UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

(Mark One)

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2016

OR

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

For the transition period from                      to                      .

Commission File Number 001-33147

Sanchez Production Partners LP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(713) 783-8000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ☒    No  ☐ 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ☐    No   ☒ 

Common units outstanding as of October 28, 2016: Approximately 4,429,915 units.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control.  These statements may include discussions about our business strategy; acquisition strategy; financing strategy; ability to make, maintain and grow distributions; the ability of our customers to meet their drilling and development plans on a timely basis or at all and perform under gathering and processing agreements; future operating results; future capital expenditures; and plans, objectives, expectations, forecasts, outlook and intentions. All of these types of statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may be found in Item 2. and other items within this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “could,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “project,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “pursue,” “target,” “continue,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology.

The forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are largely based on our expectations, which reflect estimates and assumptions made by our management. These estimates and assumptions reflect our best judgment based on currently known market conditions and other factors. Although we believe such estimates and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently uncertain and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are beyond our control. In addition, management’s assumptions about future events may prove to be inaccurate.

Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations reflected in the forward‑looking statements include, among others:

Management cautions all readers that the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are not guarantees of future performance, and we cannot assure any reader that such statements will be realized or the forward-looking events and circumstances will occur. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and other than as required by law, we do not intend to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  These cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf.

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements  

SANCHEZ PRODUCTION PARTNERS LP and SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations  

(In thousands, except unit data)

(Unaudited)

(1) Amounts adjusted for 1-for-10 reverse split completed August 3, 2015.  See Note 15.

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

SANCHEZ PRODUCTION PARTNERS LP and SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except unit data)

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

SANCHEZ PRODUCTION PARTNERS LP and SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 

(In thousands)

(unaudited)

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

SANCHEZ PRODUCTION PARTNERS LP and SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Members’ Equity/Partners’ Capital

(In thousands, except unit data)

(Unaudited)

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

SANCHEZ PRODUCTION PARTNERS LP AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1. ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS

Organization

Sanchez Production Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (together with our consolidated subsidiaries “SPP”, “we”, “us”, “our” or the “Partnership”), is a publicly-traded limited partnership focused on the acquisition, development, ownership and operation of midstream and production assets in North America. SPP completed its initial public offering on November 20, 2006, as Constellation Energy Partners LLC (“CEP” or the “Company”). We have entered into a shared services agreement (the “Services Agreement”) with SP Holdings, LLC (the “Manager”), the sole member of our general partner, pursuant to which the Manager provides services that the Partnership requires to operate its business, including overhead, technical, administrative, marketing, accounting, operational, information systems, financial, compliance, insurance, acquisition, disposition and financing services.  On March 6, 2015, the Company’s unitholders approved the conversion of Sanchez Production Partners LLC to a Delaware limited partnership and the name was changed to Sanchez Production Partners LP. The Manager owns the general partner of SPP and all of SPP’s incentive distribution rights.  Our common units are currently listed on the NYSE MKT under the symbol “SPP.”

Historically, our operations have consisted of the production of proved reserves located in the Cherokee Basin in Oklahoma and Kansas, the Woodford Shale in the Arkoma Basin in Oklahoma, the Central Kansas Uplift in Kansas, the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas and in other areas of Texas and Louisiana.  In October 2015, we consummated the acquisition of midstream assets in the Eagle Ford Shale from Sanchez Energy Corporation (“SN”) and entered into a 15-year gathering and processing agreement with SN.  In July 2016, we sold a portion of our oil and gas properties in the Mid-Continent region and acquired a 50% interest in a gathering system owned by Carnero Gathering. 

As a result of the acquisition of midstream assets from SN and the disposition of our oil and gas properties located in the Mid-Continent region, our financial statements beginning with the quarter ending December 31, 2015 (including those in this Form 10-Q) differ substantially from our historical financial statements, principally because a significant portion of our revenues now come from the long-term, fee-based gathering and processing agreement with SN rather than from oil and natural gas production.

2. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of SPP and our wholly-owned subsidiaries.  All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.  We conduct our business activities as two operating segments: (1) the midstream business and (2) the production of oil and natural gas.  Our management evaluates performance based on these two business segments.

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  Certain information and footnote disclosures, normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”), have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations.  We believe that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to fairly state the financial position, results of operations and cash flows with respect to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been included.  The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire year. 

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto of the Partnership and our subsidiaries included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, which was filed with the SEC on March 30, 2016.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), which are adopted by us as of the specified effective date.  Unless otherwise discussed, management believes that the impact of recently issued standards, which are not effective, will not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

