EX-99.1 2 h51589exv99w1.htm PRESS RELEASE exv99w1
 

Exhibit 99.1
Concho Resources Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2007 Financial and
Operating Results and Provides 2008 Capital Budget Detail and Guidance
MIDLAND, Texas, November 13, 2007 (Business Wire) – Concho Resources Inc. (NYSE: CXO) (“Concho” or the “Company”) today reported third quarter 2007 financial and operating results. Highlights of results for the quarter and the nine months ended September 30, 2007 include:
    Third quarter net income of $8.0 million, up 22% from the same period in 2006
 
    Third quarter EBITDAX1 of $52.7 million, up 16% from the same period in 2006
 
    Implementation of a five rig drilling program and the initiation of a Paddock re-stimulation program on its core New Mexico Shelf assets
 
    Production of 21.7 Bcfe for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, an increase of 36% over the same period in 2006
For the three months ended September 30, 2007, Concho reported net income of $8.0 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, on revenues of $69.1 million, as compared to net income of $6.5 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, on revenues of $58.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006. EBITDAX increased to $52.7 million in the third quarter of 2007, as compared to $45.4 million in the same period of 2006.
Production for the third quarter of 2007 totaled 7.2 Bcfe (705 MBbls and 3.0 Bcf), an increase of 8% as compared to 6.7 Bcfe (661 MBbls and 2.7 Bcfe) produced in the third quarter of 2006. For the first nine months of 2007, production totaled 21.7 Bcfe, representing a 36% increase over the 16.0 Bcfe produced in the first nine months of 2006. On a pro forma basis, as if the combination with the Chase Group that occurred on February 27, 2006 had occurred on January 1, 2006, production for the first nine months of 2007 increased 18% when compared to pro forma production for the first nine months of 2006 of 18.4 Bcfe.
As described in the Company’s second quarter press release, dated August 29, 2007, a natural gas processing plant through which it processes and sells production from the Company’s New Mexico Shelf assets was shut-down for repair twice, first as a result of severe weather and a second time due to equipment failure. As a result, the Company estimated at that time that its production would be reduced in the third quarter by an estimated 260,000 Mcfe, or 2.8 MMcfepd. However, the plant downtime and associated production and transportation interruptions caused the Company’s quarterly production to be reduced in the aggregate by approximately 500,000 Mcfe, or approximately 5.4 MMcfepd.
1For an explanation of how we calculate and use EBITDAX and a reconciliation of net income to EBITDAX, please see “Supplemental non-GAAP financial measures” below.

 


 

Tim Leach, Concho’s Chairman and CEO, commented, “Despite production interruptions during the third quarter, we are still on track to achieve our 2007 plan, and results from our core New Mexico Shelf area give me confidence in the 2008 budget that our board approved last week. We will continue to focus our capital spending on our core New Mexico Shelf assets, but we will also continue to devote manpower and capital to new initiatives and growth opportunities.”
Operations
For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company drilled or participated in a total of 79 wells (63 operated), 59 of which had been completed as producers, 19 of which were in progress and 1 of which was a dry hole at September 30, 2007. In addition, the Company operated or participated in 89 recompletions (75 operated), 79 of which had been completed as producers, 9 of which were in progress and 1 of which was a dry hole at September 30, 2007.
New Mexico Shelf
For the quarter ended September 30, 2007, the Company drilled or participated in 29 wells (28 operated) and 23 recompletions (22 operated) on its New Mexico Shelf assets, with a 100% success rate on the 16 wells and 19 recompletions that had been completed by September 30, 2007. Of the 29 drill wells, 28 were drilled to, and will be completed in, both the Blinebry and Paddock intervals of the Yeso formation (“combination wells”).
For the first nine months of 2007, the Company drilled or participated in 61 wells (57 operated) on its New Mexico Shelf assets, 47 of which had been completed as producers and 14 of which were in progress at September 30, 2007. In addition, the Company completed 51 recompletions (49 operated) on its New Mexico Shelf assets during the first nine months of 2007. Of the 61 drill wells, 57 were combination wells, and since the closing of the combination with the Chase Group in February 2006, Concho has drilled 109 wells to the Blinebry interval, 108 of which will be completed as combination wells.
During the third quarter, the Company commenced its program to re-enter existing wells that produced only from the Paddock interval and re-stimulate them with current techniques. During the third quarter of 2007 the Company completed re-stimulations on three wells and has subsequently completed re-stimulations on three additional wells. Early results of this program are encouraging, and the Company has identified over 300 potential re-stimulation candidates on its New Mexico Shelf assets.
In addition to the re-stimulation program, the Company began engineering design during the three months ended September 30, 2007 on a plan to deepen certain existing Paddock wells to the Blinebry interval. Approximately 80 of such deepening opportunities have already been identified and the Company plans to deepen 2 wells during the fourth quarter of 2007. The economics of this operation are significantly enhanced as compared to drilling a new well solely to access the Blinebry interval.

