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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C., 20549

Form 10-Q


[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 0-30321

QUESTAR MARKET RESOURCES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)




State of Utah
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

87-0287750
(IRS Employer Identification Number)

 

  

180 East 100 South
P.O. Box 45601
Salt Lake City, Utah
(Address of principal executive offices)

 

84145-0601
(Zip code)

(801) 324-2600
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes   [X]

 

No   [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes   [  ]

 

No   [X]

 


Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.


Class

 

Outstanding as of April 30, 2005

Common Stock, $1.00 par value

 

 4,309,427 shares


Registrant meets the conditions set forth in General Instruction H(1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-Q and is filing this Form 10-Q with the reduced disclosure format.


Questar Market Resources, Inc.

Form 10-Q for the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2005


TABLE OF CONTENTS



Page #


GLOSSARY OF COMMONLY USED TERMS

3


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

5


PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

8


Item 1.

Financial Statements

8


Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months

   ended March 31, 2005 and 2004

8


Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2005

   and December 31, 2004

9


Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months

   ended March 31, 2005 and 2004

10


Notes Accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements

11


Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and

   Results of Operations

15


Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

21


Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

23


PART II.

OTHER INFORMATION

24


Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

24


Item 6.

Exhibits

24


Signatures

25



GLOSSARY OF COMMONLY USED TERMS


bbl

Barrel, which is equal to 42 U.S. gallons and is a common unit of measurement of crude oil.


basis

The difference between a reference or benchmark-commodity price and the corresponding sales price at various regional sales points.


bcf

One billion cubic feet, a common unit of measurement of natural gas.


bcfe

One billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalents. Oil volume is converted to natural gas equivalent using the ratio of one barrel of crude oil to 6,000 cubic feet of natural gas.


Btu

One British thermal unit – a measure of the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.


cash-flow hedge

A derivative instrument that complies with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 133, as amended, and is used to reduce the exposure to variability in cash flows from the forecasted physical sale of gas and oil production whereby the gains (losses) on the derivative transaction are anticipated to offset the losses (gains) on the forecasted physical sale.


cf

Cubic foot is a common unit of gas measurement. One standard cubic foot equals the volume of gas in one cubic foot measured at standard conditions – a temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit and a pressure of 30 inches of mercury (approximately 14.73 pounds per square inch).    


development well

A well drilled into a known producing formation in a previously discovered field.


dew point

A specific temperature and pressure at which hydrocarbons condense to form a liquid.


dry hole

A well drilled and found to be incapable of producing hydrocarbons in sufficient quantities such that proceeds from the sale of production exceed expenses and taxes.


dth

Decatherms or ten therms. One dth equals one million Btu or approximately one Mcf.


exploratory well

A well drilled into a previously untested geologic prospect to determine the presence of gas or oil.


finding costs

Finding costs are the sum of costs incurred for gas and oil exploration and development activities; including leasehold acquisitions, seismic, geological and geophysical, development and exploration drilling and asset-retirement obligations for a given period, divided by the total amount of estimated net-proved reserves added through discoveries, positive and negative revisions of previous estimates and purchases in-place for the same period. The Company expresses finding costs in dollars per Mcfe averaged over a five-year period.


futures contract

An exchange-traded legal contract to buy or sell a standard quantity and quality of a commodity at a specified future date and price.


gas

   All references to “gas” in this report refer to natural gas.


gross

“Gross” natural gas and oil wells or “gross” acres equal the total number of wells or acres in which the Company has a working interest.


hedging

The use of derivative-commodity and interest-rate instruments to reduce financial exposure to commodity-price and interest-rate volatility.


Mbbl

One thousand barrels.


Mcf

One thousand cubic feet.


Mcfe

One thousand cubic feet of natural gas equivalents. Oil volume is converted to natural gas equivalent using the ratio of one barrel of crude oil to 6,000 cubic feet of natural gas.


Mdth

One thousand decatherms.


Mdthe

One thousand decatherm equivalents. Oil volume is converted to natural gas equivalent using the ratio of one barrel of crude oil to 6,000 cubic feet of natural gas.


MMbbl

One million barrels.


MMBtu

One million British thermal units.


MMcf

One million cubic feet.


