Southwestern Energy Announces 2013 Financial And Operating Results

HOUSTON, Feb. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwestern Energy Company (NYSE: SWN) today announced its financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and the year ended December 31, 2013. Calendar year 2013 highlights include:

• Record gas and oil production of 656.8 Bcfe, up 16% compared to 2012 levels;
• Record total proved reserves of approximately 7.0 Tcf, up 74% compared to 2012 levels;
• Record adjusted net income of $703.9 million, or $2.00 per diluted share, up 45% compared to 2012 levels when excluding gains on derivative contracts, net of settlements, non-cash ceiling test impairments of natural gas and oil properties and other discrete income tax adjustments (a non-GAAP measure reconciled below);
• Record net cash provided by operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities of approximately $2.0 billion, up 24% compared to 2012 levels (a non-GAAP measure reconciled below);
• Finding and development costs of $0.56 per Mcfe, including reserve revisions (a non-GAAP measure computed below);
• Reserve replacement of 550%, including reserve revisions;
• Marcellus Shale production up 181% compared to 2012 levels; gross operated production reaches nearly 700 MMcf per day; Susquehanna County well reaches a peak production rate over 32 MMcf per day; and
• Cumulative gross operated production of 3 Tcf from the Fayetteville Shale; record well initial production rate over 12 MMcf per day in the Fayetteville Shale.

"2013 was an outstanding year for Southwestern Energy," remarked Steve Mueller, President and Chief Executive Officer of Southwestern Energy. "We set records in production, reserves, net income, EBITDA and cash flow, and all of this was achieved in a gas price environment below $4.00 per Mcf. Our Marcellus Shale division drove our overall production growth, with gross operated production reaching nearly 700 MMcf per day at year-end 2013 compared to 300 MMcf per day at year end 2012. Our production in the Marcellus nearly tripled while total proved reserves more than doubled.

"Our Fayetteville Shale division had one of its best years ever in 2013, not only by surpassing the milestone of 3 Tcf of cumulative gross operated production, but also by achieving our highest average initial production rate per well at the lowest average cost per well since we began drilling in the Fayetteville in 2004.

"We have also had a strong start in 2014, with gas prices beginning the year well above the $4.00 per Mcf level. Our focus, however, remains the same – to add more value every day through our current drilling programs while keeping our costs low, all the while building for the future with new exploration ideas. I want to thank all of our employees for our record-setting performance in 2013. It looks like Southwestern Energy will be setting new records again in 2014."

Fourth Quarter of 2013 Financial Results

For the fourth quarter of 2013, Southwestern reported adjusted net income of $188.4 million, or $0.54 per diluted share, when excluding a $51.3 million ($30.9 million net of taxes) loss on derivative contracts, net of settlements, and other discrete income tax expense adjustments totaling $13.0 million. Including these adjustments, net income for the fourth quarter of 2013 was $144.5 million, or $0.41 per diluted share (reconciled below). For the fourth quarter of 2012, Southwestern reported adjusted net income of $156.7 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, when excluding an $849.3 million non-cash ceiling test impairment ($510.4 million net of taxes) of the company's natural gas and oil properties resulting from lower natural gas prices and a $3.0 million ($1.9 million net of taxes) loss on derivative contracts, net of settlements. Including these adjustments, Southwestern reported a net loss of $355.6 million, or $1.02 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2012 (reconciled below).

Net cash provided by operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities (reconciled below) was $538.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2013, up 18% compared to $456.9 million for the same period in 2012.

E&P Segment – Operating income from the company's E&P segment (reconciled below) was $227.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2013, compared to $198.5 million for the same period in 2012. The increase was primarily due to higher production volumes, partially offset by slightly lower realized natural gas prices and increased operating costs and expenses from higher activity levels.

