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Table of Contents

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-K

 

(Mark One)

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

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004

 

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 1-3196

 


 

CONSOLIDATED NATURAL GAS COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   54-1966737

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

120 Tredegar Street

Richmond, Virginia

  23219
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(804) 819-2000

(Registrant’s telephone number)

 


 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class


 

Name of Each Exchange

on Which Registered


6.0% Debentures due 2010   New York Stock Exchange
6.8% Debentures due 2027   New York Stock Exchange
6 5/8% Debentures due 2008   New York Stock Exchange
6 7/8% Debentures due 2026   New York Stock Exchange
7 3/8% Debentures due 2005   New York Stock Exchange
6 5/8% Debentures due 2013   New York Stock Exchange
7.8% Trust Preferred Securities, $25 Par   New York Stock Exchange

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

 


 

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 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes  ¨    No  x

 

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter was zero.

 

As of February 1, 2005, there were issued and outstanding 100 shares of the registrant’s common stock, without par value, all of which were held, beneficially and of record, by Dominion Resources, Inc.

 

THE REGISTRANT MEETS THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN GENERAL INSTRUCTION I.(1)(a) AND (b) OF FORM 10-K AND IS FILING THIS FORM 10-K UNDER THE REDUCED DISCLOSURE FORMAT.

 



Table of Contents

Consolidated Natural Gas Company

 

Item

Number

         Page
Number
Part I       

1.

  Business      1

2.

  Properties      6

3.

  Legal Proceedings      8

4.

  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders      8
Part II       

5.

  Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters      9

6.

  Selected Financial Data      9

7.

  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations      9

7A.

  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk      19

8.

  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data      20

9.

  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure      53

9A.

  Controls and Procedures      53

9B.

  Other Information      53
Part III       

10.

  Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant      54

11.

  Executive Compensation      54

12.

  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management      54

13.

  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions      54

14.

  Principal Accountant Fees and Services      54
Part IV       

15.

  Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules      55


Table of Contents

Part I

 

Item 1. Business

The Company

Consolidated Natural Gas Company (CNG or the Company) operates in all phases of the natural gas business, explores for and produces oil, and provides a variety of retail energy marketing services. The Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dominion Resources, Inc. (Dominion), a fully integrated gas and electric holding company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. The Company is a public utility holding company registered under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (1935 Act).

The “Company” is used throughout this report and, depending on the context of its use, refers to CNG, one of CNG’s consolidated subsidiaries, or the entirety of CNG and its consolidated subsidiaries, both before and after the merger with Dominion.

As of December 31, 2004, the Company had approximately 4,600 full-time employees. Approximately 2,500 employees are subject to collective bargaining agreements. The contract of employees represented by the Utility Workers’ Union of America, United Gas Workers’ Local 69-11, AFL-CIO (Local 69-II) expires April 1, 2005. The Company and Local 69-II have begun negotiations for a new contract.

The Company was incorporated in Delaware in 1999. The Company’s principal executive offices are located at 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219 and its telephone number is (804) 819-2000.

 

Operating Segments

The Company manages its operations along three primary operating segments: Delivery, Energy and Exploration & Production. The Company also reports Corporate and Other functions as a segment. While the Company manages its daily operations as described below, its assets remain wholly-owned by its legal subsidiaries. For additional financial information on business segments and geographic areas, see Notes 1 and 23 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Delivery

Delivery includes the Company’s regulated gas distribution utilities and customer service operations as well as retail energy marketing operations. Gas distribution operations serve residential, commercial and industrial gas sales and transportation customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Retail energy marketing operations include the marketing of gas, electricity and related products and services to residential and small commercial customers in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions.

 

Competition

Deregulation is at varying stages in the three states in which the Company’s gas distribution subsidiaries operate. In Pennsylvania, supplier choice is available for all residential and small commercial customers. In Ohio, legislation has not been enacted to require supplier choice for residential and commercial natural gas consumers. However, the Company offers an Energy Choice program to customers on its own initiative, in cooperation with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (Ohio Commission). West Virginia does not require customer choice in its retail natural gas markets at this time. See Regulation—State Regulations for additional information.

 

Regulation

The Company’s gas distribution service, including the rates it may charge to customers, is regulated by the Ohio Commission, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (Pennsylvania Commission) and the West Virginia Public Service Commission (West Virginia Commission). See Regulation—State Regulations for additional information.

 

Properties

Delivery’s investment in its gas distribution network is located in the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The gas distribution network includes approximately 27,000 miles of pipe, exclusive of service pipe and 203 billion cubic feet (bcf) of underground storage capacity in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. See Energy—Properties for additional information regarding Delivery’s storage properties.

