GRAND CAYMAN, CAYMAN ISLANDS, Nov 14, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) —
Tethys Petroleum Limited (“Tethys” or the “Company”) (TSX: TPL)(LSE: TPL) today announced its third quarter 2011 financial results. The results are highlighted by a 116% increase in production revenues over the third quarter of last year.
The Company reports financial results in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”).
Q3 HIGHLIGHTS
-- The average oil and gas production per production day for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was 6,111 boe/d compared to 4,603 boe/d in the same period of 2010. -- Production revenues from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 totalled some US$15.5 million compared to US$11.3 million in the same period of 2010, representing a 37% increase. -- Cash balance at September 30, 2011 was US$18.4 million compared to US$12.9 million at September 30, 2010. -- Net loss for the nine months to September 30, 2011 was US$17.6 million compared to $18.4 million in the same period of 2010. -- Capital expenditure, excluding the joint venture in Tajikistan, in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was US$36.8 million compared to US$23.2 million as at September 30, 2010. -- Total assets at September 30, 2011 were US$255.1 million compared to US$182.1 million at September 30, 2010. -- The Doris oil production facilities in Kazakhstan were completed and the trucking of oil commenced from this location at a rate of over 1,500 bopd. -- The AKD05 Kazakh appraisal well flowed at 1,568 barrels per day of good quality (45 degrees API) oil during testing. Flow data indicate that the well would be capable of flowing around 3,000 barrels per day with reconfiguration of the production facilities. -- Tethys commenced trading on the main market of the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "TPL".
Operational Update
Kazakhstan
The AKD06 Doris appraisal well is currently undergoing testing with results expected this month. This well is located on an amplitude anomaly derived from detailed spectral analysis of the new 3D seismic dataset and was located primarily to target the Cretaceous sandstone interval, the most prolific producing horizon in the area, with other stratigraphic targets being secondary. It is hoped this well will extend the known producing area of the Doris oil discovery at this horizon and provide sufficient data to move on and drill further wells to test the full extent of the discovered field.
The Kalypso (KBD01) wildcat exploration well will undergo a comprehensive testing programme on both the Carboniferous and Jurassic horizons following agreement and approvals from the appropriate Kazakh authorities. The well reached total depth in September, with electric logs being run and indicating two potential Jurassic targets and some 100m of gross pay from a depth of 4,128 metres in what is interpreted to be Carboniferous limestones with this zone most likely to require acid and fracture stimulation, a common completion process implemented in similar fields in the area.
Work is ongoing on the construction of a new rail loading facility closer to the field which will enable oil production to increase. This terminal should be completed and operational before the end of this year.
Tajikistan
The Beshtentak well BST20 has recently been worked over by applying modern perforating and acidisation techniques and applying natural gas lift. The well has been producing over 500 barrels of oil per day (“bopd”), with associated gas on a restricted choke (10 mm – 25/64 inch) with a flowing tubing head pressure of 26 atmospheres (377 psi). The oil has an API gravity of 38 degrees and no water is being produced. The well has been placed on oil production and the gas tied into the nearby local gas grid. Initial sales agreements have been signed and the first payments from oil sales have been received. The well is still on test production so will be produced on varying rates until year-end, but after that it is expected that this well will be put on production continually at more than 500 bopd. There are other workover candidates on the Beshtentak field which has gross prospective resources of 11.7 million barrels of oil and 16.1 billion cubic feet (0.23 billion cubic metres) of gas as quoted by the Company’s independent reserves and resources assessment effective December 31, 2010.
The East Olimtoi (EOL09) exploration well testing programme is continuing with additional specialist equipment due to arrive at the field in November 2011 to attempt to establish continual flow from the Alai zone, where oil has been recovered.
The Persea 1 exploration well, located near the town of Kurgon-Teppa in the south-west part of the PSC area, is primarily targeting the Bukhara limestone formation in a four-way dip closed structure with the overlying Alai formation forming a potential secondary target. The well is currently at a depth of 2,425 meters. The planned total depth of this well is 2,700 metres and it is expected that this will be reached in later November 2011.
