CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - May 14, 2014) - Artek Exploration Ltd. (TSX:RTK) of Calgary, Alberta ("Artek" or the "Company") is pleased to provide this summary of its financial and operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. A complete copy of the Company's comparative financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, along with management's discussion and analysis in respect thereof will be filed on SEDAR and on the Company's website at www.artekexploration.com.
HIGHLIGHTS
| Three Months Ended March 31, |
2014 |
|
2013 |
|
Change |
|
| (000s, except per share amounts) |
($) |
|
($) |
|
(%) |
|
| Financial |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Petroleum and natural gas revenues |
20,396 |
|
14,449 |
|
41 |
|
| Funds flow from operations (1) |
9,872 |
|
6,919 |
|
43 |
|
|
Per share - basic |
0.15 |
|
0.13 |
|
15 |
|
|
|
- diluted |
0.14 |
|
0.13 |
|
8 |
|
| Cash from operating activities |
7,703 |
|
7,488 |
|
3 |
|
| Net earnings |
1,267 |
|
1,460 |
|
(13 |
) |
|
Per share - basic |
0.02 |
|
0.03 |
|
(33 |
) |
|
|
- diluted |
0.02 |
|
0.03 |
|
(33 |
) |
| Capital expenditures |
29,462 |
|
20,687 |
|
42 |
|
| Net debt (2) |
(87,882 |
) |
(25,845 |
) |
240 |
|
| Shareholders' equity |
170,671 |
|
152,603 |
|
12 |
|
| (000s) |
(#) |
|
(#) |
|
(%) |
|
| Share Data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| At period-end |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
67,025 |
|
62,471 |
|
7 |
|
|
Options |
4,800 |
|
4,001 |
|
20 |
|
| Weighted average |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
67,001 |
|
51,983 |
|
29 |
|
|
Diluted |
68,943 |
|
53,648 |
|
29 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(%) |
|
| Operating |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Production |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural gas (mcf/d) |
15,789 |
|
12,675 |
|
25 |
|
|
Crude oil (bbls/d) |
1,025 |
|
1,134 |
|
(10 |
) |
|
NGLs (bbls/d) |
491 |
|
357 |
|
38 |
|
|
Total (boe/d)(3) |
4,147 |
|
3,603 |
|
15 |
|
| Average wellhead prices (4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural gas ($/mcf) |
6.04 |
|
3.58 |
|
69 |
|
|
Crude oil ($/bbl) |
90.57 |
|
84.25 |
|
8 |
|
|
NGLs ($/bbl) |
67.76 |
|
52.96 |
|
28 |
|
|
Total ($/boe)(5) |
53.48 |
|
44.55 |
|
20 |
|
| Royalties ($/boe) |
(8.58 |
) |
(8.13 |
) |
6 |
|
| Operating cost ($/boe) |
(12.44 |
) |
(9.53 |
) |
31 |
|
| Transportation cost ($/boe) |
(2.61 |
) |
(1.88 |
) |
39 |
|
| Operating netback ($/boe)(6) |
29.85 |
|
25.00 |
|
19 |
|
| General and administrative expense ($/boe) |
(2.02 |
) |
(2.48 |
) |
(19 |
) |
| Interest expense ($/boe) |
(1.39 |
) |
(1.19 |
) |
17 |
|
| Funds flow netback ($/boe)(7) |
26.45 |
|
21.33 |
|
24 |
|
| Drilling activity - gross (net) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Development (#) |
7 (4.5 |
) |
6 (3.0 |
) |
|
|
|
Exploration (#) |
- |
|
1 (0.6 |
) |
|
|
|
Total (#) |
7 (4.5 |
) |
7 (3.6 |
) |
|
|
| Average working interest (%) |
64 |
|
51 |
|
|
|
| (1) |
Funds flow from operations is calculated using cash from operating activities, as presented in the statement of cash flows, before changes in non-cash working capital and settlement of decommissioning costs. Funds flow from operations is used to analyze the Company's operating performance and leverage. Funds flow from operations does not have a standardized measure prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), and therefore, may not be comparable with the calculations of similar measures for other companies. |
| (2) |
Current assets less current liabilities, excluding fair value of derivative instruments. |
| (3) |
For a description of the boe conversion ratio, refer to the advisories contained herein. |
| (4) |
Product prices include realized gains/losses from financial derivative instruments. |
| (5) |
Oil equivalent price includes minor sulphur sales revenue. |
| (6) |
Operating netback equals petroleum and natural gas revenues plus realized gains or losses on financial derivatives less royalties, transportation and operating costs calculated on a per boe basis. Operating netback does not have a standardized measure prescribed by IFRS, and therefore, may not be comparable with the calculations of similar measures for other companies. |
| (7) |
Funds flow netback equals petroleum and natural gas revenues plus realized gains or losses on financial derivatives less royalties, transportation, operating costs, general and administrative expenses and interest calculated on a per boe basis. Funds flow netback does not have a standardized measure prescribed by IFRS, and therefore, may not be comparable with the calculations of similar measures for other companies. |
First Quarter Financial and Operating Highlights
- Increased average production to 4,147 boe/d (37% liquids), up 15% and 3% from the first and fourth quarters of 2013, respectively despite production curtailments and facility restrictions.
