far limited (far) - bell potter 19 october 2015

Upload: reservoirengr

Post on 08-Jul-2018

217 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

  • 8/19/2019 Far Limited (Far) - Bell Potter 19 October 2015

    1/12

     

    19 October 2015

    FAR Limited (FAR)

     Appraisal drilling program about to start

    Recommendation

    Buy (unchanged) Price

    $0.094Valuation

    $0.28 (previously $0.26)RiskSpeculative

    Analyst

    Peter Arden 613 9235 1833

    AuthorisationDavid Coates 612 8224 2887

    Expected Return

    Capital growth 198%

    Dividend yield 0%

    Total expected return 198%

    Company Data & Ratios

    Enterprise value $260m

    Market cap $304m

    Issued capital 3,193.3mFree float 72%

     Avg. daily val. (52wk) $1.1m

    12 month price range $0.056 - $0.145

    GICS sector

    Energy

    Price Performance 

    BELL POTTER SECURITIES LIMITED ACN 25 006 390 7721 AFSL 243480

    DISCLAIMER AND DISCLOSURES THIS REPORT MUST BE READ WITH THE DISCLAIMER AND DISCLOSURESON PAGE 12 THAT FORM PART OF IT. DISCLOSURE: BELL POTTER SECURITIES ACTED AS LEAD MANAGERFOR THE $46.7M PLACEMENT IN OCTOBER 2014 AND RECEIVED FEES FOR THAT SERVICE.

    Page 1

    (1m) (3m) (12m)

    Price (A$)   0 .08 0.08 0.13

    Absolute (%)   14.6 17.5 -27.7

    Rel market (%)   9.6 22.9 -29.0

    SpeculativeSee key risks on page 2.

    Speculative securities may not besuitable for Retail clients.

    First appraisal well of SNE oil field to spud in a few weeks

     After making two outstanding oil discoveries including the largest oil discovery in 2014

    in the SNE-1 well in offshore Senegal, the joint venture (JV) partners (Cairn Energy,

    40% and Operator; ConocoPhillips, 35%; FAR, 15%; and Petrosen, 10%) are about to

    start an exciting appraisal drilling program. The appraisal program is aiming to achieve

    a declaration of commerciality by proving the discovery meets the minimum economic

    field size (MEFS), believed to be around 200 million barrels (Mbbs) of oil reserves.

    Given the field has already been assessed as having a 1C Resource of 150Mbbls and

    a 2C Resource of 330 Mbbls, the appraisal and associated exploration program is

    seen as a low risk one with considerable scope to show that the field is significantly

    larger than the MEFS, particularly if the highly rated overlying Bellatrix Prospect comes

    in at close to its best estimate of 168Mbbls of unrisked potential resources.

    ConocoPhillips is managing the appraisal drilling program using one of the most

    modern and efficient deep sea drilling rigs that has been contracted on favourable

    market terms reflecting the significant reduction in rig rates from the industry downturn.

    Building on its major offshore Senegal successes

     After its major discoveries in offshore Senegal, the JV has reprocessed its existing

    seismic and is also shooting additional detailed seismic. This new seismic is designed

    to firm up the definition of the SNE field and to provide data in the north and east parts

    of the JV permits along trend from existing mapped prospects. In its own right, FAR

    has secured an option on a new offshore area to the north-east of the SNE field.

    FAR’s Senegal discoveries still attractive at low oil prices

    Despite the fall in oil prices, the quality of FAR’s two very significant oil discoveries in

    offshore Senegal and the significant reduction in capital and operating costs for oil

    drilling and development means these discoveries are still economically attractive,

    particularly SNE. The development of the SNE field is likely to be done via a hub

    arrangement that Cairn estimates to still be economically attractive at oil prices around

    US$50/bbl while yielding IRRs in the low 20s% and which may tie in the FAN-1 field.

    Investment thesis – Valuation $0.28/sh (previously $0.26/sh)

    FAR is largely funded for the exciting and cost-effective upcoming appraisal drilling

    program in offshore Senegal, benefiting from lower drilling costs and assistance of

    arguably the world’s leading independent E & P company (ConocoPhillips).

