Q2 2024 Kosmos Energy Ltd Earnings Call
Jamie Buckland: Good day, everyone. Welcome to the Kosmos Energy's second quarter 2024 conference call. As a reminder, today's call is being recorded. At this time, let me turn the call over to Jamie Buckland, Vice President and Investor Relations at Kosmos Energy.
Operator: for a 2024 conference call. As a reminder, today's call is being recorded. At this time, let me turn the call over to Jamie Buckland, Vice President, Investor Relations, at Kosmos Energy.
Jamie Buckland: Thank you, operator, and thanks to everyone for joining us today. This morning, we issued our second quarter 2024 earnings release. This release and a slide presentation to accompany today's call are available on the investors page of our website. Joining me on the call today to go through the materials are Andrew Inglis, Chairman and CEO, and Neal Shah, CFO. During today's presentation, we will make forward-looking statements that refer to our estimates, plans, and expectations.
Jamie Buckland: Thank you, Operator, and thanks to everyone for joining us today. This morning, we issued our second quarter 2024 earnings release.
Jamie Buckland: This release and a slide presentation to accompany today's call are available on the investors page of our website.
Speaker Change: Joining me on the call today to go through the materials are Andrew Inglis, Chairman and CEO , and Neal Shah, CFO .
Speaker Change: During today's presentation, we will make forward-looking statements that refer to our estimates, plans and expectations.
Speaker Change: Actual results and outcomes could differ materially due to factors we note in this presentation and in our UK and SEC filings.
Speaker Change: Please refer to our annual report, stock exchange announcement, and SEC filings for more details. These documents are available on our website, and at this time I'll turn the call over to Andy.
Jamie Buckland: Actual results and outcomes could differ materially due to factors we note in this presentation and in our UK and SEC filings. Please refer to our annual report, Stock Exchange Announcement, and SEC filings for more details. These documents are available on our website, and at this time, I'll turn the call over to Andy.
Andrew Inglis: Thanks, Jamie, and good morning and afternoon to everyone. Thank you for joining us today for our second quarter results call. I'll start today's call by looking at the operational momentum we're seeing across all our business units and the solid progress we're making towards achieving our year-end goal. Neil will then walk you through the quarter's financial results before I look ahead to the multiple catalysts we expect to deliver over the second half of the year. We'll then open the call for Q&A, starting on slide three.
Andy: Thanks, Jamie, and good morning and afternoon to everyone.
Andy: Thank you for joining us today for our second quarter results call. I'll start today's call by looking at the operational momentum we're seeing across all our business units and the solid progress we're making towards achieving our year-end goals.
Andy: Neal will then walk you through the quarter's financial results before I look ahead to the multiple catalysts we expect to deliver over the second half of the year. We'll then open the call for Q&A.
Andrew Inglis: Two years ago, we announced a target to grow production by around 50%, driven largely by the delivery of three important projects, Jubilee Southeast in Ghana, Winterfell in the Gulf of Mexico, and GTA in Mauritania and Senegal. We're around halfway to achieving that target with the successful startup of Jubilee Southeast and Winterfell, alongside production and enhancement projects in the Gulf of Mexico, which I'll talk about in Through the end of the year, we expect the start-up of the first phase of the GTA project and the infill drilling campaign next year in Guinea to contribute towards our year-end production goal of around 90,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. But we're not growing production for growth's sake.
Neal Shah: Starting on slide 3.
Speaker Change: Two years ago, we announced a target to grow production by around 50%, driven largely by the delivery of three important projects, Jubilee Southeast in Ghana, Winterfell in the Gulf of Mexico, and GTA in Mauritania and Senegal.
Speaker Change: We're around halfway to achieving that target with the successful startup of Jubilee Southeast and Winterfell, alongside production enhancement projects in the Gulf of Mexico, which I'll talk about in more detail shortly.
Speaker Change: Through the end of the year, we expect the startup of the first phase of the GTA project and the infill drilling campaign next year in Guinea to contribute towards our year-end production goal of around 90,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
Andrew Inglis: The growth is coming from high-quality material projects with long reserve lives across both oil and gas. This rising production follows a multi-year investment cycle, with CapEx now expected to fall sharply as these projects are completed. The increased production and lower capital costs should drive a meaningful free cash flow inflection in the business with free cash flow of around $100 to $150 million per quarter once everything is fully up and running. That cash flow will be used initially to pay down debt to further strengthen the financial resilience of the company.
Speaker Change: But we're not growing production for growth's sake. The growth is coming from high-quality material projects with long-reserved lives across both oil and gas.
Speaker Change: This rising production follows a multi-year investment cycle with CapEx now expected to fall sharply as these projects are completed.
Speaker Change: The increased production and lower capitals should drive a meaningful free cash flow inflection in the business, with free cash flow of around $100 to $150 million per quarter once everything is fully up and running.
Speaker Change: That cash flow will be used initially to pay down debt to further strengthen the financial resilience of the company.
Andrew Inglis: We will also selectively invest in future growth, but this will be focused on high-graded projects developed at a cadence to fit within our targeted capital budget. Once the debt level approaches our near-term leverage target of sub-1.5 times, we'll then look at shareholder returns alongside further debt paydown to achieve our longer-term target of closer to one. It's an exciting time for Kosmos as we continue to deliver the strategy our shareholders have invested in over the last few years. Turning to slide four, which looks at the quarter in more detail.
Speaker Change: We will also selectively invest in future growth, but this will be focused on high-graded projects developed at a cadence to fit within our targeted capital budget.
Speaker Change: Once the debt level approaches our near-term leverage target of sub 1.5 times, we'll then look at shareholder returns alongside further debt paydown to achieve our longer-term target of closer to 1 times.
Speaker Change: It's an exciting time for Kosmos as we continue to deliver the strategy our shareholders invested in over the last few years.
Speaker Change: Turning to slide four, which looks at the quarter in more detail.
Andrew Inglis: In Ghana, the three-year drilling campaign came to an end during the second quarter with a final producer well and water injection well online at Jubilee. Gross Jubilee production in the quarter was around 87,000 barrels of oil per day. We have sustained high facility uptime, with the Jubilee FPSO operating at around 99% during the course of the project. However, production was lower quarter on quarter as one of the previously drilled producer wells, J69, underperformed expectations.
Speaker Change: In Ghana, the three-year drilling campaign came to an end during the second quarter with the final producer well and water injection well on line at Jubilee.
Speaker Change: Gross Jubilee production in the quarter was around 87,000 barrels of oil per day. We have sustained high facility uptime with the Jubilee FPSO operating at around 99% during the quarter.
Speaker Change: However, production was lower quarter on quarter as one of the previously drilled producer wells, J69, underperformed expectations.
Andrew Inglis: When drilled, it encountered what we expected, but since coming online, we have not seen the pressure support required to maintain production levels from this individual well. In addition, in the second quarter, we also had some water injection issues with voidage replacement around 80% compared to the 100% target.
Speaker Change: When drilled, it encountered what we expected, but since coming online, we have not seen the pressure support required to maintain production levels from this individual well.
Speaker Change: In addition, in the second quarter, we also had some water injection issues with voidage replacement around 80% compared to the 100% target.
