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8-K - 8-K - Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc.a15-2809_18k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

Bonanza Creek Provides 2015 Operational Outlook and Financial Guidance, Year-End Estimates for Proved and 3P Reserves, Operations Update, and Converts to Three-Stream Reporting

 

DENVER, January 20, 2015 — Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. (NYSE: BCEI) announced its 2015 capital plan and guidance, year-end 2014 proved reserves, updates to its estimated 3P reserves, and preliminary operational results during the fourth quarter. In addition, the Company announced that it has reached agreement with its gas processing providers in the Rocky Mountain region to realize operated sales volumes in three streams (oil, NGLs and natural gas) effective January 1, 2015. Unless noted, all references to BOE volumes related to activities completed during 2014 have incorporated 6:1 gas to liquids conversion of two-stream (oil and wet gas) volumes.

 

2015 Operational Outlook

 

In light of weakened crude oil pricing, the Company will cut its capital spending by approximately 36-38% as compared to 2014 and plans to invest approximately $420 million in its projects in the Wattenberg Field and Arkansas. This budget is expected to maintain the Company’s 2014 exit rate sales volumes through the full year, achieving approximately 15% annual growth on a year-over-year basis. The budget is focused on cash flow producing investments, with drilling and completions work comprising in excess of 90% of the total.

 

The Company expects to spend approximately $380 million in the Wattenberg Field to achieve sales volumes of approximately 23.7 MBoe/d (21.4 MBoe/d two-stream) for the year, or approximately 23% growth. The Wattenberg Field is one of the premier oil resource plays in the United States benefiting from a low cost structure and strong production efficiencies. The Company expects well costs to contract in the near term, for an average target of approximately $4.0 million for a 4,000 foot lateral with a 25-stage frac (versus $4.5MM for a 28-stage frac in 2014) and $6.75 million for a 9,000 foot lateral (versus $7.5MM in 2014). Ultimately, the Company expects well costs to continue to decline if oil prices remain depressed, although the magnitude and timing of additional cost reductions will only become evident as the year progresses. The Wattenberg drilling plan contemplates spending approximately $340 million to drill 77 gross (67 net) and complete 88 gross (71 net) operated wells utilizing approximately 2.5 rigs and increasing the application of extended reach laterals to approximately 29% of the total program. The extended reach laterals drilled to date have demonstrated shallower decline profiles and are expected to result in lower well-level finding and development costs. The Company expects to spend approximately $40 million in non-well capital, including $14 million to maintain leases that it does not intend to drill in 2015 and the remainder on essential infrastructure projects to accompany the drilling program.

 

In Arkansas, the Company expects to spend approximately $40 million to drill 26 gross operated wells and perform approximately 70 recompletions. This program is expected to require the use of approximately one drilling rig for the full year and hold sales volumes flat at approximately 5.6 MBoe/d.

 

2015 Financial and Operating Guidance

 

The Company is issuing the following guidance for 2015 based on three-stream reporting in the Rocky Mountain region:

 



 

Average sales volumes (MBoe/d)

 

 

27.8 – 30.7

 

 

 

 

 

Operating costs and expenses (per Boe):

 

 

 

Lease operating

 

$

7.75 – 8.25

 

Cash general and administrative

 

$

5.75 – 6.25

 

Production taxes (% of pre-hedge realizations):

 

%

10%

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures (in millions):

 

$

400 – 440

 

 

2014 Proved and 3P Reserves Update

 

Bonanza Creek’s proved reserves increased 28% year-over-year to 89.5 MMBoe (97.3 MMBoe three-stream, comprised of 56% oil, 18% NGLs and 26% natural gas). Reserve replacement in 2014 for the Company was 336%. As a result of continued success in the Wattenberg horizontal program, Rocky Mountain region proved reserves increased 39% to 68.1 MMBoe (76.4 MMBoe three-stream, comprised of 57% oil, 19% NGLs and 24% natural gas). The 12-month average pricing for crude oil and natural gas used to calculate reserves was $94.99/Bbl WTI and $4.35/MMBtu Henry Hub, respectively.

 

 

 

YE 2013

 

YE 2014

 

Two-Stream Proved Reserves Profile

 

Equiv
(Mboe)

 

% of
Total

 

Oil
(MBbls)

 

NGL
(MBbls)

 

Gas
(Mcf)

 

Equiv
(Mboe)

 

% of
Total

 

Y/Y
Change

 

Reserve Category

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proved Developed Producing

 

27,840

 

40

%

26,089

 

1,423

 

82,893

 

41,328

 

46

%

48

%

Proved Developed Non-Producing

 

4,308

 

6

%

2,254

 

775

 

11,601

 

4,963

 

6

%

15

%

Proved Undeveloped

 

37,603

 

54

%

26,416

 

1,154

 

94,057

 

43,246

 

48

%

15

%

Total Proved Reserves

 

69,751

 

100

%

54,759

 

3,352

 

188,551

 

89,537

 

100

%

28

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regional Summary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rocky Mountain

