Quarterlytics / Energy / Oil & Gas Integrated / PetroChina Company Limited / FY2012 Annual Report

PetroChina Company Limited
Annual Report 2012

PTR · LSE Energy
Claim this profile
Ticker PTR
Exchange LSE
Sector Energy
Industry Oil & Gas Integrated
Employees 51-200
← All annual reports
FY2012 Annual Report · PetroChina Company Limited
Loading PDF…
P

e

t

r

o

N

e

f

t

R

e

s

o

u

r

c

e

s

p

l

c

A

n

n

u

a

l

R

e

p

o

r

t

2

0

1

2

PetroNeft Resources plc  
Annual Report 2012

Годовой Отчет 2012

 
 
 
 
 
PetroNeft Resources plc is an  
international oil and gas exploration 
and production company, focused 
on Russia. The Company’s shares 
are listed on the London AIM and 
Dublin ESM Markets.

Highlights

Operational Highlights

Financial Highlights

2,204 bopd

Average production. 

131 mmbbls

Group 2P reserves. 

US$34.6m

Revenue US$34.6 million. 
Gross Profit US$4.4 million.

US$14.27m

Capital Expenditure of  
US$14.27 million.

Second Licence 61 oil field 
brought into production  
at Arbuzovskoye.

US$15.0m

New US$15 million loan facility  
with Arawak Energy – May 2012.

Six new production wells  
and a water injection well 
drilled at Arbuzovskoye.

US$17.2m

Share placing of US$17.2 million –
October 2012.

Comprehensive Seismic  
and Well reinterpretation on 
Licence 61 shows additional 
potential at Tungolskoye, 
Sibkrayevskoye, Emtorskaya, 
and Traverskaya.

US$8.5m

Debt to Macquarie Bank decreased 
by US$8.5 million – November 2012.

US$28.0m

Net debt at US$28.0 million.

Oil storage facility at Lineynoye.

Overview

02  Producing Oil from a Solid Asset Base
04  Licence 61
06  Licence 67
07  Our Reserves

Review  
of the Year

08  Chairman’s Statement
10  Chief Executive Officer’s Report
14  Health, Safety and Environmental Report
15  Financial Review
17  Principal Risks and Uncertainties

Governance

18  Board of Directors
20  Directors’ Report
24 

Independent Auditor’s Report

Financial 
Statements

25  Consolidated Income Statement
25  Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
26  Consolidated Balance Sheet
27  Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
28  Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
29  Company Balance Sheet
30  Company Statement of Changes in Equity
31  Company Cash Flow Statement
32  Notes to the Financial Statements
59  Notice of Annual General Meeting
60  Glossary
IBC  Group Information

Forward Looking Statements
This report contains forward- 
looking statements. These 
statements relate to the Group’s 
future prospects, developments  
and business strategies. Forward-
looking statements are identified  
by their use of terms and phrases 
such as ‘believe’, ‘could’, ‘envisage’, 
‘potential’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’,  
‘may’, ‘will’ or the negative of  
those, variations or comparable 
expressions, including references 
to assumptions.

The forward-looking statements  
in this report are based on current 
expectations and are subject to risks 
and uncertainties that could cause 
actual results to differ materially 
from those expressed or implied  
by those statements. These 
forward-looking statements  
speak only as at the date of  
these financial statements.

02

Producing Oil  
from a Solid  
Asset Base

History 
The Group has its origins in PetroNeft LLC,  
a Texas-based company, which was established  
in 2003 as an oil and gas investment and  
consultancy company focused principally  
on the Russian market. 

In May 2005, PetroNeft LLC acquired a Russian 
company, Stimul-T, which had acquired a 100%  
interest in Licence 61 following a competitive auction 
process in the November 2004 Tomsk Licence  
Auction. PetroNeft Resources plc was incorporated  
on 15 September 2005 and was admitted to  
the London AIM and Dublin ESM Markets in  
September 2006.

Strategy 
The Group’s strategy is to develop an oil  
exploration, development and production business  
in Russia, using the combined skills, experience and  
resources of the Group’s Directors and employees. 

In the short-term this is to be achieved through a  
focus on growth of production and cash flows at  
Licence 61 and a rigorous appraisal and exploration 
programme on Licences 61 and 67, by seeking  
to bring the existing discoveries into production as  
rapidly as possible and by exploiting the additional 
opportunities already identified and summarised  
in the Ryder Scott Report.

In addition to operations on Licences 61 and 67,  
the Company continues to evaluate new projects  
for acquisition. The objective is to acquire new Core 
Exploration and Production Areas that satisfy the  
Group’s strict technical and legal evaluation criteria.  
While the main focus for new acquisitions will be the 
West Siberian Basin, the Company will also consider 
projects in other areas within the Russian Federation.

Our Assets

The main assets of the Company 
are a 100% interest in a 4,991 km2 
oil and gas licence (Licence 61)  
in the Tomsk Oblast in Russia  
and a 50% operating interest in  
a 2,447 km2 oil and gas licence 
(Licence 67) also located in the 
Tomsk Oblast. Both licences are 
located in the prolific Western 
Siberian Oil and Gas Basin.

Russia

Moscow

Tomsk

Scale

0

1,000 km

Licence 61
Licence 61 contains seven known oil fields: 
Lineynoye, Arbuzovskoye, Sibkrayevskoye, 
Tungolskoye, West Lineynoye, Kondrashevskoye 
and North Varyakhskaya and over 25 
exploration prospects and leads.

“The near-term objective is to bring
  the existing discovered fields into
  production utilising the substantial
  infrastructure already in place.”

Page More information see page 04

 PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201203

Tomsk Oblast

Licence 67 
50%

Licence 61 
100%

Key:

  PetroNeft
  Rosneft
  Gazprom
  Gazpromneft
  ONGC (Imperial Energy)
  Other
  Oil Pipeline
  Gas Pipeline
  All-weather Road

Scale

Tomsk

Scale

0

100 km

Licence 67
Licence 67 contains the 
Cheremshanskoye and Ledovoye 
oil fields and numerous prospects 
and leads.

Scale

0

12 km

Page More information see page 06

Scale

0

20 km

 PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201204

Licence 61
As well as seven discovered oil fields in Licence 61 there  
are over 25 additional prospects and leads to be explored.

21

20

9

8

1

5

7

19

22

23

10

3

4

6

11

12

13

2

14

15

18

16

17

24

Scale

0

12 km

  Oil field
  Prospect ready for drilling
  Prospect identified
  Potential prospects
  Pipeline

7 Oil Fields
01  Lineynoye oil field 
02  Tungolskoye oil field
03  West Lineynoye oil field
05  Kondrashevskoye oil field
07  Arbuzovskoye oil field 
08  North Varyakhskoye
20  Sibkrayevskoye

 Tungolskoye West Lobe and North (2)

 West Korchegskaya (Lower Jurassic)

23 Prospects
02 
04  Lineynoye Lower
06 
08  Upper Varyakhskaya
09  Emtorskaya East
10  Emtorskaya Crown
11  Sigayevskaya 
12  Sigayevskaya East
13  Kulikovskaya Group (2)
14  Kusinskiy Group (2)
15  Tuganskaya Group (3)
16  Kirillovskaya (4)
17  North Balkinskaya 
18  Traverskaya
19  Tungolskoye East

4 Potential Prospects/Leads
21  Emtorskaya North
22  Sibkrayevskaya East
23  Sobachya 
24  West Balkinskaya

Structure Map on Base Bazhenov Horizon

Arbuzovskoye Field Development
Second oil field brought to year-round production.

Arbuzovskoye Pad Facilities are a template for future field development and tie-back to Lineynoye CPF.

  Lineynoye Central Processing Facility

•	 Capacity – 14,800 bfpd 
•	 Storage Capacity – 37,740 bbls
•	 Gas Power Generation – 3.350 MW
•	 Diesel Backup Power Generation – 1.0 MW
•	 Export Pipeline Capacity – 20,000 bopd
 – Length 60 km – Diameter 273 mm

•	 Lineynoye Camp – up to 60 people

Scale

0

2 km

L-3

L-8

L-9

  Arbuzovskoye Pad 1 Facilities

A-1
•	 Well Test Separator Module
•	 Water Injection Manifold Module
•	 Transformer Station
•	 ESP Control Modules
•	 Pipeline to Lineynoye

 – Length 10 km – Diameter 273 mm

•	 Camp – up to 16 people

  Pipeline
  Utility line

Emtorskaya 
High

L-5

L-7

212
211

Lineynoye  
Oil Field

L-1

L-4

L-6

K-2

K-2s

K-1

NV-1

Arbuzovskoye  
Oil Field

A-1

A-2

Structure Map on Base Bazhenov Horizon

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201205

Sibkrayevskoye oil field development planning
Largest ever discovery by PetroNeft.

Major discovery expected on-stream by 2015 utilising Arbuzovskoye tie-back template.

Sibkrayevskoye

S-371

Proposed S-373

S-372

S-370

History
•	 50 km2 structure in the Northeast of the licence
•	 Three wells were drilled on the field to date
•	 S-370 (1972) reinterpreted in 2008 identified 
potential missed pay in the Upper Jurassic  
J1 interval

•	 S-371 drilled off structure
•	 S-372 (2011) twinned well S-370 was drilled by 
PetroNeft – logs confirm >10m of net pay and 
inflow of 170 bopd achieved in open hole flow test

PetroNeft is planning:
•	 Well S-373 with rig currently stocked and  

on location

•	 Additional 2D Seismic acquisition  

for 2013/14 

•	 Development decision in 2014
•	 Drill Pad 1 and install pipeline and utility line  

to CPF in 2015 

•	 Pilot Production Licence anticipated for 2015 

– leading to full field development upon success

•	 Will be tied back to Lineynoye CPF
•	 Water injection for pressure maintenance

Scale

0

E-300

6 km

Proposed E-304

Emtorskaya 
High

E-303

N. Varyakhskoye

L-5

L-7

212

NV-1

Lineynoye

L-1

Arbuzovskoye

L-6

L-4

L-2

A-1

K-2

K-2s

Kondrashevskoye

K-1

Structure Map on Base Bazhenov Horizon

Emtorskaya Prospect
Large prospect de-risked by Lineynoye drilling.

•	 As a result of Lineynoye Pad 1 and  

Pad 2 drilling the oil-water-contact was 
determined to be below the previously 
interpreted spill point and that Lineynoye 
and Emtorskaya are one continuous oil 
field at the J1-1 interval. Emtorskaya is 
both larger in area and higher structurally 
than Lineynoye

•	 Emtorskaya wells 300 and 303 were 

reinterpreted and oil was confirmed in  
the J1-1 interval and potentially in the 
J1-2 interval

•	 The reserves associated with this play 

could be large, > 40 million bbls for just 
the J1-1; however, the J1-1 is usually only 
around 2 metres in thickness and it is 
difficult to develop on its own. Further 
delineation will be required to confirm 
those areas where a thicker J1-2 
sandstone is present below the  
J1-1 interval

•	 Emtorskaya well 304 located on the  

crest of the high is proposed. This well  
is about 65 m higher than the Lineynoye 
field at the J1-1 level

Scale

0

2 km

E-300

Emtorskaya 
High

E-304

E-303

L-3

L-8

L-9

L-7

L-5

212

211

Lineynoye  
Oil Field

L-4

L-6

L-1

L-2

NV-1

Arbuzovskoye  
Oil Field

A-1

Structure Map on Base Bazhenov Horizon

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201206

Licence 67
Successful two well programme completed in 2012.

2011/2012 Work 
Programme
In 2011/2012 two wells were drilled,  
one at the Cheremshanskaya prospect  
and a second at the Ledovoye oil field. 

These wells resulted in the discovery  
of a new oil field at Cheremshanskoye 
(December 2011) and the confirmation of 
the Upper Jurassic J1-3 oil pool at Ledovoye 
field with a potential new oil pool discovery 
in the lower Cretaceous (February 2012).  
It is important to note that both wells were 
drilled parallel to existing wells in order to 
optimise the coring and testing of potential 
by-passed pay zones identified in the vintage 
wells drilled in 1962 and 1973 respectively.

Cheremshanskoye
The Cheremshanskaya No. 3 well discovered 
three separate oil pools and established the 
Cheremshanskoye oil field. These intervals 
were the J14, the J1-3 and the J1-1 + 
Bazhenov and there were successful flow 
tests from each interval. The area of the 
field is very large encompassing almost  
40 km2 and further delineation and pilot 
testing will be required to assess the  
true size of the field and ultimate 
development plan.

There are large producing fields nearby  
with similar characteristics and the strong 
indications are that Cheremshanskoye will 
prove to be a substantial discovery upon 
further delineation. 

Ledovoye
The Ledovaya No. 2a well was spudded in 
December 2011 in order to target oil in both 
the Lower Cretaceous and Upper Jurassic 
intervals with oil discovered in both zones. 
The well achieved stabilised natural oil flow 
of 52 bopd from the Upper Jurassic interval 
and the core and log data also indicate that 
the well has discovered a new oil pool in  
the secondary objective Lower Cretaceous 
interval containing 4.5m of potential  
oil pay.

The Lower Cretaceous zone will eventually 
need to be flow tested behind casing for 
confirmation. We are pleased with the result 
given that the same interval is productive at 
the neighbouring Stolbovoye field which is 
located 24 km to the south of Ledovoye.

What next?
The next step at Licence 67 is likely to  
be the acquisition of additional 2D seismic.  
A plan to acquire 750 km of new 2D  
seismic to be acquired, funds permitting,  
in early 2014.

Exploration drilling rig at Ledovoye.

15

2

6

7

5

9

8

10

1

14

11

13

4

3

12

Drilled Structures
01  Cheremshanskoye oil field 
02  Ledovoye oil field 
03  Sklonovaya  
04  North Pionerskaya 
05  Bolotninskaya 

Identified Prospects and Leads
06  Levo-Ilyakskaya  
07  Syglynigaiskaya  
08  Grushevaya 
09  Grushevaya Stratigraphic trap 
10  Malostolbovaya 
11  Nizhenolomovaya Terrasa Gp.  
12  Baikalskaya  
13  Malocheremshanskaya  
14  East Chermshanskaya  
15  East Ledovoye

   Drilled Structure with  

oil show or test

   Drilled Structure with  
no oil shows reported
   Undrilled Structure or 

Stratigraphic Trap
 Excluded area with  
producing oil fields

Scale

0

20 km

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 2012 
 
Our Reserves
Year-round production commenced in 2010. Since acquiring Licence 61 in 2005,  
Group proved and probable reserves have grown by 372% to 131 mmbbls.

07

2P Reserve Growth 
Licences 61 and 67

 > 2P reserves are as estimated  

by Ryder Scott, Petroleum Consultants, 
each year and conform to the 
definitions approved by the Society  
of Petroleum Engineers (‘SPE’) 
Petroleum Resources Management 
System (‘PRMS’) rules.

 > Ryder Scott reserves for Licence 61 
were updated as at 1 April 2013.

131m

131 million barrels of 2P reserves

Million barrels

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

27.89

9.34
18.55

33.34

15.61

17.93

Ledovoye
North Varyakhskoye 
Sibkrayevskoye
Arbuzovskoye
Kondrashevskoye
West Lineynoye
Lineynoye
Tungolskoye

96.93

14.02

13.24

8.12
23.32

70.00

8.11
23.30

23.82

22.74

60.62

28.82

16.32

131.70

131.07

14.02
1.93
49.83

14.02
1.95
53.03

13.29

4.96
32.10

6.54
4.98
30.81

19.74

15.48

14.77

15.48

15.57

0

2005

2006

2007

2008/09

2010

2011

2012

3P Reserves and Exploration Resources (P4) Growth 
Licences 61 and 67

 > 3P reserves are as estimated by 

Ryder Scott, Petroleum Consultants, 
and conform to the definitions 
approved by the Society of 
Petroleum Engineers (‘SPE’) 
Petroleum Resources Management 
System (‘PRMS’) rules.

 > All Exploration Resources (P4)  
are based on structures with 
unequivocal four-way dip closure  
at the reservoir horizon as identified 
by 2D seismic data.

Million barrels

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

640.69

156.17

100.41

384.11

531.3

156.17

63.06

312.07

324.21

350.00

183.62

2005

2006

2007

2008/09

2010-12

  Cretaceous
  Middle/Lower Jurassic
  Upper Jurassic

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201208

Chairman’s 
Statement
We are producing from less than 15% of our reserve  
base and the substantial investment in infrastructure  
made in recent years leaves us well placed to deliver 
significant and profitable growth once the necessary 
funding is available.

David Golder
Non-Executive Chairman

A Challenging Year
2012 was a difficult year for the Group. 
Exploration discoveries and operational 
successes like the pressure maintenance 
programme at Pad 1 in the Lineynoye oil field 
and the development of our second producing 
field at Arbuzovskoye were unable to fully 
compensate for the poor results from the 
previous year’s drilling on Pad 2 at Lineynoye. 
As a result production and cash flows were 
lower than expected causing issues with  
our Macquarie debt facility that impeded  
our ability to fund drilling and workover 
programmes at the pace required to  
offset the production shortfall. 

Operations
The Pad 1 wells which were drilled in  
2010 have responded well to the pressure 
maintenance programme that we initiated  
in June 2011 and production here is stable 
with minimal decline. In the first quarter  
of 2012 we constructed a ten kilometre 
pipeline and utility line to connect the 
Arbuzovskoye oil field to the central 
processing facilities at Lineynoye. The 
Arbuzovskoye No. 1 exploration well  
was brought into production through the 
pipeline in May 2012 and production drilling 
commenced in August 2012 with good 
results achieved in the wells drilled to date.

The Chief Executive Officer’s report details 
much of the innovative work that has been 
done to move forward with the development 
at Arbuzovskoye and understand the problem 
at Pad 2 so that it could be remedied and 
avoided in the future. It has been determined 
that there was a deterioration in rock quality 
and oil saturation as we got lower structurally 
in the Pad 2 area, which cannot be effectively 
remediated. In our other discovered fields we 
should be able to avoid this issue as most of 
our reserves are located higher structurally 
than the existing wells that have been  
tested successfully. 

Reserves 
In early 2012 the Company successfully 
completed the last exploration well on  
Licence 67 from the 2011 programme at the 
Ledovoye oil field where two oil pools were 
encountered. At Licence 61 we carried out a 
project to reinterpret the seismic data in the 
central to northern end of the licence area 

1

1. Arbuzovskoye
Production drilling rig at Arbuzovskoye.

2. Lineynoye Processing Facility
Daily meeting of technical personnel  
at Lineynoye Central Processing Facility.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201209

PetroNeft is fortunate to have a highly 
experienced and dedicated team whose 
knowledge and experience have enabled  
us to meet the array of challenges facing  
the Group in recent years. I am confident 
that this team will enable PetroNeft to 
provide shareholders with better returns  
in the future.

While 2012 was a challenging year 
operationally and in the overall market, 
shareholders should not lose sight of the 
strong Proved and Probable reserve base. 
Many lessons have been learned and, along 
with the results of new technical studies,  
we have further improved our knowledge 
and understanding of our extensive licence 
acreage. We are producing from less than 
15% of our reserve base and the substantial 
investment in infrastructure made in recent 
years leaves us well placed to deliver 
significant and profitable growth once  
the necessary funding is available. 

Finally, I know that I speak for all the 
Directors, management and staff of the 
Group in giving sincere thanks to our 
shareholders, both old and new, for your 
continued support through the past year.

David Golder
Non-Executive Chairman

using the most up to date well information 
and more modern software since the last 
remapping in 2007. It shows that the 
southern end of Arbuzovskoye appears  
to be slightly smaller than previously 
interpreted and that both Tungolskoye  
and Sibkrayevskoye appear to be larger  
than previously interpreted.

2

Independent reserve auditor Ryder Scott  
has completed an assessment of PetroNeft’s 
petroleum reserves and resources on Licence 
61 as at 1 April 2013. Total Proved and 
Probable (2P) reserves stand at 117 million 
barrels, essentially unchanged from the 
previous assessment. This, combined with the 
portfolio of undrilled but seismically-defined 
structures in the north and south of Licence 
61, confirms the Group’s strong reserve base.

Ryder Scott did not update the reserves in 
Licence 67 as further work is required to 
establish the full potential of this Licence. 
Studies are now underway to better define 
the three new oil pools discovered at 
Cheremshanskoye and two oil pools  
at Ledovoye. 

Finance
In May 2012, PetroNeft signed a three-year 
loan agreement with Arawak Energy Russia 
B.V. (‘Arawak’) for US$15 million. The loan 
is secured on PetroNeft’s 50% interest in 
Licence 67 and will be repayable in one 
lump sum at the end of the three-year loan 
period in May 2015. The interest payable 
under the loan is LIBOR plus 6%, a 
competitive rate given present market 
conditions. Under the terms of the loan 
PetroNeft also granted Arawak 4,000,000 
warrants over shares at a strike price of 
US$0.1345 per share. 

In October 2012 we secured additional equity 
funding from shareholders of US$17.2 million 
including some substantial new shareholders. 
We also agreed to amend the Company’s 
existing borrowing base loan facility with 
Macquarie Bank Limited. The amendments  
to the facility included the repayment of 
US$7.5 million from the proceeds of the 
equity funding, the repayment of a further 
US$9.1 million in 14 monthly instalments 
(US$650,000 per month) beginning on  
31 March 2013 and the conversion of  
US$1 million of debt into equity in the 
Company at the placing price of 5 pence  
per share. The monthly repayments have  
now commenced and are being made  
from our own resources.

The commencement of monthly repayments 
to Macquarie does limit the Group’s 
operational and financial flexibility. Therefore 
we have been seeking to strengthen the 
Group’s position by either bringing in a 
partner to help fully develop and explore 
Licence 61 or arranging a debt facility more 
suited to our needs over the coming years. 
Discussions on both fronts are continuing  
at pace and I hope that we can close on  
one or other of these options in the coming 
months. The financial review and Note 2  
to the consolidated financial statements 
discuss the funding situation of the Group  
in more detail.

Business Development
The principal near-term objective of the 
Group remains the development of the 
northern oil fields on Licence 61 leveraging 
the infrastructure put in place in recent 
years. However, we have not lost sight of 
our longer-term objective of securing assets 
outside of Licence 61 to provide growth for 
the future.

The acquisition of Licence 67 (Ledovy) in 
January 2010 was a first step in this growth. 
Licence 67 was acquired under the August 
2008 Area of Mutual Interest (‘AMI’) with 
Arawak where they have exercised their right 
to acquire 50% of the Licence. Licence 67 
has now provided collateral in the new 
US$15 million debt financing with Arawak. 
Also, PetroNeft entered into a new three-year 
AMI with Arawak in May 2012. Under the 
agreement the two companies will continue 
to jointly pursue new opportunities in 
Western Siberia, building on the success  
of the previous AMI agreement. 

