CALGARY, March 26, 2020 /CNW/ - PetroShale Inc. ("PetroShale" or the "Company") (TSXV: PSH, OTCQX: PSHIF) is pleased to provide highlights from our independent corporate reserves evaluation prepared by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. ("NSAI") with an effective date of December 31, 2019 (the "NSAI Report"). Highlights of the Company's proved developed producing ("PDP"), total proved ("TP") and total proved plus probable ("P+P") reserves from the NSAI Report are provided below.  All finding and development ("F&D")² and finding, development and acquisition ("FD&A")² costs below include changes in future development capital ("FDC"). 

Additional details of the NSAI Report will be available in the Company's 2019 Annual Information Form to be posted on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, on the OTCQX website at www.otcqx.com, and on PetroShale's website at www.petroshaleinc.com. Copies of the materials can also be obtained upon request without charge by contacting the Company directly. Please note, currency figures presented herein are reflected in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise noted. 

2019 RESERVES HIGHLIGHTS

• Year-over-year, PetroShale achieved substantial increases in its oil and natural gas reserves across all categories as a result of its active and efficient capital program focused in its South Berthold and Antelope core areas:
  
   
• PDP reserves increased to 25.4 million boe ("MMboe"), a 107% increase over 12.3 MMboe in 2018, largely due to the conversion of undeveloped reserves into the lower-risk producing category.
  
  
• TP reserves increased to 57.5 MMboe, 17% higher than 49.2 MMboe in 2018.
  
  
• P+P reserves totalled 70.5 MMboe, a 12% increase over 62.8 MMboe in 2018.
  
  
• The estimated before tax net present value of future net revenue discounted at 10% ("NPV10") demonstrated meaningful growth at year end 2019, despite declines in the forward crude oil and natural gas price forecast assumed in the NSAI Report.  The NPV10 increased 91% to US$398.5 million on a PDP basis, 15% to US$752.9 million on a TP basis, and 8% to US$922.7 million on a P+P basis due to the Company's successful development program.
  
  
• PetroShale continued to post strong capital efficiencies in 2019, with PDP, TP and P+P F&D costs of $13.67 per boe, $19.55 per boe and $24.65 per boe, respectively, while finding, development and acquisition ("FD&A") costs averaged $12.17 per boe, $12.71 per boe and $13.11 per boe, respectively on PDP, TP and P+P reserves. 
  
  
• FD&A recycle ratios were 2.5 times on a PDP basis, 2.4 times on a TP basis and 2.3 times on a P+P basis, all based on our annual operating netback³ prior to hedging of $30.30 per boe.
  
  
• Our reserve life indices ("RLI")² are approximately 16 years on a P+P basis and 13 years on a total proved basis, (based on annualized fourth quarter 2019 average production of 12,173 BOE per day).

2019 YEAR-END RESERVES

The reserves data in this press release is based upon an evaluation by NSAI and summarizes PetroShale's crude oil and natural gas reserves and the net present value of future net revenue for these reserves using forecast prices and costs. All references to reserves are to gross Company reserves, meaning PetroShale's working interest reserves before consideration of royalty interests. The reserve report has been prepared in accordance with the standards contained in the COGE Handbook and the reserve definitions contained in National Instrument 51‑101 ("NI 51-101") and CSA Staff Notice 51‑324.  No attempt was made to evaluate possible reserves.

Net Present Value of Future Net Revenue

As a reporting issuer in Canada, PetroShale is required to report its reserves and NPV10 using forecast pricing and costs, as stipulated under NI 51-101.  The forecast prices reflected in the NPV10 is included in the Company's 2019 Annual Information Form, filed on SEDAR and posted to the Company's website today.

Reserves Reconciliation

2019 Capital Program Efficiency

About PetroShale

PetroShale is an oil company engaged in the acquisition, development and production of high-quality oil-weighted assets in the North Dakota Bakken / Three Forks.   

