BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P. Reports Third Quarter Results

November 6, 2009 11:48 AM EST

Strong Operational Performance; Key Metrics Continue to Meet or Exceed Annualized 2009 Guidance

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P. (the "Partnership") (NASDAQ: BBEP) today announced financial and operating results for its third quarter of 2009.

Key Highlights

    --  Operationally, the Partnership had a very strong quarter with total
        production above the high end of the 2009 guidance range despite the
        sale of the Lazy JL Field in Texas, effective July 1, 2009, and
        significant decreases in year-over-year capital spending.
    --  The Partnership's successful debt reduction efforts continued during the
        third quarter through consistent operating cash flows and the sale of
        the Lazy JL Field for $23 million. As of September 30, 2009, outstanding
        debt totaled $585 million.
    --  As of October 31, 2009, outstanding debt was approximately $576 million,
        representing $160 million in debt reduction in the first ten months of
        2009.
    --  The Partnership announced the successful completion of its semi-annual
        borrowing base redetermination in early October, which resulted in the
        reaffirmation of its borrowing base at $732 million and no modification
        to any other terms of the Credit Agreement.
    --  Rising commodity prices allowed the Partnership to further strengthen
        its commodity price protection portfolio with the addition of new 2010,
        2011, 2013, and 2014 hedges at attractive prices. The new hedges cover
        approximately 1,000,000 Bbls and 8,760,000 MMBtu of expected production
        during those years.

Management Commentary on Results

Hal Washburn, Chairman and Co-CEO, said, "We are pleased with the results we achieved this quarter and year-to-date, both operationally and financially. Our operations team continues to do a very good job improving the productivity of our asset base and managing costs in a volatile commodity price environment. We are particularly pleased with the ongoing improvements in our Eastern Division where the benefits of organizational changes made in the first quarter continue to have a positive impact on production even as we have reduced staffing levels in Michigan, Indiana and Kentucky below the levels in place when we acquired these properties in late 2007. Total production is trending above the high end of our guidance range and our annualized lease operating expenses and G&A costs are well within our guidance ranges for the year."

Washburn added, "In addition to our operational success, our financial flexibility continues to improve. We paid down an additional $55 million in debt during the quarter and have reduced borrowings by $160 million since year end 2008. As we move into 2010, our improved liquidity position will allow us the flexibility to accelerate capital spending to at least maintenance capital levels and eventually re-establish distributions when leverage has been reduced to acceptable levels."

Third Quarter 2009 Operating and Financial Results Compared to Second Quarter 2009

    --  Total production decreased by less than 0.5% to 1,628 MBoe in the third
        quarter from 1,636 MBoe (pro forma for the sale of the Lazy JL Field) in
        the second quarter and is trending above the high end of our guidance
        range year-to-date.
        o Oil and NGL production was 743 MBoe compared to 744 MBoe (pro forma
          for the sale of the Lazy JL Field).
        o Natural gas production was 5,308 MMcf compared to 5,349 MMcf.
    --  Lease operating expenses per Boe, which include district expenses and
        processing fees and exclude production/property taxes and transportation
        costs, increased 4% to $17.53 per Boe in the third quarter from $16.88
        per Boe in the second quarter. Year-to-date operating costs remain well
        within our guidance range of $16.25 - $18.50 per Boe.
    --  General and administrative expenses, excluding unit-based compensation,
        were $5.8 million, or $3.59 per Boe, in the third quarter compared to
        $5.3 million, or $3.18 per Boe, in the second quarter. Year-to-date
        general and administrative expenses, excluding unit-based compensation,
        are trending toward the lower end of our guidance range.
    --  Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, decreased 5% to $48.4 million in
        the third quarter from $50.8 million in the second quarter.
    --  Oil and natural gas sales revenues, including realized gains and losses
        on commodity derivative instruments (but excluding realized gains from
        hedge monetizations), increased 1% to $87.0 million in the third quarter
        from $86.4 million in the second quarter.
        o Realized gains from commodity derivative instruments were $24.3
          million in the third quarter as compared to $51.5 million in the
          second quarter. Realized gains in the second quarter included $25.0
          million from the monetization of selected 2011 and 2012 hedge
          contracts.
    --  NYMEX WTI crude oil averaged approximately $68.14 per barrel and NYMEX
        natural gas prices averaged approximately $3.44 per Mcf in the third
        quarter as compared to $59.61 per barrel and $3.81 per Mcf,
        respectively, in the second quarter.
    --  As a result of our extensive hedging portfolio, realized crude oil and
        natural gas prices increased and averaged $67.40 per Boe and $7.30 per
        Mcf, respectively, in the third quarter as compared to $65.47 per Boe
        and $7.09 per Mcf, respectively, in the second quarter.
    --  Net loss was $5.4 million, or $0.10 per diluted limited partner unit, in
        the third quarter as compared to a net loss of $108.5 million, or $2.06
        per diluted limited partner unit, in the second quarter.
    --  Oil and gas capital expenditures totaled $7.2 million in the third
        quarter as compared to $3.3 million in the second quarter.

