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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
(Mark One)
[X]
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2005
OR
[ ]
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period
from to
Commission File Number 333-106586
El Paso Production Holding Company
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
| |
|
|
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation or Organization) |
|
76-0659544
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
| |
El Paso Building
1001 Louisiana Street
Houston, Texas
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
|
77002
(Zip Code) |
Telephone Number: (713) 420-2600
Indicate by check mark whether the
registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter
period that the registrant was required to file such reports),
and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past
90 days. Yes þ
No o
Indicate by check mark whether the
registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in
Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act). Yes o
No þ
Indicate the number of shares
outstanding of each of the issuers classes of common
stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Common stock, par value $1 per share. Shares outstanding on
May 12, 2005: 1,000
EL PASO PRODUCTION HOLDING COMPANY MEETS THE CONDITIONS
OF GENERAL INSTRUCTION H(1)(a) AND (b) TO FORM 10-Q AND IS
THEREFORE FILING THIS REPORT WITH A REDUCED DISCLOSURE FORMAT AS
PERMITTED BY SUCH INSTRUCTION.
EL PASO PRODUCTION HOLDING COMPANY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
| * |
We have not included a response to this item in this document
since no response is required pursuant to the reduced disclosure
format permitted by General Instruction H to Form 10-Q. |
Below is a list of terms that are common to our industry and
used throughout this document:
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|
|
|
/d
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|
= per day |
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Bbl
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|
= barrels |
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Bcfe
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|
= billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalents |
|
MBbls
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|
= thousand barrels |
|
Mcf
|
|
= thousand cubic feet |
|
Mcfe
|
|
= thousand cubic feet of natural gas equivalents |
|
MMBtu
|
|
= million British thermal units |
|
MMcf
|
|
= million cubic feet |
|
MMcfe
|
|
= million cubic feet of natural gas equivalents |
When we refer to natural gas and oil in equivalents,
we are doing so to compare quantities of oil with quantities of
natural gas or to express these different commodities in a
common unit. In calculating equivalents, we use a generally
recognized standard in which one Bbl of oil is equal to six Mcf
of natural gas. Also, when we refer to cubic feet measurements,
all measurements are at a pressure of 14.73 pounds per
square inch.
When we refer to us, we,
our, ours, or El Paso
Production, we are describing El Paso Production
Holding Company and/or our subsidiaries.
i
PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
EL PASO PRODUCTION HOLDING COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In millions)
(Unaudited)
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Quarter Ended | |
| |
|
March 31, | |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Operating revenues
|
|
$ |
160 |
|
|
$ |
219 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Cost of sales
|
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
9 |
|
| |
Operation and maintenance
|
|
|
42 |
|
|
|
47 |
|
| |
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
|
|
|
82 |
|
|
|
93 |
|
| |
Taxes, other than income taxes
|
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
6 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
142 |
|
|
|
155 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
64 |
|
|
Other income, net
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Affiliated interest income
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(19 |
) |
|
|
(18 |
) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before income taxes
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
51 |
|
|
Income taxes
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$ |
1 |
|
|
$ |
33 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes.
