Frontera Energy Corporation (FEC) Earnings Call Transcript & Summary
November 15, 2022
Earnings Call Speaker Segments
Brent Anderson
executiveAll right. So I'm told that our webcast is now live. Thank you to those of you who are joining us online today. We've had an early start on our end, and we're happy to have you participate in what we hope will be a really informative and interesting day for you. My name is Brent Anderson, and I am the Director of Investor Relations for Frontera. And it gives me great pleasure to introduce Frontera's Chairman; Mr. Gabriel de Alba, who will provide introductory remarks and an overview of Frontera. In addition to his duties as our Chairman, since Frontera's restructuring, Gabriel is currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Therapure Biopharma, Gateway Casinos & Entertainment and Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cirque du Soleil. Gabriel is also a Director and Co-Chairman of CGX Energy. I'm hoping Gabriel, you can hear us okay. Thank you, Gabriel. Over to you. I think you may be muted. Just check your mic there and sound on your side.
Gabriel de Alba
executiveYes. Can you hear me now?
Brent Anderson
executive[Foreign Language].
Gabriel de Alba
executiveThat's great. Give me just one second. I think you needed to unmute me. All right. Can you hear me now? Brent, can you hear me?
Brent Anderson
executiveYes, we can hear you.
Alejandra Bonilla
executiveOkay. Perfect. Thank you, Brent. And good morning to everyone, and welcome to Frontera's 2022 Investor Open House. You will hear a lot about Frontera today and our position as a leading oil and gas producer in Latin America. What we hope you will take away from our presentations is the unique investment opportunity that Frontera represents and our commitment to creating and delivering shareholder value. I have been Chairman of Frontera since 2016 following a successful restructuring of the business. Since that time, we have made a tremendous amount of progress in focusing the company's operations and reducing costs, optimizing the portfolio, applying financial sophistication, simplifying our story and returning significant capital directly to shareholders. It's been a big effort actually from the Board and management during the past several years. And one of the main objectives of this presentation is to outline to you the value creation drivers that Frontera is unlocking. As you know, today, Frontera is involving the exploration, development, production, transportation, storage and sale of oil and natural gas in South America, including related but actually separate value-creating businesses in upstream and midstream facilities. Frontera has a diversified portfolio of assets with interest in 32 exploration and production blocks in Colombia, Ecuador and Guyana and pipeline and port facilities in Colombia. We will want to emphasize in this discussion, the E&P business in Colombia and Ecuador, separate the presentation of value from the pipeline and the port facilities and then also give you a different framework of value on a stand-alone basis for Guyana. This is how we want to unlock the value as we believe that some of the parts is not currently recognized in the share price. In the context of performance, we recently announced our third quarter earnings, and I would like to take you some of those highlights. As we reported, the company generated $173.2 million of EBITDA and almost $500 million -- EBITDA for the quarter and almost $500 million of EBITDA year-to-date for the first 9 months of 2022. Frontera produced 41,033 barrels per day in the third quarter and has averaged 41,238 barrels per day year-to-date to the end of the third quarter. We remain on track to deliver on our 2022 production guidance of between 41,000 and 43,000 barrels per day, and we're again online as we are performing in the fourth quarter. Also importantly, we are delivering in our production and EBITDA targets so far this year while controlling our operational costs. So as just mentioned, we are on target on production. We are on target on EBITDA. And we're doing this, not only because of higher prices and again, solid production, but also because we are improving and reducing our operating costs. And this is done even though there have been inflationary pressures coming in the market. In the context of the shareholders, year-to-date, the company has also returned $83 million through its SIB and NCIB share buyback programs and the company has, in this process, acquired and retired over 8.5 million shares. The results for this year underscore the company's continued focus on cash flow generation, operational excesses and unlocking value for shareholders while preserving a solid balance sheet. I would like to emphasize that in this journey of shareholder value creation, the Board and management have been consistent working hard throughout the years. We are focusing on driving excellence and accountability and that has been our key mantra on execution. And while higher oil prices are helping us, we are always conscious of preserving a solid production base as well as maintaining our cost structure that -- cost structure and balance sheet that will make the company sustainable in the long run. Before I turn things to Orlando, I would like to take you to some reasons where we believe Frontera is an attractive investment. And with that, if we can please move to Slide 11. Perfect. Thank you. We have a proven and the adverse asset base with longevity that generated value-focused production and cash flow from our portfolio. As I have mentioned, in 2022, we maintained production guidance of between 41,000 and 43,000 per day -- barrels per day, and we currently have 2P net reserves of 167 million barrels. While we have not provided any guidance on 2022 reserves or the replacement ratio targets for 2022, the company aims to replace 100% of its production year-over-year. As example, which will be discussed in detail later as it relates to our expectations for 2022 reserves, in 2021, Frontera delivered solid reserve results. We replaced 157% of net 1P reserves and 105% of net 2P reserves and extended our net 1P reserve life index to 8.7 years and our net 2P reserve life index to 13.3 years. We increased net 2P natural gas and associated natural gas liquid reserves by 105% to 19.1 million barrels, further diversifying Frontera's future production mix and increasing the net present value at 10% discount of the company's 2P reserves by 61% to $3 billion -- $3.036 billion before tax and -- as of December 31, 2021. Let me confirm the number, $3.036 billion. This is due in part to higher Brent prices year-over-year and greater operational and development cost stability. We have an advantaged transportation and logistics structure, which provides optionality to consolidate blend and manage how we also sell and produce crude. This increases the reliability and maximizes the realized price. Frontera has a unique business model, which again is unique in the Colombian market, for crude oil, commercialization and trading that provides a significant differential compared to other producers. This is highlighted by an integrated transportation and trading team that is focused on optimizing price and cost. Frontera's commercialization model eliminates intermediaries, increasing well hit prices and improved trading margins, which we'll discuss in detail later in the presentation. We have strong growth potential to lower-risk near-field onshore exploration opportunities. In Colombia, we have 252 million and 503 million barrels of mean prospective resources across 8 blocks in the Lower Magdalena Valley and Llanos Basin. We have significant asset value and dividend income stream from our midstream portfolio, again, coming from the pipeline and the port and high impact with Guyana exploration. In September 2022, the company acquired the remaining 40.07% interest it did not already own in the pipeline investment LTD. The transportation represents an important milestone -- or sorry, the transaction represents an important milestone for the company as it increased Frontera's direct investments in the ODL pipeline to 35%. This has strengthened the Frontera's midstream cash flow and creates a self-sustaining and growing midstream business. In other words, the midstream business, considering the pipeline and the port, can now stand on its own without any dependence from the Frontera upstream business. We believe, again, these are a very important milestone to unlock value. On Guyana, earlier this year, Frontera and CGX announced the discovery of 228 feet of net pay across the Maastrichtian, Campanian, Santonian and Coniacian horizons for the Kawa-1 exploration well offshore Guyana. Third party analysis indicates the presence of light oil in the Santonian and Coniacian and gas condensate in the Maastrichtian and Campanian areas. The findings are consistent with discoveries reported by other operators adjacent to the Corentyne block and further the risk equivalent oil targets anticipated in the VIM-1 exploration well. The company is committed to delivering maximum return to shareholders, the unlocking value from existing portfolio, resolving contingencies and simplifying the story. Over the course of the last few years, we have cleaned up our operating portfolio and JVs to be squarely focused in production that can deliver value on a per barrel basis. We have also reduced a number of continued liabilities and freed up restricted cash. We have also taken steps to solidify our ownership positions in their infrastructure assets to give us the ability to drive value from them in the normal course and maintain our ability to unlock the value from them in the future as stand-alone businesses. A much more discussion on these valuable assets will be also presented today. Over the last 5 years, Frontera has returned over $290 million of shareholder capital through normal cores, issuer bids, substantial issuer bids and dividends. We can control the share price, but we have fundamentally focused on unlocking the value of the business by generating significant income that benefiting the shareholders through performance. As mentioned, we are also working very hard to unlock the value from the sum of the parts, which we believe are not recognized in our current share price. We will talk about this also in a moment. Developing a strong and integrated ESG platform that guides our operations is also important for the borrowers of the management. In 2020, Frontera redefined its sustainability commitments, focusing on environmental, social and governance factors in 2021. The company established new ESG goals that are revised annually, and we started to measure our ESG progress on a consistent basis, seeking to improve permanently our ESG performance. Our team will walk you through the details in the recognition we have received today. We are very proud of the ESG leadership and the commitment that our board, management and team have to this important evolution in governance, transparency and equality. If we can please move to Slide 12. As I noted earlier, returning capital to shareholders is a big part of our investment thesis. As a fellow shareholder, it is important that the company do all it can to deliver against its operational priorities and drive margins, delivering strong free cash flow as a key focus. We then have an opportunity to look at the free cash flow and determine our CapEx needs and consider available liquidity to create direct shareholder returns while preserving a strong balance sheet. As you can see, since 2018, even when oil prices were not as robust as they are now, we have been able to return substantial capital to shareholders. In 2020, we bought back 83.6 million of our shares through our NCIB and our SIB programs. We will continue to evaluate size and scope of our capital return program, but it's important to highlight that is a key point of discussion every quarter between the Board and management. Going to Slide 13, a little bit of framework of how we look at our share price. When we look at our share price, we continue to believe that there is substantial upside with more clearly defined assets, a track record of performance and increased liquidity that has been created over the years. We believe the ability and the opportunity that Frontera provides is very attractive. You will do a tremendous amount of work in your investment process, and we will want to provide you some highlights emphasizing the 3 main buckets of value creation. Our E&P assets are midstream ports and pipeline assets as well as Guyana, and I would like to highlight some points for your consideration. When we look at our valuation, we look at 3 distinct components. First, Frontera generates strong value-focused production, cash flow and reserves from our upstream business. Frontera 2021 2P reserves have an NPV10 after-tax value of $2.25 billion, and the company anticipates generating between $675 million to $700 million of EBITDA this year. Frontera's enterprise value to EBITDA is low at 1.8x, and our enterprise value to barrel per day is 23,000 per barrel. Again, we think that's actually low. Second, we have a growing cash flow positive midstream business comprising of Puerto Bahia, which generates between $15 million and $20 million of EBITDA per year and our 35% interest in ODL, which generates $200 million in EBITDA per year. In the case of Puerto Bahia, we are looking -- I mean, the business is performing extremely well with the [indiscernible] port basically operating at close to full capacity. And our focus is to increase the velocity of values of the business, especially by looking into partnership with other operators. We're working very hard to figure out ways to, again, improve the velocity, to synergistic partnerships and connections with our partners in the market. In the case of the pipeline, we are actually pleased that its utilization is actually growing, and it continues to be a key asset in distribution for the Colombian ecosystem and actually, we believe that, that will remain throughout the years. So we are very, very happy with how the business is performing, and we see the sustainability of the $200 million in EBITDA in the future. Talking about CGX. Frontera will hold 93% consolidated interest in CGX following the completion of our joint venture agreement amendment. And just as a point of reference, CGX market cap is approximately $200 million. So we're giving here some reference points on how we believe the business is not recognized by the -- some of the parts. We believe that our E&P business is undervalued. We believe that the recognition of the value of our port and midstream assets, including the pipeline is also not reflected on our share price. And by the way, when the analysis is done and the research reports get written on our balance sheet, it includes the debt from the port, but we're not getting any value of what would be the stand-alone value of our midstream assets. But actually, our ratios include the consolidation of all of the port debt. And again, on CGX, as a pure reference, we're looking at the market cap of the company. We believe actually working very hard to allot that optionality with further successful exploration results that the team is focused on. In short, we believe that we present a very compelling investment opportunity with a strong upside potential for our shareholders. Moving to Slide 14. Our success would not be possible without the deep experience and local knowledge of our team. Frontera now has the best team it has had in years. The professionals assembled to lead Frontera are some of the most experienced in leading a large LatAM resource company. Led by Orlando Cabrales Segovia, our CEO, the team is uniquely positioned to operate Frontera, drive our exploration, transact with customers and maximize value in the capital markets. I can only emphasize the great commitment that they have to the shareholders and its work focused on unlocking value. We have a great team that is committed to delivering to the shareholders and to all of our stakeholders. With that, I would like to turn the presentation over to Orlando. Orlando?
Orlando Cabrales Segovia
executiveHello? Can you hear me? Okay. Good. Thank you. Thank you, Gabriel. Thank you very much for that introduction. And thank you to you for coming and joining us today in this Investor Day. Let me start by saying that in addition to the management team that Gabriel presented, we have also, I mean, many members of our management team here with us to be throughout the day and take your questions. I also need to say that, in addition to the members of the management team that you saw in the slide, we have speakers today, Regan Palsgrove, who is our Head of Exploration. She is going to do the Guyana piece. We have Rodrigo Torras, who is our new CEO of Puerto Bahia. Welcome, Rodrigo. He is going to talk about Puerto Bahia. And Andres Sarmiento, who is our Director for Sustainability and Corporate Affairs, who is going to talk about ESG. So let me start by making some remarks about the oil and gas industry, particularly in Colombia, but there is also a comparison with a country where we are operating as it is Ecuador. But the message here, the main message here is that Colombia oil and gas industry is still very important, very relevant for the health of the Colombian economy. And these are some figures that I want to show here, which are not totally consistent with what Luis Fernando presented because when Luis Fernando presented, the mining figures, he include the coal and the rest of the mining sector. So these figures only include the oil and gas sector. So you can see here the importance of the oil and gas sector, particularly oil here. This year, the oil sector represents 36% of the Colombian exports, I mean that is a lot. About 9%, maybe this year, more than the foreign direct investment coming into the country. In terms of oil revenue as a percentage of the GDP of the country, oil and gas represents 2.6% because Fernando was showing like more than 3%, which includes coal. So that is an important part of the GDP. If you assess the oil revenues and the participation of the oil revenues in the total income of the central government this year, it could be around 15% -- between 15% and 20%. So it's not the majority of the revenue, but is a significant part of the revenue. Between 15% and 20% of the national -- of the central government income, that excludes the royalties that goes to the producing areas in the country. You can see Ecuador participation of the sector in the oil revenues of Ecuador is 4.4%. So it's significantly higher than in Colombia. The total oil production by country. Colombia is still -- I mean, still relevant, 738%. There is an increase from previous year in production. Ecuador is 473%. So those are the 2 countries that are relevant for our conversation. And here, the total 1P oil reserves, that means that Colombia still needs -- I mean, because this 1P, 2P could be 2.8, 2P., that gives around 7, 8 years of self-sufficiency for the country. So the country has to do much more to expand that self-efficiency and investment is an important part of that equation. So again, the message here is that the oil and gas sector is still very relevant for the Colombian economy and for the economy in Ecuador. Okay. This is -- I mean, this is the -- as Gabriel used a word, which I like is the mantra. The mantra of the Frontera's management team, Board of Directors and the whole organization. This is our mantra, and the first mantra that we have is something that we have been discussing over the last 2 years, which I have been CEO of this company is our mantra of value over volumes, of increasing reserves, generating cash flow for our shareholders. That is the mantra. And the -- when you talk about value over volumes, we are talking about basically 3 things. One is that we are prioritizing the assets with the highest returns and the short payback cycles. That is number one. That is where we are focusing our efforts and our investment. We are adding reserves by very targeted exploration opportunities. We are going to talk about that today and also carrying out acquisition opportunities and divestment opportunities as we did it with PetroSud like a year ago as we did it with ODL. So those are the 3 parts, the 3 components of our mantra of value over volumes. The second one is how to be more efficient to try to bring cost reductions into the system, into the operations and the production of the company. That is something that we do every day. We have several initiatives in the company that help us to bring those efficiencies. We have several initiatives, one of them which I like a lot is Frontera [indiscernible]. Paula is here -- is the head -- the leader of that, where we extract, really extract from the bottom up initiatives, cost reduction initiatives throughout the whole organization. And every year, we have a very significant target of cost reductions in OpEx, in CapEx, in transportation. So we -- every year, we have very, very aggressive targets to bring further efficiencies, further cost reduction, further optimization into our operations. And that includes not only the production part, but also the transportation, the logistics side of the company. So that is an important part, a very important component of what we -- of our focus of our driver of our mantra, the cost component. The other one is to create a self-sustaining business, midstream business going forward. That is also a very important significant part of our efforts here. We have this acquisition of ODL, which is a great acquisition. It's an EBITDA of $200 million, dividends for our 30% -- 35% participation of around $40 million per year. The system is great. There is more production coming online in that system, production coming from our peers, from Ecopetrol. So that is a great acquisition that we did, and that helped us to make, again, a self-sustained business. Juan?
Unknown Executive
executive[indiscernible]
Orlando Cabrales Segovia
executiveOkay. And in addition to ODL, we have Puerto Bahia. I will let Rodrigo to expand on Puerto Bahia. But as you can see -- as you will see in Rodrigo's presentation, we have been able to increase volumes and EBITDA in Puerto Bahia in the last year. We are making Puerto Bahia less dependent on Frontera. We had a take or pay for Frontera that finish this year. So we are -- we have been able to increase the revenues in Puerto Bahia to make Puerto Bahia less dependent on Frontera and to continue looking into opportunities and increase the potential, the upside that we see in Puerto Bahia, which is a great asset. Actually, we are looking, and we can expand that on the Q&A, but we are looking into some opportunity to bring a partner on the dry terminal side of the -- of Puerto Bahia to expand the containers business. And to expand that part of the business in Puerto Bahia, it's an EBITDA between $15 million and $20 million. This year, that is the range. Next year, talking to Rodrigo, we should be closer to $20 million for next year. But as you can see in Rodrigo presentation, we have been able to increase the volumes and the business in Puerto Bahia over the last year. We are also advancing the company's exploration portfolio, which is basically near-field portfolio, near-field exploration portfolio. Victor is going to expand on that. But one example of that, that we have been successful in doing that is that this year, we had a discovery -- at the end of last year, we had a discovery in Ecuador. By midyear, 6 months afterwards, we had 3,000 barrels of oil production gross in the country. So those are the type of opportunities, exploration opportunity, near-field opportunities that we can monetize quickly nearby to infrastructure, to the existing infrastructure and to existing fields that we can monetize very quickly. So that's also part of the focus here. As Gabriel said, we have returned more than $290 million over the last 5 years to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks. And Andres Sarmiento is going to expand that, but we have been -- I mean, having clear metrics to measure the ESG, the ESG performance of the company. One thing which I would like to highlight there in that section and Andrés Palacios. Who is our Director of HSE is here, is that in the third quarter of this year, as we announced it, we had the best safety performance of the company since Frontera's existence. So that is -- that is a major achievement. Because for me, safety, safety is one of the best, if not the best measure to reflect the quality of an operation. That is the best way to measure the quality of an operation. And we have been doing that. That is, of course, a credit to not only to Andrés, but to the whole -- to the whole team, to the operations team, safety it's not only a performance made by the HSE team, but the whole the organization. So we have been able to embed the safety culture throughout the organization. So we should do better every quarter on that front. So this is also an indication of -- and Gabriel touched on this, but this is an indication of what value over volume means. And as you can see here, the -- our field cycle costs and how our fuel cycle costs have been decreasing over the last years. It's a $7 per barrel decrease over the last years, is a 15% decrease over the last year or so that is again a reflection of what we have been doing to try to bring efficiencies into the system. So that is an important part. And this year, we are -- I mean, somehow is flat. But to be honest, I do feel that it is a major achievement this year to keep that cost over last year with the significant inflationary pressure that we are having this year. So that is a major achievement from my perspective to be able to keep flat the field cycle cost of the operation. And this one -- sorry, -- this one here shows the netback, the operating netback of the company, how that has been increasing over the last years and the significant cash flow generation that we have achieved over the last couple of years. Now that is another part of the value over volumes, prioritizing the highest returns barrels, but also adding reserves. And these are -- I mean, this is a very good story. Very good story because, first of all, we have been able to increase the 2P reserves of the company in the last 3, 4 years from 155 to 167, that is number one. Number two, we have increased by 60 million barrels of oil equivalent, our gas reserves, particularly coming from those liquids-rich natural gas fields like Bilby-1. So that is an important part, which -- because we have been able to diversify not only to grow the reserves, but also to diversify the reserves by adding more gas reserves. And the other thing, the other thing, which is very important, we are going to highlight that a lot today is that we have increased the -- by 7 million barrels, the heavy oil reserves coming from CPE-6. So other than Quifa, Quifa been our main field for years. We have been doing many things in Quifa. We are going to expand that in Ivan's presentation on how we are managing the decline and actually increasing the production in Quifa by increasing our water injection capacity. But this shows how in heavy oil, we have increased by 7 million barrels of oil equivalent, the CPE-6 reserves, which is a great story. I'm going to emphasize that in a moment. And the other thing is that we have increased the Reserve Life Index by -- in the 2P by -- for 30 years, that has doubled the Reserve Life Index of the company in the last 5 years. And as Gabriel said, the reserve replacement ratio has also been above 100%. That is the target at any oil and gas company try to achieve every year to be able to be above 100%. Going forward, what we are going to see -- what we are going to see going forward is that is that with the exploration portfolio that we have in the company, and again, Victor is going to expand on that. We are seeing that the driving force of reserve addition going forward is going to be exploration. And that is why our exploration portfolio is so important. It's so important we -- and I'm going to let Victor to talk about that, to expand on it, but we have identified in our portfolio, again, near field portfolio, near field portfolio, over 500 million barrels of prospective resources. When you risk that number -- when you risk that number, that could be between 59 million barrels to 111 million barrels over the next 3, 4 years, and that depends on the success rate, success exploration rate of the company. The lowest number being success exploration rate of around 30%, the highest number of about 70%. Victor is going to show how we have been very successful, above 70% in our exploration efforts over the last years. So more on that. Of course, Guyana is, as you know, an important part of that. Regan is going to expand on that. But the good thing is that the most recent discoveries that Exxon has announced are getting closer to where we are. Regan is going to expand on that. And this has been a journey of Frontera to unlock value for all of you, has been a journey where we like to characterize it as the first year as the recovery phase, the recovery phase, which is, again, cost reduction, I have addressed that already, reducing in a significant way, the contingent liabilities of the company. As you know, we were able last year to settle the Bicentenario dispute, which eliminate more than $1 billion of contingent liability for the company. We are still optimizing our exploration commitments. We have been reducing actually our exploration commitments optimizing focusing on what really creates value for our shareholders. Last year, which was a perfect timing, last year, we were able to do the bond refinancing of the notes that were expiring this year. So that was the perfect timing for the company to do that. But now we are getting into the growth phase 2021 and beyond to develop that potential upside that Gabriel was talking about, which is by doing the M&A consolidation with ODL, Puerto Bahia, PetroSud to have that value over volumes. That is the reason why we exited Peru, have more production for the sake of having more production doesn't make sense. Value over volume is the mantra here, more than 10 years of the Reserve Life Index and growth opportunities in Ecuador, Guyana, and as I said, a portfolio -- near-field exploration portfolio of more than 500 million barrels of oil equivalent of prospective resources.
