Condor Energies Inc. (“Condor” or the “Company”) (TSX:CDR), a
Canadian based, internationally focused energy transition company
focused on Central Asia is pleased to announce the release of its
unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements for
the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 together with
the related management’s discussion and analysis. These documents
will be made available under Condor’s profile on SEDAR+ at
www.sedarplus.ca and on the Condor website at
www.condorenergies.ca. Readers are invited to review the latest
corporate presentation available on the Condor website. All
financial amounts in this news release are presented in Canadian
dollars, unless otherwise stated.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Production in
Uzbekistan for the third quarter of 2024 averaged 10,010 boe/d
comprised of 58,638 Mcf/d (9,773 boe/d) of natural gas and 237 bopd
of condensate.
- In June 2024, the
Company initiated a multi-well workover campaign on the eight
gas-condensate fields it operates in Uzbekistan. A second workover
rig began operations in late October 2024.
- Production in
Uzbekistan for the past seven days from November 5, 2024 through
November 11, 2024 has averaged 10,706 boe/d due to continued
workover successes and the partial commissioning of the first
in-field flowline water separation system in early November.
- Uzbekistan gas and
condensate sales for the third quarter of 2024 was $19.14
million.
- In July 2024,
Condor signed its first LNG Framework Agreement for the production
and utilization of liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) to fuel
Kazakhstan’s rail locomotives.
- In August 2024, the
Company received a second natural gas allocation in Kazakhstan to
be used as feed gas for the Company’s second modular LNG production
facility.
MESSAGE FROM CONDOR’S CEO
Don Streu, President and CEO of Condor
commented: “We are very excited by the positive impacts the early
workover and optimization activities are making on production
volumes and revenue streams. During the third quarter, production
averaged 10,010 boe/d and we estimate the baseline production rate
could have been approximately 2,800 boe/d lower without the success
of our program, which is more than offsetting the natural reservoir
production declines. We’ve started to realize production increases
due to continued workover successes and the partial commissioning
of the first in-field flowline water separator system.
Our workover inventory is continuously
expanding, and the two workover rigs will continue perforating
newly identified, non-depleted and bypassed pay intervals, while
also installing artificial lift equipment. This program is a very
capital-efficient means of growing production. Preliminary results
from our reprocessed 3D seismic data are providing higher vertical
and lateral seismic resolutions that should allow us to more
accurately characterize the reservoirs and identify new targets in
preparation for a 2025 infill drilling program.
In addition, we will increase the number of
in-field flowline water separation systems in the coming
months.
In parallel with our production enhancement
activities, we’ve implemented our safety culture through ongoing
employee and contractor training which has resulted in zero lost
time incidents since the start of the project.
Finally, we are very honored to have been
invited to present the Company’s energy transition initiatives at
the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (“COP29”) that
will convene from November 11 to 22, 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan. At
COP29, we’ll highlight some of the technological advances and
operating innovations we are implementing to increase the
sustainability of low carbon fuels as a responsible and stable
bridge for the energy transition to net-zero energy.”
Production in Uzbekistan
Production for the third quarter of 2024
averaged 10,010 boe/d, comprised of 58,638 Mcf/d (9,773 boe/d) of
natural gas and 237 bopd of condensate, despite production being
restricted in August for 4 days due to downstream infrastructure
maintenance at non-Company operated facilities. Since assuming
operations on March 1, 2024, the Company has been able to flatten
the natural production decline rates, which previously exceeded
twenty percent annually.
In late June 2024, the Company initiated a
multi-well workover campaign for the eight fields which includes
installing proven artificial lift equipment, perforating newly
identified pay intervals, performing downhole stimulation
treatments, and installing new production tubing. Based on early
successes, a second workover rig was contracted and began operating
in late October 2024.
In early November 2024, the Company partially
commissioned Uzbekistan’s first in-field flowline water separation
system which separates water from the gas streams at the field
gathering network rather than at the production facility. This
reduces pipeline flow pressure that can lead to higher reservoir
flow rates. Additional separation units have been ordered and will
be installed in the coming months. The existing pipeline and
facilities infrastructure are also being evaluated to optimize
water-handling, determine long term field compression requirements,
and to enhance in-field gathering networks. Production during the
past seven days from November 5, 2024 to November 11, 2024 has
averaged 10,706 boe/d due to continued workover successes and the
partial commissioning of the first in-field flowline water
separator.