Gas and oil production totaled 176.6 Bcfe in the fourth quarter of 2013, up 18% from 149.9 Bcfe in the fourth quarter of 2012, and included 123.2 Bcf from the Fayetteville Shale, compared to 125.1 Bcf in the fourth quarter of 2012. Gas production from the Marcellus Shale was 48.5 Bcf in the fourth quarter of 2013, more than double its production of 19.3 Bcf in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Including the effect of hedges, Southwestern's average realized gas price in the fourth quarter of 2013 was $3.68 per Mcf, down slightly from $3.74 per Mcf in the fourth quarter of 2012. The company's commodity hedging activities increased its average gas price by $0.53 per Mcf during the fourth quarter of 2013, compared to an increase of $0.78 per Mcf during the same period in 2012. As of February 24, 2014, the company had approximately 456 Bcf of its 2014 forecasted gas production hedged at an average price of $4.34 per Mcf and approximately 120 Bcf of its 2015 forecasted gas production hedged at an average price of $4.40 per Mcf. As of February 24, 2014, the company had protected approximately 249 Bcf of its 2014 expected gas production from the potential of widening basis differentials through hedging activities and sales arrangements at an average basis differential to NYMEX gas prices of approximately ($0.08) per Mcf.

The company typically sells its natural gas at a discount to NYMEX settlement prices. This discount includes a basis differential, third-party transportation charges and fuel charges. Disregarding the impact of hedges, the company's average price received for its gas production during the fourth quarter of 2013 was approximately $0.45 per Mcf lower than average NYMEX settlement prices, compared to approximately $0.44 per Mcf lower during the fourth quarter of 2012.

Lease operating expenses per unit of production for the company's E&P segment were $0.89 per Mcfe in the fourth quarter of 2013, compared to $0.81 per Mcfe in the fourth quarter of 2012. The increase was primarily due to increased third-party compression and gathering costs in the Marcellus Shale due to higher activity levels.

General and administrative expenses per unit of production were $0.26 per Mcfe in the fourth quarter of 2013, compared to $0.25 per Mcfe in the fourth quarter of 2012, up slightly due to higher personnel costs.

Taxes other than income taxes were $0.11 per Mcfe in the fourth quarter of 2013, compared to $0.09 per Mcfe in the fourth quarter of 2012. Taxes other than income taxes per Mcfe vary from period to period due to changes in severance and ad valorem taxes that result from the mix of the company's production volumes and fluctuations in commodity prices.

The company's full cost pool amortization rate decreased to $1.10 per Mcfe in the fourth quarter of 2013, compared to $1.24 per Mcfe in the fourth quarter of 2012. The amortization rate is impacted by the timing and amount of reserve additions and the costs associated with those additions, revisions of previous reserve estimates due to both price and well performance, write-downs that result from full cost ceiling tests, proceeds from the sale of properties that reduce the full cost pool and the levels of costs subject to amortization. The company cannot predict its future full cost pool amortization rate with accuracy due to the variability of each of the factors discussed above, as well as other factors.

Midstream Services – Operating income for the company's Midstream Services segment, which is comprised of natural gas gathering and marketing activities, was $89.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2013, up 15% from $77.7 million for the same period in 2012. The growth in operating income was primarily due to an increase in gas marketing margins and the increase in gathering activity from the company's Fayetteville and Marcellus Shale properties, partially offset by increased operating costs and expenses due to higher activity levels. At December 31, 2013, the company's midstream segment was gathering approximately 2.3 Bcf per day through 1,947 miles of gathering lines in the Fayetteville Shale and approximately 366 MMcf per day from 90 miles of gathering lines in the Marcellus Shale. Gathering volumes, revenues and expenses for this segment are expected to grow over the next few years largely as a result of continued development of the company's acreage in the Fayetteville Shale and Marcellus Shale and development activity being undertaken by other operators in those areas.

Full-Year 2013 Financial Results

For 2013, Southwestern reported adjusted net income of $703.9 million, or $2.00 per diluted share, when excluding a $21.4 million ($12.6 million net of taxes) gain on derivative contracts, net of settlements, and other discrete income tax expense adjustments totaling $13.0 million. Including these adjustments, net income for 2013 was $703.5 million, or $2.00 per diluted share (reconciled below). For 2012, Southwestern reported adjusted net income of $486.7 million, or $1.39 per diluted share, when excluding a $1,939.7 million non-cash ceiling test impairment ($1,192.4 million net of taxes) of the company's natural gas and oil properties resulting from lower natural gas prices and a $2.2 million ($1.3 million net of taxes) loss on derivative contracts, net of settlements. Including these adjustments, Southwestern reported a net loss of $707.1 million, or $2.03 per diluted share, in 2012 (reconciled below).

