USA: EOG Resources Reports 2010 Results

EOG Resources, Inc. reported fourth quarter 2010 net income of $53.7 million, or $0.21 per share.

This compares to fourth quarter 2009 net income of $400.4 million, or $1.58 per share. For the full year 2010, EOG reported net income of $160.7 million, or $0.63 per share, as compared to $546.6 million, or $2.17 per share, for the full year 2009.

The results for the fourth quarter 2010 included a $122.3 million, net of tax ($0.48 per share) impairment of certain non-core North American onshore and offshore natural gas assets, gains on property dispositions of $98.8 million, net of tax ($0.39 per share) and a previously disclosed non-cash net loss of $43.9 million ($28.0 million after tax, or $0.11 per share) on the mark-to-market of financial commodity contracts. During the quarter, the net cash outflow related to financial commodity contracts was $18.1 million ($11.6 million after tax, or $0.05 per share). Consistent with some analysts’ practice of matching realizations to settlement months, and making certain other adjustments in order to exclude one-time items, adjusted non-GAAP net income for the quarter was $92.0 million, or $0.36 per share. Adjusted non-GAAP net income for the fourth quarter 2009 was $234.3 million, or $0.92 per share.

Adjusted non-GAAP net income for the full year 2010 was $296.4 million, or $1.16 per share, and for the full year 2009 was $754.5 million, or $3.00 per share.

2010 Operational Highlights

EOG’s total company production increased 9.5 percent in 2010 over 2009. Total company liquids rose 33 percent, driven by a 35 percent increase in crude oil and condensate production and a 29 percent increase in natural gas liquids. For the full year 2010, total company revenues from crude oil, condensate and natural gas liquids exceeded those from natural gas. For the fourth quarter 2010, crude oil revenues surpassed those from natural gas with almost half of total company wellhead revenues emanating from crude oil.

In the United States, crude oil and condensate production increased 32 percent in 2010 over the prior year primarily from EOG’s continued development of the North Dakota Bakken/Three Forks, the Fort Worth Barnett Combo and the South Texas Eagle Ford Plays.

At year-end 2010, EOG ranked as the largest crude oil producer in both the North Dakota Bakken and South Texas Eagle Ford Plays. “EOG has become a formidable onshore U.S. crude oil producer through early identification and extensive acreage capture in a number of premier horizontal resource plays,” said Mark G. Papa, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Across its large acreage position in the mature crude oil window of the South Texas Eagle Ford, EOG drilled and completed numerous wells in the fourth quarter while still maintaining its 100 percent success rate. In the eastern part of EOG’s acreage in Dewitt County, the Hansen Kullin Unit 2-H and 4-H were completed in December at peak rates of 1,625 and 1,700 barrels of oil per day (Bopd), respectively. On the west side of the play, the Naylor Jones Unit 86 #1H averaged over 870 Bopd for the first 30 days. In Atascosa County, the Peeler Ranch 4-H showed a peak crude oil production rate in excess of 1,300 Bopd. EOG has a 100 percent working interest in all these wells. During the quarter, EOG increased its prospective acreage in the mature crude oil window from 505,000 to 520,000 net acres.

“I continue to be pleased by the consistency of EOG’s Eagle Ford results across our 120-mile long holdings,” said Papa. “Our confidence in taking an early-mover role in this new play is being rewarded.”

In the fourth quarter, EOG drilled its first successful horizontal Eagle Ford well outside the crude oil window. The Tully C. Garner #100H, located southwest of EOG’s established crude oil acreage in Webb County, began production at a pipeline restricted rate of 2.8 million cubic feet per day (MMcfd) of rich natural gas with 239 barrels per day of condensate. EOG has a 100 percent working interest in the well. EOG has 26,000 net acres in the liquids-rich natural gas window.

