Chesapeake Energy Corporation Provides 2016 Guidance And Reports 2015 Full Year And Fourth Quarter Financial And Operational Results

OKLAHOMA CITY, Feb. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE: CHK) today provided financial and operational guidance for 2016 and reported financial and operational results for the 2015 full year and fourth quarter. Highlights include:

• Planned 2016 total capital expenditures ranging from $1.3 to $1.8 billion, approximately 57% lower than 2015 levels
• Projected 2016 production decline of 0% to 5%, adjusted for asset sales
• $700 million in asset divestitures closed or under signed sales agreements since year-end 2015; $500 million in net proceeds after repurchase of three Volumetric Production Payments 
• Targeting an additional $500 million to $1 billion in asset divestitures in 2016
• Average 2015 production of approximately 679,200 boe per day, an increase of 8% year over year, adjusted for asset sales
• 2015 adjusted net loss of $0.20 per fully diluted share and 2015 adjusted ebitda of $2.385 billion

Doug Lawler, Chesapeake's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "In light of the challenging commodity price environment, our focus for 2016 is to improve our liquidity, further reduce our cost structure and address our near-term debt maturities to strengthen our balance sheet. Our tactical focus areas remain asset divestitures, of which we are pleased to have approximately $500 million in net proceeds closed or under signed sales agreements, liability management and open market purchases of our bonds. We are also renegotiating gathering, transportation and processing contracts to better align with our current development plans and market conditions, aggressively working to minimize the decline of our base production and making shorter-cycle investments with our 2016 capital program. We have set our initial capital program for the year at $1.3 to $1.8 billion, including capitalized interest, and will remain flexible to raise or lower based on commodity prices."

2016 Capital Program and Production Outlook

Chesapeake is budgeting total capital expenditures (including capitalized interest) of $1.3 to $1.8 billion for 2016. Using the midpoint of the range, this represents a 57% reduction from the company's 2015 total capital expenditures of $3.6 billion. The company's planned 2016 capital program will be focused on shorter cash cycle projects that generate positive rates of return in today's commodity price environment and in mitigation of the company's commitment obligations. As a result, Chesapeake's planned 2016 capital program will be dedicated to more completions and less drilling, with total completion spending representing approximately 70% of the company's total drilling and completion program. This program, combined with the improving quality of the company's operations, its capital efficiency and lower service costs will provide incrementally positive economics, even in today's commodity price environment.

In 2016, Chesapeake plans to place approximately 330 to 370 wells on production, resulting in total production that declines approximately 0% to 5% compared to 2015, after adjusting for asset sales. At February 23, 2016, the company had approximately $700 million in asset divestitures that had closed or that signed and are expected to close between now and the end of the 2016 second quarter. The company expects that these asset sales will result in lower production of approximately 31,000 barrels of oil equivalent (boe) per day of production in 2016. The planned divestiture of certain of the company's Granite Wash assets in Western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle requires Chesapeake to repurchase the overriding royalty interests related to three of the company's previous volumetric production payment transactions for approximately $200 million. As a result, the projected net impact to the company's full year 2016 production will be a reduction of approximately 25,000 boe per day.

In addition, to help improve the company's cash flow and provide protection against lower commodity prices, Chesapeake has hedged more than 590 billion cubic feet of its projected 2016 natural gas production at approximately $2.84 per mcf and more than 19 million barrels of its projected 2016 oil production at approximately $47.79 per barrel. A summary of the company's planned 2016 capital program is shown below in the "Capital Spending and Cost Overview" section, while the company's 2016 forecasted production volumes are provided in the Outlook dated February 24, 2016.

2015 Full Year Results

For the 2015 full year, Chesapeake reported a net loss available to common stockholders of $14.856 billion, or $22.43 per fully diluted share. Items typically excluded by securities analysts in their earnings estimates reduced net income available to common stockholders for the 2015 full year by approximately $14.527 billion. The primary sources of this reduction were quarterly noncash impairments of the carrying value of Chesapeake's oil and natural gas properties largely resulting from significant decreases in the trailing 12-month average first-day-of-the-month oil and natural gas prices used in the company's impairment calculations.  Adjusting for these items, 2015 full year adjusted net loss available to common stockholders was $329 million, or $0.20 per fully diluted share, compared to adjusted net income available to common stockholders of $957 million, or $1.49 per fully diluted share, for the 2014 full year.

