Report-Quarter Ended 30/09/05
Roc Oil Company Limited
28 October 2005
ROC OIL COMPANY LIMITED
(ABN 32 075 965 856)
REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS
Activities for the Third Quarter Ended 30 September 2005
CEO COMMENT
During the Quarter ROC reached a record market capitalisation of approximately
$520 million based on a record closing share price of $2.80. This reflected:
increasing momentum towards ROC's four field developments due to commence in
2006; an aggressive exploration drilling programme and strong oil prices.
HIGHLIGHTS
DEVELOPMENT
• During the Quarter, 76% of the $43.5 million activity expenditure was
related to ROC's four field developments which are due to commence
production next year.
• The Cliff Head Oil Field Development, offshore Western Australia,
remained on schedule for first production during Q1 2006. Post Quarter,
the Joint Venture approved an increase in the scope of work whereby an
additional well at a cost of $12.5 million will be drilled to access
approximately one million barrels of additional reserves resulting in an
increase to the current $227 million budget.
• The Chinguetti Oil and Gas Field Development, offshore Mauritania,
continued toward first production Q1 2006. Overall budget plus
contingencies increased to US$750 million.
• The Blane Oil Field and the Enoch Oil and Gas Field, both in the North
Sea, were approved for development.
EXPLORATION & APPRAISAL
• The 3D and 2D seismic surveys in the Cabinda South Block, onshore
Angola, continued throughout the Quarter and subsequent month.
• The Tevet-2 appraisal well, offshore Mauritania, encountered a gross gas
column of approximately 1.5m above a gross oil column of approximately 37m
in the Miocene channel sand, the shallower of the two objectives. The well
is part of a multi well exploration and appraisal drilling programme which
commenced in August 2005.
FINANCIAL
• At Quarter end ROC had $118 million in cash and receivables and no debt.
1. PRODUCTION
Overall production remained minimal following the sale of the Saltfleetby Gas
Field effective 31 December 2004. Oil production decreased due to natural
decline in the Keddington Oil Field and a planned shut-in for installation of
artificial lift facilities at Jingemia.
+----------------------------------+------------+------------+-----------+
|OIL (BBL) | September | June '05 | Change |
| | '05 | Quarter | % |
| | Quarter | | |
+----------------------------------+------------+------------+-----------+
|UK - Onshore Oil (Keddington) | 3,132| 3,695| (15)|
+----------------------------------+------------+------------+-----------+
|Australia - Onshore Oil (Jingemia)| 63| 471| (87)|
+----------------------------------+------------+------------+-----------+
|Total Production | 3,195| 4,166| (23)|
+----------------------------------+------------+------------+-----------+
2. SALES REVENUE
+-------------------------------+---------------+------------+-----------+
|(Unaudited) | September '05 | June '05 | Change |
| | Quarter | Quarter | % |
| | $'000 | $'000 | |
+-------------------------------+---------------+------------+-----------+
|UK Oil Sales | 221| 225| (2)|
+-------------------------------+---------------+------------+-----------+
|Australia Oil Sales | 8| 42| (81)|
| | | | |
+-------------------------------+---------------+------------+-----------+
|Total Sales Revenue | 229| 267| (14)|
+-------------------------------+---------------+------------+-----------+
3. EXPENDITURE
+-------------------------------+---------------+------------+-----------+
| | September '05 | June '05 | Change |
| | Quarter | Quarter | % |
| | $'000 | $'000 | |
+-------------------------------+---------------+------------+-----------+
|Exploration | | | |
+-------------------------------+---------------+------------+-----------+
| Australia | 251| 1,110| (77)|
+-------------------------------+---------------+------------+-----------+
| New Zealand | 125| 49| 155|
+-------------------------------+---------------+------------+-----------+
| UK | 708| 1,372| (48)|
+-------------------------------+---------------+------------+-----------+
| Mauritania | 3,518| 861| 309|
+-------------------------------+---------------+------------+-----------+
| Angola | 5,229| 1,363| 284|
+-------------------------------+---------------+------------+-----------+
| Equatorial Guinea | 186| 145| 28|
+-------------------------------+---------------+------------+-----------+
| China | 350| 387| (10)|
+-------------------------------+---------------+------------+-----------+
| Other | 194| 401| (52)|
+-------------------------------+---------------+------------+-----------+
|Total Exploration | 10,561| 5,688| 86|
+-------------------------------+---------------+------------+-----------+
