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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2004

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

 

Commission file number 1-10447

 


 

CABOT OIL & GAS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

DELAWARE   04-3072771

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

1200 Enclave Parkway, Houston, Texas 77077

(Address of principal executive offices including Zip Code)

 

(281) 589-4600

(Registrant’s telephone number)

 


 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  x    No  ¨

 

As of October 27, 2004, there were 33,086,342 shares of Common Stock, Par Value $.10 Per Share, outstanding.

 



Table of Contents

CABOT OIL & GAS CORPORATION

 

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

     Page

Part I. Financial Information     
     Item 1. Financial Statements     
         

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the Three-Months and Nine-Months Ended September 30, 2004 and 2003

   3
         

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003

   4
         

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the Nine-Months Ended September 30, 2004 and 2003

   5
         

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

   6
         

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Review of Interim Financial Information

   16
     Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    17
     Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk    30
     Item 4. Controls and Procedures    31
Part II. Other Information     
     Item 2. Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities    32
     Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K    33
Signatures    34

 

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Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. Financial Statements

 

CABOT OIL & GAS CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

     Three-Months Ended
September 30,


   Nine-Months Ended
September 30,


 
     2004

   2003

   2004

   2003

 

OPERATING REVENUES

                             

Natural Gas Production

   $ 96,111    $ 84,555    $ 276,518    $ 242,841  

Brokered Natural Gas

     13,224      18,709      60,411      73,929  

Crude Oil and Condensate

     8,514      21,455      34,833      65,098  

Other

     1,574      752      4,007      6,275  
    

  

  

  


       119,423      125,471      375,769      388,143  

OPERATING EXPENSES

                             

Brokered Natural Gas Cost

     11,627      16,602      53,944      66,402  

Direct Operations - Field and Pipeline

     13,297      11,271      38,489      36,022  

Exploration

     6,979      13,999      32,691      43,053  

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

     27,734      23,647      76,585      70,918  

Impairment of Unproved Properties

     3,054      2,337      8,365      7,011  

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets (Note 2)

     3,458      5,870      3,458      93,796  

General and Administrative

     9,001      5,802      25,299      18,569  

Taxes Other Than Income

     10,115      9,301      30,138      28,176  
    

  

  

  


       85,265      88,829      268,969      363,947  

Gain on Sale of Assets

     120      6,988      7      7,593  
    

  

  

  


INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

     34,278      43,630      106,807      31,789  

Interest Expense and Other

     5,577      6,972      16,399      18,549  
    

  

  

  


Income Before Income Taxes and Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change

     28,701      36,658      90,408      13,240  

Income Tax Expense

     10,879      13,990      34,257      5,044  
    

  

  

  


NET INCOME BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE

     17,822      22,668      56,151      8,196  

CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE (Note 9)

     —        —        —        (6,847 )
    

  

  

  


NET INCOME

   $ 17,822    $ 22,668    $ 56,151    $ 1,349  
    

  

  

  


Basic Earnings Per Share - Before Accounting Change

   $ 0.55    $ 0.70    $ 1.73    $ 0.26  

Diluted Earnings Per Share - Before Accounting Change

   $ 0.54    $ 0.70    $ 1.71    $ 0.25  

Basic Earnings Per Share - Accounting Change

   $ —      $ —      $ —      $ (0.21 )

Diluted Earnings Per Share - Accounting Change

   $ —      $ —      $ —      $ (0.21 )

Basic Earnings Per Share

   $ 0.55    $ 0.70    $ 1.73    $ 0.04  

Diluted Earnings Per Share

   $ 0.54    $ 0.70    $ 1.71    $ 0.04  

Average Common Shares Outstanding

     32,548      32,179      32,491      32,000  

Diluted Common Shares (Note 5)

     32,946      32,435      32,886      32,238  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

CABOT OIL & GAS CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Unaudited)

(In Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

 

    

September 30,

2004


    December 31,
2003


 

ASSETS

                

Current Assets

                

Cash and Cash Equivalents

   $ 24,886     $ 724  

Accounts Receivable

     74,692       87,425  

Inventories

     25,066       18,241  

Deferred Income Taxes

     37,204       21,935  

Other

     22,303       15,006  
    


 


Total Current Assets

     184,151       143,331  

Properties and Equipment, Net (Successful Efforts Method)

     971,358       895,955  

Deferred Income Taxes

     16,337       8,920  

Other Assets

     6,510       6,850  
    


 


     $ 1,178,356     $ 1,055,056  
    


 


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                

Current Liabilities

                

Accounts Payable

   $ 91,712     $ 84,943  

Accrued Liabilities

     106,523       71,584  
    


 


Total Current Liabilities

     198,235       156,527  

Long-Term Debt

     270,000       270,000  

Deferred Income Taxes

     232,127       208,955  

Other Liabilities

     74,645       54,377  

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6)

                

Stockholders’ Equity

                

Common Stock:

                

Authorized — 80,000,000 Shares of $.10 Par Value Issued and Outstanding — 33,079,742 Shares and 32,538,255 Shares in 2004 and 2003, Respectively

     3,308       3,254  

Additional Paid-in Capital

     378,963       361,699  

Retained Earnings

     80,009       27,763  

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

     (45,815 )     (23,135 )

Less Treasury Stock, at Cost:

                

546,700 and 302,600 Shares in 2004 and 2003, Respectively

     (13,116 )     (4,384 )
    


 


Total Stockholders’ Equity

     403,349       365,197  
    


 


     $ 1,178,356     $ 1,055,056  
    


 


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

CABOT OIL & GAS CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

(In Thousands)

 

     Nine-Months Ended
September 30,


 
     2004

    2003

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

                

Net Income

   $ 56,151     $ 1,349  

Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Cash Provided by Operating Activities:

                

Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change

     —         6,847  

Depletion, Depreciation and Amortization

     76,585       70,918  

Impairment of Unproved Properties

     8,365       7,011  

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

     3,458       93,796  

Deferred Income Taxes

     15,449       (22,176 )

Gain on Sale of Assets

     (7 )     (7,593 )

Exploration Expense

     32,691       43,053  

Change in Derivative Fair Value

     13,295       (24 )

Performance Share Compensation

     3,403       —    

Other

     1,863       892  

Changes in Assets and Liabilities:

                

Accounts Receivable

     12,733       (8,640 )

Inventories

     (6,825 )     (6,608 )

Other Current Assets

     (8,449 )     (3,870 )

Other Assets

     341       112  

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities

     5,175       29,893  

Other Liabilities

     1,701       746  
    


 


Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

     215,929       205,706  
    


 


CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

                

Capital Expenditures

     (157,747 )     (85,384 )

Proceeds from Sale of Assets

     186       18,181  

Restricted Cash

     —         (15,761 )

Exploration Expense

     (32,691 )     (43,053 )
    


 


Net Cash Used by Investing Activities

     (190,252 )     (126,017 )
    


 


CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

                

Increase in Debt

     75,000       181,000  

Decrease in Debt

     (75,000 )     (261,000 )

Sale of Common Stock Proceeds

     11,123       5,851  

Purchase of Treasury Stock

     (8,732 )     —    

Dividends Paid

     (3,906 )     (3,755 )
    


 


Net Cash Used by Financing Activities

     (1,515 )     (77,904 )
    


 


Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents

     24,162       1,785  

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period

     724       2,561  
    


 


Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period

   $ 24,886     $ 4,346  
    


 


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

CABOT OIL & GAS CORPORATION

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

 

1. FINANCIAL STATEMENT PRESENTATION

 

During interim periods, Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation (the Company) follows the same accounting policies used in its Annual Report to Stockholders and its Report on Form 10-K/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. People using financial information produced for interim periods are encouraged to refer to the footnotes in the Form 10-K/A when reviewing interim financial results. In management’s opinion, the accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements contain all material adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the entire year.

 

Our independent registered public accounting firm has performed a review of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements in accordance with standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Pursuant to Rule 436(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, this report should not be considered a part of a registration statement prepared or certified by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP within the meanings of Sections 7 and 11 of the Act.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

We have been made aware of an issue regarding the application of provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 141, “Business Combinations” and SFAS 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” to companies in the extractive industries, including oil and gas companies. The issue was whether SFAS 142 requires registrants to reclassify costs associated with mineral rights, including both proved and unproved leasehold acquisition costs, as intangible assets in the balance sheet, apart from other capitalized oil and gas property costs. Historically, the Company and other oil and gas companies have included the cost of these oil and gas leasehold interests as part of oil and gas properties and provided the disclosures required by SFAS 69, “Disclosures about Oil and Gas Producing Activities.”

 

Also under consideration was whether SFAS 142 requires registrants to provide the additional disclosures for intangible assets for costs associated with mineral rights. This issue as it pertains to oil and gas companies was referred to the FASB staff, and the staff issued a proposed FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) on the matter on July 19, 2004. On September 2, 2004, the FASB issued FSP 142-2, “Application of FASB Statement No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, to Oil- and Gas-Producing Entities,” which concluded that the scope exception in paragraph 8(b) of Statement 142 extends to the balance sheet classification and disclosure provisions for drilling and mineral rights of oil- and gas- producing entities. Therefore, there are no balance sheet reclassifications or additional disclosure requirements necessary.

 

In May 2004, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 106-2, “Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003.” This Board directed FSP provides guidance on the accounting for the effects of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (the Act) for employers that sponsor postretirement health care plans that provide prescription drug benefits. This FSP also requires those employers to provide certain disclosures regarding the effect of the federal subsidy provided by the Act (the subsidy). This FSP supersedes FSP 106-1, “Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003” and is effective for the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2004. Our current accumulated projected benefit obligation and net periodic postretirement benefit cost does not reflect any amount associated with the subsidy because we are unable to conclude whether the benefits provided by the plan are actuarially equivalent to Medicare Part D under the Act. The Company will continue to assess whether the benefits provided by the plan are actuarially equivalent but management does not expect the adoption of the FSP to have a material impact on operating results, financial position or cash flows of the Company.

 

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Table of Contents

Stock Based Compensation

 

SFAS 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”, as amended by SFAS 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure,” outlines a fair value based method of accounting for stock options or similar equity instruments. The Company has opted to continue using the intrinsic value based method, as recommended by Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion 25, to measure compensation cost for its stock option plans.

 

The following table illustrates the effect on Net Income and Earnings Per Share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123 to stock-based employee compensation.

 

    

Three-Months Ended

September 30,


   

Nine-Months Ended

September 30,


 

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)


   2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 

Net Income, as reported

   $ 17,822     $ 22,668     $ 56,151     $ 1,349  

Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of tax

     (324 )     (479 )     (1,279 )     (1,473 )
    


 


 


 


Pro-Forma Net Income (Loss)

   $ 17,498     $ 22,189     $ 54,872     $ (124 )
    


 


 


 


Earnings Per Share:

                                

Basic - as reported

   $ 0.55     $ 0.70     $ 1.73     $ 0.04  

Basic - pro forma

   $ 0.54     $ 0.69     $ 1.69     $ —    

Diluted - as reported

   $ 0.54     $ 0.70     $ 1.71     $ 0.04  

Diluted - pro forma

   $ 0.53     $ 0.68     $ 1.67     $ —    

 

The assumptions used in the fair value method calculation as well as additional stock based compensation information are disclosed in the following table.

 

     Three-Months Ended
September 30,


   Nine-Months Ended
September 30,


 

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)


   2004

   2003

   2004

    2003

 

Compensation Expense in Net Income, as reported (1)

   $ 1,544    $ 238    $ 3,474     $ 763  

Weighted Average Value per Option Granted During the Period(2) (3)

   $ —      $  —      $ 11.31     $ 6.77  

Assumptions (3)

                              

Stock Price Volatility

     —        —        38.4 %     35.3 %

Risk Free Rate of Return

     —        —        3.3 %     2.5 %

Dividend Rate (per year)

   $ —      $ —      $ 0.16     $ 0.16  

Expected Term (in years)

     —        —        4       4  

(1) Compensation expense is defined as expense related to the vesting of stock grants and performance shares, net of tax.
(2) Calculated using the Black Scholes fair value based method.
(3) There were no stock options issued in the third quarter of 2004 or 2003.

 

The fair value of stock options included in the pro forma results for each of the periods presented is not necessarily indicative of future effects on Net Income and Earnings Per Share.

 

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Table of Contents

2. PROPERTIES AND EQUIPMENT

 

Properties and equipment are comprised of the following:

 

     September 30,
2004


    December 31,
2003


 
     (In thousands)  

Unproved Oil and Gas Properties

   $ 93,068     $ 86,918  

Proved Oil and Gas Properties

     1,607,825       1,469,751  

Gathering and Pipeline Systems

     157,526       146,909  

Land, Building and Improvements

     4,856       4,758  

Other

     30,526       28,658  
    


 


       1,893,801       1,736,994  

Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

     (922,443 )     (841,039 )
    


 


     $ 971,358     $ 895,955  
    


 


 

During the third quarter of 2004, the Company recorded an impairment of $3.5 million. The impairment was recorded on a two-well field in south Louisiana and is due to production performance issues related to water encroachment. In the third quarter of 2003 the Company recorded a pre-tax charge of $5.9 million related to production performance matters at a field in the East region. These impairment charges were recorded due to the capitalized cost of the fields exceeding the future undiscounted cash flows. These charges are reflected in the quarterly results and were measured based on discounted cash flows utilizing a discount rate appropriate for risks associated with the related field.

 

As part of the 2001 Cody acquisition, we acquired an interest in certain oil and gas properties in the Kurten field, as general partner of a partnership and as an operator. We had approximately a 25% interest in the field, including a one percent interest in the partnership. Under the partnership agreement, we had the right to a reversionary working interest that would bring our ultimate interest to 50% upon the limited partner reaching payout. Based on the addition of this reversionary interest, and because the field has over a 40-year reserve life, approximately $91 million was allocated to this field under purchase accounting at the time of the acquisition. Additionally, the limited partner had the sole option to trigger a liquidation of the partnership.

 

Effective February 13, 2003, liquidation of the partnership commenced at the election of the limited partner. The limited partner was a financial entity and not an industry operator. Their decision to liquidate was based upon their perception that the value of their investment in the partnership had increased due to an increase in underlying commodity prices, primarily oil, since their investment in 1999. We proceeded with the liquidation to avoid having a minority interest in a non-operated water flood field for which the new operator was not designated at the time of liquidation. In connection with the liquidation, an appraisal was required to be obtained to allocate the interest in the partnership assets. Additionally, the Company was required to test the field for recoverability in accordance with FAS 144. Pursuant to the terms of the partnership agreement and based on the appraised value of the partnership assets it was not possible for us to obtain the reversionary interest as part of the liquidation. Due to the impact of the loss of the reversionary interest on future estimated net cash flows of the Kurten field, the limited partner’s decision and our decision to proceed with the liquidation, an impairment review was performed which required an after-tax impairment charge in the first quarter of 2003 of $54.4 million. This impairment charge is reflected in the 2003 Statement of Operations as an operating expense but did not impact our cash flows.

 

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Table of Contents

3. ADDITIONAL BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION

 

Certain balance sheet amounts are comprised of the following:

 

    

September 30,

2004


    December 31,
2003


 
     (In thousands)  

Accounts Receivable

                

Trade Accounts

   $ 69,303     $ 79,439  

Joint Interest Accounts

     10,035       13,312  

Other Accounts

     641       81  
    


 


       79,979       92,832  

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

     (5,287 )     (5,407 )
    


 


     $ 74,692     $ 87,425  
    


 


Inventories

                

Natural Gas in Storage

   $ 20,511     $ 14,950  

Oil in Storage

     227       241  

Tublar Goods and Well Equipment

     4,643       3,367  

Pipeline Imbalances

     (315 )     (317 )
    


 


     $ 25,066     $ 18,241  
    


 


Other Current Assets

                

Derivative Contracts

   $ 1     $ 1,152  

Drilling Advances

     8,123       6,443  

Prepaid Balances

     6,024       4,325  

Federal Income Tax Deposit

     7,910       —    

Other Accounts

     245       3,086  
    


 


     $ 22,303     $ 15,006  
    


 


Accounts Payable

                

Trade Accounts

   $ 7,919     $ 11,872  

Natural Gas Purchases

     10,757       5,751  

Royalty and Other Owners

     28,327       28,001  

Capital Costs

     25,610       21,964  

Taxes Other Than Income

     5,615       3,280  

Drilling Advances

     5,245       5,721  

Wellhead Gas Imbalances

     1,973       2,085  

Other Accounts

     6,266       6,269  
    


 


     $ 91,712     $ 84,943  
    


 


Accrued Liabilities

                

Employee Benefits

   $ 9,622     $ 9,105  

Taxes Other Than Income

     16,689       13,359  

Interest Payable

     5,112       6,368  

Derivative Contracts

     71,804       36,582  

Deferred Income Taxes

     1,690       1,826  

Other Accounts

     1,606       4,344  
    


 


     $ 106,523     $ 71,584  
    


 


Other Liabilities

                

Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pension

   $ 2,473     $ 2,132  

Accrued Pension Cost

     8,303       6,232  

Derivative Contracts

     16,956       3,051  

Accrued Plugging and Abandonment Liability

     39,288       36,848  

Other

     7,625       6,114  
    


 


     $ 74,645     $ 54,377  
    


 


 

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Table of Contents

4. LONG-TERM DEBT

 

At September 30, 2004, the Company did not have any debt outstanding under its credit facility, which provides for an available credit line of $250 million. The available credit line is subject to adjustment from time to time on the basis of the projected present value (as determined by the bank’s petroleum engineer) of estimated future net cash flows from certain proved oil and gas reserves and other assets of the Company. The revolving term under this credit facility presently ends in October 2006 and is subject to renewal.