Unknown Attendee
attendee[indiscernible]
Orlando Cabrales Segovia
executiveThat is -- the more than 500 million is Colombia and Ecuador. Colombia and Ecuador. And to finish here with this note, I would like to highlight a couple of things here. One is, what we are seeing today with the portfolio that we have today is that we are in the trajectory of reaching 50,000-plus barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2024. So what you are seeing here is that this is the base what we call the base. The base and the exploration upside. And the basis is mainly Quifa being able to increase the water disposal volumes up to 2 million barrels per day. Ivan is going to talk about that. Increasing CPE-6, drilling facilities and facility expansion in CPE-6. Today, we have a capacity of 120,000 barrels of water injection capacity today, 120,000. We are planning in the following couple of years to get to 480,000. And that is basically based on the results that we had this year in the wells of CPE-6. Production in CPE-6 has been better -- much better than what we expected for the year, and the results of those wells make us comfortable to have that facility expansion up to 480,000 infield drilling in Cajua and in Cubiro. So those things with the technology pilots that we are implementing in the -- particularly in Quifa, we are going to sustain the base next year and increasing in 2024. The increase in 2024 is basically driven by the expansion in the facility of CPE-6, which are going to be ready by next year, by the end of next year as well as the Sahara or [indiscernible] project also by the end of this year. So that will put us in 2024. And exploration activities, exploration activities are coming from B1, which is the Parex-operated field. Also Hamaca, which is CPE-6, we have identified exploration opportunities in the north part of the field, Victor is going to talk about that, but also appraisal opportunities in the south part of the field. Also, Ecuador. Ecuador provides additional upside from an exploration perspective. So those are the exploration activities, exploration upside that we are seeing for the following years. So these are my remarks. Again, I mean, most of these remarks are going to be expanded by the team here and looking forward to questions by the end of the day. I think Ivan, I think you are next. Thank you.
Unknown Executive
executive[ Christine ], do you have a question?
Unknown Attendee
attendeeYes, I just had a question about your growth projections. Do you think that you can achieve this with your current service contracts? Or do you think you're going to need to be bringing an rigs?
Unknown Executive
executiveSorry. And just so I can repeat it for the webcast for those listening in. The question broadly is, do we think we can achieve our growth forecasts with our existing contracts? Or do we need to bring in additional rig capacity?
Orlando Cabrales Segovia
executiveI think -- do you want to take that one?
Ivan Arevalo
executiveYes, yes, sure. Thank you. Good morning, and thank you for your question, and for the welcome, too. Well, yes, of course, we need to increase our drilling campaigns in both CPE-6 and Quifa. And also, we need to have more resources to achieve these numbers that we are projecting in the coming years. And one of the most important investments we are going to tackle in the CPE-6 and Quifa blocks are the facilities. And we are -- I'm going to talk about -- a little bit about this for the coming years in both fields. So yes, we need to increase our services to drill more wells. And of course, we need to... Okay. Well, good morning, everyone. I'm going to touch base on our operations base. Basically, I'm going to refer to the to the blue -- to the light blue bars that Orlando just presented to us, and Victor is talking about the upside and the opportunities we have on the exploration side for the company. Well, firstly, I would like to refer the base of resources we have in the company. We have -- as of today, we have 31 contracts or blocks signed off in 3 different countries, as Gabriel and Orlando pointed out before. Out of those 31 contracts, we have 16 blocks under production. That means that our reserve base for growing and opportunities in the future for exploration is half of our blocks of portfolio that we still have to keep developing the company to the future. So today, we are focusing on these 16 blocks. Most of them are -- yes?
Unknown Attendee
attendeeSo does that mean that 16 blocks are exploration licenses [indiscernible] by production?
Ivan Arevalo
executiveNot all of them, some of them. We are in some blocks, and I will refer later on in my presentation that some blocks have today production but they have interesting exploration upsides, even in traditional blocks that we are facing our base of operations, okay? Well, we have, again, these blocks 31 in 3 different countries. Our base is Colombia, we have 28 blocks located in Colombia. But the interesting that we have in Colombia as we are located in all over Colombia in the most prolific basins that we have as production in countries. So we are -- we have our resources in the best basins in Colombia. We have -- I'm going to refer later to this. But we have all of this participation. And we have a very interesting thing that probably Renata is going to talk about is how they are connected because we have synergies between blocks. Despite we have long distances between some of them, we have synergies between the blocks. And recently, we have entered into Ecuador. I will refer later on to this. We have 2 blocks into Ecuador. As of today, we have very good results, and I will refer later to that and, of course, still have opportunities to grow not only in Colombia, but also in Ecuador. And Guyana, we are going to talk later through Victor and Regan, who are going to talk about this. Okay. As I mentioned before, we are located basically in Colombia and Ecuador. Our reserve base and production base are pretty much in line. 55% our reserves are producing about 55% of our production today. So we are developing the fields in the line that the resources we have. And basically, we have -- the base of our production belongs to 4 different -- 16 blocks, but 5 out of them produce the majority of the production for Frontera. And I will talk a little bit about where we are. We are focused on the Meta department, which is one of the -- is today the most producer in Colombia. And we have 3 blocks in here. And the major producers are located in Meta. We have Quifa, CPE-6, and we have also Guatiquia. Those 3 blocks are located in the Meta department, which is, again, the most producer oil in Colombia today. The other fields are located in the Llanos area. We are producing most likely the light oils and medium oils are produced in the Llanos area. They are spread all over the Casanare and -- basically Casanare department. And then we have in Colombia, the gas and extra light oil that we are producing today, which is in the Lower Magdalena Valley Basin, which -- where we traditionally used to have LaCreciente or have LaCreciente. And -- but also, we have 2 interesting new blocks in the company, which is VIM-1, which I'll refer later on. And the recent acquisition that we had on El Dificil field and El Dificil block that we acquired 1 year ago, as Orlando pointed out. So this is our geography in Colombia. And now we will move to Ecuador. Also in Ecuador, our 2 blocks located in the hot spots of the oil fields in Ecuador. Remember, Ecuador has a very good track record in production but also in reserves. And those 2 blocks were product on the signature of 2 recent blocks in the first Intracampos round that Ecuador launched in 2018. So this is very interesting. I will refer a little bit on how we have been performing in Ecuador as of today. So pretty much here, our reserve base is pretty much in line with the production today. And we are expecting to develop more in the new assets that are coming in our portfolio, such as CPE-6, VIM-1, La Belleza and other opportunities that we are going to talk a little bit about later. This is our production performance for the last 2 years, difficult times. The pandemic times were really, really tough for the oil companies in Colombia. We were not the exception. But the most important that I wanted to share with you is we are returning the increasing in our production. Just as Orlando pointed out before, we are in the right way to reach these 50,000 barrels of oil targets that we have for the coming years. And we have been recovering the production as of today. We have increased 10% of production year-over-year, 2021 versus 2022. And I'm proud to let you know that today, we are back into 43,000 barrels of oil a day. So we are in that way, and we are expecting to keep growing our production per our plans that I will share with you in the coming slides. Yes?
Unknown Attendee
attendeeSo what percentage of your [indiscernible]?
Ivan Arevalo
executiveWell, today, our gross production is around 10% of the total production, the equivalent, and it is all marketed. And they are coming basically from the assets that we -- that I showed you before in the North Coast of Colombia, okay? But yes, this is an indicator not only liquids but also gas. Well, we have recovered this trend. Most importantly, that Orlando showed before, despite the fact that we are facing not only a high commodity price, but also a high inflation environment. We have been able to sustain the production cost in low levels, not only the production but the full cycle production for the company in lower levels than the ones we had in 2019, despite of that. And this is because of discipline. We have been focusing on discipline for taking care of the resources for taking care of the initiatives and also for optimizing all the time, every process we have in our facilities and in our processes. So that's why we have been success -- growing production, but sustaining the costs that we are -- this is our base today. Here, we have some challenges that I will share with you a little bit in some fields, basically in the heavy oil assets. Yes.
Unknown Attendee
attendee[Indiscernible]
Ivan Arevalo
executiveNot at this point. This is just a zoom on the last 2 years, but I will refer to some blocks, the major producers and how they are performing today. Okay. And well, now I'm going to walk through the base of resources. This is Quifa. This is our major oil producer today is a heavy oil field. Quifa, Quifa still have a big amount of reserves and resources within the block. We still have 9 years to go in the block. We are the operator, and I will walk through a little bit in this presentation to Quifa, because tomorrow, we are visiting to the field, and I will prefer to show you in field how we do the production and how we have been performing in better details. But just to let you know about Quifa -- sorry, about Quifa. Well, this is a field that has been producing for 13 years now, yes, 13 now, and which has been focused on developing this structure on the Southeast. This structure on the Southwest, sorry, it is the same structure that is located in this portion of the Meta department. We have Rubiales as neighborhood. And also we have [indiscernible] here, so is the same trend on the oil accumulation in the subsoil so that we have been focusing on developing this. Remember, if you -- where Rubiales was the first discovery in this area and then came Quifa and then came [Indiscernible] and CPE-6 as new developments and new opportunities in the area. We are going to be visiting both CPE-6 and Quifa tomorrow, okay? Importantly to mention, in Quifa is the acreage we still have. We have around 140,000 acreage for this block. And we have been, as I mentioned, focusing on this. But we also have one field, which is called Cajua, where we are producing around 3,000 barrels of oil today gross. So in total, we are producing from Quifa and Cajua, like 28,000 barrels of oil a day, and 60% of that production is -- belongs to Frontera. This is our participating of share in this contract. The challenges Orlando mentioned, the mantra, I will mention, I wouldn't say this is the karma, but this is our challenge, is the water. This is how we have been developing all the barrels we have in these blocks. And if you see this is like a track record on the water disposal in Quifa that has been -- we got a challenge during pandemic because we should in some wells because we need to be economic. Some of these wells at the lower price that we used to transit in 2020 were not economic, so we decided to shoot in some wells. Yes?
Unknown Attendee
attendee[indiscernible] in Quifa.
Ivan Arevalo
executive98%.
Unknown Attendee
attendee98%. And -- so when you expanded your capacity it was because that was the [Indiscernible] increased production in Quifa?
Ivan Arevalo
executiveYes, today, yes. This is the driver on the development of the field. It's not a bottleneck, it's a driver. The more water we have to -- we manage the more oil we can produce, okay?
Unknown Executive
executiveIvan, sorry on sort to interrupt. Can you repeat the questions just so the people on the webcast can also hear.
Ivan Arevalo
executiveOkay. The question was if the water capacity was the bottleneck that we have in Quifa? And my answer was, yes, not the bottleneck, but the driver we need to develop. So we need to increase our facilities in water management so that we can produce more oil, okay? So well, after the shooting of these wells, well, some of them increase the pressure after we resume them back, so we had to found -- we need to find a different alternative to dispose the water. So in 2021, we started drilling different locations of water disposal. So we started spreading the water disposal capacity in Quifa. We drilled 2 wells in 2021 and we drilled one more well in 2022. So that we started increasing our water disposal capacity. As is the opportunity we are preparing the block or the field to continue the growth on production in the coming years. So we have for instance for this year, we are also expecting to increase. Today -- sorry, before talking about this today, we are managing about 1.5 million barrels of water again. So this is basically the same water level that we were managing before pandemic. So we were able to recover those volumes of water. And of course, we are recovering the oil too. And just to build on the question on the water ratio, it's important to mention that for every 100,000 of barrels of water management, we are able to produce 2,000 barrels of oil gross. So this is the importance that we have in why we need to manage more and more water every time. So considering this and taking into account that we still have good resources and good reserves in -- sorry, in Quifa, we have developed a plan for the coming years, which includes drilling more water disposal wells at least one next year. And also, this is the new thing that we are including into the equation, which is going to be Agrocascada or SAARA project. We are visiting that tomorrow, too. Sorry?
Unknown Attendee
attendeeYes, so this might be management. But since the field is now in the 13 years on production, do you have older wells that can get converted now to wells or do old original wells are contained in production?
Ivan Arevalo
executiveYes, the answer is yes. We can do that. However, we need to take into account where the wells are located because the facilities to reinject the water -- they need to be in synergy with the disposal of waters. But also those wells that are shutting are going to provide oil. Today is closed. But once we have more water capacity, we are going to be open the wells they are shutting today for that purpose. So they can be used for both, production or disposal. Okay, going back to this forecasting, we are expecting one of the most important projects that we have today is Agrocascada or SAARA. We are visiting that tomorrow in field. Agrocascada or SAARA, we have renamed the projects. SAARA is a water treatment plant that will allow us to treat the water to dispose into a palm oil plantation. This is the project of SAARA. we are here in Bateria 4. We produce a separate fleet, primarily the water coming out from the wells. And then we are going to transport water here into SAARA. SAARA is almost is reverse plan is a very well-known technology that the only purpose that is going to help us with is to improve the quality of the water so that water can go to a plantation, okay? Even though the quality of our water today is good enough because of the environmental license we have, we need to get it better. So this is what we are expecting SAARA to do, to improve the water quality. And then we are going to pump the water from SAARA to the plam plantation. The palm plantation is Proagrollanos, a 100% controlled company by Frontera. We have about 3,000 hectares of plants today. They have been -- this plantation has about 8 years producing. But we are expecting with this water is not only helped the oil production in Quifa but also the more volume of water received by the plantation is going to increase the palm oil production. So we are expecting also to have an important impact on the production of the palm oil. So it's -- this is a project which is -- has very and different benefits. It will help us to manage the water from Quifa. It will help us to grow the production on the palm oil trees. But more importantly, this is one of our ESG projects that we are going to refer later. Andres is going to talk a little bit about this. So this is not only a technology solution, but also a sustainable issue. Sorry.
Unknown Attendee
attendee[indiscernible].
Ivan Arevalo
executiveThank you for the question. The permits that we have -- we need different permits. Okay, there are 2 questions coming here. One is what is the -- what are the permits we need for the project to run, and secondly, is if the government may take any other action regarding the project in the future, right Okay. So to answer the first question, the project requires different permissions. The first is from the oil field, which we have. We have already the permission to pull the water into a plantation. Of course, walking through a process that permits but assures that the quality of the water is going to be in the right quality to get into the plantation. So there is one permit. It is ready. The second permit is in SAARA itself. SAARA has the permit to receive the water and to deliver the water to a third party, in this case, to the plantation. So this permit is also in line. And there is not a permit but an agreement that we have since the SAARA or the Agrocascada project is located in Rubiales field physically. We signed off an agreement with the operator for this field in order to use the facilities for SAARA to accomplish the purpose of these projects. So those permits are required and those permits are in line and we don't have any, I would say, not risk, but any issue regarding the permitting on the project itself. And the second one is if the government may take anything regarding the plantation, I couldn't answer that, but I don't -- I wouldn't say that this is something that may go against this, and most importantly, because this project, the plantation is going to oversee it. Once the oil fields are gone, this is going -- that remains in time. So this is a long-term project for the company -- not for the company, but for the region, okay?
Orlando Cabrales Segovia
executive[indiscernible] It's going to be the ESG impact of this project, right? This is a very creative way of taking water, repurpose that water because remember that water is coming from the ground is already impacted by oil, clean that water and repurposing it for use that creates a circular cleaner economy. So we'll talk about the ESG consist of that in the future.
Victor Vega
executiveA One quick additional thing, Ivan, is that the operator of Rubiales is Ecopetrol. So we managed to achieve this agreement with Ecopetrol to be able to activate Agrocascada, SAARA as it is called today, which is an important part, because that chose the -- I mean, the credibility and the trust that we have gained with Ecopetrol over the last years to be able to do this type of things.
Ivan Arevalo
executiveThank you, Rene and Orlando. And yes, of course, important mention about Ecopetrol because He is not only the operator for the block, but he is also our partner in Quifa. So this is something that has facilitate to work through this option for the field. Sorry, before going to that, I will come back to this slide. We are expecting to have -- to grow in 2 or 3 different stations in SAARA. Once we are expecting to start by the end of this year. You will be able to see tomorrow how advanced we are, and we are expecting to start with the first 50,000 barrels of water treatment this year by late second half of December, late this year. And once we do all these adjustments, because we need to adjust all the operational party, in parallel, we are expecting to build and to grow the plantation. Sorry, not the plantation, the SAARA itself. Today, the nameplate is about 1 million barrels of water treatment, but the connectivity with Quifa does not allow today to treat all of thats volumes of water. We need to build a new pipes, and we need to connect Quifa with the major volume that is available today by SAARA. So this construction is to be in the coming years in 2023 and a portion in 2024, so that we can increase the water disposal of transportation capacity from Quifa to SAARA and then the treatment from SAARA to Proagrollanos. So this is one of the drivers that we are going to have to increase the production in Quifa in the coming years. In other words, once we have 1.8 -- 2 million barrels of water management and water disposal capacity, we are going to be able to increase our oil production, which is part of the story to rise our production back to 50,000 barrels of oil a day. The second largest field that we have Guatiquia it's a feel that today is producing around 90,000 barrels of oil a day. We do have a partner here. It's 100% working interest for Fontera. And this is one of the traditional fields that we have. We have been developing this. We have different fields in this block, 4 fields actually. The original field that we discovered the first time was Candelilla, was light oil. And then the second one was Avispa and Ardilla, the second field is covered in this block. Then we move to Yatay, which is the third discovery that we have and the third field that we have within the same block. And the most recent discovery and development that we have in this block is Coralillo. Coralillo is in the southeast of this block. We found good resources in 3 different formations in this part of the block. Today, for instance, Coralillo produces around 30% of the total production for the block, which is an important portion, and we still have some opportunities here in this area for the rest. As a matter of fact, in 2023, we are planning to drill 2 more wells in the sweet spot. And one interesting thing that we got this year was that in some wells we drilled, we found extra heavy oil, which is not in our base. This is not in our production base. But this is something that is challenging us so that we can find the best way to produce or to put this on surface. Extra heavy is around 7 to 8 API. So we need to do something different in the block. But this is something that we are starting with technology. We are starting that with the resources that we have today to produce this sort of oil, but this is something that we are not talking today, and we are not considering today for the equation for the coming year. So this is something that could be an upside for us but Sorry
Unknown Attendee
attendee[indiscernible].
Ivan Arevalo
executiveYeah Our third major field is CPE-6 today, but we are expecting CPE-6 to be the new jewel from Frontera. CPE-6, we discovered this field about 10 years ago. And we have discovered this is our field that we have named Hamaca. But the whole block is this complete that has a lot of resources, and Victor will develop that a little bit on his speech. But what is interesting to mention is the same trend of production that we have in Quifa is the one that we have here in CPE-6. In other words, we need to increase our water management capacity so that we can produce the oil that we have in reserves. Very important, CPE-6 is our top second field in reserves today. So we have a big amount of reserves from this block and 20 years of contract to develop these reserves. So this is something that we are focusing on developing for the next years. And I would elaborate a little bit more in some minutes. This is the, again, the production area. But two more comments. We have some more upside in exploration, and Victor will refer to that later on. This year, we are expecting to drill one well here in the north and one well here in the south so we can start confirming these resources or to be coming into reserves. But I will let Victor share with you that. This is the first point. And the second one is the acreage we have in CPE-6 is even bigger than the one we have in Quifa. So the total area that we have here is still under -- I wouldn't say exploration, but on the opportunities for the company, okay. This is how we have been moving our production. It's very important for you to know that this year, we drilled 14 new wells. These 14 new wells brought us a lot of information, not only for production. Of course, it brought us a lot of parts too, but it brought us a lot of information. Those were drilled in the sweet spot here. And those wells allowed us to navigate better than reservoir is the complexity of this reservoir is higher than the one we have in Quifa for instance, so that we need to have better information, quality information to develop the reserves. So this drilling campaign this year provided us with very good information and will allow us to leverage the growth in CPE-6 that we are expecting to drill in the coming years. Two more wells are expected to be drilled this year for exploration purposes. This is the production curve that we have in CPE-6 for the last years. If you see, we have been consistently growing this year, not only the drilling was the driver for growing in production, but also, as Orlando pointed out, we grow our facilities from 60,000 barrels of water a day to 120,000. We doubled. And this year, we are expecting to get the approval. And I think this is something that is going to happen soon. The multiyear expansion on the CPE-6, meaning that we are raising our capacities up to 480,000 barrels of oil a day. And of course, this will allow us to raise production in CPE-6 up to 10,000 barrels, which is double production that we have today, okay? So this is something that we are working really hard, and we are expecting to become these barrels into the tanks in the coming 2 years. And this is -- and I'm just talking about the Hamaca resources we have here. I'm not including potential upside that we may find in the future in the surroundings of the block. So this is something that could be an exciting block to keep looking at.
