TULLOW OIL Plc has announced that it has exercised its right of pre‐emption related to the sale of Occidental Petroleum’s interests in the Jubilee and TEN fields in Ghana to Kosmos Energy.
Post completion, it is anticipated that Tullow’s equity interests will increase to 38.9% in the Jubilee field and to 54.8% in the TEN fields.
The additional equity interests are expected to add 10% to daily group production and the associated incremental cash flow will help to accelerate Tullow’s debt reduction.
The consideration is expected to be $150 million (if pre‐emption by other joint venture (JV) partners is fully exercised), which will be subject to closing adjustments.
Tullow says it will fund this transaction through existing resources.
Rahul Dhir, CEO of Tullow Oil, commented: “This is a value accretive, self‐funded opportunity for the group which will increase Tullow’s daily group production by 10% and generate additional cash flow to help accelerate debt reduction. Increasing our operated stakes in the Jubilee and TEN fields underscores our commitment to investing in and delivering our Ghana Value Maximisation Plan. This opportunity fits well with our strategy to focus on maximizing value from our producing assets. We look forward to constructive conversations with our JV Partners and the Government of Ghana as we finalise the transaction.”
As per the DWT Joint Operating Agreement (JOA), Tullow has pre‐emption rights in respect of the 11.05% participating interest within the offshore DWT Block acquired by Kosmos Energy as a result of its acquisition of Anadarko WCTP Company announced on 13 October 2021.
Tullow has exercised its right of pre‐emption over this participating interest in DWT and assuming all JV partners also fully exercise their pre‐emption rights, this would increase Tullow’s share in the block by 7.7% (to a total of 54.8%). This would in turn increase Tullow’s equity interests in the Jubilee and TEN fields to 38.9% and 54.8%, respectively.
The consideration for the 7.7% increase in equity would be $150 million with an economic effective date of 1 April, 2021, subject to concluding definitive agreements and closing adjustments.
Increasing exposure to these assets is aligned with Tullow’s strategy to focus on its producing assets. The additional equity is expected to increase Group daily production by 10% and generate over $250 million incremental free cash flow at $65/bbl for Tullow between 2022 and 2026, which will help to accelerate debt reduction.
As of 30 June 2021, based on Tullow’s reported Half Year 2021 Reserves Report, the 7.7% additional equity would increase Tullow’s net 2P reserves by approximately 21 mmboe and has an estimated post‐tax NPV 10 valuation of $347 million.
The completion of the transaction remains subject to finalising definitive agreements with Kosmos Energy/Anadarko WCTP Company and gaining approval from the Government of Ghana consistent with the agreed Kosmos/Occidental transaction. Tullow will update the market accordingly as these discussions progress.
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