EX-99.1 10 dex991.htm RESERVES AUDIT REPORT OF GAFFNEY, CLINE & ASSOCIATES INC. Reserves Audit Report of Gaffney, Cline & Associates Inc.

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

        Four Oaks Place
      1300 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 1000
      Houston, Texas 77056
  

 

Telephone:

  

 

(713) 850-9955

   Facsimile:    (713) 850-9966
  

Email:

 

  

gcah@gaffney-cline.com

 

 

CAS/RW/CG/bgh/C1490.06/gcah.95.10

   June 18 2010

Mr. Aquiles Rattia

Director de Reservas, YPF S.A.

Paseo de la Castellana 278

28046, Madrid, Spain

Hydrocarbon Reserve Statement for YPF Non Operated Argentine

Properties as of September 30, 2009

Dear Mr. Rattia:

This reserve statement has been prepared by Gaffney, Cline & Associates (GCA) at the request of Repsol YPF S.A. (RY) regarding assets held by YPF S.A. (YPF) in Argentina. These assets comprise the non operated areas of Acambuco, Aguada Pichana, Aguaragüe, CNQ7, CNQ7A, El Tordillo, La Yesera, Lindero Atravesado, Magallanes, Palmar Largo,Puesto Hernández, Puesto Quiroga La Tapera, Ramos, Río Negro Norte, San Roque and Tierra del Fuego, where YPF holds different percentages of participation on each field as described below. GCA has conducted an independent audit examination as of September 30, 2009, of the hydrocarbon liquid and natural gas reserves of the mentioned areas. On the basis of technical and other information made available to us concerning these property units, we hereby provide the reserve statements given in the table below. Total Proved Reserves, net to YPF interest, represent 21.2% of YPF’s total Proved Reserves on a barrel oil equivalent (BOE) basis. Our study was completed on January 7, 2010.

Statement of Hydrocarbon Reserves for YPF Non Operated Argentine Properties

as of September 30, 2009

 

Reserves

  

Gross (100%)

Field Volumes

  

Company (WI)

Reserves

  

Liquids

(Mm3)

  

Gas

(MMm3)

  

Liquids

(Mm3)

  

Gas

(MMm3)

Proved

           

Developed Producing

   29,368    62,165    11,385    20,228

Developed Not Producing

   24    12    8    4

Undeveloped

   6,105    13,696    1,574    3,263

Total Proved

   35,497    75,873    12,967    23,495

 

 

 

UNITED KINGDOM  UNITED STATES  SINGAPORE  AUSTRALIA  ARGENTINA  BRAZIL  KAZAKHSTAN  RUSSIA  UAE


 

 

  Gaffney, Cline & Associates

CAS/RW/CG/bgh/C1490.06/gcah.95.10

Repsol YPF

June 18, 2010

Page 2

 

Statement of Hydrocarbon Reserves for YPF Non Operated

Argentine Properties as of September 30, 2009

Liquid Hydrocarbon Volumes

 

     Proved

Area

   Developed
(Mm3 )
   Non-Prod.
(Mm3 )
   Undeveloped
(Mm3 )
   Total
(Mm3 )

Acambuco

   1,537       833    2,370

Aguada Pichana

   1,787       959    2,746

Aguaragüe

   868    10       878

CNQ7

   131       38    169

CNQ7A

   2,802       1,565    4,367

El Tordillo

   5,890       2,657    8,547

La Yesera

   238          238

Lindero Atravesado

   194          194

Magallanes

   1,371          1,371

Palmar Largo

   452          452

Puesto Hernández

   5,994          5,994

Puesto Quiroga La Tapera

   290       53    343

Ramos

   1,140          1,140

Río Negro Norte

   188    14       202

San Roque

   4,829          4,829

Tierra del Fuego

   1,657          1,657

Total

   29,368    24    6,105    35,497

Natural Gas Volumes

 

     Proved

Area

   Developed
(MMm3 )
   Non-Prod.
(MMm3 )
   Undeveloped
(MMm3 )
   Total
(MMm3 )

