Coelacanth Announces Q4 2023 Financial and Operating Results

Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 18, 2024) - COELACANTH ENERGY INC. (TSXV: CEI) ("Coelacanth" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its financial and operating results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2023. All dollar figures are Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

2023 HIGHLIGHTS

• Drilled five wells on its 5-19 pad at Two Rivers East. Four wells (three Lower Montney and one Basal Montney) were completed in Q4 2023. Combined test production from the three Lower Montney wells was 4,015 boe/d (54% light oil). ⁽²⁾

• Completed two Upper Montney wells on its 10-08 pad at Two Rivers West and commenced production in Q4 2023. C10-08 was recently re-tested after four months of production at an unrestricted rate of 1,284 boe/d (35% light oil and NGLs). ⁽²⁾

• Closed a bought-deal public financing in Q4 2023 raising gross proceeds of $80.0 million.

• Exited 2023 with adjusted working capital (2) of $67.6 million.

Financial and operational results below present the carved-out historic financial position, results of operations and cash flows of Leucrotta's Two Rivers Assets for all prior periods up to and including May 31, 2022 and the results of operations from May 31, 2022 forward include the results of Coelacanth after assuming the Two Rivers Assets upon close of the Arrangement.

FINANCIAL RESULTS		Three Months Ended									Year Ended
		December 31									December 31
($000s, except per share amounts)		2023			2022		% Change				2023			2022		% Change
Oil and natural gas sales		4,204			1,676			151			6,663			7,833			(15	)
Cash flow used in operating activities		(404	)		(636	)		(36	)		(4,234	)		(9,741	)		(57	)
Per share - basic and diluted (1)		(-)			(-)			-			(0.01	)		(0.03	)		(67	)
Adjusted funds flow (used) (1)		1,750			(60	)		(3,017	)		(333	)		(350	)		(5	)
Per share - basic and diluted		-			(-)			-			(-)			(-)			-
Net loss		(750	)		(725	)		3			(6,573	)		(11,163	)		(41	)
Per share - basic and diluted		(-)			(-)			-			(0.01	)		(0.03	)		(67	)
Capital expenditures (1)		34,656			8,876			290			74,613			13,904			437
Adjusted working capital (1)											67,589			67,738			(-)
Common shares outstanding (000s)
Weighted average - basic and diluted		478,731			425,106			13			439,055			363,743			21
End of period - basic											528,650			425,106			24
End of period - fully diluted											609,989			461,955			32

 

(1) See "Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures" section.
(2) See "Test Results and Initial Production Rates" section.

		Three Months Ended									Year Ended
OPERATING RESULTS (1)		December 31									December 31
		2023			2022		% Change				2023			2022		% Change
Daily production (2)
Oil and condensate (bbls/d)		419			55			662			139			62			124
Other NGLs (bbls/d)		28			15			87			16			18			(11	)
Oil and NGLs (bbls/d)		447			70			539			155			80			94
Natural gas (mcf/d)		2,858			1,468			95			1,624			1,614			1
Oil equivalent (boe/d)		923			315			193			426			349			22
Oil and natural gas sales
Oil and condensate ($/bbl)		87.38			103.34			(15	)		88.94			116.29			(24	)
Other NGLs ($/bbl)		32.32			45.14			(28	)		33.22			49.98			(34	)
Oil and NGLs ($/bbl)		83.88			91.33			(8	)		83.28			101.64			(18	)
Natural gas ($/mcf)		2.86			8.03			(64	)		3.26			8.26			(61	)
Oil equivalent ($/boe)		49.47			57.83			(14	)		42.82			61.48			(30	)
Royalties
Oil and NGLs ($/bbl)		19.38			24.88			(22	)		20.24			31.22			(35	)
Natural gas ($/mcf)		0.26			2.08			(88	)		0.57			2.24			(75	)
Oil equivalent ($/boe)		10.20			15.25			(33	)		9.57			17.50			(45	)
Operating expenses
Oil and NGLs ($/bbl)		11.57			17.13			(32	)		13.25			14.14			(6	)
Natural gas ($/mcf)		1.28			2.85			(55	)		2.21			2.36			(6	)
Oil equivalent ($/boe)		9.57			17.11			(44	)		13.25			14.15			(6	)
Net transportation expenses (3)
Oil and NGLs ($/bbl)		4.95			1.91			159			4.10			2.70			52
Natural gas ($/mcf)		0.81			1.30			(38	)		1.12			1.08			4
Oil equivalent ($/boe)		4.92			6.48			(24	)		5.75			5.61			2
Operating netback (3)
Oil and NGLs ($/bbl)		47.98			47.41			1			45.69			53.58			(15	)
Natural gas ($/mcf)		0.51			1.80			(72	)		(0.64	)		2.58			(125	)
Oil equivalent ($/boe)		24.78			18.99			30			14.25			24.22			(41	)
Depletion and depreciation ($/boe)		(12.18	)		(14.26	)		(15	)		(14.93	)		(14.79	)		1
General and administrative expenses ($/boe)		(10.77	)		(46.11	)		(77	)		(27.08	)		(36.34	)		(25	)
Share based compensation ($/boe)		(16.31	)		(14.02	)		16			(23.49	)		(75.61	)		(69	)
Gain on insurance proceeds ($/boe)		-			-			-			-			5.16			(100	)
Finance expense ($/boe)		(1.28	)		(2.59	)		(51	)		(3.09	)		(3.14	)		(2	)
Finance income ($/boe)		10.01			25.11			(60	)		18.75			10.33			82
Other income ($/boe)		-			1.53			(100	)		-			1.12			(100	)
Unutilized transportation ($/boe)		(3.08	)		-			100			(6.65	)		-			100
Deferred income tax recovery ($/boe)		-			6.32			(100	)		-			1.44			(100	)
Net loss ($/boe)		(8.83	)		(25.03	)		(65	)		(42.24	)		(87.61	)		(52	)

