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Preliminary Results

25th May 2011 07:00

RNS Number : 2237H
Sefton Resources Inc
25 May 2011
 



Sefton Resources, Inc.

("Sefton" or the "Company")

 

Unaudited Preliminary Results for the Year ending 31 December 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 announces its unaudited preliminary results for the year ending 31 December 2010.

 

 

Financial highlights

 31/12/2010

31/12/2009

US$

US$

Oil & Gas Revenue

$3,851,784

$2,940,694

Operating Profit (loss)

$691,393

($18,115)

Net Cash Provided from Operations (used in)

$1,010,616

($281,694)

Net Income (loss)

$403,217

($295,296)

Earnings Per Share (Fully Diluted)

$0.0031

($0.0025)

Realised Oil Price (US$/Bbl)

$71.40

$59.40

 Operational highlights

 

·; Q3 2010 restructured board of highly experienced oil and gas company Directors

·; Year-end (12/31/10) proved reserves total 3.8 million bbls, with a value of $80.6 million (US - PV10)

·; Raised equity capital, amended and extended credit facility

·; Engaged London based investor relations team and additional brokers

·; Outperformed AIM Oil & Gas Index by approximately 60% through April 2011

·; Initiated continuous steam pilot program at Tapia oil field and engaged Dr. Farouq Ali to evaluate Tapia steam flood potential

·; Commenced Kansas infrastructure development

·; Engaged Dr. Nafi Onat to evaluate the resource potential of East Kansas assets

 

Commenting today, Jim Ellerton, CEO and Acting Chairman said:

 

"We achieved a great deal in 2010 to execute our strategy to maximise the revenues from our existing assets and have also made strategic investments which we anticipate will deliver significant returns over the longer term. We now have in place a very strong management team and are well financed to develop the projects we have in hand. Furthermore, we are excited by the future prospects which we believe will be demonstrated by the analysis undertaken by Dr Farouk Ali and Dr Nafi Onat and are confident that these will demonstrate improved reserves and potential production, which will generate strong returns for shareholders"

 

For further information please visit www.seftonresources.com or contact:

 

John James Ellerton, Acting Chairman and CEO

Tel: 001 (303) 759 2700

Dr Michael Green, Investor Relations

Tel: 07855 734970

Nick Harriss/Derek Crowhurst, Religare Capital Markets (Nomad)

Tel: 0207 444 0800

Jon Levinson, Rivington Street Corporate Finance (Broker)

Tel: 0207 562 3357

Neil Badger, Dowgate Capital Stockbrokers (Broker)

Tel: 01293 517744

Alex Walters, Cadogan PR

Tel: 07771 713608

Chairman and Chief Executive's Review

 

 

The Company turned in another strong performance in 2010. Sefton was profitable and, importantly, established a strong base from which to grow its oil and gas interests. This, coupled with a recovery in the oil price helped the Company to grow revenues despite oil production being slightly lower than in 2009. As a result the Directors spent much of the year implementing a strategy to maximise revenues both in the near term and through projects which it is anticipated will deliver significant revenues in the future.

 

In California, we anticipate increased production from Tapia Canyon as a result of the continuous steam flood project that we are piloting. The board is also looking forward to receiving the results of a study being undertaken by Dr. Farouq Ali. His report and the results of the continuous steam pilot project that began in 2011 will provide the key determinants and should be reflected in the mid-year reserve update. This is expected to be announced in the third quarter.

 

In Kansas, we have acquired the LAGGS pipeline from Cholla Production which in conjunction with the Vanguard pipeline means that we have in place a very large gas gathering infrastructure over a 200 square mile area. These pipelines are currently being inspected and tested, after which they will become operational and be capable of transporting gas from Sefton's own gas wells as well as aggregating third party gas throughout the area. On activating these lines, our current possible and probable reserves located in proximity to the pipelines will shift to the proven reserve category and we expect a certain portion of the contingent and prospective resources identified in the Dr. Nafi Onat report to move into the (3P) proven categories.

 

Sefton has in place the project funding to execute the near term development of Tapia as well as the infrastructure development in Kansas. Once it has received the recommendations of Dr. Farouq Ali and Dr. Nafi Onat, the Company will evaluate fully the additional development requirements of both these assets. Plans for the development of Tapia will look at using the most efficient forms of capital and the financing of full field development may include debt, equity, mezzanine or a joint venture structure. The increase in proven reserves in both California and Kansas should provide for an improved valuation to be placed on the Company.

