ptholden
- 04 Aug 2006 19:53


Sefton Resources is an independent AIM quoted Oil and Gas company operating in the US. The companys principal current assets are two producing oilfields in California (Tapia Canyon Field and Eureka Canyon Field); it is also in the process of buying up prospective coal bed methane acreage (CBM) in Kansas.
Update from July 2007 AGM
Finance
I revealed in my annual statement that discussions were well advanced with
Banking institutions. The final phase of the agreement with a suitable bank
without complex and restrictive terms is now very near. This is weeks away
rather than months.
Oil
Oil production at Tapia has averaged 4,100 BO during the last five months. Which
is in line with last years levels. Once this finance is in place we will be able
to move ahead with drilling.
Drilling
We have stayed close to drilling contractors and we are ready to move forward
quickly when this finance is available.
Steam generation
The equipment is now in place at Tapia. Preparation time is needed to connect
the equipment and carry out the necessary trials required to get the main work
started. We anticipate this steaming will start in the next couple of months. If
successful a significant amount of oil resources will move into the Proven
Producing Reserves category.
Joint Ventures
Discussions continue with a number of interested parties to develop our Anderson
counties gas assets.
New finance team
A new CFO has been appointed with good knowledge and experience of the oil
industry. A new assistant to undertake all the daily needs has also been
appointed.
SWOT ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS:
Sefton has two oil fields, both producing. One is already profitable, and the other is breaking even. This should generate good cashflow for the company over the medium term.
Sefton owns 100% of both its major oil interests and is now demerging its non-controlled oil interests in order to concentrate on those where it has full control (Sefton has recently disposed of its Canadian assets for CDN450k cash).
Sefton is establishing a track record of using modern extraction technologies to improve the efficiency of its fields.
WEAKNESSES:
Sefton has suffered from a number of one-off factors. While these were out of the companys control the problems it has faced since 2002 have held back development and taken up management time. Investor disenchantment may account for the current low rating.
OPPORTUNITIES:
Sefton has acquired acreage for CBM (coal bed methane) in Kansas. CBM gas production is a thriving market and Sefton believes it has acquired the acreage at advantageous prices. While this is a longer term prospect it is an exciting one and could eventually eclipse the oil interests.
There are a number of other fields in the Ventura Basin and more generally in California as a whole that Sefton may look to target now its cash flows are stronger.
Eureka is a semi-exploration play which may contain further upside. This cannot yet be evaluated.
At this valuation the company may prove an attractive target for a larger player.
THREATS
Owing to its geographical location the company continues to be exposed to the threat of bush fires, canyon floods and geological interruption (earthquake risk). Sefton is taking steps to mitigate this risk by investing in Kansas and although Forest Basin area is susceptible to tornados - gas facilities have a minimal surface footprint.
LINKS:
Sefton Resources Web Site
Quarterly Update (Mar 08)
Operations Update Dated 14 January 2008
Hardman Report
Final Results - Year Ended 31 Dec 2006
2007 AGM & Update
In The News - Oil Barrel Dated 31 January 2007
Daily California Crude Oil Prices (MIDWAY SUNSET 13)


relishing
- 22 May 2008 18:16
- 1853 of 2350
Hearsay? You think driver might be making this stuff up? I've read similar reports on Sefton's presentation now from at least 3 different people, and they are all consistent.
halifax
- 22 May 2008 18:18
- 1854 of 2350
But not yet official.
relishing
- 22 May 2008 18:23
- 1855 of 2350
Well it did come from the mouth of the CEO in front of 100's of people - so that makes it pretty official in my book.
halifax
- 22 May 2008 18:27
- 1856 of 2350
If the CEO said anything that was likely to affect the sp without the company releasing an RNS then he and the company are in breach of the AIM rules.
relishing
- 22 May 2008 18:31
- 1857 of 2350
No, it was a presentation. He presented the facts and figures about the company, and obviously gave forward-looking statements and predictions about where the company is going. Just like the other 6 companies there.
