Harvest Natural Resources Announces 2014 Third Quarter Results

HOUSTON, Nov. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Harvest Natural Resources, Inc. HNR (Harvest or the Company) today announced 2014 third quarter earnings and provided an operational update.

Harvest reported a third quarter net loss of approximately $4.1 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, compared to a net income of $2.0 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, for the same period last year.  The third quarter results included exploration charges of $1.1 million and a non-recurring gain on sale of oil and gas properties related to WAB-21 of $2.9 million.  Adjusted for exploration charges and non-recurring items, Harvest would have posted a third quarter net loss of approximately $5.9 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, before income taxes.

Petrodelta, S.A. (Petrodelta), Harvest's Venezuelan affiliate, reported third quarter operating income, before taxes and non-operational items, of $80.3 million ($16.4 million net to Harvest's equity, under IFRS).  Petrodelta reported net income for the third quarter of $73.4 million ($15.0 million net to Harvest's equity interest, under IFRS).  After adjustments to Petrodelta's IFRS earnings, primarily to conform to US GAAP, Harvest's net equity interest in Petrodelta's earnings was $11.7 million, compared to $20.6 million for the same period during 2013.  Beginning in the second quarter 2014, Harvest determined that it should not recognize any additional equity in earnings from Petrodelta, as to do so would result in a balance in the related equity investment account which would exceed the estimated amount Harvest would realize upon the sale of the Company's remaining 51 percent interest in Harvest-Vinccler Dutch Holding B.V. (Harvest Holdings) as per the terms of the Share Purchase Agreement (SPA).  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, net to Harvest's equity, Harvest did not record earnings from Petrodelta of $11.7 million and $15.8 million, respectively.

Highlights for the third quarter of 2014 include:

Venezuela

• During the third quarter of 2014, Petrodelta drilled and completed 3 development wells and sold approximately 3.84 million barrels of oil (MMBO) for a daily average of 41,732 barrels of oil per day (BOPD);
• Petrodelta's current production rate is approximately 41,200 BOPD and the 2014 expected average production rate is 42,920 BOPD with capital expenditures projected at $380 million;
• On October 30, 2014, Petroandina Resources Corporation N.V. (Petroandina) exercised its right to extend the termination date of the SPA to December 7, 2014 with the Company borrowing an additional $2.0 million from Petroandina in connection with such extension.

Gabon

• On July 17, 2014, the Gabonese Republic (Gabon) awarded an 850.5 square kilometer Exclusive Exploitation Authorization (EEA) for the development and exploitation of certain oil discoveries on the Dussafu Block;
• On October 10, 2014, the field development plan was approved by Gabon;
• Continued processing the 3D survey acquired in the fourth quarter of 2013, which provides the first 3D coverage over the outboard portion of the block.

Indonesia

• The Budong office has been closed and the process of relinquishment of the Budong block is in process.

China

• On July 3, 2014, the Company sold its entire interest in the WAB-21 block in the South China Sea for net proceeds of $2.9 million.

Corporate

• On July 23, 2014 the Company's Form S-3 went effective;
• On September 4, 2014, the Company entered into an equity distribution agreement with Raymond James & Associates, Inc. relating to an "at-the-market" (ATM) offering of shares of our common stock having an aggregate sales price of up to $75,000,000.

VENEZUELA

During the third quarter ended September 30, 2014, Petrodelta sold approximately 3.84 MMBO for a daily average of 41,732 BOPD, production was flat when compared to the same period in 2013.  In addition, Petrodelta sold 0.735 billion cubic feet (BCF) of natural gas for a daily average of 8.0 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD).  Petrodelta's current production rate is approximately 41,200 BOPD.

During the third quarter ended September 30, 2014, Petrodelta drilled and completed one development well in the Isleno Field and two development wells in the Temblador Field.  Currently, Petrodelta is operating six drilling rigs and one workover rig and is continuing with infrastructure enhancement projects in the El Salto and Temblador Fields.

Petrodelta's production for 2014 is projected to be approximately 42,920 BOPD.  Petrodelta's capital expenditures for 2014 are expected to be approximately $380 million.  Petrodelta expects to drill a total of 15 oil wells during 2014.

The average sales price for crude oil produced during the quarter was approximately $84.17 per barrel.

