Perpetual Energy Inc. Announces Increase to Credit Facility and Provides 2018 Guidance

CALGARY, Nov. 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - (TSX:PMT) - Perpetual Energy Inc. ("Perpetual", the "Corporation" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a 62.5% increase to its reserve-based credit facility (the "Credit Facility") and confirm capital spending plans and expected production and adjusted funds flow growth for 2018. Strategic focusing of the Company's asset base, strengthening of the balance sheet, steady execution of the growth-oriented capital program and the Company's market diversification strategy implemented over the past year have combined to position Perpetual for continued strong growth in 2018. Based on current forward commodity prices, production growth of 30% in 2018 from 2017 levels is anticipated to drive 23% adjusted funds flow growth to $0.59 to $0.67/share, supported by a capital program substantially funded from adjusted funds flow.

Credit Facility

Perpetual Credit Facility lenders have completed their semi-annual borrowing base redetermination and have agreed to increase the borrowing limit from $40 million to $65 million, subject to execution of usual and customary loan documentation. In support of this increase, Perpetual has expanded its Credit Facility lending syndicate to three banks. The maturity date of the Credit Facility is May 31, 2019 and the next semi-annual borrowing base review is scheduled for May 31, 2018. The increased borrowing limit is expected to provide sufficient liquidity to execute the Company's 2018 business plan and retain the optionality and incremental liquidity related to the Company's 1.67 million share investment in Tourmaline Oil Corp. (TSX:"TOU").

2018 Capital Spending and Production Guidance

The Company's Board of Directors has approved a total capital spending program of $39 million for 2018, close to 75% concentrated in East Edson, developing liquids-rich natural gas reserves in the Wilrich formation, and 25% in Eastern Alberta, primarily targeting heavy oil development at Mannville along with abandonment and reclamation work to continue to responsibly address decommissioning obligations.

At East Edson, a single rig drilling program is ongoing with four (4.0 net) wells to be drilled during the fourth quarter of 2017, including two extended reach horizontal ("ERH") wells of varying lateral lengths. One ERH well has been successfully drilled thus far with a 2,460 meter horizontal lateral. The second is currently drilling in the horizontal section and is targeting in excess of 3,400 meters of Wilrich formation. The performance of the two ERH wells is expected to be evaluated following frac operations in late November. The remaining three wells of the 2017 program are budgeted to be frac'd during the first quarter of 2018. Drilling activities are forecast to start up again in the third quarter of 2018 with four (4.0 net) ERH wells planned to reverse forecast declines and ramp up production again to match processing and transportation capacity in time to meet stronger anticipated natural gas demand conditions and pricing in the fourth quarter of 2018. Additional compression is currently being installed at the Company's 100% working interest and operated West Wolf Lake facility for start-up in early January 2018 to increase total processing capacity in the East Edson area by close to 23% to 80 MMcf/d plus associated liquids, closely matching the Corporation's 20 MMcf/d increase to firm natural gas transportation capacity to 78 MMcf/d that is scheduled to take effect on or before April 1, 2018.

Based on the 1,700 meter lateral type curve, adjusted for the expected ERH well performance, average 2018 production at East Edson is forecast to grow over 35% year over year to average close to 10,800 boe/d. The positive impact of this higher production base over a substantially fixed cost base is anticipated to translate into further reduction in operating costs per unit of production at East Edson of close to $2.00/boe.

At Mannville, capital spending during the fourth quarter of 2017 is directed at waterflood infrastructure projects which will continue into the first quarter of 2018 to increase waterflood injection capability to provide additional pressure support to enhance heavy oil recovery as well as to reduce field operating costs. In the third quarter of 2018, up to seven (6.3 net) development wells are budgeted to be drilled to increase heavy oil production by close to 10%. Additionally, up to 20 shallow gas recompletions are planned to partially offset natural gas declines in Eastern Alberta. Decommissioning expenditures will be focused in the Mannville area and are expected to provide lease rental and property tax expense reductions while maintaining regulatory compliance.

The table below summarizes anticipated capital spending and drilling activities for the fourth quarter of 2017 and for the first and second half of 2018.

Exploration and Development Forecast Capital Expenditures

Based on total exploration and development capital spending in 2018 of $37 million, and an April 1, 2018 in-service date for additional firm transportation, Perpetual forecasts production to average close to 13,000 boe/d (85% natural gas) and expects to exit the year at over 14,500 boe/d as production ramps up again driven by the second half capital spending program targeting seasonal natural gas price optimization. This represents growth in average daily production in 2018 of 32% relative to 2017 as well as year over year growth in the average December exit rate of over 15%. Increased production combined with continued diligent cost management in 2018 is anticipated to continue to drive improved per unit cost structure performance with top quartile operating costs forecast of close to $4.00/boe.

