Attached files

file filename
10-K - FORM 10-K - WPX ENERGY, INC.d290764d10k.htm
EX-32 - EXHIBIT 32 - WPX ENERGY, INC.d290764dex32.htm
EX-23.1 - CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM - WPX ENERGY, INC.d290764dex231.htm
EX-23.2 - CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM ENGINEERS AND GEOLOGISTS - WPX ENERGY, INC.d290764dex232.htm
EX-10.1 - SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT - WPX ENERGY, INC.d290764dex101.htm
EX-31.1 - EXHIBIT 31.1 - WPX ENERGY, INC.d290764dex311.htm
EX-21.1 - LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES - WPX ENERGY, INC.d290764dex211.htm
EX-24.1 - POWERS OF ATTORNEY - WPX ENERGY, INC.d290764dex241.htm
EX-31.2 - EXHIBIT 31.2 - WPX ENERGY, INC.d290764dex312.htm
EX-10.14 - FORM OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT - WPX ENERGY, INC.d290764dex1014.htm
EX-10.13 - FORM OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT - WPX ENERGY, INC.d290764dex1013.htm
EX-10.15 - FORM OF PERFORMANCE BASED RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT - WPX ENERGY, INC.d290764dex1015.htm
EX-10.16 - FORM OF STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT - WPX ENERGY, INC.d290764dex1016.htm

LOGO

February 2, 2012

Director of Reserves and Production Services

WPX Energy, Inc.

One Williams Center, Suite 3600

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172

Dear Sir or Madam:

In accordance with your request, we have audited the estimates prepared by WPX Energy, Inc. and its subsidiaries WPX Energy Appalachia, LLC; WPX Energy Gulf Coast, LP; WPX Energy Keystone, LLC; WPX Energy Production, LLC; WPX Energy Rocky Mountain, LLC; WPX Energy Ryan Gulch, LLC; and WPX Energy Williston, LLC (collectively referred to herein as “WPX”), as of December 31, 2011, of the proved reserves and future revenue to the WPX interest in certain oil and gas properties located in the United States. It is our understanding that the proved reserves estimates shown herein constitute approximately 99 percent of all proved reserves owned by WPX. We have examined the estimates with respect to reserves quantities, reserves categorization, future producing rates, future net revenue, and the present value of such future net revenue, using the definitions set forth in U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Regulation S-X Rule 4-10(a). The estimates of reserves and future revenue have been prepared in accordance with the definitions and regulations of the SEC and, with the exception of the exclusion of future income taxes, conform to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 932, Extractive Activities—Oil and Gas. We completed our audit on or about the date of this letter. This report has been prepared for WPX Energy, Inc.’s use in filing with the SEC; in our opinion the assumptions, data, methods, and procedures used in the preparation of this report are appropriate for such purpose.

The following table sets forth WPX’s estimates of the net reserves and future net revenue, as of December 31, 2011, for the audited properties:

 

     Net Reserves      Future Net Revenue (M$)  
      Condensate      NGL      Gas             Present Worth  

Category

   (MBBL)      (MBBL)      (MMCF)      Total      at 10%  

Proved Developed

     13,157         72,076         2,454,210         6,317,811         3,884,266   

Proved Undeveloped

     33,496         61,930         1,477,659         3,860,459         1,233,301   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Proved

     46,653         134,007         3,931,868         10,178,271         5,117,567   

Totals may not add because of rounding.

Condensate and natural gas liquids (NGL) volumes are expressed in thousands of barrels (MBBL); a barrel is equivalent to 42 United States gallons. Gas volumes are expressed in millions of cubic feet (MMCF) at standard temperature and pressure bases.

When compared on a well-by-well basis, some of the estimates of WPX are greater and some are less than the estimates of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. (NSAI). However, in our opinion the estimates of WPX’s proved reserves and future revenue shown herein are, in the aggregate, reasonable and have been prepared in accordance with the Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE Standards). Additionally, these estimates are within the recommended 10 percent tolerance threshold set forth in the SPE Standards. We are satisfied with the methods and procedures used by WPX in preparing the December 31, 2011, estimates of reserves and future revenue, and we saw nothing of an unusual nature that would cause us to take exception with the estimates, in the aggregate, as prepared by WPX.

 

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The estimates shown herein are for proved reserves. WPX’s estimates do not include probable or possible reserves that may exist for these properties, nor do they include any value for undeveloped acreage beyond those tracts for which proved undeveloped reserves have been estimated. WPX has included estimates of proved undeveloped reserves for certain locations that generate positive future net revenue but have negative present worth discounted at 10 percent based on the constant prices and costs discussed in subsequent paragraphs of this letter. These locations have been included based on the operators’ declared intent to drill these wells, as evidenced by WPX’s internal budget, reserves estimates, and price forecast. Reserves categorization conveys the relative degree of certainty; reserves subcategorization is based on development and production status. The estimates of reserves and future revenue included herein have not been adjusted for risk.

