Drilling & Completions | Quarterly / Earnings Reports | First Quarter (1Q) Update | Financial Results | Capital Markets | Drilling Activity
Battalion Oil Corp. First Quarter 2021 Results
Battalion Oil Corporation (NYSE American: BATL, "Battalion" or the "Company") today announced results of operations for the first quarter 2021.
Highlights:
- Completed four DUCs and spud two new wells in Monument Draw during the quarter
- Improved average completion costs from $575/lateral ft in 2020 down to $395/lateral ft in Q1 2021
- Production from recent completions outperforming expectations
- On track to deliver on 2021 production guidance despite operational shut-ins due to Winter Storm Uri
Richard Little, the Company's CEO, commented, "Battalion delivered a strong first quarter despite the operational disruption caused by Winter Storm Uri and the ongoing challenges faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our operations team did a great job keeping us up and running during a historically long cold snap. Their efforts keeping production up combined with strong realized pricing allowed us to outperform our Adjusted EBITDA targets for the first quarter."
"The team continued their exceptional work as we brought four wells online and spud two additional wells during the quarter. Our focus on capital discipline and operational efficiency allowed us to realize historically low drilling and completion costs despite price increases in the service market. These new wells are performing above expectations, and it is just one of the many reasons we're optimistic about hitting our production targets for 2021 despite the production shut-ins caused by the winter storms."
"Our commitment to capital efficiency, prudent liquidity management, and operational excellence has left us well positioned to execute on our 2021 plan. We are eager to return to growth and are well positioned to take advantage of the opportunities the market offers us regardless of whether those opportunities come through M&A or the drill bit."
Operations Update
During the first quarter of 2021, the Company completed and brought on production four drilled but uncompleted wells and spud two additional new wells in Monument Draw. The Company began completing the two new drill wells in May 2021.
Results of Operations
Average daily net production and total operating revenue during the first quarter 2021 were 14,333 barrels of oil equivalent per day ("Boepd") (56% oil) and $55.5 million, respectively, as compared to production and revenue of 18,791 Boepd (55% oil) and $47.4 million, respectively, during the first quarter 2020. The decrease in total production year-over-year was primarily due to production declines in our non-core areas, including the divestiture of properties that produced ~800 Boepd, offset by increased production at Monument Draw as a result of our capital program. Also contributing to the decrease in total production is the temporary shut-in of production in February 2021 as a result of inclement weather during Winter Storm Uri. Despite the reduction in operating volumes, operating revenue increased year-over-year due to high realized natural gas prices during the quarter. As a result of high daily market prices experienced during the winter storm, Battalion was able to realize quarterly gas prices of $4.26 per Million cubic feet ("Mcf") during the first quarter 2021 as compared to $1.16 per Mcf during the fourth quarter 2020.
Excluding the impact of hedges, Battalion realized 99% of the average NYMEX oil price during the first quarter of 2021. Realized hedge losses totaled approximately $9.7 million during the first quarter 2021.
Lease operating and workover expense was $7.77 per Boe in the first quarter of 2021 and $8.07 per Boe in the first quarter of 2020. Adjusted G&A was $3.24 per Boe in the first quarter of 2021 compared to $1.50 per Boe in the first quarter of 2020 (see Selected Operating Data table for additional information).
The Company reported a net loss to common stockholders for the first quarter of 2021 of $33.4 million and a net loss per basic and diluted share of $2.06. After adjusting for selected items, the Company reported net income to common stockholders for the first quarter of $2.7 million, or $0.17 per basic and diluted share (see Selected Item Review and Reconciliation for additional information). Adjusted EBITDA during the quarter ended March 31, 2021 was $15.3 million as compared to $8.8 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2020 (see Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation table for additional information).
Liquidity and Balance Sheet
As of March 31, 2021, Battalion had $155.0 million of borrowings and $2.5 million of outstanding letters of credit issued under the Senior Revolving Credit Facility resulting in unused borrowing capacity of $32.5 million based on a borrowing base of $190.0 million. Total liquidity at March 31, 2021, inclusive of $1.7 million of cash and cash equivalents, was $34.2 million.
In May 2021, the Company entered into the Fourth Amendment to its Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement which, among other things, reduces the borrowing base to $185.0 million effective June 1, 2021 and further reduces the borrowing base to $175.0 million effective September 1, 2021.
More First Quarter (1Q) Update News

