Baytex Energy Q3 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

Quartr
Provided by Quartr
November 3, 2023

There are 7 speakers on the call.

Operator

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to our Q3 conference call. For Baytex, this represents the first full quarter of combined operations following the Ranger acquisition and demonstrates the strength of our diversified North American oil weighted portfolio. The integration has progressed extremely well and we have delivered strong results from Western Canada and the Eagle Ford in Texas. During the Q3, we delivered top quartile results from our operated Eagle Ford assets, continued exceptional Clearwater results at Peavine, where we now hold the top 30 wells drilled across the entire Clearwater Fairway and significantly progressed our Pembina Duvernay play with 6 wells drilled and completed, trouble free earlier this year, which are all tracking to our type curve performance expectations. I'll elaborate on this well performance in a few minutes.

Operator

I'm also excited to announce 2 new land extensions at Peavine and Cold Lake as we continue to leverage our heavy oil expertise and

Speaker 1

and

Operator

8 4th quarter production of 158,000 to 160,000 BOE per day, 84% weighted to oil and NGLs. We are forecasting full year 2023 exploration and production expenditures of just over $1,000,000,000 which is consistent with our previous guidance. Based on the forward strip for the balance of 2023, we expect to generate free cash flow of approximately $400,000,000 during the 4th quarter $650,000,000 for full year 2023. As a reminder, we increased our direct shareholder return to 50% of free cash flow on closing the Ranger acquisition, which has allowed us to increase the value of our share buyback program and introduce a dividend. The remainder of our free cash flow continues to be allocated to the balance sheet.

Operator

Our normal course issuer bid allows us for the purchase of up to 68,400,000 common shares during the 12 month period ending June 28, 2024. And as a result of our free cash flow profile, we have increased the pace of our share buyback program during the Q4. Through October 31, 2023, we repurchased 28,100,000 shares for $155,000,000 representing 3.3% of our shares outstanding at an average price of $5.51 per share. In addition, we paid an initial quarterly cash dividend of $0.025 per share on October 2, 2023 and our Board has declared our Q4 cash dividend of $0.025 per share to be paid on January 2, 2024. I'll now shift to our Q3 results.

Operator

Production during the quarter was 150,600 BOE per day and we delivered adjusted funds flow of $582,000,000 $0.68 per basic share. We generated free cash flow of $158,000,000 $0.19 per basic share. Exploration and development expenditures totaled $409,000,000 during the quarter consistent with our full year plan and we brought 87.8 net wells on stream. As of September 30, 2023, our total debt was $2,700,000,000 representing a total debt to EBITDA ratio Q3 2023 annualized of 1.1 times. During the Q3, we repaid our $150,000,000 U.

Operator

S. Currency term loan. Our total debt at quarter end increased relative to Q2 'twenty three due to the impact of the strengthening U. S. Dollar relative to the Canadian dollar and our U.

Operator

S. Dollar denominated debt along with working capital adjustments. Based on current commodity prices and forecast free cash flow for the Q4. We expect to exit 2023 with total debt of approximately $2,500,000,000 I'm going to shift now and talk more about our recent activity. In the Eagle Ford our Q3 program reflect strong results across the black oil and condensate thermal maturity windows of the Lower Eagle Ford.

Operator

In our operated assets, the 13 wells generated an average 30 day initial production rate of 1500 BOEs per day, 78% oil and NGLs per well ranging from 769 BOEs per day to 2,355 BOEs per day. 7 wells from 3 pads. These pads are the Bloodstone, the Bubinga and the Hickory generated an average 30 day initial production rate of 2,000 BOE per day, 65% oil and NGLs per well. When we compare these results to a data set of 7 84 wells sourced from public data, our Q3 performance ranks in the top quartile of all wells drilled in 2023 in the Eagle Ford. And on a production per lateral foot basis, we are solidly in the second quartile, so I'm very pleased with this performance.

Operator

In addition to delivering strong results, we remain focused on base optimization and continued drilling and completion performance. Our Pembina Duvernay light oil assets are in the demonstration stage of commerciality and offer high operating netbacks with strong economics and the potential for significant organic growth. We brought 6 wells on stream mid summer. The 6 wells generated average production rates of approximately 950 BOE per day, 89% oil and NGLs. In September ranging from 7.90 BOE per day to 10.80 BOE per day and continue to track to type curve performance expectations.