Extensive geological evaluations that have been
performed, coupled with recent workover results, suggest that
material untapped hydrocarbon potential exists within the carbonate
formations of the Company’s 279 km2 license area. These carbonate
platforms contain thick reservoir sections interbedded with
laterally extensive evaporite layers, creating ideal conditions for
hydrocarbon trapping. The reservoirs are analogous to carbonate
formations in Canada’s Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, such as
Charlie Lake and Midale, which continue to be successfully
monetized. By leveraging this geological similarity, the Company is
maturing the potential of horizontal and multi-lateral drilling, a
proven method in Canada to enhance deliverability and maximize
recovery from these reservoirs. The Company is also reprocessing
previously acquired 3-D seismic data and integrating preliminary
results into these evaluations, with plans to conduct infill
drilling and well deepening programs commencing in 2025.
LNG in Kazakhstan
Condor is planning to develop Kazakhstan’s first
LNG facilities and produce, distribute, and sell LNG to offset
industrial diesel usage. LNG applications include rail locomotives,
long-haul truck fleets, marine vessels, mining equipment, municipal
bus fleets, agricultural machinery, and other heavy equipment and
machinery with high-horsepower engines. These applications have all
successfully used LNG fuel in other Countries.
In August 2024, the Company received a second
natural gas allocation in Kazakhstan to be used as feed gas for the
Company’s second modular LNG production facility that will be
located near the Kuryk Port on the Caspian Sea. This second gas
allocation will supply the Company’s planned Kuryk LNG facility
which will produce the energy-equivalent volume of 565,000 litres
of diesel fuel per day and is sufficient to power 155 mainline rail
locomotives. When combined with the first gas allocation disclosed
in January 2024 for the Alga LNG facility, the total LNG fuel
produced will have an energy-equivalent volume of over one million
litres of diesel daily, while also reducing CO2 emissions
equivalent to removing more than 38,000 cars from the road
annually.
In July 2024, the Company signed its first LNG
Framework Agreement (the “Framework Agreement”) for the production
and utilization of LNG to fuel Kazakhstan’s rail locomotives. The
Framework Agreement was also signed by Kazakhstan Temir Zholy
National Company JSC (“KTZ”), the national railway operator of
Kazakhstan and Wabtec Corporation (“Wabtec”) (NYSE: WAB), a U.S.
based locomotive manufacturer with existing facilities in
Kazakhstan. KTZ and Wabtec previously signed a memorandum of
understanding which includes modernization work to retrofit KTZ’s
mainline locomotive fleet for LNG usage and incorporate LNG into
new-build locomotives. The Framework Agreement introduces Condor
into this locomotive fleet modernization strategy as the supplier
and distributor of the LNG.
The Framework Agreement also provides a detailed
framework whereby the three parties will coordinate efforts to
ensure that Condor’s LNG production volumes coincide with the
delivery of new and converted LNG-powered rail locomotives from
Wabtec. A working group comprised of members from each of the
parties is responsible to identify and monitor the key performance
indicators associated with this initiative.
The Framework Agreement is critical to supplying
a stable, economic and more environmentally friendly fuel source
for the Transcaspian International Transport Route (“TITR”)
expansion, which is currently the shortest, fastest and most
geopolitically secure transit corridor for moving freight between
Asia and Europe. The Government of Kazakhstan and KTZ are making
significant investments in TITR infrastructure, including expanding
the rail network, constructing a new dry port at the Kazakhstan –
China border, and increasing the container-handling capacities at
various Caspian Sea ports.
The planned first modular LNG facility will be
constructed near the town of Alga and produce 120,000 metric tons
of LNG annually, which is the energy equivalent volume of 450,000
litres of diesel per day. Phase 1 of the first facility is
currently scheduled to commence LNG production in the second half
of 2026. The Company is also advancing project funding
alternatives.
