TIDMHUR

RNS Number : 5936U

Hurricane Energy PLC

07 April 2021

7 April 2021

Hurricane Energy plc

("Hurricane" or the "Company")

Competent Person's Report on West of Shetland Assets

&

Stakeholder Engagement Update

Hurricane Energy plc, the UK based oil and gas company, announces that a summary of a Competent Person's Report ("CPR") on the Company's West of Shetland assets by ERC Equipoise Ltd ("ERCE") has been published on the Company's website at:

https://www.hurricaneenergy.com/assets/reserves-and-resources

The full CPR will be published on the Company's website in due course, once finalised. ERCE's work has been prepared in accordance with the June 2018 Petroleum Resources Management System ("PRMS") as the standard for classification and reporting with an effective date of 31 December 2020.

Antony Maris, Chief Executive Officer of Hurricane, commented:

"The summary of the CPR published today is broadly consistent with the estimates for Lancaster and Lincoln which we presented in September 2020. We are continuing to work on a financial plan and are engaging with our key stakeholders to allow us to take the business forward and provide us with the best chance of targeting these reserves and resources."

Lancaster Reserves and Resources

Lancaster Reserves (Hurricane 100% working interest) and associated Net Present Values ("NPVs")

ERCE's estimates of Reserves and NPVs for the Lancaster field are tabulated below:

 
 (MMstb)                  Gross            Net attributable     Operator 
-----------------  -------------------  ---------------------  ---------- 
                    1P     2P     3P      1P     2P      3P 
-----------------  ----  -----  ------  -----  ------  ------  ---------- 
 Developed 
  reserves 
  (MMstb)(1)        3.3   7.1    10.8    3.3     7.1    10.8    Hurricane 
-----------------  ----  -----  ------  -----  ------  ------  ---------- 
 NPV10 (US$m)(2)    7.4   43.5   126.2   7.4    43.5    126.2 
 

Notes:

1. In determining the economic reserves for the Lancaster field, ERCE has assumed a Brent oil price of US$50/bbl in 2021, US$53/bbl in 2022, US$55/bbl in 2023 and US$56/bbl in 2024 and thereafter in real terms. Prices are escalated at 2.0% per annum inflation

2. NPV10 equates to the net present value of cash flows from the Lancaster field at a 10% discount rate at the effective date of 31 December 2020

ERCE's estimates of Reserves for the Lancaster field assume production only from the 205/21a-6 well (the "P6 well") and reflect its natural decline. Hurricane's future development plan requires the field to be produced below the bubble point of the oil. Hurricane has submitted an amendment to the Lancaster field development plan ("FDPA") to the UK upstream regulator, the Oil and Gas Authority ("OGA"), to allow for production below bubble point. Hurricane is in constructive discussions with the OGA to obtain the FDPA to permit ongoing reservoir management on this basis, subject to quarterly review of operating procedures to ensure gas liberated in the reservoir is not produced. Hurricane has a reasonable expectation that an approved FDPA is likely to be forthcoming.

The Company will adopt the ERCE reserves and resources figures at 31 December 2020 and they will be included in the Company's 2020 Annual Report. The Company has developed a range of production scenarios for the Lancaster field to assist in financing and balance sheet recapitalisation discussions. While these scenarios incorporate different oil price and technical assumptions to those included in the ERCE Reserves figures tabulated above, they are within the ranges of Reserves and Contingent Resources estimated by ERCE.

Lancaster Contingent Resources (Hurricane 100% working interest)

ERCE's estimates of Contingent Resources for the Lancaster field are tabulated below:

 
 (MMstb)                              Gross            Net attributable     Operator 
-----------------------------  -------------------  ---------------------  ---------- 
                                 1C     2C     3C     1C      2C      3C 
-----------------------------  -----  -----  -----  ------  ------  -----  ---------- 
 Contingent Resources, 
  Development Pending 
  (P8 well)(1,2)                4.0    3.2    1.9     4.0     3.2    1.9    Hurricane 
-----------------------------  -----  -----  -----  ------  ------  -----  ---------- 
 Contingent Resources, 
  Development Unclarified(3)    11.8   34.7   87.1   11.8    34.7    87.1   Hurricane 
-----------------------------  -----  -----  -----  ------  ------  -----  ---------- 
 Total                          15.8   37.9   89.0   15.8    37.9    89.0 
 

Notes:

1. The P8 well is the proposed side-track of the existing 205/21a-7z well, which the Company is considering drilling in 2022

2. Incremental resources are computed by the subtraction of the Reserves estimates for Lancaster from estimates of future recoverable volumes from the combined activity of the P6 and P8 wells. As the forecasts for the combined activity of the P6 and P8 wells both accelerate production and add additional resources, the incremental resources associated with the P8 well decrease as the Reserves attributed to the Lancaster field increase

3. Contingent Resources, Development Unclarified, assume water injection is implemented as part of any further development

The Development Unclarified Contingent Resources for the Lancaster field in the table above are contingent on Hurricane finalising a commercially viable further development plan if the P8 well is drilled, Hurricane being able to fund and execute this development plan during the lifetime of the Lancaster field and obtaining regulatory consents. As such, there can be no certainty of any further activity in relation to the Lancaster field.

