Half Yearly Report

RNS Number : 4591T

Sound Oil PLC

29 September 2010

 

Sound Oil plc

Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2010

Highlights

·      Completion of Citarum Seismic Project - 865 km 2D purchased

·      A number of interesting leads and prospects identified

·      3 well exploration programme planned for 2011

·      Cash balance at end of June £9.1 million

Chairman's Statement

The long-running acquisition of 865 km 2D seismic data over a wide area of the Citarum Production Sharing Contract was completed in July and the processed results are currently being interpreted. This data fulfils the outstanding 750 km firm seismic commitment on the PSC. The new data covers an area of complex geology south of several existing oil and gas fields along the southern flank of the Northwest Java Basin. Preliminary interpretation of the data has revealed a number of interesting leads and prospects, including a structure in the Subang area at the level of the Parigi carbonate formation. Although this is complex, at its maximum extent this structure is recognised by the Operator to be more than 25 km² in area and prospective for over 500 Bscf⁽¹⁾ of gas (unrisked, P50 basis⁽²⁾). Interpretation of the other areas further east at Sumedang and Majalengka, is expected to be completed by early October.

Plans are in preparation to drill three exploration wells commencing in 1Q2011 in fulfilment of the remaining firm drilling commitment on the licence. The final locations will be decided in autumn 2010 and will be chosen from an inventory of existing prospects in the Jonggol (western) area and from any structures identified in eastern areas from the new seismic data.

A further extension of the First Exploration Period (Contract Years 1-3) to October 2010 of the Citarum Production Sharing Contract has already been negotiated with BPMigas⁽³⁾. Granting of a further one-year extension to October 2011 is fully expected in view of the firm drilling plans presented by the Operator.

As a result of equity changes in Bangkanai PSC, Sound no longer carries a third party's exploration costs but instead is carried for its 5% interest. This carry covers all of the Company's exploration and development costs for two exploratory wells up to the delivery of first gas. Senergy⁽⁴⁾, the independent petroleum consultancy company, has re-valued Sound's net entitlement for best case contingent resources in Kerendan Field POD at 6.9 Bscf + 0.07 MMbo⁽⁵⁾. Their calculation of the NPV is $5.6 million. Additional net contingent prospective resources for discovered, but un-contracted Kerendan gas are estimated at 5.3 Bscf + 0.05 MMbo. Senergy has also identified substantial net P50 prospective resource potential at Bangkanai PSC of 227 Bscf in four exploration prospects where chances of success range from 5% to 35%.

Cash balances in sterling terms at the end of the period were £9.1 million compared with £10.6 million at end 2009.

Due to the £13.4 million write down of the Bangkanai exploration and evaluation asset, the Group incurred a loss after tax of £13.9 million in the first six months of 2010 (2009 £1.9 million). This included exploration costs of £197,000 (2009 £244,000) and administration costs of £685,000 (2009 £610,000). The recovery in the US$ since mid 2009 resulted in an unrealised gain on holdings of that currency of £341,000 compared with a loss of £1,028,000. This left a net loss, prior to the write down, of £531,000 (2009 loss £1,861,000).

In the balance sheet, the currency movement resulted in an increase of £2 million in the foreign currency reserve in the balance sheet. However, the £13.4 million write down resulted in total assets and equity decreasing by £12.7 million to £20.2 million.

The Company has reduced its farm in liabilities at Bangkanai and enters the expected drilling phase at Citarum with sufficient funds for this programme. Having substantially reduced our commitments we are now in a position to widen our range of interests and are actively investigating opportunities both in Indonesia and elsewhere.

Gerry Orbell

Chairman

28 September 2010

Notes:

(1)      Billion standard cubic feet of gas.

(2)      Prospective resources, consistent with SPE (The Society of Petroleum Engineers) guidelines, are quantified in terms of the statistical probability to find a given recoverable hydrocarbon (oil or gas) volume in a prospective structure considering all the geological variables involved. The P50 figure indicates a 50% chance of finding a given volume and is generally considered as the best or most-likely estimate. The figures quoted in this report have been verified by Sound Oil's Executive Head of Exploration Dr. M. J. Cope BSc PhD CGeol FGS, a qualified petroleum geologist.

(3)      BPMigas (Badan Pelaksana Kegitan Hulu Minyak Dan Gas Bumi) is the Indonesian Government regulatory authority for petroleum exploration and production activities.

(4)      Senergy (GB) Limited is an independent petroleum consultancy company providing resource and reserve assessments.

