CALGARY, May 27, 2015 /CNW/ - PetroNova Inc.
("PetroNova" or the "Company") (TSX-V: PNA), a
company engaged in the exploration and development of oil and
natural gas resources in Colombia,
today announced its operational and financial results for the three
months ended March 31, 2015.
"We are pleased with the performance of our Pendare discoveries
and are upgrading our surface facilities to accommodate the
additional production we expect from these wells," said
Antonio Vincentelli, President and
CEO of PetroNova. "Given the current energy market conditions,
PetroNova will continue to implement cost reduction strategies as
we progress our exploration and development programs on each of our
blocks."
PetroNova's consolidated interim financial statements as at and
for the three months ended March 31,
2015 and 2014, together with the notes thereto, and the
related management's discussion and analysis for the periods then
ended, will be available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com.
Since January 1, 2015, the
Company:
- Completed a surface and communities survey of the unexplored
central and southwestern areas of the PUT-2 block
- Completed reprocessing of the 2D and 3D seismic acquired on the
PUT-2 block, the results of which are currently being
interpreted
- Continued extended testing of the Atarraya-1 and Atarraya-4
wells, and the interpretation of the recently acquired
Atarraya 3D seismic in the CPO-07 block
- Continued the socialization process and negotiation of
arrangements with military forces to obtain their support, which is
required for the Company to initiate the preliminary field
activities in preparation of drilling an exploratory well on its
Tinigua block
- Drilled the Pendare 3H and the Tillava Sur-1 wells in the
CPO-13 block, fulfilling all of the Company's phase 2 commitments
for the block. The Pendare 3H well has been incorporated into the
ongoing extended testing of PetroNova's Pendare discoveries
- Continued upgrading surface facilities to accommodate new
production from Pendare 3H and Pendare-6
- Reported gross production of 22,962 barrels from its extended
production testing in the CPO-7 and CPO-13 blocks and sold 19,631
barrels during the first quarter of 2015. Sales of crude oil
obtained during tests will be applied against exploration and
evaluation assets until the commercialization phase is achieved
- Continued to reduce its general and administrative expenses due
to current energy market conditions
Summary Financial Information:
|
Year
ended
|
Three months ended
March
|
(US$, except
shares and data per share)
|
2014*
|
2015
|
2014*
|
Revenues
|
136,192
|
17,668
|
28,871
|
Net Loss
|
46,230,892
|
833,361
|
541,829
|
Loss per
share
|
0.19
|
0.00
|
0.00
|
Weighted average
shares
|
238,495,739
|
254,542,705
|
225,971,277
|
Working
Capital
|
1,711,118
|
(331,989)
|
11,664,611
|
Cash and equivalents
and short-term investments
|
7,747,310
|
4,144,263
|
16,211,758
|
Exploration and
evaluation assets
|
42,161,176
|
43,749,827
|
74,145,815
|
Block deposits
(short- and long-term)
|
5,378,248
|
1,549,901
|
5,278,208
|
Total
assets
|
61,835,795
|
55,683,193
|
103,232,993
|
Shareholders'
equity
|
50,237,600
|
49,090,174
|
88,869,346
|
*Certain amounts have been restated (see Critical Accounting
Principles and Estimates) in PetroNova's consolidated interim
financial statements
Outlook:
PetroNova is continuing with its scheduled exploration plans and
commitments and anticipates the following activities to occur
during the remainder of 2015:
- Complete the re-interpretation of the 2D and 3D seismic
acquired on the PUT-2 block to define the next exploration
activities for the block
- Continue extended testing of discoveries on CPO-07 and CPO-13
and complete the upgrading of surface facilities to accommodate new
production
- Continue the socialization process, finalize military
agreements, complete an environmental management plan, and commence
civil works on the Tinigua block
In Colombia, extractive
industries are experiencing delays in the process of acquiring
drilling permits. While the Company continues to progress its
exploration drilling program, part of this progress is dependent
upon receipt of such government approvals or permits.
About PetroNova:
The Company, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in the
exploration for, and the acquisition and development of, oil and
natural gas resources in South
America, specifically in Colombia. The Company's assets currently
include the Company's interests in the PUT-2 and Tinigua Blocks
located in the Caguan-Putumayo Basin in Colombia, both of which are operated by the
Company, and the non-operated Llanos Blocks located in the Llanos
Basin in Colombia. The common
shares of the Company trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the
stock symbol "PNA".
Neither the 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.
