WTI (Mar) $74.11 +72c, Brent (Apr) $80.99 +$1.05, Diff -$6.88 +33c, USNG (Mar) $2.45 +4c, UKNG (Mar) 146.0p -1.0p, TTF (Mar) €57.705 +€0.42

Oil price

Oil is a touch better as the Saudis have unexpectedly raised the price of their crude bound for Asia by 20c/b as they see a rebound in Chinese demand.

Two key speeches later today, Jerome Powell is speaking on CNBC and the world expects an idea of what the Fed thinks about the Non Farm Payroll numbers from last Friday.

Less importantly, later today Sleepy Joe gives his State of the Union speech to the House but with a Republican majority I can’t see him getting the difficult stuff through. And one of those is a further windfall tax on the oil companies.

Serica Energy

Serica has provided the following operations update.

Production
Serica’s net production continues to benefit from the ongoing investment programmes that the company has undertaken since the acquisition of interests in Bruce, Keith and Rhum in 2018. Serica’s 2022 net production averaged 26,182 boe/d.

Serica’s net production is as follows:

Serica’s net production (boe/d):

The R3 reintervention programme in 2021 has increased the gas element of Serica’s production such that the proportion is now greater than 90% gas.

Early production rates in 2023 were slightly lower than the 2022 average due to a period of maintenance work on a gas compressor on the Bruce platform which limited Bruce and Rhum production, but which has now been returned to service.

Net production from the Tailwind portfolio of assets has averaged 19,600 boe/d in January 2023 giving a combined net production rate of over 43,300 boe/d in January.

2023 Production Guidance
As previously announced, and subject to completion, the average net production for 2023 from the combined Serica and Tailwind portfolios is expected to be in the range of 40,000 – 47,000 boe/d.

Operations
The Diving Support Vessel Deep Discoverer has mobilised to the Triton area and has commenced the work programme to tie-in Tailwind’s Gannet GE-04 well. This well was drilled late in 2022 and completed in January. It is expected that first production will occur in February. The well results were above the pre-drill expectation and flow rates are expected to exceed 8,000 barrels of oil per day when the well is fully beaned up during March.

A number of interventions on Bruce platform wells are planned in Q2 2023 and the second Bruce Light Well Intervention Vessel campaign will take place in Q3 2023. This work follows on from the successful 2022 campaign and is designed to add production through re-entry and workover of existing production wells.

The first phase of the Bruce compressor upgrades will start in 2023 with commissioning in 2024. This project aims to reduce carbon emissions by 10% of the Bruce total as Serica continues to demonstrate its commitment to lowering the carbon intensity of its operations. Design and selection studies for compressor electrification projects have also commenced.

Tailwind Transaction
Completion under the SPA is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent. Two of these conditions have now been satisfied as follows:

• Approval by ordinary resolution of Serica’s shareholders to allot the Consideration Shares – approval was received at a General Meeting on 27 January 2023
• Renewal or replacement of the OFAC License issued to Serica on terms which permit the continued operation of the Rhum field - Serica has received a renewed OFAC License running for two years from the expiry date of the previous License which was 31 January 2023

The outstanding conditions are:

• Approval under the UK National Security and Investment Act 2021
• Receipt of the customary comfort letter from the NSTA (UK oil and gas regulator)
• Confirmation that the Acquisition will not require the repayment of Tailwind’s existing RBL
• Admission of the Consideration Shares to AIM 

Work continues on each of these outstanding conditions, and it is expected that they will be satisfied before the end of March 2023. 

Mitch Flegg, Chief Executive of Serica Energy, commented:
“The production performance of both the Serica and Tailwind portfolios has remained strong despite some extremely challenging weather conditions during January. There is an exciting investment programme of value-adding activities throughout 2023 which has started with the work to tie-in the Gannet GE-04 well. I look forward to updating the market with results of this programme as data becomes available.” 

A good ops update from Serica where the Tailwind deal is still in the process of completing but indications are that few obstacles are in the way. With SQZ confirming FY 2022 production of 26,182 boe/d and guidance for this year is now, with Tailwind contribution is 40-47 Boe/d and of course hoping that GE-04 might be doing 8/- boe/d by this month. 

Overall I think that all is going well at Serica and assuming regulation stuff like the Bruce work is completed with a minimum of fuss then a bigger, better and more diverse Serica looks like a very solid investment. A certainty in the Bucket List and looking pretty cheap I think that management just need to be perfect operationally and get the story out to the market as soon as Tailwind deal completes.

Gulf Keystone Petroleum

Gulf Keystone announces that it received notification that the export pipeline to Ceyhan and operations at the Ceyhan terminal have been temporarily suspended pending inspection to assess any potential impact from the earthquakes in Turkey yesterday.

GKP’s production facilities and well sites have not been damaged by the earthquakes and all staff continue to work safely. The facilities have storage capacity that allow continued production at a curtailed rate over the next few days after which the Company would suspend production until pipeline export operations resume.

We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide further updates as the situation develops. GKP’s thoughts are with all those affected by the tragedy.

No comment, as with oil price above we echo the thoughts for the Turkish and Syrian families involved in the tragedy.

Longboat Energy

Longboat Energy, the emerging full-cycle E&P company, has noted recent market speculation and confirms that it is exploring opportunities to broaden its strategic remit.

The Company is in advanced discussions with a number of parties regarding several opportunities across all phases of the E&P cycle in the South-east Asia region.

The Company will make further announcements in due course, as appropriate.

News to me!

Predator Oil & Gas

I note that Paul Griffiths has done an interesting interview with Flagstaff Communications, not done by me but it is interesting work.

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: Malcy's Blog