Palliser Oil & Gas Corporation Reports 2013 Year End Reserves, Operations Update, and Corporate Update

/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/

CALGARY, Feb. 25, 2014 /CNW/ - Palliser Oil & Gas Corporation ("Palliser" or the "Company") (TSXV: PXL) would like to provide information on its oil and gas reserves as of December 31, 2013 and an operations and corporate update.

Highlights of Palliser's Year End 2013 Reserves are as follows:

• Generated one and four year average total proved plus probable finding, development and acquisition ("FD&A") costs of $24.90 and $22.45 respectively per boe including changes in future development capital ("FDC"); and
• Increased corporate proved and probable reserves by 19 percent from 7,921 Mboe at December 31, 2012 to 9,410 Mboe at December 31, 2013, replacing 274% of the Company's 2013 production.

Reserves Summary 

Palliser's reserves have been independently evaluated by the Corporation's independent reserve engineering firm, Sproule Unconventional Limited ("Sproule").  The reserves were evaluated in accordance with National Instrument 51-101 Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities ("NI 51-101") and the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook (""COGEH"") reserves definitions.

Reserves and Net Present Value (Forecast Prices and Costs)

The following tables summarize Palliser's remaining gross interest reserve volumes along with the value of future net revenue utilizing Sproule's forecast pricing and cost estimates as at December 31, 2013.

Reserves
		Oil & NGL		Gas		BOE
		Gross	Net	Gross	Net	Gross	Net
December 31, 2013		Mbbls	Mbbls	MMcf	MMcf	Mboe	Mboe
Proved
	Producing	1,746	1,382	468	446	1,834	1,466
	Non-producing	1,149	887	-	-	1,149	887
	Undeveloped	2,058	2,064	-	-	2,508	2,064
Total proved		5,402	4,332	468	446	5,491	4,416
	Probable	3,903	3,070	97	92	3,919	3,085
Total proved plus probable		9,306	7,402	565	539	9,410	7,502

Net present value of future net revenue
		Present value ($000's)^(1)
		discounted at rate of
December 31, 2013		0%	5%	10%
Proved
	Producing	$45,378	$41,735	$38,786
	Non-producing	30,390	22,019	16,537
	Undeveloped	46,891	38,313	31,595
Total proved		122,659	102,066	86,918
Probable		101,539	80,870	66,343
Total proved plus probable		$224,198	$182,936	$153,261

(1)	Values shown are calculated on a before tax basis

Pricing Assumptions

The following benchmark prices, inflation rates and exchange rates were used by Sproule for the forecast price and cost evaluation effective December 31, 2013.

		WTI	WCS 20.5 API	Exchange	AECO Spot	Rate
Year		US $/bbl	CDN $/bbl	Rate	Cdn $/MMbtu	% / year
2014		94.65	77.81	0.94	4.00	1.5%
2015		88.37	75.02	0.94	3.99	1.5%
2016		84.25	75.29	0.94	4.00	1.5%
2017		95.52	85.36	0.94	4.93	1.5%
2018		96.96	86.64	0.94	5.01	1.5%
2019		98.41	87.94	0.94	5.09	1.5%
2020		99.89	89.26	0.94	5.18	1.5%
2021		101.38	90.60	0.94	5.26	1.5%
2022		102.91	91.96	0.94	5.35	1.5%
2023		104.45	93.34	0.94	5.43	1.5%
2024+		+1.5%/year	+1.5%/year	0.94	+1.5%/year	+1.5%/year

Crude oil price is WTI at Cushing, Oklahoma, natural gas is the AECO spot price

Reserves Reconciliation

The following table is a reconciliation of Palliser's gross interest reserves at December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 using Sproule's forecast pricing and cost estimates as at December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012.

