Energean Oil and Gas announces its audited full-year results for the year ended 31 December 2019[1]. 

Mathios Rigas, Chief Executive Officer, Energean Oil & Gas commented:
"Energean continued its strong growth trajectory in 2019, becoming firmly established as a leading, FTSE 250 E&P independent.

"The COVID-19 pandemic and OPEC+ price war have put us into uncertain times, but we are well-placed to weather the challenges. Once the Edison E&P transaction is completed, around 70% of our production will be sold under long-term gas sales agreements that insulate our future revenues against oil price volatility. Following completion of the Edison E&P transaction, we will continue to own and operate the majority of our asset base, and are well-funded for all of our projects. This will ensure that we can respond quickly and appropriately to the macro environment and take the right decisions to protect our business and our shareholders, as demonstrated by the $155 million cut to our 2020 capex guidance. The crisis finds Energean well prepared with full discretion on our non-Israeli capex programme and a very strong balance sheet further strengthened only recently by a further $175 million committed funding for our Karish project, demonstrating the strength of our banking relationships and the commitment of our lenders to the project.

"In the coming weeks, you will see our FPSO hull sailaway from China to Singapore, a key milestone in the delivery of first gas from Karish, which is on track for 1H 2021. During 2019 we completed the drilling of the three development wells of Karish, confirmed excellent productivity rates from the wells and made a new discovery (Karish North) in Israel that we intend to develop in 2021. We continued to gain market share in Israel securing additional long-term gas contracts and bringing us closer to our target to maximise capacity utilisation of our FPSO. We expect the Edison E&P transaction to close during 2020, which, based on the agreed locked-box date of 1 January 2019, allows us to benefit from the robust results delivered by the business during 2019[2], including $152 million of Free Cash Flow from the assets to be acquired. This, combined with the receivables recovered in Egypt, exclusion of the Algerian assets from the transaction perimeter and our onward disposal of the North Sea assets to Neptune Energy, contributes to a low effective purchase price.

"Fully committed to lead also on the ESG front, Energean became the first E&P company globally to commit to net zero emissions by 2050, and we have a firm plan to reduce carbon intensity by 70% over the next three years.

"I look forward to continuing to deliver positive momentum and sustainable growth to maximise value for all of our stakeholders"

Highlights

• Karish was 72% physically complete at 31 December 2019 and remains on track to deliver first gas in 1H 2021.  Firm gas sales of 5.0 bcm/yr with a further 0.6 bcm/yr to be converted to a firm basis immediately on publication of a satisfactory Karish North CPR, expected at the end of March 2020.
• Post-period end, two of the three Karish development wells successfully flowed during clean-up operations, confirming that each will be capable of delivering up to the design limit of 300 mmscf/d (c.3 bcm/yr). The third development well is currently in the clean-up phase and production performance is expected to be similar, confirming that the three wells will be able to produce to the 8 bcm/yr capacity of the FPSO.
• Increased 2P reserves and 2C resources to 558 MMboe, representing a 39% year-on-year increase, before any contribution from the Edison E&P acquisition. Energean is at a transition point in its history, from which it will convert this growth in reserves to growth in production and cash flow.
• 2019 average Working Interest production was 3.3 kbopd from the Prinos field. Cost of production was approximately $21.5 /bbl.
• 2019 full year revenue  was $76 million. Adjusted EBITDAX was $36 million. Capital expenditure was $685 million.
• Recognised a $71 million impairment charge on the Prinos area, reflecting a reduction in Energean's oil price assumptions and a change in the Group's Prinos field production forecast.
• Energean retains significant liquidity. At 31 December 2019, Energean had cash and undrawn facilities of $834 million, excluding the undrawn $600 million acquisition bridge facility.
• Became the first E&P company globally to commit to net zero emissions by 2050 and have a firm plan to reduce carbon intensity by 70% over the next three years.

Production and reserves

Average Working Interest production from the Edison E&P portfolio during 2019 was 64.2 kboed. Average 2019 production from the assets to be retained by Energean was 56.4 kboe/d and, for this set of assets, pro forma 2020 production guidance is a range of 42.5 - 50.0 kboe/d. Average Working Interest production in the first two months of 2020 is estimated to have been 52.4 kboe/d.

During 2020, Energean expects Egyptian production to average 32 - 37 kboe/d, Italy to average 8 - 10 kboe/d and Croatia to average 0.5 kboe/d. After an initial reduction during 2020 due to the natural depletion of the fields, production is expected to rise again in the medium term mainly due to new developments; Cassiopea in Italy, Yazzi/NEA/NI in Egypt and, potentially, Irena in Croatia. Production is also expected to be enhanced through the drilling of additional wells at Abu Qir; four locations have been identified for near-to-medium term drilling that, if sanctioned (noting that these wells represent discretionary capital expenditure), would target a combined 30 mmboe of reserves for a total budget of c.$90 million

Energean increased 2P reserves and 2C resources to 558 MMboe, up 39% year-on-year, before any contribution from the Edison E&P acquisition. Energean's reserves and resources benefitted from two discoveries during 2019, the Karish North discovery in Israel, which added 190 mmboe, and the Epsilon Deeper and Dolomitic Zones, which added 25 mmboe.

Exploration Programme

Energean has decided to defer its exploration activity on Block 12. Results from the Karish North CPR are expected to be sufficient to ensure that Energean has sufficient gas resources  to be able to participate in upcoming GSPA opportunities in Israel. This has allowed Energean to defer investment and conserve capital without impacting potential cash flow-driven returns for its shareholders.

The Zeus and Athena prospects remain very attractive and Energean intends to re-visit its investment decision in due course.