Andrew Inglis: As I said in May, to achieve the planned levels of output from the field, we need high infrastructure reliability, which we've achieved. We also need high levels of water injection, and we need the new wells to perform. Gross oil production is currently around 90,000 barrels of oil per day, with scope to increase as we address the water injection reliability. Given the underperformance of J69, full year gross Jubilee production is now expected to be around 90,000 barrels of oil per day.
Speaker Change: As I said in May, to achieve the planned levels of output from the field, we need high infrastructure reliability, which we've achieved. We also need high levels of water injection, and we need the new wells to perform.
Speaker Change: Gross oil production is currently around 90,000 barrels of oil per day, with scope to increase as we address the water injection reliability. Given the underperformance of J69, full year gross Jubilee production is now expected to be around 90,000 barrels of oil per day.
Andrew Inglis: With the current program now complete, the partnership will take a time out to conduct a new 4D seismic survey, starting in early 2025, after a gap of almost eight years since our previous 4D survey. This will help high-grade the well locations for the 2025-26 drilling campaign. I'll talk more about the impacts of new seismic technology and processing on the following slide, but its capabilities extend well beyond exploration, with significant benefits for mid-life assets like Jubilee, where we can enhance our understanding of the subsurface over time. We've only produced a little over half of the 2B reserves in Jubilee over the last 14 years.
Speaker Change: With the current program now complete, the partnership will take a time out to conduct a new 4D seismic survey starting in early 2025, after a gap of almost eight years since our previous 4D survey.
Speaker Change: This will help high-grade the well locations for the 2025-26 drilling campaign.
Speaker Change: I'll talk more about the impacts of new seismic technology and processing on the following slide, but its capabilities extend well beyond exploration, with significant benefits of midlife assets like Jubilee, where we can enhance our understanding of the subsurface over time.
Speaker Change: We've only produced a little over half of the 2B reserves in Jubilee over the last 14 years. So our focus, along with the operator, is on maximising recovery and ensuring we drill the best wells first.
Andrew Inglis: So our focus, along with the operator, is on maximising recovery and ensuring we drill the best wells first. As we've said in the past, we believe the ultimate recovery from Jubilee will be around one billion barrels of oil equivalent, and the new 40 survey will be important to deliver that goal and maximize our capital efficiency. On 10, the field is performing slightly ahead of expectations with gross oil production of around 19,300 barrels of oil per day in the quarter, with the FPSO uptime of around 99%. In extra-organic, gross production averaged around 24,000 barrels of oil per day, in line with expectations.
Speaker Change: As we said in the past, we believe the ultimate recovery from Jubilee will be around 1 billion barrels of oil equivalent, and the new 40 survey will be important to deliver that goal and maximise our capital efficiency.
Speaker Change: On 10, the field is performing slightly ahead of expectations with gross oil production of around 19,300 barrels of oil per day in the quarter, with the FPSO uptime of around 99%.
Speaker Change: In extra-organic, gross production averaged around 24,000 barrels of oil per day, in line with expectations.
Andrew Inglis: Last month, the rig arrived in the country to commence the drilling campaign. The partnership plans to drill and complete two infill wells, with production expected early in the fourth quarter, before the rig moves to the King Deep ILX well, with the result expected by year end. The first in-fill well has just been drilled with positive initial results, providing confidence in our ability to add around 3,000 barrels a day net of additional oil in the EG by year-end. In the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, it's been a busy period with the startup of multiple projects in the last two months. Winterfell was brought online in July, which I'll talk about shortly.
Speaker Change: Last month, the rig arrived in country to commence the drilling campaign.
Speaker Change: The partnership plans to drill and complete two infill wells, with production expected early in the fourth quarter, before the rig moves to the King Deep ILX well, with the result expected by year end.
Speaker Change: The first in-fill well has just been drilled with positive initial results, providing confidence in our ability to add around 3,000 barrels a day net of additional oil in the EG by year end.
Andrew Inglis: We also successfully completed the Kodiak 3 well workover, which is performing ahead of expectation. The odd job subsea pump came online in late July with a meaningful increase in production from the field. Together these projects have grown our current Gulf of Mexico production to a level of around 20,000 barrels of oil equivalent. On Tiberias, our next ILX development, where Kosmos is the operator, we have ordered the long-lead items and secured a rig, with a project sanction expected later this year.
Speaker Change: In the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, it's been a busy period with the start of multiple projects in the last two months.
Speaker Change: Winterfell was brought online in July , which I'll talk about shortly. We also successfully completed the Kodiak 3 Well Workover, which is performing ahead of expectations.
Speaker Change: The odd job subsea pump came online in late July with a meaningful increase in production from the field. Together these projects have grown our current Gulf of Mexico production to a level of around 20,000 barrels of oil equivalent.
Speaker Change: On Tiberias, our next ILX development, where Kosmos is operator, we have ordered the long lead items and secured a rig, with a project sanction expected later this year. We continue to make good progress and anticipate first oil around 18 to 24 months after FID.
Andrew Inglis: We continue to make good progress and anticipate first oil around 18 to 24 months after FID. Turning now to slide five, where I'll spend some time talking about Winterfell and the impact modern seismic is having on growing the resource upside. As I mentioned on the previous page, the first two wells came online in early July, with the third expected online by the end of this quarter. We're ramping up those two wells and expect gross production from the first three wells to be around 20,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
Andrew Inglis: Two additional wells are planned in the first phase, with drilling expected next year. We're targeting around 100 million barrels of resource from these five wells with further upside potential from adjacent prospectivities. The partnership has licensed new ocean bottom node seismic data over the Winterfell area, which generates significantly enhanced imaging compared with conventional streamer technology. Placing nodes on the ocean floor results in much higher resolution images.
Speaker Change: Turning now to slide 5 where I'll spend some time talking about Winterfell and the impact modern seismic is having on growing the resource upside.
Speaker Change: As I mentioned on the previous slide, the first two wells came online in early July with the third expected online by the end of this quarter.
Speaker Change: We're ramping up those two wells and expect gross production from the first three wells to be around 20,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
Speaker Change: Two additional wells are planned in the first phase with drilling expected next year. We're targeting around 100 million barrels of resource from these five wells with further upside potential from adjacent prospectivity.
Andrew Inglis: On Winterfell, where it's now calibrated with the development wells, the OBN is already helping the partnership plan future well locations and gives us greater confidence in the resource potential of the area. We use the same state-of-the-art seismic to deliver exploration success at Tiberias and believe a wide application of this seismic technology with updated processing techniques can enhance the capital efficiency of our future drilling activities across the portfolio. We see similar opportunities to use OBN in a 4D application for midlife seals like Jubilee.
Speaker Change: The partnership has licensed a new ocean bottom node seismic data over the Winterfell area, which generates significantly enhanced imaging compared with conventional streamer technology.
Speaker Change: Placing nodes on the ocean floor results in much higher resolution images.
Speaker Change: On Winterfell, where it's now calibrated with the development wells, the OBN is already helping the partnership plan the future well locations and gives us greater confidence on the resource potential of the area.
Speaker Change: We use the same state-of-the-art seismic to deliver exploration success at Tiberias and believe wide application of this seismic technology with updated processing techniques can enhance the capital efficiency of our future drilling activities across the portfolio.