As well as an active shallower drilling programme, Tethys continues to progress its longer term strategy of acquiring sufficient data to locate and drill a deep exploration well below the regional salt layer, drilling to targets zones that are prolific producers in the adjacent Amu-Darya basin in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan but that have never been tested in Tajikistan. The Amu-Darya has some of the biggest gas-condensate fields in the world and Tethys believes Tajikistan has the same potential. To this effect, Tethys continues its comprehensive geophysical data gathering with the evaluation of the recently acquired graviometry data which was shot over a considerable amount of the 35,000 km2 contract area. This complements and adds to the 693 km regional seismic program carried out in 2009-2010. After fully evaluating this additional data, Tethys hopes to then focus on the most prospective area with the intention of spudding a deep well at the end of 2012.
These highlights along with other operational and financial details will be further discussed in a scheduled conference call. Details of the conference call can be found below:
Conference Call:
A conference call will be held at 11:00 AM Eastern Time on Tuesday, November 15, 2011. The North American conference call number is (866) 730-5763 and the outside North America conference call number is +1 (857) 350-1587. The conference call code to use is 73859209. Please call in about 10 minutes before the starting time in order to be patched into the call.
Webcast:
The call is being webcast and can be accessed at:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?p=irol-eventDetails&c=213714&eventID=4241260
Tethys is focused on oil and gas exploration and production activities in Central Asia with activities currently in the Republics of Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. This highly prolific oil and gas area is rapidly developing and Tethys believes that significant potential exists in both exploration and in discovered deposits.
This press release contains “forward-looking information” which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to our operations. Such forward looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. See our Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2010 for a description of risks and uncertainties relevant to our business, including our exploration activities.
Tethys Petroleum Limited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position (Unaudited) (in US Dollars) As at September December 30, 2011 31, 2010 $'000 $'000 Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment 133,256 115,653 Intangible assets 25,445 16,892 Investments 1,057 1,015 Prepayments and other receivables 14,303 12,320 Loan receivable from jointly controlled entity 54,790 35,460 ------------ ----------- 228,851 181,340 ------------ ----------- Current assets Inventories 2,644 2,121 Trade and other receivables 4,341 3,680 Cash and cash equivalents 17,016 79,135 Restricted cash 1,409 - Derivative financial instruments - interest rate 805 1,472 swap ------------ ----------- 26,215 86,408 ------------ ----------- Total assets 255,066 267,748 ------------ ----------- ------------ ----------- Equity attributable to shareholders Share capital 26,063 26,063 Share premium 297,222 297,222 Other reserves 37,753 34,261 Accumulated deficit (135,589) (118,023) ------------ ----------- Total equity 225,449 239,523 ------------ ----------- Non-current liabilities Deferred gain on sale of assets to jointly 3,699 3,699 controlled entity Financial liabilities - borrowings - 2,853 Deferred taxation 3,773 4,070 Trade and other payables 592 721 Asset retirement obligations 231 192 ------------ ----------- 8,295 11,535 ------------ ----------- Current liabilities Financial liabilities - borrowings 8,039 5,047 Derivative financial instruments - warrants 1 405 Derivative financial instruments - forex hedge 291 - Deferred revenue 2,395 2,450 Trade and other payables 10,596 8,788 ------------ ----------- 21,322 16,690 ------------ ----------- ------------ ----------- Total liabilities 29,617 28,225 ------------ ----------- Total shareholders' equity and liabilities 255,066 267,748 ------------ ----------- ------------ ----------- Tethys Petroleum Limited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) For the three and the nine months ended September 30, 2011 (in US Dollars) For the 3 months ended For the 9 months ended September 30, September 30, 2011 2010 2011 2010 (re-presented) (re-presented) $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 Sales and other revenues 6,849 3,173 15,506 11,319 Other operating income 922 - 6,628 - ------------------------------------------------ Total revenue and other income 7,771 3,173 22,134 11,319 Production expenses (3,393) (1,236) (6,918) (4,111) Depreciation, depletion and amortisation (3,857) (1,635) (9,684) (3,685) Exploration and evaluation expenditure written off (1,807) (5) (1,807) (94) Listing expenses (273) (31) (606) (1,230) Business development expenses (697) - (1,926) - Administrative expenses (4,859) (4,621) (15,520) (13,175) Share based payments (1,054) (744) (3,111) (3,596) Foreign exchange gain /(loss) - net (183) (184) 33 (337) Fair value gain (loss) on derivative financial instrument (231) (738) (554) (266) Loss from jointly controlled entity (291) (178) (802) (422) Finance (costs) / income - net 194 308 912 (89) ------------------------------------------------ Loss before taxation (8,680) (5,891) (17,849) (15,686) Taxation 105 (1,227) 283 (2,753) ------------------------------------------------ Net loss and comprehensive loss for the period attributable to shareholders (8,575) (7,118) (17,566) (18,439) ------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------ Loss per share attributable to shareholders Basic and diluted (0.03) (0.04) (0.07) (0.10) Tethys Petroleum Limited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited) For the three and the nine months ended September 30, 2011 (in US Dollars) For the 3 months For the 9 months ended ended September 30, September 30, 2011 2010 2011 2010 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 Cash flow from operating activities Loss before taxation for the period (8,680) (5,891) (17,849) (15,686) Adjustments for Share based payments 1,054 744 3,111 3,596 Net finance (income) / cost (194) (303) (910) 80 Unsuccessful exploration and evaluation expenditure written off 1,807 - 1,807 - Depreciation, depletion and amortization 3,857 1,635 9,684 3,685 Loss on disposal of assets (16) - 120 - Payment of royalties - - - (78) Fair value gain (loss) on derivative financial instrument 231 738 554 266 Listing expenses - - - 351 Net unrealised foreign exchange loss / (gain) (70) (13) (22) (12) Loss from jointly controlled entity 291 178 802 422 Deferred revenue 1,721 689 (55) (674) Other operating income (922) - (6,628) - Net change in non-cash working capital (1,252) 3,233 (483) (411) ------------------------------------ Net cash (used) / generated from operating activities (2,173) 1,010 (9,869) (8,461) ------------------------------------ Cash flow from investing activities Interest received 36 20 112 45 Expenditure on exploration and evaluation assets (3,335) (11,440) (9,624) (18,515) Expenditures on property, plant and equipment (7,813) (418) (27,210) (4,694) Investment in restricted cash 2,100 (84) (1,451) (111) Payments made on behalf of jointly controlled entity (5,071) (3,079) (12,435) (10,248) Movement in advances to construction contractors 1,304 1,452 1,187 (1,748) Value added tax receivable (980) (1,600) (3,133) (2,924) Net change in non-cash working capital 726 (2,659) 1,080 (1,927) ------------------------------------ Net cash (used) / generated from investing activities (13,033) (17,808) (51,474) (40,122) ------------------------------------ Cash flow from financing activities Proceeds from issuance of long term borrowings - - - 1,840 Repayment of long-term borrowings (93) (371) (269) (1,076) Interest paid on long-term borrowings and other non-current payables (69) (364) (266) (739) Other non-current liabilities (76) (75) (227) (220) Proceeds from issuance of equity, net of issue costs - 306 - 54,440 ------------------------------------ Net cash (used) / generated from financing activities (238) (504) (762) 54,245 ------------------------------------ Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 114 (13) (14) (42) Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash equivalents (15,330) (17,315) (62,119) 5,620 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period 32,346 30,232 79,135 7,297 ------------------------------------ Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period 17,016 12,917 17,016 12,917 ------------------------------------
For more information please contact:
Tethys Petroleum Limited
Sabin Rossi
Vice President Investor Relations
Office: +1 416 572 2065
+1 416 572 2201 (FAX)
info@tethyspetroleum.com
Web: http://www.tethyspetroleum.com
Mobile site: m.tethyspetroleum.com
In Europe: Tethys Petroleum Limited
Veronica Zhuvaghena
Vice President Corporate Communications
Office: +44 1481 725911
+44 1481 725922 (FAX)
In Asia‐Pacific: Quam IR
Anita Wan
Associate Director
Office phone/fax: +852 2217 2999
SOURCE: Tethys Petroleum Limited
mailto:info@tethyspetroleum.com http://www.tethyspetroleum.com mailto:anita.wan@quamgroup.com