Lundin Petroleum releases 1H19 report

Highlights

• Production above mid-point guidance for the first half of the year at 77.5 million boe/d and 2Q19 at 76.1 million boe/d.
• Continued strong financial performance.
• Out performance of Edvard Grieg has extended plateau production from previously guided mid-2020 and when coupled with the tie-back projects will take plateau to end of 2022.
• Johan Sverdrup commissioning progressing to plan, on track for expected first oil in November 2019 and further CAPEX reduction.
• Significant exploration activity – 11 wells drilled and four discoveries announced.
• Proposed transaction to redeem 16% of issued shares and sale of 2.6% of Johan Sverdrup announced July 2019.
• Post transaction, near term production guidance maintained at over 150 million boe/d post Johan Sverdrup Phase 1 plateau (2020).
• Full year dividend of US$1.48 per share, first quarterly payment of US$0.37 per share (US$125 million) paid in April, post transaction dividend policy remains unchanged.

Alex Schneiter, President and CEO of Lundin Petroleum, commented:

“The first half of 2019 has been one of the busiest to date in all areas of our business and I am pleased to report another period of sustained strong financial performance and operational delivery, driven by our portfolio of world class assets which continue to outperform quarter on quarter.

“We are now on the final countdown to first oil from Johan Sverdrup in November 2019. With the offshore installation having been completed at the front end of the weather window in March 2019, the hook up and commissioning of the installed facilities is progressing on plan. The project is now over 90% complete and the operator has further reduced Phase 1 gross capital expenditure guidance to NOK 83 billion from NOK 86 billion.

“Our key producing assets at Edvard Grieg and Alvheim continue to deliver, both in production performance and efficiency. At Edvard Grieg, the Solveig tie-back development project kicked off during the period, following PDO approval in June 2019, alongside the Rolvsnes EWT which was also approved in July 2019. With the two tie-back projects now sanctioned, plus a committed infill programme, the plateau production period through the Edvard Grieg facilities has now been extended to around the end of 2022, from mid-2020.

“We remain focussed on organic growth and the last six months have been a very active period in the Company from an exploration and appraisal perspective with 12 wells drilled to date, resulting in four discoveries and one appraisal success. Seven further exploration and appraisal wells will be drilled this year targeting approximately 200 million boe of net unrisked resources; including the basement target at Goddo, near Edvard Grieg which has the opportunity to unlock a significant resource potential in this new geological play type to Norway.

“In terms of business development we announced a transaction post period end which, once complete, will see us redeem 16% of our shares in issue and sell of 2.6% of Johan Sverdrup to Equinor. This transaction rationalises our shareholder structure and increases all investors’ leverage to the continuing performance of our world class portfolio of assets, the soon to be producing Johan Sverdrup field and the Company’s organic growth strategy. As such we have also updated our guidance for the near and long term, which sees our capital expenditure coming down while production post the start-up of Johan Sverdrup remains above 150 million boe/d.

“Looking towards the second half of the year, one of the stand out events will be first oil at Johan Sverdrup expected in November, which is a significant moment for our business since our first discovery well there. We will also continue to be busy with the exploration drill bit and I look forward to further progress from the new projects currently in the development phase. With our industry leading low operating cost base, production growth profile and high HSE track record, I remain very confident in our business’ ability to continue to outperform.”

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/exploration/31072019/lundin-petroleum-releases-1h19-report/