30 September 2021

Pennpetro Energy plc

("Pennpetro", the "Company" or the "Group")

Results for the 6 months ended 30 June 2021 (Unaudited)

Pennpetro Energy, an independent oil and gas company focusing on production in the Gonzales Oil Field in Texas, USA, announces today its unaudited financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2021.

Financial summary

·      The financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2021 show a loss after tax of US$482,000 (H1 2020: loss of US$592,000).

·      The Group's borrowings, which were non-current, as at 30 June 2021 were US$4,057,000 (H1 2020: US$4,141,000).

Operational summary

·      The Covid-19 pandemic curtailed all Texas based operational activity.

·      Significant developments in the pursuit of Proprietary Intellectual Property green technologies.

Outlook

In line with our strategy, all our operations are in highly active plays where the economics of drilling and producing remain attractive at sub-US$30 oil prices. This highlights the success we have had in taking advantage of the prior industry downturn to accelerate the positioning of our South Texas leasehold position in favor of the Austin Chalk and Eagleford Shale. As prior reported we have energized our entire portfolio having successfully drilled and test produced oil in the lower lying Buda formation as an economic reserve. With a strategic foothold in these prolific, low cost plays established and a proven management team in place, we will look to expand our drill focused activities. During the pandemic, we continually reviewed our strategic opportunities and based on the results delivered by some of our close petroleum drilling neighbours, we decided to focus on the drilling of our second horizontal well (COG#2-H) by way of a Pad (Production Platform) which would also allow us to drill out additional horizontal legs by extending into the differing Austin Chalk pathways at a much condensed expense. The same methodology would be utilised for our third horizontal well (COG#3-H).  Following on from the drilling of wells COG#2 and COG#3, our objective will be to re-enter the Austin Chalk formation of the COG#1 well which flowed oil, with a view to placing that formation on full production.

During the reporting period, the Covid-19 pandemic caused, and continues to cause severe problems in Texas. The State has been one of the hardest hit states within North America, resulting in the imposition of strict lockdowns by the State Governor. We anticipate a softening in the fourth quarter, which will enable us to resume our operational activity.

Chairman's Statement

During the period under review, the Company faced severe problems with regard to its ongoing operations in Texas, the Company's prime area of operating, as the State encountered substantial headwinds from the imposed State covid lockdowns and restrictions.

Despite the challenges presented by Covid, over the past few months, we continued our negotiations for the acquisition of an exciting Intellectual Property portfolio within the green technologies sector. The technologies which have been developed from within the petroleum sector encompass the provision of Green Energy by the remediation of both petrochemical and industrial waste without any harmful emissions released into the atmosphere, truly embracing the ethos of alternative energy whilst protecting the environment, as well as providing the Company with the ESG green credentials. We have agreed to commercialise the technology through a separate associated enterprise to progress under the initiatives driven by both the UK and European authorities with regard to exceptionally strong aims in bringing ESG, sustainability and climate to the forefront of corporate development. The UK is the only global financial centre that is also a green finance hub, with major green platforms developed by the London Stock Exchange, leading the sustainable finance ecosytem. As we progress, we will update the market.

The period under review has been challenging due to a number of unprecedented factors. However, the Company is well placed to capitalise not only on the continued recovery of the US and global petroleum sectors, but on our pursuit of the most exciting green technologies. Our aim is to be an encompassing and responsible energy company.

We remain confident in our petroleum assets and our US operations, and the Board will continue to build upon what has been a promising and busy period for the Group.

Olof Rapp

Non-Executive Director, Chairman

30 September 2021

Executive Director's Statement

Operations

As prior reported, the Operator filed formal completion certificates with the Texas Railroad Commission confirming that the COG#1-H well is being completed as an initial producer to the Buda formation. As reported in the overview, we will look to expand our drill focused activities, initially by focusing on the drilling of two new wells by way of a production platform. Thereafter, our aim is to re-enter the Austin Chalk formation of the COG#1 well which flowed oil, with a view to placing that formation on full production.  In conjunction with increasing our ownership in the oilfield leases from 75% to 100%, we took steps with the Texas Railroad Commission to assume the Operatorship of the project. The Texas Railroad Commission has now formally approved the transfer, and our subsidiary company, Nobel Petroleum USA, Inc., is now the Operator of record. Our management team have alongside the current Operator's management team to expand and assist our ongoing activities.

In this oil price environment, Pennpetro is emerging as a low-cost, asset-backed US onshore oil and gas business. Subject to oil prices, as well as market conditions and sentiment, which currently are positive given that the price of West Texas Intermediate has held substantially above US$60, coupled with the reduced US shale operations and shut-ins, I remain confident that we can deliver on our strategy by acquiring leases in active and producing US onshore plays and confirming reserves by drilling new wells.

As mentioned, this platform is based on the active management of all types of risk associated with the oil and gas industry. Broadly speaking, development risk is managed by focusing on proven formations; execution risk is managed by participating in drilling activities alongside established industry partners and operators. Individual well risk is managed by building a diversified portfolio of leases and wells and limiting the amount of interest the Group holds in any one well; meanwhile oil price risk is managed by focusing on areas that require relatively low oil prices to breakeven and ensuring our cost base, capital commitments and financing costs remain low, manageable and flexible.

