Company to Purchase Fort Worth Basin Barnett Shale Assets from Four Sevens
Oil Co. Ltd. and Sinclair Oil Corporation for $845 Million; Acquisition
Includes 39,000 Net Acres, 500 Net Potential Drillsites and Internally
Estimated Proved and Unproved Reserves of 870 Bcfe
Chesapeake Also Acquires 28,000 Additional Net Acres From Others for $87
Million, Providing 400 Additional Net Potential Drillsites and Internally
Estimated Unproved Reserves of 650 Bcfe
Company Enters West Texas Barnett and Woodford Shale Plays Through
Acquisition of 150,000 Net Acres and Announces its First Commercial
Production from the Barnett Shale in West Texas and from the Fayetteville
Shale in Arkansas
Chesapeake Hedges Production Acquired From Four Sevens and Sinclair at an
Average Price of $10.50 Per Mmbtu for 2007 and 2008; Has Now Hedged 88%,
69% and 55% of Projected Natural Gas Production for the Remainder of 2006
and for the Full-Years 2007 and 2008 at Average NYMEX Swap Prices of $9.08,
$9.86 and $9.34 Per Mmbtu
OKLAHOMA CITY, June 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Chesapeake Energy
Corporation (NYSE: CHK) today announced that it has entered into an
agreement to acquire from Four Sevens Oil Co. Ltd. and its equal equity
partner, Sinclair Oil Corporation (collectively referred to as "Four
Sevens/Sinclair"), 39,000 net acres of Barnett Shale leasehold, 30 million
cubic feet of natural gas equivalent (mmcfe) current production and $55
million of mid-stream natural gas assets for $845 million in cash. Of the
39,000 net acres, 26,000 net acres are located in Johnson and Tarrant
Counties, Texas, where Chesapeake has identified 500 net potential
drillsites, and 13,000 net acres are located in counties outside the
company's core focus area where the company has not yet identified any
drilling opportunities where the returns are competitive with those in its
core focus area. After allocating $55 million of the $845 million Four
Sevens/Sinclair purchase price to mid-stream natural gas assets and adding
an estimated $1.2 billion of capital needed to fully develop the 870 bcfe
of proved and unproved reserves, Chesapeake's all-in acquisition cost for
the Four Sevens/Sinclair transaction will be a very attractive $2.32 per
thousand cubic feet of natural gas equivalent (mcfe).
Chesapeake has also recently acquired or agreed to acquire an
additional 28,000 net acres of leasehold, primarily in Johnson and Tarrant
Counties, from various additional sellers for $87 million. On this acreage,
Chesapeake anticipates drilling 400 net wells to develop 650 bcfe of
unproved reserves. Including an estimated $1.1 billion of capital needed to
fully develop the 650 bcfe of unproved reserves, Chesapeake's all-in
acquisition cost for the additional acreage will be $1.80 per mcfe.
Through these transactions, Chesapeake anticipates acquiring an
internally estimated 1.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent
(tcfe) of proved and unproved reserves, comprised of 0.16 tcfe of proved
reserves and 1.36 tcfe of unproved reserves. Including an estimated $2.3
billion of capital needed to fully develop the 1.5 tcfe of proved and
unproved reserves, Chesapeake's all-in acquisition cost for the Four
Sevens/Sinclair properties and the additional acreage will be $2.10 per
mcfe.
Chesapeake anticipates increasing the 30 mmcfe of net daily production
from the Four Sevens/Sinclair assets to at least 45-50 mmcfe by year-end
2006 and 80-100 mmcfe by year-end 2007. The company has not yet estimated a
production ramp-up from the other Barnett Shale acquisitions, but believes
it will also be significant. Chesapeake plans to close all of today's
announced Barnett Shale transactions by July 31, 2006 and anticipates
permanently financing the acquisitions by issuing a balance of senior notes
and preferred equity in the near future.
Today's announcements increase Chesapeake's total leasehold in the
Barnett Shale to approximately 153,000 net acres, including 110,000 net
acres in Johnson and Tarrant Counties, which are in the heart of the most
prolific portion of the horizontally developed Barnett Shale play. The
company has pro forma current net production of 140 mmcfe per day (200
mmcfe gross) and believes it can drill an additional 2,100 net Barnett
Shale wells to potentially develop 3.4 tcfe of unproved reserves compared
to 1.1 tcfe of unproved reserves estimated as of March 31, 2006. To develop
this significant backlog of value, Chesapeake plans to increase its current
Barnett Shale drilling rig count from 12 (including 4 from Four
Sevens/Sinclair) to 24 by year-end 2006. At that rig count, Chesapeake
believes that it can drill 350- 400 Barnett Shale gross wells per year.
Chesapeake's current overall development plan for its 110,000 net acres
of Johnson and Tarrant County leasehold is to drill 14-18 horizontal
Barnett Shale wells per 640 acres using an average horizontal lateral
length of 3,000 feet and an average spacing between wells of 500 feet.
Using these parameters, Chesapeake believes its Johnson and Tarrant County
horizontal drilling will develop an average of 2.2 bcfe of reserves per
well at an average cost of $2.7 million, resulting in finding costs of
approximately $1.64 per mcfe before leasehold or acquisition costs and
after an approximate 25% average royalty burden.
