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8-K - CURRENT REPORT - CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPchk02222011_8k.htm
Exhibit 99.1
 News Release
 
   
 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
 FEBRUARY 22, 2011

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION REPORTS FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL
RESULTS FOR THE 2010 FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR

Company Reports 2010 Fourth Quarter Net Income to Common Stockholders of
$180 Million, or $0.28 per Fully Diluted Common Share, on Revenue of $2.0 Billion;
Company Reports Adjusted Net Income Available to Common Stockholders of
$478 Million, or $0.70 per Fully Diluted Common Share, Adjusted Ebitda of
$1.3 Billion and Operating Cash Flow of $1.2 Billion

2010 Full Year Net Income to Common Stockholders Was $1.7 Billion, or $2.51 per
 Fully Diluted Common Share, on Revenue of $9.4 Billion; 2010 Full Year Adjusted
Net Income Available to Common Stockholders Was $2.0 Billion, or $2.95 per
Fully Diluted Common Share, 2010 Full Year Adjusted Ebitda and Operating
Cash Flow Were $5.1 Billion and $4.5 Billion, Respectively

2010 Full Year Production Averages 2.836 Bcfe per Day, an Increase of 14% Year over Year;
2010 Year-End Proved Reserves Reach 17.1 Tcfe; Company Adds Proved
Reserves of 5.1 Tcfe through the Drillbit at a 2010 Full Year
Drilling and Completion Cost of $1.07 per Mcfe

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, FEBRUARY 22, 2011 – Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE:CHK) today announced financial and operational results for the 2010 fourth quarter and full year.  For the 2010 fourth quarter, Chesapeake reported net income to common stockholders of $180 million ($0.28 per fully diluted common share) and operating cash flow (defined as cash flow from operating activities before changes in assets and liabilities) of $1.186 billion on revenue of $1.975 billion and production of 269 billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent (bcfe).  For the 2010 full year, Chesapeake reported net income to common stockholders of $1.663 billion ($2.51 per fully diluted common share) and operating cash flow of $4.548 billion on revenue of $9.366 billion and production of 1.035 trillion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent (tcfe).

The company’s 2010 fourth quarter and full year results include realized natural gas and oil hedging gains of $571 million and $2.056 billion, respectively.  The results also include various items that are typically not included in published estimates of the company’s financial results by certain securities analysts.  Excluding the items detailed below, for the 2010 fourth quarter, Chesapeake reported adjusted net income to common stockholders of $478 million ($0.70 per fully diluted common share) and adjusted ebitda of $1.274 billion and, for the 2010 full year, Chesapeake reported adjusted net income to common stockholders of $1.971 billion ($2.95 per fully diluted common share) and adjusted ebitda of $5.083 billion.  The excluded items and their effects on the 2010 fourth quarter and full year reported results are detailed as follows:
 
·  
a net unrealized after-tax mark-to-market loss of $392 million for the 2010 fourth quarter and $364 million for the full year resulting from the company’s natural gas, oil and interest rate hedging programs;
·  
a net after-tax gain of $95 million for the 2010 fourth quarter and $84 million for the full year related to the sale of certain of the company’s fixed assets;
·  
an after-tax gain of $74 million for the full year associated with certain equity investments where the investee sold additional equity to third parties at a price in excess of the company’s basis;
·  
an after-tax loss of $80 million for the full year related to the redemption or exchange of certain of the company’s senior notes;
·  
an after-tax charge of $1 million for the 2010 fourth quarter and $22 million for the full year for the impairment of certain of the company’s assets.

The various items described above do not materially affect the calculation of operating cash flow.  A reconciliation of operating cash flow, adjusted ebitda and adjusted net income to comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles is presented on pages 17 – 22 of this release.
 
 
INVESTOR CONTACTS:   
MEDIA CONTACTS:
 
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
Jeffrey L. Mobley, CFA
 
John J. Kilgallon
 
 Jim Gipson
 
 6100 North Western Avenue
(405) 767-4763
 
(405) 935-4441
 
 (405) 935-1310
 
 P.O. Box 18496
jeff.mobley@chk.com
 
john.kilgallon@chk.com
 
 jim.gipson@chk.com
 
 Oklahoma City, OK 73154
 
 
 
 
 

Key Operational and Financial Statistics Summarized

The table below summarizes Chesapeake’s key results during the 2010 fourth quarter and compares them to results during the 2010 third quarter and the 2009 fourth quarter and also compares the 2010 full year to the 2009 full year.
 

   
Three Months Ended
 
  Full Year Ended
   
   
12/31/10
 
  9/30/10
 
12/31/09
 
12/31/10
 
12/31/09
   
Average daily production (in mmcfe)(a)
   
2,920
   
3,043
   
2,618
 
2,836
   
2,481
   
Natural gas as % of total production
   
88
   
90
   
93
 
89
   
92
   
Natural gas production (in bcf)
   
235.3
   
252.8
   
224.5
 
924.9
   
834.8
   
Average realized natural gas price ($/mcf) (b)
   
5.22
   
5.20
   
6.05
 
5.57
   
5.93
   
Oil production (in mbbls)
   
5,562
   
4,533
   
2,737
 
18,395
   
11,790
   
Average realized oil price ($/bbl) (b)
   
62.62
   
59.81
   
71.61
 
62.71
   
58.38
   
Natural gas equivalent production (in bcfe)
   
268.7
   
280.0
   
240.9
 
1,035.2
   
905.5
   
Natural gas equivalent realized price ($/mcfe) (b)
   
5.87
   
5.67
   
6.45
 
6.09
   
6.22
   
Marketing, gathering and compression
                               
    net margin ($/mcfe) (c)
   
.13
   
.12
   
.23
 
.12
   
.16
   
Service operations net margin ($/mcfe) (c)
   
.05
   
.03
   
.02
 
.03
   
.01
   
Production expenses ($/mcfe)
   
(.90
)
 
(.83
)
 
(.86
)
(.86
)
 
(.97
)
 
Production taxes ($/mcfe)
   
(.14
)
 
(.12
)
 
(.15
)
(.15
)
 
(.12
)
 
General and administrative costs ($/mcfe) (d)
   
(.34
)
 
(.37
)
 
(.28
)
(.36
)
 
(.29
)
 
Stock-based compensation ($/mcfe)
   
(.08
)
 
(.07
)
 
(.09
)
(.08
)
 
(.09
)
 
DD&A of natural gas and oil properties ($/mcfe)
   
(1.37
)
 
(1.35
)
 
(1.39
)
(1.35
)
 
(1.51
)
 
D&A of other assets ($/mcfe)
   
(.23
)
 
(.20
)
 
(.28
)
(.21
)
 
(.27
)
 
Interest (expense) income ($/mcfe) (b)
   
.01
   
(.00
)
 
(.19
)
(.08
)
 
(.22
)
 
Operating cash flow ($ in millions) (e)
   
1,186
   
1,068
   
1,212
 
4,548
   
4,333
   
Operating cash flow ($/mcfe)
   
4.41
   
3.82
   
5.03
 
4.39
   
4.78
   
Adjusted ebitda ($ in millions) (f)
   
1,274
   
1,282
   
1,256
 
5,083
   
4,407
   
Adjusted ebitda ($/mcfe)
   
4.75
   
4.58
   
5.21
 
4.91
   
4.87
   
Net income (loss) to common stockholders ($ in millions)
   
180
   
515
   
(530
)
1,663
   
(5,853
)
 
Earnings (loss) per share – assuming dilution ($)
   
.28
   
.75
   
(.84
)
2.51
   
(9.57
)
 
Adjusted net income to common stockholders
($ in millions) (g)
   
478
   
478
   
490
 
1,971
   
1,585
   
Adjusted earnings per share – assuming dilution ($)
   
.70
   
.70
   
.77
 
2.95
   
2.55
   
                                 
 
(a)
2010 production reflects the sale of a 25% joint venture interest in the company’s Barnett Shale assets on January 25, 2010, and various other asset sales, including VPP 6, VPP 7 and VPP 8.
 
(b)
Includes the effects of realized gains (losses) from hedging, but does not include the effects of unrealized gains (losses) from hedging.
 
(c)
(d)
Includes revenue and operating costs and excludes depreciation and amortization of other assets.
Excludes expenses associated with non-cash stock-based compensation.
 
(e)
Defined as cash flow provided by operating activities before changes in assets and liabilities.
 
(f)
Defined as net income (loss) before income taxes, interest expense, and depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, as adjusted to remove the effects of certain items detailed on pages 19 and 20.
 
(g)
Defined as net income (loss) available to common stockholders, as adjusted to remove the effects of certain items detailed on pages 21 and 22.
 
 
2010 Full Year Average Daily Production Increases 14% over 2009 Full Year
Average Daily Production, Setting Record for 21st Consecutive Year

Chesapeake’s daily production for the 2010 fourth quarter averaged 2.920 bcfe, a decrease of 4% from the 3.043 bcfe produced per day in the 2010 third quarter and an increase of 12% over the 2.618 bcfe of daily production in the 2009 fourth quarter.  At the end of the 2010 third quarter, the company sold future production through a volumetric production payment covering a portion of its Barnett Shale assets, including approximately 350 million cubic feet of natural gas equivalent (mmcfe) per day of production in the 2010 fourth quarter.  Excluding this sale, the company’s 2010 fourth quarter production would have increased 7% sequentially and 25% year over year.  Chesapeake’s average daily production of 2.920 bcfe for the 2010 fourth quarter consisted of approximately 2.558 billion cubic feet of natural gas (bcf) (88% on a natural gas equivalent basis) and 60,457 barrels (bbls) of oil and natural gas liquids (NGLs) (12% on a natural gas equivalent basis).  For the 2010 fourth quarter, the company’s year over year growth rate of natural gas production was 5% and its year over year growth rate of oil and NGLs production was 103%.

The company’s daily production for the 2010 full year averaged 2.836 bcfe, an increase of 14% over the 2.481 bcfe of daily production for the 2009 full year.  Chesapeake’s average daily production for the 2010 full year of 2.836 bcfe consisted of 2.534 bcf (89% on a natural gas equivalent basis) and 50,397 bbls (11% on a natural gas equivalent basis).  The 2010 full year was Chesapeake’s 21st consecutive year of sequential production growth.  Chesapeake anticipates delivering a production growth rate of 25% over the next two years, net of property divestitures pursuant to its 25/25 Plan discussed on page 7 of this release.

 
 
 
 
Proved Natural Gas and Oil Reserves Increase by 2.8 Tcfe, or 20% for the 2010 Full Year to
 17.1 Tcfe; Company Adds Proved Reserves of 5.1 Tcfe through the Drillbit in
2010 at a Drilling and Completion Cost of $1.07 per Mcfe

During 2010, Chesapeake continued the industry’s most active drilling program, drilling 1,445 gross operated wells (938 net wells with an average working interest of 65%) and participating in another 1,586 gross wells operated by other companies (211 net wells with an average working interest of 13%).  The company’s drilling success rate was 98% for both company-operated and non-operated wells.  During 2010, Chesapeake’s drilling and completion costs include the benefit of approximately $1.151 billion of drilling and completion carries from its joint venture partners.

