COMMENCEMENT OF OIL PRODUCTION AT MSD-25 WELL
17 March 2022
SDX ENERGY PLC ("SDX", the "Company" or the "Group")
COMMENCEMENT OF OIL PRODUCTION AT MSD-25 WELL, WEST GHARIB CONCESSION EGYPT
SDX Energy Plc (AIM: SDX), the MENA-focused energy company, is pleased to announce the commencement of oil production at the MSD-25 infill development well on the Meseda field in its West Gharib concession, Egypt (SDX: 50% working interest). MSD-25, which encountered the primary top Asl Formation reservoir at 4,109ft MD (3,361ft TVDSS) and reached 4,385ft TD on 22 February 2022, after drilling through 84.8ft of good-quality, net oil pay sandstone with an average porosity of 26.1%. The well has now been successfully perforated, tied-in to the existing facilities, and flow tested. It is expected that, post-clean up, the well will achieve a stabilised gross production rate of c.300bbl/d which is in line with pre-drill estimates.
MSD-25 is the second well in a fully funded, up to 13-well development campaign at the Meseda and Rabul oil fields in the West Gharib concession, Egyptian Eastern Desert. The development drilling campaign is aiming to grow gross production to c.3,500 - 4,000bbl/d by early 2023.
The rig is now in the process of moving to the next well in the campaign, MSD-20, with spud expected in the next two to three weeks. In order to take advantage of the high oil price, a second rig will also begin operations to drill the MSD-24 well and accelerate the development plan, with a spud date planned for mid-April. SDX and its partner will continue to assess the performance of the rigs over the coming months to determine how long both rigs will remain operational on the concession.
Mark Reid, CEO of SDX, commented:
"We are pleased to get MSD-25 quickly and successfully connected to our infrastructure. The well is now producing and, when it has fully cleaned-up, we expect it to contribute c.300bbl/d of gross oil production. Our 13-well development campaign at West Gharib , which we are now accelerating with the contracting of a second rig, provides a low-cost, highly beneficial exposure to the oil price which has generated a netback of US$35/bbl at US$68/bbl Brent in the first nine months of 2021. MSD-25 and the rest of the planned wells are expected to significantly boost the production and cashflow from these fields in the coming months and I look forward to updating the market further as the campaign progresses."
About SDX
SDX is an international oil and gas exploration, production, and development company, headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with a principal focus on MENA. In Egypt, SDX has a working interest in two producing assets: a 55% operated interest in the South Disouq gas field in the Nile Delta and a 50% non-operated interest in the West Gharib concession, which is located onshore in the Eastern Desert, adjacent to the Gulf of Suez. In Morocco, SDX has a 75% working interest in four development/production concessions, all situated in the Gharb Basin. The producing assets in Morocco are characterised by attractive gas prices and exceptionally low operating costs. SDX has a strong weighting of fixed price gas assets in its portfolio with low operating costs and attractive margins throughout, providing resilience in a low commodity price environment. SDX's portfolio also includes high impact exploration opportunities in both Egypt and Morocco.
For further information, please see the Company's website at www.sdxenergygroup.com or the Company's filed documents at www.sedar.com .
Competent Persons Statement
In accordance with the guidelines of the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange, the technical information contained in the announcement has been reviewed and approved by Dr Rob Cook, VP Subsurface of SDX. Dr. Cook has 30 years of oil and gas industry experience and is the qualified person as defined in the London Stock Exchange's Guidance Note for Mining and Oil and Gas companies. Dr. Cook holds a BSc in Geochemistry and a PhD in Sedimentology from the University of Reading, UK. He is a Chartered Geologist with the Geological Society of London (Geol Soc) and a Certified Professional Geologist (CPG-11983) with the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG).
For further information:
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SDX Energy Plc Mark Reid Chief Executive Officer Tel: +44 203 219 5640
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Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited (Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker) Callum Stewart Jason Grossman Ashton Clanfield Tel: +44 (0) 20 7710 7600
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Peel Hunt LLP (Joint Broker) Richard Crichton David McKeown Tel: +44 (0) 207 418 8900
Camarco (PR) Billy Clegg/Owen Roberts/Violet Wilson Tel: +44 (0) 203 757 4980
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Glossary
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"bbl/d" |
Barrels per day |
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"MD" |
Measured depth |
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"TD" |
Total depth |
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"TVDSS" |
Total vertical depth sub-sea |
Forward-looking information
Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or are not statements of historical fact should be viewed as forward-looking information. In particular, statements regarding the future production and cashflows from the West Gharib drilling campaign should be regarded as forward-looking information.
The forward-looking information contained in this document is based on certain assumptions, and although management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to them, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because SDX can give no assurances that they may prove to be correct. This includes, but is not limited to, assumptions related to, among other things, commodity prices and interest and foreign exchange rates; planned synergies, capital efficiencies and cost - savings; applicable tax laws; future production rates; receipt of necessary permits; the sufficiency of budgeted capital expenditures in carrying out planned activities, and the availability and cost of labour and services.
All timing given in this announcement, unless stated otherwise, is indicative, and while the Company endeavours to provide accurate timing to the market, it cautions that, due to the nature of its operations and reliance on third parties, this is subject to change, often at little or no notice. If there is a delay or change to any of the timings indicated in this announcement, the Company shall update the market without delay.
Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks and uncertainties (both general and specific) that could cause actual events or outcomes to differ materially from those anticipated or implied by such forward - looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, but are not limited to, political, social, and other risks inherent in daily operations for the Company, risks associated with the industries in which the Company operates, such as: operational risks; delays or changes in plans with respect to growth projects or capital expenditures; costs and expenses; health, safety and environmental risks; commodity price, interest rate and exchange rate fluctuations; environmental risks; competition; permitting risks; the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources; and changes in legislation, including but not limited to tax laws and environmental regulations. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive and are advised to refer to the Principal Risks & Uncertainties section of SDX's Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2020, which can be found on SDX's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com , for a description of additional risks and uncertainties associated with SDX's business.
The forward-looking information contained in this press release is as of the date hereof and SDX does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward ‐ looking information, except as required by applicable law. The forward ‐ looking information contained herein is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
Non-IFRS Measures
This news release contains the term "Netback", which is not a recognized measure under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. The Company uses this measure to help evaluate its performance.
Netback is a non-IFRS measure that represents sales net of all operating expenses and government royalties. Management believes that Netback is a useful supplemental measure to analyze operating performance and provide an indication of the results generated by the Company's principal business activities prior to the consideration of other income and expenses. Management considers Netback an important measure as it demonstrates the Company's profitability relative to current commodity prices. Netback may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies.
Oil and Gas Advisory
Certain disclosures in this news release constitute "anticipated results" for the purposes of National Instrument 51-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities ("NI 51-101") of the Canadian Securities Administrators because the disclosure in question may, in the opinion of a reasonable person, indicate the potential value or quantities of resources in respect of the Company's resources or a portion of its resources. Without limitation, the anticipated results disclosed in this news release include estimates of volume, flow rate, production rates, porosity, and pay thickness attributable to the resources of the Company. Such estimates have been prepared by Company management and have not been prepared or reviewed by an independent qualified reserves evaluator or auditor. Anticipated results are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including those described above and various geological, technical, operational, engineering, commercial, and technical risks. In addition, the geotechnical analysis and engineering to be conducted in respect of such resources is not complete. Such risks and uncertainties may cause the anticipated results disclosed herein to be inaccurate. Actual results may vary, perhaps materially.
Inside Information
This announcement does not contain inside information.
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