Unknown Attendee
attendeeDoes this include information that you got from the 14 wells that you drilled this year?
Ivan Arevalo
executiveYes, yes, the information was here in this portion in the sweet spot, and this allow us to grow that the development of the Hamaca field.
Victor Vega
executiveSo to add what Ivan saying is -- the 14 wells that you see there that are in green are the ones that were drilled this year. To that, we're going to drill more and going to expand on that exploration and appraisal, as Ivan mentioned. Those 14 will help you with the sweet spot, right? And then the oil wedges that you see there on top of the graph that is shown in there are related to additional areas that you might be able to find. One of them is called the C7, which is a different level, stratigraphic level to the one where we are producing today. And then the exploration wage and the one Ivan was also showing which I'll expand on is what else we have outside of the block. I'll get into that in my presentation, and the way you hopefully get the whole picture.
Ivan Arevalo
executiveThank you, Victor. So this is why CPE-6 again becomes a very important player for the portfolio at Frontera. Well, new excitement, exciting blocks, I'm referring to VIM-1. We won more importantly, in CPE-6, we have no partnerships. I mean we are a 100% share for Frontera. In this block, in VIM-1, it's located in Lower Magdalena Valley in the basin on the gas and the condensates are found. We have 50% of share. The operator here is Parex, our partner. And we have been working with them with this block since 2019. As a matter of fact, we drilled the first successful well in 2020, which was La Belleza-1 well, which is located here in this area. And then this year, we completed the second well, which is La Belleza-2. The second well was completed 2 weeks ago, and we were able to manage it from this well. Over 20 million of standard cubic feet a day and about 2,800 to 3,000 barrels of condensate. So the prospective and the production that we are expecting from these wells are very, very interesting. And I'm just referring to 1 or 2 wells. So we remain with Parex to find new opportunities, not only in La Belleza structure, but also in some other structures that are located in the same block that Victor is referring to them later in his presentation. But this is something that is bringing up, increasing in our production this year. And because of this new well, we are expecting to raise another barrels from here to the end of this year. So this is something that excites us. And the most important thing is a young area. We still have 20 or 22 years to go, firstly. And secondly, we still have acreage to keep looking for new resources and for new oil or gas. Important from here, we are we are selling both from this block. We are selling the condensate, but also we are selling the gas. We are selling as compressed gas, which we compress in the field, transport to our field in [indiscernible] then compress and pump through the gas line, okay? So this is something that brings this block, not only more production but also diversification on both condensate and gas. And the last one today is Ecuador. Ecuador is a relation always to Victor's case of study. because we signed this contract in 2019. Some months ago later, we got into the pandemic situation. And we had to wait for almost 1.5 years to get the licensing to start drilling. We got it in fourth quarter last year, 2021, and we drilled the first well in December last year. Completed and put it into production in January this year. And then we drilled 2 more wells. And the 3 wells are producing today, we reached 3,000 barrels of oil gross production from these wells. That means that we have a 100% of success rate of exploration in this block, 3 out of 3. And of course, we are talking today, all the production through Lago Agrio, which is pretty close to our field. Lago Agrio, Ecuador is not only a good country because of the resources they have but also the facilities it has. I mean we are pretty close to the electrical grid. We are 10 kilometers away from the pipeline, the major pipeline, both OCP and SOTE which are the transportation system in Ecuador. And the infrastructure that are rounding the blocks are very, very complete. We still have some opportunities. We still have one well to be drilled as a commitment and some area also to keep discovering. Today, we are producing 2,600 barrels of oil a day. We are -- we don't have permanent facilities because we need to keep investigating and we need to encounter the way to the reservoir is so we can have or plan the facilities we are going to have, definitive facilities to produce this. Today, we are working with the authorities in Ecuador to get the licensing for producing the field. Today, we have an exploration license which allows us to produce and to test the wells that we are testing today. But we are expecting to have the license by the end of 2023 so that we can start building the final facilities in 2024 and growing, of course, the production from this field. So that in 2024, we are going to have the infrastructure and the delineation and the size on the prospects to develop the resources we have in Ecuador today, okay, in this block. The other block is under exploration. We finished the first well. The operator there is GeoPark. And one more hit, one out of one. The first well was also a success. The well is producing today. And we are drilling the second well in the second block but I wouldn't anticipate what Victor may share with you. So save this, well, this is our presentation, more details will be provided tomorrow in our field visit. I prefer showing to you the reality from Frontera in the field, and we can discuss if you want deeper tomorrow. But key point, we have a diverse portfolio in all of our -- not only in Colombia, but also in the region, Colombia, Ecuador and Guyana. This will become through in some years. Our base of resources, which is Quifa, Guatiquia CPE-6 remains solid, but we are now talking about the new opportunities and the new portfolio that is becoming Frontera in the coming years. adding CPE-6, VIM-1, Equador, which is the names that we are going to be focusing on the coming years to replace and to increase our production levels as Orlando challenged to us this morning. Finally, of course, the structure is not only on production, but from this discipline and CapEx and OpEx and discipline on the finance -- we have been able to generate sufficient cash flow to fund the operation itself, the drilling of new facilities, the construction of new facilities to operate the fields, and also generate cash to the new opportunities to the exploration in both Colombia and Ecuador and also for Guyana. And on top of that, we are generating the cash to return to our shareholders, as Gabriel pointed out in his presentation, okay? That's it from my side. Thank you so much. I think the next stage is we're going to..
Brent Anderson
executiveTake a break, I think, until 11:15, if that's okay with everyone. We'll take a quick break. But if we can have everybody back in here for 11:15. Thank you very much, Ivan.
Ivan Arevalo
executiveThank you. [Break]
Victor Vega
executiveAs close to the agenda as possible. So good morning, and welcome again to all of you to Colombia. My name is Victor Vega, and I'm responsible for exploration, also field development and reservoir management and reserves. I have a couple of members of my team here with me. So 3 members actually. Andres Fajardo, who is the Exploration Manager for Ecuador and Colombia, Moskal Valbuena, who is the Head of reserves. And then you also already met Regan, who is the Head of Exploration for Guyana. So all of them are part of the organization. And we are here today to present to you first, Colombia and Ecuador, and then we'll have a separate section on Guyana because we know that has a pretty hot topic and we are probably going to get a lot of conversation going on. So we are prepared for that. So basically, what I want to do is, you have already made the introduction in terms of the number of blocks that we have, and then what I want to take you is to step a little bit further and into more detail of the blocks itself and some of the excitement that we have around the portfolio that we currently have in our company. So the first thing that you see is we looked at the 5-year exploration strategy, and we talked about Colombia and Ecuador. And then we are going to talk about this in the way of the funnel, and you probably are familiar with the funnel concept, which is very commonly used in exploration to mean more uncertainty to less uncertainty, right, by the time that you book the reserve, then you need to have quite a bit of certainty. So in the case of Colombia and Ecuador, we have basically, we have very good ideas about how to progress from here to here. In the case of Guyana, we are here. We're still in the upper part of the of the funnel, and we'll be there for a while. So we'll show you some of that in the separate presentation. So basically, in this particular funnel, we go from prospective resources. So this is basically what you have when you do a map when you have some information, when you use analog data from different basins. And you say, I think I have the same petrol system, I have the same stratigraphic trap, the same trap that other people have in reservoir or whatever, right? And then you make an analogy. You have some information, and then you make a decision to actually go and drill the well because you have a prospect that has some prospectivity, right? So that's at the upper part. Then once you drill the well and then you have actually tested that, then you go to a [indiscernible] , which is expected this core resources. And once you have that and you are able to put that well on production, then you go to the certifier of the reserves. And you say, look, I now have done the well, I have seen production, and here is the proof that it's exploring. This is the type of hydrocarbon that I'm getting and all of that, and then you go to the 2P, right? So then for that first part, you are only going to get what is around the world, right? Because then you don't have enough information unless you do some long-term test or something like that where you can actually justify more than a drainage area, certain drainage area around the well. So all to explain that we are very excited that we have around 550 million barrels already as it was discussed by Orlando. We mentioned that the lower or the upper range depends on the success rate that you assume. And we're going to show you a table. So we are using the low range when you go to a lower success rate and a high range or a high number if you have go to a high success rate, right? Because you know that in exploration, very unlikely that you're going to be 100%, right, and most of the companies actually have a 20% to 25% success rate when you are doing well, right, below 20% [indiscernible] 20% to 25% [indiscernible] right. Below 20% is not so good, right? So we have that. And then we also have the expected resources that are ranking here from 34 to 139. And then we have the 2P. And then 2P, we divided into 2, assuming there's a 32% average success, our historic 73%, as I am to explain in a minute. And basically, the 22, once we drill this wells than we are successful. Some of them we have already done that, then we will go after this, which would be additional wells because we have an area. The first well will only certify me certain reviews around that. But then you go with more activity and you show that to the reserves auditor and then say, look, I have now a plan to develop this areas, kind of like where we are in the Ecuador case, right, where we have already done more than one well. So we are able to show to the auditor that we have, actually more to come yes? Now this one shows you, I'll describe the graph first. So you see the years, so you see '22 to '26. You see the symbols. So the symbol is, if you have like a little tower is an exploration well, if you have like a sound wave, you like seismic, CapEx, if you have a bag of money, and then you have blue and green, blue to indicate that it is near field. And frontier -- sorry, green to mean that is frontier. And then what you see here is the portfolio divided into 2 pieces. One is for Colombia on the right-hand side and Ecuador on the left-hand side, right? And then you see the number of wells that are being drilled or activity that is being done, like seismic per year, right? So you go from '22 to '23 to '24 and so on, right? And what you see there is that in our -- in 2023, our focus, a lot of our focus is going to be on the lower Magdalena Basin, where we have acquired many blocks and where we have several blocks that we already presented by Ivan, but I'm going to get into more detail. So in the next few slides, I'll expand on this box, okay? Then and then we have Llanos then we have Ecuador. And then 2024 -- then as I said before, right, for example, this year, we are drilling well in La Creciente block. And this is one of the examples, right? So we are successful on that one. then we are going to be drilling more wells because we have 2 of our structures in the same block that we can follow to be drilling additional wells. And then in 2025, and then you see also in '24, we also have Llanos in a couple of blocks in Llanos where we are doing seismic next year. Once we have the seismic, they will confirm hopefully the prospect and they will go and drill the well to actually test the structure. And then you have Ecuador, we have more activity, and I'll explain again. And in 2025, again, we have more activity. One of them that I want to highlight is VIM-46 which is a block that we acquired in the last bid round that the NH had. So on that one, we are focusing on the seismic now, and we are actually preparing to acquire the seismic sometime later next year, okay? So we go now to the details. So I'm going to start with Colombia, and then I'm going to go to Ecuador. You see here 2 areas. So you see Area A which is the lower Magdalena Basin, which is one of the key areas for us where we have the blocks VIM-1 where Parex is the operator, VIM-22, 100%, we are going to drill 3 exploration wells. One of them is going to be drilled in the early part of next year. We are preparing for the location and the road access and all of that. And then two more wells back to back after that. So that's one exciting block. The VIM-46 is where we're going to do the seismic. La Creciente. We are right now drilling the well Magadi one. It's been drilled right now. It was a spot last week, and we hope to have a result of that well by the end of this year. And then you have a LDPC block, where we drilled a couple of wells this year and one of the wells we are going to hopefully complete by the end of this year, we are giving priority to the activity on the exploration side because we want to get that done this year. And then in the Llanos basin, which is number B, and you see here the well where the blocks are located, sorry, on Area A, and all of this is very close to existing infrastructure, right, which is the other advantage that was pointed out in the introduction by Orlando, where basically, we are saying one of the key characteristics of our portfolio is the near field. So it will take a very short time for us to actually get, for example, La Creciente and Magadi prestige is successful, we already have the facilities and they're already waiting for the scoring.So we can actually monetize very quickly. Then in the Llanos basin, which is a more prolific, but also more mature area, you see here where we have Quifa. You see also where you have CPE-6 so to put things in context, so this is where you're going to go to the field tomorrow. We also have Sabanero. And then in here, we have 2 in yellow, which we added, which is Llanos 99 and Llanos 119. Again, like 119 is close to existing infrastructure, Llanos 99 is not too far. And on those two, we are focusing on seismic, 3D seismic, which is the preview for the drilling of the wells. So that's our portfolio in Colombia. Then this one, I want to take it from the left to the right, so it's a busy slide, but I'll try to make the high points. First, the upper part. So our onshore exploration success rate. So we have listed there the successes and the failures we have listed the Discovered resources and the 2P reserves are the key points, and then we are showing 2019 to 2022. And the reason we put this slide together is to show you that the funnel that we put actually makes sense, right? And that's some of the assumptions that we are making makes sense because we should show you how we have done so far in the last 3 years in exploration, right? So we have 73% is what you see here. We have seen 6 wells in heavy oil, 4 in the medium and 1 in gas and condensate, which is VIM-1. We are listing here only the exploration well, right? So if you have subsequent wells that those are not exploration anymore because they would be appraisal or development, depending on the activity. So what you see here is the success rate, the success cases, the failure cases. And then you see the discovered resources, which then are translated into the reserve, right, depending on the information that you got from the well and how much that is representative of a particular area around the discovery well, yes? Okay, And then the bottom part is the incorporation of new acreage. Because I think that's the other question that we have been getting from you guys, I mean many of our calls is what happens if we don't get any more licenses, right? So what we have here is we can see that we did an approach where we diversified by fluid type, basins and countries. We participated in bid rounds. We also did one farm-in, VIM-1. And we also got some extensions. So the other thing that you're going to see in a minute is that we have also been focusing on the blocks that we have and around the blocks where we have because that's also another way to get new areas is you don't need to actually go into a bid round when you do that. And you can actually get an extension. And that's what we did in CPE-6. If you are successful in showing to the government that actually you have done the homework, right, and that some of these plays that you have developed or this core, you can expand in surrounding areas. So that's another area that I want to expand on. And then you see here the description. So I'm not going to go into that. But as a result of this strategy, 5 blocks in '19, 2 in 2020, and 2021, 3. And then this includes outside of Colombia, which in this case is Ecuador. So we go to the next slide, then we will start talking about a couple of examples. So one is the VIM-1. So you see blue, light blue outline here, which basically represents the La Belleza area. And the way that I would try to characterize La Belleza, If you imagine, if you were to look at a reef today, right? And you were able to go scuba diving around the reef, and you would see that this is a big reef, right, which is where we have Le Belleza, okay? And that's what we are trying to produce right now. We have 2 wells, one which was the original well, the second one, which is the well that we're going to use to do injection to keep the pressure at the reservoir level because this gas condensate reservoirs, if you don't maintain the pressure, then you get a black oil loss. So you lose all the pressures, you lose also the ability to extract the liquids from this. So we have the advantage here that we have pretty rich reservoir so we can expect a lot of the liquids. So that's what we have here, we have like the quiver reef. We have a small one here. So that's another one that we have in our horizon. So we have this one and then La Belleza, and then we have this one which we have a codename internally, but it's a different one. And then on top of that, we have this area to the west, which is based on sands that are in the lows of these planks of these high structures. So you see it here, you see it here. So these are like the lower areas where the sands have been deposited and those are the areas that we're going to be targeting in the future with 2 or 3 exploration wells or plan for 2023, 2024. These areas are pretty significant and those are included in the funnel that I mentioned to you before, right? So that's -- the next one is CPE-6. CPE-6 is heavy oil, high water cut. Seismic, I'll show you here a seismic line that basically goes like in this orientation. And then what we are showing in here is that we have a big area here, which is Hamaca, and we actually got an extension. This is one of the examples of the extension. And in this one as well in the one that I showed you before in VIM-1 takes a while to return sometimes. Yes, yes. We also got this is an extension as well. This part of the block. So those are 2 of the examples of the extensions that I mentioned to you. So this is like a new block that we were able to get via an extension, okay? We don't have to go to a bit around. We just have to show our technical case, the data that we got from the wells and all of that. So you have Hamaca. And then you have a [indiscernible] complex here that we're going to test -- and then you have this well that is going to be drilled. Actually, we're going to start that well this week, we hope. And then with that, we will show, hopefully, confirm the extension of the play to the north and then we have this order structure. You see the size of this structure is pretty significant. So that would be like our sweet spot if we are able to confirm that actually play extends to the north. So that's why we are really excited. And what you see in the -- what you saw in the wedges that Ivan showed you only refer mainly to the exploration around the block. So we have actually success on the -- on another sweet spot, then that would be a game changer because they now would be a very significant addition that we are not showing there in production yet because we have to test it first, right, okay? But that's why we are looking at this and then we put 480,000 or 500,000 by the end of next year, but then the intent is not to end there. We are putting modules in place so that we can grow in modules because we think that we actually are going to be -- are going to have to go like to 600,000 or even more in the long term to be able to double the production in this area because as you have already mentioned, this is similar to Quifa, right, where you need water management at the surface, the ability to manage significant volumes to be able to deal with that, yes. Okay. So I think that's that block. Then Perico and Espejo, so two really exciting blocks for us. So you see the other key thing that we mentioned before, right, you have here all the pipelines. So we were able to basically get these wells on production within 1 month after having done the first exploration well. And then after that, we have been adding more wells. So we added already Tui and Yin. And between the 3 of them, right now, we are close to the 2,600 gross that was mentioned by Ivan, and medium crude oil is covered. We only have one pending. The other good thing is we only have one pending commitment, well, out of 4, which is something that we are considering doing in '24, most likely in 2025 because -- sorry, 2024, not in 2023 because we are giving priority to other things in 2023. There [indiscernible]. We just drilled a [indiscernible] well. So it was successful. We encountered some medium heavy crude oil, and we are in the testing phase. So that's why we haven't published too much detail because we are still kind of like analyzing the information of the well and is being tested at the moment. So 2 levels, and then we have tested already one, and we are testing the second level. And then we started Caracara, which is drilling right now, and we hope to have results in 2 or 3 weeks from now once we reach the reservoir level. So as basically the exploration part on, I'm going to pause to see if you have any questions or any comments, please.
Unknown Analyst
analystVictor, thank you for your presentation. Just going back to Slide 39. Just have -- this may be like a very simple question, but how do you define the success rate or the success? Is it just the mere discovery of oil? Or is it conversion to the 2P reserves? If you can help us understand that.
Victor Vega
executiveYes, that's a good question. So in this particular case, the way that we are showing in here is that we actually found producing reservoir, and we were able actually to get it to production. Okay? You can find it describing different ways before by other people where they say geological success, right, but not commercial success. So all of these are wells actually were able to get into production, right? So we did not include some of the say, geological successes that we had because those obviously don't translate into barrels.
Unknown Attendee
attendeeSo these successes are when it's actually...
Victor Vega
executiveYes, it has gone to production.
Unknown Attendee
attendeeAnd then does the reserve -- so if you -- like during the course of the fiscal year, if you find and if you have a successful well, does the 2P reserve increase on the next annual report, or is that...
Victor Vega
executiveYes, it depends, right? So for example, right now, Magadi, right? -- we are drilling Magadi and we gave priority to Magadi over the Hamaca Norte, which is a well that we need to put on production in the lips because we need to certain activity before the end of the year for the auditor to be able to accept; that actually, it is something that we can put in 2P categories. So we need to show in evidence that actually were able to put well on production. And then he will say, "Okay, yes, I feel comfort then we certify that the that's why -- so you would do at the year that you have the information that is required by the auditor to certify you that this actually is going to be a producible well.
Unknown Attendee
attendeeSo going back to Perico and Espejo, just wanted to get some sense on the seismic acquisition because I think it's not fully covered.
Victor Vega
executiveSo actually, it was the case in Espejo -- so in Espejo we actually had coverage on both areas, but the northern part was not very good time. So we decided as part of the -- it was decided as part of the bid that was put in place for acquiring this block that 3D was going to be done. And the decision by the partnership was actually to focus on the northern part -- so that serve actually was completed and has been processed and is being analyzed and it will be used to drill a well next year. So you will see that in the -- once we talked about 2024, 2023 activity, but the plan that we have is to do one well next year, which is going to be focused on that part of the field based on the new information from the 3 seismic that was acquired this year. I think Orianna, you had a question?
