November 17, 2014 - 11:13 AM EST
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Torchlight Energy Reports Third Quarter 2014 Earnings

PLANO, TX--(Marketwired - November 17, 2014) - Torchlight Energy Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRCH) ("Torchlight Energy" or "the Company"), a rapidly growing mid-continent oil and gas company, today reported its third quarter results for the three months ended September 30, 2014. The Company filed a 10-Q with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for the third quarter of 2014 on November 14, 2014.

Third Quarter 2014 Highlights and Subsequent Events

  • Revenues increased 330% to approximately $2.0 million for the third quarter 2014 versus 2013
  • 34 producing wells at September 30, 2014 with 413 BOEPD net; with an additional ten wells in final stages of development
  • Average lifting cost (excluding depreciation, depletion, and amortization) was approximately $20.00 per BOE for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The cost per BOE has declined from 2013 due to 2014 having a greater concentration of producing properties in Oklahoma versus Texas. Hunton wells in Oklahoma have lower lease operating costs per well
  • Purchased 100% Working Interest in 172,000 acres in the Orogrande Basin in West Texas (most of the acres purchased were contiguous)
  • Drilling Program underway at the Ring Energy Project with 7 wells drilled as of September 30th
  • Announced further expansion in the Hunton Play with Husky Ventures
  • Completed $3 million private offering on August 15, 2014 to fund drilling programs
  • Updated Reserve report adding significant Proved and Probable reserves

"While the price of oil has been the principal topic of discussion recently it's important that our shareholders understand Torchlight is a low cost producer and only focused on producing wells which are economical," stated Tom Lapinski, Chief Executive Officer of Torchlight Energy. "We added significant development potential this quarter in the Hunton Play and in the closing of the Orogrande acreage. The Company's four main projects provide numerous future well-site locations and our deployment of capital, assisted by the potential sale of the Coulter and Smokey Hill assets, will be carefully budgeted between these projects as we continue to increase daily production. While we cannot control the price of oil, our job is to stay focused on creating intrinsic value in the organization and deploying capital with the best possible return while minimizing risk."

Financial Results

For the three months ended September 30, 2014, the company reported revenues of approximately $2.0 million, an increase of 330% when compared to $0.5 million in the same period in 2013.

Operating expenses for the third quarter, 2014 decreased 5.2% to $3.07 million from $3.24 million in the third quarter of 2013. Operating expenses were primarily made up of non-cash charges that included stock and warrant compensation of $1.1 million and depreciation and amortization expense of $0.8 million. 

Net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2014 was $2.8 million, or $0.15 per share, compared to a net loss of $3.4 million or $0.24 per share, in the same period of 2013. 

EBITDA and the impact of noncash expenses are detailed as follows: 
  
 Net loss for three months ended September 30, 2014$(2,814,335)
     
 Add back: Depreciation expense$777,016 
     
  Interest expense (net of interest capitalized at 9/30/14)$120,851 
      
 EBITDA (Loss) for three months ended 9/30/14$(1,916,468)
     
 Adjust for noncash expenses: Accretion expense$1,145,247 
     
  Stock/Warrant compensation expense$1,080,500 
      
 Adjusted EBITDA$309,279 
     

The Company had $37.2 million of assets and $21.8 million shareholders' equity at September 30, 2014 compared to $16.7 million and $9.2 million, respectively, at December 31, 2013. 

"The inherent leverage in the Company's business model by being a non-operator in several of our properties will become more apparent in the fourth quarter and moving into 2015," stated John Brda, President of Torchlight Energy.

Business Updates

Torchlight Energy currently has interests in four main oil and gas projects:

  1. Marcelina Creek Field Development in Wilson County, Texas
  2. Ring Energy Joint Venture in Southwest Kansas
  3. Hunton play in partnership with Husky Ventures in Central Oklahoma
  4. Orogrande Project in West Texas

Additionally, the Company currently owns two non-core assets; The Coulter in Waller County Texas (970 acres) and the Smokey Hill Prospect in McPherson County Kansas (4,200 acres) which have been suspended pending technical review and possible disposition.

Torchlight Energy commenced drilling its initial 5-well program in Southwest Kansas in February 2014 and as of September 30, 2014 seven wells have been drilled; three are producing, two were drilling at September 30, 2014, one will be converted to a salt water disposal well, and one was not completed. 3-D seismic data will be acquired before selection of future drill sites. 

Torchlight Energy increased its ownership in the Hunton Play with Husky Ventures acquiring 25% Working Interest in the T4 AMI increasing our acreage position in the Hunton by 1,690 acres. The drilling program in the Hunton continues to accelerate as a five rig drilling program is set to resume in early 2015 increasing the number of wells being drilled. The combination of a five rig drilling program and ongoing leasing activity provides pronounced opportunities to deploy capital and grow the Company's existing production portfolio.

