ASX-Listed Energy Stocks to Relish Over Improved Crude Oil Figures; SXY and BID Eyeing Domestic Opportunities

Crude oil sank significantly in the past as the global demand took a jab from the gloomy economic conditions, which in turn has impacted the ASX-listed energy stocks.

Despite the production cut from the OPEC and Russia, the crude oil nosedived as the global demand remained capped over the slower growth projections and high probability of global economy going into recession amid the prolonged impact of the U.S-China trade tussle, which in turn, kept a lid on the ASX-listed energy stocks.

Crude oil futures price (CFD) fell from the level of US$67.65 (high in July) to the level of US$55.88 a barrel in August (day’s low on 7 August 2019), a downfall of over 17 per cent in less than a month. However, the crude oil price is now taking a turn-around, which could boost the ASX-listed energy stocks.

Also Read: Crude Slumps As Fundamental Unfolds; ASX Energy Players On A Gap-Up Amid Strong Financial Performance

The United States Commercial Inventory Analysis

Change in U.S. Commercial Crude Oil Inventory (Source: Thomson Reuters)

The commercial crude oil inventory in the United States is witnessing a negative change from May 2019 till now. The decline in the commercial stock conventionally denotes the drawdown of demand.

A drawdown with higher imports generally indicates higher demand; while on the other hand, the decline in inventory coupled with higher domestic production and higher export signifies a fall in domestic demand.

From past two months, the commercial crude oil inventory in the United States have witnessed a decline coupled with higher exports and ramped domestic production; however, the change in August 2019 figures could bring some good news to the ASX-listed energy players.

Crude Oil Scenario in the United States

Domestic Production:

(Data Source: EIA)

The domestic production in the United States stood at 12,500k barrels a day for the week ended 23 August, which in turn, underpinned a growth of 200k barrels a day as compared to the last week production level of 12,300k barrels a day.

The average domestic production in August (to date) stood at 12.35 million barrels per day, up by over 3.34 per cent as compared to the average output of 11.95 million barrels per day in June 2019.

Exports

(Data Source: EIA)

The export from the United States stood at 3,019k barrels a day for the week ended 23 August, down by 216k barrels a day or down by over 7.70 per cent against the previous week.

The average exports in August (to date) stood at 2.59 million barrels per day, down by 7.5 per cent as compared to the June 2019 average exports of 2.8 million barrels per day.

Imports

(Data Source: EIA)

The total crude imports in the United States stood at 5,928k barrels a day for the week ended 23 August, down by 1,290k barrels a day from last week or down by almost 18 per cent.

The average domestic production in August (to date) stood at 7.0 million barrels per day, up slightly as compared to the average imports of 6.9 million barrels per day in June 2019. The imports remained steady in August as compared to June and were mainly unchanged.

In a nutshell, the domestic production in August averaged 3.34 per cent higher as compared to June 2019; while the exports slid by 7.5 per cent, which in turn, denotes a higher consumption in August 2019 in the United States as compared to June 2019.

ASX-Listed Energy Players

Senex Energy Limited (ASX: SXY)

SXY has shown promising recovery on ASX for two consecutive weeks after taking a hit over weakening oil prices in the market.

The share price of the company dropped from the level of A$0.535 (Day’s high on 2 October 2018) to the level of A$0.290 (day’s low on 2 January 2019) and consolidated since then in the range of A$0.390 to A$0.296.

However, the ASX-listed energy stock has shown decent recovery for two weeks now, and the prices could be further supported by the improvement in crude oil prices, which further set a reference for LNG prices in the market, and in a cascade improves the gas prices as well.

Gemba-1 Production Ready

Senex Energy completed the production test of the Gemba-1 gas exploration well in the Cooper Basin successfully, which in turn, enable the well to be online by the end of the year.

The Gemba-1 gas exploration well, which is on the exploration lease- PEL 516 and is wholly owned by the company is in the southwest margin of the Allunga Trough.

Post a seven-day hydraulic fracturing program, SXY completed a five-day production test successfully in August 2019. The gas exploration well produced a stable flow rate of 5 million standard cubic feet (or mmscf) a day on a 28/64 choke.

The production log suggested a condensate to gas ratio of approx. 14 barrels/mscf of gas and the company anticipates that the Gemba-1 would be tied into Santos (ASX: STO) operated gas gathering network in late 2019.

The processed gas would be sold in the domestic South Australian market to address the domestic shortage issues amid higher LNG production.

SXY received a PACE Gas Grant of $5.26 million from the government for progressing the Gemba-1 exploration well.

Also Read: Australia Set to Surpass Qatar Over LNG Exports; Domestic Natural Gas Conditions To Derail the Projections?

The energy technology player on ASX-Bidenergy is also making significant progress and securing agreements.

Bidenergy Limited (ASX: BID)

Bidenergy is trading down from the level of A$1.760 (day’s high on 12 February 2019); however, the recent agreement to share its RPA platform with Origin could boost the company ahead.

The shares of the company witnessed a breakaway gap up opening of over 86 per cent on 29 August 2019 post-signing an agreement with Origin Energy (ASX: ORG)

Robotic Process Automation Delivery Agreement

BID signed a three-year agreement with ORG to deploy a world-leading Robotic Process Automation (or RPA) platform. The company would deliver the RPA platform to Origin’s 14,500 Commercial and Industrial consumers following the completion of a pilot earlier in 2019.

ORG successfully completed the Bidenergy’s RPA platform pilot with its customers, and BID expects the rollout of its RPA platform to be completed by December 2019 for a term of three years.

As per the company’s estimation, once the Origin’s customer uses the platform under the agreement, the revenue generated by Bidenergy would fan the last reported ASR (as on 30 June 2019) by 12.8 per cent.

Disclaimer

This website is a service of Kalkine Media Pty. Ltd. A.C.N. 629 651 672. The website has been prepared for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used as a complete source of information on any particular company. Kalkine Media does not in any way endorse or recommend individuals, products or services that may be discussed on this site. Our publications are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold. We are neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice.