Alta Mesa Announces Second Quarter 2016 Financial Results

HOUSTON, Aug. 11, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alta Mesa Holdings, LP announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2016 and provided highlights of its recent operations. A conference call to discuss these results is scheduled for today at 2 p.m. Central time (888-347-8149).

Financial and operational highlights of note for the quarter include the following:

• Production totaled 1.8 MMBOE, or 20 MBOE per day
• Sooner Trend STACK Q2-2016 production averaged 12,300 BOE per day
• Production Cost per BOE is down 10% vs Q2-2015
• Net Loss in Q2-2016 totaled $70.2 million
• Adjusted EBITDAX in Q2-2016 totaled $64.0 million

Net Loss

Net loss in the second quarter of 2016 was $70.2 million, compared to a net loss of $39.5 million in the second quarter of 2015. The difference in net loss between the two periods is primarily due to lower revenue as a result of lower commodity prices, the change in commodity derivative contracts and higher impairment expense, partially offset by increased production, lower production costs, lower exploration expense and lower depreciation depletion and amortization expense.

Adjusted earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization and exploration costs (“Adjusted EBITDAX”) in the second quarter of 2016 was $64.0 million, compared to $65.1 million in the second quarter of 2015.This was above the previously provided guidance for Q2-2016 of $61 to $63 million. Adjusted EBITDAX in the second quarter of 2016 includes the settlement of approximately $37 million of oil and natural gas derivative contracts prior to contract expiry. The change in Adjusted EBITDAX between the two periods was due to lower commodity prices, partially offset by increased production, lower lease operating expense and lower production taxes. Adjusted EBITDAX for the third quarter of 2016 is expected to range between $36 and $38 million. Adjusted EBITDAX is a Non-GAAP financial measure and is described in the attached table under “Non-GAAP Financial Information and Reconciliation.”

Production

Production volumes in the second quarter of 2016 totaled 1.8 MMBOE, or an average of approximately 20,200 BOE per day, compared to 1.7 MMBOE or approximately 19,000 BOE per day in the second quarter of 2015. Production in the second quarter was within the previously provided guidance for Q2-2016 of 19,000 to 21,000 BOE per day. The Company’s total production mix was 69% oil and natural gas liquids (81% oil, 19% liquids), and 31% natural gas for the second quarter 2016. Production in the second quarter of 2016 in the Company’s Sooner Trend STACK play averaged approximately 12,300 BOE per day, up approximately 45% compared to 8,500 BOE per day in the second quarter of 2015. Total Company production for the third quarter of 2016 is expected to average between 22,000 to 24,000 BOE per day.

Revenue and Hedge Activity

Revenue from the sale of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids in the second quarter of 2016 before the effects of commodity derivative contracts totaled $53.7 million as compared to $71.5 million in the second quarter of 2015. The variance in revenues between the two periods was primarily due to lower commodity prices, offset in part by slightly higher production. The settlement of derivative contracts totaled $40.8 million and $24.7 million in the second quarter of 2016 and 2015, respectively and included crude oil hedge settlements ahead of contract expiry of $34.4 million and natural gas hedge settlements ahead of contract expiry of $2.4 million during the second quarter of 2016. Alta Mesa has an active hedging program and as of June 30, 2016, had approximately 69% of its forecasted PDP production hedged through 2019 at average annual floor prices ranging from $2.88 per MMBtu to $4.50 per MMBtu for natural gas and $49.65 per Bbl to $67.05 per Bbl for oil.

Production Cost

Production costs, which includes lease operating expense, production and ad valorem taxes and workover expenses, in the second quarter of 2016 were $18.8 million compared to $19.7 million in the second quarter of 2015. On a per unit of production basis, production cost in the second quarter 2016 was $10.23 per BOE compared to $11.41 per BOE in the second quarter of 2015. The difference in production costs between the two periods is due in part to the decline in production taxes, resulting from lower oil revenues and decreased compression expense and salt water disposal, partially offset by an increase in field services and marketing and gathering expense.