Impact of Derivative Instruments

The Partnership uses commodity and interest rate derivative instruments to mitigate the risks associated with commodity price volatility and changing interest rates and to help maintain cash flows for operating activities, acquisitions, capital expenditures, and distributions. The Partnership does not enter into derivative instruments for speculative trading purposes. Non-cash gains or losses do not affect Adjusted EBITDA, cash flow from operations or the Partnership's ability to pay cash distributions.

Realized gains from commodity derivative instruments were $24.3 million during the third quarter of 2009. Realized losses from interest rate derivative instruments were $3.4 million. Non-cash unrealized losses from commodity derivative instruments were $11.6 million and non-cash unrealized losses from interest rate derivative instruments were $0.4 million for the period.

In June 2009, the Partnership terminated selected crude oil and natural gas derivative instruments covering a portion of its expected production in 2011 and 2012 and replaced them with new derivative instruments for the same 2011 and 2012 volumes. Net realized proceeds of approximately $25.0 million were immediately used to reduce outstanding borrowings under the Partnership's credit facility. Realized gains from commodity derivative instruments of $51.5 million during the second quarter of 2009 included the impact of the hedge monetization.

Production, Income Statement and Realized Price Information

The following table presents production, selected income statement and realized price information for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 and the three months ended June 30, 2009:


                                      Three-Months Ended

                                      September 30,  June 30,      September 30,

Thousands of dollars, except as       2009           2009          2008
indicated

Oil, natural gas and NGL sales (a)    $ 62,674       $ 59,872      $ 130,249

Realized gains (losses) on commodity    24,356         51,468        (24,123 )
derivative instruments (b)

Unrealized gains (losses) on            (11,637 )      (148,727 )    431,564
commodity derivative instruments (b)

Other revenues, net                     261            393           806

Total revenues                        $ 75,654       $ (36,994  )  $ 538,496

Lease operating expenses and          $ 29,052       $ 28,442      $ 35,611
processing fees

Production and property taxes           4,422          4,188         7,814

Total lease operating expenses        $ 33,474       $ 32,630      $ 43,425

Transportation expenses                 799            851           351

Purchases                               18             21            118

Change in inventory                     (403    )      (1,498   )    (1,979  )

Total operating costs                 $ 33,888       $ 32,004      $ 41,915

Lease operating expenses pre taxes    $ 17.53        $ 16.88       $ 20.77
per Boe (c)

Production and property taxes per       2.72           2.53          4.63
Boe

Total lease operating expenses per      20.25          19.41         25.40
Boe

General and administrative expenses   $ 5,844        $ 5,255       $ 5,992
excluding unit-based compensation

Net income (loss)                     $ (5,396  )    $ (108,525 )  $ 454,505

Net income (loss) per diluted         $ (0.10   )    $ (2.06    )  $ 8.40
limited partnership unit

