News and Press Releases
Final Results for the Year Ended 31 December 2008
May 6, 2009
Sefton Resources Inc., the AIM listed oil and gas production company with assets
in California and Kansas, announces the company’s final results for the year
ended December 31, 2008.
2008 Highlights
Increased capital expenditures
Increased production Increased proved developed reserves
Increased revenue
Increased cash flow
Increased profits
Advanced development of additional assets
Engaged new Nominated Advisor and Broker
Chairman’s Statement
2008 was a year of
moving our primary asset (Tapia Canyon Oil Field, California) into its initial
enhanced recovery stage (cyclic steaming), and advancing other assets (Eureka
Canyon Oil Field, California; Anderson County and Leavenworth County Projects,
Kansas) towards contributing to the Company’s production base.
As with 2007,
Tapia Canyon was our main focus which resulted in improved production, revenue,
cash flow, profits and proved developed reserves.
Other assets, primarily
Anderson County and Leavenworth County, Kansas, were expanded beyond just
mineral leases to include drilling (Anderson County) and acquiring gas gathering
and water disposal systems. These systems will provide a connection between the
mineral leases (and subsequent wells) and interstate pipelines that will provide
a future market for any natural gas production (conventional and CBM gas in both
the Anderson and Leavenworth County Projects).
Financials
Our profit from
operations of $1,248,000 (2007: $283,000) was up 340% on last year before
interest costs of $192,000 (2007: $78,000) from our increased borrowings ($3.437
million up from $0.911 million in 2007, largely to finance the drilling and
steaming programme at Tapia), leaving a normalized profit before tax of
$1,055,000 (2007: $205,000). Whilst this represents an increase of almost 420%
on 2007, it is considerably below our expectations in mid-December, due mainly
to a $411,000 expense reclassification relating to the Yule 16 and Hartje #18
wells and to an increased depletion charge of $463,000 (2007: $305,000) which is
attributable to additional assets in Kansas and the dramatic drop in the oil
price towards the end of the year.
Oil and gas revenue increased to $4,688,000
from $2,978,000 as a result of increased production and oil price for most of
the year.
Oil and gas production costs increased to $1,041,000 from $673,000 as
a result of more production, more wells and increased costs of oil field
services.
General and administration costs increased to $1,775,000 from
$1,520,000 as a result of developing the Kansas assets – an investment in our
future - which, together with higher interest costs, resulted in an overall
improvement in cash flow from operations to $2,255,000 from $1,216,000.
In late
December we completed the grant of a cell tower easement for $375,000 which has
now all been received together with a contribution of $15,000 towards road
maintenance costs. We have for the first time charged a retirement annuity
provision of $1,112,000 of which $730,000 relates to our Chief Executive (who is
closest to retirement), and the balance to other employees. The greater part of
this non-cash charge relates to amounts incurred in respect of prior years
service. The directors believe that the relevant employee contracts are
necessary to ensure the Company’s continued success.
The CEO has agreed to
forego retirement (beyond 2010) and when he elects this retirement provision, he
has agreed to take the majority of such in new company shares at a price of the
greater of 4 p or at a 10% premium of the trading price when the election is
taken.
Net income for the year after exceptional charges from the retirement
provision and income related to the cell tower easement was $333,000 (2007:
$205,000) with a gain per share of $0.0029 (2007: $0.0018).
Engineering
Total
proved reserves at December 31, 2008 decreased to 3,326,084 barrels of oil from
3,953,000 barrels – a result of a dramatic drop in oil price at year end. This
reduced the expected economic life of the field to 30 years from 45 years when
using the year end oil price (future years will use an average price for the
year). A significant increase (regardless of price) was seen in proved developed
reserves – 1,354,670 barrels of oil from 463,900 barrels – a direct result of
additional wells being drilled and the preliminary results from a pilot cyclic
steam program.
Outlook
While focusing on a more comprehensive cyclic steaming
program in 2009 at Tapia Canyon to increase production from existing wells, we
can also look to completing the infrastructure (geology, pipelines, etc.) in
Kansas necessary to bring gas discoveries to market with minimal delays, thus
increasing our production and cash flow base.
TEG Oil & Gas USA, Inc. (“TEG
USA”)
OVERVIEW
TEG USA continued forward in 2008 with well drilling, field
improvements and implementation of the Tapia Steam Pilot Program, resulting in
an improvement in oil production rates over 2007. TEG USA had oil sales totaling
52,780 BO, equating to an average production rate of approximately 145 BOPD, a
14% increase over the previous year. The production from the combined Eureka
Canyon and Tapia Canyon oil fields resulted in average net monthly oil revenue
for the 2008 calendar year of $391,000 which represents an increase of 58% over
2007. The increase was the partial result of increased oil prices over the year
averaging $90.12/bbl at the field level (versus $63.60/bbl average in 2007).