Corporate Development
In recent years we have transitioned from  
an exploration company to an exploration  
and production company. The management 
structure in Tomsk has been revised over  
the past couple of years with most new 
positions being filled by excellent candidates 
from within our own organisation. We are 
operating the new Arbuzovskoye oil field 
without having expanded our workforce.  
The Group headcount now stands at  
170 employees. 

I would like to thank all of our employees for 
their dedication and their hard work in 2012.

Summary
With the Arbuzovskoye, Sibkrayevskoye and 
Tungolskoye oil fields the Group can generate 
significant cash in the coming years utilising 
the infrastructure already in place as well as 
through the addition of yet to be discovered 
reserves from our portfolio of exploration 
prospects. This is an attractive proposition for 
a new partner or financier with a long-term 
view and should enable PetroNeft to expand 
its oil reserve base both through exploration 
and delineation in current licence areas and 
through business development opportunities 
in Tomsk and further afield in Russia.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201210

Chief Executive  
Officer’s Report
We are now focused on developing Arbuzovskoye and 
seeking to build on our existing production profile and 
positive cash flows as well as obtaining funding through 
either a farmout or debt refinancing in order to allow us  
to fully realise the Groups potential. Licence 61 has a  
large amount of discovered reserves that have not yet  
been brought into production and already has the 
infrastructure in place to handle this production.

Dennis Francis
Chief Executive Officer

General
2012 was a tough year for the Group.  
While we had good success in bringing  
the Arbuzovskoye oil field into production, 
the poor results from Pad 2 at Lineynoye led 
to financial pressures that meant we could 
not progress at the speed we would have 
wished. Arbuzovskoye is the second field  
we have brought into year-round production 
which included the construction of tie-in 
infrastructure and drilling of new production 
wells. We are happy with the results at 
Arbuzovskoye to date and at the way the 
Lineynoye Pad 1 wells are performing as a 
result of good well management and water 
flood performance. We produced 806,761 
barrels of oil (2011: 748,079 barrels)  
in the year or an average of 2,204 bopd 
(2011: 2,050 bopd). At Licence 67  
we completed the two well exploration 
programme early in 2012 and this  
licence shows promise for the future.

Licence 61 Highlights
•	 Construction of a 10 km pipeline and 

utilities line from Lineynoye to 
Arbuzovskoye.

•	 Drilling of new production wells at 

Arbuzovskoye.

•	 Extensive seismic re-interpretation project 
for central and northern area of licence.

Licence 67 Highlights
•	 In February 2012 oil was confirmed in 
the primary Upper Jurassic objective at 
Ledovoye oil field along with a potential 
new oil pool in the secondary Lower 
Cretaceous interval.

Licence 61 (Tungolsky)
Licence 61 – Lineynoye Development
The wells at Pad 1 at Lineynoye have 
performed well during 2012 and early  
2013 and have shown good response to the 
water injection and pressure maintenance 
programme. Our team in Tomsk, including 
our in-house workover crew, have worked 
well to keep wells online and to intervene 
where necessary to manage pump settings, 
replace pumps and in some cases carry  
out acid washes on both production and 
injection wells to improve or maintain 
production. We have seen little decline  
here over the last 12 months.

1

1. Oil Storage
Almost 40,000 barrels of oil storage  
in place at Lineynoye Central  
Processing Facility.

2. Oil Measurement
Well test separator conducts daily testing 
of oil wells and is part of the standard kit 
at each production drilling pad.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201211

2

Unfortunately the results from the Pad 2 
wells have been very disappointing. The initial 
response from the fracture stimulation carried 
out in late 2011 was positive and the field 
peaked at 3,000 bopd in December 2011; 
however, production from Pad 2 wells 
decreased rapidly and the water cut was very 
high at over 80% in many cases compared to 
less than 15% at the Pad 1 wells after more 
than two years of production.

As the Pad 2 wells did not perform nearly  
as well as those on Pad 1, we commenced  
a number of studies on the Pad 2 wells, 
including a field wide pressure transient test 
of individual wells in order to understand the 
difference in results. The pressure transient 
tests did not indicate that the issue was 
caused by an unusual pressure decline  
in the field. 

All of the Pad 2 wells were lower on the 
structure than the Pad 1 wells, the reservoir 
section was closer to the oil-water-contact 
and the oil saturation in the wells was lower. 
This resulted in higher water cuts in the wells 
than expected, in part due to the lower oil 
saturations, and the combination of relative 
permeability and fractional flow effects in the 
reservoir. Core analysis that had been carried 
out on exploration/delineation wells had 
indicated that the lower oil saturations that 
we encountered at Pad 2 wells should not 
have been an issue and that oil should still 
have dominated the flow. This clearly hasn’t 
been the case and it is likely because of the 
poorer rock properties in Pad 2 as compared 
to Pad 1. These problems can be avoided in 
the future by drilling higher on the structures 
and avoiding potential oil and water zones. 
More extensive testing and coring of the 
production wells will also be carried out  
in the future. 

The 2011 drilling results confirmed that the 
Lineynoye and West Lineynoye structures  
are one oil field. In order to fully assess the 
potential and determine the timing of future 
development we plan to drill an L-9 well in 
the western end of the Lineynoye field in 
2013, funds permitting.

Licence 61 – Arbuzovskoye Development
In early 2012 we constructed a 10 km 
pipeline and utility line from the Lineynoye 
Central Processing Facilities to Arbuzovskoye 
and mobilised the drilling rig and supplies  
to drill up to ten new production wells.  
The discovery well (Arbuzovskoye No. 1) 
commenced production through the pipeline 
in May 2012 at a rate of 350 bopd. 

Drilling of new wells commenced in August 
2012 and good results were achieved 
particularly from the 101 and 102 wells 
which achieved initial rates of 310 and 540 
bopd respectively. The coring carried out at 
the 101 well indicated that the rock quality at 
Arbuzovskoye is better than that encountered 
at Lineynoye. This explains the good flow 
rates achieved despite the fact that no 
stimulation has yet been carried out at 
Arbuzovskoye. To date we have drilled a  
total of seven wells at Arbuzovskoye including 
the original discovery well. We also drilled  
a water source well in early 2013. In April 
2013 we converted one oil production well 
into a water injection well as we had started 

to see some normal pressure decline in the 
field and wanted to arrest/slow that decline 
as soon as possible. It will take a number  
of months to see the benefit of the water 
injection at which stage we will be in a better 
position to select the next well locations.

It is likely we will drill at least three more 
wells from Pad 1 at Arbuzovskoye including 
a long reach well to the south that will seek 
to test that area before committing to a full 
drilling pad in the south. 

The Arbuzovskoye development was the first 
outlying field to be developed and tied back 
to the Lineynoye Central Processing Facilities. 
It will act as a design template for future 
developments such as Sibkrayevskoye and 
Tungolskoye which will be tied back to the 
Central Processing Facility which will act as a 
hub for processing oil produced from oil fields 
in the northern end of the licence. Pipeline 
and utility lines were installed at a cost of 
about US$230,000 per kilometre and the 
construction of the pad and the associated 
accommodation and facilities cost about 
US$1 million. Based on this model future 
developments can be simple and cost 
effective with minimal infrastructure costs 
because of the substantial infrastructure 
already in place.

Licence 61 – Exploration and Delineation
In 2012 we carried out a comprehensive 
study to update the mapping in the northern 
and central parts of Licence 61. The study, 
carried out with Tomsk Geophysical Company, 
reprocessed all seismic data from the base 
raw data and tied it to the well log data  
from all wells drilled in the area since the 
previous comprehensive remapping in 2007. 
Some of the well logs from wells drilled in  
the Soviet-era were also reprocessed and 
reanalysed. The study utilised more modern 
software and techniques than were used in 
2007 and has significantly improved our 
understanding of the area.

Arbuzovskoye
The results of this study have led to the 
narrowing of the estimated structure in the 
southern end of the Arbuzovskoye oil field 
which will lead to fewer wells being required 
here and has impacted on the total reserve 
estimate of the Arbuzovskoye oil field.

Tungolskoye
At Tungolskoye oil field the structure appears 
larger than previously estimated and confirms 
that much of the reserves are located 
structurally higher than the previous wells 
drilled there which means that we should not 
encounter the same problems as encountered 
at Pad 2 Lineynoye. Based on this new 
information we have selected a location for a 
delineation well, Tungolskoye No. 5, which we 
would like to drill in 2014. Assuming this well 
comes in close to prognosis we could quickly 
proceed with the Tungolskoye development.

Sibkrayevskoye
The study also indicates that the 
Sibkrayevskoye oil field is larger than 
previously estimated, however, we did not 
ask Ryder Scott to take this into account  
in their new reserve update as it is our 
intention to acquire further seismic here and 
to drill a delineation well, No. 373, before 
going forward to a full development. In that 
regard there is a rig in place at the new 
Sibkrayevskoye 373 location together with 
the necessary supplies to drill the well. It is 
our intention, funding permitting, to drill this 
well later in 2013.

Emtorskaya
The 2011 drilling results indicated that the 
Lineynoye field extends further north than 
previously estimated, the Lineynoye and  
West Lineynoye fields are one connected 
structure and that the field wide oil water 
contact lies below the structural spill point 
between Lineynoye and the Emtorskaya high 
to the north. This provides further evidence 
that the field is much larger and potentially 
includes the Emtorskaya high structures to 
the north. The additional work carried out 
during 2012 included the re-interpretation  
of the two old Soviet-era wells at Emtorskaya. 
In both wells it has been interpreted that 
there is potential missed oil pay making  
this a very interesting prospect for future 
development. The crest of the Emtorskaya 
prospect is 65 metres higher than the crest 
of Pad 1 at Lineynoye so we should be able 
to avoid the issues encountered at Pad 2. We 
have selected a location for a new exploration 
well here which may be drilled in 2014 or 
2015. While we are acquiring more seismic 
data for the Sibkrayevskoye oil field we will 
also acquire some infill lines over the large 

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201212

Chief Executive 
Officer’s Report 
(continued)

1. Pumping Oil
Pump house for pumping oil through  
60 km pipeline to Kiev-Eganskoye.  
The capacity of 20,000 bopd could  
be increased simply by adding  
additional pumps.

2. Power Generation Control Station
We generate our own power with gas  
fired generators using the associated  
gas produced with our oil.

1

Emtorskaya structure. The Emtorskaya 
structure encompasses an area over  
100 km2 and is over twice as large as the 
combined Lineynoye and West Lineynoye 
structures.

Traverskaya
The study also provided new information 
about the Traverskaya prospect, located at 
the eastern border of the licence, including 
identifying a promising potential stratigraphic 
trap on the flank of the structure based on 
seismic attributes at analogous fields in the 
Tomsk region. 

Reserves Update
Independent reserve consultants Ryder Scott 
completed an assessment of PetroNeft’s 
petroleum reserves on Licence 61 as at  
1 April 2013. The total Proved and Probable 
(2P) reserves for the licence now stand at 
117.1 mmbbls a reduction of 0.5%. The net 
reduction arises from production of just over 
1 mmbbls since the last report, a reduction 
at Arbuzovskoye because of net pays in 
some wells drilled in 2012 being slightly 
thinner than expected and the narrowing  
of the potential structure to the southern  
end of Arbuzovskoye. The previous year’s 
assessment by Ryder Scott had already 
taken into account the results of Pad 2  
at Lineynoye. There were increases at 
Tungolskoye because of the potential 
structure becoming larger as a result of  
the new mapping and at Sibkrayevskoye  
as last years’ report had cut-off reserves  
at the end of the licence period in 2030. 
Because we have an automatic right to 
extend the licence, we are entitled to count 
reserves for the economic life of the field.

As a result of the new report on Licence 61, 
total Proved and Probable (2P) reserves  
net to PetroNeft have fallen by 0.5% from 
131.7 mmbbls to 131.1 mmbbls. Total 
Proved reserves (P1) have increased by 
8.5% from 20.0 mmbbls to 21.7 mmbbls.

Licence 67 (Ledovy)
Licence 67 was registered in January 2010. 
The 2010 work programme focused on the 
overall re-evaluation of all the previous data 
on the licence area with modern technology. 
Well and seismic data was reprocessed and 
the results of this evaluation were used to 

select the location of two exploration wells 
and will be used to assess where to acquire 
the 750 km of new seismic data required  
to be completed under the licence terms.

In 2011/2012 two wells were drilled,  
one at the Cheremshanskaya prospect and  
a second at the Ledovoye oil field. These 
wells resulted in the discovery of a new  
oil field at Cheremshanskoye (December 
2011) with three separate oil pools and  
the confirmation of the Upper Jurassic  
J1-3 oil pool at Ledovoye oil field with  
a potential new oil pool discovery in the  
lower Cretaceous (February 2012).

Both wells were drilled parallel to existing 
wells in order to optimise the coring and 
testing of potential by-passed pay zones 
identified in the vintage wells drilled in  
1962 and 1973 respectively.

During 2012 we have been reviewing both 
results and it is clear that in both cases 
further work is required in order to assess 
these structures. The most likely next step  
is the acquisition of some more seismic  
data particularly at Cheremshanskoye and 
we are in discussions with our partner, 
Arawak, to agree the best way forward.

Arawak Area of Mutual Interest (‘AMI’)
On 30 May 2012, PetroNeft entered into a 
new three-year AMI with Arawak Energy a 
subsidiary of Vitol, one of the world’s largest 
independent energy trading companies. 
Under the agreement the two companies will 
continue to jointly pursue new opportunities 
in Western Siberia, building on the success  
of the previous AMI agreement that ran  
for three years to August 2011. Under the 
previous AMI, Arawak opted to take a 50% 
interest in Licence 67 which was acquired  
by PetroNeft in January 2010. 

Potential Farmout of Licence 61
In order to continue the development and 
exploration of this large licence we need  
to strengthen the Group’s financial position.  
In consultation with major shareholders and 
finance providers we have concluded that  
a farmout of up to 50% of Licence 61 while 
remaining as operator could represent the 
best way to achieve this goal. In that regard 
we have contracted Evercore Partners,  
a London based financial adviser and M&A 
specialist with proven experience in Russia 
and the FSU, to run a formal process to 
seek an industry partner to join in the 
development and exploration of the licence. 
We have set up an extensive electronic data 
room and are in detailed discussions with  
a number of potential partners and hope 
these discussions will come to fruition in the 
coming months. We are also in discussions 
with a number of Russian and international 
banks with a view to re-financing the 
existing debt facilities but, assuming we  
can get the right offer, the farmout is the 
preference of the Board of Directors.

Health, Safety and Environmental
The Group is fully committed to high 
standards of Health, Safety and Environmental 
(‘HSE’) management. More details of our HSE 
activities are included in the HSE report on 
page 14.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201213

reserves that have not yet been brought into 
production and already has the infrastructure 
in place to handle this production. This is a 
key attraction for potential partners as well  
as the significant exploration upside. 

2

We have learned valuable lessons this  
past year and have taken a more deliberate 
approach with additional coring, testing and 
high grading of the production wells prior to 
fracture stimulation. We have an excellent and 
determined workforce and a good asset base. 
We are confident that we can find the right 
solution for the Company and its shareholders 
to realise the inherent value of our reserves.

Dennis Francis
Chief Executive Officer

Personnel
The Group made one important senior 
management appointment in early 2012.  
In March, Dmitry Shelkovnikov, who has 
worked with us since 2006, was appointed 
to the Group as Chief Engineer having 
previously been Chief Drilling engineer  
and Chief of Production for LLC Stimul-T. 
Dmitry has over ten years’ experience in  
the development of oil and gas fields in the 
Tomsk region. He has advanced degrees 
from Tomsk Polytechnic University in the 
drilling of oil and gas wells and the design, 
construction and operation of oil and  
gas infrastructure.

Conclusion
While we are pleased we brought a second 
oil field into production in 2012, regrettably 
this success has been overshadowed by  
the production results from Pad 2 and the 
consequent financial constraints that have 
since slowed the Group’s development. 
However, we have overcome technical 
challenges, continued to build our knowledge 
of our licences and through applying 
advanced techniques and data analysis better 
understand our oil field structures and as 
such, have better positioned ourselves to 
return the Group to growth from the many 
opportunities that lie in our licenses. 

We are now focused on developing 
Arbuzovskoye and seeking to build on our 
existing production profile and positive cash 
flows as well as obtaining funding through 
either a farmout or debt refinancing in order to 
allow us to fully realise the Groups potential. 
Licence 61 has a large amount of discovered 

Ryder Scott Estimated Reserves in Oil Fields (net to PetroNeft)

Oil Field Name

Licence 61
  Lineynoye
  Tungolskoye
  Kondrashevskoye
  Arbuzovskoye
  Sibkrayevskoye
  North Varyakhskoye

Licence 67
  Ledovoye

Total net to PetroNeft

Proved

1P mmbo
8.9
2.7
1.8
2.3
3.7
0.8

20.2

1.5

21.7

Proved  

& Probable

Proved, Probable 
& Possible

2P mmbo
30.9
19.7
5.0
6.5
53.0
1.9

3P mmbo
39.6
24.7
6.2
8.2
67.3
2.4

117.0

148.4

14.0

131.0

17.4

165.8

•	 Licence 61 as at 1 April 2013.
•	 All oil in discovered fields is in the Upper Jurassic section.
•	 Reserves were determined in accordance with the Society of Petroleum Engineers (‘SPE’) 

Petroleum Resources Management System (‘PRMS’) rules.

•	 Licence 67 will be co-developed with Arawak Energy and the reserves above reflect 

PetroNeft’s 50% share.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201214

Health,  
Safety and  
Environmental  
Report

1. Safety Sign
Safety warning sign at Lineynoye.

2. Environmentally Responsible
Part of the continual efforts to restore and 
replant at our various sites.

1

2

Licence 61 in advance of any major works. 
A similar assessment at Licence 67 was also 
completed before drilling works commenced.

Since 2007 there has been a dedicated 
full-time Environmental Engineer, Elena 
Nepriyateleva, on staff in our Tomsk office. 
Her responsibilities include:

•	 Monitoring of exploration and production 

activities.

•	 Monitoring activities of sub-contractors.
•	 Maintaining compliance with various 
environmental laws and regulations.

In 2012 the main activities from an 
environmental perspective were:

•	 Environmental and subsoil monitoring at 
Lineynoye and Arbuzovskoye oil fields.

•	 Planning and approvals for 2012 

production drilling.

•	 Planning and approvals for construction  
of 10 km pipeline and utility line from 
Lineynoye to Arbuzovskoye.

•	 Environmental and subsoil monitoring  

in Licence 67.

This included the use of an independent 
company to supervise the work of both  
our own staff and the staff of contractors 
working at our sites.

Gas Utilisation
The initial facilities design at Lineynoye 
emphasised the installation of gas piston 
power generators to utilise associated gas 
from the oil production to generate electricity 
for the camp, facilities and field needs and 
thereby minimise the flaring of associated 
gas. This has been very successful and has 
led to our operations being amongst the top 
three in the region in terms of percentage of 
gas utilisation. We continue to work towards 
a goal of close to 100% gas utilisation and 
are currently studying an option to mix 
associated gas with water for use in our 
water flood operations thereby re-injecting 
the gas back to the formation it came from.

Compliance and Inspections
The Group reports on its HSE activities to 
various statutory authorities in Russia on  
a quarterly and annual basis and is also 
subject to regular inspections by various 
bodies. A number of routine inspections 
relating to compliance with the various health, 
safety and environmental obligations took 
place in 2012 and 2011 and no significant 
issues arose from these inspections. 

The Group is fully committed to high 
standards of Health, Safety and Environmental 
(‘HSE’) management and being socially 
responsible within the communities where we 
work. There are inherent risks in the oil and 
gas industry and these are managed through 
policies and practices, which stress the need 
for individual and collective responsibility 
within our staff structure and with contractors 
that operate for the Group.

Alexey Balyasnikov, the General Director of 
Stimul-T, has primary responsibility for all 
aspects of HSE management. As well as 
reporting directly to Group CEO, Dennis 
Francis, he also attends all Board meetings 
to report to the full Board on HSE issues.

There were no lost time incidents in the year 
relating to employees of PetroNeft and no 
lost time incidents relating to the employees 
of contractors.

Health and Safety Management
The Group has a Labour Safety and 
Industrial Security Department headed  
up by Elena Morgunova. The role of the 
department is to minimise the risks to 
employees and contractors from the 
day-to-day operation of our business,  
to train all staff in safety awareness and  
to prepare contingency plans to minimise  
the potential impact of any unplanned 
incidents or events. For that purpose we:

•	 Control compliance of all employee 

operations with labour safety requirements 
and ensure that employees of the Group 
and employees of contractors are 
adequately trained in the use of  
relevant equipment.

•	 Have a medical facility and appropriate 

medical personnel at our Lineynoye base 
to deal with any issues arising and provide 
necessary healthcare.

•	 Monitor all contracts the Group enters 
into in order to ensure that contractors 
are informed of the labour safety policies 
of the Group.

•	 Carry out regular site inspections to 

ensure full compliance.

•	 Develop and deliver labour safety and 
industrial security training to Group 
employees.

•	 Maintain an Emergency Response Plan 

for the facilities of the Group.

•	 Develop and get approved by state 

authorities:
 – Regulation for control of industrial 
safety compliance at hazardous 
facilities.

 – Regulation for accident investigation  
at hazardous industrial facilities of  
the Group.

•	 Maintain a vaccination and insurance 

programme for tick-borne encephalitis,  
a disease common in the West Siberian 
environment.

Environmental Impact Management
The Board recognises that the Group’s 
activities can have a significant impact  
on the environment. As part of its 
responsibilities under Russian law, an 
environmental assessment of Licence 61 
was carried out before any drilling work 
commenced in 2007. This was to establish 
the state of the environment within  

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 2012Financial 
Review
The Group has been seeking a farm-in partner for  
Licence 61 that will help provide the financial resources  
to fully develop its portfolio of reserves and prospects.  
The Group is also in discussions with a number of  
Russian and European banks with a view to refinancing 
existing debt facilities.

Paul Dowling
Chief Financial Officer

Key Financial Metrics

Revenue
Cost of sales
Gross profit
Gross margin
Administrative expenses
Overheads
Share-based payment expense
Other foreign exchange (gain)/loss

Foreign exchange gain/(loss) on intra-Group loans
Impairment of oil and gas properties
Finance costs
Loss for the year attributable to equity holders of the Parent
Capital expenditure in the year
Net proceeds of equity share issues
Bank and cash balance at year end 

(including restricted cash)

Total debt at year end (undiscounted)

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

34,581,257  29,031,693
(30,134,453) (25,598,616)
3,433,077
12%

4,446,804 
13%

(6,313,028)
(977,030)
(90,533)

(5,848,021)
(1,108,446)
159,244

(7,380,591)

(6,797,223)

(5,114,345)
4,538,236
(5,000,000)
–
(2,501,070)
(4,216,548)
(4,566,143)  (17,913,356)
52,136,170
14,270,220
–
16,256,115

7,939,422

6,030,005

36,500,000

35,000,000

15

2012 was a difficult year from a finance point 
of view. Production was lower than expected 
which had a knock on effect to the near-term 
cash generation capability of the Group.

