Enquest Regulatory News (ENQ)

EnQuest PLC, 23 May 2019

Operations update

Strong production growth, up c.25% year on year; 2019 guidance reaffirmed; hedges underpinning cash flow

Production up c.25% year on year, driven by Magnus

§ Group production averaged 69,973 Boepd in the four months to end April 2019; full year 2019 guidance of 63,000 Boepd to 70,000 Boepd remains unchanged

§ Magnus continues to perform above expectations, reflecting high production efficiency, reservoir management, well interventions and plant debottlenecking

§ Significantly improved performance at Kraken with higher production efficiency delivering gross average production above 33,000 Bopd in March and April, up materially on the single train operation to end February. All DC4 wells are onstream and performing better than expected. Full year guidance of 30,000 Bopd to 35,000 Bopd (gross) remains unchanged

§ PM8/Seligi performance remains strong, largely reflecting high levels of production efficiency and the ongoing successful idle well restoration programme

Net debt reduced from year end

§ At 30 April 2019, net debt was reduced to $1,724 million (end 2018: $1,774 million) with cash and available bank facilities amounting to $231 million (end 2018: $309 million)

§ Strong operational performance and supportive oil price more than offset the anticipated unwind of the c.$50 million favourable working capital position at the end of 2018

§ On track for a net debt:EBITDA ratio of less than 2x if the recent price environment continues

§ The Group's credit facility has reduced to $680 million following the scheduled amortisation in April

2019 cash flow underpinned by oil price hedges

§ For 2019, the Group has continued to enter hedges with the total for the year now c.12.5 MMbbls. Around 5.4 MMbbls with a floor price of c.$66/bbl had settled by the end of April. For the remaining eight months of 2019, approximately 6.2 MMbbls are hedged at an average floor price of c.$66/bbl, with a further 0.9 MMbbls hedged with an average floor price of c.$56/bbl in accordance with the Oz Management facility agreement

EnQuest Chief Executive, Amjad Bseisu, said:

"The Group has made a good start to 2019. Production is towards the top end of our full year guidance range, our capital programme is on track and we have continued to generate strong cash flows and reduce our debt.

"FPSO performance at Kraken has improved significantly with two trains online and we continue to drive further improvements with the FPSO operator. Production from DC4 at Kraken has been better than expected and both Magnus and PM8/Seligi have performed strongly.

"Good progress is being made on our pipeline projects and preparations for drilling at Magnus and PM8/Seligi, along with our annual maintenance programmes, are underway. As such, we remain confident of achieving our Group's 2019 production guidance of 63,000 to 70,000 Boepd.

"If the favourable oil price environment continues, we expect our net debt to EBITDA ratio to be below 2x by year end."

Production details

Northern North Sea operations

Average production in the four months to end April 2019 of 34,766 Boepd was 75% higher than the same period in 2018. This increase was driven by the contribution from Magnus, partially offset by single compressor operations at Heather and natural declines across the Northern North Sea area.

At Magnus, production performance has remained strong with production efficiency of greater than 95% prior to the planned maintenance shutdown. The facility's water handling capabilities have been further improved through the successful return to service of the second deaeration tower in May, with the planned shutdown also completed. At the end of 2018, the Group's estimate of 2C resources at Magnus was around 50 MMboe, with a number of economic, drillable targets having been identified. Overall, the Group estimates there is 270 MMbbls of remaining mobile oil in place, which, alongside the potentially large historical gas discovery made by BP that is currently being evaluated, provides the opportunity for a long-term, low-cost development programme of this giant resource.

Stable production and water injection efficiency at Thistle and the Dons has delivered aggregate production in line with the Group's plans, with the drilling team on Thistle continuing to successfully abandon wells in line with the Group's asset life extension strategy. The Dunlin bypass project is progressing as planned with the first phase of the sub-sea construction works, including the new pipeline and structure installation, being completed on schedule. Modifications on the Thistle, Northern Producer and Magnus facilities are also progressing in readiness for the final sub-sea tie-in phase. The new export route is planned to be operational during the summer.

At Heather, production was reduced due to single compressor operations whilst upgrades took place during the period. This has been partially offset by barrel-adding well intervention work.

EnQuest has continued to achieve high plant availability and deliver safe and stable operations at the Sullom Voe Terminal.

Central North Sea operations

Average production in the four months to end April 2019 of 6,742 Boepd was 12% higher than the same period in 2018, driven by improved performance at Alma/Galia following the replacement of three Electric Submersible Pumps in 2018. Production efficiency at Alma/Galia has been over 95% in 2019, although this strong performance is offset by underlying reservoir declines. The focus remains on production optimisation and cost reduction, with preparatory decommissioning plans ongoing.

At Scolty/Crathes, wax in the flow line continues to limit production. The replacement pipeline project is progressing as planned with pipeline fabrication complete and installation underway. Production is expected to improve significantly post project completion.

High levels of production and water injection efficiency in the Greater Kittiwake Area have delivered a strong production performance in the period. Evaluation of sub-sea tie-back development options for the Eagle discovery continue. Output from Alba has been in line with expectations.

