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Razor Energy First Quarter 2020 Results

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   |    Thursday,May 28,2020

Razor Energy Corp. reported its Q1 2020 results.

Q1 2020 Highlights

• Production volumes in the first quarter of 2020 averaged 4,195 boe/d, down 4% from the production volumes in the same period of 2019, impacted by non-operated production interruptions in the Swan Hills and Simonette areas.
• Reported $2.3 million of cash flows from operating activities in the first quarter of 2020 compared to $4.1 million of cash flows from operating activities in the first quarter of 2019.
• Reported a $34.2 million net loss in the first quarter of 2020 compared to a $9.8 million net loss in the same period last year. The net loss in the first quarter of 2020 included an impairment expense of $24.7 million due to significantly lower commodity prices.
• The Company continues to operate its six natural gas-powered generators which has reduced its reliance on grid electric power and resulted in savings of $0.9 million in Q1 2020 (Q1 2019 – $0.8 million). Electricity and fuel increased 20% in Q1 2020 as compared to the same quarter of last year mostly due to a 25% increase in average electricity pool prices.

• Eliminated all operated capital investment with the exception of critical end of life expenditures.
• Invested $0.5 million on its capital program in the first quarter of 2020, mainly on the South Swan Hills co-produced geothermal power generation project.
• No capital reactivations were conducted in Q1 2020.

• Razor is utilizing its crude oil storage capacity of 96,000 bbls to manage the realized value of its oil due to the current environment of low commodity prices. The Company increased inventory volumes of crude oil in Q1 2020 to 18,848 bbls of light oil inventory (December 31, 2019 – 9,251 bbls).
• The Company uses in house marketing expertise to take advantage of pricing opportunities and enhance returns.
• Razor implemented cost saving measures by internalizing certain oilfield services through its subsidiary, Blade Energy Services Corp. (“Blade”), which provides services such as crude oil hauling along with earthworks and environmental services. Blade conducted $0.6 million of services on behalf of Razor during Q1 2020.

2020 Outlook

The recent volatility in both West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) and Edmonton light sweet crude oil differentials has resulted in limited capital spending in 2020. Razor will take a cautious and case-by-case approach to spending in 2020, focusing on low risk, low capital opportunities to increase operating and corporate netbacks. Production levels will not be a priority with the significant decrease in oil prices resulting from the COVID-19 virus, lowered global demand, and uncertainty related to supply.

In response to the aforementioned decrease in oil prices, the Company has shut in all of its operated heavy oil production, along with certain light oil wells which are sub-economic at current prices. As of the date of this press release, the Company is forecasting Q2 2020 production to be approximately 3,600 boe/d. The Company actively monitors the economics for all of its operated production and may shut in additional wells. The timing to restart shut in oil wells is dependent on improvements in both WTI prices and local price differentials. In recent weeks, WTI pricing and local price differentials have improved as global demand for oil has rebounded as countries gradually ease COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

The preparation of financial forecasts is challenging at this time; however, the Company anticipates negative cash flow from operations during Q2 2020 and into the second half of 2020 if oil prices remain depressed. The Company is working to mitigate losses by limiting field spending and applying for government assistance programs where available, including the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.

COVID-19 Response

Razor is committed to conducting our operations safely and with proper policies, procedures, standards, training, equipment and emergency response procedures in accordance with all government regulations and industry practices.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Razor quickly established work at home protocols in mid-March resulting in 100% of our head office employees being able to work remotely within days of Alberta declaring a state of emergency and proceeding with the shut-down of the province. The immediate response by the company and employees to set up working from home resulted in having minimal impact on operations or productivity.

We have also implemented social distancing protocols throughout our field operations that help to protect our field staff, contractors and the communities that we work in. As a result of the actions taken by both the Company and all of our staff, we are pleased to report that Razor has not lost any time as a result of COVID-19.

Ops Update

Sales volumes in the first quarter of 2020 averaged 4,089 boe/d, down 8% from the sales volumes in the same period in 2019 as Razor was building up inventory volumes in existing surface tanks due to low commodity prices in Q1 2020. As at March 31, 2020, Razor had 18,848 bbls of light oil inventory (December 31, 2019 – 9,251 bbls).

Production averaged 4,195 boe/d in Q1 2020 down 4% from the same quarter in 2019. Production in the first quarter of 2020 was adversely impacted by non-operated production interruptions in the Swan Hills and Simonette areas. In the Simonette area, roughly 350 boe/d was curtailed for the quarter as a result of non-operated pipeline integrity concerns. This production was brought back online late in Q1, however was shut in early in Q2 due to weak pricing. In the Swan Hills area, roughly 150 boe/d was curtailed for the quarter as a result of non-operated pipeline repairs. These repairs were completed in late Q1 however, volumes were not brought back onstream due to weak pricing. It is expected that those volumes will be brought on in Q2 pending stronger pricing.