Adjusted ebitda was $2.385 billion for the 2015 full year, compared to $4.945 billion for the 2014 full year.  Operating cash flow, which is defined as cash flow provided by operating activities before changes in assets and liabilities, was $2.268 billion for the 2015 full year, compared to $5.146 billion for the 2014 full year. The year-over-year decreases in adjusted ebitda and operating cash flow were primarily the result of lower realized oil, natural gas and natural gas liquid (NGL) prices and lower production volumes, partially offset by higher realized hedging gains and lower production expenses, general and administrative (G&A) expenses and production taxes. Realized hedging gains on the company's oil and gas production resulted in additional revenues of approximately $1.3 billion for the 2015 full year, on a pre-tax basis, compared to realized hedging losses of approximately $375 million for the 2014 full year.

Adjusted net income available to common stockholders, operating cash flow, ebitda and adjusted ebitda are non-GAAP financial measures.  Reconciliations of these measures to comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles are provided in this release.

Chesapeake's daily production for the 2015 full year averaged 679,200 barrels of oil equivalent (boe), a year-over-year increase of 8%, adjusted for asset sales.  Average daily production consisted of approximately 114,000 barrels (bbls) of oil, 2.9 billion cubic feet (bcf) of natural gas and 76,700 bbls of NGL.  Adjusted for asset sales, 2015 full year average daily oil production increased 7%, average daily natural gas production increased 7% and average daily NGL production increased 14%.

2015 Fourth Quarter Financial Results

For the 2015 fourth quarter, Chesapeake reported a net loss available to common stockholders of $2.228 billion, or $3.36 per fully diluted share. Items typically excluded by securities analysts in their earnings estimates reduced 2015 fourth quarter net income by approximately $2.060 billion. The primary source of this reduction was a noncash impairment of the carrying value of Chesapeake's oil and natural gas properties largely resulting from significant decreases in the trailing 12-month average first-day-of-the-month oil and natural gas prices as of December 31, 2015, compared to September 30, 2015. Adjusting for these items, the 2015 fourth quarter net loss available to common stockholders was $168 million, or $0.16 per fully diluted share, which compares to adjusted net income available to common stockholders of $34 million, or $0.11 per fully diluted share, in the 2014 fourth quarter.

Adjusted ebitda was $298 million in the 2015 fourth quarter, compared to $916 million in the 2014 fourth quarter. Operating cash flow was $386 million in the 2015 fourth quarter, compared to $993 million in the 2014 fourth quarter. The year-over-year decreases in adjusted ebitda and operating cash flow were primarily the result of lower realized oil, natural gas and NGL prices and lower production volumes, partially offset by higher realized hedging gains and lower production expenses, G&A expenses and production taxes. Realized hedging gains on the company's oil and gas production resulted in additional revenues of approximately $334 million for the 2015 fourth quarter, on a pre-tax basis, compared to realized hedging gains of approximately $133 million for the 2014 fourth quarter.

Adjusted net income available to common stockholders, operating cash flow, ebitda and adjusted ebitda are non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations of these measures to comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles are provided in this release.

Chesapeake's daily production for the 2015 fourth quarter averaged approximately 661,100 boe, a year-over-year increase of 1% adjusted for asset sales. Average daily production in the 2015 fourth quarter consisted of approximately 100,700 bbls of oil, 2.9 bcf of natural gas and 75,600 bbls of NGL. Adjusted for asset sales, 2015 fourth quarter average daily oil production decreased 7%, average daily natural gas production increased 3% and average daily NGL production increased 4%.

Capital Spending and Cost Overview

Chesapeake's drilling and completion capital expenditures during the 2015 full year were approximately $3.0 billion, and capital expenditures for the acquisition of unproved properties, geological and geophysical costs and other property, plant and equipment were approximately $231 million, for a total of approximately $3.2 billion, within the company's forecasted range of $3.0 to $3.5 billion. Total capital expenditures, including capitalized interest of $424 million, were approximately $3.6 billion, compared to $6.7 billion in 2014, and are reconciled below. Chesapeake's total capital expenditures, including capitalized interest of $88 million, were approximately $548 million in the 2015 fourth quarter compared to approximately $1.8 billion in the 2014 fourth quarter.

Chesapeake's focus on cost discipline continued to generate reductions in production and G&A expenses.  Production expenses during the 2015 full year were $4.22 per boe, while G&A expenses (including stock-based compensation) during the 2015 full year were $0.95 per boe.  Combined production expenses and G&A expenses (including stock-based compensation) during the 2015 full year decreased 13% compared to the 2014 full year. 

