GeoPark Limited 4Q 2025 Earnings Call - Transformational Frontera deal and Vaca Muerta ramp reposition company for scale by 2028
Summary
GeoPark closed 2025 with stabilizing Colombian production and an early Argentina contribution, hitting or beating full-year guidance despite a weaker oil price. Production averaged 28,233 boepd in 2025 and 28,351 boepd in 4Q. Financials show resilience, with FY Adjusted EBITDA of $277 million, $98 million of CapEx, an 18% ROIC and disciplined balance sheet metrics including cash above $100 million and net leverage of 1.6x.
The strategic story is now binary. GeoPark completed initial Vaca Muerta integration and is mobilizing drilling this month, and in January agreed to acquire Frontera’s Colombian upstream assets, a deal that doubles reserves and materially raises pro forma scale. Management flagged Q4 timing effects and one-offs that compressed quarterly EBITDA to $46 million, reiterated 2026 OpEx and G&A guidance, and signaled continued capital discipline while defending the Frontera transaction against a competing offer from Parex and related board nomination activity.
Key Takeaways
- Transformational M&A: GeoPark announced an agreed acquisition of Frontera’s Colombian upstream assets in January, which doubles its reserve base and brings pro forma net production of ~40,000 boepd, materially boosting scale and cash flow durability.
- Pro forma upside to 2028: Management says the Frontera deal plus current plans could push company production to exceed 90,000 boepd by 2028 and pro forma Adjusted EBITDA near $950 million, versus standalone targets of 44,000-46,000 boepd and $490-$520 million Adjusted EBITDA by 2028.
- Vaca Muerta entry is live: GeoPark closed Loma Jarillosa Este and Puesto Silva Oeste blocks in October, started workovers and will mobilize a Nabors rig in early March to drill a five-well pad, targeting an Argentina exit rate of 5,000-6,000 boepd in 2026 and a 20,000 boepd plateau by 2028.
- 2025 operational performance: Full-year production averaged 28,233 boepd, above guidance; Q4 averaged 28,351 boepd, supported by earlier-than-expected stabilization in Llanos 34 and contributions from Argentina.
- Price and EBITDA context: Realized price fell to $58.1/boe in 2025 from $65.6/boe in 2024, FY Adjusted EBITDA was $277 million, while Q4 Adjusted EBITDA was $46 million after timing-related effects and startups that management expects to reverse in 1Q26.
- One-offs and timing effects: Q4 was hit by roughly $7 million of non-recurrent startup costs (two-thirds OpEx, one-third G&A) related to Platanillo and Vaca Muerta restarts, plus $2-3 million of seasonality, inflating per-barrel metrics temporarily.
- Cost discipline intact, 2026 guidance unchanged: 2025 OpEx averaged $13.4/boe and G&A $4.8/boe. For 2026 management guides lifting costs at $13-$15/boe and G&A around $4/boe, after expected run-rate structural savings of $45 million annually from 2026 onward.
- Argentina cost path shown: Initial OpEx in Argentina was about $32/boe on takeover, reduced to $22-$27/boe through workovers and logistics, with a target of $10-$12/boe by year-end as production scales and fixed costs dilute.
- Balance sheet and hedging: Cash > $100 million, net leverage 1.6x, no material maturities until 2027, repurchased > $100 million of 2030 notes capturing a $10 million gain and ~$9.5 million annual interest saving, and 84% of 2026 production hedged with three-way collars.
- Polymer flood pilot in Llanos 34: Polymer injection began in December with two wells, two more to be added by April, five more planned for H2. Modeling implies incremental recovery between 3% and 7% in injection areas, with ~5% as management’s working average.
- Partner and activity risk in Llanos 34: GeoPark has 21 approved workovers; technically 14 wells approved but the partner has only signed off on 8, creating optionality but potential activity timing risk if consensus is not reached.
- Putumayo and logistics watch: Platanillo was reactivated with elevated restart OpEx near $45/boe now below $40/boe, but GeoPark is reassessing Putumayo logistics following Ecuador pipeline changes and will decide destiny in coming weeks.
- Corporate defense and corporate governance tension: Parex nominated directors to GeoPark’s board and made a competing offer for Frontera, prompting GeoPark to call the nomination a conflict of interest and to indicate the board will review all options in shareholders’ interest.
- Shareholder returns and governance: Board declared a $0.03 quarterly dividend and will reassess distributions once free cash flow normalizes post peak Vaca Muerta investment, while the current shareholder rights plan expires June 3, 2026.
Full Transcript
Harry, Conference Call Moderator, GeoPark Limited: Good morning, welcome to the GeoPark Limited Conference Call, following the results announcement for the fourth quarter ended December 31st, 2025. After the speaker’s remarks, there’ll be a question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question at this time, press star one on your telephone keypad. If you would like to withdraw your question, please press star two. If you do not have a copy of the press release, it is available at the Invest with Us section on the company’s corporate website at www.geopark.com. A replay of today’s call may be accessed through this webcast in the Invest with Us section of the GeoPark corporate website.