 

Sources of Fuel Supply

Delivery is engaged in the sale and storage of natural gas through its operating subsidiaries. Delivery’s natural gas supply for its operations is obtained from various sources including: purchases from major and independent producers in the Mid-Continent and Gulf Coast regions; purchases from local producers in the Appalachian area; purchases from gas marketers; and withdrawals from the Company’s and third party underground storage fields.

 

Seasonality

Gas sales in the Delivery segment typically vary seasonally based on demand by residential and commercial customers for heating use due to changes in temperature.

 

Energy

Energy includes the following operations:

  A regulated interstate gas transmission pipeline and storage system, serving the Company’s gas distribution businesses and other customers in the Midwest, the Mid-Atlantic states and the Northeast;
  A liquefied natural gas (LNG) import and storage facility in Maryland;
  Certain natural gas production operations located in the Appalachian basin; and

 

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  Producer services operations, representing aggregation of gas supply and associated wholesale activities related to the Appalachian area.

 

Competition

The Energy segment competes with domestic and Canadian pipeline companies and gas marketers to provide or arrange transportation, storage and other services for customers. Alternative energy sources, such as oil or coal, provide another level of competition. Although competition is based primarily on price, the array of services that can be provided to customers is also an important factor. The combination of capacity rights held on certain longline pipelines, a large storage capability and the availability of numerous receipt and delivery points along its own pipeline system enables the Company to tailor its services to meet the needs of individual customers.

 

Regulation

Energy’s natural gas transmission, storage and LNG operations are subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). See Regulation—Federal Regulations for additional information.

 

Properties

Energy has approximately 7,900 miles of gas transmission, gathering and storage pipelines located in the states of Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

The Company’s storage operations involve both the Delivery and Energy segments. Storage operations include 26 underground gas storage fields located in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, with more than 2,000 storage wells and approximately 372,000 acres of operated leaseholds. The Energy and Delivery segments together have more than 100 compressor stations with approximately 626,000 installed compressor horsepower. The total designed capacity of the underground storage fields is approximately 965 billion cubic feet (bcf) of which 203 bcf is operated by Delivery and 762 bcf is operated by Energy. Six of the 26 storage fields are jointly-owned with other companies and have a capacity of 243 bcf. Energy also has approximately 8 bcf of above ground storage capacity at its Cove Point liquefied natural gas facility.

The map below illustrates the Company’s gas transmission pipelines, storage facilities and LNG facility.

 

LOGO

 

Sources of Energy Supply

The Company’s large underground natural gas storage network and the location of its pipeline system provide a significant link between the country’s major gas pipelines and large markets in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions and on the East Coast. The Company’s pipelines are part of an interconnected gas transmission system which continues to provide local distribution companies, marketers, power generators and commercial and industrial customers accessibility to supplies nationwide.

The Company’s underground storage facilities play an important part in balancing gas supply with consumer demand and are essential to serving the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast’s regions. In

 

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addition, storage capacity is an important element in the effective management of both gas supply and pipeline transport capacity.

 

Seasonality

The Energy segment is affected by seasonal changes in the prices of commodities that it actively markets.

 

Exploration & Production

Exploration & Production includes the Company’s gas and oil exploration, development and production operations. These operations are located in several major producing basins in the lower 48 states, including the outer continental shelf and deepwater areas of the Gulf of Mexico.

 

Competition

Exploration & Production’s competitors range from major international oil companies to smaller independent producers. Exploration & Production faces significant competition in the bidding for federal offshore leases and in obtaining leases and drilling rights for onshore properties. Since Exploration & Production is the operator of a number of properties, it also faces competition in securing drilling equipment and supplies for exploration and development.

In terms of its production activities, Exploration & Production sells most of its deliverable natural gas and oil into short and intermediate-term markets. Exploration & Production faces challenges related to the marketing of its natural gas and oil production due to the contraction of participants in the energy marketing industry. However, Exploration & Production owns a large and diverse natural gas and oil portfolio and maintains an active gas and oil marketing presence in its primary production regions which strengthens its knowledge of the marketplace and delivery options.

