CDN NEWS | 
US NEWS 
CALGARY, Alberta, Dec. 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Raging River Exploration Inc. (“Raging River” or the “Company”) (TSX:RRX) announces that the Company’s board of directors has approved a 2018 capital budget of $335 million.
The budgeted capital expenditures are expected to increase annual average production in 2018 to 24,500 boe/d (92% oil) with fourth quarter 2018 production estimated at 26,000 boe/d representing a fourth quarter to fourth quarter production per share growth of greater than 11%. The 2018 capital budget approximates forecasted funds flow from operations of $328 million at WTI of US$55/bbl. The commitment to the protection of the balance sheet remains paramount with expected exit 2018 net debt of approximately $301 million representing a 0.9 times net debt to forecasted 2018 funds flow from operations.
The overarching goals of Raging River’s 2018 capital program are to continue to deliver strong production per share growth from our Viking assets while utilizing an appropriate amount of free cash flow to fund the ongoing delineation of our early stage, emerging Duvernay light oil prospective lands.
DUVERNAY LIGHT OIL DISCOVERY
As previously disclosed in the November 9, 2017 press release, Raging River successfully drilled and completed a Duvernay light oil discovery well (4-11) in the Ferrybank area of central Alberta. The 4-11 well was drilled and cased to a measured depth of 4,573 m and included a 2,200 m lateral section in the upper portion of the Duvernay formation. The 4-11 well was completed with a slick water, plug and perforate completion design which included 43 stages over the lateral section. Average sand placement over the lateral length was approximately 2 tonnes per meter.
Production testing operations commenced on November 6, 2017. Although we anticipated that first oil production would not be seen for several weeks, light oil (38o API) production was established within the first 24 hours of flow back. Testing operations were continued through to November 25th, at which point the decision was made to shut-in the well and equip it with artificial lift and surface facilities to allow gas conservation and continuous production operations. Over the first 30 days of production, the well cumulatively produced 5,550 bbls of oil or an average of 185 bbls/d. The well continues to flow and pump with recent rates over the last 7 days averaging in excess of 225 bbls/d of light oil. As anticipated, the well continues to produce at very low gas rates of 50-60 mcf/d equating to our expected gas oil ratio of 250-300 scf/bbl.
As part of the slick water completion process, Raging River pumped in excess of 240,000 barrels of water. Throughout the testing phase and early production history of the well, water cuts have steadily decreased from 90% to the current water cut of 62%. To date, approximately 9% of the total load water pumped into the formation has been recovered. The trend in decreasing water cuts is very similar to the trends observed in offsetting wells in the area, in which water cuts moderate over time as more and more of the load fluid is recovered with expected stabilization in the 10% to 25% range.
Raging River continues to expand its Duvernay land base and has added 10 net sections over the last 30 days increasing our land position to approximately 243,000 acres (380 net sections) in the oil prone portion of the Duvernay.
The results on the 4-11 well to date have emboldened Raging River’s view on the Duvernay prospectivity in the Ferrybank area. The initial success has confirmed our initial geotechnical interpretation as well as exhibiting early stage production results comparable to (or above) our nearest competitor wells, 15 miles south of our discovery well. These results confirm the presence of light oil and the thermal maturity levels of the Duvernay which provide encouragement to initiate a process of optimizing drilling and completion techniques to enhance the economics of this early stage exploration project. Our future plans will be to execute a methodical delineation plan to further evaluate our extensive land base.
2017 BUDGET AND OPERATIONS UPDATE
With the weather cooperating through November and early December, the Raging River team has been able to execute our capital program as planned. Both capital spending and production are anticipated to achieve our November 9, 2017 guidance levels of $365 million and 22,750 boe/d annual production average. For the year 2017, Raging River is on track to drill 335 Viking horizontal wells and one Duvernay horizontal well.
Based on field estimated production numbers for the first 10 days of December, our fourth quarter 2017 average production guidance of 23,300 boe/d will be modestly exceeded.
