Item 1. Business
Overview
Oasis Petroleum Inc. (together with our consolidated subsidiaries, the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) was originally formed in 2007 and was incorporated pursuant to the laws of the State of Delaware in 2010. We are an independent exploration and production company focused on the acquisition and development of unconventional oil and natural gas resources in the North Dakota and Montana regions of the Williston Basin. Oasis Petroleum North America LLC (“OPNA”) conducts our exploration and production activities and owns our proved and unproved oil and natural gas properties. We also operate a well services business through Oasis Well Services LLC (“OWS”) and a midstream services business through Oasis Midstream Services LLC (“OMS”).
As of December 31, 2015, we have accumulated 484,745 net leasehold acres in the Williston Basin, of which approximately 91% is held by production. We are currently exploiting significant resource potential from the Bakken and Three Forks formations, which are present across a substantial portion of our acreage. We believe the location, size and concentration of our acreage create an opportunity for us to achieve cost, recovery and production efficiencies through the development of our project inventory. Our management team has a proven track record in identifying, acquiring and executing large, repeatable development drilling programs, which we refer to as “resource conversion” opportunities, and has substantial Williston Basin experience.
In 2015, we completed and placed on production 80 gross operated wells in the Williston Basin and had average daily production of 50,477 Boe per day. As of December 31, 2015, we had 1,095 gross (595.5 net) producing wells in the Bakken and Three Forks formations. DeGolyer and MacNaughton, our independent reserve engineers, estimated our net proved reserves to be 218.2 MMBoe as of December 31, 2015, of which 68% were classified as proved developed and of which 85% were oil.
Our business strategy
Our goal is to enhance value by investing capital to build reserves, production and cash flows at attractive rates of return through the following strategies:
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Efficiently develop our Williston Basin leasehold position. We are developing our acreage position to maximize the value of our resource potential, while maintaining flexibility to preserve future value when oil prices are low. During 2014, when the NYMEX West Texas Intermediate crude oil index price (“WTI”) averaged $92.07 per barrel throughout the year, we completed and brought on production 195 gross (147.4 net) operated Bakken and Three Forks wells in the Williston Basin. During 2015, when WTI averaged $48.75 per barrel, we completed and brought on production 80 gross (62.4 net) operated Bakken and Three Forks wells. As of December 31, 2015, we had 85 gross operated wells waiting on completion in the Bakken and Three Forks formations. Our 2016 capital plan, which was finalized when WTI for 2016 was projected to average approximately $35.00 per barrel, contemplates operating two rigs and completing and placing on production approximately 46 gross (28.6 net) operated wells. We have the ability to increase or decrease the number of wells drilled and the number of wells completed during 2016 based on market conditions and program results.
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Enhance returns by focusing on operational and cost efficiencies. Our management team is focused on continuous improvement of our operations and has significant experience in successfully operating cost-efficient development programs. We believe the magnitude and concentration of our acreage within the Williston Basin, particularly in the core of the play, has and will continue to provide us with the opportunity to capture economies of scale, including the ability to drill multiple wells from a single drilling pad into multiple formations, utilizing centralized production and oil, gas and water fluid handling facilities and infrastructure, and reducing the time and cost of rig mobilization. In addition, we expect OWS and OMS to continue to provide operational synergies going forward compared to third party providers.
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Adopt and employ leading drilling and completion techniques. Our team is focused on enhancing our drilling and completion techniques to maximize overall well economics. We have significantly reduced the number of days that it takes to drill wells, and we believe completion techniques have significantly evolved over the last several years, resulting in increased initial production rates and recoverable hydrocarbons per well. High intensity completion techniques continue to deliver production performance greater than prior completion techniques. We continuously evaluate our internal drilling and completion results and monitor the results of other operators to improve our operating practices. This continued evolution may enhance our initial production rates, increase ultimate recovery factors, lower well capital costs and improve rates of return on invested capital.
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Maintain financial flexibility. Based on current market conditions, we have a strong liquidity position. In February 2016, we completed a public equity offering of 39,100,000 shares, raising $182.9 million of net proceeds to be used for general corporate purposes and to fund a portion of our 2016 capital expenditures. We have no near-term debt maturities,
and, in April 2015, we amended our revolving credit facility to extend its maturity date from April 2018 to April 2020, provided that our 7.25% senior unsecured notes due 2019 are retired or refinanced 90 days prior to their maturity. In October 2015, we successfully completed consent solicitations respecting amendments to the indentures governing certain of our senior unsecured notes, which amendments allow us to incur secured credit facilities indebtedness up to the amount of our borrowing base at the time of the incurrence, but not to exceed $1,525.0 million. In February 2016, our spring borrowing base redetermination was completed, resulting in a borrowing base decrease from $1,525.0 million to $1,150.0 million. As of December 31, 2015, we had $138.0 million of borrowings and $5.2 million of outstanding letters of credit under our revolving credit facility and $1,199.4 million of pro forma liquidity available, including adjustments for the new borrowing base and the net proceeds from our public equity offering in February 2016. Our liquidity position, along with internally generated cash flows from operations and settlements from our derivative contracts in 2016, will provide continued financial flexibility as we actively manage the pace of development on our acreage position in the Williston Basin. We also currently believe we have access to the public and private capital markets, and we intend to maintain a balanced capital structure by prudently raising proceeds from future offerings as additional capital needs arise. We are also continuing to evaluate options to monetize certain assets in our portfolio, which could result in increased liquidity and lower leverage.
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Pursue strategic acquisitions with significant resource potential. As opportunities arise, we intend to identify and acquire additional acreage and producing assets in the Williston Basin to supplement our existing operations. Going forward, we may selectively target additional basins that would allow us to employ our resource conversion strategy on large undeveloped acreage positions similar to what we have accumulated in the Williston Basin.
Our competitive strengths
We have a number of competitive strengths that we believe will help us to successfully execute our business strategies:
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Substantial leasehold position in one of North America’s leading unconventional oil-resource plays. We believe our acreage is one of the largest concentrated leasehold positions that is prospective in the Bakken and Three Forks formations. As of December 31, 2015, substantially all of our 484,745 net leasehold acres in the Williston Basin were highly prospective in the Bakken and Three Forks formations, and 85% of our 218.2 MMBoe estimated net proved reserves in this area were comprised of oil. In addition, we have 442,292 net acres held by production as of December 31, 2015. In 2015, we increased per well capital efficiency through our focused development efforts in our core acreage and improved operational efficiency, coupled with lower service costs from third-party vendors and OWS. In 2016, we will continue to concentrate our drilling and completion activities in our core acreage, which is located in the deepest part of the Williston Basin.
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Large, multi-year project inventory. We believe we have a large inventory of potential drilling locations that we have not yet drilled, a majority of which are operated by us. We plan to slow the pace of completions again in 2016 to 46 gross (28.6 net) operated wells in the Williston Basin in order to maintain financial flexibility and preserve the value of our inventory.
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Management team with proven operating and acquisition skills. Our senior management team has extensive expertise in the oil and gas industry. Our senior technical team has an average of more than 25 years of industry experience, including experience in multiple North American resource plays as well as experience in international basins. We believe our management and technical team is one of our principal competitive strengths relative to our industry peers due to our team’s proven track record in identification, acquisition and execution of resource conversion opportunities. In addition, our technical team possesses substantial expertise in horizontal drilling techniques and managing and acquiring large development programs.
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Incentivized management team. In 2015, an average of 57% of our executive officers’ overall compensation was in long-term equity-based incentive awards, and such officers owned 2.5% of our outstanding common stock as of December 31, 2015. We believe our executive officers’ ownership interest in us provides them with significant incentives to grow the value of our business for the benefit of all stakeholders.
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Operating control over the majority of our portfolio. In order to maintain better control over our asset portfolio, we have established a leasehold position comprised primarily of properties that we expect to operate. As of December 31, 2015, 97% of our estimated net proved reserves were attributable to properties that we expect to operate, and our average working interest in our 2016 operated completion plan is expected to be 66%. Approximately 92% of our 2016 drilling and completion capital expenditure budget is related to operated wells. Controlling operations will allow us to dictate the pace of development and better manage the costs, type and timing of exploration and development activities. We believe that maintaining operational control over the majority of our acreage will allow us to better pursue our strategies of enhancing returns through operational and cost efficiencies and maximizing hydrocarbon recovery through continuous improvement of drilling and completion techniques. We are also better able to control infrastructure
investment to drive down operating costs, optimize oil price realizations and increase the monetization of gas production.
Our operations
Estimated net proved reserves
The table below summarizes our estimated net proved reserves and related PV-10 at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 based on reports prepared by DeGolyer and MacNaughton, our independent reserve engineers. In preparing its reports, DeGolyer and MacNaughton evaluated 100% of the reserves and discounted values at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) applicable to companies involved in oil and natural gas producing activities. Our estimated net proved reserves and related future net revenues, PV-10 and Standardized Measure do not include probable or possible reserves and were determined using the preceding twelve months’ unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month index prices for oil and natural gas, which were held constant throughout the life of the properties. The unweighted arithmetic average first-day-of-the-month prices for the prior twelve months were $50.16/Bbl for oil and $2.63/MMBtu for natural gas, $95.28/Bbl for oil and $4.35/MMBtu for natural gas and $96.96/Bbl for oil and $3.66/MMBtu for natural gas for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. These prices were adjusted by lease for quality, transportation fees, geographical differentials, marketing bonuses or deductions and other factors affecting the price received at the wellhead. The information in the following table does not give any effect to or reflect our commodity derivatives. Future operating costs, production taxes and capital costs were based on current costs as of each year-end. For a definition of proved reserves under the SEC rules, please see the “Glossary of oil and natural gas terms” included at the end of this report. For more information regarding our independent reserve engineers, please see “Independent petroleum engineers” below.
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(1)
PV-10 is a non-GAAP financial measure and generally differs from Standardized Measure, the most directly comparable financial measure under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), because it does not include the effect of income taxes on discounted future net cash flows. Neither PV-10 nor Standardized Measure represents an estimate of the fair market value of our oil and natural gas reserves. The oil and gas industry uses PV-10 as a measure to compare the relative size and value of proved reserves held by companies without regard to the specific tax characteristics of such entities. See “Reconciliation of PV-10 to Standardized Measure” below.
(2)
Standardized Measure represents the present value of estimated future net cash flows from proved oil and natural gas reserves, less estimated future development, production, plugging and abandonment costs and income tax expenses, discounted at 10% per annum to reflect timing of future cash flows.
Estimated net proved reserves at December 31, 2015 were 218.2 MMBoe, a 20% decrease from estimated net proved reserves of 272.1 MMBoe at December 31, 2014 primarily due to revisions related to lower commodity prices, partially offset by our 2015 drilling program and well completions as well as lower estimated future operating and capital costs. Our proved developed reserves increased 1.3 MMBoe, or 1%, to 147.6 MMBoe for the year ended December 31, 2015 from 146.3 MMBoe for the year ended December 31, 2014, primarily due to our 2015 drilling program, including the completion of 80 gross (62.4 net) operated wells, partially offset by production and higher abandonment rates resulting from lower commodity price assumptions. Our proved undeveloped reserves decreased to 70.7 MMBoe for the year ended December 31, 2015 from 125.7 MMBoe for the year ended December 31, 2014 due to increases from our 2015 drilling program offset by the removal of proved undeveloped reserves that are not economic at the lower oil price or are no longer aligned with our anticipated five-year drilling plan.
Estimated net proved reserves at December 31, 2014 were 272.1 MMBoe, a 19% increase from estimated net proved reserves of 227.9 MMBoe at December 31, 2013 primarily as a result of our 2014 drilling program and well completions, partially offset by the sale of certain non-operated properties in and around our Sanish position (the “Sanish Divestiture”) during the year ended December 31, 2014. Our proved developed reserves increased 24.2 MMBoe, or 20%, to 146.3 MMBoe for the year ended December 31, 2014 from 122.1 MMBoe for the year ended December 31, 2013, primarily due to our 2014 drilling program, including the completion of 195 gross (147.4 net) operated wells. Our proved undeveloped reserves increased to 125.7 MMBoe for the year ended December 31, 2014 from 105.8 MMBoe for the year ended December 31, 2013, primarily due to our 2014 drilling program and changes to align our proved undeveloped reserves with our anticipated five-year drilling plan.
Reconciliation of PV-10 to Standardized Measure
PV-10 is derived from the Standardized Measure of discounted future net cash flows, which is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. PV-10 is a computation of the Standardized Measure of discounted future net cash flows on a pre-tax basis. PV-10 is equal to the Standardized Measure of discounted future net cash flows at the applicable date, before deducting future income taxes, discounted at 10%. We believe that the presentation of PV-10 is relevant and useful to investors because it presents the discounted future net cash flows attributable to our estimated net proved reserves prior to taking into account future corporate income taxes, and it is a useful measure for evaluating the relative monetary significance of our oil and natural gas properties. Further, investors may utilize the measure as a basis for comparison of the relative size and value of our reserves to other companies. We use this measure when assessing the potential return on investment related to our oil and natural gas properties. PV-10, however, is not a substitute for the Standardized Measure of discounted future net cash flows. Our PV-10 measure and the Standardized Measure of discounted future net cash flows do not purport to represent the fair value of our oil and natural gas reserves.
The following table provides a reconciliation of PV-10 to the Standardized Measure of discounted future net cash flows at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013:
The PV-10 of our estimated net proved reserves at December 31, 2015 was $2,022.7 million, a 63% decrease from PV-10 of $5,481.4 million at December 31, 2014. This decrease was primarily due to lower commodity price assumptions and a decrease in reserves, partially offset by a reduction in future development costs year over year.
Estimated future net revenues
Future net revenues represent projected revenues from the sale of our estimated net proved reserves (excluding derivative contracts) net of production and development costs (including operating expenses and production taxes). The following table sets forth the estimated future net revenues from proved reserves, the present value of those net revenues (PV-10) and the expected benchmark prices used in projecting net revenues at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013:
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(1)
Our estimated net proved reserves and related future net revenues, PV-10 and Standardized Measure were determined using index prices for oil and natural gas, without giving effect to derivative transactions, and were held constant throughout the life of the properties. The unweighted arithmetic average first-day-of-the-month prices for the prior twelve months were $50.16/Bbl for oil and $2.63/MMBtu for natural gas, $95.28/Bbl for oil and $4.35/MMBtu for natural gas and $96.96/Bbl for oil and $3.66/MMBtu for natural gas for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. These prices were adjusted by lease for quality, transportation fees, geographical differentials, marketing bonuses or deductions and other factors affecting the price received at the wellhead. Future operating costs, production taxes and capital costs were based on current costs as of each year-end.
There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating reserves and related information, and different reservoir engineers often arrive at different estimates for the same properties. There can be no assurance that our estimated net proved reserves will be produced within the periods indicated or that prices and costs will remain constant. As of February 8, 2016, the spot crude oil price was $29.71 per barrel, a 20% decrease since December 31, 2015 and a 39% decrease as compared to an average WTI of $48.75 per barrel during the year ended December 31, 2015. A further extended period of low prices for oil could result in a significant decrease in our estimated net proved reserves and related future net revenues, PV-10 and Standardized Measure in the future. Please see “Reserves sensitivity” below.
Proved undeveloped reserves
At December 31, 2015, we had approximately 70.7 MMBoe of proved undeveloped reserves as compared to 125.7 MMBoe at December 31, 2014.
The following table summarizes the changes in our proved undeveloped reserves during 2015 (in MBoe):
During 2015, we spent a total of $242.4 million related to the development of proved undeveloped reserves, $105.7 million of which was spent on proved undeveloped reserves that represent wells in progress at year-end. The remaining $136.7 million resulted in the conversion of 10,419 MBoe of proved undeveloped reserves, or 8% of our proved undeveloped reserves balance at the beginning of 2015, to proved developed reserves. Our proved undeveloped reserves converted to proved developed reserves during 2015 amounted to 20% of our proved undeveloped reserves balance at the beginning of 2015 of 125,743 MBoe less our net negative revisions of previous estimates during 2015 of 72,563 MBoe. We added 26,278 MBoe of proved undeveloped reserves in the Williston Basin as a result of our 2015 operated and non-operated drilling program and anticipated five-year drilling plan. We participated in 121 gross (64.3 net) wells that were completed and brought on production during 2015. In addition, we purchased 1,617 MBoe of proved undeveloped reserves as a result of acquisitions during the year ended December 31, 2015. In 2015, our net negative revision of 72,563 MBoe, or 58% of our December 31, 2014 proved undeveloped reserves balance, is primarily due to the removal of proved undeveloped reserves that are not economic at the lower oil price or are no longer aligned with our anticipated five-year drilling plan. This resulted in 259 gross (190.8 net) proved undeveloped locations with 71,945 MBoe of reserves being removed from the December 31, 2015 estimated net proved
reserves balance, most significantly, removing proved undeveloped reserves outside of our core acreage within the Williston Basin that were uneconomic as of December 31, 2015 due to the lower oil price.
We expect to develop all of our proved undeveloped reserves as of December 31, 2015 within five years after the initial year booked. The future development of such proved undeveloped reserves is dependent on future commodity prices, costs and economic assumptions that align with our internal forecasts as well as access to liquidity sources, such as capital markets, our revolving credit facility and derivative contracts. All proved undeveloped locations are located on properties where the leases are held by existing production or continuous drilling operations. Approximately 30% of our proved undeveloped reserves at December 31, 2015 are attributable to wells that have been drilled but not yet completed, and 100% of our undrilled reserves are within our core acreage in the Williston Basin.
Reserves sensitivity
Our estimated net proved reserves at December 31, 2015 were prepared using SEC pricing for crude oil of $50.16 per barrel and natural gas of $2.63 per MMBtu. The current forward curve for commodity prices is significantly lower compared to year-end 2015 SEC pricing; therefore, the following sensitivity table is provided to illustrate the estimated impact on our estimated proved reserves, PV-10 and Standardized Measure. In addition to different price assumptions, the sensitivity case below includes assumed capital and expense reductions we expect to realize at lower commodity prices. The reduction in proved developed reserves is attributable to reaching the economic limit sooner. The reduction in proved undeveloped reserves is a result of well locations no longer meeting our investment criteria as well as reaching the economic limit sooner.
This sensitivity case is only to demonstrate the impact that a lower price and cost environment may have on estimated proved reserves, PV-10 and Standardized Measure. There is no assurance that these prices or assumed cost savings will actually be achieved.
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(1)
Our estimated net proved reserves, PV-10 and Standardized Measure were determined using prices for oil and natural gas, without giving effect to derivative transactions, which were held constant throughout the life of the properties. The actual reserve estimates at December 31, 2015 were prepared using SEC pricing, calculated as the unweighted arithmetic average first-day-of-the-month prices for the prior twelve months, which was $50.16/Bbl for oil and $2.63/MMBtu for natural gas for the year ended December 31, 2015. The sensitivity case prices represent potential SEC pricing based on different pricing assumptions, which are in line with our budget and recent forward commodity prices for 2016. In both the actual and the sensitivity case, the prices were adjusted by lease for quality, transportation fees, geographical differentials, marketing bonuses or deductions and other factors affecting the price received at the wellhead.
Independent petroleum engineers
Our estimated net proved reserves and related future net revenues and PV-10 at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 are based on reports prepared by DeGolyer and MacNaughton, our independent reserve engineers, by the use of appropriate geologic, petroleum engineering and evaluation principles and techniques that are in accordance with practices generally recognized by the petroleum industry as presented in the publication of the Society of Petroleum Engineers entitled Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information (Revision as of February 19, 2007) and definitions and
current guidelines established by the SEC. DeGolyer and MacNaughton is a Delaware corporation with offices in Dallas, Houston, Calgary, Moscow and Algiers. The firm’s more than 100 professionals include engineers, geologists, geophysicists, petrophysicists and economists engaged in the appraisal of oil and gas properties, evaluation of hydrocarbon and other mineral prospects, basin evaluations, comprehensive field studies and equity studies related to the domestic and international energy industry. DeGolyer and MacNaughton has provided such services for over 75 years. The Senior Vice President at DeGolyer and MacNaughton primarily responsible for overseeing the preparation of the reserve estimates is a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Texas with over 30 years of experience in oil and gas reservoir studies and reserve evaluations. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin in 1984, and he is a member of the International Society of Petroleum Engineers and the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers. DeGolyer and MacNaughton restricts its activities exclusively to consultation; it does not accept contingency fees, nor does it own operating interests in any oil, gas or mineral properties, or securities or notes of clients. The firm subscribes to a code of professional conduct, and its employees actively support their related technical and professional societies. The firm is a Texas Registered Engineering Firm.
Technology used to establish proved reserves
In accordance with rules and regulations of the SEC applicable to companies involved in oil and natural gas producing activities, proved reserves are those quantities of oil and natural gas, which, 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. The term “reasonable certainty” means deterministically, the quantities of oil and/or natural gas are much more likely to be achieved than not, and probabilistically, there should be at least a 90% probability of recovering volumes equal to or exceeding the estimate. Reasonable certainty can be established using techniques that have been proved effective by actual production from projects in the same reservoir or an analogous reservoir or by using reliable technology. Reliable technology is a grouping of one or more technologies (including computational methods) that has been field tested and has been demonstrated to provide reasonably certain results with consistency and repeatability in the formation being evaluated or in an analogous formation.
Estimates of reserves were prepared by the use of appropriate geologic, petroleum engineering, and evaluation principles and techniques that are in accordance with practices generally recognized by the petroleum industry as presented in the publication of the Society of Petroleum Engineers entitled Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information (Revision as of February 19, 2007). The method or combination of methods used in the analysis of each reservoir was tempered by experience with similar reservoirs, stage of development, quality and completeness of basic data, and production history.
Based on the current stage of field development, production performance, the development plans provided by us to DeGolyer and MacNaughton and the analyses of areas offsetting existing wells with test or production data, reserves were classified as proved.
For depletion-type reservoirs or those whose performance disclosed a reliable decline in producing-rate trends or other diagnostic characteristics, reserves were estimated by the application of appropriate decline curves or other performance relationships. In the analyses of production decline curves, reserves were estimated only to the limits of economic production.
Undeveloped reserves were estimated for locations adjacent to existing wells and are based on consideration of lateral length, completion and production profiles compared by appropriate target reservoir. In certain cases, when the previously named methods could not be used, reserves were estimated by analogy with similar wells or reservoirs for which more complete data was available.
Internal controls over reserves estimation process
We employ DeGolyer and MacNaughton as the independent reserves evaluator for 100% of our reserves base. We maintain an internal staff of petroleum engineers and geoscience professionals who work closely with the independent reserve engineers to ensure the integrity, accuracy and timeliness of data furnished for the reserves estimation process. Brett Newton, Senior Vice President of Asset Management and Chief Engineer, is the technical person primarily responsible for overseeing our reserves evaluation process. He has over 25 years of industry experience with positions of increasing responsibility in engineering and management. He holds both a Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Science degree in petroleum engineering. Mr. Newton reports directly to our President and Chief Operating Officer.
Throughout each fiscal year, our technical team meets with the independent reserve engineers to review properties and discuss evaluation methods and assumptions used in the proved reserves estimates, in accordance with our prescribed internal control procedures. Our internal controls over the reserves estimation process include verification of input data into our reserves evaluation software as well as management review, such as, but not limited to the following:
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Comparison of historical expenses from the lease operating statements and workover authorizations for expenditure to the operating costs input in our reserves database;
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Review of working interests and net revenue interests in our reserves database against our well ownership system;
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Review of historical realized prices and differentials from index prices as compared to the differentials used in our reserves database;
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Review of updated capital costs prepared by our operations team;
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Review of internal reserve estimates by well and by area by our internal reservoir engineers;
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Discussion of material reserve variances among our internal reservoir engineers and our Senior Vice President of Asset Management and Chief Engineer;
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Review of a preliminary copy of the reserve report by our President and Chief Operating Officer with our internal technical staff; and
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Review of our reserves estimation process by our Audit Committee on an annual basis.
Production, revenues and price history
We produce and market oil and natural gas, which are commodities. The price that we receive for the oil and natural gas we produce is largely a function of market supply and demand. Demand is impacted by general economic conditions, weather and other seasonal conditions, including hurricanes and tropical storms. Over or under supply of oil or natural gas can result in substantial price volatility. Oil supply in the United States has grown dramatically over the past few years, and this has contributed to the current global oversupply of crude oil, which has caused a sharp decline in oil prices since mid-2014. In 2015, oil inventories continued to build as global oil supply continued to outpace demand. As of February 8, 2016, the spot crude oil price was $29.71 per barrel, a 20% decrease since December 31, 2015 and a 39% decrease as compared to an average WTI of $48.75 per barrel during the year ended December 31, 2015. Historically, commodity prices have been volatile, and we expect that volatility to continue in the future. Further declines in oil and natural gas prices, extended low oil and natural gas prices or poor drilling results could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, cash flows, quantities of oil and natural gas reserves that may be economically produced and our ability to access capital markets. Please see “Item 1A.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Our business involves a high degree of risk. If any of the following risks, or any risk described elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, actually occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations could suffer. The risks described below are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks not presently known to us or which we currently consider immaterial also may adversely affect us.
Risks related to the oil and natural gas industry and our business
Further declines, or extended current low commodity prices, in oil and, to a lesser extent, natural gas prices may adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations and our ability to meet our capital expenditure obligations and financial commitments.
The price we receive for our oil and, to a lesser extent, natural gas, heavily influences our revenue, profitability, access to capital and future rate of growth. Oil and natural gas are commodities and, therefore, their prices are subject to wide fluctuations in response to relatively minor changes in supply and demand. For example, average daily prices for WTI crude oil ranged from a high of $61.36 per barrel to a low of $34.55 per barrel during 2015. Average daily prices for NYMEX Henry Hub natural gas ranged from a high of $3.32 per MMBtu to a low of $1.63 per MMBtu during 2015. Historically, the markets for oil and natural gas have been volatile. These markets will likely continue to be volatile in the future. The prices we receive for our production, and the levels of our production, depend on numerous factors beyond our control. These factors include the following:
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worldwide and regional economic conditions impacting the global supply and demand for oil and natural gas;
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the actions of OPEC;
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the price and quantity of imports of foreign oil and natural gas;
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political conditions in or affecting other oil-producing and natural gas-producing countries, including the current conflicts in the Middle East and conditions in South America, China, India and Russia;
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the level of global oil and natural gas exploration and production;
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the level of global oil and natural gas inventories;
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localized supply and demand fundamentals and regional, domestic and international transportation availability;
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weather conditions and natural disasters;
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domestic and foreign governmental regulations;
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speculation as to the future price of oil and the speculative trading of oil and natural gas futures contracts;
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price and availability of competitors’ supplies of oil and natural gas;
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technological advances affecting energy consumption; and
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the price and availability of alternative fuels.