Total production (MBoe)                 1,628          1,654         1,689

Oil and NGL (MBoe)                      743            762           762

Natural gas (MMcf)                      5,308          5,349         5,564

Average daily production (Boe/d)        17,697         18,172        18,359

Sales volumes (MBoe)                    1,605          1,635         1,657

Average realized sales price (per     $ 54.37        $ 52.97       $ 64.17
Boe) (d) (e) (f)

Oil and NGL (per Boe) (d) (e) (f)       67.40          65.47         81.82

Natural gas (per Mcf) (d) (e)           7.30           7.09          8.38

(a) Q3 2009, Q2 2009 and Q3 2008 include $258, $258 and $273, respectively, of
amortization of an intangible asset related to crude oil sales contracts.

(b) Q2 2009 includes the effects of the early terminations of hedge contracts
monetized in June 2009 for $24,955.

(c) Includes lease operating expenses and processing fees. Excludes amortization
of intangible asset related to the Quicksilver Acquisition.

(d) Includes realized gains (losses) on commodity derivative instruments.

(e) Q2 2009 excludes the effects of the early terminations of hedge contracts
monetized in June 2009 ($6,030 of oil hedges and $18,925 of natural gas hedges).

(f) Excludes amortization of intangible asset related to crude oil sales
contracts.



Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release, the financial tables and other supplemental information, including the reconciliations of certain non-generally accepted accounting principles ("non-GAAP") measures to their nearest comparable generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") measures, may be used periodically by management when discussing the Partnership's financial results with investors and analysts and they are also available on the Partnership's website under the Investor Relations tab.

Among the non-GAAP financial measures used is "Adjusted EBITDA." This non-GAAP financial measure should not be considered as an alternative to GAAP measures, such as net income, operating income, cash flow from operating activities or any other GAAP measure of liquidity or financial performance.

Adjusted EBITDA is presented as management believes it provides additional information relative to the performance of the Partnership's business, such as our ability to meet our debt covenant compliance tests. This non-GAAP financial measure may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other publicly traded partnerships or limited liability companies because all companies may not calculate Adjusted EBITDA in the same manner.

Adjusted EBITDA

The following table presents a reconciliation of net income (loss) and net cash from operating activities, our most directly comparable GAAP financial performance and liquidity measures, to Adjusted EBITDA for each of the periods indicated.


                            Three Months Ended         Nine Months Ended

                            September 30,              September 30,

Thousands of dollars        2009         2008          2009          2008

Reconciliation of
consolidated net income
(loss) to Adjusted EBITDA:

Net income (loss)
attributable to the           ($5,408 )  $ 454,454       ($67,577 )  $ 127,074
partnership

Unrealized (gain) loss on
commodity derivative          11,637       (431,564 )    164,432       (41,667 )
instruments

Depletion, depreciation       24,130       21,477        81,393        64,228
and amortization expense

Interest expense and other    7,960        10,325        24,352        21,237
financing costs (a)

Unrealized (gain) loss on     381          1,660         (4,113   )    2,269
interest rate derivatives

Gain on sale of commodity     -            -             (70,587  )    -
derivatives (b)

Loss on sale of asset (c)     5,470        -             5,470         -

Income tax provision          (13     )    2,599         (354     )    1,262

Amortization of               777          792           2,334         2,339
intangibles

Unit-based compensation       3,416        1,842         10,686        5,390
expense (d)

Adjusted EBITDA             $ 48,350     $ 61,585      $ 146,036     $ 182,132

                            Three Months Ended         Nine Months Ended

                            September 30,              September 30,

Thousands of dollars        2009         2008          2009          2008

Reconciliation of net cash
from operating activities
to Adjusted EBITDA:

Net cash from operating     $ 42,436     $ 56,326      $ 183,971     $ 190,961
activities

Increase (decrease) in
assets net of liabilities     (1,293  )    (5,614   )    9,882         (34,498 )
relating to operating
activities

Interest expense (a) (e)      7,136        9,506         21,881        19,461

Gain on sale of commodity     -            -             (70,587  )    -
derivatives (b)

Equity earnings from          (106    )    (1,256   )    (766     )    (772    )
affiliates, net

Incentive compensation        (31     )    1,384         950           198
expense (f)

Incentive compensation        7            1,006         176           6,346
paid

Income taxes                  213          284           543           637

Non-controlling interest      (12     )    (51      )    (14      )    (175    )

Other                         -            -             -             (26     )

Adjusted EBITDA             $ 48,350     $ 61,585      $ 146,036     $ 182,132

(a) Includes realized gains/losses on interest rate derivatives.