Operator

Production from the Pembina Duvernay increased to over 7,500 BOE per day in September, up from 2,000 BOE per day in H1 2023. And the 2023 program has significantly advanced our understanding of the reservoir as we continue to progress this light oil resource play. On the heavy oil side following a relatively quiet second quarter due to spring breakup. Our program ramped up during the Q3 with 28 net heavy oil wells on stream, 14 at Peavine, 8 at Lloydminster and 3 at Peace River. At Peavine the 14 wells generated an average 30 day initial production rate of 7.25 barrels per day per well ranging from 3 30 barrels per day to 10.73 barrels per day.

Operator

Production at Peavine averaged almost 14,000 barrels per day in Q3 'twenty three, up 69% from Q3 'twenty two and increased to 18,400 barrels per day during the month of September. We are also following up our recent heavy oil exploration success at Morinville, Alberta and Cold Lake, Alberta during the Q4. Building on our heavy oil expertise, we have expanded our heavy oil development fairway through 2 land extensions, including a 10 secondtion extension at the Peavine Metis settlement adjacent to our existing 80 secondtion land position at Beavine and a farm in on 17.75 secondtions of land different Manville development near Cold Lake in Northeast Alberta. We've included a map of these incremental land positions in our updated Investor Relations presentation. Shifting to risk management, we employ a disciplined hedging program to help mitigate the volatility in revenue due to changes in commodity prices.

Operator

For the first half of twenty twenty four, we have entered into hedges on approximately 40% of our net crude oil exposure utilizing two way collars with a floor price of $60 per barrel U. S. And a ceiling price of $100 per barrel U. S. For the second half of twenty twenty four, we have entered into hedges on 25% of our net crude oil exposure, utilizing two way collars with a floor price of $60 per barrel U.

Operator

S. And a ceiling price of $98 per barrel U. S. As I wrap up my prepared remarks, I would like to reiterate our commitment to operational excellence and delivering long term value and enhanced shareholder returns. I'm very pleased with the operating results across our portfolio, which has set the stage for a strong finish to 2023.

Operator

We do see our shares as undervalued and we have stepped up our share buyback program during the Q4. We are strong North American energy company with a high quality diversified oil weighted portfolio across Western Canada and the Texas Gulf Coast. And now operator, we are ready to open the call for questions.

Speaker 2

We will pause for a moment as callers join the queue. Our first question comes from Greg Pardy of RBC Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

Speaker 3

Yes, thanks. Thanks for the rundown, Eric. I know it's still early, but What are your broad strokes, I think, in terms of spending, any guidance maybe around production and so forth for

Operator

We like to think about 2024 as an extension of the second half of twenty twenty three. So if you were to take H2 capital on a half year basis and extend that out into 2024 and the range of 155,000 BOE a day and extend that across 2024. There will be a little bit of lumpiness seasonally. But I think that would be a really good way to think about 2024.

Speaker 3

Thanks for that. And then I'm going to shift gears on you. Production rates like you've done the land extension now in the Clearwater, So good old getting that done. Does any of this really change that 12000 to 15000 milliday range that you've been Kind of guiding us towards in terms of where you think you could stabilize production in

Operator

the Clearwater or just that's

Speaker 1

a great question. That's a

Operator

great question because We are pushing kind of the top of that range here in Q3 and continue to to see encouraging results as we develop across the body of what now looks like a green headed prairie chicken on our map. And so, I do expect, Greg, the $12,000 to $15,000 is probably something we will continue to say, but I would expect to live near the high end of that more often than I might have expected even 6 months ago. So it is a good strong development plan over time. We continue to want to be very disciplined and really thoughtful about how we march forward. Social license to operate is very important to us in maintaining a strong and transparent relationship with the communities in which we operate including here the Peabody and Metis settlement.

Operator

It's very important to us. So I'll reiterate the 12% to 15% and I'll probably follow that up by saying we could live at the high end of that consistently, but you'll probably hear us keep saying that.

Speaker 3

Okay. Got it. Thanks very much.

Operator

Thank you, Greg.

Speaker 2

Our next question comes from Menno Holzof of TD Securities. Please go ahead.

Speaker 4

Thanks and good morning everyone. I'll start with a question on Lloydminster Manville since you farmed in on another rough number 17 secondtions. You have a lot of running room in the play. And then I'm just looking at the slide deck, just that's a relative returns. It looks like the manville is a I'm going to say a distant second to the pea vine, but comparable to your Eagle Ford Cairns assets.

Speaker 4

So What does all of this mean for Manbula activity levels in 2024 and beyond?

