OREANDA-NEWS. Cairn intends to announce its preliminary results for the year to 31 December 2014 on Tuesday 10 March 2015. In advance of these results, Cairn is providing information on recent operations and guidance in respect of the Group’s trading performance in 2014. This information is unaudited and is subject to further review.

Simon Thomson, Chief Executive, Cairn Energy PLC said:

“Our focus in 2015 is on delivering a multi well appraisal and exploration programme in Senegal, following our success in opening up this new Atlantic Margin basin last year. 

The large acreage position in Senegal offers material near term growth potential with numerous follow on prospects identified, and the Joint Venture is well positioned to benefit from the current reduction in industry costs.

Cairn is fully funded to deliver its exploration and appraisal programme, along with the Kraken and Catcher developments which are on track for first oil in 2017. 

The company continues to seek a resolution to the Indian tax situation.”

Corporate and Finance

  • Group net cash at 31 December 2014 of US\$869 million (m)
  • US\$575m seven year Reserve Based Lending bank facility remains undrawn
  • Completion expected January 2015 of the sale of 10% interest in the Catcher development and adjacent acreage for a carry of Cairn’s exploration and development costs up to a cap of US\$182m, effective 1 January 2014.  This transaction reduces forward capex to end 2017 by ~US\$380m.  Cairn will retain 20% WI in the Catcher licence
  • Group reorganisation now complete; with subsequent ~40% reduction in headcount (across employees and contractors) 
  • While interactions are ongoing with the Indian Income Tax Department, Cairn remains unable to access the value in its ~10% residual shareholding in Cairn India Limited (CIL) valued at US\$702m at 31 December 2014.  Cairn is continuing to take all necessary steps to protect shareholders’ interests
  • Capital Markets day on Senegal planned for H1 2015

Developments

  • Catcher and Kraken developments in the UK North Sea on track for first oil from 2017; peak net targeted production to Cairn of ~20,000 boepd (following completion of the Dyas transaction)
    • First steel cutting of Catcher FPSO hull commenced H1 2015 and development drilling scheduled to commence H2 2015, following installation of the first phase of subsea drilling templates
    • Kraken development drilling scheduled to commence end of H1 2015; FPSO construction continues in Singapore and fabrication of main process modules has started