EOG expanded its inventory of organic horizontal liquids plays with first-mover drilling success in the West Texas Permian Basin Wolfcamp Shale. To date, EOG has drilled and completed four wells in this liquids-rich play where it holds 120,000 net acres in Irion and Crockett Counties. Across the Wolfcamp, EOG’s production mix is projected to be 78 percent crude oil, condensate and natural gas liquids with 22 percent natural gas. Potential reserves are estimated to be at least 40 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe), net after royalty, from one of multiple potential productive intervals. During 2011, EOG plans to operate a three-rig Wolfcamp development drilling program.

Drilling results from Weld County, Colorado, have increased EOG’s confidence in the economic viability of the DJ Basin Niobrara crude oil play. To date, EOG has focused drilling efforts on its 80,000 net acre Hereford Ranch prospect where it has drilled multiple successful wells. Most importantly, EOG has made progress in establishing productivity from the Niobrara rock by successfully converting it from one dependent on fractures to a more matrix-dominated play. This increases the likelihood that the Niobrara is another true crude oil resource play that can be developed with tighter spacing and a greater number of economic wells than originally estimated.

In the Fort Worth Barnett Shale Combo where it drilled over 230 net wells in 2010, EOG continues to make operational improvements that are increasing per well reserves and lowering individual well costs. The Ava Unit #1H and #2H were completed with initial production rates of 337 and 489 Bopd with 311 and 524 thousand cubic feet per day (Mcfd) of liquids-rich natural gas, respectively. The Hailey Unit #1H and #2H were completed with initial rates of 335 and 320 Bopd with 207 and 261 Mcfd, respectively. EOG has 100 percent working interest in all four Montague County wells. EOG plans to run an active drilling program in the Barnett Shale Combo again this year.

EOG has accumulated a 600,000 net acre position in the Bakken, primarily in North Dakota. Current activity is primarily focused outside the Bakken Core on Bakken Lite and Three Forks development and drilling. As previously reported, EOG had exceptional well results from McKenzie County, North Dakota, southwest of its Core Parshall Field. During the fourth quarter, the Mandaree 12-07H and Liberty 16-36 were completed to sales at initial net production rates of 1,559 and 1,066 Bopd, plus associated liquids-rich natural gas. EOG has 86 and 95 percent working interests, respectively, in the wells.

“By augmenting our existing suite of quality crude oil assets during 2010 with exploration success in the South Texas Eagle Ford, the DJ Basin Niobrara and the Permian Basin Wolfcamp Shale Plays, we made meaningful strides in EOG’s transition to a more liquids-focused company,” said Papa. “In addition, by applying the operational efficiencies we have developed, EOG is moving into a highly efficient manufacturing mode of development drilling in plays such as the North Dakota Bakken/Three Forks, Fort Worth Barnett Combo, South Texas Eagle Ford and Manitoba Waskada.”

Natural Gas Activity

EOG’s North American natural gas production decreased 2 percent in 2010 from 2009. This retraction reflects not only EOG’s continued transition to crude oil and liquids-rich drilling activities but is indicative of weak natural gas pricing fundamentals, as well as the sale of certain natural gas producing assets. In 2011, EOG plans to limit its dry gas drilling program to hold leases in the East Texas/North Louisiana Haynesville and Bossier, the Pennsylvania Marcellus and the British Columbia Horn River Basin Plays.

In the Marcellus Shale, EOG has approximately 210,000 net acres. On its 50,000 net acre position in Bradford County, EOG completed the Hoppaugh No. 3H using improved completion techniques. The well, in which EOG has a 96 percent working interest, tested at a rate of 14 MMcfd of natural gas. This is EOG’s best producer in the field to date. Applying similar completion methodology in Clearfield County, EOG brought three wells to sales at rates that ranged from 7 to 9 MMcfd. EOG has a 50 percent working interest in these wells.

EOG is encouraged by early production results in the British Columbia Horn River Basin where its winter operations are being finalized. In addition, EOG and its partner continue to make progress on the Kitimat LNG export facility project with initial natural gas sales targeted for late 2015. EOG anticipates committing a percentage of its approximately 9 trillion cubic feet, net after royalty, of natural gas reserve potential in British Columbia for export through the terminal. Plans are to sell the LNG to international markets, primarily in Asia.

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Source: EOG Resources, February 18, 2011;