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8-K - COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC. FORM 8-K - COMSTOCK RESOURCES INCform8kmay112015.htm
Exhibit 99.1
 
 
5300 Town and Country Blvd., Suite 500
comstock resources, inc. logo
Frisco, Texas 75034
Telephone: (972) 668-8834
Contact: Gary H. Guyton
Director of Planning and Investor Relations
 
Web Site: www.comstockresources.com

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
 
COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC. REPORTS
FIRST QUARTER 2015 FINANCIAL AND OPERATING RESULTS

FRISCO, TEXAS, May 11, 2015 – Comstock Resources, Inc. ("Comstock" or the "Company") (NYSE: CRK) today reported financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

Financial Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015

Comstock reported a net loss of $78.5 million or $1.71 per share for the first quarter of 2015 as compared to net income of $1.2 million or 2¢ per diluted share for the first quarter of 2014.  The first quarter 2015 results include impairments on unevaluated acreage and oil and gas properties of $40.8 million ($26.5 million after tax or 58¢ per share), drilling rig termination fees of $1.8 million ($1.2 million after tax or 3¢ per share) and a net loss on extinguishment of debt of $2.7 million ($1.8 million after tax or 4¢ per share).  Financial results for the first quarter of 2014 included an unrealized loss from derivative financial instruments of $3.6 million ($2.4 million after tax or 6¢ per share).  Excluding these items from each year’s results, the net loss for the first quarter of 2015 would have been $49.0 million or $1.06 per share as compared to net income of $3.6 million or 8¢ per diluted share in the first quarter of 2014.

Comstock produced 1,036,300 barrels of oil and 8.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas or 14.4 billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent ("Bcfe") in the first quarter of 2015.  Oil production in the first quarter of 2015, which averaged 11,500 barrels of oil per day, grew 11% from the 10,400 barrels per day produced in the first quarter of 2014.  Natural gas production in the first quarter of 2015 declined by 25% from natural gas production of 11.0 billion cubic feet in the first quarter of 2014.  Production in the first quarter of 2015 was adversely impacted by delays in timing of completions in the Company's East Texas Eagle Ford shale wells and the first Haynesville shale well in the 2015 program.  In addition, the Company experienced greater than expected shut-in time for offset frac activity and artificial lift installation in the quarter.

Oil and natural gas prices declined substantially during the first three months of 2015.  Comstock's average realized natural gas price decreased 47% to $2.51 per Mcf in the first quarter of 2015 as compared to $4.70 per Mcf realized in the first quarter of 2014.  The Company's average realized oil price declined by 53% to $44.34 per barrel in the first quarter of 2015 as compared to $95.20 per barrel, including realized hedging losses, in the first quarter of 2014.  The lower realized prices resulted in oil and gas sales declining by 53% to $66.5 million as compared to 2014's first quarter sales (including realized losses from hedging) of $140.6 million.  Operating cash flow (before changes in working capital accounts) of $20.0 million for the first quarter of 2015 also declined from operating cash flow of $97.8 million for the first quarter of 2014.  EBITDAX, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion, amortization, exploration expense and other noncash expenses, was $39.8 million in the first quarter of 2015 as compared to EBITDAX of $110.3 million in the first quarter of 2014.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
2015 First Quarter Drilling Results

Comstock reported the results to date of its 2015 drilling program.  During the first three months of 2015, Comstock spent $123.2 million on its development and exploration activities and $1.7 million on acreage and other acquisition costs.  Comstock drilled five horizontal oil wells (4.0 net), two horizontal gas wells (2.0 net) and had two wells (1.8 net) drilling at March 31, 2015.  With the continuation of low oil and natural gas prices, Comstock released one of its operated drilling rigs and currently anticipates spending approximately $122 million on development and exploration during the last three quarters of 2015 with activity focused primarily on its Haynesville shale properties in North Louisiana.

