Gulfport Energy Corporation Reports First Quarter 2017 Results

OKLAHOMA CITY, May 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gulfport Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:GPOR) (“Gulfport” or the “Company”) today reported financial and operational results for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 and provided an update on its 2017 activities.  Key information for the first quarter of 2017 includes the following:

• Net production averaged 849.6 MMcfe per day, an 8% increase over the fourth quarter of 2016 and a 23% increase versus the first quarter of 2016.
• Realized natural gas price, before the impact of derivatives and including transportation costs, averaged $2.68 per Mcf, a $0.63 per Mcf differential to the average trade month NYMEX settled price.
• Realized oil price, before the impact of derivatives and including transportation costs, averaged $47.52 per barrel, a $4.34 per barrel differential to the average WTI oil price.
• Realized natural gas liquids price, before the impact of derivatives and including transportation costs, averaged $26.46 per barrel, or $0.63 per gallon.
• Net income of $154.5 million, or $0.91 per diluted share.
• Adjusted net income (as defined and reconciled below) of $53.9 million, or $0.32 per diluted share.
• Adjusted EBITDA (as defined and reconciled below) of $143.6 million.
• Reduced unit lease operating expense for the first quarter of 2017 by 9% to $0.25 per Mcfe from $0.28 per Mcfe for the fourth quarter of 2016.
• Closed acquisition of core SCOOP assets from Vitruvian II Woodford, LLC ("Vitruvian") on February 17, 2017.
• Increasing expected realized oil price and now estimate that the Company's 2017 realized oil price will be in the range of $3.75 to $4.75 per barrel below WTI.
• Increasing expected realized natural gas liquids price and now estimate that the Company's  2017 realized natural gas liquids price will be approximately 45% of WTI.
• Recent two-well wet gas pad in southern Grady County, OK turned-to-sales with the Vinson 2-22X27H averaging a 24-hour initial production rate of 14.6 MMcf per day and 57 barrels of oil per day and the Vinson 3R-22X27H averaging a 24-hour initial production rate of 16.9 MMcf per day and 48 barrels of oil per day.
• Expect to spud both a Springer and Sycamore location in the SCOOP during the summer of 2017.

Chief Executive Officer and President, Michael G. Moore commented, "The first quarter was an eventful quarter for Gulfport, experiencing yet another solid quarter operationally, driven by our assets in the Utica Shale and closing of the acquisition of the SCOOP assets from Vitruvian, which provides Gulfport sizeable core positions in two of North America’s lowest cost natural gas basins. Subsequent to the quarter, we completed and turned-to-sales two gross SCOOP wells located in the wet gas window in Southern Grady County, marking Gulfport’s first completions in the play. We have witnessed several key indicators during the flowback of the wells that indicate these wells to be top performers relative to their offsets, outperforming the average of direct offset producers by approximately 30% and outperforming our current SCOOP wet gas type curve by as much as 35%. Bear in mind, we are still early in the flowback process and would expect these wells to continue to clean up and potentially improve further beyond the rates provided today. We are extremely pleased with the results from these new wells and would expect both of the wells to rank among the top wells completed in the play to date."

Financial Results 
For the first quarter of 2017, Gulfport reported net income of $154.5 million, or $0.91 per diluted share, on revenues of $333.0 million.  For the first quarter of 2017, EBITDA (as defined and reconciled below) was $244.2 million and cash flow from operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities (as defined and reconciled below) was $121.7 million.  Gulfport’s GAAP net income for the first quarter of 2017 includes the following items: 

• Aggregate non-cash derivative gain of $106.8 million.
• Aggregate expense of $1.3 million in connection with the acquisition of oil and natural gas assets from Vitruvian.
• Aggregate loss of $4.9 million in connection with Gulfport's equity interests in certain equity investments.

Excluding the effect of these items, Gulfport’s financial results for the first quarter of 2017 would have been as follows:

• Adjusted oil and gas revenues of $226.2 million.
• Adjusted net income of $53.9 million, or $0.32 per diluted share.
• Adjusted EBITDA of $143.6 million.

Production and Realized Prices 
Gulfport’s net daily production for the first quarter of 2017 averaged approximately 849.6 MMcfe per day. For the first quarter of 2017, Gulfport’s net daily production mix was comprised of approximately 87% natural gas, 9% natural gas liquids ("NGL") and 4% oil.