To ensure strong returns on the acquisitions, the company has hedged
100% of the projected full-year 2007 and 2008 natural gas production
volumes from the Four Sevens/Sinclair properties at an average NYMEX
natural gas price of $10.50 per mmbtu, well above the gas price used to
value the properties. Furthermore, Chesapeake has entered or will enter
into multiple firm capacity pipeline transportation agreements that should
help expand Barnett Shale takeaway capacity, reduce the company's basis
differentials and enhance overall returns on its invested capital.
Company Expects Existing Barnett Shale Proved Reserves to be Revised
Upward by 22% in the 2006 Second Quarter
As of March 31, 2006, the company's Barnett Shale proved reserves were
464 bcfe of the company's total proved reserves of 7.8 tcfe. Following a
review of Chesapeake's Barnett Shale drilling results over the past 18
months and a comprehensive study of industry production data, the company
has raised its estimate of average recoverable reserves on its existing
proved Barnett Shale assets by approximately 100 bcfe, or an increase of
22%. Pro forma for the announced Barnett Shale acquisitions, its increased
estimate of recoverable reserves and its anticipated development plan,
Chesapeake estimates its total proved and unproved Barnett Shale reserve
potential on its 153,000 net acres to be approximately 4.0 tcfe as of June
30, 2006.
With the anticipated growth in the company's proved reserves base and
pro forma for the acquisitions announced today, Chesapeake expects to
report 8.2 - 8.4 tcfe of proved reserves (based on March 31, 2006 oil and
natural gas prices) and total proved and unproved reserves of approximately
20 tcfe as of June 30, 2006. To calculate its unproved reserves, Chesapeake
uses a probability-weighted statistical approach to estimate the potential
number of drillsites and potential unproved reserves associated with such
drillsites.
Today's developments follow a consistent path of achievement for
Chesapeake in the Barnett Shale. In the 18 months prior to today's
announcements, Chesapeake invested approximately $800 million to acquire
approximately 55,000 net acres in three significant transactions with
Hallwood Energy Corporation and a private independent producer. In those
acquisitions, the company acquired 49 mmcfe of initial net daily production
and approximately 250 bcfe of proved reserves. After investing an
additional $212 million to drill 91 wells in Johnson and Tarrant Counties,
Chesapeake's Barnett Shale net production now exceeds 110 mmcfe per day and
development costs to date have averaged only $1.47 per mcfe.
The keys to success for Chesapeake in the Barnett Shale play have been
threefold:
-- focus on acquiring leasehold in the Johnson and Tarrant County "sweet
spot" where the Barnett Shale is greater than 250 feet thick, where
the frac barrier is non-water bearing and where the shale is thermally
mature and in the dry gas window;
-- utilize the company's horizontal drilling expertise to generate better
production and lower costs. Since 1990, Chesapeake has drilled almost
800 horizontal wells in the U.S. and has been a leader in improving
horizontal drilling and completion technologies; and
-- leverage the company's industry-leading shale expertise. Chesapeake
is the only company in the U.S. active in shale plays in West Texas,
North Texas, southeastern Oklahoma, Arkansas and throughout the
Appalachian Basin.
Company Enters West Texas Barnett and Woodford Shale Plays Through
Acquisition
of 150,000 Net Acres and Announces its First Commercial Production from
the
Barnett Shale in West Texas and from the Fayetteville Shale in Arkansas
Chesapeake has acquired or agreed to acquire approximately 150,000 net
acres in Brewster, Pecos and Reeves Counties in West Texas in two separate
transactions. In these transactions, Chesapeake has assumed operation of
one producing vertical Barnett Shale well and is drilling one vertical
Barnett and Woodford Shale well and one horizontal Barnett Shale well. In
addition, Chesapeake has assumed completion operations on two vertical
Barnett and Woodford Shale wells, one horizontal Barnett Shale well and one
horizontal Woodford Shale well. Chesapeake intends to commence an
aggressive 3-D seismic and drilling program to determine the potential of
these assets. In this area in West Texas, the Barnett Shale is 400-950 feet
thick (compared to 100-400 feet in the Fort Worth Basin) and the deeper
Woodford Shale is 400-500 feet thick (compared to approximately 150-250
feet thick in southeastern Oklahoma). Chesapeake's first vertical well is
producing natural gas in commercial quantities from the Barnett Shale in
Reeves County, Texas.
In addition, Chesapeake has recently completed several wells in the
Fayetteville Shale play in Arkansas. Results to date cause the company to
believe that at least 300,000 of its 1.1 million net acre leasehold
position in the Fayetteville Shale will be commercially productive. Based
on its analysis of its own wells and those drilled by others in the play,
Chesapeake has concluded that per-well reserves of 1.2-1.5 bcfe may be
achievable over a broad area of the play using a spacing pattern of
approximately 10 wells per 640 acres. If so, Chesapeake believes its
300,000 net acres of potentially productive leasehold could support the
drilling of up to 4,600 net wells on an unrisked basis. Efforts remain
underway to determine the commercial potential of Chesapeake's other
800,000 net acres.