Operator

Thanks, Menno. I think it means we're going to continue to employee our geoscience exploration program. You and I have talked about the success that our 2 geoscience teams have had across the heavy oil fairway. We're going to continue to fund that exploration program with what we believe to be a unique petrophysical understanding of the rock and This has led to the success at Peavine. It has led to the Waseca at Cold Lake and it has led to additional extensions.

Operator

And so, it competes very well in our portfolio as you suggest and it's a good problem to have. WCS basis dips have widened a little bit here in Q4, but we fully anticipate those will narrow back up in 2024 and as TMX starts line fill and comes on delivery. So we are very confident that the heavy oil fairway will continue delivering new discoveries, new accumulations as well as continued extensions around the places where we've had good success already. So very fond of the heavy oil fairway, very fond of the place that it lives in our portfolio and fully expect to continue funding. The good news is, with the very significant cash flows coming out of our Gulf Coast asset, that 60% of our production price at a premium to TI.

Operator

Those significant cash flows not only carry the development freight in the U. S. Along the Gulf Coast and the Eagle Ford, but also to provide very substantial cash flows back into the business. So we can continue leaning into all the rest of the strength of the portfolio, new exploring and developing places like the Pembina Duvernay and the exploration success in Peavine, that was seek at Cold Lake in around the REX at Morrinsville and all the other places where we are currently excited to explore.

Speaker 4

Terrific. Thanks for that, Eric. And my follow-up is on share buybacks, big step up in October. Can you remind us of your overall strategy? Is it programmatic or more opportunistic?

Speaker 4

How do you how does your measure of intrinsic value factor into How aggressive you are day to day and is it possible that we see Baytex participate in the next Juniper secondary which is coming up Pretty quick, quickly potentially?

Operator

Yes. So to put a timeframe on that last part, Menno, you recall that it was three escrow periods 90 days, 90 days 90 days, each representing a third of the total block. And so the 1st 90 days executed an overnight bought deal, not us, but Juniper executed an overnight bought deal and that was September 18th, I believe. The next 90 day escrow period will expire on December 17th, I believe. And the question around us participating is really a legal and regulatory one.

Operator

As long as Juniper holds more than 10% of our total outstanding shares. We are prohibited from participating as a buyer in that book and Juniper currently holds I think right at or just under 12%. And so I don't think as much as we would love to, I don't think we will be able to participate in the book and it's the same reason we couldn't participate when they were at a little over 18 and took it down to 12. The good news is, there was a lot of demand for the shares. It traded well.

Operator

And We certainly do expect the next book to do just as well. So what I would say around the NCIB is, We expect to be programmatic and opportunistic because right now we are undervalued. So it's a great opportunity to be buying back shares at a pretty good pace and to do so on a kind of a cost averaging basis, which is the programmatic element of the NCIB. We really like the NCIB because it has this cost averaging functionality, but also because as a company we go in and out of blackouts and so we can set up instructions and let it run through the blackouts whereas if we were being opportunistic that would have to line up with an open window and that and always happens. So right now, we are doing both programmatic and opportunistic, but it's because we are undervalued and both present themselves.

Operator

But it's all taking place via NCIB, just to be clear. And then I would say relative to intrinsic value, I mentioned a couple of times already. We are not currently close to our fair value as we see it. So with the discount, we're buying back as much as we can and intend to continue at a pretty aggressive pace through Q4 of 20 3. There will be a time I suppose if we're really fortunate that the share price begins to approach fair value.

Operator

I hope that's the case. That will be a good problem to have. And one of the linkages we really like here is as we buy up and take out shares, outstanding shares and let's just say for the sake of argument at an NCIB limit of 10% per year, Then every year we could rebase the fixed base dividend by that same amount because you've taken out those shares, the total quantum fixed base dividend would decline over time on an absolute value basis. And so that would give us the opportunity to rebase it periodically and that's a linkage we really like. To be clear, we haven't announced that plan, but it is a linkage we like, because it creates a systematic approach to share repurchases and your fixed base dividend.

Operator

So that's something we like and it also helps answer the relationship between current share price intrinsic value and other ways to return capital to shareholders. So let me just pause there, Menno, and see if you want to follow-up.

Speaker 4

No, that was really thorough, Eric. That's it for me. I'll pass it back.

Operator

Thank you, Matt.

Speaker 2

Our next question comes from Amir Arif of ATB Capital. Please go ahead.

