PITTSBURGH, Jan. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Equitable Resources, Inc.
(NYSE: EQT) today announced 2007 annual earnings per diluted share (EPS) of
$2.10 on net income of $257.5 million. This compares with EPS of $1.80 on
net income of $220.3 million in 2006. Several non-operational factors,
discussed below, should be considered when comparing 2007 and 2006 results,
including the sale of reserves in the second quarter 2007 and expenses
incurred in 2006 and 2007 in connection with the terminated acquisition of
The Peoples Natural Gas Company and Hope Gas, Inc.
RESULTS BY SEGMENT
Equitable Supply
Equitable Supply had operating income of $263.5 million in 2007, 2.1%
lower than the $269.2 million in 2006. Total revenues for 2007 were $501.7
million, 2.7% higher than $488.6 in 2006, due to higher realized prices and
higher sales volumes. Average well-head sales price increased 3.1% from
$4.83 to $4.98 per Mcfe resulting from a higher percentage of unhedged gas
sales and a higher realized hedged price. Sales volumes increased by 0.9
Bcfe to 77.1 Bcfe with daily sales of approximately 210 MMcfe per day at
year end. Adjusting for the sale of reserves in the second quarter 2007,
sales volumes increased by 5.4%. Gathering revenues declined by 3.5% to
$107.1 million from $110.9 million, as a result of the gathering asset
contribution to Nora Gathering, LLC in the second quarter 2007. Adjusting
for the Nora transaction, gathered volumes increased 3.3%. The average
gathering fee increased 11.8% from $1.02 per Mcfe to $1.14 per Mcfe.
Operating expenses increased from $219.4 million in 2006 to $238.1
million in 2007. Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were
higher mainly from increased reserves for certain royalty disputes in the
first quarter and other legal expenses. Depreciation, depletion and
amortization expense, and lease operating expense were also higher,
consistent with higher overall operating activity levels, but were
partially offset by lower production taxes. At Gathering, higher
depreciation, gathering and compression expense and SG&A were offset by the
absence of expenses attributable to the transferred Nora gathering assets
and lower production taxes.
Operating income for the 2007 fourth quarter totaled $75.3 million,
$6.8 million higher than the $68.5 million of operating income in the
fourth quarter 2006. Revenue increased by 4.4% resulting from higher NYMEX
natural gas prices and higher sales volumes, partially offset by the loss
of Nora gathering revenues. Sales volumes increased by 0.6% to 19.4 Bcfe.
Adjusting for the sale of reserves in the second quarter, sales volume for
the quarter increased 7.5% over the prior year quarter. Operating expenses
totaled $56.0 million, $1.3 million lower than last year. Higher operating
expenses were more than offset by the transferred Nora related gathering
expenses and a pension related charge in the fourth quarter 2006.
Horizontal drilling continued to meet or exceed the company's
expectations in the fourth quarter. Equitable drilled 38 horizontal wells.
In Kentucky, Equitable drilled 26 Devonian shale wells, 5 targeting the
Cleveland shale and 21 targeting the Huron shale. In West Virginia, the
company drilled 10 Devonian shale wells, 8 targeting the Huron shale, 1
targeting the low pressure Marcellus shale in southern West Virginia and 1
targeting the Rhinestreet shale. In Virginia, the company drilled 2
horizontal wells in the Lower Huron shale, 1 in Nora and 1 in Roaring Fork.
The production from the horizontal wells turned-in-line is consistent with
the expected decline curve included in the company's analyst presentation.
Since January 1, 2008, the company has spud 17 horizontal wells,
including its first Marcellus well in Pennsylvania, its first multi-lateral
well in Kentucky and its first horizontal well in the Berea sand. The
company is targeting drilling of between 250-300 horizontal wells in 2008.
During 2007, the company drilled 634 gross wells, consisting of 88
horizontal shale wells; 266 coal bed methane wells and 280 vertical wells.
The drilling program developed 165 Bcfe, a 38% increase over 2006, mainly
driven by the higher productivity of horizontal wells compared to vertical
wells.
Production Guidance
In 2008, the total sales for the year are forecast to be 80-81 Bcfe.
Daily sales volumes are expected to hit 235 MMcfe by year end, a 12%
increase over the year end 2007 run rate.