 

48,995

 

70

%

44,148

 

 

143,997

 

68,147

 

76

%

39

%

Mid-Continent

 

20,744

 

30

%

10,611

 

3,352

 

44,554

 

21,390

 

24

%

3

%

Western

 

12

 

<1

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Proved Reserves

 

69,751

 

100

%

54,759

 

3,352

 

188,551

 

89,537

 

100

%

28

%

 

The Company also updated its year-end 2014 internal 3P reserves analysis from its two core regions. Total net 3P reserves were 498 MMBoe (558 MMBoe three-stream, comprised of 54% oil, 20% NGLs and 26% natural gas), a 40% increase over year-end 2013. During 2014, the Company added 1,538 gross (671 net) locations through ongoing acreage acquisition and delineation to bring its total drilling inventory to 3,759 gross (2,302 net) wells.

 



 

 

 

YE 2013

 

YE 2014

 

Two-Stream 3P Reserves Profile 

 

Gross
Undrilled
Locations

 

Net
Reserves
(MMBoe)

 

Gross
Undrilled
Locations

 

Net
Undrilled
Locations

 

Net
Reserves
(MMBoe)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rocky Mountain - Legacy: Unproved

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Niobrara B Bench

 

707

 

113

 

537

 

373

 

83

 

Niobrara C Bench

 

888

 

130

 

823

 

604

 

131

 

Codell

 

101

 

20

 

94

 

66

 

16

 

Total

 

1,696

 

262

 

1,454

 

1,043

 

230

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rocky Mountain - 2014 Acquisition: Unproved

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Niobrara B Bench

 

 

 

852

 

371

 

73

 

Niobrara C Bench

 

 

 

691

 

321

 

65

 

Codell

 

 

 

195

 

94

 

19

 

Total

 

 

 

1,738

 

786

 

158

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rocky Mountain - Total: Unproved

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Niobrara B Bench

 

707

 

113

 

1,389

 

744

 

156

 

Niobrara C Bench

 

888

 

130

 

1,514

 

925

 

196

 

Codell

 

101

 

20

 

289

 

160

 

35

 

Total

 

1,696

 

262

 

3,192

 

1,829

 

387

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rocky Mountain: Proved Undeveloped

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legacy

 

145

 

46

 

218

 

183

 

36

 

2014 Acquisition

 

 

 

8

 

6

 

1

 

Total

 

145

 

46

 

226

 

189

 

37

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rocky Mountain: Proved Developed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rocky Mountain: 3P Reserves

 

1,841

 

308

 

3,418

 

2,018

 

456

 

Mid-Continent: 3P Reserves

 

380

 

43

 

341

 

284

 

42

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Company: 3P Reserves

 

2,221

 

351

 

3,759

 

2,302

 

498

 

 

Operations Update

 

The Company announced strong initial performance from its multi-bench pad that employed a 28 stage frac design in each well. The pad included three 40-acre spaced wells in the Niobrara B bench and two 40-acre spaced wells in the Niobrara C bench. The 30-day average production rate for the pad was 451 Boe/d per well (two-stream) and after 60 days on production the pad average is still tracking the Company’s target 354 MBoe type curve (313 MBoe two-stream). This result is a significant improvement over its 40-acre spaced, 18-stage frac analog from the 2014 Super-Section that produced a 30-day average rate of 374 Boe/d per well (two-stream). The Company’s previous four well 40-acre spaced test in the Niobrara B Bench has produced for over 250 days and continues to track above the target type curve. The Company is very encouraged by early results from 40-acre spaced wells that utilized increased frac stage densities and expects to employ similar completion designs in the majority of its activity during 2015.

 

Extended reach laterals continue to outperform standard length wells and the Company is ascribing a target type curve estimated ultimate recovery of 687 MBoe (600 MBoe two-stream) to 9,000 foot lateral wells. The Company’s highly contiguous acreage is well suited for drilling medium and extended laterals and the Company plans to increase the use of them significantly in 2015 and in future years.

 

The Company finished its eastern legacy acreage field-level gas gathering infrastructure project during the fourth quarter and expects to install remaining compression facilities in the first quarter. This system is expected to achieve lower and more stable line pressures at the wellhead as well as quicker recovery times in the event that third parties experience unplanned midstream interruption.

 

Fourth quarter sales volumes are expected to be approximately 25.9 MBoe/d (27.9 MBoe/d three-stream). The quarter’s performance was negatively impacted by approximately 2,000 Boe/d, with 750 Boe/d attributable to midstream downtime in October and November, 600 Boe/d attributable to timing delays for a five well pad and 650 Boe/d attributable to extreme cold temperature events in November and December. Expected 2014 sales volumes of approximately 23.5 MBoe/d (25.3 MBoe/d three-stream), reflects approximately 45% growth over the prior year.