Speaker Change: We see similar opportunities to use OBN in a 4D application for mid-life fields like Jubilee.
Andrew Inglis: Winterfell is a prime example of why we acquired the Gulf of Mexico business back in 2018. A material exploration prospect near existing infrastructure with low F&D costs, which leads to a quick payback and attractive economy. Turning now to slide 6, as the operator noted on its earnings call last week, the GTA project continues to make good progress with all the key pieces of infrastructure in place, with gas expected to flow soon. As the slide shows, the FLNG vessel arrived earlier in the year. There's been more to the hub terminal.
Speaker Change: Winterfell is a prime example of why we acquired the Gulf of Mexico business back in 2018. A material exploration prospect near existing infrastructure with low F&D costs which leads to a quick payback and attractive economics.
Speaker Change: Turning now to slide 6. As the operator noted on its earnings call last week, the GTA project continues to make good progress with all the key pieces of infrastructure in place with gas expected to flow soon.
Speaker Change: As the slide shows, the FLNG vessel arrived earlier in the year and has been moored to the hub terminal. The FPSO arrived on location in the second quarter and has now been moored to the ocean floor and the risers installed.
Andrew Inglis: The FDSO arrived on location in the second quarter and has now been moored to the ocean floor and the risers installed. On the subsea workstream, mechanical completion for first gas is expected later this month. On the FLNG vessel, the operator plans to bring in an LNG cargo to cool the vessel this month, which helps to accelerate the commissioning activities and ramp up to full rate. The FESO is expected to be handed over to operations in September, with first gas expected shortly thereafter.
Speaker Change: On the subsea work stream, mechanical completion of the first gas is expected later this month.
Speaker Change: On the FLNG vessel, the operator plans to bring an LNG cargo to cool the vessel this month, which helps to accelerate the commissioning activities and ramp up to full rate.
Speaker Change: The FPSO is expected to be handed over to operations in September , with first gas expected shortly thereafter.
Andrew Inglis: First LNG production and cargo sales are expected in the fourth quarter. We look forward to updating the market with our progress over the coming weeks and months as we deliver this major milestone for the company. Turning now to slide seven, which looks at the portfolio choices beyond this year, Kosmos is differentiated as we have a deep portfolio comprised of high-quality, advantage oil opportunities in Ghana, Egypt, and the Gulf of Mexico, coupled with world-scale gas opportunities across Senegal and Mauritania.
Speaker Change: First LNG production and cargo sales are expected in the fourth quarter.
Speaker Change: We look forward to updating the market with our progress over the coming weeks and months as we deliver this major milestone for the company.
Speaker Change: Turning now to slide 7, which looks at the portfolio choices beyond this year.
Speaker Change: Kosmos is differentiated as we have a deep portfolio comprised of high-quality advantage oil opportunities in Ghana, Egypt, and the Gulf of Mexico, coupled with world-scale gas opportunities across Senegal and Mauritania.
Andrew Inglis: This deep portfolio enables us to enhance quality through choice, high-grading the activity set to pursue the highest value opportunities for our stakeholders. As we look at the hopper, there are a number of attractive investment opportunities for growth. We have a balance of oil and gas projects and a growing number of operated projects. Operatorship allows us to manage the pace of development and, therefore, spend, meaning we have a greater ability to control our growth within the future capital framework we've laid out for the company.
Speaker Change: This deep portfolio enables us to enhance quality through choice, high-grading the activity set to pursue the highest value opportunities for our stakeholders.
Speaker Change: As we look at the hopper, there are a number of attractive investment opportunities for growth. We have a balance of oil and gas projects and a growing number of operated projects.
Speaker Change: Operatorship allows us to manage the pace of development and therefore spend, meaning we have greater ability to control our growth within the future capital framework we've laid out for the company.
Andrew Inglis: We have a large interest in two key projects, Tiberias and the Acre Triangle. As we previously said, bringing in the right partners is critical to progress the projects and also manage our capital exposure as we look to de-lever the balance sheet. On both projects, we've had strong industry interest as we look to farm down our interest by project sanction. As we come to the end of this capital-intensive phase of the company's evolution, with our key projects nearing completion, I want to reinforce an important message I made earlier in the year: we will selectively pursue the best growth opportunities within a disciplined capital framework, which will result in a more modest growth rate than we've seen over the past two I'll now turn it over to Neal to take you through the financials.
Speaker Change: We have large interest in two key projects, Tiberias and the Acre Triangle.
Speaker Change: As we previously said, bringing in the right partners is critical to progress the projects and also manage our capital exposure as we look to delever the balance sheet. On both projects, we've had strong industry interest as we look to farm down our interest by project sanction.
Speaker Change: As we come to the end of this capital intensive phase of the company's evolution, with our key projects nearing completion, I want to reinforce an important message I made earlier in the year.
Speaker Change: We will selectively pursue the best growth opportunities within a disciplined capital framework which will result in a more modest growth rate than we've seen over the past two years.
Neal Shah: Thanks, Andy. Turning to slide 8, which looks at the second quarter in detail. Production for the quarter of 62,000 barrels of oil equivalent was up 7% year-on-year, but towards the bottom end of our guidance range, reflecting lower Jubilee production and the Winterfell startup delay. However, costs were largely in line with guidance, with operating costs for the producing assets coming in below guidance. DD&A, G&A, and expiration expense all came in at the low end of guidance, helping the earnings beat versus consensus with a slightly higher tax expense reflecting higher realized prices.
Neal Shah: I'll now turn it over to Neal to take you through the financials. Thanks, Andy. Turning to slide 8, which looks at the second quarter in detail.
Neal Shah: CapEx was lower than anticipated in the second quarter, largely due to the timing of accrued CapEx related to the GTA project. That lower capex, combined with positive working capital, led to a minor free cash flow outflow in the second quarter. We expect that GTA CapEx to be recognized in the second quarter and the positive working capital to reverse later this year as well. Looking at 3Q and the full year more broadly, which can be seen in the guidance slide in the appendix.
Neal Shah: Production for the quarter of 62,000 barrels of oil equivalent was up 7% year-on-year, but towards the bottom end of our guidance range reflecting the lower Jubilee production and the Winterfell startup delay.
Neal Shah: Costs were largely in line with guidance with operating costs for the producing assets coming in below guidance.
Neal Shah: DD&A, G&A, and expiration expense all came in at the low end of guidance, helping the earnings beat versus consensus, with the slightly higher tax expense reflecting higher realized prices.
Neal Shah: CapEx was lower than anticipated in the second quarter, largely due to the timing of accrued CapEx related to the GTA project.
Neal Shah: That lower capex combined with positive working capital led to a minor free cash flow outflow in the second quarter.
Neal Shah: We expect that GTA CapEx to be recognized in the second quarter and the positive working capital to reverse later this year as well.
Neal Shah: Looking at 3Q and the full year more broadly, which can be seen in the guidance slide in the appendix, we have lowered our full year production guidance to 67 to 71,000 barrels of oil equivalent, reflecting the impacts of J69 on Jubilee and the delay in Winterfell, as previously mentioned.
