CWC CWC Energy Services Corp

CALGARY, Feb. 28, 2020 /CNW/ - (TSXV: CWC) CWC Energy Services Corp. ("CWC" or the "Company") announces the release of its operational and financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2019. The Financial Statements and Management Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for the three months and year ended December 31, 2019 are filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Financial and Operational Highlights

Working capital (excluding debt) for December 31, 2019 has decreased $0.5 million (2%) since December 31, 2018 driven by decreases in cash ($0.4 million (76%)), accounts receivable ($0.9 million (4%)), and prepaid expenses and deposits ($0.1 million (3%)) partially offset by a decrease in accounts payable of $0.9 million (11%). Long-term debt (including current portion) has decreased $4.3 million (10%) from December 31, 2018 driven by cash generated from operations which was used to pay down long-term debt. Shareholders' equity has decreased since December 31, 2018 primarily due to the net loss for the year ended December 31, 2019 and the purchase and cancellation of common shares under the NCIB program.

Highlights for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2019

• Average Q4 2019 crude oil pricing, as measured by WTI, of US$56.85/bbl was 1% higher than the Q3 2019 average price of US$56.40/bbl (Q4 2018: US$59.32/bbl). The price differential in Q4 2019 between Canadian heavy crude oil, as represented by WCS, and WTI widened to over US$20.00/bbl. The Government of Alberta announcements in Q3 2019 reducing the production curtailment to 125,000 bbls/day and extending the curtailment end date to December 31, 2020 while increasing the exemption limit from 10,000 to 20,000 bbls/day starting October 1, 2019, effectively reduced the number of Alberta exploration and production ("E&P") companies affected by the production curtailment. The widening price differential between WTI and WCS is partially a result of this increased crude oil supply which saw an increase in Alberta crude oil storage levels in November 2019 nearing all-time highs last achieved in 2018. Natural gas prices, as measured by AECO, increased 141% from an average of $0.97/GJ in Q3 2019 to $2.34/GJ in Q4 2019 (Q4 2018 $1.53/GJ); a result of the Canadian Energy Regulator's approval of TC Energy's Temporary Service Protocol ("TSP") application which caused the differential between Alberta gas prices and other North American natural gas prices, such as NYMEX, to narrow.
  
  
• CWC's Canadian drilling rig utilization in Q4 2019 of 36% (Q4 2018: 59%) exceeded the Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors ("CAODC") industry average of 23%. Canadian activity levels in Q4 2019 decreased 53% to 232 drilling rig operating days from seven Canadian drilling rigs (Q4 2018: 491 drilling rig operating days from nine Canadian drilling rigs) as E&P customers deferred their drilling programs into Q1 2020. U.S. drilling rig activity levels in Q4 2019 were 56 drilling rig operating days from two U.S. drilling rigs for a utilization of 31% (Q4 2018: nil) as the Company moved one drilling rig from Texas to Wyoming in November 2019 to start operations in late December 2019. U.S. Contract Drilling revenue of $2.6 million represented 34% of CWC's total Contract Drilling revenue in Q4 2019 with the average revenue per operating day of US$45,461 from U.S. operations (which includes a one-time recovery of mobilization costs). CWC's service rig utilization in Q4 2019 of 61% (Q4 2018: 51%) was driven by 33,656 operating hours being 8% higher than the 31,232 operating hours in Q4 2018; a result of E&P customers choosing to do workovers to optimize production on their wells prior to the end of the year.
  
  
• Revenue of $30.7 million, a decrease of $4.8 million (14%) compared to $35.5 million in Q4 2018. The decrease in Q4 2019 revenue is a direct result of lower utilizations in the Canadian drilling rig division partially offset by increased activity and higher day rates in the U.S. drilling rig division and increased activity in the Canadian service rig divisions.
  
  
• Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ of $3.5 million, a decrease of $1.5 million (30%) compared to $5.0 million in Q4 2018, is a result of the decrease in revenue offset by lower costs associated with the reduced activity levels in the Canadian drilling rig division. CWC has achieved 26 consecutive quarters of positive Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ since Q2 2013.
  
  
• Net loss of $0.9 million, an increase of $0.7 million compared to a net loss of $0.2 million in Q4 2018. The increase in net loss in Q4 2019 is partially due to a loss on disposal of equipment of $0.4 million in Q4 2019.
  
  
• During Q4 2019, 1,453,500 common shares (Q4 2018: 7,828,000) were purchased under the Normal Course Issuer Bid ("NCIB") and 1,342,000 common shares (Q4 2018: 7,828,000) were cancelled and returned to treasury.

