Prior to publication, the information contained within this announcement was deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the UK Market Abuse Regulation. With the publication of this announcement, this information is now considered to be in the public domain.

 

29 September 2023

 

Zephyr Energy plc

("Zephyr", the "Company" or the "Group")

 

Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2023

 

Zephyr Energy plc (AIM: ZPHR) (OTCQB: ZPHRF), the Rocky Mountain oil and gas company focused on responsible resource development from carbon-neutral operations, reports its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2023 ("H1 2023").

HIGHLIGHTS

Overview

During H1 2023, and in the period since, Zephyr invested significant capital into the development of its flagship operated project in the Paradox Basin, Utah, U.S. (the "Paradox project") while also substantially growing its portfolio of non-operated assets in the Williston Basin (the "Williston assets"). All investment activity was in line with the Company's strategy of generating and compounding cash flow from its non-operated portfolio in order to fund the development of the Paradox project, with the ultimate goal of opening up the next prolific onshore U.S. oil and gas play.

The Company's board of directors (the "Directors" or the "Board") remain committed to delivering long-term value to Shareholders, while upholding the Company's core values of being responsible stewards of Shareholders' capital and of the environment in which it operates.

Financial

·    During H1 2023, capital expenditure ("CAPEX") across the Paradox project and the Williston assets totalled US$21.6 million.

·    Revenues for H1 2023 were US$13.4 million, and were driven by the Company's hydrocarbon production from its Williston assets:

o  Revenues for H1 2023 were lower than those in the comparative interim period, reflecting the standard decline rates expected from the Williston assets and the lower commodity price environment during H1 2023. 

o  Following significant investment in H1 2023, non-operated revenue and production are forecast to increase in the second half of the 2023 financial year ("H2 2023") when the non-operated wellbore interests operated by Slawson Exploration Company ("Slawson" and the "Slawson wells" ) come online.

·    Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, depletion and amortisation ("DD&A"), unrealised foreign exchange gains and unrealised gains on hedging contracts (together "Adjusted EBITDA") for H1 2023 was US$6.5 million.

·    At 30 June 2023, the combined carrying value of the Company's Paradox project and Williston assets was US$103.2 million (30 June 2022: US$75.9 million), demonstrating the scale of investment made in the asset portfolio over the last twelve months.

·    The Company's gross borrowings at 30 June 2023 were US$33.7 million and net borrowings (gross borrowings less cash and cash equivalents) were US$27.5 million.

·    During H1 2023, the Company hedged production volumes of circa 69,000 barrels ("bbls") with a realised gain of US$1.2 million on these contracts.

Paradox project (operated asset)

·    The Company completed the acquisition of the remaining 25% working interest in the Paradox project, increasing its working-interest to 100% across approximately 46,000 gross acres. Based on the increased working interest, the Competent Persons Report (the "CPR") prepared by Sproule International ("Sproule") in 2022 estimates the Paradox project to contain:

o  Net 2P Reserves: Proved Reserves of 2.6 million barrels of oil equivalent ("mmboe") net to Zephyr, an increase from 2.1 mmboe.

o  Net 2C Contingent Resources: 34 mmboe net to Zephyr, an increase from 27 mmboe.

o  Net 2U Prospective resources from overlying reservoirs: 270 net unrisked mmboe net to Zephyr, an increase from 203 net unrisked mmboe.

·    The State 36-2 LNW-CC well (the "State 36-2 well") was drilled and encountered significant flowing hydrocarbons upon intersecting the Cane Creek reservoir.

·    During subsequent preparations for a production test on the State 36-2 well, the Company experienced a major well control incident. The incident, which resulted in the uncontrolled release of hydrocarbons over a period of four days, was ultimately brought under control safely and with no injuries and no significant environmental damage.

·    At present, the State 36-2 well remains static and under control.  

·    During the incident and subsequent well control efforts, multiple joints of the well's 2 7/8-inch production tubing were compressed and/or compromised, and Zephyr's operations team has been working methodically to remove and inspect the remaining joints while keeping the wellbore static. Recently, operations to retrieve the damaged tubing have progressed much slower than expected due to the poor condition of the tubing, as exhibited by the multiple damaged and buckled joints retrieved that led to the need for milling operations and resulted in shorter retrievals per trip.

·    While the Company is continuing to attempt to remove the remainder of the production tubing, it has, in parallel, commenced discussions with its insurer to assess alternative options for realising the significant potential productivity of the reservoir at this location. Alternatives being discussed include both a potential sidetrack from, or a re-drill of, the original well.  