Speaker 1

Thanks. Good morning, Eric. Just a couple of questions on Eagle Ford. Just Can you give us a sense of the cadence of drilling plans in the Eagle Ford? I think you brought on stream 22 net wells roughly this quarter and let's drop into 11 next quarter.

Speaker 1

Is this is it more of a level loaded program when you operated asset and you just sprinkle in the non op wells when they come in? Just trying to get a sense of how 24 drilling activity will look in the Eagle Ford on a quarterly basis?

Operator

Yes. Q4, on a quarter over quarter basis, Amir. There's going to be some lumpiness. It has seasonality impacts to it, broadly speaking quarter over quarter. But then specifically in Q4 and specifically because we have a substantial non op asset.

Operator

The capital that gets allocated to the non op assets in Q4 is of course beyond our control. And if the operator pulls back on capital in Q4 because that's they've essentially spent the capital and develop the program that they wanted to develop then that sort of kind of is what it is. On the operated side of the business, We try to run the businesses as operationally efficient as we can. And for our operated Eagle Ford position, this means 2 rigs level loaded running basically full time and those will feed one frac crew at the tailgate of the rigs clearing the DUC inventory that comes off the drilling program. And that will be a little bit lumpy based on pad size and some seasonality effects.

Operator

But generally speaking, our operated program will be more level loaded I think, but Q4 is definitely seasonality related towards the end of the year and related more toward the non op assets.

Speaker 1

Okay. And appreciate that color. And then just on the operating cost side, the 3rd quarter results were $12.57 BOE. I know you mentioned there was some additional workovers going on in that quarter. Can you give us a sense of your comfort level and bring that number down below $12 into Q4 just to make the updated guidance?

Operator

Yes, I think you're referring to you're talking about OpEx?

Speaker 1

Yes, OpEx, yes. Yes, yes,

Operator

yes, okay. So, it's come down by a couple of bucks on a unit basis since closing of the deal and that's certainly related the blending effects of the lower cash cost structure along the U. S. Gulf Coast and just the dilution and blending effects of that lower cash cost structure. We always continue to work on both sourcing, labor costs and just operational efficiency to maintain as best we can flat to declining OpEx.

Operator

I think over time we're going to see probably consistent but light downward pressure on those costs. That is to say, I think if there is a bias, it's biased downward. But it's not going to be, I think, earth shattering in terms of just how much it moves the needle. So from $12.75 of BOE. Is it going to dramatically drop under $10 for 2024?

Operator

I don't think so. What I would say is, We'll probably see consistent steady downward pressure on that number Yeah. As we continue to make improvements operationally, we tend to continue to do the things that work and not repeat the things that don't work and squeeze out waste and excess out of that system. I would target 11% to 12% if I were pushing out into 2024 as a range. And I think that would be pretty responsible in terms of a 24 cost range.

Speaker 1

Got it. Appreciate that. And then just final question, shifting gears over to the Duvernay. You have 6 wells there now that you brought on, you've got good production results behind it. Can you give us a sense of what your next steps are in the Duvernay?

Operator

Yes. So we're very excited about the Duvernay. I couldn't be more proud of the team. We have built really powerful models, statistical models, mathematical models and continue to populate those models, build those out, history match those models and converge on results that we think will continue to push higher going forward. But as you know, we are also rigorous in terms of our commercial expectations and we want to do this on a basis that is systematic.

Operator

And so I would expect, even though we don't have the budget built for 2024 yet, I would expect more than 6 wells and

Speaker 1

I would

Operator

expect probably less than 9 wells. So somewhere between 6 9 is a reasonable step up as we approach kind of the 2nd year of demonstration, probably the last year of demonstration if I were to lean in a bit. And then we will step up the pace of development after 2024. So there is still more science to do. We want to better understand all the nature of variability, but we've got a lot of data, both delineation and all the various independent variables drive variation in the output.

Operator

We've got a strong understanding of those. And so I think next year will be another really good year of development progress in terms of performance and cost and another year of of really strong demonstration toward full commerciality and development, full development pace. So let me pause there, Amir, and see if you've got a follow-up on the Duvernay.

Speaker 1

No. That was great color. Thank you.

Operator

Thank you.

Speaker 2

Our next question comes from Jasper Wych of Vypal. Please go ahead.

Operator

Thank you for taking my question. Most of my questions have already been answered. I have one about the blending expenses, which has been have been trending down for the entire year. Could you add some color to this and what we could expect spending expenses per barrel of heavy oil to average for next year? Yes, I'm sorry, I'm not Jasper, I'm not quite sure I'm picking up which category of expense you're asking about.

