3rd Mar 2010 16:45
March 3, 2010
Sefton Resources, Inc.
("Sefton" or the "Company")
Sefton Resources Acquires Additional Kansas Midstream Assets
& Trading Statement
Company Now Controls Two Gas Pipelines in Eastern Kansas
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 announced that it has executed a binding Purchase and Sale Agreement to acquire a second inactive natural gas pipeline and related gathering system in its Leavenworth County, Kansas project area.
Included in the acquisition is approximately 25 miles of various-diameter pipe that is two miles east and north of the Vanguard pipeline. The Vanguard pipeline was previously acquired by Sefton, the details of which are included in the Company's news release dated November 19, 2009. These two pipelines, when reactivated and connected together, will provide unified access to the interstate pipeline system for both Sefton-produced gas as well as additional third-party gas. The system, called the LAGGS pipeline, can be activated with additional capital investment and will be able to move, along with the Vanguard pipeline, up to 8 to 10 million cubic feet of natural gas per day to the interstate pipeline system.
The Company is currently completing its due diligence on the LAGGS pipeline and, subject to successful due diligence, expects to close the transaction during the second quarter of 2010. Due diligence is being completed by in-house staff as well as a third-party consulting group with expertise in evaluating midstream assets. The consulting group is reviewing all data, performing site visits and verifying the estimated capital expenditures required to return this pipeline to active status. The negotiated purchase price for the pipeline is $100,000.
Commenting on the acquisition, Sefton CEO Jim Ellerton said: "Our plan for our new and growing eastern Kansas core area is to acquire strategic midstream assets that can allow us to develop and market our leasehold gas production more efficiently and with better economics. We now control approximately 50 miles of pipeline and gathering infrastructure in the area, which we believe will add additional cash flow to our Kansas project by creating opportunities to gather and market third-party gas. We also are aggressively pursuing other opportunities in the area that we view as complementary to our strategy."
Trading Statement
Cash flow for the year to 31 December 2009 was positive and remains positive. As a result of average oil prices received in 2009 being approximately $37.50 per barrel lower than that of 2008, revenue and profits for the year to 31 December 2009 will be below market expectations and lower than for 2008.
Oil production for 2009 was approximately equal to 2008 (less than 1% difference). A delay in implementing the field-wide cyclic steam programme and a localized corrosion issue in three wells created a lag in the produced oil volume increases projected. It is evident at this time that the subject corrosion has occurred in a localized area of the oilfield and the corrosion prevention programme already in place has been stepped-up in this area. One of the three wells has been successfully repaired and returned to production with the installation of a corrosion- resistant production liner. The repairs of the remaining two wells are scheduled to be completed in the coming months. The cyclic steam programme is now fully operational and is showing a positive influence on production response.
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, Blomfield Corporate Finance Ltd. (Nomad) - Tel: 020 7444-0800
Daniel Briggs, Religare Hichens Harrison plc (Broker) - Tel: 020 7444-0500
Sefton Resources is an AIM listed oil and gas production company. Its main 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 twenty years of expected 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.
Related Shares:
SER.L