AI
Thursday, July 19, 2012 2:39:43 AM
Drill counts and growing pains
From their most recent filing:
CANADA – During the first quarter of 2012, the Canadian Branch’s revenues were $7.3 million, a decrease of $2.6 million (26%) over 2011s comparable quarter’s amount of $9.9 million. The decrease was mostly the result of a decrease in the average revenue per drill - from for the first quarter of 2011’s $251,000 to $156,000 for the first quarter of 2012. This significant decrease to the billing rate was the direct result of the significant drop in meters drilled in the field, as the Branch continued to experience the negative effects of driller turnover and insufficient field supervision.
If the Branch had obtained the 2011 billing rate at the current period’s rig deployment level – then revenues would have been approximately $11.8 million a significant increase over the actual revenue of $7.3 million. Overall the Canadian Branch’s revenue for the first quarter of 2012 was 51% of the consolidated revenues, compared to 71% in the first quarter of 2011. This decrease was due to the combined effect of the current period’s poor revenue per drill rate, combined with the effect significant growth to revenues in Mexico. In January, the Canadian Branch retired one drill (to be sold during 2012), reducing its active drill fleet from 24 to 23 rigs.
During April, the Mexico Branch sent one drill rig to Canada for repairs. Once the repairs are completed this rig will remain with the Canadian Branch. During the April - May period, the Branch averaged 16 drills turning on eight contracts, with average revenue per drill increasing to $160,000. While an improvement from the first quarter, this is still below historical levels and so the Company has initiated several staffing and other operational changes with the objective of increasing field productivity.
The Company expects to improve production over the Summer and Fall and by the end of 2012 management expects the Branch will be achieving production and billing rates that are equivalent to levels experienced in prior periods.
MEXICO - Drilling operations for the Mexico Branch, which includes revenues for activities in both Mexico and Nicaragua, generated revenue of $6.1 million during the first quarter, an increase of $3.2 million (112%) from the prior year’s comparable quarter revenue of $2.9 million. This significant increase was primarily the result of the increased capacity from the March 31, 2011 acquisition of the HD Drilling / Inflight drilling business. Overall the Mexican Branch’s revenues were 42% of the global revenues, an increase from 2011’s comparable ratio of 21%. During January, the Mexico Branch’s drill fleet was reduced from 22 to 19 as a result retiring 3 rigs. Two of the rigs will remain in Mexico and are planned to be sold during 2012, while the third rig was sent to Canada for repairs (once repaired the rig would be added to the Canadian Branch’s drill rig fleet).
During the April - May period, the Branch averaged 15 rigs turning on a total of ten contracts.
The Company expects to operate at similar activity levels for the June to July period.
MONGOLIA – During the first quarter of 2012 the Mongolian Branch’s revenues were $1.0 million, a decrease of $0.2 million (19%) over 2011’s first quarter revenue of $1.2 million. This Branch had two extra rigs available, however due to lower utilization rate and average revenue per drill amounts the Branch generated less in revenue then as compared to first quarter of 2011. The lower performance was as a direct result of an unusual cold weather period that resulted in frozen water lines and other difficulties that made operations difficult. The Mongolian Branch’s revenues were 7% of the global revenues, consistent with 2011’s comparable quarter. At the beginning of 2012, the Branch retired one of their older rigs (to be sold during 2012) - bringing its active drill fleet down to five rigs.
During April, the Branch averaged three drills turning on one contract. However in late April many mining company permits were put on hold as the country prepared for their parliamentary elections. Most drilling in Mongolia was temporarily shut down pending the completion of the June elections. Full drilling operations are expected to resume during July.
During early May, this Branch received one of the five rigs from the Russian Branch. The remaining four rigs from Russia will also be transported to Mongolia during 2012. Of these four rigs, only one rig is planned to be kept for operations and the other four are to be sold during 2012.
RUSSIA – The Company ceased operations in Russia during November 2011, therefore the Branch did not generate any revenue during the first quarter of 2012. The Russian Branch is currently consolidating its assets and moving them to the Mongolian Branch. The Company moved one drill rig and related inventory during the April – May period and expects to move three more drill rigs and their related inventory during the Spring and Summer. The fifth drill rig and related inventory are in a remote location, under the control of an uncooperative Russian owned mining company. The Russian Branch has commenced legal action against this mining company in an attempt to recover these assets. The accounting value for these assets was $354,000, however on the September 30, 2011 financial statements - the accounting value for these assets were written off.