During the year we renegotiated the debt facility 
with Macquarie Bank Limited to arrange a firm 
amortisation schedule. Monthly repayments 
started in March 2013 and while we are making 
these payments from our own resources there  
is little room for capital expenditure now that 
these payments have commenced. We had  
a significant work programme in 2012 with  
over US$14 million of capital investment in 
production and exploration wells as well as the 
construction of a tie-in connection between 
Lineynoye and Arbuzovskoye.

Net Loss
The net loss for the year decreased to 
US$4,566,143 from US$17,913,356 in 
2011. The decrease in the net loss can  
be attributed to an improvement in gross 
margin as a result of increased production 
and oil price, an impairment of oil and gas 
properties of US$5,000,000 in 2011 and  
a foreign exchange gain of US$4,538,236 
(2011: loss of US$5,114,345) on US Dollar 
denominated loans from PetroNeft to its 
wholly owned subsidiary, Stimul-T whose 
functional currency is the Russian Rouble. 
This gain arises due to the strengthening of 
the Russian Rouble against the US Dollar in 
the last year. Administrative expenses were 
largely consistent with 2011.

Revenue, Cost of Sales and Gross Margin
Revenue from oil sales was US$34,581,257 
for the year (2011: US$29,031,693). Cost of 
sales includes depreciation of US$4,219,955 
(2011: US$3,968,704). We would expect 
the gross margin to improve in future  
periods as our facilities and field operations 
are fully staffed and can handle additional 
production from the Arbuzovskoye oil  
field under the current cost structure.  
We produced 806,761 barrels of oil  
(2011: 748,079 barrels) in the year and  
sold 812,006 barrels of oil (2011: 719,422 
barrels) achieving an average oil price of 
US$42.86 per barrel (2011: US$40.35  
per barrel). The increase in production  
and barrels sold is a result of more wells 
producing in 2012. All of our oil was sold  
on the domestic market in Russia. 

Finance Costs
Finance costs of US$4,216,548 (2011: 
US$2,501,070) relate to interest on loans, 
arrangement fees in relation to the loan 
facilities, interest paid for late payment to 
suppliers and unwinding of discount on the 
decommissioning provision. The primary 
reason for the increase is the addition of the 
new loan from Arawak during the year along 
with a higher average outstanding balance 
on the Macquarie loan. 

Finance Revenue
Finance revenue of US$77,233  
(2011: US$59,854) primarily arises  
from interest earned on bank deposits.

Taxation
The current tax charge arises on interest 
earned from bank deposits. The deferred  
tax charge arises on interest earned by 
PetroNeft on loans to its wholly owned 
subsidiary Stimul-T.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201216

Financial Review 
(continued)

of alternatives to refinance or repay its debt 
facilities and strengthen its financial position 
well in advance of that date.

In that regard the Group has been seeking  
a farm-in partner for Licence 61 that will 
provide the necessary funding to clear all 
existing debt and the financial resources to 
fully develop its portfolio of reserves and 
prospects. The Group is also in discussions 
with a number of Russian and European 
banks with a view to refinancing existing 
debt facilities. 

These circumstances represent a material 
uncertainty that may cast significant doubt 
upon the Group’s ability to continue as a 
going concern which is described in more 
detail in Note 2 to the Consolidated 
Financial Statements. 

Financial Risk Management
The Board sets the treasury policies and 
objectives of the Group, which include 
controls over the procedures used to 
manage financial risk. The Group’s activities 
expose the Group to a variety of financial 
risks including foreign currency, commodity 
price, credit, liquidity and interest rate risks. 
These financial risks are managed by the 
Group under policies approved by the  
Board. Details of the Group’s financial  
risk management policies are set out in 
detail in Note 25 to the Consolidated 
Financial Statements.

Investor Relations
During 2012, the CEO and CFO held regular 
meetings with analysts and institutional 
investors. The target for 2013 is to continue 
our programme of meetings and specifically 
to remind investors of the existing and 
potential future value of the asset portfolio.

Significant Shareholders
So far as the Directors are aware, the names 
of the persons other than the Directors who, 
directly or indirectly, are interested in 3% or 
more of the Issued Share Capital at 14 June 
2013 are as follows:

Name of Shareholder

Ordinary Shares

Percentage

Henderson 
Global 
Investors

Macquarie Bank 

Limited

Athos Limited
Ali Sobraliev
Arawak Energy 
Russia B.V.

J&E Davy

59,034,710

9.15%

42,855,060
28,201,130
23,014,273

20,457,136
19,948,034

6.65%
4.37%
3.57%

3.17%
3.09%

Paul Dowling
Chief Financial Officer

Cost Management
A number of initiatives during the year were 
undertaken to reduce and manage costs. 
While the average number of employees  
in the Group for the year was 188 this had 
reduced to 170 by year end. This has been 
achieved through a hiring embargo whereby 
department managers must first try to 
reallocate duties of a departing employee  
to other employees and can only replace a 
departing employee having demonstrated  
that this is not possible. Also, when the 
Arbuzovskoye oil field was brought into 
operation we reallocated existing employees 
from Lineynoye to operate the Arbuzovskoye 
oil field. With very few exceptions no pay 
rises have been awarded since January 2011.

Also during 2012 we renegotiated the 
contract with our supplier of electric 
submersible pumps (‘ESP’). The cost of 
renting, maintaining and repairing ESPs  
is the largest operating cost in the field  
after wages and salaries. We agreed a 
contract to essentially fix the cost of rental, 
maintenance and repair of ESPs. This 
ensures that these costs are predictable 
based on the number of wells in operation.

Capital Investment
During 2012 the capital expenditure was 
lower than 2011 as the Group concentrated 
on bringing the Arbuzovskoye field into year 
round production including:

•	 Stocking Arbuzovskoye for drilling up  

to 10 wells.

•	 Construction of a ten kilometre pipeline 

and utility line from Lineynoye to 
Arbuzovskoye.

•	 Drilling four new wells at Arbuzovskoye.
•	 Mobilising two exploration rigs and 
stocking for same at Licence 61.

In early 2013 and additional two oil 
production wells and one water source well 
were drilled at the Arbuzovskoye oil field  
and, funding permitting, the Group intends  
to drill at least three further production wells 
at Arbuzovskoye as well as two exploration/
delineation wells at Sibkrayevskoye and West 
Lineynoye and commence a programme of 
seismic acquisition at Sibkrayevskoye later  
in 2013.

Current and Future Funding of PetroNeft
In October 2012 a revised borrowing base 
was agreed with Macquarie Bank Limited 
whereby US$7.5 million was repaid from  
the proceeds of an equity issue completed  
in November 2012 and US$1 million was 
converted to shares of PetroNeft at 5 pence 
per share. It was also agreed to commence 
monthly repayments of US$650,000 on  
31 March 2013. These repayments have 
now commenced and the Company is 
meeting them from its own resources.  
In addition, the revised borrowing base  
is subject to certain financial covenants  
and lender approvals for the application  
of certain funds typical of a facility of this 
nature. 

The Macquarie loan matures in May  
2014 at which time a final payment of 
US$8.4 million, net of US$4 million in 
restricted cash held by Macquarie, will be 
required. The Group is evaluating a number 

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 2012Principal Risks  
and Uncertainties

17

Country Risks

Technical Risks

Financial Risks

Other Risks

Integrated  
Business  
Risk Management 
System

Audit Committee

PetroNeft Board

The principal risks and uncertainties affecting the Group and the actions taken by the 
Group to mitigate these risks and uncertainties are:

Risk Category

Risk Issue

Mitigation

Risk Category

Risk Issue

Mitigation

Country Risks

Political 
– federal risks

Fields/acquisitions below 500 million 
boe are not considered strategic to the 
Russian state.

Financial Risks

Availability  
of finance

Strong reserve base and key 
infrastructure already in place  
makes attractive investment case. 

State is encouraging small operators.

Oil price

Robust project sanction economics – 
conservative base case assumptions. 
Russian tax system means economics 
are not too sensitive to changes in  
oil price. Board will consider use of 
appropriate hedging instruments.

Rigorous contracting procedures  
with competitive tendering. Also  
the relationship of the Dollar/Rouble 
exchange rate to the oil price provides 
a natural balance between costs  
and income.

Industry cost 
inflation

Uninsured 
events

Comprehensive insurance programme 
in place.

Other Risks

HSE incidents HSE standards set and monitored 

regularly across the Group.

Export quota Equal access to export quotas 
available for all oil producers  
using Transneft.

Conservative assumption in economics 
– domestic net back price now largely 
in alignment with export net back.

Third party 
pipeline 
access

25 year transportation agreement in 
place for Licence 61, several options 
available for ultimate development of 
Licence 67.

Transneft 
pipeline 
access

Available capacity and access 
confirmed.

East Siberia-Pacific Ocean (‘ESPO’) 
pipeline allows export of oil to  
Pacific market.

Political 
– local risks

Tomsk Oblast administration is very 
supportive of development.

Ownership  
of assets

Local management are well respected 
in region.

Licences were acquired at government 
auctions. Work programme for Licence 
61 is complete. Work programme for 
Licence 67 is not onerous.

25 year licence term can be 
automatically extended based on 
approved production plan.

Changes in  
tax structure

Fiscal system is stable – recent and 
proposed changes largely benefit 
upstream oil and gas companies.

Proactive lobbying effort made in  
area of tax legislation.

Technical Risks

Exploration 
risk

Proven oil and gas basin with  
multiple plays.

Good quality 2D seismic.

Knowledgeable exploration team  
with proven track record in region.

Drilling risk

Relatively shallow wells with proven 
technology.

Good rig availability.

Experienced oper ations team.

Can avoid drilling wells low on 
structure that risk poor results.

Production/
Completion 
risk

Routine completion practices including 
fracture stimulation.

Reserves high-graded; extensive 
reservoir simulation and reservoir 
management will be undertaken.

Performance of similar fields in region.

Reserve risk

SPE and Russian reserves updated 
and in substantive alignment.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201218

Board of Directors

1

2

3

4

5

1. David Golder
(Non-Executive Chairman) (Age 65)
Mr. Golder has been Non-Executive Chairman 
of the Company since 2005. He is also 
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee 
and a member of the Audit Committee.  
He has over 40 years experience in the 
petroleum industry and was formerly Senior 
Vice President of Marathon Oil Company 
(‘Marathon’), retiring in 2003. From June 
1996 to 1999, Mr. Golder was seconded 
from Marathon to Sakhalin Energy Investment 
Company where he was Executive Vice 
President – Upstream. Located in Moscow, 
he managed all upstream activities which 
focused on the oil development and company 
infrastructure aspects of the Sakhalin II 
Project onshore and offshore Sakhalin Island. 
Mr. Golder is a member of the Society of 
Petroleum Engineers. He has a BSc degree  
in Petroleum & Natural Gas Engineering  
from Pennsylvania State University and has 
completed the Program for Management 
Development at Harvard University.

2. Dennis Francis
(Chief Executive Officer and Executive 
Director) (Age 64)
Mr. Francis has been Chief Executive Officer 
and an Executive Director of the Company 
since its formation in 2005. He has over 40 
years experience in the petroleum industry 
and was with Marathon for 30 years. From 
1990, Mr. Francis was the USSR/FSU task 
force manager, responsible for developing 
new opportunities for Marathon in Russia. 
Marathon and its partners ultimately won 
the first Russian competitive tender, which 
was to develop the Sakhalin II Project 
offshore Sakhalin Island. Mr. Francis was 

instrumental in the formation of Sakhalin 
Energy Investment Company and was a 
director in that company. He is a member  
of the American Association of Petroleum 
Geologists and Society of Exploration 
Geophysicists. He has a BSc degree  
in geophysical engineering and an MSc  
degree in geology, both from the Colorado 
School of Mines. He has also completed  
the Program for Management Development 
at Harvard University.

3. Paul Dowling
(Chief Financial Officer and Executive 
Director) (Age 41)
Mr. Dowling joined the Company in October 
2007 and was appointed to the Board of 
Directors in April 2008. He has 20 years 
experience in the areas of accounting, 
auditing, taxation, financial reporting,  
AIM/IPO reporting, corporate restructuring, 
corporate finance and acquisitions/disposals. 
Most recently he was a Partner in the 
accounting firm, LHM Casey McGrath, 
located in Dublin. Mr. Dowling is a fellow  
of the Association of Chartered Certified 
Accountants (ACCA) and a member of  
the Irish Taxation Institute. He currently 
represents the ACCA with the Consultative 
Committee of Accountancy Bodies – Ireland. 
He is also a non-executive director of Moesia 
Oil & Gas plc, an unlisted company focused 
on oil and gas exploration and development 
in Central and Eastern Europe.

4. Dr. David Sanders
(General Legal Counsel, Executive Director 
and Company Secretary) (Age 64)
Dr. Sanders has been General Legal Counsel, 
Executive Director and Company Secretary of 

the Company since its formation in 2005.  
He is an attorney at law and has over 35 
years experience in the petroleum industry, 
including 20 years of doing business in 
Russia and three years in the oil and gas 
litigation division of the law firm of Fulbright 
& Jaworski LLP. In 1988, Dr. Sanders joined 
Marathon where he analysed and reviewed 
joint venture agreements for worldwide 
production until his assignment in 1991  
to the negotiating team for the Sakhalin II 
Project in Russia. Dr. Sanders has a degree  
in electronics from Pennsylvania Institute of 
Technology, a liberal arts degree from the 
University of Houston and a doctorate of 
jurisprudence from South Texas College of 
Law. He is a member of the State Bar of 
Texas and of the American Bar Association.

5. Gerard Fagan
(Non-Executive Director) (age 64)
Mr. Fagan was appointed as a Non-
Executive Director in 2010. He is a member 
of the Audit Committee and a member of 
the Remuneration Committee. Mr. Fagan 
previously worked with Smurfit Kappa Group 
plc (‘Smurfit Kappa’) for 23 years before his 
retirement as Group Financial Controller in 
September 2009. During this time he had 
global responsibility for controlling financial 
operations of Smurfit Kappa, a company 
with turnover of €7 billion and operations in 
over 30 countries worldwide. Mr. Fagan has 
vast experience in mergers and acquisitions, 
corporate finance, accounting, taxation, 
insurance and corporate governance.  
He is both a Chartered Accountant and  
a Chartered Certified Accountant and has 
previously served on the audit committee  
of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in 

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201219

6

7

7. Vakha Sobraliev
(Non-Executive Director) (Age 58)
Mr. Sobraliev has been a Non-Executive 
Director of the Company since 2005.  
He is a member of both the Audit and 
Remuneration Committees. He has  
over 35 years experience operating and 
managing energy service companies and 
state operating units exploring for and 
exploiting oil resources in the Western 
Siberian oil basin. Mr. Sobraliev is currently  
a shareholder and General Director of 
Tomskburneftegaz LLC, an oil and gas  
well drilling and services company operating 
in Western Siberia. From 1975 to 2000,  
Mr. Sobraliev worked for Tomskneft and 
Strezhevoy drilling boards in various drilling 
and economic capacities including Chief 
Engineer and Chief Accountant. He has 
degrees in mining engineering and economics 
from Tomsk Polytechnic Institute and  
the Tomsk State University respectively.  
Mr. Sobraliev is a resident of Tomsk, Russia.

Ireland. Mr. Fagan is also a Non-Executive 
Director of Smurfit Kappa Group Foundation, 
Liffey Reinsurance Company Limited, The 
Baxendale Insurance Company Limited, 
Bramshott Management Limited and 
Bramshott Europe Fund plc.

6. Thomas Hickey 
(Non-Executive Director) (Age 44)
Mr. Hickey has been a Non-Executive 
Director of the Company since 2005.  
He is Chairman of the Audit Committee and  
a member of the Remuneration Committee. 
He is Chief Financial Officer of Petroceltic 
International plc an AIM listed oil and gas 
company focussed on the Middle East,  
North Africa and the Mediterranean  
basin. He was Chief Financial Officer and  
a Director of Tullow Oil plc from 2000 to 
2008. During this time Tullow grew via  
a number of significant acquisitions and 
exploration success. Prior to joining Tullow  
Oil plc, he was an Associate Director of  
ABN AMRO Corporate Finance (Ireland) 
Limited. In this role, he advised public  
and private companies in a wide range  
of industry sectors in the areas of fund 
raising, stock exchange requirements, 
mergers and acquisitions, flotation and 
related transactions. Mr. Hickey is a 
Commerce graduate of University College 
Dublin and a Fellow of the Institute of 
Chartered Accountants in Ireland. He is  
also a non-executive director of Ikon Science 
Limited, a UK geological software company.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201220

Directors’ Report
For the year ended 31 December 2012

The Directors present herewith their Annual Report and the audited financial statements of PetroNeft Resources plc (the ‘Company’) and  
its subsidiaries (collectively, the ‘Group’) for the year ended 31 December 2012.

Principal Activity
The principal activities of the Group are that of oil and gas exploration, development and production. The Group was established to acquire 
and develop oil and gas exploration, development and production interests in Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union. 
A detailed business review is included in the Chairman’s Statement, Chief Executive Officer’s Report and in the Financial Review.

Results and Dividends
The loss for the year before tax amounted to US$2,777,569 (2011: US$16,422,036). After a tax charge of US$1,788,574 (2011: US$1,491,320) 
the loss for the year amounted to US$4,566,143 (2011: US$17,913,356). The Directors do not recommend payment of a dividend. Accordingly, 
an amount of US$4,566,143 has been debited to reserves.

Review of the Development and Performance of the Business
In compliance with the requirements of the Companies Acts, 1963 to 2012, a fair review of the performance and development of the 
Group’s business during the year, its position at the year-end and its future prospects is contained in the Chairman’s Statement on pages 8 
and 9, the Chief Executive Officer’s Report on pages 10 to 13 and the Financial Review on pages 15 and 16. The key financial metrics used 
by management are set out in the Financial Review on page 15.

Corporate Governance
The Company is not subject to the UK Corporate Governance Code applicable to companies with full listings on the Dublin and London 
Stock Exchange. The Company does, however, intend, in so far as is practicable and desirable, given the size and nature of the business and 
the constitution of the Board, to comply with the Corporate Governance Guidelines for AIM Companies (the ‘QCA Guidelines’) as published 
by the Quoted Companies Alliance (the ‘QCA’).

The QCA Guidelines were devised, in consultation with a number of significant institutional small company investors, as an alternative 
corporate governance code applicable to AIM companies. An alternative code was proposed because the QCA considered the UK Corporate 
Governance Code to be inappropriate to many AIM companies.

The QCA Guidelines state that “the purpose of good corporate governance is to ensure that the Company is managed in an efficient, 
effective and entrepreneurial manner for the benefit of all shareholders over the longer term.” The guidelines set out a code of best practice 
for AIM companies. Those guidelines require, among other things, that:

a) certain matters be specifically reserved for the Board’s decision;
b) the Board should be supplied in a timely manner with information (including regular management financial  information) in a form and of  

a quality appropriate to enable it to discharge its duties;

c)  the Board should, at least annually, conduct a review of the effectiveness of the Company’s system of internal controls and should report 

to shareholders that they have done so;

d) the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive should not be exercised by the same individual or there should be a clear explanation of how 

other Board procedures provide protection against the risks of concentration of power within the Company;

e) the Company should have at least two independent Non-Executive Directors on the Board and the Board should not be dominated by  

one person or group of people;

f)  all Directors should be submitted for re-election at regular intervals subject to continued satisfactory performance;
g) the Board should establish audit, remuneration and nomination committees; and
h) there should be a dialogue with shareholders based on a mutual understanding of objectives.

PetroNeft satisfies all of these requirements with the exception of having a permanent nomination committee in place. Major corporate 
decisions of the Group are subject to Board approval. The Board is supplied in a timely manner with information in a form and of a quality 
appropriate to enable it to discharge its duties. These matters include approval of the Group’s general commercial strategy, financial statements, 
Board membership, significant acquisitions and disposals, major capital expenditures, overall corporate governance and risk management and 
treasury policies. The Company holds regular Board meetings throughout the year.

In accordance with the QCA Guidelines, the Board has established Audit and Remuneration Committees, as described below, and utilises 
other committees as necessary in order to ensure effective governance.

Audit Committee
The members of the Audit Committee are Thomas Hickey, David Golder, Gerard Fagan and Vakha Sobraliev. It is chaired by Thomas Hickey. 
The Audit Committee’s responsibilities include, among other things, reviewing interim and year-end financial statements and preliminary 
announcement, accounting principles, policies and practices, internal controls and overseeing the relationship with the external auditor 
including reviewing the results of their audit.

Remuneration Committee
The members of the Remuneration Committee are David Golder, Gerard Fagan, Thomas Hickey and Vakha Sobraliev. It is chaired by David 
Golder. The Remuneration Committee’s responsibilities include, among other things, determining the policy and elements of remuneration  
for Executive Directors, provided however, that no Director shall be directly involved in any decisions as to their own remuneration.

Nomination Committee
Given the current size of the Group, a permanent Nominations Committee is not considered necessary. The Board reserves to itself the 
process by which a new Director is appointed.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201221

The percentage of Non-Executive Directors on the Board is above the recommended 50%. The Group has adopted a model code for 
Directors’ dealings that is appropriate for an AIM company. The Group complies with Rule 21 of the AIM Rules relating to Directors’ dealings 
and will take all reasonable steps to ensure compliance by the Directors and the Group’s applicable employees and their relative associates.

Shareholder Communication
Shareholder communication is given high priority by the Group and there are regular meetings between senior executives, institutional 
shareholders, analysts and brokers. These meetings, which are governed by procedures designed to ensure that price sensitive information is 
not divulged, are designed to facilitate a two-way dialogue based upon the mutual understanding of objectives. The Annual General Meeting 
(‘AGM’) affords individual shareholders the opportunity to question the Chairman and the Board and their participation is welcomed. 
Shareholders are also welcome to telephone or email the Company at any time.

The Chairmen of the Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee are available at the AGM to answer questions. In addition, major 
shareholders can meet with the Chairman of the Board or any Executive and Non-Executive Directors on request.

The Board is kept appraised of the views of shareholders, and the market in general, through feedback from the meetings programme. 
Analysts’ reports on the Company are also circulated to the Board on a regular basis. The Group’s website, www.petroneft.com, is also  
a key communication tool with all shareholders. News releases are made available on the website immediately after release to the Stock 
Exchange. Investor presentations, reserve reports and other materials are also available on the website. 

Internal Control
The Directors have overall responsibility for the Group’s system of internal control and have delegated responsibility for the implementation 
of this system to executive management. This system is reviewed annually and includes financial controls that enable the Board to meet its 
responsibilities for the integrity and accuracy of the Group’s accounting records.

The Group’s system of internal financial control provides reasonable, though not absolute, assurance that assets are safeguarded, transactions 
authorised and recorded properly and that material errors or irregularities are either prevented or detected within a timely period.

Directors
The present Directors are listed on pages 18 and 19.

