Oasis Petroleum Inc. Announces Quarter Ending September 30, 2010 Earnings, Year-over-Year Production Growth of 149% and the Acquisition of Approximately 16,700 Acres in the Williston Basin

HOUSTON, Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Oasis Petroleum Inc. (NYSE: OAS) ("Oasis" or the "Company") today announced financial and operational results for the quarter ended September 30, 2010.  

Highlights for the three months ended September 30, 2010 include:

• Grew average daily production to 5,507 barrels of oil equivalent ("Boe") per day, a 149% increase over the third quarter of 2009 and a sequential increase of 23% over the second quarter of 2010.
• Increased Adjusted EBITDA to $22.0 million, an increase of $15.5 million over the third quarter of 2009 and a sequential increase of $4.6 million over the second quarter of 2010.  For a definition of Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss and net cash provided by operating activities, see "Non-GAAP Financial Measure" below.
• Closed on the acquisition of 300 Boe per day ("Boepd") and approximately 16,700 net acres in Montana from a private seller on November 5, 2010.

"We continue to execute on our drilling plans and now have five rigs running in the Williston Basin, with four in West Williston and one in East Nesson," said Thomas B. Nusz, Oasis' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We are also pleased to announce the acquisition of additional production and acreage in our Hebron area along with the assumption of operatorship.  This bolt-on deal is consistent with our strategy of further consolidation of our large, contiguous blocks and gaining control where possible.  Accordingly, we have contracted for our sixth operated rig which will be focused in Hebron in our West Williston area.  We expect to bring in a seventh operated rig early next year."

Acquisition Summary

On November 5, 2010, the Company closed on the acquisition of approximately 16,700 net acres of land in Roosevelt County, Montana and approximately 300 Boepd of current production.  Total consideration for the transaction was $48.0 million set at the effective date of the acquisition of August 1, 2010 ($49.9 million of cash at closing due to closing adjustments).  The transaction will be funded by cash on the Company's balance sheet.  As operator, Oasis expects to drill and complete future wells consistent with completion practices used in other operated areas and expects Estimated Ultimate Recoveries ("EURs") within the current ranges published for West Williston.  In order to hold acreage in this block, the Company intends to run one operated rig continuously until such acreage is held.  The impact of the acquisition on Oasis' capital plan is described under "Outlook for 2010" below.

Operational and Financial Update

Average daily production for the third quarter of 2010 was 5,507 Boe per day (99% was produced from Williston Basin properties), an increase of 149% as compared to 2,212 Boe per day in the third quarter of 2009.  Sequential quarter-over-quarter production growth was 1,046 Boe per day, or 23%.  In the third quarter of 2010, 95% of the production was from oil.  Average daily production by project area is listed in the following table:

Average price per barrel of oil, without realized derivatives, was $66.42 in the third quarter of 2010, compared to $56.96 in the third quarter of 2009 and $67.19 in the second quarter of 2010.  The average price differential compared to West Texas Intermediate crude oil index prices was 13% in the third quarter 2010, compared to 17% in the third quarter of 2009 and 14% in the second quarter of 2010.  

Total revenue for the third quarter of 2010 was $33.0 million compared to $11.0 million for the third quarter of 2009, an increase of 199%.  Sequential quarter-over-quarter revenue growth was $6.3 million, or 24%.

As of December 31, 2009, Oasis had an inventory of approximately 469 gross drilling locations, primarily targeting the Bakken formation.  In order to maintain better control over its asset portfolio, the Company has established a leasehold position comprised primarily of properties that it expects to operate.  Oasis expects to operate 52% of the 469 identified gross drilling locations, or 83% of the 173.1 identified net drilling locations.  This drilling inventory could potentially be enhanced by over 2,000 additional gross drilling locations from Bakken infill and Three Forks/Sanish ("TFS") formation potential.

The following tables show the Company's drilling activity by project area in the Williston Basin as of September 30, 2010:

Lease operating expenses for the third quarter of 2010 totaled $3.2 million, or $6.33 per Boe, a 38% decrease per Boe over the third quarter of 2009 of $10.14 per Boe.  Lease operating expenses decreased by $0.88 per Boe, or 12%, in the third quarter of 2010 compared to the second quarter of 2010 of $7.21 per Boe. This sequential decrease was due primarily to increases in oil production volume as well as a higher proportion of its production sourced from Bakken wells, which have a lower operating cost than its traditional Madison wells.