Drilling, completing and operating costs in the Fayetteville Shale
remain high and current economics in the area do not yet rank the play
among Chesapeake's 15 best plays. Nevertheless, the company remains hopeful
that it can achieve further engineering and operational breakthroughs that
will make the play more economically attractive than it is today.
Chesapeake Significantly Increases its Oil and Natural Gas Hedging Positions
In addition to the hedges associated with the Four Sevens/Sinclair
acquisition, Chesapeake has also significantly added to its 2007 and 2008
oil and natural gas hedging positions on its existing production over the
past month to secure exceptional margins and profitability. The following
tables compare Chesapeake's hedged production volumes (including only swaps
and also including the hedges assumed in the CNR acquisition) as of June 5,
2006 to those as of May 1, 2006.
Swap Positions as of June 5, 2006
Natural Gas Oil
Quarter or Year % Hedged $ NYMEX % Hedged $ NYMEX
2006 2Q 86% $8.88 69% $61.85
2006 3Q 93% $8.85 84% $63.90
2006 4Q 86% $9.50 85% $63.76
2006 Total Remaining 88% $9.08 79% $63.24
2007 Total 69% $9.86 56% $68.79
2008 Total 55% $9.34 48% $69.50
2009 Total 3% $7.57 2% $66.26
Swap Positions as of May 1, 2006
Natural Gas Oil
Quarter or Year % Hedged $ NYMEX % Hedged $ NYMEX
2006 2Q 86% $8.88 69% $61.85
2006 3Q 94% $8.85 84% $63.90
2006 4Q 88% $9.50 85% $63.76
2006 Total Remaining 89% $9.08 79% $63.24
2007 Total 65% $9.82 44% $67.07
2008 Total 48% $9.06 37% $68.20
2009 Total 3% $7.57 2% $66.26
Depending on changes in oil and natural gas futures markets and
management's view of underlying oil and natural gas supply and demand
trends, Chesapeake may either increase or decrease its hedging positions at
any time in the future without notice.
The company has updated its 2006 and 2007 forecasts to reflect the
acquisitions announced today, the anticipated acquisition financing and
additional hedges. This update is attached to this release in an Outlook
dated June 5, 2006 and labeled as Schedule "A", beginning on page 8. This
Outlook has been changed from the Outlook dated May 1, 2006 (attached as
Schedule "B", beginning on page 12) to reflect various updated information.
Management Comments
Aubrey K. McClendon, Chesapeake's Chief Executive Officer, commented,
"We are excited to announce the acquisition of 26,000 net acres of
high-quality Barnett Shale properties in Johnson and Tarrant Counties from
Four Sevens/Sinclair, the additional 28,000 net acres of other high-quality
Barnett Shale leasehold, our acquisition of 150,000 net acres in the
Barnett and Woodford Shale play in West Texas and our initial commercial
production success in the Barnett Shale in West Texas and in the
Fayetteville Shale in Arkansas. Each of these announcements is based on our
considerable expertise in drilling and completing horizontal wells in
shale, tight sands and other unconventional formations. We believe that
Chesapeake has industry-leading expertise in these areas and further
believe these new acquisitions and successes in the Barnett, Woodford and
Fayetteville shale plays will accelerate the company's already ambitious
growth plans".
Conference Call Information
A conference call has been scheduled for Monday morning, June 5, 2006
at 9:00 a.m. EDT to discuss this release. The telephone number to access
the conference call is 913.981.5543 and the confirmation code is 9463648.
We encourage those who would like to participate in the call to dial the
access number between 8:50 and 8:55 am EDT. For those unable to participate
in the conference call, a replay will be available from 12:00 p.m. EDT,
June 5, 2006 through midnight EDT on June 19, 2006. The number to access
the conference call replay is 719.457.0820 and the passcode for the replay
is 9463648. The conference call will also be webcast live on the Internet
and can be accessed on our recently enhanced website at
http://www.chkenergy.com by selecting "Events Calendar" under the "News &
Events" section. The webcast of the conference call will be available on
our website indefinitely. Additionally, a slide show presentation
discussing the release is accessible on our website by selecting
"Presentations" under the "Investor Relations" section.
This press release and the accompanying Outlooks include
"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. Forward-looking statements give our current expectations or forecasts
of future events. They include estimates of oil and natural gas reserves,
expected oil and natural gas production and future expenses, projections of
future oil and natural gas prices, planned capital expenditures for
drilling, leasehold acquisitions and seismic data, and statements
concerning anticipated cash flow and liquidity, business strategy and other
plans and objectives for future operations. Disclosures concerning the fair
value of derivative contracts and their estimated contribution to our
future results of operations are based upon market information as of a
specific date. These market prices are subject to significant volatility.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
expected results are described under "Risk Factors" in Item 1A of our 2005
Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 14,
2006. They include the volatility of oil and natural gas prices; the
limitations our level of indebtedness may have on our financial
flexibility; our ability to compete effectively against strong independent
oil and natural gas companies and majors; the availability of capital on an
economic basis to fund reserve replacement costs; our ability to replace
reserves and sustain production; uncertainties inherent in estimating
quantities of oil and natural gas reserves and projecting future rates of
production and the timing of development expenditures; uncertainties in
evaluating oil and natural gas reserves of acquired properties and
associated potential liabilities; our ability to effectively consolidate
and integrate acquired properties and operations; unsuccessful exploration
and development drilling; declines in the values of our oil and natural gas
properties resulting in ceiling test write- downs; lower prices realized on
oil and natural gas sales and collateral required to secure hedging
liabilities resulting from our commodity price risk management activities;
the negative impact lower oil and natural gas prices could have on our
ability to borrow; and drilling and operating risks. We caution you not to
place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only
as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no obligation to
update this information.
