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Publication of Independent Resource Evaluation

3rd Jun 2025 07:00

RNS Number : 1151L
Rockhopper Exploration plc
03 June 2025
 

3 June 2025

Rockhopper Exploration plc

("Rockhopper" or the "Company")

 

Publication of Independent Resource Evaluation

 

Rockhopper Exploration plc (AIM: RKH), the oil and gas company with key interests in the North Falkland Basin ("NFB"), is pleased to announce the publication of an independent resource evaluation conducted by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. ("NSAI") on behalf of Rockhopper.

 

Key information:

- Unrisked gross contingent resources 2C 917 mmbbls

321 mmbbls net to Rockhopper

- Unrisked gross contingent resources development pending 2C 727 mmbbls

255 mmbbls net to Rockhopper

- Value of the Rockhopper net 2C 255mmbbls 35% working interest in Sea Lion is US$1.8bn

net of royalties and taxes at an oil price of US$70 Brent

 

Rockhopper holds a 35% working interest in Sea Lion and associated NFB licences and benefits from various loans from Navitas Petroleum ("Navitas") in relation to the development, which have been detailed in previous announcements.

 

Highlights of NSAI independent resource evaluation (oil only):

 

Unrisked Gross (100%) Contingent Resources

Oil (mmbbls)

 

Low estimate

Best estimate

High Estimate

 

1C*

2C*

3C*

Development Pending

470

727

939

Development On Hold

78

180

300

Development Not Viable

6

10

15

 

 

 

Total

554

917

1,254

\* Totals may not sum precisely due to rounding adjustments

 

 

Unrisked Working Interest Contingent Resources

Oil (mmbl)

 

Low estimate

Best estimate

High Estimate

 

1C*

2C*

3C*

Development Pending

165

255

329

Development On Hold

27

63

105

Development Not Viable

2

3

5

 

 

 

Total

194

321

439

\* Totals may not sum precisely due to rounding adjustments

  

 

Economic Analysis

Oil

Oil price US$70 Brent

(MMBBL)

NPV 10%

Unrisked Working Interest

Net Contingent Cash Flow

Development Pending

After Falkland Islands Royalty

Contingent Resources

and Corporate Taxes (US$mm)

Low estimate (1C)

165

1,046

Best estimate (2C)

255

1,845

High estimate (3C)

329

2,474

 

The development scenario assumed in the report underlying the NPV calculation aligns with the previously disclosed multi-phase 2 FPSO scheme comprising the Northern Development Area phases 1, 2 & 3 along with the Central Development Area phases 1 & 2.

 

Navitas continues to estimate Capex to first oil on phase 1 of cUS$1.4 bn and in this regard has entered into a number of agreements including an MOU for a FPSO which is currently operating in UK offshore waters, along with various contracts for critical path long lead items including provision of subsea equipment and flexible flowlines.

 

Additional notes

 

In a change to previous naming conventions, the entirety of the oil deposits in licences PL032 and PL004 are now referred to as Sea Lion. Previously, Rockhopper had referred to Sea Lion separately from the Isobel / Elaine accumulation; that is no longer the case.

 

The difference of 3 mmbbls between the 2C development pending 727 mmbbls contained in the Rockhopper NSAI report and the 2C development pending 730 mmbbls in the Navitas NSAI report is a result of running the reports at different oil price decks resulting in a small change to the economic cut off for the field. All of the underlying data and other assumptions are consistent.

 

NSAI have also provided estimates of gross and working interest of i) Contingent Gas Resources, and ii) Prospective Oil and Gas Resources however the Company has not reproduced them in this summary as there is no plan for their development in place. NSAI's report also includes economic analysis with a low and high oil price sensitivity.

 

A full copy of the report will be available later today on the Rockhopper's website: https://rockhopperexploration.co.uk/

 

 

Sam Moody, Chief Executive Officer of Rockhopper, commented:

 

"We are delighted that NSAI have been able to confirm the best estimate potential value of Rockhopper's 35% working interest in Sea Lion is US$1.8bn net of taxes at an oil price of US$70. 

 

"We continue to work with the Operator to unlock this potential value for all stakeholders."

 

 

Enquiries:

 

Rockhopper Exploration plcSam Moody - Chief Executive OfficerTel. +44 (0)20 7390 0230 (via Vigo Consulting)

 

Canaccord Genuity Limited (NOMAD and Joint Broker)Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor/James Asensio/Charlie HammondTel. +44 (0) 20 7523 8000

 

Peel Hunt LLP (Joint Broker)Richard Crichton/Georgia Langoulant

 

Vigo ConsultingPatrick d'Ancona/Ben Simons/Fiona HetheringtonTel. +44 (0) 20 7390 0234

 

 

Resource Disclosure

 

The NSAI Independent Resource Evaluation has been produced to PRMS standards. approved by the Society of Petroleum Engineers ("SPE").

 

Lucy Williams (BSc Geology, MSc Petroleum Geology, Chartered Geologist) the Company's Geoscience Manager has reviewed and approved the technical information contained within this announcement.

 

 

FEED

Front-End Engineering Design

FPSO

Floating Production Storage and Offloading

1C

Low estimate scenario of contingent resources

2C

Best (Most Likely, Mid) estimate scenario of contingent resources

3C

High estimate scenario of contingent resources

Contingent Resources

Those quantities of petroleum which are estimated on a given date, to be potentially recoverable from known accumulations by application of development project, but which are not currently considered to be commercially recoverable owing to one or more contingencies

MOU

Memorandum of Understanding

NSAI

Netherland Sewell & Associates

bbls/d

Barrels of crude oil per day

mmbbls

Millions barrels of oil

PRMS

2018 Petroleum Resources Management System approved by the Society of Petroleum Engineers

 

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