RNS
Jersey Oil and Gas PLC

Jersey Oil & Gas PLC - Interim Results for the Six Months Ended 30 Jun 19

RNS Number : 7095N
Jersey Oil and Gas PLC
26 September 2019
 

 

 

26 September 2019

 

Jersey Oil and Gas plc

("Jersey Oil & Gas", "JOG" or the "Company")

 

Interim Results for the Six Months Ended 30 June 2019

 

Jersey Oil & Gas (AIM: JOG), an independent upstream oil and gas company ‎focused on the UK Continental Shelf ("UKCS") region of the North Sea, is pleased to announce its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2019 (the "Period").

Highlights:

·      Strong cash position of approximately £15.5m at period end

·      Drilled the 20/05b-14 Verbier appraisal well which, although failing to encounter Upper Jurassic sands, provided the P2170 JV partners with valuable well data

·      Received the final instalment of the processed data from the 2018 PGS 3D seismic survey, which will be incorporated with data from the 20/05b-14 Verbier appraisal well to provide a Verbier licence full re-evaluation

·      Received £750,000 in settlement from Total E&P UK Limited ("TEPUK") in relation to the termination of its 2013 farm-in to licence P2032

 

Post Period End:

·      Transformational licence awards in the Oil and Gas Authority's ("OGA") 31st Supplementary Offshore Licensing Round in the UK North Sea

·      Greater Buchan Area awards include 100% equity and operatorship of the Buchan Field together with the J2 and Glenn discoveries

·      Awards add an estimated 119 million barrels of discovered mean recoverable resources net to JOG

·      Three month 50% option granted to Equinor for Blocks 20/5d and 21/1a (the "Buchan Blocks")

 

Outlook:

·      Field Development Planning ("FDP") work underway on the Greater Buchan Area hub development project

·      Adopting key Environment, Social and Governance principles to ensure that we develop our resources in a sustainable, low carbon and responsible manner

·      Hiring key project team members to enhance our technical and project management capabilities

·      Appointing key contractors to undertake Appraise and Select phases of the FDP work

·      Commissioned a new independent Competent Person's Report ("CPR") for the Buchan Blocks, which contain the Buchan Field and J2 discovery

·      Progressing full subsurface re-interpretation / validation of licence P2170 using the new final processed data from the 2018 PGS 3D seismic survey

·      Undertaking independent work in respect of licence P2170 to support potential future drilling activity

·      Potential production acquisition opportunities continue to be pursued

 

 

Andrew Benitz, CEO of Jersey Oil & Gas, commented:

"The first half of 2019 has been transformational for JOG, we have begun work on a full re-evaluation of the P2170 licence area and after significant effort and investment JOG was awarded 100% working interest and operatorship of four blocks in the Greater Buchan Area. This has significantly enhanced the Company's resource base of discovered oil volumes.

The Greater Buchan area is a very material and scalable project, which has the clear potential to deliver significant shareholder value beyond what we have already achieved. We are dealing with well-known, good quality, light oil fields and discoveries in a relatively benign and shallow part of the Central North Sea, which are located within UK waters, near good surrounding infrastructure for export and represent a potentially valuable energy resource for both JOG and the UK.

The board and I look forward to develop this vital resource sustainably and would like to thank shareholders for their ongoing support and look forward to updating them on further progress."

 

Enquiries:

Jersey Oil and Gas plc

 

Andrew Benitz, CEO

C/o Camarco:

Tel: 020 3757 4983

Strand Hanson Limited

James Harris

Matthew Chandler

James Bellman

Tel: 020 7409 3494

Arden Partners plc

Paul Shackleton

Benjamin Cryer

Tel: 020 7614 5900

BMO Capital Markets Limited

Jeremy Low

Tom Rider

Tel: 020 7236 1010

Camarco

Billy Clegg

James Crothers

 

Tel: 020 3757 4983

 

Notes to Editors:

 

Jersey Oil & Gas is a UK E&P company focused on building an upstream oil and gas business in the North Sea. The Company owns an 18% interest in the P2170 licence, Blocks 20/5b & 21/1d, Outer Moray Firth, in which the operator, Equinor UK Limited, owns a 70% interest and CIECO V&C (UK) Limited owns a 12% interest. This licence contains the 2017 Verbier oil discovery.

