Berry Petroleum Announces Results for Third Quarter of 2009

October 30, 2009 7:41 AM EDT

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Berry Petroleum Company (NYSE: BRY) reported net income of $19 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2009, compared to net income of $53.3 million, or $1.16 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2008, according to Robert F. Heinemann, president and chief executive officer. Discretionary cash flow for the third quarter totaled $60 million. (Discretionary cash flow is a non-GAAP measure; see reconciliation below.)

Items that affected net income for the quarter included a non-cash gain on hedges, the write-off of certain costs related to the Company's credit facility, a net gain on asset sales, and inventoried volumes from Poso Creek that were sold in the third quarter. In total, for the third quarter of 2009, these items increased net income by approximately $3.3 million, or $0.07 per diluted share for an adjusted third quarter net income of $15.7 million, or $0.34 per diluted share.

For the third quarters of 2009 and 2008, average net production in BOE per day was as follows:


                                            Third Quarter Ended September 30

                                            2009 Production  2008 Production

Oil (Bbls)                                  19,310  68  %    21,162  60  %

Natural Gas (BOE)                           9,107   32  %    13,988  40  %

Total BOE per day                           28,417  100 %    35,150  100 %

DJ Basin Production (BOE/D)                 -                3,337

Production - Continuing Operations (BOE/D)  28,417           31,813



Mr. Heinemann said, "Production averaged 28,400 BOE/D for the third quarter of 2009 generating discretionary cash flow of $60 million with a total of only $22 million of capital expenditures. Strong cash flow along with the completion of our East Texas midstream sale allowed us to repay $78 million of debt during the quarter. With our $938 million borrowing base reconfirmed during October, our liquidity today is approximately $550 million. As we complete our 2009 program, we are also preparing for an increased level of activity in 2010. In the Diatomite we are installing additional infrastructure and steam generation capacity to prepare for our drilling program which should increase production to 5,000 BOE/D by year-end 2010. During the fourth quarter we will also initiate a steam flood pilot on our recently acquired McKittrick 21Z property and expand our successful steam flood pilot at Ethel D. These activities are supported by continued strong demand for California crude oil which allowed us during the third quarter to execute twelve month contracts for most of our California production."

Three Months Results

Sales from oil and gas were $127 million in the third quarter of 2009 compared to $194 million in the same 2008 period due primarily to lower oil and natural gas prices. For the same period, operating costs were lower by $2.94 per BOE due to lower natural gas prices which reduces the cost of steam in California and the continued results of company-wide cost reduction initiatives. General and administrative costs were also lower by $0.78 per BOE as the Company continues to realize the benefits of its cost reduction efforts. Interest expense was higher by $6.5 million compared to the third quarter of 2008 as a result of issuing $450 million of 10.25% senior unsecured notes during the second and third quarters of 2009.

Operational Update

Michael Duginski, executive vice president and chief operating officer, stated, "Our operating cost reductions have remained solid with a 25% reduction year to date compared to 2008 levels. These cost reductions, along with a narrowed California crude oil differential, allowed us to generate margins of approximately $28.75 per BOE during the third quarter. Our N. Midway Diatomite production continues to perform as expected averaging 3,120 BOE/D in the third quarter, up 50% from the comparable 2008 quarter and up 7% from the second quarter of 2009. The necessary land work in E. Texas has been completed and we plan to spud our first horizontal Haynesville well in the Darco field in the fourth quarter of 2009. During the third quarter, we also tested high volume completions in the Piceance with a 25% improvement in our initial production rate compared to our historical field average. We expect to increase production in the fourth quarter of 2009 as we complete our 2009 capital program and continue to expect companywide production to average 30,000 BOE/D in 2009."