 

Regulation

The Company’s operations are subject to regulation by numerous federal and state authorities. The pipeline transportation of the Company’s natural gas production is regulated by FERC, and pipelines operating on or across the Outer Continental Shelf are subject to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, which requires open-access, non-discriminatory pipeline facilities. The Company’s production operations in the Gulf of Mexico and most of its operations and in the western United States are located on federal gas and oil leases administered by the Minerals Management Service (MMS) or the Bureau of Land Management. These leases are issued through a competitve bidding process and require the Company’s compliance with stringent regulations. Offshore production facilities must comply with MMS regulations relating to engineering, construction and operational specifications and the plugging and abandonment of wells. The Company’s operations are also subject to numerous environmental regulations including regulations relating to oil spills into navigable waters of the United States. See Regulation - Federal Regulations and Regulation—Environmental Regulation for additional information.

 

Properties

Exploration & Production owns 5.1 trillion cubic feet of proved equivalent natural gas reserves and produces approximately ..9 billion cubic feet of equivalent natural gas per day from its leasehold acreage and facility investments. The Company, either alone or with partners, holds interests in natural gas and oil lease acreage, wellbores, well facilities, production platforms and gathering systems. Exploration & Production also owns or holds rights to seismic data and other tools used in exploration and development drilling activities. Exploration & Production’s share of developed leasehold totals 2.3 million acres, with another 1.7 million acres held for future exploration and development drilling opportunities. See also Item 2. Properties for additional information on Exploration & Production’s properties.

 

 

LOGO

  Note:   Includes the activities of the Exploration & Production segment and the production activity of Dominion Transmission, Inc., which is included in the Energy segment.

Bcfe = billion cubic feet equivalent

Mmcfe = million cubic feet equivalent

 

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Seasonality

Exploration & Production’s business can be impacted by seasonal changes in the demand for natural gas and oil. Commodity prices, including prices for the Company’s unhedged natural gas and oil production, can be impacted by seasonal weather changes and weather effects.

 

Corporate and Other

The Company also has a Corporate and Other segment. Corporate and Other includes the activities of CNG International (CNGI) and other minor subsidiaries, as well as costs of the Company’s corporate functions. It also includes specific items attributable to the Company’s operating segments that are reported in Corporate and Other. CNGI was engaged in energy-related activities primarily outside of the United States. However, the Company has decided to focus on the United States gas and oil markets and, accordingly, has sold the majority of CNG International’s assets (see Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). This segment also includes the results of the Company’s power generating facility.

 

Regulation

The Company is subject to regulation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), FERC, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Army Corps of Engineers, and other federal, state and local authorities.

 

State Regulations

The Company’s gas distribution service is regulated by the Ohio Commission, the Pennsylvania Commission and the West Virginia Commission.

 

Status of Gas Deregulation

Each of the three states in which the Company has gas distribution operations has enacted or considered legislation regarding deregulation of natural gas sales at the retail level.

Ohio—Ohio has not enacted legislation requiring supplier choice for residential and commercial natural gas consumers. However, in cooperation with the Ohio Commission, the Company on its own initiative offers retail choice to customers. At December 31, 2004, approximately 548,000 of the Company’s 1.2 million Ohio customers were participating in this open-access program. Large industrial customers in Ohio also source their own natural gas supplies.

Pennsylvania—In Pennsylvania, supplier choice is available for all residential and small commercial customers. At December 31, 2004, approximately 88,000 residential and small commercial customers had opted for Energy Choice in the Company’s Pennsylvania service area. Nearly all Pennsylvania industrial and large commercial customers buy natural gas from nonregulated suppliers.

West Virginia—At this time, West Virginia has not enacted legislation to require customer choice in its retail natural gas markets. However, the West Virginia Commission has issued regulations to govern pooling services, one of the tools that natural gas suppliers may utilize to provide retail customer choice in the future and has issued rules requiring competitive gas service providers be licensed in West Virginia.

 

Rate Matters—Gas Distribution

The Company’s gas distribution business subsidiaries are subject to regulation of rates and other aspects of their businesses by the states in which they operate—Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. When necessary, the Company’s gas distribution subsidiaries seek general rate increases on a timely basis to recover increased operating costs. In addition to general rate increases, certain of the Company’s gas distribution subsidiaries make routine separate filings with their respective state regulatory commissions to reflect changes in the costs of purchased gas. These purchased gas costs are generally subject to rate recovery through a mechanism that ensures dollar for dollar recovery of prudently incurred costs. Costs that are expected to be recovered in future rates are deferred as regulatory assets. The purchased gas cost recovery filings generally cover prospective one, three or twelve-month periods. Approved increases or decreases in gas cost recovery rates result in increases or decreases in revenues with corresponding increases or decreases in net purchased gas cost expenses.