·    As previously reported, the Company retains comprehensive well control insurance coverage, and the Board expects to recover substantially all costs associated with the well control incident, including those associated with any sidetrack or re-drill scenario. Discussions with its insurer continue and the Company will update the market in the event a new course of action is deemed to be appropriate.

o To date the Company has recovered over US$3.7 million from its insurer in respect of the well control incident.

·    In September 2023, the Company was notified by Dominion Energy, Utah, LLC ("Dominion") that its gas supply pipeline from the Northwest Gas Pipeline system to the Green River area (the "pipeline") will be operational in the early part of the fourth quarter of 2023, and that the pipeline will also be available to accept natural gas volumes from third-party sources, slightly ahead of original timeframe estimates. The completion of the Dominion pipeline is a welcome development which will enable the export of natural gas volumes from Zephyr's Paradox project.

Williston assets (non-operated assets)

·    Zephyr continues to deliver on its strategy to acquire working interest positions in value accretive, high-quality, high-margin production assets with significant near-term growth potential in the Williston Basin.

·    H1 2023 sales volumes averaged 1,225 barrels of oil equivalent per day ("boepd").

·    H1 2023 revenues totalled US$13.4 million.

·    H1 2023 gross profit (after operating and transportation expenses, production taxes, gains from derivative contracts and excluding DD&A) was US$9.6 million demonstrating the high margins realised from the produced barrels.

·    At 30 June 2023, 223 wells in Zephyr's portfolio were available for production. Net working-interests across the portfolio now average 7% per well, equivalent to 15.1 gross wells in total.

·    The wellbore interests operated by Slawson, acquired by Zephyr in the second half of 2022, are fully drilled and completed. Production from these working interests is forecast to be online in the fourth quarter of 2023 ("Q4 2023"), following completion of surface facilities on the well pad. These wellbore interests are estimated by management to contain 2P reserves, net to Zephyr, of 550,000 barrels of oil equivalent ("boe") and will provide a significant near-term production boost to the Company when they come online.

·    In addition, Zephyr has elected to participate in ten new wells operated by Continental Resources Inc ("Continental" and the "Continental wells"). The wells are located in a highly attractive area of the Williston Basin. The CAPEX associated with these wells will be funded from the Company's existing cash resources.

Corporate

·    In June 2023, the Company raised US$3.9 million (before expenses) through the placing and subscription of 90,000,000 new ordinary shares of 0.1 pence each in the Company ("Ordinary Shares"). The net proceeds from the placing and subscription are being used to fund working capital requirements at the Paradox project.

·    Zephyr remains carbon neutral on a Scope 1 basis across its operations, through the purchase of Verified Emission Reduction credits ("VERs").

Colin Harrington, Chief Executive of Zephyr, said:

"The period under review was an active time for Zephyr, during which we invested significant new capital into both the Williston assets and the Paradox project. We expect to see initial returns from this investment commencing in Q4 2023 when the Slawson wells come online, and continuing to the point of first sustained revenues from the Paradox project when we complete and tie in our recently drilled wells.

"While our progress on the Paradox project has been impacted by the well control incident on the State 36-2 well, the incident also illustrated the significant and larger production potential of the overall project.

"Over the next period we will continue the work required to transform the Paradox project into a revenue generating development, and we are delighted that the Dominion Energy pipeline - which crosses our leasehold position - has now been completed and will shortly be ready to accept third party natural gas volumes.

"Looking ahead, with a diverse portfolio of cash flowing assets, potential for substantial future organic growth, a solid financial footing and a talented and dedicated team of employees, we continue to be extremely optimistic about Zephyr's future."

 

A copy of the interim results report will be available on the Company's updated website later today at http://www.zephyrplc.com.

 

Contacts:

 

Zephyr Energy plc Colin Harrington (CEO) Chris Eadie (CFO)	Tel: +44 (0)20 7225 4590
Allenby Capital Limited - AIM Nominated Adviser Jeremy Porter / Vivek Bhardwaj	Tel: +44 (0)20 3328 5656
Turner Pope Investments - Joint Broker James Pope / Andy Thacker	Tel: +44 (0)20 3657 0050
Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited - Joint Broker John Prior / Hugh Rich / James Sinclair-Ford	Tel: +44 (0) 20 7886 2500
Celicourt Communications - Public Relations Mark Antelme / Felicity Winkles	Tel: +44 (0) 20 7770 6424

 

Qualified Person

Dr Gregor Maxwell, BSc Hons. Geology and Petroleum Geology, PhD, Technical Adviser to the Board of Zephyr Energy plc, who meets the criteria of a qualified person under the AIM Note for Mining and Oil & Gas Companies -June 2009, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained within this announcement.