As previously reported, EOG Resources has also turned its full attention to the Austin Chalk formations both in Texas and its continuance into Louisiana with recent acquisitions by Conoco-Phillips, Marathon Oil Corp, alongside the recent formation of Magnolia Oil by TPG Pace Energy and EnerVest to specifically focus on the Austin Chalk, as the Austin Chalk has a higher oil content than Permian drilled completions. Gonzales County sits right in the middle of the Austin Chalk trend.

Board

Pennpetro's Board currently comprises two Directors, who collectively have extensive international experience and a proven track record in investment, corporate finance and business acquisition, operation and development and are well placed to implement the Company's business objectives and strategy.

We believe the Company's Board and US management based in Houston represent a strong team in terms of having the right mix of industry expertise covering all key areas of the business, including lease acquisition, geology, engineering, and finance.

Oil Price

West Texas Intermediate ("WTI") has continued its strength throughout the period under review averaging US$41.96/bbl in 2020, and US$61.94 during first 6 months of 2021. The value of WTI as at 28 September 2021 was US$76.38/bbl (source: Bloomberg Markets). We will receive a premium of approximately US$5/bbl for Gonzales crude oil deliveries.

Outlook

In line with our strategy, all our operations are in highly active plays where the economics of drilling and producing remain attractive at sub-US$30 oil prices. This highlights the success we have had in taking advantage of the prior industry downturn to accelerate the positioning of our South Texas leasehold position in favour of the Austin Chalk and Eagleford Shale. To this we can add the unexpected bonus of the Buda Limestone formation reserves which we can now confidently state will increase our overall proved oil reserves, albeit we await a formal new CPR to be prepared in this regard.

In 2020, our main City of Gonzales objectives were to commence full production of the COG#1-H well, acquire additional land leases and basis a review of legacy 2D seismic to carry out a 3D seismic survey of our land interests. With the Covid-19 pandemic, these objectives were thrown into total disarray. However, we still anticipate that we will be able to recommence our operations in late fourth quarter 2021 as discussed above.

We are confident in the future and I look forward to providing updates on our progress.

Finally, I would like to thank the Board, management team and all our advisers for their hard work over the period under review and also to our shareholders for their continued support.

Thomas Evans

Executive Director

30 September 2021

For further information, please contact:

NOTES TO EDITORS

Pennpetro Energy is an independent oil and gas company focusing on production in the Gonzales Oil Field in Texas, USA. Shares in the company were admitted to the Official List of the London Stock Exchange by way of a Standard Listing on 21 December 2017.

Further information on the Company can be found at www.pennpetroenergy.co.uk

IMPORTANT NOTICE - FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This announcement may include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes", "estimates", "plans", "projects", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "will" or "should" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans, objectives, goals, future events or intentions. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts and involve predictions. Forward-looking statements may and often do differ materially from actual results. In addition, even if results or developments are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods. Any forward-looking statements reflect the Group's current view with respect to future events and are subject to risks relating to future events and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the Group's business, results of operations, financial position, liquidity, prospects, growth or strategies and the industry in which it operates. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance.

Strategic report and business review

To the members of Pennpetro Energy plc

Cautionary statement

This business review has been prepared solely to provide additional information to shareholders to assess the Company's strategies and the potential for those strategies to succeed.

The business review contains certain forward-looking statements. These statements are made by the Directors in good faith based on the information available to them up to the time of their approval of this report and such statements should be treated with caution due to the inherent uncertainties, including both economic and business risk factors, underlying any such forward looking information.

This business review has been prepared for the Group as a whole and therefore gives greater emphasis to those matters which are significant to Pennpetro Energy plc and its subsidiary undertakings when viewed as a whole.

The Group's business model

Pennpetro's intention is to become an active independent North American development production company.

The key elements of Pennpetro's strategy for achieving this goal are:

•     The creation of value through production development success and operational strengths, commencing with the Group's COGLA assets.

•     Focusing on commercialisation and monetisation of oil and gas discoveries, and potentially utilising cash flows from initial projects to fund the acquisition or development of future projects.

•     Active asset portfolio management.

•     Positioning the Company as a competent partner of choice to maximise opportunities and value throughout the E&P lifecycle.

Summary results for the 2021 interim financial period

A summary of the key financial results is set out in the table below:

Interest

The net interest cost for the Group for the period was US$131,000 (2020: US$137,000).   

Loss before tax

Loss before tax for the period was US$0.4m (2020: US$0.5m).

Taxation

Taxation charge was US$nil for the period (2020: US$nil). 

Earnings per share

Basic and diluted earnings per share for the period were 0.63c loss (2020: 0.80c loss).

Financial position

The Group's balance sheet as at 30 June 2021 can be summarised as set out in the table below:

Cash flow

Net cash outflow for 2021 was US$1,000 (2020: US$nil). 

Consolidated Income Statement

For the six months ended 30 June 2021

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

For the six months ended 30 June 2021

Consolidated Balance Sheet

As at 30 June 2021