The following table compares Chesapeake’s December 31, 2010 proved reserves, the increase over its year-end 2009 proved reserves, reserve replacement ratio, estimated future net cash flows from proved reserves (discounted at an annual rate of 10% before income taxes (PV-10)), and proved developed percentage based on the trailing 12-month average price required under SEC rules and the 10-year average NYMEX strip prices at December 31, 2010.
 
Pricing Method
 
Natural
Gas Price
($/mcf)
 
 
Oil Price
($/bbl)
Proved
Reserves
(tcfe)(a)
Proved
Reserves
Growth
(tcfe)(b)
Proved
Reserves
Growth %(b)
Reserve Replacement
Ratio
 
PV-10
(billions)
Proved
Developed
Percentage
Trailing 12-month average (SEC)(c)
$4.38
$79.42
17.1
2.8
20%
375%
$15.1
53%
12/31/10 10-year average NYMEX strip(d)
$5.67
$93.53
17.6
2.1
13%
300%
$21.7
53%

(a)  
After sales of proved reserves of approximately 1.5 tcfe during 2010.
(b)  
Compares proved reserves and growth for 2010 under comparable pricing methods.  At year-end 2009, Chesapeake’s proved reserves were 14.3 tcfe using trailing 12-month average prices, which are required by SEC reporting rules, and 15.5 tcfe using the 10-year average NYMEX strip prices at December 31, 2009.
(c)  
Reserve volumes estimated using SEC reserve recognition standards and pricing assumptions based on the trailing 12-month average first-day-of-the-month prices as of December 31, 2010.  This pricing yields estimated "proved reserves" for SEC reporting purposes.  Natural gas and oil volumes estimated under the 10-year average NYMEX strip reflect an alternative pricing scenario that illustrates the sensitivity of proved reserves to a different pricing assumption.
(d)  
Futures prices represent an unbiased consensus estimate by market participants about the likely prices to be received for future production.  Management believes that 10-year average NYMEX strip prices provide a better indicator of the likely economic producibility of the company’s proved reserves than the historical 12-month average price.

The following table summarizes Chesapeake’s development costs for 2010 full year using the two pricing methods described above.
 
Development Cost Category
Trailing
12-Month Average
(SEC) Pricing
 ($/mcfe)
12/31/10
10-year Average
NYMEX Strip
Pricing
($/mcfe)
Drilling and completion costs (a)
$1.07
$1.07
Drilling, completion and net acquisition costs of proved properties (a)
$0.76
$0.78

(a)  
Includes performance-related reserve revisions and excludes price-related revisions. Costs are net of drilling and completion carries paid by the company’s joint venture partners.

A complete reconciliation of proved reserves and reserve replacement ratios based on these two alternative pricing methods, along with total costs, is presented on pages 12 and 13 of this release. Also, a reconciliation of PV-10 to the standardized measure is presented on page 14 of this release.
 
In addition to the PV-10 value of its proved reserves, the company also has substantial value in its undeveloped leasehold, particularly in the Haynesville, Marcellus, Barnett, Bossier and Fayetteville unconventional natural gas shale plays and the company’s unconventional liquids-rich plays, particularly in the Granite Wash, Cleveland, Tonkawa and Mississippian plays of the Anadarko Basin; the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas; the Niobrara Shale in the Powder River and Denver-Julesburg (DJ) basins; the Avalon, Bone Spring, Wolfcamp and Wolfberry plays in the Permian Basin; and various plays in the Williston Basin.

Additionally, the net book value of the company’s other assets (including gathering systems, compressors, land and buildings, investments and other non-current assets) was $6.1 billion as of December 31, 2010, compared to $6.7 billion as of December 31, 2009.  The decline in other assets is primarily due to the deconsolidation of the company’s midstream joint venture reflecting the implementation of new accounting guidance for certain investments and the sale of the company’s Springridge natural gas gathering system and related facilities to our affiliate, Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P.
 
 
Chesapeake’s Leasehold and 3-D Seismic Inventories Total 13.3 Million Net Acres
 and 27.9 Million Acres, Respectively; Risked Unproved Resources in the
Company’s Inventory Total 103 Tcfe

Since 2000, Chesapeake has built the largest combined inventories of onshore leasehold (13.3 million net acres) and 3-D seismic (27.9 million acres) in the U.S.  This position includes the largest inventory of U.S. natural gas shale play leasehold (2.5 million net acres) as well as the largest combined leasehold position in two of the three largest new unconventional liquids-rich plays in the U.S. – the Eagle Ford Shale and the Niobrara Shale.

On its total leasehold inventory, pro forma for the company’s recently announced sale of its Fayetteville Shale assets and the Powder River and DJ Basin cooperation agreement with CNOOC International Limited (CNOOC), a wholly owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited (NYSE:CEO; SEHK:00883), Chesapeake has identified an estimated 15.2 tcfe of proved reserves (using volume estimates based on the 10-year average NYMEX strip prices at December 31, 2010), 103 tcfe of risked unproved resources and 269 tcfe of unrisked unproved resources.  Pro forma for the Fayetteville Shale sale, the company is currently using 149 operated drilling rigs to further develop its inventory of approximately 37,800 net drillsites.  Of Chesapeake’s 149 operated rigs, 85 are drilling wells primarily focused on unconventional natural gas plays (including 50 operated rigs benefiting from drilling carries) and 61 are drilling wells primarily focused on unconventional liquids-rich plays (including 23 operated rigs benefiting from drilling carries) and 3 operated rigs are drilling in other plays.  In addition, 143 of the company’s 149 operated rigs are drilling horizontal wells.

In recognition of the value gap between oil and natural gas prices, during the past two years Chesapeake has directed a significant portion of its technological and leasehold acquisition expertise to identify, secure and commercialize new unconventional liquids-rich plays.  To date, Chesapeake has built leasehold positions and established production in multiple unconventional liquids-rich plays on approximately 4.1 million net leasehold acres with 5.2 billion barrels of oil equivalent (bboe) (30.9 tcfe) of risked unproved resources and 15.4 bboe (92.4 tcfe) of unrisked unproved resources.  As a result of its success to date, Chesapeake expects to increase its oil and natural gas liquids production through its drilling activities to more than 150,000 bbls per day, or 20%-25% of total production, by year-end 2012 and to more than 250,000 bbls per day, or 30%-35% of total production, through organic growth by year-end 2015.

The following table summarizes Chesapeake’s ownership and activity in its unconventional natural gas shale plays, its unconventional liquids-rich plays and its other conventional and unconventional plays.  Chesapeake uses a probability-weighted statistical approach to estimate the potential number of drillsites and unproved resources associated with such drillsites.
 
 
Note: ND denotes “not disclosed”; data is pro forma for announced Fayetteville sale and Powder River and DJ Basin cooperation agreement.
(1) As of December 31, 2010.
(2) Based on 10-year average NYMEX strip prices at December 31, 2010.
(3) Bossier Shale acreage overlaps with Haynesville Shale acreage and is excluded from the shale play sub-total to avoid double counting of acreage.
(4) Includes Colony, Texas Panhandle and other Granite Washes, Cleveland, Tonkawa and Mississippian plays.
(5) Includes only Delaware and Midland Basin plays.
(6) Includes Niobrara, Frontier and Codell plays.

 
Average Realized Prices, Hedging Results and Hedging Positions Detailed

Average prices realized during the 2010 fourth quarter (including realized gains or losses from natural gas and oil derivatives, but excluding unrealized gains or losses on such derivatives) were $5.22 per thousand cubic feet of natural gas (mcf) and $62.62 per bbl, for a realized natural gas equivalent price of $5.87 per thousand cubic feet of natural gas equivalent (mcfe).  Realized gains from natural gas and oil hedging activities during the 2010 fourth quarter generated a $2.39 gain per mcf and a $1.43 gain per bbl for a 2010 fourth quarter realized hedging gain of $571 million, or $2.13 per mcfe.

By comparison, average prices realized during the 2009 fourth quarter (including realized gains or losses from natural gas and oil derivatives, but excluding unrealized gains or losses on such derivatives) were $6.05 per mcf and $71.61 per bbl, for a realized natural gas equivalent price of $6.45 per mcfe.  Realized gains from natural gas and oil hedging activities during the 2009 fourth quarter generated a $2.42 gain per mcf and a $0.69 gain per bbl for a 2009 fourth quarter realized hedging gain of $544 million, or $2.26 per mcfe.

For the 2010 full year, average prices realized (including realized gains or losses from natural gas and oil derivatives, but excluding unrealized gains or losses on such derivatives) were $5.57 per mcf and $62.71 per bbl, for a realized natural gas equivalent price of $6.09 per mcfe.  Realized gains from natural gas and oil hedging activities during the 2010 full year generated a $2.14 gain per mcf and a $4.04 gain per bbl for a 2010 full year realized hedging gain of $2.056 billion, or $1.99 per mcfe.

By comparison, average prices realized during the 2009 full year (including realized gains or losses from natural gas and oil derivatives, but excluding unrealized gains or losses on such derivatives) were $5.93 per mcf and $58.38 per bbl, for a realized natural gas equivalent price of $6.22 per mcfe.  Realized gains from natural gas and oil hedging activities during the 2009 full year generated a $2.77 gain per mcf and a $2.78 gain per bbl for a 2009 full year realized hedging gain of $2.346 billion, or $2.59 per mcfe.

The company’s realized cash hedging gains since January 1, 2001 have been $6.478 billion or $1.18 per mcfe.
 
 
Company Provides Update on Hedging Positions

To provide protection against potentially weak natural gas prices in 2011 and 2012, Chesapeake has entered into hedges for a portion of its production in those two years.  Depending on changes in natural gas and oil futures markets and management’s view of underlying natural gas and oil supply and demand trends, Chesapeake may increase or decrease some or all of its hedging positions at any time in the future without notice.  The following table summarizes Chesapeake’s 2011 and 2012 open swap positions as of February 22, 2011.
 
    Natural Gas   Oil
Year   % of Forecasted Production   $ NYMEX  
% of Forecasted Production
  $ NYMEX
2011    92%   $5.27   5%   $99.39
2012    21%   $6.20   1%   $109.50

In addition to the open hedging positions disclosed above, as of February 22, 2011, the company had an additional $832 million and $42 million of net hedging gains on closed contracts and premiums collected on call options that will be realized in 2011 and 2012, respectively.
 
    Natural Gas   Oil
Year  
Forecasted
Production
(bcf)
   
Gains
(Losses)
($ in millions)
 
Gains
(Losses)
($/mcf)
 
Forecasted
Production
(mbbls)
   
Gains
(Losses)
($ in millions)
 
Gains
(Losses)
($/bbl)
2011   915    $781  
0.85
 
34,000
 
$51
 
1.49
2012    980    $(9)  
(0.01)
 
54,000
 
$51
  0.94

Assuming future NYMEX natural gas settlement prices average $4.50 and $5.50 per mcf for 2011 and 2012, respectively, and including the effect of the company’s open hedges, closed contracts and previously collected call premiums, the company estimates its average NYMEX natural gas prices will be $5.98 and $5.62 per mcf for 2011 and 2012, respectively.  Additionally, assuming future NYMEX oil settlement prices average $90.00 per bbl for 2011 and 2012, the company estimates its average NYMEX oil prices will be $89.28 and $89.60 per bbl for 2011 and 2012, respectively.  These estimates do not include the effect of basis differentials and gathering costs.