Acambuco

   15,132       9,189    24,321

Aguada Pichana

   6,649       3,492    10,141

Aguaragüe

   4,112          4,112

CNQ7

           

CNQ7A

           

El Tordillo

   574       466    1,040

La Yesera

   93          93

Lindero Atravesado

   1,366          1,366

Magallanes

   4,405          4,405

Palmar Largo

   101          101

Puesto Hernández

           

Puesto Quiroga La Tapera

           

Ramos

   6,625          6,625

Río Negro Norte

   52    12       64

San Roque

   15,428       549    15,977

Tierra del Fuego

   7,628          7,628

Total

   62,165    12    13,696    75,873


 

 

  Gaffney, Cline & Associates

CAS/RW/CG/bgh/C1490.06/gcah.95.10

Repsol YPF

June 18, 2010

Page 3

 

Statement of Company W.I. Hydrocarbon Reserves for YPF Non Operated Properties

in Argentina as of September 30, 2009

Liquid Hydrocarbon Volumes

 

     Proved

Area

   Developed
(Mm3)
   Non-Prod.
(Mm3)
   Undeveloped
(Mm3)
   Total
(Mm3)

Acambuco

   346       187    533

Aguada Pichana

   487       262    749

Aguaragüe

   261    3       264

CNQ7

   39       11    50

CNQ7A

   1,401       783    2,184

El Tordillo

   718       324    1,042

La Yesera

   83          83

Lindero Atravesado

   73          73

Magallanes

   685          685

Palmar Largo

   135          135

Puesto Hernández

   4,332          4,332

Puesto Quiroga La Tapera

   36       7    43

Ramos

   578          578

Río Negro Norte

   66    5       71

San Roque

   1,647          1,647

Tierra del Fuego

   498          498

Total

   11,385    8    1,574    12,967

Natural Gas Volumes

 

     Proved

Area

   Developed
(MMm3)
   Non-Prod.
(MMm3)
   Undeveloped
(MMm3)
   Total
(MMm3)

Acambuco

   3,405       2,067    5,472

Aguada Pichana

   1,813       952    2,765

Aguaragüe

   1,234          1,234

CNQ7

           

CNQ7A

           

El Tordillo

   70       57    127

La Yesera

   33          33

Lindero Atravesado

   512          512

Magallanes

   2,203          2,203

Palmar Largo

   30          30

Puesto Hernández

           

Puesto Quiroga La Tapera

           

Ramos

   3,360          3,360

Río Negro Norte

   18    4       22

San Roque

   5,262       187    5,449

Tierra del Fuego

   2,288          2,288

Total

   20,228    4    3,263    23,495


 

 

  Gaffney, Cline & Associates

CAS/RW/CG/bgh/C1490.06/gcah.95.10

Repsol YPF

June 18, 2010

Page 4

 

Hydrocarbon liquid volumes represent crude oil, condensate, gasoline and NGL estimated to be recovered during field separation and plant processing and are reported in thousands of stock tank cubic meters. Natural gas volumes represent expected gas sales, and are reported in millions of cubic meters (at standard conditions of 15 degrees Celsius and 1 atmosphere). The volumes have not been reduced for fuel usage in the field. Based on the interpretation that Argentine royalties are a financial obligation or substantially equivalent to a production or similar tax, royalties payable to the provinces have not been deducted from the reported volumes.

Proved gas volumes are based on firm and existing gas contracts and on the reasonable expectation that such gas sales contracts will be renewed on similar terms in the future.

The Technical Explanations which explain the field work carried out by GCA and general methodology is attached in Appendix II.

This audit examination was based on reserve estimates and other information provided by YPF to GCA through September 30, 2009 and included such tests, procedures and adjustments as were considered necessary. All questions that arose during the course of the certification process were resolved to our satisfaction. GCA believes that the assumptions, data, methods and procedures used in connection with the preparation of this report are appropriate for the purpose served by the report.

The commerciality and economic tests for the September 30, 2009 Reserve volumes were based on realized crude oil, condensate, NGL and average gas sales prices as shown in the following table, as advised by YPF.

 

Area

   Crude Oil
(US$/Bbl)
   Condensate
(US$/Bbl)
   Gasoline
(US$/Bbl)
   NGL
(US$/Tn)
   Natural  Gas
(US$/Mm3)

Acambuco

   45.00    45.00    45.00    167.48    61.51

Aguaragüe

   45.00    45.00    45.00    167.48    61.51

Aguada Pichana

   45.59    45.59    45.59    167.48    71.80

CNQ7-7ª

   46.01    46.01    46.01    167.48    71.80

El Tordillo

   41.63    41.63    41.63    167.48    22.15

La Yesera

   46.01    46.01    46.01    167.48    71.80

Lindero Atravesado

   45.59    45.59    45.59    167.48    71.80

Magallanes

   43.43    43.43    43.43    167.48    27.30

Palmar Largo

   45.00    45.00    45.00    167.48    71.80

Puesto Hernández

   46.01    46.01    46.01    167.48    71.80

Puesto Quiroga La Tapera

   41.63    41.63    41.63    167.48    22.15

Ramos

   45.00    45.00    45.00    167.48    61.51

Río Negro Norte

   46.01    46.01    46.01    167.48    71.80

San Roque

   45.59    45.59    45.59    167.48    71.80

Tierra del Fuego

   43.43    43.43    43.43    167.48    27.30

Future capital costs were derived from development program forecasts prepared by YPF for the field. Recent historical operating expense data were utilized as the basis for operating cost projections.


 

 

  Gaffney, Cline & Associates

CAS/RW/CG/bgh/C1490.06/gcah.95.10

Repsol YPF

June 18, 2010

Page 5

 

It is GCA’s opinion that the estimates of total remaining recoverable hydrocarbon liquid and gas volumes as of September 30, 2009, are, in the aggregate, reasonable and have been prepared in accordance with the definitions for Proved reserves set out in Rule 4-10 of Regulation S-X of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, attached in Appendix III.

This assessment has been conducted within the context of GCA’s understanding of YPF’s petroleum property rights as represented by YPF’s management as well as the effects of petroleum legislation, taxation and other regulations that currently pertain to the property. GCA is not aware of any potential regulation amendments which could affect the ability to recover the estimated reserves. GCA is not in a position to attest to property title, financial interest relationships or encumbrances thereon for any part of the appraised properties or interests.

There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating reserves and resources, and in projecting future production, development expenditures, operating expenses and cash flows. Oil and gas reserve engineering and resource assessment must be recognized as a subjective process of estimating subsurface accumulations of oil and gas that cannot be measured in an exact way. Estimates of oil and gas reserves or resources prepared by other parties may differ, perhaps materially, from those contained within this report. The accuracy of any Reserve or Resource estimate is a function of the quality of the available data and of engineering and geological interpretation. Results of drilling, testing and production that post-date the preparation of the estimates may justify revisions, some or all of which may be material. Accordingly, Reserve and Resource estimates are often different from the quantities of oil and gas that are ultimately recovered, and the timing and cost of those volumes that are recovered may vary from that assumed.

For this assignment, GCA served as independent Reserve auditors. The firm’s officers and employees have no direct or indirect interest holdings in the property units evaluated. GCA’s remuneration was not in any way contingent on reported reserve estimates.

Finally, please note that GCA reserves the right to approve, in advance, the use and context of the use of any results, statements or opinions expressed in this report. Such approval shall include, but not be confined to, statements or references in documents of a public or semi-public nature such as loan agreements, prospectuses, reserve statements, press releases etc. This report has been prepared for RY and should not be used for purposes other than those for which it is intended.


 

 

  Gaffney, Cline & Associates

CAS/RW/CG/bgh/C1490.06/gcah.95.10

Repsol YPF

June 18, 2010

Page 6

 

Very truly yours,

GAFFNEY, CLINE & ASSOCIATES, INC.

LOGO

David K. Morgan

Senior Technical Manager

Attachments

 

Appendices    I:    Statement of Qualifications   
   II:    Technical Explanations   
   III:    Reserve Definitions (SEC)   


 

 

  Gaffney, Cline & Associates

 

APPENDICES


 

 

  Gaffney, Cline & Associates

 

APPENDIX I:

Statement of Qualifications


 

 

  Gaffney, Cline & Associates

 

Statement of Qualifications

One of GCA’s Senior Technical Managers was responsible for overseeing the preparation of the audit. This manager has over 40 years of diversified international industry experience mainly in reservoir-engineering, geology, reserves estimates, project development, economics and training in the assessment, classification and reporting of reserves and resources. Over the past 5 years he has been responsible for project review and oversight for GCA’s Houston office as it pertains to exploration and production activities including the reserves audits conducted on behalf of Repsol YPF. He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and holds a petroleum engineering degree from Marietta College.


 

 

  Gaffney, Cline & Associates

 

APPENDIX II:

Technical Explanations


 

 

  Gaffney, Cline & Associates

 

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE AUDIT REVIEW

All of the proved reserve statements made by YPF were audited using the information supplied by the client in the form of production databases or spreadsheets on which decline analysis could be used whenever applicable. In those cases where a secondary recovery process takes place, a WOR or Oil Cut projection was made to an economic limit to assess the potential reserves to recover by those means or in the case of a gas field, a material balance was analyzed using updated static pressure data. What follows is a brief introduction on the properties location, concession participation and end of concession dates.

Acambuco area is comprised of two major gas fields, Macueta and San Pedrito in the Noroeste basin. They are operated by Pan American under the UTE Acambuco concession through February 16, 2040 and October 26, 2036 respectively where YPF owns a 22.5% WI. Royalties paid to the Salta province are 12%.

Aguada Pichana is a major gas field located in the Neuquina basin that consists of a main production unit and the Aguada Pichana Norte block that is being developed. They are operated by Total under the same concession that extends through November 14, 2027. YPF owns a 27.27% W.I. and royalties paid to the province of Neuquén are 15%.

Aguaragüe is an area on the Noroeste basin having ten fields producing gas, oil and condensate. They are all operated by Tecpetrol through November 14, 2017; YPF holds a 30% W.I. Royalties paid to the province of Salta are 12%. There are three main gas fields, Aguaragüe (Santa Rosa-Icla Fms), Chango Norte-La Porcelana (Huamampampa Fm) and Campo Durán (Tupambi Fm), followed by seven minor fields of varying quantities of oil and gas.

CNQ7 and CNQ7A blocks extend across Mendoza and La Pampa provinces in the Neuquina basin and are composed of five fields: CNQ7, El Corcobo Norte, Jagüel Casa de Piedra, Cerro Huanul Sur all in Mendoza and Puesto Pinto in La Pampa. They are operated by Petroandina through August 10, 2029 in the case of CNQ7 (Mendoza) and July 16, 2033 (Mendoza) and September 11, 2033 (La Pampa) respectively, in the case of CNQ7A. YPF owns a 30.01% W.I. of CNQ7 and 50.0 % of CNQ7A. Royalties paid to the provinces of Mendoza and La Pampa are 12.0%.

El Tordillo area comprises two mature oil fields in the Golfo de San Jorge basin, El Tordillo and Puesto Quiroga-La Tapera. They are operated by Tecpetrol under two different concessions through November 14, 2017 and July 29, 2017 respectively. YPF holds a 12.196% W.I. Royalties paid to the province of Chubut are 12.0%.

La Yesera field was discovered by Chevron in 2001 and began producing it in a discontinuous way until they built the facilities in 2004. The concession ends on January 1, 2030, YPF has a 35% W.I. on this property and royalties paid to the province of Río Negro are 12.0%.

Lindero Atravesado is a gas field discovered by Esso in 1961 and now is operated by Pan American until November 8, 2026. YPF holds a participation of 37.5 % W.I. Royalties paid to the province of Neuquén are 15.0%.

Magallanes area is comprised of an oil and gas field, also called Magallanes, located on the Austral basin which is operated by Sipetrol through November 14, 2017. YPF holds a 50.0 % W.I. and royalties paid to the province of Santa Cruz are 12.0%.