Lithium License in
Kazakhstan
The Company holds a 100% working interest in the
contiguous 37,300-hectare area which provides the subsurface
exploration rights for solid minerals for a six-year term (the
“Lithium License”). Given its strategic access to Asian and
European lithium markets, this region is ideally suited for the
rapid deployment of emerging Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”)
technologies to generate lithium for EV batteries and other
electricity storage applications.
The initial development plan for the Lithium
License includes drilling and testing two wells to verify
deliverability rates, confirm the lateral extension and
concentrations of lithium in the tested and untested intervals,
conduct preliminary engineering for the production facilities, and
prepare a mineral resources or mineral reserves report compliant
with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Projects.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Production
|
|
For the three months ended September 30 |
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
Change |
|
|
Natural gas (Mcf) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Uzbekistan |
5,394,729 |
|
|
- |
|
|
5,394,729 |
|
|
Türkiye |
5,929 |
|
|
6,021 |
|
|
(92 |
) |
|
|
5,400,658 |
|
|
6,021 |
|
|
5,394,637 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Condensate (barrels) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Uzbekistan |
21,771 |
|
|
- |
|
|
21,771 |
|
|
Türkiye |
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
21,771 |
|
|
- |
|
|
21,771 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the nine months ended September 30 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural gas (Mcf) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Uzbekistan |
12,794,678 |
|
|
- |
|
|
12,794,678 |
|
|
Türkiye |
27,324 |
|
|
33,564 |
|
|
(6,240 |
) |
|
|
12,822,002 |
|
|
33,564 |
|
|
12,788,438 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Condensate (barrels) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Uzbekistan |
49,845 |
|
|
- |
|
|
49,845 |
|
|
Türkiye |
- |
|
|
10 |
|
|
(10 |
) |
|
|
49,845 |
|
|
10 |
|
|
49,835 |
|
|
|
Operating Netback – Uzbekistan
2024 Operating netback –
Uzbekistan1,2($000’s) |
Natural Gas |
Q1 |
|
Q2 |
|
Q3 |
|
Total2 |
|
Natural gas sales |
6,565 |
|
17,420 |
|
17,419 |
|
41,404 |
|
Royalties |
(1,203 |
) |
(3,186 |
) |
(3,215 |
) |
(7,604 |
) |
Production costs |
(2,288 |
) |
(7,394 |
) |
(7,394 |
) |
(17,076 |
) |
Transportation and selling |
(228 |
) |
(619 |
) |
(625 |
) |
(1,472 |
) |
Operating netback 1,2 |
2,846 |
|
6,221 |
|
6,185 |
|
15,252 |
|
|
Condensate |
Condensate sales |
647 |
|
1,534 |
|
1,717 |
|
3,898 |
|
Royalties |
(128 |
) |
(304 |
) |
(339 |
) |
(771 |
) |
Production costs |
(37 |
) |
(141 |
) |
(146 |
) |
(324 |
) |
Transportation and selling |
(3 |
) |
(7 |
) |
(9 |
) |
(19 |
) |
Operating netback 1,2 |
479 |
|
1,082 |
|
1,223 |
|
2,784 |
|
|
- Operating netback is a non-GAAP
measure and is a term with no standardized meaning as prescribed by
GAAP and may not be comparable with similar measures presented by
other issuers. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this news
release. The calculation of operating netback is aligned with the
definition found in the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation
Handbook.
- Amounts are only presented for the
Uzbekistan segment.
|
|
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
The Company refers to “operating netback” in
this news release, a term with no standardized meaning as
prescribed by GAAP and which may not be comparable with similar
measures presented by other issuers. This additional information
should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for
measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Operating netback is
calculated as sales less royalties, production costs and
transportation and selling on a dollar basis and divided by the
sales volume for the period on a per Mcf basis for natural gas and
per boe basis for condensate. This non-GAAP measure is commonly
used in the oil and gas industry to assist in measuring operating
performance against prior periods on a comparable basis and has
been presented to provide an additional measure to analyze the
Company’s sales on a per unit basis and the Company’s ability to
generate funds.
