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8-K - FORM 8-K DATED 10-30-09 - BERRY PETROLEUM COMPANY - Q3 2009 EARNINGS - Berry Petroleum Company, LLCform8-k.htm
    Berry Petroleum Company News       Page  1 of 6
 

 
Berry Petroleum Announces Results for Third Quarter of 2009
 
 

 
Denver -- (BUSINESS WIRE) – October 30, 2009 -- Berry Petroleum Company (NYSE:BRY) reported net income of $19 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2009, compared to net income of $53.3 million, or $1.16 per diluted share for the third quarter of 2008, according to Robert F. Heinemann, president and chief executive officer. Discretionary cash flow for the third quarter totaled $60 million. (Discretionary cash flow is a non-GAAP measure; see reconciliation below.)

Items that affected net income for the quarter included a non-cash gain on hedges, the write-off of certain costs related to the Company’s credit facility, a net gain on asset sales, and inventoried volumes from Poso Creek that were sold in the third quarter. In total, for the third quarter of 2009, these items increased net income by approximately $3.3 million, or $0.07 per diluted share for an adjusted third quarter net income of $15.7 million, or $0.34 per diluted share.

For the third quarters of 2009 and 2008, average net production in BOE per day was as follows:

   
Third Quarter Ended September 30
 
   
2009 Production
   
2008 Production
 
Oil (Bbls)
    19,310       68 %     21,162       60 %
Natural Gas (BOE)
    9,107       32 %     13,988       40 %
    Total BOE per day
    28,417       100 %     35,150       100 %
                                 
DJ Basin Production (BOE/D)
    -               3,337          
Production – Continuing Operations (BOE/D)
    28,417               31,813          

Mr. Heinemann said, “Production averaged 28,400 BOE/D for the third quarter of 2009 generating discretionary cash flow of $60 million with a total of only $22 million of capital expenditures.  Strong cash flow along with the completion of our East Texas midstream sale allowed us to repay $78 million of debt during the quarter.  With our $938 million borrowing base reconfirmed during October, our liquidity today is approximately $550 million. As we complete our 2009 program, we are also preparing for an increased level of activity in 2010.  In the Diatomite we are installing additional infrastructure and steam generation capacity to prepare for our drilling program which should increase production to 5,000 BOE/D by year-end 2010.  During the fourth quarter we will also initiate a steam flood pilot on our recently acquired McKittrick 21Z property and expand our successful steam flood pilot at Ethel D.  These activities are supported by continued strong demand for California crude oil which allowed us during the third quarter to execute twelve month contracts for most of our California production. “

Three Months Results
Sales from oil and gas were $127 million in the third quarter of 2009 compared to $194 million in the same 2008 period due primarily to lower oil and natural gas prices. For the same period, operating costs were lower by $2.94 per BOE due to lower natural gas prices which reduces the cost of steam in California and the continued results of company-wide cost reduction initiatives.  General and administrative costs were also lower by $0.78 per BOE as the Company continues to realize the benefits of its cost reduction efforts.  Interest expense was higher by $6.5 million compared to the third quarter of 2008 as a result of issuing $450 million of 10.25% senior unsecured notes during the second and third quarters of 2009.


                         Contact: Berry Petroleum Company                                                  Investors and Media
1999 Broadway, Suite 3700                                                                     David Wolf                                1-303-999-4400
Denver, Colorado 80202                                                                         Shawn Canaday                        1-303-999-4000
   
Internet:  www.bry.com                                                                           SOURCE: Berry Petroleum Company

