POE Pan Orient Energy Corp

CALGARY, AB, March 18, 2021 /CNW/ - Pan Orient Energy Corp. ("Pan Orient") (TSXV: POE) reports 2020 year-end and fourth quarter consolidated financial and operating results.  Please note that all amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated, BOPD refers to barrels of oil per day and BOPD for Thailand operations represents volumes net to Pan Orient's 50.01% equity interest in the Thailand Joint Venture. 

The Company is today filing its audited consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ended December 31, 2020 and related management's discussion and analysis with Canadian securities regulatory authorities.  Copies of these documents may be obtained online at www.sedar.com or the Company's website, www.panorient.ca.

Commenting today on Pan Orient's 2020 results, President and CEO Jeff Chisholm stated:

"2020 was a challenging year as a result of the severe oil price decline experienced in the March-April time frame and uncertainties related to Covid-19. Despite these obstacles, Pan Orient drilled eight wells in 2020 entirely funded by Thailand free cashflow, produced and sold 440,020 barrels of oil, a 14% increase over 2019 and an historic high for Concession L53, and added 542,000 barrels of proved and probable reserves (a 30% increase) at year-end. The estimated ultimate recovery for proved and probable reserves increased by 982,020 barrels of oil net to the Company. Oil production ramped up in September with the completion of drilling of the L53-DD7/L53-DD8 wells and remained strong into year-end 2020 with the drilling of L53-DD9 in November.

Subsequently to year end, a two to three well Thailand appraisal drilling program has commenced with the L53-DD10 well that has just completed drilling and L53-DD12 drilling has just commenced. L53-DD10 encountered approximately 38 meters of combined net oil pay within the AA, BB, CC and EE sands, including approximately three meters of net oil pay in one additional sand that has previously not been produced in the L53-DD field. L53-DD10 is expected to be on long-term production after the completion of the two to three well drilling program. It is anticipated this appraisal drilling program will solidify production through 2021. 

Given the current Brent oil pricing of approximately US$69 per barrel versus the year-end 2020 reserve report assumed average for 2021 of US$48 per barrel, it is with some optimism that we look forward to 2021 and the impact improved oil pricing would have on Thailand cashflow and the potential value of the Company's Sawn Lake heavy oil asset."

HIGHLIGHTS

Thailand (Pan Orient's 50.01% equity interest in the Thailand Joint Venture)

• 2020 oil sales increased 14% and proved and probable reserves increased 30% through additions at the L53-DD field and discovery of the L53-AA field.
• • The L53-DD6ST2, L53-DD8, L53-DD7 and L53-DD9 appraisal wells in the L53-DD field were drilled and brought onto production in 2020. Net to Pan Orient's 50.01% equity interest, these four wells had oil sales of 798 BOPD in the fourth quarter. The L53-DD8 well was converted to a water disposal well for the L53-DD field In December 2020.
  • Discovery of the L53AA field with the L53-AA2 exploration well in the first quarter of 2020 added 3,001 barrels of oil sales in 2020 during the 90-day production test and has been assigned proved plus probable reserves of 21,500 barrels at December 31, 2020, net to Pan Orient's 50.01% equity interest. The L53-AA Production License of 1.86 square kilometers was approved March 12, 2021 by the Government of Thailand and the L53-AA2 well restarted March 16, 2021.
  • The L53-AA1, L53-AAST1 sidetrack and L53-BB1ST1 exploration wells were abandoned.
• Net to Pan Orient's 50.01% equity interest in the Thailand Joint Venture, oil sales from Concession L53 were 1,213 BOPD in 2020, an increase of 14% from 1,060 in 2019. With the L53-DD7, L53-DD8 and L53-AA2 wells brought onto production starting in September, and L53-DD9 in November, oil sales increased to 1,491 BOPD in the fourth quarter of 2020.
• Adjusted Thailand funds flow from operations of $12.5 million in 2020 ($28.07 per barrel), with $3.2 million ($23.53 per barrel) in the fourth quarter. During 2020, the realized price of Concession L53 crude oil was lower by 27% as the Brent reference price declined 35% but the realized price averaged 96% of the Brent reference price compared to 86% in 2019 (resulting from of a new oil sales contract). The monthly Brent reference price largely recovered from a low of US$18.38 in April 2020 to US$49.99 in December 2020.
• Despite weaker oil prices in early 2020, Thailand had adjusted funds flow from operations of $12.5 million in 2020 to fund $10.2 million of Thailand exploration and development activities. In addition, the Thailand Joint Venture paid two dividends to Pan Orient in 2020 totaling $7.1 million and Pan Orient's share of working capital and long-term deposits in Thailand at December 31, 2020 was $5.0 million.
• December 31, 2020 reserve report assigned proved plus probable crude oil reserves of 2.4 million barrels, net to Pan Orient's 50.01% equity interest in the Thailand Joint Venture (an increase of 30%) with an after tax net present value using forecast prices and costs discounted at 10% per year of $38.9 million (an 11% decrease). The 11% decrease in the net present value is the result of the 30% increase in proved plus probable reserves (primarily at the L53-DD field) more than offset by a 17% decrease in forecast oil sales prices.