Neal Shah: We have lowered our full-year production guidance to 67,000 to 71,000 barrels of oil equivalent, reflecting the impacts of J69 on Jubilee and the delay in Winterfell, as previously mentioned. With the reduction in Jubilee production guidance to approximately 90,000 barrels of oil per day gross, we expect to lift two fewer Ghana cargoes this year. This should be partially offset by an additional half cargo we now expect in Equatorial Guinea as new production is added in the fourth quarter.
Neal Shah: With the reduction in Jubilee production guidance to approximately 90,000 barrels of oil per day gross, we expect to lift two fewer Ghana cargos this year.
Neal Shah: This should be partially offset by an additional half cargo we now expect in Equatorial Guinea as new production is added in the fourth quarter.
Neal Shah: We expect CapEx for the year to be around $750 million, which is in line with the guidance we gave back in February and includes the restart of the EG drilling campaign, which began in July. On costs, we expect to come in at the lower end of the full-year guidance range for dDNA, GNA, and expiration expense, with higher OPEX per barrel mainly a function of lower production. With that, I'll hand it back to Andy to conclude today's presentation.
Neal Shah: We expect CapEx for the year to be around $750 million, which is in line with the guidance we gave back in February and includes the restart of the EG drilling campaign, which began in July .
Neal Shah: On costs, we expect to come in at the lower end of the full year guidance range for dDNA, GNA, and expiration expense, with higher OPEX per barrel mainly a function of the lower production.
Andrew Inglis: Thanks Neal, turning now to slide nine. It's been a busy first half of the year, and we've made a lot of progress. That operational momentum continues in the second half, and we remain on track to exit the year at our targeted production rate of 90,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. As the projects contributing to that year-end production target come online, we expect capital to fall sharply, leading to a free cash flow inflection point that enables the company to pay down debt and drive down leverage ahead of shareholder returns.
Neal Shah: With that, I'll hand back to Andy to conclude today's presentation.
Andy: Thanks Neal, turning now to slide 9. It's been a busy first half of the year and we've made a lot of progress. That operational momentum continues in the second half and we remain on track to exit the year at our targeted production rate of 90,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
Andy: As the projects contributing to that year-end production target come online, we expect capital to fall sharply, leading to the free cash flow inflection point that enables the company to pay down debt and drive down leverage ahead of shareholder returns.
Andrew Inglis: Looking further out, we have a deep portfolio of high-quality opportunities, and we plan to pursue only the best projects with the right level of working interest at the right pace that allows us to operate within our capital framework. Thank you, and I'd now like to turn the call over to the operator to open the session to questions.
Andy: Looking further out, we have a deep portfolio of high-quality opportunities, and we plan to pursue only the best projects with the right level of working interest at the right pace that allows us to operate within our capital framework.
Speaker Change: Thank you and I'd now like to turn the call over to the operator to open the session for questions.
Operator: Thank you. We will now be conducting a question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please press star 1 on your telephone keypad. A confirmation tone will indicate your line is in the question queue. You may press star 2 if you would like to remove your question. For participants using speaker equipment, it may be necessary to pick up your handset before pressing start. One moment, please, while we poll for your question. Our first questions come from the line of David Round with Steeple. Please proceed with your question.
Speaker Change: Thank you. We will now be conducting a question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please press star 1 on your telephone keypad.
Speaker Change: A confirmation tone will indicate your line is in the question queue. You may press star 2 if you would like to remove your question from the queue. For participants using speaker equipment, it may be necessary to pick up your handset before pressing the star keys. One moment, please, while we poll for your questions.
Speaker Change: Our first questions come from the line of David Round with Steeple. Please proceed with your questions.
David Round: Great. Thanks for the presentation, guys. A couple of points of due relief, please. Firstly, the J69 well. Does that result impact the long-term outlook for the field at all? And how can you ensure that this, I suppose, becomes an isolated well? Secondly, on voidage, you talked about it in the last set of results and identified it as a key point. Can you just elaborate, please, on the issues you face there? And again, any steps that you can take to improve water injection going forward?
David Round: Great, thanks for the presentation guys. A couple on dew relief, please. Firstly, the J69 well, does that result impact the long-term outlook for the field at all, and how can you ensure that this, I suppose, becomes an isolated well?
Speaker Change: Secondly, on voidage, you talked about it in the last set of results and identified it as the key point. Can you just elaborate, please, on the issues you face there and, again, any steps that you can take to improve the water injection going forward, please?
Andrew Inglis: Yeah, thanks, thanks David. Yeah, I think we'll start off with the Development Well Program, and I think it's important to sort of step back. We're at the end of a three-year program. We've drilled 18 wells in that three years, and we've drilled them safely, which is the most important thing, and efficiently and ended the program slightly earlier than we'd anticipated. Clearly, with a program of that scale, you are going to learn as you go along, and not every well will match expectations, and J69 has certainly had an impact on this year's production levels.
Speaker Change: Thanks, David. I think we'll start off with the development well program. I think it's important to sort of step back. We're at the end of a three-year program. We've drilled 18 wells, actually, in that three years.
Speaker Change: And we've drilled them safely, which is the most important thing, and efficiently, and ended the program slightly earlier than we'd anticipated. Clearly, with a program of that scale, you are going to learn as you go along.
Speaker Change: Not every well will match expectations.
Speaker Change: And J69 has certainly had an impact on this year's production level.
Speaker Change: But I think, again, as a piece of context, as I said in my remarks...
Andrew Inglis: But I think again as a piece of context, as I said in my remarks, that three-year program was drilled on 4D seismic data that is essentially almost eight years old now. And clearly, as we go through the process now of moving forward, technology has moved on massively with seismic, both in terms of acquisition and processing. And you know we've just contracted to do a new 4D seismic survey, which will start at the beginning of the year, and then we'll use that data to identify the candidates for the next set of wells.
Speaker Change: That three-year program was drilled on 4D seismic data that is essentially almost eight years old now, and clearly, as we go through the process now of moving forward...
Speaker Change: But, you know, technology has moved on massively with Seismic, both in terms of acquisition and processing, and, you know, we've...
Speaker Change: We've just contracted actually to do a new 40 seismic, which will start at the beginning of the year, and then we'll use that data to identify the candidates for the next set of wells.
Andrew Inglis: So now I'm confident that there will be a significant uplift in the data, which will allow us to drill another high-quality set of development wells when we restart the program in 2025. So I think we're clear about what it is we need to do, and I think the sequencing now of bringing the current program to an end, shooting the seismic, having the data available, and then having the ability to leverage the very best wells first will maintain our view of the future potential of the field.
Speaker Change: So, I'm confident that it will be a significant uplift in the data, which will allow us to drill another high-quality set of development wells when we restart the program in 2025.
Speaker Change: So I think we're clear about what it is we need to do, and I think the sequencing now, bringing the current program to an end, shoot the seismic, have the data available, and then have the ability to leverage the very best wells first.
Andrew Inglis: And again, as I said in my remarks, we're just over half of the 2P in the first 14 years of production. There's a huge amount of opportunity to play for, and ultimately, it is about doing it in a really capital efficient way, the best wells first. And to do that, you need data that is current, and I think the new 4D will allow us to do that.
