Advantage Announces Future Capital Development Plans at Glacier and provides Updated Corporate Guidance
09 Juli 2009 - 3:53AM
PR Newswire (US)
(AVN.UN - TSX, AAV - NYSE) CALGARY, July 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/
-- Advantage Energy Income Fund ("Advantage" or "the Fund")
announces that the Board of Directors has approved a capital budget
and guidance for the twelve month period beginning July 2009 and
ending June 2010. Management will review the capital program on a
regular basis in the context of prevailing economic conditions and
make adjustments as deemed necessary to the program, subject to
review by the Board of Directors. Advantage's corporate capital
budget for the 12 month period ending June 2010 has been set at
$207 million. The budget will focus on development of our Montney
natural gas resource play at Glacier, Alberta where Advantage will
continue to employ a phased development approach. Phase I of the
development plan was achieved during Q2 2009 where production
capacity was increased to approximately 25 mmcfd and included
wells, compression facilities and additional pipelines. Phase II of
the development plan will be undertaken during the next 12 months
and will result in production capacity increasing to approximately
50 mmcfd by mid-year 2010. Phase III of the development plan will
result in the attainment of 100 mmcfd by mid-year 2011. The Alberta
Government's recently announced extension of the energy incentive
programs to March 31, 2011 will provide substantial benefits to all
three phases of our Glacier development plan. The energy incentive
programs will allow Advantage to capitalize on lower drilling costs
(through a drilling royalty credit of up to $200 per meter of
drilled depth subject to a corporate ceiling) and an initial five
per cent royalty rate on the first 500 mmcf of production for new
wells based on our go-forward drilling plans for each of the three
phases of development. Glacier Phase II Development Plan Phase II
of the Glacier development plan includes the drilling and
completion of 16 gross (16.0 net) horizontal operated wells, up to
16 gross (6.1 net) joint interest horizontal wells and 1 gross (1.0
net) vertical well during the next twelve months. Drilling plans
will continue to balance production and reserve growth and
delineation of our extensive 89 section gross (average 90% working
interest) Montney land block. Drilling resumed in early July at
Glacier with the deployment of four drilling rigs on operated and
joint interest lands. Phase II also includes the expansion of the
existing gas gathering system, additional compression and a new
Advantage operated gas plant to complement the existing
infrastructure and provide total processing and production capacity
of 50 mmcfd. The majority of the wells drilled during the last half
of 2009 will be tied-in during the second quarter of 2010 when the
facilities expansions are expected to be completed. Glacier capital
expenditures are estimated to be approximately $84 million net for
the remainder of 2009 and $81 million net for the first half of
2010. Approximately $116 million will be allocated to drilling and
completions with $29 million for well equipping and tie-ins and $20
million for facilities and plant expansion. Updated Guidance H2 H1
Total 2009 2010 12 Months Production (boe/d) 22,700-23,300
24,200-25,200 23,450-24,300 Royalty Rate (%) 15% - 18% 16% - 19%
15% - 19% Operating Costs ($/boe) $12.75 - $13.30 $12.50 - $13.20
$12.60 - $13.25 Capital Expenditures ($million) $105 - $110 $100 -
$105 $205 - $215* A full year 2010 capital budget and guidance will
be provided at or about year-end 2009. * Approximately 79% of the
total capital expenditures for the 12 month period will be
allocated to Glacier. Funds From Operations and Hedging Summary
Funds from operations for the above 12 month period ending June
2010 which is based on the mid-range of guidance is estimated at
$204 million using an average Nymex natural gas price of $5.19
US/mmbtu (AECO $4.97 Cdn/mcf), WTI oil price of $73.87 US/bbl and
an $0.86 Cdn/$US exchange rate. Advantage's current hedging
positions have been included in the funds from operations estimate.
Advantage has a significant portion of our natural gas and crude
oil hedged through to the end of 2010. Our strategy will be to
continue to employ a multi-year hedging program to reduce the
volatility in cash flow in support of capital requirements. The
following table summarizes our current hedging position based on
guidance provided: % of net Natural Production Cdn $ Aeco US $
Nymex Gas Hedged (per mcf) (per mmbtu) 2009 Q3 78% $8.17 $8.57 Q4
84% $8.17 $8.57 H2 2009 81% $8.17 $8.57 2010 2010 Full Year 58%
$7.46 $7.86 % of net Crude Production Cdn $WTI US $WTI Oil Hedged
(per bbl) (per bbl) 2009 Q3 56% $62.40 - $69.40 $53.66 - $59.68 Q4
54% $62.40 - $69.40 $53.66 - $59.68 H2 2009 55% $62.40 - $69.40
$53.66 - $59.68 2010 2010 Full Year 31% $67.83 $58.33 Additional
hedging details are available on our website at
http://www.advantageincome.com/. Advisory The information in this
press release contains certain forward-looking statements. These
statements relate to future events or our future performance. All
statements other than statements of historical fact may be
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often,
but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek",
"anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may",
"will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend",
"could", "might", "should", "believe", "would" and similar
expressions. These statements involve substantial known and unknown
risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Advantage's
control, including: the impact of general economic conditions;
industry conditions; changes in laws and regulations including the
adoption of new environmental laws and regulations and changes in
how they are interpreted and enforced; fluctuations in commodity
prices and foreign exchange and interest rates; stock market
volatility and market valuations; volatility in market prices for
oil and natural gas; liabilities inherent in oil and natural gas
operations; uncertainties associated with estimating oil and
natural gas reserves; competition for, among other things, capital,
acquisitions, of reserves, undeveloped lands and skilled personnel;
incorrect assessments of the value of acquisitions; changes in
income tax laws or changes in tax laws and incentive programs
relating to the oil and gas industry and income trusts; geological,
technical, drilling and processing problems and other difficulties
in producing petroleum reserves; and obtaining required approvals
of regulatory authorities. Advantage's actual results, performance
or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or
implied by, such forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no
assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the
forward-looking statements will transpire or occur or, if any of
them do, what benefits that Advantage will derive from them. Except
as required by law, Advantage undertakes no obligation to publicly
update or revise any forward-looking statements. DATASOURCE:
Advantage Energy Income Fund CONTACT: Investor Relations, Toll
free: 1-866-393-0393, ADVANTAGE ENERGY INCOME FUND, 700, 400 - 3rd
Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 4H2, Phone: (403) 718-8000, Fax:
(403) 718-8300, Web Site: http://www.advantageincome.com/, E-mail:
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