Lifting costs were $19/bbl for 2008. The increase from the 2007 number of
$14.50/bbl came on the heels of industry-wide increases in contractor and vendor
costs. However, it should be noted that despite this increase, the average
profitability margin between field level oil lifting costs and oil price
increased from $49.08/bbl to $71.06/bbl, resulting in a greater profit to TEG
USA.
WELL DRILLING
TEG USA completed the drilling of four wells in early 2008 on
step-out locations in the Tapia Canyon oil field. This resulted in production
now coming from all leases at Tapia. The wells on the Snow lease encountered a
thicker than normal Yule oil reservoir. However, the rocks proved to be tighter
than those encountered on other leases to the east, and the initial production
oil rates were somewhat lower than average for the field. However, well logs
indicated excellent oil saturation and, with the promise of later steam
stimulation of these wells, these results did not dampen TEG USA’s enthusiasm
for this lease. This interpretation was borne out later in the year when the
steaming of the Snow #5 well increased the production from the well five-fold
and thus proved up the earlier log interpretation and viability for future work
in this area of the field. There remains a minimum of three locations on this
lease to be drilled at a later time.
In December, 2008 TEG USA began a
three-well drilling program. The first of the three wells, Yule #9 was drilled,
logged and cased by the end of December, 2008. The two remaining wells Yule #11
and Hartje #18 were completed in January, 2009. The Yule #9 well was drilled as
a gas supply well for the steam program. However, the well was drilled down
through the Yule oil zone for future completion after the gas zone is depleted.
Once on production in early 2009, the Yule #11 and Hartje #18 had 30-day initial
production rates of 28 BOPD and 60 BOPD. 28 BOPD is approximately the average IP
rate for all wells (combined) in the field.
CYCLIC STEAM STIMULATION - PILOT
STUDY
TEG USA completed the steam stimulation of three wells during 2008 using
both lease gas and propane gas as fuel sources. In doing so, TEG USA was able to
prove the viability of economically steaming this reservoir and at the same time
collected valuable data for design of our planned full cyclic program to be
implemented in 2009. By varying steam injection volumes and duration of steam
soak time, TEG USA can now model future steam stimulation cycles for optimum
results. The steaming of the adjacent Yule #7 and #10 wells effectively doubled
the production from the Yule lease during the production cycle. The steaming of
the Snow #5 well later in the year resulted in an increase in oil production
from <10 BOPD (pre-steam) to >50 BOPD (post steam), a greater than five–fold
increase in oil production from the well.
FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS
TEG USA
continued to reinvest into its surface facilities during 2008. In doing so, the
Tapia Canyon facility has been made, as a whole, a safe and efficient oil field
operation. During 2008, TEG USA replaced two more aging tanks at the Hartje
Facility and installed new process piping, tank heaters and insulation blankets
to speed oil/water separation and increase through-put capacity. Additionally,
TEG USA completed the realignment of the produced water separation and
re-injection system that will allow TEG USA to efficiently handle the increased
water production anticipated with implementing cyclic steam stimulation. Tapia
Canyon is now a model facility that can operate at efficient levels with
relatively low lifting costs for a rejuvenated oilfield. It is also a facility
that is environmentally safe and safe for our personnel. These efforts have not
gone unnoticed by others. The State of California Division of Oil, Gas and
Geothermal Resources nominated TEG USA for an award for operational excellence
at Tapia. In March, 2009, TEG USA received formal notification that the Company
will be presented with this award at an American Petroleum Institute function in
May 2009.
EUREKA CANYON FIELD - RECONNAISSANCE MAPPING
TEG USA and contractor
W.L. Gore and Associates completed infill geochemical field sampling in
November, 2008 in a tight grid over a promising area of the Eureka leasehold.
The samples were then processed and results compared to the earlier general
survey. The preliminary results were not received until January, 2009, but these
confirmed two positive hydrocarbon anomalies originally outlined by the earlier
reconnaissance survey. TEG USA is now moving forward with the mapping of
specific drilling prospects in these areas.
IN CLOSING
TEG USA benefited from
the oil price spike in 2008 that resulted in an elevated profitability above
earlier projections. The relaxing of these oil prices has not hindered us in our
plans because our relatively low lifting costs will keep TEG USA profitable. We
have already seen service and vendor costs adjust downward as a result of
industry slow down. This is a decided advantage to a smaller operator like TEG
USA. TEG USA believes that the implementation of the field-wide cyclic steam
program in 2009 will dramatically increase production while not burden the cash
flow with increased capital costs. This will allow TEG USA to take advantage of
the growth opportunities that are bound to present themselves.
