June 13, 2017 - 6:00 AM EDT
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WPX Agrees to Form JV to Develop Permian Midstream Assets

WPX to receive $300MM cash, $132MM capital carry and retain 50% ownership in $850MM+ entity at closing

WPX Energy (NYSE:WPX) has signed a strategic partnership with Howard Energy Partners to jointly develop oil gathering and natural gas processing infrastructure in the Stateline area of the Permian’s Delaware Basin.

The joint venture with Howard is designed to support WPX’s drilling operations in the Stateline area, representing 50,000 net acres, or 37 percent of WPX’s roughly 135,000 net acre position in the Delaware.

The joint venture includes crude oil gathering assets already under construction and a planned natural gas processing complex. It does not include WPX’s natural gas and water gathering systems in the Stateline area, along with midstream rights to its remaining acreage position in the Delaware.

In a separate transaction, WPX secured additional takeaway capacity for its Delaware Basin natural gas volumes and an equity position in the related pipeline. Further details are provided in this release.

JOINT VENTURE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 50/50 joint venture between WPX and Howard Energy Partners
  • Howard Energy Partners will finish constructing the JV assets and serve as operator
  • Dedication of 50,000 acres represents 37% of WPX’s total acreage in the Delaware
  • Transaction implies a value of $863 million for Stateline oil gathering and gas processing projects
  • WPX receiving $300 million upfront from Howard Energy Partners
  • Howard Energy Partners to fund the first $263 million of JV capital expenditures, including a $132 million carry for WPX
  • No minimum volume or drilling commitments

The joint venture will complete the buildout of a new crude oil gathering system, already started by WPX in the basin, and begin constructing a new cryogenic natural gas processing complex with a planned initial capacity of 400 MMcf/d. The parties plan to seek out third-party volumes in an area of mutual interest in the Delaware Basin.

WPX has a 50 percent voting interest in the joint venture and operational influence. The transaction value of $863 million for the new joint venture is based on the cash to WPX, the capital carry and WPX’s ownership interest.

As previously stated, WPX is retaining sole ownership of its Stateline natural gas and water gathering systems which consist of more than 375 miles of scalable existing infrastructure.

WPX believes the retained assets are worth considerably more than the $500 million of implied value at the time of its acquisition of RKI Exploration & Production nearly two years ago.

EXPLAINING THE STRATEGY

“Our approach to supporting our growth plans in the Delaware Basin uniquely differentiates WPX,” said Rick Muncrief, WPX’s chairman, president and chief executive officer.

“As a producer, this is a bold and innovative way to lay a well-defined path for our expected volumes and create an additional platform for generating shareholder value. Today’s agreement breaks new ground on both fronts.

“For starters, our forward-looking action gives our long-term Delaware development a competitive advantage. Second, we’re looking at the bigger picture and how to extend value creation beyond the drill bit by creating a premier Delaware midstream service provider.

“We believe the Howard team has the right skills, capabilities and focus to make this joint venture a success and we’re excited to work with them,” Muncrief said.

This transaction builds on WPX’s successful track record for creating value from the infrastructure it develops around its operations. The company previously sold gathering systems in the Williston and San Juan basins.

NEXT STEPS

The parties expect to close the transaction in the third quarter subject to certain closing conditions. Prior to closing, WPX and Howard will begin integrating efforts to continue to build out the crude oil gathering system and begin work on the cryogenic processing plant.

WPX already has installed approximately half of the planned 50-mile crude gathering system that initiated service in late 2016. WPX currently has 40 wells tied in, some of which are awaiting completion before starting deliveries into the system.

The trunkline is designed to have a capacity of approximately 125,000 barrels of oil per day. The parties expect to complete the project in the first half of 2018 and believe it can be expanded for other commercial opportunities with minimal capital investment through additional horsepower and line looping.

The parties expect to complete the first 200 MMcf/d train for the cryogenic natural gas processing complex in the first half of 2018. The parties plan to add a second train to double the capacity by the middle of 2019.

More Delaware Takeaway Capacity

WPX is active in securing long-term takeaway capacity in the basin for its associated gas production. As previously announced, WPX recently signed an agreement to ship up to 200,000 MMBtu/d of gas from the Waha hub to Katy, Texas, starting in November of this year.

WPX also just completed a long-term agreement with WhiteWater Midstream, which provides WPX with 300,000 MMBtu/d of natural gas capacity from the Stateline area to Waha and 10 percent ownership in the related Agua Blanca Pipeline. As part of the agreement with WhiteWater, WPX has the right to increase its capacity to 500,000 MMBtu/d and its ownership up to 20 percent.

Agua Blanca will initially consist of 75 miles of 36-inch diameter pipe with a capacity of 1.25 Bcf/d, expandable to 1.75 Bcf/d. WhiteWater expects to accept first volumes from the Stateline area in the first half of 2018.

Background Information

Barclays acted as financial advisor to WPX on the joint venture transaction. Holland and Hart served as the legal advisor. Investors are encouraged to access a slide presentation about the joint venture at www.wpxenergy.com.

Howard Midstream Energy Partners, LLC (dba Howard Energy Partners) is based in San Antonio and is led by Mike Howard, chairman and CEO. The company owns and operates natural gas gathering and transportation pipelines, natural gas liquids processing plants and other facilities in Texas and Pennsylvania. More information is available at www.howardenergypartners.com.

WPX has posted double-digit oil volume growth each of the past five years. The company is active in the Delaware, Williston and San Juan basins. The Delaware Basin is the western portion of the greater Permian Basin. More information is available at www.wpxenergy.com.

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the company. Statements regarding future drilling and production are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties normally incident to the exploration for and development and production of oil and gas. These risks include, but are not limited to, the volatility of oil, natural gas and NGL prices; uncertainties inherent in estimating oil, natural gas and NGL reserves; drilling risks; environmental risks; and political or regulatory changes. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, even if subsequently made available by WPX Energy on its website or otherwise. WPX Energy does not undertake and expressly disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Investors are urged to consider carefully the disclosure in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available from us at WPX Energy, Attn: Investor Relations, P.O. Box 21810, Tulsa, Okla., 74102, or from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

WPX Energy
Media Contact:
Kelly Swan, 539-573-4944
or
Investor Contact:
David Sullivan, 539-573-9360


Source: Business Wire (June 13, 2017 - 6:00 AM EDT)

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