 

 

  Gaffney, Cline & Associates

 

Palmar Largo is an area comprised of nine fields, located on the Noroeste basin mostly on the Province of Formosa where all of its production comes from and extends a little to the East of Salta without production. The main contribution comes from the Palmar Largo Estructura1 field followed by Ramón Lista, Balbuena Este, Cañada Rica, Puesto La Entrada, El Chorro, El Potrillo and El Molino fields. It is operated by Pluspetrol through November 15, 2017 where YPF owns a 30.0% W.I. and pays a 12.0% royalties to the province of Formosa.

Puesto Hernández is a mature oil field discovered by YPF in November 1961, now operated by Petrobras. It extends across Neuquén and Mendoza provinces having different concessions through November 14, 2027 (Neuquén) and November 14, 2017 (Mendoza). YPF holds a W.I. of 61.55% and pays royalties of 16.87 % to Neuquén through 2016 when will change to a 100 % W.I. and 15 % royalty, while on the Mendoza side the extension has not yet been defined and a 12.0 % royalty is currently paid to the Mendoza province.

Ramos is an area that consists of a gas field operated by Pluspetrol where YPF owns a 27.75% W.I. Besides YPF also owns a 22.95 % W.I. through its share in Pluspetrol Energy, both through January 22, 2026. Royalties paid to the province of Salta are 12.0%. It produces from Huamampampa and Icla formations.

Río Negro Norte is a mature area operated by Chevron through February 26, 2024 and is composed of ten oil fields with solution gas: Anticlinal de María, Anticlinal de María Occidental, Anticlinal Viejo, Cerro Solo, El Látigo, El Látigo Occidental, El Solitario Sur, Loma de María, Loma Negra and Loma Negra Precuyano. YPF holds a 35.0% W.I. and royalties paid to the province of Río Negro are 12.0 %. The main contributor to total reserves is the field Loma Negra Precuyano.

San Roque block is a large area that consists of three fields: Aguada San Roque (gas and condensate), Loma las Yeguas (oil, gas and condensate) and Rincón Chico (free gas). They are operated by Total through November 14, 2027, YPF participates with a W.I. of 34.110% and the royalties paid to the province of Neuquén are 15.0%.

UTE Tierra del Fuego is located in the Austral basin, Province of Tierra del Fuego and is operated by Petrolera Lago Fuego Co. S.R.L. (subsidiary of Apache Petrolera Argentina S.A.). YPF owns a 30% W.I. through a concession until November 14, 2017. Fields analyzed are San Sebastián a major gas field followed by Cañadón Piedras, Cabo Nombre, La Sara, Sección Baños while Los Chorrillos (this concession ends April 10, 2016) and Cabeza de León are oil fields with varying amount of solution gas.

What follows is an explanation of those cases where a discrepancy between YPF and GCA exceeds the tolerance limit required by RY and the reasons for those differences.

Discrepancies Explained

 

1. Acambuco

Acambuco block consists of two gas fields, Macueta and San Pedrito. In Macueta the proved developed producing reserves were evaluated by YPF using a dynamic model that ties a material balance to nodal analysis. They were verified by GCA using decline analysis as the field is at a depletion stage; they seemed reasonable and were accepted. The operator is committed to drill one new well (Mac-1006) to the Huamampampa formation, adding compression capacity to the existing facilities to bring PUD reserves on line in 2011. This block is connected with San Alberto in Bolivia, one of the largest gas fields operating in Bolivia. To model the output from the new well and also the impact of compression, YPF used the


 

 

  Gaffney, Cline & Associates

 

integrated nodal analysis model assuming that the whole San Alberto field is represented by one well. Some concerns expressed by GCA on YPF analysis are as follows.

 

  a. It is of public knowledge that on this basin there is always a risk water production associated to the natural fractures which is evidenced by the pressure build-up analysis provided by YPF on Mac-1003 as of 3-5 Mar/2008 where a qualified interpretation shows an increase of the well skin damage attributed to a water bank.