 

The Company has the following debt outstanding at September 30, 2004:

 

$100 million of 12-year 7.19% Notes to be repaid in five annual installments of $20 million beginning in November 2005

 

$75 million of 10-year 7.26% Notes due in July 2011

 

$75 million of 12-year 7.36% Notes due in July 2013

 

$20 million of 15-year 7.46% Notes due in July 2016

 

5. EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

Basic earnings per share (EPS) is computed by dividing net income (the numerator) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period (the denominator). Diluted EPS is similarly calculated using the treasury stock method except that the denominator is increased to reflect the potential dilution that could occur if outstanding stock options and stock awards outstanding at the end of the applicable period were exercised for common stock.

 

The following is a calculation of basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the three-months and nine-months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003:

 

     Three-Months Ended
September 30,


  

Nine-Months Ended
September 30,


     2004

   2003

   2004

   2003

Shares - basic    32,547,863    32,179,445    32,490,743    31,999,999

Dilution effect of stock options and awards at end of period

   397,923    255,786    394,974    238,207
    
  
  
  
Shares - diluted    32,945,786    32,435,231    32,885,717    32,238,206
    
  
  
  
Stock awards and shares excluded from diluted earnings per share due to the anti-dilutive effect    —      998,711    —      1,027,110
    
  
  
  

 

6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Wyoming Royalty Litigation

 

In June 2000, the Company was sued by two overriding royalty owners in Wyoming state court for unspecified damages. The plaintiffs requested class certification and alleged that the Company had improperly deducted costs of production from royalty payments to the plaintiffs and other similarly situated persons. Additionally, the suit claimed that the Company had failed to properly inform the plaintiffs and other similarly situated persons of the deductions taken from royalties. At a mediation held in April 2003, the plaintiffs in this case claimed total damages of $9.5 million plus attorney fees. The Company settled the case for a total of $2.25 million and the State District Court Judge entered his order approving the settlement in the fourth quarter of 2003. The class included all private fee royalty and overriding royalty owners of the Company in the State of Wyoming except those in the suit discussed below and one owner who opted out of the settlement. It also includes provisions for the method of valuation of gas for royalty payment purposes going forward and for reporting of royalty payments, which should prevent further litigation of these issues by the class members.

 

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In January 2002, 13 overriding royalty owners sued the Company in Wyoming federal district court. The plaintiffs in the federal case have made the same general claims pertaining to deductions from their overriding royalty as the plaintiffs in the Wyoming state court case but have not asked for class certification.

 

The federal district court judge certified two questions of state law for decision by the Wyoming State Supreme Court, which recently answered both questions. The Wyoming Supreme Court ruled that certain deductions taken by the Company from the plaintiffs were not proper and that the statutes of limitations advanced by the Company are discovery statutes and accordingly do not begin to run until the plaintiffs knew, or had reason to know, of the violation. The Company believes it has properly reported to the plaintiffs and that if it did not the plaintiffs knew or should have known the reporting was improper and the nature of the deductions, thus triggering the statutes of limitations. The Company still intends to raise defenses to the alleged failure to report claims. There is also a dispute as to how the interest should be calculated.

 

The federal judge refused to certify a question relating to the issue of the proper calculation of damages for failure to provide certain information required by statute on overriding royalty owner check stubs that had been decided adversely to our position in a state district court letter decision in a separate case. After the federal judge’s refusal to certify this issue, the plaintiffs reduced the damages they were claiming. Based upon recent communication from the plaintiffs they are now claiming $26.4 million in total damages which consists of $20.1 million for alleged violations of the check stub reporting statute and $6.3 million for all other damages.

 

In the opinion of our outside counsel, Brown, Drew & Massey, LLP, the likelihood of the plaintiffs recovering $20.1 million for the check stub reporting statute is remote. However, a reserve that management believes is adequate to provide for the check stub reporting statute and all other damages has been established based on management’s estimate of the probable outcome of this case.

 

West Virginia Royalty Litigation

 

In December 2001, the Company was sued by two royalty owners in West Virginia state court for an unspecified amount of damages. The plaintiffs have requested class certification under the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure and allege that the Company failed to pay royalty based upon the wholesale market value of the gas produced, that it had taken improper deductions from the royalty and failed to properly inform the plaintiffs and other similarly situated persons of deductions taken from the royalty. The plaintiffs have also claimed that they are entitled to a 1/8th royalty share of the gas sales contract settlement that the Company reached with Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation in the 1995 Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation bankruptcy proceeding.

 

Discovery and pleadings necessary to place the class certification issue before the court have been ongoing. A hearing on the plaintiffs’ motion for class certification was held on October 20, 2003, and proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law were submitted to the court on December 5, 2003. The trial is currently scheduled for January 18, 2005.

 

The investigation into this claim continues and it is in the discovery phase. The Company is vigorously defending the case. It has a reserve that management believes is adequate based on its estimate of the probable outcome of this case.

 

Texas Title Litigation

 

On January 6, 2003, the Company was served with Plaintiffs’ Second Amended Original Petition in Romeo Longoria, et al. v. Exxon Mobil Corporation, et al. in the 79th Judicial District Court of Brooks County, Texas. The plaintiffs allege that they are the rightful owners of a one-half undivided mineral interest in and to certain lands in Brooks County, Texas. As Cody Energy, LLC, the Company acquired certain leases and wells from Wynn-Crosby 1996, Ltd. in 1997 and 1998 and the Company subsequently acquired a 320 acre lease from Hector and Gloria Lopez in 2001. The plaintiffs allege that they are entitled to be declared the rightful owners of an undivided interest in the surface and minerals and all improvements on the lands on which the Company acquired these leases. The plaintiffs also assert claims for trespass to try title, action to remove a

 

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cloud on the title, failure to properly account for royalty, fraud, trespass, conversion, all for unspecified actual and exemplary damages. The original trial date of May 19, 2003 has been cancelled and a new trial date has not been set. The Company has not had the opportunity to conduct discovery in this matter. The Company estimates that production revenue from this field since its predecessor, Cody Energy, LLC, acquired title and since the Company acquired its lease is approximately $15 million. The carrying value of this property is approximately $34 million. Co-defendants Shell Oil Company and Shell Western E&P filed a motion for summary judgment seeking dismissal of plaintiffs’ causes of action on multiple grounds. The original plaintiffs’ attorneys asked permission from the Court to withdraw from the representation. The Court granted that request, and new attorneys for some, but not all of the plaintiffs have recently entered the case. The motion for summary judgment was reset and a hearing was held in December of 2003. The Company joined in the motion. After a second hearing, the Court denied the motion for summary judgment.

 

Although the investigation into this claim is in its early stages, the Company intends to vigorously defend the case. Should the Company receive an adverse ruling in this case, an impairment review would be assessed to ensure the carrying value of the property is recoverable. Management cannot currently determine the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome or range of any potential loss should the outcome be unfavorable. Accordingly, there has been no reserve established for this matter.

 

Raymondville Area

 

In April of 2004, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Cody Energy, LLC, filed suit in Willacy County, Texas against certain of its co-working interest owners in the Raymondville Area, located in Kenedy and Willacy Counties. In early 2003, Cody had proposed a new prospect to certain of these co-working interest owners located within jointly owned oil and gas leases. Some of the co-working interest owners elected to participate and some did not. The initial well was successful and subsequent wells have been drilled to exploit the discovery made in the first well.

 

In December, certain of the co-working interest owners who elected not to participate in the initial well notified Cody that they believed that they had the right to participate in subsequent wells. Cody contends that, under the terms of the agreements between the parties, the co-working interest owners that elected not to participate in the initial well in the prospect lost their right to participate in subsequent wells in the prospect. Alternatively, Cody contends that such owners lost their right to participate in subsequent wells within a 1,200 foot radius of the initial well.

 

The defendants have filed a counter-claim against the Company and one of the defendants has filed a lien against Cody’s interest in the leases in the Raymondville Area. Cody contends that this lien is improper and has sought damages for its filing. Cody is vigorously prosecuting this case which is in its early stage of discovery. No trial date has been set by the court.

 

The investigation into this claim is in its early stages. Management cannot currently determine the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome or range of any potential loss should the outcome be unfavorable. Accordingly, there has been no reserve established for this matter.

 

Commitment and Contingency Reserves

 

The Company has established reserves for certain legal proceedings. The establishment of a reserve involves an estimation process that includes the advice of legal counsel and subjective judgment of management. While management believes these reserves to be adequate, it is reasonably possible that the Company could incur approximately $10 million of additional loss with respect to those matters in which reserves have been established. Future changes in the facts and circumstances could result in the actual liability exceeding the estimated ranges of loss and amounts accrued.

