Woodside Completes Sale of 10% Scarborough Interest

Rhea-AI Summary

Woodside completes the sale of a 10% interest in the Scarborough Joint Venture to LNG Japan for US$910 million. The strategic relationship includes equity in the venture, potential LNG offtake, and collaboration on new energy opportunities. Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill highlights the significance of the sale and welcomes Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security’s equity investment.

Insights

Energy Market Analyst

The transaction involving Woodside and LNG Japan marks a significant shift in asset distribution within the Scarborough Joint Venture. The sale's considerable proceeds of US$910 million reflect the strategic importance of the gas reserves, particularly as countries like Japan seek to secure energy sources amidst the global energy transition. The involvement of the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) underscores the national interest in this deal, highlighting energy security as a pivotal factor in such international energy investments.

From an energy market perspective, the reduction in Woodside's proved and probable reserves due to the sale is material. However, Woodside's decision to divest a portion of its interest suggests a strategic realignment, possibly to free up capital for other investments or to de-risk its portfolio in light of the volatile nature of global energy markets. The anticipated first LNG cargo from Scarborough in 2026 will be a milestone to watch, as it will impact supply dynamics, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region where LNG demand is high.

Financial Analyst

Analyzing the financial implications of the sale, the immediate liquidity boost of US$910 million to Woodside's balance sheet is noteworthy. This inflow of cash could potentially be used for debt reduction, funding ongoing projects, or returned to shareholders through dividends or share buybacks. Stakeholders should monitor how this capital is allocated, as it could significantly influence Woodside's financial health and future investment potential.

Moreover, the reduction in Woodside's reserves is a critical factor for investors to consider. Reserves are a key metric in valuing energy companies and changes in these figures can affect the company's stock performance. The market's reaction to this news will depend on investor sentiment regarding the trade-off between immediate cash proceeds and long-term reserve potential. Additionally, the collaboration with LNG Japan on new energy opportunities could signal Woodside's strategic pivot towards diversifying its energy portfolio, which may be viewed favorably by investors concerned with sustainability.

Geopolitical Risk Analyst

The involvement of JOGMEC in the investment into LJ Scarborough Pty Ltd is a clear indicator of the geopolitical significance of energy security, particularly for resource-scarce countries like Japan. This move illustrates how nation-states are actively participating in securing energy assets to mitigate risks associated with geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions. The Scarborough gas project, therefore, not only holds commercial value but also carries geopolitical weight.

For businesses and investors, understanding the geopolitical landscape surrounding energy resources is crucial. The stability of supply from the Scarborough field, given its location in Australia, a country with a stable geopolitical climate, adds a layer of security to the investment. This aspect may contribute to a more favorable risk assessment for Woodside and its partners, potentially attracting further investment and bolstering confidence in the project's long-term viability.

PERTH, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Woodside has completed the sale of a 10% non-operating participating interest in the Scarborough Joint Venture to LJ Scarborough Pty Ltd (LNG Japan).¹

The completion follows Woodside’s announcement on 8 August 2023 that it had established a strategic relationship with LNG Japan that involved three elements: equity in the Scarborough Joint Venture; potential LNG offtake; and collaboration on potential opportunities in new energy. The sale proceeds received by Woodside of US$910 million for equity in the Scarborough Joint Venture comprises the purchase price, reimbursed expenditure and escalation.²

Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill welcomed completion of the sale.

“LNG Japan’s commitment to the Scarborough Joint Venture is a demonstration of the value our customers place on gas as a long-term source of energy as they navigate the energy transition. Completion of the sale to LNG Japan is a significant milestone as we progress toward first LNG cargo from Scarborough targeted in 2026.

“We are also pleased to welcome Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security’s equity investment in LJ Scarborough Pty Ltd. JOGMEC’s support reflects the contribution Scarborough gas will make to Japan’s energy security.”

Woodside holds a 90% interest in the Scarborough Joint Venture and will remain as operator. Following completion of the transaction with JERA announced on 23 February 2024, Woodside’s interest will be 74.9% in the Scarborough Joint Venture.³

As a result of completion of the sale, applying estimates effective as at 26 March 2024, Woodside's Scarborough field proved (1P) undeveloped reserves reduced by 128.7 MMboe to 1,158.3 MMboe (Woodside share).⁴ Proved plus probable (2P) undeveloped reserves reduced by 201.1 MMboe to 1,809.7 MMboe (Woodside share).⁵ Woodside's Scarborough field Best Estimate (2C) contingent resources reduced by 2.2 MMboe to 20.2 MMboe (Woodside share).^6,7

The attached notes on petroleum reserves and resource estimates form part of this announcement.

