UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q
   
þ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period endedMarch 31,For the quarterly period endedJune 30, 2005

or
   
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period fromto
For the transition period from ___to ___

Commission file number:001-31899

WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
   
Delaware 20-0098515

 
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
 (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
1700 Broadway, Suite 2300

Denver, Colorado
 80290-2300

 
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

(303) 837-1661

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yesþ Noo£

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yesþ Noo£

Number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding at April 15,July 18, 2005: 29,791,92229,790,722 shares.
 
 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

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PART II—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.Financial Statements

WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF MARCH 31, 2005 (Unaudited) AND DECEMBER 31, 2004
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF JUNE 30, 2005 (Unaudited) AND DECEMBER 31, 2004
(In thousands)
         
  March 31,  December 31, 
  2005  2004 
  (unaudited)     
ASSETS
        
         
CURRENT ASSETS:        
Cash and cash equivalents $16,337  $1,660 
Accounts receivable trade, net  58,379   63,489 
Deferred income taxes  12,388   2,368 
Prepaid expenses and other  10,545   10,566 
       
         
Total current assets  97,649   78,083 
         
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:        
Oil and gas properties, successful efforts method:        
Proved properties  1,316,750   1,225,676 
Unproved properties  9,671   6,038 
Other property and equipment  5,043   4,554 
       
         
Total property and equipment  1,331,464   1,236,268 
         
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization  (264,036)  (244,246)
       
         
Total property and equipment-net  1,067,428   992,022 
       
         
DEBT ISSUANCE COSTS  11,178   11,823 
         
OTHER LONG-TERM ASSETS  9,220   10,278 
       
         
TOTAL $1,185,475  $1,092,206 
       

         
  June 30, December 31,
  2005 2004
  (unaudited)    
ASSETS
        
         
CURRENT ASSETS:        
Cash and cash equivalents $15,621  $1,660 
Accounts receivable trade, net  59,421   63,489 
Deferred income taxes  9,013   2,368 
Prepaid expenses and other  12,071   10,566 
         
         
Total current assets  96,126   78,083 
         
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:        
Oil and gas properties, successful efforts method:        
Proved properties  1,377,512   1,225,676 
Unproved properties  12,341   6,038 
Other property and equipment  6,144   4,554 
         
         
Total property and equipment  1,395,997   1,236,268 
         
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization  (284,215)  (244,246)
         
         
Total property and equipment-net  1,111,782   992,022 
         
         
DEBT ISSUANCE COSTS  14,100   11,823 
         
OTHER LONG-TERM ASSETS  10,753   10,278 
         
         
TOTAL $1,232,761  $1,092,206 
         
See condensed notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF MARCH 31, 2005 (Unaudited) AND DECEMBER 31, 2004
(In thousands)
         
  March 31,  December 31, 
  2005  2004 
  (unaudited)     
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
        
         
CURRENT LIABILITIES:        
Accounts payable $26,121  $21,865 
Oil and gas sales payable  5,201   4,987 
Accrued employee benefits  2,156   7,808 
Production taxes payable  8,761   8,254 
Current portion of tax sharing liability  4,214   4,214 
Current portion of long-term debt  3,205   3,167 
Derivative liability  27,630   1,670 
Income taxes payable and other liabilities  1,331   129 
       
         
Total current liabilities  78,619   52,094 
         
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS  32,958   31,639 
         
PRODUCTION PARTICIPATION PLAN LIABILITY  10,265   9,579 
         
TAX SHARING LIABILITY  27,586   26,966 
         
LONG-TERM DEBT  364,321   325,261 
         
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES  49,030   34,281 
         
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES        
         
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:        
Common stock, $.001 par value; 75,000,000 shares authorized, 29,791,922 and 29,717,808 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively  30   30 
Additional paid-in capital  458,800   455,635 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss  (16,965)  (1,025)
Deferred compensation  (4,685)  (1,715)
Retained earnings  185,516   159,461 
       
         
Total stockholders’ equity  622,696   612,386 
       
         
TOTAL $1,185,475  $1,092,206 
       
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF JUNE 30, 2005 (Unaudited) AND DECEMBER 31, 2004
(In thousands)

         
  June 30, December 31,
  2005 2004
  (unaudited)    
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
        
         
CURRENT LIABILITIES:        
Accounts payable $24,919  $19,815 
Accrued interest  4,845   2,050 
Oil and gas sales payable  6,237   4,987 
Accrued employee compensation and benefits  5,445   7,808 
Production taxes payable  9,497   8,254 
Current portion of tax sharing liability  4,214   4,214 
Current portion of long-term debt  3,242   3,167 
Derivative liability  18,890   1,670 
Income taxes payable and other liabilities     129 
         
         
Total current liabilities  77,289   52,094 
         
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS  35,218   31,639 
         
PRODUCTION PARTICIPATION PLAN LIABILITY  9,848   9,579 
         
TAX SHARING LIABILITY  28,206   26,966 
         
LONG-TERM DEBT  367,369   325,261 
         
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES  61,161   34,281 
         
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES        
         
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:        
Common stock, $.001 par value; 75,000,000 shares authorized, 29,790,722 and 29,717,808 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively  30   30 
Additional paid-in capital  458,879   455,635 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss  (11,598)  (1,025)
Deferred compensation  (3,395)  (1,715)
Retained earnings  209,754   159,461 
         
         
Total stockholders’ equity  653,670   612,386 
         
         
TOTAL $1,232,761  $1,092,206 
         
See condensed notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2005 AND 2004
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
FOR THE THREE MONTHS AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2005 AND 2004
(In thousands, except per share data)
         
  2005  2004 
REVENUES:        
Oil and gas sales $105,465  $47,636 
Loss on oil and gas hedging activities  (2,055)  (1,015)
Interest income and other  131   99 
       
Total  103,541   46,720 
       
         
COSTS AND EXPENSES:        
Lease operating  20,830   10,549 
Production taxes  6,540   3,006 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization�� 20,347   10,729 
Exploration  1,398   418 
General and administrative  6,728   4,001 
Interest expense  5,256   2,319 
       
Total costs and expenses  61,099   31,022 
       
         
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES  42,442   15,698 
         
INCOME TAX EXPENSE:        
Current  1,638    
Deferred  14,749   6,060 
       
Total income tax expense  16,387   6,060 
       
         
NET INCOME $26,055  $9,638 
       
         
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE, BASIC AND DILUTED $0.88  $0.51 
       
         
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING, BASIC  29,674   18,753 
       
         
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING, DILUTED  29,707   18,753 
       

                 
  Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
  2005 2004 2005 2004
REVENUES:                
Oil and gas sales $115,978  $52,874  $221,443  $100,510 
Loss on oil and gas hedging activities  (4,890)  (560)  (6,945)  (1,575)
Gain on sale of marketable securities     2,382      2,382 
Interest income and other  35   35   166   134 
                 
Total  111,123   54,731   214,664   101,451 
                 
                 
COSTS AND EXPENSES:                
Lease operating  22,110   11,144   42,939   21,693 
Production taxes  7,915   3,212   14,455   6,218 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization  20,735   10,761   41,082   21,490 
Exploration and impairment  6,005   502   7,404   920 
General and administrative  6,767   4,073   13,495   8,074 
Interest expense  8,122   3,100   13,378   5,419 
                 
Total costs and expenses  71,654   32,792   132,753   63,814 
                 
                 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES  39,469   21,939   81,911   37,637 
                 
INCOME TAX EXPENSE:                
Current  3,099      4,737    
Deferred  12,132   8,468   26,881   14,528 
                 
Total income tax expense  15,231   8,468   31,618   14,528 
                 
                 
NET INCOME $24,238  $13,471  $50,293  $23,109 
                 
                 
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE, BASIC AND DILUTED $0.82  $0.72  $1.69  $1.23 
                 
                 
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING, BASIC  29,681   18,755   29,673   18,754 
                 
                 
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING, DILUTED  29,699   18,775   29,698   18,766 
                 
See condensed notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004 AND THE
SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2005 (Unaudited)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004 AND THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2005 (Unaudited)
(In thousands)
                                 
              Accumulated               
          Additional  Other          Total    
  Common Stock  Paid-in  Comprehensive  Deferred  Retained  Stockholders’  Comprehensive 
  Shares  Amount  Capital  Income (Loss)  Compensation  Earnings  Equity  Income 
BALANCES—January 1, 2004  18,750  $19  $170,367  $(223) $  $89,415  $259,578  $19,612 
Net income                 70,046   70,046   70,046 
Change in fair value of marketable securities for sale           3,741         3,741   3,741 
Realized gain on marketable securities for sale           (4,835)        (4,835)  (4,835)
Change in derivative instrument fair value           292         292   292 
Issuance of stock – Equity Oil Company merger  2,237   2   43,296             43,298     
Issuance of stock – secondary offering  8,625   9   239,677            239,686    
Deferred compensation stock issued  106      2,295      (2,295)         
Amortization of deferred compensation.              580      580    
                         
                                 
BALANCES—December 31, 2004  29,718   30   455,635   (1,025)  (1,715)  159,461   612,386  $69,244 
Net income (unaudited)                      26,055   26,055   26,055 
Change in derivative instrument fair value (unaudited)           (15,940)        (15,940)  (15,940)
Deferred compensation stock issued (unaudited)  85      3,421      (3,421)         
Deferred compensation stock forfeited (unaudited)  (7)     (163)     163          
Deferred compensation stock used for tax withholdings (unaudited)  (4)     (93)           (93)   
Amortization of deferred compensation (unaudited)              288      288    
                         
                                 
BALANCES—March 31, 2005 (unaudited)  29,792  $30  $458,800  $(16,965) $(4,685) $185,516  $622,696  $10,115 
                         

                                 
              Accumulated            
          Additional Other         Total  
  Common Stock Paid-in Comprehensive Deferred Retained Stockholders’ Comprehensive
  Shares Amount Capital Income (Loss) Compensation Earnings Equity Income
BALANCES—January 1, 2004  18,750  $19  $170,367  $(223) $  $89,415  $259,578  $19,612 
                                 
Net income                 70,046   70,046   70,046 
Change in fair value of marketable securities for sale           3,741         3,741   3,741 
Realized gain on marketable securities for sale           (4,835)        (4,835)  (4,835)
Change in derivative instrument fair value           292         292   292 
Issuance of stock — Equity Oil Company merger  2,237   2   43,296             43,298     
Issuance of stock — secondary offering  8,625   9   239,677            239,686    
Deferred compensation stock issued  106      2,295      (2,295)         
Amortization of deferred compensation              580      580    
                                 
                              ��  
BALANCES—December 31, 2004  29,718   30   455,635   (1,025)  (1,715)  159,461   612,386  $69,244 
                                 
Net income (unaudited)                      50,293   50,293   50,293 
Change in derivative instrument fair value (unaudited)              (10,573)          (10,573)  (10,573)
Restricted stock issued (unaudited)  85       3,407       (3,407)            
Restricted stock forfeited (unaudited)  (8)      (181)      181             
Restricted stock used for tax withholdings (unaudited)  (4)      (174)              (174)    
Net tax effect arising from restricted stock activity          192               192     
Amortization of deferred compensation (unaudited)                  1,546       1,546     
                                 
                                 
BALANCES—June 30, 2005 (unaudited)  29,791  $30  $458,879  $(11,598) $(3,395) $209,754  $653,670  $39,720 
                                 
See condensed notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2005 AND 2004 (in thousands)
         
  2005  2004 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:        
Net income $26,055  $9,638 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:        
Depreciation, depletion and amortization  20,347   10,729 
Deferred income taxes  14,749   6,060 
Amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discount  681   282 
Accretion of tax sharing agreement  620   600 
Amortization of deferred compensation  288   65 
Changes in assets and liabilities:        
Accounts receivable  5,109   (1,765)
Other assets  103   (2,342)
Asset retirement obligations  (111)  (75)
Production participation plan liability  (4,515)  (3,426)
Accounts payable  4,257   (4,845)
Other liabilities  1,416   (619)
       