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and
Information:
Certain statements and information contained in this press
release constitute forward-looking statements and information
(collectively "forward-looking statements") within the
meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to
future events or the Company's future performance. All statements
other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking
statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "intend",
"plan", "continue", "estimate", "budget", "targeting", "project",
"expect", "may", "will", "might", "should", "could", "believe",
"predict" and "potential" and similar expressions are intended to
identify forward-looking statements. Such statements represent the
Company's internal projections, estimates, expectations, beliefs,
plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about
future events or performance. These statements involve known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause
actual results or events to differ materially from those
anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Management believes
the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are
reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations
will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements
included in this press release should not be unduly relied
upon.
In particular, this press release contains forward-looking
statements pertaining to the interpretation of well results and
seismic data to determine future exploration opportunities; the
Company's future exploration and development activities and the
timing thereof, including the completion of extended testing of
discoveries in the Llanos blocks; the completion of seismic data
interpretation and the surface facilities upgrading for the
CPO-7 and CPO-13 blocks; the completion of the surface and
communities survey, and re-evaluation of prospects on the PUT-2
block; and the continuation of the socialization process,
completion of an environmental management plan, securing military
support and commencement civil works on the Tinigua block.
With respect to forward-looking statements contained in this
press release, assumptions have been made regarding, among other
things: the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern;
general economic, market and business conditions in Colombia and globally; future crude oil and
natural gas prices; the continued availability of capital,
undeveloped lands and skilled personnel; the ability to obtain
equipment in a timely manner to carry out exploration and
development activities; the regulatory framework governing
royalties, taxes and environmental matters in Colombia and any other jurisdictions in which
the Company may conduct its business in the future; the ability of
the Company to obtain the necessary approvals, permits and licences
to conduct its operations; the applicability of technologies for
recovery and production of the Company's oil and natural gas
resources and reserves; the recoverability of the Company's oil and
gas resources and reserves; future capital and exploration
expenditures to be made by the Company and the timing thereof; the
Company's future production levels; the sufficiency of budgeted
capital expenditures to carry out planned expenditures; future
sources of funding for the Company's exploration program; the
Company's future debt levels; operating and general administrative
costs; the geography of the areas in which the Company is
exploring; success rates for future drilling; the performance of
existing and future wells and well production rates; interest and
inflation rates; currency exchange rates; adequate weather and
environmental conditions; the impact of increasing competition on
the Company; and the Company's ability to obtain financing on
acceptable terms.
Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in
these forward-looking statements as a result of certain risk
factors, including, but not limited to: general economic, market
and business conditions; volatility in market prices for crude oil
and natural gas and hedging activities related thereto; risks
related to the exploration, development and production of oil and
natural gas; risks inherent in the Company's international
operations, including security and legal risks in Colombia; risks related to the timing of
completion of the Company's projects; competition for, among other
things, capital, the acquisition of resources and skilled
personnel; actions by governmental authorities, including changes
in government regulation and taxation; the failure of the Company
to obtain the necessary approvals, permits and licences to conduct
its operations; environmental risks and hazards; risks inherent in
the exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas
which may create liabilities to the Company in excess of the
Company's insurance coverage, if any; failure to accurately
estimate and to establish adequate cash reserves for abandonment
and reclamation costs; failure of third parties' reviews, reports
and projections to be accurate; the availability of capital on
acceptable terms; the failure of the Company or the holder of
certain licenses or leases to meet specific requirements of such
licenses or leases; adverse claims made in respect of the Company's
properties or assets; failure to engage or retain key personnel;
uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of oil and natural
gas reserves and resources; potential losses which would stem from
any disruptions in production, including work stoppages or other
labour difficulties, or disruptions in the transportation network;
failure to acquire or develop oil and natural gas resources and
reserves; geological, technical, drilling and processing problems,
including the availability of equipment and access to properties;
failure by counterparties to make payments or perform their
operational or other obligations to the Company in compliance with
the terms of contractual arrangements between the Company and such
counterparties; current global financial conditions, including
fluctuations in interest rates, foreign exchange rates and stock
market volatility; and the other factors discussed under the
heading "Risk Factors" in the AIF and the Company's other
continuous disclosure documents filed from time to time with
applicable securities regulatory authorities in Canada and which may be accessed on
PetroNova's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.
Readers are cautioned that the foregoing lists of factors are
not exhaustive. The forward-looking statements included in this
press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement
and are made as of the date of this press release. The Company does
not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or results or otherwise, except as required by
applicable securities laws.
SOURCE PetroNova Inc.