22 Dec 2022 08:00 CET

Issuer

IOG plc

22 December 2022

IOG plc

Operational update: Blythe H2 well plan and Southwark progress

IOG plc ("IOG", or "the Company"), (AIM: IOG.L), the Net Zero UK gas and
infrastructure operator focused on high return projects, provides an update on
current production, plans for a second Blythe production well ("H2") and
progress at Southwark.

Highlights:

· Saturn Banks 2H22 average production expected to be c.22 mmscf/d
· Southwark A2 well test and clean-up planned for next week with first gas
expected by mid-January
· Blythe H2 well planned to be drilled directly after Southwark A1 well in 1H
2023
· 30,000 therms/day hedged for December 2022 at 303 p/therm and January 2023
at 319 p/therm

Rupert Newall, CEO of IOG, commented:

"Operationally, the new leadership is making progress, but we still see room for
improvement over coming months. We are proactively engaged in improving not only
our own team's performance but also that of our duty holders. Bringing new wells
onstream, improving platform reliability and managing liquids flows will enable
us to maximise production and cash flow.

Importantly, we have made good progress at Southwark, with the A2 well expected
onstream by mid-January. The A1 well is then expected to strengthen our
production profile from early Q2. With Blythe H2 and the Kelham and Goddard
appraisal wells to follow, 2023 is set to be a high-impact year for IOG.

The Blythe H2 well is a compelling investment for us to accelerate reserves
recovery, mitigate water production and maximise cash flow. We expect it to pay
back very quickly, benefitting from our final rig extension option negotiated in
2020 and the spare well slot designed into the Blythe platform."

Saturn Banks Operations

· Since the November restart, platform generator and MEG pump faults, plus an
unplanned Bacton terminal shutdown, have limited Blythe field gross production
to 17.1 mmscf/d at 81% uptime (current production rate is approximately 22
mmscf/d)
· Saturn Banks production is projected to average approximately 22 mmscf/d
over 2H 2022 (with 59% uptime to date including planned shutdowns) and
approximately 27 mmscf/d from First Gas in March 2022 to year end
· IOG management is very focused on helping its offshore duty holder to
address the causes of unplanned downtime and make the required performance
improvements
· Elgood is currently shut-in with further production expected to require
lower liquid volumes in the Saturn Banks Pipeline System ("SBPS"), after which
it will be produced cyclically
· Produced water from Blythe H1 continues to be managed onshore, with disposal
cost reductions being pursued

Southwark

· A2 well hydraulic stimulation operations are expected to be complete by the
end of this week, while all subsea work is now complete
· A2 well test and clean-up is planned for next week, with final hook-up and
commissioning and safety reviews then leading to Southwark first gas by mid
-January
· The Shelf Perseverance rig is planned to then re-enter the A1 well, complete
and stimulate it in Q1 and bring it onstream by early Q2

Blythe H2 well plan

· H2 is planned to be drilled directly after Southwark A1 and targeted
onstream by early Q3 2023 (with the two-well appraisal campaign to follow
directly after)
· Final extension option in IOG's 2020 Shelf Perseverance rig contract is to
be exercised for H2
· Detailed well design is already well advanced, building off earlier
successful development work on the Blythe H1 well
· Integrating learnings from H1, the intention is to target the field's
central high, which has no observed faults and potentially better reservoir
quality
· H2 has been approved internally and is subject to joint venture partner and
regulatory approval processes

Blythe H2 rationale

· Achieve high returns and rapid payback, based on a gross budget of
approximately £26 million including hook up and commissioning costs, plus
potential for significant tax shelter
· Accelerate and maximise recovery of the management estimated Blythe gross 1P
/ 2P / 3P reserves of 25.4 / 42.5 / 55.8 billion cubic feet (BCF), at a time of
high expected gas prices
· Allow flexibility to reduce water production from Blythe H1 into the SBPS,
improving operating efficiency and reducing water disposal costs
· Existing spare well slot and riser on Blythe platform minimises need for
brownfield modifications

Gas pricing

· 30,000 therms/day hedged with offtaker BP Gas Marketing at 303 p/therm for
December 2022 and 319 p/therm for January 2023
· Average realised gas price has been 295.7 p/therm since the November
restart, 262.6 p/therm over 2H22 to date and 203.2 p/therm since First Gas in
March 2022

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of
the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by
virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("MAR"), and is disclosed in
accordance with the company's obligations under Article 17 of MAR.

Enquiries:

IOG plcRupert Newall (CEO)James +44 (0) 20 7036 1400
Chance (Head of Capital Markets &
ESG)
finnCap LtdChristopher Raggett / +44 (0) 20 7220 0500
Simon Hicks
Peel Hunt LLPRichard Crichton / +44 (0) 20 7418 8900
David McKeown

Vigo ConsultingPatrick d'Ancona / +44 (0) 20 7390 0230
Finlay Thomson

About IOG:

IOG is a Net Zero UK gas and infrastructure operator focused on high-return
projects. The Company's operations are currently concentrated around its
offshore and onshore Saturn Banks infrastructure in the UK Southern North Sea.
Phase 1 of its Saturn Banks Project, which started production in March 2022,
entails the commercialisation of the Blythe, Elgood and Southwark gas fields
through this infrastructure. Phase 2 of the Saturn Banks Project entails the
Nailsworth, Goddard and Elland gas discoveries, which are subject to future
investment decisions and expected to be commercialised through the same export
infrastructure. The Company also holds further licences with additional
resources including the Abbeydale, Panther and Grafton gas discoveries, the
Kelham North, Kelham Central, Thornbridge and Thornbridge Deep prospects, and
part of the Orrell gas discovery. Currently, all IOG's licences are held 50:50
with its joint venture partner CalEnergy Resources (UK) Limited and operated by
IOG. In addition, the Company continually evaluates further opportunities for
accretive portfolio additions to help generate additional shareholder returns.
Further details are available at www.iog.co.uk.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock
Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary
Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the
use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information,
please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.


578945_Release.pdf

Source

IOG plc

Provider

Oslo Børs Newspoint

Company Name

IOG plc

ISIN

NO0010863236

Market

Oslo Børs