Pieridae Energy Limited (“Pieridae” or the “Company”) (TSX:
PEA) announces the release of its third quarter 2023
financial and operating results. Pieridae generated Net Operating
Income (“NOI”)1 of $12 million and produced 30,253 boe/d (86%
natural gas) as the Company conducted its scheduled maintenance
turnaround at the Waterton gas processing facility (the “Waterton
Turnaround”) during the third quarter. The Company’s management’s
discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) and unaudited interim
consolidated financial statements and notes for the quarter ended
September 30, 2023 are available at www.pieridaeenergy.com and on
SEDAR at http://www.sedarplus.ca/.
Pieridae also announces it has initiated a
process to sell its Goldboro subsidiary and associated assets,
licenses and permits (“Goldboro”), highlighted by 267 acres of
undeveloped coastal industrial land in Nova Scotia. Any cash
proceeds from the sale of Goldboro will be used to repay existing
indebtedness, in particular the Bridge Term Loan. This process is
expected to conclude in the first half of 2024 and, once complete,
will mark the conclusion of Pieridae’s strategic pivot away from
east coast LNG and toward an Alberta-focused natural gas production
and processing business.
Q3 2023 HIGHLIGHTS
- Concluded a
formal leadership succession process as the Board of Directors
appointed Darcy Reding as President and Chief Executive Officer,
following the retirement of former CEO, Alfred Sorensen.
- Incurred Capital
Expenditures of $16.4 million weighted specifically towards the
Waterton Turnaround, which required the Waterton field to be shut
in from mid August through the end of Q3.
- Generated NOI1
of $11.7 million ($0.07 per basic and fully diluted share) compared
to $30.0 million ($0.19 per basic and fully diluted share) in Q3
2022.
- Generated Funds
Flow from Operations1 of -$1.4 million (-$0.01 per basic and fully
diluted share) compared to $17.7 million ($0.11 per basic and fully
diluted share) in Q3 2022.
- Generated Net
Loss of $16.3 million (-$0.11 per basic and fully diluted share)
compared to a net loss of $1.6 million (-$0.01 per basic and fully
diluted share) in Q3 2022.
- Produced 30,253
boe/d (86% natural gas) compared to 35,959 boe/d in Q3 2022.
“Pieridae began the first phase of the
previously announced Waterton maintenance turnaround project in
August,” said Pieridae’s President and Chief Executive Officer,
Darcy Reding. “This was a major capital endeavor for Pieridae, and
while the extended production outage at Waterton resulted in a
challenging quarter from both an operational and a financial
standpoint, I’m happy to report that the program was completed
safely, and the facility was restarted in late October 2023 with
full production at Waterton now back online. Our commodity hedging
program continues to support cash flow stability and resulted in
another gain in the third quarter.”
SELECTED Q3 2023 OPERATIONAL & FINANCIAL
RESULTS
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
2021 |
|
($ 000s unless otherwise noted) |
Q3 |
|
Q2 |
|
Q1 |
|
Q4 |
|
Q3 |
|
Q2 |
|
Q1 |
|
Q4 |
|
Production |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural gas (mcf/d) |
155,763 |
|
159,427 |
|
186,156 |
|
179,143 |
|
181,030 |
|
178,918 |
|
187,719 |
|
198,596 |
|
Condensate (bbl/d) |
2,020 |
|
2,300 |
|
2,657 |
|
2,469 |
|
2,911 |
|
2,864 |
|
3,201 |
|
2,851 |
|
NGLs (bbl/d) |
2,273 |
|
2,216 |
|
2,784 |
|
2,389 |
|
2,876 |
|
3,695 |
|
6,003 |
|
5,354 |
|
Sulphur (tonne/d) |
1,124 |
|
1,362 |
|
1,457 |
|
1,348 |
|
1,312 |
|
1,555 |
|
1,625 |
|
1,185 |
|
Total
production (boe/d) (1) |
30,253 |
|
31,087 |
|
36,467 |
|
34,715 |
|
35,959 |
|
36,378 |
|
40,491 |
|
41,304 |
|
Financial |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural Gas price ($/mcf) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Realized before physical commodity contracts |