Before we continue, please note that certain statements contained in the results press release on this conference call are forward-looking statements rather than historical facts, are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described. With respect to such forward-looking statements, the company seeks protections afforded by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These risks include a variety of factors, including competitive developments and risk factors listed from time to time in the company’s SEC reports and public releases. Those lists are intended to identify certain principal factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, are not intended to represent a complete list of the company’s business. All financial figures included herein were prepared in accordance with the IFRS and are stated in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted.
Reserved figures correspond to PRMS standards. On the call today from GeoPark is Felipe Bayón, Chief Executive Officer, Jaime Caballero, Chief Financial Officer, Martín Terrado, Chief Operating Officer, Rodrigo Dalle Fiore, Chief Exploration and Development Officer, and Maria Catalina Escobar, Chief Shareholder Value and Capital Markets Director. Now I’ll turn the call over to Mr. Felipe Bayón. Mr. Bayón, you may begin.
Felipe Bayón, Chief Executive Officer, GeoPark Limited: Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining GeoPark’s fourth quarter and full year 2025 results call. 2025 marked a turning point for GeoPark, defined by strategic clarity, operational discipline, and a decisive portfolio reset well underway. We strengthened our foundation through an anticipated inflection point in production and continued financial discipline, repositioning the company for long-term value creation. Importantly, we delivered or exceeded our full-year guidance across all key metrics, despite a materially lower oil price environment. Production averaged 28,233 boepd for the full year 2025, above the upper end of our guidance, reflecting a platform in both Colombia and Argentina that is executing and evolving while staying grounded in operational discipline.
In Colombia, we achieved an earlier than anticipating production stabilization, supported by resilient base production in Llanos 34, sustained contribution from CPO-5, and successful drilling in Llanos 123. We also launched a polymer injection recovery project in Llanos 34 that delivered solid results. Argentina began contributing production ahead of plan. Assets were integrated safely to our operations. Fourth quarter volumes averaged 28,351 boepd, broadly in line with the prior quarter and reflecting the fresh production of our Vaca Muerta assets. Full-year financial results primarily reflect lower realized prices, which averaged $58.1 per boe in 2025, versus $65.6 per boe in 2024. Adjusted EBITDA reached $277 million within our guidance range, while margins remained resilient.
Fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $46 million, reflecting lower realized prices and the impact of specific non-recurring items, including deferred sales volumes, logistics-related adjustments, and startup costs in Vaca Muerta. These are timing-related effects, some of which will be reversed in our first quarter 2026 results. Even in a lower price environment and with temporary quarterly impacts, our operational platform remained resilient and capital allocation disciplined. We invested $98 million during the year in line with our plan and delivered a 2.8x Adjusted EBITDA to CapEx ratio and achieved an 18% ROIC, underscoring disciplined, returns-based capital allocation. We delivered meaningful and structural efficiencies in 2025. Operating costs averaged $13.4 per bbl for the year, and G&A stood at an average of $4.8 per bbl, both within guidance.
We also achieved $32 million in structural cash savings, setting a lower cost base expected to generate a run rate of some $45 million in annualized savings in 2026 and beyond. Our balance sheet and risk management remain strong. Cash stood at over $100 million, net leverage closed at 1.6 times, we have no material debt maturities until 2027. During the year, we repurchased over $100 million of our 2030 notes below par, capturing a $10 million gain and a nine and a half million dollar annual interest saving. Over 84% of our 2026 production is now hedged through three-way collars, hedging has already started for our 2027 production, ensuring continued cash flow protection.
Our portfolio reset is well underway, reinforcing our Colombian foundation while establishing a new unconventional growth platform in Argentina. In October, we successfully closed the acquisition of Loma Jarillosa Este and Puesto Silva Oeste blocks in Vaca Muerta, securing full operational control of two high-quality blocks in one of the most attractive unconventional plays in the world. Production is already online, and development is underway, with a clear path towards the 20,000 boepd plateau production by 2028 that we have shared with the market. In January 2026, we announced the agreed acquisition of Frontera Energy’s Colombian upstream assets, a transaction that more than doubles our reserve base and that brings an expected pro forma production of approximately 40,000 boepd net to GeoPark, which significantly expands our scale, diversification, and operating leverage.
This is a transformative deal that consolidates our position as the leading private operator in Colombia and strengthens our platform for disciplined long-term growth. On a pro forma basis, this acquisition can take production to exceed 90,000 boepd by 2028 and Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $950 million, doubling our previously communicated standalone outlook. Together, these two transactions reshape the company, materially increasing production, improving cash flow durability, and enhancing our ability to reinvest efficiently across the cycle. Our strategy remains clear: protecting and maximizing our cash-generating base in Colombia and scaling a transformational unconventional platform in Argentina.