    We see the upcoming appraisal and exploration program around the SNE-1 discovery

    as most exciting because it’s a relatively low risk program and it has the potential to

    add significant value to the SNE field by not just confirming the characteristics and

    quality of the discovery, but by increasing its size significantly. We have changed our

    valuation methodology to our usual 12-month forward looking NPV basis and in the

    process we have increased our valuation of FAR by 8% to $0.28 per share from using

    a higher current share price for dilution to allow for a possible equity raising.

    Our Speculative Buy recommendation is retained.

     Absolute Price

    SOURCE: IRESS

    $0.00

    $0.02

    $0.04

    $0.06

    $0.08

    $0.10

    $0.12

    $0.14

    $0.16

    Oct 13 Apr 14 Oct 14 Apr 15 Oct 15

    FAR S&P 300 Rebased

  • 8/19/2019 Far Limited (Far) - Bell Potter 19 October 2015

    2/12

     

    Page 2

    FAR Limited (FAR) 19 October 2015

    Risks of investment

    The risks of investment include, but are not limited to:

    1. Exploration success: The early stage nature of FAR’s activities makes its exploration

    in frontier areas very high risk. Even after having made two very significant discoveries

    in a new frontier area as FAR has done in offshore Senegal, and demonstrating that

    there is greatly increased prospectivity in the whole area now, the appraisal and

    exploration of the finds and of highly rated targets in nearby areas or prospects remains

    high risk until adequate exploration, appraisal and ultimately production has been

    carried out to effectively de-risk an area.

    2. Oil price and exchange rate risk: International oil and gas prices and foreign

    exchange rates are affected by various economic and geopolitical factors that make

    them volatile and liable to relatively sudden change. The oil and gas prices and foreign

    exchange rates that apply to any of FAR’s projects may be different from our forecasts. 3. Production risk: In frontier areas such as those where FAR often operates, there have

    often been few wells drilled and there may have been little or no hydrocarbon

    production in the region previously or currently to indicate how reservoirs behave in a

    production regime. Until reliable production data is established for an area, there is a

    risk that various production aspects may adversely impact on commerciality.  

    4. Political risk: FAR operates in a number of countries where there may be relatively

    heightened political risk from time to time. In Africa, where FAR has had quite a long

    experience of operating, the company generally only operates in countries that are

    relatively stable politically. Senegal has had a form of democracy for about 197 years

    while Kenya has had a strong system of parliamentary democracy since independence

    over 50 years ago. FAR always ensures it engages with and strongly supports thecommunities in which it operates, even if it is only a minority partner in a joint venture.

    5. Funding risk: The company has been extremely successful at farming out the high risk

    early stage drilling in its frontier African hydrocarbon prospects. This has seen FAR

    largely free-carried through that high risk stage and it has often also included FAR

    receiving cash payments as reimbursement of its earlier exploration costs. By its

    nature, the exploration activities of FAR are expensive and the company needs to

    ensure that it has adequate funding to maintain its interests and is able to fund its share

    of what are sometimes more expensive exploration wells because of unexpected

    drilling or other complications.

    6. Inappropriate acquisitions: The acquisition of other assets can divert management

    effort from the current focus and may yield inadequate returns.

    Other significant risks include regulatory, environmental and commercial ones, which are

    typical for natural resource projects. These aspects are usually well understood and readily

    managed by the competent and well experienced operators of the joint ventures in which

    FAR is a participant, with FAR also providing input and advice as appropriate.

  • 8/19/2019 Far Limited (Far) - Bell Potter 19 October 2015

    3/12

     

    Page 3

    FAR Limited (FAR) 19 October 2015

    About to see just how big SNE really is

    Appraisal of SNE field should show its development potential 

     Appraisal drilling is about to start on the world’s largest oil discovery in 2014 (as ranked by

    IHS CERA), the SNE-1 discovery in offshore Senegal. The drill ship Athena has been

    contracted for the three well drilling program and has mobilised from Angola. The drill ship

    is a state of the art, 7th

     generation one that has been contracted from ConocoPhillips (who

    have it under long term contract) at significantly less than its previous rates, reflecting the

    softer market conditions currently. The ConocoPhillips drilling organisation will play a key

    role in project managing the drilling program. The drilling program comprises two appraisal

    wells (SNE-2 and SNE-3) and an exploration well at the Bellatrix Prospect (BEL-1), which

    will also double as an appraisal of the northern part of the SNE field (Figures 2 and 3).