Details of the company’s quarter-end hedging positions, including sold call options, are provided in the company’s Form 10-Q and Form 10-K filings with the SEC and current positions are disclosed in summary format in the company’s Outlook.  The company’s updated forecasts for 2011 and 2012 are attached to this release in the Outlook dated February 22, 2011, labeled as Schedule “A,” which begins on page 23.  This Outlook has been changed from the Outlook dated November 3, 2010, attached as Schedule “B,” which begins on page 27, to reflect various updated information.
 
 
Company Provides Update on 25/25 Plan

On January 6, 2011, Chesapeake announced its 25/25 Plan, which outlined the company’s plan to reduce its long-term debt by 25% during 2011-12 while also growing net natural gas and oil production by 25% during these two years.  The company expects to achieve the reduction in debt primarily with proceeds from asset sales and from substantially reduced leasehold spending during this period.

Two recently announced transactions reflect the company’s substantial progress already made in implementing its 25/25 Plan.  On February 11, 2011, the company closed its Niobrara Shale cooperation agreement through which CNOOC purchased a 33.3% undivided interest in Chesapeake’s 800,000 net natural gas and oil leasehold acres in the DJ and Powder River Basins in Colorado and Wyoming for approximately $4,750 per net acre.  The company received approximately $570 million in cash at closing, and CNOOC has agreed to fund 66.7% of Chesapeake’s share of drilling and completion costs until an additional $697 million has been paid, which Chesapeake expects to occur by year-end 2014.

In addition, on February 21, 2011, Chesapeake announced an agreement to sell all its upstream and midstream assets in the Fayetteville Shale to BHP Billiton Petroleum, a wholly owned subsidiary of BHP Billiton Limited (NYSE:BHP; ASX:BHP), for $4.75 billion in cash before certain deductions and standard closing adjustments.  The company anticipates the transaction will close in the first half of 2011.


 
 
 
 

2010 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial and Operational Results
Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss this release has been scheduled for Wednesday, February 23, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. EST.  The telephone number to access the conference call is 913-981-5549 or toll-free 888-211-7383.  The passcode for the call is 6147630.  We encourage those who would like to participate in the call to dial the access number between 10:50 and 11:00 a.m. EST.  For those unable to participate in the conference call, a replay will be available for audio playback from 3:00 p.m. EST on February 23, 2011, through midnight EST on March 9, 2011.  The number to access the conference call replay is 719-457-0820 or toll-free 888-203-1112.  The passcode for the replay is 6147630.  The conference call will also be webcast live on Chesapeake’s website at www.chk.com in the “Events” subsection of the “Investors” section of the website.  The webcast of the conference call will be available on Chesapeake’s website for one year.

This news release and the accompanying Outlooks include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Forward-looking statements are statements other than statements of historical fact and give our current expectations or forecasts of future events.  They include estimates of natural gas and oil reserves and resources, expected natural gas and oil production and future expenses, assumptions regarding future natural gas and oil prices, planned drilling activity, drilling and completion costs and anticipated asset sales, projected cash flow and liquidity, business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations.  Disclosures concerning the fair value of derivative contracts and their estimated contribution to our future results of operations are based upon market information as of a specific date.  These market prices are subject to significant volatility.  We caution you not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release, and we undertake no obligation to update this information.
 
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results are described under “Risks Related to Our Business” in our Prospectus Supplement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on February 9, 2011.  These risk factors include the volatility of natural gas and oil prices; the limitations our level of indebtedness may have on our financial flexibility; declines in the values of our natural gas and oil properties resulting in ceiling test write-downs; the availability of capital on an economic basis, including through planned asset monetization transactions, to fund reserve replacement costs; our ability to replace reserves and sustain production; uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of natural gas and oil reserves and projecting future rates of production and the amount and timing of development expenditures; inability to generate profits or achieve targeted results in drilling and well operations; leasehold terms expiring before production can be established; hedging activities resulting in lower prices realized on natural gas and oil sales; the need to secure hedging liabilities and the inability of hedging counterparties to satisfy their obligations; a reduced ability to borrow or raise additional capital as a result of lower natural gas and oil prices; drilling and operating risks, including potential environmental liabilities; legislative and regulatory changes adversely affecting our industry and our business; general economic conditions negatively impacting us and our business counterparties; transportation capacity constraints and interruptions that could adversely affect our cash flow; and losses possible from pending or future litigation.
 
Our production forecasts are dependent upon many assumptions, including estimates of production decline rates from existing wells and the outcome of future drilling activity.  Although we believe the expectations and forecasts reflected in these and other forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance they will prove to have been correct.  They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties.
 
The SEC requires natural gas and oil companies, in filings made with the SEC, to disclose proved reserves, which are those quantities of natural gas and oil that by analysis of geoscience and engineering data can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible—from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations—prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation.  In this news release, we use the terms “risked and unrisked unproved resources” to describe Chesapeake’s internal estimates of volumes of natural gas and oil that are not classified as proved reserves but are potentially recoverable through exploratory drilling or additional drilling or recovery techniques.  These are broader descriptions of potentially recoverable volumes than probable and possible reserves, as defined by SEC regulations.  Estimates of unproved resources are by their nature more speculative than estimates of proved reserves and accordingly are subject to substantially greater risk of actually being realized by the company.  We believe our estimates of unproved resources are reasonable, but such estimates have not been reviewed by independent engineers.  Estimates of unproved resources may change significantly as development provides additional data, and actual quantities that are ultimately recovered may differ substantially from prior estimates.
 
Chesapeake Energy Corporation is the second-largest producer of natural gas and the most active driller of new wells in the U.S.  Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the company's operations are focused on discovering and developing unconventional natural gas and oil fields onshore in the U.S.  Chesapeake owns leading positions in the Barnett, Fayetteville, Haynesville, Marcellus and Bossier natural gas shale plays and in the Eagle Ford, Granite Wash, Cleveland, Tonkawa, Mississippian, Wolfcamp, Bone Spring, Avalon, Niobrara and Williston Basin unconventional liquids plays.  The company has also vertically integrated its operations and owns substantial midstream, compression, drilling and oilfield service assets.  Further information is available at www.chk.com where Chesapeake routinely posts announcements, updates, events, investor information and presentations and all recent press releases.
 
 
 
 
 
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
($ in millions, except per-share and unit data)
(unaudited)

THREE MONTHS ENDED:
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
2010
 
  2009
 
 
$
 
$/mcfe
 
$
 
$/mcfe
 
REVENUES:
                       
Natural gas and oil sales
 
949
   
3.53
   
1,368
   
5.68
 
Marketing, gathering and compression sales
 
959
   
3.57
   
803
   
3.33
 
Service operations revenue
 
67
   
0.25
   
51
   
0.21
 
Total Revenues
 
1,975
   
7.35
   
2,222
   
9.22
 
                         
OPERATING COSTS:
                       
Production expenses
 
241
   
0.90
   
206
   
0.86
 
Production taxes
 
38
   
0.14
   
36
   
0.15
 
General and administrative expenses
 
114
   
0.42
   
89
   
0.37
 
Marketing, gathering and compression expenses
 
923
   
3.44
   
747
   
3.10
 
Service operations expense
 
55
   
0.20
   
47
   
0.19
 
Natural gas and oil depreciation, depletion and
amortization
 
368
   
1.37
   
335
   
1.39
 
Depreciation and amortization of other assets
 
61
   
0.23
   
67
   
0.28
 
Impairment of natural gas and oil properties
 
   
   
1,400
   
5.81
 
(Gains) losses on sale of other property
and equipment
 
(154
)
 
(0.57
)
 
   
 
Other impairments
 
1
   
   
8
   
0.03
 
Total Operating Costs
 
1,647
   
6.13
   
2,935
   
12.18
 
                         
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS
 
328
   
1.22
   
(713
)
 
(2.96
)
                         
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
                       
Interest expense
 
(7
)
 
(0.03
)
 
(62
)
 
(0.25
)
Earnings (losses) from equity investees
 
37
   
0.14
   
(7
)
 
(0.03
)
Losses on redemptions or exchanges of debt
 
   
   
(21
)
 
(0.09
)
Other income
 
5
   
0.02
   
5
   
0.02
 
Total Other Income (Expense)
 
35
   
0.13
   
(85
)
 
(0.35
)
                         
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES
 
363
   
1.35
   
(798
)
 
(3.31
)
                         
Income tax expense (benefit):
                       
Current income taxes
 
(4
)
 
(0.02
)
 
3
   
0.01
 
Deferred income taxes
 
144
   
0.54
   
(302
)
 
(1.25
)
Total Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
 
140
   
0.52
   
(299
)
 
(1.24
)
                         
NET INCOME (LOSS)
 
223
   
0.83
   
(499
)
 
(2.07
)
                         
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest
 
   
   
(25
)
 
(0.11
)
                         
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO CHESAPEAKE
 
223
   
0.83
   
(524
)
 
(2.18
)
                         
Preferred stock dividends
 
(43
)
 
(0.16
)
 
(6
)
 
(0.02
)
                         
NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO
  COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
 
180
   
0.67
   
(530
)
 
(2.20
)
                         
EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE:
                       
Basic
$
0.29
       
$
(0.84
)
     
Diluted
$
0.28
       
$
(0.84
)
     
                         
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON AND COMMON
                       
  EQUIVALENT SHARES OUTSTANDING (in millions)
                       
Basic
 
632
         
628
       
Diluted
 
639
         
628
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
($ in millions, except per-share and unit data)
(unaudited)

TWELVE MONTHS ENDED:
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
2010
 
  2009
 
 
$
 
$/mcfe
 
$
 
$/mcfe
 
REVENUES:
                       
Natural gas and oil sales
 
5,647
   
5.46
   
5,049
   
5.57
 
Marketing, gathering and compression sales
 
3,479
   
3.36
   
2,463
   
2.72
 
Service operations revenue
 
240
   
0.23
   
190
   
0.21
 
Total Revenues
 
9,366
   
9.05
   
7,702
   
8.50
 
                         
OPERATING COSTS:
                       
Production expenses
 
893
   
0.86
   
876
   
0.97
 
Production taxes
 
157
   
0.15
   
107
   
0.12
 
General and administrative expenses
 
453
   
0.44
   
349
   
0.38
 
Marketing, gathering and compression expenses
 
3,352
   
3.24
   
2,316
   
2.56
 
Service operations expense
 
208
   
0.20
   
182
   
0.20
 
Natural gas and oil depreciation, depletion and
amortization
 
1,394
   
1.35
   
1,371
   
1.51
 
Depreciation and amortization of other assets
 
220
   
0.21
   
244
   
0.27
 
Impairment of natural gas and oil properties
 
   
   
11,000
   
12.15
 
(Gains) losses on sale of other property and
equipment
 
(137
)
 
(0.13
)
 
38
   
0.04
 
Other impairments
 
21
   
0.02
   
130
   
0.14
 
Restructuring costs
 
   
   
34
   
0.04
 
Total Operating Costs
 
6,561
   
6.34
   
16,647
   
18.38
 
                         
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS
 
2,805
   
2.71
   
(8,945
)
 