1
EL PASO PRODUCTION HOLDING COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In millions, except share amounts)
(Unaudited)
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
March 31, | |
|
December 31, | |
| |
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
ASSETS |
|
Current assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$ |
23 |
|
|
$ |
124 |
|
| |
Accounts receivable
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Customer, net of allowance of $5 in 2005 and 2004
|
|
|
130 |
|
|
|
138 |
|
| |
|
Other
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
| |
Note receivable from affiliate
|
|
|
42 |
|
|
|
145 |
|
| |
Deferred income taxes
|
|
|
133 |
|
|
|
86 |
|
| |
Other
|
|
|
34 |
|
|
|
25 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
366 |
|
|
|
522 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property, plant and equipment, at cost
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Natural gas and oil properties
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Proved properties-full cost method
|
|
|
7,695 |
|
|
|
7,313 |
|
| |
|
Unevaluated costs excluded from amortization
|
|
|
297 |
|
|
|
253 |
|
| |
Other
|
|
|
91 |
|
|
|
86 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
8,083 |
|
|
|
7,652 |
|
| |
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization
|
|
|
5,319 |
|
|
|
5,239 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Total property, plant and equipment, net
|
|
|
2,764 |
|
|
|
2,413 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Note receivable from affiliate
|
|
|
417 |
|
|
|
332 |
|
| |
Deferred income taxes
|
|
|
49 |
|
|
|
132 |
|
| |
Other
|
|
|
66 |
|
|
|
66 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
532 |
|
|
|
530 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$ |
3,662 |
|
|
$ |
3,465 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY |
|
Current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Accounts payable
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Trade
|
|
$ |
85 |
|
|
$ |
50 |
|
| |
|
Other
|
|
|
67 |
|
|
|
67 |
|
| |
Liabilities from price risk management activities
|
|
|
393 |
|
|
|
243 |
|
| |
Accrued interest
|
|
|
31 |
|
|
|
8 |
|
| |
Other
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
25 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
593 |
|
|
|
393 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term debt
|
|
|
1,200 |
|
|
|
1,200 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Liabilities from price risk management activities
|
|
|
300 |
|
|
|
273 |
|
| |
Other
|
|
|
104 |
|
|
|
102 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
404 |
|
|
|
375 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments and contingencies
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Common stock, par value $1 per share; 1,000 shares
authorized and outstanding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
1,780 |
|
|
|
1,701 |
|
| |
Retained earnings
|
|
|
110 |
|
|
|
109 |
|
| |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
|
|
|
(425 |
) |
|
|
(313 |
) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Total stockholders equity
|
|
|
1,465 |
|
|
|
1,497 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders equity
|
|
$ |
3,662 |
|
|
$ |
3,465 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes.
2
EL PASO PRODUCTION HOLDING COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In millions)
(Unaudited)
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Quarter Ended | |
| |
|
March 31, | |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Cash flows from operating activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Net income
|
|
$ |
1 |
|
|
$ |
33 |
|
| |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating
activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
|
|
|
82 |
|
|
|
93 |
|
| |
|
Deferred income taxes
|
|
|
13 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
| |
|
Other non-cash income items
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
|
| |
|
Asset and liability changes
|
|
|
40 |
|
|
|
36 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
|
|
136 |
|
|
|
186 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Capital expenditures
|
|
|
(161 |
) |
|
|
(145 |
) |
| |
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired
|
|
|
(173 |
) |
|
|
|
|
| |
Change in note receivable from affiliate
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
50 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(316 |
) |
|
|
(95 |
) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Contribution from parent
|
|
|
79 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Net cash provided by financing activities
|
|
|
79 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
(101 |
) |
|
|
91 |
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Beginning of period
|
|
|
124 |
|
|
|
34 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
End of period
|
|
$ |
23 |
|
|
$ |
125 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes.
3
EL PASO PRODUCTION HOLDING COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(In millions)
(Unaudited)
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Quarter Ended | |
| |
|
March 31, | |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Net income
|
|
$ |
1 |
|
|
$ |
33 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gains (losses) from cash flow hedging activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Unrealized mark-to-market losses arising during period
(net of income taxes of $87 in 2005 and $49 in 2004)
|
|
|
(151 |
) |
|
|
(85 |
) |
| |
Reclassification adjustments for changes in initial value to the
settlement date (net of income taxes of $22 in 2005 and $21 in
2004)
|
|
|
39 |
|
|
|
35 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Other comprehensive loss
|
|
|
(112 |
) |
|
|
(50 |
) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive loss
|
|
$ |
(111 |
) |
|
$ |
(17 |
) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes.
