SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 3, 2000
McMoRan Exploration Co.
Delaware 001-07791 72-1424200
(State or other (Commission (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of File Number) Identification
incorporation or Number)
organization)
1615 Poydras Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (504) 582-4000
Item 5. Other Events.
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McMoRan Exploration Co. files the following information
associated with its business.
Our proposed transaction with Halliburton
In March 2000, we signed a letter of intent with Halliburton
Company to form a strategic alliance that will combine the
skills, technologies and resources of Halliburton's employees and
technical consultants with those of our personnel and technical
consultants into an integrated team that will manage our oil and
gas activities. Under this alliance, Halliburton's business
units, such as Halliburton Energy Services, Brown & Root Energy
Services and Landmark Graphics Corporation, will provide
drilling, completion, production and well control products and
related services to us at market rates, and we will use
Halliburton's services on an exclusive basis to the extent
practicable. Halliburton will also guarantee up to $50.0 million
under an amended revolving credit facility that we are currently
negotiating with our banks, and, in connection with the
guarantee, we will pay Halliburton a fee and provide certain
security. In addition, each time that we propose the development
of a prospect, Halliburton can elect to fund 20 percent of the
prospect's exploration and development costs and receive 20
percent of our working interest in the prospect before payout and
6 percent of our working interest after payout. Exploration
costs initially paid by Halliburton will be applied to reduce
both the bank loan and the Halliburton guarantee, which will
expire on December 31, 2003. The formation of the alliance is
subject to certain conditions, including the negotiation and
execution of definitive agreements and our ability to raise at
least $50.0 million from the sale of common equity, which will be
satisfied upon the successful completion of this offering.
Thereafter, the continuing availability of the full guarantee
will depend on our ability to raise additional capital, which
must aggregate $75.0 million by December 31, 2000 and $125.0
million by December 31, 2001, including in each case the proceeds
of this offering. Such capital may be in the form of proceeds or
financial commitments from others with respect to exploration,
development or production, or proceeds from the issuance of
subordinated debt or equity securities. To the extent that we
raise less capital by those dates, there will be a dollar-for-
dollar reduction of the guarantee on those dates and an
equivalent loan repayment obligation. The term of the alliance
will extend through December 31, 2003. The specific terms and
conditions of the strategic alliance, the amended credit facility
and the guarantee are subject to negotiation and execution of
definitive agreements.
Preliminary first quarter results and other financial information
We currently expect to have a net loss for the first quarter
of 2000 between $15.0 and $17.0 million. Significant factors
contributing to the loss compared with our 1999 fourth quarter
loss include: our purchase of a substantial amount of 3-D seismic
data for approximately $5.5 million, which under the successful
efforts method of accounting must be expensed as incurred; the
charge to expense of approximately $4.0 million of the costs
associated with the State Tract 210 #6 exploratory well in the
Grass Island prospect; remedial expenses of approximately $2.0
million at Brazos Block A-19; and additional interest expense of
approximately $1.0 million incurred in connection with increased
debt levels. Most of the remainder of the expected loss is
attributable to lower sulphur market prices, partly offset by
reduced sulphur costs.
Our existing variable rate revolving credit facilities are
held by our operating subsidiaries, Freeport Sulphur LLC and
McMoRan Oil & Gas LLC. As of March 29, 2000, outstanding
borrowings on these credit facilities totaled $62.2 million.
As of March 29, 2000, $42.2 million was drawn on the
Freeport Sulphur facility and the weighted average interest rate
on these borrowings was 6.33 percent. This facility matures on
December 12, 2002. As of March 29, 2000, $20.0 million was drawn
on the McMoRan Oil & Gas facility and the weighted average
interest rate on these borrowings was 8.23 percent. This
facility matures on January 14, 2002.
The amounts available under our committed credit facilities
are subject to adjustments for changes in cash flows or periodic
borrowing base redeterminations. After repaying substantially all
amounts outstanding under these facilities with the proceeds of
this offering, we estimate that approximately $60 million will be
available to us under these facilities through the end of this
year. However, we estimate that this amount would increase to
approximately $100 million upon completion of the amendment to
the McMoRan Oil & Gas facility in connection with the Halliburton
guarantee discussed above.
We anticipate that we will require additional capital for
our anticipated 2001 exploration and development activities and
other exploration opportunities that may arise. As a result, we
are currently exploring additional financing alternatives,
including arrangements with oil and gas industry participants.
Recent Exploration Activities
We continually evaluate our undeveloped properties, as well as
other exploration prospects offered by third parties, and drill
those we consider to have the highest potential. Our significant
exploration and other activities during 1999 and early 2000 are
summarized below. During 1999, we limited our exploration
activities in order to focus on pursuing opportunities that led
to our recent transactions with Texaco Exploration and Production
Inc. and Shell Offshore Inc.
Grass Island Prospect. During the third quarter of 1999,
we farmed-in the Grass Island prospect, located in the
shallow onshore waters of Espiritu Santo Bay, Calhoun County,
Texas. We began drilling the State Tract 210 #6 exploratory
well on November 1, 1999. The well reached an approximate
total depth of 12,000 feet in December 1999. We have decided
not to test the various sands encountered in the well. As a
result, under the terms of the farmout agreement, our
interest in the well will revert to the farmor, although we
will have an option to participate in any subsequent well.
We have charged the drilling costs associated with this well
to expense in the first quarter of 2000.
Vermilion Block 408. We commenced drilling the Vermilion
Block 408 #1 exploratory well in December 1999. The well
reached a total depth of 8,000 feet and encountered 167 feet
of net oil pay. The well tested at a flow rate of 3,040 Bbls
of oil and 11.1 MMcf of gas per day on a 48 hour test.
Development plans are being considered for this new producing
area. We expect production to commence by the end of 2000.