Gulfport Touts Super Long Lateral and Strategic Pivot To Gas Asset
Gulfport Energy Corporation kicked off 2025 with a quarter of operational precision, pricing strength, and clear strategic intent — setting the stage for a transformative year ahead. From…

Civitas Provides Update on Current Rigs & Frac Crews
Second Quarter Outlook The Company has reiterated its full year guidance for 2025. For the second quarter, Civitas anticipates approximately five percent oil volume growth at the midpoint…

NuVista Energy – 2025 Capital Program and Operating Momentum
NuVista enters 2025 with strong operational momentum following a record 2024 and a balance sheet that affords both growth and shareholder returns. The Company has reaffirmed its ~$450…

Large Permian E&P Talks 1Q'24; 282 Wells Planned for 2024
Diamondback Energy provided an update to it's first quarter 2024. Let's first take a look at the development plan. The company program remains unchanged, and one can expect…

CNX Resources Cut Frac Activity 50%, Talks 1st Quarter Activity
CNX Resources a marcellus operator provided an update on its first quarter 2024 activity. Activity quick Read - Reduced to 1 rig - Reduced from dedicated frac crew…
Permian News

Why $90 Oil Isn’t Bringing Back the Rigs
Higher oil prices are not translating cleanly into a drilling response across U.S. shale, and company disclosures are starting to show why. The issue is not simply capital…

These Three Companies Will Increase Drilling & Completion Over The Next 3 Year
In the span of fifteen months, three Japanese energy companies committed more than $10.3 billion to U.S. natural gas production assets — a buying spree that has transferred…

Q1 A&D Transactions Jump to $30B , While Deal Flow Was Down 40%
The first quarter of 2026 has officially defined the "Barbell Era" of American oil and gas. While the total number of deals plummeted by 46% YoY (dropping to…

Wright to U.S. Oil Industry: The Price Signal Is Telling You to Drill
Energy Secretary Chris Wright stood in front of the largest gathering of oil executives in the world this morning and delivered a message that was equal parts market…

Apa Corp : Doing More With Less
APA's 2025 narrative was one of operational surprise. The company came in beating production guidance every single quarter while spending below plan, capturing over $300MM in cost savings…
Permian - Delaware Basin News

Permian Resources to Grow Production 6% in 2026
Permian Resources exited 2025 as the largest pure-play Delaware Basin operator with ~480,000 net acres and >105,000 net royalty acres. The company averaged 392.6 MBoe/d in 2025, including…

Battalion Oil Closes ~$60M West Quito Draw Asset Sale
Battalion Oil Corporation has closed the sale of its West Quito Draw assets in the Southern Delaware Basin to MCM Delaware Resources LLC, a subsidiary of MCM Energy…

Deal Rumor: ConocoPhillips Exploring $2B Permian Asset Sale
ConocoPhillips is reportedly exploring the potential sale of certain Permian Basin assets in a transaction valued at approximately $2 billion, according to Reuters, citing sources familiar with the…

This Operator Will Chop it's 2026 Rig Count From 34 to 24
ConocoPhillips is setting up 2026 as a lower-intensity, more efficient operating year — with the clearest proof coming from the Lower 48 activity reset following the Marathon integration.…

A Quiet Capital Pattern Is Forming in North American Upstream — and Almost No One Is Talking About It
A handful of recent transactions and capital raises point to a subtle pattern in North American upstream—one that is easy to miss because each event, on its own,…