    The appraisal program is aiming to achieve a declaration of commerciality by confirming

    volumes, connectivity and productivity and proving the discovery meets the MEFS,believed to be around 200Mbbs of oil reserves. The drilling program is also designed to

    test the upside in the SNE field, where the 3C resource is 670Mbbls of oil on a gross,

    unrisked prospective basis (100%). The discovery well, SNE-1, was drilled to find oil, not

    determine the field size and not all sands intersected in the well were tested. The current

    estimates for the size of SNE field are considerably larger than the pre-drill estimates and it

    is likely that the appraisal drilling program could further increase the field size. The

    appraisal drilling program is estimated to cost about US$200m, depending on the amount

    of testing, (FAR share is estimated to be about US$33.3m or A$45.9m) and will involve all

    wells being logged, cored and flow tested and is expected to be completed by May 2016.

    Figure 1 – Section showing potential extent of SNE discovery Figure 2 – Map of likely drilling locations for 3 well program

    SOURCE: FAR LTD SOURCE: FAR LTD NOTE: *REFER FAR ANNOUNCEMENT 13 APRIL 2015; BEST ESTIMATE, GROSSUNRISKED, PROSPECTIVE RESOURCES 100% BASIS, OIL ONLY

    Figure 3 - Seismic section (N-S) showing proposed locations and paths of SNE appraisal wells

    SOURCE: FAR LTD NOTE: RED = GAS; GREEN = OIL; YELLOW = UNTESTED SANDS

  • 8/19/2019 Far Limited (Far) - Bell Potter 19 October 2015

    4/12

     

    Page 4

    FAR Limited (FAR) 19 October 2015

    Operator estimates SNE field can have robust economics

    Despite the fall in world oil prices, the Operator of the JV, Cairn Energy (Cairn) has

    estimated that the potential economics for the SNE field are still attractive (Figure 4), given

    the fall in drilling and operating costs in the petroleum exploration and development

    industry over the past year. Underlying the economics of the JV’s offshore Senegal blocks

    is very good Petroleum Sharing Contract (PSC) terms with the Government of Senegal.

    Figure 4 – Indicative potential SNE economics at different oil price and cost scenarios

    SOURCE: FAR LTD

    Cairn’s preliminary development concept for the SNE field involves a standalone floating

    production, storage and offtake vessel (FPSO) with expansion capacity for satellite tie-backs. Production is expected to involve subsea methods incorporating gas and water

    injection wells to deliver a plateau production rate of about 50,000 to 100,000 barrels of oil

    per day (bopd) although we understand initial production rates are likely to be above

    100,000bopd. While the FAN-1 discovery may be developed as a standalone field, Cairn’s

    current thinking is that it would be developed as a tie-back to the SNE field (Figure 5).

    Figure 5 - Schematic representation of development and tie-back production concept for offshore Senegal

    SOURCE: FAR LTD

  • 8/19/2019 Far Limited (Far) - Bell Potter 19 October 2015

    5/12

     

    Page 5

    FAR Limited (FAR) 19 October 2015

    Target at Bellatrix means exploration well is a two-for-one deal

    The Bellatrix Prospect overlies the northern extent of the SNE field (Figure 6). The

    proposed exploration well to test Bellatrix, BEL-1, is planned with two objectives. The

    upper part of the hole will test the Bellatrix structure and then it will be continued on as an

    appraisal of the northern extent of the SNE field.