About Scarborough

The Scarborough Energy Project comprises the Scarborough Joint Venture, the Pluto Train 2 Joint Venture and modifications to Pluto Train 1 to process Scarborough gas. The Scarborough Joint Venture includes the Scarborough field and associated offshore and subsea infrastructure.

The Scarborough field is located approximately 375 km off the coast of Western Australia and the reservoir contains less than 0.1% carbon dioxide. Scarborough gas will be processed at the Pluto LNG facility, where Woodside is currently constructing Pluto Train 2. Woodside is operator of Pluto LNG and Pluto Train 2.

In addition to the sale of a 10% non-operating participating interest in the Scarborough Joint Venture to LNG Japan, Woodside announced in February 2024 it had entered into a sale and purchase agreement with JERA for the sale of a 15.1% non-operating participating interest in the Scarborough Joint Venture.³

About LNG Japan

LJ Scarborough Pty Ltd is a jointly owned subsidiary of LNG Japan Corporation (which is a 50:50 joint venture between Sumitomo Corporation and Sojitz Corporation) and Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC). JOGMEC has a 49.9% interest in LJ Scarborough Pty Ltd.

Sumitomo Corporation is a leading Fortune 500 global trading and business investment company with 129 locations (Japan:20, Overseas:109) in 66 countries and regions.

Sojitz Corporation consists of approximately 400 subsidiaries and affiliates located in Japan and throughout the world, developing wide-ranging general trading company operations in a multitude of countries and regions.

About JOGMEC

Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) integrates the functions of the former Japan National Oil Corporation, which was in charge of securing a stable supply of oil and natural gas, and the former Metal Mining Agency of Japan, which was in charge of ensuring a stable supply of nonferrous metal and mineral resources and implementing mine pollution control measures.

This announcement was approved and authorised for release by Woodside’s Disclosure Committee.

Forward-looking statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements with respect to Woodside's business and operations, market conditions, results of operations and financial condition, including, for example, but not limited to, statements regarding the transaction, the timing of completion of other transactions, the timing of completion of Woodside's projects and expectations regarding future expenditures and future results of projects. All statements, other than statements of historical or present facts, are forward-looking statements and generally may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as 'guidance', 'foresee', 'likely', 'potential', 'anticipate', 'believe', 'aim', ‘aspire’, 'estimate', 'expect', 'intend', 'may', 'target', 'plan', 'forecast', ‘outlook’, 'project', 'schedule', 'will', 'should', 'seek' and other similar words or expressions. Similarly, statements that describe the objectives, plans, goals or expectations of Woodside are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements in this announcement are not guidance, forecasts, guarantees or predictions of future events or performance, but are in the nature of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions. Those statements and any assumptions on which they are based are subject to change without notice and are subject to inherent known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Woodside, its related bodies corporate and their respective officers, directors, employees, advisers or representatives. If any of the assumptions on which a forward-looking statement is based were to change or be found to be incorrect, this would likely cause outcomes to differ from the statements made in this announcement.

A detailed summary of the key risks relating to Woodside and its business can be found in the "Risk" section of Woodside's most recent Annual Report released to the Australian Securities Exchange and the London Stock Exchange and in Woodside's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and available on the Woodside website at https://www.woodside.com/investors/reports-investor-briefings. You should review and have regard to these risks when considering the information contained in this announcement.

All information included in this announcement, including any forward-looking statements, reflects Woodside’s views held as at the date of this announcement and, except as required by law or regulation, neither Woodside, its related bodies corporate, nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, advisers or representatives intends to, undertakes to, or assumes any obligation to, provide any additional information or update or revise any information or forward-looking statements in this announcement after the date of this announcement, either to make them conform to actual results or as a result of new information, future events, changes in Woodside’s expectations or otherwise.

Investors are strongly cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Actual results or performance may vary materially from those expressed in, or implied by, any forward-looking statements.

