INTERNATIONAL EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION
2023 Annual Report
Twelve Months Ended
March 31, 2023
BENGAL ENERGY LTD
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Message to Shareholders ............................................................................................. 3
Management's Discussion & Analysis ........................................................................ 6
Consolidated Financial Statements ........................................................................... 28
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements ..................................................... 39
Corporate Information ................................................................................................ 61
BENGAL ENERGY LTD.
MESSAGE TO SHAREHOLDERS
Bengal enters fiscal 2024 with zero debt, the ability to dedicate its free cash flow from operations to our
operated projects in the Cooper Basin, and we are entirely committed to generating value for shareholders.
The team has continued to deliver a strong operating performance in the context of an evolving energy and
economic environment and despite softening in the global crude oil markets compared with the prior year.
Global instability continues to impact the economy, driving inflation, disrupting markets, and causing
volatility in commodity prices. As a result, energy security has become a key priority for Canada and
Australia, alongside decarbonization.
The near-term outlook for crude oil and natural gas prices in the Australian market has stabilized post Covid
and despite global conflicts. We are now encouraged by the bullish medium-term outlook for natural gas
demand for eastern Australia and optimistic about the multiple egress and marketing opportunities available
to optimize returns on the Company’s natural gas-rich asset. At the time of writing, both oil and natural gas
prices are at robust levels, with Brent oil priced on the spot market over US$70 per barrel and east coast
Australia spot gas prices over Australian $12 per gigajoule.
Production for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, averaged 180 barrels of oil per day, and we generated
annual operating netback of $4.45 mm. Bengal’s independently evaluated Proved Plus Probable (“2P”)
reserves for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, are 5,477 thousand barrels of oil (“Mbbls”), and Proved
(“1P”) reserves are 2,005 Mbbls compared with 5,778 Mbbls and 2,145 Mbbls for 2P and 1P reserves
respectively at March 31, 2022. The net present value (NPV10, before tax) of Bengal’s 2P reserves, net of
future development costs, at March 31, 2023, is $121.0 million, or $0.25 per share compared to $149 million
at March 31, 2022. The 2P after-tax net asset value is $95 million for the current year compared with $115
million in the prior year.
The Company commissioned a third-party Resource Assessment effective March 20, 2022. This is distinct
from and incremental to the Company’s March 31, 2023, Year-end Reserves Report. Results indicate Best
Estimate Contingent Resources of 1.1 million barrels of light crude oil and 19 billion cubic feet of natural
gas for a total Barrel of Oil Equivalent of 4.3 million. Prospective Resources Best Estimate is 10.6 million
barrels of light crude oil and 29.3 billion cubic feet of natural gas for a total of 15.5 million barrels of oil
equivalent.
Our goal is to consistently add value per share by capitalizing on the significant inventory of development,
appraisal, and exploration opportunities that we have added to our portfolio over the last five years, which
is quantified by our third-party Reserves and Resources evaluations.
During the year, the Company continued capital programs on two of its 100% owned and operated projects
at Wareena (Petroleum Lease(“PL”) 110 and Production Pipeline (“PPL”) 138 and Caracal well (Authority
to Prospect (“ATP”) 732 and Potential Commercial Area (“PCA” 332).
Included in the Wareena project is the reinstatement of two gas wells (Wareena-1 and Wareena-5) and an
existing gas pipeline to produce raw gas into the existing transportation infrastructure. With deeper zone
water shut off on Wareena-5 nearing completion, the next activity will be to achieve the same on Wareena-
1, followed by flowback tests to determine initial natural gas productive capabilities for the two wells. The
company is evaluating multiple options for commercialization of expected natural gas production, including
connection through a third-party gathering system with existing processing infrastructure, as well as an
innovative proof of concept for alternative monetization. We are immensely proud to have commissioned
and are now operating the first gas-fired Digital Mining Donga in the Cooper Basin with prototype goals
allowing us to commercialise non-producing discovered natural gas resources that are not pipeline
connected. The Caracal-1 well, a 53 API oil discovery on ATP 732, was re-entered and produced oil to the
surface. While this well has proven to be non commercial it is currently being assessed to determine
capacity for improved commercial production through further downhole stimulation and/or new well drilling
in an optimum structural location. The Company has secured an offtake agreement for this oil with the
nearby Inland Oil Refinery, and in parallel has been successful with a longer-term lease retention application
(PCA 332) for this prospective block with multiple egress options for its crude oil resources.
The Company has made considerable progress with the deployment of both our Early Oil Production
System (EOPS) and our Early Gas Production System (EGPS). Both systems have now been successfully
field-tested and we have received strong expressions of interest from other operators in Queensland and
South Australia about the availability of these systems on a contract basis. In addition to the development
and deployment of our EOPS and EGPS systems, we are targeting low carbon developments with our
green hydrogen and carbon farming initiatives. Bengal aims to be at the forefront of net-zero technology as
part of the decarbonization solution. We are achieving this through strong partnerships with local service
providers Ago Vires, Fyfe and InGauge. In addition, we are collaborating closely with landholders across all
our operated assets, and with the Traditional Owners of our tenements including leveraging our projects to
create employment opportunities. As we mature these opportunities, we expect to announce updates
outlining expected benefits to all shareholders from these technologies being developed by the Company.
In Bengal’s non-operated Cuisinier oilfield, a pilot reservoir pressure maintenance scheme was initiated
during the 2021 fiscal year in the southeast quadrant of the pool, with the injection of water taking place at
the Cuisinier 24 well. The broad nature of the Cuisinier structure, combined with variable flank aquifer
pressure support, has resulted in pressure depletion within the central portion of the Cuisinier pool. The
injection of produced formation water is anticipated both to increase production in up to four offsetting wells
and reduce water handling charges. The Cuisinier water injection pilot has continued to face a range of
surface facility-related operational issues resulting in downtime, which have not allowed the significant sub-
surface success potential of this pilot to be realized yet. Bengal Energy personnel are now working
collaboratively with the Operator’s Onshore Operations and Development Leadership towards rectifying the
surface facility operational challenges. Nearby wells are being monitored for total fluid produced and water
cut to help to determine which wells are affected by the pilot program. Upon establishing success of the
pilot, Bengal would fully support the Joint Venture (“JV”) beginning a multi-phase water injection scheme,
targeted fracture stimulation and more commercially efficient development drilling.
Our next phase of development is aimed at unlocking currently stranded gas assets at Ramses, Ghina and
Nubba, and finalizing the reinstatement of the Wareena to Coonaberry pipeline. The stranded gas assets
are developed on the back of the field trial of our EGPS. One of the Ramses wells has a Jurassic oil
resource which we are planning to access with a dual packer and sliding side sleeve completion. We are
currently determining export routes for this high pour point light oil. A more challenging appraisal will be
worked through at Karnak where the current well bore has significant washouts. The plan is to either
sidetrack or drill a new well in a more crestal position to access the gas resource associated with this well.
In parallel, we are working on attracting Joint Venture participation in exploration drilling on ATP 732, as
well as developing new opportunities for Permian Gas drilling on ATP 934. This year’s activities are targeted
at creating a stable and flexible production and cash flow platform from which to drive sustainable growth.
We are excited for the opportunity to deliver on this promise through a balanced mix of development,
appraisal, and exploration projects during the coming year.
In addition, our team has continued to evaluate strategic acquisitions, farm-ins and other opportunities in
the current market. Bengal has an exciting outlook for value creation across our project portfolio, supported
by a healthy financial footing.
Despite enduring a prolonged period of challenging capital markets, we have remained resilient and
focused on achieving the best possible results. Our unwavering commitment to delivering value has allowed
us to navigate through these difficulties successfully. By optimizing operations, managing costs, and
adapting to the changing landscape, we have achieved commendable outcomes. We appreciate your
ongoing support and confidence as we continue to navigate these challenges and seize opportunities for
growth. Together, we will persevere and create long-term value.
Our success will continue to be driven by our dedicated and talented employees, who are passionate about
delivering our strategies and plans to create value for shareholders. Complementing our team, our Board
of Directors is an indispensable source of guidance and day-to-day support that we rely on as we drive
toward our value-creation objectives to benefit all shareholders. We look forward to executing our plans in
the months ahead for the ongoing benefit of all stakeholders and we thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
(signed) “Chayan Chakrabarty”
Chayan Chakrabarty
President & CEO
Note: this Message to Shareholders contains forward-looking statements and is subject to the forward-
looking statement disclaimer in the Management’s Discussion & Analysis for the Years Ended March 31,
2023, and 2022
International Exploration & Production
Management’s Discussion & Analysis
Three and Twelve Months Ended
March 31, 2023, and 2022
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) of the consolidated financial results of Bengal
Energy Ltd. (“Bengal” or the “Company”) is at and for the three and twelve months ended March 31, 2023.
This MD&A dated June 14, 2023, should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial
statements and related notes for the years ended March 31, 2023 and 2022. The consolidated financial
statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards
(“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”).
The functional currency of the Company’s operating subsidiary Bengal Energy (Australia) Pty Ltd. ("Bengal
Australia"), is the Australian dollar; the functional currency of the Company is the Canadian dollar (“CAD”). The
Company’s presentation currency is the CAD. In this MD&A, all dollar amounts are expressed in CAD unless
otherwise noted.
This MD&A contains Non-IFRS and Other Financial Measures, abbreviations and forward-looking information
relating to future events and the Company’s future performance. Please refer to “Non-IFRS and Other Financial
Measures s”, “Abbreviations” and “Advisories” sections at the end of this MD&A for further information. These
do not have any standardized meaning in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”)
as prescribed by the International Accounting standards Board and therefore may not be comparable with the
calculation of similar financial measures disclosed by other entities.
Additional information relating to Bengal, including Bengal’s audited March 31, 2023 consolidated financial
statements and other filings are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
In the following discussion, the three months ended March 31, 2023, may be referred to as “fourth quarter of
fiscal 2023”, "Q4 fiscal 2023", “Q4 FY 2023”, “current quarter”, and “the quarter”. The comparative three months
ended March 31, 2022, may be referred to as “fourth quarter of fiscal 2022”, "Q4 fiscal 2022" “Q4 FY 2022”, and
“prior year’s quarter”. The year ended March 31, 2023, may be referred to as “fiscal 2023”, “current year”, and
“the year”. The comparative year ended March 31, 2022, may be referred to as “the previous year”, “prior year”,
and “fiscal 2022”.
FOURTH QUARTER FISCAL 2023 SUMMARY
Financial Summary:
• Reserves – Bengal’s independently evaluated Proved Plus Probable (“2P”) reserves for the fiscal year
ended March 31, 2023, are 5,477 thousand barrels of oil (“Mbbls”) compared to 5,778 Mbbls at March
31, 2022. 2P 1P reserves are2005 Mbbls compared to 2145 Mbbls at March 31, 2022. The lower
reserves result primarily from the prior year’s production without replacement during fiscal 2023. The
net present value (NPV1
10, before tax) of Bengal’s 2P reserves, net of future development costs, at
March 31, 2023 is $121 million, or $0.25 per share compared to $149 million at March 31, 2022. The
2P after tax net asset value is $95 million for the current year compared to $115 million in the prior
year. The lower NPV is primarily the result of expected higher future development costs as a result
inflationary pressure across Queensland.
● Sales revenue – Reflecting lower oil prices, crude oil sales revenue was $2.0 million in the fourth quarter
of fiscal 2023, which is 18% lower than the $2.4 million recorded in Q4 fiscal 2022. Full year fiscal 2023
sales revenue was $8.1 million compared to $7.7 million for the full year fiscal 2022.
● Funds (used in) from operations2 – Bengal used $0.4 million of funds in operations during Q4 fiscal
2023 compared to a $0.5 million funds from operations during Q4 fiscal 2022. For the full year fiscal
2022, the Company generated $2.0 million of funds from operations compared to $1.4 million funds used
in operations during the prior fiscal year. During Q4 fiscal 2023, Santos, the Cuisinier joint venture
operator undertook a self-review with the Queensland Revenue Office relative to its royalty payments for
the calendar years of 2015 through 2020. The result was a $3.0 million additional royalty liability ($0.9
million net to Bengal) assessed to the Cuisinier Joint Venture. The net amount was recorded as an offset
to other income for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. Santos is currently reviewing their royalty
obligations and Bengal is disputing these additional charges under its Joint Operating Agreement;
however, the Company has recorded the full net amount as an offset to other income for the quarter
ended March 31, 2023. Absent this unusual royalty adjustment, the Company’s funds from operations
would be $0.5 million for the quarter and $2.9 million for the year.
1 See “Abbreviations” on page 17 of this MD&A
2 See “Non-IFRS and Other Financial Measures” on page 15,16 of this MD&A
● Net income - Bengal reported a net loss of $0.8 million for the current quarter compared to net income
of $0.2 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. For the full year fiscal 2023, the Company reported
net income of $0.7 million compared to a net loss of $0.4 million in the prior year. Net income during the
current quarter was materially impacted by the royalty adjustment described above.Net income for the
year was also positively impacted by $1.1 of million other income related to the settlement of a crude oil
stock discrepancy recorded in Q2 fiscal 2023 as well as a $0.9 million offset to other income related to
the Cuisinier royalty adjustment described above.
Operational Summary:
● Production volumes – The Company’s share of total production in the current quarter was 16,395 bbls
of light crude oil, which is a 4.8% increase from the 15,647 bbls produced in the fourth quarter of fiscal
2022. The current quarter production averaged 182 bbls/day compared to 174 bbls/day produced in the
fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. Full year fiscal 2023 saw total production of 65,680 bbls compared to 66,797
bbls for full year fiscal 2022. The full year fiscal 2023 production per day averaged 180 bbls compared
to 183 bbls/day for the full year fiscal 2022.
● Capital expenditures – During the year, the Company continued capital programs on two of its 100%
owned and operated projects at Wareena (Petroleum Lease (“PL”) 1110 & Producing Pipeline (“PPL”)
138) and Caracal (Authority to Prospect (“ATP”) 732). Bengal incurred $0.4 million in capital
expenditures during Q4 fiscal 2023 as compared to $2.2 million in Q4 fiscal 2022 and a total of $7.7
million during the current year compared to $4.3 million during fiscal 2022.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Business Overview
Bengal’s producing and non-producing assets are situated primarily in Australia’s Cooper Basin, a region
featuring large accumulations of very light and high-quality crude oil and natural gas. The Company’s core
Australian assets, PL 303 Cuisinier, ATP 934 Barrolka, ATP 732 Tookoonooka, the recently granted Potential
Commercial Area (“PCA”) 332 and its four 100% operated petroleum licenses (PL 114 Wareena, PL 157 Ghina,
PL 188 Ramses, PL 411 Karnak) are situated within an area of the Cooper Basin that is well served with
production infrastructure and take-away capacity for produced crude oil and natural gas. While still in early stages
in terms of appraisal and development, Bengal believes these assets offer attractive upside potential for both oil
and gas. Australia presents a stable political, fiscal and economic environment in which to operate, and a
favourable royalty regime for oil and gas production.
Under the State of Queensland Regulatory process, ATPs are granted by the State generally for a period of
twelve years with one third of the original grant area expiring every four years. At the end of the final term of the
ATP, an application can be made to continue a portion of the permit in the form of a PCA. PCAs have a life span
of five to fifteen years. PCA applications include a commercial viability report that indicates that the area is likely
to be commercially viable within the applied term. This allows for extra time to commercialize the resource. These
PCA’s remain a part of the ATP until expiry. If a discovery of oil or gas is made, an application for a PL is made
to allow for production. PLs are granted for up to a thirty-year term.
Bengal has two PLs on the former ATP 752 Barta block, PL 303 and PL 1028, in addition to three PCAs, PCA
206, PCA 207 Barta West and PCA 155 Wompi block-Nubba/Yilgarn. Bengal also holds four PLs including a
producing pipeline license (“PPL”) 138 adjacent to the 100% owned ATP 934.
AUSTRALIA – Cooper Basin, Queensland
PL303 and PL 1028 Cuisinier (controlling permit ATP 752) (30.357% WI)
A pilot water injection-driven reservoir pressure maintenance scheme was initiated and after resolving
mechanical issues, water injection activities commenced during calendar Q4 2021. This project is in the southeast
quadrant of the Cuisinier pool, with injection of water taking place at the Cuisinier 24 well. The broad nature of
the Cuisinier structure combined with variable flank aquifer pressure support has resulted in pressure depletion
within the central portion of the Cuisinier pool. The injection of produced formation water is anticipated to both
increase production in up to four offsetting wells and reduce water handling charges. On establishing success of
the pilot, the Joint Venture will begin a multi-staged water injection scheme, targeted fracture stimulation and
more commercially efficient development drilling. The Joint Venture has observed compelling evidence that the
3
overall field decline has been temporarily arrested with a modest upward trend in oil production rate in affected
wells during the current quarter.
Bengal’s joint venture partner and operator of the Cuisinier pool has indicated its intent to drill four wells in the
Cuisinier field during calendar 2023. Bengal will not participate in this program given that the operator has not
prepared a suitable field development plan considering the water injection pilot and projected capital and
operating costs make such investment less attractive than alternatives available in Bengal’s inventory.
PL 114 Wareena, PL 157 Ghina, PL 188 Ramses, PL 411 Karnak, PPL 138 pipeline (100% WI)
The Company has a 100% working interest in four PLs and a natural gas pipeline connected to transportation
infrastructure into the Eastern Australia Gas Market. These non-productive PLs are highly compatible with the
the close proximity to ATP 934. Bengal continues to integrate subsurface data from the PLs to enhance the
Company’s understanding of ATP 934 and to finalize the selection of exploration and appraisal drilling locations.
Included in this program is the reinstatement of two gas wells and an existing gas pipeline to produce raw gas
into existing infrastructure at PL 114 Wareena. The Company completed workover activities at Wareena 1 and
Wareena 5 in November 2022. Initial test results indicate Wareena 1 would require additional stimulation and
dewatering to yield commercial production rates. The Company is encouraged by wellhead pressure measured
at Wareena 5 and therefore additional testing is planned subject to the availability of equipment. If this testing
yields commercial rates, Bengal will tie-in the producing well to pipeline PPL 138. The Company is investing in
proprietary proof of concept arrangement to allow commercial gas production prior to a pipeline connection with
all required equipment now on site.
The 100% ownership of these assets presents an appraisal and development opportunity that will be operated.
by the Company and is seen as a key steppingstone for Bengal’s natural gas platform upon which future
development and appraisal work at the existing PLs and exploration growth through ATP 934 can be undertaken.
ATP 732 Tookoonooka (100% WI)
The Company has conducted preliminary workover and stimulation program at the Caracal-1 well, a 53 API oil
discovery in the Wyandra zone. The well produced oil to surface, although at lower-than-expected rates and is
currently being assessed to determine capacity for commercial production versus drilling a more optimally placed
appraisal well to assess the extent of the structure.
In June 2019, the Company applied for an amendment to the LWP (“Later Work Program”) for the third term of
ATP 732 permit. On October 22, 2019, the Company received approval from the Queensland regulatory authority
for an amended LWP for the third, four-year term commencing April 1, 2019, to March 31, 2023. The approved
LWP was revised to minimum activities of reprocessing seismic and inversion work with an estimated cost of
$0.05 million and geological and geophysical investigation at an estimated cost of $0.05 million during the four-
year term.
ATP 732 reached the end of its term in March of 2023 and the Company lodged an application over the northern
portion of the ATP for continuation in the form of PCA 332 for a further 15 years. Based on the positive results
from Caracal-1, the application was approved on January 30, 2023. In addition, the Company is assessing farm-
in interest on other 3D defined drilling targets on PCA 332. The PCA, granted by the Queensland Government in
record time, provides much-needed certainty for Bengal to focus on its hydrocarbon projects in the Talgeberry-
Tintaburra corridor. The majority of PCA 332 is covered by 3D seismic which has outlined the prospective targets
as described in the Company’s press release: “Bengal Energy Announces Independent Oil and Natural Gas
Resource Report” dated March 30, 2022.
ATP 934 Barrolka East (100% WI)
ATP 934 is the Company’s 100% owned natural gas exploration block. Bengal received approval of a special
amendment for ATP 934 in March 2021 which relinquished 50% of the existing ATP area and extended the term
of the ATP by entering an outcome based LWP for another 6 years to February 28, 2027. As part of the special
amendment, another relinquishment of 118 sub blocks (50% of the remaining sub blocks) (88,972 acres) was
required by February 28, 2023. The relinquishment was accepted by the regulator during April of 2023.The
relinquished area was not considered to be prospective by the Company due to the lack of identified prospects
and limited physical access. The LWP includes the drilling of up to 3 wells and 260 km2
of 3D seismic.
ATP 934 Durham Downs East Farmout Block (40% WI)
4
Bengal entered into an agreement with Santos in July of 2020 to farm-in on a portion of the ATP 934 block.
Santos carried the drilling costs of one well to earn a 60% operated interest in the ATP 934 southern farm-out
block, which represents 57.8% of the total block acreage post April 2020 relinquishment. On October 14, 2021,
Santos completed the drilling of the Legbar-1 exploration well. Santos paid 100% of the costs to drill, plug and
abandon the well and has accordingly earned a 60% working interest in 103,760 km2 gross exploration land.
While the Legbar-1 Well did not indicate commercial quantities of hydrocarbons, thick, high quality reservoir
sands were encountered in the primary Permian Toolachee formation and in the Jurassic Birkhead zone, with
evidence of residual hydrocarbon saturation in both zones. In addition, fluorescence shows and elevated gas
readings through the Jurassic Birkhead Fm/Top Hutton Sandstone indicate oil has passed through the reservoir,
supporting the search for a valid closure to test this play. The findings from the Legbar-1 well will help Bengal
refine its exploration targets going forward, both with Santos in the Santos Farm-out Block, and across the
balance of ATP 934 which is 100% owned by Bengal.
Business Development
The Company is in discussions with potential industry and financial partners to fund some of these oil and gas
related activities.
OPERATING SUMMARY
($000s except per share, %, volumes and
operating netback(1) amounts
Oil revenue
Operating netback(1)
Cashflow from (used in) operations
Funds from (used in) operations(1)
Per share ($) (basic and diluted)
Net income (loss)
Per share ($) (basic and diluted)
Capital expenditures
Oil volumes (bbls/d)
Operating netback(1) ($/bbl)
Non-IFRS and Other Financial Measures
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Production
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Three months ended
March 31,
2022
2,374 $
1,425 $
437 $
515 $
0.00 $
217 $
0.00 $
2,244 $
174
91.06 $
2023
1,954 $
1,078 $
(704) $
(431) $
(0.00) $
(803) $
(0.00) $
395 $
182
65.75 $
Twelve months ended
March 31,
2022
7,650
4,109
835
1,432
0.00
(374)
(0.00)
4,322
183
61.52
2023
8,149 $
4,452 $
2,111 $
1,988 $
0.00 $
703 $
0.00 $
7,715 $
180
67.79 $
Three months ended
March 31
2022
2023
Twelve months ended
March 31
2022
2023
Oil production (bbls/d)
Oil production (bbls)
182
16,395
174
15,647
180
65,680
183
66,797
Production during Q4 fiscal 2023 increased 5% compared the Q4 fiscal 2022 and total current fiscal year
production decreased 2% compared to the fiscal 2022. Production rates appear to have been positively impacted
by the Cuisinier pilot water injection program. The joint venture has observed compelling evidence that the overall
field decline has been temporarily arrested with a modest upward trend in oil production rate in affected wells
during the current quarter.
5
Revenue/Pricing
The following table outlines for oil lifting from bills of lading, pipeline oil estimates, applicable prices and oil sales
reflected in the Company’s financials:
Three months ended
March 31
2022
2023
Twelve months ended
March 31
2022
2023
Oil lifting
Volume (000s bbls)
Weighted average price ($US/bbl)
A. Sales (CDN $000’s)
15.10
85.36
1,508
14.0
107.36
1,864
66.42
96.94
8,372
67.3
83.66
7,131
Pipeline oil
Volume (000s bbls), change 4.4 1.6 (0.8) (0.5)
Price ($US/bbl), change (2.49) 30.20 15.44 (50.63)
B. Net sales (CDN $000’s)
446 510 (223) 519
A.+B. Total oil sales (CDN $000s)
1,954 2,374
8,149 7,650
The price received for Bengal’s Australian oil sales is benchmarked on US Brent for the month in which the
bill of lading occurs, plus a realized premium due to oil quality differences. Pipeline oil is the term used to
describe oil moving along the pipeline from the wellhead to Port Bonython (export port) and which remains in
the custody of the producer. Lifting occurs when the oil is moved from the port to the ship at which point it is
priced and sold.
Realized crude oil prices during the current quarter decreased by 20% compared to the prior year’s quarter
based on decreased benchmark Brent pricing. The realized weighted average price of oil lifting sales was US
$85.36/bbl for the current quarter compared to US $107.36/bbl during Q4 fiscal 2022.
During the current quarter the volume of unsold pipeline oil increased by approximately 4,400 bbls; however,
the pricing of those barrels decreased by US$2.49/bbl. After adjusting for changes in pipeline oil, sales for the
current quarter are $1.9 million, which is an 18% decrease from the $2.4 million recorded during the prior
year’s quarter.
The following table outlines average benchmark prices:
Brent oil ($/bbl)
Brent oil (US$/bbl)
Number of CAD$ for 1 AUS$
Number of CAD$ for 1 US$
Three months ended
March 31
2022
2023
Twelve months ended
March 31
2022
2023
109.52
81.17
0.92
1.35
127.38
100.30
0.92
1.27
127.25
95.99
0.91
1.33
100.69
80.55
0.93
1.25
6
($000s)
Operating netbacks(1)
Three months ended
March 31
2022
2023
Twelve months ended
March 31
2022
2023
Oil sales
Realized gain on financial instruments
Royalties
Operating expenses
Operating netback
($/bbl)
Oil sales
Realized gain on financial instruments
Royalties
Operating expenses
Operating netback
See Non-IFRS and Other Financial Measures
1,954
-
(155)
(721)
1,078
119.18
-
(9.45)
(43.98)
65.75
2,374
-
(142)
(807)
1,425
151.72
-
(9.08)
(51.58)
91.06
8,149
-
(596)
(3,101)
4,452
124.07
-
(9.07)
(47.21)
67.79
7,650
-
(459)
(3,082)
4,109
114.53
-
(6.87)
(46.14)
61.52
In Q4 fiscal 2023, operating netbacks were $1.1 million or $65.75/bbl compared to Q4 fiscal 2022 at $1.4 million
or $91.06/bbl. The primary reason for the 28% decrease in operating netbacks relates to decreased commodity
pricing realized during this quarter. For the full year fiscal 2022, operating netbacks were $4.5 million or
$67.79/bbl compared to $4.1 million or $61.52/bbl in the prior fiscal year also due better realized commodity
pricing.
Royalties
Royalties
Royalty expense ($000s)
$/bbl
% of revenue
Three months ended
March 31
2022
2023
Twelve months ended
March 31
2022
2023
155
9.45
8
142
9.08
6
596
9.07
7
459
6.87
6
In Queensland Australia, oil royalties are based on a government-established rate which scales according to
benchmark oil prices plus a Native Title royalty of 1%.
7
Operating Expenses
($000s)
Operating expenses
Production
Transportation
Three months ended
March 31
2022
2023
Twelve months ended
March 31
2022
2023
151
570
721
303
504
807
19.36
32.22
51.58
924
2,177
3,101
14.07
33.14
47.21
940
2,142
3,082
14.07
32.07
46.14
Production - $/bbl 9.19
34.79
Transportation - $/bbl
43.98
Operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2023, were 15% lower than the prior year’s fiscal Q4
on a per barrel basis. For the entire fiscal year, operating expenses per barrel were 2% higher than the prior
year. Production costs during Q4 2022 were impacted by approximately $0.1 million of non-standard
maintenance operations associated with water injection pilot, which was absent during the current quarter. The
marginal increase in transportation costs during the year and quarter ended March 31, 2023, was driven primarily
by inflationary escalation in the underlying transportation agreements. Current quarter operating costs are
consistent with the Operator’s budgeted costs absent of unexpected future activities.
General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses
($000s)
G&A
Net G&A expenses
Capitalized G&A expenses
Total G&A expenses
Three months ended
March 31
2022
2023
Twelve months ended
March 31
2022
2023
598
59
657
892
35
927
2,691
259
2,950
2,652
168
2,820
Total G&A expenses in the fourth quarter fiscal 2023 were 29% lower than fiscal Q4 2022. The full year fiscal
2023 G&A expenses were 5% higher than the prior year. During the current fiscal year, the Company increased
its general spending to support its 100% operated field development activities. These activities slowed during
Q4 fiscal 2023 due to weather conditions, resulting in lower G&A expenses for the current quarter.
Share-based Compensation (“SBC”)
($000s)
SBC
Three months ended
March 31
2022
2023
Twelve months ended
March 31
2022
2023
Expensed share-based compensation
Capitalized share-based compensation
20
3
23
37
5
42
81
9
90
135
10
145
8
The Company uses the Black-Scholes pricing model to estimate the fair value of options on the date of grant and
amortizes the estimated expense over the vesting period with a corresponding charge to contributed surplus.
Options expire five years from the grant date. Share-based compensation expense is lower in fiscal 2023 due
fewer options granted during the year. At March 31, 2023, there were 10,920,000 outstanding options.
Depletion, Depreciation and Amortization (DD&A)
($000s)
DD&A
Three months ended
March 31
2022
2023
Twelve months ended
March 31
2022
2023
Petroleum and natural gas properties
Other assets
Right-of-use assets
302
-
8
310
242
1
8
251
DD&A - $/bbl
18.42
15.47
1,039
3
30
1,072
15.82
1,033
4
30
1,067
15.46
The Company’s proved plus probable (2P) reserve volumes at March 31, 2023, decreased by approximately
301,000 bbls compared to March 31, 2022. In addition, future capital costs to develop 2P reserves at March 31,
2023, were $80.4 million compared to $61.5 million at March 31, 2022 due to inflationary pressures on current
and expected future drilling costs.
Depletion expense is incurred in Australian dollars and therefore impacted by fluctuations in the foreign exchange
rates between Canadian and Australian dollars. Strengthening of the Canadian dollar against the Australian
dollar resulted in lower depletion per barrel for both the year and quarter ended March 31, 2022.
Production for full year fiscal 2023 was 65,680 bbls compared to 66,797 bbls for the previous year contributing
to a lower total depletion for fiscal 2022, which was offset by increased depletion rate associated with higher
future development costs.
Impairment
($000s)
Impairment expense
Exploration and evaluation assets
Petroleum and natural gas properties
Three months ended
March 31
2022
2023
Twelve months ended
March 31
2022
2023
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
568
-
568
As at March 31, 2023, the Company concluded that there were no triggers for impairment on its Petroleum and
Natural Gas properties and E&E assets. During Fiscal 2022, the Company recorded $0.6 million of impairment
associated with uneconomic drilling results at the Chef-1 location in the ATP 752 block.
9
Finance Expense
($000s)
Finance expense
Interest income
Accretion expense on decommissioning
and restoration liability
Interest on lease liability
Interest – other
Three months ended
March 31
2022
2023
Twelve months ended
March 31
2022
2023
(5)
29
1
4
29
(7)
15
1
4
13
(18)
164
3
14
163
(7)
38
5
9
45
Other Income
($000s)
Other income
Other income
Other expenses
Other income - total
Three months ended March 31 Twelve months ended March 31
2022
-
-
-
2023
1,093
(898)
195
2023
-
898
(898)
2022
-
-
-
During Q4 fiscal 2023, Santos, the Cuisinier joint venture operator undertook a self-review with the Queensland
Revenue Office relative to its royalty payments for the calendar years of 2015 through 2020. The result of this
self-review was a $3.0 million additional royalty liability ($0.9 million net to Bengal) assessed to the Cuisinier Joint
Venture. The net amount was recorded as an offset to other income for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.
