Petro Rio S.A. ADR fka HRPTY

[DrillaHill]

MANAGEMENT REPORT - Petro Rio 3Q16 Earnings Release

3Q16 Earnings Release

We are pleased to present one more quarter of positive results in an environment with highly volatile oil prices and Brent averaging less than US$ 50/bbl. PetroRio’s EBITDA adjusted for non-cash expenses reached R$ 15.0 million, surpassing the previous quarter. This strong performance was driven by our continuous operational efficiency, which kept costs in line with its historic low levels, and our assertive commercial strategy. Additionally, we are proud to record another quarter with no accidents, extending the expressive milestone of 1,500 days without lost-time injuries reached on July 14, 2016.

Our success is essentially driven by our entrepreneurial team, made by dedicated and creative people. The commercial strategy used in the quarter is another successful example of our DNA that continuously pursues innovation to maximize returns. In order to obtain a better realized price and taking advantage of low maritime freight prices, PetroRio postponed the sale of two offtakes to September which were priced at the higher Brent average of October, thus enabling the Company to increase gross selling price by US$ 4.2 per barrel.

Polvo Field’s production was in line with our estimates. After the operational start-up of the three wells that underwent interventions, average daily production remained stable at 9,100 bbl for a period of approximately 30 days between July and August. As expected, Polvo’s production showed in 3Q16 a natural monthly decline of around 100bd. However, average production in the quarter stood at only 8.4kbd mainly influenced by the scheduled maintenance stoppage in September, which reduced production by 44 thousand barrels, and the interventions carried out in July when we operated with all wells that underwent interventions for only 18 days. During July and August, before the scheduled stoppage, operational efficiency reached an exceptional average of 99.3%, with few operational failures and improved efficiency of the boiler.

In the first nine months of the year, Polvo Field’s production totaled 2.2 Mbbl and we estimate a total production in 2016 of three million barrels, in line with 2015 and 25% higher than the amount estimated in our last reserve certification report. This result shows PetroRio’s excellence in the operation of mature fields, which normally show an annual production decline of around 10%, and it indicates potential for reserves addition. Total investments in Polvo’s redevelopment program came to US$ 17.9 million and we do not expect any additional expenditure with well interventions and workovers in 2016.

The Company executed three offtakes in the third quarter, with the sale of 1,056,756 barrels of oil, generating revenue of R$ 139.2 million. EBITDA, adjusted for non-cash expenses related to the write-down of receivables (R$ 15.6 million), was positive in R$ 15.0 million, while earnings totaled R$ 71.5 million, boosted by the return of our financial investments. Our consolidated cash position, including all financial investments, reached US$ 162 million at the end of September, increasing by US$ 37 million year-to-date and by US$ 25 million in the quarter. It is also worth highlighting that the US$ 16 million in receivables from oil sales in 3Q16 were fully received in November, further strengthening PetroRio’s cash position. The Company's financial health has been enhanced and PetroRio is increasingly prepared to make value acquisitions in a scenario that continues to offer ample opportunities both in Brazil and abroad.

We expect the high oil price volatility observed in the third quarter to continue in the coming months. However, in the medium and long term, we remain strongly confident on a structural price recovery to begin after the first signs of supply weakening following a long period of low investments. The beginning of the quarter was marked by the "perfect storm" for oil prices that started with international pessimism triggered by Brexit at the end of 2Q16, plus successive weeks of increasing rig counts data in the U.S. that fueled fears of an upturn in supply by marginal oil producers. Also contributing to the price decline, there were successive releases confirming a widespread increase in production from OPEC countries, particularly Libya, which signaled with the possibility of tripling production.

In response to the sharp drop in prices (Brent of US$ 41/bbl in early August), OPEC indicated a possible agreement to freeze production, also including non OPEC members, particularly Russia, which expressed interest in the maneuver to raise prices. The quarter ended with a strong price recovery and a clear indication of an agreement between the Arabs and Russia. Oil prices followed this upward trend in October peaking at US$ 53/bbl, but at the beginning of November we saw increasing lack of confidence on the effective announcement of this possible agreement bringing prices back to current levels of US$ 45/bbl.

Lastly, we highlight the important recognition of PetroRio as the best E&P Company in Latin America in 2016. This award reflects the significant results achieved in 2015 when we initiated our ambitious programme to reduce costs, optimize operations and increase reserves.

Polvo Field’s success case involves key elements of our strategy and represents the first step in the construction of an even more solid company.