2018 GUIDANCE – VIKING GROWTH AND DUVERNAY DELINEATION WITHIN CASH FLOW
| Average daily production | |
| Crude oil and NGL’s (bbls/d) | 22,600 |
| Natural gas (mcf/d) | 11,300 |
| Barrels of oil equivalent (boe/d) | 24,500 |
| Pricing | |
| Crude oil – WTI ($US/bbl) | 55.00 |
| Exchange rate ($Cdn/$US) | 1.28 |
| Natural gas – AECO ($/GJ) | 1.65 |
| Cdn Light Sweet ($Cdn/bbl) | 66.67 |
| Financial | |
| Operating cash flow ($000) | 353,400 |
| G&A ($000) | 10,750 |
| Financial charges ($000) | 12,150 |
| Cash taxes ($000) | – |
| Hedging losses ($000) | 2,200 |
| Funds flow from operations ($000) | 328,300 |
| Per share – basic | 1.42 |
| 2018 exit net debt ($000) | 301,000 |
| 2018 exit net debt to funds flow from operations | 0.92:1 |
| Netbacks ($/boe) | |
| Oil and gas sales | 57.14 |
| Royalties | 5.30 |
| Operating expense | 10.95 |
| Transportation expense | 1.45 |
| Operating netback | 39.44 |
| G&A | 1.20 |
| Financial charges | 1.35 |
| Cash taxes | – |
| Hedging losses | 0.25 |
| Funds flow netback | 36.64 |
| Capital expenditures ($000) | |
| Viking drilling, completion & equipping | 254,000 |
| Duvernay drilling, completion & equipping | 43,500 |
| Land, seismic and maintenance | 21,000 |
| Facilities, waterflood & gas conservation | 16,500 |
| Total | 335,000 |
Approximately 75% or $250 million of the approved $335 million 2018 capital budget will be directed towards the development drilling of approximately 296 net Viking horizontal wells. Given the continued strong performance of our extended reach horizontal (“ERH”) wells, we anticipate 60% of the 2018 wells will be drilled with an ERH well design.
At budgeted pricing assumptions, we forecast that in 2018 our Viking asset base will generate 6-7% production per share growth and funds flow from operations in excess of $320 million while only utilizing 85% of the funds flow from operations generated. The free cash flow generated by the Viking allows us the opportunity of funding our early stage Duvernay light oil delineation program without impairing the balance sheet or having to raise equity to finance this opportunity.
Our initial plan in the Duvernay contemplates six evaluation wells in 2018. Three wells will be drilled in the first quarter with completion activities on these wells not anticipated until late in the second quarter. The three initial tests will be delineation efforts with one well in the Ferrybank area, one well in the Pigeon Lake area and one well in the Gilby area.
Enhanced oil recovery is a long-term initiative that Raging River continues to advance, and one that we believe will provide significant value creation to our shareholders. For 2018, we anticipate spending approximately $16 million on further advancing our Viking waterflood and gas conservation efforts.
Corporate social responsibility continues to be priority for the Company. Approximately $7 million of capital has been allocated to gas conservation and abandonments. The gas conservation projects will allow a meaningful reduction in our methane emissions while at the same time providing economic benefit to our shareholders through increased sales of natural gas associated with our oil production. Abandonment of wells and facilities that are no longer required for the development of our resources will continue to be a priority. Raging River continues to abandon and reclaim approximately 10% of the wells and facilities on our abandonment list annually, ensuring that our license liability rating is always in the top decile in the industry.
2018 AND BEYOND
Our long term business model is robust, defined and generates meaningful free cash flow and earnings above growth capital. The Company has been built to withstand the volatility in commodity prices and provide meaningful per share growth to our shareholders. The team at Raging River is proud to have delivered superior results to our shareholders. Since our inception in March 2012, we have delivered greater than 350% profitable production per share growth. During the longest commodity bear market in recent history which started in July 2014, your team has delivered greater than 60% profitable production per share growth. Per share growth has and will continue to be accomplished through excellence in execution, selective accretive acquisitions, maintenance of a pristine balance sheet and diligent development of new plays and play extensions.
Additional corporate information can be found on our website at www.rrexploration.com
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