Ohio— In December 2003, the Ohio Commission approved a joint application filed by the Company and several other Ohio natural gas companies for recovery of bad debt expense via a rider known as a bad debt tracker. The tracker insulates the Company from the effect of changes in bad debt expense, which is affected by the volatility of natural gas prices, weather and prices charged by competitive retail natural gas suppliers. The tracker is an adjustable rate that recovers the cost of bad debt in a manner similar to a gas cost recovery rate. Instead of recovering bad debt costs through its base rates, the Company recovers all eligible bad debt expenses through the bad debt tracker and removes bad debt from base rates. Annually, the Company assesses the need to adjust the tracker based on the preceding year’s actual bad debt expense.

Pennsylvania— In July 2004, the Pennsylvania Commission approved a settlement agreement between the Company and the Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) in which the OCA agreed to drop its appeal of a previous Pennsylvania Commission order that allowed the Company to recover approximately $16.5 million in unrecovered purchased gas costs. As part of the settlement, all customer service and delivery charges will be fixed through December 31, 2008. Gas costs will continue to pass through to the customer through the purchased gas cost adjustment mechanism.

 

Federal Regulations

 

Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935

The Company is a registered holding company under the 1935 Act. The 1935 Act and related regulations issued by the SEC govern activities of the Company and its subsidiaries with respect to the issuance and acquisition of securities, acquisition and sale of utility assets, certain transactions among affiliates, engaging in business activities not directly related to the utility or energy business and other matters.

 

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

FERC regulates the transportation and sale for resale of natural gas in interstate commerce under the Natural Gas Act of 1938 and the

 

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Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978, as amended. Under the Natural Gas Act, FERC has authority over rates, terms and conditions of services performed by the Company’s interstate gas pipeline subsidiaries, including Dominion Transmission, Inc. (DTI) and Dominion Cove Point LNG, LP. FERC also has jurisdiction over siting, construction and operation of natural gas import facilities and interstate natural gas pipeline facilities.

FERC Order 636 requires transmission pipelines to operate as open-access transporters and provide transportation and storage services on an equal basis for all gas suppliers, whether purchased from the Company or from another gas supplier.

The Company’s interstate gas transportation and storage activities are conducted in accordance with certificates, tariffs and service agreements on file with FERC.

The Company is also subject to the Pipeline Safety Act of 2002, which includes new mandates regarding the inspection frequency for interstate and intrastate natural gas transmission and storage pipelines located in areas of high-density population where the consequences of potential pipeline accidents pose the greatest risk to people and their property. The Company has evaluated its natural gas transmission and storage properties under the final regulations issued in December 2003 and has developed the required implementation plan including identification, testing and potential remediation activities.

The Company is also subject to FERC’s Standards of Conduct that govern conduct between interstate transmission gas and electricity providers and their marketing function or their energy related affiliates. The rule defines the scope of the affiliates covered by the standards and is designed to prevent transmission providers from giving their marketing functions or affiliates undue preferences.

In August 2004, the Company and FERC announced a settlement of a self-reported infraction of FERC regulations involving data sharing of non-public gas storage information. Under the settlement, the Company paid a $500,000 civil penalty and refunded $4.5 million to its non-affiliated natural gas storage customers. In addition the Company agreed to enhance internal training and oversight of employees who handle non-public, market-sensitive data.

The Company implemented various rate filings, tariff changes and negotiated rate service agreements for its FERC-regulated businesses during 2004. In all material respects, these filings were approved by FERC in the form requested by the Company and were subject to only minor modifications.

At the request of the Public Service Commission of the State of New York (PSCNY), DTI has engaged in negotiations with PSCNY regarding the potential for a prospective reduction of DTI ‘s transportation and storage service rates to address concerns about the level of DTI’s earnings. As a result of these negotiations, DTI and PSCNY have reached an agreement in principle that establishes parameters for a potential rate settlement, which must be finalized by DTI and its customers. DTI is negotiating with its customers to reach a possible settlement agreement. The settlement parameters envision reduced rates to DTI’s customers and a five-year moratorium on future changes to DTI’s transportation and storage service rates. If DTI is able to reach an agreement with its customers during the first quarter of 2005, FERC approval of a filed settlement could be obtained during the second quarter.

 

Environmental Regulation

Each operating segment faces substantial regulation and compliance costs with respect to environmental matters. For a discussion of significant aspects of these matters, see Item 3. Legal Proceedings and Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

From time to time the Company may be identified as a potentially responsible party to a Superfund site. The EPA (or a state) can either (a) allow such a party to conduct and pay for a remedial investigation, feasibility study and remedial action or (b) conduct the remedial investigation and action and then seek reimbursement from the parties. Each party can be held jointly, severally and strictly liable for all costs. These parties can also bring contribution actions against each other and seek reimbursement from their insurance companies. As a result, the Company may be responsible for the costs of remedial investigation and actions under the Superfund Act or other laws or regulations regarding the remediation of waste. The Company does not believe that any currently identified sites will result in significant liabilities.

