Lundin Petroleum announces increased reserves and contingent resources


Lundin Petroleum AB (Lundin Petroleum) is pleased to announce that as at 31 December 2018, its proved plus probable net reserves (2P reserves) are 745 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe), its proved plus probable plus possible net reserves (3P reserves) are 901 MMboe and its best estimate net contingent resources (contingent resources) are 225 MMboe. The 2P reserves replacement ratio is 163 percent for 2018 and this is the fifth consecutive year that Lundin Petroleum has more than replaced production.1

Lundin Petroleum’s 2P reserves as at 31 December 2018 are 745.4 MMboe and reflect a positive revision of 49.2 MMboe, excluding sales. The 3P reserves as at 31 December 2018 are 900.9 MMboe and reflect a positive revision of 35.4 MMboe, excluding sales. 2,3

 2P
Reserves
3P
Reserves
End 2017726.3895.5
  - Produced4-30.1-30.1
  + Revisions+ 49.2+ 35.4
End 2018745.4900.9
Reserves replacement ratio5163%118%


The increase in reserves relates mainly to Lundin Petroleum’s largest asset, the Johan Sverdrup field, with minor reserves additions on Edvard Grieg and the Alvheim area also contributing to the result. Oil accounts for 94 percent of Lundin Petroleum’s 2P reserves and when the Johan Sverdrup field commences production, with expected start-up in November 2019, the majority of Lundin Petroleum’s 2P reserves will be in production.

The reserves upgrade on Johan Sverdrup is driven by positive drilling results and promotion of the water alternate gas (WAG) injection project from contingent resources to reserves, which was sanctioned by the partnership during 2018. The upgrade of reserves in the Johan Sverdrup field are consistent with the upgrades announced by the operator Equinor during 2018.

Edvard Grieg production performance continues to exceed expectations with significantly slower build-up of water production than anticipated, leading to around a six months extension of plateau production to mid-2020. As part of the reservoir monitoring programme, a 4D seismic survey over the Edvard Grieg field was acquired during 2018 which confirms that the water injection flood front is further away from the main production wells than predicted by the current reservoir models. This information is still under review and has not been incorporated into the reservoir models used to support the year end 2018 reserves estimate. An infill drilling programme is planned at Edvard Grieg commencing in 2020, and the sanction of this project, which is anticipated during 2019, will allow for the promotion of the associated 10 MMboe net contingent resources to 2P reserves, based on a three well programme.

Lundin Petroleum’s contingent resources as at 31 December 2018 are 225 MMboe, which represents an increase of 40 MMboe from year end 2017, before projects matured to reserves. New discoveries on Frosk in the Alvheim area and Lille Prinsen in the Utsira High area and positive results from the appraisal wells on Luno II, Rolvsnes and Gekko, together with the acquisition of an additional 15 percent interest in Luno II are the main drivers for the increase. The large amount of new information from the positive results from the Alta extended well test (EWT) and latest generation 3D seismic survey (TopSeis) over the entire Alta and Gohta area is still being evaluated. Consequently, contingent resources for the Alta and Gohta discoveries are unchanged from year end 2017 and will be updated during 2019 when the future appraisal plan for the area is defined and all the additional data has been processed.

Phase 1 of the Luno II development project is expected to be sanctioned in the first quarter of 2019, which will allow for 37 MMboe of net contingent resources to be promoted to 2P reserves. Additionally, the Rolvsnes EWT is expected to be sanctioned during the first quarter of 2019 and will be developed in parallel with the Luno II project.

The reserves estimates have been audited by ERCE, a third party independent reserves auditor, and have been calculated using 2007 Petroleum Resource Management System (SPE PRMS), Guidelines of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), World Petroleum Congress (WPC), American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) and Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers (SPEE). The contingent resource estimates associated to the Edvard Grieg, Alvheim area, Johan Sverdrup and Luno II assets have been audited by ERCE. For the other assets, the contingent resource volumes are based on management estimates.

Nick Walker, COO of Lundin Petroleum commented:
“In 2018, we increased both reserves and contingent resources, once again highlighting the impact our organic growth strategy has in continuing to deliver the E&P cycle of adding contingent resources and converting it into reserves and then production. This is the fifth consecutive year in which our reserve additions have more than replaced production, whilst in the same period production has significantly increased and as we continue to invest in the portfolio during 2019, I am confident in our ability to continue to grow organically.”


1 Relates to Lundin Petroleum’s portfolio in Norway.
2 BOE’s may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A BOE conversion ratio of 6 Mcf : 1 Bbl is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent the value equivalency at the wellhead.
3 The reserves were calculated using a nominal Brent oil price of USD 66 per barrel in 2019, 70 in 2020, 71 in 2021, 74 in 2022, 75 in 2023, 78 in 2024, 80 in 2025, 81 in 2026, 83 in 2027, 84 in 2028 and increasing by 2 percent per year thereafter.
4 Reserves are measured in salable quantities (saleable oil, natural gas liquids and dry gas converted to oil equivalents), which may differ from production volumes provided in corporate reports which are given in wellhead production quantities (oil and rich gas converted to oil equivalents).
5 As per industry standards the reserves replacement ratio is defined as the ratio of reserves additions to production during the year, excluding sales and acquisitions.

 


Lundin Petroleum is one of Europe’s leading independent oil and gas exploration and production companies with operations focused on Norway and listed on Nasdaq Stockholm (ticker "LUPE"). Read more about Lundin Petroleum’s business and operations at www.lundin-petroleum.com


For further information, please contact:

Edward Westropp
VP Investor Relations
Tel: +41 22 595 10 14
edward.westropp@lundin.ch
 Sofia Antunes
Investor Relations Officer
Tel: +41 795 23 60 75
sofia.antunes@lundin.ch
 Robert Eriksson
Manager, Media Communications
Tel: +46 701 11 26 15
robert.eriksson@lundin-petroleum.se


This is information that Lundin Petroleum AB is required to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the contact persons set out above, at 0800 CET on 14 January 2019.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made and information contained herein constitute "forward-looking information" (within the meaning of applicable securities legislation). Such statements and information (together, "forward-looking statements") relate to future events, including the Company's future performance, business prospects or opportunities. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to estimates of reserves and/or resources, future production levels, future capital expenditures and their allocation to exploration and development activities, future drilling and other exploration and development activities. Ultimate recovery of reserves or resources are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management.

All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. Statements concerning proven and probable reserves and resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements and reflect conclusions that are based on certain assumptions that the reserves and resources can be economically exploited. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations and assumptions will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements should not be relied upon.  These statements speak only as on the date of the information and the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties relating to, among other things, operational risks (including exploration and development risks), productions costs, availability of drilling equipment, reliance on key personnel, reserve estimates, health, safety and environmental issues, legal risks and regulatory changes, competition, geopolitical risk, and financial risks. These risks and uncertainties are described in more detail under the heading “Risks and Risk Management” and elsewhere in the Company’s annual report. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.





Attachment


Attachments

Lundin Petroleum - Reserves and Resources Audit - V1- 20190114en