Santos is currently undertaking an independent review of their royalty obligations and Bengal is disputing these
additional charges under its Joint Operating Agreement; however, the Company recorded the full net amount as
an offset to other income for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.
During Q2 fiscal 2023, the Company resolved a historic crude oil stock discrepancy with the Cuisinier joint venture
operator, which resulted in a net gain of $1.1 million after accruing associated royalties and is reflected as other
income, which contributed to the current year’s Funds from Operations and Cash from operations.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
($000s)
Capital expenditures
Three months ended
March 31
2022
2023
Twelve months ended
March 31
2022
2023
Geological and geophysical and workover
Drilling
Completions
Acquisition
Office
Exploration and evaluation expenditures
Development and production expenditures
Office
395
-
-
-
-
395
60
335
-
395
2,130
16
(4)
-
2
2,144
588
1,554
2
2,144
7,644
23
48
-
-
7,715
2,227
5,488
-
7,715
3,489
591
240
-
2
4,322
1,231
3,089
2
4,322
During the quarter ended March 31, 2023, the Company incurred $0.4 million of exploration and evaluation
expenditures associated with ongoing operations on the Caracal-1 well at ATP 732 to stimulate with the objective
10
of delivering oil to surface and allowing for a Petroleum Lease application. During the Company completed
operations at Caracal-1, Wareena-1 and Wareena-5 as well as operational readiness activities associated with
its 100% owned operations.
SHARE CAPITAL
Trading history
High ($)
Low ($)
Close ($)
Volume (000s)
Three months ended
March 31
2022
2023
Twelve months ended
March 31
2022
2023
0.09
0.06
0.06
761
0.12
0.06
0.12
0.14
0.05
0.06
0.14
0.06
0.12
2,962
4,424
11,255
Shares outstanding (000s)
485,304
485,304
485,304
485,304
Weighted average shares outstanding (000s)
- basic
- diluted
485,304
446,938
486,169
436,427
At June 14 2023, there were 485,304,215 common shares issued and outstanding, together with 10,920,000
outstanding options.
LIQUIDITY RISK AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will not be able to meet its financial obligations, including work
commitments, as they are due. Bengal prepares an annual budget and updates forecasts for operating,
financing, and investing activities on an ongoing basis to ensure it will have sufficient liquidity to meet its liabilities
when due.
Bengal’s financial liabilities consist of trade and other payables and lease liability and amounted to $3.1 million
at March 31, 2023 (March 31, 2022 - $3.2 million).
At March 31, 2023, the Company had a working capital deficit, which the Company defines as total current assets
less total current liabilities excluding other obligations and current portion of decommissioning obligations, of $0.3
million, including cash and cash equivalents of $0.8 million, compared to working capital of $5.5 million at March
31, 2022.
The Company expects that its cashflows generated from operations will be sufficient to meet its ongoing operating
and general expenses, however additional capital will be required to meet its future capital commitments and to
fund planned capital projects.
The majority of the Company’s oil sales are benchmarked on US Brent prices. The Company incurs most of its
expenditures in Australian dollars whereas the Company generates most of its revenues in US dollars. To
mitigate the net impact of low crude prices, the Company is acting with its joint venture partners to reduce
discretionary spending and focus capital towards lower risk projects with near-term cash flow upside.
COMMITMENTS
The Queensland Government regulatory authority granted the Company ATP 934 under a revised work program
on March 1, 2015. In Q4 fiscal 2018, the Company consolidated its ownership of ATP 934 and now holds a
100% and 40% operating interest in the northern and southern block of this permit respectively. The work
program consists of 260 km2 of 3D seismic and up to three wells. In February 2023, the Company extended its
ATP 732 permit and received a PCA over 343 km2. This included additional work commitments related to both
ATP 732 and PCA 332 as outlined below.
11
At March 31, 2022, the Company had the following capital work commitments:
Work Program
Permit
Obligation
period ending
ATP 934 – Onshore
Australia
ATP 732 – Onshore
Australia
PCA 332 – Onshore
Australia
260 km2 3D seismic and up to three wells
February 2027
Geological and up to three wells
February 2029
Initial Production testing
February 2029
Extended Production testing
February 2035
Estimated
expenditure
(net) (millions
CA$)(1)
8.1
6.9
3.9
3.4
(1)
Translated at March 31, 2022 at an exchange rate of AUS$1.00 = CAD$0.9366.
At March 31, 2023, the contractual obligations for which the Company is responsible are as follows:
($000s)
Contractual obligations
Office lease
Decommissioning and restoration
Total
79
5,096
5,175
Less than
1 year
1-3
years
4-5
years
After
5 years
79
-
79
-
881
881
-
-
-
-
4,215
4,215
The Company does not have any off-balance sheet transactions.
SELECTED QUARTERLY INFORMATION
31-Mar
31-Dec
30-Sep
30-Jun
31-Mar
31-Dec
30-Sep
30-Jun
2023
2022
2022
2022
2022
2021
2021
2021
Q4 2023 Q3 2023 Q2 2023 Q1 2023 Q4 2022 Q3 2022 Q2 2022 Q1 2022
(704)
1,954
Fiscal quarter
($000s)
Oil sales
Cash flows (used in)
from operations
Funds from (used in)
operations(1)
Per share – basic and
diluted ($)
Net (loss) income
Per share – basic and
diluted ($)
Capital expenditures
Working capital(1)
(0.00)
(0.00)
(431)
(284)
(803)
395
1,597
747
2,135
1,053
(35)
1,774
(0.00)
354
0.00
1,725
541
0.00
1,471
0.00
2,186
2,270
2,463
1,015
680
0.00
390
0.00
3,418
2,698
2,374
1,845
1,884
1,547
437
515
0.00
217
0.00
2,074
5,548
607
381
0.00
(494)
(0.00)
1,392
2,943
565
417
(774)
119
0.00
0.00
85
(182)
0.00
(0.00)
649
137
3,961
4,218
Total assets
Shares outstanding
(000s)
Operations:
Oil volumes (bbls/d)
Operating netback(1)
($/bbl)
49,697
50,785
48,545
46,188
48,500
42,835
42,321
44,429
485,304
485,304
485,304
485,304
485,304
432,987
432,987
432,987
182
180
174
184
174
183
199
176
65.75
39.50
77.77
88.14
91.06
64.58
51.08
41.30
(1)
See “Non-IFRS Measurements” on page 15 of this MD&A.
Production was relatively stable over the past eight quarters averaging 182 bopd despite natural reservoir
declines in the Cuisinier oil field with the exception of Q2 fiscal 2022, which benefited from incremental production
from two wells offline for work-over activity in Q1 fiscal 2022. The Cuisinier water injection pilot appears to have
arrested natural declines for the past two quarters. Ongoing volatility with a generally increasing trend in US
12
Brent prices from Q1 fiscal 2022 to Q2 fiscal 2023 resulted in a trend towards increased oil sales and operating
netbacks. Net income, cashflow and funds from operations were impacted by other income from a Cuisinier
crude oil stock adjustment in Q2 fiscal 2023 and other expense from a Cuisinier royalty adjustment in Q4 fiscal
2023. The impact of Rising commodity pricing increased cash flow from operations with the exception of Q1
fiscal 2022 when revenue and cash flow were significantly impacted by low commodity prices. Working capital3
deficiency occurred during the current period as a result of the Cuisinier joint venture royalty adjustment described
above.
DISCLOSURE CONTROLS & PROCEDURES AND INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL
REPORTING (ICFR)
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to
be disclosed by the Company in its annual filings, interim filings or other reports filed or submitted by it under
securities legislation is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the
securities legislation and includes controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be
disclosed by the Company in its annual filings, interim filings or other reports filed or submitted under securities
legislation is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its certifying officers, as
appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer oversee this evaluation process and have concluded that
the design and operation of these disclosure controls and procedures are not effective due to the material
weaknesses identified in internal controls over financial reporting as noted below. The Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer have individually signed certifications to this effect.
Internal Controls over Financial Reporting
The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Bengal are responsible for designing and ensuring the
operating effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting (“ICFR”) or causing them to be designed and
operating effectively under their supervision to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial
reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS. Bengal’s
certifying officers have assessed the design and operating effectiveness of internal controls over financial
reporting and concluded that the Company’s ICFR were not effective at March 31, 2023 due to the material
weaknesses noted below.
No changes in internal controls over financial reporting were identified during the period that have materially
affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.
While Bengal’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer believe the Company’s internal controls and
procedures provide a reasonable level of assurance that they are reliable, an internal control system cannot
prevent all errors and fraud. It is management’s belief that any control system, no matter how well conceived or
operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.
During the design and operating effectiveness assessment, certain material weaknesses in internal controls over
financial reporting were identified, as follows:
● Management is aware that there is a lack of segregation of duties due to the small number of employees
dealing with general and administrative and financial matters. However, management believes that at
this time the potential benefits of adding employees to clearly segregate duties do not justify the costs;
and
● Bengal has limited full-time in-house personnel to address all complex and non-routine financial
accounting issues and tax matters that may arise. It is not deemed as economically feasible at this time
to have such personnel. Bengal relies on external experts for review and advice on complex financial
accounting issues and for tax planning, tax provision and compilation of corporate tax returns.
These material weaknesses in internal controls over financial reporting result in a reasonable possibility that a
material misstatement will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Management and the Board of
Directors work to mitigate the risk of material misstatement; however, management and the Board of Directors
do not have reasonable assurance that this risk can be reduced to a remote likelihood of a material misstatement.
3 See "Non-IFRS and Other Financial Measures " on page 15 of this MD&A.
13
APPLICATION OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
The timely preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgments, estimates and
assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
income and expenses. Accordingly, actual results may differ from these estimates, which are reviewed on an
ongoing basis. Significant estimates and judgments made by management in the preparation of these financial
statements are outlined below.
The economic climate may have significant adverse impacts on the Company, including material declines in
revenue and cash flows, and related impacts to working capital levels and/or debt balances, which may also
have a direct impact on the Company’s operating results and financial position. These and other factors may
adversely affect the Company’s liquidity and the Company’s ability to generate income and cash flows to meet
the Company’s current and future obligations.
(a) Critical judgments in applying accounting policies
The following are the critical judgments, apart from those involving estimations (see below), that management
has made in the process of applying the Company’s accounting policies and that have the most significant
effect on the amounts recognized in these financial statements.
Identification of Cash-generating units
Petroleum and natural gas properties are aggregated into cash-generating units, for the purpose of assessing
recoverability, based on their ability to generate largely independent cash flows. By their nature, these
estimates and assumptions are subject to measurement uncertainty and may impact the carrying value of
the Company's assets in future periods.
Impairment indicators
At the end of each reporting period, the Company reviews the petroleum and natural gas properties for
external or internal circumstances that indicate that the petroleum and natural gas properties may be
impaired. For the purpose of impairment testing, assets are grouped together into cash generating units
(“CGU”s) for the purpose of impairment testing, which is the lowest level at which there are identifiable cash
inflows that are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets. If any such indication of
impairment exists, the Company makes an estimate of its recoverable amount. A CGU’s recoverable amount
is the higher of its fair value less costs to sell (“FVLCS”) and its value in use (“VIU”).
The application of the Company’s accounting policy for exploration and evaluation, petroleum and natural
gas properties required management to make certain judgments as to future events and circumstances as
to whether economic quantities of reserves have been found.
(b) Key sources of uncertainty
The following are the key assumptions concerning the sources of estimation uncertainty at the end of the
reporting period that have a significant risk of causing adjustments to the carrying amounts of assets and
liabilities.
Decommissioning provisions
The Company estimates future remediation costs of production facilities, wells, and pipelines at different
stages of development and construction of assets or facilities. In most instances, removal of assets occurs
many years into the future. This requires judgment regarding abandonment date, future environmental and
regulatory legislation, the extent of reclamation activities, the engineering methodology for estimating cost,
future removal technologies in determining the removal cost and liability-specific discount rates to determine
the present value of these cash flows.
Impairment of petroleum and natural gas assets
Petroleum and natural gas properties are assessed for recoverability at a cash generating unit (“CGU”) level.
The determination of CGUs is subject to management judgements. Recoverability is assessed by comparing
the carrying value of the asset to its recoverable amount, which is based on the higher of fair value of the
assets less the cost to sell (“FVLCS”) or value in use (“VIU”).
The significant estimates used in the determination of the recoverable amount include the following:
• proved and probable oil and gas reserves and the related cash flows
14
• discount rates – the discount rates used to calculate the net present value of proved and probable
oil and gas reserves may be influenced by changes in the general economic environment which
could result in significant changes to the estimate
The estimate of proved plus probable oil and gas reserves and the related cash flows requires the expertise
of independent third-party reserve engineers and includes significant assumptions related to:
• Forecasted oil and gas commodity prices
• Forecasted production
• Forecasted operating costs
• Forecasted royalty costs
• Forecasted future development costs
Reserves
The estimate of proved and probable oil and gas reserves is integral to the calculation of the amount of
depletion charged to the statement of operations and is also a key determinant in assessing whether the
carrying value of any of the Company’s petroleum and natural gas properties has been impaired. Changes
in reported reserves can impact asset carrying values due to changes in expected future cash flows.
The Company’s reserves are evaluated and reported on by independent reserve engineers at least annually
in accordance with Canadian Securities Administrators’ National Instrument 51-101– Standards of Disclosure
For Oil and Gas Activities ("NI-51-101"). Reserve estimation is based on a variety of factors including
engineering data, geological and geophysical data, projected future rates of production, forecasted oil and
gas commodity prices, all of which are subject to significant judgment and interpretation. Additionally, the
Reserve estimation includes future development costs, which represent the Company’s best estimate of the
nature cost and timing development activities expected in the future and required to access identified
reserves. These future capital estimates include significant judgements and uncertainty.
Share-based payments
The Company measures the cost of its share-based payments to directors, officers, employees, and certain
consultants by reference to the fair value of the equity instruments at the date at which they are granted. The
assumptions used in determining fair value include share price, expected lives of options, risk-free rates of
return, share price volatility and the estimated forfeiture rate. Changes to assumptions may have a material
impact on the amounts presented.
Liquidity
As part of its capital management process, the Company prepares budgets and forecasts, which are used
by management and the Board of Directors to direct and monitor the strategy and ongoing operations and
liquidity of the Company. Budgets and forecasts are subject to significant judgment and estimates relating
to activity levels, future cash flows and the timing thereof and other factors which may or may not be within
the control of the Company. The current challenging economic climate may lead to adverse changes in cash
flow or working capital4 levels, which may also have a direct impact on the Company’s results and financial
positions. These and other factors may adversely affect the Company’s liquidity and the Company’s ability
to generate profits in the future.
NON-IFRS AND OTHER FINANCIAL MEASURES
Non-IFRS Financial Measures
Within this MD&A, references are made to terms commonly used in the oil and gas industry. Operating netback,
operating netback per barrel, funds from operations, funds from operations per share, adjusted net income and
adjusted net income per share do not have any standardized meaning under IFRS and are referred to as non-
IFRS measures. Management believes the presentation of the non-IFRS measures above provide useful
information to investors and shareholders as the measures provide increased transparency and the ability to
better analyze performance against prior periods on a comparable basis.
Operating Netback
Bengal utilizes operating netback as key performance indicator and is utilized by Bengal to better analyze the
operating performance of its petroleum and natural gas assets against prior periods. Operating netback is
calculated oil sales deducting royalties and operating expenses. The following table reconciles petroleum and
natural gas revenue to netback:
4 See "Non-IFRS and Other Financial Measures " on page 15 of this MD&A.
15
($000s)
Operating netbacks
Oil sales
Royalties
Operating expenses
Operating netback
Funds from operations
Three months ended
March 31
2022
2023
Twelve months ended
March 31
2022
2023
1,954
(155)
(721)
1,078
2,374
(142)
(807)
1,425
8,149
(596)
(3,101)
4,452
7,650
(459)
(3,082)
4,109
Management utilized funds from operations a measure to assess the Company’s ability to generate cash not
subject to short-term movements in non-cash operating working capital. Funds from operations is calculated by
adding back all non-cash expense deductions to the net loss for the quarter and year. The following table
reconciles cash from operations to funds from (used in) operations, which is used in this MD&A:
($000s)
Three months ended
March 31
2022
2023
Twelve months ended
March 31
2022
2023
Cash (used in) from operating activities
Changes in non-cash working capital
Funds (used in) from operations
(702)
273
(429)
437
78
515
2,111
(123)
1,988
835
597
1,432
Capital Management measures
Working capital
Bengal uses working capital to monitor its capital structure, liquidity, and its ability to fund current operations.
Working capital is calculated as current assets less current liabilities but excludes other obligations and current
portion of decommissioning obligations.
Non-IFRS Financial Ratios
Bengal uses operating netback per boe to assess the Company’s operating performance on a per unit of
production basis. Operating netback per barrel equals operating netback divided by the applicable number of
barrels.
Operating netbacks per barrel
($/bbl)
Oil sales
Royalties
Operating expenses
Operating netback
Three months ended
March 31
2022
2023
Twelve months ended
March 31
2022
2023
119.18
(9.45)
(43.98)
65.75
151.72
(9.08)
(51.58)
91.06
124.07
(9.07)
(47.21)
67.79
114.53
(6.87)
(46.14)
61.52
16
Bengal uses funds from operations per share to assess the ability of the Company to generate the funds
necessary for financing, operating, and capital activities on a per-share basis. This is a non-IFRS measure
calculated by dividing funds from operations by weighted average basic and diluted shares outstanding for the
periods disclosed.
ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations used in this MD&A have the meanings set forth below:
bbl
bbls
bbls/d
bopd
$/bbl
ft3
FY
K
km
km2
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
WI
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
barrel
barrels
barrels per day
barrels of oil per day
dollars per barrel
cubic feet
fiscal year
thousand
kilometres
square kilometres
three months ended June 30
three months ended September 30
three months ended December 31
three months ended March 31
working interest
RISK FACTORS
Companies engaged in the oil and gas industry are exposed to a number of business risks, which can be
described as operational, financial and political risks, many of which are outside of the Company’s control. More
specifically, these include risks of economically finding reserves and producing oil and gas in commercial
quantities, marketing the production, commodity prices, environmental and safety risks, and risks associated with
the foreign jurisdiction in which the Company operates. In order to mitigate these risks, the Company has an
experienced base of qualified technical and financial personnel in both Canada and Australia. Further, the
Company has focused its foreign operations and plans to target future foreign operations in known and
prospective hydrocarbon basins in jurisdictions that have previously established long-term oil and gas ventures
with foreign oil and gas companies.
Bengal monitors and updates its cash projection models on a regular basis, which assists in the timing decision
of capital expenditures. Farm outs of projects may be arranged if capital constraints are an issue or if the risk
profile dictates that Bengal wishes to hold a lesser working interest position. Equity, if available and if on
favorable terms, may be utilized to help fund Bengal’s capital program.
An investment in the shares of the Company should be considered speculative due to the nature of the
Company's involvement in the exploration for and the acquisition, development and production of oil and natural
gas in foreign countries, and its current stage of development. An investor should carefully consider the risk
factors set out below and consider all other information contained herein and, in the Company's, other public
filings before making an investment decision. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to the
management of the Company may also have an adverse effect on Bengal’s business and the information set out
below does not purport to be an exhaustive summary of the risks affecting Bengal.
Exploration, Development and Production Risks
Oil and natural gas exploration involves a high degree of risk, for which even a combination of experience,
knowledge and careful evaluation may not be able to overcome. There is no assurance that expenditures made
on future exploration by Bengal will result in new discoveries of oil or natural gas in commercial quantities. It is
difficult to project the costs of implementing an exploratory drilling program due to the inherent uncertainties of
drilling in unknown formations, the costs associated with encountering various drilling conditions such as over-
pressured zones, tools lost in the hole and changes in drilling plans and locations because of prior exploratory
wells or additional seismic data and interpretations thereof.
17
The long-term commercial success of Bengal will depend on its ability to find, acquire, develop and commercially
produce oil and natural gas reserves. No assurance can be given that Bengal will be able to locate satisfactory
properties for acquisition or participation. Moreover, if such acquisitions or participations are identified, Bengal
may determine that current markets, terms of acquisition and participation or pricing conditions make such
acquisitions or participations uneconomic.
Future oil and gas exploration may involve unprofitable efforts, not only from dry wells, but from wells that are
productive but do not produce sufficient net revenues to return a profit after drilling, operating and other costs.
Completion of a well does not assure a profit on the investment or recovery of drilling, completion and operating
costs. In addition, drilling hazards or environmental damage could greatly increase the cost of operations, and
various field operating conditions may adversely affect the production from successful wells. These conditions
include delays in obtaining governmental approvals or consents, shut-ins of connected wells resulting from
extreme weather conditions, insufficient storage or transportation capacity or other geological and mechanical
conditions. While diligent well supervision and effective maintenance operations can contribute to maximizing
production rates over time, production delays and declines from normal field operating conditions cannot be
eliminated and can be expected to adversely affect revenue and cash flow levels to varying degrees.
In addition, oil and gas operations are subject to the risks of exploration, development and production of oil and
natural gas properties, including encountering unexpected formations or pressures, premature declines of
reservoirs, blow-outs, cratering, sour gas releases, fires, and spills. Losses resulting from the occurrence of any
of these risks could have a materially adverse effect on future results of operations, liquidity, and financial
condition.
Bengal attempts to minimize exploration, development, and production risks by utilizing a high-end technical
team with extensive experience and multidisciplinary skill sets to assure the highest probability of success in its
drilling efforts. Bengal’s collaboration of a team of seasoned veterans in the oil and gas business, each with a
unique expertise in the various upstream to downstream technical disciplines of prospect generation to
operations, provides the best assurance of competency, risk management and drilling success. A full cycle
economic model is utilized to evaluate all hydrocarbon prospects. Detailed geological and geophysical
techniques are regularly employed including 3D seismic, petrography, sedimentology, petrophysical log analysis
and regional geological evaluation.
Risks Associated with Foreign Operations
International operations are subject to political, economic and other uncertainties, including, among others, risk
of war, risk of terrorist activities, border disputes, expropriation, renegotiations or modification of existing
contracts, restrictions on repatriation of funds, import, export and transportation regulations and tariffs, taxation
policies, including royalty and tax increases and retroactive tax claims, exchange controls, limits on allowable
levels of production, currency fluctuations, labor disputes, sudden changes in laws, government control over
domestic oil and gas pricing and other uncertainties arising out of foreign government sovereignty over the
Company's international operations. With respect to taxation matters, the governments, and other regulatory
agencies in the foreign jurisdictions in which Bengal operates and intends to operate in the future may make
sudden changes in laws relating to taxation or impose higher tax rates, which may affect Bengal’s operations in
a significant manner. These governments and agencies may not allow certain deductions in calculating tax
payable that Bengal believes should be deductible under applicable laws or may have differing views as to values
of transferred properties. This can result in significantly higher tax payable than initially anticipated by Bengal.
In many circumstances, readjustments to tax payable imposed by these governments and agencies may occur
years after the initial tax amounts were paid by Bengal, which can result in the Company having to pay significant
penalties and fines. Furthermore, in the event of a dispute arising from international operations, the Company
may be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of foreign courts or may not be successful in subjecting foreign
persons to the jurisdiction of courts in Canada.
Prices, Markets and Marketing of Crude Oil and Natural Gas
Oil and natural gas are commodities that have prices determined based on world demand, supply and other
factors, all of which are beyond the control of Bengal. World prices for oil and natural gas have fluctuated in
recent years due to geo-political matters. Any material decline in prices could result in a reduction of net
production revenue. Certain wells or other projects may become uneconomic because of a decline in world oil
prices and natural gas prices, leading to a reduction in the volume of Bengal’s oil and gas reserves. Bengal
might also elect not to produce from certain wells at lower prices. All these factors could result in a material
decrease in Bengal’s future net production revenue, causing a reduction in its oil and gas acquisition and
development activities. In addition to establishing markets for its oil and natural gas, Bengal must also
successfully market its oil and natural gas to prospective buyers. The marketability and price of oil and natural
gas, which may be acquired or discovered by Bengal, may be affected by numerous factors beyond its control.
The ability of Bengal to market its natural gas may depend upon its ability to acquire space on pipelines, which
18
deliver natural gas to commercial markets. Bengal may also likely be affected by deliverability uncertainties
related to the proximity of its reserves to pipelines and processing facilities and related to operational problems
with such pipelines and facilities and extensive government regulation relating to price, taxes, royalties, land
tenure, allowable production, the export of oil and natural gas and many other aspects of the oil and natural gas
business.
Substantial Capital Requirements and Liquidity
Bengal’s cash flow from its reserves may not be sufficient to always fund its ongoing activities. From time to
time, Bengal may require additional financing to carry out its oil and gas acquisition, exploration, and development
activities. Failure to obtain such financing on a timely basis could cause Bengal to forfeit its interest in certain
properties, miss certain acquisition opportunities and reduce or terminate its operations. If Bengal’s revenues
from its reserves decrease because of lower oil and natural gas prices or otherwise, it may affect Bengal’s ability
to expend the necessary capital to replace its reserves or to maintain its production. If Bengal’s funds from (used
in) operations are not sufficient to satisfy its capital expenditure requirements, there can be no assurance that
additional debt or equity financing will be available to meet these requirements or available on terms acceptable
to Bengal.
Bengal monitors and updates its cash projection models on a regular basis, which assists in the timing decision
of capital expenditures. Farm outs of projects may be arranged if capital constraints are an issue or if the risk
profile dictates that Bengal wishes to hold a lesser working interest position. Equity, if available and if on favorable
terms, may be utilized to help fund Bengal’s capital program.
Health, Safety and Environment
All phases of the oil and natural gas business present environmental risks and hazards and are subject to
environmental regulation pursuant to a variety of federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Environmental
legislation provides for, among other things, restrictions and prohibitions on spills, releases or emissions of
various substances produced in association with oil and natural gas operations. The legislation also requires
that wells and facility sites be operated, maintained, abandoned, and reclaimed to the satisfaction of applicable
regulatory authorities. Compliance with such legislation can require significant expenditures and a breach of
applicable environmental legislation may result in the imposition of fines and penalties, some of which may be
material.
Environmental legislation is evolving in a manner expected to result in stricter standards and enforcement, larger
fines and liability and potentially increased capital expenditures and operating costs. The discharge of oil, natural
gas or other pollutants into the air, soil or water may give rise to liabilities to governments and third parties and
may require the Company to incur costs to remedy such discharge.
Changing Regulation
Emission, carbon and other regulations impacting climate and climate related matter are dynamic and constantly
evolving. With respect to environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) and climate reporting, the International
Sustainability Standards Board has issued an IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standard with the aim to develop
sustainability disclosure standards that are globally consistent, comparable, and reliable. In addition, the
Canadian Securities Administrators have issued a proposed National Instrument 51-107 Disclosure of Climate-
related Matters. The cost to comply with these standards, and others that may be developed or evolve over time,
has not yet been quantified by the Corporation.
Insurance
Bengal’s involvement in the exploration for and development of oil and gas properties may result in the Company
becoming subject to liability for pollution, blow-outs, property damage, personal injury, or other hazards. Although
Bengal has insurance in accordance with industry standards to address such risks, such insurance has limitations
on liability that may not be sufficient to cover the full extent of such liabilities. In addition, such risks may not, in
all circumstances be insurable or, in certain circumstances, Bengal may elect not to obtain insurance to deal with
specific risks due to the high premiums associated with such insurance or other reasons. The payment of such
uninsured liabilities would reduce the funds available to Bengal. The occurrence of a significant event that Bengal
is not fully insured against, or the insolvency of the insurer of such event, could have a material adverse effect
on Bengal’s financial position, results of operations or prospects.
Competition
Bengal actively competes for reserve acquisitions, exploration leases, licenses and concessions and skilled
industry personnel with a substantial number of other oil and gas companies, many of which have significantly
greater financial and personnel resources than Bengal. Bengal's competitors include major integrated oil and
19
natural gas companies and numerous other independent oil and natural gas companies and individual producers
and operators.
Bengal’s ability to successfully bid on and acquire additional property rights, to discover reserves, to participate
in drilling opportunities and to identify and enter into commercial arrangements with customers will be dependent
upon developing and maintaining close working relationships with its future industry partners and joint operators
and its ability to select and evaluate suitable properties and to consummate transactions in a highly competitive
environment.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Additional information relating to Bengal is filed on SEDAR and can be viewed at www.sedar.com. Information
can also be obtained by contacting the Company at Bengal Energy Ltd., Suite 1110, 715 5th Avenue SW.,
Calgary, Alberta T2P 2X6, by email to info@bengalenergy.ca or by accessing Bengal’s website at
www.bengalenergy.ca.
Forward-looking Statements - Certain statements contained within this MD&A constitute forward-looking statements or
information ("forward-looking statements”) as defined by applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events
or Bengal’s future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek,” "anticipate,” "budget,”
"plan,” "continue,” "estimate,” "expect,” "forecast,” "may,” "will,” "project,” "predict,” "potential,” "targeting,” "intend,” "could,”
"might,” "should,” "believe" and similar expressions. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking
statements. Bengal believes the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance
can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this MD&A
should not be unduly relied upon. The projections, estimates and beliefs contained in such forward-looking statements are
based on management’s estimates, opinions, and assumptions at the time the statements were made, including assumptions
relating to: the impact of economic conditions in North America and Australia and globally; industry conditions; changes in
laws and regulations including, without limitation, the adoption of new environmental laws and regulations and changes in
how they are interpreted and enforced; increased competition; the availability of qualified operating or management personnel;
fluctuations in commodity prices, foreign exchange or interest rates; stock market volatility and fluctuations in market
valuations of companies with respect to announced transactions and the final valuations thereof; results of exploration and
testing activities; and the ability to obtain required approvals and extensions from regulatory authorities.
In particular, this MD&A contains forward-looking statements pertaining to the following:
● Oil and natural gas production levels;
● The size of the oil and natural gas reserves;
● The adverse impacts on the Company as a result of the current challenging economic climate;
● Bengal's drilling program and waterflood pilot;
● The belief that the Cooper Basin assets offer attractive upside potential for oil and gas;
● The timing of the planned injection of produced formation water on the Barta Block PL 303 and the anticipated
resulting production increases, future waterflood expansion phases, and reduced operating costs;
● The timing of equipping for production cased wells;
● The continued engagement in early-stage discussions with third parties with respect to potential business
combination transactions;
● The continued integration of subsurface data from production licenses in the selection of exploration and appraisal
drilling locations;
● The future development prospects generated by the initial development activities at PL 1110 (previously 114)
Wareena, PL 1109 (previously 157) Ghina, PL 188 Ramses, PL 411 Karnak, PPL 138 pipeline;
● Projections of market prices and costs including, but not limited to, expected royalty rates;
● Expectations regarding the ability to raise capital and to continually add to reserves through acquisitions and
development;
● That required payments will be met out of operation cash flows and alternative forms of financing;
● Bengal’s ability to finance its working capital deficiency and to source funds for the same;
● Treatment under governmental regulatory regimes and tax laws;
● Capital expenditures programs and estimates of costs; and
● That funding of working capital requirements, commitments and other planned expenses will be by cash on hand,
cash flows, farm-outs, joint ventures, share issuances or other alternative forms of capital raising and funds will be
sufficient to meet requirements including but not limited to Bengal’s exploration activities through fiscal 2022 and
capital program.
The forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties that
may cause Bengal’s actual results, performance or achievement to differ materially from those expectations expressed in, or
implied by, these forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, risks associated with:
● The continuing adverse impact of COVID-19 on economic activity and demand for oil and natural gas;
● Uncertainties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic;
● Fluctuations in commodity prices, foreign exchange or interest rates;
● Changes in the demand for or supply of Bengal's products;
● Liabilities inherent in oil and natural gas operations;
20
● The failure to obtain required regulatory approvals or extensions;
● The failure to satisfy the conditions under farm-in and joint venture agreements;
● The failure to secure required equipment and personnel;
● Changes in general global economic conditions including, without limitations, the economic conditions in North
America and Australia;
● Uncertainties associated with estimating oil and natural gas reserves;
●
Increased competition for, among other things: capital, acquisitions of reserves, undeveloped lands and skilled
personnel;
Incorrect assessment of the value of acquisitions;
Inability to meet commitments due to inability to raise funds or complete farm-outs;
● The availability of qualified operating or management personnel;
●
●
● Geological, technical, drilling and processing problems;
● Bengal’s development and exploration opportunities;
● The results of exploration and development drilling and related activities;
● Changes in laws and regulations including, without limitation, the adoption of new environmental, royalty and tax
laws and regulations and changes in how they are interpreted and enforced;
● The ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources; and
● Counter-party credit risk, stock market volatility and market valuation of Bengal’s stock.
Statements relating to "reserves" or "resources" are deemed to be forward-looking statements, as they involve the implied
assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions, which the resources and reserves described, can be profitably
produced in the future. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing lists of factors are not exhaustive. The forward-looking
statements contained in this MD&A are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements
contained in this document speak only as of the date of this document and Bengal does not assume any obligation to publicly
update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required pursuant to applicable securities
laws. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect Bengal’s operations and financial results are included
in reports on file with Canadian securities authorities and may be accessed through the SEDAR website (www.sedar.com)
and at Bengal’s website (www.bengalenergy.ca).
Disclosure of Oil and Gas Information
Unless otherwise specified, reserves data set forth in this document is based upon an independent reserve assessment and
evaluation prepared by GLJ with an effective date of March 31, 2022 (the "GLJ Report"). The GLJ Report has been prepared
in accordance with the standards contained in the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook (the "COGE Handbook") and
the reserve definitions contained in National Instrument 51-101 – Standards of Disclosure For Oil and Gas Activities.
This document discloses unbooked drilling locations. Unbooked locations are internal estimates based on the Company’s
prospective acreage and an assumption as to the number of wells that can be drilled per area based on industry practice and
internal review. Unbooked locations do not have attributed reserves or resources. There is no certainty that the Company
will drill all unbooked drilling locations and if drilled there is no certainty that such locations will result in additional oil and gas
reserves, resources, or production. The drilling locations on which the Company actually drill wells will ultimately depend
upon the availability of capital, regulatory approvals, seasonal restrictions, oil and natural gas prices, costs, actual drilling
results, additional reservoir information that is obtained and other factors.
Test Rates
References in this MD&A to production test rates are useful in confirming the presence of hydrocarbons; however, such rates
are not determinative of the rates at which such wells will commence production and decline thereafter and are not indicative
of long- term performance or ultimate recovery. Readers are cautioned not to place reliance on such rates in calculating the
aggregate production for the Company. A pressure transient analysis or well-test interpretation has not been carried out in
respect of all wells. Accordingly, the Company cautions that the test results are historical and not indicative of expected
production.
Internal Estimates
Certain information contained herein is based on estimated values the Company believes to be reasonable and are subject
to the same limitations as discussed under "Forward-looking Statements" above.
21
CORPORATE INFORMATION
AUDITORS
KPMG LLP • Calgary, Canada
LEGAL COUNSEL
Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP • Calgary, Canada
Piper Alderman • Sydney, Australia
BANKERS
Royal Bank of Canada • Calgary, Canada
WestPac • Sydney, Australia
REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT
Computershare • Toronto, Canada
DIRECTORS
Chayan Chakrabarty
James B. Howe
Peter Lansom
Dr. Brian J. Moss
Robert D. Steele (Chairman)
W. B. (Bill) Wheeler
DISCLOSURE COMMITTEE
Chayan Chakrabarty
Jerrad Blanchard
AUDIT COMMITTEE
James B. Howe (Chairman)
Robert D. Steele
W. B. (Bill) Wheeler
RESERVES COMMITTEE
Dr. Brian J. Moss (Chairman)
Peter Lansom
Robert D. Steele
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Dr. Brian J. Moss (Chairman)
Robert D. Steele
Peter Lansom
GOVERNANCE AND NOMINATING COMMITTEE
W.B. (Bill) Wheeler (Chairman)
Robert D. Steele
Jim Howe
HEALTH SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
Peter Lansom (Chairman)
Robert D. Steele
Dr. Brian J. Moss
OFFICERS
Chayan Chakrabarty, President & Chief Executive Officer
Richard N. Edgar, Executive Vice President
Jerrad Blanchard, Chief Financial Officer
Bruce Allford, Secretary
STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING – TSX: BNG
22
Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended
March 31, 2023, and 2022
MANAGEMENT’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL REPORTING
The accompanying consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of management. The
consolidated financial statements have been prepared by management in accordance with International
Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board outlined in the
notes to the consolidated financial statements. The consolidated financial statements include certain
estimates that reflect management’s best judgments. Management has determined such amounts on a
reasonable basis in order to ensure that the consolidated financial statements are presented fairly, in all
material respects. In the opinion of management, the consolidated financial statements have been
prepared within acceptable limits of materiality and are in accordance with International Financial Reporting
Standards. The financial information contained in the annual report is consistent with that in the
consolidated financial statements.
Management is also responsible for establishing and maintaining appropriate systems of internal control
over the Company’s financial reporting. The internal control system was designed to provide reasonable
assurance to management regarding the preparation and presentation of the consolidated financial
statements. Management tested and evaluated the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures
and internal controls over financial reporting as at March 31, 2023. During this evaluation, management
identified material weaknesses due to the limited number of finance and accounting personnel at the
Company dealing with complex and non-routine accounting transactions that may arise and due to a lack
of segregation of duties and as a result the controls are not considered effective. All internal control
systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, these systems provide
reasonable but not absolute assurance that financial information is accurate and complete.
KPMG LLP, an independent firm of Chartered Professional Accountants, has been engaged, as approved
by a vote of the shareholders at the Company’s most recent annual general meeting, to examine the
consolidated financial statements in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards and
provide an independent professional opinion.
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, with all of its members being independent directors, have
reviewed the consolidated financial statements including notes thereto with management and KPMG LLP.
The consolidated financial statements have been approved by the Board of Directors on the
recommendation of the Audit Committee.
(signed) “Chayan Chakrabarty”
(signed) “Jerrad Blanchard”
Chayan Chakrabarty
Jerrad Blanchard
President & Chief Executive Officer
Chief Financial Officer
-2-
KPMG LLP
205 5th Avenue SW
Suite 3100
Calgary AB T2P 4B9
Tel 403-691-8000
Fax 403-691-8008
www.kpmg.ca
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
To the Shareholders of Bengal Energy Ltd.
Opinion
We have audited the consolidated financial statements of Bengal Energy Ltd. (the Company), which comprise:
the consolidated statements of financial position as at March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022
the consolidated statements of income (loss) and comprehensive loss for the years then ended
the consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity for the years then ended
the consolidated statements of cash flows for the years then ended
and notes to the consolidated financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies
(Hereinafter referred to as the “financial statements”).
In our opinion, the accompanying financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated
statements of financial position of the Company as at March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022, and its consolidated
financial performance and its consolidated cash flows for the years then ended in accordance with International
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).
Basis for Opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards. Our responsibilities
under those standards are further described in the “Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial
Statements” section of our auditor’s report.
We are independent of the Company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit
of the financial statements in Canada and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with
these requirements.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our
opinion.
KPMG LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership and member firm of the KPMG global
organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private
English company limited by guarantee. KPMG Canada provides services to KPMG LLP.
Key Audit Matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of
the financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2023. These matters were addressed in the context of our
audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate
opinion on these matters.
We have determined the matters described below to be the key audit matters to be communicated in our auditor’s
report.
Assessment of the impact of estimated proved and probable oil and gas reserves on property, plant
and equipment (“PP&E”)
Description of the matter
We draw attention to note 3, note 4, and note 8 to the financial statements. The Company uses estimated
proved and probable oil and gas reserves to deplete its petroleum and natural gas properties included in
PP&E, to assess for indicators of impairment on the Company’s cash generating unit (“CGU”) and if any such
indicators exist, to perform an impairment test to estimate the recoverable amount of the CGU.
The Company has $34,629 thousand of PP&E as at March 31, 2023. The Company depletes its net carrying
value of petroleum and natural gas properties using the unit-of-production method by reference to the ratio of
production in the year to the related proved and probable oil and gas reserves, taking into account estimated
future development costs necessary to bring those reserves into production. Depletion and depreciation expense
on petroleum and natural gas properties was $1,039 thousand for the year ended March 31, 2023.
The estimate of proved and probable oil and gas reserves requires the expertise of independent third-party
reserve engineers and includes significant assumptions related to:
Forecasted oil and gas commodity prices
Forecasted production
Forecasted operating costs
Forecasted royalty costs
Forecasted future development costs.
The Company engages independent third-party reserve engineers to evaluate the proved and probable oil and
gas reserves.
Why the matter is a key audit matter
We identified the assessment of the impact of estimated proved and probable oil and gas reserves on PP&E as
a key audit matter. Significant auditor judgment was required to evaluate the results of our audit procedures
regarding the estimate of proved and probable oil and gas reserves.
How the matter was addressed in the audit
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this key audit matter:
2
We assessed the depletion and depreciation expense calculation for compliance with International Financial
Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).
With respect to the estimate of proved and probable oil and gas reserves:
We evaluated the competence, capabilities and objectivity of the independent third-party reserves engineer
engaged by the Company
We compared forecasted oil and gas commodity prices to those published by other independent third-party
reserves engineers
We compared the fiscal 2023 actual production, operating costs, royalty costs and development costs of the
Company to those estimates used in the prior year’s estimate of proved oil and gas reserves and the related
future cash flows to assess the Company’s ability to accurately forecast
We evaluated the appropriateness of forecasted production and forecasted operating costs, royalty costs
and future development costs assumptions by comparing to fiscal 2023 historical results. We took into
account changes in conditions and events affecting the Company to assess the adjustments or lack of
adjustments made by the Company in arriving at the assumptions.
Other Information
Management is responsible for the other information. Other information comprises the information included in
Management’s Discussion and Analysis filed with the relevant Canadian Securities Commissions.
Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not and will not express
any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information
identified above and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the
financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit and remain alert for indications that the other
information appears to be materially misstated.
We obtained the information included in Management’s Discussion and Analysis filed with the relevant Canadian
Securities Commissions as at the date of this auditor’s report. If, based on the work we have performed on this
other information, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to
report that fact in the auditor’s report.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Responsibilities of Management and Those Charged with Governance for the Financial Statements
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in accordance
with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards
Board (IASB), and for such internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation
of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
3
In preparing the financial statements, management is responsible for assessing the Company’s ability to
continue as a going concern, disclosing as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going
concern basis of accounting unless management either intends to liquidate the Company or to cease operations,
or has no realistic alternative but to do so.
Those charged with governance are responsible for overseeing the Company’s financial reporting process.
Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free
from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our
opinion.
Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance
with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards will always detect a material misstatement when it exists.
Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they
could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial
statements.
As part of an audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards, we exercise professional
judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit.
We also:
Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or
error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is
sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from
error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of
internal control.
Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are
appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the
Company's internal control.
Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates
and related disclosures made by management.
Conclude on the appropriateness of management's use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based
on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may
cast significant doubt on the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material
uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the
financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based
on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions
may cause the Company to cease to continue as a going concern.
4
Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including the disclosures,
and whether the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that
achieves fair presentation.
Communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and
timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that
we identify during our audit.
Provide those charged with governance with a statement that we have complied with relevant ethical
requirements regarding independence, and communicate with them all relationships and other matters that
may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence, and where applicable, related safeguards.
Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the financial information of the entities or business
activities within the group Company to express an opinion on the financial statements. We are responsible
for the direction, supervision and performance of the group audit. We remain solely responsible for our audit
opinion.
Determine, from the matters communicated with those charged with governance, those matters that were of
most significance in the audit of the financial statements of the current period and are therefore the key audit
matters. We describe these matters in our auditor’s report unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure
about the matter or when, in extremely rare circumstances, we determine that a matter should not be
communicated in our auditor’s report because the adverse consequences of doing so would reasonably be
expected to outweigh the public interest benefits of such communication.
The engagement partner on the audit resulting in this auditor’s report is David Yung.
Chartered Professional Accountants
Calgary, Canada
June 14, 2023
5
BENGAL ENERGY LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
(Thousands of Canadian dollars)
As at March 31,
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Trade and other receivables
Prepaid expenses and deposits
Exploration and evaluation assets
Property, plant and equipment
Total assets
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Trade and other payables
Current portion of lease liability
Decommissioning and restoration liability
Lease liability
Shareholders’ equity:
Share capital
Contributed surplus
Notes
2023
2022
5
6
7
8
9
11
12
$ 795
$ 5,413
1,085
903
2,783
12,248
34,666
2,646
658
8,717
10,352
29,508
$ 49,697
$ 48,577
$ 3,035
$ 3,211
32
3,067
5,096
-
8,163
37
3,248
3,379
31
6,658
118,796
8,103
118,796
8,015
Accumulated and other comprehensive loss
(2,254)
(1,078)
Deficit
(83,111)
(83,814)
Total liabilities and shareholder’s equity
Commitments (Note 22)
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
41,534
41,919
$ 49,697
$ 48,577
-8-
BENGAL ENERGY LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS) AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(Thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts)
For the years ended March 31,
Notes
2023
2022
Revenue
Oil sales
Royalties
Expenses
General and administrative
Operating
Depletion and depreciation
Impairment
Share-based compensation
Loss (gain) on foreign exchange
Other income
Other income
Finance expense
Net income (loss)
14
$ 8,149
$ 7,650
(596)
(459)
7,553
7,191
2,691
3,101
1,072
-
81
2,652
3,082
1,067
568
135
(63)
16
6,882
7,520
(195)
-
163
45
703
(374)
8
7
15
18
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations
(1,176)
(742)
Comprehensive loss
$ (473) $ (1,116)
Income (loss) per share – basic & diluted
Weighted average shares outstanding (000s) – basic
Weighted average shares outstanding (000s) – diluted
16
16
16
$ 0.00
$ (0.00)
485,304
486,169
436,427
436,427
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
-9-
BENGAL ENERGY LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Thousands of Canadian dollars)
For the years ended March 31,
Share capital
Balance beginning of the year
Issuance of common shares for cash
Share issue costs
Balance at end of year
Contributed surplus
Balance at beginning of year
Share-based compensation – expensed
Share-based compensation – capitalized
Balance at end of year
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Balance at beginning of year
2023
2022
$ 118,796 $ 114,636
-
4,185
-
(25)
118,796
118,796
8,015
81
7
8,103
7,870
135
10
8,015
(1,078)
(336)
Exchange differences translation of foreign operations
(1,176) (742)
Balance at end of year
Deficit
Balance at beginning of year
Net income (loss)
Balance at end of year
(2,254)
(1,078)
(83,814)
(83,440)
703
(374)
(83,111)
(83,814)
Total shareholders’ equity
$ 41,534
$ 41,919
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
-10-
BENGAL ENERGY LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Thousands of Canadian dollars)
For the years ended March 31,
Operating activities:
Net income (loss) for the year
Add (deduct) non-cash items
Depletion and depreciation
Accretion on decommissioning and restoration liability
Share-based compensation
Interest on lease liability
Impairment
Unrealized foreign exchange gain
Funds from operations
Change in non-cash working capital
Net cash from operating activities
Investing activities:
Exploration and evaluation expenditures
Petroleum and natural gas property and corporate expenditures
Change in restricted cash
Change in non-cash working capital
Net cash used in investing activities
Financing activities:
Issuance of common shares, net of issuance costs
Repayment of credit facility
Lease payments
Net cash from financing activities
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
Impact of foreign exchange on cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
Notes
2023
2022
11
7
21
7
8
21
12
$ 703 $ (374)
1,072
164
81
3
-
(35)
1,988
123
2,111
1,067
38
135
5
568
(7)
1,432
(597)
835
(2,227)
(5,488)
-
1,005
(6,710)
(1,231)
(3,091)
40
221
(4,061)
-
-
(40)
(40)
4,160
-
(36)
4,124
(4,639)
5,413
21
898
4,531
(16)
$795
$5,413
-11-
BENGAL ENERGY LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years ended March 31, 2023 and 2022
(Tabular amounts are stated in thousands of Canadian dollars except share and per share amounts)
1.
REPORTING ENTITY
Bengal Energy Ltd (the “Company” or “Bengal”) is incorporated under the laws of the Province of Alberta
and is involved in the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas reserves in Australia. The
consolidated financial statements (the “financial statements”) of the Company as at March 31, 2023 and
2022 and for the years then ended are comprised of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries
including Bengal Energy Australia (Pty) Ltd. (“Bengal Pty”) and Bengal Energy International Inc., which
are incorporated in Australia and Canada respectively. The Company conducts many of its activities jointly
with others; these financial statements reflect only the Company’s proportionate interest in such activities.
The Company has its registered office at 2400, 525 – 8th Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P 1G1 and its
head and principal office at 1110, 715 5th Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2P 2X6.
2.
BASIS OF PREPARATION
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting
Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”). See Note 3 for
significant accounting policies.
The financial statements were approved and authorized for issuance by the Board of Directors on June
14, 2023.
These financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis, except for decommissioning
liabilities as discussed in Note 11.
The Company’s presentation currency is Canadian dollars. The functional currency of the Canadian parent
entity is Canadian dollars; the functional currency of the Australian subsidiary is Australian dollars.
Evolving Demand for Energy
Changing Regulation
Emission, carbon, and other regulations impacting climate and climate-related matters are dynamic and
constantly evolving. With respect to environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) and climate reporting,
the International Sustainability Standards Board has issued an IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standard
with the aim to develop sustainability disclosure standards that are globally consistent, comparable, and
reliable. In addition, the Canadian Securities Administrators have issued a proposed National Instrument
51-107 Disclosure of Climate-related Matters. The cost and financial reporting impact of compliance with
these standards, and others that may be developed or evolve over time, has not yet been quantified by
the Company.
3.
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The accounting policies set out below have been applied consistently to all periods presented in these
financial statements and have been applied consistently by the Company and its subsidiaries.
(a) Basis of consolidation
The financial statements incorporate the financial statements of the Company and its wholly owned
subsidiaries Bengal Energy Australia (Pty) Ltd. and Bengal Energy International Inc.
Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Company. Control exists when the Company has the power
to govern the financial and operating policies of an entity so as to obtain the benefits from its activities.
In assessing control, potential voting rights that currently are exercisable are taken into account. The
financial statements of subsidiaries are included in the financial statements from the date that control
commences until the date that control ceases.
The Company recognizes in the financial statements its proportionate share of the assets, liabilities,
revenues and expenses of its joint operations.
All intra-group transactions, balances, income and expenses are eliminated in full on consolidation.
(b) Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash and all investments with a maturity of three months or less.
(c) Provisions
A provision is recognized if, as a result of a past event, the Company has a present legal or
constructive obligation that can be estimated reliably, and it is probable that an outflow of economic
benefits will be required to settle the obligation. Provisions are determined by discounting the expected
future cash flows at a pre-tax “risk-free” rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value
of money and the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognized as a finance
expense. Provisions are not recognized for future operating losses.
Decommissioning and restoration liabilities
The Company’s activities give rise to dismantling, decommissioning and site disturbance remediation
activities. Provision is made for the estimated cost of site restoration and capitalized in the relevant
asset category.
Decommissioning obligations are measured at the present value of management’s best estimate of
the expenditures required to settle the present obligation at the period end date. Subsequent to the
initial measurement, the obligation is adjusted at the end of each period to reflect the passage of time
and changes in the estimated future cash flows underlying the obligation. The increase in the provision
due to the passage of time is recognized as finance costs whereas increases/decreases due to
changes in the estimated future cash flows are capitalized. Actual costs incurred upon settlement of
the asset retirement obligations are charged against the provision to the extent the provision was
established.
(d) Oil and natural gas exploration and evaluation expenditures
Exploration and evaluation assets (“E&E assets”)
All costs incurred prior to obtaining the legal right to explore an area are expensed when incurred.
Generally, costs directly associated with the exploration and evaluation of crude oil and natural gas
reserves are initially capitalized. Exploration and evaluation costs are those expenditures for an area
where technical feasibility and commercial viability have not yet been demonstrated. These costs
generally include unproved property acquisition costs, geological and geophysical costs, sampling and
appraisals, drilling and completion costs and capitalized decommissioning costs.
Costs are held in exploration and evaluation assets until the technical feasibility and commercial
viability of the project is established. Amounts are generally reclassified to petroleum and natural gas
properties once probable reserves have been assigned to the field. If probable reserves have not
been established through the completion of exploration and evaluation activities and there are no
future plans for activity in that field, then the exploration and evaluation expenditures are determined
to be impaired and the amounts are charged to profit or loss.
(e) Petroleum and natural gas properties
Petroleum and natural gas properties are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and depletion
and accumulated impairment losses. The initial cost of a petroleum and natural gas property is
comprised of its purchase price or construction cost, any costs directly attributable to bringing the asset
into operation, the initial estimate of the decommissioning obligation, and for qualifying assets,
-13-
borrowing costs. The purchase price or construction cost is the aggregate amount paid and the fair
value of any other consideration given up to acquire the asset.
Subsequent costs
Costs incurred subsequent to the determination of technical feasibility and commercial viability and the
costs of replacing parts of property, plant, and equipment are recognized as oil and natural gas
interests only when they increase the future economic benefits embodied in the specific asset to which
they relate. All other expenditures are recognized in profit or loss as incurred. Such capitalized oil
and natural gas interests generally represent costs incurred in developing proved and/or probable
reserves and bringing in or enhancing production from such reserves and are accumulated on a field
or geotechnical area basis. The carrying amount of any replaced or sold component is derecognized.
The costs of the day-to-day servicing of property, plant, and equipment are recognized in profit or loss
as incurred.
Depletion and depreciation
The net book value of producing assets are depleted on a field-by-field basis using the unit of
production method with reference to the ratio of production in the year to the related proved and
probable reserves, taking into account estimated future development costs necessary to bring those
reserves into production. For purposes of these calculations, production, and reserves of natural gas
are converted to barrels on an energy equivalent basis.
Other assets are depreciated on a declining basis at rates ranging from 20% to 30% per annum.
Gains and losses on disposal of an item of property, plant, and equipment, including oil and natural
gas interests, are determined by comparing the proceeds from disposal with the carrying amount of
property, plant, and equipment and are recognized as separate line items in profit or loss.
(f) Impairment
E&E assets and petroleum and natural gas properties
E&E assets are assessed for impairment when facts and circumstances suggest that the carrying
amount exceeds the recoverable amount and when they are reclassified to petroleum and natural gas
properties. For the purpose of impairment testing, E&E assets are grouped by concession or
production field with other E&E assets belonging to the same concession or production field. The
impairment loss will be calculated as the excess of the carrying value over recoverable amount of the
E&E impairment grouping and any resulting impairment loss is recognized in profit or loss.
Recoverable amount is determined as the higher of the value in use or fair value less costs to sell.
At the end of each reporting period, the Company reviews the petroleum and natural gas properties
for external or internal circumstances that indicate that the petroleum and natural gas properties may
be impaired. For the purpose of impairment testing, assets are grouped together into cash-generating
units (“CGU”s) for the purpose of impairment testing, which is the lowest level at which there are
identifiable cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets. If
any such indication of impairment exists, the Company makes an estimate of its recoverable amount.
A CGU’s recoverable amount is the higher of its fair value less costs to sell (“FVLCS”) and its value in
use (“VIU”). At March 31, 2023, the Company has one producing CGU, the Cuisinier field located in
Australia, in the Cooper Basin.
The FVLCS is determined as the amount that would be obtained from the sale of a CGU in an arm’s
length transaction between knowledgeable and willing parties. The VIU is generally determined as the
net present value of the estimated future cash flows expected to arise from the continued use of the
CGU, including any expansion prospects, and its eventual disposal, using assumptions that an
independent market participant may take into account. The cash flows are discounted by an
appropriate discount rate which would be applied by such a market participant to arrive at a net present
value of the CGU.
An impairment is recognized if the carrying amount of an asset or its CGU exceeds its estimated
recoverable amount. Impairment losses, if any, are recognized on the consolidated statement of profit
or loss.
At the end of each subsequent reporting period, impairment losses are assessed for indicators of
impairment reversal. An impairment loss is reversed if there has been a change in the estimates used
to determine the recoverable amount. Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying
amount of the asset or CGU is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that
-14-
the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined,
net of depletion or amortization, had no impairment loss have been recognized for the asset or CGU
in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognized profit or loss.
Financial assets
A financial asset is assessed at each reporting date to determine whether there is any objective
evidence that it is impaired. A financial asset is considered to be impaired if objective evidence
indicates that one or more events have had a negative effect on the estimated future cash flows of that
asset.
An impairment loss in respect of a financial asset measured at amortized cost is calculated as the
difference between its carrying amount and the present value of the estimated future cash flows
discounted at the original effective interest rate.
Individually significant financial assets are tested for impairment on an individual basis. The remaining
financial assets are assessed collectively in groups that share similar credit risk characteristics.
All impairment losses are recognized in profit or loss.
An impairment loss is reversed if the reversal can be related objectively to an event occurring after the
impairment loss was recognized. For financial assets measured at amortized cost, the reversal is
recognized in profit or loss.
(g) Financial instruments
Financial instruments comprise of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, trade and other
receivables, derivative contracts, trade and other payables and credit facility.
i.
Classification and measurement of financial assets:
A financial asset is measured at amortized cost if it meets both of the following conditions and is
not designated at fair value through profit or loss (“FVTPL”):
-
it is held within a business model whose objective is to hold assets to collect contractual cash
flows; and
its contractual terms give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of
principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding.
-
A debt investment is measured at fair value through other comprehensive income (“FVOCI”) if it
meets both of the following conditions and is not designated at FVTPL:
-
-
it is held within a business model whose objective is achieved by both collecting contractual
cash flows and selling financial assets; and
its contractual terms give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of
principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding.
On initial recognition of an equity investment that is not held for trading, the Company may
irrevocably elect to present subsequent changes in the investment’s fair value in other
comprehensive income (“OCI”). This election is made on an investment-by-investment basis.
All financial assets not classified as measured at amortized cost or FVOCI as described above are
measured at FVTPL. On initial recognition, the Company may irrevocably designate a financial
asset that otherwise meets the requirements to be measured at amortized cost or at FVOCI as
measured as FVTLP if doing so eliminates or significantly reduces an accounting mismatch that
would otherwise arise.
A financial asset (unless it is a trade receivable without a significant financing component that is
initially measured at the transaction price) is initially measured at fair value plus, for an item not at
FVTPL, transaction costs that are directly attributable to its acquisition.
The following accounting policies apply to the subsequent measurement of financial assets:
a) Financial assets at FVTPL
These assets are subsequently measured at fair value. Net gains and losses, including any
interest or dividend income, are recognized in profit or loss.
b) Financial assets at amortized cost
-15-
These assets are subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest
method. The amortized cost is reduced by impairment losses. Interest income, foreign
exchange gains and losses and impairment are recognized in profit or loss. Any gain or loss
on derecognition is recognized in profit or loss.
c) Debt investments at FVOCI
These assets are subsequently measured at fair value. Interest income calculated using the
effective interest method, foreign exchange gains and losses and impairment are recognized
in profit or loss. Other net gains and losses are recognized in OCI. On derecognition, gains
and losses accumulated in OCI are reclassified to profit or loss.
d) Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, trade and other receivables, trade and other
payables, and lease liability
The fair values of these financial instruments approximate their carrying amounts due to their
short-term maturity.
ii.
Classification and measurement of financial liabilities:
Financial liabilities are classified and measured at amortized cost or FVTPL. A financial liability is
classified at FVTPL if it is a derivative or it is designated as such on initial recognition. Financial
liabilities at FVTPL are measured at fair value and net gains and losses, including any interest
expense, are recognized in profit or loss. Other financial liabilities are subsequently measured at
amortized cost using the effective interest method. Interest expense and foreign exchange gains
and losses are recognized in profit or loss. Any gain or loss on derecognition is also recognized
in profit or loss.
The Company has classified cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, trade and other
receivables, and trade and other payables as ‘amortized cost’.
iii.
Derivative financial instruments
The Company may enter into certain financial derivative contracts in order to manage the exposure
to market risks from fluctuations in commodity prices. These instruments are not used for trading
or speculative purposes. The Company does not designate its financial derivative contracts as
effective accounting hedges and therefore will not apply hedge accounting, even though the
Company considers all commodity contracts to be economic hedges. As a result, all derivative
contracts are classified as Fair Value Through Profit and Loss (“FVTPL”) and are recorded on the
statement of financial position at fair value. Transaction costs are recognized in profit or loss when
incurred. Subsequent to initial recognition, derivatives are measured at fair value, and changes
therein will be recognized immediately in profit or loss.
The Company may enter into physical delivery sales contracts for the purposes of receipt or
delivery of non-financial items in accordance with its expected purchase, sale or usage
requirements as executory contracts. As such, these contracts are not considered to be derivative
financial instruments and will not be recorded at fair value on the statement of financial position.
Settlements on these physical delivery contracts will be recognized in petroleum and natural gas
revenue in the period of settlement.
iv.
Share capital
Common shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of
common shares and stock options are recognized as a deduction from equity, net of any tax
effects.
(h) Foreign currency translation
The financial statements are presented in Canadian dollars, which is the Canadian parent entity’s
functional and presentation currency and the functional currency of the Australian subsidiary is
Australian dollars. For the accounts of foreign operations, assets and liabilities are translated at period
end exchange rates, while revenues and expenses are translated using average rates over the period.
Translation gains and losses relating to the foreign operations are included in accumulated other
-16-
comprehensive income, a component of equity. Foreign currency transactions are translated into the
legal entity’s functional currency at the exchange rate in effect at the transaction; and any gains or
losses are recorded in profit or loss.
(i) Share-based compensation
The Company accounts for share-based compensation granted to directors, officers, employees and
consultants using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the fair value of the options at
grant date. An estimated forfeiture rate is incorporated into the fair value calculated and adjusted to
reflect the actual number of options that vest. Share-based compensation expense is recorded and
reflected as share-based compensation expense over the vesting period with a corresponding amount
reflected in contributed surplus. At exercise, the associated amounts previously recorded as
contributed surplus are reclassified to share capital.
(j) Revenue recognition
The nature of the Company’s performance obligations, including roles as third parties and partners,
are evaluated to determine if the Company acts as a principal. The Company recognizes revenue on
a gross basis when it acts as the principal and has primary responsibility for the transaction. Revenue
is recognized on a net basis if the Company acts in the capacity of an agent rather than as a principal.
Revenue from the sales of crude oil is based on the consideration specified in the Crude Oil Sales and
Purchase Agreement (“COSP Agreement”) with the joint venture operator. The Company recognizes
revenue when it transfers control of the product to the joint venture operator, which is generally at the
time the joint venture operator obtains legal title of the crude oil and when it is physically delivered to
the pipeline at an estimated transaction price based on average US Brent price and is adjusted for
quality and other factors specified in the COSP Agreement once the product is shipped to the end
customer and lifted.
(k) Per share amounts
Basic per-share amounts are computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number
of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted per share amounts are calculated giving effect
to the potential dilution that would occur if stock options or other dilutive instruments were exercised
into common shares. The treasury stock method assumes that any proceeds upon the exercise of
dilutive instruments, including remaining unamortized compensation costs, would be used to purchase
common shares at the average market price of the common shares during the period.
(l)
Income taxes
Income tax expense comprises current and deferred tax. Income tax expense is recognized in profit
or loss except to the extent that it relates to items recognized directly in equity, in which case it is
recognized in equity.
Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the year, using tax rates enacted or
substantively enacted at the reporting date, and any adjustments to tax payable in respect of previous
years.
Deferred tax is recognized providing for temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets
and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for taxation purposes. Deferred
tax is not recognized on the initial recognition of assets or liabilities in a transaction that is not a
business combination. In addition, deferred tax is not recognized for taxable temporary differences
arising on the initial recognition of goodwill. Deferred tax is measured at the tax rates that are expected
to be applied to temporary differences when they reverse, based on the laws that have been enacted
or substantively enacted by the reporting date. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset if there is
a legally enforceable right to offset, and they relate to income taxes levied by the same tax authority
on the same taxable entity, or on different tax entities, but they intend to settle current tax liabilities and
assets on a net basis or their tax assets and liabilities will be realized simultaneously.
A deferred tax asset is recognized to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be
available against which the temporary difference can be utilized. Deferred tax assets are reviewed at
each reporting date and are reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the related tax
benefit will be realized.
(m) Finance income and expenses
Finance income consists of interest earned on term deposits. Finance expenses include letter of credit
charges, interest on the Credit Facility, and accretion of the discount on decommissioning obligations.
-17-
(n) Determination of fair value
A number of the Company’s accounting policies and disclosures required the determination of fair
value, both for financial and non-financial assets and liabilities. Fair values have been determined for
measurement and/or disclosure purposes based on the following methods. When applicable, further
information about the assumptions made in determining fair values is disclosed in the notes specific to
that asset or liability.
Fair Value Hierarchy
Financial instruments that are measured subsequent to initial recognition at fair value are grouped into
three categories based on the degree to which fair value is observable:
Level 1 - Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the
reporting date. Active markets are those in which transactions occur in sufficient frequency and
volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis;
Level 2 - Valuations are based on inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are
observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly; including forward prices for
commodities, time value and volatility factors which can be substantially observed or corroborated in
the marketplace;
Level 3 - Inputs that are not based on observable data for the asset or liability.
The Company’s financial instruments comprise cash and cash equivalents, trade and other
receivables and trade and other payables.
The Company's policy is to recognize transfers in and out of the fair value hierarchy as of the date of
the event or change in circumstances that caused the transfer. There were no such transfers during
the period.
(o) Leases
A contract is, or contains, a lease if the contract conveys the right to control the use of an identified
asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. A lease liability is recognized at the
commencement of the lease term at the present value of the lease payments that are not paid at that
date. At the commencement date, a corresponding right-of-use asset is recognized at the amount of
the lease liability, adjusted for lease incentives received, retirement costs and initial direct costs.
Depreciation is recognized on the right-of-use asset over the lease term. Interest expense is
recognized on the lease liability using the effective interest rate method and payments are applied
against the lease liability. Lease terms are based on assumptions regarding extension terms that allow
for operational flexibility and future market conditions.
(p) Government grants
Government grants related to assets are initially recognized by the Company as deferred income at
fair value if there is reasonable assurance that they will be received and the Company will comply with
the conditions associated with the grant; they are then recognized in profit or loss as other income on
a systematic basis over the useful life of the asset. Grants that compensate the Company for expenses
incurred are recognized in profit or loss on a systematic basis in the periods in which the expenses are
recognized.
4.
MANAGEMENT JUDGMENTS AND ESTIMATES
The timely preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgments, estimates
and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and income and expenses. Accordingly, actual results may differ from these estimates.
Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting
estimates are recognized in the period in which the estimates are revised and in any future periods
affected. Significant estimates and judgments made by management in the preparation of these financial
statements are out-lined below.
The economic climate may have significant adverse impacts on the Company, including material declines
in revenue and cash flows, and related impacts to working capital levels and/or debt balances, which may
also have a direct impact on the Company’s operating results and financial position. These and other
-18-
factors may adversely affect the Company’s liquidity and the Company’s ability to generate income and
cash flows to meet the Company’s current and future obligations.
(a) Critical judgments in applying accounting policies
The following are the critical judgments, apart from those involving estimations (see below), that
management has made in the process of applying the Company’s accounting policies and that have
the most significant effect on the amounts recognized in these financial statements.
Identification of cash-generating units
Petroleum and natural gas properties are aggregated into cash-generating units, for the purpose of
assessing recoverability, based on their ability to generate largely independent cash inflows. By their
nature, these estimates and assumptions are subject to measurement uncertainty and may impact the
carrying value of the Company's assets in future periods.
Impairment indicators
The Company assesses at each reporting date whether there is an indication that petroleum and
natural gas properties within the Cuisinier cash generating unit (the “Cuisinier CGU”) may be impaired.
Significant judgment is required to analyze the relevant external and internal indicators of impairment
with the estimate of proved and probable and oil and gas reserves and the related cash flows being
significant to the assessment. If any such indication exists, the asset or the CGU’s recoverable amount
is estimated.
The application of the Company’s accounting policy for exploration and evaluation, petroleum and
natural gas properties required management to make certain judgments as to future events and
circumstances as to whether economic quantities of reserves have been found.
(b) Key sources of uncertainty
The following are the key assumptions concerning the sources of estimation uncertainty at the end of
the reporting period that have a significant risk of causing adjustments to the carrying amounts of
assets and liabilities.
Decommissioning provisions
The Company estimates future remediation costs of production facilities, wells and pipelines at
different stages of development and construction of assets or facilities. In most instances, removal of
assets occurs many years into the future. This requires judgment regarding abandonment date, future
environmental and regulatory legislation, the extent of reclamation activities, the engineering
methodology for estimating cost, future removal technologies in determining the removal cost and
liability-specific discount rates to determine the present value of these cash flows.
Impairment of petroleum and natural gas assets
Petroleum and natural gas properties are assessed for recoverability at a CGU level. The
determination of CGUs is subject to management judgements. Recoverability is assessed by
comparing the carrying value of the asset to its recoverable amount, which is based on the higher of
FVLCS or VIU.
The significant estimates used in the determination of the recoverable amount include the following:
• proved and probable oil and gas reserves and the related cash flows
• discount rates – the discount rates used to calculate the net present value of proved and
probable oil and gas reserves may be influenced by changes in the economic environment
which could result in significant changes to the estimate
The estimate of proved plus probable oil and gas reserves and the related cash flows requires the
expertise of independent third party reserve engineers and includes significant assumptions related
to:
• Forecasted oil and gas commodity prices
• Forecasted production
• Forecasted operating costs
• Forecasted royalty costs
• Forecasted future development costs.
-19-
Reserves
The estimate of proved and probable oil and gas reserves is integral to the calculation of the amount
of depletion charged to the statement of operations and is also a key determinant in assessing whether
the carrying value of any of the Company’s petroleum and natural gas properties has been impaired.
Changes in reported reserves can impact asset carrying values due to changes in expected future
cash flows.
The Company’s reserves are evaluated and reported on by independent third party reserve engineers
at least annually in accordance with Canadian Securities Administrators’ National Instrument 51-101.
Reserve estimation is based on a variety of factors including engineering data, geological and
geophysical data, projected future rates of production, forecasted oil and gas commodity prices, and
timing of future expenditures, all of which are subject to significant judgment and interpretation.
Share-based payments
The Company measures the cost of its share-based payments to directors, officers, employees and
certain consultants by reference to the fair value of the equity instruments at the date at which they
are granted. The assumptions used in determining fair value include: share price, expected lives of
options, risk-free rates of return, share price volatility and the estimated forfeiture rate. Changes to
assumptions may have a material impact on the amounts presented.
Liquidity
As part of its capital management process, the Company prepares budgets and forecasts, which are
used by management and the Board of Directors to direct and monitor the strategy and ongoing
operations and liquidity of the Company. Budgets and forecasts are subject to significant judgment
and estimates relating to activity levels, future cash flows and the timing thereof and other factors
which may or may not be within the control of the Company. The current challenging economic climate
may lead to adverse changes in cash flow or working capital levels, which may also have a direct
impact on the Company’s results and financial positions. These and other factors may adversely affect
the Company’s liquidity and the Company’s ability to generate profits in the future.
5.
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period as shown in the statement of financial position
are comprised of:
($000s)
March 31, 2023
March 31, 2022
Cash and bank balances
Short-term deposits
795
-
795
1,413
4,000
5,413
6.
TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES
Bengal’s trade and other receivables are exposed to the risk of financial loss if a counterparty to a financial
instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations. The Company’s trade and other receivables include cash
calls paid to joint venture partners and receivables from petroleum and natural gas marketers.
-20-
The Company’s trade and other receivables consist of:
($000s)
March 31, 2023
March 31, 2022
Due from joint venture partners
Other receivables
1,076
9
1,085
7.
EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION ASSETS (“E&E ASSETS”)
($000s)
Balance, April 1, 2021
Additions
Impairment
Capitalized share-based compensation
Exchange adjustments
Balance, March 31, 2022
Additions
Capitalized share-based compensation
Exchange adjustments
Balance, March 31, 2023
A summary of E&E assets is shown in the table below:
($000s)
ATP 732P – Tookoonooka
PL 303 – Barta Block Cuisinier (controlling permit ATP 752)
ATP 934 – Barrolka
Other
Balance, March 31, 2022
($000s)
ATP 732P – Tookoonooka
PL 303 – Barta Block Cuisinier (controlling permit ATP 752)
ATP 934 – Barrolka
Other
Balance, March 31, 2023
2,635
11
2,646
9,890
1,231
(568)
4
(205)
10,352
2,227
5
(336)
12,248
5,730
2,623
1,972
27
10,352
7,565
2,546
2,111
26
12,248
Exploration and evaluation assets consist of the Company’s exploration projects in Australia, which are
pending the determination of proved or probable reserves. Costs primarily consist of acquisition costs,
geological & geophysical work, seismic and drilling, and completion costs until the drilling of wells is complete
and the results have been evaluated.
-21-
8.
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (“PP&E”)
($000s)
Cost:
Balance, April 1, 2021
Additions
Capitalized share-based compensation
Disposals
Change in decommissioning and
restoration liability
Exchange adjustments
Balance, March 31, 2022
Additions
Capitalized share-based compensation
Change in decommissioning and
restoration liability
Exchange adjustments
Balance, March 31, 2023
($000s)
Accumulated depletion, depreciation
and impairment losses:
Balance, March 31, 2021
Depletion and depreciation
Exchange adjustments
Balance, March 31, 2022
Depletion and depreciation
Exchange adjustments
Balance, March 31, 2023
($000s)
Net carrying amount:
At March 31, 2022
At March 31, 2023
Petroleum and
natural gas properties
Other
assets
Right-of-use
assets
Total
50,780
3,089
6
-
(59)
(1,499)
52,317
5,486
2
1,663
(2,292)
57,176
344
2
-
-
-
346
2
-
-
(1)
347
143
-
-
-
-
143
-
-
51,267
3,091
6
-
(59)
(1,499)
52,806
5,488
2
-
-
1,663
(2,293)
143
57,666
Petroleum and
natural gas properties
Other
assets
Right-of-use
assets
Total
22,765
1,033
(920)
22,878
1,039
(1,370)
22,547
29,439
34,629
325
4
-
329
3
-
332
17
15
61
30
-
91
30
-
23,151
1,067
(920)
23,298
1,072
(1,370)
121
23,000
52
22
29,508
34,666
At March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company determined that there were no external or internal indicators of
impairment. As a result, a quantitative impairment test was not performed. During fiscal 2023, the Company
capitalized $0.1 million general and administrative expense (March 31, 2022 - $0.1 million). The calculation of
depletion for the year ended March 31, 2023, included $80.4 million for estimated future development costs
associated with proved and probable reserves in Australia (March 31, 2022 - $61.5 million).
-22-
9.
TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES
($000s)
Trade payables
Accrued liabilities and other payables
March 31, 2023
March 31, 2022
2,389
646
3,035
2,370
841
3,211
10.
INCOME TAXES
The provision for income taxes differs from the amount obtained in applying the combined federal and
provincial income tax rates to the loss for the year. The difference relates to the following items:
($000s)
Year ended March 31
Income (loss) before taxes
Statutory tax rate
Expected income tax expense (recovery)
Change in enacted tax rates
Share-based compensation
Foreign exchange
Effect of tax rate in foreign jurisdiction
Other
Changes in unrecognized tax asset
Income tax recovery
2023
703
23.0%
162
-
19
7
117
21
(326)
-
2022
(374)
23.5%
(88)
-
41
6
49
780
(788)
-
-23-
The deductible temporary differences included in the Company’s unrecognized deferred income tax assets
are as follows:
($000s)
Year ended March 31
Non-capital losses
Net capital losses
P&NG properties
2023
37,710
-
12,779
50,489
The components of the Company’s and its subsidiaries deferred income tax assets are as follows:
($000s)
Year ended March 31
Property, plant and equipment
Fair value of financial instruments
Foreign exchange
Decommissioning obligations
Non-capital losses
2023
7,409
-
913
(1,529)
(6,793)
-
2022
45,618
-
8,669
54,287
2022
6,206
-
1,331
(1,014)
(6,523)
-
At March 31, 2023, the Company had approximately $35.6 million and $24.8 million of non-capital losses in
Canada and Australia respectively (2022 - $38.9 million and $28.5 million, respectively), available to reduce
future taxable income. The Canadian non-capital losses expire at various dates from March 31, 2026, to 2043.
The Australian non-capital losses have no term to expiry. The Company’s ongoing drilling activities continue
to generate deferred tax assets related to Petroleum Resource Rent Tax in its Australian subsidiary, which
has not been recognized.
The Company has temporary differences associated with its investments in its foreign subsidiaries, branches,
and interests in joint ventures. At March 31, 2023, the Company has no deferred tax liabilities in respect of
these temporary differences.
-24-
11.
DECOMMISSIONING AND RESTORATION LIABILITY
Changes to decommissioning and restoration obligations were as follows:
($000s)
Balance, April 1, 2021
Change in estimate
Accretion
Exchange adjustments
Balance, March 31, 2022
Additions
Change in estimate
Accretion
Exchange adjustments
Balance, March 31, 2023
3,478
(59)
38
(78)
3,379
-
1,663
164
(110)
5,096
The Company’s decommissioning liabilities result from ownership interests in petroleum and natural gas
properties. The Company estimates the total unadjusted and uninflated cash flows required to settle its
decommissioning and restoration costs at March 31, 2023 is approximately $3.7 million (March 31, 2022 –
$3.4 million) which will be incurred between 2025 and 2060. An inflation factor of 6.50% (March 31, 2022 –
3.05%) and a risk-free discount rate of 3.50% (March 31, 2022 – 3.50%) have been applied to the
decommissioning liability at March 31, 2023.
12.
SHARE CAPITAL
Authorized:
Unlimited number of common shares with no par value.
Unlimited number of preferred shares, of which none have been issued.
Issued:
The following provides a continuity of share capital:
($000s)
Balance at March 31, 2021
Share cancellation
Issuance of common shares for cash
Balance at March 31, 2022
Balance at March 31, 2023
Number of common shares
Amount
432,986,694
(300)
52,317,821
485,304,215
485,304,215
114,636
-
4,160
118,796
118,796
13.
SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION
The Company has a share option plan for directors, officers and employees of the Company whereby share
options representing up to 10% of the issued and outstanding common shares can be granted by the Board
of Directors. Share options are granted for a term of up to five years and vest one-third after the first year and
one-third on each of the next two anniversary dates. The exercise price of each option equals the market price
of the Company’s common shares on the date of the grant.