	Heavy Oil (Mbbl) ^(3)			Natural Gas( MMcf)			BOE (Mboe)
Reserves	Proved	Probable	Total	Proved	Probable	Total	Proved	Probable	Total
December 31, 2012	5,460	2,310	7,771	712	187	898	5,579	2,342	7,921
Additions ^(1)	1,438	1,995	3,433	0	0	0	1,438	1,995	3,433
Revisions^(2)	(644)	(402)	(1,046)	(172)	(90)	(262)	(674)	(418)	(1,092)
Acquistions	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
	6,254	3,903	10,158	540	97	636	6,343	3,919	10,262
Production	(841)	-	(841)	(72)	-	(72)	(853)	-	(853)
December 31, 2013	5,412	3,903	9,316	468	97	565	5,491	3,919	9,410

(1)	Additions include discoveries, extensions, infill drilling and improved recovery
(2)	Technical revisions include technical revisions and economic factors
(3)	Heavy Oil also includes a very small component of light/medium oil and natural gas liquids

Finding, Development and Acquisition Costs

The following table summarizes Palliser's finding, development and acquisition costs for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010 including future development costs.

		2013	2012	2011	2010	2010 - 2014
Proved
Capital expenditures		$ 24,991	$ 42,449	$ 44,042	$ 13,596	$   125,077
FDC - opening balance^(1)		$ 36,690	$   9,954	$   9,165	$   4,048	$       4,048
FDC - closing balance		$ 47,939	$ 36,690	$   9,954	$   9,165	$     47,939
FDC - change		$ 11,249	$ 26,736	$      789	$   5,117	$     43,891
Capital expenditures
including FDC change		$ 36,240	$ 69,185	$ 44,831	$ 18,713	$   168,968
Reserves additions		765	4,594	912	882	7,153
FD&A (before FDC)		$   32.67	$     9.24	$   48.29	$   15.41	$       17.49
FD&A (after FDC)		$   47.37	$   15.06	$   49.16	$   21.22	$       23.62
Proved plus probable
Capital expenditures		$ 24,991	$ 42,449	$ 44,042	$ 13,596	$   125,077
FDC - opening balance		$ 40,728	$ 22,793	$ 15,965	$   7,441	$       7,441
FDC - closing balance		$ 74,059	$ 40,728	$ 22,793	$ 15,965	$     74,059
FDC - change		$ 33,331	$ 17,935	$   6,828	$   8,524	$     66,618
Capital expenditures
including FDC change		$ 58,322	$ 60,384	$ 50,870	$ 22,120	$   191,695
Reserves additions		2,342	4,782	1,413	1,813	8,537
FD&A (before FDC)		$   10.67	$     8.88	$   31.17	$     7.50	$       14.65
FD&A (after FDC)		$   24.90	$   12.63	$   36.00	$   12.20	$       22.45
Operating netback		$   20.36	$   28.69	$   18.03	$   22.03	$       22.77
Recycle ratio (before FDC)		1.9	3.2	0.6	2.9	1.6
Recycle ratio (after FDC)		0.8	2.3	0.5	1.8	1.0

(1)	Future capital expenditures required to convert proved non-producing and probable reserves into proved producing

Undeveloped Land

The following table summarizes Palliser's undeveloped land holdings and the fair value of those landholdings, as at December 31, 2013 and 2012:

					2013		2012
Acres					Gross	Net	Gross	Net
Alberta					35,984	28,109	53,231	45,264
Saskatchewan					20,232	20,031	19,090	18,880
Total					56,216	48,140	72,321	64,144
Average working interest						86%		89%

 

Net Asset Value

Reserve value ($000)				2013	2012
Proved + probable ^(1)				$153,261	$126,820
		Add: land value^(2)		11,090	10,860
		Seismic^(2)		1,350	1,350
		Working capital (net debt) ^(3)		(47,365)	(37,345)
Net asset value				$118,336	$101,685
Year end shares outstanding (000's)				63,916	58,916
Net asset value per share - basic				$1.85	$1.73
Fully diluted shares outstanding				64,754	64,432
Net asset value per share - fully diluted				$1.83	$1.66

(1)	Present value discount 10% before taxes.
(2)	Valuation is based on management's estimation of fair market value.  Land value assumes $300 per acre for undeveloped heavy oil acreage with no booked reserves and $100 per acre for natural gas acreage with no booked reserves.
(3)	Working capital (net debt) for 2013 is unaudited and subject to change,  Working capital (net debt) is a non-IFRS measure representing the total bank loan, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, less accounts receivable, deposits and prepaid expenses.

Reserve Life Index ("RLI")

The reserve life index has been calculated based on year end reserves divided by fourth quarter 2013 average production of 2,040 boe per day.

