Hess reports estimated results for the first quarter of 2015
New york--(business wire)--hess corporation (nyse: hes) today reported an adjusted net loss, which excludes items affecting comparability, of $279 million or $0.98 per common share, for the first quarter of 2015 compared with adjusted net income of $446 million or $1.38 per share in the first quarter of 2014. lower realized selling prices reduced adjusted net income by approximately $700 million, after-tax compared with the prior-year quarter. in addition, first quarter 2015 results benefitted from higher crude oil and natural gas liquids production but were offset primarily by higher depreciation, depletion, and amortization expense. on an unadjusted basis, the corporation reported a net loss of $389 million for the first quarter of 2015 and net income of $386 million in the prior-year quarter. after-tax income (loss) by major operating activity was as follows: 2015 2014 (in millions, except per shareamounts) net income (loss) attributable to hess corporation adjusted net income (loss) — “we delivered strong operating results for the quarter and captured significant cost savings for the year, with additional reductions being pursued,” chief executive officer john hess said. “with our robust balance sheet, resilient portfolio and top quartile operating capabilities, we are well positioned for both the current price environment as well as for a future recovery in oil prices." exploration and production: exploration and production losses were $286 million in the first quarter of 2015, compared with net income of $508 million in the first quarter of 2014. adjusted net loss was $193 million in the first quarter of 2015 compared with adjusted net income of $514 million in the first quarter of 2014. during the quarter, the corporation hedged 50,000 barrels of crude oil production for the remainder of 2015 by entering into brent crude collars with a floor price of $60 per barrel and a ceiling price of $80 per barrel. the corporation’s average worldwide crude oil selling price, including the effect of hedging, was down 55 percent to $44.78 per barrel in the first quarter of 2015 from $99.17 per barrel in the first quarter of last year. the average worldwide natural gas liquids selling price was $14.91 per barrel, down from $44.28 per barrel in the year-ago quarter while the average worldwide natural gas selling price was $4.74 per mcf in the first quarter of 2015 compared with $7.03 per mcf in the first quarter a year-ago. oil and gas production was 361,000 boepd, up 14 percent from 318,000 boepd in the first quarter of 2014. assets contributing to the volume growth were primarily the bakken shale play (45,000 boepd), our utica wet gas acreage (15,000 boepd), denmark (4,000 boepd) and the joint development area of malaysia/thailand (3,000 boepd). assets sales reduced production by 23,000 boepd and norway production was 7,000 boepd lower. operational highlights for the first quarter of 2015: bakken (onshore u.s.): net production from the bakken increased approximately 70 percent to 108,000 boepd from the prior year quarter due to continued drilling activities and constrained production in the first quarter of 2014 resulting from the shut-in of the tioga gas plant to complete the expansion project. the corporation brought 70 gross operated wells on production in the first quarter of 2015. drilling and completion costs per operated well averaged $6.8 million in the first quarter of 2015, down from $7.5 million in the year-ago quarter. during the first quarter, the corporation operated an average of 12 rigs, compared with 17 rigs at year-end 2014. as of april, the corporation is operating 8 rigs and plans to continue at that level for the remainder of 2015. utica (onshore u.s.): on the corporation’s joint venture acreage, 5 wells were drilled and net production averaged 17,000 boepd in the first quarter of 2015 compared with 2,000 boepd in the prior-year quarter. gulf of mexico (offshore u.s.): first quarter net production from tubular bells was 18,000 boepd and is forecast to be in the range of 30,000 boepd to 35,000 boepd for 2015 with the continued ramp up of existing wells and a fourth production well scheduled to be brought online in the second quarter. overall production from the gulf of mexico was comparable to the prior-year quarter as volumes from tubular bells were offset by lower production from the conger and llano fields as a result of planned maintenance activities. at the corporation’s non-operated sicily prospect, exploration drilling commenced in january with drilling operations expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2015. valhall (offshore) norway: net production averaged 30,000 boepd during the first quarter of 2015 which included a maintenance shut down, compared with 37,000 boepd in the year-ago quarter. the corporation anticipates production for 2015 to be in the range of 30,000 boepd to 35,000 boepd. kurdistan (onshore): in the first quarter, the corporation suspended drilling at the shireen 1 exploration well due to mechanical issues. based on well results to date and given the current low oil price environment, the corporation and its partner agreed to relinquish the dinarta block and exit the region. guyana (offshore): the operator commenced drilling of the liza-1 well and anticipates the well will reach target depth by the end of the second quarter of 2015. libya: production was shut in for the first quarter of 2015 due to ongoing civil unrest in the country. capital and exploratory expenditures: capital and exploratory expenditures were $1.3 billion in the first quarter of 2015. the first quarter 2015 capital spend reflects an average of 12 rigs in the bakken and increased exploratory drilling expenditures in the gulf of mexico, guyana and kurdistan. cost savings initiatives: in the first quarter, the corporation