4
EL PASO PRODUCTION HOLDING COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
1. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting
Policies
Basis of Presentation
We are a wholly owned subsidiary of El Paso Corporation
(El Paso). We prepared this Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q under the rules and regulations of the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Because this is
an interim period filing presented using a condensed format, it
does not include all of the disclosures required by generally
accepted accounting principles. You should read this Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q along with our 2004 Annual Report on
Form 10-K, which includes a summary of our significant
accounting policies and other disclosures. The financial
statements as of March 31, 2005, and for the quarters
ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, are unaudited. We
derived the balance sheet as of December 31, 2004, from the
audited balance sheet filed in our 2004 Annual Report on
Form 10-K. In our opinion, we have made all adjustments
which are of a normal, recurring nature to fairly present our
interim period results. Due to the seasonal nature of our
business, information for interim periods may not be indicative
of our results of operations for the entire year. In addition,
prior period information presented in these financial statements
includes reclassifications which were made to conform to the
current period presentation. These reclassifications had no
effect on our previously reported net income or
stockholders equity.
Significant Accounting Policies
Our significant accounting policies are consistent with those
discussed in our 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
2. Acquisitions
In the first quarter of 2005, we acquired a 100 percent
equity interest in GMT Energy Corp (GMT), a company engaged in
the exploration, development and production of natural gas and
oil in east Texas, for approximately $173 million (net of cash
acquired). In addition, during the first quarter of 2005, we
acquired properties in south Texas for approximately
$33 million and we purchased the interest held by one of
the parties under a net profits interest agreement for
approximately $40 million. These acquisitions added
properties with approximately 131 Bcfe of existing proved
reserves and 48 MMcfe/d of current production.
The GMT acquisition was treated as a business combination
accounted for using the purchase method of accounting and the
purchase price was assigned to natural gas and oil properties in
our full cost pool in the amount of approximately $266 million,
accounts payable in the amount of approximately $5 million,
and noncurrent deferred tax liabilities of approximately
$88 million. No goodwill was recorded in the transaction.
Results of operations since the date of acquisition, which was
February 25, 2005, have been included in the accompanying
consolidated financial statements. The following summary
presents unaudited proforma consolidated results of operations
for the quarters ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 as if the
acquisition had occurred as of the beginning of the periods
presented. The proforma results include adjustments for
depreciation, depletion and amortization based on the purchase
price allocated to the properties and the related income tax
effect, assuming a 35% effective rate, and are not necessarily
indicative of the operating results that would have occurred had
the acquisition been consummated at that date, nor are they
necessarily indicative of future operating results.
| |
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|
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|
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|
| |
|
Quarter ended | |
| |
|
March 31, | |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| |
|
(In millions) | |
|
Operating revenues
|
|
$ |
167 |
|
|
$ |
224 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$ |
2 |
|
|
$ |
34 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
5
3. Commitments and Contingencies
|
|
|
Legal Proceedings and Other Contingency |
Grynberg. In 1997, a number of El Paso entities,
including our subsidiary, El Paso Production Company, were
named defendants in actions brought by Jack Grynberg on behalf
of the U.S. Government under the False Claims Act.
Generally, these complaints allege an industry-wide conspiracy
to underreport the heating value as well as the volumes of the
natural gas produced from federal and Native American lands,
which deprived the U.S. Government of royalties. The
plaintiff in this case seeks royalties that he contends the
government should have received had the volume and heating value
been differently measured, analyzed, calculated and reported,
together with interest, treble damages, civil penalties,
expenses and future injunctive relief to require the defendants
to adopt allegedly appropriate gas measurement practices. No
monetary relief has been specified in this case. These matters
have been consolidated for pretrial purposes (In re: Natural Gas
Royalties Qui Tam Litigation, U.S. District Court
for the District of Wyoming, filed June 1997). Motions to
dismiss have been briefed and argued and the parties are
awaiting the courts ruling. Our costs and legal exposure
related to these lawsuits and claims are not currently
determinable.
Will Price (formerly Quinque). A number of El Paso
entities, including our subsidiary, El Paso Production
Company, are named as defendants in Will Price
et al v. Gas Pipelines and Their Predecessors,
et al., filed in 1999 in the District Court of Stevens
County, Kansas. Plaintiffs allege that the defendants
mismeasured natural gas volumes and heating content of natural
gas on non-federal and non-Native American lands and seek to
recover royalties that they contend they should have received
had the volume and heating value of natural gas produced from
their properties been differently measured, analyzed, calculated
and reported, together with prejudgment and postjudgment
interest, punitive damages, treble damages, attorneys
fees, costs and expenses, and future injunctive relief to
require the defendants to adopt allegedly appropriate gas
measurement practices. No monetary relief has been specified in
this case. Plaintiffs motion for class certification of a
nationwide class of natural gas working interest owners and
natural gas royalty owners was denied in April 2003.
