Quarterlytics / Real Estate / REIT - Mortgage / Orchid Island Capital, Inc.

Orchid Island Capital, Inc.

orc · NYSE Real Estate
Claim this profile
Ticker orc
Exchange NYSE
Sector Real Estate
Industry REIT - Mortgage
Employees 51-200
← All annual reports
FY2010 Annual Report · Orchid Island Capital, Inc.
Sign in to download
Loading PDF…
ORCA EXPLORATION GROUP INC.

2010 Annual Report

Advancing

Growth

Orca Exploration Group Inc. is a well-financed, international public 

company engaged in hydrocarbon exploration, development and 

supply of gas in Tanzania, the establishment of a coastal gas pipeline 

network  in  East  Africa,  oil  appraisal  and  gas  exploration  in  Italy 

and the acquisition of high potential exploration opportunities in 

Europe and Africa. 

Orca  Exploration  trades  on  the  TSXV  under  the  trading  symbols  

ORC.B and ORC.A.

Financial and Operating Highlights  1

Auditors’ Report  51

Chairman & CEO’s Letter to Shareholders  2

Consolidated Financial Statements  52

Operations Review  8

Management’s Discussion & Analysis  26

Management’s Report to Shareholders  50

Notes to the  
Consolidated Financial Statements  56

Corporate Information  71

GLOSSARY
mcf 
MMcf 
Bcf 
Tcf 
MMcfd 
Mmbtu 
HHV 
LHV 
1P 
2P 

Thousands of standard cubic feet
Millions of standard cubic feet
Billions of standard cubic feet
Trillions of standard cubic feet
Millions of standard cubic feet per day
Millions of British thermal units
High heat value
Low heat value
Proven reserves
Proven and probable reserves

3P 
GIIP 
Kwh 
MW 
US$ 
Cdn$ 
Bar 

Proven, probable and possible reserves
Gas initially in place
Kilowatt hour
Megawatt
US dollars 
Canadian dollars
Fifteen pounds per square inch

MMbbl 

Million barrels of oil

€ 

Euro

HIGHLIGHTS

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

1

Financial and Operating Highlights

Years ended/as at 31 December

Financial (US$000 except wHere OtHerwiSe Stated)

2010

2009

Change

Financial

revenue

profit before taxation

Operating netback (US$/mcF)

cash and cash equivalents

working capital

Shareholders’ equity

earnings per share - basic (US$)

earnings per share - diluted (US$)

Funds flow from operating activities

Funds per share from operating activities - basic (US$)

Funds per share from operating activities - diluted (US$)

net cash flows from operating activities

net cash flows per share from operating activities - basic (US$)

net cash flows per share from operating activities - diluted (US$)

OUtStanding ShareS (‘000)

class a shares

class B shares

Options

Operating

additional Gas sold (mmcF) - industrial

additional Gas sold (mmcF) - power

additional Gas sold (mmcFd) - industrial

additional Gas sold (mmcFd) - power

average price per mcf (US$) - industrial

average price per mcf (US$) - power

additiOnal gaS grOSS recOverable reServeS tO end OF licence (bcF)

proved

probable

proved plus probable

proved plus probable plus possible

preSent valUe, diScOUnted at 10% (US$ milliOn)

proved

proved plus probable

proved plus probable plus possible

38,808

16,512

2.29

45,519

52,364

98,183

0.33

0.31

25,317

6,882

2.21

14,543

16,835

68,860

0.11

0.11

20,836

12,332

0.68

0.65

0.42

0.40

15,534

12,007

0.50

0.49

1,751

32,939

2,557

2,504

10,940

6.9

30.0

8.76

2.60

369

82

451

822

236

278

395

0.41

0.39

1,751

27,743

2,797

2,096

8,326

5.7

22.8

8.36

2.40

385

105

490

829

248

291

381

53%

140%

4%

213%

211%

43%

200%

182%

69%

62%

63%

29%

22%

26%

0%

19%

(9%)

19%

31%

19%

31%

5%

8%

(4%)

(22%)

(8%)

(1%)

(5%)

(5%)

4%

this annual report contains certain forward-looking statements based on current expectations, but which involve risks and uncertainties. actual results 

may differ materially. all financial information is reported in U.S. dollars (US$), unless otherwise noted.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

Chairman and CEO’s

Letter to Shareholders

w. DAVID. LYONS, CHAIRMAN AND CEO

Orca ended 2010 
debt-free,  
with cash of 
US$45.5 million

Orca Exploration Group’s 2010 story  
is simple but powerful. 

•	

•	

•	

•	

	Our	plans	for	asset	growth	have	
been materially advanced. we 
continue to focus on exploration 
targets with significant reserves 
potential and will move on these 
in 2011.

	We	are	working	with	other	
stakeholders to increase Songo 
Songo’s gas production and 
meet Tanzania’s urgent need for 
increased power generation. 

	Our	new	infrastructure	division,	
EastCoast Transmission and 
Marketing, allows Orca to lead 
where we have production and 
gas transmission experience and 
knowledge.

	Orca	ended	2010	debt	free,	 
with cash of US$45.5 million.

There are a number of potential developments in 2011: 

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

	Orca	is	committed	to	drill	the	La	Tosca	gas	exploration	
prospect in the Po Valley Basin in Italy in Q4 2011. 
The permit is surrounded by several large natural gas 
fields and the adjacent production infrastructure has 
available capacity. 

	To	increase	deliverability	from	the	Songo	Songo	field	
following the shut in of SS-5 in Q4 2010 as a result of 
tubing corrosion, Orca plans, subject to TPDC approval 
and rig availability, to drill a new development well in 
2011 and to enhance the SS-10 well.

	There	has	been	a	significant	increase	in	activity	in	East	
Africa following gas discoveries offshore Tanzania by 
British Gas/Ophir and the announcement that Statoil 
and Exxon Mobil intend to drill further prospects in 
2011. Orca is positioned to play a significant role in 
meeting Tanzania’s gas demand prior to the commer-
cialization of these new gas reserves.

	Sales	of	Additional	Gas	to	the	Tanzania	power	sector,	
which increased by 31% during 2010, are expected to 
continue to increase in 2011 and are only constrained 
by the need to expand production and transmission of 
gas from Songo Songo.

	To	meet	the	need	for	an	immediate	expansion	of	
throughput from the Songo Songo field, Orca is 
negotiating with Songas to run the Songo Songo gas 
processing plant at up to 110 MMcfd until Q1 2013 
when the Songas Expansion Project is expected to be 
operational.

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

3

Chairman and CEO’s

Letter to Shareholders

A U S T R I A

Innsbruck

BONN

S W I T Z E R L A N D
Lausanne

Geneva

45°N

Turin

Milan

Venice

G u l f

o f   V e n i c e

S L O V A K I A

SLOVENIA

SLOVENIA
Trieste

ZAGREB

C R O A T I A

Genoa

Bologna
I

Florence

Monaco

S t r a i t   o f   B o n i f a c i o

40°N

BOSNIA &
HERZEGOVINA

SARAJEVO

LONGASTRINO
Ancona

T

Purluga

A D R I A T I C

S E A
ELSA

A

ROME

L

Y

Naples

Bari

Potenza

Cagliari

T Y R R H E N I A N

S E A

S t r a i t   o f   S i c i l y

Palermo

Catanzaro

I O N I A N

FINANCIAL RESULTS
Orca  achieved  excellent  financial  results 
during 2010. Revenue grew by 53% from 
US$25.3 million in 2009 to US$38.8 million 
in  2010.  Funds  from  operations  before 
working  capital  changes  increased  by 
69%  to  US$20.8  million  and  the  level  of 
working capital grew from US$16.8 million 
to US$52.4 million. The Company finished 
the year with cash of US$45.5 million with 
no debt, having raised US$18.5 million by 
the completion of a successful rights issue 
in October 2010.

The Company’s cost pool in Tanzania was 
substantially recovered in 2010 as a result 
of strong sales revenue and relatively low 
capital expenditure levels. This will result 
in  a  reduction  in  the  percentage  of  net 
revenue  attributable  to  the  Company 
prior 
to  any  significant  expenditure 
on  drilling  in  2011.  Orca  will  also  see  a 
reduction  in  the  net  revenue  allocated 
to  the  Company  now  that  a  significant 
proportion of production is coming from 
the deemed TPDC backed-in well (SS-10).  

T U N I S I A

OPERATIONS RESULTS
TUNIS
The  Company  is  the  largest  producer  of  gas  in  Tanzania  and  the  only 
operator who is selling gas in Dar es Salaam. The Company has an excellent 
gas  reservoir  at  Songo  Songo  that  could  deliver  in  excess  of  60  MMcfd  in 
addition to the average 2010 production of 76 MMcfd. 

S E A

Kilometres

ITAREG-01c_WEB

100

15°E

10°E

0

To meet increased demand, the Company took steps during 2010 to facilitate 
the development of the required infrastructure in Tanzania and to progress 
other growth strategies.

	•	

•	

•	

	Orca	coordinated	the	technical	evaluations	that	led	to	Lloyds	Register	
certifying  that  the  gas  processing  plant  could  be  re-rated  from  90 
MMcfd to 110 MMcfd.

	Agreed	to	share	the	costs	with	Songas	(up	to	a	cap	of	US$2.4	million)	to	
develop a long-term expansion project with Songas (“Songas Expansion 
Project”)  that  will  see  the  infrastructure  capacity  increased  to  140 
MMcfd by Q1 2013 through the addition of new gas processing trains 
and pipeline compression.

	Established	a	team	to	plan	for	the	construction	of	a	new	207	kilometer	
onshore pipeline to Dar es Salaam that will initially increase infrastruc-
ture capacity to in excess of 200 MMcfd.

•	

Farmed	into	an	oil	appraisal	well	and	a	gas	exploration	prospect	in	Italy.

Deliverability from the main Songo Songo producing wells had to be reduced 
in  Q4  2010  following  the  receipt  of  corrosion  logging  results.  As  detailed 
below,  a  work  programme  is  now  in  place  to  ensure  there  is  adequate 
production capacity as the infrastructure expands. 

4

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

Revenue grew by 53%

from US$25.3 million in 2009 to US$38.8 million in 2010

Orca is well 
positioned  
to expand its  
reserve base

RESERVES AND WELL CORROSION
As  at  31  December  2010,  the  independent  reserve  evaluator  McDaniel  and 
Associates  Consultants  Ltd.  (“McDaniel”)  assessed  that  the  Additional  Gas 
gross  proven  (1P)  and  proven  and  probable  (2P)  Songo  Songo  reserves 
available to Orca to the end of the licence period are 369.2 Bcf (2009: 384.9 
Bcf ) and 450.8 Bcf (2009: 490.2 Bcf ) respectively. This decrease over 2009 is 
primarily the result of the need to increase production from SS-10 and drill 
new  wells  on  the  Songo  Songo  field  to  sustain  production  following  the 
discovery of tubing corrosion in the existing producing wells. TPDC has the 
right to back into these wells and earn a higher profit share.

Following a corrosion logging survey in Q4 2010, Orca suspended production 
from SS-5, reduced flow rates from the other wells and expedited the tie-in of 
SS-10, the new onshore well. 

The corrosion study also recommended that SS-9 be taken out of production 
by the end of Q1 2012, subject to re-logging of the well in September 2011 
to  confirm  its  condition.  Accordingly,  the  Company  has  determined  that  a 
new high producing onshore deviated well (“SS-A”) should be drilled in 2011 
to ensure adequate deliverability when SS-9 is taken off stream. In addition 
SS-10  will  be  upgraded  to  increase  deliverability. The  Company  is  currently 
looking  to  contract  a  land  rig  to  undertake  this  work  programme  within  a 
tight timeframe. The estimated capital cost is US$35 million.

This may be followed by a work-over program on the offshore wells during 
2012 utilizing the same jack up rig that is expected to be mobilized for the 
drilling of the Songo Songo west (“SSw”) exploration well. McDaniel evaluated 
this prospect and assessed it to contain un-risked mean resources of 552 Bcf 
and an upside case in excess of 1 Tcf. The development plan for SSw, and any 
tie into existing processing capacity, will be reviewed once the results of the 
well are known. 

  
LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

5

Sales of Additional Gas to  

the power sector increased by 31%

during 2010 to 10,940 MMcf

Infrastructure expansion 

following 

In  September  2010 
technical 
evaluations,  Lloyds  Register  approved  the 
re-rating  of  the  two  gas  turbines  at  Songo 
Songo  Island  to  110  MMcfd  from  90  MMcfd. 
A  Re-Rating  Agreement  is  currently  being 
negotiated with Songas and TANESCO.

The  Songas  Expansion  Project  consists 
of  Songas  financing  two  additional  gas 
processing  trains  and 
installing  pipeline 
compression. This will increase the overall in-
frastructure capacity to 140 MMcfd and is due 
to be operational by Q1 2013. 

TANZANIA

Growth in power demand

The sales of Additional Gas to the power sector increased by 31% during 
2010 to 10,940 MMcf, mainly as a result of sales to the Tegeta 45 Mw power 
plant  which  was  commissioned  in  December  2009.  The  total  gas  fired 
generation in Tanzania, consuming Additional Gas, is currently189 Mws. 
This leaves a shortfall of approximately 260 Mws according to Government 
of  Tanzania  estimates.  The  impact  of  this  shortfall  has  been  numerous 
controlled power outages in the last six months. There have been limited 
rains in early 2011 to allow the hydro generation capacity to alleviate this 
shortfall. 

To  address  this  problem,  TANESCO  has  reached  an  agreement  with 
Jacobsen, the Norwegian power turbine manufacturer, for the supply of 
three new 35 Mw turbines (with a maximum demand of approximately 22 
MMcfd). The turbines are scheduled to be fully operational in Q1 2012. In 
addition, TANESCO is in negotiation with Dowans to re-commission its 112 
Mw plant (maximum demand of approximately 24 MMcfd) during 2011. 

In the longer term, TANESCO is looking to convert the IPTL 100 Mw power 
plant to gas (maximum demand of approximately 22 MMcfd). In addition 
TANESCO plans to add a further 240 Mw combined cycle plant at Kinyerezi 
in Dar es Salaam (maximum demand of approximately 36 MMcfd) by the 
end of 2014.

  
6

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

ITALY

New onshore Italian drilling project

In  December  2010,  Orca  signed  a  contract  with  a 
subsidiary  of  Northern  Petroleum  Plc  to  farm  in  to 
between 70% and 75% of their Longastrino exploration 
block in the Po Valley, northern Italy. 

Under  the  terms  of  the  farm  in,  Orca  will  pay  100% 
of  the  costs  of  the  La Tosca  1  well  up  to  €4.3  million 
and 70% thereafter for the drilling phase of the well, 
together with back-in costs of €0.6 million.

The well is scheduled to be drilled in Q4 2011. If the well 
is tested and completed, Orca will earn an additional 
5%  (taking  it  to  75%)  by  paying  100%  of  the  testing 
costs up to €1.3 million and 75% thereafter. 

Low risk offshore Italian appraisal well 

During Q2 2010, Orca signed a farm in agreement with 
Petroceltic International Plc to participate in the drilling 
of a low risk, high potential appraisal well offshore Italy 
in the Adriatic. The area has significant oil exploration 
upside and as part of the farm in Orca would earn the 
right to participate in 11 adjacent exploration blocks in 
the Central Adriatic.

Petroceltic had intended to spud the Elsa-2 well prior 
to 31 October 2010. However the Italian government 
passed a decree, following the blowout of the Macondo 
well  in  the  U.S.,  preventing  the  drilling  in  the  Italian 
seas within 5 nautical miles of the coastline and within 
12  nautical  miles  around  the  perimeter  of  protected 
Marine Parks. In view of this, Petroceltic suspended the 
permit until such time as the Ministry of Environment 
issues  a  decree  of  environmental  compatibility  for 
the drilling program. The project in currently on hold 
and Orca is not liable to any costs associated with the 
drilling of Elsa-2 until a rig contract is signed. 

EASTCOAST TRANSMISSION AND MARKETING
In July 2010, Orca announced the creation of its new 
infrastructure  division,  EastCoast  Transmission  and 
Marketing (“ECTM”). Orca intends to facilitate the mon-
etisation of the Company’s gas reserves by construct-
ing a second 207-kilometer onshore pipeline to Dar es 
Salaam. The pipeline is intended to increase infrastruc-
ture capacity to 200 MMcfd by the end of 2013 when 
additional  capacity  will  be  needed  for  new  power 
plants (IPTL and Kinyerezi). 

It  is  anticipated  that  the  new  onshore  pipeline  to  be 
developed by ECTM will be the first part of a coastal gas 
pipeline that could be used by the new gas operators 
in Tanzania to transport their gas to the main industrial 
hubs in East Africa including Mombasa in Kenya. 

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

7

“we are committed to  
take Orca to the next level”

INCREASING BOARD AND  
MANAGEMENT STRENGTH
The Board of Directors was reorganised and a ma-
jority of independent directors was elected at the 
Company’s Annual General Meeting in June 2010. 
Orca is very fortunate to have three new highly ex-
perienced directors join the Board: Lord Howard of 
Lympne, Robert (Bob) wigley and Beer Van Straten. 
The new directors bring substantial experience in 
relation  to  the  raising  of  capital,  managing  drill-
ing  campaigns  and  negotiations  with  foreign 
governments.

FINANCING
The Company’s 2011 work programme principally 
includes the drilling of the new onshore deviated 
well, SS-A, the enhancement of SS-10, the drilling 
of  La Tosca  in  the  Po  Valley  and  the  purchase  of 
long  lead  items  for  SSw.   whilst  there  should  be 
sufficient funds to undertake this work programme 
in 2011, the Company will look to secure a financ-
ing  facility  and/or  raise  new  equity  to  cover  the 
2012 exploration activity. 

CREATING VALUE 
The Company’s strategy will be to drill up our 
exploration  portfolio  in  Italy  and  Tanzania 
over the course of the next two years whilst 
continuing  to  build  up  our  cash  flow  from 
the Songo Songo gas field. with exploration 
success, the Company will look to sell or farm 
out  its  interests  in  Italy  prior  to  the  need  to 
finance any development.

There is significant upside potential. with the 
continued support of our loyal shareholders, 
the strength of our Board, the experience of 
our  management  team  and  the  skills  of  our 
dedicated  employees,  we  are  committed  to 
take Orca to the next level.

w. David Lyons   
Chairman and CEO

April 28, 2011

 
8

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

OPERATIONS REPORT

Wazo Hill

Ubungo Power Plant

Protected Gas Volumes by Year

f

c

M

M

15,000

12,000

9,000

6,000

3,000

0

f

c

M

M

15,000

12,000

9,000

6,000

3,000

0

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Power Sales

Industrial Sales

Additional Gas Volumes

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

30,000

25,000

20,000

f
c
M
M

15,000

10,000

MMcfMMcfd
5,000

0

2004

Protected Gas sales

Additional Gas sales

Flare, generator at the 
processing plant and line pack

Production Volumes

Operations 

2006

2009

2007

2008

2010

2005

Review

d
f
c
M
M

100

80

60

40

Average daily production per month

2009

2010

Jan

Feb

Mar

April

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

Production

During  2010,  27.9  Bcf  (2009:  23.6  Bcf )  of  natural  gas  was 
produced from the Songo Songo field offshore Tanzania or an 
average of 76.4 MMcfd (2009: 64.8 MMcfd). This brings total 
production  since  commercial  operations  commenced  on 
20 July 2004 to 128.6 Bcf. The increase in production during 
the course of the year has mainly been the consequence of 
increased demand from the power sector. 

 
OPERATIONS REPORT

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

9

Protected Gas sales

Additional Gas sales

Flare, generator at the 
processing plant and line pack

Production Volumes

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

30,000

25,000

20,000

f
c
M
M

15,000

10,000

5,000

0

15,000

12,000

f
c
M
M

9,000

6,000

3,000

0

Wazo Hill

Ubungo Power Plant

Protected Gas Volumes by Year

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

SONGO SONGO PRODUCTION BY WELL
The production from the five Songo Songo wells between 2004 and 2010 has been as follows:

100

Well

15,000

Power Sales

Additional Gas Volumes

2004
Industrial Sales
BCF
0.8
0.6
1.7
1.5
–

4.6

2005
BCF
1.3
1.9
3.9
3.8
3.8

14.7

2006
BCF
1.5
1.9
8.9
3.2
2.5

18.0

d
f
c
M
M

2007
BCF
1.9
1.1
8.5
3.4
4.8

2010
Average daily production per month
BCF
3.4
3.7
6.1
5.2
9.4

2009
BCF
2.3
1.5
8.4
3.9
7.5

2008
BCF
1.5
0.9
7.1
3.5
7.1

80

Total
BCF
12.7
11.6
44.6
24.5
35.1

19.7

20.1

23.6

27.9

128.6

SS-3
SS-4
SS-5
SS-7
SS-9

f
c
M
M

Total

12,000

9,000

6,000

The total gas production from the Songo Songo field between 2004 and 2010 was allocated as follows:

60

3,000

Protected Gas sales
0
Additional Gas sales

2004

2005
Flare, generator at the  
processing plant and line pack

2006

Total

2007

2004
BCF
4.1
0.1

2008

0.4

4.6

2009

2005
BCF
11.9
2.5
2010

0.3

14.7

2006
BCF
13.0
4.8

0.2

18.0

40

2007
BCF
11.5
7.7
Jan

0.5

19.7

Feb

2008
BCF
11.1
8.7

Mar

April

0.3

20.1

2009
BCF
13.0
10.4
Jun

0.2

23.6

May

2010
2009
BCF
14.2
13.5
Aug

Sept

Total
2010
BCF
78.8
47.7
Nov

Oct

Jul

Dec

0.2

27.9

2.1

128.6

PROTECTED GAS PRODUCTION
Under the terms of a Gas Agreement signed 
in  2001,  the  Protected  Gas  from  Songo 
Songo  is  100%  owned  by  the  Tanzanian 
Petroleum  Development  Corporation 
(“TPDC”) and is sold to Songas under a 20 
year Gas Agreement for:

1. 

2. 

3. 

 The operation of five turbines at the 
Ubungo power plant;

 Onward sale to the Tanzanian Portland 
Cement  Company  (“TPCC”)  for  the 
operation of its cement kilns; and

 Village electrification (at a rate not to 
exceed 1 MMcfd). 

The Protected Gas was allocated as follows:

2010
Protected Gas 
consumed

2009

Utilisation 
rate

Protected Gas 
consumed

Utilisation 
rate

BCF

MMCFD

%

BCF

MMCFD

%

 YEAR ENDED 31 

DECEMBER
Protected Gas user

Ubungo power plant

12.4

34.0

89%

11.8

31.5

82%

wazo Hill  
cement plant

Village electrification 
programme

1.8

4.9

84%

1.2

4.2

71%

–

–

–

–

– 

–

Total consumption

14.2

38.9

86%

13.0

36.7

81%

 
10

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

OPERATIONS REPORT

Protected Gas utilisation increased at the Ubungo power plant during 2010 due to the increased 
demand for electricity in Tanzania, with a greater reliance being placed on gas powered generation. 

At  the  wazo  Hill  cement  plant,  the  2010  utilisation  rate  averaged  84%  (2009:  71%).  The  village 
electrification programme became operational from August 2010 with a total of 0.24 MMcf of gas 
consumed during 2010.

The  maximum  gas  required  for  the  Protected  Gas  users  over  the  remaining  13  years  and  seven 
months of the Gas Agreement was 224 Bcf as at 31 December 2010. For the purposes of calculating 
the  level  of  gas  available  as  Additional  Gas,  an  assumption  has  to  be  made  as  to  the  expected 
utilisation of the Protected Gas over the remaining term of the Gas Agreement. These assumptions 
are reviewed on an annual basis based on historic and projected usage. 

The Protected Gas users and their forecast maximum and most likely demand are as follows: 

Protected Gas sales

15,000

12,000

f
c
M
M

9,000

6,000

3,000

0

Additional Gas sales

Theoretical 
maximum 100% 
load factor
Most likely
Flare, generator at the 
 MMCFD
MMCFD
processing plant and line pack

47.4

40.8

Utilisation  
in 2010
MMCFD

Wazo Hill

Ubungo Power Plant

PROTECTED GAS DEMAND

Six gas turbines at the Ubungo power plant

30,000

Protected Gas Volumes by Year

Less gas supplied to the sixth turbine  
which is Additional Gas

Total Protected Gas at Ubungo
wazo Hill cement plant
Village electrification programme

25,000

20,000

Production Volumes
 (9.2)
38.2
5.9
 1.0

Total daily Protected Gas demand

15,000
Protected Gas reserves to end of the Songas 
power purchase agreement (bcF)

f
c
M
M

45.1

 224

 (7.7)

31.1
4.2
1.0

38.3

190

42.2

(8.2)

34.0
4.9
– 

38.9

10,000

5,000

The forecast theoretical maximum demand by the Protected Gas users is estimated to be 45.1 MMcfd 
based on technical tests of the Ubungo turbines and the wazo Hill cement plant, though there are 
variations during the year and over time depending on ambient temperature and degradation. The 
‘most likely’ utilisation, including the village electrification programme, is forecast to be 80 - 85% 
over the remaining term of the Gas Agreement. This compares with an actual utilisation rate of 86% 
in 2010. The actual Protected Gas utilisation at the Ubungo power plant primarily depends on the 
2004
2010
availability of the Ubungo power units, the status of the water levels at the hydroelectricity dams 
and the capacity of the ‘run of river’ hydros. The run of river hydros can only generate when the rivers 
are flowing, typically during the short rains in November and December and the long rains in April 
and May.

