Birchcliff Energy Ltd. (“Birchcliff”) (TSX: BIR)
and
AltaGas Ltd. (“AltaGas”) (TSX: ALA) are
pleased to announce an expanded partnership focused on reducing
long-term operating costs and connecting more liquified petroleum
gas (“LPG”) into premium global markets.
As part of the increased partnership, Birchcliff
and AltaGas have entered into a long-term contract operating
agreement (“COA”) whereby Birchcliff will take over operatorship of
AltaGas’ Gordondale deep-cut gas processing facility (the
“Gordondale Facility”). This will allow Birchcliff to leverage cost
optimization opportunities that exist between its 100 percent owned
and operated gas plant at Pouce Coupe (the “Pouce Coupe Gas Plant”)
and the Gordondale Facility, which are located approximately six
miles apart and are pipeline connected. These optimization
opportunities are expected to drive lower operating costs, reduce
downtime, and optimize natural gas liquids recoveries for
Birchcliff, with no net impact on AltaGas’ profitability.
AltaGas will continue to own 100 percent of the
Gordondale Facility with no plans to reduce its ownership. The
Gordondale Facility will continue to operate under the existing
long-term take-or-pay processing agreement between the parties (the
“Processing Agreement”), with Birchcliff as operator for the
remainder of the Processing Agreement’s term, which will continue
until at least December 31, 2032. Birchcliff has also entered into
additional long-term tolling agreements with AltaGas whereby
Birchcliff will market additional LPG volumes through AltaGas’
global exports platform, which is aligned with AltaGas’ strategy to
grow tolling volumes and cash flow predictability, while providing
Birchcliff with direct market access to premium LPG netbacks in
Asia with Far East Index (“FEI”) pricing.
The uniqueness of these agreements is
underpinned by Birchcliff representing 100 percent of throughput
volumes at the Gordondale Facility, which creates opportunities for
operational efficiencies and cost savings within Birchcliff’s
Gordondale and Pouce Coupe areas. The agreements highlight the
benefits of infrastructure owners and producers partnering to drive
solutions that deliver the best outcomes for all stakeholders.
About Birchcliff
Birchcliff is a dividend-paying, intermediate
oil and natural gas company based in Calgary, Alberta with
operations focused on the Montney/Doig Resource Play in Alberta.
Birchcliff’s common shares are listed for trading on the Toronto
Stock Exchange under the symbol “BIR”.
For more information, please contact:
Chris Carlsen – President and
Chief Executive Officer
Bruno Geremia – Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer
Birchcliff Energy Ltd.Suite
1000, 600 – 3rd Avenue S.W.Calgary, Alberta T2P 0G5Telephone: (403)
261-6401Email: birinfo@birchcliffenergy.com
www.birchcliffenergy.com
About AltaGas
AltaGas is a leading North American
infrastructure company that connects customers and markets to
affordable and reliable sources of energy. The Company operates a
diversified, lower-risk, high-growth Energy Infrastructure business
that is focused on delivering stable and growing value for its
stakeholders.
For more information visit www.altagas.ca or
reach out to one of the following:
Jon MorrisonSenior Vice
President, Corporate Development and Investor
RelationsJon.Morrison@altagas.ca
Aaron SwansonVice President,
Investor RelationsAaron.Swanson@altagas.ca
Media Inquiries
1-403-206-2841media.relations@altagas.ca
Source of Information
The information contained in this press release
as it relates solely to Birchcliff, its business and operations has
been provided by Birchcliff and the information contained in this
press release as it relates solely to AltaGas, its business and
operations has been provided by AltaGas. Neither Birchcliff nor
AltaGas assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness
of the information of the other party or the failure by the other
party to disclose events which may have occurred or may affect the
completeness or accuracy of such information but which are unknown
to the other party.
Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements contained in this press
release constitute forward‐looking statements and forward-looking
information (collectively referred to as “forward‐looking
statements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities
laws. The forward-looking statements contained in this press
release relate to future events or Birchcliff’s or AltaGas’ future
plans, strategy, operations, performance or financial position and
are based on Birchcliff’s and AltaGas’ current expectations,
estimates, projections, beliefs and assumptions. All statements and
information other than historical fact may be forward‐looking
statements. Such forward‐looking statements are often, but not
always, identified by the use of words such as “expect”, “believe”,
“anticipate”, “potential”, “continue”, “may”, “will”, “could”,
“might”, “should”, “would”, “maintain”, “deliver” and other similar
words and expressions.
By their nature, forward-looking statements
involve 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 statements. Accordingly,
readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such
forward-looking statements. Although Birchcliff and AltaGas believe
that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements
are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations
will prove to be correct and neither Birchcliff nor AltaGas makes
any representation that actual results achieved will be the same in
whole or in part as those set out in the forward-looking
statements.
In particular, this press release contains
forward‐looking statements relating to the COA, the Processing
Agreement and the additional long-term tolling agreements and the
anticipated effects and benefits of such arrangements to Birchcliff
and AltaGas (including: that the COA will drive shareholder value
for Birchcliff and AltaGas; the expanded partnership’s focus on
reducing long-term operating costs and connecting more LPG into
premium global markets; that Birchcliff representing 100% of
throughput volumes at the Gordondale Facility creates opportunities
for operational efficiencies and cost savings within Birchcliff’s
Gordondale and Pouce Coupe areas; that the COA will allow
Birchcliff to leverage cost optimization opportunities that exist
between the Pouce Coupe Gas Plant and the Gordondale Facility; that
these optimization opportunities are expected to drive lower
operating costs, reduce downtime and optimize natural gas liquids
recoveries for Birchcliff, with no net impact on AltaGas’
profitability; that AltaGas has no plans to reduce its ownership of
the Gordondale Facility; that Birchcliff will operate the
Gordondale Facility for the remainder of the Processing Agreement’s
term, which is expected to continue until at least December 31,
2032; and statements regarding the additional long-term tolling
agreements including that the agreements are aligned with AltaGas’
strategy to grow tolling volumes and cash flow predictability while
providing Birchcliff with direct market access to premium LPG
netbacks in Asia with FEI pricing.