BARRELS OF OIL EQUIVALENT ADVISORY
References herein to barrels of oil equivalent
(“boe”) are derived by converting gas to oil in the ratio of six
thousand standard cubic feet (“Mcf”) of gas to one barrel of oil
based on an energy conversion method primarily applicable at the
burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the
wellhead. Given the value ratio based on the current price of crude
oil as compared to natural gas is significantly different from the
energy equivalency of 6 Mcf to 1 barrel, utilizing a conversion
ratio at 6 Mcf to 1 barrel may be misleading as an indication of
value, particularly if used in isolation.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this news release
constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities
legislation. Such statements are generally identifiable by the
terminology used, such as “expect”, “plan”, “estimate”, “may”,
“will”, “should”, “could”, “would”, “increase”, “introduce”,
“provide”, “generate”, “envision”, “apply”, “include”, “conduct”,
“prepare”, “require”, “continue”, “reduce”, or other similar
wording. Forward-looking information in this news release includes,
but is not limited to, information concerning: the timing and
ability to execute the Company’s growth and sustainability
strategies including the financing for these growth and
sustainability strategies; the timing and ability to operate and
increase production and overall recovery rates at eight gas fields
in Uzbekistan; the timing and ability to increase domestic gas
supply and contribute to carbon emissions reductions; the timing
and ability to conduct production enhancement services, produce
natural gas and realize domestic gas sales proceeds; the timing and
ability to increase production by implementing artificial lift,
workover and drilling programs; the timing and ability to estimate
the baseline production rate and offset the natural reservoir
production declines; the timing and ability to continue perforating
newly identified, non-depleted and bypassed pay intervals; the
timing and ability to increase the sustainability of low carbon
fuels as a responsible and stable bridge for the energy transition
to net-zero energy; the timing and ability to increase the number
of in-field flowline water separation systems; the timing and
ability to investigate deeper horizons; the timing and ability to
reprocess 3-D seismic data and conduct a 3-D seismic program; the
timing and ability to collect reservoir and production data; the
timing and ability to evaluate existing pipeline and facilities
infrastructure for optimization of water handling, field
compression and the in-field gathering network; the timing and
ability of the Company to conduct infill drilling and well
deepening programs in 2025; the timing and ability to provide
production guidance; the timing and ability to use the two natural
gas allocations from the Government of Kazakhstan as feed gas for
the Company’s modular LNG production facilities; the timing and
ability to liquefy the gas to produce LNG; the timing and ability
to fuel LNG powered rail locomotives and large mine haul trucks;
the timing and ability to contribute to carbon emissions reductions
by displacing diesel fuel usage; the timing and ability to conduct
detailed engineering; the timing and ability to confirm LNG volume
commitments with end-users; the Company’s expectations in respect
of the future uses of LNG; the timing and ability to obtain funding
and proceed with construction of LNG production facilities; the
sufficiency of the second natural gas allocation to power mainline
rail locomotives; the potential for the Lithium License area to
contain commercial deposits; future lithium testing results; the
material untapped hydrocarbon potential in the carbonate formations
of the Company’s license area; the timing and ability to fund,
permit and complete planned activities including drilling two
additional wells and conduct preliminary engineering for the
production facilities; the timing and ability to optimize the
planned method for direct lithium extraction; the timing and
ability to generate a report in compliance with National Instrument
43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects; the timing and
ability to produce the lithium by utilizing closed-looped DLE
production technologies; the timing and ability to have a much
smaller environmental footprint than existing lithium production
operations; the timing and ability to commence exploration mining
activities to evaluate the potential for commercial lithium brine
deposits; projections and timing with respect to natural gas and
condensate production; expected markets, prices and costs for
future gas and condensate sales; the timing and ability to obtain
various approvals and conduct the Company’s planned exploration and
development activities; the timing and ability to access natural
gas pipelines; the timing and ability to access domestic and export
sales markets; anticipated capital expenditures; forecasted capital
and operating budgets and cashflows; anticipated working capital;
sources and availability of financing for potential budgeting
shortfalls; the timing and ability to obtain future funding on
favourable terms, if at all; general business strategies and
objectives; the timing and ability to obtain exploration contract,
production contract and operating license extensions; the potential
for additional contractual work commitments; the ability to meet
and fund the contractual work commitments; the satisfaction of the
work commitments; the results of non-fulfilment of work
commitments; projections relating to the adequacy of the Company’s
provision for taxes; the expected impacts of adopting amendments to
IFRS accounting policies; and treatment under governmental
regulatory regimes and tax laws.