By year 2028, we’re targeting 44,000 boepd-46,000 boepd on an Adjusted EBITDA of $490 million-$520 million, with additional upsides as the Frontera acquisition is integrated. In line with this roadmap, we reached a production inflection point in Colombia earlier than expected, anticipating the time we had originally outlined to the market. Execution remains disciplined and focused as we balance financial strength with long-term growth. To support the strategy, the board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.03 per share. As previously communicated, the board will reassess shareholder distributions following the normalization of free cash flow after peak investments in Vaca Muerta. Before closing, I would like to briefly address the recent announcement by Parex regarding directors’ nominations to GeoPark’s board.
Our board remains fully committed to strong governance, disciplined capital allocation, and long-term value creation. All nominations will be reviewed through our established governance processes as we remain focused on executing our strategy and delivering results for all shareholders. GeoPark shareholders do not need to take any action at this time. Regarding Parex’ proposal to acquire Frontera’s upstream assets, GeoPark remains fully committed to our agreement, which we believe creates a leading independent E&P platform across Colombia and Argentina. We have a strong conviction in the merits of the transaction and believe that, amongst other reasons, our strong operating expertise, deep local presence, and long-standing relationships in Colombia make us the strongest strategic fit for Frontera’s assets. Our agreement follows more than a year of detailed evaluation, technical diligence, and structured discussions with Frontera, supported by comprehensive operational, financial, and contractual analysis.
This depth of preparation underpins our confidence in the integration plan and value creation roadmap. We believe the transaction delivers immediate and certain value to Frontera shareholders while enhancing long-term value for GeoPark shareholders through greater scale, reserve depth, and cash flow durability. Our full-field development approach is also expected to sustain production and investment in Colombia, supporting royalties, taxes, and employment, while strengthening the country’s energy platform. In summary, 2025 was a pivotal year for GeoPark. We protected and optimized what we have while continuing to deliver results with consistency and focus. In parallel, we launched a new growth engine in Argentina and secured a transformational acquisition in Colombia that will improve scale, competitiveness, long-term optionality, and value for the company and our shareholders. We have entered 2026 with momentum.
We have a stronger, more diversified portfolio that has a linear cost base and a clearer path forward to continue building long-term value for all of our shareholders. With that, let me open the floor for your questions.
Harry, Conference Call Moderator, GeoPark Limited: Thank you. To ask a question, please press star followed by one on your telephone keypad. If you change your mind, please press star followed by two to exit the queue, and when preparing to ask your question, please ensure that your device is unmuted locally. Our first question will be from the line of Alejandro Demichelis with Jefferies. Please go ahead. Your line is now open.
Alejandro Demichelis, Analyst, Jefferies: Yes, good morning. Thank you very much for taking my question. I actually have a couple of questions, if I may, please. The first one is on your cost base. Obviously, we have seen, and you mentioned one-offs in the fourth quarter. Can you give us some indication of how do you expect cost for the whole of the year to develop? What kind of range we can expect? That’s the first question. The second question is, you mentioned the bid, the or the offer for Frontera. There is a competing offer now on the table. How do you see that situation? Maybe you can comment on any kind of more recent discussions you have had with Frontera and how you see that situation, please.
Felipe Bayón, Chief Executive Officer, GeoPark Limited: Alejandro, good morning, and thanks for being here today. We always value your interest in the company. Let me start in terms of giving some context around the cost evolution, and then I’ll hand over to both Jaime and Martín to give us a bit more color. One thing I would say, the first thing is that we met or exceeded all of the guidelines that we had given to the market, which I think it’s very, very important. Remember that, and you would probably acknowledge this, I think it’s only my third results call in the company. It’s been eight months, intense eight months, with the reset that I mentioned in my intro words.
This sort of stabilization of the operation inflection point that we reached in 2025, we’ve managed to work on decline through activity and all of the technical work that has been done by the team. From that point of view, Alejandro, very excited with the performance of the company, very thrilled. Kudos to the team, to the operations and the technical teams, and the people that support those operational teams. In terms of the cost specifically, if you recall, we had given a guidance of $12-$14 per bbl in terms of lifting. We’re in the midpoint of that, $13.2, with an increase in 4Q.
Those, most of those one-offs have been reversed or will not be present in 1Q, and we’ve managed to bring the cost back down, which is great news. Some of those had to do with some very, very specific activities that we were conducting. With that, Alejandro, I’ll ask Jaime and Martín to give us a bit more color, which I think it’s warranted.
Jaime Caballero, Chief Financial Officer, GeoPark Limited: Good morning, Alejandro, and thanks, Felipe. Basically, a few data points that are relevant. When we think about the one-offs, essentially we can split them in two categories, and they have an effect both on OpEx per bbl and on G&A. On one hand, we had a very particular startup cost associated to the reinitiation of the Platanillo operation in Putumayo and the Vaca Muerta operations in Argentina. When you look at them on a full basis, the impact of that is in the order of $7 million in the quarter, which are not recurrent, right? They’re not recurrent. They’re split broadly, two-thirds of that is seen in the OpEx, a third of that is seen in G&A, roughly.