aggressively reviewed its cost structure to reduce spending and met with suppliers to adjust service rates to better reflect the current commodity price environment. as a result of the corporation’s efforts to date, we are lowering full year 2015 guidance for capital and exploratory expenditures by $300 million to $4.4 billion. in addition, the corporation forecasts its full year 2015 cash costs will be lower by approximately $250 million, or $2.00 per barrel. the corporation will continue to pursue additional savings in 2015 and beyond to improve its financial flexibility. liquidity: net cash provided by operating activities was $362 million in the first quarter of 2015, compared with $1,158 million in the first quarter of 2014. at march 31, 2015, cash and cash equivalents totaled $1,506 million, compared with $2,444 million at december 31, 2014. total debt was $5,980 million at march 31, 2015 compared with $5,987 million at december 31, 2014. the corporation’s debt to capitalization ratio at march 31, 2015 was 21.6 percent, compared with 21.2 percent at december 31, 2014. discontinued operations: results from discontinued operations were losses of $13 million in the first quarter of 2015 compared with income of $57 million in the first quarter of 2014. the corporation completed the sale of its energy trading partnership (hetco) in the first quarter of 2015. financial results for the first quarter of 2014 have been recast to report hetco and the formerly owned retail marketing business as discontinued operations in the consolidated income statement on page 7. items affecting comparability of earnings between periods: the following table reflects the total after-tax income (expense) of items affecting comparability of earnings between periods: 2015 2014 first quarter 2015 results include an after-tax charge of $67 million ($159 million pre-tax) to write-off a previously capitalized exploration well and associated leasehold costs related to the dinarta block in the kurdistan region of iraq following the decision by the corporation and its partner to cease further drilling activity and to exit operations in the region. in addition, the corporation recorded after-tax charges totaling $26 million ($37 million pre-tax) to expense surplus drilling materials due to changes in the capital program, and to write-off its exploration project in brunei. reconciliation of u.s. gaap to non-gaap measures: the following table reconciles reported net income (loss) attributable to hess corporation and adjusted net income (loss): 2015 2014 between periods hess corporation will review first quarter financial and operating results and other matters on a webcast at 10 a.m. today. for details about the event, refer to the investor relations section of our website at www.hess.com. hess corporation is a leading global independent energy company engaged in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas. more information on hess corporation is available at www.hess.com. forward-looking statements certain statements in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section 21e of the united states securities exchange act of 1934, as amended, and section 27a of the united states securities act of 1933, as amended. forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including, without limitation, uncertainties inherent in the measurement and interpretation of geological, geophysical and other technical data. estimates and projections contained in this release are based on the company’s current understanding and assessment based on reasonable assumptions. actual results may differ materially from these estimates and projections due to certain risk factors discussed in the corporation’s periodic filings with the securities and exchange commission and other factors. non-gaap financial measure the corporation has used a non-gaap financial measure in this earnings release. “adjusted net income (loss)” presented in this release is defined as reported net income (loss) attributable to hess corporation excluding items identified as affecting comparability of earnings between periods. we believe that investors’ understanding of our performance is enhanced by disclosing this measure. this measure is not, and should not be viewed as, a substitute for u.s. gaap net income (loss). a reconciliation of reported net income (loss) attributable to hess corporation (u.s. gaap) to adjusted net income (loss) is provided in the release. hess corporation and consolidated subsidiariessupplemental financial data (unaudited)(in millions) quarter quarter quarter 2015 2014 2014 income statement — see "discontinued operations" on page 5 for basis of presentation. cash flow information (*) includes changes in working capital. hess corporation and consolidated subsidiariessupplemental financial data (unaudited)(in millions) march 31, 2015 balance sheet information quarter quarter quarter 2015 2014 2014 capital and exploratory expenditures hess corporation and consolidated subsidiariesexploration and production earnings (unaudited)(in millions) international total provision (benefit) for income taxes international total provision for income taxes hess corporation and consolidated subsidiariesexploration and production earnings (unaudited)(in millions) international total — hess corporation and consolidated subsidiariesexploration and production supplemental operating data (unaudited) quarter quarter quarter 2015 operating data net production per day (in thousands) hess corporation and consolidated subsidiariesexploration and production supplemental operating data (unaudited) quarter quarter quarter sales volumes per day (in thousands) sales volumes (in thousands) hess corporation and consolidated subsidiariesexploration and production supplemental operating data (unaudited) quarter quarter quarter operating data average selling prices 2.07 2.15 4.74