Highlights for the Year Ended December 31, 2019

• CWC's Canadian drilling rig utilization in 2019 of 30% (2018: 49%) exceeded the CAODC industry average of 22% (2018: 28%). CWC's U.S. drilling rig utilization in 2019 was 60% (2018: n/a) after CWC started its U.S. drilling operations in mid-June 2019. CWC's service rig utilization in 2019 was 51% compared to 59% in 2018. Activity levels in both the Canadian drilling rig and service rig divisions dropped in 2019 as a result of CWC's E&P customers reducing or delaying their drilling and well maintenance programs due to lower crude oil prices and the Government of Alberta mandated production curtailment program temporarily slowing down the need for newly drilled wells and workover and maintenance work on producing wells.
  
  
• Revenue of $108.5 million, a decrease of $36.3 million (25%) compared to $144.8 million in 2018. The decrease is primarily a result of reduced activity levels in the Contract Drilling and Production Services segments due to the aforementioned Alberta production curtailments and lower crude oil prices.
  
  
• Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ of $12.2 million, a decrease of $6.3 million (34%) compared to $18.5 million in 2018. The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ is consistent with the reduced revenue from lower activity levels in both segments as a result of the aforementioned Alberta production curtailments and lower crude oil prices partially offset by significantly lower selling and administrative expenses as a result of lower bad debt expenses in 2019 compared to 2018.
  
  
• Net loss of $1.7 million, unchanged from a net loss of $1.7 million in 2018. Net loss in 2019 is a result of the decreased Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ partially offset by a reduction in selling and administrative expenses and depreciation and amortization expenses, and deferred income tax recoveries as a result of a reduction in the Alberta provincial corporate tax rates from 12% to 8% by 2022.
  
  
• On September 27, 2019, CWC and its syndicated lenders completed an extension of its credit facilities and certain other amendments to provide financial security and flexibility to July 31, 2022. At the request of the Company, the credit facilities were reduced from $75.0 million to $60.0 million to reduce borrowing costs and standby charges. The amendments further provide the Company access to another equity cure under the same terms and conditions and a reduction in the minimum liquidity from $10.0 million to $5.0 million. Additionally, the amendments exclude the Mortgage Loan from the consolidated debt definition used in calculating the quarterly financial covenants. The covenant for Consolidated Debt to Consolidated EBITDA ratio is as follows:

• On April 10, 2019, the Company renewed its NCIB with an Automatic Securities Purchase Plan ("ASPP") with Raymond James Ltd., which expires on April 14, 2020. During 2019, the Company purchased 4,532,000 (2018: 11,421,000) common shares under its NCIB. 4,402,500 shares which were cancelled and returned to treasury (2018:11,421,000). The 4,532,000 common shares purchased under the NCIB represented 38% of the 11,930,386 shares traded on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") in 2019 (2018: 47%).

Operational Overview

Contract Drilling

CWC Ironhand Drilling, the Company's Contract Drilling segment, has a fleet of nine telescopic double drilling rigs with depth ratings from 3,200 to 5,000 metres. Eight of nine rigs have top drives and three have pad rig walking systems. All of the drilling rigs are well suited for the most active depths for horizontal drilling in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin ("WCSB"), including the Montney, Cardium, Duvernay and other deep basin horizons. The Company has expanded its drilling rig services into select United States basins including the Eagle Ford, Denver-Julesburg ("DJ") and Bakken. One of the Company's strategic initiatives is to continue to increase the capabilities of its existing fleet to meet the growing demands of E&P customers for deeper depths at a cost effective price while providing a sufficient internal rate of return for CWC's shareholders.

Canadian Contract Drilling revenue of $5.1 million for Q4 2019 (Q4 2018: $13.1 million) was achieved with a utilization rate of 36% (Q4 2018: 59%), compared to the CAODC industry average of 23%, as CWC's E&P customers deferred their drilling programs into Q1 2020. CWC completed 232 Canadian drilling rig operating days with seven drilling rigs in Q4 2019, a 53% decrease from the 491 Canadian drilling rig operating days with nine drilling rigs in Q4 2018 as activity levels in Q4 2019 were reduced as a result of the Government of Alberta mandated production curtailment, which continued to temporarily slow down the need for newly drilled wells. The Q4 2019 average revenue per operating day of $22,161 was a decrease of 17% from $26,642 in Q4 2018 which included a one-time contract payout amount of $0.7 million.

U.S. Contract Drilling revenue of $2.6 million for Q4 2019 (Q4 2018: nil) was achieved with a utilization rate of 31% (Q4 2018: nil) with 56 U.S. drilling rig operating days completed. Q4 2019 average revenue per operating day in the U.S. was US$45,461 and included $0.8 million in one-time recovery of mobilization costs. CWC plans to move two more drilling rigs into the United States by the end of 2020, subject to obtaining contracts with U.S. customers.

