SDX Energy Announces Full Year Financial and Operating results

SDX Energy has announced its audited financial and operating results for the twelve months ended 31 December 2021. All monetary values are expressed in United States dollars net to the Company unless otherwise stated.

Mark Reid, CEO of SDX, commented:

“2021 was a year of both challenges and successes. Our portfolio continued to perform well with production above mid-point guidance, and Netback and EBITDAX showing growth of 21% and 22%. Impairment charges relating to South Disouq and Lalla Mimouna Nord have resulted in a statutory loss for the year.

The Group had mixed drilling results. The disappointment was the unsuccessful Hanut well, however there were a lot of positives; the IY-2X development well was drilled successfully and production brought on quickly maximising value from the field. In Morocco all our three wells were drilled successfully and all were tied into production infrastructure soon after drilling. Our fourth Moroccan well has encountered some issues however we plan to recommence drilling the well in early Q2 2022.

At West Gharib in Egypt, the first well of our 13 well campaign was spud in October with the entire program looking to bring on additional barrels of oil and take advantage of the higher oil price environment. Post period end, we have been able to announce the successful drilling of the first and second wells and the testing and tie in of both.

SDX’s board and management has always approached the business from the perspective of maximizing value for all stakeholders. As such, we were pleased to announce in February 2022 that the Group disposed of 33% of the shares in the entity that holds its interests across its South Disouq concession for US$5.5 million which was at a significant premium to the asset’s value within our market capitalization. As a result, a share buyback program of up to US$3.0 million is planned to be initiated in the second half of the year.

I am very confident that the upcoming year will be a positive one for SDX and that with a healthy balance sheet and a fully-funded drilling campaign targeting some exciting value-accretive prospects, we will finish the year in an even stronger position. The share price performance has clearly been very disappointing and I and my board colleagues are focussed on reversing this trend. I would like to extend my thanks to our shareholders for their commitment throughout the period and to all of our wider stakeholders for the support they continue to give SDX.” 

Twelve months to 31 December 2021 Operations Highlights 

·     Average entitlement production of 5,886 boe/d was 2% higher than 2021 mid point market guidance of 5,770 boe/d and 1% lower than the same period in 2020, excluding disposed assets. 

·     2021 production from core assets either exceeded or was within market guidance. Capex was within guidance, despite operational issues resulting in higher than anticipated costs being incurred during the Q4 2021 well campaign in Morocco. 

·    The Company’s operated assets recorded a carbon intensity of 3.0kg CO₂e/boe in 2021 which is one of the lowest rates in the industry. 

·    In February 2022, the Company announced the disposal of 33% of the shares in the entity that holds its interests across its South Disouq concession for US$5.5 million and its intention to initiate a share buyback program of up to US$3.0 million in H2 2022. 

·     In South Disouq, a two-well development/exploration campaign took place between June and August 2021. The first well, the IY-2X step-out development well, was brought into production during the last week of August and will ensure that the Group maximises its recovery from the Ibn Yunus Field. The second well, the Hanut-1X exploration well, spudded on 4 August and reached the target depth of 6,000ft on 17 August. The primary target for HA-1X was the Basal Kafr El Sheikh sand at approximately 5,200ft; however, the well found that the Basal Kafr El Sheikh sand had been eroded at this location. As a result, the Company recognised a US$1.3 million dry-hole cost in Q3 2021. 

·    The first phase of the Morocco drilling campaign, which consisted of three appraisal/development wells in SDX’s operated Gharb Basin acreage in Morocco (SDX: 75% working interest), was successfully completed in June 2021. The OYF-3, KSR-17 and KSR-18 wells were all commercial successes and are producing into the Company’s infrastructure. The second phase, which consists of two appraisal/development wells will resume in Q2 2022. 

·     In West Gharib, following the 10-year concession extension granted in 2021, the first well (MSD-21) in a 13-well campaign spud on 16 October 2021 and commenced oil production in January 2022. Post period end, MSD-25, the second well of the campaign was drilled and placed on production. 

·      As at 31 December 2021, the Company’s working interest share of audited 2P reserves was 7.0 MMboe.

2022 Guidance

·      2022 production guidance of 3,300 – 3,550 boe/d is lower than 2021 production, predominantly due to the disposal of 33% of SDX’s interests in the South Disouq asset, as well as the decision not to immediately renew an expired customer contract in Morocco. At West Gharib, the development drilling is expected to arrest the natural decline in production and then grow volumes as the new wells come online.

·      An analysis of 2022 production guidance by asset is as follows:

Gross production			SDX entitlement production boe/d	SDX entitlement production boe/d
Asset	Guidance – 12 months ended 31 December 2022	Actual – 12 months ended 31 December 2021	Guidance 12 months ended 31 December 2022	Actual 12 months ended 31 December 2021
South Disouq – WI 55% & 100% (36.9% & 67.0%1)	33 – 35 MMscfe/d	45.5 MMscfe/d	2,280 – 2,420	4,465
West Gharib – WI 50%	2,200 – 2,650 bbl/d	2,398 bbl/d	420- 505	457
Morocco – WI 75%	4.8 – 5.0 MMscf/d	7.7 MMscf/d	600 – 625	964
Total			3,300 – 3,550	5,886

After completion of the South Disouq disposal with effect from 1 February 2022, and net of minority interest. Gross of minority interest, production is expected to be 3,250 – 3,450 boe/d. 