On August 28, 2014 and September 29, 2014, Petroandina exercised its right to extend for one month the termination date of the SPA with the Company borrowing $2.0 million per extension.  On October 30, 2014, Petroandina exercised its right to extend the termination date of the SPA to December 7, 2014, with the Company borrowing an additional $2.0 million. 

EXPLORATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES

Dussafu Project - Gabon (Dussafu PSC)

Operational activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 included additional evaluation of development alternatives, preparation and formal submission of a field development plan along with continued processing of 3D seismic acquired in 2013.  On July 17, 2014, Gabon awarded an EEA for the development and exploitation of certain oil discoveries on the Dussafu Block and on October 10, 2014, the field development plan was approved.  The Company continues to process data from the 1,260 square kilometers of 3D seismic survey performed during the fourth quarter of 2013.  This survey provides 3D coverage over the outboard portion of the block where significant pre-salt prospectivity has been recognized on 2D seismic data. The new 3D seismic data also covers the Ruche, Tortue and Moubenga discoveries and is expected to enhance the placement of future development wells in the Ruche and Tortue development program as well as provide improved assessment of the numerous undrilled structures already identified on older 3D seismic surveys.

Budong Budong PSC - Indonesia

In January 2013, the Budong-Budong Production Sharing Contract (Budong PSC) partners were granted a four year extension of the initial six year exploration term of the Budong PSC to January 15, 2017.  The extension of the initial exploration term includes an exploration well, which if not drilled by January 2016, results in the obligation of the joint venture to return the entire Budong PSC to the Government of Indonesia.  Concurrently, we purchased an additional 7.1% equity interest from our partner and became operator of the Budong PSC in exchange for agreeing to fund 100% of the costs of the first exploration well.  Since this exploration well was not drilled within 18 months of the date of approval from the Government of Indonesia of this transaction (October 9, 2014), the Company was obligated to pay our partner in the Budong PSC $3.2 million.  This charge was invoiced by and paid to our joint venture partner in October 2014.

Corporate

On July 10, 2014, the Company filed a Form S-3 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  The effectiveness date of the Form S-3 is July 23, 2014.

On September 4, 2014, the Company entered into an equity distribution agreement (Agreement) with Raymond James & Associates, Inc. (Raymond James) relating to an "at-the-market" (ATM) offering of shares of our common stock having an aggregate sales price of up to $75,000,000.  Under the terms of the Agreement, Harvest may offer and sell shares of its common stock through Raymond James by means of transactions on the New York Stock Exchange at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market price, at negotiated rates, or as otherwise agreed to by Harvest and Raymond James.

During the quarterly period ended September 30, 2014, the Company issued 334,563 shares under the ATM offering at a weighted average sale price of $4.45 per share resulting in proceeds to the Company of approximately $1.4 million, net of fees paid to Raymond James and other costs associated with the Agreement.

Conference Call

Harvest will hold a conference call at 10:00 a.m. CST on Thursday, November 6, 2014, during which management will discuss Harvest's 2014 third quarter results.  The conference leader will be James A. Edmiston, President and Chief Executive Officer.  To access the conference call, dial 800-768-6490 or 785-830-7987, five to ten minutes prior to the start time.  At that time you will be asked to provide the conference number, which is 8960668.  A recording of the conference call will also be available for replay at 719-457-0820 or 888-203-1112, passcode 8960668, through November 13, 2014.

The conference call will also be transmitted over the internet through the Company's website at www.harvestnr.com.  To listen to the live webcast, enter the website fifteen minutes before the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software.  For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a replay of the webcast will be available beginning shortly after the call and will remain on the website for approximately 90 days.

About Harvest Natural Resources:

Harvest Natural Resources, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is an independent energy company with principal operations in Venezuela and Gabon, and a business development office in Singapore.  For more information visit the Company's website at www.harvestnr.com.

CONTACT:

Stephen C. Haynes

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

(281) 899-5716

This press release may contain projections and other forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. They include estimates and timing of expected oil and gas production, oil and gas reserve projections of future oil pricing, future expenses, planned capital expenditures, anticipated cash flow and our business strategy. All statements other than statements of historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements. Although Harvest believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Actual results may differ materially from Harvest's expectations as a result of factors discussed in Harvest's 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K and other public filings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOURCE Harvest Natural Resources, Inc.