Operator

Just try me one more time. Sorry, blending expenses. Blending. Oh, blending. Blending expenses.

Operator

Okay. Yes, yes, yes. Okay. I would expect that blending expenses are going to be related to the value of condensate relative to the value of our heavy oil crude stream. So I think the value of our heavy oil crude stream that needs to be blended with the diluent is going to trend up over time.

Operator

I think that's going to be on a benchmark at a benchmark level and also at a higher kind of asset level, netback level. And so, and I think Conde or all the diluents are probably also going to be linked to that. So maybe the blending expenses are going to be flat to potentially declining a little bit. But I would expect in the same way that I mentioned on OpEx, on unit OpEx, probably slight downward pressure, but I wouldn't expect it to be a real needle mover. I just think it's going to feel like and look like operational efficiency improvements.

Speaker 2

This concludes the question and answer session from the phone lines. I'd like to turn the conference back over to Brian Ector for questions received online.

Speaker 5

Okay, great. Thanks, Ariel. And we do have a few questions that have been submitted from the webcast since I'll moderate these now for you, Eric. And there are a number of investors that have reached out this morning looking for a little bit more color or clarity around our sort of free cash flow allocation policy. So how do we decide, Eric, between share buybacks, growing the dividend and debt repayment.

Speaker 5

And what are the decisions that go into that type of criteria? And then as a follow-up, an investor asking should we be paying debt down first prior to share buybacks and dividends. So I think they're all kind of interrelated.

Operator

You bet. Those are great questions. And I wish there was just a mathematical calculation one could do to arrive at the precise allocation. But in the end, it boils down to a couple of things. It boils down subjective judgment on the part of the management team and the Board as well as listening carefully to our investors, right, the shareholder base, taking in that feedback and having these conversations.

Operator

And so, as I introduce this idea of the linkage between our buyback program and the idea of potentially rebasing the dividend over time on a proportional kind of basis. Then we will listen to the feedback on that conversation and we will try to figure out is the balance of the feedback leaning toward that being a good idea or that not being a good idea. Because as everyone knows there is a fixed base dividend which is the way we have it structured which is a function of $1 per share or in our case cents per share per quarter paid out obviously quarterly. So that's a function of the share count. And then there are variable dividends that can expanding contract on a quarterly basis according to some mathematical model.

Operator

And then there are special dividends. And generally speaking, You get less credit in your share price for special dividends than you do for variables and you get less credit in your share price or variables than you do fixed, because the investment community can largely really begin to build in the return of a fixed base dividend predictably, whereas variables are a little harder and specials are very hard to predict. And so you don't tend to get a lot of value back in your share price for those on a go forward basis. So when it comes to what kind of dividend, we tend to lean toward fixed base dividends as a function of shares out and we like this linkage to our share repurchase plan as a functional linkage between the 2. When it comes to the allocation between share repurchases and a dividend.

Operator

It really is about the our view of our cost of equity relative to our view of the cost of debt on a risk adjusted basis and then how much you return between the dividend and the repurchase plan is a function of the linkage I talked about. But when you go away from dividends versus share repurchases and you ask yourself share repurchases versus paying down debt, If you think about our cost of debt as let's just call it 8% for the sake of illustration and then you compare that to our cost of equity which let's say for the sake of argument is in the high teens potentially 20% based on our free cash flow yield. And then you risk adjust between the riskiness or uncertainty around the share repurchase versus a debt reduction. You would make a little bit of an adjustment to that, but still 16%, 18% is far higher return than say 8% on reduction of debt. And so on that basis, we would say, When you have such a high free cash flow yield, your cost of that reflects your cost of equity and you should pay down the highest source of capital which is your most expensive source which in this case is equity.

Operator

And so we would say bias toward paying down your equity or buying back your shares. But as soon as that free cash flow yield comes down, because Our share price is appreciating into it. That yield will come down and it will make that balance harder, which is the natural conversion of share repurchases toward debt repayment. And that's why we've been kind of fifty-fifty in this allocation. I know it's messy and I know it's a lot of words.

Operator

But in the end, these are the considerations we have to roll around with. And in the end, That's the decision we have to make. Now, I also think it's really important to make progress on paying down debt. Even though you're comparing an 8% cost of debt capital to a 16% cost of equity capital on a risk adjusted basis. That's still important to pay down the debt.

