Exploration

Gross productions reached 93 kbopd from Jubilee and 19 kbopd from TEN. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

With high production efficiency from the Jubilee and Ten fields, Tullow Oil reported a stable first quarter in 2024 

Gross productions from Jubilee reached 93 kbopd (36 kbopd net) while surpassing expectations, TEN yielded 19 kbopd (10 kbopd net). The interim gas sales agreement that is currently in place for Jubilee associated gas has been extended for 18 months at US$2.95/mmbtu with applicable indexation.

More than three new Jubilee wells were brought onstream, and a water injector well will be online in the second quarter. If all goes well, Tullow can wrap up the ongoing drilling programme six months before schedule. 

With a full year free cash flow guidance at US$200-300mn, the company is on track to deliver US$600mn free cash flow over 2024 to 2025 at US$80 per barrel and sustainable free cash flow generation thereafter.

It can also bring down net debt to less than US$1.4bn and cash gearing of net debt to EBITDAX at US$80 per barrel by 2024 end.

Group working interest production guidance remains 62-68 kboepd, with the full-year outcome expected to be towards the lower end of the range.

Production from non-operated portfolio in Gabon and Côte d’Ivoire was in line with expectations at 13 kboepd net in the first quarter.

Tullow Oil will publish its 2024 Half Year Results on 7 August. 

Capitalising on high oil price

Rahul Dhir, CEO, Tullow, said, “I would first like to thank our investors, host nations and host communities for their support ... I look forward to reflecting on the substantial progress Tullow has made and the strong outlook for the future as we continue our trajectory to build a unique pan-African platform for growth.

"Since the start of the year, we have seen good delivery of our operational programme. We are on track to deliver our free cash flow expectations of US$600mn over 2024 to 2025 at US$80/bbl and we are well placed to capitalise on a higher oil price environment. At the same time, we are positioning ourselves to deliver material sustainable free cash flow in 2026 and beyond.” 

In the company's last annual update, Dhir had highlighted its continued focus on operational excellence, capital efficiency and investments to drive growth.

The latest appointments are in line with company strategy, as the group expands its operational footprint in the African E&P sector. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Africa-focused oil & gas production, development and exploration group, Tende Energy, has undergone a management reshuffle with the appointment of Mark Henderson as the chief executive officer of Tende Energy North Africa 

Henderson has been associated with Tende Energy since 18 December 2017, when he was working as a chief financial officer in the company. 

He will be stepping down from the board to focus on the company’s North African operations, where he has been leading a Tunisian team to build its onshore activities. Over the last six months, he and his team are also working to tap into the potential of offshore operations in the region. Tende Energy has set an example in the Tunisian upstream by introducing an exclusively Tunisian crew and support team. 

Besides concentrating on the assets in Tunisia that were acquired last year, Henderson will continue to work on the Anglo Tunisian Oil and Gas business as well. 

His previous position as the chief financial officer will be taken over by John McMurtrie, who brings in more than 20 years of experience in the E&P sector.

Previously, as a CFO with the UK-based Cornerstone Resources Group, McMurtrie worked on the execution of the Petrogas farm-in to the Abbey development and Baker exploration prospects in the Southern North Sea.

Advancing asset transactions in Angola

Jack Pryde, chairman, Tende Energy, said, “The latest appointments are in line with our strategy, as the group expands its operational footprint in the African E&P sector. Mark and his team will continue to achieve further critical mass with the group’s onshore and offshore assets in Tunisia, building on the achievements since taking control in Summer 2023. John brings additional sector experience to our management team, having worked at senior financial management level in the listed E&P sector for the last decade. He is experienced in asset and company farm-in/out transactions. This will come to the fore as we get closer to completing our asset transactions in Angola and move onto the listing of the company’s shares on the London stock market.”