Production taxes for the third quarter of 2010 totaled $3.5 million, or 10.7% of revenue.  Production taxes were higher in the third quarter of 2010 compared to the second quarter of 2010, at 10.1% of revenue, primarily due to a higher proportion of production sourced from North Dakota, which imposes a production tax rate that is higher than other areas of operations at 11.5%.

Depreciation, depletion and amortization for the third quarter of 2010 totaled $9.8 million, or $19.25 per Boe, compared to $4.9 million, or $24.22 per Boe, in the third quarter of 2009 and $8.8 million, or $21.63 per Boe, in the second quarter of 2010.  

The Company recorded non-cash charges related to impairment of oil and natural gas properties of $11.8 million year to date ending September 30, 2010, related to unproved property leases that expired during the period.  At the beginning of the year, Oasis expected to impair a portion of the $11.9 million carrying value of leases expiring in 2010, primarily in the first half of the year due to the timing of expirations.  

General and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2010 totaled $4.8 million, or $9.57 per Boe, compared to $1.6 million, or $7.70 per Boe, in the third quarter of 2009 and $3.7 million, or $9.22 per Boe, in the second quarter of 2010.  The sequential increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to increased costs associated with the IPO and being a public company and continued organizational growth to support the growing operations of the Company.  Expenses associated with the IPO were $2.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.  General and administrative expenses for the first three quarters of the year totaled $12.1 million, or $10.01 per Boe, and would have been $9.5 million, or $7.83 per Boe, excluding IPO costs.  Additionally, the Company recorded approximately $0.6 million of stock-based compensation for restricted awards in the third quarter of 2010.

Prior to its corporate reorganization in connection with the IPO, the Company was a limited liability company and not subject to federal or state income tax (in most states). Accordingly, no provision for federal or state income taxes was recorded prior to the corporate reorganization as the Company's equity holders were responsible for income tax on the Company's profits. In connection with the closing of the Company's IPO, the Company merged into a corporation and became subject to federal and state income taxes. The Company's book and tax basis in assets and liabilities differed at the time of the corporate reorganization due primarily to different cost recovery periods utilized for book and tax purposes for the Company's oil and natural gas properties.  

At June 30, 2010, the Company recorded an estimated net deferred tax expense of $29.2 million to recognize a deferred tax liability for the initial book and tax basis differences. This deferred tax liability was preliminary and included significant estimates related to the pre-corporate reorganization period of 2010. The preliminary calculation was based on information that was available to management at the time such estimates were made as further analysis was dependent upon the receipt of actual expenditure information in subsequent months.

At September 30, 2010, the Company increased its estimate of this deferred tax liability by $6.2 million to $35.4 million. After analyzing the book and tax basis differences for capital expenditure accruals made at June 30, 2010, management determined that an additional deferred tax liability of $5.2 million was needed as of the date of the reorganization.  In addition, new tax legislation was passed in September 2010, which extended bonus tax depreciation retroactive to January 1, 2010, resulting in an additional increase of the Company's deferred tax liability of $0.8 million. These adjustments, along with $0.2 million of other changes in estimates, were recorded as a discrete deferred tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2010. While the review of the pre-corporate reorganization tax period is substantially complete as of September 30, 2010, management expects to complete its review in the fourth quarter of 2010. Accordingly, the deferred tax liability may change as additional information becomes available and is assessed by management.

Following the completion of the corporate reorganization, the Company recorded federal and state income tax expense of $3.7 million at an effective tax rate of 39.4% on pre-tax income. The Company's effective tax rate for this period differs from the federal statutory rate of 35% due to state income taxes and certain non-deductible IPO-related costs recorded in the post-reorganization period. The Company expects to generate a tax loss in the current year and thus no current income taxes are anticipated to be paid.

Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2010 was $22.0 million, an increase of $15.5 million, or 238%, over the third quarter of 2009 of $6.5 million, and a 26% increase over the second quarter of 2010 of $17.4 million.

The Company reported a net loss of $1.7 million, or $0.02 per pro forma diluted share, as compared to a net loss of $0.2 million, or $0.00 per pro forma diluted share, for the third quarter of 2009.  The third quarter of 2010 included a non-cash increase of $6.2 million to the Company's estimated deferred tax liability related to initial book and tax differences at the time of the IPO and a non-cash charge related to the impairment of oil and gas properties of $0.8 million.  