2009

2008

2010

2008

2007

2006

2005

2009

0

2004

2005

2006

2007

15,000

12,000

f
c
M
M

9,000

6,000

3,000

0

Power Sales

Industrial Sales

Additional Gas Volumes

100

Average daily production per month

ADDITIONAL GAS PRODUCTION
Under the terms of a Gas Agreement signed in 2001, the gas from the 
Songo Songo field in excess of the volume reserved as Protected Gas, 
is available to Orca Exploration to be marketed as Additional Gas. The 
details of the 2010 Additional Gas sales are reported in the ‘Markets’ 
80
section of this report.

d
f
c
M
M

FLARE, GENERATOR AND LINE PACK REqUIREMENTS
A relatively small amount of gas is used in local electricity generation 
on Songo Songo Island. Gas is also required to maintain the Songo 
Songo Island gas plant flare at all times. This leads to a small annual 
60
loss of gas.

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

There are also fluctuations in the line pack in the 232 kilometer high 
pressure  pipeline  to  Dar  es  Salaam. The  line  is  estimated  to  hold  a 
maximum  of  85  MMcf  of  gas.  At  current  production  levels  the  line 
pack  holds  sufficient  gas  for  a  few  hours  before  it  starts  to  impact 
Protected and Additional Gas sales in Dar es Salaam.
Mar

2009

April

Sept

May

Aug

Feb

Jun

Jan

Oct

Jul

40

2010

Nov

Dec

 
OPERATIONS REPORT

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

11

The Songo Songo Field
Summary of Orca Exploration’s assessment of Gas Initially in Place (GIIP)

During  2010  no  significant  new  geological  or  geophysical  data 
was  acquired  to  alter  management’s  detailed  evaluation  of  the 
potential reserves and resources in the two Tanzanian Licence Blocks 
(“Discovery Blocks”) that was undertaken in 2009. The reserves and 
resources are assessed for the following areas:

1. 

2. 

3. 

 The  Songo  Songo  main  producing  field  (“Songo  Songo  Field”, 
“SS Field”);

 The northern section of the field that has gas reserves established 
by the drilling of SS-1, but no current production (“Songo Songo 
North”, “SS North”); and

 The exploration prospect west of the Songo Songo Field (“Songo 
Songo west”, “SSw”).

A  summary  of  management  assessment  of  the  Mid  Case  GIIP  for 
the  Songo  Songo  Field  and  Songo  Songo  North  discoveries  and 
the forecast unrisked resources of Songo Songo west are illustrated 
below:

SONGO SONGO FIELD AND SONGO SONGO NORTH
Management’s  internal  evaluation  of  the  Mid  Case  GIIP  for  the 
combined Songo Songo Field and Songo Songo North discovery is 
1,571  Bcf. The  GIIP  estimates  are  based  on  the  top  reservoir  depth 
structure  maps  generated  in  2008.  The  low  and  high  GIIP  range 
is  based  on  volumetric  structural  mapping  utilising  the  Petrel 
modelling  software,  which  incorporates  the  reservoir  properties 
derived from the 2008 petrophysical reservoir analysis.

Management’s Mid Case GIIP of 1,571 Bcf for the Songo Songo Field 
and Songo Songo North compares with the McDaniel end 2010 GIIP 
estimates as presented below:

bcF
McDaniels Songo Songo Field 
GIIP (bcF)

 1P

2P

3P

 1,236

1,433

1,562

The  McDaniel  reserves  evaluation  are  summarised  in  more  detail 
below.

Songo Songo 
North
Mid Case GIIP 
226 Bcf

Songo Songo 
Main
Mid Case GIIP 
1345 Bcf

SS-1
SS-1

SS-9
SS-9

SS-10
SS-10

SS-4
SS-4

SS-6
SS-6

SS-5
SS-5

SS-3
SS-3

SS-7
SS-7

Songo Songo 
West
Mid Case GIIP 
727 Bcf

PROVEN 
PROVEN 
SECTION
SECTION

5 kms

KN-1
KN-1

SS-8
SS-8

K-1
K-1

RESERVOIR MANAGEMENT AND SURVEILLANCE
Songo  Songo  Field  reservoir  development  and  management 
is evaluated through the static geologic and dynamic reservoir 
simulation  models. Total  cumulative  production  from  the  field 
of  128.6  Bcf  to  the  end  of  2010,  represents  8.2%  of  Manage-
ment’s Mid Case GIIP. At this stage in field life, greater confidence 
continues to be placed in the volumetric estimate of GIIP from 
the  Petrel  static  model,  than  from  dynamic  estimates  of  GIIP 
based on Material Balance calculations.

The  reservoir  simulation  model  is  used  to  monitor  and  con-
tinuously  evaluate  the  reserves  of  the  Songo  Songo  Field  and 
Songo  Songo  North  in  order  to  ensure  that  the  Protected  Gas 
deliverability requirements can be met and to manage forecast 
Additional Gas sales. The model has been used to predict well 
performance  and  identify  the  investments  in  wells  and  field 
compression that will be required to meet forecast gas demand. 
It is used to assess the likely well response to uncertainties such 
as  aquifer  size  and  extent  of  reservoir  compartmentalisation, 
if  any.  During  2010,  Orca  began  the  process  of  combining  the 
subsurface reservoir simulation model with a FORGAS™ model of 
the surface network to improve further its modeling capabilities.

The Company uses down hole pressure gauges to monitor and 
record bottom hole pressure. The recorded pressure data is used 
for a variety of purposes including near well formation parameter 
assessment,  well  deliverability  and  estimates  of  field  GIIP.  The 
data is also used to update and history match production data in 
the simulation model. The performance of each individual well is 
in addition monitored throughout the year through a scheduled 
programme of (multi-rate) well tests and build-up pressure tests.

12

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

OPERATIONS REPORT

Structural Model 

Songo Songo
West

Songo Songo
North

Songo Songo
Field

Reservoir
Zones

N10
N9
N8
N7
N6
N5
N4
N3
N2

TANZSS-50 

Songo Songo structure

The  downhole  pressure  data  is  showing 
early signs for the presence of an aquifer, 
although  this  is  not  yet  definitive  and  as 
yet no water break through has occurred. 
The Material Balance p/Z analysis has been 
extended  to  include  diagnostic  analysis 
for the presence of an aquifer using Cole 
and Havlena Odeh plots. At this early stage 
of  production  the  data  remain  inconclu-
sive for the presence of, or strength of an 
aquifer,  but  management  will  continue 
to  evaluate  this  as  more  pressure  data  is 
available,  and  by  monitoring  for  the  first 
signs of potential water production from 
the wells.

Material balance analysis using the down 
hole  pressure  gauge  data  continues  to 
support  the  total  field  volumetric  GIIP 
estimate derived from the static geologic 
model, although at this early stage in field 
life material balance calculations give rise 
to a wide range in total field GIIP from 1,125 
to 2,005 Bcf. This range encompasses the 
Orca Management estimate of volumetric 
Mid Case GIIP of 1,571 Bcf. 

WELL AND FIELD DELIVERABILITY:  
CURRENT STATUS OF WELLS
As part of the well intervention works carried out in 
October  2010,  Orca  conducted  a  multi-finger 
caliper  logging  survey  in  all  the  producing  wells 
(excluding  SS-10)  for  the  purpose  of  corrosion 
monitoring  of  the  production  tubing. The  results 
show  corrosion  of  the  tubing  has  occurred.  
A number of experts were engaged by Orca during 
Q4  2010  to  interpret  the  data  and  analyse  the 
potential cause of the corrosion and make recom-
mendations  on  remedial  solutions.  The  tubing 
integrity of SS-5 was deemed to be of such a nature 
that  a  decision  was  taken  to  shut-in  the  well  in 
December.  SS-9  shows  signs  of  corrosion  and 
modeling  suggests  it  can  be  flowed  at  current 
levels until the end of Q1 2012, subject to re-log-
ging of the well in September 2011 to confirm its 
condition.  One  of  the  recommendations  of  the 
expert  consultant  was  to  impose  a  rate  limit  on 
each  well  to  reduce  the  potential  for  further 
corrosion, and these are shown in the table below.

During  January  2011,  well  SS-10  was  connected 
to  the  processing  plant  via  the  SS-4  flowline. 
Trials  confirm  that  a  combination  of  SS-4/SS-10 
can  be  produced  via  the  associated  surface 
network. Provisions have been made to allow for 
the connection of SS-10 to the plant via its own 
flowline at a future date. 

OPERATIONS REPORT

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

13

Potential 
31 December 2011 
rate following 
completion of 
planned drilling 
campaign
(MMCFD)
12.0
10.0
Shut-in
20.0
Shut-in
70.0
60.0

172.0
(45.0)

127.0

31 January 2011 rate 
limited capacity
(MMCFD)
12.0
10.0
Shut-in
20.0
30.0
41.0
–

113.0
(45.0)

68.0

The new SS-10  
well was 
connected to  
the gas  
processing plant  
in January 2011

wELL DELIVERABILITY SUMMARY
SS-3
SS-4 
SS-5
SS-7
SS-9
SS-10
SS-A

Total
Maximum Protected Gas demand

Available for Additional Gas

During 2011, the Company is expected to drill a new onshore deviated well into the reservoir 
with the intention of adding up to 70 MMcfd of deliverability.  In addition, the Company will 
use the same land rig to enhance the  SS-10 well and increase deliverability.  The forecast  
capital cost of this work programme in 2011 is approximately US$35 million.  

Orca will assess the various work-over options during 2011 in relation to the SS-5, SS-7 and 
SS-9 wells.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE SONGO SONGO FIELD AND SONGO SONGO NORTH
The Company’s immediate objective is to maximise the sales of gas from the Songo Songo 
Field and Songo Songo North, as well as exploring for gas in the Songo Songo west prospect 
(see under EXPLORATION). In reviewing the potential of these reservoirs and the gas demand 
forecasts,  it  is  assessed  that  the  Company  should  develop  the  field    to  be  able  to  deliver  a 
maximum  peak  of  200  MMcfd  (including  Protected  Gas)  and  a  maximum  average  of  160 
MMcfd (including Protected Gas).  To achieve this and as detailed above, an additional main 
field development well (“SS-A”) will be drilled from an onshore location on Songo Songo Island 
in 2011 and deviated to the north west where it will be landed as a high angle or horizontal 
producer at the top of the reservoir interval. The well will be tied back to the Songo Songo gas 
processing facilities (see under Infrastructure).  In addition larger tubing will be installed in the 
SS-10 well to increase deliverability, using the same rig that will drill SS-A.

The current well stock will not drain the Songo Songo North reservoir. The reserves located 
in this area of the field are not required in the near term, and as a result there are no plans 
to  drill  this  well  before  2015.  In  addition  to  the  above,  field  compression  will  need  to  be 
installed to maintain the deliverability of the wells. The first stage of compression will be 
installed along with the expanded gas processing facilities by Q1 2013.

GAS RESERVES
In  accordance  with  National  Instrument  51-101  Standards  of  Disclosure  for  Oil  and  Gas 
Activities, the independent petroleum engineers, McDaniel prepared a report dated April 
2011  that  assessed  the  Orca  Exploration  natural  gas  reserves  based  on  information  on 
the  Songo  Songo  Field  and  Songo  Songo  North  as  at  31  December  2010  (the “McDaniel 
Report”). A summary of the remaining Additional Gas reserves on a life of license and life of 
field basis are presented in the tables on pages 14 and 15. The 1P and 2P reserves are based 
on production to the end of the license period (October 2026) while the 3P reserves assume 
that the license will be extended to the end of the field life, see page 16.

Orca plans to drill 
a new onshore 
Songo Songo well 
in 2011

14

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

OPERATIONS REPORT

Total gas production from Songo Songo was 27.9 Bcf in 2010

Songo Songo West Prospect

Songo Songo Field

SS-5
(projected)

SS-3

TWT

SW

Base Miocene

0.5

1.0

Near Base Eocene

1.5

Top Cenomanian

2.0

Top Neocomian

2.5

TANZSS-59

TWT

E

1.0

0.5

During  the  course  of  2010 
no  significant  geological  or 
geophysical  data  has  been 
acquired  on  or  close  to  the 
Songo  Songo  field  that  might 
allow  a  re-assesment  of  the 
volumetric  GIIP  and  reserves.  
On  a  Gross  Company  basis 
there  has  been  a  4%  decline  in 
Songo  Songo’s  1P  Additional 
Gas  reserves  to  the  end  of 
the  license  period,  and  a  7% 
decrease on a life of field basis, 
with  a  total  Additional  Gas 
production  of  13.5  Bcf  during 
the  year.  There  has  been  a  8% 
decline in the 2P Additional Gas 
reserves  on  a  Gross  Company 
life  of  license  basis  from  490.2 
Bcf  to  450.8  Bcf.  The  decline  is 
primarily due to the need to drill 
new wells that TPDC can back into and the curtailment of production rates from the existing 
wells as a result of tubing corrosion.

2 kms

2.0

1.5

2.5

Orca management estimates that the total recoverable Mid Case reserves (Protected Gas plus 
Additional Gas) from the Songo Songo Field and the Songo Songo North discovery is 1,079 Bcf 
at 31 December 2010. 

The gross and net Company Additional Gas reserves to end of license are as follows:

Songo Songo 
Additional Gas reserves  
to October 2026 (bcF) 

Independent reserves evaluation
Proved producing
Proved undeveloped

Total proved (1p)
Probable

Total proved and probable (2p)
Possible

Total proved, probable  
and possible (3p)

2010

2009

GROSS (1)

NET (2)

GROSS

NET

289.5
79.7

369.2
81.6

450.8
370.9

191.2
47.8

239.0
50.1

289.1
234.1

300.7
84.2

384.9
105.3

490.2
338.6

169.2
72.6

241.8
65.2

307.0
215.0

821.7

523.2

828.8

522.0

(1) 

(2) 

 Gross equals the gross reserves that are available for the Company after estimating the effect of the TPDC 
back in (see below).

 Net equals the economic allocation of the Gross reserves to the Company as determined in accordance with 
the Production Sharing Agreement.

OPERATIONS REPORT

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

15

The gross and net Company Additional Gas reserves to end of field life are as follows:

Songo Songo 
Additional Gas reserves to end of field life (bcF) 

2010

2009

GROSS (1)

NET (2)

GROSS

NET

Independent reserves evaluation
Proved producing
Proved undeveloped

Total proved (1p)
Probable

Total proved and probable (2p)

Possible

Total proved, probable and possible (3p)

478.4
(11.6)

466.8
153.3

620.1

201.6

821.7

315.8
(10.4)

305.4
95.6

401.0

122.2

523.2

474.2
(4.2)

470.0
174.1

644.1

184.7

828.8

285.0
15.8

300.8
109.2

410.0

112.0

522.0

(1) 

(2) 

 Gross equals the gross reserves that are available for the Company after estimating the effect of the TPDC back in (see 
below).

 Net equals the economic allocation of the Gross reserves to the Company as determined in accordance with the Production 
Sharing Agreement.

The McDaniel Report has assumed that TPDC will exercise its right to ‘back in’ to the field development by 
contributing 20% of the costs of the future wells, including SS-10, and a proportion of the infrastructure and 
operating costs, in return for a 20% increase in the profit share for the production emanating from these 
wells. McDaniel has taken the view that this ‘back in’ right should be treated as a TPDC working interest 
and therefore the Gross reserves have been adjusted for the volumes of Additional Gas that are allocated 
to TPDC for their working interest share.  The implications and workings of the ‘back in’ are currently being 
discussed  with TPDC  and  may  lead  to  future  modifications  in  the  way  the  Gross  Company  reserves  are 
calculated.

For the purpose of calculating the Gross Additional Gas reserves, McDaniel has assumed in their 2P case that 
190 Bcf (2009: 194 Bcf ) or an average of 13.9 Bcf per annum will be required to meet the demands of the 
Protected Gas users from 1 January 2011 to 31 July 2024. During 2010, the Protected Gas users consumed 
14.2 Bcf. 

 
 
 
 
 
16

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

OPERATIONS REPORT

The principal assumptions used by McDaniel in its evaluation of the Tanzanian PSA are as follows:

YeAr
2011

2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019

2020
2021
2022
2023-2026

Additional 
Gas price
1P

US$/Mcf
3.56

Gross 
Additional 
Gas volumes
1P

 MMcfD
44.5

Additional 
Gas price
2P

US$/Mcf
3.56

Gross 
Additional 
Gas volumes
2P

 MMcfD
44.5

3.98
5.61
5.61
5.72
5.84
5.92
5.99
6.07

6.15
6.24
6.32
6.37

48.4
50.1
61.8
71.2
79.9
79.9
79.9
79.9

79.9
79.9
79.9
62.7

3.98
5.49
5.49
5.77
5.89
5.97
6.05
6.13

6.21
6.29
6.38
6.44

48.4
50.1
64.7
77.8
90.0
101.4
101.4
101.4

101.4
101.4
101.4
84.4

Present value of reserves

The  estimated  value  of  the  Songo  Songo  reserves  on  a  life  of  license  basis  based  on  the 
assumptions on production and pricing are as follows:

US$ millionS

Proved producing
Proved undeveloped

Total proved (1P)

Probable

Total proved and probable (2P)

Possible

Total proved, probable and possible (3P)

5%

267.2
82.7

349.9

71.3

421.2

269.6

690.8

2010
10%

180.7
55.0

235.7

41.9

277.6

117.0

15%

5%

128.2
36.6

164.8

25.2

190.0

56.3

223.5
132.4

355.9

77.0

432.9

215.8

648.7

2009
10%

157.1
90.6

247.7

43.4

291.1

90.0

15%

118.2 
63.4

181.6

25.6

207.2

41.4 

381.1

248.6

394.6

246.3

There has been a 5% decrease on the 2P present value at a 10% discount basis from US$291.1 
million  to  US$277.6  million  on  a  life  of  licence  basis.  The  decrease  is  primarily  due  to  the 
curtailment  of  production  from  the  original  wells  following  the  tubing  corrosion,  with TPDc 
being able to back-in to a greater proportion of production than previously anticipated. It should 
be noted that McDaniel has assumed in the 3P case, that the company receives an extension 
to the PSA. Hence for this category only, the reserves are not restricted to the life of the licence.

 
OPERATIONS REPORT

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

17

Songo Songo west 

represents a  

major potential source  

of new reserves

Exploration

TANZANIA

SONGO SONGO WEST
Orca  Exploration  has  mapped  and  evaluated  the  Songo  Songo west  prospect 
adjacent to the Songo Songo Field and is in the early stages of planning to drill 
and  test  the  prospect  in  2012. The  prospect  lies  approximately  2.5  kilometers 
west of the main field and the prognosis is that the prospect is very similar in 
terms of trap and reservoir presence to the Songo Songo Field. The seismic on 
Songo Songo west indicates closure on an elongate north-south oriented tilted 
fault  block  trap  at  the  same  reservoir  interval  as  the  main  field.  Songo  Songo 
west lies entirely within the Company’s Discovery Blocks.

As with the Songo Songo main field, two reservoirs are envisaged to be present 
within  the  SSw  prospect;  the  Neocomian  and  the  Cenomanian,  although  the 
primary  exploration  potential  lies  within  the  Neocomian  interval.  McDaniel 
conducted  an  independent  assessment  of  natural  gas  resources  in  the  Songo 
Songo  west  prospect  in  September  2008.  Several  cases  were  reviewed  to 
estimate the size of the potential gas accumulation. The McDaniel’s Neocomian 
and Cenomanian GIIP and resources are summarised in the tables below.

Neocomian (bcF)
Unrisked OGIP 
Unrisked resources 
Risked mean resources

Cenomanian (bcF)
Unrisked OGIP 
Unrisked resources 
Risked mean resources 

Source: McDaniel September 2008

P90
232
170 
–

 P90 
12 
9 
–

P50
566
418
– 

 P50
43
32
–

Mean
678
505
264 

Mean 
62 
46 
16 

P10
1,381 
1,028 
– 

P10 
158 
118 
– 

Songo  Songo west  is  interpreted  by  McDaniel  to  be  a  low  risk  prospect  with 
a  52%  chance  of  success  in  the  Neocomian  and  35%  in  the  Cenomanian. The 
chance of success is measured as the probability that a hydrocarbon accumu-
lation  exists  that  will  demonstrate  stabilised  flow  of  hydrocarbons  if  tested. 
McDaniel assessed the P50, unrisked recoverable resources in the Songo 
Songo  west  prospect  at  450  Bcf  and  the  mean,  unrisked  recoverable 
resources at 551 Bcf. Management’s unrisked  mean GIIP for the Songo 
Songo west prospect of 810 Bcf compares with the McDaniel combined 
Neocomian and Cenomanian unrisked mean GIIP of 740 Bcf. 

1200

1400

W

i a n

1600

Top M a a s t r i c h t

Songo  Songo  west  represents  a  major  potential  source  of  reserves 
upside in the Songo Songo area, which could provide the resources to 
underwrite a significant expansion of the gas infrastructure and markets, 
both  in Tanzania  and  beyond.  Orca  Exploration  is  planning  to  drill  the 
initial  exploration  well  (“Songo  Songo  west  South”)  closer  to  Songo 
Songo Island towards the south of the Songo Songo west structure. If it 
is successful and can flow at commercial rates, the well will be suspended 
at the mudline as a potential future producer while a field development plan is worked up. In the case of development 
with high angle to horizontal wells a 3D seismic survey will be required. The most likely scenario is that the southern 
part of the field be developed first from a central hub tied back to the processing plant on the island, and while early 
field performance is monitored plans to drill up the northern sector of the field can be prepared.

T o p   C e n o m a n i a n
T o p   N e o c o m i a n

(
h
t
p
e
D
e
t
a
m
i
x
o
r
p
p
A

Lower Cretaceous
Lower Cretaceous

2400

1800

2000

2200

1985m

Songo Songo west is located in water depths of approximately 18 – 35 meters and will require a jack-up drilling rig 
to explore the prospect. Rig availability is a key focus in well planning, and Orca Exploration is actively engaged with 
other operators in East Africa who have a requirement for a jack-up rig to drill in shallow water in a similar timeframe.  
The intent is to encourage a rig share opportunity which would reduce rig and support vessel mobilization and demo-
bilization costs, as well as associated shared service costs.

Songo Songo
West Prospect

SS-5

Kiliwani North-1

E

U p p e r  Cretaceous
U p p e r  Cretaceous

Base Tertiary

)
L
S
M
m

1940m

1965m

 
 
 
 
18

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

OPERATIONS REPORT

CENTRAL ADRIATIC  
INTEREST AREA

Adriatic Sea

d505B.R-EL

d507B.R-EL

d493B.R-EL

d492B.R-EL

d494B.R-EL

d500B.R-EL

d496B.R-EL

BR268.RG

Miglianico

Elsa
West

ElsaElsa

Ombrina
Mare

d495B.R-EL

S. Stefano
Mare

d499B.R-EL

Rospo
Mare

BR268 RG Elsa
Exploration permits awaiting
approval
Prospect with oil shows
Oil field
Gas field
12nm limit
5nm limit

ITAELSA-08a

Fiume TresteFiume
Treste

0

15km

April 2011

ITALY
During November 2010, Orca Exploration 
signed  an  agreement  with  Northern 
Petroleum  plc.  to  acquire  between  70% 
and  75%  of  the  Longastrino  Block  in  the 
Po  Basin  onshore  Italy.  This  acquisition 
was Orca’s second entry into Italy during 
2010. In May, Orca acquired a 15% interest 
in  the  Petroceltic  operated  B.R268.RG 
Permit in the offshore Central Adriatic. 

Under  the  terms  of  the  farm  in  with 
Northern  Petroleum,  Orca  will  pay  100% 
of  the  costs  of  the  La Tosca-1  well  up  to 
€4.3  million  and  70%  thereafter  for  the 
drilling  phase  of  the  well.  If  the  well  is 
tested and completed, then Orca will earn 
an  additional  5%  by  paying  100%  of  the 
testing  costs  up  to  €1.3  million  and  75% 
thereafter.  The  Company  will  also  pay 
back costs of €0.6 million.

Earlier 
in  2010,  Orca  committed  ap-
proximately US$13 million to earn a 15% 
interest  in  the  Petroceltic  operated  Elsa 
discovery block and 11 adjacent licenses. 
The Elsa field has a large volume of known 
oil  in  place,  and  an  appraisal  well  was 
planned  for  Q4  2010  to  determine  the 
quality of the crude.

However,  recent  worldwide  concerns  about 
offshore  drilling  caused  by  the  blowout  of  the 
Macondo well in the U.S. Gulf has led the Italian 
government  to  pass  a  law  that  excludes  drilling 
in  the  Italian  seas  within  5  nautical  miles  of  the 
coastline  and  12  nautical  miles  in  the  region  of 
protected marine parks. Petroceltic has submitted 
an  application  to  the  Ministry  of  Economic 
Development (“MSE”) to suspend the license, and 
as  a  result  all  work  towards  the  drilling  of  well 
Elsa-2 has ceased. Orca is not liable to any costs 
associated  with  the  drilling  of  Elsa-2  until  such 
time as a rig contract is signed.

CENTRAL ADRIATIC - B.R268.RG PERMIT
The  B.R268.RG  Permit  containing  Elsa  is  located 
on  and  at  the  northern  margin  of  the  Jurassic-
Miocene  Apulian  Carbonate  Platform.  Several 
in  close 
commercial  discoveries  of  oil  are 
proximity including the Rospo Mare and Ombrina 
Mare  fields  on  the  platform,  and  the  Miglianico 
field  on  the  platform  margin. The  Elsa  discovery 
is analogous to the neighbouring Miglianico field, 
and  numerous  additional  prospects  and  leads 
have been identified both on the platform and at 
the platform margin in the adjacent acreage.

