SM Energy Reports Results for the Second Quarter of 2013; Provides Operations Update on Key Programs; Increases Full-Year 2013 Production Guidance

SM Energy Company (NYSE: SM) announces its financial results for the second quarter of 2013 and provides an operations update. In addition, a new presentation concerning the Company's second quarter earnings and operations update will be posted on the Company's website at www.sm-energy.com. This presentation will be referenced during the conference call scheduled for 8:00 a.m. Mountain Time (10:00 a.m. Eastern Time) on July 31, 2013. Information for the call can be found below.

SECOND QUARTER 2013 RESULTS

SM Energy reported net income for the second quarter of 2013 of $76.5 million, or $1.13 per diluted share. This compares to net income of $24.9 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, for the same period of 2012.

Adjusted net income for the second quarter of 2013 was $51.8 million, or $0.76 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $5.9 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, for the same period of 2012. Adjusted net income excludes certain items that the Company believes affect the comparability of operating results and are generally items whose timing and/or amount cannot be reasonably estimated.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion, amortization, accretion, and exploration expense ("EBITDAX") was $342.5 million for the second quarter of 2013, a record level, and an increase of 60% from $213.7 million for the same period of 2012.

Adjusted net income and EBITDAX are non-GAAP financial measures. Please refer to the respective reconciliations in the Financial Highlights section at the end of this release for additional information about these measures.

Total operating revenues for the second quarter of 2013 were $559.4 million compared to $304.4 million for the same period of 2012, an 84% increase from period to period. The table below provides the average realized prices received by product for the Company, as well as the adjusted prices received after taking into account cash settlements for derivative transactions:

The table below presents key performance measures and metrics, as well as previously provided guidance for the second quarter of 2013:

For the second quarter of 2013, SM Energy reported quarterly production of 11.99 MMBOE, resulting in average daily production of 131.8 MBOE per day, which is 12% above the midpoint of the Company's guidance range of 115 to 121 MBOE per day. Reported average daily production increased by 15% from quarterly production of 115.0 MBOE per day in the first quarter of 2013. Reported production in the second quarter was comprised of 27% oil/condensate, 19% NGLs, and 54% natural gas. The increase in the quarterly natural gas percentage reflects a backlog of wells in oilier portions of the Eagle Ford shale play that the Company expects to be placed on production in the third quarter of 2013.

In the second quarter of 2013, the Company reported total per unit cash costs at the lower end of its guidance range. The Company reported quarterly LOE per unit costs below its guidance range due to lower workover expense in the quarter, in addition to higher than anticipated production growth in the Company's Eagle Ford shale program, which has lower LOE per BOE than the Company's blended overall LOE rate. Greater than anticipated production growth in the Eagle Ford shale program also drove transportation expense higher than guidance for the quarter. Additionally, Eagle Ford transportation expense per BOE was impacted in the quarter by increased compression charges and increased fuel charges resulting from higher natural gas prices in the quarter.

OPERATIONS UPDATE

Eagle Ford Shale

The Company's operated net production in the Eagle Ford shale averaged 66.1 MBOE per day in the second quarter of 2013, a 28% sequential increase over first quarter production of 51.8 MBOE per day. Average daily production in the second quarter of 2013 from the Company's operated Eagle Ford shale program increased 92% over the second quarter of 2012. During the second quarter of 2013, SM Energy made 22 flowing completions in its operated Eagle Ford shale program. Due to operational efficiencies from pad drilling, the Company currently expects to make approximately 95 flowing completions in 2013 on its operated Eagle Ford acreage. The last 15 wells in the Briscoe area averaged $5.4 million per well, a 13% decrease in the cost per foot versus last year. As a result, the additional completions over the Company's original budget of 75 flowing completions are not expected to significantly increase capital investment in the program, as further discussed below.

In the non-operated portion of the Company's Eagle Ford shale program, net production for the second quarter of 2013 averaged 17.4 MBOE per day, an approximately 9% sequential increase over the first quarter 2013 production of 16.0 MBOE per day and an approximately 83% increase over the second quarter of 2012. The operator ran nine drilling rigs during the second quarter of 2013. Additionally, an affiliate of the operator placed into service a gas processing plant late in the second quarter and increased firm transportation capacity for these non-operated properties.

Bakken / Three Forks

In the second quarter of 2013, the Company released two of its contracted traditional rigs in its Bakken/Three Forks program and contracted for a more efficient walking rig. SM Energy continues to focus its drilling on the Bakken and Three Forks formations in its Raven/Bear Den and Gooseneck prospects in McKenzie, Williams and Divide Counties, North Dakota. Second quarter average daily production for the Company's Bakken/Three Forks program was 13.7 MBOE per day, a 12% sequential increase from the first quarter of 2013 and a 39% increase from the second quarter of 2012. During the second quarter, the Company made 12 gross flowing completions in its operated Bakken/Three Forks program. The Company expects to make approximately 40 gross flowing completions on its operated Bakken/Three Forks acreage in 2013.

Permian Basin

In the Permian Basin, the Company has approximately 125,000 net acres and is currently developing the Bone Spring formation in southeast New Mexico, delineating the Mississippian limestone in the northern Midland Basin, and testing various shale targets in the Midland Basin. The Company operated three drilling rigs during the second quarter of 2013 in its Permian region with plan to run a comparable program for the remainder of the year.

