In the year 2002, Canada’s TransGlobe Energy Corporation increased production in the Republic of Yemen 37 percent, from an average of 1,131 barrels of oil per day (bopd) in 2001 to an average of 1,545 bopd the following year, with an exit rate of 1,996 bopd for the month of December 2002.
An aggressive drilling program is planned for the Republic of Yemen and Canada in 2003. The 2003 Yemen drilling program will be the most active in the company's history. Four wells have been drilled to date, resulting in one oil well, one gas/condensate well, one dry hole and one well testing at the time of this report.
An additional three to five wells are planned for the balance of the year. The 2003 capital budget for Canada was expanded to focus on natural gas prospects. Four to eight wells are planned in central Alberta during the second and third quarters of 2003.
Production from the Tasour field was restricted to 16,000 bopd (2,210 bopd to TransGlobe) during January and February 2003 due to limited export pump capacity. The expansion of export pumping capacity at the Tasour production facility was completed in February 2003.
It is expected that production will exceed 20,000 bopd (2,762 bopd to TransGlobe) in March as shut in wells are returned to production. Production increases in 2002 are primarily attributed to the field extension and to the new pool discovery drilled at Tasour #7 in September 2002. The field extension was successfully appraised at Tasour #8 in January 2003. It is anticipated that another development well will be drilled at Tasour #9 in April 2003.
In Canada, production declined 21 percent from an average of 238 boepd (barrel of oil equivalent per day) in 2001 to 187 boepd in 2002 with an exit rate of 184 boepd for the month of December 2002. The production decline is attributed to natural declines, to the divestiture of minor properties and to shut in production due to low gas prices.
To ensure continuous production during the traditionally weaker summer market, the company has entered into a fixed price natural gas sales contract for 500 GJ/day (approximately 500 Mcfd, or less than 50 percent of current production) at a price of Cdn$7.65/GJ for the period March 1, 2003 to November 1, 2003. Canadian production increased to 250 boepd during February 2003 and is expected to reach 300 boepd by the second quarter of 2003.
TransGlobe's consolidated production increased 27 percent from an average 1,369 boepd for 2001 to an average 1,732 boepd for 2002. During February 2003 consolidated production averaged 2,700 boepd, a new record.
Net income for the year 2002 was $5,426,389 ($0.11 per share basic and $0.10 per share diluted) compared to a net income of $3,062,237 in 2001. Cash flow from operations was $9,709,852 ($0.19 per share, basic and diluted) in 2002 compared to $5,840,455 in 2001.
The increases in net income and in cash flow in 2002 are due mainly to increased production (27 percent) and to increased net backs (29 percent) resulting from increased commodity prices and from cost oil sharing adjustments with partners in the Republic of Yemen.
Revenue net of royalties was $13,254,105 for the year 2002, compared to $8,554,085 for the year 2001, reflecting increased production volumes, increased commodity prices. In the Republic of Yemen cost oil adjustments increased revenue net of royalties in the amount of $1,496,241 during the fourth quarter of 2002.
In 2002, revenues net of royalties were $12,238,711 and $1,015,394 from Yemen and Canada respectively. In 2001, revenues net of royalties amounted to $7,000,676 in Yemen, $1,553,409 in Canada. Revenue in Canada decreased due to a 22 percent decrease in production and to a 21 percent decrease in commodity prices.
Gas prices averaged $2.77 per Mcf in Canada in 2002 and $3.68 per Mcf in 2001. Oil and liquid prices in Canada averaged $20.48 per barrel in 2002 ($21.57 per barrel in 2001). The average oil price for the Company's production in Yemen for the year 2002 was $25.18 per barrel ($22.14 per barrel in 2001).
The Block 32 PSA allows for the recovery of historical costs out of production. TransGlobe's share of historical cost pools varies between 8.9 percent and 56 percent due to acquisitions and the original farm-in by TransGlobe in 1997. During the fourth quarter of 2002 TransGlobe recovered its higher percentage cost pools from the 1997 farm-in period. It is anticipated that the balance of the historical cost pools will be recovered during 2003.
TransGlobe has a lower working interest share of the pre-1997 cost pools which will reduce the cost oil received by the Company from 13.81087 percent to approximately 8.9 percent until the historical costs are recovered (estimated second quarter of 2003). With full recovery of historical cost pools in 2003, the Block 32 Joint Venture Group's total share of oil will reduce from 71.1 percent to an estimated 40-50 percent of production, depending upon gross revenue, operating costs and future eligible capital expenditures.
Operating costs of $1,843,273 ($2.92 per Boe) in 2002 compared to $1,540,369 ($3.08 per Boe) in 2001. The total operating cost increase is a direct result of increased production volumes. Operating costs averaged $2.47 and $6.61 per Boe in the year 2002 in Yemen and Canada respectively. The higher operating costs per Boe in Canada in 2002 reflect third party processing, transportation and compression fees. The overall reduction of operating costs on a Boe basis is a reflection of distributing fixed operating costs in the Republic of Yemen over increased volumes.
The netback (oil and gas revenues net of royalties and operating expenses) was $18.05 per Boe during 2002. The comparable figure for 2001 was $14.04 per Boe. The increase in netbacks between years is due mainly to an increase in oil prices during the year and to cost oil adjustments in the Republic of Yemen.
General and administrative expense was $820,691 ($1.30 per Boe) for the year 2002 as compared to $570,609 ($1.14 per Boe) in the comparable period in 2001. The increase is due to increases in salaries, consulting costs, office rent, insurance and professional services.
Depletion and depreciation was $4,277,000 in 2002 compared to $2,762,000 in the same period in 2001. The increase is attributable to the inclusion of additional costs in the depletable base in the Republic of Yemen. In Yemen, unproven properties in the amount of $7,184,372 were excluded from costs subject to depletion and depreciation. This amount represents a portion of the costs incurred on Block S-1. These costs will be included in the depletable base as Block S-1 is developed or as impairment is determined.
Current income tax expense in the amount of $986,862 in 2002 represents income taxes incurred and paid under the laws of the Republic of Yemen pursuant to the Production Sharing Agreement on Block 32 compared to $634,716 in the same period in 2001. The increase is due to increased revenues from Block 32 in the Republic of Yemen. Future income tax recovery of $67,168 is a result of offsetting unrecorded future tax benefits against the future tax effect of tax renunciations to flow through shareholders.
Capital expenditures were $5,435,398 and $1,041,146 in Yemen and Canada respectively in 2002. Expenditures in Yemen on Block 32 were predominantly for a three well drilling program, a facility expansion, a water disposal well, and for various well workovers. On Block S-1, costs were mainly for a three well drilling program, contractual government payments, pre-drilling inventory and capitalized general and administrative overhead from the operator and TransGlobe. Canadian capital expenditures in 2002 relate to the drilling of three wells, several mineral lease acquisitions and pipeline tie-in costs.
Funding for the Company's capital expenditures in 2002 was provided by cash flow from operations and from working capital. At December 31, 2002 the Company had working capital of $4,748,933, nil debt and a revolving credit facility of Cdn$2,500,000 and an acquisition/development credit facility of Cdn$2,000,000.
The Company expects to fund its 2003 exploration and development program (budgeted at $10.0 million firm and contingent) through use of working capital, cash flow, and debt as required. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