(9.88
)
                         
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
                       
Interest expense
 
(19
)
 
(0.02
)
 
(113
)
 
(0.13
)
Earnings (losses) from equity investees
 
227
   
0.22
   
(39
)
 
(0.04
)
Losses on redemptions or exchanges of debt
 
(129
)
 
(0.12
)
 
(40
)
 
(0.04
)
Impairment of investments
 
(16
)
 
(0.02
)
 
(162
)
 
0.18
)
Other income (expense)
 
16
   
0.02
   
11
   
(0.01
)
Total Other Income (Expense)
 
79
   
0.08
   
(343
)
 
(0.38
)
                         
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES
 
2,884
   
2.79
   
(9,288
)
 
(10.26
)
                         
Income tax expense (benefit):
                       
Current income taxes
 
   
   
4
   
 
Deferred income taxes
 
1,110
   
1.07
   
(3,487
)
 
(3.85
)
Total Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
 
1,110
   
1.07
   
(3,483
)
 
(3.85
)
                         
NET INCOME (LOSS)                                           
 
1,774
   
1.72
   
(5,805
)
 
(6.41
)
                         
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
 
   
   
(25
)
 
(0.03
)
                         
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO CHESAPEAKE
 
1,774
   
1.72
   
(5,830
)
 
(6.44
)
                         
Preferred stock dividends
 
(111
)
 
(0.11
)
 
(23
)
 
(0.02
)
                         
NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO
  COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
 
1,663
   
1.61
   
(5,853
)
 
(6.46
)
                         
EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE:
                       
Basic
$
2.63
       
$
(9.57
)
     
Diluted
$
2.51
       
$
(9.57
)
     
                         
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON AND COMMON
                       
  EQUIVALENT SHARES OUTSTANDING (in millions)
                       
Basic
 
631
         
612
       
Diluted
 
706
         
612
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
($ in millions)
(unaudited)

   
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
   
2010
 
2009
 
               
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
102
 
$
307
 
Other current assets
   
3,164
   
2,139
 
Total Current Assets
   
3,266
   
2,446
 
               
Property and equipment (net)
   
32,378
   
26,710
 
Other assets
   
1,535
   
758
 
Total Assets
 
$
37,179
 
$
29,914
 
               
Current liabilities
 
$
4,490
 
$
2,688
 
Long-term debt, net of discounts (a)
   
12,640
   
12,295
 
Asset retirement obligations
   
301
   
282
 
Other long-term liabilities
   
2,100
   
1,249
 
Deferred tax liability
   
2,384
   
1,059
 
Total Liabilities
   
21,915
   
17,573
 
               
Chesapeake stockholders’ equity
   
15,264
   
11,444
 
Noncontrolling interest(b)
   
   
897
 
Total Equity
   
15,264
   
12,341
 
               
Total Liabilities & Equity
 
$
37,179
 
$
29,914
 
               
Common Shares Outstanding (in millions)
   
654
   
648
 

 
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
CAPITALIZATION
($ in millions)
(unaudited)

 
December 31,
 
% of Total Book
 
December 31,
 
% of Total Book
 
2010
 
Capitalization
 
2009
 
Capitalization
                         
Total debt, net of cash(a)
 
$
12,538
     
45
%
   
$
11,988
     
49
%
 
Chesapeake
stockholders' equity
   
15,264
     
55
%
     
11,444
     
47
%
 
Noncontrolling interest(b)
   
     
       
897
     
4
%
 
Total
 
$
27,802
     
100
%
   
$
24,329
     
100
%
 

(a)
At December 31, 2010, includes $3.706 billion of combined borrowings under the company’s $4.0 billion revolving bank credit facility and the company’s $300 million midstream revolving bank credit facility.  At December 31, 2010, the company had $581 million of additional borrowing capacity under these two revolving bank credit facilities.
(b)
Effective January 1, 2010, we no longer consolidate the company’s midstream joint venture and consequently no longer report a noncontrolling interest related to this investment.

 
 
 
 
 
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF 2010 ADDITIONS TO NATURAL GAS AND OIL PROPERTIES
BASED ON SEC PRICING OF TRAILING 12-MONTH AVERAGE PRICES AT DECEMBER 31, 2010
 ($ in millions, except per-unit data)
(unaudited)

   
Proved Reserves
 
   
Cost
   
Bcfe(a)
   
$/Mcfe
 
       
Drilling and completion costs(b)
 
$
5,430
     
5,092
(c)
 
1.07
 
Acquisition of proved properties
   
243
     
89
     
2.73
 
Sale of proved properties
   
(2,876
)
   
(1,493
)
   
1.93
 
Drilling, completion and net acquisition costs of proved properties
   
2,797
     
3,688
     
0.76
 
                         
Revisions – price
   
     
189
     
 
                         
Acquisition of unproved properties and leasehold
   
6,266
     
     
 
Sale of unproved properties and leasehold
   
(1,524
)
   
     
 
 Net unproved properties and leasehold  acquisition
   
4,742
     
     
 
                         
Capitalized interest on leasehold and unproved property
   
711
     
     
 
Geological and geophysical costs
   
157
     
     
 
Capitalized interest and geological and geophysical costs
   
868
     
     
 
                         
Subtotal
   
8,407
     
3,877
     
2.17
 
                         
Asset retirement obligation and other
   
2
     
     
 
Total costs
 
$
8,409
     
3,877
     
2.17
 

 
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
ROLL-FORWARD OF PROVED RESERVES
TWELVE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010
BASED ON SEC PRICING OF TRAILING 12-MONTH AVERAGE PRICES AT DECEMBER 31, 2010
(unaudited)

   
Bcfe(a)
 
 
   
Beginning balance, 01/01/10
 
14,254
 
Production
 
(1,035
)
Acquisitions
 
89
 
Divestitures
 
(1,493
)
Revisions – changes to previous estimates
 
(6
)
Revisions – price
 
189
 
Extensions and discoveries
 
5,098
 
Ending balance, 12/31/10
 
17,096
 
       
Proved reserves growth rate
 
        20
%
       
Proved developed reserves
 
9,143
 
Proved developed reserves percentage
 
      53
%
       
Reserve replacement
 
3,877
 
Reserve replacement ratio (d)
 
      375
%


(a)
Reserve volumes estimated using SEC reserve recognition standards and pricing assumptions based on the trailing 12-month average first-day-of-the-month prices as of December 31, 2010, of $4.38 per mcf of natural gas and $79.42 per bbl of oil, before field differential adjustments.
(b)
Net of drilling and completion carries of $1.151 billion associated with the Statoil, Total and CNOOC-Eagle Ford joint ventures.
(c)
Includes 6 bcfe of downward revisions resulting from changes to previous estimates and excludes positive revisions of 189 bcfe resulting from higher natural gas and oil prices using the average first-day-of-the-month price for the twelve months ended December 31, 2010, compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2009.
(d)
The company uses the reserve replacement ratio as an indicator of the company’s ability to replenish annual production volumes and grow its reserves.  It should be noted that the reserve replacement ratio is a statistical indicator that has limitations.  The ratio is limited because it typically varies widely based on the extent and timing of new discoveries and property acquisitions.  Its predictive and comparative value is also limited for the same reasons.  In addition, since the ratio does not embed the cost or timing of future production of new reserves, it cannot be used as a measure of value creation.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF 2010 ADDITIONS TO NATURAL GAS AND OIL PROPERTIES
BASED ON 10-YEAR AVERAGE NYMEX STRIP PRICES AT DECEMBER 31, 2010
 ($ in millions, except per-unit data)
(unaudited)
   
Proved Reserves
 
   
Cost
   
Bcfe(a)
   
$/Mcfe
 
       
Drilling and completion costs(b)
 
$
5,430
     
5,062
(c)
 
1.07
 
Acquisition of proved properties
   
243
     
82
     
2.96
 
Sale of proved properties
   
(2,876
)
   
(1,574
)
   
1.83
 
Drilling, completion and net acquisition costs of proved properties
   
2,797
     
3,570
     
0.78
 
                         
Revisions – price
   
     
(470
)
   
 
                         
Acquisition of unproved properties and leasehold
   
6,266
     
     
 
Sale of unproved properties and leasehold
   
(1,524
)
   
     
 
 Net unproved properties and leasehold  acquisition
   
4,742
     
     
 
                         
Capitalized interest on leasehold and unproved property
   
711
     
     
 
Geological and geophysical costs
   
157
     
     
 
Capitalized interest and geological and geophysical costs
   
868
     
     
 
                         
Subtotal
   
8,407
     
3,100
     
2.71
 
                         
Asset retirement obligation and other
   
2
     
     
 
Total costs
 
$
8,409
     
3,100
     
2.71
 


CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
ROLL-FORWARD OF PROVED RESERVES
TWELVE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010
BASED ON 10-YEAR AVERAGE NYMEX STRIP PRICES AT DECEMBER 31, 2010
 (unaudited)
 
   
Bcfe(a)
 
 
   
Beginning balance, 01/01/10
 
15,540
 
Production
 
(1,035
)
Acquisitions
 
82
 
Divestitures
 
(1,574
)
Revisions – changes to previous estimates
 
350
 
Revisions – price
 
(470
)
Extensions and discoveries
 
4,712
 
Ending balance, 12/31/10
 
17,605
 
       
Proved reserves growth rate
 
         13
%
       
Proved developed reserves
 
9,399
 
Proved developed reserves percentage
 
          53
%
       
Reserve replacement
 
3,100
 
Reserve replacement ratio (d)
 
     300
%

(a)
Reserve volumes estimated using SEC reserve recognition standards and 10-year average NYMEX strip prices as of December 31, 2010 of $5.67 per mcf of natural gas and $93.53 per bbl of oil, before field differential adjustments.  Futures prices, such as the 10-year average NYMEX strip prices, represent an unbiased consensus estimate by market participants about the likely prices to be received for our future production.  Chesapeake uses such forward-looking market-based data in developing its drilling plans, assessing its capital expenditure needs and projecting future cash flows.  Chesapeake believes these prices are better indicators of the likely economic producibility of proved reserves than the trailing 12-month average price required by the SEC's reporting rule.
(b)
Net of drilling and completion carries of $1.151 billion associated with the Statoil, Total and CNOOC-Eagle Ford joint ventures.
(c)
Includes 350 bcfe of positive revisions resulting from changes to previous estimates and excludes downward revisions of 470 bcfe resulting from lower natural gas prices using 10-year average NYMEX strip prices as of December 31, 2010 compared to NYMEX strip prices as of December 31, 2009.
(d)
The company uses the reserve replacement ratio as an indicator of the company’s ability to replenish annual production volumes and grow its reserves.  It should be noted that the reserve replacement ratio is a statistical indicator that has limitations.  The ratio is limited because it typically varies widely based on the extent and timing of new discoveries and property acquisitions.  Its predictive and comparative value is also limited for the same reasons.  In addition, since the ratio does not embed the cost or timing of future production of new reserves, it cannot be used as a measure of value creation.
 