    Figure 6 - Cross section showing the location of the SNE field and the nearby shelf edge targets

    SOURCE: FAR LTD

    Other shelf edge targets now represent enhanced opportunities

    With the discovery of the SNE field, the shelf edge of the JV area was recognised as being

    very prospective for additional oil deposits. The JV has identified at least six significant

    shelf edge prospects with combined unrisked best estimate potential resources of

    765Mbbls (on 100% basis) (Table 1). The JV has commenced a 3D seismic survey over

    its three permits in offshore Senegal (Figure 7) to acquire data in the north and east of the

    permits along trend from the existing mapped prospects where there is currently no 3D

    seismic data coverage. The seismic survey will also assist with the delineation of the

    existing SNE discovery with a proposed swath (shown in red in Figure 7) over it.

    Table 1 - JV undrilled inventory in Offshore Senegal Figure 7 - Map of new 3D seismic survey area

    SOURCE: FAR LTD NOTE: *REFER TO FAR ANNOUNCEMENT 13 APRIL 2015; BEST ESTIMATE, FAR LTDGROSS UNRISKED, PROSPECTIVE RESOURCES 100% BASIS, OIL ONLY 

  • 8/19/2019 Far Limited (Far) - Bell Potter 19 October 2015

    6/12

     

    Page 6

    FAR Limited (FAR) 19 October 2015

    FAR increases its exposure in offshore Senegal

    FAR has entered into a farm-in option with Trace Atlantic Oil Ltd (Trace) for the Djiffere

    block, located adjacent to the three its three permits, Rufisque, Sangomar and Sangomar

    Deep (RSSD) that are currently the subject of its JV with Cairn Energy and ConocoPhillips

    (Figure 8). The Djiffere block covers an area of 4,459km2 in offshore Central Senegal

    where water depths are between 10m and 250m but are predominantly less than 100m.

    The new acreage gives FAR increased exposure to the shelf trend prospectivity confirmed

    by the SNE discovery. The western part of the Djiffere block is located along geological

    trend with shelf play types identified in the eastern part of the RSSD blocks. FAR has

    identified a number of potential shelf structures within the Djiffere block from existing 2D

    seismic data, with one lead already estimated by FAR to have potential to contain in

    excess 100Mbbls of unrisked prospective resources. The Djiffere block, being in shallow

    water, is expected to be suitable for low cost drilling and near term development projects.

    FAR has awarded a contract for a 3D survey over 400km2 in the north-west corner of the

    Djiffere Block (shown in Figure 8 in red hatching) to enable it to better evaluate the shelf

    trend potential within the Djiffere block. This new 3D seismic survey will be completed atthe end of 2015 as an extension to the 3D survey of the RSSD blocks at a cost estimated

    by FAR to be about $US1.1m.

    Figure 8 - Map of Djiffere Block in offshore Senegal

    SOURCE: FAR LTD

  • 8/19/2019 Far Limited (Far) - Bell Potter 19 October 2015

    7/12

     

    Page 7

    FAR Limited (FAR) 19 October 2015

    Valuation: NPV based estimate lifted 8% to $0.28/sh

    We have adjusted our valuations to reflect recent progress and revised risk assessments

    for the offshore Senegal developments, which includes incorporating the impact of reduceddrilling and operating costs. Our per share valuations have also changed from

    incorporating less dilution from the assumed equity to be raised from using the higher

    current share price compared to what was used previously. We have changed our

    valuation methodology to our usual 12-month forward valuation that is based on risked

    NPV-based valuations for the SNE and FAN fields.

    We have increased our valuation of FAR by 8% to $0.28 per share from these factors and

    changes.

    Table 2 - Summary of risk-weighted NPV-based valuations of FAR

    Now +12 months +24 months

    A$m$ per share2,3 

    A$m$ per share2,3  A$m $ per share2,3 

    Exploration Assets – Senegal1  765 0.20 851 0.22 946 0.24

    - Kenya 151 0.04 151 0.04 151 0.04

    - Guinea Bissau 18 0.01 18 0.01 18 0.01

    - Australia 16 0.00 16 0.00 16 0.00

    - Total 950 0.24 1,035 0.27 1,130 0.29

    Net Financials4  66 0.02 66 0.02 66 0.02

    Total 1,016 0.26 1,102 0.28 1,197 0.31

    SOURCE: BELL POTTER SECURITIES ESTIMATES NOTES: 1. BASED ON 13.7% INTEREST ASSUMING PETROSEN BACK-IN AT 18%2. USING DILUTED CAPITAL OF 3,892.2M SHARES;3. MAY NOT ADD BECAUSE OF ROUNDING AND/OR DILUTION EFFECTS.4. INCLUDES CORPORATE COSTS AND FORECAST ADDITIONAL EQUITY.

