Stone Energy Corporation Announces Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017

LAFAYETTE, La., May 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Stone Energy Corporation (NYSE: SGY) ("Stone" or the "Company") today announced financial and operational results for the three months ended March 31, 2017.  Some items of note include:

• Gulf of Mexico production volumes averaged 19.6 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day for the three months ended March 31, 2017
• Sale of Appalachia assets closed
• Emergence from Chapter 11 with reduced debt, excess cash and an undrawn bank facility
• Implementation of Fresh Start Accounting upon emergence from Chapter 11

Financial Results

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, Stone reported net income of $370.7 million on oil and gas revenue of $91.0 million.  The adjusted net loss for the same period, which excludes a net gain related to reorganization-related items of $637.9 million and impairment charges of $256.4 million, was $8.4 million.  Net cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2017 totaled $4.8 million, while discretionary cash flow for the same period totaled $18.8 million.  Please see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and the accompanying financial statements for reconciliations of adjusted net loss, a non-GAAP financial measure, to net income, and discretionary cash flow, a non-GAAP financial measure, to net cash provided by operating activities.

Net daily production during the three months ended March 31, 2017 averaged 30.4 thousand barrels of oil equivalent ("MBoe") per day, which included approximately 19.6 MBoe per day from the Gulf of Mexico ("GOM") basin.  The GOM basin production mix for this period was approximately 71% oil, 23% natural gas and 6% natural gas liquids ("NGLs").  We expect production rates from the GOM basin to range from 19 MBoe per day to 21 MBoe per day for the second quarter of 2017.

Prices realized during the three months ended March 31, 2017 averaged $49.97 per barrel of oil, $2.68 per Mcf of natural gas and $21.60 per barrel of NGLs.  Average realized prices for the first quarter of 2016 were $36.87 per barrel of oil, $2.22 per Mcf of natural gas and $13.01 per barrel of NGLs.

Lease operating expenses during the three months ended March 31, 2017 totaled $13.6 million ($4.96 per Boe) including lease operating expenses for the GOM basin of approximately $11.3 million.  We expect lease operating expenses for the full year of 2017 to range from $66 million to $72 million, which includes additional planned major maintenance projects scheduled for the second and third quarters of 2017.

Transportation, processing and gathering ("TP&G") expenses during the three months ended March 31, 2017 totaled $7.1 million ($2.59 per Boe), which includes TP&G expenses for the GOM basin of approximately $0.3 million.  Due to the sale of our Appalachia properties, we expect TP&G expenses to remain under $1 million per quarter for the remaining quarters of 2017.

Depreciation, depletion and amortization ("DD&A") expense on oil and gas properties for the three months ended March 31, 2017 totaled $52.3 million ($19.13 per Boe).  We expect DD&A for the GOM basin to range from $18 per Boe to $19 per Boe for each of the remaining quarters of 2017.

The March 31, 2017 write-down of oil and gas properties of $256.4 million was primarily due to differences between the trailing twelve-month average pricing assumption required by the Securities and Exchange Commission when calculating the ceiling test under the full cost method of accounting and the forward prices used in fresh start accounting to estimate the fair value of our oil and gas properties as of the fresh start reporting date of February 28, 2017.

Salaries, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses (exclusive of incentive compensation) for the three months ended March 31, 2017 were $13.0 million ($4.74 per Boe).  We expect cash SG&A expenses before capitalization for subsequent quarters in 2017 to range from $12 million to $14 million excluding non-recurring items, non-cash items and incentive compensation.

Accretion expense for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $8.3 million.  As a result of the revaluation of our asset retirement obligations in accordance with the implementation of fresh start accounting, we expect accretion expense to approximate $9 million in future quarters of 2017.

Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $1.2 million, which primarily included interest associated with the Company's $225 million of 7.50% Senior Second Lien Notes due 2022 that were issued on the February 28, 2017 effective date of Stone's plan of reorganization.   

Other expense for the three months ended March 31, 2017 of $13.3 million was primarily attributable to the previously announced break-up fee paid to TH Exploration III, LLC, an affiliate of Tug Hill, Inc., upon the close of the sale of the Appalachia properties to EQT Corporation, through its wholly owned subsidiary EQT Production Company ("EQT").

Reorganization items for the three months ended March 31, 2017 generated income of $437.7 million, resulting from fresh start accounting valuations adjustments of $235.8 million and a $230.1 million gain on the settlement of liabilities subject to compromise, which were partially offset by reorganization professional fees and other expenses.  Since the Company emerged from chapter 11 reorganization on February 28, 2017, we do not expect to incur additional reorganization expenses.