But it’s something that we don’t expect to see. Obviously the important component of that is that these costs are gonna be, are gonna see production down the road, right? Platanillo, we are reactivating Platanillo in a context of production, and clearly Vaca Muerta is the same case. It’s a bit of a cost, but at the same time, it’s an investment that we’re making to be able to mobilize production in those two areas. The other component is pure and typical seasonality, right? We had a seasonal effects in 4Q in the order of $2 million-$3 million.
These are very specific to labor-related provisions that we decided to take in the context of what we were anticipating labor effects that were retracted to 2025. There’s an element of that, and there’s also an element of the typical year-end projects, like, for instance, research certification, costs associated to that and that type of element. On a relative scale, they’re not particularly material, but they do affect the per-bbl metrics. We’re talking about $2 million-$3 million that in the context of the numbers that we’re looking for, the OpEx, once normalized, would probably be at the $13 per bbl. The G&A would be at the $4.5 per bbl, which is kinda like what we signaled in our announcement.
As we look to 2026, our guidance is unchanged, Alejandro. Basically, what we’re seeing is a lifting costs that are gonna be in the $13-$15 per bbl area, and a G&A that we expect to deliver in the area of $4 per bbl. Martín?
Martín Terrado, Chief Operating Officer, GeoPark Limited: Yeah, thank you, Jaime, and good morning, Alejandro. I’ll just say a few additional data points. I wanna stress again in what Felipe was mentioning. Our guideline for 2025 was $12-$14 per bbl, and we finished the year at 13.4. Very proud of the team, all the efforts that have been done. We got things that were already identified last year and we’re already underway, and I’ll share a little bit of that. For 2026, just to reiterate what Jaime was saying, that our guideline for OpEx 2026 is $13-$15 per bbl, and we feel confident around those values. The fact around that is we already have January and February numbers.
Like Felipe was mentioning, part of those things that hit us in the fourth quarter are gone. We feel good about that. I’ll touch on a few items. I’ll start with Argentina. When we took over the operation in Argentina, the OpEx were $32 per bbl. We now brought it down to the order of $22-$27 per bbl, and that’s just by doing the workovers on the six wells, and working with the teams on things like transportation, optimization, activities, and others. We expect to be, by the end of the year, and that’s part of our guideline, around $10-$12 per bbl. That’s gonna be because we are incrementing production by bringing a rig that is about to start moving very shortly, and increase production.
The second one is like Jaime mentioned, Putumayo, we started in the last quarter of the year, that field back again. As we were starting, the OpEx were in the order of $45 per bbl. We’re looking at that, now we’re lower than $40 per bbl. With the recent announcement from the Ecuador government, we’re looking at it since we’re not transporting crude through Ecuador anymore. We will decide in the next weeks the future of Putumayo. Finally, on Llanos 34, the OpEx in Llanos 34 went up in the last quarter.
We had well interventions, and also we’re always looking at reliability of the energy, so we had some activities to make sure that we were entering 2026 with as good energy reliability in the field as in the past. We confirm we’re already back at the levels that we had on the third quarter. There are some things that we know are risk or challenges, especially around the exchange rate, and we’re working on additional things that with the team we can implement. Some of them are around more ideas around the rigs for doing workovers and well services, so we have some pilots and some ideas that we’re about to start implementing.
We’re bringing a 4th rig, workover rig, in March, in Llanos 34, and we’re already working in Llanos 123 to eliminate most of the rentals on facilities that we have. That’s part of the plan as we move from temporary facilities to the final facilities in these blocks.
Felipe Bayón, Chief Executive Officer, GeoPark Limited: Thanks, Martín. Alejandro, I’ll go back to your second question, and in terms of how the Frontera situation is evolving. First thing, and just let me step back and just highlight some of the things that I already mentioned in my remarks. In January, when we announced a month ago, the acquisition of Frontera’s assets in Colombia, clearly a transformational transaction in which reserves double, brings additional production, helps us in terms of delivering more value, and actually, provides the opportunity of a long-term commitment to the country, which is fundamental, you know, in terms of ensuring that deployment of technology and activity can be done in those blocks.
All this in the context that we will always keep in mind, which is ensuring that the value, accretion, and protection of our shareholders is present in every situation and every decision that we make. In terms of where we are in the process right now, first of all, I want to acknowledge Frontera’s team, you know. The work that we’ve done so far, it’s exceptional in terms of all the integration and all the process and everything that has to do with getting us ready for closing of the deal.