Net cash provided by operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities (reconciled below) was approximately $2.0 billion in 2013, up 24% compared to $1.6 billion for the same period in 2012.

E&P Segment – Operating income from the company's E&P segment (reconciled below) was $878.7 million in 2013, up 62% compared to $543.5 million in 2012. The increase was primarily due to higher production volumes and higher realized natural gas prices, partially offset by higher operating costs and expenses due to increased activity levels.

Gas and oil production was 656.8 Bcfe in 2013, up 16% compared to 565.0 Bcfe in 2012, and included 486.0 Bcf from the company's Fayetteville Shale division, up from 485.5 Bcf in 2012. Production from the Marcellus Shale was 150.6 Bcf in 2013, more than double its production of 53.6 Bcf in 2012.

Southwestern's average realized gas price was $3.65 per Mcf, including the effect of hedges, in 2013 compared to $3.44 per Mcf in 2012. The company's hedging activities increased the average gas price realized in 2013 by $0.48 per Mcf, compared to an increase of $1.10 per Mcf in 2012. Disregarding the impact of hedges, the average price received for the company's gas production during 2013 was approximately $0.48 per Mcf lower than average NYMEX settlement prices, compared to approximately $0.45 per Mcf lower than NYMEX settlement prices in 2012. For 2014, the company expects its total gas sales discount to NYMEX to range from $0.55 to $0.60 per Mcf.

Lease operating expenses for the company's E&P segment were $0.86 per Mcfe in 2013, up from $0.80 per Mcfe in 2012. The increase was primarily due to higher third-party gathering costs in the Marcellus Shale due to higher activity levels, offset slightly by a decrease in salt water disposal costs in the Fayetteville Shale.

General and administrative expenses were $0.24 per Mcfe in 2013, down from $0.26 per Mcfe in 2012.

Taxes other than income taxes were $0.10 per Mcfe in 2013 and 2012.

The company's full cost pool amortization rate decreased to $1.08 per Mcfe in 2013, compared to $1.31 per Mcfe in 2012.

Midstream Services – Operating income for the company's midstream activities was $325.4 million in 2013, up 11% compared to $294.3 million in 2012. The growth in operating income was primarily due to an increase in gas marketing margins and the increase in gathering activity from the company's Fayetteville and Marcellus Shale properties, partially offset by increased operating costs and expenses due to higher activity levels.

Capital Structure and Investments – At December 31, 2013, the company had approximately $2.0 billion in long-term debt and its long-term debt-to-total capitalization ratio was 35%. On December 16, 2013, the company expanded its revolving credit facility to a borrowing capacity of $2.0 billion, which can be increased by $500 million in the future upon the agreement of the company and participating lenders. The company's revolving credit facility has a maturity date of December 14, 2018 with options for two one-year extensions with the approval of participating lenders. At December 31, 2013, the company had approximately $283 million borrowed on its revolving credit facility at an interest rate 150 basis points over the London Interbank Offered Rate, and had cash and cash equivalents of $23 million.

In 2013, Southwestern's capital investments totaled approximately $2.2 billion, compared to $2.1 billion in 2012, and included $2.1 billion for its E&P segment, $158 million for its Midstream Services segment and $25 million for corporate and other purposes.

2013 Gas and Oil Reserves and Operational Review

Southwestern's estimated proved gas and oil reserves increased by 74% to approximately 6,976 Bcfe at December 31, 2013, compared to 4,018 Bcfe at the end of 2012. The significant increase in reserves in 2013 was primarily due to the company's successful development drilling programs in the Fayetteville and Marcellus Shales and a higher natural gas price environment compared to 2012. The average prices utilized to value the company's estimated proved natural gas and oil reserves at December 31, 2013 were $3.67 per MMBtu for natural gas and $93.42 per barrel for oil, compared to $2.76 per MMBtu for natural gas and $91.21 per barrel for oil at December 31, 2012. Approximately 100% of the company's estimated proved reserves were natural gas and 61% were classified as proved developed at year-end 2013, compared to 100% and 80%, respectively, at year-end 2012.