Costs Per BOE and Updated 2009 Guidance

                                   Anticipated range

                                   Full-year 2009     3 mo. ended  3 mo. ended
                                   per BOE            09/30/09     09/30/08

Operating costs-oil and gas        $ 13.00 - 15.00    $ 14.99      $ 17.93
production

Production taxes                     1.50 - 2.50        1.48         3.04

DD&A - oil and gas production (1)    12.50 - 13.50      12.81        12.76

G&A                                  4.25 - 4.75        4.09         4.87

Interest expense                     4.00 - 4.75        5.57         2.74

Total                              $ 35.25 - 40.50    $ 38.94      $ 41.34

(1) Full-year estimate includes both oil & gas and electricity



2010 Capital and Production Guidance

While the Company is finalizing its 2010 capital plans, capital spending for 2010 is expected to range between $220 million and $260 million. This capital will likely be allocated approximately 65% to oil projects to fund the Diatomite development, steamflood developments at McKittrick 21Z and Ethel D and drilling at Brundage Canyon. With this level of investment, production should increase approximately 5% with strong quarterly increases throughout the year.

Explanation and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures


Discretionary Cash Flow

                                                          Three Months Ended

                                                          09/30/09   09/30/08

Net cash provided by operating activities                 $ 89.2     $ 137.4

Add back: Net increase (decrease) in current assets         1.9        6.1

Add back: Net decrease (increase) in current liabilities    (31.6 )    (12.4 )
including book overdraft

Discretionary cash flow                                   $ 59.5     $ 131.1




Adjusted Net Income

                                    Three Months Ended

                                    09/30/09

Net income before adjustments       $ 19.0

After tax adjustments:

Non-cash hedge gains                  (2.4 )

Poso Creek Inventory trade sales      (1.0 )

Write off of credit facility costs    0.2

Net gain on asset sales               (0.1 )

Adjusted net income                 $ 15.7



Teleconference Call

An earnings conference call will be held Friday, October 30, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (8:00 a.m. Mountain Time). Dial 1-866-788-0547 to participate, using passcode 28922960. International callers may dial 857-350-1685. For a digital replay available until November 6, 2009 dial 1-888-286-8010 (passcode 98141508). Listen live or via replay on the web at http://www.bry.com. Transcripts of this and previous calls may be viewed at www.bry.com in the "Investor Center."

About Berry Petroleum Company

Berry Petroleum Company is a publicly traded independent oil and gas production and exploitation company with operations in California, Utah, Colorado and Texas. The Company uses its web site as a channel of distribution of material company information. Financial and other material information regarding the Company is routinely posted on and accessible at: http://www.bry.com/index.php?page=investor.

Safe harbor under the "Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995"

Any statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Words such as "expected," "project," and forms of those words and others indicate forward-looking statements. Important factors which could affect actual results are discussed in PART 1, Item 1A. Risk Factors of Berry's 2008 Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2009 under the heading "Other Factors Affecting the Company's Business and Financial Results," and updated in the Company's Form 10-Q filings subsequent to that date.


CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (continuing operations)

(In thousands)

(unaudited)

                                  Three Months          Nine Months

                                  09/30/09   09/30/08   09/30/09     09/30/08

Revenues

Sales of oil and gas              $ 127,455  $ 193,890  $ 374,117    $ 514,578

Sales of electricity                9,137      18,317     26,032       51,223

Gas marketing                       5,217      13,284     17,646       28,046

Gain (loss) on commodity            531        701        6,565        (27     )
derivatives

Gain (loss) on sale of assets       828        95         828          510

Interest and other income, net      287        747        1,375        2,509

Total                               143,455    227,034    426,563      596,839

Expenses

Operating costs - oil & gas         39,195     52,486     111,317      144,158

Operating costs - electricity       6,892      13,706     22,071       45,620

Production taxes                    3,874      8,912      14,411       20,663

Depreciation, depletion &           33,502     37,354     104,271      87,462
amortization - oil & gas

Depreciation, depletion &           951        646        2,938        1,991
amortization - electricity

Gas marketing                       4,633      12,034     16,149       26,087

General and administrative          10,686     14,251     37,143       36,312

Interest                            14,562     8,031      35,201       14,910

Loss on extinguishment of debt      329        -          10,823       -

Dry hole, abandonment,              69         1,488      209          7,396
impairment & exploration

Total                               114,693    148,908    354,533      384,599

Income before income taxes          28,762     78,126     72,030       212,240

Provision for income taxes          10,423     28,511     24,681       79,377

Income from continuing              18,339     49,615     47,349       132,863
operations

(Loss) income from discontinued     668        3,733      (6,323  )    12,657
operations, net

