Publication of Independent Resource Evaluation
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
o 321 mmbbls net to Rockhopper
- Unrisked gross contingent resources development pending 2C 727 mmbbls
o 255 mmbbls net to Rockhopper
- Value of the Rockhopper net 2C 255mmbbls 35% working interest in Sea Lion is US$1.8bn
o 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 plc
Sam Moody - Chief Executive Officer
Tel. +44 (0)20 7390 0230 (via Vigo Consulting)
Canaccord Genuity Limited (NOMAD and Joint Broker)
Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor/James Asensio/Charlie Hammond
Tel. +44 (0) 20 7523 8000
Peel Hunt LLP (Joint Broker)
Richard Crichton/Georgia Langoulant
Vigo Consulting
Patrick d'Ancona/Ben Simons/Fiona Hetherington
Tel. +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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