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

WPX Talks Q2; Touts 5,800 BOEPD Bakken IP, Gets Oilier in Delaware Basin

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   |    Tuesday,August 06,2019

WPX Energy reported Q2 2019 results.

Delaware Basin: Oil Volumes Up 19% YOY

WPX's Delaware production averaged 96.6 Mboe/d in second-quarter 2019, which was 30 percent higher than 74.4 Mboe/d in the same period a year ago.

Oil production of 46.4 Mbbl/d comprised 48 percent of second-quarter total Delaware production. Oil volumes were up 19 percent vs. 39.1 Mbbl/d in the second quarter a year ago.

WPX's average realized oil price in the Delaware was WTI plus $0.23 for the quarter, including Midland basis swaps. The basis swaps increased the average realized price by $0.64 per barrel.

WPX's average realized natural gas price in the Delaware was NYMEX less $0.59 for the quarter, including basis swaps which increased the average realized price by $0.79 per Mcf. WPX also realized $15 million in net commodity management margins, or $0.94 per Mcf, related to further risk management activities around Delaware natural gas pricing exposure.

WPX completed 16 Delaware wells during the second quarter, including seven in the Wolfcamp A interval and five wells in the Third Bone Spring formation. Ten of the completions featured lateral lengths exceeding 10,000 feet.

Four of the second-quarter Wolfcamp A wells were on the CBR 18-19 pad. The four wells have combined 60-day cumulative production in excess of 268,000 barrels of oil. Sixty-day cumulative Boe for the four wells was 558,000. The highest 24-hour rate for the CBR 18-19 pad occurred on the 7H well, which was 3,822 Boe/d on restricted flowback.

The five wells in the Third Bone Spring formation came online late in the quarter on two pads - the CBR 22-27 and the CBR 11-2. All five wells averaged at least 50 percent oil during initial production, topped by the CBR 11-2D-56-1-334H well at 70 percent. The five wells posted 24-hour initial highs averaging 4,068 Boe/d, led by the CBR 11-2C-56-1-333H at 4,602 Boe/d.

The second 200 MMcf/d cryogenic processing train at WPX's 50/50 joint venture gas plant in Reeves County was commissioned in May. As planned, the now 400 MMcf/d plant provides capacity for both WPX and third-party volumes.

WPX's second-quarter Delaware NGL production was up 53 percent vs. a year ago, reflecting the benefit of the company's midstream strategy and infrastructure investments. The company's ethane recovery rate in the Permian during the quarter was 79 percent.

Williston Basin: Well Hits High of 5,862 BOEPD (81% Oil)

The highest 24-hour rate for the second-quarter Williston completions was 5,862 Boe/d (81% oil) on the Minot Grady 26-35HD well. The seven-well pad averaged nearly 4,300 Boe/d (81% oil) during initial production.

Initial peak rates on the three-well Delores Sand pad also averaged nearly 4,300 Boe/d (81% oil). The highest 24-hour rate on the pad was 5,344 Boe/d on the 29-32 HD well.

Williston Basin production averaged 63.0 Mboe/d in second-quarter 2019, which was 25 percent higher than 50.6 Mboe/d in the same period a year ago.

WPX completed 12 Williston wells during the second quarter, including seven wells in the Three Forks formation and five wells in the Bakken formation. The wells were predominantly two-mile laterals.

Return of Capital to Shareholders

WPX's board of directors has authorized a plan for the company to repurchase up to $400 million of shares over the next 24 months.

"This accelerates our original plan to return capital to shareholders in 2021," said Rick Muncrief, WPX chairman and chief executive officer.

"The current market sentiment has created favorable circumstances for an action like this, and if the market remains irrational, we will be opportunistic.

"Doing so will not impact our expected development cadence in 2020 or our ability to continue to grow production. We expect to generate $100 million to $150 million in free cash flow in the back half of this year, which will help support our repurchase program," Muncrief added.

Under the stock repurchase program, WPX may repurchase shares from time to time at management's discretion in accordance with applicable securities laws, including through open market transactions, privately negotiated transactions or any combination thereof.

In addition, shares may also be repurchased pursuant to a trading plan meeting the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which would permit shares to be repurchased when WPX might otherwise be precluded from doing so under insider trading laws.

The amount and timing of repurchases are subject to a number of factors, including stock price, trading volume, general market conditions, legal requirements, general business conditions and corporate considerations determined by WPX's management, such as liquidity and capital needs.

Raising Production Estimate

WPX now expects full-year total production of 160-165 Mboe/d in 2019, up from prior estimates of 149-161 Mboe/d.

WPX now expects to produce 101-103 Mbbl/d of oil for full-year 2019, up from prior estimates of 96-100 Mbbl/d. Third-quarter oil volumes are driving the upward revision.

