Delphi Energy Announces Closing of Disposition of Wapiti Assets

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Jul 22, 2015) - Delphi Energy Corp. (DEE.TO) ("Delphi" or the "Company") is pleased to report that it has closed the previously announced disposition of its working interests in producing properties, facilities and infrastructure and undeveloped land in the greater Wapiti area for $50.0 million, after closing adjustments.

The Company's growth over the past three years has been achieved through successful drilling and completions on its Bigstone Montney assets which continue to generate positive economic returns in the current commodity price environment. The disposition of the greater Wapiti assets is a key part of this strategy providing greater focus, efficiencies and capital for the continued development of the Montney assets. The total disposition proceeds realized since 2011 total $104.6 million. The Bigstone Montney asset now represents approximately 75 percent of Delphi's production up from less than ten percent just three years ago.

Disposition

Details of the divested assets are as follows:

  • Production for the month of June of approximately 1,190 barrels of oil equivalent per day ("boe/d") consisting of approximately 5.0 million cubic feet per day of natural gas and 362 bbls/d of natural gas liquids (40 percent ethane).

  • Total land in the greater Wapiti area of 31,277 net acres, inclusive of 19,377 net acres of undeveloped land, with 94 gross wells at an average working interest of 50.8 percent.

Credit Facilities

The Company has total credit capacity of $189.0 million with total debt outstanding of approximately $122.0 million resulting in 35 percent of credit capacity being available.

As a result of the disposition, Delphi's senior lenders (National Bank of Canada, Bank of Nova Scotia and Alberta Treasury Branches) have completed a review of the Company's senior credit facility resulting in a facility of $175.0 million, consisting of a revolving credit facility of $170.0 million and an operating facility of $5.0 million, with borrowings in excess of $140.0 million subject to consent of the lenders.

The majority of the proceeds from the disposition have been applied to the Company's bank indebtedness with a repayment of $44.0 million. The senior credit facility has approximately $108.0 million outstanding after this repayment.

The terms of the subordinated debt remain unchanged, after a repayment of $6.0 million, other than the subordinated debt facility being reduced from $20.0 million to $14.0 million, the current outstanding amount.

Operations

The Company resumed its 2015 drilling program in late June with the spud of the 13-24-60-23W5 ("13-24") horizontal Montney well at East Bigstone. Commensurate with a drilling program objective that minimizes capital to bring on production, the surface location of 13-24 and the next wells to be drilled are proximal to existing gathering infrastructure. These infill drilling locations are consistent with the Company's strategy to minimize capital costs while targeting the most efficient production and proved developed producing reserves.