HOUSTON, March 29, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Epsilon Energy Ltd. (“Epsilon”) (NASDAQ: EPSN) today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full-year ended December 31, 2018.
Michael Raleigh, CEO, commented, “As we guided in February, we recently turned four wells (2,600 net lateral feet to Epsilon’s interests) to sales in Pennsylvania which are currently contributing more than 5 MMcf/d net to our working interest. We anticipate exiting the first quarter of 2019 with 27 MMcf/d of natural gas production in Pennsylvania net to our working interest. Based on recent communications with the operator, we expect to spud an additional four wells (9,300 net lateral feet to Epsilon’s interests) this summer and turn the wells to sales in the fourth quarter.
In addition, in the NW Stack, we recently began drilling the first well of a three well appraisal program to test our lands for the Meramec formation.”
Epsilon’s highlights for 2018 and material subsequent events following year end through the date of this release include:
- Adjusted EBITDA of $15.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.
- Total estimated proved natural gas reserves of 119 Bcf as of December 31, 2018 after 2018 production of 7.6 Bcf, and 31 Mbbl of proved oil and condensate reserves after 2018 production of 5.7 Mbbl.
- Marcellus working interest (WI) gas production averaged 22 MMcf/d for the fourth quarter of 2018. Working interest gas production as of this release is approximately 27 MMcf/d.
- Gathered and delivered 100.1 Bcf gross (35.0 Bcf net to Epsilon’s interest) during the year, or 274 MMcf/d through the Auburn System which represents approximately 83% of designed throughput capacity.
- Gathered and delivered 25.2 Bcf gross (8.8 Bcf net to Epsilon’s interest) during the fourth quarter of 2018.
Financial and Operating Results
| Twelve months ended December 31, | |||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | ||||||
| Revenue by product - total period ($000) | |||||||
| Natural gas revenue ($000) | 19,031 | $ | 19,204 | ||||
| Volume (MMcfe) | 7,563 | 9,010 | |||||
| Avg. Price ($/Mcfe) | $ | 2.52 | $ | 2.13 | |||
| Exit Rate (MMcfepd) | 21.2 | 27.0 | |||||
| Oil and other liquids revenue ($000) | $ | 671 | $ | 122 | |||
| Volume (MBOE) | 17 | 3 | |||||
| Avg. Price ($/Bbl) | $ | 39.31 | $ | 39.18 | |||
| Midstream gathering system revenue ($000) | $ | 9,982 | $ | 6,432 | |||
| Total Revenue | $ | 29,684 | $ | 25,757 | |||
Capital Expenditures
Epsilon’s development capital expenditures were $1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. A total of $1.0 million was spent drilling four wells in Pennsylvania and $0.2 million was allocated to the construction and maintenance of the Auburn Gas Gathering system. $0.1 million was spent participating with minor interests in the drilling & completing of two wells in Oklahoma. Remaining capital expenditures were related to lease acquisition as well as seismic data for portions of the Company’s Oklahoma property.
As detailed in the press release of February 21, 2019, Epsilon’s board of directors has approved a $20-$25 million capital budget for 2019 which allocates the majority of the capital to the Marcellus.
Marcellus Operational Guidance
The Operator finished drilling and began the completions of 4 wells during the fourth quarter of 2018. The table below details Epsilon’s well development status at December 31, 2018:
| September 30, 2018 | December 31, 2018 | ||||
| Gross | Net | Gross | Net | ||
| Producing | 96 | 23.1 | 96 | 23.1 | |
| Shut-in | 4 | 1.1 | 4 | 1.1 | |
| Waiting on pipeline | - | - | - | - | |
| Waiting on completion | - | - | 4 | 0.4 | |
| Drilling | 4 | 0.4 | - | - | |
Fourth Quarter Results
Epsilon generated revenues of $8.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 compared to $6.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017. The Company’s Marcellus net revenue interest production was 1.8 Bcf in the fourth quarter, and Oklahoma was 2,596 BOE.
Realized natural gas prices averaged $3.27 per Mcf in the fourth quarter of 2018. Operating expenses for Marcellus Upstream operations in the fourth quarter were $1.3 million.
The Auburn Gas Gathering system delivered 25.2 Bcf of natural gas during the quarter as compared to 20.9 Bcf during the fourth quarter of 2017. Primary gathering volumes decreased 12.7% quarter over quarter to 11.4 Bcf. Imported cross-flow volumes increased 15.0% to 13.8 Bcf.