Kraken

Production efficiency has increased materially following the resumption of a two-train operation in mid-March, averaging in excess of 33,000 Bopd (gross) in March and April, up materially on the first two months of the year (c.23,000 Bopd (gross)). The performance of the main power engines has improved, leading to greater power and plant stability and enabling better performance from the topside power water pumps that supply the Hydraulic Submersible Pumps. In addition, EnQuest has been working closely with the FPSO operator, Bumi Armada, to improve the offshore spares management and FPSO maintenance processes to ensure any required maintenance activities can be undertaken in a timely manner. All DC4 wells are onstream and producing ahead of expectations and the Group remains confident in its expectations of subsurface performance. While further production efficiency improvement remains the Group's operational priority, EnQuest continues to expect Kraken to deliver average production in line with guidance of between 30,000 Bopd and 35,000 Bopd (gross) in 2019.

Since first production, more than 17 million barrels of oil have now been produced and 35 cargoes offloaded from the FPSO, with eight of these cargoes offloaded in 2019. Cargo pricing has continued to improve.

With around 100 MMbbls of stock tank oil initially in place, the Western Flank provides a near-field, economic, development opportunity. Initial targets in the Worcestershire Area and Pembroke Trend continue to be assessed and high-graded, with potential development through spare capacity in the existing sub-sea infrastructure.

Malaysian operations

Average production in Malaysia in the four months to end April 2019 of 8,693 Boepd was 1% lower than the same period in 2018. Production has increased from PM8/Seligi as a result of high production efficiency of over 95% and better than expected performance from the Group's idle well restoration programme, which commenced earlier than planned and has seen five wells restored to production. The Group's planned asset rejuvenation activity is underway and progressing as scheduled. Production at Tanjong Baram has decreased reflecting natural decline.

Drilling operations are on track to commence in the third quarter, with first production from the two-well programme expected around the end of the quarter as planned.

At PM8/Seligi, where the Group has c.20 MMboe of 2P reserves and c.68 MMboe of 2C resources, a large number of low-cost drilling and workover targets have been identified and are being assessed for future development.

Liquidity and net debt

At the end of April 2019, net debt was $1,724 million, down from $1,774 million at 31 December 2018 reflecting strong operational performance and a supportive oil price more than offsetting the anticipated unwind of the c.$50 million favourable working capital position at the end of 2018. Total cash and available facilities were $231 million, including ring-fenced accounts associated with Magnus, the Oz Management facility and other joint venture accounts totalling $116 million.

The Group's credit facility was reduced to $680 million in April. Having repaid $125 million of the required $175 million scheduled amortisation earlier than required, the final $50 million was paid as scheduled. A further $100 million repayment is due in October 2019.

By the end of April, c.5.4 MMbbls of oil hedges had been settled. Approximately 4.8 MMbbls had an average floor price of c.$67/bbl, while c.0.6 MMbls associated with the Oz Management facility had an average floor price of c.$56/bbl. For the remaining eight months of 2019, EnQuest has continued to enter hedges and has c.7.1 MMbbls of oil hedges in place. Approximately 6.2 MMbbls are hedged at an average floor price of c.$66/bbl, with a further c.0.9 MMbbls hedged with an average floor price of c.$56/bbl in accordance with the Oz Management facility agreement.

2019 outlook unchanged

The Group has made a good start to the year with average production of 69,973 Boepd towards the top end of the full year guidance range. The planned maintenance shutdown at Magnus was completed in May, with the remaining programmes at the Group's other fields expected to be executed by around the end of the third quarter. As such, the Group continues to expect 2019 production to grow by around 20% to between 63,000 and 70,000 Boepd.

Expectations for 2019 capital expenditure remain around $275 million. All three DC4 wells at Kraken are now onstream.The Scolty/Crathes and Dunlin bypass pipeline projects are on track for completion as planned, while the drilling programmesat Magnus and PM8/Seligi are on schedule to commence later this year.

The Group continues to prioritise debt repayment with an ongoing focus on cost control and capital discipline. At the end of 2019, the Group expects overall net debt to EBITDA to be below 2x if recent oil prices continue, with the Group intending to operate between 1x and 2x in the future.

Ends

For further information please contact:

EnQuest PLC Tel: +44 (0)20 7925 4900

Amjad Bseisu (Chief Executive)

Jonathan Swinney (Chief Financial Officer)

Ian Wood (Communications & Investor Relations) 

Tulchan Communications Tel: +44 (0)20 7353 4200

Martin Robinson

Martin Pengelley

Harry Cameron

Notes to editors

ENQUEST

EnQuest is an independent production and development company with operations in the UK North Sea and Malaysia. The Group's strategic vision is to be the operator of choice for maturing and underdeveloped hydrocarbon assets by focusing on operational excellence, differential capability, value enhancement and financial discipline.

EnQuest PLC trades on both the London Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ OMX Stockholm. Its UK operated assets include Thistle/Deveron, Heather/Broom, the Dons area, Magnus, the Greater Kittiwake Area, Scolty/Crathes Alma/Galia, Kraken and the Sullom Voe Terminal; EnQuest also has an interest in the non-operated Alba oil field. At the end of December 2018, EnQuest had interests in 18 UK production licences and was the operator of 16 of these licences. EnQuest's interests in Malaysia include the PM8/Seligi Production Sharing Contract and the Tanjong Baram Risk Services Contract, both of which the Group operates

Forward-looking statements: This announcement may contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to EnQuest's expectation and plans, strategy, management's objectives, future performance, production, reserves, costs, revenues and other trend information. These statements and forecasts involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend upon circumstances that may occur in the future. There are a number of factors which could cause actual results or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements and forecasts. The statements have been made with reference to forecast price changes, economic conditions and the current regulatory environment. Nothing in this announcement should be construed as a profit forecast. Past share performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance.