outlook for des8 May 2013 23:45
Desire Petroleum: Funding commitments in PL004b
Having farmed out two areas of its PL004 licence to Rockhopper in 2011, Desire has 40% of the Sea Lion extension and the Casper, Casper South and Beverley discoveries that are contained within PL004b. In November 2012, the company released an updated CPR highlighting an increased prospect inventory of 41 oil prospects and four gas prospects. With acreage in the East Flank fairway and to the south of Sea Lion, the portfolio here has been de-risked by drilling success at Sea Lion, which is reflected in almost a quarter of the prospects having a geological CoS of at least 30%. The company has now relinquished its southern licences to concentrate on these de-risked prospects in its northern licences. However, at end-2012, the company held cash of $10.5m and cannot fund any further drilling in the area. It plans to fund future activity through a farm-out and this process has already commenced, with a data room opened in February 2013. Desire will need to fund its share of future partner activity in PL004b, which could include exploration wells at Zebedee and George in late-2014; we estimate this would cost Desire around $36m net. In addition, the company will be liable for its share of the Sea Lion development costs, with the development currently estimated to be $3bn to first oil. Unitisation talks have yet to commence with operator Premier but are likely to take place sometime after mid-2013. However, we highlight that any agreed share will evolve as further data are gathered through appraisal drilling. The company also hopes to drill on its high-graded prospects. The most likely candidates for this are the Jayne well, targeting six separate reservoirs and gross prospective resources of 405MMSTB, and the Isobel well with three separate reservoirs and gross prospective resources of 281MMSTB. However, at present, we expect that any funds raised will have to be prioritised towards the company’s commitments in PL004b.