Unknown Attendee
attendeeAnd I think maybe staying in the Ecuador side of operations, are there any conversations on a new bidding round? And if so, is this close to where Perigo and Espejo are and would be something that Frontera would be going after?
Victor Vega
executiveSo we are actually looking at the information, and we will be doing the evaluation of the blocks. There are 6 blocks, and they are distributed that has been published by the government of Ecuador, -- some of them are around this block. Some of them are in different areas. We are doing the technical evaluation to confirm that actually the data room was actually opened very recently. So we are still doing the evaluation, but we are in the process, and we will actually see if it actually makes sense or not right to add more, but that's something that is underway. We have until February to submit or to decide to submit any kind of bid so we are in the early part of the process at the moment. But definitely looking at it. Okay, thank you very much. So I'm going to pass it to Renata.
Renata Campagnaro
executiveWell, good morning, everyone. It's a pleasure to you to be here with you today. I hope you are going to have a good day here in Bogota, even though it's rainy, but let's see what happens today and tomorrow. My turn is to show how Frontera manages the transportation and marketing our production. Gabriel mentioned this morning, the Frontera has an important advantage because of our transportation and logistic production. So I will go deep to it in order to see, for you to you understand how we do and why we have a unique commercialization and transportation model. Frontera has a unique commercialization and marketing model that gives a competitive advantage among Colombian oil producer companies. Our strategy is supported by a well-integrated transportation and trading team, allowing the company to negotiate its crude and sell in different markets, complementing domestic sales in Colombia. The infrastructure that the company has, pipelines, right, storage and blending facility, give us ample of flexibility to handle our crude oil, obtaining better realized price compared to our competitors and creating value for the company instead of selling the barrels at the wellhead. This is very important to understand why we have this advantage. Frontera has become a key player in the market to sell Vasconia and other segregation of Puerto Bahia according to client needs It has been the result of an ample robust, well-known and diversified client portfolio and daily market monitoring that helps from frontera to cope the market volatility in the [indiscernible] . Through the access to the crude oil gathering pipeline in storing infrastructure, we have minimized the crude oil handling risk because of diverse crude oil evacuation system to cope any potential risk. Also, this allowed the company to handle or take advantage of any crude oil market changes. We can use the system to manufacture different crude oil segregations, adapting to any market change the opportunity, like we did for CPE-6. CPE-6 is my favorite block right now because we can handle CPE-6, take it to Puerto Bahia, and we can blend any IPI. We can do -- even though it's a 10 API crude oil, we can blend to 12, we can blend 14 in order to make an asphalt segregation that asks for ample market or also we can take there and blend to Vasconia. So we have a different option to have the storage capacity in Puerto Bahia. Also, we can manufacture general purpose crude oil stream, produces specialty crude oil blends and also produce finished products like low sulfur and enhance sulfur for the bunker niche market. By combining the pipeline system, plus Puerto Bahia storage capacity, we were able to take advantage of the contango crude oil market structure during the COVID-19 low deal naphtha price during the low end -- in the lower price for the -- when we buy the deal in this year because of the Russian and Ukranian war. We got a very good price and we had a contract because we have the storage in Puerto Bahia. So we bought from June to January and we got a good price for the deal for the Puerto natural gasoline. It's important to say that up to September this year, Frontera realized price $1.42 compared to the market price. That is -- the result is that Frontera earned $11 million versus selling barrels at the wellhead. That's very important numbers that we get this year. That's up to September '22. You're going to see the fourth quarter is going to be better. We continue to focus our -- on cost reduction, delivering handsome EBITDA by optimizing logistic operation costs and increase revenues. Regarding this, we can say that we have a Frontera processing deal with Hidrocasanare refinery. This is a small refinery in the nearby our fields, and we process some of our light and medium crude oil in order to get 3 products naphtha for dilution, fuel is a kind of diesel for power generation and residual fuel oil for bunker niche market. So actually, we do that. We are doing this because what we need is to get the diesel or the fuel #4 that we use for power generation. The difference in the past, we used to buy the diesel for the local market. The price is around $40 different if we do this compared with the local market, if we buy the diesel. So that for us was a very [indiscernible] generation. And also for the dilution because the naphtha is inside the country. It's a cheaper way to import the natural gasoline that we do through Puerto Bahia. So this local refining process deal reduced operating costs, generate more than $6 million between savings and incomes up to September 2022. Remember what happened in 2020. We closed the big consolidation for the litigation that we have with Cenit regarding the take-or-pay Bicentenario and Cano Limon. So we have 2 alternatives in the new contract. It was a new take-or-pay. It was 2,300 barrels per day, so the -- one of the alternative was using the Cenit monobuoy in the terminal, in the Maritime Terminal in Covenas. And the other way was shipping the 2,300 barrels per day through the Bicentenario corridor. So one of the advantage to reduce uses of the Bicentenario, that -- because of the force majeure, so we -- now, we are using, getting our volume, export our volume through the Cenit [ monobuoy ]. That give us a very good advantage. Why? Because we -- that monobuoy is all exclusive for Frontera, so we can forecast our windows before the pipeline system give us the window. Like our client portfolio is almost two direct refineries, and that is in the -- as you know, the refinery days scheduling like 3 months in advance for their processes and the crude oil in their refinery. So if we get advantage and get the windows before, so we've taken advantage of the market and sell a better price. So that's -- given the exclusivity, almost exclusivity, because we are only the cheaper in the -- to export in this monobuoy, we can forecast the windows between 10 days so we can go out to the market before everybody else. And that is a good advantage and help us to get a good price. You will see later on in the presentation that 50% of our production is delivered by truck. You are going to see that, and we have a huge system to control that because the fields are -- it's not connected to the entry point of the pipeline. They are nearby the entry point, but we have to drop them to the pipeline. So we also have -- was a project that we did with this operation in order to reduce the time for the loading and unloading the crude oil in order to reduce the time, and will give us better volume and more volume in the trucks and the cost will be reduced also. Okay. Let's talk about commercialization. In 2022, the Russian Ukranian war was the U.S., and the U.S. Strategy Petroleum Reserve crude oils release caused to us change of the typical crude oil flows. If you see in the 2021, most of the crude oil was going to Asia. Right now, the -- because of Asia, got the crude oil from Russia because of the sanction because also, Russian sell with a huge discount price, so we lost the Asian market. But we got now -- we got U.S. West Coast market, and also now, we are getting to the U.S. Gulf Coast. And that is why we have changed our portfolio. I mean, our cargoes to go to the two different plants. There is another thing that is important to say, yes. We sell the most -- our volume in sale as Vasconia. A Vasconia is a 23 API, is 1.2 sulfur. And normally, we relate this Vasconia with smart swaps. So if you see in the beginning of the year in 2021, Vasconia was very related to Mars. But because of the oil, crude oil that's coming to from Canadian to the U.S. Gulf, the Mars has been -- the Mars differential has been ample, and that is why we don't sell related to Mars. We sell related -- if you are going to see in fourth quarter, we had a beautiful price because we sell to the West Coast. So our crude oil went to the West Coast, and that is related to the Alaska North Slope. So that's a part of what we are doing monitoring the market because we take -- we try to see where the Vasconia will get the better price, okay? Let's talk about CP6. CP6 is why we believe the CP6 will -- is a beautiful block and why we think the -- for me is, does the -- maybe because I have a refiner hat. But CP6 is a beautiful crude oil, has asphalt also has a [ loops ] specialty [ yields ]. So CP6, we sold in July and September. Cargoes from Puerto Bahia, small cargoes, went to asphalt refinery and we got around $3 better than Castilla. Remember, Castilla is 18 API, and we sold Llanos Blend at 14 API. Llanos Blend is a -- we have to blend to add to 800 centistokes because Puerto Bahia and also the vessel cannot handle lower viscosity in the -- for this crude oil. So we have to blend it up to 800 centistokes, it's around 14 API. So that specialty crude oil is the better netback that the company has today. So that's why when we do the economies, to increase production and do is -- the big project that we are planning for 2023, it's because it's a good netback. But that is because we are finding a new niche market for this crude oil. There is another one. You say Ecuador. Ecuador now, as Ivan said, we are transporting the crude oil from the field to the [indiscernible] that is the Puerto Bahia pipeline by truck, and [indiscernible] is as an oriented segregation. But because of the small volume that we have in Ecuador, we have to go through the clients, the Petroecuador house, and we go on top of their cargoes. So it has been very difficult to sell the [ Oriente ], but we are getting there. Normally, we do tender with [indiscernible] the company that has a contract with Petroecuador, and we are selling the crude oil market price also. Okay. Let's now talk about transportation. If you've see in the map, Colombia has a lot of flexibility in pipelines. And we have flexibility because we can get into the pipeline in a different entry points. We have some price, but also we had capacity in -- as a take-and-pay contracts, so we don't need -- because also the Colombia production has been reduced, we have capacity. Everybody has capacity. But when you have right, you have -- like the first priority in the nomination. That's a good thing to say. So we have price in one, ODC, ODL and OGD. And there is a -- so let's -- Orlando has mentioned before about our commitments. In third quarter of 2020, we have $400 million of commitment. Today, our commitment is $286 million. And they are actually by 2 contracts. The one is the take-or-pay of Ocensa P135, and the other one is the small take-or-pay that we have the Bicentenario in Cano Limon. The -- but this -- here is another advantage. The tariff or the P135 is 23% lower than the contract -- the Take and Pay contract of Ocensa. So we are -- there's another advantage to have the P135 contract. And by the other hand, the -- as I mentioned before, we are compliant with the take-or-pay in Ecopetrol because we are using the monobuoy in the Maritime Terminal in Covenas. So we don't foresee any problem to comply with the commitment. We are doing that. Actually, because we are using more the monobuoy, and also you see more volumes in ODL plus this Take or Pay, we can reduce the timing to pay the commitment. So we are going there.
Unknown Analyst
analystA question regarding the tariff. So next year, we should have the renegotiation of the contracts for the transportation, right? So that will affect your tariff?
Renata Campagnaro
executiveYes.
Unknown Analyst
analystOkay. Are you expecting it to go down, or?
Renata Campagnaro
executiveNo. I don't think so because I don't think that this government will change the target. Remember that the tariff is a regular tariff. They take and pay because the P135 is increase every year in January, 2.4%. That's part of the Take or Pay contract. The regulatory tariff has increased depend of the -- with the formula that is in the restrained regulation that could increase anything depend on the investment or -- and the return of the pipelines. So I don't think there has been a lot of conversation with the government to change the tariff. But if you ask me, I don't think that is going to happen. Well, now, like I said before, that we have a lot of fields that are now connecting to our field. I will talk about the transportation. But it's not only transportation of hydrocarbon, it's -- we also do transportation and fluid, personal, dry cargoes, all services. So why we integrate all the transportation activity in my organization? It's because we could use the same model, the same cost model in all tariffs. So that was part of the optimization that we did in order to reduce cost. Remember that transportation cost has in your numbers when you put in your model, transportation use is only pipeline in trucking, hydrocarbon trucking. That's the only 2 that is in the transportation cost. Personal, fluid and dry cargo service is in operation costs. So if we optimize trucking, personal fluid and service, that will reduce operation costs. And we optimize hydrocarbon and pipelines, the optimization pipelines, we reduce transportation costs. That's why we -- if you see our transportation cost right now, has been very flat during the last 2 years. It's around between 10% and 11%. Okay. Our transportation logistic operations is integral and transfer sites to the entire company. We handle the transportation of hydrocarbon, as I said before. The transportation of fluid which is in the field, transportation of our personal movement equipment all over within our field. And also, we use all kind of vehicle, vans, trucks, everything. The land transportation team carried out 200 loads per day. I want to show you the magnitude of the activity in land transportation. They carry out 200 loads per day with 41 contractors, companies in which 35% are community companies. We have development a local supplier in the local supply program, thereafter [ Andres Sarmiento ] will talk to you. We have developed -- we call [ cooperativas ] as small companies, and we grow this company in order to perform the contracts. Traveling 113 roots in Colombia [indiscernible] which represent 60,000, almost [indiscernible]. So you can imagine that how do you control that? So we build a platform with GPS, and we know where our trucks are, and this platform is called PEGASO. As I told you before, in [indiscernible], we try always to optimize costs, we centralize on their transportation also the personnel and the service and dry cargo activity in the same platform in PEGASO. Yesterday, we were lasting to trying to translate the -- translate the [indiscernible] as I pick you up. So that was I pick you up. But Rene said, that is our Frontera Uber that we had. We also have a Frontera Uber, it's called [indiscernible] that is also integrating a platform. When a personnel in the field need a truck, so he can ask in the platform. And he will have the -- in 10 minutes, he will have the ride to get to where the location that he wants to go. Okay. Let's talk about the trucking strategy. Most of the Frontera Energy land transportation service had been integrated into a Transportation Management System to optimize process and cost under a single strategy vision and logistics, and also with very good numbers of HSE. As I say, PEGASO logistic platform will represent our system. We had one program called Mujeres al volante, women behind the wheel. We think some time they are better than the men's, but we are launching this program. The program is to string competencies and skill of women in the areas where they -- remember that we have, in our field, there are a lot of women that are like we call [Foreign Language]. So we try to help those women in order to get the training, the skill and to be part of our organization in this program. And the other one, the last one that is one of our babies is Transporte Limpio. That is a program to use green -- that's the one -- is to use green technologies as such a natural gasoline and also in natural gas and also electric vehicles to reduce the greenhouse gas and also to the particulate matter emissions. Okay? And finally, I would like to say that maybe Andres is here, Andreas [indiscernible] here. And he has said this morning that I have to say this, that we had an audit 2 months ago to get the ISO 39000. So we are going to be the first operator company to have been certified with ISO 39000 in this land transportation operation. In conclusion, Frontera has a unique commercialization and transportation model to maximize EBITDA and generate value to our shareholders. Any question about this part? Yes?
Unknown Analyst
analystPage 47, where you have the -- all the pipeline contracts. If I recall, you had a disagreement with some of the Senate entities, that would -- the one on the next page, Bicentenario and then Cano Limon. And I think you sold about 1 or 2 years ago, right? Whatever fixed, we Take or Pay, pumps that you had. So when I see that you entered a new contract after you guys settled at about 1 or 2 years ago for another 5 years, can you just help me understand what the economic differences are? Like what would your Take or Pay that you had back then? And because of cancellation, was it completely gone and you entered it again on a spot basis?
Renata Campagnaro
executiveYes. We finished the Take or Pay. Maybe Alejandra can help me also in that. When we had a conciliation, the all Take or Pay finished, so we closed that contract. And we want to send it or Ecopetrol to loan some money. So those -- that money, we will pay with 2 Take or Pay contracts. One is the 2,340 barrels per day through the corridor Bicentenario and Cano Limon. And the other one is 10,000 barrels per day through ODL. That's the -- the 2 contracts that we have right now.
Unknown Analyst
analyst[indiscernible]
Renata Campagnaro
executiveNo. We pay before around $14 through all the core region. But right now, because we are using the monobuoy, we are only -- remember, the agreement is that is like a liquid of monthly payment that we have to give in Cenit. No matter what the way that you do, you can use the corridor or we can use the monobuoy. So the tariffs will be Ocensa tariff when you go through Ocensa corridor. And if you want to Bicentenario in Cano Limon, you will pay that. Because of the volume that -- because of the small volume, the amount is very little. So it doesn't impact the transportation cost. In ODL, you have Quifa that is connected. The field is connected to ODL, so you have to go through ODL, and that -- that the Take or Pay is based almost on Take or Pay.
Unknown Analyst
analystAnd you accurately state Bicentenario is completely gone? [indiscernible]
Renata Campagnaro
executiveYes. We don't have equity in Bicentenario.
Unknown Analyst
analystDid you get paid for the equity? Because I think in the disclosure you made, you never kind of showed what happened in terms of payments between 2 parties.
Renata Campagnaro
executiveAlejandra can help me in that.
Unknown Executive
executiveVery simply, we had a Take or Pay that date -- we were one of the founders of the Bicentenario pipeline. Today, the pipeline is not necessarily operating. The Cano Limon isn't because of the continuous attacks we deal on the growth. But back then, we had a firm commitment to pay around $125 million and you ship or you pay. At 2018, the Board made a decision that because of the lack of use of that pipeline, we had an exit related to our contractual obligations to pay that $125 million, so we opted to exit that contract. It took us 2 years in negotiation with Ecopetrol to reach an agreement under which the obligations on both sides, right? Because they had -- they said to us, you owe us X amount of money for the operational pipeline. We told them, well, you didn't deliver on this [indiscernible] of the contract. And net-net, the result was to reach an agreement where we would -- they would forgo all the obligations related to the pipeline, all these payments I just mentioned to you. And in lieu of that, we would enter into those 2 contracts which are very manageable. They're low, and they're necessarily fully take or pay because I could. There's a way that we could mitigate them. And as compensation or consideration for that, we were handing them over basically the Bicentenario pipeline -- our interest in the Bicentenario pipeline, right? So that's -- that -- like she said, this is kind of -- there was a mathematical analysis and the mathematical analysis versus their contingencies, our contingencies, what ended up being, the sum of which is this is the result. Is that more or less --
Unknown Executive
executiveI will only add that if it was not only a mathematical exercise, but also an assessment of the legal merits of each of the parties cases, and we ended up making concessions, so did they.
Unknown Analyst
analyst[indiscernible]
Unknown Executive
executiveYes.
Unknown Executive
executiveSorry, I was just going to add. With the completion of conciliation agreement, were able to remove $1 billion-plus worth of contingent liabilities from our books. So that's the other factor here that we need to consider as part of this overall metrics and math around this.
Unknown Analyst
analystIs there any update on the 480,000 barrels in Peru?
Renata Campagnaro
executiveYes. We have an inventory of 480,000 barrels. The new operator has been assigned, but the crude oil, part of the crude oil is at the end of the pipeline. So we need the new operator to start operation in order to push forward the -- our inventory. And the other inventory that's -- and the other inventory is in the field, so we need to get that inventory out, a new operator. But we are trying to do a lot of thing, conversation with [indiscernible], Petroperu and Perupetro, how we can do that? In the plan for 2023, we have sold some part of the inventory. Any other question? Okay, so let's start with midstream. Okay. I will start the -- this conversation of midstream with the pipeline, Oleoducto de los Llanos. And after, I will pass the baton to Rodrigo Torras, who is the CEO of Puerto Bahia, so he can talk about Puerto Bahia. For those who are not familiar with the ODL, ODL is a pipeline that has 235 kilometer from Rubiales station to Monterrey and 224 when you goes from Rubiales to Cusiana. The ODL has 3 pumping stations, one in Rubiales, one in Corocora and one in Jaguey. This normally is an enough mode because the pipeline doesn't require -- the pipeline only require the Rubiales station to pump the [indiscernible] in API quality. The capacity, the pipeline of 1,300 centistoke is around 3,000 barrels per day. The clients are Ecopetrol, Hocol, Frontera, Parex and Geopark and also Tecpetrol. Geopark and Tecpetrol using a trade with [indiscernible] to -- because they sell the crude oil to them. So Trafigura is also a client of the Puerto Bahia. There is another thing is, they have -- ODL has a crude oil -- a crude oil unloading facility. It's a heavy crude oil. Here, we use -- we use this facility to unloading the Cano Sur block from Ecopetrol that today, the production is around 20,000 barrels per day. Also, we -- sometimes we unload [ Pendaris ], that also is Tecpetrol crude oil. And sometimes, we also depend on the economics and depend also if we have blockage, we use ODL for the CP6 production. So in this -- up to September, this facility has been receiving 23,000 barrels per day. Also, they have 2 dilutions facility, one in Rubiales with Naphtha or national gasoline and the other one in Cusiana with LPG, okay? The volumes that has been injected in the pipeline. 62% is Rubiales, Quifa, Caño Sur, CP6, as I say, and the other 35% is in Jaguey that most of these crude oil is coming from Geopark and Parex. And the 3% is the volume from Hocol that come in from -- that's the [ Pendares ] crude oil that help us, it's around 22 API, and help us to dilute also in the pipeline. Okay. You see here the production, as you can see here in the slide, even though the Rubiales, Quifa, or let's say, in the Rubiales station, the production has decreased, we also, with the other producers, we almost maintain the same volume transport. It's around -- if you see, it's going to be around [ 209,000 ] barrels per day average 2022. However, if you see that, because the tariff in this study is $4 per barrel, and this one is around $1.20. So even though that we are increasing the [indiscernible], we try to maintain the EBITDA, EBITDA of the pipeline. So that is very important because that shows you that ODL has a strong track record operational and financial pro forma and cash flow generation. Here, you are going to see, well, the dividends that we had in '21. It was $108 million and the net income payout ratio that was 100%. Some of the -- this year, we think that we will have the same amount of dividends for 2022. Another thing that I would like to say is ODL is complying and they are carbon -- 100% carbon neutral, and they bought voluntary bonds in order to do that in the -- with a project that is a reforestation in -- for reforestation of species of -- in the [indiscernible] project that is handled with a different company. They buy those projects, and they are -- they buy the bonds in order to be carbon neutral. Additional opportunity in ODL, there is in order to increase the volume and also increase revenues. First of all, we are planning, as I said, we are planning because we have 35% as you have -- Orlando and Gabriel mentioned before, we have 35% equity interest in ODL, so we are looking for additional heavy crude incremental. That's going to be because it's going to -- Jaguey unloading facility will be expand in order to receive more volumes on Llanos 34. Also, we are going to expand the storage capacity in the Jaguey station because right now it's very low, so that also will help to receive more volumes in that area. And also, I would say that is the biggest problem -- the biggest project that we are planning for 2023, 2025 is connecting the Caño Sur production that could go up to 60,000 barrels per day that go to the ODL, both to Rubiales station connected to the ODL. And the other thing is that we have -- ODL has 2 power plants, one in Jaguey and one in Rubiales, and they are power generation with diesel or fuel oil. And we -- so we -- here in Colombia, we have a program for the viability chart. So ODL participate in this program, and also, we will receive income for this program also. And that's it for ODL. Question? We will have [if any].
