Gulfport Energy Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2012 Results

OKLAHOMA CITY, Feb. 26, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gulfport Energy Corporation (Nasdaq:GPOR) today reported financial and operational results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2012 and provided an update on its 2013 activities.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2012, Gulfport reported net income of $15.9 million on oil and gas revenues of $56.5 million, or $0.28 per diluted share. For the fourth quarter of 2012, EBITDA (as defined below) was $50.8 million and cash flow from operating activities before changes in working capital was $35.5 million.  

For the year ended December 31, 2012, Gulfport reported net income of $68.4 million on oil and gas revenues of $248.6 million, or $1.21 per diluted share. For 2012, EBITDA (as defined below) was $191.4 million and cash flow from operating activities before changes in working capital was $178.8 million.  

Financial Highlights

• Produced full-year oil and gas sales volumes of 2.57 million barrels of oil equivalent ("BOE") during 2012, a 10% increase over 2011
• Generated $50.8 million of EBITDA in the fourth quarter of 2012, a 19% sequential increase over the third quarter of 2012

Production

For the fourth quarter of 2012, net production was 540,558 barrels of oil, 366,258 thousand cubic feet ("MCF") of natural gas and 289,728 gallons of natural gas liquids ("NGL"), or 608,499 BOE. Net production for the fourth quarter of 2012 by region was 293,906 BOE at West Cote Blanche Bay, 217,686 BOE at Hackberry, 69,667 BOE in the Utica Shale, 17,100 BOE in the Permian Basin, and an aggregate of 10,140 BOE in the Bakken, Niobrara and other areas. For 2012, Gulfport recorded net production of 2,323,373 barrels of oil, 1,107,744 MCF of natural gas and 2,714,085 gallons of NGL, or 2,572,618 BOE.

Realized price for the fourth quarter of 2012 including transportation costs was $101.89 per barrel of oil, $3.00 per MCF of natural gas and $1.01 per gallon of NGL, for a total equivalent of $92.80 per BOE. Realized price for the full-year 2012 including transportation costs was $104.46 per barrel of oil, $2.91 per MCF of natural gas and $0.98 per gallon of NGL, for a total equivalent of $96.63 per BOE. Realized prices for oil in the fourth quarter of 2012 reflect the impact of fixed price contracts of approximately 4,000 barrels of oil per day at a weighted average price of $107.29. Gulfport currently has fixed price swaps in place for 5,000 barrels of oil per day at a weighted average price of $100.90 for the remainder of 2013.

Year-End 2012 Reserves

Gulfport reported year-end 2012 total proved reserves of 13.88 million BOE, consisting of 8.25 million barrels of oil ("MMBBL"), which includes natural gas liquids, and 33.77 billion cubic feet ("BCF") of natural gas. In addition, Gulfport's third party engineers estimated Gulfport's year-end 2012 probable reserves to be 12.84 million barrels of oil and 80.62 billion cubic feet of natural gas, or 26.27 million BOE. At year-end 2012, 59.8% of Gulfport's proved reserves were classified as proved developed reserves. Giving pro forma effect to Gulfport's contribution of all of its oil and gas interests in the Permian Basin to Diamondback Energy, Inc. ("Diamondback"), as if such contribution had occurred on December 31, 2011, year-end total proved reserves increased 114% over 2011.

In accordance with SEC guidelines ("SEC Case"), at year-end 2012, reserve calculations were based on the average first day of the month price for the prior 12 months. The prices utilized for Gulfport's year-end 2012 reserve report were $91.32 per barrel of crude oil and $2.76 per MMBTU of natural gas, in each case as adjusted by lease for transportation fees and regional price differentials. Utilizing these prices, the present value of Gulfport's total proved reserves discounted at 10% (referred to as "PV-10") was $437 million at December 31, 2012. The PV-10 value of our total proved and probable reserves was $863 million at December 31, 2012. In addition to the SEC Case, Gulfport has also prepared estimates of its year-end PV-10 values using two alternate commodity price assumptions. The following table summarizes Gulfport's PV-10 values as of December 31, 2012 under each of the three cases. For the period presented, the SEC Case PV-10 proved reserve values, a non-GAAP measure, are equal to the standardized measure, a GAAP measure.

