NuVista Energy Ltd. Announces Operational Update and Reaffirms 2016 and 2017 Guidance

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Jan 16, 2017) - NuVista Energy Ltd. ("NuVista" or the "Company") (NVA.TO) is pleased to announce a number of updates that demonstrate successful execution of our 2016 plans and strong progress towards our 2017 and beyond plans. Our 2016 full year and fourth quarter guidance expectations have all been met or exceeded, as well results and costs continue to improve and outperform. Specific highlights include the following:

Production Update

  • Field-estimated production for the fourth quarter of 2016 was approximately 24,550 Boe/d, exceeding the previously guided range of 23,500 - 24,500 Boe/d. This figure includes downtime totaling 650 Boe/d due to temporary midstream and downstream pipeline maintenance. Our 2016 full year production estimate met the lower end of the original guidance range of 24,500 - 25,500 Boe/d as expected, despite over 825 Boe/d of various planned and unplanned third party restrictions encountered throughout the year and selling 3,200 Boe/d of production associated with the W6 Sweet Cretaceous asset divestiture in June of 2016. These shortfalls were mostly offset by stronger than forecast well performance throughout the year and accelerated capital after the aforementioned asset sale; and

  • In December, field estimated production exceeded 26,000 Boe/d which underpins a strong base entering 2017.

Operations Update

  • We are pleased to provide five new well IP30's in the table below. We continue to be very encouraged by ongoing results.

New Well IP30 Results(1)

Well

Raw Gas

Condensate

Total Sales

CGR
C5+/Raw

(MMcf/d)

(Bbls/d)

(Boe/d)

(Bbls/MMcf)

Bilbo Typecurve(2)

5.8

435

1,361

75

Bilbo 8-25-65-6W6

11.2

1,646

3,278

146

Bilbo 12-22-65-6W6

5.8

667

1,521

115

Bilbo 13-22-65-6W6

4.1

540

1,133

132

Elmworth Typecurve(2)

7.4

333

1,559

45

Elmworth 13-33-68-8W6

10.0

585

2,145

58

Elmworth 14-33-68-8W6

8.3

274

1,586

33

(1)

Based on field-estimated production data

(2)

Typecurves are based on NuVista's internal best estimates

  • Well costs are on track as we continue to find efficiencies and drill faster. NuVista's 2016 capital program cost estimate is expected to be at or below the bottom of the full year guidance range of $200 - $215 million.

Other Items

  • The Company is entering 2017 with a very healthy balance sheet. NuVista's revolving credit facility was reconfirmed in November 2016 at $200MM, underpinned by continued strong well results and a growing proved producing reserve base. We entered 2017 completely undrawn on this facility; and

  • We have continued to prudently add to our hedge positions for 2017 and 2018. We currently possess hedges which in aggregate cover 59% of 2017 projected liquids production at an average floor price of C$65.18/Bbl and 55% of 2017 projected gas production at an average price of C$3.26/Mcf. Both of these percentage figures relate to production net of royalty volumes.