Torchlight owns mineral lease interests in multiple Hunton AMIs in percentages which vary from area to area. Gross undeveloped acreage in those combined Hunton AMIs totalled approximately 28,000 acres as of September 30, 2014.

On August 7, 2014, the Company purchased 100% Working Interest, 75% Net Revenue Interest in 172,000 mostly contiguous acres in the Orogrande Basin in West Texas. The acreage is in a five-year lease with five year extension provisions. Operations will begin no later than March 31, 2015 by drilling one well every six months to hold the acreage. The initial test program will consist of four vertical wells to be drilled at depths estimated at 6,000 ft. The data provided by the first four test wells will determine the production potential in the play.

Outlook

Over the next 90 to 120 days, our expectations are to: 1) continue the pace in the Hunton play with Husky Ventures; 2) complete the next set of wells and 3D seismic survey with Ring Energy; 3) drill the next Austin Chalk well in South Texas; 4) the Orogrande project will be evaluated and preparations for the first test wells in the project will continue. In addition, disposition of the non-core Coulter and Smokey Hill assets will be evaluated.

Conference Call

Management will host a conference call at 4:15 p.m. ET on November 20, 2014 to discuss its third quarter 2014 earnings results.

Date:Thursday, November 20, 2014
Time:4:15 pm ET
Dial-in (US):877-407-9039
Dial-in (International):201-689-8470
Conference ID:13595906
Webcast:http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=111429
  

A replay of the call will be available after 7:30 pm ET November, 2014. To access the replay, use 877-870-5176 for U.S. callers and 858-384-5517 for international callers. The PIN number is 13595906.

About Torchlight Energy

Torchlight Energy Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRCH), based in Plano, Texas, is a high growth oil and gas Exploration and Production (E&P) company with a primary focus on acquisition and development of highly profitable domestic oil fields. The company currently holds interests in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma where their targets are established plays such as the Eagle Ford Shale, Mississippi Limestone and Hunton Limestone trends. For additional information on the company, please visit www.torchlightenergy.com.

Forward Looking Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with the company's ability to obtain additional capital in the future to fund planned expansion, the demand for oil and natural gas, general economic factors, competition in the industry and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. The company is under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) to update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 
 
TORCHLIGHT ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
 
   September 30,  December 31,
   2014  2013
   (Unaudited)  (Audited)
ASSETS       
Current assets:        
 Cash  $561,329  $1,811,713
 Accounts receivable   205,958   429,699
 Production revenue receivable   972,026   -
 Note receivable   408,755   -
 Prepayments - development costs   636,635   0
 Prepaid expenses   24,375   9,144
  Total current assets   2,809,078   2,250,556
         
Investment in oil and gas properties, net   33,288,968   13,038,751
Office Equipment   58,428   11,604
Debt issuance costs, net   553,495   920,947
Goodwill   447,084   447,084
Other Assets   78,850   74,379
         
  TOTAL ASSETS  $37,235,903   16,743,321
         
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY       
Current liabilities:        
 Accounts payable  $3,777,014  $985,123
 Accrued liabilities   240,000   -
 Related party payables   90,000   90,000
 Convertible promissory notes, net of discount of $1,495,653at September 30, 2014   6,621,945   -
 Notes payable within one year   67,923   753,904
 Due to working interest owners   362,550   580,484
 Interest payable   388,113   309,498
  Total current liabilities   11,547,545   2,719,009
         
Convertible promissory notes, net of discount of $688,656 at September 30, 2014 and $5,500,462 at December 31, 2013   3,880,844   4,802,711
 
Asset retirement obligation   34,455   24,382
         
Commitments and contingencies   -   -
         
Stockholders' equity:        
 Common stock, par value $0.001 per share; 75,000,000 shares authorized; 23,187,941 issued and outstanding at September 30, 2014 16,141,765 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2013   23,187   16,142
 Additional paid-in capital   43,385,949   21,978,616
 Warrants outstanding   7,511,820   3,043,420
 Accumulated deficit   -29,147,897   -15,840,959
  Total stockholders' equity   21,773,059   9,197,219
          
  TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY  $37,235,903   16,743,321
   
   
   
TORCHLIGHT ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.  
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS  
   
   THREE MONTHS   THREE MONTHS   NINE MONTHS   NINE MONTHS  
   ENDED   ENDED   ENDED   ENDED  
   September 30, 2014   September 30, 2013   September 30, 2014   September 30, 2013  
   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)  
Revenue                    
 Oil and gas sales  $1,941,715   $430,782   $4,214,720   $837,901  
 SWD and royalties   12,305    23,774    61,269    33,078  
                      