Our production forecasts are dependent upon many assumptions, including
estimates of production decline rates from existing wells and the outcome
of future drilling activity. Also, our internal estimates of reserves,
particularly those in the properties recently acquired or proposed to be
acquired where we may have limited review of data or experience with the
reserves, may be subject to revision and may be different from estimates by
our external reservoir engineers at year-end. Although we believe the
expectations and forecasts reflected in these and other forward-looking
statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance they will prove to have
been correct. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or
unknown risks and uncertainties.
The SEC has generally permitted oil and natural gas companies, in
filings made with the SEC, to disclose only proved reserves that a company
has demonstrated by actual production or conclusive formation tests to be
economically and legally producible under existing economic and operating
conditions. We use the terms "probable", "possible" or "unproved" to
describe volumes of reserves potentially recoverable through additional
drilling or recovery techniques that the SEC's guidelines may prohibit us
from including in filings with the SEC. These estimates are by their nature
more speculative than estimates of proved reserves and accordingly are
subject to substantially greater risk of being actually realized by the
company. While we believe our calculations of unproved drillsites and
estimation of unproved reserves have been appropriately risked and are
reasonable, such calculations and estimates have not been reviewed by third
party engineers or appraisers.
Chesapeake Energy Corporation is the second largest independent
producer of natural gas in the U.S. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the
company's operations are focused on exploratory and developmental drilling
and corporate and property acquisitions in the Mid-Continent, Permian
Basin, South Texas, Texas Gulf Coast, Barnett Shale, Ark-La-Tex and
Appalachian Basin regions of the United States. The company's Internet
address is http://www.chkenergy.com.
SCHEDULE "A"
CHESAPEAKE'S OUTLOOK AS OF JUNE 5, 2006
Quarter Ending June 30, 2006; Year Ending December 31, 2006; Year
Ending December 31, 2007.
We have adopted a policy of periodically providing investors with
guidance on certain factors that affect our future financial performance.
As of June 5, 2006, we are using the following key assumptions in our
projections for the second quarter of 2006, the full-year 2006 and the
full-year 2007.
The primary changes from our May 1, 2006 Outlook are in italicized bold
in the table and are explained as follows:
1) We have updated the projected effect of changes in our hedging
positions;
2) Production, certain costs and capital expenditures have increased as a
result of the acquisitions announced today; and
3) Share count has been adjusted to reflect our tender offer to convert
our 4.125% preferred stock and 5.0% preferred stock to common stock,
recent repurchases of common stock and an expected preferred equity
offering in the near future.
Quarter Ending Year Ending Year Ending
6/30/2006 12/31/2006 12/31/2007
Estimated Production:
Oil - mbbls 2,000 8,000 8,000
Natural gas - bcf 127 - 132 533 - 543 592 - 602
Natural gas equivalent - bcfe 139 - 144 581 - 591 640 - 650
Daily natural gas equivalent
midpoint - in mmcfe 1,555 1,605 1,767
NYMEX Prices (a) (for calculation
of realized hedging effects only):
Oil - $/bbl $58.39 $56.72 $52.50
Natural gas - $/mcf $7.16 $7.54 $7.00
Estimated Realized Hedging Effects
(based on assumed NYMEX prices
above):
Oil - $/bbl $2.62 $4.83 $9.39
Natural gas - $/mcf $1.68 $2.00 $2.19
Estimated Differentials to NYMEX
Prices:
Oil - $/bbl 6 - 8% 6 - 8% 6 - 8%
Natural gas - $/mcf 8 - 12% 9 - 13% 9 - 13%
Operating Costs per Mcfe of
Projected Production:
Production expense $0.85 - 0.95 $0.85 - 0.95 $0.90 - 1.00
Production taxes (generally
6.0% of O&G revenues) (b) $0.40 - 0.45 $0.41 - 0.46 $0.36 - 0.41
General and administrative $0.15 - 0.20 $0.15 - 0.20 $0.15 - 0.20
Stock-based compensation
(non-cash) $0.05 - 0.07 $0.06 - 0.08 $0.08 - 0.10
DD&A of oil and natural gas
assets $2.25 - 2.35 $2.30 - 2.40 $2.40 - 2.50
Depreciation of other assets $0.16 - 0.20 $0.18 - 0.22 $0.24 - 0.28
Interest expense (c) $0.52 - 0.57 $0.52 - 0.57 $0.53 - 0.58
Other Income per Mcfe:
Marketing and other income $0.02 - 0.04 $0.04 - 0.06 $0.04 - 0.06
Service operations income $0.10 - 0.15 $0.10 - 0.15 $0.10 - 0.15
Book Tax Rate (approximately
95% deferred) 37.5% 37.5% 37.5%
Equivalent Shares Outstanding:
Basic 379 mm 380 mm 389 mm
Diluted 434 mm 441 mm 452 mm
Capital Expenditures:
Drilling, leasehold and
seismic $900 - 1,000 $3,500 - 3,800 $3,500 - 3,800
mm mm mm
(a) Oil NYMEX prices have been updated for actual contract prices through
April 2006 and natural gas NYMEX prices have been updated for actual
contract prices through May 2006.