Unknown Analyst
analystSo regarding the ODL, you mentioned a payout ratio of around 100%. That's like a policy, or do they have a target for that?
Unknown Executive
executive[indiscernible] Okay. Actually, they have [ track ] cash. And that's why they -- they give you the 100% ratio.
Unknown Analyst
analyst[indiscernible] Historically, they didn't pay 100%.
Renata Campagnaro
executiveHistorically, it has been that because remember the [indiscernible] in debt, ODL finished debt in 2020. So everything, all cash generation is going to be [ draft ] cash, so it's better to deliver a dividend to the shareholders.
Unknown Analyst
analystAnd an additional one regarding the reliability charge. So how much are you getting? And I remember that was like for a certain time of period, right, that [indiscernible] gives you the reliability charge. So how is that working?
Renata Campagnaro
executiveWell, this year [indiscernible] Remember, because Ecopetrol bought ISA, we have the ODL could not get the viability charge. So what we did, we did a session. One year with Petroelectrica and the other 9 years to another company. So anyhow, we will receive the income for that reliability charge.
Unknown Analyst
analystSure. So the follow-up to that, I mean, this one was asked as well before in this meeting and during the earnings call. But some of the equity purchases from your super national bank partner in the entity that owns ODL and valuation multiples, it seems fairly low. And without going into details, is it because, as you said, a 100% payout ratio, which is a maximum under Colombian corporate law, from my understanding, so you cannot dividend more than what you make in a given year is the maximum? So it's -- it is what it is?
Unknown Executive
executiveNo.
Unknown Analyst
analystOkay. Why is multiple so low? Because then, like sometimes when I ask other people, they were like, why are these pipeline changing hands?
Unknown Executive
executiveLook, if you want to get into that question, why is my multiple so low? So let's have a broader discussion. There is clearly an evaluation discussion that we prepared a page for you guys to talk about, so just think about it this way. It was an attractive opportunity. We clearly are a direct partner to the opportunity, right, so there were some rights related to it. And when it came across, we saw it as an opportunity to increase our stake, sell the value, and that's why we purchased the transaction at -- for $47.4 million.
Unknown Analyst
analystWas it an open tender or was it just negotiated transaction between you two?
Unknown Executive
executiveLook, it was a negotiated transaction between us two. But, sorry, I want to get back to why my evaluation is so low, if you want to talk about that later, okay?
Unknown Analyst
analystOn your per barrel transportation cost, do you guys net out dividends from the ODL pipelines?
Renata Campagnaro
executiveNo, I wish to.
Unknown Executive
executiveWe don't -- remember, we don't consolidate. We don't consolidate our pipelines. Actually, whether you see it in our financial statement is share income from affiliates or from equity only. Equity income, basically, is kind of the way that it comes in, so no.
Unknown Analyst
analystAnd just another --
Unknown Executive
executiveSo why we no -- that's not -- You got to remember, old Frontera used to do it. New Frontera doesn't do that. In the past, they would have actually deduced that from the actually reported number. But no, in our numbers, we will not do that.
Unknown Analyst
analystOkay. And since you have a higher priced like at the wellhead versus your competitors because of this pipeline, does that kind of disadvantage you? Like if the royalty, deductibility, like --
Unknown Executive
executiveI don't understand your question because we have higher price, where?
Unknown Analyst
analystAt the wellhead prices. If you are able to sell at a higher price at the wellhead, doesn't that mean that you have higher royalties as well?
Unknown Executive
executiveSo remember, we don't sell at the wellhead. We track our production or we actually export our production. So the -- if we get a higher price, we get it for ourselves. Like the royalties is the same metric. If we sell it for other than the high price clauses and the new tax reform, our royalties are royalty and the benefit of higher price is for us.
Unknown Analyst
analystSo for the Rubiales and Quifa production, I guess that's at like [ 440 ], correct? And then the GeoPark, Parex, what's that at? Is there any prospect to increase that? And then on the potential Caño Sur, what would sort of the tariffs there be at?
Renata Campagnaro
executiveNo. The Caño Sur will be the same as Rubiales and Quifa. That's why we think that when Rubiales and Quifa decreased volume, that will compensate with the Caño Sur volumes. So that's part of the estimation that we have. In Llanos 34, also will increase production, so that is going through Jaguey. Remember, the Geopark, Parex made -- build a pipeline connecting Llanos 34 to Jaguey. But this -- they are increasing production in part of the others fields that they are not connected to Llanos 34, they are going by truck to Jaguey. That's why they are increasing the -- Remember that also Geopark and Parex, they sell at the wellhead, so [ Trafigura ], most -- do most of this activity for them. And that is why they use Jaguey because they have -- they -- actually, they sublease capacity from us.
Unknown Analyst
analystGot it. And then to add the Caño Sur volumes, you have to spend CapEx? Is there anything you have to do to get that or?
Renata Campagnaro
executiveNo. It's -- we don't -- ODL has cash. So all the projects will be done through the ODL budget. It's cash generation, and we don't think that we have to bring any money there.
Unknown Analyst
analystGood. How much CapEx will ODL have to spend?
Renata Campagnaro
executiveWell, we are doing right now the analysis. Actually, ODL will do that. We saw the budget in the last board meeting in [indiscernible]. It's a very -- in a basic [indiscernible]. Yes. We think the budget will come -- I mean, the project will be analyzed in 2023, and we -- maybe if the economies will be good, we'll start construction in '24, '25.
Unknown Executive
executiveThank you, Renata. Good afternoon. I'm glad to be here to present Puerto Bahia to such an interesting audience. On the other hand, it's hard to be the last speaker before lunch, so I will try to do it as fast as possible. Well, I'm Rodrigo Torras. After starting with the presentation of Puerto Bahia, I would like to give a short introduction of my background and why I'm convinced this is an excellent port, plenty of opportunities to keep growing. I have been working in the port industry for more than 10 years. I worked for the biggest companies involved in this industry, and I have a broad experience in Latin America and in Colombia, in particular. When I received the invitation to join Puerto Bahia, I didn't hesitate for a second. I already knew the project and its potential, and I can tell you that I think -- I'm convinced, sorry, I made the right choice. So let me briefly introduce about this unique opportunity. Puerto Bahia is a strategic [ partner ] for all the liquid and freight cargoes that wants to manage their logistics efficiently in the Cartagena Bay. The port is owned by Frontera Energy, as was previously mentioned, 90% of the stakes, and started operation in 2015. And despite the pandemic period, it has been growing in terms of volume, gaining efficiency and improving their operations. It is strategically located at the entrance of the Cartagena Bay access channel with a natural depth, allowing the port to big [ trough ] vessels without any restriction. That generate, of course, economic of scale for shipping lines when comparing with other facilities that operate in the Cartagena Bay. We are flexible to customer needs, and without the necessity of performing any maintenance or ever capital regime in our port. All what I just mentioned, facts, make this facility a unique one because for the port and maritime industry, what I just mentioned is really important in terms of efficiency and operations. Puerto Bahia, of course, in terms of the day-to-day business, handles exports and imports of crude oil and derivative, roll on and roll off cargo, which is basically vehicles, all type of vehicles. High and heavy-duty cargo and [indiscernible], and providing the typical services such as loading and unloading, storage, etc. But we are well known because of our value-added services that differentiates us from the other ports. Well, regarding the EBITDA evolution and volumes, worth to mention that Fonterra took control of Puerto Bahia, and please correct me if I'm wrong, by the end of 2020. Since that, and without the Take or Pay contract as a backup, Puerto Bahia has managed to increase EBITDA. And this year, we will end up with an 83% of our EBITDA composition coming from other customers than Frontera. Which for us, of course, is very important because it represented an increase in our customer portfolio. Of course, for the next year, we are expecting, as Orlando already mentioned, an increase in our EBITDA of approximately 24% compared to the estimation for this year. Part of this increase is explained by the volumes that we are expect -- we are handling so far, and we expect to handle during this year and the coming years. In terms of liquid bulk, as you can see, we have been able, on a year-to-date basis, to recover the volume that we had previous to the pre-pandemic period. And we expect to end up this year handling 22 million barrels, which is a record for Puerto Bahia. Then in terms of RoRo volumes which, I repeat, which includes all type of cargo vehicles mainly, we have been -- despite the growth experience during the pandemic period, we have been growing. And as you can see, the trend is positive. And we will end up this year with another record of more than 100,000 units handled in our facility. If we looked at break bulk cargo [ machineries ], let's say, limited space in our facilities so far. And cargo is more profitable and with long-term contracts with our customers compared to the brek bulk cargo, which is negotiated in a spot basis. Of course, the increase in RoRo cargo can explain the decrease in the break bulk cargo. Adding to that we have explored this year a new business unit, which is the shore-based logistics activities that we provided for the offshore exploration that generated a pretty good income for -- and EBITDA for the port this year. And we think we will continue doing that during the coming years due to the excellent results of exploration that have been performed in the Caribbean coast. Well, regarding our value driver. As we already mentioned, our strategic position convert us as an ideal operational hub with no draft friction, as we already explained it, which is very important for the maritime industry. We warranty operations due to our location, protected location in the Cartagena Bay, almost 24/7, 365 days per year. Which compared to other ports, not only in Colombia but in the rest of Latin America, is a clear advantage. And also our exceptional connectivity with our hinterland, it's an important differentiation against the other ports in the Cartagena Bay. We can see that in the next slide, the figure will speak for itself. Also, in terms of operational advantage, we can mention do the honor of the lands where the port was built and currently, its operation -- each operating, sorry, our proximity to Reficar, and being a terminal already in operations, generating value and operating safely and with top-tier standards of operations compared to the other terminals is clear advantage. And of course, to have available land for expand our facility is one of the most important differentiation that we have against the other ports in the Cartagena Bay. Here, as we mentioned, we have a strategic location. As I mentioned, I think the figures speak for itself, the advantage of being the first terminal in the Bay while the vessels navigate through the access channels is very important in terms of reduction of navigation times and also emissions. Then, to have a proximity to the Canal del Dique give us another advantage because we are able to efficiently manage all the cargo that goes in and out through the Magdalena River. And then the proximity to the -- all the corridors that connect the Cartagena with the rest of the country, and being outside of the industrial area of the city give us a clear advantage. Worth to mention that we have a free trades on status with all the advantage that's in place, not only for the current business that it's operating right now but for all the potential developments that we might have in our port. Here, we can see the current layout, but the most important message in this slide is all the available land that we have for expanding our business. As you can see here, we have 10 hectares for the liquid -- for expanding our liquid activity. Then 27 hectares here for dry cargo or also liquid bulk expansion. 40 hectares on the other side of the access road to the port, and then 8 hectares on the other side of the [ Baru ] Bridge. So a lot of land available for future expansion. Regarding the liquid terminal, our liquid terminal is a state-of-the-art terminal with the latest technology ensuring a secure, safe and efficient operation. As from the opening today, we have managed more than 200 million barrels, 400 vessels were attended, 12,000 barges and more than 100 trucks. It's able to handle up to 1 million barrel vessels with a loading capacity of 35,000 barrels per hour. That can be increased up to 70,000 barrels per hour, being the key subset factor with our customers, our flexibility for performing the operations. Worth to mention that this loading or unloading rates are very high and very good in terms of operations. As you might know, the -- as fast as we operate a vessel, the better for the vessel and the customer, of course. Regarding the land side infrastructure, we have 8 tanks with a nominal capacity of 334,000 barrels, 4 of them with heating facilities. All the tanks are interconnected among them and facilitating of course, the product blending, which is an advantage. And also, the tanks have the status of international logistics center habilitation, which give us the -- also the advantage to storage product for a large period of time from a cash perspective. Regarding the dry cargo terminal, currently, we are handling two locking positions with 290 meters of [berth] that can be expanded up to 650 meters. And that -- with the current permits and licenses that we have in place, so no additional permits to be granted for the authorities. That will allow us, of course, to expand our dry cargo business. As Orlando and Gabriel were mentioning, for us, it is crucial to expand both the liquid terminal and the dry cargo terminal, and we are working with several projects in order to do that in the coming years. In the current dry cargo terminal, the roll on, roll off cargo is the one that leads, having Puerto Bahia 95% of the segment market share and still growing, adding new automotive brands arriving to our facility, value-added services being provided in our facility. Our key differentiation to attract -- to keep attracting more customers in this segment to Puerto Bahia. And we do also manage a different type of rebook cargo, and we are in constant process of expanding our dry cargo business, trying to attack other type of cargoes such as containerized cargo as Orlando mentioned. And of course, and I previously mentioned, the shore-based logistics services that we are working for the coming years. That's all for Puerto Bahia. I hope you have enjoyed the presentation, and I don't know if you have any questions. If not, enjoy the lunch.
Unknown Attendee
attendeeI was just going to ask one. So obviously, with Europe and the U.S. trying to displace Russian cargoes as much as possible, that actually creates a big opportunity for Colombia and all of Latin America in terms of exports. Like do you have like a 5-year outlook of kind of like that best possible growth case wherein you capture this opportunity, caused by the Russia-Ukraine situation? I mean, we actually see Mexico already starting to capture a big opportunity caused by COVID because a lot of manufacturers that were previously doing a lot of work in China are now hustling over to Mexico, and it's really driving up the economy there, which is why the Mexican peso has been so strong relative to the rest of Latin America.
Rodrigo Torras
executiveThe answer would be yes. And actually, we are working in several projects that we are, let's say, in a feasibility stage in order to expand our facility going forward and taking advantage of the opportunity that you just mentioned.
Unknown Attendee
attendeeIs there a way to think about how much of Puerto Bahia's revenues or EBITDA come from the different revenue sources, so like hydrocarbon versus roll-off versus breakbulk?
Rodrigo Torras
executiveWell, let's say, that in general -- I don't know if you want to answer, but I can do it. In a big picture or in a general overview, let's say, it is distributed. It is reaching almost 50-50 liquid bulk and dry cargo. But we are not there yet. We are still with a little bit more coming from the liquid bulk. But we foresee that in the next year, it will be tied, right?
Brent Anderson
executiveI think that's it for the morning session, thank you everyone.
Rodrigo Torras
executiveThank you.
Brent Anderson
executiveWe will adjourn for lunch and then we have to be back here to start the second half of the presentations. We've arranged lunch upstairs for everyone. We have people waiting outside that will take us upstairs to the 16th floor for lunch and you're welcome to catch up with our guests. [Break]
Victor Vega
executiveWe're having a pretty good conversation with Christina after lunch. So we would like to have a conversation about Guyana. So the way we have structured the presentation is we want to give you a little bit of an overview in terms of how do we see things going towards production, right? And that's the theme of the conversation today because we have received a lot of questions from you in the last few calls that we have had about that. So we want to give you a little bit of certainty beyond, right, what we have been discussing, which is why and how we're seeing things and all that. Then Regan is going to share with you on the technical side, kind of like what is the latest things that we have done in terms of the analysis of the information that we have. Remember, last time that we talked when we had the webinar, we were still doing some things. Like, for example, we are still processing the seismic, we're trying to get the latest result on the little data that we were able to get from the samples that we collected in Kawa, like the annulus sample that we took, which is an indirect measure and also some of the mud gas and some other things. So what Regan is going to do is show you a little bit of that to give you a little bit more context. And then at the end, I'm going to finish the conversation talking about how do we see things in terms of the whole spectrum, right, going to production and then people have asked us some questions about you will get to that stage, what kind of development are we talking about? So the intent of the conversation today, we know that this is a hot topic for you guys. So what we have agreed with Orlando, is that if there are any questions, let's wait for the questions at the end of the session, if possible that way we can have the whole presentation. And then at the end of the session, if there is any specific questions, we'll be happy to address that. Is that okay, if we wait until the end so that way, we don't get derailed? Because it's a bit different, right? The first part is more contractual. Second part is more technical. And the third part is like more like going into the future, yes? Okay. So the first slide is one of slides that we put together to kind of give you an idea about where we are in terms of some of the things that are in the contract, which we have been asked about by some of you, which are important to keep in mind, yes? So what is the first thing we wanted to point out is that we drilled Kawa and then we actually made that -- the announcement that, that there was a discovery. And that's important because that's the first step as per the license that you have to take, right, is to declare the discovery and actually to file the notice of discovery with the government to say, look, this actually was a discovery. So that was the first part. We have done that on the 16th of March. Then after that, you have to -- as per the contract, you have to then submit a notice of potential commercial interest, which is a definition that they have in the petroleum license that you have there. And then with that, you have the option at that point once you present that to have an initial period of 2 years for appraisal. And that period is initial because the government has the prerogative once you present the case to have additional activity beyond that, right? So for example, you think that you're going to need 3, 4, 5, 6 wells. I don't know how many wells we're going to need, that was a question that we were asked, we don't know yet, we will find out when we get the fluid data and static data from Wei. We will have more information about the potential degree of connectivity to different areas. Once we know that, then the government has the option to give you more time. And actually, there is no specific mention to a time line after that point, after the 2 years, right? So it should be as many as the government feels that is the right thing to do, right? So that's the first part. Second is we have submitted an appraisal program, and we have had a conversation with the government about that. And then what we have done is we have put in the appraisal program, Wei as a dual purpose well, which is a well that is going to comply with the exploration commitment that we have, but it also has a component of the appraisal side that we need to have, right? Because why do we say that? Because, obviously, we need to actually confirm that what we found in Wei is similar -- sorry, what we found in Kawa is similar to what we found in Wei from a static point of view, right, in terms of the rocks, the reservoirs, the levels and all of that. And then the appraisal side is like more of the very complete data set that we are trying to acquire for Wei, which is going to give us a lot of information to be able to proceed with additional information, right? Where do we need to put more wells, when, how, how many and so on, something like that, yes? So that's kind of like what we have done. Again, we will wait to hear back from the government. We put some comments here at the bottom that explain some of the questions -- hopefully address some of the questions that we have heard from many people in the past. Yes, give me a second. And then hopefully, with this slide, at least we give you some indications of some of the steps that we are taking with CGX and where the conversation with the government are in relation to this particular topic, yes?
Unknown Attendee
attendeeSo is Wei being drilled in such a manner that it could be safe for production or...
Victor Vega
executiveNo.
Unknown Attendee
attendeeSo it's not. So just [indiscernible]? At this point forward everyone is [indiscernible]?
Victor Vega
executiveRight, we'll get into that. We'll get into that. So I have a slide where I'm going to into that. So that's a good question. So these -- all of these wells that we're talking about are still wells that are not the producer wells. So we're going to get into that and explain in a minute. So give me a second and we'll get into that. So I'm going to pause here, this was just an introduction, right? So that's the part that -- and I know that you may have some questions about what the -- or questions that we have heard from you on the license. But if you [ agree], let's just save that for the end and in that way, we can come back and address the whole thing, yes? So now I'm going to pass it to Regan, who is going to give us a quick update, and then I'll come back. And after that, we will be open to take some questions, yes?