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Information Regarding Disclosure on Oil and Gas Reserves, Operational Information and Non-IFRS Measures

All amounts in this news release are stated in Canadian dollars unless otherwise specified.  Our oil and gas reserves statement for the year ended December 31, 2019, which will include complete disclosure of our oil and gas reserves and other oil and gas information in accordance with NI 51-101, will be contained within our Annual Information Form which will be available on our SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com today. The recovery and reserve estimates contained herein are estimates only and there is no guarantee that the estimated reserves will be recovered.  In relation to the disclosure of estimates for individual properties or subsets thereof, such estimates may not reflect the same confidence level as estimates of reserves and future net revenue for all properties, due to the effects of aggregation.

This press release contains metrics commonly used in the oil and natural gas industry, such as "recycle ratio", "finding and development costs", "finding and development recycle ratio", "finding, development and acquisition costs", "reserves replacement", and "reserves replacement ratio". Each of these metrics are determined by PetroShale as specifically set forth in this news release.  These terms do not have standardized meanings or standardized methods of calculation and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies, and therefore should not be used to make such comparisons.  Such metrics have been included to provide readers with additional information to evaluate the Company's performance however, such metrics should not be unduly relied upon for investment or other purposes.  Management uses these metrics for its own performance measurements and to provide readers with measures to compare PetroShale's performance over time. 

Both F&D and FD&A costs take into account reserves revisions during the year on a per boe basis.  The aggregate of the costs incurred in the financial year and changes during that year in estimated FDC may not reflect total F&D costs related to reserves additions for that year.  Finding and development costs both including and excluding acquisitions and dispositions have been presented in this press release because acquisitions and dispositions can have a significant impact on our ongoing reserves replacement costs and excluding these amounts could result in an inaccurate portrayal of our cost structure.

This press release contains financial and performance metrics that are not defined in IFRS and do not have standardized meanings or standardized methods of calculation. As such, these terms may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies, and therefore should not be used to make such comparisons. Such metrics have been included herein to provide readers with additional information to evaluate the Company's performance, however such metrics should not be unduly relied upon. Management uses oil and gas metrics for its own performance measurements and to provide shareholders with measures to compare PetroShale's operations over time. Readers are cautioned that the information provided by these metrics, or that can be derived from the metrics presented in this press release, should not be relied upon for investment or other purposes.

Within this press release, references are made to "operating netback", "operating netback prior to hedging" and "net debt" which are not defined by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to performance measures presented by others.  Operating netback represents revenue, plus or minus any realized gain or loss on financial derivatives less royalties, production taxes, operating costs and transportation expense.  The operating netback is then divided by the working interest production volumes to derive the operating netback on a per Boe basis.  Operating netback prior to hedging represents operating netback prior to any realized gain or loss on financial derivatives.  Net debt represents total liabilities, excluding decommissioning obligation, lease liabilities and any financial derivative liability, less current assets.  Management believes that in addition to net income (loss) and cash flow from operating activities, operating netback is a useful supplemental measure as it assists in the determination of the Company's operating performance, leverage and liquidity.  Operating netback is commonly used by investors to assess performance of oil and gas properties and the possible impact of future commodity price changes on energy producers.  Investors should be cautioned, however, that these measures should not be construed as an alternative to either net income (loss) or cash flow from operating activities, which are determined in accordance with IFRS, as indicators of the Company's performance.

The calculation of net debt can be found within the Company's MD&A as at December 31, 2019 and for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.

Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This news release contains certain forward–looking information and statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" "forecast" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, this news release contains forward-looking information and statements pertaining to the following: the recognition of significant additional reserves under the heading "2019 Year-End Reserves", the volumes and estimated value of PetroShale's oil and gas reserves, the future net value of PetroShale's reserves, the future ADR, the life of PetroShale's reserves, the estimated volumes, including shut-ins, and product mix of PetroShale's oil and gas production; production estimates; PetroShale's commodity risk management programs; future liquidity and financial capacity required to carry out our planned program; future results from operations and operating metrics; future development activities (including drilling and completion plans and associated timing and cost estimates) and related production estimates; and methods of funding our capital program.