Net cash provided by operating activities  68,999   14,302 
       
         
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:        
Cash acquisition capital expenditures  (68,600)  (423)
Drilling capital expenditures  (25,722)  (11,085)
       
Net cash used in investing activities  (94,322)  (11,508)
       
         
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:        
Issuance of long-term debt under credit agreement  60,000    
Payments on long-term debt under credit agreement  (20,000)  (40,000)
       
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities  40,000   (40,000)
       
         
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS  14,677   (37,206)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:        
Beginning of period  1,660   53,585 
       
End of period $16,337  $16,379 
       
         
SUPPLEMENT CASH FLOW DISCLOSURES:        
Cash paid for income taxes $634  $499 
       
Cash paid for interest $912  $1,612 
       

         
  2005 2004
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:        
Net income $50,293  $23,109 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:        
Depreciation, depletion and amortization  41,082   21,490 
Deferred income taxes  26,881   14,528 
Amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discount  1,697   659 
Accretion of tax sharing agreement  1,240   1,200 
Amortization of deferred compensation  1,546   227 
Impairment of oil and gas properties  1,928    
Gain on sale of marketable securities     (2,382)
Changes in assets and liabilities:        
Accounts receivable  6,633   (6,147)
Other assets  (1,783)  (3,545)
Asset retirement obligations  (128)  (224)
Production participation plan liability  (1,971)  (2,436)
Accounts payable  4,636   351 
Other liabilities  5,111   451 
         
Net cash provided by operating activities  137,165   47,281 
         
         
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:        
Cash acquisition capital expenditures  (76,738)  (2,874)
Drilling capital expenditures  (53,989)  (26,349)
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities     2,677 
Acquisition of Partnership interests, net of cash acquired of $26  (30,433)   
         
Net cash used by investing activities  (161,160)  (26,546)
         
         
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:        
Issuance of 7 1/4% Senior Subordinated debt due 2012     148,890 
Issuance of 7 1/4% Senior Subordinated debt due 2013  216,715    
Issuance of long-term debt under credit agreement  60,000    
Payments on long-term debt under credit agreement  (235,000)  (185,000)
Debt issuance costs  (3,777)  (5,834)
Restricted stock used for tax withholdings  (174)   
Net tax effect arising from restricted stock activity  192    
         
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities  37,956   (41,944)
         
         
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS  13,961   (21,209)
         
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:        
Beginning of period  1,660   53,585 
         
End of period $15,621  $32,376 
         
         
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW DISCLOSURES:        
Cash paid for income taxes $5,277  $722 
         
Cash paid for interest $7,075  $2,976 
         
See condensed notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MARCH 31, 2005
CONDENSED NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2005
(In thousands, except per share data)

1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Description of Operations— Whiting Petroleum Corporation (“Whiting” or the “Company”) is a Delaware corporation that prior to its initial public offering in November 2003 was a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Alliant Energy Corporation (“Alliant Energy” or “Alliant”), a holding company whose primary businesses are utility companies. Whiting acquires, develops and explores for producing oil and gas properties primarily in the Rocky Mountains, Permian Basin, Gulf Coast, Michigan, Mid-Continent and California regions of the United States.
Consolidated Financial Statements— The unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Whiting and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial reporting. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Except as disclosed herein, there has been no material change to the information disclosed in the notes to consolidated financial statements included in Whiting’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. It is recommended that these unaudited consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company’s Form 10-K.
Earnings Per Share— Basic net income per common share of stock is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period. Diluted net income per common share of stock is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and other dilutive securities. The only securities considered dilutive are the Company’s unvested restricted stock awards. The dilutive effect of these securities was immaterial to the calculation.
Reclassifications— Certain prior period balances were reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. Those reclassifications had no impact on net income, stockholders’ equity or cash flows from operations as previously reported.
2. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Whiting is exposed to market risk in the pricing of its oil and gas production. Historically, prices received for oil and gas production have been volatile because of seasonal weather patterns, supply and demand factors, worldwide political factors and general economic conditions. Periodically, Whiting utilizes traditional swap and collar arrangements to mitigate the impact of oil and gas price fluctuations related to its sales of oil and gas. The Company attempts to qualify the majority of these instruments as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes.
During the first six months of 2005 and 2004, the Company recognized losses of $6,945 and $1,575, respectively, related to its hedging activities. In addition, at June 30, 2005, Whiting’s

1.BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Description of Operations—Whiting Petroleum Corporation (“Whiting” or the “Company”) is a Delaware corporation that prior to its initial public offering in November 2003 was a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Alliant Energy Corporation (“Alliant Energy” or “Alliant”), a holding company whose primary businesses are utility companies. Whiting acquires, develops and explores for producing oil and gas properties primarily in the Rocky Mountains, Permian Basin, Gulf Coast, Michigan, Mid-Continent and California regions of the United States.
Consolidated Financial Statements—The unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Whiting and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned, together with its pro rata share of the assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses of limited partnerships in which Whiting is the sole general partner. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial reporting. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Except as disclosed herein, there has been no material change to the information disclosed in the notes to consolidated financial statements included in Whiting’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. It is recommended that these unaudited consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company’s Form 10-K.
Earnings Per Share—Basic net income per common share of stock is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period. Diluted net income per common share of stock is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and other dilutive securities. The only securities considered dilutive are the Company’s unvested restricted stock awards. The dilutive effect of these securities was immaterial to the calculation.
Reclassifications—Certain prior period balances were reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. Those reclassifications had no impact on net income, stockholders’ equity or cash flows from operations as previously reported.
2.DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Whiting is exposed to market risk in the pricing of its oil and gas production. Historically, prices received for oil and gas production have been volatile because of seasonal weather patterns, supply and demand factors, worldwide political factors and general economic conditions. Periodically, Whiting utilizes traditional swap and collar arrangements to mitigate the impact of oil and gas price fluctuations related to its sales of oil and gas. The

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remaining cash flow hedge positions resulted in a pre-tax liability of $18,890 of which $11,598 was recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income and $7,292 was recorded as a current deferred tax asset. See Note 4 for restrictions in our credit agreement relating to hedging activities.
3. ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
The Company recognizes the fair value of its liability for plugging and abandoning its oil and natural gas wells in the financial statements by capitalizing that cost as a part of the cost of the related asset. The additional carrying amount is depleted over the estimated lives of the properties. The discounted liability is based on historical abandonment costs in specific areas and includes the abandonment obligation for certain onshore and offshore facilities located in California. The discounted obligation is accreted at the end of each accounting period through charges to depreciation, depletion and amortization expense. If the obligation is settled for other than the carrying amount, then a gain or loss is recognized upon settlement.
The following table provides a reconciliation of the Company’s asset retirement obligations for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively.
         
  Six Months Ended Six Months Ended
  June 30, 2005 June 30, 2004
Beginning asset retirement obligation $31,639  $23,021 
Additional liability incurred  2,593   423 
Accretion expense  1,114   760 
Liabilities settled  (128)  (224)
         
         
Ending asset retirement obligation $35,218  $23,980 
         
No revisions have been made to the timing or the amount of the original estimate of undiscounted cash flows during the first six months of 2005 or 2004.
4. LONG-TERM DEBT
Long-term debt consisted of the following at June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004:
         
  June 30,  December 31, 
  2005  2004 
Credit Agreement $0  $175,000 
7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012  150,545   150,261 
7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013  216,824   0 
Alliant Energy  3,242   3,167 
       
Total debt  370,611   328,428 
Current portion of long-term debt  (3,242)  (3,167)
       
Long-term debt $367,369  $325,261 
       
Credit Agreement— Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation has a $750.0 million credit agreement with a syndicate of banks that, as of June 30, 2005, had a borrowing base of $550.0 million. The borrowing base under the credit agreement is determined in the discretion of the lenders based on

Company attempts to qualify the majority of these instruments as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes.
During the first three months of 2005 and 2004, the Company recognized losses of $2,055 and $1,015, respectively, related to its hedging activities. In addition, at March 31, 2005, Whiting’s remaining cash flow hedge positions resulted in a pre-tax liability of $27,630 of which $16,965 was recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income and $10,665 was recorded as a current deferred tax asset. See Note 4 for restrictions in our credit agreement relating to hedging activities.
3.ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
The Company recognizes the fair value of its liability for plugging and abandoning its oil and natural gas wells in the financial statements by capitalizing that cost as a part of the cost of the related asset. The additional carrying amount is depleted over the estimated lives of the properties. The discounted liability is based on historical abandonment costs in specific areas and includes the abandonment obligation for certain onshore and offshore facilities located in California. The discounted obligation is accreted at the end of each accounting period through charges to depreciation, depletion and amortization expense. If the obligation is settled for other than the carrying amount, then a gain or loss is recognized upon settlement.
The following table provides a reconciliation of the Company’s asset retirement obligations for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

         
  Three Months Ended  Three Months Ended 
  March 31, 2005  March 31, 2004 
Beginning asset retirement obligation $31,639  $23,021 
Additional liability incurred  873    
Accretion expense  557   380 
Liabilities settled  (111)  (75)
       
         
Ending asset retirement obligation $32,958  $23,326 
       

No revisions have been made to the timing or the amount of the original estimate of undiscounted cash flows during the first three months of 2005 or 2004.

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the collateral value of the proved reserves that have been mortgaged to the lenders and is subject to regular redetermination on May 1 and November 1 of each year as well as special redeterminations described in the credit agreement. As of June 30, 2005, there was no outstanding principal balance under the credit agreement.
The credit agreement provides for interest only payments until September 23, 2008, when the entire amount borrowed is due. Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation may, throughout the four year term of the credit agreement, borrow, repay and reborrow up to the borrowing base in effect from time to time. The lenders under the credit agreement have also committed to issue letters of credit for the account of Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation or other designated subsidiaries of the Company from time to time in an aggregate amount not to exceed $30.0 million. As of June 30, 2005, letters of credit totaling $0.3 million were outstanding under the credit agreement.
Interest accrues, at Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation’s option, at either (1) the base rate plus a margin where the base rate is defined as the higher of the federal funds rate plus 0.5% or the prime rate and the margin varies from 0% to 0.50% depending on the utilization percentage of the borrowing base, or (2) at the LIBOR rate plus a margin where the margin varies from 1.00% to 1.75% depending on the utilization percentage of the borrowing base. Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation has consistently chosen the LIBOR rate option since it delivers the lowest effective interest rate. Commitment fees of 0.250% to 0.375% accrue on the unused portion of the borrowing base, depending on the utilization percentage, and are included as a component of interest expense. At June 30, 2005, the six month LIBOR rate was 3.71%.
The credit agreement contains restrictive covenants that may limit the Company’s ability to, among other things, pay cash dividends, incur additional indebtedness, sell assets, make loans to others, make investments, enter into mergers, enter into hedging contracts, change material contracts, incur liens and engage in certain other transactions without the prior consent of the lenders and requires the Company to maintain a debt to EBITDAX (as defined in the credit agreement) ratio of less than 3.5 to 1 and a working capital ratio of greater than 1 to 1. The Company is in compliance with all credit agreement provisions, including those that require the Company to hedge at least 60% but not more than 75% of its total forecasted proved developed producing production through December 31, 2005 in the form of costless collars or fixed price swaps, with a minimum floor price of $35 per barrel of oil or $4.50 per million British Thermal Units (MMBtu). After December 31, 2005, the credit agreement will not require the Company to hedge any of the Company’s production, but will continue to limit the Company’s hedging to a maximum of 75% of the Company’s forecasted proved developed producing production. In addition, while the credit agreement allows the Company’s subsidiaries to make payments to the Company so that it may pay interest on its senior subordinated notes, it does not allow the Company’s subsidiaries to make payments to it to pay principal on the senior subordinated notes. The Company was in compliance with its covenants under the credit agreement as of June 30, 2005. The credit agreement is secured by a first lien on substantially all of Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation’s assets. Whiting Petroleum Corporation and Equity Oil Company have guaranteed the obligations of Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation under the credit agreement, Whiting Petroleum Corporation has pledged the stock of Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation and Equity Oil Company as security for its guarantee and Equity Oil Company has mortgaged substantially all of its assets as security for its guarantee.
7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes— On April 19, 2005, the Company issued $220.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013. The net proceeds of the offering were used to repay debt outstanding under Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation’s credit agreement. The 7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 were issued at 98.507% of par and

