Ensign Energy Services Inc. Reports 2023 Second Quarter Results

 CALGARY, AB, Aug. 4, 2023 /CNW/ -

SECOND QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

• Revenue for the second quarter of 2023 was $432.8 million, a 26 percent increase from the second quarter of 2022 revenue of $344.1 million.
• Revenue by geographic area:
• Canada - $80.6 million, 19 percent of total;
• United States - $276.8 million, 64 percent of total; and
• International - $75.4 million, 17 percent of total.
• Canadian drilling recorded 2,131 operating days in the second quarter of 2023, a 10 percent decrease from 2,369 operating days in the second quarter of 2022. Canadian well servicing recorded 11,804 operating hours in the second quarter of 2023, a two percent decrease from 12,099 operating hours in the second quarter of 2022. As a result of suspensions of operations related to forest wildfires Canadian drilling lost approximately 205 operating days.
• United States drilling recorded 4,302 operating days in the second quarter of 2023, a one percent increase from 4,277 operating days in the second quarter of 2022. United States well servicing recorded 30,647 operating hours in the second quarter of 2023, which remained consistent with 30,725 operating hours in the second quarter of 2022.
• International drilling recorded 1,247 operating days in the second quarter of 2023, a 21 percent increase from 1,030 operating days recorded in the second quarter of 2022.
• Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2023 was $116.6 million, a 71 percent increase from Adjusted EBITDA of $68.3 million for the second quarter of 2022.
• Funds flow from operations for the second quarter of 2023 increased 43 percent to $116.8 million from $81.5 million in the second quarter of the prior year.
• General and administrative expense increased 20 percent and totaled $14.7 million (3.4 percent of revenue) in the second quarter of 2023, compared with $12.2 million (3.5 percent of revenue) in the second quarter of 2022.
• Net capital purchases for the second quarter of 2023 were $53.1 million, consisting of $3.8 million in upgrade capital and $52.7 million in maintenance capital, offset by sale proceeds of $3.3 million. Capital expenditures for the 2023 year are targeted to be in line with prior guidance of approximately $157.0 million primarily related to maintenance expenditures. In addition to the maintenance expenditures, there are certain growth projects for our customers of which $18.3 million has been funded by them. The Company may continue to consider additional upgrade or growth projects in response to customer demand upon appropriate contract terms. 
• Total debt, net of cash, has been reduced by $112.5 million since December 31, 2022. Our debt reduction for 2023 is targeted to be approximately $200.0 million. Our targeted debt reduction for the period beginning 2023 to the end of 2025 is approximately $600.0 million. If industry conditions change, these targets could be increased or decreased. 
• The Company is pleased to announce it has completed the publication of its third annual Sustainability Report for the year-ended December 31, 2022. The report, available at esg.ensignenergy.com, highlights the Company's environmental, social, and governance ("ESG") performance over the past year.

OVERVIEW

Revenue for the second quarter of 2023 was $432.8 million, a 26 percent increase from $344.1 million in revenue for the second quarter of 2022. Revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2023, was $916.8 million, an increase of 35 percent from revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2022, of $676.8 million.

Adjusted EBITDA totaled $116.6 million ($0.64 per common share) in the second quarter of 2023, 71 percent higher than Adjusted EBITDA of $68.3 million ($0.40 per common share) in the second quarter of 2022. For the first six months ended June 30, 2023, Adjusted EBITDA totaled $243.9 million ($1.33 per common share), 76 percent higher than Adjusted EBITDA of $138.3 million ($0.83 per common share) in the first six months ended June 30, 2022.

Net income attributable to common shareholders for the second quarter of 2023 was $10.3 million ($0.06 per common share) compared to a net loss attributable to common shareholders of $28.1 million ($0.17 per common share) for the second quarter of 2022. Net income attributable to common shareholders for the six months ended June 30, 2023, was $14.5 million ($0.08 per common share), compared to a net loss attributable to common shareholders of $21.6 million ($0.13 per common share) for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

Funds flow from operations increased 43 percent to $116.8 million ($0.64 per common share) in the second quarter of 2023 compared to $81.5 million ($0.47 per common share) in the second quarter of the prior year. Funds flow from operations increased 49 percent to $235.1 million ($1.28 per common share) for the six months ended June 30, 2023, compared to $158.2 million ($0.94 per common share) for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

The outlook for oilfield services continues to be constructive despite the recent volatility in global crude oil and natural gas commodity prices and uncertain global economic conditions. Global inflationary concerns continue to prompt central banks to tighten monetary policies. Increasing interest rates, largely resulting from efforts to quell rising inflation, have contributed to uncertainty for global economies related to recession risk and economic growth. These factors continue to impact global energy commodity prices and add uncertainty to the macro-economic outlook over the short-term. Furthermore, the recent decline in the US rig count has contributed to activity uncertainty and rig rate fluctuations over the short-term. However, despite these short-term headwinds, demand for crude oil continues to increase year-over-year and OPEC+ nations continue to moderate supply to respond to market conditions.

Over the near term, there remains uncertainty regarding the impacts of ongoing hostilities in Ukraine on the global economy, overall global economic health and recessionary pressures in certain environments. Furthermore, there are many other factors that may impact the future demand for crude oil and natural gas, commodity prices, and the demand for oilfield services.

The Company's operating days remained consistent in the three months ended June 30, 2023 and higher in the six months ended June 30, 2023, when compared with the same periods in 2022. Operations were positively impacted in the first half of 2023 due to supportive industry conditions, driving activity improvements year-over-year. In the second quarter of 2023, certain drilling programs were temporarily delayed in the Company's Canadian region due to forest fires that impacted operational activity.

The average United States dollar exchange rate was $1.35 for the six months ended June 30, 2023 (2022 - $1.27) versus the Canadian dollar, an increase of six percent compared to the same period of 2022.

The Company's working capital at June 30, 2023, was a deficit of $1,188.1 million, compared to a deficit of $707.8 million at December 31, 2022. The deficit increase was largely due to the Company's revolving credit facility (the "Credit Facility") and unsecured Senior Notes (the "Senior Notes") being reclassified as current. The Company is in discussion with its banking syndicate on extending its existing revolving Credit Facility and on obtaining a new term loan facility, which facility will be used to retire the Company's Senior Notes due in April 2024. The Company has not yet finalized such refinancing or the terms thereof and, if it is successfully completed, it contemplates completion of such refinancing before the end of the third quarter of 2023.

The Company's available liquidity, consisting of cash and available borrowings under its $900.0 million the Credit Facility, was $171.4 million at June 30, 2023.  

This news release contains "forward-looking information and statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. For a full disclosure of the forward-looking information and statements and the risks to which they are subject, see the "Advisory Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" later in this news release. This news release contains references to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA per common share. These measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and accordingly, may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies. The non-GAAP measures included in this news release should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, the IFRS measures from which they are derived or to which they are compared. See "Non-GAAP Measures" later in this news release.

FINANCIAL AND OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS
(Unaudited, in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per common share data and operating information)

	Three months ended June 30				Six months ended June 30
	2023		2022	% change	2023	2022	% change
Revenue	$     432,770		$     344,123	26	$     916,822	$     676,799	35
Adjusted EBITDA ^1	116,616		68,332	71	243,940	138,297	76
Adjusted EBITDA per common share ^1
Basic	$0.64		$0.40	60	$1.33	$0.83	60
Diluted	$0.63		$0.44	43	$1.32	$0.82	61
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	10,302		(28,138)	nm	14,543	(21,551)	nm
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders per common share
Basic	$0.06		$(0.17)	nm	$0.08	$(0.13)	nm
Diluted	$0.06		$(0.17)	nm	$0.08	$(0.13)	nm
Cash provided by operating activities	166,771		99,520	68	271,345	154,076	76
Funds flow from operations	116,764		81,497	43	235,055	158,238	49
Funds flow from operations per common share
Basic	$0.64		$0.47	36	$1.28	$0.94	36
Diluted	$0.63		$0.52	21	$1.27	$0.94	35
Total debt, net of cash	1,277,197		1,357,537	(6)	1,277,197	1,357,537	(6)
Weighted average common shares - basic (000s)	183,944		171,646	7	183,931	167,456	10
Weighted average common shares - diluted (000s)	185,031		173,157	7	185,388	168,325	10
Drilling	2023		2022	% change	2023	2022	% change
Number of marketed rigs^2
Canada^3	115		123	(7)	115	123	(7)
United States	85		89	(4)	85	89	(4)
International ^4	32		34	(6)	32	34	(6)
Total	232		246	(6)	232	246	(6)
Operating days ^5
Canada ^3	2,131		2,369	(10)	5,931	6,097	(3)
United States	4,302		4,277	1	8,919	7,965	12
International ^4	1,247		1,030	21	2,351	1,903	24
Total	7,680		7,676	0	17,201	15,965	8
Well Servicing	2023		2022	% change	2023	2022	% change
Number of rigs
Canada	47		52	(10)	47	52	(10)
United States	47		48	(2)	47	48	(2)
Total	94		100	(6)	94	100	(6)
Operating hours
Canada	11,804		12,099	(2)	25,580	23,359	10
United States	30,647		30,725	—	58,564	60,414	(3)
Total	42,451		42,824	(1)	84,144	83,773	—

nm	- calculation not meaningful
^1	Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA per common share are not measures that have any standardized meaning prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and accordingly, may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies. Non-GAAP measures are defined in the Non-GAAP Measures section.
^2	Total owned rigs: Canada - 132, United States - 116, International - 43 (2022 total owned rigs: Canada - 137, United States - 126, International - 46)
^3	Excludes coring rigs.
^4	Includes workover rigs.
^5	Defined as contract drilling days, between spud to rig release.

FINANCIAL POSITION AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES HIGHLIGHTS

As at ($ thousands)	June 30 2023		December 31 2022		June 30 2022
Working capital (deficit) ^1, 2	(1,188,071)		(707,800)		102,830
Cash	44,071		49,880		38,994
Total debt ^3	1,321,268		1,439,575		1,396,531
Total debt, net of cash ^3	1,277,197		1,389,695		1,357,537
Total debt and other long-term financial liabilities ^3	1,334,344		1,445,523		1,408,706
Total assets	3,030,460		3,183,904		3,011,267
Total debt to total debt plus equity ratio ^3	0.51		0.53		0.53

¹ See non-GAAP Measures section.

² Change in working capital (deficit) was largely due to the Company's revolving credit facility and unsecured Senior notes being classified as current.

³ For presentation purposes the Company includes current and long-term debt under total debt and the comparatives have been revised to conform with current year's presentation.

	Three months ended June 30								Six months ended June 30
($ thousands)	2023			2022			% change		2023			2022			% change
Capital expenditures
Upgrade/growth	3,772			28,495			(87)		12,028			36,586			(67)
Maintenance	52,673			25,784			nm		94,296			49,644			90
Proceeds from disposals of property and       equipment	(3,299)			(4,189)			(21)		(3,454)			(46,936)			(93)
Net capital expenditures	53,146			50,090			6		102,870			39,294			nm

nm - calculation not meaningful

REVENUE AND OILFIELD SERVICES EXPENSE

	Three months ended June 30						Six months ended June 30
($ thousands)	2023		2022		% change		2023		2022		% change
Revenue
Canada	80,618		78,684		2		220,734		189,950		16
United States	276,781		203,507		36		551,334		370,330		49
International	75,371		61,932		22		144,754		116,519		24
Total revenue	432,770		344,123		26		916,822		676,799		35
Oilfield services expense	301,503		263,582		14		643,702		515,403		25

Revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2023, totaled $432.8 million, an increase of 26 percent from the second quarter 2022 of $344.1 million. Revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2023, totaled $916.8 million, a 35 percent increase from the six months ended June 30, 2022.