You’ll remember, Alejandro, that we’ve mentioned this is something that as part of our valuation framework, with some conservative price assumptions, a very detailed operation plan, we’ve been looking at this opportunity for some years now. With some more detailed conversations with Frontera over the last year, over the last 12 months or so. We are fully convinced that it’s not only in terms of Frontera’s capability, the people, the teams they have, but it’s a very, very complimentary portfolio to the operations that we already have. In, in that sense, in terms of the process itself, we’re progressing with Frontera in our conversations.
One data point that I’ll share with you today in the call, a couple days back, we received approval, formal approval from SIC, Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio. It’s like the antitrust body in Colombia, the antitrust agency, which is great, you know? It was a major milestone in terms of the Colombian approvals. The AGM for Frontera, they’ve scheduled that for April 10. We’re progressing in that sense. I’ll just reiterate something that with the news of the offer from Parex that came in this week, and I mentioned that in my remarks.
First of all, I’d say that, as a board, the board will continue to assess, study, analyze, and pursue any and all options that seek and are directed at creating long-term value for our shareholders. We will always evaluate the opportunities, within the frame of financial discipline and the best interest of our shareholders. We’re very pleased, very, very pleased, Alejandro, these are great assets with opportunity. I mean, actually, the fact that there’s a new offer from a different company demonstrates that our strategy is sound, is solid, that the deal is actually an increasingly accretive deal for us and shareholders. We’re very pleased. We’re very, very happy, Alejandro. Thanks for the questions.
Alejandro Demichelis, Analyst, Jefferies: Thank you very much for the detailed answer. Thank you.
Harry, Conference Call Moderator, GeoPark Limited: The next question today will be from the line of Stephane Foucaud with Auctus Advisors. Please go ahead. Your line is now open.
Stephane Foucaud, Analyst, Auctus Advisors: Yes. Hi, thank you for taking my questions. I’ve got three. The first one, back on Frontera. What are the value steps until closing? Are there things bar increasing the offer that you could do to prevent the Frontera to go with Parex, probably be thinking about break fees or things like that. Second, on the nomination by Parex of director for GeoPark, I was thinking they are making an offer on the Frontera asset. They are nominating director. I was wondering whether there would not be any conflict of interest, and I would be interested in having your thought on that. Lastly, where are we on Argentina with regard to current production? Thank you.
Felipe Bayón, Chief Executive Officer, GeoPark Limited: Stephane, thanks, great to have you here on the call. I’ll expand a bit in terms of Frontera. The first thing is that it’s in Frontera’s camp to assess the new offer that they’ve received. It’s up to Frontera to decide what they wanna do with that offer. In the meantime, as I’ve mentioned, our arrangement agreement is in place. I just talked about the local approvals, one which is very, very important that we received a couple days ago, but it’s down to Frontera to actually look at the offer.
One thing I would say, and I wanna be very explicit on this, in the context of GeoPark and its board and reviewing all of the options that are available to us, and there’s always multiple options in terms of things that we can do, this need to create long-term value for shareholders. One of the things, Stephane, that we need to be very careful and mindful is that we don’t lose that discipline in pursue of something specific. It could be a deal, it could be an operation, but that we always, as the high ground, ensure that we remind ourselves that we’re here to ensure that we create value for shareholders. I think that’s very important. More to come, I guess.
It’s in Frontera’s camp to decide if they want to fully consider and then take next steps on the new offer that came in. Again, in terms of the arrangement agreement that’s in place, that we’re pursuing, that we’re diligently working between our team and Frontera’s team, we have options going forward, and those options, as I’ve mentioned, will be assessed by management and our board. In terms of the nominations by Parex, and you’ve mentioned specifically conflict of interest. The first thing is I’d say that I do believe there’s a conflict of interest. Absolutely.
If you think about the nomination, which in essence is nominating a control slate for the board, and this without any additional context or even an offer that appropriately values GeoPark, I think it only serves to benefit Parex by providing Parex with optionality at the expense of GeoPark’s shareholders. In that context, and in that context, I think it just demonstrates from Parex that there’s been a deliberate and hostile strategy directed at GeoPark. That’s what I would comment on the nomination by Parex. In terms of Argentina, I think and Martín provided a bit of context, but I’ll give you the high level one. We’re extremely pleased with our entry and returning to Argentina, this time to do unconventionals in Vaca Muerta.
As you know, we received the keys to all the operation October 16th of last year. We’ve done already two workover campaigns, and one thing that it’s very, very, I mean, it’s very thrilling, Stephane, is, next week, as early as next week, we will start mobilizing a Nabors rig that has an open window from a third party operation from another company, another operator. We will mobilize the rig to start drilling a limited campaign. It’s five wells, plus, some ancillary works that need to be done. That means that we will start drilling in Vaca Muerta, and we will start tracking operations in Vaca Muerta. I think that’s a massive milestone for the company.