 


 

Horizontal Wolfcamp Oil Play
The Company’s first well in this play, the Reindeer Federal #1, continues to produce at a rate of approximately 185 boepd and to date the well has produced approximately 65 Mboe since February of 2007. During August and September 2007, the Company drilled its second well in the play, the Moose 23 Federal #1, and its third well, the Dasher 16 State #1. Initial evaluation indicated higher water saturation levels than anticipated in the Moose well, so the Company decided to drill only a vertical hole on the Dasher well and await further evaluation on the first two wells before drilling a lateral section in such well. The drilling rig, which was on a well by well contract, was released after drilling the Dasher well and will not continue drilling in this area until further evaluation of these wells is complete.
Subsequently, the Company placed the Moose well on pump, and it is currently making approximately 60-80 barrels of oil and 400 barrels of water per day.
Exploration and Abandonments
Exploration and abandonment expense totaled $11.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007. Included in this total was exploratory dry hole expense of approximately $8.6 million related to the Company’s activity in the Western Delaware Basin of West Texas. This charge includes expensing all drilling and completion costs related to the Sawyer 14 #1 well ($6.8 million) and a portion of the drilling and completion costs related to the Raymond 19-1 well ($1.8 million). The Company is still evaluating the Woodford formation in the Raymond 19-1 well, on which it has approximately $3.3 million in remaining capitalized drilling and completion costs. In addition to the dry hole expense associated with the Company’s activity in the Western Delaware Basin, the Company incurred approximately $1.4 million of dry hole expense in the third quarter related to two non-operated wells in the Southeastern New Mexico Basin of Eddy County. The remaining dry hole expense during the three months ended September 30, 2007 was primarily attributable to one unsuccessful operated well in Lea County, New Mexico. The Company also recorded approximately $0.9 million in abandonments in the third quarter of 2007 related to a prospect in Edwards County, Texas.
Production Expense
For the quarter ended September 30, 2007 oil and gas production expense totaled $8.1 million, or $1.12 per Mcfe. Approximately $0.9 million, or $0.12 per Mcfe, of the $8.1 million of oil and gas production expense was related to repair activity associated with a single well in Gaines County, Texas. Other increases in production expenses were primarily related to increases in contract labor, subsurface pump maintenance, treating chemicals, electrical work, and well service and repair.

 


 

Derivative Financial Instruments
In late September, the Company entered into crude oil price swaps to hedge an additional 2,000 barrels of oil per day for calendar years 2008 and 2009. The average fixed price for the 2008 swaps is $75.78 and for 2009 the average fixed price is $72.84. The Company has not designated these derivative instruments as cash flow hedges. In addition, during the three months ended September 30, 2007, the Company determined that all of its natural gas commodity contracts no longer qualified as hedges under the requirements of SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” as amended (“SFAS No. 133”), as a result of the historical relationship between the hedging instrument and the forecasted transaction no longer being highly correlated. This lack of correlation is due to the substantial component of natural gas liquids in natural gas produced from the Company’s New Mexico Shelf assets. Prices received for natural gas liquids are not highly correlated to the price of natural gas, but are more correlated to the price of oil. During the third quarter of 2007, the price of oil and natural gas liquids rose substantially and at a significantly higher rate than the corresponding change in the index on which the Company’s natural gas derivatives are based. This resulted in a decrease in the correlation between the prices received and the derivative index below the level required for cash flow hedge accounting. A summary of the Company’s derivative financial instruments is included in a table at the end of this press release.
2008 Budget
The Company’s Board of Directors recently approved a 2008 exploration and development budget of $250 million, which consists of $230 million committed to the Company’s core operating areas and $20 million to exploration, leasehold and G&G. Of the $230 million dedicated to the Company’s core areas, 94% will be spent on properties operated by the Company, 90% will be dedicated to the New Mexico Shelf assets, and approximately 60% will be dedicated to projects on which the Company has not yet assigned reserves to the proved category.
On its New Mexico Shelf assets, the Company plans to drill 120 wells, perform 48 re-stimulations on existing Paddock wells, and deepen 19 existing Paddock wells to the Blinebry.
Financial and Operating Guidance
2007
The Company’s 2007 guidance remains unchanged.
2008
Production:
     
