RE: Better late than never3 Sep 2024 10:33
IBug,
The June production figures show that whatever attempt at intervention UKOG made in May, it failed to halt the rise in water cut and that the water production issue which first cropped up in March hasn't improved.
In fact, it's got much, much worse;
Month / BOPD / BWPD / % Water cut
Feb 24 / 42 / 24 / 36.4
Mar 24 / 39 / 27 / 41.1
Apr 24 / 35 / 26 / 42.8
May 24 / 24 / 19 / 43.7
June 24 / 30 / 32 / 51.6
Water disposal costs were the principle reason why UKOG wanted to convert HH-2 to a water injector, so they could reduce costs and also hopefully increase Oil production by keeping HH-1 on production for longer periods.
Yet despite having had permission (not affected by the SC case) for over two years (RNS of 5th May 2022) and completed the surface work (27th Feb 2023 RNS), UKOG have yet to announce when they will do the conversion.
It would be a quick win (UKOG themselves said it would save £250k a year in their RNS of 27th February 2023 - and would save more now with the increased water production ), so have they redone the field economics and decided the NPV doesn't warrant it?
The long promised but never issued CPR for HH would go a long way to helping explain their decisions.
But instead of actually doing work that would improve their bottom line, they are wasting the cash raised from the placings chasing the H2 dream and paying the BoD's wages.
It's like their foray into Turkey - chasing a dream of future riches, which examination of the facts showed would be very unlikely to pay off, while UKOG ignore the problems with their main cash producing asset.
The sharp decrease in BOPD from Feb to Jun, combined with the step change in water disposal costs and drop in oil price means that HH is now barely breaking even and possibly operating at a loss.
It would be good if UKOG kept the markets apprised of issues with their major asset and what corrective actions they intend to take, but they never have and clearly that policy won't change any time soon.
In the meantime, they still have the liability of the £1.1 Million P&A and site restoration of BB to cover, plus outstanding cash calls from AME for the ongoing Turkey work and the P&A and site restoration of Pin-1.
Indeed, if HH is operating at a loss, that would pull the £2.5 - £3 Million P&S and site restoration of HH much further forwards.
Since UKOG & SCC will be in consultation over meeting the requirements of the absurd Supreme Court decision, I wonder if SCC (as the MPA for HH) will be looking over UKOG's financial status at the same time.
If SCC are, they won't be happy.