4.LONG-TERM DEBT
Long-term debt consisted of the following at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004:

         
  March 31,  December 31, 
  2005  2004 
Credit Agreement $215,000  $175,000 
71/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012
  149,321   150,261 
Alliant Energy  3,205   3,167 
       
Total debt  367,526   328,428 
Current portion of long-term debt  (3,205)  (3,167)
       
Long-term debt $364,321  $325,261 
       

Credit Agreement—Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation has a $750.0 million credit agreement with a syndicate of banks that, as of March 31, 2005, had a borrowing base of $480.0 million. The borrowing base under the credit agreement is determined in the discretion of the lenders based on the collateral value of the proved reserves that have been mortgaged to the lenders and is subject to regular redetermination on May 1 and November 1 of each year as well as special redeterminations described in the credit agreement. On March 31, 2005, Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation borrowed $60.0 million in order to fund its $65.0 million acquisition of oil and natural gas producing properties located in the Green River Basin in Wyoming. As of March 31, 2005, the outstanding principal balance under the credit agreement was $215.0 million.
The credit agreement provides for interest only payments until September 23, 2008, when the entire amount borrowed is due. Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation may, throughout the four year term of the credit agreement, borrow, repay and reborrow up to the borrowing base in effect from time to time. The lenders under the credit agreement have also committed to issue letters of credit for the account of Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation or other designated subsidiaries of the Company from time to time in an aggregate amount not to exceed $30.0 million. As of March 31, 2005, letters of credit totaling $0.2 million were outstanding under the credit agreement.
Interest accrues, at Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation’s option, at either (1) the base rate plus a margin where the base rate is defined as the higher of the federal funds rate plus 0.5% or the prime rate and the margin varies from 0% to 0.50% depending on the utilization percentage of the borrowing base, or (2) at the LIBOR rate plus a margin where the margin varies from 1.00% to 1.75% depending on the utilization percentage of the borrowing base. Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation has consistently chosen the LIBOR rate option since it delivers the lowest effective interest rate. Commitment fees of 0.250% to 0.375% accrue on the unused portion of the borrowing base, depending on the utilization percentage, and are included as a component of interest expense. At March 31, 2005, the effective weighted average interest rate on the entire outstanding principal balance of $215.0 million was fixed at 3.77% through April 29, 2005. On April 19, 2005, the Company repaid the entire outstanding principal balance of $215.0 million under the credit agreement with cash on

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the associated discount is being amortized to interest expense over the term of the notes. Based on the market price of the 7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013, their estimated fair value was $223.6 million as of June 30, 2005.
In May 2004, the Company issued $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012. The 7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 were issued at 99.26% of par and the associated discount is being amortized to interest expense over the term of the notes. Based on the market price of the 7-1/4 % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012, their estimated fair value was $153.2 million as of June 30, 2005.
The notes are unsecured obligations of the Company and are subordinated to all of the Company’s senior debt. The indentures governing the notes contain various restrictive covenants that are substantially identical and may limit the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ ability to, among other things, pay cash dividends, redeem or repurchase the Company’s capital stock or the Company’s subordinated debt, make investments, incur additional indebtedness or issue preferred stock, sell assets, consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its restricted subsidiaries taken as a whole, and enter into hedging contracts. These covenants may limit the discretion of the Company’s management in operating the Company’s business. In addition, Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation’s credit agreement restricts the ability of the Company’s subsidiaries to make certain payments to the Company. The Company was in compliance with these covenants as of June 30, 2005. Both of the Company’s subsidiaries, Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation and Equity Oil Company (the “Guarantors”), have fully, unconditionally, jointly and severally guaranteed the Company’s obligations under the notes. All of the Company’s subsidiaries other than the Guarantors are minor within the meaning of Rule 3-10(h)(6) of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Company has no independent assets or operations.
Interest Rate Swap— In August 2004, the Company entered into an interest rate swap contract to hedge the fair value of $75 million of its 7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012. Because this swap meets the conditions to qualify for the “short cut” method of assessing effectiveness under the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, the change in fair value of the debt is assumed to equal the change in the fair value of the interest rate swap. As such, there is no ineffectiveness assumed to exist between the interest rate swap and the notes.
The interest rate swap is a fixed for floating swap in that the Company receives the fixed rate of 7.25% and pays the floating rate. The floating rate is redetermined every six months based on the LIBOR rate in effect at the contractual reset date. When LIBOR plus the Company’s margin of 2.345% is less than 7.25%, the Company receives a payment from the counterparty equal to the difference in rate times $75 million for the six month period. When LIBOR plus the Company’s margin of 2.345% is greater than 7.25%, the Company pays the counterparty an amount equal to the difference in rate times $75 million for the six month period. The LIBOR rate at June 30, 2005 was 3.71%. As of June 30, 2005, we have recorded a long term derivative asset of $1.5 million related to the interest rate swap, which has been designated as a fair value hedge, with a corresponding debt increase to the 7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012.
Short-Term Debt— In conjunction with the Company’s initial public offering in November 2003, the Company issued a promissory note payable to Alliant Energy in the aggregate principal amount of $3.0 million. The promissory note bears interest at an annual rate of 5%. All principal and interest on the promissory note are due on November 25, 2005.

hand and proceeds from the 71/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013. See a further discussion of this transaction in Note 9.
The credit agreement contains restrictive covenants that may limit the Company’s ability to, among other things, pay cash dividends, incur additional indebtedness, sell assets, make loans to others, make investments, enter into mergers, enter into hedging contracts, change material contracts, incur liens and engage in certain other transactions without the prior consent of the lenders and requires the Company to maintain a debt to EBITDAX (as defined in the credit agreement) ratio of less than 3.5 to 1 and a working capital ratio of greater than 1 to 1. The Company is in compliance with the credit agreement provision that requires the Company to hedge at least 60% but not more than 75% of its total forecasted proved developed producing production through December 31, 2005 in the form of costless collars or fixed price swaps, with a minimum floor price of $35 per barrel of oil or $4.50 per million British Thermal Units (MMBtu). After December 31, 2005, the credit agreement will not require the Company to hedge any of the Company’s production, but will continue to limit our hedging to a maximum of 75% of our forecasted proved developed producing production. In addition, while the credit agreement allows the Company’s subsidiaries to make payments to the Company so that it may pay interest on its senior subordinated notes, it does not allow the Company’s subsidiaries to make payments to it to pay principal on the senior subordinated notes. The Company was in compliance with its covenants under the credit agreement as of March 31, 2005. The credit agreement is secured by a first lien on substantially all of Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation’s assets. Whiting Petroleum Corporation and Equity Oil Company have guaranteed the obligations of Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation under the credit agreement, Whiting Petroleum Corporation has pledged the stock of Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation and Equity Oil Company as security for its guarantee and Equity Oil Company has mortgaged substantially all of its assets as security for its guarantee.
71/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012— In May 2004, the Company issued, in a private placement, $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 71/4% senior subordinated notes due 2012. The net proceeds of the offering were used to refinance debt outstanding under the Company’s credit agreement. The notes were issued at 99.26% of par and the associated discount is being amortized to interest expense over the term of the notes. The notes are unsecured obligations of the Company and are subordinated to all of the Company’s senior debt. The indenture governing the notes contains various restrictive covenants that may limit the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ ability to, among other things, pay cash dividends, redeem or repurchase the Company’s capital stock or the Company’s subordinated debt, make investments, incur additional indebtedness or issue preferred stock, sell assets, consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its restricted subsidiaries taken as a whole, and enter into hedging contracts. These covenants may limit the discretion of the Company’s management in operating the Company’s business. In addition, Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation’s credit agreement restricts the ability of the Company’s subsidiaries to make payments to the Company. The Company was in compliance with these covenants as of March 31, 2005. Three of the Company’s subsidiaries, Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation, Whiting Programs, Inc. and Equity Oil Company (the “Guarantors”), have fully, unconditionally, jointly and severally guaranteed the Company’s obligations under the notes. All of the Company’s subsidiaries other than the Guarantors are minor within the meaning of Rule 3-10(h)(6) of Regulation

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5. EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
The Company maintains the Whiting Petroleum Corporation 2003 Equity Incentive Plan, pursuant to which two million shares of the Company’s common stock have been reserved for issuance. No participating employee may be granted options for more than 300,000 shares of common stock, stock appreciation rights with respect to more than 300,000 shares of common stock or more than 150,000 shares of restricted stock during any calendar year. This plan prohibits the repricing of outstanding stock options without stockholder approval. During the first six months of 2005, the Company granted 84,652 shares of restricted stock under this plan and 8,065 shares were forfeited. The new shares of restricted stock were recorded at fair value of $3.4 million and are being amortized to general and administrative expense over their three year vesting period.
6. PRODUCTION PARTICIPATION PLAN
The Company has a Production Participation Plan for all employees. On an annual basis, interests in oil and gas properties acquired or developed during the year are allocated to the plan on a discretionary basis. Once allocated, the interests (not legally conveyed) are fixed. Allocations prior to 1995 consisted of 2% — 3% overriding royalty interests. Allocations since 1995 have been 2% — 5% net revenue interests. Prior to plan year 2004, plan participants generally vested ratably over their initial five years of employment in all income allocated to the plan on their behalf and forfeitures were re-allocated among other Plan participants. The Production Participation Plan was modified in 2004 to provide that (1) for years 2004 and beyond, employees will vest at a rate of 20% per year with respect to the income allocated to the plan for such year; (2) employees will become fully vested at age 65, regardless of when their interests would otherwise vest; and (3) for years 2004 and beyond, if there are forfeitures, the interests will inure to the benefit of the Company.
7. TAX SEPARATION AND INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT WITH ALLIANT ENERGY
In connection with Whiting’s initial public offering in November 2003, the Company entered into a tax separation and indemnification agreement with Alliant Energy. Pursuant to this agreement, the Company and Alliant Energy made a tax election with the effect that the tax basis of the assets of Whiting and its subsidiaries were increased to the deemed purchase price of their assets immediately prior to such initial public offering. Whiting has adjusted deferred taxes on its balance sheet to reflect the new tax basis of the Company’s assets. This additional basis is expected to result in increased future income tax deductions and, accordingly, may reduce income taxes otherwise payable by Whiting.
Under this agreement, the Company has agreed to pay to Alliant Energy 90% of the future tax benefits the Company realizes annually as a result of this step-up in tax basis for the years ending on or prior to December 31, 2013. Such tax benefits will generally be calculated by comparing the Company’s actual taxes to the taxes that would have been owed by the Company had the increase in basis not occurred. In 2014, Whiting will be obligated to pay Alliant Energy 90% of the present value of the remaining tax benefits assuming all such tax benefits will be realized in future years. Future tax benefits in total will approximate $62.0 million. The Company has estimated total payments to Alliant will approximate $49.0 million given the discounting affect of the final payment in 2014. The Company has discounted all cash payments to Alliant at the date of the Tax Separation Agreement.