Natural Gas Equivalent (Bcfe)
  35 – 37
Oil (MMbbl)
  3.5 – 3.7
Natural Gas (Bcf)
  14.0 – 14.8

 


 

     
Price Differentials to NYMEX:
   
(excluding the effects of hedging)
 
Oil (per Bbl)
  8 – 9 %
Natural Gas (per Mcf)
  2 – 3 %
 
Operating costs and expenses:
   
Production expense (per Mcfe)
  $1.00 - $1.05
Production tax (percent of oil & gas revenue)
  9 %
Depreciation, depletion, and
   
Accretion (per Mcfe)
  $2.45 – $2.55
General and administrative (per Mcfe)
  $0.60 - $0.65
Non-cash stock-based compensation (per Mcfe)
  $0.10 - $0.15
Exploration, abandonments and G&G (per Mcfe)
  $0.40 - $0.60
Interest Expense (as a % of outstanding debt)
  7.5 – 8.5 %
 
Income tax rate
  42 %
Percent deferred
  Approximately 80 %
Conference Call Information
     The Company will host a conference call on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time to discuss third quarter 2007 financial and operating results. Interested parties may listen to the conference call via the Company’s website at http://www.conchoresources.com or by dialing (866) 356-4441 (passcode: 69952837). A replay of the conference call will be available on the Company’s website or by dialing (888) 286-8010 (passcode: 9860288).
Forward-Looking Statements and Cautionary Statements
The foregoing 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 plans, strategies, objectives and anticipated financial and operating results of the Company, including as to the Company’s drilling program, production, hedging activities, capital expenditure levels and other guidance included in this press release. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by the Company based on management’s experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, anticipated future developments and other factors believed to be appropriate. 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. These include risks relating to financial performance and results, prices and demand for oil and natural gas, availability of drilling equipment and personnel, availability of sufficient capital to execute our business plan, our ability to replace reserves and efficiently develop and exploit our current reserves and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected as described in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made 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.
About Concho Resources Inc.
Concho Resources Inc. is an independent oil and natural gas company engaged in the acquisition, development, exploitation and exploration of oil and natural gas properties. The Company’s conventional operations are primarily focused in the Permian Basin of Southeast New Mexico and West Texas. In addition, the Company is involved in a number of unconventional emerging resource plays.

 


 

Consolidated balance sheets
Unaudited
                 
    September 30,   December 31,
(in thousands, except share and per share data)   2007   2006
     
Assets
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 19,868     $ 1,122  
Accounts receivable:
               
Oil and gas
    24,793       27,304  
Joint operations and other
    16,027       22,638  
Related parties
          1,449  
Derivative instruments
    1,658       6,013  
Deferred income taxes
    3,625       82  
Inventory
    1,404       1,309  
Prepaid insurance and other
    3,618       3,848  
     
Total current assets
    70,993       63,765  
     
Property and equipment, at cost:
               
Oil and gas properties, successful efforts method:
               
Proved properties
    1,266,890       1,159,756  
Unproved properties
    237,223       239,462  
Accumulated depletion and depreciation
    (142,981 )     (84,098 )
     
Total oil and gas properties, net
    1,361,132       1,315,120  
Other property and equipment, net
    6,894       5,535  
     
Total property and equipment, net
    1,368,026       1,320,655  
     
Deferred loan costs, net
    3,737       4,417  
Other assets
    751       1,235  
     
Total assets
  $ 1,443,507     $ 1,390,072  
     
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable:
               
Trade
  $ 7,583     $ 16,157  
Related parties
    2,941       3,593  
Other current liabilities:
               
Revenue payable
    4,576       9,901  
Accrued drilling costs
    27,633       17,051  
Accrued interest
    1,755       8,004  
Other accrued liabilities
    7,712       6,220  
Derivative instruments
    10,303       6,224  
Dividends payable
          87  
Income taxes payable
    225        
Chase Group unaccredited investors asset purchase obligation
          906  
Current portion of long-term debt
    2,000       400  
Current asset retirement obligations
    1,005       1,958  
     
Total current liabilities
    65,733       70,501  
     
Long-term debt
    343,880       495,100  
Noncurrent derivative instruments
    1,514        
Deferred income taxes
    251,800       241,752  
Asset retirement obligations and other long-term liabilities
    7,196       7,563  
Commitments and contingencies
               
Stockholders’ equity:
               