Substantially all of our production is sold to purchasers under short-term (less than twelve-month) contracts at market-based prices. Low oil and natural gas prices will reduce our cash flows, borrowing ability, the present value of our reserves and our ability to develop future reserves. See “Our exploration, development and exploitation projects require substantial capital expenditures. We may be unable to obtain needed capital or financing on satisfactory terms, which could lead to expiration of our leases or a decline in our estimated net oil and natural gas reserves” below. Low oil and natural gas prices may also reduce the amount of oil and natural gas that we can produce economically and may affect our proved reserves. See also “The present value of future net revenues from our estimated net proved reserves will not necessarily be the same as the current market value of our estimated oil and natural gas reserves” below.
Increased costs of capital could adversely affect our business.
Our business and operating results can be harmed by factors such as the availability, terms and cost of capital, increases in interest rates or a reduction in credit rating. Changes in any one or more of these factors could cause our cost of doing business to increase, limit our access to capital, limit our ability to pursue acquisition opportunities, reduce our cash flows available for drilling and place us at a competitive disadvantage. Recent and continuing disruptions and volatility in the global financial markets may lead to an increase in interest rates or a contraction in credit availability impacting our ability to finance our operations. We require continued access to capital. A significant reduction in the availability of credit could materially and adversely affect our ability to achieve our planned operating results.
We may not be able to generate enough cash flow to meet our debt obligations.
We expect our earnings and cash flow to vary significantly from year to year due to the nature of our industry. As a result, the amount of debt that we can manage in some periods may not be appropriate for us in other periods. Additionally, our future cash flow may be insufficient to meet our debt obligations and other commitments. Any insufficiency could negatively impact our business. A range of economic, competitive, business and industry factors will affect our future financial performance, and, as a result, our ability to generate cash flow from operations and to pay our debt obligations. Many of these factors, such as oil and natural gas prices, economic and financial conditions in our industry and the global economy and initiatives of our competitors, are beyond our control. If we do not generate enough cash flow from operations to satisfy our debt obligations, we may have to undertake alternative financing plans, such as:
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selling assets;
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reducing or delaying capital investments;
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seeking to raise additional capital; or
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refinancing or restructuring our debt.
If for any reason we are unable to meet our debt service and repayment obligations, we would be in default under the terms of the agreements governing our debt, which would allow our creditors at that time to declare all outstanding indebtedness to be due and payable, which would in turn trigger cross-acceleration or cross-default rights between the relevant agreements. In addition, our lenders could compel us to apply all of our available cash to repay our borrowings or they could prevent us from making payments on our senior unsecured notes. If amounts outstanding under our revolving credit facility or our senior unsecured notes were to be accelerated, we cannot be certain that our assets would be sufficient to repay in full the money owed to the lenders or to our other debt holders. Please see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity and capital resources.”
Our revolving credit facility and the indentures governing our senior unsecured notes all contain operating and financial restrictions that may restrict our business and financing activities.
Our revolving credit facility and the indentures governing our senior unsecured notes contain a number of restrictive covenants that impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us, including restrictions on our ability to, among other things:
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sell assets, including equity interests in our subsidiaries;
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pay distributions on, redeem or repurchase our common stock or redeem or repurchase our debt;
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make investments;
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incur or guarantee additional indebtedness or issue preferred stock;
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create or incur certain liens;
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make certain acquisitions and investments;
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redeem or prepay other debt;
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enter into agreements that restrict distributions or other payments from our restricted subsidiaries to us;
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consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of our assets;
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engage in transactions with affiliates;
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create unrestricted subsidiaries;
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enter into sale and leaseback transactions; and
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engage in certain business activities.
As a result of these covenants, we are limited in the manner in which we conduct our business, and we may be unable to engage in favorable business activities or finance future operations or capital needs.
Our ability to comply with some of the covenants and restrictions contained in our revolving credit facility and the indentures governing our senior unsecured notes may be affected by events beyond our control. If market or other economic conditions deteriorate or if oil and natural gas prices remain at their current level for an extended period of time or continue to decline, our ability to comply with these covenants may be impaired. A failure to comply with the covenants, ratios or tests in our revolving credit facility, the indentures governing our senior unsecured notes or any future indebtedness could result in an event of default under our revolving credit facility, the indentures governing our senior unsecured notes or our future indebtedness, which, if not cured or waived, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If an event of default under our revolving credit facility occurs and remains uncured, the lenders thereunder:
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would not be required to lend any additional amounts to us;
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could elect to declare all borrowings outstanding, together with accrued and unpaid interest and fees, to be due and payable;
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may have the ability to require us to apply all of our available cash to repay these borrowings; or
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may prevent us from making debt service payments under our other agreements.
A payment default or an acceleration under our revolving credit facility could result in an event of default and an acceleration under the indentures for our senior unsecured notes. If the indebtedness under the notes were to be accelerated, there can be no assurance that we would have, or be able to obtain, sufficient funds to repay such indebtedness in full. In addition, our obligations under our revolving credit facility are collateralized by perfected first priority liens and security interests on substantially all of our assets, including mortgage liens on oil and natural gas properties having at least 90% of the reserve value as determined by reserve reports, and if we are unable to repay our indebtedness under the revolving credit facility, the lenders could seek to foreclose on our assets. Please see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity and capital resources.”
Our level of indebtedness may increase and reduce our financial flexibility.
As of December 31, 2015, we had $138.0 million of outstanding borrowings and had $5.2 million of outstanding letters of credit under our revolving credit facility, $1,144.8 million available for future secured borrowings under our revolving credit facility including pro forma adjustments for the current borrowing base and the net proceeds from our public equity offering in February 2016 and $2,200.0 million outstanding in senior unsecured notes. Please see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity and capital resources-Senior secured revolving line of credit” and “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity and capital resources-Senior unsecured notes.” In the future, we may incur significant indebtedness in order to make future acquisitions or to develop our properties.
Our level of indebtedness could affect our operations in several ways, including the following:
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a significant portion of our cash flows could be used to service our indebtedness;
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a high level of debt would increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;
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the covenants contained in the agreements governing our outstanding indebtedness limit our ability to borrow additional funds, dispose of assets, pay dividends and make certain investments;
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our debt covenants may also affect our flexibility in planning for, and reacting to, changes in the economy and in our industry;
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a high level of debt may place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that are less leveraged and therefore, may be able to take advantage of opportunities that our indebtedness would prevent us from pursuing;
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a high level of debt may make it more likely that a reduction in our borrowing base following a periodic redetermination could require us to repay a portion of our then-outstanding bank borrowings; and
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a high level of debt may impair our ability to obtain additional financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, general corporate or other purposes.
A high level of indebtedness increases the risk that we may default on our debt obligations. Our ability to meet our debt obligations and to reduce our level of indebtedness depends on our future performance. General economic conditions, oil and natural gas prices and financial, business and other factors affect our operations and our future performance. Many of these factors are beyond our control. If oil and natural gas prices remain at their current level for an extended period of time or continue to decline, we may not be able to generate sufficient cash flows to pay the interest on our debt and future working capital, and borrowings or equity financing may not be available to pay or refinance such debt. Factors that will affect our ability to raise cash through an offering of our capital stock or a refinancing of our debt include financial market conditions, the value of our assets and our performance at the time we need capital.
In addition, our bank borrowing base is subject to periodic redeterminations. We could be forced to repay a portion of our bank borrowings due to redeterminations of our borrowing base. If we are forced to do so, we may not have sufficient funds to make such repayments. If we do not have sufficient funds and are otherwise unable to negotiate renewals of our borrowings or arrange new financing, we may have to sell significant assets. Any such sale could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial results.
Our derivative activities could result in financial losses or could reduce our income.
To achieve more predictable cash flows and to reduce our exposure to adverse fluctuations in the prices of oil and natural gas, we currently, and may in the future, enter into derivative arrangements for a portion of our oil and natural gas production, including collars and fixed-price swaps. We have not designated any of our derivative instruments as hedges for accounting purposes and record all derivative instruments on our balance sheet at fair value. Changes in the fair value of our derivative instruments are recognized in earnings. Accordingly, our earnings may fluctuate significantly as a result of changes in the fair value of our derivative instruments.
Derivative arrangements also expose us to the risk of financial loss in some circumstances, including when:
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production is less than the volume covered by the derivative instruments;
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the counterparty to the derivative instrument defaults on its contract obligations; or
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there is an increase in the differential between the underlying price in the derivative instrument and actual price received.
In addition, some of these types of derivative arrangements limit the benefit we would receive from increases in the prices for oil and natural gas and may expose us to cash margin requirements.
Drilling for and producing oil and natural gas are high-risk activities with many uncertainties that could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our future financial condition and results of operations will depend on the success of our exploitation, exploration, development and production activities. Our oil and natural gas exploration and production activities are subject to numerous risks beyond our control, including the risk that drilling will not result in commercially viable oil or natural gas production. Our decisions to purchase, explore, develop or otherwise exploit drilling locations or properties will depend in part on the evaluation of data obtained through geophysical and geological analyses, production data and engineering studies, the results of which are often inconclusive or subject to varying interpretations. For a discussion of the uncertainty involved in these processes, see “Our estimated net proved reserves are based on many assumptions that may turn out to be inaccurate. Any significant inaccuracies in these reserve estimates or underlying assumptions will materially affect the quantities and present value of our reserves” below. Our cost of drilling, completing and operating wells is often uncertain before drilling commences. Overruns in budgeted expenditures are common risks that can make a particular project uneconomical. Further, many factors may curtail, delay or cancel our scheduled drilling projects, including the following:
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shortages of or delays in obtaining equipment and qualified personnel;
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facility or equipment malfunctions and/or failure;
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unexpected operational events, including accidents;
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pressure or irregularities in geological formations;
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adverse weather conditions, such as blizzards, ice storms and floods;
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reductions in oil and natural gas prices;
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delays imposed by or resulting from compliance with regulatory requirements;
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proximity to and capacity of transportation facilities;
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title problems; and
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limitations in the market for oil and natural gas.
Our estimated net proved reserves are based on many assumptions that may turn out to be inaccurate. Any significant inaccuracies in these reserve estimates or underlying assumptions will materially affect the quantities and present value of our reserves.
The process of estimating oil and natural gas reserves is complex. It requires interpretations of available technical data and many assumptions, including assumptions relating to current and future economic conditions and commodity prices. Any significant inaccuracies in these interpretations or assumptions could materially affect the estimated quantities and present value of reserves shown in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. See “Item 1. Business-Our operations” for information about our estimated oil and natural gas reserves and the PV-10 and Standardized Measure of discounted future net revenues as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013.
In order to prepare our estimates, we must project production rates and the timing of development expenditures. We must also analyze available geological, geophysical, production and engineering data. The extent, quality and reliability of this data can vary. The process also requires economic assumptions about matters such as oil and natural gas prices, drilling and operating expenses, capital expenditures, taxes and availability of funds. Although the reserve information contained herein is reviewed by our independent reserve engineers, estimates of oil and natural gas reserves are inherently imprecise.
Actual future production, oil and natural gas prices, revenues, taxes, development expenditures, operating expenses and quantities of recoverable oil and natural gas reserves will vary from our estimates. Any significant variance could materially affect the estimated quantities and present value of reserves shown in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition, we may adjust estimates of net proved reserves to reflect production history, results of exploration and development, prevailing oil and natural gas prices and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. Due to the limited production history of our undeveloped acreage, the estimates of future production associated with such properties may be subject to greater variance to actual production than would be the case with properties having a longer production history.
The present value of future net revenues from our estimated net proved reserves will not necessarily be the same as the current market value of our estimated oil and natural gas reserves.
You should not assume that the present value of future net revenues from our estimated net proved reserves is the current market value of our estimated net oil and natural gas reserves. In accordance with SEC requirements for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, we based the estimated discounted future net revenues from our estimated net proved reserves on the twelve-month unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for the preceding twelve months without giving effect to derivative transactions. Actual future net revenues from our oil and natural gas properties will be affected by factors such as:
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actual prices we receive for oil and natural gas;
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actual cost of development and production expenditures;
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the amount and timing of actual production; and
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changes in governmental regulations or taxation.
The timing of both our production and our incurrence of expenses in connection with the development and production of oil and natural gas properties will affect the timing and amount of actual future net revenues from estimated net proved reserves, and thus their actual present value. In addition, the 10% discount factor we use when calculating discounted future net revenues may not be the most appropriate discount factor based on interest rates in effect from time to time and risks associated with us or the oil and natural gas industry in general.
Actual future prices and costs may differ materially from those used in the present value estimates included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any significant future price changes will have a material effect on the quantity and present value of our estimated net proved reserves.
If oil and natural gas prices remain at their current level for an extended period of time or continue to decline, we may be required to take write-downs of the carrying values of our oil and natural gas properties.
We review our proved oil and natural gas properties for impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate that a decline in the recoverability of their carrying value may have occurred. In addition, we assess our unproved properties periodically for impairment on a property-by-property basis based on remaining lease terms, drilling results or future plans to develop acreage. Based on specific market factors and circumstances at the time of prospective impairment reviews, and the continuing evaluation of development plans, production data, economics and other factors, we may be required to write down the carrying value of our oil and natural gas properties, which may result in a decrease in the amount available under our revolving credit facility. A write-down constitutes a non-cash charge to earnings. The continued decline in oil and natural gas prices since December 31, 2015 may cause us to incur impairment charges in the future, which could have a material adverse effect on our ability to borrow under our revolving credit facility and our results of operations for the periods in which such charges are taken. Due to lower expected future oil prices, we reviewed our proved oil and natural gas properties for impairment as of December 31, 2015 and 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2015, we recorded an impairment loss of $9.4 million to adjust the carrying value of our proved oil and natural gas properties held for sale to their estimated fair value. For the year ended December 31, 2014, we determined that the carrying value exceeded expected undiscounted cash flows for certain legacy wells that have been producing from conventional reservoirs such as the Madison, Red River and other formations in the Williston Basin other than the Bakken or Three Forks formations. As a result, we recorded an impairment loss of $40.0 million to adjust the carrying amount of these assets to fair value. No impairment on proved oil and natural gas properties was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2013. During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, we recorded non-cash impairment
charges of $36.6 million, $7.3 million and $1.2 million, respectively, on our unproved properties due to expiring leases and periodic assessments of our unproved properties.
The unavailability or high cost of additional drilling rigs, equipment, supplies, personnel and oilfield services or the unavailability of sufficient transportation for our production could adversely affect our ability to execute our exploration and development plans within our budget and on a timely basis.
Shortages or the high cost of drilling rigs, equipment, supplies, personnel or oilfield services or the unavailability of sufficient transportation for our production could delay or adversely affect our development and exploration operations or cause us to incur significant expenditures that are not provided for in our capital budget, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Additionally, compliance with new or emerging legal requirements that affect midstream operations in North Dakota may reduce the availability of transportation for our production. For example, the NDIC adopted regulations in late 2013 that impose more rigorous pipeline development standards on midstream operators, some of whom we rely on to construct and operate pipeline infrastructure to transport the oil and natural gas we produce.
Part of our strategy involves drilling in existing or emerging shale plays using some of the latest available horizontal drilling and completion techniques. The results of our planned exploratory drilling in these plays are subject to drilling and completion technique risks and drilling results may not meet our expectations for reserves or production. As a result, we may incur material write-downs and the value of our undeveloped acreage could decline if drilling results are unsuccessful.
Operations in the Bakken and the Three Forks formations involve utilizing the latest drilling and completion techniques as developed by us and our service providers in order to maximize cumulative recoveries and therefore generate the highest possible returns. Risks that we face while drilling include, but are not limited to, landing our well bore in the desired drilling zone, staying in the desired drilling zone while drilling horizontally through the formation, running our casing the entire length of the well bore and being able to run tools and other equipment consistently through the horizontal well bore. Risks that we face while completing our wells include, but are not limited to, being able to fracture stimulate the planned number of stages, being able to run tools the entire length of the well bore during completion operations, successfully cleaning out the well bore after completion of the final fracture stimulation stage and successfully protecting nearby producing wells from the impact of fracture stimulation.
Our experience with horizontal drilling utilizing the latest drilling and completion techniques specifically in the Bakken and Three Forks formations began in late 2009. Ultimately, the success of these drilling and completion techniques can only be evaluated over time as more wells are drilled and production profiles are established over a sufficiently long time period. If our drilling results are less than anticipated or we are unable to execute our drilling program because of capital constraints, lease expirations, access to gathering systems and limited takeaway capacity or otherwise, and/or oil and natural gas prices decline, the return on our investment in these areas may not be as attractive as we anticipate. We could incur material write-downs of unevaluated properties, and the value of our undeveloped acreage could decline in the future.
Our exploration, development and exploitation projects require substantial capital expenditures. We may be unable to obtain needed capital or financing on satisfactory terms, which could lead to expiration of our leases or a decline in our estimated net oil and natural gas reserves.
Our exploration and development activities are capital intensive. We make and expect to continue to make substantial capital expenditures in our business for the development, exploitation, production and acquisition of oil and natural gas reserves. We spent $610.0 million and $1,572.6 million related to capital expenditures for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Our capital expenditure budget for 2016 is approximately $400 million, with approximately $200 million allocated for drilling and completion operations. Since our initial public offering, our capital expenditures have been financed with proceeds from public equity offerings, proceeds from our $2,200.0 million of senior unsecured notes, borrowings under our revolving credit facility, net cash provided by operating activities, the sale of non-core oil and gas properties and cash settlements of derivative contracts. DeGolyer and MacNaughton projects that we will incur capital costs of $828.6 million over the next five years to develop the proved undeveloped reserves in the Williston Basin covered by its December 31, 2015 reserve report. The actual amount and timing of our future capital expenditures may differ materially from our estimates as a result of, among other things, commodity prices, actual drilling results, the availability of drilling rigs and other services and equipment, and regulatory, technological and competitive developments.
A significant increase in product prices could result in an increase in our capital expenditures. We intend to finance our future capital expenditures primarily through cash flows provided by operating activities, borrowings under our revolving credit facility and cash settlements of derivative contracts; however, our financing needs may require us to alter or increase our capitalization substantially through the issuance of additional debt or equity securities or the sale of non-strategic assets. The issuance of additional debt or equity may require that a portion of our cash flows provided by operating activities be used for the payment of principal and interest on our debt, thereby reducing our ability to use cash flows to fund working capital, capital
expenditures and acquisitions. The issuance of additional equity securities could have a dilutive effect on the value of our common stock. In addition, upon the issuance of certain debt securities (other than on a borrowing base redetermination date), our borrowing base under our revolving credit facility will be automatically reduced by an amount equal to 25% of the aggregate principal amount of such debt securities.
Our cash flows provided by operating activities and access to capital are subject to a number of variables, including:
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our estimated net proved reserves;
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the level of oil and natural gas we are able to produce from existing wells and new projected wells;
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the prices at which our oil and natural gas are sold;
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the costs of developing and producing our oil and natural gas production;
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our ability to acquire, locate and produce new reserves;
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the ability and willingness of our banks to lend; and
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our ability to access the equity and debt capital markets.
If the borrowing base under our revolving credit facility or our revenues decrease as a result of low oil or natural gas prices, operating difficulties, declines in reserves or for any other reason, we may have limited ability to obtain the capital necessary to sustain our operations at current levels. If additional capital is needed, we may not be able to obtain debt or equity financing on terms favorable to us, or at all. If cash generated by operations or cash available under our revolving credit facility is not sufficient to meet our capital requirements, the failure to obtain additional financing could result in a curtailment of our operations relating to development of our drilling locations, which in turn could lead to a possible expiration of our leases and a decline in our estimated net proved reserves, and could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We will not be the operator on all of our drilling locations, and, therefore, we will not be able to control the timing of exploration or development efforts, associated costs, or the rate of production of any non-operated assets.
We may enter into arrangements with respect to existing or future drilling locations that result in a greater proportion of our locations being operated by others. As a result, we may have limited ability to exercise influence over the operations of the drilling locations operated by our partners. Dependence on the operator could prevent us from realizing our target returns for those locations. The success and timing of exploration and development activities operated by our partners will depend on a number of factors that will be largely outside of our control, including:
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the timing and amount of capital expenditures;
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the operator’s expertise and financial resources;
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approval of other participants in drilling wells;
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selection of technology; and
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the rate of production of reserves, if any.
This limited ability to exercise control over the operations of some of our drilling locations may cause a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
All of our producing properties and operations are located in the Williston Basin region, making us vulnerable to risks associated with operating in one major geographic area.
As of December 31, 2015, 100% of our proved reserves and production were located in the Williston Basin in northwestern North Dakota and northeastern Montana. As a result, we may be disproportionately exposed to the impact of economics in the Williston Basin or delays or interruptions of production from these wells caused by transportation capacity constraints, curtailment of production, availability of equipment, facilities, personnel or services, significant governmental regulation, natural disasters, adverse weather conditions, plant closures for scheduled maintenance or interruption of transportation of oil or natural gas produced from the wells in this area. In addition, the effect of fluctuations on supply and demand may become more pronounced within specific geographic oil and natural gas producing areas such as the Williston Basin, which may cause these conditions to occur with greater frequency or magnify the effect of these conditions. Due to the concentrated nature of our portfolio of properties, a number of our properties could experience any of the same conditions at the same time, resulting in a relatively greater impact on our results of operations than they might have on other companies that have a more diversified portfolio of properties. Such delays or interruptions could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Our business depends on oil and natural gas gathering and transportation facilities, most of which are owned by third parties.
The marketability of our oil and natural gas production depends in part on the availability, proximity and capacity of gathering and pipeline systems owned by third parties. The unavailability of, or lack of, available capacity on these systems and facilities could result in the shut-in of producing wells or the delay, or discontinuance of, development plans for properties. See also “Market conditions or operational impediments may hinder our access to oil and natural gas markets or delay our production” and “Insufficient transportation or refining capacity in the Williston Basin could cause significant fluctuations in our realized oil and natural gas prices.” We generally do not purchase firm transportation on third party pipeline facilities, and therefore, the transportation of our production can be interrupted by other customers that have firm arrangements. In addition, these third parties may also impose specifications for the products that they are willing to accept. If the total mix of a product fails to meet the applicable product quality specifications, the third parties may refuse to accept all or a part of the products or may invoice us for the costs to handle or damages from receiving the out-of-specification products. In those circumstances, we may be required to delay the delivery of or find alternative markets for that product, or shut-in the producing wells that are causing the products to be out of specification, potentially reducing our revenues.
The disruption of third-party facilities due to maintenance, weather or other interruptions of service could also negatively impact our ability to market and deliver our products. We have no control over when or if such facilities are restored. A total shut-in of our production could materially affect us due to a resulting lack of cash flow, and if a substantial portion of the production is hedged at lower than market prices, those financial hedges would have to be paid from borrowings absent sufficient cash flow. Potential crude oil rail derailments or crashes could also impact our ability to market and deliver our products and cause significant fluctuations in our realized oil and natural gas prices due to tighter safety regulations imposed on crude-by-rail transportation and interruptions in service.
Insufficient transportation or refining capacity in the Williston Basin could cause significant fluctuations in our realized oil and natural gas prices.
The Williston Basin crude oil business environment has historically been characterized by periods when oil production has surpassed local transportation and refining capacity, resulting in substantial discounts in the price received for crude oil versus prices quoted for WTI crude oil. In the past, there have been periods when this discount has substantially increased due to the production of oil in the area increasing to a point that it temporarily surpasses the available pipeline transportation, rail transportation and refining capacity in the area. Recent expansions of both rail and pipeline facilities have reduced the prior constraint on oil transportation out of the Williston Basin and improved netback pricing received at the lease. In 2015, our price differentials relative to WTI strengthened as new pipelines opened to eastern Canada and U.S. markets and transportation on rail gradually declined. In the first quarter of 2015, as WTI declined, our price differentials increased as a percentage of WTI to a 16% discount but decreased in terms of the dollar per barrel discount to WTI to an average of $7.85 per barrel of oil. In the second quarter of 2015, as WTI improved, our price differentials decreased to approximately 10% as a percentage of WTI and continued to decrease in terms of the dollar per barrel discount to WTI to an average of $5.90 per barrel of oil. In the second half of 2015, while WTI fell again, our price differentials strengthened, decreasing to less than $5.00 per barrel of oil and remaining at approximately 10% as a percentage of WTI. On barrels that are transported over pipelines to either Clearbrook, Minnesota or Guernsey, Wyoming, our realized price for crude oil is generally the quoted price for Bakken crude oil less transportation costs from the point where the crude oil is sold.
Market conditions or operational impediments may hinder our access to oil and natural gas markets or delay our production.
Market conditions or the unavailability of satisfactory oil and natural gas transportation arrangements may hinder our access to oil and natural gas markets or delay our production. The availability of a ready market for our oil and natural gas production depends on a number of factors, including the demand for and supply of oil and natural gas and the proximity of reserves to pipelines and terminal facilities. Our ability to market our production depends, in substantial part, on the availability and capacity of gathering systems, pipelines and processing facilities owned and operated by third-parties. Our failure to obtain such services on acceptable terms could materially harm our business. We may be required to shut in wells due to lack of a market or inadequacy or unavailability of crude oil or natural gas pipelines or gathering system capacity. If our production becomes shut-in for any of these or other reasons, we would be unable to realize revenue from those wells until other arrangements were made to deliver the products to market.
The development of our proved undeveloped reserves in the Williston Basin and other areas of operation may take longer and may require higher levels of capital expenditures than we currently anticipate. Therefore, our undeveloped reserves may not be ultimately developed or produced.
