http://oilbarrel.com/news/caza-oil-gas-encounters-some-first-quarter-2013-delays-in-its-bone-spring-developments
May 22, 2013
Caza Oil & Gas Encounters Some First Quarter 2013 Delays In Its Bone Spring Developments
We wrote last April about TSX and AIM listed Caza Oil & Gas’s programme to switch its focus from higher risk/higher impact drilling in Louisiana and Texas to fast emerging liquid –rich, low risk, hydrocarbon development opportunities in Bone Spring properties in the Permian Basin in New Mexico. This came after two years of jerky profits and haphazard production.
Based on details in the results report for the year ended December 31 2012, it seemed that the group had turned an important corner toward realising its so-called “make or break” strategy of moving towards stable and substantially growing output. The company had divested its interest in its San Jacinto property in Texas and sold down its Copperline, Lennox and Forehand Ranch Bone Spring properties from 100 per cent to average levels of 58.75 per cent, 50 per cent and 63 per cent respectively.
Bone Spring is highly prospective. Since 2011 it is reckoned that operators have brought 309 wells into production from these zones. The first six months average for these wells has been 320 boepd with a 30 day initial production range of between 205 boepd and 1003 boepd.
A point about the Bone Springs is that apart from being liquid rich is that there are multiple formations to target. These include the Delaware, the Avalon Shale, the First, Second and Third Bone Spring Sands and the Wolfcamp. Of these, it seems the Bone Spring has the best economics.
Following the Jacinta sell off Caza quickly brought on two wells in New Mexico, the Copperline 14 State#3H well on the Copperline prospect and the Forehand Ranch well in Eddy County late last year. By year end 2012 the company had achieved production and chalked up an increase in revenue. It was also starting new wells and acquiring fresh acreage.
Commenting on its 2012 results Caza said: “Notwithstanding the divestiture of the San Jacinto property and the selling down of the company’s Copperline, Lennox and forehand Ranch properties from 100 per cent ownership, the two wells on Copperline and Forehand Ranch quickly replaced and surpassed the oil and natural gas production, cash flows and reserve figures lost with the sale of San Jacinto. Management expects these figures to continue to improve as more Bone Spring wells are drilled completed and brought into production”.
Three months on though, it turns out that despite having turned the important corner, there were still some bumps and barriers on the road ahead. In its results report for the first three months of 2013 ending on March 31, the company said Caza’s oil and natural gas liquids (NGL) production increased 18 per cent to 13,820 barrels for the period from 11,723 barrels for the comparable three months in 2012. That it is to say production increased to 153 boepd relative to the same period in 2012 (130 boepd).
However, due to mechanical issues at a processing facility in Lea County, New Mexico the company was unable to sell natural gas liquids and natural gas for 61 days out of a 90 day period. This meant output fell 15 per cent to 13,820 bbls compared to 16,300 bbls in Q4 2012. In turn, although combined gas and oil prices rose to US$62.58 a boe against US$55.03 per boe in Q4 2012, Caza saw revenues fall 19 per cent to US$1.3 million for the three month period ended March 31 from US$1.6 million in Q4 2012. In all Caza incurred a net loss for the first three months of 2013 of US$1.31 million, better than the net loss of US$3.69 million during Q1 2012, but still a loss.
But it was not all bad news, due in part to the San Jacinta sale Caza still had a war chest of US$6 million cash in that bank at the end of March. The problems at Lea Country have been fixed and despite these troubles, the underlying shift towards oil and natural gas liquid (NGL) over gas production within the portfolio continues from the Bone Springs with liquids accounting for 68 per cent of production relative to 41 per cent in Q1 2012. This means overall better prices. The company has new wells at the Roja property in Lea County and with the Lennox State Unit 32 #2H horizontal drill.
Broker Cenkos believes all will be well, barring any more unforeseen bumps in the road. It says “Revenues remain relatively modest, particularly due to on-going low gas prices in the US and the disruption to production in the period. However we believe that the increase in production from the Bone Spring play in 2013 should go some way towards moving Caza towards profitability. We are encouraged by the results of the recent wells in New Mexico and believe there will be anuplift in production over the course of the year."
The broker says that at current levels Caza is trading at a substantial discount to risked net asset value (RENAV). However, we believe the progress made in unlocking the Bone Spring play and the transformational increase in production should go some way to restoring confidence in the stock.
The broker has a target price of 28p and maintains its BUY recommendation. At the moment the shares are trading on AIM at 9.25p.