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Expense

Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense in the second quarter of 2016 was $22.9 million compared to $38.2 million in the second quarter of 2015. On a per unit of production basis, depreciation, depletion and amortization expense in the second quarter of 2016 was $12.50 per BOE compared to $22.16 per BOE in the second quarter of 2015.

General and Administrative Expense

General and administrative expense in the second quarter of 2016 was $12.1 million, compared to $12.0 million in the second quarter of 2015. The slight increase in general and administrative expense between the two periods is primarily due to an increase in legal fees and credit facility arrangement fees offset by a decrease in salary, benefits and performance bonuses and a decrease in accrued legal settlement expenses. On a per unit basis, general and administrative expenses were $6.58 per BOE and $6.93 per BOE in the second quarters of 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Operational Highlights

STACK Play in Sooner Trend, Oklahoma :

Alta Mesa's assets in the Sooner Trend in Oklahoma are concentrated in and around large, contiguous acreage blocks with multiple productive zones at depths generally between 4,000 feet and 8,000 feet. Activity in these fields is focused on the continued implementation of a multi-year, multi-rig program to develop several pay zones with horizontal drilling and multi-stage hydraulic fracturing of the Mississippian age Osage, Meramec and Manning zones; the Pennsylvanian Oswego; and the definition of similar exploitation opportunities in the Woodford Shale, Hunton Lime, and other formations. The Company has increased its acreage position in the Sooner Trend both within, and contiguous with, its legacy acreage position which is currently over 92,000 net acres.   As of June 30, 2016, the Company had four drilling rigs operating in this area with plans to potentially add one additional rig during 2016. In the second quarter of 2016, the Company completed 18 horizontal wells in the Osage formation. Six of the completed wells for the second quarter of 2016 were part of the Company’s Joint Development Agreement with BCE-Stack Development LLC (BCE).  Alta Mesa had 21 horizontal wells in progress as of the end of the second quarter of 2016, 11 of which were drilled as part of the BCE Joint Development Agreement. Six of the 21 horizontal wells in progress as of June 30, 2016 were on production subsequent to the end of the second quarter. Production during the second quarter of 2016 was approximately 12,300 BOE per day (73% oil and natural gas liquids), up 45% compared to approximately 8,500 BOE per day for the second quarter of 2015.

Weeks Island Area, Louisiana:

Alta Mesa’s assets in this area are comprised of the Weeks Island field, located in Iberia Parish and the Cote Blanche Island field in St. Mary Parish. Each of these is a historically-prolific oil field with multiple stacked pay zones that are structurally and stratigraphically trapped around a piercement salt dome, which the Company believes offer significant future opportunities for added production and reserves. Average daily production for the second quarter of 2016 was approximately 3,900 BOE per day, of which 90% was oil. 

Conference Call Information

Alta Mesa invites you to listen to its conference call which will discuss its financial and operational results at 2:00 p.m., Central time, on Thursday, August 11, 2016. If you wish to participate in this conference call, dial 888-347-8149 (toll free in US/Canada) or 412-902-4228 (for International calls), five to ten minutes before the scheduled start time. A webcast of the call and any related materials will be available on Alta Mesa’s website at www.altamesa.net . Additionally, a replay of the conference call will be available for one week following the live broadcast by dialing 877-870-5176 (toll free in US/Canada) or 858-384-5517 (International calls), and referencing Conference ID #10091246.