Epsilon reported a net after tax income of $1.4 million attributable to common shareholders or $0.05 per basic and diluted common shares outstanding for the three months ended December 31, 2018, compared to net income of $4.7 million, and $0.09 per basic and diluted common shares outstanding for the three months ended December 31, 2017.
For the three months ended December 31, 2018, Epsilon's Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Income Taxes, Depreciation, Amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA") was $3.4 million as compared to $2.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to the increase in gathering system revenues.
Adjusted EBITDA
Epsilon defines Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before (1) net interest expense, (2) taxes, (3) depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion expense, (4) impairments of oil and gas properties, (5) non-cash stock compensation expense, (6) unrealized gain on derivatives, and (7) other income. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance as determined under US GAAP and should not be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for net income or cash flow measures prepared in accordance with US GAAP or as a measure of profitability or liquidity.
Additionally, Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. Epsilon has included Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental disclosure because its management believes that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information regarding its ability to service debt and to fund capital expenditures. It further provides investors a helpful measure for comparing operating performance on a "normalized" or recurring basis with the performance of other companies, without giving effect to certain non-cash expenses and other items. This provides management, investors and analysts with comparative information for evaluating the Company in relation to other oil and gas companies providing corresponding non-US GAAP financial measures or that have different financing and capital structures or tax rates. These non-US GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, measures for financial performance prepared in accordance with US GAAP. The table above sets forth a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income, which is the most directly comparable measure of financial performance calculated under US GAAP and should be reviewed carefully.
About Epsilon
Epsilon Energy Ltd. is a North American on-shore focused independent exploration and production company engaged in the acquisition, development, gathering and production of oil and gas reserves. Our primary areas of operation are the Marcellus basin in northeast Pennsylvania and the Anadarko basin in Oklahoma. Our assets are concentrated in areas with known hydrocarbon resources, which are conducive to multi-well, repeatable drilling programs. For more information, please visit www.epsilonenergyltd.com, where we routinely post announcements, updates, events, investor information, presentations and recent news releases.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward looking statements. The use of any of the words “anticipate”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”, ‘may”, “will”, “project”, “should”, ‘believe”, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and the forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon.
The reserves and associated future net revenue information set forth in this news release are estimates only. In general, estimates of oil and natural gas reserves and the future net revenue therefrom are based upon a number of variable factors and assumptions, such as production rates, ultimate reserves recovery, timing and amount of capital expenditures, ability to transport production, marketability of oil and natural gas, royalty rates, the assumed effects of regulation by governmental agencies and future operating costs, all of which may vary materially from actual results. For those reasons, estimates of the oil and natural gas reserves attributable to any particular group of properties, as well as the classification of such reserves and estimates of future net revenues associated with such reserves prepared by different engineers (or by the same engineers at different times) may vary. The actual reserves of the Company may be greater or less than those calculated. In addition, the Company's actual production, revenues, development and operating expenditures will vary from estimates thereof and such variations could be material.
Statements relating to "reserves" are deemed to be forward-looking statements as they involve the implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions, that the reserves described exist in the quantities predicted or estimated and can be profitably produced in the future. There is no assurance that forecast price and cost assumptions will be attained and variances could be material.
Proved reserves are those reserves which are most certain to be recovered. There is at least a 90% probability that the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the estimated proved reserves. Undeveloped reserves are those reserves expected to be recovered from known accumulations where a significant expenditure (for example, when compared to the cost of drilling a well) is required to render them capable of production. They must fully meet the requirements of the reserves classification (proved, probable) to which they are assigned. Proved undeveloped reserves are those reserves that can be estimated with a high degree of certainty and are expected to be recovered from known accumulations where a significant expenditure is required to render them capable of production.
The estimates of reserves and future net revenue for individual properties may not reflect the same confidence level as estimates of reserves and future net revenue for all properties due to the effects of aggregation. The estimated future net revenues contained in this news release do not necessarily represent the fair market value of the Company's reserves.
Contact Information:
281-670-0002
Michael Raleigh
Chief Executive Officer
Michael.Raleigh@EpsilonEnergyLTD.com
EPSILON ENERGY LTD.