In the first quarter of 2015, the Company completed four horizontal Eagle Ford shale wells (2.2 net) in South Texas.  These wells had an average per well initial production rate of 747 barrels of oil equivalent ("BOE") per day (90% oil).  The Company has also completed four wells (3.8 net) on its Burleson County, Texas acreage.  Three of these wells (the Henry A2, A3 and A4) had an average per well initial production rate of 764 BOE per day (80% oil).  The Lewis A1 H had an initial rate of 101 barrels of oil and 2.9 million cubic feet of gas.  The Company has an additional four wells (4.0 net) in Burleson County, Texas that are cleaning up after their respective fracture treatments.

Comstock also reported initial results of its Haynesville shale program.  During the first quarter of 2015, Comstock drilled and completed two new Haynesville shale wells.  Both wells were completed using the Company's enhanced completion design.  The Pyle 6-7 #1-Alt H well in DeSoto Parish, Louisiana, was drilled to a total vertical depth of 11,183 feet with a 7,598 foot lateral.  This well has been tested with an initial production rate of 26 million cubic feet ("MMcf") per day.  This well has the highest initial production rate of any well drilled by the Company.  The second well, the Shahan 5-8 1-Alt H, in DeSoto Parish, Louisiana, was drilled to a total vertical depth of 11,233 feet with a 7,421 foot lateral.  This well has been tested with an initial production rate of 22 MMcf per day.
 
The Company also performed its first re-frac of a Haynesville shale well during the first quarter of 2015.  Following the re-frac program, the Pace 33 #1 well in DeSoto Parish, Louisiana had an initial production rate of 4 MMcf per day, an eight fold increase from the 0.5 MMcf per day before the re-frac.

Other

Comstock has planned a conference call for 10:00 a.m. Central Time on May 11, 2015, to discuss the operational and financial results for the first quarter of 2015.  Investors wishing to participate should visit the Company's website at www.comstockresources.com for a live web cast or dial 866-953-6856 (international dial-in use 617-399-3480) and provide access code 19320837 when prompted.  If you are unable to participate in the original conference call, a web replay will be available approximately 24 hours following the completion of the call on Comstock's website at www.comstockresources.com.  The web replay will be available for approximately one week.  A replay of the conference call will be available beginning at 2:00 p.m. CT May 11, 2015 and will continue until 11:59 p.m. May 18, 2015.  To hear the replay, call 888-286-8010 (617-801-6888 if calling from outside the US).  The conference call access code is 84026937.


This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described herein.  Although the Company believes the expectations in such statements to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.

Comstock Resources, Inc. is an independent energy company based in Frisco, Texas and is engaged in oil and gas acquisitions, exploration and development primarily in Texas and Louisiana.  The Company's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CRK.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.
OPERATING RESULTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)

   
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
   
2015
   
2014
 
                 
Revenues:
               
Oil sales
 
$
45,953
   
$
90,313
 
Natural gas sales
   
20,569
     
51,596
 
Total revenues
   
66,522
     
141,909
 
                 
Operating expenses:
               
Production taxes
   
2,974
     
5,601
 
Gathering and transportation
   
2,853
     
3,776
 
Lease operating
   
15,136
     
15,061
 
Exploration(1)
   
42,229
     
 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
   
91,889
     
88,874
 
General and administrative
   
7,966
     
8,369
 
Impairment of oil and gas properties
   
403
     
 
                 
Total operating expenses
   
163,450
     
121,681
 
                 
Operating income (loss)
   
(96,928
)
   
20,228
 
                 
Other income (expenses):
               
Net loss on extinguishment of debt
   
(2,735
)
   
 
Loss from derivative financial instruments
   
     
(4,946
)
Other income
   
287
     
251
 
Interest expense(2) 
   
(20,754
)
   
(13,680
)
                 
Total other income (expenses)
   
(23,202
)
   
(18,375
)
                 
Income (loss) before income taxes
   
(120,130
)
   
1,853
 
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes
   
41,628
     
(688
)
Net income (loss)
 
$
(78,502
)
 
$
1,165
 
                 
Net income (loss) per share:
               
Basic 
 
$
(1.71
)
 
$
0.02
 
Diluted
 
$
(1.71
)
 
$
0.02
 
                 
Dividends per common share
 
$
   
$
0.125
 
                 
Weighted average shares outstanding:
               