Production Services

With a fleet of 146 service rigs, CWC is the largest well servicing company in Canada as measured by active fleet and operating hours. CWC's service rig fleet consists of 75 single, 57 double, and 14 slant rigs providing services which include completions, maintenance, workovers and well decommissioning with depth ratings from 1,500 to 5,000 metres. CWC has chosen to park 62 of its service rigs and focus its sales and operational efforts on the remaining 84 active service rigs due to the reduction in the number of service rigs currently required to service the WCSB, in part as a result of the Government of Alberta's mandated crude oil production curtailments.

CWC's fleet of nine coil tubing units consist of six Class I and three Class II coil tubing units having depth ratings from 1,500 to 3,200 metres. While the Company continues to service steam-assisted gravity drainage ("SAGD") wells that are shallower in depth and more appropriate for coil tubing operations, it has recently shifted its sales and operational focus on decommissioning of abandoned wells.

CWC's fleet of 13 swabbing rigs operate under the trade name CWC Swabtech. The swabbing rigs are used to remove liquids from the wellbore and allow reservoir pressures to push the commodity up the tubing. The Company has chosen to park eight of its swabbing rigs and focus its sales and operational efforts on the remaining five active swabbing rigs. In January 2020, CWC sold one of its inactive swabbing rigs for a current fleet of 12 swabbing rigs.

Production Services revenue was $23.0 million in Q4 2019, up $0.6 million (3%) compared to $22.4 million in Q4 2018. The increase in Q4 2019 activity levels for our production-oriented service rigs was a result of our E&P customers choosing to do workovers to optimize production on their wells prior to the end of the year. CWC's Production Services segment was affected by a tight labour market for field employees during Q4 2019. Had rig crews been available, CWC believes it could activate 19 of the 62 inactive service rigs with minimal capital expenditure resulting in a 103 active service rig fleet.

CWC's service rig utilization in Q4 2019 of 61% (Q4 2018: 51%) was driven by 33,656 operating hours being 8% higher than the 31,232 operating hours in Q4 2018. In addition, the Q4 2019 average revenue per hour of $664 remained relatively unchanged compared to the $663 per hour in Q4 2018. Q4 2019 average revenue per hour excluding the Company's top volume customers of $682 was $14 per hour (2%) lower than Q4 2018 average revenue per hour of $696 as CWC was able to increase its hourly rate with its largest volume customers while being more competitive at slightly lower rates offered by our competitors for its smaller volume customers.

CWC's coil tubing utilization in Q4 2019 of 10% (Q4 2018: 31%) with 448 operating hours was 73% lower than the 1,647 operating hours in Q4 2018. Average revenue per hour for coil tubing services of $646 in Q4 2019 is $21 per hour higher (3%) than $625 in Q4 2018. The lower utilization reflects the continuing challenge of lower crude oil prices during the quarter, compared to a year ago, as well as the Government of Alberta mandated production curtailments temporarily slowing down the need for work on SAGD wells.

CWC swabbing rig utilization in Q4 2019 of 35% (Q4 2018: 41%) with 1,141 operating hours was 51% lower than the 2,313 operating hours in Q4 2018 as CWC had three less swabbing rigs active during the quarter compared to the prior year, due to lower customer demand from continued low natural gas prices. Average revenue per hour for swabbing rigs of $282 in Q4 2019 is relatively unchanged from $283 in Q4 2018.

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures of $1.2 million in Q4 2019, a decrease of $0.8 million (40%) compared to $2.0 million in Q4 2018.

Capital expenditures were $5.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, a decrease of $6.4 million (54%) compared to $11.8 million in 2018. The Company met its 2019 capital expenditure budget of $5.4 million which was announced on January 16, 2019.

The 2020 capital expenditure budget of $6.7 million was approved by the Board of Directors on December 12, 2019 and is comprised of $6.0 million of maintenance and infrastructure capital related to recertifications, additions and upgrades to field equipment for the drilling rig and service rig divisions as well as information technology infrastructure, and $0.7 million related to growth capital to upgrade one of the drilling rigs.

