Apache shares jump 27% on major discovery in Suriname with Total

By Shariq Khan

(Reuters) - Apache Corp <APA.N> and Total SA <TOTF.PA> said on Tuesday they had made a major oil discovery in a closely watched area off the coast of South America's Suriname, sending Apache's shares surging nearly 27%.

The discovery, dubbed "among the most anticipated in the world" by one brokerage, is seen as central to Apache's efforts to reduce its reliance on the Alpine High venture in Texas' Permian basin, which has suffered from diving natural gas prices.

Analysts said it was impossible to ascertain as yet how much oil the well would generate but it is just over the border from Exxon Mobil-led discoveries off Guyana that are estimated to hold more than 6 billion barrels of oil.

Apache said the well confirmed a geologic model with 73 metres (240 feet) of oil pay and 50 metres (164 feet) of light oil and gas condensate pay, with more appraisal planning underway.

"This discovery could be really transformational for a company that has really been a laggard since the Alpine High discovery," said Stifel analyst Michael Scialla.

RBC Capital Markets analysts also called the discovery "significant", but Cowen & Co warned it could take years for significant cash flow to reach Apache because of the deal with Total.

Apache's agreement with Total included $100 million (76.1 million pounds) upfront payment and expenses incurred in exploration.

Apache reported a steady decline in output in the last two reported quarters of 2019, and has reduced drilling at Alpine High, warning it may move capital away from there if gas prices don't recover.

It has also pledged to spend 20% less on capital outlays this year.

"It's binary. Yesterday, Suriname was worth nothing and now: we don't know what it's going to be worth," said BofA Global Research energy analyst Doug Leggate.

"But the fact that they now have a discovery ... for Total, as a very large company, it is less significant. For a company of Apache's size, this is a potential game changer."

Leggate added $8 to the brokerage's valuation of Apache and upgraded the stock to "Buy" from "Neutral".

Suriname had not previously made any commercially viable oil discoveries, and the find also marks a potential turning point for the small country's economy.

"We have to keep our heads cool," the country's President Desi Bouterse said. "Let's eliminate all negativities and find out how we can help Suriname with this enormous find of providence."

(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta in Paris and Shariq Khan in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Jennifer Hiller in Houston and Ank Kuipers in Paramaribo; Editing by Louise Heavens, Bernard Orr and Sriraj Kalluvila)