LONGASTRINO, ITALY  
INTEREST AREA

Corte Dei Signori

Longastrino
Longastrino

Orca acreage
Gas field
Prospect

Agosta

OPERATIONS REPORT

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

19

Agosta

La Tosca

Dosso Degli Angeli
Dosso Degli Angeli

Valli Di
Comocchio Lake

Tre Motte

Orca has signed an agreement  
to farm in on the Longastrino block 
 in the Po Basin, onshore Italy

Bando

Alfonsine

Ilaria

Agosta

Alfonsine

San Marco 2

Longastrino

Tre Motte

Dosso Degli
Angeli

Alfonsine

Porto
Corsini

Zorabini

0

10km

Baldina

Ravenna

Cotignola

Abbadesse

San
Potito

The  Elsa  field 
located  off  the 
is 
eastern  coast  of  Italy,  approximately 
7  kilometers  offshore  in  around  35m 
water. The field was discovered by AGIP 
in 1992 with well Elsa-1, which encountered an oil column of approxi-
mately 65m in the Lower Cretaceous Maiolica Formation at a depth of 
around 4,500m.  Due to casing restrictions, a sub-optimal open hole 
drill stem test was attempted with both water and oil zones exposed 
to  the  wellbore.  Oil  samples,  contaminated  with  water,  recovered 
from the test string had a reported oil gravity of 15° API. Uncertainty 
remains  over  the  oil  gravity,  especially  in  light  of  yellow-gold  fluo-
rescence  reported  while  drilling  through  the  reservoir,  and  close 
proximity  to  the  Ombrina  Mare  and  Miglianico  fields,  which  lie  at 
depths of around 2,900m and 4,800m respectively, but which have 
API  gravities  of  18°  and  34°  respectively.  Both  Orca  and  Petroceltic 
believe that the Elsa field will be commercial at 15° API oil, however 
several indications give rise to the expectation that the crude gravity 
may be higher than the 15° API.

0

3km

34%) and permeability in the range 10-400mD. Intraformation-
al clays, shales and marls act as seals, while the clays also have 
source potential to generate biogenic gas. 

The  principal  target  within  the  Longastrino  Permit  is  the  La 
Tosca  prospect.  A  well  defined  amplitude  anomaly  seen  on  3D 
seismic is present within mapped closure. The prospect is just 2 
kilometers to the north-east of the Alfonsine gas field (300 Bcf ) 
whose  reservoir  is  the  lower  Pliocene  Porto  Corsini  Formation. 
The Intra Lower Pliocene target reservoir is mapped as a 3-way 
dip  closed  structured  trapped  against  a  Nw-SE  trending  thrust 
fault.  while  the  primary  reservoir  objective  is  prognosed  at 
-1,600m  true  vertical  depth  subsea  (“TVDSS”),  the  La  Tosca  -1 
well will be drilled to a prognosed total depth of approximately 
-2,500m  TVDSS  to  test  deeper  secondary,  probable  Miocene, 
objectives.

The  La  Tosca  prospect  is  estimated  to  contain  45  Bcf  of  gross 
mean  prospective  resource  with  an  upside  of  85  Bcf  of  99.5% 
methane gas. work is currently in progress to secure a site from 
which to drill the La Tosca-1 well, scheduled for Q4 2011.

The Elsa-2 appraisal well has the primary objective of confirming the 
commercial  production  potential  of  the  reservoir.  Positive  results 
from Elsa-2 will be followed by a 3D seismic survey over the field.

The  full  field  mid  case  stock  tank  oil  initially  in  place  (“STOIIP”) 
potential of Elsa is 410 MMbbl. The Operator’s estimates of recoverable 
reserves  are  in  the  region  of  100  MMbbl,  depending  on  oil  gravity 
and viscosity. Production would be to a floating production  storage 
and offloading (“FPSO”) and export via a shuttle tanker.

The farm in agreement with Petroceltic includes the ability to earn 
equity in a number of offshore exploration permits, some of which 
are  within  the  area  subject  to  the  currently  imposed  drilling  ban.  
A  number  of  prospects  and  leads  have  been  identified  within  the 
exploration  acreage  ranging  in  age  from  Jurassic,  Cretaceous  and 
Tertiary  and  having  primarily  oil  and  some  gas  potential.  A  further 
programme of seismic acquisition is planned to evaluate more fully 
the potential of these exploration permits.

PO BASIN - LONGASTRINO PERMIT
The  Longastrino  permit  is  situated  onshore  Italy  in  the  Northern 
Apennine  foredeep,  commonly  known  as  the  Po  Valley  Basin. 
Numerous  gas  and  gas-condensate  fields  are  located  close  to  the 
permit  including  Ravenna,  Alfonsine,  San  Potito,  Cotignola,  Dosso 
degli  Angeli  and  Baldina.  Recent  discoveries  include  Agosta  and 
Abbadesse. There are a number of proven clastic reservoir horizons in 
the Pliocene and Upper Miocene. Offset well data indicates that these 
reservoir  horizons  have  an  average  porosity  of  20-25%  (maximum 

BONN

Innsbruck

A U S T R I A

S W I T Z E R L A N D
Lausanne

Geneva

45°N

Turin

Milan

S L O V A K I A

SLOVENIA

SLOVENIA
Trieste

ZAGREB

C R O A T I A

Venice

G u l f

o f   V e n i c e

Genoa

Bologna
I

Florence

Monaco

S t r a i t   o f   B o n i f a c i o

40°N

BOSNIA &
HERZEGOVINA

SARAJEVO

LONGASTRINO
Ancona

T

Purluga

A D R I A T I C

S E A
ELSA

A

ROME

L

Y

Naples

Bari

Potenza

Cagliari

T Y R R H E N I A N

S E A

S t r a i t   o f   S i c i l y

Palermo

TUNIS

T U N I S I A

10°E

ITAREG-01c_WEB

Catanzaro

I O N I A N

S E A

0

Kilometres

100

15°E

20

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

OPERATIONS REPORT

Infrastructure

The infrastructure that processes and transports the gas from the Songo Songo Field to 
Dar es Salaam was commissioned in July 2004. 

The initial infrastructure for the Songo Songo gas to electricity project incorporated the 
following elements:

•	

•	

•	

•	

Completion	and	tie	back	of	the	original	five	producing	wells;

	Construction	of	a	gas	processing	facility	on	Songo	Songo	Island	(“SSI”)	with	two	gas	
processing trains;

Construction	of	a	high	pressure	offshore	and	onshore	pipeline	system;

a) 

 a 25 kilometer 12” offshore pipeline from the field to the Somanga Funga landfall; 

b)  a 207 kilometer 16” onshore pipeline to the Ubungo power plant; 

c)  a 16 kilometer 8” lateral pipeline to the wazo Hill cement plant.

	Conversion	of	four	existing	turbines	at	the	Ubungo	power	plant	(2	x	19	MW	and	2	x	
34 Mw) from diesel to gas. 

Orca  Exploration  is  the  operator  of  the  wells  and  the  gas  processing  plant.  Songas 
Limited  (“Songas”)  is  the  owner  of  the  infrastructure  and  the  operator  of  the  high 
pressure pipeline system and the Ubungo power plant.

SSI gas processing plant
The  two  gas  processing  trains  on  Songo  Songo  Island  were  originally  designed  with 
a processing capacity of 35 MMcfd each (70 MMcfd in total). The raw gas produced a 
Songo Songo Island is relatively dry and requires a minimal amount of processing. 

In  2008  the  plant  was  certified  by  Lloyds  Register  to  operate  at  90  MMcfd  after  the 
Company installed two larger Joule-Thompson valves and modified the relief system on 
the two existing gas processing trains. 

During September 2010 the Company undertook further technical analysis and Lloyds 
Register re-rated the plant to operate at 110 MMcfd. 

Subsequent  to  the  year  end,  the  Company  negotiated  a  Re-rating  Agreement  with 
TANESCO and Songas to run the gas processing plant at levels of up to 110 MMcfd for 
the period until the Songas Expansion Project is operational. If this agreement is signed 
and  subsequently  comes  into  force,  the  Company  will  effectively  pay  an  additional 
tariff of US$0.30/mcf for sales between 70 MMcfd and 90 MMcfd and US$0.40/mcf for 
volumes above 90 MMcfd in addition to the tariff of US$0.59/mcf payable to Songas as 
set by the energy regulator, EwURA.    

The main pipeline from Songo Songo Island to the Ubungo power plant in Dar es Salaam 
including both the offshore section and the onshore section has an estimated maximum 
capacity in its current configuration of 105 MMcfd.  Accordingly, this will be the forecast 
capacity of the infrastructure system. 

Sales to  
the industrial 
sector averaged 
approximately 

6.9 MMcfd  

in 2010

 
 
 
OPERATIONS REPORT

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

21

Songas Expansion Project
During 2009, Orca Exploration designed a new long term expansion 
project (“Expansion Project”) that combines enlarging the capacity 
of the gas processing plant and the high pressure pipeline. 

In the initial phase of the Expansion Project, two new gas processing 
units will be installed that can initially process 200 MMcfd.  This will 
be combined with the installation of compression downstream of 
the gas processing plant.  The dual purpose of this compression is 
to allow there to be a drop in the pressure requirements for the gas 
at  the  inlet  to  the  gas  processing  plant  (initially  down  to  65  bar) 
that  can  be  increased  to  the  maximum  design  pressure  of  the 
pipeline at its outlet.  In addition, by dropping the pressure require-
ments  at  Dar  es  Salaam  to  30  bar  (from  53  bar),  the  pipeline 
throughput can be increased to 140 MMcfd.

The  Expansion  Project  was  adopted  by  the  owners  of  the  infra-
structure, Songas Limited, who made an application to the energy 
regulator, EwURA, in November 2010 in order to establish a new 
gas processing and tariff rate. 

To facilitate the development of the Songas Expansion Project, the 
Company  has  agreed  to  fund  50%  of  the  costs  of  getting  the 
Expansion Project to financial up to a maximum of US$2.4 million.  
This  will  be  refunded  following  the  successful  completion  of  the 
project provided the funds have been accepted in the cost base by 
EwURA. The project is scheduled to be  completed  by the  end of  
Q1 2013.  

Future expansions
To increase the overall capacity of the infrastructure system 
to operate at 200 MMcfd, a twin onshore pipeline will need 
to be constructed. The timing of this will be dependent on 
the increase in gas demand, but it is forecast to be required 
by the end of 2013. 

Low pressure distribution system
The  low  pressure  distribution  system  has  been  designed 
so  that  there  is  significant  spare  capacity  and  security  of 
supply. There are three pressure reduction stations (“PRS”) 
and  two  separate  connections  to  the  16”  high  pressure 
pipeline. 

Since 2004, the Company has constructed in excess of 50 
kilometers  of  low  pressure  pipeline  in  Dar  es  Salaam  and 
36  industrial  customers  were  connected  and  consuming 
Additional Gas at the end of 2010. 

22

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

OPERATIONS REPORT

Market 
Development

Additional Gas sales  
to the power sector 
averaged  

30.0 MMcfd  

in 2010

SUMMARY
The  current  target  profile  of  160  MMcfd 
for the sales of gas in Tanzania (including 
Protected  Gas)  is  based  on  the  forecast 
gas  reserves  in  the  Songo  Songo  Field 
and Songo Songo North. It is dependent 
on  the  investment  in  the  drilling  of  two 
new  wells  (one  well  in  the  main  Songo 
Songo  Field  (planned  for  2011)  and  one 
at  Songo  Songo  North),  together  with 
the work-over of  some wells in the main 
Songo Songo Field and the expansion of 
the  infrastructure  system  that  transports 
the gas to Dar es Salaam.

In  the  event  that  gas  is  discovered  in 
Songo Songo west, then there is assessed 
to  be  sufficient  demand,  especially  from 
the power sector and the CNG market, to 
absorb the majority of the P50 resources.

POWER SECTOR
Sales to the power sector averaged 30.0 MMcfd in 
2010.  Until Q1 2013, the demand for gas from the 
power sector will be determined by the quantum 
of  gas  fired  generation  capacity  in Tanzania  and 
the  availability  of  the  hydro  and  infrastructure 
capacity.  Thereafter, the take or pay provisions in 
the long term initialled power contracts will set a 
floor on the annual gas volumes sold to the power 
sector.  There is expected to be significant growth 
in electricity demand in Tanzania and gas is likely 
to be the feedstock provided the right contractual 
terms can be agreed.  This is discussed below. 

OPERATIONS REPORT

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

23

DEMAND BY THE POWER SECTOR UNTIL THE END OF 2011
As  at  31  December  2010,  there  was  189  Mws  of  installed  gas  fired 
generation  in  Tanzania  that  is  being  powered  by  Additional  Gas 
(maximum demand of approximately 38 MMcfd). 

The following lists the capacity of the gas fired generation consuming 
Additional Gas as at 31 December 2010 together with the expected 
growth in generation in the next 18 months.

Status 

Operational 

Operational

Operational

 Power Plant
Ubungo power plant 
(Unit 6)

TANESCO at Ubungo

Tegeta 

Total as at 31 December 2010

Awaiting re-commissioning

Dowans

Contract signed

Jacobsen at Ubungo

Total potential as at 30 June 2012

Installed 
capacity MWs

42

102

45

189

112

105

406

It  is  forecast  that  the  maximum  gas  available  for  the  power  sector 
pre the Songas Expansion Project and assuming that the Re-rating 
Agreement  is  signed  (increasing  the  infrastructure  capacity  to  105 
MMcfd) is approximately 46 MMcfd, this compares with a potential 
demand at 30 June 2012 of 84 MMcfd.

DEMAND BY THE POWER SECTOR FROM 2011 
UNDER THE ARGA AND PGSA
The  supply  of  Additional  Gas  to  the  power  sector  is  currently 
governed  by  two  interim  power  agreements.  It  is  forecast  that 
these  will  be  superseded  by  two  long  term  contracts  with  Songas 
and TANESCO  that  were  initialled  in  June  2008;  the  Amended  and 
Restated  Gas  Agreement  (“ARGA”)  and  the  Portfolio  Gas  Supply 
Agreement (“PGSA”).

Under  the  ARGA,  19.5  %  of  the  gas  supplied  to  the  six  turbines  at 
Ubungo is considered to be Additional Gas. whilst there is no explicit 
take  or  pay  in  the  agreement  the  utilisation  at  the  Ubungo  power 
plant is expected to be high given the low cost of the Protected Gas 
(Gas (US$0.55/Mmbtu LHV escalating with US CPI) that makes up the 
remaining 80.5% of the supply to the plant. The maximum volume of 
Protected and Additional Gas delivered to the Ubungo power plant 
is  capped  at  approximately  47.4  MMcfd.  At  an  84%  utilisation  rate, 
it is expected that 7.8 MMcfd will be supplied to the Ubungo power 
plant as Additional Gas until the termination of the agreement on 31 
July 2024.

The  PGSA  covers  the  supply  of  Additional  Gas 
to  a  portfolio  of  gas  generation  facilities  (that 
currently  consists  of  the  TANESCO  Ubungo  102 
Mw  and  Tegeta  45  Mw  power  plants).  Further 
delivery  points  may  be  added  in  the  future 
subject to the consent of the Company and TPDC, 
and provided that the gas volumes do not exceed 
the maximum permissible under the contract as 
detailed below.

Under  the  terms  of  the  initialled  PGSA,  it  is 
forecast that in the periods prior to the installation 
of the third and fourth gas processing trains, the 
Company will supply TANESCO’s existing gas fired 
generation as nominated subject to there being 
available gas processing capacity. The maximum 
daily quantity (“MDQ”) that the Company has to 
supply under the initialled PGSA is approximately 
37 MMcfd provided there is sufficient generation 
capacity in place to consume the gas.

GROWTH IN ELECTRICITY DEMAND  
AND THE POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER GAS 
FIRED GENERATION 
As at 31 December 2010, there was approximate-
ly  1,144  Mws  of  available  power  generation  in 
Tanzania though only 1,032 Mws was operational 
due to contractual disputes. In the last few years 
there has been a rebalancing of power generation 
mix  in  Tanzania  resulting  in  hydro  generation 
accounting  for  less  than  50%  of  the  available 
generation.  The  only  major  water  storage  is  at 
the  Mtera  reservoir  which  supplies  the  80  Mw 
Mtera  and  200  Mw  Kidatu  hydro  plants.  The 
remaining  261  Mws  of  hydro  generation  is “run 
of river” which is only operational on average for 
4-5  months  in  the  year.  Accordingly,  the  level  of 
the Mtera reservoir is integral to the generation of 
280 Mws of electricity. 

It is estimated that under the base case assump-
tions of the TANESCO’s power sector master plan 
(“PSMP”) that peak demand (before adding in any 
capacity margin to provide a more normal level of 
security of supply) will be 1,700 Mws in 2016 and 
4,800 Mws in 2031. 

24

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

OPERATIONS REPORT

If gas is discovered in Songo Songo 
west, power demand is  
anticipated to absorb the  
majority of the new reserves

Based on the forecast availability at the end of 2010, there has to be an 
increase in excess of 100 Mws per annum to meet forecast demand. It 
is therefore reasonable to assume that an additional 20 MMcfd of peak 
demand will be required for each year between 2011 and 2016 to meet 
power  sector  demand  in Tanzania  in  addition  to  the  existing  available 
generation.

whilst  the  rate  of  growth  slows  marginally  after  2016,  there  is  still  a 
requirement  for  in  excess  of  100  Mws  per  annum  of  new  generation 
(adding 20 MMcfd of peak potential gas demand).

It is forecast that whilst there are sufficient gas reserves in the country, 
gas  fired  generation  will  be  the  preferred  choice  for  new  capacity. 
In  addition,  the  current  gas  is  priced  at  a  level  that  makes  gas  fired 
generation competitive with the all-in-cost of coal generation. 

TANESCO  has  indicated  that  they  intend  to  construct  a  240  Mw 
generation plant at Kinyerezi, Dar es Salaam by 2014. The Company has 
commenced  discussions  to  assess  how  gas  may  be  made  available  for 
these units, recognising the need for additional drilling and infrastruc-
ture to be able to deliver the volumes contemplated for these units. 

PROSPECTIVE INDUSTRIAL SALES
Sales to the industrial sector averaged 
approximately  6.9  MMcfd  in  2010. 
There is currently limited opportunity 
to connect any new material custom-
ers and therefore growth in the short 
term  will  primarily  be  driven  by 
organic growth from within the exist-
ing customer base.  

with  the  extensive  construction  of 
new  offices  and  accommodation 
currently  being  undertaken  in  Dar  es 
Salaam,  the  demand  for  cement  in 
Tanzania  has  increased  over  the  last 
few years.  This is forecast to lead to an 
increase in the gas consumption at the 
wazo Hill cement plant.  This plant is 
owned  by Tanzania  Portland  Cement 
Company  (“TPCC”)  a  subsidiary  of 
Heidelberg Cement.  

OPERATIONS REPORT

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

25

COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) 
CNG is widely used around the world, including India and China. 

Over the last couple of years there has been a strong focus by 
the  Government  of  Tanzania  to  utilise  CNG  within  Tanzania. 
During 2009 the Company installed a compressor and a vehicle 
dispenser  adjacent  to  its  pressure  reduction  station  at  a  busy 
intersection at the Ubungo power plant. Two daughter stations 
were  also  constructed  at  the  Movenpick  hotel  and  the  TPDC 
compound.

During 2010 a further daughter station was constructed in the 
Mikocheni  area  to  enable  the  Company  to  supply  two  new 
industrial customers.  

The CNG market is expected to grow gradually primarily fuelled 
by  industries  not  located  on  the  existing  pipeline  system  and 
large vehicle users (e.g. Pepsi who has a large fleet of trucks).   It 
is anticipated that once the market is established in the medium 
term,  the  local  petrol  retailers  will  retail  the  CNG.  Accordingly 
there will be no need for significant capital after this time, but 
the price realised for the CNG will be reduced.

Corporate  
Social Responsibility
The  Board  of  Directors  regularly  reviews 
the  aims  of  the  corporate  social  respon-
sibility  strategy  and  how  this  translates 
into  practical  and  beneficial  community 
relations  support  in  Tanzania.  A  budget 
is  established  with  agreed  ongoing 
assistance  covering  education,  health 
and the provision of water and power on 
Songo  Songo  Island.  Particular  emphasis 
is given to providing educational materials 
and  equipment  for  the  existing  school, 
with  support  being  given  to  the  setting 
up  of  a  new  secondary  school,  a  kinder-
garten  and  an  adult  learning  centre. The 
overall aim is to improve the quality of life 
for all the local inhabitants and maintain 
good community relations.

26 O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .

2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

Management’s  

Discussion  
  & Analysis

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
thiS md&a OF Financial cOnditiOnS and reSUltS OF OperatiOnS ShOUld be read in cOnJUnctiOn With 
the  aUdited  cOnSOlidated  Financial  StatementS  and  nOteS theretO  FOr Year  ended  31  december 
2010. thiS md&a iS baSed On the inFOrmatiOn available On 28 april 2011. 

certain StatementS in thiS md&a inclUding (i) StatementS that maY cOntain WOrdS SUch aS “anticipate”, 
“cOUld”, “eXpect”, “SeeK”, “maY”, “intend”, “Will”, “believe”, “ShOUld”, “prOJect”, “FOrecaSt”, “plan” and Similar 
eXpreSSiOnS, inclUding the negativeS thereOF, (ii) StatementS that are baSed On cUrrent eXpectatiOnS 
and eStimateS abOUt the marKetS in Which Orca eXplOratiOn OperateS and (iii) StatementS OF belieF, 
intentiOnS and eXpectatiOnS abOUt develOpmentS, reSUltS and eventS that Will Or maY OccUr in 
the FUtUre, cOnStitUte “FOrWard-lOOKing StatementS” and are baSed On certain aSSUmptiOnS and 
analYSiS made bY Orca eXplOratiOn. FOrWard-lOOKing StatementS in thiS md&a inclUde, bUt are nOt 
limited tO, StatementS With reSpect tO FUtUre capital eXpenditUreS, inclUding the amOUnt, natUre 
and timing thereOF, natUral gaS priceS and demand. 

SUch  FOrWard-lOOKing  StatementS  are  SUbJect tO  impOrtant  riSKS  and  UncertaintieS, Which  are 
diFFicUlt tO predict and that maY aFFect Orca eXplOratiOn’S OperatiOnS, inclUding, bUt nOt limited 
tO: the impact OF general ecOnOmic cOnditiOnS in tanZania, italY and canada; indUStrY cOnditiOnS, 
inclUding  the  adOptiOn  OF  neW  envirOnmental,  SaFetY  and  Other  laWS  and  regUlatiOnS  and 
changeS in hOW theY are interpreted and enFOrced; vOlatilitY OF Oil and natUral gaS priceS; Oil and 
natUral gaS prOdUct SUpplY and demand; riSKS inherent in Orca eXplOratiOn’S abilitY tO generate 
SUFFicient  caSh  FlOW  FrOm  OperatiOnS  tO  meet  itS  cUrrent  and  FUtUre  ObligatiOnS;  increaSed 
cOmpetitiOn; the FlUctUatiOn in FOreign eXchange Or intereSt rateS; StOcK marKet vOlatilitY; and 
Other FactOrS, manY OF Which are beYOnd the cOntrOl OF Orca eXplOratiOn.

Orca  eXplOratiOn’S  actUal  reSUltS,  perFOrmance  Or  achievementS  cOUld  diFFer  materiallY  FrOm 
thOSe eXpreSSed in, Or implied bY, theSe FOrWard-lOOKing StatementS and, accOrdinglY, nO aSSUrance 
can be given that anY OF the eventS anticipated bY the FOrWard-lOOKing StatementS Will tranSpire 
Or  OccUr,  Or  iF  anY  OF them  dO tranSpire  Or  OccUr, What  beneFitS  Orca  eXplOratiOn Will  derive 
thereFrOm. SUbJect tO applicable laW, Orca eXplOratiOn diSclaimS anY intentiOn Or ObligatiOn tO 
Update Or reviSe anY FOrWard-lOOKing StatementS, Whether aS a reSUlt OF neW inFOrmatiOn, FUtUre 
eventS Or OtherWiSe. all FOrWard-lOOKing StatementS cOntained in thiS dOcUment are eXpreSSlY 
QUaliFied bY thiS caUtiOnarY Statement. 

NON-GAAP MEASURES
the  cOmpanY  evalUateS  itS  perFOrmance  baSed  On  FUndS  FlOW  FrOm  Operating  activitieS  and 
Operating  netbacKS.  FUndS  FlOW  FrOm  Operating  activitieS  iS  a  nOn-gaap  (generallY  accepted 
accOUnting principleS) term that repreSentS caSh FlOW FrOm OperatiOnS beFOre WOrKing capital 
adJUStmentS.  it  iS  a  KeY  meaSUre  aS  it  demOnStrateS  the  cOmpanY’S  abilitY  tO  generate  caSh 
neceSSarY  tO  achieve  grOWth  thrOUgh  capital  inveStmentS.  Orca  eXplOratiOn  alSO  aSSeSSeS 
itS  perFOrmance  UtiliZing  Operating  netbacKS.  Operating  netbacKS  repreSent  the  prOFit  margin 
aSSOciated With the prOdUctiOn and Sale OF additiOnal gaS and iS calcUlated aS revenUeS leSS 
ringmain tariFF, gOvernment paraStatal’S revenUe Share, Operating and diStribUtiOn cOStS FOr One 
thOUSand  Standard  cUbic  Feet  OF  additiOnal  gaS. thiS  iS  a  KeY  meaSUre  aS  it  demOnStrateS the 
prOFit generated FrOm each Unit OF prOdUctiOn, and iS WidelY USed bY the inveStment cOmmUnitY. 
the OperatiOnS in italY are cUrrentlY in the eXplOratiOn phaSe and have nO aSSOciated Operating 
revenUe. theSe nOn-gaap meaSUreS are nOt StandardiSed and thereFOre maY nOt be cOmparable tO 
Similar meaSUrementS OF Other entitieS. 

additiOnal inFOrmatiOn regarding Orca eXplOratiOn grOUp inc iS available Under the cOmpanY’S 
prOFile On Sedar at www.sedar.com.