Capital Expenditures and Liquidity

Oasis' capital expenditures were $74.8 million for the third quarter of 2010 and $183.3 million year to date.  The Company's capital expenditures for drilling, development, and acquisition and undeveloped acreage costs for the first three quarters of 2010 are summarized in the following unaudited table:

(1) Consolidated capital expenditures reflected in the table above differ from the amounts shown in the statement of cash flows in the Company's financial statements because amounts reflected in the table include changes in accrued liabilities from the previous reporting period for capital expenditures, while the amounts presented in the statement of cash flows are presented on a cash basis. The capital expenditures amount presented in the statement of cash flows also includes cash paid for other property and equipment as well as cash paid for asset retirement costs.

On September 30, 2010, Oasis had total cash and cash equivalents of $269.6 million and had no outstanding indebtedness under its $120 million Amended Credit Facility.  On August 11, 2010, the lenders participating in Oasis' Amended Credit Facility performed a semi-annual redetermination of the borrowing base and increased the borrowing base from $70 million to $120 million.

Risk Management

As of October 1, 2010, the Company had the following outstanding commodity derivative contracts, all of which settle monthly:

Outlook for 2010

Solely based on the recent acquisition of the Hebron assets, Oasis is providing an updated outlook on its capital expenditure for the full year 2010, as the Company now expects to drill total net wells in 2010 of 38.5, up from its base plan of 36.5.  Capital expenditures are expected to be:

The Company's Board of Directors approved the acquisition and the associated increase in the capital budget on November 4, 2010. The increase is primarily due to the cash paid at closing for the acquisition of $49.9 million, which is subject to customary post close purchase price adjustments, and secondarily due to an increase in expected wells drilled from the effective date until the end of the year within the acreage acquired in the transaction.  Total gross operated well count is planned to increase from 39 to 44 projects, with an associated increase of 2.0 net wells to a revised total of 28.2 net wells. Because the effective date of the acquisition occurred in the middle of normal drilling operations and three of the gross operated wells will be spud but not completed by year end, the increase to the drilling and completion budget is not equal to the total cost for drilling and completing 2.0 net wells.

The following table provides Oasis' forward-looking guidance based on its updated forecasts for 2010:

Conference Call Information

The Company will host a conference call on Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at 9:30 a.m. Central Time to discuss its third quarter 2010 financial and operational results. Investors, analysts and other interested parties are invited to listen to the conference call via the Company's website at www.oasispetroleum.com or by dialing (877) 621-0256 (US participants) or (706) 634-0151 (International participants) with the Conference ID of 21228179.  A recording of the conference call will be available by dialing (800) 642-1687 (US participants) or (706) 645-9291 (International participants) using the Conference ID of 21228179 beginning at 12:30 p.m. Central Time on the day of the call until Tuesday, November 16, 2010.  The conference call will also be available for replay for 30 days at www.oasispetroleum.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press 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. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, forward-looking statements contained in this press release specifically include the expectations of plans, strategies, objectives and anticipated financial and operating results of the Company, including the Company's drilling program, production, derivatives activities, capital expenditure levels and other guidance included in this press release. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by the Company based on management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, anticipated future developments and other factors believed to be appropriate. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. These include changes in oil and natural gas prices, the timing of planned capital expenditures, availability of acquisitions, uncertainties in estimating proved reserves and forecasting production results, operational factors affecting the commencement or maintenance of producing wells, the condition of the capital markets generally, as well as the Company's ability to access them, the proximity to and capacity of transportation facilities, and uncertainties regarding environmental regulations or litigation and other legal or regulatory developments affecting the Company's business and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected as described in the Company's reports filed with the SEC.

Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made and the Company undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Company Presentation

On November 9, 2010, Oasis will post an updated "Investor Presentation"  to its website at www.oasispetroleum.com.  

About Oasis Petroleum Inc.

Oasis is an independent exploration and production company focused on the acquisition and development of unconventional oil and natural gas resources, primarily operating in the Williston Basin.  For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.oasispetroleum.com.  

Oasis Petroleum Inc. Financial Statements

(1)  Realized prices include realized gains or losses on cash settlements for commodity derivatives, which do not qualify for hedge accounting.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted EBITDA is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure that is used by management and external users of the Company's consolidated financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization, property impairments, exploration expenses, unrealized derivative gains and losses and non-cash stock-based compensation expense. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of net income or cash flows as determined by United States generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP.

The following tables present a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted EBITDA to the GAAP financial measures of net loss and net cash provided by operating activities, respectively.  

SOURCE Oasis Petroleum Inc.

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