In accordance with Article 83 of the Articles of Association, Dennis Francis and David Sanders retire by rotation and, being eligible, offer 
themselves for re-election.

Directors, Company Secretary and their Interests
The Directors and Company Secretary who held office at 31 December 2012 had no interest, other than those shown below, in the Ordinary 
Shares of the Company. All interests shown below are beneficial interests.

David Golder
Dennis Francis
Paul Dowling
David Sanders
Vakha Sobraliev
Gerard Fagan
Thomas Hickey

Ordinary Shares 
As at 
14 June 2013

Ordinary Shares 
As at 
31 December 2012

Ordinary Shares 
As at 
1 January 2012

3,165,458
23,760,416
731,583
2,238,235
–
200,000
2,226,283

3,165,458
23,760,416
731,583
2,238,235
–
200,000
2,226,283

3,165,458
22,760,416
331,583
2,238,235
–
200,000
1,826,283

In addition to the above, the Directors hold the following share options:

Director

David Golder
Dennis Francis
Paul Dowling
David Sanders
Vakha Sobraliev
Gerard Fagan
Thomas Hickey

Options held as at 
1 January 2012

735,000
1,870,000
1,135,000
840,000
655,000
150,000
443,000

Granted in Year

Exercised in Year

31 December 2012

Exercise price

Options held as at  

130,000
475,000
406,250
406,250
110,000
110,000
110,000

–
–
–
–
–
–
–

865,000
2,345,000
1,541,250
1,246,250
765,000
260,000
553,000

£0.065 – £0.66
£0.065 – £0.66
£0.065 – £0.66
£0.065 – £0.66
£0.065 – £0.66
£0.065 – £0.66
£0.065 – £0.66

Details of the terms and conditions of the option scheme are included in Note 29 of the financial statements.

Principal Risks and Uncertainties
The Group has a risk management structure in place which is designed to identify, manage and mitigate business risks. Risk assessment 
and evaluation is an essential part of the Group’s internal control system.

Details of the principal risks and uncertainties affecting the Group, as required to be disclosed in accordance with the Companies Acts, 
1963 to 2012, are listed on page 17.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201222

Directors’ Report
For the year ended 31 December 2012
(continued)

Remuneration Committee Report
The Group’s policy on senior executive remuneration is designed to attract and retain people of the highest calibre who can bring their 
experience and independent views to the policy, strategic decisions and governance of the Group.

In setting remuneration levels, the Remuneration Committee takes into consideration the remuneration practices of other companies of 
similar size and scope. A key philosophy is that staff must be properly rewarded and motivated to perform in the best interests of the 
shareholders. Bonuses for Executive Directors are based on performance targets which include elements relating to shareholder return  
and individual performance.

The share option scheme is designed to incentivise performance and loyalty of Directors and key employees. Options vest when certain 
operational and total shareholder return targets are met. Share option holdings of the Directors are disclosed on page 21. 

The Board has also agreed to allow Directors elect to have their Directors’ fees paid in shares. Under this scheme, the number of shares 
issued will be based on the closing price at each quarter end. Elections under this scheme must be for a minimum of one year. Certain 
Directors elected to receive a portion of their remuneration for 2008 to 2012 in shares instead of cash. 

Director

Executive Directors
Dennis Francis
Paul Dowling
David Sanders

Non-Executive Directors
David Golder
Gerard Fagan
Thomas Hickey*
Vakha Sobraliev

Total Directors 
remuneration

2012

2011

Basic 
  remuneration* 

US$

Bonuses 
US$

Pension 
US$

Share-based 
payment 
US$

Total 
remuneration 
US$

Basic 
remuneration* 

US$

Bonuses 
US$

Pension 
US$

Share-based 
payment 
US$

Total 
remuneration 
US$

301,865
256,455
245,981

– 15,071
– 12,023
– 12,286

72,293
61,339
61,339

389,229
329,817
319,606

330,306
269,613
269,867

– 16,007
– 11,685
– 12,985

79,876
67,233
67,773

426,189
348,531
350,625

804,301

– 39,380 194,971 1,038,652

869,786

– 40,677 214,882 1,125,345

57,213
38,997
38,997
25,998

161,205

–
–
–
–

–

–
–
–
–

–

26,289
26,605
21,908
21,073

83,502
65,602
60,905
47,071

62,608
41,739
41,739
27,826

95,875

257,080

173,912

–
–
–
–

–

–
–
–
–

28,711
27,245
23,922
22,765

91,319
68,984
65,661
50,591

– 102,643

276,555

965,506

– 39,380 290,846 1,295,732 1,043,698

– 40,677 317,525 1,401,900

*  Certain amounts were payable in shares instead of cash. 

Directors’ Responsibilities Statement in Respect of the Financial Statements
The Directors are responsible for preparing the Directors’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with Irish law and regulations.

Irish company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements giving a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company  
and of the Group and the profit or loss of the Group for each financial year. Under that law the Directors have elected to prepare the financial 
statements in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union.

In preparing these financial statements, the Directors are required to:

•	 select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
•	 make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
•	 state that the financial statements comply with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union; and
•	 prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group and Company will 

continue in business.

The Directors are responsible for keeping proper books of account that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position 
of the Company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Acts, 1963 to 2012. They are also 
responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and 
other irregularities.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 2012 
 
 
 
 
23

Political Donations
The Company did not make any political donations during the year.

Books of Account
The measures taken by the Directors to ensure compliance with the requirements of Section 202, Companies Act 1990, regarding proper 
books of account are the implementation of necessary policies and procedures for recording transactions, the employment of competent 
accounting personnel with appropriate expertise and the provision of adequate resources to the financial function. The books of account  
of the Company are maintained at 20 Holles Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.

Going Concern
The Directors are required to make an assessment of the Group’s ability to continue in operational existence as a going concern. After 
making appropriate enquiries including the considerations referred to in this Annual Report, the Directors are confident that the Group  
and Company will have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. However, the Directors have 
concluded that there are material uncertainties facing the business. Further details are set out in the Financial Review and in Note 2 to  
the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Important Events after the Balance Sheet Date
There were no important events after the balance sheet date.

Auditors
Ernst & Young, Chartered Accountants, have indicated their willingness to continue in office in accordance with the provisions of Section 
160(2) of the Companies Act, 1963.

Annual General Meeting
Your attention is drawn to the Notice of the Annual General Meeting (‘AGM’) set out on page 59. The AGM will be on 11 September 2013  
in the Herbert Park Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland.

Your Directors believe that the Resolutions to be proposed at the AGM are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as  
a whole and, therefore, recommend you to vote in favour of the Resolutions. Your Directors intend to vote in favour of the Resolutions in 
respect of their own beneficial holdings of 32,321,975 Ordinary Shares.

Approved by the Board on 21 June 2013

Dennis Francis 
Director 

Paul Dowling
Director

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 2012 
24

Independent Auditor’s Report  
to the Members of PetroNeft Resources plc

We have audited the Group and Parent Company financial statements (the ‘financial statements’) of PetroNeft Resources plc for the year 
ended 31 December 2012 which comprise the Consolidated Income Statement, the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income,  
the Consolidated and Parent Company Balance Sheets, the Consolidated and Parent Company Cash Flow Statements, the Consolidated and 
Parent Company Statements of Changes in Equity, and the related notes 1 to 31. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in 
their preparation is Irish law and International Financial Reporting Standards (‘IFRSs’) as adopted by the European Union and, as regards the 
Parent Company financial statements, as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Acts 1963 to 2012.

This report is made solely to the Company’s members, as a body, in accordance with section 193 of the Companies Act, 1990. Our audit 
work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s 
report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the 
Company and the Company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Respective Responsibilities of Directors and Auditors
As explained more fully in the Directors’ Responsibilities Statement, the Directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial 
statements giving a true and fair view. Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the financial statements in accordance with 
Irish law and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). Those standards require us to comply with the Auditing Practices Board’s 
Ethical Standards for Auditors.

Scope of the Audit of the Financial Statements
An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements sufficient to give reasonable assurance that 
the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. This includes an assessment of: whether the 
accounting policies are appropriate to the Group and the Parent Company’s circumstances and have been consistently applied and adequately 
disclosed; the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by the Directors; and the overall presentation of the financial statements. 
In addition, we read all the financial and non-financial information in the Annual Report to identify material inconsistencies with the audited 
financial statements. If we become aware of any apparent material misstatements or inconsistencies we consider the implications for our report.

Opinion on Financial Statements
In our opinion:

•	 the Group financial statements give a true and fair view, in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union, of the state of the 

Group’s affairs as at 31 December 2012 and of its loss for the year then ended;

•	 the Parent Company balance sheet gives a true and fair view, in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union as applied in 
accordance with the provisions of the Companies Acts 1963 to 2012, of the state of the Parent Company’s affairs as at 31 December 
2012; and

•	 the financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Acts 1963 to 2012.

Emphasis of Matter – Going Concern
In forming our opinion on the financial statements, which is not modified, we have considered the adequacy of the disclosures made  
in Note 2 to the financial statements concerning the Group and the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. These conditions  
indicate the existence of a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt about the Group and the Company’s ability to continue  
as a going concern.

The financial statements do not include any adjustments to the carrying amount or classification of assets and liabilities that would result  
if the Group or the Company was unable to continue as a going concern.

Matters on Which We Are Required to Report by the Companies Acts 1963 to 2012
•	 We have obtained all the information and explanations which we consider necessary for the purposes of our audit.
•	 In our opinion proper books of account have been kept by the Parent Company.
•	 The Parent Company balance sheet is in agreement with the books of account.
•	 In our opinion the information given in the Directors’ Report is consistent with the financial statements.
•	 The net assets of the Parent Company, as stated in the Parent Company balance sheet are more than half of the amount of its called-up 
share capital and, in our opinion, on that basis there did not exist at 31 December 2012 a financial situation which under Section 40 (1) 
of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1983 would require the convening of an extraordinary general meeting of the Parent Company.

Matters on Which We Are Required to Report by Exception
We have nothing to report in respect of the provisions in the Companies Acts 1963 to 2012 which require us to report to you if, in our 
opinion, the disclosures of Directors’ remuneration and transactions specified by law are not made.

Dermot Quinn
For and on behalf of Ernst & Young 
Dublin 
21 June 2013

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 2012Consolidated Income Statement 
For the year ended 31 December 2012

Continuing operations
Revenue
Cost of sales

Gross profit
Administrative expenses
Impairment of oil and gas properties
Exchange gain/(loss) on intra-Group loans

Operating profit/(loss)
Profit on disposal of subsidiary undertaking
Loss on disposal of oil and gas properties
Share of joint venture’s net loss
Finance revenue
Finance costs

Loss for the year for continuing operations before taxation
Income tax expense

Loss for the year attributable to equity holders of the Parent

Loss per share attributable to equity holders of the Parent
Basic and diluted – US Dollar cent

25

Note

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

5

29,031,693
34,581,257
(30,134,453) (25,598,616)

13

6
12
13
16
7
8

10

4,446,804
(7,380,591)
–
4,538,236

3,433,077
(6,797,223)
(5,000,000)
(5,114,345)

1,604,449 (13,478,491)
223,222
(391,188)
(334,363)
59,854
(2,501,070)

–
(19,231)
(223,472)
77,233
(4,216,548)

(2,777,569) (16,422,036)
(1,491,320)
(1,788,574)

(4,566,143) (17,913,356)

11

(1.03)

(4.30)

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
For the year ended 31 December 2012

Loss for the year attributable to equity holders of the Parent
Currency translation adjustments

Total comprehensive loss for the year attributable to equity holders of the Parent

Approved by the Board on 21 June 2013

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

(4,566,143) (17,913,356)
(1,802,179)
2,406,068

(2,160,075) (19,715,535)

Dennis Francis 
Director 

Paul Dowling
Director

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 2012 
 
26

Consolidated Balance Sheet
As at 31 December 2012 

Assets
Non-current Assets
Oil and gas properties
Property, plant and equipment
Exploration and evaluation assets
Equity-accounted investment in joint venture

Current Assets
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash

Total Assets

Equity and Liabilities
Capital and Reserves
Called up share capital
Share premium account
Share-based payments reserve
Retained loss
Currency translation reserve
Other reserves

Note

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

13 105,097,756 92,697,976
14
1,925,938
24,552,717
15
3,851,880
16

1,696,626
28,294,677
3,819,142

138,908,201 123,028,511

18
19
20
20

24

1,711,417
1,320,032
3,939,422
4,000,000

1,856,813
2,810,459
1,030,005
5,000,000

10,970,871

10,697,277

149,879,072 133,725,788

8,561,499

6,266,045

5,636,142
136,762,387 122,431,629
4,894,985
(48,357,296) (43,791,153)
(7,630,511)
336,000

(5,224,443)
336,000

Equity attributable to equity holders of the Parent

98,344,192

81,877,092

Non-current Liabilities
Provisions
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings
Deferred tax liability

Current Liabilities
Trade and other payables
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings

Total Liabilities

Total Equity and Liabilities

Approved by the Board on 21 June 2013

Dennis Francis 
Director 

Paul Dowling
Director

23
22
10

1,843,790
14,559,722
4,871,227

1,147,988
–
3,157,557

21,274,739

4,305,545

21
22

8,909,830
21,350,311

12,938,593
34,604,558

30,260,141

47,543,151

51,534,880

51,848,696

149,879,072 133,725,788

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 2012 
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
For the year ended 31 December 2012

27

At 1 January 2011

5,624,840 122,082,388

3,977,064

(5,828,332) (25,877,797) 99,978,163

Share capital 
US$

Share premium 
US$

Share-based 
payment and other 
reserves 
US$

Currency 
translation reserve 
US$

Retained loss 
US$

Total 
US$

Loss for the year
Currency translation adjustments

Total comprehensive loss for the year
Share options exercised in year
Share-based payment expense
Share-based payment expense  

– Macquarie warrants (Note 29)

At 31 December 2011

At 1 January 2012

Loss for the year
Currency translation adjustments

–
–

–
11,302
–

–
–

–
–

(1,802,179)

– (17,913,356) (17,913,356)
(1,802,179)
–

–
349,241
–

–
–
1,108,446

(1,802,179) (17,913,356) (19,715,535)
360,543
1,108,446

–
–

–
–

–

–

145,475

–

–

145,475

5,636,142 122,431,629

5,230,985

(7,630,511) (43,791,153) 81,877,092

5,636,142 122,431,629

5,230,985

(7,630,511) (43,791,153) 81,877,092

–
–

–
–

–
–

–
2,406,068

(4,566,143)
–

(4,566,143)
2,406,068

Total comprehensive loss for the year
New share capital subscribed
Transaction costs on issue of share capital
Conversion of debt for new shares issued
Share-based payment expense
Share-based payment expense  

– Macquarie warrants (Note 29)

Arawak warrants (Note 22)

At 31 December 2012

–
2,762,969
–
162,388
–

–
14,447,506
(954,360)
837,612
–

–
–

–
–

–
–
–
–
977,030

197,230
196,800

2,406,068
–
–
–
–

(4,566,143)
–
–
–
–

(2,160,075)
17,210,475
(954,360)
1,000,000
977,030

–
–

–
–

197,230
196,800

8,561,499 136,762,387

6,602,045

(5,224,443) (48,357,296) 98,344,192

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201228

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
For the year ended 31 December 2012

Operating activities
Loss before taxation
Adjustments to reconcile loss before tax to net cash flows
Non-cash
  Depreciation
  Impairment of oil and gas properties
  Loss on disposal of oil and gas properties
  Profit on disposal of subsidiary undertaking
  Share of loss in joint venture
  Share-based payment expense
Finance revenue
Finance costs
Working capital adjustments
Decrease in trade and other receivables
Decrease/(increase) in inventories
(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables
Income tax paid

Net cash flows received from operating activities

Investing activities
Purchase of oil and gas properties
Advance payments to contractors
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment
Exploration and evaluation payments
Investment in joint venture undertaking
Decrease/(increase) in restricted cash
Interest received

Net cash used in investing activities

Financing activities
Proceeds from issue of share capital
Transaction costs of issue of shares
Proceeds from exercise of options
Proceeds from loan facilities
Transaction costs on loans and borrowings
Repayment of loan facilities
Interest paid

Net cash received from financing activities

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Translation adjustment
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

Note 

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

(2,777,569) (16,422,036)

7
8

4,637,596
–
19,231
–
223,472
977,030
(77,233)
4,216,548

4,293,949
5,000,000
391,188
(223,222)
334,363
1,108,446
(59,854)
2,501,070

1,603,422 
383,541
(1,837,731)
(186,675)

3,372,948
(646,118)
6,285,719
(68,029)

7,181,632 

5,868,424

(18,479,654) (32,967,288)
(199,568)
(570,396)
–
(6,629,469)
(3,850,000)
(2,500,000)
55,861

(119,159)
(15,529)
3,549
(1,787,260)
–
1,000,000
52,714

(19,345,339) (46,660,860)

17,210,475
(954,360)
–
15,000,000
(350,811)

–
–
360,543
37,000,000
(472,696)
(12,500,000) (16,212,000)
(1,729,447)

(3,340,504)

15,064,800

18,946,400

2,901,093 (21,846,036)
94,160
22,781,881

8,324
1,030,005

20

3,939,422

1,030,005

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 2012Company Balance Sheet
As at 31 December 2012

Non-current Assets
Property, plant and equipment
Financial assets

Current Assets
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash

Total Assets

Equity and Liabilities
Capital and Reserves
Called up share capital
Share premium account
Share-based payment reserve
Retained loss
Other reserves

29

Note

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

14
17

8,651
45,634,887

9,444
45,038,371

45,643,538

45,047,815

19 129,481,865 110,522,328
950,825
20
5,000,000
20

3,692,037
4,000,000

137,173,902 116,473,153

182,817,440 161,520,968

24

8,561,499

5,636,142
136,762,387 122,431,629
4,894,985
(10,603,541) (10,238,869)
336,000

6,266,045

336,000

Equity attributable to equity holders of the Parent

141,322,390 123,059,887

Non-current Liabilities
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings
Deferred tax liability

Current Liabilities
Trade and other payables
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings

Total Liabilities

Total Equity and Liabilities

Approved by the Board on 21 June 2013

Dennis Francis 
Director 

Paul Dowling
Director

22
10

14,559,722
4,871,227

–
3,157,557

19,430,949

3,157,557

21
22

713,790
21,350,311

698,966
34,604,558

22,064,101

35,303,524

41,495,050

38,461,081

182,817,440 161,520,968

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 2012 
30

Company Statement of Changes in Equity
For the year ended 31 December 2012

At 1 January 2011

Loss for the year

Total comprehensive loss for the year
Share options exercised in year
Share-based payment expense
Share-based payment expense  

– Macquarie warrants (Note 29)

At 31 December 2011

At 1 January 2012

Loss for the year

Total comprehensive loss for the year
New share capital subscribed
Transaction costs on issue of share capital
Conversion of debt for new shares issued
Share-based payment expense
Share-based payment expense  

– Macquarie warrants (Note 29)

Arawak warrants (Note 22)

At 31 December 2012

Share capital 
US$

Share premium 
US$

Share-based 
payment and other 
reserves 
US$

Retained loss 
US$

Total 
US$

5,624,840 122,082,388

3,977,064

(8,854,833) 122,829,459

–

–
11,302
–

–

–

(1,384,036)

(1,384,036)

–
349,241
–

–
–
1,108,446

(1,384,036)
–
–

(1,384,036)
360,543
1,108,446

–

–

145,475

–

145,475

5,636,142 122,431,629

5,230,985 (10,238,869) 123,059,887

5,636,142 122,431,629

5,230,985 (10,238,869) 123,059,887

–

–

–

(364,672)

(364,672)

–
2,762,969
–
162,388
–

–
14,447,506
(954,360)
837,612
–

–
–

–
–

–
–
–
–
977,030

197,230
196,800

(364,672)
–
–
–
–

(364,672)
17,210,475
(954,360)
1,000,000
977,030

–
–

197,230
196,800

8,561,499 136,762,387

6,602,045 (10,603,541) 141,322,390

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 2012Company Cash Flow Statement
For the year ended 31 December 2012

Operating activities
Profit before taxation
Adjustments to reconcile profit before tax to net cash flows
Non-cash
  Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
  Share-based payment expense
Finance revenue
Finance costs
Working capital adjustments
Increase in trade and other receivables
(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables
Income tax paid

Net cash flows used in operating activities

Investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Investment in financial assets
Decrease/(increase) in restricted cash
Interest received

Net cash received from/(used in) investing activities

Financing activities
Proceeds from issue of share capital
Transaction costs of issue of shares
Proceeds from exercise of share options
Proceeds from loan facilities
Transaction costs on loans and borrowings
Repayment of loan facilities
Interest paid

Net cash received from financing activities

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Translation adjustment
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

31

Note 

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

1,423,902

107,284

3,958
380,514
(7,093,078)
3,890,820

3,654
418,997
(6,271,781)
2,438,971

(11,883,865) (29,267,707)
56,657
(68,029)

(42,290)
(17,790)

(13,337,829) (32,581,954)

17

(3,165)
–
1,000,000
16,226

(3,962)
(3,980,000)
(2,500,000)
48,553

1,013,061

(6,435,409)

17,210,475
(954,360)
–
15,000,000
(350,811)

–
–
360,543
37,000,000
(472,696)
(12,500,000) (16,212,000)
(1,729,447)

(3,340,504)

15,064,800

18,946,400

2,740,032 (20,070,963)
20,540
21,001,248

1,180
950,825

20

3,692,037

950,825

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201232

Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2012

1.  General Information on the Company and the Group
PetroNeft Resources plc (‘PetroNeft’, ‘the Company’, or together with its subsidiaries, ‘the Group’) is a company incorporated in Ireland.  
The Company is listed on the Alternative Investments Market (‘AIM’) of the London Stock Exchange and the Enterprise Securities Market 
(‘ESM’) of the Irish Stock Exchange. The address of the registered office and the business address in Ireland is 20 Holles Street, Dublin 2. 
The Company is domiciled in the Republic of Ireland. 

The principal activities of the Group are oil and gas exploration, development and production.

2.  Going Concern
In October 2012 a revised borrowing base was agreed with Macquarie Bank Limited (‘Macquarie’) whereby US$7.5 million was repaid from the 
proceeds of an equity issue completed in November 2012 and US$1 million was converted into shares of PetroNeft at 5 pence per share. It was 
also agreed to commence monthly repayments of US$650,000 on 31 March 2013. The revised borrowing base is subject to certain financial 
covenants and lender approvals for the application of funds typical of a facility of this nature and are subject to periodic review. The Company has 
received waivers from Macquarie in respect of breaches at year-end and for any subsequent breaches to the latest review date. The Macquarie  
loan matures in May 2014 at which time a final payment of US$8.4 million (in addition to the US$4 million restricted cash held by Macquarie)  
will be required.