Fresh Start Accounting and Hedge Accounting Changes

Upon emergence from chapter 11 reorganization, Stone adopted fresh start accounting effective February 28, 2017.  Under the principles of fresh start accounting, a new reporting entity was created, and Stone's assets and liabilities were recorded at their fair values as of the fresh start reporting date.  Also, effective January 1, 2017, we have elected to not designate our 2017 and 2018 commodity derivative contracts as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes.  Accordingly, the net changes in the mark-to-market valuations and the monthly settlements on these derivative contracts will be recorded in earnings through derivative income/expense.  As a result, Stone's financial statements dated on or after March 1, 2017 will not be comparable with financial statements issued prior to that date.  References to "Predecessor" refer to Stone prior to the adoption of fresh start accounting while references to "Successor" refer to Stone subsequent to the adoption of fresh start accounting.  Please review Stone's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2017 for further details regarding fresh start accounting and the financial information presented at the end of this press release.

Capital Expenditures Update

Capital expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2017 were approximately $37.3 million, which included approximately $13 million associated with drilling and completing the Mt. Bona well at the Pompano platform and approximately $21 million of plugging and abandonment expenditures, approximately $19 million of which were attributable to temporary plugging and abandonment operations on the Amethyst well.  In addition, $3.3 million of SG&A expenses and $2.9 million of interest were capitalized during the three months ended March 31, 2017. 

Our initial capital expenditures budget for 2017 of $181 million includes approximately $27 million for exploration opportunities, $54 million for development activities and $100 million for the plugging and abandonment of idle wells and platforms, and excludes capitalized SG&A and interest expenses.  Stone is evaluating various acquisition opportunities, which, if successful, would be additive to the current capital expenditures budget.

Liquidity Update

As of March 31, 2017, Stone's liquidity approximated $391.8 million, which included $137.5 million of undrawn capacity under the Company's revolving credit facility plus approximately $180.2 million in cash and cash equivalents and approximately $74.1 million in cash being held in a restricted account to satisfy near-term plugging and abandonment activities.  As of May 8, 2017, Stone had cash on hand of approximately $175.6 million, and $72.3 million in cash held in the restricted abandonment account.

As of March 31, 2017, Stone's outstanding debt totaled approximately $235.8 million, consisting of $225 million of 7.50% Senior Second Lien Notes due 2022 and approximately $10.8 million outstanding under a building loan.  Further, the Company had no outstanding borrowings and outstanding letters of credit of approximately $12.5 million under its $200 million reserve-based revolving credit facility, with available borrowings thereunder of $150 million until November 1, 2017.

We expect that cash flows from operating activities, cash on hand and availability under our revolving credit facility will be adequate to meet the current 2017 operating and capital expenditures needs of the Company.

Sale of Appalachia Properties

As previously announced, on February 27, 2017, Stone completed the disposition of producing properties and acreage, including approximately 86,000 net acres, in the Appalachian regions of Pennsylvania and West Virginia (collectively, the "Properties") to EQT, for a purchase price of $527 million, subject to customary purchase price adjustments and an upward adjustment to the purchase price of up to $16 million in an amount equal to certain downward adjustments. The sale of the Properties was consummated in accordance with the terms of a purchase and sale agreement, dated February 9, 2017, by and between the Company and EQT.

At December 31, 2016, the estimated proved reserves associated with the Properties represented approximately 34% of the Predecessor Company's total estimated proved oil and natural gas reserves on a volume equivalent basis.

Strategic Review

As previously announced, following the successful completion of the Company's financial restructuring and emergence from Chapter 11 reorganization, Stone's Board of Directors (the "Board") retained Petrie Partners LLC to assist the Board in its determination of the Company's strategic direction, including assessing its various strategic alternatives.  The Board intends to explore all potential avenues to increase stockholder value, which may include the acquisition of additional assets, accessing external capital, a business combination, or another strategic transaction.  No decision has been made with regard to any alternatives, and there can be no assurance that this assessment will result in any transaction.

Operational Update  

Pompano Platform Drilling Program (Deep Water).  In January 2017, we reinitiated platform drilling operations on the Mt. Bona prospect. We completed the well at the end of April 2017, and it is currently producing approximately 950 Boe per day.  Stone holds a 100% working interest in this well.  We have decided to postpone the drilling of the Providence prospect utilizing the platform drilling rig, and will release the platform drilling rig as of mid-summer 2017.