 

Below I have listed some of our achievements over the period:

 

·; The appointment of two senior experienced oil and gas executives to the Board as Non-Executive Directors - Mr. Karl F. Arleth and Mr. Mark R. Smith

·; Engagement of Dr. Farouq Ali to analyse the year-long cyclic steam pilot (of all wells) and provide a plan for full development of Tapia

·; Submitted permits for a continuous steam pilot in the centre portion of the field, while we were waiting on a more detailed report (via geologic modelling) from Dr. Ali

·; In December 2010, raised US$1.44 million (gross of costs) through a placing at 1.25p per share

·; Jim Ellerton, CEO, and Non-Executive Directors Karl Arleth and Mark Smith subscribed for a total of 12,205,440 shares in the placing at 1.25p per share

·; Completed the acquisition of a second pipeline in eastern Kansas - infrastructure that will facilitate gas sales into a major interstate system

 

 

Since the year end in December 2010:

 

·; In February 2011, raised an additional US$1.99 million (gross of costs) through a placing at 1.6p per share

·; Share price has risen and is currently trading at a mid-market price of 4.825p (as at close of market on 24 May 2011)

·; Engaged a team of professionals to improve our corporate profile within the investment community in UK

·; Amended and extended senior debt banking facilities for a further year to February 2012, and are confident that our credit facility will be modified and extended beyond 2012.

·; Received necessary permits and initiated the continuous steam pilot in Tapia

·; Completed an extensive geologic model of Tapia - which was input into Dr. Ali's simulation model

·; Currently testing, repairing, activating and joining our two pipeline systems (Vanguard and LAGGS) in Kansas

·; Negotiating with major interstate pipeline for transportation of gas into their system

·; Negotiating with third party entities in vicinity of Vanguard pipeline to transport their gas through our system

·; Acquired additional wells/leases from Cholla Production in vicinity of the LAGGS pipeline, in order to produce/transport our own gas into the interstate pipeline system

·; An independent Competent Persons Report by Dr. N. Onat on the Company's Kansas assets was recently announced

 

 

Operational Review

 

Oil in California

 

Sefton's operations in California lie in the Ventura Basin where its' wholly owned subsidiary TEG Oil & Gas USA, Inc (Colorado) ("TEG USA") operates both Tapia Canyon, a 262 acre oil field producing heavy (17°-19°API) oil and Eureka Canyon field, which produces medium gravity (28° API) oil.

 

At Tapia Canyon, in addition to the upgrading remediation work undertaken during 2010 to some of the wells, Sefton has transitioned from a cyclic steaming project which commenced in 2009 to a continuous steam pilot in 2011, both of which were designed to improve production rates across the 24 producing wells.

 

Sefton continued its field-wide cyclic steaming program through the first quarter of 2010. The results showed a significant response to steam stimulation but the results for individual wells, were found to be highly variable. Initial results indicate that smaller steam cycles of 6,000 to 8,000 barrels of steam injected appear to have a post-steam stimulation life of about three months plus. Later on in the year, injection cycles into Hartje #13 and #11 were increased in steam volume as the Company sought to steadily increase monthly production over the longer term.

 

By June 2010, the Company had completed its initial cyclic steaming pilot program with the return to production of the Hartje #11 well. At that stage, preliminary production tests indicated that the Hartje #11 was producing approximately 15 to 19 barrels of oil per day ("BOPD") showing a good response to cyclic steaming. Prior to steaming the well produced 2.5 to 3 BOPD, indicating a 5-fold increase due to steam stimulation. Approximately 12,000 barrels of steam were injected into this well and the Company is closely monitoring the well to determine if larger steam injection volumes lengthen the stimulated oil production cycle. Subsequently the Hartje #13 well received 16,200 barrels of steam. In October 2010, the board was able to report that both Hartje #11 and #13 wells had been in production for four and five months post steam, and had continued to produce at rates well above their baseline rates. During September, Hartje #11 produced at nearly seven times its baseline rate and Hartje#13 at two times its baseline rate. These results were very encouraging and to fully investigate the merits of thermal stimulation, the Company engaged Dr. Farouqi Ali, the President of Edmonton, Alberta-based HOR-Heavy Oil Recovery Technologies Ltd. Dr Ali has worked on over 200 oilfields throughout the world and is a highly respected expert on thermal recovery of oil.

