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Tethys to cut spending in 2020 as oil prices slump

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, April 7, 2020

Sweden-based Tethys Oil, which as a focus on onshore areas, has announced plans to reduce expenditure in 2020 in response to the sharp drop in oil prices and increased uncertainty resulting from the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

While maintaining an unchanged production guidance, the range for 2020 capital expenditure is expected to be lower and somewhat wider than previously communicated.

“The situation we are currently experiencing is unprecedented. The Covid-19 pandemic and the extreme volatility in energy prices provides a tremendous challenge to the entire world. Tethys Oil is working closely with all relevant authorities and partners to assure our personnel is safe and that operations can continue as close to normal as possible,” said Magnus Nordin, managing director, Tethys Oil.

“Our strong financial position offers further security for all Tethys Oil’s stakeholders at this difficult time. The plans we have put in place aim to assure that Tethys Oil stays cash flow positive for the full year 2020 (before distributions to shareholders) at an oil price of $30 per barrel.

“We are hopeful things will normalise soon but until that happens, we will follow the situation very closely and are prepared and ready to take whatever action necessary to ensure our staff’s safety and the company’s financial stability,”

Revised guidance

Plans have been put in place to enable the reduction and deferral of certain capital expenditures while maintaining production levels and flexibility in response to further changes in the market environment.

Tethys Oil now expects total investments in oil and gas properties for the full year 2020 to be in the range of $50 million to $64 million.

The production guidance range of 12,600 – 13,400 bopd of annual average production from Blocks 3&4 in Oman before government take remains unchanged. The guidance on operating expenses also remains unchanged and is expected at or around USD 11.5 per barrel for 2020. At current oil prices and revised expenditure guidance, Tethys Oil expects its net entitlement of oil production to be 52 percent in 2020.

Covid-19 update

As a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, staffing both in Muscat and Stockholm offices has been reduced as employees have been equipped to work remotely and most physical office meetings have been replaced by video conferencing.

On Blocks 3&4 the operator has put a number of precautionary procedures in place to allow for work in the field to continue safely. Already high standards of hygiene have been raised and shift procedures changed to allow for a minimum of physical contact between shifts. Contingency plans are in place, should supply lines or oil transportation infrastructure be impacted.

Operational update

Tethys Oil continues to plan for a first exploration well on Block 49, and continues work to secure a suitable drilling rig. Discussions with rig contractors are progressing. At the end of March 2020, the company received final government approval for its acquisition of a 20 percent interest of Block 56. Testing operations of wells on Block 56 have been ongoing throughout the first quarter.

Tethys Oil’s core area is Oman, where it holds interests in Blocks 3&4, Block 49 and Block 56. – TradeArabia News Service




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