 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

27

BACKGROUND

Tanzania

Orca Exploration’s principal operating asset is its interest in a Production Sharing Agreement (“PSA”) with 
the Tanzania  Petroleum  Development  Corporation  (“TPDC”)  in Tanzania. This  PSA  covers  the  production 
and marketing of certain gas from the Songo Songo gas field.

The gas in the Songo Songo field is divided between Protected Gas and Additional Gas. The Protected Gas 
is owned by TPDC and is sold under a 20-year gas agreement to Songas Limited (“Songas”). Songas is the 
owner of the infrastructure that enables the gas to be delivered to Dar es Salaam, namely a gas processing 
plant on Songo Songo Island, 232 kilometers of pipeline to Dar es Salaam and a 16 kilometer spur to the 
wazo Hill Cement Plant.

Songas  utilizes  the  Protected  Gas  (maximum  45.1  MMcfd)  as  feedstock  for  its  gas  turbine  electricity 
generators at Ubungo, for onward sale to the wazo Hill cement plant and for electrification of some villages 
along the pipeline route. Orca Exploration receives no revenue for the Protected Gas delivered to Songas 
and operates the field and gas processing plant on a ‘no gain no loss’ basis. 

Orca  Exploration  has  the  right  to  produce  and  market  all  gas  in  the  Songo  Songo  field  in  excess  of  the 
Protected Gas requirements (“Additional Gas”). 

Italy

During  2010  Orca  Exploration  farmed  in  to  an  oil  appraisal  block  in  the  Adriatic  in  Italy  and  to  a  gas 
exploration prospect in the Po Valley in northeastern Italy. 

PRINCIPAL TERMS OF THE TANZANIAN PSA AND RELATED AGREEMENTS
The principal terms of the Songo Songo PSA and related agreements are as follows:

Obligations and restrictions

(a) 

 The  Company  has  the  right  to  conduct  petroleum  operations,  market  and  sell  all  Additional  Gas 
produced and share the net revenue with TPDC for a term of 25 years expiring in October 2026.

(b) 

 The PSA covers the two licenses in which the Songo Songo field is located (“Discovery Blocks”). The 
Proven Section is essentially the area covered by the Songo Songo field within the Discovery Blocks.

(c)  

 No sales of Additional Gas may be made from the Discovery Blocks if in Orca Exploration’s reasonable 
judgment such sales would jeopardise the supply of Protected Gas. Any Additional Gas contracts entered 
into  are  subject  to  interruption.  Songas  has  the  right  to  request  that  the  Company  and TPDC  obtain 
security reasonably acceptable to Songas prior to making any sales of Additional Gas from the Discovery 
Block to secure the Company’s and TPDC’s obligations in respect of Insufficiency (see (d) below).

 In June 2008, the Company initialled two long term power contracts with the electricity utility, Tanzania 
Electric  Supply  Company  (“TANESCO”),  the  owner  of  the  Ubungo  power  plant,  Songas  Limited  and 
the Ministry of Energy and Minerals (“MEM”) for the supply of approximately 30 - 45 MMcfd for power 
generation. The  first  of  the  contracts  (Amended  and  Restated  Gas  Agreement  (“ARGA”))  covers  the 
supply of gas to the sixth turbine at the Ubungo power plant and provides for a maximum of approxi-
mately 9 MMcfd until July 2024. The second initialled contract (Portfolio Gas Sales Agreement (“PGSA”)) 
covers the supply of Additional Gas sales to a portfolio of gas fired generation in Tanzania.

 The  ARGA  provides  clarification  of  the  Protected  Gas  volumes  and  removes  all  terms  dealing  with 
the  security  of  the  Protected  Gas  and  the  consequences  of  any  insufficiency  to  a  new  Insufficiency 
Agreement (“IA”). The IA specifies terms under which Songas may demand cash security in order to 
keep them whole in the event of a Protected Gas insufficiency. Once the IA is signed, it will govern the 
basis for determining security. Under the provisional terms of the IA, when it is calculated that funding 
is  required,  the  Company  shall  fund  an  escrow  account  at  a  rate  of  US$2/Mmbtu  on  all  industrial 
Additional Gas sales out of its and TPDC’s share of revenue and TANESCO shall contribute the same 
amount on Additional Gas sales to the power sector. The funds provide security for Songas in the event 
of an insufficiency of Protected Gas. The Company is actively monitoring the reservoir and does not 
anticipate that a liability will occur in this respect.

 (d)    “Insufficiency” occurs if there is insufficient gas from the Discovery Blocks to supply the Protected Gas 
requirements or is so expensive to develop that its cost exceeds the market price of alternative fuels at 
Ubungo.

 
 
28 O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .

2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

 where  there  have  been  third  party  sales  of  Additional  Gas  by  Orca  Exploration  and  TPDC  from  the 
Discovery Blocks prior to the occurrence of the Insufficiency, Orca Exploration and TPDC shall be jointly 
liable for the Insufficiency and shall satisfy its related liability by either replacing the Indemnified Volume 
(as defined in (e) below) at the Protected Gas price with natural gas from other sources; or by paying 
money damages equal to the difference between: (a) the market price for a quantity of alternative fuel 
that is appropriate for the five gas turbine electricity generators at Ubungo without significant modi-
fication together with the costs of any modification; and (b) the sum of the price for such volume of 
Protected Gas (at US$0.55/Mmbtu) and the amount of transportation revenues previously credited by 
Songas to the electricity utility, TANESCO, for the gas volumes. 

(e) 

 The “Indemnified Volume” means the lesser of the total volume of Additional Gas sales supplied from the 
Discovery Blocks prior to an Insufficiency and the Insufficiency Volume. “Insufficiency Volume” means 
the volume of natural gas determined by multiplying the average of the annual Protected Gas volumes 
for the three years prior to the Insufficiency by 110% and multiplied by the number of remaining years 
(initial term of 20 years) of the power purchase agreement entered into between Songas and TANESCO 
in relation to the five gas turbine electricity generators at Ubungo from the date of the Insufficiency.

 As  discussed  in  (c)  above  an  Insufficiency  Agreement  has  been  negotiated  with TPDC,  Songas  and 
TANESCO that reduces these potential liabilities. The Insufficiency Agreement is expected to be signed 
at the same time as the long term power contracts.

Access and development of infrastructure

(f )  

 The Company is able to utilise the Songas infrastructure including the gas processing plant and main 
pipeline to Dar es Salaam. Access to the pipeline and gas processing plant is open and can be utilised 
by any third party who wishes to process or transport gas. 

 Songas is not required to incur capital costs with respect to additional processing and transportation 
facilities unless the construction and operation of the facilities are, in the reasonable opinion of Songas, 
financially  viable.  If  Songas  is  unable  to  finance  such  facilities,  Songas  shall  permit  the  seller  of  the 
gas to construct the facilities at its expense, provided that, the facilities are designed, engineered and 
constructed in accordance with good pipeline and oilfield practices.

Revenue sharing terms and taxation

(g)    75% of the gross revenues less processing and pipeline tariffs and direct sales taxes in any year (“Net 
Revenues”) can be used to recover past costs incurred. Costs recovered out of Net Revenues are termed 
“Cost Gas”.

 The Company pays and recovers costs of exploring, developing and operating the Additional Gas with 
two exceptions: (i) TPDC may recover reasonable market and market research costs as defined under 
the PSA; and (ii) TPDC has the right to elect to participate in the drilling of at least one well for Additional 
Gas in the Discovery Blocks for which there is a development program as detailed in the Additional 
Gas  plans  as  submitted  to  the  MEM  (“Additional  Gas  Plan”)  subject  to TPDC  being  able  to  elect  to 
participate in a development program only once and TPDC having to pay a proportion of the costs of 
such development program by committing to pay between 5% and 20% of the total costs (“Specified 
Proportion”). If TPDC does not notify the Company within 90 days of notice from the Company that the 
MEM has approved the Additional Gas Plan, then TPDC is deemed not to have elected. If TPDC elects 
to participate, then it will be entitled to a rateable proportion of the Cost Gas and their profit share 
percentage increases by the Specified Proportion for that development program. 

 TPDC has indicated that they wish to exercise their right to ‘back in’ to the field development by con-
tributing 20% of the cost of SS-10 and the cost of future wells in return for a 20% increase in the profit 
share percentage for the production emanating from these wells. The implications and workings of the 
‘back in’ are currently being discussed with TPDC and there may be the need for reserve and accounting 
modifications once these discussions are concluded. For the purpose of the reserves certification as at 
31 December 2010, it has been assumed that they will ‘back in’ for 20% for all future drilling activities 
and other developments and this is reflected in the Company’s net reserve position. 

(h)    The  price  payable  to  Songas  for  the  general  processing  and  transportation  of  the  gas  in  2009  was 
17.5% of the price of gas delivered to a third party less any direct taxes payable by the customer that 
are included in the gas price less any tariffs paid for non-Songas owned distribution facilities (“Songas 
Outlet Price”). 

 On 27 February 2009, the energy regulator, Energy and water Utility Regulatory Authority (“EwURA”), 
issued an order that saw the introduction of a flat rate tariff of US$0.59/mcf from 1 January 2010. The 
Company’s  long  term  gas  price  to  the  power  sector  as  set  out  in  the  short  term  and  initialed  long 

 
 
 
 
 
 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

29

term agreements is based on the price of gas at the wellhead. As a consequence, the Company is not 
impacted by the changes to the tariff paid to Songas in respect of sales to the power sector.

(i)  

(j)  

 The cost of maintaining the wells and flowlines is split between the Protected Gas and Additional Gas 
users in proportion to the volume of their respective sales. The cost of operating the gas processing 
plant and the pipeline to Dar es Salaam is covered through the payment of the pipeline tariff.

 Profits on sales from the Proven Section (“Profit Gas”) are shared between TPDC and the Company, the 
proportion of which is dependent on the average daily volumes of Additional Gas sold or cumulative 
production.

 The Company receives a higher share of the net revenues after cost recovery, the higher the cumulative 
production or the average daily sales, whichever is higher. The profit share is a minimum of 25% and a 
maximum of 55%.

Average daily sales of 
Additional Gas

Cumulative sales of 
Additional Gas

TPDC’s share of  
Profit Gas

Company’s share  
of Profit Gas

MMCFD
0 - 20
> 20 <= 30
> 30 <= 40
> 40 <= 50
> 50

BCF
0 – 125
> 125 <= 250
> 250 <= 375
> 375 <= 500
> 500

%
75
70
65
60
45

%
25
30
35
40
55

 For Additional Gas produced outside of the Proven Section, the Company’s profit share increases to 55%.

 where TPDC elects to participate in a development programme, their profit share percentage increases 
by the Specified Proportion (for that development programme) with a corresponding decrease in the 
Company’s percentage share of Profit Gas. 

 The Company is liable to income tax. where income tax is payable, there is a corresponding deduction 
in the amount of the Profit Gas payable to TPDC.

(k) 

 Additional  Profits Tax  is  payable  where  the  Company  has  recovered  its  costs  plus  a  specified  return 
out of Cost Gas revenues and Profit Gas revenues. As a result: (i) no Additional Profits Tax is payable 
until  the  Company  recovers  its  costs  out  of  Additional  Gas  revenues  plus  an  annual  return  of  25% 
plus  the  percentage  change  in  the  United  States  Industrial  Goods  Producer  Price  Index  (“PPI”);  and 
(ii) the maximum Additional Profits Tax rate is 55% of the Company’s Profit Gas when costs have been 
recovered with an annual return of 35% plus PPI return. The PSA is, therefore, structured to encourage 
the  Company  to  develop  the  market  and  the  gas  fields  in  the  knowledge  that  the  profit  share  can 
increase with larger daily gas sales and that the costs will be recovered with a 25% plus PPI annual 
return  before  Additional  Profits  Tax  becomes  payable.  Additional  Profits  Tax  can  have  a  significant 
negative impact on the project economics if only limited capital expenditure is incurred.

Operatorship

(l)  

 The Company is appointed to develop, produce and process Protected Gas and operate and maintain 
the gas production facilities and processing plant, including the staffing, procurement, capital improve-
ments,  contract  maintenance,  maintain  books  and  records,  prepare  reports,  maintain  permits,  handle 
waste, liaise with the Government of Tanzania (“GoT”) and take all necessary safe, health and environmen-
tal precautions all in accordance with good oilfield practices. In return, the Company is paid or reimbursed 
by Songas so that the Company neither benefits nor suffers a loss as a result of its performance.

(m)   In the event of loss arising from Songas’ failure to perform and the loss is not fully compensated by 
Songas, Orca Exploration, Commonwealth Development Corporation or insurance coverage, then Orca 
Exploration is liable to a performance and operation guarantee of US$2.5 million when (i) the loss is 
caused by the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of the Company, its subsidiaries or employees, 
and (ii) Songas has insufficient funds to cure the loss and operate the project.

CONSOLIDATION
The companies that are being consolidated are:

Company 

Orca Exploration Group Inc 
Orca Exploration Italy Inc 
Orca Exploration Italy Onshore Inc 
PAE PanAfrican Energy Corporation 
PanAfrican Energy Tanzania Limited 

Incorporated

British Virgin Islands 
British Virgin Islands 
British Virgin Islands 
Mauritius 
Jersey 

 
  
 
 
 
30 O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .

2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

Results for the year ended 31 December 2010

OPERATING VOLUMES 
The sales volumes for the year were 13,444 MMcf or 36.9 MMcfd. This represents an overall increase of 29% 
over the previous year. The Company’s sales volumes were split between the industrial and power sectors 
as follows:

grOSS SaleS vOlUme (mmcf):
Industrial sector

Power sector

 Total volumes

grOSS dailY SaleS vOlUme (mmcfd):
Industrial sector
Power sector

 Total daily sales volume

Industrial sector

2010

2009

2,504

10,940

13,444

6.9
30.0

36.9

2,096

8,326

10,422

5.7
22.8

28.5

Industrial sales volume increased by 19% to 2,504 MMcf from 2,096 MMcf in 2009. Sales of Additional Gas 
to the wazo Hill cement plant operated by the Tanzanian Portland Cement Company (“TPCC”), accounted 
for 17% of the increase, with the balance coming from organic growth from the existing customer base and 
new connections. Industrial sales for the year averaged 6.9 MMcfd (2009: 5.7 MMcfd). 

Power sector

The power sector sales volumes increased by 31% to 10,940 MMcf compared to 8,326 MMcf in 2009.

The overall demand for Additional Gas increased as a result of the installation of the Tegeta 45 Mw plant in 
November 2009 and a lower utilization of hydro generation as an alternative power source. The sales to the 
power sector averaged 30.0 MMcfd during the year compared to 22.8 MMcfd in 2009.

The allocation of the gas volumes between the different power generation units is as follows:

MMcf
permanent generatiOn
Ubungo power plant (42 mWS)
TANESCO Ubungo (102 mWS)
Tegeta (45 mWS)

Total power sector volumes

COMMODITY PRICES 

US$/Mcf
average SaleS price
Industrial sector
Power sector

Weighted average price

Industrial Sector

2010

2009

3,019
5,809
2,112

10,940

2,790
5,385
151

8,326

2010

2009

8.76
2.60

3.75

8.36
2.40

3.60

The  average  gas  price  for  the  year  was  US$8.76/mcf  (2009:  US$8.36/mcf ).  The  overall  increase  in  price 
achieved  during  the  year  is  a  consequence  of  the  marginal  increase  in  world  oil  prices  experienced 
compared to 2009. This was partially offset by the increase of Additional Gas sales to the wazo Hill cement 
plant which are priced by reference to imported coal, their alternative fuel supply. The sales to wazo Hill 
accounted for 32% of the total industrial volumes sold in 2010 compared to 25% in 2009.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

31

Power sector

The  average  sales  price  to  the  power  sector  was  US$2.60/mcf  for  the  year,  compared  to  US$2.40/mcf  in 
2009. The increase in price is a consequence of the 2% annual indexation and an increase in the processing 
and transportation tariff.

OPERATING REVENUE
Under the terms of the PSA with TPDC, Orca Exploration is responsible for invoicing, collecting and allocating 
the revenue from Additional Gas sales. 

Orca Exploration is able to recover all costs incurred on the exploration development and operations of 
the project out of 75% of the Net Revenues (“Cost Gas”). Any costs not recovered in any period are carried 
forward to be recovered out of future revenues. 

As  a  consequence  of  the  strong  sales  revenue  and  relatively  low  capital  expenditure  levels  in  2010,  the 
cost pool in Tanzania has been substantially recovered. This will result in a reduction in the net revenue 
percentage  attributable  to  the  Company  especially  in  the  first  half  of  2011  and  prior  to  any  significant 
expenditure on development or exploration drilling. 

During 2010, Additional Gas sales volumes were in excess of 30 MMcfd for all quarters of the year. Conse-
quently, the revenue less cost recovery share of revenue (“Profit Gas”) was 35% all year. In 2009 the Profit Gas 
percentage was 30% for the first two quarters of the year and 35% for the last two quarters.

From January 2011, a significant proportion of the gas production is coming from a deemed TPDC backed in 
well (namely SS10). This will impact the proportion of the net revenue that is allocated to Orca Exploration 
in the future as TPDC’s profit share increases by 20% for that production emanating from backed in wells. 
The Company is still to resolve the final details of the back in with TPDC. 

Orca  Exploration  is  assessed  to  have  recoverable  costs  throughout  2010  and  2009  and  accordingly  was 
allocated 84.0% (2009: 82.9%) of the Net Revenues as follows:

FIGURES IN US$’000
Gross sales revenue
Gross tariff for processing plant and pipeline infrastructure

Gross revenue after tariff

Analysed as to:
Company Cost Gas
Company Profit Gas

Company operating revenue 
TPDC Profit Gas

2010

2009

50,348
(7,932)

42,416

31,812
3,853

35,665
6,751

42,416

37,475
(6,340)

31,135

23,352
2,488

25,840
5,295

31,135

The  Company’s  total  revenues  for  the  year  amounted  to  US$38,808,000  after  adjusting  the  Company’s 
operating revenue of US$35,665,000 by:

i) 

 US$3,943,000  for  income  tax  in  the  current  year. The  Company  is  liable  for  income  tax  in Tanzania, 
but the income tax is recoverable out of TPDC’s Profit Gas when the tax is payable. To account for this, 
revenue is adjusted to reflect the current year income tax charge or loss.

ii) 

 US$800,000 for the deferred effect of Additional Profits Tax. This tax is considered a royalty and is netted 
against revenue.

 
32 O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .

2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

Revenue per the income statements may be reconciled to the operating revenue as follows:

FIGURES IN US$’000
Industrial sector
Power sector

Gross sales revenue
Processing and transportation tariff
TPDC share of revenue

Company operating revenue
Additional Profits Tax
Current income tax adjustment
Provision for bad debts

Revenue

2010

2009

21,933
28,415

50,348
(7,932)
(6,751)

35,665
(800)
3,943
–

38,808

17,526
19,949

37,475
(6,340)
(5,295)

25,840
(489)
–
(34)

25,317

PROCESSING AND TRANSPORTATION TARIFF
A flat rate gas processing and transportation tariff of US$0.59/mcf was introduced from 1 January 2010 that 
will enable Songas to make a rate of return on their investment as determined by EwURA. The Company will 
pass on any increase or decrease in the EwURA approved charges to TANESCO/Songas in respect of sales 
to the power sector. This protocol insulates Orca Exploration from any increases in the gas processing and 
pipeline infrastructure costs.

Under  the  terms  of  the  project  agreements,  the  2009  tariff  paid  for  processing  and  transporting  the 
Additional Gas was calculated as 17.5% of the price of gas at the Songas main pipeline in Dar es Salaam 
(“Songas Outlet Price”). 

In  calculating  the  Songas  Outlet  Price  for  the  industrial  customers,  an  average  amount  of  US$0.69/mcf 
(“Ringmain Tariff”)  was  deducted  from  the  achieved  industrial  sales  price  during  2009  to  reflect  the  gas 
price that would be achievable at the Songas main pipeline. The Ringmain Tariff represents the amount that 
would be required to compensate a third party distributor of the gas for constructing the connections from 
the Songas main pipeline to the industrial customers. 

PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION EXPENSES
The production and distribution expenses are summarised in the table below:

FIGURES IN US$’000

Share of well maintenance 
Other field and operating costs

Distribution costs

Production and distribution expenses

2010

2009

775
1,855

2,630

2,249

4,879

601
798

1,399

1,408

2,807

The well maintenance costs are allocated between Protected and Additional Gas based on the proportion 
of their respective sales during the year. The total costs for the maintenance for the year was US$1,235,000 
(2009: US$1,124,000) of which US$775,000 (2009: US$601,000) was allocated for the Additional Gas.

Other field operating costs include an apportionment of the annual PSA license  costs  regulatory fees, the 
annual evaluation of reserves and the cost of personnel that are not recoverable from Songas. The increase in 
costs over 2009 is predominately the result of a 30% increase in the level of production and the re-rating fee 
that was payable to Songas in order for the gas processing plant to be operated at 90 MMcfd.

Distribution costs represent the direct cost of maintaining the ring-main distribution pipeline and pressure 
reduction station (security, insurance and personnel). The increase over 2009 is a result of higher insurance 
premiums, additional preventative maintenance and the commencement of CNG operations during the year.

TPDC  and  MEM  have  indicated  that  they  wish  Orca  to  unbundle  the  downstream  business  in  Tanzania.  
The methodology for this is still to be discussed in detail with both TPDC and MEM.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

33

OPERATING NETBACK 
The  operating  netback  per  mcf  before  general  and  administrative  costs,  overheads,  income  tax  and 
Additional Profits Tax may be analysed as follows: 

AMOUNTS IN US$/MCF
Gas price – industrial
Gas price – power

Weighted average price for gas
Tariff (after allowance for the Ringmain Tariff in 2009)
TPDC Profit Gas

Net selling price
well maintenance and other operating costs
Distribution costs

Operating netback

2010

2009

8.76
2.60

3.75
(0.59)
(0.50)

2.66
(0.20)
(0.17)

2.29

8.36
2.40

3.60
(0.61)
(0.51)

2.48
(0.13)
(0.14)

2.21

The operating netback increased by 4% from US$2.21/mcf to US$2.29/mcf in 2010. 

The rise in the weighted average sales price from US$3.60/mcf to US$3.75/mcf was a result of the increase 
in the sales price achieved in both the industrial and power sectors. There was no material change in the 
relative sales mix between 2009 and 2010, with the industrial sales accounting for 20% in 2009 and 19% in 
2010. The increase in the price of power sales is in line with contractual arrangements. The rise in industrial 
sales is a consequence of the slight increase in global energy prices during 2010.

The decrease in the tariff rate from US$0.61/mcf to US$0.59/mcf is a consequence of the energy regulator 
having adopted a flat rate per mcf in 2010, as opposed to fixed percentage of revenue in 2009. The fall in 
the ratio of TPDC profit share to sales price during 2010 is a reflection of their lower profit gas entitlement as 
Additional Gas volumes increase against a background of a recovery of 75% of the net revenue as Cost Gas. 

The increase in the well maintenance and other operating costs and the ring main distribution costs (as 
explained above) have led to a higher rate on a per mcf basis, though this is partially offset by the 30% 
increase in the volume of sales achieved compared to 2009. 

GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
The general and administrative expenses (“G&A”) may be analysed as follows:

FIGURES IN US$’000
Employee costs
Consultancy
Travel & accommodation
Communications
Office
Insurance

Auditing & taxation
Depreciation
Reporting, regulatory and corporate finance

Marketing and legal costs 
New ventures
Stock based compensation 

General and administrative expenses

2010

2009

2,558
2,745
883
113
1,116
323

215
208
637

8,798

1,876
378
664

11,716

1,981
2,474
667
83
1,120
250

219
215
305

7,314

2,511
239
1,401

11,465

34 O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .

2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

The  G&A  primarily  consists  of  costs  of  running  the  gas  operations  in Tanzania  and  the  majority  of  it  is 
recoverable as Cost Gas. G&A averaged approximately US$0.98 million per month in 2010 (2009: US$0.96 
million). G&A per mcf was US$0.87/mcf (2009: US$1.10/mcf ). The main variances are summarised below:

Employee costs

The increase reflects the rise in the costs associated with expats and the general rise in the level of social 
benefits payable in Tanzania. The Company also incurred costs on executive recruitment in Q4 2010 following 
the decision to build the strength of the management team in light of the growing level of development 
activities through 2011. 

Consultancy

The increase in consultancy expenditure is mainly due to the increase in the time undertaken by management 
in identifying potential new venture acquisitions. The increased effort resulted in the acquisition of interests 
in two Italian exploration assets during the year. The US$0.4 million new ventures expenditure relates to 
external third party costs and the acquisition of data. 

Travel and accommodation

The  increase  in  the  level  of  travel  and  accommodation  is  a  consequence  of  the  increased  number  of 
business trips to Tanzania by Company officials and other marketing and legal professionals in relation to 
the  negotiation  of  infrastructure  developments,  together  with  an  increase  in  costs  associated  with  new 
ventures.

Reporting, regulatory and corporate.

The  increase  in  costs  over  2009  is  due  to  the  appointment  of  three  additional  non-executive  directors, 
together with the additional cost of the Chairman assuming the role of Chief Executive Officer in order to 
lead the company through its next stage of development. 

Marketing and legal 

These  costs  include  marketing,  legal,  corporate  promotion  and  costs  of  training  Government  officials  in 
accordance  with  the  terms  of  the  PSA. The  costs  were  significantly  lower  during  2010  as  a  result  of  the 
settlement of the claim against a third party contractor. The costs incurred on the negotiation of long term 
power and related contracts and in the continued preparation of applications to the regulatory authority, 
EwURA, have continued to be incurred at a rate similar to 2009. 

