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Tullow Oil posted a higher first-half profit but downgraded its annual output guidance due to mechanical problems at a well in Ghana.
Net profit for the six months through June rose to $103m, up from $53m in the previous year, when the company booked a $149.3m provision for an onerous service contract.
Gross profit rose more modestly to $527m, up from $521m, as higher production volumes were offset by a lower average oil price over the period.
Tullow Oil cut its full-year output guidance to 89,000-to-93,000 barrels of oil per day, due to mechanical issues experienced completing the Enyenra-14 production well, which had not been brought on-stream as planned.
Working interest gas production was expected to average around 1,000 boepd, resulting in total group production guidance for the full year of 90,000-to-94,000 boepd.
The company declared an interim dividend of 2.35c per share.
"Today's results demonstrate strong financial delivery in the first half of 2019 with robust profits and free cash flow,' chief executive Paul McDade said.
'We are disappointed that a mechanical issue at our latest TEN well has caused us to reduce our 2019 production outlook; however, our overall portfolio of low-cost West African production continues to provide a solid financial base for the business.'
'Elsewhere, our exciting three-well Guyana exploration campaign is now under way and I am particularly pleased to see the good progress being made in Kenya with the first ever lifting of East Africa crude expected in the coming months.'