2.65 |
|
2.39 |
|
3.24 |
|
5.08 |
|
4.38 |
|
7.13 |
|
4.66 |
|
4.62 |
|
Realized after physical commodity contracts |
3.24 |
|
3.00 |
|
5.08 |
|
5.24 |
|
3.62 |
|
4.67 |
|
4.08 |
|
3.67 |
|
Benchmark - AECO |
2.59 |
|
2.40 |
|
3.25 |
|
5.20 |
|
4.28 |
|
7.22 |
|
4.75 |
|
4.69 |
|
Condensate price ($/bbl) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Realized before physical commodity contracts |
97.47 |
|
84.81 |
|
107.22 |
|
110.24 |
|
103.71 |
|
132.60 |
|
112.09 |
|
91.69 |
|
Realized after physical commodity contracts |
97.47 |
|
91.83 |
|
107.36 |
|
117.67 |
|
105.82 |
|
116.61 |
|
106.13 |
|
69.71 |
|
Benchmark - C5 at Edmonton |
106.30 |
|
93.25 |
|
107.05 |
|
115.24 |
|
115.66 |
|
132.49 |
|
122.62 |
|
100.10 |
|
Net
income (loss) |
(16,254 |
) |
4,182 |
|
13,639 |
|
114,662 |
|
(1,573 |
) |
22,982 |
|
10,549 |
|
4,661 |
|
Net
income (loss) $ per share, basic |
(0.11 |
) |
0.03 |
|
0.09 |
|
0.72 |
|
(0.01 |
) |
0.15 |
|
0.07 |
|
0.03 |
|
Net
income (loss) $ per share, diluted |
(0.11 |
) |
0.03 |
|
0.08 |
|
0.70 |
|
(0.01 |
) |
0.14 |
|
0.07 |
|
0.03 |
|
Net
operating income (2) |
11,650 |
|
43,843 |
|
49,995 |
|
67,711 |
|
30,014 |
|
55,969 |
|
47,295 |
|
30,845 |
|
Cashflow provided by operating activities |
7,577 |
|
27,533 |
|
37,109 |
|
40,134 |
|
9,899 |
|
34,922 |
|
3,212 |
|
21,139 |
|
Funds
flow from operations (2) |
(1,422 |
) |
35,432 |
|
37,413 |
|
57,641 |
|
17,721 |
|
43,462 |
|
34,855 |
|
12,408 |
|
Total
assets |
564,921 |
|
575,849 |
|
587,641 |
|
615,477 |
|
473,642 |
|
499,580 |
|
552,781 |
|
622,540 |
|
Adjusted working capital deficit (3) |
(21,454 |
) |
(6,258 |
) |
(22,275 |
) |
(11,249 |
) |
(46,419 |
) |
(28,892 |
) |
(34,934 |
) |
(61,588 |
) |
Net
debt (2) |
(205,536 |
) |
(181,670 |
) |
(202,180 |
) |
(214,503 |
) |
(254,489 |
) |
(248,967 |
) |
(273,201 |
) |
(293,169 |
) |
Capital expenditures |
16,363 |
|
9,384 |
|
20,486 |
|
19,037 |
|
7,216 |
|
9,739 |
|
3,534 |
|
1,493 |
|
Development expenses (4) |
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
(4,514 |
) |
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
225 |
|
(1) Total production excludes
sulphur.(2) Refer to the “non-GAAP measures” section of the
Company’s MD&A.(3) Adjusted working capital is a non-GAAP
measure and is calculated as accounts payable and accrued
liabilities, less cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash,
accounts receivable, prepaids and deposits.(4) Expenses are
related to the former Goldboro LNG project.
- The Waterton
Turnaround impacted Q3 2023 and year to date production by 5,130
boe/d and 2,712 boe/d, respectively along with corresponding
revenue impacts as a result of this production outage which lasted
for ten weeks from mid August until late October.
- Q3 production
was also impacted approximately 1,448 boe/d as a result of wildfire
shut-ins in Northeast BC. We are currently developing a plan to
partially restart production at the Ekwan, BC property during
Q4.
- Natural gas
pricing continued to be lower than in comparative periods with AECO
natural gas down 39% compared to Q3 2022, driven by high storage
levels and seasonally weak demand.
- Lower natural
gas and NGL sales revenue was partially offset by the Company’s
hedging program, with Q3 hedging gains of $5.4 million
($1.93/boe).
- Q3 capital
expenditures were $16.4 million primarily on the Waterton
Turnaround, with year-to-date expenditures totaling $46.2
million.
OUTLOOK
Forward natural gas prices have continued to
experience weakness since early 2023 as global demand stagnates and
storage levels remain higher-than-normal. Pieridae’s robust hedge
position will partially mitigate the lower expected prices through
the final quarter of 2023, although not to the same extent as
experienced year to date.
