Gran Tierra Energy Inc.
(“
Gran Tierra”
or
the “
Company”
) (NYSE
American:GTE)(TSX:GTE)(LSE:GTE) today announced an
operational and financial update. All dollar amounts are in
United States dollars, and production amounts are on an average
working interest before royalties (“
WI”) basis
unless otherwise indicated. Per barrel (“
bbl”) and
bbl of oil per day (“
BOPD”) amounts are based on
WI sales before royalties.
Message to Shareholders
Commenting on the Company’s ongoing successful
drilling campaign and share and bond buyback programs, Gary Guidry,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Gran Tierra, stated: "We
are very pleased with the results so far from our 2023 development
drilling campaign, which have demonstrated the quality of our
assets and our ability to execute on our strategy. We plan to
continue the development program until the end of second quarter
2023, with our high-impact exploration drilling campaign scheduled
to commence early in third quarter 2023. We are also pleased with
the resumption of both our share and bond buyback programs, which
reflect our commitment to returning value to our shareholders and
strengthening our balance sheet."
Operations Update:
-
Production
- During first
quarter 2023 (the “Quarter”), Gran Tierra’s total
average production was approximately 31,700 BOPD. Gran Tierra's
total current average production1 for second quarter 2023 to date
is approximately 33,700 BOPD, which is at the high end of the
Company’s 2023 previously disclosed average annual production
guidance.
- During second
quarter 2023 to date, Acordionero’s current average production1 is
approximately 20,000 BOPD, which is the first time this level of
production has been reached since second quarter 2019 and is a
result of the Company’s ongoing successful development drilling and
asset management efforts through waterflooding to enhance oil
recovery.
-
Development
- During the
Quarter the Company drilled 14 wells:
- Acordionero: 8
wells were drilled; 5 are on production, 2 are on water injection
and 1 producer is being completed
- Costayaco: 4
wells were drilled; 2 producers are scheduled for completion and
tie-in before the end of April 2023 and 2 water injection wells are
completed and expected to begin injection during second quarter
2023
- Moqueta: 2 wells
were drilled; 1 is on production, and production casing is being
run on the second one
- Production in
the Suroriente Block averaged approximately 8,167 BOPD gross (4,247
BOPD WI) during the Quarter, its second highest quarterly
production average since second quarter 2015, despite no
development wells being drilled since first quarter 2018.
- During the
Quarter, Gran Tierra initiated a waterflood project designed to
increase oil recovery in the Cumplidor field in the Putumayo-7
Block. The Company plans to monitor waterflood performance and,
based on results, expects to identify future development drilling
locations.
Shareholder Returns:
- Share
Buybacks: Pursuant to Gran Tierra’s current normal course
issuer bid (“NCIB”), the Company has purchased
approximately 36 million of its shares of common stock since the
commencement of the NCIB on September 1, 2022, representing
approximately 9.7% of shares outstanding as of June 30, 2022.
- During the
Quarter alone, the Company bought back approximately 13 million
shares for approximately $10.7 million.
Bond Buybacks:
- During the
Quarter, Gran Tierra bought back approximately $8 million in face
value of the Company’s 6.25% senior notes due February 2025 (the
"2025 bonds"). Since starting bond buybacks, the
Company has purchased a total of $28 million in face value of the
2025 bonds, which represents approximately 9.4% of the outstanding
2025 bonds.
- The cost of the
2025 bond buybacks during the Quarter alone was approximately $6.8
million, representing a discount of about 15% to the face value of
the purchased 2025 bonds.
1Gran Tierra's total current average production
is for the period of April 1, 2023, to April 4, 2023.
Corporate Presentation:
Gran Tierra’s Corporate Presentation is
available on the Company website at www.grantierra.com.
Contact Information:
For investor and media inquiries please
contact:
Gary Guidry
President & Chief Executive Officer
Ryan Ellson
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial
Officer
Rodger Trimble
Vice President, Investor Relations
+1-403-265-3221
info@grantierra.com
About Gran Tierra Energy
Inc.
Gran Tierra Energy Inc. together with its
subsidiaries is an independent international energy company
currently focused on oil and natural gas exploration and production
in Colombia and Ecuador. The Company is currently developing its
existing portfolio of assets in Colombia and Ecuador and will
continue to pursue additional growth opportunities that would
further strengthen the Company’s portfolio. The Company’s common
stock trades on the NYSE American, the Toronto Stock Exchange and
the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GTE. Additional
information concerning Gran Tierra is available at
www.grantierra.com. Information on the Company’s website (including
the Corporate Presentation referenced above) does not constitute a
part of this press release. Investor inquiries may be directed to
info@grantierra.com or (403) 265-3221.
Gran Tierra’s U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”) filings are available on the SEC website at
www.sec.gov. The Company’s Canadian securities regulatory filings
are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and UK regulatory filings
are available on the National Storage Mechanism (“the NSM”) website
at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism. Gran
Tierra's filings on the SEC, SEDAR and the NSM websites are not
incorporated by reference into this press release.
