SM Energy Company (NYSE:SM) announces today certain year-end 2015
results with highlights that include:
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64.2 MMBoe full year production, at the high end of guidance range and
up 21% year-over-year adjusted for Mid-Continent natural gas assets
sold
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14.9 MMBoe fourth quarter production; oil component increased
sequentially to 29%
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Better positioned for 2017 with sizable increase in natural gas hedges
at an average price of $4.26 per MMBtu; achieved by rolling future
year positions into 2017
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Well hedged for 2016—applying fourth quarter 2015 production
equivalents, the Company has hedges in place for approximately 50% of
natural gas, 48% of NGLs (including nearly 90% of propane volumes) and
32% of oil
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$1.3 billion liquidity ($202 million year-end outstanding on credit
facility); 2016 strategy to spend within adjusted EBITDAX and maintain
strong balance sheet and liquidity
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Debt:adjusted EBITDAX is estimated to be 2.3 times at year-end
2015—top tier among peers
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Strong fourth quarter pre-hedge price realizations, including an
average WTI oil differential of ($7.09) per barrel and natural gas
realizations at 104% of NYMEX
President and Chief Executive Officer Jay Ottoson comments: “SM Energy
enters 2016 in a solid position. We have a particularly strong balance
sheet, exemplified by low debt:adjusted EBITDAX, have nearly 44% of 2016
production hedged (assuming flat fourth quarter 2015 production as a
benchmark) at average pricing in excess of $88/per barrel oil and $3.60
per MMBtu natural gas, and have ample liquidity of $1.3 billion. As we
have indicated previously, we are planning a 2016 capital program with
total spending within adjusted EBITDAX. Operationally, we continue to
make better wells for lower costs, and our production performance
reflects continued strong well performance from our programs in the
Eagle Ford and Bakken/Three Forks.”
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PRODUCTION
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Fourth Quarter 2015
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Full Year 2015
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Oil (MMBbls)
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4.4
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19.2
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Natural gas (Bcf)
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40.2
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173.6
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NGLs (MMBbls)
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3.8
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16.1
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MMBoe
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14.9
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64.2
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Full year 2015 production includes production from Mid-Continent
assets sold mid-year
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REALIZED COMMODITY PRICES
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Fourth Quarter 2015
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Full Year 2015
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$Pre/Post Hedge
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$Pre/Post Hedge
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Oil (per Bbl)
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$34.93/$55.81
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$41.49/$60.34
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Natural gas (per Mcf)
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$2.19/$2.96
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$2.57/$3.28
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NGLs (per Bbl)
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$14.99/$15.60
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$15.92/$17.61
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Per Boe
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$20.03/$28.40
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$23.36/$31.34
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DEBT AND LIQUIDITY
The Company ended 2015 with long-term debt of $2.55 billion, including
$2.35 billion principal balance of senior notes and $0.20 billion drawn
on its revolving credit facility. The Company’s revolving credit
facility has a borrowing base of $2.0 billion and aggregate commitments
of $1.5 billion, which the Company expects will provide substantial
liquidity.
COMMODITY DERIVATIVE CONTRACTS
As of January 19, 2016, the Company has the following commodity hedge
positions in place for settlement in 2016:
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PERIOD
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OIL
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NATURAL GAS
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NGLs
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Volume
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Price
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Volume
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Price
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Volume
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Price
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MBbls
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$/Bbl
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BBtu
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$/MMBtu
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MBbls
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$/Bbls
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1Q16
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1,868
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$86.93
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23,341
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$3.82
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2,250
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$15.67
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2Q16
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1,752
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$86.73
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20,780
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$3.40
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2,018
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$15.71
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3Q16
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1,170
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$90.29
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18,829
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$3.38
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1,613
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$14.22
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4Q16
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780
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$90.05
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17,236
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$3.82
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1,479
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$13.97
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Includes derivatives contracts for settlement anytime during the
current quarter and later periods through 2016
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Prices are weighted averages; natural gas prices reflect the weighted
average of regional contract positions and are no longer adjusted to a
NYMEX equivalent
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NGL positions are butanes, propane, and ethane only 1Q16-2Q16 and
propane and ethane only 3Q16-4Q16
In addition, subsequent to December 31, 2015, the Company increased its
natural gas hedge positions for 2017 to 76,135 BBtu at an average price
of $4.26 per MMBtu, significantly supporting 2017 cash flows. The
Company executed this by offsetting 2018 and 2019 natural gas derivative
contracts and effectively rolling those contracts into 2017 volumes.
Quarterly natural gas hedge positions for 2017 are updated as follows,
and the Company no longer has natural gas derivative contracts in place
for 2018 and 2019:
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PERIOD
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NATURAL GAS
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Volume
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Price
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BBtu
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$/MMBtu
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1Q17
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21,136
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$4.07
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2Q17
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19,572
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$4.35
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3Q17
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18,272
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$4.35
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4Q17
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17,155
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$4.30
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Prices are weighted averages of regional contract positions
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of
securities laws, including forecasts and projections. The words
“anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “budget,” “estimate,” “expect,”
“forecast,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “will” and similar expressions
are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements
involve known and unknown risks, which may cause SM Energy's actual
results to differ materially from results expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. These risks include factors such as the
availability, proximity and capacity of gathering, processing and
transportation facilities; the volatility and level of oil, natural gas,
and natural gas liquids prices, including any impact on the Company’s
asset carrying values or reserves arising from price declines;
uncertainties inherent in projecting future rates of production or other
results from drilling and completion activities; the imprecise nature of
estimating oil and gas reserves; uncertainties inherent in projecting
future drilling and completion activities, costs or results, including
from pilot tests; the uncertainty of negotiations to result in an
agreement or a completed transaction; the uncertain nature of
divestiture, joint venture, farm down or similar efforts and the ability
to complete any such transactions; the uncertain nature of expected
benefits from the actual or expected divestiture, joint venture, farm
down or similar efforts; the availability of additional economically
attractive exploration, development, and acquisition opportunities for
future growth and any necessary financings; unexpected drilling
conditions and results; unsuccessful exploration and development
drilling results; the availability of drilling, completion, and
operating equipment and services; the risks associated with the
Company's commodity price risk management strategy; uncertainty
regarding the ultimate impact of potentially dilutive securities; and
other such matters discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of SM
Energy's 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as such risk factors may be
updated from time to time in the Company's other periodic reports filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking
statements contained herein speak as of the date of this announcement.
Although SM Energy may from time to time voluntarily update its prior
forward-looking statements, it disclaims any commitment to do so except
as required by securities laws.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
SM Energy Company is an independent energy company engaged in the
acquisition, exploration, development, and production of crude oil,
natural gas, and natural gas liquids in onshore North America. SM Energy
routinely posts important information about the Company on its website.
For more information about SM Energy, please visit its website at www.sm-energy.com.
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