 
 
 
 
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF PV-10
($ in millions)
(unaudited)
   
  December 31,
 2010
   
December 31,
2009
           
Standardized measure of discounted future
 $
      13,183
 
               8,203
   net cash flows
         
           
Discounted future cash flows for income taxes
 
1,963
   
1, 246
           
Discounted future net cash flows before income
         
    taxes (PV-10)
      15,146
 
        9,449
           

PV-10 is discounted (at 10%) future net cash flows before income taxes.  The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows includes the effects of estimated future income tax expenses and is calculated in accordance with Accounting Standards Topic 932.  Management uses PV-10 as one measure of the value of the company's current proved reserves and to compare relative values among peer companies without regard to income taxes.  We also understand that securities analysts and rating agencies use this measure in similar ways.  While PV-10 is based on prices, costs and discount factors which are consistent from company to company, the standardized measure is dependent on the unique tax situation of each individual company.

The company’s December 31, 2010 PV-10 and standardized measure were calculated using the trailing 12-moth average first-day-of-the-month prices as of December 31, 2010 of $4.38 per mcf and $79.42 per bbl.  The company’s December 31, 2009 PV-10 and standardized measure were calculated using the trailing 12-month average first day-of-the-month prices as of December 31, 2009 of $3.87 per mcf and $61.14 per bbl.
 
 
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA – NATURAL GAS AND OIL SALES AND INTEREST EXPENSE
 (unaudited)

   
THREE MONTHS ENDED
   
TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
 
   
DECEMBER 31,
   
DECEMBER 31,
 
   
2010
     
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
                                 
Natural Gas and Oil Sales ($ in millions):
                               
Natural gas sales
 
$
666
   
$
816
   
$
3,169
   
$
2,635
 
Natural gas derivatives – realized gains (losses)
   
563
     
542
     
1,982
     
2,313
 
Natural gas derivatives – unrealized gains
(losses)
   
(109
)
   
(94
)
   
425
     
(492
)
                                 
Total Natural Gas Sales
   
1,120
     
1,264
     
5,576
     
4,456
 
                                 
Oil sales
   
340
     
194
     
1,079
     
656
 
Oil derivatives – realized gains (losses)
   
8
     
2
     
74
     
33
 
Oil derivatives – unrealized gains (losses)
   
(519
)
   
(92
)
   
(1,082
)
   
(96
)
                                 
Total Oil Sales
   
(171
)
   
104
     
71
     
593
 
                                 
Total Natural Gas and Oil Sales
 
$
949
   
$
1,368
   
$
5,647
   
$
5,049
 
                                 
Average Sales Price – excluding gains
(losses) on derivatives:
                               
Natural gas ($ per mcf)
 
$
2.83
   
$
3.63
   
$
3.43
   
$
3.16
 
Oil ($ per bbl)
 
$
61.19
   
$
70.92
   
$
58.67
   
$
55.60
 
Natural gas equivalent ($ per mcfe)
 
$
3.74
   
$
4.19
   
$
4.10
   
$
3.63
 
                                 
Average Sales Price – excluding unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives:
                               
Natural gas ($ per mcf)
 
$
5.22
   
$
6.05
   
$
5.57
   
$
5.93
 
Oil ($ per bbl)
 
$
62.62
   
$
71.61
   
$
62.71
   
$
58.38
 
Natural gas equivalent ($ per mcfe)
 
$
5.87
   
$
6.45
   
$
6.09
   
$
6.22
 
                                 
Interest Expense ($ in millions):
                               
Interest
 
$
6
   
$
50
   
$
99
   
$
227
 
Derivatives – realized (gains) losses
   
(8
)
   
(4
)
   
(14
)
   
(23
)
Derivatives – unrealized (gains) losses
   
9
     
16
     
(66
)
   
(91
)
Total Interest Expense (Income)
 
$
7
   
$
62
   
$
19
   
$
113
 

   
 
 
 
 
 
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW DATA
($ in millions)
(unaudited)

THREE MONTHS ENDED:
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
               
Beginning cash
$
609
   
$
520
 
Cash provided by operating activities
$
1,145
   
$
1,226
 
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities:
             
Exploration and development of natural gas and oil properties
$
(1,524
)
 
$
(782
)
   Acquisitions of natural gas and oil proved and unproved properties
 
(2,676
)
   
(920
)
Divestitures of proved and unproved properties
 
1,185
     
197
 
   Other property and equipment, net
 
198
     
(302
)
Investments, net
 
(21
)
   
 
Other
 
1
     
(1
)
Total cash (used in) investing activities
$
(2,837
)
 
$
(1,808
)
Cash provided by financing activities
$
1,185
   
$
369
 
Ending cash
$
102
   
$
307
 
               



TWELVE MONTHS ENDED:
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
               
Beginning cash
$
307
   
$
1,749
 
Cash provided by operating activities
$
5,117
   
$
4,356
 
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities:
             
Exploration and development of natural gas and oil properties
$
(5,242
)
 
$
(3,572
)
Acquisitions of natural gas and oil proved and unprovedproperties
 
(6,945
)
   
(2,268
)
Divestitures of proved and unproved properties
 
4,292
     
1,926
 
Other property and equipment, net
 
(443
)
   
(1,507
)
Investments, net
 
(134
)
   
(40
)
Other
 
(31
)
   
(1
)
Total cash (used in) investing activities
$
(8,503
)
 
$
(5,462
)
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities
$
3,181
   
$
(336
)
Ending cash
$
102
   
$
307
 
               
 
 
 
 
 
 
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING CASH FLOW AND EBITDA
($ in millions)
(unaudited)
THREE MONTHS ENDED:
December 31,
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
2010
   
2010
   
2009
 
                       
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
$
1,145
   
$
993
   
$
1,226
 
                       
Changes in assets and liabilities
 
41
     
75
     
(14
)
                       
OPERATING CASH FLOW(a)
$
1,186
   
$
1,068
   
$
1,212
 

THREE MONTHS ENDED:
December 31,
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
2010
   
2010
   
2009
 
                       
NET INCOME (LOSS)
$
223
   
$
558
   
$
(499
)
                       
Income tax expense (benefit)
 
140
     
349
     
(299
)
Interest expense
 
7
     
3
     
62
 
Depreciation and amortization of other assets
 
61
     
56
     
67
 
Natural gas and oil depreciation, depletion andamortization
 
368
     
378
     
335
 
                       
EBITDA (b)
$
799
   
$
1,344
   
$
(334
)

THREE MONTHS ENDED:
December 31,
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
2010
   
2010
   
2009
 
                       
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
$
1,145
   
$
993
   
$
1,226
 
                       
Changes in assets and liabilities
 
41
     
75
     
(14
)
Interest expense (income)
 
7
     
3
     
62
 
Unrealized gains (losses) on natural gas and oilderivatives
 
(628
)
   
53
     
(186
)
Realized gains on financing derivatives
 
185
     
165
     
101
 
Impairment of natural gas and oil properties
 
     
     
(1,400
)
Gains (losses) on sale of other property and equipment
 
154
     
(17
)
   
 
Other impairments
 
(1
)
   
(20
)
   
(8
)
Gains (losses) on equity investments
 
(13
)
   
155
     
(7
)
Impairment of investments
 
     
(16
)
   
 
Stock-based compensation
 
(36
)
   
(44
)
   
(36
)
Other items
 
(55
)
   
(3
)
   
(72
)
                       
EBITDA(b)
$
799
   
$
1,344
   
$
(334
)

(a)
Operating cash flow represents net cash provided by operating activities before changes in assets and liabilities.  Operating cash flow is presented because management believes it is a useful adjunct to net cash provided by operating activities under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP).  Operating cash flow is widely accepted as a financial indicator of a natural gas and oil company's ability to generate cash which is used to internally fund exploration and development activities and to service debt.  This measure is widely used by investors and rating agencies in the valuation, comparison, rating and investment recommendations of companies within the natural gas and oil exploration and production industry.  Operating cash flow is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to cash flows from operating, investing or financing activities as an indicator of cash flows, or as a measure of liquidity.
(b)
Ebitda represents net income (loss) before income tax expense, interest expense and depreciation, depletion and amortization expense.  Ebitda is presented as a supplemental financial measurement in the evaluation of our business.  We believe that it provides additional information regarding our ability to meet our future debt service, capital expenditures and working capital requirements.  This measure is widely used by investors and rating agencies in the valuation, comparison, rating and investment recommendations of companies.  Ebitda is also a financial measurement that, with certain negotiated adjustments, is reported to our lenders pursuant to our bank credit agreements and is used in the financial covenants in our bank credit agreements and our senior note indentures.  Ebitda is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP.  Accordingly, it should not be considered as a substitute for net income, income from operations, or cash flow provided by operating activities prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 
 
 
 
 
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING CASH FLOW AND EBITDA
($ in millions)
(unaudited)
 
TWELVE MONTHS ENDED:
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
               
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
$
5,117
   
$
4,356
 
               
Changes in assets and liabilities
 
(569
)
   
(23
)
               
OPERATING CASH FLOW(a)
$
4,548
   
$
4,333
 
 

 
TWELVE MONTHS ENDED:
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
               
NET INCOME (LOSS)
$
1,774
   
$
(5,805
)
               
Income tax expense (benefit)
 
1,110
     
(3,483
)
Interest expense
 
19
     
113
 
Depreciation and amortization of other assets
 
220
     
244
 
Natural gas and oil depreciation, depletion and amortization
 
1,394
     
1,371
 
               
EBITDA(b)
$
4,517
   
$
(7,560
)

 

 
TWELVE MONTHS ENDED:
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
2010
   
2009
 
               
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
$
5,117
   
$
4,356
 
               
Changes in assets and liabilities
 
(569
)
   
(23
)
Interest expense
 
19
     
113
 
Unrealized gains (losses) on natural gas and oil derivatives
 
(658
)
   
(588
)
Realized gains on financing derivatives
 
621
     
154
 
Impairment of natural gas and oil properties
 
     
(11,000
)
Gains (losses) on sale of other property and equipment
 
137
     
(38
)
Other impairments
 
(21
)
   
(130
)
Gains (losses) on equity investments
 
107
     
(39
)
Impairment of investments
 
(16
)
   
(162
)
Stock-based compensation
 
(147
)
   
(140
)
Restructuring costs
 
     
(12
)
Other items
 
(73
)
   
(51
)
               
EBITDA(b)
$
4,517
   
$
(7,560
)

(a)
Operating cash flow represents net cash provided by operating activities before changes in assets and liabilities.  Operating cash flow is presented because management believes it is a useful adjunct to net cash provided by operating activities under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP).  Operating cash flow is widely accepted as a financial indicator of a natural gas and oil company's ability to generate cash which is used to internally fund exploration and development activities and to service debt.  This measure is widely used by investors and rating agencies in the valuation, comparison, rating and investment recommendations of companies within the natural gas and oil exploration and production industry.  Operating cash flow is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to cash flows from operating, investing or financing activities as an indicator of cash flows, or as a measure of liquidity.
(b)
Ebitda represents net income (loss) before income tax expense, interest expense and depreciation, depletion and amortization expense.  Ebitda is presented as a supplemental financial measurement in the evaluation of our business.  We believe that it provides additional information regarding our ability to meet our future debt service, capital expenditures and working capital requirements.  This measure is widely used by investors and rating agencies in the valuation, comparison, rating and investment recommendations of companies.  Ebitda is also a financial measurement that, with certain negotiated adjustments, is reported to our lenders pursuant to our bank credit agreements and is used in the financial covenants in our bank credit agreements and our senior note indentures.  Ebitda is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP.  Accordingly, it should not be considered as a substitute for net income, income from operations, or cash flow provided by operating activities prepared in accordance with GAAP.
 