WPX expects to average 108-111 Mbbl/d of oil in the third quarter. WPX expects fourth-quarter oil production to moderate following the third-quarter surge.

Reaffirmed 2019 Capital Plan

Total capital spending in the second quarter was $341 million, predominantly from $287 million in D&C activity for operated wells, $7.5 million in non-op D&C activity and $40.6 million for midstream infrastructure.

Capital spending in the first half of the year, excluding land, represents 55 percent of WPX's 2019 budget, which is consistent with the company's plan and development cadence. WPX's $100 million land purchase in the first quarter was funded through proceeds from divestitures.

Second-quarter capital activity reflects a $42 million increase in the company's in-process development activities, primarily driven by the timing of 24 wells that went to first sales in July and the pace of midstream development which was weighted toward the first half of the year.

WPX's 2019 total capital development plan remains unchanged at $1,100-$1,275 million, including $1,000-$1,100 million for operated D&C activity; $50-$75 million for non-op D&C activity; and $50-$100 million for midstream opportunities.

2Q Financials

Total product revenues of $558 million in second-quarter 2019 were seven percent higher than the same period a year ago. Quarterly oil sales grew nine percent.

Total product revenues of $1,065 million during the first half of 2019 were 15 percent higher than $927 million in the first half of 2018.

Second-quarter DD&A, general and administrative expenses, and interest expense trended downward on a per-Boe basis vs. the first quarter of this year. Higher lease operating expense resulted from higher water management costs and unplanned workover expenses related to electrical service interruptions.

For the first half of 2019, WPX posted net income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders of $257 million, including $373 million of gains on equity method investment transactions, a $129 million net loss on derivatives from its hedge book, and a favorable margin on commodity management.

For the first half of 2019, WPX posted adjusted net income from continuing operations of $59 million, or income of $0.14 per share. A reconciliation accompanies this press release.

Adjusted EBITDAX (a non-GAAP financial measure) for the second quarter rose 18 percent to $339 million vs. the same period a year ago. Reconciliations for non-GAAP financial measures are available in the tables that accompany this press release.

Based on its second-quarter adjusted EBITDAX, WPX's annualized run rate for net debt/EBITDAX is now approximately 1.5x.

For the first half of 2019, adjusted EBITDAX was $651 million, or 34 percent higher than $487 million in the first half of 2018. The improvement in adjusted EBITDAX is driven by higher production volumes and higher net realizations, partially offset by higher lease operating expense.

The weighted average gross sales price - prior to revenue deductions and derivatives - was $57.50 per barrel for oil, $1.74 for natural gas and $13.66 per barrel for NGL during second-quarter 2019.

WPX's total liquidity at the close of business on June 30, 2019, was approximately $1.6 billion, including cash, cash equivalents and nearly all of its $1.5 billion available revolver capacity. WPX paid off its prior revolver balance during the quarter with proceeds from the Oryx II transaction.

2Q Production

Total production volumes of 159.6 Mboe/d in second-quarter 2019 increased 3 percent vs. first-quarter 2019 and were 28 percent higher than the same period a year ago. Liquids volumes accounted for 79 percent of second-quarter 2019 production.

Oil volumes of 97,900 bbl/d in second-quarter 2019 were 2 percent higher vs. first-quarter 2019 and 21 percent higher than the same period a year ago. Prior-year Delaware results also benefitted nominally from a non-core position (Nine Mile Draw) that has since been divested.

WPX completed 28 gross operated wells (24 net) in its two core basins during second-quarter 2019 and participated in another six gross (2 net) non-operated wells in the Williston Basin.

For the balance of 2019, WPX has 60,500 bbl/d of oil hedged with fixed price swaps at a weighted average price of $55.29 per barrel, 5,000 bbl/d with fixed price calls at a weighted average price of $54.08 per barrel, and 8,000 bbl/d with collars at a weighted average price of $50 for the floor and $60.19 for the ceiling. WPX also has 110,000 MMBtu/d of natural gas hedged at a weighted average price of $3.07 per MMBtu.

For 2020, WPX has 40,000 bbl/d of oil hedged with fixed price swaps at a weighted average price of $57.48 per barrel and 20,000 bbl/d with collars at a weighted average price of $53.33 for the floor and $63.48 for the ceiling.

"Our assets in the Permian, the Williston and our midstream portfolio continue to deliver value for our shareholders," said Rick Muncrief, chairman and chief executive officer.

"Our teams executed at a high level during the quarter, which allows us to increase our volume guidance, maintain our capital plan, and generate free cash flow.

"Fundamentally, things look very good, and unsurprisingly, we remain confident in our company's 2019 outlook and our momentum going into 2020," Muncrief added.