Become a Member

What’s Fessler’s “Barrel of Oil Six Times Cheaper Than Water?”

Sniffing out a teased stock from Peak Energy Strategist

David Fessler hasn’t gotten much coverage in the pages of Gumshoe for quite a while, so when he started teasing about a company that he thinks will have gains of more than 100% by year-end… and that he thinks can produce oil for 28 cents a gallon using “Futuristic Technology … it seemed tailor made for today’s teaser solutionizing.

Which is not to say that that 28 cents a gallon number is meaningful — he talks about drilling technology like drilling multiple horizontal zones from one rig, and having multiple rigs on one pad, so presumably that means “lifting costs” (not exploration costs, or processing/midstream/upstream costs).

There are 42 gallons in a barrel of oil, so at 28 cents a gallon that would mean the direct production/lifting costs are about $11-12 a barrel. Which as of a few years ago was fairly average for onshore production in North America — it may not be average any more, with fracking and horizontal drilling continuing to be quite expensive, but from my quick back-of-the-envelope math it’s not outlandishly cheap. And implying that actual drilling/lifting costs are the only expense for an oil producer is pretty misleading — finding the oil, paying royalties or leases, shipping the oil, all add substantially to any producing company’s costs.

But anyway, which company is he teasing? Here are some more clues:

“… this Oklahoma company is utilizing a technology more efficient and cost-effective than anything I’ve seen in over 37 years of following the oil business.

“In some instances, technology like this allows oil companies to tap up to 18 wells at once with a single rig.”

OK, so that seems to be generally teasing the more efficient drilling that most companies are pushing toward to minimize the number of pads they need and hit multiple horizontal shale zones from one rig. Which isn’t a technology or technique that any one company owns, as far as I can tell, though some rig companies may have technological advantages or more capable products.

More from Fessler:

“I’ll get into the specifics of the technology in a second… But here are the key reasons why it severely cut this company’s production costs…

“First, it can increase output on a well by up to 600%.

“Second, it reduces the time to move to a new site from one week to less than a day!

“Third, it drastically cuts production costs.

“And fourth, it reduces the number of workers needed by up to 40%.

“Combine all these improvements, and the end result of this new technology is it can now produce oil at just $0.28 a gallon… or just $12 per barrel.

“By comparison, it costs Exxon an estimated $20 per barrel, Orinoco $30 per barrel and Horizon Oil Sands $40 per barrel!

“In other words, it can do it up to 70% cheaper than major oil companies.”

I haven’t checked those numbers, but I doubt they’re directly comparable — I don’t know what Exxon’s costs are, but Orinoco is Venezuela’s heavy oil that obviously costs more than light, sweet crude to produce, and oil sands likewise are very expensive to produce whether the sand is mined or melted. It may be that this “secret” company produces oil cheaper than some, but don’t assume that they’re doing something unique that means they produce oil 70% cheaper than companies that are actually comparable.

More from the ad:

“This company is preparing to use this technology on a new find one expert calls, ‘the second-largest oil discovery in the history of the world.’

“Located inside the continental U.S., it’s one of the few spots beneath the Earth’s surface that is literally oozing with billions of barrels of oil….

“This is nothing short of a Eureka!-type discovery… so HUGE that the CEO of the company refuses to call it a ‘finding.’

“He prefers to refer to it as a ‘prize.’

Are you getting our free Daily Update
"reveal" emails? If not,
just click here...


“Bottom line: This company is sitting atop the richest find in U.S. history, with the technology to bring it to market at prices unheard of in the energy industry….

“… investors are set to make an absolute killing when this story goes mainstream.

“In fact, for reasons I’ll get into, I expect an announcement to hit August 8 that will do just that.”

Then just a few more clues for you…

“Founded just eight years ago in 2006, this tiny Oklahoma company at first tried its hand in lots of different oil projects…

“With far-flung operations stretching across a couple of different states in the country’s heartland….

“Each venture was doing relatively well, but nothing big yet.

“Until it hit a breakthrough in the area I’ve been talking about today….

“The decision on what to do next was clear.

“Move every resource it had into the operation.

“‘The data speaks for itself,’ the CEO said. ‘It shouts out loud.’

“So it sold off its assets for $438 million in May of last year, to focus all resources on this one project.”

And there are several photos that turn out to be lifted from one of the company’s investor presentations, so just in case the Thinkolator needed any help (“it did not!” comes the indignant answer), we can confirm that Fessler must be teasing: Laredo Petroleum (LPI).

Which does indeed try to maximize drilling efficiency, and which did sell their non-Permian assets to Enervest for $438 million so they could concentrate on their large permian basin/Midland assets, apparently focusing on the Wolfcamp and Cline shales. You can see the full story of what they’re doing and trying to do, including talk about their advanced rigs and drilling efficiencies, in their investor presentation here if you want something a bit clearer than Fessler’s hype-y sales pitch.