| | | | |
|Development | | | |
+-------------------------------+---------------+------------+-----------+
|Australia - Cliff Head | 24,218| 11,524 | 110|
+-------------------------------+---------------+------------+-----------+
|Mauritania - Chinguetti | 6,440| 7,334 | (12)|
+-------------------------------+---------------+------------+-----------+
|UK/Norway - Blane & Enoch | 2,304| 732| 215|
+-------------------------------+---------------+------------+-----------+
| Total Development | 32,962| 19,590| 68|
| | | | |
+-------------------------------+---------------+------------+-----------+
|Total Exploration & Development| 43,523| 25,278| 72|
+-------------------------------+---------------+------------+-----------+
4. DRILLING
Well completion activity continued at the Chinguetti Development. Exploration
and Appraisal drilling activity is summarised below:
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-------------------------+
| Category | Well | Location | Operator | Comment |
| |% Interest | | | |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-------------------------+
|Exploration|Sotto-1/1A,|PSC Area A,|Woodside |The well did not |
| |4.155% |Mauritania |Mauritania |encounter significant |
| | | |Pty Ltd |hydrocarbons and was |
| | | | |plugged and abandoned. |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-------------------------+
|Exploration|Espadon-1/ |PSC Area B,|Woodside |The well did not |
| |1A, |Mauritania |Mauritania |encounter significant |
| |3.693% | |Pty Ltd |hydrocarbons and was |
| | | | |plugged and abandoned. |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-------------------------+
|Appraisal/ |Tevet-2/ |PSC Area B,|Woodside |The well intersected a |
|Exploration|-2ST, |Mauritania |Mauritania |gross gas column of |
| |3.693% | |Pty Ltd |approximately 1.5m and a |
| | | | |gross oil column of |
| | | | |approximately 37m in the |
| | | | |appraisal objective. |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-------------------------+
5. SEISMIC
+--------+--------------+------------+----------+--------+----------------+
| Type | Location | Operator | Interest | Size | Comment |
| | | | % | | |
| | | | | | |
+--------+--------------+------------+----------+--------+----------------+
|2D |Onshore |Roc Oil |60 |510km |Underway. 280km |
| |Cabinda South |(Cabinda) |Working | |acquired.* |
| |Block Angola |Company |interest | | |
+--------+--------------+------------+----------+--------+----------------+
|3D |Onshore |Roc Oil |60 |165km2 |Underway. |
| |Cabinda South |(Cabinda) |Working | |130km2 |
| |Block Angola |Company |interest | |acquired.* |
+---------+--------------+-----------+----------+--------+----------------+
* See also Section 10 'Post Quarter Events'.
6. DEVELOPMENT
Australia
• Cliff Head Oil Field, WA-286-P, Offshore Western Australia (ROC:37.5% &
Operator)
The Project remains on schedule and within budget for first oil production
during Q1 2006. Seven months after project sanction, the project is 65% complete
with engineering and procurement effectively finished. Construction of the CHA
platform is 84% complete and the Arrowsmith plant is 60% complete. See also
Section 10 'Post Quarter Events'.
West Africa
• Mauritania - Chinguetti Oil & Gas Field (ROC: 3.25%)
The Western Navigator finished the drilling and completion of development wells
(6 production, 5 water injection and 1 gas injection well) in late September
2005. The refurbishment of the 'Berge Helene' FPSO was completed in late
September in Singapore and at Quarter end the vessel was ready to sail to
Mauritania. Installation of the subsea production facilities commenced.
The firm project costs for installation and start-up is US$705 million (US$22.9
million ROC net). An additional US$45 million (US$1.5 million ROC net) has been
set aside to cover unplanned contingencies that may occur during the offshore,
deep water installation program. The $US62.5 million (US$2 million ROC net)
budget increase is primarily due to increased drilling scope and additional
costs to prepare the subsea flowlines for installation. Production start-up
remains scheduled for 1Q 2006.
North Sea
• Blane Oil Field (ROC: 12.5%)
UK and Norway Governments development approvals were received in July 2005. The
project comprises two production wells and one water injection well tied back to
the Ula platform. Total development cost is estimated to be £165 million (£21
million ROC net) and first oil, at a rate of 14,000 BOPD (1,750 BOPD ROC net) is
currently scheduled for Q4 2006. Design, contracting and procurement progressed
and a drilling rig, Global Santa Fe's Glomar Arctic II, was contracted, with
drilling of the production wells scheduled to commence in early 2006.
