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Prairie Provident Resources Announces First Quarter 2022 Financial Results and Successful First Quarter Drilling Program

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Prairie Provident Resources Inc.
Prairie Provident Resources Inc.

CALGARY, Alberta, May 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prairie Provident Resources Inc. ("Prairie Provident", "PPR" or the "Company") is pleased to announce our operating and financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2022. PPR’s unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2022 (“Interim Financial Statements”) and related Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) are available on our website at www.ppr.ca and filed on SEDAR.

MESSAGE TO SHAREHOLDERS

Tony Berthelet, President & Chief Executive Officer commented: “The production results from our first quarter Michichi drill campaign confirms the optimized wellbore placement in the lower Banff, and the benefit of increased stage count on initial production results. We will monitor production results to determine improved recovery from this development design change, but we remain very encouraged by the early reservoir pressure and production stabilized rates. Upward cost pressure across all services and materials will continue to be a focus for Q2 as the industry adjusts to inflationary pressures.”

Q1 2022 HIGHLIGHTS

  • Successful drilling and capital program: During the quarter, we successfully drilled and completed two gross (2.0 net) Banff formation wells in the Michichi area. The wells both commenced production in early March 2022, with average IP30 rates of approximately 1471boe/d and 1152boe/d, respectively. Current average production of these wells is approximately 420(3) boe/d. During Q1 2022, we incurred Net Capital Expenditures4 of $7.4 million primarily in the Michichi area, including the drill, completion, equip and tie-in of the two wells described above, converting a producing well to an injection well to expand our waterflood in the area and incurred costs related to facility upgrades. Additionally, we spent $0.2 million on the reactivation of the Loyalist field, which was shut-in in 2020 due to weak commodity prices. Production in the Loyalist area is expected to resume in the second quarter of 2022.

  • Increased production: Production was on budget for the quarter and averaged 4,175 boe/d (65% liquids), which was 3% or 104 boe/d higher than Q1 2021, due primarily to production additions from the successful 2021 five well (5.0 net) Princess drilling program, partially offset by natural declines. Due to the on production timing of the Q1 2022 drills, the incremental production had a limited impact for the quarter of approximately 755 boe/d, but is expected to have a greater impact on the production of future quarters in 2022.

  • Record operating netback4: Operating netback for Q1 2022 was $15.7 million ($41.84/boe) before the impact of derivatives, a record high since PPR became a publicly listed company in 2016. Operating netback before realized losses on derivatives increased by $25.67/boe or 159% relative Q1 2021 driven by significant commodity price recoveries. Q1 2022 operating netback after realized losses on derivatives was $10.2 million ($27.06/boe), an increase of $13.83/boe or 105% from Q1 2021.

  • Adjusted funds flow ("AFF")4: AFF for Q1 2022 totaled $6.9 million ($0.05 per basic and diluted share), excluding $2.1 million of decommissioning settlements, reflecting a 230% improvement from the same quarter of 2021 primarily due to increased operating netbacks.

  • Decreased net loss: Net loss totaled $1.9 million in Q1 2022, a $9.6 million improvement compared to Q1 2021. The decrease was primarily driven by a $15.0 million non-cash impairment reversal recognized in Q1 2022, partially offset by an increase in unrealized losses on derivative instruments of $5.8 million. The $4.8 million increase in AFF excluding decommissioning settlements was largely offset by a $3.4 million increase in loss on warrant liability.

  • Net debt4: Net debt at March 31, 2022, totaled $128.1 million, an increase of $3.8 million from December 31, 2021 as the Company sought to take advantage of high commodity prices through execution of its capital program and to meet its environmental stewardship goals through meaningful reductions in its decommissioning obligations. As such, the increase was attributed to aggregate capital expenditures, lease payments, decommissioning settlements and restructuring costs in that exceeded AFF4 in the quarter, as well as the recognition of $0.5 million of deferred interest on long-term debt, partially offset by a $1.1 million unrealized foreign exchange gain on our US dollar denominated debt.

  • Liquidity: At March 31, 2022, PPR had US$49.3 million of borrowings drawn against its US$53.8 million revolving facility ("Revolving Facility"), leaving the Company with US$4.5 million (CAN$5.66 million equivalent (December 31, 2021 — US$6.4 million)) borrowing capacity under the Revolving Facility. In addition, US$48.8 million (CAN$61.06 million) of senior subordinated notes were outstanding at March 31, 2022, for total borrowings of US$98.1 million (CAN$125.76 million equivalent).