Approximately 32% of our estimated net proved reserves were classified as proved undeveloped as of December 31, 2015. Development of these reserves may take longer and require higher levels of capital expenditures than we currently anticipate. The future development of our proved undeveloped reserves is dependent on future commodity prices, costs and economic assumptions that align with our internal forecasts as well as access to liquidity sources, such as capital markets, our revolving credit facility and derivative contracts. Delays in the development of our reserves or increases in costs to drill and develop such reserves will reduce the PV-10 value of our estimated proved undeveloped reserves and future net revenues estimated for such reserves and may result in some projects becoming uneconomic. In addition, delays in the development of reserves could cause us to have to reclassify our proved reserves as unproved reserves.
Unless we replace our oil and natural gas reserves, our reserves and production will decline, which would adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Unless we conduct successful development, exploitation and exploration activities or acquire properties containing proved reserves, our estimated net proved reserves will decline as those reserves are produced. Producing oil and natural gas reservoirs generally are characterized by declining production rates that vary depending upon reservoir characteristics and other factors. Our future oil and natural gas reserves and production, and therefore our cash flows and income, are highly dependent on our success in efficiently developing and exploiting our current reserves and economically finding or acquiring additional recoverable reserves. We may not be able to develop, exploit, find or acquire additional reserves to replace our current and future production at acceptable costs. If we are unable to replace our current and future production, the value of our reserves will decrease, and our business, financial condition and results of operations would be adversely affected.
We may incur substantial losses and be subject to substantial liability claims as a result of our operations. Additionally, we may not be insured for, or our insurance may be inadequate to protect us against, these risks.
We are not insured against all risks. Losses and liabilities arising from uninsured and underinsured events could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. Our oil and natural gas exploration and production activities are subject to all of the operating risks associated with drilling for and producing oil and natural gas, including the possibility of:
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environmental hazards, such as natural gas leaks, oil spills, pipeline and tank ruptures, encountering naturally occurring radioactive materials and unauthorized discharges of brine, well stimulation and completion fluids, toxic gas or other pollutants into the environment;
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abnormally pressured formations;
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shortages of, or delays in, obtaining water for hydraulic fracturing activities;
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mechanical difficulties, such as stuck oilfield drilling and service tools and casing failure;
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personal injuries and death; and
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natural disasters.
Any of these risks could adversely affect our ability to conduct operations or result in substantial losses to us as a result of:
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injury or loss of life;
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damage to and destruction of property, natural resources and equipment;
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pollution and other environmental damage;
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regulatory investigations and penalties;
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suspension of our operations; and
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repair and remediation costs.
Insurance against all operational risk is not available to us. We are not fully insured against all risks, including development and completion risks that are generally not recoverable from third parties or insurance. In addition, pollution and environmental risks generally are not fully insurable. Also, we may elect not to obtain insurance if we believe that the cost of available insurance is excessive relative to the risks presented. The occurrence of an event that is not fully covered by insurance could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We have incurred losses in 2015 and prior years and may do so again in the future.
For the year ended December 31, 2015, we incurred a net loss of $40.2 million. For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, we had net income of $506.9 million and $228.0 million, respectively. Our development of and participation in an
increasingly larger number of drilling locations has required and will continue to require substantial capital expenditures, including planned capital expenditures for 2016 of approximately $400 million.
The uncertainty and risks described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K may impede our ability to economically find, develop, exploit and acquire oil and natural gas reserves. As a result, we may not be able to achieve or sustain profitability or positive cash flows provided by operating activities in the future.
Drilling locations that we decide to drill may not yield oil or natural gas in commercially viable quantities.
Our drilling locations are in various stages of evaluation, ranging from a location which is ready to drill to a location that will require substantial additional interpretation. There is no way to predict in advance of drilling and testing whether any particular location will yield oil or natural gas in sufficient quantities to recover drilling or completion costs or to be economically viable. The use of technologies and the study of producing fields in the same area will not enable us to know conclusively prior to drilling whether oil or natural gas will be present or, if present, whether oil or natural gas will be present in sufficient quantities to be economically viable. Even if sufficient amounts of oil or natural gas exist, we may damage the potentially productive hydrocarbon bearing formation or experience mechanical difficulties while drilling or completing the well, resulting in a reduction in production from the well or abandonment of the well. If we drill additional wells that we identify as dry holes in our current and future drilling locations, our drilling success rate may decline and materially harm our business. We cannot assure you that the analogies we draw from available data from other wells, more fully explored locations or producing fields will be applicable to our drilling locations. Further, initial production rates reported by us or other operators in the Williston Basin may not be indicative of future or long-term production rates. In sum, the cost of drilling, completing and operating any well is often uncertain, and new wells may not be productive.
Our potential drilling location inventories are scheduled to be drilled over several years, making them susceptible to uncertainties that could materially alter the occurrence or timing of their drilling. In addition, we may not be able to raise the substantial amount of capital that would be necessary to drill a substantial portion of our potential drilling locations.
Our management has identified and scheduled drilling locations as an estimation of our future multi-year drilling activities on our existing acreage. These potential drilling locations, including those without proved undeveloped reserves, represent a significant part of our execution strategy. Our ability to drill and develop these locations is subject to a number of uncertainties, including the availability of capital, seasonal conditions, regulatory approvals, oil and natural gas prices, costs and drilling results. Because of these uncertainties, we do not know if the numerous potential drilling locations we have identified will ever be drilled or if we will be able to produce oil or natural gas from these or any other potential drilling locations. Pursuant to existing SEC rules and guidance, subject to limited exceptions, proved undeveloped reserves may only be booked if they relate to wells scheduled to be drilled within five years of the date of booking. These rules and guidance may limit our potential to book additional proved undeveloped reserves as we pursue our drilling program.
Our acreage must be drilled before lease expiration, generally within three to five years, in order to hold the acreage by production. In the highly competitive market for acreage, failure to drill sufficient wells in order to hold acreage will result in a substantial lease renewal cost, or if renewal is not feasible, loss of our lease and prospective drilling opportunities.
Unless production is established within the spacing units covering the undeveloped acres on which some of the locations are identified, the leases for such acreage will expire. As of December 31, 2015, we had leases representing 16,556 net acres expiring in 2016, 8,935 net acres expiring in 2017 and 7,938 net acres expiring in 2018. The cost to renew such leases may increase significantly, and we may not be able to renew such leases on commercially reasonable terms or at all. In addition, on certain portions of our acreage, third-party leases become immediately effective if our leases expire. As such, our actual drilling activities may materially differ from our current expectations, which could adversely affect our business. During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, we recorded non-cash impairment charges of $36.6 million, $7.3 million and $1.2 million on our unproved properties due to expiring leases and periodic assessments of our unproved properties.
Our operations are subject to environmental and occupational health and safety laws and regulations that may expose us to significant costs and liabilities.
Our oil and natural gas exploration and production operations are subject to stringent federal, regional, state and local laws and regulations governing occupational health and safety aspects of our operations, the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to environmental protection. These laws and regulations may impose numerous obligations that are applicable to our operations including the acquisition of a permit before conducting drilling, underground injection or other regulated activities; the restriction on types, quantities and concentration of materials that may be released into the environment; the limitation or prohibition of drilling activities on certain lands lying within wilderness, wetlands and other protected areas; the application of specific health and safety criteria addressing worker protection; and the imposition of substantial liabilities for pollution resulting from our operations. Numerous governmental authorities, such as the EPA, and
analogous state agencies have the power to enforce compliance with these laws and regulations and the permits issued under them, which may cause us to incur significant capital or operating expenditures or costly actions to achieve and maintain compliance. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in the assessment of sanctions, including administrative, civil or criminal penalties; the imposition of investigatory, remedial or corrective action obligations; the occurrence of delays in the development of projects; and the issuance of injunctions limiting or preventing some or all of our operations in affected areas.
There is inherent risk of incurring significant environmental costs and liabilities in the performance of our operations as a result of our handling of petroleum hydrocarbons and wastes, because of air emissions and waste water discharges related to our operations and due to historical industry operations and waste disposal practices. Under certain environmental laws and regulations, we could be subject to joint and several, strict liability for the removal or remediation of previously released materials or property contamination regardless of whether we were responsible for the release or contamination or if the operations were in compliance with all applicable laws at the time those actions were taken. Private parties, including the owners of properties upon which our wells are drilled and facilities where our petroleum hydrocarbons or wastes are taken for reclamation or disposal, may also have the right to pursue legal actions to enforce compliance as well as to seek damages for non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations or for personal injury or property damage. In addition, the risk of accidental spills or releases could expose us to significant liabilities that could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of well drilling, construction, completion on water management activities or operations. Changes in environmental laws and regulations occur frequently, and any changes that result in delays or restrictions in the permitting or development of projects or more stringent or costly waste handling, storage, transport, disposal or cleanup requirements could require us to make significant expenditures to attain and maintain compliance and may otherwise have a material adverse effect on our own results of operations, competitive position or financial condition. For example, the NDIC adopted regulations in late 2013 that impose more rigorous pipeline development standards on midstream operators, some of whom we rely upon to construct and operate pipeline infrastructure to transport the oil and natural gas we produce. In addition, in 2014, the NDIC adopted legal requirements and implemented a drilling permit review process that incorporates public review measures for any oil and natural gas wells drilled within buffer zones established around a designated number of identified areas of interest within the state, including certain National Park or Grassland areas, specified mountains and buttes, certain rivers, and specified wildlife management areas. While limited to drilling of wells upon public lands, the drilling permit review process will result in portions of the drilling applications being made available for public review and comment and could result in a lesser number of such permits being issued or such permits being issued at a slower rate or with added restrictions, which could impact our overall drilling program. With regard to recent federal laws or regulations, in May 2015, the EPA released a final rule that attempted to clarify federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act with regards to obtaining permits for dredge and fill activities in wetland areas, the implementation of which has been stayed nationwide due to a number legal challenges, and, in October 2015, the EPA issued a final rule lowering the NAAQS for ground-level ozone to 70 parts per billion for the 8-hour primary and secondary ozone standards. Compliance with any of these rules or any other new legal requirements could, among other things, require installation of new emission controls on some of our equipment, result in longer permitting timelines, and significantly increase our capital expenditures and operating costs, which could adversely impact our business.
We may not be able to recover some or any of these costs from insurance.
Failure to comply with federal, state and local laws could adversely affect our ability to produce, gather and transport our oil and natural gas and may result in substantial penalties.
Our operations are substantially affected by federal, state and local laws and regulations, particularly as they relate to the regulation of oil and natural gas production and transportation. These laws and regulations include regulation of oil and natural gas exploration and production and related operations, including a variety of activities related to the drilling of wells, the interstate transportation of oil and natural gas by federal agencies such as the FERC, as well as state agencies. In addition, federal laws prohibit market manipulation in connection with the purchase or sale of oil and/or natural gas. Failure to comply with federal, state and local laws could adversely affect our ability to produce, gather and transport our oil and natural gas and may result in substantial penalties. Please see “Item 1. Business-Other federal laws and regulations affecting our industry.”
Our business involves the selling and shipping by rail of crude oil, including from the Bakken shale, which involves risks of derailment, accidents and liabilities associated with cleanup and damages, as well as potential regulatory changes that may adversely impact our business, financial condition or results of operations.
A portion of our crude oil production is transported to market centers by rail. Recent derailments in North America of trains transporting crude oil have caused various regulatory agencies and industry organizations, as well as federal, state and municipal governments, to focus attention on transportation by rail of flammable materials. Transportation safety regulators in the United States and Canada are concerned that crude oil from the Bakken shale may be more flammable than crude oil from other producing regions and are investigating that issue and are also considering changes to existing regulations to address
those possible risks. In May 2015, PHMSA adopted a final rule that, among other things, imposes a new and enhanced tank car design standard for certain tank cars carrying crude oil and ethanol, a phase out by as early as January 2018 for older DOT-111 tank cars that are not retrofitted, and a classification and testing program for unrefined petroleum based products, including crude oil. The rule also includes new operational requirements such as routing analyses, speed restrictions and enhanced braking controls. Transport Canada has also issued legal requirements that align with the U.S. May 2015 final rule adopted by PHMSA, including standards relating to train speed restrictions, route risk analyses and a phase out of non-compliant DOT-111 tank cars.
Any changes to existing laws and regulations, or promulgation of new laws and regulations, including any voluntary measures by the rail industry, that result in new requirements for the design, construction or operation of tank cars used to transport crude oil could increase our costs of doing business and limit our ability to transport and sell our crude oil at favorable prices at market centers throughout the United States, the consequences of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
To the extent that new regulations require design changes or other modifications of tank cars, we may incur significant constraints on transportation capacity during the period while tank cars are being retrofitted or newly constructed to comply with the new regulations. In addition, any derailment of crude oil from the Bakken shale involving crude oil that we have sold or are shipping may result in claims being brought against us that may involve significant liabilities. Although we believe that we are adequately insured against such events, we cannot assure you that our insurance policies will cover the entirety of any damages that may arise from such an event.
Climate change legislation and regulatory initiatives restricting emissions of GHGs could result in increased operating costs and reduced demand for the oil and natural gas that we produce while the physical effects of climate change could disrupt our production and cause us to incur significant costs in preparing for or responding to those effects.
Based on findings by the EPA that emissions of GHGs present an endangerment to public health and the environment because emissions of such gases are contributing to warming of the Earth’s atmosphere and other climatic changes, the EPA adopted regulations under existing provisions of the CAA that establish PSD construction and Title V operating permit reviews for GHG emissions from certain large stationary sources that already are potential major sources of certain principal, or criteria, pollutant emissions. Facilities required to obtain PSD permits for their GHG emissions also will be required to meet “best available control technology” standards that typically will be established by the states. These or similar permit review requirements could adversely affect our operations and restrict or delay our ability to obtain air permits for new or modified facilities. The EPA has also adopted rules requiring the monitoring and reporting of GHG emissions from specified sources in the United States on an annual basis, including, among others, certain onshore oil and natural gas production facilities, which includes certain of our operations. While from time to time Congress has considered legislation to reduce emissions of GHGs, there has not been significant activity in the form of adopted legislation to reduce GHG emissions at the federal level in recent years. In the absence of such federal climate legislation, a number of state and regional efforts have emerged that are aimed at tracking and/or reducing GHG emissions by means of cap and trade programs that typically require major sources of GHG emissions to acquire and surrender emission allowances in return for emitting those GHGs. If Congress undertakes comprehensive tax reform in the coming year, it is possible that such reform may include a carbon tax, which could impose additional direct costs on operations and reduce demand for refined products. The adoption and implementation of any legislation or regulations imposing reporting obligations on, or limiting emissions of GHGs from, our equipment and operations could require us to incur costs to reduce emissions of GHGs associated with our operations or could adversely affect demand for the oil and natural gas we produce. For example, in August 2015, the EPA announced proposed rules, expected to be finalized in 2016, that would establish new controls for methane emissions from certain new, modified or reconstructed equipment and processes in the oil and natural gas source category, including production activities, as part of an overall effort to reduce methane emissions by up to 45% in 2025. On an international level, the United States is one of almost 200 nations that agreed in December 2015 to an international climate change agreement in Paris, France that calls for countries to set their own GHG emissions targets and be transparent about the measures each country will use to achieve its GHG emissions targets. It is not possible at this time to predict how new methane restrictions would impact our business or how or when the United State might impose restrictions on GHGs as a result of the international agreement agreed to in Paris. The adoption of any legislation or regulations that require reporting of GHGs or otherwise restrict emissions of GHGs from the drilling program’s equipment and operations could require us to incur increased operating costs, such as costs to purchase and operate emissions control systems, acquire emissions allowances or comply with new regulatory or reporting requirements including the imposition of a carbon tax. Finally, it should be noted that some scientists have concluded that increasing concentrations of GHGs in the Earth’s atmosphere may produce climate changes that have significant physical effects, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, floods and other climatic events; if any such effects were to occur, they could have an adverse effect on our exploration and production operations.
Federal, state and local legislative and regulatory initiatives relating to hydraulic fracturing as well as governmental reviews of such activities could result in increased costs and additional operating restrictions or delays in the completion of oil and natural gas wells and adversely affect our production.
Hydraulic fracturing is an important and common practice that is used to stimulate production of natural gas and/or oil from dense subsurface rock formations. The process involves the injection of water, sand and chemicals under pressure into the targeted subsurface formations to fracture the surrounding rock and stimulate production. We routinely use hydraulic fracturing techniques in many of our drilling and completion programs. The process is typically regulated by state oil and natural gas commissions, but several federal agencies have asserted regulatory authority over certain aspects of the process. For example, the EPA issued CAA final regulations in 2012 and proposed additional CAA regulations in August 2015 governing performance standards for the oil and natural gas industry; proposed in April 2015 effluent limitations guidelines that waste water from shale natural gas extraction operations must meet before discharging to a treatment plant; and issued in 2014 a prepublication of its Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding Toxic Substances Control Act reporting of the chemical substances and mixtures used in hydraulic fracturing. Also, the BLM published a final rule in March 2015 that establishes new or more stringent standards for performing hydraulic fracturing on federal and Indian lands but, in September 2015, the U.S. District Court of Wyoming issued a preliminary injunction barring implementation of this rule, which order the BLM could appeal and is being separately appealed by certain environmental groups. In addition, from time to time Congress has considered legislation to provide for federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing and to require disclosure of the chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process. At the state level, some states have adopted, and other states are considering adopting, legal requirements that could impose more stringent permitting, public disclosure or well construction requirements on hydraulic fracturing activities. States could elect to prohibit hydraulic fracturing altogether, following the lead of the State of New York in 2015. Local government also may seek to adopt ordinances within their jurisdictions regulating the time, place and manner of drilling activities in general or hydraulic fracturing activities in particular. If new or more stringent federal, state or local legal restrictions relating to the hydraulic fracturing process are adopted in areas where we operate, we could incur potentially significant added costs to comply with such requirements, experience delays or curtailment in the pursuit of exploration, development, or production activities, and perhaps even be precluded from drilling wells.
In addition, certain governmental reviews are underway that focus on environmental aspects of hydraulic fracturing practices. The White House Council on Environmental Quality is coordinating an administration-wide review of hydraulic fracturing practices. Also, the EPA released its draft report on the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources in June 2015, which report concluded that hydraulic fracturing activities have not led to widespread, systemic impacts on drinking water sources in the United States, although there are above and below ground mechanisms by which hydraulic fracturing activities have the potential to impact drinking water sources. However, in January 2016, the EPA’s Science Advisory Board provided its comments on the draft study, indicating its concern that EPA’s conclusion of no widespread, systemic impacts on drinking water sources arising from fracturing activities did not reflect the uncertainties and data limitations associated with such impacts, as described in the body of the draft report. The final version of this EPA report remains pending and is expected to be completed in 2016. Such EPA final report, when issued, as well as any future studies, depending on their degree of pursuit and any meaningful results obtained, could spur initiatives to further regulate hydraulic fracturing.
Competition in the oil and natural gas industry is intense, making it more difficult for us to acquire properties, market oil and natural gas and secure trained personnel.
Our ability to acquire additional drilling locations and to find and develop reserves in the future will depend on our ability to evaluate and select suitable properties and to consummate transactions in a highly competitive environment for acquiring properties, marketing oil and natural gas and securing equipment and trained personnel. Also, there is substantial competition for capital available for investment in the oil and natural gas industry. Many of our competitors possess and employ financial, technical and personnel resources substantially greater than ours. Those companies may be able to pay more for productive oil and natural gas properties and exploratory drilling locations or to identify, evaluate, bid for and purchase a greater number of properties and locations than our financial or personnel resources permit. Furthermore, these companies may also be better able to withstand the financial pressures of unsuccessful drilling attempts, sustained periods of volatility in financial markets and generally adverse global and industry-wide economic conditions, and may be better able to absorb the burdens resulting from changes in relevant laws and regulations, which would adversely affect our competitive position. In addition, companies may be able to offer better compensation packages to attract and retain qualified personnel than we are able to offer. The cost to attract and retain qualified personnel has increased over the past few years due to competition and may increase substantially in the future. We may not be able to compete successfully in the future in acquiring prospective reserves, developing reserves, marketing hydrocarbons, attracting and retaining quality personnel and raising additional capital, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
The loss of senior management or technical personnel could adversely affect our operations.
To a large extent, we depend on the services of our senior management and technical personnel. The loss of the services of our senior management or technical personnel, including Thomas B. Nusz, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Taylor L. Reid, our President and Chief Operating Officer, could have a material adverse effect on our operations. We do not maintain, nor do we plan to obtain, any insurance against the loss of any of these individuals.
Seasonal weather conditions adversely affect our ability to conduct drilling activities in some of the areas where we operate.
Oil and natural gas operations in the Williston Basin are adversely affected by seasonal weather conditions. In the Williston Basin, drilling and other oil and natural gas activities cannot be conducted as effectively during the winter months. Severe winter weather conditions limit and may temporarily halt our ability to operate during such conditions. These constraints and the resulting shortages or high costs could delay or temporarily halt our operations and materially increase our operating and capital costs.
The inability of one or more of our customers to meet their obligations to us may adversely affect our financial results.
Our principal exposures to credit risk are through receivables resulting from the sale of our oil and natural gas production ($96.5 million in receivables at December 31, 2015), which we market to energy marketing companies, refineries and affiliates; joint interest receivables ($64.3 million at December 31, 2015); and deposits to vendors ($9.7 million at December 31, 2015).
We are subject to credit risk due to the concentration of our oil and natural gas receivables with several significant customers. This concentration of customers may impact our overall credit risk since these entities may be similarly affected by changes in economic and other conditions. For the year ended December 31, 2015, sales to Shell Trading (US) Company accounted for approximately 10% of our total sales. For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, sales to Musket Corporation accounted for approximately 13% and 11% of our total sales, respectively. No other purchasers accounted for more than 10% of our total oil and natural gas sales for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013. We do not require all of our customers to post collateral. The inability or failure of our significant customers to meet their obligations to us or their insolvency or liquidation may adversely affect our financial results.
Joint interest receivables arise from billing entities who own a partial interest in the wells we operate. These entities participate in our wells primarily based on their ownership in leases on which we choose to drill. We have limited ability to control participation in our wells.
In addition, our oil and natural gas derivative arrangements expose us to credit risk in the event of nonperformance by counterparties. Derivative assets and liabilities arising from derivative contracts with the same counterparty are reported on a net basis, as all counterparty contracts provide for net settlement. At December 31, 2015, we had derivatives in place with eight counterparties and a total net derivative asset of $155.5 million.
We may be subject to risks in connection with acquisitions because of uncertainties in evaluating recoverable reserves, well performance and potential liabilities, as well as uncertainties in forecasting oil and gas prices and future development, production and marketing costs, and the integration of significant acquisitions may be difficult.
We periodically evaluate acquisitions of reserves, properties, prospects and leaseholds and other strategic transactions that appear to fit within our overall business strategy. The successful acquisition of producing properties requires an assessment of several factors, including:
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recoverable reserves;
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future oil and natural gas prices and their appropriate differentials;
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development and operating costs;
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potential for future drilling and production;
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validity of the seller’s title to the properties, which may be less than expected at the time of signing the purchase agreement; and
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potential environmental issues, litigation and other liabilities.
The accuracy of these assessments is inherently uncertain. In connection with these assessments, we perform a review of the subject properties that we believe to be generally consistent with industry practices. Our review will not reveal all existing or potential problems nor will it permit us to become sufficiently familiar with the properties to fully assess their deficiencies and potential recoverable reserves. Inspections may not always be performed on every well, and environmental problems are not necessarily observable even when an inspection is undertaken. Even when problems are identified, the seller may be unwilling or unable to provide effective contractual protection against all or part of the problems. We often are not entitled to contractual
indemnification for environmental liabilities or title defects in excess of the amounts claimed by us before closing and acquire properties on an “as is” basis. Indemnification from the sellers will generally be effective only during a limited time period after the closing and subject to certain dollar limitations and minimums. We may not be able to collect on such indemnification because of disputes with the sellers or their inability to pay. Moreover, there is a risk that we could ultimately be liable for unknown obligations related to acquisitions, which could materially adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Significant acquisitions and other strategic transactions may involve other risks, including:
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diversion of our management’s attention to evaluating, negotiating and integrating significant acquisitions and strategic transactions;
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the challenge and cost of integrating acquired operations, information management and other technology systems and business cultures with those of our operations while carrying on our ongoing business;
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difficulty associated with coordinating geographically separate organizations;
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an inability to secure, on acceptable terms, sufficient financing that may be required in connection with expanded operations and unknown liabilities; and
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the challenge of attracting and retaining personnel associated with acquired operations.
The process of integrating assets could cause an interruption of, or loss of momentum in, the activities of our business. Members of our senior management may be required to devote considerable amounts of time to this integration process, which will decrease the time they will have to manage our business. If our senior management is not able to effectively manage the integration process, or if any significant business activities are interrupted as a result of the integration process, our business could suffer. In addition, even if we successfully integrate the assets acquired in an acquisition, it may not be possible to realize the full benefits we may expect in estimated proved reserves, production volume, cost savings from operating synergies or other benefits anticipated from an acquisition or realize these benefits within the expected time frame.
If we fail to realize the anticipated benefits of a significant acquisition, our results of operations may be lower than we expect.
The success of a significant acquisition will depend, in part, on our ability to realize anticipated opportunities from combining the acquired assets or operations with those of ours. Even if a combination is successful, it may not be possible to realize the full benefits we may expect in estimated net proved reserves, production volume, cost savings from operating synergies or other benefits anticipated from an acquisition or realize these benefits within the expected time frame. Anticipated benefits of an acquisition may be offset by operating losses relating to changes in commodity prices, in oil and natural gas industry conditions, by risks and uncertainties relating to the exploratory prospects of the combined assets or operations, failure to retain key personnel, an increase in operating or other costs or other difficulties. If we fail to realize the benefits we anticipate from an acquisition, our results of operations and stock price may be adversely affected.
We may incur losses as a result of title defects in the properties in which we invest.
It is our practice in acquiring oil and gas leases or interests not to incur the expense of retaining lawyers to examine the title to the mineral interest. Rather, we rely upon the judgment of oil and gas lease brokers or landmen who perform the fieldwork in examining records in the appropriate governmental office before attempting to acquire a lease in a specific mineral interest.
