SilverBow enters deals to increase liquids production mix to one-third

SilverBow Resources Inc., Houston, entered into definitive agreements to acquire liquids-weighted assets in the western Eagle Ford from two privately held companies that would increase its acreage footprint by 50% to about 198,000 net acres and facilitate double-digit annual production growth with less than 60% reinvestment rate through 2024.

Sundance

In one deal, SilverBow intends to acquire assets from Sundance Energy Inc. and certain affiliated entities for $354 million. The deal also calls for up to $15 million of contingent payments based on future commodity prices.

With the deal, SilverBow would gain acreage highly contiguous to its existing position, adding 39,000 net acres in the oil and condensate windows of Atascosa, La Salle, McMullen, and Live Oak counties in Texas. January 2022 net production from the assets was 11,100 boe/d (84% liquids, 65% oil). The company envisions some 200 gross/155 net de-risked, high return locations with IRRs exceeding 200% at Apr. 6 NYMEX strip pricing.

Sundance emerged from Chapter 11 as a private entity in April 2021 having eliminated over $250 million of funded debt obligations.

SandPoint

In a separate deal, the company agreed to acquire certain assets from SandPoint Operating LLC, a subsidiary of SandPoint Resources LLC, San Antonio, for $71 million. The oil and gas assets target the Eagle Ford and Olmos formations in La Salle and McMullen counties, Tex., with 27,000 net acres gained. 

May 2022 net production of 4,650 boe/d (70% gas, 30% liquids) is estimated with two new wells expected to come online in this year’s second quarter. The acreage includes some 45 gross/44 net de-risked, high return locations with IRRs exceeding 80% at Apr. 6 NYMEX strip pricing.

Go forward

Pro forma, SilverBow projects full-year 2022 net production of 300-330 MMcfed (64% gas), adjusted EBITDA of $490-530 million, capital expenditures of $260-300 million, and free cash flow of $180-250 million.

Annual synergies of about $15 million are expected, with additional potential savings upon integration.

Going forward in this year’s second half, SilverBow plans to run one drilling rig on the acquired assets in addition to the one rig the company is currently running.

The Sundance transaction is expected to close in third-quarter 2022, subject to SilverBow shareholder approval and satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions. The SandPoint deal is expected to close in second-quarter 2022, subject to customary closing conditions.