The following table details additional information relating to reserve estimates as of and for the year ended December 31, 2013:

               

In 2013, Southwestern replaced 550% of its production volumes with 3,615 Bcfe of proved reserve additions, including net upward revisions of 326 Bcfe. Of the extensions, discoveries and other additions, 945 Bcfe were proved developed and 2,340 Bcfe were proved undeveloped. Of the net upward reserve revisions, 246 Bcfe resulted from higher gas and oil prices and 80 Bcfe resulted from positive performance revisions. Additionally, the company's reserves increased by 4 Bcf in 2013 as a result of its acquisition of natural gas leases and wells in the Marcellus Shale. For the period ending December 31, 2013, the company's three-year average reserve replacement ratio, including revisions, was 229%. Excluding reserve revisions, the company's 2013 and three-year average reserve replacement ratios were 501% and 329%, respectively.

Including reserve revisions, the company's 2013 and three-year average finding and development costs for the period ending December 31, 2013 were $0.56 per Mcfe and $1.50 per Mcfe, respectively (a non-GAAP financial measure computed below). Excluding reserve revisions, the company's 2013 and three-year average finding and development costs were $0.62 per Mcfe and $1.04 per Mcfe, respectively.

The following table provides an overall and by category summary of the company's gas and oil reserves as of December 31, 2013 and sets forth 2013 annual information related to production and capital investments for each of its operating areas:

During 2013, Southwestern invested a total of $2.1 billion in its E&P business and participated in drilling 653 wells, 340 of which were successful, and 309 which were in progress at year-end. Of the 309 wells in progress at year-end, 227 and 77 were located in its Fayetteville Shale and Marcellus Shale operating areas, respectively. Of the $2.1 billion invested in the company's E&P business in 2013, $907 million was invested in the Fayetteville Shale, $872 million in the Marcellus Shale, $7 million in its Ark-La-Tex division and $191 million in New Ventures projects, including $84 million in the Lower Smackover Brown Dense.

Of the $2.1 billion invested in 2013, $1.5 billion was invested in exploratory and development drilling and workovers, $224 million in capitalized interest and other expenses, $159 million for acquisition of properties, and $28 million for seismic expenditures. Additionally, the company invested $76 million in its drilling rig related equipment, sand facility and other equipment.

Fayetteville Shale – In 2013, Southwestern invested $907 million in the Fayetteville Shale, which included $804 million to spud 527 wells, 504 of which were operated. Total capital investments in the Fayetteville Shale during 2013 also included $6 million for the acquisition of properties and $97 million in capitalized costs and other expenses.

Southwestern's net gas production from the Fayetteville Shale was 486.0 Bcf in 2013, compared to 485.5 Bcf in 2012. Gross operated gas production in the Fayetteville Shale was approximately 2,011 MMcf per day at the end of 2013 compared to approximately 2,090 MMcf per day at the end of 2012.

Total proved reserves in the Fayetteville Shale grew by 60% to 4,795 Bcf in 2013, compared to 2,988 Bcf in 2012. The net increase in reserves included reserve additions of 2,087 Bcf, upward price revisions of 191 Bcf, 16 Bcf of upward revisions due to well performance, and production of 486 Bcf. The average gross proved reserves for the company's undeveloped wells included in its 2013 year-end reserves was approximately 2.5 Bcf per well, compared to 2.8 Bcf per well in 2012, as over 800 proven undeveloped locations with lower estimated ultimate recoveries were added in 2013 due to the higher gas price environment.

Southwestern's operated horizontal wells had an average completed well cost of $2.4 million per well, average horizontal lateral length of 5,356 feet and average time to drill to total depth of 6.2 days from re-entry to re-entry in 2013. This compares to an average completed operated well cost of $2.5 million per well, average horizontal lateral length of 4,833 feet and average time to drill to total depth of 6.7 days from re-entry to re-entry in 2012.

Southwestern placed 414 operated wells on production during 2013 with average initial production rates of 4,041 Mcf per day, compared to 493 operated wells with average initial production rates of 3,629 Mcf per day in 2012. The increase in initial production rates in 2013 was primarily due to longer lateral lengths, improved well bore placement and further refined completion and flowback techniques. During 2013, the company placed 91 operated wells on production with initial production rates that exceeded 5,000 Mcf per day, compared to 60 wells in 2012. Of those 91 wells, 60 wells exceeded 6,000 Mcf per day. Nine of the company's ten highest initial production rate wells in the history of the Fayetteville Shale were drilled and placed on production during the third and fourth quarters of 2013.

