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SEFTON RESOURCES INC - UNDERRATED OIL PRODUCER (SER)     

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)

Chart.aspx?Provider=EODIntra&Code=SER&Si

relishing - 01 Jul 2008 17:53 - 1972 of 2350

A nice update from H&Co

http://www.hardmanandco.com/Research/monthly/Hardmanandco_Monthly_JULY08.pdf

driver - 02 Jul 2008 14:25 - 1973 of 2350

rel
Agree a good update all buys today on the back of the Hardman Report.


Hardman Report for July!

SEFTON RESOURCES
There was a months delay connecting the recently drilled wells on the Snow
lease caused by the local electricity service company.

This delay caused some operational issues with the new wells and a few
teething troubles necessitated remedial work on these new wells to optimise production. This work appears to be well in hand now along with an
acid stimulation programme designed to improve nearwell permeability. Looking
at the companys statement, the acid stimulation would likely have proved necessary anyway as the reservoir formation encountered by these stepout wells appears to be a tighter section than previously seen within the field closure.

The Lackie#A-4 well encountered a down-faulted section to the eastern edge of the field and is producing a higher water cut than was expected.

The cyclic steam program at Tapia is progressing well - with heat being retained in section and improvement seen in fluid production rates. Tuning production to find the most productive fluid balance will take a while but the results to date are encouraging with additional production from Yule#7 roughly offsetting the shut-in production from Yule#10 during soak.

Fine sands have caused a few issues in drawing fuel-gas for the generator but
nothing insurmountable and most probably to have been expected at this time.

The new Snow lease wells are currently being considered as the next cyclic steam candidates, given their proximity to the lease gas source well, Snow #1.

Additional drilling and steaming tests are being planned for later on during the year.

At Eureka Canyon routine pump maintenance has been carried out with clean outs
being planned for the operational Eureka Field wells with a follow-up to last years geochemical survey scheduled for the autumn.

Pilot drilling at Seftons CBM acreage in Kansas is also being scheduled for the autumn.

Overall, Sefton have released new operational figures indicating total oil production for May 2008 of 5,826 barrels. Given the current prices of the crudes produced Sefton appear to be on course to generate north of $USD6m of cash from operations this financial year.

Lets put that into perspective - operationally the company will be producing clear cash equivalent to around a third of the companys MCap before any further drilling work and despite the delays seen.

That directors are taking up their share options should be a clear market signal that management think the market has got this one wrong with regard to the recent market retracement.

kkeith2000 - 02 Jul 2008 16:06 - 1974 of 2350

Thanks relishing and driver for the report

scotinvestor - 02 Jul 2008 16:16 - 1975 of 2350

sp down again though.....need fantastic news these days just to move sp up even a wee bit

Big Al - 02 Jul 2008 20:38 - 1976 of 2350

;-0

driver - 03 Jul 2008 06:11 - 1977 of 2350

Cant see the sp at this level for long not with the oil at $145.

moonshine - 04 Jul 2008 16:06 - 1978 of 2350

Has advfn died? Can't seem to reach the server...

NabCom - 04 Jul 2008 16:15 - 1979 of 2350

Hello Moon

Same here, been like that for hours

moonshine - 04 Jul 2008 16:22 - 1980 of 2350

Cheers Nabcom. Didn't think it could just be me, paranoid or what ;-)

NabCom - 04 Jul 2008 16:25 - 1981 of 2350

*L* - I know the feeling

aldwickk - 04 Jul 2008 16:28 - 1982 of 2350

It was like it yesterday try firefox or restart computer.

REDHILL - 04 Jul 2008 16:59 - 1983 of 2350

That doesn't seem to work either.

dalcon01 - 04 Jul 2008 19:18 - 1984 of 2350

The server is down.

5bag - 04 Jul 2008 20:29 - 1985 of 2350

Evening, first time poster on here. I use the 'other' site lol, which is dead at the mo. Theres no Irvine energy (IVE) thread on here (which I hold). So come to take a peek here instead, im looking to probably pick up some SER when ive done my research. Interesting to note SER kansas CBM prospects, IVE have the same and are currently evaluating prospects for drilling this autumn. Be interested to see which co gets the drilling results interpreted and reported first. Should be good imho. Both co's undervalued and SP could really fly on both. Time for a beer now.

kuzemko - 04 Jul 2008 21:04 - 1986 of 2350

:)

moonshine - 04 Jul 2008 21:09 - 1987 of 2350

Evening all.

5bag, I am in both IVE and SER, less in IVE I have to admit. IVE look very aggressive in their drilling campaigns, and will probably get to the CBM before SER, although SER are hoping to start a pilot drilling program in the autumn too. Both are very undervalued, but it would seem that rather a lot of companies are at the moment, and with summer approaching (or have we missed it?) maybe some investors are getting out.

kuzemko - 04 Jul 2008 21:10 - 1988 of 2350

looking at ive last report, ive seem to be a lot more undervalued than ser

moonshine - 04 Jul 2008 21:17 - 1989 of 2350

Can you give us some figures to support that, kuzemko?

On a completely separate tack. The Inland Revenue have a mileage allowance for expense claims when using your own car on business. As far as I know these are:

40p per mile for the first 10,000 miles
25p per mile after 10,000 miles

With the incredible increase in the price of petrol, does anyone know if these rates have gone up?

relishing - 04 Jul 2008 23:11 - 1990 of 2350

I would also like to know how ive 'seems to be a lot more undervalued than ser'

IVE market cap currently around 25m after recent pullback, SER about 6.7m.

Just had a look at the latest IVE update and I see that "Accordingly, the Company's current net working interest daily production across all projects is 420 MCFDE". 420mcfd = 70bopd (probably less in $ equivalent). Now I have no doubt IVE is another great long-term investment, but it does not appear to me to be currently suffering from the same level of undervaluation as SER.

One striking factor with SER is, notwithstanding the fact it is producing oil (and profitably) and not mainly gas, is its (relatively speaking) very low cost base. SER is making a clear profit of over $6m pro-rata at current (or May, pre Eureka workovers, new pumps etc) production volumes (188bopd) and current oil price.

The other fairly unusual factor is of course that it has a ~100% net interest in all its assets.

Looking at SER at 6p mid, the downside from here (worst-case scenario) must be no more than -1p or so (lets say 20%). That has been the baseline level over the last few years, when the oil price received at Tapia was about 40% of the current price, when production lingered around 130bopd and with no credit facility and no hope of paying for future drilling. When they were barely breaking even.
Whereas the upside from this level must surely be many many multiples of 1p! Surely that simple fact alone makes this a no-brainer at this price. Yet again, I am getting tempted to liquidate the rest of my portfolio and stick it all in SER..

finnboy - 04 Jul 2008 23:19 - 1991 of 2350

Rel , you are totally correct..i cant believe knobs would sell their shares at 5.5p when there is so much potential upside

i have been offered 0% apr on my c/card until april 09 , i am tempted to write myself a cheque for 20k to max it out to double my holding here!
obviously this isnt normally advisable..lol!
however, i see it as a no brainer too
so we shall see......
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