Regan Palsgrove
executiveGood afternoon, everyone. Well fed I assume, but wide awake. I'm cognizant that some of you are very familiar this. I'm very cognizant of the fact that many of you are familiar with this project, but others maybe not so much depending if you've seen our previous webinars. So today, I'm going to first review Kawa-1 targets and results and relevant competitor activity. And then I'll show some updated technical material that's been developed since our last webinar. Since that webinar, we've continued to receive data and interpret that data. And I guess, we are increasing our understanding, not just of Kawa, but of the block in general. So this includes quantitative interpretation of the seismic QI, biostratigraphic analysis, detailed analysis of litho logs, ongoing lithological analysis and geochemical analysis. So we have been advancing this story as we go. So the play type schematic shown on the left, let me see if I can get this going, yes. This one here, shows the play types that were targeted at Kawa with the primary targets being those Upper Cretaceous channels and fans deposited in the slope environment. So by slope, I mean between the shelf and the basin floor. So the sands are carried out through canyons, over the shelf and down the slope but not all the way out to the deep ocean bottom that we call a basin floor. So Kawa's targeted zones, which are these ones right in here, are the same age as a vast majority of the discoveries in the basin as I've annotated. So I'm showing sort of some Stabroek play types and then some Block 58 discoveries in slightly deeper and older zones. Kawa-1 was very outstanding and that pay was found over a large stratigraphic interval and in far more zones than we anticipated. In fact, it was distributed over 6,000 feet in the wellbores through the entire Upper Cretaceous. So that's Maastrichtian, Campanian, Santonian and Coniacian. And so with elements of both the Stabroek golden lanes, so to speak, and the silver lane, which is more in board. A total of 228 feet a pay was identified on the logs with good porosity even at depth. In the seismic line in the middle of this slide, you can see how the pay is distributed through the wellbore. To the nontechnical, this seismic line is like a vertical slice through the earth at the Kawa location. It shows the sea bottom at the top and then drilling all the way down. And TD-ing right there at around 21,000 feet. And the layers highlighted in yellow represent the pay zones that were encountered in wellbore. Now I don't intend to go into great detail on these intervals, I did that in a previous webinar, but we'll point out the highlights of each. So starting at the top, in the Maastrichtian, this is where we got some of our blockiest and thickest pay, up to 26% effective porosity, and indications of gas condensate. The Campanian sands underneath it were thinner, but equally porous. And I guess I should say these targets were not primary targets in Kawa-1, but we are very excited to see the sand with good porosity and pay at those levels as they're mappable elsewhere on the block. The pay in the lower most Campanian and Santonian below were intended targets for us, and they had indications of oil rather than gas condensate. And even at these great depths, porosity was preserved. The Upper Santonian zone -- sorry back on -- the Upper Santonian zone in here was particularly interesting as it was associated with a large mappable channel complex that thickened away from the wellbore. And it's a great analog for our target sales who are on the block. The pay and the Coniacian at the bottom of the wellbore was most difficult to define. It wasn't logged due to wellbore conditions, but the well kicked and good reservoir was observed in cuttings. Now the Wei well will not go that deep, but it is an important potential resource in future wells. So predrill, the JV did have a robust evaluation plan. But as I say, wellbore conditions prevented acquisition of some of that data, in particular, the MDT samples. Therefore, we were forced to analyze the hydrocarbon type from the data we did have more indirectly. So that was mud gas data, gas data collected, [ nisotubes ], hydrocarbon extractions from cuttings and from oil mud mixtures from the annulus at the bottom of the well. And the results were actually very consistent from all those data sources. They all pointed to a similar conclusion, summarized in the table on the right. Gas condensate indicated in the Maastrichtian and Upper Campanian, light volatile oil in the Lower Campanian, Upper Santonian and volatile or black oil in the deeper zones, lower Santonian, Coniacian. So the fluid characteristics that I've annotated there are typical characteristics for the interpreted hydrocarbon type. With the exception of the Lower Santonian and Coniacian, which is more directly measured because we did get oil in the annulus fluid samples. So to reiterate, these aren't MDT samples. They're mixtures of mud and oil that were collected from the annulus after the well kicked. They can't be pinpointed to particular sand bed. But what I'd like to say is that the analysis of these samples gave us a lot more confidence that oil was present in this petroleum system in the deeper parts of the well, and this was very consistent with the competitor results and the offsetting blocks. So on that note, I am going to talk a little bit about the competitor activity around us. This slide summarizes some but not all of the activity most relevant to us. The base map shows the position of the discoveries relative to the present water depth and the location of the -- wrong button, sorry -- and the position of the modern shelf here where you're transitioning from white to dark blue. For reference, the location of the Liza field up here. This is a Corentyne block. And this little polygon here in black is a position of our most recent 3D seismic survey in North Corentyne where all of our activity is focused. So discoveries announced before Kawa was drilled are shown in olive green. I hope you can see the color difference here. So these are the ones that were announced before Kawa was drilled. And the blue ones are the ones that were announced after Kawa was drilled. And just from a trendology perspective, you'll see that many of the recent discoveries are very close to North Corentyne. And in some cases, actually, these discoveries are closer to Wei than Kawa is. On the Guyana side, much of the activity has been in that established Liza trend, now referred to the Golden Lane and it's marked here with the gold band. Wells in this trend targeted the shallower targets, Maastrichtian and Upper Campanian. And in these reservoirs, it's typically oil to the Northwest and then trending to condensate closer to Corentyne and the Suriname border. Two new wells in this trend have been drilled very close to Kawa -- or two Corentyne, that's these two right here, Sailfin and Lau Lau, recovering over 300 feet of hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir. Our competitors are also having a lot of success drilling what appear to be updip feeder channels to those down dip discoveries, and this has widened the golden lane and it now actually overlaps this, what we call a silver lane, which is generally defined as more shorewood drilling targeting those deeper horizons. And really, this shorewood trend has seen a lot of drilling recently with successes, as you go down here, Fangtooth, Barreleye, Yarrow and Lukanani, all on trend with us. These target a variety of things with parent discoveries and everything from Maastrichtian down to the Santonian. So that's not surprising to me as we are in a place there where the Golden and Silver Lanes overlap. And it's interesting how many wells on this trend were drilled after we drilled Kawa and their results really mirror what we see in Kawa in terms of how the pay is distributed through a large interval throughout the Upper Cretaceous and it really reinforces what we see as perspective in North Corentyne. On the Suriname side, success in the deeper trend had already been well documented with all the drilling in Block 58. And like Maka, Sapakara, et cetera. There's been a smattering of drilling outboard in Suriname with mixed results, but maybe more relevant to us is the release of some information from appraisal drilling of some of these wells. I haven't put it all down there. But we're starting to see information released on resource size, permeability, details on hydrocarbon type, and that's all valuable and relevant to us. To summarize this slide, North Corentyne sits in a very prospective location in an area where the discovery trends overlap, and oil can be expected in many horizons. Since we drilled Kawa, nearby competitor drilling has just continued to march toward us and derisk our block as a whole and increase our confidence in Wei. So let's take a look at what Wei is targeting here. This slide summarizes some -- but sorry, wrong slide here. The figure on the right is an excerpt of a seismic line representing another vertical slice to the earth, this time from Wei to Kawa, which are 14 kilometers apart in this display. In this case, this slice is focusing in on the Lower Campanian and Santonian [ aged ] interval. The horizontal vertical scales are not the same. So this vertical thickness you're seeing is approximately -- I keep hitting the wrong one -- is approximately 3,800 feet. Even a nontechnical [ line ], when you look at this, you can see the changes in the seismic character both vertically and laterally. And those represent changes in rock type. The highlighted yellow anomalies when mapped in 3D each reveal a [ Sinuous ] channel. And you can see that in some of these examples. I've shown this one in an earlier webinar. And here's another one. Just also that will be penetrated in Wei here. Each one of these yellow anomalies interpreted to represent a channel complex on the slope. So they'd be filled with a mixture of sand and shale in various ratios. Generally, the center of the complexes would be expected to have more sand and less shale than the margins. So Kawa penetrated the margin of one of these smaller complexes and got porous sand and pay. So when we see a similar channel complexes interpreted across the block, we get really excited, especially when they stack up. And you'll see just from this, Wei will penetrate a number of these channel complexes. As you see, they don't stick up -- stack up perfectly in a vertical line anywhere on this seismic section, so that means Wei will penetrate some of these channels in a nice center position and some in a marginal position. And so there'll be a variety of sand and shale throughout here. But targeting any area where a bunch of these channels stack up increases their chance to getting more sand and therefore, more pay. And as you can see, that central area between Kawa and Wei also has a significant number of these stacked channel complexes which will provide additional drilling opportunities in the future. So let's just take a closer look at that central area. This is a more 3-dimensional view right here. Note that north is no longer on the top of the map. So imagine you're floating in the Cretaceous Sea. You're looking back toward the Cretaceous beach and shoreline, you're looking down the length of the Corentyne block and you're seeing these channels of sand coming down the slope towards you. That's why Kawa is now on the left in this figure and Wei on the right. So the figure on the left is called an opacity probe, a display of the seismic data. And in this portrayal, the transparency of the volume is manipulated to allow you to see the geomorphological features of these channel complexes. And it's done through a window. So you're seeing -- it's a window into a broader interval and seeing channel complexes at many levels. So in this case, you see laterally and vertically stacking channels within an Upper Santonian level. These channel complexes are really well imaged. They're beautiful. And they look more like things we're used to seeing in a River Valley, yes, the Bow River in Calgary in a much smaller scale. But these processes occur in present day submarine environments. And to demonstrate this, I just put some figures in of the modern Indus Fan. It shows us similar looking, similar scaled submarine channel complexes. And the Indus Fan is one of the world's most significant, most researched channel levy systems. And I just thought it was a great example here. And the schematic on the right shows how these channels tend to migrate down slope and then migrate back and forth across so it's depositing sand in a big area as it migrates back and forth. So when these sands overlie each other, cut into each other, larger bodies of sand amalgamate and form a nice connected reservoir, and we refer to these as geobodies. So on seismic, we can define geobodies by identifying areas where particular seismic parameters are consistent and they can be interpreted as connected reservoir. So the colored blobs again, so this is that same view, but now some geobodies interpreted. That's an example of a geobody extraction at this specific interval. And you can see that it directly reflects that migrating channel complexes that you're seeing. Now this is an interpretive process. It obviously benefits from more rock data and it will evolve as we get more data. We spent a lot of time in this presentation and previous presentations talking about the Lower Campanian and Santonian. And it's important to note that additional prospectivity is on this block in shallower and deeper horizons. So I wanted to spend my final slide talking about that. This is the same seismic section between Kawa and Wei, but has now expanded to include the whole Upper Cretaceous. So previously, we were looking just at its interval now we're going all the way up. So this is the tertiary up here and then the various cretaceous horizons as you go down here. Again, the anomalies are highlighted in yellow and are interpreted be primarily channel complexes based on basin modeling, geochemical analyses, the competitor results and offset blocks. We believe the sands above this line are more condensate prone and the sands below this line are more oil prone. So what I wanted to share with you is just a sampling of the prospective things that we see. Some of these are penetrated by Kawa and Wei. Some are not. Some would be targets of future drilling. But close to Kawa not penetrating the wellbore, there are several interesting deeper anomalies. So this is the one we've got some pay and porosity in, but you have these really robust channel anomalies just beside it, and there's a nice example of one there. I hope you can see the nice channel sinuocity there. There's also a very large Maastrichtian anomaly up here as well. We're Upper Cretaceous. This is the same age as Golden Lane discoveries, just north of us on Stabroek. These shallower, younger anomalies, they do look a little different. They don't have the same sinuosity. But -- and they may represent a different depositional environment. But the offset discovery is north of us and the porosity and pay we saw in smaller Maastrichtian zones here make us really excited about some of these bigger, more robust anomalies near us. If we walk over more toward Wei, we see a really good anomaly in the Campanian here. Again, you can see a really nice channel complex there, and it would still be in the oil zone. And in the shallower zones at Wei, we've got a series of stacked Maastrichtian channels that seem to stack up, and we will actually get a good look at those in Wei when we drill that well. So to reiterate, these are just a sampling of some of the additional, shallower and deeper opportunities. And maybe you can even get a feel for it yourself looking at that. These additional opportunities do vary in size, some are more robust than other, but I can tell you all of them are mappable. So to summarize what I've shown here today, I would say that as we continually refine our interpretation, the more excited we are about the prospectivity at Wei and the abundance of follow-up exploration and appraisal opportunities in Northern Corentyne. So that's all I want to share for you today until the next update. Victor will pick it up here.
Victor Vega
executiveYes, Thank you, Regan. Okay. So now to keep -- thank you, Regan. So now to keep going. So we put this slide because we have also received many questions about this in many of the calls. So we wanted to reiterate here a few points. One is that the range in terms of development for the first oil or the first gas molecule that you see out of a deepwater project in frontier areas. The range now has been established between 4 and 8 years. Before, it was more like between 7 and 10 years. But Exxon has done an amazing job of being able to shorten that cycle to 4 years in the second phase, not in the first phase, right, in the second phase of the development. The first phase was more like 5 years. So then what you have is a range between 4 and 8 years, and it depends on how complicated or not and the number of appraisal wells that you need to do, whether or not you're going to go to a higher number of years. So in here, we put an example, right, of what it could take, right? So when you are saying that it could take for example, around 3 years to get into appraisal. And then once you get into appraisal, so once you get confirmation from your original wells, usually 1 or 2 in our case, wells, and you get the data that you have to be able to proceed, then you go with the appraisal wells and you go and make a specific usage for those appraisal wells, right? So in a particular case, for example, you could be testing the connectivity level. And at that point is when you start entertaining DSTs, which are tests that you do over time where you try to sense what is going to be the productivity of the wells that you're going to drill in the future, the development wells and how much drainage you're going to have because that's also going to be very important obviously for your field development plan because then that will decide how many wells you're going to need to put on the ground and if you're going to need to put water injectors or if you're going to use a different scheme, right? So that's the first part. Then you -- once you get your appraisal, activities done. Depending again on the degree of complexity, then that will decide how many wells do you need, then you get the data and then you start selecting what is the optimal solution for that particular area that you have, right, in terms of all these elements that I mentioned, which I'm going to stress in the next slide. And then after that, usually, you are on to something that is called defined which is that is the pre-FID, which is the final investment decision, where you actually say, "okay, now that I have looked at all the options, right, I have several options here. I now have to commit to one option, and then I'm now ready to do that." And then usually, at that point, then you start going into the detailed design, the execution, the project delivery. And sometimes before you actually start operating, you actually have to drill your development wells. That's where the wells that are actually -- are designed to produce will come into play. So all of these wells before that, which are in the appraisal and they select, typically are not wells that you actually design to be able to produce. And why is it that it's not done like that in the offshore, like in the onshore? Because of the amount of uncertainty and the cost that it would require for you to such a well because then you would have to put so many contingencies in place that it would be something that is not manageable. So this is the typical time frame. And as we said, we are here in the early phase, and we are starting to enter hopefully with Wei into this next phase, yes? Then if we go to the last slide, and then we will open it for conversations -- for discussion, is we have looked at -- we have invested some time and effort into third-party studies, which have included the quantitative interpretation analysis, some of the stuff that Regan showed you before, which is very important because once you have the -- your well data, then you have to understand what happens away from the wellbores, right? And then what we hopefully were able to show you today is that with the additional data and the information that we have processed now, we feel pretty good about the area around Kawa, so not just about Wei because a lot of people feel that maybe Kawa is not good. It was not good, but actually, it was one of these wells we -- the first well in the frontier area, which actually proved the hydrocarbons in many areas of the stratigraphic column. So we have spent a lot of energy on that. We also have done some advanced geochemical analysis and actually this has been with people that are familiar with the basin, that have worked for other operators that are in the basin and cannot tell us information from the other wells, but at least they can say, "yes, this makes sense and the interpretation is in line with what we have seen in other places." So we have also spent quite a bit of energy on that. And as we said, the expectation that we have for the Wei well is that the upper part of the well will be more on the condensate side than at the yield is what we want to know, that's one of the key pieces of information that we need to get as part of the appraisal nature of Wei, where we're going to see is it on the high yield side or is it on the low yield side because only that would have implications in terms of what do you want to do with those horizons? And then we have also done some engineering studies. So we have looked at the subsea engineering, the flow assurance studies, the CapEx estimates with Technip, which is a very well-known company, it's very familiar with this type of development. So this has been done in detail. And we have looked at the development, well design, drilling and completion execution efficiencies with Halliburton at a high level, obviously, because we don't have all the information that we need right now, but at least to look at it at a high level. So as a result of all of this, we think that one of the most likely cases, right, that you have here, it's going to be on an FPSO, which is kind of like the way that it's being done in the region, right, where you will have some subsea production systems, you have some umbilicals, risers, flow lines, and then you will have some development wells, you will have producer gas injectors, water injectors, you probably have seen some of the information from what Exxon, for example, is doing. I don't know if you guys attended the meeting in Houston that the APG organized this year, but Exxon actually presented a lot of detail of what they have been doing in terms of the development and the appraisal and development of their fields in Liza and it's in line with some of the stuff that we are proposing here. So in the summary, we are taking this very seriously. We understand the importance of having line of sight of what happens after Wei. So we have been spending some energy preparing for that from a static point of view, trying to get as much information as we can from the seismic, so that when we have the new information from Wei, we can calibrate and integrate. We have also started taking some steps with the government and internally to look at what happens with the license after this. It's a journey also, remember, because we are the first ones that are doing this. Because remember that actually is in a different place. They still have a valid phase. So they are not in the same place that we are, right? So they are still within the first 10 years. So they haven't had to have this kind of degree -- detailed conversations that we're having, right, because they are still within their license. And license -- the first phase is going to expire in -- at the end at the end of this year, at the end of this month, I think. So the other part, we're looking at that. And then we are starting to see what happens beyond that, right, but at the right pace because we don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves, making assumptions on stuff that we don't know yet about where we have some uncertainties. So let me stop now and then we will open it up for questions or comments. Then I may also have to invite Orlando here to the podium. So please.
Victor Vega
executiveYes, Oriana?
Oriana Covault;Balanz Capital;Equity & Credit Research Analyst
analystOkay. For the update. Maybe just a couple of follow-ups. First, with regards to Demerara just to be completely sure that not moving forward with the exploration commitments doesn't ties any financial or payments associated because you are concentrated on Corentyne. And following up on that on the Corentyne and just by looking at this presentation, like I understand that it's very preliminary, no. But in a ballpark estimate on how much cheaper are these appraisal wells compared to the exploration ones? And how is Frontera looking if we think of this in a medium- to longer-term perspective, is it something that could be do alone? Or what are your avenues of that you could be exploring just to make sure that if it's enticing enough, you move forward in Guyana?
Victor Vega
executiveNo. I think if you can repeat the first question, because I did not...
Oriana Covault;Balanz Capital;Equity & Credit Research Analyst
analystYes, the first one has to do with the exploration commitment that you had in Demerara that you relinquished that. So understanding that if there are any -- there have been any updates from the conversations with the government in terms of if that's already cleared? Or should we expect any updates soon from the end?
Victor Vega
executiveOrlando, do you want to start with?
Orlando Cabrales Segovia
executiveYes. I think Oriana on Demerara as we said in the -- I think in the previous quarter results, I think it was in the previous quarter results. And Alejandra can help me here, but -- but we signed a deed of termination for Demerara. So that's it. That's gone. I don't know if we have received back the version signed by the government, not yet, but we did it. That was a few weeks ago, a couple of weeks, 3 weeks ago no.
Unknown Executive
executive[ On October 20 ].
Orlando Cabrales Segovia
executiveYes, [ October 20 ]. So that's gone. And I think it's -- I mean good news for the government in terms of their intention to include Demerara in a potential new Bitron that they have announced. So that is number one. Number 2 is the...
Victor Vega
executiveI can address. Yes, so and what I would also like to say, Orlando is that back to your question, no, no additional commitments. Obviously, with the signature of this agreement. Basically, we are basically released from any obligations, okay. So basically, that's the important news, I think that was one. Second part is in terms of the appraisal campaign and the wells. So it's counter because actually sometimes the appraisal wells, depending on the nature of the well that you need to have may actually cost more than the other one. And we don't know yet that until we get the data from Wei and until we decide how many wells we need to put, right? Because then if you have to do like a DST, then that usually takes time of the rig, right, being there on a standby or [indiscernible] while you do the testing. So sometimes, actually a DST -- I'm sorry, an appraisal well would be a little bit more expensive by design because you are trying to achieve some objectives that are very specific before you make your decision on the selection of the best development scheme that you have, right? But it's something that will depend about also how do we feel about the information that we get from Wei, right? How conclusive in some case, it would be that will help you to minimize some additional costs in the future, yes? Okay. So any other questions?
Oriana Covault;Balanz Capital;Equity & Credit Research Analyst
analystSo obviously, you haven't given a reserves assessment post-Kawa, but pre-Kawa, the third-party reserves assessment. If I remember correctly, there was like a P50 estimate of potentially 5 billion barrels just in this northern tip of Corentyne. Obviously, that would take way more than 1 FPSO in the event that you had multiple large prospects discovered. I guess really my question would be how many years do you think it will take you to drill out your top prospects within this Northern Corentyne region?
Victor Vega
executiveI think there is an element of exploration. So we feel -- and I think we feel we share this with Regan. But I would be happy to hear from you Regan if you feel different. Is that with this next well that we're going to drill, we feel very comfortable we'll have enough information from the exploration side, right? So we don't think we need more than. Now from an appraisal point of view, it depends on the connectivity or the degree of connectivity we think we have, and that's why this static update that we gave you in terms of the sand bodies, right? If you see before we were not showing you those before because we didn't have the data, right? We were processing the data. Now we can see that, and actually, we can relate some of these features very well with features that have been now drilled by mainly Exxon around us. So it's very clear that these are the same features, right, that they are drilling. So now we have that qualitative view that we didn't have before because as Regan mentioned, there have been several wells that have been drilled since Kawa, right? [ Actually ] it's closer than Kawa to Wei, that we did not have before. And now we have some seismic, right? That is not 3D, but some seismic that connects with some of those areas. So now we are saying, "okay, this is the same stuff, right?" So that's giving us encouraging views on that. So that's the first part. The second part is in terms of what else do we think we need? We need to have the clarity that our model, geological model that we have proposed is correct. That basically that being in the center of these channel systems is what you need to have good properties. And with that, if we can improve that, hopefully, with Wei. And if we get also a good definition of the fluid types, then you will say,"okay, if I have a good deal, right, if I have a high yield, for the gas or the condensate in the upper part, then I need to take that as part of the development scheme, right?" Because then I have to extract the liquids because it's worth extracting the liquids because we say, good deal. And I have to put that into the a pitcher, right? If it is on the drier side, then you say, "okay, now what I'm going to do with the gas, right?" And then Exxon is actually dealing with that right now because they are starting to say maybe the gas we're using, that's what they showed in Houston this year they may be using the gas for pressure support, for example, right? So that's a part of that. So I'd say that's kind of like -- I don't know if I answered completely the question, but we have to take all of these elements into account. And then at the end, final decision we'll have to take all of these elements on the static side to see if the porosity and primality that we have is good. So that would mean good connectivity and also a type of fluid because then also you have to see if you have to deal with gas that is on the driver side or on the wetter side, which will then take you to a particular development, right, because then you'll have to extract all of that liquid and then try to produce it with the liquids that you find below, right, in the Santonian.