 

The Company plans to build an upstream E&P portfolio via both organic development and acquisitions coinciding with the cyclical recovery in the oil price and the opportune buying market in the North Sea. The Company is involved in multiple acquisition opportunities and intends to draw on its management team's considerable experience, knowledge and expertise to deliver shareholder value from its stated growth strategy.

 

 

 

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

 

 

 

Overview

The first six months of 2019 was a busy period for Jersey Oil and Gas ("JOG" or the "Company") as we drilled the Verbier (P2170) appraisal well, made a detailed application to the Oil and Gas Authority ("OGA") in respect of acreage adjacent to P2170 offered in its 31st Supplementary Offshore Licensing Round ("31 SLR"), and commenced work on the interpretation of the 3D seismic survey's processed data over the P2170 licence area.

 

This was against a backdrop of the Brent Crude oil price starting 2019 at approximately US$55 per barrel and increasing to US$65 per barrel as at 30th June 2019.

 

Verbier and the Greater Buchan Area Development

To our great disappointment, the Verbier appraisal well did not encounter the anticipated Upper Jurassic sands. Nonetheless, we remain committed to the P2170 Licence area, particularly in the context of: a) the operator's estimate of 25m barrels of discovered contingent resources at Verbier; b) potential additional resources in the area located to the north west of the earlier Verbier discovery (the 20/05b-14 well) which remain untested; c) the further untested resource potential in a deeper horizon beneath the Verbier discovery; and d) the Cortina prospect.

 

During the first half of 2019, we also continued to work very hard on our application for acreage on offer under the 31 SLR, which included the Buchan oil field and the J2 oil discovery (well 20/5a-10Y), both of which are located in areas contiguous to P2170 in the UK North Sea.

 

In July 2019, we were delighted to announce that JOG had been awarded various licence interests, including Blocks 20/5d and 21/1a (containing the Buchan field and the J2 discovery), new exploration acreage with the award of Block 20/4c and, subsequent to the initial awards, a further award including Block 21/2a (containing the Glenn oil discovery).  These awards, when combined, provide JOG with licence acreage with an additional estimated 119 million barrels of oil equivalent ("mmboe") of discovered mean recoverable resources.

 

The 31 SLR awards represent a huge opportunity for JOG, bringing us operatorship of most of the key discovered oil fields within the Greater Buchan Area, whilst additionally enhancing the potential development of the Verbier discovery, as part of an overall area development project.

 

Further details of the 31 SLR awards are contained in the Chief Executive Officer's Report.  As Chairman, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the huge amount of effort that has been put into achieving these licence awards by the entire JOG team, which is the culmination of preparatory work that has been ongoing for much of the last two years.

 

Financial Position

The Company's total cash reserves at 30 June 2019 were approximately £15.5 million.

 

Going forward, we now have a much enlarged portfolio of assets, which we expect will continue to grow in the future, each with interdependent funding considerations.

 

Outlook

Following the recent 31 SLR awards, we have started to work on the development project for the Greater Buchan Area with vigour and look forward to delivering significant shareholder value as this workstream progresses.

 

Marcus Stanton

Non-Executive Chairman

 

26 September 2019

 

 

 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S REPORT

 

 

 

Overview

In January 2019, the OGA launched the 31st Supplementary Offshore Licensing Round ("31 SLR"), covering the Greater Buchan Area ("GBA").  The acreage offered in the 31 SLR centred around our existing P2170 licence area, where the Company made the Verbier oil discovery in October 2017.  We referred to the 31 SLR in our 2018 annual report and accounts, recognising the potential for a new area hub development to produce the material discovered oil volumes that exist within the GBA. Looking at the GBA in a wider hub context has been part of JOG's strategic thinking for the past two years, and it was this foresight that has helped to transform the Company to where we are today - a North Sea focused upstream business with in excess of 120 million barrels of discovered oil across multiple high quality oil fields that, tied together, could form a major new JOG-operated development hub within the Central North Sea.

