Rosetta Resources Offers Production, Proved Reserves Results

Rosetta Resources Inc.

("Rosetta" or the "Company") today reported preliminary operational results for 2012 that include double-digit growth in production and proved reserves and significantly reduced well costs. The Company plans to report final 2012 results on Monday, February 25, 2013. "During 2012 we ramped up our development efforts in the Eagle Ford shale expanding our drilling program into four areas," said Randy Limbacher, Rosetta's chairman, CEO and president. "We continue to demonstrate the high quality of our portfolio and our ability to deliver sustained growth and create long-term value from the area. Our results were favorably impacted by rapidly decreasing well costs during the second half of the year that further enhanced asset values and will provide greater flexibility in implementing our 2013 capital program." 2012 Production Results Fourth quarter production averaged a record 44.3 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day ("MBoe/d"), up 38 percent from the same period in 2011 and 20 percent from the prior quarter. Total liquids production for the fourth quarter reached all-time high levels, averaging 27.6 thousand barrels per day ("MBbls/d"). Total liquids represent 62 percent of total production for the period, up from 49 percent a year ago and 60 percent in the third quarter of 2012. For the full-year, production averaged 37.2 MBoe/d. Total daily production increased by 35 percent versus the prior year while total liquids production increased by 76 percent over that same period. Production growth throughout the year was driven by continued success in the development of Eagle Ford assets. The Company's 2012 exit rate averaged 47.3 MBoe/d and production is currently averaging 49 MBoe/d of which 63 percent is liquids. 2012 Capital Program and Total Well Costs Rosetta's capital expenditures for 2012 were $653 million. The Company drilled a total of 85 gross wells with a 100 percent success rate and completed 64 gross wells. Capital spending included $514 million for drilling and completion activity in the Eagle Ford shale where 80 wells were drilled and 62 completed. Drilling and completion costs declined in the Eagle Ford areas with anticipated price decreases for services and materials and improvements in well completion design. Total well costs in the Gates Ranch and Briscoe Ranch areas and the Lasseter & Eppright lease in the Central Dimmit area are currently averaging between $6.5 to $7.0 million per well. Drilling and completion costs in these areas are on average $1.0 million per well lower than prior guidance. On the remaining Central Dimmit area leases, Vivion and Light Ranch, total well costs are projected to range from $5.5 to $6.0 million per well. Total Proved Reserves Proved reserves as of December 31, 2012 increased by 25 percent to 201 million barrels of oil equivalent ("MMBoe") comprised of 44.4 million barrels of crude oil and condensate, 71.6 million barrels of natural gas liquids and 509 Bcf of natural gas. Included in the total are 65.6 MMBoe of reserves additions primarily from continued success in the Eagle Ford shale offset by 10.6 MMBoe of reserves divested during the year and 1.7 MMBoe in net downward revisions. Of total proved reserves, 58 percent are liquids and 37 percent are classified as proved developed. Rosetta replaced 472 percent of production from all sources at a reserve replacement cost of $10.03 per Boe. Total reserve replacement metrics include net reserve additions from drilling activity, price and performance revisions. For year-end 2012 reserve reporting, proved reserve estimates were based on the 12-month first day of the month historical average West Texas Intermediate and Henry Hub oil and gas prices adjusted for basis and quality differentials. The average prices for 2012 were $91.21 per barrel ("Bbl") for oil and $2.76 per million British thermal units ("MMBtu") for gas compared to the previous year's $92.71 per Bbl and $4.12 per MMBtu, respectively. The following table details Rosetta's year-end proved reserves by reserve classification: Estimated Proved Reserves at December 31, 2012               Developed Undeveloped Total Crude Oil and Condensate (MMBbls)  19.3 25.1 44.4 Natural Gas Liquids (MMBbls)  25.1 46.5 71.6         Natural Gas (Bcf)  178 331 509 Total (MMBoe)  74 127 201