 

While the outcome and impact on the Company cannot be predicted with certainty, management believes that the resolution of these proceedings through settlement or adverse judgment will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position of the Company, although operating results and cash flow could be significantly impacted in the reporting periods in which such matters are resolved.

 

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7. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITY

 

The Company periodically enters into derivative commodity instruments to hedge its exposure to price fluctuations on natural gas and crude oil production. At September 30, 2004, the Company had 32 cash flow hedges open: 13 natural gas price collar arrangements and 19 natural gas price swap arrangements. Additionally, the Company had six crude oil financial instruments and one natural gas financial instrument that did not qualify for hedge accounting under SFAS 133. At September 30, 2004, a $70.8 million ($43.9 million net of tax) unrealized loss was recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, along with a $88.8 million derivative liability. The change in derivative fair value for the current and prior periods has been included as a component of Natural Gas Production and Crude Oil and Condensate revenue.

 

From time to time the Company enters into natural gas and crude oil swap arrangements that do not qualify for hedge accounting in accordance with SFAS 133. These financial instruments are recorded at fair value at the balance sheet date. At September 30, 2004, the Company had six open crude oil swap arrangements and one natural gas swap arrangement with an unrealized net loss of $15.8 million related to the crude oil positions and an unrealized net gain of less than $0.1 million related to the natural gas position. Changes in these amounts are reflected in the respective line items of Net Operating Revenues.

 

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) recognized in natural gas and crude oil revenue are as follows:

 

     Three-Months Ended September 30,

 
     2004

    2003

 
     Realized

    Unrealized

    Realized

    Unrealized

 

Net Operating Revenues - (In Thousands)

                                

Natural Gas Production

   $ (11,080 )   $ 349     $ (7,860 )   $ 676  

Crude Oil

     (5,393 )     (7,372 )     (733 )     542  
    


 


 


 


Total

   $ (16,473 )   $ (7,023 )   $ (8,593 )   $ 1,218  
    


 


 


 


     Nine-Months Ended September 30,

 
     2004

    2003

 
     Realized

    Unrealized

    Realized

    Unrealized

 

Net Operating Revenues - (In Thousands)

                                

Natural Gas Production

   $ (31,009 )   $ (69 )   $ (45,376 )   $ (324 )

Crude Oil

     (10,889 )     (13,225 )     (2,877 )     348  
    


 


 


 


Total

   $ (41,898 )   $ (13,294 )   $ (48,253 )   $ 24  
    


 


 


 


 

Assuming no change in commodity prices, after September 30, 2004 the Company would reclassify to earnings, over the next 12 months, $34.8 million in after-tax expenditures associated with commodity derivatives. This reclassification represents the net liability associated with open positions at September 30, 2004 related to remaining anticipated 2004 production and a portion of anticipated 2005 production.

 

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8. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

Comprehensive Income includes Net Income and certain items recorded directly to Stockholders’ Equity and classified as Other Comprehensive Income. The following table illustrates the calculation of Comprehensive Income for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2004 and 2003:

 

     Nine-Months Ended September 30,

 
     2004

    2003

 
     (In Thousands)  

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Beginning of Period

           $ (23,135 )           $ (12,939 )

Net Income

   $ 56,151             $ 1,349          

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

                                

Reclassification Adjustment for Settled Contracts

     30,159               44,479          

Changes in Fair Value of Hedge Positions

     (67,143 )             (41,911 )        

Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment

     337               —            

Deferred Income Tax

     13,967               (1,005 )        
    


         


       

Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

   $ (22,680 )     (22,680 )   $ 1,563       1,563  
    


 


 


 


Comprehensive Income

   $ 33,471             $ 2,912          
    


         


       

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - End of Period

           $ (45,815 )           $ (11,376 )
            


         


 

Deferred income tax of $14.0 million at September 30, 2004 represents the net deferred tax liability of ($11.5) million on the Reclassification Adjustment for Settled Contracts, $25.6 million on the Changes in Fair Value of Hedge Positions, and less than ($0.1) million on the Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment.

 

Deferred income tax of ($1.0) million at September 30, 2003 represents the net deferred tax liability of ($16.9) million on the Reclassification Adjustment for Settled Contracts and $15.9 million on the Changes in Fair Value of Hedge Positions.

 

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9. ADOPTION OF SFAS 143, “ACCOUNTING FOR ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS”

 

Effective January 1, 2003, the Company adopted SFAS 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations.” SFAS 143 requires that the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation be recognized in the period in which it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The associated asset retirement cost is capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset. Subsequently, the asset retirement cost is allocated to expense using a systematic and rational method over the asset’s useful life. The adoption of SFAS 143 resulted in (1) an increase of total liabilities because more retirement obligations are required to be recognized, (2) an increase in the recognized cost of assets because the retirement costs are added to the carrying amount of the long-lived asset and (3) an increase in operating expense because of the accretion of the retirement obligation and additional depreciation and depletion. The majority of the asset retirement obligations recorded by the Company relate to the plugging and abandonment of oil and gas wells. However, liabilities will also be recorded for meter stations, pipelines, processing plants and compressors. At January 1, 2003, there were no assets legally restricted for purposes of settling asset retirement obligations. The Company recorded a net-of-tax cumulative effect of change in accounting principle loss in January 2003 of $6.8 million and recorded a retirement obligation of $35.2 million. There was no impact on the Company’s cash flows as a result of adopting SFAS 143.

 

The following table reflects the changes of the asset retirement obligations during the current period.

 

(In Thousands)       

Carrying amount of asset retirement obligations at December 31, 2003

   $ 36,848  

Liabilities added during the current period

     1,547  

Liabilities settled during the current period

     (523 )

Current period accretion expense

     1,416  

Revisions to estimated cash flows

     —    
    


Carrying amount of asset retirement obligations at September 30, 2004

   $ 39,288  
    


 

10. PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

 

The components of net periodic benefit costs for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 are as follows:

 

    

For the Three-Months

Ended September 30,


   

For the Nine-Months

Ended September 30,


 
     2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 
     (In Thousands)  

Qualified and Non-Qualified Pension Plans

                                

Current Period Service Cost

   $ 504     $ 440     $ 1,511     $ 1,321  

Interest Accrued on Pension Obligation

     520       420       1,559       1,259  

Expected Return on Plan Assets

     (369 )     (250 )     (1,106 )     (749 )

Net Amortization and Deferral

     41       41       124       124  

Recognized Loss

     203       151       608       452  
    


 


 


 


Net Periodic Benefit Costs

   $ 899     $ 802     $ 2,696     $ 2,407  
    


 


 


 


Postretirement Benefits Other than Pension Plans

                                

Service Cost of Benefits During the Period

   $ 71     $ 66     $ 213     $ 199  

Interest Cost on the Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation

     93       96       278       289  

Recognized Gain

     (31 )     (39 )     (92 )     (116 )

Amortization of Transition Obligation

     165       166       496       497  
    


 


 


 


Total Postretirement Benefit Cost

   $ 298     $ 289     $ 895     $ 869  
    


 


 


 


 

In 2004 the Company does not have any required minimum funding obligations. Currently, management has not determined if a discretionary funding will be made in 2004.

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation:

 

We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation and its subsidiaries (the Company) as of September 30, 2004, and the related condensed consolidated statement of operations for each of the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 and the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2004 and 2003. These interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

 

We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

 

Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying condensed consolidated interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

We previously audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2003 and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and of cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein), and in our report dated February 16, 2004, except for Note 2 of such financial statements as to which the date is August 6, 2004, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements in a report that also included explanatory paragraphs referring to changes in accounting principle as discussed in Notes 1, 12 and 13 and a restatement of the consolidated balance sheets to correct the classification of deferred tax assets and liabilities as discussed in Note 2. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2003, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.

 

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Houston, Texas

October 28, 2004

 

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ITEM 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

The following review of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 should be read along with our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes included in this Form 10-Q and with the Consolidated Financial Statements, Notes and Management’s Discussion and Analysis included in the Cabot Oil & Gas Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2003.

 

Overview

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2004 we produced 63.5 Bcfe compared to production of 67.1 Bcfe for the comparable period of the prior year. Natural gas production was 54.2 Bcf and oil production was 1,532 Mbbls. Natural gas production increased slightly when compared to the comparable period of the prior year which had production of 53.7 Bcf. Our ability to maintain natural gas production is attributable to successful drilling efforts on properties acquired in the Cody acquisition and drilling success in the East region in 2003 and 2004 in southern West Virginia. Oil production decreased in the current period when compared to the comparable period of the prior year with 2,193 Mbbls produced in the first nine months of 2003. The decrease in oil production is primarily the result of the continued decline of the CL&F lease in south Louisiana, along with the decline in the production profile in the West region due to declines in expenditures in 2002 and 2003.

 

In the nine months ended September 30, 2004, we drilled 205 gross wells (190 development and 15 exploratory wells) with a success rate of 97% compared to 123 gross wells (106 development and 17 exploratory wells) with a success rate of 90% for the comparable period of the prior year. For the full year, we plan to drill 272 gross wells compared to 173 gross wells in 2003.