S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Company has no independent assets or operations. Based on the market price of the 71/4 % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012, their estimated fair value was $151.9 million as of March 31, 2005.
Interest Rate Swap—In August 2004, the Company entered into an interest rate swap contract to hedge the fair value of $75 million of our 71/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012. Because this swap meets the conditions to qualify for the “short cut” method of assessing effectiveness under the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, the change in fair value of the debt is assumed to equal the change in the fair value of the interest rate swap. As such, there is no ineffectiveness assumed to exist between the interest rate swap and the notes.
The interest rate swap is a fixed for floating swap in that we receive the fixed rate of 7.25% and pay the floating rate. The floating rate is redetermined every six months based on the LIBOR rate in effect at the contractual reset date. When LIBOR plus our margin of 2.345% is less than 7.25%, we receive a payment from the counterparty equal to the difference in rate times $75 million for the six month period. When LIBOR plus our margin of 2.345% is greater than 7.25%, we pay the counterparty an amount equal to the difference in rate times $75 million for the six month period. The LIBOR rate at March 31, 2005 was 2.3%. As of March 31, 2005, we have recorded a long term derivative asset of $0.3 million related to the interest rate swap, which has been designated as a fair value hedge, with a corresponding debt increase to the 71/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012.
Short-Term Debt—In conjunction with the Company’s initial public offering in November 2003, the Company issued a promissory note payable to Alliant Energy in the aggregate principal amount of $3.0 million. The promissory note bears interest at an annual rate of 5%. All principal and interest on the promissory note are due on November 25, 2005.
5.EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
The Company maintains the Whiting Petroleum Corporation 2003 Equity Incentive Plan, pursuant to which two million shares of the Company’s common stock have been reserved for issuance. No participating employee may be granted options for more than 300,000 shares of common stock, stock appreciation rights with respect to more than 300,000 shares of common stock or more than 150,000 shares of restricted stock during any calendar year. This plan prohibits the repricing of outstanding stock options without stockholder approval. During the first three months of 2005, the Company granted 85,732 shares of restricted stock under this plan and 6,865 shares were forfeited. The new shares of restricted stock were recorded at fair value of $3.4 million and are being amortized to general and administrative expense over their three year vesting period.
6.PRODUCTION PARTICIPATION PLAN
The Company has a Production Participation Plan for all employees. On an annual basis, interests in oil and gas properties acquired or developed during the year are allocated to the plan on a discretionary basis. Once allocated, the interests (not legally conveyed) are fixed. Allocations prior to 1995 consisted of 2%- 11 - 3% overriding royalty interests. Allocations since 1995 have been 2% - 5% net revenue interests. Prior to plan year 2004, plan

11


The initial recording of this transaction in November 2003 resulted in a $57.2 million increase in deferred tax assets, a $28.6 million discounted payable to Alliant Energy and a $28.6 million increase to stockholders’ equity. The Company will monitor the estimate of when payments will be made and adjust the accretion of this liability on a prospective basis. During the first six months of 2005, the Company did not make any payments under this agreement but did recognize $1.2 million of accretion expense which is included as a component of interest expense. The Company’s estimate of payments to be made in 2005 under this agreement of $4.2 million is reflected as a current liability at June 30, 2005.
The Tax Separation Agreement provides that if tax rates were to change (increase or decrease), the tax benefit or detriment would result in a corresponding adjustment of the Alliant liability. For purposes of this calculation, the Company’s management has assumed that no such change will occur during the term of this agreement.
8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company leases 87,000 square feet of administrative office space under an operating lease arrangement through October 31, 2010. Rental expense for the initial six months of 2005 and 2004 was $725 and $481, respectively. A summary of future minimum lease payments under this non-cancelable operating lease as of June 30, 2005 is as follows (in thousands):
     
Year Ending December 31, 2005 $735 
Year Ending December 31, 2006  1,469 
Year Ending December 31, 2007  1,469 
Year Ending December 31, 2008  1,469 
Year Ending December 31, 2009  1,469 
Year Ending December 31, 2010  1,224 
     
     
Total $7,835 
     
The Company is subject to litigation claims and governmental and regulatory controls arising in the ordinary course of business. It is the opinion of the Company’s management that all claims and litigation involving the Company are not likely to have a material adverse effect on its financial position or results of operations.
9. ACQUISITIONS
Limited Partnership Interests —On June 23, 2005, Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation acquired all of the limited partnership interests in three institutional partnerships managed by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Whiting Programs, Inc. The purchase price was $30.5 million for estimated proved reserves of approximately 17.4 Bcfe, resulting in a cost of approximately $1.75 per Mcfe of estimated proved reserves. Current production attributable to the property interests is approximately 4.0 MMcfe per day. The partnership properties are located primarily in Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Wyoming. The effective date of the acquisition is January 1, 2005 and the acquisition was funded with cash on hand.
As this acquisition was recorded using the purchase method of accounting, the results of operations from the acquisition are included with our results from June 23, 2005 forward. The table below summarizes the allocation of the purchase price based on the acquisition date fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed (in thousands):

participants generally vested ratably over their initial five years of employment in all income allocated to the plan on their behalf and forfeitures were re-allocated among other Plan participants. The Production Participation Plan was modified in 2004 to provide that (1) for years 2004 and beyond, employees will vest at a rate of 20% per year with respect to the income allocated to the plan for such year; (2) employees will become fully vested at age 65, regardless of when their interests would otherwise vest; and (3) for years 2004 and beyond, if there are forfeitures, the interests will inure to the benefit of the Company.
7.TAX SEPARATION AND INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT WITH ALLIANT ENERGY
In connection with Whiting’s initial public offering in November 2003, the Company entered into a tax separation and indemnification agreement with Alliant Energy. Pursuant to this agreement, the Company and Alliant Energy made a tax election with the effect that the tax basis of the assets of Whiting and its subsidiaries were increased to the deemed purchase price of their assets immediately prior to such initial public offering. Whiting has adjusted deferred taxes on its balance sheet to reflect the new tax basis of the Company’s assets. This additional basis is expected to result in increased future income tax deductions and, accordingly, may reduce income taxes otherwise payable by Whiting.
Under this agreement, the Company has agreed to pay to Alliant Energy 90% of the future tax benefits the Company realizes annually as a result of this step-up in tax basis for the years ending on or prior to December 31, 2013. Such tax benefits will generally be calculated by comparing the Company’s actual taxes to the taxes that would have been owed by the Company had the increase in basis not occurred. In 2014, Whiting will be obligated to pay Alliant Energy 90% of the present value of the remaining tax benefits assuming all such tax benefits will be realized in future years. Future tax benefits in total will approximate $62 million. The Company has estimated total payments to Alliant will approximate $49 million given the discounting affect of the final payment in 2014. The Company has discounted all cash payments to Alliant at the date of the Tax Separation Agreement.
The initial recording of this transaction in November 2003 resulted in a $57.2 million increase in deferred tax assets, a $28.6 million discounted payable to Alliant Energy and a $28.6 million increase to stockholders’ equity. The Company will monitor the estimate of when payments will be made and adjust the accretion of this liability on a prospective basis. During the first three months of 2005, the Company did not make any payments under this agreement but did recognize $0.62 million of accretion expense which is included as a component of interest expense. The Company’s estimate of payments to be made in 2005 under this agreement of $4,214 is reflected as a current liability at March 31, 2005.
The Tax Separation Agreement provides that if tax rates were to change (increase or decrease), the tax benefit or detriment would result in a corresponding adjustment of the Alliant liability. For purposes of this calculation, management has assumed that no such change will occur during the term of this agreement.

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Purchase Price:    
Cash paid, net of cash acquired of $26 $30,433 
     
     
Allocation of Purchase Price:    
Working capital $2,096 
Oil and gas properties  30,022 
Long-term liabilities  (1,685)
     
Total $30,433 
     
Green River Basin Acquisition-On March 31, 2005, the Company acquired operated interests in five producing gas fields in the Green River Basin of Wyoming. The purchase price was $65.0 million for estimated proved reserves as of the effective date of the acquisition of approximately 50.5 Bcfe, resulting in a cost of $1.29 per Mcfe of estimated proved reserves. Future development costs of the proved undeveloped reserves are estimated at approximately $14 million. Whiting operates approximately 95% of the net daily production from the properties, which was estimated to be 6.3 million Mcfe per day at the acquisition date. Whiting funded the acquisition through borrowings under Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation’s credit agreement and with cash on hand.
10. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
In July 2005, Whiting entered into two purchase and sale agreements with Celero Energy, LP to acquire the operated interest in two producing oil and gas fields, one in the Oklahoma Panhandle and the other in the Permian Basin of West Texas. The separate closings are expected to occur on August 4, 2005 and October 4, 2005, subject to standard conditions to closing. The total purchase price will be approximately $802 million, or $1.09 per thousand cubic feet equivalent (Mcfe) of estimated proved reserves. The purchase and sale agreements provide that Whiting will pay Celero $343 million in cash at the August closing and $442 million in cash at the October closing, as well as issue 441,500 shares of Whiting common stock to Celero at the October closing. Based on recent trading, this stock has a value of approximately $17 million. A deposit of $80.2 million was paid on July 26, 2005, of which $ 80.0 million was funded with borrowings under the Credit Agreement. The effective date of both transactions will be July 1, 2005.
Total proved reserves for the properties to be acquired are estimated at 734 billion cubic feet equivalent (Bcfe), as of July 1, 2005, 94% of which is oil and 43% of which is developed. In aggregate, the properties cover an area of approximately 112,000 acres (net). Upon completion of the acquisitions, Whiting will operate approximately 95% of the properties, which produced at an average net daily rate of approximately 7,510 barrels of oil and 2.8 million cubic feet of gas, or 47.8 million cubic feet equivalent (MMcfe), during the first quarter of 2005. Substantially all of the properties to be acquired from Celero provide potential for enhanced recovery (primarily waterflooding and CO2 injection), as well as reserve growth associated with development and exploratory drilling. Whiting estimates future development costs of $534 million related to the Celero properties, of which 80% will be incurred over the next 5 -1/2 years.

8.GREEN RIVER BASIN ACQUISITION
On March 31, 2005, the Company acquired operated interests in five producing gas fields in the Green River Basin of Wyoming. The purchase price was $65.0 million for estimated proved reserves as of the effective date of the acquisition of approximately 50.5 Bcfe, resulting in a cost of $1.29 per Mcfe of estimated proved reserves. Future development costs of the proved undeveloped reserves are estimated at approximately $14 million. Whiting operates approximately 95% of the net daily production from the properties, which was estimated to be 6.3 million Mcfe per day at the acquisition date. Whiting funded the acquisition through borrowings under Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation’s credit agreement and with cash on hand.
9.SUBSEQUENT EVENT
On April 19, 2005, the Company issued, in a public offering, $220.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 71/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013. The net proceeds of the offering were used to refinance debt outstanding under Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation’s credit agreement. The notes are unsecured obligations of the Company and are subordinated to all of the Company’s senior debt. The notes were issued at 98.507% of par and the associated discount is being amortized to interest expense over the term of the notes. The indenture governing the notes contains restrictive covenants that are substantially identical to those contained in the indenture governing the Company’s 71/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012. These covenants may limit the discretion of the Company’s management in operating the Company’s business. In addition, Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation’s credit agreement restricts the ability of the Company’s subsidiaries to make payments to the Company. Three of the Company’s subsidiaries, Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation, Equity Oil Company and Whiting Programs, Inc. (the “Guarantors”), have fully, unconditionally, jointly and severally guaranteed the Company’s obligations under the notes. All of the Company’s subsidiaries other than the Guarantors are minor within the meaning of Rule 3-10(h)(6) of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Company has no independent assets or operations.

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Item 2.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “Whiting,” “we,” “us,” “our” or “ours” when used in this Item refer to Whiting Petroleum Corporation, together with its operating subsidiaries, Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation and Equity Oil Company. When the context requires, we refer to these entities separately.

Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains statements that we believe to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than historical facts, including, without limitation, statements regarding our future financial position, business strategy, projected revenues, earnings, costs, capital expenditures and debt levels, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this report, words such as we “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe” or “should” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such statements. Some, but not all, of the risks and uncertainties include: declines in oil or natural gas prices; our level of success in exploitation, exploration, development and production activities; the timing of our exploration and development expenditures, including our ability to obtain drilling rigs; our ability to obtain external capital to finance acquisitions; our ability to identify and complete acquisitions and to successfully integrate acquired businesses and properties; unforeseen underperformance of or liabilities associated with acquired properties; inaccuracies of our reserve estimates or our assumptions underlying them; failure of our properties to yield oil or natural gas in commercially viable quantities; uninsured or underinsured losses resulting from our oil and natural gas operations; our inability to access oil and natural gas markets due to market conditions or operational impediments; the impact and costs of compliance with laws and regulations governing our oil and natural gas operations; risks related to our level of indebtedness and periodic redeterminations of our borrowing base under our credit facility; our ability to replace our oil and natural gas reserves; any loss of our senior management or technical personnel; competition in the oil and natural gas industry; and risks arising out of our hedging transactions. We assume no obligation, and disclaim any duty, to update the forward-looking statements in this report.

Overview

We are engaged in oil and natural gas exploitation, acquisition, exploration and production activities primarily in the Rocky Mountains, Permian Basin, Gulf Coast, Michigan, Mid-Continent and California regions of the United States. Over the last four years, we have emphasized the acquisition of properties that provided current production and significant upside potential through further development. Our drilling activity is directed at this development; specifically on projects that we believe provide repeatable successes in particular fields.

Our combination of acquisitions and development allows us to direct our capital resources to what we believe to be the most advantageous investments. We have historically acquired operated as well as non operated properties that meet or exceed our rate of return criteria. For acquisitions of properties with additional development, exploitation and exploration potential, our focus has been on acquiring operated properties so that we can better control the timing and implementation of

14


capital spending. In some instances, we have been able to acquire non operated property interests at

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attractive rates of return that provided a foothold in a new area of interest or complemented our existing operations. We intend to continue to acquire both operated and non operated interests to the extent we believe they meet our return criteria. In addition, our willingness to acquire non operated properties in new geographic regions provides us with geophysical and geologic data in some cases that leads to further acquisitions in the same region, whether on an operated or non operated basis. We sell properties when management is of the opinion that the sale price realized will provide an above average rate of return for the property or when the property no longer matches the profile of properties we desire to own.

          On June 23, 2005, we acquired all of the limited partnership interests in three institutional partnership managed by our wholly-owned subsidiary, Whiting Programs, Inc., acquiring total estimated proved reserves as of the effective date of the acquisition of approximately 17.4 Bcfe for a purchase price of $30.5 million. On March 31, 2005, we acquired operated interests in five producing gas fields in the Green River Basin of Wyoming, acquiring total estimated proved reserves as of the effective date of the acquisition of approximately 50.5 Bcfe for a purchase price of $65.0 million. We completed seven separate acquisitions of producing properties during 2004. The2004 with a combined purchase price for these seven acquisitions wasof $535.1 million for total estimated proved reserves as of the effective dates of the acquisitions of approximately 436.1 Bcfe. We also completed the Green River Basin acquisition on March 31, 2005 for $65.0 million. See “Green River Basin” below. Because the Green River Basin acquisition was closed on the last day of the first quarter of 2005, it did not affect operating results. Because of our substantial recent acquisition activity, our discussion and analysis of our historical financial condition and results of operations for the periods discussed below may not necessarily be comparable with or applicable to our future results of operations.

Our revenue, profitability and future growth rate depend substantially on factors beyond our control, such as economic, political and regulatory developments and competition from other sources of energy. Oil and natural gas prices historically have been volatile and may fluctuate widely in the future. Sustained periods of low prices for oil or natural gas could materially and adversely affect our financial position, our results of operations, the quantities of oil and natural gas reserves that we can economically produce and our access to capital.

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Results of Operations

ThreeSix Months Ended March 31,June 30, 2005 Compared to ThreeSix Months Ended March 31,June 30, 2004

Selected Operating Data:
                
 Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended
 March 31,  June 30,
 2005 2004  2005 2004
Net production:  
Natural gas (MMcf) 7,531 5,520  14,977 10,970 
Oil (MBbls) 1,464 649  2,953 1,301 
MMcfe 16,315 9,414  32,695 18,776 
Oil and gas sales (in thousands)  
Natural gas $40,513 $27,609  $85,518 $58,263 
Oil $64,952 $20,027  $135,925 $42,247 
Average sales prices:  
Natural gas (per Mcf) $5.38 $5.00  $5.71 $5.31 
Effect of natural gas hedges on average price (per Mcf) $ $  $ $ 
          
Natural gas net of hedging (per Mcf) $5.38 $5.00  $5.71 $5.31 
          
  
Oil (per Bbl) $44.37 $30.86  $46.03 $32.47 
Effect of oil hedges on average price (per Bbl) $(1.40) $(1.56) $(2.35) $(1.21)
          
Oil net of hedging (per Bbl) $42.97 $29.30  $43.68 $31.26 
          
  
Additional data (per Mcfe):  
Sales price, net of hedging $6.34 $4.95  $6.56 $5.27 
Lease operating expenses $1.28 $1.12  $1.31 $1.16 
Production taxes $0.40 $0.32  $0.44 $0.33 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense $1.25 $1.14  $1.26 $1.14 
General and administrative expenses $0.41 $0.43  $0.41 $0.43 

          Oil and Natural Gas Sales. Our oil and natural gas sales revenue increased approximately $57.8$120.9 million to $105.5$221.4 million in the first quartersix months of 2005 compared to the first quartersix months of 2004. Sales are a function of sales volumes and average sales prices. Our sales volumes increased 73.3%74.1% between periods on an Mcfe basis. The volume increase resulted primarily from acquisition activities and also from successful drilling activities over the past year that produced new sales volumes that more than offset natural decline offset bydecline. Our production volumes in the first half of 2005 were less than anticipated due in part to delays in rig availability that have caused delays in our development drilling program and temporary pipeline shutdowns for repairs by a gas purchaser in South Texas as well asshut downs and workover activity in the Big Stick Field in North Dakota.first quarter of 2005. Our average price for natural gas sales increased 7.6%7.5% and our average price for crude oil increased 43.8%41.8% between periods.

          Loss on Oil and Natural Gas Hedging Activities. We hedged 60% of our natural gas volumes during the first quartersix months of 2005 and 46%23% of our natural gas volumes during the first quartersix months of 2004 incurring no hedging loss or gain in either period. We hedged 70%60% of our oil volumes during the first quartersix months of 2005 incurring a hedging loss of $2.1$6.9 million, and 46.0%46% of our oil volumes during the first quartersix months of 2004 incurring a hedging loss of $1.0$1.6 million. See Item 3, “Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures About Market Risk” for a list of our outstanding oil and natural gas hedges as of April 15,July 29, 2005.

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          Lease Operating Expenses. Our lease operating expense increased approximately $10.3$21.2 million to $20.8$42.9 million in the first quartersix months of 2005 compared to the first quartersix months of 2004. The increase resulted primarily from costs associated with new property acquisitions over the past year. Our lease operating expense as a percentage of oil and gas sales decreased from 22.1%21.6% during the first quartersix months of 2004 to 19.8%19.4% during the first quartersix months of 2005 as lease operating costs increases did not keep pace with sales price increases. Our lease operating expenses per Mcfe increased from $1.12$1.16 during the first quartersix months of 2004 to $1.28$1.31 during the first quarter ofsame period in 2005. The increase of 14.3%12.9% was primarily caused by price inflation caused by increased demand for goods and services in the industry.

          Production Taxes. The production taxes we pay are generally calculated as a percentage of oil and natural gas sales revenue before the effects of hedging. We take full advantage of all credits and exemptions allowed in the various taxing jurisdictions. Due to our broad asset base, we expect our production tax rate to vary between 6.0% to 6.5% of oil and natural gas sales revenue. Our production taxes for the first quartersinitial six months of 2005 and 2004 were 6.2%6.5% and 6.3%6.2% of oil and natural gas sales, respectively.

          Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization. Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense (“DD&A”) increased $9.6$19.6 million to $20.3$41.1 million during the first quartersix months of 2005 compared to $10.7$21.5 million for the first quarter ofsame period in 2004. The increase resulted from increased production due to our recent acquisitions and an increase in the DD&A rate. On an Mcfe basis, the rate increased from $1.14 during 2004 to $1.25$1.26 in 2005. The increase in rate is primarily due to our 2004 all sources finding, development and acquisition cost which averaged $1.28 per Mcfe, which was higher than our historical average rate. Also contributing to the DD&A rate increase is the increase in the Company’s drilling expenditures as costs to develop proved undeveloped reserves are not considered for DD&A purposes until incurred. Changes to the pricing environment can also impact our DD&A rate. Price increases allow for longer economic production lives and corresponding increased reserve volumes and, as a result, lower depletion rates. Price decreases have the opposite effect. The components of our DD&A expense were as follows (in thousands):
                
 Three Months Ended March 31,  Six Months Ended June 30,
 2005 2004  2005 2004
Depletion $19,520 $10,169  $39,408 $20,370 
Depreciation 270 180  560 360 
Accretion of asset retirement obligations 557 380  1,114 760 
          
Total $20,347 $10,729  $41,082 $21,490 
          

          Exploration.Exploration and Impairment. Our exploration and impairment costs increased $1.0$6.5 million to $1.4$7.4 million in the first quartersix months of 2005 compared to the first quartersix months of 2004.
         
  Six Months Ended June 30,
  2005 2004
Exploration $5,476  $920 
Impairment  1,928    
         
Total $7,404  $920 
         
          The higher exploratory costs resulted from three exploratory dry holes drilled during 2005 totaling $1.8 million and increased geological and geophysical costs to support the increase in our development drilling budget from $79.4 million in 2004 to between $130 million and $150 million in 2005.

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2005. The impairment charge in 2005 relates to unrecoverable costs associated with our investment in the Cherokee Basin of Kansas.
          General and Administrative Expenses. We report general and administrative expense net of reimbursements. The components of our general and administrative expense were as follows:
                
 Three Months Ended March 31,  Six Months Ended June 30,
 2005 2004  2005 2004
General and administrative expenses $9,255 $5,297  $18,639 $10,630 
Reimbursements  (2,527)  (1,296)  (5,144)  (2,556)
          
General and administrative expense, net $6,728 $4,001  $13,495 $8,074 
          

          General and administrative expense before reimbursements increased $4.0$8.0 million to $9.3$18.6 million during the first quarterinitial six months of 2005 compared to $5.3$10.6 million during the first quarter ofsame period in 2004. The largest components of the increase related to costs associated with our production participation plan of $1.9$3.1 million and increased salaries with related benefits and taxes of $1.4$3.5 million. The increased cost of the production participation plan was caused primarily by increased production and increased average prices between the first quarterssix months of each year. The increase in salaries was due primarily to an increase in the employee base due to our continued growth. The increase in reimbursements was caused by an increase in operated properties due to acquisition and drilling activity during 2004.the last half of 2004 and the first six months of 2005. Our general and administrative expense decreased between periods from $0.43 to $0.41 per Mcfe.Mcfe due to the efficiencies of spreading fixed costs over a larger production base. As a percentage of oil and gas sales, our general and administrative expense also decreased from 8.4%8.0% during the first quartersix months of 2004 to 6.4%6.1% during the first quarter ofsame period in 2005 as general and administrative costs increased slower than oil and gas sales prices.