 

Sefton prepared a detailed engineering study for a permit that was submitted to the State of California Division of Oil Gas and Geothermal Resources ("DOGGR") in June 2010 for a pilot continuous steam flood injection study on the Hartje lease where approval was granted in March 2011. This pilot study was designed to gain important additional data to be analysed by Dr Ali in the technical review for possible implementation of a steam-flood at Tapia oilfield as well as evaluating the primary oil recovery and the cyclic steam pilot results which Sefton has commissioned. Ahead of incurring the large potential capital costs associated with a field-wide steam-flood, Sefton proposed to inject steam continually into a well in the central area of the field (Hartje lease). A fallow well was converted into a dedicated steam injector. The injection well is surrounded by six producing wells that can benefit from the injection in both heat and in pressure support. Sefton planned to compare the results economically with that of the cyclic program. Cost savings from pulling wells for pumps and steam packers could be significant. By addressing this in a smaller area of the field first, Sefton could also save significant costs associated with a full steam-flood of the field.

 

Sefton's operations in the Eureka Canyon field, a 1,510 acre site some 20 miles southwest of Tapia has continued its steady contribution, producing an average of 8-15bbl/d of medium sweet crude.

 

So far in the current year the rate of progress has been maintained. In January 2011, Petrel Robertson Consulting, Ltd. of Calgary, Alberta, Canada started work on a detailed geologic model of the Tapia Oilfield reservoir. The completed model will be incorporated into Dr. Farouq Ali's steam simulation models. At this time the Company had received preliminary numbers from Dr. Ali which were not only substantial but extremely encouraging, identifying total recoveries 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, there is a significant amount of oil that could potentially be recovered in the near future with these thermal stimulation methods.

 

Year-end 2010 Proved Reserves independently estimated by Reed W. Ferrill & Associates Inc. were announced in February 2011 which showed that Sefton's proved reserves totalled 3.8 million barrels at year-end 2010. The Company grew proven 2010 reserves by 7.45% compared with 2009 and replaced 512% of its estimated 2010 net production volumes. The changes from 2009 year-end estimated proved reserves to 2010 year-end estimated proved reserves included production of approximately 51,225 barrels of oil and upward revisions of 262,290 barrels of oil. Additions, including revisions, were primarily attributed to the Company's successful cyclic steam pilot program in Tapia field, which was initiated in 2009.

 

The work by Reed W. Ferrill & Associates Inc. further showed that the present value of the estimated future net cash flows from estimated proved reserves before income taxes using a 10% discount rate (PV10) was approximately US$80.6 million using a 12 month average blended price per barrel of US$71.38 for Tapia and Eureka Canyon fields. Using future strip prices as of 31 December 2010, the pre-tax PV10 value of Sefton's proved reserves would have been US$109.9 million. The estimated year-end proved reserves of 3.8 million barrels includes proved developed ("PD") reserves of 1.6 million barrels and proved undeveloped ("PUD") reserves of 2.2 million barrels. In addition, there are 2.3 BCF of estimated possible gas reserves at year-end 2010 associated with the Company's eastern Kansas assets.

 

 

Gas in Kansas

 

Sefton's Gas interests in Kansas are undertaken through a wholly owned subsidiary TEG Mid-Continent, Inc. (Colorado) ("Midcontinent"). During 2010, these included pipeline assets, coal bed methane ("CBM") leases and gas processing facilities located in Anderson, Franklin and Leavenworth counties.

 

In East Kansas, Sefton has approximately 45,000 acres in the Forest City Basin, where there is CBM as well as conventional gas deposits with additional shallow oil horizons indicating productive potential.In recent years, the Company has been seeking to develop an oil and gas operations and midstream infrastructure improvement in the Midcontinent operating area, whilst gas prices have been depressed. The Company operates all of its leasehold here with an average 100% WI and an 85% NRI.

 

In 2010, the Company continued its work to identify midstream infrastructure acquisitions and to this end commenced discussions with significant mineral owners in the eastern Kansas region with a view to utilizing capacity on Sefton's Vanguard pipeline asset once it is reactivated. The 28 mile long Vanguard pipeline was acquired in November 2009 and was seen as providing a gathering system for the Company's future drilling and would also establish a basis for potential joint ventures in both exploration and gas gathering and transportation.

 

By December 2010, the Company had gained control of the second gas pipe line in Kansas which consisted of an inactive natural gas pipeline and related gathering system in Leavenworth County. This acquisition comprises approximately 25 miles of various-diameter pipe that is two miles east and north of the Vanguard pipeline. These two pipelines, once they have been reactivated and connected together, will not just provide access to the interstate pipeline system for Sefton-produced gas but also for additional third party gas. Following the acquisition, work began to reactivate the LAGGS pipeline system and in the fullness of time this pipeline, along with the Vanguard pipeline, could be able to move up to 8 to 10 million cubic feet of natural gas per day to the interstate pipeline system.