Prices used by WPX are based on the 12-month unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month in the period January through December 2011. For condensate and NGL volumes, the average West Texas Intermediate posted price of $92.71 per barrel is adjusted by area for basis differentials and by lease for quality, transportation fees, and local price differentials. For gas volumes, the prices used either are the fixed contract price or are based on the average Henry Hub spot price of $4.118 per MMBTU and are adjusted by area for basis differentials and by lease for energy content, transportation fees, local price differentials, and, as appropriate, plant shrinkage. The fixed contract gas price used is for the Piceance Basin properties and is held constant until contract expiration; at contract expiration, the price is adjusted to the regional spot price, with adjustments, and held constant thereafter. All other prices are held constant throughout the lives of the properties. The average adjusted product prices weighted by production over the remaining lives of the properties are $86.85 per barrel of condensate, $49.29 per barrel of NGL, and $3.64 per MCF of gas.

Operating costs used by WPX are based on historical operating expense records. These costs include the per-well overhead expenses allowed under joint operating agreements along with estimates of costs to be incurred at and below the district and field levels. Headquarters general and administrative overhead expenses of WPX are included to the extent that they are directly attributable to each of the WPX Asset Areas. Capital costs used by WPX are based on authorizations for expenditure and actual costs from recent activity. Capital costs are included as required for workovers, new development wells, and production equipment. Operating costs are held constant throughout the lives of the properties, and capital costs are held constant to the date of expenditure. Estimates do not include any salvage value for the lease and well equipment or the cost of abandoning the properties.

The reserves shown in this report are estimates only and should not be construed as exact quantities. Proved reserves are those quantities of oil and gas which, by analysis of engineering and geoscience data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible; probable and possible reserves are those additional reserves which are sequentially less certain to be recovered than proved reserves. Estimates of reserves may increase or decrease as a result of market conditions, future operations, changes in regulations, or actual reservoir performance. In addition to the primary economic assumptions discussed herein, estimates of WPX and NSAI are based on certain assumptions including, but not limited to, that the properties will be developed consistent with current development plans, that the properties will be operated in a prudent manner, that no governmental regulations or controls will be put in place that would impact the ability of the interest owner to recover the reserves, and that projections of future production will prove consistent with actual performance. If the reserves are recovered, the revenues therefrom and the costs related thereto could be more or less than the estimated amounts. Because of governmental policies and uncertainties of supply and demand, the sales rates, prices received for the reserves, and costs incurred in recovering such reserves may vary from assumptions made while preparing these estimates.

It should be understood that our audit does not constitute a complete reserves study of the audited oil and gas properties. Our audit consisted primarily of substantive testing, wherein we conducted a detailed review of all properties. In the conduct of our audit, we have not independently verified the accuracy and completeness of information and data furnished by WPX with respect to ownership interests, oil and gas production, well test data,


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historical costs of operation and development, product prices, or any agreements relating to current and future operations of the properties and sales of production. However, if in the course of our examination something came to our attention that brought into question the validity or sufficiency of any such information or data, we did not rely on such information or data until we had satisfactorily resolved our questions relating thereto or had independently verified such information or data. Our audit did not include a review of WPX’s overall reserves management processes and practices.

We used standard engineering and geoscience methods, or a combination of methods, including performance analysis, volumetric analysis, and analogy, that we considered to be appropriate and necessary to establish the conclusions set forth herein. As in all aspects of oil and gas evaluation, there are uncertainties inherent in the interpretation of engineering and geoscience data; therefore, our conclusions necessarily represent only informed professional judgment.

Supporting data documenting this audit, along with data provided by WPX, are on file in our office. The technical persons responsible for conducting this audit meet the requirements regarding qualifications, independence, objectivity, and confidentiality set forth in the SPE Standards. We are independent petroleum engineers, geologists, geophysicists, and petrophysicists; we do not own an interest in these properties nor are we employed on a contingent basis.

 

    Sincerely,
    NETHERLAND, SEWELL & ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Texas Registered Engineering Firm F-2699
    By:   /s/ C.H. (Scott) Rees III
      C.H. (Scott) Rees III, P.E.
      Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
By:   /s/ Dan Paul Smith   By:   /s/ John G. Hattner
  Dan Paul Smith, P.E. 49093     John G. Hattner, P.G. 559
  Senior Vice President     Senior Vice President
Date Signed: February 2, 2012   Date Signed: February 2, 2012

DPS:ID

 

 

Please be advised that the digital document you are viewing is provided by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. (NSAI) as a convenience to our clients. The digital document is intended to be substantively the same as the original signed document maintained by NSAI. The digital document is subject to the parameters, limitations, and conditions stated in the original document. In the event of any differences between the digital document and the original document, the original document shall control and supersede the digital document.