Bonterra Energy Corp. Announces Fully-Funded 2023 Annual Capital Program

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CALGARY, AB, Dec. 15, 2022 /CNW/ – Bonterra Energy Corp. (www.bonterraenergy.com) (TSX: BNE) (“Bonterra” or the “Company”) announced today that the Company’s Board of Directors has approved a fully-funded 2023 capital expenditures budget ranging between $120 to $125 million, which is expected to grow production volumes through the year to exit 2023 between 14,100 and 14,400 BOE per day3 with annual average production between 13,500 and 13,700 BOE per day1. This budget incorporates measured capital allocation opportunities and affords Bonterra the ability to adjust capital spending in response to changes in the commodity markets, while also enabling the pursuit of growth-oriented acquisition opportunities designed to enhance the production base, formulate new core areas and expand the Company’s drilling inventory in the high-value Cardium fairway.

“2023 represents a new era for Bonterra as we advance forward with new leadership, a refreshed vision, and a more supportive debt structure that affords us flexibility to freely allocate capital across our high-quality, oil-weighted Cardium asset base,” said Patrick Oliver, President and CEO of the Company. “We are very pleased to outline this fully-funded 2023 capital program and guidance, designed to expand production and reserves while generating Free Funds Flow2 that can support further growth initiatives, continued strengthening of the balance sheet, and pursuing strategic acquisitions that enhance our production base and add quality drilling inventory. Our 2023 budget supports Bonterra’s ultimate goal of restoring a returns-based business model that is structured to deliver sustainable dividends to shareholders by the end of 2023.”

Fully Funded 2023 Capital Budget

The Company’s 2023 budget is designed to provide optionality around the capital program’s execution, and provide a base level of stability to support modest growth in 2023, which is expected to build momentum for growth in 2024. Through 2023, a primary goal for Bonterra is to generate meaningful funds flow2 net of development capital and decommissioning expenditures settled (“Free Funds Flow2“), and ramp up production through the year with a targeted exit rate between 14,100 and 14,400 BOE per day3, representing approximately 10 percent growth in exit rate volumes year-over-year, setting the Company up for continued growth through 2024. Focusing on the generation of Free Funds Flow2 supports Bonterra’s strategy to revert to a shareholder returns-based model that balances continued debt repayment, sustainable dividends for shareholders and modest production growth.

Through 2023, the Company intends to invest $120 to $125 million in high rate-of-return, lower-risk light oil opportunities across Bonterra’s extensive drilling inventory and direct the pace of the capital program to maintain flexibility throughout the year, while optimally responding to a shifting commodity price environment. Consistent with 2022, Bonterra expects to direct Free Funds Flow1 to ongoing bank debt reduction, further improving leverage metrics and enhancing long term sustainability.

Approximately 85 percent of the 2023 budget is expected to be allocated to the drilling and completion of new wells, and recompletions of existing wells, in the Pembina Cardium and Willesden Green areas with the balance directed to land, expanded facilities to support future growth and pipeline integrity programs. In addition, the Company will continue to advance abandonment and reclamation activities with a robust program targeting inactive wells with no further potential, along with pipelines and facilities, further supporting Bonterra’s commitment to environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) initiatives.

In the interests of maintaining prudent risk management, Bonterra has hedges on approximately 30 percent of its expected crude oil and natural gas production to the end of Q3 2023. Primarily through the use of costless collars, the Company has established downside protection by establishing floors of approximately $70 USD WTI on 30 percent of its forecast light oil production and $3 per GJ on its anticipated natural gas production. This risk management position enables Bonterra to benefit from upward price movement while retaining the certainty of a floor price on a portion of production.

Budget Highlights (Forecasts based on the pricing and production assumptions outlined below)

  • Year-over-year exit rate growth of approximately 10 percent reflecting planned 2023 exit volumes between 14,100 and 14,400 BOE per day;
  • Average annual production of 13,500 to 13,700 BOE per day, weighted approximately 60 percent to oil and liquids;
  • $45$50 million of Free Funds Flow4 generated from $170$175 million in corporate funds flow4;
  • 25–30 percent reduction in forecast year end 2023 net debt4 which is expected to range between $120$125 million and drive a year-end net debt4 to EBITDA ratio4 of 0.7 times; and
  • $5.0$6.0 million allocated to abandonment and reclamation obligations (“ARO”) related to inactive wells with no further potential, along with pipelines and facilities in 2023.

Bonterra will regularly review the program and may elect to adjust the amount and timing of capital spending to ensure growth is aligned with the broader commodity pricing environment, while continuing to prioritize sustainability in the interests of maximizing Free Funds Flow4.

2023 Guidance Summary and Sensitivities

2023 Guidance

Pricing

WTI ($US per bbl)

$74.80

AECO Natural Gas Prices ($ per GJ)

$4.07

U.S.$ to Canadian $ exchange rate

$0.73

Canadian Realized Oil Price ($ per bbl)

$94.83

Canadian Realized Average Price ($ per BOE)

$65.02

2023 Guidance

Operating & Financial

Average Daily Production (BOE per day)

13,500 – 13,700

    Oil and NGL Weighting (percent)

60

2023 Exit Production (BOE per day)

14,100 – 14,400

Funds Flow1,2 (millions)

$170-$175

    Per share – diluted3

$4.55-$4.69

Net Capital Expenditures (millions)

$120-$125

Operating Costs ($ per BOE)

$16.00-$16.50

Free Funds Flow1 (millions) 

$45 – $50

Year-End 2023 Net Debt1

$120-$125

Net Debt to Last Twelve Months’ EBITDA1

0.60x-0.70x

Field Net Back ($ per BOE)

$41.00-$43.00

Cash Net Back ($ per BOE)

$36.00-$38.00

Asset Retirement Obligations (millions)

$5.0-$6.0

Notes:

1

Canadian realized oil price is based on WTI US $74.80 per barrel; Edmonton par differential of US $(2.84) per barrel; CAD/USD exchange rate of $0.73 and a quality adjustment of CAD $(3.40) per barrel. Pricing includes hedges currently in place.

2

Funds Flow is estimated using the Canadian realized oil price above, a realized natural gas price of $4.85 per mcf; and a realized NGL price of CAD $54.84 per barrel. Pricing includes hedges currently in place.

3

Based on annualized diluted shares outstanding of 37,329,901.

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