    Berry Petroleum Company News       Page  2 of 6

 
Operational Update
Michael Duginski, executive vice president and chief operating officer, stated, “Our operating cost reductions have remained solid with a 25% reduction year to date compared to 2008 levels.  These cost reductions, along with a narrowed California crude oil differential, allowed us to generate margins of approximately $28.75 per BOE during the third quarter.  Our N. Midway Diatomite production continues to perform as expected averaging 3,120 BOE/D in the third quarter, up 50% from the comparable 2008 quarter and up 7% from the second quarter of 2009.  The necessary land work in E. Texas has been completed and we plan to spud our first horizontal Haynesville well in the Darco field in the fourth quarter of 2009.  During the third quarter, we also tested high volume completions in the Piceance with a 25% improvement in our initial production rate compared to our historical field average. We expect to increase production in the fourth quarter of 2009 as we complete our 2009 capital program and continue to expect companywide production to average 30,000 BOE/D in 2009.  “

Costs Per BOE and Updated 2009 Guidance
   
Anticipated range
             
   
Full-year 2009 per BOE
   
3 mo. ended 09/30/09
   
3 mo. ended 09/30/08
 
Operating costs-oil and gas production
  $ 13.00 - 15.00     $ 14.99     $ 17.93  
Production taxes
    1.50 - 2.50       1.48       3.04  
DD&A – oil and gas production (1)
    12.50 - 13.50       12.81       12.76  
G&A
    4.25 - 4.75       4.09       4.87  
Interest expense
    4.00 - 4.75       5.57       2.74  
Total
  $ 35.25 - 40.50     $ 38.94     $ 41.34  
(1) Full-year estimate includes both oil & gas and electricity

2010 Capital and Production Guidance
While the Company is finalizing its 2010 capital plans, capital spending for 2010 is expected to range between $220 million and $260 million.  This capital will likely be allocated approximately 65% to oil projects to fund the Diatomite development, steamflood developments at McKittrick 21Z and Ethel D and drilling at Brundage Canyon.  With this level of investment, production should increase approximately 5% with strong quarterly increases throughout the year.

Explanation and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Discretionary Cash Flow
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
09/30/09
   
09/30/08
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 89.2     $ 137.4  
Add back: Net increase (decrease) in current assets
    1.9       6.1  
Add back: Net decrease (increase) in current liabilities including book overdraft
    (31.6 )     (12.4 )
Discretionary cash flow
  $ 59.5     $ 131.1  






 
                         Contact: Berry Petroleum Company                                                  Investors and Media
1999 Broadway, Suite 3700                                                                     David Wolf                                1-303-999-4400
Denver, Colorado 80202                                                                         Shawn Canaday                        1-303-999-4000
   
Internet:  www.bry.com                                                                           SOURCE: Berry Petroleum Company

 
    Berry Petroleum Company News       Page  3 of 6


Adjusted Net Income
   
Three Months Ended
   
09/30/09
 
Net income before adjustments
  $ 19.0  
After tax adjustments:
       
  Non-cash hedge gains
    (2.4 )
  Poso Creek Inventory trade sales
    (1.0 )
  Write off of credit facility costs
    0.2  
  Net gain on asset sales
    (0.1 )
Adjusted net income
  $ 15.7  
 

 
Teleconference Call
An earnings conference call will be held Friday, October 30, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (8:00 a.m. Mountain Time).   Dial 1-866-788-0547 to participate, using passcode 28922960.  International callers may dial 857-350-1685.  For a digital replay available until November 6, 2009 dial 1-888-286-8010 (passcode 98141508). Listen live or via replay on the web at http://www.bry.com. Transcripts of this and previous calls may be viewed at www.bry.com in the “Investor Center.”

About Berry Petroleum Company
Berry Petroleum Company is a publicly traded independent oil and gas production and exploitation company with operations in California, Utah, Colorado and Texas. The Company uses its web site as a channel of distribution of material company information.  Financial and other material information regarding the Company is routinely posted on and accessible at:
http://www.bry.com/index.php?page=investor

Safe harbor under the “Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995”
Any statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Words such as "expected," "project," and forms of those words and others indicate forward-looking statements. Important factors which could affect actual results are discussed in PART 1, Item 1A. Risk Factors of Berry's 2008 Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2009 under the heading "Other Factors Affecting the Company's Business and Financial Results,” and updated in the Company’s Form 10-Q filings subsequent to that date.