In August 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments” effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. This ASU is intended to clarify the presentation of cash receipts and payments in specific situations. We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09 “Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting,” effective for annual and interim periods for public companies beginning after December 15, 2016, with a cumulative-effect and prospective approach to be used for implementation. ASU 2016-09 changes several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions including accounting for income taxes, classification of excess tax benefits on the statement of cash flows, forfeitures, minimum statutory tax withholding requirements and classification of employee taxes paid on the statement of cash flows when an employer withholds shares for tax-withholding purposes. We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02 “Leases (Topic 842),” effective for annual and interim periods for public companies beginning after December 15, 2018, with a modified retrospective approach to be used for implementation. ASU 2016-02 updates the previous lease guidance by requiring the recognition of a right-to-use asset and lease liability on the statement of financial position for those leases previously classified as operating leases under the old guidance. In addition, ASU 2016-02 updates the criteria for a lessee’s classification of a finance lease. We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-16, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments,” effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015. ASU 2015-16 eliminates the requirement for an acquirer to retrospectively adjust the financial statements for measurement-period adjustments that occur in periods after a business combination is consummated. During the first quarter of 2016, the Partnership adopted ASU 2015-16.  Adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, “Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory,” effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. ASU 2015-11 changes the inventory measurement principle for entities using the first-in, first out (FIFO) or average cost methods. For entities utilizing one of these methods, the inventory measurement principle will change from lower of cost or market to the lower of cost and net realizable value. We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements, but do not expect the impact to be material.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, “Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs.” This guidance is intended to more closely align the presentation of debt issuance costs under U.S. GAAP with the presentation requirements under International Financial Reporting Standards.  Under this new standard, debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability will be presented on the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the debt liability, similar to the presentation of debt discounts, rather than as a separate asset as previously presented.  This guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015.  In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15, “Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements.”  The guidance in ASU 2015-03 does not address debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements.  ASU 2015-15 states given the absence of authoritative guidance within ASU 2015-03 for debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements, the SEC staff would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement.  During the first quarter of 2016, the Partnership adopted ASU 2015-03 and ASU 2015-15 retrospectively to the comparable periods in this Form 10-Q. Adoption of this guidance affected the balance sheets as of December 31, 2015 as follows (in thousands):

Decrease in Long term debt, net of debt issuance costs of approximately $2,091

Decrease in Debt issuance costs (Other Assets) of approximately $2,091

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, “Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis” to improve consolidation guidance for certain types of legal entities. The guidance modifies the evaluation of whether limited

partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities (“VIEs”) or voting interest entities, eliminates the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership, affects the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs, particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships, and provides a scope exception from consolidation guidance for certain money market funds. These provisions are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted. During the first quarter of 2016, the Partnership adopted ASU 2015-02.  Adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).”  This guidance outlines a new, single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance.  This new revenue recognition model provides a five-step analysis in determining when and how revenue is recognized.  The new model will require revenue recognition to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration a company expects to receive in exchange for those goods and services.  The new guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017.  Early adoption is not permitted.  The guidance may be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect recognized as of the date of initial application.  We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements, but do not expect the impact to be material.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period to conform to the current period presentation.  These reclassifications had no effect on total unitholders’ equity, net income or net cash provided by or used in operating, investing or financing activities.  In accordance with ASU No. 2015-03 and ASU No. 2015-15, debt issuance costs are to be presented on the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the debt liability, similar to the presentation of debt discounts, rather than as a separate asset as previously presented.  As such, debt issuance costs, net of amortization, at December 31, 2015 of $2.1 million have been reclassified from other assets to other liabilities, effectively eliminating the debt issuance cost line and reducing long-term debt in the balance sheet.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying footnotes.  These estimates and the underlying assumptions affect the amounts of assets and liabilities reported, disclosures about contingent assets and liabilities and reported amounts of revenues and expenses.  The estimates that are particularly significant to our financial statements include estimates of our reserves of oil, natural gas and NGLs; future cash flows from oil and natural gas properties; depreciation, depletion and amortization; asset retirement obligations; certain revenues and operating expenses; fair values of commodity derivatives and fair values of assets and liabilities.  As fair value is a market-based measurement, it is determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use.  These estimates and assumptions are based on management’s best estimates and judgment.  Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an on-going basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment, which management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances.  Such estimates and assumptions are adjusted when facts and circumstances dictate.  As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ from the estimates.  Any changes in estimates resulting from continuing changes in the economic environment will be reflected in the financial statements in future periods.

Significant Accounting Policies

Our significant accounting policies are consistent with those discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

All highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less are considered cash.  Checks-in-transit are included in our consolidated balance sheets as accounts payable or as a reduction of cash, depending on the type of bank account the checks were drawn on.  There were no checks-in-transit reported in accounts payable as of September 30, 2016 or December 31, 2015. 

Restricted Cash

As of September 30, 2016, we had no restricted cash. As of December 31, 2015, we had approximately $0.6 million of restricted cash held in escrow that related to a vendor dispute that remained in the escrow account until the dispute was resolved in March 2016. 

Accounts Receivable, Net

Our accounts receivable are primarily from purchasers of oil and natural gas, gathering and transportation sales, and counterparties to our financial instruments.  Oil receivables are generally collected within 30 days after the end of the month.  Natural gas receivables are generally collected within 60 days after the end of the month.  We review all outstanding accounts receivable balances and record a reserve for amounts that we expect will not be fully recovered.  Actual balances are not applied against the reserves until substantially all collection efforts have been exhausted.  As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we had an allowance for doubtful accounts receivable of $0.4 million and $0.4 million, respectively. 

3. ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES

Our acquisitions are accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 805, “Business Combinations.” A business combination may result in the recognition of a gain or goodwill based on the measurement of the fair value of the assets acquired at the acquisition date as compared to the fair value of consideration transferred, adjusted for purchase price adjustments. The initial accounting for acquisitions may not be complete and adjustments to provisional amounts, or recognition of additional assets acquired or liabilities assumed, may occur as more detailed analyses are completed and additional information is obtained about the facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition dates. The results of operations of the properties acquired in our acquisitions have been included in the condensed consolidated financial statements since the closing dates of the acquisitions.

Eagle Ford Acquisition

On March 31, 2015, we completed an acquisition of wellbore interests in certain producing oil and natural gas properties in Gonzales County, Texas (the “Eagle Ford Properties,” and such acquisition, the “Eagle Ford Acquisition”) located in the Eagle Ford Shale in Gonzales County, Texas from SN for a purchase price of $85 million, subject to normal and customary closing adjustments.  The effective date of the transaction was January 1, 2015. The acquisition included initial conveyed working interests and net revenue interests for each property that escalate on January 1 for each year from 2016 through 2019, at which point, SPP’s interests in the Eagle Ford Properties will stay constant for the remainder of the respective lives of the assets. 

The adjusted purchase price of $83.4 million was funded at closing with net proceeds from the private placement of 10,625,000 newly created Class A Preferred Units, which were issued for a cash purchase price of $1.60 per unit, resulting in gross proceeds to SPP of $17.0 million, the issuance of 1,052,632 common units (approximately 105,263 common units after adjusting for a reverse unit split) to SN, borrowings under the Partnership’s Credit Agreement (as defined in Note 6, “Long-Term Debt”), and available cash. The total purchase price was allocated to the assets purchased and liabilities assumed based upon their fair values on the date of acquisition as follows (in thousands):

Western Catarina Midstream Acquisition

On October 14, 2015, we completed an acquisition of midstream assets located in Western Catarina, in the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas from SN for a purchase price of $345.8 million, subject to normal and customary closing adjustments (the “Western Catarina Midstream Acquisition”).  The purchase price was funded at closing with net proceeds from the sale of Class B Preferred Units to Stonepeak Catarina Holdings LLC, an affiliate of Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners (“Stonepeak”), and available cash. Additionally, as a result of the Western Catarina Midstream Acquisition, we repurchased 105,263 common units previously held by a subsidiary of SN.

The total purchase price was allocated to the assets purchased and liabilities assumed based upon their fair values on the date of acquisition as follows (in thousands):

Carnero Gathering Transaction

On July 5, 2016, the Partnership purchased from SN and SN Midstream, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SN (“SN Midstream”), 50% of the issued and outstanding membership interests in Carnero Gathering for total consideration of approximately $37.0 million, plus the assumption of approximately $7.4 million of remaining capital contribution commitments (the “Carnero Gathering Transaction”). In addition, the Partnership is required to pay an earnout based on gas received at the delivery points from SN Catarina, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SN (“SN Catarina”), and other producers. The membership interests acquired constitute 50% of the outstanding membership interests in Carnero Gathering, with the other 50% of the membership interests being owned by TPL SouthTex Processing Company LP. Carnero Gathering operates a gas gathering pipeline from an interconnection in Webb County, Texas to interconnection(s) with a gas processing facility being developed and constructed by Carnero Processing, LLC (“Carnero Processing”). See Note 10. “Investments” for additional information relating to the Carnero Gathering Transaction.

The Partnership made capital contributions to Carnero Gathering totaling $3.0 million between July 5, 2016 and September 30, 2016.

Mid-Continent Divestiture

On June 15, 2016, certain wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Partnership entered into an agreement with Gateway Resources U.S.A., Inc. (“Gateway”) to sell substantially all of the Partnership’s operated oil and gas wells, leases and other associated assets and interests in Oklahoma and Kansas (other than those arising under or related to a concession agreement with the Osage Nation) (the “Mid-Continent Divestiture”) for cash consideration of $7,120, subject to adjustment for title and environmental defects, effective as of August 1, 2016 (the “Effective Time”).  In addition, Gateway agreed to assume all obligations relating to the assets arising after the Effective Time and all plugging and abandonment costs relating to the assets arising prior to the Effective Time. The Partnership closed the sale of this transaction on July 15, 2016. The Partnership recorded a $0.2 million loss related to an intangible asset balance comprised of marketing contracts from the 2007 Newfield acquisition which were included in the Mid-Continent Divestiture.

Pro Forma Operating Results (Unaudited)

The following unaudited pro forma combined financial information for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 reflect the consolidated results of operations of the Partnership as if the Western Catarina Midstream Acquisition, the Carnero Gathering Transaction, and the Eagle Ford Acquisition and related financings had occurred on January 1, 2015. The pro forma information includes adjustments primarily for revenues and expenses from the acquired properties, depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion, interest expense and debt issuance cost amortization for acquisition debt, amortization of customer contract intangible assets acquired and paid-in-kind units issued in connection with the Class A Preferred Units.

The unaudited pro forma combined financial statements give effect to the events set forth below: