Kosmos Energy has announced its financial and operating results for the fourth quarter of 2022. For the quarter, the Company generated a net loss of $114 million, or $0.24 per diluted share. When adjusted for certain items that impact the comparability of results, the Company generated an adjusted net income(1) of $111 million, or $0.23 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2022.
FOURTH QUARTER 2022 HIGHLIGHTS
- Net Production(2): ~58,700 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), with sales of ~67,800 boepd resulting in an overlift position at the end of the quarter. Full year net production of ~63,600 boepd, representing 17% growth over 2021
- Revenues: $510 million, or $81.70 per boe (excluding the impact of derivative cash settlements)
- Production expense: $126 million, or $20.15 per boe
- Capital expenditures: $228 million
- Generated free cash flow(1) of approximately $23 million (~$343 million for the full year)
- Continued debt repayment with net leverage falling to <1.5x (>$400 million repaid in 2022)
- Phase One of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG project around 90% complete at year end
- Full payback of the Ghana assets acquired from Occidental Petroleum achieved in ~14 months
- Ended the quarter with 2P reserves of approximately 550mmboe, representing over 20 years of reserve life
Commenting on the Company’s 2022 performance, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Andrew G. Inglis said: 'During 2022, Kosmos continued to make strong operational and financial progress in support of our differentiated strategy. We advanced our three major development projects and further strengthened the balance sheet.
'Kosmos expects to reach an important inflection point in the second half of 2023 with production forecast to grow as major development projects start to come online and capital expenditures expected to fall. With higher production and lower capital, free cash flow is expected to rise into 2024 providing multiple pathways for the company to deliver value for our shareholders.
'Kosmos offers investors access to a high quality reserve base, with unique exposure to world-scale LNG projects, alongside a portfolio of low cost, lower carbon oil ILX opportunities. These opportunities underpin sustainable and value-accretive growth. We look forward to further delivering on the strategy, creating value for our shareholders and bringing affordable, secure, and cleaner energy to the world.'
FINANCIAL UPDATE
Kosmos exited the fourth quarter of 2022 with approximately $2.1 billion of net debt(1) and available liquidity of greater than $1.0 billion, the highest level in five years. The Company generated $23 million of free cash flow in the fourth quarter, and approximately $343 million for the full year. Net debt(1) continued to decrease during the fourth quarter, with net leverage of <1.5x at year-end.
During the fourth quarter of 2022, Kosmos received formal notice from Shell that an appraisal plan for an eligible exploration well had been approved. Under the terms of the 2020 farm-out agreement with Shell, Kosmos received $50 million in December 2022 on submission of the appraisal plan following exploration success.
Net capital expenditure for the fourth quarter of 2022 was approximately $228 million, slightly higher than guidance reflecting the timing of accruals related to the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim project.
In December 2022, Kosmos achieved full payback of the Ghana assets acquired from Occidental Petroleum, approximately 14 months after closing the transaction in October 2021. As part of the transaction, Kosmos acquired an incremental ~14% of the Jubilee field and an incremental ~3% of the TEN fields in Ghana.
At year-end 2022, we booked an impairment of ~$450 million against the TEN fields in Ghana. While 2P reserves were only reduced by approximately 3.5%, a more conservative future activity set is currently expected for the fields, prioritizing de-risked well locations within the TEN area. Therefore, the impairment was largely impacted by the expected pace of potential future development activity, which has been deferred given the near-term focus on maximizing rate from the Jubilee field, as well as reserve mix between oil and gas.
OPERATIONAL UPDATE
Production
Total net production(2) in the fourth quarter of 2022 averaged approximately 58,700 boepd, in line with company guidance. Total net production(2) for the full year 2022 averaged approximately 63,600 boepd, also in line with company guidance, representing a 17% increase over full year 2021. The Company exited the quarter in a slight net overlift position.
Ghana
Production in Ghana averaged approximately 34,300 barrels of oil per day (bopd) net in the fourth quarter of 2022. Kosmos lifted four cargos from Ghana during the quarter, in line with guidance.
At Jubilee, production averaged approximately 80,800 bopd gross during the quarter. At TEN, production averaged approximately 23,800 bopd gross for the fourth quarter.
Following the handover of the operations and maintenance ("O&M") of the Jubilee FPSO, results to date have been positive with uptime maintained at high levels. Jubilee FPSO O&M costs were ~30% lower in the second half of the year compared to the first, with further cost savings identified for 2023, helping to offset the impact of inflation.
At the Jubilee Southeast development, two of the three wells were drilled during the fourth quarter 2022 and the third was drilled in early January 2023. The results of all three wells came in above expectations with additional reservoirs penetrated, and the primary horizons indicating connectivity to the main Jubilee field, which should support higher recovery from the field in the future.
The project remains on time and on budget, with initial production expected in mid-2023. The partnership expects the new wells to increase gross production in the field to approximately 100,000 bopd.
At TEN, a water injection well (En16) was brought online in December 2022 and is expected to provide pressure support for production from Enyenra in 2023. No new wells are planned at TEN in 2023 and the partnership is working to high-grade the future activity set to maximize value from the assets.
