EX-15.AV 100 ex15av_11.htm EXHIBIT 15 A (V)

EXHIBIT 15.a(v)

 

DEGOLYER AND MACNAUGHTON

500 | SPRING VALLEY ROAD

SUITE 800 EAST

DALLAS, TEXAS 75244




 

This is a digital representation of a DeGolyer and MacNaughton report.

       

This file is intended to be a manifestation of certain data in the subject report and as such is subject to the same conditions thereof. The information and data contained in this file may be subject to misinterpretation; therefore, the signed and bound copy of this report should be considered the only authoritative source of such information.


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DEGOLYER AND MACNAUGHTON

500 | SPRING VALLEY ROAD

SUITE 800 EAST

DALLAS, TEXAS 75244 


March 11, 2024

  

Mr. Alessandro Tiani

Head of  Reserves Eni S.p.A.

Via Emilia 1

20097 San Donato Milanese

Italia

   

Ladies and Gentlemen:

   

Pursuant to your request, this report of third party presents an independent evaluation, as of December 31, 2023, of the extent of the estimated net proved oil, condensate, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and gas reserves of certain properties in which Eni S.p.A. (Eni) has represented it holds an interest through its 63.04-percent corporate ownership of Vår Energi ASA. This evaluation was completed on March 11, 2024. The properties evaluated herein consist of  fields  located  offshore  Norway (Table 1). Eni has represented that these properties account for 6.6 percent on a net equivalent barrel basis of Eni’s net proved reserves as of December 31, 2023. The net proved reserves estimates have been prepared in accordance with the reserves definitions of Rules 4–10(a) (1)–(32) of Regulation S–X of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This report was prepared in accordance with guidelines specified in Item 1202 (a)(8) of Regulation S–K and is to be used  for inclusion in certain SEC filings by Eni.

 

Reserves estimated herein are expressed as net reserves. Gross reserves are defined as the total estimated petroleum remaining to be produced from these properties after December 31, 2023. Net reserves are defined as that portion of the gross reserves attributable to the interests held by Eni after deducting all interests held by others.

 

Estimates of reserves should be regarded only as estimates that may change as further production history and additional information become available. Not only are such estimates based on that information which is currently available, but such estimates are also subject to the uncertainties inherent in the application of judgmental factors in interpreting such information.

   

Information used in the preparation of this report was provided by or on behalf of Eni. In the preparation of this report we have relied, without independent verification, upon information furnished by or on behalf of Eni with respect to the property interests being evaluated, production from such properties, current costs of operation and development, current prices for production, agreements relating to current and future operations and sale of production, and various other information and data that were accepted as represented. A field examination was not considered necessary for the purposes of this report.


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DEGOLYER AND MACNAUGHTON

  

Definition of Reserves

 

Petroleum reserves included in this report are classified  as  proved.  Only proved reserves have been evaluated for this report. Reserves classifications used in this report are in accordance with the reserves definitions of Rules 4–10(a) (1)–(32) of Regulation S–X of the SEC. Reserves are judged to  be  economically  producible  in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions and assuming continuation of current regulatory practices using conventional production methods and equipment. In the analyses of production-decline curves, reserves were estimated only to the limit of economic rates of production  under existing economic and operating conditions using prices and costs consistent with the effective date of this report, including consideration of changes in existing prices provided only by contractual arrangements but not including escalations based upon future conditions. The petroleum reserves are classified as follows:

 

Proved oil and gas reserves Proved oil and gas reserves are those quantities of oil and gas, which, 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, and government regulations—prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation. The project to extract the hydrocarbons must have commenced or the operator must be reasonably certain that it will commence the project within a reasonable time.

 

(i)  The area of the reservoir considered as proved includes:

  

(A) The area identified by drilling and limited by fluid contacts, if any, and (B) Adjacent undrilled portions of the reservoir that can, with reasonable certainty, be judged to be continuous with it and to contain economically producible oil or gas on the basis of available geoscience and engineering data.

   

(ii)  In the absence of data on fluid contacts, proved quantities in a reservoir are limited by the lowest known hydrocarbons (LKH) as seen in a well penetration unless geoscience, engineering, or performance data and reliable technology establishes a lower contact with reasonable certainty.

   

(iii)  Where direct observation from well penetrations has defined a highest known oil (HKO) elevation and the potential exists for an associated gas cap, proved oil reserves may be assigned in the structurally higher portions of the reservoir only if geoscience, engineering, or performance data and reliable technology establish the higher contact with reasonable certainty.

