CALGARY, Alberta, Nov. 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Razor Energy Corp. (“Razor” or the “Company”) (TSXV: RZE) announces its third quarter 2021 financial and operating results. Selected financial, operational and reserves information is outlined below and should be read in conjunction with Razor’s unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and the Company’s website www.razor-energy.com.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
- Financing: On October 22, 2021, the Company closed a Private Placement of common shares with Alberta Investment Management Corporation and certain members of management which raised $1,890,000.
- Production: Reactivation work in our operated and non-operated properties has increased current production to approximately 4,700 boe/d based on field estimates.
- Production Guidance: The Company expects to exit 2021 with production at 5,000 boe/d or higher.
Q3 HIGHLIGHTS
- Net Income: Generated $9.7 million of net income, primarily due to a $12.1 million gain related to the acquisition of additional working interests in the Swan Hills area.
- Swan Hills Acquisition: Strategic consolidation of Razor’s working interest in Swan Hills Unit No.1 to 49.7%, adding long life low-risk light oil reserves, production and cash flow underpinned by industry-leading annual base decline rate of 10%.
- Production: Averaged 3,567 boe/d in Q3 which represents a 13% increase from Q2 2021.
- Production Enhancement: Third quarter activities focused in Swan Hills on both operated and non-operated properties.
- Geothermal Project: Commenced project execution on the Co-produced Geothermal Power Generation Project in Swan Hills (the “Geothermal Project”) with estimated completion within the first quarter of 2022. The Geothermal Project will be capable of generating up to 21 MW of grid connected power, of which up to 30% will be sustainable clean power generation.
- ESG and Sustainability: Deposited approximately 2,500 tonnes of hydrocarbon impacted soils into Razor’s recently completed treatment facility in Virginia Hills, which employs bioremediation to treat hydrocarbon-impacted soils. This first batch of soil is expected to be remediated by Q2 2022.
- Reducing Decommissioning Liabilities: Settled $1.1 million of decommissioning obligations, which includes $0.3 million related to government grants received for well site rehabilitation through Alberta’s Site Rehabilitation Program (“SRP”).
NEAR AND MEDIUM-TERM OBJECTIVES
- Safely execute our production enhancement program and Geothermal Project.
- Reduce net debt through continued optimization of capital spending and increased efficiencies to reduce operating and general and administrative costs.
- Actively identify and consider business combinations with other oil and gas producers as well as service companies.
- Further analyze ancillary opportunities including power generating projects, oil blending and vertical services integration.
OUTLOOK
Razor
Razor continues to look forward and plan for the future while remaining focused on its long-term sustainability. The Company has an extensive opportunity set of high-quality wells requiring reactivation, many of which have payout metrics which exceed the Company’s economic thresholds. Razor will continue the production enhancement activity started in February 2021 and anticipates reactivating 14 wells in Q4 2021. This program is intended to continue into 2022. Most activities involve repairs and maintenance work which will be expensed for accounting purposes and operating netbacks will be reduced during this timeframe. In aggregate, the annual base decline of these wells is anticipated to be consistent with the Company’s current corporate rate of approximately 12%. In its history the Company has reactivated over 80 wells adding approximately 2,400 boe/d, or 30 boe/d of initial production on average per well, and it expects that this program will result in similar favorable metrics.
The Company continues to focus on cost control on its operated properties. In addition to the planned production enhancement program, Razor will take a cautious and case-by-case approach to spending for the remainder of 2021 and into 2022, focusing on low risk, low investment capital opportunities to increase field and corporate netbacks.
Razor has high reservoir quality, low decline, isolate carbonate Swan Hills reef light oil pools that contain large original oil in place with over 60 years of production history. Razor believes these reefs are ideally suited for carbon capture, utilization and storage and enhanced oil recovery (“EOR”) purposes1, in addition to geothermal power production and conventional open-hole horizontal development drilling upside.
Razor recognizes multiple deep value streams in its assets and is actively engaged in liberating them for the benefit of shareholders.