The increase in total revenue during the second quarter of 2023 was primarily due to favourable industry conditions, revenue rate improvements, foreign exchange translation, and supportive oil commodity prices.

CANADIAN OILFIELD SERVICES

Revenue increased two percent to $80.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023, from $78.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022. The Company recorded revenue of $220.7 million in Canada for the six months ended June 30, 2023, an increase of 16 percent from $190.0 million recorded for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

Canadian revenue accounted for 19 percent of the Company's total revenue in the second quarter of 2023 (2022 - 23 percent) and 24 percent (2022 - 28 percent) for the first six months of 2023.

The Company's Canadian drilling operations recorded 2,131 operating days in the second quarter of 2023, compared to 2,369 operating days for the second quarter of 2022, a decrease of 10 percent. For the six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company recorded 5,931 operating days compared to 6,097 days for the six months ended June 30, 2022, a decrease of three percent. Canadian well servicing hours decreased by two percent to 11,804 operating hours in the second quarter of 2023 compared to 12,099 operating hours in the corresponding period of 2022. For the six months ended June 30, 2023, well servicing hours increased by 10 percent to 25,580 operating hours compared with 23,359 operating hours for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

The operating results for the Company's Canadian operations in the second quarter of 2023 were negatively impacted by weather and related events, including forest fires and flooding, that temporarily delayed certain drilling programs. However, the financial results for the Company's Canadian operations for the first half of 2023 were positively impacted by revenue rate increases year-over-year due to improved industry conditions.

During the first half of 2023, the Company transferred one drilling rig from the United States to Canada and transferred nine under-utilized drilling rigs into its Canadian operations reserve fleet.

UNITED STATES OILFIELD SERVICES

The Company's United States operations recorded revenue of $276.8 million in the second quarter of 2023, an increase of 36 percent from the $203.5 million recorded in the corresponding period of the prior year. During the six months ended June 30, 2023, revenue of $551.3 million was recorded, an increase of 49 percent from the $370.3 million recorded in the corresponding period of the prior year.

The Company's United States operations accounted for 64 percent of the Company's revenue in the second quarter of 2023 (2022 - 59 percent) and 60 percent of the Company's revenue in the first six months of 2023 (2022 - 55 percent).

Drilling rig operating days increased by one percent to 4,302 operating days in the second quarter of 2023 from 4,277 operating days in the second quarter of 2022 and increased by 12 percent to 8,919 operating days in the first six months ended June 30, 2023 from 7,965 operating days in the first six months ended June 30, 2022. United States well servicing recorded 30,647 operating hours in the second quarter of 2023 which remained consistent with 30,725 operating hours recorded in the second quarter of 2022. For the first half year of 2023, well servicing activity decreased by three percent to 58,564 operating hours from 60,414 operating hours for the first half year of 2022.

Overall operating and financial results for the Company's United States operations reflect constructive industry conditions, with increased revenue rates in addition to steady well servicing rig utilization. The financial results from the Company's United States operations were further positively impacted by the currency translation, as the United States dollar strengthened relative to the Canadian dollar during the first six months of 2023.

During the first half of 2023, the Company transferred one drilling rig from the United States to Canada. In addition, the Company transferred four under-utilized drilling rigs into its United States reserve fleet and transferred one drilling rig from the reserve fleet to the marketed fleet.

INTERNATIONAL OILFIELD SERVICES

The Company's international operations recorded revenue of $75.4 million in the second quarter of 2023, a 22 percent increase from the $61.9 million recorded in the corresponding period of the prior year. International revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2023, increased 24 percent to $144.8 million from $116.5 million recorded for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

The Company's international operations contributed 17 percent of the total revenue in the second quarter of 2023 (2022 - 18 percent) and 16 percent of the Company's revenue in the first six months of 2023 (2022 - 17 percent).

International operating days for the three months ended June 30, 2023, totaled 1,247 operating days compared to 1,030 operating days in the same period of 2022, an increase of 21 percent. For the six months ended June 30, 2023, international operating days totaled 2,351 operating days compared to 1,903 operating days for the six months ended June 30, 2022, an increase of 24 percent.

Operating and financial results from international operations reflect improving industry conditions and increasing drilling activity. In addition, the Company's operational activity increased year-over-year as a result of two Oman drilling rigs commencing new drilling programs in the fourth quarter of 2022 and a third rig commencing operations in the second quarter of 2023.

The financial results from the Company's international operations paid in the United States dollar were further positively impacted on the currency translation as the United States dollar strengthened relative to the Canadian dollar for the first half of 2023.

During the first half of 2023, the Company transferred two under-utilized drilling rigs into its international operations reserve fleet.

DEPRECIATION

	Three months ended June 30						Six months ended June 30
($ thousands)	2023		2022		% change		2023		2022		% change
Depreciation	74,835		68,692		9		152,690		138,672		10

Depreciation expense totaled $74.8 million for the second quarter of 2023 compared with $68.7 million for the second quarter of 2022, an increase of nine percent. Depreciation expense for the first six months ended June 30, 2023 increased by 10 percent, to $152.7 million compared with $138.7 million for the first six months ended June 30, 2022. The increase in depreciation is the result of depreciating recently upgraded property and equipment and a higher foreign exchange rate on United States dollar denominated property and equipment values.

GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE

	Three months ended June 30						Six months ended June 30
($ thousands)	2023		2022		% change		2023		2022		% change
General and administrative	14,651		12,209		20		29,180		23,099		26
% of revenue	3.4		3.5				3.2		3.4

General and administrative expense increased 20 percent to $14.7 million (3.4 percent of revenue) for the second quarter of 2023 compared to $12.2 million (3.5 percent of revenue) for the second quarter of 2022. For the six months ended June 30, 2023, general and administrative expense totaled $29.2 million (3.2 percent of revenue) compared to $23.1 million (3.4 percent of revenue) for the six months ended June 30, 2022. General and administrative expenses increased due to support of increased operational activity, annual wage increases and higher foreign exchange rate on United State dollar translation.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE AND OTHER LOSS

	Three months ended June 30				Six months ended June 30
($ thousands)	2023	2022	% change		2023		2022	% change
Foreign exchange and other loss	747	4,047	(82)		5,773		2,702	nm

nm - calculation not meaningful

Included in this amount is the impact of foreign currency fluctuations in the Company's subsidiaries that have functional currencies other than the Canadian dollar.

INTEREST EXPENSE

	Three months ended June 30						Six months ended June 30
($ thousands)	2023		2022		% change		2023		2022		% change
Interest expense	31,560		27,563		15		65,958		52,747		25

Interest expense was incurred on the Company's $900.0 million Credit Facility, US $417.5 million Senior Notes and capital lease obligations.

Interest expense increased by 15 percent for the second quarter of 2023 compared to the second quarter of 2022. Interest expense increased by 25 percent for the first six months ended June 30, 2023, compared to the same period of 2022. The increases for the first three and six months of 2023 are the result higher interest rates and the foreign exchange rate impact on United State dollar translation. Should Company's financial position improves as anticipated the interest rate on the Company's Credit Facility is expected to decrease, as the interest charged is determined using financial metrics.

INCOME TAXES (RECOVERY)

	Three months ended June 30						Six months ended June 30
($ thousands)	2023		2022		% change		2023		2022		% change
Current income taxes (recovery)	767		(92)		nm		1,168		(1,762)		nm
Deferred taxes income (recovery)	4,496		(8,124)		nm		5,856		(19,656)		nm
Total income taxes (recovery)	5,263		(8,216)		nm		7,024		(21,418)		nm
Effective income tax rate (%)	33.8		22.6		50		32.2		49.9		(35)

nm - calculation not meaningful

The effective income tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2023, was 33.8 percent compared to 22.6 percent for the three months ended June 30, 2022. The effective income tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2023, was 32.2 percent compared to 49.9 percent for the six months ended June 30, 2022. The effective income tax rate in the first half of the current year was lower than the effective income tax rate in the same period of 2022 as the prior year was significantly impacted by gains on the sale of certain capital assets in foreign jurisdictions.

FUNDS FLOW FROM OPERATIONS AND WORKING CAPITAL

($ thousands, except per common share data)	Three months ended June 30						Six months ended June 30
	2023		2022		% change		2023		2022		% change
Cash provided by operating activities	166,771		99,520		68		271,345		154,076		76
Funds flow from operations	116,764		81,497		43		235,055		158,238		49
Funds flow from operations percommon share	$0.64		$0.47		36		$1.28		$0.94		36
Working capital ^1	(1,188,071)		(707,800)		68		(1,188,071)		(707,800)		68

¹ Comparative figure as at December 31, 2022

During the three months ended June 30, 2023, the Company generated funds flow from operations of $116.8 million ($0.64 per common share) compared to funds flow from operations of $81.5 million ($0.47 per common share) for the three months ended June 30, 2022, an increase of 43 percent. For the six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company generated funds flow from operations of $235.1 million ($1.28 per common share) an increase of 49 percent from $158.2 million ($0.94 per common share) for the six months ended June 30, 2022. The increase in funds flow from operations for the six months ended June 30, 2023, compared to the same period of 2022 is largely due to the increase in activity and revenue rates compared to the prior period as a result of the oil and natural gas industry's generally positive operating environment.

At June 30, 2023, the Company's working capital was a deficit of $1,188.1 million, compared to a working capital deficit of $707.8 million at December 31, 2022. The deficit was largely due to the Credit Facility and the Senior Notes being classified as current. The Company is in discussion with its banking syndicate on extending its existing revolving Credit Facility and on obtaining a new term loan facility, which facility will be used to retire the Company's Senior Notes due in April 2024. The Company has not yet finalized such refinancing or the terms thereof and, if it is successfully completed, it contemplates completion of such refinancing before the end of the third quarter of 2023..

The Company currently expects funds generated by operations, combined with current and future credit facilities, to fully support the Company's current operating and capital requirements. The Company's Credit Facility provides for total borrowings of $900.0 million, of which $127.4 million was undrawn and available at June 30, 2023.

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

	Three months ended June 30						Six months ended June 30
($ thousands)	2023		2022		% change		2023		2022		% change
Purchase of property and equipment	(56,445)		(54,279)		4		(106,324)		(86,230)		23
Proceeds from disposals of property and equipment	3,299		4,189		(21)		3,454		46,936		(93)
Distribution to non-controlling interest	—		(1,852)		nm		—		(1,852)		nm
Net change in non-cash working capital	(3,769)		3,205		nm		3,769		8,902		(58)
Cash used in investing activities	(56,915)		(48,737)		17		(99,101)		(32,244)		nm

nm - calculation not meaningful

Net purchases of property and equipment for the second quarter of 2023 totaled $53.1 million (2022 - $50.1 million). Net purchases of property and equipment during the first six months of 2023 totaled $102.9 million (2022 - $39.3 million). The purchase of property and equipment for the first six months of 2023 consists of $12.0 million in upgrade and growth capital and $94.3 million in maintenance capital.