 

  b. However the model included a small aquifer pot, doubts still remain about its behavior in the long range from the interaction of both San Alberto and Macueta fields.

 

  c. There is also a risk of raising the gas-water contact as the suction pressure is reduced by a much larger reservoir volume across the border.

 

  d. According to the data provided by YPF there is a long pipeline (about 55 km) with pronounced changes in the pipeline layout progressive. However the current LG Ratio is low, there is a risk of producing more water under compression and also to have liquid holdups at both the well and the pipeline.

 

  e. Another concern is that according to YPF estimates, drilling one well on each field would be almost duplicating the proved producing reserves.

 

  f. In order to acknowledge an increasing water/gas ratio the Proved Undeveloped volumes were reduced by 40%. Similar considerations were given to San Pedrito field attending similar production histories, facilities conditions and same reservoirs.

 

2. Aguaragüe

Aguaragüe proved reserves evaluation was done applying decline analysis by field. There is a good agreement on proved reserves for most of the fields except for Aguaragüe Santa Rosa Icla where the decline proposed by the client was significantly changed to honor latest production data showing a steep change in the decline rate from 18 to 31 %/year.

 

3. Palmar Largo

Palmar Largo shows on a long range a steady decline of 14 %/yr. However that on a shorter span there is a cyclic drop of 45%/yr attributed to a continuous process of well damage by scales that plug perforations and they need to be cleaned to restore production.

The sustainment of the field production is achieved by jobs that in general do not open new zones. Being maintenance jobs like pullings, etc they should be considered part of the operating expenses and the decline analysis should reflect that fact.


 

 

  Gaffney, Cline & Associates

 

APPENDIX III:

Reserves Definitions

(SEC)


 

 

  Gaffney, Cline & Associates

 

SEC DEFINITIONS FOR OIL AND GAS RESERVES

Proved Oil and Gas Reserves

Proved oil and gas reserves are the estimated quantities of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids which geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions, i.e., prices and costs as of the date the estimate is made. Prices include consideration of changes in existing prices provided only by contractual arrangements, but not on escalations based upon future conditions.

 

(i) Reservoirs are considered proved if economic producibility is supported by either actual production or conclusive formation tests. The area of a reservoir considered proved includes (A) that portion delineated by drilling and defined by gas-oil and/or oil-water contacts, if any; and (B) the immediately adjoining portions not yet drilled, but which can be reasonably judged as economically productive on the basis of available geological and engineering data. In the absence of information on fluid contacts, the lowest known structural occurrence of hydrocarbons controls the lower proved limit of the reservoir.

 

(ii) Reserves which can be produced economically through application of improved recovery techniques (such as fluid injection) are included in the “proved” classification when successful testing by a pilot project, or the operation of an installed program in the reservoir, provides support for the engineering analysis on which the project or program was based.

 

(iii) Estimates of proved reserves do not include the following: (A) oil that may become available from know reservoirs, but is classified separately as “indicated additional reserves”; (B) crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids, the recovery of which is subject to reasonable doubt because of uncertainty as to geology, reservoir characteristics, or economic factors: (C) crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids that may occur in undrilled prospects; and (D) crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids that may be recovered from oil shales, coal, gilsonite and other such sources.

Proved Developed Oil and Gas Reserves

Proved developed oil and gas reserves that can be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods. Additional oil and gas expected to be obtained through the application of fluid injection or other improved recovery techniques for supplementing the natural forces and mechanisms of primary recovery should be included as “proved developed reserves” only after testing by a pilot project or after the operation of an installed program has confirmed through production response that increased recovery will be achieved.

PROVED UNDEVELOPED RESERVES

Proved undeveloped oil and gas reserves are reserves 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. Reserves or undrilled acreage shall be limited to those drilling units offsetting productive units that are reasonably certain of production when drilled. Proved reserves for other undrilled units can be claimed only where it can be demonstrated with certainty that there is continuity of production from the existing productive formation. Under no circumstances should estimates for proved 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 tests in the area and in the same reservoir.