Newfield Exploration Reports Third Quarter 2013 Results

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Nov. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Newfield Exploration Company (NYSE: NFX) today reported its unaudited third quarter 2013 financial results and provided an update on its operations. The Company's year-to-date operational highlights are detailed in the @NFX publication, located on Newfield's website.

Newfield will host a conference call at 7:30 a.m. CST on November 5, 2013. To listen to the call and view the slide deck, please visit Newfield's website at http://www.newfield.com. To participate in the call, dial 719-325-2344.

Third Quarter Financial Summary

With the process underway to divest Newfield's international businesses, the Company is reporting its financial and operating results for international businesses as "discontinued operations."

For the third quarter of 2013, the Company posted a loss from continuing operations of $4 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, which includes the impact of a net unrealized loss on commodity derivatives of $106 million ($68 million after-tax), or $0.50 per share. Income from discontinued operations was $31 million, or $0.08 per share, which includes a reduction to EPS of $20 million, or $0.15 per share, related to the purchase of the outstanding preferred shares of Newfield China, LDC, a now wholly-owned subsidiary, from Huffco International, LLC (effective July 1, 2013). Combined net income for the third quarter of 2013 was $27 million, or $0.05 per share (all per share amounts are on a diluted basis).

Excluding the unrealized loss on commodity derivatives and including earnings from discontinued international operations, net income for the third quarter of 2013 would have been $95 million, or $0.70 per diluted share without the effect of the purchase of preferred shares.

Revenues for the third quarter of 2013 were $486 million, excluding $189 million from discontinued operations. Net cash provided by operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities was $403 million. See "Explanation and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" found after the financial statements in this release.

Third Quarter 2013 Sales Summary

Newfield's net production in the third quarter of 2013 was 12 million BOE, of which 1.6 million BOE was from the Company's international businesses, which are classified as discontinued operations. Domestic liquids production in the third quarter was up 9% compared to the second quarter of 2013. The composition of third quarter production was 44% oil, 12% natural gas liquids and 44% natural gas. Production by product is detailed in this release for the third quarter of 2013.

"We have executed well in 2013. Not only have we delivered on our projections, but we also have added our new STACK play which provides inventory and economic locations to exploit in 2014 and beyond," said Lee K. Boothby, Newfield Chairman, President and CEO. "In February 2013, we rolled out a three-year plan and today we have year one behind us. We have even greater confidence in our ability to hit our corporate level targets and we intend to deliver on our promise of doubling liquids production from our four key plays by the end of 2015."

2013 Production Guidance and Capital Investments

Newfield today raised its production guidance for 2013 to approximately 48 million BOE (previous guidance was 46 – 47 million BOE). The guidance includes approximately 8 million BOE from discontinued international operations.

The Company expects to invest approximately $2 billion, which includes a $62 million acquisition in the Anadarko Basin in August 2013 and excludes capitalized internal costs.

The STACK Play

Newfield today unveiled a new resource play in the Anadarko Basin of Oklahoma. In less than two years, the Company's net production in the Anadarko Basin has grown to approximately 25,000 BOEPD. The STACK play is adjacent to and complements the Company's SCOOP play.

"Our early results in the STACK play are very encouraging, with initial wells providing about 35% rates of return," said Gary D. Packer, Newfield Chief Operating Officer. "We are early in our learning curve in the STACK and history proves that we can lower costs and enhance returns as we move to development mode. STACK has the potential to more than double our unrisked resource potential in the basin and add thousands of new drilling locations. We will be increasing our planned activity levels in the Anadarko Basin, as this region has the potential to drive our corporate growth rates over the next decade. Our net production from the Anadarko Basin is expected to exit 2014 at nearly 50,000 BOEPD."        

STACK Highlights

• STACK horizons include the Meramec and Woodford Shales. The Meramec ranges in thickness from 275 – 475 feet and porosity is comparable to the Woodford. The STACK play ranges in depth from 8,000 – 11,000 feet.
• The Company's position in the Anadarko Basin has grown to more than 225,000 net acres. As the name implies, the "stacked" nature of this new play provides for multi-horizon potential. Newfield has more than 170,000 net acres prospective for the Woodford and more than 150,000 net acres prospective for the STACK.
•  STACK wells have an estimated ultimate recovery of 800 – 1,000 MBOE and reserves are approximately 70% liquids (40% oil). To date, Newfield has drilled seven wells in the STACK, with initial production rates averaging 900 BOEPD and 30-day average production of 640 BOEPD. Lateral lengths are approximately 10,000 feet and working interest averages 93%.
• Newfield is increasing its operated rig count in the Anadarko Basin to eight rigs, with at least two rigs dedicated to its STACK development.

Third Quarter 2013 Operational Highlights

For complete highlights, see the Company's @NFX publication, located on its website.