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

	Three months ended June 30						Six months ended June 30
($ thousands)	2023		2022		% change		2023		2022		% change
Proceeds from long-term debt	28,285		26,705		6		36,547		28,605		28
Repayments of long-term debt	(93,824)		(23,460)		nm		(137,729)		(65,394)		nm
Lease obligation principal repayments	(1,443)		(2,291)		(37)		(10,387)		(4,189)		nm
Interest paid	(41,653)		(41,434)		1		(64,422)		(53,887)		20
Issuance of common shares under share option plan	—		—		—		—		36		nm
Purchase of common shares held in trust	(412)		(405)		2		(947)		(780)		21
Cash used in financing activities	(109,047)		(40,885)		nm		(176,938)		(95,609)		85

nm - calculation not meaningful

The Company's available bank facilities consist of a $900.0 million Credit Facility, of which $127.4 million was available and undrawn as of June 30, 2023. In addition, the Company has US $50.0 million secured letter of credit facility, of which US $5.4 million was available as of June 30, 2023.

In the fourth quarter of 2022, the Company classified its Credit Facility as current. Furthermore, during the second quarter of 2023, the Company classified the Senior Notes as current. The Company is in discussion with its banking syndicate on extending its existing revolving Credit Facility and on obtaining a new term loan facility, which facility will be used to retire the Company's Senior Notes due in April 2024. The Company has not yet finalized such refinancing or the terms thereof and, if it is successfully completed, it contemplates completion of such refinancing before the end of the third quarter of 2023.

The Company may at any time and from time to time acquire Senior Notes for cancellation by means of open market repurchases or negotiated transactions. The Company is limited in the acquisition and cancellation of the Senior Notes up to $25.0 million under applicable covenants. Senior Notes may be repurchased for redemption in excess of $25.0 million if certain criteria are met. No such repurchases occurred during the six months ended June 30, 2023.

Covenants

The following is a list of the Company's currently applicable covenants and the calculations as at June 30, 2023:

	Covenant			June 30, 2023
The Credit Facility
Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA^1	≤ 5.00			2.69
Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense^1,2	≥ 2.50			3.69
Consolidated Senior Debt to Consolidated EBITDA^1,3	≤ 2.50			1.52

¹ Please refer to Non-GAAP Measures for Consolidated EBITDA definition.

² Consolidated Interest Expense is defined as all interest expense calculated on twelve month rolling consolidated basis.

³ Consolidated Senior Debt is defined as Consolidated Total Debt minus Subordinated Debt. 

As at June 30, 2023, the Company was in compliance with all covenants related to the Credit Facility.

The Credit Facility

The Credit Facility agreement, available on SEDAR+ including amendments, requires that the Company comply with certain covenants including Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA ratio, Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense ratio and a Consolidated Senior Debt to Consolidated EBITDA ratio as detailed above.

The Credit Facility also contains certain covenants that place restrictions on the Company's ability to repurchase or redeem Senior Notes; to create, incur or assume additional indebtedness; change the Company's primary business; enter into mergers or amalgamations; and dispose of property. In the most recent amendment and restatement of the Credit Facility agreement, dated December 17, 2021, permitted encumbrances are limited to $25.0 million.

The Senior Notes 

The note indenture governing the Senior Notes, available on SEDAR+, contains certain restrictions and exemptions on the Company's ability to pay dividends, purchase and redeem shares and subordinated debt of the Company, and make certain restricted investments. Limitations on these restrictions are tempered by the existence of a number of exceptions to the general prohibition, including baskets allowing for restricted payments. 

The note indenture also restricts the Company's ability to incur additional indebtedness if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio determined on a pro forma basis for the most recently ended four fiscal quarter period for which internal financial statements are available is not at least 2.0 to 1.0. As of June 30, 2023, the Company has not incurred additional indebtedness that would require the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio to be calculated. As is the case with restricted payments, there are a number of exceptions to this prohibition on the incurrence of indebtedness, including the incurrence of debt under credit facilities up to the greater of $900.0 million or 22.5 percent of the Company's consolidated tangible assets and of additional secured debt subordinated to the credit facilities up to the greater of US $125.0 million or four percent of the Company's consolidated tangible assets.

NEW BUILDS AND MAJOR RETROFITS

During the first six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company:

• transferred nine, four, and two under-utilized drilling rigs to its Canadian, United States, and international operations reserve fleet, respectively;
• transferred one drilling rig from the United States to Canada;
• transferred one drilling rig from the reserve fleet to the marketed fleet in the United States.

The Company is currently directing capital expenditures primarily to maintenance capital items and selective rig or fleet upgrades.

OUTLOOK

Industry Overview

The outlook for oilfield services continues to be constructive despite volatile commodity prices and macro-economic headwinds. Recessionary pressures, tight fiscal policies, and the potential for slowing economies and other considerations continue to influence commodity prices. These factors continue to add uncertainty to the outlook for crude oil demand and commodity prices.

Constructively, demand for crude oil continues to improve year-over-year and OPEC+ nations continually monitor the oil markets and may implement cuts to production to moderate supply. Global crude oil prices recently have held steady, with the benchmark price of West Texas Intermediate ("WTI") averaging US $72/bbl in May, $70/bbl in June and increasing to average $76/bbl in July.

Over the short-term, depressed natural gas commodity prices have impacted the industry rig count in North America and have contributed uncertainty to the near-term activity outlook. However, the Company continues to expect positive oil prices to support relatively steady oilfield services activity in order to maintain or potentially grow production in consideration of well productivity declines and low drilled but uncompleted ("DUC") well inventory in certain producing areas. Furthermore, positive revenue rates over the course of 2023 continue to support continuation of year-over-year past and anticipated future improvements in the Company's financial results.