Notes to Editors

Zephyr Energy plc (AIM: ZPHR) (OTCQB: ZPHRF) is a technology-led oil and gas company focused on responsible resource development from carbon-neutral operations in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States. The Company's mission is rooted in two core values: to be responsible stewards of its investors' capital, and to be responsible stewards of the environment in which it works.

Zephyr's flagship asset is an operated lease holding of over 46,000 gross acres located in the Paradox Basin, Utah, 25,000 acres of which has been assessed to hold, net to Zephyr, 2P reserves of 2.6 million barrels of oil equivalent ("mmboe"), 2C resources of 34 mmboe and 2U resources 270 mmboe.

In addition to its operated assets, the Company owns working interests in a broad portfolio of non-operated producing wells across the Williston Basin in North Dakota and Montana. Cash flow from the Williston production will be used to fund the planned Paradox Basin development. In addition, the Board will consider further opportunistic value-accretive acquisitions. 

 

 ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC

INTERIM REPORT FOR THE SIX MONTHS TO 30 JUNE 2023

The Board is pleased to present Zephyr's unaudited interim report for the six-month period to 30 June 2023.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S STATEMENT

OVERVIEW

During the first six months of 2023 ("H1 2023"), and in the period since, the Company continued the development of its flagship operated project in the Paradox Basin, Utah, U.S. (the "Paradox project") while growing its highly attractive portfolio of cash-generating non-operated assets in the Williston Basin (the "Williston assets").

PARADOX PROJECT

Overview

The Board believes that the Paradox project has considerable scale and economic potential.

The project is an operated lease holding of over 46,000 gross acres, 25,000 acres of which has been assessed, by third-party consultant Sproule International ("Sproule"), to hold, net to Zephyr, 2P reserves of 2.6 million barrels of oil equivalent ("mmboe"), 2C resources of 34 mmboe and net unrisked 2U resources of 270 mmboe.

The Company's land management strategy continues to be active, and has resulted in a defensible and growing land position which Zephyr's Board believes is increasingly difficult to replicate in today's regulatory and political environment.  

To date, both wells drilled by Zephyr at the Paradox project have discovered hydrocarbons, and both appear capable of commercial production when ultimately tied into natural gas infrastructure. In addition, eight overlying reservoirs have been high graded as suitable for future exploration and potential development. Of particular significance, the Company's main geological target, the Cane Creek reservoir, appears to have two demonstrable methods of development (via the targeting of natural fractures and through hydraulic stimulation).

The drilling of the two wells has provided the Company with a wealth of new geological information which has in turn resulted in a far greater geological understanding of our acreage position. This information includes strong evidence of:

·    A continuous resource play (tight oil and tight gas);

·    Repeatable petrophysics across a large area;

·    Geology which correlates with the seismic results;

·    Consistent reservoir thickness within a sub area;

·    High reservoir pressures;

·    High matrix permeability for a resource play;

·    A reservoir which can be stimulated (with favourable rock mechanics albeit under high stress); and

·    The presence of productive natural fractures

Based on the above, the Board believes that the project contains substantial potential upside and over the next period we will continue the work required to develop the Paradox project into a revenue generating project. The Board is delighted that the Dominion 16-inch gas export pipeline which extends across the Paradox project has now been completed. This off-take solution is a major development for Zephyr and will enable the commercial export of hydrocarbons from the project to market.

State 36-2 LNW-CC well

In November 2022, the Company announced that drilling on the State 36-2 well had commenced with an objective to target potential production from the Cane Creek reservoir.

The drilling operation was hampered by extreme weather conditions. When the well reached the Cane Creek reservoir at a depth of 9,598 feet true vertical depth, the well experienced a significant influx of hydrocarbons which consequently led to the suspension of drilling operations until the well was stabilised. The influx of hydrocarbons was caused by the well intersecting an apparent major natural fracture network in the reservoir, and the resultant flowing hydrocarbons were diverted safely at surface through the drilling rig flare stack whereby they were subsequently flared. Throughout this period, Zephyr's operations team followed appropriate well control procedures, and stabilised the well without incident.