Operator

And the reason I think it's important is because for every dollar of debt you pay down within your EV construct, If EV stays the same, your enterprise value stays the same, then a dollar of debt reduction moves over to a dollar of market capitalization accretion. So there is that linkage as well. In the end, it's subjective. And for that reason, we are going to have to keep having this conversation, I think. We have to continue listening to our shareholder base and implementing what feels like scratches the edge of the broadest cross action of shareholders.

Operator

Let me just stop there. Brian, you think that gets it? I think you captured it. Yes. All right.

Speaker 5

Keeping along the same theme, if we were to fully execute on our NCIB program, so purchasing 10% of our public float during the year, Would Baytex consider a substantial issuer bid if the free cash flow supported it?

Operator

Yes. I think put very plainly, we would consider it and have thought about it and talked about just like the individual who is asking the question has thought about it. Right now, it's pretty early. I think the NCIB is giving us plenty of room. And I would anticipate that our NCIB for the July 1, 2024 ended into June 30, 2025 is also going to be substantial in terms of its total number of shares based on the float we project.

Operator

So We may not have to have that conversation or make that decision soon, but we do consider it for sure.

Speaker 5

And then the last question, I think, along this theme of capital allocation and share repurchases. We talked a little bit today about the view that our shares are undervalued and a couple of investors are asking like what do you consider To be the sort of current fair value of our shares, Eric. I know it's a tough question to answer, but I wanted to put that out for you.

Operator

Yes. It is a tough one because it depends on view of pricing. I think if you take some fusion of a consensus estimate, consensus bank forecast over time combined with the forwards, which I think underrepresent the future price environment. But if you take some fusion of a consensus estimate and a forward strip, maybe that's close. And if you assume that, I think you probably could take some average of the analyst estimates.

Operator

They're all very good models. Brian and the analyst work carefully together to ensure the models are well informed. And There's not a stale forecast out there. So I would say taking some average, median or central tendency to the analyst target prices might be the best place to look.

Speaker 5

Okay. Thanks, Eric. I'm going to pass this question over to Chad Kalmakoff, our Chief Financial Officer. We talked a little bit about the debt repayment. The question relates more to our debt structure.

Speaker 5

Chad, Can you comment on the components of our debt as a floating rate, the interest rates we pay, any interest rate swaps associated with our debt structure?

Speaker 6

Thanks, Brian. Yes. So Q3, like we mentioned earlier, we have CAD2.7 billion outstanding in debt. In that, we'd have $1,700,000,000 of that being our long term notes. Those are all U.

Speaker 6

S. Dollar denominated notes, so 1,200,000,000 U. S. Dollar denominated notes. Those have interest rates of 8.5% and 8.75%.

Speaker 6

So US800 $1,000,000 at 8.5%, $400,000,000 at 8.75%. So obviously, those are fixed due 2027 and 2,030. The remainder of our debt is on our credit that's so called CAD1 1,000,000,000 in the credit facility. That's a floating debt structure. Generally speaking, it's kind of based on a margin, but think of that as kind of sober of $225,000,000 We will keep that floating.

Speaker 6

So we do not

Speaker 5

have any interest rate swaps against that debt. Thanks, Chad. And then a couple of questions related to free cash flow. Most of the free cash flow over the last 4 months has been directed towards the share repurchases. And if you looked at our Q3 free cash flow of $158,000,000 maybe lower than some might have expected.

Speaker 5

I think there's some seasonality around capital. Eric, can you just elaborate on The free cash flow profile as it relates to our business and capital spending on a quarterly basis and how it averages out over the course of the year.

Operator

Yes. There's definite seasonality. So folks remember back to Q1, Q1 is always a strong start to the year and a lot of because it's frozen ground, really good operating conditions in terms of the ability to execute a program reliably. Although it's cold, you can execute well. And so drilling capital, you really get after your program in Q1.

Operator

And that was a significant capital program. And remember that was Baytex standalone. Then in Q2, you've got a lot of production with a lower capital program. So we generated almost $100,000,000 of free cash flow in Q2 as a Baytex standalone unit. And then in Q3 as the listener and writer rightly points out, dollars 158,000,000 in free cash flow.

Operator

But we spent $409,000,000 in CapEx and that $409,000,000 as Brian pointed out is a function really of seasonality. Q3 is a really good quarter for getting after it. Lots of drilling and completions activity in all of our active area, so across the entire portfolio. And then Q4, we're getting the benefit of a rising production into Q4. So as everyone noticed in our release, we are forecasting 158,000 BOE a day for Q4 and in that strength against a lower capital spend means there's a great deal of free cash flow left over.