Plaintiffs were granted leave to file a Fourth Amended Petition,
which narrows the proposed class to royalty owners in wells in
Kansas, Wyoming and Colorado and removes claims as to heating
content. A second class action petition has since been filed as
to the heating content claims. Motions for class certification
have been briefed and argued in both proceedings, and the
parties are awaiting the courts ruling. Our costs and
legal exposure related to these lawsuits and claims are not
currently determinable.
Reserve Revisions. In March 2004, El Paso received a
subpoena from the SEC requesting documents relating to its
December 31, 2003 natural gas and oil reserve revisions.
El Paso and its Audit Committee have also received federal
grand jury subpoenas for documents with regard to these reserve
revisions. We are assisting El Paso and its Audit Committee
in their efforts to cooperate with the SECs and the U.S.
Attorneys investigations into this matter.
In addition to the above matters, we and our subsidiaries and
affiliates are named defendants in numerous lawsuits and
governmental proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of
our business.
Raton. During the third quarter of 2004, we discovered
that the supplier of electricity to our Raton field in New
Mexico may have underbilled us for electricity usage during the
last two years. We are currently reviewing information
concerning this matter and do not expect this matter to have a
significant impact on our financial statements.
For each of our outstanding legal and other contingent matters,
we evaluate the merits of the case, our exposure to the matter,
possible legal or settlement strategies and the likelihood of an
unfavorable outcome. If we determine that an unfavorable outcome
is probable and can be estimated, we establish the necessary
accruals. While the outcome of these matters cannot be predicted
with certainty and there are still uncertainties related to the
costs we may incur, based upon our evaluation and experience to
date, we believe we have established appropriate reserves for
these matters. However, it is possible that new information or
future developments could require us to reassess our potential
exposure related to these matters and adjust our
6
accruals accordingly. As of March 31, 2005, we had
approximately $4 million accrued for all outstanding legal
and other contingent matters.
We are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations
governing environmental quality and pollution control. These
laws and regulations require us to remove or remedy the effect
on the environment of the disposal or release of specified
substances at current and former operating sites. At
March 31, 2005, we had no accrual for remediation costs and
associated onsite, offsite and groundwater technical studies or
for related environmental legal costs.
Air Permit Violation. In March 2003, the Louisiana
Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) issued a Consolidated
Compliance Order and Notice of Potential Penalty to our
subsidiary, El Paso Production Company, alleging that it
failed to timely obtain air permits for specified oil and gas
facilities. El Paso Production Company requested an
adjudicatory hearing on the matter. The hearing has been stayed
by agreement to allow El Paso Production Company and the
LDEQ time to possibly settle this matter. Negotiations are
ongoing for resolving this matter.
It is possible that new information or future developments could
require us to reassess our potential exposure related to
environmental matters. We may incur significant costs and
liabilities in order to comply with existing environmental laws
and regulations. It is also possible that other developments,
such as increasingly strict environmental laws, regulations and
orders of regulatory agencies, as well as claims for damages to
property and the environment or injuries to employees and other
persons, resulting from our current or past operations, could
result in substantial costs and liabilities in the future. As
this information becomes available, or other relevant
developments occur, we will adjust our accrual amounts
accordingly. While there are still uncertainties relating to the
ultimate costs we may incur, based upon our evaluation and
experience to date, we believe no reserves are required at this
time.
Guarantees. In April 2005, we entered into a financial
guarantee with the Minerals Management Services that obligates
us to make payments for the offshore operations of our
affiliate, El Paso CGP Company (El Paso CGP) if
El Paso CGP fails to make its required payments for oil
spills and plug and abandonment obligations. El Paso CGP
has agreed to reimburse us for any costs we incur associated
with this guarantee and has established a $10 million
escrow account to cover their obligations. However, we may be
responsible for any costs not reimbursed. We negotiated the
guarantee on an arms length basis and obtained a third party
fairness opinion.
