CLAYTON WILLIAMS ENERGY, INC.
FINANCIAL GUIDANCE DISCLOSURES FOR 2010
Overview
Clayton Williams Energy, Inc. and its subsidiaries have prepared this document to provide public disclosure of certain financial and operating estimates in order to permit the preparation of models to forecast our operating results for each quarter during the year ending December 31, 2010. These estimates are based on information available to us as of the date of this filing, and actual results may vary materially from these estimates. We do not undertake any obligation to update these estimates as conditions change or as additional information becomes available.
The estimates provided in this document are based on assumptions that we believe are reasonable. Until our actual results of operations for these periods have been compiled and released, all of the estimates and assumptions set forth herein constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this document that address activities, events or developments that we expect, project, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future, or may have occurred through the date of this filing, including such matters as production of oil and gas, product prices, oil and gas reserves, drilling and completion results, capital expenditures and other such matters, are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following: the volatility of oil and gas prices; the unpredictable nature of our exploratory drilling results; the reliance upon estimates of proved reserves; operating hazards and uninsured risks; competition; government regulation; and other factors referenced in filings made by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
As a matter of policy, we generally do not attempt to provide guidance on:
| (a) | production which may be obtained through future exploratory drilling; |
| (b) | dry hole and abandonment costs that may result from future exploratory drilling; |
| (c) | the effects of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” superseded by topic 815-10-05 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification; |
| (d) | gains or losses from sales of property and equipment unless the sale has been consummated prior to the filing of financial guidance; |
| (e) | capital expenditures related to completion activities on exploratory wells or acquisitions of proved properties until the expenditures are estimable and likely to occur; and |
| (f) | revenues and expenses related to Desta Drilling, L.P., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company which provides contract drilling services for the Company. |
Summary of Estimates
The following table sets forth certain estimates being used by us to model our anticipated results of operations for each quarter during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010. When a single value is provided, such value represents the mid-point of the approximate range of estimates. Otherwise, each range of values provided represents the expected low and high estimates for such financial or operating factor. See “Supplementary Information.”
| Year Ending December 31, 2010 |
| Estimated | | Estimated | | Estimated | | Estimated |
| First Quarter | | Second Quarter | | Third Quarter | | Fourth Quarter |
| (Dollars in thousands, except per unit data) |
Average Daily Production: | | | | | | | |
Oil (Bbls) | 8,150 to 8,350 | | 8,450 to 8,650 | | 9,225 to 9,425 | | 9,625 to 9,825 |
Gas (Mcf) | 36,000 to 40,000 | | 33,700 to 37,700 | | 32,000 to 36,000 | | 30,750 to 34,750 |
Natural gas liquids (Bbls) | 650 to 700 | | 625 to 675 | | 550 to 600 | | 550 to 600 |
Total oil equivalents (BOE) | 14,800 to 15,717 | | 14,692 to 15,608 | | 15,108 to 16,025 | | 15,300 to 16,217 |
| | | | | | | |
Differentials: | | | | | | | |
Oil (Bbls) | $(2.75) to $(3.25) | | $(2.75) to $(3.25) | | $(2.75) to $(3.25) | | $(2.75) to $(3.25) |
Gas (Mcf) | $(0.05) to $0.25 | | $(0.05) to $0.25 | | $(0.05) to $0.25 | | $(0.05) to $0.25 |
Natural gas liquids (Bbls) | $(27.00) to $(33.00) | | $(27.00) to $(33.00) | | $(27.00) to $(33.00) | | $(27.00) to $(33.00) |
| | | | | | | |
Costs Variable by Production ($/BOE): | | | | | | | |
Production expenses (including | | | | | | | |
production taxes) | $13.75 to $14.75 | | $13.75 to $14.75 | | $13.50 to $14.50 | | $13.60 to $14.60 |
DD&A – Oil and gas properties | $20.40 to $22.40 | | $20.45 to $22.45 | | $20.45 to $22.45 | | $20.45 to $22.45 |
| | | | | | | |
Other Revenues (Expenses): | | | | | | | |
Natural gas services: | | | | | | | |
Revenues | $1,700 to $1,900 | | $1,700 to $1,900 | | $1,700 to $1,900 | | $1,700 to $1,900 |
Operating costs | $(1,600) to $(1,800) | | $(1,600) to $(1,800) | | $(1,600) to $(1,800) | | $(1,600) to $(1,800) |
Exploration costs: | | | | | | | |
Abandonments and impairments | $(1,000) to $(3,000) | | $(1,000) to $(3,000) | | $(1,000) to $(3,000) | | $(1,000) to $(3,000) |
Seismic and other | $(250) to $(750) | | $(250) to $(750) | | $(250) to $(750) | | $(250) to $(750) |
DD&A – Other (a) | $(250) to $(350) | | $(250) to $(350) | | $(250) to $(350) | | $(250) to $(350) |
General and administrative (a) | $(4,050) to $(4,250) | | $(5,550) to $(5,750) | | $(4,050) to $(4,250) | | $(5,550) to $(5,750) |
Interest expense | $(6,500) to $(6,700) | | $(6,700) to $(6,900) | | $(6,800) to $(7,000) | | $(6,800) to $(7,000) |
Other income (expense) | $250 to $350 | | $250 to $350 | | $250 to $350 | | $250 to $350 |
| | | | | | | |
Effective Federal and State Income | | | | | | | |
Tax Rate: | | | | | | | |
Current | 0% | | 0% | | 0% | | 0% |
Deferred | 37% | | 37% | | 37% | | 37% |
| | | | | | | |
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding | | | | | | | |
(In thousands): | | | | | | | |
Basic | 12,100 | | 12,100 | | 12,100 | | 12,100 |
Diluted | 12,150 | | 12,150 | | 12,150 | | 12,150 |
| | | | | | | |
(a) Excludes amounts derived from Desta Drilling.
