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8-K - 8-K - NOBLE ENERGY INCnbl-2013331x8xkxearningsre.htm


Exhibit 99.1
  
 
NEWS RELEASE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

NOBLE ENERGY ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER 2013 RESULTS


HOUSTON (April 25, 2013) -- Noble Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NBL) announced today first quarter 2013 net income of $261 million, or $1.45 per share diluted, and net income from continuing operations(1) of $232 million, or $1.28 per share diluted. Excluding the impact of unrealized commodity derivatives losses and certain other items, first quarter 2013 adjusted net income from continuing operations(2) was $269 million, or $1.48 per share diluted. During the first quarter 2012, the Company had net income from continuing operations of $249 million, or $1.39 per share diluted, and adjusted net income from continuing operations(2) of $297 million, or $1.65 per share diluted.

Discretionary cash flow from continuing operations(2) for the first quarter 2013 was $761 million compared to $690 million for the same quarter in 2012. Net cash provided by operating activities was $705 million and capital expenditures for the quarter were $910 million. Revenue for the quarter was $1.1 billion.

Key highlights for the first quarter of 2013 include:
Established first production from the Tamar natural gas field and raised the gross mean resource estimate to 10 trillion cubic feet (Tcf), 1 Tcf over the previous estimate
Achieved record sales volume of 92 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (MBoe/d) from the DJ Basin with 45 MBoe/d from the horizontal program
Drilled the longest extended-reach lateral well in Colorado history of 9,978 feet in the DJ Basin
Increased the gross mean resource estimate of Leviathan to 18 Tcf, 1 Tcf over the previous estimate
Signed sale agreements on three non-core divestment packages with expected proceeds exceeding $105 million

Charles D. Davidson, Noble Energy's Chairman and CEO, commented, “The strong first quarter was an excellent start to 2013 and positions us to deliver on full year expectations. The Tamar project in Israel has begun production and is experiencing significant market demand with our primary customer already exercising an option for increased supply. Our second major project for this year, Alen in Equatorial





Guinea, is on track for first production in the third quarter. Domestically, the DJ Basin continues to set production records driven by our horizontal drilling program. In addition, we continue with our exploration program and have several significant opportunities before us.”

VOLUMES AND PRICES
First quarter 2013 sales volumes from continuing operations averaged 245 MBoe/d, an increase of
9 percent compared to the first quarter 2012, after adjusting for assets divested in 2012. Production volumes were 249 MBoe/d with the difference attributable to the timing of crude oil liftings in Equatorial Guinea. The sales volume split for the quarter was 48 percent liquids, 24 percent international natural gas, and 28 percent U.S. natural gas.

U.S. volumes totaled 146 MBoe/d for the first quarter 2013, an increase of 23 percent compared to the same quarter last year excluding volumes from divested assets. The increase was attributed to growth from the horizontal plays in the DJ Basin and Marcellus Shale, and from the Gulf of Mexico largely due to the addition of Galapagos. Natural production declines affected the remaining non-core U.S. assets.

Sales volumes from international assets were 99 MBoe/d for the first quarter of 2013, a decrease of
6 percent compared to the first quarter of 2012, excluding volumes from discontinued operations in the UK. The decrease was due to reduced sales volumes offshore Equatorial Guinea resulting from the scheduled underliftings of crude oil.

Crude oil prices in the U.S. and international averaged $95.70 and $111.42 per barrel respectively, each down approximately five percent versus the first quarter 2012. Natural gas realizations in the U.S. averaged $3.31 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf), up 26 percent from the first quarter of 2012, and averaged $5.15 per Mcf in Israel. Natural gas liquid pricing in the U.S. averaged $39.19 per barrel for the quarter and represented 41 percent of the Company's average U.S. crude oil realization.