6% Series A preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; and zero shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006
           
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; and zero shares issued and outstanding at September 30 ,2007 and December 31, 2006
           
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 300,000,000 authorized; 75,750,517 and 59,092,830 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively
    76       59  
Additional paid-in capital
    751,680       575,389  
Notes receivable from officers and employees
    (2,488 )     (12,858 )
Retained earnings
    30,609       12,152  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    (6,493 )     414  
     
Total stockholders’ equity
    773,384       575,156  
     
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 1,443,507     $ 1,390,072  
     

 


 

Consolidated statements of operations
Unaudited
                                 
    Three months ended   Nine months ended
    September 30,   September 30,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)   2007   2006   2007   2006
     
Operating revenues:
                               
Oil sales
  $ 45,685     $ 40,239     $ 128,152     $ 90,737  
Natural gas sales
    23,413       18,036       67,395       44,908  
     
Total operating revenues
    69,098       58,275       195,547       135,645  
     
Operating costs and expenses:
                               
Oil and gas production
    8,100       5,524       22,309       14,511  
Oil and gas production taxes
    5,673       4,621       15,616       10,831  
Exploration and abandonments
    11,805       3,316       18,110       4,717  
Depreciation and depletion
    18,003       19,674       55,036       42,170  
Accretion of discount on asset retirement obligations
    106       87       334       196  
Impairments of proved oil and gas properties
    1,379       2,679       4,577       5,762  
Contract drilling fees — stacked rigs
                4,269        
General and administrative (including non-cash stock-based compensation of $703 and $1,090 for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and $2,656 and $8,041 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively)
    4,646       3,832       16,567       16,044  
Ineffective portion of cash flow hedges
    (22 )     (1,190 )     1,134       (64 )
(Gain) loss on derivatives not designated as hedges
    (3,088 )           (3,088 )      
     
Total operating costs and expenses
    46,602       38,543       134,864       94,167  
     
Income from operations
    22,496       19,732       60,683       41,478  
     
Other income (expense):
                               
Interest expense
    (9,054 )     (9,184 )     (29,803 )     (20,998 )
Other, net
    484       333       957       907  
     
Total other expense
    (8,570 )     (8,851 )     (28,846 )     (20,091 )
     
Income before income taxes
    13,926       10,881       31,837       21,387  
Income tax expense
    (5,972 )     (4,351 )     (13,335 )     (8,664 )
     
Net income
    7,954       6,530       18,502       12,723  
Preferred stock dividends
          (32 )     (45 )     (1,210 )
Effect of induced conversion of preferred stock
                      11,601  
     
Net income applicable to common shareholders
  $ 7,954     $ 6,498     $ 18,457     $ 23,114  
     
Basic earnings per share:
                               
Net income per share
  $ 0.12     $ 0.12     $ 0.30     $ 0.52  
     
Shares used in basic earnings per share
    69,067       54,936       60,648       44,710  
     
Diluted earnings per share:
                               
Net income per share
  $ 0.11     $ 0.11     $ 0.29     $ 0.48  
     
Shares used in diluted earnings per share
    69,913       58,625       62,858       47,937  
     

 


 

Consolidated statements of cash flows
Unaudited
                 
    Nine months ended
    September 30,
(in thousands)   2007   2006
     
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
               
Net income
  $ 18,502     $ 12,723  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and depletion
    55,036       42,170  
Impairments of proved oil and gas properties
    4,577       5,762  
Accretion of discount on asset retirement obligations
    334       196  
Exploration expense, including dry holes
    17,117       3,204  
Non-cash compensation expense
    2,656       8,041  
Gas imbalances
    33       (7 )
Ineffective portion of cash flow hedges
    1,134       (64 )
Deferred rent liability
    33       49  
Deferred income taxes
    11,460       7,603  
Interest accrued on officer and employee notes
    (274 )     (510 )
Amortization of deferred loan costs
    3,251       1,157  
Amortization of discount on long-term debt
    480        
(Gain) loss on derivatives not designated as hedges
    (3,088 )      
Dedesignated cash flow hedges reclassed from AOCI
    (722 )      
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
               
Accounts receivable
    11,355       (25,943 )
Prepaid insurance and other
    135       (1,752 )
Accounts payable
    (9,230 )     2,373  
Revenue payable
    (5,325 )     (289 )
Accrued liabilities
    1,492       204  
Accrued interest
    (6,249 )     4,024  
Income taxes payable
    225        
     