MMcfe

One million cubic feet of natural gas equivalents.


MMdth

One million decatherms.


MMgal

One million U. S. gallons.


natural gas liquids

Liquid hydrocarbons that are extracted and separated from the natural gas

(NGL)

stream. NGL products include ethane, propane, butane, natural gasoline and heavier hydrocarbons.


net

Net gas and oil wells or net acres are determined by the sum of the fractional ownership working interest the Company has in those gross wells or acres.


production-

The production-replacement ratio is calculated by dividing the net-proved

replacement ratio

reserves added through discoveries, positive and negative revisions of previous estimates and purchases and sales in-place for a given period by the production for the same period, expressed as a percentage. The production-replacement ratio is typically reported on an annual basis.


proved reserves

Those quantities of natural gas, crude oil, condensate and NGL on a net-revenue-interest basis, which geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable under existing economic and operating conditions. See 17 C.F.R. Section 4-10(a)(2) for a complete definition.


proved-developed

Reserves that include proved developed-producing reserves

reserves

and proved-developed behind-pipe reserves. See 17 C.F.R. Section 4-10(a)(3).


proved-developed-

Reserves expected to be recovered from existing completion intervals in

producing reserves

existing wells.


proved-undeveloped

Reserves expected to be recovered from new wells on proved-undrilled acreage

reserves

or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion. See 17 C.F.R. Section 4-10(a)(4).


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.


wet gas

Unprocessed natural gas that contains a mixture of heavier hydrocarbons including ethane, propane, butane and natural gasoline.


working interest

An interest that gives the owner the right to drill, produce and conduct operating activities on a property and receive a share of any production.



FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS


This report includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21(e) of the Securities Exchange Act (Act) of 1934 as amended. All statements other than statements of historical facts included or incorporated by reference in this report, including, without limitation, statements regarding the future financial position, business strategy, budgets, projected costs and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “project,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “forecast,” or “continue” or the negativ e thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Although these statements are made in good faith and are reasonable representations of Questar Market Resources, Inc.’s (Market Resources or the Company) expected performance at the time, actual results may vary from management’s stated expectations and projections due to a variety of factors.


Important assumptions and other significant factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements include:


Market Resources subsidiaries find, produce and sell natural gas, oil and NGL

Natural gas, oil and NGL prices are volatile and, therefore, Market Resources revenues, cash flow and earnings can be volatile. The Company cannot predict future natural gas, oil and NGL price movements, which are subject to forces beyond its control such as:


Domestic and foreign supply of natural gas and oil;

Regional basis differential due to pipeline-capacity constraints;

Domestic and global economic conditions;

Weather;

Domestic and foreign government regulations;

The price and availability of alternative fuels;

The costs and availability of drilling rigs and other materials and services.


Gas and oil prices are volatile

The Company uses financial contracts to hedge its exposure to volatile natural gas, oil and NGL prices and to protect cash flow, returns on capital, net income and credit ratings from downward commodity-price movements. While hedging reduces the impact of declining prices, it may also limit future revenues from favorable price movements. Market Resources believes its Wexpro subsidiary generates revenues that are not significantly sensitive to short-term fluctuations in natural gas and oil prices.


Market Resources’ profitability depends not only on prevailing prices for natural gas, oil and NGL, but also the Company’s ability to find, develop and acquire gas and oil reserves that are economically recoverable. Substantial capital expenditures are required to find, develop and acquire gas and oil reserves to replace those depleted by production.


Estimating gas and oil reserves, production and future net cash flow is difficult

Questar Exploration and Production Company’s proved natural gas- and oil-reserve estimates are prepared annually by independent reservoir-engineering consultants. Gas- and oil-reserve estimates are subject to numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved reserves, projecting future rates of production and timing of development expenditures. The accuracy of these estimates depends on the quality of available data and on engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. Reserve estimates are imprecise and will change as additional information becomes available. Estimates of economically recoverable reserves and future net cash flows prepared by different engineers, or by the same engineers at different times may vary significantly. Results of subsequent drilling, testing and production may cause either upward or downward revisions of pre vious estimates. In addition, the estimates of future net revenues from proved reserves and the present value of those reserves are based upon certain assumptions about production levels, prices and costs, which may change. The volumes considered to be commercially recoverable fluctuate with changes in prices and operating costs. The meaningfulness of such estimates depends on the accuracy of the assumptions upon which they were based. Actual results may differ materially from the estimated results.