o  South Disouq: Production guidance for 2022 reflects the disposal of 33% of SDX’s interest in the asset, 2-3% CPF and compressor downtime due to planned maintenance, and several well workovers. The existing wellstock is expected to continue to exhibit natural decline, some of which will be offset by drilling the SD-12_East development well. The SD-5X/Warda exploration well is assumed to be dry for guidance purposes but if successful, could increase gross production to 38-40 MMscfe/d and SDX’s total corporate entitlement guidance to 3,600-3,850 boe/d (net of minority interest) from the 3,300-3,550 boe/d currently presented. The Mohsen exploration well, if successful, will require to be tied in and therefore is not expected to contribute to production until mid-2023. 

o  West Gharib: The development drilling campaign will arrest the asset’s natural decline, with new wells beginning to grow production during the second half of the year and into 2023. 

o  Morocco: 2022 production guidance is lower than 2021 production as the Company decided not to immediately renew a five-year customer contract that expired on 31 December 2021 until the Company has better visibility on future gas supply and pricing to support the full term of a new contract. This decision is the main factor for a reduction in Moroccan capex guidance in 2022 which is c.US$6.0 million (32%) lower than FY21 capex.  The Company is exploring several options for re-entering into discussions with this customer. 

o  COVID-19: The 2022 production guidance presented assumes no significant production curtailments due to COVID-19. If there are disruptions, then production guidance may be revised.

2022 Capex Guidance

·      2022 capex guidance range of US$21.5-23.0 million is fully funded and predominantly relates to one appraisal and two exploration wells in South Disouq, up to eight new wells and facilities upgrades in West Gharib, and five new wells in Morocco.

Asset	Guidance – 12 months ended 31 December 2022	Actual – 12 months ended 31 December 2021
South Disouq – WI 55% & 100% (36.9% & 67.0%(1))	US$4.5 – 5.0 million(2)	US$6.6 million(3)
West Gharib – WI 50%	US$4.5 – 5.0 million	US$2.2 million
Morocco – WI 75%	US$12.5 – 13.0 million	US$18.9 million(4)
Total	US$21.5 – 23.0 million	US$27.7 million

·      The anticipated timings of planned key capex activities are outlined below:

Asset	Activity	2022 Timing
South Disouq	SD-5X (Warda) exploration well	Q1-Q2
	SD-4X workover	Q2
	SD-12_East appraisal well	Q2
	SD-3X workover (AM-I)	Q2
	MA-1X (Mohsen) exploration well	Q3
	SD-3X workover (KES)	Q4
Morocco	Two well drilling campaign	Q1-Q2
	SAH-4 workover	Q1
	Three well drilling campaign	Q3-Q4
West Gharib	Eight development wells	Q1-Q4
	Water injection well and facilities upgrades	Q2-Q4

 

o  South Disouq: One appraisal well, SD-12_East, and two exploration wells, SD-5X (Warda) and MA-1X (Mohsen), will be drilled consecutively, commencing in Q1 2022. SD-5X (Warda), the first well in the campaign, is a basal Kafr El Sheikh prospect targeting unrisked P50 recoverable volumes of 11bcf with a 40% chance of success. The well location is close to the producing SD-4X well, again enabling low-cost and quick tie-in in the event of success. SD-12_East will target the eastern part of the Sobhi field and is expected to be completed and tied back rapidly once drilled. MA-1X (Mohsen) is targeting a prospect further to the south-east, c.5.5km from the CPF. It too is a basal Kafr El Sheikh prospect and is targeting unrisked P50 recoverable volumes of 21bcf with a 45% chance of success. Following the disposal announced on 1 February 2022, all three wells are being drilled with partner participation. In addition to the drilling activity, several well workovers will be undertaken to maximise recovery from the fields.

 

o  West Gharib: Up to eight infill development wells will be drilled as part of the field development plan, with additional facilities installed, including greater fluid handling capacity.

 

o  Morocco: Five wells will be drilled in two campaigns in Q2 and Q3/Q4 2022. As in 2021, conducting two campaigns allocates the capital investment over a longer period of time and therefore allows the cost of these wells to be comfortably covered by cash generated by the asset. All five wells will target shallow biogenic gas that can be tied into the Company’s infrastructure quickly and at low cost, with one of the first two wells targeting a new area of the acreage which is as yet untested, but covered by 3D seismic. If successful, this well could open up further drilling and exploitation opportunities, some of which could be tested in the second campaign. Several wells will be worked over, including re-perforation and sliding sleeve operations to exploit behind-pipe reserves and maximise production and recovery from the existing well stock.

Outlook

·    Management believes that the Company is well-placed to weather the current macroeconomic uncertainties and continues to screen a number of business development opportunities.

·    Cash generation is expected to continue strongly through 2022 and beyond as approximately 80% of the Company’s cash flows are expected to be generated from fixed-price gas businesses, with the remaining 20% being generated from our West Gharib oil asset which is highly profitable in the current oil price environment.

·      The current strong oil price and outlook means that the Group also plans to continue with its thirteen well drilling campaign and capitalize on its recent production service agreement extension at West Gharib.

·      Anticipated 2022 and 2023 work programmes are fully funded.

·      The Company continues to assess the optimum use of capital in the interests of all stakeholders, whether that be an investment into new projects or returning cash to shareholders. As previously announced, following the disposal of 33% of the shares in the entity that holds its interests across it South Disouq concession, the Company has stated its intention to initiate a share buyback program in H2 2022 of up to US$3.0 million.