Gulfport’s realized prices for the first quarter of 2017 were $2.57 per Mcf of natural gas, $47.68 per barrel of oil and $0.63 per gallon of NGL, resulting in a total equivalent price of $2.96 per Mcfe. Gulfport's realized prices for the first quarter of 2017 include an aggregate cash-settled derivative loss of $7.2 million. Before the impact of derivatives, realized prices for the first quarter of 2017, including transportation costs, were $2.68 per Mcf of natural gas, $47.52 per barrel of oil and $0.63 per gallon of NGL, for a total equivalent price of $3.05 per Mcfe.

The table below summarizes Gulfport’s first quarter of 2017 production by asset area:

2017 Financial Position and Liquidity
For the three-month period ended March 31, 2017, Gulfport’s drilling and completion capital expenditures totaled $238.1 million, midstream capital expenditures totaled $10.0 million and leasehold capital expenditures totaled $12.1 million. Mr. Moore commented, "Gulfport began to increase completions during the second half of the first quarter, as planned in our budget provided in February, completing 637 stages during the quarter and setting up for an active turn-in-line schedule for the second quarter of 2017."

Gulfport recently completed its spring redetermination under its revolving credit facility which resulted in its borrowing base increasing from $700 million to $1 billion, effective May 4, 2017. In connection with this process, Gulfport is pleased to announce that JP Morgan, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, ABN Amro, Fifth Third and CIBC have joined as part of the Company's expanded lender group.

As of March 31, 2017, Gulfport had cash on hand of approximately $102.5 million. As of March 31, 2017, $40.0 million was outstanding under Gulfport’s revolving credit facility and $421.3 million was available for borrowing after giving effect to outstanding letters of credit totaling $238.7 million. Pro forma for the recent increase in the Company's borrowing base from $700 million to $1 billion, Gulfport would have had $721.3 million of available borrowing capacity after giving effect to outstanding letters of credit.

Operational Update

The table below summarizes Gulfport's first quarter of 2017 activity and the number of net wells expected to be drilled and turned-to-sales for the remainder of 2017:

Utica Shale
In the Utica Shale, during the first quarter of 2017, Gulfport spud 26 gross (23.5 net) wells. The wells drilled during the first quarter of 2017 had an average lateral length of approximately 8,145 feet and average drilling days from spud to rig release of approximately 20.9 days. In addition, Gulfport turned-to-sales five gross (4.7 net) operated wells with an average lateral length of approximately 9,341 feet and average of approximately 4.7 stages completed per day.  For the three-month period ended March 31, 2017, Gulfport's well costs averaged approximately $1,090 per foot of lateral in the Utica Shale.

During the first quarter of 2017, net production from Gulfport’s Utica acreage averaged approximately 750.7 MMcfe per day, a decrease of 2% over the fourth quarter of 2016 and an increase of 12% over the first quarter of 2016.

At present, Gulfport has six operated horizontal rigs drilling in the play.

SCOOP
In the SCOOP, during the first quarter of 2017, five gross (4.2 net) wells were spud on the acreage. The wells drilled during the first quarter of 2017 had an average lateral length of 7,856 and average drilling days from spud to rig release of approximately 62.4 days. During the period February 17, 2017 (the date Gulfport completed its acquisition of the acreage) through March 31, 2017, net production from the acreage averaged approximately 172.0 MMcfe per day.

Subsequent to the first quarter of 2017, Gulfport turned-to-sales two gross (1.2 net) wells located in the wet gas window in southern Grady County. The Vinson 2-22X27H has a lateral length of 8,539 feet and a 24-hour initial production rate of 14.6 MMcf per day and 57 barrels of oil per day. The Vinson 3R-22X27H has a lateral length of 8,475 feet and a 24-hour initial production rate of 16.9 MMcf per day and 48 barrels of oil per day.

In addition to approximately 46,400 net Woodford reservoir acres, Gulfport holds approximately 38,600 net Springer reservoir acres and approximately 40,000 net Sycamore reservoir acres.  Gulfport plans to spud both a Springer and Sycamore location on the acreage during the summer of 2017.

At present, Gulfport has four operated horizontal rigs drilling in the play.

Southern Louisiana
At its West Cote Blanche Bay and Hackberry fields, during the first quarter of 2017, Gulfport spud three wells and performed 39 recompletions at the fields. Net production during the first quarter of 2017 totaled approximately 15.7 MMcfe per day. 

2017 Capital Budget and Production Guidance 
Gulfport reaffirms its 2017 capital budget and production guidance. 

Gulfport increases its expected realized NGL price and realized oil price. Gulfport now expects that its 2017 realized NGL price, before the effect of hedges and including transportation expense, will be approximately 45% of WTI and its 2017 realized oil price will be in the range of $3.75 to $4.75 per barrel below WTI.