The Company has applied for or obtained the necessary environmental permits for the operation of its regulated facilities. Many of these permits are subject to re-issuance and continuing review.

 

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Item 2. Properties

The Company shares its principal office in Richmond, Virginia, with its parent company, Dominion. Such office space is leased. The Company leases offices in other cities in which its subsidiaries operate. The Company’s assets consist primarily of its investments in its subsidiaries, the principal properties which are described below and in Item 1. Business.

Information detailing the Company’s gas and oil operations presented below includes the activities of the Exploration & Production segment and the production activity of Dominion Transmission, Inc. (DTI), which is included in the Energy segment:

 

Company-Owned Proved Gas and Oil Reserves

Estimated net quantities of proved gas and oil reserves at December 31 of each of the last three years were as follows:

 

       2004      2003      2002
       Proved
Developed
     Total
Proved
     Proved
Developed
     Total
Proved
     Proved
Developed
     Total
Proved

Proved gas reserves (bcf)

     3,131      4,286      2,971      4,112      2,869      3,662

Proved oil reserves (000 bbl)

     87,181      128,723      42,150      135,717      47,290      138,328

Total proved gas and oil reserves (bcfe)

     3,654      5,058      3,224      4,927      3,153      4,492

 

Certain subsidiaries of the Company file Form EIA-23 with the DOE, which reports gross proved reserves, including the working interests share of other owners, for properties operated by such Company subsidiaries. The proved reserves reported in the table above represent the Company’s share of proved reserves for all properties, based on the Company’s ownership interest in each property. For properties operated by the Company, the difference between the proved reserves reported on Form EIA-23 and the gross reserves associated with the Company-owned proved reserves reported in the table above, does not exceed five percent. Estimated proved reserves as of December 31, 2004 are based upon a study for each of the Company’s properties prepared by the Company’s staff engineers and reviewed by either Ralph E. Davis Associates, Inc. or Ryder Scott Company, L.P. Calculations were prepared using standard geological and engineering methods generally accepted by the petroleum industry and in accordance with SEC guidelines.

 

Quantities of Gas and Oil Produced

Quantities of gas and oil produced during each of the last three years ending December 31 follow:

 

       2004      2003      2002

Gas production (bcf)

     278      292      286

Oil production (000 bbls)

     8,772      7,574      8,537

Total gas and oil production (bcfe)

     331      337      337

 

The average sales price per thousand cubic feet (mcf) of gas with hedging results (including transfers to other Company oper-ations at market prices) realized during the years 2004, 2003 and 2002 was $4.19, $4.15 and $3.60, respectively. The respective average prices without hedging results per mcf of gas produced were $5.83, $5.26 and $3.25, respectively. The respective average sales prices realized for oil with hedging results were $24.51, $24.80 and $23.73 per barrel and the respective average prices without hedging results were $39.96, $30.74 and $25.03 per bar-rel. The average production (lifting) cost per mcf equivalent of gas and oil produced (as calculated per SEC guidelines) during the years 2004, 2003 and 2002 was $0.78, $0.75 and $0.51 respectively.

 

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Acreage

Gross and net developed and undeveloped acreage at December 31, 2004 was:

 

       Developed Acreage      Undeveloped Acreage
(thousands)              
       Gross      Net      Gross      Net

Acreage

     3,711      2,295      2,951      1,685

 

Net Wells Drilled in the Calendar Year

The number of net wells completed during each of the last three years ending December 31 follows:

 

       2004      2003      2002

Exploratory:

                    

Productive

     7      4      12

Dry

     7      7      12

Total Exploratory

     14      11      24

Development:

                    

Productive

     830      719      665

Dry

     17      33      38

Total Development

     847      752      703

Total wells drilled (net)

     861      763      727

 

As of December 31, 2004, 111 gross (79 net) wells were in process of being drilled, including wells temporarily suspended.

 

Productive Wells

The number of productive gas and oil wells in which the Company had an interest at December 31, 2004, follows:

 

       Gross      Net

Total gas wells

     19,865      13,125

Total oil wells

     985      497

 

The number of productive wells includes 297 gross (117 net) multiple completion gas wells and 29 gross (12 net) multiple completion oil wells. Wells with multiple completions are counted only once for productive well count purposes.