Audited Consolidated Statements of Operations
(All amounts stated in US$)
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | |||||||
| Revenues: | ||||||||
| Oil, gas, NGLs and condensate revenue | $ | 19,702,643 | $ | 19,325,528 | ||||
| Gas gathering and compression revenue | 9,981,562 | 6,431,563 | ||||||
| Total revenue | 29,684,205 | 25,757,091 | ||||||
| Operating costs and expenses: | ||||||||
| Lease operating expenses | 6,665,856 | 5,723,298 | ||||||
| Gathering system operating expenses | 1,279,821 | 896,089 | ||||||
| Depletion, depreciation, amortization, and accretion | 7,181,753 | 11,071,759 | ||||||
| General and administrative expenses: | ||||||||
| Stock based compensation expense | 330,232 | 229,223 | ||||||
| Other general and administrative expenses | 4,605,506 | 4,189,065 | ||||||
| Total operating costs and expenses | 20,063,168 | 22,109,434 | ||||||
| Operating income (loss) | 9,621,037 | 3,647,657 | ||||||
| Other income and (expense): | ||||||||
| Interest income | 12,087 | 26,520 | ||||||
| Interest expense | (140,615 | ) | (955,698 | ) | ||||
| Gain (loss) on derivative contracts | (1,938,465 | ) | 2,623,687 | |||||
| Other income (expense) | (149,559 | ) | 27,313 | |||||
| Other income (expense), net | (2,216,552 | ) | 1,721,822 | |||||
| Income before tax | 7,404,485 | 5,369,479 | ||||||
| Income tax (benefit) expense | 742,425 | (2,066,426 | ) | |||||
| NET INCOME | $ | 6,662,060 | $ | 7,435,905 | ||||
| Currency translation adjustments | (115,306 | ) | 566,381 | |||||
| NET COMPREHENSIVE INCOME | $ | 6,546,754 | $ | 8,002,286 | ||||
| Net income per share, basic | $ | 0.24 | $ | 0.28 | ||||
| Net income per share, diluted | $ | 0.24 | $ | 0.28 | ||||
| Weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic | 27,462,788 | 26,119,927 | ||||||
| Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted | 27,474,125 | 26,133,295 | ||||||
EPSILON ENERGY LTD.
Audited Consolidated Balance Sheets
(All amounts stated in US$)
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | |||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current assets | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 14,401,257 | $ | 9,998,853 | ||||
| Accounts receivable | 5,042,134 | 3,334,895 | ||||||
| Fair value of derivatives | — | 259,544 | ||||||
| Prepaid income taxes | 205,711 | — | ||||||
| Other current assets | 244,233 | 276,431 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 19,893,335 | 13,869,723 | ||||||
| Non-current assets | ||||||||
| Property and equipment: | ||||||||
| Oil and gas properties, successful efforts method | ||||||||
| Proved properties | 118,851,574 | 118,524,693 | ||||||
| Unproved properties | 19,498,666 | 17,451,552 | ||||||
| Accumulated depletion, depreciation, and amortization | (83,807,401 | ) | (78,625,589 | ) | ||||
| Total oil and gas properties, net | 54,542,839 | 57,350,656 | ||||||
| Gathering system | 41,040,847 | 40,880,503 | ||||||
| Accumulated depletion, depreciation, and amortization | (28,137,573 | ) | (26,252,385 | ) | ||||
| Total gathering system, net | 12,903,274 | 14,628,118 | ||||||
| Other property and equipment, net | — | 299 | ||||||
| Total property and equipment, net | 67,446,113 | 71,979,073 | ||||||
| Other assets: | ||||||||
| Restricted cash | 558,261 | 556,864 | ||||||
| Total non-current assets | 68,004,374 | 72,535,937 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 87,897,709 | $ | 86,405,660 | ||||
| LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current liabilities | ||||||||
| Accounts payable trade | $ | 2,585,324 | $ | 2,008,229 | ||||
| Royalties payable | 1,300,539 | 1,029,678 | ||||||
| Other accrued liabilities | 2,156,304 | 1,895,917 | ||||||
| Income taxes payable | — | 1,017,194 | ||||||
| Fair value of derivatives | 297,023 | — | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 6,339,190 | 5,951,018 | ||||||
| Non-current liabilities | ||||||||
| Revolving line of credit | — | 2,900,000 | ||||||
| Other non-current liabilities | — | 1,615,313 | ||||||
| Asset retirement obligation | 1,625,154 | 1,646,601 | ||||||
| Deferred income taxes | 9,989,278 | 10,561,683 | ||||||
| Total non-current liabilities | 11,614,432 | 16,723,597 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 17,953,622 | 22,674,615 | ||||||
| Commitments and contingencies (See Note 10) | ||||||||
| Shareholders' equity | ||||||||
| Common shares, no par, unlimited shares authorized and 27,385,133 shares and 27,522,852 shares issued at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 respectively. At December 31, 2018 Epsilon held 26,953 shares of stock. | 143,611,023 | 144,292,238 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 6,519,028 | 6,171,525 | ||||||
| Deficit | (89,983,894 | ) | (96,645,954 | ) | ||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income | 9,797,930 | 9,913,236 | ||||||
| Total shareholders' equity | 69,944,087 | 63,731,045 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $ | 87,897,709 | $ | 86,405,660 | ||||
EPSILON ENERGY LTD.