 

During the first half of 2019, the Verbier appraisal well was drilled, in which JOG holds an 18% non-operated working interest. Unfortunately, after the success of the initial exploration discovery in late 2017, this initial appraisal well did not encounter the anticipated Upper Jurassic reservoir sands. Whilst this was a temporary setback for the Company, it is important to note that such an outcome does not factor in elements of additional resource potential within the P2170 licence area which include an area to the north west of Verbier, a deeper objective beneath the Verbier discovery and the Cortina prospect to the east of Verbier.  Together with our co-venturers, Equinor UK Limited ("Equinor") and CIECO V&C (UK) Limited ("CIECO"), we have begun work on a full re-evaluation of the licence area, including an assessment of additional prospectivity in the deeper targets and the other previously identified exploration opportunities.  This additional prospectivity provides material upside potential for JOG's area development plans within the GBA.

 

Operations

The Verbier appraisal well programme was part of a larger Equinor-operated drilling campaign which began in September 2018 and moved into UK waters in January 2019 in order to commence the drilling of two exploration wells for Equinor prior to Verbier. This had cost benefits for JOG, in that certain costs were shared, such as mobilisation and demobilisation, across the whole campaign. The 20/05b-14 Verbier appraisal well commenced drilling on 4 March 2019 and its results were announced by JOG on 3 April 2019. The well, which was drilled ahead of schedule and under budget, did not encounter the anticipated Upper Jurassic reservoir sands and, as a result, our contingent resource volumetric estimates have been revised towards the lower, 25 mmboe end of the operator's initial resource estimate range. The original 20/05b-13Z Verbier discovery well encountered excellent quality oil bearing reservoir sands.  A full suite of wireline logs was acquired during the 2019 appraisal well programme, the data from which, together with all the previous well results, is being integrated into the final processed 3D seismic survey data, which was delivered during June and July 2019. The resulting analysis will be used to evaluate fully the upside potential for further Verbier appraisal activity. A large part of the mapped area of the Verbier discovery, located to the north west of the recent 20/05b-14 appraisal well, remains untested and further additional resource potential, which was not tested with this appraisal well or the 20/05b-13Z discovery well, has also been identified in a deeper horizon beneath the Verbier discovery. These prospects, along with the Cortina prospect, also situated within the P2170 licence area, will be re-evaluated, utilising the new seismic data and considered for potential future drilling.

 

The Greater Buchan Area - A transformational event for Jersey Oil and Gas

In July 2019, after expending significant time, effort and investment on an application, JOG was awarded 100% working interests and operatorship of four blocks in the 31 SLR. The acreage awarded includes the Buchan oil field and the J2 and Glenn oil discoveries and additional exploration upside and is contiguous with JOG's existing interest in Licence P2170 that contains the Verbier discovery. JOG's acreage interest in the GBA, including P2170, is estimated to contain in excess of 120 mmboe discovered mean recoverable resources in addition to in excess of 300 mmboe identified mean prospective resources. Work has now commenced on preparing an FDP for the Greater Buchan Area development project with, subject to funding, first oil targeted for 2024. By way of a low-risk accumulation of discovered resource volumes, this is by far the most significant event for JOG since its inception and we are excited that work on this new project is underway.

 

The Buchan oil field was discovered in the mid-1970s and was brought onstream by BP in 1981 with nine development wells with initial production peaking at 54,537 barrels of oil per day ("bopd"). 148 million barrels ("mmbbls") of oil were produced under natural depletion with aquifer support through to May 2017, at which point the field went into early cessation of production because the Buchan Alpha platform was no longer compliant with the current safety rules and regulations.  Buchan oil is a light 33.5° API oil with a low gas/oil ratio ("GOR") (285 standard cubic feet per barrel ("scf/bbl")).  Buchan benefits from a significant oil column in excess of 1,900 ft (well 21/1a-6) and a number of in-depth studies compiled since 2014 have concluded a strong case for Buchan to be redeveloped.  JOG has already spent two years investigating the subsurface attributes of Buchan and estimates that over 80 million barrels of recoverable oil volumes remain to be produced from the field. Additional oil has been discovered in the Andrew Sandstone, a recognised shallow reservoir that sits above the main Buchan reservoir.  JOG currently anticipates that Buchan will form the new hub for our area development plans for the GBA and this will be the focal point for the Company as we progress our FDP.

