Condor Petroleum Inc., a Canadian based oil and gas company focused on exploration and production activities in Turkey and Kazakhstan, announces the release of its Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2018.

2018 Highlights

• Achieved an average production of 1,015 boepd for the three months ended December 31, 2018 and 1,144 boepd for the year ended December 31, 2018, representing a 119% and 170% increase from the same respective periods in 2017.
• Realized crude oil and natural gas sales increased to $4.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 and $17.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 representing a 168% and 210% increase from the same respective periods in 2017.
• Realized a robust operating netback1 in 2018 of $11.8 million or $29.11 per boe, representing a 271% increase from $3.2 million and a 47% increase from $19.75 per boe respectively compared to 2017.
• Generated cash from operating activities of $7.5 million or $0.17 per basic share in 2018 versus cash used in operating activities of $8.2 million or $0.19 per basic share in 2017.
• In Kazakhstan, three new horizontal wells were drilled at Shoba and two well workovers performed at Taskuduk.
• In Turkey, one new well was drilled and two workovers were performed at Poyraz Ridge.
• The Ministry of Energy of the Government of Kazakhstan (“Ministry”) did not appeal the Kazakhstan court rulings that confirmed a force majeure event had occurred related to the Company’s Zharkamys exploration contract. The Company has submitted an application to the Ministry for the 630 day extension and expects the exploration period to the Zharkamys Contract to be extended during 2019.
• During 2018 the reference natural gas sales price in Turkey published by BOTAS Petroleum Pipeline Company was increased five times resulting in an overall increase of 92% in Turkish Lira (“TRL”). Despite the 28% year-on-year TRL devaluation in 2018, the gas price in CAD terms  increased 50% to $9.91 per Mscf as of December 31, 2018  (3.8611 TRL/CAD) from $6.60 per Mscf as of December 31, 2017 (3.0211 TRL/CAD).   
• The Company recorded a net loss of $3.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 (three months ended December 31, 2017: net loss of $0.1 million).
• In September 2018 certain terms of the Company’s existing secured non-revolving credit facility were amended to lengthen the duration of the facility and to reduce near term principal payments.

Operations

The Company produces crude oil in Kazakhstan and natural gas and associated condensate in Turkey. Overall production for the three months ended December 31, 2018 increased 119% to 93,401 boe or an average of 1,015 boepd from 42,623 boe or an average of 464 boepd for the same three month period in 2017. Overall production for 2018 increased 170% to 417,286 boe or an average of 1,144 boepd from 154,429 boe or an average of 423 boepd for 2017. The 2018 production increases are due mainly to the commencement of natural gas production in Turkey in December of 2017 and an infill drilling and workover program in Kazakhstan to offset natural production declines.

Three horizontal wells were drilled and completed in Kazakhstan during the second half of 2018. A 493 meter lateral section was drilled at Sh-12, a 520 meter lateral section was drilled at Sh-13 and a 502 meter lateral section was drilled at Sh-15. Sh-12 and Sh-13 are currently on production and Sh-15 is shut-in after producing predominately water. There are strong indications that the Sh-15 wellbore has been placed in a hydrocarbon saturated interval and the vast majority of the wellbore is not, nor near, a water interval. However, it is believed this well intersected a fault that is in communication with the field’s oil-water contact. It is believed that the Sh-15 completion did not isolate potential water influxes as the external casing packers have not properly expanded due to the early water production impeding this process. Oil was recently placed across the packers in an attempt to have them properly expand. As per the packer manufacturer’s recommendation, the well will remain shut in until the second quarter of 2019. Completing additional pay sections on Sh-12 are also planned during this timeframe to further increase production.

Workovers were completed in the fourth quarter of 2018 to replace downhole pumps on two Taskuduk wells. Unfortunately, the metal rods that rotate the downhole progressive cavity pumps failed in both wells after limited runtime. The Company plans to install rod pumps in both wells during the second quarter of 2019 and with rod pumps, the metal rods will move vertically in the wellbore rather than in a rotating motion and is expected to lead to better pump efficiency.