   

(iv) Reserves which can be produced economically through application of improved recovery techniques (including, but not limited to, fluid injection) are included in the proved classification when:

  

(A) Successful testing by a pilot project in an area of the reservoir with properties no more favorable than in the reservoir as a whole, the operation of an installed program in the reservoir or an analogous reservoir, or other evidence using reliable technology establishes the reasonable certainty of the engineering analysis on which the project or program was based; and (B) The project has been approved for development by all necessary parties and entities, including governmental entities.

   

(v)  Existing economic conditions include prices and costs at which economic producibility from a reservoir is to be determined. The price shall be the average price during the 12-month period prior to the ending date of the period covered by the report, determined as an unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within such period, unless prices are defined by contractual arrangements, excluding escalations based upon future conditions.

 

Developed oil and gas reserves Developed oil and gas reserves are reserves of any category that can be expected to be recovered:

 

(i)      Through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods or in which the cost of the required equipment is relatively minor compared to the cost of a new well; and

 

(ii)   Through installed extraction equipment and infrastructure operational at the time of the reserves estimate if the extraction is by means not involving a well.      


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DEGOLYER AND MACNAUGHTON
  

Undeveloped oil and gas reserves Undeveloped  oil  and  gas  reserves are reserves of any category that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion.

 

(i)   Reserves on undrilled acreage shall be limited to those directly offsetting development spacing areas that are reasonably certain of production when drilled, unless evidence using reliable technology exists that establishes reasonable certainty of economic producibility at greater distances.

 

(ii)  Undrilled locations can be classified as having undeveloped reserves only if a development plan has been adopted indicating that they are scheduled to be drilled within five years, unless the specific circumstances justify a longer time.

 

(iii) Under no circumstances shall estimates for undeveloped reserves be attributable to any acreage for which an application of fluid injection or other improved recovery technique is contemplated, unless such techniques have been proved effective by actual projects in the same reservoir or an analogous reservoir, as defined in [section 210.4–10 (a) Definitions], or by other evidence using reliable technology establishing reasonable certainty.

 

Methodology and Procedures

 

Estimates of reserves were prepared by the use of appropriate geologic, petroleum engineering, and evaluation principles and techniques that are in accordance with the reserves definitions of Rules 4–10(a) (1)–(32) of Regulation S–X of the SEC and with practices generally recognized by the petroleum industry as presented in the publication of the Society of Petroleum Engineers entitled “Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil  and  Gas  Reserves  Information (revised June 2019) Approved by the SPE Board on 25 June 2019.” The method or combination of methods used in the analysis of each reservoir was tempered by experience with similar reservoirs, stage of development, quality and completeness of basic data, and production history.

   

Based on the current stage of field development, production performance, the development plans provided by or on behalf of Eni, and analyses of areas offsetting existing wells with test or production data, reserves were classified as proved.

   

The proved undeveloped reserves estimates were based on opportunities identified in the plans of development provided by or on behalf of Eni.

   

Eni has represented that it has confirmed through its corporate ownership that the operator is committed to the development plans provided by or on behalf of Eni and that the operator has the financial capability to execute the development plans, including the drilling and completion of wells and the installation of equipment and facilities.

   

When applicable, the volumetric method was used to estimate the original oil in place (OOIP) and original gas in place (OGIP). Structure maps were prepared to delineate each reservoir, and isopach maps were constructed to estimate reservoir volume. Electrical logs, radioactivity logs, core analyses, and other available data were used to prepare these maps as well as to estimate representative values for porosity and water saturation. When adequate data were available and when circumstances justified, material-balance and other engineering methods were used to estimate OOIP and OGIP.

   

When applicable, estimates of ultimate recovery were obtained after applying recovery factors to OOIP and OGIP. These recovery factors were based on consideration of the type of energy inherent in the reservoirs, analyses of the petroleum, the structural positions of the properties, and the production histories. 

  

When applicable, other engineering methods were used to estimate recovery factors based on analysis of reservoir performance, including production rate, reservoir pressure, and reservoir fluid properties.

   

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For depletion-type reservoirs or those whose performance disclosed a reliable decline in production-rate trends or other diagnostic characteristics, reserves were estimated by the application of appropriate decline curves or other performance relationships. In the analyses of production-decline curves, reserves were estimated only to the limits of economic production as defined in the Definition of Reserves section of this report.

