Exploration & Production | Quarterly / Earnings Reports | Second Quarter (2Q) Update

Quicksilver Ups Barnett Volumes; Looks to Unlock Horn River

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   |    Tuesday,August 05,2014

Quicksilver Resources Inc. has reported preliminary 2014 second-quarter results.

Second-quarter highlights:

• Increased Barnett Shale volumes 11% compared to first-quarter 2014
• Improved performance of newly drilled Barnett Shale wells due to operational efficiencies
• Closed amendment with midstream providers in the Barnett Shale to reduce rates
• Commenced drilling program in West Texas
• Executed agreement to develop acreage in Crockett and Upton counties in West Texas
• Filed application to export up to 20 Mtpa of LNG from the company's Discovery LNG site

Glenn Darden, CEO of Quicksilver Resources, commented: "Quicksilver's top goals for the remainder of 2014 remain unchanged and management is extremely focused on unlocking the value in the Horn River, building cash flow in core areas, and addressing the subordinated notes due in 2016. In addition, we will push hard to advance our West Texas project and reduce overall company debt."

Operational Update

The company has reported a second quarter 2014 update on its E&P sectors, which can be accessed below:

Quicksilver On Track to Drill 30 Barnett Wells in 2014

Quicksilver Launches Permian JV with Eni; Unveils Plans

Quicksilver Continues Partner Search for Horn River Ops

Financial Results

Reported net loss for the second-quarter 2014 was $36 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, compared to reported net income of $243 million, or $1.37 per diluted share, in the 2013 quarter. Most notably, reported net income in the 2013 quarter included a non-operational, pre-tax gain on sale of $333 million related to the Tokyo Gas Transaction.

Excluding the impact of unrealized derivative gains or losses in each quarter, and other non-operational items, adjusted net loss for the second-quarter 2014, a non-GAAP financial measure, was $11 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net loss of $11 million or $0.06 per diluted share, in the 2013 quarter.

Production

Second-quarter 2014 production was 23.3 Bcfe, or an average of 255 million cubic feet of natural gas equivalent per day (MMcfed) compared to 26.1 Bcfe, or an average of 287 MMcfed, in the 2013 quarter. The decline is primarily attributable to the TG Transaction in the middle of the second-quarter 2013 and the natural decline in Canadian volumes due to minimal capital activity.

Production from the Barnett Shale was 15.3 Bcfe in the second-quarter 2014, or an average of 168 MMcfed, which is 11% higher compared to the first-quarter 2014. Pro forma for the TG Transaction, quarter-over-quarter volumes increased 1% in the Barnett Shale as a result of completion activity in the first half of 2014.

Revenue

Production revenue and realized cash derivative gain/loss for the second quarter of 2014 was $107 million compared to $118 million in the 2013 quarter, which excludes approximately $3 million and $4 million, respectively, of cash proceeds from certain derivatives that will not be recognized until future periods to match their original settlement dates. The decline in revenue is caused by lower production volume as described above ($14 million), but is partially offset by higher prices for natural gas and natural gas liquids, net of derivatives ($3 million).

The average realized price for the second quarter of 2014 compared to the 2013 quarter improved $0.09 per Mcfe to $4.59 per Mcfe, which excludes approximately $0.12 per Mcfe of cash proceeds in the second-quarter 2014 and $0.14 per Mcfe in the 2013 quarter from derivatives described above.

Expenses

Consolidated lease operating expense ("LOE") for the second quarter of 2014 was $19 million, or $0.81 per Mcfe, compared to approximately $20 million, or $0.77 per Mcfe in the 2013 quarter. The absolute reduction is due primarily to asset sales, partially offset by higher workover activity in the Barnett Shale.

Consolidated gathering, processing and transportation ("GPT") expense for the second quarter of 2014 was $35 million, or $1.50 per Mcfe compared to approximately $37 million, or $1.40 per Mcfe in the 2013 quarter. The per Mcfe increase is primarily the impact of higher unused treating and transportation in the Horn River Asset compared to the 2013 quarter, which is itself the result of declining volume amid minimal capital activity. The absolute decline is primarily due to lower volumes in the Barnett Shale resulting from the Tokyo Gas Transaction.

Production and ad valorem taxes for the second quarter of 2014 was $4 million, or $0.19 per Mcfe, compared to approximately $5 million, or $0.20 per Mcfe, in the 2013 quarter. The majority of the decline is related to reduced appraisal values across the company's assets.

Excluding the impact of non-recurring items, general & administrative ("G&A") expense for the second quarter of 2014 was $10 million, or $0.44 per Mcfe, compared to $11 million, or $0.43 per Mcfe, in the 2013 quarter. The reduction is primarily related to lower headcount, timing of grants related to non-executive stock compensation, and the company's aggressive cost containment efforts. A reconciliation of non-recurring items is included in the tables accompanying this earnings release.

Liquidity

Total liquidity at August 1, 2014 was approximately $272 million in the form of $26 million of cash and $246 million of availability under the Combined Credit Agreements.

Capital Spending

The company incurred approximately $37 million of costs related to the capital program in the second quarter of 2014, of which $17 million was for drilling and completion activities, $14 million for leasehold and $6 million for capitalized costs.

Due to inclement weather in Alberta, planned drilling activity in the Horseshoe Canyon was delayed in the second quarter. A portion of this deferred drilling activity has been eliminated from the capital program in response to recent natural gas price decreases, and full-year capital spending is now expected to be in the range of $130 million to $135 million.

The capital program may be further reduced should commodity prices continue to retreat. However, in the event commodity prices improve, the company may expand the Barnett program in the second half of 2014 to capitalize upon reductions in gathering and processing rates, which is explained in further detail in the Barnett operational section below.

Third-quarter 2014 Guidance

Third-quarter 2014 total company average daily production volume is expected to be 245 - 250 MMcfe per day. Average daily production volumes are expected to consist of 85% natural gas and 15% natural gas liquids and crude oil. Projected third-quarter volumes are negatively impacted by approximately 5 MMcf per day, on average, due to a planned, nonconsecutive two-week outage at a third-party treating facility in the Horn River Basin.

The company estimates that approximately 78% of its expected third-quarter 2014 equivalent production and 68% of its fourth-quarter 2014 production is covered by fixed price swaps. The 4,000 BBld of NGL swaps will expire at the end of the third-quarter.

Approximately 50% of expected sales at the AECO hub for the remainder of 2014 are covered by fixed-price swaps at a weighted-average discount of $0.46 per Mcf to NYMEX.

The value of the derivative portfolio at July 31, 2014 is estimated to be $107 million, compared to $63 million at June 30, 2014.