(b) Severance tax per mcfe is based on NYMEX prices of $58.39 per bbl of
oil and $7.20 to $8.20 per mcf of natural gas during Q2 2006, $56.72
per bbl of oil and $7.35 to $8.35 per mcf of natural gas during
calendar 2006, and $52.50 per bbl of oil and $6.50 to $7.50 per mcf of
natural gas during calendar 2007.
(c) Does not include gains or losses on interest rate derivatives (SFAS
133).
Commodity Hedging Activities
The company utilizes hedging strategies to hedge the price of a portion
of its future oil and natural gas production. These strategies include:
(i) For swap instruments, we receive a fixed price for the hedged
commodity and pay a floating market price, as defined in each
instrument, to the counterparty. The fixed-price payment and the
floating-price payment are netted, resulting in a net amount due
to or from the counterparty.
(ii) For cap-swaps, Chesapeake receives a fixed price and pays a
floating market price. The fixed price received by Chesapeake
includes a premium in exchange for a "cap" limiting the
counterparty's exposure. In other words, there is no limit to
Chesapeake's exposure but there is a limit to the downside
exposure of the counterparty.
(iii) Basis protection swaps are arrangements that guarantee a price
differential of oil or natural gas from a specified delivery
point. Chesapeake receives a payment from the counterparty if
the price differential is greater than the stated terms of the
contract and pays the counterparty if the price differential is
less than the stated terms of the contract.
Commodity markets are volatile, and as a result, Chesapeake's hedging
activity is dynamic. As market conditions warrant, the company may elect to
settle a hedging transaction prior to its scheduled maturity date and lock
in the gain or loss on the transaction.
Chesapeake enters into oil and natural gas derivative transactions in
order to mitigate a portion of its exposure to adverse market changes in
oil and natural gas prices. Accordingly, associated gains or loses from the
derivative transactions are reflected as adjustments to oil and natural gas
sales. All realized gains and losses from oil and natural gas derivatives
are included in oil and natural gas sales in the month of related
production. Pursuant to SFAS 133, certain derivatives do not qualify for
designation as cash flow hedges. Changes in the fair value of these
non-qualifying derivatives that occur prior to their maturity (i.e. because
of temporary fluctuations in value) are reported currently in the
consolidated statement of operations as unrealized gains (losses) within
oil and natural gas sales.
Following provisions of SFAS 133, changes in the fair value of
derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, to the extent
effective in offsetting cash flows attributable to hedged risk, are
recorded in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized
in earnings. Any change in fair value resulting from ineffectiveness is
recognized currently in oil and natural gas sales.
Excluding the swaps assumed in connection with the acquisition of CNR
which are described below, the company currently has the following natural gas
swaps in place:
% Hedged
Open Swap
Avg. Avg. NYMEX Assuming Positions
NYMEX Gain Price Natural as a % of
Open Strike (Loss) Including Gas Estimated
Swaps Price from Open & Production Total
in Of Open Locked Locked in Natural Gas
Bcf's Swaps Swaps Positions Bcf's of: Production
2006:
Q1 93.8 $10.81 -$0.09 $10.72 124.1 76%
Q2 101.4 $8.82 -$0.05 $8.77 129.5 78%
Q3 117.9 $8.80 -$0.05 $8.75 138.5 85%
Q4 114.9 $9.46 -$0.04 $9.42 145.9 79%
Total 2006(1) 428.0 $9.42 -$0.05 $9.37 538.0 80%
Total 2007(1) 370.2 $9.98 -$0.04 $9.94 597.0 62%
Total 2008(1) 311.1 $9.50 - $9.50 637.0 49%
Total 2009 3.7 $9.02 - $9.02 682.0 1%
(1) Certain hedging arrangements include swaps with knockout prices
ranging from $3.75 to $5.50 covering 43.0 bcf in 2006, $5.75 to $6.50
covering 32.0 bcf in 2007 and $5.75 to $6.50 covering 51.2 bcf in
2008, respectively.
Note: Not shown above are collars covering 0.2 bcf of production in
2006 at a weighted average floor and ceiling of $6.00 and $9.70 and call
options covering 7.3 bcf of production in 2006 at a weighted average price
of $12.50, 25.6 bcf of production in 2007 at a weighted average price of
$10.53 and 7.3 bcf of production in 2008 at a weighed average price of
$12.50.