Greater Warwick Area Reserves and Resources

Lincoln discovery (Hurricane 50% working interest)

ERCE's estimates of Contingent Resources for the Lincoln discovery are tabulated below:

 
 (MMstb)                                Gross            Net attributable     Operator 
-------------------------------  -------------------  ---------------------  ---------- 
                                   1C     2C     3C     1C     2C      3C 
-------------------------------  -----  -----  -----  -----  ------  ------  ---------- 
 Contingent Resources, 
  Development Unclarified(1,2)    17.4   36.9   79.8   8.7    18.5    39.9    Hurricane 
-------------------------------  -----  -----  -----  -----  ------  ------  ---------- 
 Total                            17.4   36.9   79.8   8.7    18.5    39.9 
 

Notes:

1. Contingent Resources, Development Unclarified, assume water injection is implemented as part of any development

   2.     Net attributable figures are rounded to one decimal point 

The Lincoln prospect was originally drilled by Hurricane in 2016 and, although hydrocarbons were encountered, the well was not successfully tested. The Lincoln discovery was appraised in 2019 and flowed hydrocarbons to surface. Appraisal is at an early stage and there is currently no development plan for the discovery. ERCE has attributed Contingent Resources, Development Unclarified, to the Lincoln discovery, assuming water injection is implemented as part of any future

development.

The Development Unclarified Contingent Resources for the Lincoln discovery in the table above are contingent on Hurricane completing any required appraisal drilling, finalising a commercially viable development plan, being able to fund and execute this development plan and obtaining regulatory and partner consents. As such, there can be no certainty of any further activity in relation to the Lincoln discovery.

Warwick Crest discovery (Hurricane 50% working interest)

ERCE's estimates of Contingent Resources for the Warwick Crest discovery are tabulated below:

 
 (MMstb)                                 Gross            Net attributable      Operator 
-------------------------------  --------------------  ---------------------  ------------ 
                                   1C     2C     3C      1C     2C      3C 
-------------------------------  -----  -----  ------  -----  ------  ------  ---------- 
 Contingent Resources, 
  Development Unclarified(1,2)    19.6   50.9   128.9   9.8    25.5    64.5    Hurricane 
-------------------------------  -----  -----  ------  -----  ------  ------  ---------- 
 Total                            19.6   50.9   128.9   9.8    25.5    64.5 
 

Notes:

1. Contingent Resources, Development Unclarified, assume water injection is implemented as part of any development

   2.     Net attributable figures are rounded to one decimal point 

The Warwick Crest discovery was drilled in 2019 and hydrocarbons were successfully flowed to surface. Appraisal is at an early stage and there is no development plan for the discovery. ERCE has attributed Contingent Resources, Development Unclarified, to the Warwick Crest discovery assuming water injection is implemented as part of any future development.

The Development Unclarified Contingent Resources for the Warwick Crest discovery in the table above are contingent on Hurricane completing any required appraisal drilling, finalising a commercially viable development plan, being able to fund and execute this development plan and obtaining regulatory and partner consents. As such, there can be no certainty of any further activity in relation to the Warwick Crest discovery.

Halifax (Hurricane 100% working interest)

No Contingent Resources are attributed by ERCE to the Halifax well drilled in 2017. At 31 December 2020, c.$35 million of the Company's balance sheet intangible exploration and evaluation assets represented the historical cost incurred at Halifax to date. The Company now expects that the Halifax carrying value will be fully written off in its audited accounts for the year ended 31 December 2020.

Review by Qualified Person

The technical information in this release has been reviewed by Antony Maris, Chief Executive Officer, who is a qualified person for the purposes of the AIM Guidance Note for Mining, Oil and Gas Companies. Mr Maris is a petroleum engineer with 35 years' experience in the oil and gas industry. He has a B.Sc.(Eng.) Petroleum Engineering (Hons) from the Imperial College of Science and Technology (University of London) Royal School of Mines A.R.S.M. and an MBA from Kingston Business School.

Update on Stakeholder Engagement

The Company continues to engage with an ad hoc group of its convertible noteholders over the Company's forward work programme, strategy, financing and balance sheet recapitalisation. It should be noted that there is a risk of significant dilution to existing shareholders from a possible restructuring and/or partial equitisation of the convertible bonds and of potentially limited or no value being returned to shareholders.