(b) Represents $24,955 and $45,632 related to the early terminations of selected
2011 and 2012 hedge contracts monetized in June 2009 and January 2009.

(c) Includes loss on sale of Lazy JL assets of $5,541.

(d) Represents non-cash long term incentive compensation expense.

(e) Excludes debt amortization.

(f) Represents cash-based incentive compensation plan expense.



Hedge Portfolio Summary

The table below summarizes the Partnership's commodity derivative hedge portfolio as of November 6, 2009:


                 Year        Year        Year        Year      Year      Year

                 2009        2010        2011        2012      2013      2014

Gas Positions:

Fixed Price
Swaps:

Hedged Volume      44,723      43,869      25,955      19,129    27,000    -
(MMBtu/d)

Average Price    $ 8.16      $ 8.20      $ 7.26      $ 7.10    $ 6.92    $ -
($/MMBtu)

Collars:

Hedged Volume      2,125       3,405       16,016      19,129    -         -
(MMBtu/d)

Average Floor    $ 9.00      $ 9.00      $ 9.00      $ 9.00    $ -       $ -
Price ($/MMBtu)

Average Ceiling  $ 15.40     $ 12.79     $ 11.28     $ 11.89   $ -       $ -
Price ($/MMBtu)

Total:

Hedged Volume      46,848      47,275      41,971      38,257    27,000    -
(MMMBtu/d)

Average Price    $ 8.20      $ 8.26      $ 7.92      $ 8.05    $ 6.92    $ -
($/MMBtu)

Oil Positions:

Fixed Price
Swaps:

Hedged Volume      2,935       2,808       2,616       2,539     3,500     748
(Bbls/d)

Average Price    $ 70.18     $ 81.35     $ 66.22     $ 67.24   $ 76.79   $ 88.65
($/Bbl)

Participating
Swaps: (a)

Hedged Volume      2,410       1,993       1,439       -         -         -
(Bbls/d)

Average Price    $ 66.48     $ 64.40     $ 61.29     $ -       $ -       $ -
($/Bbl)

Average            30.4   %    55.5   %    53.2   %    -         -         -
Participation %

Collars:

Hedged Volume      514         1,279       2,048       2,477     500       -
(Bbls/d)

Average Floor    $ 89.57     $ 102.85    $ 103.42    $ 110.00  $ 77.00   $ -
Price ($/Bbl)

Average Ceiling  $ 59.42     $ 136.16    $ 152.61    $ 145.39  $ 103.10  $ -
Price ($/Bbl)

Floors:

Hedged Volume      500         500         -           -         -         -
(Bbls/d)

Average Floor    $ 100.00    $ 100.00    $ -         $ -       $ -       $ -
Price ($/Bbl)

Total:

Hedged Volume      6,359       6,580       6,103       5,016     4,000     748
(Bbls/d)

Average Price    $ 72.69     $ 81.81     $ 77.51     $ 88.35   $ 76.82   $ 88.65
($/Bbl)



(a) A participating swap combines a swap and a call option with the same strike price.

