TIDMSIA
RNS Number : 5720Q
Soco International PLC
07 June 2018
SOCO International plc
("SOCO" or the "Company" or, together with its subsidiaries, the
"Group")
AGM TRADING AND OPERATIONS UPDATE
SOCO International, an international oil and gas exploration and
production company, issues the following trading and operations
update in advance of the Company's AGM which is being held at 10:00
today. At the meeting, Ed Story, President and Chief Executive
Officer, will give a presentation which will be made available on
the Company website www.socointernational.com.
Ed Story, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented:
"SOCO remains committed to growing the business, sustainable
cash flow generation and returns to shareholders. We are delighted
to propose a final dividend of 5.25p per share.
We are pleased to have secured rigs for commencement of our
Vietnam drilling programme on TGT and CNV and are very much looking
forward to progressing the evaluation of Blocks 125 & 126 in
the under-explored Phu Khanh Basin.
We continue to focus on evaluating opportunities that are in
line with our growth strategy and that will be value accretive for
our shareholders."
FINANCIAL UPDATE
Cash balances as at 31 May 2018 were approximately $150m with
revenues for January-May circa $72m. The average realised oil price
per barrel achieved for the same period was more than $73/bbl,
representing a premium of over $3/bbl to Brent.
A proposed dividend of 5.25 pence per share for 2017 is expected
to be approved at the AGM and to be paid on the 15 June 2018, which
amounts to around $23m.
The capital expenditure budget for 2018 remains unchanged at
approximately $40m, of which $34m is allocated to the development
work of the TGT and CNV fields, and the remaining $6m for the
purchase, processing and interpretation of seismic data on Blocks
125 & 126.
OPERATIONS UPDATE
VIETNAM PRODUCTON
Production from the TGT and CNV fields net to the Group's
working interest averaged 7,948 BOEPD from 1 January to 31 May
2018, whilst the Company awaited the securing of the rigs to drill
infill wells.
TGT production for January-May averaged 20,999 BOEPD gross and
6,331 BOEPD net to SOCO. CNV production for January-May averaged
6,467 BOEPD gross and 1,617 BOEPD net to SOCO.
Production guidance is maintained at between 8,000 to 9,000
BOEPD for the full year 2018.
VIETNAM DEVELOPMENT
Block 9-2 - CNV Field
(25% interest; operated by HVJOC)
Following a short delay, the Japan Drilling Company Hakuryu-II
jack up rig has been secured and is due to arrive at CNV-WHP to
drill the CNV-5P side-track well in mid-June. Once drilling is
complete, the rig will move to H5-WHP located in TGT.
Block 16-1 - TGT Field
(30.5% interest; operated by HLJOC)
A second jack-up rig, the PetroVietnam Drilling PVD-1, has also
been secured and is expected to drill from the H1-WHP commencing in
August.
We are continuing to evaluate solutions to the compressor issues
encountered on the FPSO and are finalising negotiations for the
extension to the FPSO Bare Boat Charter.
Blocks 125 & 126
(70% interest, SOCO-operated)
Administrative activities are continuing, in addition to
gathering of the existing 2D seismic data for assessment and
review.
AFRICA PORTFOLIO
Marine XI Block, offshore Congo (Brazzaville) (40.39% working
interest, SOCO-operated) and Cabinda North Block, onshore Angola
(Non-operated, 22% working interest).
As previously announced the Group's African assets, Marine XI
(now the Lidongo, Lideka, Loubana and Viodo exploitation permits)
and Cabinda North, are no longer a core priority for SOCO, although
there is no change in our assessment of the potential of these
assets.
CORPORATE
NON- EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
SOCO recently announced two changes to the SOCO Board. John
Martin is to be appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director,
and Olivier Barbaroux, Non-Executive Director, is to retire from
the Board of SOCO. Both changes are effective from conclusion of
the Company's AGM.
STRATEGIC UPDATE
SOCO's Board continues to evaluate M&A opportunities in line
with strict strategic, financial and operational criteria and SOCO
only pursues transactions if they are determined by SOCO's Board to
be in the best interest of shareholders.
ENQUIRIES:
SOCO International plc Tel: 020 7747 2000
Ed Story, President and Chief Executive Officer
Jann Brown, Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer
Mike Watts, Managing Director
Sharan Dhami, Group Investor Relations Manager
Camarco Tel: 020 3757 4980
Billy Clegg
Georgia Edmonds
Owen Roberts
NOTES TO EDITORS
SOCO is an international oil and gas exploration and production
company, headquartered in London and traded on the London Stock
Exchange. The Company has field development and production
interests in Vietnam and exploration and appraisal interests in the
Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) and Angola.
SOCO holds a 30.5% working interest in the Te Giac Trang Field
of Block 16-1, which is operated by the Hoang Long Joint Operating
Company. Block 16-1 is located in the shallow water Cuu Long Basin,
offshore southern Vietnam.
SOCO holds a 25% working interest in the Ca Ngu Vang field of
Block 9-2, which is operated by the Hoan Vu Joint Operating
Company. Block 9-2 is located in the shallow water Cuu Long Basin,
offshore southern Vietnam.
SOCO holds a 40.39% interest in and is designated operator of
the Marine XI Block, located in the shallow water Lower Congo Basin
offshore, offshore the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville).
SOCO holds a 22% interest in the Production Sharing Agreement
for the Cabinda North Block onshore the Angolan enclave of
Cabinda.
Glossary of Terms
$
United States Dollar
GBP
UK Pound Sterling
AGM
Annual general meeting
BBL or bbl
Barrel
BOEPD or boepd
Barrels of oil equivalent per day
CASH or cash
Cash, cash equivalent and liquid investments
CNV
Ca Ngu Vang
CAPEX or capex
Capital Expenditure
Congo (Brazzaville)
The Republic of the Congo
FPSO
Floating, Production, Storage and
Offloading Vessel
HLJOC
Hoang Long Joint Operating Company
HVJOC
Hoan Vu Joint Operating Company
M&A
Mergers and Acquisitions
MMBBL
Million barrels
MMBOE
Million barrels of oil equivalent
PEX
Petroleum Exploitation Permit
TGT
Te Giac Trang
WHP
Wellhead Platform
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END
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