Oriana Covault;Balanz Capital;Equity & Credit Research Analyst
analystOkay. I guess my question, just to be a little bit more pointed. If Wei is a success, how soon can you drill your next well?
Victor Vega
executiveOkay, the next appraisal well. Yes, I think what we are thinking based on these preliminary conversations that we have had with the government is that we'll have to start planning right away, and I don't know...
Orlando Cabrales Segovia
executiveI mean the way I would respond to that is -- I mean, we don't know yet. I mean we don't know yet, we should wait for the result of Wei, incorporate the results into the model, analyze the results and plan accordingly. One of the things that we are still looking, as we have previously said, still looking for strategic options to continue with the program. That's a fact, no? And in the conversation we are having with the government, we are talking about a 2-year appraisal plan. That is what we are talking to the government. As Victor said at the beginning or earlier, we are looking at Wei as -- with a dual nature, exploration and appraisal. We have submitted all the product information to them to analyze that appraisal plan. So that will depend on the result of the well, of Wei. So that's the only thing I can say at this point in time. It's difficult to anticipate what is -- but we are excited about it. I mean I think we -- I mean, based on all the information we are getting from Kawa, from the recent discoveries nearby. I mean we are still very excited about this opportunity, working hard on that and discussing with the government on that appraisal plan.
Victor Vega
executiveAnd Oriana, I think I have not answered part of your question that was answered by Orlando. I thought she what was asking about -- are we going to go -- what are we going to do after Wei. [ We are ] usually looking at strategic options because we understand what it's going to take to go after that, right? So it's very clear. And then I think...
Oriana Covault;Balanz Capital;Equity & Credit Research Analyst
analystYes. I guess, because -- I mean, like my big fear as an investor who I really enjoy deepwater because I kind of feel like it's the future. But I know that we're entering into a region where deepwater rigs are constrained. So I know it's going to be really, really hard to get our hands on another rig. You guys did really well when you contracted the discoverer and you had that option for a second well. So I would hope that you're already in discussions in case it looks like you need to bring another rig soon because just like what we're experiencing now with shale having its delays in Trinidad, through no fault of your own, your well gets pushed back almost by half a year, which is substantial.
Victor Vega
executiveNo, we are looking at also what is it going to take? What are the kind of things that we need to be looking into. And obviously, that's a big element of the equation. Mike, you had a...?
Mike Murphy
analystYes. So just on the Stabroek block, we know that 11 billion barrels have been discovered there. In terms of the Corentyne block, do you -- just ballpark, what minimum threshold of volume discovered do you need economically for stand-alone development? Is it like 4 or 500 million barrels or just ballpark?
Victor Vega
executiveYes. I think the way I would answer -- I mean, that's a good number to start with, by the way. So that's a good number that I would have start with. But then I think at the end, I would clarify my answer by saying that -- it will depend -- one of the -- we have been looking at different analogs. And actually, by the way, you have seen that Exxon, with the exception of that presentation was like a whole day presentation that they made with different tops in Houston, they have not shared much only Hess is the one who shares occasionally right, a lot of information. But from the Exxon side, you don't hear much. I don't know but we learned a lot is that they have been having to adjust quite a bit, their program, as they go. So initially, they had some ideas about how this thing was going to go. But for example, they have had surprises, they show one example where they did a gas injection in one of the areas of the field and they didn't realize that, that was an area that has such a great connectivity that the gas got to the wrong place, really fast, and they had to make some changes. So I think what I would say is that at the end, we're going to have to see how much gas do we have, how rich or dry that gas is that would be one key element and how connected this whole thing is. So if it is more connected than the higher the recovery that you're going to have and the lower volumes that you're going to need to make it economic, right? So the new number, I think, would be more like in the case that is kind of in the medium case where it's not as connected, if you are more connected and better quality, you probably could be thinking about a lower number, right? But that's what I would say at this point with the information that we have.
Mike Murphy
analystAnd then one further question, too, in terms of the Stabroek block, does Exxon have confidentiality on the well data in perpetuity? Or does that become public at some point where you can access some of that data?
Victor Vega
executiveYes, the laws are very clear. So for anything in there, if you want to do any data trade or anything like that, you need the government approval. So it's not public, but you could have a conversation with companies to have a data trade or to update the trades. But they don't publicly share the data, they own the data until they have the license. The same with us. Okay, question from Cameron?
Cameron Ross
analystYes, I just wanted to know like how the discussion -- or the conversations with the government have been going around the discover or delay from the shale well.
Orlando Cabrales Segovia
executiveYes. I mean just coming to reiterate what we said a couple of weeks ago. I mean, there is a revised spot window. That's still the same. We have much more certainty on that spot window, new spot window, mid-December or late January. The government is comfortable with that. They have agreed in principle that the reasons for the delay are beyond our control of our -- of the JV control. And the other element, which I think maybe is new for this conversation today is, again, is the appraisal plan discussion that is going around. That gives you an indication of the level of support, cooperation from the government moving forward. So we're still committed to the well. We have been prepared since August. Looking forward to that, believe me. So that's the situation. I think again, I mean, just to reiterate, the appraisal plan conversation where Wei has this dual nature of exploration and appraisal is a good way forward.
Victor Vega
executiveYes. And to add also, I think that's an important point that Orlando mentioned is that in terms of what's happening with the reef on the current operation, yes, we have a lot more clarity. They have been finishing -- they have finished the operation they were doing, which took so long. Now they have moved on and now they're in the last stretch. We are in constant communication with them, and then we're going to have another conversation with them next week, but things are progressing in the right direction. So we feel comfortable that the end is going to be very close for that operation so that they can do the hand over within the window that Orlando mentioned. Mike?
Mike Murphy
analystAt Wei-1, once you reach TD and if everything is going well, will you have an option to take the well deeper to test those lower cretaceous horizons or is that getting beyond the [ compression ] regulations?
Victor Vega
executiveRight. Actually, that's a great question, is the following, Mike. We learned so much from Kawa. And actually, due to operational considerations, you typically have conversations with other operators, right? Who also -- because it's in the best interest of everybody to make sure that we share operational experiences so that -- and people are very open, right? Total another, Apache, Exxon, everybody has -- Repsol everyone has been very open to us. So we have had the conversation, right? And then what we have experienced, as we showed you before, is kind of a bit unusual to find that in the same interval, the 2 cases that we found. But then everybody has said, the way that you guys manage these was very proper. We don't have anything to add. So probably we would have done similar things to what you did. Now for future wells, if you can avoid mixing that with the deeper part, which was where we had the big kick, better, so the better. So that's why the design of this well is to not go into the deeper -- I mean we do have -- as per the well design, you could do it, but we don't want to do that because then you would add that level of complexity, which we don't think is necessary at this time because this time, we are very focused on what we think is going to work, which is the Santonian, the Campanian and the Maastrichtian, which is kind of like what has been confirmed by all the activity around us from Exxon. I don't know if that makes sense. But it has been a good conversation and a very conscious decision that was made not just on isolation based on the results of Kawa, but in the context of a bigger conversation from an operational point of view with other operators in the area. Okay. So thanks. So we'll be in touch. And if anybody has any -- still some energy left, Christina, I'm getting the signal from Brent.
Christina Ronac
analystSo after you TD Wei-1, how long will it take to get our reserves update?
Victor Vega
executiveReserves update. Potential this core resources is what we have, right? So not reserves, right? Because reserves would be after appraisal. But no, we -- what we have to do is we first have to get the -- hopefully, this time, we -- that's what we expect -- we're doing the [ MBT ], we have to PVT analysis, which will take 2 to 3 months, right? Because then you have to analyze as you probably have done it before, right? You have to analyze in the lab all the information, you have to get all the information from the static point of view, you have to integrate, yes? So it will take us probably a few months after we drill Wei to get that. So that we integrate all the pieces. Because as you remember, the data acquisition program that we have is very comprehensive. So this time we want to take the time to be able to analyze all of this data, right? So you're probably going to see the initial results in terms of pay and things like that, but not a lot of detail after that because we need to do the home work, right? To do the analysis because this time, we are treating this also with the appraisal lens, right? Okay? So I know you'll have to be a little bit patient, but it's because we have to do analysis on the data.
Orlando Cabrales Segovia
executiveThis is not a near-field exploration.
Christina Ronac
analystI mean [ we've been waiting ] a year now. The problem is you gave us the number you reported for Kawa and now we waited 2 years.
Victor Vega
executiveYes. But the problem is that we don't have much more to say at this point, as I mentioned, Christina, because we don't have -- we couldn't get the fluid data we couldn't get the rock properties data. That's the problem.
Christina Ronac
analystSo basically, what you're saying is your prospective resource assessment is the same now as it was pre-Kawa?
Victor Vega
executiveI don't have anything to update the number with, right? So we have not -- we have decided not to do any update because we don't have any new information to -- that would kind of like provide...
Christina Ronac
analyst[ I get it ], it's not worth it?
Victor Vega
executiveYes, I mean I don't have Yes, let's wait for Wei, and so we can get the data.
Andres Sarmiento
executiveWell, good afternoon to everyone. The good thing is all the enthusiasm that you showed for Guyana, we have the same enthusiasm towards ESG here in Frontera Energy. Basically, what we've been seeing during the last session is what we do in Frontera Energy. And what I want to talk to you about is how we do it because all the commitment that this team show towards what we do, we have the same commitment and the whole team and the whole company has the same commitment towards ESG and the way we do it and how we do it in Frontera Energy. First, let me start by a little bit of context. Basically, Frontera since it was incorporated, we've had our sustainability report, where we've been showing all our sustainability developments year-by-year. However, in 2020, and thanks to the big involvement that we have of our Board of Directors because there is a direct involvement of the Board of Directors, the top management and then the entire corporation towards what we do in ESG, we updated our sustainability policy and our sustainability's criteria and priorities. And we came up with an ESG approach. So basically, what's the ESG approach that we have in the company at the moment. You can see that on the environmental side, we have climate action, life and ecosystems, clean water and sanitation, and of course, the responsible production and consumption of everywhere that we -- where we are sourcing our consumption we are trying to do it in the most responsible way and of course, always working with our local communities and with the local and regional authorities. In terms of the social approach. We have our health and safety strategy, the diversity and inclusion and equality transcends the inner company, only the Frontera but also where we relate to our communities and the way we work with them and community relations. And in terms of community relations, I'm going to share what we've called our strategy to relate with our communities because this is part of the social license and the operational viability that we look lies a lot in how we relate to our communities. And finally, in terms of government, the 4 criteria we have prioritized is outstanding business ethics. And I'm sure most of you are aware, but Frontera has been awarded for the last 2 years and has been recognized one of the most ethical companies in the world. And this is thanks to a culture of compliance and a culture of transparency and ethics that we have developed within the whole company and the way we relate to our contractors and subcontractors, I'm going to talk a little bit of that later on. And then human rights and cybersecurity. Actually, cybersecurity is a new part of the strategy that we've included in 2021 after the update that I was talking to you. And finally, in terms of context, I would close that from Frontera, we are following all international standards like most of the companies in our industry. And ratings and frameworks in terms of our sustainability report, we used to follow primarily GRI. We are now following also SASB and TCFD. So basically, we are aligned with the evolution of the ESG compliance in the world and migrating towards more SASB and TCFD that is happening not only in Frontera but in a lot of companies within the sector. Well, now what I'm going to show to you is before coming into the 2022 performance that I want to focus on that part is these are our publicly disclosed ESG goals for 2022. And I only want to highlight a couple of those that I'm going to touch more thoroughly some others in the next slides, however, from this, I would like to highlight the following is -- in terms of climate change, we are going to neutralize and one of our objectives is to neutralize more than 50% of the emissions that the Scope 1 and 2 that the company has and to develop a solar farm project at CPE-6. I'll tell you a little bit of how are we doing and the way this development is going. In terms of water management, reduction of 20% of water consumption in our operations
Andres Sarmiento
executiveI'll tell you a little bit of how are we doing and the way this development is going. In terms of water management, reduction of 20% of water consumption in our operation. And the good news in terms of the water reduction strategy is that at the moment, our performance is 25% already to the third quarter and the information that we disclosed, we are above the reduction of water that we had of 20%. And finally, from this environmental part and our goals. Last year, 2021, we protected 764 hectares of biological and strategic corridors within the areas where we operate primarily Meta and Casanare. And in terms of 2022, our goal is to protect 900 hectares. And the important thing is this goes directly to impact biodiversity. Biodiversity is something critical for Frontera Energy in its environmental strategy. And we are protecting the corridors for Jaguar, for the giant otter -- river otter and other 4 mammals that we are protecting. Hopefully, you'll get to see Jaguar tomorrow in your visit to our operations. In terms of our social priorities, HSE, we have the goal to reduce 20% the TRIR that we had last year. We are performing really well on that side, and I'm going to tell you a little bit of that. Afterwards in terms of diversity and inclusion, there probably a very high goal that we have set for us during this year is to achieve the friendly Biz certification. That is basically a certification that would show that as a company, we guarantee for our employees a gender discrimination free environment. This is very important because it will complement another award that we have that is the Equipares Gold Seal that I'm going to talk about it a little bit more in the following slide. And finally, in terms of our community engagement, the way we relate to our community is not only caring about our community in a very empathetic way, understanding their needs, but also how can we work with them. And in terms of local goods and services. We have set an important goal of buying $41 million from local suppliers and providers in our regions. And I'm also going to talk a little bit about how we're doing on that component. Finally, in terms of the governance part, I already mentioned our being recognized as 1 of the most ethical companies in the world, but also the two good things that we're doing, is we are integrating ESG risks into our macro-processes within a company. And that's important. It's also 1 of the main priorities that we have and we've been working during the last one during the last year and that will continue to work during next year. And finally, we have said for the first time to maintain a rate 0 of material cybersecurity incidents. It is the first time that we have included a cybersecurity goal in our operations. Well, now coming to the environment. As I was telling you, what are we doing in climate action. In 2023, we are going to have our first solar plant for the consumption of CPE-6 for the energy of CPE-6. The plan is that the plant is going to produce or generate around 11 gigawatts per hour and will reduce close to or more than 8,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year. Then we have started already the development of this plant, and it should be working in 2023. In terms of something that we did at the -- towards the closing 2021 and that we have seen the reduction of emissions during 2022, is that we decided to migrate the thermal generation that we had in thermo petroleo to the national grid in order to get the energy that we were -- that we need for Quifa and this represented a reduction of close to 70,000 tons of CO2 per year. That's almost 15% of Frontera's emissions as a whole. So that's an important reduction in terms of carbon emissions that we got only during the first semester, we got those 70,000 tons reduced. And in terms of the performance, we have neutralized already 52% of our total emissions, and we plan to neutralize close to 52% by the year-end. So we will be 2% above the goal that we have set for these 2022. In terms of water and sanitation. I'm going to talk at the end a little bit more about SAARA project that Ivan already spoke to us. And probably if we see not only what we are doing this year, but if we -- the quantity of hectares that we have protected during the last 4 years is 2,600 hectares. This is very important because what we are trying to create, as I was telling you, are a strategic corridors for the mammals to move around the areas where we operate. And this is, of course, coordinated with both the regional authorities, but also the Ministry of Environment that has -- or it's part of this strategy. And I would close our E-part, our E-factor by highlighting 2 things that Renata mentioned. The first one, our clean transportation project, pilot project. Why is this important? Because we are incorporating to a wave of trying to improve the way we move with cleaner energies. What we are doing is that we are introducing natural gas into some of the drugs that we use for our hydrocarbon tracking. And we are also using electrical cars in our operation. Again, this goes to reducing the emissions that we have as a company, but also it helps us to give signals of not only improving the type of carbon emissions, but also air quality in the cities or in the areas where we operate. And if we look at our net emissions per barrel, this thanks to the change that we've made that I've commented in Quifa, we will have close to 10.7 kilograms of CO2 emissions per barrel in 2022. That's a big reduction as we can see. And of course, this will be this responded to a strategy of reducing emissions, but also always looking at a cost efficiency energy perspective from our energy team. And this shows the neutralization that I was referring to in terms of the Scope 2 emissions that we have as a company. Well, now let me comment to social part, the social factor. In terms of -- and now I'm going to start with health and safety because if you see currently our TRIR, our TRIR it's 0.99. That's the lowest TRIR that Frontera has ever reported as a company. This is important not only because our goal was or is 1.4 for the year-end for the whole 2022, but also because we are showing that we are decreasing that number by an important factor. We have here the culture that we have in Frontera is to operate in a responsible way. And that's part not only of the team that is responsible of the HSE, but it's part of the company behavior, and that's something very positive that we are committed to us as a company as well. And in terms of maintaining our 0 fatality rate in our operations. As we've announced in 2021, in 2022, we continue to be 0 fatality operation, not only with Frontera directly our employees, but also our contractors and the people that we work with. Well, in terms of diversity, inclusion and the quality, we got awarded in 2021 Equipares Gold Seal. And what is the Equipares Gold Seal? The Equipares Gold Seal is a gender quality recognition that is given by the United Nations, the Ministry of Labor and the presidency of Colombia because they recognize that companies have taken actions in order to be more inclusive and to guarantee an environment that is that has gender quality for its employees, but also for the companies or for the communities where it operates. This is very important because it's the only company the only oil and gas company in Colombia that has got this award, and this started 4 years ago at the beginning, we had the bronze seal than the silver seal, and only last year, we got to the gold seal. So it is something that we've been doing during the years, trying to be more inclusive in terms of gender and diversity. And now, in terms of community engagement. We are investing -- we invested $4.7 million in more than 164 initiatives in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru during 2021. Our objective for this year is a similar number. And something very important is that I was telling you that the way we obtain our license to operate is by understanding the communities where we operate in an empathetic way our strategy is called Genpathy. That is generating empathy in the areas of influence and with our stakeholders. And this help us -- or the way we do it is by working with them, but also by complying with social investment in 3 particular areas where we have identified that we can have long-term value creation for our communities, and those are education. Those are social development, inclusive social development and quality of living. Those are our 3 lines of investment that we have prioritized. In terms of our local goods and services purchases, we have purchased already $32.3 million during the first 9 months of the year. So we should be fine. And actually, we know we're going to be able to comply with the $41 million goal that we have set for this year. And another very important thing is that we are working with local suppliers, with local companies to help them improve the way they're doing it to strengthening their entrepreneurship capabilities because in order to work with us, they need to set, they need to comply with some criteria and where we have prioritized around 100 of these companies, and we're working with them to improve the levels at which they operate in order to be able to work with Frontera and with other companies that operate within the areas where we are present. And finally, in terms of 2 programs that we're working with our communities, the baskets that you have in front of you, all those come from a program that we have developed that is called [indiscernible], that is basically creating local entrepreneurship within indigenous women in our regions, actually in Puerto Gaitan, where you will be visiting tomorrow. So all those baskets were made by them, and we not only support them in terms of what they do but also helping them to come to the market, to come to the cities and be able to sell their products in other cities. Well, finally, in terms of governance, we have been recognized as 1 of the most ethical companies in the world, as I was telling you. We are integrating our compliance standards within all the companies like Puerto Bahia, not only Frontera Energy, but we're working with other companies to comply with the same levels that we have in Frontera. Additionally, we are progressing the execution of our ERM risk strategy to involve ESG factors. This has meant that we are revising all the macro processes that we have in the company, and we are integrating ESG risks to those, and that's something very positive because the whole company is involved in what we are doing. And we are also trying to include some ESG criteria in the way we decide how we develop our operations and the different projects that we analyze from a capital expenditure perspective as well looking at our ESG impacts and the ESG benefits that we can create. And finally, our cybersecurity strategy to maintain a 0 rate without lots of information and financial losses. We are still good with that goal, and we are complying to that goal. Well, and in terms of what we -- of what Ivan told you in terms of what we do in SAARA, what we must tell you is that SAARA is aligned with Frontera's ESG strategy all the way. Basically, since we structured the project, what we are seeing is that we are working in terms of creating local employment. So we are doing it with SAARA in terms of trying to generate a circular economy within the region, but not only impacting the water that we use, but making sure that we are taking this water to palm tree. That is also an important economic activity within the region. So with the same project, we are not only helping the hydrocarbon sector in terms of water you use, but also we are helping the palm oil industry in terms of the water that they will be using that will be coming from this operation from the SAARA project. And yes. And in terms of energy consumption, where we're going to be able to see in our pilot is to see how we can reduce the energy that we are using in SAARA and probably that will also hit or reduce the carbon intensity that we have as a company. Those were the things that the main aspects that we are developing in terms of our ESG strategy, we are committed as a team in the way we are doing it in the way how we operate. And this is a commitment, not only by an area in charge of responsibility by everyone in the company because this is a strategy that goes all within the different areas of the company from operations to transportation. We are all looking at how can we do it better from an ESG perspective and from an operational perspective. Thank you very much.
