NuVista Energy Ltd. Announces Updated Annual Production Guidance Due to Third Party Midstream Delays
NuVista Energy Ltd. (TSX:NVA, "NVA" or "NuVista") is providing revised guidance to our annual production volumes and reiterating our commitment to our shareholder return strategy. Due to continued delays in commissioning the Pipestone Gas Plant (“Pipestone Plant”) and additional required work discovered during a gas plant turnaround in the greater Wapiti area (“Wapiti Turnaround”), we now anticipate annual volumes to average approximately 83,000 Boe/d(1). The impact of the delays due to the Pipestone Plant and Wapiti Turnaround on annual production volumes is approximately 3,500 Boe/d and 6,000 Boe/d, respectively. Both third-party facilities are expected to be fully operational prior to September.
It is important to note the nature of the Wapiti Turnaround. These activities take place once every four years and were planned for in our annual budget. However, additional work was discovered that the operator has chosen to proceed with to set the plant up for a major life extension, increase throughput and improve reliability. Although undertaking this work has increased the duration of the turnaround, we are supportive of it being completed at this time and are looking forward to decades of reliable processing capacity to support NuVista’s growth strategy.
NuVista’s operations continue to progress extremely well with 43 new wells expected to be available for production by the end of the third quarter, setting us up for fourth quarter volumes to exceed 100,000 Boe/d as planned. As a result of the delays noted above, production in the second quarter averaged approximately 73,500 Boe/d. A comprehensive update on our continued well cost achievements, production performance and production guidance for the third quarter will be provided with our second quarter earnings release in August.
Importantly, we are reiterating our commitment to our shareholder returns strategy. Our pristine balance sheet, opportunistic hedging, and less intensive second half 2025 capital plan will allow us to continue to make significant progress on our share repurchase program despite the reduced outlook in our annual production volumes. At current commodity price levels, we anticipate generating approximately $150 million in free adjusted funds flow(2) in the second half of the year, the majority of which will be directed to the share repurchase program. We plan to maintain debt levels below our soft ceiling of $350 million and have flexibility in our capital plans to adapt if there is downward pressure in commodity prices.
We would like to thank our staff and contractors for their continued commitment to advancing NuVista’s delivery of top-tier returns to shareholders. So far this year, we have achieved a new record production in the first quarter of just under 90,000 Boe/d and have repurchased 7.9 million shares representing a 3.3% reduction to the number of shares outstanding at the beginning of the year. With 43 new wells ready for production once the facility work is complete, we will be in a strong position to produce above 100,000 Boe/d in the fourth quarter of the year.