Bengal Energy Announces Second Quarter Fiscal 2014 Results
November 13 2013 - 5:03PM
Marketwired Canada
Bengal Energy Ltd. (TSX: BNG) ("Bengal" or the "Company") is pleased to announce
its financial and operating results for the second fiscal 2014 quarter ended
September 30, 2013.
FISCAL Q2 2014 HIGHLIGHTS:
During the Company's second fiscal quarter of 2014 (period ended September 30,
2013), Bengal continued to successfully execute its growth strategy and realized
significant increases to its production and cash flow. The strong operational
and financial performance to date through calendar 2013 is a direct result of
Bengal's drilling success in its large oil-in-place Cuisinier pool in Australia,
which generates ultra-light oil production with top-tier operating netbacks. In
addition to Cuisinier, which is a development stage asset, the Company is
pursuing appraisal and exploration assets expected to fuel growth.
During the three months ended September 30, 2013, the following are operational
and financial achievements through the period:
Financial Highlights:
-- Another Profitable Quarter and Materially Higher Funds Flow from
Operations - Bengal reported another profitable quarter, with positive
net income of $0.6 million, compared to a loss of $0.8 million in Q2 of
the prior year and net income of $0.8 million in the preceding quarter
this year. Funds flow from operations(1) grew nearly 20% sequentially to
$2.1 million, compared to $1.7 million in the prior quarter and a
deficiency of $0.5 million in Q2 of the prior year.
-- Higher Revenue and Continued Strong Netbacks - Bengal's revenue of $5.3
million was 43% higher than the $3.7 million realized in the preceding
quarter and substantially higher than the $0.4 million realized in Q2 of
the prior year. The strong revenue was driven by higher production
volumes coupled with continued strong product pricing. Bengal's
operating (field) netback in Australia averaged C$77.87 per barrel
(corporate average of C$72.51/bbl). Sales price was USD $116.00/bbl, a
USD $6.32/bbl premium over the Brent benchmark during Q2.
-- Insiders Demonstrate Support - Certain of Bengal's insiders elected to
convert their short term convertible notes into shares, in lieu of
receiving a $1.5 million cash repayment.
Operating Highlights:
-- Rising Production - Production averaged 518 boe/d for the period, an
increase of 46% over the prior quarter this year and almost 700% higher
than Q2 last year. This production rate does not include the acquisition
of additional working interest at Cuisinier as described below.
-- Contingent Well Drilled in Cuisinier - During the quarter, Bengal
drilled the final contingent well of its six well 2013/2014 drilling
campaign in Cuisinier, bringing the total number of wells drilled in the
field to fourteen. The well was cased as a successful oil producer and
production from that well is expected to be tied-in during November
2013. Going forward, production from Cuisinier wells will provide funds
for Bengal's next year's capital programs.
-- On Track to Capture Additional Production Volumes - Bengal entered into
an agreement to acquire an incremental 5.357% working interest in
Cuisinier, which is anticipated to close before the end of calendar
2013. This acquisition will bring the Company's total working interest
in Cuisinier to 30.357%. Applying the higher working interest to the
second quarter production would have resulted in an additional 103 b/d
of oil volumes recorded, and $738,000 in funds flow using the Australian
field netback of $77.87/bbl.
-- Tookoonooka Drilling and Seismic Work Plan - Bengal and its joint
interest partner Beach Energy have selected the first drilling location
proximal to Bengal's 2013 Caracal discovery well. Bengal is carried for
two wells and the 300 square kilometer seismic program to a maximum of
AUD $11.5 million. The first of the two wells is expected to spud in
December, with the seismic program commencing shortly thereafter.
-- Onshore India Drilling Plan - In Bengal's onshore block in the Cauvery
Basin India, the Company continues to work with the operator to select
locations and receive final regulatory approval for the drilling of its
exploration wells. It is anticipated the drilling of the first well will
commence in the first quarter of calendar 2014. Continued activity in
onshore India for the balance of calendar 2014 and beyond will depend on
the results of the drilling under the existing work program.
(1) Funds flow from operations is an additional GAAP measure. The comparable
IFRS measure is cash from operations. A reconciliation of the two measures can
be found in the table on page 5 of Bengal's MD&A for the period ending September
30, 2013.
