In an operational update ahead of its FY 2016 results, Tullow Oil Plc (LON:TLW) confirmed production was in line with its recent guidance, with West Africa averaging 65,500boepd, whilst in Europe FY net production averaged 6,200boepd.
TLW successfully brought TEN online in August 2016. Gross annualised working interest production in 2016 averaged 14,600boepd (net 6,900boepd) but in early January the capacity of the FPSO was successfully tested at an average rate of 80,000boepd over a 24 hour flow test. However, TLW now expects production from TEN to average c50,000boepd gross in 2017 as no new wells can be drilled before the ITLOS ruling in Q4 2017 with regard to the maritime border dispute between Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.
This follows TLW’s announcement yesterday over its major farm out for 21.57% of the Lake Alberta project to Total (FP FP) for US$900m. This will leave TLW with 10% of the project, which is expected to produce c230,000boepd once complete. The deal will consist of US$200m cash with Total to pay US$700m of TLW’s remaining development costs on the project. We view this as a positive deal as it will allow TLW to repair its balance sheet with cash flow from its producing assets and not enter into another intensive capex period. Indeed net debt at the end of 2016 stood at US$4.8bn and capex is expected to reduce from US$0.9bn in 2016 to US$0.5bn in 2017.
However, this update is likely to be largely overlooked by Aiden Heavey leaving his post as TLW’s CEO to become a non-executive chairman and will be succeeded by Paul McDade (the current COO) and we expect the stock to trade a little weaker today.