Effective July 2018, Razor began utilizing a portion of its own gas production to generate electrical power. Gas production of internally consumed gas for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was 1,328 mcf/d.

Razor realized an oil price of $48.08/bbl during the first quarter of 2020, which was a 22% discount to the WTI (CAD) price and is up from the 10% and 11% discounts in Q4 2019 and Q1 2019, respectively. These discounts were partially due to lower average oil quality realized by the Company as a result of the Little Rock acquisition in Q3 2019, which added WCS exposure to Razor’s oil pricing portfolio, as well as timing of monthly sales contracts.

During the first quarter of 2020, the Company realized an operating loss of $6.91/boe down from operating income of $6.15/boe in the first quarter of 2019 due to lower realized prices, decreased production and sales volumes.

Royalty rates averaged 12% in the first quarter of 2020 as compared to 14% for the same period in 2019. This decrease in royalties is mostly due to the decrease in commodity prices and production volumes.

Operating expenses increased 6%, on a per boe basis, in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019,and was on par on a total dollar basis. Workovers, facility and pipeline integrity expenses averaged $5.15/boe in the first quarter of 2020 down 30% from $7.33/boe in the same quarter of 2019 due to reduced well intervention activity given the weaker commodity price environment. Non-operated pipeline repairs accounted for 12% of total operating expenses in Q1 2020 (Q1 2019 – 1%) and downhole workovers accounted for 3% of total operating expenses in Q1 2020 (Q1 2019 – 17%).

The top cost drivers, fuel and electricity, labour, property taxes, facility repairs and non-operated pipeline repairs accounted for 73% of total operating expenses in the first quarter of 2020 (Q1 2019 – 73%).

Electricity and fuel increased 20% in Q1 2020 as compared to the same quarter of last year mostly due to a 25% increase in average electricity pool prices, which usage decreased 9% in the same period with decreased reliance on compressed gas and lower production levels. The Company continues to operate its six natural gas-powered generators which reduced its reliance on grid electric power and resulted in savings of $0.9 million in Q1 2020 (Q1 2019 – $0.8 million).

Capital Program

In the first quarter of 2020, due to the volatile commodity price environment, the Company did not initiate any projects related to finding and development capital. Amounts recorded in the first quarter of 2020 related to final cost true ups on projects from 2019.

During the first quarter of 2020, Razor invested $0.3 million on its South Swan Hills co-produced geothermal power generation project. The Company expects the capital cost of the project to be $35 million, generating 21 MW of grid connected power, of which 6MW will be from geothermal power generation. Natural Resources Canada’s Clean Growth Program (“NRCAN”) will contribute $5.0 million toward the project, and Alberta Innovates has committed $2.0 million.

ESG

Starting in 2020, Razor has committed to the Alberta Energy Regulator’s (“AER”) Area Based Closure program (“ABC program”), which requires companies to commit to an inactive liability reduction target. The program encourages the oil and gas industry to abandon and reclaim inactive sites, thereby de-risking future liabilities to the general public. Benefits to companies joining the program include focused expenditures on end-of-life activities and as well as enabling companies to maintain compliance on low risk infrastructure through regular inspection rather than allocating funds to well suspension activities which provide no actual reduction in liability.

Razor’s original spend target in 2020 under the ABC program was anticipated to be $2.3 million but on May 14, 2020, the AER reduced all liability reduction targets for 2020 to zero in response to COVID-19 and the decline in oil prices. The 2021 liability reduction target will be announced later in 2020. Razor plans to continue to participate in the ABC program as future requirements are announced.

Pending A&D activity, Razor anticipates a consistent annual spend for the next five years of approximately $2.5 million on end of life activities. Furthermore, Razor will focus activities in a concentrated area to focus on efficiency and the greatest reduction in liability for its expenditures.

Razor is actively involved in community engagement and recognizes the importance of supporting charitable organizations in the communities in which the Company operates. Since commencing operations in 2017, Razor has supported STARS air ambulance, the Swan Hills school, The Terry Fox Foundation, Kids Cancer Care, Ovarian Cancer Canada, Movember Foundation, and Crohn’s and Colitis Canada. In addition, the Company has provided sponsorship funds to community events and initiatives, as well as community sporting events.