CALGARY, Alberta, Sept. 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kelt Exploration Ltd. (TSX:KEL) (“Kelt” or the “Company”) is providing details relating to its capital expenditure plans for the second half of 2018.

The Company has elected to redirect capital to several projects previously planned for 2019. This capital will become available as a result of delaying the completion of the five-well pad that has been drilled in its Fireweed property in British Columbia, as well as the pipeline infrastructure associated with the tie-in of these Fireweed wells. This infrastructure spending has been delayed due to a “pause” that was implemented by the BC Oil and Gas Commission while it negotiated interim measures for applications that fall within sensitive areas of the Blueberry River First Nations. The pipeline application approval is now expected prior to the end of 2018, allowing the Company to complete and bring these wells on production prior to spring breakup in 2019.

Kelt now plans to complete the five-well pad at its Pouce Coupe property in Alberta immediately after drilling is finished in September 2018. The completion operations for these wells was previously slated for the first quarter of 2019.

In addition, the Company will drill and complete two Doig wells from existing pads in Inga, British Columbia during the third quarter of 2018.

Also at Valhalla, a Montney well that was planned for 2019 is now expected to be drilled and completed at the end of the third quarter of 2018. The Company’s annual aggregate capital budget of $275 million is not expected to change with these reallocations.

At Inga, Kelt has acquired a “walking rig” to drill the 24-well pad located at 05-09-088-23W6. The location is currently being built and drilling is expected to begin by the end of September 2018. The Company plans to compare “plug and perf” completions to its current “ball drop” completion method on this pad. Along with the savings expected from the drilling operations, due to the efficiencies of the multiple wells, the Company also expects to have the pad wells tied into its new facility which is currently being built at 02-10-088-23W6. As a result, the wells can be completed with minimal water hauling due to the extensive water handling facility at 02-10 and the dedicated water pipeline. This 24-well pad will be the first phase of development of the three Montney zones that it has so far delineated on its expansive acerage. A fourth zone (the Lower Montney) is expected to be tested in 2019.

The Company has entered into agreements with AltaGas Ltd. whereby Kelt will initially be committed to a 10 year term on a “Take-or-Pay” volume of 75 MMcf/d to be processed at a C3+ deep cut gas plant. The plant is expected to commence commercial operations in the fourth quarter of 2019 and will be a 99 MMcf/d facility that can be expanded to 198 MMcf/d. The Company has an 18 month period to ramp up to 75 MMcf/d and a two year option to extend the 10 year term and/or increase the volume to 95 MMcf/d. During the first 3 years, Kelt also has the option to commit to additional capacity of 50 to 95 MMcf/d. Along with the gas processing agreement, Kelt has secured liquid fractionation and has committed to the sale of all its resulting propane volumes to AltaGas’ Ridley Island Propane Export Facility which will result in a “Far East Index” pricing netback.

Kelt believes this arrangement will give it the ability to aggressively develop the Inga/Fireweed property while retaining maximum flexibility, should market conditions change. NGL to gas ratios are expected to go from approximately 38 barrels/MMcf to 70 barrels/MMcf through the new plant.