Operator

So free cash flow kind of is what comes out the bottom and it's very dependent and not only operating cash flow or AFF, but also the lumpiness of your capital program and the capital is lumpy because of seasonal effects. And at one point in the year also these sort of base effects around budget season that comes at the end of the year, which I talked about earlier. So let me stop there, Brian, and see if that

Speaker 5

and then a couple one more sort of financial related question and I think we'll shift into a couple of more operational conversations. But maybe Chad, over to you again on our current WCS hedging program on the heavy oil side.

Speaker 6

So you have some heavy oil hedges in here. Q4, I think, mild hedging, maybe 8,000 barrels a day, the dip hedge that's around $14 here for Q4. Into 2024, we have pretty minimal hedging on WCS basis. We have a bit of transportation hedging for the first half of the year and then the rest of the year

Speaker 5

we're unhedged. Eric, did you want to add some color around our expectations on WCS as we move through 2024?

Operator

Yes. Thanks Brian. I think at least from what we've read and the intelligence we can gather. It sounds like TMX will be sort of mechanically complete in Q1 of 'twenty four. This is what we read.

Operator

This is what we are told. And there is a dispersion in data, but the central tendency of the various pieces of intelligence we get seems to point at Q1 mechanically complete. That same dispersed bit of intelligence also tends to point toward line fill which is kind of some of it is already taking place, because this is a big project and it's been built in segments. I think some of the line fill is already complete and this is what we've been able to ascertain. And so Q1 mechanically complete, Q1 continuing line fill and really line fill progressing.

Operator

And then, we are certainly expecting Q2 deliveries through TMX. This is the best information we can gather. I think everyone has access to dispersed intelligence on this. So we might all have slightly different collection of data. But that's what we think and that's what we expect.

Operator

And we think Once TMX comes on in early 2024, we expect the WCS, WTI basis differential to narrow into the kind of $10 to $12 per barrel range and we think that becomes effectively described by the pipe economics to the U. S. Gulf Coast on the Enbridge mainline.

Speaker 5

Okay. Thanks, Eric. We're going to shift now to talk a little bit more. We've got some questions come in on the assets themselves and the performance during Q3. First question relates to the Eagle Ford operated acreage.

Speaker 5

Eric, the results that we're seeing, are they in line with our expectations and any refracs planned on the assets.

Operator

So the answer to the first question is yes, in line. We've been modeling expectations like this. We've been working through the designs and the well performance expectations. So yes, Q3 meets our expectations and we feel good about the way it represents the assets on a go forward basis. We do have refracs planned and we continue to run we continue to think about the refrac program as kind of a parallel, if you like a sidecar to the primary channel of drilling and completions development, primary capital development in the play along our operated portion of the play as I described earlier.

Operator

2 rigs level loaded running full time through the program. That's a very efficient operation because these 2 H and P rigs are some of the best rigs in H and P's fleet, certainly some of the top performing rigs in the Eagle Ford. And they've been with Ranger, now Baytex for years. So they're very efficient. And then the Liberty frac crew also been with the team on an extended basis runs very, very well.

Operator

So that's clear and duct inventory. That's a nice level loaded highly operationally efficient channel of progress on development capital. And then a sidecar to that is refracs. And the refrac program. There is a lot to think about.

Operator

There is the candidate selection, which is can you get in and get out with your workover operations in prep aligner. Do you have good zonal isolation? And is it a well that you think you can contain the fracture stimulation energy in the fairway or the stimulated reservoir volume trying to refrac. And so there is a lot to think about in refracs. But we are quite encouraged and continue to progress that sidecar channel of capital development in our Eagle Ford.

Operator

And we're going to learn a lot there from our peers in the area who have more experience doing it. We sit on task groups and technical groups. And so there's a lot to learn, but we're very excited about it.

Speaker 5

Eric, can you comment on the range sort of expectations for the current exploratory wells in our 2 new areas here in Western Canada, just range of expectations on the program.

Operator

Yes. So The REX at Moore and Ville, we've described these in our prior conversations as 30 to 100 locations each. So the recs at Morinville somewhere in that range. I am confident in the higher end of that range, because The lower end has a pretty tight risking on it. That is to say, it's heavily risked and I feel good about the fact that we will probably get higher on the range there in terms of locations in the REX at Morinville and similar kind of 30 to 100 locations at the Waseca at Cold Lake.