 

The J2 oil discovery, discovered by the 20/5a-10Y well in 2006, is some 3.5km north of Buchan and represents a viable tie back opportunity to the proposed Buchan hub. The well reportedly encountered hydrocarbons within the Sgiath Formation Sandstone that flowed at 2,850 bopd plus 1.2 million metric standard cubic feet per day ("mmscfd") of gas (37o API, GOR 426 scf/bbl) on test. Additionally, the well also encountered approximately 16 metres of excellent quality Upper Jurassic sands that flowed at 4,800 bopd plus 2.6 mmscfd (39o API, GOR 500 scf/bbl) on test. The two reservoirs are contained within different pressure cells.  JOG's management estimates that the Sgiath discovery is 20 million barrels of recoverable oil volumes and that the Upper Jurassic test is potentially the eastern extension of the Verbier field.  Development plans for J2 Sgiath will be run concurrently with our plans for Buchan.

 

The Glenn oil discovery is located some 15km to the east of Buchan and is also a potential tie back opportunity to the proposed Buchan hub. The Glenn oil accumulation is a faulted horst structure with oil trapped within late Jurassic, shallow marine Sgiath Formation sands. JOG's management estimates that 14 million barrels of recoverable oil volumes can be potentially produced from Glenn.  The licence in respect of Block 21/2a comprises a two-year initial term with certain firm work obligations, principally comprising geotechnical studies, with a drill or drop well obligation at the end of the initial term.

 

In addition to the above discovered oil volumes, JOG has also been awarded acreage that includes a number of exploration prospects that we have identified.  In aggregate, JOG's management has estimated mean case recoverable prospective resources of 91 mmbboe across these prospects.  Directly to the North East of Buchan lies the Capri prospect, which we currently believe represents the updip, slope apron fan deposits of the basinal Cortina prospect recognised in Licence P2170. Directly to the west of Buchan, JOG has been awarded the 20/4c block, where JOG has mapped the Zermatt and Chamonix Upper Jurassic prospects and the Courchevel lead which is a Sgiath reservoir target. The licence working obligations include a drill or drop well obligation to be elected after two years.

 

As part of our strategy for the development of the GBA, in 2018 JOG pre-funded a major 3D seismic survey by PGS that covered a 1,000km² area overlaying all the acreage we have been awarded in the 31 SLR.  The final, fully-processed data was delivered to JOG in July 2019 and we are pleased to observe a significant improvement in the image quality and an enhanced resolution.  This data will be of significant benefit as we progress our subsurface work across all the awarded acreage.

 

Upon the award of Blocks 20/5d and 21/1a (the "Buchan Blocks") in July 2019, JOG entered into a three-month option agreement with Equinor under which Equinor has been granted an option over a 50% equity interest in the Buchan Blocks, which contain the Buchan oil field and J2 oil discovery.  Should the option be exercised, JOG shall act as Licence Operator and Equinor will reimburse JOG for its 50% share of costs in relation to the licence applications. In the event of the option not being exercised, JOG will consider farm-out terms for value with other industry partners and alternative funding opportunities that can be put in place over the course of the next two years as the FDP develops. We are confident of securing appropriate funding for a project of this calibre.