Unknown Executive
executiveSo [indiscernible] a 15-minute break, see you at 3:30 Eastern and Bogota time. [Break]
Rene Diaz
executiveSo welcome back. My name is Rene Burgos Diaz, and I'm the Chief Financial Officer of Frontera Energy. Okay. I have some prepared remarks. Please feel free to kind of interrupt me as we go. Hopefully, we'll get through this very quickly. So thank you very much for being with us here today. I know this is your favorite section. I know you -- all of you have been waiting for the finance section to start. For those who are still in line, thank you for joining us. Please get your last cup of coffee. We're almost done. For all those here, thank you very much for coming. Some of you came from very far distances. So again, we appreciate you guys making the trip. Please no more coffee trips. We're almost done, I promise. Throughout the afternoon, we laid out the investment case for Frontera Energy. Today, our Chairman has reiterated our Board's commitment to shareholder value and the significant upside related to our onshore oil and gas assets are expanding midstream business and our high-impact exploration program in Guyana. Our CEO shared our core focus areas and a vision for Frontera into the future, including a path to 50,000 barrels a day of production. 50,000 barrels a day of production. Our team very eloquently read out the details supporting our investment case and our excitement behind several key initiatives, including the expansion of CPE-6, keep up production increases, our integrated water management project in SAARA and ProAgrollanos. And again, like Andres mentioned, this is a key initiative that aligns well with our ESG goals. Our onshore exploration portfolio with over 550 million barrels of net prospective resources, our expanding midstream businesses generally generating roughly $50 million a year in cash flows and their related upsides. And of course, our high-impact exploration program in Guyana. All these efforts were made possible by our focus on a sale of financial policy, a strong balance sheet, a relentless commitment to efficiency as mandated to our Board. In a moment, I'll give you a quick overview of quick financial -- sorry, our key financial metrics. But first, I would like to take a few minutes to speak about the recently passed tax reform. And Orlando, please help me here to fill any gaps. The components with the largest impact in the tax reform to producing the barrels to be paid as royalties to the government. For those analysts in the room, today, we roughly pay around 2,800 barrels a day in royalties. So when does the tax reform take effect? And how? This tax will take effect for tax year 2023. Payments to the government as a customer actually happened in April 2024 as we actually make our tax filings. But at the same time, from a financial standpoint, you will see the accrual of income taxes throughout 2023, there also is the cash holding taxes that we do pay. And if you have any other questions, our tax expert is right here, collabed to actually pitch any questions up to him. Depending on oil prices, and this is the chart that you see right here. What does this mean for Frontera? So depending on oil prices, we could see tax payments equivalent to around $2 to $4 at a price brent of around $80, $6 to $8 at 90% and over $9 per barrel cost for us at a price of over $100. Let me just pause here for any questions.
Unknown Analyst
analystYes. Could you elaborate a little bit more about the range, why there is a range at certain oil price?
Rene Diaz
executiveSo I -- so the oil price is?
Unknown Analyst
analystYes. I mean like for instance, for at $80 oil, you have between $2 and $4, what would be?
Rene Diaz
executiveSo here, right? So we're saying if the average price next year is $80, you would expect that our income tax bill for the year will be equivalent $2 to $4 per barrel of oil produced.
Unknown Analyst
analystYes. Why there is a range? I mean, it's a -- you could think about the tax as a fixed number. Why there is like substantial range between?
Rene Diaz
executiveWhy this substantial range. So the range is more to do -- there are timing differences in taxes that we do pay. There's also taxes related to tax credits and other matters that we do manage to optimize our tax base. So that is why the range is there. It's us optimizing for effectively a tax bill. Does that answer your question?
Unknown Analyst
analystYes.
Rene Diaz
executiveGood. Any other questions? Yes.
Unknown Analyst
analystIs that a calendar '23 impact? Or is that a run rate impact post tax form?
Rene Diaz
executiveThat is a full year '23 impact.
Unknown Analyst
analystGot it. So the run rate would be higher if we look forward? Or is it -- is it the bills retroactive then for all of '23?
Rene Diaz
executiveI don't understand your question, sorry.
Unknown Analyst
analystI guess, like -- because -- is the tax reform taking place such that, the supplies for the full year of 2023?
Rene Diaz
executiveThat's right.
Unknown Analyst
analystOkay. Got it.
Rene Diaz
executiveAnd again, this is assuming our full 2023 production and again, we paid taxes at -- once the end of the year happens, the government will publish the benchmark by which this -- let me go here, this tax surcharge is calculated. So we won't know exactly the number up until the end of 2023 in January when that actual benchmark is published. Right? Throughout the year, we're going to make an estimate based on where we see oil prices. And I think I hinted anything over $82, we get hit with $15, between $82 and $75, we get hit with $10, between $60 and $75 then we get hit with the $5, right? So we are accordingly going to be making the accrual for these taxes to be paid for the cash impact, net of any withholding taxes that we paid throughout the year will be felt in April of 2024. Yes.
Unknown Analyst
analystI had a quick question, too. So on the constitutional challenge on the nondeductibility. So if the court rules like in your favor, middle of next year. How does that impact like the accrual and the royalty payment kind of calculation for the rest of the year?
Rene Diaz
executiveLet me -- and maybe Alejandra can help me here or Camilo can help me here. But I would say if it's an unappealable [indiscernible] what are you [indiscernible] -- if a decision is final and unappealable, then I mean it happens before we actually pay the tax, then we don't pay the tax. If it happens after we pay the tax, and we'll definitely get it back.
Unknown Analyst
analystOkay. So just to clarify, you were saying that this 10-year average brand is moving. So you would be -- that would be defined. I mean the $82 would be defined on 2023 once a year, that would set the benchmarks, right?
Rene Diaz
executiveIn January, we will get the benchmark. And I think that for this year, and Camilo, can correct me. I think with certain certain, with a lot of kind of certainty -- so this reform continues to be in place. The numbers that I shared with you should be ballpark what they are. They shouldn't necessarily kind of move significantly, right? Because you're taking 10-years' worth of of changes in oil price to determine these -- the percentage here on your left.
Unknown Analyst
analystOkay. Perfect. And on the nondeductibility of royalties, you mentioned 2,800 royalties in kind. So just to understand the cash payments, are you thinking of it only in base royalties? I mean, in terms of the nondeductibility impact? And how much of these ranges that you're putting in terms of total income taxes comes from the surcharge and the estimated percentage points that come from the nondeductibility?
Rene Diaz
executiveWhat I would say is the lower you go, the less relevant the amount of deductibility is, right? Like so the higher you go on oil price, clearly, the bigger the impact related to the tax reform and the tax bracket, right, the $5 to $10 to $15. So the higher you go, the lesser the impact of that royalty. And I think the number is more or less if you think about -- the 90-barrel oil scenario in [indiscernible] correct me if I'm wrong, I think it's 2/3, 1/3 royalties -- sorry, royalties 1/3, 2/3 would be the tax reform.
Unknown Analyst
analyst3 really quick questions. One is you mentioned you -- you said that the brand prices is going to be adjusted based on the inflation as well. Did they say it's going to be local inflation or U.S. CPI, PPI type inflation?
Rene Diaz
executiveU.S. inflation.
Unknown Analyst
analystOkay. So on top of the [indiscernible]. And 2 is that they do realize that Colombian oil was sold on the Vasconia, the discount, whatever; forgot the benchmark names. So as a result, you -- if the world is short to heavy oil and the discount goes into positive territories well, heavy oil becomes extremely on top of Brent, and you will make money, but that is a mis-message you can always have in terms of tax payments.
Rene Diaz
executiveLook, that goes both ways, right? Because if the differential for heavier crudes actually goes the opposite way. And actually, it underperforms Brent and the Brent prices actually do tend to inch up. So we have the negative effect. But what you said is also true, if the world of heavy gets -- and we've seen it in the past when you get differentials to actually improve and you outperform the benchmark, then yes, that will be a benefit. Yes.
Unknown Analyst
analystIt's something that you'll have to manage going forward as a whole.
Rene Diaz
executiveLook, we have to manage a lot of things. That's definitely 1 more thing that we need to manage, yes.
Unknown Analyst
analystAnd just the last one. I have also heard that if you pay in kind royalties, not in cash, that you may not be subject to this loyalty deductions, meaning those 1 national oil company that pays in cash, not in kinds will be the one that had a little bit of a heavy burden of this nondeductibility. There's no discussion on that part.
Rene Diaz
executiveI did not understand the question. Could you please...
Unknown Analyst
analystEffectively, if you choose to pay in oil for the loyalties as many private companies do as of now, then you will still be able to deduct it. But if you choose to pay in cash for the royalties, I don't know why, but I've been told that there's one company, one very large company that does it, then you will not be able to deduct that.
Rene Diaz
executiveSo look, actually, for us -- because I don't want to speak for anybody else, I think 95% of our royalties are in kind. It also has to do with the proximity. Some more production to actually be put into entry points for transport. But what I would say, moving forward to next year, I believe 100% of our royalties are going to be paid in kind. So I don't see that impact. And I think the impact of this applies to both in kind and cash. The nondeductability now it's cash or in kind, you're still going to suffer from this impact. Camilo?
Camilo McAllister
executiveYes. The region that we are doing to the legislation is that it will be applicable for both in kind and in cash, and that's the reason that most of the companies are having of the GAP legislation. There's no difference.
Rene Diaz
executiveAnd I promise this is not the last chance after we drink a couple glasses of wine. We can talk more about tax reform. But I wanted to give you the space to actually talk about the tax reform, does anybody else have any more questions? All right. So with tax reform behind us, let's move on to some of our key financial metrics.
Rene Diaz
executiveA quick glance, Frontera continues to show a very healthy balance sheet with a 0.3x net leverage and 20-plus times interest coverage. We have maintained a high level of restricted cash at over $200 million as of September. These balances have been supported by the crude oil environment and despite our ongoing share value shareholder value initiatives, which include $80-plus million in share buybacks through September 2022. From a debt standpoint, and excluding our unrestricted subsidiaries, we have only 1 bond, our $400 million senior notes issued in 2021. Of these bonds, currently trades that are in the high 70s. And as we shared in our last conference call, we believe these levels are attractive for us to start considering a buyback. Today, the company is rated B+ by S&P. In August, S&P upgraded our outlook to positive, which we believe recognizes some but not all of the efforts that we're discussing here today. Also, we have a B credit rating from Fitch with a stable outlook. All this to say that financial health and discipline is one of our core focus areas, as Rolando pointed out, and helps share our forward path. So now diving into some of our key numbers, here we go. You probably have read from this chart, this chart is in our package every quarter for investors. And as Orlando spoke earlier about the -- spoke about this particular -- particularly -- or the part that actually impacts this part right here, which has to do with the reduction in fuel cycle cost, OpEx transfer development costs. So on this slide, you can see particularly the important reduction in development CapEx. So we see it right here, this 344 going down to our 144. This is year-to-date. So this is -- the run rate will be higher than 2021. And the second is our production, albeit reduce continues to generate significant cash flows, as you can see also in this chart right here. And I wanted to actually share a very tangible example about our strategy and why our strategy is working. If you look at 2021, and you compare 2021 with 2018, the similarities there are 2021 and 2020 and 2018, both had around $70 Brent average for the year. Yet, in 2021, we produced around 71,000 barrels and generated an EBITDA of $413 million. That compares with 2021 in which we generated 38,000 barrels but generated an EBITDA or produced 38,000 barrels per produce an EBITDA of $373 million. So again, reduce OpEx, reduce operation costs were the key over that time period from 2018 to 2021, even though the difference in EBITDA is around $50 million, what I can point out is that we had $3 in savings, probably 40% less productions and our G&A also dropped by about $40 million. So again, our strategy is working. And all of this has been driven by our Board mandated in discipline. So we just recently spoke about our G&A and to dive further into the numbers, our G&A is another area of key focus. We reduced our cost on average 15% per year since 2018. And today, our G&A per barrel is solidly below 3. Similarly, we have seen success in our ability to deal with our portfolio of commitments and contingencies, following the restructuring, Frontera had in excess of $3 billion of these commitments and today, these numbers are around $600 million. Most notably, as we mentioned during Renata's presentation, we were successful in reaching a settlement related to our Bicentenario Cano Limon pipeline commitments. These were finalized in 2021. So today, we can actually say that we have rightsized our transportation commitments. And again, this is possible, thanks to the relentless commitment and focus of the team. I want to spend a few minutes on our hedging strategy. This is a key area of focus for us as well and where we get a lot of questions from investors. And given the lack of consistents of what our oil is, I think this is very important for us to kind of touch on this. And our strategy actually is very simple. We manage exposure to oil prices while not limiting the upside. Our goal is to hedge between 40% to 60% of our production and the goal is to protect our key CapEx activities for the year. Unlike some in our industry who perhaps hedge on a less frequent basis, we are continually monitoring the hedging market and opportunistically looking for opportunities to layer in hedges when the cost makes sense to us. For 2023, we began our hedging program and hedge roughly 15,000 barrels for January at a price of $80 per barrel. And this is an update from our conference call that we have with investors where we actually hedged half that amount. The certainty that our hedging program provides allowed us to effectively plan our capital programs this year. And speaking of our capital program, I would like to briefly touch on our guidance for 2022. As we communicated as part of our third quarter results, we remain on track to meet our 22 bids targets, including EBITDA production and production costs. Looking forward, the team continues to work on its 2023 plan, and we expect to share an update with the market in due time. While I can't provide any specifics now as we're still working through it, I can tell you that a few key themes are top of mind for me and our team regarding potential impacts on 2023, including upward inflation pressures, mitigating in part by the recent performance of the Colombian peso. I believe these themes will continue into 2023, and we encourage you to consider them as you start updating your models and forecast. Brent will be glad to take your call on these ones. If not, Brent, you can talk to Camilo. With that, I would like to conclude by reminding some of the key points that you heard from the leadership team and me today. First, Frontera benefits from strong upstream EBITDA margins and cash flow capacity. We also have a flexible balance sheet with significant cash on hand. We are financially disciplined and have a robust balance sheet. We have proven that we have the ability to quickly adapt to different industry cycles while maintaining conservative leverage. We also have an active hedging program, which protects the revenue generation while maximizing upside. And we're also redundantly focused on driving our cost of the system and improving efficiencies, and this 1 change in 2023 and beyond. And with that, I'll pass it back on to Orlando for his closing remarks, unless anybody has any questions.
Orlando Cabrales Segovia
executiveThank you, Rene. No, I think I'm going to be brief here to close the session and open up for Q&A. And basically want to finish here with the slide that we had showed at the beginning of the presentation. and is just to reiterate some messages, which I think Rene also covered at the beginning of this presentation. First of all, is value over volumes works has worked, and we are continue focusing on that. So we are seeing a future of the company in 2024, 50,000 barrels of oil equivalent plus in 2024 that is coming mainly from managing water in Quifa, CPE-6, Wei-1, the liquids rich natural gas assets and Ecuador. That without excluding the exploration opportunities. So that is the #1 message is a production of 50,000 plus in 2024 coming from those 4 main assets against CP6, Quifa, managing water injectors in Quifa, Ecuador, and being one and our liquids rich natural gas assets. That's number one. Number two, we should continue built in our marketing logistics muscle of the company optimizing our cost structure, driving efficiencies, further efficiencies into our cost structure. So I think that is #2. We will continue focusing on that, being very efficient in our costs. We should continue on that path. Third, the third is near-field explorations, near-field exploration in Colombia and Ecuador, Colombia and Ecuador, more than 500 million barrels of oil equivalent in resources in prospective resources, 500, so 50,000-plus production, more than 500 in prospective resources in our near field onshore exploration opportunities. Guyana, still a significant part of what we are doing. That is a transformational opportunity for the company. We are looking forward to drill that well and see how we are moving forward after way. Our midstream assets, we have made a lot of progress on that to make a self-sustaining midstream business with audio and the things that we are doing in Puerto Bahia, simplifying the story, again, bringing efficiencies into our operation. returning capital to our shareholders more than $290 million through dividends and share buybacks and to continue developing that story, ESG story that we have initiated last year. So that's the summary. I mean that is what we started. That is what we are beginning. That is the message that we want to convey to you today. That is our focus of all these people that you have with you in the room, the management team of this company, this is our mantra. We are going to keep going and continue on this path. So that's it. That's it for today. Q&A. So we are open to questions. You have asked a lot of questions already.
Unknown Analyst
analystSo hypothetically speaking, let's say, way is a prolific success, the next Lisa or your Lisa, let's say that. And if you wanted to try to scale to first production in 5 years, let's hypothetically say that you farm out 50% of the asset and you maintain 50% working interest. What do you believe your cost of capital would be for funding that type of expenditure on the development program?
Rene Diaz
executiveI think we continue to refer to Guyana as high impact and this is a company changer, right? So this would mean that we're not only a Colombian oil and gas business with 160 million barrels of oil, right? We're talking about a platform for growth that has multiples of that. So that would certainly change the way that we think about our capital raising and also our funding. But it's a little bit premature for us to say that because the markets today, they want they are sending you a signal, right? You can see where oil and gas peers here in Colombia where their financing rates are, particularly because they're scared about government reforms and the tax reform that I just explained. But we would no longer be a Columbia and gasoline company. It will be a Pan Latin American with very accessible barrels that are in a prolific basin. So I will ask for patients as we develop the story because this would literally transform our company. That's the best sense that I can share with you right now.
Unknown Analyst
analystYes, I would just say that because obviously, the development would be multiple times you're working at right now. So again, that becomes a big question. It's like how much can you afford to hold on to and still meet those capital calls?
Rene Diaz
executiveThat's a very nice problem to have.
Orlando Cabrales Segovia
executiveVery nice problem to have.
Rene Diaz
executiveThat is -- everybody who -- our equity will be like sweet.
Orlando Cabrales Segovia
executiveTalking to Christina in the break, I mean, we are also very excited about Guyana. I mean, we want to -- I mean, we look forward to what we weigh and what is next -- so I mean, we cannot jump ahead. So we need to see how way it goes, be ready for that. We prepare doing activities, I mean, for a success case, which that is what we are expecting to have. But the offshore development is I mean, it has to be through phases. That is not a near field development, but we share that excitement. I mean, we share absolutely that excitement as you have shown Christina, I know people in the room feel the same. So it will be a different company having a success in Guyana.
Unknown Analyst
analystYes. Maybe looking beyond Guyana and for 2023, I understand that you might be already working on your '23 budget. But just if there are any ballpark estimates guidance that you -- in terms of how should we see CapEx move in? And also taking your comment in terms of inflationary pressures. So if there's anything of relevance that you could share for us with us in terms of how should we think for 2023? And where are the investments going to be focused, aligned with the update share from the exploration side?
Orlando Cabrales Segovia
executivePlease -- I mean, early to talk about the 2023 plan. We have been working hard on that. Actually, we have been doing a lot of planning since August, I mean, to try to cope with those inflationary operators and try to anticipate and start buying things for the plan next year. So we haven't published anything yet. But I would say -- I mean, you see the production levels that we show for 2023 with base loss the exploration upside, to tariffs already there. I mean indicated there. The investment would be around what we have been talking about, CPE-6, Quifa, water injection, some activity, drilling activity in Quifa, increasing water capacity injection in CPE-6, Ecuador being one. So that's the type of things we are concentrating on. That is what you will see in the plant, but we haven't published any guidance yet for next year.
Rene Diaz
executiveWhat I would add is we certainly have put some cookie crumbs for you guys to kind of just follow. The other thing that I would add, and this has to do with our financial discipline, right? So we have a lot of exciting projects but we are being very strategic in how we invest our capital. So you need to blend both those things to start kind of thinking how we kind of start forming that plan, which he highlighted. But I think you have production-wise, you can look at the graph, which is already that cookie crumb #1, then you can look at some of the projects that we're talking about, you can look at what we've done in the past, and it will be consistent with what we've done just with the whole concept of strategically investing in projects that add the most value to our investors.
Orlando Cabrales Segovia
executiveAnd other question I comment on that. And also the presentation to the Orianna we put a lot of emphasis on the exploration is that we also gave you guys a hint, right, that we are drilling several wells kind of right now, right? So the outcome of those wells will also right to some extent, right, make us look at what else, if anything, do we need to do on top of what we have been taking right the right price environment and with the right conditions. So I'd say, I think also another view that we shared with you right from the exploration side. Mike?
Mike Murphy
analystYes. I know you've got your plate full in Guyana right now, but do you plan on being active at future licensing or bid rounds in Guyana? Or is that something that's pretty unlikely?
Orlando Cabrales Segovia
executiveWe haven't considered that we are concentrated on currency. Yes.
Unknown Executive
executiveI guess that's it. We're good. Thank you very much.
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