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3rd Quarter Results

19th Nov 2010 08:00

RNS Number : 4853W
Sefton Resources Inc
19 November 2010
 



Sefton Resources, Inc.

("Sefton" or the "Company")

 

Sefton Provides Operations Update and Reports Nine-Month Period Financial Results

 

19 November 2010

 

Sefton Resources, Inc. (AIM: SER), an independent exploitation and production company with assets in the East Ventura Basin of California and the Forest City Basin of eastern Kansas, today provides a nine-month period operations and financial results update.

 

Nine-month 2010 Period Financial Results (in US$)

The Company reported oil and gas sales for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 of $2.7 million, as compared to $2.1 million in the nine-month period in 2009, an increase of 33%. The Company reported net income for the first nine months of 2010 of $338,000, or $0.00 per share, compared with a net loss of $317,000, or $0.00 per share, for the same period in 2009.

 

Sefton's total general and administrative expense declined by 5% in the 2010 nine-month period to $1.1 million, as compared to $1.2 million in the prior-year period.

 

Included in the 2010 costs and expenses was approximately $346,000 in depreciation, depletion and amortization (DD&A), as compared to $321,000 in 2009. Production expense during the 2010 nine-month period was $518,000, as compared to $426,000 in 2009. For the nine-month period 2010, net cash provided by operations was $856,000, as compared to net cash used in operations of $779,000 for the same period of 2009.

 

Stockholders' equity at September 30, 2010 was $8.7 million, as compared to $7.6 million at December 31, 2009. The Company's working capital at September 30, 2010 was $257,000, as compared to a working capital deficit of $354,000 at December 31, 2009. Long-term debt associated with Sefton's revolving line of credit was $6.9 million at September 30, 2010, and is unchanged from December 31, 2009. The Company is in compliance with all covenants associated with the credit facility.

 

Production and Prices Received

For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010, Sefton produced approximately 41,000 barrels of oil, as compared to 46,000 barrels of oil in the 2009 comparable reporting period. The average oil price realization for the 2010 nine-month period improved to $70.36 per barrel, a 49% increase when compared to the $47.33 per barrel received in the 2009 period. Sefton's production base comprises 100% crude oil.

 

During the nine-month period of 2010, Sefton's total capital expenditure for development and exploration of its leasehold was $939,000, as compared to $2.3 million in 2009, when the Company drilled three new wells and added additional infrastructure associated with its cyclic steaming program. During the 2010 period, the Company drilled no new wells, but instead focused its capital investment on cyclic steaming of existing wells.

 

 

Operations Update

Tapia Field, East Ventura Basin, Calif.

Sefton completed its initial cyclic steaming pilot program with the return to production of the Hartje #11 well in early June 2010. Since that time, Sefton has profitably operated Tapia Field with a minimal amount of capital expenditures. The Company has focused on routine maintenance such as pump changes and water disposal facilities improvements.

 

Workover opportunities exist as a cost-effective way to deliver incremental oil production and cash flow. Currently, the Yule#9, a one-time Saugus Formation gas well, is being converted to an oil well which should show improvement in oil production once online. Estimated workover expense for the well is approximately $180,000. Company technical staff believes an oil rate increase of about 20 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) can be achieved. At current oil prices, the payout on the invested capital for this type of workover is less than six months.

 

The Company has identified workovers on three additional Hartje lease wells. Estimated per-well costs are $115,000 for easily implemented liner replacements with an expected per-well incremental production improvement of 5 BOPD to 10 BOPD. At current oil prices, the payout on the invested capital for this type of workover is less than 12 months.

 

Sefton continues to monitor the post steam injection response of the Hartje #11 and #13 wells. The wells received twice the amount of injected steam, when compare to earlier cyclic steam injections. The small steam injection volumes of approximately 6,000 barrels of steam resulted in wells returning to their baseline oil production rates after three to four months of production. After producing for five and seven months respectively after receiving the steam injection, both the Hartje #11 and the Hartje #13 wells are producing at rates above their baseline rates. During October, Hartje #11 produced at approximately five-times its baseline rate and Hartje#13 at two-times its baseline rate. The Company is very encouraged by the results.

 

Steamflood Pilot

Sefton is awaiting review, comment and approval of its previously announced steamflood pilot project on the Hartje lease. Sefton submitted a detailed engineering study to the State of California Division of Oil Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) which proposes a short-term, six-month steam flood injection study on the Hartje lease. The project is now in the final phase of the approval process. Once approved, the project can be finalized and formally permitted by the DOGGR. Upon approval, Sefton plans to convert the shut-in Hartje #10 well to a dedicated steam injector. Minimal capital expenditures are expected in order to replace liners and to perform other modifications to ready the well for steam injection. Sefton has existing steaming facilities in place to operate the injection from this location, including gas fuel and steam water supply lines and steam injection piping. Once injection begins, improved oil production response is expected from six wells offsetting the Hartje #10 injector well.