          Interest Expense. The components of our interest expense were as follows:
                
 Three Months Ended March 31,  Six Months Ended June 30,
 2005 2004  2005 2004
Credit Agreement $1,817 $1,399  $2,433 $1,975 
71/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012
 2,100  
7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 4,724 1,510 
7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 3,209  
Alliant Energy 38 38  75 75 
Amortization of debt issue costs and debt discount 681 282  1,697 659 
Accretion of tax sharing liability 620 600  1,240 1,200 
          
Total interest expense $5,256 $2,319  $13,378 $5,419 
          

          The increase in interest expense wasis primarily due to the May 2004 issuance of $150.0 million of 71/7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012.2012 and the April 2005 issuance of $220.0 million of 7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Noted due 2013. The additional cash interest cost and additional amortization of debt issue costs and debt discount in 2005 is due to the greater number of days that each instrument was outstanding versus the prior year. In August of 2004, $75.0 million of the face amount of the 7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 notes waswere swapped to a floating rate. At December 31, 2004,May 1, 2005, the floating rate component was set at 4.645%5.76% through MayNovember 1, 2005, yielding a first quarter 20052005.
          Our weighted average effective interest rate ondebt outstanding during the $150.0 million issuance of 5.95%. We expect the floating rate component to increase approximately 1% at May 1, 2005 due to increases in interest rates since November 1, 2004.

          Interest expense on our credit agreement in the first quarterinitial six months of 2005 was $418,000 higher than first quarter$347 million versus $160 million during the initial six months of 2004. This was primarily the result of higherOur weighted average effective cash interest rates of 4.25% inrate was 6.0% during the first quarterinitial six months of 2005 compared to 3.4% inversus 4.45% during the first quarterinitial six months of 2004.

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          The accretion

2004. After inclusion of our tax sharing liability isnoncash interest costs related to a step-up in tax basis effected immediately prior to our initial public offering in November 2003. The increase in debt issue and debt discount amortization was due to the amortization of additional fees incurred afterdebt issue costs and debt discount and the first quarteraccretion of 2004 to refinancethe tax sharing liability, our credit agreement and issue $150.0 millionweighted average effective all-in interest rate was 7.1% during the initial six months of our 71/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012.

2005 versus 5.9% during the initial six months of 2004.

          Income Tax Expense. Income tax expense totaled $16.4$31.6 million for the first quartersix months of 2005 and $6.1$14.5 million for the first quarter ofsame period in 2004, resulting in effective income tax rates of 38.6% for both periods. We did not show current income tax expense in the first quarter of 2004 since our net operating loss carryforward from 2003 was sufficient to offset taxable income generated during the first quarter of 2004. By the end of the 2004 tax year, this net operating loss carryforward was fully utilized. During the first six months of 2005, we estimate that our full year 2005 cash tax liability would approximate 15% of the full year 2005 tax provision and have reflected this as current tax expense.
Net Income. Net income increased from $23.1 million during the first six months of 2004 to $50.3 million during the first six months of 2005. The primary reasons for this increase included 24% higher crude oil and natural gas prices net of hedging between periods and a 74.1% increase in equivalent volumes sold, offset by higher lease operating expense, production taxes, general and administrative, DD&A, interest and exploration and impairment costs in the initial six months of 2005 due to our growth.
Three Months Ended June 30, 2005 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2004
Selected Operating Data:
         
  Three Months Ended
  June 30,
  2005 2004
Net production:        
Natural gas (MMcf)  7,446   5,450 
Oil (MBbls)  1,489   652 
MMcfe  16,380   9,362 
Oil and gas sales (in thousands)        
Natural gas $44,976  $30,653 
Oil $71,002  $22,221 
Average sales prices:        
Natural gas (per Mcf) $6.04  $5.63 
Effect of natural gas hedges on average price (per Mcf) $  $ 
         
Natural gas net of hedging (per Mcf) $6.04  $5.63 
         
         
Oil (per Bbl) $47.68  $34.08 
Effect of oil hedges on average price (per Bbl) $(3.28) $(0.86)
         
Oil net of hedging (per Bbl) $44.40  $33.22 
         
         
Additional data (per Mcfe):        
Sales price, net of hedging $6.78  $5.59 
Lease operating expenses $1.35  $1.19 
Production taxes $0.48  $0.34 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense $1.27  $1.15 
General and administrative expenses $0.41  $0.44 
Oil and Natural Gas Sales. Our oil and natural gas sales revenue increased approximately $63.1 million to $116.0 million in the second quarter of 2005 compared to the second quarter of 2004. Sales are a function of sales volumes and average sales prices. Our sales volumes increased 75.0%

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between periods on an Mcfe basis. The volume increase resulted primarily from acquisition activities and also from successful drilling activities over the past year that produced new sales volumes that more than offset natural decline. Our production volumes in the second quarter of 2005 were less than anticipated due in part to delays in rig availability that have caused delays in our development drilling program. Our average price for natural gas sales increased 7.3% and our average price for crude oil increased 39.9% between periods.
Loss on Oil and Natural Gas Hedging Activities. We hedged 60% of our natural gas volumes during the second quarter of 2005 incurring no hedging loss or gain. We did not hedge our natural gas volumes during the second quarter of 2004. We hedged 50% of our oil volumes during the second quarter of 2005 incurring a hedging loss of $4.9 million, and 46.0% of our oil volumes during the second quarter of 2004 incurring a loss of $0.6 million. See Item 3, “Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures About Market Risk” for a list of our outstanding oil and natural gas hedges as of July 29, 2005.
Lease Operating Expenses. Our lease operating expense increased approximately $11.0 million to $22.1 million in the second quarter of 2005 compared to the second quarter of 2004. The increase resulted primarily from costs associated with new property acquisitions over the past year. Our lease operating expense as a percentage of oil and gas sales decreased from 21.1% during the second quarter of 2004 to 19.1% during the second quarter of 2005 as lease operating costs increases did not keep pace with sales price increases. Our lease operating expenses per Mcfe increased from $1.19 during the second quarter of 2004 to $1.35 during the second quarter of 2005. The increase of 13.4% was primarily caused by price inflation caused by increased demand for goods and services in the industry.
Production Taxes. The production taxes we pay are generally calculated as a percentage of oil and natural gas sales revenue before the effects of hedging. We take full advantage of all credits and exemptions allowed in the various taxing jurisdictions. Due to our broad asset base, we expect our production tax rate to vary between 6.0% to 6.5% of oil and natural gas sales revenue. Our production taxes for the second quarters of 2005 and 2004 were 6.8% and 6.1% of oil and natural gas sales, respectively. The rate of 6.8% in the second quarter of 2005 was higher than our anticipated rate going forward due to corrections of prior period returns that occurred during the quarter.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization. Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense (“DD&A”) increased $9.9 million to $20.7 million during the second quarter of 2005 compared to $10.8 million for the same period in 2004. The increase resulted from increased production due to our recent acquisitions and an increase in the DD&A rate. On an Mcfe basis, the rate increased from $1.15 during 2004 to $1.27 in 2005. The increase in rate is primarily due to our 2004 all sources finding, development and acquisition cost which averaged $1.28 per Mcfe, which was higher than our historical average rate. Also contributing to the DD&A rate increase is the increase in the Company’s drilling expenditures as costs to develop proved undeveloped reserves are not considered for DD&A purposes until incurred. Changes to the pricing environment can also impact our DD&A rate. Price increases allow for longer economic production lives and corresponding increased reserve volumes and, as a result, lower depletion rates. Price decreases have the opposite effect. The components of our DD&A expense were as follows (in thousands):

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  Three Months Ended June 30,
  2005 2004
Depletion $19,889  $10,201 
Depreciation  290   180 
Accretion of asset retirement obligations  556   380 
         
Total $20,735  $10,761 
         
Exploration and Impairment. Our exploration costs increased $5.5 million to $6.0 million in the second quarter of 2005 compared to the same quarter of 2004.
         
  Three Months Ended June 30,
  2005 2004
Exploration $4,077  $502 
Impairment  1,928    
         
Total $6,005  $502 
         
          The higher exploratory costs resulted from two exploratory dry holes drilled during the second quarter 2005 totaling $1.7 million and increased geological and geophysical costs to support the increase in our development drilling budget from $79.4 million in 2004 to between $130 million and $150 million in 2005. The impairment charge in the second quarter of 2005 relates to unrecoverable costs associated with our investment in the Cherokee Basin of Kansas.
General and Administrative Expenses. We report general and administrative expense net of reimbursements. The components of our general and administrative expense were as follows:
         
  Three Months Ended June 30,
  2005 2004
General and administrative expenses $9,384  $5,333 
Reimbursements  (2,617)  (1,260)
         
General and administrative expense, net $6,767  $4,073 
         
          General and administrative expense before reimbursements increased $4.1 million to $9.4 million during the second quarter of 2005 compared to $5.3 million during the same quarter of 2004. The largest components of the increase related to costs associated with our production participation plan of $1.6 million and increased salaries with related benefits and taxes of $1.7 million. The increased cost of the production participation plan was caused primarily by increased production and increased average prices between the second quarters of each year. The increase in salaries was due primarily to an increase in the employee base due to our continued growth. The increase in reimbursements was caused by an increase in operated properties due to acquisition and drilling activity during the last half of 2004 and the first six months of 2005. Our general and administrative expense decreased between periods from $0.44 to $0.41 per Mcfe due to the efficiencies of spreading fixed costs over a larger production base. As a percentage of oil and gas sales, our general and administrative expense also decreased from 7.7% during the second quarter of 2004 to 5.8% during the second quarter of 2005 as general and administrative costs increased slower than oil and gas sales prices.

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Interest Expense. The components of our interest expense were as follows:
         
  Three Months Ended June 30,
  2005 2004
Credit Agreement $616  $576 
7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012  2,624   1,510 
7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013  3,210    
Alliant Energy  37   37 
Amortization of debt issue costs and debt discount  1,015   377 
Accretion of tax sharing liability  620   600 
         
Total interest expense $8,122  $3,100 
         
          The increase in interest expense is primarily due to the May 2004 issuance of $150.0 million of 7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 and the April 2005 issuance of $220.0 million of 7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Noted due 2013. The additional cash interest cost and additional amortization of debt issue costs and debt discount in 2005 is due to the greater number of days that each instrument was outstanding versus the prior year. In August of 2004, $75.0 million of the face amount of the 7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 notes were swapped to a floating rate. At May 1, 2005, the floating rate component was set at 5.76% through November 1, 2005.
          Our weighted average debt outstanding during the second quarter of 2005 was $372 million versus $151 million during the second quarter of 2004. Our weighted average effective cash interest rate was 6.97% during the second quarter of 2005 versus 5.6% during the second quarter of 2004. After inclusion of noncash interest costs related to the amortization of debt issue costs and debt discount and the accretion of the tax sharing liability, our weighted average effective all-in interest rate was 8.0% during the second quarter of 2005 versus 6.9% during the second quarter of 2004.
Income Tax Expense. Income tax expense totaled $15.2 million for the second quarter of 2005 and $8.5 million for the same quarter in 2004, resulting in effective income tax rates of 38.6% for both periods. We did not show current income tax expense in the second quarter of 2004 since our net operating loss carryforward from 2003 was sufficient to offset taxable income generated during the second quarter of 2004. By the end of the 2004 tax year, this net operating loss carryforward was fully utilized. During the second quarter of 2005, we estimate that our full year 2005 cash tax liability would approximate 10%15% of the full year 2005 tax provision and have reflected this as current tax expense.

          Net Income. Net income increased from $9.6$13.5 million during the firstsecond quarter of 2004 to $26.1$24.2 million during the firstsecond quarter of 2005. The primary reasons for this increase included 28.1%21% higher crude oil and natural gas prices net of hedging between periods and a 73.3%75.0% increase in equivalent volumes sold, offset by higher lease operating expense, production taxes, general and administrative, DD&A, interest and exploration and impairment costs in the firstsecond quarter of 2005 due to our growth.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

          Overview. At December 31, 2004, our debt to total capitalization ratio was 34.9%, we had $1.7 million of cash on hand and $612.4 million of stockholders’ equity. In the first quarterhalf of 2005, we generated an additional $69.0$137.2 million from operating activities and $40.0$38.0 million from financing activities. We used these sources of cash in the first quarterhalf of 2005 to finance cash acquisitions of $68.6$107.2 million and drilling capital expenditures of $25.7$54.0 million. At March 31,June 30, 2005, our debt to total capitalization ratio was 37.1%36.2%, we had $16.3$15.6 million of cash on hand and $622.7$653.7 million of stockholders’ equity.