Notes to petroleum reserves and resources

1. Unless otherwise stated, all petroleum resource estimates are quoted as at the effective date of
   26 March 2024, net Woodside share.
2. All numbers are internal estimates produced by Woodside. Estimates of reserves and contingent resources should be regarded only as estimates that may change over time as additional information becomes available.
3. As a result of the completion of the sale, Woodside’s interest in Scarborough will reduce to 90%. This results in a change in reserves and contingent resources estimates (Woodside net equity share). There are no other changes to the underlying reserves and contingent resources estimates for the Scarborough field.
4. The reference point is defined as the outlet of the downstream (onshore) gas processing facility.
5. ‘Reserves’ are estimated quantities of petroleum that have been demonstrated to be producible from known accumulations in which the company has a material interest from a given date forward, at commercial rates, under presently anticipated production methods, operating conditions, prices, and costs. Woodside reports reserves inclusive of all fuel consumed in operations. Woodside estimates and reports its proved reserves in accordance with SEC regulations which are also compliant with the 2018 Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)/World Petroleum Council (WPC)/American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)/Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers (SPEE) Petroleum Resources Management System (PRMS) (SPE-PRMS) guidelines. SEC-compliant proved reserves estimates use a more restrictive, rules-based approach and are generally lower than estimates prepared solely in accordance with SPE-PRMS guidelines due to, among other things, the requirement to use commodity prices based on the average of first of month prices during the 12-month period in the reporting company’s fiscal year. Woodside estimates and reports its proved plus probable reserves in accordance with SPE-PRMS guidelines which are not compliant with SEC regulations.
6. Assessment of the economic value in support of an SPE-PRMS (2018) reserves and resources classification, uses Woodside Portfolio Economic Assumptions (Woodside PEAs). The Woodside PEAs are reviewed on an annual basis, or more often if required. The review is based on historical data and forecast estimates for economic variables such as product prices and exchange rates. The Woodside PEAs are approved by the Woodside Board. Specific contractual arrangements for individual projects are also taken into account.
7. Woodside uses both deterministic and probabilistic methods for the estimation of reserves and contingent resources at the field and project levels. All proved reserves estimates have been estimated using deterministic methods and reported on a net interest basis in accordance with the SEC regulations and have been determined in accordance with SEC Rule 4-10(a) of Regulation S-X.
8. ‘Contingent resources’ are those quantities of petroleum estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from known accumulations, but the applied project(s) are not yet considered mature enough for commercial development due to one or more contingencies. Contingent resources are estimated and reported in accordance with SPE-PRMS guidelines and may include, for example, projects for which there are currently no viable markets, or where commercial recovery is dependent on technology under development, or where evaluation of the accumulation is insufficient to clearly assess commerciality. Woodside reports contingent resources inclusive of all fuel consumed in operations. Contingent resources are different from, and should not be construed as, reserves. Contingent resources estimates may not always mature to reserves and do not necessarily represent future reserves bookings. Contingent resources volumes are reported at the ‘Best Estimate’ (P50) confidence level. 2C contingent resources are not compliant with SEC regulations. The SEC prohibits disclosure of oil and gas resources, including contingent resources, in SEC filings. However, Australian securities regulatory authorities allow disclosure of oil and gas resources, including contingent resources.
9. ‘MMboe’ means millions (10⁶) of barrels of oil equivalent. Natural gas volumes are converted to oil equivalent volumes via a constant conversion factor, which for Woodside is 5.7 Bcf of dry gas per 1 MMboe. All volumes are reported at standard oilfield conditions of 14.696 psi (101.325 kPa) and 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15.56 degrees Celsius).
10. ‘Proved reserves’ are those quantities of crude oil, condensate, natural gas and NGLs that, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible from a given date forward from known reservoirs and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, operating contracts, and government regulations. Proved reserves are estimated and reported on a net interest basis in accordance with the SEC regulations and have been determined in accordance with SEC Rule 4-10(a) of Regulation S-X.
11. ‘Undeveloped reserves’ are those reserves for which wells and facilities have not been installed or executed but are expected to be recovered through future significant investments.
12. ‘Probable reserves’ are those reserves which analysis of geological and engineering data suggests are more likely than not to be recoverable. Proved plus probable reserves represent the best estimate of recoverable quantities. Where probabilistic methods are used, there is at least a 50% probability that the actual quantities recovered will equal or exceed the sum of estimated proved plus probable reserves. Proved plus probable reserves are estimated and reported in accordance with SPE-PRMS guidelines and are not compliant with SEC regulations.
13. The estimates of petroleum reserves and contingent resources are based on and fairly represent information and supporting documentation prepared by, or under the supervision of
    Mr Ben Stephens, Woodside’s Vice President Reserves and Subsurface, who is a full-time employee of the company and a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. The reserves estimates included in this announcement are issued with the prior written consent of Mr Stephens. Mr Stephen’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Engineering (Petroleum Engineering) from the University of New South Wales, Australia, and 20 years of relevant experience.