Average production expenses during the 2015 fourth quarter were $3.62 per boe, a decrease of 29% from the 2014 fourth quarter. G&A expenses (including stock-based compensation) during the 2015 fourth quarter were $1.02 per boe, a decrease of 26% from the 2014 fourth quarter. A summary of the company's guidance for 2016 is provided in the Outlook dated February 24, 2016.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

Chesapeake made significant debt reductions in 2015, with total principal debt balances down to approximately $9.7 billion at year-end 2015 compared to approximately $11.8 billion at year-end 2014. In November 2015, the company repurchased $394 million of its 2.75% cumulative convertible senior notes due 2035. In December 2015, the company privately exchanged new 8.00% senior secured second lien notes due 2022 (second lien notes) for certain outstanding senior unsecured notes (existing notes). Approximately $3.9 billion of the existing notes were validly tendered in exchange for approximately $2.4 billion of the second lien notes. In addition, since September 30, 2015, the company has repurchased, for cash, approximately $240 million of 3.25% senior notes due March 2016 at an average discount of approximately 5% and approximately $60 million of debt due in 2017 (including convertible debt) at an average discount of approximately 45%.

As of February 23, 2016, Chesapeake's debt principal balance was approximately $9.5 billion, and the company's near-term liquidity consisted of over $300 million in cash and a $4 billion revolving credit facility, which was undrawn (other than letters of credit issued thereunder with the aggregate face amount of approximately $77 million). The company plans to repay the remaining balance of its 3.25% senior notes due March 2016 with available liquidity and expects to continue to take advantage of the significant discounts in the prices of its debt securities in 2016.

Midstream Transportation Update

In February 2016, Chesapeake amended certain of its firm transportation agreements in its Haynesville, Barnett and Eagle Ford operating areas which reduced the company's firm transportation volume commitments and fees. The company estimates a benefit of approximately $50 million in lower unused demand charges for its underutilized capacity and lower transportation fees in 2016, which equates to an approximate $0.06 per mcf improvement in the company's total transportation expenses for natural gas. These benefits have been included in the company's cost guidance provided in the Outlook dated February 24, 2016. Chesapeake continues to seek to modify additional gathering, processing and transportation agreements with its midstream service providers resulting in mutually beneficial solutions in 2016.

Operational Results

Eagle Ford Shale (South Texas): Eagle Ford net production averaged approximately 97 thousand barrels of oil equivalent (mboe) per day (210 gross operated mboe per day) during the 2015 fourth quarter, a decrease of 10% sequentially. Production during the 2015 fourth quarter was impacted by plant downtime that averaged 2 mboe per day. Average completed well costs to date in 2015 (through October) are $5.4 million with an average completed lateral length of 6,250 feet and 23 frac stages, compared to the full-year 2014 average completed well cost of $5.9 million with an average completed lateral length of 5,850 feet and 18 frac stages. The company placed 18 wells on production during the 2015 fourth quarter, compared to 123 wells in the 2014 fourth quarter, and plans to place approximately 170 to 180 wells on production in 2016. Chesapeake's operated rig count in the Eagle Ford averaged three rigs in the 2015 fourth quarter, and the company anticipates releasing all operated rigs in the area by June.

Haynesville and Bossier Shales (Northwest Louisiana): Haynesville net production averaged approximately 609 million cubic feet of natural gas (mmcf) per day (972 gross operated mmcf per day) during the 2015 fourth quarter, a decrease of 4% sequentially. Average completed well costs to date in 2015 (through October) are $7.7 million with an average completed lateral length of 5,350 feet and 17 frac stages, compared to the full-year 2014 average completed well cost of $8.4 million with an average completed lateral length of 4,900 feet and 14 frac stages. Longer completed laterals continue to generate significant efficiencies with equivalent per foot of lateral production, evidenced by the company's first well in the area with a completed lateral length of more than 10,000 feet, the PE 36&25-15-15 1H ALT, which reached a peak rate of 25.0 mmcf per day with a flowing tubing pressure of 7,200 psi. The company placed 13 wells on production during the 2015 fourth quarter, compared to 18 wells in the 2014 fourth quarter, and plans to place approximately 50 to 60 wells on production in 2016. Operated rig count in the Haynesville averaged six rigs in the 2015 fourth quarter, and the company anticipates utilizing up to three operated rigs in the area in 2016.