Audited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(All amounts stated in US$)
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | |||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||
| Net income | $ | 6,662,060 | $ | 7,435,905 | ||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||
| Depletion, depreciation, amortization, and accretion | 7,181,753 | 11,071,759 | ||||||
| Debenture fee amortization | — | 52,924 | ||||||
| (Gain) loss on derivatives | 1,938,465 | (2,623,687 | ) | |||||
| Cash received (paid) from settlements of derivatives | (1,381,898 | ) | 2,027,791 | |||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 330,232 | 229,223 | ||||||
| Deferred income tax benefit | (572,405 | ) | (2,530,136 | ) | ||||
| Changes in current assets and liabilities: | — | — | ||||||
| Accounts receivable | (1,707,239 | ) | 1,052,593 | |||||
| Prepaid income taxes and other current assets | (173,513 | ) | (136,440 | ) | ||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | (545,286 | ) | 1,503,231 | |||||
| Other long-term liabilities | (1,615,313 | ) | (529,684 | ) | ||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 10,116,856 | 17,553,479 | ||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||||
| Acquisition of unproved oil and gas properties | (260,000 | ) | (17,451,552 | ) | ||||
| Additions to unproved oil and gas properties | (1,787,114 | ) | — | |||||
| Acquisition of proved oil and gas properties | (4,992 | ) | (1,643,735 | ) | ||||
| Refunds of cash calls, net of additions to proved oil and gas properties | 166,661 | (34,457 | ) | |||||
| Additions to gathering system properties | (148,360 | ) | (200,689 | ) | ||||
| Changes in restricted cash | (1,397 | ) | (26,328 | ) | ||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (2,035,202 | ) | (19,356,761 | ) | ||||
| Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||||
| Buyback of common shares | (663,944 | ) | — | |||||
| Common stock issued through rights offering (net of issuance costs) | — | 17,907,186 | ||||||
| Redemption of convertible debentures | — | (29,464,190 | ) | |||||
| Exercise of stock options | — | 50,243 | ||||||
| Repayment of revolving line of credit | (2,900,000 | ) | (9,560,000 | ) | ||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | (3,563,944 | ) | (21,066,761 | ) | ||||
| Effect of currency rates on cash and cash equivalents | (115,306 | ) | 1,382,303 | |||||
| Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 4,402,404 | (21,487,740 | ) | |||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year | 9,998,853 | 31,486,593 | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of year | $ | 14,401,257 | $ | 9,998,853 | ||||
| Supplemental cash flow disclosures: | ||||||||
| Income taxes paid | $ | 4,130,493 | $ | — | ||||
| Interest paid | $ | 136,833 | $ | 1,477,899 | ||||
| Non-cash investing activities: | ||||||||
| Change in proved properties accrued in accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | (587,472 | ) | $ | — | |||
| Change in gathering system accrued in accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | (48,961 | ) | $ | (55,950 | ) | ||
| Conversion of debentures to shares (Cdn$1,000) | — | 869 | ||||||
| Asset retirement obligation asset additions and adjustments | $ | (135,900 | ) | $ | 74,755 | |||
EPSILON ENERGY LTD.
Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation
(All amounts stated in US$)
| Years ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | |||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 6,662 | $ | 7,436 | ||||
| Add Back: | ||||||||
| Net interest expense | 129 | 929 | ||||||
| Deferred income tax provision | 742 | (2,066 | ) | |||||
| Depreciation, depletion, amortization, and accretion | 7,182 | 11,072 | ||||||
| Stock based compensation expense | 330 | 229 | ||||||
| Net change in unrealized (gain) loss on commodity contracts | 557 | (596 | ) | |||||
| Foreign currency translation | (2 | ) | (4 | ) | ||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 15,600 | $ | 17,000 | ||||