TEG MidContinent,
Inc. (“TEG MC”)
For exploration and production companies, 2008 was the worst of
times and the best of times. Record high oil prices were followed by extended
periods of extremely low pricing. Projections and planning were difficult and,
at times, nearly impossible. In response to the varied economic factors that
plagued the industry, TEG MC moved cautiously by selectively focusing on prime
acreage in its lease acquisition program and undertaking geological and
engineering studies to include the design of a “pilot drilling program” that was
implemented during the fourth quarter. The Company, through continued
negotiations with industry partners, improved its asset base and positioned
itself for future development and growth.
TEG MC feels that the time spent in
analysis of properties and industry drilling, completion and operational
procedures has been beneficial. These studies will allow TEG MC to undertake
effective operations, while avoiding the costly mistakes (multiple zone
completions and immediate connection to high-pressure sales lines) that many
companies in the Forest City Basin have experienced.
In 2008, TEG MC acquired an
additional 6,500 acres. The Anderson County and Franklin County project is now
comprised of 42,000 plus acres and is supported by extensive geology, including
detailed coal maps. The acreage is situated such that TEG MC has coverage on
both conventional oil and gas possibilities and on the thicker, potentially more
productive, Bevier and Riverton coal deposits.
During the fourth quarter of
2008, TEG MC negotiated an option to purchase, from Petrol, all of its assets,
including 17 wells and associated equipment located in the Petrol Waverly
Project. The assets included a gas gathering and water disposal system, two salt
water disposal wells and a 10 million mcf per day processing facility. The
connection point for the gathering and disposal pipelines is located three miles
west of TEG MC’s CBM pilot program.
The Miller A2-1, the first well in the
“pilot program”, was spud on December 9, 2008 with logs and casing run on
December 12, 2008. Log analysis indicated eight feet of Riverton coal and a
presence of conventional sand that calculated wet. The conventional sand tested
gas during the drilling and the well is one mile west of the Lankard well that
has cross-over on its logs.
In the first quarter 2009, TEG MC exercised its
Petrol option. By completing this acquisition TEG MC has assured itself access
into a major purchaser/interstate pipeline through the above described facility
and availed itself to salt water disposal for its pilot program at a greatly
reduced cost.
TEG MC’s acreage position in Leavenworth County is 7,000 acres. During 2008 TEG MC continued discussions with a number of independent pipeline
operators that have access to the Southern Star system and are situated such
that access could be achieved with minimal pipeline construction.
In the first
quarter of 2009, the Company negotiated and executed a “Letter of Intent” to
purchase, from HDP Inc., their inactive pipeline and gas gathering system, to
include right-of-way. The “Vanguard Pipeline” is located west and north of TEG
MC’s Leavenworth project, an area presently subject to “curtailed/seasonal gas
sales”. The pipeline will provide a gathering system for TEG MC’s future
drilling and will establish a basis for potential joint ventures in both
exploration and gas gathering and transportation.
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
As of December
31, 2008 and 2007
|
December
31, 2008 |
December
31, 2007 |
|
$ |
$ |
ASSETS |
|
|
CURRENT
ASSETS: |
|
|
Cash and
cash equivalents |
97,357 |
5,789 |
Accounts
receivable |
451,264 |
414,801 |
Other
receivables - related party |
273,040 |
159,692 |
Prepaid
expenses and other assets |
26,974 |
6,769 |
|
|
|
Total
current assets |
848,635 |
587,051 |
|
|
|
OIL and
GAS PROPERTIES FULL COST METHOD, net |
14,595,804 |
9,789,223 |
|
|
|
EQUIPMENT
AND VEHICLES, net |
23,577 |
30,871 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL
ASSETS |
15,468,016 |
10,407,145 |
|
|
|
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY |
|
|
CURRENT
LIABILITIES: |
|
|
Accounts
payable |
939,477 |
810,942 |
Accrued
expenses |
347,508 |
162,666 |
Accrued
expenses - related parties |
221,083 |
179,549 |
Note
payable, current portion |
211,515 |
385,059 |
|
|
|
Total
current liabilities |
1,719,583 |
1,538,216 |
|
|
|
NOTES
PAYABLE: |
|
|
Note
payable |
390,000 |
338,335 |
Note
payable – bank |
3,436,513 |
911,317 |
|
3,826,513 |
1,249,652 |
|
|
|
RETIREMENT
OBLIGATION |
1,112,109 |
- |
|
|
|
ASSET
RETIREMENT OBLIGATION |
1,164,263 |
504,096 |
|
|
|
Total
liabilities |
7,822,468 |
3,291,964 |
|
|
|
STOCKHOLDERS
EQUITY: |
|
|
Common
stock, no par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized, 116,387,779
and
116,040,354
December 31, 2008 and 2007 shares issued and outstanding |