Remember that we’ve given the market, the signal that we will see an uplift in production by the end of the year. With these wells and some of the activities that Martín was referring to in terms of facilities and commercial agreements and operational agreements with Nabors, we will see that uplift in production by the end of the year. Very, very exciting. You know, there’s additional opportunities that are being assessed in Argentina as well, and we’re very pleased. The last thing, which I’ve mentioned in prior calls, is that there will be an opportunity, I’m convinced, to bring some of the expertise that we reinforce and further deepen in Argentina to bring that expertise back to Colombia, you know, and look at unconventionals in Colombia.
Martín, if you want to give us a bit more color around, Argentina.
Martín Terrado, Chief Operating Officer, GeoPark Limited: Absolutely, Felipe. Good morning, Stephane. Thanks for your question. I’ll reiterate that Vaca Muerta is going very well, and we’re advancing on the key milestones. We think about it, 2025 was around taking over, finalizing the team, putting together contracts, and then 2026, as we’ve shown when we were in New York in the last quarter of last year, it’s, it was about four things, and I’ll go through all four of them. Before we move into those four things, 2025, also, everything we’ve done has been incident-free with no recordables. That’s one of our values, and going into a new area, again, it shows how we operate. Again, when we went into New York, we said four things. First one, production optimization.
Like Felipe mentioned, we did two campaigns of workovers. The first one was actually starting the day that we took over. The second one we did in January. Between those two campaigns, we continued to optimize. The second campaign was 37% cheaper than the first one. Second thing that we mentioned was environmental permits. We know that there are critical environmental permits, and we have submitted those permits in middle of January, so they’re way under the perm that we have. Specifically, the one that it’s important is for the pipeline that we’re going to construct. We do not need any environmental permit for doing the drilling activity or doing any upscale or upgrade in our existing facilities, which is part of the work that we’re doing.
The third one is around facilities. I will mention that we have already awarded the contract for the Loma Jarillosa Este upgrade, actually a little bit lower than the, what we had in plan for $16 million. We have already finalized an agreement with a Nabor operator so that we can put together a pipeline and connect to the spare capacity that that operator has, and that way, we will continue to optimize, as we will not be having to track oil and water into the production that we have. The last one is around drilling. We said we were going to start drilling. Like Felipe said, we worked with the existing operators in a collaboratory way, we got a rig that is a Nabors rig, very efficient rig, hot rig.
in hot, in the sense that the crews are already working, maintenance has been done by a known operator in Argentina, we are mobilizing the rigging in the month of early March, like it’s next week. The activity there will be, there’s a pad that has five wells, out of which two are fully drilled, and the remaining three wells, we need to just drill the horizontal branches. It’s two branches of 2,100 meters and one branch of 3,000 meters. That will take us around 45 days, then we’re already locking the frac set so that we will go and frac all five wells in that pad. It’s around 220 fracks in all the wells for around 60 days.
Very excited on how we finish 2025 in Vaca Muerta, and most importantly, how we’re advancing on the key milestones. We have a team that is fully in place, integrated, and our exit rate for the year in Vaca Muerta is like we’ve been saying in the past, 5,000-6,000 boepd within our guidelines. That’s again, showing how we deliver production and the value in Argentina.
Stephane Foucaud, Analyst, Auctus Advisors: Thanks, Martín. Thank you.
Harry, Conference Call Moderator, GeoPark Limited: The next question will be from the line of Oriana Covault with Balanz Capital. Please go ahead. Your line is open.
Oriana Covault, Analyst, Balanz Capital: Hi, thanks for taking my call. This is Oriana Covault with Balanz. I have one brief one regarding your 2026 work program. What is the status of the negotiations with your Llanos partner? I believe there was a discrepancy between the guidance that you had provided and your partner in the area. Should we expect any changes in activities versus the previously shared plan? Thank you.
Felipe Bayón, Chief Executive Officer, GeoPark Limited: Oriana, thanks, and thanks for being here, and thanks for the opportunity to comment. I mean with most of the partners, we already have agreement in terms of the work programs and budgets and everything else, which basically, support and underpin the guidance that we have given to the markets. Specifically with regards to Llanos 34, and probably I’ll give you a bit more detail, and some data points, but, we have 21 workovers that have been approved, both technically and from a budget perspective, which is great. Some facilities, upgrades, and works, that have been approved.
In terms of the wells themselves, from a technical point of view, there’s 14 wells that have been approved by both teams, by both companies, but our partner has only approved 8 of those wells. We continue to diligently work with them to ensure that they have all the data to ensure that they understand that these are value accretive operations. Remember, these are wells in Llanos 34 that provide value to not only the companies, but it’s their shareholders, which is, which is great, which is very, very relevant. The one thing I’d say, Oriana, is that we’ll very constructively continue with this dialogue to ensure that the partner can ensure that they have the funds to fully support the budget.
