share basis in the current commodity price environment while maintaining its production profile; the allocation of free cash flow to debt reduction; the continued evaluation of methods to improve capital efficiencies through innovation and collaboration with service providers; the expectation that second half development activity will be weighted towards the Nest 3 region; expected higher operating costs in the third quarter due to the planned Karr condensate stabilizer turnaround and upgrade; expectation that operating costs will normalize in the fourth quarter and that full year operating costs will be within the company's guidance range; the expected timing of bringing new lower Montney wells on stream in the Nest 3 area; the forward-looking information provided under the heading '2020 Outlook', including planned capital investments, expected production and production composition, the number of wells to be brought on production and forecast royalty, operating, transportation, G&A and interest expenses, and the expectation that the company can hold its annual production flat at current strip prices, with capital investments at or below forecast cash flows; the expectation that the local condensate market will remain strong, with projected growth in oilsands production and incremental pipeline development expected to contribute to increased condensate demand and premium pricing.
With respect to forward-looking information contained in this document, assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: future oil, NGLs and natural gas prices being consistent with current commodity price forecasts after factoring in quality adjustments at the company's points of sale; the company's continued ability to obtain qualified staff and equipment in a timely and cost-efficient manner; drilling and completion techniques; infrastructure and facility design concepts that have been successfully applied by the company elsewhere in its Kakwa River Project may be successfully applied to other properties within the Kakwa River Project; the consistency of the regulatory regime and framework governing royalties, taxes and environmental matters in the jurisdictions in which the company conducts its business and any other jurisdictions which may affect the company; the company's ability to market production of oil, NGLs and natural gas successfully to customers; the company's future production levels and amount of future capital investment will be consistent with the company's current development plans and budget; the accuracy of the forecasts provided under '2020 Outlook'; forecasted costs and expenses; new technologies for recovery and production of the company's reserves and resources may improve capital and operational efficiencies in the future; the recoverability of the company's reserves and resources; sustained future capital investment by the company; future cash flows from production; taxes and royalties will remain consistent with the company's calculated rates; the sources of funding for the company's capital investment program; the company's future debt levels; geological and engineering estimates in respect of the company's reserves and resources; the geography of the areas in which the company is conducting exploration and development activities and the access, economic, regulatory and physical limitations which the company may be affected by from time to time; the impact of competition on the company and the company's ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms.
Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information that is contained herein as a result of the risks and risk factors that are set forth in the annual information form dated February 26, 2020 for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the 'AIF') and in Management's Discussion and Analysis dated July 28, 2020, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, which are available on SEDAR, including, but not limited to: volatility in market prices and demand for oil, NGLs and natural gas and hedging activities related thereto; general economic, business and industry conditions; global or national health concerns, including the outbreak of pandemic or contagious diseases, such as the current novel coronavirus outbreak; recent and ongoing declines in general economic, business or industry conditions and weakness and volatility in the market conditions for the oil and gas industry; civil unrest, pandemics and other disruptions and dislocations; variance of the company's actual capital costs, operating costs and economic returns from those anticipated; the ability to find, develop or acquire additional reserves and the availability of the capital or financing necessary to do so on satisfactory terms; risks related to the exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas reserves and resources; negative public perception of oil sands development, oil and natural gas development and transportation, hydraulic fracturing and fossil fuels; actions by governmental authorities, including changes in government regulation, royalties and taxation; political changes; potential legislative and regulatory changes; the rescission, or amendment to the conditions, of groundwater licenses of the company; management of the company's growth; the ability to successfully identify and make attractive acquisitions, joint ventures or investments, or successfully integrate future acquisitions or businesses; the availability, cost or shortage of rigs, equipment, raw materials, supplies or qualified personnel; the adoption or modification of climate change legislation by governments; potential impacts of climate change on the company's operations; uncertainty associated with estimates of oil, NGLs and natural gas reserves and resources and the variance of such estimates from actual future production; dependence upon compressors, gathering lines, pipelines and other facilities, certain of which the company does not control; the ability to satisfy obligations under the company's firm commitment transportation and processing arrangements; the export and sale of natural gas to the United States; the uncertainties related to the company's identified drilling locations; the high-risk nature