Forward Looking Statements and Legal
Advisories:
This press release contains opinions, forecasts,
projections, and other statements about future events or results
that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of
the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
financial outlook and forward-looking information within the
meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively,
“forward-looking statements”). The use of the words “expect,”
“plan,” “can,” “will,” “should,” “guidance,” “forecast,” “signal,”
“progress,” and “believes,” derivations thereof and similar terms
identify forward-looking statements. In particular, but without
limiting the foregoing, this press release contains forward-looking
statements regarding: the Company’s expected future production
(including as a result of our testing results), the Company’s
drilling program, the Company’s potential debt repayments and share
repurchases. The forward-looking statements contained in this press
release reflect several material factors and expectations and
assumptions of Gran Tierra including, without limitation, that Gran
Tierra will continue to conduct its operations in a manner
consistent with its current expectations, pricing and cost
estimates (including with respect to commodity pricing and exchange
rates), and the general continuance of assumed operational,
regulatory and industry conditions in Colombia and Ecuador, and the
ability of Gran Tierra to execute its business and operational
plans in the manner currently planned.
Among the important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the
forward-looking statements in this press release are: Gran Tierra’s
operations are located in South America and unexpected problems can
arise due to guerilla activity, strikes, local blockades or
protests; technical difficulties and operational difficulties may
arise which impact the production, transport or sale of our
products; other disruptions to local operations; global health
events (including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic); global and
regional changes in the demand, supply, prices, differentials or
other market conditions affecting oil and gas, including inflation
and changes resulting from a global health crisis, the Russian
invasion of Ukraine, or from the imposition or lifting of crude oil
production quotas or other actions that might be imposed by OPEC,
and other producing countries and the resulting company or
third-party actions in response to such changes; changes in
commodity prices, including volatility or a decline in these prices
relative to historical or future expected levels; the risk that
current global economic and credit conditions may impact oil prices
and oil consumption more than Gran Tierra currently predicts, which
could cause Gran Tierra to further modify its strategy and capital
spending program; prices and markets for oil and natural gas are
unpredictable and volatile; the accuracy of testing and production
results and seismic data, pricing and cost estimates (including
with respect to commodity pricing and exchange rates); the effect
of hedges; the accuracy of productive capacity of any particular
field; geographic, political and weather conditions can impact the
production, transport or sale of our products; the ability of Gran
Tierra to execute its business plan and realize expected benefits
from current initiatives; the risk that unexpected delays and
difficulties in developing currently owned properties may occur;
the ability to replace reserves and production and develop and
manage reserves on an economically viable basis; the risk profile
of planned exploration activities; the effects of drilling
down-dip; the effects of waterflood and multi-stage fracture
stimulation operations; the extent and effect of delivery
disruptions, equipment performance and costs; actions by third
parties; the timely receipt of regulatory or other required
approvals for our operating activities; the failure of exploratory
drilling to result in commercial wells; unexpected delays due to
the limited availability of drilling equipment and personnel;
volatility or declines in the trading price of our common stock or
bonds; the risk that Gran Tierra does not receive the anticipated
benefits of government programs, including government tax refunds;
Gran Tierra’s ability to comply with financial covenants in its
credit agreement and indentures and make borrowings under any
credit agreement; capital market disruptions; and the risk factors
detailed from time to time in Gran Tierra’s periodic reports filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without
limitation, under the caption “Risk Factors” in Gran Tierra’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and
its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
These filings are available on the Securities and Exchange
Commission website at http://www.sec.gov and SEDAR at
www.sedar.com.
The forward-looking statements contained in this
press release are based on certain assumptions made by Gran Tierra
based on management’s experience and other factors believed to be
appropriate. Gran Tierra believes these assumptions to be
reasonable at this time, but the forward-looking statements are
subject to risk and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Gran
Tierra’s control, which may cause actual results to differ
materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking
statements. In particular, the unprecedented nature of the current
economic downturn, pandemic and industry decline may make it
particularly difficult to identify risks or predict the degree to
which identified risks will impact Gran Tierra’s business and
financial condition. All forward-looking statements are made as of
the date of this press release and the fact that this press release
remains available does not constitute a representation by Gran
Tierra that Gran Tierra believes these forward-looking statements
continue to be true as of any subsequent date. Actual results may
vary materially from the expected results expressed in
forward-looking statements. Gran Tierra disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
except as expressly required by applicable law.
Presentation of Oil and Gas
Information:
References to a formation where evidence of
hydrocarbons has been encountered is not necessarily an indicator
that hydrocarbons will be recoverable in commercial quantities or
in any estimated volume. Gran Tierra’s reported production is a mix
of light crude oil and medium and heavy crude oil for which there
is not a precise breakdown since the Company’s oil sales volumes
typically represent blends of more than one type of crude oil. Well
test results should be considered as preliminary and not
necessarily indicative of long-term performance or of ultimate
recovery. Well log interpretations indicating oil and gas
accumulations are not necessarily indicative of future production
or ultimate recovery. If it is indicated that a pressure transient
analysis or well-test interpretation has not been carried out, any
data disclosed in that respect should be considered preliminary
until such analysis has been completed. References to thickness of
“oil pay” or of a formation where evidence of hydrocarbons has been
encountered is not necessarily an indicator that hydrocarbons will
be recoverable in commercial quantities or in any estimated
volume.
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