Perpetual has taken significant steps to diversify its 2018 commodity and natural gas pricing point exposure (net of royalties) as detailed below:

The Company's market diversification strategy, combined with continued reduction to a forecast all-in cash cost structure, including royalties, of approximately $13.25/boe ($10.40/boe, excluding royalties) is anticipated to deliver further improvements to operating and adjusted funds flow netbacks over 2017, despite the lower current forward market for natural gas prices. 

Based on these capital spending and production assumptions and the current forward market for oil and natural gas prices at market pricing points, Perpetual forecasts 2018 adjusted funds flow of $35 to $40 million ($0.59/share to $0.67/share). Year end 2018 debt, net of the current market value of the Company's TOU share investment of close to $45 million, is forecast at $105 to $110 million, with a corresponding improvement in estimated net debt to trailing twelve months adjusted funds flow to approximately 2.9 times.

Incorporating the assumptions outlined above, and presuming AECO basis differentials remain constant to each of the diversified natural gas pricing points, Perpetual's estimated 2018 adjusted funds flow annualized sensitivity to various commodity prices is as follows.

Projected 2018 Adjusted funds flow

About Perpetual

Perpetual is an oil and natural gas exploration, production and marketing company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. Perpetual operates a diversified asset portfolio, including liquids-rich natural gas assets in the deep basin of west central Alberta, heavy oil and shallow natural gas in eastern Alberta, with longer term opportunities through undeveloped oil sands leases in northern Alberta. Additional information on Perpetual can be accessed at www.sedar.com or from the Corporation's website at www.perpetualenergyinc.com.

The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain information regarding Perpetual in this news release including management's assessment of future plans and operations may constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. The forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding capital expenditure levels for the fourth quarter of 2017 and the full year of 2018 and the funding of such capital expenditures; prospective drilling activities; forecast production, forecast levels of debt, production type, operations, adjusted funds flows, and timing thereof; facility construction and pilot project plans and timing thereof; forecast and realized commodity prices; expected cost savings and the impact of cost savings initiatives, expected funding, allocation and timing of capital expenditures; projected use of adjusted funds flow and anticipated adjusted funds flow; planned drilling and development and the results thereof; and commodity prices. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the forecasts and projections contained in the forward-looking information contained in this press release, which assumptions are based on management analysis of historical trends, experience, current conditions, and expected future developments pertaining to Perpetual and the industry in which it operates as well as certain assumptions regarding the matters outlined above. Forward-looking information is based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of risks, which could cause actual results to vary and in some instances to differ materially from those anticipated by Perpetual and described in the forward-looking information contained in this press release. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information, which is not a guarantee of performance and is subject to a number of risks or uncertainties, including without limitation those described under "Risk Factors" in Perpetual's Annual Information Form and MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2016 and those included in other reports on file with Canadian securities regulatory authorities which may be accessed through the SEDAR website (www.sedar.com) and at Perpetual's website (www.perpetualenergyinc.com). Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive. Forward-looking information is based on the estimates and opinions of Perpetual's management at the time the information is released and Perpetual disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as expressly required by applicable securities laws.

Also included in this press release are estimates of Perpetual's 2018 adjusted funds flow and adjusted funds flow per share based on 59.3 million shares issued and outstanding, which is based on the various assumptions as to production levels, including estimated average production, capital expenditures, and other assumptions including current forward commodity price assumptions. To the extent any such estimate constitutes a financial outlook, it was approved by management and the Board of Directors of Perpetual on November 6, 2017 and is included to provide readers with an understanding of Perpetual's anticipated adjusted funds flows based on the capital expenditure and other assumptions described herein and readers are cautioned that the information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

Volume Conversions

Barrel of oil equivalent ("boe") may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. In accordance with National Instrument 51-101 ("NI 51-101"), a conversion ratio for natural gas of 6 Mcf:1bbl has been used, which is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. In addition, utilizing a conversion on a 6 Mcf:1 bbl basis may be misleading as an indicator of value as the value ratio between natural gas and crude oil, based on the current prices of natural gas and crude oil, differ significantly from the energy equivalency of 6 Mcf:1 bbl.

Non-GAAP Measures

This news release contains financial measures that may not be calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in Canada ("GAAP"). Readers are referred to advisories and further discussion on non-GAAP measures contained in the "Significant Accounting Policies and non-GAAP Measures" section of the most recent management's discussion and analysis

SOURCE Perpetual Energy Inc.