The table below summarizes the Company’s full year 2017 guidance:

Derivatives 
Gulfport has hedged a portion of its expected production to lock in prices and returns that provide certainty of cash flow to execute on its capital plans. The table below sets forth the Company's hedging positions as of May 8, 2017.

Presentation
An updated presentation has been posted to the Company’s website. The presentation can be found at www.gulfportenergy.com under the “Company Information” section on the “Investor Relations” page.  Information on the Company’s website does not constitute a portion of this press release.

Conference Call 
Gulfport will hold a conference call on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at 8:00 a.m. CDT to discuss its first quarter of 2017 financial and operational results and to provide an update on the Company’s recent activities.

Interested parties may listen to the call via Gulfport’s website at www.gulfportenergy.com or by calling toll-free at 866-373-3408 or 412-902-1039 for international callers.  A replay of the call will be available for two weeks at 877-660-6853 or 201-612-7415 for international callers.  The replay passcode is 13622396.  The webcast will also be available for two weeks on the Company’s website and can be accessed on the Company’s “Investor Relations” page.

About Gulfport
Gulfport Energy is an independent natural gas and oil company focused on the exploration and development of natural gas and oil properties in North America and is one of the largest producers of natural gas in the contiguous United States. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, Gulfport holds significant acreage positions in the Utica Shale of Eastern Ohio and the SCOOP Woodford and SCOOP Springer plays in Oklahoma. In addition, Gulfport holds an acreage position along the Louisiana Gulf Coast, a position in the Alberta Oil Sands in Canada through its 25% interest in Grizzly Oil Sands ULC and has an approximately 24% equity interest in Mammoth Energy Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:TUSK). For more information, please visit www.gulfportenergy.com.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that Gulfport expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, future capital expenditures (including the amount and nature thereof), business strategy and measures to implement strategy, competitive strength, goals, expansion and growth of Gulfport's business and operations, plans, market conditions, references to future success, reference to intentions as to future matters and other such matters are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by Gulfport in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments as well as other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will conform with Gulfport's expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, general economic, market, credit or business conditions; the opportunities (or lack thereof) that may be presented to and pursued by Gulfport; Gulfport’s ability to identify, complete and integrate acquisitions of properties  (including the properties recently acquired from Vitruvian) and businesses; competitive actions by other oil and gas companies; changes in laws or regulations; and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Gulfport. Information concerning these and other factors can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and there can be no assurances that the actual results or developments anticipated by Gulfport will be realized, or even if realized, that they will have the expected consequences to or effects on Gulfport, its business or operations. Gulfport has no intention, and disclaims any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future results or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure equal to net income (loss), the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, plus interest expense, income tax (benefit) expense, accretion expense, depreciation, depletion and amortization and impairment of oil and gas properties. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure equal to EBITDA less non-cash derivative (gain) loss, acquisition expense, impairment of Grizzly equity investment and (income) loss from equity method investments. Cash flow from operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities is a non-GAAP financial measure equal to cash provided by operating activity before changes in operating assets and liabilities. Adjusted net income is a non-GAAP financial measure equal to pre-tax net loss less non-cash derivative (gain) loss, impairment of oil and gas properties, acquisition expense, impairment of Grizzly equity investment and (income) loss from equity method investments plus tax benefit excluding adjustments. The Company has presented EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA because it uses these measures as an integral part of its internal reporting to evaluate its performance and the performance of its senior management. These measures are considered important indicators of the operational strength of the Company's business and eliminate the uneven effect of considerable amounts of non-cash depletion, depreciation of tangible assets and amortization of certain intangible assets. A limitation of these measures, however, is that they do not reflect the periodic costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenues in the Company's business. Management evaluates the costs of such tangible and intangible assets and the impact of related impairments through other financial measures, such as capital expenditures, investment spending and return on capital. Therefore, the Company believes that these measures provide useful information to its investors regarding its performance and overall results of operations. EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and cash flow from operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities are not intended to be performance measures that should be regarded as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, either net income as an indicator of operating performance or to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. In addition, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and cash flow from operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities are not intended to represent funds available for dividends, reinvestment or other discretionary uses, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. The EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and cash flow from operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities presented in this press release may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies, and may not be identical to corresponding measures used in the Company's various agreements.

Investor & Media Contact:
Jessica Wills – Manager, Investor Relations and Research
jwills@gulfportenergy.com
405-252-4550

Released May 8, 2017