In May 2012 PetroNeft entered into a new loan facility for US$15 million with our partner Arawak Energy Russia B.V. (‘Arawak’). This loan 
carries an interest rate of LIBOR plus 6%. 4,000,000 warrants were granted to Arawak as part of this loan facility. The Arawak loan facility  
is a three year loan repayable in one lump sum in May 2015. Refer to Note 22 for further details.

The Group has analysed its cash flow requirements through to 31 December 2014 in detail. The monthly repayments from operating cash flows 
of US$650,000 to Macquarie commenced in March 2013, however, based on our current cash flow forecasts the Group will need to obtain 
additional funding in order to repay in full the final amount of US$8.4 million due in May 2014. The cash flow includes estimates for a number  
of key variables including timing of cash flows of development expenditure, oil price, production rates, and management of working capital. The 
Directors believe that the Group’s cash flow forecasts represent the Group’s best estimate of the results over the forecast period as at the date of 
approval of the financial statements. As part of the Directors’ overall consideration of the appropriateness of going concern, the cash flow is stress 
tested to assess the potential adverse effect arising from reasonable changes in circumstance. It is recognised that the cash flow impact of these 
changes could result in further funding being required. In addition, under the revised borrowing base the Group has to remain in compliance with 
certain financial covenants and lender approvals.

The Company has entered into discussions with a number of parties and is currently pursuing two independent funding strategies. In consultation 
with major shareholders and finance providers we have concluded that a farmout of up to 50% of Licence 61, while remaining as operator, 
represents the best way to provide the necessary finance to strengthen the Group’s financial position and allow it to realise the full potential of  
its substantial asset base. In that regard we have contracted Evercore Partners to run a formal process to seek an industry partner to join in the 
development and exploration of the licence. We have set up an extensive electronic data room and are in discussions with a number of potential 
partners. Secondly, we are also in discussions with certain Russian and international banks with a view to re-financing the existing debt facilities, 
however, the farmout option remains the preference of the Board of Directors. The aim of these discussions is to deliver a long term solution to 
the Group’s finances to enable it to fully exploit its portfolio of reserves and prospects.

While, as at the date of approval of these financial statements, no commitment has been received in respect of either a farmout or re-financing, 
and there can be no certainty that additional funding will ultimately be received, the Directors remain confident about the outcome of these 
discussions and the resilience of the Group despite the pressures outlined above. 

These circumstances represent a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt upon the Group and the Company’s ability to continue  
as a going concern. Nevertheless, after making enquiries, and considering the uncertainties described above, the Directors are confident that  
the Group and the Company will have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For these reasons,  
the Directors continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the annual report and accounts.

Accordingly, these financial statements do not include any adjustments to the carrying amount or classification of assets and liabilities that  
would result if the Group or Company was unable to continue as a going concern.

3.  Accounting Policies
3.1  Basis of Preparation
The financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis. The financial statements are presented in US Dollars (‘US$’).

The accounting policies set out below have been applied consistently by all the Group’s subsidiaries and the joint venture to all periods 
presented in these consolidated financial statements.

Certain prior year disclosures have been amended to conform to current year presentation.

Statement of Compliance
The consolidated financial statements of PetroNeft Resources plc and its subsidiaries have been prepared in accordance with International 
Financial Reporting Standards (‘IFRS’) as adopted by the European Union (‘EU’). 

3.2  Basis of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements comprise the financial statements of PetroNeft Resources plc and its subsidiaries as at 31 December 
each year.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201233

3.  Accounting Policies (continued)
Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date of acquisition, being the date on which the Group obtains control, and continue to be 
consolidated until the date that such control ceases. The financial statements of the subsidiaries are prepared for the same reporting  
period as the Parent Company. All intra-Group balances, income and expenses and unrealised gains and losses resulting from intra-Group 
transactions are eliminated in full.

A change in the ownership interest of a subsidiary, without a loss of control, is accounted for as an equity transaction. If the Group loses 
control over a subsidiary, it:

•	 Derecognises the assets (including goodwill) and liabilities of the subsidiary;
•	 Derecognises the carrying amount of any non-controlling interest;
•	 Derecognises the cumulative translation differences recognised in equity;
•	 Recognises the fair value of the consideration received;
•	 Recognises the fair value of any investment retained;
•	 Recognises any surplus or deficit in profit or loss; and
•	 Reclassifies the parent’s share of components previously recognised in other comprehensive income to profit or loss or retained earnings, 

as appropriate.

3.3  Significant Accounting Judgements, Estimates and Assumptions
The preparation of the Group’s consolidated financial statements in compliance with IFRS as adopted by the European Union (‘EU’) requires 
management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and disclosed contingent 
liabilities at the end of the reporting year and the amounts of revenues and expenses recognised during the reporting period. Estimates and 
judgements are continuously evaluated and are based on management’s experience and other factors, including expectations of the future 
events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. However, uncertainty about these assumptions and estimates could 
result in outcomes that require an adjustment to the carrying amount of the asset or liability affected in future periods.

a) Judgements
In the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies, management has made the following judgements, apart from those involving 
estimations, which have a significant effect on amounts recognised in the consolidated financial statements.

Going Concern
In preparing the consolidated financial statements, the Directors are required to make an assessment of the Group’s ability to continue  
in operational existence as a going concern. The consolidated balance sheet shows an excess of current liabilities over current assets at  
the balance sheet date. After making appropriate enquiries, the Directors are confident that the Group and Company will have adequate 
resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. However, the Directors have concluded that there are material 
uncertainties facing the business. Further details are set out in the Finance Review and in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Exploration and Evaluation Expenditure – Note 15, US$28.3 million
Exploration and evaluation expenditure represents active exploration projects. These amounts will be written-off to the Consolidated Income 
Statement as exploration costs unless commercial reserves are established, or the determination process is not completed. The outcome of 
ongoing exploration, and therefore whether the carrying value of these assets will ultimately be recovered, is inherently uncertain.

The Group has capitalised intangible exploration and evaluation assets in accordance with IFRS 6 Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral 
Resources, which are evaluated for indicators of impairment. Any impairment review, where required, involves significant judgement related 
to matters such as recoverable reserves, production profiles, oil and gas prices, discount rate, development, operating and offtake costs  
and other matters. The carrying amount of intangible exploration and evaluation assets at 31 December 2012 is US$28.3 million  
(2011: US$24.6 million).

b) Estimates and Assumptions
The key assumptions concerning the future and other key sources of estimation uncertainty at the balance sheet date that have a significant 
risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are discussed below:

Reserves Base
Certain oil and gas properties are depreciated on a unit-of-production basis at a rate calculated by reference to Proved and Probable reserves, 
determined in accordance with the Society of Petroleum Engineers Petroleum Resources Management System rules and incorporating the 
estimated future cost of developing and extracting those reserves. Commercial reserves are determined using estimates of oil in place, recovery 
factors and future oil prices. Future development costs are estimated using assumptions as to the number of wells required to produce the 
commercial reserves, the cost of such wells and associated production facilities, and other capital costs. The current long-term Urals blend  
oil price assumption used in the estimation of commercial reserves is an export price of US$95 and a Russian domestic price of US$43. 

Certain oil and gas properties are depreciated using the unit-of-production (‘UOP’) basis at a rate calculated by reference to Proved and 
Probable reserves. This results in a depreciation charge proportional to the depletion of the anticipated remaining production from the field.

Each item’s life, which is assessed annually, has regard to both its physical life limitations and to present assessments of economically 
recoverable reserves of the field at which the asset is located. These calculations require the use of estimates and assumptions, including 
the amount of recoverable reserves and estimates of future capital expenditure. The calculation of the UOP rate of depreciation could be 
impacted to the extent that actual production in the future is different from current forecast production based on Proved and Probable 
reserves. This would generally result from significant changes in any of the factors or assumptions used in estimating reserves.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201234

Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2012
(continued)

3.  Accounting Policies (continued)
These factors could include:

•	 Changes in Proved and Probable reserves;
•	 The effect on Proved and Probable reserves of differences between actual commodity prices and commodity price assumptions; and
•	 Unforeseen operational issues.

Recoverability of Oil and Gas Properties – Note 13, US$105.1 million
The Group assesses each asset or cash generating unit (‘CGU’) every reporting period to determine whether any indication of impairment  
exists. Where an indicator of impairment exists, a formal estimate of the recoverable amount is made, which is considered to be the higher  
of the fair-value-less–costs-to-sell and value-in-use. These assessments require the use of estimates and assumptions such as long-term oil 
prices (considering current and historical prices, price trends and related factors), discount rates, operating costs, future capital requirements, 
decommissioning costs, exploration potential, reserves (see 3(b) reserves base above) and operating performance (which includes production 
and sales volumes). These estimates and assumptions are subject to risk and uncertainty. Therefore, there is a possibility that changes in 
circumstances will impact these projections, which may impact the recoverable amount of assets and/or CGUs.

Fair value is determined as the amount that would be obtained from the sale of the asset in an arm’s length transaction between knowledgeable 
and willing parties. Fair value for oil and gas properties is generally determined as the present value of estimated future cash flows arising from 
the continued use of the assets, which includes estimates such as the cost of future expansion plans and eventual disposal, using assumptions 
that an independent market participant may take into account. Cash flows are discounted to their present value using a discount rate that 
reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. Management has assessed its CGUs  
as being an individual field, which is the lowest level for which cash inflows are largely independent of those of other assets.

Impairment of Non-financial Assets
The Group assesses whether there are any indicators of impairment for all non-financial assets at each reporting date. When value-in-use or 
fair-value-less-costs-to-sell calculations are undertaken, management must estimate the future expected cash flows from the asset or cash-
generating unit and determine a suitable discount rate in order to calculate the present value of those cash flows.

It is reasonably possible that the oil price assumption may change, which may then impact the estimated life of a field and may then require 
a material adjustment to the carrying value of the assets. The Group continuously monitors internal and external indicators of possible/
potential impairment relating to its tangible and intangible assets.

Impairment of Financial Assets – Note 17, US$45.6 million
Investments in subsidiaries in the parent company balance sheet are stated at cost and are reviewed for impairment if there are indications 
that the carrying value may not be recoverable in the parent company balance sheet.

Share-based Payment Transactions – Note 29
The Group measures the cost of equity-settled transactions by reference to the fair value of the equity instruments at the date on which  
they are granted. Estimating fair value requires determining the most appropriate valuation model for a grant of equity instruments, which  
is dependent on the terms and conditions of the grant. This also requires determining the most appropriate inputs to the valuation model; 
including the expected life of the option, volatility and dividend yield, and making assumptions about them. The model and assumptions 
used are discussed in Note 29.

Decommissioning Costs – Note 23, US$1.8 million
Decommissioning costs will be incurred by the Group at the end of the operating life of certain of the Group’s facilities and properties. The 
ultimate decommissioning costs are uncertain and cost estimates can vary in response to many factors including changes to relevant legal 
requirements, the emergence of new restoration techniques or experience at other sites. The expected timing and amount of expenditure can 
also change, for example, in response to changes in reserves or changes in laws and regulations or their interpretation. As a result, there could 
be significant adjustments to the provisions established which would affect future financial results. Refer to Note 23 for details of this provision 
and related assumptions.

3.4  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
a) Foreign Currencies
The consolidated financial statements are presented in US Dollars, which is the Group’s presentational currency. The US Dollar is also  
the Company’s functional currency. Each entity in the Group determines its own functional currency and items included in the financial 
statements of each entity are measured using that functional currency. The Company’s Russian subsidiaries’ functional currency is the 
Russian Rouble. Transactions in foreign currencies are initially recorded at the rate ruling at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets  
and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date, including foreign 
exchange differences arising on intercompany loans from the Company to the Russian subsidiaries. All differences are taken to profit or loss. 
Non-monetary items are translated using the exchange rates ruling as at the date of the initial transaction.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201235

3.  Accounting Policies (continued)
The assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated into US Dollars at the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date and 
their Income Statements are translated at the average exchange rates for the year. The exchange differences arising on the translation are 
taken directly to equity. 

The relevant average and closing exchange rates for 2012 and 2011 were:

US$1 =

Russian Rouble
Euro
British Pound

2012

2011

Closing

Average

Closing

Average

30.440
0.7565
0.6185

30.986
0.7781
0.6310

32.077
0.7722
0.6470

29.330
0.7188
0.6235

b) Interest in Joint Venture
The Group has an interest in a joint venture, which is a jointly controlled entity (‘JCE’), whereby the venturers have a contractual 
arrangement that establishes joint control over the economic activities of the entity. The agreement requires unanimous agreement for 
financial and operating decisions among the venturers. The JCE controls the assets of the joint venture, earns its own income and incurs  
its own liabilities and expenses. Interests in the JCE are accounted for using the equity method. Under the equity method, the investment in 
the joint venture is carried in the balance sheet at cost plus post acquisition changes in the Group’s share of net assets of the joint venture. 
Goodwill relating to the joint venture is included in the carrying amount of the investment and is neither amortised nor individually tested  
for impairment. The profit or loss reflects the Group’s share of the results of operations of the joint venture. Where there has been a change 
recognised directly in other comprehensive income or equity of the joint venture, the Group recognises its share of any changes and 
discloses this, when applicable, in the consolidated income statement or the statement of changes in equity, as appropriate. Unrealised 
gains and losses resulting from transactions between the Group and the joint venture are eliminated to the extent of the interest in the joint 
venture. The share of the joint venture’s net profit/(loss) is shown on the face of the consolidated income statement. This is the profit/(loss) 
attributable to the Group’s interest in the joint venture. The financial statements of the JCE are prepared for the same reporting period as  
the venturer. Where necessary, adjustments are made to bring the accounting policies in line with those of the Group.

The Group, acting as the operator of the JCE, receives reimbursement of direct costs recharged to the joint venture, such recharges represent 
reimbursements of costs that the operator incurred as an agent for the joint venture and therefore have no effect on profit or loss. When the 
Group charges a management fee to cover other general costs incurred in carrying out the activities on behalf of the joint venture, it is not  
acting as an agent. Therefore, the general overhead expenses and the management fee are netted against each other.

c) Oil and Gas Exploration, Evaluation and Development Expenditure
Oil and gas exploration, evaluation and development expenditure is accounted for using the successful efforts method of accounting.

Pre-licence Costs
Pre-licence costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred.

Exploration and Evaluation Costs
Payments to acquire the legal right to explore are capitalised at cost as intangible assets. If no future activity is planned, the carrying value  
of these costs is written-off. Costs directly associated with an exploration well are capitalised until the drilling of the well is complete and the 
results have been evaluated. These costs include employee remuneration, materials and fuel used, rig costs and payments made to contractors. 
If hydrocarbons are not found, the exploration expenditure is written-off as a dry hole. If extractable oil is found and, subject to further appraisal 
activity, which may include the drilling of further wells, is likely to be developed commercially, the costs continue to be carried as an intangible 
asset. All such carried costs are subject to technical, commercial and management review as well as review for impairment at least once a year 
to confirm the continued intent to develop or otherwise extract value from the discovery. If this is no longer the case, the costs are written-off. 
When proved reserves are determined and development is sanctioned, the relevant expenditure is transferred to oil and gas properties after 
impairment is assessed and any resulting impairment loss is recognised. The net proceeds or costs of pilot production are allocated to 
exploration and evaluation costs.

Development Costs
Expenditure on the construction, installation or completion of infrastructure facilities such as platforms, pipelines and the drilling of 
development wells, including unsuccessful development or delineation wells, is capitalised within oil and gas properties and depreciated 
from the commencement of production on a unit-of-production basis other than certain non-production related equipment and facilities 
which are expected to have a shorter useful economic life and are depreciated on a straight-line basis.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201236

Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2012
(continued)

3.  Accounting Policies (continued)
d) Oil and Gas Properties and Other Property, Plant and Equipment
Oil and gas properties and other property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation.

The initial cost of an asset comprises its purchase price or construction cost, any costs directly attributable to bringing the asset into 
operation, the initial estimate of the decommissioning obligation, and for qualifying assets, relevant borrowing costs. The purchase price  
or construction cost is the aggregate amount paid and the fair value of any other consideration given to acquire the asset.

Depreciation
Oil and gas properties are depreciated on the following basis:

•	 Production related items including the wells, production facility and pipeline are depreciated on a unit-of-production basis over the  
Proved and Probable reserves of the field concerned. The unit-of-production rate for the amortisation of field development costs  
takes into account expenditures incurred to date, together with sanctioned future development expenditure to extract these reserves.  
The related depreciation is included within cost of sales.

•	 Certain non-production related equipment and facilities which are expected to have a shorter useful economic life are depreciated on a 

straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives at annual rates ranging from 10% to 50%. The related depreciation is included within 
administrative expenses.

Property, plant and equipment are generally depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives at the following 
annual rates:

•	 Buildings and leasehold improvements – 3% to 7% or remaining term of the lease.
•	 Plant and machinery – 10% to 35%.
•	 Motor vehicles – 14% to 35%.

e) Impairment of Property, Plant and Equipment and Intangible Assets
At each balance sheet date, the Group reviews the carrying amounts of its property, plant and equipment and intangible assets to determine 
whether there is any indication that those assets may be impaired. If such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated 
in order to determine the extent of any impairment loss.

The recoverable amount is determined as the higher of the fair-value–less-costs–to-sell for the asset and the asset’s value-in-use. If the 
carrying amount of the asset exceeds its recoverable amount, the asset is impaired and an impairment loss is charged to the Consolidated 
Income Statement so as to reduce the carrying amount in the Consolidated Balance Sheet to its recoverable amount.

Fair value is determined as the amount that would be obtained from the sale of the asset in an arm’s length transaction between knowledgeable 
and willing parties. Direct costs of selling the asset are deducted. Fair value for oil and gas assets is generally determined as the present value 
of the estimated future cash flows expected to arise from the continued use of the asset, including any expansion prospects, and its eventual 
disposal, using assumptions that a market participant could take into account. These cash flows are discounted by an appropriate discount rate 
to arrive at a net present value (‘NPV’) of the asset.

Value-in-use is determined as the present value of the estimated future cash flows expected to arise from the continued use of the asset in 
its present form and its eventual disposal. Value-in-use is determined by applying assumptions specific to the Group’s continued use and 
cannot take into account future development. These assumptions are different to those used in calculating fair value and consequently the 
value-in-use calculation is likely to give a different result to a fair value calculation.

Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the Group estimates the recoverable amount of the 
cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.

f) Financial Assets – Investment in Subsidiaries
Investments in subsidiaries are stated at cost and are reviewed for impairment if there are indications that the carrying value may not  
be recoverable.

g) Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents on the balance sheet comprise cash at bank and on hand and short-term deposits with an original maturity  
of three months or less.

h) Financial Assets
Financial assets within the scope of IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement (’IAS 39’) are classified as loans and 
receivables. When financial assets are recognised initially, they are measured at fair value plus, in the case of investments not at fair  
value through profit or loss, directly attributable transaction costs. The Group determines the classification of its financial assets on  
initial recognition and, where allowed and appropriate, re-evaluates this designation at each financial year end.

The Group does not have held-to-maturity investments or available-for-sale financial assets or financial assets at fair value through profit  
or loss.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201237

3.  Accounting Policies (continued)
Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. After 
initial measurements, loans and receivables are carried at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method (‘EIR’) less any allowance 
for impairment. Amortised cost is calculated by taking into account any discount or premium on acquisition and fees or costs that are an 
integral part of the EIR. The EIR amortisation is included in finance revenue in the Consolidated Income Statement. The losses arising from 
impairment are recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement in finance costs.

The Group assesses at each year-end whether a financial asset or group of financial assets is impaired. If there is objective evidence that an 
impairment loss on assets carried at amortised cost has been incurred, the amount of the loss is measured as the difference between the 
asset’s carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows (excluding future expected credit losses that have not been 
incurred) discounted at the financial asset’s original effective interest rate (i.e. the effective interest rate computed at initial recognition).  
The amount of the loss is recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement.

If, in a subsequent period, the amount of the impairment loss decreases and the decrease can be related objectively to an event occurring 
after the impairment was recognised, the previously recognised impairment loss is reversed, to the extent that the carrying value of the asset 
does not exceed its amortised cost at the reversal date. Any subsequent reversal of an impairment loss is recognised in the Consolidated 
Income Statement.

In relation to trade receivables, a provision for impairment is made when there is objective evidence (such as the probability of insolvency or 
significant financial difficulties of the debtor) that the Group will not be able to collect all of the amounts due under the original terms of the 
invoice. The carrying amount of the receivable is reduced through use of an allowance account. Impaired debts are written-off when they are 
assessed as uncollectible.

i) Financial Liabilities
Financial liabilities within the scope of IAS 39 are classified as loans and borrowings. The Group determines the classification of its financial 
liabilities at initial recognition. All financial liabilities are recognised initially at fair value and in the case of loans and borrowings, net of 
directly attributable transaction costs.

The Group’s financial liabilities include trade and other payables and loans and borrowings.

Interest-bearing Loans and Borrowings
After initial recognition, interest bearing loans and borrowings are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate 
method. Gains and losses are recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement when the liabilities are derecognised as well as through the 
effective interest rate method (‘EIR’) amortisation process.

Amortised cost is calculated by taking into account any discount or premium on acquisition and fee or costs that are an integral part of the 
EIR. The EIR amortisation is included in finance cost in the Consolidated Income Statement.

Derecognition
A financial liability is derecognised when the obligation under the liability is discharged or cancelled or expires.

When an existing financial liability is replaced by another from the same lender on substantially different terms, or the terms of an existing 
liability are substantially modified, such an exchange or modification is treated as a derecognition of the original liability and the recognition 
of a new liability, and the difference in the respective carrying amounts is recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement.

Compound Instruments
IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Presentation requires the issuer of a financial instrument to classify the instrument, or its component parts, on 
initial recognition, as a financial liability, financial asset or equity instrument in accordance with the substance of the contractual arrangement. 
When the initial carrying value of a financial instrument is allocated to its liability and equity components, the equity component is assigned the 
residual amount after deducting from the fair value of the instrument as a whole the amount separately determined for the liability component. 
The fair value of the liability component is the present value of the contractually determined stream of future cash flows discounted at the rate 
of interest applied by the market to instruments of comparable credit status and providing substantially the same cash flows on the same terms, 
but without the equity component. Thereafter, it is measured at amortised cost until extinguished on conversion or redemption. The remainder 
of the proceeds on issue is allocated to the equity component and included in other reserves. The carrying amount of the equity component is 
not remeasured in subsequent years.

j) Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost of producing and processing crude oil is accounted on a weighted 
average basis. This cost includes all costs incurred in the normal course of business in bringing each product to its present location and 
condition. The cost of crude oil includes an appropriate proportion of depreciation and overheads based on normal capacity. Net realisable 
value of crude oil is based on estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business less any costs expected to be incurred to completion 
and disposal.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201238

Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2012
(continued)

3.  Accounting Policies (continued)
k) Provisions
General
Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event and it is probable that 
an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of the 
amount of the obligation. Where the Group expects some or all of a provision to be reimbursed, for example, under an insurance contract, 
the reimbursement is recognised as a separate asset but only when the reimbursement is virtually certain. The expense relating to any 
provision is presented in the Consolidated Income Statement net of any reimbursement. If the effect of the time value of money is material, 
provisions are discounted using a current pre-tax rate that reflects, where appropriate, the risks specific to the liability. Where discounting  
is used, the increase in the provision due to the passage of time is recognised as a finance cost.