Equitable Utilities
Equitable Utilities had operating income of $113.4 million for 2007,
compared with $125.2 million for 2006, a 9.4% decrease. Net revenues
increased $10.3 million or 3.7% over the previous year. Distribution net
revenues were 4.5% higher as a result of increased throughput from weather
which was 7% colder than 2006 but 9% warmer than the 30-year normal. The
pipeline net operating revenues declined by $5.1 million in 2007, primarily
attributable to a rate case settlement of $7.0 million in the first quarter
of 2006, partially offset by higher rates in 2007. Marketing net revenues
were $8.9 million higher than in 2006, benefiting from favorable storage
asset optimization opportunities that were captured at a time of unusually
high commodity price and volatility and settled in the first quarter 2007.
Total operating expenses for 2007 were 14.7% higher at $171.8 million,
compared to $149.8 million in 2006. Expenses for the acquisition of Peoples
Gas and Hope Gas, which was terminated in January 2008, totaled $21.0
million in 2007, including a $10.1 million write down of previously
deferred transaction costs. In addition to transaction costs, increases in
labor and legal expenses contributed to the year-over-year increase.
Operating income for the 2007 fourth quarter was $29.3 million, 36.9%
lower than the $46.4 million earned in the year ago quarter. Net revenues
were $84.7 million, $6.0 million lower than fourth quarter 2006 revenues of
$90.7 million primarily due to a reduction in marketing net revenues. Lower
marketing net revenues are explained by unusually favorable market
conditions in the fourth quarter 2006 that persisted through the first
quarter 2007. Operating expenses in the quarter increased $11.0 million, to
$55.4 million in 2007. This increase includes the $10.1 million write-off
of the deferred acquisition costs.
Other Business
Organizational Restructuring
In order to better reflect the drivers necessary to execute the
company's growth strategy, Equitable is changing from a two segment
financial reporting structure to a three segment financial reporting
structure. Effective January 1, 2008, the company's segment financial
reporting will be adjusted to reflect the three new segments: Equitable
Production, Equitable Midstream and Equitable Distribution.
Equitable Production will drill and maintain wells, including both the
horizontal drilling program and coal bed methane program, as well as
explore for economic reserves of hydrocarbons in formations deeper than
currently productive horizons.
Equitable Midstream encompasses physical infrastructure downstream of
the wells including gathering pipelines, compressor stations, gas
processing facilities, storage and FERC-regulated pipelines.
Equitable Distribution serves 275,000 residential, commercial and
industrial customers in western Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
2007 Capital Expenditures
Equitable invested $805 million in capital projects during 2007. This
included $322 million for well development, $394 million for Equitable
Supply infrastructure, $88 million for Equitable Utilities, and $1 million
for Corporate.
Hedging
There was no change to the company's hedge position during the quarter.
The approximate volumes and prices of Equitable's hedges for 2008 through 2010
are:
2008 2009 2010
Swaps
Total Volume (Bcfe) 50 37 35
Average Price per Mcfe (NYMEX)* $4.62 $5.91 $5.96
Collars
Total Volume (Bcfe) 10 10 10
Average Floor Price per Mcfe (NYMEX)* $7.61 $7.61 $7.61
Average Cap Price per Mcfe (NYMEX)* $11.27 $11.27 $11.27
* The above price is based on a conversion rate of 1.05 MMbtu/Mcfe
Nora Field
During 2007, the company sold approximately 74 Bcfe of proved reserves
and contributed its Nora gathering assets to a limited liability company,
which is 50% owned by the company. Equitable recorded a gain of $154.5
million on the transaction, of which $6.7 million closed in the 2007 fourth
quarter, and a loss of $28.4 million for the year as the company reduced
its hedge position.
Operating Income
The company reports operating income by segment in this press release.
Both interest and income taxes are controlled on a consolidated, corporate-
wide basis, and are not allocated to the segments.
The following table reconciles operating income by segment as reported
in this press release to the consolidated operating income reported in the
company's financial statements:
Three Months Ended Year Ended
December 31, December 31,
2007 2006 2007 2006
Operating income (thousands):
Equitable Supply $75,342 $68,508 $263,545 $269,164
Equitable Utilities 29,262 46,351 113,447 125,209
Unallocated expenses (10,672) (5,247) (65,319) (21,850)
Operating Income $93,932 $109,612 $311,673 $372,523
Unallocated expenses are primarily due to incentive compensation. For
each period presented, the difference between equity in earnings of
nonconsolidated investments as reported on the company's statements of
consolidated income and on Equitable Supply's operational and financial
report is the earnings from the company's ownership interest in Appalachian
Natural Gas Trust. Other segment financial measures identified in this
press release are reconciled to the most comparable financial measures
calculated in accordance with GAAP on the attached operational and
financial reports.