Stock based compensation 

The breakdown of the costs incurred in relation to stock based compensation is detailed in the table below: 

FIGURES IN US$’000
Stock options

Stock appreciation rights

Treasury stock

2010

607

57

–

664

2009

1,052

279

70

1,401

A total of 2,557,000 stock options were issued and outstanding at the end of 2010 compared to 2,797,000 at 
the end of 2009. All of the outstanding options were fully expensed by the end of 2010. The decline in the 
charge from 2009 is a consequence of the IFRS-2 accounting treatment which sees the majority of the costs 
being charged in the first two years from the date of grant. 

A total of 930,000 stock appreciation rights were outstanding at the end of 2010. A total of 105,000 stock 
appreciation rights expired in February 2010. In June 2010, 225,000 stock appreciation rights were issued to 
the new non-executive directors with an exercise price of Cdn$4.20. The rights have a term of five years and 
vest in five equal instalments, the first fifth vesting on the anniversary of the grant date. 

As stock appreciation rights are settled in cash, they are re-valued at each reporting date using the Black-
Scholes  option  pricing  model.  As  at  31  December  2010,  the  following  assumptions  were  used;  stock 
volatility  between  55%  and  71%,  a  risk  free  interest  rate  of  1.50%  to  2.50%  and  a  closing  stock  price  of 
Cdn$5.43. The decline in the charge in the year is a result of a fall in the volatility of the stock price and the 
fall in the remaining contractual life of the majority of the rights to just over one year. 

In April 2007, 200,000 Class B treasury stock were awarded to a newly appointed officer. These shares were 
fully vested at the end of the first quarter of 2009. 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

35

NET FINANCING CHARGES
The loss on foreign exchange experienced in the year is a result of the strengthening US Dollar against 
the Tanzanian Shilling. Despite the gas sales price being denominated in US Dollars, the invoices are 
submitted in Tanzanian Shillings. Therefore, there is an exchange rate exposure between the time the 
invoices are submitted and the date the payment is received. 

FIGURES IN US$’000

Finance incOme
Interest income
Foreign exchange gain

Finance chargeS
Overdraft charges
Foreign exchange loss

Net financing charges

TAXATION

Income Tax

2010

2009

40
–

40

(12)
(890)

(902)

(862)

44
105

149

(23)
(279)

(302)

(153)

Under the terms of the PSA with TPDC, the Company is liable for income tax in Tanzania at the corporate 
tax rate of 30%. However, where income tax is payable, this is recovered from TPDC by deducting an 
amount from TPDC’s profit share. This is reflected in the accounts by adjusting the Company’s revenue 
by the appropriate amount. 

As at 31 December 2010, there were temporary differences between the carrying value of the assets 
and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for taxation purposes under the 
Income Tax Act 2004. Applying the 30% Tanzanian tax rate, the Company has recognised a deferred tax 
liability of US$12.8 million which represents an additional deferred future income tax charge of US$3.7 
million for the year. This tax has no impact on cash flow until it becomes a current income tax at which 
point the tax is paid to the Commissioner of Taxes and recovered from TPDC’s share of Profit Gas.

Additional Profits Tax

Under the terms of the PSA, in the event that all costs have been recovered with an annual return of 25% 
plus the percentage change in the United States Industrial Goods Producer Price Index, an Additional 
Profits Tax (“APT”) is payable. 

The Company provides for APT by forecasting the total APT payable as a proportion of the forecast Profit 
Gas over the term of the PSA license. The effective APT rate has been calculated to be 21%. Accordingly, 
US$0.8 million (2009: US$0.5 million) has been netted off revenue for the year ended 31 December 2010.

Management does not anticipate that any APT will be payable in 2011, as the forecast revenues will not 
be sufficient to cover the un-recovered costs brought forward as inflated by 25% plus the PPI percentage 
change and the forecast expenditures for 2011. The actual APT that will be paid is dependent on the 
achieved  value  of  the  Additional  Gas  sales  and  the  quantum  and  timing  of  the  operating  costs  and 
capital expenditure programme.

The APT can have a significant negative impact on the Songo Songo project economics as measured 
by the net present value of the cash flow streams. Higher revenue in the initial years leads to a rapid 
payback of the project costs and consequently accelerates the payment of the APT that can account for 
up to 55% of the Company’s profit share. Therefore, the terms of the PSA reward the Company for taking 
higher risks by incurring capital expenditure in advance of revenue generation.

 
 
 
 
 
36 O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .

2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

DEPLETION AND DEPRECIATION EXPENSE
The  Natural  Gas  Properties  are  depleted  using  the  unit  of  production  method  based  on  the 
production  for  the  period  as  a  percentage  of  the  total  future  production  from  the  Songo  Songo 
proven  reserves.  As  at  31  December  2010,  the  proven  reserves  as  evaluated  by  the  independent 
reservoir  engineers  McDaniel  &  Associates  Consultants  Ltd  (“McDaniel”)  were  369.2  Bcf  after  TPDC 
‘back in’ on a life of license basis. This leads to an average depletion charge of US$0.36/mcf for the year  
(2009: US$0.37/mcf ).

Non-Natural Gas Properties are depreciated as follows:

Leasehold improvements
Computer equipment
Vehicles
Fixtures and fittings

Over remaining life of the lease
3 years
3 years
3 years

CARRYING VALUE OF ASSETS
Capitalised costs are periodically assessed to determine whether it is likely that such costs will be recovered 
in the future. To the extent that these capitalised costs are unlikely to be recovered in the future, they are 
written off and charged to earnings. 

FUNDS GENERATED BY OPERATIONS
Funds  from  operations  before  working  capital  changes  were  US$20.8  million  for  the  year  ended  31 
December 2010 (2009: US$12.3 million). 

FIGURES IN US$’000

Profit after taxation
Adjustments (i)

Funds flow from operating activities
working capital adjustments (i)

Net cash flows from operating activities
Net cash flows used in investing activities
Net cash flows from/(used in) financing activities

Increase of cash and cash equivalents
Effect of change in foreign exchange

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

(i) See cOnSOlidated Statement S OF caSh FlOWS

2010

2009

10,011
10,825

20,836
(5,302)

15,534
(2,923)
18,705

31,316
(340)

30,976

3,324
9,008

12,332
(325)

12,007
(8,029)
(298)

3,680
277

3,957

The increase in cash and cash equivalents is primarily a consequence of the increased funding from the 
successful  completion  of  the  rights  issue  in  October  2010  (net  funding  after  costs  of  US$18.5  million), 
together  with  record  cash  flows  from  operations  as  a  consequence  of  the  29%  rise  in  the  volume  of 
Additional Gas sold.  

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
Capital  expenditures  amounted  to  US$3.4  million  during  the  year  (2009:  US$5.3  million).  The  capital  
expenditures may be analysed as follows:

FIGURES IN US$’000

Geological and geophysical and well drilling
Pipelines and infrastructure
Power development
Other equipment

2010

2009

1,598
1,582
6
195

3,381

(199)
4,442
635
434

5,312

Geological and geophysical and well drilling – US$1.6 million

A total of US$1.2 million was incurred on the tie in of the SS-10 well to the gas processing plant on Songo 
Songo  Island.  The  tie  in  was  completed  during  January  2011  and  enabled  the  gas  deliverability  to  be 
maintained above the infrastructure capacity.

 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

37

In Q4 2010, some preliminary studies were undertaken on developing a well workover programme following 
the results of the corrosion logging that was run in Q4 2010. 

A total of US$0.1 million was incurred on reservoir studies. The aim of these studies is to get a better under-
standing of well deliverability and GIIP. 

A total of US$0.2 million was incurred on well preparation work for the future drilling of an exploration well 
on the Songo Songo west prospect. 

Pipelines and infrastructure – US$1.6 million

A total of US$0.7 million was incurred during the year in connecting 6 new customers, 4 of which were 
consuming Additional Gas by the end of the year.

US$0.2 million was incurred during the year on enhancing the metering capabilities for both the power and 
industrial sectors. This work is ongoing and will be completed during 2011. The installation of the meters 
will ultimately lead to a more efficient invoicing system and will enable an accurate measure of usage by 
customers to be obtained on a daily basis.

An  additional  US$0.3  million  was  incurred  during  the  year  on  the  continued  expansion  of  compressed 
natural gas (“CNG”) facilities, with the installation of a daughter station at Mikocheni. The CNG facilities now 
include a mother station at the Ubungo power plant, two vehicle dispenser and two daughter stations. The 
initial CNG project is targeting local hotels and industries and the conversion of motor vehicles to CNG.

Orca  Exploration  incurred  a  total  of  US$0.4  million  on  studies  in  relation  to  the  expansion  of  the  
infrastructure that processes and transports the gas from Songo Songo Island to Dar es Salaam. Studies 
are  being  pursued  on  a  number  of  different  fronts  from  a  potential  early  production  facility  to  assisting 
Songas  with  its  expansion  project  to  install  new  processing  capacity  and  downstream  compression 
(“Songas  Expansion  Project”).  A  cost  sharing  agreement  was  signed  with  Songas  at  the  start  of  2011 
which  will  see  Orca  contribute  up  to  US$2.4  million  on  getting  the  Songas  Expansion  Project  to  
financial close. 

WORKING CAPITAL
working capital as at 31 December 2010 was US$52.4 million (31 December 2009: US$16.8 million) and may 
be analysed as follows:

FIGURES IN US$’000
Cash and cash equivalents
Trade and other receivables
Taxation receivable
Prepayments

Trade and other payables
Taxation payable

Working capital

2010

2009

45,519
13,583
4,009
409

63,520
9,156
2,000

52,364

14,543
8,002
714
465

23,724
6,889
–

16,835

The increase in working capital by US$35.5 million during 2010 is primarily due to the generation of US$15.5 
million in net cash flows from operating activities and the raising of Cdn$18.5 million from a fully subscribed 
1 for 6 rights issue at Cdn$3.90 in October 2010.  

The majority of the cash is held in US and Cdn Dollars in Mauritius, and in Tanzanian Shillings in Tanzanian 
bank  accounts.  There  are  no  restrictions  in  Tanzania  for  converting  Tanzania  Shillings  into  US  Dollars.  
Any surplus cash is held in a fixed rate interest earning deposit account. 

Trade  and  other  receivables  at  31  December  2010  represent  US$11.9  million  of  trade  receivables  
(2009: US$7.1 million), US$1.7 million of other receivables (2009: US$0.9 million) and taxation US$4.0 million 
(2009: US$0.7 million). The increase in other receivables is in relation to funds advanced for the purchase 
of a gas to gas exchanger on behalf of Songas. The increase in taxation is a consequence of the level of 
current taxation paid in the year, whereby any tax payable is recoverable form TPDC in accordance with the 
production sharing agreement.

 
38 O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .

2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

Under  the  contract  terms  with  the  industrial  customers,  the  Additional  Gas  payments  must  be  received 
within  30  days  of  the  month  end.  As  at  31  December  2010,  US$4.2  million  (2009:  US$4.2  million)  was 
due from industrial customers, which has all subsequently been received. The balance of US$7.7 million  
(2009: US$2.9 million) is made up of amounts due from the two power customers, TANESCO and Songas.

The  contracts  with  Songas  and  TANESCO  accounted  for  56%  (2009:  53%)  of  the  Company’s  operating 
revenue in 2010. Songas’ financial security is, in turn, heavily reliant on the payment of capacity and energy 
charges by TANESCO. TANESCO is dependent on the Government of Tanzania for some of its funding. while 
some payments have been delayed, the Company has subsequently collected the majority of the amounts 
due from Songas and TANESCO as at 31 December 2010.

Of the trade and other payables, US$0.6 million related to capital expenditure (2009: US$0.6 million). 

OUTSTANDING SHARE CAPITAL
There were 34.7 million shares outstanding as at 31 December 2010 which may be analysed as follows:

NUMBER OF SHARES (‘000)

ShareS OUtStanding
Class A shares
Class B shares

cOnvertible SecUritieS
Options

Fully diluted Class A and Class B shares

Weighted average

Class A and Class B shares

Convertible Securities
Options

Weighted average diluted Class A and Class B shares

The movement in Class B shares during the year is analysed in the table below:

Number of shares (‘000)

As at 1 January
Shares issued
Stock options exercised
Normal course issuer bid

As at 31 December

2010

2009

1,751
32,939 

34,690

2,557 

37,247

1,751
27,743 

29,494

2,797 

32,291

30,795 

29,541 

1,098

31,893

1,163 

30,704

2010

 27,743
4,956
240
–

32,939 

2009

27,863
–
–
(120)

27,743

As at 28 April 2011,  there were a total of 32,938,615 Class B shares and 1,751,195 Class A shares outstanding. 

Stock Based Compensation

The  stock  option  plan  provides  for  the  granting  of  stock  options  to  directors,  officers,  employees  and 
consultants. The exercise price of each stock option is determined as the closing market price of the common 
shares on the day prior to the day of grant. Each stock option granted permits the holder to purchase one 
common share at the stated exercise price. The Company records a charge to the profit and loss account 
using the Black-Scholes fair valuation option pricing model. The valuation is dependent on a number of 
estimates, including the risk free interest rate, the level of stock volatility, together with an estimate of the 
level of forfeiture. The level of stock volatility is calculated with reference to the historic closing share price 
at the date of issue.

The movement in stock options for the year is analysed in the table below:

Number of options (‘000)

As at 1 January 2010
Exercised

As at 31 December 2010

Options

2,797
(240)

2,557

 
 
 
 
 
 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

39

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND COMMITTED CAPITAL INVESTMENT

Contractual Obligations

Protected Gas

Under  the  terms  of  the  original  gas  agreement  for  the  Songo  Songo  project  (“Gas  Agreement”),  in  the 
event that there is a shortfall/insufficiency in Protected Gas as a consequence of the sale of Additional Gas, 
then the Company is liable to pay the difference between the price of Protected Gas (US$0.55/Mmbtu) and 
the price of an alternative feedstock multiplied by the volumes of Protected Gas up to a maximum of the 
volume of Additional Gas sold (47.7 Bcf as at 31 December 2010). 

The Gas Agreement has been amended by an initialled Amended and Restated Gas Agreement (“ARGA”). The 
ARGA provides clarification of the Protected Gas volumes and removes all terms dealing with the security of 
the Protected Gas and the consequences of any insufficiency to a new Insufficiency Agreement (“IA”). The 
IA specifies terms under which Songas may demand cash security in order to keep them whole in the event 
of  a  Protected  Gas  insufficiency.  Once  the  Insufficiency  Agreement  is  signed,  it  will  govern  the  basis  for 
determining security. Under the provisional terms of the IA, when it is calculated that funding is required, 
the Company shall fund an escrow account at a rate of US$2/Mmbtu on all industrial Additional Gas sales 
out of its and TPDC share of revenue, and TANESCO shall contribute the same amount on Additional Gas 
sales to the power sector. The funds provide security for Songas in the event of an insufficiency of Protected 
Gas. The Company is actively monitoring the reservoir and does not anticipate that a liability will occur in 
this respect.

Back in

TPDC has indicated that they wish to exercise their right to ‘back in’ to the field development by contrib-
uting 20% of the costs of the future wells including SS-10 in return for a 20% increase in the profit share 
percentage for the production emanating from these wells. The implications and workings of the ‘back in’ 
are currently being discussed with TPDC and there may be the need for additional reserve and accounting 
modifications  once  these  discussions  are  concluded.  For  the  purpose  of  the  reserves  certification,  it  has 
been assumed that they will ‘back in’ for 20% for all future drilling activities and other developments and 
this is reflected in the Company’s net reserve position. 

Operating leases 

The Company has two office rental agreements in Dar es Salaam, expiring on 30 November 2012 and 31 
October 2013 at an annual rental of US$122,000 and US$110,000 per annum respectively.

Capital Investments 

Italy

On 31 May 2010, the Company signed an agreement with Petroceltic International plc (“Petroceltic”) to farm 
in to Petroceltic’s Central Adriatic B.R268.RG Permit offshore Italy. The farm in commits the Company to fund 
30% of the Elsa-2 appraisal well up to a maximum of US$11.5 million to earn a 15% working interest in the 
permit. Thereafter, the Company will fund all future costs relating to the well and the permit in proportion to 
its participating interest. The Company has also agreed to pay Petroceltic fifteen per cent (15%) of the back 
costs in relation to the well up to a maximum of US$0.5 million.

Petroceltic were due to spud the Elsa-2 well prior to 31 October 2010, but the Italian government passed 
a decree, following the blowout of the Macondo well in the U.S., that prevented the drilling in the Italian 
seas within 5 nautical miles of the coastline and within 12 nautical miles around the perimeter of protected 
Marine Parks. In view of this, Petroceltic suspended the permit until such time as the Ministry of Environment 
issues a decree of environmental compatibility for the drilling programme. The project in currently on hold 
and Orca is not liable to any costs associated with the drilling of Elsa-2 until a rig contract is signed. 

In December 2010, the Company announced a farm in to Northern Petroleum (UK) Limited’s Longastrino 
Block in the Po Valley Basin. Under the terms of the farm in, Orca will pay 100% of the costs of the La Tosca 
well  up  to  a  cap  of  approximately  €4.3  million  and  70%  of  the  costs  thereafter.  If  the  well  is  tested  and 
completed, Orca will earn an additional 5% (taking it to 75%) by paying 100% of the testing costs up to €1.3 
million and 75% thereafter. The Company will also pay back past costs of €0.6 million.

40 O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .

2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

Songo Songo

In Q4 2010 the Company reduced the deliverability from its Songo Songo wells following receipt of results 
of a corrosion logging survey. Orca suspended production from SS-5, reduced flow rates from the other 
wells  and  expedited  the  tie  in  of  the  new  onshore  well  SS10.    As  of  today,  the  Company  can  produce  
approximately 113 MMcfd though this is currently restricted by the infrastructure capacity to 90 MMcfd. 

The corrosion model forecasts that the offshore well, SS-9 currently producing in the region of 30 MMcfd, 
will need to be taken out of production at the end of Q1 2012, subject to re-logging of the well in September 
2011  to  confirm  its  condition.  Accordingly,  the  Company  has  determined  that  in  2011,  subject  to TPDC 
approval and rig availability a new onshore deviated well should be drilled followed by an enhancement of 
the SS-10 well. It is anticipated that the capital cost of this programme will be in the region of US$35 million 
and could increase deliverability from the field to 172 MMcfd by the time SS-9 is taken out of production.  

Songo Songo West

The Company is currently planning to drill one well on the Songo Songo west at a cost of US$25 million. 
It is currently estimated that the well will be spud in the second quarter of 2012.  Assuming the well is a 
success a substantial well test program will be undertaken before the well is suspended at the mudline as 
a potential future producer. 

Cost Sharing Agreement

In January 2011, the Company signed a cost sharing agreement with Songas, whereby the Company will 
fund 50% of the costs of getting the Songas Expansion Project (installation of gas processing capacity and 
downstream compression to increase the infrastructure capacity to 140 MMcfd) to financial close. In the 
event that the costs are approved by the regulator, EwURA, the funds will be repaid by Songas at financial 
close. If the project is not successful, the costs will be recoverable by the Company under the terms of the 
PSA with TPDC.

Funding

The Company’s 2011 work programme principally includes the drilling of the new onshore deviated well, 
SS-A, the enhancement of SS-10, the drilling of La Tosca in the Po Valley and the purchase of long lead items 
for SSw. whilst there should be sufficient funds to undertake this work programme in 2011 through the use 
of existing cash balances and self generated cash flows, the Company will look to secure a financing facility 
by Q4 2011 and/or raise new equity to cover the 2012 exploration activity. 

OFF-BALANCE SHEET TRANSACTIONS
As at 31 December 2010, the Company had no off-balance sheet arrangements.

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
One  of  the  non  executive  Directors  is  a  partner  at  a  law  firm.  During  the  year,  the  Company  incurred 
US$276,000  to  this  firm  for  services  provided. The  transactions  with  this  related  party  was  made  at  the 
exchange amount.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

41

SUMMARY qUARTERLY RESULTS
The following is a summary of the results for the Company for the last eight quarters:

 2010 

Q4

Q3

Q2

Q1

Q4

2009

Q3

Q2

Q1

FIGURES IN US$’000 EXCEPT wHERE OTHERwISE STATED

Financial

Revenue 

Profit/(loss)  
after taxation 

Operating netback 
(US$/mcF)

10,557

10,975

9,017

8,259

7,837

7,536

5,501

4,443

1,885

3,578

2,608

1,940

1,564

1,549

379

(168)

2.28

2.32

2.37

2.19

2.29

2.17

2.17

2.18

working capital

52,364

30,093

24,941

20,891

16,835

12,147

9,939

9,154

Shareholders’ equity 98,183

77,827

73,942

70,955

68,860

67,159

65,477

64,684

Profit/(loss)  
per share – 
basic (US$)
Profit/(loss)  
per share – 
diluted (US$)

capital eXpenditUreS 
Geological and 
geophysical and 
well drilling

Pipeline and 
infrastructure
Power development

Other equipment

Operating
Additional Gas sold 
– industrial (mmcf)

0.05

0.12

0.09

0.07

0.06

0.05

0.01

(0.01)

0.05

0.12

0.08

0.06

0.06

0.05

0.01

(0.01)

607

502

320

169

(890)

338

222

131

383
–

45

692
6

23

492
–

77

15
–

50

157
343

69

1,339
289

27

1,317
3

207

1,630
–

130

687

770

562

485

542

581

613

360

Additional Gas 
sold –  
power (mmcf)

Average price  
per mcf –  
industrial (US$)

Average price  
per mcf –  
power (US$)

2,926

2,918

2,440

2,656

2,570

2,493

1,693

1,570

8.67

8.01

9.45

9.32

9.49

9.02

7.02

7.91

2.63

2.63

2.56

2.56

2.41

2.41

2.36

2.39

The principal developments in Q4 were as follows:

•	

•	

•	

	Achieved	 a	 quarterly	 sales	 volume	 of	 3,613	 MMcf	 or	 39.3	 MMcfd	 which	 represents	 the	 second	 best	
quarter since sales began in 2004, with the sales revenue at US$10.6 million. 

	The	completion	of	a	1	for	6	rights	offering,	which	resulted	in	the	issuance	of	4,955,687	shares	with	gross	
proceeds of Cdn$19.3 million. 

	In	 December	 2010,	 the	 Company	 signed	 an	 agreement	 with	 Northern	 Petroleum	 (UK)	 Limited	 to	
farm in on its Longastrino Block in the Po Valley Basin, onshore Italy. Under the terms of the farm in 
with Northern Petroleum, Orca will pay 100% of the costs of the first well up to €4.3 million and 70% 
thereafter to complete the drilling phase. If the well is tested and completed, then Orca will earn an 
additional 5% by paying 100% of the testing costs up to €1.3 million and 75% thereafter. The Company 
will also pay back costs of €0.6 million.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
42 O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .

2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

•	

	As	part	of	the	well	intervention	works	carried	out	in	October	2010,	Orca	conducted	a	multi-finger	caliper	
logging survey in all the producing wells (excluding SS-10) for the purpose of corrosion monitoring of 
the production tubing. The results show corrosion of the tubing has occurred. A number of experts 
were engaged by Orca during Q4 2010 to interpret the data and analyse the potential cause of the 
corrosion and make recommendations on remedial solutions. The tubing integrity of SS-5 was deemed 
to be of such a nature that a decision was taken to shut-in the well in December. 

VARIANCE ANALYSIS BETWEEN qUARTERS 
Revenue
The  Company  commenced  the  sale  of  Additional  Gas  to  industrial  customers  in  September  2004.  Since 
then,  the  volumes  of  Additional  Gas  sold  to  the  industrial  sector  have  increased  from  an  average  of 
1.2  MMcfd  in  Q4  2004  to  7.5  MMcfd  in  Q4  2010  (Q4  2009:  5.9  MMcfd).  Industrial  sales  peak  in  the  third 
quarter  of  each  year  as  textile  customers  take  advantage  of  low  cotton  prices  during  the  harvest  season.  
The average sales in Q3 2010 were 8.4 MMcfd compared to 6.2 MMcfd in Q3 2009. The higher volume recorded 
in 2010 is primarily due to the sale of Additional Gas to the wazo Hill cement plant. Excluding wazo Hill average 
sales in Q4 were 4.6 MMcfd in both 2009 and 2010. The average sales price achieved in Q4 was US$8.67/mcf 
compared to US$9.49/mcf in Q4 2009. The decline is a result of the proportionate increase in the value of sales 
which have been derived from the sale of Additional Gas to the wazo Hill cement plant. These sales accounted 
for 44% of industrial sales in Q4 2010 compared to 22% in Q4 2009.

The  sale  of  Additional  Gas  to  the  power  sector  commenced  in  Q3  2005  and  this  contributed  towards  a 
significant step increase in revenue from that quarter. In Q4 2010, sales averaged 31.8 MMcfd compared to 
27.9 MMcfd in Q4 2009. This represents the highest daily rate recorded. The increase is a result of the supply 
of gas to the Tegeta 45 Mw power plant, which was commissioned in December 2009. The average price for 
power sales in Q4 2010 was US$2.63/mcf compared to US$2.41/mcf in Q4 2009. The increase is a consequence 
of annual inflationary price increases and a change in the regulated processing and transportation tariff.

Profit before tax  

A profit of before taxation of US$3.6 million was recorded in Q4 2010 compared to a profit of US$2.8 million 
in Q4 2009. The increase in the gross profit attributable to the increase in Additional Gas sales has been 
eroded by the increase in general administrative expenses in the fourth quarter of 2010 due to the increased 
level of activity on new venture expenditure and the growth of the management platform through new 
hires and recruitment costs.

Working capital

The increase in working capital by US$35.5 million during 2010 is primarily due to the generation of US$15.5 
million  in  cash  flows  after  working  capital  adjustments  and  the  raising  of  US$18.5  million  from  a  fully 
subscribed 1 for 6 rights issue at Cdn$3.90 in October.   

SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Selected annual financial information derived from the audited consolidated financial statements for the 
years ended 31 December 2008, 2009 and 2010 is set out below:

FIGURES IN US$’000 EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNT
Revenue
Funds flow from operating activities
Profit/(loss) after taxation
Total assets

Profit/(loss) per share:
Basic (US$)
Diluted (US$)

2010

2009

2008

38,808
20,836
10,011
124,408

0.33
0.31

25,317
12,332
3,324
86,277

0.11
0.11

23,782
9,751
(9,523)
85,248

(0.32)
(0.32)

Revenue increased by 53% to US$38.8 million in 2010 from US$25.3 million in 2009. The sales volumes were 
30% higher in 2010 than 2009, with the weighted average price increasing from US$3.60/mcf to US$3.75/
mcf. In 2010, current taxation of US$2.7 million was payable (2009: US$ nil) which in accordance with the 
terms of the PSA is recoverable from TPDC. Consequently revenue in 2010 has been uplifted by the gross 
amount of US$3.9 million. 

 
 
 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

43

The  level  of  industrial  volumes  increased  by  19%  to  2,504  MMcf  from  2,096  MMcf  in  2009  mainly  as  a 
consequence of the increase in sales to the wazo Hill cement plant. The level of power sales increased by 
31%  to  10,940  MMcf  from  8,326  MMcf. The  increase  in  power  sales  is  attributable  to  the  start  up  of  the 
Tegeta 45 Mw power plant in December 2009.

Revenue increased by 6% to US$25.3 million in 2009 from US$23.8 million in 2008. The increase was a result 
of an increase in production volumes of 20% set against a fall of 10% in the weighted average realized price 
from US$4.01/mcf in 2008 to US$3.60/mcf in 2009.

Funds from operations before working capital changes increased by 69% from US$12.3 million in 2009 to 
US$20.8 million in 2010 as a consequence of increased sales revenue, the impact of which has been slightly 
reduced by a 12% increase in the level of administrative expenses. The funds from operation grew from 
US$9.8 million in 2008 to US$12.7 million in 2009 mainly as a result of an increased level of sales.The 2008 
loss after taxation of US$9.5 million was due to the write off of US$9.5 million in relation to the withdrawal 
from exploration activities in Uganda. 

During 2010, the Company’s assets increased by 44% to US$124.4 million (2009: increased 1% to US$86.3 
million). The Company’s assets are made up as follows:

FIGURES IN US$’000

cUrrent aSSetS
Cash and cash equivalents
Trade and other receivables
Taxation receivable
Prepayments

FiXed aSSetS
Exploration and evaluation assets
Plant, property and other equipment

Total assets

2010

2009

2008

45,519
13,583
4,009
409

63,520

942
59,946

60,888

124,408

14,543
8,002
714
465

23,724

760
61,793

62,553

86,277

10,586
13,025
–
171

23,782

648
60,818

61,466

85,248

The increase in cash and cash equivalents is mainly the consequence of the proceeds of the rights issue 
and the increase in the level of operating revenue. The increase recorded in 2009 was a consequence of a 
reduction in the administrative costs against similar revenue levels in 2008. 

The increase in trade and other receivables is a consequence of an increase of 166% in the level of receivables 
from the power sales in Tanzania from US$2.9 million to US$7.7 million that arose from a 43% rise in the 
level of power revenue from US$20 million in 2009 to US$28.4 million. The balance of the increase is due 
to the increase in the level of tax recoverable from TPDC to US$4.0 million. The decrease in trade and other 
receivables in 2009 is due to the improved collection of receivables form the power sector, with the overall 
level of trading activity being consistent between 2009 and 2008.

Total  capital  expenditure  of  US$3.4  million  was  incurred  in  2010  against  US$5.3  million  in  2009.  The 
expenditure  in  2009  was  mainly  incurred  on  pipelines  and  infrastructure  in  Tanzania  (US$4.4  million 
compared to US$1.6 million in 2010). The balance of the 2010 expenditure was incurred on the evaluation of 
the Songo Songo west prospect and the connection of the SS-10 well to the gas processing infrastructure. 
The level of capital expenditure in 2009 has been similar to 2008. The focus in 2009 was on the development 
of the CNG market and its associated facilities, continued geological studies of the existing gas reservoir, 
increasing the overall processing capacity of the existing Songas facilities and connecting the Tegeta 45 Mw 
power generation station. 

44 O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .

2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

BUSINESS RISKS

Operating Hazards and Uninsured Risks

The  business  of  Orca  Exploration  is  subject  to  all  of  the  operating  risks  normally  associated  with  the 
exploration  for,  and  the  production,  storage,  transportation  and  marketing  of  oil  and  gas.  These  risks 
include  blowouts,  explosions,  fire,  gaseous  leaks,  downhole  design  and  integrity,  migration  of  harmful 
substances and oil spills, any of which could cause personal injury, result in damage to, or destruction of, oil 
and gas wells or formations or production facilities and other property, equipment and the environment, 
as well as interrupt operations. In addition, all of Orca Exploration’s operations will be subject to the risks 
normally  incident  to  drilling  of  natural  gas  wells  and  the  operation  and  development  of  gas  properties, 
including encountering unexpected formations or pressures, premature declines of reservoirs, blowouts, 
equipment and tubing failures and other accidents, sour gas releases, uncontrollable flows of oil, natural 
gas or well fluids, adverse weather conditions, pollution and other environmental risks. Drilling conducted 
by Orca Exploration overseas will involve increased drilling risks of high pressures and mechanical difficul-
ties, including stuck pipe, collapsed casing and separated cable. The impact that any of these risks may have 
upon Orca Exploration is increased due to the fact that Orca Exploration currently only has one producing 
property. Orca Exploration will maintain insurance against some, but not all, potential risks; however, there 
can be no assurance that such insurance will be adequate to cover any losses or exposure for liability. The 
occurrence of a significant unfavourable event not fully covered by insurance could have a material adverse 
effect  on  Orca  Exploration’s  financial  condition,  results  of  operations  and  cash  flows.  Furthermore,  Orca 
Exploration cannot predict whether insurance will continue to be available at a reasonable cost or at all.

Foreign Operations

Orca Exploration’s operations and related assets are located in Italy and Tanzania which may be considered 
to be politically and/or economically unstable. Exploration or development activities in Tanzania and Italy 
may require protracted negotiations with host governments, national oil companies and third parties and 
are frequently subject to economic and political considerations, such as, the risks of war, actions by terrorist 
or  insurgent  groups,  expropriation,  nationalization,  renegotiation  or  nullification  of  existing  contracts 
and  production  sharing  agreements,  taxation  policies,  foreign  exchange  restrictions,  changing  political 
conditions, international monetary fluctuations, currency controls and foreign governmental regulations 
that favour or require the awarding of drilling contracts to local contractors or require foreign contractors 
to employ citizens of, or purchase supplies from, a particular jurisdiction. In addition, if a dispute arises with 
foreign operations, Orca Exploration may be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of foreign courts.

In Tanzania, the state retains ownership of the minerals and consequently retains control of, the exploration 
and production of hydrocarbon reserves. Accordingly, these operations may be materially affected by host 
governments  through  royalty  payments,  export  taxes  and  regulations,  surcharges,  value  added  taxes, 
production bonuses and other charges.

Orca’s development properties and its current proved natural gas reserves located offshore on the Songo 
Songo  Island  in Tanzania,  will  be  subject  to  regulation  and  control  by  the  government  of Tanzania  and 
certain of its national and parastatal organizations including the energy regulator, EwURA. Orca Exploration 
and its predecessors have operated in Tanzania for a number of years and believe that it has reasonably 
good relations with the current Tanzanian government. However, there can be no assurance that present 
or future administrations or governmental regulations in Tanzania will not materially adversely affect the 
operations or future cash flows of Orca Exploration.

Additional Financing

Depending  on  future  exploration,  development,  and  marketing  plans,  Orca  Exploration  may  require 
additional financing. The ability of Orca Exploration to arrange such financing in the future will depend in 
part upon the prevailing capital market conditions as well as the business performance of Orca Exploration. 
There  can  be  no  assurance  that  Orca  Exploration  will  be  successful  in  its  efforts  to  arrange  additional 
financing on terms satisfactory to Orca Exploration. If additional financing is raised by the issuance of shares 
from  treasury  of  Orca  Exploration,  control  of  Orca  Exploration  may  change  and  shareholders  may  suffer 
additional dilution.

From  time  to  time  Orca  Exploration  may  enter  into  transactions  to  acquire  assets  or  the  shares  of  other 
companies.  These  transactions  may  be  financed  partially  or  wholly  with  debt,  which  may  temporarily 
increase Orca Exploration’s debt levels above industry standards.

 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

45

Industry Conditions

The  oil  and  gas  industry  is  intensely  competitive  and  Orca  Exploration  competes  with  other  companies 
which possess greater technical and financial resources. Many of these competitors not only explore for 
and  produce  oil  and  natural  gas,  but  also  carry  on  refining  operations  and  market  petroleum,  natural 
gas  products  and  other  products  on  an  international  basis.  Oil  and  gas  production  operations  are  also 
subject to all the risks typically associated with such operations, including premature decline of reservoirs 
and invasion of water into producing formations. Currently, Orca Exploration operates the Songo Songo 
natural gas property and has interests in two permits in Italy. There is a risk that in the future either the 
operatorship  could  change  and  the  property  operated  by  third  parties  or  operations  may  be  subject  to 
control by national oil companies, Songas, or parastatal organisations and, as a result, Orca Exploration may 
have limited control over the nature and timing of exploration and development of such properties or the 
manner in which operations are conducted on such properties.

The  marketability  and  price  of  natural  gas  which  may  be  acquired,  discovered  or  marketed  by  Orca 
Exploration will be affected by numerous factors beyond its control. There is currently no developed natural 
gas market in Tanzania and no infrastructure with which to serve potential new markets beyond that being 
constructed  by  Orca  Exploration  and  Songas. The  ability  of  Orca  Exploration  to  market  any  natural  gas 
from  current  or  future  reserves  in Tanzania  may  depend  upon  its  ability  to  develop  natural  gas  markets 
in Tanzania and the surrounding region, obtain access to the necessary infrastructure to deliver sales gas 
volumes, including acquiring capacity on pipelines which deliver natural gas to commercial markets. Orca 
Exploration is also subject to market fluctuations in the prices of oil and natural gas, uncertainties related to 
the delivery and proximity of its reserves to pipelines and processing facilities and extensive government 
regulation relating to prices, taxes, royalties, land tenure, allowable production, the export of oil and gas 
and many other aspects of the oil and gas business. Orca Exploration is also subject to a variety of waste 
disposal, pollution control and similar environmental laws.

The oil and natural gas industry is subject to varying environmental regulations in each of the jurisdictions 
in which Orca Exploration may operate. Environmental regulations place restrictions and prohibitions on 
emissions  of  various  substances  produced  concurrently  and  oil  and  natural  gas  and  can  impact  on  the 
selection of drilling sites and facility locations, potentially resulting in increased capital expenditures. 

Additional Gas

Orca Exploration has the right, under the terms of the PSA, to market volumes of Additional Gas subject to 
satisfying the requirements to deliver Protected Gas to Songas.

There is a risk that Songas could interfere in Orca Exploration’s ability to produce, transport and sell volumes 
of  Additional  Gas  if  Orca  Exploration’s  obligations  to  Songas  under  the  Gas  Agreement  are  not  met.  In 
particular, Songas has the right to request reasonable security on all Additional Gas sales. 

Replacement of Reserves

Orca Exploration’s natural gas reserves and production and, therefore, its cash flows and earnings are highly 
dependent  upon  Orca  Exploration  developing  and  increasing  its  current  reserve  base  and  discovering 
or  acquiring  additional  reserves.  without  the  addition  of  reserves  through  exploration,  acquisition  or 
development  activities,  Orca  Exploration’s  reserves  and  production  will  decline  over  time  as  reserves  are 
depleted. To the extent that cash flow from operations is insufficient and external sources of capital become 
limited or unavailable, Orca Exploration’s ability to make the necessary capital investments to maintain and 
expand its oil and natural gas reserves will be impaired. There can be no assurance that Orca Exploration will 
be able to find and develop or acquire additional reserves to replace production at commercially feasible costs.

Asset Concentration

Orca Exploration’s natural gas reserves are currently limited to one producing property, the Songo Songo 
field, and the production potential from this field is limited to five wells. There has been limited production 
from the six wells in the Songo Songo field to date. There is no assurance that Orca Exploration will have 
sufficient deliverability through the existing wells to provide additional natural gas sales volumes, and that 
there may be significant capital expenditures associated with any remedial work, workovers, or new drilling 
required to achieve deliverability. In addition, any difficulties relating to the operation or performance of 
the field would have a material adverse effect on Orca Exploration. The Italian licences in which Orca has an 
interest are currently in the exploration phase of their cycle and it may be several years before Orca is able 
to obtain a revenue stream from these assets.

46 O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .

2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

Environmental and Other Regulations

Extensive  national,  state,  and  local  environmental  laws  and  regulations  in  foreign  jurisdictions  will  affect 
nearly all of Orca Exploration’s operations. These laws and regulations set various standards regulating certain 
aspects  of  health  and  environmental  quality,  provide  for  penalties  and  other  liabilities  for  the  violation  of 
such standards and establish in certain circumstances obligations to remediate current and former facilities 
and locations where operations are or were conducted. In addition, special provisions may be appropriate 
or required in environmentally sensitive areas of operation. There can be no assurance that Orca Exploration 
will  not  incur  substantial  financial  obligations  in  connection  with  environmental  compliance.  Significant 
liability could be imposed on Orca Exploration for damages, cleanup costs or penalties in the event of certain 
discharges into the environment, environmental damage caused by previous owners of property purchased 
by Orca Exploration or non-compliance with environmental laws or regulations. Such liability could have a 
material adverse effect on Orca Exploration. Moreover, Orca Exploration cannot predict what environmental 
legislation or regulations will be enacted in the future or how existing or future laws or regulations will be 
administered or enforced. Compliance with more stringent laws or regulations, or more vigorous enforcement 
policies of any regulatory authority, could in the future require material expenditures by Orca Exploration for 
the installation and operation of systems and equipment for remedial measures, any or all of which may have 
a material adverse effect on Orca Exploration. As party to various licenses, Orca Exploration has an obligation 
to restore producing fields to a condition acceptable to the authorities at the end of their commercial lives.

while management believes that Orca Exploration is currently in compliance with environmental laws and 
regulations applicable to Orca Exploration’s operations in Tanzania and Italy, no assurances can be given that 
Orca Exploration will be able to continue to comply with such environmental laws and regulations without 
incurring substantial costs.

Orca Exploration’s petroleum and natural gas operations are subject to extensive governmental legislation 
and regulation and increased public awareness concerning environmental protection.

No provision has been recognised for future decommissioning costs in Tanzania which are anticipated to be 
minimal as it is forecast that there will still be commercial gas reserves once Orca Exploration relinquishes 
the license in 2026. Orca Exploration expects that the cost of complying with environmental legislation and 
regulations will increase in the future. Compliance with existing environmental legislation and regulations has 
not had a material effect on capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position of Orca Exploration to date. 
Although management believes that Orca Exploration’s operations and facilities are in material compliance 
with such laws and regulations, future changes in these laws, regulations or interpretations thereof or the 
nature  of  its  operations  may  require  the  Company  to  make  significant  additional  capital  expenditures  to 
ensure compliance in the future.

Volatility of Oil and Gas Prices and Markets

Orca Exploration’s financial condition, operating results and future growth will be dependent on the prevailing 
prices for its natural gas production. Historically, the markets for oil and natural gas have been volatile and 
such markets are likely to continue to be volatile in the future. Prices for oil and natural gas are subject to large 
fluctuations in response to relatively minor changes to the demand for oil and natural gas, whether the result 
of uncertainty or a variety of additional factors beyond the control of Orca Exploration. Any substantial decline 
in the prices of oil and natural gas could have a material adverse effect on Orca Exploration and the level of 
its natural gas reserves. Additionally, the economics of producing from some wells may change as a result of 
lower prices, which could result in a suspension of production by Orca Exploration.

No assurance can be given that oil and natural gas prices will be sustained at levels which will enable Orca 
Exploration to operate profitably. From time to time Orca Exploration may avail itself of forward sales or other 
forms of hedging activities with a view to mitigating its exposure to the risk of price volatility. The terms of 
the industrial gas supply contracts were extended in 2008 for a period of five years. These contracts contain 
pricing caps and floors that limit the industrial downside price to US$7.38/mcf. The Company also entered 
into fixed price contracts with TANESCO and Songas for the supply of Additional Gas to the power sector. The 
steps taken by the Company in 2008 were very important steps in mitigating the exposure to price volatility.

The Songo Songo field was the first gas field to be developed in East Africa and was followed by a commercial 
gas discovery in the south of Tanzania at Mnazi Bay. The Company is the only supplier of gas into the main 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

47

demand centre of Dar es Salaam and has therefore been able to negotiate industrial gas sales contracts with 
gas prices that are at a discount to the lowest cost alternative fuels in Dar es Salaam, namely HFO and coal.

There has an increase in exploration activity in Tanzania that could, if successful, lead to increased competition 
for gas markets and lower gas prices in the future.

In  addition,  various  factors,  including  the  availability  and  capacity  of  oil  and  gas  gathering  systems  and 
pipelines,  the  effect  of  foreign  regulation  of  production  and  transportation,  general  economic  conditions, 
changes in supply due to drilling by other producers and changes in demand may adversely affect Orca Explo-
ration’s ability to market its gas production. 

Uncertainties in Estimating Reserves and Future Net Cash Flows

There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved and probable reserves and cash 
flows to be derived therefrom, including many factors beyond the control of Orca Exploration. The reserve 
and cash flow information contained herein represents estimates only. The reserves and estimated future net 
cash flow from Orca Exploration’s properties have been independently evaluated by McDaniel & Associates 
Consultants  Ltd.  These  evaluations  include  a  number  of  assumptions  relating  to  factors  such  as  initial 
production rates, production decline rates, ultimate recovery of reserves, timing and amount of capital expen-
ditures, marketability of production, crude oil price differentials to benchmarks, future prices of oil and natural 
gas, operating costs, transportation costs, cost recovery provisions and royalties, TPDC “back-in” methodology 
and other government levies that may be imposed over the producing life of the reserves. These assumptions 
were based on price forecasts in use at the date of the relevant evaluations were prepared and many of these 
assumptions are subject to change and are beyond the control of Orca Exploration. Actual production and 
cash flows derived therefrom will vary from these evaluations, and such variations could be material.

Title to Properties

Although title reviews have been done and will continue to be done according to industry standards prior 
to the purchase of most oil and natural gas producing properties or the commencement of drilling wells, 
such reviews do not guarantee or certify that an unforeseen defect in the chain of title will not arise to defeat 
the claim of Orca Exploration which could result in a reduction of the revenue received by Orca Exploration.

Acquisition Risks

Orca Exploration intends to acquire natural gas infrastructure and possibly additional oil and gas properties. 
Although Orca Exploration performs a review of the acquired properties that it believes is consistent with 
industry practices, such reviews are inherently incomplete. It generally is not feasible to review in depth 
every  individual  property  involved  in  each  acquisition.  Ordinarily,  Orca  Exploration  will  focus  its  due 
diligence efforts on the higher valued properties and will sample the remainder. However, even an in depth 
review of all properties and records may not necessarily reveal existing or potential problems, nor will it 
permit a buyer to become sufficiently familiar with the properties to assess fully their deficiencies and capa-
bilities. Inspections may not be performed on every well, and structural or environmental problems, such as 
ground water contamination, are not necessarily observable even when an inspection is undertaken. Orca 
Exploration may be required to assume pre-closing liabilities, including environmental liabilities, and may 
acquire interests in properties on an “as is” basis. There can be no assurance that Orca Exploration’s acquisi-
tions will be successful.

Reliance on Key Personnel

Orca Exploration is highly dependent upon its executive officers and key personnel. The unexpected loss of 
the services of any of these individuals could have a detrimental effect on Orca Exploration. Orca Exploration 
does not maintain key life insurance on any of its employees or officers.

Controlling Shareholder

w David Lyons, the Company’s Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer is the beneficial controlling shareholder 
of Orca Exploration and holds approximately 99.5% of the outstanding Class A shares and approximately 
16.6% of the Class B shares. Consequently, Mr. Lyons is the beneficial holder of approximately 24.1% of the 
equity (22.0% fully diluted) and controls 59.3% of the total votes of Orca Exploration.

48 O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .

2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
In applying the Company’s accounting policies, which are described in note 1, management makes estimates 
and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, vary to the 
actual results. The estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment 
to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are discussed below:

I) 

Reserves

 There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved and probable reserves 
and cash flows to be derived therefrom, including many factors beyond the control of Orca Exploration. 
The reserve and cash flow information contained herein represents estimates only. The reserves and 
estimated future net cash flow from Orca Exploration’s properties have been independently evaluated 
by McDaniel & Associates Consultants Ltd. These evaluations include a number of assumptions relating 
to  factors  such  as  initial  production  rates,  production  decline  rates,  ultimate  recovery  of  reserves, 
timing and amount of capital expenditures, marketability of production, crude oil price differentials 
to benchmarks, future prices of oil and natural gas, operating costs, transportation costs, cost recovery 
provisions  and  royalties,  TPDC  “back-in”  methodology  and  other  government  levies  that  may  be 
imposed over the producing life of the reserves. These assumptions were based on price forecasts in 
use at the date of the relevant evaluations were prepared and many of these assumptions are subject 
to change and are beyond the control of Orca Exploration. 

Reserves are integral to the amount of depletion charged to the profit or loss.

II) 

Exploration and evaluation assets

 Under the Company’s accounting policy expenditures incurred on the exploration for, and evaluation of, 
reserves are capitalized as intangible assets. These intangibles assets are then assessed for impairment 
when circumstances suggest that the carrying amount may exceed its recoverable value. Such circum-
stances include but are not limited to: 

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

	the	period	for	which	the	Company	has	the	right	to	explore	in	the	specific	area	has	expired	during	
the period, or will expire in the near future, and is not expected to be renewed;

no	further	expenditure	on	exploration	and	evaluation	is	budgeted	or	planned;

no	reserves	have	been	encountered;	

	the	evaluation	of	seismic	data	indicates	that	the	reserves	are	unlikely	to	be	of	a	commercial	quantity;	

	the	quantity	of	mineral	reserves	are	deemed	not	to	be	of	commercially	viable	quantities	and	the	
entity has decided to discontinue further activities; and

	sufficient	 data	 exists	 to	 indicate	 that,	 although	 a	 development	 in	 the	 specific	 area	 is	 likely	 to	
proceed, the carrying amount of the exploration and evaluation asset is unlikely to be recovered 
in full from successful development or by sale.

The assessment for impairment involves estimates as to (i) the likely future commerciality of the asset and 
when such commerciality should be determined, (ii) future revenues and costs associated with the asset, 
and (iii) the discount rate to be applied to such revenues and costs for the purpose of deriving a recoverable 
value.

Exploration  and  evaluation  assets  are  assessed  for  impairment  if  (i)  sufficient  data  exists  to  determine 
technical  feasibility  and  commercial  viability,  or  (ii)  facts  and  circumstances  suggest  that  the  carrying 
amount exceeds the recoverable amount. For purposes of impairment testing, exploration and evaluation 
assets are grouped by concession.

The technical feasibility and commercial viability of extracting a resource is considered to be determinable 
based on several factors including the assignment of proven reserves. A review of each exploration license 
or field is carried out, at least annually, to ascertain whether the project is technically feasible and commer-
cially viable. Upon determination of technical feasibility and commercial viability, intangible exploration 
and evaluation assets attributable to those reserves are first tested for impairment and then reclassified 
from exploration and evaluation assets to a separate category within property and equipment referred to 
as oil and natural gas interests.

 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

49

III)  Fair value of stock based compensation

 All stock options issued or stock appreciation rights granted by the Company have to be valued at their 
fair value. In assessing the fair value of the equity based compensation, estimates have to be made as 
to i) the volatility in share price, ii) risk free rate of interest and iii) the level of forfeiture. In the case of 
stock options, this fair value is estimated at the date of issue and is not revalued, where as the fair value 
of stock appreciation rights is recalculated at each reporting period. 

IV)  Cost recovery

 The Company is able to recover reasonable costs incurred on the development of the Songo Songo 
project out of 75% of the gross revenues less processing and pipeline tariffs (“Net Revenue).  There are 
inherent uncertainties in estimating when costs have been recovered as the government has several 
years to review the reasonableness of the costs.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This disclosure contains certain forward-looking estimates that involve substantial known and unknown 
risks  and  uncertainties,  certain  of  which  are  beyond  Orca  Exploration’s  control,  including  the  impact 
of  general  economic  conditions  in  the  areas  in  which  Orca  Exploration  operates,  civil  unrest,  industry 
conditions,  changes  in  laws  and  regulations  including  the  adoption  of  new  environmental  laws  and 
regulations  and  changes  in  how  they  are  interpreted  and  enforced,  increased  competition,  the  lack  of 
availability of qualified personnel or management, fluctuations in commodity prices, foreign exchange or 
interest rates, stock market volatility and obtaining required approvals of regulatory authorities. In addition 
there are risks and uncertainties associated with oil and gas operations, therefore Orca Exploration’s actual 
results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these 
forward-looking estimates and, accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated 
by the forward-looking estimates will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits, including the 
amounts of proceeds, that Orca Exploration will derive therefrom.

For further information please contact: 

Nigel A. Friend, CFO 
+255 (0)22 2138737  
nfriend@orcaexploration.com

or visit the Company’s web site at www.orcaexploration.com

 
 
50 O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .

2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

MANAGEMENT’S REPORT

  Management’s  

Report to Shareholders

The  accompanying  consolidated  financial  statements  of  Orca  Exploration  Group  Inc.  are  the  responsibility  of  the 
Directors. The financial and operating information presented in this annual report is consistent with that shown in the 
consolidated financial statements.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared by management, on behalf of the Board, in accordance with 
the accounting policies disclosed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. where necessary, management 
has made informed judgments and estimates in accounting for transactions which were not complete at the balance 
sheet  date.  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 appropriate in 
the circumstances.

