Cary Bounds
Analyst · Tieton Capital. Please go ahead with your question
Thank you, Al. Good morning, everyone. And welcome to our second quarter 2020 earnings conference call. Before I discuss our results, I would like to reflect on the extraordinary challenges that we are facing as an industry and how VAALCO is decisively responding to these challenges. Thus far, VAALCO's operations have not been materially disrupted by the global COVID-19 pandemic. We have managed through the logistical challenges that we have faced since the outbreak and continue to put the safety of our employees, contractors and local stakeholders first. We’re minimizing high risk activities while actively screening and monitoring employees and contractors, including testing and quarantines with onsite medical supervision before going off shore. We have contingency plans in place in the event; we are directly impacted by the pandemic. While the current pricing environment remains volatile, it has recovered from the lows we saw in April in response to the lower pricing environment. We have deferred all material discretionary CapEx. This will allow us to focus on cash flow generation, while preparing for the right market conditions to begin planning the next drilling campaign at Etame. We released the Vantage drilling rig in early April after completing the 2019, 2020 drilling program as planned, on time, within budget and with no safety or environmental incidents. In addition, we have deferred our next drilling campaign until the global oil pricing environment stabilizes at higher levels. Despite this lower pricing environment, we remain confident in the long-term viability of our inventory of drilling opportunities at Etame. Another action that we have taken is managing operating costs to preserve our balance sheet and maximize cash flow. We've worked with our vendors and suppliers to implement cost cutting measures, as well as partnered with other operators to reduce costs by sharing services and equipment such as support vessels and helicopters. We temporarily reduced compensation for our directors, executives and certain non-executive employees. However, a portion of the cost reductions have been offset by higher costs brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this uncertainty environment, we remain focused on operational excellence, which was demonstrated in our second quarter results. In the second quarter, we produced an average of 5,410 net barrels of oil per day, which was above the high end of our guidance range of 5,000 to 5,400 net barrels of water per day. The strong second quarter production was a result of better than expected performance from the new wells drilled in the 2019-2020 drilling campaign. The second quarter benefited from having three full months of production from all three of the new development wells drilled, which were the Etame 9H, Etame 11H and South East Etame 4H. We are also benefited from a full quarter of production from the three workovers where we restored production at the Etame 10H, Etame 4H and South East to Etame 2H wells. The second quarter production volumes from the new wells demonstrate a considerable impact that the drilling program has had on our overall production. Our 2019-2020 drilling program brought online three new horizontal development wells drilled two successful appraisal wellbores and completed three workovers. This increase in volume and proactive measures to manage costs has helped drive down our unit operating costs by 17%, compared to the first quarter and improve our breakeven margins, which we are now estimating to be $33.50 for 2023 free cash flow per barrel. As we've said before, approximately 90% of our costs are fixed and we can add production and improve margins with minimal increasing cost. In the second year, quarter, despite lower realized crude oil prices, we reported an adjusted EBITDAX acts of $10.1 million, an increase of $4.1 million compared to the first quarter due to higher sales volumes and higher realized gains in derivatives. While these results were strong we do see some temporary headwinds to our production in the third quarter. As previously announced in mid April of this year, the South Tchibala 2H well was shut in due to a downhole mechanical failure, not related to the electric submersible pump. Prior to going offline, the well was producing approximately 830 gross barrels of oil per day or 225 net barrels of oil per day. Given the nature of the mechanical failure, we may not be able to repair the well until the next drilling campaign when a rig is on location. In September, we will be performing our planned six-day, full field maintenance turnaround on the Nautipa FPSO and all four production platforms on the Etame license. Finally, to assist Gabon in meeting its OPEC production quota, the Minister of Hydrocarbons has requested that VAALCO temporarily curtail production at Etame through September 2020. Taking into account all of these factors, we expect our average production for the third quarter to be between 4,200 and 4,600 barrels of one per day net to VAALCO. In spite of these near term production constraints and because of the strong performance of our development wells in the first half of the year, for the full year 2020, we are raising the lower end of the guidance range we gave earlier this year from 4,400 to 4,700 barrels of oil per day net. The new full year 2020 production guidance is 4,700 