DNO, the Norwegian oil and gas operator, today reported that production from its flagship Tawke field in Kurdistan has been restarted following a four-month shut-in triggered by the closure of the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline export route.

 

Production was restarted last month to conduct well integrity tests and synchronise reservoir models but has continued in response to strong demand for Tawke oil. Field output is currently averaging 40,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd). The nearby Peshkabir field, on the same license, remains closed.

 

One-half of Tawke production is delivered to the Kurdistan Regional Government and the balance is sold by DNO on behalf of the contractors (DNO 75 percent and Genel Energy International Limited 25 percent) to local trading companies and the oil transported by road tanker. Prices vary by contract and average around 50 percent of pre-closure levels but payments now are made promptly and directly to DNO.

 

“While there is no light at the end of the export pipeline, we are seeing the headlights of more and more incoming tanker trucks loading up our Tawke cargoes on a cash-and-carry basis,” said DNO Executive Chairman Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani. “Meanwhile, our strategy of broadening DNO’s portfolio beyond Kurdistan is bearing beautiful fruit,” he added.

 

A total of 100 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe) have been discovered net to DNO offshore Norway since 2021, of which 78 MMboe have been added so far this year, driven importantly by DNO’s 30 percent stake in Norway’s largest discovery in a decade (Carmen).

 

 Previous discoveries are moving towards development. In June, the development of the Andvare discovery (DNO 32 percent) and the Berling discovery (DNO 30 percent) received government approvals, targeting gross volumes of 11 MMboe (start-up in 2024) and 45 MMboe (start-up in 2028), respectively.

 

DNO also recently announced a fast-track development concept for the Brasse discovery (DNO 50 percent) as a low-cost tieback to Brage production facilities (DNO 14 percent) with main terms agreed ahead of final investment decision early next year.  

 

“All barrels of oil or molecules of gas are not created equal,” said Mr. Mossavar-Rahmani. “Our recent discoveries have high net present value as DNO’s offshore Norway drilling campaign is deliberately designed to target lower risk prospects near existing infrastructure,” he added. “We thought such low-risk prospects would also be small to medium in size, but Carmen happily proved us wrong.”

 

The Company’s Côte d’Ivoire assets, which were acquired last year, deliver stable production and further upside potential. A gas sales contract renegotiation with the government is ongoing to raise the price ceiling, allowing for increased investment in Block CI-27 (DNO nine percent). On nearby Block CI-12 (DNO eight percent) a rig has been secured for two exploration wells plus one optional well, to be drilled back-to-back commencing in the fourth quarter of 2023.

 

In the second quarter of 2023, net production across DNO’s portfolio hit the lowest level in 13 years at 14,400 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), of which the North Sea contributed 10,800 boepd, West Africa 3,500 boepd and Kurdistan the balance.

 

Driven by the Kurdistan export closure and a significant North Sea production cut from a shutdown of third-party facilities that has now ended, DNO reported a 78 percent quarter-on-quarter revenue drop to $58 million. Net loss amounted to $19 million, down from a net profit of 87 million in the previous quarter.

 

The balance sheet remains strong with an unchanged equity ratio of 50 percent as the Company exited the quarter with cash deposits of $743 million and net cash of 1$77 million. Given uncertain timing of pipeline export resumption and continued delays in payments by the Kurdistan Regional Government for previous oil sales, DNO has cut back new investment spend and staffing levels.

 

The Board of Directors has authorised dividend payment of NOK 0.25 per share to be made on or about 1 September 2023, maintaining the Company’s quarterly distribution program.-TradeArabia News Service