• Domestic liquids production in 2013 is expected to be approximately 40 million BOE, representing growth of more than 40% over 2012, adjusted for prior year asset sales. Domestic liquids production in the third quarter of 2013 increased 9% over the second quarter of 2013.
• Anadarko Basin production is expected to exceed 2013 guidance by 0.3 million BOE and total 7.3 million BOE. Average third quarter net production from the SCOOP and STACK plays was 22,200 BOEPD. Net production is expected to average nearly 26,000 BOEPD in the fourth quarter of 2013 and more than 31,000 BOEPD in the first quarter of 2014. Newfield is adding an eighth operated rig in the basin.
• The Company's third quarter net production in the Williston Basin exceeded guidance by 1,600 BOEPD and averaged 13,400 BOEPD. Newfield now expects its Williston Basin net production to increase about 40% over 2012 levels (most recent growth guidance was 28%; original guidance was 15%).  The increase is related to better well performance and early production from multi-well pads. Completed well costs year-to-date in the Williston Basin have averaged $8.7 million gross for SXL wells, including about $0.8 million in artificial lift and facilities costs.
• Average third quarter net production in the Eagle Ford was up 9% quarter-over-quarter to 8,200 BOEPD. Fourth quarter 2013 net production in the Eagle Ford is expected to average 12,200 BOEPD, reflecting the completion of new pads in the Company's West Asherton development. Average drill and complete costs for 7,500' lateral wells in the Eagle Ford year-to-date are $7.3 million gross, down more than 20% year-over-year. The Company's full-year 2013 Eagle Ford production is expected to increase about 70% over 2012.
• Uinta Basin net sales in the third quarter averaged 23,100 BOEPD, compared to guidance of 25,000 BOEPD. Sales were impacted by unplanned refinery downtime. Recent SXL wells in the Uteland Butte yield gross initial production of nearly 1,700 BOEPD and average more than 1,000 BOEPD over 30-days. Recent XL Wasatch well (3,200' lateral) records initial gross production of more than 2,200 BOEPD and the first Wasatch SXL well (9,900' lateral) is planned for late November. Uinta Basin production is expected to increase about 8% in 2013.
• Newfield recently announced the signing of a Share Purchase Agreement for $898 million for its Malaysian business. The transaction is expected to close in early 2014. This is the first of two planned transactions to divest the Company's international businesses.

Full-Year 2013 Guidance

Newfield expects 2013 total company production will be approximately 48 million BOE, which includes an estimated 8 MMBbls from discontinued operations. The table below details the Company's growth forecast through 2015.

* Excludes Production from Assets Sold

Fourth Quarter 2013 Costs and Expense Guidance

The Company's cost and expense guidance is shown on a unit of production basis for the fourth quarter of 2013. The information is presented separately for Newfield's domestic business (continuing operations) and its international business (discontinued operations). Financial results from discontinued operations will be reported on a separate line on the income statement.

** The increase in fourth quarter G&A expense is primarily related to a compensation program for substantially all domestic non-executive employees. See Note 11 of Newfield's Form 10-Q, Stock-Based Compensation: "Stockholder Value Appreciation Program".

Newfield Exploration Company is an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, development and production of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. We are focused on North American resource plays of scale. Our principal domestic areas of operation include the Mid-Continent, the Rocky Mountains and onshore Texas. Internationally, we have oil developments offshore Malaysia and China.

**This release contains forward-looking information. All information other than historical facts included in this release, such as information regarding estimated or anticipated drilling plans, planned capital expenditures, and estimated production, is forward-looking information. Although Newfield believes that these expectations are reasonable, this information is based upon assumptions and anticipated results that are subject to numerous uncertainties and risks. Actual results may vary significantly from those anticipated due to many factors, including drilling results, oil and gas prices, industry conditions, the prices of goods and services, the availability of drilling rigs and other support services, the availability of refining capacity for the crude oil Newfield produces in the Uinta Basin, the availability and cost of capital resources, new regulations or changes in tax legislation, labor conditions and severe weather conditions. In addition, the drilling of oil and natural gas wells and the production of hydrocarbons are subject to numerous governmental regulations and operating risks. Other factors that could impact forward-looking statements are described in "Risk Factors" in Newfield's 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K and other subsequent public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which can be found at www.sec.gov. Unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed in this press release could also have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Unless legally required, Newfield undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

For additional information, please contact Newfield's Investor Relations department.
Phone: 281-210-5201
Email: info@newfield.com

Explanation and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Earnings Stated Without the Effect of Certain Items
Earnings stated without the effect of certain items is a non-GAAP financial measure. Earnings without the effect of these items are presented because they affect the comparability of operating results from period to period. In addition, earnings without the effect of these items are more comparable to earnings estimates provided by securities analysts.

A reconciliation of earnings for the third quarter of 2013 for our continuing operations stated without the effect of certain items to net loss is shown below:

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities Before Changes in Operating Assets and Liabilities
Net cash provided by operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities is presented because of its acceptance as an indicator of an oil and gas exploration and production company's ability to internally fund exploration and development activities and to service or incur additional debt. This measure should not be considered as an alternative to net cash provided by operating activities as defined by generally accepted accounting principles.

A reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities to net cash provided by operating activities is shown below:

SOURCE Newfield Exploration Company