[Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc. LETTERHEAD]
March 3, 2010
Whiting USA Trust I
1700 Broadway, Suite 2300
Denver, Colorado 80290-2300
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| Re: | | Evaluation Summary — SEC Price |
| | | Whiting USA Trust I Interests |
| | | Proved Producing Reserves |
| | | Certain Properties Located in Various States |
| | | As of December 31, 2009 |
| | | |
| | | Pursuant to the Guidelines of the Securities and |
| | | Exchange Commission for Reporting Corporate |
| | | Reserves and Future Net Revenue |
Gentlemen:
As requested, we are submitting our estimates of proved producing reserves and forecasts of economics attributable to the underlying properties, from which a net profits interest has been formed and conveyed by Whiting Petroleum Corporation to the Whiting USA Trust I. These certain oil properties are located in North Dakota, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Montana, Wyoming, Michigan, New Mexico, Alabama, Louisiana, Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Mississippi. Also included in the table below are the proved reserves attributable to the same underlying properties estimated to be produced by October 31, 2017, which is the estimated date of termination for Whiting USA Trust I. This report, completed March 3, 2010 covers 100% of the proved producing reserves estimated for Whiting USA Trust I. This report includes results for an SEC pricing scenario. The results of this evaluation are presented in the accompanying tabulations, with a composite summary presented below:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Proved Developed Producing | |
| | | | | | | Underlying | | | Underlying Properties | |
| | | | | | | Properties | | | Reserves Estimated to be Produced | |
| Net Reserves | | | | | | Full Economic Life | | | By October 31, 2017 | |
| Oil | | - Mbbl | | | 5,885.5 | | | | 3,705.0 | |
| Gas | | - MMcf | | | 18,056.4 | | | | 12,195.2 | |
| NGL | | - Mbbl | | | 378.6 | | | | 299.1 | |
| Equivalent* | | - Mbbl | | | 9,273.5 | | | | 6,036.7 | |
| Revenue | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Oil | | | - M | | | $ | 314,126.2 | | | | 197,749.7 | |
| Gas | | | - M | | | $ | 57,338.6 | | | | 38,472.9 | |
| NGL | | | - M | | | $ | 11,121.8 | | | | 8,779.1 | |
| Other | | | - M | | | $ | 0.0 | | | | 0.0 | |
| Severance Taxes | | | - M | | | $ | 30,192.6 | | | | 18,692.8 | |
| Ad Valorem Taxes | | | - M | | | $ | 5,158.8 | | | | 3,135.9 | |
| Operating Expenses | | | - M | | | $ | 181,887.4 | | | | 109,811.1 | |
| Investments | | | - M | | | $ | 0.0 | | | | 0.0 | |
| Net Operating Income | | | - M | | | $ | 165,347.9 | | | | 113,362.1 | |
Discounted @ 10% | | | - M | | | $ | 101,001.9 | | | | 86,167.7 | |
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| * | | Calculated based on an energy equivalent that one Bbl of crude oil equals six Mcf of natural gas and one Bbl of crude oil equals one Bbl of natural gas liquids. |
Whiting USA Trust I
March 3, 2010
Page 2
The discounted cash flow value shown in the previous table should not be construed to represent an estimate of the fair market value by Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc.
Hydrocarbon Pricing
As requested for the SEC scenario, initial WTI spot oil and Henry Hub Gas Daily prices of $61.18 per bbl and $3.87 per MMBtu, respectively, were adjusted individually to WTI posted pricing at $57.90 per bbl and Houston Ship Channel pricing at $3.64 per MMBtu, as of December 31, 2009. Prices were not escalated in the SEC scenario. Oil price differentials, gas price differentials and heating values were applied as furnished by your office.
Expenses and Taxes
Lease operating expenses and Ad Valorem tax values were forecast as provided by your office. Lease operating expenses were held constant in accordance with SEC guidelines. Severance tax rates were applied at normal state percentages of oil and gas revenue.
Miscellaneous
An on-site field inspection of the properties has not been performed. The mechanical operation or conditions of the wells and their related facilities havenot been examined nor have the wells been tested by Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc. Possible environmental liability related to the properties has not been investigated nor considered. The cost of plugging and the salvage value of equipment at abandonment have not been included.
The proved reserve classifications used conform to the criteria of theSecurities and Exchange Commission(“SEC”). The estimates were prepared based on the definitions and regulations contained in the United States Securities and Exchange Commission Modernization of Oil and Gas Reporting; Final Rule, Title 17 CFR Parts 210, 211 et al. released January 14, 2009 in the Federal Register. Proved oil and gas reserves are those quantities of oil and gas, which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible from a given date forward. The reserves and economics are predicated on regulatory agency classifications, rules, policies, laws, taxes and royalties in effect as noted herein. The possible effects of changes in legislation or other Federal or State restrictive actions have not been considered. All reserve estimates represent our best judgment based on data available at the time of preparation, and assumptions as to future economic and regulatory conditions. It should be realized that the reserves actually recovered, the revenue derived therefrom and the actual cost incurred could be more or less than the estimated amounts.
The reserve estimates were based on interpretations of factual data furnished by your office. We have used all methods and procedures as we considered necessary under the circumstances to prepare the report. We believe that the assumptions, data, methods and procedures were appropriate for the purpose served by this report. Production data, gas prices, gas price differentials, expense data, tax values and ownership interests were also supplied by you and were accepted as furnished. To some extent information from public records has been used to check and/or supplement these data. The basic engineering and geological data were subject to third party reservations and qualifications. Nothing has come to our attention, however, that would cause us to believe that we are not justified in relying on such data.
Whiting USA Trust I
March 3, 2010
Page 3
The professional qualifications of the undersigned, the technical person primarily responsible for the preparation of this report, are included as an attachment to this letter.
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| | Yours very truly,
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| | /s/ Robert D. Ravnaas, P.E. | |
| | Robert D. Ravnaas, P.E. | |
| | Executive Vice President Cawley, Gillespie & Associates Texas Registered Engineering Firm F-693 | |
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