Noble Energy Announces Fourth Quarter And Year-End 2014 Results

HOUSTON, Feb. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Noble Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NBL) announced today fourth quarter 2014 net income of $402 million, or $1.05 per diluted share.  Excluding the impact of certain items, which would typically not be considered by analysts in published earnings estimates, fourth quarter 2014 adjusted income⁽¹⁾ was $156 million, or $0.38 per diluted share.  Discretionary cash flow⁽¹⁾  was $754 million and net cash provided by operating activities was $803 million. Capital expenditures for the final quarter of 2014 totaled $1.35 billion.

Total sales volumes for the quarter averaged a record 315 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (MBoe/d).  This represents an increase of eight percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2013, or 14 percent after adjusting for divested assets.  Versus the final quarter of last year, total sales volumes were up primarily as a result of the Company's continued horizontal development of the DJ Basin and Marcellus Shale resource plays.  Noble Energy's onshore horizontal production was 50 percent higher in the fourth quarter of 2014 versus the same period in 2013.

Liquids comprised 44 percent (35 percent crude oil and condensate and 9 percent natural gas liquids) of total Company fourth quarter 2014 volumes, with natural gas the remaining 56 percent.  U.S. volumes for the quarter totaled 192 MBoe/d, while International sales volumes were 123 MBoe/d.  Total sales volumes were higher than produced volumes by more than three thousand barrels per day (MBbl/d) due to the timing of liftings in Equatorial Guinea, primarily at the Alba field.

Noble Energy reported full year 2014 net income of $1.21 billion, or $3.27 per diluted share, and adjusted income⁽¹⁾ was $881 million, or $2.36 per diluted share.  Discretionary cash flow⁽¹⁾  for 2014 was $3.32 billion and net cash provided by operating activities was $3.51 billion.  Total capital expenditures for the year were $4.88 billion.  The Company sold average volumes for the year of 298 MBoe/d, an increase of 16 percent over 2013 volumes after adjusting for divested assets.

David L. Stover, Noble Energy's President and CEO, commented, "Despite the dramatic commodity price volatility over the last several months, Noble Energy exited 2014 with a substantially increased operational capacity and a solid liquidity position. Our operational momentum was highlighted by the DJ Basin and Marcellus Shale programs, where each asset ended the year at record production levels and above our fourth quarter averages. As we move into 2015, we are responding swiftly and materially to the current environment, focused on maintaining our financial and operational flexibility, while also preserving the long-term value of our business."

Fourth quarter 2014 total production costs, including lease operating expense, production and ad valorem taxes, and transportation and gathering averaged $9.01 per barrel of oil equivalent (Boe), and depreciation, depletion, and amortization totaled $15.94 per Boe.  Exploration expense was $147 million, including $63 million related to unsuccessful exploration drilling and $28 million for the write-off of certain non-core U.S. undeveloped leasehold costs.  General and administrative costs were lower than anticipated due primarily to reduced personnel costs.  Included in other non-operating income for the fourth quarter 2014 was a $26 million gain related to the value change of Noble Energy stock held in a deferred compensation program.

Adjustments to net income for the final quarter of 2014 included non-cash commodity derivative gains of approximately $778 million, as a result of the value change of the Company's existing crude oil and natural gas hedge positions as of the end of the year.  In addition, the Company adjusted from net income certain proved property asset impairment charges of $336 million, which primarily related to properties in the Gulf of Mexico.  The effective tax rate on adjusted income for the quarter was 15 percent, with 57 percent of the adjusted tax provision being deferred.

OPERATIONS UPDATE

DJ BASIN

In the DJ Basin, sales volumes averaged a record 108 MBoe/d in the fourth quarter of 2014, up five percent from the third quarter of 2014.  Versus the same quarter of last year, after excluding the impact of volumes associated with an acreage exchange executed late in 2013, volumes were up 10 percent.  Fourth quarter 2014 volumes were reduced approximately 5 MBoe/d due to winter weather and third-party facility downtime.  Liquids made up 65 percent of DJ Basin volumes (50 percent crude oil and condensate and 15 percent natural gas liquids) and 35 percent was natural gas.  Highlights for the quarter included:

• Record quarterly horizontal volumes, which totaled 82 MBoe/d, up 11 percent from the third quarter of 2014 and more than 30 percent from the same quarter of last year, after excluding the impact of volumes associated with the exchange executed in late 2013.
• Drilled 80 wells in the quarter, including 28 extended reach laterals, with an average lateral length of more than 6,000 feet.  The average lateral length per operated well in 2014 of 5,555 feet is more than 1,000 feet longer than the previous year average.
• Included in the wells drilled for the quarter was a record spud to rig release time of under five days for a 4,520 foot horizontal well drilled in the East Pony area.
• Commenced production on 90 operated wells, including 36 extended reach lateral wells (total of 119 standard length equivalent wells).
• Included in the wells brought online in the quarter were the Company's initial downspacing results in the Greeley-Crescent area, with 29 wells testing 24 and 32-well per section spacing.  After more than 90 days of production, 20 of the wells are performing at or above expectations for the area.  The downspaced wells include wells in each of the Niobrara zones, as well as the Codell.  In East Pony, five downspacing wells have been on production for more than 50 days, testing up to 32 wells per section spacing.  All five wells are performing consistent with expectations.
• 20 additional Plug-n-Perf completions commenced production in the fourth quarter of 2014.  The wells, which have been on production between 40 and 100 days, are located primarily in the Wells Ranch and East Pony areas.  Performance on average is consistent to slightly above the comparable sliding sleeve completion wells.
• Third-party compression capacity is being expanded with the 70 Ranch Compressor Station commencing operation in early February 2015, adding 45 million cubic feet of natural gas per day (MMcf/d) of compression in the Wells Ranch area.  An additional 100 MMcf/d of compression in Wells Ranch is anticipated to be operational with the Rocky Compressor Station in the second quarter of 2015.  Gas processing is also expanding within Greater Wattenberg with the Lucerne-2 gas processing plant, designed to add 200 MMcf/d of natural gas processing capacity, progressing for start-up in the second quarter of 2015.
• Oil pipeline capacity out of the DJ Basin is being expanded with the first quarter 2015 connection of the Northern Colorado Pipeline to the Wattenberg Oil Trunkline, which delivers oil volume to both the White Cliffs pipeline and the Tampa rail system.  In addition, the Tallgrass lateral, connecting East Pony production to the Pony Express pipeline, is planned to commence operation in the second quarter of 2015 with a capacity of 90 MBbl/d.

MARCELLUS SHALE

Production volumes in the Marcellus Shale averaged a record 378 million cubic feet of natural gas equivalent per day (MMcfe/d), a 16 percent increase versus the third quarter of 2014 and 93 percent versus the same quarter of last year.  Natural gas represented 86 percent of fourth quarter 2014 volumes, with the remaining 14 percent primarily composed of natural gas liquids (NGLs).  Highlights for the quarter included:

• Operated wet gas production increased to approximately 47 percent of total Joint Venture volume, versus 28 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013.  Total wet gas production is up approximately 220 percent from the fourth quarter of last year.
• Drilled 24 operated wells at an average lateral length of more than 9,000 feet.  The average lateral length per operated well in 2014 of 8,000 feet is more than 1,000 feet longer than the previous year average and 3,000 feet longer than the 2012 average.
• Noble Energy commenced drilling on the Joint Venture's first Utica well, the Moundsville-6H, located in Marshall County, West Virginia.  The well was drilled to a total depth of 20,309 feet, with a lateral length of 9,483 feet.  First production from the well is anticipated in the second half of 2015.
• Commenced production on 32 operated wells, including 8 wells completed with Reduced Stage and Cluster Spacing (RSCS).  Results from all operated RSCS wells in 2014 continue to support a 20 to 40 percent improvement in production rate versus wells with standard completion designs.
• Included in the wells brought online during the quarter were the Company's first pads in the Pennsboro and Moundsville areas of West Virginia (Ritchie and Marshall counties, respectively).  Initial production from these areas is performing in line with expectations.
• The WFN-4 pad in Majorsville, the Company's most recent operated pad on production, consisting of 6 wells at an average lateral length of nearly 7,000 feet, came online during the fourth quarter and was producing more than 55 MMcfe/d, gross, after 30 days online.  Performance is tracking consistent with the Company's best pads in the Majorsville area and above expectations.
• Joint Venture partner CONSOL Energy drilled 21 wells during the quarter (7,500 foot average lateral length), including four Upper Devonian wells. 14 dry gas wells, all of which were completed with RSCS, commenced production in the fourth quarter.

GULF OF MEXICO

In the Gulf of Mexico, sales volumes averaged 17 MBoe/d, which were comprised of 80 percent crude oil and condensate, seven percent NGLs, and 13 percent natural gas.  Highlights for the quarter included:

• Successfully executed the completion work on the Dantzler-2 production well.  The drilling rig is currently performing completion operations at Dantzler-1, to be followed by development work at the Gunflint field.
• Progress on the Company's sanctioned major projects remains on schedule.  Facility modifications at third-party production host facilities are underway and offshore pipeline installations are scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2015.  Production at the Big Bend field is estimated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2015, Dantzler around the end of 2015, and Gunflint by mid-2016.

WEST AFRICA

Hydrocarbon sales in West Africa averaged 85 MBoe/d, which was comprised of 46 percent crude oil and condensate, five percent NGLs, and 49 percent natural gas.  Sales volumes for the quarter were in excess of production volumes by more than 3 MBbl/d as a result of the timing of liquid liftings.  Nearly 50 percent of the Company's fourth quarter 2014 crude oil liftings occurred in the month of December.  Highlights for the quarter included:

• Successful workover activities at the Alen field, including a sidetrack at the 1P well and increased injection well capacity, resulted in average gross production of more than 28 MBbl/d of condensate for the quarter.  The field exited the year with production in excess of 30 MBbl/d.
• Active production management and strong reservoir performance continued at the Aseng oil field, which averaged 37 MBbl/d, gross, during the quarter.