Net income                        $ 19,007   $ 53,348   $ 41,026     $ 145,520

Basic net income from continuing  $ 0.41     $ 1.10     $ 1.04       $ 2.95
operations per share

Basic net income (loss) from
discontinued operations per       $ 0.01     $ 0.08     $ (0.14   )  $ 0.28
common share

Basic net income per common       $ 0.42     $ 1.18     $ 0.90       $ 3.23
share

Diluted net income from           $ 0.40     $ 1.08     $ 1.03       $ 2.90
continuing operations per share

Diluted net income (loss) from
discontinued operations per       $ 0.01     $ 0.08     $ (0.14   )  $ 0.28
common share

Diluted net income per common     $ 0.41     $ 1.16     $ 0.89       $ 3.18
share

Cash dividends per share          $ 0.075    $ 0.075    $ 0.225      $ 0.225




CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

(unaudited)

                                      09/30/09     12/31/08

Assets

Current assets                        $ 109,401    $ 189,080

Property, buildings & equipment, net    2,096,897    2,254,425

Fair value of derivatives               1,002        79,696

Other assets                            33,245       19,182

                                      $ 2,240,545  $ 2,542,383

Liabilities & Shareholders' Equity

Current liabilities                   $ 149,041    $ 260,625

Deferred taxes                          250,045      270,323

Long-term debt                          1,000,925    1,131,800

Other long-term liabilities             64,057       47,888

Fair value of derivatives               41,316       4,203

Shareholders' equity                    735,161      827,544

                                      $ 2,240,545  $ 2,542,383




CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(unaudited)

                                                     Nine Months

                                                     09/30/09      09/30/08

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income                                           $ 41,026      $ 145,520

Depreciation, depletion & amortization (DD&A)          109,397       98,579

Loss on debt issuance costs                            10,823        -

Dry hole & impairment                                  9,643         6,858

Commodity derivatives                                  4,796         (8       )

Stock based compensation                               7,054         6,653

Deferred income taxes                                  13,546        76,502

Gain on sale of asset                                  79            (510     )

Other, net                                             (362     )    (1,500   )

Net changes in operating assets and liabilities        (47,623  )    (846     )

Net cash provided by operating activities              148,379       331,248

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities    12,111        (986,865 )

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities    (159,755 )    655,360

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents              735           (257     )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year         240           316

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period           $ 975         $ 59




COMPARATIVE OPERATING STATISTICS

(Unaudited)

Three Months

                     September 30,  %     September 30,    %     June 30,    %
                     2009                 2008                   2009

Heavy Oil              16,780       59    17,264           49    16,822      57
Production (Bbl/D)

Light Oil              2,530        9     3,898            11    3,085       11
Production (Bbl/D)

Total Oil              19,310       68    21,162           60    19,907      68
Production (Bbl/D)

Natural Gas            54,637       32    83,928           40    56,174      32
Production (Mcf/D)

Total Production       28,417       100   35,150           100   29,270      100
(BOE/D)

DJ Basin Production    -                  3,337                  -
(BOE/D)

Production -
Continuing             28,417             31,813                 29,270
Operations (BOE/D)

Oil and gas BOE for
continuing
operations:

Average sales price  $ 45.41            $ 83.90                $ 39.34
before hedging

Average sales price    46.39              67.04                  45.74
after hedging

Oil, per Bbl, for
continuing
operations:

Average WTI price    $ 68.24            $ 118.22               $ 59.79

Price sensitive        (2.36  )           (5.30         )        (2.08    )
royalties

Quality
differential and       (8.78  )           (10.80        )        (7.86    )
other

Crude oil hedges       0.87               (26.12        )        8.91

Average oil sales    $ 57.97            $ 76.00                $ 58.76
price after hedging

Natural gas price
for continuing
operations:

Average Henry Hub    $ 3.39             $ 10.24                $ 3.51
price per MMBtu

Conversion to Mcf      0.17               0.51                   0.18

Natural gas hedges     0.20               0.20                   0.21

Location, quality
differentials and      (0.28  )           (2.69         )        (0.72    )
other

Average gas sales
price after hedging  $ 3.48             $ 8.26                 $ 3.18
per Mcf




    Source: Berry Petroleum Company


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