Energy Country Review: Complimentary 7-day trial

  • News-alert sign up
  • Contact us

Laredo Petroleum Announces First-Quarter 2020 Financial and Operating Results

08/05/2020

Laredo Petroleum this week announced its first-quarter 2020 results. For the first quarter of 2020, the Company reported net income attributable to common stockholders of $235.1 million, or $1.01 per diluted share. Adjusted Net Income, a non-GAAP financial measure, for the first quarter of 2020 was $21.1 million, or $0.09 per adjusted diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, for the first quarter of 2020 was $116.8 million

First-Quarter 2020 Highlights

  • Issued $1 billion of new debt to refinance $800 million of outstanding notes, extending maturities to 2025 and 2028, repay $100 million of the senior secured credit facility and for general corporate purposes
  • Received net cash of $47.2 million on settlements of commodity derivatives, resulting in an average hedged sales price of $23.21 per barrel of oil equivalent ("BOE"), a 34% increase versus an average unhedged sales price of $17.26 per BOE
  • Produced an average of 29,178 barrels of oil per day ("BOPD"), an increase of 7% from fourth-quarter 2019
  • Produced an average of 86,532 BOE per day, an increase of 3% from fourth-quarter 2019
  • Invested capital of $155 million during the first quarter of 2020, 11% below budget
  • Reduced completed well costs 7%, to $630 per lateral foot
  • Reduced unit lease operating expenses ("LOE") to $2.80 per BOE, a 1% decrease from fourth-quarter 2019

"The challenges presented to the oil and gas industry by the demand destruction and price volatility related to COVID-19 and OPEC+ are unprecedented," stated Jason Pigott, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Protecting the health and safety of our employees as we operate is paramount. Our workforce has demonstrated amazing flexibility, adapting to new safety standards necessitated by COVID-19, and has continued to perform at the high standards we have set for ourselves."

"Our first-quarter results demonstrate the value of our commitment to operational excellence," continued Mr. Pigott. "For the fifth consecutive quarter, we exceeded both our oil and total production guidance, and we continued to reduce costs as we again improved both our completed well costs and operational expenses. As we operate in the current depressed commodity price environment, we are maintaining our financial discipline and balance sheet focus. We have reduced our planned capital expenditures by more than 40% versus our original budget and continue to focus on Free Cash Flow generation. We have deployed a portion of anticipated Free Cash Flow to our derivatives program to protect cash flow in 2021 and we may, from time to time, use a portion of our Free Cash Flow to reduce debt, either by paying down our senior secured credit facility or repurchasing our senior notes in open market or privately negotiated transactions, to enhance liquidity and reduce interest costs."

Operations Summary

During first-quarter 2020, the Company completed 28 gross (27.7 net) horizontal wells with an average completed lateral length of 8,300 feet. Drilling and completions costs incurred of $140 million was below budget as Laredo continued to drive down its well costs, already among the lowest in the Midland Basin. Through a combination of operational efficiencies and cost reductions, well costs for the first quarter of 2020 averaged $630 per lateral foot, a 7% reduction versus expectations.

The Company produced 86,532 BOE per day in the first quarter of 2020, including oil production of 29,178 BOPD, exceeding the high-end of guidance by 6% and 7%, respectively. The positive results versus guidance were a combination of wells being turned to sales sooner than anticipated, as completed feet per day per crew continued to increase, and well packages exceeding forecasted production levels.

Laredo's efforts to optimize its established acreage position continued to drive production and returns improvements. To date, wider-spaced packages completed since Laredo modified its development spacing in late 2018 have outperformed the Company's Upper/Middle Wolfcamp oil type curve by 12%. Additionally, two Cline wells completed in the first quarter of 2020 have performed in-line with Laredo's high-graded Cline type curve while their costs were 8% below expectations.

Unit LOE for first-quarter 2020 decreased to $2.80 per BOE, a reduction of 16% from the first quarter of 2019. Unit LOE for the remainder of 2020 is expected to remain below $3.00 per BOE as the majority of the Company's production in 2020 continues to benefit from Laredo's in-field infrastructure.

During the first quarter of 2020, the Company operated four drilling rigs and averaged 1.7 completions crews. Laredo has subsequently released two of the drilling rigs and the one remaining completions crew and is currently operating two drilling rigs, both in Howard County, and zero completions crews. The Company has completed five wells (4.6 net) in the second quarter of 2020, all in the Company's recently acquired western Glasscock County acreage, and currently does not expect to resume completions activity in 2020.

Key Facts: Laredo Petroleum US onshore country profile*

* Premium profile information includes; description, overview of assets, current and planned operational activity, capex, local and corporate locations, links to 'Linkedin People', news archive and farm-in opportunities.

< Previous Next >