 
 
 
 
 
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA
($ in millions)
(unaudited)

   
December 31,
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
THREE MONTHS ENDED:
 
2010
   
2010
   
2009
 
                         
EBITDA
 
$
799
   
$
1,344
   
$
(334
)
                         
Adjustments:
                       
Unrealized (gains) losses on natural gas and oilderivatives
   
628
     
(53
)
   
186
 
Impairment of natural gas and oil properties
   
             
1,400
 
Impairment of investments
   
     
16
     
 
(Gains) losses on sale of other property and equipment
   
(154
)
   
17
     
 
   Other impairments
   
1
     
20
     
8
 
Losses on redemptions or exchanges of debt
   
     
59
     
21
 
(Gains) losses on investments
   
     
(121
)
   
 
(Income) attributable to noncontrolling interest
   
     
     
(25
)
                         
Adjusted EBITDA(a)
 
$
1,274
   
$
1,282
   
$
1,256
 

(a)
Adjusted ebitda excludes certain items that management believes affect the comparability of operating results.  The company discloses these non-GAAP financial measures as a useful adjunct to ebitda because:
 
i.
Management uses adjusted ebitda to evaluate the company’s operational trends and performance relative to other natural gas and oil producing companies.
 
ii.
Adjusted ebitda is more comparable to estimates provided by securities analysts.
 
iii.
Items excluded generally are one-time items or items whose timing or amount cannot be reasonably estimated.  Accordingly, any guidance provided by the company generally excludes information regarding these types of items.

 
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA
($ in millions)
(unaudited)

   
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
TWELVE MONTHS ENDED:
 
2010
   
2009
 
                 
EBITDA
 
$
4,517
   
$
(7,560
)
                 
Adjustments:
               
Unrealized (gains) losses on natural gas and oilderivatives
   
658
     
588
 
Impairment of natural gas and oil properties
   
     
11,000
 
Impairment of investments
   
16
     
162
 
(Gains) losses on sale of other property and equipment
   
(137
)
   
38
 
   Other impairments
   
21
     
130
 
Losses on redemptions or exchanges of debt
   
129
     
40
 
(Gains) losses on investments
   
(121
)
   
 
Restructuring costs
   
     
34
 
(Income) attributable to noncontrolling interest
   
     
(25
)
                 
Adjusted EBITDA(a)
 
$
5,083
   
$
4,407
 

(a)
Adjusted ebitda excludes certain items that management believes affect the comparability of operating results.  The company discloses these non-GAAP financial measures as a useful adjunct to ebitda because:
 
i.
Management uses adjusted ebitda to evaluate the company’s operational trends and performance relative to other natural gas and oil producing companies.
 
ii.
Adjusted ebitda is more comparable to estimates provided by securities analysts.
 
iii.
Items excluded generally are one-time items or items whose timing or amount cannot be reasonably estimated.  Accordingly, any guidance provided by the company generally excludes information regarding these types of items.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
($ in millions, except per-share data)
(unaudited)

   
December 31,
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
THREE MONTHS ENDED:
 
2010
   
2010
   
2009
 
             
 
         
Net income available to common stockholders
 
$
180
   
 
515
   
$
(530
)
                         
Adjustments:
                       
Unrealized (gains) losses on derivatives, net of tax
   
392
     
(31
)
   
126
 
Impairment of natural gas and oil properties, net of tax
   
     
     
875
 
Impairment of investments, net of tax
   
     
9
     
 
(Gain) losses on sale of other property and
equipment, net of tax
   
(95
)
   
11
     
 
Other impairments, net of tax
   
1
     
12
     
5
 
Losses on redemptions or exchanges of debt, net of  tax
   
     
36
     
14
 
(Gains) losses on investment activity, net of tax
   
     
(74
)
   
 
                         
Adjusted net income available to common
stockholders (a)
   
478
     
478
     
490
 
Preferred stock dividends
   
43
     
43
     
6
 
Total adjusted net income
 
$
521
   
$
521
   
$
496
 
                         
Weighted average fully diluted shares outstanding(b)
   
746
     
744
     
644
 
                         
Adjusted earnings per share assuming dilution(a)
 
$
0.70
   
$
0.70
   
$
0.77
 

(a)
Adjusted net income available to common stockholders and adjusted earnings per share assuming dilution exclude certain items that management believes affect the comparability of operating results.  The company discloses these non-GAAP financial measures as a useful adjunct to GAAP earnings because:
 
i.
Management uses adjusted net income available to common stockholders to evaluate the company’s operational trends and performance relative to other natural gas and oil producing companies.
 
ii.
Adjusted net income available to common stockholders is more comparable to earnings estimates provided by securities analysts.
 
iii.
Items excluded generally are one-time items or items whose timing or amount cannot be reasonably estimated.  Accordingly, any guidance provided by the company generally excludes information regarding these types of items.
(b)
 
Weighted average fully diluted shares outstanding include shares that were considered antidilutive for calculating earnings per share in accordance with GAAP.

 
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
($ in millions, except per-share data)
(unaudited)

   
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
TWELVE MONTHS ENDED:
 
2010
   
2009
 
                 
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders
 
$
1,663
   
$
(5,853
)
                 
Adjustments:
               
Unrealized (gains) losses on derivatives, net of tax
   
364
     
311
 
Impairment of natural gas and oil properties, net of tax
 
 
     
6,875
 
Impairment of investments, net of tax
   
9
     
102
 
(Gains) losses on sale of other property and equipment,
net of tax
   
(84
)
   
24
 
Other impairments, net of tax
   
13
     
81
 
Losses on redemptions or exchanges of debt, net of tax
   
80
     
24
 
(Gains) losses on investment activity, net of tax
   
(74
)
   
 
Restructuring costs, net of tax
   
     
21
 
                 
Adjusted net income available to common stockholders (a)
   
1,971
     
1,585
 
Preferred stock dividends
   
111
     
23
 
Total adjusted net income
 
$
2,082
   
$
1,608
 
                 
Weighted average fully diluted shares outstanding(b)
   
706
     
631
 
                 
Adjusted earnings per share assuming dilution(a)
 
$
2.95
   
$
2.55
 

(a)
Adjusted net income available to common stockholders and adjusted earnings per share assuming dilution exclude certain items that management believes affect the comparability of operating results.  The company discloses these non-GAAP financial measures as a useful adjunct to GAAP earnings because:
 
i.
Management uses adjusted net income available to common stockholders to evaluate the company’s operational trends and performance relative to other natural gas and oil producing companies.
 
ii.
Adjusted net income available to common stockholders is more comparable to earnings estimates provided by securities analysts.
 
iii.
Items excluded generally are one-time items or items whose timing or amount cannot be reasonably estimated.  Accordingly, any guidance provided by the company generally excludes information regarding these types of items.
(b)
 
Weighted average fully diluted shares outstanding include shares that were considered antidilutive for calculating earnings per share in accordance with GAAP.


 
 
 
 
 
SCHEDULE “A”
CHESAPEAKE’S OUTLOOK AS OF FEBRUARY 22, 2011

Years Ending December 31, 2011 and 2012

Our policy is to periodically provide guidance on certain factors that affect our future financial performance.  As of February 22, 2011, we are using the following key assumptions in our projections for 2011 and 2012.

The primary changes from our November 3, 2010 Outlook are in italicized bold and are explained as follows:
1)  
Our production guidance has been updated and reflects anticipated asset sales;
2)  
Projected effects of changes in our hedging positions have been updated;
3)  
Our NYMEX natural gas and oil price assumptions for gathering/marketing/transportation differentials have been updated;
4)  
Certain cost assumptions have been updated; and
5)  
Our cash flow projections have been updated, including increased drilling and completion costs.

   
Year Ending
12/31/2011
 
Year Ending
12/31/2012
 
Estimated Production:
         
Natural gas – bcf
 
900  – 930
 
960 – 1,000
 
Oil – mbbls
 
32,000 – 36,000
 
51,000 – 57,000
 
Natural gas equivalent – bcfe
 
1,092 – 1,146
 
1,266 – 1,342
 
           
Daily natural gas equivalent midpoint – mmcfe
 
3,065
 
3,560
 
           
Year over year (YOY) estimated production increase
 
6 – 11%
 
13 - 20%
 
YOY estimated production increase excluding asset sales
 
17 – 22%
 
17 - 24%
 
           
NYMEX Price(a) (for calculation of realized hedging effects only):
     
Natural gas - $/mcf
 
$4.46
 
$5.50
 
Oil - $/bbl
 
$89.96
 
$90.00
 
           
Estimated Realized Hedging Effects (based on assumed NYMEX prices above):
         
Natural gas - $/mcf
 
$1.52
 
$0.12
 
Oil - $/bbl
 
$(0.68)
 
$(0.40)
 
           
Estimated Gathering/Marketing/Transportation Differentials to NYMEX Prices:
         
Natural gas - $/mcf
 
$0.90 – $1.10
 
$0.90 – $1.10
 
Oil - $/bbl(b)
 
$20.00 – $25.00
 
$20.00 – $25.00
 
           
Operating Costs per Mcfe of Projected Production:
         
Production expense
 
$0.90 – 1.00
 
$0.90 – 1.00
 
        Production taxes (~ 5% of O&G revenues)
 
$0.25 – 0.30
 
$0.25 – 0.30
 
General and administrative(c)
 
$0.34 – 0.39
 
$0.34 – 0.39
 
       Stock-based compensation (non-cash)
 
$0.07 – 0.09
 
$0.07 – 0.09
 
       DD&A of natural gas and oil assets
 
$1.15 – 1.30
 
$1.15 – 1.30
 
       Depreciation of other assets
 
$0.20 – 0.25
 
$0.20 – 0.25
 
       Interest expense(d)
 
$0.05 – 0.10
 
$0.05 – 0.10
 
           
Other Income per Mcfe:
         
Marketing, gathering and compression net margin
 
$0.09 – 0.11
 
$0.09 – 0.11
 
Service operations net margin
 
$0.02 – 0.04
 
$0.02 – 0.04
 
Other income (including equity investments)
 
$0.06 – 0.08
 
$0.06 – 0.08
 
           
Book Tax Rate
 
39%
 
39%
 
           
Equivalent Shares Outstanding (in millions):
         
       Basic
 
640 – 645
 
647 – 652
 
       Diluted
 
750 – 755
 
760 – 765
 
           
Operating cash flow before changes in assets and liabilities(e)(f)
 
$5,000 – 5,100
 
$5,600 – 6,400
 
Drilling and completion costs, net of joint venture carries
 
($5,000 – 5,400)
 
($5,400 – 5,800)
 

 
Note: please refer to footnotes on following page
 
 
 
 
 


(a)  
NYMEX natural gas prices have been updated for actual contract prices through February 2011 and NYMEX oil prices have been updated for actual contract prices through January 2011.
(b)  
Differentials include effects of natural gas liquids.
(c)  
Excludes expenses associated with noncash stock compensation.
(d)  
Does not include gains or losses on interest rate derivatives.
(e)  
A non-GAAP financial measure.  We are unable to provide a reconciliation to projected cash provided by operating activities, the most comparable GAAP measure, because of uncertainties associated with projecting future changes in assets and liabilities.
(f)  
Assumes NYMEX prices of $4.00 to $5.00 per mcf and $90.00 per bbl in 2011 and $5.00 to $6.00 per mcf and $90.00 per bbl in 2012.