Interest Rate Hedge Portfolio

We had the following interest rate swaps in place at November 6, 2009, to fix a portion of floating LIBOR-base debt on our credit facility:


Notional amounts in thousands of dollars  Notional Amount  Fixed Rate

Period Covered

October 1, 2009 to January 8, 2010        $ 100,000        3.3873 %

October 1, 2009 to December 20, 2010        300,000        3.6825 %

January 20, 2010 to October 20, 2011        100,000        1.6200 %

December 20, 2010 to October 20, 2011       200,000        2.9900 %



Conference Call

The Partnership will host an investor conference call to discuss its results today at 10:00 a.m. (Pacific Time). Investors may access the conference call over the Internet via the Investor Relations tab of the Partnership's website (www.breitburn.com), or via telephone by dialing 888-204-6674 (international callers dial +1-913-312-0399) a few minutes prior to register. Those listening via the Internet should go to the site 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. In addition, a replay of the call will be available through November 13, 2009 by dialing 888-203-1112 (international callers dial +1-719-457-0820) and entering replay PIN 7153194, or by going to the Investor Relations tab of the Partnership's website (www.breitburn.com). The Partnership will take live questions from securities analysts and institutional portfolio managers; the complete call is open to all other interested parties on a listen-only basis.

About BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P.

BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P. is a California-based publicly traded independent oil and gas limited partnership focused on the acquisition, exploitation, development and production of oil and gas properties. These producing and non-producing crude oil and natural gas reserves are located in Northern Michigan, the Los Angeles Basin in California, the Wind River and Big Horn Basins in central Wyoming, the Sunniland Trend in Florida, and the New Albany Shale in Indiana and Kentucky. See www.BreitBurn.com for more information.

Cautionary Statement Relevant to Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to BreitBurn's operations that are based on management's current expectations, estimates and projections about its operations. Words and phrases such as "believes," "future," "impact," "guidance," "ongoing improvements," "eventually," "will," "could," "may be used," "continue," "trending," and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control and are difficult to predict. These include risks relating to the Partnership's financial performance and results, availability of sufficient cash flow to execute our business plan, our level of indebtedness, a further significant reduction in the borrowing base under our bank credit facility, our ability to raise capital, prices and demand for natural gas and oil, our ability to replace reserves and efficiently develop our current reserves, the litigation instituted by Quicksilver Resources Inc. against us and the factors set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" incorporated by reference from our Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and our Current Reports on Form 8-K. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. The reader should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Unless legally required, BreitBurn undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed herein also could have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements.

BBEP-IR


BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations

                  Three Months Ended              Nine Months Ended

                  September 30,                   September 30,

Thousands of
dollars, except   2009            2008            2009            2008
unit amounts

Revenues and
other income
items:

Oil, natural gas
and natural gas   $ 62,674        $ 130,249       $ 180,189       $ 386,060
liquid sales

Gains (losses)
on commodity        12,719          407,441         (14,520    )    (29,228    )
derivative
instruments, net

Other revenue,      261             806             930             2,324
net

Total revenues
and other income    75,654          538,496         166,599         359,156
items

Operating costs
and expenses:

Operating costs     33,888          41,915          100,273         118,952

Depletion,
depreciation and    24,130          21,477          81,393          64,228
amortization

General and
administrative      9,318           6,479           27,265          24,073
expenses

Loss on sale of     5,470           -               5,470           -
assets

Total operating
costs and           72,806          69,871          214,401         207,253
expenses

Operating income    2,848           468,625         (47,802    )    151,903
(loss)

Interest and
other financing     4,549           9,021           14,682          19,569
costs, net

Losses on
interest rate       3,792           2,964           5,557           3,937
swaps

Other income,       (84        )    (464       )    (124       )    (114       )
net

Total other         8,257           11,521          20,115          23,392
expense

Gain (loss)         (5,409     )    457,104         (67,917    )    128,511
before taxes

Income tax
expense             (13        )    2,599           (354       )    1,262
(benefit)

Net income          (5,396     )    454,505         (67,563    )    127,249
(loss)

Less: Net income
attributable to     (12        )    (51        )    (14        )    (175       )
noncontrolling
interest

Net income
(loss)              (5,408     )    454,454         (67,577    )    127,074
attributable to
the partnership

General partner     -               -               -               (2,019     )
loss

Net income
(loss)            $ (5,408     )  $ 454,454       $ (67,577    )  $ 129,093
attributable to
limited partners