 

Environment, Social and Governance ("ESG") Considerations

With the launch of its Greater Buchan Area development plans, JOG has begun its focus on ESG principles.  The oil industry is understandably a focal point for environmental concerns, however, JOG believes that the energy market transition is about evolving the energy mix to be as sustainable as possible rather than an immediate halt of hydrocarbon production. JOG is developing ESG criteria to be applied throughout its business.  Our governing principles are outlined below:

 

·      Applying appropriate criteria to all our activities to ensure that JOG is environmentally conscientious

·      Respectful treatment of all people within JOG's operating community

·      Honest and transparent business practices

 

We will assess all development options from an ESG standpoint to ensure that we develop our resources in a sustainable, low carbon and responsible manner, in parallel with our core company objective of creating shareholder value - we do not see these as being mutually exclusive ideals. Simple examples of this could be through reducing the GBA project's carbon footprint through designing a platform with lower steel content and a production strategy that adopts a lower but longer plateau life, or assessing 'gas to wire' technologies to manage gas production.  Moving forward JOG will now make ESG part of its regular reporting to shareholders.

 

Other Licence Activity

On 28th May 2019 JOG was pleased to announce that it had received £750,000 from TEPUK in relation to TEPUK's termination of its 2013 farm-in to licence P2032 (Blocks 21/8c, 21/9c, 21/10c, 21/14a and 21/15b), which has been recognised in the income statement as other income.

 

JOG's Acquisition Strategy

JOG has delivered to its shareholders a significant growth opportunity with a major new development project within its core Greater Buchan Area.  As we progress through the FDP, we will continue to be opportunistic on the potential acquisitions front, with positive cashflow production assets being one viable way to meet future funding requirements post-FDP on our GBA hub project.  JOG remains committed to scaling up its business in the UK North Sea and sees this as a good sector in which to build a profitable full cycle upstream oil and gas business. We are pleased to be active in an area where there is a proactive, industry-facing regulator, in the form of the OGA, and we are fully aligned with the OGA's objective of Maximising Economic Recovery ('MER').

 

Financial Review

JOG's cash position was approximately £15.5 million as of 30th June 2019.  JOG had no production revenue during the reporting period, although it received a small amount of interest on its cash deposits.

 

The loss for the six month period to 30 June 2019, before and after tax, was £412,511 (2018 interims: £857,455). This reflects inter alia, the settlement received from TEPUK and the Company's continued focus on controlling administrative costs within the context of the requisite work undertaken during the year.  

 

Our main expenditure during the reporting period related to the Verbier appraisal well programme, which has been capitalised as part of our continuing Verbier exploration programme, within intangible assets.

 

We continue to review our cash requirements which, in the medium term, will be based on considerations relating to any future joint venture partner in the GBA licences and the costs associated with progressing the development of the GBA hub project through to an agreed Field Development Plan ("FDP"), potential future appraisal and/or exploration well drilling on licence P2170, further evaluation of our new exploration licences and any potential M&A activity. These areas of expenditure are interdependent and we will update shareholders accordingly as our plans develop.

 

Looking Forward

JOG has rapidly evolved into a company in charge of its future. The Company has embarked on workstreams to progress an FDP seeking, subject to funding, to deliver a potential JOG-operated major new area hub development in the medium term in line with the OGA's MER strategy.  We currently estimate that we are fully funded to compile and submit the requisite FDP. The proposed new area hub will be planned to incorporate the redevelopment of the Buchan oil field, together with the J2 oil discovery, with the potential to include the development of the Glenn oil field and the Verbier oil discovery as well as other discovered and yet-to-be-found resources in the GBA.  First oil, subject to funding, will be targeted for 2024.  JOG will evaluate and determine the optimal sustainable development plan, designed to deliver future phased and extended plateau production. JOG has recently commissioned a new CPR for the Buchan Blocks, which contain the Buchan and J2 fields, which will include a valuation assessment in addition to resource estimates for these discovered fields.

Work continues with our co-venturers on the P2170 licence, combining the recent appraisal well results and data collected during operations with the fully processed new 3D broadband seismic survey data, in order to better understand the reservoir distribution of the primary target and additional exploration opportunities. Future appraisal or exploration drilling plans are anticipated to be made towards the end of the year.

 

As we move into the exciting phase of FDP work for our GBA area hub, we will be awarding contracts to key service providers and making a few select hires to ensure that JOG starts this project with the best available human and other resources.  Our strong view is that a project's success is shaped by the front end and the more planning and preparation that can be done at this stage the better equipped we will be to deliver a successful outcome. 