During the fourth quarter of 2013, the company's horizontal wells had an average completed well cost of $2.6 million per well, average horizontal lateral length of 5,976 feet and average time to drill to total depth of 6.9 days from re-entry to re-entry. This compares to an average horizontal lateral length of 5,490 feet and average time to drill to total depth of 6.5 days from re-entry to re-entry for an average completed well cost of $2.6 million per well in the third quarter of 2013. In the fourth quarter of 2013, the company had 25 operated wells placed on production which had average times to drill to total depth of 5 days or less from re-entry to re-entry. Prior to the fourth quarter of 2013, the company had 410 wells drilled to total depth in 5 days or less from re-entry to re-entry in the Fayetteville Shale.

In the fourth quarter of 2013, Southwestern placed on production its three highest initial production rate wells since the inception of its drilling program in the Fayetteville Shale. The company's Ledbetter 07-16 13-14H, 14-14H and 15-14H wells located in Conway County achieved peak 24-hour production rates of 12,173, 11,919 and 12,207 Mcf per day, respectively. The company's wells placed on production during the fourth quarter of 2013 averaged initial production rates of 4,877 Mcf per day. Results from the company's drilling activities since the first quarter of 2007 are shown below.

At December 31, 2013, Southwestern held leases for approximately 905,684 net acres in the Fayetteville Shale area, compared to approximately 913,502 net acres at year-end 2012. In 2014, Southwestern plans to invest approximately $900 million in the Fayetteville Shale and drill approximately 460 to 470 gross horizontal wells, all of which will be operated by the company.

Marcellus Shale – In 2013, Southwestern invested $872 million in the Marcellus Shale, which included $676 million to spud 108 operated wells. Total capital investments in the Marcellus Shale during 2013 also included $111 million for the acquisition of properties, $9 million for seismic and $76 million in facilities, capitalized costs and other expenses.

Southwestern's net gas production from the Marcellus Shale was 150.6 Bcf in 2013, up 181% from 53.6 Bcf in 2012. Gross operated production in the Marcellus Shale was approximately 698 MMcf per day at the end of 2013 compared to approximately 300 MMcf per day at the end of 2012. During 2013, the company placed 8 operated wells on production with 24-hour production rates that exceeded 10,000 Mcf per day, compared to 4 wells in 2012.

Total proved reserves in the Marcellus Shale grew by 141% to 1,963 Bcf in 2013, compared to 816 Bcf in 2012. The net increase in reserves included reserve additions of 1,196 Bcf, upward price revisions of 35 Bcf, 62 Bcf of upward revisions due to well performance, acquisitions of 4 Bcf and production of 151 Bcf. The average gross proved developed and undeveloped reserves booked in 2013 by county are as follows:

Southwestern's operated horizontal wells had an average completed well cost of $7.0 million per well, average horizontal lateral length of 4,982 feet and an average of 18 fracture stimulation stages in 2013. This compares to an average completed operated well cost of $6.1 million per well, average horizontal lateral length of 4,070 feet and an average of 12 fracture stimulation stages in 2012.

As of December 31, 2013, Southwestern had spud 269 operated wells, 172 of which were on production and 77 were in progress. Of the 171 operated horizontal wells on production, 83 were located in Bradford County, 14 were located in Lycoming County and 74 were located in Susquehanna County. Of the 77 wells in progress, 41 were either waiting on completion or waiting to be placed to sales, including 11 in Bradford County, 2 in Lycoming County and 28 in Susquehanna County.

A notable well placed on production during the fourth quarter of 2013 was the company's Seamen 2H horizontal well, located in northern Susquehanna County, which was placed on production in November and reached a peak 24-hour initial production rate of 32.2 MMcf of gas per day. This well had a lateral length of 6,194 feet with 20 stages stimulated and flowed up casing. Results from the company's drilling activities since the third quarter of 2010 are shown below.

