Antero Resources Q3 Results - Oct 29
Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2019 5:17 pm
DENVER, Oct. 29, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Antero Resources Corporation (AR) ("Antero," "Antero Resources," or the "Company") today released its third quarter 2019 financial and operational results. The relevant condensed consolidated and condensed consolidating financial statements are included in Antero's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").
Third Quarter 2019 Highlights Include:
Net daily gas equivalent production averaged 3,367 MMcfe/d (32% liquids by volume), a 24% increase over the prior year period
Realized natural gas equivalent price averaged $3.13 per Mcfe including liquids and hedges
Drilling and completion capital spending was $290 million, lowest quarterly spending since 2013 IPO
Well costs are currently averaging $895 per foot, 4% below the second half of 2019 targeted well cost of $930 per foot
Lease operating expenses were $0.12 per Mcfe during the quarter, a 21% reduction from the first half of 2019, and is expected to be $0.10 per Mcfe for the fourth quarter of 2019
Released 250 MMcf/d of firm transportation capacity to third parties for the September 2019 to March 2020 period, resulting in a reduction of over $15 million of net marketing expense for the corresponding time period
Received a $59 million net payment from South Jersey related to past underpayment for natural gas
Reported $879 million of net loss, or $(2.86) per diluted share, largely due to a $1 billion non-cash impairment charge related to properties in the Utica Shale tied to lower future commodity prices, and Adjusted Net Loss of $150 million (Non-GAAP), or $(0.49) per diluted share
Reported Adjusted EBITDAX of $258 million (Non-GAAP)
Increased credit facility commitment from $2.5 billion to $2.64 billion
Net debt to trailing twelve months Adjusted EBITDAX ratio was 2.6x (Non-GAAP)
2019 Outlook Update:
Increasing full year production guidance to the top end of the range, or approximately 3,250 MMcfe/d, a 2% increase from the midpoint of the prior range of 3,150 to 3,250 MMcfe/d.
Reducing full year 2019 drilling and completion capital to a range of $1.275 to $1.3 billion, a 4% decrease from the prior range of $1.3 to $1.375 billion
Projecting a $4 to $5 per barrel improvement in realized C3+ prices in the fourth quarter of 2019 based on current strip prices
Paul Rady, Chairman and CEO said, "Antero made substantial progress during the quarter towards lowering its overall cost structure. Driven by our well cost reduction initiatives, we recorded our lowest drilling and completion capital in a given quarter since our IPO in 2013. Importantly, these savings led to a 4% reduction in our 2019 capital budget and a $100 million reduction since our initial 2019 budget announcement. Despite this reduced capital budget we have increased our 2019 production guidance, a testament to the capital efficiency of our operations. As a result of our water savings initiatives, particularly the blending of our flowback and produced water, third quarter lease operating expenses per Mcfe declined 21% from the first half of this year as well. We expect these costs to decline an additional 15% by 2020.
Mr. Rady continued "During the quarter, we also released a meaningful portion of our unutilized firm transportation capacity to third parties, which contributed to a 22% reduction in net marketing expenses compared to the first half of the year. These capacity releases are expected to result in lower net marketing expenses than expected in 2020. General and administrative costs per Mcfe have also declined by 25% since the first half of this year and we are targeting a further 10% reduction by mid-2020. In the aggregate, these capital and expense reductions will create meaningful shareholder value over the long-term and are especially important in this low commodity price environment."
Third Quarter 2019 Highlights Include:
Net daily gas equivalent production averaged 3,367 MMcfe/d (32% liquids by volume), a 24% increase over the prior year period
Realized natural gas equivalent price averaged $3.13 per Mcfe including liquids and hedges
Drilling and completion capital spending was $290 million, lowest quarterly spending since 2013 IPO
Well costs are currently averaging $895 per foot, 4% below the second half of 2019 targeted well cost of $930 per foot
Lease operating expenses were $0.12 per Mcfe during the quarter, a 21% reduction from the first half of 2019, and is expected to be $0.10 per Mcfe for the fourth quarter of 2019
Released 250 MMcf/d of firm transportation capacity to third parties for the September 2019 to March 2020 period, resulting in a reduction of over $15 million of net marketing expense for the corresponding time period
Received a $59 million net payment from South Jersey related to past underpayment for natural gas
Reported $879 million of net loss, or $(2.86) per diluted share, largely due to a $1 billion non-cash impairment charge related to properties in the Utica Shale tied to lower future commodity prices, and Adjusted Net Loss of $150 million (Non-GAAP), or $(0.49) per diluted share
Reported Adjusted EBITDAX of $258 million (Non-GAAP)
Increased credit facility commitment from $2.5 billion to $2.64 billion
Net debt to trailing twelve months Adjusted EBITDAX ratio was 2.6x (Non-GAAP)
2019 Outlook Update:
Increasing full year production guidance to the top end of the range, or approximately 3,250 MMcfe/d, a 2% increase from the midpoint of the prior range of 3,150 to 3,250 MMcfe/d.
Reducing full year 2019 drilling and completion capital to a range of $1.275 to $1.3 billion, a 4% decrease from the prior range of $1.3 to $1.375 billion
Projecting a $4 to $5 per barrel improvement in realized C3+ prices in the fourth quarter of 2019 based on current strip prices
Paul Rady, Chairman and CEO said, "Antero made substantial progress during the quarter towards lowering its overall cost structure. Driven by our well cost reduction initiatives, we recorded our lowest drilling and completion capital in a given quarter since our IPO in 2013. Importantly, these savings led to a 4% reduction in our 2019 capital budget and a $100 million reduction since our initial 2019 budget announcement. Despite this reduced capital budget we have increased our 2019 production guidance, a testament to the capital efficiency of our operations. As a result of our water savings initiatives, particularly the blending of our flowback and produced water, third quarter lease operating expenses per Mcfe declined 21% from the first half of this year as well. We expect these costs to decline an additional 15% by 2020.
Mr. Rady continued "During the quarter, we also released a meaningful portion of our unutilized firm transportation capacity to third parties, which contributed to a 22% reduction in net marketing expenses compared to the first half of the year. These capacity releases are expected to result in lower net marketing expenses than expected in 2020. General and administrative costs per Mcfe have also declined by 25% since the first half of this year and we are targeting a further 10% reduction by mid-2020. In the aggregate, these capital and expense reductions will create meaningful shareholder value over the long-term and are especially important in this low commodity price environment."