Prior to the drilling of an oil or gas well, however, it is the normal practice in our industry for the person or company acting as the operator of the well to obtain a preliminary title review to ensure there are no obvious defects in the title to the well. Frequently, as a result of such examinations, certain curative work must be done to correct defects in the marketability of the title, and such curative work entails expense. Our failure to cure any title defects may adversely impact our ability in the future to increase production and reserves. There is no assurance that we will not suffer a monetary loss from title defects or title failure. Additionally, undeveloped acreage has greater risk of title defects than developed acreage. If there are any title defects or defects in assignment of leasehold rights in properties in which we hold an interest, we will suffer a financial loss.
The enactment of derivatives legislation and regulation could have an adverse effect on our ability to use derivative instruments to reduce the negative effect of commodity price changes, interest rate and other risks associated with our business.
On July 21, 2010, new comprehensive financial reform legislation, known as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), was enacted that establishes federal oversight and regulation of the over-the-counter derivatives market and entities, such as us, that participate in that market. The Dodd-Frank Act requires the CFTC, the
SEC and other regulators to promulgate rules and regulations implementing the new legislation. In its rulemaking under the Dodd-Frank Act, the CFTC has issued final regulations to set position limits for certain futures and option contracts in the major energy markets and for swaps that are their economic equivalents. Certain bona fide hedging transactions would be exempt from these position limits. The position limits rule was vacated by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in September of 2012, although the CFTC has stated that it will appeal the District Court’s decision. The CFTC also has finalized other regulations, including critical rulemakings on the definition of “swap,” “security-based swap,” “swap dealer” and “major swap participant.” The Dodd-Frank Act and CFTC Rules also will require us in connection with certain derivatives activities to comply with clearing and trade-execution requirements (or take steps to qualify for an exemption to such requirements). In addition, new regulations may require us to comply with margin requirements although these regulations are not finalized and their application to us is uncertain at this time. Other regulations also remain to be finalized, and the CFTC recently has delayed the compliance dates for various regulations already finalized. As a result, it is not possible at this time to predict with certainty the full effects of the Dodd-Frank Act and CFTC rules on us and the timing of such effects. The Dodd-Frank Act may also require the counterparties to our derivative instruments to spin off some of their derivatives activities to separate entities which may not be as creditworthy as the current counterparties. The Dodd-Frank Act and regulations could significantly increase the cost of derivative contracts (including from swap recordkeeping and reporting requirements and through requirements to post collateral which could adversely affect our available liquidity), materially alter the terms of derivative contracts, reduce the availability of derivatives to protect against risks we encounter, reduce our ability to monetize or restructure our existing derivative contracts, and increase our exposure to less creditworthy counterparties. If we reduce our use of derivatives as a result of the Dodd-Frank Act and regulations, our results of operations may become more volatile and our cash flows may be less predictable, which could adversely affect our ability to plan for and fund capital expenditures. Finally, the Dodd-Frank Act was intended, in part, to reduce the volatility of oil and natural gas prices, which some legislators attributed to speculative trading in derivatives and commodity instruments related to oil and natural gas. Our revenues could therefore be adversely affected if a consequence of the Dodd-Frank Act is to lower commodity prices. Any of these consequences could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Certain U.S. federal income tax deductions currently available with respect to oil and gas exploration and development may be eliminated as a result of proposed legislation.
President Obama’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2017 recommended the elimination of certain key United States federal income tax preferences currently available to oil and natural gas exploration and production companies. These changes include, but are not limited to, (i) the repeal of the percentage depletion allowance for oil and gas properties, (ii) the elimination of current deductions for intangible drilling and development costs, (iii) the elimination of the deduction for United States production activities for oil and gas production, and (iv) the extension of the amortization period for certain geological and geophysical expenditures. It is unclear whether any such changes or similar changes will be enacted or, if enacted, how soon any such changes could become effective. The passage of this legislation or any other similar changes in U.S. federal income tax law could affect certain tax deductions that are currently available with respect to oil and gas exploration and production. Any such changes could have an adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Risks Relating to our Common Stock
We do not intend to pay, and we are currently prohibited from paying, dividends on our common stock and, consequently, our shareholders’ only opportunity to achieve a return on their investment is if the price of our stock appreciates.
We do not plan to declare dividends on shares of our common stock in the foreseeable future. Additionally, we are currently prohibited from making any cash dividends pursuant to the terms of our revolving credit facility and the indentures governing our senior unsecured notes. Consequently, our shareholders’ only opportunity to achieve a return on their investment in us will be if the market price of our common stock appreciates, which may not occur, and the shareholder sells their shares at a profit. There is no guarantee that the price of our common stock will ever exceed the price that the shareholder paid.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, as well as Delaware law, contain provisions that could discourage acquisition bids or merger proposals, which may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes our Board of Directors to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval. If our Board of Directors elects to issue preferred stock, it could be more difficult for a third party to acquire us. In addition, some provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us, even if the change of control would be beneficial to our stockholders, including:
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a classified Board of Directors, so that only approximately one-third of our directors are elected each year;
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limitations on the removal of directors; and
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limitations on the ability of our stockholders to call special meetings and establish advance notice provisions for stockholder proposals and nominations for elections to the Board of Directors to be acted upon at meetings of stockholders.
Delaware law prohibits us from engaging in any business combination with any “interested stockholder,” meaning generally that a stockholder who beneficially owns more than 15% of our stock cannot acquire us for a period of three years from the date this person became an interested stockholder, unless various conditions are met, such as approval of the transaction by our Board of Directors.
Item 1B.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2.
Item 2. Properties
The information required by Item 2. is contained in Item 1. Business.
Item 3.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
Although we may, from time to time, be involved in litigation and claims arising out of our operations in the normal course of business, we are not currently a party to any material legal proceeding other than those noted below. In addition, we are not aware of any material legal or governmental proceedings against us, or contemplated to be brought against us.
On July 6, 2013, a freight train operated by Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway (“MMA”) carrying crude oil (the “Train”) derailed in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec. In March 2014, Oasis Petroleum Inc. and Oasis Petroleum LLC (“OP LLC”) were added to a group of over fifty named defendants, including other crude oil producers as well as the Canadian Pacific Railway, MMA and certain of its affiliates, owners and transloaders of the crude oil carried by the Train, several lessors of tank cars, and the Attorney General of Canada, in a motion filed in the Quebec Superior Court to authorize a class-action lawsuit seeking economic, compensatory and punitive damages, as well as costs for claims arising out of the derailment of the Train (Yannick Gagne, etc., et al. v. Rail World, Inc., etc., et al., Case No. 48006000001132) (the “Class-Action”). The motion generally alleges wrongful death and negligence in the failure to provide for the proper and safe transportation of crude oil.
We believe that all claims against Oasis Petroleum Inc. and OP LLC in connection with the derailment of the Train in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec are without merit.
On August 7, 2013, MMA filed for bankruptcy protection in the Quebec Superior Court and the United States Bankruptcy Court in Bangor, Maine (together, the “Bankruptcy Actions”). The trustees appointed in the Bankruptcy Actions have negotiated settlement agreements with the majority of the named defendants in the Class-Action, including Oasis Petroleum Inc. and OP LLC. The Quebec Superior Court and the United States Bankruptcy Court have issued orders approving the settlement agreements which were pending before them, and such orders have become final. Pursuant to the settlement agreements, Oasis Petroleum Inc. and OP LLC agreed to contribute to the compensation fund established for those suffering losses as a result of the Lac-Megantic derailment. Such contributions were fully covered by our insurance policies. Furthermore, the settlement agreements bar future litigation against Oasis Petroleum Inc. and OP LLC in Canada and the United States arising out of the Lac-Megantic derailment.
Item 4.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
PART II
Item 5.
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity. Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “OAS.”
The following table sets forth the range of high and low sales prices of our common stock for the two most recent fiscal years as reported by the NYSE:
Holders. As of February 18, 2016, the number of record holders of our common stock was 567. Based on inquiry, management believes that the number of beneficial owners of our common stock is approximately 42,300.
Dividends. We have not paid any cash dividends since our inception. Covenants contained in our revolving credit facility and the indentures governing our senior unsecured notes restrict the payment of cash dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain all future earnings for the development of our business, and we do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends to holders of our common stock in the foreseeable future.
On February 24, 2016, the last sale price of our common stock, as reported on the NYSE, was $4.53 per share.
Unregistered Sales of Securities. There were no sales of unregistered securities during the year ended December 31, 2015.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities. The following table contains information about our acquisition of equity securities during the three months ended December 31, 2015:
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(1)
Represent shares that employees surrendered back to us that equaled in value the amount of taxes needed for payroll tax withholding obligations upon the vesting of restricted stock awards. These repurchases were not part of a publicly announced program to repurchase shares of our common stock, nor do we have a publicly announced program to repurchase shares of our common stock.
Stock Performance Graph. The following performance graph and related information is “furnished” with the SEC and shall not be deemed “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically request that such information be treated as “soliciting material” or specifically incorporate such information by reference into such a filing.
The performance graph shown below compares the cumulative total return to our common stockholders as compared to the cumulative total returns on the Standard and Poor’s 500 Index (“S&P 500”) and the Standard and Poor’s 500 Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Index (“S&P 500 O&G E&P”) since the time of our initial public offering. The comparison was prepared based upon the following assumptions:
1. $100 was invested in our common stock at its initial public offering price of $14 per share and invested in the S&P 500 and the S&P 500 O&G E&P on June 16, 2010 at the closing price on such date; and
2. Dividends were reinvested.
Item 6.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
Set forth below is our summary historical consolidated financial data for the years ended December 31, 2011 through 2015. This information may not be indicative of our future results of operations, financial position and cash flows and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and “Item 7.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The following discussion contains “forward-looking statements” that reflect our future plans, estimates, beliefs and expected performance. We caution that assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions or beliefs about future events may, and often do, vary from actual results, and the differences can be material. Some of the key factors which could cause actual results to vary from our expectations include changes in oil and natural gas prices, the timing of planned capital expenditures, availability of acquisitions, uncertainties in estimating proved reserves and forecasting production results, operational factors affecting the commencement or maintenance of producing wells, the condition of the capital markets generally, as well as our ability to access them, the proximity to and capacity of transportation facilities, and uncertainties regarding environmental regulations or litigation and other legal or regulatory developments affecting our business, as well as those factors discussed below and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, all of which are difficult to predict. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed may not occur. See “Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements.”
Overview
We are an independent exploration and production company focused on the acquisition and development of unconventional oil and natural gas resources primarily in the North Dakota and Montana regions of the Williston Basin. Since our inception, we have acquired properties that provide current production and significant upside potential through further development. Our drilling activity is primarily directed toward projects that we believe can provide us with repeatable successes in the Bakken and Three Forks formations. OPNA conducts our domestic oil and natural gas exploration and production activities. We also operate a well services business through OWS and a midstream services business through OMS, both of which are separate reportable business segments that are complementary to our primary development and production activities. The revenues and expenses related to work performed by OWS and OMS for OPNA’s working interests are eliminated in consolidation and, therefore, do not directly contribute to our consolidated results of operations.
Our use of capital for acquisitions and development allows us to direct our capital resources to what we believe to be the most attractive opportunities as market conditions evolve. We have historically acquired properties that we believe will meet or exceed our rate of return criteria. We built our Williston Basin assets through acquisitions and development activities, which were financed with a combination of capital from private investors, borrowings under our revolving credit facility, cash flows provided by operating activities, proceeds from our senior unsecured notes, proceeds from our public equity offerings, the sale of non-core oil and gas properties and cash settlements of derivative contracts. For acquisitions of properties with additional development, exploitation and exploration potential, we have focused on acquiring properties that we expect to operate so that we can control the timing and implementation of capital spending. In some instances, we have acquired non-operated property interests at what we believe to be attractive rates of return either because they provided an entry into a new area of interest or complemented our existing operations. We intend to continue to acquire both operated and non-operated properties to the extent we believe they meet our return objectives. In addition, the acquisition of non-operated properties in new areas provides us with geophysical and geologic data that may lead to further acquisitions in the same area, whether on an operated or non-operated basis.
Due to the geographic concentration of our oil and natural gas properties in the Williston Basin, we believe the primary sources of opportunities, challenges and risks related to our business for both the short and long-term are:
•
commodity prices for oil and natural gas;
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transportation capacity;
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availability and cost of services; and
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availability of qualified personnel.
Our revenue, profitability and future growth rate depend substantially on factors beyond our control, such as economic, political and regulatory developments as well as competition from other sources of energy. Oil and natural gas prices historically have been volatile and may fluctuate widely in the future. Crude oil prices have declined significantly since mid-2014. As a result of sustained low oil prices, we have decreased our planned 2016 capital expenditures as compared to 2015, and we are continuing to concentrate our drilling activities in certain areas that are the most economic in the Williston Basin. Extended periods of low prices for oil or natural gas could materially and adversely affect our financial position, our results of operations, the quantities of oil and natural gas reserves that we can economically produce and our access to capital.
Prices for oil and natural gas can fluctuate widely in response to relatively minor changes in the global and regional supply of and demand for oil and natural gas, as well as market uncertainty, economic conditions and a variety of additional factors. Since the inception of our oil and natural gas activities, commodity prices have experienced significant fluctuations. The current global oversupply of crude oil has caused a sharp decline in oil prices since mid-2014. We enter into crude oil sales contracts with purchasers who have access to crude oil transportation capacity, utilize derivative financial instruments to manage our commodity price risk and enter into physical delivery contracts to manage our price differentials. In an effort to improve price realizations
from the sale of our oil and natural gas, we manage our commodities marketing activities in-house, which enables us to market and sell our oil and natural gas to a broader array of potential purchasers. Due to the availability of other markets and pipeline connections, we do not believe that the loss of any single oil or natural gas customer would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or cash flows. Additionally, we sell a significant amount of our crude oil production through gathering systems connected to multiple pipeline and rail facilities. These gathering systems, which originate at the wellhead, reduce the need to transport barrels by truck from the wellhead. As of December 31, 2015, we were flowing over 80% of our gross operated oil production through these gathering systems. Please see “Item 1. Business-Marketing, transportation and major customers.”
Our quarterly average net realized oil prices and average price differentials are shown in the tables below.
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(1)
Realized oil prices do not include the effect of derivative contract settlements.
(2)
Price differential reflects the difference between realized oil prices and WTI crude oil index prices.
Changes in commodity prices may also significantly affect the economic viability of drilling projects as well as the economic valuation and economic recovery of oil and gas reserves. Crude oil produced and sold in the Williston Basin has historically sold at a discount to WTI due to transportation costs and takeaway capacity. In the past, there have been periods when this discount has substantially increased due to oil production in the area increasing to a point that it temporarily surpasses the available pipeline transportation, rail transportation and refining capacity in the area. Recent expansions of both rail and pipeline facilities have reduced the prior constraint on oil transportation out of the Williston Basin and improved netback pricing received at the lease. In early 2013, our average price differentials relative to WTI narrowed, primarily due to our ability to access premium coastal markets by rail. As the premium received in coastal markets contracted during the second and third quarters of 2013, our average price differentials relative to WTI increased. In the fourth quarter of 2013 and into the first quarter of 2014, our average price differentials relative to WTI continued to increase due to the pipeline market weakening as a result of refinery down time and increased U.S. and Canadian production. In the second and third quarters of 2014, stronger pipeline prices shifted more of our barrels towards the pipelines, but rail buyers had to compete with pipeline prices despite weaker Brent differentials, resulting in price differentials relative to WTI of approximately 9% to 11%. In the fourth quarter of 2014, as WTI crude oil prices declined, our price differentials increased as a percentage of WTI but remained relatively flat in terms of the dollar per barrel discount to WTI in the range of $9.00 to $10.50 per barrel of oil. In 2015, our price differentials relative to WTI strengthened as new pipelines opened to eastern Canada and U.S. markets and transportation on rail gradually declined. In the first quarter of 2015, as WTI further declined, our price differentials continued to increase as a percentage of WTI but decreased in terms of the dollar per barrel discount to WTI to an average of $7.85 per barrel of oil. In the second quarter of 2015, as WTI improved, our price differentials returned to approximately 10% as a percentage of WTI and continued to decrease in terms of the dollar per barrel discount to WTI to an average of $5.90 per barrel of oil. In the second half of 2015, while WTI fell again, our price differentials strengthened, decreasing to less than $5.00 per barrel of oil and remaining at approximately 10% as a percentage of WTI. Our market optionality on the crude oil gathering systems allows us to shift volumes between pipeline and rail markets in order to optimize price realizations.
We believe our large concentrated acreage position provides us with a multi-year inventory of drilling projects and requires forward planning visibility for obtaining services and necessary permits to drill wells. As a result of lower future oil price expectations, we are continuing to slow the pace of development in 2016, and plan to reduce our well completions from 80 gross (62.4 net) operated wells in 2015 to 46 gross (28.6 net) operated wells in 2016. Additionally, we started completing 100% of our wells with OWS in February 2015 and have the ability to control the pace of completions to allow for additional financial flexibility. In 2015, we wrote off $22.2 million of leases that we do not expect to develop before their 2016 and 2017 contract expirations, as we continue to focus our 2016 drilling activities in the deepest part of our acreage in the Williston Basin.
Our 2015, 2014 and 2013 activities included development and exploration drilling in the Williston Basin. Our current activities are focused on evaluating and developing our asset base and optimizing our operations. Based on the reserve reports prepared by our independent reserve engineers, we had 218.2 MMBoe of estimated net proved reserves with a PV-10 of $2,022.7 million and a Standardized Measure of $1,914.3 million at December 31, 2015, 272.1 MMBoe of estimated net proved reserves with a PV-10 of $5,481.4 million and a Standardized Measure of $3,981.7 million at December 31, 2014 and 227.9 MMBoe of estimated net proved reserves with a PV-10 of $5,486.9 million and a Standardized Measure of $3,727.6 million at December 31, 2013. Our estimated net proved reserves and related future net revenues, PV-10 and Standardized Measure were determined using index prices for oil and natural gas, without giving effect to derivative transactions, and were held constant throughout the life of the properties. The unweighted arithmetic average first-day-of-the-month prices for the prior twelve months for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 were $50.16/Bbl for oil and $2.63/MMBtu for natural gas, $95.28/Bbl for oil and $4.35/MMBtu for natural gas and $96.96/Bbl for oil and $3.66/MMBtu for natural gas, respectively. These prices were adjusted by lease for quality, transportation fees, geographical differentials, marketing bonuses or deductions and other factors affecting the price received at the wellhead. Future operating costs, production taxes and capital costs were based on current costs as of each year-end. As of February 8, 2016, the spot crude oil price was $29.71 per barrel, a 20% decrease since December 31, 2015 and a 39% decrease as compared to an average WTI of $48.75 per barrel during the year ended December 31, 2015. An extended period of low oil prices could result in a significant decrease in our estimated net proved reserves and related future net revenues, PV-10 and Standardized Measure in the future.
Forward commodity prices and estimates of future production also play a significant role in determining impairment of proved oil and natural gas properties. As a result of lower commodity prices and their impact on our estimated future cash flows, we have continued to review our proved oil and natural gas properties for impairment. In 2014, we recorded a proved impairment loss of $40.0 million due to lower expected future oil prices, and in 2015, we recorded an impairment loss of $9.4 million to write down our proved properties held for sale to their estimated fair value. No other proved impairment charges were recorded during the year ended December 31, 2015, although the difference between the expected undiscounted future cash flows and the carrying value of our proved oil and natural gas properties in the Bakken and Three Forks formations has narrowed to $1,264.8 million as of December 31, 2015, a decrease of approximately 56% as compared to December 31, 2014. The underlying commodity prices embedded in our estimated cash flows were determined using NYMEX forward swap prices for five years, escalating 3% per year thereafter effective as of December 31, 2015 and holding the fifth year price constant thereafter as of December 31, 2014. Effective as of December 31, 2015, a 3% inflation factor was also applied to the future operating and development costs after five years. Expected future oil and natural gas prices have continued to decline in early 2016. As of February 12, 2016, the average five-year WTI strip price was $43.70 per barrel, a 10% decrease as compared to the average five-year WTI strip price as of December 31, 2015, which reduces the excess of the expected undiscounted cash flows over the carrying value of our proved oil and natural gas properties in the Bakken and Three Forks formations to $327.2 million. If expected future oil prices decline by 13% as compared to December 31, 2015, holding all other factors constant, the expected undiscounted cash flows may not exceed the carrying value of our proved oil and natural gas properties in the Bakken and Three Forks formations, and as a result, we may recognize additional proved impairment charges in the future, and such impairment charges could exceed $2,500.0 million assuming a discount rate of 10%.
2015 Highlights
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We increased average daily production by 11% to 50,477 Boe per day in 2015 from 45,656 Boe per day in 2014.
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We completed and placed on production 80 gross (62.4 net) operated wells during 2015. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had 85 gross operated wells awaiting completion.
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Capital expenditures were $610.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, a 61% decrease as compared to 2014 capital expenditures.
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We had estimated net proved oil and natural gas reserves at December 31, 2015 of 218.2 MMBoe, of which 85% consisted of oil and 68% were classified as proved developed.
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We ended the year with a leasehold position of 484,745 total net acres in the Williston Basin, primarily targeting the Bakken and Three Forks formations. In addition, we increased our acreage that is held by production to 442,292 net acres as of December 31, 2015.
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At December 31, 2015, we had $9.7 million of cash and cash equivalents and had total pro forma liquidity of $1,199.4 million, including adjustments for the current borrowing base and the net proceeds from our public equity offering in February 2016 (see “Liquidity and capital resources” below).
Results of Operations
Revenues
Our oil and gas revenues are derived from the sale of oil and natural gas production. These revenues do not include the effects of derivative instruments and may vary significantly from period to period as a result of changes in volumes of production sold
or changes in commodity prices. Our well services and midstream revenues are primarily derived from well completion activity, tool rentals, salt water pipeline transport, salt water disposal and fresh water sales for third-party working interest owners in OPNA’s operated wells. Intercompany revenues for work performed by OWS and OMS for OPNA’s working interests are eliminated in consolidation.
The following table summarizes our revenues and production data for the periods presented:
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(1)
For the year ended December 31, 2013, average sales prices for oil is calculated using total oil revenues, excluding bulk oil sales of $5.8 million, divided by oil production.
(2)
Realized prices include gains or losses on cash settlements for our commodity derivatives, which do not qualify for and were not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes. Cash settlements represent the cumulative gains and losses on our derivative instruments for the periods presented and do not include a recovery of costs that were paid to acquire or modify the derivative instruments that were settled.
(3)
Natural gas prices include the value for natural gas and natural gas liquids.
Year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to year ended December 31, 2014
Total revenues. Our total revenues decreased $600.5 million, or 43%, to $789.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2014, primarily due to lower realized oil and natural gas sales prices, partially offset by increased production volumes sold. Our average realized prices for oil and natural gas decreased by 48% and 69%, respectively, during the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to December 31, 2014. Net production volumes for the year ended December 31, 2015 were 18,424 MBoe, an 11% increase from net production of 16,664 MBoe for the year ended December 31, 2014. Our net production volumes increased 1,760 MBoe over 2014 primarily due to a successful operated and non-operated drilling and completion program.
Oil and gas revenues. Our primary revenues are a function of oil and natural gas production volumes sold and average sales prices received for those volumes. Average daily production sold increased by 4,821 Boe per day, or 11%, to 50,477 Boe per day during the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. The increase in average daily production sold was primarily a result of our 64.3 total net well completions in the Williston Basin during 2015, offset by the natural decline in production in wells that were producing as of December 31, 2014. Production from wells completed contributed to average daily production during 2015 by approximately 11,366 Boe per day. Average oil sales prices, without derivative settlements, decreased by $39.69 per barrel, or 48%, to an average of $43.04 per barrel, and average natural gas sales prices, which include the value for natural gas and natural gas liquids, decreased by $4.73 per Mcf to an average of $2.08 per Mcf for the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. The lower oil and natural gas sales prices decreased revenues by $641.2 million, partially offset by higher production amounts sold, which increased revenues by $58.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2015. As of February 8, 2016, the spot crude oil price was $29.71 per barrel, a 20% decrease since December 31, 2015 and a 39% decrease as compared to an average WTI of $48.75 per
barrel during the year ended December 31, 2015. Extended current low commodity prices could result in a significant decrease in our oil and gas volumes and revenues in the future.
Well services and midstream revenues. Well services revenues decreased $30.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2014 primarily due to a $26.8 million decrease in well completion product sales to third parties as a result of OWS completing substantially all of OPNA’s operated wells in 2015, coupled with a decrease of $3.1 million in tool rentals as a result of running fewer rigs in 2015 as compared to 2014. Well completion activity increased year over year, but OWS completed OPNA wells with a lower average third-party working interest in 2015 as compared to 2014, resulting in a net decrease of $0.3 million in well completion revenue. While a lower average third-party working interest decreases the well completion revenue recognized in our consolidated results of operations, it improves our capital expenditures by reducing OPNA well costs. Midstream revenues totaled $23.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, a $12.2 million increase year over year, primarily due to a $9.1 million increase in salt water disposal revenue due to increased water volumes flowing through our salt water disposal systems as a result of increased well connections and capacity additions in areas that previously had bottlenecks coupled with a $1.9 million increase in fresh water sales revenue.
Year ended December 31, 2014 as compared to year ended December 31, 2013
Total revenues. Our total revenues increased $248.2 million, or 22%, to $1,390.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2014 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2013, primarily due to increased production volumes sold, partially offset by lower realized oil sales prices. Net production volumes for the year ended December 31, 2014 were 16,664 MBoe, a 35% increase from net production of 12,375 MBoe for the year ended December 31, 2013. Our net production volumes increased 4,289 MBoe over 2013 primarily due to a successful operated and non-operated drilling and completion program.
Oil and gas revenues. Our primary revenues are a function of oil and natural gas production volumes sold and average sales prices received for those volumes. Average daily production sold increased by 11,752 Boe per day, or 35%, to 45,656 Boe per day during the year ended December 31, 2014 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase in average daily production sold was primarily a result of our 151.1 total net well completions in the Williston Basin during 2014 and our acquisitions of oil and natural gas properties in the Williston Basin in the second half of 2013 (the “2013 Acquisitions”), offset by the natural decline in production in wells that were producing as of December 31, 2013 and the Sanish Divestiture. Production from wells completed contributed to average daily production during 2014 by approximately 13,805 Boe per day. The Sanish Divestiture in the first quarter of 2014 resulted in a decrease in average daily production of approximately 2,308 Boe per day during 2014. Average oil sales prices, without derivative settlements, decreased by $9.61 per barrel, or 10%, to an average of $82.73 per barrel, and average natural gas sales prices, which include the value for natural gas and natural gas liquids, increased slightly by $0.03 per Mcf to an average of $6.81 per Mcf for the year ended December 31, 2014 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2013. The higher production amounts sold increased revenues by $332.2 million, partially offset by lower oil sales prices, which decreased revenues by $107.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2014. In addition, bulk oil sales related to marketing activities included in oil revenues decreased $5.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2014 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2013.
