Sanchez - Hess Reach Eagle Ford Deal For $265 Million

Sanchez Energy Maverick Area Map
Sanchez Energy Maverick Area Map

Sanchez and Hess have reached a $265 million agreement for 43,000 net acres in Dimmit, Frio, La Salle, and Zavala counties in the gas condensate and oil window of the Eagle Ford. Sanchez also mentioned potential in the Austin Chalk, Buda Limestone, and Pearsall Shale.

Tony Sanchez, CEO, commented, "We will initially focus on the development of the Eagle Ford section; however, this area is currently experiencing considerable Buda Limestone and Pearsall Shale activity from other operators which may provide us with additional potential growth opportunities."

Current production is 4,500 boe/d with a little more than 70% considered oil from 50 gross operated wells. The deal more than doubles Sanchez Energy's production from 3,800 boe/d to 8,300 boe/d.

Hess had 13.4 million boe of proved reserves related to the properties.

Tony Sanchez, CEO, said, "The Eagle Ford assets we are acquiring are highly strategic and accretive on a variety of metrics, and provide critical mass and scale for the company by significantly increasing our reserves and more than doubling our current production rate.

If we assume Sanchez paid $60,000 per flowing boe of production, that means the company paid only $6,000 per acre. That's far less than deals we've seen trade for more than $10,000 an acre and a few that have traded for more than $20,000 per acre. Hess has not been one of the most active operators in the Eagle Ford, so I assume this acreage is discounted for a multitude of reasons -

  • Some acreage is not likely held by producing wells (HBP)
  • Facilities & midstream are not likely built out
  • There may be questions regarding well productivity in areas

Read more at sanchezenergy.com

Free Training Offered to Halt Transportation Deaths - Press Release

In response to the high number of transportation related deaths amongst Texas oil and gas workers, Safety Services Company is offering a free online training program in driver safety.

“It is not only important to ensure your employees understand safety while at the workplace, but while driving home from the workplace also,” said Safety Services Company spokesman Michael Rich.

Since 2009, 40 oil and gas workers in Texas have lost their lives while navigating public roads either to or from work.

However, the hazard isn’t confined by the state boundaries of Texas.

A 2013 study published by the Accident Analysis & Prevention Journal, based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, found that oil and gas workers are 8.5 more times likely to die in a motor vehicle crashes while on the job than those in other businesses. Reasons for the heightened deaths on the roads ways steam from the fact that oilfield workers often work long hours and must navigate more treacherous roadways to get to isolated work locations.

“Many of these workers are young men who simply are not aware of the potential for death on the roadway,” Rich said. “We want to educate them on these hazards to help save their lives.”

To facilitate this education Safety Services Company is encouraging the owners of companies who work in the oil and gas sector to require their employees to complete a driver safety program.

“Whether they take it through us for free, or get it somewhere else all that is important is that these employees get the training they need,” Rich said.

To take advantage of safety services free training course call 877-427-1503.

For more information visit - www.safetyservicescompany.com

 

The article above was published through EagleFordShale.com’s press release distribution service. Learn more about Eagle Ford Advertising Here.

Swift Energy Looks For Eagle Ford Partner as Wells Improve

Swift Energy Eagle Ford Well Expectations
Swift Energy Eagle Ford Well Expectations

Swift Energy held its annual analyst meeting the past week. It has been an exciting two years for the company as both production and reserves have grown by more than 40%. During that time, the Eagle Ford has become the company's top performing asset.

Highlights from the Eagle Ford portion of the company presentation include:

  • Initial production rates have improved 10% in oil & condensate wells
  • Estimated Ultimate Recoveries have improved in step at 10%
  • Drilling and completion costs have come down 10% or $800,000
Swift Eagle Ford Lateral Placement - Seismic
Swift Eagle Ford Lateral Placement - Seismic

Wells benefited in 2012 from more precise lateral location (in the lower Eagle Ford) and improved completion techniques. Drilling days have fallen by 22% to 8.5 days and the company is completing 7-8 stages per day compared to just 4-5 in 2011.