OPERATING EXPENSES
Total production costs per barrel of oil equivalent (Boe), including lease operating expense (LOE), production and ad valorem taxes, and transportation were $8.45 per Boe, up 4 percent from the first quarter of 2012. LOE and depreciation, depletion, and amortization (DD&A) per Boe were $5.28 and $16.53, respectively. The DD&A rates were influenced primarily by increased liquids production from the DJ Basin and Gulf of Mexico, and the continued natural gas production from the Noa and Pinnacles fields offshore Israel. General and administrative expenses increased during the first quarter due to increased staffing for major development and exploration activities. The adjusted effective tax rate for the first quarter 2013 was 28 percent with 69 percent deferred.






OPERATIONS UPDATE
In the DJ Basin, production averaged 92 MBoe/d for the first quarter, a 7 percent increase over last quarter. The horizontal program accounted for 45 MBoe/d of production compared to 39 MBoe/d last quarter. Crude oil and other liquid sales rose to 63 percent of total production. Adding a rig in the first quarter, the Company now operates three rigs in Northern Colorado and six in the greater Wattenberg area. During the quarter, 56 wells were drilled and 44 wells were completed. Ten of the wells drilled during the quarter were extended-reach lateral wells. The extended-reach lateral program continues to deliver superior results and returns. Currently, 13 wells are on line with lateral lengths ranging from 6,500 to over 9,000 feet. Early production from the 15 wells in our 40-acre spacing pilot program indicates that production from the B bench performs as expected and does not appear to be impacted by tightly spaced A bench and Codell wells. This result confirmed that a minimum of 16 wells per section is required throughout the Company's acreage in the oil window. Wells in the A bench, C bench, and Codell indicate recoveries that are economic and will be required to adequately drain the entire 300 foot vertical section.

In the Marcellus Shale, the Company operated three rigs in the wet gas area and anticipates adding a fourth rig during the second quarter. Two of the rigs were located in the Majorsville area and the final rig was in Normantown. Drilling was concluded on the 11-well Web 4 pad and is expected to be in production by the end of the second quarter. Other wells drilled include seven on the 11-well SHL 8 pad and four on the 7-well WFN 1 pad. In Normantown, drilling operations were initiated on a 6-well pad. Consol, the joint venture partner, operated two rigs in the dry gas area. Production for the quarter averaged 104 MMcfe/d net.

In the Eastern Mediterranean, natural gas sales were initiated from the Tamar field in just over four years from discovery with a peak capacity of 1 Bcf/d. Each of the five subsea wells was tested to its maximum deliverability of 250 MMcf/d. Gross sales reached an hourly rate equivalent to 950 MMcf/d during testing. The gross mean resource estimates were raised to 10 Tcf at Tamar and 18 Tcf at Leviathan resulting in 37 Tcf of total gross resources discovered in the Levant Basin.

UPDATED GUIDANCE
The full year volume guidance range for 2013 remains unchanged at 270 to 282 MBoe/d. Second quarter 2013 volumes are expected to average 254 to 260 MBoe/d. The increase in the second quarter volume forecast is largely attributable to a full quarter of production from Tamar. Also impacting the quarter are planned facility downtimes in the Gulf of Mexico and Equatorial Guinea, adverse weather conditions in Colorado, and the sale of certain non-core assets, which in aggregate total approximately 12 MBoe/d. Volumes for the second half of the year are anticipated to average around 300 MBoe/d with





initial production at Alen, additional sales from Tamar and the continued acceleration of activity in the DJ Basin and the Marcellus Shale wet gas area.

All other annual guidance ranges remain unchanged.
    
(1)
Noble Energy has divested the majority of its North Sea properties and has reclassified the results of its entire North Sea operations as discontinued operations for all accounting periods presented in this release.
(2)A Non-GAAP measure, see attached Reconciliation Schedules

WEBCAST AND CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION
Noble Energy, Inc. will host a webcast and conference call at 9:00 a.m. Central time today. The webcast is accessible on the 'Investors' page at www.nobleenergyinc.com. Conference call numbers for participation are 877-681-3378 or 719-325-4749 with the passcode 4605754. A replay will be available on the website.

