Chariot Oil & Gas pleased with progress in 'challenging' environment

Atlantic margin-focussed oil and gas exploration company Chariot Oil & Gas was set to hold its annual general meeting in London on Tuesday, with chief executive Larry Bottomley preparing to provide a “brief portfolio and strategy update” to the assembled punters.

Bottomley said that, while the “challenging business environment” in 2016 resulted in subdued industry activity, Chariot used that as an opportunity to mature and de-risk its portfolio by shooting seismic surveys at favourable rates.

It participated in “extensive” 3D seismic campaigns in Namibia and Brazil, with additional 2D and 3D seismic acquired in early 2017 in Morocco.

The processing and interpretation of those data sets was allowing the Company to develop, de-risk and mature its drilling inventory.

“Chariot continues to focus on partnering for risk management,” Bottomley said.

“The approval of the Rabat Deep Offshore farm-out to Eni is demonstrative of that strategy in action and will lead to the drilling of the RD-1 well, expected Q1 2018, targeting the JP-1 prospect which is estimated to hold 768 mmbbls gross mean prospective resources.

“Partnering processes are underway in Namibia and Morocco, and will start in Brazil on completion of the interpretation of the data from the 2016 3D seismic campaign.”

In Morocco, Bottomley said Chariot had continued to expand its portfolio, securing first the Mohammedia Offshore Permits and then, in early 2017, the Kenitra Permit, leveraging existing knowledge and understanding of the petroleum systems in Morocco.

Those permits captured “material prospectivity” that had the potential to be “significantly” de-risked by the drilling of the RD-1 well.

“Chariot has continued to illustrate its strategy in the management of risk and the allocation of capital by its election in June 2016 not to enter into the next phase for the C-19 licence in Mauritania.

“In Namibia, the company has continued to mature its portfolio with the evaluation of the 2016 3D seismic data in the Central Blocks delineating five structural prospects ranging from 283 - 459 mmbbls gross mean prospective resources as described in the Competent Person's Report undertaken by Netherland Sewell and Associates.

“A partnering process has been initiated in the Central Blocks with the aim to undertake drilling in H2 2018, for which preparations are underway, [and] farm-out discussions are also proceeding in the Southern Blocks.”

Seismic interpretation was continuing in Brazil, according to Bottomley, with “encouraging” early results.

Upon completion, the dataroom on those licences would open in H2 2017.

“Chariot maintained focus on financial discipline, ending 2016 with $25m in cash, well in excess of its commitments.

“In H1 2017 the completion of the seismic programme in Morocco and the partnering with Eni in Rabat Deep, delivering a capped carry on the RD-1 well expected Q1 2018, means there are now no unfunded work commitments throughout the portfolio.

“Overhead costs remained tightly controlled, whilst the management has been successful in leveraging the overall industry downturn to negotiate favourable seismic rates, thus allowing for counter-cyclical investment in the portfolio.”

The focus for H2 2017 was to continue building and maturing the portfolio to deliver further funded drilling inventory, the board said, whilst continuing to screen the market for potential value-accretive opportunities.