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Transactions with Affiliates |
Cash Management Program. Subject to limitations in our
indenture, we participate in El Pasos cash management
program which matches short-term cash surpluses and needs of its
participating affiliates, thus minimizing total borrowing from
outside sources. At March 31, 2005 and
December 31, 2004, we had a receivable from
El Paso of $459 million and $477 million. We
classified $42 million and $145 million of this
receivable as a current note receivable from affiliate on our
balance sheets at March 31, 2005 and December 31,
2004. The interest rate on this receivable was 3.5% at
March 31, 2005 and 2.0% at December 31, 2004.
Taxes. We are party to a tax accrual policy with
El Paso whereby El Paso files U.S. and state tax
returns on our behalf. In certain states, we file and pay
directly to the state taxing authorities. We have current
federal income taxes receivable of $26 million and
$15 million included in other current assets on our balance
sheets at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004.
Additionally, we have non-current federal income taxes
receivable of $32 million included in other non-current
assets at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, on our
balance sheets. We have state income taxes payable of
$8 million at December 31, 2004, included in other
current liabilities on our balance sheets. The majority of these
balances will become payable to or receivable from El Paso.
7
Capital Contribution. In the first quarter of 2005,
El Paso contributed approximately $79 million to us to
partially fund the acquisition of GMT.
Other Affiliate Balances. At March 31, 2005 and
December 31, 2004, we billed our affiliate $7 million
and $92 million for sales of natural gas. In addition, we
had payables to our affiliates of $29 million at
March 31, 2005.
At March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004 we had
contractual deposits of $5 million with El Pasos
regulated interstate pipelines.
Affiliate Revenues and Expenses. We enter into a number
of transactions with affiliates in the ordinary course of
conducting our business. The following table shows revenues and
charges to/from our affiliates for the quarters ended
March 31:
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2005 | |
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2004 | |
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(In millions) | |
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Operating revenues
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$ |
115 |
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$ |
124 |
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Operating expenses from affiliates
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27 |
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24 |
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Reimbursements of operating expenses charged to affiliates
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21 |
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22 |
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We have also entered into a service agreement with El Paso
that provides for a reimbursement of 2.5 cents per MMBtu in
2005 and 2006 for our expected administrative costs associated
with hedging transactions we entered into in December 2004.
8
Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The information contained in Item 2 updates, and should be
read in conjunction with, information disclosed in our 2004
Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the financial statements
and notes presented in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q.
Results of Operations
Our management, as well as El Pasos management, uses
earnings before interest expense and income taxes (EBIT) to
assess the operating results and effectiveness of our business.
We define EBIT as net income adjusted for (i) items that do
not impact our income from continuing operations,
(ii) income taxes, (iii) interest and debt expense and
(iv) affiliated interest income. Our business consists of
consolidated operations as well as an investment in an
unconsolidated affiliate. We exclude interest and debt expense
from this measure so that our management can evaluate our
operating results without regard to our financing methods. We
believe the discussion of our results of operations based on
EBIT is useful to our investors because it allows them to more
effectively evaluate the operating performance of both our
consolidated business and our unconsolidated investment using
the same performance measure analyzed internally by our
management. EBIT may not be comparable to measurements used by
other companies. Additionally, EBIT should be considered in
conjunction with net income and other performance measures such
as operating income or operating cash flow.
Overview
We conduct natural gas and oil exploration and production
activities. Our operating results are driven by a variety of
factors including the ability to locate and develop economic
natural gas and oil reserves, extract those reserves with
minimal production costs, sell the products at attractive
prices, and minimize our total administrative costs. During the
first quarter of 2005, we continued in our efforts to stabilize
production by improving the production mix across our operating
areas through a more balanced allocation of our capital to
development and exploration projects, supplemented by
acquisition activities with low risk development locations that
provide operating synergies with our existing operations.