The influx of hydrocarbons was managed and safely controlled, which subsequently allowed for the drilling of an additional 132 feet into the Cane Creek reservoir, at which point the Company elected to run production casing down the total depth of the well.

Operations to run 7-inch production casing were successful and the well was made fully safe and the drilling rig was released. The Company then planned to commence production testing of the fractured Cane Creek reservoir interval.

In addition to near-term testing, the running of the 7-inch casing string provided the Company with the option to return to the well (should it elect to do so) to drill an extended lateral at a later date. A subsequent lateral would enable the Company to test for further natural fracture presence at this location within the Cane Creek reservoir, and also enable the well to be completed by hydraulic stimulation across a longer lateral should Zephyr seek to increase well productivity in the future.

Results from the drilling operations indicated that the well penetrated a folded and naturally fractured Cane Creek reservoir, features which have been highly productive in other Cane Creek wells. Pore pressure analysis suggested that the well encountered very high reservoir overpressure, with formation pressures estimated at around 9,300 pounds per square inch (which is broadly consistent with previously drilled offset wells).

The well further delineated the presence of natural gas and condensate within a large structural compartment, and at a new location within Zephyr's acreage and 3D seismic coverage, which provided additional confirmation of Zephyr's model for hydrocarbons in place across the acreage position.

State 36-2 well production test and well control incident update

On 8 March 2023, the Company announced, amongst other matters, that planning for the production test had been completed and that all services for the test had been procured. A service rig was mobilised to the well-site and operations on the ground commenced. This was achieved despite the ongoing difficult winter weather conditions encountered at the site. Workover operations (which were to include perforating the well in the productive portion of the Cane Creek reservoir) and subsequent production testing were estimated to take four to six weeks. As the well was expected to flow from natural fractures, no hydraulic stimulation was expected as part of this test.

On 7 April 2023, as workover operations were being completed, the well experienced a significant control issue despite multiple attempts to secure the well by the rig crew. The incident was initially caused by the failure of a safety valve, and subsequently resulted in hydrocarbons being released from the well in an uncontrolled manner.

In keeping with safety procedures, all personnel were safely evacuated without injury. All relevant authorities were notified and a specialist well control team (recommended by the Company's insurers) was deployed to bring the well under control as quickly as possible. 

Ultimately, well control efforts were successful and remediation and clean-up operations have commenced. A third-party confirmatory environmental survey was subsequently completed and the initial results found no evidence of any lingering environmental impact.

While the State 36-2 well remains static and under control, during the incident and subsequent well control efforts, multiple joints of the well's 2 7/8-inch production tubing were compressed and/or compromised, and Zephyr's operations team has been working methodically to remove and inspect the remaining joints while keeping the wellbore static. Recently, operations to retrieve the damaged tubing have progressed much slower than expected due to the poor condition of the tubing, as exhibited by the multiple damaged and buckled joints retrieved that led to the need for milling operations and resulted in shorter retrievals per trip.

While the Company is continuing to attempt to remove the remainder of the production casing left in the hole, it has, in parallel, commenced discussions with its insurer to assess alternative options for targeting the significant potential productivity of the reservoir at this location. Alternatives being discussed include both a potential sidetrack from, or a re-drill of, the original well.  

As previously reported, the Company retains comprehensive well control insurance coverage, and the Board expects to recover substantially all costs associated with the well control incident, including those associated with any sidetrack or re-drill scenario. Discussions with its insurer continue and the Company will update the market in the event a new course of action is deemed to be appropriate. To date the Company has recovered over US$3.7 million from its insurer in respect of the well control incident. Current and future operations will continue to be conducted in such a way that well control is maintained and working conditions are safe for our team.

State 16-2LN-CC well update

Following on from the successful drilling, completion and production test of the State 16-2LN-CC well (the "State 16-2 well") in 2022, the first phase of the extended production testing on the well was completed within the flare consent limit set by the regulatory bodies, and Zephyr subsequently tested the well a second time to commission surface facilities, improve flow assurance and to gather more production data. 

Unfortunately, the second well test was hampered by severe weather and initial surface facility commissioning issues which resulted in delays to the programme and, at times, intermittent operational activity.

