18 December 2024

Empyrean Energy PLC / Index: AIM / Epic: EME / Sector: Oil & Gas

Empyrean Energy PLC ('Empyrean' or 'the Company')

Interim Results

Empyrean Energy (EME: AIM), the oil and gas development company with interests in China, Indonesia and the United States, is pleased to provide its Interim Report for the six months ended 30 September 2024.

Highlights

Reporting period

Duyung PSC Project, Indonesia (EME 8.5%)

·      On 24 June 2024, the Company announced that the Mako JV partners had entered into a binding domestic Gas Sales Agreement for the sale and purchase of the domestic portion of Mako gas with PT Perusahaan Gas Negara Tbk ("PGN"), the gas subsidiary of PT Pertamina (Persero), the national oil company of Indonesia.

·    The domestic GSA will be subject to the construction of a pipeline connecting the West Natuna Transportation System ("WNTS") with the domestic gas market in Batam and it forms part of Mako JV's Domestic Market Obligation ("DMO") as set out in the Mako's revised Plan of Development ("POD").

·     The Total Contracted Gas volume under the PGN GSA is up to 122.77 trillion British Thermal Units ("TBtu"), with estimated plateau production rates of 35 billion British thermal units ("Bbtud") per day. The remainder of the Mako sales gas volumes are targeted to be sold to Singapore via the export GSA signed in August 2024.

·     On 2 September 2024, the Company announced that the Mako Joint Venture partners and Sembcorp Gas Pte Ltd ("Sembcorp"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sembcorp Industries Ltd, a leading energy and urban solutions provider headquartered in Singapore, signed a binding GSA for the export of gas produced from the Mako field to Singapore. The contract term is until the end of the Duyung PSC in January 2037 and allows for the sale of up to 76 billion Bbtud, which is equivalent to around 76.9 million standard cubic feet per day ("mmscfd").

Block 29/11, Pearl River Mouth Basin, China

·     On 13 June 2024, the Company announced that, as it had not commenced the drilling of the Topaz prospect by 12 June 2024 as required under the second phase of exploration on Block 29/11, the permit formally expired on 12 June 2024.

·     In August 2024, Empyrean has received a letter of demand from CNOOC alleging that Empyrean has outstanding obligations under the PSC.  The Company disputes the letter and is endeavouring to settle the matter amicably under the dispute resolution clauses provided for in the PSC. Separately, Empyrean has put forward a submission to CNOOC for further cooperation on Block 29/11.

Corporate and New Project Opportunities

·     On 11 November 2024, the Company announced that it had conditionally raised gross proceeds of approximately £1.255m from an aggregated Placing and Subscription. This fundraising was conditional upon the passing of the resolutions which were subsequently approved by shareholders at a General Meeting held on 2 December 2024. The fundraising required a capital reorganisation of the ordinary share capital of the Company which was also approved at the General Meeting.

·      Empyrean is in advanced discussions to acquire an option to participate in a conventional oil exploration project (the "Wilson prospect") which is situated close to existing infrastructure in the prolific Cooper Basin in South West Queensland, Australia, adjacent to several producing oil fields operated by Santos-Beach (Cooper Basin JV) and Bridgeport Energy.

For further information please visit www.empyreanenergy.com or contact the following:

Chairman's Statement

As we have previously reported, progress in China was inhibited during the calendar year and Empyrean ultimately did not continue the cooperation on Block 29/11 with CNOOC.

On a more positive note, in June we reported the pleasing news that the Mako JV partners had entered into a binding domestic Gas Sales Agreement for the sale and purchase of the domestic portion of Mako gas with PT Perusahaan Gas Negara Tbk ("PGN"), the gas subsidiary of PT Pertamina (Persero), the national oil company of Indonesia.

This was followed in September with the announcement that the Mako Joint Venture partners and Sembcorp signed a binding GSA for the export of gas produced from the Mako field to Singapore. The Company also raised £1.255m from an aggregated Placing and Subscription and Retail Offer. This fundraising was approved by shareholders in early December.

The operator, Conrad, continues to be engaged with a global investment bank in a sell-down process for the divestment of a portion of its interest in the Duyung Production Sharing Contract.