Laredo has come up in passing in several past articles, but I’ve never looked at it in detail and I don’t think it’s been the target of a big teaser campaign before — at least, not one that I’ve noticed. Fessler certainly isn’t alone in liking them, though, they’ve been a growth darling of late as production has ramped up in the Permian and have even caught the attention of Investors Business Daily for their recent earnings “beat” and other pundits have called them out for the earnings growth potential from their “stacked” plays in the Permian — such as in this piece from the Motley Fool earlier in the month.

It’s not tiny — they have a market cap of about $4 billion — and it’s already profitable and is drilling in a hot areas with lots of discoveries and reserves, so this is arguably priced at a premium because of their growth rate and it’s certainly risky since it’s an oil play and depends on drilling success, but it’s not a penny stock exploration stock that will rise or fall on the results of one well like so many of the junior oil names we see teased.

And that’s about all I know about them — analysts are forecasting solid growth and they’re trading for about 24X earnings, so if you’re looking for a midsized oil producer with good growth numbers and the ability to tell a good story, Laredo’s another one to toss on your pile of candidates. Let us know what you think with a comment below.

Irregulars Quick Take

Paid members get a quick summary of the stocks teased and our thoughts here. Join as a Stock Gumshoe Irregular today (already a member? Log in)
guest

12345

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

25 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
carbon bigfoot
Guest
carbon bigfoot
July 23, 2014 3:38 pm

Save your money. Wet dreams all.

john
Guest
john
July 23, 2014 5:12 pm

Travis,

There has been no new technologies in drilling of a revolutionary nature for 15 years or so. I have some experience here having owned a company whose IP was central to the analysis and development of horizontal and directional drilling in an offshore / pad environment during its early days. The former is of course a ubiquitous technique in the North American shale plays. Horizontal drilling, pad drilling, multi-laterals and multi-stage fracking are end developments of techniques that are now decades old. No surprises are to be expected from an investment standpoint as I think you have already concluded.

Add a Topic
2771
👍 21650
RT
Guest
July 28, 2014 1:42 am
Reply to  john

For something REAL, there is a company with a BLADE-LESS TURBINE that can desalinate salt water – and produce large amounts of clean (distilled) water from any salt or polluted source while generating electric power at the same time from the clean, free heat of the sun – all for less than what we are pay now for just electricity from filthy coal. They have a program for ownership of lenses in their power plant at NO cost – tax savings cover more than the cost, with rental income – info and contact here: http://powertaxcredit.com

Add a Topic
540
Add a Topic
540
Add a Topic
372
arch1
July 28, 2014 4:31 am
Reply to  RT

If you really believe that pitch you should put all your money into it,including all you can borrow. For my part I choose to pass on the “opportunity” that “could” be so rewarding.
Please send diagram of bladeless turbine.

👍 7797
Ron Ames
Ron Ames
July 23, 2014 5:28 pm

Thanks Boss-man;
I just spent about a half hour listening and the same researching…to come up with what you got for “US” in 30 seconds. That’s why I stay an Irregular.

Ron Homan
Guest
Ron Homan
July 23, 2014 7:43 pm

Looking at the annual report of a Canadian oil company I own, they quote operating cost of $19 to $20 per barrel , and SGA expenses of $3 per barrel. There is no way of knowing what costs are included in his $12 per barrel for Laredo but I doubt it is all inclusive.

Add a Topic
359
quincy adams
Guest
quincy adams
July 23, 2014 7:46 pm

According to my last bill, I pay 0.3 cents per gallon for water, or 12.6 cents per barrel. To be 6X cheaper, the oil must be produced @ roughly 2 cents per barrel. Does the years-old “new” technology come with new math, too?

Add a Topic
372
Add a Topic
540
Add a Topic
359
👍 21650
John Lincks
Member
John Lincks
July 23, 2014 9:22 pm

Frank Curzio recommended LPI in Oct 2012 @ 19.96. Currently a hold with a “buy up to” price of $22.50

Add a Topic
1326
sooku
Member
July 23, 2014 9:25 pm

So it reduces COGS by half to a quarter– but what is the effect on EPS?

👍 62
👍 21650
arch1
July 24, 2014 1:33 am

Travis I am sure you are correct. There is no new technology out there that can reduce costs as touted. There is/are a limited number of ways to put a hole into the ground and pull out oil.