Drilling is a high-risk activity

Operating risks include: blow-outs; fire; unexpected drilling conditions such as uncontrollable flows of gas, oil, formation water or drilling fluids; abandonment costs; explosions; pipe, cement or casing failures; oil spills; natural gas leaks; pipeline ruptures; and discharges of toxic gases. The Company could incur substantial losses as a result of injury or loss of life; environmental damage; destruction of property; fines; or curtailment of operations. The Company maintains insurance against some, but not all, of these potential risks and losses.


Market Resources must comply with numerous regulations from the federal, state and local level

Market Resources is subject to federal, state and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. Environmental laws and regulations are complex, change frequently and tend to become more onerous over time. In addition to the costs of compliance, the Company may incur substantial costs to take corrective actions at both owned and previously owned facilities. Accidental spills and leaks requiring cleanup may occur in the ordinary course of business. As standards change, the Company may incur significant costs in cases where past operations followed practices that were considered acceptable at the time but that now require remedial work to meet current standards. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in fines, significant costs for remedial activities, or injunctions.


 

Market Resources must comply with numerous and complex regulations governing their activities on federal and state lands in the Rocky Mountain region, notably the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act and the National Historic Preservation Act. Federal and state agencies frequently impose conditions on the Company’s activities. These restrictions tend to become more stringent over time, and can limit or prevent the Company from exploring for, finding and producing natural gas and oil on its Rockies leasehold. Certain environmental groups oppose drilling on some of the Company’s federal and state leases.


Various federal agencies within the U.S. Department of the Interior, particularly the Minerals Management Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, along with each Native American tribe, promulgate and enforce regulations pertaining to gas and oil operations on Native American tribal lands. These regulations include such matters as lease provisions, drilling and production requirements, environmental standards and royalty considerations. In addition, each Native American tribe is a sovereign nation having the right to enforce laws and regulations independent from federal, state and local statutes and regulations, as long as they do not supersede or conflict with federal law. These tribal laws and regulations include various taxes, fees, requirements to employ Native American tribal members and other conditions that apply to lessees, operators and contractors conducting operations on Native Ame rican tribal lands. Finally, lessees and operators conducting operations on tribal lands are generally subject to the Native American tribal court system. One or more of these factors may increase Market Resources’ costs of doing business on Native American tribal lands and have an impact on the viability of its gas and oil operations on such lands.


Other factors may affect Market Resources results

Market Resources results may also be affected by: changes in general economic conditions; changes in regulation; availability and economic viability of gas and oil properties for sale or exploration; creditworthiness of counterparties; rate of inflation and interest rates; assumptions used in business combinations; weather and natural disasters; changes in customers’ credit ratings; competition from other forms of energy; effects of accounting policies issued periodically by accounting standard-setting bodies; terrorist attacks or acts of war; changes in the business or financial condition of the Company; changes in credit ratings; and availability of financing.


The Company cannot predict these factors nor can it assess the impact, if any, of such factors on its financial position or its results of operations. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. Market Resources undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement provided in this report.


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION


  ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

QUESTAR MARKET RESOURCES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

  
 

3 Months Ended

 

March 31,

 

2005

2004

 

(in thousands)

   

REVENUES

  

  From unaffiliated customers

$314,338

$234,054

  From affiliates

38,084

34,357

    TOTAL REVENUES

352,422

268,411

   

OPERATING EXPENSES

  

  Cost of natural gas and other products sold

150,514

105,145

  Operating and maintenance

42,048

35,713

  Depreciation, depletion and amortization

39,859

33,949

  Exploration

1,373

1,087

  Abandonment and impairment of gas,

  

     oil and other properties

1,405

4,406

  Production and other taxes

21,244

17,656

  Wexpro Agreement – oil-income sharing

1,261

1,132

    TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES

257,704

199,088

    OPERATING INCOME

94,718

69,323

   

Interest and other income

462

783

Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates

1,546

1,310

Minority interest

 

(270)