Basic net income  $ (0.10      )  $ 8.43          $ (1.28      )  $ 2.06
(loss) per unit

Diluted net
income (loss)     $ (0.10      )  $ 8.40          $ (1.28      )  $ 2.06
per unit

Weighted average
number of units
used to
calculate

Basic net income    52,770,011      53,922,984      52,747,861      62,604,519
(loss) per unit

Diluted net
income (loss)       52,770,011      54,071,521      52,747,861      62,752,289
per unit




BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                           September 30,   December 31,

Thousands of dollars, except unit amounts  2009            2008

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash                                       $ 2,199         $ 2,546

Accounts receivable, net                     38,198          47,221

Derivative instruments                       63,249          76,224

Related party receivables                    4,744           5,084

Inventory                                    4,960           1,250

Prepaid expenses                             6,880           5,300

Intangibles                                  807             2,771

Other current assets                         170             170

Total current assets                         121,207         140,566

Equity investments                           8,686           9,452

Property, plant and equipment

Oil and gas properties                       2,046,860       2,057,531

Non-oil and gas assets                       8,145           7,806

                                             2,055,005       2,065,337

Accumulated depletion and depreciation       (300,831   )    (224,996   )

Net property, plant and equipment            1,754,174       1,840,341

Other long-term assets

Intangibles                                  125             495

Derivative instruments                       97,500          219,003

Other long-term assets                       8,362           6,977

Total assets                               $ 1,990,054     $ 2,216,834

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable                           $ 18,246        $ 28,302

Book overdraft                               160             9,871

Derivative instruments                       14,770          10,192

Revenue distributions payable                10,727          16,162

Salaries and wages payable                   6,111           6,249

Accrued liabilities                          14,559          9,214

Total current liabilities                    64,573          79,990

Long-term debt                               585,000         736,000

Deferred income taxes                        3,385           4,282

Asset retirement obligation                  35,692          30,086

Derivative instruments                       31,322          10,058

Other long-term liabilities                  2,120           2,987

Total liabilities                            722,092         863,403

Equity:

Partners' equity                             1,267,528       1,352,892

Noncontrolling interest                      434             539

Total equity                                 1,267,962       1,353,431

Total liabilities and equity               $ 1,990,054     $ 2,216,834

Common units outstanding                     52,770,011      52,635,634




BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

                                                      Nine Months Ended

                                                      September 30,

Thousands of dollars                                  2009          2008

Cash flows from operating activities

Net income (loss)                                     $ (67,563  )  $ 127,249

Adjustments to reconcile to cash flow from operating
activities:

Depletion, depreciation and amortization                81,393        64,228

Unit based compensation expense                         9,736         5,192

Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments        160,319       (39,398  )

Distributions greater than income from equity           766           772
affiliates

Deferred income tax                                     (897     )    625

Amortization of intangibles                             2,334         2,339

Loss on sale of assets                                  5,470         -

Other                                                   2,472         1,803

Changes in net assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable and other assets                    3,590         1,463

Inventory                                               (3,710   )    (2,292   )

Net change in related party receivables and payables    340           27,614

Accounts payable and other liabilities                  (10,279  )    1,366

Net cash provided by operating activities               183,971       190,961

Cash flows from investing activities

Capital expenditures                                    (18,603  )    (86,811  )

Proceeds from sale of assets                            23,034        -

Property acquisitions                                   -             (9,988   )

Net cash provided (used) by investing activities        4,431         (96,799  )

Cash flows from financing activities

Purchase of common units                                -             (336,216 )

Distributions                                           (28,038  )    (93,304  )

Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt            218,475       659,093

Repayments of long-term debt                            (369,475 )    (321,493 )

Book overdraft                                          (9,711   )    7,603

Long-term debt issuance costs                           -             (4,974   )

Net cash used by financing activities                   (188,749 )    (89,291  )

Increase (decrease) in cash                             (347     )    4,871

Cash beginning of period                                2,546         5,929

Cash end of period                                    $ 2,199       $ 10,800




    Source: BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P.


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