Add a Topic
359
👍 7797
trackback
July 24, 2014 4:43 pm

[…] What's Fessler's “Barrel of Oil Six Times Cheaper Than … http://www.stockgumshoe.com/There are 42 gallons in a barrel of oil, so at 28 cents a gallon that would mean the direct production/lifting costs are about $11-12 a barrel. Which as of a few years ago was fairly average for onshore production in North … […]

Add a Topic
359
Add a Topic
359
takeprofits
Irregular
July 25, 2014 12:48 pm

Travis certainly has a unique talent in being able to ferret out the hyperbole most of the teasers employ to make a particular stock look outstanding. It would also seem U.S. investors have an advantage over Canadians in that I only received this promo to-day, and while having narrowed the possibilities down to 3, the latest being Laredo, in seeking to verify it, a google search brought up the Stock Gumshoe answer, so receiving promo’s 2 days later than he apparently does, I might as well stick to finding unknown gems in the broad junior sector.

That being said, I am doing on going research on the Permian Basin which is one of the hottest energy sectors currently and have several small players that have done well over the past year, so a column on the Permian Basin players is in the cards. Not being familiar with Laredo I would have to do some deeper research before making a buy decision. It sounds like a company to put on a watch list to buy on dips.

Add a Topic
5971
Add a Topic
5971
👍 418
stephen.e.mandell
stephen.e.mandell
July 28, 2014 8:52 pm
Reply to  takeprofits

Can’t wait to see it. Thanks for all your ideas. If you were “up” for suggesting entry points, that would be even better. Thanks.

👍 22
Alamo
Member
Alamo
July 26, 2014 7:51 pm

Thanks for the information. I too listened to the lengthy spiel that culminated with the usual “subscribe to my news letter and I’ll tell you the name of this bound to make you rich little known oil company ya da ya da ya da” . The formation undoubtedly is the Permian in W. Texas and New Mexico and sounds like the company is Laredo Petroleum (LPI).

The article could make someone rich and at $199 a pop and a 1000 gullible subscriber’s its Fessler and The Oxford Club that’ll reap the riches.

There’s no denying that the Permian with its stacked productive formations holds vast wealth with several major players PXD, EOG, OXY, etc the major acreage holders. The Permian has been producing since 1923 and is a world class resource that seemingly just keeps on giving.

Add a Topic
359
Add a Topic
1682
Add a Topic
366
Paul Jessup
Member
Paul Jessup
July 27, 2014 11:38 am

Is it a short..? Sounds a bit of a high p/e for the oil industry.

Add a Topic
899
Add a Topic
359
baygreen
July 27, 2014 3:58 pm

Seems to be a lot of not transparency but nothing a good sales person can’t take care of, plenty of derivatives to paint many different ways and see what happens to the market and what are neighbors for, remember you are in TX. Can drop more than you thought and it will still be bigger. If there is something new it will the next new year and we are not but a little over half way from there, Travis is very strong, but the thinkolater just came along for the ride on this one. Keep up the good reports, I Salute you saving me time and the irregulars of coarse as always!

Add a Topic
2491
👍 30
Ben gunnarson
Member
Ben gunnarson
July 28, 2014 11:21 am

Excellent comments

john hryma
john hryma
July 28, 2014 3:33 pm

Spartan Energy. This Stock is listed on the tsx. (SPE) This is my pick. Eric Nuttall Analyst at Sprott has written about this Co. This is a “sleep easy” Small growth story. Management owns 13% in one of the best areas of oil production in Southwest Saskatchewan. They have been consistently been drilling wells that have paybacks of less than a year. Their ability to add accretively is much higher than some others. By this estimation they will be growing production next year by 49%, the highest of any oil Co. in Canada and that is only spending 80% of their cash flow. They report in 2 weeks. Keith Schaefer one of Canada’s Oil analyst also owns this stock. To anyone who may be interested in this Stock GLTA.

Add a Topic
5971
Add a Topic
359
Add a Topic
359
John Loren
August 21, 2014 4:43 pm

What is the Oil companys’ Stock Symbol

Add a Topic
359
Add a Topic
5971
clay curtis
Member
clay curtis
December 4, 2014 8:54 pm

I just began studying the fundamentals of Laredo and initial price of the stock fell in November from $30+ to $9+? Do you know what caused this reduction, stock split, reduced oil prices( notwithstanding their hedges)

Add a Topic
5971
Add a Topic
5971
Add a Topic
359
John Loren
June 2, 2015 2:45 pm

Where are we on this now ?

PATRICIA ANN VASQUEZ
PATRICIA ANN VASQUEZ
August 27, 2015 4:04 pm

I AGREE THAT IT’S LAREDO. I HAD THAT STOCK A FEW MONTHS AGO; BUT SOLD IT. IT KEPT GOING DOWN. I’LL PUT IT ON MY WATCH LIST THIS TIME. I’D RATHER PAY A FEW PENNIES MORE THAN LOSE LIKE I DID THE LAST TIME. I WON’T BUY AS MANY SHARE RIGHT AWAY LIKE I DID THE LAST TIME EITHER. LIVE AND LEARN!!

Add a Topic
5971
Add a Topic
372

We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience. By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies.

More Info  
32
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x