 

(1) See "Oil and Gas Terms" section.
(2) See "Product Types" section.
(3) See "Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures" section.

Selected financial and operational information outlined in this news release should be read in conjunction with Coelacanth's audited financial statements and related Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for the year ended December 31, 2023, which are available for review under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

COMMON-CONTROL TRANSACTION

On May 31, 2022, the arrangement agreement between Coelacanth, Leucrotta Exploration Inc. ("Leucrotta"), Vermilion Energy Inc. ("Vermilion"), and the shareholders of Leucrotta (the "Arrangement") closed and Vermilion acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Leucrotta in exchange for $1.73 cash for each common share of Leucrotta held.

Pursuant to an asset conveyance agreement between Coelacanth and Leucrotta made as of May 31, 2022, and immediately prior to the closing of the Arrangement, Leucrotta transferred approximately $45.1 million cash, net of transaction costs, and certain oil and natural gas assets primarily located in the Two Rivers area of British Columbia ("Two Rivers Assets") to Coelacanth in exchange for one common share of Coelacanth ("Coelacanth Share"), and 0.1917 of a common share purchase warrant of Coelacanth (one whole warrant being an "Arrangement Warrant") for each common share of Leucrotta outstanding. The Coelacanth Shares and Arrangement Warrants were then transferred to the shareholders of Leucrotta.

Since the shareholders of Coelacanth and Leucrotta were the same both before and after the conveyance of the Two Rivers Assets (at the time Coelacanth was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leucrotta), this transaction was deemed a common-control transaction. The financial and operational results below present the historic financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the transferred Two Rivers Assets for all prior periods up to and including May 31, 2022 on a carve-out basis as if they had operated as a stand-alone entity subject to Leucrotta's control. The financial position, results of operations and cash flows from March 24, 2022 (the date of incorporation of Coelacanth) to May 31, 2022 include both the Two Rivers Assets and Coelacanth on a combined basis and from May 31, 2022 forward include the results of Coelacanth after assuming the Two Rivers Assets upon close of the Arrangement.

FINANCINGS

On November 15, 2023, the Company closed a bought-deal public financing through a syndicate of underwriters. The Company issued 100.0 million units of the Company ("Units") at a price of $0.80 per Unit for gross proceeds of $80.0 million. A Unit is comprised of one common share of the Company and 0.33 common share purchase warrants. Each whole common share purchase warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share at an exercise price of $1.05 per common share expiring on November 15, 2024.

On November 16, 2023, the Company closed a non-brokered private placement to three employees of 1,875,000 units of the Company ("Private Placement Units"), at a price of $0.80 per Private Placement Unit, for aggregate proceeds of $1.5 million. Each Private Placement Unit consists of one common share of the Company and one common share purchase warrant. Each common share purchase warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $0.80 per share expiring on November 16, 2028.