In November 2024, Empyrean announced that it is in advanced discussions to acquire an option to participate in a conventional oil exploration project (the "Wilson prospect") which is situated close to existing infrastructure in the prolific Cooper Basin in South-West Queensland.  We look forward to providing an update on progress with regard to this opportunity in the near future.

I would like to thank the Board, management and staff for their perseverance during the year and we look forward to positive developments in the near term.

Duyung PSC, Indonesia (8.5% WI)

Background

In April 2017, Empyrean acquired a 10% shareholding in WNEL from Conrad Petroleum (now Conrad Asia Energy Ltd), which held a 100% Participating Interest in the Duyung Production Sharing Contract ("Duyung PSC") in offshore Indonesia and is the operator of the Duyung PSC. The Duyung PSC covers an offshore permit of approximately 1,100km2 in the prolific West Natuna Basin. The main asset in the permit is the Mako shallow gas field that was discovered in 2017, and comprehensively appraised in 2019.

In early 2019, both the operator, Conrad, and Empyrean divested part of their interest in the Duyung PSC to AIM-listed Coro Energy Plc. Following the transaction, Empyrean's interest reduced from 10% to 8.5% interest in May 2020, having received cash and shares from Coro.

During October and November 2019, a highly successful appraisal drilling campaign was conducted in the Duyung PSC. The appraisal wells confirmed the field-wide presence of excellent quality gas in the intra-Muda reservoir sands of the Mako Gas Field.

Current Activities

In June 2024 Empyrean announced that it, and the Mako JV partners had entered into a binding gas sales agreement for the sale and purchase of the domestic portion of Mako gas with PGN, the gas subsidiary of PT Pertamina (Persero), the national oil company of Indonesia.

The domestic gas sale agreement with PGN for gas from the Mako gas field is an important step in the commercialisation of the Mako gas field (the largest undeveloped gas field in the West Natuna Sea). PGN is Indonesia's largest gas company. The Total Contracted Gas volume under the PGN GSA is up to 122.77 trillion TBtu with estimated plateau production rates of 35 billion Bbtud per day.

In September 2024 the Company announced the signing by the Mako JV partners and Sembcorp of the export GSA for the remainder of the Mako gas resource, which is targeted to be exported to Singapore. The contract term is until the end of the Duyung PSC in January 2037 and allows for the sale of up to 76 billion Bbtud, which is equivalent to around 76.9 mmscfd.

The export GSA also contains provisions for the sale of up to an additional 35 Bbtud (around 35.4 mmscfd) should a tie-in pipeline not be built to the Indonesian domestic market in Batam and DMO sales do not therefore eventuate. The possible export of these additional volumes is recognised in the Mako POD.

The West Natuna Sea gas gathering system is already connected to Singapore. PGN will now proceed with planning a smaller tie line to the island of Batam across the Malacca Straight that will connect the Natuna Sea to the Indonesian market.

Indonesia, the fourth most populated country on earth has a stated objective of doubling its gas production by 2030 in order to deliver a cleaner energy source to fuel its rapidly growing economy. PGN will play a significant role in this Indonesian energy transition.

The Mako field contains 2C Contingent Resources (100%) of 376 billion cubic feet ("Bcf"), (of which 21 Bcf are net attributable to Empyrean) and is scheduled to begin production in 2026 subject to completing a formal GSA with a Singapore buyer (completed in August 2024). The West Natuna Sea has been supplying Singapore with natural gas for more than two decades and Mako is expected to continue this supply for at least another decade.

Production Sharing Contractors in Indonesia are subject to a DMO requirement for any produced gas as set out under the terms of each PSC, and Government of Indonesia Regulation No. 35 of 2004 on Upstream Oil and Gas Activity, as amended from time to time (GR 35/2004). Contractors are required to supply c 25% of their share of the oil and gas produced to meet domestic needs. The Contractor has no obligation to construct infrastructure (e.g. pipelines) to allow the delivery of any DMO.

The combination of the executed domestic and export GSAs means now that all contingent resources at Mako are under binding contracts for sale.