During the quarter, the Company drilled a horizontal Wolfcamp shale well on its acreage in the southern Midland Basin. The well is currently flowing back after completion. Included in the aforementioned three rig program is a single rig targeting the Wolfcamp shale. SM Energy will also participate in several non-operated wells which are planned for the remainder of the year. The Company holds approximately 20,000 acres with Wolfcamp shale potential in this area, of which approximately 70% is operated.

Powder River Basin

During the second quarter of 2013, SM Energy closed its previously announced acquisition of approximately 40,000 net acres in the Powder River Basin and now has approximately 110,000 total net acres in the basin. Of these total net acres, approximately 65,000 net acres are prospective for the Frontier formation, approximately 45,000 net acres are prospective for the Shannon formation, and approximately 15,000 net acres are prospective for the Sussex formation. The Company expects to operate a one rig program focused on the Frontier formation in the second half of the year.

East Texas

During the second quarter of 2013, SM Energy increased its acreage position in its East Texas play to approximately 195,000 net acres from the previously announced 150,000 net acres. The Company plans to drill additional test wells on its acreage targeting the Eagle Ford and Woodbine formations in the second half of 2013.

FINANCIAL POSITION AND LIQUIDITY

At the end of the second quarter of 2013, SM Energy had total long-term debt outstanding of approximately $1.6 billion, comprised of $28.0 million drawn on its revolving credit facility and an aggregate amount of $1.6 billion of senior notes. As of June 30, 2013, the Company's debt to twelve month trailing EBITDAX decreased to 1.3 times and its debt-to-book capitalization ratio was 52%.

UPDATED PRODUCTION, CAPITAL, AND PERFORMANCE GUIDANCE

SM Energy has increased its full-year 2013 production guidance by 10% with only a 3% increase in associated development capital.

The Company's full-year 2013 updated production guidance range is now 47.3 - 48.6 MMBOE, an increase from the previously provided full-year range of 42.8 - 44.5 MMBOE, and represents production growth of approximately 30% year-over-year. The increase in production guidance is due primarily to efficiencies achieved in the Company's Eagle Ford shale program, where the Company will make an additional 20 flowing completions in 2013. The Company expects its 2013 exit rate production mix to be comprised of 50% liquids and 50% natural gas.

SM Energy is also reiterating its 15% annual production growth rates for 2014 and 2015 on retained assets, resulting in an expected 10% increase in implied volumes for those years, adjusted for divestitures.

The Company's current forecast for 2013 capital investment is expected to be approximately $1.65 billion, an increase of 10% from its previously announced capital program of $1.5 billion. Development capital is expected to be 3% higher than originally budgeted. The remainder of the increase relates primarily to increased New Ventures investment in the Powder River Basin and in East Texas and the previously announced approximately $65 million acquisition of Powder River Basin acreage. Based on the updated capital plan, production guidance, and current expectations of commodity prices, the Company expects projected year-end debt to trailing twelve-month EBITDAX to be less than the previously guided 1.6 times.

The following table summarizes the updated capital allocations for 2013:

New Ventures capital includes allocations to test and delineate its emerging resource plays in East Texas and the Powder River Basin. The Other non-drilling capital portion of the updated capital program includes amounts for facilities, land, and exploration-related items.

The Company is providing updated production and performance guidance for the third quarter and full year 2013 in the table below:

EARNINGS CALL INFORMATION

The Company has scheduled a teleconference to discuss these results and other operational matters for July 31, 2013, at 8:00 a.m. Mountain time (10:00 a.m. Eastern time). The call participation number is 877-445-0811, and the conference ID number is 19985517. An audio replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the call at 855-859-2056, with the conference ID number 19985517. International participants may dial 617-401-8115 to take part in the conference call, using the conference ID number 19985517, and may access a replay of the call at 404-537-3406, using conference ID number 19985517. Replays may be accessed through August 14, 2013.

This call is being webcast live and may be accessed at SM Energy Company's website at www.sm-energy.com. An audio recording of the conference call will be available at that site through August 14, 2013.

INFORMATION ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities laws, including forecasts and projections. The words “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “budget,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “will” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, which may cause SM Energy's actual results to differ materially from results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks include factors such as the availability, proximity and capacity of gathering, processing and transportation facilities; the uncertainty of negotiations to result in an agreement or a completed transaction; the uncertain nature of announced acquisition, divestiture, joint venture, farm down or similar efforts and the ability to complete any such transactions, including, but not limited to, the Company's announced plans to divest of assets including those located in the Anadarko Basin; the uncertain nature of expected benefits from the actual or expected acquisition, divestiture, joint venture, farm down or similar efforts, including, but not limited to, the Company's announced plans to divest of assets including those located in the Anadarko Basin; the volatility and level of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids prices; uncertainties inherent in projecting future rates of production from drilling activities and acquisitions; the imprecise nature of estimating oil and gas reserves; the availability of additional economically attractive exploration, development, and acquisition opportunities for future growth and any necessary financings; unexpected drilling conditions and results; unsuccessful exploration and development drilling results; the availability of drilling, completion, and operating equipment and services; the risks associated with the Company's commodity price risk management strategy; uncertainty regarding the ultimate impact of potentially dilutive securities; and other such matters discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of SM Energy's 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak as of the date of this announcement. Although SM Energy may from time to time voluntarily update its prior forward-looking statements, it disclaims any commitment to do so except as required by securities laws.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

SM Energy Company is an independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in onshore North America. SM Energy routinely posts important information about the Company on its website. For more information about SM Energy, please visit its website at www.sm-energy.com.