to 5,000 barrels of oil per day net. Now, I would like to give you a quick update on our activity in Equatorial Guinea. In November, 2019, the Equatorial Guinea Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons approved VAALCO’s appointment as an operator for Block P. In the first quarter of 2020, VAALCO acquired additional working interest from Atlas Petroleum, thereby increasing our working interest from 31% to 43%. The cost for acquiring the additional Block P working interest is a future payment of $3.1 million that will only be made if there's commercial production from Block P. We are currently waiting on an amendment to our production sharing contract, reflecting our updated, participating interest, and naming us as operator. We are having ongoing farm-out discussions with Levene HydroCarbon Limited. Under the farm-out terms, Levene will potentially cover all or substantially all of VAALCO’s those costs to drill an exploratory well on Block P. Given the current pricing environment, we are evaluating the timing and budgeting for the development and exploration activities under a development and production area in Block P, including the approval of a development and production plan. The production sharing contract for Block P provides for a development and production period of 25 years from the date of approval of a development and production plan. We are optimistic that we will finalize the agreements with Levene and prepare for a drilling campaign that will commence in the next couple of years with minimal financial exposure to VAALCO. In summary, we are committed to maintaining business continuity. This is a challenging time in the energy industry, but we believe that we are well positioned with a strong debt-free balance sheet, $45 million in cash and a stable production base that is free cash flow positive at current prices. We believe these are advantage advantages for VAALCO and help provide stability in the near term and flexibility for the future. With that, I will turn the call over to Liz. Liz Prochnow Thank you, Cary. And good morning, everyone. Our second quarter 2020 net income of $0.6 million are a $0.01 per share reflected the impact of substantially lower realized crude oil prices, which was largely offset by higher sales volumes as a result of having four listings during the quarter. Earnings were also impacted by a deferred tax benefit, a $3.4 million. Adjusted net income, which excludes unrealized gains and losses on derivatives, deferred income tax and other operating expense was $5.3 million or $0.9 per share for the quarter. In addition to the impact of lower crude oil prices and higher sales signs volumes just mentioned, adjusted net income included realized gains at $6.5 million from the final settlement on our mature derivative contracts. Adjusted EBITDAX was $10.1 million in first quarter, which was lower than the same period in the prior year, primarily due to the lower realized crude oil prices. The impact of the lower crude oil price was partially offset by higher sales volumes, as well as higher realized gains on derivatives. Adjusted EBITDAX was higher than the first quarter of 2020, also primarily due to higher realized gains on derivatives. With respect to revenues, the lower realized crude oil prices between the first and second quarters at 2020 was largely offset by the impact of the higher sales volumes in the second quarter versus the first quarter Production for the second quarter at 5,410 net barrels of oil per day increased 48% from the second quarter of 2019, and 9% from the first quarter of 2020 due to the impact of the new wells coming online in late 2019 and early 2020 from our successful drilling and workover program. Sales volumes in the first and second quarters of 2020 were not closely correlated with production volumes because the 85,000 barrel lifting that was scheduled for late March 2020 was delayed until April 1, 2020 due to poor weather conditions. As a result, we had four lifting in the second quarter of 2020 totaling 631,000 barrels compared with two lifting’s totaling 294,000 barrels in the first quarter of 2020. In addition, volumes are available to lift increased in the second quarter of 2020 due to the higher production rate from the new wells. Our crude oil price realization fell sharply in the second quarter and 59% lower than the same period in 2019 and 52% lower than the first quarter of this year. Our derivative contracts were particularly valuable for us this past quarter, as they generated over $6.5 million in cash settlements. As of June 30, 2020 we don't have any derivative contracts in play, but we will continue to assess our needs to mitigate price risk and protect cash flow in the future. Turning to expenses. Total production expense excluding workovers for the second quarter of 2020 was $12.2 million or $19.31 per net barrel of oil sales. Total production expense excluding workovers was higher than either that for the second quarter of 2019 or the first quarter of 2020 as a result of the higher sales volumes. No workovers were performed during the quarter, and we don't anticipate any for the balance of 2020. While production expense included approximately 0.8 million in additional costs related to measures taken to response to the pandemic. We have been able to offset these increases through serious cost cutting measures as Kerry mentioned. On a per barrel basis at $19.31, we were below our