Successful downspacing tests at 60-80 acres in McMullen and La Salle counties have increased the company's drilling inventory by 30%.

Swift Plans For Eagle Ford JV Partner

In an effort to accelerate development of Swift Energy's Eagle Ford properties, the company plans to bring in a joint venture partner. A joint venture partner, or outside capital, will enable the company to improve project returns and accelerate value recognition. The working interest that is being offered was not disclosed, but I suspect we'll see Swift raise upwards of $100-200 million.

Comstock Resources Sells West TX Assets to Focus in the Eagle Ford

Comstock Resources Eagle Ford Map
Comstock Resources Eagle Ford Map

Comstock Resources is selling West Texas assets in Gaines and Reeves counties for $768 million to Rosetta Resources. The sale provides capital that will allow Comstock to speed up Eagle Ford development.

In February, the company planned 42 gross (27.3 net) wells in the Eagle Ford and has now increased it's drilling plans to 72 gross (46.9 net) wells. The company plans to spend $312 million, of its company-wide $410 million budget, in the Eagle Ford. The number of rigs Comstock is utilizing in the play will increase from three in early 2013 to six in the second half of the year.

"This transaction substantially enhances our balance sheet by providing us with an opportunity to improve our liquidity and leverage position. The sale will also yield a strong return for our stockholders on our investment in this region," stated M. Jay Allison, Chief Executive Officer of Comstock. "We will now direct our resources to accelerate the development of our oil properties in the Eagle Ford shale in South Texas."

Read more about the deal at comstockresources.com

Eagle Ford Regional Rig Count is 244 on March 15, 2013

Eagle Ford Consortium
Eagle Ford Consortium

The Eagle Ford Shale drilling rig count increased to 244 units running this past week. La Salle County, with 35, is the only county with more than 30 rigs running.

On Monday, we detailed highlights from the Eagle Ford Consortium Conference 2013. Several executives were on hand to share their thoughts on the play:

  • Valero's Three Rivers Refinery was nearly mothballed before the Eagle Ford
  • Marathon's CEO believes the Eagle Ford is the "Best" play in North America and maybe the world
  • Midstream infrastructure is playing catch up
  • Dairy Queen is paying signing bonuses!

Eagle Ford Oil & Gas Rigs

[ic-r]The natural gas rig count held flat at 24 this past week. Natural gas prices traded up during the week to $3.86/mmbtu on Friday afternoon. I wish I had a magic wand, but I am getting confident the worst is behind us in terms of low natural gas prices.

Four oil rigs were added to bring the total to 219 running in the area. WTI crude futures recovered from lows last week to trade at approximately $93.50/bbl Friday afternoon. NOTE - Eagle Ford crude prices are a little harder to track these days. Plains All American has stopped posting Eagle Ford prices except Eagle Ford light crude prices. Eagle Ford light traded at $89.50/bbl on March 14th. The majority of Eagle Ford crude is very light or condensate. Those that produce a crude close to 40 degrees API gravity will continue to fetch a premium.

There are 206 horizontal rigs running in the region. That is 9 more than last week when we fell below 200 for the first time in almost two years. An injection well is being drilled in Webb County.

La Salle County leads development with 35 rigs running. DeWitt (28), Karnes (27), McMullen (25), Webb (23), Gonzales (23), Dimmit (20), Live Oak (14), Atascosa (9), Leon (9), Madison (5), Wilson (5) and Frio (4) round out the top counties in the region.

South Texas Oil & Gas News:

Be sure to visit our South Texas Oilfield Job Listings to search openings and come back weekly for updates.

Eagle Ford Rig Count by Operator

What is the Rig Count?

The Eagle Ford Shale Rig Count is an index of the total number of oil & gas drilling rigs running across a 30 county area in South Texas. The South Texas rigs referred to in this article are for ALL drilling reported by SmithBits and not solely wells targeting the Eagle Ford formation. All land rigs and onshore rig data shown here are based upon industry estimates provided by the Baker Hughes Rig Count and/or Smith Service Co's (Schlumberger) Smith Rig Count.

Eagle Ford Shale Drilling by County

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