- Increased funds flow from operations to $9.9 million, up 43% and 53% from the first and fourth quarters of 2013, respectively. On a per share basis, funds flow rose to $0.15 per basic share, an increase of 15% and 50% compared to the first and fourth quarters last year, respectively.
- Improved operating netback to $29.85/boe, up 19% and 46% from the first and fourth quarters of 2013, respectively.
- Increased funds flow netback to $26.45/boe, representing a 24% and 53% improvement from the 2013 first and fourth quarters, respectively.
- Drilled 7 (4.5 net) wells, including 3 (1.7 net) wells at Inga/Fireweed, British Columbia, 2 (2.0 net) wells at Mulligan, Alberta and 2 (0.8 net) wells at Leduc Woodbend, Alberta.
- Invested $29.5 million in capital expenditures, including $1.7 million on undeveloped land acquisitions in our core operating areas and $2.9 million on facilities.
Financial Summary
The Company invested $29.5 million in capital expenditures during the first quarter of 2014, including the drilling of 3 (1.7 net) wells at Inga/Fireweed, 2 (2.0 net) wells at Mulligan and 2 (0.8 net) wells at Leduc Woodbend. First quarter capital investment included $1.7 million on undeveloped land acquisitions in our core operating areas and $2.9 million on facilities.
Artek's average production for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014 was 4,147 boe/d (37% liquids), up 15% from the previous year and up 3% from the 2013 fourth quarter. First quarter funds flow increased 43% to $9.9 million and 15% to $0.15 per basic share from the same period of 2013. During the first three months of 2014, the Company's operating netback was $29.85/boe, up 19% from the 2013 first quarter, while funds flow per boe increased 24% to $26.45/boe from the previous year. Artek's natural gas price for the quarter rose 69% to $6.04/mcf compared to the same period in 2013. General and administrative costs on a boe basis fell 19% to $2.02/boe compared to the first quarter last year.
Artek has secured several commodity contracts to protect its cash flow and support its 2014 capital budget. The Company has entered into natural gas production swaps on 10,000 mmbtu/d from April to October 2014 at an average fixed price of $3.64/GJ. In addition, 400 bbls/d of crude oil production has been fixed at an average price of CDN$100.75/bbl WTI for 2014. Lastly, the AECO basis on 2,000 mmbtu/d of natural gas has been fixed at 12.85% of Henry Hub for 2014.
Outlook
Following spring breakup, the Company will be back drilling with plans to start in the liquids-rich Inga South area. Artek is currently planning to drill up to an additional seven horizontal wells in the greater Inga/Fireweed area targeting natural gas and condensate in the Doig and Montney formations, and an additional horizontal well targeting the Charlie Lake formation in the Mulligan area.
Subsequent to quarter-end, on May 13, 2014, the Company announced that it entered into an agreement with a syndicate of underwriters pursuant to which the underwriters have agreed to purchase, on a bought deal basis, and Artek has agreed to issue 8,050,000 common shares at a price of $4.10 per share and 1,987,000 flow-through common shares at a price of $5.04 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $43,019,000. The offering is expected to close on or about June 3, 2014 and remains subject to satisfaction of customary conditions and approvals. Proceeds of the offering will initially be used to reduce bank indebtedness, thereby freeing up additional borrowing capacity to fund a portion of the Company's ongoing capital program with the flow-through share proceeds used to incur eligible Canadian exploration expenses that will be renounced to subscribers effective on or before December 31, 2014. The Company and its Board reviews its capital expenditure program on an ongoing basis.