Operational Factors Affecting the Quarter Ended
March 31, 2005
During the first quarter of 2005, we continued to benefit from a
strong commodity price environment. Our production volumes were
relatively stable from the third and fourth quarters of 2004;
however, production volumes for the quarter ended March 31,
2005 were lower than production volumes for the quarter ended
March 31, 2004, due to normal production declines and lower
capital spending programs over the last several years, combined
with limited drilling success. Specifically, during the quarter
ended March 31, 2005, we experienced:
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Change in realized prices. Realized natural gas prices,
which include the impact of our hedges, decreased
eight percent while oil, condensate and natural gas liquids
(NGL) prices increased 44 percent compared to 2004. Under
our hedge program, approximately 62 percent of our first
quarter 2005 natural gas production was hedged at an average
price of $3.21 per MMBtu, which was significantly below the
market price for natural gas. |
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Average daily production of 406 MMcfe/d. Our
production remained relatively stable from the third and fourth
quarters of 2004 to the first quarter of 2005 for the onshore
region while the offshore Gulf of Mexico and the Texas Gulf
Coast regions experienced a decline due to normal production
declines and mechanical well failures in the Texas Gulf Coast
region. Average daily production volumes in the first quarter of
2005 benefited by 24 MMcfe/d from the acquisitions discussed
below. However, when compared to the first quarter of 2004, our
first quarter 2005 total equivalent production declined 13 Bcfe,
or 27 percent, due to production declines in the Texas Gulf
Coast and offshore Gulf of Mexico regions, which were partially
offset by increased production from the onshore region. |
9
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Capital expenditures of $343 million. Our first
quarter capital expenditures included acquisitions totaling
approximately $246 million for properties in east and south
Texas and the purchase of the interest held by one of our
partners under a net profits interest agreement. These
acquisitions added approximately 131 Bcfe of proved
reserves and 48 MMcfe/d of current production. More
importantly, the Texas acquisitions offer additional development
upside in two of our key operating areas. We have successfully
integrated these acquisitions into our operations with minimal
additional administrative expenses. The proved reserves
associated with these acquisitions replace approximately
88 percent of our 2005 anticipated production based on
annualized first quarter 2005 production results. |
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Drilling Results. In the first quarter of 2005, we
announced a deep shelf discovery at West Cameron Block 75 in the
Gulf of Mexico. We tested the discovery and anticipate
deliverability of approximately 40 MMcfe/d to begin in the
fourth quarter of 2005, after the installation of facilities. We
are the operator and own a 36 percent working interest and
an approximate 30 percent net revenue interest in this
discovery. |
Outlook for Remainder of 2005
For the second quarter of 2005, we estimate that approximately
55 percent of our anticipated natural gas production will
be hedged at an average price of $3.21 per MMBtu, which is
significantly lower than current market prices for natural gas
and will continue to affect revenues. We expect our depletion
rate to increase to $2.14/Mcfe in the second quarter of 2005
from $2.09/Mcfe in the first quarter of 2005 due to higher
finding and development costs and the cost of our recent
acquisitions.
Production Hedge Position
As part of our overall strategy, we hedge our natural gas and
oil production to stabilize cash flows, reduce the risk of
downward commodity price movements on our sales and to protect
the economic assumptions associated with our capital investment
programs. Our current hedge position, as further described in
our 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K, includes average hedge
prices that are significantly below the current market price for
natural gas. During the first quarter of 2005 and through the
date of this filing, we have not added any additional hedges.
Overall, in the first quarter of 2005, we experienced a
significant decrease in the fair value of our natural gas
hedging derivatives discussed above. The total unrealized loss
of these positions at March 31, 2005 was $693 million
compared to $516 million at December 31, 2004. These
non-cash fair value decreases are generally deferred in our
accumulated other comprehensive income and will be realized in
our operating results at the time the production volumes to
which they relate are sold. The income impact of the settlement
of these derivative commodity instruments will be substantially
offset by a corresponding change in the value to be received
when the hedged natural gas production is sold.
The following is a reconciliation of EBIT to net income for the
quarters ended March 31:
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2005 | |
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2004 | |
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(In millions) | |
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Operating revenues
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$ |
160 |
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$ |
219 |
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Operating expenses
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(142 |
) |
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(155 |
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Operating income
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18 |
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64 |
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Other income, net
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1 |
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EBIT
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