                         Contact: Berry Petroleum Company                                                  Investors and Media
1999 Broadway, Suite 3700                                                                     David Wolf                                1-303-999-4400
Denver, Colorado 80202                                                                         Shawn Canaday                        1-303-999-4000
   
Internet:  www.bry.com                                                                           SOURCE: Berry Petroleum Company
 

    Berry Petroleum Company News       Page  4 of 6




CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (continuing operations)
(In thousands)
(unaudited)
                     
     Three Months             Nine Months
 
     
09/30/09
09/30/08
   
09/30/09
   
09/30/08
 
 
Revenues
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
  Sales of oil and gas
  $ 127,455     $ 193,890     $ 374,117     $ 514,578  
  Sales of electricity
    9,137       18,317       26,032       51,223  
  Gas marketing
    5,217       13,284       17,646       28,046  
  Gain (loss) on commodity derivatives
    531       701       6,565       (27 )
  Gain (loss) on sale of assets
    828       95       828       510  
  Interest and other income, net   
    287       747       1,375       2,509  
    Total
    143,455       227,034       426,563       596,839  
Expenses
                                 
  Operating costs – oil & gas     
    39,195       52,486       111,317       144,158  
  Operating costs – electricity     
    6,892       13,706       22,071       45,620  
  Production taxes
    3,874       8,912       14,411       20,663  
  Depreciation, depletion & amortization - oil & gas
    33,502       37,354       104,271       87,462  
  Depreciation, depletion & amortization - electricity
    951       646       2,938       1,991  
  Gas marketing
    4,633       12,034       16,149       26,087  
  General and administrative        
    10,686       14,251       37,143       36,312  
  Interest                          
    14,562       8,031       35,201       14,910  
  Loss on extinguishment of debt                          
    329       -       10,823       -  
  Dry hole, abandonment, impairment & exploration
    69       1,488       209       7,396  
    Total                           
    114,693       148,908       354,533       384,599  
 
                                 
Income before income taxes          
    28,762       78,126       72,030       212,240  
Provision for income taxes          
    10,423       28,511       24,681       79,377  
Income from continuing operations
    18,339       49,615       47,349       132,863  
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net
    668       3,733       (6,323 )     12,657  
 
                                 
Net income                          
  $ 19,007     $ 53,348     $ 41,026     $ 145,520  
 
                                 
Basic net income from continuing operations per share          
  $ 0.41     $ 1.10     $ 1.04     $ 2.95  
Basic net income (loss) from discontinued operations per common share
  $ 0.01     $ 0.08     $ (0.14 )   $ 0.28  
Basic net income per common share
  $ 0.42     $ 1.18     $ 0.90     $ 3.23  
Diluted net income from continuing operations per share        
  $ 0.40     $ 1.08     $ 1.03     $ 2.90  
Diluted net income (loss) from discontinued operations per common share
  $ 0.01     $ 0.08     $ (0.14 )   $ 0.28  
 
Diluted net income per common share
  $ 0.41     $ 1.16     $ 0.89     $ 3.18  
Cash dividends per share            
  $ 0.075     $ 0.075     $ 0.225     $ 0.225  
                                   



                         Contact: Berry Petroleum Company                                                  Investors and Media
1999 Broadway, Suite 3700                                                                     David Wolf                                1-303-999-4400
Denver, Colorado 80202                                                                         Shawn Canaday                        1-303-999-4000
   
Internet:  www.bry.com                                                                           SOURCE: Berry Petroleum Company
 

[    Berry Petroleum Company News       Page  5 of 6




CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
 
(In thousands)
 
(unaudited)
 
   
09/30/09
   
12/31/08
 
Assets
           
  Current assets
  $ 109,401     $ 189,080  
  Property, buildings & equipment, net
    2,096,897       2,254,425  
  Fair value of derivatives
    1,002       79,696  
  Other assets
    33,245       19,182  
    $ 2,240,545     $ 2,542,383  
Liabilities & Shareholders’ Equity
               
