i3 Energy PLC Announces Operational and Financial Update

EASTLEIGH, UK / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2021 / i3 Energy plc (AIM:I3E) (TSX:ITE), an independent oil and gas company with assets and operations in the UK and Canada, is pleased to provide the following production update, increased cash flow estimates which integrate the Company's initial hedging implementation, details regarding recent Clearwater activity, tie-in of the Noel gas well, Serenity farm-out, and maiden dividend.

Highlights:

  • Q1 2021 average production of 8,856 boepd, outperforming expectations

  • Financial discipline maintained, with an initial hedging strategy implemented and 2021 full-year net operating income expectations increased to CAD 38mm (USD 31mm)

  • Significant initiatives in the Clearwater play

    • Planning for an appraisal and development drilling programme at Marten Creek following successful oil appraisal recompletions

    • i3 has farmed into additional Clearwater acreage and will earn up to 29.4 km2 through drilling activity, with the first two wells of a potential nine-well commitment being spud at Marten Hills in May

    • Acquisition of additional 17.9 km2 of Clearwater acreage through recent Alberta Crown Land Sale

  • Noel gas well expected to be on production during June

  • EGM to approve dividend expected to be called shortly

Majid Shafiq, CEO of i3 Energy plc, commented:

"We are very pleased with the performance of our portfolio in the first quarter of 2021, with production levels continuing to be above expectation. We continue to evaluate opportunities to extract incremental value from our portfolio and look forward to completing the first of these initiatives with the tie-in of the Noel well in the middle of the year. We have made significant progress in growing our land position in the Clearwater play and look forward to our first drilling activity this summer in Marten Hills and further activity in the upcoming winter access period on our operated Clearwater acreage in Marten Creek.

The farm-out process for the Serenity appraisal drilling in the UK continues to make progress and we remain confident that we will achieve a successful outcome. Although our balance sheet restructuring has taken longer than anticipated we will shortly complete this process and pay our maiden dividend."

Q1 Production

Production in Q1 2021 averaged 8,856 boepd, comprised of field estimate sales equalling 31.6 million standard cubic feet of gas per day ("mmscfd"), 2,123 barrels per day ("bbl/d") of natural gas liquids and 1,466 bbl/d of oil.

Despite adverse winter conditions, production performance remains above the expected rate based on the competent persons reports commissioned for the acquisition of the Canadian production assets in H2 2020.