Noble Energy is a leading independent energy company engaged in worldwide oil and gas exploration and production. The Company has core operations onshore in the U.S., primarily in the DJ Basin and Marcellus Shale, in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, offshore Eastern Mediterranean, and offshore West Africa. Noble Energy is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is traded under the ticker symbol NBL. Further information is available at www.nobleenergyinc.com.

Investor Contacts:
David Larson
(281) 872-3125 dlarson@nobleenergyinc.com

Eric Schneider, CFA
(281) 872-2640 eschneider@nobleenergyinc.com

Media Contact:
Reba Reid
(281) 943-1789 rreid@nobleenergyinc.com

This news release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities law. Words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “will,” “should,” “may,” and similar expressions may be used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and reflect Noble Energy' s current views about future events. They include estimates of oil and natural gas reserves and resources, estimates of future production, assumptions regarding future oil and natural gas pricing, planned drilling activity, future results of operations, projected cash flow and liquidity, business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations. No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements contained in this news release will occur as projected, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks include, without limitation, the volatility in commodity prices for crude oil and natural gas, the presence or recoverability of estimated reserves, the ability to replace reserves, environmental risks, drilling and operating risks, exploration and development risks, competition, government regulation or other actions, the ability of management to execute its plans to meet its goals and other risks inherent in Noble Energy's business that are discussed in its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and in other reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These reports are also available from Noble Energy's offices or website, http://www.nobleenergyinc.com. Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management at the time the statements are made. Noble Energy does not





assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change.

This news release also contains certain historical and forward-looking non-GAAP measures of financial performance that management believes are good tools for internal use and the investment community in evaluating Noble Energy's overall financial performance. These non-GAAP measures are broadly used to value and compare companies in the crude oil and natural gas industry. Please also see Noble Energy's website at http://www.nobleenergyinc.com under “Investors” for reconciliations of the differences between any historical non-GAAP measures used in this news release and the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. The GAAP measures most comparable to the forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures are not accessible on a forward-looking basis and reconciling information is not available without unreasonable effort.

The Securities and Exchange Commission requires oil and gas companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose proved reserves that a company has demonstrated by actual production or conclusive formation tests to be economically and legally producible under existing economic and operating conditions. The SEC permits the optional disclosure of probable and possible reserves, however, we have not disclosed the Company's probable and possible reserves in our filings with the SEC. We use certain terms in this news release, such as "gross mean resource estimate". These estimates are by their nature more speculative than estimates of proved, probable and possible reserves and accordingly are subject to substantially greater risk of being actually realized. The SEC guidelines strictly prohibit us from including these estimates in filings with the SEC. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosures and risk factors in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and in other reports on file with the SEC, available from Noble Energy's offices or website, http://www.nobleenergyinc.com .







Schedule 1
Noble Energy, Inc.
Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted Net Income from Continuing Operations
(in millions, except per share amounts, unaudited)
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
 
2013
 
Per Share, Diluted
 
2012
 
Per Share, Diluted
 
Net Income
 
$
261

 
$
1.45

 
$
263

 
$
1.47

 
Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax
 
(29
)
 
(0.17
)
 
(14
)
 
(0.08
)
 
Income from Continuing Operations
 
232

 
1.28

 
249

 
1.39

 
Unrealized losses on commodity derivative instruments
 
79

 
0.43

 
73

 
0.40

 
Gain on divestitures [1]
 
(15
)
 
(0.08
)
 

 

 
Other adjustments
 
(10
)
 
(0.06
)
 

 

 
Total adjustments before tax
 
54

 
0.29

 
73

 
0.40

 
Income Tax Effect of Adjustments [2]
 
(17
)
 
(0.09
)
 
(25
)
 
(0.14
)
 