13,254,180 |
13,049,227 |
Stock
subscription receivable |
(30,047) |
(30,047) |
Treasury
stock |
(66,393) |
(58,602) |
Accumulated
(deficit) |
(5,512,192) |
(5,845,397) |
|
|
|
Total
stockholders equity |
7,645,548 |
7,115,181 |
|
|
|
TOTAL
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
15,468,016 |
10,407,145 |
Consolidated
Statement of Operations
|
For
the years ended December 31, |
|
2008 |
2007 |
|
$ |
$ |
|
|
|
OPERATING
REVENUE: |
|
|
Oil and
gas sales |
4,688,183 |
2,977,691 |
|
|
|
OPERATING
COSTS AND EXPENSES: |
|
|
Oil and
gas production |
1,040,573 |
672,845 |
Depletion
and depreciation |
462,685 |
304,965 |
General
and administrative |
1,774,819 |
1,519,848 |
Share
based compensation |
162,528 |
197,220 |
|
|
|
Total
costs and expenses |
3,440,605 |
2,694,878 |
|
|
|
PROFIT
FROM OPERATIONS |
1,247,578 |
282,813 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTHER
INCOME (EXPENSE) |
|
|
Interest
and other income |
390,000 |
417 |
Interest
expense |
(192,264) |
(78,578) |
Retirement
liability |
(1,112,109) |
- |
|
|
|
Total
other income expense |
(914,373) |
(78,161) |
|
|
|
Net
INCOME |
333,205 |
204,652 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET
INCOME PER SHARE |
|
|
Basic and
diluted |
0.0029 |
0.0018 |
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
|
For
the years ended December
31, |
|
2008 |
2007 |
|
$ |
$ |
|
|
|
CASH
FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITES: |
|
|
Net income
(loss) |
333,205 |
204,652 |
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
|
|
Depletion
and depreciation |
462,685 |
304,965 |
Share
based compensation |
162,528 |
197,220 |
|
|
|
Changes in
operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
Accounts
receivable |
(36,463) |
(42,627) |
Prepaid
expenses |
(20,206) |
13,080 |
Other
assets - related party |
(113,348) |
(69,115) |
Accounts
payable |
128,535 |
326,499 |
Accrued
retirement obligation |
1,112,109 |
- |
Accrued
expenses - related party |
41,534 |
154,549 |
Accrued
expenses |
184,843 |
126,985 |
|
|
|
Net cash
provided by operating activities |
2,255,422 |
1,216,208 |
|
|
|
Cash
flows from investing activities: |
|
|
Purchase
of oil and gas properties |
(4,589,000) |
(2,184,816) |
Purchase
of property and equipment |
(12,805) |
(4,857) |
|
|
|
Net cash
used by investing activities |
(4,601,805) |
(2,189,673) |
|
|
|
Cash
flows from financing activities: |
|
|
Proceeds
from notes payable |
2,647,695 |
948,318 |
Payments
on notes payable |
(244,378) |
(147,473) |
Proceeds
from sale of common stock |
42,425 |
109,486 |
Purchase
of treasury stock |
(7,791) |
- |
|
|
|
Net cash
provided by financing activities |
2,437,951 |
910,331 |
|
|
|
Effect
of exchange rate changes on cash |
- |
- |
|
|
|
Net
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
91,568 |
(63,134) |
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of year |
5,789 |
68,923 |
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of year |
97,357 |
5,789 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes
Financial Statements
The summary financial statements set out above have been extracted from the
Company’s audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2008 (not
presented herein). Those financial statements were prepared in accordance with
United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. These summary financial
statements do not constitute financial statements in accordance with United
States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles as they omit substantially all
the disclosures required by United States Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles. A full set of accounts will be available on or around May 19, 2009
on the Company’s website at
www.seftonresources.com and will be posted to shareholders.
The annual report of accounts will be posted to shareholders on or around 19 May
2009, copies of which will be available from the Company Secretary, Pinsent
Masons Secretarial Services Limited, City Point, 1 Ropemaker St., London EC2Y
9AH or at www.seftonresources.com.
The Annual General Meeting of the company will be held 24 June 2009 at 10:00 am
in the offices of Chantrey Vellacott, Russell Square House, 10-12 Russell
Square, London WC1B 5LF.
Income Per Share
The Company applies the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standard
No. 128, Earnings per Share (FAS 128). 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 only basic income
or loss per share has been presented.
Dividends
The Directors are not recommending the payment of a dividend.
Enquiries
Jeremy Delmar-Morgan, Chairman, Tel: 077 8900 4876
John James (Jim) Ellerton, CEO, Tel: 00 1 303 759 2700
Peter Trevelyan-Clark/Nick Harriss/Wye-Li Long, Blomfield Corporate Finance
Ltd., Tel: 020 7489 4500
Daniel Briggs, Religare Hichens, Harrison plc, Tel: 020 7382 4450
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.