Debt expense

(6,794)

(7,152)

   INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

89,932

63,994

Income taxes

33,311

23,739

   

   NET INCOME

$  56,621

$  40,255

   

See notes accompanying consolidated financial statements


#



QUESTAR MARKET RESOURCES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

   
 

March 31,

December 31,

 

2005

2004

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

(in thousands)

ASSETS

  

Current assets

  

  Notes receivable from Questar

$     20,800

$    49,400

  Accounts receivable, net

142,336

174,539

  Accounts receivable from affiliates

20,285

19,247

  Hedging collateral deposits

83,420

 

  Fair value of hedging contracts

2,016

9,334

  Inventories, at lower of average cost or market

  

Gas and oil storage

15,387

22,604

Materials and supplies

9,820

8,631

  Prepaid expenses and other

17,066

16,632

    Total current assets

311,130

300,387

Property, plant and equipment

2,547,720

2,456,332

Less accumulated depreciation, depletion

  

  and amortization

973,332

937,267

    Net property, plant and equipment

1,574,388

1,519,065

Investment in unconsolidated affiliates

33,744

33,229

Goodwill

61,423

61,423

Fair value of hedging contracts

 

1,815

Other noncurrent assets

11,490

12,879

 

$1,992,175

$1,928,798

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY

  

Current liabilities

  

  Checks in excess of cash balances

$       3,683

$       4,394

  Notes payable to Questar

70,100

61,200

  Accounts payable and accrued expenses

228,763

226,155

  Accounts payable to affiliates

4,003

6,372

  Fair value of hedging contracts

194,604

64,179

    Total current liabilities

501,153

362,300

Long-term debt

350,000

350,000

Deferred income taxes

252,580

313,511

Asset-retirement obligations

67,363

66,375

Fair value of hedging contracts

61,247

14,471

Other long-term liabilities

34,049

33,271

COMMON SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY

  

  Common stock

4,309

4,309

  Additional paid-in capital

116,027

116,027

  Retained earnings

762,980

710,684

  Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(157,533)

(42,150)

    Total common shareholder’s equity

725,783

788,870

 

$1,992,175

$1,928,798


See notes accompanying consolidated financial statements


QUESTAR MARKET RESOURCES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

  
 

3 Months Ended

 

March 31,

 

2005

2004

 

(in thousands)

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

  

  Net income

$   56,621

$   40,255

  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash

     provided from operating activities:

  

  Depreciation, depletion and amortization

40,054

35,149

  Deferred income taxes

9,840

5,413

  Abandonment and impairment of gas,

  

    oil and other properties

1,405

4,406

  Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates,

  

     net of cash distributions

568

(1,166)

  Net (gain) loss from asset sales

41

(52)

  Other

180

270

  Changes in operating assets and liabilities

(39,203)

25,010

      NET CASH PROVIDED FROM

  

           OPERATING ACTIVITIES

69,506

109,285

   

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

  

    Purchases of property, plant and equipment

(101,086)

(44,978)

    Other investments

(1,083)

 

      Total capital expenditures

(102,169)

(44,978)

  Proceeds from disposition of assets

199

411

  NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES

(101,970)

(44,567)

   

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

  

  Checks in excess of cash balances

(711)

3,208

  Change in notes receivable from Questar

28,600

(45,800)

  Change in notes payable to Questar

8,900

33,800

  Long-term debt repaid

 

(55,000)

  Dividends paid

(4,325)

(4,325)

  Other

 

(317)

  NET CASH PROVIDED FROM (USED IN)

    FINANCING ACTIVITIES

32,464

(68,434)

      Change in cash and cash equivalents

 

(3,716)

      Beginning cash and cash equivalents

 

3,716

      Ending cash and cash equivalents

 $            -

 $            -

   

See notes accompanying consolidated financial statements.


QUESTAR MARKET RESOURCES, INC.