    For its Senegal assets, we have taken FAR’s interest as 13.7% on the basis that we have

    assumed FAR’s interest is reduced to that level on the basis that Petrosen will increase its

    interest to 18% at the time of the development decision. Currently Petrosen has a free-

    carried 10% interest.

    Market didn’t ever fully acknowledge significance of FAR’sSenegal discoveries

    We estimate the 12-month forward value of FAR’s offshore Senegal interests at $851m or

    $0.22 per share to FAR after allowing for Petrosen, the state oil company of Senegal, to

    back-in to a level of 18% given the potential size and status of the discoveries, even

    though that would be a very major step for Petrosen to take. FAR’s Senegal interests are

    the major component of our risked valuation for the whole of FAR of $0.28 per share.

    Currently, the Australian market is deeply discounting the value of FAR’s Senegal oil

    discoveries. We do not believe FAR ever received full recognition for the size and qualityof its two offshore Senegal discoveries in 2014 for several reasons including:

      The rapidly falling world oil price at the end of 2014 completely overrode the orderly

    market assessment of the FAN-1 discovery and particularly the SNE-1 discovery;

      Concern over the time to first oil – except for the very rushed development by Tullow of

    the Jubilee field in offshore Ghana (which is now beginning to be seen as having been

    premature as further discoveries are made nearby, requiring duplication of services

    rather than right-sizing of a more delayed development), the average development time

    for major oil developments in West Africa over the past 20 years is 7  – 10 years so the

    JV proposal for first oil in 5  – 7 years represents a relatively rapid development that

    allows for sensible exploration of the highly prospective nearby prospects and leads;

    and

      There was no announcement on an increase to the initial estimate for the size of the

    SNE discovery following reprocessing of the seismic data. Because the initial estimate

  • 8/19/2019 Far Limited (Far) - Bell Potter 19 October 2015

    8/12

     

    Page 8

    FAR Limited (FAR) 19 October 2015

    for the SNE field was larger than the pre-drill estimate, it was generally expected that

    the seismic reprocessing and well data could lead to an increase in its size.

    FAR needs to be well-funded to maximise the likely value of

    upcoming appraisal and exploration programs 

    FAR had cash of $43.6m at 30 June 2015 and had expected to spend about $11m on

    exploration and evaluation in the September 2015 quarter. FAR had been hoping to

    increase its cash balance through a farm-out of some of its Kenyan exploration assets but

    delays to the planned programs there has made this less likely to occur now in the near

    term.

    We estimate that FAR could need to raise a net amount of about $50m over the next six

    months or so to ensure that it is adequately funded going into the planned appraisal and

    exploration program for offshore Senegal involving three firm wells at this stage. We

    believe it is very important for FAR to be adequately funded for the planned appraisal and

    exploration program in case the scope of the program is increased at short notice by the

    JV’s two large petroleum companies. 

    We have conservatively assumed that FAR raises about $50m (net) at the current share

    price (Table 3) even though the current share price is at a significant discount to our risk-

    weighted valuation of FAR. There could be favourable outcomes from the upcoming

    appraisal and exploration program in offshore Senegal that may lead to a share price re-

    rating by the time the capital is actually sought.