(5)   Million barrels of oil.

Enquiries:

Sound Oil Plc
Gerry Orbell, Chairman	Tel: [phone]
finnCap
Sarah Wharry/Henrik Persson (corporate finance)	Tel: [phone]
Tom Jenkins/Joanna Weaving (corporate broking)
Buchanan Communications
Tim Thompson	Tel: [phone]

Interim Consolidated Income Statement

For the six months ended 30 June 2010

	Notes		Six months ended  30 June 2010 Unaudited £'000		Six months ended 30 June 2009 Unaudited £'000		Year ended 31 Dec  2009 Audited £'000
Exploration costs			(197)		(244)		(334)
Gross Loss			(197)		(244)		(334)
Administrative Expenses			(685)		(610)		(1,596)
Group trading loss			(882)		(854)		(1,930)
Other Income			-		15		50
Group operating loss from continuing operations			(882)		(839)		(1,880)
Finance revenue			10		6		19
Foreign exchange gain/(loss)			341		(1,028)		(786)
Loss on disposal of licence interests	7		(13,425)		-		-
Loss before income tax			(13,956)		(1,861)		(2,647)
Income tax credit			-		-		27
Loss for the period attributable to the equity holders of the parent			(13,956)		(1,861)		(2,620)
Other comprehensive income/(loss):
Foreign currency translation income/(loss)			1,175		(3,087)		(2,258)
Total comprehensive loss for the period attributable to the equity holders of the parent			(12,781)		(4,948)		(4,878)
Loss per share basic and diluted for the period attributable to the equity holders of the parent (pence)	4		(2.02)		(0.27)		(0.38)

Interim Consolidated Balance Sheet

At 30 June 2010

	Notes		30 June 2010 Unaudited £'000		30 June 2009 Unaudited £'000		31 Dec  2009 Audited £'000
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment			22		46		32
Intangible Assets			1,565		4,625		4,797
Exploration and evaluation assets	6		11,012		20,944		22,185
Other debtors			630		672		792
			13,229		26,287		27,806
Current assets
Other debtors			144		259		192
Prepayments			58		-		108
Current tax receivable			26		32		27
Cash and short term deposits			9,063		11,830		10,622
			9,291		12,121		10,949
Total Assets			22,520		38,408		38,755
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables			667		785		897
Current tax payable			-		27		-
			667		812		897
Non-current liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities			1,565		4,625		4,797
Provisions			111		91		105
			1,676		4,716		4,902
Total liabilities			2,343		5,528		5,799
Net assets			20,177		32,880		32,956
Capital and reserves
Equity share capital			36,456		36,456		36,456
Foreign currency reserve			4,205		2,202		3,030
Accumulated deficit			(20,484)		(5,778)		(6,530)
Total equity			20,177		32,880		32,956

Interim Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

For the six months ended 30 June 2010

			Six months ended  30 June 2010 Unaudited £'000		Six months ended 30 June 2009 Unaudited £'000		Year ended 31 Dec  2009 Audited £'000
Cash flow from operating activities
Cash flow from operations			(826)		(1,073)		(2,145)
Interest received			10		6		19
Net cash flow from operating activities			(816)		(1,067)		(2,126)
Cash flow from investing activities
Capital expenditure and disposals			(1)		(3)		(7)
Exploration expenditure			(994)		(569)		(953)
Net cash flow from investing activities			(995)		(572)		(960)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			(1,811)		(1,639)		(3,086)
Net cash flow from financing activities			-		-		-
Net foreign exchange difference			252		(1,156)		(917)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period			10,622		14,625		14,625
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period			9,063		11,830		10,622

Notes to cash flow

			Six months ended  30 June 2010 Unaudited £'000		Six months ended 30 June 2009 Unaudited £'000		Year ended 31 Dec  2009 Audited £'000
Cash flow from operations reconciliation
Loss before tax			(13,956)		(1,861)		(2,620)
Loss on disposal of licence interests			13,425		-		-
Finance revenue			(10)		(6)		(19)
Foreign exchange (gain)/loss			(341)		1,028		786
Exploration expenditure written off			(4)		(2)		(63)
Income tax charge			-		-		(27)
Decrease in accruals and short term creditors			(262)		(313)		(210)
Depreciation			5		16		36
Share based payments charge			2		10		17
Increase in long term provisions			-		-		11
Decrease /(increase) in long term debtors			204		(112)		(204)
Decrease in short term debtors			111		167		148
Cash flow from operations			(826)		(1,073)		(2,145)

Notes to the Interim Consolidated

Financial Statements

1.         Basis of preparation

The interim consolidated financial statements do not represent statutory accounts within the meaning of section 435 of the Companies Act 2006. The comparative financial information is based on the statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2009. Those accounts, upon which the auditors issued an unqualified opinion, have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and did not contain statements under section 498(2) or (3) of the Companies Act of 2006.