From their most recent filing:
CANADA – During the first quarter of 2012, the Canadian Branch’s revenues were $7.3 million, a decrease of $2.6 million (26%) over 2011s comparable quarter’s amount of $9.9 million. The decrease was mostly the result of a decrease in the average revenue per drill - from for the first quarter of 2011’s $251,000 to $156,000 for the first quarter of 2012. This significant decrease to the billing rate was the direct result of the significant drop in meters drilled in the field, as the Branch continued to experience the negative effects of driller turnover and insufficient field supervision.
If the Branch had obtained the 2011 billing rate at the current period’s rig deployment level – then revenues would have been approximately $11.8 million a significant increase over the actual revenue of $7.3 million. Overall the Canadian Branch’s revenue for the first quarter of 2012 was 51% of the consolidated revenues, compared to 71% in the first quarter of 2011. This decrease was due to the combined effect of the current period’s poor revenue per drill rate, combined with the effect significant growth to revenues in Mexico. In January, the Canadian Branch retired one drill (to be sold during 2012), reducing its active drill fleet from 24 to 23 rigs.
During April, the Mexico Branch sent one drill rig to Canada for repairs. Once the repairs are completed this rig will remain with the Canadian Branch. During the April - May period, the Branch averaged 16 drills turning on eight contracts, with average revenue per drill increasing to $160,000. While an improvement from the first quarter, this is still below historical levels and so the Company has initiated several staffing and other operational changes with the objective of increasing field productivity.
The Company expects to improve production over the Summer and Fall and by the end of 2012 management expects the Branch will be achieving production and billing rates that are equivalent to levels experienced in prior periods.
MEXICO - Drilling operations for the Mexico Branch, which includes revenues for activities in both Mexico and Nicaragua, generated revenue of $6.1 million during the first quarter, an increase of $3.2 million (112%) from the prior year’s comparable quarter revenue of $2.9 million. This significant increase was primarily the result of the increased capacity from the March 31, 2011 acquisition of the HD Drilling / Inflight drilling business. Overall the Mexican Branch’s revenues were 42% of the global revenues, an increase from 2011’s comparable ratio of 21%. During January, the Mexico Branch’s drill fleet was reduced from 22 to 19 as a result retiring 3 rigs. Two of the rigs will remain in Mexico and are planned to be sold during 2012, while the third rig was sent to Canada for repairs (once repaired the rig would be added to the Canadian Branch’s drill rig fleet).
During the April - May period, the Branch averaged 15 rigs turning on a total of ten contracts.
The Company expects to operate at similar activity levels for the June to July period.
MONGOLIA – During the first quarter of 2012 the Mongolian Branch’s revenues were $1.0 million, a decrease of $0.2 million (19%) over 2011’s first quarter revenue of $1.2 million. This Branch had two extra rigs available, however due to lower utilization rate and average revenue per drill amounts the Branch generated less in revenue then as compared to first quarter of 2011. The lower performance was as a direct result of an unusual cold weather period that resulted in frozen water lines and other difficulties that made operations difficult. The Mongolian Branch’s revenues were 7% of the global revenues, consistent with 2011’s comparable quarter. At the beginning of 2012, the Branch retired one of their older rigs (to be sold during 2012) - bringing its active drill fleet down to five rigs.
During April, the Branch averaged three drills turning on one contract. However in late April many mining company permits were put on hold as the country prepared for their parliamentary elections. Most drilling in Mongolia was temporarily shut down pending the completion of the June elections. Full drilling operations are expected to resume during July.
During early May, this Branch received one of the five rigs from the Russian Branch. The remaining four rigs from Russia will also be transported to Mongolia during 2012. Of these four rigs, only one rig is planned to be kept for operations and the other four are to be sold during 2012.
RUSSIA – The Company ceased operations in Russia during November 2011, therefore the Branch did not generate any revenue during the first quarter of 2012. The Russian Branch is currently consolidating its assets and moving them to the Mongolian Branch. The Company moved one drill rig and related inventory during the April – May period and expects to move three more drill rigs and their related inventory during the Spring and Summer. The fifth drill rig and related inventory are in a remote location, under the control of an uncooperative Russian owned mining company. The Russian Branch has commenced legal action against this mining company in an attempt to recover these assets. The accounting value for these assets was $354,000, however on the September 30, 2011 financial statements - the accounting value for these assets were written off.
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