Speaker Change: will maintain our view of the future potential of the field.
Speaker Change: And again, as I said in my remarks, we're just over half of the 2P.
Speaker Change: In the first 14 years of production, there's a huge amount of opportunity to play for, and ultimately, it is about doing it in a really capital-efficient way, best wells first, and to do that, you need data which is current, and I think the new 4D will allow us to do that.
Andrew Inglis: And then there were three things we needed to get right. Reliability needs to be high, which is great. It had 99% uptime in the second quarter. Voidage was a little lower than we'd anticipated. It's just about the reliability of the gas turbines. The water injection system's going well. The gas injection and export are going well, and it's about maintaining the uptime on the gas turbines. We had a little bit of unplanned maintenance on the gas turbines, so everything's now back in order, and we're back at high levels of voidage replacement as we speak, and I think an opportunity to sort of catch up as we go through the year. So that's a little bit of background, David, I think, for you, hopefully it will help with both of those issues.
David Round: You know, and then, you know, there were three things we need to get right, you know, reliability needs to be high, which is great. It was 99% uptime in the second quarter. Voidage was a little lower than we'd anticipated. It's just about the reliability of the gas turbines, you know, the water injection system is going well. The gas injection and export is going well, and it's about maintaining the uptime on the gas turbines. We had a little bit of unplanned maintenance on the gas turbines, so everything's now back in order, and we're back at high levels of voidage replacement as we speak, and I think an opportunity to sort of catch up as we go through the year. So I think that's a little bit of background, David.
David Round: Thank you.
David Round: Thanks Andy, very clear.
David Round: Thanks, Andy. Very clear.
Charles Meade: Thank you. Our next questions come from the line of Charles Meade with Johnson Rice. Please proceed with your question.
David Round: Great, thanks.
Speaker Change: Thank you. Our next questions come from the line of Charles Meade with Johnson Rice. Please proceed with your question.
Andrew Inglis: Good morning, Andy, Neal, and the rest of the Kosmos team. I want to pick up on that Jubilee question, but maybe come at it from a different angle. The operator in mid-May... And I'm sure you're all aware that there's been a lot of talk about the J69. So I'm curious, what explains the delta? Is it your view versus theirs, or is it the benefit of another two and a half months of production? Or what else might explain that delta?
Charles Meade: Good day, Andy, Neal, and the rest of the Kosmos team. I want to pick up on that Jubilee question, but maybe come at it from a different angle. The operator, mid-May,
Charles Meade: [inaudible]
Charles Meade: You all know, good question, Charles. So to sort of step back, obviously, May versus August, we've got a couple of pieces of data. I think we've obviously got the actual production we achieved in the second quarter, which, as I just said in a response to David's question, there's a little bit of impact from the downtime on the voltage replacements, so there is an impact there. And then, clearly, we've now been able to fully evaluate J69 and its impact on the whole year. So we do have some new data.
Speaker Change: You all know, good question, Charles.
Speaker Change: So to sort of step back, obviously, May versus August , we've got a couple of pieces of data. I think we've obviously got the actual production we've achieved in the second quarter, which as I just said in a response to David's question, there's a little bit of impact of the downtime on the voltage replacement. So impact there, and then clearly we've now been able to fully evaluate J69 and its impact on the whole year. So we do have some new data.
Andrew Inglis: So we've incorporated that into our production forecast, which was obviously part of the commentary today. And then you have got to do the cargo math, which is all about the cargo allocation between cargo liftings for GMPC, TELO, and then ourselves. When you run through all of that, our best view today is that there was a cargo right at the end of the year, which moves out from December to January. In addition, another cargo has been lost.
Speaker Change: So we've incorporated that into our production forecast, which is obviously part of the commentary today. And then you've got to go and do the cargo math, which is all about the production allocation between cargo liftings for GM, PC, Telo, and then ourselves.
Speaker Change: When you run through all of that, our best view today is that there was a cargo right at the end of the year, which moves out from December to January . In addition, another cargo has been lost.
Andrew Inglis: So our view today is, with that additional knowledge and then the sequencing of all the cargoes, one cargo definitely, a second cargo slip from December into January. And then we've had an offset of an additional cargo coming from Ecuador or Guinea. So, sort of net-net, the real impact is sort of one lost cargo, one deferred from the end.
Speaker Change: So
Speaker Change: You know, our view of you today is with that additional knowledge and then the sequencing of all the cargoes.
Speaker Change: One cargo definitely, a second cargo slip from December into January .
Speaker Change: And then we've had an offset of an additional cargo coming from Equatorial Guinea. So sort of net-net, the real impact is sort of one lost cargo, one deferred from the end of December to the beginning of January , offset by half a cargo in EG.
Charles Meade: A follow-up on GTA, it's exciting as these big pieces come together. Can you explain to us on the line what the significance of the cool-down cargo is? I understand what purpose it serves, but can you explain where that will come in the process and if it's going to be significantly the penultimate step, or how does that interact with the overall project startup?
Speaker Change: David, that's helpful detail and then a follow-up on
Speaker Change: on GTA.
Speaker Change: It's exciting as these big pieces come together.
Speaker Change: Can you explain to us on the line, what is the significance of the cool-down cargo? I understand what purpose it serves, but can you explain?
Speaker Change: You know, where that will come in the process and, you know, if it's going to be, you know, significantly, you know, the penultimate step or just how does that interact with the overall project startup.
Andrew Inglis: Again, a good question, Charles. Typically, as you're well aware, you commission a gas facility with a buyback of gas. It's the safest way to do it because you're using a sort of known source of gas. There are no production upsets as you start the commissioning process. It allows us to have a much smoother start to that initial step to cool down the FLNG before introducing the high-pressure gas that would come from the field. From an efficiency point of view and a safety point of view, it's the right thing to do.
Speaker Change: Good question, Charles. Typically, as you're well aware, you commission a gas facility with buyback of gas. It's the safest way to do it because you're using a sort of known source of gas, there's no production upsets as you start the commissioning process. So it allows us to have a much smoother start to that initial step.
Speaker Change: to cool down the FLNG vessel before introducing the high-pressure gas that would come from the field.
Speaker Change: So, you know, from an efficiency point of view and a safety point of view, it's the right thing to do. But clearly what it allows us to do is accelerate that pre-commissioning process. So our objective is to have that cargo connected up this month, later this month.
Charles Meade: But clearly, what it allows us to do is accelerate that pre-commissioning process. Our objective is to have that cargo connected up this month, later this month, and then we can start that cool down process. As you go through the steps, as I talked about in my remarks, the first thing is the subsea mechanical completion to enable the gas to flow from the well through to the FPSO. We were on track to do that this quarter.
Speaker Change: And then we can start that cool-down process. So as you sort of go through the steps, as I talked about in my remarks...
Speaker Change: The first thing is the subsea mechanical completion to enable the gas to flow from the well through to the FPSO. We were on track to do that this quarter.
Charles Meade: The next step is clearly the finishing of all of the 10, all the work by technique to pre-commission and hand over to BP so they can take operational control of the FPSO. That, again, is targeted in September with first gas shortly thereafter. And in advance of that, you've enabled the cool-down of the LNG tanks to occur, which means, in essence, as that gas is introduced from the FPSO, you're into the process of making LNG, which clearly leads to cargoes in the fourth quarter.