Well services and midstream revenues. Well services revenues increased $22.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2013 due to an increase in well completion activity as a result of adding a second OWS fracturing fleet in 2014, coupled with increased well completion product sales and tool rentals. Midstream revenues totaled $11.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, a $5.9 million increase year over year, primarily due to increased water volumes flowing through our salt water disposal systems and fresh water sales.
Expenses and other income
The following table summarizes our operating expenses, gain on sale of properties and other income and expenses for the periods presented:
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(1)
For the year ended December 31, 2013, lease operating expenses include midstream income and operating expenses, which are included in well services and midstream revenues and well services and midstream operating expenses, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.
Year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to year ended December 31, 2014
Lease operating expenses. Lease operating expenses decreased $25.1 million to $144.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. This decrease was primarily due to lower workover costs and an increase in salt water disposal volumes being transported on OMS pipelines and injected in OMS salt water disposal wells, partially offset by higher costs associated with operating an increased number of producing wells. We completed and placed on production 64.3 total net wells in the Williston Basin during the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to 151.1 total net wells completed and placed on production during the year ended December 31, 2014. Lease operating expenses decreased from $10.18 per Boe for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $7.84 per Boe for the year ended December 31, 2015 due to the lower costs and increase in oil and natural gas production.
Well services and midstream operating expenses. Well services and midstream operating expenses represent third-party working interest owners’ share of completion service costs, cost of goods sold and operating expenses incurred by OWS and
OMS. The $22.2 million decrease for the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2014 was attributable to a $23.8 million decrease in well completion costs as a result of lower well completion product sales to third parties due to OWS completing substantially all of OPNA’s operated wells, coupled with OWS completing OPNA wells with a lower average third-party working interest in the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to December 31, 2014. This decrease was partially offset by a $1.6 million increase related to midstream operating expenses and fresh water purchases.
Marketing, transportation and gathering expenses. Marketing, transportation and gathering expenses increased $2.5 million year over year, or a $0.03 decrease per Boe, which was primarily attributable to a $1.4 million increase in gas gathering charges related to additional well connections on OMS infrastructure, a $1.4 million increase in oil transportation costs associated with having additional wells connected to third-party infrastructure and a $0.3 million increase in our pipeline imbalance. These increases were partially offset by a decrease year over year of $0.9 million in the write down of our linefill inventory to the lower of cost or market value at year-end. Excluding non-cash valuation adjustments, our marketing, transportation and gathering expenses on a per Boe basis would have remained constant at $1.62 and $1.61 for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The transporting of volumes through third-party oil gathering pipelines increases marketing, transportation and gathering expenses but improves oil price realizations by reducing transportation costs included in our oil price differential for sales at the wellhead.
Production taxes. Our production taxes for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 were 9.6% and 9.8%, respectively, as a percentage of oil and natural gas sales. The production tax rate decreased slightly year over year primarily due to reduced extraction tax rates triggered by lower oil prices on certain North Dakota wells, partially offset by an increased weighting of wells in North Dakota, which has a higher average production tax rate as compared to Montana. For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the percentage of our total production located in North Dakota was approximately 88% and 86%, respectively. In 2015 and 2014, North Dakota had a crude oil tax structure based on a 5% production tax and a 6.5% oil extraction tax, resulting in a combined tax rate of 11.5% of crude oil revenues. In 2016, the North Dakota oil extraction tax will be reduced to 5%, resulting in a 10% combined tax rate, which will rise by 0.5% if crude oil prices average above $90 per barrel for three consecutive months.
Depreciation, depletion and amortization (“DD&A”). DD&A expense increased $73.0 million to $485.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. The increase in DD&A expense for the year ended December 31, 2015 was primarily due to an increase in the average DD&A rate per Boe year over year coupled with production increases from our wells completed during 2015. The DD&A rate for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $26.34 per Boe as compared to $24.74 per Boe for the year ended December 31, 2014. The increase in the DD&A rate was primarily due to lower recoverable reserves related to lower oil and natural gas prices and increased exploratory and delineation drilling in the Three Forks formation.
Rig termination. As a result of our lowered 2015 capital expenditure program, we elected to early terminate certain drilling rig contracts and recorded a rig termination expense of $3.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. We did not elect to early terminate any drilling rig contracts during the year ended December 31, 2014 or 2013.
Impairment of oil and gas properties. Due to lower expected future oil prices, we reviewed our proved oil and natural gas properties for impairment as of December 31, 2015 and 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2015, we recorded an impairment loss of $9.4 million to adjust the carrying value of our proved oil and natural gas properties held for sale to their estimated fair value. For the year ended December 31, 2014, we determined that the carrying value exceeded expected undiscounted cash flows for certain legacy wells that have been producing from conventional reservoirs such as the Madison, Red River and other formations in the Williston Basin other than the Bakken or Three Forks formations. As a result, we recorded an impairment loss of $40.0 million to adjust the carrying amount of these assets to fair value. During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, we also recorded non-cash impairment charges of $36.6 million and $7.3 million, respectively, for unproved properties due to leases that expired during the period and periodic assessments of unproved properties. The 2015 and 2014 impairment charges included $22.2 million related to acreage expiring in 2016 and 2017 and $2.9 million related to acreage expiring in 2015 and 2016, respectively, as a result of periodic assessments because there were no plans to drill or extend the leases prior to their expiration. In determining the amount of non-cash impairment charges for such periods, we considered the application of the factors described under “Critical accounting policies and estimates-Impairment of proved properties” and “Critical accounting policies and estimates-Impairment of unproved properties.”
General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses. Our G&A expenses increased $0.2 million to $92.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. E&P G&A was $83.0 million and $80.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The $2.6 million increase in E&P G&A was primarily due to increased employee compensation expenses, partially offset by increased shared services allocations to our OWS and OMS segments. OMS G&A increased $1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to December 31, 2014 primarily due to increased employee compensation due to organizational growth within this segment. OWS G&A decreased by $3.6 million
primarily due to OWS completing OPNA wells with a lower average third-party working interest in the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to 2014. Consolidated G&A expenses included non-cash amortization for stock-based compensation of $25.3 million and $21.3 million in 2015 and 2014, respectively. While our full-time employee headcount decreased to 535 as of December 31, 2015 from 558 as of December 31, 2014, our average employee headcount was higher during 2015 as compared to 2014.
Gain on sale of properties. No gain or loss on sale of properties was recorded in the year ended December 31, 2015. In the year ended December 31, 2014, we recognized a $187.0 million gain related to the Sanish Divestiture.
Derivatives. As a result of entering into derivative contracts and the effect of the forward strip oil price changes, we incurred a $210.4 million net gain on derivative instruments, including net cash settlement receipts of $370.4 million, for the year ended December 31, 2015, and a $327.0 million net gain on derivative instruments, including net cash settlement receipts of $6.8 million, for the year ended December 31, 2014. Cash settlements represent the cumulative gains and losses on our derivative instruments for the periods presented and do not include a recovery of costs that were paid to acquire or modify the derivative instruments that were settled.
Interest expense. Interest expense decreased $8.7 million to $149.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. The decrease was primarily due to increased interest costs capitalized due to increased work in progress, including the natural gas processing plant we are constructing in Wild Basin and 85 wells waiting on completion as of December 31, 2015. Interest expense incurred on borrowings under our revolving credit facility remained relatively constant during 2015 as compared to 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the weighted average debt outstanding under our revolving credit facility was $261.2 million and the weighted average interest rate incurred on the outstanding borrowings was 1.8%. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the weighted average debt outstanding under our revolving credit facility was $272.3 million and the weighted average interest rate incurred on the outstanding borrowings was 1.8%. We capitalized $18.6 million and $8.8 million of interest costs for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, which will be amortized over the life of the related assets.
Income tax benefit (expense). Income tax benefit for the year ended December 31, 2015 was recorded at 28.6% of pre-tax loss, and income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2014 was recorded at 37.8% of pre-tax net income. While our 2014 effective tax rate was consistent with the statutory tax rate applicable to the U.S. and the blended state rate for the states in which we conduct business, our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2015 was lower due to permanent differences between the amounts expensed for book purposes versus the amounts deductible for income tax purposes related to stock-based compensation vesting during the year ended December 31, 2015 at stock prices lower than the grant date values, partially offset by a reduction in the North Dakota statutory tax rate in 2015.
Year ended December 31, 2014 as compared to year ended December 31, 2013
Lease operating expenses. Lease operating expenses increased $75.0 million to $169.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2013. This increase was primarily due to the costs associated with operating an increased number of producing wells and associated produced fluid volumes as a result of our 2014 well completions and the 2013 Acquisitions, as well as increased workover costs, which include certain costs to protect producing wells from wells that are being completed. We completed and placed on production 151.1 total net wells in the Williston Basin during the year ended December 31, 2014 as compared to 115.1 total net wells completed and placed on production during the year ended December 31, 2013. Lease operating expenses increased from $7.65 per Boe for the year ended December 31, 2013 to $10.18 per Boe for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Well services and midstream operating expenses. Well services and midstream operating expenses represent third-party working interest owners’ share of completion service costs, cost of goods sold and operating expenses incurred by OWS and OMS. The $19.5 million increase for the year ended December 31, 2014 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2013 was attributable to a $16.3 million increase from OWS’ well completion activity and well completion product sales and a $3.2 million increase related to midstream operating expenses.
Marketing, transportation and gathering expenses. Marketing, transportation and gathering expenses increased $3.2 million year over year, or a $0.34 decrease per Boe, which was primarily attributable to increased oil transportation costs associated with having additional wells connected to third-party infrastructure and a $0.9 million increase due to an increase in the lower of cost or market adjustment on our linefill inventory partially offset by a decrease in the pipeline imbalance accrual. In addition, there was a $5.8 million decrease in costs related to bulk oil purchases. Excluding non-cash valuation adjustments and bulk oil purchase costs, our marketing, transportation and gathering expenses on a per Boe basis would have been $1.61 and $1.52 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The transporting of volumes through third-party oil gathering pipelines increases marketing, transportation and gathering expenses but improves oil price realizations by reducing transportation costs included in our oil price differential for sales at the wellhead.
Production taxes. Our production taxes for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were 9.8% and 9.3%, respectively, as a percentage of oil and natural gas sales. The 2014 production tax rate was higher than the 2013 production tax rate primarily due to the increased weighting of wells in North Dakota, which has higher production tax rates as compared to Montana. For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, the percentage of our total production located in North Dakota was approximately 86% and 82%, respectively, with an average production tax rate of approximately 11%.
Depreciation, depletion and amortization. DD&A expense increased $105.3 million to $412.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase in DD&A expense for the year ended December 31, 2014 was primarily a result of our production increases from our wells completed during 2014 and the 2013 Acquisitions. The DD&A rate for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $24.74 per Boe as compared to $24.81 per Boe for the year ended December 31, 2013. In the first two months of 2014, we had production from the wells sold in the Sanish Divestiture, but these wells were not depreciated because the assets were classified as held for sale, which lowered DD&A by $0.18 per Boe for the year ended December 31, 2014. Excluding the impact of the Sanish Divestiture, the increase in the DD&A rate was primarily due to the 2013 Acquisitions coupled with an increase in the drilling program into the Three Forks formation, offset by continued reductions to well costs.
Impairment of oil and gas properties. Due to lower expected future oil prices, we reviewed our proved oil and natural gas properties for impairment as of December 31, 2014 and determined that the carrying value exceeded the expected undiscounted cash flows for certain legacy wells that have been producing from conventional reservoirs such as the Madison, Red River and other formations in the Williston Basin other than the Bakken or Three Forks formations. As a result, we recorded an impairment loss of $40.0 million to adjust the carrying amount of these assets to fair value. No impairment of proved oil and natural gas properties was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2013. During the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, we also recorded non-cash impairment charges of $7.3 million and $1.2 million, respectively, for unproved properties due to leases that expired during the period and periodic assessments of unproved properties. The 2014 impairment charge included $2.9 million related to acreage expiring in 2015 and 2016 as a result of a periodic assessment because there were no plans to drill or extend the leases prior to their expiration. In 2013, we did not record any impairment charges as a result of periodic assessments based on our ability to actively manage and prioritize our capital expenditures to drill leases and to make payments to extend leases that would otherwise expire. In determining the amount of non-cash impairment charges for such periods, we considered the application of the factors described under “Critical accounting policies and estimates-Impairment of proved properties” and “Critical accounting policies and estimates-Impairment of unproved properties.”
General and administrative expenses. Our G&A expenses increased $17.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 from $75.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. E&P G&A was $80.4 million and $68.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The $11.6 million increase in E&P G&A was primarily due to the impact of our organizational growth on employee compensation, partially offset by increased shared services allocations to the OWS and OMS segments. OWS G&A increased by $4.7 million primarily as a result of adding a second OWS fracturing fleet in 2014, and OMS G&A increased by $0.7 million. Consolidated G&A expenses included non-cash amortization for stock-based compensation of $21.3 million and $12.0 million in 2014 and 2013, respectively. As of December 31, 2014, we had 558 full-time employees as compared to 405 full-time employees as of December 31, 2013.
Gain on sale of properties. We recognized a gain on sale of properties of $187.0 million related to the Sanish Divestiture in the year ended December 31, 2014. No gain or loss on sale of properties was recorded in the year ended December 31, 2013.
Derivatives. As a result of entering into derivative contracts and the effect of the forward strip oil price changes, we incurred a $327.0 million net gain on derivative instruments, including net cash settlement receipts of $6.8 million, for the year ended December 31, 2014, and a $35.4 million net loss on derivative instruments, including net cash settlement payments of $8.1 million, for the year ended December 31, 2013. Cash settlements represent the cumulative gains and losses on our derivative instruments for the periods presented and do not include a recovery of costs that were paid to acquire or modify the derivative instruments that were settled.
Interest expense. Interest expense increased $51.2 million to $158.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase was primarily due to the interest related to our senior unsecured notes issued in September 2013 at an interest rate of 6.875% coupled with interest expense incurred on borrowings under our revolving credit facility during 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the weighted average debt outstanding under our revolving credit facility was $272.3 million and the weighted average interest rate incurred on the outstanding borrowings was 1.8%. For the year ended December 31, 2013, the weighted average debt outstanding under our revolving credit facility was $143.0 million and the weighted average interest rate incurred on the outstanding borrowings was 2.0%. We capitalized $8.8 million and $4.6 million of interest costs for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, which will be amortized over the life of the related assets.
Income tax expense. Income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 was recorded at 37.8% and 37.2% of pre-tax net income, respectively, which closely approximates the statutory rate applicable to the U.S. and the blended state rate of the states in which we conduct business.
Liquidity and capital resources
Our primary sources of liquidity as of the date of this report have been proceeds from our senior unsecured notes, borrowings under our revolving credit facility, proceeds from public equity offerings, cash flows from operations, the sale of non-core oil and gas properties and cash settlements of derivative contracts. Our primary uses of capital have been for the acquisition and development of oil and natural gas properties. We continually monitor potential capital sources, including equity and debt financings and potential asset monetizations, in order to enhance liquidity and decrease leverage. Our future success in growing proved reserves and production will be highly dependent on our ability to access outside sources of capital.
Our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 are presented below:
Our cash flows depend on many factors, including the price of oil and natural gas and the success of our development and exploration activities as well as future acquisitions. We actively manage our exposure to commodity price fluctuations by executing derivative transactions to mitigate the change in oil prices on a portion of our production, thereby mitigating our exposure to oil price declines, but these transactions may also limit our cash flow in periods of rising oil prices. Prices for oil have declined significantly since mid-2014, which has substantially decreased our cash flows provided by operating activities. The decline in operating cash flows caused by lower oil prices is partially offset by cash flows from our derivative contracts. We currently have derivative contracts in place to cover approximately 70% of our estimated 2016 oil production at an average WTI of $51.70 per barrel. On February 2, 2016, we completed a public equity offering resulting in net proceeds of $182.9 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, which we will use for general corporate purposes and to fund a portion of our 2016 capital expenditures. Our existing revolving credit facility provides additional liquidity, with a current borrowing base and elected commitment amount of $1,150.0 million. The next redetermination of the borrowing base is scheduled for October 1, 2016. We believe we have adequate liquidity to fund planned 2016 capital expenditures and to meet our near-term future obligations. For additional information on the impact of changing prices on our financial position, see “Item 7A.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
We are exposed to a variety of market risks including commodity price risk, interest rate risk and counterparty and customer risk. We address these risks through a program of risk management, including the use of derivative instruments.
Commodity price exposure risk. We are exposed to market risk as the prices of oil and natural gas fluctuate as a result of changes in supply and demand and other factors. To partially reduce price risk caused by these market fluctuations, we have entered into derivative instruments in the past and expect to enter into derivative instruments in the future to cover a significant portion of our future production. We currently have derivative contracts in place to cover approximately 70% of our expected 2016 oil production.
We utilize derivative financial instruments to manage risks related to changes in oil prices. As of December 31, 2015, we utilized two-way collar options and swaps to reduce the volatility of oil prices on a significant portion of our future expected oil production. A two-way collar is a combination of options: a sold call and a purchased put. The purchased put establishes a minimum price (floor) and the sold call establishes a maximum price (ceiling) we will receive for the volumes under contract. A swap is a sold call and a purchased put established at the same price (both ceiling and floor).
We recognize all derivative instruments at fair value. The credit standing of our counterparties is analyzed and factored into the fair value amounts recognized on the balance sheet. Derivative assets and liabilities arising from our derivative contracts with the same counterparty are also reported on a net basis, as all counterparty contracts provide for net settlement.
The following is a summary of our derivative contracts as of December 31, 2015:
Interest rate risk. At December 31, 2015, we had (i) $400.0 million of senior unsecured notes at a fixed cash interest rate of 7.25% per annum, (ii) $400.0 million of senior unsecured notes at a fixed cash interest rate of 6.5% per annum and (iii) $1,400.0 million of senior unsecured notes at a fixed cash interest rate of 6.875% per annum outstanding. At December 31, 2015, we also had $138.0 million of borrowings and $5.2 million of outstanding letters of credit issued under our Second Amended Credit Facility, which were subject to varying rates of interest based on (1) the total outstanding borrowings (including the value of all outstanding letters of credit) in relation to the borrowing base and (2) whether the loan is a LIBOR loan or a domestic bank prime interest rate loan (defined in the Second Amended Credit Facility as an Alternate Based Rate or “ABR” loan). At December 31, 2015, the outstanding borrowings under our Second Amended Credit Facility bore interest at LIBOR plus a 1.5% margin. We do not currently, but may in the future, utilize interest rate derivatives to alter interest rate exposure in an attempt to reduce interest rate expense related to debt issued under our Second Amended Credit Facility. Interest rate derivatives would be used solely to modify interest rate exposure and not to modify the overall leverage of the debt portfolio.
Counterparty and customer credit risk. Joint interest receivables arise from billing entities which own partial interest in the wells we operate. These entities participate in our wells primarily based on their ownership in leases on which we choose to drill. We have limited ability to control participation in our wells. We are also subject to credit risk due to concentration of our oil and natural gas receivables with several significant customers. The inability or failure of our significant customers to meet their obligations to us or their insolvency or liquidation may adversely affect our financial results.
While we do not require all of our customers to post collateral and we do not have a formal process in place to evaluate and assess the credit standing of our significant customers for oil and natural gas receivables and the counterparties on our derivative instruments, we do evaluate the credit standing of such counterparties as we deem appropriate under the circumstances. This evaluation may include reviewing a counterparty’s credit rating, latest financial information and, in the case of a customer with which we have receivables, their historical payment record, the financial ability of the customer’s parent company to make payment if the customer cannot and undertaking the due diligence necessary to determine credit terms and credit limits. Several of our significant customers for oil and natural gas receivables have a credit rating below investment grade or do not have rated debt securities. In these circumstances, we have considered the lack of investment grade credit rating in addition to the other factors described above.
As permitted under our investments policy, we may purchase commercial paper instruments from high credit quality counterparties. These counterparties may include issuers in a variety of industries including the domestic and foreign financial sector. This risk is managed by our investment policy including minimum credit ratings thresholds and maximum counterparty exposure values. Although we do not anticipate any of our commercial paper issuers failing to pay us upon maturity, we take a risk in purchasing the commercial paper instruments available in the marketplace. If an issuer fails to repay us at maturity from commercial paper proceeds, it could take a significant amount of time to recover a portion of or all of the assets originally invested. Our commercial paper balance was $36,000 at December 31, 2015.
In addition, our oil and natural gas derivative arrangements expose us to credit risk in the event of nonperformance by counterparties. However, in order to mitigate the risk of nonperformance, we only enter into derivative contracts with counterparties that are high credit-quality financial institutions. Most of the counterparties on our derivative instruments currently in place are Lenders under our Second Amended Credit Facility with investment grade ratings. We are likely to enter into any future derivative instruments with these or other Lenders under our Second Amended Credit Facility, which also carry investment grade ratings. This risk is also managed by spreading our derivative exposure across several institutions and limiting the volumes placed under individual contracts. Furthermore, the agreements with each of the counterparties on our derivative instruments contain netting provisions. As a result of these netting provisions, our maximum amount of loss due to credit risk is limited to the net amounts due to and from the counterparties under the derivative contracts. We had a net derivative asset position of $155.5 million and no net derivative liability position at December 31, 2015.
Item 8.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Oasis Petroleum Inc.:
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of operations, of changes in stockholders’ equity and of cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Oasis Petroleum Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) at December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Houston, Texas
February 25, 2016
Oasis Petroleum Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheet
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Oasis Petroleum Inc.
Consolidated Statement of Operations
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Oasis Petroleum Inc.
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Oasis Petroleum Inc.
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Oasis Petroleum Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
1. Organization and Operations of the Company
Oasis Petroleum Inc. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, “Oasis” or the “Company”) was originally formed in 2007 and was incorporated pursuant to the laws of the State of Delaware in 2010. The Company is an independent exploration and production company focused on the acquisition and development of unconventional oil and natural gas resources in the North Dakota and Montana regions of the Williston Basin. Oasis Petroleum North America LLC (“OPNA”) conducts the Company’s exploration and production activities and owns its proved and unproved oil and natural gas properties. The Company also operates a well services business through Oasis Well Services LLC (“OWS”) and a midstream services business through Oasis Midstream Services LLC (“OMS”), both of which are separate reportable business segments that are complementary to its primary development and production activities.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of Oasis and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. These statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Certain reclassifications of prior year balances have been made to conform such amounts to current year classifications. These reclassifications have no impact on net income.
Use of Estimates
Preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The most significant estimates pertain to proved oil and natural gas reserves and related cash flow estimates used in impairment tests of long-lived assets, estimates of future development, dismantlement and abandonment costs, estimates relating to certain oil and natural gas revenues and expenses and estimates of expenses related to legal, environmental and other contingencies. Certain of these estimates require assumptions regarding future commodity prices, future costs and expenses and future production rates. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Estimates of oil and natural gas reserves and their values, future production rates and future costs and expenses are inherently uncertain for numerous reasons, including many factors beyond the Company’s control. Reservoir engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of oil and natural gas that cannot be measured in an exact manner. The accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of data available and of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. In addition, estimates of reserves may be revised based on actual production, results of subsequent exploration and development activities, prevailing commodity prices, operating costs and other factors. These revisions may be material and could materially affect future depreciation, depletion and amortization (“DD&A”) expense, dismantlement and abandonment costs, and impairment expense.
Risks and Uncertainties
As an oil and natural gas producer, the Company’s revenue, profitability and future growth are substantially dependent upon the prevailing and future prices for oil and natural gas, which are dependent upon numerous factors beyond its control such as economic, political and regulatory developments and competition from other energy sources. The energy markets have historically been very volatile and there can be no assurance that oil and natural gas prices will not be subject to wide fluctuations in the future. Oil and natural gas prices declined significantly in the latter part of 2014 and continued to decline while experiencing high volatility in 2015. As a result of lower commodity prices, the Company significantly decreased its 2015 and 2016 capital expenditures as compared to 2014 and is currently concentrating its drilling activities in certain areas that are the most economic in the Williston Basin. An extended period of low prices for oil and, to a lesser extent, natural gas could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, cash flows and quantities of oil and natural gas reserves that may be economically produced.
Cash Equivalents
The Company invests in certain money market funds, commercial paper and time deposits, all of which are stated at fair value or cost which approximates fair value due to the short-term maturity of these investments. The Company classifies all such investments with original maturity dates less than 90 days as cash equivalents.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable are carried on a gross basis, with no discounting. The Company regularly reviews all aged accounts receivable for collectability and establishes an allowance as necessary for individual customer balances. No allowance for doubtful accounts was recorded for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.
Inventory
Equipment and materials consist primarily of proppant, chemicals, tubular goods, well equipment to be used in future drilling or repair operations and well fracturing equipment. Crude oil inventory includes oil in tank and linefill. Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market value with cost determined on an average cost method. Inventory consists of the following:
Joint Interest Partner Advances
The Company participates in the drilling of oil and natural gas wells with other working interest partners. Due to the capital intensive nature of oil and natural gas drilling activities, the working interest partner responsible for conducting the drilling operations may request advance payments from other working interest partners for their share of the costs. The Company expects such advances to be applied by working interest partners against joint interest billings for its share of drilling operations within 90 days from when the advance is paid. Advances to joint interest partners are included in other current assets on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Proved Oil and Gas Properties
Oil and natural gas exploration and development activities are accounted for using the successful efforts method. Under this method, all property acquisition costs and costs of exploratory and development wells are capitalized when incurred, pending determination of whether the well has found proved reserves. If an exploratory well does not find proved reserves, the costs of drilling the well are charged to expense. The costs of development wells are capitalized whether productive or nonproductive.