In 2022, the partnership exported approximately 109 million standard cubic feet per day (gross) on average from the Jubilee & TEN fields, fulfilling the remaining committed volumes to be provided to the Government of Ghana in connection with the approval of the Jubilee Phase 1 plan of development. From 2018 through 2022, approximately 19 Bcf of the first 200 Bcf of natural gas was substituted from the TEN fields in order to maintain consistent gas volumes for Ghana domestic power purposes. In December 2022, an interim gas sales agreement for 19 Bcf (gross) was executed with the Government of Ghana, which allowed for gas to be sold at $0.50 per mmbtu, in line with the agreed TEN gas sales agreement terms. The 19 Bcf is expected to be exported by the middle of 2023. The partnership is currently in discussions with the Government of Ghana regarding a future long-term gas sales agreement covering both the Jubilee and TEN fields.
U.S. Gulf of Mexico
Production in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico averaged approximately 15,700 boepd net (~82% oil) during the fourth quarter, in line with guidance.
Fourth quarter production was impacted by planned and unplanned facilities shutdowns as well as loop currents in the Gulf of Mexico, all of which were communicated alongside the Company's third quarter results in November.
Production from the Kodiak ST3 well continues to be impacted by well productivity issues in 2023. A workover plan for the well has been progressed with our partners and the work is expected to take place in the second half of the year with the production benefit expected in the fourth quarter.
The Odd Job subsea pump project intended to sustain long-term production from the field remains on budget and is on track to be in service by mid-year 2024.
The Winterfell development project continues to progress. Drilling of the wells for the first phase of the development is expected to start in the third quarter of 2023, with first oil expected at the end of the first quarter of 2024. Host facility and export agreements are expected to be signed by the second quarter of 2023.
In the second half of 2023, Kosmos plans to drill the Tiberius infrastructure-led exploration (ILX) well, which is located in block 964 of Keathley Canyon (33% working interest and operator) in the prolific outboard Wilcox play. Tiberius is a four-way structural trap targeting a pre-drill gross resource of ~135 million barrels of oil. Similar structures in the outer Wilcox play have historically experienced an average success rate of around 50%.
Equatorial Guinea
Production in Equatorial Guinea averaged approximately 27,700 bopd gross and 8,700 bopd net in the fourth quarter of 2022. Kosmos lifted 1 cargo from Equatorial Guinea during the quarter as expected.
Activity in 2023 is focused on an infill well campaign, with drilling expected to commence in the second half of the year. The first well is expected to be online by the end of the fourth quarter with subsequent wells online early in 2024.
In 2023, Kosmos and partners are planning to progress the Akeng Deep ILX opportunity (40% working interest) to test in early 2024. This high-graded opportunity is targeting a pre-drill gross resource of ~180 million barrels of oil in the deeper Albian trend and would be tied back to the Ceiba FPSO in a success case. In the first quarter of 2023, Kosmos was awarded a 24% working interest in Block EG-01, which contains an extension of the Albian trend.
Mauritania & Senegal
Phase 1 of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim liquified natural gas (LNG) project continues to make good progress, and was around 90% complete at year-end, with the following updates across the key work streams:
- Hub Terminal: Construction complete with commissioning underway
- Wells: Four wells drilled and completed. Flow back of the wells has demonstrated significantly higher rates than required for liquefaction
- Subsea: The subsea shallow water gas export pipeline from the FPSO to the hub terminal has been installed and the deep lay pipeline vessel has arrived to install the deepwater pipeline
- FPSO: Currently in Singapore for the scheduled installation of fair leads, following sailaway from the COSCO shipyard in January 2023. The vessel is then expected to resume its voyage to West Africa arriving in the second quarter of 2023
- FLNG: On track for sailaway in the second quarter of 2023. Construction and mechanical completion activities continue and commissioning work has begun
- Hookup activities are expected to begin in the second half of the year with first gas targeted for the fourth quarter of 2023
On Phase 2 of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG project, the partners (SMH, Petrosen, bp and Kosmos) have confirmed the development concept and will progress a gravity-based structure (GBS) with total capacity of between 2.5-3.0 million tonnes per annum. GBS LNG developments have a static connection to the seabed with the structure base providing LNG storage and a foundation for liquefaction facilities.
The concept design will also include new wells and subsea equipment, maximizing the use of existing Phase 1 infrastructure.
In July 2021, the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim project was granted the status of ‘National Project of Strategic Importance’ by the Presidents of Mauritania and Senegal, demonstrating the commitment of the host governments and the significance of the project to both countries.
Reserves
At year-end 2022, Kosmos had 1P reserves of approximately 280 million barrels of oil equivalent, representing a 1P reserves to production ratio of around 12 years. 2P reserves as of year-end 2022 are approximately 550 million barrels, representing a 2P reserves-to-production ratio of over 20 years. 2P organic reserves replacement ratio was ~107%, adjusted for pre-emption in Ghana. Kosmos’ year-end reserves have been independently evaluated by Ryder Scott.
2022 Capital Expenditure Budget
Kosmos expects to spend $700-$750 million in capital expenditures in 2023. Around $250-$300 million of the budget is related to maintenance activities across the producing assets in Ghana, Equatorial Guinea and the U.S. Gulf of Mexico with around $350-$400 million related to our three development projects (Jubilee Southeast, Tortue Phase 1 and Winterfell). Between $50-$100 million will be used on our ILX activities in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and Equatorial Guinea as well as the appraisal of our greater gas resources in Mauritania & Senegal.
(1) A Non-GAAP measure, see attached reconciliation of non-GAAP measure.
(2) Production means net entitlement volumes. In Ghana and Equatorial Guinea, this means those volumes net to Kosmos' working interest or participating interest and net of royalty or production sharing contract effect. In the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, this means those volumes net to Kosmos' working interest and net of royalty.
Source: Kosmos Energy
