Malcy comment16 Apr 2018 16:04
Amerisur Resources
Full-year results from Amerisur Resources (AMER) this morning and, whilst they are inevitably backward looking, they show that material progress was made last year which is being substantially being added to this year.
With some downtime for remedial well operations the company still ticked most of the production boxes ending the year at around 7,000 barrels per day. With the oil price above $60 and opex pb below $20 cash netbacks of over $40pb are indeed very pleasing.
Revenue growth was up 96% at $92. 5 million (£64.6 million) ($47.2) and EBITDA was $19.8 million ($0.4 million) and a welcome return to net profits was achieved.
It is worth noting that post the period end, the company entered into a $35 million working capital facility with Shell (RDSB) which is effectively a pre-pay agreement that for a very modest fee avoids the need for an expensive and unused RBL.
Most exciting for AMER is the upcoming drilling programme, which for the rest of the year amounts to some 14 wells including some potentially company making stuff.
There are to be three back to back wells looking into the 'N' sands anomaly in the central Platanillo block, with a potential reward of P50 resources of 11.44 million barrels of oil equivalent starting with Pintadillo-1.
In the PUT-8 block a low risk U and T light oil structural target at Miraparriba-1 is looking for a new field of 4.4 million barrels of oil equivalent whilst at Indico-1, the first new well at CPO-5 is looking for 10.3 million barrels of oil equivalent. Any success at these and others will add significantly to the production targets going forward.
The Amerisur stock price is one of those that has not picked up with the oil price at all even, though the gains it has made are there for all to see.
The conclusion of a deal with Ecuador to complete the Chorizo pumping station is signed, and AMER is helping the process along when needed. This will mean that, for the foreseeable future, OBA carriage with its low opex for the company's oil will be more than enough for their needs. With its sound financing ensuring that all well commitments are covered for this year Amerisur is in a very strong position indeed.