CALGARY, Aug. 31, 2015 /CNW/ - ArPetrol Ltd. ("ArPetrol" or the "Company") (RPT.V) announces its financial and operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and provides an operational update on activities to date this year as well as an outlook for the remainder of 2015. The Company's interim condensed consolidated financial statements and management's discussion and analysis (MD&A) for the reporting period have been filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and posted on the Company's website at www.arpetrol.com.

Summary of the Second Quarter 2015

Operating and Financial

The Company continues to generate positive operating results.  During the second-quarter of 2015 ArPetrol's funds flow from operations was $542,728 , an increase of $534,932 over the second quarter of 2014.  The increase was due to improved operating performance, reduced general and administrative expenses, lower bank charges on the repatriation of funds from Argentina and foreign exchange.  For the six months to June 30, 2015 funds flow from operations was $1,226,281, an increase of $537,901 from the six months to June 30, 2014.  This increase primarily occurred in the second quarter of 2015 .    

During the second quarter of 2015 gas processing revenues were $2.5 million generating an operating netback of $1.3 million.  This is consistent with the results from the first quarter of 2015.

During the second quarter of 2015 production averaged 218 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d), an increase of 31 boe/d from the first quarter of 2015.  This increase was due to a slow return to full production after a maintenance shut-down at the beginning of December 2014.    

The second quarter 2015 average realized natural gas price was $5.30 per Mcf, $0.41 per Mcf higher than the price realized in the first quarter of 2015.  Each year our gas prices increases in May in line with the terms of our gas sales agreement.  This increase will continue until the end of the year.   The average realize natural gas price during the second quarter of 2015 increased by $0.93 per Mcf over the second quarter of 2014.  The year over year increase in gas prices is primarily driven by the strengthening $US against the $Cdn.  The Companies natural gas prices are set in $US.

The average realized price for natural gas liquids (NGL) in the second quarter of 2015 was $86.14 per barrel (bbl), consistent with the first quarter of 2015 and a $3.96 per bbl increase over the second quarter of 2014.  The Company sells its natural gas liquids (NGLs) in the spot market with the prices denominated in United States dollars.  The changes to the realized prices between the second quarter of 2015 and the second quarter of 2014 reflect the strengthening of the United States dollar against the Canadian dollar.  Realized prices in United States dollars remained consistent between the same periods. 

The Company's net income for the second quarter was $199,144, compared to net loss of $160,794 for the second quarter of 2014. 

As at June 30, 2015 the Company had working capital of $2.9 million compared to $2.6 million at March 31, 2015.  The Company has no long-term debt.

Notes:

Outlook

ArPetrol has made significant progress towards a stable revenue generating company with a balance sheet that supports its operations.  The Company's 2015 outlook remains unchanged from the first quarter of 2015 including estimated processing volumes of 70 to 80 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) and production of 190 to 240 boe/d.   Finally, ArPetrol continues to evaluate at all strategic opportunities available to the Company. 

About ArPetrol Ltd.

ArPetrol is a Calgary-based publicly traded company engaged in oil and natural gas exploration, development and production and third-party natural gas processing in Argentina, where it owns and operates a gas processing facility with capacity of 85 MMcf per day. The Company's common shares are listed on the TSXV under the symbol "RPT".

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking information relating, but not limited, continued positive cash flow in 2015, processing revenue and cash flow, estimated production volumes and processing volumes, the pursuit of strategic opportunities and the repurchase of shares under the normal course issuer bid.  Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "forecast", expect", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "propose", "project", or similar words suggesting future outcomes.  The Company cautions readers and prospective investors in the Company's securities not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as, by its nature, it is based on current expectations regarding future events that involve a number of assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company. Forward-looking information is based on management's current expectations and assumptions regarding, among other things, the ability to sustain consistent processing and production volumes, future production and processing revenue, the extension of third party gas processing contracts, future economic conditions, future currency and exchange rates, the ability to repatriate funds from Argentina, future pricing, continued political stability in the areas in which the Company is operating, the reduction of G&A and expenses, and the Company's continued ability to obtain and retain qualified management and staff and equipment in a timely and cost-efficient manner. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company, including but not limited to risks associated with the oil and natural gas industry (e.g., operational risks; the ability to retain staff and equipment; and health, safety and environmental risks), weather delays and natural disasters, union activities, change in government policies, currency fluctuations and controls, a change in the manner and rates at which the Company is exchanging its currency, the risk of disruptions at the gas plant, increased maintenance costs or other expenditures at the gas plant, interruptions to production and processing revenue, the expiration of third party gas processing contracts, production declines, changes in commodity prices and revenues, increased costs, unavailability of funding, and other risks associated with international activity and Argentina. ArPetrol operates outside of Canada and as such, is subject to a number of political risks over which it has no control. The forward-looking information included herein is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information included herein is made as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

Any financial outlook or future oriented financial information in this news release is provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

Non-IFRS Measures

This news release includes references to financial measures commonly used in the oil and natural gas industry. The terms "operating netback" (production and processing revenue less royalties, turnover taxes and operating expenses) and "funds flow from operations" (cash generated from operating activities before changes in non-cash working capital) do not have any standardized meaning under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and may not be comparable with similar measures presented by other companies. Funds flow from operations should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, cash generated from operating activities, net income (loss) or other measures determined in accordance with IFRS, as an indicator of the Company's performance.

See the MD&A for more information regarding non-IFRS measures used herin including a reconciliation of funds flow from operations to cash generated from operating activities which is the most directly comparable measure calculated in accordance with IFRS. There is no IFRS measure that is reasonably comparable to operating netbacks and a detailed calculation of such netbacks is presented in the "Results of Operations" section of the MD&A.

BOE Presentation. Production information is commonly reported in units of barrels of oil equivalent (boe). For purposes of computing such units, natural gas is converted to equivalent barrels of oil using a conversion factor of six thousand cubic feet (Mcf) to one barrel (bbl). The 6:1 conversion ratio represents energy equivalency, which is primarily applicable at the burner tip, and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Such disclosure of boe may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation.

Additional information relating to the Company is also available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.