14 September 2023

Jersey Oil and Gas plc

("Jersey Oil & Gas", "JOG" or the "Company")

Interim Results for the Six Month Period Ended 30 June 2023

Jersey Oil & Gas (AIM: JOG), an independent upstream oil and gas company ‎focused on the UK Continental Shelf region of the North Sea, is pleased to announce its unaudited Interim Results for the six month period ended 30 June 2023.

Highlights

§ Transaction with NEO Energy ("NEO") completed for the farm-out of a 50% interest in the Greater Buchan Area ("GBA") licences in exchange for certain cash payments, funding through to Field Development Plan ("FDP") approval and a 12.5% development expenditure carry to first oil for the 50% interest retained by the Company

§ Redeployment of a Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading ("FPSO") vessel selected as the preferred GBA development solution - negotiation of fully termed agreement for acquisition of a high-quality vessel advancing

§ Approval secured from the North Sea Transition Authority ("NSTA") for the extension of the Second Term durations of the GBA licences, thereby providing the time required to prepare the necessary Field Development Plans ("FDP")

§ Transfer of operatorship to NEO formally completed in July 2023, with the project team now mobilised for commencement of Front End Engineering and Design phase of activities

§ Preparation underway of the Environmental Statement for the Buchan field redevelopment programme that is planned for submission later this year - engagement ongoing with the statutory consultees

§ Key focus remains on creating additional value through securing a further GBA farm-out in order to ultimately provide the Company with a fully carried 20-25% interest in the Buchan redevelopment - engagement ongoing with potential counterparties

§ Cash position of approximately £5.6 million, with no debt, as at 30 June 2023.  Further cash receipts due on satisfying Buchan re-development milestones - $9.4 million on execution of the FPSO acquisition agreement and $12.5 million on Buchan FDP approval

Andrew Benitz, CEO of Jersey Oil & Gas, commented:

"The first half of the year has been a pivotal period in the history of the Company.  With the farm-out to NEO Energy completed, the GBA development solution locked down and the licences covering the area extended, we now have a clear pathway to monetising the resource base we have built up over recent years.

We are encouraged by the collaborative progress being made by NEO and look forward to finalising the acquisition agreements for the FPSO, creating additional value through securing further farm-outs and moving onwards with the various workstreams required to get to Field Development Plan approval next year."

Enquiries:

- Ends -

Notes to Editors:

Jersey Oil & Gas ("JOG") is a UK E&P company focused on building an upstream oil and gas business in the North Sea. The Company holds a 50% interest in each of licences P2498 (Blocks 20/5a, 20/5e and 21/1a) and P2170 (Blocks 20/5b and 21/1d) located in the UK Central North Sea and referred to as the "Greater Buchan Area" ("GBA").  Licence P2498 contains the Buchan oil field and J2 oil discovery and licence P2170 contains the Verbier oil discovery. 

The GBA licences are operated by NEO Energy ("NEO"), with the company holding a 50% working interest.  NEO is a major UK North Sea operator producing approximately 90,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day and is backed by HitecVision, a leading private equity investor focused on Europe's offshore energy industry with US$8 billion of assets under management

JOG is focused on delivering shareholder value and growth through creative deal-making, operational success and licensing rounds. Its management is convinced that opportunity exists within the UK North Sea to deliver on this strategy and the Company has a solid track-record of tangible success.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement may contain certain forward-looking statements that are subject to the usual risk factors and uncertainties associated with an oil and gas business.  Whilst the Company believes the expectations reflected herein to be reasonable in light of the information available to it at this time, the actual outcome may be materially different owing to factors beyond the Company's control or otherwise within the Company's control but where, for example, the Company decides on a change of plan or strategy.

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms part of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended by virtue of the Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.

CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S REPORT

Greater Buchan Area Farm-out success

The first half of 2023 was a pivotal period in the Company's history with April's announcement of the successful farm-out of an interest in our Greater Buchan Area ("GBA") development to NEO Energy ("NEO").  The deal, which completed in June, saw NEO acquire a 50% working interest in, and operatorship of, both the licences that cover the GBA, which include the project to redevelop the Buchan oil field, the Verbier and J2 discoveries and several exploration prospects.  The transaction unlocks the route to monetising total resources in excess of 100 million barrels of oil equivalent. 

The transaction delivers material value to JOG, including cash milestone payments, funding through to Field Development Plan ("FDP") approval and a minimum 12.5% development expenditure carry to first oil for the 50% interest retained by the Company (a 1.25 carry ratio). NEO is a major UK North Sea operator producing approximately 90,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day and is owned by HitecVision AS, a leading private equity investor focused on Europe's offshore energy industry with approximately US$8 billion of assets under management.

GBA Development Operational Update

With the introduction of NEO to the GBA, the partnership undertook confirmatory studies to finalise selection of the preferred development solution for the GBA; determining that re-deployment of an "electrification ready" FPSO offers the lowest cost development option and the one that results in the lowest full-cycle carbon footprint out of all the potential options evaluated.  A Concept Select Report was submitted to the North Sea Transition Authority ("NSTA") setting out the development solution and its alignment with the NSTA's strategy to maximise the economic recovery of reserves and assist with achieving the UK government's net zero target. The NSTA subsequently issued a letter confirming that it has no objections to the licensees preparing a Field Development Plan ("FDP") in accordance with that described in the Concept Select Report.

