Big production gains ahead for these two

Article Excerpt

BIRCHCLIFF ENERGY $13.66 (Toronto symbol BIR; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (403-261-6401; www.birchcliffenergy.com; Units outstanding: 127.7 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 76% of Birchcliff’s production is natural gas. The remaining 24% is oil. In the three months ended March 31, 2011, Birchcliff’s production jumped 70.5%, to 17,742 barrels of oil equivalent per day (including natural gas) from 10,407 barrels a year earlier. Cash flow per share rose 52.9%, to $0.26 from $0.17.The production increase and higher oil prices were the main reasons why Birchcliff’s cash flow rose. 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 the Pouce Coupe area of Alberta. That’s letting it bring its higher gas production to market. By November 2012, Birchcliff…