 

The plan is to grow the eastern Kansas core area by acquiring strategic midstream assets that will allow the Company to develop and market its leasehold gas production more efficiently and with better economics. Through these acquisitions, the Company has built up its Kansas project which now controls 50 miles of pipeline and gathering infrastructure. The board believes that an additional long-term, highly visible cash flow stream will be developed by creating opportunities to gather and market third-party gas.

 

Substantial progress has been made on Sefton's pipelines since year-end. By January 2011, all the valve systems were installed on the Vanguard pipeline system. The Company was also able to announce that a letter of intent was signed for a gas transportation and marketing agreement (as well as a capacity and transportation agreement) with a potential partner, also on the Vanguard system.

 

Also the board reported that the Company was actively working with Southern Star Pipeline to establish an interconnection to their interstate pipeline system. Sefton is also actively looking at other interconnect options.

 

The Company has acquired additional acreage which includes leases, wellbores, equipment and technical data close to the LAGGS pipeline. A US$200,000 agreement was signed in March 2011 for 18 well bores and associated technical data along the LAGGS pipeline. This acquisition is on-going. To date, total assets with a value of US$108,861 have been cleared with the remaining assets needing further due diligence. In a separate deal, a computerised database of proprietary well data and shallow gas prospects in the Leavenworth area, print maps, cross sections and a proprietary report detailing all prospects, geology and engineering in the LAGGS pipeline area has been acquired. By early April 2011, evaluation of segments of the LAGGS pipeline system were completed and tested. Strategically, the LAGGS pipeline, the most critical segment of the system, will see the first gas volumes in 2011 and provide initial revenue to the Company.

 

In May 2011, Dr. Nafi Onat of Denver-based Sure Engineering, LLC published a report which provided an independent geo-technical review and economic evaluation of the conventional (sandstone, limestone and dolomite) and unconventional (CBM gas) prospects in Sefton's Kansas exploration projects, which covers Anderson, Franklin and Leavenworth counties. The results of this Independent Competent Persons Report for the first time placed an estimated valuation on the Company's interests in Kansas. Dr. Onat estimated the potential present value (using a 10% discount rate) of Sefton's oil and gas resources in Kansas at US$100.1 million (approximately £60 million at current exchange rates).

 

Production and Prices Received

 

Over the 2010 period oil production remained relatively steady, with an average daily production rate of 150 BOPD.

 

2011 has seen the Company benefiting from higher oil prices. Certainly, local California oil in April 2011 was posting at a 4% premium to NYMEX futures, rather than the more typical 7%-9% discount. This spread has averaged a positive US$4.20, for a posting of just over US$107/bbl average for the month of March 2011.

 

Outlook

 

In 2011, Sefton has three main goals which are: (1) to increase production, (2) activate the assets in Kansas and (3) increase reserves. This should allow an improved valuation to be placed on the Company.

 

Production is planned to be increased at Tapia following the results of the pilot continuous steam flood project and drilling the remaining 7 development wells. The data input into the steam-flood simulation model developed by Dr. Farouq Ali will help TEG USA identify the most efficient methods and injection patterns for the steam-flood on a full field basis. Dr. Ali's report will be available in the coming months. This study is critical and seeing the results of the steam pilot with additional development wells will support an increase in production and boost reserves

 

The Company now owns two pipelines in Kansas, (Vanguard and LAGGS), which together allow for gas gathering and exploitation over a large area. After maintenance work has been completed, the lines will be activated and flow gas. First to be activated will be the LAGGS pipeline, which Sefton expects to carry gas from both its own wells and also aggregate third party gas along with providing access to market for additional shut-in production. On activating these lines, possible and probable reserves are expected to move to the proven developed category. The plan is to join these two pipeline systems together which will allow the Company to strategically move larger volumes of gas to market.

 

Looking forward, the Directors are confident that the results of Dr. Ali and Dr. Onat's reports, combined with the Company's revised business plan and strategy will enable the Company to improve reserves, production and cash flow and generate strong returns for our shareholders.

