Callon Petroleum Company Announces First Quarter 2018 Results

NATCHEZ, Miss., May 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Callon Petroleum Company (NYSE: CPE) ("Callon" or the "Company") today reported results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Presentation slides accompanying this earnings release are available on the Company's website at www.callon.com located on the "Presentations" page within the Investors section of the site.

Financial and operational highlights for the first quarter of 2018 and other recent data points include:

• Increased production to 26.6 MBoepd (77% oil), an increase of 30% year-over-year
• Reduced lease operating expense by 18% year-over-year to $5.45 per BOE
• Generated a first quarter operating margin of $44.31 per BOE, an increase of 30% year-over-year
• Successful early results from Wolfcamp A down-spacing test in Howard County with 10-well spacing exceeding the performance of offsetting eight-well spacing pads
• Initial production rates from the first two-well pad targeting the upper and lower Wolfcamp A intervals in Ward County have reached approximately 1,700 Boepd (85% oil) to date from each of the wells within the first 20 days of production
• Improved drilling efficiency in the Delaware Basin has resulted in a greater than 25% increase in footage per day through the first six operated wells

Joe Gatto, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased to deliver another solid quarter of execution while positioning ourselves for an increased level of baseline activity. During the first quarter, we added a fifth horizontal drilling rig and made substantial progress completing our Delaware Basin infrastructure initiatives to support the next phase of program development on our Permian footprint. Similar to our proactive past investments in the Midland Basin, our established facilities and takeaway investments in the Spur area will help preserve our leading cash margins for the long-term." He continued, "The first quarter also produced drilling and completion efficiency gains that were ahead of expectations. Combined with strong well productivity across the portfolio and a low-cost operating structure, the stage is set for robust production growth and cash flow generation in the coming quarters."

Operations Update

At March 31, 2018, we had 247 gross (184.5 net) horizontal wells producing from eight established flow units in the Permian Basin. Net daily production for the three months ended March 31, 2018 grew approximately 30% to 26.6 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (77% oil) as compared to the same period of 2017.

For the three months ended March 31, 2018, we drilled 16 gross (13.2 net) horizontal wells in the Spur, WildHorse, and Monarch areas. We placed a combined 15 gross (9.0 net) horizontal wells on production in the quarter.

Midland Basin

During the first quarter, nearly all wells placed on production were located in the Midland Basin, with the majority of this activity split between our Ranger area in Reagan County and our Monarch area in Midland County. Wells placed on production in Reagan County averaged approximately 7,300 feet of completed lateral.  At Monarch, new wells averaged just under 6,000 feet.  During the last week of the quarter, two wells were placed on production in Howard County.

Our initial Wolfcamp A down-spacing test in the Fairway area of WildHorse has yielded encouraging results through the first 120 days of production. Compared to offset two-well pads completed with a similar design, the test wells, the Open A2 #1AH and Open A3 #3AH, have both eclipsed the cumulative oil production of each of the four offset wells. The Company will continue monitoring production from the test wells over the next few months prior to initiating any additional testing of reduced spacing at WildHorse.

Delaware Basin

Our first two-well pad in the Spur area targeting two flow units in the Wolfcamp A was completed and placed on production in April. Each of the wells, the Rendezvous A1 #01LA and A2 #09UA, has achieved a production rate of approximately 1,700 Boepd (85% oil) per well during the first 20 days of production and continue to be optimized.

Callon continues to progress efficiency gains as our activity levels increase in the Delaware Basin. Through our first six operated wells, the Company has continued to improve drilling day cycle times, with our most recent well reflecting an improvement of greater than 25% in daily footage compared to our first well drilled in Spur. Additionally, we have been proactive in our infrastructure build-out to support long-term development efficiency and sustained cash margins, similar to our past efforts in the Midland Basin. We have recently progressed or completed a number of infrastructure projects including: multiple saltwater disposal upgrades, installation of water transfer lines, installation of recycling facilities, build-out of two separate one million barrel recycle pits and installation of numerous tank batteries to accommodate future drilling activity. Additionally, we expect to have new tank batteries tied into Medallion pipeline during the second quarter, increasing our longer-term take-away capacities and providing additional delivery point optionality under our current gathering agreement.