halifax
- 22 May 2008 18:40
- 1858 of 2350
As I said an official RNS is rquired if price sensitive information is being divulged so that all shareholders have time to react.
halifax
- 22 May 2008 19:06
- 1860 of 2350
driver if that is the case, and I have no reason to doubt you, then we should expect official confirmation at the AGM on 13th June or earlier. A quadrupling of production has to be a significant event for shareholders.
relishing
- 22 May 2008 19:29
- 1863 of 2350
driver,
How come that attendee thought JE said 120bopd was current production, and not 200bopd as you reported? Was it a different question?
kuzemko
- 22 May 2008 20:30
- 1865 of 2350
???
gibby
- 22 May 2008 20:35
- 1866 of 2350
i would say and looking forward to it!!
relishing
- 22 May 2008 21:31
- 1868 of 2350
You're right - the 800bopd figure is much more interesting! ;)
Iankn73
- 23 May 2008 08:54
- 1870 of 2350
I'm not a holder of SER. I thought this article would be of interest to those who do.
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/05/22/oil.supplies.ap/index.html
driver
- 23 May 2008 11:14
- 1872 of 2350
23.05.2008
Conference Report 2: From Heavy Oil In California To North Sea Gas By Way Of The FSU - Sefton Resources, Nostra Terra Oil & Gas, Volga Gas And Faroe Petroleum Demonstrate Their Ability To Add Production To Underpin Exploration Ambitions
While the first three speakers at oilbarrel.coms 19th conference presented the attractions of a pioneering exploration effort in frontier areas of Africa, the remaining four had a rather different story to sell. Namely, that at current oil prices there are plenty of sub-economic deposits and over-looked opportunities in familiar terrain that are now worth a second look.
Take Sefton Resources, for example. The AIM-quoted company is developing two heavy oilfields in California that had suffered from historic underinvestment during previous oil price slumps. With oil north of US$130 a barrel, these previously uneconomic deposits are looking increasingly attractive and Sefton has made good its goal of moving into profit.
We are a company that decided to go for profit first and exploration later, explained chief executive Jim Ellerton. We started small in an area we felt very comfortable.
Not that life in California has always been comfortable. Progress at its main project, the Tapia Canyon field in the East Venture Basin north of Los Angeles, has been slow due to a blow-out in 2002, floods and bush fires. Now, however, the company is making good progress, with six wells drilled on the 18-degree API oilfield in the last six months (taking the total to 11), installing new facilities and initiating a steam recovery project that should boost production, currently running at 120 barrels a day, a number the company hopes to lift to 800 bpd.
With oil prices north of US$130 a barrel, this is a nice little business, particularly when costs are low and the project has a 47-year life span. The company, which has a market cap of 11 million and 4 million barrels of proved reserves with a net present value of US$114 million, can drill these wells in less than a week for US$600,000, bring them online within 30 days and get pay back within a year. Whats more, the field includes gas which can be used for the steam flood, improving the economics of the enhanced recovery project.
There is another project some 20 miles away, Eureka Canyon, which has been producing a dribble of heavy oil since its discovery in 1893. There is some planned development work here plus exploration drilling to expand the project.
Having now moved into profitable production, the AIM company is turning its attention to exploration. It is targeting coal bed methane in the Forest City Basin of Eastern Kansas, where it holds rights to some 40,000 acres. This year it plans to spend US$1.6 million on five pilot wells, and hopes that each well will yield around 0.08 bcf of gas. The key to success here and as Ellerton pointed out, the Forest City Basin has had its share of its success and grand failure is to avoid multi-zone completions, which can lead to lots of water production.
We have been watching what people have been doing and learning from them, said Ellerton, explaining that Sefton plans to isolate one of the coals, test it for a few months, and then move up the hole to test another coal, and so on. The company also plans to use a multi-phase compression system to move its low pressure gas into the local high pressure pipelines.