    Table 3 - Forecast additional equity to be raised in the next year

    Year to December 2016e

    Net amount to be raised1 ($ M) 50

    Share price assumed ($) 0.094

    Number of shares to be issued (M) 568.9

    Total number of shares on issue at year end(M) 3,762.2

    SOURCE: BELL POTTER SECURITIES ESTIMATES NOTE 1. AFTER CAPITAL RAISING COSTS

    FAR likely to remain exploration focussed but is likely toremain an active participant in current offshore Senegal JV

    FAR has successfully demonstrated its ability as an explorer. The company has a strong

    track record of identifying new frontier exploration plays, particularly in various parts of

     Africa, completing initial exploration to define attractive targets (such as by carrying out

    detailed seismic surveys), and then attracting major E & P partners to fund the early stage

    high risk exploration drilling. While we expect FAR to retain its exploration focus, weexpect the company will remain in the current offshore Senegal JV as there is still a

    considerable amount of value to be added by the upcoming appraisal and exploration

    programs and future exploration and appraisal programs as the JV seeks to define the full

    significance of the two discoveries there and to explore for similar additional oil discoveries

    in the highly prospective nearby areas.

    In the longer term, we expect FAR to have a strong focus on Senegal and northwest Africa

    following the two exceptional discoveries it has made there and the advantages it has

    gained into the geology of the region in the course of its involvement there.

  • 8/19/2019 Far Limited (Far) - Bell Potter 19 October 2015

    9/12

     

    Page 9

    FAR Limited (FAR) 19 October 2015

    Oil price showing signs of stabilizing

     After having briefly shown signs of heading towards US$40/bbl in late August (Figure 9),

    the world oil price (Brent) is showing signs of stabilizing at around US$50/bbl as the growthin global inventories continues but seems to be doing so at a slower rate than earlier in

    2015. While we are yet to see any significant cut-back in OPEC’s overall production rate

    or more particularly in the production rate of the largest OPEC producer, Saudi Arabia, and

    second largest producer, Iraq.

    Figure 9 - Chart of Brent oil price (US$/bbl)

    SOURCE: IRESS

    Weaker US Dollar helping to lift oil prices

    The recent relative weakness in the US Dollar has been a contributing factor in the

    rebound in the oil price. A series of weak economic data releases in the USA has cast

    some further doubt on the likelihood and timing of the expected interest rate rise in the

    USA, previously expected in mid-2015 but now expected to be considerably later at least

    and potentially not until 2016. Meanwhile, there is growing evidence of a significant

    reduction in oilfield activity in the major US oil producing basins. There is a growing

    expectation that there will now a slight reduction in shale oil production over the next year

    because it is sensitive to the oil price and from a physical perspective the nation has simplybeen running out of oil storage capacity in the face of the large USA oil inventories.

    Oil prices likely to remain volatile, driven by stockpiles and interest rates

    With continuing strong USA and Middle East oil production in the face of sluggish global

    economic performance, particularly by major European economies, oil prices are likely to

    stabilise at around the currently modestly improved levels but to remain volatile and

    vulnerable to further weakness in the short term. In the short to medium term, however, a

    slight decrease in the level of USA oil production rate is expected to occur as higher cost

    wells are shut in and the amount of new production is very muted at current oil prices. We

    still expect that in the medium to longer term any resumption in the growth of USA shale oil

    production is likely to be more than matched by increasing global demand as economic

    growth finally improves, leading ultimately to sustainably higher oil prices.

  • 8/19/2019 Far Limited (Far) - Bell Potter 19 October 2015

    10/12

     

    Page 10

    FAR Limited (FAR) 19 October 2015

    FAR Limited (FAR)

    Company Description

    FAR is a petroleum exploration company with principal interests in offshore East and West

     Africa, where it has recently participated in two major oil discovery through its 15% interest

    in the FAN-1 and SNE-1 wells in offshore Senegal. The SNE-1 discovery was the largest

    oil find made in 2014 and it is now the subject of an appraisal and exploration program

    designed to FAR has significant interests in large and mostly offshore African exploration

    permits in Senegal, Kenya and Guinea-Bissau. FAR also has exploration interests in the

    north-west of Western Australia, having 100% of two offshore permits in the Dampier Sub

    Basin.

    Investment thesis – Valuation increased by 8% to $0.28/sh (previously $0.26/sh)

    FAR is largely funded for the exciting and cost-effective upcoming appraisal drilling

    program in offshore Senegal, benefiting from lower drilling costs and assistance of

    arguably the world’s leading independent E & P company (ConocoPhillips).