 

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Item 3. Legal Proceedings

From time to time, the Company is alleged to be in violation or in default under orders, statutes, rules or regulations relating to the environment, compliance plans imposed upon or agreed to by the Company, or permits issued by various local, state and federal agencies for the construction or operation of facilities. Administrative proceedings may also be pending on these matters. In addition, in the ordinary course of business, the Company is involved in various legal proceedings. Management believes that the ultimate resolution of these proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, liquidity or results of operations.

See Regulation in Item 1. Business and Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on rate matters and various regulatory proceedings to which the Company is a party.

Before being acquired by the Company, Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp. (Louis Dreyfus) was one of numerous defendants in a lawsuit consolidated and now pending in the 93rd Judicial District Court in Hidalgo County, Texas. The lawsuit alleges that gas wells and related pipeline facilities operated by Louis Dreyfus, and other facilities operated by other defendants, caused an underground hydrocarbon plume in McAllen, Texas. The plaintiffs claim that they have suffered damages, including property damage and lost profits, as a result of the alleged plume and seek compensation for these items.

In July 1997, Jack Grynberg, an oil and gas entrepreneur, brought suit against CNG and several of its subsidiaries. The suit seeks damages for alleged fraudulent mismeasurement of gas volumes and underreporting of gas royalties from gas production taken from federal leases. The suit was consolidated with approximately 360 other cases in the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming. Parts of Mr. Grynberg’s claims were dismissed on the basis that they overlapped with Mr. Wright’s claims, which are noted below. Mr. Grynberg has filed an appeal. The defendants have filed a motion to dismiss.

In April 1998, Harrold E. (Gene) Wright, an oil and gas entrepreneur, brought suit against Dominion Exploration & Production, Inc. (formerly known as CNG Producing Company), a subsidiary of CNG, alleging various fraudulent valuation practices in the payment of royalties on federal leases. Shortly after filing, this case was consolidated under the Federal Multidistrict Litigation rules with the Grynberg case noted above. A substantial portion of the claim against CNG Producing Company was resolved by settlement in late 2002. The case was remanded back to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, which denied the defendant’s motion to dismiss on jurisdictional grounds in January 2005. Discovery may begin in the matter in the spring of 2005.

In August 2004, DTI received a proposed Consent Order and Agreement (COA) from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) which would supersede a 1990 COA between the parties. The proposed COA would resolve groundwater contamination issues at several DTI compressor stations in Pennsylvania. The draft COA proposes penalties to be paid to PADEP and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to resolve alleged violations. The proposed COA has not been accepted by DTI and is subject to ongoing negotiations with the agencies. Management believes that the ultimate resolution of the COA will not have a material effect on the Company.

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

Omitted pursuant to General Instruction I.(2)(c).

 

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Part II

 

Item 5. Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

Dominion Resources, Inc. (Dominion) owns all of the Company’s common stock.

The Company paid quarterly cash dividends on its common stock as follows (in millions):

 

       Quarter
       First      Second      Third      Fourth

2004

     $  183      $ 88      $ 70      $ 141

2003

       166        79        71        134

 

Restrictions on the payment of dividends by the Company are discussed in Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

Omitted pursuant to General Instruction I.(2)(a).

 

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations (MD&A) discusses the results of operations of Consolidated Natural Gas Company. MD&A should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements. The “Company” or “CNG” is used throughout MD&A and, depending on the context of its use, may represent any of the following: the legal entity, Consolidated Natural Gas Company; one of Consolidated Natural Gas Company’s consolidated subsidiaries; or the entirety of Consolidated Natural Gas Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. The Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dominion.

 

Contents of MD&A

The reader will find the following information in this MD&A:

  Forward-Looking Statements
  Introduction
  Accounting Matters
  Results of Operations
  Segment Results of Operations
  Credit Risk
  Risk Factors and Cautionary Statements That May Affect Future Results

 

Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains statements concerning the Company’s expectations, plans, objectives, future financial performance and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In most cases, the reader can identify these forward-looking statements by words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “expect,” “believe,” “should,” “could,” “plan,” “may” or other similar words.

The Company makes forward-looking statements with full knowledge that risks and uncertainties exist that may cause actual results to be materially different from predicted results. Factors that may cause actual results to differ are often presented with the forward-looking statements themselves. Additionally, other risks that may cause actual results to differ from predicted results are set forth in Risk Factors and Cautionary Statements That May Affect Future Results.