2023 guidance is unchanged as follows:
|
2023 Guidance – Aug, Nov
2023 |
2023 Guidance – Mar 2023 |
2023 Guidance – Dec 2022 |
($ 000s unless otherwise noted) |
Low |
High |
Low |
High |
Low |
High |
Production (boe/d) |
33,000 |
34,500 |
37,000 |
39,000 |
37,000 |
39,000 |
Net operating income (1)(2) |
110,000 |
130,000 |
120,000 |
150,000 |
170,000 |
200,000 |
Implied netback ($/boe) (2) |
9.00 |
11.00 |
9.00 |
11.00 |
12.00 |
14.00 |
Sustaining capital expenditures (3) |
30,000 |
40,000 |
15,000 |
20,000 |
50,000 |
55,000 |
Development capital expenditures (4) |
15,000 |
20,000 |
15,000 |
20,000 |
15,000 |
20,000 |
(1) Refer to the “Net Operating Income”
section of the Company’s MD&A for reference to non-GAAP
measures.(2) 2023 outlook assumes average 2023 AECO price of
$2.60/GJ and average 2023 West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) price of
USD$74.00/bbl and accounts for hedging contracts as of September
30, 2023.(3) Comprised of facility maintenance and turnaround
capital expenditures.(4) Comprised of seismic, development and
land capital expenditures.
Pieridae is currently completing its 2024 budget
planning process in the context of flat to slightly stronger AECO
natural gas pricing in 2024 coupled with cost reduction initiatives
now underway. 2024 production, net operating income and capital
expenditure guidance will be announced late in the fourth quarter
of 2023 once approved by the Board of Directors.
As a component of the previously announced debt
refinancing, Pieridae incurred a $20 million bridge term loan
(“Bridge Term Loan”) with a maturity date of December 13, 2024 and
an 18% compounding interest rate. The Company intends to repay
some, or all of the amounts drawn under the Bridge Term Loan with
any cash proceeds realized from the Goldboro sale process.
Following the closing of any resulting divestitures, and subject to
shareholder approval of the conversion feature, Pieridae plans to
repay the remaining original principal amount, accrued and unpaid
interest and conversion fee via conversion into common shares of
the Company.
The conversion feature is to be approved by a
majority of (disinterested) shareholders prior to December 13, 2023
by special resolution or via a special meeting of shareholders. If
shareholders agree to enact the proposed conversion feature,
conversion to equity may occur at any point from the date of
shareholder approval to maturity of the Bridge Term Loan on
December 13, 2024, upon 30 days notice.
Pieridae’s priority remains improving financial
flexibility by strengthening our balance sheet while safely
sustaining production, implementing cost reduction initiatives,
optimizing infrastructure, and executing non-core asset
dispositions to maintain profitability during all periods of the
commodity cycle.
HEDGE POSITION
Pieridae hedges to mitigate commodity price,
interest rate and foreign exchange volatility to protect the cash
flow required to fund the Company’s operations, capital
requirements and debt service obligations, while allowing the
Company to participate in future commodity price upside. Pieridae
continues to execute its risk management program governed by its
hedge policy and in compliance with the thresholds required by the
new senior loan facilities. As of September 30, 2023, the Company
is hedged in accordance with the requirements of the senior loan
agreement.
