Baytex Reports Strong Canadian Reserves Growth and Positive Operational Momentum
Source: www.gulfoilandgas.com 2/2/2026, Location: North America
Baytex Energy Corp. (锟紹aytex锟�) is pleased to announce its year-end 2025 reserves and provide an operations update (all amounts in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted).
Our 2025 performance was highlighted by the strategic divestiture of our U.S. assets, resulting in a significantly strengthened financial position and sharpened focus on our high-return Canadian energy platform. We entered 2026 with a net cash position and remain committed to returning a significant portion of the net proceeds from the U.S. sale (after debt repayment) to shareholders.
Baytex is also providing an update on its 2025 consolidated operations, including U.S. assets up to the December 19, 2025 sale closing. Consolidated production averaged 137,087 boe/d (84% oil and NGL) in the fourth quarter, with annual 2025 production of 145,079 boe/d (85% oil and NGL). Exploration and development expenditures totaled $175 million during the fourth quarter and $1,207 million in 2025.
Production in Canada averaged 67,295 boe/d (88% oil and NGL) in the fourth quarter, with annual 2025 production of 65,528 boe/d (89% oil and NGL), representing a 6% growth rate compared to 2024 (excluding non-core divestitures). For 2026, we are targeting annual production of 67,000 to 69,000 boe/d with exploration and development expenditures of $550 to $625 million.
Year-End 2025 Reserves Highlights Value Creation 锟� Canada
In Canada, we invested $549 million on exploration and development expenditures in a highly capital efficient program. Our Pembina Duvernay and heavy oil development contributed significantly to our year-end 2025 reserves, demonstrating the long-term resiliency and sustainability of our business and its capacity for future value creation.
We achieved solid reserves growth in Canada across all three reserves categories, proved developed producing (锟絇DP锟�), proved (锟�1P锟�) and proved plus probable (锟�2P锟�).
PDP reserves increased 12% to 69 MMboe (61 MMboe at year-end 2024), replacing 133% of production.
1P reserves increased 15% to 151 MMboe (131 MMboe at year-end 2024), replacing 185% of production.
2P reserves increased 9% to 282 MMboe (259 MMboe at year-end 2024), replacing 203% of production.
Finding and development (锟紽&D锟�) costs, including changes in future development costs (锟紽DC锟�) were $17.28/boe for PDP reserves, $16.39/boe for 1P reserves and $16.27/boe for 2P reserves.
We generated a strong PDP F&D recycle ratio of 2.0x and a 1P and 2P F&D recycle ratio of 2.1x based on a 2025 operating netback(1) of $34.61/boe, reflective of the efficiency of our capital program.
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We maintain a robust reserves life index of 11.5 years based on 2P reserves.
Our 2025 reserves report continues a strong track record of value creation in Canada.
Our three-year average (2023-2025) production replacement, excluding acquisitions and divestitures, for PDP, 1P, and 2P reserves is 119%, 151% and 169%, respectively.
Our three-year average (2023-2025) F&D costs, including changes in FDC were $18.12/boe for PDP reserves, $18.74/boe for 1P reserves and $19.76/boe for 2P reserves.
We generated a strong three-year average (2023-2025) F&D recycle ratio of 2.1x for PDP reserves, 2.0x for 1P reserves, and 1.9x for 2P reserves.
Operations Update 锟� Driving Performance in Our Canadian Portfolio
We are building on the operational momentum established last year with a 2026 plan that targets 3% to 5% annual production growth while investing in long-term infrastructure, exploration and land to support future growth and inventory expansion.
In the Duvernay, production is expected to increase 35% to average approximately 11,000 boe/d in 2026, with a target year-end exit rate of 14,000 to 15,000 boe/d. We currently have one rig running in the Duvernay, drilling the first well of a four-well pad on our southern acreage. Completion operations are scheduled for the second quarter with the wells expected to be onstream by mid-year. The remaining two pads (4-wells each) are expected to be onstream during the third and fourth quarter. We have also commenced our infrastructure build-out for 2026, including anchor oil batteries and water handling.