Management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the ef-
fectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and has concluded that such disclosure controls and 
procedures are effective.

Management  maintains  appropriate  systems  of  internal  controls.  Policies  and  procedures  are  designed  to  give 
reasonable  assurance  that  transactions  are  properly  authorised,  assets  are  safeguarded  and  financial  records  are 
properly maintained to provide reliable information for the preparation of financial statements. An independent firm of 
Chartered Accountants, as appointed by the Shareholders, audited the consolidated financial statements in accordance 
with the International Standards on Auditing to enable them to express an opinion on the fairness of the consolidated 
financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards.

The  Board  of  Directors  carries  out  its  responsibility  for  the  financial  reporting  and  internal  controls  principally 
through an Audit Committee. The committee has met with external auditors and Management in order to determine 
if Management has fulfilled its responsibilities in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements. The con-
solidated financial statements have been approved by the Board of Directors on the recommendation of the Audit 
Committee.

w. David Lyons 
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer 

Nigel Friend 
Chief Financial Officer

28 April 2011 

28 April 2011

 
 
 
 
 
AUDITORS’ REPORT

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

51

Auditors’ Report

TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF ORCA EXPLORATION GROUP INC.
we  have  audited  the  accompanying  consolidated  financial  statements  of  Orca  Exploration  Group  Inc.  which 
comprise the consolidated statements of financial position as at December 31, 2010 and 2009, the consolidated 
statements of changes in shareholders’ equity, comprehensive income and cash flows for the years then ended, 
and notes, comprising a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information.

MANAGEMENT’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these consolidated financial statements 
in  accordance  with  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  and  for  such  internal  control  as  management 
determines is necessary to enable the preparation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

AUDITORS’ RESPONSIBILITY
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. we 
conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  Canadian  generally  accepted  auditing  standards  and  International 
Auditing Standards. Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the 
audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free from material 
misstatement.

An  audit  involves  performing  procedures  to  obtain  audit  evidence  about  the  amounts  and  disclosures  in  the 
consolidated financial statements. The procedures selected depend on our judgment, including the assessment 
of the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In 
making those risk assessments, we consider internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presenta-
tion of the consolidated financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the cir-
cumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. 
An  audit  also  includes  evaluating  the  appropriateness  of  accounting  policies  used  and  the  reasonableness  of 
accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated 
financial statements.

we believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit 
opinion.

OPINION 
In  our  opinion,  the  consolidated  financial  statements  present  fairly,  in  all  material  respects,  the  consolidated 
financial position of Orca Exploration Group Inc. as at December 31, 2010 and 2009, and its consolidated results 
of operations and its consolidated cash flows for the years then ended in accordance with International Financial 
Reporting Standards.

Calgary, Canada

28 April 2011 

52 O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .

2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

YEARS ENDED 31 DECEMBER
(ThOUSANDS OF US DOLLARS EXCEPT PER S hARE AmOUNTS)

Revenue 

Cost of sales

Production and distribution expenses

Depletion expense

Impairment of exploration and evaluation assets

General and administrative expenses

Net financing charges

Profit before taxation

Taxation

Profit after taxation and comprehensive income for the year

Earnings per share

Basic (US$)

Diluted (US$)

SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL S tatementS.

NOTE

2010

2009

5

38,808

25,317

12

11

7

8

16

(4,879)

(4,839)

–

(2,807)

(3,830)

(180)

29,090

18,500

(11,716)

(11,465)

(862)

16,512

(6,501)

10,011

(153)

6,882

(3,558)

3,324

0.33

0.31

0.11

0.11

 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

53

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

AS AT 31 DECEMBER
(THOUSANDS OF US DOLLARS)

ASSETS

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other receivables

Taxation receivable

Prepayments

Non-current assets

Exploration and evaluation asset

Property, plant and equipment

 Total assets

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Taxation payable

Non-current liabilities

Deferred income taxes

Deferred additional profits tax

Total liabilities

Equity

Capital stock

Contributed surplus

Accumulated income/(loss)

 Total equity and liabilities

NOTE

2010

2009

9

10

8

11

12

13

8

8

8

14

15

45,519

13,583

4,009

409

14,543

8,002

714

465

63,520

23,724

942

59,946

60,888

124,408

9,156

2,000

11,156

12,809

2,260

15,069

26,225

760

61,793

62,553

86,277

6,889

–

6,889

9,068

1,460

10,528

17,417

85,100

66,267

5,288

7,795

98,183

124,408

4,809

(2,216)

68,860

86,277

See accOmpanYing nOteS tO the cOnSOlidated Financial StatementS. 
cOntractUal ObligatiOnS and cOmmitted capital inveStmentS (nOte 19)

The consolidated financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 28 April 2011.

Director   

Director

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
54 O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .

2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows 

YEARS ENDED 31 DECEMBER
(THOUSANDS OF US DOLLARS)

CASH FLOwS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Profit after taxation

Adjustment for:

 Depletion and depreciation

 Impairment of exploration and evaluation assets

 Stock-based compensation

 Deferred income taxes

 Deferred additional profits tax

 Interest income

 Unrealised loss/(gain) on foreign exchange

(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables

(Increase) in taxation receivable

Decrease/(increase) in prepayments

Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables

Increase in taxation payable

Net cash flows from operating activities

CASH FLOwS USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Exploration and evaluation expenditures

Property, plant and equipment expenditures

Interest income

Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables

Net cash used in investing activities

CASH FLOwS FROM/(USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES

Normal course issuer bid

Shares issued

Proceeds from exercise of options

Net cash flow from/(used in) financing activities

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year

Effect of change in foreign exchange

NOTE

 2010

 2009

10,011

3,324

12

11

8

5 / 8

7

11

12

14 / 15

14

5,046

–

664

3,741

800

(40)

614

20,836

(6,166)

(3,295)

56

2,103

2,000

4,045

180

1,401

3,558

489

(44)

(621)

12,332

5,023

(714)

(294)

(4,340)

–

15,534

12,007

(182)

(3,199)

40

418

(2,923)

(292)

(5,020)

44

(2,761)

(8,029)

–

(298)

18,471

234

18,705

31,616

14,543

(340)

–

–

(298)

3,680

10,586

277

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

9

45,519

14,543

SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS .

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

55

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity 

(thOUSandS OF US dOllarS)

Note

Balance as at 1 January 2009

Stock-based compensation

Normal course issuer bid

Total comprehensive income for the year

Capital stock

Contributed 
surplus

Accumulated 
Income/ 
(loss)

Total

14

66,537

–

(270)

–

15

3,715

1,122

(28)

–

(5,540)

64,712

–

–

3,324

1,122

(298)

3,324

Balance as at 31 December 2009

66,267

4,809

(2,216)

68,860

Shares issued

Stock options exercised

Stock-based compensation

Total comprehensive income for the year

18,471

362

–

–

–

(128)

607

–

Balance as at 31 December 2010

85,100

5,288

–

–

–

10,011

7,795

18,471

234

607

10,011

98,183

SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS .

 
 
56 O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .

2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes

to the Consolidated 

Financial Statements

GENERAL INFORMATION

Orca Exploration Group Inc. (“Orca Exploration” or the “Company”) was incorporated on 28 April 2004 under the laws of the British 
Virgin Islands. The Company is a participant in a gas-to-electricity project in Tanzania and has gas and oil exploration interests in 
Italy.

The Company’s operations at the Songo Songo gas field in Tanzania include the operation of five producing wells and two 45 MMcfd 
dehydration and refrigeration gas processing units on Songo Songo Island on behalf of Songas Limited (“Songas”). Gas produced 
and sold from the Songo Songo field is classified as either Protected Gas or Additional Gas. Protected Gas is 100% owned by Tanzania 
Petroleum Development Corporation (“TPDC”) and is sold to Songas under a twenty year Gas Agreement primarily for use at the 
Ubungo power plant and the wazo Hill cement plant. The Protected Gas is principally used as feedstock for specified turbines and 
kilns. Gas sales in excess of the Protected Gas users’ requirements is classified as Additional Gas. The Company has the exclusive right 
to explore, develop, produce and market all Additional Gas. Revenues from the sale of Additional Gas, net of transportation tariff, are 
shared with TPDC in accordance with the terms of the Production Sharing Agreement (“PSA”) until October 2026. 

BASIS OF PREPARATION 

These consolidated financial statements are measured and presented in US dollars as the main operating cash flows are linked to 
this currency through the commodity price. Management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported 
amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the 
reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Some of the 2009 comparative numbers have been restated in order to be consistent with the 2010 presentation.

1

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

a)  Statement of compliance

 The  consolidated  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards 
(“IFRS”) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”).

b)  Basis of consolidation

i) 

Subsidiaries

 The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all its wholly owned subsidiaries (collec-
tively, the “Company”). Subsidiaries are those enterprises controlled by the Company. The following companies have been 
consolidated within the Orca Exploration financial statements:

Subsidiary
Orca Exploration Group Inc

Orca Exploration Italy Inc

Registered
British Virgin Islands

holding
Parent Company

Functional currency
US dollar

British Virgin Islands

100%

Orca Exploration Italy Onshore Inc

British Virgin Islands

PAE PanAfrican Energy Corporation

PanAfrican Energy Tanzania Limited

Mauritius

Jersey

100%

100%

100%

ii)  Transactions eliminated upon consolidation

US dollar

US dollar

US dollar

US dollar

 Inter-company balances and transactions, and any unrealised gains or losses arising from inter-company transactions, are 
eliminated in preparing the consolidated financial statements.

c)   Foreign currency

 Foreign currency transactions are recorded at the rate of exchange prevailing at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and 
liabilities in foreign currencies are translated at period-end rates. Non-monetary items are translated at historic rates, unless such 
items are carried at market value, in which case they are translated using the exchange rates that existed when the values were 
determined. Any resulting exchange rate differences are recognized in the profit and loss.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

57

d)   Exploration and evaluation assets, property, plant and equipment

i) 

Exploration and evaluation assets 

 Exploration and evaluation costs are capitalised as intangible assets. Intangible assets includes lease and license acquisition 
costs, geological and geophysical costs and other direct costs of exploration and evaluation which the directors consider 
to be unevaluated until reserves are appraised to be commercially viable and technologically feasible as commercial, at 
which time they are transferred to property, plant and equipment following an impairment review and depleted accord-
ingly. where properties are appraised to have no commercial value or are appraised at values less than book values, the 
associated costs are treated as an impairment loss in the period in which the determination is made. 

ii)  Property, plant and equipment

 Property, plant and equipment comprises the Company’s tangible natural gas assets, development wells, together with 
leasehold improvements, computer equipment, motor vehicles and fixtures and fittings and are carried at cost, less any 
accumulated depletion, depreciation and accumulated impairment losses. Cost includes purchase price and construction 
costs for qualifying assets. Depletion of these assets commences when the assets are ready for their intended use. Only 
costs that are directly related to the discovery and development of specific oil and gas reserves are capitalised. The cost 
associated with tangible natural gas assets are amortised on a field by field unit of production method based on commercial 
proven reserves. The calculation of the unit of production amortisation takes into account the estimated future develop-
ment cost of the field.

iii) 

Impairment of exploration and evaluation assets, property, plant and equipment

 At each balance sheet date, the Company reviews the carrying amounts of its property, plant and equipment and intangible 
assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. Individual assets 
are grouped together as a cash generating unit for impairment assessment purposes at the lowest level at which there are 
identifiable cash flows that are independent from other group assets. In the case of exploration and evaluation assets, this 
will normally be at the Company’s field level. If any such indication of impairment exists, the Company makes an estimate 
of its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. where the 
carrying amount of a cash generating unit exceeds its recoverable amount, the cash generating unit is considered impaired 
and is written down to its recoverable amount. In assessing the value in use, the estimated future cash flows are adjusted 
for the risks specific to the cash generating unit and are discounted to their present value with a discount rate that reflects 
the current market indicators. where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset cash–
generating unit is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount 
does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the 
cash generating unit in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised as income immediately.

e)   Operatorship

 The  Company  operates  the  gas  field,  flow  lines  and  gas  processing  plant  on  behalf  of  Songas  at  cost. The  cost  of  operating 
and maintaining the wells and flow lines is paid for by Orca Exploration and Songas in proportion to the respective volumes 
of Protected Gas and Additional Gas sales. The costs of operating and maintaining the wells and flow lines are reflected in the 
accounts to the extent that the costs were incurred to accomplish Additional Gas sales. The cost of operating the gas processing 
plant and pipeline to Dar es Salaam is paid by Songas. when there are Additional Gas sales, a tariff is paid to Songas as compen-
sation for using the gas processing plant and pipeline. This tariff is netted against revenue.

f)   Employment benefits

i) 

Pension

 The Company does not operate a pension plan, but it does make defined contributions to the statutory pension fund for 
employees in Tanzania. Obligations for contributions to the statutory pension fund are recognised as an expense in the 
income statement as incurred.

ii)   Stock options

 The share option plan allows Company officers, directors and key personnel to acquire shares at an exercise price determined 
by the market value at the date of grant. when the options are exercised, equity is increased by the amount of the proceeds 
received. The fair value of stock options is expensed in the profit or loss in accordance with the specific vesting periods.  
The fair value of the options is calculated, on the grant date, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

iii)  Stock appreciation rights

 Stock appreciation rights are issued to certain key managers, officers, directors and employees. The fair value of stock appre-
ciation rights is expensed in the profit and loss in accordance with the service period. The fair value of the stock appreciation 
rights is revalued every reporting date with the change in the value recognized in the income statement.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
58 O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .

2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

g)   Asset retirement obligations

 No provision has been made for future site restoration costs in Tanzania since the Company has no legal or contractual 
obligation under the PSA to restore the fields at the end of their commercial lives.

h)   Revenue recognition, production sharing agreements and royalties

 The Company recognises revenue from natural gas sales when title passes to a customer. The Company conducts operations 
jointly with the Tanzanian government and “parastatal entities” in accordance with production sharing agreements (“PSA”). 
Under these agreements, the Company pays both its share and the parastatal’s share of operating, administrative and capital 
costs. The Company recovers all reasonably incurred operating, administrative and capital costs including the parastatal’s 
share of these costs from future revenues over several years (“Cost Gas”). The parastatal’s share of operating and administra-
tive costs, are recorded in operating and general and administrative costs when incurred and capital costs are recorded in 
‘Property, plant and equipment’. All recoveries are recorded as revenue in the year of recovery. The Company is entitled to a 
share of production in excess of the Cost Gas (“Profit Gas”). Operating revenue represents the Company’s share of Cost Gas 
and Profit Gas during the period, net of the transportation tariff.

i)   Additional profits tax

 Under  the  terms  of  the  PSA,  in  the  event  that  all  costs  have  been  recovered  with  an  annual  return  of  25%  plus  the 
percentage change in the United States Industrial Goods Producer Price Index, an additional profits tax (“APT”) is payable 
to the Government of Tanzania. This tax is considered to be a royalty and is netted against revenue. APT is provided for by 
forecasting the total APT payable as a proportion of the forecast Profit Gas over the term of PSA license.

j)   Taxation

 Income tax on the profit for the year comprises current and deferred tax. The Company is liable for Tanzanian income tax, 
but this is recovered from TPDC through the profit-sharing arrangement. where current income tax is payable, revenue is 
adjusted for the tax and the income tax is shown as current tax. Deferred tax is provided using the balance sheet method, 
providing for temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes 
and the amounts used for taxation purposes. The amount of deferred tax provided is based on the expected manner of 
realisation or settlement of carrying amounts of assets and liabilities using tax rates substantively enacted at the balance 
sheet date. A deferred tax asset is recognised only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available 
against which the asset can be utilised. Deferred tax assets are reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the 
related tax benefits will be realised.

k)   Segmental reporting

The Company has interests in Tanzania and Italy.

l)   Depreciation

 Depreciation for non-natural gas properties is charged to the income statement on a straight line basis over the estimated 
useful economic lives of each class of asset. The estimated useful lives are as follows: 

Leasehold improvement 
Computer equipment  
Vehicles 
Fixtures and fittings 

 Over remaining life of the lease  
3 years 
3 years 
3 years

  m)   New accounting standards and interpretations 

 Certain new accounting standards and interpretations have been published that are not mandatory for the 31 December 
2010 reporting period. The following standards are assessed not to have any impact on the Company’s financial statements:

•	

•	

•	

•	

IAS	24	Related	Party	Disclosure:	effective	for	accounting	periods	commencing	on	or	after	1	January	2011;

IFRS	9	Financial	Instruments:	effective	for	accounting	periods	commencing	on	or	after	1	January	2013;

	Amendments	 to	 IAS	 12	 Income	 taxes	 -	 Deferred	 Tax:	 Recovery	 of	 Underlying	 Assets:	 effective	 for	 annual	 periods	
beginning on or after 1 January 2012. Earlier application is permitted;

	Amendments	to	IFRS	7	Disclosures	-	Transfers	of	Financial	Assets:	effective	for	annual	periods	beginning	on	or	after	1	
July 2011. Earlier application is permitted.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

59

n)   Financial Instruments

Non-derivative financial instruments

 Non-derivative  financial  instruments  include  cash  and  cash  equivalents,  trade  and  other  receivables,  and  trade  and 
other  payables.  Non-derivative  financial  instruments  are  recognized  initially  at  fair  value  plus  any  directly  attributable  
transaction costs.

 The Company has reported cash and cash equivalents at fair value. Cash and cash equivalents are comprised of cash on hand, 
term deposits held with banks, and other short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or 
less. Bank overdrafts that are repayable on demand and form an integral part of the Company’s cash management, whereby 
management has the ability and intent to net bank overdrafts against cash, are included as a component of cash and cash 
equivalents for the purpose of the statement of cash flows. The Company’s trade and other receivables, trade and other 
payables, are classified as other non-derivative financial instruments. Subsequent to the initial recognition, other non-deriv-
ative financial instruments are measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment losses.

2

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

In applying the Company’s accounting policies, which are described in note 1, management makes estimates and assumptions 
concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, vary to the actual results. The estimates and assump-
tions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next 
financial year are discussed below:

i)  Reserves

 There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved and probable reserves and cash flows to be derived 
therefrom, including many factors beyond the control of Orca Exploration. The reserve and cash flow information contained 
herein  represents  estimates  only.  The  reserves  and  estimated  future  net  cash  flow  from  Orca  Exploration’s  properties  have 
been independently evaluated by McDaniel & Associates Consultants Ltd. These evaluations include a number of assumptions 
relating to factors such as initial production rates, production decline rates, ultimate recovery of reserves, timing and amount of 
capital expenditures, marketability of production, crude oil price differentials to benchmarks, future prices of oil and natural gas, 
operating costs, transportation costs, cost recovery provisions and royalties, TPDC “back-in” methodology and other government 
levies that may be imposed over the producing life of the reserves. These assumptions were based on price forecasts in use at 
the date of the relevant evaluations were prepared and many of these assumptions are subject to change and are beyond the 
control of Orca Exploration. 

Reserves are integral to the amount of depletion charged to the profit or loss.

ii)  Exploration and evaluation assets

 Under the Company’s accounting policy expenditures incurred on the exploration for, and evaluation of, reserves are capitalized 
as intangible assets. These intangibles assets are then assessed for impairment when circumstances suggest that the carrying 
amount may exceed its recoverable value. Such circumstances include but are not limited to: 

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

	the	period	for	which	the	Company	has	the	right	to	explore	in	the	specific	area	has	expired	during	the	period,	or	will	expire	
in the near future, and is not expected to be renewed;

no	further	expenditure	on	exploration	and	evaluation	is	budgeted	or	planned;

no	reserves	have	been	encountered;	

the	evaluation	of	seismic	data	indicates	that	the	reserves	are	unlikely	to	be	of	a	commercial	quantity;	

	the	 quantity	 of	 mineral	 reserves	 are	 deemed	 not	 to	 be	 of	 commercially	 viable	 quantities	 and	 the	 entity	 has	 decided	 to	 
discontinue further activities; and

	sufficient	data	exists	to	indicate	that,	although	a	development	in	the	specific	area	is	likely	to	proceed,	the	carrying	amount	
of the exploration and evaluation asset is unlikely to be recovered in full from successful development or by sale.

 The assessment for impairment involves estimates as to (i) the likely future commerciality of the asset and when such commer-
ciality should be determined, (ii) future revenues and costs associated with the asset, and (iii) the discount rate to be applied to 
such revenues and costs for the purpose of deriving a recoverable value.

 Exploration  and  evaluation  assets  are  assessed  for  impairment  if  (i)  sufficient  data  exists  to  determine  technical  feasibility 
and  commercial  viability,  or  (ii)  facts  and  circumstances  suggest  that  the  carrying  amount  exceeds  the  recoverable  amount.  
For purposes of impairment testing, exploration and evaluation assets are grouped by concession.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
60 O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .

2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 The technical feasibility and commercial viability of extracting a resource is considered to be determinable based on several 
factors including the assignment of proven reserves. A review of each exploration license or field is carried out, at least annually, 
to ascertain whether the project is technically feasible and commercially viable. Upon determination of technical feasibility and 
commercial viability, intangible exploration and evaluation assets attributable to those reserves are first tested for impairment 
and then reclassified from exploration and evaluation assets to a separate category within property and equipment referred to 
as oil and natural gas interests.

iii)  Fair value of stock based compensation

 All stock options issued or stock appreciation rights granted by the Company have to be valued at their fair value. In assessing 
the fair value of the equity based compensation, estimates have to be made as to i) the volatility in share price, ii) risk free rate 
of interest and iii) the level of forfeiture. In the case of stock options, this fair value is estimated at the date of issue and is not 
revalued, where as the fair value of stock appreciation rights is recalculated at each reporting period. 

iv)  Cost recovery

 The Company is able to recover reasonable costs incurred on the development of the Songo Songo project out of 75% of the 
gross revenues less processing and pipeline tariffs (“Net Revenue).  There are inherent uncertainties in estimating when costs 
have been recovered as the government has several years to review the reasonableness of the costs.  

3

RISK MANAGEMENT

 The Company, by its activities in oil and gas exploration, development and production, is exposed to the risk associated with the 
unpredictable nature of the financial markets. The Company seeks to manage its exposure to these risks where ever possible.

i)  Foreign exchange risk

 Foreign  exchange  risk  arises  when  transactions  and  recognised  assets  and  liabilities  of  the  Company  are  denominated  in  a 
currency that is not the U.S. dollar functional currency.

 The Company operates internationally and is exposed to foreign exchange risk arising from currency exposures to U.S. dollars.  
The main currencies to which the Company has an exposure are: Tanzanian shillings, British pounds sterling and Canadian dollars. 

 The  majority  of  the  expenditure  associated  with  the  operation  of  the  gas  distribution  system  is  denominated  in Tanzanian 
shillings. The majority of the consultants’ contracts are denominated in British pounds sterling. All of the capital stock, equity 
financing and any associated stock based compensation are denominated in Canadian dollars. All of the operational revenue 
and the majority of capital expenditure are denominated in US dollars.

There are no forward exchange rate contracts in place.

 A 10% increase in the U.S. dollars against the relevant foreign currency would result in an overall reduction in working capital 
by US$0.6 million to US$51.7 million. The sensitivity includes only outstanding foreign currency denominated monetary items 
and adjusts their translation at period end for a 10% change in the foreign currency rates. A 10% sensitivity rate is used when 
reporting  foreign  currency  risk  internally  to  key  management  personnel  and  represents  management’s  assessment  of  the 
reasonable possible change in foreign exchange rates.

ii)  Commodity price risk

 The Songo Songo gas field is the first gas field to be developed in East Africa. The Company has therefore been able to negotiate 
industrial gas sales contracts with gas prices that are at a discount to the lowest cost alternative fuels in Dar es Salaam, namely 
Heavy Fuel Oil (“HFO”). The price of HFO is exposed to the volatility in the market price of oil.

iii)   Interest rate risk

The Company currently does not have any debt or borrowings so it is therefore not exposed to any interest rate risk.

iv)  Credit risk

 All  of  the  Company’s  production  is  currently  derived  in Tanzania. The  sales  are  made  to  the  power  sector  and  the  industrial 
sector. In relation to sales to the power sector, the Company has a short term contract with Songas for the supply of gas to the 
Ubungo power plant and a contract with TANESCO to supply 147 Mws of power generation. The contracts with Songas and 
TANESCO accounted for 56% of the Company’s operating revenue during 2010 and US$7.8 million of the receivables at the year 
end. Songas itself is heavily reliant on the payment of capacity and energy charges by TANESCO for its liquidity. TANESCO is 
dependent on the Government of Tanzania for some of its funding. while some payments have been delayed, the Company has 
subsequently received all the amounts due from Songas. TANESCO has paid the majority of the amounts due. Sales to industrial 
sector are subject to an internal credit review to minimize the risk of non payment. The Company does not anticipate any default 
with these customers. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

61

v)  Liquidity risk

 Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will not have sufficient funds to meet its liabilities. Cash forecasts identifying liquidity 
requirements of the Company are produced on a quarterly basis. These are reviewed to ensure sufficient funds exist to finance 
the Company’s current operational and investment cash flow requirements. The Company has no financial liabilities other than 
the trade and other payables indentified in note 13 of which US$5.9 million is due within one to three months, US$4.8 million is 
due within three to six months, and US$0.5 million is due within six to twelve months. Management forecasts that the Company 
will be able to meet its 2011 capital expenditure program through the use of existing cash balances, self-generated cash flows 
and new funding. The Company currently has no bank borrowings and there is scope for utilising debt funding.   

vi)  Capital risk management

 The Company’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern in 
order to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders and to maintain an optimal capital structure to 
reduce the cost of capital. The Company currently has no borrowings.

