Exploration successes are a big plus

Article Excerpt

BIRCHCLIFF ENERGY $13.24 (Toronto symbol BIR; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (403-261-6401; www.birchcliffenergy.com; Units outstanding: 131.4 million; Market cap: $1.7 billion; No dividends paid) develops, produces and explores for oil and natural gas, mainly in the Peace River Arch area near the Alberta/B.C. border. About 75% of Birchcliff’s production is natural gas. The remaining 25% is oil. In the three months ended September 30, 2011, Birchcliff’s production jumped 34.6%, to 17,648 barrels of oil equivalent per day (including natural gas) from 13,109 barrels a year earlier. Cash flow per share rose 50.0%, to $0.27 from $0.18. The production increase and higher oil prices were the main reasons for the gain. The company’s exploration efforts continue to be successful, and its production keeps rising as it starts up the resulting new wells. As well, Birchcliff has completed phases I and II of its gas-plant expansion in Pouce Coupe, Alberta. That’s letting it bring the additional gas it is producing to market. By November 2012, Birchcliff expects to…