The company has the following natural gas basis protection swaps in place:
Mid-Continent Appalachia
Volume
Volume in Bcf's NYMEX less*: in Bcf's NYMEX plus*:
2006 130.1 $0.32 - $-
2007 137.2 0.33 36.5 0.35
2008 118.6 0.27 36.6 0.35
2009 86.6 0.29 18.2 0.31
Totals 472.5 $0.30 91.3 $0.34
* weighted average
We assumed certain liabilities related to open derivative positions in
connection with the CNR acquisition. In accordance with SFAS 141, these
derivative positions were recorded at fair value in the purchase price
allocation as a liability of $592 million ($523 million as of March 31,
2006). The recognition of the derivative liability and other assumed
liabilities resulted in an increase in the total purchase price which was
allocated to the assets acquired. Because of this accounting treatment,
only cash settlements for changes in fair value subsequent to the
acquisition date for the derivative positions assumed result in adjustments
to our oil and natural gas revenues upon settlement. For example, if the
fair value of the derivative positions assumed does not change, then upon
the sale of the underlying production and corresponding settlement of the
derivative positions, cash would be paid to the counterparties and there
would be no adjustment to oil and natural gas revenues related to the
derivative positions. If, however, the actual sales price is different from
the price assumed in the original fair value calculation, the difference
would be reflected as either a decrease or increase in oil and natural gas
revenues, depending upon whether the sales price was higher or lower,
respectively, than the prices assumed in the original fair value
calculation. For accounting purposes, the net effect of these acquired
hedges is that we hedged the production volumes listed below at their fair
values on the date of our acquisition of CNR.
Pursuant to SFAS 149 "Amendment of SFAS 133 on Derivative Instruments
and Hedging Activities", the derivative instruments assumed in connection
with the CNR acquisition are deemed to contain a significant financing
element and all cash flows associated with these positions are reported as
financing activity in the statement of cash flows.
The following details the CNR derivatives (natural gas swaps) we have
assumed:
% Hedged
Avg. Open Swap
NYMEX Avg. Fair Assuming Positions
Strike Value Upon Natural as a % of
Open Price Acquisition Initial Gas Estimated
Swaps Of Open of Open Liability Production Total
in Swaps Swaps Acquired in Natural Gas
Bcf's (per Mcf) (per Mcf) (per Mcf) Bcf's of: Production
2006:
Q1 7.9 $4.91 $12.14 ($7.23) 124.1 6%
Q2 10.5 $4.86 $9.97 ($5.11) 129.5 8%
Q3 10.6 $4.86 $9.95 ($5.09) 138.5 8%
Q4 10.6 $4.86 $10.38 ($5.52) 145.9 7%
Total 2006 39.6 $4.87 $10.51 ($5.64) 538.0 7%
Total 2007 42.0 $4.82 $9.18 ($4.36) 597.0 7%
Total 2008 38.4 $4.67 $8.01 ($3.34) 637.0 6%
Total 2009 18.3 $5.18 $7.28 ($2.10) 682.0 3%
Note: Not shown above are collars covering 3.7 bcf of production in
2009 at an average floor and ceiling of $4.50 and $6.00, respectively.
The company also has the following crude oil swaps in place:
% Hedged
Open Swap
Positions as %
Assuming Oil of Total
Open Swaps Avg. NYMEX Production Estimated
in mbbls Strike Price in mbbls of: Production
2006:
Q1 1,109.5 $60.03 2,116 52%
Q2 1,379.5 $61.85 2,000 69%
Q3 1,625.0 $63.90 1,942 84%
Q4 1,656.0 $63.76 1,942 85%
Total 2006(1) 5,770.0 $62.63 8,000 72%
Total 2007 4,452.0 $68.79 8,000 56%
Total 2008 3,843.0 $69.50 8,000 48%
Total 2009 182.5 $66.26 8,000 2%
(1) Certain hedging arrangements include swaps with knockout prices
ranging from $40.00 to $42.00 covering 501.5 mbbls in 2006, $45.00
covering 182.5 mbbls in 2007 and $45.00 covering 183.0 mbbls in 2008,
respectively.
SCHEDULE "B"
CHESAPEAKE'S PREVIOUS OUTLOOK AS OF MAY 1, 2006
(PROVIDED FOR REFERENCE ONLY)
NOW SUPERSEDED BY OUTLOOK AS OF JUNE 5, 2006
Quarter Ending June 30, 2006; Year Ending December 31, 2006; Year
Ending December 31, 2007.
We have adopted a policy of periodically providing investors with
guidance on certain factors that affect our future financial performance.
As of May 1, 2006, we are using the following key assumptions in our
projections for the second quarter of 2006, the full-year 2006 and the
full-year 2007.
The primary changes from our February 23, 2006 Outlook are in
italicized bold in the table and are explained as follows:
1) We have updated the projected effect of changes in our hedging
positions since our February 23, 2006 Outlook.
2) We have updated our expectations for future NYMEX oil and natural gas
prices based on current market conditions in order to illustrate
hedging effects only.
3) We have updated certain of our cost assumptions.
4) We have shown our projections for the quarter ending June 30, 2006
for the first time.