 

As previously announced, Sefton recently retained Dr. Farouq Ali, an expert in steamflood design, and president of Edmonton, Alberta-based HOR-Heavy Oil Recovery Technologies Ltd. Dr. Ali has supplied an initial technical review for possible implementation of a steamflood at Tapia as well as the evaluation of the primary oil recovery and the cyclic steam pilot thus far. The initial report outlines a number of steamflood sensitivity runs that model different well spacing, geologic and engineering parameters for the Tapia oilfield. Dr. Ali continues to evaluate the project and has indicated that he expects to provide additional geologic and engineering data specific to the Tapia reservoir.

 

The initial report and modeling supports the reservoir engineering work by Sefton's reserves engineer, Reed Ferrill & Associates. Sefton's proven, probable and possible reserves indicate total recoverable quantities for the field in the range of 51% to 78% of the original oil in place (OOIP). Given that the OOIP for Tapia is greater than 11 million barrels of oil and the primary production to date is less than 2 million barrels, Sefton believes that there is a significant amount of oil yet to be recovered by utilizing thermal recovery methods.

 

MidContinent

During the first nine months of 2010, the Company continued its work on select midstream infrastructure acquisitions. The Company is also in discussions with oil and gas operators in the eastern Kansas region who are seeking to utilize capacity on Sefton's Vanguard pipeline asset once it is reactivated.

 

In Leavenworth County, Kansas, the four-segment Vanguard Pipeline is undergoing an initial reactivation process. The Company estimates that it will have the full system operational by January 2011. In total, once the reactivation is completed, the Vanguard Pipeline will have in service eight miles of 8-inch pipeline, 6.5 miles of 6-inch pipeline, 11 miles of 4-inch pipeline and three miles of 3-inch pipeline that is capable of moving between 6 to 10 million cubic feet of natural gas per day and can also transport third-party gas. Placing the Vanguard Pipeline in service by January 2011 is subject to weather conditions and possible mechanical issues involved in pipeline testing procedures, which could potentially delay the in-service date.

 

Management Comment

"We are pleased to report a strong nine-month period driven by strong oil prices and complemented by achieving our expected production levels," said Sefton's CEO John James Ellerton. "Our California operations continue to operate at a profit, as we move forward with our steamflood pilot. Our California field staff is to be commended for their continued efforts in running a lean operation for Sefton and its shareholders. The six-well steam pilot program is an important step in improving the recovery of oil in place at Tapia. We look forward to beginning the program once we have received approval from the State. The modest investment in the pilot program could have positive implications for the remainder of Tapia, assuming a successful response. Dr. Ali's early evaluation of Tapia is also encouraging. It is too early to provide the final results, but we believe they corroborate our view of the field and the recoverable oil that can generate future growth for Sefton and its shareholders."

 

 

Enquiries

John James Ellerton, CEO - Tel: 001 303 759 2700

David Charles/John Gaensbauer, Sierra Partners LLC - Tel: 001 303 757 2510

Nick Harriss/Derek Crowhurst, Religare Capital Markets (Nomad) - Tel: +44 20 7444 0800

Daniel Briggs, Religare Capital Markets (Broker) - Tel: +44 20 7444 0500

 

Note:

The information in this release has been compiled and reviewed by Harry Barnum who is a qualified person for the purposes of the AIM Guidance Note for Mining and Oil & Gas Companies. Mr. Barnum has Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Geology and over 28 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. He is a registered professional geologist in the State of California.

Sefton Resources is an AIM listed oil and gas production company. Its core area of activity is in the East Ventura Basin in California, where it owns 100% of two oil fields, Tapia Canyon (heavy gravity oil) and Eureka Canyon (medium gravity oil), both of which have over 20 years of remaining production life. In addition, Sefton has over 45,000 acres in the Forest City Basin of Eastern Kansas where Coal Bed Methane gases, as well as conventional oil and gas deposits, are targets.

