Halcón Resources Announces Second Quarter 2017 Results

HOUSTON, Aug. 02, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Halcón Resources Corporation HK ("Halcón" or the "Company") today announced its second quarter 2017 results.

Production for the three months ended June 30, 2017 averaged 36,308 barrels of oil equivalent per day (Boe/d).  Production was comprised of 75% oil, 12% natural gas liquids (NGLs) and 13% natural gas for the quarter.  Second quarter production was above the Company's guidance range of 33,000 to 35,000 Boe/d.  This outperformance was primarily driven by better than expected production from the Company's Delaware Basin assets. 

Halcón generated total revenues of $120.1 million for the second quarter of 2017.  The Company reported a net loss available to common stockholders of $27.0 million for the quarter.  Halcón also reported a net loss per basic and diluted share of $0.19 for the second quarter of 2017.  After adjusting for selected items (see Selected Item Review and Reconciliation table for additional information), the Company generated net income of $0.7 million, or $0.00 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2017.  Adjusted EBITDA (see EBITDA Reconciliation table for additional information) totaled $65.0 million for the second quarter of 2017. 

Excluding the impact of hedges, Halcón realized 91% of the average NYMEX oil price, 27% of the average NYMEX oil price for NGLs and 72% of the average NYMEX natural gas price during the second quarter of 2017.  Realized hedge proceeds totaled approximately $6.2 million for the second quarter. 

Total operating costs per unit, after adjusting for selected items (see Selected Operating Data table for additional information), were $18.58 per Boe during the three months ended June 30, 2017, compared to $17.43 per Boe for the same period in 2016.  This increase in per unit total operating costs was primarily driven by higher lease operating and gathering and other expenses in 2017.  The sale of the Company's El Halcón East Texas Eagle Ford properties drove these increases in per unit operating costs as the El Halcón assets had lower per unit lease operating and gathering costs compared to the Company's retained Williston Basin assets. 

Asset Sales

As previously announced, the Company has entered into an agreement to sell its operated Williston Basin assets for $1.4 billion (the "Williston Basin Asset Sale").  Halcón expects this sale to close in early September of 2017.  This sale has a June 1, 2017 effective date and therefore all capital incurred on this asset from June 1 through closing will constitute a positive purchase price adjustment to Halcón.  The Company also recently entered into agreements to sell certain other miscellaneous non-core properties (the "Non-Core Assets").  The total net proceeds from these Non-Core Asset sales is expected to be approximately $20 million with the transactions expected to close in the third quarter of 2017.  These Non-Core Assets are currently producing approximately 1,400 Boe/d comprised of 14% oil, 23% NGL and 63% gas.  The Non-Core Asset sales will improve the Company's profitability going forward and further streamline the business. 

After these divestitures, Halcón's remaining assets will consist of the Delaware Basin currently producing 4,400 Boe/d and its non-operated Williston Basin assets producing 2,250 Boe/d.  The Company is continuing to evaluate the potential divestiture of its non-operated Williston Basin assets. 

Liquidity and Capital Spending

As of June 30, 2017, Halcón's liquidity was $685 million pro forma for the Williston Basin Asset Sale, the closing of the Non-Core Asset sales and the assumed redemption of all of the Company's 12.0% second lien notes outstanding and 50% of its 6.75% unsecured notes outstanding.  This liquidity is based on $567 million of cash on hand plus an undrawn senior secured revolving credit facility with an expected borrowing base of $125 million. 

During the second quarter of 2017, Halcón incurred capital costs of approximately $103 million on drilling and completions and $7 million on infrastructure, seismic and other costs.    

Hedging Update

As of August 2, 2017, Halcón had 21,250 barrels per day (bbl/d) of oil hedged for the last six months of 2017 at an average price of $54.85 per barrel.  For 2018, the Company has 7,750 barrels per day of oil hedged at an average price of $52.57 per barrel.  Halcón also has Midland vs. Cushing basis differential swaps in place, with 10,000 bbl/d hedged in 2018 at an average swap price of -$1.25 per barrel and 7,500 bbl/d hedged in 2019 at an average swap price of -$1.20 per barrel.

As of August 2, 2017, Halcón had 20,000 million British thermal units per day (MMBtu/d) of natural gas hedged for the last six months of 2017 at an average price of $3.33 per MMBtu.  The Company also has 10,000 MMBtu/d of natural gas hedged in 2018 at an average price of $3.16 per MMBtu.  Halcón also has Waha vs. Henry Hub basis differential swaps in place, with 5,000 MMBtu/d of natural gas hedged for the second half of 2017 through 2018 at an average swap price of -$0.41 per MMBtu.

Operations Update

Delaware Basin –  Hackberry Draw Prospect (Pecos County)

Halcón's Hackberry Draw area in Pecos County consists of 26,480 net acres and 29 producing wells. 

After drilling 7 horizontal wells in this area over the last few months, Halcón recently moved its two operated rigs from its Hackberry Draw area in Pecos County to its Monument Draw area in Ward County.  The Company plans to bring on a third operated rig to resume drilling in Hackberry Draw in October of 2017.  Accordingly, Halcón plans to operate 2 rigs in Monument Draw for the rest of 2017 and one rig in Hackberry Draw for the fourth quarter of 2017.  Halcon expects to spud a total of 11 wells in Hackberry Draw in 2017 (7 Wolfcamp B, 3 Wolfcamp A and 1 Bone Spring).  All of these wells except one are planned for 10,000 foot laterals and are expected to generate EURs of 1.1 MMboe to 1.3 MMboe (2 stream).  The average working interest of these wells is 83%. 

