Lundin Petroleum announces its 2020 budget, production guidance and capital markets day information

Lundin Petroleum AB (Lundin Petroleum) is pleased to announce its 2020 development, appraisal, exploration and abandonment budget which totals USD 1.27 billion and represents a 30 percent increase on 2019 capital expenditure. The production guidance for 2020 is between 145 to 165 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (Mboepd) and the long-term production guidance is increased to 160 – 170 Mboepd from 2021 with a target of over 200 Mboepd.

                            

2020 Production Guidance

The average production in 2019 was 93.3 Mboepd, which was above the mid-point of the upgraded 2019 production guidance of between 90 and 95 Mboepd, and 10 percent above the mid-point of the original guidance of 75 to 95 Mboepd. Lundin Petroleum’s production guidance for 2020 is between 145 to 165 Mboepd, reflecting the ramp-up of Johan Sverdrup Phase 1 to plateau levels by the summer of 2020 and a planned two-week maintenance shutdown at Edvard Grieg in the second quarter of 2020. The production contribution is split approximately 50 percent from the Johan Sverdrup field, 40 percent from the Edvard Grieg field and the remainder from the other assets.

The long-term production guidance for the Company has been increased to between 160 and 170 Mboepd from 2021 onwards, with a target of over 200 Mboepd from upsides from existing fields. The updated long-term guidance reflects the sale of a 2.6 percent interest in Johan Sverdrup during 2019, which is offset by an extension of the Edvard Grieg plateau period.

Development Budget

The 2020 development expenditure is budgeted at USD 895 million, which is an increase of one-third over 2019 levels. The Edvard Grieg tie-back projects, Solveig and Rolvsnes EWT will see increased activity compared to last year, and drilling will start on the Edvard Grieg infill campaign.  

Approximately 40 percent of the 2020 budgeted development expenditure relates to the non-operated Johan Sverdrup field (WI 20%). The remaining spend for the Phase 1 project relates mainly to the drilling of additional development wells, while the Phase 2 project will see another active year of construction ahead of scheduled start-up in Q4 2022.

Approximately 35 percent of the budgeted development expenditure relates to the operated Solveig project (WI 65%) and the Rolvsnes Extended Well Test (WI 80%). Both projects will be subsea tie-backs to Edvard Grieg and are being implemented together. In 2020, offshore construction activities will take place, which include the installation of the subsea equipment and pipelines. On Solveig, drilling will start on the first development wells during the year and the project remains on track for first oil in Q1 2021.

The Edvard Grieg field (WI 65%) 2020 programme, includes drilling of the first of the three infill wells sanctioned in 2019, as well as contribution to the Utsira High Area power from shore system.

Budgeted expenditure at the non-operated Alvheim area involves the drilling of two infill wells.

      

Exploration and Appraisal Budget

The exploration and appraisal budget for 2020 is USD 225 million and involves the drilling of 10 wells, of which five are operated, and is targeting over 650 MMboe of net unrisked resources.

Four exploration wells are planned in the Southern Barents Sea. Two wells will be drilled on the Loppa high area close to the Alta/Gohta discoveries, targeting the Polmak prospect in PL609 (WI 40%) and the Bask prospect in PL533B (WI 40%). The other wells to be drilled are Schenzhou in PL722 (WI 20%) close to the Wisting oil discovery, and Spissa in PL960 (WI 20%).

In the Norwegian Sea two wells are planned, an appraisal well on the Balderbrå gas discovery made in 2018 in PL894 (WI 10%) estimated to contain between 50 and 140 MMboe of gross resources and an exploration well on the Melstein prospect in PL886 (WI 60%).

Four exploration wells are planned to be drilled in the Norwegian North Sea, Iving in PL820S (WI 40%) and Hasselbaink in PL917 (WI 20%) both located east of the Alvheim area, Merckx in PL981 (WI 60%) in the greater Utsira High area within tie-back distance to Edvard Grieg, and the Dovregubben prospect in PL976 (WI 50%) on the Sele High southeast of the Utsira High.

Abandonment Expenditure

The 2020 abandonment expenditure budget is USD 50 million for abandonment of the Brynhild development wells, representing the bulk of the field abandonment costs, and with the subsea facilities scheduled to be decommissioned in 2021.

Renewables Power Investments

Investments in the Leikanger hydropower and Metsälamminkangas windfarm renewables power projects in 2020 is USD 100 million, representing approximately eight percent of the Company’s total capital spend, which also reflects the intention to farm-down 50% of the 100% acquired interest in the Metsälamminkangas project.

2020 Capital Markets Day information

Lundin Petroleum will be hosting its 2020 Capital Markets Day on 31 January 2020 at 11.00 CET (10.00 GMT) at the London Stock Exchange. The Capital Markets Day will include presentations by the Company’s management team on its fourth quarter 2019 financial results, the business strategy, the 2020 budgeted development campaign and its exploration and appraisal programme. Details for the live webcast:

Sweden   

UK         

United States 

Norway   

Access Pin : 58812582

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Lundin Petroleum is one of Europe’s leading independent oil and gas exploration and production companies with operations focused on Norway and listed on Nasdaq Stockholm (ticker LUPE). Read more about Lundin Petroleum’s business and operations at -petroleum.com

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This is information that Lundin Petroleum AB is required to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the contact persons set out above, at 07:31h CET on 31 January 2020.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made and information contained herein constitute "forward-looking information" (within the meaning of applicable securities legislation). Such statements and information (together, "forward-looking statements") relate to future events, including Lundin Petroleum's future performance, business prospects or opportunities. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to estimates of reserves and/or resources, future production levels, future capital expenditures and their allocation to exploration and development activities, future drilling and other exploration and development activities. Ultimate recovery of reserves or resources are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management.

All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. Statements concerning proven and probable reserves and resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements and reflect conclusions that are based on certain assumptions that the reserves and resources can be economically exploited. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations and assumptions will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements should not be relied upon. These statements speak only as on the date of the information and Lundin Petroleum does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties relating to, among other things, operational risks (including exploration and development risks), productions costs, availability of drilling equipment, reliance on key personnel, reserve estimates, health, safety and environmental issues, legal risks and regulatory changes, competition, geopolitical risk, and financial risks. These risks and uncertainties are described in more detail under the heading “Risks and Risk Management” and elsewhere in Lundin Petroleum’s annual report. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

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