of successfully stimulating well productivity and drilling for and producing oil, NGLs and natural gas; operating hazards and uninsured risks; the risks of fires, floods and natural disasters, which could become more frequent or of a greater magnitude as a result of climate change; the possibility that the company's drilling activities may encounter sour gas; execution risks associated with the company's business plan; failure to acquire or develop replacement reserves; the concentration of the company's assets in the Kakwa area; unforeseen title defects; Indigenous claims; failure to accurately estimate abandonment and reclamation costs; development and exploratory drilling efforts and well operations may not be profitable or achieve the targeted return; horizontal drilling and completion technique risks and failure of drilling results to meet expectations for reserves or production; limited intellectual property protection for operating practices and dependence on employees and contractors; third-party claims regarding the company's right to use technology and equipment; expiry of certain leases for the undeveloped leasehold acreage in the near future; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions or dispositions; failure of properties acquired now or in the future to produce as projected and inability to determine reserve and resource potential, identify liabilities associated with acquired properties or obtain protection from sellers against such liabilities; government regulations; changes in the application, interpretation and enforcement of applicable laws and regulations; environmental, health and safety requirements; restrictions on development intended to protect certain species of wildlife; potential conflicts of interests; actual results differing materially from management estimates and assumptions; seasonality of the company's activities and the Canadian oil and gas industry; alternatives to and changing demand for petroleum products; extensive competition in the company's industry; changes in the company's credit ratings; third party credit risk; dependence upon a limited number of customers; lower oil, NGLs and natural gas prices and higher costs; failure of 2D and 3D seismic data used by the company to accurately identify the presence of oil and natural gas; risks relating to commodity price hedging instruments; terrorist attacks, armed conflict or sabotage; cyber security risks, loss of information and computer systems; inability to dispose of non-strategic assets on attractive terms; the potential for security deposits to be required under provincial liability management programs; reassessment by taxing and royalty authorities of the company's prior transactions and filings; variations in foreign exchange rates and interest rates; risks associated with counterparties in risk management activities related to commodity prices and foreign exchange rates; sufficiency of insurance policies; potential for litigation; variation in future calculations of non-GAAP/non-IFRS measures; breach of and potential enforceability issues in contracts; impact of expansion into new activities on risk exposure; inability of the company to respond quickly to competitive pressures and the risks related to the common shares that are publicly traded and the company's senior notes and other indebtedness.
Any financial outlook and future-oriented financial information contained in this document regarding prospective financial performance, financial position or cash flows is based on assumptions about future events, including economic conditions and proposed courses of action based on management's assessment of the relevant information that is currently available. Projected operational information contains forward-looking information and is based on a number of material assumptions and factors, as are set out above. These projections may also be considered to contain future oriented financial information or a financial outlook. The actual results of the company's operations for any period will likely vary from the amounts set forth in these projections and such variations may be material. Actual results will vary from projected results. Readers are cautioned that any such financial outlook and future-oriented financial information contained herein should not be used for purposes other than those for which it is disclosed herein. The forward-looking information and statements contained in this document speak only as of the date hereof and the company does not assume any obligation to publicly update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required pursuant to applicable laws.
Note Regarding Oil and Gas Metrics
Seven Generations has adopted the standard of 6 Mcf:1 bbl when converting natural gas to boes. Condensate and other NGLs are converted to boes at a ratio of 1 bbl:1 bbl. Boes may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion ratio of 6 Mcf: 1 bbl is based roughly on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the company's sales point. Given the value ratio based on the current price of oil as compared to natural gas and NGLs is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6 Mcf: 1 bbl and 1 bbl: 1 bbl, respectively, utilizing a conversion ratio at 6 Mcf: 1 bbl for natural gas and 1 bbl: 1 bbl for NGLs, may be misleading as an indication of value.
Note Regarding Product Types
This news release includes references to total average daily production, condensate production, other NGL production, natural gas production and liquids production. Other NGLs refers to all natural gas liquids, except for condensate, which is reported separately. Natural gas refers to conventional natural gas and shale gas combined. Liquids refers to condensate and other NGLs combined.
This news release also makes reference to Company's forecasted total average daily production of 175 - 185 mboe/d for 2020. Seven Generations expects that approximately 32% - 36% of that production will be comprised of condensate, 39% - 41% will be comprised of shale gas, 22% - 24% will be comprised of other NGLs and 3% will be comprised of conventional natural gas.
Contact:
Brian Newmarch
Tel: 403-718-0700
Email: bnewmarch@7genergy.com
SEVEN GENERATIONS ENERGY LTD. 