Adjusted Net Income from Continuing Operations
 
$
269

 
$
1.48

 
$
297

 
$
1.65

 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted
 
181

 
 
 
180

 
 
 

NOTE:
Adjusted net income from continuing operations should not be considered a substitute for net income as reported in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted net income from continuing operations is provided for comparison to earnings forecasts prepared by analysts and other third parties. Our management believes, and certain investors may find, that adjusted net income from continuing operations is beneficial in evaluating our financial performance as it excludes the impact of significant non-cash items. We believe such measures can facilitate comparisons of operating performance between periods and with our peers. See Schedule 2: Summary Statement of Operations
 
[1]
During the first quarter of 2013, we completed the sale of certain non-core onshore U.S. properties.
[2]
The net tax effects of adjusting items for 2013 and 2012 are determined by applying the statutory tax rate to each adjusting item. Prior to first quarter 2013, the net tax effects were determined by calculating the tax provision for GAAP net income from continuing operations, which included the adjusting items, and comparing the results to the tax provision for adjusted earnings from continuing operations, which excluded the adjusting items. The difference in the tax provision calculations represented the tax impact of the adjusting items. The effect of our change in method for calculating the net tax effect was de minimis for all periods presented.







Schedule 2
Noble Energy, Inc.
Summary Statement of Operations
(in millions, except per share amounts, unaudited) 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
2013
 
2012
Revenues
 
 
 
 
Crude oil and condensate
 
$
849

 
$
820

Natural gas
 
179

 
153

NGLs
 
55

 
64

Income from equity method investees
 
60

 
51

Total revenues
 
1,143

 
1,088

Operating Expenses
 
 
 
 
Lease operating expense
 
117

 
105

Production and ad valorem taxes
 
43

 
38

Transportation and gathering expense
 
27

 
20

Exploration expense
 
61

 
60

Depreciation, depletion and amortization
 
366

 
294

General and administrative
 
112

 
97

Other operating (income) expense, net
 
(8
)
 
12

Total operating expenses
 
718

 
626

Operating Income
 
425

 
462

Other (Income) Expense
 
 
 
 
Loss on commodity derivative instruments
 
72

 
96

Interest, net of amount capitalized
 
25

 
32

Other (income) expense, net
 
10

 
(1
)
Total other (income) expense
 
107

 
127

Income from Continuing Operations Before Taxes
 
318

 
335

Income Tax Provision
 
86

 
86

Income from Continuing Operations
 
232

 
249

Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax
 
29

 
14

Net Income
 
$
261

 
$
263

Earnings Per Share
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations
 
$
1.29

 
$
1.40

Discontinued operations, net of tax
 
0.17

 
0.08

Net Income
 
$
1.46

 
$
1.48

Diluted
 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations
 
$
1.28

 
$
1.39

Discontinued operations, net of tax
 
0.17

 
0.08

Net Income
 
$
1.45

 
$
1.47

Weighted average number of shares outstanding
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
179

 
177

Diluted
 
181

 
180








Schedule 3
Noble Energy, Inc.
Volume and Price Statistics
(unaudited)
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
2013
 
2012
Crude Oil and Condensate Sales Volumes (MBbl/d)
 
 
 
 
United States
 
63

 
42

Equatorial Guinea
 
27

 
35

China
 
4

 
5

Total consolidated operations
 
94

 
82

Equity method investee
 
2

 
2

Total sales volumes
 
96

 
84

Crude Oil and Condensate Realized Prices ($/Bbl)
 
 
 
 
United States
 
$
95.70

 
$
101.21

Equatorial Guinea
 
111.79

 
118.04

China
 
109.22

 
126.10

Consolidated average realized prices
 
$
100.90

 
$
109.89

Natural Gas Sales Volumes (MMcf/d)
 
 
 
 
United States
 
409

 
433

Equatorial Guinea
 
246

 
230

Israel
 
111

 
108

Total consolidated operations
 
766

 
771

Natural Gas Realized Prices ($/Mcf)
 