If no agreement can be reached with the Company's stakeholders on additional development activity at Lancaster, the field could continue to produce from the P6 well before reaching its economic limit, the timing of which would depend on oil prices, actual production levels delivered and the level of cost savings achievable. The field may then be decommissioned, with potentially limited or no value returned to shareholders.

-ends-

Contacts:

 
 Hurricane Energy plc 
  Antony Maris, Chief Executive Officer 
  Philip Corbett, Head of Investor Relations    +44 (0)1483 862820 
 Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited 
  Nominated Adviser & Joint Corporate Broker 
  Callum Stewart / Ashton Clanfield             +44 (0)20 7710 7600 
 Investec Bank plc 
  Joint Corporate Broker 
  Chris Sim / Rahul Sharma                      +44 (0)20 7597 5970 
 Vigo Communications 
  Public Relations 
  Patrick d'Ancona / Ben Simons 
  hurricane@vigocomms.com                       +44 (0)20 7390 0230 
 

About Hurricane

Hurricane was established to discover, appraise and develop hydrocarbon resources associated with naturally fractured basement reservoirs. The Company's acreage is concentrated on the Rona Ridge, in the West of Shetland region of the UK Continental Shelf.

The Lancaster field (100% owned by Hurricane) is the UK's first producing basement field. Hurricane is pursuing a phased development of Lancaster, starting with an Early Production System consisting of two wells tied-back to the Aoka Mizu FPSO. Hydrocarbons were introduced to the FPSO system on 11 May 2019 and the first oil milestone was achieved on 4 June 2019.

In September 2018, Spirit Energy farmed-in to 50% of the Lincoln and Warwick assets, committing to a phased work programme targeting sanction of an initial stage of full field development.

Visit Hurricane's website at www.hurricaneenergy.com

Glossary

 
 Bbl     Barrel 
 FPSO    Floating production storage and offloading 
          vessel 
        =========================================== 
 MMstb   Million stock tank barrels 
        =========================================== 
 US$m    Millions of US dollars 
        =========================================== 
 

PRMS Definitions

 
 1C                         Denotes low estimate of Contingent Resources. 
 2C                         Denotes best estimate of Contingent Resources. 
                           =================================================== 
 3C                         Denotes high estimate of Contingent Resources. 
                           =================================================== 
 1P                         Denotes low estimate of Reserves (i.e., Proved 
                             Reserves). Equal to P1. 
                           =================================================== 
 2P                         Denotes the best estimate of Reserves. The 
                             sum of Proved plus Probable Reserves. 
                           =================================================== 
 3P                         Denotes high estimate of reserves. The sum 
                             of Proved plus Probable plus Possible Reserves. 
                           =================================================== 
 Contingent Resources       Those 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 owing to one or 
                             more contingencies. 
                           =================================================== 
 Contingent Resources,      A discovered accumulation where project activities 
  Development Pending        are ongoing to justify commercial development 
                             in the foreseeable future. 
                           =================================================== 
 Contingent Resources,      A discovered accumulation where project activities 
  Development Unclarified    are under evaluation and where justification 
                             as a commercial development is unknown based 
                             on available information. 
                           =================================================== 
 Developed Reserves         Reserves that are expected to be recovered 
                             from existing wells and 
                             facilities. Developed Reserves may be further 
                             sub-classified as Producing or Non- Producing. 
                           =================================================== 
 Economic Limit             Defined as the time when the maximum cumulative 
                             net cash flow (see Net Entitlement) occurs 
                             for a project. 
                           =================================================== 
 Net Entitlement            That portion of future production (and thus 
                             resources) legally accruing to an entity 
                             under the terms of the development and production 
                             contract or license. Under the terms of PSCs, 
                             the producers have an entitlement to a portion 
                             of the production. This entitlement, often 
                             referred to as "net entitlement" or "net 
                             economic interest" is estimated using a formula 
                             based on the contract terms incorporating 
                             costs and profits. 
                           =================================================== 
 Reserves                   Reserves are those quantities of petroleum 
                             anticipated to be commercially recoverable 
                             by application of development projects to 
                             known accumulations from a given date forward 
                             under defined conditions. 
                           =================================================== 
 

Inside Information

This announcement contains inside information.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy.

END

MSCSSAEFMEFSESL

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 07, 2021 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)

Hurricane Energy (LSE:HUR)
Historical Stock Chart
From Feb 2024 to Mar 2024 Click Here for more Hurricane Energy Charts.
Hurricane Energy (LSE:HUR)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2023 to Mar 2024 Click Here for more Hurricane Energy Charts.