 

SEFTON RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

September 30,

September 30,

December 31

2010

2009

2009

(unaudited)

(unaudited)

(audited)

ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS:

Cash and cash equivalents

 $ 210,714

 $ 250,398

 $ 297,887

Accounts receivable

301,183

226,867

300,327

Other receivables - related party

337,579

320,386

323,373

Prepaid expenses and other assets

26,975

26,975

26,975

Total current assets

876,451

824,626

948,562

OIL And GAS PROPERTIES FULL COST METHOD, net

17,638,311

16,511,335

17,172,699

-

EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES, net

8,413

19,459

15,114

TOTAL ASSETS

 $ 18,523,175

 $ 17,355,420

 $ 18,136,375

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

Accounts payable

 $ 235,370

 $ 136,134

 $ 274,062

Accrued expenses

20,900

22,922

173,133

Accrued expenses - related parties

193,056

76,000

179,605

Retirement obligation - current portion

0

654,854

Notes payable, current portion

169,957

170,958

21,452

Total current liabilities

619,283

406,014

1,303,106

NOTES PAYABLE:

Note payable

390,000

390,000

539,505

Note payable - bank

6,892,367

6,594,867

6,894,867

7,282,367

6,984,867

7,434,372

RETIREMENT OBLIGATION

664,071

1,247,109

568,802

ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATION

1,209,231

1,164,263

1,209,231

Total liabilities

9,774,952

9,802,253

10,515,511

STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY:

Common stock, no par value, 200,000,000 shares

authorized, 130,061,379 shares issued and outstanding

14,312,202

13,478,877

13,522,850

Stock subscription receivable

-30,047

-30,047

(30,047)

Treasury stock

-66,393

-66,393

(66,393)

Accumulated (deficit)

-5,467,539

-5,829,270

(5,805,546)

Total stockholders' equity

8,748,223

7,553,167

7,620,864

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY

 $ 18,523,175

 $ 17,355,420

 $ 18,136,375

 

SEFTON RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Nine Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

Year Ended

September 30, 2010

September 30, 2009

December 31, 2009

(unaudited)

(unaudited)

(audited)

REVENUES:

Oil and gas sales

 $ 2,736,907

 

$ 2,056,565

 $ 2,739,282

COSTS AND EXPENSES:

Oil and gas production

518,015

426,094

617,042

Depletion and depreciation

345,999

320,550

484,554

General and administrative

1,098,849

1,162,667

1,379,483

Share based compensation

134,499

152,250

196,223

2,097,362

2,061,561

2,677,302

INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS

639,545

-4,996

61,980

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):

Interest income

3,726

-

-

Other income

-

-

-

Interest expense

(209,998)

(177,083)

(243,786)

Retirement liability

(95,267)

(135,000)

(111,547)

(301,539)

(312,083)

(355,333)

NET INCOME (LOSS)

 $ 338,006

 

$ (317,079)

 $ (293,353)

Basic and diluted gain (loss) per common share

0.0026

(0.0027)

(0.0025)

Basic and Diluted Weighted average

shares outstanding

130,061,379

116,753,312

116,753,312

 

SEFTON RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

 

Nine Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

Year Ended

 

September 30, 2010

September 30, 2009

December 31, 2009

 

(unaudited)

(unaudited)

(audited)

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 

Net income (loss)

 $ 338,006

 $ (317,079)

 $ (293,353)

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash from

(used in) operating activities:

Depletion and depreciation

345,999

320,550

484,554

Compensation expense related to stock options

134,499

152,250

196,223

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable

(856)

224,397

150,937

Prepaid expenses and other

-

-

-

Other receivables - related party

(14,206)

(47,346)

(50,333)

Accounts payable

(38,692)

(803,343)

(665,415)

Accrued retirement obligation

95,269

135,000

111,547

Accrued expenses - related party

13,451

(145,083)

(41,478)

Accrued expenses and other

(17,734)

(298,336)

(174,376)

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

855,736

-778,990

-281,694

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

Purchase of oil and gas properties

(803,112)

(2,229,031)

(3,006,786)

Purchase of property and equipment

(136,297)

(29,182)

(1,233)

Net cash (used) by investing activities

(939,409)

(2,258,213)

(3,008,019)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

Proceeds from notes payable

(3,500)

3,148,019

3,458,354

Payments on notes payable

-

(30,222)

(40,558)

Proceeds from sale of common stock

-

72,447

72,447

Purchase of treasury stock

-

Net cash provided by financing activities

(3,500)

3,190,244

3,490,243

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

(87,173)

153,041

200,530

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS , BEGINNING OF YEAR

297,887

97,357

97,357

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD

210,714

250,398

297,887

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

1.

The financial results for the partial year to 30 September 2010 and the comparatives to 30 September 2009 are both unaudited. The financial information for the year to 31 December 2009 has been extracted from the full audited financial statements. The financial statements can be viewed at www.seftonresources.com.

 

 

2.

The financial information included in this document has been prepared on a consistent basis and using the same accounting policies as the audited financial statements for the year to 31 December 2009 and has been approved by the Directors of the Company.

 

 

3.

There was no dividend paid in the reporting period.

 

 

 

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
END
 
 
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