Additional information for US investors concerning resource estimates

• Woodside is an Australian company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, and the London Stock Exchange. As noted above, Woodside estimates and reports its proved reserves in accordance with SEC regulations, which are also compliant with SPE-PRMS guidelines, and estimates and reports its proved plus probable reserves and 2C contingent resources in accordance with SPE-PRMS guidelines. Woodside reports all petroleum resource estimates using definitions consistent with SPE-PRMS.
• The SEC prohibits oil and gas companies, in their filings with the SEC, from disclosing estimates of oil or gas resources other than ‘reserves’ (as that term is defined by the SEC). In this announcement, Woodside includes estimates of quantities of oil and gas using certain terms, such as ‘proved plus probable (2P) reserves’, ‘best estimate (2C) contingent resources’, ‘reserves and contingent resources’, ‘proved plus probable’, ‘developed and undeveloped’, ‘probable developed’, ‘probable undeveloped’, ‘contingent resources’ or other descriptions of volumes of reserves, which terms include quantities of oil and gas that may not meet the SEC’s definitions of proved, probable and possible reserves, and which the SEC’s guidelines strictly prohibit Woodside from including in filings with the SEC. These types of estimates do not represent, and are not intended to represent, any category of reserves based on SEC definitions, and may differ from and may not be comparable to the same or similarly-named measures used by other companies. These estimates are by their nature more speculative than estimates of proved reserves and would require substantial capital spending over a significant number of years to implement recovery, and accordingly are subject to substantially greater risk of not being recovered by Woodside. In addition, actual locations drilled and quantities that may be ultimately recovered from Woodside’s properties may differ substantially. Woodside has made no commitment to drill, and likely will not drill, all drilling locations that have been attributable to these quantities. U.S. investors are urged to consider closely the disclosures in Woodside’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC and available on the Woodside website at https://www.woodside.com/investors/reports-investor-briefings and its other filings with the SEC, which are available at www.sec.gov.

__________________________

1 The sale and purchase agreement is with LJ Scarborough Pty Ltd, a jointly owned subsidiary of LNG Japan Corporation (which is a 50:50 joint venture between Sumitomo Corporation and Sojitz Corporation) and Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC). JOGMEC has a 49.9% interest in LJ Scarborough Pty Ltd.

2 The sale proceeds remains subject to adjustments.

3 Completion is expected in the second half of 2024.

4 Fuel consumed in operations proved (1P) undeveloped reserves will reduce by 14.2 MMboe to 127.6 MMboe

(Woodside share).

5 Fuel consumed in operations proved + probable (2P) undeveloped reserves will reduce by 22.0 MMboe to 198.4 MMboe (Woodside share).

6 Fuel consumed in operations Best Estimate (2C) contingent resources will reduce by 0.3 MMboe to 2.3 MMboe

(Woodside share).

7 Excludes the Thebe and Jupiter fields.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240325388314/en/

INVESTORS

Marcela Louzada

M: +61 456 994 243

E: investor@woodside.com

MEDIA

Christine Forster

M: +61 484 112 469

E: christine.forster@woodside.com

Source: Woodside Energy Group

FAQ

What percentage of interest did Woodside sell in the Scarborough Joint Venture to LNG Japan?

Woodside completed the sale of a 10% interest in the Scarborough Joint Venture to LNG Japan.

How much did Woodside receive for the sale of the 10% interest?

Woodside received US$910 million for the sale of the 10% interest in the Scarborough Joint Venture.

Who will remain as the operator of the Scarborough Joint Venture?

Woodside will remain as the operator of the Scarborough Joint Venture.

What is the target year for the first LNG cargo from Scarborough?

The target year for the first LNG cargo from Scarborough is 2026.

How much did Woodside's Scarborough field proved (1P) undeveloped reserves reduce by after the sale?

Woodside's Scarborough field proved (1P) undeveloped reserves reduced by 128.7 MMboe to 1,158.3 MMboe after the sale.