Athabasca Oil Corporation Announces Further Hangingstone Cost Reductions
May 10 2021 - 6:00AM
Athabasca Oil Corporation (TSX: ATH) (“Athabasca” or the “Company”)
is pleased to announce that it has executed an amending
Hangingstone Transportation and Storage Services Agreement (“TSSA”)
that resulted in a $44 million prepayment from restricted cash and
a ~$5 million reduction to annual tolls. The amended TSSA reduces
Hangingstone’s dilbit financial assurances by ~$44 million to ~$27
million. The reduction in financial assurances unlocked restricted
cash on the Company’s balance sheet that was concurrently used to
fund the amending prepayment. There is no change to the Company’s
unrestricted cash balance that is expected to grow from $141
million at March 31, 2021 to ~$210 million at year-end (US$60 WTI
& US$11 WCS differentials). The transaction is
effective as of May 7, 2021 and the deal is now closed.
As previously released with the Company’s first
quarter results, Athabasca executed a commercial arrangement with
an industry leading marketing company to construct a truck-in
terminal at no cost to Athabasca. Operations are expected to
commence in July with up to 5,000 bbl/d of third party truck-in
capacity. The additional volumes are expected to generate up to $5
million in annual savings through a processing fee and by
leveraging existing volume commitments under Athabasca’s
transportation agreements.
Inclusive of both transactions, Hangingstone’s
cost structure is expected to be reduced by up to $10 million
annually. Hangingstone now has improved resiliency and
profitability with an estimated US$31.50/bbl WCS operating
break-even. The Company’s corporate operating break-even is
approximately US$43/bbl WTI (US$11 WCS heavy differentials)
including these transactions.
About Athabasca Oil
Corporation
Athabasca Oil Corporation is a Canadian energy
company with a focused strategy on the development of thermal and
light oil assets. Situated in Alberta’s Western Canadian
Sedimentary Basin, the Company has amassed a significant land base
of extensive, high quality resources. Athabasca’s common shares
trade on the TSX under the symbol “ATH”. For more information,
visit www.atha.com.
For more information, please contact:Matthew TaylorChief
Financial Officer1-403-817-9104mtaylor@atha.com
Reader Advisory:
This News Release contains forward-looking
information that involves various risks, uncertainties and other
factors. All information other than statements of historical fact
is forward-looking information. The use of any of the words
“anticipate”, “plan”, “forecast”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”,
“may”, “will”, “project”, “target”, “should”, “believe”, “predict”,
“pursue”, “potential”, “view” and ”contemplate” and similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information.
The forward-looking information is not historical fact, but rather
is based on the Company’s current plans, objectives, goals,
strategies, estimates, assumptions and projections about the
Company’s industry, business and future operating and financial
results. This information involves known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or
events to differ materially from those anticipated in such
forward-looking information. No assurance can be given that these
expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking
information included in this News Release should not be unduly
relied upon. This information speaks only as of the date of this
News Release and, except as required by applicable securities laws,
the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking
statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on
which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events. In particular, this News Release contains
forward-looking information pertaining to, but not limited to, the
following: the Company’s 2021 Outlook; forecasted Liquidity;
expected costs savings resulting from the Hangingstone truck-in
terminal; and other matters.
With respect to forward-looking information
contained in this News Release, assumptions have been made
regarding, among other things: commodity prices; the regulatory
framework governing royalties, taxes and environmental matters in
the jurisdictions in which the Company conducts and will conduct
business and the effects that such regulatory framework will have
on the Company, including on the Company’s financial condition and
results of operations; the Company’s financial and operational
flexibility; the Company’s financial sustainability; Athabasca's
cash flow break-even commodity price; the Company’s ability to
obtain qualified staff and equipment in a timely and cost-efficient
manner; the applicability of technologies for the recovery and
production of the Company’s reserves and resources; the Company’s
future debt levels; future production levels; the Company’s ability
to obtain financing on acceptable terms; operating costs;
compliance of counterparties with the terms of contractual
arrangements; impact of increasing competition globally; collection
risk of outstanding accounts receivable from third parties.
Actual results could differ materially from
those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result
of the risk factors set forth in the Company’s Annual Information
Form (“AIF”) dated March 3, 2021 and Management’s Discussion and
Analysis dated May 4, 2021, available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com,
including, but not limited to: weakness in the oil and gas
industry; exploration, development and production risks; prices,
markets and marketing; market conditions; continued impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic; climate change and carbon pricing risk;
regulatory environment and changes in applicable law; gathering and
processing facilities, pipeline systems and rail; statutes and
regulations regarding the environment; political uncertainty; state
of capital markets; changing demand for oil and natural gas
products; royalty regimes; foreign exchange rates and interest
rates; hedging; operational dependence; operating costs; project
risks; financial assurances; diluent supply; third party credit
risk; indigenous claims; reliance on key personnel and operators;
income tax; cybersecurity; hydraulic fracturing; liability
management; seasonality and weather conditions; unexpected events;
internal controls; insurance; litigation; competition; chain of
title and expiration of licenses and leases; breaches of
confidentiality; new industry related activities or new
geographical areas; and risks related to our debt and
securities.
Oil and Gas Information
Operating break‐even reflects the estimated WCS
oil price per barrel required to generate an asset level operating
income of Cdn $0. Break‐even is used to assess the impact of
changes in WCS oil prices on operating income of an asset and could
impact future investment decisions. Break-evens economics based on
2021 forecasted production and 0.79FX, -1% C5 diff and C$2.50 AECO
pricing assumptions.
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