 



 

Management Comment

 

Richard Carty, Bonanza Creek’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Bonanza Creek is well prepared to weather the downturn in crude oil prices. We have attractive hedges on nearly 60% of our projected 2015 oil volumes, year-end liquidity of approximately $540 million and no term debt maturities until 2021. In addition, with 28% net growth in proved reserves, the volumes that underpin our credit facility collateral have improved.  From an operating cost perspective, the Company has no long term commitments to drill rigs, frac spreads, or other material third party operating contracts, thereby minimizing non-discretionary costs and positioning the Company to benefit from expected service, procurement, and supply chain cost reductions in our operating regions. Having successfully completed much of the field delineation and production technology testing over the past two years, we are now focused on driving efficiencies by leveraging our fixed asset infrastructure, and maximizing value in our full-field development strategy. We believe the 2015 budget demonstrates a prudent path with a margin of safety to preserve the utility of our balance sheet, exhibit production and operations resilience, and, most importantly, enter 2016 in a strong competitive position in order to continue to execute on our long term plan.”

 

Hedging Profile

 

Settlement
Period

 

Swap
Volume

 

Fixed
Price

 

Collar
Volume

 

Average
Short Floor

 

Average
Floor

 

Average
Ceiling

 

Oil

 

Bbl/d

 

$

 

Bbl/d

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Q1 2015

 

6,000

 

95.39

 

6,500

 

68.08

 

84.32

 

95.90

 

Q2 2015

 

5,000

 

94.21

 

5,500

 

67.73

 

84.09

 

95.16

 

Q3-Q4 2015

 

2,000

 

93.43

 

6,500

 

68.46

 

84.62

 

95.49

 

FY 2016

 

 

 

 

 

5,500

 

70.00

 

85.00

 

96.83

 

 

Gas

 

MMBtu/d

 

$

 

MMBtu/d

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

FY 2015

 

 

 

 

 

15,000

 

3.50

 

4.00

 

4.75

 

 

Conversion to Three-Stream Reporting in the Rocky Mountain Region

 

The Company and its natural gas processing providers in the Rocky Mountain region reached agreements to restructure legacy gas processing contracts in favor of more customary industry structures which provide for the recognition of operated sales volumes categorized as oil, NGLs and natural gas. The conversion will more accurately convey our production metrics consistent with the Company’s reporting practice in its Mid-Continent region, allow more comparable results versus peers, and conform more closely to industry convention. The conversion results in an uplift to BOE volumes that the Company reports in the Rocky Mountain region due to the prior inability to report NGL volumes, but has no material impact to realized revenues as NGL revenues will replace the premium to benchmark Henry Hub prices that the Company realized historically on its wet gas sales volumes. This reporting conversion took effect on January 1, 2015.  For comparative purposes, the Company has estimated the following impacts to 2014 results assuming three-stream sales volumes.

 

 

 

Two-Stream

 

Three-Stream

 

Approximate Average sales volumes (MBoe/d)

 

23.5

 

25.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating cost and expense guidance (per Boe):

 

 

 

 

 

Lease operating

 

$

8.00 – 8.60

 

7.43 – 7.99

 

Cash general and administrative(1)

 

$

6.25 – 7.00

 

5.80 – 6.50

 

 


(1)         Excludes expenses related to executive departures and CEO transition.

 



 

Upcoming Conference Participation

 

Members of management will participate at the Credit Suisse Energy Summit in Vail, Colorado on February 24th. The presentation used for this event may be accessed from the Bonanza Creek website.

 

About Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc.

 

Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. is an independent energy company engaged in oil and natural gas exploration and production in the United States. The Company’s assets and operations are concentrated primarily in the Wattenberg Field in Colorado and in the oily Cotton Valley trend in southern Arkansas. The Company’s common shares are listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “BCEI.” For more information about the Company, please visit www.bonanzacrk.com.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, forward-looking statements contained in this press release specifically include the expectations of management regarding the Company’s capital budget, capital expenditures, drilling program, drilling results, guidance, sales volumes, production rates, operating costs and expenses, and any reductions thereto, 3P inventory and reserves assumptions, development program, testing and recompletion activities; installation and the efficacy of the Company’s gathering and compression systems on midstream line pressures; and the Company’s preparedness for the downturn in crude oil pricing. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by the Company based on management’s experience, perception of historical trends and technical analyses, current conditions, anticipated future developments and other factors believed to be appropriate and reasonable by management. When used in this press release, the words “will,” “potential,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “expect,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate,” “could,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “forecast,”  “profile,” “model” or their negatives, other similar expressions or the statements that include those words, are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. Further information on such assumptions, risks and uncertainties is available in the Company’s SEC filings. We refer you to the discussion of risk factors in Part I, Item 1A—“Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 filed with the Securities Exchange Commission on February 28, 2014. The Company’s SEC filings are available on the Company’s website at www.bonanzacrk.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, including guidance, and the Company undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

 



 

For further information, please contact:

 

Mr. Ryan Zorn

Senior Vice President, Finance and Treasurer

720-440-6172

 

Mr. James Masters

Investor Relations Manager

720-440-6121