With respect to the forward‐looking statements
contained in this press release, assumptions have been made
regarding, among other things: Birchcliff’s and AltaGas’ ability to
obtain the anticipated benefits of the COA, the Processing
Agreement and the additional long-term tolling agreements;
prevailing and future commodity prices and differentials, exchange
rates, interest rates, inflation rates, royalty rates and tax
rates; the state of the economy, financial markets and the
exploration, development and production business; the political
environment; the regulatory framework and the ability to comply
with existing and future laws; future cash flow, debt and dividend
levels; future operating, transportation and other expenses; the
ability to access capital and obtain financing; the timing and
amount of capital expenditures; the sufficiency of budgeted capital
expenditures to carry out planned operations; the successful and
timely implementation of capital projects and the timing, location
and extent of future drilling and other operations; results of
operations; Birchcliff’s ability to continue to develop its assets
and obtain the anticipated benefits therefrom; the impact of
competition on Birchcliff and AltaGas; the availability of, demand
for and cost of labour, services and materials; the satisfaction by
third parties of their obligations to Birchcliff and AltaGas; the
ability of Birchcliff to secure adequate transportation for its
products; Birchcliff’s ability to successfully market natural gas
and liquids; and the results of the Birchcliff’s and AltaGas’ risk
management and market diversification activities.
Birchcliff’s and AltaGas’ actual results,
performance or achievements could differ materially from those
anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of both
known and unknown risks and uncertainties including, but not
limited to: the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the
COA, the Processing Agreement and the additional long-term tolling
agreements; global conflict and their impacts on supply and demand
and commodity prices; actions taken by OPEC and other major
producers of crude oil and the impact such actions may have on
supply and demand and commodity prices; the uncertainty of
estimates and projections relating to production, revenue, costs,
expenses and reserves; general economic, market and business
conditions which will, among other things, impact the demand for
and market prices of parties respective products and their access
to capital; volatility of crude oil and natural gas prices; risks
associated with increasing costs; fluctuations in exchange and
interest rates; an inability to access sufficient capital from
internal and external sources; operational risks and liabilities
inherent in oil and natural gas operations and the occurrence of
unexpected events such as fires, severe weather, explosions and
transportation incidents; an inability to access sufficient water
or other fluids needed for operations; uncertainty that development
activities in connection with the parties’ respective assets will
be economic; the accuracy of estimates of production levels;
geological, technical, drilling, construction and processing
problems; uncertainty of geological and technical data; horizontal
drilling and completions techniques and the failure of drilling
results to meet expectations for reserves or production; delays or
changes in plans with respect to exploration or development
projects or capital expenditures; the accuracy of cost estimates
and variances in actual costs and economic returns from those
anticipated; incorrect assessments of the value of acquisitions and
exploration and development programs; changes to the regulatory
framework; political uncertainty and uncertainty associated with
government policy changes; actions by government authorities; an
inability of the parties to comply with existing and future laws
and the cost of compliance with such laws; dependence on
facilities, gathering lines and pipelines; uncertainties and risks
associated with pipeline restrictions and outages to third-party
infrastructure that could cause disruptions to production; the lack
of available pipeline capacity and an inability to secure adequate
and cost-effective transportation for the parties’ products; an
inability to satisfy obligations under Birchcliff’s firm marketing
and transportation arrangements; shortages in equipment and skilled
personnel; competition; environmental and climate change risks,
claims and liabilities; potential litigation; default under or
breach of agreements by counterparties and potential enforceability
issues in contracts; claims by Indigenous peoples; unforeseen title
defects; uncertainties associated with the outcome of litigation or
other proceedings involving Birchcliff or AltaGas; risks associated
with the parties’ risk management and market diversification
activities; the failure to obtain any required approvals in a
timely manner or at all; the failure to complete or realize the
anticipated benefits of acquisitions and dispositions and the risk
of unforeseen difficulties in integrating acquired assets into
operations; the availability of insurance and the risk that certain
losses may not be insured; and breaches or failure of information
systems and security (including risks associated with
cyber-attacks). Readers are cautioned that the foregoing lists of
factors are not exhaustive. Additional information on these and
other risk factors that could affect results of operations,
financial performance or financial results are included in
Birchcliff’s and AltaGas’ annual information forms for the
financial year ended December 31, 2023 and in other reports filed
by each of Birchcliff and AltaGas with Canadian securities
regulatory authorities.
Birchcliff and AltaGas have included the above
summary of assumptions and risks related to forward-looking
information provided in this press release in order to provide
readers with a more complete perspective on Birchcliff’s and
AltaGas’ respective future operations. Readers are cautioned that
this information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The
forward-looking statements contained in this press release are
expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements. The
forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date
of this press release. Unless required by applicable laws, neither
Birchcliff nor AltaGas undertakes any obligation to publicly update
or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise.
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