The Company bases its forward-looking statements on management’s beliefs and assumptions using information available at the time the statements are made. The Company cautions the reader not to place undue reliance on its forward-looking statements because the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and projections about future events may, and often do, materially differ from actual results. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect developments occurring after the statement is made.

 

Introduction

CNG is a public utility holding company registered under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (1935 Act). The Company, through its subsidiaries, operates in all phases of the natural gas business, explores for and produces gas and oil and provides a variety of energy marketing services.

The Company is organized primarily on the basis of products and services sold in the United States. The Company manages its operations through three primary operating segments: Energy, Delivery and Exploration & Production. The contributions to net income by the Company’s primary operating segments are determined based upon a measure of profit that executive management believes represents the segments’ core earnings. As a result, certain specific items attributable to those segments are not included in profit measures evaluated by executive management in assessing segment performance or allocating resources among the segments. Those specific items are reported in the Corporate and Other segment.

Energy includes the following operations:

  A regulated interstate gas transmission pipeline and storage system, serving the Company’s gas distribution businesses and other customers in the Midwest, the Mid-Atlantic states and the Northeast;
  A liquefied natural gas (LNG) import and storage facility in Maryland;
  Certain natural gas production operations located in the Appalachian basin; and
  Producer services operations, representing aggregation of gas supply and associated wholesale activities related to the Appalachian area.

Energy’s revenue and cash flows are derived from both regulated and nonregulated operations. Revenue and cash flow provided by gas transmission operations and the LNG facility are

 

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based primarily on cost-of-service rates established by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Variability in revenue and cash flow provided by these regulated businesses results primarily from changes in rates and the demand for services. Variability in expenses relates largely to operating and maintenance expenditures, including decisions regarding the use of resources for operations and maintenance or capital-related activities.

Revenue and cash flow for the Energy segment’s nonregulated businesses are subject to variability associated with changes in commodity prices. Energy’s nonregulated businesses use physical and financial arrangements to hedge this price risk. Certain hedging activities may require cash deposits to satisfy margin requirements. In addition, reported earnings for this segment reflect changes in the fair value of certain derivatives and these values may change significantly from period to period. Variability in expenses for these nonregulated businesses relates largely to labor and benefits, the costs of purchased commodities for resale and payments under financially-settled contracts.

Delivery includes the Company’s regulated gas distribution utilities and customer service operations as well as retail energy marketing operations. Gas distribution operations serve residential, commercial and industrial gas sales and transportation customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Retail energy marketing operations include the marketing of gas, electricity and related products and services to residential and small commercial customers in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest.

Revenue and cash flow provided by the Company’s gas distribution utility operations are based primarily on cost-of-service rates established by state regulatory authorities and state law. Variability in Delivery’s revenue and cash flow relates largely to changes in volumes, which are primarily weather sensitive. In addition, for distribution utility operations, revenue may vary based on changes in levels of rate recovery for the cost of gas purchased and sold to customers. Such costs and recoveries generally offset and do not materially impact net income. Revenue from retail marketing operations may vary in connection with changes in weather and commodity prices as well as the acquisition and potential loss of customers.

Sales growth in the regulated residential service areas of Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia has generally been limited since these areas have experienced minimal population growth, and the vast majority of households in these areas already use natural gas for space heating. Sales are also being affected by regulatory and legislative initiatives to deregulate natural gas at the retail level. Under open access programs in Ohio and Pennsylvania, customers may choose a gas supplier other than their local gas utility and have the local utility provide transportation of the commodity through its existing delivery system. Delivery’s retail energy marketing businesses currently have gas customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Illinois.

Large industrial customers in Ohio source their own natural gas supplies. Nearly all Pennsylvania industrial and large commercial customers buy natural gas from nonregulated suppliers.

Variability in expenses results from changes in the cost of purchased gas and routine maintenance and repairs (including labor and benefits as well as decisions regarding the use of resources for operations and maintenance or capital-related activities). For gas distribution utility operations, the Company is permitted to seek recovery of the cost of gas purchased and sold to customers.

Exploration & Production includes the Company’s gas and oil exploration, development and production operations. These operations are located in several major producing basins in the lower 48 states, including the outer continental shelf and deepwater areas of the Gulf of Mexico.

The Company maintains an active and ongoing drilling program focused on low risk development drilling in several proven onshore regions of the United States, while also maintaining some exposure to higher risk exploration opportunities. Significant development drilling programs are currently underway in West Texas, the Appalachians and the Rocky Mountains where the Company holds sizeable acreage positions and operational experience. While each region provides the Company with exploration opportunities, most exploratory drilling takes place in the Gulf Coast region, including the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.