The provision for DD&A of oil and natural gas properties is calculated on a field-by-field basis using the unit-of-production method. All capitalized well costs and leasehold costs of proved properties are amortized on a unit-of-production basis over the remaining life of proved developed reserves and total proved reserves, respectively. Natural gas is converted to barrel equivalents at the rate of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil. The calculation for the unit-of-production DD&A method takes into consideration estimated future dismantlement, restoration and abandonment costs, which are net of estimated salvage values.
Costs of retired, sold or abandoned properties that constitute a part of an amortization base (partial field) are charged or credited, net of proceeds, to accumulated DD&A unless doing so significantly affects the unit-of-production amortization rate for an entire field, in which case a gain or loss is recognized currently. In March 2014, the Company sold certain non-operated properties in and around its Sanish position for cash proceeds of $324.9 million. The Company recognized a gain of $187.0 million from this divestiture (see Note 6 - Acquisitions and Divestitures). No gain or loss for the sale of oil and natural gas properties was recorded for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2013.
Expenditures for maintenance, repairs and minor renewals necessary to maintain properties in operating condition are expensed as incurred. Major betterments, replacements and renewals are capitalized to the appropriate property and equipment accounts. Estimated dismantlement and abandonment costs for oil and natural gas properties are capitalized, net of salvage, at their estimated net present value and amortized on a unit-of-production basis over the remaining life of the related proved developed reserves.
The Company reviews its proved oil and natural gas properties for impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate that a decline in the recoverability of their carrying value may have occurred. The Company estimates the expected undiscounted future cash flows of its oil and natural gas properties and compares such undiscounted future cash flows to the carrying amount of the oil and natural gas properties to determine if the carrying amount is recoverable. If the carrying amount exceeds the estimated undiscounted future cash flows, the Company will adjust the carrying amount of the oil and natural gas properties to fair value. The factors used to determine fair value are subject to management’s judgment and expertise and include, but are not limited to, recent sales prices of comparable properties, the present value of future cash flows, net of estimated operating and development costs using estimates of proved reserves, future commodity pricing, future production estimates, anticipated capital expenditures and various discount rates commensurate with the risk and current market conditions associated with realizing the expected cash flows projected. These assumptions represent Level 3 inputs, as further discussed in Note 3 - Fair Value Measurements. Due to lower expected future oil prices, the Company reviewed its proved oil and natural gas properties as of December 31, 2015 and 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $9.4 million to adjust the carrying value of its proved oil and natural gas properties held for sale to their estimated fair value. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company determined that the carrying value exceeded expected undiscounted cash flows for certain assets, and as a result, recorded an impairment loss of $40.0 million to adjust the carrying amount of these assets to fair value. No impairment of proved oil and natural gas properties was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Unproved Oil and Gas Properties
Unproved properties consist of costs incurred to acquire unproved leases, or lease acquisition costs. Lease acquisition costs are capitalized until the leases expire or when the Company specifically identifies leases that will revert to the lessor, at which time the Company expenses the associated lease acquisition costs. The expensing of the lease acquisition costs is recorded as impairment of oil and gas properties in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Lease acquisition costs related to successful exploratory drilling are reclassified to proved properties and depleted on a unit-of-production basis.
The Company assesses its unproved properties periodically for impairment on a property-by-property basis based on remaining lease terms, drilling results or future plans to develop acreage. The Company considers the following factors in its assessment of the impairment of unproved properties:
•
the remaining amount of unexpired term under its leases;
•
its ability to actively manage and prioritize its capital expenditures to drill leases and to make payments to extend leases that may be close to expiration;
•
its ability to exchange lease positions with other companies that allow for higher concentrations of ownership and development;
•
its ability to convey partial mineral ownership to other companies in exchange for their drilling of leases; and
•
its evaluation of the continuing successful results from the application of completion technology in the Bakken and Three Forks formations by the Company or by other operators in areas adjacent to or near the Company’s unproved properties.
As a result of expiring unproved property leases and periodic assessments of unproved properties, the Company recorded non-cash impairment charges of $36.6 million, $7.3 million and $1.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
For sales of entire working interests in unproved properties, gain or loss is recognized to the extent of the difference between the proceeds received and the net carrying value of the property. Proceeds from sales of partial interests in unproved properties are accounted for as a recovery of costs unless the proceeds exceed the entire cost of the property.
Capitalized Interest
The Company capitalizes a portion of its interest expense incurred on its outstanding debt. The amount capitalized is determined by multiplying the capitalization rate by the average amount of eligible accumulated capital expenditures and is limited to actual interest costs incurred during the period. The accumulated capital expenditures included in the capitalized interest calculation begin when the first costs are incurred and end when the asset is either placed into production or written off. The Company capitalized $18.6 million, $8.8 million and $4.6 million of interest costs for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. These amounts are amortized over the life of the related assets.
Other Property and Equipment
Salt water disposal facilities, pipelines, buildings, furniture, software, equipment and leasehold improvements are recorded at cost and are depreciated on the straight-line method based on expected lives of the individual assets. The Company uses estimated lives of 30 years for salt water disposal facilities and pipelines, 20 years for buildings, two to seven years for furniture, software and equipment and the remaining lease term for leasehold improvements. The calculation for the straight-line DD&A method for salt water disposal facilities takes into consideration estimated future dismantlement, restoration and abandonment costs, which are net of estimated salvage values. The cost of assets disposed of and the associated accumulated DD&A are removed from the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet with any gain or loss realized upon the sale or disposal included in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Exploration Expenses
Exploration costs, including certain geological and geophysical expenses and the costs of carrying and retaining undeveloped acreage, are charged to expense as incurred.
Costs from drilling exploratory wells are initially capitalized, but charged to expense if and when a well is determined to be unsuccessful. Determination is usually made on or shortly after drilling or completing the well, however, in certain situations a determination cannot be made when drilling is completed. The Company defers capitalized exploratory drilling costs for wells that have found a sufficient quantity of producible hydrocarbons but cannot be classified as proved because they are located in areas that require major capital expenditures or governmental or other regulatory approvals before production can begin. These costs continue to be deferred as wells-in-progress as long as development is underway, is firmly planned for in the near future or the necessary approvals are actively being sought.
Net changes in capitalized exploratory well costs are reflected in the following table for the periods presented:
As of December 31, 2015, the Company had no exploratory well costs that were capitalized for a period of greater than one year after the completion of drilling.
Business Combinations
The Company accounts for business combinations under the acquisition method of accounting. Accordingly, the Company recognizes amounts for identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed equal to their estimated acquisition date fair values. Transaction and integration costs associated with business combinations are expensed as incurred.
The Company makes various assumptions in estimating the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. As fair value is a market-based measurement, it is determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use. The most significant assumptions relate to the estimated fair values of proved and unproved oil and natural gas properties. The fair values of these properties are measured using valuation techniques that convert future cash flows to a single discounted amount. Significant inputs to the valuation include estimates of reserves, future operating and development costs, future commodity prices and a market-based weighted average cost of capital rate. The market-based weighted average cost of capital rate is subjected to additional project-specific risking factors. In addition, when appropriate, the Company reviews comparable purchases and sales of oil and natural gas properties within the same regions and uses that data as a proxy for fair market value; for example, the amount a willing buyer and seller would enter into in exchange for such properties.
Any excess of the acquisition price over the estimated fair value of net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Any excess of the estimated fair value of net assets acquired over the acquisition price is recorded in current earnings as a gain on bargain purchase. Deferred taxes are recorded for any differences between the assigned values and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. Estimated deferred taxes are based on available information concerning the tax basis of assets acquired and liabilities assumed and loss carryforwards at the acquisition date, although such estimates may change in the future as additional information becomes known.
Assets Held for Sale
The Company occasionally markets non-core oil and gas properties. At the end of each reporting period, the Company evaluates the properties being marketed to determine whether any should be reclassified as held-for-sale. The held-for-sale criteria include: management commits to a plan to sell; the asset is available for immediate sale; an active program to locate a buyer exists; the sale of the asset is probable and expected to be completed within one year; the asset is being actively marketed for sale; and it is unlikely that significant changes to the plan will be made. If each of these criteria is met, the property is reclassified as held-for-sale on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet and measured at the lower of their carrying amount or estimated fair value less costs to sell. DD&A expense is not recorded on assets to be divested once they are classified as held for sale.
Deferred Financing Costs
The Company capitalizes costs incurred in connection with obtaining financing. These costs are amortized over the term of the related financing using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method. The amortization expense is recorded as a component of interest expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.
In the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs (“ASU 2015-03”), which requires debt issuance costs to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the associated debt liability, consistent with the presentation of debt discount, but does not affect the recognition or measurement of debt issuance costs. In accordance with the new guidance, deferred financing costs related to the Company’s senior unsecured notes, which had been included in other assets prior to the adoption of ASU 2015-03, are now included in long-term debt on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet, resulting in decreases in both other assets and long-term debt of $35.4 million as of December 31, 2015. ASU 2015-03 was applied on a retrospective basis, wherein the balance sheet of each individual period presented was adjusted to reflect the period-specific effects of applying the new guidance. As a result, the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2014 included a deduction for deferred financing costs of $29.3 million in long-term debt, which had previously been presented in other assets. Deferred financing costs incurred in connection with the Company’s revolving credit facility are not in the scope of ASU 2015-03 and are presented in other assets on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet consistent with prior periods.
Asset Retirement Obligations
In accordance with the Financial Accounting Standard Board’s (“FASB”) authoritative guidance on asset retirement obligations (“ARO”), the Company records the fair value of a liability for a legal obligation to retire an asset in the period in which the liability is incurred with the corresponding cost capitalized by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. For oil and gas properties, this is the period in which the well is drilled or acquired. The ARO represents the estimated amount the Company will incur to plug, abandon and remediate the properties at the end of their productive lives, in accordance with applicable state laws. The liability is accreted to its present value each period and the capitalized costs are amortized using the unit-of-production method. The accretion expense is recorded as a component of depreciation, depletion and amortization in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.
The Company determines the ARO by calculating the present value of estimated cash flows related to the liability. Estimating the future ARO requires management to make estimates and judgments regarding timing and existence of a liability, as well as what constitutes adequate restoration. Inherent in the fair value calculation are numerous assumptions and judgments including the ultimate costs, inflation factors, credit adjusted discount rates, timing of settlement and changes in the legal, regulatory, environmental and political environments. These assumptions represent Level 3 inputs, as further discussed in Note 3 - Fair Value Measurements. To the extent future revisions to these assumptions impact the fair value of the existing ARO liability, a corresponding adjustment is made to the related asset.
Revenue Recognition
Oil and gas revenue from the Company’s interests in producing wells is recognized when the product is delivered, at which time the customer has taken title and assumed the risks and rewards of ownership, and collectability is reasonably assured. Substantially all of the Company’s production is sold to purchasers under short-term (less than twelve months) contracts at market-based prices. The sales prices for oil and natural gas are adjusted for transportation and other related deductions. These deductions are based on contractual or historical data and do not require significant judgment. Subsequently, these revenue deductions are adjusted to reflect actual charges based on third-party documents. Since there is a ready market for oil and natural gas, the Company sells the majority of its production soon after it is produced at various locations. As a result, the Company maintains a minimum amount of product inventory in storage.
Well services revenue is recognized when well completion or other well services have been performed or related products have been delivered. OWS provides well services and sells well completion products primarily to OPNA. Midstream
revenues consist primarily of revenues from salt water pipeline transport, salt water disposal and fresh water sales for OPNA’s operated wells. Prior to the formation of OMS in 2013, the salt water disposal systems were owned by OPNA, and the related income was included as a reduction to lease operating expenses. The revenues related to OPNA’s working interests are eliminated in consolidation, and only the revenues related to other working interest owners in OPNA’s wells are included in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Revenues and Production Taxes Payable
The Company calculates and pays taxes and royalties on oil and natural gas in accordance with the particular contractual provisions of the lease, license or concession agreements and the laws and regulations applicable to those agreements.
Concentrations of Market and Credit Risk
The future results of the Company’s oil and natural gas operations will be affected by the market prices of oil and natural gas. The availability of a ready market for oil and natural gas products in the future will depend on numerous factors beyond the control of the Company, including weather, imports, marketing of competitive fuels, proximity and capacity of oil and natural gas pipelines and other transportation facilities, any oversupply or undersupply of oil, natural gas and liquid products, the regulatory environment, the economic environment, and other regional and political events, none of which can be predicted with certainty. The current global oversupply of crude oil has caused a sharp decline in oil prices since mid-2014, and an extended period of low prices for oil could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, cash flows and results of operations.
The Company operates in the exploration, development and production sector of the oil and gas industry. The Company’s receivables include amounts due from purchasers of its oil and natural gas production and amounts due from joint interest partners for their respective portions of operating expenses and exploration and development costs. While certain of these customers and joint interest partners are affected by periodic downturns in the economy in general or in their specific segment of the oil or natural gas industry, including the current period of low commodity prices, the Company believes that its level of credit-related losses due to such economic fluctuations has been and will continue to be immaterial to the Company’s results of operations over the long-term. In addition, a portion of the Company’s trade receivables are collateralized.
The Company manages and controls market and counterparty credit risk. In the normal course of business, collateral is not required for financial instruments with credit risk. Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist principally of temporary cash balances and derivative financial instruments. The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents in bank deposit accounts which, at times, may exceed the federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any significant losses from such investments. The Company attempts to limit the amount of credit exposure to any one financial institution or company. The Company believes the credit quality of its customers is generally high. In the normal course of business, letters of credit or parent guarantees are required for counterparties which management perceives to have a higher credit risk.
Risk Management
The Company utilizes derivative financial instruments to manage risks related to changes in oil prices. As of December 31, 2015, the Company utilized two-way costless collar options and swaps to reduce the volatility of oil prices on a significant portion of the Company’s future expected oil production (see Note 4 - Derivative Instruments).
The Company records all derivative instruments on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as either assets or liabilities measured at their estimated fair value. Derivative assets and liabilities arising from derivative contracts with the same counterparty are reported on a net basis, as all counterparty contracts provide for net settlement. The Company has not designated any derivative instruments as hedges for accounting purposes and does not enter into such instruments for speculative trading purposes. Gains and losses from valuation changes in commodity derivative instruments are reported in the other income (expense) section of the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations. The Company’s cash flow is only impacted when the actual settlements under the derivative contracts result in making or receiving a payment to or from the counterparty. These cash settlements represent the cumulative gains and losses on the Company’s derivative instruments for the periods presented and do not include a recovery of costs that were paid to acquire or modify the derivative instruments that were settled. Cash settlements are reflected as investing activities in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
Derivative financial instruments that hedge the price of oil are executed with major financial institutions that expose the Company to market and credit risks and which may, at times, be concentrated with certain counterparties or groups of counterparties. The Company has derivatives in place with eight counterparties. Although notional amounts are used to express the volume of these contracts, the amounts potentially subject to credit risk in the event of nonperformance by the
counterparties are substantially smaller. The credit worthiness of the counterparties is subject to continual review. The Company believes the risk of nonperformance by its counterparties is low. Full performance is anticipated, and the Company has no past-due receivables from its counterparties. The Company’s policy is to execute financial derivatives only with major, credit-worthy financial institutions.
The Company’s derivative contracts are documented with industry standard contracts known as a Schedule to the Master Agreement and International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA”). Typical terms for the ISDAs include credit support requirements, cross default provisions, termination events and set-off provisions. The Company is not required to provide any credit support to its counterparties other than cross collateralization with the properties securing the Company’s revolving credit facility (see Note 9 - Long-Term Debt). As of December 31, 2015, the Company had limitations under its revolving credit facility, including a provision limiting the total amount of production that may be hedged by the Company to the lesser of projected production or 110% of Current Production (as defined in the revolving credit facility) for the period from 1 to 12 months, 100% of Current Production for the period from 13 to 24 months, 75% of Current Production for the period from 25 to 36 months, and 50% of Current Production for the period from 37 to 60 months after the date of each derivative. As of December 31, 2015, the Company was in compliance with these limitations.
Environmental Costs
Environmental expenditures are expensed or capitalized, as appropriate, depending on their future economic benefit. Expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations, and which do not have future economic benefit, are expensed. Liabilities related to future costs are recorded on an undiscounted basis when environmental assessments and/or remediation activities are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated.
Stock-Based Compensation
Restricted Stock Awards
The Company has granted restricted stock awards to employees and directors under its Amended and Restated 2010 Long Term Incentive Plan, the majority of which vest over a three-year period. The fair value of restricted stock grants is based on the value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Compensation expense is recognized ratably over the requisite service period. The Company assumed annual forfeiture rates by employee group ranging from 0% to 16.9% based on the Company’s forfeiture history for this type of award. Stock-based compensation expense recorded for restricted stock awards is included in general and administrative expenses on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Performance Share Units
The Company recognizes compensation expense for its performance share units (“PSUs”) granted to its officers under its Amended and Restated 2010 Long Term Incentive Plan. Stock-based compensation expense is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the performance period, which is generally the vesting period. The fair value of the PSUs is based on the calculation derived from a Monte Carlo simulation model. The Monte Carlo simulation model uses assumptions regarding random projections and must be repeated numerous times to achieve a probable assessment (see Note 12 - Stock-Based Compensation for a description of the inputs used in this model). The Company assumed annual forfeiture rates by employee group ranging from 2.4% to 4.9% based on the Company’s forfeiture history for the employee groups receiving PSUs. Stock-based compensation expense recorded for PSUs is included in general and administrative expenses on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Associated Excess Tax Benefits
Any excess tax benefit arising from the Company’s stock-based compensation plan is recognized as a credit to additional paid-in-capital when realized and is calculated as the amount by which the tax benefit related to the tax deduction received exceeds the deferred tax asset associated with the recorded stock-based compensation expense. As of December 31, 2015, the excess federal tax deduction related to stock-based compensation was $9.6 million and the excess state tax deduction related to stock-based compensation was $7.6 million. Since the Company has been in and continues to be in a net operating loss position for tax purposes, none of the excess tax deduction is reflected in additional paid-in-capital. Pursuant to GAAP, the Company’s deferred tax asset related to net operating loss carryforward is net of the unrealized tax benefit from stock-based compensation.
Treasury Stock
Treasury stock shares represent shares withheld by the Company equivalent to the payroll tax withholding obligations due from employees upon the vesting of restricted stock awards. The Company includes the withheld shares as
treasury stock on its Consolidated Balance Sheet and separately pays the payroll tax obligation. These retained shares are not part of a publicly announced program to repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock and are accounted for at cost. The Company does not have a publicly announced program to repurchase shares of its common stock.
Income Taxes
The Company’s provision for taxes includes both federal and state taxes. The Company records its federal income taxes in accordance with accounting for income taxes under GAAP which results in the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the book carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences and carryforwards are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is established to reduce deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that the related tax benefits will not be realized.
The Company applies significant judgment in evaluating its tax positions and estimating its provision for income taxes. During the ordinary course of business, there are many transactions and calculations for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. The actual outcome of these future tax consequences could differ significantly from the Company’s estimates, which could impact its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
The Company also accounts for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements in accordance with GAAP by prescribing a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Authoritative guidance for accounting for uncertainty in income taxes requires that the Company recognize the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. The Company did not have any uncertain tax positions outstanding and, as such, did not record a liability for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.
In the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes (“ASU 2015-17”). In accordance with ASU 2015-17, all deferred tax assets and liabilities, along with any related valuation allowance, are classified as noncurrent on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2015. Prior periods were not retrospectively adjusted.
Fair Value of Financial and Non-Financial Instruments
The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and other payables approximate their respective fair market values due to their short-term maturities. The Company’s derivative instruments and ARO are also recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet at amounts which approximate fair market value. See Note 3 - Fair Value Measurements.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Revenue Recognition
In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”). The objective of ASU 2014-09 is greater consistency and comparability across industries by using a five-step model to recognize revenue from customer contracts. ASU 2014-09 also contains some new disclosure requirements under GAAP. In August 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-14, Deferral of the Effective Date (“ASU 2015-14”). ASU 2015-14 defers the effective date of the new revenue standard by one year, making it effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that adopting this guidance will have on its financial position, cash flows and results of operations.
Going Concern
In August 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (“ASU 2014-15”). ASU 2014-15 codifies in GAAP management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. ASU 2014-15 is effective for the annual reporting period ending after December 15, 2016 and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. The adoption of this guidance will not impact the Company’s financial position, cash flows or results of operations, but could result in additional disclosures.
Extraordinary Items
In January 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-01, Simplifying Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items (“ASU 2015-01”). ASU 2015-01 removes the concept of extraordinary items from GAAP. Under existing guidance, an entity is required to separately disclose extraordinary items, net of tax, in the income statement after income from continuing operations if an event or transaction is of an unusual nature and occurs infrequently. This separate, net-of-tax presentation will no longer be allowed. ASU 2015-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, including interim periods within those years. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its financial position, cash flows or results of operations.
Inventory
In July 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (“ASU 2015-11”). ASU 2015-11 changes the inventory measurement principle from lower of cost or market to lower of cost and net realizable value for entities using the first-in, first out (FIFO) or average cost methods. ASU 2015-11 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those years. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that adopting this guidance will have on its financial position, cash flows and results of operations.
Business Combinations
In September 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-16, Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments (“ASU 2015-16”), which eliminates the requirement for an acquirer in a business combination to restate prior period financial statements for measurement period adjustments. ASU 2015-16 requires that the cumulative impact of measurement period adjustments on current and prior periods be recognized in the reporting period in which the adjustment amount is determined. ASU 2015-16 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, including interim periods within those years. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that adopting this guidance will have on its financial position, cash flows and results of operations.
Financial Instruments
In January 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-01, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“ASU 2016-01”), which requires that most equity instruments be measured at fair value with subsequent changes in fair value recognized in net income. ASU 2016-01 also impacts financial liabilities under the fair value option and the presentation and disclosure requirements for financial instruments. ASU 2016-01 does not apply to equity method investments or investments in consolidated subsidiaries. ASU 2016-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those years. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that adopting this guidance will have on its financial position, cash flows and results of operations.
3. Fair Value Measurements
In accordance with the FASB’s authoritative guidance on fair value measurements, the Company’s financial assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The Company recognizes its non-financial assets and liabilities, such as ARO and proved oil and natural gas properties upon impairment, at fair value on a non-recurring basis.
As defined in the authoritative guidance, fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). To estimate fair value, the Company utilizes market data or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk and the risks inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated or generally unobservable.
The authoritative guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (“Level 1” measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (“Level 3” measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.
Level 2 - Pricing inputs, other than unadjusted quoted prices in active markets included in Level 1, are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date. Level 2 includes those financial instruments that are valued using models or other valuation methodologies. These models are primarily industry-standard models that consider various assumptions, including quoted forward prices for commodities, time value, volatility factors and current market and contractual prices for the underlying instruments, as well as other relevant economic measures. Substantially all of these assumptions are observable in
the marketplace throughout the full term of the instrument and can be derived from observable data or are supported by observable levels at which transactions are executed in the marketplace.
Level 3 - Pricing inputs are generally less observable from objective sources, requiring internally developed valuation methodologies that result in management’s best estimate of fair value.
Financial Assets and Liabilities
As required, financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input requires judgment and may affect the valuation of fair value assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels. The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis:
The Level 1 instruments presented in the tables above consist of money market funds included in cash and cash equivalents on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2015 and 2014. The Company’s money market funds represent cash equivalents backed by the assets of high-quality major banks and financial institutions. The Company identifies the money market funds as Level 1 instruments because the money market funds have daily liquidity, quoted prices for the underlying investments can be obtained, and there are active markets for the underlying investments.
The Level 2 instruments presented in the tables above consist of commodity derivative instruments, which include oil collars and swaps. The fair values of the Company’s commodity derivative instruments are based upon a third-party preparer’s calculation using mark-to-market valuation reports provided by the Company’s counterparties for monthly settlement purposes to determine the valuation of its derivative instruments. The Company has the third-party preparer evaluate other readily available market prices for its derivative contracts as there is an active market for these contracts. The third-party preparer performs its independent valuation using a moment matching method similar to Turnbull-Wakeman for Asian options. The significant inputs used are crude oil prices, volatility, skew, discount rate and the contract terms of the derivative instruments. However, the Company does not have access to the specific proprietary valuation models or inputs used by its counterparties or third-party preparer. The Company compares the third-party preparer’s valuation to counterparty valuation statements, investigating any significant differences, and analyzes monthly valuation changes in relation to movements in crude oil forward price curves. The determination of the fair value for derivative instruments also incorporates a credit adjustment for non-performance risk, as required by GAAP. The Company calculates the credit adjustment for derivatives in an asset position using current credit default swap values for each counterparty. The credit adjustment for derivatives in a liability position is based on the Company’s market credit spread. Based on these calculations, the Company recorded a downward adjustment to the fair value of its net derivative asset in the amount of $0.3 million and $0.6 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
There were no transfers between fair value levels during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.
Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments
The Company’s financial instruments, including certain cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable, are carried at cost, which approximates fair value due to the short-term maturity of these instruments. At December 31, 2015, the Company’s cash equivalents were all Level 1 assets.
The carrying amount of the Company’s long-term debt reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2015 is $2,302.6 million, which includes $2,200.0 million of senior unsecured notes and $138.0 million of borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility (see Note 9 - Long-Term Debt). The fair value of the Company’s senior unsecured notes, which are publicly traded and therefore categorized as Level 1 liabilities, is $1,440.0 million at December 31, 2015.
Non-Financial Assets and Liabilities
Asset retirement obligations. The carrying amount of the Company’s ARO in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2015 was $35.8 million (see Note 10 - Asset Retirement Obligations). The Company determines the ARO by calculating the present value of estimated future cash flows related to the liability. Estimating the future ARO requires management to make estimates and judgments regarding the timing and existence of a liability, as well as what constitutes adequate restoration when considering current regulatory requirements. Inherent in the fair value calculation are numerous assumptions and judgments, including the ultimate costs, inflation factors, credit adjusted discount rates, timing of settlement and changes in the legal, regulatory, environmental and political environments. These assumptions represent Level 3 inputs. To the extent future revisions to these assumptions impact the fair value of the existing ARO liability, a corresponding adjustment is made to the related asset.