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

In the Eastern Mediterranean, Israel natural gas sales volumes averaged 228 MMcfe/d.  Highlights for the quarter included:

• Tamar continued to exhibit exceptional reservoir and facility reliability.  Record daily sales volumes of over 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent per day (Bcfe/d), gross, was reached on multiple days in late 2014 and early 2015, driven by increased electricity demand due to cold weather and coal plant maintenance.
• Additional progress was made at the Ashdod Onshore Terminal compression project, which is more than 90 percent complete.  The expansion is targeted to increase deliverability at Tamar to 1.2 Bcfe/d, gross, beginning in mid-2015.
• Executed a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) for interruptible sales of up to 250 MMcf/d of natural gas for 7 years from the Tamar field to Dolphinus Holdings Ltd., for supply to Egypt's domestic market.  Initial sales of natural gas under the LOI could commence in 2015 utilizing existing Tamar production capacity and currently available pipeline infrastructure.  Negotiation of a final purchase and sale contract is underway, after which start of sales will be dependent upon regulatory approvals for regional export.

OTHER

Key highlights for the quarter included:

• Drilled two additional vertical wells in the Company's NE Nevada Wilson play, with one well each in the northern and southern acreage areas.  The two wells encountered hydrocarbon shows in the targeted reservoir.  Completion operations were recently performed on the first of the two wells, with oil recovered.  The well is currently shut-in awaiting facilities for a sustained production test.
• Successfully issued $1.5 billion in long-term notes, with $650 million issued at an interest rate of 3.9 percent due in 2024, and $850 million issued at an interest rate of 5.1 percent due in 2044.  Funds raised from the issuance of the bonds were used to pay off the balance on the Company's credit facility.  Total liquidity at the end of 2014 was $5.2 billion, including $1.2 billion in cash and $4 billion per the Company's undrawn credit facility.

PROVED RESERVES

Estimated reserves at year-end 2014 were 1.4 billion barrels of oil equivalent as 2014 total additions and revisions offset the Company's production and non-core asset sales during the year.   Reserves in the U.S. were 58 percent of the Company's total, with assets in Equatorial Guinea and Israel combining for the remaining 42 percent.  The composition of reserves at the end of 2014 is 31 percent global liquids, 36 percent international natural gas and 33 percent U.S. natural gas.

Noble Energy added total proved reserves of 141 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBoe) in 2014, including extensions, discoveries, and revisions.  These additions replaced approximately 1.3 times 2014 production.  U.S. total additions, including revisions, of 135 MMBoe resulted in more than 200 percent replacement of U.S. production and were driven by the horizontal drilling programs in the DJ Basin and Marcellus Shale, as well as the Dantzler project sanction in the Gulf of Mexico.  During 2014, the Company sold approximately 33 MMBoe of proved reserves from non-core assets in the U.S. and China.

Proved developed reserves represent approximately 63 percent of total proved reserves at the end of the year, up from 60 percent at year-end 2013.  Proved undeveloped reserve bookings in the U.S. onshore programs reflect future drilling activity based on the current price environment.

WEBCAST AND CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

Noble Energy, Inc. will host a webcast and conference call at 9:00 a.m. Central time today.  The webcast is accessible on the 'Investors' page at www.nobleenergyinc.com.  Conference call numbers for participation are 888-554-1424 and 719-785-1768. The pass code number is 9275379.  A replay will be available on the website.

Noble Energy is a leading independent energy company engaged in worldwide oil and gas exploration and production.  The Company has core operations onshore in the U.S., primarily in the DJ Basin and Marcellus Shale, in the Gulf of Mexico, offshore Eastern Mediterranean, and offshore West Africa.  Noble Energy is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is traded under the ticker symbol NBL.  Further information is available at www.nobleenergyinc.com.

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities law.  Words such as "anticipates", "believes," "expects", "intends", "will", "should", "may", and similar expressions may be used to identify forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and reflect Noble Energy's current views about future events.  They include estimates of oil and natural gas reserves, estimates of future production, assumptions regarding future oil and natural gas pricing, planned drilling activity, future results of operations, projected cash flow and liquidity, business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations.  No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements contained in this news release will occur as projected and actual results may differ materially from those projected.  Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected.  These risks include, without limitation, the volatility in commodity prices for crude oil and natural gas, the presence or recoverability of estimated reserves, the ability to replace reserves, environmental risks, drilling and operating risks, exploration and development risks, competition, government regulation or other actions, the ability of management to execute its plans to meet its goals and other risks inherent in Noble Energy's business that are discussed in its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and in other reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These reports are also available from Noble Energy's offices or website, http://www.nobleenergyinc.com.  Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management at the time the statements are made.  Noble Energy does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances, management's estimates, or opinions change.

This news release also contains certain historical non-GAAP measures of financial performance that management believes are good tools for internal use and the investment community in evaluating Noble Energy's overall financial performance.  These non-GAAP measures are broadly used to value and compare companies in the crude oil and natural gas industry.  Please see the attached schedules for reconciliations of the differences between any historical non-GAAP measures used in this news release and the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

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SOURCE Noble Energy

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