Commodity Hedging Activities

The company utilizes hedging strategies to hedge the price of a portion of its future natural gas and oil production.  These strategies include:

1)
Swaps: Chesapeake receives a fixed price and pays a floating market price to the counterparty for the hedged commodity.
2)
Call options: Chesapeake sells call options in exchange for a premium from the counterparty.  At the time of settlement, if the market price exceeds the fixed price of the call option, Chesapeake pays the counterparty such excess and if the market price settles below the fixed price of the call option, no payment is due from either party.
3)
Put options: Chesapeake receives a premium from the counterparty in exchange for the sale of a put option.  At the time of settlement, if the market prices falls below the fixed price of the put option, Chesapeake pays the counterparty such shortfall, and if the market price settles above the fixed price of the put option, no payment is due from either party.
4)
Knockout swaps: Chesapeake receives a fixed price and pays a floating market price.  The fixed price received by Chesapeake includes a premium in exchange for the possibility to reduce the counterparty’s exposure to zero, in any given month, if the floating market price is lower than certain pre-determined knockout prices.
5)
Basis protection swaps: These instruments are arrangements that guarantee a price differential to NYMEX for natural gas from a specified delivery point.  For non-Appalachian Basin basis protection swaps, which typically have negative differentials to NYMEX, Chesapeake receives a payment from the counterparty if the price differential is greater than the stated terms of the contract and pays the counterparty if the price differential is less than the stated terms of the contract.  For Appalachian Basin basis protection swaps, which typically have positive differentials to NYMEX, Chesapeake receives a payment from the counterparty if the price differential is less than the stated terms of the contract and pays the counterparty if the price differential is greater than the stated terms of the contract.

All of our derivative instruments are net settled based on the difference between the fixed-price payment and the floating-price payment, resulting in a net amount due to or from the counterparty.

Commodity markets are volatile, and as a result, Chesapeake’s hedging activity is dynamic.  As market conditions warrant, the company may elect to settle a hedging transaction prior to its scheduled maturity date and lock in the gain or loss on the transaction.  Since the latter half of 2009 through February 22, 2011, the company has taken advantage of attractive strip prices in 2012 through 2017 and sold natural gas and oil call options to its counterparties in exchange for 2010, 2011 and 2012 natural gas swaps with strike prices above the then current market price.  This effectively allowed the company to sell out-year volatility through call options at terms acceptable to Chesapeake in exchange for straight natural gas swaps with strike prices in excess of the market price for natural gas at that time.
 
Chesapeake enters into natural gas and oil derivative transactions in order to mitigate a portion of its exposure to adverse market changes in natural gas and oil prices.  Accordingly, associated gains or losses from the derivative transactions are reflected as adjustments to natural gas and oil sales.  All realized gains and losses from natural gas and oil derivatives are included in natural gas and oil sales in the month of related production.  In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, changes in the fair value of derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, to the extent they are effective in offsetting cash flows attributable to the hedged risk, are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings as the physical transactions being hedged occur.  Any change in fair value resulting from ineffectiveness is currently recognized in natural gas and oil sales as unrealized gains (losses).  Realized gains (losses) are comprised of settled trades related to the production periods being reported.  Unrealized gains (losses) are comprised of both temporary fluctuations in the mark-to-market values of non-qualifying trades and settled values of non-qualifying derivatives related to future production periods.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The company currently has the following open natural gas swaps in place for 2011 and 2012. In addition to the open swap positions disclosed below, at February 22, 2011, the company had $687 million of net hedging gains related to closed natural gas contracts and premiums collected on call options for future production periods.
 
 
 
 
 
Open Swaps
(Bcf)
 
Avg. NYMEX
Price of
Open Swaps
 
Forecasted
Natural Gas
Production
(Bcf)
 
Open Swap
Positions
as a % of
Forecasted
Natural Gas Production
Total Gains
(Losses) from
Closed Trades
and Collected
Call Premiums ($millions)
Total Gains
(Losses) from
Closed Trades
and Collected
Call Premiums
per mcf of
Forecasted
Natural Gas
Production
Q1 2011
 
226
   
$
5.72
             
$
155
 
Q2 2011
 
210
   
$
5.27
             
$
250
 
Q3 2011
 
205
   
$
5.02
             
$
200
 
Q4 2011
 
205
   
$
5.02
             
$
176
 
Total 2011
 
846
   
$
5.27
   
915
   
92
%
$
781
$0.85
                                 
Total 2012
 
206
   
$
6.20
   
980
   
21
%
$
(9)
$(0.01)
Total 2013
                         
$
11
 
Total 2014
                         
$
(38)
 
Total 2015
                         
$
(43)
 
Total 2016 – 2020
                         
$
(15)
 
 
 
The company currently has the following natural gas written call options in place for 2011 through 2020:

   
Call Options
(Bcf)
 
Avg. NYMEX
Strike Price
 
Forecasted
Natural Gas
Production
(Bcf)
 
Call Options
as a % of
Forecasted
Natural Gas
Production
Total 2011
 
     
   
915
   
0
%
Total 2012
 
161
   
$
6.54
   
980
   
16
%
Total 2013
 
436
   
$
6.44
             
Total 2014
 
330
   
$
6.43
             
Total 2015
 
226
   
$
6.31
             
Total 2016 – 2020
 
324
   
$
8.13
             
 
The company has the following natural gas basis protection swaps in place for 2011 through 2022:

 
Non-Appalachia
 
Appalachia
Volume (Bcf)
 
Avg. NYMEX less
 
Volume (Bcf)
 
Avg. NYMEX plus
2011
 
45
   
$
0.82
   
49
   
$
0.14
 
2012
 
51
   
$
0.78
   
   
$
 
2013 - 2022
 
29
   
$
0.69
   
   
$
 
Totals
 
125
   
$
0.77
   
49
   
$
0.14
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The company has the following crude oil swaps in place for 2011 and 2012.  In addition to the open swap positions disclosed below, at February 22, 2011, the company had $8 million of net hedging gains related to closed crude oil contracts and premiums collected on call options for future production periods.

 
Open
Swaps
(mbbls)
 
Avg. NYMEX
 Price of
Open Swaps
 
Forecasted
Oil
Production
(mbbls)
 
Open Swap
Positions as
a % of
Forecasted
Oil
Production
Total Gains
(Losses) from
Closed Trades
and Collected
Call Premiums
($millions)
Total Gains from
Closed Trades
and Collected Call
Premiums per bbl
of Forecasted Oil
Production
Q1 2011
450
   
$
99.39
   
   
 
$
12
 
Q2 2011
455
   
$
99.39
   
   
 
$
13
 
Q3 2011
460
   
$
99.39
   
   
 
$
13
 
Q4 2011
460
   
$
99.39
   
   
 
$
13
 
Total 2011(a)
1,825
   
$
99.39
   
34,000
   
5
%
$
51
$
1.49
                               
Total 2012(a)
732
   
$
109.50
   
54,000
   
1
%
$
51
$
0.94
Total 2013
                       
$
6
 
Total 2014
                       
$
(198)
 
Total 2015
                       
$
94
 
Total 2016 – 2020
                       
$
4
 

(a)
Certain hedging contracts include knockout swaps with provisions limiting the counterparty’s exposure below prices of $60.00 covering 1 mmbbls in each of 2011 and 2012.
 

 
The company currently has the following crude oil written call options in place for 2011 through 2017:
 
   
Call Options
(mbbls)
 
Avg. NYMEX
Strike Price
 
Forecasted
Oil
Production
(mbbls)
 
Call Options
as a % of
Forecasted Oil
Production
Q1 2011
 
1,800
   
$
81.25
             
Q2 2011
 
1,820
   
$
81.25
             
Q3 2011
 
1,840
   
$
81.25
             
Q4 2011
 
1,840
   
$
81.25
             
Total 2011
 
7,300
   
$
81.25
   
34,000
   
21
%
                           
Total 2012
 
22,139
   
$
87.93
   
54,000
   
41
%
Total 2013
 
14,564
   
$
87.20
             
Total 2014
 
8,707
   
$
87.72
             
Total 2015
 
7,411
   
$
85.31
             
Total 2016 – 2017
 
10,600
   
$
84.25
             
 
 
 
 
 

SCHEDULE “B”
CHESAPEAKE’S OUTLOOK AS OF NOVEMBER 3, 2010
(PROVIDED FOR REFERENCE ONLY)
NOW SUPERSEDED BY OUTLOOK AS OF FEBRUARY 22, 2011

Years Ending December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

Our policy is to periodically provide guidance on certain factors that affect our future financial performance.  As of November 3, 2010, we are using the following key assumptions in our projections for 2010, 2011 and 2012.

The primary changes from our October 12, 2010 Outlook are in italicized bold and are explained as follows:
1)  
Our production guidance has been updated;
2)  
Projected effects of changes in our hedging positions have been updated;
3)  
Our NYMEX natural gas and oil price assumptions for realized hedging effects have been updated;
4)  
Certain cost assumptions have been updated; and
5)  
Our cash flow projections have been updated, including increased drilling and completion costs to reflect additional drilling on liquids-rich plays.