Impairment. The Company reviews its proved oil and natural gas properties for impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate that a decline in the recoverability of their carrying value may have occurred. The Company estimates the expected undiscounted future cash flows of its proved oil and natural gas properties then compares such amounts to the carrying amount of the proved oil and natural gas properties to determine if the carrying amount is recoverable. If the carrying amount exceeds the estimated undiscounted future cash flows, the Company will adjust the carrying amount of the proved oil and natural gas properties to fair value. The factors used to determine fair value are subject to management’s judgment and expertise and include, but are not limited to, recent sales prices of comparable properties, the present value of future cash flows net of estimated operating and development costs using estimates of proved reserves, future commodity pricing, future production estimates, anticipated capital expenditures and various discount rates commensurate with the risk and current market conditions associated with realizing the expected cash flows projected. These assumptions represent Level 3 inputs.
Due to lower expected future oil prices, the Company reviewed its proved oil and natural gas properties for impairment as of December 31, 2015 and 2014. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had certain proved oil and natural gas properties held for sale (see Note 7 - Assets Held for Sale). The Company recorded an impairment loss of $9.4 million, which was included in earnings in its exploration and production segment for the year ended December 31, 2015, to adjust the carrying value of these assets, net of the associated ARO liabilities, of $25.9 million to their estimated fair value of $16.5 million. The fair value was determined based on the expected sales price as negotiated with potential buyers. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company determined that the carrying value exceeded expected undiscounted cash flows for certain legacy wells that have been producing from conventional reservoirs such as the Madison, Red River and other formations in the Williston Basin other than the Bakken or Three Forks formations. As a result, these assets, with a carrying amount of $76.4 million, were written down to their fair value of $36.4 million, resulting in an impairment charge of $40.0 million, which was included in earnings in the Company’s exploration and production segment for the year ended December 31, 2014. The fair value of these assets was measured using valuation techniques that convert future cash flows to a single discounted amount. Significant inputs used to determine the fair value included estimates of: (i) reserves, (ii) future operating and development costs, (iii) future commodity prices, and (iv) a weighted average cost of capital rate based on the assumptions of a market participant. The market-based weighted average cost of capital rate is subjected to additional project-specific risking factors. The underlying commodity prices embedded in the Company’s estimated cash flows were determined using NYMEX forward swap prices for five years, escalating 3% per year thereafter as of December 31, 2015 and holding the fifth year price constant thereafter as of December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2015, a 3% inflation factor was also applied to the future operating and development costs after five years. No impairment charges on proved oil and natural gas properties were recorded for the year ended December 31, 2013.
In addition, as a result of expiring leases and periodic assessments of unproved properties, the Company recorded non-cash impairment charges on its unproved oil and gas properties of $36.6 million, $7.3 million, and $1.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
4. Derivative Instruments
The Company utilizes derivative financial instruments to manage risks related to changes in oil prices. As of December 31, 2015, the Company utilized two-way costless collar options and swaps to reduce the volatility of oil prices on a
significant portion of the Company’s future expected oil production. A two-way collar is a combination of options: a sold call and a purchased put. The purchased put establishes a minimum price (floor) and the sold call establishes a maximum price (ceiling) the Company will receive for the volumes under contract. A swap is a sold call and a purchased put established at the same price (both ceiling and floor).
All derivative instruments are recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet as either assets or liabilities measured at their fair value (see Note 3 - Fair Value Measurements). The Company has not designated any derivative instruments as hedges for accounting purposes and does not enter into such instruments for speculative trading purposes. If a derivative does not qualify as a hedge or is not designated as a hedge, the changes in the fair value are recognized in the other income (expense) section of the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations as a gain or loss on derivative instruments. The Company’s cash flow is only impacted when the actual settlements under the derivative contracts result in making or receiving a payment to or from the counterparty. These cash settlements represent the cumulative gains and losses on the Company’s derivative instruments and do not include a recovery of costs that were paid to acquire or modify the derivative instruments that were settled. Cash settlements are reflected as investing activities in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company had the following outstanding commodity derivative instruments, all of which settle monthly based on the NYMEX West Texas Intermediate crude oil index price (“WTI”):
The following table summarizes the location and fair value of all outstanding commodity derivative instruments recorded in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet for the periods presented:
The following table summarizes the location and amounts of gains and losses from the Company’s commodity derivative instruments recorded in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations for the periods presented:
In accordance with the FASB’s authoritative guidance on disclosures about offsetting assets and liabilities, the Company is required to disclose both gross and net information about instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the statement of financial position as well as instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting agreement. The Company’s derivative instruments are presented as assets and liabilities on a net basis by counterparty, as all counterparty contracts provide for net settlement. No margin or collateral balances are deposited with counterparties, and as such, gross amounts are offset to determine the net amounts presented in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet.
The following tables summarize gross and net information about the Company’s commodity derivative instruments for the periods presented:
5. Property, Plant and Equipment
The following table sets forth the Company’s property, plant and equipment:
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(1)
Included in the Company’s proved oil and gas properties are estimates of future asset retirement costs of $30.7 million and $36.9 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
6. Acquisitions and Divestitures
Acquisitions
The following table summarizes the consideration paid, including customary post close adjustments, for the Company’s 2013 acquisitions and the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition dates.
West Williston acquisition. On October 1, 2013, the Company completed a purchase and sale agreement with two undisclosed private sellers (the “Sellers”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to purchase approximately 136,000 net acres in its West Williston area in the Williston Basin for aggregate consideration of $1,475.4 million in cash (the “West Williston Acquisition”).
The West Williston Acquisition qualified as a business combination, and as such, the Company estimated the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the October 1, 2013 acquisition date. The fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). Fair value measurements also utilize assumptions of market participants. The Company used a discounted cash flow model and made market assumptions as to future commodity prices, projections of estimated quantities of oil and natural gas reserves, expectations for timing and amount of future development and operating costs, projections of future rates of production, expected recovery rates and risk adjusted discount rates. These assumptions represent Level 3 inputs, as further discussed under Note 3 - Fair Value Measurements. The Company recorded the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the West Williston Acquisition at their estimated fair value of $1,475.4 million, which the Company considers to be representative of the price paid by a typical market participant. This measurement resulted in no goodwill or bargain purchase being recognized.
The results of operations for the West Williston Acquisition have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements since the October 1, 2013 closing date, including approximately $57.6 million of total revenue and $14.9 million of operating income for the year ended December 31, 2013. In addition, the Company included $2.0 million of costs related to the West Williston Acquisition in general and administrative expenses on its Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Summarized below are the consolidated results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2013, on an unaudited pro forma basis, as if the acquisition and related financing had occurred on January 1, 2012. The unaudited pro forma financial information was derived from the historical consolidated statement of operations of the Company and the statement of revenues and direct operating expenses for the West Williston Acquisition properties, which were derived from the historical accounting records of the Sellers. The unaudited pro forma financial information does not purport to be indicative of results of operations that would have occurred had the acquisition and related financing occurred on the basis assumed above, nor is such information indicative of the Company’s expected future results of operations.
East Nesson acquisitions. On September 26, 2013, the Company acquired certain oil and natural gas assets totaling approximately 25,000 net acres in its East Nesson area in the Williston Basin for total consideration of $56.8 million (the “East Nesson Acquisitions,” and together with the West Williston Acquisition, the “2013 Acquisitions”). As part of the East Nesson Acquisitions, the Company also agreed to invest, expend and/or incur expenses of $8.2 million in connection with drilling and completion activities for certain wells and was obligated to pay the seller the remaining committed amount of $3.2 million not fulfilled as of July 1, 2015.
The results of operations for the East Nesson Acquisitions have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements since the September 26, 2013 closing date. Pro forma information is not presented as the pro forma results would not be materially different from the information presented in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.
The Company did not have any significant acquisitions for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.
Divestitures
On March 5, 2014, the Company completed the sale of certain non-operated properties in and around its Sanish position (the “Sanish Divestiture”) for cash proceeds of approximately $324.9 million, which includes customary post close adjustments. The Company recognized a $187.0 million gain on sale of properties in its Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2014. The transaction was structured as an Internal Revenue Code Section 1031 like-kind exchange for tax purposes and as such did not give rise to any current taxable gain.
7. Assets Held for Sale
Net assets held for sale represent the assets that were expected to be sold, net of liabilities, which were expected to be assumed by the purchaser. As of December 31, 2015, certain legacy wells that have been producing from conventional reservoirs such as the Madison, Red River and other formations in the Williston Basin other than the Bakken or Three Forks formations were held for sale. These assets are in the Company’s exploration and production segment. The Company recorded a loss of $9.4 million, which was included in impairment of oil and gas properties on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2015, to adjust the carrying value of these assets to their estimated fair value, determined based on the expected sales price as negotiated with potential buyers, less costs to sell. The Company expects to sell these assets within one year. The Company did not have assets classified as held for sale as of December 31, 2014. The following table presents balance sheet data related to the assets held for sale:
8. Accrued Liabilities
The Company’s accrued liabilities consist of the following:
Accrued liabilities represent the Company’s estimated current payment obligations for materials and services provided by its vendors, for which invoices have not yet been received or fully processed. Invoices that have been fully processed, but not yet paid, are recorded as accounts payable.
In addition, the Company had revenue suspense of $58.4 million, royalties payable of $31.3 million and production taxes payable of $13.8 million included in revenues and production taxes payable on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet for the year ended December 31, 2015. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company had revenue suspense of $152.3 million, royalties payable of $38.1 million and production taxes payable of $19.5 million included in revenues and production taxes payable on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. Revenue suspense represents proceeds from the sale of oil and natural gas production that have been processed by the Company on behalf of third parties that cannot be disbursed to such third parties until certain issues are resolved, such as title issues or missing contact information.
9. Long-Term Debt
Senior unsecured notes. During 2011 and 2012, the Company issued $400.0 million of 7.25% senior unsecured notes due February 1, 2019 (the “2019 Notes”), $400.0 million of 6.5% senior unsecured notes due November 1, 2021 (the “2021 Notes”) and $400.0 million of 6.875% senior unsecured notes due January 15, 2023 (the “2023 Notes”), which resulted in aggregate net proceeds to the Company of $1,175.8 million. The Company has used the proceeds from these notes to fund its exploration, development and acquisition program and for general corporate purposes. During 2013, the Company issued $1,000.0 million of 6.875% senior unsecured notes due March 15, 2022 (the “2022 Notes”), which resulted in aggregate net proceeds to the Company of $983.6 million. The Company used the proceeds from the 2022 Notes to fund the West Williston Acquisition (see Note 6 - Acquisitions and Divestitures). Interest on the 2019 Notes, the 2021 Notes, the 2022 Notes and the 2023 Notes (collectively, the “Notes”) is payable semi-annually in arrears.
The Notes were issued under indentures containing provisions that are substantially the same, as amended and supplemented by supplemental indentures (collectively the “Indentures”), among the Company, along with its material subsidiaries (the “Guarantors”), and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. The Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the Company’s Guarantors, which are 100% owned by the Company. These guarantees are full and unconditional and joint and several among the Guarantors, subject to certain customary release provisions, as follows:
•
in connection with any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of that Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) to a person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (as defined in the Indentures) of the Company;
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in connection with any sale or other disposition of the capital stock of that Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) to a person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, such that, immediately after giving effect to such transaction, such Guarantor would no longer constitute a subsidiary of the Company;
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if the Company designates any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor to be an unrestricted subsidiary in accordance with the Indenture;
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upon legal defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture; or
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upon the liquidation or dissolution of a Guarantor, provided no event of default occurs under the Indentures as a result thereof.
Prior to certain dates, the Company has certain options to redeem up to 35% of the Notes at a certain redemption price based on a percentage of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, with the proceeds of certain equity offerings so long as the redemption occurs within 180 days of completing such equity offering and at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes remains outstanding after such redemption. Prior to certain dates, the Company
has the option to redeem some or all of the Notes for cash at certain redemption prices equal to a certain percentage of their principal amount plus an applicable make-whole premium and accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. The Company estimates that the fair value of these options is immaterial at December 31, 2015 and 2014.
The Indentures restrict the Company’s ability and the ability of certain of its subsidiaries to: (i) incur additional debt or enter into sale and leaseback transactions; (ii) pay distributions on, redeem or repurchase equity interests; (iii) make certain investments; (iv) incur liens; (v) enter into transactions with affiliates; (vi) merge or consolidate with another company; and (vii) transfer and sell assets. These covenants are subject to certain exceptions and qualifications. If at any time when the Notes are rated investment grade by both Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and no Default (as defined in the Indentures) has occurred and is continuing, many of such covenants will terminate and the Company and its subsidiaries will cease to be subject to such covenants.
The Indentures contain customary events of default, including:
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default in any payment of interest on any Note when due, continued for 30 days;
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default in the payment of principal or premium, if any, on any Note when due;
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failure by the Company to comply with its other obligations under the Indentures, in certain cases subject to notice and grace periods;
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payment defaults and accelerations with respect to other indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the aggregate principal amount of $10.0 million or more;
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certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company or a Significant Subsidiary (as defined in the Indentures) or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary;
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failure by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary to pay certain final judgments aggregating in excess of $10.0 million within 60 days; and
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any guarantee of the Notes by a Guarantor ceases to be in full force and effect, is declared null and void in a judicial proceeding or is denied or disaffirmed by its maker.
On October 26, 2015, the Company, the Company’s Guarantors, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, entered into supplemental indentures respecting amendments (the “Amendments”) to the Indentures governing the Company’s outstanding 2019 Notes, 2021 Notes and 2023 Notes (collectively, the “Consent Notes”) following the Company’s receipt of requisite consents of the holders of the Consent Notes pursuant to consent solicitations that commenced on October 6, 2015. The Amendments amend the basket for secured credit facilities indebtedness in each of the Indentures by (i) adding a provision that allows the Company to incur secured credit facilities indebtedness up to the amount of the Company’s borrowing base at the time of the incurrence, but not to exceed $1,525.0 million and (ii) adding, deleting or revising several related definitions in the Indentures, which changes generally restrict the Company’s ability to incur second-lien indebtedness.
Senior secured revolving line of credit. On April 5, 2013, the Company, as parent, and OPNA, as borrower, entered into a second amended and restated credit agreement (the “Second Amended Credit Facility”), which has an overall senior secured line of credit of $2,500.0 million as of December 31, 2015. The Second Amended Credit Facility is restricted to the borrowing base, which is reserve-based and subject to semi-annual redeterminations on April 1 and October 1 of each year. On April 13, 2015, the Company entered into its third amendment to the Second Amended Credit Facility (the “Third Amendment”), which extended the maturity date of the Second Amended Credit Facility to April 13, 2020, provided that the 2019 Notes are retired or refinanced 90 days prior to their maturity. In connection with the Third Amendment, the lenders under the Second Amended Credit Facility (the “Lenders”) completed their regular semi-annual redetermination of the borrowing base scheduled for April 1, 2015, resulting in a borrowing base decrease from $2,000.0 million to $1,700.0 million. The Company increased the Lenders’ aggregate elected commitment from $1,500.0 million to $1,525.0 million. The Third Amendment also increased the Lenders in the bank group to 18 financial institutions supporting the Company’s borrowing base facility. On October 6, 2015, the Lenders completed their regular semi-annual redetermination of the borrowing base of the Second Amended Credit Facility, resulting in a borrowing base decrease from $1,700.0 million to $1,525.0 million, which was equal to the Lenders’ aggregate elected commitment.
Borrowings under the Second Amended Credit Facility are collateralized by perfected first priority liens and security interests on substantially all of the Company’s assets, including mortgage liens on oil and natural gas properties having at least 80% (as of December 31, 2015) of the reserve value as determined by reserve reports.
Borrowings under the Second Amended Credit Facility are subject to varying rates of interest based on (1) the total outstanding borrowings (including the value of all outstanding letters of credit) in relation to the borrowing base and (2) whether the loan is a London interbank offered rate (“LIBOR”) loan or a domestic bank prime interest rate loan (defined in the Second Amended Credit Facility as an Alternate Based Rate or “ABR” loan). As of December 31, 2015, any outstanding LIBOR and ABR loans would have borne their respective interest rates plus the applicable margin indicated in the following table:
An ABR loan may be repaid at any time before the scheduled maturity of the Second Amended Credit Facility upon the Company providing advance notification to the Lenders. Interest is paid quarterly on ABR loans based on the number of days an ABR loan is outstanding as of the last business day in March, June, September and December. The Company has the option to convert an ABR loan to a LIBOR-based loan upon providing advance notification to the Lenders. The minimum available loan term is one month and the maximum available loan term is six months for LIBOR-based loans. Interest for LIBOR loans is paid upon maturity of the loan term. Interim interest is paid every three months for LIBOR loans that have loan terms greater than three months. At the end of a LIBOR loan term, the Second Amended Credit Facility allows the Company to elect to repay the borrowing, continue a LIBOR loan with the same or differing loan term or convert the borrowing to an ABR loan.
On a quarterly basis, the Company also pays a 0.375% (as of December 31, 2015) annualized commitment fee on the average amount of borrowing base capacity not utilized during the quarter and fees calculated on the average amount of letter of credit balances outstanding during the quarter.
As of December 31, 2015, the Second Amended Credit Facility contained covenants that included, among others:
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a prohibition against incurring debt, subject to permitted exceptions;
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a prohibition against making dividends, distributions and redemptions, subject to permitted exceptions;
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a prohibition against making investments, loans and advances, subject to permitted exceptions;
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restrictions on creating liens and leases on the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, subject to permitted exceptions;
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restrictions on merging and selling assets outside the ordinary course of business;
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restrictions on use of proceeds, investments, transactions with affiliates or change of principal business;
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a provision limiting oil and natural gas derivative financial instruments;
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a requirement that the Company maintain a ratio of consolidated EBITDAX (as defined in the Second Amended Credit Facility) to consolidated Interest Expense (as defined in the Second Amended Credit Facility) of no less than 2.5 to 1.0 for the four quarters ended on the last day of each quarter; and
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a requirement that the Company maintain a Current Ratio (as defined in the Second Amended Credit Facility) of consolidated current assets (including unused borrowing base committed capacity and with exclusions as described in the Second Amended Credit Facility) to consolidated current liabilities (with exclusions as described in the Second Amended Credit Facility) of no less than 1.0 to 1.0 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter.
The Second Amended Credit Facility contains customary events of default. If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the Lenders may declare all amounts outstanding under the Second Amended Credit Facility to be immediately due and payable.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company had $138.0 million of borrowings and $5.2 million of outstanding letters of credit issued under the Second Amended Credit Facility, resulting in an unused borrowing base capacity of $1,381.8 million. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the weighted average interest rate on borrowings under the Second Amended Credit Facility was 1.9% and 1.8%, respectively. The Company was in compliance with the financial covenants of the Second Amended Credit Facility as of December 31, 2015.
The Company has $400.0 million of Notes maturing in 2019 and indebtedness under the Second Amended Credit Facility that becomes due in 2020. The Company does not have any other debt that matures within the five years ending December 31, 2020.
Deferred financing costs. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had $42.9 million of deferred financing costs related to the Notes and the Second Amended Credit Facility, which are being amortized over the respective terms of the Notes and the Second Amended Credit Facility. Deferred financing costs of $35.4 million related to the Notes are included in long-term debt on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2015 in accordance with ASU 2015-03, which the Company adopted in the fourth quarter of 2015 (see Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies). Deferred financing costs of $7.5 million related to the Second Amended Credit Facility are included in other assets on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2015. Amortization of deferred financing costs recorded for the year ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $7.2 million, $6.4 million and $4.5 million, respectively. These costs are included in interest expense on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.
10. Asset Retirement Obligations
The following table reflects the changes in the Company’s ARO during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014:
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(1)
Liabilities settled during the year ended December 31, 2014 include ARO related to the properties sold in the Sanish Divestiture.
(2)
Included in depreciation, depletion and amortization on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.
(3)
Represents ARO related to the properties held for sale as of December 31, 2015 (see Note 7 - Assets Held for Sale).
At both December 31, 2015 and 2014, the current portion of the total ARO balance was approximately $0.5 million and is included in accrued liabilities on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet.
11. Income Taxes
The Company’s income tax expense (benefit) consists of the following:
The reconciliation of income taxes calculated at the U.S. federal tax statutory rate to the Company’s effective tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, is set forth below:
The effective tax rate was lower for the year ended December 31, 2015 due to the Company’s pre-tax loss and the impact of permanent differences. The permanent differences were primarily between amounts expensed for book purposes versus the amounts deductible for income tax purposes related to stock-based compensation vesting during the year ended December 31, 2015 at stock prices lower than the grant date values. The impact of these permanent differences was partially offset by a reduction in the North Dakota statutory tax rate in 2015. For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company’s effective tax rate differed from the federal statutory rate of 35% primarily due to state income taxes.
Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, were as follows:
The Company generated a federal net operating tax loss of $244.4 million and accrued $9,000 of current income tax benefit for the year ended December 31, 2015. The net operating loss carryforwards consist of $333.9 million of federal net operating loss carryforwards, which expire between 2030 and 2035, and $266.5 million of state net operating loss carryforwards, which expire between 2017 and 2035. The tax benefits of carryforwards are recorded as an asset to the extent that management assesses the utilization of such carryforwards to be more likely than not. When the future utilization of some portion of the carryforwards is determined not to be more likely than not, a valuation allowance is provided to reduce the recorded tax benefits from such assets. Management believes that the Company’s taxable temporary differences and future taxable income will more likely than not be sufficient to utilize substantially all its tax carryforwards prior to their expiration.
Pursuant to authoritative guidance, the Company’s $121.2 million deferred tax asset related to net operating loss carryforwards is net of $3.6 million of unrealized excess tax benefits related to excess stock-based compensation on federal and state net operating losses of $9.6 million and $7.6 million, respectively.
Accounting for uncertainty in income taxes prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement methodology for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had no unrecognized tax benefits. With respect to income taxes, the Company’s policy is to account for interest charges as interest expense and any penalties as tax expense in its Consolidated Statement of Operations. The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and in North Dakota, Montana and Texas. The IRS has concluded an audit of the Company’s 2013 income tax return with no material change. The Company’s other income tax returns have not been audited by the IRS or any state jurisdiction. Its statute of limitation for the year ended December 31, 2015 will expire in 2019. The Company’s earliest open year in its key jurisdictions is 2012 for both the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various U.S. states, however, net operating losses originating in prior years are subject to examination when utilized.
In accordance with ASU 2015-17, which the Company adopted in the fourth quarter of 2015 (see Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies), all deferred tax assets and liabilities, along with any related valuation allowance, are classified as noncurrent on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2015. Prior periods were not retrospectively adjusted, and the current portion of the Company’s net deferred income taxes was a liability of $97.5 million at December 31, 2014, which was primarily related to derivative instruments.
12. Stock-Based Compensation
Restricted stock awards. The Company has granted restricted stock awards to employees and directors under its Amended and Restated 2010 Long Term Incentive Plan, the majority of which vest over a three-year period. The maximum number of shares available for grant under the Amended and Restated 2010 Long Term Incentive Plan is 8,550,000. The fair value of restricted stock grants is based on the closing sales price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Compensation expense is recognized ratably over the requisite service period. The Company assumed annual forfeiture rates by employee group ranging from 0% to 16.9% based on the Company’s forfeiture history for this type of award.
The following table summarizes information related to restricted stock held by the Company’s employees and directors for the periods presented:
Stock-based compensation expense recorded for restricted stock awards was $21.4 million, $18.2 million and $10.2 million, respectively, for each of the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, and is included in general and administrative expenses on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations. The fair value of awards vested was $9.5 million, $18.3 million and $6.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013. The weighted average grant date fair value of restricted stock awards granted was $14.28 per share, $42.55 per share and $38.64 per share for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013. Unrecognized expense as of December 31, 2015 for all outstanding restricted stock awards was $29.3 million and will be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years.
Performance share units. The Company has granted PSUs to officers of the Company under its Amended and Restated 2010 Long Term Incentive Plan. The PSUs are awards of restricted stock units, and each PSU that is earned represents the right to receive one share of the Company’s common stock. The Company assumed annual forfeiture rates by employee group ranging from 2.4% to 4.9% based on the Company’s forfeiture history for the employee groups receiving PSUs.
Each grant of PSUs is subject to a designated three-year initial performance period. The number of PSUs to be earned is subject to a market condition, which is based on a comparison of the total shareholder return (“TSR”) achieved with respect to shares of the Company’s common stock against the TSR achieved by a defined peer group at the end of the performance period. Depending on the Company’s TSR performance relative to the defined peer group, award recipients will earn between 0% and 200% of the initial PSUs granted. If less than 200% of the initial PSUs granted are earned at the end of the initial three-year performance period, then the performance period will be extended an additional year to give the award recipients the opportunity to earn up to an aggregate of 200% of the initial PSUs granted.
The following table summarizes information related to PSUs held by the Company’s officers for the periods presented:
Stock-based compensation expense recorded for PSUs for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $3.9 million, $3.1 million and $1.8 million, respectively, and is included in general and administrative expenses on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations. The fair value of PSUs vested was $0.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. No PSUs vested during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. The weighted average grant date fair value of PSUs granted was $11.20 per share, $41.71 per share and $42.01 per share for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013. Unrecognized expense as of December 31, 2015 for all outstanding PSUs was $8.7 million and will be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.2 years.
The Company accounted for these PSUs as equity awards pursuant to the FASB’s authoritative guidance for share-based payments. The aggregate grant date fair value of the market-based awards was determined using a Monte Carlo simulation model, which results in an expected percentage of PSUs to be earned during the performance period. The fair value of these PSUs is recognized on a straight-line basis over the performance period. As it is probable that a portion of the awards in each of the grants will be earned during the extended performance period, the grant date fair value is amortized over four years. However, if 200% of the initial PSUs granted are earned at the end of the initial three-year performance period, then the remaining compensation expense will be accelerated in order to be fully recognized over three years. All compensation expense related to the PSUs will be recognized if the requisite performance period is fulfilled, even if the market condition is not achieved.
The Monte Carlo simulation model uses assumptions regarding random projections and must be repeated numerous times to achieve a probabilistic assessment. The key valuation assumptions for the Monte Carlo model are the forecast period, initial value, risk-free interest rate, volatility and correlation coefficients. The risk-free interest rate is the U.S. Treasury bond rate on the date of grant. The initial value is the average of the volume weighted average prices for the 30 trading days prior to the start of the performance cycle for the Company and each of its peers. Volatility is the standard deviation of the average percentage change in stock price over a historical period for the Company and each of its peers. The correlation coefficients are measures of the strength of the linear relationship between and amongst the Company and its peers estimated based on historical stock price data.