To facilitate preparation, submission and approval of the FDP for the redevelopment of the Buchan field, the NSTA approved an 18 month extension to the Second Term of licence P2498 to 28 February 2025. Following FDP approval, the licence will move into the Third Term, which covers the development and production phase of activities for the life of the field.  In addition, the Second Term of the P2170 "Verbier" licence was extended by three years to 29 August 2026. This extension was requested in order to provide the licensees with the time required to prepare an FDP for the Verbier discovery, as part of a phased GBA development plan.

Following announcement of the farm-out transaction, NEO and JOG have been working collaboratively to facilitate a smooth transfer of operatorship of the GBA licences and the associated subsurface and engineering work completed on the assets.  The formal transfer of operatorship to NEO was approved by the NSTA in July 2023.  In tandem, NEO has established the necessary project management team, including JOG secondees, and recently finalised the plan and contracting strategy to move the Buchan redevelopment into the Front End Engineering and Design ("FEED") phase of activities. FEED scopes of work are now being initiated with respect to well design, subsea and gas export infrastructure, as well as FPSO electrification, life extension and re-deployment.  Liaison with offshore wind developers continues, with the GBA development offering the potential to be a component of the future Outer Moray Firth offshore wind electrification plans that are currently being considered as part of the Government's Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas ("INTOG") leasing round process. Preparation of the FDP is underway, with submission to the NSTA targeted for the first half of 2024 for subsequent approval later in the year. In addition, environmental impact assessments are being undertaken and consultation with the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning ("OPRED") and statutory consultees is ongoing, ahead of submission of an Environmental Statement, being a precursor to FDP approval. 

Business Development Progress

In line with the Company's strategy to ultimately retain a 20-25% fully carried interest in the Buchan redevelopment project, JOG is engaged with industry parties who have expressed potential interest in farming-in to the GBA licences for a non-operated working interest.  Whilst there can be no certainty of a successful transaction(s), we are encouraged by this ongoing engagement that is naturally facilitated by the progress the joint venture is making on the Buchan redevelopment project.  Completion of a further farm-out(s) remains the Company's key priority.

Financial Review

JOG's cash position was approximately £5.6m as of 30 June 2023 (31 December 2022: £6.6m).  Cash costs of £2.7m (including an £0.2m increase in working capital) were partially offset by a payment of £1.7m received on completion of the NEO transaction.

JOG had no production revenue during the period and received only a modest amount of interest on its cash deposits.

The underlying cash expenditure incurred in running the business in the first half of 2023 was down 15% from the same period last year at £1.8m (H1 2022: £2.1m). During the first 6 months of the year there were also transaction costs associated with the farm-out of £0.8m and a non-cash share based compensation charge of £1.0m (2022: £0.3m). These business costs are partially recognised as Administrative Expenses through the Profit and Loss account, £2.9m (H1 2022: £1.2m) and partially capitalised on the Balance Sheet as Intangible Asset Additions, £0.6m (H1 2022: £1.2m). The reduced activity and personnel numbers in the first 6 months of this year has resulted in a lower proportion of overhead being capitalised on the Balance Sheet and hence a larger proportion has been expensed in the Profit and Loss account.

The loss for the period, before and after tax, was approximately £2.9m (2022: £1.2m).

JOG is fully carried for its 50% share of the estimated US$25m cost to take the Buchan field through to FDP approval and is forecast to receive its next deferred cash payment of US$9.4m associated with the NEO farm-out upon finalising the acquisition of the FPSO.

Macro Outlook

Global oil and gas fundamentals remain strong.  Demand continues to grow, unsurprisingly given an energy hungry growing global population and supply continues to be suppressed by under investment.  In the UK North Sea, the country's oil production is roughly a quarter of its peak in 1999.  Energy policy should recognise the opportunity to attract global capital investment into the UK North Sea where relatively low carbon developments are available. Oil and gas imported from elsewhere inevitably has a higher carbon footprint.  When looked at holistically it is estimated that energy spend in the UK North Sea could reach £200bn this decade, providing a major and unique opportunity for the UK economy.  It is not logical to deter investment to the detriment of national energy security and drive-up costs to consumers with carbon intensive energy imports.  Within this context it is encouraging to see the GBA development moving forward, a project that embodies the qualities of locally sourced energy from a re-developed field, to be produced through the reuse of existing infrastructure, with the lowest carbon emissions through the planned integration and use of proximal wind power.

Summary and outlook

We are encouraged by the collaborative progress being made with NEO on the Buchan field redevelopment programme, having successfully closed out the development concept select phase of activities and entered into the FEED phase.  Finalising the selection of the preferred development concept, in the form of redeployment of an existing FPSO, was naturally a significant step forward and work is progressing to close out the relevant transaction agreements to acquire a high quality vessel.  We remain on track for submission to the NSTA of the FDP for the Buchan field re-development programme in 2024 and the commencement of production in 2026.  

Alongside working closely with NEO to progress the various technical and regulatory workstreams required to reach Buchan FDP approval, we remain actively engaged with other potential GBA farm-in partners in order to secure our ultimate objective of retaining a 20-25% fully carried interest in the field redevelopment.

As ever, we are grateful for the ongoing support from our shareholders, who should take comfort that the GBA development is being driven forward by a highly capable North Sea operator that values the importance of a strong joint venture partnership.

13 September 2023

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2023

The above consolidated statement of comprehensive income should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.