Over the short-term, there remains uncertainty regarding macroeconomic conditions that may impact supply and demand for, and pricing of, crude oil and natural gas and related oilfield services. These factors include but are not limited to, recession risk and global economic health, financial sector stress, the impact of ongoing hostilities in Ukraine, and the future supply of Russian oil and natural gas.

The Company remains committed to disciplined capital allocation and debt repayment. The Company has targeted approximately $200 million in debt reduction for the 2023 year. In addition, from the period beginning 2023 to the end of 2025, the Company has targeted debt reduction of approximately $600 million. If industry conditions change, this target may be increased or decreased.

Capital expenditures for the 2023 year are targeted to be in line with prior guidance of approximately $157.0 million primarily related to maintenance expenditures. In addition to the maintenance expenditures, capital is expended on selective rig enhancements or relocation projects for certain of the Company's customers of which $18.3 million has been funded by them during the first half of 2023. The Company may continue to consider additional rig relocation, upgrade or growth projects in response to customer demand and appropriate contract terms.

Canadian Activity

Canadian activity, representing 24 percent of total revenue in the first half of 2023, decreased in the second quarter due to seasonal spring-break up and unforeseen weather events, including forest fires and flooding that temporarily delayed certain drilling programs. Operations impacted by the fires or flooding have recommenced. We expect activity to increase in the third quarter due to supportive industry conditions. We expect activity in Canada to remain steady or improve in the second half of 2023 as egress solutions of additional pipeline capacity for the Canadian market are expected to come online. 

As of August 4, 2023, of our 115 marketed Canadian drilling rigs, approximately 43 percent are engaged under term contracts of various durations. Approximately 41 percent of our contracted rigs have a remaining term of six months or longer, although they may be subject to early termination. 

United States Activity

United States activity, representing 60 percent of total revenue in the first half of 2023, declined modestly in the second quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2023 as a result of contract turnover and decreased activity in the Company's California region. Operations in California continue to be challenged as producers are currently working through drilling permit challenges that have impacted drilling programs over the short-term. The remaining areas the Company's United States operations are expected to modestly decline in the third quarter of 2023. In this regard, the Company currently has relatively limited exposure to natural gas directed drilling programs with no active rigs in the Haynesville or Marcellus basins.  

As of August 4, 2023, of our 85 marketed United States drilling rigs, approximately 61 percent are engaged under term contracts of various durations. Approximately 12 percent of our contracted rigs have a remaining term of six months or longer, although they may be subject to early termination.  

International Activity

International activity, representing 16 percent of total revenue in the first half of 2023, improved in the second quarter of 2023 as a third Company rig in Oman commenced drilling. The Company currently has three rigs active in Oman, two rigs active in Bahrain and two rigs active in Kuwait. Financial and operational performance of all seven active rigs in the Company's Middle East segment are expected to remain steady in the third quarter of 2023.

Overall, the Company's international activity is expected to improve in the third quarter of 2023 as operations are expected to increase from seven to eight active rigs in Australia. We expect operations in Australia to further increase in the fourth quarter of 2023 continuing into 2024. Operations in Argentina, with two Company rigs active, are expected remain steady in the third quarter of 2023. 

As of August 4, 2023, of our 32 marketed international drilling rigs, approximately 53 percent, were engaged under term contracts of various durations. Approximately 94 percent of our contracted rigs have a remaining term of six months or longer, although they may be subject to early termination.

RISK AND UNCERTAINTIES

The Company is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. A discussion of certain risks faced by the Company may be found hereinbelow and under the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Information Form ("AIF") and the "Risks and Uncertainties" section of the Company's Management's Discussion & Analysis ("MD&A") for the year ended December 31, 2022, which are available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.com.

Other than as described within this document, the Company's risk factors and management of those risks have not changed substantially from those as disclosed in the AIF. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known by the Company, or that the Company does not currently anticipate or deem material, may also impair the Company's future business operations or financial condition. If any such potential events, whether described in the risk factors in this document or the Company's AIF or otherwise actually occur, or described events intensify, overall business, operating results and the financial condition of the Company could be materially adversely affected.

CONFERENCE CALL

A conference call will be held to discuss the Company's second quarter 2023 results at 10:00 a.m. MDT (12:00 p.m. EDT) on Friday, August 4, 2023. The conference call number is 1-416-764-8659 (in Toronto) or 1-888-664-6392 (outside Toronto). The conference call reservation number is: 11051240. A taped recording of the conference call will be available until August 11, 2023, by dialing 1-416-764-8677 (in Toronto) or 1-888-390-0541 (outside Toronto) and entering the reservation number 051240#. A live broadcast may be accessed through the Company's website at www.ensignenergy.com/presentations.

Ensign Energy Services Inc. is an international oilfield services contractor and is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol ESI.