Mississippi Canyon 26 – No. 1 Amethyst Well (Deep Water).  As previously reported, on November 30, 2016, we performed a routine shut in of the Amethyst well to record pressures and determined that pressure communication existed between the production tubing and production casing strings, resulting from a suspected tubing leak.  In late April 2017, we completed temporary abandonment operations and are evaluating the well for potential sidetrack operations, assuming we can secure an appropriate partner.

Mississippi Canyon 117 - Rampart Deep and Rampart Shallow (Deep Water).  The Rampart exploration prospects (Deep and Shallow) target the Miocene interval and are expected to be tied back to the Pompano platform, if successful.  Stone currently holds a 100% working interest in the prospect, but has been in discussions with deep water operators to reduce its working interest to 50% or less.  The prospects are located nine miles from Stone's Pompano platform, and each well is estimated to take three months to drill. 

Mississippi Canyon 72 - Derbio (Deep Water).  The Derbio prospect is located five miles from Stone's Pompano platform and targets the Miocene interval.  If successful, a tie-back to the Pompano platform is likely.  Stone currently holds a 100% working interest in the prospect, but has been in discussions with other deep water operators to reduce its working interest to 50% or less.  The well is estimated to take three months to drill. 

Hedge Position

The following table illustrates our derivative positions for 2017 and 2018 as of May 8, 2017: 

Other Information

Stone Energy will not be hosting a conference call to discuss the operational and financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In this press release, we refer to non-GAAP financial measures we call "discretionary cash flow" and "adjusted net loss."  Management believes adjusted net loss is useful to investors because it is widely used by professional research analysts in the valuation, comparison, rating and investment recommendations of companies in the oil and gas exploration and production industry.  Discretionary cash flow equals cash flows from operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities.  Management believes discretionary cash flow is a financial indicator of our company's ability to internally fund capital expenditures and service debt.  Management also believes this non-GAAP financial measure of cash flow is useful information to investors because it is widely used by professional research analysts in the valuation, comparison, rating and investment recommendations of companies in the oil and gas exploration and production industry. Discretionary cash flow should not be considered an alternative to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities or net income (loss), as defined by GAAP.  Please see the "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measure" schedules for a reconciliation of adjusted net loss to net income (loss) and a reconciliation of discretionary cash flow to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking and are based upon Stone's current belief as to the outcome and timing of future events. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, that address activities that Stone plans, expects, believes, projects, estimates or anticipates will, should or may occur in the future, including future production of oil and gas, future capital expenditures and drilling of wells and future financial or operating results are forward-looking statements.  Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements herein include, but are not limited to, the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices for oil and gas; operating risks; liquidity risks, including risks relating to our bank credit facility and the Company's ability to access the capital markets; political and regulatory developments and legislation, including developments and legislation relating to our operations in the Gulf of Mexico basin; and other risk factors and known trends and uncertainties as described in Stone's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  For a more detailed discussion of risk factors, please see Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors" of the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Part II, Item 1A of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2017.  Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, Stone's actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements.  Stone assumes no obligation and expressly disclaims any duty to update the information contained herein, except as required by law.

Estimates for Stone's future production volumes are based on assumptions of capital expenditures levels and the assumption that market demand and prices for oil and gas will continue at levels that allow for economic production of these products. The production, transportation and marketing of oil and gas are subject to disruption due to transportation and processing availability, mechanical failure, human error, hurricanes and numerous other factors.  Stone's estimates are based on certain other assumptions, such as well performance and uptime estimates, which may vary significantly from those assumed. Delays experienced in well permitting could affect the timing of drilling and production. Lease operating expenses, which include major maintenance costs, vary in response to changes in prices of services and materials used in the operation of our properties and the amount of maintenance activity required.  Estimates of DD&A rates can vary according to reserve additions, capital expenditures, future development costs, and other factors. Therefore, we can give no assurance that our future production volumes, lease operating expenses or DD&A rates, if provided, will be as estimated.

Stone Energy is an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana with additional offices in New Orleans and Houston.  Stone is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of properties in the Gulf of Mexico basin.  For additional information, contact Kenneth H. Beer, Chief Financial Officer, at 337-521-2210 phone, 337-521-9880 fax or via e-mail at CFO@StoneEnergy.com

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SOURCE Stone Energy Corporation