The Company had the following fixed-price
physical commodity sales contracts and power contracts in place at
September 30, 2023:
Type of contract |
Quantity |
Time Period |
Contract Price |
Fixed Price – Natural Gas Sales |
50,000 GJ/d |
Oct 2023 |
CAD $4.38/GJ |
Fixed Price – Natural Gas Sales |
20,000 GJ/d |
Nov 2023 – Mar 2024 |
CAD $3.45/GJ |
Fixed Price – Natural Gas Sales |
7,500 GJ/d |
Apr 2024 – Oct 2024 |
CAD $3.45/GJ |
Fixed Price – Natural Gas Sales |
5,000 GJ/d |
Nov 2024 – Oct 2026 |
CAD $3.31/GJ |
Fixed Price – AECO/Nymex Differential |
7,500 MMbtu/d |
Oct 2023 |
USD $(1.15)/MMbtu |
Fixed Price – Power Purchases |
55 MW/h |
Oct 2023 – Dec 2023 |
CAD $71.80/MWh |
Fixed Price – Power Purchases |
55 MW/h |
Jan 2024 – Dec 2024 |
CAD $68.38/MWh |
Fixed Price – Power Purchases |
55 MW/h |
Jan 2025 – Dec 2025 |
CAD $79.12/MWh |
Fixed Price – Power Purchases |
47 MW/h |
Jan 2026 – Dec 2026 |
CAD $75.88/MWh |
Fixed Price – Power Purchases |
11 MW/h |
Jan 2027 – Dec 2027 |
CAD $75.10/MWh |
|
|
|
|
The Company had the following financial risk
management contracts in place as at September 30, 2023:
Type of contract |
Quantity |
Time Period |
Contract Price |
AECO Natural Gas Swap |
30,000 GJ/d |
Oct 2023 |
CAD $1.89/GJ |
AECO Natural Gas Swap |
30,000 GJ/d |
Oct 2023 – May 2026 |
CAD $3.10/GJ |
AECO Natural Gas Swap |
50,000 GJ/d |
Nov 2023 – May 2026 |
CAD $3.30/GJ |
AECO Natural Gas Swap |
25,000 GJ/d |
Nov 2023 – May 2027 |
CAD $3.62/GJ |
AECO Natural Gas Swap |
35,000 GJ/d |
Jun 2026 – May 2027 |
CAD $3.95/GJ |
WTI Crude Oil Collar |
1,685 bbl/d |
Oct 2023 – Dec 2023 |
CAD $80.00 - $90.75/bbl |
WTI Crude Oil Collar |
1,405 bbl/d |
Jan 2024 – Dec 2024 |
CAD $80.00 - $90.75/bbl |
WTI Crude Oil Collar |
1,235 bbl/d |
Jan 2025 – Dec 2025 |
CAD $80.00 - $90.75/bbl |
WTI Crude Oil Collar |
918 bbl/d |
Jan 2026 – Dec 2026 |
CAD $80.00 - $90.75/bbl |
WTI Crude Oil Collar |
761 bbl/d |
Jan 2027 – Dec 2027 |
CAD $80.00 - $90.75/bbl |
WTI Crude Oil Swap |
70 bbl/d |
Nov 3023 – Dec 2023 |
CAD $120.00/bbl |
WTI Crude Oil Swap |
30 bbl/d |
Nov 2023 – Dec 2024 |
CAD $110.25/bbl |
WTI Crude Oil Swap |
70 bbl/d |
Nov 2023 – May 2026 |
CAD $104.00/bbl |
WTI Crude Oil Swap |
350 bbl/d |
Jun 2026 |
CAD $82.33/bbl |
WTI Crude Oil Swap |
50 bbl/d |
Jul 2026 – May 2027 |
CAD $92.25/bbl |
WTI Crude Oil Swap |
750 bbl/d |
Jun 2027 |
CAD $78.75/bbl |
|
|
|
|
Subsequent to quarter end, Pieridae entered into
a twelve-month currency hedge which provides the right, but not the
obligation, to purchase USD at a fixed exchange rate in exchange
for a deferred option premium. This provides a degree of downside
protection on currency fluctuations between USD and CAD while
allowing full upside participation if CAD strengthens. The majority
of the Company’s debt and associated debt service costs are
denominated in USD.
CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS
A conference call and webcast to discuss the
results will be held on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 8:30 a.m.
MST / 10:30 a.m. EST. To participate in the webcast or conference
call, you are asked to register using one of the links provided
below.
To register to participate via webcast please follow this link:
https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/zkma24jm
Alternatively, to register to participate by telephone please
follow this
link:https://register.vevent.com/register/BIf99fbfc126a84b43ada2d37425699ee4
A replay of the webcast will be available two hours after the
conclusion of the event and may be accessed using the webcast link
above.
ABOUT PIERIDAE
Pieridae is a Canadian energy company
headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. The Company is a significant
upstream producer of conventional natural gas, NGLs, condensate and
sulphur from the Canadian Foothills of Alberta and northeast
British Columbia. Pieridae’s vision is to provide responsible,
affordable natural gas and derived products to meet society’s
energy security needs. Pieridae’s common shares trade on the TSX
under the symbol “PEA”.