Operator

We are continuing to develop those in Q3 and even today and so we've got additional multi lats that we have underway and that we will continue to drill and bring online in Q4. And so there will be more to talk about in Q4. Even though those are not needle moving assets in terms of the number of locations and the production. They do continue to really demonstrate that this is a substantial footprint across a highly prospective fairway and we feel really good about the steady diet of of both discoveries and the geoscience team leading to new accumulation discovery and extensions. And so that just It feels like a steady diet that will continue on.

Speaker 5

Eric, I think we're approaching almost an hour. So there are more questions. If we don't get to your questions here, we will certainly try to follow-up with you individually. So maybe 2 more, Eric. And the best here you're asking about the expected cost savings from the merger.

Speaker 5

Have we achieved what we expected from a synergy standpoint?

Operator

We certainly have made a lot of progress. The basis of The merger between Baytex and Ranger was not ultimately predicated on synergy savings. The synergies values were pretty modest in the outset and we have accomplished all of those that we set out to accomplish. Again, they were pretty modest. It was eliminating duplication in things like back office, financial audit, IQRE or independent reserves audit, the redundant boards, the redundant leadership at the top part of the organization.

Operator

So all of those including a whole bunch of kind of redundant IT and software subscriptions, all of that has been extracted. And so yes, given the fact that they were pretty modest to start with, we have achieved them. There is still a lot of additional meat on the bone and we will continue to drive additional savings forward. And that will be that will appear like operational efficiency over time the way we describe say the OpEx, unit OpEx and the blending expenses over time, just consistently getting a little bit better over time. So that's the way I'd think about synergy progress.

Speaker 5

Another question, a little bit different, more of an ESG focus and it might relate a bit to our Duvernay completions. But a shareholder is asking if Baytex has any interest in low energy or chemical or filter wastewater treatment technology. So it's a bit of a different question than I thought I would ask.

Operator

Yes. So one of the ways to think about this is, In both the Viking and the Duvernay, we are working very hard to lower our freshwater intensity and in particular in the Duvernay for example, we use municipal wastewater effluent as makeup fluid for fracture stimulation and that's particularly helpful because it helps lower the freshwater intensity of the operations. And in the Viking, of course, we use effluent from our Corrobert thermal operation and we use that as makeup fluid for our fracture stimulation in Viking. So these are really helpful kind of intensity measures on an ESG perspective from an ESG perspective in our fracture stimulation work in Canada. And we are always looking to apply new technologies to creating better freshwater streams, less expensive freshwater streams and in particular, the ability to use wastewater sources as fresh water for makeup.

Speaker 5

Two last quick questions, Eric, I promise. Breakeven on oil pricing?

Operator

Breakeven on oil pricing down into the, I'd say, low to mid-40s across the entire portfolio and getting better as we squeeze more efficiencies out of both the capital program and the operating expense program. And we're going to wrap

Speaker 5

up with this one question because I know it's something that Eric, you're fairly passionate about. And this comment comes from a shareholder who says that there are others out there, shareholders that are frustrated with our share price, unable to gain traction besides the buybacks. How do you plan to work to get that Baytex share price reflective of the fair value that you see in it.

Operator

Yes, it's a great question. I feel like it's been a long time. I'm reminded by the fact that We started this conversation about the merger between Ranger and Baytex on February 28. And it was several months to close and we released just a partial Q2. So Q3 is really the 1st full quarter and when you find yourself in a show me status or show me mode, Basically, all you can do is deliver results.

Operator

And I think because Q3 is the 1st full quarter of delivering results, it really is the first opportunity for us to have showcased the full strength of the portfolio, the full strength of the assets, the skills and talents and experience of our team. And I think Q3 will go a long way to firming up the confidence that others have in the asset base in the team that I've had all along. Q4 will also reinforce that and then full year and then reserves. But it is a process. But it takes time to show the world, because these have to come out on quarterly cycles.

Operator

And so here we are in November releasing our 1st full quarter of results. And I am quite pleased and expect the good performance to continue through the year and well into the future. That's Terrific, Eric. Thanks, everyone, for spending there at

Speaker 5

the last hour with us today. This is going to conclude the Q3 conference call and webcast. Thanks everyone for participating. Have a great day.

Operator

Thanks everyone.

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Earnings Conference Call
Baytex Energy Q3 2023
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