NOTES ACCOMPANYING CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)


Note 1 – Basis of Presentation of Interim Consolidated Financial Statements


Market Resources is a wholly owned subsidiary of Questar Corporation. The accompanying interim consolidated financial statements of Market Resources have not been audited by an independent registered public accounting firm, with the exception of the condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2004, which was derived from the audited financial statements at that date. The unaudited consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. The interim consolidated financial statements reflect all normal, recurring adjustments and accruals that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations for the interim periods presented. The preparation of conso lidated financial statements and notes in conformity with GAAP requires that management make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from estimates. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions were eliminated in consolidation. Certain reclassifications were made to the 2004 financial statements to conform with the 2005 presentation.


The results of operations for the three-month period ended March 31, 2005, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2005, due to the volatility of gas and oil sales prices and other risk factors listed in the Forward-Looking Statements section of this report. Interim consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for audited annual consolidated financial statements. For further information please refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.


Note 2 – Asset-Retirement Obligations (ARO)


Market Resources recognizes ARO in accordance with SFAS 143 “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations.” SFAS 143 addresses the financial accounting and reporting of the fair value of legal obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets. The Company’s ARO applies primarily to plugging and abandonment costs associated with gas and oil wells and certain other properties. The fair value of abandonment costs are estimated and depreciated over the life of the related assets. ARO are adjusted to present value each period through an accretion calculation using a credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate.


Changes in asset-retirement obligations were as follows:


 

2005

2004

 

 (in thousands)

   

Balance at January 1,

$66,375

$60,493

Accretion

974

890

Additions

399

427

Retirements and properties sold

(385)

(2)

Balance at March 31,

$67,363

$61,808


Wexpro activities are governed by a long-standing agreement with the states of Utah and Wyoming (the Wexpro Agreement). The accounting treatment of reclamation activities associated with ARO for properties administered under the Wexpro Agreement is spelled out in a guideline letter between Wexpro and the Utah Division of Public Utilities and the staff of the Public Service Commission of Wyoming. Pursuant to the stipulation, Wexpro collects and deposits in trust certain funds related to estimated ARO costs. The funds are used to satisfy retirement obligations as the properties are abandoned. At March 31, 2005, approximately $3.1 million was held in this trust invested in a short-term bond index fund.


Note 3 – Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliates


Market Resources uses the equity method to account for investments in unconsolidated affiliates where the Company does not have control. These entities are engaged in gathering and compressing natural gas, and have no debt obligations with third-party lenders. The principal affiliates and Market Resources’ ownership percentage as of March 31, 2005, were: Rendezvous Gas Services, LLC (Rendezvous), a limited liability corporation, (50%) and Canyon Creek Compression Co., a general partnership (15%).


Summarized operating results of the businesses representing 100% interest are listed below:

   
 

3 Months Ended

 

March 31,

 

2005

2004

 

(in thousands)

   

Revenues

$4,835

$4,376

Operating income

3,069

2,767

Income before income taxes

3,090

2,772

   


Note 4 - Operations by Line of Business


Market Resources has four primary reportable segments: Questar Exploration and Production Company (Questar E&P), Wexpro Company (Wexpro), Questar Gas Management Company (Gas Management) and Questar Energy Trading Company (Energy Trading). Lines of business information are presented according to management’s basis for evaluating performance including differences in the nature of products and services. Certain intersegment sales include intercompany profits.


 

3 Months Ended

 

March 31,

 

2005

2004

 

(in thousands)

REVENUES FROM UNAFFILIATED

   CUSTOMERS

  

  Questar E&P

$132,497

$106,954

  Wexpro

5,126

4,453

  Gas Management

25,053

18,644

  Energy Trading and other

151,662

104,003

 

$314,338

$234,054

REVENUES FROM AFFILIATES

  

  Wexpro

$ 32,984

$28,404

  Gas Management

3,172

2,980

  Energy Trading and other

1,928

2,973

 

$ 38,084

 $ 34,357

OPERATING INCOME

  

  Questar E&P

 $ 63,442

 $ 45,524

  Wexpro

15,878

14,532

  Gas Management

12,943

7,780

  Energy Trading and other

2,455

1,487

 

 $ 94,718

 $ 69,323

NET INCOME

  

  Questar E&P

 $ 36,251

 $ 25,191

  Wexpro

10,182

9,022

  Gas Management

8,808

5,341

  Energy Trading and other

1,380

701

 

 $ 56,621

 $ 40,255


Note 5 – Comprehensive Income