Capital Expenditures

For the three months ended March 31, 2018, we incurred $105.3 million in cash operational capital expenditures (including other items) compared to $128.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2017. Total capital expenditures, inclusive of capitalized expenses, are detailed below on an accrual and cash basis (in thousands):

Operating and Financial Results

The following table presents summary information for the periods indicated:

Total Revenue. For the quarter ended March 31, 2018, Callon reported total revenue of $127.4 million and total revenue including cash-settled derivatives ("Adjusted Total Revenue," a non-GAAP financial measure⁽ⁱ⁾) of $118.9 million, including the impact of an $8.5 million loss from the settlement of derivative contracts. The table above reconciles Adjusted Total Revenue to the related GAAP measure of the Company's revenue. Average daily production for the quarter was 26.6 MBOE/d compared to average daily production of 26.5 MBOE/d in the fourth quarter of 2017. Average realized prices, including and excluding the effects of hedging, are detailed above.

Hedging impacts. For the quarter ended March 31, 2018, Callon recognized the following hedging-related items (in thousands, except per unit data):

Lease Operating Expenses, including workover ("LOE"). LOE per BOE for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was $5.45 per BOE, compared to LOE of $4.84 per BOE in the fourth quarter of 2017. The increase in this metric was primarily related to interim water hauling in Reagan County and certain equipment rental expenses.

Production Taxes, including ad valorem taxes. Production taxes were $3.54 per BOE for the three months ended March 31, 2018, representing approximately 6.6% of total revenue before the impact of derivative settlements.

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization ("DD&A"). DD&A for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was $14.81 per BOE compared to $14.98 per BOE in the fourth quarter of 2017. The decrease is attributable to our increased estimated proved reserves relative to our depreciable base and assumed future development costs related to undeveloped proved reserves as a result of additions made through our horizontal drilling efforts and acquisitions.

General and Administrative ("G&A"). G&A, excluding certain non-cash incentive share-based compensation valuation adjustments, ("Adjusted G&A", a non-GAAP measure⁽ⁱ⁾) was $7.8 million, or $3.25 per BOE, for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $7.3 million, or $3.00 per BOE, for the fourth quarter of 2017. The cash component of Adjusted G&A was $6.5 million, or $2.74 per BOE, for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $6.0 million, or $2.46 per BOE, for the fourth quarter of 2017.

For the three months ended March 31, 2018, G&A and Adjusted G&A, which excludes the amortization of equity-settled, share-based incentive awards and corporate depreciation and amortization, are calculated as follows (in thousands):

Income tax expense. Callon provides for income taxes at a statutory rate of 21% adjusted for permanent differences expected to be realized, which primarily relate to non-deductible executive compensation expenses, restricted stock windfalls and shortfalls, and state income taxes. We recorded an income tax expense of $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 which relates to deferred State of Texas gross margin tax. At March 31, 2018 we had a valuation allowance of $49.2 million. Adjusted Income per fully diluted common share, a non-GAAP financial measure⁽ⁱ⁾, adjusts our income (loss) available to common stockholders to reflect our theoretical tax provision of $11.8 million (or $0.06 per diluted share) for the quarter as if the valuation allowance did not exist.

2018 Guidance Update

The Company adopted the Revenue from Contracts with Customers accounting standard on January 1, 2018. Starting with the first quarter of 2018, certain natural gas gathering and treating expenses were accounted for as a reduction to revenue.

Hedge Portfolio Summary

The following tables summarize our open derivative positions for the periods indicated:

Income Available to Common Shareholders. The Company reported net income available to common shareholders of $53.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and Adjusted Income available to common shareholders of $39.8 million, or $0.20 per fully diluted share. Adjusted Income per fully diluted common share, a non-GAAP financial measure⁽ⁱ⁾, adjusts our income available to common stockholders to reflect our theoretical tax provision for the quarter as if the valuation allowance did not exist. The following tables reconcile to the related GAAP measure the Company's income available to common stockholders to Adjusted Income and the Company's net income to Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands):

Discretionary Cash Flow. Discretionary cash flow, a non-GAAP measure⁽ⁱ⁾, for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was $91.2 million and is reconciled to operating cash flow in the following table (in thousands):

Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations

This news release refers to non-GAAP financial measures such as "Discretionary Cash Flow," "Adjusted G&A," "Adjusted Income," "Adjusted EBITDA" and "Adjusted Total Revenue." These measures, detailed below, are provided in addition to, and not as an alternative for, and should be read in conjunction with, the information contained in our financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP (including the notes), included in our SEC filings and posted on our website.

