EOG Resources Announces Second Quarter 2017 Results

HOUSTON, Aug. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- 

• Exceeds Crude Oil, NGL and Natural Gas Production Targets
• Delivers Per-Unit Lease and Well, Transportation and DD&A Rates Below Targets
• Increases 2017 U.S. Crude Oil Growth Forecast to 20 Percent from 18 Percent
• Maintains 2017 Capital Expenditure Guidance
• Reduces First-Half 2017 Completed Well Costs by an Average of 7 Percent

EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE: EOG) (EOG) today reported second quarter 2017 net income of $23.1 million, or $0.04 per share. This compares to a second quarter 2016 net loss of $292.6 million, or $0.53 per share. 

Adjusted non-GAAP net income for the second quarter 2017 was $46.7 million, or $0.08 per share, compared to an adjusted non-GAAP net loss of $209.7 million, or $0.38 per share, for the same prior year period.  Adjusted non-GAAP net income (loss) is calculated by matching commodity derivative contract realizations to settlement months and making certain other adjustments in order to exclude non-recurring items.  (Please refer to the attached tables for the reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to GAAP measures.)

Increased crude oil volumes and higher commodity prices resulted in increases to adjusted non-GAAP net income, discretionary cash flow and EBITDAX during the second quarter 2017 compared to the second quarter 2016.  (Please refer to the attached tables for the reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to GAAP measures.)

Operational Highlights

EOG grew second quarter total crude oil volumes 25 percent to 334,700 barrels of oil per day (Bopd), setting a company oil production record.  Natural gas liquids (NGLs) and natural gas production also exceeded targets, contributing to 10 percent total company production growth compared to the second quarter 2016.  The company also delivered per-unit costs for lease and well, transportation and depreciation, depletion and amortization below targets.

"EOG's premium drilling strategy continues to drive outperformance every quarter, delivering strong production growth with industry-leading capital efficiency," said William R. "Bill" Thomas, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  "Our permanent shift to premium drilling, driven by an organic exploration focus and best-in-class technology, is a sustainable competitive advantage."

Updated 2017 Growth Targets

As a result of strong well productivity improvements, EOG increased 2017 production growth targets while maintaining its current plan of completing 480 net wells with capital expenditures of $3.7 to $4.1 billion.  The company increased its full-year 2017 U.S. crude oil growth target to 20 percent from 18 percent and total company production growth target to seven percent from five percent. In addition to delivering strong growth, EOG is actively engaged in a robust exploration program to lease and test multiple new prospects.

"EOG can generate high returns at relatively low oil prices, and our disciplined investment strategy has positioned the company on a strong financial footing," Thomas said.  "By applying industry-leading technology and geoscience to our acreage concentrated in the sweet spots of the largest oil plays in the U.S., EOG can continue to grow at strong rates within cash flow."

Delaware Basin

In the second quarter 2017, EOG continued its exploration and development program across the Delaware Basin. 

EOG completed 25 wells in the Delaware Basin Wolfcamp in the second quarter with an average treated lateral length of 6,500 feet per well and average 30-day initial production rates per well of 3,010 barrels of oil equivalent per day (Boed), or 1,945 Bopd, 480 barrels per day (Bpd) of NGLs and 3.5 million cubic feet per day (MMcfd) of natural gas.  In Lea County, NM, EOG completed a four-well pattern, the Rattlesnake 28 Fed Com 706H-709H, with an average treated lateral length of 6,700 feet per well and average 30-day initial production rates per well of 3,870 Boed, or 2,545 Bopd, 600 Bpd of NGLs and 4.4 MMcfd of natural gas.

In the Delaware Basin Bone Spring, EOG completed 19 wells in the second quarter with an average treated lateral length of 5,600 feet per well and average 30-day initial production rates per well of 2,130 Boed, or 1,515 Bopd, 275 Bpd of NGLs and 2.0 MMcfd of natural gas.  In Lea County, NM, EOG completed a three-well pattern, the Neptune 10 State Com 503H-505H, with an average treated lateral length of 9,700 feet per well and average 30-day initial production rates per well of 3,620 Boed, or 2,790 Bopd, 375 Bpd of NGLs and 2.7 MMcfd of natural gas.

In the Delaware Basin Leonard, EOG completed three wells in the second quarter with an average treated lateral length of 5,400 feet per well and average 30-day initial production rates per well of 1,615 Boed, or 1,075 Bopd, 245 Bpd of NGLs and 1.8 MMcfd of natural gas. 

South Texas Eagle Ford

EOG's South Texas Eagle Ford generated strong initial production performance during the second quarter as EOG continued to apply its precision targeting concepts across its expansive acreage position in the black oil window of the play.