4

SEGMENT INFORMATION

The  Company  has  one  reportable  segment  which  is  international  exploration,  development  and  production  of  petroleum  and 
natural gas. The Company currently has operations in Tanzania and exploration interests in Italy having ceased its operations in 
Uganda during 2008.

External 
revenue

Segment 
income/(loss)

Total  
assets

Total 
liabilities

Capital 
additions

Depletion & 
depreciation

FIGURES IN US$’000

2010

Tanzania
Uganda
Italy

2009

Tanzania
Uganda

38,808
–
–

38,808

25,317
–

25,317

10,057
–
(46)

10,011

3,504
(180)

3,324

124,408
–
–

124,408

86,277
–

86,277

26,225
–
–

26,225

17,237
180

17,417

3,381
–
–

3,381

5,132
180

5,312

5,046
–
–

5,046

4,045
180

4,225

The  sales  contracts  with  Tanesco  and  Songas  accounted  for  41%  and  15%  respectively  of  the  company’s  operating  revenue  
during 2010, compared to 35% and 18% respectively in 2009.

5

REVENUE

Years ended 31 December
FIGURES IN US$’000

Operating revenue
Current income tax adjustment
Deferred additional profits tax
Provision for bad debts

Revenue

2010

2009

35,665
3,943
(800)
–

38,808

25,840
–
(489)
(34)

25,317

The revenue reported is the Company’s proportionate share of revenue as calculated in accordance with the accounting policy 1(h).

 The  Company’s  total  revenues  for  the  year  amounted  to  US$38,808,000  after  adjusting  the  Company’s  operating  revenue  of 
US$35,665,000 by:

i) 

 US$3,943,000 for income tax for the current year. The Company is liable for income tax in Tanzania, but the income tax is recover-
able out of TPDC’s Profit Gas when the tax is payable. To account for this, revenue is adjusted to reflect the current income tax 
charge or loss.

ii)  US$800,000 for the deferred effect of additional profits tax. This tax is considered a royalty and is netted against revenue.

 
 
 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

62 O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .

2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

6

PERSONNEL EXPENSES

The average number of employees during the year was 36 (2009: 28). The costs are as follows:

Years ended 31 December
FIGURES IN US$’000

wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other statutory costs
Stock based compensation

7

NET FINANCING CHARGES

Years ended 31 December
FIGURES IN US$’000

Finance incOme
Interest income
Foreign exchange gain

Finance chargeS
Overdraft charges
Foreign exchange loss

net Financing chargeS 

8 

TAXATION

2010

2009

2,180
416
527
664

3,787

1,582
308
522
1,401

3,813

2010

2009

40
–

40

(12)
(890)

(902)

(862)

44
105

149

(23)
(279)

(302)

(153)

 Under the terms of the Production Sharing Agreement with TPDC, the Company is liable to pay income tax at the corporate rate 
of 30% on profits generated in Tanzania. The amount paid is then recovered in full from TPDC by adjusting their share of profit gas.

The tax charge is as follows:

Years ended 31 December
FIGURES IN US$’000
Current tax
Deferred tax

Tax Rate Reconciliation

Years ended 31 December
FIGURES IN US$’000

Profit before taxation
Provision for income tax calculated at the statutory rate of 30%
Add the tax effect of non-deductible income tax items:
  Administrative and operating expenses
  Stock- based compensation
Other income 
Impairment of exploration and evaluation assets
Permanent differences

2010

2,760
3,741

6,501

2009

–
3,558

3,558

2,010

2009

16,512
4,954

1,262
199
(6)
–
92

6,501

6,882
2,065

981
420
(42)
54
80

3,558

As  at 31  December  2010,  there  were  temporary  differences between the  carrying  value  of  the  assets  and  liabilities  for  financial 
reporting purposes and the amounts used for taxation purposes. Accordingly a deferred tax liability has been recognized for the 
year ended 31 December 2010. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

63

The deferred income tax liability includes the following temporary differences:

As at 31 December
FIGURES IN US$’000

Differences between tax base and carrying value of property, plant and equipment
Income tax recoverable
Other liabilities
Additional profits tax
Tax losses

2010

2009

12,194
1,349
(56)
(678)
–

12,809

9,707
167
(54)
(435)
(317)

9,068

Additional Profits Tax

Under the terms of the PSA, in the event that all costs have been recovered with an annual return of 25% plus the percentage 
change in the United States Industrial Goods Producer Price Index, an Additional Profits Tax (“APT”) is payable. 

The Company provides for APT by forecasting the total APT payable as a proportion of the forecast Profit Gas over the term of the 
PSA  license. The  effective  APT  rate  has  been  calculated  to  be  21%.  Accordingly,  US$0.8  million  (2009:  US$0.5  million)  has  been 
netted off revenue for the year  increasing the total liability recognized as at 31 December 2010 to US$2.3 million.

Management does not anticipate that any APT will be payable in 2011, as the forecast revenues will not be sufficient to cover the 
un-recovered costs brought forward as inflated by 25% plus the PPI percentage change and the forecast expenditures for 2010. 
The actual APT that will be paid is dependent on the achieved value of the Additional Gas sales and the quantum and timing of the 
operating costs and capital expenditure program.

The APT can have a significant negative impact on the Songo Songo project economics as measured by the net present value of 
the cash flow streams. Higher revenue in the initial years leads to a rapid payback of the project costs and consequently accelerates 
the payment of the APT that can account for up to 55% of the Company’s profit share. Therefore, the terms of the PSA reward the 
Company for taking higher risks by incurring capital expenditure in advance of revenue generation.

9

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

As at 31 December
FIGURES IN US$’000

Cash and cash equivalents

2010

2009

45,519

14,543

Included in the cash and cash equivalents is US$159,000 advanced from Songas under the terms of the Operatorship Agreement to 
pay for the costs of operating these wells and gas processing plant. This amount is also included in trade and other payables.

10

TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

As at 31 December
FIGURES IN US$’000

Trade receivables
Other receivables

2010

2009

11,879
1,704

13,583

7,100
902

8,002

 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

64 O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .

2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

11  EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION ASSETS

FIGURES IN US’000

cOStS
As at 1 January 2010
Additions

As at 31 December 2010

depletiOn
As at 1 January 2010

As at 31 December 2010

net bOOK valUeS
As at 31 December 2010

As at 31 December 2009

FIGURES IN US’000

cOStS
As at 1 January 2009
Additions

As at 31 December 2009

depletiOn
As at 1 January 2009
Impairment

As at 31 December 2009

net bOOK valUe
As at 31 December 2009

TANzANIA

Tanzania

Total

760
182

942

–

–

942

760

760
182

942

–

–

942

760

Uganda

Tanzania

Total

–
180

180

–
(180)

(180)

648
112

760

–
–

–

648
292

940

–
(180)

(180)

–

760

760

The exploration and evaluation asset relates to initial evaluation of the Songo Songo west prospect which is pending the determina-
tion of proven and probable reserves. 

UGANDA

It was decided in June 2008 not to progress with the drilling of two exploration wells in Uganda. Accordingly, the Company did not 
exercise its option to acquire a 50% working interest in Exploration Area 5 in Uganda and the investment was written off in full in 
the income statement. Subsequent to this write off, an additional charge of US$180,000 was recorded in the last quarter of 2009 
following the late receipt of an invoice in relation to a potential claim by the Ugandan tax authorities for withholding tax that was 
withheld by the operator during the seismic programme pending clarification of the tax regime. Accordingly, the full amount was 
recognized and written off in full to the income statement in Q4 2009. 

ITALY

During 2010, the Company farmed in to two exploration licences in Italy. No capital costs were incurred on these assets during 2010 
and all the costs associated with the farm in have been recognized in the statement of comprehensive income.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

65

12

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Tanzania

Leasehold 
improvements

Computer 
equipment

Vehicles

Fixtures & 
Fittings

Total

FIGURES IN US’000

cOStS
As at 1 January 2010
Additions

As at 31 December 2010

depletiOn/depreciatiOn  

As at 1 January 2010

Charge for period

As at 31 December 2010

net bOOK valUeS

As at 31 December 2010

As at 31 December 2009

FIGURES IN US’000

cOStS
As at 1 January 2009

Additions

Disposal

As at 31 December 2009

depletiOn/depreciatiOn  

As at 1 January 2009

Charge for period

Depreciation on disposals

As at 31 December 2009

net bOOK valUe

77,319
3,004

80,323

15,902

4,839

20,741

59,582

61,417

265
55

320

220

24

244

76

45

455
54

509

230

115

345

164

225

161
70

231

102

47

149

82

59

92
16

108

45

21

66

42

47

78,292
3,199

81,491

16,499

5,046

21,545

59,946

61,793

Tanzania

Leasehold 
improvements

Computer 
equipment

Vehicles

Fixtures & 
Fittings

Total

72,732

4,587

–

77,319

12,072

3,830

–

15,902

185

80

–

265

156

64

–

220

207

248

–

455

126

104

–

230

122

65

(26)

161

85

43

(26)

102

52

40

–

92

41

4

–

45

47

73,298

5,020

(26)

78,292

12,480

4,045

(26)

16,499

61,793

As at 31 December 2009

61,417

45

225

59

In  determining  the  depletion  charge,  it  is  estimated  by  the  independent  reserve  engineers  that  future  development  costs  of 
US$$115.2 million (2009: US$57.5 million) will be required to bring the total proved reserves to production.

13

TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES 

As at 31 December

FIGURES IN US$’000

Trade payables
Accrued liabilities
Related party (nOte 18)

2010

2009

5,896
3,260
–

9,156

4,270
2,594
25

6,889

The Company’s exposure to credit, currency and interest risk related to trade and other payables is disclosed in note 3. 

 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

66 O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .

2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

14

CAPITAL STOCK

a)   Authorised

50,000,000 Class A Common Shares   

No par value

50,000,000 Class B Subordinate Voting Shares 

No par value

The Class A and Class B shares rank pari passu in respect of dividends and repayment of capital in the event of winding-up. Class A 
shares carry twenty votes per share and Class B shares carry one vote per share. The Class A shares are convertible at the option of 
the holder at any time into Class B shares on a one-for-one basis. The Class B shares are convertible into Class A shares on a one-for-
one basis in the event that a take-over bid is made to purchase Class A shares which must, by reason of a stock exchange or legal 
requirements, be made to all or substantially all of the holders of Class A shares and which is not concurrently made to holders of 
Class B shares.

b)   Changes in the capital stock of the Company were as follows:

2010

2009

Authorised

Issued

Amount

Authorised

Issued

Amount

 THOUSANDS OF SHARES OR US$’000

Class A shares
As at 1 January and 31 December

Class B shares 

As at 1 January
Shares issued net of costs
Stock options exercised
Normal course issuer bid

As at 31 December

Total Class A & B shares  
as at 31 December

All of the issued capital stock is fully paid.

50,000

1,751

983

50,000

1,751

983

50,000
–
–
–

50,000

27,743
4,956
240
–

32,939

65,284
18,471
362
–

84,117

50,000
–
–
–

50,000

27,863
–
–
(120)

27,743

65,554
–
–
(270)

65,284

100,000

34,690

85,100

100,000

29,494

66,267

A total of 240,000 stock options were exercised in July 2010 at a price of Cdn$1.00 per share. On 5 October, 2010 the Company 
completed a one for six rights issue. The offering was fully subscribed. At closing, the Company issued 4,955,687 Class B Subordi-
nated Voting shares at a price of Cdn$3.90 per Class B Share for gross proceeds of Cdn$19.3 million.

Stock-based compensation 

The stock option plan provides for the granting of stock options to directors, officers and employees. The exercise price of each 
stock option is determined at the closing market price of the common shares on the day prior to the day of grant. Each stock option 
granted permits the holder to purchase one common share at the stated exercise price. The Company records a charge to the profit 
and loss account using the Black-Scholes fair valuation option pricing model. The valuation is dependent on a number of estimates, 
including the risk free interest rate, the level of stock volatility, together with an estimate of the level of forfeiture. The level of stock 
volatility is calculated with reference to the historic traded daily closing share price at the date of issue.

 
 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

67

Stock Options

THOUSANDS OF OPTIONS OR CDN$

Outstanding as at 1 January
Exercised
Forfeited 

Outstanding as at 31 December

2010

2009

Options

Exercise Price

Options

Exercise Price

2,797
(240)
–

2,557

1.00 to 13.55
1.00
–

1.00 to 13.55

2,814
–
(17)

2,797

1.00 to 13.55
–
12.00

1.00 to 13.55

The weighted average remaining life and weighted average exercise prices of options at 31 December 2010 were as follows:

Exercise Price (cdn$)

1.00
8.00 - 13.55

Number Outstanding 
as at  
31 December 2010

1,422
1,135

2,557

Weighted Average 
Remaining  
Contractual Life  
(YearS)

3.67
1.36

Number Exercisable  
as at  
31 December 2010

Weighted Average 
Exercise Price  
(cdn$)

1,422
1,135

2,557

1.00
11.36

There were no new stock options issued during the year. A total charge of US$0.6 million has been recognised for the year in relation 
to the stock options. 

Stock Appreciation Rights

THOUSANDS OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS OR C DN$
Outstanding as at 1 January
Expired (i)
Granted (ii)

Outstanding as at 31 December (iii)

2010

2009

SAR

810
(105)
225

930

Exercise Price

8.0 to 13.55
11.05
4.20

4.20 to 13.55

SAR

810
–
–

810

Exercise Price

8.0 to 13.55
–
–

8.0 to 13.55

(i) 

 A total of 105,000 capped stock appreciation rights expired in February 2010 with an exercise price of Cdn$11.05.

(ii) 

 A total of 225,000 stock appreciation rights were issued in June 2010 with an exercise price of Cdn$4.20. These rights have a term of five years and vest in five 

equal instalments, the first fifth vesting on the anniversary of the grant date. There is no maximum liability associated with these rights.

(iii)   A total of 705,000 stock appreciation rights have a term of five years. All of these options vested over a period of three years and are now fully vested. There is no 

maximum liability associated with these rights.

The Company records a charge to the income statement using the Black-Scholes fair valuation option pricing model every reporting 
period with a resulting liability being recognised in the balance sheet. In the valuation of these stock appreciation rights at the 
reporting date, the following assumptions have been made: a risk free rate of interest of 1.50% to 2.50%, stock volatility of 55% to 
71%, 0% dividend yield and a range of forfeiture from 0% to 33% and a closing stock price of Cdn$5.43 per share.  

As at 31 December 2010, a total accrued liability of US$0.5 million (2009: US$0.4 million) has been recognised in relation to the stock 
appreciation rights. A total charge of US$0.1 million has been recorded during 2010.

15

CONTRIBUTED SURPLUS

This is used to record two types of transactions:

(i)  To recognise the fair value of equity settled stock based compensation expensed in the year. 

(ii)   To account for the difference between the aggregated book value of the shares purchased under the normal course issuer bid 

and the actual consideration. 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

68 O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .

2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

16

EARNINGS PER SHARE

The calculation of basic earnings per share is based on the profit after taxation and comprehensive income income for the year   of 
US$10.0 million (2009: US$3.3 million) and a weighted average number of Class A and Class B shares outstanding during the period 
of 30,795,013 (2009: 29,540,339).

In computing the diluted earnings per share, the dilutive effect of the stock options was 1,098,391 (2009: 1,163,181) shares. These 
are added to the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year resulting in a diluted weighted average 
number of Class A and Class B shares of 31,893,404 for the year ended 31 December, 2010. No adjustments were required to the 
reported earnings from operations in computing diluted per share amounts. 

17 OPERATING LEASES 

The Company has two office rental agreements in Dar es Salaam, expiring on 30 November 2012 and 31 October 2013 at an annual 
rental of US$122,000 and US$110,000 per annum respectively.

As at 31 December
FIGURES IN US$’000

Less than one year
Between one and five years

18

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

2010

232
314

546

2009

232
546

778

One of the non executive Directors is a partner at a law firm. During the year, the Company incurred US$276,000 (2009: US$168,000) 
to this firm for services provided. The transactions with this related party were made at the exchange amount.

19

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND COMMITTED CAPITAL INVESTMENTS

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

Protected Gas

Under the terms of the original gas agreement for the Songo Songo project (“Gas Agreement”), in the event that there is a shortfall/
insufficiency  in  Protected  Gas  as  a  consequence  of  the  sale  of  Additional  Gas,  then  the  Company  is  liable  to  pay  the  difference 
between  the  price  of  Protected  Gas  (US$0.55/Mmbtu)  and  the  price  of  an  alternative  feedstock  multiplied  by  the  volumes  of 
Protected Gas up to a maximum of the volume of Additional Gas sold (47.7 Bcf as at 31 December 2010). 

The Gas Agreement has been amended by an initialled Amended and Restated Gas Agreement (“ARGA”). The ARGA provides clari-
fication of the Protected Gas volumes and removes all terms dealing with the security of the Protected Gas and the consequences 
of any insufficiency to a new Insufficiency Agreement (“IA”). The IA specifies terms under which Songas may demand cash security 
in order to keep them whole in the event of a Protected Gas insufficiency. Once the Insufficiency Agreement is signed, it will govern 
the basis for determining security. Under the provisional terms of the IA, when it is calculated that funding is required, the Company 
shall fund an escrow account at a rate of US$2/Mmbtu on all industrial Additional Gas sales out of its and TPDC share of revenue, 
and TANESCO shall contribute the same amount on Additional Gas sales to the power sector. The funds provide security for Songas 
in the event of an insufficiency of Protected Gas. The Company is actively monitoring the reservoir and does not anticipate that a 
liability will occur in this respect.

Back in

TPDC has indicated that they wish to exercise their right to ‘back in’ to the field development by contributing 20% of the costs of 
the  future  wells  including  SS-10  in  return  for  a  20%  increase  in  the  profit  share  percentage  for  the  production  emanating  from 
these wells. The implications and workings of the ‘back in’ are currently being discussed with TPDC and there may be the need for 
additional reserve and accounting modifications once these discussions are concluded. For the purpose of the reserves certification, 
it has been assumed that they will ‘back in’ for 20% for all future drilling activities and other developments and this is reflected in the 
Company’s net reserve position.

 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

69

Capital Commitments 

Italy

On  31  May  2010,  the  Company  signed  an  agreement  with  Petroceltic  International  plc  (“Petroceltic”)  to  farm  in  on  Petroceltic’s 
Central Adriatic B.R268.RG Permit offshore Italy. The farm in commits the Company to fund 30% of the Elsa-2 appraisal well up to a 
maximum of US$11.5 million to earn a 15% working interest in the permit. Thereafter, the Company will fund all future costs relating 
to the well and the permit in proportion to its participating interest. The Company has also agreed to pay Petroceltic fifteen per cent 
(15%) of the back costs in relation to the well up to a maximum of US$0.5 million.

Petroceltic were due to spud the Elsa-2 well prior to 31 October 2010, but the Italian government passed a decree, following the 
blowout of the Macondo well in the U.S., that prevented the drilling in the Italian seas within 5 nautical miles of the coastline and 
within 12 nautical miles around the perimeter of protected Marine Parks. In view of this, Petroceltic suspended the permit until 
such time as the Ministry of Environment issues a decree of environmental compatibility for the drilling programme. The project in 
currently on hold and Orca is not liable to any costs associated with the drilling of Elsa-2 until a rig contract is signed. 

In December 2010, the Company announced a farm in to Northern Petroleum (UK) Limited’s Longastrino Block in the Po Valley Basin. 
Under the terms of the farm in, Orca will pay 100% of the costs of the La Tosca well up to a cap of approximately €4.3 million and 70% 
of the costs thereafter. If the well is tested and completed, Orca will earn an additional 5% (taking it to 75%) by paying 100% of the 
testing costs up to €1.3 million and 75% thereafter. The Company will also pay back past costs of €0.6 million. 

Songo Songo

In Q4 2010 the Company reduced the deliverability from its Songo Songo wells following receipt of results of a corrosion logging 
survey. Orca suspended production from SS-5, reduced flow rates from the other wells and expedited the tie in of the new onshore 
well SS10. As of today, the Company can produce approximately 113 MMcfd though this is currently restricted by the infrastructure 
capacity to 90 MMcfd. 

The corrosion model forecasts that the offshore well, SS-9 currently producing in the region of 30 MMcfd, will need to be taken out 
of production at the end of Q1 2012, subject to re-logging of the well in September 2011 to confirm its condition.  Accordingly, the 
Company has determined that in 2011, subject to TPDC approval and rig availability a new onshore deviated well should be drilled 
followed by an enhancement of the SS-10 well. It is anticipated that the capital cost of this programme will be in the region of US$35 
million and could increase deliverability from the field to 172 MMcfd by the time SS-9 is taken out of production.   

Songo Songo West

The Company is currently planning to drill one well on the Songo Songo west at a cost of US$25 million. It is currently estimated 
that the well will be spud in the second quarter of 2012.  Assuming the well is a success a substantial well test program will be 
undertaken before the well is suspended at the mudline as a potential future producer. 

Cost Sharing Agreement

In January 2011, the Company signed a cost sharing agreement with Songas, whereby the Company will fund 50% of the costs of 
getting the Songas Expansion Project (installation of gas processing capacity and downstream compression to increase the infra-
structure capacity to 140 MMcfd) to financial close. In the event that the costs are approved by the regulator, EwURA, the funds will 
be repaid by Songas at financial close. If the project is not successful, the costs will be recoverable by the Company under the terms 
of the PSA with TPDC. 

Funding

The Company’s 2011 work programme principally includes the drilling of the new onshore deviated well, SS-A, the enhancement of 
SS-10, the drilling of La Tosca in the Po Valley and the purchase of long lead items for SSw. whilst there should be sufficient funds to 
undertake this work programme in 2011 through the use of existing cash balances and self generated cash flows, the Company will 
look to secure a financing facility and/or raise new equity to cover the 2012 exploration activity. 

70 O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .

2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

20

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS EMOLUMENTS

USD’000 EXCEPT FOR NUMBER OF STOCK OPTIONS

Year

Base

Bonus

Total

Stock options

Stock  
appreciation 
rights

Outstanding

Directors

w. David Lyons (i)
Chairman and CEO 

Peter R. Clutterbuck (i)
Deputy Chairman

Nigel A. Friend (i)
Chief Financial Officer

James Smith (i)
Vice President Exploration

Pierre Raillard
Vice President Operations

David w. Ross
Non Executive Director

John Patterson (i)
Non Executive Director

Michael Howard (i)
Non Executive Director

Robert wigley (i)
Non Executive Director

Beer Van Straten (i)
Non Executive Director

2010
2009

2010
2009

2010
2009

2010
2009

2010
2009

2010
2009

2010
2009

2010
2009

2010
2009

2010
2009

132
15

357
360

273
275

406
253

381
397

–
–

71
63

43
–

48
–

195
–

–
– 

–
118

50
80

50
73

–
76

–
–

–
–

–
–

–
–

–
–

132
15

357
478

323
355

456
326

381
473

–
–

71
63

43
–

48
–

195
–

1,000,000
1,000,000

250,000
 490,000 

265,000
 265,000 

300,000
 300,000

325,000
325,000 

75,000
75,000

125,000 
125,000

–
–

–
–

–
–

 –
–

 –
–

90,000 
90,000

300,000
300,000

– 
–

–
–

–
–

75,000
–

75,000
–

75,000
–

 (i) The ‘Base compensation’ for W.D. Lyons, P.R. Clutterbuck, N. Friend, J. Smith, J. Patterson, M. Howard, R. Wigley and B.V. Straten are in 
respect of consultancy fees.

 
 
 
 
 
 
LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS
CORPORATE INFORMATION

O R C A   E X P L O R AT I O N   G R O U P   I N C .
2 0 1 0   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

71

Board of Directors

w. David Lyons 
Chairman and 
Chief Executive Officer 
winchester 
United Kingdom

John Patterson 
Non-Executive Director 
Nanoose Bay 
Canada

Lord Howard of Lympne 
Non-Executive Director 
London 
United Kingdom

Robert wigley 
Non-Executive Director 
waterlooville, Hampshire 
United Kingdom

Beer van Straten 
Non-Executive Director 
Molkerum 
Netherlands

David Ross 
Non-Executive Director 
Calgary 
Canada

Peter R. Clutterbuck 
Non-Executive Director 
Haslemere 
United Kingdom

Operating Office

Registered Office

Investor Relations

Orca Exploration  
Group Inc. 
Barclays House, 5th Floor 
Ohio Street, P.O. Box 80139 
Dar es Salaam 
Tanzania 
Tel: + 255 22 2138737  
Fax: + 255 22 2138938

Orca Exploration  
Group Inc. 
P.O. Box 3152 
Road Town 
Tortola 
British Virgin Islands

Nigel A. Friend 
Chief Financial Officer 
Tel: + 255 22 2138737  
nfriend@orcaexploration.com 
www.orcaexploration.com

International Subsidiaries

PanAfrican Energy  
Tanzania Limited 
Barclays House, 5th Floor 
Ohio Street, P.O. Box 80139 
Dar es Salaam 
Tanzania 
Tel: + 255 22 2138737  
Fax: + 255 22 2138938

PAE PanAfrican 
Energy Corporation 
1st Floor 
Cnr St George/Chazal Streets 
Port Louis 
Mauritius 
Tel: + 230 207 8888 
Fax: + 230 207 8833

Orca Exploration Group Inc 
Orca Exploration Italy Inc 
Orca Exploration Italy Onshore Inc 
P.O. Box 3152, 
Road Town 
Tortola 
British Virgin Islands

Engineering  
Consultants

Auditors

Lawyers

Transfer Agent

McDaniel & Associates  
Calgary, Canada

KPMG LLP 
Calgary, Canada

Burnet, Duckworth  
& Palmer LLP 
Calgary, Canada

CIBC Mellon  
Trust Company 
Toronto & Montreal, Canada

www.orcaexploration.com