In 2018, the Company targeted increasing Kazakhstan production to over 800 bopd with the infill drilling and workover program but actual production was lower due mainly to the Sh-15 and Taskuduk pump issues. During the past 21 days, Kazakhstan production has averaged 1,007 bopd. The Company expects to exceed the 800 bopd target during the second quarter of 2019 after the Taskuduk pump changes are performed, additional pay sections are added to Sh-12 and Sh-15 is returned to service. One additional development well is planned for 2019 to further grow Kazakhstan oil production and cash flows. Engineering design is also underway to expand Shoba water injection facilities and associated water flooding capabilities.

The Company produced 49,637 boe in Turkey or an average of 540 boepd and received an operating netback1 of $36.18 per boe for the three months ended December 31, 2018 (three months ended December 31, 2017: 8,970 boe in Turkey or an average of 98 boepd and received an operating netback1 of $27.83 per boe) The Company produced 264,182 boe in Turkey or an average of 724 boepd and received an operating netback1 of $30.74 per boe in 2018 (2017: 8,970 boe in Turkey or an average of 24 boepd and received an operating netback1 of $27.83 per boe). Production to date from Poyraz Ridge has been below the rates initially forecast due to greater variability in reservoir quality and continuity than originally modelled. The production history indicates reservoir compartmentalization, which is reducing each well’s effective gas drainage radius.

The PW-6 infill well was drilled and completed in 2018 and initially had negligible pressure and flow response. The well started flowing intermittently after adding perforations and performing a fluid treatment. Data is being gathered that should provide further diagnosis and additional remediation options to increase production, including stimulation and artificial lift options for these lower permeability reservoirs.

Another sand interval was also perforated on PW-5, a 2017 exploration well that targeted the footwall compartment lying to the north of the Poyraz Ridge field. Although PW-5 did not flow when tested in 2017, the newly perforated interval has started flowing intermittently. Data is being gathered at PW-5 which may identify further remediation options for this well and field development opportunities for this region. Stimulation options are also being investigated for the other producing wells.

Subsurface characterization continued on the Yakamoz sub-thrust fold prospect which is located two kilometres north of the Poyraz Ridge field and within the Company’s Poyraz Ridge Operating License. The original 2D seismic data was reprocessed and significantly improved both data quality and imaging of the structure and stratigraphy, which has since been integrated into a revised geological model. Two separate locations have been identified up-dip from the Yakamoz 1 well, where numerous gas shows were encountered while drilling in 2017. The new locations target both the proven Miocene and Upper Eocene reservoirs, in addition to the deeper Middle to lower Eocene reservoirs, which have not yet been tested. A side-track of the Yakamoz 1 into one of these up-dip targets could be drilled in 2019, subject to available funding. A successful Yakamoz 1 well would be tied into the existing Poyraz Ridge gas plant for processing and onward sales.

Cash from operating activities increased to $7.5 million for 2018 versus cash used in operating activities of $8.2 million for 2017. Cash from operating activities before changes in non-cash working capital increased to $5.3 million 2018 versus cash used in operating activities before changes in non-cash working capital of $6.3 million for 2017.

Zharkamys Contract

The Company’s Zharkamys Contract was due to expire on December 14, 2016. Prior to this date, the Kazakhstan Chamber of International Commerce and subsequently the Kazakhstan Civil Court (“Civil Court”) confirmed that a force majeure event had occurred which, under Kazakhstan subsurface use law, can be the basis for the Zharkamys Contract validity period to be extended for a period of 630 days. In May 2017, the Kazakhstan Court of Appeal (“Court of Appeal”), pursuant to an appeal filed by the Ministry, ruled that the force majeure event was not recognized and reversed the decision of the Civil Court. The Company referred the case to the Kazakhstan Supreme Court (“Supreme Court”) and in November 2017 the Supreme Court ruling overturned both the Civil Court and the Court of Appeal rulings and referred the case back to the Civil Court for further review by a new panel of judges. In March 2018 the Civil Court ruling confirmed that the force majeure event had occurred. In April 2018 the Ministry appealed the Civil Court ruling and in May 2018 the Court of Appeal upheld the Civil Court ruling that the force majeure event had occurred. The Ministry did not appeal to the Supreme Court within the six months permitted by Kazakhstan law. The Company has submitted an application to the Ministry for the 630 day extension and expects the exploration period to the Zharkamys Contract to be extended during 2019.