 

JOG's awards in the 31 SLR have significantly enhanced its resource base of discovered oil volumes.  We have a very material and scalable project on our hands, which has the clear potential to deliver significant shareholder value beyond what we have already achieved.  We are dealing with well-known, good quality, light oil fields and discoveries in a relatively benign and shallow part of the Central North Sea.  These are within UK waters, near good surrounding infrastructure for export and represent a potentially valuable energy resource for both JOG and the UK.  At the forefront of our plans will be our corporate vision to develop this vital resource sustainably, with due regard to environmental and social considerations, intertwined with a project that delivers on the OGA's MER objectives. 

 

 

 

Andrew Benitz

Chief Executive Officer

 

26 September 2019

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2019

 

 




6 months to


6 months to


Year to




30/06/19


30/06/18


31/12/18




(unaudited)


(unaudited)


(audited)


Notes


£


£


£









CONTINUING OPERATIONS








Revenue



-


-


-









Cost of sales



(451,997)


-


(609,925)









GROSS LOSS



(451,997)


-


(609,925)

















Other income

6


750,000


12,038


12,037

Administrative expenses



(768,055)


(887,261)


(1,447,383)









OPERATING LOSS



(470,052)


(875,223)


(2,045,271)









Finance income



57,541


17,768


48,971









LOSS BEFORE TAX



(412,511)


(857,455)


(1,996,300)









Tax

9


-


-


-









LOSS FOR THE PERIOD



(412,511)


(857,455)


(1,996,300)









OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME



-


-


-









TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE LOSS FOR THE PERIOD



(412,511)


(857,455)


(1,996,300)









Total comprehensive loss attributable to:








Owners of the parent



(412,511)


(857,455)


(1,996,300)









Profit/(Loss) per share expressed








in pence per share:








Basic

10


(1.89)


(3.93)


(9.15)

Diluted



(1.89)


(3.93)


(9.15)

 

The above consolidated statement of comprehensive income should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

AS AT 30 JUNE 2019

 

 




30/06/19


30/06/18


31/12/18




(unaudited)


(unaudited)


(audited)


Notes


£


£


£

NON-CURRENT ASSETS








Intangible assets - Exploration costs

11


8,072,860


3,559,984


4,306,589

Property, plant and equipment

12


34,656


-


30,264












8,107,516


3,559,984


4,336,853

CURRENT ASSETS








Trade and other receivables

7


440,931


17,539


80,594

Cash and cash equivalents

13


15,527,814


22,085,291


19,782,511












15,968,745


22,102,830


19,863,105









TOTAL ASSETS



24,076,261


25,662,814


24,199,958









EQUITY








SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY








Called up share capital



2,466,144


2,466,144


2,466,144

Share premium account



93,851,526


93,851,526


93,851,526

Share options reserve



1,607,667


1,541,898


1,491,019

Accumulated losses



(74,075,390)


(72,524,034)


(73,662,879)

Reorganisation reserve



(382,543)


(382,543)


(382,543)









TOTAL EQUITY



23,467,404


24,952,991


23,763,267









LIABILITIES








CURRENT LIABILITIES








Trade and other payables

8


608,857


709,823


436,691









TOTAL LIABILITIES



608,857


709,823


436,691









TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES



24,076,261


25,662,814


24,199,958

 

The above consolidated statement of financial position should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2019

 

 



 

Called up share

 

Share premium

 

Share options

 

Accumulated

 

Re- organisation

 

Total



 

capital

 

account

 

reserve

 

Losses

 

reserve

 

equity



 

£

 

£

 

£

 

£

 

£

 

£



 

(unaudited)

 

(unaudited)

 

(unaudited)

 

(unaudited)

 

(unaudited)

 

(unaudited)



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 1 January 2018



2,466,144


93,851,526


1,231,055


(71,666,579)


(382,543)


25,499,603















Loss for the period and total comprehensive income



-


-


-


(857,455)


-


(857,455)