For further information, visit
www.pieridaeenergy.com, or please contact:
Darcy Reding, President & Chief Executive
Officer |
Adam Gray, Chief Financial Officer |
Telephone: (403) 261-5900 |
Telephone: (403) 261-5900 |
|
|
Investor Relations |
|
investors@pieridaeenergy.com |
|
|
|
Forward-Looking
StatementsCertain statements contained herein may
constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking
information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws
(collectively "forward-looking statements"). Words such as "may",
"will", "should", "could", "anticipate", "believe", "expect",
"intend", "plan", "potential", "continue", "shall", "estimate",
"expect", "propose", "might", "project", "predict", "forecast" and
similar expressions may be used to identify these forward-looking
statements.
Forward-looking statements involve significant
risk and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual
results to differ materially from the results discussed in the
forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, risks
associated with oil and gas exploration, development, exploitation,
production, marketing and transportation, loss of markets,
volatility of commodity prices, currency fluctuations, imprecision
of resources estimates, environmental risks, competition from other
producers, incorrect assessment of the value of acquisitions,
failure to realize the anticipated benefits or synergies from
acquisitions, delays resulting from or inability to obtain required
regulatory approvals and ability to access sufficient capital from
internal and external sources and the risk factors outlined under
"Risk Factors" and elsewhere herein. The recovery and resources
estimate of Pieridae's reserves provided herein are estimates only
and there is no guarantee that the estimated resources will be
recovered. As a consequence, actual results may differ materially
from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are based on a number
of factors and assumptions which have been used to develop such
forward-looking statements, but which may prove to be incorrect.
Although Pieridae believes that the expectations reflected in such
forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should
not be placed on forward-looking statements because Pieridae can
give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.
In addition to other factors and assumptions which may be
identified in this document, assumptions have been made regarding,
among other things: the impact of increasing competition; the
general stability of the economic and political environment in
which Pieridae operates; the timely receipt of any required
regulatory approvals; the ability of Pieridae to obtain qualified
staff, equipment and services in a timely and cost efficient
manner; the ability of the operator of the projects which Pieridae
has an interest in, to operate the field in a safe, efficient and
effective manner; the ability of Pieridae to obtain financing on
acceptable terms; the ability to replace and expand oil and natural
gas resources through acquisition, development and exploration; the
timing and costs of pipeline, storage and facility construction and
expansion and the ability of Pieridae to secure adequate product
transportation; future commodity prices; currency, exchange and
interest rates; the regulatory framework regarding royalties, taxes
and environmental matters in the jurisdictions in which Pieridae
operates; timing and amount of capital expenditures, future sources
of funding, production levels, weather conditions, success of
exploration and development activities, access to gathering,
processing and pipeline systems, advancing technologies, and the
ability of Pieridae to successfully market its oil and natural gas
products.
Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of
factors is not exhaustive. Additional information on these and
other factors that could affect Pieridae's operations and financial
results are included in reports on file with Canadian securities
regulatory authorities and may be accessed through the SEDAR
website (www.sedar.com), and at Pieridae's website
(www.pieridaeenergy.com). Although the forward-looking statements
contained herein are based upon what management believes to be
reasonable assumptions, management cannot assure that actual
results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements.
Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the
date hereof and Pieridae assumes no obligation to update or review
them to reflect new events or circumstances except as required by
Applicable Securities Laws.
Forward-looking statements contained herein
concerning the oil and gas industry and Pieridae's general
expectations concerning this industry are based on estimates
prepared by management using data from publicly available industry
sources as well as from reserve reports, market research and
industry analysis and on assumptions based on data and knowledge of
this industry which Pieridae believes to be reasonable. However,
this data is inherently imprecise, although generally indicative of
relative market positions, market shares and performance
characteristics. While Pieridae is not aware of any misstatements
regarding any industry data presented herein, the industry involves
risks and uncertainties and is subject to change based on various
factors.
Additional Reader
AdvisoriesBarrels of oil equivalent (“boe”) may be
misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion
ratio of 6 Mcf: 1 boe is based on an energy equivalency conversion
method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not
represent a value equivalency at the wellhead.
Abbreviations
Natural Gas |
Oil |
mcf |
thousand cubic feet |
bbl/d |
barrels per day |
mcf/d |
thousand cubic feet per day |
boe/d |
barrels of oil equivalent per
day |
mmcf/d |
million cubic feet per day |
WCS |
Western Canadian Select |
AECO |
Alberta benchmark price for natural gas |
WTI |
West Texas Intermediate |
Neither TSX nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX) accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
1 Refer to the “non-GAAP measures” section of the Company’s
MD&A.
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