Speaker Change: The next step is clearly the finishing of all of the 10, all the work by technique to pre-commission, hand over to BP so they can take operational control of the FPSO. That, again, is targeted in September with first gas shortly thereafter. And in advance of that, you've enabled the cool-down of the LNG tanks to have occurred, which means, in essence, as that gas is introduced from the FPSO, you're into the process of making LNG, which clearly leads to the cargoes in the fourth quarter.
Charles Meade: So that's sort of how it all fits together, and I think the, you know, the cool-down cargo is an important step just to accelerate the process and allow us to do things in parallel rather than purely in sequence.
Speaker Change: So that's sort of how it all fits together, and I think the cool-down cargo is an important step just to accelerate the process and allow us to do things in parallel rather than purely in sequence.
Charles Meade: That's a helpful detail. I appreciate it.
Bob Brackett: Great, thanks. Thanks, Charles.
Speaker Change: That's helpful detail. Appreciate it. Great. Thanks. Thanks, Charles.
Andrew Inglis: Thank you. Our next questions come from the line of Bob Brackett with Bernstein Research. Please proceed with your questions.
Speaker Change: Thank you. Our next questions come from the line of Bob Brackett with Bernstein Research. Please proceed with your questions.
Bob Brackett: Good morning, I'd like to talk about Tiberias a little bit. In the context of the right level of working interest, you currently have 50% of it. The Discovery Well, in theory, could be a future oil producer. It's a six-kilometer tieback to a host. And it's, I would argue, strongly undervalued in terms of people looking at Kosmos. How do you balance the fact that there is value that's there against the desire to make sure you have the right capital program? And is it selling down, getting back from 50% to a third, or less than that? And what happens if the market isn't as good as the underlying asset value?
Bob Brackett: Good morning. I'd like to talk about Tiberius a little bit. In the context of the right level of working interest, you currently have 50% of it.
Speaker Change: The Discovery Well, in theory, could be a future oil producer.
Speaker Change: It's a six-kilometer tieback to a host.
Speaker Change: And it's, I would argue, strongly undervalued in terms of people looking at Kosmos.
Speaker Change: How do you balance the fact that the value that's there against the desire to make sure you have the right capital program? And is it selling down, getting back from 50% to a third or less than that? And what happens if the market isn't as good as the underlying asset value?
Andrew Inglis: Great, great questions, Bob. So I think the first point to make is, yeah, I think Tiberis is a really quality development. We're pleased with the progress we've made in the quarter, you know, we've got the long leads procured, we've got the rig under contract, working well with Oxy, targeting sanction by the end of the year. So, you know, I think that's really positive steps forward. You know, in terms of the working interests, we did take the opportunity, both us and Oxy, to actually build up to 50%. We're now going to sort of test the market. We think we've added value to it in the interim. The Gulf of Mexico is, you know, a good market at the moment for quality projects.
Speaker Change: Great, great questions, Bob. So I think the first point is to make is, yeah, I think Tiberis is a really quality development. We're pleased with the progress.
Speaker Change: We've made in the quarter, you know, we've got the long leads procured, we've got the rig and the contract working well with Oxy, you know, targeting sanction by the end of the year. So, you know, I think that's...
Speaker Change: You know, really positive steps forward.
Speaker Change: You know, in terms of the working interests, we did take the opportunity, both ourselves and OxyAction, to build up to 50%.
Speaker Change: We're now going to sort of test the market, we think we've added value to it in the interim. The Gulf of Mexico is, you know, it's a good market at the moment for quality projects.
Bob Brackett: So we're looking forward to getting some positive read-through of value from that process, and then ultimately, we'll make a decision on the level of farm down that we do. It will be, you know, it'll be a proportion of the additional interest we picked up, Bob, yeah?
Speaker Change: So we're looking forward to getting some positive read-through of value from that process.
Bob Brackett: And then ultimately we'll make a decision on the level of farm down that we do. It will be, you know, it'll be a proportion of the additional interest we picked up, Bob, yeah? And as you say, ultimately that process will be one where we're looking to demonstrate value accretion from the original deal that we did.
Andrew Inglis: And as you say, ultimately, that process will be one where we're looking to demonstrate value accretion from the original deal that we did. We want to ensure that we have a material stake in the field going forward. And ultimately, we do, though, want to deliver the free cash flow targets that we've made. Part of that is ensuring that we keep the capital budget in the right place. So, you know, we will balance all of those, and ultimately, as you say, we don't want to do a deal where we're eroding the ultimate value of the company.
Bob Brackett: We want to ensure that we have a material stake in the field going forward. And ultimately, we do, though, want to deliver the free cash flow targets that we've made. Part of that is ensuring that we keep the capital budget in the right place.
Bob Brackett: So, you know, we will balance all of those, and ultimately, you know, as you say, we don't want to...
Bob Brackett: do a deal where we're eroding the ultimate value of the company. But I think we've got all of those levers to play with now, because ultimately, it's a really good project, and we've made progress on it. And I think creating that alignment through with ARKSEA...
Andrew Inglis: But I think we've got all of those levers to play with now because, ultimately, it's a really good project and we've made progress on it. And I think creating that alignment with Oxy when Equinor left has been really good because we've managed to move the project forward in the right way. So, you know, decisions to be made, but I think we've got the right framework against which to make those judgments.
Bob Brackett: when Equinor left has been really good because we've managed to move the project forward in the right way. So, you know, decisions to be made, but I think we've got the right frame against which to make those judgments.
Bob Brackett: And a quick follow-up, the concept for Tiberius, I don't think you've discussed it at length, but it's the subsea tieback to an existing host with one, two, or three wells. Is that the way to think about it?
Speaker Change: And a quick follow-up, the concept for Tiberius, I don't think you've discussed it at length, but it's a subsea tie-back to an existing host with one, two, or three wells, is that the way to think about it?
Andrew Inglis: Yeah, I mean, Bob, there'll be multiple wells, at least initially, but the concept initially put the infrastructure in, like you said, the original exploration well will become the first development well, and then we'll add incremental wells in the region over time. So, yeah, it could grow to four to five wells eventually, but we'll get the infrastructure online and build it as a phased development as we have done in other projects as well. Yeah, so it'll be similar to the way we approach Winterfell, where, again, we've
Speaker Change: Yeah, I mean, Bob, there will be multiple wells, at least initially, but the concept initially put the infrastructure in, like you said.
Speaker Change: The original exploration well will become the first development well and then we'll add incremental wells in the region over time. So, yeah, it could grow up to four to five wells eventually, but we'll get the infrastructure online and build it as a phased development as we've done.
Andrew Inglis: Yes, it'll be similar to the way we approach Winterfell, where again we've benefited from the development wells and the calibration of the seismic development wells to be able to pick the right next follow-on wells. It will be a progressive build of production. And I think that's a difference in the Gulf of Mexico today, that we have these hubs now where you've got the ability to invest for the future and grow and sustain production. So we have a discovered resource called Logan to the south of Tiberias, which can be part of that future development once we've got the infrastructure in place.