• Callon believes that the non-GAAP measure of discretionary cash flow is useful as an indicator of an oil and natural gas exploration and production company's ability to internally fund exploration and development activities and to service or incur additional debt. The Company also has included this information because changes in operating assets and liabilities relate to the timing of cash receipts and disbursements, which the company may not control and may not relate to the period in which the operating activities occurred. Discretionary cash flow is calculated using net income (loss) adjusted for certain items including depreciation, depletion and amortization, the impact of financial derivatives (including the mark-to-market effects, net of cash settlements and premiums paid or received related to our financial derivatives), accretion expense, restructuring and other non-recurring costs, deferred income taxes and other non-cash income items.
• Callon believes that the non-GAAP measure of Adjusted G&A is useful to investors because it provides readers with a meaningful measure of our recurring G&A expense and provides for greater comparability period-over-period. The table above details all adjustments to G&A on a GAAP basis to arrive at Adjusted G&A.
• We believe that the non-GAAP measure of Adjusted Income available to common shareholders ("Adjusted Income") and Adjusted Income per diluted share are useful to investors because they provide readers with a meaningful measure of our profitability before recording certain items whose timing or amount cannot be reasonably determined. These measures exclude the net of tax effects of certain non-recurring items and non-cash valuation adjustments, which are detailed in the reconciliation provided above. Prior to being tax-effected and excluded, the amounts reflected in the determination of Adjusted Income and Adjusted Income per diluted share above were computed in accordance with GAAP.
• We calculate Adjusted Earnings before Interest, Income Taxes, Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA") as Adjusted Income plus interest expense, income tax expense (benefit) and depreciation, depletion and amortization expense. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP. Accordingly, it should not be considered as a substitute for net income (loss), operating income (loss), cash flow provided by operating activities or other income or cash flow data prepared in accordance with GAAP. However, we believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides additional information with respect to our performance or ability to meet our future debt service, capital expenditures and working capital requirements. Because Adjusted EBITDA excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income (loss) and may vary among companies, the Adjusted EBITDA we present may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.
• We believe that the non-GAAP measure of Adjusted Total Revenue is useful to investors because it provides readers with a revenue value more comparable to other companies who account for derivative contracts and hedges and include their effects in revenue. We believe Adjusted Total Revenue is also useful to investors as a measure of the actual cash inflows generated during the period.

Earnings Call Information

The Company will host a conference call on Thursday, May 3, 2018, to discuss first quarter 2018 financial and operating results.

Please join Callon Petroleum Company via the Internet for a webcast of the conference call:

Alternatively, you may join by telephone using the following numbers:

An archive of the conference call webcast will be available at www.callon.com under the "Investors" section of the website.

About Callon Petroleum

Callon Petroleum Company is an independent energy company focused on the acquisition, development, exploration, and operation of oil and natural gas properties in the Permian Basin in West Texas.

This news release is posted on the Company's website at www.callon.com and will be archived there for subsequent review under the "News" link on the top of the homepage.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include all statements regarding wells anticipated to be drilled and placed on production; future levels of drilling activity and associated production and cash flow expectations; the Company's 2018 guidance and capital expenditure forecast; estimated reserve quantities and the present value thereof; and the implementation of the Company's business plans and strategy, as well as statements including the words "believe," "expect," "plans" and words of similar meaning. These statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and financial performance. No assurances can be given, however, that these events will occur or that these projections will be achieved, and actual results could differ materially from those projected as a result of certain factors. Some of the factors which could affect our future results and could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include the volatility of oil and natural gas prices, ability to drill and complete wells, operational, regulatory and environment risks, our ability to finance our activities and other risks more fully discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, available on our website or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Contact Information

Mark Brewer
Director of Investor Relations
Callon Petroleum Company
ir@callon.com
1-281-589-5279

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SOURCE Callon Petroleum Company