Net cash provided by operating activities
    102,932       58,941  
     
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
Capital expenditures on oil and gas properties
    (113,936 )     (122,839 )
Acquisition of oil and gas properties and other assets
    (256 )     (413,842 )
Additions to other property and equipment
    (2,218 )     (1,249 )
Proceeds from the sale of oil and gas properties
    96        
Post-dedesignation settlements on dedesignated cash flow hedges
    1,286        
     
Net cash used in investing activities
    (115,028 )     (537,930 )
     
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
    283,600       563,005  
Payments of long-term debt
    (433,700 )     (150,000 )
Proceeds from issuance of subscribed units and common stock
    173,002       61,178  
Payments of preferred stock dividends
    (132 )     (2,542 )
Proceeds from repayment of officer and employee notes
    10,644        
Payments for loan origination costs
    (2,572 )     (5,500 )
Negative cash balances
          3,666  
     
Net cash provided by financing activities
    30,842       469,807  
     
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    18,746       (9,182 )
BEGINNING CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
    1,122       9,182  
     
ENDING CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
  $ 19,868     $  
     -
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOWS:
               
Cash paid for interest and fees, net of $2,160 and $1,415 capitalized
  $ 28,233     $ 11,294  
     
Cash paid for income taxes
  $ 2,050     $ 100  
     
NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
Issuance of common stock in acquisition of oil and gas properties and other assets
  $ 650     $ 384,336  
Deferred tax effect of acquired oil and gas properties
  $     $ 227,537  
Issuance of notes receivable in connection with capital options
  $     $ 3,158  
Discount on long-term debt
  $ (1,000 )   $  
     

 


 

Summary production and price data
The following table presents selected financial and operating information of Concho Resources Inc. for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006:
                                 
    Three months ended   Nine months ended
    September 30,   September 30,
    2007   2006   2007   2006
(in thousands, except price data)   (unaudited)   (unaudited)
     
Oil sales
  $ 45,685     $ 40,239     $ 128,152     $ 90,737  
Natural gas sales
    23,413       18,036       67,395       44,908  
     
Total operating revenues
    69,098       58,275       195,547       135,645  
Operating costs and expenses
    46,602       38,543       134,864       94,167  
Interest, net and other revenue
    8,570       8,851       28,846       20,091  
     
Income before income taxes
    13,926       10,881       31,837       21,387  
Income tax expense
    (5,972 )     (4,351 )     (13,335 )     (8,664 )
     
Net income
  $ 7,954     $ 6,530     $ 18,502     $ 12,723  
     
 
                               
Production volumes:
                               
Oil (MBbl)
    705       661       2,143       1,554  
Natural gas (MMcf)
    2,982       2,718       8,887       6,634  
Natural gas equivalent (MMcfe)
    7,211       6,683       21,747       15,956  
Average prices:
                               
Oil, without hedges ($/Bbl)
  $ 69.91     $ 65.52     $ 61.36     $ 63.20  
Oil, with hedges ($/Bbl)
  $ 64.82     $ 60.89     $ 59.79     $ 58.40  
Natural gas, without hedges ($/Mcf)
  $ 7.61     $ 6.58     $ 7.48     $ 6.75  
Natural gas, with hedges ($/Mcf)
  $ 7.85     $ 6.63     $ 7.58     $ 6.77  
Natural gas equivalent, without hedges ($/Mcfe)
  $ 9.98     $ 9.16     $ 9.10     $ 8.96  
Natural gas equivalent, with hedges ($/Mcfe)
  $ 9.58     $ 8.72     $ 8.99     $ 8.50  
 
Bbl – Barrel
MBbl – Thousand Barrels
Mcf – Thousand cubic feet
MMcf – Million cubic feet
Mcfe – Thousand cubic feet of natural gas equivalent (computed on an energy equivalent basis of one Bbl equals six Mcf)
MMcfe – Million cubic feet of natural gas equivalent (computed on an energy equivalent basis of one Bbl equals six Mcf)
Supplemental non-GAAP financial measures
EBITDAX (as defined below) is presented herein, and reconciled to the generally accepted accounting principle (“GAAP”) measure of net income because of its wide acceptance by the investment community as a financial indicator of a company’s ability to internally fund exploration and development activities.
We define EBITDAX as net income, plus (1) exploration and abandonments expense, (2) depreciation & depletion expense, (3) accretion expense, (4) impairments of proved oil and gas properties, (5) non-cash stock-based compensation expense, (6) ineffective portion of cash flow hedges and unrealized (gain) loss on derivatives not designated as hedges, (7) interest expense, the amortization of related debt issuance costs and other