    We see the upcoming appraisal and exploration program around the SNE-1 discovery as

    most exciting because it’s a relatively low risk program and it has the potential to add

    significant value to the SNE field by not just confirming the characteristics and quality of the

    discovery, but by increasing its size significantly. We have changed our valuation

    methodology to our usual 12-month forward looking NPV basis and in the process we have

    increased our valuation of FAR by 8% to $0.28 per share from using a higher current share

    price for dilution to allow for a possible equity raising.

    Our Speculative Buy recommendation is retained.

    Valuation: 12-month forward sum-of-the-parts is $0.28/sh: Our overall valuation of FARis based on risk-weighted sum-of-the parts estimated valuations for each of the main

    exploration assets of which the principal ones are the risk-weighted DCF-based valuations

    of the FAN-1 and SNE-1 oil discoveries in offshore Senegal. We have assumed an

    appraisal program of at least three wells along with up to three exploration wells is carried

    out on and in the vicinity of the SNE-1 discovery prior to development that is forecast to

    lead to initial oil production in about 2021.

    Risks 

    The key risks include the following:

    7. Exploration success: The early stage nature of FAR’s activities makes its explorationin frontier areas very high risk. Even after having made two very significant discoveries

    in a new frontier area as FAR has done in offshore Senegal, and demonstrating that

    there is greatly increased prospectivity in the whole area now, the exploration of nearby

    areas or prospects remains high risk until adequate exploration, appraisal and

    ultimately production has been carried out to effectively de-risk an area.

    8. Oil price and exchange rate risk: International oil and gas prices and foreign

    exchange rates are affected by various economic and geopolitical factors that make

    them volatile and liable to relatively sudden change. The oil and gas prices and foreign

    exchange rates that apply to any of FAR’s projects may be different from our forecasts. 

    9. Production risk: In frontier areas such as those where FAR often operates, there have

    often been few wells drilled and there may have been little or no hydrocarbon

    production in the region previously or currently to indicate how reservoirs behave in a

  • 8/19/2019 Far Limited (Far) - Bell Potter 19 October 2015

    11/12

     

    Page 11

    FAR Limited (FAR) 19 October 2015

    production regime. Until reliable production data is established for an area, there is a

    risk that various production aspects may adversely impact on commerciality.  

    10. Political risk: FAR operates in a number of countries where there may be relatively

    heightened political risk from time to time. In Africa, FAR generally only operates in

    countries that are relatively stable politically. Senegal has had a form of democracy forabout 196 years while Kenya has had a strong system of parliamentary democracy

    since independence over 50 years ago. FAR always ensures it engages with and

    strongly supports the communities in which it operates, even if it only a minority partner

    in a joint venture.

    11. Funding risk: The company has been extremely successful at farming out the high risk

    early stage drilling in its frontier African hydrocarbon prospects. This has seen FAR

    largely free-carried through that high risk stage and it has often also included FAR

    receiving cash payments as reimbursement of its earlier exploration costs. By its

    nature, the exploration activities of FAR are expensive and the company needs to

    ensure that it has adequate funding to maintain its interests and is able to fund its share

    of what are sometimes more expensive exploration wells because of unexpecteddrilling or other complications.

    12. Inappropriate acquisitions: The acquisition of other assets can divert management

    effort from the current focus and may yield inadequate returns.

    Other significant risks include regulatory, environmental and commercial ones, which are

    typical for natural resource projects. These aspects are usually well understood and readily

    managed by the competent and well experienced operators of the joint ventures in which

    FAR is a participant, with FAR also providing input and advice as appropriate.

  • 8/19/2019 Far Limited (Far) - Bell Potter 19 October 2015

    12/12

     

    FAR Limited (FAR) 19 October 2015

    Bell Potter Securities Limited ACN 25 006 390 7721

    Level 38, Aurora Place88 Phillip Street, Sydney 2000

    Telephone +61 2 9255 7200www.bellpotter.com.au

    Recommendation structure

    Buy: Expect >15% total return on a

    12 month view. For stocks regarded

    as ‘Speculative’ a return of >30% isexpected.

    Hold: Expect total return between -5%

    and 15% on a 12 month view 

    Sell: Expect