A contingent liability is disclosed where the existence of an obligation will only be confirmed by future events or where the amount of the 
obligation cannot be measured with reasonable reliability. Contingent assets are not recognised, but are disclosed where an inflow of 
economic benefits is probable.

Decommissioning Liability
A decommissioning liability is recognised when the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of past events, and  
it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation, and a reliable estimate of the amount of obligation  
can be made. The amount recognised is the estimated cost of decommissioning, discounted to its present value. A corresponding amount 
equivalent to the provision at the time of recognition is recognised as part of the cost of the related oil and gas properties or in exploration 
and evaluation expenditure. Changes in the estimated timing of decommissioning or decommissioning cost estimates are dealt with 
prospectively by recording an adjustment to the provision and a corresponding adjustment to oil and gas properties or exploration and 
evaluation expenditure. The unwinding of the discount on the decommissioning provision is included as a finance cost.

l) Taxes
Current Income Tax
Current income tax assets and liabilities for the current and prior periods are measured at the amount expected to be recovered from or  
paid to the taxation authorities. The tax rates and tax laws used to compute the amount are those that are enacted or substantively enacted, 
by the reporting date, in the countries where the Group operates and generates taxable income.

Deferred Income Tax
Deferred income tax is provided using the liability method on temporary differences at the balance sheet date between the tax bases of 
assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts for financial reporting purposes. Deferred income tax liabilities are recognised for all taxable 
temporary differences, except:

•	 in respect of taxable temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries, associates and interests in joint ventures, where 
the timing of the reversal of the temporary differences can be controlled and it is probable that the temporary differences will not reverse 
in the foreseeable future.

Deferred income tax assets are recognised for all deductible temporary differences, carry forward of unused tax credits and unused tax 
losses, to the extent that it is probable that taxable profit will be available against which the deductible temporary differences and the  
carry forward of unused tax credits and unused tax losses can be utilised except:

•	 in respect of deductible temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries, associates and interests in joint ventures, 
deferred income tax assets are recognised only to the extent that it is probable that the temporary differences will reverse in the 
foreseeable future and taxable profit will be available against which the temporary differences can be utilised.

The carrying amount of deferred income tax assets is reviewed at each balance sheet date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer 
probable that sufficient taxable profit will be available to allow all or part of the deferred income tax asset to be utilised. Unrecognised 
deferred income tax assets are reassessed at each balance sheet date and are recognised to the extent that it has become probable that 
future taxable profit will allow the deferred tax asset to be recovered.

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply to the year when the asset is realised  
or the liability is settled, based on tax rates (and tax laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.

Deferred income tax relating to items recognised outside of profit and loss is recognised outside profit and loss. Deferred tax items are 
recognised in correlation to the underlying transaction either in other comprehensive income or directly in equity.

Deferred income tax assets and deferred income tax liabilities are offset if a legally enforceable right exists to set off current tax assets 
against current income tax liabilities and the deferred income taxes relate to the same taxable entity and the same taxation authority.

m) Revenue Recognition
Revenue from the sale of crude oil is recognised when the significant risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred, which is when 
title passes to the customer. This generally occurs when product is physically transferred into a pipe or other delivery mechanism.

Revenue is stated after deducting sales taxes, excise duties and similar levies.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201239

3.  Accounting Policies (continued)
n) Borrowing Costs
Borrowing costs directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or production of an asset that necessarily takes a substantial period  
of time to get ready for its intended use or sale are capitalised as part of the cost of the respective assets. All other borrowing costs are 
expensed in the period they occur. Borrowing costs consist of interest and other costs that an entity incurs in connection with the borrowing 
of funds. No finance costs met the criteria to be capitalised as borrowing costs in either or 2012 or 2011.

o) Share-based Payment
Employees (including senior executives) and Directors of the Group may receive fees and remuneration in the form of share-based payment 
transactions, whereby employees render services as consideration for equity instruments (’equity-settled transactions’).

In situations where equity instruments are issued and some or all of the goods or services received by the entity as consideration cannot be 
specifically identified, the unidentified goods or services received (or to be received) are measured as the difference between the fair value  
of the share-based payment transaction and the fair value of any identifiable goods or services received at the grant date. This is then 
capitalised or expensed as appropriate.

Equity-settled Transactions
The cost of equity-settled transactions is measured by reference to the fair value at the date on which they are granted. The fair value is 
determined by an external valuer using an appropriate pricing model, further details of which are given in Note 29.

The cost of equity-settled transactions is recognised, together with a corresponding increase in equity, over the period in which the performance 
and/or service conditions are fulfilled. The cumulative expense recognised for equity-settled transactions at each reporting date until the vesting 
date reflects the extent to which the vesting period has expired and the Group’s best estimate of the number of equity instruments that will 
ultimately vest. The income statement charge or credit for a period represents the movement in cumulative expense recognised as at the 
beginning and end of that period and is recognised in employee benefits expense.

No expense is recognised for awards that do not ultimately vest, except for equity-settled transactions where vesting is conditional upon a 
market or non-vesting condition, which are treated as vesting irrespective of whether or not the market or non-vesting condition is satisfied, 
provided that all other performance and/or service conditions are satisfied.

Where the terms of an equity-settled transaction are modified, the minimum expense recognised is the expense as if the terms had not been 
modified, if the original terms of the awards are met. An additional expense is recognised for any modification that increases the total fair 
value of the share-based payment transaction, or is otherwise beneficial to the employee as measured at the date of modification.

Where an equity-settled award is cancelled, it is treated as if it had vested on the date of cancellation, and any expense not yet recognised 
for the award is recognised immediately. This includes any award where non-vesting conditions within the control of either the entity or the 
employee are not met. However, if a new award is substituted for the cancelled award, and designated as a replacement award on the date 
that it is granted, the cancelled and new awards are treated as if they were a modification of the original award, as described in the previous 
paragraph.

Where appropriate, the dilutive effect of outstanding options is reflected as additional share dilution in the computation of diluted earnings 
per share.

p) Share Issue Expenses
Costs of share issues are written-off against the premium arising on the issue of share capital.

q) Operating Leases
The determination of whether an arrangement is, or contains, a lease is based on the substance of the arrangement at inception date, or 
whether the fulfilment of the arrangement is dependent on the use of a specific asset or assets or the arrangement conveys a right to use 
the asset.

Operating lease payments are recognised as an expense in the Consolidated Income Statement on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

r) Finance Revenue and Finance Cost
For all financial instruments measured at amortised cost, interest income or expense is recorded using the effective interest rate, which is the 
rate that exactly discounts the estimated future cash payments or receipts through the expected life of the financial instrument or a shorter 
period, where appropriate, to the net carrying amount of the financial asset or liability. Interest income is included in finance revenue in the 
income statement.

s) Pension Costs
Pension benefits are funded over the employees’ period of service by way of contributions to a defined contribution scheme. Contributions 
are charged to the Consolidated Income Statement in the year to which they relate.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201240

Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2012
(continued)

3.  Accounting Policies (continued)
3.5  Changes in Accounting Policy and Disclosures
The Group has adopted the following new and amended IFRS and IFRIC interpretations in respect of the 2012 financial year-end:

IAS 12 Income Taxes (Amendment)
IFRS 7 Financial Instruments – Disclosures (Amendment)

Effective date

1 January 2012
1 July 2011

There were no changes necessary arising from the above amendments to the Group during the year.

IFRS and IFRIC Interpretations Effective in Respect of the 2013 Financial Year-end
The Group has not applied the following standards and interpretations that have been issued but are not yet effective:

•	 IAS 1 Presentation of Items of Other Comprehensive Income – Amendments to IAS 1 effective 1 July 2012.
•	 IAS 19 Employee Benefits (Revised) effective 1 January 2013.
•	 IAS 28 Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures (as revised in 2011) effective 1 January 2013.
•	 IFRS 7 Disclosures — Offsetting Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities — Amendments to IFRS 7 effective 1 January 2013.
•	 IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement effective 1 January 2013.

Improvements to IFRSs (May 2012) – These improvements will not have an impact on the Group, but include:

•	 IFRS 1 First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards.
•	 IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements. 
•	 IAS 16 Property Plant and Equipment. 
•	 IAS 32 Financial Instruments, Presentation.
•	 IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting.

These improvements are effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2013.

The standards and interpretations addressed above will be applied for the purposes of the Group Consolidated Financial Statements  
with effect from the dates listed. Their application is not currently envisaged to have a material impact on the Group’s Consolidated 
Financial Statements.

IFRS and IFRIC Interpretations Effective Subsequent to the 2013 Financial Year-end
•	 IAS 32 Offsetting Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities — Amendments to IAS 32 effective 1 January 2014.
•	 IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements, IAS 27 Separate Financial Statements effective 1 January 2014.
•	 IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements effective 1 January 2014.
•	 IFRS 12 Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities effective 1 January 2014.
•	 IFRS 9 Financial Instruments effective 1 January 2015.

The Group is in the process of assessing the impact of these standards but does not currently envisage their application to have a material 
impact on the Group’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

4.  Segment Information
At present the Group has one reportable operating segment, which is oil exploration and production. As a result, there are no further 
disclosures required in respect of the Group’s reporting segment.

The risk and returns of the Group’s operations are primarily determined by the nature of the activities that the Group engages in, rather than 
the geographical location of these operations. This is reflected by the Group’s organisational structure and the Group’s internal financial 
reporting systems.

Management monitors and evaluates the operating results for the purpose of making decisions consistently with how it determines operating 
profit or loss in the consolidated financial statements.

Geographical Segments
All of the Group’s sales are in Russia. Substantially all of the Group’s capital expenditures are in Russia.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 20124.  Segment Information (continued)
Non-current Assets
Assets are allocated based on where the assets are located:

Russia
Ireland

5.  Revenue

Revenue from crude oil sales

41

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

138,899,550 123,019,068
9,443

8,651

138,908,201 123,028,511

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

34,581,257

29,031,693

34,581,257

29,031,693

All revenue arises from sales to third parties based in the Russian Federation.

More than 99% of revenue or US$34,564,079 (2011: US$28,891,704) arises from sales of crude oil to NTK Finko.

6.  Operating Profit/(loss)

Operating profit/(loss) is stated after charging/(crediting):
Included in cost of sales
Cost of inventory recognised as an expense
Impairment of oil and gas properties
Foreign exchange (gain)/loss on intra-Group loans
Included in administrative expenses
Other foreign exchange loss/(gain)
Operating lease rentals – land and buildings
Operating lease rentals – equipment
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
Included in administrative expenses
Included in cost of sales
Capitalised during period

Depreciation of oil and gas properties
Included in cost of sales
Included in administrative expenses
Capitalised in closing inventories

Auditor’s remuneration – Group
– audit of Group financial statements
– other assurance services
– tax advisory services

Auditor’s remuneration – Company
– audit of Company financial statements
– other assurance services
– tax advisory services

Note

13

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

30,134,453
–
(4,538,236)

25,598,616
5,000,000
5,114,345

90,533
230,454
1,345,642

(159,244)
238,055
951,296

166,446
–
172,890

145,328
62,136
174,677

14

339,336

382,141

4,219,955
251,195
238,145

3,906,568
179,917
302,748

13

4,709,295

4,389,233

164,475 
29,025
–

216,676
8,043
8,403

193,500

233,122

20,000 
–
– 

20,000 

20,000 
–
–

20,000 

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201242

Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2012
(continued)

7.  Finance Revenue

Bank interest receivable
Interest from Joint Venture loans
Unwinding of discount on deposit paid for pipeline usage

8.  Finance Costs

Interest on loans
Unwinding of discount on decommissioning provision
Other finance costs

9.  Employees

Number of employees
The average numbers of employees (including Directors) during the year was:
Directors
Senior management
Professional staff
Oil field employees
Construction crew employees

At the end of 2012 the total number of employees was 170 (2011: 188). 

Employment costs (including Directors)
Wages and salaries
Social insurance costs
Share-based payment expense
Pension contributions (defined contributions)

2012 
US$

34,784 
17,930
24,519

77,233

2011 
US$

47,583 
8,278
3,993

59,854

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

3,890,820 
65,167
260,561

2,438,971
62,099
–

4,216,548

2,501,070

2012 
Number

2011 
Number

7 
5 
50 
84
36

7 
5 
51 
75
36

182

174

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

5,122,829
972,412
977,030
57,188

5,119,742
995,261
1,108,446
59,719

7,129,459

7,283,168

Included in employment costs above is an amount of US$1,362,084 (2011: US$1,884,599) capitalised during the year.

Directors’ emoluments
Remuneration and other emoluments – Executive Directors
Remuneration and other emoluments – Non-Executive Directors
Remuneration and other emoluments payable in shares
Pension contributions
Share-based payment expense

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

804,301
122,208
38,997
39,380
290,846

869,786
145,007
28,905
40,677
317,525

1,295,732

1,401,900

An amount of US$45,368 (2011: US$92,222) relating to Executive Directors salaries was re-charged to Russian BD Holdings B.V.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201243

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

64,105
10,799
–

7,756
–
(37,518)

74,904 

(29,762)

1,713,670

1,521,082

1,713,670

1,521,082

1,788,574

1,491,320

10.  Income Tax

Current income tax
Current income tax charge
Income tax on dividends (paid in Russia)
Adjustment in respect of prior periods

Total current income tax

Deferred tax
Relating to origination and reversal of temporary differences

Total deferred tax

Income tax expense reported in the Consolidated Income Statement

The tax expense comprises:

The income tax charge relates to interest income received by the Company.

Reconciliation of the Total Tax Charge
The tax assessed for the year differs from that calculated by applying the standard rate corporation tax in the Republic of Ireland of 12.5%. 
The differences are explained below:

Loss before income tax

Accounting loss multiplied by Irish standard rate of tax of 12.5%
Share-based payment expense
Effect of higher tax rates on investment income
Non-deductible expenses
Tax deductible timing differences
Other
Losses available at higher rates
Taxable losses not utilised
Income tax on dividends (paid in Russia)
Adjustment in respect of prior periods

Total tax expense reported in the Consolidated Income Statement

Deferred Tax
Deferred tax at 31 December relates to the following:

Group and Company

Deferred income tax liability
Accrued interest income

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

(2,777,569) (16,422,036)

(347,196)
122,129
884,394
664,930
(46,602)
27,934
(283,312)
755,498
10,799
–

(2,052,755)
138,556
781,785
720,592
(81,116)
(12,631)
(1,220,644)
3,255,051
–
(37,518)

1,788,574

1,491,320

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

4,871,227

3,157,557

4,871,227

3,157,557

The Group has tax losses which arose in Russia that are available for offset against future taxable profits of the companies in which the 
losses arose. Deferred tax assets of US$8.4 million (2011: US$7.2 million), which expire in six to ten years, have not been recognised in 
respect of these losses as they may not be used to offset taxable profits elsewhere in the Group and they have arisen in subsidiaries that 
have been loss-making over recent years.

Factors That May Affect Future Tax Charges
Continued full year-round oil production in Russia is likely to result in taxable profits in Russia in future years, where the applicable tax rate 
is 20%.

11.  Loss per Ordinary Share
Basic loss per Ordinary Share amounts are calculated by dividing net loss for the year attributable to ordinary equity holders of the Parent  
by the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares outstanding during the year.

Basic and diluted earnings per Ordinary Share are the same as the potential Ordinary Shares are anti-dilutive.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201244

Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2012
(continued)

11.  Loss per Ordinary Share (continued)

Numerator
Loss attributable to equity shareholders of the Parent for basic and diluted loss

Denominator
Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares for basic and diluted earnings per Ordinary Share

Diluted weighted average number of shares

Loss per share:
Basic and diluted – US dollar cent

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

(4,566,143) (17,913,356)

(4,566,143) (17,913,356)

444,974,000 416,224,994

444,974,000 416,224,994

(1.03)

(4.30)

The Company has instruments in issue that could potentially dilute basic earnings per Ordinary Share in the future, but are not included in 
the calculation for the reasons outlined below:

•	 Employee Share Options – Refer to Note 29 for the total number of shares related to the outstanding options that could potentially dilute 
basic earnings per share in the future. These potential Ordinary Shares are anti-dilutive for the years ended 31 December 2012 and 2011.

•	 Warrants – At 31 December 2012, 14,100,000 (2011: 6,700,000) Ordinary Shares are subject to warrants being exercised (refer to 

Note 29). These potential Ordinary Shares are anti-dilutive for the years ended 31 December 2012 and 2011.

12.  Profit on Disposal of Subsidiary Undertaking
In January 2010, the Group acquired and registered Licence 67. Under the August 2008 Area of Mutual Interest agreement, Arawak Energy 
exercised their option to participate as a 50% partner in the development of Licence 67, which will be operated by PetroNeft. PetroNeft 
Resources Plc entered into an agreement with Arawak to jointly own and control a holding company (Russian BD Holdings B.V.) which holds 
all of the shares of LLC Lineynoye, an entity involved in oil and gas exploration and the registered holder of Licence 67. The legal agreements 
and documentation relating to the jointly controlled entity were completed in September 2011 when the assets were transferred to the 
jointly controlled entity.

On 9 September 2011, Russian BD Holdings B.V., which was previously a 100% subsidiary of PetroNeft, became a jointly controlled entity, 
resulting in a profit on disposal on consolidation of US$223,222.

13.  Oil and Gas Properties

Cost
At 1 January 2011
Transfer from exploration and evaluation assets
Additions
Disposals
Translation adjustment

At 1 January 2012
Additions
Disposals
Translation adjustment

At 31 December 2012

Depreciation
At 1 January 2011
Charge for the year
Impairment
Depreciation on disposals
Translation adjustment

At 1 January 2012
Charge for the year
Translation adjustment

At 31 December 2012

Net book values

At 31 December 2012

At 31 December 2011

Wells 
US$

Equipment  
and facilities 
US$

Pipeline 
US$

Total 
US$

35,213,042
2,803,399
30,033,170
(19,843)
(4,418,308)

13,553,500
111,368
13,846,905
(127,661)
(1,826,123)

14,174,036
–
51,406
(249,045)
(660,975)

62,940,578
2,914,767
43,931,481
(396,549)
(6,905,406)

63,611,460
8,281,792
(19,231)
3,485,238

25,557,989
1,227,254
–
1,383,657

13,315,422 102,484,871
11,842,430
(19,231)
5,623,109

2,333,384
–
754,214

75,359,259

28,168,900

16,403,020 119,931,179

550,067
3,476,558
5,000,000
(500)
(314,243)

8,711,882
3,706,710
261,360

216,050
816,099
–
(4,126)
(69,603)

958,420
893,632
61,149

30,660
96,576
–
(735)
(9,908)

116,593
108,953
14,724

796,777
4,389,233
5,000,000
(5,361)
(393,754)

9,786,895
4,709,295
337,233

12,679,952

1,913,201

240,270

14,833,423

62,679,307

26,255,699

16,162,750 105,097,756

54,899,578

24,599,569

13,198,829

92,697,976

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201245

13.  Oil and Gas Properties (continued)
The net book value at 31 December 2012 includes US$8,369,828 (2011: US$24,395,926) in respect of assets under construction, which 
are not yet being depreciated.

Expenditure of US$11,842,430 was incurred mainly in connection with the Arbuzovskoye oil field, primarily relating to production wells and 
oil field infrastructure.

In November 2011 the Board sanctioned the development of the Arbuzovskoye oil field. Exploration and evaluation costs of US$2,914,767  
in relation to the Arbuzovskoye oil field were transferred to oil and gas properties.

Loss on Disposal of Oil and Gas Properties
During 2011, the Group disposed of pipeline and facilities relating to the decommissioning of the Lineynoye No. 1 well and the conversion  
of the Lineynoye No.6 well to a water injection well resulting in a loss on disposal of US$391,188.

Impairment Loss
No impairment was recognised in 2012. In 2011, an impairment of US$5 million was recognised in respect of the Lineynoye oil field. The 
trigger for the 2011 impairment test was primarily the effect of lower than expected production from Pads 2 and 3 at the Lineynoye oil field 
during the year. An impairment test in 2012 was triggered by a reduction in reserves at the Arbuzovskoye oil field as a result of thinner than 
expected net pays in some new wells drilled there in the year and a narrowing of the southern end of the structure based on a new seismic 
interpretation carried out. In addition, the reduction in the market capitalisation of the Company below the carrying value of the net assets  
of the Group was also an indicator of potential impairment of the carrying value of oil and gas properties and exploration and evaluation 
expenditure as a whole. 

In assessing whether impairment is required, the carrying value of an asset or cash-generating unit (‘CGU’) is compared with its recoverable 
amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of the asset’s/CGU’s fair value less costs to sell and value in use. Given the nature of the 
Group’s activities, information on the fair value of an asset is usually difficult to obtain unless negotiations with potential purchasers are 
taking place. Consequently, the recoverable amount used in assessing the impairment charges described below is value in use. The Group 
generally estimates value in use using a discounted cash flow model.

Key Assumptions Used in Value-in-use Calculations for the Lineynoye and Arbuzovskoye Oil Fields
The calculations of value-in-use for the Lineynoye and Arbuzovskoye oil field CGU are most sensitive to the following assumptions:

•	 Production volumes.
•	 Discount rates.
•	 Crude oil prices.

Estimated production volumes are based on detailed data for the fields and take into account development plans for the fields agreed by 
management as part of the long-term planning process and estimated by Ryder Scott Petroleum Consultants in their report on the Group’s 
reserves. It is estimated that, if all production were to be reduced by 15% for the whole of the next 20 years, this would not be sufficient to 
reduce the excess of recoverable amount over the carrying amounts of the CGU to zero. Consequently, management believes no reasonably 
possible change in the production assumption would cause the carrying amount of the CGU to exceed the recoverable amount.

The Group generally estimates value in use for the oil exploration and production CGU and total oil and gas properties using a discounted  
cash flow model. The future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate of 17% that reflects current market 
assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. This discount rate is derived from the Group’s post-tax weighted 
average cost of capital (‘WACC’), with appropriate adjustments made to reflect the risks specific to the asset/CGU and to determine the pre-tax 
rate. The WACC takes into account both debt and equity. The cost of equity is derived from the expected return on investment by the Group’s 
investors. The cost of debt is based on its interest bearing borrowings the Group is obliged to service. Segment specific risk is incorporated by 
applying individual beta factors. The beta factors are evaluated annually based on publicly available market data. Management also believes 
that currently there is no reasonably possible change in discount rate which would cause the carrying amount of the oil and gas properties to 
exceed their recoverable amount.