Alta Mesa Holdings, LP is a privately held company engaged primarily in onshore oil and natural gas acquisition, exploitation, exploration and production whose focus is to maximize the profitability of our assets in a safe and environmentally sound manner.  We seek to maintain a portfolio of lower risk properties in plays with known resources where we identify a large inventory of lower risk drilling, development, and enhanced recovery and exploitation opportunities. Our core properties are located in Oklahoma and Louisiana. We maximize the profitability of our assets by focusing on sound engineering, enhanced geological techniques including 3-D seismic analysis, and proven drilling, stimulation, completion, and production methods. Alta Mesa Holdings, LP is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Safe Harbor Statement and Disclaimer

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, regarding Alta Mesa’s strategy, future operations, financial position, potential alternative debt transactions, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the words “could”, “should”, “will”, “play”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “estimate”, “expect”, “project” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on Alta Mesa’s current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Forward-looking statements may include statements about Alta Mesa’s: business strategy; negotiations regarding and status of potential alternative debt transactions reserves quantities and the present value of its reserves; financial strategy, liquidity and capital required for its development program;  future oil and natural gas prices; timing and amount of future production of oil and natural gas; hedging strategy and results; future drilling plans; marketing of oil and natural gas; leasehold or business acquisitions; costs of developing its properties; liquidity and access to capital; uncertainty regarding its future operating results; and plans, objectives, expectations and intentions contained in this press release that are not historical. Alta Mesa cautions you that these forward-looking statements are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond its control, incident to the exploration for and development and production of oil and natural gas. These risks include, but are not limited to, commodity price volatility, low prices for oil and/or natural gas, global economic conditions, inflation, increased operating cost, lack of availability of drilling and production equipment and services, environmental risks, weather risks, drilling and other operating risks, regulatory changes, the uncertainty inherent in estimating oil and natural gas reserves and in projecting future rates of production, cash flow and access to capital, the timing of development expenditures, and other risks. Reserve engineering is a process of estimating underground accumulations of oil and natural gas that cannot be measured in an exact way. The accuracy of any reserve estimate depends on the quality of available data, the interpretation of such data and price and cost assumptions made by reservoir engineers. Specifically, future prices received for production and costs may vary, perhaps significantly, from the prices and costs assumed for purposes of these estimates.  Prices for oil or gas began a severe decline in the third quarter of 2014 and remain depressed as of the date of this press release. Prices are currently below the average calculated for 2015, and sustained lower prices will cause the twelve-month weighted average price to decrease over time as the lower prices are reflected in the average price, which may result in the estimated quantities and present values of Alta Mesa’s reserves being reduced. In addition, the results of drilling, testing and production activities may justify revisions of estimates that were made previously. If significant, such revisions would change the schedule of any further production and development drilling. Accordingly, reserve estimates may differ significantly from the quantities of oil and natural gas that are ultimately recovered. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described in this press release occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, Alta Mesa’s actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that we may issue. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, Alta Mesa disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.             

Below is a table of average prices received by the Company, with and without the effect of derivative contract settlements.

Non-GAAP Financial Information and Reconciliation

Alta Mesa presents Adjusted EBITDAX because it believes Adjusted EBITDAX is an important supplemental measure of its performance that is frequently used by others in evaluating companies in its industry. Adjusted EBITDAX is not a measurement of Alta Mesa’s financial performance under GAAP, and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss), operating income (loss) or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP or as an alternative to net cash provided by operating activities as a measure of Alta Mesa’s profitability or liquidity. Adjusted EBITDAX is a non-GAAP financial measure and as used herein represents net income before interest expense, exploration expense, depletion, depreciation and amortization, impairment of oil and natural gas properties, accretion of asset retirement obligations, tax expense, gain/loss on sale of assets and the non-cash portion of gain/loss on oil and natural gas derivative contracts. Adjusted EBITDAX has significant limitations, including that it does not reflect Alta Mesa’s cash requirements for capital expenditures, contractual commitments, working capital or debt service. In addition, other companies may calculate Adjusted EBITDAX differently than Alta Mesa does, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure. The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net loss as determined in accordance with GAAP to Adjusted EBITDAX for the periods indicated (unaudited, dollars in thousands):

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Lance L. Weaver (281) 943-5597 lweaver@altamesa.net