Once the start-up commissioning issues had been successfully resolved the well was initially brought online at choked-back, moderate rates to test for flow assurance at varying levels of production. At a controlled rate of 2 million cubic feet of gas per day and 100 barrels of oil per day (an average of 433 boepd) the well flowed continuously and surface flow assurance efforts proved successful.

As flow rates were increased above those levels, well performance became limited by freshwater pumping capacity and was subsequently impacted by the formation of down-hole salt precipitate. The precipitate, which blocked and was subsequently cleared multiple times, impacted the well's flow capacity to achieve extended higher rates. The Company was in early stages of testing higher rates when its mandated flaring limits were reached. 

The operational team is assessing whether the precipitate issue is a function of continued flow back of injected completion fluids or a function of normal flowing conditions. Under either scenario, the Company is evaluating a series of mitigation solutions and plans to test these solutions in the coming months (subject to regulatory approvals) in order to fully determine the potential of the reservoir at this location.

BLM approval of White Sands Unit acreage expansion/contraction

On 25 August, 2022, the Company announced, amongst other matters, the acquisition of additional Paradox Basin acreage adjacent to its operated White Sands Unit (the "WSU") through the targeted acquisition of 1,920 leased acres deemed by the Company to have immediate development potential. Additional contiguous acreage was acquired as reported on 14 September 2022 (collectively, the "acquired acreage").

The acquired acreage was largely covered by Zephyr's existing 3D seismic, and directly bordered the Zephyr lease on which the State 36-2 is located, and with access to pre-existing surface infrastructure which Zephyr subsequently acquired.

A portion of the acquired acreage was envisioned to be added to the WSU, subject to approval from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (the "BLM") for which the Company applied in early 2023. In July 2023, Zephyr announced that this approval was granted as part of larger expansion/contraction amendment of the WSU. As part of the approval, 5,000 high-graded acres with near-term development potential have been added to the WSU, and roughly 5,395 acres deemed by the Company to be less suitable for future development were relinquished.

These actions are part of the Company's active and ongoing portfolio management of its project position. The Board is pleased with its recent BLM interactions and subsequent approval, which results in an amended federal unit with an upgraded and manageable acreage position - a position increasingly difficult to replicate in today's regulatory and political environment.  

Acquisition of additional project acreage 

On 15 August 2023, the Company announced an agreement to increase its land position in the Paradox Basin through the targeted acquisition of an additional 640 leased acres deemed by the Company to be prospective for mid to long-term development.

The new acreage is on Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration ("SITLA") lands and was secured during the most recent SITLA auction. The acreage is close to the Company's existing WSU and gas export infrastructure.

The acquisition of the new acreage is part of Zephyr's ongoing portfolio management of its Paradox Basin position. Consideration for the new acreage was satisfied from the Company's existing cash resources. Following the closing of the acquisition of the new acreage, the Company now operates over 46,000 gross acres in the Paradox Basin, the majority of which the Company holds as operator with a 100% working interest.

Assessment underway on recently acquired Greentown wells

In July 2023, the Company announced, amongst other matters, that it has commenced the assessment on five existing wellbores (located in the WSU) acquired as part of a larger acquisition of infrastructure assets and which was announced on 14 September 2022. Several of the existing wells are former producers of hydrocarbons and were subsequently shut-in due to lack of operating infrastructure. Others were deemed to have potential future use as salt water disposal wells or as producers of salt water brine for potential extraction of lithium resources.

As part of this assessment, Zephyr's operations team recently recommenced production from the Greentown Federal 28-11 well in order to understand the well's potential contribution to overall field production when ongoing field infrastructure work has been completed.

WILLISTON ASSETS

Overview

Zephyr's non-operated business was established in 2021 and today, following twelve discrete acquisitions, Zephyr continues to deliver on its strategy to acquire working interest positions in value accretive, high-quality, high-margin production assets with significant near-term growth potential.

At 30 June 2023, Zephyr had working interests in 223 wells that were available for production. Net working interests across the Company's portfolio now average 7% per well, equivalent to 15.1 gross wells in total, all of which utilise horizontal drilling and modern, hydraulically stimulated completions. The majority of the wells are operated by Chord Energy Corporation, a leading Williston Basin producer.

H1 2023 performance

·    H1 2023 sales volumes averaged 1,225 boepd.

·    H1 2023 revenues totalled US$13.4 million.

·    H1 2023 gross profit (after operating and transportation expenses, production taxes, gains from derivative contracts and excluding DD&A) was US$9.6 million demonstrating the high margins realised from the produced barrels.