guidance range for the quarter of $20 to $24 per net barrel. Our per barrel cost was less than that in the prior quarters due to the increase in production volumes from our successful drilling program, and the fact that about 90% of our production costs are fixed and don't rise with higher volumes. For the full-year 2020 we are tightening the range of our production expense excluding workovers to $37 million to $39 million. But because of the strong production performance, we are lowering our per barrel cost range to between $20 and $22 per net barrel of sale. For the third quarter of 2020, we expect our cost to be between $9 million and $10 million or $20 to $24 per net barrel sales, while lower crude oil prices has certainly had an effect on our financial results. From an operational standpoint, we have not been materially impacted by the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Our guidance excludes any potential future impacts that currently being experienced. And assumes that the OPEC mandate to curtail production is not increased or extended beyond September 20, 2020. DD&A for the second quarter of 2020 was $2.8 million or $4.44 per net barrel of oil sales, which was below the midpoint of our per barrel guidance range. The cost per barrel declined compared to the second quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020 because of the reduction in depletable costs as a result of the impairment charge that was recorded in the first quarter of 2020 due to lower oil prices. We expect our DD&A to continue to be between $4 and $5 per net barrel for sales for the balance of the year. General and administrative expense for the second quarter 2020, excluding non-cash stock compensation expense was $2.3 million. The G&A decreased from both the second quarter of 2019 and the first quarter 2020 was primarily the result of lower professional fees, travel expenses and accounting and audit fees. For the full year 2020, we continue to forecast our cash G&A to be between $10 million and $12 million. Non-cash stock based compensation expense with $0.7 million during the three months ended June 30, 2020 substantially all of which is due to the change in the SARs liability as a result of changes in the company's stock price between March 31st and June 30th. For both the second quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020, our stock price decrease, which resulted in benefit from changes in the SARs liability during those periods. Turning now to taxes. Second quarter 2020 income tax was a net benefit of $2.2 million. This was comprised of a $3.4 million deferred tax benefit and a current tax expense of $1.2 million. Foreign income taxes are attributable to Gabon and are settled by the government taking their in-kind. Current income tax expense of $1.2 million included a $0.9 million favorable oil price adjustment as a result of the change in value of the government's allocation between the time it was produced and the time it was taken in-kind. After excluding this impact, current income taxes were $2.1 million for the period. The deferred income tax benefit included a $4.1 million benefit to decrease valuation allowances on U.S. and Gabonese deferred tax assets. As detailed on Slide 26 in the presentation deck posted this morning on our website, we currently estimate the VAALCO’s operational breakeven in 2020 will be approximately $26.5 per net barrel of oil sales, and our free cash flow breakeven price will be approximately $35.50 per net barrel of oil sales. Keep in mind that our realized prices are benchmarked to crude oil prices. These breakeven prices have gone down this year due to higher production levels as well as lower costs. These estimates do not include any impact from hedges. In general terms, we expect that each $5 increase and realize oil prices increases our annual adjusted EBITDAX by approximately $8.5 million. This clearly shows our strong leverage to higher oil prices. As mentioned earlier, our guidance exclude any potential impacts not currently being experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. At June 30, 2020 we had an unrestricted cash balance of $44.8 million, which included $9.3 million of cash attributable to non-operating joint venture owner advances. This does not include an additional $13.4 million in short-term and long-term restricted cash, which is primarily related to deposits in Gabon for feature abandonment costs. Despite the challenges of lower prices, adjusted working capital at June 30, 2020 remain very strong and was substantially unchanged at $24.1 million compared to $25.8 million as of March 31st. We have fully funded our 2019/2020 drilling program at Etame from cash on hand and cash flow from operations, so those costs are behind us now. In the second quarter of 2020 net capital expenditures totaled $1.2 million on an accrual basis related to 2020. As Cary discussed, we have ceased or defer discretionary capital spending, and there are no remaining material non-discretionary capital expenditures for the balance of the year. Any capital expenditures made during the remainder of 2020 are expected to be funded by cash on hand and cash flow from operations. We intends to manage any future capital expenditure levels in view with existing and expected pricing environment. As has been the case since the second quarter of 2018, we’re carrying no debt. With this, I will now turn the call back over to Cary.