     
Year Ending
12/31/2010
 
Year Ending
12/31/2011
 
Year Ending
12/31/2012
Estimated Production:
             
Natural gas – bcf
   
898 – 918
 
990 – 1,010
 
1,086 – 1,130
Oil – mbbls
   
18,000 – 19,000
 
32,000 – 36,000
 
51,000 – 57,000
Natural gas equivalent – bcfe
   
1,006 – 1,032
 
1,182 – 1,226
 
1,392 – 1,472
               
Daily natural gas equivalent midpoint – mmcfe
   
2,800
 
3,300
 
3,900
               
Year over year (YOY) estimated production increase
   
11 – 14%
 
16 – 20%
 
15 - 22%
YOY estimated production increase excluding asset sales
   
19 – 22%
 
19 – 23%
 
16 - 23%
               
NYMEX Price(a) (for calculation of realized hedging effects only):
     
Natural gas - $/mcf
   
$4.37
 
$4.50
 
$5.50
Oil - $/bbl
   
$76.99
 
$85.00
 
$85.00
               
Estimated Realized Hedging Effects (based on assumed NYMEX prices above):
 
Natural gas - $/mcf
   
$2.16
 
$1.35
 
$0.00
Oil - $/bbl
   
$4.56
 
$1.00
 
$0.52
               
Estimated Gathering/Marketing/Transportation Differentials to NYMEX Prices:
 
Natural gas
   
19 – 23%
 
20 – 25%
 
20 – 25%
Oil
   
23 – 27%
 
25 – 30%
 
25 – 30%
               
Operating Costs per Mcfe of Projected Production:
             
Production expense
   
$0.85 – 0.95
 
$0.85 – 0.95
 
$0.85 – 0.95
        Production taxes (~ 5% of O&G revenues)
   
$0.25 – 0.30
 
$0.25 – 0.30
 
$0.25 – 0.30
General and administrative(b)
   
$0.30 – 0.35
 
$0.33 – 0.38
 
$0.33 – 0.38
       Stock-based compensation (non-cash)
   
$0.09 – 0.11
 
$0.09 – 0.11
 
$0.09 – 0.11
       DD&A of natural gas and oil assets
   
$1.35 – 1.55
 
$1.35 – 1.55
 
$1.35 – 1.55
       Depreciation of other assets
   
$0.20 – 0.25
 
$0.20 – 0.25
 
$0.20 – 0.25
       Interest expense(c)
   
$0.15 – 0.20
 
$0.20 – 0.25
 
$0.20 – 0.25
               
Other Income per Mcfe:
             
Marketing, gathering and compression net margin
   
$0.09 – 0.11
 
$0.09 – 0.11
 
$0.09 – 0.11
Service operations net margin
   
$0.02 – 0.04
 
$0.02 – 0.04
 
$0.02 – 0.04
Other income (including equity investments)
   
$0.06 – 0.08
 
$0.06 – 0.08
 
$0.06 – 0.08
               
Book Tax Rate (all deferred)
   
38.5%
 
38.5%
 
38.5%
               
Equivalent Shares Outstanding (in millions):
             
       Basic
   
630 – 635
 
640 – 645
 
647 – 652
       Diluted
   
705 – 710
 
750 – 755
 
757 – 762
               
Operating cash flow before changes in assets and liabilities(d)(e)
   
$4,700 – 4,800
 
$4,800 – 5,000
 
$5,200 – 6,000
Drilling and completion costs, net of joint venture carries
   
($4,800 – 5,000)
 
($4,800 – 5,000)
 
($4,800 – 5,000)

 
Note: please refer to footnotes on following page
 
 
 
 
 
NYMEX natural gas prices have been updated for actual contract prices through November 2010 and NYMEX oil prices have been updated for actual contract prices through September 2010.
(a)  
Excludes expenses associated with noncash stock compensation.
(b)  
Does not include gains or losses on interest rate derivatives.
(c)  
A non-GAAP financial measure.  We are unable to provide a reconciliation to projected cash provided by operating activities, the most comparable GAAP measure, because of uncertainties associated with projecting future changes in assets and liabilities.
(d)  
Assumes NYMEX prices of $4.00 to $5.00 per mcf and $75.00 per bbl in 2010, $4.00 to $5.00 per mcf and $85.00 per bbl in 2011 and $5.00 to $6.00 per mcf and $85.00 per bbl in 2012.

Commodity Hedging Activities

The company utilizes hedging strategies to hedge the price of a portion of its future natural gas and oil production.  These strategies include:

1)
Swaps: Chesapeake receives a fixed price and pays a floating market price to the counterparty for the hedged commodity.
2)
Collars: These instruments contain a fixed floor price (put) and ceiling price (call).  If the market price exceeds the call strike price or falls below the put strike price, Chesapeake receives the fixed price and pays the market price.  If the market price is between the put and the call strike price, no payments are due from either party.
3)
Call options: Chesapeake sells call options in exchange for a premium from the counterparty.  At the time of settlement, if the market price exceeds the fixed price of the call option, Chesapeake pays the counterparty such excess and if the market price settles below the fixed price of the call option, no payment is due from either party.
4)
Put options: Chesapeake sells put options in exchange for a premium from the counterparty.  At the time of settlement, if the market prices falls below the fixed price of the put option, Chesapeake pays the counterparty such shortfall, and if the market price settles above the fixed price of the put option, no payment is due from either party.
5)
Knockout swaps: Chesapeake receives a fixed price and pays a floating market price.  The fixed price received by Chesapeake includes a premium in exchange for the possibility to reduce the counterparty’s exposure to zero, in any given month, if the floating market price is lower than certain pre-determined knockout prices.
6)
Basis protection swaps: These instruments are arrangements that guarantee a price differential to NYMEX for natural gas from a specified delivery point.  For non-Appalachian Basin basis protection swaps, which typically have negative differentials to NYMEX, Chesapeake receives a payment from the counterparty if the price differential is greater than the stated terms of the contract and pays the counterparty if the price differential is less than the stated terms of the contract.  For Appalachian Basin basis protection swaps, which typically have positive differentials to NYMEX, Chesapeake receives a payment from the counterparty if the price differential is less than the stated terms of the contract and pays the counterparty if the price differential is greater than the stated terms of the contract.

All of our derivative instruments are net settled based on the difference between the fixed-price payment and the floating-price payment, resulting in a net amount due to or from the counterparty.

Commodity markets are volatile, and as a result, Chesapeake’s hedging activity is dynamic.  As market conditions warrant, the company may elect to settle a hedging transaction prior to its scheduled maturity date and lock in the gain or loss on the transaction.  In the latter half of 2009 and in 2010, the company took advantage of attractive strip prices in 2012 through 2016 and sold natural gas and oil call options to its counterparties in exchange for 2010 and 2011 natural gas swaps with strike prices above the then current market price.  This effectively allowed the company to sell out-year volatility through call options at terms acceptable to Chesapeake in exchange for straight natural gas swaps with strike prices well in excess of the then current market price for natural gas.
 
Chesapeake enters into natural gas and oil derivative transactions in order to mitigate a portion of its exposure to adverse market changes in natural gas and oil prices.  Accordingly, associated gains or losses from the derivative transactions are reflected as adjustments to natural gas and oil sales.  All realized gains and losses from natural gas and oil derivatives are included in natural gas and oil sales in the month of related production.  In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, certain derivatives do not qualify for designation as cash flow hedges.  Changes in the fair value of these nonqualifying derivatives that occur prior to their maturity (i.e., temporary fluctuations in value) are reported currently in the consolidated statement of operations as unrealized gains (losses) within natural gas and oil sales.  Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, to the extent effective in offsetting cash flows attributable to hedged risk, are recorded in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings.  Any change in fair value resulting from ineffectiveness is recognized currently in natural gas and oil sales.
 
 
The company currently has the following open natural gas swaps in place for 2010, 2011 and 2012 and also has the following gains (losses) from lifted natural gas trades:
 
   
Open Swaps
(Bcf)
 
Avg.
NYMEX
 Strike Price
of
Open Swaps
 
Assuming
Natural Gas
Production
(Bcf)
 
Open Swap
Positions
as a % of
Estimated
Total
Natural Gas Production
 
Total Gains
(Losses) from
Lifted Trades
($ millions)
 
Total Lifted
Gains (Losses)
per Mcf
of Estimated
Total
Natural Gas
Production
 
Q4 2010
 
117
   
$
7.66
   
220
   
53
%
   
$
60.2
     
$
0.27
   
                                                 
Q1 2011
 
192
   
$
6.41
                 
$
30.0
             
Q2 2011
 
186
   
$
6.28
                 
$
46.9
             
Q3 2011
 
113
   
$
6.60
                 
$
40.7
             
Q4 2011
 
113
   
$
6.62
                 
$
28.0
             
Total 2011
 
604
   
$
6.44
   
1,000
   
60
%
   
$
145.6
     
$
0.15
   
                                                 
Total 2012
 
18
   
$
6.50
   
1,108
   
2
%
   
$
(35.0)
     
$
(0.03)
   
 

The company currently has the following natural gas written call options in place for 2010, 2011 and 2012:

   
Call Options
(Bcf)
 
Avg.
NYMEX
Strike Price
 
Avg. Premium
per mcf
 
Assuming
Natural Gas
Production
(Bcf)
 
Call Options
as a % of
Estimated Total
Natural Gas
Production
Q4 2010
 
34
   
$
10.08
   
$
1.25
   
220
   
15
%
                                   
Q1 2011
 
22
   
$
8.57
   
$
0.46
             
Q2 2011
 
22
   
$
8.57
   
$
0.46
             
Q3 2011
 
23
   
$
8.57
   
$
0.46
             
Q4 2011
 
23
   
$
8.57
   
$
0.46
             
Total 2011
 
90
   
$
8.57
   
$
0.46
   
1,000
   
9
%
                                   
Total 2012
 
161
   
$
6.54
   
$
0.11
   
1,108
   
15
%
 
 
The company has the following natural gas basis protection swaps in place for 2010, 2011 and 2012:

 
Non-Appalachia
 
Appalachia
Volume (Bcf)
 
Avg. NYMEX less
 
Volume (Bcf)
 
Avg. NYMEX plus
Q4 2010
 
   
$
   
3
   
$
0.26
 
2011
 
45
   
$
0.82
   
49
   
$
0.14
 
2012
 
51
   
$
0.78
   
   
$
 
Totals
 
96
   
$
0.80
   
52
   
$
0.15
 
 
 
The company also has the following crude oil swaps in place for 2010, 2011 and 2012:

 
Open
Swaps
(mbbls)
 
Avg. NYMEX
Strike Price
 
Assuming
Oil Production
(mbbls)
 
Open Swap
Positions as a %
of Estimated
Total Oil Production
 
Total
Gains from
Lifted Trades
($ millions)
 
Total Lifted
Gains per bbl
of Estimated
Total Oil
Production
Q4 2010(a)
1,568
   
$
89.94
   
5,700
   
28
%
 
$
0.0
   
$
0.0
 
                                         
Q1 2011
270
   
$
104.75
   
   
   
$
7.3
     
 
Q2 2011
273
   
$
104.75
   
   
   
$
7.3
     
 
Q3 2011
276
   
$
104.75
   
   
   
$
7.4
     
 
Q4 2011
276
   
$
104.75
   
   
   
$
7.4
     
 
Total 2011(a)
1,095
   
$
104.75
   
34,000
   
3
%
 
$
29.4
   
$
0.86
 
                                         
Total 2012(a)
732
   
$
109.50
   
54,000
   
1
%
 
$
29.3
   
$
0.54
 

(a)
Certain hedging arrangements include knockout swaps with provisions limiting the counterparty’s exposure below prices of $60.00 covering 1 mmbbls in each Q4 2010, 2011 and 2012.


The company currently has the following crude oil written call options in place for 2010, 2011 and 2012:

   
Call Options
(mbbls)
 
Avg.
NYMEX
Strike Price
 
Avg. Premium
per bbl
 
Assuming
Oil
Production
(mbbls)
 
Call Options
as a % of
Estimated Total
Oil
Production
Q4 2010
 
368
   
$
101.25
   
$
(1.93
)
 
5,700
   
6
%
                                   
Q1 2011
 
1,980
   
$
84.44
   
$
1.97
             
Q2 2011
 
2,002
   
$
84.44
   
$
1.95
             
Q3 2011
 
2,024
   
$
84.44
   
$
1.93
             
Q4 2011
 
2,024
   
$
84.44
   
$
1.93
             
Total 2011
 
8,030
   
$
84.44
   
$
1.94
   
34,000
   
24
%
                                   
Total 2012
 
9,150
   
$
87.00
   
$
1.70
   
54,000
   
17
%