Future growth in the portfolio

The Slawson operated wellbore interests, acquired in December 2022 and funded in 2023, are now fully drilled and completed. Production from these working interests is now forecast to be online in Q4 2023 following completion of surface facilities on the well pad. Zephyr's working-interest in these wells' ranges from 11% to 32%, and management estimates 2P Reserves being acquired are circa 550,000 boe net to Zephyr. The Company will provide an updated production guidance when these wells are brought online.

The Company has also received notice from Continental Resources ("Continental"), operator of a drilling spacing unit ("DSU") in which Zephyr holds existing working interests, stating that it plans to drill ten new wells on the DSU. The acreage is located in a highly attractive part of the Williston Basin, and the initial two wells drilled by Continental in 2021 have been some of the top performers in Zephyr's non-operated portfolio, paying out in under six months from first production. Zephyr's Board of Directors has elected to participate in the upcoming drilling programme, and Zephyr's forecasted net capital expenditure (CAPEX) related to the drilling is approximately US$205,000 which will be funded from existing cash resources. The planned new development drilling is an illustration of the continued organic growth from the Company's existing Williston assets position and provides continued access to low risk, near-term production.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The financial information is reported in United States Dollars ("US$").

Income Statement

·    The Company reports revenues for H1 2023 of US$13.4 million (H1 2022: US$25.9 million). Revenues largely relate to the Company's hydrocarbon production from the non-operated Williston assets. The reduction in revenues reflects the standard decline rates expected from the Williston assets and the lower commodity price environment during H1 2023. A near-term production boost is expected in the second half of 2023 when the six Slawson wellbore interests come online.

·    Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, depletion and amortisation ("DD&A"), unrealised foreign exchange gains and unrealised gains on hedging contracts (together "Adjusted EBITDA") for H1 2023 was US$6.5 million (H1 2022: US$19 million).

·    In H1 2023, there was a DD&A charge of US$5.6 million (H1 2022: US$5.4 million). This accounting charge relates to the resource depletion of the Williston assets over the period.

·    H1 2023 net loss after tax was US$2.3 million or a loss of 0.15 cents per Ordinary Share (H1 2022: net profit after tax of US$17.4 million or a profit of 1.16 cents per share).

·    H1 2023 net loss was enhanced by foreign exchange differences which arise on the restatement of the Company's sterling loans to its subsidiaries and resulted in an unrealised loss of US$2.6 million for the six months ended 30 June 2023 (H1 2022: unrealised gain of US$5.4 million). The unrealised loss in this period is the result of sterling strengthening against the U.S. dollar.

·    Administrative expenses for the six months ended H1 2023 were US$3.0 million (H1 2022: US$2.2million). The increase in administrative expenses mirrors the Company's growth over the last twelve months, the increase in its asset portfolio and significantly enhanced corporate and operational footprint. Costs continue to be closely controlled and monitored regularly by executive management and is a continuing priority of the Board. It is recognised by the Board, however, that additional technical, legal and other costs were justified to help deliver the acquisitions which the Company has secured over the period under review.

Balance Sheet

·    Exploration and evaluation assets at 30 June 2023 were US$50.8 million (30 June 2022: US$23.8 million) which reflects the Company's ongoing investment into upstream activity, including the drilling costs of the State 36-2 well.

·    Property, plant and equipment at 30 June 2023 were US$52.4 million (30 June 2022: US$52.1 million) which reflects the Company's ongoing investment in its non-operated portfolio of oil and gas properties.

·    Cash and cash equivalents at 30 June 2023 were US$6.2 million (30 June 2022: US$10.6 million). Responsible cash management remains a key priority of the Board.

·    During H1 2023 CAPEX across the Williston assets and the Paradox project totalled US$21.6 million.

·    At 5 September 2023, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of US$3.5 million.

·    The Company's gross borrowings at 30 June 2023 were US$33.7m and net borrowings (total borrowings less cash and cash equivalents) were US$27.5 million. During H1 2023 the Company met all its funding obligations in respect of the outstanding borrowings.

CORPORATE

·    Zephyr continued to achieve Scope 1 carbon-neutrality across its operational footprint during the period under review.

·    In June 2023, the Company raised US$3.9 million (before expenses) through the placing of new Ordinary Shares in the Company. The net proceeds from the placing are being used to fund CAPEX requirements at the Paradox project.

