Gulfport Energy Buys Additional Utica Shale Acreage, Offers Production Outlook

Gulfport Energy Corporation

today announced its agreement to acquire additional working interests in the Utica Shale. Utica Shale Gulfport previously announced that on December 17, 2012 it entered into a definitive agreement to purchase approximately 30,000 net acres in the Utica Shale in Eastern Ohio for approximately $302 million. The parties have now amended that agreement to provide for Gulfport's acquisition of approximately 7,000 additional net acres for approximately $70 million, resulting in a total acquisition price of approximately $372 million. The transaction, which will increase Gulfport's leasehold interests in the Utica Shale to approximately 137,000 gross (106,000 net) acres, excludes 14 existing wells, along with certain acreage surrounding each well. The proposed transaction is expected to close prior to year-end. Gulfport will continue to serve as operator of its acreage in the Utica Shale. The transaction was approved by a special committee of Gulfport's Board of Directors, which engaged independent financial advisors and counsel to assist with its review. Gulfport intends to fund this acquisition with a portion of the net proceeds from its common stock offering that priced on December 18, 2012. That offering is expected to close on December 24, 2012, subject to customary closing conditions. 2013 Guidance After giving effect to the Utica acquisition described above, Gulfport currently expects 2013 production to be in the range 7.60 million to 7.90 million BOE. Capital expenditures for exploration and production activities during 2013 are estimated to be in the range of $415 million to $425 million, excluding potential capital expenditures relating to Grizzly. For 2013, Gulfport projects lease operating expense to be in the range of $5.00 to $6.00 per BOE, general and administrative expense to be between $1.50 and $2.50 per BOE, production taxes to be between 8% and 9% of revenues, and depreciation, depletion and amortization expense to be in the range of $33.00 to $35.00 per BOE.