Helix Releases Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2010 Results (USA)

Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. reported a net loss of $49.8 million, or $(0.48) per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2010 compared with a net loss of $55.7 million, or $(0.53) per diluted share, for the same period in 2009, and net income of $26.2 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2010.

The net loss for the year ended December 31, 2010 was $127.1 million, or $(1.22) per diluted share, compared with net income of $101.9 million, or $0.96 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Fourth quarter 2010 results included the following items:

* Non-cash impairment charge of $16.7 million to write-off the carrying value of goodwill and a $7.1 million deferred tax asset valuation allowance attributable to our Southeast Asia well operations subsidiary (total of $23.9 million after-tax).

* Impairment charges totaling $9.2 million primarily associated with a reduction in carrying values of certain oil and gas properties and $6.4 million related to expiring offshore leases ($10.2 million after-tax).

* Loss associated with the Lufeng project offshore China of $21.4 million ($22.4 million after-tax) related to weather, downhole and mechanical issues.

The net impact of these items in the fourth quarter, after income taxes, was $(0.54) per diluted share.

Owen Kratz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Helix, stated, “Aside from the loss on the Lufeng project and non-cash impairment charges in the fourth quarter, we made progress in a rather challenging market. We commenced production in our Phoenix field, maintained strong utilization and margins in our well operations business, and generated incremental free cash flow as our liquidity increased to $787 million at December 31, 2010 from $700 million at September 30, 2010. Subsequent to year end, Clean Gulf Associates and 20 independent E&P operators in the Gulf of Mexico contracted with us for the Helix Fast Response System, which we believe should help restart permitting and drilling activity in the region.”

Contracting Services

* Subsea Construction and Robotics revenues decreased in the fourth quarter of 2010 compared to the third quarter of 2010 attributable to the Caesar going into the shipyard for planned maintenance and upgrades and lower ROV and chartered vessel utilization. Overall, our utilization rate for our owned and chartered construction vessels decreased to 84% in the fourth quarter of 2010 from 97% in the third quarter of 2010. Further, Robotics utilization declined to 60% in the fourth quarter of 2010 from 68% in the third quarter of 2010.

* Well Operations revenues decreased in the fourth quarter of 2010 compared to the third quarter of 2010 despite higher overall utilization (90% compared to 83%). The decrease in revenues was due primarily to the reduction in scope on the Lufeng field abandonment project offshore China. The Normand Clough is now deployed by the Clough Helix joint venture on a construction project offshore China. Further, the Q4000 returned to previously contracted lower day rate work in the fourth quarter of 2010 (deferred by our response to BP Macondo).

* Gross profit margins for our Contracting Services business were 1% in the fourth quarter of 2010 compared to 18% in the third quarter of 2010. Gross profit margins in the fourth quarter of 2010 were negatively impacted by the loss on the Lufeng project, the Q4000 working on previously contracted lower margin work coming off of the BP Macondo spill containment operations in the third quarter of 2010 and lower Robotics utilization.

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Source: helixesg ,February 24, 2011;