	Proved	Proved plus probable
Total Company interest reserves (Mboe)	5,491	9,410
Fourth quarter 2013 production average (boe/d)	2,040	2,040
RLI based on fourth quarter 2013 production average (years)	7.4	12.6

 

Operations Update

Palliser achieved production of 2,037 boe/d (99% oil weighting) during the fourth quarter of 2013.  The capital program for 2013 amounted to $25.0 million and the Company exited 2013 with net debt of $47.4 million (production and financial amounts are unaudited and subject to change).

Production in the first quarter of 2014 is forecasted to average 1,800 to 1,900 boe/d.  Capital expenditures in the first quarter are forecast to be limited to approximately $2 million, and funds flow from operating activities will be negatively impacted by an increase in propane costs, resulting in increased operating costs and lower operating netbacks.  The Company is forecasting net debt of approximately $49 million at the end of the first quarter.

Corporate Update

The Company's producing base, inventory of over 160 heavy oil locations, 9 salt water disposal facilities, in combination with the capacity to ship up to 75% of our product by rail, provides a platform for significant future growth.

Given Palliser's current financial position, the Company is examining any and all avenues to further improve the interests of shareholders.  Options being examined include joint ventures, corporate combinations, asset sales and financing options.

The Company also announces that Allan Carswell, President, COO, and a director of the Company, has left his positions with Palliser on mutually agreed upon terms.  The Board of Directors wishes Mr. Carswell success in his future endeavors and thanks him for his contributions to the Company.

Kevin Gibson will be assuming the responsibilities as President of the Company in addition to his current role as CEO.

Palliser is a Calgary-based emerging junior oil and gas company currently focused on heavy oil production in the greater Lloydminster area of both Alberta and Saskatchewan. For further information regarding Palliser Oil & Gas Corporation, the reader is invited to visit the Company's website at www.palliserogc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein constitute forward-looking statements or information (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including, but not limited to management's assessment of future plans and operations, including: commodity focus; drilling plans and potential locations; expected production levels; development plans; reserves growth; production and operating sales and expenses; reservoir characteristics; the results of applying certain operational development techniques; certain economic factors; and capital expenditures.  Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "anticipate", "estimate", "expect", "forecast", "may", "will", "project" and similar words suggesting future events or performance or may be identified by reference to a future date. In addition, statements relating to oil and gas reserves and resources are deemed to be forward-looking statements as they involve the implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions, that the reserves or resources described, as the case may be, exist in the quantities predicted or estimated and can be profitably produced in the future.  With respect to forward-looking statements herein, Palliser has made assumptions regarding, among other things; future capital expenditure levels; future oil and natural gas prices; "differentials" between West Texas Intermediate and Western Canadian Select benchmark pricing; future oil and natural gas production levels; future water disposal capacity; future exchange rates and interest rates; ability to obtain equipment and services in a timely manner to carry out development activities; ability to market oil and natural gas successfully to current and new customers; the impact of increasing competition; the ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms; and the ability to add production and reserves through development and exploitation activities. Although Palliser believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained herein, and the assumptions on which such forward-looking statements are made, are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements included herein, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which the forward-looking statements are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause Palliser's actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections.  Additional information on these and other factors that could affect Palliser's results are included in reports on file with Canadian securities regulatory authorities, including the Company's Annual Information Form, and may be accessed through the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.

The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date hereof. Except as expressly required by applicable securities laws, Palliser does not undertake any obligation to, nor does it intend to, publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.  In addition, readers are cautioned that historical results are not necessarily indicative of future performance.

Production volumes are commonly expressed on a barrel of equivalent ("BOE") basis whereby natural gas volumes are converted at a ratio of six thousand cubic feet to one barrel of oil.  The intention is to convert oil and natural gas measurement units into one basis for improved analysis of results and comparisons with other industry participants. The term BOE may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation.  The conversion ratio is based on an energy equivalent method and does not represent an economic value equivalency at the wellhead.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this Press release.

 

 

 

 

 

SOURCE: Palliser Oil & Gas Corporation

Kevin J. Gibson
President & CEO
[email protected]
[phone]

or

Ivan J. Condic
Vice President, Finance and CFO
[email protected]
[phone]