Noble Energy provides 2019 guidance

Stover added, “By the end of 2019, our high-return US onshore business is anticipated to be self-funding, and it will underpin the Company’s production growth of 5 - 10% per year, before the additional impact of major projects. We will be completing spend for Leviathan, offshore Israel, this year and commencing production and cash flow from the project by the end of the year. Our differentiated portfolio, combining high-quality US onshore assets with long-life offshore production, provides competitive advantage through low base production declines and low maintenance capital needs. Our early 2020 outlook provides over US$500 million in free cash flow⁽¹⁾ at strip pricing, which we plan to return to shareholders through the dividend and share repurchase programme.”

Highlights from the Company’s 2019 plan include:

• Organic capital expenditures funded by Noble Energy are planned at a range of US$2.4 to US$2.6 billion, 17% lower at the midpoint compared to 2018.
• Total company volumes are anticipated in the range of 345 - 365 million boe/d, an increase of 5%⁽³⁾ at the midpoint as compared to 2018.
• The Company’s US onshore business is anticipated to deliver asset-level free cash flow⁽²⁾ by the end of 2019, while delivering total volume growth of approximately 10%(3) and oil production growth of 13%⁽³⁾ from 2018 levels.
• First gas sales from Leviathan are expected by the end of 2019, delivering substantial production and cash flow growth in 2020.

Organic capital expenditures by area (in $million) are estimated to be:

• US onshore: 1600 - 1700.
• NBL-funded midstream: 100 - 125.
• Eastern Mediterranean: 550 - 600.
• West Africa: 100 - 125.
• Other: 50.
• Total: 2400 - 2600.

60% of the Company’s total organic capital for 2019 is expected to be spent in the first half of the year due to the timing of Leviathan spend and US onshore activity. Excluded from the amounts above is an estimated US$195 million of Noble Midstream Partners’ (NBLX) capital, which will be consolidated into Noble Energy. Third-party customer activity represents 65% of the NBLX capital.

US onshore

Approximately 90% of Noble Energy’s US onshore capital will be focused in the DJ and Delaware Basins. Activity in the DJ Basin includes progressing the second row of development in Mustang, which benefits from the Company’s approved Comprehensive Drilling Plan and access to multiple gas processing providers. In addition, Noble Energy expects to bring online a number of pads within Wells Ranch and East Pony. In the Delaware, operated activity is focused on row development primarily in the Wolfcamp A and Third Bone Spring zones. The Company will continue to optimise base production and cash flows from the Eagle Ford.

Noble Energy expects to commence production in 2019 on between 165 - 175 wells across the US onshore, including 95 - 100 in the DJ Basin, 50 - 55 in the Delaware Basin and approximately 20 in the Eagle Ford. The second and third quarter are planned to have a higher count of wells commencing production as compared to the first and fourth quarters of the year.

The Company anticipates full-year 2019 average US onshore sales volumes of between 262 000 and 278 000 boe/d. Combined, production from the DJ and Delaware Basins is expected to increase throughout 2019, up 15 - 20%⁽³⁾ on a full year basis. Sales volumes in the Eagle Ford are anticipated to be lower on a full year basis, with volumes growing from the first half to the second half of the year.

Compared to the second half of 2018, Noble Energy expects capital costs per well in 2019 to be lower by 10 - 15%. The majority of these costs savings have been realised through operational efficiencies and lower service costs.

International offshore

Offshore, the Company is focused on maintaining its strong base production and cash flow in Israel and Equatorial Guinea (E.G.), while progressing the Leviathan project offshore Israel for first gas sales by the end of the year. In addition, Noble Energy expects to sanction the Alen gas monetisation project in E.G. in the first half of 2019, with first gas sales estimated for the first half of 2021.

In Israel, gross natural gas sales volumes are anticipated to be flat to up slightly from 2018, reflecting the nearly fully utilised capacity of the Tamar field on an annual basis. Organic capital expenditures in the Eastern Mediterranean primarily comprise spending to complete the Leviathan project. Excluded from the Company’s organic capital expenditures guidance are costs related to an acquisition of interest in the EMG pipeline, which provides a connection point for the export of natural gas from Israel to Egypt.

In E.G., sales volumes are expected to be lower than 2018 due to natural field declines through the year and anticipated downtime for the third-party LNG facility turnaround in the first quarter. The Company’s 2019 capital expenditure guidance includes initial costs for the Alen gas monetisation project as well an additional development well at the Aseng oilfield to help mitigate field decline. First production from the Aseng development well is anticipated in the 3Q19.

The Company’s new guidance for 2019 replaces its prior 2019 and multi-year outlook.

First quarter 2019 guidance

The Company anticipates sales volumes in the first quarter in the range of 321 000 - 336 000 boe/d. In E.G., sales volumes are anticipated to be lower than the fourth quarter 2018 by approximately 15 000 boe/d as a result of the timing of oil liftings (production is anticipated to be greater than sales) and the turnaround maintenance at the third-party LNG facility. The variance from the 4Q18 is estimated to be 40% from oil volumes and 60% from natural gas volumes, which will also result in equity method investment income being lower than prior quarters.

US onshore sales volumes in the 1Q19 are also anticipated to be slightly lower than the 4Q18 as a result of the timing of well activities in late 2018 and early 2019. The first quarter is planned to be the low quarter for wells commencing production in 2019. Natural decline in the Eagle Ford will also impact the 1Q19. Second half US onshore production is anticipated to be approximately 15% higher than the first half of the year.

The Company’s planned first quarter organic capital expenditures of between US$725 and US$800 million are anticipated to be the highest quarter of 2019, driven by the timing of drilling and completion activities in the US onshore business as well as Leviathan spend.

⁽¹⁾ Free cash flow defined as GAAP cash flow from operations less consolidated capital investments.

⁽²⁾ Asset-level free cash flow defined as before tax operating cash flow, less capital investments.

⁽³⁾ Pro forma for asset divestments.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/20022019/noble-energy-provides-2019-guidance/