Mid-Continent: Oklahoma STACK (Northwest and Central Oklahoma): The company has completed three wells targeting the Meramec formation with highly encouraging results. The first two wells, the Rouce 4-17-10 1H and Wittrock 16-16-9 1H, reached peak production of approximately 1,010 bbls of oil per day (1,260 boe per day) and 1,500 bbls of oil per day (2,240 boe per day), respectively. The company's third well, the Stangl 36-16-9 1H, has reached 1,241 bbls of oil per day (1,480 boe per day) after eight days of flowback. The company has also recently drilled two additional Oswego wells which are currently being completed and will likely be placed on production in the second quarter. The company plans to continue to delineate its significant STACK position and place approximately 35 to 45 wells on production and utilize up to three rigs in 2016.

Mississippian Lime (Northern Oklahoma): Mississippian Lime net production averaged approximately 29 mboe per day (67 gross operated mboe per day) during the 2015 fourth quarter, a decrease of 7% sequentially. Average completed well costs to date in 2015 (through October) are $2.8 million with an average completed lateral length of 4,600 feet and 10 frac stages, compared to the full-year 2014 average completed well cost of $3.0 million with an average completed lateral length of 4,450 feet and nine frac stages. Chesapeake's first multilateral well in the Mississippian Lime, the Wilber 26-27-11 1H having dual laterals of 4,653 feet and 4,556 feet, reached a peak rate of 1,570 boe per day in the 2015 fourth quarter. The company placed 11 wells on production during the 2015 fourth quarter, compared to 42 wells in the 2014 fourth quarter. Operated rig count in the Mississippian Lime averaged one rig during the 2015 fourth quarter.

Utica Shale (Eastern Ohio): Utica net production averaged approximately 140 mboe per day (241 gross operated mboe per day) during the 2015 fourth quarter, an increase of 33% sequentially, as the company brought curtailed volumes to market as new transportation became available with better pricing. Average completed well costs to date in 2015 (through October) are $7.2 million with an average completed lateral length of 7,800 feet and 40 frac stages, compared to the full-year 2014 average completed well cost of $7.2 million with an average completed lateral length of 6,200 feet and 29 frac stages. The company placed 43 wells on production during the 2015 fourth quarter, compared to 51 wells in the 2014 fourth quarter, and plans to place approximately 45 to 55 wells on production in 2016. Operated rig count in the Utica averaged two rigs in the 2015 fourth quarter. The company has now released all operated rigs in the area.

Marcellus Shale (Northern Pennsylvania): Marcellus net production averaged approximately 782 mmcf per day (1.78 gross operated bcf per day) during the 2015 fourth quarter, a decrease of 3% sequentially. Average completed well costs to date in 2015 (through October) are $7.6 million with an average completed lateral length of 6,750 feet and 29 frac stages, compared to the full-year 2014 average completed well cost of $7.5 million with an average completed lateral length of 6,000 feet and 27 frac stages. The company placed three wells on production during the 2015 fourth quarter, compared to 25 wells in the 2014 fourth quarter, and plans to place approximately 20 wells on production in 2016. Operated rig count in the Marcellus averaged one rig in the 2015 fourth quarter. The company has now released all operated rigs in the area.

Powder River Basin (PRB) (Wyoming): PRB net production averaged approximately 20 mboe per day (30 gross operated mboe per day) during the 2015 fourth quarter, a decrease of 4% sequentially. Average completed well costs to date in 2015 (though October) are $10.4 million with an average completed lateral length of 5,900 feet and 22 frac stages, compared to the full-year 2014 average completed well cost of $10.6 million with an average completed lateral length of 5,400 feet and 20 frac stages. The company placed seven wells on production during the 2015 fourth quarter, compared to 13 wells in the 2014 fourth quarter, and plans to place approximately five wells on production in 2016. The company has released all operated rigs in the area.

Key Financial and Operational Results

The table below summarizes Chesapeake's key financial and operational results during the 2015 fourth quarter and 2015 full year, as compared to results in prior periods.

2015 Fourth Quarter and Year-End Financial and Operational Results Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss this release has been scheduled on Wednesday, February 24, 2016, at 9:00 am EST. The telephone number to access the conference call is 785-424-1666 or toll-free 877-876-9177. The passcode for the call is 7678649. The number to access the conference call replay is 719-457-0820 or toll-free 888-203-1112 and the passcode for the replay is 7678649. The conference call will also be webcast live at www.chk.com in the "Investors" section of the company's website. The webcast of the conference will be available on the website for one year.

Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE: CHK) is the second-largest producer of natural gas and the 14th largest producer of oil in the U.S.  Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the company's operations are focused on discovering and developing its large and geographically diverse resource base of unconventional oil and natural gas assets onshore in the U.S.  The company also owns substantial marketing and compression businesses.  Further information is available at www.chk.com where Chesapeake routinely posts announcements, updates, events, investor information, presentations and news releases.

This news release and the accompanying Outlook 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 are statements other than statements of historical fact. They include statements that give our current expectations or forecasts of future events, production and well connection forecasts, estimates of operating costs, anticipated capital and operational efficiencies, planned development drilling and expected drilling cost reductions, general and administrative expenses, capital expenditures, the timing of anticipated noncore asset sales and proceeds to be received therefrom, projected cash flow and liquidity, our ability to enhance our cash flow and financial flexibility, plans and objectives for future operations (including our ability to optimize base production and execute gas gathering agreements), the ability of our employees, portfolio strength and operational leadership to create long-term value, and the assumptions on which such statements are based. Although we believe the expectations and forecasts reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance they will prove to have been correct. They can be affected by inaccurate or changed assumptions or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results include those described under "Risk Factors" in Item 1A of our annual report on Form 10-K and any updates to those factors set forth in Chesapeake's subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K (available at http://www.chk.com/investors/sec-filings).  These risk factors include the volatility of oil, natural gas and NGL prices; write-downs of our oil and natural gas carrying values due to declines in prices; the limitations our level of indebtedness may have on our financial flexibility; the availability of operating cash flow and other funds to finance reserve replacement costs; our ability to replace reserves and sustain production; uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of oil, natural gas and NGL reserves and projecting future rates of production and the amount and timing of development expenditures; our ability to generate profits or achieve targeted results in drilling and well operations; leasehold terms expiring before production can be established; commodity derivative activities resulting in lower prices realized on oil, natural gas and NGL sales; the need to secure derivative liabilities and the inability of counterparties to satisfy their obligations; adverse developments or losses from pending or future litigation and regulatory proceedings, including royalty claims; charges incurred in response to market conditions and in connection with actions to reduce financial leverage and complexity; drilling and operating risks and resulting liabilities; effects of environmental protection laws and regulation on our business; legislative and regulatory initiatives further regulating hydraulic fracturing; our need to secure adequate supplies of water for our drilling operations and to dispose of or recycle the water used; federal and state tax proposals affecting our industry; potential OTC derivatives regulation limiting our ability to hedge against commodity price fluctuations; impacts of potential legislative and regulatory actions addressing climate change; competition in the oil and gas exploration and production industry; a deterioration in general economic, business or industry conditions; negative public perceptions of our industry; limited control over properties we do not operate; pipeline and gathering system capacity constraints and transportation interruptions; cyber attacks adversely impacting our operations; and interruption in operations at our headquarters due to a catastrophic event.

In addition, disclosures concerning the estimated contribution of derivative contracts to our future results of operations are based upon market information as of a specific date.  These market prices are subject to significant volatility.  Our production forecasts are also dependent upon many assumptions, including estimates of production decline rates from existing wells and the outcome of future drilling activity.  Expected asset sales may not be completed in the time frame anticipated or at all.  We caution you not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release, and we undertake no obligation to update any of the information provided in this release or the accompanying Outlook, except as required by applicable law.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and Natural Gas Hedging Activities

Chesapeake enters into oil and natural gas derivative transactions in order to mitigate a portion of its exposure to adverse changes in market prices.  Please see the quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual reports on Form 10-K filed by Chesapeake with the SEC for detailed information about derivative instruments the company uses, its quarter-end derivative positions and accounting for oil and natural gas derivatives.

As of February 23, 2016, the company had downside protection, through open swaps, on approximately 56% of its projected 2016 oil production at an average price of $47.79 per bbl. In addition, the company had downside price protection, through open swaps, on approximately 58% of the company's projected 2016 natural gas production at an average price of $2.84 per mcf.

The company's crude oil hedging positions as of February 23, 2016 were as follows:

The company's natural gas hedging positions as of February 23, 2016 were as follows:

 

INVESTOR CONTACT: Brad Sylvester, CFA(405) 935-8870[email protected]

MEDIA CONTACT:Gordon Pennoyer(405) 935-8878[email protected]

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SOURCE Chesapeake Energy Corporation