In the second quarter, EOG completed 51 wells in the Eagle Ford with an average treated lateral length of 6,500 feet per well and average 30-day initial production rates per well of 1,960 Boed, or 1,520 Bopd, 225 Bpd of NGLs and 1.3 MMcfd of natural gas.  In Karnes County, EOG completed a three-well pattern, the Lynch Unit 2H-4H, with an average treated lateral length of 5,800 feet per well and average 30-day initial production rates per well of 3,245 Boed, or 2,555 Bopd, 350 Bpd of NGLs and 2.0 MMcfd of natural gas.  In Gonzales County, EOG completed a four-well pattern, the Olympic A 1H–D 4H, with an average treated lateral length of 6,600 feet per well and average 30-day initial production rates per well of 2,910 Boed, or 2,160 Bopd, 380 Bpd of NGLs and 2.2 MMcfd of natural gas.  In DeWitt County, EOG completed a five-well pattern, the Dio Unit 11H-15H, with an average treated lateral length of 5,100 feet per well and average 30-day initial production rates per well of 2,840 Boed, or 2,135 Bopd, 355 Bpd of NGLs and 2.1 MMcfd of natural gas. 

South Texas Austin Chalk

In the second quarter 2017, testing continued in the South Texas Austin Chalk.  EOG completed nine wells in Karnes County with an average treated lateral length of 4,000 feet per well and average 30-day initial production rates per well of 2,645 Boed, or 2,150 Bopd, 255 Bpd of NGLs and 1.5 MMcfd of natural gas.

Bakken and Powder River Basin

During the second quarter, EOG continued development of its premium oil plays across the Rocky Mountain region.

In the North Dakota Bakken, EOG completed 22 wells in the second quarter with an average treated lateral length of 8,400 feet per well and average 30-day initial production rates per well of 1,450 Boed, or 1,175 Bopd, 150 Bpd of NGLs and 0.7 MMcfd of natural gas.  Of particular note is a four-well pattern in the Antelope field in McKenzie County, the Clarks Creek 73, 74, 75 and 110-0719H, completed with an average treated lateral length of 9,800 feet per well and average 30-day initial production rates per well of 2,965 Boed, or 2,075 Bopd, 500 Bpd of NGLs and 2.3 MMcfd of natural gas.

In the Powder River Basin Turner, EOG completed eight wells in the second quarter with an average treated lateral length of 8,700 feet per well and average 30-day initial production rates per well of 1,745 Boed, or 910 Bopd, 285 Bpd of NGLs and 3.3 MMcfd of natural gas. 

In the DJ Basin, EOG completed 10 wells in the second quarter with an average treated lateral length of 9,000 feet per well and average 30-day initial production rates per well of 885 Boed, or 770 Bopd, 70 Bpd of NGLs and 0.3 MMcfd of natural gas. 

Trinidad

In June 2017, EOG signed a new multi-year contract under which EOG will supply future natural gas volumes to the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited beginning in 2019.  The new contract opens opportunities for additional investments that can deliver rates of return competitive with EOG's premier on-shore oil plays.

Hedging Activity

During the second quarter ended June 30, 2017, EOG entered into crude oil derivative contracts in order to fix the differential between pricing in Midland, TX and Cushing, OK.  For the period January 1 through December 31, 2018, EOG entered into crude oil basis swap contracts for 15,000 Bopd at a weighted average price differential between Midland, TX and Cushing, OK of $1.063 per barrel.  In addition, for the period January 1 through December 31, 2019, EOG entered into crude oil basis swap contracts for 20,000 Bopd at a weighted average price differential between Midland, TX and Cushing, OK of $1.075 per barrel.

During the second quarter ended June 30, 2017, EOG did not enter into additional natural gas derivative contracts.

A comprehensive summary of crude oil and natural gas derivative contracts is provided in the attached tables.  

Capital Structure and Asset Sales

At June 30, 2017, EOG's total debt outstanding was $7.0 billion for a debt-to-total capitalization ratio of 33 percent.  Considering cash on the balance sheet at the end of the second quarter, EOG's net debt was $5.3 billion for a net debt-to-total capitalization ratio of 28 percent.  For a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to GAAP measures, please refer to the attached tables.

Proceeds from asset sales in the first six months of 2017 totaled $175 million.

Conference Call August 2, 2017

EOG's second quarter 2017 results conference call will be available via live audio webcast at 8 a.m. Central time (9 a.m. Eastern time) on Wednesday, August 2, 2017.  To listen, log on to the Investors Overview page on the EOG website at http://investors.eogresources.com/overview.  The webcast will be archived on EOG's website through August 2, 2018.

EOG Resources, Inc. is one of the largest independent (non-integrated) crude oil and natural gas companies in the United States with proved reserves in the United States, Trinidad, the United Kingdom and China.  EOG Resources, Inc. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is traded under the ticker symbol "EOG."