• Enoch Oil and Gas Field (ROC: 12.0%)
UK and Norway Governments development approvals were received in July 2005. The
project comprises a single production well tied back to the Brae 'A' platform.
Total development cost is estimated to be £75 million (£9 million ROC net) and
first oil, at a rate of 12,000 BOPD (1,440 BOPD ROC net), is currently scheduled
for late 2006. Design, contracting and procurement progressed satisfactorily and
the contracted Glomar Arctic II will drill and complete the production well
after the Blane wells have been drilled and completed in mid 2006.
China
• Wei 12-8 West Field, Block 22/12 Beibu Gulf (ROC: 40% &
Operator)
Negotiations continued regarding the potential development of the field with the
regional subsidiary of CNOOC. The Overall Development Plan (ODP) was being
progressed. At the Quarter end discussions were still underway and a decision as
to whether or not the field should be developed is expected by year end.
7. EXPLORATION AND APPRAISAL
Australasia
• Offshore Perth Basin, Western Australia (ROC: 20-50% & Operator)
Planning is in progress for a multi-well exploration drilling programme
utilising the Ensco 67 jack-up drilling rig which is scheduled to drill the
development wells at the Cliff Head Oil Field. The Flying Foam-1 exploration
well in WA-327-P is scheduled to commence early November 2005. The remaining
exploration drilling programme is planned to commence in March 2006 following
Cliff Head development drilling.
• Carnarvon Basin, WA-351-P, Western Australia (ROC: 20%)
The Jacala exploration well is scheduled to be drilled by BHP Billiton in
February 2006.
• New Zealand - PEP 38767, Taranaki Basin (ROC: 40% & Operator)
Activity focussed on interpretation of 3D seismic data acquired in Q1 2005.
West Africa
• Mauritania (ROC: 2.0 - 5.0%)
Exploration and appraisal drilling in the Woodside-operated PSC A and B areas
commenced in August 2005 utilising the Stena Tay drilling vessel. The Sotto-1
exploration well in PSC A (ROC 4.155%) was plugged and abandoned as a dry hole.
The Espadon-1 exploration well in PSC B (ROC 3.693%) was plugged and abandoned
without encountering significant hydrocarbons. Both these wells targeted Miocene
reservoir sands of approximately the same age as those in the Chinguetti and
Tiof fields.
On 16 September the Tevet-2 exploration and appraisal well in PSC B started
drilling with the dual objective of appraising the Miocene reservoir drilled by
the Tevet-1 discovery well in 2004, and testing a deeper Cretaceous exploration
target. The appraisal element of the well was successfully drilled in late
September 2005, encountering a gross oil column of 37m below a 1.5m gross gas
column. Deepening to the exploration target was in progress at Quarter-end. See
also Section 10 'Post Quarter Events'.
During the Quarter, evaluation work by the Operator, Woodside, continued on the
geologically complex Tiof field.
• Equatorial Guinea (ROC: 18.75% & Technical Manager)
Activity focussed on planning for the drilling of an exploration well on the
Aleta Prospect in Q4 2005. This timing is particularly dependant on the
availability of deep water drilling vessels.
• Angola (ROC: 60% & Operator)
During the Quarter, 510km of 2D and 165 sq km of 3D seismic were acquired in the
onshore Cabinda South Block, with programme completion expected in November
2005. See also Section 10 'Post Quarter Events'.
UK Onshore (ROC: 100% & Operator)
Preparatory work for the drilling of the Willows-1 exploration well in PEDL030
scheduled for Q1 2006 continued.
China - Beibu Gulf Block 22/12 (ROC: 40% & Operator)
Exploration activity focussed on planning for the drilling of an exploration
well in Q4 2005 or Q1 2006, subject to rig availability.
8. ASSET ACQUISITIONS & DIVESTMENTS
• Mauritania - Block 7 (ROC: 5.5% reduced to 4.95%)
Assignment documentation relating to Woodside's farmin to Block 7 PSC Area D was
completed in August 2005. As a result ROC's equity in Block 7 decreased from
5.5% to 4.95%, effective 1 January 2003. This transaction was originally
announced in April 2004.
• Onshore UK - PEDL 075 (ROC: 100% & Operator)
The exploration permit was allowed to lapse on 7 September.