 

We had net income of $56.2 million, or $1.73 per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 compared to net income of $1.3 million, or $0.04 per share, for the comparable period of the prior year. Prior year net income was substantially impacted by a non-cash impairment charge of $87.9 million (pre-tax) related to the liquidation of a limited partnership interest in the Kurten field and the cumulative effect of accounting change in the amount of $6.8 million due to the adoption of SFAS 143.

 

In the first nine months of 2004, natural gas prices improved over those of the same period of the prior year and our financial results reflect their impact. Our realized natural gas price was $5.10 per Mcf, or 13% higher, than the $4.53 per Mcf price realized in the same period of the prior year. These realized prices are impacted by realized gains and losses resulting from commodity derivatives. Our 2004 and 2003 natural gas prices include a realized derivative loss per Mcf of $0.57 and $0.84, respectively. Commodity prices are determined by factors that are outside of our control. Historically, commodity prices have been volatile and we expect them to remain volatile. Commodity prices are affected by changes in market demands, overall economic activity, weather, pipeline capacity constraints, inventory storage levels, basis differentials and other factors. As a result, we cannot accurately predict future natural gas, NGLs and crude oil prices, and therefore, cannot accurately predict revenues.

 

In addition to production volumes and commodity prices, finding and developing sufficient amounts of crude oil and natural gas reserves at economical costs are critical to our long-term success. In 2004, excluding acquisitions, we expect to spend approximately $255 million in capital and exploration expenditures. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, $193.9 million of capital and exploration expenditures have been invested in our exploration and development efforts.

 

We remain focused on our strategies of concentrating our capital spending program on projects balancing acceptable risk with the strongest economics. The favorable drilling results and enhanced infrastructure in our East region in 2003 and the first nine months of 2004 are the result of the refocusing of our production growth efforts in this region. Accordingly, we have expanded our capital budget in the East. We will continue to use a portion of the cash flow from our long-lived Mid-Continent natural gas reserves to fund our exploration and development efforts in the Gulf Coast and Rocky Mountain areas. In addition, we have expanded our interest in the offshore Gulf of Mexico and Canada. Our offshore efforts are an extension of our Gulf Coast region and account for approximately 13% of our current year capital budget. Our Canadian investment is considered a long-term strategic play with a strong focus on growing these operations through our exploration efforts. In the current year we have allocated approximately six percent of our capital budget to these operations. We believe these strategies are appropriate in the current industry environment and will continue to add shareholder value over the long term.

 

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The preceding paragraphs, discussing our strategic pursuits and goals, contain forward-looking information. See Forward-Looking Information.

 

Financial Condition

 

Capital Resources and Liquidity

 

Our primary source of cash for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 was from funds generated from operations and proceeds from the sale of common stock under stock option plans. During the nine months ended September 30, 2004 we have purchased 244,100 treasury shares of Cabot stock at a weighted average purchase price of $35.77. The Company generates cash from the sale of natural gas and crude oil. Operating cash flow fluctuations are substantially driven by commodity prices and changes in our production volumes. Prices for crude oil and natural gas have historically been subject to seasonal influences characterized by peak demand and higher prices in the winter heating season. Working capital is substantially influenced by these variables. Fluctuation in cash flow may result in an increase or decrease in our capital and exploration expenditures. See Results of Operations for a review of the impact of prices and volumes on sales. Cash flows provided by operating activities were primarily used to fund exploration and development expenditures and pay dividends. See below for additional discussion and analysis of cash flow.

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
     2004

    2003

 

Cash Flows Provided by Operating Activities

   $ 215,929     $ 205,706  

Cash Flows Used by Investing Activities

     (190,252 )     (126,017 )

Cash Flows Provided (Used) by Financing Activities

     (1,515 )     (77,904 )
    


 


Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

   $ 24,162     $ 1,785  
    


 


 

Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operating activities in 2004 increased $10.2 million over 2003. This increase is primarily due to higher commodity prices. Key drivers of net operating cash flows are commodity prices, production volumes and operating costs. Average natural gas prices increased 13 percent over 2003, while crude oil prices increased six percent over the same period. Production volumes declined slightly with a five percent reduction of equivalent production in 2004 compared to 2003. While the Company believes 2005 commodity production will exceed 2004 levels, the Company is unable to predict future commodity prices, and as a result cannot provide any assurance about future levels of net cash provided by operating activities.

 

Investing Activities. The primary driver of cash used by investing activities is capital spending and exploration expense. These budgeted amounts are established based on our current estimate of future commodity prices. Due to the volatility of commodity prices the budget may be periodically adjusted during any given year. Cash flows used in investing activities increased for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 in the amount of $64.2 million due to an increase in our capital budget. The increase in our capital budget is due to an overall increase in drilling activity over the prior year as a result of higher commodity prices.

 

Financing Activities. Cash flows used by financing activities were $1.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004. This is the result of proceeds from the exercise of stock options, offset by the purchase of treasury shares and dividend payments. Cash flows used by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 was $77.9 million. This is substantially due to a net repayment on our revolving credit facility in the amount of $80.0 million. Cash utilized for the repayments was generated from operating cash flows.

 

The available credit line under our revolving credit facility, currently $250 million, is subject to adjustment on the basis of the present value of estimated future net cash flows from proved oil and gas reserves (as determined by the

 

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bank’s petroleum engineer) and other assets. At September 30, 2004, we had no outstanding balance on the facility with excess capacity totaling $250 million of the total available credit facility. The revolving term of the credit facility ends in October 2006. We strive to manage our debt at a level below the available credit line in order to maintain excess borrowing capacity. Management believes that we have the ability to finance through new debt or equity offerings, if necessary, our capital requirements, including acquisitions.

 

On August 13, 1998, the Company announced that its Board of Directors (“Board”) authorized the repurchase of two million shares of the Company’s stock in the open market or in negotiated transactions. All purchases executed have been through open market transactions. There is no expiration date associated with the authorization to repurchase securities of the Company. See Item 2 “Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities” of Part II “Other Information” for additional information.

 

Capitalization

 

Our capitalization information is as follows:

 

     September 30,
2004


    December 31,
2003


 
     (In millions)  

Debt

   $ 270.0     $ 270.0  

Stockholders’ Equity (1)

     403.3       365.2  
    


 


Total Capitalization

   $ 673.3     $ 635.2  
    


 


Debt to Capitalization (2)

     40 %     43 %

Cash and Cash Equivalents

   $ 24.9     $ 0.7  

(1) Includes common stock, net of treasury stock.
(2) Includes the impact of the Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003 of $45.8 million and $23.1 million, respectively.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, we paid dividends of $3.9 million on our Common Stock. A regular dividend of $0.04 per share of Common Stock has been declared for each quarter since we became a public company in 1990.

 

Capital and Exploration Expenditures

 

On an annual basis, we generally fund most of our capital and exploration activities, excluding major oil and gas property acquisitions, with cash generated from operations, and budget such capital expenditures while considering projected cash flows for the year.

 

The following table presents major components of capital and exploration expenditures:

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,

(In millions)


   2004

   2003

Capital Expenditures

             

Drilling and Facilities

   $ 136.3    $ 65.2

Leasehold Acquisitions

     12.0      12.3

Pipeline and Gathering

     10.1      4.5

Other

     1.0      1.5
    

  

       159.4      83.5
    

  

Proved Property Acquisitions

     1.8      1.1

Exploration Expense

     32.7      43.1
    

  

Total

   $ 193.9    $ 127.7
    

  

 

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We continually assess the natural gas price environment and may increase or decrease the capital and exploration expenditures accordingly. See the Overview discussion for additional information regarding the current year drilling program.

 

Results of Operations

 

Third Quarters of 2004 and 2003 Compared

 

Net Income and Income from Operations

 

We reported net income in the third quarter of 2004 of $17.8 million, or $0.55 per share. During the corresponding quarter of 2003, we reported net income of $22.7 million, or $0.70 per share. Operating income decreased $9.4 million compared to the comparable period of the prior year. The decrease in current year operating income was substantially due to a decrease in a gain recognized on the sale of assets in the amount of $6.9 million, an increase in depreciation, depletion and amortization expense in the amount of $4.1 million, an increase in general and administrative expense in the amount of $3.2 million and a decrease in exploration expense in the amount of $7.0 million. The increase in depreciation, depletion and amortization is substantially due to an increase in unit of production expense primarily related to the negative reserve revisions on certain wells in south Louisiana at December 31, 2003. The increase in general and administrative expense is substantially due to incentive stock compensation charges. The decrease in exploration expense is due to our drilling success rate in the current year. See the analysis on Operating Expenses for discussion related to these changes.