Basic
   
46,027
     
46,599
 
Diluted
   
46,027
     
46,749
 
                       

(1)  
Comprised of impairments of unevaluated leases of $40.4 million and rig termination fees of $1.8 million in the three months ended March 31, 2015.
(2)  
$0.9 million and $2.2 million of interest expense was capitalized for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.
OPERATING RESULTS
(In thousands)

   
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
   
2015
   
2014
 
                 
OPERATING CASH FLOW:
               
                 
Net income (loss)
 
$
(78,502
)
 
$
1,165
 
Reconciling items:
               
Deferred income taxes
   
(41,691
)
   
674
 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
   
91,889
     
88,874
 
Impairment of oil and gas properties
   
403
     
 
Lease impairments and rig termination fees
   
42,229
     
 
Loss from derivative financial instruments
   
     
4,946
 
Cash settlements of derivative financial instruments
   
     
(1,297
)
Amortization of debt discount, premium and issuance costs
   
1,061
     
1,163
 
Net loss on extinguishment of debt
   
2,735
     
 
Stock-based compensation
   
1,892
     
2,263
 
Operating cash flow
   
20,016
     
97,788
 
Excess income taxes from stock-based compensation
   
1,510
     
1,098
 
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable
   
15,081
     
(23,015
)
Decrease (increase)  in other current assets
   
7,724
     
(415
)
Increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses
   
16,527
     
20,285
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
$
60,858
   
$
95,741
 
                 
EBITDAX:
               
                 
Net income (loss)
 
$
(78,502
)
 
$
1,165
 
Interest expense
   
20,754
     
13,680
 
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
   
(41,628
)
   
688
 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
   
91,889
     
88,874
 
Exploration
   
42,229
     
 
Impairment of oil and gas properties
   
403
     
 
Loss from derivative financial instruments
   
     
4,946
 
Cash settlements of derivative financial instruments
   
     
(1,297
)
Net loss on extinguishment of debt
   
2,735
     
 
Stock-based compensation
   
1,892
     
2,263
 
Total EBITDAX
 
$
39,772
   
$
110,319
 
                 

   
As of
 
   
March 31,
2015
   
December 31, 2014
 
                 
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
               
                 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
228,896
   
$
2,071
 
Other current assets
   
36,379
     
59,146
 
Property and equipment, net
   
2,188,656
     
2,198,169
 
Other
   
26,230
     
14,951
 
Total assets
 
$
2,480,161
   
$
2,274,337
 
                 
                 
Current liabilities
 
$
165,167
   
$
162,171
 
Long-term debt
   
1,393,653
     
1,070,445
 
Deferred income taxes
   
114,404
     
154,547
 
Other non-current liabilities
   
15,311
     
16,902
 
Stockholders' equity
   
791,626
     
870,272
 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
2,480,161
   
$
2,274,337
 
 
 

 
COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.
REGIONAL OPERATING RESULTS
(In thousands, except per unit amounts)




   
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
 
   
East Texas/
North
Louisiana
   
South Texas
   
Other
   
Total
 
Oil production (Mbbls)
   
16
     
990
     
30
     
1,036
 
Gas production (MMcf)
   
5,982
     
1,918
     
300
     
8,200
 
Total production (MMcfe)
   
6,076
     
7,860
     
482
     
14,418
 
                                 
Oil sales
 
$
725
   
$
43,748
   
$
1,480
   
$
45,953
 
Natural gas sales
   
14,380
     
5,486
     
703
     
20,569
 
Total oil and gas sales
 
$
15,105
   
$
49,234
   
$
2,183
   
$
66,522
 
                                 
Average oil price (per barrel)
 
$
46.36
   
$
44.18
   
$
48.79
   
$
44.34
 
Average gas price (per Mcf)
 
$
2.40
   
$
2.86
   
$
2.34
   
$
2.51
 
Average price (per Mcfe)
 
$
2.49
   
$
6.26
   
$
4.53
   
$
4.61
 
                                 
Production taxes
 
$
677
   
$
2,221
   
$
76
   
$
2,974
 
Gathering and transportation
 
$
1,914
   
$
848
   
$
91
   
$
2,853
 
Lease operating
 
$
5,911
   
$
8,556
   
$
669
   
$
15,136
 
                                 
Production taxes (per Mcfe)
 