9. CORPORATE
• Hedging
At the end of the Quarter ROC held put options for 560,000 BBL at a Brent oil
price of US$50/BBL and crude oil price swaps for 909,000 BBL at a weighted
average Brent oil price of US$49.58/BBL for the period March 2006 to December
2007. In general terms this equates to almost 30% of forecast production for the
period.
Specifically, during the Quarter:
- Put options for 560,000 BBL at a Brent oil price of US$50/BBL for the period
March 2006 to December 2007 were purchased, giving the company the right but
not the obligation to sell this volume of oil at US$50/BBL.
- Put Options for 200,000 BBL at a Brent oil price of US$40/BBL for the period
March 2006 to December 2006 held by the Company were sold.
• US$60 million Loan Facility
During the Quarter ROC received proposals for the establishment of a US$60
million Borrowing Base Loan Facility to assist in funding ROC's 2006 development
activities. ROC is progressing on due diligence and documentation for the
Facility.
10. POST QUARTER EVENTS
• Saltfleetby Gas Field - Sale Completion
Subsequent to the Quarter end ROC has received the final working capital and
escrow payment of $11.4 million in relation to the sale of the Saltfleetby Gas
Field.
• Seismic Programme, Onshore Angola
ROC successfully completed acquisition of the 165 sq km 3D seismic survey. The
2D seismic survey is scheduled to be completed mid November 2005, subject to
weather.
• Cliff Head Oil Field Development
Receipt of the jack -up drilling rig ENSCO 67 occurred 27 October 2005. The rig
is scheduled to arrive at the Cliff Head site in early November 2005 to install
the Cliff Head A production platform and commence the drilling of production
wells.
During the Quarter the Field Development Plan and Production Licence application
were submitted to the relevant state and federal government authorities and
subsequent to the Quarter end the Production Licence was offered and accepted.
The horizontal under beach pipeline crossing was successfully completed during
October and the offshore pipelay works commenced.
Jacket installation remains on schedule for Q4 2005 with the fabrication of the
jacket structure completed in Malaysia and loaded out on 22 October 2005. The
jacket structure is currently being towed to the Cliff Head site to be installed
during early November.
In addition, the Joint Venture approved an increase in the scope of work whereby
an additional well will be drilled to access approximately one million barrels
of reserves with an increase to the current budget of $12.5 million, bringing
the total project budget to $240 million.
• Evaluation of Tevet - 2 ST1-PSC Area B (ROC: 3.693%)
A preliminary evaluation of wireline log data, including fluid sampling and
downhole pressure measurements, has concluded that the exploration well has
intersected oil in a good quality but thin sandstone interval.
While the hydrocarbon column is small and may not prove to be material the
result is encouraging for future Cretaceous exploration targets in
Woodside-operated Mauritanian acreage.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information please contact ROC's Chief Executive Officer, Dr John
Doran on:
Phone: (02) 8356 2000
Facsimile: (02) 9380 2066
Email: jdoran@rocoil.com.au
Address: Level 14, 1 Market Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.
Web Site: www.rocoil.com.au
Dr Kevin Hird
General Manager Business Development
Tel: +44 (0)207 586 7935
Fax: +44 (0)207 722 3919
Email: khird@rocoil.com.au
Nick Lambert
Bell Pottinger Corporate & Financial
Tel: +44 (0)207 861 3232
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|Definitions | |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|IFRS |means International Finance Reporting Standards |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|BBL |means barrels |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|BCF |means billion cubic feet |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|BOE |means barrels of oil equivalent |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|BOPD |means barrels of oil per day |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|BOEPD |means barrels of oil equivalent per day |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|BCPD |means barrels of condensate per day |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|BPD |means barrels per day |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|GWC |means gas-water contact |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|MCF |means thousand cubic feet |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|Mbrt |means metres below rotary table |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|mTVDSS |means metres true vertical depth below sea level |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|MMSCF |means million standard cubic feet |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|MMSCF/D |means million standard cubic feet per day |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|MMBO |means million barrels of oil |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|MMBOE |means million barrels of oil equivalent |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|NGL |means natural gas liquids |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|OWC |means oil-water contact |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|PEDL |means Petroleum Exploration Development Licence (Onshore United |
| |Kingdom) |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|PSC |means Production Sharing Contract |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|Quarter |means the period 1 July 2005 to 30 September 2005 |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|ROC |means Roc Oil Company Limited and includes, where the context |
| |requires, its subsidiaries |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|SCF |means standard cubic feet |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|TCF |means trillion cubic feet |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
|US |means US dollars |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------+
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