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          We continually evaluate our capital needs and compare them to our capital resources. Our budgeted capital expenditures for the further development of our property base are $130.0 million to $150.0 million during 2005, of which we spent $25.7$54.0 million in the first quarter.six months of 2005. Our 2005 budget is an increase from the $79.4 million spent on capitalized development during 2004 and the $40.3 spent in 2003. We also spent $68.6$107.2 million on acquisitions in the first quarterhalf of 2005 and $452.7 million on acquisitions in the second half of 2004, funded primarily by borrowings under Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation’s credit agreement. A portion of the borrowings for the 2004 acquisitions were repaid in the fourth quarter of 2004 using approximately $240 million of proceeds from our secondary offering of 8.6 million shares of common stock. Although we have no specific budget for property acquisitions, we will continue to seek property acquisition opportunities that complement our existing core property base. We expect to fund our 2005 development expenditures from internally generated cash flow and cash on hand. If attractive acquisition opportunities arise or development expenditures exceed $150.0 million, then we believe that we could finance the additional capital expenditures with cash on hand, operating cash flow, borrowings under our credit agreement, issuances of additional equity or debt securities, or development with industry partners. Our level of capital expenditures is largely discretionary, and the amount of funds devoted to any particular activity may increase or decrease significantly

19


depending on available opportunities, commodity prices, cash flows and development results, among other factors.

          Credit Agreement. Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation has a $750.0 million credit agreement with a syndicate of banks that, as of March 31,June 30, 2005, provided a borrowing base of $480.0$550.0 million. The borrowing base under the credit agreement is determined in the discretion of the lenders based on the collateral value of our proved reserves that have been mortgaged to the lenders and is subject to regular redetermination on May 1 and November 1 of each year as well as special redeterminations described in the credit agreement. During the first quarter of 2005, we repaid $20.0 million under the credit agreement from operating cash flows and borrowed $60.0 million to fund the Green River Basin property acquisition. As of March 31, 2005, the outstanding principal balance under the credit agreement was $215.0 million. On April 19, 2005, we repaid the entire outstanding principal balance of $215.0 million under the credit agreement with net proceeds from our
71/4% 7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 and cash on hand. See a further discussion of this transaction below.

As of June 30, 2005, there was no outstanding principal balance under the credit agreement.

          The credit agreement provides for interest only payments until September 23, 2008, when the entire amount borrowed is due. We may, throughout the term of the credit agreement, borrow, repay and reborrow up to the borrowing base in effect from time to time. The lenders under the credit agreement have also committed to issue letters of credit for our account from time to time in an aggregate amount not to exceed $30.0 million of the amount of the borrowing base available at the time of the request. As of March 31,June 30, 2005, letters of credit totaling $0.2$0.3 million were outstanding under the credit agreement.

          Interest accrues, at our option, at either (1) the base rate plus a margin where the base rate is defined as the higher of the federal funds rate plus 0.5% or the prime rate and the margin varies from 0% to 0.50% depending on the utilization percentage of the borrowing base, or (2) at the LIBOR rate plus a margin where the margin varies from 1.00% to 1.75% depending on the utilization percentage of the borrowing base. We have consistently chosen the LIBOR rate option since it delivers the lowest effective interest rate. Commitment fees of 0.250% to 0.375% accrue on the unused portion of the borrowing base, depending on the utilization percentage, and are included as a component of interest expense.

At June 30, 2005, the LIBOR rate was 3.71%.

          The credit agreement contains restrictive covenants that may limit our ability to, among other things, pay cash dividends, incur additional indebtedness, sell assets, make loans to others, make investments, enter into mergers, change material contracts, incur liens and engage in certain other transactions without the prior consent of the lenders and requires us to maintain a debt to EBITDAX (as defined in the credit agreement) ratio of less than 3.5 to 1 and a working capital ratio of greater than 1 to 1. We are in compliance with the credit agreement provision that requires us to hedge at least 60%, but not more than 75%, of our total forecasted PDPProved Developed Producing (PDP) production for the period

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November 1, 2004 through December 31, 2005 in the form of costless collars or fixed price swaps, with a minimum floor price of $35 per barrel of oil or $4.50 per MMbtu of natural gas. After December 31, 2005, the credit agreement will not require us to hedge any of our production, but will continue to limit our hedging to a maximum of 75% of our forecasted PDP production. In addition, while the credit agreement allows our subsidiaries to make payments to us so that we may pay interest on our senior subordinated notes, it does not allow our subsidiaries to make payments to us to pay principal on the senior subordinated notes. We were in compliance with our covenants under the credit agreement as of March 31,June 30, 2005. The credit agreement is secured by a first lien on

20


substantially all of Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation’s assets. Whiting Petroleum Corporation and Equity Oil Company have guaranteed the obligations of Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation under the credit agreement, Whiting Petroleum Corporation has pledged the stock of Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation and Equity Oil Company as security for its guarantee and Equity Oil Company has mortgaged substantially all of its assets as security for its guarantee.

          7 1/7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012. In May 2004,On April 19, 2005, we issued in a private placement, $150.0$220.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 7 1/7-1/4% senior subordinated notesSenior Subordinated Notes due 2012.2013. The net proceeds of the offering were used to retire all of ourrepay debt outstanding under Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation’s credit agreement. The notes7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 were issued at 98.507% of par and the associated discount is being amortized to interest expense over the term of the notes.
          In May 2004, we issued $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012. The 7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 were issued at 99.26% of par and the associated discount is being amortized to interest expense over the term of the notes.
          The notes are unsecured obligations of ours and are subordinated to all of our senior debt. The indentureindentures governing the notes containscontain restrictive covenants that are substantially identical and may limit our and our subsidiaries’ ability to, among other things, pay cash dividends, redeem or repurchase our capital stock or our subordinated debt, make investments, incur additional indebtedness or issue preferred stock, sell assets, consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of the assets of ours and our restricted subsidiaries taken as a whole and enter into hedging contracts. These covenants may limit the discretion of our management in operating our business. We were in compliance with these covenants as of December 31, 2004.June 30, 2005. Three of our subsidiaries, Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation, Whiting Programs, Inc. and Equity Oil Company, have fully, unconditionally, jointly and severally guaranteed our obligations under the notes.

71/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013. On April 19, 2005, we issued, in a public offering, $220.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 71/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013. The net proceeds of the offering were used to refinance debt outstanding under Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation’s credit agreement. The notes are unsecured obligations of ours and are subordinated to all of our senior debt. The notes were issued at 98.507% of par and the associated discount is being amortized to interest expense over the term of the notes. The indenture governing the notes contains restrictive covenants that are substantially identical to those contained in the indenture governing the Company’s 71/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012. These covenants may limit the discretion of our management in operating our business. Three of our subsidiaries, Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation, Equity Oil Company and Whiting Programs, Inc., have fully, unconditionally, jointly and severally guaranteed our obligations under the notes.

          Alliant Energy Promissory Note. In conjunction with our initial public offering in November 2003, we issued a promissory note payable to Alliant Energy Corporation, our former parent company, in the aggregate principal amount of $3.0 million. The note bears interest at an annual rate of 5%. All principal and interest on the promissory note are due on November 25, 2005.

          Tax Separation and Indemnification Agreement with Alliant Energy. In connection with our initial public offering in November 2003, we entered into a tax separation and indemnification agreement with Alliant Energy. Pursuant to this agreement, we and Alliant Energy made a tax election with the effect that the tax basis of the assets of Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation and its subsidiaries were increased to the deemed purchase price of their assets immediately prior to such initial public offering. We have adjusted deferred taxes on our balance sheet to reflect the new tax basis of our assets. This additional basis is expected to result in increased future income tax deductions and, accordingly, may reduce income taxes otherwise payable by us. Under this agreement, we have agreed to pay to Alliant Energy 90% of the future tax

21


benefits we realize annually as a result of this step up in tax basis for the years ending on or prior to December 31, 2013. Such tax benefits will generally be calculated by comparing our actual taxes to the taxes that would have been owed by us had the increase in basis not

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occurred. In 2014, we will be obligated to pay Alliant Energy the present value of the remaining tax benefits assuming all such tax benefits will be realized in future years. The initial recording of this transaction in November 2003 resulted in a $57.2 million increase in deferred tax assets, a $28.6 million discounted payable to Alliant Energy and a $28.6 million increase to stockholders’ equity. During 2004 and the first quarterhalf of 2005, we did not make any payments under this agreement but did recognize $2.4 million and $620,000,$1.2 million, respectively, of accretion expense, which is included as a component of interest expense. Our estimate of payments to be made under this agreement of $4.2 million in 2005 is reflected as a current liability at March 31,June 30, 2005.

          Schedule of Contractual Obligations. The following table summarizes our obligations and commitments as of March 31,June 30, 2005 to make future payments under certain contracts, aggregated by category of contractual obligation, for specified time periods. This table does not include asset retirement obligations or production participation plan liabilities since we cannot determine with accuracy the timing of future payments. This table also does not include interest expense since we cannot determine with accuracy the timing of future loan advances and repayments and the future interest rate to be charged under floating rate instruments. During August 2004, we entered into an interest rate swap on $75.0 million of our $150.0 million fixed rate 7 1/7-1/4% senior subordinated notesSenior Subordinated Notes due 2012. The amount of interest we expect to pay relating to the $75.0 million of our 71/4%7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2012 that remain at a fixed interest rate is $5.4 million annually through the term of the notes. The amount of interest we expect to pay relating to the $220.0 million of our 7-1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2013 is $16.0 million annually through the term of the notes.
                                        
 Payments due by period  Payments due by period
 Less than 1 More than  Less than 1 More than
Contractual Obligations Total year 1-3 years 3-5 years 5 years  Total year 1-3 years 3-5 years 5 years
Long-Term Debt $367,526 $3,205 $ $215,000 $149,321  $370,611 $3,242   $367,369 
Operating Lease 8,171 1,438 2,938 2,938 857  7,835 1,469 $2,938 $2,938 490 
Tax Separation and Indemnification Agreement with Alliant Energy(1)
 31,800 4,214 8,273 6,961 12,352  32,420 4,214 8,273 6,961 12,972 
                      
Total $407,497 $8,857 $11,211 $224,899 $162,530  $410,866 $8,925 $11,211 $9,899 $380,831 
                      


(1) Amounts shown are estimates based on estimated future income tax benefits from the increase in tax basis described under “Tax Separation and Indemnification Agreement with Alliant Energy” above.

          Price-sharing Arrangement. As part of a 2002 purchase transaction, we agreed to share with the seller 50% of the actual price received for certain crude oil production in excess of $19.00 per barrel. The agreement runs through December 31, 2009 and contains a 2% price escalation per year. As a result, the sharing amount at January 1, 2005 increased to 50% of the actual price received in excess of $20.16 per barrel. As of March 31,June 30, 2005, approximately 37,70041,000 net barrels of crude oil per month (7.4%(8.6% of MarchJune 2005 estimated net crude oil production) are subject to this sharing agreement. The terms of the agreement do not provide for a maximum amount to be paid. During the first quarterhalf of 2005, we paid $1.5$3.2 million under this agreement. As of March 31,June 30, 2005, we have accrued an additional $473,000$0.6 million as currently payable.

New Accounting Policies

          None.

          None.

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

          Information regarding critical accounting policies and estimates is contained in Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. No material changes to such information have occurred during the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2005.