This news release also includes forward-looking
information regarding health risk management including, but not
limited to: travel restrictions including shelter in place orders,
curfews and lockdowns which may impact the timing and ability of
Company personnel, suppliers and contractors to travel
internationally, travel domestically and to access or deliver
services, goods and equipment to the fields of operation; the risk
of shutting in or reducing production due to travel restrictions,
Government orders, crew illness, and the availability of goods,
works and essential services for the fields of operations;
decreases in the demand for oil and gas; decreases in natural gas,
condensate and crude oil prices; potential for gas pipeline or
sales market interruptions; the risk of changes to foreign currency
controls, availability of foreign currencies, availability of hard
currency, and currency controls or banking restrictions which
restrict or prevent the repatriation of funds from or to foreign
jurisdiction in which the Company operates; the Company’s financial
condition, results of operations and cashflows; access to capital
and borrowings to fund operations and new business projects; the
timing and ability to meet financial and other reporting deadlines;
and the inherent increased risk of information technology failures
and cyber-attacks.
By its very nature, such forward-looking
information requires Condor to make assumptions that may not
materialize or that may not be accurate. Forward-looking
information is subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties
and other factors, which may cause actual results, levels of
activity and achievements to differ materially from those expressed
or implied by such information. Such risks and uncertainties
include, but are not limited to: regulatory changes; the timing of
regulatory approvals; the risk that actual minimum work programs
will exceed the initially estimated amounts; the results of
exploration and development drilling and related activities; prior
lithium testing results may not be indicative of future testing
results or actual results; imprecision of reserves estimates and
ultimate recovery of reserves; the effectiveness of lithium mining
and production methods including DLE technology; historical
production and testing rates may not be indicative of future
production rates, capabilities or ultimate recovery; the historical
composition and quality of oil and gas may not be indicative of
future composition and quality; general economic, market and
business conditions; industry capacity; uncertainty related to
marketing and transportation; competitive action by other
companies; fluctuations in oil and natural gas prices; the effects
of weather and climate conditions; fluctuation in interest rates
and foreign currency exchange rates; the ability of suppliers to
meet commitments; actions by governmental authorities, including
increases in taxes; decisions or approvals of administrative
tribunals and the possibility that government policies or laws may
change or government approvals may be delayed or withheld; changes
in environmental and other regulations; risks associated with oil
and gas operations, both domestic and international; international
political events; and other factors, many of which are beyond the
control of Condor. Capital expenditures may be affected by cost
pressures associated with new capital projects, including labour
and material supply, project management, drilling rig rates and
availability, and seismic costs.
These risk factors are discussed in greater
detail in filings made by Condor with Canadian securities
regulatory authorities including the Company’s Annual Information
Form, which may be accessed through the SEDAR+ website
(www.sedarplus.ca).
Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of
important factors affecting forward-looking information is not
exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this news
release are made as of the date of this news release and, except as
required by applicable law, Condor does not undertake any
obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included
forward-looking information, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking
information contained in this news release is expressly qualified
by this cautionary statement.
ABBREVIATIONS
The following is a summary of abbreviations used in this news
release:
3-D |
Three dimensional |
Mcf |
Thousands of standard cubic feet |
Mcf/D |
Thousands of standard cubic feet per day |
boe |
Barrels of oil equivalent |
boe/d |
Barrels of oil equivalent per day |
bopd |
Barrels of oil per day |
CAD |
Canadian Dollars |
USD |
United States Dollars |
LNG |
Liquefied Natural Gas |
DLE |
Direct Lithium Extraction |
EV |
Electric Vehicle |
|
The TSX does not accept responsibility
for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
For further information, please contact Don Streu, President and
CEO or Sandy Quilty, Vice President of Finance and CFO at
403-201-9694.
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