Category Archives: Q1-12
PNG: InterOil Net Profit Climbs
InterOil said today its net profit for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 was $9.4 million compared with a net profit of $0.7 million for the same period in 2011, an improvement of $8.7 million.
First Quarter 2012 Highlights and Recent Developments
- As of April 6, 2012, InterOil drilled the Triceratops-2 well in Papua New Guinea through the entire carbonate interval to a total depth of 7,336 feet (2,236 meters). The acquisition of wireline logs was completed on April 14, 2012 and the testing program is ongoing. The logs and DST pressure data indicate two separate, carbonate reservoir intervals with separate pressure systems and potentially separate or stacked hydrocarbon pay. The upper reservoir interval contains gas and condensate which preliminary pressure data indicates is in communication with the gas and condensate tested 3.8 kilometers away in the Bwata-1 well. The deeper zone lies below a 264 feet (80.5 meter) thick marl and argillaceous limestone interval, likely an intra-formational seal, where an independent formation evaluation indicates potential liquid hydrocarbons. The presence of movable hydrocarbons in the lower reservoir interval, at this stage, has not been confirmed with testing. However, a small volume of light oil of condensate composition was recovered.
- Net profit for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 was $9.4 million. The operating segments of Corporate, Midstream Refining and Downstream collectively derived a net profit for the quarter of $28.6 million, while the investments in the development segments of Upstream and Midstream Liquefaction resulted in a net loss of $19.2 million.
- Subsequent to quarter end, InterOil signed a binding Heads of Agreement with Pacific Rubiales Energy to be able to earn a 10.0% net (12.9% gross) participating interest in PPL237, which includes the Triceratops structure. The transaction contemplates staged initial cash payments totaling $116.0 million, an additional carry of 25% of the costs of an agreed exploration work program, and a final resource payment. PRE has paid the initial $20 million of the staged cash payments. Definitive agreements are in the process of being finalized.
InterOil’s Chief Executive Officer Phil Mulacek commented, “We are pleased to report another successful quarter of profitability from our operating business. Additionally, we are excited to welcome Pacific Rubiales as partners in PPL 237, the company brings valuable expertise to our team.”
In regards to the ongoing LNG partnering process, Mr. Mulacek stated “We are continuing to work with our advisors to obtain a strategic partner. We have received conforming and non-conforming bids for the LNG partnering and sell down of an interest in the Elk and Antelope fields that we believe would be accretive to shareholders. We are now set to engage with a shortlist of significant LNG industry participants with a view to concluding discussions and entering into an agreement this quarter. The end result of the partnering process is envisioned to fully satisfy all the terms of the 2009 LNG Project Agreement.”
As to the Triceratops-2 well, Mr. Mulacek noted that, “Despite mechanical difficulties in obtaining a successful drill stem test from zones of interest in the lower hydrocarbon interval, we are very encouraged by gas and liquid hydrocarbon testing ongoing at the Triceratops-2 well. A plan is in place to evaluate the entire drilled interval and would likely include casing the entire interval and perforating zones of interest to obtain definitive results. Our prospect inventory is maturing and we anticipate that it will support our goal of a multi-year, multi-well exploration program. We believe that these achievements, combined with our strong balance sheet, support our continued growth and operational success.”
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Seadrill Expects Stronger Second Quarter after Robust 1Q 2012
Norwegian deepwater drilling company Seadrill said Monday that it expects earnings for the second quarter of 2012 to be favorably affected by the starting up of operations in April and June of its ultra-deepwater semi-submersible rigs West Leo (UDW semisub) and West Capricorn (UDW semisub).
Reporting its first quarter results, the firm said that it also expects to receive a full quarter of earnings from its harsh environment jack-up West Elara (490′ ILC) – which began operations for Statoil in March.
West Leo began its contract with Tullow Oil offshore Ghana in April, while West Capricorn is due to begin operations for BP in the US next month.
For 1Q 2012 Seadrill reported operating profits of $456 million, compared with $430 million for 1Q 2011. However, net income was lower than for 1Q 2011, at $480 million compared with $934 million, on account of a one-off $477 million gain last year in connection to the deconsolidation of Seadrill’s subsidiary Well Services.
Total revenues for the three month period to March 31 were broadly in line with last year at $1,050 million (1Q 2011: $1,100 million).
“We are pleased to report another solid quarter for Seadrill reflecting a strong underlying operational performance,” said Seadrill Chief Executive Officer Alf Thorkildsen.
“Furthermore, the outlook and fundamentals for the oil and gas industry remain strong. Encouraging exploration successes in established as well as frontier basins are leading to an increasing backlog of appraisal and development drilling projects. These strong fundamentals support the expectation of continued strength in all sectors of the contract drilling industry for the foreseeable future. As a consequence we have ordered six newbuilds in the last three months and the Company now has 18 drilling units under construction.”
A former engineer, Jon Mainwaring is an experienced journalist who has written about the technology, engineering and energy industries. Email Jon at jmainwaring@rigzone.com.