 

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Natural Gas Production Revenues

 

The average total company realized natural gas production sales price, including the realized impact of derivative instruments, was $5.07 per Mcf compared to $4.53 per Mcf for the comparable period of the prior year. These prices include the realized impact of derivative instruments which reduced these prices by $0.59 per Mcf in 2004 and $0.42 per Mcf in 2003. The following table excludes the unrealized gain from the change in derivative fair value of $0.3 million and $0.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. These unrealized changes in fair value have been included in the Natural Gas Production revenues line item on the Statement of Operations.

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,


   Variance

 
     2004

    2003

   Amount

    Percent

 

Natural Gas Production (Mmcf)

                             

Gulf Coast

     8,350       7,722      628     8 %

West

     5,498       5,866      (368 )   (6 )%

East

     5,004       4,911      93     2 %

Canada

     37       —        37     100 %
    


 

  


     

Total Company

     18,889       18,499      390     2 %
    


 

  


     

Natural Gas Production Sales Price ($/Mcf)

                             

Gulf Coast

   $ 5.26     $ 4.68    $ 0.58     12 %

West

   $ 4.68     $ 3.75    $ 0.93     25 %

East

   $ 5.19     $ 5.24    $ (0.05 )   (1 )%

Canada

   $ 4.39     $ —      $ 4.39     100 %

Total Company

   $ 5.07     $ 4.53    $ 0.54     12 %

Natural Gas Production Revenue (in thousands)

                             

Gulf Coast

   $ 43,902     $ 36,134    $ 7,768     21 %

West

     25,725       21,993      3,732     17 %

East

     25,975       25,752      223     1 %

Canada

     160       —        160     100 %
    


 

  


     

Total Company

   $ 95,762     $ 83,879    $ 11,883     14 %
    


 

  


     

Price Variance Impact on Natural Gas Production Revenue

                             

Gulf Coast

   $ 4,825                       

West

     5,110                       

East

     (265 )                     

Canada

     160                       
    


                    

Total Company

   $ 9,830                       
    


                    

Volume Variance Impact on Natural Gas Production Revenue

                             

Gulf Coast

   $ 2,943                       

West

     (1,378 )                     

East

     488                       

Canada

     —                         
    


                    

Total Company

   $ 2,053                       
    


                    

 

The decrease in natural gas production in the West region is due substantially to the natural production decline in the Rocky Mountains as a result of reduced capital expenditures in 2002 and 2003. The impact of the decline in the West region was partially offset by an increase in the Gulf Coast and East regions. The increase in the Gulf Coast region is due to the results of the 2003 drilling program on properties acquired in the Cody acquisition. The increase in the East region is due to successful drilling in 2003 and 2004 in southern West Virginia. The increase in the realized natural gas price combined with an overall increase in production resulted in a net natural gas revenue increase of $11.9 million, excluding the unrealized impact of derivative instruments.

 

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Table of Contents

Brokered Natural Gas Revenue and Cost

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,


   Variance

 
     2004

    2003

   Amount

    Percent

 

Sales Price

   $ 6.38     $ 4.85    $ 1.53     32 %

Volume Brokered (Mmcf)

     2,079       3,857      (1,778 )   (46 %)
    


 

              

Brokered Natural Gas Revenues (in thousands)

   $ 13,224     $ 18,709    $ (5,485 )      
    


 

              

Purchase Price

   $ 5.59     $ 4.30    $ 1.29     30 %

Volume Brokered (Mmcf)

     2,079       3,857      (1,778 )   (46 %)
    


 

              

Brokered Natural Gas Cost (in thousands)

   $ 11,627     $ 16,602    $ (4,975 )      
    


 

              

Brokered Natural Gas Margin (in thousands)

   $ 1,597     $ 2,107    $ (510 )   (24 %)
    


 

  


     

Sales Price Variance Impact on Revenue

   $ 3,169                       

Volume Variance Impact on Revenue

   $ (8,654 )                     
    


                    
     $ (5,485 )                     
    


                    

Purchase Price Variance Impact on Purchases

   $ (2,670 )                     

Volume Variance Impact on Purchases

   $ 7,645                       
    


                    
     $ 4,975                       
    


                    

 

The decrease in brokered natural gas revenues of $5.5 million combined with the decline in brokered natural gas cost of $5.0 million resulted in a decrease to the brokered natural gas margin of $0.5 million.

 

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Table of Contents

Crude Oil and Condensate Revenues

 

The average total company realized crude oil sales price, including the realized impact of derivative instruments, was $32.03 per Bbl for the third quarter of 2004 and $28.40 for the comparable period of the prior year. These prices include the realized impact of derivative instruments which reduced these prices by $10.87 per Bbl in 2004 and $1.00 per Bbl in 2003. The following table excludes the unrealized gain (loss) from the change in derivative fair value of ($7.4) million and $0.5 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. These unrealized changes in fair value have been included in the Crude Oil and Condensate revenues line item on the Statement of Operations.

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,


   Variance

 
     2004

    2003

   Amount

    Percent

 

Crude Oil Production (Mbbl)

                             

Gulf Coast

     450       683      (233 )   (34 )%

West

     37       46      (9 )   (20 )%

East

     7       7      —       —    

Canada

     1       —        1     100 %
    


 

  


     

Total Company

     495       736      (241 )   (33 )%
    


 

  


     

Crude Oil Sales Price ($/Bbl)

                             

Gulf Coast

   $ 31.01     $ 28.32    $ 2.69     10 %

West

   $ 42.85     $ 29.75    $ 13.10     44 %

East

   $ 39.64     $ 28.02    $ 11.62     41 %

Canada

   $ 36.63     $ —      $ 36.63     100 %

Total Company

   $ 32.03     $ 28.40    $ 3.63     13 %

Crude Oil Revenue (in thousands)

                             

Gulf Coast

   $ 13,961     $ 19,352    $ (5,391 )   (28 )%

West

     1,604       1,355      249     18 %

East

     269       206      63     30 %

Canada

     52       —        52     100 %
    


 

  


     

Total Company

   $ 15,886     $ 20,913    $ (5,027 )   (24 )%
    


 

  


     

Price Variance Impact on Crude Oil Revenue

                             

Gulf Coast

   $ 1,230                       

West

     490                       

East

     62                       

Canada

     52                       
    


                    

Total Company

   $ 1,834                       
    


                    

Volume Variance Impact on Crude Oil Revenue

                             

Gulf Coast

   $ (6,620 )                     

West

     (241 )                     

East

     —                         

Canada

     —                         
    


                    

Total Company

   $ (6,861 )                     
    


                    

 

The decrease in oil production is primarily the result of the continued decline of the CL&F lease in south Louisiana, along with the decline in the production profile in the West region due to declines in expenditures in 2002 and 2003. The increase in the realized crude oil price combined with the decline in production resulted in a net revenue decrease of $5.0 million, excluding the unrealized impact of derivative instruments.

 

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Table of Contents

Operating Expenses

 

Total costs and expenses from operations decreased $3.6 million in the third quarter of 2004 compared to the same quarter of 2003. The primary reasons for this fluctuation are as follows:

 

  Brokered Natural Gas Cost declined in the amount of $5.0 million. See the Brokered Natural Gas Revenue and Cost analysis for additional discussion.

 

  Exploration expense decreased $7.0 million primarily as a result of decrease in spending on geological and geophysical expenses and a decrease in dry hole expense in 2004. During the third quarter of 2004, we decreased our geological and geophysical expenses by $1.1 million and incurred less dry hole expense in the amount of $4.7 million. The decrease in dry hole expense is substantially due to the overall success of our drilling program.

 

  Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization expense increased by $4.1 million. This increase is substantially due to an increase in unit of production expense related primarily to negative reserve revisions on certain wells in south Louisiana at December 31, 2003.

 

  General and Administrative expense increased by $3.2 million. This increase is substantially due to the recognition of expense of $2.5 million related to stock compensation plans and $0.6 million of expense related to professional services provided in conjunction with Sarbanes-Oxley 404 compliance.

 

Interest Expense and Other

 

Interest expense and other decreased $1.4 million. This variance is the combination of a decrease due to a lower average level of outstanding debt during the third quarter of 2004 when compared to the corresponding period of the prior year and a decline in interest rates on the revolving credit facility.

 

Income Tax Expense

 

Income tax expense decreased $3.1 million due to a comparable decrease in our pre-tax income.

 

Nine Months of 2004 and 2003 Compared

 

Net Income and Income from Operations

 

We reported net income in the first nine months of 2004 of $56.2 million, or $1.73 per share. During the corresponding period of 2003, we reported net income of $1.3 million, or $0.04 per share. Operating income increased $75.0 million compared to the comparable period of the prior year. The increase in current year operating income was substantially due to a prior period non-cash impairment charge of $87.9 million, offset by a decrease in Net Operating Revenues of $12.4 million. See the analysis on Net Operating Revenues and Operating Expenses for a discussion related to these changes.