Indonesia East Jabung Production Sharing Contract (Pan Orient is non-operator with a 49% ownership interest)

• The operator of the East Jabung Production Sharing Contract ("PSC") provided notice to the Government of Indonesia in January 2020 of withdrawal from the East Jabung PSC and is determining final steps to be taken for formal approval of the expiry from the Government of Indonesia, including reclamation requirements. Pan Orient is withdrawing from operations in Indonesia and the office in Jakarta was closed March 31, 2020.
• Activities of the Company in Indonesia are reported in 2020 as discontinued operations. Discontinued operations in Indonesia for 2020 were $284 thousand of G&A expense, $4 thousand in realized and unrealized foreign exchange gains on currency exchange rates since the end of 2019 and a $675 thousand recovery of exploration expense resulting from adjustment of previously booked capital expenditures at the East Jabung PSC.

Sawn Lake (Operated by Andora Energy Corporation ("Andora"), in which Pan Orient has a 71.8% ownership)

• Significantly lower prices for heavy oil and bitumen in early 2020 due to geopolitical events and the collapse of global demand for crude oil resulting from COVID-19, and the associated deterioration in the economics for commercial expansion at Sawn Lake, indicated there was no expected commercial development at Sawn Lake in that market. The Company reported a non-cash net impairment charge of $80.2 million, $57.6 million attributable to common shareholders of Pan Orient, on Sawn Lake Exploration and Evaluation assets at March 31, 2020.
• After the impairment of Sawn Lake recorded at March 31, 2020, no operating expenses or G&A are capitalized. For the second, third and fourth quarters of 2020, Pan Orient reports total operating expense of $210 thousand associated with the Sawn Lake suspended SAGD facility and wellpair.
• Andora is actively reviewing alternatives to move the Sawn Lake project forward with minimum development costs to Andora, including partnership or outright sale, and achieve value for Andora and Pan Orient shareholders.

Corporate

• Total 2020 corporate adjusted funds flow from operations (including Pan Orient's 50.01% equity interest in the Thailand Joint Venture) of $9.5 million ($0.18 per share), with $1.5 million ($0.03 per share) in the fourth quarter of 2020. The decrease from $2.4 million ($0.05 per share) in the third quarter of 2020 is largely due to an unrealized foreign exchange loss in Canada on cash holdings denominated in US dollars and more Thailand income subject to Thailand income tax for the Thailand Joint Venture.
• The 2020 loss attributable to common shareholders was $59.6 million ($1.13 loss per share), with a net $57.6 million impairment charge for the Sawn Lake, Alberta Exploration and Evaluation assets at March 31, 2020 and $1.7 million loss attributable to other operations. The loss attributable to common shareholders for the fourth quarter of 2020 was $0.4 million ($0.01 loss per share).
• Pan Orient repurchased 2,752,000 common shares in 2020 at an average price of $0.62 per share. In 2021, the Company has repurchased an additional 1,099,500 shares to March 17, 2021, at an average price of $0.84 per share.
• Pan Orient retains a strong financial position with working capital and non-current deposits of $23.6 million and no long-term debt at December 31, 2020. In addition, the Thailand Joint Venture has $4.9 million in working capital and long-term deposits, net to Pan Orient's 50.01% equity interest, and Thailand funds flow from operations are expected to fund remaining development activities at Concession L53.

