Synergy Resources Corporation (NYSE MKT: SYRG) (“Synergy” or the “Company”), an oil and gas exploration and production company focused in the Denver-Julesburg Basin, announced it has signed an agreement to purchase interests in producing wells and leasehold in the Wattenberg Field from K.P. Kauffman Company, Inc. The assets include leasehold rights for 4,300 net acres in the Wattenberg Field and non-operated working interests in 25 gross (approximately 5 net) horizontal wells in the Niobrara and Codell formations. Current net production associated with the purchased assets is approximately 1,200 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOED). The purchase price of the assets is $78 million, comprised of $35 million in cash and approximately 4.4 million shares of Synergy common stock, subject to closing adjustments. The transaction has an effective date of September 1, 2015 and is expected to close on or before October 30, 2015.
OPERATIONS UPDATE
During fiscal year 2015, which ended August 31st, Synergy drilled 46 gross operated horizontal wells in the Wattenberg Field and brought 38 net wells into production. As of September 1, 2015 the Company has 12 wells in inventory awaiting completion, including four standard length laterals (~4,300′), four mid-length laterals (~7,200′) and four extended length laterals (~9,500′). The Company plans on completing the four mid-length laterals by the end of December.
Based upon production from the Company’s operated properties and the estimates of production from non-operated properties that are still under review, the 2015 fiscal fourth quarter production should approximate 10,800 BOED, resulting in average daily production of 8,700 BOED for fiscal 2015.
The Company has one drilling rig under contract through the end of calendar 2015, which is currently drilling a pad with eight standard length lateral wells. The Company has discretion over its fiscal 2016 drilling program with no long-term drilling commitments and minimal lease expirations. Utilizing one drilling rig and associated well completions during fiscal 2016, along with wells currently awaiting completion, the Company’s fiscal 2016 production should be relatively flat compared to the average daily production in Q4 of fiscal 2015. If one rig is utilized for the entire 2016 fiscal year, Synergy estimates the operated drilling capital expenditures should be approximately $120 million.
Craig Rasmuson, Chief Operating Officer of Synergy, noted, “We remain steadfast in our goal of reducing our completed well costs and are pleased to report that on average the actual costs for the eleven wells on our Cannon pad are approximately $2.5 million per well. These wells were all standard length lateral wells with 20-22 completion stages each. Nine of the wells were completed utilizing sliding sleeves and two of the wells used plug and perf. For our fiscal 2016 drilling program we are estimating that well costs for standard length laterals will range between $2.5 million and $3.0 million each. We continue to experience a positive impact from lower line pressures in the northern section of the Wattenberg Field, where DCP Midstream’s newly operational Lucerne 2 Plant is located. ”
Lynn Peterson, President of Synergy commented, “The assets purchased in the Kauffman transaction are located in the core of the Wattenberg Field where we have existing leases and production that fit nicely into our operational footprint. Our focus remains on aggregating assets in the Wattenberg where we are achieving increasing efficiency rates in our drilling and completion activities. We are in the fortunate position of having both operational and financial flexibility, which enables us to allocate capital expenditures when we deem it is prudent.”
Synergy will hold a conference call on Friday October 16th at 11 am ET (9 am MT) to discuss results for its fiscal year ended August 31st, 2015. The company plans to file its 10K and issue an earnings press release prior to the call. Synergy President Lynn Peterson, CFO James Henderson, and COO Craig Rasmuson will host the presentation, followed by a question and answer period.
Conference Call Details
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2015
Time: 11 am Eastern time (9 am. Mountain time)
Domestic Dial-In #: 877-407-9122
International Dial-In #: 201-493-6747
The conference call will be webcast simultaneously which you can access via this link: http://syrginfo.equisolvewebcast.com/q4-2015 and via the investor section of the company’s web site at www.syrginfo.com.
Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, contact Rhonda Sandquist with Synergy Resources at 970-737-1073.
A replay of the call will be available after 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on the same day and until October 30th, 2015.
Domestic Toll-free Replay #: 877-660-6853
International Replay #: 201-612-7415
Replay ID#411931