 

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Table of Contents

Natural Gas Production Revenues

 

The average total company realized natural gas production sales price, including the realized impact of derivative instruments, was $5.10 per Mcf compared to $4.53 per Mcf for the comparable period of the prior year. These prices include the realized impact of derivative instruments which reduced these prices by $0.57 per Mcf in 2004 and $0.84 per Mcf in 2003. The following table excludes the unrealized loss from the change in derivative fair value of $0.1 million and $0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. These unrealized changes in fair value have been included in the Natural Gas Production revenues line item on the Statement of Operations.

 

    

Nine Months Ended

September 30,


   Variance

 
     2004

    2003

   Amount

    Percent

 

Natural Gas Production (Mmcf)

                             

Gulf Coast

     23,626       21,833      1,793     8 %

West

     16,280       17,958      (1,678 )   (9 )%

East

     14,283       13,939      344     2 %

Canada

     37       —        37     100 %
    


 

  


     

Total Company

     54,226       53,730      496     1 %
    


 

  


     

Natural Gas Production Sales Price ($/Mcf)

                             

Gulf Coast

   $ 5.17     $ 4.83    $ 0.34     7 %

West

   $ 4.72     $ 3.65    $ 1.07     29 %

East

   $ 5.41     $ 5.17    $ 0.24     5 %

Canada

   $ 4.39     $ —      $ 4.39     100 %

Total Company

   $ 5.10     $ 4.53    $ 0.57     13 %

Natural Gas Production Revenue (in thousands)

                             

Gulf Coast

   $ 122,257     $ 105,522    $ 16,735     16 %

West

     76,846       65,606      11,240     17 %

East

     77,323       72,037      5,286     7 %

Canada

     161       —        161     100 %
    


 

  


     

Total Company

   $ 276,587     $ 243,165    $ 33,422     14 %
    


 

  


     

Price Variance Impact on Natural Gas Production Revenue

                             

Gulf Coast

   $ 8,071                       

West

     17,369                       

East

     3,507                       

Canada

     161                       
    


                    

Total Company

   $ 29,108                       
    


                    

Volume Variance Impact on Natural Gas Production Revenue

                             

Gulf Coast

   $ 8,664                       

West

     (6,129 )                     

East

     1,779                       

Canada

     —                         
    


                    

Total Company

   $ 4,314                       
    


                    

 

The decrease in natural gas production in the West region is due substantially to the natural production decline in the Rocky Mountains as a result of reduced capital expenditures in 2003 and 2002. The impact of the decline in the West region was partially offset by an increase in the Gulf Coast and East regions. The increase in the Gulf Coast region is due to successful drilling efforts on properties acquired in the Cody acquisition. The increase in the East region is due to successful drilling in 2003 and 2004 in southern West Virginia. The increase in the realized natural gas price combined with an overall increase in production resulted in a net revenue increase of $33.4 million, excluding the unrealized impact of derivative instruments.

 

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Table of Contents

Brokered Natural Gas Revenue and Cost

 

    

Nine Months Ended

September 30,


   Variance

 
     2004

    2003

   Amount

    Percent

 

Sales Price

   $ 6.24     $ 5.16    $ 1.08     21 %

Volume Brokered

     9,683       14,318      (4,635 )   (32 )%
    


 

              

Brokered Natural Gas Revenues

   $ 60,411     $ 73,929    $ (13,518 )      
    


 

              

Purchase Price

   $ 5.57     $ 4.64    $ 0.93     20 %

Volume Brokered

     9,683       14,318      (4,635 )   (32 )%
    


 

              

Brokered Natural Gas Cost

   $ 53,944     $ 66,402    $ (12,458 )      
    


 

              

Brokered Natural Gas Margin (in thousands)

   $ 6,467     $ 7,527    $ (1,060 )   (14 )%
    


 

  


 

Sales Price Variance Impact on Revenue

   $ 10,459                       

Volume Variance Impact on Revenue

     (23,977 )                     
    


                    
     $ (13,518 )                     
    


                    

Purchase Price Variance Impact on Purchases

   $ (9,006 )                     

Volume Variance Impact on Purchases

     21,464                       
    


                    
     $ 12,458                       
    


                    

 

The decrease in brokered natural gas revenues of $13.5 million combined with the decline in brokered natural gas cost of $12.5 million resulted in a decrease to the brokered natural gas margin of $1.1 million.

 

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Table of Contents

Crude Oil and Condensate Revenues

 

The average total company realized crude oil sales price, including the realized impact of derivative instruments, was $31.36 per Bbl for the first nine months of 2004 and $29.53 for the comparable period of the prior year. These prices include the realized impact of derivative instruments which reduced these prices by $7.11 per Bbl in 2004 and $1.31 per Bbl in 2003. The following table excludes the unrealized gain (loss) from the change in derivative fair value of ($13.2) million and $0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. These unrealized changes in fair value have been included in the Crude Oil and Condensate revenues line item on the Statement of Operations.

 

    

Nine Months Ended

September 30,


   Variance

 
     2004

    2003

   Amount

    Percent

 

Crude Oil Production (Mbbl)

                             

Gulf Coast

     1,391       2,027      (636 )   (31 )%

West

     120       146      (26 )   (18 )%

East

     20       20      —       0 %

Canada

     1       —        1     100 %
    


 

  


     

Total Company

     1,532       2,193      (661 )   (30 )%
    


 

  


     

Crude Oil Sales Price ($/Bbl)

                             

Gulf Coast

   $ 30.71     $ 29.50    $ 1.21     4 %

West

   $ 38.06     $ 30.07    $ 7.99     27 %

East

   $ 35.99     $ 28.67    $ 7.32     26 %

Canada

   $ 36.63     $ —      $ 36.63     100 %

Total Company

   $ 31.36     $ 29.53    $ 1.83     6 %

Crude Oil Revenue (in thousands)

                             

Gulf Coast

   $ 42,705     $ 59,784    $ (17,079 )   (29 )%

West

     4,568       4,390      178     4 %

East

     733       576      157     27 %

Canada

     52       —        52     100 %
    


 

  


     

Total Company

   $ 48,058     $ 64,750    $ (16,692 )   (26 )%
    


 

  


     

Price Variance Impact on Crude Oil Revenue

                             

Gulf Coast

   $ 1,689                       

West

     959                       

East

     157                       

Canada

     52                       
    


                    

Total Company

   $ 2,857                       
    


                    

Volume Variance Impact on Crude Oil Revenue

                             

Gulf Coast

   $ (18,768 )                     

West

     (781 )                     

East

     —                         

Canada

     —                         
    


                    

Total Company

   $ (19,549 )                     
    


                    

 

The decrease in oil production is primarily the result of the continued decline of the CL&F lease in south Louisiana, along with the decline in the production profile in the West region due to declines in expenditures in 2002 and 2003. The increase in the realized crude oil price combined with the decline in production resulted in a net revenue decrease of $16.7 million, excluding the unrealized impact of derivative instruments.

 

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Table of Contents

Other Net Operating Revenues

 

Other operating revenues decreased $2.1 million. This change is substantially due to a decline in gas transportation revenue of $2.4 million, offset by an increase in plant revenue in the amount of $0.4 million.

 

Operating Expenses

 

Total costs and expenses from operations decreased $95.0 million in the first nine months of 2004 compared to the same period of the prior year. The primary reasons for this fluctuation are as follows:

 

  Brokered Natural Gas Cost declined in the amount of $12.5 million. See the Brokered Natural Gas Revenue and Cost analysis for additional discussion.

 

  Exploration expense decreased $10.4 million primarily as a result of a decrease in dry hole expense in 2004 in the amount of $8.8 million and a decrease in geophysical and geological expense in the amount of $1.6 million.

 

  Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization increased $5.7 million. This increase is due to an increase in unit of production expense. This increase is primarily due to negative reserve revisions on certain wells in south Louisiana at December 31, 2003.

 

  Impairment of Long-Lived Assets expense decreased $90.3 million. This decrease is substantially related to the liquidation of a limited partnership interest in the Kurten field. See Note 2 of the consolidated financial statements for additional discussion.

 

  General and Administrative expense increased by $6.7 million. This increase is due to the recognition of expense of $5.6 million related to stock compensation plans and $1.5 million of expense related to professional services provided in conjunction with Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.

 

Interest Expense and Other

 

Interest expense decreased $2.2 million. This variance is the combination of a decrease due to a lower average level of outstanding debt during the first nine months of 2004 when compared to the corresponding period of the prior year and a decline in interest rates on the revolving credit facility.

 

Income Tax Expense

 

Income tax expense increased $29.2 million due to a comparable increase in our pre-tax income.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

We have been made aware of an issue regarding the application of provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 141, “Business Combinations” and SFAS 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” to companies in the extractive industries, including oil and gas companies. The issue was whether SFAS 142 requires registrants to reclassify costs associated with mineral rights, including both proved and unproved leasehold acquisition costs, as intangible assets in the balance sheet, apart from other capitalized oil and gas property costs. Historically, the Company and other oil and gas companies have included the cost of these oil and gas leasehold interests as part of oil and gas properties and provided the disclosures required by SFAS 69, “Disclosures about Oil and Gas Producing Activities.”