OPERATIONS UPDATE

Q4 2023 was a busy and productive quarter for Coelacanth in furthering its Two Rivers Montney project that spans over 150 contiguous sections of land. Both Two Rivers East and Two Rivers West had material developments in de-risking the resource and proving productivity via pad development as specifically noted below.

Two Rivers East

Coelacanth successfully completed the 5-19 pad that consisted of three Lower Montney wells and one Basal Montney well. As previously released, test production from the four wells was a combined 4,410 boe/d (55% light oil). ⁽¹⁾ Based on the success of the 5-19 pad, Coelacanth is in the process of permitting the required infrastructure and procuring long-lead equipment for an estimated April 2025 start-up for the Two Rivers East facility. Additional 5-19 pad wells have already been licensed and Coelacanth will determine timing of additional drilling once infrastructure is closer to completion.

Two Rivers West

Coelacanth successfully completed the 10-08 pad that consisted of two Upper Montney wells. As previously released, the C10-08 produced at a restricted rate of 542 boe/d for four months and was then re-tested at an unrestricted rate of 1,284 boe/d (35% light oil and NGLs)⁽¹⁾ for a short duration. Facility restrictions on both water and gas handling will limit production from the 10-08 pad until additional pipelines and facilities can be permitted and constructed which will occur after Two Rivers East is constructed at the earliest.

The updated productivity of the C10-08 well is viewed as very material to the long-term value of Coelacanth given the Upper Montney can be mapped over large portions of the existing land base.

(1) See "Test Results and Initial Production Rates" section for more details.

OIL AND GAS TERMS

The Company uses the following frequently recurring oil and gas industry terms in the news release:

Liquids
Bbls	Barrels
Bbls/d	Barrels per day
NGLs	Natural gas liquids (includes condensate, pentane, butane, propane, and ethane)
Condensate	Pentane and heavier hydrocarbons
Natural Gas
Mcf	Thousands of cubic feet
Mcf/d	Thousands of cubic feet per day
MMcf/d	Millions of cubic feet per day
MMbtu	Million of British thermal units
MMbtu/d	Million of British thermal units per day
Oil Equivalent
Boe	Barrels of oil equivalent
Boe/d	Barrels of oil equivalent per day

 

Disclosure provided herein in respect of a boe may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion rate of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil equivalent has been used for the calculation of boe amounts in the news release. This boe conversion rate is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead.

NON-GAAP AND OTHER FINANCIAL MEASURES

This news release refers to certain measures that are not determined in accordance with IFRS (or "GAAP"). These non-GAAP and other financial measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other entities. The non-GAAP and other financial measures should not be considered alternatives to, or more meaningful than, financial measures that are determined in accordance with IFRS as indicators of the Company's performance. Management believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP and other financial measures provides useful information to shareholders and investors in understanding and evaluating the Company's ongoing operating performance, and the measures provide increased transparency to better analyze the Company's performance against prior periods on a comparable basis.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted funds flow (used)

Management uses adjusted funds flow (used) to analyze performance and considers it a key measure as it demonstrates the Company's ability to generate the cash necessary to fund future capital investments and abandonment obligations and to repay debt, if any. Adjusted funds flow (used) is a non-GAAP financial measure and has been defined by the Company as cash flow used in operating activities excluding the change in non-cash working capital related to operating activities, movements in restricted cash deposits and expenditures on decommissioning obligations. Management believes the timing of collection, payment or incurrence of these items involves a high degree of discretion and as such may not be useful for evaluating the Company's cash flows. Adjusted funds flow (used) is reconciled from cash flow used in operating activities as follows:

		Three Months Ended						Year Ended
		December 31						December 31
($000s)		2023			2022			2023			2022
Cash flow used in operating activities		(404	)		(636	)		(4,234	)		(9,741	)
Add (deduct):
Decommissioning expenditures		206			748			1,883			1,402
Restricted cash deposits		-			-			(784	)		8,060
Change in non-cash working capital		1,948			(172	)		2,802			(71	)
Adjusted funds flow (used) (non-GAAP)		1,750			(60	)		(333	)		(350	)

 