Capital Expenditures
The following table sets forth, by area, certain information about our planned exploration and development activities for 2010.
| | Planned | | | | |
| | Expenditures | | | Year 2010 | |
| | Year Ending | | | Percentage | |
| | December 31, 2010 | | | of Total | |
| | (In thousands) | |
| | | | | | |
Permian Basin | | $ | 154,500 | | | | 65 | % |
Austin Chalk (Trend) | | | 68,800 | | | | 29 | % |
South Louisiana | | | 8,800 | | | | 4 | % |
Utah/California | | | 2,600 | | | | 1 | % |
Other | | | 2,700 | | | | 1 | % |
| | $ | 237,400 | | | | 100 | % |
We currently plan to spend approximately $237.4 million on exploration and development activities in fiscal 2010. Our actual expenditures during fiscal 2010 may be substantially higher or lower than these estimates since our plans for exploration and development activities may change during the year. Other factors, such as prevailing product prices and the availability of capital resources, could also increase or decrease the ultimate level of expenditures during fiscal 2010.
Based on these current estimates, approximately 95% of our planned expenditures for exploration and development activities for fiscal 2010 will relate to developmental prospects, as compared to approximately 75% in fiscal 2009.
Supplementary Information
Oil and Gas Production
The following table summarizes, by area, our estimated daily net production for each quarter during the year ending December 31, 2010. These estimates represent the approximate mid-point of the estimated production range.
| | Daily Net Production for 2010 | |
| | Estimated | | | Estimated | | | Estimated | | | Estimated | |
| | First Quarter | | | Second Quarter | | | Third Quarter | | | Fourth Quarter | |
Oil (Bbls): | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Permian Basin | | | 4,759 | | | | 5,076 | | | | 5,793 | | | | 6,211 | |
Austin Chalk (Trend) | | | 2,646 | | | | 2,858 | | | | 3,076 | | | | 3,111 | |
North Louisiana | | | 156 | | | | 132 | | | | 130 | | | | 98 | |
South Louisiana | | | 633 | | | | 418 | | | | 293 | | | | 272 | |
Other | | | 56 | | | | 66 | | | | 33 | | | | 33 | |
Total | | | 8,250 | | | | 8,550 | | | | 9,325 | | | | 9,725 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gas (Mcf): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Permian Basin | | | 13,012 | | | | 12,601 | | | | 12,631 | | | | 12,560 | |
Austin Chalk (Trend) | | | 2,344 | | | | 2,385 | | | | 2,446 | | | | 2,424 | |
North Louisiana | | | 8,578 | | | | 7,758 | | | | 7,130 | | | | 6,650 | |
South Louisiana | | | 7,700 | | | | 6,780 | | | | 6,109 | | | | 5,487 | |
Cotton Valley Reef Complex | | | 3,944 | | | | 3,692 | | | | 3,467 | | | | 3,281 | |
Other | | | 2,422 | | | | 2,484 | | | | 2,217 | | | | 2,348 | |
Total | | | 38,000 | | | | 35,700 | | | | 34,000 | | | | 32,750 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Natural Gas Liquids (Bbls): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Permian Basin | | | 200 | | | | 198 | | | | 195 | | | | 194 | |
Austin Chalk (Trend) | | | 254 | | | | 265 | | | | 228 | | | | 218 | |
Other | | | 221 | | | | 187 | | | | 152 | | | | 163 | |
Total | | | 675 | | | | 650 | | | | 575 | | | | 575 | |
Accounting for Derivatives
The following summarizes information concerning our net positions in open commodity derivatives applicable to periods subsequent to December 31, 2009. The settlement prices of commodity derivatives are based on NYMEX futures prices.
Swaps:
| | Oil | | | Gas | |
| | Bbls | | | Price | | | MMBtu (a) | | | Price | |
Production Period: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
1st Quarter 2010 | | | 628,000 | | | $ | 76.70 | | | | 2,280,000 | | | $ | 6.80 | |
2nd Quarter 2010 | | | 574,000 | | | $ | 76.60 | | | | 1,830,000 | | | $ | 6.80 | |
3rd Quarter 2010 | | | 522,000 | | | $ | 76.40 | | | | 1,750,000 | | | $ | 6.80 | |
4th Quarter 2010 | | | 480,000 | | | $ | 76.24 | | | | 1,680,000 | | | $ | 6.80 | |
2011 | | | - | | | $ | - | | | | 6,420,000 | | | $ | 7.07 | |
| | | 2,204,000 | | | | | | | | 13,960,000 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(a) One MMBtu equals one Mcf at a Btu factor of 1,000. | |
In March 2009, we terminated certain fixed-priced oil swaps covering 332,000 barrels at a price of $57.35 from January 2010 through December 2010, resulting in an aggregate loss of approximately $1.3 million, which will be paid to the counterparty monthly as the applicable contracts are settled.
We did not designate any of the derivatives shown in the preceding table as cash flow hedges; therefore, all changes in the fair value of these contracts prior to maturity, plus any realized gains or losses at maturity, will be recorded as other income (expense) in our statement of operations.