 

Also under consideration was whether SFAS 142 requires registrants to provide the additional disclosures for intangible assets for costs associated with mineral rights. This issue as it pertains to oil and gas companies was referred to the FASB staff, and the staff issued a proposed FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) on the matter on July 19, 2004. On September 2, 2004, the FASB issued FSP 142-2, “Application of FASB Statement No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, to Oil- and Gas-Producing Entities,” which concluded that the scope exception in paragraph 8(b) of Statement 142 extends to the balance sheet classification and disclosure provisions for drilling and mineral rights of oil- and gas- producing entities. Therefore, there are no balance sheet reclassifications or additional disclosure requirements necessary.

 

- 28 -


Table of Contents

In May 2004, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 106-2, “Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003.” This Board directed FSP provides guidance on the accounting for the effects of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (the Act) for employers that sponsor postretirement health care plans that provide prescription drug benefits. This FSP also requires those employers to provide certain disclosures regarding the effect of the federal subsidy provided by the Act (the subsidy). This FSP supersedes FSP 106-1, “Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003” and is effective for the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2004. Our current accumulated projected benefit obligation and net periodic postretirement benefit cost does not reflect any amount associated with the subsidy because we are unable to conclude whether the benefits provided by the plan are actuarially equivalent to Medicare Part D under the Act. The Company will continue to assess whether the benefits provided by the plan are actuarially equivalent but management does not expect the adoption of the FSP to have a material impact on operating results, financial position or cash flows of the Company.

 

Forward-Looking Information

 

The statements regarding future financial performance and results, market prices and the other statements which are not historical facts contained in this report are forward-looking statements. The words “expect,” “project,” “estimate,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “budget,” “plan,” “forecast,” “predict” and similar expressions are also intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, market factors, market prices (including regional basis differentials) of natural gas and oil, results for future drilling and marketing activity, future production and costs and other factors detailed herein and in our other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated.

 

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Table of Contents

ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

Commodity Price Swaps and Options

 

Our hedging policy is designed to reduce the risk of price volatility for our production in the natural gas and crude oil markets. A hedging committee that consists of members of senior management oversees our hedging activity. Our hedging arrangements apply to only a portion of our production and provide only partial price protection against declines in oil and gas prices. These hedging arrangements may expose us to risk of financial loss and limit the benefit to us of increases in prices. Please read the discussion below related to commodity price swaps and Note 7 of the Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a more detailed discussion of our hedging arrangements.

 

Hedges on Production – Swaps

 

From time to time, we enter into natural gas and crude oil swap agreements with counterparties to hedge price risk associated with a portion of our production. These derivatives are not held for trading purposes. Under these price swaps, we receive a fixed price on a notional quantity of natural gas and crude oil in exchange for paying a variable price based on a market-based index, such as the NYMEX gas and crude oil futures. Under our Revolving Credit Agreement, which had no borrowings outstanding at September 30, 2004, the aggregate level of commodity hedging must not exceed 80% of the anticipated future equivalent production during the period covered by the hedges. During the first nine months of 2004, natural gas price swaps covered 22,391 Mmcf of our gas production, fixing the sales price of this gas at an average of $5.06 per Mcf.

 

At September 30, 2004, we had open natural gas price swap contracts covering our 2004 and 2005 production as follows:

 

     Natural Gas Price Swaps

Contract Period


   Volume
in
Mmcf


   Weighted
Average
Contract Price


  

Unrealized
Loss

(In thousands)


Natural Gas Price Swaps on Production in:

                  

Fourth Quarter 2004

   7,226      4.99       
    
  

  

Three Months Ended December 31, 2004

   7,226    $ 4.99    $ 16,025
    
  

  

First Quarter 2005

   5,069    $ 5.14       

Second Quarter 2005

   5,125      5.14       

Third Quarter 2005

   5,181      5.14       

Fourth Quarter 2005

   5,181      5.14       
    
  

  

Full Year 2005

   20,556    $ 5.14    $ 41,569
    
  

  

 

From time to time the Company enters into natural gas and crude oil derivative arrangements that do not qualify for hedge accounting under SFAS 133. These financial instruments are recorded at fair value at the balance sheet date. At September 30, 2004, the Company had six open crude oil swap arrangements and one natural gas swap arrangement with an unrealized net loss of $15.8 million related to the crude oil positions and an unrealized net gain of less than $0.1 million related to the natural gas position. Changes in these amounts are reflected in the respective line items of Net Operating Revenues.

 

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Hedges on Production – Options

 

From time to time, we enter into natural gas and crude oil collar agreements with counterparties to hedge price risk associated with a portion of our production. These derivatives are not held for trading purposes. Under the collar arrangements, if the index price rises above the ceiling price, we pay the counterparty. If the index falls below the floor price, the counterparty pays us. During the first nine months of 2004, natural gas price collars covered 18,230 Mmcf of our gas production, with a weighted average floor of $4.87 per Mcf and a weighted average ceiling of $6.14 per Mcf.

 

At September 30, 2004, we had open natural gas price collar contracts covering our 2004 and 2005 production as follows:

 

     Natural Gas Price Collars

Contract Period


   Volume
in
Mmcf


   Weighted
Average
Ceiling /Floor


  

Unrealized
Loss

(In thousands)


Natural Gas Price Collars on Production in:

                  

Fourth Quarter 2004

   4,723    $ 5.75 / $4.41       
    
  

  

Three Months Ended December 31, 2004

   4,723    $ 5.75 / $4.41    $ 5,859
    
  

  

First Quarter 2005

   4,156    $ 8.66 / $5.77       

Second Quarter 2005

   3,367    $ 8.38 / $5.30       

Third Quarter 2005

   3,404    $ 8.38 / $5.30       

Fourth Quarter 2005

   3,404    $ 8.38 / $5.30       
    
  

  

Full Year 2005

   14,331    $ 8.46 / $5.44    $ 9,485
    
  

  

 

At September 30, 2004, we have no open crude oil price collar arrangements to cover our 2004 or 2005 production.

 

We are exposed to market risk on these open contracts, to the extent of changes in market prices of natural gas and oil. However, the market risk exposure on these hedged contracts is generally offset by the gain or loss recognized upon the ultimate sale of the commodity that is hedged.

 

The preceding paragraphs contain forward-looking information concerning future production and projected gains and losses, which may be impacted both by production and by changes in the future market prices of energy commodities. See Forward-Looking Information.

 

ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures

 

As of the end of the current reported period covered by this report, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective, in all material respects, with respect to the recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, of information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act.

 

In August 2004 we determined that deferred tax assets and liabilities associated with current and non-current assets and liabilities that had historically been classified in long-term deferred income taxes should instead be classified as current and non-current deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the classification of the related asset and liability for financial reporting purposes. We identified this deficiency and we brought it to the attention of our audit committee and auditors promptly. We believe we have addressed this deficiency as we have implemented internal controls surrounding the calculation and review of deferred income tax classification to enhance our ability to comply with all appropriate tax and related accounting issues.

 

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There have been no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls, other than those related to deferred income taxes, or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date the Company carried out its evaluation.

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 2. Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities (1)

 

Period


   Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased


   Average
Price Paid
per Share


  

Total Number

of Shares

Purchased as

Part of
Publicly
Announced
Plans or
Programs


  

Approximate
Number

of Shares that
May Yet Be
Purchased
Under the
Plans or
Programs


July 2004

   —      $ —      —       

August 2004

   86,000    $ 39.42    86,000    1,453,300

September 2004

   —      $ —            
    
                

Total

   86,000                 
    
                

(1) On August 13, 1998, the Company announced that its Board of Directors (“Board”) authorized the repurchase of two million shares of the Company’s stock in the open market or in negotiated transactions. All purchases executed have been through open market transactions. There is no expiration date associated with the authorization to repurchase securities of the Company.

 

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ITEM 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

 

  (a) Exhibits

 

15.1   -    Awareness letter of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
23.1   -    Consent of Brown, Drew & Massey, LLP
31.1   -    302 Certification - Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
31.2   -    302 Certification - Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
32.1   -    906 Certification

 

  (b) Reports on Form 8-K

 

None

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

    CABOT OIL & GAS CORPORATION
        (Registrant)

October 28, 2004

  By:  

/s/ Dan O. Dinges


        Dan O. Dinges
        Chairman, President and
        Chief Executive Officer
        (Principal Executive Officer)

October 28, 2004

  By:  

/s/ Scott C. Schroeder


        Scott C. Schroeder
        Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
        (Principal Financial Officer)

October 28, 2004

  By:  

/s/ Henry C. Smyth


        Henry C. Smyth
        Vice President, Controller and Treasurer
        (Principal Accounting Officer)

 

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