Conrad continues to advance the sell down process with a global investment bank in order to fund the development of Mako. The signing of a binding export GSA is seen by Empyrean as being a likely requirement or precursor to the completion of any sell down transaction.

The Mako Gas Field is located close to the West Natuna pipeline system and gas from the field can be marketed to buyers in both Indonesia and in Singapore.

China Block 29/11 Project

Post Jade well evaluation work confirmed reservoir quality and the regional seal and following a CNOOC assisted oil migration pathways assessment, the Company committed to enter this second phase of exploration with the aim to drill Topaz. As advised to the market, Empyrean did not commence the drilling of the Topaz prospect by June 2024 and the permit therefore formally expired on 12 June 2024.

On August 2024 Empyrean has received a letter of demand from CNOOC alleging that Empyrean has outstanding obligations under the PSC.  The Company disputes the letter and is endeavouring to settle the matter amicably under the dispute resolution clauses provided for in the PSC.

Multi Project Farm-in in Sacramento Basin, California (25%-30% WI)

There were no significant activities conducted during the year however the Company will continue to work with its joint venture partners in reviewing and assessing any further technical and commercial opportunities as they relate to the project.

The information contained in this report was completed and reviewed by the Company's Executive Director (Technical), Mr Gajendra (Gaz) Bisht, who has over 34 years' experience as a petroleum geoscientist.

Definitions

2C: Contingent resources are quantities of petroleum estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from known accumulations by application of development projects, but which are not currently considered to be commercially recoverable. The range of uncertainty is expressed as 1C (low), 2C (best) and 3C (high).

Bcf: Billions of cubic feet

MMbbl: Million Barrels of Oil

*Cautionary Statement: The estimated quantities of oil that may potentially be recovered by the application of a future development project relates to undiscovered accumulations. These estimates have both an associated risk of discovery and a risk of development. Further exploration, appraisal and evaluation is required to determine the existence of a significant quantity of potentially movable hydrocarbons.

Statement of Comprehensive Income

For the Period Ended 30 September 2024

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these financial statements.

Statement of Financial Position

As at 30 September 2024

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these financial statements.

Statement of Cash Flows

For the Period Ended 30 September 2024

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these financial statements.

Statement of Changes in Equity

For the Period Ended 30 September 2024

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these financial statements.

Notes to the Financial Statements

For the Period Ended 30 September 2024

Basis of preparation

The Company's condensed interim financial statements for the six months ended 30 September 2024 have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") as adopted by the United Kingdom and Companies Act 2006.  The principal accounting policies are summarised below.  The financial report is presented in the functional currency, US dollars and all values are shown in thousands of US dollars (US$'000).  The financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis and fair value for certain assets and liabilities. The same accounting policies, presentation and methods of computation are followed in these financial statements as were applied in the Company's latest audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024.

The financial information for the period ended 30 September 2024 does not constitute the full statutory accounts for that period. They have not been reviewed by the Company's auditor. The Annual Report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The independent auditor's report on the Annual Report and financial statements was unqualified and did not contain a statement under Section 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006, but did draw attention to a material uncertainty relating to going concern.

Nature of business

The Company is a public limited company incorporated and domiciled in England and Wales. The address of the registered office is 1st Floor, Yarnwicke, 119-121 Cannon Street, London, England, EC4N 5AT. The Company is in the business of financing the exploration, development and production of energy resource projects in regions with energy hungry markets close to existing infrastructure. The Company has typically focused on non-operating working interest positions in projects that have drill ready targets that substantially short cut the life-cycle of hydrocarbon projects by entering the project after exploration concept, initial exploration and drill target identification work has largely been completed.

Going concern

At the year end the Company had a cash balance of US$626,000 (31 March 2024: US$981,000) and made a loss after income tax of US$1.56 million (31 March 2024: loss of US$9.59 million).

The Directors have prepared cash flow forecasts for the Company covering the period to 31 December 2025 and these demonstrate that the Company will require further funding within the next 12 months from the date of approval of the financial statements. In June 2022, the Company entered into an agreement with CNOOC to drill an exploration well on the Topaz prospect in China, by 12 June 2024, which includes a payment of US$250,000 to CNOOC.  It is estimated that the cost of drilling this well would be approximately US$12 million. The Company did not commence the drilling of the Topaz well by 12 June 2024 and therefore the permit expired on 12 June 2024.