I know they have probably some other commitments as well in terms of their own operations. If we don’t get into an agreement with them, we have optionality, you know? We can always put this rig into other areas and do some other things that will be beneficial for GeoPark and its shareholders. Thanks, Oriana.
Oriana Covault, Analyst, Balanz Capital: Thank you.
Harry, Conference Call Moderator, GeoPark Limited: Thank you. We will now move to text questions submitted from the webcast. First question being from Eduardo Muniz with Santander, who asks: If the Frontera deal does not close, how does that change your Colombia growth outlook? Second part, could you give us an update on the polymer injection project, which started in December, including incremental production impact, if any, and how this project could influence 2026 output and recovery factors? Thank you.
Felipe Bayón, Chief Executive Officer, GeoPark Limited: Eduardo, good morning, and thanks for being here today. We’ll start with question number two, and I’ll ask Rodrigo to give us an update on the polymer injection, but I’d say we’re very, very satisfied. We’re thrilled. Things are progressing well in terms of the different milestones and in increasing concentrations of the polymer and everything else. I’ll ask Rodrigo to give us a bit more color. Go ahead, Roddy.
Rodrigo Dalle Fiore, Chief Exploration and Development Officer, GeoPark Limited: Thank you, Felipe. Good morning, Eduardo. Polymer flood is a important element in our development plan for Llanos 34. We started last year in December with two initial wells. The expectation that we have is incorporate another two wells next month or April. What we have seen until now is a very good performance in term of operation. We are waiting for results in the second part of this year. We are not expecting some results in these early times, but actually, operationally, and the concentration that we are incorporating in the polymer, in the water, are working very good. The plan that we have is not stay there for long. We are going to add five more wells by the rest, by the second part of the year. That’s the plan that we have.
Actually, at the same time we are monitoring, we are expecting to anticipate that five wells by the half of this year. That’s the intention that we have in order to be more proactive. Also, it’s something that we are at least aiming, is to accelerate the expansion in the north of the block. We are seeing very good interesting results in the simulation that we are doing in the north of the block, in Tigana block. That’s the next step, that’s why we are not going to keep here, we are also going beyond that. That’s where we are right now. The expectation that we have in term of, you asked about the recovery factor.
In the simulation that we have, is between three in the pessimistic scenario and 7% in the optimistic scenario that we expect in the areas where we are injecting. That’s the expectation that we have. The results, according to our own experience in all the blocks and obviously, the neighborhoods, is about 5% as an average, the expectation that we have in term of recovery factors.
Felipe Bayón, Chief Executive Officer, GeoPark Limited: Thanks, Roddy. A lot of in terms of the outlook and the deal. First thing I’d say is that where we are, we have these the arrangement agreement in place, and as I’ve mentioned before, we’re pursuing very diligently with Frontera and both teams, the work to closing. I think that’s the first thing I would say. The second thing is obviously that, and I’ll go back to the discipline, financial discipline comments that I’ve made. The board will assess all options, opportunities that are available to us, and always within this frame of financial discipline. I think that’s very important.
We will not and should not lose sight of what’s the priority for us, which is ensuring that there’s a value creation, and it’s always in the best interest of our shareholders. That will be the frame in which we will think about it. Again, as we’ve done, with guidance and updates to the market, we’ll continue to keep you appraised. Thanks, Eduardo.
Harry, Conference Call Moderator, GeoPark Limited: Thank you. The next question has been submitted by Isabella Pacheco, apologies, with Bank of America, who asks: When does the limited duration shareholders rights plan expire, and is the board discussing to renew it? Thank you.
Felipe Bayón, Chief Executive Officer, GeoPark Limited: Thanks, Isabella, and thanks for being here. It’s great to have you on today’s call. Yeah, the rights plan, the shareholders rights plan, has a duration of a year, and it expires on June the third. That’s the date in which the rights plan will expire. The board, as with many other matters, will discuss in due time the nature, the conditions, and the specifics around the shareholders rights plan. When those discussions are final and when the company is ready to announce a decision or directionally, where we wanna go with that, we will communicate that promptly to the markets. Thanks, Isabella.
Harry, Conference Call Moderator, GeoPark Limited: Thank you. The next question has been submitted by Vicente Falanga with Bradesco, who asks: Have you seen any impacts on your business from the formalization of the Venezuelan market? Thank you.
Felipe Bayón, Chief Executive Officer, GeoPark Limited: Thanks, Vicente. I’ll ask Jaime to take on the sort of the market conditions, volumes, and how that’s impacting us. Before I do that, there’s at least the way in which I understand the question, there’s two things. There’s obviously volumes and dips, and stuff like that, but there’s always or there’s also a window that’s opening in terms of opportunities in Venezuela. That’s one of the things, as I’ve mentioned before, the company and the board will continue to assess optionality and opportunities going forward that we’re reviewing as well, because we do believe that giving our track record as prudent, safe, efficient, reliable operator, there’s always opportunities in that count.