Our heavy oil portfolio is expected to deliver stable production and reliable returns. We currently have five drilling rigs active across our heavy oil fairway targeting the Clearwater at Peavine and the broader Mannville stack in Lloydminster. We expect to bring 91 heavy oil wells onstream in 2026. In addition, our 2026 program will see increased exploration activity, including stratigraphic tests, step-out wells and 3-D seismic.
At Peavine, we are drilling the third of thirteen multi-lateral horizontal wells on a single pad. In addition, we intend to undertake two waterflood pilot projects as we look to blend the attractive capital efficiencies of multi-lateral primary development with the potential upside of enhanced recovery and moderated decline rates.
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At Lloydminster, our first quarter drilling program will target seven discrete horizons in the Mannville: Cummings, GP, Lloydminster, McLaren, Sparky and both the Upper and Lower Waseca. In northeast Alberta, we recently brought onstream two multi-lateral wells in the Sparky that generated average 30-day initial production rates of 450 bbl/d per well, and a five-well pad in the Upper Waseca that generated average 30-day initial production rates of 150 bbl/d per well.
In the Viking, we are running a largely level-loaded one rig program in 2026 (outside of spring break-up) to maximize efficiencies. We expect to bring 73 net wells onstream in 2026.
Strong Net Cash Position and Shareholder Returns
In December, we repaid our outstanding credit facilities, redeemed all of the US$759 million principal amount of 8.500% Senior Notes due 2030 and US$505 million principal amount of 7.375% Senior Notes due 2032 (of an original US$575 million principal amount outstanding) through a successful tender offer.
We entered 2026 with a net cash position (cash less principal amount of Senior Notes that remain outstanding) of approximately $857 million that provides significant financial flexibility. We intend to return a significant portion to shareholders, prioritizing share buybacks while maintaining our current annual dividend of $0.09 per share.
Our Normal Course Issuer Bid (锟絅CIB锟�) allows Baytex to purchase up to 66.2 million common shares during the 12-month period ending July 1, 2026. On December 24, 2025, we re-initiated our share buyback program. To-date (through January 30, 2026) we have repurchased 17.1 million common shares for $78 million, representing 2.2% of our shares outstanding, at an average price of $4.55 per share.
Disciplined Risk Management
We employ a disciplined hedging strategy to manage heavy oil basis differential volatility. For 2026, approximately 45% of our net heavy oil basis differential exposure is hedged at a WTI-WCS basis differential of US$13.13/bbl.
We also have WTI hedges in place for the first half of 2026. For Q1/2026 we have entered into hedges on approximately 60% of our net crude oil exposure utilizing two-way collars with an average floor price of US$60/bbl and an average ceiling price of US$67/bbl. For Q2/2026 we have entered into hedges on approximately 50% of our net crude oil exposure utilizing two-way collars with an average floor price of US$60/bbl and an average ceiling price of US$66/bbl.
Year-End 2025 Results
Baytex expects to release its year-end 2025 operating and financial results on March 4, 2026.
Year-End 2025 Reserves
Baytex锟絪 year-end 2025 reserves were evaluated by McDaniel & Associates Consultants Ltd. (锟組cDaniel锟�), an independent qualified reserves evaluator. All of our oil and gas properties were evaluated in accordance with National Instrument 51-101 锟絊tandards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities锟� (锟絅I 51-101锟�) and the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook (the 锟紺OGE Handbook锟�) using the average commodity price forecasts and inflation rates of McDaniel, GLJ Petroleum Consultants (锟紾LJ锟�) and Sproule ERCE (锟絊proule锟�) as of January 1, 2026.
Additional information regarding Baytex锟絪 reserves and other oil and gas information will be included in Baytex锟絪 Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2025, which is expected to be filed on SEDAR+ and EDGAR on or around March 4, 2026.
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The following table sets forth our gross and net reserves volumes at December 31, 2025 by product type and reserves category. Please note that the data in the table may not add due to rounding.
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