OREANDA-NEWS.  Apache Corporation (NYSE, Nasdaq: APA) today announced its financial and operational results for the first quarter of 2016.

Apache reported a net loss of $489 million, or $1.29 per diluted common share, which included noncash, after-tax ceiling test write-downs of $325 million driven primarily by low commodity prices. When adjusted for these and certain additional items that impact the comparability of results, Apache’s first-quarter net loss totaled $152 million, or $0.40 per share. Net cash provided by continuing operating activities was approximately $276 million. Cash flow from continuing operations, before changes in operating assets and liabilities, was $435 million, and adjusted EBITDA was $541 million.

John J. Christmann IV, Apache’s chief executive officer and president, said, “Apache’s first-quarter performance was characterized by notable achievements in operations, drilling and further cost reductions. Despite a continued decline in our drilling activities, we delivered strong production results in North America Onshore. Results in the Permian Basin were particularly strong with solid performance from our base production and very good results from maintenance projects and new drilling. Our relentless focus on costs continues to yield significant results. In our North American Onshore key plays, drilling and completion costs are now down approximately 45 percent from 2014 levels.

“Our substantial well-cost reductions, coupled with the recent improvement in oil prices, have created a better investment environment. As we become more confident in the sustainability of higher oil prices and the resulting increase in cash flow relative to our $35-per-barrel plan, we will increase our capital investment program accordingly. The majority of any additional investment would most likely go to the Permian Basin.”

First-quarter operational highlights

During the first quarter, Apache averaged 24 operated rigs and drilled and completed 79 gross-operated wells worldwide. Highlights from Apache’s three principal areas include:

  • North America Onshore – The company averaged 10 rigs in North America Onshore and drilled and completed 47 gross-operated wells during the first quarter.

    In the Permian Basin, production averaged 171,000 Boe per day, down 2 percent from the fourth quarter of 2015. Apache averaged six operated rigs and drilled and completed 32 gross-operated wells. This is down from 57 drilled and completed wells in the fourth quarter of 2015.

    In the Delaware Basin, the company successfully drilled and completed five gross-operated wells primarily targeting the Bone Spring formations in the Pecos Bend area. During the quarter, Apache drilled its best well in the basin to date, the Seagull 103-HR, which delivered an impressive average 30-day, initial-production rate of nearly 2,800 Boe per day.

    The company also drilled and completed 25 gross-operated wells during the quarter in the Midland Basin, Northwest Shelf and Central Basin Platform, achieving strong results from both the Wolfcamp and Yeso formations.
     

  • North Sea – Apache averaged four operated rigs and generated production of 70,000 Boe per day, a 2-percent decline from the fourth quarter of 2015. During the second half of the quarter, Apache brought four successful development wells online, which resulted in a strong production rebound in the month of April.
     
  • Egypt – Apache averaged 10 rigs during the quarter and maintained gross production of 353,000 Boe per day, which was essentially flat with the fourth quarter of 2015. Excluding noncontrolling interest and tax barrels, net production was up slightly from the fourth quarter to 103,000 Boe per day. Apache placed 23 wells on production and achieved a drilling success rate of 88 percent during the quarter.

2016 outlook

Following strong first-quarter results, the company is raising full-year 2016 North American Onshore production guidance to 268,000 to 278,000 Boe per day, up from initial guidance of 263,000 to 273,000 Boe per day set at the beginning of the year. Accordingly, Apache is also raising full-year 2016 total pro forma production guidance (excluding Egypt noncontrolling interest and tax barrels) by 5,000 Boe per day to 438,000 to 458,000 Boe per day.

Total capital investment during the quarter, excluding Egypt noncontrolling interest, was $466 million, which was below the company’s guidance of $500 to $550 million. Apache is reiterating full-year 2016 capital guidance of $1.4 billion to $1.8 billion.

As expected, the company ran a cash-flow deficit for the first quarter but anticipates a cash-flow surplus for the balance of the year. The company remains committed to cash-flow neutrality and ending the year with unchanged or lower net debt.

“Apache’s prudent approach during this downturn has allowed us to protect our financial position, maintain appropriate debt levels, preserve our investment-grade credit rating, continue our dividend and refrain from issuing equity, which dilutes existing shareholders. Looking ahead, we will be patient, thoughtful and disciplined with regard to deploying incremental capital such that we continue to maximize full-cycle returns. Longer term, we have the financial capacity, high-quality drilling inventory and organizational infrastructure to deliver competitive growth rates and returns through the cycle,” concluded Christmann.

About Apache

Apache Corporation is an oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the United States, Canada, Egypt and the United Kingdom.