The long-term forecast Urals blend oil price used of US$95 per barrel is based on management’s estimates and available market data.  
It is estimated that if the long-term price of Urals blend crude oil fell by 15% for the whole of the next 20 years, this would not be sufficient 
to reduce the excess of recoverable amount over the carrying amounts of the oil and gas properties to zero. Consequently, management 
believes no reasonably possible change in the oil price assumption would cause the carrying amount of oil and gas properties to exceed  
their recoverable amount.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201246

Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2012
(continued)

14.  Property, Plant and Equipment

Group

Cost
At 1 January 2011
Additions
Translation adjustment

At 1 January 2012
Additions
Disposals
Translation adjustment

At 31 December 2012

Depreciation
At 1 January 2011
Charge for the year
Translation adjustment

At 1 January 2012
Charge for the year
Translation adjustment

At 31 December 2012

Net book values

At 31 December 2012

At 31 December 2011

Company

Cost
At 1 January 2011
Additions

At 1 January 2012
Additions

At 31 December 2012

Depreciation
At 1 January 2011
Charge for the year

At 1 January 2012
Charge for the year

At 31 December 2012

Net book values

At 31 December 2012

At 31 December 2011

Buildings & 
leasehold
improvements
US$

1,099,715
–
(52,992)

1,046,723
–
–
55,961

Plant and 
machinery 
US$

1,119,864
745,073
(116,255)

1,748,682
15,529
(3,549)
94,062

Motor vehicles 
US$

Total 
US$

123,597
–
(5,927)

117,670
–
–
6,325

2,343,176
745,073
(175,174)

2,913,075
15,529
(3,549)
156,348

1,102,684

1,854,724

123,995

3,081,403

89,472
66,787
(10,008)

146,251
63,217
8,996

547,893
288,205
(50,117)

785,981
250,421
45,896

31,595
27,149
(3,839)

54,905
25,698
3,412

668,960
382,141
(63,964)

987,137
339,336
58,304

218,464

1,082,298

84,015

1,384,777

884,220

772,426

39,980

1,696,626

900,472

962,701

62,765

1,925,938

Plant and 
machinery 
US$

19,900
3,962

23,862
3,165

27,027

10,764
3,654

14,418
3,958

18,376

8,651

9,444

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201215.  Exploration and Evaluation Assets

Group

Cost
At 1 January 2011
Additions
Reclassification to oil and gas properties
Translation adjustment

At 1 January 2012
Additions
Translation adjustment

At 31 December 2012

Net book values

At 31 December 2012

At 31 December 2011

47

Exploration 
and evaluation 
expenditure 
US$

21,391,491
7,459,616
(2,914,767)
(1,383,623)

24,552,717
2,412,261
1,329,699

28,294,677

28,294,677

24,552,717

Exploration and evaluation expenditure represents active exploration projects. These amounts will be written-off to the Consolidated Income 
Statement as exploration costs unless commercial reserves are established, or the determination process is not completed and there are no 
indications of impairment. The outcome of ongoing exploration, and therefore whether the carrying value of these assets will ultimately be 
recovered, is inherently uncertain.

In accordance with IFRS 6, once commercial viability is demonstrated the capitalised exploration and evaluation costs are transferred to oil 
and gas properties or intangibles, as appropriate after being assessed for impairment.

Additions in 2012 relate mainly to completion of exploration wells in the Sibkrayevskaya and North Varyakhskaya prospects and the 
Kondrashevskoye oil field.

16.  Equity-accounted Investment in Joint Venture
PetroNeft Resources plc has a 50% interest in Russian BD Holdings B.V., a jointly controlled entity which holds 100% of LLC Lineynoye,  
an entity involved in oil and gas exploration and the registered holder of Licence 67. The interest in this joint venture is accounted for using 
the equity accounting method. Russian BD Holdings B.V. is incorporated in the Netherlands and carries out its activities in Russia.

At 1 January 2011
Subsidiary undertaking becoming joint venture
Investment
Retained loss
Translation adjustment

At 1 January 2012
Retained loss
Translation adjustment

At 31 December 2012

Share of  
net assets 
US$

–
445,748
3,850,000
(334,363)
(109,505)

3,851,880
(223,472)
190,734

3,819,142

Summarised financial statement information prepared in accordance with IFRS of the equity-accounted joint venture entity is disclosed below:

Summarised Financial Statements of Equity-accounted Joint Venture (50% Share)

Sales and other operating revenues
Operating expenses
Exchange loss
Finance revenue
Finance costs

Loss before taxation

Taxation

Loss for the period

2012 
US$

–
(196,468)
8,890
1,719
(30,437)

2011 
US$

–
(176,278)
(149,640)
1,408
(9,496)

(216,296)

(334,006)

(7,176)

(357)

(223,472)

(334,363)

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201248

Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2012
(continued)

16.  Equity-accounted Investment in Joint Venture (continued)

Current assets
Non-current assets

Total assets

Current liabilities
Non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

Capital Commitments – Joint Venture

Details of capital commitments at the balance sheet date are as follows:
Contracted for but not provided in the financial statements

Including contracted with related parties

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

61,672
4,647,923

532,830
3,906,526

4,709,595

4,439,356

(29,413)
(861,040)

(6,136)
(581,340)

(890,453)

(587,476)

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

112,678

1,146,596

112,678

1,078,820

Future minimum rentals payable under non-cancellable operating leases at the balance sheet date are as follows:

Within one year
After one year but not more than five years
More than five years

2012 
US$

4,587
18,157
62,051

84,795

2011 
US$

3,376
17,413
59,793

80,582

The above capital commitments in the joint venture are incurred jointly with Arawak Energy. The Group has a 50% share of these 
commitments.

17.  Financial Assets

Company

Cost
At 1 January 2011
Capital contribution in respect of share-based payment expense
Subsidiary undertaking becoming a joint venture
Additions

At 1 January 2012
Capital contribution in respect of share-based payment expense

At 31 December 2012

Net book values

At 31 December 2012

At 31 December 2011

Investment in  
joint venture 
US$

Investment in 
subsidiaries 
US$

Total 
US$

–
–
1,008,816
3,850,000

40,368,922
689,449
(1,008,816)
130,000

40,368,922
689,449
–
3,980,000

4,858,816
–

40,179,555
596,516

45,038,371
596,516

4,858,816

40,776,071

45,634,887

4,858,816

40,776,071

45,634,887

4,858,816

40,179,555

45,038,371

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201249

17.  Financial Assets (continued)
Details of the Company’s holding in direct and indirect subsidiaries at 31 December 2012 are as follows:

Name of subsidiary

Registered office

Proportion of 
ownership interest

Proportion of  
voting power held

Principal activity

WorldAce Investments Limited 3 Themistocles Street, Nicosia, Cyprus
LLC Stimul-T
LLC Pervomayka*
Granite Construction
Dolomite

147 Prospekt Lenina, Tomsk 634009, Russia
Pobedy, Kolpashevo, Tomsk 634460, Russia
147 Prospekt Lenina, Tomsk 634009, Russia
147 Prospekt Lenina, Tomsk 634009, Russia

100%
100%
100%
100%
100%

100%
100%
100%
100%
100%

Holding company
Oil and Gas exploration
Property holding
Construction
Oil and Gas exploration

*  LLC Pervomayka was dissolved on 13 January 2013.

Details of the Group’s interest in joint ventures at 31 December 2012 are as follows:

Name of entity

Registered office

Proportion of 
ownership interest

Proportion of  
voting power held

Principal activity

Russian BD Holdings B.V.
LLC Lineynoye

Prins Bernhardplein 200, 1097 JB,  

Amsterdam, the Netherlands

147 Prospekt Lenina, Tomsk 634009, Russia

50%
50%

50%
50%

Holding company
Oil and Gas exploration

Arawak Energy owns the other 50% of Russian BD Holdings B.V.

18.  Inventories

Group

Oil stock
Materials

19.  Trade and Other Receivables

Group

Russian VAT
Russian profit tax receivable
Other receivables
Receivable from jointly controlled entity (Note 28)
Advances to and receivables from related parties (Note 28)
Advances to contractors
Prepayments

Company

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings (Note 28)
Amounts owed by other related companies (Note 28)
VAT receivable
Prepayments

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

1,572,957
138,460

1,619,333
237,480

1,711,417

1,856,813

2012 
US$

55,519
168,885
165,054 
657,492
69,762
49,397
153,923

2011 
US$

1,802,450
–
77,860
520,921
47,397
152,171
209,660

1,320,032

2,810,459

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

128,638,512 110,023,692
288,976
–
209,660

651,431
37,999
153,923

129,481,865 110,522,328

The Directors consider that the carrying amount of trade and other receivables approximates their fair value.

Other receivables are non-interest-bearing and are normally settled on 60-day terms.

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings are interest-bearing. Interest is charged at rates ranging from 0% to 10%.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201250

Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2012
(continued)

20.  Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

Group

Cash at bank and in hand
Restricted cash

Company

Cash at bank and in hand
Restricted cash

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

3,939,422
4,000,000

1,030,005
5,000,000

7,939,422

6,030,005

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

3,692,037
4,000,000

950,825
5,000,000

7,692,037

5,950,825

At 31 December 2012 restricted cash amounting to US$4 million is being held in a Macquarie Debt Service Reserve Account (‘DSRA’).  
This account is part of the security package held by Macquarie and may be offset against the loan in the event of a default on the loan or  
by agreement between the parties.

Bank deposits earn interest at floating rates based on daily deposit rates. Short-term deposits are made for varying periods of between one 
day and one month depending on the immediate cash requirements of the Group, and earn interest at the respective short-term deposit rates.

21.  Trade and Other Payables

Trade payables
Trade payables to jointly controlled entity (Note 28)
Trade payables to related parties (Note 28)
Corporation tax
Oil taxes, VAT and employee taxes
Other payables
Payment received in advance
Accruals 

Company

Trade payables
Corporation tax
Other taxes and social welfare costs
Accruals

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

945,955 
18,241
1,947,539
64,105 
3,221,291
169,540 
1,531,204
1,011,955

5,543,318 
–
4,548,673
7,827
1,957,835 
160,237
–
720,703

8,909,830

12,938,593

2012 
US$

157,972 
64,105 
21,832
469,881 

2011 
US$

210,688
7,827
66,396
414,055

713,790

698,966

The Directors consider that the carrying amount of trade and other payables approximates their fair value.

Trade and other payables are non-interest-bearing and are normally settled on 60-day terms.

Trade payables and accruals principally comprise amounts outstanding for trade purchases and ongoing costs.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201251

22.  Loans and Borrowings

Group and Company

Interest-bearing
Current liabilities
Macquarie Bank – US$75,000,000 loan facility
Arawak – US$5,000,000 loan

Total current liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Arawak – US$15,000,000 loan

Total non-current liabilities

Total loans and borrowings

Contractual undiscounted liability

Effective  
interest rate 
%

Maturity

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

9.79% 31 May 2014 21,350,311
9.11% 31 May 2012
–

29,628,011
4,976,547

21,350,311

34,604,558

7.16% 30 May 2015 14,559,722

14,559,722

–

–

35,910,033

34,604,558

36,500,000

35,000,000

Macquarie Loan Facility
On 28 May 2010 the Group agreed a loan facility agreement for up to US$30 million with Macquarie to re-finance an existing facility of 
US$5 million. In April 2011, PetroNeft signed a revised borrowing base loan facility agreement with Macquarie for up to US$75 million.  
The initial borrowing base was set at US$30 million.

Total transaction costs incurred in 2011 amounted to US$0.6 million and are applied against the proceeds. The effective interest rate will  
be applied to the liability to accrete the transaction costs over the period of the loan. During 2012, pursuant to a borrowing base review,  
the Group repaid an amount of US$7.5 million on its outstanding loan balance and in addition an amount of US$1 million was converted 
into equity by way of issuing new shares. It was also agreed that monthly repayments of US$650,000 will commence on 31 March 2013.

In August 2012, the Group re-negotiated certain conditions in the US$75 million loan facility with Macquarie, mainly around covenants and 
its repayment schedule. The actual loan facility is still available subject to certain conditions and the coupon payable on the loan outstanding 
is unchanged. As part of the re-negotiations, Macquarie were awarded 3,400,000 new warrants, and all warrants granted in prior years 
(6,700,000 warrants) were re-priced. On the basis that Macquarie committed significant technical, engineering and legal resources to 
negotiating and agreeing the loan facility and subsequent draw downs, all warrants granted to Macquarie in prior years were in lieu of 
arrangement fees. The costs of the warrants fall within the scope of IFRS 2 Share-based Payment. This share-based payment expense 
constitutes a transaction cost under IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement and is included in the initial carrying 
amount of the loan facility and amortised over the duration of the loan. The new 3,400,000 warrants granted to Macquarie in 2012 were 
granted as a facilitation fee and have been accounted as a transaction fee in accordance with IFRS 2. The charge associated with these  
new warrants of US$0.1 million has been applied against the loan.

The original costs of the re-priced warrants were largely expensed at the time of re-pricing. The incremental costs of US$0.1 million between 
the fair value of original award re-calculated at the re-pricing date and the fair value of the re-priced warrants were applied against the loan.

Certain oil and gas properties (wells, central processing facility, pipeline) together with shares in WorldAce Investments Ltd, shares in 
Stimul-T, certain bank accounts and inventories are pledged as a security for the Macquarie loan facility agreement.

During the year the Group was in breach of certain financial and non-financial covenants and conditions subject to the loan agreement, relating 
primarily to receipt of certain amount of cash by sale of oil and certain financial ratios. These conditions were waived by Macquarie such that 
the Group was not in breach as at the year-end. However as the waiver did not extend to more than 12 months after the year-end, all of the 
Macquarie debt is classified as repayable within one year. Because of these breaches, the Group is currently not in a position to draw down  
any further amount under its loan facility agreement.

Arawak Energy Russia B.V. Loan Facility
The US$5 million loan from Arawak Energy Russia B.V. was a general purpose short-term bridge loan in advance of a larger three year-term 
loan which was completed in May 2012. It was repayable on 31 May 2012 out of the proceeds of the three-year loan. Total transaction 
costs, incurred in 2011 amounted to US$33,535 and are applied against the proceeds. The initial short-term bridge loan was unsecured 

On 30 May 2012, the Group signed a new three-year loan agreement with Arawak for US$15 million. The loan carries an interest rate of 
LIBOR plus 6%. In addition, 4,000,000 warrants were granted to Arawak as part of the loan agreement. Total transaction costs incurred in 
2012 amounted to US$0.35 million and are applied against the proceeds. The effective interest rate will be applied to the liability to accrete 
the transaction costs over the period of the loan. Interest is payable monthly and the principal is repayable in one instalment on 30 May 
2015. The loan is secured on PetroNeft’s 50% interest in Russian BD Holdings B.V.

The loan arrangement constitutes a compound financial instrument under IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Presentation comprising loans  
and borrowing and an equity component (warrants). These warrants granted to Arawak should be accounted for separately. Using the  
split accounting method, a value of US$0.2 million was allocated to the equity component which has been credited to reserves.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201252

Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2012
(continued)

23.  Provisions

Decommissioning Costs – Non-current

At 1 January
Arising during the period
Unwinding of discount
Translation adjustment

At 31 December

2012 
US$

1,147,988
538,901
65,167
91,734

2011 
US$

743,670
419,075
62,099
(76,856)

1,843,790

1,147,988

The decommissioning provision represents the present value of decommissioning costs relating to the Group’s Russian oil interests, which 
are expected to be incurred near 2030. These provisions have been created based on the Group’s internal estimates. Assumptions, based 
on the current economic environment, have been made which management believe are a reasonable basis upon which to estimate the future 
liability. A discount rate of 7.07% (2011: 8.0%) is used for the assessment of the provision. The charge relating to the unwinding of the 
discount on the provision is reflected in finance costs in the Consolidated Income Statement.

These estimates are reviewed regularly to take into account any material changes to the assumptions. However, actual decommissioning costs 
will ultimately depend upon future market prices for the necessary decommissioning works required, which will reflect market conditions at the 
relevant time. Furthermore, the timing of decommissioning is likely to depend on when the fields cease to produce at economically viable rates. 
This in turn will depend upon future oil prices, which are inherently uncertain.

24.  Share Capital – Group and Company

Authorised
800,000,000 Ordinary Shares of €0.01 each

Allotted, called up and fully paid equity

At 1 January 2011
Share options exercised in the year

At 1 January 2012
Issued in the year

At 31 December 2012

2012 
€

2011 
€

8,000,000

8,000,000

8,000,000

8,000,000

Number of 
Ordinary Shares

Called up share 
capital US$

415,532,432
824,000

416,356,432
228,563,843

5,624,840
11,302

5,636,142
2,925,357

644,920,275

8,561,499

The Company issued 216,052,348 new shares for consideration of US$17.2 million during the year. The net proceeds of this share issue of 
US$16.3 million are being used to finance expenditure on oil and gas properties, exploration and evaluation costs and corporate overhead.

In addition, the Company issued 12,511,495 new shares in exchange for a reduction of US$1 million in its outstanding loan facility with 
Macquarie.

Warrants 
The following table illustrates the number and weighted average exercise prices (‘WAEP’) of, and movements in, warrants during the year.

Outstanding as at 1 January
Granted during the year
Outstanding at 31 December
Exercisable at 31 December

2012 
Number

6,700,000 
7,400,000
14,100,000
14,100,000

2012 
WAEP

£0.34
£0.085
£0.084
£0.084

2011 
Number

6,200,000 
500,000 
6,700,000 
6,700,000 

2011 
WAEP

£0.33
£0.42
£0.34
£0.34

Prior to 2012, under various loan agreements Macquarie was granted 6.7 million warrants at various strike prices and with various expiry dates. 
In August 2012, the Group re-negotiated certain conditions in the US$75 million loan facility with Macquarie, mainly around covenants and its 
repayment schedule. As part of the re-negotiations, Macquarie were awarded 3.4 million new warrants, and all warrants granted in prior years 
(6.7 million warrants) were re-priced. 4.7 million warrants granted to Macquarie expired on 28 February 2013.

Four million warrants were granted to Arawak during 2012 as part of the new loan agreement. The warrants granted to Arawak constitute  
a compound financial instrument under IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Presentation containing both a liability and an equity component,  
and as such has been accounted for under IAS 32.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201253

25.  Financial Risk Management Objectives and Policies
The Group and Company’s principal financial instruments comprise cash and cash equivalents. The main purpose of these financial instruments 
is to provide finance for the Group and Company’s operations. The Group has various other financial assets and liabilities such as receivables 
and trade payables, which arise directly from its operations.

The Group also enters into derivative transactions, primarily forward currency contracts. The purpose is to manage the currency risks arising 
from the Group and Company’s operations and its sources of finance. The Group and Company entered into forward currency contracts 
during the year, however there are no contracts outstanding as at 31 December 2012 and 2011.

It is the Group and Company’s policy that no trading in derivatives be undertaken.

The main risks arising from the Group and Company’s financial instruments are commodity price risk, foreign currency risk, credit risk, 
liquidity risk, interest rate risk and capital risk. The Board reviews and agrees policies for managing each of these risks which are 
summarised below.

Commodity Price Risk
The Group is exposed to the risk of fluctuations in prevailing market commodity prices on the oil it produces. To date the Group has sold  
all of its oil on the domestic market in Russia. There are no banks providing hedging or derivative type contracts for oil sold on the domestic 
market so it is not possible to mitigate risks in this way. The high taxes on oil produced in Russia are based on prevailing international oil 
prices and therefore operate as a natural hedge to a fall in oil prices. At 31 December 2012 and 2011, the Group and the Company had  
no outstanding commodity contracts.

Foreign Currency Risk
The Group and the Company undertake certain transactions denominated in foreign currencies. Hence, exposures to exchange rate 
fluctuations arise. Exchange rate exposures are managed within approved policy parameters utilising forward exchange contracts where 
appropriate.

At 31 December 2012 and 2011, the Group and the Company had no outstanding forward exchange contracts.

Foreign Currency Sensitivity Analysis
The Group’s and the Company’s principal currency exposures arise in the currencies of Russian Rouble, Euro, UK Sterling and US Dollar.  
The Group has an exposure to US Dollars because the functional currency of its Russian subsidiaries is Russian Roubles. A change in the  
US Dollar:Russian Rouble exchange rate will therefore result in a foreign exchange gain or loss on the US Dollar denominated balances  
in these subsidiaries. The Company has an exposure to US Dollars because payments to some suppliers are effected in Euro and in UK 
Sterling, and the Company has bank accounts in Russian Rouble, Euro, UK Sterling and US Dollar.

In accordance with IFRS 7, the impact of foreign currencies is determined based on the balances of financial assets and liabilities at  
31 December 2012. The sensitivity analysis includes only outstanding foreign currency denominated monetary items and largely results  
from payables and receivables, and adjusts their translation at the year-end for a 5% change in foreign currency rates. A positive number 
below indicates a reduction in loss and increase in other equity where the US Dollar strengthens 5% against the relevant currency. For a  
5% weakening of the US Dollar against the relevant currency, there would be an equal and opposite impact on the loss and other equity,  
and the balances following would be negative.

If the US Dollar had gained/lost 5% against all currencies significant to the Group and Company at 31 December, the impact on loss and 
Equity for the Group and the Company is shown below.

Group

Impact on loss [lower/(higher)]
Impact on net equity [lower/(higher)]

Company

Impact on loss and net equity [lower/(higher)]

2012 
US$

2,207
14,570

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

1,003
4,962

2011 
US$

2,207

1,003

Credit Risk
Credit risk refers to the risk that a counterparty will default on its contractual obligations resulting in financial loss to the Group.

The Group and Company’s financial assets comprise receivables and cash and cash equivalents. The credit risk on cash and cash equivalents is 
limited because the counterparties are banks with high credit ratings assigned by international credit-rating agencies. The Group and Company’s 
exposure to credit risk arise from default of its counterparty, with a maximum exposure equal to the carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents 
in its consolidated balance sheet. As the Group or the Company does not have any significant receivables outstanding from third parties, this risk 
is limited.

The Group and the Company do not have any significant credit risk exposure to any single counterparty or any group of counterparties having 
similar characteristics. The Group and the Company define counterparties as having similar characteristics if they are connected entities.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201254

Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2012
(continued)

25.  Financial Risk Management Objectives and Policies (continued)
Liquidity Risk Management
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group and the Company will not have sufficient funds to meet liabilities. Ultimate responsibility for liquidity 
risk management rests with the Board of Directors, who manage liquidity risk and short, medium and long-term funding and liquidity 
management requirements by continuously monitoring forecast and actual cash flows and matching the maturity profiles of financial assets 
and liabilities. Cash forecasts are regularly produced to identify the liquidity requirements of the Group and the Company. To date, the Group 
and the Company have relied on shareholder funding, loan facilities and normal trade credit to finance its operations. As at 31 December 
2012, the Group and the Company have outstanding loan facilities with Macquarie Bank and with Arawak Energy Russia B.V. (see Note 22). 
See also Note 2 for additional details on going concern.