Cost of revenue   (429,353 )  (136,607 )  (1,005,588 )  (314,662 )
                      
Gross income   1,524,667    317,949    3,270,401    556,317  
                      
Operating expenses:                     
 General and administrative expense   2,295,901    2,701,062    9,435,148    4,815,712  
 Depreciation, depletion and amortization   777,016    539,782    1,739,719    894,366  
 Total operating expenses   3,072,917    3,240,844    11,174,867    5,710,078  
                      
Other income (expense)                     
 Income - Cancellation of Debt   -    660,000    -    660,000  
 Interest income   14    6    70    46  
 Interest and accretion expense   (1,266,099 )  (1,120,985 )  (5,402,543 )  (1,856,444 )
  Total other income (expense)   (1,266,085 )  (460,979 )  (5,402,473 )  (1,196,398 )
                      
                      
Net loss before taxes   (2,814,335 )  (3,383,874 )  (13,306,939 )  (6,350,159 )
                      
 Provision for income taxes   -    -    -    -  
                      
Net (loss)  $(2,814,335 ) $(3,383,874 ) $(13,306,939 ) $(6,350,159 )
                      
                      
                      
Loss per share:                     
Basic and Diluted  $(0.15 ) $(0.24 ) $(0.85 ) $(0.47 )
Weighted average shares outstanding:                     
Basic and Diluted   18,231,409    13,858,030    15,687,540    13,655,021  
   
   
   
TORCHLIGHT ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.  
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW (Unaudited)  
  
   NINE MONTHS   NINE MONTHS  
   ENDING   ENDING  
   September 30, 2014   September 30, 2013  
Cash Flows From Operating Activities           
 Net (loss)  $(13,306,939 ) $(6,350,159 )
 Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash from operations:           
  Stock based compensation   5,834,186    3,357,148  
  Accretion of convertible note discounts   4,676,739    1,451,237  
  Income - Cancellation of Debt   -    (660,000 )
  Depreciation, depletion and amortization   1,739,719    894,366  
  Change in:           
   Accounts receivable   96,258    566,511  
   Note receivable   (294,318 )  -  
   Production revenue receivable   (972,026 )  -  
   Prepayment of development costs   (636,635 )  -  
   Prepaid expenses   (15,231 )  (65,286 )
   Debt isssuance costs   (150,000 )  (720,450 )
   Other assets   (4,471 )  (21,406 )
   Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   2,706,835    (457,835 )
   Related party payable   -    (18,648 )
   Due to working interest owners   (217,934 )  167,056  
   Asset retirement obligation   10,073    -  
   Interest payable   88,885    170,885  
   Capitalized interest   (260,096 )  -  
Net cash used in operating activities   (704,955 )  (1,686,581 )
            
Cash Flows From Investing Activities           
 Investment in oil and gas properties   (16,363,979 )  (5,101,434 )
 Acquisition of office equipment   (53,960 )  (10,434 )
 Proceeds from Sale of Leases   -    86,400  
Net cash used in investing activities   (16,417,939 )  (5,025,468 )
            
Cash Flows From Financing Activities           
 Proceeds from sale of common stock   10,632,791    -  
 Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes   4,569,500    8,465,288  
 Proceeds from warrant exercise   706,782    -  
 Proceeds from promissory notes   53,695    -  
 Repayment of promissory notes   (90,258 )  (601,000 )
Net cash provided by financing activities   15,872,510    7,864,288  
            
Net increase (decrease) in cash   (1,250,384 )  1,152,239  
Cash - beginning of period   1,811,713    63,252  
            
Cash - end of period  $561,329   $1,215,491  
            
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:           
 Non cash transactions:           
 Common stock issued for services  $1,249,077   $-  
 Warrants issued in connection with promissory notes  $562,354   $914,449  
 Warrants issued for services  $4,663,865   $-  
 Beneficial conversion feature on promissory notes  $195,466   $1,827,100  
 Liabilitities assumed-purchase of properties  $-   $1,809,572  
 Promissory note issued for debt issuance  $-    (50,000 )
 Sale of properties for note receivable  $-   $990,000  
 Common stock issued for mineral interests  $5,136,879   $1,233,967  
 Capitalized interest cost  $260,096   $32,335  
 Common stock issued in conversion of promissory notes  $2,185,535   $56,000  
 Common stock issued in warrant exercises  $1,240,000   $-  
 Asset retirement obligation  $10,073   $-  
Cash paid for interest  $855,703   $244,643  

Contact:

Derek Gradwell
MZ Group
SVP Natural Resources
Phone: 512-270-6990
Email: dgradwell@mzgroup.us
Web: www.mzgroup.us


Source: Marketwired (Canada) (November 17, 2014 - 11:13 AM EST)

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