Outlook

Crude oil, as represented by WTI, averaged US$56.85/bbl in Q4 2019, an increase of 1% compared to Q3 2019 average price of US$56.40/bbl (Q4 2018: US$59.32/bbl). The price differential in Q4 2019 between Canadian heavy crude oil, as represented by WCS, and WTI widened to over US$20.00/bbl. The Government of Alberta announcements in Q3 2019 reducing the production curtailment to 125,000 bbls/day and extending the curtailment end date to December 31, 2020 while increasing the exemption limit from 10,000 to 20,000 bbls/day starting October 1, 2019, effectively reduced the number of Alberta E&P companies affected by the production curtailment. The widening price differential between WTI and WCS is partially a result of this increased crude oil supply which saw an increase in Alberta crude oil storage levels in November 2019 nearing all-time highs last achieved in 2018. As more pipeline space gets freed up on existing pipelines, crude-by-rail continues to grow and once construction of the Enbridge Line 3 Replacement Project is completed, the WTI – WCS differential should begin to narrow, thereby allowing increased activity level for oilfield services in the WCSB. Natural gas prices, as measured by AECO, increased 141% from an average of $0.97/GJ in Q3 2019 to $2.34/GJ in Q4 2019 (Q4 2018 $1.53/GJ); a result of the Canadian Energy Regulator's approval of the TSP application which caused the differential between Alberta gas prices and other North American natural gas prices, such as NYMEX, to narrow. The TSP was enacted with the goal of providing TC Energy more flexibility in how they deal with curtailments on the Nova Gas Transmission System during times of maintenance.

In Q1 2020, CWC is currently experiencing higher utilization than at any point in 2019 for both drilling rigs and service rigs which we believe will continue through to spring breakup. The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers ("CAPP") has recently stated that it expects $37 billion, about $2 billion (6%) more than 2019, will be invested in the Canadian upstream energy sector in 2020; the first increase since 2014 when investment levels were $81 billion. In addition, on January 30, 2020, the Petroleum Services Association of Canada ("PSAC") increased its forecast for the number of wells to be drilled in Canada for 2020 by 300 wells (7%) to 4,800 wells. These industry forecasts suggest that CWC's Canadian activity levels should be stronger throughout 2020 with its only significant constraint being able to find sufficient field labour. However, CWC cautions that the current global uncertainty with respect to the spread of the COVID-19 virus (the "coronavirus") and its effect on the disruption of supply and demand for products and services to the broader global economy, including its effect on oil and natural gas produced by our E&P customers, may have a significant negative effect to oilfield service activity levels in Canada and the U.S.

While CWC remains focused on its operational and financial performance, it also recognizes the need to pursue opportunities that create long-term shareholder value. With the support of the Board of Directors, management continues to actively pursue business combinations in North America and globally. CWC cautions that there are no guarantees that strategic opportunities will result in a transaction, or if a transaction is undertaken, as to its terms or timing.

About CWC Energy Services Corp.

CWC Energy Services Corp. is a premier contract drilling and well servicing company operating in the WCSB with a complementary suite of oilfield services including drilling rigs, service rigs and coil tubing units. The Company's corporate office is located in Calgary, Alberta, with operational locations in Nisku, Grande Prairie, Slave Lake, Drayton Valley, Lloydminster, Provost and Brooks, Alberta. The Company's shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "CWC".

Forward-Looking Information

This News Release contains certain forward-looking information and statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Certain statements contained in this News Release including most of those contained in the section titled "Outlook" and including statements which may contain such words as "anticipate", "could", "continue", "should", "seek", "may", "intend", "likely", "plan", "estimate", "believe", "expect", "will", "objective", "ongoing", "project" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. In particular, this News Release contains forward-looking statements including management's assessment of future plans and operations, planned levels of capital expenditures, expectations as to activity levels, expectations on the sustainability of future cash flow and earnings, expectations with respect to crude oil and natural gas prices, activity levels in various areas, expectations regarding the level and type of drilling and production and related drilling and well services activity in the WCSB, expectations regarding entering into long term drilling contracts and expanding its customer base, and expectations regarding the business, operations, revenue and debt levels of the Company in addition to general economic conditions. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information and statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information and statements because the Company can give no assurances that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking information and statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, the risks associated with the drilling and oilfield services sector (i.e. demand, pricing and terms for oilfield drilling and services; current and expected oil and gas prices; exploration and development costs and delays; reserves discovery and decline rates; pipeline and transportation capacity; weather, health, safety and environmental risks), integration of acquisitions, competition, and uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans with respect to acquisitions, development projects or capital expenditures and changes in legislation, including but not limited to tax laws, royalties and environmental regulations, stock market volatility and the inability to access sufficient capital from external and internal sources. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect the Company's financial results are included in reports on file with applicable securities regulatory authorities and may be accessed through SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information and statements contained in this News Release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information or statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. Any forward-looking statements made previously may be inaccurate now.

Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Measures

SOURCE CWC Energy Services Corp.