The graph below provides normalized average daily production data through December 31, 2013, for the company's horizontal wells in the Marcellus Shale. The "pink curve" indicates results for 45 wells with more than 18 fracture stimulation stages, the "purple curve" indicates results for 73 wells with 13 to 18 fracture stimulation stages, the "orange curve" indicates results for 49 wells with 9 to 12 fracture stimulation stages and the "green curve" indicates results for 4 wells with less than 9 fracture stimulation stages. The normalized production curves are intended to provide a qualitative indication of the company's Marcellus Shale wells' performance and should not be used to estimate an individual well's estimated ultimate recovery. The 4, 8, 12 and 16 Bcf typecurves are shown solely for reference purposes and are not intended to be projections of the performance of the company's wells.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140227/DA73953 )

At December 31, 2013, Southwestern held leases for approximately 292,446 net acres in the Marcellus Shale area, compared to approximately 176,298 net acres at year-end 2012. In 2014, Southwestern plans to invest approximately $760 million in the Marcellus Shale and expects to participate in a total of 80 to 85 gross operated wells in 2014.

Ark-La-Tex – In 2013, Southwestern invested $7 million in its Ark-La-Tex division. Net production from these assets was 18 Bcfe in 2013, compared to 26 Bcfe in 2012, and total proved net reserves were approximately 216 Bcfe at December 31, 2013, compared to 213 Bcfe at year-end 2012. In 2014, the company expects to invest approximately $7 million in its Ark-La-Tex program.

New Ventures – As of December 31, 2013, Southwestern held 3,972,732 net undeveloped acres in connection with its New Ventures prospects, of which 2,518,518 net acres were located in New Brunswick, Canada. This compares to 3,819,128 net undeveloped acres held at year-end 2012.

Southwestern has 459,321 net acres targeting the Lower Smackover Brown Dense formation, an unconventional liquids rich play that ranges in vertical depths from 8,000 to 11,000 feet and appears to be laterally extensive over a large area ranging in thickness from 300 to 550 feet, located in southern Arkansas and northern Louisiana.

The company has drilled 13 operated wells in the play area to date, of which 3 wells are expected to payout the drilling and completion investments. One of those wells, the Sharp 22-22-1 #1 vertical well in Union Parish, Louisiana, achieved a peak 24-hour production rate of approximately 600 barrels of condensate and 1.3 MMcf per day and is expected to have a high rate of return. It is currently shut-in waiting for a gas pipeline connection and is expected to be placed back on production in April 2014.

A total of five wells have been drilled since the Sharp well. Three of the wells, the Hollis 27-22-3 #1, the McMahen 19-21 #1-7 and the Plum Creek 13-23-2 #1, were drilled from 9 to 58 miles away from the Sharp well to test different geologic concepts which, in turn, would help to answer acreage capture decisions in 2014 and 2015. The Plum Creek well is still testing, but none of the wells have yet to reach peak 24-hour production rates of 100 barrels of oil per day. The company's Milstead 15-22-1 #1 vertical well in Union Parish, located one mile north of the company's Sharp well, was completed with 6 stages and is currently in the initial stages of being tested. Oil production in this well is mainly coming from the upper Brown Dense interval compared to the middle interval in the Sharp well and early flow back data indicates the oil rate is not increasing as fast as was seen the Sharp well. The company's Plum Creek 23-22-1 #1 vertical well in Union Parish is planned to be completed with 6 stages in March. In 2013, Southwestern invested $84 million in its Lower Smackover Brown Dense exploration program and currently plans to invest approximately $178 million in 2014.

Southwestern has 302,243 net acres in the Denver-Julesburg Basin in eastern Colorado and has drilled two test wells to test multiple intervals. The company will continue to test the Marmaton formation with up to two additional wells in the first half of 2014.

Excluding the company's Lower Smackover Brown Dense activities, Southwestern invested $107 million in its New Ventures program in 2013 and currently plans to invest approximately $190 million in New Ventures in 2014.

Explanation and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The company reports its financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). However, management believes certain non-GAAP performance measures may provide financial statement users with additional meaningful comparisons between current results and the results of its peers and of prior periods. 

One such non-GAAP financial measure is net cash provided by operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities. Management presents this measure because (i) it is accepted as an indicator of an oil and gas exploration and production company's ability to internally fund exploration and development activities and to service or incur additional debt, (ii) changes in operating assets and liabilities relate to the timing of cash receipts and disbursements which the company may not control and (iii) changes in operating assets and liabilities may not relate to the period in which the operating activities occurred.