 

 

John J. Ellerton, Acting Chairman & CEO

Consolidated Balance Sheets

as of December 31, 2010 and 2009

 

 

As at December 31, 2010

 

As at

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

US$

 

US$

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

NON-CURRENT ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Intangible exploration assets

 

2,476,368

 

2,079,325

 

Oil and gas properties

 

15,393,816

 

14,772,023

 

Equipment and vehicles

 

3,464

 

15,114

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17,873,648

 

16,866,462

 

CURRENT ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Trade and other receivables

 

703,009

 

680,722

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

947,865

 

297,887

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,650,874

 

978,609

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

19,524,522

 

17,845,071

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:

 

 

 

 

 

Share Capital

 

15,742,794

 

13,522,850

 

Retained Earnings

 

(5,790,284)

 

(6,193,502)

 

 

 

9,952,510

 

7,329,348

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NON CURRENT LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Long term borrowings

 

148,005

 

539,505

 

Retirement benefit obligations

 

306,607

 

482,020

 

Asset retirement obligation

 

1,320,407

 

1,209,231

 

 

 

1,775,019

 

2,230,756

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Trade and other payables

 

700,126

 

713,794

 

Current portion of borrowings

 

7,096,867

 

6,916,319

 

Retirement benefit obligations

 

-

 

654,854

 

 

 

7,796,993

 

8,284,967

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

 

19,524,522

 

17,845,071

 

Consolidated Income Statement

for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009

 

 

 

 

Year ended

December 31, 2010

 

Year ended

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

US$

 

US$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REVENUE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and gas sales

 

3,851,784

 

2,940,694

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPENSES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Royalties

 

229,735

 

201,412

 

Oil and gas production

 

795,950

 

617,042

 

Depletion and depreciation

 

437,079

 

426,898

 

General and administrative

 

1,444,048

 

1,409,056

 

Retirement liability

 

137,266

 

108,178

 

Share based compensation

 

116,313

 

196,223

 

Total costs and expenses

 

3,160,391

 

2,958,809

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING PROFIT

 

691,393

 

(18,115)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCE AND OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

3726

 

-

Finance costs

(291,902)

 

(277,181)

Total other income (expense)

(288,176)

 

(277,181)

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS)

 

403,217

 

(295,296)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted

 

$0.0031

 

($0.0025)

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009

 

 

Common stock no par value

Accumulated deficit US$

Total US$

Shares

Amount US$

Balances, January 1, 2009

116,387,779

13,254,181

(5,898,206)

7,355,975

Stock issued on conversion of notes payable

1,096,600

72,446

72,446

Compensation expense related to stock options

196,223

196,223

Net income

(295,296)

(295,296)

Balances, December 31, 2009

117,484,379

13,522,850

(6,193,502)

7,329,348

Stock issued for cash

68,888,080

1,353,294

1,353,294

Stock issuance costs

(58,716)

(58,716)

Stock issued for retirement and other obligations

16,097,000

809,054

809,054

Compensation expense related to stock options

116,313

116,313

Net income

403,217

403,217

Balances, December 31, 2010

202,469,459

15,742,795

(5,790,285)

9,952,510

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009

 

 

Year ended

December 31

Year ended December 31

2010

2009

$

$

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITES:

Net income (loss)

403,217

(295,296)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net

cash used in operating activities:

Depletion and depreciation

437,079

426,898

Accretion expense

7,758

33,395

Share based compensation

116,313

196,223

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

(Increase)/ decrease in trade and other receivables

(49,441)

100,604

Increase/ (decrease) in trade and other payables

95,690

(743,518)

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

1,010,616

(281,694)

Cash flows from investing activities:

Purchase of oil and gas properties and intangible assets

(1,443,918)

(3,006,786)

Purchase of property and equipment

(347)

(1,233)

Net cash used by investing activities

(1,444,265)

(3,008,019)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Proceeds from notes payable

-

3,458,354

Payments on notes payable

(210,952)

(40,558)

Proceeds from sale of common stock

1,294,578

72,447

Purchase of treasury stock

-

-

Net cash provided by financing activities

1,083,626

3,490,243

Net Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

649,977

200,530

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

297,887

97,357

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

947,864

297,887

 

 

 

Notes

 

1. Financial Statements

The unaudited summary financial statements set out above have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). These summary financial statements do not constitute financial statements in accordance with IFRS as they omit substantially all the disclosures required by IFRS. A full set of audited financial statements will be published prior to the Company's Annual General Meeting and will be available at www.seftonresources.com.

 

The Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at 10:00am, June 29, 2011 at the offices of Chantrey Vellacott, Russell Square House, 10-12 Russell Square, London WC1B 5LF.

 

2. Net Income Per Share

The Company applies the provisions of IAS 33, Earnings per Share. All dilutive potential common shares have an antidilutive effect on diluted per share amounts and therefore have been excluded in determining net income or loss per share. The Company's basic and diluted income or loss per share is equivalent and accordingly one basic income or loss per share has been presented.

 

3. Dividends

The Directors are not recommending the payment of a dividend.

 

 

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