On 24 August 2024, the Company received a letter of demand from CNOOC's lawyers, King Wood & Mallesons, in relation to Block 29/11. The letter of demand alleges, inter alia, that Empyrean has outstanding obligations under the relevant Petroleum Contract entered into with CNOOC and that Empyrean has failed to pay certain amounts that CNOOC consider due and payable under the Petroleum Contract relating to the prospecting fee and exploration work. The Company rejects the outstanding amounts claimed, which total $12m, and has responded to the letter of demand requesting clarification of the basis for the demands made in the letter. At this time, it is too early for the Company to form any opinion on the merits of any demands made therein and the Company intends to continue dialogue with CNOOC and, in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Contract, to settle amicably through consultation any dispute arising in connection with the performance or interpretation of any provision of the Petroleum Contract. However, it is acknowledged that, in the event that the amounts claimed are called, further funding would be required, over and above that required to meet the day to day cash demand of the business for the foreseeable future.

To this end, in November 2024 the Company announced that it had conditionally raised gross proceeds of approximately £1.255m from an aggregated Placing and Subscription, as announced on 6 November 2024 and a Retail Offer. This fundraising was conditional upon the passing of the resolutions which were subsequently approved by shareholders at a General Meeting held on 2 December 2024.

However, in order to meet the repayment terms of the Convertible Note (which was renegotiated in 2023), any further commitments at the Mako Gas Field, any potential further costs of cooperation on Block 29/11, any potential amounts payable to CNOOC that may crystalise and working capital requirements the Company is required to raise further funding either through equity or the sale of assets and as at the date of this report the necessary funds are not in place.

The Directors remain optimistic that its funding commitments will be met should it be able to monetise its interest in Mako through the current sell down process. In June 2024, the Company announced that the Mako JV partners had entered into a domestic gas sales agreement for the sale and purchase of the domestic portion of Mako gas with PGN. The Company then announced that the Mako Joint Venture partners and Sembcorp had signed the binding GSA for the export of gas produced from the Mako field to Singapore.

It is the belief of the Board that the completion of the export GSA is a significant value catalyst that is a necessary precursor to maximising the value of its interest at the Mako Gas field through the current sell down process.

The Company therefore requires additional funding to fund the ongoing cash needs of the business for the foreseeable future and may require further funding should it be required to settle amounts claimed by CNOOC. The Directors acknowledge that this funding is not guaranteed. These conditions indicate that there is a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt over the Company's ability to continue as a going concern and, therefore, the Company may be unable to realise its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business.

Given the above and the Company's proven track record of raising equity funds and advanced Mako sell-down process, which the Directors believe would be sufficient to meet all possible funding needs as set out above, the Directors have therefore concluded that it is appropriate to prepare the Company's financial statements on a going concern basis and they have therefore prepared the financial statements on a going concern basis.

The financial statements do not include the adjustments that would result if the Company was unable to continue as a going concern.

Note 1.    Segmental Analysis

Note 2.    Loss Per Share

The basic loss per share is derived by dividing the loss after taxation for the period attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of shares on issue being 1,285,972,570 (2023: 904,491,535).

For the current and prior financial periods the exercise of the options is anti-dilutive and as such the diluted loss per share is the same as the basic loss per share. Details of the potentially issuable shares that could dilute earnings per share in future periods are set out in Note 5.

Note 3.    Oil and Gas Properties: Exploration and Evaluation

(a)   The Company did not commence the drilling of the Topaz well by 12 June 2024 and, post year end, the permit formally expired on 12 June 2024. As at 31 March 2024 it was clear that the above requirements would not be able to be met in time due to lack of funding and the delays to the completion of the export GSA and sell down processes in Indonesia. This was deemed to be an impairment indicator. Given the licence requirements have not been met and the expiration of the PSC, the Company provided for impairment against all remaining capitalised costs associated with Block 29/11, together being US$6.6 million as at 31 March 2024. The Company has continued to fully impair the carrying value of the asset, at 30 September 2024. 