Speaker Change: Yes, it'll be similar to the way we approach Winterfell, where again we've benefited from the development wells and the calibration of the seismic development wells to be able us to pick the right next follow-on wells.
Speaker Change: It will be a progressive build of the production and I think that's, you know, a difference in the Gulf of Mexico today is that we have these hubs now where you've got the ability to, you know, invest for the future and, you know, and grow and sustain the production.
Speaker Change: So, you know, we have, you know, a discovered resource called Logan to the south of Tiberias, which can be part of that future development once we've got the infrastructure in place.
Speaker Change: Very clear. Thank you. Great. Thanks, Bob.
Neil Mehta: Thank you. Our next questions come from the line of Neil Mehta with Goldman Sachs. Please proceed with your questions.
Speaker Change: Thank you. Our next questions come from the line of Neal Mehta with Goldman Sachs. Please proceed with your questions.
Andrew Inglis: Yeah, good morning Andy and team. What are the gating items between now and first LNG, and are there any critical path items, or do you feel like it's been largely de-risked? I recognize that BP gave us a little bit of color on this last week, but I would love it from your perspective.
Neal Mehta: Yeah, good morning, Andy and team. Just had a couple questions here on tour two.
Neal Mehta: What are the gating items between now and first LNG and are there any critical path items or do you feel like it's been largely de-risked? I recognize that BP gave us a little bit of color on this last week but love it from your perspective too, Andy.
Andrew Inglis: Yeah, look, Neal, I think, you know, hopefully, in the answer I gave, Charles was around showing, you know, how we're integrating now and with a clear path to that first LNG, yeah? You know, with a big project like this, there are key workstreams, there are four key workstreams, the subsurface, the subsea, the FSO, and the FLNG. Hopefully, from the remarks that both Murray made and that I, you know, added to, you can see how those integrate together.
Andy: Yeah, look, Neil, I think, you know, hopefully in the answer I gave Charles was around showing
Speaker Change: you know, how we're integrating now and with a clear path to that first LNG.
Speaker Change: You know, with a big project of this.
Speaker Change: There are four key workstreams, the subsurface, the subsea, the FPSO, the FLNG. Hopefully from the remarks that both Murray made and that I've added to, you can see how those integrate together.
Andrew Inglis: So you know, there is a critical path, you know, the subsea. We're probably, you know, not on the critical path today. We have the ability to produce later this month and the beginning of the next month from the subsea. You have the FPSO then, gas through the FPSO, a clear plan for the handover to BP, and then we're accelerating, if you like, in parallel, the ability then to directly start to produce LNG through the LNG, through the FLNG with the cool down cargo that we're bringing in.
Speaker Change: So, you know, there is a critical path. You know, the subsea, we're probably, you know, not on the critical path today. We have the ability to produce, you know, later this month, beginning of the next month from the subsea. You have the FPSO then, you know, gas through the FPSO, clear plan for the handover to BP operations. And then we're accelerating, if you like, in parallel the ability then to directly start to produce LNG.
Speaker Change: through the FLNG with the cool-down cargo that we're bringing in. So I think, you know, I hope with additional commentary you can see how...
Andrew Inglis: So I think, you know, and I hope with additional commentary, you can see how there is a very clear integrated program now, and then clearly, each of the steps, you know, needs to be managed carefully and done in a very methodical way. But again, you know, each step, each day we're progressing, there's been a significant amount of work done on the FPSO since it was moored and, you know, risers have been connected, gas turbines have been run, see what the left pumps are running, et cetera.
Speaker Change: that there is a very clear integrated program now. And then clearly, each of the steps needs to be managed carefully and done in a very methodical way. But again, each step, each day, we're progressing, and there's been a significant amount of work done on the FPSO since it was moored, and risers have been connected, the gas turbines have been run, see what oil left pumps are running, et cetera. So all of the steps are being conducted in a very methodical way. But I think one of the real messages I wanted to talk about today was how it's all integrated now with a very clear plan going forward.
Andrew Inglis: So you know, all of the steps are being conducted in a very methodical way. But I think that one of the real messages I wanted to talk about today was how it's all integrated now with a very clear plan going forward.
Neil Mehta: Thank you, Andy. Definitely, the next couple of months will be important for that project and that kind of pivots to 2025. Assuming Tortoise is ramping and generating a lot of free cash flow, can you just talk about uses of cash in 2025? I think there's a lot of investor focus on generating cash and deleveraging, but what's your perspective on 2025?
Speaker Change: Thank you, Andy. Yeah, it's definitely the next couple months will be important for that project. And that kind of pivots to 2025. Assuming Tortoise ramping and generating a lot of free cash flow, can you just talk about
Speaker Change: uses of cash in 2025? I think there's a lot of investor focus on generating the cash and deleveraging, but what's your perspective on 2025?
Andrew Inglis: Yeah, so look, I'll let Neil pick that up, and again, we've been clear on our capital guidance and the demand that's required to invest in the base to sustain the production that we enter the year with. We're clear about the growth projects and the allocation of capital to those. So within that frame of capital allocation, which enables us to proceed with the rate, capital will continue to grow, but obviously, at a much more modest rate. How do we ensure that we deliver that free cash flow we've talked about, and then how are we going to use it? Yeah, and so, Neal.
Speaker Change: Yeah, so look, I'll let Neal pick that up, and again, we've been clear on our capital guidance and the demand that's required to invest in the base to sustain the production that we enter the year with.
Neal: We're clear about the growth projects and the allocation of capital to that. So within that frame of capital allocation, which enables us...
Speaker Change: To proceed with the rate, you know, the company will continue to grow, but obviously it's a much more modest rate. You know, how do we ensure that we deliver that free cash flow we've talked about, and then what's, how are we going to use it?
Mark Wilson: Thank you. As a reminder, if you would like to ask a question, please press star 1 on your telephone keypad. Our next question comes from the line of Mark Wilson with Jeffries. Please proceed with your question.
Neal Shah: Yeah, and so, Neal, the only piece I'd add is, yeah, to Andy's point, we've been clear about the capital inputs. As we go into production towards the end of this year, to exit around 90, it'll be about sort of maintaining the base and then focusing selectively on those projects like Tiberias that we want to grow over time, and the rest of the free cash flow, we've been very clear with our investor base, will be focused on debt reduction. From a free cash flow perspective, I see 25, the 100 to 150, depending on commodity prices, will go to debt pay down.
Speaker Change: Yeah, and so, Neal, the only piece I'd add on is, yeah,
Neal: At Andy's point, we've been clear about the capital inputs as we go production towards the end of this year. To exit around 90, it'll be about sort of maintaining the base and then focusing selectively on those projects like Tiberias that we want to grow over time. And the rest of the free cash flow, we've been very clear with.
Speaker Change: Our investor base will be focused on debt reduction. So, you know, from a free cash flow perspective, I see $25, you know, the $100, $150, depending on, you know, commodity prices, will focus, will go to debt pay down.
Neal: Thank you, Neal.
Speaker Change: Thank you. As a reminder, if you would like to ask a question, please press star 1 on your telephone keypad.
Speaker Change: Our next questions come from the line of Mark Wilson with Jeffries. Please proceed with your questions.
