SURGE ENERGY INC. ANNOUNCES SALE OF NON-CORE ASSETS; REVISED 2025 CAPITAL AND OPERATING BUDGET

In This Article:

CALGARY, AB, Dec. 19, 2024 /CNW/ - Surge Energy Inc. ("Surge" or the "Company") (TSX: SGY) is pleased to announce that on December 19, 2024 (the "Closing"), the Company disposed of its gas weighted non-core assets in the Valhalla area of Alberta (the "Non-Core Assets") for cash proceeds of $9.5 million (the "Transaction"). Additionally, the purchaser has assumed all future abandonment and reclamation obligations ("ARO") pertaining to the Non-Core Assets.

SURGE ENERGY INC. ANNOUNCES SALE OF NON-CORE ASSETS; REVISED 2025 CAPITAL AND OPERATING BUDGET (CNW Group/Surge Energy Inc.)
SURGE ENERGY INC. ANNOUNCES SALE OF NON-CORE ASSETS; REVISED 2025 CAPITAL AND OPERATING BUDGET (CNW Group/Surge Energy Inc.)

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

  • INCREASED CORE AREA FOCUS - Surge's Sparky and SE Saskatchewan core areas have been independently evaluated as two of the top four crude oil plays in North America, based on per well payout economics1. Following the sale of the Non-Core Assets, Surge's conventional Sparky and SE Saskatchewan crude oil assets will now represent 90 percent of the Company's new 22,500 boe per day 2025 production guidance, and more than 95 percent of the Company's cash flow from operating activities.

  • IMPROVED OPERATING NETBACKS AND INCREASED LIQUIDS WEIGHTING – Concurrent with the Closing of the Transaction, the Company anticipates that its operating netback2 per boe will improve by approximately 4 percent. Net operating expenses2 for 2025 are now forecast to decrease to $19.05-$19.55 per boe, following the Transaction.

  • Additionally, Surge's forecast 2025 liquids weighting increases from 87 percent to 91 percent, following the Transaction.

  • NO IMPACT TO FREE CASH FLOW – Due to the significant gas weighting (55 percent natural gas), and accompanying low operating netback ($4.70 per boe in Q3/24) associated with the Non-Core Assets, the Company does not anticipate any change to its previously forecast 2025 corporate free cash flow2 of $85 million3.

NON-CORE ASSET DISPOSITION

Surge disposed of the Non-Core Assets on the Closing for cash consideration of $9.5 million. Additionally, the purchaser has assumed all ARO pertaining to the Non-Core Assets. Estimated 2025 production from the Non-Core Assets was forecast to be approximately 1,250 boe/d, with a gas weighting of 55 percent.

Over the past four years, Surge has been highly focused on developing its core Sparky and SE Saskatchewan crude oil assets. As such, the Non-Core Assets have been undercapitalized within the Company's high-quality, conventional crude oil asset portfolio.

Proceeds from the Transaction bring forward approximately 10 years of future undiscounted free cash flow that the Non-Core Assets would have generated. At current strip crude oil prices, Surge anticipates allocating the net proceeds from the Transaction to additional share buy backs, and further reductions of net debt.