Ensign Energy Services Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

As at		June 30 2023		December 31 2022
(Unaudited - in thousands of Canadian dollars)
Assets
Current Assets
Cash		$         44,071		$           49,880
Accounts receivable		298,703		359,933
Inventories, prepaid, investments and other		53,902		60,758
Income taxes receivable		—		40
Total current assets		396,676		470,611
Property and equipment		2,430,120		2,516,923
Deferred income taxes		203,664		196,370
Total assets		$    3,030,460		$      3,183,904
Liabilities
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable and accruals		$       245,320		$         268,243
Share-based compensation		7,345		11,735
Income taxes payable		4,663		4,423
Current portion of lease obligation		6,151		11,324
Current portion of long-term debt		1,321,268		882,686
Total current liabilities		1,584,747		1,178,411
Share-based compensation		4,986		13,635
Long-term debt		—		556,889
Lease obligations		7,803		5,948
Income tax payable		5,273		5,394
Deferred income taxes		145,483		134,857
Total liabilities		1,748,292		1,895,134
Shareholders' Equity
Shareholders' capital		268,467		267,790
Contributed surplus		22,720		23,398
Accumulated other comprehensive income		254,909		276,053
Retained earnings		736,072		721,529
Total shareholders' equity		1,282,168		1,288,770
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity		$    3,030,460		$      3,183,904

Ensign Energy Services Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss)

		Three months ended				Six months ended
		June 30 2023		June 30 2022		June 30 2023		June 30 2022
(Unaudited - in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per common share data)
Revenue		$         432,770		$         344,123		$         916,822		$         676,799
Expenses
Oilfield services		301,503		263,582		643,702		515,403
Depreciation		74,835		68,692		152,690		138,672
General and administrative		14,651		12,209		29,180		23,099
Share-based compensation		(6,146)		3,560		(4,421)		13,959
Foreign exchange and other loss		747		4,047		5,773		2,702
Total expenses		385,590		352,090		826,924		693,835
Income (loss) before interest expense, accretion of deferred financing charges and other gains and income taxes		47,180		(7,967)		89,898		(17,036)
Gain on asset sale		(2,160)		(1,354)		(2,268)		(31,296)
Interest expense		31,560		27,563		65,958		52,747
Accretion of deferred financing charges		2,199		2,199		4,399		4,401
Income (loss) before income taxes		15,581		(36,375)		21,809		(42,888)
Income taxes (recovery)
Current income taxes (recovery)		767		(92)		1,168		(1,762)
Deferred income taxes (recovery)		4,496		(8,124)		5,856		(19,656)
Total income taxes (recovery)		5,263		(8,216)		7,024		(21,418)
Net income (loss)		$           10,318		$         (28,159)		$           14,785		$         (21,470)
Net income (loss) attributable to:
Common shareholders		10,302		(28,138)		14,543		(21,551)
Non-controlling interests		16		(21)		242		81
		10,318		(28,159)		14,785		(21,470)
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders per common share
Basic		$               0.06		$             (0.17)		$               0.08		$             (0.13)
Diluted		$               0.06		$             (0.17)		$               0.08		$             (0.13)

Ensign Energy Services Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

		Three months ended				Six months ended
		June 30 2023		June 30 2022		June 30 2023		June 30 2022
(Unaudited - in thousands of Canadian dollars)
Cash provided by (used in)
Operating activities
Net income (loss)		$            10,318		$        (28,159)		$            14,785		$         (21,470)
Items not affecting cash
Depreciation		74,835		68,692		152,690		138,672
Gain on asset sale		(2,160)		(1,354)		(2,268)		(31,296)
Share-based compensation, net cash settlements		71		1,823		(5,892)		12,222
Unrealized foreign exchange and other		(4,555)		18,857		(473)		22,618
Accretion of deferred financing charges		2,199		2,199		4,399		4,401
Interest expense		31,560		27,563		65,958		52,747
Deferred income taxes (recovery)		4,496		(8,124)		5,856		(19,656)
Funds flow from operations		116,764		81,497		235,055		158,238
Net change in non-cash working capital		50,007		18,023		36,290		(4,162)
Cash provided by operating activities		166,771		99,520		271,345		154,076
Investing activities
Purchase of property and equipment		(56,445)		(54,279)		(106,324)		(86,230)
Proceeds from disposals of property and equipment		3,299		4,189		3,454		46,936
Distribution to non-controlling interest		—		(1,852)		—		(1,852)
Net change in non-cash working capital		(3,769)		3,205		3,769		8,902
Cash used in investing activities		(56,915)		(48,737)		(99,101)		(32,244)
Financing activities
Proceeds from long-term debt		28,285		26,705		36,547		28,605
Repayments of long-term debt		(93,824)		(23,460)		(137,729)		(65,394)
Lease obligation principal repayments		(1,443)		(2,291)		(10,387)		(4,189)
Interest paid		(41,653)		(41,434)		(64,422)		(53,887)
Issuance of common shares under share option plan		—		—		—		36
Purchase of common shares held in trust		(412)		(405)		(947)		(780)
Cash used in financing activities		(109,047)		(40,885)		(176,938)		(95,609)
Net increase (decrease) in cash		809		9,898		(4,694)		26,223
Effects of foreign exchange on cash		(1,588)		(610)		(1,115)		(534)
Cash – beginning of period		44,850		29,706		49,880		13,305
Cash – end of period		$            44,071		$          38,994		$            44,071		$          38,994

Ensign Energy Services Inc.

Non-GAAP Measures

Adjusted EBITDA per common share and Consolidated EBITDA. These measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and accordingly, may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies.

Adjusted EBITDA is used by management and investors to analyze the Company's profitability based on the Company's principal business activities prior to how these activities are financed, how assets are depreciated, amortized and how the results are taxed in various jurisdictions. Additionally, in order to focus on the core business alone, amounts are removed related to foreign exchange, share-based compensation expense, the sale of assets and fair value adjustments on financial assets and liabilities, as the Company does not deem these to relate to its core drilling and well services business. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to represent net loss as calculated in accordance with IFRS.