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 facts, including, among others, statements and projections regarding EOG's future financial position, operations, performance, business strategy, returns, budgets, reserves, levels of production and costs, statements regarding future commodity prices and statements regarding the plans and objectives of EOG's management for future operations, are forward-looking statements.  EOG typically uses words such as "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "strategy," "intend," "plan," "target," "goal," "may," "will," "should" and "believe" or the negative of those terms or other variations or comparable terminology to identify its forward-looking statements.  In particular, statements, express or implied, concerning EOG's future operating results and returns or EOG's ability to replace or increase reserves, increase production, reduce or otherwise control operating and capital costs, generate income or cash flows or pay dividends are forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance.  Although EOG believes the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable and are based on reasonable assumptions, no assurance can be given that these assumptions are accurate or that any of these expectations will be achieved (in full or at all) or will prove to have been correct.  Moreover, EOG's forward-looking statements may be affected by known, unknown or currently unforeseen risks, events or circumstances that may be outside EOG's control.  Important factors that could cause EOG's actual results to differ materially from the expectations reflected in EOG's forward-looking statements include, among others:

• the timing, extent and duration of changes in prices for, supplies of, and demand for, crude oil and condensate, natural gas liquids, natural gas and related commodities;
• the extent to which EOG is successful in its efforts to acquire or discover additional reserves;
• the extent to which EOG is successful in its efforts to economically develop its acreage in, produce reserves and achieve anticipated production levels from, and maximize reserve recovery from, its existing and future crude oil and natural gas exploration and development projects;
• the extent to which EOG is successful in its efforts to market its crude oil and condensate, natural gas liquids, natural gas and related commodity production;
• the availability, proximity and capacity of, and costs associated with, appropriate gathering, processing, compression, transportation and refining facilities;
• the availability, cost, terms and timing of issuance or execution of, and competition for, mineral licenses and leases and governmental and other permits and rights-of-way, and EOG's ability to retain mineral licenses and leases;
• the impact of, and changes in, government policies, laws and regulations, including tax laws and regulations; environmental, health and safety laws and regulations relating to air emissions, disposal of produced water, drilling fluids and other wastes, hydraulic fracturing and access to and use of water; laws and regulations imposing conditions or restrictions on drilling and completion operations and on the transportation of crude oil and natural gas; laws and regulations with respect to derivatives and hedging activities; and laws and regulations with respect to the import and export of crude oil, natural gas and related commodities;
• EOG's ability to effectively integrate acquired crude oil and natural gas properties into its operations, fully identify existing and potential problems with respect to such properties and accurately estimate reserves, production and costs with respect to such properties;
• the extent to which EOG's third-party-operated crude oil and natural gas properties are operated successfully and economically;
• competition in the oil and gas exploration and production industry for the acquisition of licenses, leases and properties, employees and other personnel, facilities, equipment, materials and services;
• the availability and cost of employees and other personnel, facilities, equipment, materials (such as water) and services;
• the accuracy of reserve estimates, which by their nature involve the exercise of professional judgment and may therefore be imprecise;
• weather, including its impact on crude oil and natural gas demand, and weather-related delays in drilling and in the installation and operation (by EOG or third parties) of production, gathering, processing, refining, compression and transportation facilities;
• the ability of EOG's customers and other contractual counterparties to satisfy their obligations to EOG and, related thereto, to access the credit and capital markets to obtain financing needed to satisfy their obligations to EOG;
• EOG's ability to access the commercial paper market and other credit and capital markets to obtain financing on terms it deems acceptable, if at all, and to otherwise satisfy its capital expenditure requirements;
• the extent to which EOG is successful in its completion of planned asset dispositions;
• the extent and effect of any hedging activities engaged in by EOG;
• the timing and extent of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates, inflation rates, global and domestic financial market conditions and global and domestic general economic conditions;
• political conditions and developments around the world (such as political instability and armed conflict), including in the areas in which EOG operates;
• the use of competing energy sources and the development of alternative energy sources;
• the extent to which EOG incurs uninsured losses and liabilities or losses and liabilities in excess of its insurance coverage;
• acts of war and terrorism and responses to these acts;
• physical, electronic and cyber security breaches; and
• the other factors described under ITEM 1A, Risk Factors, on pages 13 through 22 of EOG's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, and any updates to those factors set forth in EOG's subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K.

In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events anticipated by EOG's forward-looking statements may not occur, and, if any of such events do, we may not have anticipated the timing of their occurrence or the duration and extent of their impact on our actual results.  Accordingly, you should not place any undue reliance on any of EOG's forward-looking statements. EOG's forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and EOG undertakes no obligation, other than as required by applicable law, to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events, anticipated or unanticipated circumstances or otherwise.

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) permits oil and gas companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose not only "proved" reserves (i.e., quantities of oil and gas that are estimated to be recoverable with a high degree of confidence), but also "probable" reserves (i.e., quantities of oil and gas that are as likely as not to be recovered) as well as "possible" reserves (i.e., additional quantities of oil and gas that might be recovered, but with a lower probability than probable reserves).  Statements of reserves are only estimates and may not correspond to the ultimate quantities of oil and gas recovered. Any reserve estimates provided in this press release that are not specifically designated as being estimates of proved reserves may include "potential" reserves and/or other estimated reserves not necessarily calculated in accordance with, or contemplated by, the SEC's latest reserve reporting guidelines.  Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in EOG's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, available from EOG at P.O. Box 4362, Houston, Texas 77210-4362 (Attn: Investor Relations). You can also obtain this report from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330 or from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.  In addition, reconciliation and calculation schedules for non-GAAP financial measures can be found on the EOG website at www.eogresources.com.