The Macquarie loan facility is repayable in May 2014. The Arawak Energy Russia B.V. loan facility is repayable in May 2015. The rest of 
Group’s and Company’s financial liabilities as at 31 December 2012 and 2011 are all payable on demand. The Group and the Company 
expect to meet its other obligations from operating cash flows and debt financing. During the year the Group was in breach of certain 
financial and non-financial covenants and conditions subsequent to Macquarie loan agreement, relating primarily to receipt of certain  
amount of cash by sale of oil and certain financial ratios.

The expected maturity of the Group and Company’s financial assets (excluding prepayments) as at 31 December 2012 and 2011 was less 
than one month.

The Group and the Company further mitigate liquidity risk by maintaining an insurance programme to minimise exposure to insurable losses.

The Group and the Company had no derivative financial instruments as at 31 December 2012 and 2011.

The tables below show the projected contractual undiscounted total cash outflows (principal and interest) arising from the Group’s trade and 
other payables and gross debt. These projections are based on the interest and foreign exchange rates applying at the end of the relevant years:

Year ended 31 December 2012
Interest bearing loans and borrowings
– current
– non-current
Trade and other payables

Year ended 31 December 2011
Interest bearing loans and borrowings
– current
– non-current
Trade and other payables

Within  
1 year 
US$

Between  
1 and 2 years 
US$

Between  
2 to 5 years 
US$

After  
5 years 
US$

Total 
US$

8,238,113
945,958
8,909,830

15,516,850
945,958
–

–
15,391,342
–

18,093,901

16,462,808

15,391,342

15,311,069
–
12,938,593

8,238,113
–
–

15,516,850
–
–

28,249,662

8,238,113

15,516,850

–
–
–

–

–
–
–

–

23,754,963
17,283,258
8,909,830

49,948,051

39,066,032
–
12,938,593

52,004,625

Interest Rate Risk
The Group and Company’s exposure to the risk of changes in market interest rates relates primarily to the Group and Company’s borrowings 
which are tied to the LIBOR interest rate and their holdings of cash and short-term deposits which are on variable rates ranging from 0.3% 
to 0.75%.

The Macquarie loan facility has a minimum LIBOR rate of 2%, the Arawak loan has no minimum rate attached. The effect of a rise of 1%  
in the LIBOR interest rate (e.g. from 0.3% to 1.3%) payable on borrowings would be to increase Group loss before tax by US$152,083  
and Company loss before tax by US$152,083.

It is the Group and Company’s policy, as part of its disciplined management of the budgetary process, to place surplus funds on short-term 
deposit in order to maximise interest earned.

The effect of a 10% reduction in deposit interest rates (e.g. from 10% to 9%) obtainable on cash and short-term deposits would be to 
increase Group loss before tax by US$5,271 (2011: US$5,586) and Company loss before tax by US$709,308 (2011: US$625,428).

Capital Risk Management
The Group and the Company manage capital to ensure that entities in the Group will be able to continue as a going concern while maximising 
the return to stakeholders through the optimisation of the debt and equity balance. The Group and the Company manage their capital structure 
and make adjustments to it in light of changes in economic conditions. To maintain or adjust its capital structure, the Group and the Company 
may issue new shares or raise debt. No changes were made in the objectives, policies or processes during the years ended 31 December 2012 
and 2011. The capital structure of the Group and the Company consists of equity attributable to equity holders of the Parent, comprising issued 
capital, reserves and retained losses as disclosed in the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201225.  Financial Risk Management Objectives and Policies (continued)

Group

External borrowings
Less cash and cash equivalents
Less: restricted cash

Net debt

Equity

Net debt ratio

Company

External borrowings
Less cash and cash equivalents
Less: restricted cash

Net debt
Equity

Net debt ratio

55

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

35,910,033
(3,939,422)
(4,000,000)

34,604,558
(1,030,005)
(5,000,000)

27,970,611  28,574,553 

98,344,192

81,877,092

28%

2012 
US$

35%

2011 
US$

35,910,033
(3,692,037)
(4,000,000)

34,604,558
(950,825)
(5,000,000)

28,217,996

28,653,733 
141,322,390 123,059,887

20%

23%

Fair Values
The carrying amount of the Group and Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities is a reasonable approximation of the fair value.

Hedging
At the year ended 31 December 2012 and 2011, the Group had no outstanding contracts designated as hedges.

26.  Loss of Parent Undertaking
The Company is availing of the exemption set out in section 148(8) of the Companies Act 1963 and section 7(1) (A) of the Companies 
(Amendment) Act 1986 from presenting its individual Income Statement to the Annual General Meeting and from filing it with the Registrar 
of Companies. The amount of the loss dealt with in the Parent undertaking for the year was US$364,672 (2011: US$1,384,036).

27.  Capital Commitments
27.1  Details of capital commitments at the balance sheet date are as follows:

Contracted for but not provided in the financial statements

Including contracted with related parties*

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

726,359

20,060,525

621,027

17,026,563

*  The contracts with related parties relate to contracts for drilling wells at the Arbuzovskoye oil field. This contract is to drill up to 15 oil wells and one water source well, however, 

the Group may reduce the number of wells to be drilled with minimal penalty which would result in the value of the contract reducing proportionately.

27.2  Future minimum rentals payable under non-cancellable operating leases at the balance sheet date are as follows:

Land and buildings
Within one year
After one year but not more than five years
More than five years

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

86,221
266,527
701,710

226,608
279,869
716,286

1,054,458

1,222,763

28.  Related Party Disclosures
Transactions between PetroNeft Resources plc and its subsidiaries, Stimul-T, Granite, Pervomayka, Dolomite, World Ace Investments have 
been eliminated on consolidation. Details of transactions between the Group and other related parties are disclosed below. 

Vakha Sobraliev, a Director of PetroNeft, is the principal of LLC Tomskburneftegaz (‘TBNG’) which has drilled production and exploration 
wells for the Group. Various contracts for drilling have been awarded to TBNG in recent years. All drilling contracts with TBNG are ‘turnkey’ 
contracts whereby TBNG assumes substantially all liabilities in relation to the health and safety, environmental and other risks associated 
with drilling operation. As part of this relationship PetroNeft Group companies also occasionally sell sundry goods and services to TBNG. 
Other companies related to TBNG also provide some services to the Group such as transportation, power management and repairs.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201256

Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2012
(continued)

28.  Related Party Disclosures (continued)
The following is a summary of the transactions: 

Year ended 31 December
Maximum value of new contracts awarded during the year
Paid during the year for drilling and related services
Paid during the year for other services
Amount due to TBNG and related companies at 31 December
Received during the year for sundry goods and services
Amount due from TBNG and related companies at 31 December

2012

2011

TBNG  
US$

Other  
companies  

US$

TBNG  
US$

Other  
companies  

US$

441,264
9,834,779
–
1,922,796
15,501
66,228

–  18,500,000
20,156,252
–
–
491,339
4,363,262
24,743
73,883
–
44,805
3,534

–
–
1,292,074
185,412
–
2,592

The Group has an indirect 50% interest in Lineynoye which in turn is 100% owned by the jointly controlled entity Russian BD Holdings B.V. 
Lineynoye also entered into some transactions with TBNG and related companies as follows:

Year ended 31 December
Maximum value of new contracts awarded during the year
Paid during the year for drilling and related services
Amount due to TBNG and related companies at 31 December

2012

2011

TBNG  
US$

Other  
companies  

US$

TBNG  
US$

Other  
companies  

US$

–
1,375,582
–

– 
–
– 

5,200,000
3,461,009
549,178

–
–
–

The Group provided various goods and services to the jointly controlled entity Russian BD Holdings B.V. and its wholly-owned subsidiary 
LLC Lineynoye during 2012 amounting to US$332,424 (2011: US$2,165,377). An amount of US$657,492 (2011: US$520,921) is 
outstanding from these entities at 31 December 2012 while an amount of US$18,241 (2011: US$Nil) is payable.

The following transactions occurred between Lineynoye, Russian BD Holdings B.V. and the Company:

At 1 January 2011
Advanced during year
Transactions during year
Interest accrued in year
Repaid during year
Translation adjustment

At 1 January 2012
Advanced during year
Transactions during year
Interest accrued in year
Repaid during year
Translation adjustment

At 31 December 2012

Lineynoye 
US$

2,145,688
3,350,000
–
112,035
(5,288,118)
(88,955)

230,650
–
–
–
(235,734)
5,084

Russian BD 
Holdings B.V. 
US$

–
–
521,639
–
(463,313)
–

58,326
631,500
118,025
17,930
(174,350)
–

–

651,431

Remuneration of Key Management
Key management comprise the Directors of the Company, the Vice President of Business Development and Operations, the General  
Director and the Executive Director of the Russian subsidiary Stimul-T, along with both the Chief Geologist and Chief Engineer of Stimul-T. 
Their remuneration during the year was as follows:

Remuneration of key management

Compensation of key management
Contributions to defined contribution pension plan
Share-based payment expense

2012 
US$

2011 
US$

1,559,195
39,382
484,718

1,730,623
40,677
512,727

2,083,295

2,284,027

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 2012 
 
57

28.  Related Party Disclosures (continued)
Transactions with Subsidiaries
The Company had the following transactions with its subsidiaries during the years ended 31 December 2012 and 2011:

Loans
At 1 January 2011
Advanced during year
Technical and management services provided
Interest accrued in year
Translation adjustment
Repaid during year

At 1 January 2012
Advanced during year
Technical and management services provided
Interest accrued in year
Translation adjustment
Repaid during year

At 31 December 2012

Capital contributions

Share-based payment 2011

Cash contributions 2011 

Share-based payment 2012

Cash contributions 2012 

Stimul-T 
US$

Granite 
Construction 
US$

WorldAce 
Investments 
US$

63,242,415
25,450,000
206,242
5,907,541
(1,250,000)
(882,905)

92,673,293
2,200,000 
200,744
6,943,637
996,533 
(1,090,000)

818,776
500,000
–
129,207
–
–

8,606,499
7,304,909
–
–
–
(8,992)

1,447,983
–
–
133,184
–
–

15,902,416
9,220,360 
–
–
10,362
–

101,924,207

1,581,167

25,133,138

654,031

35,418

– 

130,000 

571,864

24,832

– 

– 

–

– 

–

– 

29.  Share-based Payment
Share Options
The expense recognised for employee services during the year is US$977,030 (2011: US$1,108,446). The Group share-based payment 
plan is described below. There was no cancellation or modification to the plan during 2012 and 2011.

Under the Group share option plan, employees of the Group can receive conditional awards of share options depending on their performance, 
seniority and length of service. The options typically vest in tranches and are subject to the achievement of vesting conditions related to drilling, 
production and shareholder return. The maximum term for options is seven years. There are no cash settlement alternatives.

Movement in the year
The fair value of the options is estimated at the grant date using an option pricing model considering the terms and conditions upon which 
the instruments were granted. The following table illustrates the number and weighted average exercise prices (‘WAEP’) of, and movements 
in, share options during the year.

Outstanding as at 1 January
Granted during the year
Forfeited during the year
Exercised during the year
Outstanding at 31 December
Exercisable at 31 December

2012 
Number

2012 
WAEP

2011 
Number

2011 
WAEP

15,496,000
7,203,750
(270,000)
–
22,429,750

€0.295/£0.44
£0.065
£0.66
–
€0.295/£0.44
7,231,000 €0.295/£0.3476

€0.295/£0.44
16,860,000
–
–
(540,000)
£0.4671
(824,000) €0.295/£0.3375
€0.295/£0.44
7,231,000 €0.295/£0.3476

15,496,000

The range of exercise prices for options outstanding at the year-end is £0.065 to £0.66 (2011: £0.19 to £0.66).

The weighted average remaining contractual life for the share options outstanding as at 31 December 2012 was 4.2 years (2011: 4.0 years). 

The weighted average fair value of options granted during 2012 was £0.0318. No options were granted in 2011.

No options were exercised in 2012. The weighted average share price of exercised options at the date of exercise in 2011 was £0.65.

The weighted average share price of forfeited options in 2012 was £0.66 (2011: £0.4671). 

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201258

Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2012
(continued)

29.  Share-based Payment (continued)
The following table lists the inputs to the model used for options granted during the year ended 31 December 2012:

Grant date

Vesting conditions
Dividend yield
Expected volatility
Risk-free interest rate
Expected life of option
Expected early exercise %
Share price at date of grant 
Exercise price at date of grant
Model used

2012 
November

Share price growth-based
0%
70%
n/a
7
n/a
£0.051
£0.065
Bespoke partial differential equation model

The expected life of the options is based on the expectation of management and is not necessarily indicative of exercise patterns that may 
occur. The expected volatility estimate used in the valuation has been calculated based on the historical volatilities of the Company’s share 
price over various historical periods, weighing the historical volatility over period commensurate with the expected term of the options.  
The fair value is measured at the grant date.

Warrants
Where applicable, the fair value of the warrants is estimated at the grant date using an option pricing model considering the terms and 
conditions upon which the instruments were granted. The table included in Note 24 illustrates the number and weighted average exercise 
prices (‘WAEP’) of, and movements in, warrants during the year.

The range of exercise prices for warrants outstanding at the year-end is £0.082 to £0.086 (2011: £0.30 to £0.50).

The weighted average remaining contractual life for the warrants outstanding as at 31 December 2012 was 1.59 years (2011: 0.91 years). 

The weighted average fair value of warrants granted during the year was £0.03 (2011: £0.18).

The following table lists the inputs to the models used for valuing warrants which have been accounted for under IFRS 2:

Dividend yield
Expected volatility
Risk-free interest rate
Expected life of warrant
Share price at date of grant
Exercise price
Model used

2012

2011

0%
70%
0.809%
2.53
£0.0575
£0.0845
Binomial

0%
80%
1.7%
4
£0.33
£0.418
Binomial

The expected life of the warrants is based on the expectation of management and is not necessarily indicative of exercise patterns that may 
occur. The expected volatility estimate used in the valuation has been calculated based on the historical volatilities of the Company’s share 
price over various historical periods, weighing the historical volatility over period commensurate with the expected term of the options.  
The fair value is measured at the grant date.

30.  Important Events after the Balance Sheet Date
There were no important events after the balance sheet date.

31.  Approval of Financial Statements
The financial statements were approved, and authorised for issue, by the Board of Directors on 21 June 2013.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 2012Notice of Annual General Meeting

59

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of PetroNeft Resources plc will be held at the Herbert Park Hotel, Ballsbridge, 
Dublin 4 at 11.00 am on Wednesday 11 September 2013, for the purposes of considering and, if thought fit, passing, the following 
Resolutions, of which Resolutions numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 will be proposed as Ordinary Resolutions and Resolutions numbered 6  
will be proposed as a Special Resolution.

ORDINARY BUSINESS
1. To receive, consider and adopt the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2012 together with the Directors’ and Auditors’ Reports 

thereon.

2. To re-elect Mr. Francis as a Director, who retires by rotation in accordance with Article 83 of the Articles of Association of the Company.

3. To re-elect Dr. Sanders as a Director, who retires by rotation in accordance with Article 83 of the Articles of Association of the Company.

4. To re-appoint Ernst & Young, Chartered Accountants, as Auditors and to authorise the Directors to fix the remuneration of the Auditors.

SPECIAL BUSINESS
5. That, in substitution for all existing authorities of the Directors pursuant to Section 20 of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1983,  

the Directors be and are hereby generally and unconditionally authorised pursuant to Section 20 of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 
1983 to exercise all the powers of the Company to allot relevant securities (within the meaning of the said Section 20) up to a maximum 
amount equal to the aggregate nominal value of the authorised but unissued share capital of the Company as at the date of passing of 
this Resolution. The authority hereby conferred shall expire (unless previously renewed, varied or revoked by the Company in general 
meeting) on the earlier of the date of the next annual general meeting of the Company held after the date of passing of this Resolution, 
and the close of business on 11 December 2014, save that the Company may before such expiry make an offer or agreement which 
would or might require relevant securities to be allotted after such expiry and the Directors may allot relevant securities in pursuance  
of such offer or agreement notwithstanding that the authority hereby conferred has expired.

6. That the Directors be and are hereby empowered pursuant to Sections 23 and 24 (1) of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1983 to allot 

equity securities (within the meaning of the said Section 23) for cash pursuant to the authority conferred by Resolution numbered 5 above  
as if the said Section 23 does not apply to any such allotment provided that this power shall be limited to the allotment of equity securities:

a) in connection with the exercise of any options or warrants to subscribe granted by the Company;

b) (including, without limitation, any shares purchased by the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Companies Act 1990 and held 
as treasury shares) in connection with any offer of securities, open for a period fixed by the Directors, by way of rights, open offer or 
otherwise in favour of shareholders holding Ordinary Shares and/or any persons having a right to subscribe for, or convert securities 
into, ordinary shares in the capital of the Company (including, without limitation, any person entitled to options under any of the 
Company’s share option schemes or any other person entitled to participate in any of the Company’s profit sharing schemes for the 
time being) and subject to such exclusions or other arrangements as the Directors may deem necessary or expedient in relation to  
legal or practical problems under the laws or the requirements of any recognised body or stock exchange in any territory; and

c)  up to an aggregate nominal value equal to the nominal value of 10% of the issued share capital of the Company from time to time;

  each of (a), (b) and (c) above being separate powers, which powers shall expire on the earlier of the date of the next Annual General 
Meeting of the Company held after the date of passing of this Resolution and the close of business on 11 December 2014, save that 
the Company may before such expiry make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after 
such expiry and the Directors may allot equity securities in pursuance of such offer or agreement as if the power conferred hereby  
had not expired.

Dated this 21st day of June 2013

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD

David Sanders
Company Secretary

Registered Office:
20 Holles Street
Dublin 2

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 201260

Glossary

1P
2P
3P
AGM 
AIM
AMI
Arawak
bbl 
bfpd
boe
bopd 
Company 
CPF
CSR 
Custody Transfer Point
ESM
ESPO pipeline
Exploration resources

Hydraulic fracturing, 
fracture stimulation
Group 
HSE
IAS 
IFRIC 
IFRS 
km 
km2/sq km
KPI 
Licence 61

Licence 67

Lineynoye

Macquarie
m
mmbbls 
mmbo
Oil pay
P1
P2
P3
Pervomayka

PetroNeft
Russian BD Holdings B.V.
SPE
Spud 
Stimul-T

TSR 
VAT 
WAEP 

Proved reserves according to SPE standards.
Proved and probable reserves according to SPE standards.
Proved, probable and possible reserves according to SPE standards.
Annual General Meeting.
Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange.
Area of Mutual Interest.
Arawak Energy Russia B.V.
Barrel.
Barrels of fluid per day.
Barrel of oil equivalent.
Barrels of oil per day.
PetroNeft Resources plc.
Central Processing Facility.
Corporate and Social Responsibility.
Facility/location at which custody of oil transfers to another operator.
Enterprise Securities Market of the Irish Stock Exchange.
East Siberia-Pacific Ocean pipeline which is expected to be completed in 2012.
An undrilled prospect in an area of known hydrocarbons with unequivocal four-way dip closure at the 
reservoir horizon.
The process of cracking open the rock formation around a well bore to increase productivity.

Company and its subsidiary undertakings.
Health, Safety and Environment.
International Accounting Standard.
IFRS Interpretations Committee.
International Financial Reporting Standard.
Kilometres.
Square kilometres.
Key Performance Indicator.
The Group’s Exploration and Production Licence in the Tomsk Oblast, Russia. It contains seven known 
oil fields, Lineynoye, Tungolskoye, West Lineynoye, Arbuzovskoye, Kondrashevskoye, Sibkrayevskoye and 
North Varyakhskoye and 27 Prospects and Leads that are currently being explored.
The Group’s Exploration and Production Licence in the Tomsk Oblast, Russia. It contains two oil fields, 
Ledovoye and Cheremshanskoye and several potential prospects.
Limited Liability Company Lineynoye, a wholly owned subsidiary of Russian BD Holdings B.V., registered 
in the Russian Federation.
Macquarie Bank Limited. 
Metres.
Million barrels.
Million barrels of oil.
A formation containing producible hydrocarbons.
Proved reserves according to SPE standards.
Probable reserves according to SPE standards.
Possible reserves according to SPE standards.
Limited Liability Company Pervomayka, a wholly owned subsidiary of PetroNeft, registered in the 
Russian Federation. 
PetroNeft Resources plc.
Russian BD Holdings B.V., a company owned 50% by PetroNeft and registered in the Netherlands.
Society of Petroleum Engineers.
To commence drilling a well.
Limited Liability Company Stimul-T, a wholly owned subsidiary of PetroNeft, based in the  
Russian Federation. 
Total Shareholder Return.
Value Added Tax.
Weighted Average Exercise Price.

PetroNeft Resources plc: Annual Report 2012Group Information

Directors1

David Golder (U.S. citizen)
(Non-Executive Chairman)
Dennis Francis (U.S. citizen)
(Chief Executive Officer)
Paul Dowling
(Chief Financial Officer)
David Sanders (U.S. citizen)
(General Legal Counsel)
Gerard Fagan
(Non-Executive Director)
Thomas Hickey
(Non-Executive Director)
Vakha Sobraliev (Russian citizen)
(Non-Executive Director)

Registered Office  
and Business 
Address

20 Holles Street 
Dublin 2 
Ireland

Secretary

David Sanders

Auditor

Nominated and 
ESM Adviser

Joint Brokers

Ernst & Young
Chartered Accountants
Harcourt Centre
Harcourt Street
Dublin 2
Ireland

Davy 
49 Dawson Street 
Dublin 2 
Ireland

Davy 
49 Dawson Street 
Dublin 2 
Ireland 

1 Irish citizens unless otherwise stated.

Canaccord Genuity 
88 Wood Street 
London 
EC2V 7QR 
United Kingdom

Principal Bankers Macquarie Bank Limited 

AIB Bank 
1 Lower Baggot Street 
Dublin 2 
Ireland

4 Romanov Pereulok 
125009 
Moscow 
Russia

Ropemaker Place 
28 Ropemaker Street 
London 
EC2Y 9HD 
United Kingdom

KBC Bank Ireland 
Sandwith Street 
Dublin 2 
Ireland

Eversheds 
One Earlsfort Centre 
Earlsfort Terrace 
Dublin 2 
Ireland

White & Case 
5 Old Broad Street 
London 
EC2N 1DW 
United Kingdom

408101

Computershare 
Heron House 
Corrig Road 
Sandyford Industrial Estate 
Dublin 18

Solicitors

Registered  
Number

Registrar

P

e

t

r

o

N

e

f

t

R

e

s

o

u

r

c

e

s

p

l

c

A

n

n

u

a

l

R

e

p

o

r

t

2

0

1

2

PetroNeft Resources plc

Dublin Office
20 Holles Street
Dublin 2 
Ireland

Houston Office
Suite 518, 10333 Harwin Drive
Houston, TX 77036
USA

www.petroneft.com