Jaime, if you can take the one on the volumes.
Jaime Caballero, Chief Financial Officer, GeoPark Limited: Yeah, sure. Absolutely. Hi, Vicente. you know, when we think about Venezuela, I think the most immediate, impact that we’ve seen is of course, around the, heavy oil market, as such, and particularly as it relates to, the Vasconia and the Castilla references in Colombia. The, the Vasconia reference is relevant to us because it’s probably the most relevant benchmark that we use, both for Llanos 34, and CPO-5, crudes. Generally, our crudes are not exactly the Vasconia reference. Actually, our crudes, have a improved quality and less sulfur content than Vasconia, from a purity standpoint, if you will, if you think about the specs. As a, as a benchmark of commercial differentiation, we are to some degree, connected to that.
What has happened with Vasconia, it has been a widening differential. If you look at probably 3Q or 2Q of last year, in the middle of last year, we were seeing differentials, which in other words, commercial discounts, which were in the order of $3-$4. Those commercial discounts are today probably in the $7-$8 amount, right? It’s actually to a large degree, being influenced by what’s been happening in Venezuela. What is happening in Venezuela? Basically, you are seeing about one million or so of new barrels from Venezuela going into the market, particularly to the U.S. market, the Gulf Coast refinery and a area.
What we’re seeing there is actually a combination of two things. You have new supply from Venezuela, but at the same time, we are at that part of the season, you know, first Q of the year, typically, in the refining sector, you see relatively lowish demand. It’s a quarter where typically maintenance work is going on, refinery runs are lower, typically. Therefore, you have this combination of supply coming in, new supply coming in from Venezuela and from Mexico, and a lower demand, typically from the refineries. We think this is temporary. What we believe is that the market will adapt to absorb the new Venezuelan crude, and demand generally with the refinery runs, will increase around summer.
Summer is the typical high demand season in the U.S. because there’s massive consumption associated to people on vacation, traveling, you know, extended days and long hours and all of that. So we are expecting an stabilization, if you will, of that supply and demand. Particularly, what we see is that the Vasconia and the Colombian references, relatively speaking, provide better quality than that Venezuelan offer that you have currently. Having said that, we are obviously moving on all fronts to look at ways to further mitigate that. One of our strategies is around decoupling ourselves to the Vasconia reference by doing FOB exports. That’s what we’re doing with CPO-5.
Basically, the bulk of the CPO-5 volumes that we have, which are in the order of 6,000 bbl a day, are actually being sold in Coveñas for export, and that deal helps us reduce that effect. We’re more tied to Brent rather than to Vasconia on that particular reference, and that helps. Basically, that’s what you’re seeing in that particular market. I think the other, of course, angle around your question of impacts on your business is, of course, that from a new business standpoint, Venezuela is opening up, right? Venezuela is opening up. We’re starting to see inbound interest in that area, looking for operating capabilities that can help restart production in a number of fields, improve production in a number of fields.
As you’re probably aware, the dimension and scale of the Venezuelan industry is massive, so there could be opportunities in that front, and that is something that we are actively evaluating.
Felipe Bayón, Chief Executive Officer, GeoPark Limited: Thanks, Jaime, and thanks, Vicente.
Harry, Conference Call Moderator, GeoPark Limited: Thank you. We will now close Q&A, and I would like to hand the call back to Mr. Felipe Bayón for closing remarks.
Felipe Bayón, Chief Executive Officer, GeoPark Limited: Thanks, Harry. Thanks for the help, again, thanks everyone for being here in the call today. Very, very briefly, just a few remarks from myself. First one, 2025 closed in a very strong point. Operationally, as I’ve mentioned, we met or beat the guidelines that we had given the market with some specifics around the inflection point and stabilizing operations and production in Colombia and entering Vaca Muerta. As I’ve mentioned, very, very pleased with of those major milestones.
Strategy is in place, and we’re executing and deploying capital in a very disciplined way, in terms of protecting the assets and the operations and the value that we have, and pursuing the avenue of growth, with which both Vaca Muerta and the deal with Frontera underpin very, very, very nicely and directly. We’re very happy with the start of 2026, and we’ve shared some of the highlights as well. We will continue to work with Frontera on the arrangement agreement and working towards closing. Again, very thankful to the team in Frontera and to our team in terms of how diligent they’ve been in keeping us on track. Having the SIC approval, I think it’s a major milestone for us as well.
We will remain disciplined in terms of our decisions and the financial framework that we use at the management level and with the board, to continue to assess all and any options that are available to the company. With that, I again, thank everyone who has been present at today’s call. Thanks for the interest in GeoPark. Thanks for the great questions. I think it allowed us the opportunity to share some of our views. Please stay safe. Have a great day!
Harry, Conference Call Moderator, GeoPark Limited: This concludes the GeoPark 4Q 2025 results conference call. You may now disconnect your lines.