Athabasca Oil Announces 2024 Year-end Results including Record Cash Flow, Strong Return of Capital and Significant Reserves Growth

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Athabasca Oil Corporation
Athabasca Oil Corporation

CALGARY, Alberta, March 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Athabasca Oil Corporation (TSX: ATH) (“Athabasca” or the “Company”) is pleased to report its audited 2024 year-end results and reserves. Athabasca provides investors unique positioning to top tier liquids weighted assets (Thermal Oil and Duvernay) with a focus on maximizing cash flow per share growth by investing in competitive projects alongside a return of capital framework that will continue to direct 100% of Free Cash Flow to share buybacks in 2025.

Year-end 2024 Consolidated Corporate Results

  • Production: Annual production of 36,815 boe/d (98% Liquids), representing 7% (14% per share) growth year over year. Strong production performance across all assets supported the Company achieving its upwardly revised annual guidance of 36,000 – 37,000 boe/d (July 2024).

  • Record Cash Flow: Adjusted Funds Flow of $561 million ($1.02 per share), representing 102% per share growth year over year. Cash Flow from Operating Activities of $558 million. Free Cash Flow of $322 million from Athabasca (Thermal Oil).

  • Capital Program: $268 million, within annual guidance of $270 million, highlighted by $164 million invested at Leismer for completing the 28,000 bbl/d expansion and advancing the 40,000 bbl/d expansion project and $73 million in Duvernay development.

  • Pristine Balance Sheet: Net Cash position of $123 million; Liquidity of $481 million ($345 million of cash). Athabasca has $2.3 billion of tax pools (~80% high-value and immediately deductible).

Return of Capital Strategy

  • Achieved Return of Capital Commitment in 2024: Athabasca (Thermal Oil) allocated ~100% of its Free Cash Flow (“FCF”) to return of capital in 2024 completing $317 million in share repurchases.

  • Cumulative Return of Capital of ~$900 million: Since 2021, the Company has delivered a deliberate return of capital strategy, prioritizing ~$400 million of debt reduction followed by share buybacks of ~$500 million to date. The Company has reduced its fully diluted share count by ~18% since Q1 2023.

  • Continued 100% of Free Cash Flow (Thermal Oil) Return to Shareholders through buybacks in 2025: The Company expects to utilize ~100% of its Normal Course Issuer Bid (“NCIB”) for the second straight year. Following the expiry of its current NCIB on March 17, 2025 the Company will renew a third annual NCIB with the Toronto Stock Exchange.

2024 Year-end Consolidated Reserves1

  • Differentiated Long-life Reserves: Athabasca holds 1.3 billion boe of Proved Plus Probable (“2P”) reserves and ~1 billion barrels of Contingent Resource (Best Estimate). This represents $6.4 billion2 NPV10 of 2P reserves ($12.44 per share), an increase of 35% per share from 2023, and includes $3.8 billion2 of Total Proved (“1P”) reserves ($7.28 per share), an increase of 34% per share from 2023.

  • Thermal Oil Underpins Deep Value: An $813 million increase in 2P NPV102 to $5.8 billion is supported by well design driving improved capital efficiencies, lower operating costs at both producing projects and constructive heavy oil pricing. These reserves represent a ~30 year 1P and ~90 year 2P reserve life.

  • Duvernay Value Capture: Duvernay Energy Corporation (“DEC”) 2P reserves increased by 170% to 73 mmboe, representing a NPV102 value of $614 million. Strong growth is attributed to establishing development on the newly operated lands and accelerated development on previous land positions. DEC has an estimated 444 gross drilling locations (204 net) across its ~200,000 acre (gross) land base.