We own a 28.5 percent working interest and a 22.9 percent net
revenue interest.
Near-term Exploration Activities
The table below sets forth approximate information, as of
March 29, 2000, with respect to the exploration prospects upon
which we plan to commence drilling in 2000, followed by a brief
description of each prospect.
CAPTION>
Planned
Total
Water Depth
Net Depth of Well b
Field, Lease Working Revenue (in (in Gross Estimated
or Well Interest a Interest a feet) feet) Acres Spud Date c
- ------------- -------- -------- ------- -------- ------ ----------------
Eugene Island 71.3% 51.3% 22 18,500 5,000 2000 (first half)
Block 97
Garden Banks
Blocks 534/578 66.5% 55.3% 2,000 8,000 11,520 2000 (first half)
Grand Isle Block 2
and West Delta
Blocks 1/12/13 71.3% 48.2% 12 19,000 2,788 2000 (first half)
Grand Isle
Blocks 40/41 52.3% 42.9% 90 16,500 2,100 2000 (first half)
Green Canyon
Block 90 80.7% 59.7% 653 8,000 5,760 2000 (first half)
Vermilion Blocks
144/145 95.0% 76.3% 85 17,500 5,937 2000 (first half)
Eugene Island
Blocks
193/208/215 53.4% 41.7% 100 17,500 12,500 2000 (second half)
Garden Banks
Blocks
581/536/580 66.5% 55.3% 2,300 - b 17,280 2000 (second half)
Garden Banks
Blocks
537/538 66.5% 55.3% 2,300 - b 11,520 2000 (second half)
Main Pass
Blocks 86/97 71.3% 51.3% 69 9,500 9,989 2000 (second half)
Onshore
Vermilion
Parish 95.0%d 67.5%d - 19,000 4,200 2000 (second half)
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a.Except as otherwise indicated, reflects minimum estimated
working and net revenue interests assuming participation
elections by others, except Halliburton (see "Our proposed
transaction with Halliburton" above).
b.Reflects currently planned target total depth, which is
subject to change. Wells to be drilled on Garden Banks Blocks
581/536/580 and Blocks 537/538 may depend on drilling results
from Garden Banks Blocks 534/578.
c.Tentative -- subject to change.
d.Subject to election by a third party to assume one-half of
interests shown.
_____________________
Eugene Island Block 97. We have identified a combination
bright spot and structural play on the north portion of a
north-south trending structural ridge. The south end of the
ridge located on Eugene Island Block 108 has produced 178
Bcf and 3.4 MMBbls.
Garden Banks Blocks 534/578, Blocks 581/536/580 and Blocks
537/538. We farmed-in these prospects. The prospects'
area extends over multiple offshore blocks. We plan to
drill an exploratory well on Garden Banks Block 534/578
during the first half of 2000. A large portion of the
potential bright spot reserves lie in the prospect area
above 8,000 feet true vertical depth ("TVD"). Based on the
results of this well, we may elect to drill offset prospects
located in the adjacent blocks.
Grand Isle Block 2 & West Delta Blocks 1/12/13. We have
identified a bright spot play that contains stacked
amplitudes from 17,000 to 20,000 feet TVD. Analogs nearby
are the Queen Bess Island field that produced 262 Bcf and
West Delta 17/18 that produced 159 Bcf.
Grand Isle Block 40/41. We farmed-in this prospect. A
field shallower than the objective section in the same fault
block geometry as the prospect has produced 230 Bcf and 58
MMBbls. The lease has existing infrastructure to place the
well into production by the first half of 2001, if
commercially recoverable reserves are discovered.
Green Canyon Block 90. The objectives are located in a
structurally higher position to existing producing sands in
the adjacent Green Canyon Block 89 field. Development plans
are to potentially sub-sea complete the discovery well.
Vermilion Blocks 144/145. The well is a deeper pool
exploratory test of a formation below sands that have a
cumulative production of 140 Bcfe. Vermilion Block 144 is
directly north of where we drilled the Vermilion Block 159
CJ#1 well discovery and east of the Vermilion Block 160
unit.
Eugene Island Blocks 193/208/215. These blocks are within
a producing field that has cumulatively produced 243 Bcf and
64.6 MMBbls. Bright spot and structural plays have been
identified on the north and south flanks of a salt dome
centered in Eugene Island Block 208. We plan to drill the
exploration wells from an existing platform. We recently
acquired our interest in this property for approximately
$0.3 million, together with an abandonment liability of
approximately $5.0 million, net to us.
Main Pass Blocks 86/97. The prospect targets from 9,500 to
10,500 feet TVD. These sands are the same stratigraphic
intervals that are producing natural gas and condensate in
the adjacent Main Pass Block 162.
Onshore Vermilion Seismic Option. We entered into a
seismic option covering 4,200 acres near one of the most
prolific producing fields located in the coastal region of
Vermilion Parish, Louisiana. This option allows us to
review the geological data and acquire and map the 3-D
seismic data prior to committing to drill an exploratory
well. We can earn from 50 percent to 75 percent working
interest under certain terms and conditions. Our objectives
occur at depths of 15,500 to 18,500 feet TVD (19,000 feet
measured depth). The prospect is positioned on a
significant structural closure located 2.5 miles west of and
separate from a large gas field that has produced nearly 2
Tcfe.
We are evaluating our current lease inventory and are in the
process of reviewing potential prospects that have lease
expiration dates during 2000. This review process may add new
prospects to our 2000 drilling plans, in which case the
anticipated spud dates for some of the prospects described above
may change.
SIGNATURE
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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.
McMoRan Exploration Co.
By: /s/ C. Donald Whitmire
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C. Donald Whitmire
Vice President & Controller -
Financial Reporting
(authorized signatory and
Principal Accounting Officer)
Date: April 3, 2000