Andrew Inglis: Yeah, thank you. Clearly, the farm downs are part of your second half catalysts, certainly at Tiberias, it appears, if that's before FID. Could you talk, Andy, about what the market looks like for farm downs now versus, say, at the start of the year, certainly for gas at Yakar Tarenga, but also for Tiberias?
Mark Wilson: Yeah, thank you. Clearly the farm downs are part of your...
Mark Wilson: second-half catalysts, certainly at Tiberias it appears, if that's before FID. Could you talk, Andy, about what the market looks like for farm downs now versus, say, at the start of the year, certainly for gas at Yakar Taranga, but also for Tiberias? Thank you.
Mark Wilson: You know, good question Mark. I'd say it sort of hasn't changed actually. I think the... The macro, When I look at the Gulf of Mexico, the macro is pretty positive. I think people see it as a source of low-cost, low-carbon oil, fewer players, fewer operators, actually a lot of non-operated, you know, some private equity money coming in, and so people are looking to find, you know, a development like Tiberias, as I said in the answer to Bob's question, that actually has, you know, upside in the long term.
Andy: You know, good question Mark. You know, I'd say it sort of hasn't changed actually. I think the
Speaker Change: The macro...
Speaker Change: When I look at the Gulf of Mexico today, the macro is pretty positive. I think, you know, people see it as a...
Speaker Change: source of low-cost, low-carbon oil.
Speaker Change: Fewer players, fewer operators, actually a lot of non-operated, you know, private, some private equity money coming in and so people are looking to find
Speaker Change: You know, a development like Tiberias, you know, as I said in the answer to Bob's question, that actually has, you know, has upside in the long term. So, you know, we think it's an attractive asset as a result. So I think.
Mark Wilson: So, you know, we think it's an attractive asset as a result. So I think, you know, it's sort of, you could say, well, come on, these prices are weaker, et cetera, but I don't think it's ultimately changed people's views of that. And in some senses, I'd say the macro there is probably stronger than it's been for some time. And again, on the Akataringa, it's really, you know, it's about stepping back.
Speaker Change: You know, it's sort of, you know, you could say, well, commodities prices are weaker, etc. But I don't think it's ultimately changed people's view of that. And in some senses, I'd say the macro there is probably stronger than it's been for some time.
Speaker Change: And, again, on the Akhataranga, it's really, you know, it's about stepping back. I think, you know, what's interesting for me is actually the macro, again, is about actually some of our...
Mark Wilson: I think, you know, what's interesting for me is actually the macro, again, about some of our, you know, some of the big NOCs in the world that have heavy oil weighting are the ones that are looking to do deals to get access to long-term gas. So you're seeing a sequence of those deals. And none of that's going to change. I think that's a permanent trend. And ultimately, it's a trend against a limited number of opportunities. So I think, you know, that clearly there's going to be volatility in prices. But I think the fundamental drivers that people are. [inaudible]
Speaker Change: Some of the big NOCs in the world that have heavy oil weighting.
Speaker Change: are the ones that are looking to do deals to get access to long-term gas.
Speaker Change: So you're seeing a sequence of those deals, and none of that's going to change. I think that's a permanent trend, and ultimately it's a trend against a limited number of opportunities.
Speaker Change: So I think, you know, clearly there's going to be volatility in prices, but I think the fundamental drivers that people are...
Speaker Change: are using to underpin their strategies have not changed. So I think, you know, we're obviously looking at very different buyer pools in the garment towards the Akaturanga, but I don't see there being a sort of difference between now versus the beginning of the year.
Andrew Inglis: Thank you for that. Also, we've got visibility on the first gas at GTA Phase 1. Could you speak to what the point of view is on Phase 2? Do you think there's any change to that, or is it a case of, "let's get it on and see where we stand next year?" Again, a good question, Mark.
Speaker Change: Okay, thank you for that, and then also...
Speaker Change: We've got visibility on the first gas at GTA Phase 1. Could you speak to what the partner view is on Phase 2? Do you think there's any change to that, or is it a case of let's get it on and see where we stand next year?
Speaker Change: Yeah, again, good question, Mark.
Mark Wilson: Look, we've built the infrastructure to enable phase one. The phase two expansion, as a result, is low cost. It is a brownfield modification of the FPSO to enable us to process more gas through the facility. And clearly, we're not far away from getting early production results from the initial development. So obviously, the conversation is about how do we now progress with phase two and do it in the most capital efficient way and in a timely fashion.
Speaker Change: Look, you know, we built the infrastructure to enable Phase 1.
Speaker Change: The Phase II expansion, as a result, is low-cost. It is a brownfield modification of the FPSO to enable us to process more gas.
Speaker Change: through the facility, and clearly we're not far away from getting the early production results from the initial development wells.
Speaker Change: So, obviously, the conversation is about how do we now progress phase two and do it in the most capital-efficient way and in a timely fashion. And that's also important to the government, because...
Mark Wilson: And that's also important to the government because both countries, both in Mauritania and Senegal, because the economics of the next phase are clearly superior to the initial phase, and therefore, for all parties, the expansion of the project is a win-win. So that's actually the conversation that's ongoing at the moment with both of the NOCs and with the government is how do we progress that project with a real focus on capital efficiency because the next phase has to be a rigorous project, and the execution has to be in the most capital efficient way that enables us to take the best advantage of the infrastructure that we've built in.
Speaker Change: of both countries, both in Mauritania and Senegal.
Speaker Change: You know, because the economics clearly of the next phase are superior to the initial phase and therefore for all parties, you know, the expansion of the project is a win-win.
Speaker Change: So that's actually the conversation that's ongoing at the moment with both of the NFCs and with the government is.
Speaker Change: you know, how do we progress that project and with a real focus on on capital efficiency because
Speaker Change: You know, the next phase has to be a rigorous project, the execution has to be in the most capital efficient way that enables us to take the best advantage of the infrastructure that we've built in.
Mark Wilson: So I think it's a good reminder actually, Mark, of sort of the next phase. We need to finish phase one and get it going, and we're not there yet, but we're very close. And then, of course, the conversation naturally turns to how do we optimize everything that we've put in and get to the next phase, which is clearly a very good project. So yeah, we're not waiting, and those conversations are occurring within the partnership, but first gas is clearly a step on that journey.
Speaker Change: So I think it's a good reminder, actually, Mark, of sort of the next phase. You know, we need to finish phase one and get it on. And, you know, we're not there yet, but we're very close. And then, of course, the conversation naturally then is to how do we optimize everything that we put in.
Speaker Change: and get to the next phase, which is clearly a very good project. So, yeah, we're not waiting, and those conversations are occurring within the partnership, but, you know, First Gas is clearly a step on that journey.
Andrew Inglis: Okay, good. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Mark Wilson: Thank you very much.
Operator: Thank you. Since there are no further questions at this time, I would like to bring the call to a close. Thanks to everyone who joined us today. You may disconnect your lines at this time, and thank you for your participation.
Speaker Change: Go on.
Speaker Change: Thank you. Since there are no further questions at this time, I would like to bring the call to a close. Thanks to everyone joining today. You may disconnect your lines at this time, and thank you for your participation.
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