Revenue and cash flow provided by exploration and production operations are based primarily on the production and sale of company-owned natural gas and oil reserves. Variability in the segment’s revenue and cash flow relates primarily to changes in commodity prices, which are market based, and volumes, which are impacted by numerous factors including drilling success, timing of development projects, as well as external factors such as the storm-related damage caused by Hurricane Ivan. The Company manages commodity price volatility by hedging a substantial portion of its near term expected production.

Variability in the segment’s expenses relates primarily to changes in operating costs and production taxes, which tend to increase or decrease with changes in gas and oil prices and the prevailing cost environment. Commodity price changes place upward or downward pressure on related exploration and production service industry costs, while severance and property taxes vary based on changes in revenue. A changing price environment impacts both operating costs and the cost of acquiring, finding and developing natural gas and oil reserves.

Corporate and Other includes the activities of CNG International (CNGI), the Company’s power generating facility, and other minor subsidiaries, as well as costs of the Company’s corporate functions. It also includes specific items attributable to the Company’s operating segments that are reported in Corporate and Other. CNGI was engaged in energy-related activities primarily outside of the United States. However, the Company has decided to focus on the United States gas and oil markets and, accordingly, has sold the majority of CNGI’s assets (see Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

Accounting Matters

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The Company has identified the following accounting policies, including certain inherent estimates, that as a result of the judgments, uncertainties, uniqueness and complexities of the underlying accounting standards and operations involved, could result in material changes to its financial condition or results of operations

 

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under different conditions or using different assumptions. Management has discussed the development, selection and disclosure of each of these with the Company’s Audit Committee.

 

Accounting for derivative contracts at fair value

The Company uses derivative contracts (primarily forward purchases and sales, swaps, options and futures) to buy and sell energy-related commodities and to manage its commodity and financial market risks. Derivative contracts, with certain exceptions, are subject to fair value accounting and are reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value. Accounting requirements for derivatives and related hedging activities are complex and may be subject to further clarification by standard-setting bodies.

Fair value of derivatives is based on actively quoted market prices, if available. In the absence of actively quoted market prices, the Company seeks indicative price information from external sources, including broker quotes and industry publications. If pricing information from external sources is not available, the Company must estimate prices based on available historical and near-term future price information and use of statistical methods. For options and contracts with option-like characteristics where pricing information is not available from external sources, the Company generally uses a modified Black-Scholes Model that considers time value, the volatility of the underlying commodities and other relevant assumptions. The Company uses other option models when contracts involve different commodities or commodity locations and when contracts allow either the buyer or seller the ability to exercise within a range of quantities. For contracts with unique characteristics, the Company estimates fair value using a discounted cash flow approach. If pricing information is not available from external sources, judgment is required to develop estimates of fair value. For individual contracts, the use of different valuation models or assumptions could have a material effect on the contract’s estimated fair value.

For cash flow hedges of forecasted transactions, the Company must estimate the future cash flows represented by the forecasted transactions, as well as evaluate the probability of occurrence and timing of such transactions. Changes in conditions or the occurrence of unforeseen events could require discontinuance of hedge accounting or could affect the timing for reclassification of gains or losses on cash flow hedges from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI) into earnings.

 

Use of estimates in goodwill impairment testing

As of December 31, 2004, the Company reported $623 million of goodwill on its Consolidated Balance Sheet. The majority of this goodwill is allocated to the Exploration & Production reporting unit, with the remainder allocated to the Energy reporting unit. In April of each year, the Company tests its goodwill for potential impairment, and performs additional tests more frequently if impairment indicators are present. The 2004 annual test did not result in the recognition of any impairment of goodwill, as the estimated fair values of the Company’s reporting units exceeded their respective carrying amounts.

The Company estimates the fair value of its reporting units by using a combination of discounted cash flow analyses, based on its internal five-year strategic plan, and other valuation techniques that use multiples of earnings for peer group companies and analyses of recent business combinations involving peer group companies. These calculations are dependent on subjective factors such as management’s estimate of future cash flows, the selection of appropriate discount and growth rates, and the selection of peer group companies and recent transactions. These underlying assumptions and estimates are made as of a point in time; subsequent modifications, particularly changes in discount rates or growth rates inherent in management’s estimates of future cash flows, could result in a future impairment of goodwill. Although the Company has consistently applied the same methods in developing the assumptions and estimates that underlie the fair value calculations, such as estimates of future cash flows, and based those estimates on relevant information available at the time, such cash flow estimates are highly uncertain by nature and may vary significantly from actual results. If the estimates of future cash flows used in the 2004 annual test had