"We are very pleased to report another profitable quarter," said Chayan
Chakrabarty, Bengal's President and CEO. "The significant growth we achieved in
our production and the resultant cash flows is a positive demonstration of the
potential of our asset base. We have a number of exciting operational milestones
ahead of us in the coming months and quarters, including closing the acquisition
of additional interest in Cuisinier, the results of Beach's seismic acquisition
and drilling in Tookoonooka, drilling in onshore India, and the commencement of
the 2014/2015 drilling program in Cuisinier. The next twelve months are expected
to be an active time for the Company, and I look forward to updating our
shareholders as we progress the development of our assets and continue to
execute on our strategy."
For a discussion of the activities on each of the Company's permits, refer to
Bengal's management's discussion and analysis for the second fiscal quarter 2014
ended September 30, 2013 filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
FINANCIAL & OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$000s except per share,
volumes and netback
amounts Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
-------------------------------------------------
September 30 June 30 September 30
-------------------------------------------------
2013 2012 2013 2013 2012
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Revenue
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oil $ 5,229 $ 387 $ 3,626 $ 8,855 $ 820
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Natural gas 69 31 65 134 70
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Natural gas liquids (NGL) 14 19 31 45 45
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Total $ 5,312 $ 437 $ 3,722 $ 9,034 $ 935
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Royalties 358 38 204 562 83
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% of revenue 6.7 8.7 5.5 6.2 8.9
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Operating & transportation 1,499 162 930 2,429 409
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Net operating income $ 3,455 $ 237 $ 2,588 $ 6,043 $ 443
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Cash from (used in)
operations: $ 2,066 $ 315 $ 1,249 $ 3,315 $ (444)
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Per share ($) (basic &
diluted) 0.03 0.01 0.02 0.05 (0.01)
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Funds flow from (used in)
operations:(1) $ 2,063 $ (471) $ 1,732 $ 3,795 $ (533)
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Per share ($) (basic &
diluted) 0.03 (0.01) 0.03 0.06 (0.01)
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Net income (loss): $ 545 $ (845) $ 836 $ 1,381 $ (1,056)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per share ($) (basic &
diluted) 0.01 (0.02) 0.01 0.02 (0.02)
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Capital expenditures $ 2,702 $ 10,299 $ 5,435 $ 8,137 $ 17,625
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Volumes
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Oil (bbl/d) 483 35 313 398 41
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Natural gas (mcf/d) 200 159 240 220 192
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NGL (boe/d) 2 3 3 3 4
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Total (boe/d @ 6:1) 518 65 356 438 77
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Netback(2) ($/boe)
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Revenue $ 111.48 $ 73.90 $ 114.83 $ 112.84 $ 67.02
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Royalties 7.51 6.43 6.32 7.02 5.95
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Operating &
transportation 31.46 27.40 28.69 30.34 29.32
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $ 72.51 $ 40.07 $ 79.82 $ 75.48 $ 31.75
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1. Funds flow from operations is an additional GAAP measure. The comparable
IFRS measure is cash flow from operations. A reconciliation of the two
measures can be found in the table on page 5 of Bengal's MD&A for the
period ending September 30, 2013.
2. Netback is a non-IFRS measure. Netback per boe is calculated by dividing
the revenue less royalties, operating and transportation costs by the
total production of the Company measured in boe.
Bengal has filed its consolidated financial statements and management's
discussion and analysis for the second fiscal 2014 quarter ended September 30,
2013 with Canadian securities regulators. The documents are available on SEDAR
at www.sedar.com or by visiting Bengal's website at www.bengalenergy.ca.
About Bengal
Bengal Energy Ltd. is an international junior oil and gas exploration and
production company with assets in Australia and India. The company is committed
to growing shareholder value through international exploration, production and
acquisitions. Bengal's common shares trade on the TSX under the symbol "BNG".