Ahmed El-Hoshy, CEO of Fertiglobe. (Image source: Fertiglobe)

Fertiglobe, the seaborne exporter of urea and ammonia, and nitrogen fertiliser producer from the Middle East and North Africa region, reported Q1 2024 revenue of US$552mn, adjusted EBITDA of US$223mn, and adjusted net profit of US$119mn

In Q1 2024, ammonia prices retreated from their levels in Q4 2024 on easing supply disruptions and lower gas prices compared to the previous quarter, while urea prices were impacted by mixed trends due to favourable weather incentivising demand in North America coinciding with delayed planting in Europe, as well as lower-than-expected tender uptake in India, partially offset by healthy demand in other key regions including Brazil and Australia.

Ahmed El-Hoshy, CEO of Fertiglobe, commented, “We are pleased to report a strong quarter, marked by a 5% year-on-year increase in our own-produced sales volumes, driven by higher production and lower ending inventories, which led to a 22% and 1% increase in ammonia and urea own-produced sales volumes, respectively. This demonstrates continued efforts by our manufacturing and commercial teams to prioritise our key strategic objectives, paving the way for further operational milestones over the course of the year, by capitalising on our robust in-house capabilities and logistics footprint. It is worth noting that these results were delivered in an environment of market volatility and softer prices in Q1, on lower crop and energy prices as well as reduced imports from India and Europe, coupled with an improved supply situation with recent curtailments being reversed.

"Fertiglobe has continued to make good progress on its cost optimisation programme, having achieved 60% of its US$50mn run rate target implemented by the end of March 2024, and remains on track to realise the full target by the end of 2024. In addition, there is potential to generate at least US$100mn in incremental annual EBITDA by the end of 2025 compared to 2023, driven by improved production and energy efficiency within its ongoing manufacturing improvement plan (MIP). Together, these two initiatives have potential to generate US$150mn of incremental EBITDA by the end of 2025, representing an approximately 15% increase compared to 2023.

"These initiatives bolster Fertiglobe's cash flow generation across cycles, supporting the company’s already healthy free cash flow conversion and robust balance sheet, and enabling Fertiglobe to balance growth spending on value accretive projects and dividend payments.

"In addition, Fertiglobe remains firmly focused on technology, innovation and digitalisation, and is investing in the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) throughout its operations to unlock value, enhance efficiencies, and reduce emissions. The company is harnessing data integration and predictive analytics applications to support business objectives by improving the performance of equipment, processes, and facilities, while also implementing AI-powered analytics at its sites to enhance safety and reliability.

“I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to our exceptional team, whose dedication has been instrumental in our achievements. Their unwavering commitment to safety and excellence has been pivotal in our transformation into a leading global enterprise, which is about to embark on an exciting new chapter of growth and value creation following ADNOC’s acquisition of OCI's 50% equity stake, which will take ADNOC's ownership to a majority 86.2%. Together, we have immense confidence in Fertiglobe's ability to continue passing milestones and setting new standards for our industry.”

The Borr Norve jack-up rig was utilised to drill a target area located approximately 3.2 kms west-northwest of the MaBoMo. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

BW Energy has confirmed increase in reserve estimates following the presence of good quality reservoir in DHBSM-2P pilot well in the northern end of the Hibiscus South deposit

Drilled from the MaBoMo production platform to a total depth of 5,130 m, BW aims to acheive well completion of DHBSM-2P by the end of 2024.

The Borr Norve jack-up rig was utilised to drill a target area located approximately 3.2 kms west-northwest of the MaBoMo.

Evaluation of logging data, sample examination and formation pressure measurements confirm approximately 25 metres of pay in an overall hydrocarbon column of 35 metres in the Gamba formation.

The well data provides additional confirmation that the Hibiscus South structure is a separate accumulation with a deeper oil-water contact than the nearby Hibiscus Field. This will enable the company to book additional reserves not currently included in its annual statement of reserves and provide the opportunity to drill one or more additional production wells from the MaBoMo facility.

“We continue to increase the production and reserve base through low-cost and low-risk development activity in line with BW Energy’s strategy,” said Carl K. Arnet CEO of BW Energy. “The Hibiscus South pilot well is another confirmation of the significant potential of the Dussafu licence which holds multiple additional prospects.”

Preliminary evaluation indicates gross recoverable reserves of 5 to 6 million barrels of oil and approximately 14 million barrels of oil in place.