$
0.11
   
$
0.28
   
$
0.16
   
$
0.21
 
Gathering and transportation (per Mcfe)
 
$
0.32
   
$
0.11
   
$
0.19
   
$
0.20
 
Lease operating (per Mcfe)
 
$
0.97
   
$
1.09
   
$
1.38
   
$
1.04
 
                                 
Oil and Gas Capital Expenditures:
                               
Exploratory leasehold
 
$
   
$
392
   
$
913
   
$
1,305
 
Development leasehold
   
377
     
     
     
377
 
Exploratory drilling(1) 
   
     
8,302
     
3,413
     
11,715
 
Development drilling
   
24,347
     
85,143
     
     
109,490
 
Other development
   
583
     
1,433
     
     
2,016
 
Total
 
$
25,307
   
$
95,270
(2)
$
4,326
   
$
124,903
(2)
 
 

(1)  
Includes rig termination fee of $1.8 million.
(2)  
Net of reimbursements received of $0.5 million under the Company's Eagle Ford shale joint venture.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

 
COMSTOCK RESOURCES, INC.
REGIONAL OPERATING RESULTS
(In thousands, except per unit amounts)




   
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
 
   
East Texas/
North
Louisiana
   
South Texas
   
Other
   
Total
 
Oil production (Mbbls)
   
17
     
914
     
4
     
935
 
Gas production (MMcf)
   
8,813
     
1,807
     
359
     
10,979
 
Total production (MMcfe)
   
8,914
     
7,291
     
384
     
16,589
 
                                 
Oil sales
 
$
1,585
   
$
88,317
   
$
411
   
$
90,313
 
Oil hedging settlements(1) 
   
     
     
     
(1,297
)
Total oil including hedging
   
1,585
     
88,317
     
411
     
89,016
 
Natural gas sales
   
39,557
     
10,135
     
1,904
     
51,596
 
Total oil and gas sales including
hedging
 
$
41,142
   
$
98,452
   
$
2,315
   
$
140,612
 
                                 
Average oil price (per barrel)
 
$
94.84
   
$
96.62
   
$
96.18
   
$
96.59
 
Average oil price including
hedging (per barrel)
 
$
94.84
   
$
96.62
   
$
96.18
   
$
95.20
 
Average gas price (per Mcf)
 
$
4.49
   
$
5.61
   
$
5.30
   
$
4.70
 
Average price (per Mcfe)
 
$
4.62
   
$
13.50
   
$
6.03
   
$
8.55
 
Average price including
hedging (per Mcfe)
 
$
4.62
   
$
13.50
   
$
6.03
   
$
8.48
 
                                 
Production taxes
 
$
812
   
$
4,637
   
$
152
   
$
5,601
 
Gathering and transportation
 
$
2,706
   
$
974
   
$
96
   
$
3,776
 
Lease operating
 
$
6,445
   
$
7,946
   
$
670
   
$
15,061
 
                                 
Production taxes (per Mcfe)
 
$
0.09
   
$
0.64
   
$
0.40
   
$
0.34
 
Gathering and transportation (per Mcfe)
 
$
0.30
   
$
0.13
   
$
0.25
   
$
0.23
 
Lease operating (per Mcfe)
 
$
0.73
   
$
1.09
   
$
1.74
   
$
0.90
 
                                 
Oil and Gas Capital Expenditures:
                               
Acquisitions
 
$
   
$
2,400
   
$
   
$
2,400
 
Exploratory leasehold
   
     
34,787
     
4,918
     
39,705
 
Development leasehold
   
86
     
2,583
     
     
2,669
 
Development drilling
   
689
     
140,002
     
     
140,691
 
Other development
   
960
     
1,353
     
     
2,313
 
Total
 
$
1,735
   
$
181,125
(2)
$
4,918
   
$
187,778
(2)
 
 

(1)  
Included in loss from derivative financial instruments in operating results.
(2)  
Net of reimbursements received of $5.5 million under the Company's Eagle Ford shale joint venture.