The interim financial information is unaudited and has been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the Group's 2009 statutory accounts and in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting.

The seasonality or cyclicality of operations does not impact on the interim financial statements.

2.         Share-based payments

6,900,000 share options were granted on 27 May 2010 at 1.5p for a three year period.  No charge has been included in the consolidated financial statements as it is considered negligible.

3.         Related party transactions

There were no sales or purchases to or from related parties, no guarantees provided or received for any related party receivables or payables and no other transactions with related parties, directors' loans and other directors' interests.

4.         Loss per share

The calculation of basic loss per ordinary share is based on the loss after tax and on the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue during the period. Basic loss per share is calculated as follows:

	Loss after tax			Weighted average no. of shares			Loss per share
	Jun	Jun	Dec	Jun	Jun	Dec	Jun	Jun	Dec
	2010	2009	2009	2010	2009	2009	2010	2009	2009
	£'000	£'000	£'000	Million	Million	Million	pence	pence	Pence
Basic	(13,956)	(1,861)	(2,620)	692	692	692	(2.02)	(0.27)	(0.38)

Diluted loss per share has not been disclosed as inclusion of unexercised options would be anti-dilutive

5. Segment information

The Group has adopted IFRS 8, Operating Segments which requires information on the separate segments of a business.

The Group's activity is exploration for oil and gas in Indonesia under two Production Sharing Contracts (PSC's), Bangkanai and Citarum. To date there has been no development activity, production or turnover. The exploration expenditure written off to the Income Statement is not allocated to operating segments. Capitalised exploration expenditure in the Balance Sheet is comprised of £0.5 million for the Bangkanai PSC, £3.6 million for the Citarum PSC and £6.9 million for the fair value uplift which arose on acquisition of the company which owned the PSC's, (at end 2009 £3.8 million, £2.4 million and £16.0 million respectively). The decreases for the Bangkanai PSC and fair value uplift were due to the write down associated with the reduction of the interest in the Bangkanai PSC.

The Group has not provided information on revenue, products and services as it is not yet trading.

6. Exploration and evaluation adjustments

			30 June 2010 Unaudited £'000		30 June 2009 Unaudited £'000		31 Dec  2009 Audited £'000
Costs
At start of period			25,123		26,248		26,248
Additions			994		569		953
Disposals			(13,402)		-		-
Exchange adjustments			1,398		(2,983)		(2,078)
At end of period			14,113		23,834		25,123
Impairment
At start of period			2,938		2,941		2,941
Write back			(4)		(2)		(63)
Exchange adjustments			167		(49)		60
At end of period			3,101		2,890		2,938
Net book amount at end of period			11,012		20,944		22,185

Farm out disposal

On 25 May 2010, the company entered into an agreement under which it assigned part of its interest in the Bankanai PSC to Elnusa Bangkanai Energy Limited, the operator of the PSC. Under the agreement, the Group's existing 34.99% interest was reduced to 5% on a carry basis such that the Group is carried through the costs of two forthcoming obligatory exploration wells and also through the costs of developing the Kerendan gas field up to the point of the first production of gas.

The book value of the Company's 34.99% interest in the Bangkanai PSC was £16.5 million as at 25 May 2010. Since the Group will not receive any cash consideration pursuant to the farm out agreement (other than its share of future net revenues receivable under the retained 5% carry) the carrying value of the Company's interest in the Bangkanai PSC has been written down accordingly in these accounts by £13.4 million.

The amounts written down were:

	£'000
Non current assets
Property, plant and equipment	7
Intangible assets	3,460
Exploration and evaluation assets	13,274
Other debtors	288
Current assets
Other debtors	40
Prepayments	14
Current Liabilities
Trade and other payables	(198)
Non current liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities	(3,460)
Net written down	13,425

The assignment agreement removed the Group's future financial obligation to fund its share of the Bangkanai exploration programme and Kerendan development, which the directors estimate to be approximately £22 million, resolved several areas of potential legal conflict between the partners to the PSC and insulated the Company from potential liabilities arising from the failure to complete the obligated work programme.

 

END

 

 

IR UWOVRRSAKUAR