Equitable's teleconference with securities analysts, which begins at
10:30 a.m. Eastern Time today, will be broadcast live via Equitable's
website, http://www.eqt.com and will be available for replay for a seven
day period.
Equitable Resources is an integrated energy company with emphasis on
Appalachian area natural gas production, gathering, processing,
transmission and distribution. For information please visit
http://www.eqt.com.
Equitable Resources management speaks to investors from time to time.
Slides for these discussions will be available online via Equitable's
website. The slides may be updated periodically.
Forward-Looking Statements
Disclosures in this press release contain forward-looking statements.
Statements that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts are
forward-looking. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
forward-looking statements contained in this press release specifically
include the expectations of plans, strategies, objectives and growth and
anticipated financial and operational performance of the company and its
subsidiaries, including guidance regarding the company's drilling programs
and initiatives, the expected decline curve, infrastructure projects,
production and sales volumes, capital expenditures, capital budget,
financing plans, tax position and the company's move to three financial
reporting segments. A variety of factors could cause the company's actual
results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other
expectations expressed in the company's forward-looking statements. The
risks and uncertainties that may affect the operations, performance and
results of the company's business and forward-looking statements include,
but are not limited to, those set forth under Item 1A, "Risk Factors" of
the company's most recently filed Form 10-K.
Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such
statement is made and the company does not intend to correct or update any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.
EQUITABLE RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(Thousands except per share amounts)
Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
December 31, December 31,
2007 2006 2007 2006
Operating revenues $384,814 $353,783 $1,361,406 $1,267,910
Cost of sales 168,779 137,244 574,466 504,329
Net operating revenues 216,035 216,539 786,940 763,581
Operating expenses:
Operation and maintenance 28,351 30,368 106,965 104,620
Production 14,189 15,099 62,273 62,471
Exploration 300 209 862 802
Selling, general and
administrative 51,387 35,292 195,365 125,951
Office consolidation
impairment charges - - - (2,908)
Depreciation, depletion and
amortization 27,876 25,959 109,802 100,122
Total operating expenses 122,103 106,927 475,267 391,058
Operating income 93,932 109,612 311,673 372,523
Gain on sale of assets, net 6,687 - 126,088 -
Gain on sale of available-for-
sale securities, net - - 1,042 -
Other income 3,157 556 7,645 1,442
Equity in earnings of
nonconsolidated investments 901 140 3,099 260
Interest expense 12,065 12,366 47,669 48,494
Income from continuing
operations before income
taxes 92,612 97,942 401,878 325,731
Income taxes 32,015 29,980 144,395 109,706
Income from continuing
operations 60,597 67,962 257,483 216,025
Income from discontinued
operations, net of tax of
($3,246) for the three
and twelve months ended
December 31, 2006 - 4,261 - 4,261
Net income $60,597 $72,223 $257,483 $220,286
Earnings per share of common
stock:
Basic:
Weighted average common
shares outstanding 121,535 120,629 121,381 120,124
Income from continuing
operations $0.50 $0.56 $2.12 $1.79
Income from discontinued
operations - 0.04 - 0.04
Net income $0.50 $0.60 $2.12 $1.83
Diluted:
Weighted average common
shares outstanding 122,884 122,426 122,839 122,113
Income from continuing
operations $0.49 $0.56 $2.10 $1.77
Income from discontinued
operations - 0.03 - 0.03
Net income $0.49 $0.59 $2.10 $1.80
EQUITABLE SUPPLY
OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL REPORT
Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
December 31, December 31,
2007 2006 2007 2006
OPERATIONAL DATA
Production:
Natural gas and oil production
(MMcfe) 21,038 20,556 83,114 81,371
Company usage, line loss (MMcfe) (1,652) (1,286) (6,035) (5,215)
Total sales volumes (MMcfe) 19,386 19,270 77,079 76,156
Average (well-head) sales price
($/Mcfe) $5.36 $4.88 $4.98 $4.83
Lease operating expense excluding
production taxes ($/Mcfe) $0.27 $0.29 $0.31 $0.29
Production taxes ($/Mcfe) $0.40 $0.45 $0.44 $0.48
Production depletion ($/Mcfe) $0.70 $0.62 $0.70 $0.62
Gathering:
Gathered volumes (MMcfe) 20,748 28,319 94,210 108,592
Average gathering fee ($/Mcfe) $1.18 $1.04 $1.14 $1.02
Gathering and compression expense
($/Mcfe) $0.50 $0.51 $0.49 $0.42
Gathering and compression
depreciation ($/Mcfe) $0.19 $0.14 $0.17 $0.14
(in thousands)
Production operating income $68,308 $59,492 $231,417 $231,849
Gathering operating income 7,034 9,016 32,128 37,315
Total operating income $75,342 $68,508 $263,545 $269,164
Production depletion $14,755 $12,711 $58,264 $50,330
Gathering and compression
depreciation 3,970 4,012 15,693 15,411
Other depreciation, depletion and
amortization 1,657 1,700 5,903 4,759
Total depreciation, depletion
and amortization $20,382 $18,423 $79,860 $70,500
Capital expenditures (thousands) $245,236 $130,987 $715,722 $335,948
FINANCIAL DATA (Thousands)
Production revenues $106,914 $96,485 $394,583 $377,626
Gathering revenues 24,466 29,319 107,092 110,945
Total operating revenues $131,380 $125,804 $501,675 $488,571
Operating expenses:
Lease operating expense excluding
production taxes 5,687 5,868 25,361 23,818
Production taxes 8,501 9,231 36,912 38,653
Exploration expense 301 209 862 802
Gathering and compression 10,332 14,313 45,844 45,860
Selling, general and
administrative 10,835 9,252 49,291 39,774
Depreciation, depletion and
amortization 20,382 18,423 79,860 70,500
Total operating expenses 56,038 57,296 238,130 219,407
Operating income $75,342 $68,508 $263,545 $269,164
Equity in earnings of
nonconsolidated investments $864 $76 $2,949 $129
Other income $2,596 $363 $6,467 $800
EQUITABLE UTILITIES
OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL REPORT
Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
December 31, December 31,
2007 2006 2007 2006
OPERATIONAL DATA
Heating degree days (30-year
average: Qtr: 2,070; YTD: 5,829) 1,802 1,750 5,332 4,976
Residential sales and
transportation volumes (MMcf) 6,959 6,846 23,494 21,014
Commercial and industrial volumes
(MMcf) 6,430 5,982 25,971 23,841
Total throughput (MMcf) -
Distribution 13,389 12,828 49,465 44,855
Net operating revenues
(thousands):
Distribution
Residential $26,765 $27,443 $99,050 $92,497
Commercial & industrial 11,355 12,825 42,558 42,519
Other 2,300 2,628 8,192 8,319
Total Distribution 40,420 42,896 149,800 143,335
Pipeline 20,858 18,272 67,517 72,586
Marketing 23,377 29,567 67,948 59,089
Total net operating revenues $84,655 $90,735 $285,265 $275,010
Operating income (thousands):
Distribution (regulated) $484 $9,279 $24,071 $34,807
Pipeline (regulated) 7,790 8,297 26,153 33,240
Marketing 20,988 28,775 63,223 57,162
Total operating income $29,262 $46,351 $113,447 $125,209
Capital expenditures (thousands) $26,657 $19,238 $87,761 $64,332
FINANCIAL DATA (Thousands)
Distribution revenues (regulated) $136,070 $122,535 $455,506 $445,168
Pipeline revenues (regulated) 20,484 18,592 68,547 74,010
Marketing revenues 132,728 117,435 445,153 380,149
Less: Intrasegment revenues (15,678) (14,726) (52,385) (56,163)
Total operating revenues 273,604 243,836 916,821 843,164
Purchased gas costs 188,949 153,101 631,556 568,154
Net operating revenues 84,655 90,735 285,265 275,010
Operating expenses:
Operating and maintenance 17,897 15,892 61,135 58,186
Selling, general and
administrative 30,378 21,241 82,105 65,280
Office consolidation impairment
charges - - - (2,396)
Depreciation, depletion and
amortization 7,118 7,251 28,578 28,731
Total operating expenses 55,393 44,384 171,818 149,801
Operating income $29,262 $46,351 $113,447 $125,209
Other income $561 $193 $1,178 $642
SOURCE Equitable Resources, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.eqt.com
CONTACT:
Patrick Kane of Equitable Resources, Inc.,
+1-412-553-7833
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