FutEra
In May 2021, FutEra Power Corp. (“FutEra”), a subsidiary of Razor entered the project execution stage of its Geothermal Project. FutEra expects the total capital cost of the Geothermal Project to be $34.0 million. Stage Gate 1 is fully funded. Stage Gate 2 requires additional financing which FutEra continues to seek. With both Stage Gate 1 and 2 of the Geothermal Project complete, the total nameplate electricity output of up to 21 MW, of which up to 30% will be sustainable clean power generation. FutEra has partnered with provincial and federal government agencies to invigorate the emerging geothermal industry. Provincially, Alberta Innovates and Emissions Reduction Alberta, and federally, Natural Resources Canada, have provided grants to complete funding. To date, Razor has received $10.5 million in government grants to support this power generation project. (See May 4, 2021, Razor press release and www.futerapower.com for more details.)
With the strategic acquisition of additional working interest in the Swan Hills area, FutEra has identified the potential for additional geothermal and/or natural gas power generation projects in Swan Hills Unit No.1. The volume and temperature of the produced fluids processed through two of the Unit’s main facilities are highly analogous to FutEra’s current Geothermal Project.
FutEra has identified and is in the process of reviewing and capturing additional projects including solar, wind, and other low carbon technologies. In addition, FutEra is in discussions with an industry resource partner to evaluate its renewable energy options and to develop a long term environmental, social and governance plan.
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1 These programs have been successfully demonstrated by the previous operator’s South Swan Hills Unit CO2 EOR Injection Pilot which ran from 2008 to 2010 in addition to CO2 injection programs carried out in the Swan Hills Unit No. 1 and Judy Creek oil pools from 2004 to 2010.
OPERATIONAL UPDATE
Production volumes in the third quarter of 2021 averaged 3,567 boe/d, which is on par with the production volumes in the same period of 2020 and represents a 13% production increase from Q2 2021. Highlights of the causes for the differences in production volumes between Q3 2021 and Q3 2020 are as follows:
- Swan Hills – production volumes are on par with those in the same period of 2020. Production in Q3 2021 was negatively impacted by various third party, temporary infrastructure issues. These impacts have been offset by increased production in the Swan Hills Unit No.1 as a result of the working interest acquisition in August 2021, a 4 well reactivation program, and the conclusion of operated and non-operated facility turnarounds.
The Company is completing a reactivation program in Q4 2021 which will positively impact production in Swan Hills. This program is intended to continue into Q1 2022. The operator in Swan Hills Unit No.1 has embarked on various production enhancing activities in Q3 and Q4 2021. The Company expects these types of activities to continue in 2022.
- Kaybob – production volumes have increased 28% from the same period in 2020 due to certain reactivation and repair activities in the Simonette area offset by various, temporary shut-ins in other Kaybob non-operated wells. The Company is contemplating a reactivation program in Q1 2022.
- South District – production volumes have decreased 21% from the same period in 2020 primarily due natural declines and a non-operated field being shut in due to operator insolvency. Production from this particular non-operated field is expected to commence in January, 2022. The Company has also completed a limited reactivation program in its South District within Q4 2021.
Razor’s operating expenses on a corporate level in Q3 2021 were at a historical high, with an increase as compared to Q2 2021 primarily due to higher electricity costs, facility repairs and chemical purchases.
The primary factors affecting operating costs on a $/boe basis are production levels, workover activity, and electricity pricing. Inherent within the Company’s hydrocarbon operations is a prominent fixed cost element, or those costs that are not related to production levels. On a relative basis these costs are higher with lower production. In Q3 2021, Razor’s production was lower than historical averages due to the factors described above. In addition, Razor embarked on a workover program in Q3 2021, which will extend into Q4 2021, the majority of which will be expensed. Furthermore, the electricity market has seen a continual rise in prices, which has recently stabilized.
The Company expects a decrease in operating costs in Q4 2021 on a $/boe basis due to higher production levels, offset by higher workover activity.
CAPITAL PROGRAM
During the third quarter of 2021, Razor invested $3.9 million in its Geothermal Project. The Company also capitalized $0.1 million of costs related to operated and non-operated turnaround activities executed in the prior quarter. As of September 30, 2021, Razor has received $10.5 million in government grants since inception in to support its Geothermal Project.
Razor did not initiate any projects requiring finding and development capital in the quarter.
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/11/26/2341460/0/en/Razor-Energy-Corp-Announces-Third-Quarter-2021-Results.html