The Company started completion operations with a dedicated frac crew in Hackberry Draw in late June and recently completed its first operated well, the Balbo Adrianna West 1H.  This well is currently flowing back after frac.  Halcón is currently fracing a two well pad and expects these wells to be put online in mid to late August of 2017.  The Company expects to put 7 gross wells online in 2017 in Hackberry Draw with an average working interest of 91%. 

Delaware Basin –  Monument Draw Prospect (Ward County)

Halcón's Monument Draw area consists of 15,040 net acres and one producing well completed by the Company in May 2017 (CRMWD 79-1H).  This well was completed with a ~5,200 foot lateral and produced more than 73,000 Boe over its first 60 days of production. The well achieved a peak 30-day flowing IP rate of 258 boe/d per 1,000' (82% oil) with a peak 24-hour IP rate of 319 boe/d per 1,000'. The CRMWD 79-1H is tracking to an estimated 1.1 MMboe EUR (2 stream with 80% oil).  The Company estimates this well would have an EUR in excess of 2 MMboe had it been completed with a 10,000 foot lateral. 

The northern portion of the Monument Draw Prospect consisting of 8,320 net acres is held under an option contract while 6,720 net acres in the southern portion of Monument Draw is held outright by Halcón.  The Company is currently drilling a vertical pilot well on the northern option acreage and plans to drill a horizontal well in the Northern tract after reaching total depth on the pilot well.  Halcón expects to exercise the option on the northern acreage in the fourth quarter of 2017 at a cost of approximately $108 million. 

Halcón's second operated rig in Monument Draw is currently rigging up to begin drilling in the next few days on the southern portion of the acreage.  These two rigs will operate in Monument Draw for the rest of 2017.  The Company expects to spud a total of 8 horizontal wells on its Monument Draw prospect in 2017 (combination of Wolfcamp A and Wolfcamp B).  All of these wells are planned to be 10,000 foot laterals and are expected to generate EURs of 1.4 MMboe to 1.8 MMboe (2 stream).  All Monument Draw wells have a working interest of 100%. 

The Company's dedicated frac crew will move over to the Monument Draw area later in 2017.  Halcón expects to put 3 gross wells online in 2017 in Monument Draw.

Williston Basin

Halcón currently has working interests in approximately 119,300 net acres prospective for the Bakken and Three Forks formations in the Williston Basin, substantially all of which is held by production (HBP). 

The Company operated two rigs in the Williston Basin during the second quarter of 2017.  Halcón spud 13 gross wells and put 5 gross wells online during the quarter.  

The Company is currently the operator of 228 producing Bakken wells and 78 Three Forks wells. Halcón currently has 8 Bakken wells and 7 Three Forks wells being completed or waiting on completion on its operated acreage.

Guidance Update

Halcón projects its fourth quarter 2017 production to be between 11,000 to 14,000 Boe/d (76% oil, 12% NGL and 12% gas) and its full year 2017 production to be 28,000 to 30,000 Boe/d (76% oil, 12% NGL and 12% gas).  Halcón still expects full year D&C capex to be approximately $300 million.  D&C capex is unchanged despite selling the Williston Basin assets because the Company is now planning to add a third operated rig in the Delaware Basin in October 2017.  These production guidance figures include the impact of the Williston Basin Asset Sale closing in early September of 2017 and the Non-Core Asset divestitures closing in August of 2017. 

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Halcón Resources Corporation HK has scheduled a conference call for Thursday, August 3, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. EDT (10:00 a.m. CDT). To participate in the conference call, dial (877) 810-3368 for domestic callers, and (914) 495-8561 for international callers a few minutes before the call begins and reference Halcón Resources conference ID 54153718.  The conference call will also be webcast live over the Internet on Halcón Resources' website at http://www.halconresources.com in the Investor Relations section under Events & Presentations.  A telephonic replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the live broadcast ends.  To access the replay, dial (855) 859-2056 for domestic callers or (404) 537-3406 for international callers, in both cases referencing conference ID 6893810. 

About Halcón Resources

Halcón Resources Corporation is an independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, production, exploration and development of onshore oil and natural gas properties in the United States.

For more information contact Quentin Hicks, Senior Vice President of Finance & Investor Relations, at 832-538-0557 or qhicks@halconresources.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains 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. Statements that are not strictly historical statements constitute forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements about anticipated production, divestitures, liquidity, capital spending, drilling and completion plans, and option exercises.  Forward-looking statements may often, but not always, be identified by the use of such words such as "expects", "believes", "intends", "anticipates", "plans", "estimates", "potential", "possible", or "probable" or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "will", "should", or "could" be taken, occur or be achieved.  Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and expectations and involve certain assumptions or estimates that involve various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the statements. These risks include, but are not limited to, those set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 and other filings submitted by the Company to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), copies of which may be obtained from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or through the Company's website at www.halconresources.com. Readers should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which are made only as of the date hereof. The Company has no duty, and assumes no obligation, to update forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or changes in the Company's expectations.

We may use the terms "resource potential" and "EUR" in this press release to describe estimates of potentially recoverable hydrocarbons that the SEC rules prohibit from being included in filings with the SEC.  These are based on the Company's internal estimates of hydrocarbon quantities that may be potentially discovered through exploratory drilling or recovered with additional drilling or recovery techniques.  These quantities do not constitute "reserves" within the meaning of the Society of Petroleum Engineer's Petroleum Resource Management System or SEC rules and are subject to substantially greater uncertainties relating to recovery than reserves. "EUR," or Estimated Ultimate Recovery, refers to our management's internal estimates based on per well hydrocarbon quantities that may be potentially recovered from a hypothetical future well completed as a producer in the area. For areas where the Company has no or very limited operating history, EURs are based on publicly available information relating to operations of producers operating in such areas.  For areas where the Company has sufficient operating data to make its own estimates, EURs are based on internal estimates by the Company's management and reserve engineers.