The following assumptions were used for the Monte Carlo model to determine the grant date fair value and associated stock-based compensation expense of the PSUs granted during the periods presented:
The Monte Carlo simulation model resulted in an expected percentage of PSUs to be earned of 86%, 98% and 112% for the 2015, 2014 and 2013 grants, respectively.
Associated tax benefit. For the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company had an associated tax benefit of $8.7 million, $8.4 million and $4.5 million, respectively, related to all stock-based compensation.
13. Common Stock
On March 9, 2015, the Company completed a public offering of 36,800,000 shares of its common stock (including 4,800,000 shares issued pursuant to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional common stock) at an offering price of $12.80 per share. Net proceeds from the offering were $462.8 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, of which $0.4 million is included in common stock and $462.4 million is included in additional paid-in capital on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company used the net proceeds to repay outstanding indebtedness under its Second Amended Credit Facility and for general corporate purposes. The offering was made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on July 15, 2014.
On December 9, 2013, the Company completed a public offering of 7,000,000 shares of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share, at an offering price of $44.94 per share. Net proceeds from the offering were approximately $314.4 million, after deducting offering expenses, of which $70,000 is included in common stock and $314.3 million is included in additional paid-in-capital on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company used a portion of these net proceeds to repay $264.4 million of outstanding indebtedness under its Second Amended Credit Facility, and the remaining proceeds were used to fund its exploration, development and acquisition program and for general corporate purposes. The offering was made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC on July 15, 2011.
14. Earnings (Loss) Per Share
Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the periods presented. The calculation of diluted earnings (loss) per share includes the potential dilutive impact of non-vested restricted shares and PSUs outstanding during the periods presented, unless their effect is anti-dilutive. There are no adjustments made to income (loss) available to common stockholders in the calculation of diluted earnings (loss) per share.
The following is a calculation of the basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the periods presented:
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(1)
No unvested stock awards were included in computing loss per share for the year ended December 31, 2015 because the effect was anti-dilutive.
15. Business Segment Information
The Company’s exploration and production segment is engaged in the acquisition and development of oil and natural gas properties. Revenues for the exploration and production segment are derived from the sale of oil and natural gas production. The Company’s well services business segment (OWS) performs completion services for the Company’s oil and
natural gas wells operated by OPNA. Revenues for the well services segment are derived from providing well completion services, well completion product sales and tool rentals. The Company’s midstream services business segment (OMS) performs salt water gathering and disposal and other midstream services for the Company’s oil and natural gas wells operated by OPNA. Revenues for the midstream segment are primarily derived from salt water pipeline transport, salt water disposal and fresh water sales. The revenues and expenses related to work performed by OWS and OMS for OPNA’s working interests are eliminated in consolidation, and only the revenues and expenses related to non-affiliated working interest owners are included in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations. These segments represent the Company’s three current operating units, each offering different products and services. The Company’s corporate activities have been allocated to the supported business segments accordingly.
Management evaluates the performance of the Company’s business segments based on operating income, which is defined as segment operating revenues less operating expenses, including DD&A. The following table summarizes financial information for the Company’s three business segments for the periods presented:
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(1)
Total assets for the exploration and production segment include $26.7 million and $137.1 million of assets held for sale as of December 31, 2015 and 2013, respectively.
(2)
Capital expenditures (including acquisitions) reflected in the table above differ from the amounts for capital expenditures and acquisition of oil and gas properties shown in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows because amounts reflected in the table include changes in accrued liabilities from the previous reporting period for capital expenditures, while the amounts presented in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows are presented on a cash basis.
16. Significant Concentrations
Major customers. For the year ended December 31, 2015, sales to Shell Trading (US) Company accounted for approximately 10% of the Company’s total sales. For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, sales to Musket Corporation accounted for approximately13% and 11% of the Company’s total sales, respectively. No other purchasers accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s total sales for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013. Total sales include revenues from the Company’s exploration and production segment only, as OWS and OMS provide services to OPNA.
Substantially all of the Company’s accounts receivable result from sales of oil and natural gas as well as joint interest billings (“JIB”) to third-party companies who have working interest payment obligations in projects completed by the Company. Statoil Oil & Gas LP and HRG, Inc. accounted for approximately 17% and 10%, respectively, of the Company’s JIB receivables balance at December 31, 2015. Statoil Oil & Gas LP, Continental Resources, Inc. and Slawson Exploration Company, Inc. accounted for approximately 16%, 14% and 13%, respectively, of the Company’s JIB receivables balance at December 31, 2014.
This concentration of customers and joint interest owners may impact the Company’s overall credit risk, either positively or negatively, in that these entities may be similarly affected by changes in economic or other conditions, including the current downturn in oil prices. Management believes that the loss of any of these purchasers would not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operations, as there are a number of alternative oil and natural gas purchasers in the Company’s producing regions.
17. Commitments and Contingencies
Included below is a discussion of various future commitments of the Company as of December 31, 2015. The commitments under these arrangements are not recorded in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet. The amounts disclosed represent undiscounted cash flows on a gross basis, and no inflation elements have been applied.
Lease obligations. The Company has operating leases for office space and other property and equipment. The Company incurred rental expense of $7.2 million, $5.0 million and $3.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, included in general and administrative expenses on its Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Future minimum annual rental commitments under non-cancelable leases at December 31, 2015 are as follows:
Drilling contracts. As a result of its lowered 2015 capital expenditure program, the Company elected to early terminate certain drilling rig contracts and recorded a rig termination expense of $3.9 million in its Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2015. The Company did not elect to early terminate any drilling rig contracts during the year ended December 31, 2014 or 2013.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company had certain drilling rig contracts with initial terms of one year or greater. In the event of early contract termination under these contracts, the Company would be committed to pay approximately $5.7 million as of December 31, 2015 for the days remaining through the end of the primary terms of the contracts.
Volume commitment agreements. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had certain agreements with an aggregate requirement to deliver or transport a minimum quantity of approximately 35.0 MMBbl of crude oil, 23.0 MMBbl of natural gas liquids and 223.0 Bcf of natural gas, prior to any applicable volume credits, within specified timeframes, all of which are ten years or less. The estimable future commitments under these agreements are $448.4 million as of December 31, 2015. The future commitment under certain agreements cannot be estimated as it is based on fixed differentials relative to WTI under the agreements as compared to the differential relative to WTI for the Williston Basin for the production month.
Purchase agreements. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had certain agreements for the purchase of fresh water with an aggregate future commitment of approximately $42.4 million.
Litigation. The Company is party to various legal and/or regulatory proceedings from time to time arising in the ordinary course of business. While the ultimate outcome and impact to the Company cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company believes that all such matters are without merit and involve amounts which, if resolved unfavorably, either individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. When the Company determines that a loss is probable of occurring and is reasonably estimable, the Company accrues an undiscounted liability for such contingencies based on its best estimate using information available at the time. The Company discloses contingencies where an adverse outcome may be material, or in the judgment of management, the matter should otherwise be disclosed.
On July 6, 2013, a freight train operated by Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway (“MMA”) carrying crude oil (the “Train”) derailed in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec. In March 2014, Oasis Petroleum Inc. and Oasis Petroleum LLC (“OP LLC”) were added to a group of over fifty named defendants, including other crude oil producers as well as the Canadian Pacific Railway, MMA and certain of its affiliates, owners and transloaders of the crude oil carried by the Train, several lessors of tank cars, and the Attorney General of Canada, in a motion filed in the Quebec Superior Court to authorize a class-action lawsuit seeking economic, compensatory and punitive damages, as well as costs for claims arising out of the derailment of the Train (Yannick Gagne, etc., et al. v. Rail World, Inc., etc., et al., Case No. 48006000001132) (the “Class-Action”). The motion generally alleges wrongful death and negligence in the failure to provide for the proper and safe transportation of crude oil.
The Company believes that all claims against Oasis Petroleum Inc. and OP LLC in connection with the derailment of the Train in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec are without merit.
On August 7, 2013, MMA filed for bankruptcy protection in the Quebec Superior Court and the United States Bankruptcy Court in Bangor, Maine (together, the “Bankruptcy Actions”). The trustees appointed in the Bankruptcy Actions have negotiated settlement agreements with the majority of the named defendants in the Class-Action, including Oasis Petroleum Inc. and OP LLC. The Quebec Superior Court and the United States Bankruptcy Court have issued orders approving the settlement agreements which were pending before them, and such orders have become final. Pursuant to the settlement agreements, Oasis Petroleum Inc. and OP LLC agreed to contribute to the compensation fund established for those suffering losses as a result of the Lac-Megantic derailment. Such contributions were fully covered by the Company’s insurance policies. Furthermore, the settlement agreements bar future litigation against Oasis Petroleum Inc. and OP LLC in Canada and the United States arising out of the Lac-Megantic derailment.
18. Subsequent Events
The Company has evaluated the period after the balance sheet date, noting no subsequent events or transactions that required recognition or disclosure in the financial statements, other than as noted below.
Derivative instruments. In January and February 2016, the Company entered into new swap and two-way costless collar agreements with a weighted average floor price of $41.58 per barrel for total notional amounts of 1,131,000 barrels, 2,159,000 barrels and 186,000 barrels, which settle in 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively, based on WTI. These derivative instruments do not qualify for and were not designated as a hedging instrument for accounting purposes.
Sale of common stock. On February 2, 2016, the Company completed a public offering of 39,100,000 shares of its common stock (including 5,100,000 shares issued pursuant to the underwriter’s option to purchase additional common stock) at a purchase price of $4.685 per share. Net proceeds from the offering were $182.9 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. The Company intends to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes and to fund a portion of its 2016 capital expenditures. The offering was made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC on July 15, 2014.
Credit facility amendment. On February 23, 2016, the Lenders completed their regular semi-annual redetermination of the borrowing base of the Second Amended Credit Facility scheduled for April 1, 2016, resulting in a decrease in the borrowing base and aggregate elected commitment from $1,525.0 million to $1,150.0 million. The next redetermination of the borrowing base is scheduled for October 1, 2016.
19. Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements
The Notes (see Note 9 - Long-Term Debt) are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the Guarantors, which are 100% owned by the Company. These guarantees are full and unconditional and joint and several among the Guarantors. Certain of the Company’s immaterial wholly-owned subsidiaries do not guarantee the Notes (“Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries”).
The following financial information reflects consolidating financial information of the parent company, Oasis Petroleum Inc. (“Issuer”), and its Guarantors on a combined basis, prepared on the equity basis of accounting. The Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries are immaterial and, therefore, not presented separately. The information is presented in accordance with the requirements of Rule 3-10 under the SEC’s Regulation S-X. The financial information may not necessarily be indicative of results of operations, cash flows or financial position had the Guarantors operated as independent entities. The Company has not presented separate financial and narrative information for each of the Guarantors because it believes such financial and narrative information would not provide any additional information that would be material in evaluating the sufficiency of the Guarantors.
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
20. Supplemental Oil and Gas Disclosures
The supplemental data presented below reflects information for all of the Company’s oil and natural gas producing activities.
Capitalized Costs
The following table sets forth the capitalized costs related to the Company’s oil and natural gas producing activities at December 31, 2015 and 2014:
__________________
(1)
At December 31, 2015, oil and gas properties exclude capitalized costs related to certain non-core assets that were held for sale (see Note 7 - Assets Held for Sale).
(2)
Included in the Company’s proved oil and gas properties are estimates of future asset retirement costs of $30.7 million and $36.9 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Costs Incurred in Oil and Natural Gas Property Acquisition, Exploration and Development Activities
The following table sets forth costs incurred related to the Company’s oil and natural gas activities for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013:
Results of Operations for Oil and Natural Gas Producing Activities
Results of operations for oil and natural gas producing activities, which excludes straight-line depreciation, general and administrative expenses and interest expense, are presented below.
21. Supplemental Oil and Gas Reserve Information - Unaudited
The reserve estimates at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 presented in the table below are based on reports prepared by DeGolyer and MacNaughton, the Company’s independent reserve engineers, in accordance with the FASB’s authoritative guidance on oil and gas reserve estimation and disclosures. At December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, all of the Company’s oil and natural gas producing activities were conducted within the continental United States.
The Company emphasizes that reserve estimates are inherently imprecise and that estimates of new discoveries and undeveloped locations are more imprecise than estimates of established proved producing oil and natural gas properties. Accordingly, these estimates are expected to change as future information becomes available.
Proved oil and natural gas reserves are the estimated quantities of oil and natural gas that geological and engineering data demonstrate, with reasonable certainty, to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under economic and operating conditions (i.e., prices and costs) existing at the time the estimate is made. Proved developed oil and natural gas reserves are proved reserves that can be expected to be recovered through existing wells and equipment in place and under operating methods being utilized at the time the estimates were made.
Estimated Quantities of Proved Oil and Natural Gas Reserves - Unaudited
The following table sets forth the Company’s estimated net proved, proved developed and proved undeveloped reserves at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013:
Revisions of Previous Estimates
In 2015, the Company had a net negative revision of 84,635 MBoe, or 31% of the beginning of the year estimated net proved reserves balance. This net negative revision was primarily due to the removal of proved undeveloped reserves that are not economic at the lower oil price or are no longer aligned with the Company’s anticipated five-year drilling plan. This resulted in 259 gross (190.8 net) proved undeveloped locations with 71,945 MBoe of reserves being removed from the December 31, 2015 estimated net proved reserves balance, most significantly, removing proved undeveloped reserves outside of the Company’s core acreage within the Williston Basin that were uneconomic as of December 31, 2015 due to the lower oil price. The remaining negative revision is primarily attributable to the impact of price on producing life, partially offset by positive revisions due to performance and operating costs.
In 2014, the Company had a net negative revision of 25,117 MBoe, or 11% of the beginning of the year estimated net proved reserves balance. This net negative revision was primarily due to the removal of proved undeveloped reserves not aligned with the Company’s anticipated five-year drilling plan, which was adjusted to allocate a greater focus on higher rates-of-return areas of the Bakken and Three Forks formations. This resulted in 80 gross (56.2 net) proved undeveloped locations with 21,411 MBoe of reserves being removed from the December 31, 2014 estimated net proved reserves balance.
In 2013, the Company had a net positive revision of 5,125 MBoe, or 4% of the beginning of the year estimated net proved reserves balance. This net positive revision was the result of several immaterial changes, including well performances, working interests, operating costs and realized prices.
Extensions, Discoveries and Other Additions
In 2015, the Company had a total of 46,640 MBoe of additions due to extensions and discoveries. An estimated 20,362 MBoe of these extensions and discoveries were associated with new producing wells at December 31, 2015, with 100% of these reserves from wells producing in the Bakken or Three Forks formations. An additional 26,278 MBoe of proved undeveloped reserves were added in the Williston Basin associated with the Company’s 2015 operated and non-operated drilling program and anticipated five-year drilling plan, with 100% of these proved undeveloped reserves in the Bakken or Three Forks formations.
In 2014, the Company had a total of 92,596 MBoe of additions due to extensions and discoveries. An estimated 34,404 MBoe of these extensions and discoveries were associated with new producing wells at December 31, 2014, with 100% of these reserves from wells producing in the Bakken or Three Forks formations. An additional 58,192 MBoe of proved undeveloped reserves were added in the Williston Basin associated with the Company’s 2014 operated and non-operated drilling program and anticipated five-year drilling plan, with 100% of these proved undeveloped reserves in the Bakken or Three Forks formations.
In 2013, the Company had a total of 46,094 MBoe of additions due to extensions and discoveries. An estimated 22,190 MBoe of these extensions and discoveries were associated with new producing wells at December 31, 2013, with 100% of these reserves from wells producing in the Bakken or Three Forks formations. An additional 23,904 MBoe of proved undeveloped reserves were added in the Williston Basin associated with the Company’s 2013 operated and non-operated drilling program, with 100% of these proved undeveloped reserves in the Bakken or Three Forks formations.
Sales of Reserves in Place
In March 2014, the Company divested 8,448 MBoe of reserves associated with its non-operated properties sold in the Sanish Divestiture. In 2015 and 2013, the Company did not have any sales of reserves.
Purchases of Reserves in Place
In 2015 and 2014, the Company purchased estimated net proved reserves of 2,565 MBoe and 1,799 MBoe, respectively, from acquisitions of additional working interests in its existing properties in the Williston Basin. In 2013, the Company purchased 45,731 MBoe of estimated net proved reserves from properties acquired in the 2013 Acquisitions (see Note 6 - Acquisitions and Divestitures).
Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows Relating to Proved Oil and Natural Gas Reserves - Unaudited
The Standardized Measure represents the present value of estimated future net cash flows from estimated net proved oil and natural gas reserves, less future development, production, plugging and abandonment costs and income tax expenses, discounted at 10% per annum to reflect timing of future cash flows. Production costs do not include DD&A of capitalized acquisition, exploration and development costs.
The Company’s estimated net proved reserves and related future net revenues and Standardized Measure were determined using index prices for oil and natural gas, without giving effect to derivative transactions, and were held constant throughout the life of the properties. The unweighted arithmetic average first-day-of-the-month prices for the prior twelve months were $50.16/Bbl for oil and $2.63/MMBtu for natural gas, $95.28/Bbl for oil and $4.35/MMBtu for natural gas and $96.96/Bbl for oil and $3.66/MMBtu for natural gas for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. These prices were adjusted by lease for quality, transportation fees, geographical differentials, marketing bonuses or deductions and other factors affecting the price received at the wellhead. Future operating costs, production taxes and capital costs were based on current costs as of each year-end.
The following table sets forth the Standardized Measure of discounted future net cash flows from projected production of the Company’s estimated net proved reserves at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013:
The following table sets forth the changes in the Standardized Measure of discounted future net cash flows applicable to estimated net proved reserves for the periods presented:
22. Quarterly Financial Data - Unaudited
The Company’s results of operations by quarter for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 are as follows:
Item 9.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. As required by Rule 13a-15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), we have evaluated, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), our principal executive officer, and our Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), our principal financial officer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of December 31, 2015. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports filed or submitted by us under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our CEO and CFO as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on the evaluation, our CEO and CFO have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at December 31, 2015 at the reasonable assurance level.
Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting. Management, including our CEO and CFO, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and Rule 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act). Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
As of December 31, 2015, management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. In making this assessment, management, including our CEO and CFO, used the criteria set forth by the Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on this assessment, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2015.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report on Form 10-K, has also audited the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting at December 31, 2015. Their “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm,” which expresses
an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting at December 31, 2015, is included in Item 8.
Changes in internal control over financial reporting. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and Rule 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the three months ended December 31, 2015 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B.
Item 9B. Other Information
None.
PART III
Item 10.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Pursuant to General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, we incorporate by reference into this Item the information to be disclosed in our definitive proxy statement for our 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Item 11.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Pursuant to General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, we incorporate by reference into this Item the information to be disclosed in our definitive proxy statement for our 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Item 12.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Pursuant to General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, we incorporate by reference into this Item the information to be disclosed in our definitive proxy statement for our 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Item 13.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence
Pursuant to General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, we incorporate by reference into this Item the information to be disclosed in our definitive proxy statement for our 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Item 14.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Pursuant to General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, we incorporate by reference into this Item the information to be disclosed in our definitive proxy statement for our 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
PART IV
Item 15.
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules
a. The following documents are filed as a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K or incorporated herein by reference:
(1)
Financial Statements:
See Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
(2)
Financial Statement Schedules:
None.
(3)
Exhibits:
The following documents are included as exhibits to this report:
__________________
(a)
Filed herewith.
(b)
Furnished herewith.
**
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized, on February 25, 2016.
OASIS PETROLEUM INC.
By:
/s/ Thomas B. Nusz
Thomas B. Nusz
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacity and on the dates indicated:
GLOSSARY OF OIL AND NATURAL GAS TERMS
The terms defined in this section are used throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
“Bbl.” One stock tank barrel, of 42 U.S. gallons liquid volume, used herein in reference to crude oil, condensate or natural gas liquids.
“Bcf.” One billion cubic feet of natural gas.
“Boe.” Barrels of oil equivalent, with 6,000 cubic feet of natural gas being equivalent to one barrel of oil.
“British thermal unit.” The heat required to raise the temperature of a one-pound mass of water from 58.5 to 59.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
“Basin.” A large natural depression on the earth’s surface in which sediments generally brought by water accumulate.
“Completion.” The process of treating a drilled well followed by the installation of permanent equipment for the production of natural gas or oil, or in the case of a dry hole, the reporting of abandonment to the appropriate agency.
“Developed acreage.” The number of acres that are allocated or assignable to productive wells or wells capable of production.
“Developed reserves.” Reserves of any category that can be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods or for which the cost of required equipment is relatively minor when compared to the cost of a new well.
“Development well.” A well drilled within the proved area of a natural gas or oil reservoir to the depth of a stratigraphic horizon known to be productive.
“Dry hole.” A well found to be incapable of producing hydrocarbons in sufficient quantities such that proceeds from the sale of such production exceed production expenses and taxes.
“Economically producible.” A resource that generates revenue that exceeds, or is reasonably expected to exceed, the costs of the operation.
“Environmental assessment.” An environmental assessment, a study that can be required pursuant to federal law to assess the potential direct, indirect and cumulative impacts of a project.
“Exploratory well.” A well drilled to find and produce natural gas or oil reserves not classified as proved, to find a new reservoir in a field previously found to be productive of natural gas or oil in another reservoir or to extend a known reservoir.
“Field.” An area consisting of a single reservoir or multiple reservoirs all grouped on, or related to, the same individual geological structural feature or stratigraphic condition. The field name refers to the surface area, although it may refer to both the surface and the underground productive formations.
“Formation.” A layer of rock which has distinct characteristics that differ from nearby rock.
“Horizontal drilling.” A drilling technique used in certain formations where a well is drilled vertically to a certain depth and then drilled at a right angle within a specified interval.
“Infill wells.” Wells drilled into the same pool as known producing wells so that oil or natural gas does not have to travel as far through the formation.
“MBbl.” One thousand barrels of crude oil, condensate or natural gas liquids.
“MBoe.” One thousand barrels of oil equivalent.
“Mcf.” One thousand cubic feet of natural gas.
“MMBbl.” One million barrels of crude oil, condensate or natural gas liquids.
“MMBoe.” One million barrels of oil equivalent.
“MMBtu.” One million British thermal units.
“MMcf.” One million cubic feet of natural gas.
“NYMEX.” The New York Mercantile Exchange.
“Net acres.” The percentage of total acres an owner has out of a particular number of acres, or a specified tract. An owner who has 50% interest in 100 acres owns 50 net acres.
“PV-10.” When used with respect to oil and natural gas reserves, PV-10 means the estimated future gross revenue to be generated from the production of proved reserves, net of estimated production and future development and abandonment costs, using prices and costs in effect at the determination date, before income taxes, and without giving effect to non-property-related expenses, discounted to a present value using an annual discount rate of 10% in accordance with the guidelines of the Commission.
“Productive well.” A well that is found to be capable of producing hydrocarbons in sufficient quantities such that proceeds from the sale of the production exceed production expenses and taxes.
“Proved developed reserves.” Proved reserves that can be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods.
“Proved reserves.” Those quantities of oil and gas, which, 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. The project to extract the hydrocarbons must have commenced or the operator must be reasonably certain that it will commence the project within a reasonable time. The area of the reservoir considered as proved includes (i) the area identified by drilling and limited by fluid contacts, if any, and (ii) adjacent undrilled portions of the reservoir that can, with reasonable certainty, be judged to be continuous with it and to contain economically producible oil or gas on the basis of available geoscience and engineering data. In the absence of data on fluid contacts, proved quantities in a reservoir are limited by the lowest known hydrocarbons, LKH, as seen in a well penetration unless geoscience, engineering, or performance data and reliable technology establishes a lower contact with reasonable certainty. Where direct observation from well penetrations has defined a highest known oil, HKO, elevation and the potential exists for an associated gas cap, proved oil reserves may be assigned in the structurally higher portions of the reservoir only if geoscience, engineering, or performance data and reliable technology establish the higher contact with reasonable certainty. Reserves which can be produced economically through application of improved recovery techniques (including, but not limited to, fluid injection) are included in the proved classification when (i) successful testing by a pilot project in an area of the reservoir with properties no more favorable than in the reservoir as a whole, the operation of an installed program in the reservoir or an analogous reservoir, or other evidence using reliable technology establishes the reasonable certainty of the engineering analysis on which the project or program was based; and (ii) the project has been approved for development by all necessary parties and entities, including governmental entities. Existing economic conditions include prices and costs at which economic producibility from a reservoir is to be determined. The price shall be the average price during the 12-month period prior to the ending date of the period covered by the report, determined as an unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within such period, unless prices are defined by contractual arrangements, excluding escalations based upon future conditions.
“Proved undeveloped reserves.” Proved reserves that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion.
“Reasonable certainty.” A high degree of confidence.
“Recompletion.” The process of re-entering an existing wellbore that is either producing or not producing and completing new reservoirs in an attempt to establish or increase existing production.
“Reserves.” Estimated remaining quantities of oil and natural gas and related substances anticipated to be economically producible as of a given date by application of development prospects to known accumulations.
“Reservoir.” A porous and permeable underground formation containing a natural accumulation of producible natural gas and/or oil that is confined by impermeable rock or water barriers and is separate from other reservoirs.
“Spacing.” The distance between wells producing from the same reservoir. Spacing is often expressed in terms of acres, e.g., 40-acre spacing, and is often established by regulatory agencies.
“Unit.” The joining of all or substantially all interests in a reservoir or field, rather than a single tract, to provide for development and operation without regard to separate property interests. Also, the area covered by a unitization agreement.
“Wellbore.” The hole drilled by the bit that is equipped for oil or gas production on a completed well. Also called well or borehole.
“Working interest.” The right granted to the lessee of a property to explore for and to produce and own oil, gas, or other minerals. The working interest owners bear the exploration, development, and operating costs on either a cash, penalty, or carried basis.
“Workover.” The repair or stimulation of an existing productive well for the purpose of restoring, prolonging or enhancing the production of hydrocarbons.