Tullow Oil Provides Uganda & Ghana Operational Updates
OPERATIONAL UPDATE
The impact of COVID-19 has been managed safely across our business with no impact on our operated production.
Group working interest production in the first half of 2020 averaged 77,700 bopd in line with expectations; full year guidance has been narrowed to 71,000-78,000 bopd reflecting continued good performance across the portfolio.
In the first half of 2020, gross Jubilee production averaged 84,700 bopd (net: 30,000 bopd), gross TEN production averaged 50,900 bopd (net: 24,000 bopd) and net production from the non-operated portfolio was 23,700 bopd.
Ghana operational performance has been strong in the first half with uptime on both FPSOs in excess of 95 per cent.
Completion operations on the Ntomme-9 production well at TEN are ongoing; the well is due onstream in August.
The impact of COVID-19 on the Kenya work programme and fiscal framework has led the Joint Venture to call Force Majeure on its licences which will delay FID and impact the ongoing farm-down process. Constructive discussions are ongoing with Government regarding next steps.
FINANCIAL UPDATE
Revenue for the first half of 2020 is expected to be c.$0.7 billion with a realised oil price of $52/bbl, including hedge receipts of $131 million.
At 30 June 2020, net debt is expected to be c.$3.0 billion and liquidity headroom and free cash are expected to be c.$0.5 billion; full year free cash flow is forecast to break even at the current forward curve.
Capital and decommissioning expenditure guidance for 2020 remains unchanged at c.$300 million (1H20: $192 million) and c.$65 million (1H20: $38 million) respectively.
As a result of lower near-term oil price forecasts, and a revision in the Group’s long-term oil price assumption from $65/bbl to $60/bbl, the Group expects material impairment and exploration write-offs to be recorded at the half-year in the range of $1.4-1.7 billion (pre-tax).
At 28 July, 60 per cent of 2020 sales revenue hedged with a floor of $57/bbl, 44 per cent of 2021 sales revenue hedged with a floor of $51/bbl.
UGANDA TRANSACTION UPDATE
- Sale of Ugandan assets for $500 million in cash on completion and $75 million in cash following FID, plus post first oil contingent payments, expected to complete before year-end.
- Shareholder approval of the transaction confirmed at the General Meeting on 15 July with over 99 per cent of the 56 per cent votes cast in favour.
- Transaction completion remains subject to the Government of Uganda and the Uganda Revenue Authority entering into a binding Tax Agreement that reflects the agreed tax principles and the Government of Uganda approving the transfer of Tullow’s interests and Block 2 Operatorship to Total.
- This transaction represents an important first step to raising in excess of $1 billion proceeds from portfolio management in what continues to be a challenging external environment for asset sales and farm downs.
SENIOR MANAGEMENT
Rahul Dhir joined Tullow as Chief Executive Officer on 1 July 2020.
Dorothy Thompson will resume her role as Non-Executive Chair of the Board after a short transitional period.
Mike Walsh has been appointed as General Counsel & Director, Risk, Compliance & IS, effective 3 August 2020, reporting to the CEO. Mike joins Tullow from Delonex Energy Limited where he was General Counsel.
PRODUCTION GUIDANCE
| Group average working interest production |
H1 2020 actual (bopd) |
FY 2020 forecast (bopd) |
| Ghana |
54,000 |
51,600 |
| Jubilee |
30,000 |
28,100 |
| TEN |
24,000 |
23,500 |
| Equatorial Guinea |
5,000 |
4,700 |
| Gabon |
16,800 |
16,700 |
| Côte d’Ivoire |
1,900 |
2,000 |
| Oil production |
77,700 |
75,000 |