Additional non-GAAP financial measures the company may present from time to time are adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share and its E&P segment operating income, all which exclude certain charges or amounts. Management presents these measures because (i) they are consistent with the manner in which the company's performance is measured relative to the performance of its peers, (ii) these measures are more comparable to earnings estimates provided by securities analysts, and (iii) charges or amounts excluded cannot be reasonably estimated and guidance provided by the company excludes information regarding these types of items. These adjusted amounts are not a measure of financial performance under GAAP.

See the reconciliations below of GAAP financial measures to non-GAAP financial measures for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the company's reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Finding and development costs – Finding and development (F&D) costs are computed by dividing acquisition, exploration and development capital costs incurred for the indicated period by reserve additions, including reserves acquired, for that same period. The following computes F&D costs using information required by GAAP for the periods ending December 31, 2013 and the three years ending December 31, 2013.

The company believes that providing a measure of F&D costs is useful for investors as a means of evaluating a company's cost to add proved reserves, on a per thousand cubic feet of natural gas equivalent basis. These measures are provided in addition to, and not as an alternative for the financial statements, including the notes thereto, contained in Southwestern's Annual Report. Due to various factors, including timing differences, F&D costs do not necessarily reflect precisely the costs associated with particular reserves. For example, exploration costs may be recorded in periods prior to the periods in which related acquisitions and increases in reserves are recorded and development costs, including future development costs for proved undeveloped reserve additions, may be recorded in periods subsequent to the periods in which related increases in reserves are recorded. In addition, changes in commodity prices can affect the magnitude of recorded increases in reserves independent of the related costs of such increases. As a result of the foregoing factors and various factors that could materially affect the timing and amounts of future increases in reserves and the timing and amounts of future costs, including factors disclosed in Southwestern's filings with the SEC, future F&D costs may differ materially from those set forth above. Further, the methods used by Southwestern to calculate its F&D costs may differ significantly from methods used by other companies to compute similar measures and, as a result, Southwestern's F&D costs may not be comparable to similar measures provided by other companies.

Southwestern management will host a teleconference call on Friday, February 28, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. EST to discuss its fourth quarter and year-end 2013 results. The toll-free number to call is 877-407-8035 and the international dial-in number is 201-689-8035. The teleconference can also be heard "live" on the Internet at http://www.swn.com.

Southwestern Energy Company is an independent energy company whose wholly-owned subsidiaries are engaged in natural gas and oil exploration and production and natural gas gathering and marketing. Additional information about the company can be found on the internet at http://www.swn.com.

All statements, other than historical facts and financial information, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements that address activities, outcomes and other matters that should or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, statements regarding the financial position, business strategy, production and reserve growth and other plans and objectives for the company's future operations, are forward-looking statements. Although the company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The company has no obligation and makes no undertaking to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, other than to the extent set forth below. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. They are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect the company's operations, markets, products, services and prices and cause its actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In addition to any assumptions and other factors referred to specifically in connection with forward-looking statements, risks, uncertainties and factors that could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated in any forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to: the timing and extent of changes in market conditions and prices for natural gas and oil (including regional basis differentials); the company's ability to transport its production to the most favorable markets or at all; the timing and extent of the company's success in discovering, developing, producing and estimating reserves; the economic viability of, and the company's success in drilling, the company's large acreage position in the Fayetteville Shale, overall as well as relative to other productive shale gas areas; the company's ability to fund the company's planned capital investments; the impact of federal, state and local government regulation, including any legislation relating to hydraulic fracturing, the climate or over the counter derivatives; the company's ability to determine the most effective and economic fracture stimulation for the Fayetteville Shale  and the Marcellus Shale ; the costs and availability of oil field personnel services and drilling supplies, raw materials, and equipment and services; the company's future property acquisition or divestiture activities; increased competition; the financial impact of accounting regulations and critical accounting policies; the comparative cost of alternative fuels; conditions in capital markets, changes in interest rates and the ability of the company's lenders to provide it with funds as agreed; credit risk relating to the risk of loss as a result of non-performance by the company's counterparties and any other factors listed in the reports the company has filed and may file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). For additional information with respect to certain of these and other factors, see the reports filed by the company with the SEC. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Financial Summary Follows

 

 

 

 

SOURCE Southwestern Energy Company