In announcing its interim results for the six months ended June 30, 2019, CNOOC Limited said on Thursday in the first half of the year the company made 16 new discoveries – of which 3 were made in Guyana – and drilled 35 successful appraisal wells.
The company said it devoted efforts in exploration and development activities during the first half of 2019 through a pragmatic and enterprising approach, and successfully increased oil and gas reserves and production levels. The Company’s amount of exploration and development activities reached a record high with improving key financial indicators. Overall, the Company’s operating results improved steadily, and it successfully achieved its targets.
The appraisal of Bozhong 19-6 condensate gas field in Bohai, China achieved encouraging successes, adding proved in-place volume of exceeding 100 million tons of oil equivalent, and providing a strong resource foundation for sustainable development of Bohai.
“In Stabroek block of Guyana, three new discoveries were made, and the recoverable resources were further expanded to more than 6.0 billion barrels of oil equivalent. The Glengorm discovery in the North Sea announced at the beginning of the year was proved to be the largest oil and gas discovery in U.K. in the past decade, further consolidating the Company’s leading position in U.K. oil and gas exploration and production industry,” CNOOC said.
Oil and gas production remained stable in the first half of the year, with a net production of 243.0 million BOE, representing an increase of 2.1% year on year. Among the six new projects scheduled to commence production this year, the Egina oilfield, Huizhou 32-5 oilfield comprehensive adjustment/Huizhou 33-1 oilfield joint development project and Appomattox project have successfully commenced production in the first half of the year.
During the period, the Company’s profitability and financial status continued to improve. “Through effective control, our all-in-cost fell below US$30 per BOE, reaching US$28.99, representing a decrease of 8.9% year on year, which reinforced our cost competitiveness,” CNOOC stated.
The Company’s capital expenditure was RMB33.7 billion, representing an increase of 60.5% year on year. Oil and gas sales reached RMB94.28 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 4.4%; net profits amounted to RMB30.25 billion; and earnings per share was RMB0.68, representing a significant increase of 18.7% year on year.
The Board of Directors has declared an interim dividend of HK$0.33 per share (tax inclusive) for the first half of 2019 by taking into account the Company’s financial performance.
Mr. Yang Hua, Chairman of CNOOC Limited, commented: “In the first half of 2019, with determined efforts to develop the Company’s business through innovation, the management and staff devoted efforts in exploration and development activities through a pragmatic and enterprising approach, successfully increased oil and gas reserves and production levels achieving outstanding results in high-quality development. Going forward, the Company will continue to strengthen its strategic guidance, re-allocate its resources accordingly and press forward with all major tasks to achieve its major production and operation targets for the year thus to create a new era of high-quality development and create greater value for the shareholders.”
CNOOC has a 25% stake in the prolific Stabroek Block offshore Guyana where ExxonMobil is operator with 45% interest and Hess holding 30%.
