EARNINGS / Beau Canada Exploration Ltd. 1997 Results
TSE, ME SYMBOL: BAU
MARCH 10, 1998
CALGARY, ALBERTA--
BEAU CANADA EXPLORATION LTD.
1997 Results
Highlights
- Cash flow up 32 percent, to $56 million in 1997.
- Cash flow per share up 28 percent to $0.64/share.
- Net income of $13 million, up 27 percent over 1996.
- Production of oil up 26 percent, gas up 16 percent over 1996.
- Gas reserves increased by 23 percent, oil & liquids by 13 percent.
- 15.8 million proven and risked probable barrels of oil equivalent added in 1997.
- Proven and risked probable reserves added at $6.66/boe in 1997.
- Reserve replacement of 250 percent in 1997.
- Drilling success rate of 80 percent in 1997 (89 percent in 1996).
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Corporate Highlights Year Ended Three Months December 31 Ended December 31 Percent Percent 1997 1996 Change 1997 1996 Change ---- ---- ------ ---- ---- -------
Financial ($000's): Revenue 110,850 95,933 16 27,323 29,599 (8)
Cash Flow 56,169 42,604 32 13,397 13,841 (3) per share 0.64 0.50 28 0.15 0.16 (6) ------- ------ -- ------ ------ -
Net Income (Loss) 12,753 10,023 27 3,143 3,473 (10) per share 0.15 0.12 25 0.04 0.04 0 ------- ------ -- ------ ------ --
Production: Oil & Liquids (bbls/d) 10,454 8,304 26 10,599 9,716 9 Gas (mmcf/d) 70.7 60.9 16 70.1 67.4 4 ------ ----- -- ------ ----- -
Barrels of oil equivalent/d 17,520 14,398 22 17,606 16,456 7
Average Prices: Oil & Liquids per barrel $ 17.13 $20.14 (15) $ 15.53 $ 20.83 (25) Gas per mcf 1.76 1.56 13 1.89 1.77 7 ------- ------ -- ------- ------- --
Shares Outstanding (average)(millions) 87.9 84.9 4 88.7 86.0 3
Drilling Results: Year Ended December 31 1997 1996 ---- ---- Gross Net Gross Net Oil Wells 70 50.1 52 42.7 Gas Wells 39 30.4 19 12.7 Dry and Abandoned 22 20.6 8 6.7 -- ---- -- ---- 131 101.1 79 62.1
Success Rate (in percent) 83 80 90 89
Three Months Ended December 31 1997 1996 ---- ---- Gross Net Gross Net ----- --- ----- --- Oil Wells 21 14.0 7 6.5 Gas Wells 12 11.3 5 3.8 Dry and Abandoned 3 3.0 1 1.0 -- ---- -- --- 36 28.3 13 11.3
Success Rate (in Percent) 92 89 92 91
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Financial
For the year ended December 31, 1997 Beau Canada's cash flow increased 32 percent to $56.2 million ($0.64/share) from $42.6 million ($0.50/share) a year earlier. Gross revenue increased 16 percent to $110.9 million from $95.9 million a year earlier. Net income for the year was $12.8 million ($0.15/share), up 27 percent compared to $10.0 million ($0.12/share) in the previous year.
Production
Oil and natural gas liquids production averaged 10,454 bbls/d in 1997, an increase of 26 percent over 1996. Gas production increased 16 percent to 70.7 mmcf/d. The increase in gas production was largely a result of the drilling and tying-in of gas wells drilled on the Helmet/Peggo property in north-east British Columbia and the Gilby area of central Alberta. Oil production increases were attributable to successful drilling in the Medicine Hat area of south-east Alberta and the Low Lake, Winter, Baldwinton and Westhazel areas of west-central Saskatchewan. The total daily production for 1997 averaged 17,520 barrels of oil equivalent, up 22 percent from 1996.
Activity and Reserves
Beau Canada drilled 131 gross (101.1 net) wells in 1997 with an 80 percent success rate. During 1997 the Company undertook major drilling programs in the Medicine Hat area of south-east Alberta, the Low Lake, Winter, Baldwinton and Westhazel areas of west-central Saskatchewan, the Helmet/Peggo areas of north-east British Columbia and the Gilby area of central Alberta.
In addition to the drilling activity, Beau Canada significantly increased spending on land additions, particularly in areas with potential for liquids rich gas reserves such as Karr in the deep basin of Alberta. During 1997 the Company also expanded the Gilby gas plant capacity from 12 mmcf/d to 23 mmcf/d in order to accommodate the Company's drilling successes and plans for the area.
In a continuing effort to rationalize properties, $11.8 million of non-core properties were sold in 1997, the majority of which occurred in the fourth quarter.
The Company replaced its production by approximately 250 percent. The Company's proven reserves increased by 18 percent to 50.3 million barrels of oil equivalent from 42.6 million barrels in 1996. Of this total, oil and natural gas liquids reserves increased by 13 percent to 24.2 million barrels from 21.5 million barrels in 1996. Gas reserves increased by 23 percent to 261 bcf in 1997. The growth in the Company's gas reserves reflects Beau Canada's shift into exploration for longer life gas reserves over the last several years. Proven and risked probable reserves increased 21 percent to 54.4 million barrels of oil equivalent from 1996 levels.
The cost of reserve additions for the Company in 1997 was $6.66/boe for proven and risked probable reserves, giving us a five year average of $5.65/boe. Cost of reserve additions increased in 1997 due to higher costs for services and a proportionately higher level of spending on land and facilities.
Beau Canada also positioned itself to sell its Alliance interest during 1997 by rolling its interest into the Fort Chicago Energy Partnership. Through this transaction Beau Canada subscribed for special warrants of Fort Chicago which gave the Company an 8 percent stake in Fort Chicago. This interest was subsequently sold in February 1998 for a profit of $9.3 million.
Outlook
Beau Canada expects 1998 to be a challenging year due to the recent decline in oil prices and expected flat gas prices. The Company is budgeting oil prices at U.S. $17.00 for WTI, an 18 percent drop from 1997 actual levels and gas prices of $1.75/mcf.
The current oil price environment has caused the Company to shut-in 1,000 bbls/d of production thus far in 1998 and to reduce capital spending on oil projects. Liquids production is expected to average 9,000 bbls/d with this price forecast.
Gas production is expected to increase significantly in 1998 as the majority of spending is directed toward gas projects. Gas additions are expected in Helmet/Peggo, Foxglove, Gilby, Cecil and Gold Creek. A number of gas exploration plays will be drilled in 1998, notably in Karr and Gold Creek in the deep basin area of Alberta. Current drilling and tie-in plans indicate Beau Canada could average 100 mmcf/d of production in 1998.
In this environment Beau Canada is expecting cash flow to decrease slightly to $53 million or $0.59/share from $56 million or $0.64/share in 1997. The Company is encouraged by its gas prospects and the outlook for increased gas prices in late 1998 and 1999 due to increased pipeline capacity coming onstream November 1, 1998. With the projected increase in gas prices and production, Beau Canada expects cash flow to improve substantially in 1999.
Beau Canada Exploration Ltd. is a Canadian oil and gas exploration and development company based in Calgary. Beau Canada's common shares are listed on The Toronto Stock Exchange and the Montreal Exchange under the symbol "BAU". |