oilbarrell article13 Nov 2014 15:25
Caza Oil & Gas has scooped more acreage in the liquids rich Bone Spring/Wolfcamp formation, considerably adding to its footprint in this lucrative play, increasing its tally of drillable locations and extending its reach into Texas.The AIM and TSX Venture-quoted company has agreed farm-in terms with NYSE-quoted Clayton Williams Energy Inc (CWEI) to jointly develop a 14,738 leased net acreage in Reeves County, which is on trend with prolific horizontal Wolfcamp wells already producing in the southern Delaware Basin by the likes of CWEI, Energen, Shell and Pioneer Natural Resources.
To earn its right to this new acreage, Caza is signing up to drill a series of commitment wells next year, with more in the following years if it wishes to keep the agreement going. The farm-in kicks off with a horizontal Wolfcamp well, due to spud before February 1st, with Caza paying 75 per cent of the costs to earn a 50 per cent working interest (37.5 per cent net revenue interest).
Midlands, Texas-based CWEI will operate but Caza will operate all subsequent wells drilled in the farm-out area, a real vote of confidence in the AIM-quoted company's operational credibility.
Two more horizontal Wolfcamp wells need to be drilled in the farm-out area before the end of 2015 to extend the agreement into 2016 – or Caza will have to pay US$1.6 million for each well not drilled. These earning wells will earn Caza 640 or 1,280 gross acres, depending on the horizontal drainhole displacement of the lease.
Caza will pay 100 per cent of the costs to earn a 75 per cent interest (56.25 per cent NRI) in the earned acreage. All costs on subsequent development wells on the earned acreage will be borne according to the companies' respective working interests: Caza 75 per cent and CWEI 25 per cent.
Once the commitment wells are drilled in 2015, the company can drill a minimum of two earning wells a year to perpetuate the agreement and continue acquiring earned acreage. There is no penalty not to extend the agreement beyond 2015 and Caza would retain the earned acreage.
Chief executive Mike Ford said the “sizeable transaction” has the potential to “triple [the company's] current net leasehold position in the best oil play in North America”. He added that this deal, and last month's East Marathon Road acquisition, are examples of the company finding ways to acquire additional acreage in the Bone Spring/Wolfcamp Play at or below market rates.
The East Marathon Road deal covered 480 gross acreage in Lea County in New Mexico, close to and on trend with Caza's prolific Marathon Road wells. Here, Caza was able to mobilise its rig to the property on short notice to prevent the lease from expiring, thereby securing the lease and operatorship.
It's one of the advantages of being a nimble operator, allowing the company to seize an opportunity to build running room in a play it now knows inside out. The first well under this agreement is