Grizzly Oil Sands Reserves and Resource

Effective December 31, 2012, third party engineers GLJ Petroleum Consultants Ltd. ("GLJ") provided an assessment report to Grizzly Oil Sands ULC ("Grizzly"), a company in which Gulfport holds an approximate 25% equity interest, estimating that Grizzly has 67 million barrels of proved reserves, 71 million barrels of probable reserves, and 3.1 billion barrels of best estimate (P50) contingent resource.

The following table summarizes GLJ's determination of Grizzly's reserves and resources effective December 31, 2012.

The GLJ reserve and resource assessment report was prepared in accordance with National Instrument 51-101 using the best practices detailed in the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook. For important qualifications and limitations relating to these oil sands reserves and resources, please see "Oil Sands Reserves & Resources Notes" below.

Recent Operational Highlights

• Gulfport recently added a third drilling rig in the Utica Shale and plans to add a fourth rig in April 2013.
• Gulfport spud a total of 11 wells in Southern Louisiana during the fourth quarter, completing seven of the wells as productive. Two wells were still being drilled at the end of the quarter.
• Grizzly recently entered into a long-term agreement to transport its bitumen via rail to the U.S. Gulf Coast premium markets.
• Six rigs are currently active in Gulfport's three core operating areas, with three rigs drilling in the Utica, two rigs drilling at Hackberry, and one rig drilling at WCBB.

Operational Update

Utica Shale

In the Utica Shale, Gulfport now holds approximately 137,000 gross (128,000 net) acres under lease. Gulfport spud 14 gross (6.68 net) wells during 2012. At the end of the 2012, two of these gross wells were producing, eight gross wells were completed and in their resting period, two gross wells were waiting on completion, and two gross wells were being drilled. Gulfport is accelerating its 2013 drilling program and recently added a third rig in the play, which is expected to spud its first well during the first week of March. At present, Gulfport has two rigs drilling ahead on the first and second wells of 2013 in the play. Gulfport currently anticipates adding a fourth drilling rig in April 2013.

Canadian Oil Sands

In the Canadian Oil Sands, Grizzly is currently conducting a well delineation program at May River, recently expanding the program to 28 wells, with 25 wells completed to date. Following the 2012/2013 winter exploration program, Grizzly's May River property will have been explored to a sufficient level so as to support the filing of an initial 12,000 barrel per day ("bpd") SAGD project regulatory application.

As previously announced, Grizzly has entered into a memorandum of understanding that outlines the rate structure for a 10 year agreement with Canadian National Railway Company ("CN") to transport its bitumen to the U.S. Gulf Coast via CN's rail network. This arrangement is expected to provide consistent access to Brent-based pricing from Grizzly's Algar Lake project.

Hackberry

At the Hackberry fields, Gulfport drilled 24 wells, completing 19 wells as productive during 2012 with two wells still being drilled at year-end 2012. In addition, Gulfport performed 32 recompletions at the fields. At present, Gulfport has two rigs active at the Hackberry fields drilling ahead on the second and third wells of 2013.

West Cote Blanche Bay ("WCBB")

At WCBB, Gulfport drilled 31 wells, completing 27 wells as productive during 2012. In addition, Gulfport performed 61 recompletions at the field. At present, Gulfport has one rig active at WCBB and is drilling ahead on the first well of 2013.

Presentation

An updated presentation will be posted to the Company's website tomorrow morning. The presentation can be found at www.gulfportenergy.com under the "Webcasts & Presentations" section on the "Investor Relations" page. Information on the Company's website does not constitute a portion of this press release.   

2013 Guidance

Gulfport estimates 2013 production to be in the range of 7.8 million to 8.1 million BOE. Capital expenditures for drilling activities and infrastructure projects during 2013 are estimated to be in the range of $458 million to $512 million.  For 2013, Gulfport projects lease operating expense to be in the range of $5.00 to $6.00 per BOE, general and administrative expense to be between $1.50 and $2.50 per BOE, production taxes to be between 8% and 9% of revenues, and depreciation, depletion and amortization expense to be in the range of $33.00 to $35.00 per BOE.

