RE: Progressive Equity Research05/02/195 Mar 2019 17:05
SDX Energy has released an operations and corporate update. Everything would
appear to be progressing well. After completing its 2018 drilling programmes in
Morocco and Egypt, the company has now acquired additional seismic data in each of
these locations and this is now being processed to identify additional prospects which
will be drilled in two further exciting exploration programmes in both Morocco and
Egypt during 2019/20. These programmes have the potential of adding significant
reserves and resources. The company has a strong balance sheet which will allow
management to complete these programmes with existing resources and, once the
South Disouq fields are on stream, the company will have significant free cash flow
which can be used to accelerate this growth.
Morocco
The company completed a successful nine well drilling programme in 2018 which
resulted in five commercial discoveries in Sebou concessions and two additional
discoveries in the Lalla Mimouna concession which will be tested again during the
upcoming drilling programme. After the 2018 drilling campaign, management acquired
additional 3D seismic data over the Gharb Centre concession. This has resulted in
multiple leads and prospects being identified. Further analysis of this data is required,
but the initial assessment is exciting and management is looking to put together a
further drilling programme covering 12 wells to commence in H2 2019 and complete in
H1 2020. Most of these wells will be drilled in the Gharb Centre licence which is
adjacent to Sebou where the company enjoyed significant success in its last
campaign. Management is also eager to retest the LNB-1 and LMS-1 wells in the Lalla
Mimouna concession where gas and liquids potential was found but the wells were not
able to be tested due to reservoir damage. SDX is looking to further increase
production from Morocco with management looking to increase gross gas production
up to 9 – 11 mmcf/day in 2019 which compares to average production in 2017 of 5.1
mmcf/day. With a high gas price, low operating costs and a benign tax regime this
production will deliver a significant boost to group cash flows.
Egypt
The main focus in Egypt is on developing the discoveries in the South Disouq
concession where SDX is operator with a 55% working interest. The four discoveries,
SD-1x, 3x and 4x and Ibn Yunus, are expected to be brought on stream in the middle
of 2019 at a gross plateau rate of 50 – 60 mmcf/day. A gas price (US$2.85/mcf) has
been agreed and construction of the central processing facility and export pipeline
started. This should allow the group to enjoy a significant increase in cash flows. SDX
has acquired additional 3D seismic data over the concession and this is being
interpreted. At present, the company is looking to drill a further two exploration wells in
2019. However, it should be noted that there are additional prospects to drill and the
number of wells in this drilling progra