CONCLUSION

Despite recent operational challenges on the State 36-2 well, Zephyr continues to be well positioned as a profitable, cash generating exploration and production company and our balanced portfolio of operated and non-operated assets is expected to continue to yield strong results for Zephyr. Cash flows generated from our non-operated portfolio will continue to be primarily used for the ongoing development of our flagship Paradox project.

Looking ahead, with a diverse portfolio of cash flowing assets, potential for substantial future organic growth, a solid financial footing and a talented and dedicated team of employees, we continue to be extremely optimistic about Zephyr's future.

I would like to thank our employees and contractors for their hard work and I also wish to express gratitude to our Shareholders, lenders, advisers and other stakeholders for their ongoing support to the Company as we continue in our pursuit of opening up the next prolific onshore U.S. oil and gas play.

 

 

Colin Harrington                                              

Chief Executive Officer                                 

29 September 2023

 

 

 

 

 

ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

For the six months ended 30 June 2023

 

		Unaudited six months ended 30 June	Unaudited six months  ended 30 June	Audited year ended 31 December
		2023	2022	2022
	Notes	US$'000	US$'000	US$'000
Revenue		13,407	25,948	41,062
Operating and transportation expenses		(4,085)	(2,055)	(4,458)
Production taxes		(1,065)	(2,048)	(3,318)
Depreciation, depletion and amortisation		(5,608)	(5,439)	(12,666)
Gain/(loss) on derivative contracts	3	1,305	(908)	1,781
Gross profit		3,954	15,498	22,401
Administrative expenses		(2,969)	(2,193)	(4,834)
Share-based payments		(6)	(212)	(210)
Foreign exchange (losses)/gains		(2,595)	5,431	6,102
Finance income		-	-	3
Finance costs		(1,550)	(1,110)	(2,236)
(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before taxation		(3,166)	17,414	21,226
Taxation credit/(charge)		845	-	(1,955)
(Loss)/profit for the period attributable to owners of the parent company		(2,321)	17,414	19,271
(Loss)/profit per Ordinary Share
Basic, cents per share	4	(0.15)	1.16	1.26
Diluted, cents per share	4	(0.15)	1.09	1.18

 

 

ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

For the six months ended 30 June 2023

 

		Unaudited six months ended 30 June	Unaudited six months ended 30 June	Audited year ended 31 December
		2023	2022	2022
		US$'000	US$'000	US$'000
(Loss)/profit for the period attributable to owners of the parent company		(2,321)	17,414	19,271
Other comprehensive income/(loss) Items that may be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss
Foreign currency translation differences on foreign operations		2,618	(5,504)	(6,205)
Total comprehensive income for the period attributable to owners of the parent company		297	11,910	13,066

 

 

ZEPHYR ENERGY PLC

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

As at 30 June 2023

 

			Unaudited as at  30 June	Unaudited as at  30 June	Audited  as at 31 December
			2023	2022	2022
		Notes	US$'000	US$'000	US$'000
Non-current assets
Exploration and evaluation assets	5		50,770	23,762	37,986
Property, plant and equipment	6		52,436	52,162	51,805
Derivative contracts			-	50	175
			103,206	75,974	89,966
Current assets
Trade and other receivables			6,039	6,845	4,290
Prepayments and accrued income			1,303	855	347
Cash and cash equivalents			6,188	10,587	8,996
Derivative contracts			1,440	-	1,133
			14,970	18,287	14,766
Total assets			118,176	94,261	104,732
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables			(12,757)	(3,837)	(12,520)
Borrowings	7		(24,988)	(15,740)	(14,572)
Derivative contracts			-	(490)	-
			(37,745)	(20,067)	(27,092)
Non-current liabilities
Borrowings	7		(8,726)	(12,840)	(10,821)
Deferred tax			(1,110)	-	(1,955)
Provisions			(4,874)	(2,321)	(4,138)
			(14,710)	(15,161)	(16,914)
Total liabilities			(52,455)	(35,228)	(44,006)
Net assets			65,721	59,033	60,726
Equity
Share capital	8		42,568	42,412	42,412
Share premium account			71,727	66,879	66,847
Shares to be issued			-	-	539
Warrant reserve			1,557	1,647	1,557
Share-based payment reserve			3,485	3,298	3,284
Cumulative translation reserves			(13,366)	(15,283)	(15,984)
Retained deficit			(40,250)	(39,920)	(37,929)
Equity attributable to owners of the parent company			65,721	59,033	60,726