Birchcliff’s output rises

Article Excerpt

BIRCHCLIFF ENERGY $8.25 (Toronto symbol BIR; SI Rating: Speculative) (403-261-6401; www.birchcliffenergy.com; Units outstanding: 112.8 million; Market cap: $1.0 billion) develops, produces and explores for oil and natural gas, mainly in the Peace River Arch area near the Alberta/B.C. border. In the three months ended June 30, 2009, Birchcliff’s production rose 18.1%, to 11,313 barrels of oil equivalent per day (this measurement includes natural gas) from 9,583 barrels a year earlier. Despite this, the company’s cash flow per share fell 51.4%, to $0.18 from $0.37 a year earlier. That’s mainly because of sharply lower oil and natural-gas prices. Birchcliff is spending $105 million on exploration and development this year. That’s up from its earlier estimate of $80 million. It is putting $61.4 million of these funds toward developing current properties. The remaining $43.6 million will mostly cover the cost of building a $47.5-million plant to process natural gas from its Montney/Doig property in northwestern Alberta. This plant should be ready in the second quarter…