   

In certain cases, reserves were estimated by incorporating elements of analogy with similar wells or reservoirs for which more complete data were available.  

    

DEGOLYER AND MACNAUGHTON

    

Data provided by or on behalf of Eni from wells drilled through December 31, 2023, and made available for this evaluation were used to prepare the reserves estimates herein. The reserves estimates were based on consideration of monthly production data available only through October 2023. Estimated cumulative production, as of December 31, 2023, was deducted from the estimated gross ultimate recovery to estimate gross reserves. This required that production be estimated for up to 2 months.

    

Oil and condensate reserves estimated herein are to be recovered by normal field separation. LPG reserves estimated herein consist primarily of propane  and butane fractions and are the result of low-temperature plant processing. Oil, condensate, and LPG reserves included in this report are expressed in millions of barrels (106bbl). In these estimates, 1 barrel equals 42 United States gallons. For reporting purposes, oil, condensate, and LPG reserves have been estimated separately and are presented herein as a summed quantity.

   

Gas quantities estimated herein are expressed as marketable gas and fuel gas. Marketable gas is defined as the total gas produced from the reservoir after reduction for shrinkage resulting from field separation; processing, including removal of the nonhydrocarbon gas to meet pipeline specifications; and flare and other losses but not from fuel usage. Gas reserves estimated herein are reported as marketable  gas reserves; therefore, fuel gas is included as reserves. Marketable gas reserves estimated herein include 88 billion cubic feet (109ft3) of fuel gas. Gas quantities are expressed at a temperature base of 60 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) and at a pressure base of 14.7 pounds per square inch absolute (psia). Gas quantities included in this report are expressed in 109ft3.

 

Gas quantities are identified by the type of reservoir from which the gas will be produced. Nonassociated gas is gas at initial reservoir conditions  with  no  oil present in the reservoir. Associated gas includes both gas-cap gas and solution gas. Gas-cap gas is gas at initial reservoir conditions and is in communication with an underlying  oil zone. Solution gas is gas dissolved in oil at initial reservoir conditions. Gas quantities estimated herein consist of both associated and nonassociated gas.

 

Primary Economic Assumptions

 

This report has been prepared using initial prices, expenses, and costs provided by or on behalf of Eni in United States dollars (U.S.$). Future prices were estimated using guidelines established by the SEC  and  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards Board (FASB). The following economic assumptions were used for estimating the reserves reported herein:


Oil, Condensate, LPG, and Gas Prices

  

Prices were furnished for each field and were held constant for the remaining producing lives of the fields. The oil, condensate, LPG, and gas prices provided were represented to be based on a reference price, calculated as the unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within the 12- month period prior to the end  of the reporting period, unless prices are defined by contractual agreements. Price differentials to a Brent oil reference price of U.S.$83.27 per barrel were provided for each field on behalf of Eni. The volume-weighted average prices attributable to the estimated  proved  reserves over the lives of the properties were U.S.$83.53 per barrel of oil, U.S.$73.14 per barrel of condensate, and U.S.$50.30 per barrel of LPG. A Title Transfer Facility gas price index reference price of U.S.$13.24 and differentials to that reference price were provided for each field on behalf of Eni. The volume-weighted average price attributable to the estimated proved reserves over the lives of the properties was U.S.$13.94  per  thousand  cubic feet of gas.


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Operating Expenses, Capital Costs, and Abandonment Costs

   

Operating expenses and capital costs were estimated based on information provided by or on behalf of Eni and referenced to existing economic conditions. In certain cases, future expenditures, either higher or lower than existing expenditures, may have been used because of anticipated changes in operating conditions, but no general escalation that might result from inflation was applied. Abandonment costs, which are those costs associated with the removal of equipment, plugging of wells, and reclamation and restoration associated with the abandonment, were provided by or on behalf of Eni and were not adjusted for inflation. The abandonment costs are inclusive of costs incurred for existing wells and facilities as well as those for future development associated with the proved reserves estimated herein. Operating expenses, capital costs,  and  abandonment costs were considered, as appropriate, in determining the economic viability of the undeveloped reserves estimated herein.

DEGOLYER AND MACNAUGHTON 

   

Taxes and Royalty

   

The fields evaluated herein are subject to a Norway ordinary tax and a special petroleum tax that combine to a marginal tax rate of 78 percent. For corporate tax purposes, depreciation is based on the application of the straight-line method over 6 years. Tax reimbursement for the cost of field abandonment is considered during the year of abandonment and the following forecast year. There is no royalty for the fields evaluated herein.