In addition, forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of material factors, expectations or assumptions of PetroShale which have been used to develop such statements and information but which may prove to be incorrect.  Although PetroShale believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because PetroShale can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.  In addition to other factors and assumptions which may be identified herein, assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: that PetroShale will continue to conduct its operations in a manner consistent with past operations; results from drilling and development activities consistent with past operations; the quality of the reservoirs in which PetroShale operates and continued performance from existing wells; the continued and timely development of infrastructure in areas of new production; the accuracy of the estimates of PetroShale's reserve volumes; certain commodity price and other cost assumptions; continued availability of debt and equity financing and cash flow to fund PetroShale's current and future plans and expenditures; the impact of increasing competition; the general stability of the economic and political environment in which PetroShale operates; the general continuance of current industry conditions; the timely receipt of any required regulatory approvals; the ability of PetroShale to obtain qualified staff, equipment and services in a timely and cost efficient manner; drilling results; the ability of the operator of the projects in which PetroShale has an interest in to operate the field in a safe, efficient and effective manner; the ability of PetroShale to obtain financing on acceptable terms; field production rates and decline rates; the ability to replace and expand oil and natural gas reserves through acquisition, development and exploration; the timing and cost of pipeline, storage and facility construction and expansion and the ability of PetroShale to secure adequate product transportation; future commodity prices; currency, exchange and interest rates; regulatory framework regarding royalties, taxes and environmental matters in the jurisdictions in which PetroShale operates; and the ability of PetroShale to successfully market its oil and natural gas products. 

The forward-looking information and statements included in this news release are not guarantees of future performance and should not be unduly relied upon. Such information and statements, including the assumptions made in respect thereof, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to defer materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information or statements including, without limitation: changes in commodity prices; changes in the demand for or supply of PetroShale's products, the early stage of development of some of the evaluated areas and zones the potential for variation in the quality of formations; unanticipated operating results or production declines; changes in tax or environmental laws, royalty rates or other regulatory matters; changes in development plans of PetroShale or by third party operators of PetroShale's properties, increased debt levels or debt service requirements; inaccurate estimation of PetroShale's oil and gas reserve volumes; limited, unfavourable or a lack of access to capital markets; increased costs; a lack of adequate insurance coverage; the impact of competitors; and certain other risks detailed from time-to-time in PetroShale's public disclosure documents (including, without limitation, those risks identified in this news release and PetroShale's Annual Information Form).

The forward-looking information and statements contained in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release, and PetroShale does not assume any obligation to publicly update or revise any of the included forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

Oil and Gas Advisories:

Where amounts are expressed on a barrel of oil equivalent ("Boe") basis, natural gas volumes have been converted to Boe using a ratio of 6,000 cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil (6 Mcf: 1 Bbl).  This Boe conversion ratio is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Given the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil as compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6 Mcf: 1 Bbl, utilizing a conversion ratio at 6 Mcf: 1 Bbl may be misleading as an indication of value.  In this release, Mmboe refers to millions of barrels of oil equivalent. 

This news release contains metrics commonly used in the oil and natural gas industry, such as "recycle ratio", "operating netback", "finding and development" ("F&D") costs and "finding, development and acquisition ("FD&A") costs". These terms do not have a standardized meaning and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies, and therefore should not be used to make such comparisons. Details of how these measures have been calculated are included in the body of this press release and, in respect of "operating netback", under the heading "Non-IFRS Measures". "Reserve life index ("RLI")" is calculated as by dividing the quantity of reserves by the annualized average production from those reserves for the fourth quarter of 2019.

All dollar figures included herein are presented in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise noted.

SOURCE PetroShale Inc.

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