Viper Energy Partners (VNOM) Offers Q4 Operational Results, Update on Recent Acquisitions

Viper Energy Partners LP (NASDAQ: VNOM), a subsidiary of Diamondback Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: FANG) ("Diamondback"), today announced initial operational results for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 and provided an update on recent acquisitions.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Q4 2016 average daily production of 7,919 boe/d (74% oil), up 27% from Q3 2016 average daily production of 6,255 boe/d.
• Q4 2016 average realized prices were $46.14 per barrel of oil, $2.50 per Mcf of natural gas and $16.15 per barrel of natural gas liquids, resulting in a total equivalent price of $38.33 per boe, up 10% from the Q3 2016 total equivalent price of $34.74 per boe.
• Since its last equity offering on July 26, 2016, Viper has entered into agreements for and acquired 948 net royalty acres in the Permian Basin for an aggregate purchase price of $73 million.
• There are approximately 246 active well permits and seven rigs currently active on Viper’s mineral acreage.

ACQUISITION UPDATE

Since the Company's last equity offering in July 2016, Viper has entered into agreements for and acquired 948 net royalty acres for an aggregate purchase price of $73 million. During the fourth quarter of 2016, Viper acquired mineral interests underlying 34,210 gross (887 net royalty) acres in the Permian Basin for approximately $68.1 million. To date in 2017, the Company has acquired an additional 481 gross (11 net royalty) acres in the Delaware Basin for approximately $0.9 million. Diamondback, RSP Permian, Pioneer Natural Resources and Callon Petroleum serve as primary operators on the assets. These transactions since the end of the third quarter of 2016 increased Viper's footprint to a total of 6,415 net royalty acres.

Viper financed the recent acquisitions with borrowings under its revolving credit facility and intends to finance potential future acquisitions, subject to market conditions and other factors, through a combination of cash on hand, borrowings under its revolving credit agreement and proceeds from one or more capital markets transactions, which may include debt or equity offerings.

PRODUCTION UPDATE

Production attributable to Viper’s mineral interests was 7,919 boe/d for the fourth quarter of 2016, up 27% from 6,255 boe/d, for the third quarter of 2016. For the full year 2016, production attributable to Viper’s mineral interests was 6,432 boe/d, up 18% from 5,431 boe/d during 2015.

“Viper has seen significant growth, with volumes up 47% from Q2 through Q4 2016, after seeing volume declines in the first half of 2016 due to the low commodity price environment. We believe this performance is a direct reflection of the quality of Viper’s asset base, where operators responded quickly to a rising commodity price environment. Viper has also been active in the improving market for accretive acquisitions, closing 26 deals in the second half of 2016 for an aggregate purchase price of $194.4 million. These deals have increased our acreage position by over 1,900 net royalty acres,” stated Travis Stice, Chief Executive Officer of Viper’s general partner.

Mr. Stice continued, “We anticipate staying active in the acquisition market by continuing to look at deals that are accretive on net asset value, yield and acreage valuation metrics. We have built out a team at the company that is actively looking for mineral opportunities on a daily basis, with the primary focus on Diamondback operated acreage because of its immediate accretion to future Viper distributions.”

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