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Good Times Ahead, Says Vantage Drilling CEO (USA)
Vantage Drilling, an offshore drilling contractor headquartered at Cayman Islands, reports a net loss of $1.2 million or ($0.00) per diluted share for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to a net loss of $18.7 million or ($0.06) per diluted share for the three months ended March 31, 2011.
Paul Bragg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We continued our strong operating performance during the quarter. And importantly, we have now completed the acquisition and delivery of our third drillship, Titanium Explorer, which is now en-route to the US Gulf of Mexico. We feel that we are in better position today than at any point in our history.”
The Titanium explorer drillship was delivered to Vantage last month. It is a self-propelled, dynamically positioned drillship suited for drilling in remote locations because of its mobility and large load carrying capacity. It is currently equipped for drilling in water depths up to 10,000 feet, and is designed to drill in water depths up to 12,000 feet. The drillship will work for Brazil’s oil giant, Petrobras, in the Gulf of Mexico, on an eight-year contract.
Vantage owns a fleet of four Baker Marine Pacific Class 375 ultra-premium jackup drilling rigs and two ultra-deepwater drillships, the Platinum Explorer and the Titanium Explorer, as well as an additional ultra-deepwater drillship, the Tungsten Explorer, now under construction.
Vantage’s primary business is to contract drilling units, related equipment and work crews primarily on a dayrate basis to drill oil and natural gas wells. Vantage also provides construction supervision services for, and will operate and manage, drilling units owned by others. Through its fleet of seven owned and managed drilling units, Vantage is a provider of offshore contract drilling services globally to major, national and large independent oil and natural gas companies.
Good Times Ahead, Says Vantage Drilling CEO (USA)| Offshore Energy Today.
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USA: NOV Posts Solid 1Q Results
National Oilwell Varco, Inc. today reported that for its first quarter ended March 31, 2012 it earned net income of $606 million, or $1.42 per fully diluted share, compared to fourth quarter ended December 31, 2011 net income of $574 million, or $1.35 per fully diluted share.
The first quarter 2012 results included transaction costs totaling $7 million pre-tax, and, excluding these, earnings were $612 million, or $1.44 per fully diluted share. Earnings per share improved 44 percent from the first quarter of 2011 and five percent from the fourth quarter of 2011, excluding transaction and devaluation charges from all periods.
Revenues for the first quarter of 2012 were $4.3 billion, an increase of one percent from the fourth quarter of 2011 and an increase of 37 percent from the first quarter of 2011. Operating profit for the quarter, excluding the transaction and devaluation charges, was $881 million, or 20.5 percent of sales. Sequentially, first quarter operating profit increased two percent, resulting in operating profit flow-through (change in operating profit divided by the change in revenue) of 48 percent, excluding transaction and devaluation charges. Year-over-year first quarter operating profit increased 40 percent, resulting in operating profit flow-through of 22 percent, excluding transaction and devaluation charges.
Capital equipment orders for the Company’s Rig Technology segment increased 15 percent sequentially to $1.91 billion during the first quarter, reflecting higher demand for drilling equipment for new build offshore rigs. At March 31, 2012 the segment’s backlog was $10.36 billion, up two percent from the end of the fourth quarter.
Pete Miller, Chairman, President and CEO of National Oilwell Varco, remarked, “Our Company got off to a good start in the first quarter of 2012, with strong results in all three segments. Our Petroleum Services & Supplies group performed exceptionally well, helped by high levels of oilfield activity which is spurring demand for all our products and services. National Oilwell Varco continues to provide critical, enabling technologies to improve the efficiency and safety of oil and gas operations around the globe. Our outlook for demand for our capital equipment is very strong and our expectations high for the remainder of the year. Overall, efficient execution of orders in our backlog, innovation in our leading technologies, commitment to great service, and, most importantly, the hard work of the best team in the industry, led to solid earnings again this quarter.”
National Oilwell Varco is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and sale of equipment and components used in oil and gas drilling and production operations, the provision of oilfield services, and supply chain integration services to the upstream oil and gas industry.
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USA: CB&I Q1 Net Income Climbs
CB&I today reported net income of $59.5 million for the first quarter of 2012, compared with $50.5 million in the first quarter of 2011.
Revenue for the quarter was $1.2 billion compared with first quarter 2011 revenue of $954.3 million. New awards totaled $1.7 billion compared with $1.0 billion in the first quarter 2011, increasing the Company’s backlog to $9.6 billion. Included in these new awards were several Oil Sands opportunities, a FEED study for a U.S. LNG export project, and a U.S. Petrochemical expansion project.
CB&I returned $109.6 million to shareholders, which included $104.7 million of stock repurchases and $4.9 million through quarterly cash dividends. Cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2012 were $639.8 million. Consistent with previous years, the first quarter included a disproportionate share of the Company’s annual stock-based compensation expense (63% of the full-year expense).
“As our new awards demonstrate, the markets we’ve positioned ourselves in are developing as expected,” said Philip K. Asherman, President and CEO. “We had another very positive quarter by all metrics including our safety performance, earnings, cash generation, and backlog growth.”
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Mb50's "Liquid Mud" Rant 