Acreage

Energean also added to its Israeli acreage in 2019. The Company, as part of a joint venture with Israel Opportunity, was awarded four new licences - 55, 56, 61 and 62 - in Zone D of the Israeli EEZ. The licences are situated approximately 45 kilometres off the coast of Tel Aviv and represent a strong potential source of upside in Energean's Israel portfolio.

Greece

Production
At the end of 2019, Energean decided to place its Prinos area assets under strategic review, the results of which will be communicated to the market once complete.  Working interest production from Greece averaged 3,312 boepd during 2019, however, investment in Prinos, Prinos North and Epsilon will continue to be limited whilst this strategic review is concluded and 2020 production is, therefore, expected to be in the range of 2,000 to 2,500 boepd, assuming no contribution from Epsilon. Output from Prinos and Prinos North is to be maintained through rig-less activities requiring limited expenditure.

Due to higher-return capital allocation priorities, Energean no longer carries a medium-term production target for the Prinos area asset; future production will be a function of the level of investment in the assets.

Development - 2019 Overview
During 2019, all three Epsilon Lamda platform development wells were drilled successfully. As previously announced, additional pay was encountered in the deeper and dolomitic zones of the Epsilon reservoir. This resulted in an NSAI-audited reserve and contingent resource increase of 26 MMboe, to 44 mmboe.

At Katakolo, award of the EIA is expected in 2Q 2020 with potential Final Investment Decision thereafter. NSAI-audited Katakolo reserves are 14 MMboe, a 36% increase on 2018.

The proposed underground gas storage project in South Kavala saw a positive development in 4Q 2019 when an amendment to the law was passed on 10 December 2019, making it possible for the regulating energy authority to regulate the tariff. This paves the way for a tender for the project, which is expected in 2020. On 11 March 2020, the Greek Energy and Finance Ministries signed a decision to allow the country's state-asset sales fund to proceed with an international tender to construct, maintain and operate an underground gas storage facility at the South Kavala field, with the first step a cost-benefit study. The right to exploit the facility will be 50 years.

Exploration
In Ioannina, interpretation of the newly acquired seismic lines is ongoing and a drill-or-drop decision will be taken in 1H 2020. The quality of acquired seismic was a major improvement when compared to historic vintages and the lines have identified two prospective trends with multiple analogue prospects. Further, the new 2D seismic has verified the existing geological model, de-risking existing prospectivity. The seismic lines were acquired with minimal environmental impact and Energean and the operator, Repsol, have agreed to plant trees in areas away from the 2D seismic lines. The outstanding net financial commitment on the Ioannina block is less than $0.5 million.

In Aitoloakarnania, the operator, Repsol, is carrying out the necessary environmental studies in preparation for the 2D seismic acquisition campaign, which is expected to commence in 2Q 2020, subject to permitting. The outstanding net financial commitment on the Aitoloakarnania is less than $3 million.

In February 2020, Energean signed an agreement for the acquisition of Total's 50% stake in, and operatorship of, Block 2, offshore Western Greece, providing further material exploration opportunities in its core area of the Eastern Mediterranean with limited financial exposure. Energean's net remaining expenditure (at 50% Working Interest and post including consideration) towards satisfaction of the minimum work obligation, which includes 1800 kilometres of 2D seismic acquisition and processing, is approximately €0.5 million. Energean believes that this is a highly attractive transaction in the context of the early stage prospectivity identified on the block.

Work to date on the licence has identified that Block 2 contains part of a large four-way closure at the Top Jurassic Apulia platform. The prospect is believed to be an analogue to the Vega field, offshore Italy, which Edison E&P operates with a 60% Working Interest. The structure is covered by sparse 2D seismic and could be de-risked through the seismic acquisition programme to be executed as part of the minimum work obligation.

Montenegro

In February 2019, Energean commissioned PGS for the acquisition of a new 3D seismic survey over Blocks 26 and 30. The PGS Ramform Titan, one of the best seismic acquisition vessels in the world, deployed 14 geo-streamers, 6.5 kilometres for each streamer length, using a triple source array to cover a total area of 338 square kilometres. The 3D seismic survey substantially fulfils the licence commitment for both blocks 26 & 30 with a net outstanding financial commitment of less than $0.5 million.

Results from the seismic survey have identified a number of shallow gas prospects and deeper carbonate prospects have been identified through interpretation of the newly acquired seismic data. Energean is awaiting final data in order to confirm the primary prospect. The Ministry of Economy in Montenegro confirmed that Energean will receive an extension to the first exploration phase to 15 March 2021, with a drill-or-drop decision due by year end 2020.

Edison E&P acquisition

In July 2019, Energean agreed to acquire Edison Exploration & Production S.p.A. from Edison S.p.A. for $750 million, to be adjusted for working capital, with additional contingent consideration of $100 million payable following first gas from the Cassiopea development (expected early 2023), offshore Italy.

Energean also agreed to sell the UK and Norwegian subsidiaries of Edison E&P to Neptune Energy for $250 million, to be adjusted for working capital, with additional contingent consideration of up to $30 million. The sale is contingent on Energean completing upon its acquisition of Edison E&P and is expected to close as soon as is reasonably practicable after close of the Edison E&P transaction.

On 23 December 2019, Energean announced that Edison S.p.A. had received a letter from the Algerian authorities, which invited Edison to discuss the transaction with Sonatrach. Energean and Edison E&P subsequently agreed to exclude the asset from the transaction perimeter.  Carve out of the Algerian assets from the transaction perimeter has now been agreed in principle at an effective price of $155 million, based on an effective transaction date of 1 January 2019; the carve out remains subject to a signed, amended SPA.

[1] All Edison E&P 2019 financials are presented on a pro forma unaudited

Link to Energean Greece country profile