Conference Call

Gulfport will host a conference call on February 27, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. Central Time to discuss its fourth quarter and full-year 2012 financial and operational results. Interested parties may listen to the call via Gulfport's website at www.gulfportenergy.com or by calling toll-free at 877-291-1287 or 973-409-9250 for international callers. The passcode for the call is 94574808. A replay of the call will be available for two weeks at 855-859-2056 or 404-537-3406 for international callers. The replay passcode is 94574808. The webcast will be archived on the Company's website and can be accessed on the Company's "Investor Relations" page. 

About Gulfport

Gulfport Energy Corporation is an Oklahoma City-based independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company with its principal producing properties located along the Louisiana Gulf Coast. Gulfport has also acquired acreage positions in the Niobrara Formation of Northwestern Colorado and in the Utica Shale of Eastern Ohio. In addition, Gulfport holds a sizeable acreage position in the Alberta Oil Sands in Canada through its interest in Grizzly Oil Sands ULC, a 21.4% equity interest in Diamondback Energy Inc., a NASDAQ Global Select Market listed company, and has an interest in an entity that operates in Southeast Asia, including the Phu Horm gas field in Thailand.

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, including such things as Gulfport's 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; competitive actions by other oil and gas companies; changes in laws or regulations; completion of Gulfport's pending contribution discussed above 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, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, plus interest expense, income tax expense (benefit), accretion expense and depreciation, depletion and amortization. Cash flow from operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities is a non-GAAP financial measure equal to cash provided by operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities. Adjusted net income available is a non-GAAP financial measure equal to net income plus income tax expense. The Company has presented EBITDA because it uses EBITDA as an integral part of its internal reporting to measure its performance and to evaluate the performance of its senior management. EBITDA is considered an important indicator of the operational strength of the Company's business. EBITDA eliminates the uneven effect of considerable amounts of non-cash depletion, depreciation of tangible assets and amortization of certain intangible assets. A limitation of this measure, however, is that it does 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 EBITDA provides useful information to its investors regarding its performance and overall results of operations. EBITDA, 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 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 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.

Oil Sands Reserves and Resource Notes:

(1)    Proved reserves are defined in the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook (the "COGE Handbook") as those reserves that can be estimated with a high degree of certainty to be recoverable. It is likely that the actual remaining quantities recovered will exceed the estimated Proved reserves.

(2)    Probable reserves are defined in the COGE Handbook as those additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than proved reserves. It is equally likely that the actual remaining quantities recovered will be greater or less than the sum of the estimated proved plus probable reserves.

(3)    Contingent Resources are defined in the COGE Handbook as those quantities of petroleum estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from known accumulations using established technology or technology under development, but which are not currently considered to be commercially recoverable due to one or more contingencies.

(4)    Prospective Resources are defined in the COGE Handbook as those quantities of petroleum estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from undiscovered accumulations by application of future development projects.

(5)    Best Estimate as defined in the COGE Handbook is considered to be the best estimate of the quantity that will actually be recovered from the accumulation. If probabilistic methods are used, this term is a measure of central tendency of the uncertainty distribution (P50).

(6)    It should be noted that reserves, Contingent Resources and Prospective Resources involve different risks associated with achieving commerciality. There is no certainty that it will be commercially viable for Grizzly to produce any portion of the Contingent Resources. There is no certainty that any portion of Grizzly's Prospective Resources will be discovered. If discovered, there is no certainty that it will be commercially viable to produce any portion of the Prospective Resources. Grizzly's Prospective Resource estimates discussed in this press release have been risked for the chance of discovery but not for the chance of development and hence are considered by Grizzly as partially risked estimates.

CONTACT: Investor & Media Contact:
         Paul K. Heerwagen
         Director, Investor Relations
         pheerwagen@gulfportenergy.com
         405-242-4888

Released February 26, 2013