ADJUSTED EBITDA	Three months ended June 30						Six months ended June 30
($ thousands)	2023			2022			2023			2022
Income (loss) before income taxes	15,581			(36,375)			21,809			(42,888)
Add-back/(deduct):
Interest expense	31,560			27,563			65,958			52,747
Accretion of deferred financing charges	2,199			2,199			4,399			4,401
Depreciation	74,835			68,692			152,690			138,672
Share-based compensation	(6,146)			3,560			(4,421)			13,959
Gain on asset sale	(2,160)			(1,354)			(2,268)			(31,296)
Foreign exchange and other loss	747			4,047			5,773			2,702
Adjusted EBITDA	116,616			68,332			243,940			138,297

Consolidated EBITDA 

Consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the Company's Credit Facility agreement, is used in determining the Company's compliance with its covenants. The Consolidated EBITDA is substantially similar to Adjusted EBITDA. Consolidated EBITDA is calculated on a rolling twelve-month basis.

Working Capital

Working capital is defined as current assets less current liabilities as reported on the consolidated statements of financial position.

ADVISORY REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements herein constitute forward-looking statements or information (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the words "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "plan", "estimate", "target", "continue", "could", "intend", "may", "potential", "predict", "should", "will", "objective", "project", "forecast", "goal", "guidance", "outlook", "effort", "seeks", "schedule", "contemplates" or other expressions of a similar nature suggesting future outcome or statements regarding an outlook.

Disclosure related to expected future commodity pricing or trends, revenue rates, equipment utilization or operating activity levels, operating costs, capital expenditures and other prospective guidance provided herein, including, but not limited to, information provided in the "Funds Flow from Operations and Working Capital" section regarding the Company's expectation that funds generated by operations combined with current and future credit facilities will support current operating and capital requirements, information provided in the "New Builds and Major Retrofits" section, information provided in the "Financial Instruments" section regarding Venezuela and information provided in the "Outlook" section regarding the general outlook for the remainder of 2023 and beyond, are examples of forward-looking statements.

These statements are not representations or guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks and unforeseen results. The reader should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, initiatives, projections, anticipations or expectations upon which they are based will occur. The forward-looking statements are based on current assumptions, expectations, estimates and projections about the Company and the industries and environments in which the Company operates, which speak only as of the date such statements were made or as of the date of the report or document in which they are contained. These assumptions include, among other things: the fluctuation in commodity prices may pressure customers to modify their capital programs; the status of current negotiations with the Company's customers and vendors; customer focus on safety performance; existing term contracts that may not be renewed or are terminated prematurely; the Company's ability to provide services on a timely basis and successfully bid on new contracts; successful integration of acquisitions; the general stability of the economic and political environments in the jurisdictions where we operate, pandemics, and impacts of geopolitical events such as the hostilities between Ukraine and the Russian Federation and the global community responses thereto.

The forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risk factors include, among others: general economic and business conditions which will, among other things, impact demand for and market prices of the Company's services and the ability of the Company's customers to pay accounts receivable balances; volatility of and assumptions regarding commodity prices; foreign exchange exposure; fluctuations in currency and interest rates; inflation; economic conditions in the countries and regions in which the Company conducts business; political uncertainty and civil unrest; the Company's ability to implement its business strategy; impact of competition and industry conditions; risks associated with long-term contracts; force majeure events; artificial intelligence development and implementation; cyber attacks; pandemics; determinations by Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries ("OPEC") and other countries (OPEC and various other countries are referred to as "OPEC+") regarding production levels; loss of key customers; litigation risks, including the Company's defence of lawsuits; risks associated with contingent liabilities and potential unknown liabilities; availability and cost of labour and other equipment, supplies and services; business interruption and casualty losses; the Company's ability to complete its capital programs; operating hazards and other difficulties inherent in the operation of the Company's oilfield services equipment; availability and cost of financing and insurance; access to credit facilities and debt capital markets; availability of sufficient cash flow to service and repay our debts; impairment of capital assets; the Company's ability to amend or comply with covenants under the credit facility and other debt instruments; actions by governmental authorities; impact of and changes to laws and regulations impacting the Company and the Company's customers, and the expenditures required to comply with them (including safety and environmental laws and regulations and the impact of climate change initiatives on capital and operating costs); safety performance; environmental contamination; shifting interest to alternative energy sources; environmental activism; the adequacy of the Company's provision for taxes; tax challenges; the impact of, and the Company's response to future pandemics; workforce and reliance on key management; technology; cybersecurity risks; seasonality and weather; risks associated with acquisitions and ability to successfully integrate acquisitions; risks associated with internal controls over financial reporting; the impact of the ongoing hostilities between Ukraine and the Russian Federation and the global community responses thereto and other risks and uncertainties affecting the Company's business, revenues and expenses.

In addition, the Company's operations and levels of demand for its services have been, and at times in the future may be, affected by political risks and developments, such as expropriation, nationalization, or regime change, and by national, regional and local laws and regulations such as changes in taxes, royalties and other amounts payable to governments or governmental agencies, environmental protection regulations, pandemics, pandemics mitigation strategies and the impact thereof upon the Company, its customers and its business, ongoing hostilities between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, related potential future impact on the supply of oil and natural gas to Europe by Russia and the impact of global community responses to the ongoing conflict, and governmental energy policies, laws, rules or regulations that limit, restrict or impede exploration, development, production, transportation or consumption of hydrocarbons and/or incentivize development, production, transportation or consumption of alternative fuel or energy sources.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the Company's assumptions prove incorrect, actual results from operations may vary in material respects from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. The impact of any one factor on a particular forward-looking statement is not determinable with certainty as such factors are interdependent upon other factors, and the Company's course of action would depend upon its assessment of the future considering all information then available. Unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed herein could also have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements.

For additional information refer to the "Risks and Uncertainties" section herein and the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2022 available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that the lists of important factors contained herein are not exhaustive. Unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed herein could also have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE Ensign Energy Services Inc.

Michael Gray, Chief Financial Officer, [phone]; Nicole Romanow, Investor Relations, [phone]