Quarter Ending Year Ending Year Ending
6/30/2006 12/31/2006 12/31/2007
Estimated Production:
Oil - mbbls 2,000 8,000 8,000
Natural gas - bcf 127 - 132 528 - 538 571 - 581
Natural gas equivalent - bcfe 139 - 144 576 - 586 619 - 629
Daily natural gas equivalent
midpoint - in mmcfe 1,555 1,592 1,710
NYMEX Prices (a) (for
calculation of realized hedging
effects only):
Oil - $/bbl $60.00 $60.87 $50.00
Natural gas - $/mcf $7.08 $7.52 $7.00
Estimated Realized Hedging
Effects (based on assumed NYMEX
prices above):
Oil - $/bbl $1.33 $1.43 $7.83
Natural gas - $/mcf $1.67 $2.02 $2.00
Estimated Differentials to NYMEX
Prices:
Oil - $/bbl 6 - 8% 6 - 8% 6 - 8%
Natural gas - $/mcf 8 - 12% 8 - 12% 8 - 12%
Operating Costs per Mcfe of
Projected Production:
Production expense $0.85 - 0.95 $0.85 - 0.95 $0.90 - 1.00
Production taxes (generally
6.0% of O&G revenues) (b) $0.48 - 0.53 $0.41 - 0.46 $0.36 - 0.41
General and administrative $0.15 - 0.20 $0.15 - 0.20 $0.15 - 0.20
Stock-based compensation
(non-cash) $0.05 - 0.07 $0.06 - 0.08 $0.08 - 0.10
DD&A of oil and natural gas
assets $2.25 - 2.35 $2.30 - 2.35 $2.35 - 2.45
Depreciation of other
assets $0.16 - 0.20 $0.16 - 0.20 $0.20 - 0.25
Interest expense (c) $0.52 - 0.57 $0.52 - 0.57 $0.53 - 0.58
Other Income per Mcfe:
Marketing and other income $0.02 - 0.04 $0.02 - 0.04 $0.02 - 0.04
Service operations income $0.10 - 0.15 $0.10 - 0.15 $0.10 - 0.15
Book Tax Rate (approximately
95% deferred) 38% 38% 38%
Equivalent Shares Outstanding:
Basic 377 mm 376 mm 387 mm
Diluted 436 mm 436 mm 441 mm
Capital Expenditures:
Drilling, leasehold and
seismic $700 - 750 $3,200 - 3,500 $3,400 - 3,600
mm mm mm
(a) Oil NYMEX prices have been updated for actual contract prices through
March 2006 and natural gas NYMEX prices have been updated for
actual contract prices through April 2006.
(b) Severance tax per mcfe is based on NYMEX prices of $60.00 per bbl and
natural gas prices ranging from $8.75 to $9.75 per mcf during Q2 2006,
$7.35 to $8.35 per mcf during calendar 2006 and $50.00 per bbl and
$6.50 to $7.50 per mcf during calendar 2007.
(c) Does not include gains or losses on interest rate derivatives (SFAS
133).
Commodity Hedging Activities
The company utilizes hedging strategies to hedge the price of a portion
of its future oil and natural gas production. These strategies include:
(i) For swap instruments, we receive a fixed price for the hedged
commodity and pay a floating market price, as defined in each
instrument, to the counterparty. The fixed-price payment and the
floating-price payment are netted, resulting in a net amount due
to or from the counterparty.
(ii) For cap-swaps, Chesapeake receives a fixed price and pays a
floating market price. The fixed price received by Chesapeake
includes a premium in exchange for a "cap" limiting the
counterparty's exposure. In other words, there is no limit to
Chesapeake's exposure but there is a limit to the downside
exposure of the counterparty.
(iii) Basis protection swaps are arrangements that guarantee a price
differential of oil or natural gas from a specified delivery
point. Chesapeake receives a payment from the counterparty if
the price differential is greater than the stated terms of the
contract and pays the counterparty if the price differential is
less than the stated terms of the contract.
Commodity markets are volatile, and as a result, Chesapeake's hedging
activity is dynamic. As market conditions warrant, the company may elect to
settle a hedging transaction prior to its scheduled maturity date and lock
in the gain or loss on the transaction.
Chesapeake enters into oil and natural gas derivative transactions in
order to mitigate a portion of its exposure to adverse market changes in
oil and natural gas prices. Accordingly, associated gains or loses from the
derivative transactions are reflected as adjustments to oil and natural gas
sales. All realized gains and losses from oil and natural gas derivatives
are included in oil and natural gas sales in the month of related
production. Pursuant to SFAS 133, certain derivatives do not qualify for
designation as cash flow hedges. Changes in the fair value of these
non-qualifying derivatives that occur prior to their maturity (i.e. because
of temporary fluctuations in value) are reported currently in the
consolidated statement of operations as unrealized gains (losses) within
oil and natural gas sales.
Following provisions of SFAS 133, changes in the fair value of
derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, to the extent
effective in offsetting cash flows attributable to hedged risk, are
recorded in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized
in earnings. Any change in fair value resulting from ineffectiveness is
recognized currently in oil and natural gas sales.
Excluding the swaps assumed in connection with the acquisition of CNR
which are described below, the company currently has the following natural gas
swaps in place:
% Hedged
Open Swap
Avg. Avg. NYMEX Assuming Positions
NYMEX Gain Price Natural as a % of
Open Strike (Loss) Including Gas Estimated
Swaps Price from Open & Production Total
in Of Open Locked Locked in Natural Gas
Bcf's Swaps Swaps Positions Bcf's of: Production
2006:
Q1 93.8 $10.81 -$0.09 $10.72 124.1 76%
Q2 101.4 $8.82 -$0.05 $8.77 129.5 78%
Q3 117.9 $8.80 -$0.05 $8.75 137.0 86%
Q4 114.9 $9.46 -$0.04 $9.42 142.4 81%
Total 2006(1) 428.0 $9.42 -$0.05 $9.37 533.0 80%
Total 2007 330.0 $9.94 -$0.04 $9.90 576.0 57%
Total 2008 248.9 $9.22 - $9.22 604.0 41%
Total 2009 3.7 $9.02 - $9.02 634.0 1%
(1) Certain hedging arrangements include swaps with knockout prices
ranging from $3.75 to $5.50 covering 43.0 bcf in 2006.