Net transportation expenses
Management considers net transportation expenses an important measure as it demonstrates the cost of utilized transportation related to the Company's production. Net transportation expenses is calculated as transportation expenses less unutilized transportation and is calculated as follows:

		Three Months Ended						Year Ended
		December 31						December 31
($000s)		2023			2022			2023			2022
Transportation expenses		680			188			1,930			715
Unutilized transportation		(262	)		-			(1,035	)		-
Net transportation expenses (non-GAAP)		418			188			895			715

 

Operating netback
Management considers operating netback an important measure as it demonstrates its profitability relative to current commodity prices. Operating netback is calculated as oil and natural gas sales less royalties, operating expenses, and net transportation expenses and is calculated as follows:

		Three Months Ended						Year Ended
		December 31						December 31
($000s)		2023			2022			2023			2022
Oil and natural gas sales		4,204			1,676			6,663			7,833
Royalties		(866	)		(442	)		(1,489	)		(2,230	)
Operating expenses		(813	)		(495	)		(2,062	)		(1,802	)
Net transportation expenses		(418	)		(188	)		(895	)		(715	)
Operating netback (non-GAAP)		2,107			551			2,217			3,086

 

Capital expenditures
Coelacanth utilizes capital expenditures as a measure of capital investment on property, plant, and equipment, exploration and evaluation assets and property acquisitions compared to its annual budgeted capital expenditures. Capital expenditures are calculated as follows:

		Three Months Ended						Year Ended
		December 31						December 31
($000s)		2023			2022			2023			2022
Capital expenditures – property, plant, and equipment		4,584			4,372			26,928			8,944
Capital expenditures – exploration and evaluation assets		30,072			4,504			47,685			4,960
Capital expenditures (non-GAAP)		34,656			8,876			74,613			13,904

 

Capital Management Measures

Adjusted working capital
Management uses adjusted working capital as a measure to assess the Company's financial position. Adjusted working capital is calculated as current assets and restricted cash deposits less current liabilities, excluding the current portion of decommissioning obligations.

($000s)		December 31, 2023			December 31, 2022
Current assets		87,616			67,938
Less:
Current liabilities		(28,754	)		(8,901	)
Working capital		58,862			59,037
Add:
Restricted cash deposits		6,784			7,389
Current portion of decommissioning obligations		1,943			1,312
Adjusted working capital (Capital management measure)		67,589			67,738

 

Non-GAAP Financial Ratios

Adjusted Funds Flow (Used) per Share
Adjusted funds flow (used) per share is a non-GAAP financial ratio, calculated using adjusted funds flow (used) and the same weighted average basic and diluted shares used in calculating net loss per share.

Net transportation expenses per boe
The Company utilizes net transportation expenses per boe to assess the per unit cost of utilized transportation related to the Company's production. Net transportation expenses per boe is calculated as net transportation expenses divided by total production for the applicable period.

Operating netback per boe
The Company utilizes operating netback per boe to assess the operating performance of its petroleum and natural gas assets on a per unit of production basis. Operating netback per boe is calculated as operating netback divided by total production for the applicable period.

Supplementary Financial Measures

The supplementary financial measures used in this news release (primarily average sales price per product type and certain per boe and per share figures) are either a per unit disclosure of a corresponding GAAP measure, or a component of a corresponding GAAP measure, presented in the financial statements. Supplementary financial measures that are disclosed on a per unit basis are calculated by dividing the aggregate GAAP measure (or component thereof) by the applicable unit for the period. Supplementary financial measures that are disclosed on a component basis of a corresponding GAAP measure are a granular representation of a financial statement line item and are determined in accordance with GAAP.

PRODUCT TYPES

The Company uses the following references to sales volumes in the news release:

Natural gas refers to shale gas
Oil and condensate refers to condensate and tight oil combined
Other NGLs refers to butane, propane and ethane combined
Oil and NGLs refers to tight oil and NGLs combined
Oil equivalent refers to the total oil equivalent of shale gas, tight oil, and NGLs combined, using the conversion rate of six thousand cubic feet of shale gas to one barrel of oil equivalent as described above.