   

In our opinion, the information relating to estimated proved reserves of oil, condensate, LPG,  and  gas contained in this report has been prepared in accordance with Paragraphs 932-235-50-4, 932-235-50-6, 932-235-50-7, and 932-235-50-9 of the Accounting Standards Update 932-235-50, Extractive Industries Oil  and  Gas (Topic 932): Oil and Gas Reserve Estimation and Disclosures (January 2010) of the FASB and Rules 4–10(a) (1)–(32) of Regulation S–X and Rules 302(b), 1201, and 1202(a) (1), (2), (3), (4), (8) of Regulation S–K of the SEC; provided, however, that estimates of proved developed and proved undeveloped reserves are not presented at the beginning of the year.

   

To the extent the above-enumerated rules, regulations, and statements require determinations of an accounting or legal nature, we, as engineers, are necessarily unable to express an opinion as to whether the above-described information is in accordance therewith or sufficient therefor.

   

Summary of Conclusions

   

DeGolyer and MacNaughton has performed an independent evaluation of the extent of the estimated net proved oil, condensate, LPG, and marketable gas reserves of certain properties located offshore Norway in which Eni has represented it holds an interest through its 63.04-percent corporate ownership of Vår Energi ASA.

   

The estimated net proved reserves, as of December 31, 2023, of the properties evaluated herein were based on the definition of proved reserves of the SEC and are summarized as follows, expressed in millions of barrels (106bbl) and billions of cubic feet (109ft3):


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Estimated by DeGolyer and

MacNaughton


Net Proved Reserves

as of December 31, 2023


Oil,

Condensate,

and LPG

(106bbl).


Marketable Gas
(109ft3)
Total Proved 326
516






While the oil and gas industry may be subject to regulatory changes from time to time that could affect an industry participant’s ability to recover its reserves, we are not aware of any such governmental actions which would restrict the recovery of the December 31, 2023, estimated reserves.

 

DeGolyer and MacNaughton is an independent petroleum engineering consulting firm that has been providing petroleum consulting services throughout the world since 1936. DeGolyer and MacNaughton does not have any financial interest, including stock ownership, in Eni. Our fees were not contingent on the results of our evaluation. This report has been prepared at the request of Eni. DeGolyer and MacNaughton has used all assumptions, data, procedures, and methods that it considers necessary and appropriate to prepare this report.

   


Submitted,

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DeGOLYER and MacNAUGHTON

Texas Registered Engineering Firm F-716



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Regnald A. Boles, P.E.
Executive Vice President
DeGolyer and MacNaughton



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DEGOLYER AND MACNAUGHTON

 

CERTIFICATE of QUALIFICATION


I, Regnald A. Boles, Petroleum Engineer with DeGolyer and MacNaughton, 5001 Spring Valley Road, Suite 800 East, Dallas, Texas, 75244 U.S.A., hereby certify:

 


1.  That I am an Executive Vice President with DeGolyer and MacNaughton, which firm did prepare the report of third party addressed to Eni dated March 11, 2024, and that I, as Executive Vice President, was responsible for the preparation of this report of third party.

2.

That I attended Texas A&M University, and that I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering in the year 1983; that I am a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Texas; that I am a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers, and the European Association of Geoscientist & Engineers; and that I have more than 40 years of experience in oil and gas reservoir studies and evaluations.

 

 

Graphics Graphics
Regnald A. Boles, P.E.
Executive Vice President
DeGolyer and MacNaughton

      


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DEGOLYER AND MACNAUGHTON

    

TABLE 1


Country
  Field    
Norway 
Åsgard 
Balder 
Bauge 
Bøyla 
Breidablikk 
Eldfisk 
Embla 
Fenja
Fram 
Goliat 
Grane 
Gungne 
Halten Øst 
Heidrun Hyme
Johan Castberg 
Kristin 
Lavrans 
Marulk
Mikkel 
Morvin 
Norne
Ormen Lange 
Ringhorne Øst 
Sigyn
Skuld 
Sleipner Øst 
Sleipner Vest 
Snorre 
Statfjord 
Statfjord Nord 
Statfjord Øst 
Svalin
Sygna 
Tommeliten Alpha 
Tor
Tordis 
Trestakk 
Tyrihans 
Urd 
Verdande 
Vigdis