Note: Not shown above are collars covering 0.2 bcf of production in
2006 at a weighted average floor and ceiling of $6.00 and $9.70 and call
options covering 7.3 bcf of production in 2006 at a weighted average price
of $12.50, 25.6 bcf of production in 2007 at a weighted average price of
$10.53 and 7.3 bcf of production in 2008 at a weighed average price of
$12.50.
The company has the following natural gas basis protection swaps in place:
Mid-Continent Appalachia
Volume
Volume in Bcf's NYMEX less*: in Bcf's NYMEX plus*:
2006 130.1 $0.32 - $-
2007 137.2 0.33 32.9 0.34
2008 118.6 0.27 25.6 0.34
2009 86.6 0.29 18.2 0.31
Totals 472.5 $0.30 76.7 $0.33
* weighted average
We assumed certain liabilities related to open derivative positions in
connection with the CNR acquisition. In accordance with SFAS 141, these
derivative positions were recorded at fair value in the purchase price
allocation as a liability of $592 million ($523 million as of March 31,
2006). The recognition of the derivative liability and other assumed
liabilities resulted in an increase in the total purchase price which was
allocated to the assets acquired. Because of this accounting treatment,
only cash settlements for changes in fair value subsequent to the
acquisition date for the derivative positions assumed result in adjustments
to our oil and natural gas revenues upon settlement. For example, if the
fair value of the derivative positions assumed does not change, then upon
the sale of the underlying production and corresponding settlement of the
derivative positions, cash would be paid to the counterparties and there
would be no adjustment to oil and natural gas revenues related to the
derivative positions. If, however, the actual sales price is different from
the price assumed in the original fair value calculation, the difference
would be reflected as either a decrease or increase in oil and natural gas
revenues, depending upon whether the sales price was higher or lower,
respectively, than the prices assumed in the original fair value
calculation. For accounting purposes, the net effect of these acquired
hedges is that we hedged the production volumes listed below at their fair
values on the date of our acquisition of CNR.
Pursuant to SFAS 149 "Amendment of SFAS 133 on Derivative Instruments
and Hedging Activities", the derivative instruments assumed in connection
with the CNR acquisition are deemed to contain a significant financing
element and all cash flows associated with these positions are reported as
financing activity in the statement of cash flows.
The following details the CNR derivatives (natural gas swaps) we have
assumed:
% Hedged
Avg. Open Swap
NYMEX Avg. Fair Assuming Positions
Strike Value Upon Natural as a % of
Open Price Acquisition Initial Gas Estimated
Swaps Of Open of Open Liability Production Total
in Swaps Swaps Acquired in Natural Gas
Bcf's (per Mcf) (per Mcf) (per Mcf) Bcf's of: Production
2006:
Q1 7.9 $4.91 $12.14 ($7.23) 124.1 6%
Q2 10.5 $4.86 $9.97 ($5.11) 129.5 8%
Q3 10.6 $4.86 $9.95 ($5.09) 137.0 8%
Q4 10.6 $4.86 $10.38 ($5.52) 142.4 7%
Total 2006 39.6 $4.87 $10.51 ($5.64) 533.0 7%
Total 2007 42.0 $4.82 $9.18 ($4.36) 576.0 7%
Total 2008 38.4 $4.67 $8.01 ($3.34) 604.0 6%
Total 2009 18.3 $5.18 $7.28 ($2.10) 634.0 3%
Note: Not shown above are collars covering 3.7 bcf of production in
2009 at an average floor and ceiling of $4.50 and $6.00, respectively.
The company also has the following crude oil swaps in place:
% Hedged
Open Swap
Positions as %
Assuming Oil of Total
Open Swaps Avg. NYMEX Production Estimated
in mbbls Strike Price in mbbls of: Production
2006:
Q1 1,109.5 $60.03 2,116 52%
Q2 1,379.5 $61.85 2,000 69%
Q3 1,625.0 $63.90 1,942 84%
Q4 1,656.0 $63.76 1,942 85%
Total 2006(1) 5,770.0 $62.63 8,000 72%
Total 2007 3,555.0 $67.07 8,000 44%
Total 2008 2,928.0 $68.20 8,000 37%
Total 2009 182.5 $66.26 8,000 2%
(1) Certain hedging arrangements include swaps with knockout prices
ranging from $40.00 to $42.00 covering 501.5 mbbls in 2006.
SOURCE Chesapeake Energy Corporation
back to top
Related links: http://www.chkenergy.com
CONTACT: Investor Contact: Jeffrey L. Mobley, CFA, Senior Vice President - Investor Relations And Research, +1-405-767-4763, jmobley@chkenergy.com, Media Contact: Thomas S. Price, Jr., Senior Vice President - Corporate Development, +1-405-879-9257, tprice@chkenergy.com
|