(b)   While the Company will continue to work with its joint venture partners in reviewing and assessing any further technical and commercial opportunities as they relate to the Sacramento Basin project, particularly in light of strong gas prices for gas sales in the region, it has not budgeted for further substantive exploration expenditure. Whilst the Company maintains legal title it has continued to fully impair the carrying value of the asset at 30 September 2024. 

(c)   In light of current market conditions, little or no work has been completed on the Riverbend or Eagle Oil projects in the period and no substantial project work is forecast for either project in 2024/25 whilst the Company focuses on other projects. Whilst the Company maintains legal title it has continued to fully impair the carrying value of the asset at 30 September 2024. 

Note 4.        Convertible Loan Notes

(a)   In December 2021, the Company announced that it had entered into a Convertible Loan Note Agreement with a Melbourne-based investment fund (the "Lender"), pursuant to which the Company issued a convertible loan note to the Lender and received gross proceeds of £4.0 million (the "Convertible Note").  As announced in May 2022, the Company and the Lender then amended the key repayment terms of the Convertible Note, which at that time included the right by the Lender to redeem the Convertible Note within 5 business days of the announcement of the results of the Jade well at Block 29/11. The face value of the loan notes was reset to £3.3m with interest to commence and accrue at £330,000 per calendar month from 1 December 2022.

(b)   In May 2023, it was announced that the Company and the Lender have, in conjunction with and conditional upon the completion of the Subscription, now reached agreement on amended key terms to the Convertible Note to allow the sales process for Mako to complete. The key terms of the amendment are as follows:

1.     The parties have agreed a moratorium of accrual interest on the Convertible Note until 31 December 2023 - interest will accrue thereafter at a rate of 20% p.a.;

2.     The conversion price on the Convertible Note has been reduced from 8p to 2.5p per Share;

3.     The face value of the Convertible Note has been reduced from £5.28m (accrued to the end of May 2023) to £4.6 million (to be repaid from Empyrean's share of the proceeds from Mako sell down process); and

4.     Empyrean will pay the Lender the greater of US$1.5 million or 15% of the proceeds from its share in the Mako sell down process.

Note 5.    Share Capital

The Companies Act 2006 (as amended) abolishes the requirement for a company to have an authorised share capital. Therefore, the Company has taken advantage of these provisions and has an unlimited authorised share capital.

Each of the ordinary shares carries equal rights and entitles the holder to voting and dividend rights and rights to participate in the profits of the Company and in the event of a return of capital equal rights to participate in any sum being returned to the holders of the ordinary shares. There is no restriction, imposed by the Company, on the ability of the holder of any ordinary share to transfer the ownership, or any of the benefits of ownership, to any other party.

Note 6.    Events After the Reporting Date

Significant events post reporting date were as follows:

On 11 November 2024 the Company announced that it had conditionally raised gross proceeds of approximately £1.255m from an aggregated Placing and Subscription, as announced on 6 November 2024 and a Retail Offer. This fundraising was conditional upon the passing of the resolutions which were subsequently approved by shareholders at a General Meeting held on 2 December 2024. The fundraising required a capital reorganisation of the ordinary share capital of the Company which was also approved at the General Meeting.

No other matters or circumstances have arisen since the end of the financial period which significantly affected or could significantly affect the operations of the Company, the results of those operations, or the state of affairs of the Company in future financial years.

Note 7.    Contingent Liabilities

On 24 August 2024, the Company received a letter of demand from CNOOC's lawyers, King Wood & Mallesons, in relation to Block 29/11. The letter of demand alleges, inter alia, that Empyrean has outstanding obligations, totalling $12m, under the relevant Petroleum Contract entered into with CNOOC and that Empyrean has failed to pay certain amounts that CNOOC consider due and payable under the Petroleum Contract relating to the prospecting fee and exploration work. The Company rejects the outstanding amounts claimed and has responded to the letter of demand requesting clarification of the basis for the demands made in the letter. At this time, it is too early for the Company to form any opinion on the merits of any demands made therein and the Company intends to continue dialogue with CNOOC and, in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Contract, to settle amicably through consultation any dispute arising in connection with the performance or interpretation of any provision of the Petroleum Contract.