 
 
 
United States
 
$
3.31

 
$
2.62

Equatorial Guinea
 
0.27

 
0.27

Israel
 
5.15

 
4.51

Consolidated average realized prices
 
$
2.60

 
$
2.18

Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) Sales Volumes (MBbl/d)
 
 
 
 
United States
 
16

 
17

Equity method investee
 
6

 
7

Total sales volumes
 
22

 
24

Natural Gas Liquids Realized Prices ($/Bbl)
 
 
 
 
United States
 
$
39.19

 
$
41.62

Barrels of Oil Equivalent Volumes (MBoe/d)
 
 
 
 
United States
 
146

 
131

Equatorial Guinea
 
68

 
73

Israel
 
19

 
18

China
 
4

 
5

Total consolidated operations
 
237

 
227

Equity method investee
 
8

 
9

Total barrels of oil equivalent from continuing operations
 
245

 
236

Total barrels of oil equivalent from discontinued operations
 
1

 
7

Total barrels of oil equivalent
 
246

 
243








Schedule 4
Noble Energy, Inc.
Condensed Balance Sheets
(in millions, unaudited)
 
 
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
 
2013
 
2012
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
Current Assets
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
1,305

 
$
1,387

Accounts receivable, net
 
776

 
964

Other current assets
 
370

 
420

Total current assets
 
2,451

 
2,771

Net property, plant and equipment
 
13,995

 
13,551

Goodwill
 
632

 
635

Other noncurrent assets
 
632

 
597

Total Assets
 
$
17,710

 
$
17,554

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 
 
 
Current Liabilities
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable - trade
 
$
1,388

 
$
1,508

Other current liabilities
 
986

 
1,024

Total current liabilities
 
2,374

 
2,532

Long-term debt
 
3,723

 
3,736

Deferred income taxes
 
2,249

 
2,218

Other noncurrent liabilities
 
850

 
810

Total Liabilities
 
9,196

 
9,296

Total Shareholders’ Equity
 
8,514

 
8,258

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
 
$
17,710

 
$
17,554









Schedule 5
Noble Energy, Inc.
Discretionary Cash Flow from Continuing Operations and Reconciliation to Operating Cash Flow
(in millions, unaudited)
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
2013
 
2012
Adjusted Net Income from Continuing Operations [1]
 
$
269

 
$
297

Adjustments to reconcile adjusted net income from continuing operations to discretionary cash flow from continuing operations:
 
 
 
 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
 
366

 
294

Exploration expense
 
61

 
60

(Income)/Dividends from equity method investments, net
 
(35
)
 
(29
)
Deferred compensation expense
 
10

 
3

Deferred income taxes
 
71

 
50

Stock-based compensation expense
 
18

 
16

Other
 
1

 
(1
)
Discretionary Cash Flow from Continuing Operations
 
$
761

 
$
690

Reconciliation to Operating Cash Flows
 
 
 
 
Net changes in working capital
 
(9
)
 
59

Cash exploration costs
 
(54
)
 
(55
)
Current tax expense (benefit) of earnings adjustments
 
(5
)
 
18

Impact of Discontinued Operations
 
(4
)
 
23

Other adjustments
 
16

 
6

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
 
$
705

 
$
741

 
 
 
 
 
Total Capital expenditures (accrual based)
 
$
910

 
$
963

 
NOTE:
The table above reconciles discretionary cash flow from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities. While discretionary cash flow from continuing operations is not a GAAP measure of financial performance, our management believes it is a useful tool for evaluating our overall financial performance. Among our management, research analysts, portfolio managers and investors, discretionary cash flow from continuing operations is broadly used as an indicator of a company’s ability to fund exploration and production activities and meet financial obligations. Discretionary cash flow from continuing operations is also commonly used as a basis to value and compare companies in the oil and gas industry.
[1]
See Schedule 1: Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted Net Income from Continuing Operations.