The following is a complete breakdown of sales volumes for applicable periods by specific product types of shale gas, tight oil, and NGLs:

		Three Months Ended						Year Ended
		December 31						December 31
Sales Volumes by Product Type		2023			2022			2023			2022
Condensate (bbls/d)		12			6			7			9
Other NGLs (bbls/d)		28			15			16			18
NGLs (bbls/d)		40			21			23			27
Tight oil (bbls/d)		407			49			132			53
Condensate (bbls/d)		12			6			7			9
Oil and condensate (bbls/d)		419			55			139			62
Other NGLs (bbls/d)		28			15			16			18
Oil and NGLs (bbls/d)		447			70			155			80
Shale gas (mcf/d)		2,858			1,468			1,624			1,614
Natural gas (mcf/d)		2,858			1,468			1,624			1,614
Oil equivalent (boe/d)		923			315			426			349

 

TEST RESULTS AND INITIAL PRODUCTION RATES

The A5-19 Basal Montney well was production tested for 5.9 days and produced at an average rate of 117 bbl/d oil and 630 mcf/d gas (net of load fluid and energizing fluid) over that period which includes the initial cleanup where only load water was being recovered. At the end of the test, flowing wellhead pressure and production rates were stable.

The C5-19 Lower Montney well was production tested for 5.8 days and produced at an average rate of 736 bbl/d oil and 2,660 mcf/d gas (net of load fluid and energizing fluid) over that period which includes the initial cleanup where only load water was being recovered. At the end of the test, flowing wellhead pressure and production rates were stable.

The D5-19 Lower Montney well was production tested for 12.6 days and produced at an average rate of 170 bbl/d oil and 580 mcf/d gas (net of load fluid and energizing fluid) over that period which includes the initial cleanup where only load water was being recovered. At the end of the test, flowing wellhead pressure and production rates were stable.

The E5-19 Lower Montney well was production tested for 11.4 days and produced at an average rate of 312 bbl/d oil and 890 mcf/d gas (net of load fluid and energizing fluid) over that period which includes the initial cleanup where only load water was being recovered. At the end of the test, flowing wellhead pressure was stable and production was starting to decline.

For the short-term production test of the C10-08 Upper Montney well in February 2024, the well was production tested for 2 days and produced at an average rate of 359 bbl/d oil and 5,236 mcf/d gas (net of load fluid and energizing fluid) over that period. This was an inline test to prove deliverability after four months of production. At the end of the test, flowing wellhead pressure and production rates were stable.

A pressure transient analysis or well-test interpretation has not been carried out on these five wells and thus certain of the test results provided herein should be considered to be preliminary until such analysis or interpretation has been completed. Test results and initial production rates disclosed herein, particularly those short in duration, may not necessarily be indicative of long-term performance or of ultimate recovery.

Any references to peak rates, test rates, IP30, IP90, IP180 or initial production rates or declines are useful for confirming the presence of hydrocarbons, however, such rates and declines are not determinative of the rates at which such wells will continue production and decline thereafter and are not indicative of long-term performance or ultimate recovery. IP30 is defined as an average production rate over 30 consecutive days, IP90 is defined as an average production rate over 90 consecutive days and IP180 is defined as an average production rate over 180 consecutive days. Readers are cautioned not to place reliance on such rates in calculating aggregate production for the Company.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This document contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "may", "will", "should", "believe", "intends", "forecast", "plans", "guidance" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements or information.

More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements and information relating to the Company's oil and condensate, other NGLs, and natural gas production, capital programs, and adjusted working capital. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company, including expectations and assumptions relating to prevailing commodity prices and exchange rates, applicable royalty rates and tax laws, future well production rates, the performance of existing wells, the success of drilling new wells, the availability of capital to undertake planned activities, and the availability and cost of labour and services.

Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and information are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, the risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general such as operational risks in development, exploration and production, delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures, the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production rates, costs, and expenses, commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations, marketing and transportation, environmental risks, competition, the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources and changes in tax, royalty, and environmental legislation. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this document are made as of the date hereof for the purpose of providing the readers with the Company's expectations for the coming year. The forward-looking statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes. 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, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

Coelacanth is an oil and natural gas company, actively engaged in the acquisition, development, exploration, and production of oil and natural gas reserves in northeastern British Columbia, Canada.

Further Information

For additional information, please contact:

Coelacanth Energy Inc.
Suite 2110, 530 - 8^th Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 3S8
Phone: (403) 705-4525
www.coelacanth.ca

Mr. Robert J. Zakresky
President and Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Nolan Chicoine
Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer

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 release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/205912