  Current liabilities
  $ 149,041     $ 260,625  
  Deferred taxes
    250,045       270,323  
  Long-term debt
    1,000,925       1,131,800  
  Other long-term liabilities
    64,057       47,888  
  Fair value of derivatives
    41,316       4,203  
  Shareholders’ equity
    735,161       827,544  
                                               
  $ 2,240,545     $ 2,542,383  

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
(In thousands)
 
(unaudited)
 
   
Nine Months
 
   
09/30/09
   
09/30/08
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
  Net income
  $ 41,026     $ 145,520  
  Depreciation, depletion & amortization  (DD&A)
    109,397       98,579  
  Loss on debt issuance costs
    10,823       -  
  Dry hole & impairment
    9,643       6,858  
  Commodity derivatives
    4,796       (8 )
  Stock based compensation
    7,054       6,653  
  Deferred income taxes
    13,546       76,502  
  Gain on sale of asset
    79       (510 )
  Other, net
    (362 )     (1,500 )
  Net changes in operating assets and liabilities
    (47,623 )     (846 )
                 
  Net cash provided by operating activities
    148,379       331,248  
                 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
    12,111       (986,865 )
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    (159,755 )     655,360  
                 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    735       (257 )
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year  
    240       316  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 975     $ 59  
                 
                 

                         Contact: Berry Petroleum Company                                                  Investors and Media
1999 Broadway, Suite 3700                                                                     David Wolf                                1-303-999-4400
Denver, Colorado 80202                                                                         Shawn Canaday                        1-303-999-4000
   
Internet:  www.bry.com                                                                           SOURCE: Berry Petroleum Company

    Berry Petroleum Company News       Page  6 of 6



COMPARATIVE OPERATING STATISTICS
(Unaudited)
Three Months

   
September 30, 2009
   
%
   
September 30, 2008
   
%
   
June 30, 2009
   
%
 
                                     
Heavy Oil Production (Bbl/D)
    16,780       59       17,264       49       16,822       57  
Light Oil Production (Bbl/D)
    2,530       9       3,898       11       3,085       11  
  Total Oil Production (Bbl/D)
    19,310       68       21,162       60       19,907       68  
Natural Gas Production (Mcf/D)
    54,637       32       83,928       40       56,174       32  
     Total Production (BOE/D)
    28,417       100       35,150       100       29,270       100  
                                                 
 DJ Basin Production (BOE/D)
    -               3,337               -          
 Production – Continuing Operations (BOE/D)
    28,417               31,813               29,270          
                                                 
                                                 
Oil and gas BOE for continuing operations:
                                               
Average sales price before hedging
  $ 45.41             $ 83.90             $ 39.34          
Average sales price after hedging
    46.39               67.04               45.74          
                                                 
Oil, per Bbl, for continuing operations:
                                               
Average WTI price
  $ 68.24             $ 118.22             $ 59.79          
Price sensitive royalties
    (2.36 )             (5.30 )             (2.08 )        
Quality differential and other
    (8.78 )             (10.80 )             (7.86 )        
Crude oil hedges
    0.87               (26.12 )             8.91          
Average oil sales price after hedging
  $ 57.97             $ 76.00             $ 58.76          
                                                 
Natural gas price for continuing operations:
                                               
Average Henry Hub price per MMBtu
  $ 3.39             $ 10.24             $ 3.51          
Conversion to Mcf
    0.17               0.51               0.18          
Natural gas hedges
    0.20               0.20               0.21          
Location, quality differentials and other
    (0.28 )             (2.69 )             (0.72 )        
Average gas sales price after hedging per Mcf
  $ 3.48             $ 8.26             $ 3.18          


# # #





                         Contact: Berry Petroleum Company                                                  Investors and Media
1999 Broadway, Suite 3700                                                                     David Wolf                                1-303-999-4400
Denver, Colorado 80202                                                                         Shawn Canaday                        1-303-999-4000
   
Internet:  www.bry.com                                                                           SOURCE: Berry Petroleum Company