Additional information is available at www.bengalenergy.ca
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements or information
("forward-looking statements") as defined by applicable securities laws that
involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are
beyond Bengal's control. These statements relate to future events or our future
performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be
forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "plan", "expect",
"prospective", "project", "intend", "believe", "should", "anticipate",
"estimate", or other similar words or statements that certain events "may" or
"will" occur are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The
projections, estimates and beliefs contained in such forward-looking statements
are based on management's estimates, opinions, and assumptions at the time the
statements were made, including assumptions relating to: the impact of economic
conditions in North America, Australia, India and globally; industry conditions;
changes in laws and regulations including, without limitation, the adoption of
new environmental laws and regulations and changes in how they are interpreted
and enforced; increased competition; the availability of qualified operating or
management personnel; fluctuations in commodity prices, foreign exchange or
interest rates; stock market volatility and fluctuations in market valuations of
companies with respect to announced transactions and the final valuations
thereof; results of exploration and testing activities; and the ability to
obtain required approvals and extensions from regulatory authorities. We believe
the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable
but, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the
forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so,
what benefits that Bengal will derive from them. As such, undue reliance should
not be placed on forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to,
statements regarding: the Tookoonooka joint venture, including without
limitation, the timing of spudding of the first two wells; the acquisition of
the increased working interest in Cuisinier and the closing thereof; the
drilling of the first well in the Cauvery Basin, India; the results of Beach
Energy Limited's seismic acquisition with respect to the Tookoonooka joint
venture; the timing and location of future wells; and tie-in operations,
including, without limitation, the timing and benefit thereof. The
forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to numerous known and
unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause Bengal's actual financial
results, performance or achievement in future periods to differ materially from
those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements, including
but not limited to, risks associated with: the failure to obtain required
regulatory approvals or extensions; failure to satisfy the conditions under
farm-in and joint venture agreements; failure to secure required equipment and
personnel; changes in general global economic conditions including, without
limitations, the economic conditions in North America, Australia, India;
increased competition; the availability of qualified operating or management
personnel; fluctuations in commodity prices, foreign exchange or interest rates;
changes in laws and regulations including, without limitation, the adoption of
new environmental and tax laws and regulations and changes in how they are
interpreted and enforced; the results of exploration and development drilling
and related activities; the ability to access sufficient capital from internal
and external sources; and stock market volatility. Readers are encouraged to
review the material risks discussed in Bengal's Annual Information Form for the
year ended March 31, 2013 under the heading "Risk Factors" and in Bengal's
annual MD&A under the heading "Risk Factors". The Company cautions that the
foregoing list of assumptions, risks and uncertainties is not exhaustive. The
forward-looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of the
date hereof and Bengal does not assume any obligation to publicly update or
revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be require
pursuant to applicable securities laws.
Barrels of Oil Equivalent
When converting natural gas to equivalent barrels of oil, Bengal uses the widely
recognized standard of 6 thousand cubic feet (mcf) to one barrel of oil (boe).
However, a boe may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe
conversion ratio of 6 mcf: 1 bbl is based on an energy equivalency conversion
method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value
equivalency at the wellhead. Given that the value ratio based on the current
price of crude oil as compared to natural gas is significantly different from
the energy equivalency of 6:1, utilizing a conversion on a 6:1 basis may be
misleading as an indication of value.
Certain Defined Terms
boe - barrels of oil equivalent
boe/d - barrels of oil equivalent per day
bbl - barrel
bbl/d - barrels per day
mcf - thousand cubic feet
mcf/d - thousand cubic feet per day
Non-IFRS Measurements
Within this release references are made to terms commonly used in the oil and
gas industry. Funds from operations, funds from operations per share and
netbacks do not have any standardized meaning under International Financial
Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and previous generally accepted accounting
principles (GAAP) and are referred to as non-IFRS measures. Funds from
operations per share is calculated based on the weighted average number of
common shares outstanding consistent with the calculation of net income (loss)
per share. Netbacks equal total revenue less royalties and operating and
transportation expenses calculated on a boe basis. Management utilizes these
measures to analyze operating performance. The Company's calculation of the
non-IFRS measures included herein may differ from the calculation of similar
measures by other issuers. Therefore, the Company's non-IFRS measures may not be
comparable to other similar measures used by other issuers. Funds from
operations is not intended to represent operating profit for the period nor
should it be viewed as an alternative to operating profit, net income, cash flow
from operations or other measures of financial performance calculated in
accordance with IFRS. Non-IFRS measures should only be used in conjunction with
the Company's annual audited and interim financial statements. A reconciliation
of these measures can be found in the table on page 5 of Bengal's Q2 fiscal 2014
MD&A.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Bengal Energy Ltd.
Chayan Chakrabarty, President & Chief Executive Officer
Bryan Goudie, Chief Financial Officer
(403) 205-2526
investor.relations@bengalenergy.ca
www.bengalenergy.ca
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