-25-
The Company accounts for its share-based compensation plan using the fair value method. Under this
method, each grant results in three instalments. The fair value of the first instalment is charged to profit or
loss over the first year. The remaining two instalments are charged to profit or loss over two and three years
respectively.
Stock options granted under the plan can be exercised on a cashless basis, whereby the employee receives
a lesser amount of shares in lieu of paying the exercise price based on the deemed market price of the shares
on the exercise date, and withholding taxes if the employee so elects.
A summary of stock option activity is presented below:
Balance, March 31, 2021
Granted
Expired
Forfeited
Balance, March 31, 2022
Granted
Expired
Balance, March 31, 2023
Exercisable, March 31, 2023
Options
Weighted average
exercise price
13,716,667
1,050,000
(641,667)
(1,680,000)
12,445,000
300,000
(1,825,000)
10,920,000
6,830,000
$
0.08
0.09
0.10
0.08
0.08
0.11
0.10
0.08
0.08
Options Outstanding Options Exercisable
Exercise Price
Number
Outstanding
Remaining
Life (years)
$0.11
$0.09
$0.08
300,000
1,050,000
9,570,000
10,920,000
2.98
3.62
4.30
3.07
Number
Exercisable
-
350,000
6,380,000
6,730,000
-26-
The fair value of the options granted during fiscal 2023 and 2022 were estimated on the date of grant using
the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions and resulting
values:
Assumptions:
Fiscal 2023
Fiscal 2022
Risk-free interest rate (%)
Expected life (years)
Expected volatility (%)(1)
Estimated forfeiture rate (%)
Weighted average fair value of options granted
Weighted average share price on date of grant
3.42
5
122
20
$0.08
$0.11
1.50
5
119
20
$0.07
$0.09
(1)
Expected volatility is estimated by considering historic, average share price volatility.
The fair value of the 300,000 stock options granted during fiscal 2023 was approximately $25,000. The fair
value of the 1,050,000 stock options granted during fiscal 2022 was approximately $78,000.
14.
REVENUE
Revenue from the sales of crude oil is based on the consideration specified in the Liquids Aggregation
Agreement with the joint venture operator. The Company recognizes revenue when it transfers control of the
product to the joint venture operator, which is generally at the time the joint venture operator obtains legal title
of the crude oil and when it is physically delivered to the pipeline at an estimated transaction price based on
average US Brent price and is adjusted for quality and other factors specified in the Liquids Aggregation
Agreement once the product is shipped to the end customer and lifted.
The transaction price as prescribed in the Liquids Aggregation Agreement is a variable price based on the
benchmark US Brent commodity price index, and may be adjusted for quality, location, delivery method or
other factors depending on the agreed upon terms of the contract. The amount of revenue recorded can vary
depending on the grade, quality and quantity of crude oil transferred to the joint venture operator. Revenues
are typically collected 60 days following delivery to Port Bonython. Effective July 1, 2022, the Cuisinier Joint
Venture negotiated a revised Liquids Aggregation Agreement with corresponding transportation agreements
through to December 31, 2023.
15. OTHER INCOME
During the year, the Cuisinier JV was notified by the operator of a misallocation of sales revenue received in
May 2020, at which time the purchasing party under the former Crude Oil Sales and Purchase Agreement had
overallocated its purchase volumes to the Cuisinier Joint Venture, which resulted in a corresponding under
reporting of crude oil stock inventory. In July of 2022, the Company received a net payment of $1.1 million
from the operator representing the difference between the historic pricing in May 2020 and current pricing on
the additional crude oil stock which has been reflected as other income.
During Q4 fiscal 2023, Santos, the Cuisinier joint venture operator undertook a self-review with the Queensland
Revenue Office relative to its royalty payments for the calendar years of 2015 through 2020. The result of
this self-review was a $3.0 million additional royalty liability ($0.9 million net to Bengal) assessed to the
Cuisinier Joint Venture. The net amount was recorded as and offset to other income for the quarter ended
March 31, 2023. Santos is currently undertaking an independent review of their royalty obligations and Bengal
is disputing these additional charges under its Joint Operating Agreement, however the Company recorded
the full net amount as royalty expense for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.
-27-
16.
PER SHARE AMOUNTS
Income (loss) per share is calculated based on net income (loss) and the weighted-average number of
common shares outstanding.
($000s except per share amounts)
Year ended March 31
Net income (loss) for the year
Weighted average number of
common shares basic (000s)
2023
703
2022
(374)
485,304
436,427
diluted (000s)
486,169 436,427
Basic and diluted (loss) income per share
$ 0.00
$ (0.00)
For the year ended March 31, 2023, there were 1,350,000 (March 31, 2022 – 12,445,000) options
considered anti-dilutive.
17.
COMPENSATION OF KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL
The Company considers its directors and executives to be key management personnel. The key
management personnel compensation is comprised of the following:
($000s)
Year ended March 31
Salaries and employee benefits
Share-based compensation(1)
2023
782
25
807
2022
666
8
674
(1)
Represents the amortization of share-based compensation expense associated with the Company’s share-based
compensation plans granted to key management personnel.
18.
FINANCE EXPENSE
($000s)
Year ended March 31
Interest income
Accretion on decommissioning
and restoration liability
Interest on lease liability
Interest on credit facility
Interest – other
2023
(18)
164
3
-
14
163
2022
(7)
38
5
-
9
45
19.
FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT
The Company has exposure to credit, liquidity and market risk from its use of financial instruments. This
note presents information about the Company’s exposure to these risks, the Company’s objectives and
policies and processes for measuring and managing risk.
-28-
The Board of Directors has overall responsibility for identifying the principal risks of the Company and
ensuring the policies and procedures are in place to appropriately manage these risks. Bengal’s
management identifies, analyzes and monitors risks and considers the implication of the market condition
in relation to the Company’s activities.
(a) Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Company if a customer or counterparty to a financial
instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations and arises principally from Bengal’s cash calls paid
to joint venture partners and receivables from petroleum and natural gas marketers. As at March 31,
2023, Bengal’s receivables consisted of $1.1 million (March 31, 2022 - $2.6 million) from joint venture
partners (all of which has been collected subsequent to year end).
Bengal has a Liquids Aggregation Agreement with a purchaser and has not experienced any collection
problems to date.
Cash calls paid to Bengal’s Australian joint venture partners are held in trust accounts by the partner
until spent. Bengal attempts to mitigate the risk from joint venture receivables by approving significant
spending by partners prior to expenditure and only paying the cash call shortly before the funds are to
be spent.
The Company had no accounts considered past due at March 31, 2023 (March 31, 2022 - $nil). Past
due is considered greater than 90 days outstanding.
Bengal did not provide any amounts for doubtful accounts during 2023 nor was it required to write-off
any receivables during 2023.
Cash and cash equivalents, when held, consist of cash bank balances and guaranteed investment
certificates redeemable at any time. Bengal manages the credit exposure related to guaranteed
investments by selecting counterparties based on credit ratings and monitors all investments to ensure
a stable return, avoiding complex investment vehicles with higher risk such as asset-backed
commercial paper.
(b) Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will not be able to meet its financial obligations, including
work commitments, as they are due. Bengal prepares an annual budget and updates forecasts for
operating, financing and investing activities on an ongoing basis to ensure it will have sufficient liquidity
to meet its liabilities when due.
Bengal’s financial liabilities consist of trade and other payables and lease liability and amounted to
$3.1 million at March 31, 2023 (March 31, 2022 - $3.2 million).
At March 31, 2023, the Company had a working capital deficit, which the Company defines as total
current assets less total current liabilities excluding other obligations and current portion of
decommissioning obligations, of $0.3 million, including cash and cash equivalents of $0.8 million,
compared to working capital of $5.5 million at March 31, 2022. The Company expects that its
cashflows generated from operations will be sufficient to meet its ongoing operating and general
expenses, however additional capital will be required to meet its future capital commitments and to
fund planned capital projects.
The majority of the Company’s oil sales are benchmarked on US Brent prices. The Company incurs
most of its expenditures in Australian dollars whereas the Company generates most of its revenues in
US dollars.
(c) Market risk
Market risk is the risk that the fair value of future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate
because of changes in market prices. Market risk comprises three types of risk: foreign currency risk,
commodity price risk and interest rate risk. The Company is exposed to market risks resulting from
fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, commodity prices and interest rates in the normal course of
operations. A variety of derivative instruments may be used to reduce exposure to these risks.
Foreign Currency Risk
Foreign currency risk is the risk that the fair value of future cash flows will fluctuate as a result of
changes in foreign exchange rates. Bengal receives US dollars for Australian oil sales and incurs
expenditures in Australian and Canadian currencies. The Company may enter into derivative foreign
currency contracts in order to manage foreign currency risk, but has not done so to date.
-29-
The table below shows the Company’s exposure in Canadian dollar equivalent to foreign currencies
for its financial instruments at March 31, 2023:
($000s)
Cash and cash equivalents
Trade and other receivables
Trade and other payables
Lease liability
CAD$
176
9
(221)
(32)
(68)
AUS$
33
15
(2,813)
-
(2,765)
Exchange rates as at March 31:
Number of CAD$ for 1 AUS$
Number of CAD$ for 1 US$
Commodity Price Risk
US$
586
1,061
-
-
1,647
2023
0.90
1.35
Total
795
1,085
(3,035)
(32)
(1,187)
2022
0.94
1.25
Commodity price risk is the risk that the fair value of future cash flows will fluctuate as a result of a
change in commodity prices. Commodity prices for petroleum and natural gas are impacted by not
only the relationship between the Canadian and United States dollar, as outlined above, but also world
economic events that dictate the levels of supply and demand. Australian oil prices are based on the
US Brent reference price, which currently trades at a premium to WTI. The Company had no
commodity price derivatives at March 31, 2023 and 2022.
Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that future cash flows will fluctuate as a result of changes in market interest
rates. The Company’s exposure to interest rate risk on its cash and cash equivalents at March 31,
2023 is restricted to investments with a maturity of three months or less. The Company had no interest
rate derivatives at March 31, 2023 and 2022.
20.
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
The Company’s policy is to maintain a strong capital base for the objectives of maintaining financial
flexibility which will allow it to execute on its capital investment program, provide creditor and market
confidence and to sustain future development of the business.
The Company manages its capital structure and make adjustments by continually monitoring its business
conditions, including: changes in economic conditions, the risk profile of its drilling inventory, the
efficiencies of past investments, the efficiencies of forecasted investments and the timing of such
investments, the forecasted cash balances, the forecasted commodity prices and resulting cash flow.
In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Company may from time to time issue shares (if
available on reasonable terms), issue debt instruments, sell assets, farm out properties and adjust its
capital spending to manage current and projected cash levels. There can be no assurance that equity
financing will be available or sufficient to meet capital commitments, or for other corporate purposes, or if
equity financing is available, that it will be on terms acceptable to the Company.
-30-
21.
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Change in non-cash working capital items
($000s)
Year ended March 31
Trade and other receivables
Prepaid expenses and deposits
Trade and other payables
Effect of change in foreign exchange rates
Attributable to:
Operating
Investing
Financing
2023
1,561
(245)
(177)
(11)
1,128
123
1,005
-
1,128
The following represents the cash interest paid and received in each period:
Cash interest paid and received
($000s)
Year ended March 31
Cash interest paid
Cash interest received
22.
COMMITMENTS
2023
12
18
2022
(1,422)
(213)
1,272
(13)
(376)
(597)
221
-
(376)
2022
9
7
The Queensland Government regulatory authority granted the Company Authority to Prospect 934 ("ATP
934") under a revised work program on March 1, 2015. In Q4 fiscal 2018, the Company consolidated its
ownership of ATP 934 and now holds a 100% and 40% operating interest in the northern and southern
block of this permit respectively. The work program consists of 260 km2 of 3D seismic and up to three
wells. In February 2023, the Company extended its ATP 732 permit and received a Potential Commercial
Area (“PCA”) over 343 km2. This included additional work commitments related to both ATP 732 and PCA
332 as outlined below.
-31-
At March 31, 2023, the Company had the following capital work commitments:
Permit
Work Program
Obligation
period ending
ATP 934 – Onshore
Australia
ATP 732 – Onshore
Australia
PCA 332 – Onshore
Australia
260 km2 3D seismic and up to three wells
February 2027
Geological and up to three wells
February 2029
Initial Production testing
February 2029
Extended Production testing
February 2035
(1)
Translated at March 31, 2023 at an exchange rate of AUS$1.00 = CAD$0.9062.
Estimated
expenditure
(net) (millions
CA$)(1)
8.1
6.9
3.9
2.4
At March 31, 2023, the contractual obligations for which the Company is responsible are as follows:
($000s)
Contractual obligations
Office lease
Decommissioning and restoration
Total
79
5,096
5,175
Less than
1 year
1-3
years
4-5
years
After
5 years
79
-
79
-
881
881
-
-
-
-
4,215
4,215
23.
SEGMENTED INFORMATION
As at March 31, 2023, the Company has two reportable operating segments being the Australian oil and
gas operations and corporate.
Revenue reported below represents revenue generated from external customers. There were no inter-
segment sales in any of the reported periods.
The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as the group’s accounting policies.
Segment profit represents the profit earned by each segment without allocation of directors’ salaries,
finance costs and income tax expense. This is the measure reported to the chief operating decision maker
for the purposes of resource allocation and assessment of segment performance.
($000s)
For the year ended March 31, 2023
Revenue
Interest income
Interest expense
Depletion and depreciation
Impairment
Net income (loss)
Exploration and evaluation expenditures
Petroleum and natural gas property
expenditures
($000s)
As at March 31, 2023
Exploration and evaluation assets
Petroleum and natural gas properties
Total assets
Total liabilities
Australia
8,149
1
12
1,039
-
1,647
2,227
5,488
12,248
34,666
49,440
7,910
-32-
Corporate
-
17
2
33
-
(944)
-
-
-
-
257
253
Total
8,149
18
14
1,072
-
703
2,227
5,488
12,248
34,666
49,697
8,163
($000s)
For the year ended March 31, 2022
Revenue
Interest revenue
Interest expense
Depletion and depreciation
Impairment
Net income (loss)
Exploration and evaluation expenditures
Petroleum and natural gas property
expenditures
($000s)
As at March 31, 2022
Exploration and evaluation assets
Petroleum and natural gas properties
Total assets
Total liabilities
Australia
7,650
-
9
1,033
568
696
1,231
3,089
10,352
29,508
43,104
6,352
Corporate
-
7
5
34
-
(1,070)
-
-
-
-
5,472
306
Total
7,650
7
14
1,067
568
(374)
1,231
3,089
10,352
29,508
48,576
6,658
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CORPORATE INFORMATION
AUDITORS
KPMG LLP • Calgary, Canada
LEGAL COUNSEL
Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP • Calgary, Canada
Piper Alderman • Sydney, Australia
BANKERS
Royal Bank of Canada • Calgary, Canada
WestPac • Sydney, Australia
REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT
Computershare • Toronto, Canada
DIRECTORS
Chayan Chakrabarty
James B. Howe
Peter Lansom
Dr. Brian J. Moss
Robert D. Steele (Chairman)
W. B. (Bill) Wheeler
DISCLOSURE COMMITTEE
Chayan Chakrabarty
Jerrad Blanchard
AUDIT COMMITTEE
James B. Howe (Chairman)
Robert D. Steele
W. B. (Bill) Wheeler
RESERVES COMMITTEE
Dr. Brian J. Moss (Chairman)
Peter Lansom
Robert D. Steele
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Dr. Brian J. Moss (Chairman)
Robert D. Steele
Peter Lansom
GOVERNANCE AND NOMINATING COMMITTEE
W.B. (Bill) Wheeler (Chairman)
Robert D. Steele
James B. Howe
HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
Peter Lansom (Chairman)
Robert D. Steele
Dr. Brian J. Moss
OFFICERS
Chayan Chakrabarty, President & Chief Executive Officer
Richard N. Edgar, Executive Vice President
Jerrad Blanchard, Chief Financial Officer
Bruce Allford, Secretary
STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING – TSX: BNG
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