 


 

financing costs, net of capitalized interest, and (8) federal and state income taxes, less other ancillary income including interest income, gathering income and rental income. EBITDAX is not a measure of net income or cash flow as determined by GAAP.
Our EBITDAX measure provides additional information which may be used to better understand our operations. EBITDAX is one of several metrics that we use as a supplemental financial measurement in the evaluation of our business and should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income, as an indicator of our operating performance. Certain items excluded from EBITDAX are significant components in understanding and assessing a company’s financial performance, such as a company’s cost of capital and tax structure, as well as the historic cost of depreciable assets, none of which are components of EBITDAX. EBITDAX as used by us may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. We believe that EBITDAX is a widely followed measure of operating performance and is one of many metrics used by our management team and by other users of our consolidated financial statements. For example, EBITDAX can be used to assess our operating performance and return on capital in comparison to other independent exploration and production companies without regard to financial or capital structure, and to assess the financial performance of our assets and our company without regard to capital structure or historical cost basis.
The following table provides a reconciliation of net income to EBITDAX:
                                 
    Three months ended   Nine months ended
    September 30,   September 30,
(in thousands)   2007   2006   2007   2006
    (unaudited)   (unaudited)
Net income
  $ 7,954     $ 6,530     $ 18,502     $ 12,723  
Exploration and abandonments
    11,805       3,316       18,110       4,717  
Depreciation and depletion
    18,003       19,674       55,036       42,170  
Accretion of discount on asset retirement obligations
    106       87       334       196  
Impairments of proved oil and gas properties
    1,379       2,679       4,577       5,762  
Non-cash stock-based compensation
    703       1,090       2,656       8,041  
Ineffective portion of cash flow hedges
    (22 )     (1,190 )     1,134       (64 )
Unrealized (gain) loss on derivatives not designated as hedges
    (1,802 )           (1,802 )      
Interest expense
    9,054       9,184       29,803       20,998  
Other, net
    (484 )     (333 )     (957 )     (907 )
Income tax expense
    5,972       4,351       13,335       8,664  
     
EBITDAX
  $ 52,668     $ 45,388     $ 140,728     $ 102,300  
     

 


 

Derivatives information as of September 30, 2007
     The table below provides the volumes and related data associated with our oil and natural gas derivatives as of September 30, 2007 (unaudited). Our counterparties in our derivative instruments are Bank of America, N.A., BNP Paribas, Citibank, N.A., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Wachovia Bank, N.A.
                                         
    Fair Market Value     Aggregate                    
    Asset / (Liability)     remaining     Daily     Index     Contract  
    (in thousands)     volume     volume     price     period  
Cash flow hedges:
                                       
Crude oil (volumes in Bbls):
                                       
Price collar
  $ (2,278 )     59,800       650     $ 37.95 - $41.75 (a)     10/1/07 - 12/31/07  
Price swap
    (2,570 )     211,600       2,300     $ 67.85 (a)     10/1/07 - 12/31/07  
Price swap
    (7,668 )     951,600       2,600     $ 67.50 (a)     1/1/08 - 12/31/08  
 
                                       
Cash flow hedges dedesignated:
                                       
 
                                       
Natural gas (volumes in MMBtus):
                                       
Price collar
    735       1,472,000       16,000     $ 5.98 - $9.75 (b) (c)     10/1/07 - 12/31/07  
Price collar
    1,740       4,941,000       13,500     $ 6.50-$9.35 (b)     1/1/08 - 12/31/08  
Price swap
    257       193,200       2,100     $ 7.40 (b)     10/1/07 - 12/31/07  
 
                                       
Derivatives not designated as cash flow hedges:
                                       
 
                                       
Crude oil (volumes in Bbls):
                                       
Price swap
    (33 )     732,000       2,000     $ 75.78 (a) (c)     1/1/08 - 12/31/08  
Price swap
    71       730,000       2,000     $ 72.84 (a) (c)     1/1/09 - 12/31/09  
 
                                     
Net liability
  $ (9,746 )                                
 
                                     
 
(a)   The index prices for the oil price collars and price swaps are based on the NYMEX -West Texas Intermediate monthly average futures price.
 
(b)   The index prices for the natural gas price collars and price swaps are based on the Inside FERC-El Paso Permian Basin first-of-the-month spot price.
 
(c)   Amounts disclosed represent weighted average prices.
Contact:
Jack Harper (432) 683-7443
Vice President – Business Development and Capital Markets