OUTLOOK

THAILAND

Concession L53 Onshore (Pan Orient Energy (Siam) Ltd., in which Pan Orient has 50.01% ownership)

A two to three well appraisal drilling program has commenced with the L53-DD10 well that has just completed drilling. L53-DD10 is expected to be on long-term production upon completion of the two to three well appraisal drilling program. The L53-DD12 appraisal well has just commenced drilling and will tentatively be followed by the L53-DD11 appraisal well. It is anticipated this appraisal drilling program will solidify production through 2021.

Nearing the completion of the planned appraisal drilling program anticipated in April 2021, the Company will be in a position to best determine the future of the Thailand asset that would maximize shareholder value. The Company maintains a very favorable view of the current Thailand fiscal terms, operating environment and exploration potential that will be available in future onshore licensing rounds. 

CANADA

 Sawn Lake (Operated by Andora Energy Corporation ("Andora"), in which Pan Orient has a 71.8% ownership)

In 2020, Andora actively reviewed a range of alternatives to move the Sawn Lake project forward with minimum development costs to Andora, including partnership or outright sale to achieve value for Andora and Pan Orient shareholders. Despite the write-down in the first quarter of 2020, the current oil price environment, should it hold at these levels, provides strong economic support to the various options of monetizing or progressing this project.       

COVID-19 Coronavirus

The operations in Thailand of Pan Orient Energy (Siam) Ltd. ("POS") continue to be somewhat affected by the worldwide COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.  The Thailand government imposed a state of emergency in late March 2020, giving it wide-ranging powers to address the crisis.  Domestic travel restrictions have now been eased but restrictions on foreigners entering Thailand remain in effect.  Overall, the infection and death rate has been much lower in Thailand than in most western nations.

Prudent measures have been taken by POS to help protect the health and safety of staff, which are of paramount importance.  Fortunately, POS in Thailand has able to complete its 2020 drilling program and is proceeding with its 2021 Thailand drilling program.  POS and Pan Orient are well-positioned to withstand these unprecedented events.  The Company is optimistic about a return to normal operations and less volatile market conditions but the outlook for world oil prices remains somewhat uncertain.

Pan Orient is a Calgary, Alberta based oil and gas exploration and production company with operations currently located onshore Thailand and Western Canada.

This news release contains forward-looking information.  Forward-looking information is generally identifiable by the terminology used, such as "expect", "believe", "estimate", "should", "anticipate" and "potential" or other similar wording.  Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, references express or implied to renewal, extension or termination of oil concessions and production sharing contracts; other regulatory approvals; well drilling programs and drilling and testing plans; estimates of reserves and potentially recoverable resources; oil price expectations information on future production and project start-ups; the expected impact of actions on financial results and intentions with respect to cash balances; potential purchases of common shares under the normal course issuer bid; sufficiency of financial resources; and review of asset portfolio and defining opportunities and strategies.  By their very nature, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release require Pan Orient and its management to make assumptions that may not materialize or that may not be accurate.  The forward-looking information contained in this news release is subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results, expectations, achievements or performance to differ materially, including without limitation: imprecision of reserves estimates and estimates of recoverable quantities of oil, changes in project schedules, operating and reservoir performance, the effects of weather and climate change, the results of exploration and development drilling and related activities, demand for oil and gas, commercial negotiations, other technical and economic factors or revisions and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Pan Orient.  Although Pan Orient believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. 

SOURCE Pan Orient Energy Corp.