Effects of Inflation and Pricing

          We experienced increased costs during 2004 and the first quarterhalf of 2005 due to increased demand for oil field products and services. The oil and natural gas industry is very cyclical and the demand for goods and services of oil field companies, suppliers and others associated with the industry put extreme pressure on the economic stability and pricing structure within the industry. Typically, as prices for oil and natural gas increase, so do all associated costs. When prices decline, associated costs do not necessarily decline at the same rate. Material changes in prices impact the current revenue stream, estimates of future reserves, borrowing base calculations of bank loans and value of properties in purchase and sale transactions. Material changes in prices can impact the value of oil and natural gas companies and their ability to raise capital, borrow money and retain personnel. While we do not currently expect business costs to materially increase, continued high prices for oil and natural gas could result in increases in the cost of material, services and personnel.

Green River Basin

Acquisition

of Limited Partnership Interests

          On March 31,June 23, 2005, we completed our acquisitionWhiting Oil and Gas Corporation acquired all of operatedthe limited partnership interests in five producing gas fields in the Green River Basin of Wyoming.three institutional partnerships managed by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Whiting Programs, Inc. The purchase price was $65.0$30.5 million for estimated proved reserves as of the effective date of the acquisition of approximately 50.517.4 Bcfe, resulting in a cost of $1.29approximately $1.75 per Mcfe of estimated proved reserves. Future development costsCurrent production attributable to the property interests is approximately 4.0 MMcfe per day. The partnership properties are located primarily in Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Wyoming. The effective date of the acquisition is January 1, 2005 and the acquisition was funded with cash on hand. The acquisition of the limited partnerships increases the presence of Whiting in certain areas and provides additional exploration and production operations. As this acquisition was recorded using the purchase method of accounting, the results of operations from the acquisition are included with our results from June 23, 2005 forward.
Acquisition of Celero Energy, LP
          In July 2005, Whiting entered into two purchase and sale agreements with Celero Energy, LP to acquire the operated interest in two producing oil and gas fields, one in the Oklahoma Panhandle and the other in the Permian Basin of West Texas. The separate closings are expected to occur on August 4, 2005 and October 4, 2005, subject to standard conditions to closing. The total purchase price will be approximately $802 million, or $1.09 per thousand cubic feet equivalent (Mcfe) of estimated proved undevelopedreserves. The purchase and sale agreements provide that Whiting will pay Celero $343 million in cash at the August closing and $442 million in cash at the October closing, as well as issue 441,500 shares of Whiting common stock to Celero at the October closing. Based on recent trading, this stock has a value of approximately $17 million. A deposit of $80.2 million was paid on July 26, 2005, of which $80.0 million was funded with borrowings under the Credit Agreement. The effective date of both transactions will be July 1, 2005.
          Total proved reserves for the properties to be acquired are estimated at 734 billion cubic feet equivalent (Bcfe), as of July 1, 2005, 94% of which is oil and 43% of which is developed. In aggregate, the properties cover an area of approximately $14 million. We112,000 acres (net). Upon completion of the acquisitions, Whiting will operate approximately 95% of the properties, which produced at an average net daily production fromrate of approximately 7,510 barrels of oil and 2.8 million cubic feet of gas, or 47.8 million cubic feet equivalent (MMcfe), during the first quarter of 2005. Substantially all of the properties to be acquired from Celero provide potential for enhanced recovery (primarily waterflooding and CO2 injection), as well as reserve growth associated with development and exploratory drilling. Whiting estimates future development costs of $534 million related to the Celero properties, of which was estimated at 6.3 MMcfe per day at80% will be incurred over the acquisition date. We funded the acquisition through borrowings under Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation’s credit agreement and cash on hand.

next 51/2 years.

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Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Hedging

          Our quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk for changes in commodity prices and interest rates are included in Item 7A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 and have not materially changed since that report was filed.

          Our outstanding hedges as of April 15,at July 29, 2005 are summarized below:
       
    Monthly Volume  
VolumeNYMEX
Commodity Period (MMBtu)/(Bbl) NYMEX Floor/Ceiling
Natural Gas04/2005 to 06/20051,500,000$4.50/$8.25
Natural Gas 07/2005 to 09/2005 1,500,000 $4.50/$8.60
Natural Gas 10/2005 to 12/2005 1,500,000 $4.50/$10.00
Natural Gas 01/2006 to 03/2006 750,000 $5.90/$10.30
Crude OilNatural Gas01/2006 to 03/2006450,000$6.00/$16.00
Natural Gas01/2006 to 03/2006300,000$6.00/$17.00
Natural Gas 04/20052006 to 06/20052006 250,000600,000 $37.00/6.00/$46.6510.10
Natural Gas04/2006 to 06/20061,000,000$6.00/$10.12
Natural Gas07/2006 to 09/2006600,000$6.00/$10.28
Natural Gas07/2006 to 09/20061,000,000$6.00/$10.38
Natural Gas10/2006 to 12/2006600,000$6.00/$12.28
Natural Gas10/2006 to 12/20061,000,000$6.00/$12.18
Natural Gas01/2007 to 03/2007600,000$6.00/$15.20
Natural Gas01/2007 to 03/20071,000,000$6.00/$15.52
Crude Oil 07/2005 to 09/2005 250,000 $35.00/$47.25
Crude Oil08/2005 to 09/2005110,000$50.00/$70.95
Crude Oil08/2005 to 09/200550,000$50.00/$73.15
Crude Oil 10/2005 to 12/2005 125,000 $35.00/$60.55
Crude Oil 10/2005 to 12/2005 125,000 $35.00/$65.75
Crude Oil10/2005 to 12/2005110,000$50.00/$75.00
Crude Oil10/2005 to 12/200550,000$50.00/$80.50
Crude Oil 01/2006 to 03/2006 250,000 $40.00/$51.50
Crude Oil01/2006 to 03/2006110,000$50.00/$76.55
Crude Oil01/2006 to 03/200650,000$50.00/$82.25
Crude Oil04/2006 to 06/2006125,000$45.00/$82.80
Crude Oil04/2006 to 06/2006215,000$50.00/$73.80
Crude Oil04/2006 to 06/2006110,000$50.00/$76.20
Crude Oil07/2006 to 09/2006125,000$45.00/$81.90
Crude Oil07/2006 to 09/2006215,000$50.00/$72.90
Crude Oil07/2006 to 09/2006110,000$50.00/$75.25
Crude Oil10/2006 to 12/2006125,000$45.00/$81.10
Crude Oil10/2006 to 12/2006215,000$50.00/$72.05
Crude Oil10/2006 to 12/2006110,000$50.00/$74.30
Crude Oil01/2007 to 03/2007125,000$45.00/$81.00
Crude Oil01/2007 to 03/2007215,000$50.00/$70.90
Crude Oil01/2007 to 03/2007110,000$50.00/$73.15
Crude Oil04/2007 to 06/2007110,000$50.00/$72.00
Crude Oil04/2007 to 06/2007300,000$50.00/$78.50
Crude Oil07/2007 to 09/2007110,000$50.00/$70.90
Crude Oil07/2007 to 09/2007300,000$50.00/$77.55
Crude Oil10/2007 to 12/2007110,000$49.00/$71.50
Crude Oil10/2007 to 12/2007300,000$50.00/$76.50
Crude Oil01/2008 to 03/2008110,000$49.00/$70.65
Crude Oil04/2008 to 06/2008110,000$48.00/$71.60
Crude Oil07/2008 to 09/2008110,000$48.00/$70.85
Crude Oil10/2008 to 12/2008110,000$48.00/$70.20

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          The collared hedges shown above have the effect of providing a protective floor while allowing us to share in upward pricing movements. Consequently, while these hedges are designed to decrease our exposure to price decreases, they also have the effect of limiting the benefit of price increases beyond the ceiling. For the natural gas contracts listed above, a hypothetical $0.10 change in the NYMEX price above the ceiling price or below the floor price applied to the notional amounts would cause a change in the gain (loss) on hedging activities of $450,000 for 2005. For the crude oil contracts listed above, a hypothetical $1.00 change in the NYMEX price would cause a change in the gain (loss) on hedging activities of $750,000$2,300,000 for 2005.

     We have also entered into fixed price marketing contracts directly with end users for a portion of the natural gas we produce in Michigan. All of those contracts have built-in pricing escalators of 4% per year. Our outstanding fixed price marketing contracts at April 15,July 26, 2005 are summarized below:
          
           Monthly  
 Monthly Volume 2005 Price Volume 2005 Price
Commodity Period (MMBtu) Per MMBtu Period (Mmbtu) Per Mmbtu
Natural Gas 01/2002 to 12/2011  51,000  $4.39  01/2002 to 12/2011  51,000  $4.39 
Natural Gas 01/2002 to 12/2012  60,000  $3.89  01/2002 to 12/2012  60,000  $3.89 

24- 28 -


Item 4.Controls and Procedures

          Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. In accordance with Rule 13a-15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), our management evaluated, with the participation of our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and our Vice PresidentPresident—Finance and Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the quarter ended March 31,June 30, 2005. Based upon their evaluation of these disclosures controls and procedures, the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and the Vice PresidentPresident—Finance and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the quarter ended March 31,June 30, 2005.

          Changes in internal control over financial reporting. There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended March 31,June 30, 2005 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART IIII—OTHER INFORMATION

Item 4.Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
          Whiting Petroleum Corporation held its annual meeting of stockholders on May 10, 2005. At such meeting, Kenneth R. Whiting and Palmer L. Moe were reelected as directors for terms to expire at the 2008 annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified pursuant to the following votes:
     
  Shares Voted
Name of Nominee For Withheld
Kenneth R. Whiting 25,811,954 1,184,900
Palmer L. Moe 26,364,733 632,121
          The other directors of Whiting Petroleum Corporation whose terms of office continued after the 2005 annual meeting of stockholders are as follows: terms expiring at the 2006 annual meeting: Graydon D. Hubbard and James J. Volker and terms expiring at the 2007 annual meeting: Thomas L. Aller and J. B. Ladd.
          The following other matter brought for vote at the 2005 annual meeting of stockholders passed by the vote indicated:
Item 5.Other Information
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
     Effective July 25, 2005, Whiting Petroleum Corporation and Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation entered into a Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with the financial institutions listed therein and JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Administrative Agent (the “Amendment”). The Amendment modifies the covenant under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement that limits Whiting Petroleum Corporation’s ability to hedge oil and gas prices to increase the permitted maximum time period for hedges from three to five years. A copy of the Amendment is filed herewith as Exhibit 4 and incorporated herein by reference.
                 
  Shares Voted 
  For  Against  Abstain  Broker Non-Vote 
Ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent registered public accountants  26,950,085   29,520   17,249    

Item 6.Exhibits

     The exhibits listed in the accompanying exhibit index to exhibits are filed as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

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SIGNATURES

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized, on this 25th2nd day of April,August, 2005.
     
 WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION
 
 By /s/ James J. Volker
James J. Volker 
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer 
     
   
 By  /s/ MichaelJames J. StevensVolker
  Michael J. Stevens  
ViceChairman, President and Chief FinancialExecutive Officer

26


     
By/s/ Michael J. Stevens
Michael J. Stevens
Vice President — Finance and Chief Financial
Officer

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EXHIBIT INDEX
   
Exhibit  
Number Exhibit Description
(4.1)(4) FirstSecond Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, datedeffective as of April 11,July 25, 2005, among Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation, Whiting Petroleum Corporation and the financial institutions listed therein and JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA,N.A., as Administrative Agent [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Whiting Petroleum Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 11, 2005 (File No. 001-31899)].
(4.2)Subordinated Indenture, dated as of April 19, 2005, by and among Whiting Petroleum Corporation, Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation, Whiting Programs, Inc., Equity Oil Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Whiting Petroleum Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Reg. No. 333-121615)].
(4.3)First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 19, 2005, by and among Whiting Petroleum Corporation, Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation, Equity Oil Company, Whiting Programs, Inc. and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association [Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Whiting Petroleum Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 11, 2005 (File No. 001-31899)].Agent.
   
(31.1) Certification by Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
   
(31.2) Certification by the Vice President—Finance and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
   
(32.1) Certification of the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
   
(32.2) Certification of the Vice President—Finance and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

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