Swift Energy Cuts Forecast For Year Production

Swift Energy Company

announced today it has begun the resumption of production operations at its Lake Washington Field in Plaquemines Parish and Bay de Chene Field in Jefferson and Lafourche Parishes which were shut-in beginning on August 26 in the face of Hurricane Isaac. After comprehensive assessment of production and safety systems, Lake Washington and Bay de Chene incurred relatively minor damage. Repairs to infrastructure are not expected to require significant capital expenditures, but prolonged poor weather has further delayed the resumption of field-wide operations in Lake Washington. The Company estimates that approximately 25% - 30% of its Lake Washington production has been brought back online, with the remaining production shut-in until minimal, but critical, repairs are made to the CM3 and Caseload facilities. These repairs should be completed within seven to ten days and field-wide production restored to pre-storm levels shortly thereafter. All pipeline and barge outlets for hydrocarbon sales in the area are operational and no long term impact to the field is anticipated as a result of this storm. While the longer term prospects of the field remain intact, the Company currently expects that approximately 175,000 barrels of oil equivalent of production will have been deferred from the third quarter as a result of Hurricane Isaac. For the full year, it is expected that up to an additional 50,000 barrels of oil equivalent will be delayed as a result of hurricane shut-ins. The Company therefore expects its full year production levels to be approximately 225,000 barrels of oil equivalent lower than previously forecast. Swift Energy will update all previously stated operational and financial estimates with its regularly scheduled quarterly update on November 1, 2012.