OKLAHOMA CITY, April 29, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Continental Resources, Inc. (NYSE: CLR) (the Company) today announced first quarter 2019 operating and financial results.

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The Company reported net income of $187.0 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2019. The Company's net income includes certain items typically excluded by the investment community in published estimates, the result of which is referred to as "adjusted net income." In first quarter 2019, these typically excluded items in aggregate represented $29.6 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, of Continental's reported net income. Adjusted net income for first quarter 2019 was $216.6 million, or $0.58 per diluted share (non-GAAP). Net cash provided by operating activities for first quarter 2019 was $721.5 million and EBITDAX was $854.8 million (non-GAAP).

Adjusted net income, adjusted net income per share, EBITDAX, net debt, net sales prices and cash general and administrative (G&A) expenses per barrel of oil equivalent (Boe) presented herein are non-GAAP financial measures. Definitions and explanations for how these measures relate to the most directly comparable U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) financial measures are provided at the conclusion of this press release.

"Continental's outstanding first quarter 2019 results reflect our commitment to our formula for success. The combination of high quality Bakken and Oklahoma assets with efficient, low cost operations translates to strong corporate returns and sustainable cash flow generation," said Harold Hamm, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Production Update: 1Q19 Average Daily Oil Production up 18% over 1Q18   

First quarter 2019 production increased 16% over first quarter 2018, averaging 332,236 Boe per day. First quarter 2019 oil production increased 18% over first quarter 2018, averaging 193,921 barrels of oil (Bo) per day. First quarter 2019 natural gas production increased 12% over first quarter 2018, averaging 829.9 million cubic feet (MMcf) per day. The following table provides the Company's average daily production by region for the periods presented.

Bakken: 3 Strategic Step-Out Wells Deliver Excellent Results

The Company's first quarter 2019 Bakken production increased 24% over first quarter 2018, averaging 199,423 Boe per day. In first quarter 2019, average daily Bakken oil production increased 8% over fourth quarter 2018 and the Company completed 55 gross (40 net) operated wells with first production. These wells flowed at an average initial 24-hour rate per well of 2,300 Boe per day, with 80% of the production being oil.

In first quarter 2019, the Company completed 3 strategic step-out wells in North Dakota and Montana Bakken. The wells were the Company's first tests of its optimized completion technology in these extended portions of its Bakken leasehold. The tests proved successful, as the wells are outperforming offsetting legacy producers by as much as 110% in the first 60 days. In Montana, the Baird Federal 2-34H flowed at an initial rate of 1,680 Boe per day (85% oil), outperforming the legacy well by 110% at 60 days. In southern Billings County, North Dakota, the Burian 4-27H1 flowed at an initial rate of 2,400 Boe per day (80% oil), outperforming the legacy well by 80% at 60 days. In eastern Williams County, North Dakota, the three-mile lateral McClintock 8-1H1 flowed at an initial rate of 2,440 Boe per day (80% oil), outperforming the two-mile legacy well by 100% at 60 days.

"These strategic step-outs provide further proof that our optimized completion technology is uplifting well performance across all of our Bakken leasehold, even into Montana. This is great news for our shareholders as the value of our Bakken inventory of approximately 4,000 wells continues to grow," said Jack Stark, President.

SpringBoard: Oil Growth Ahead of Schedule; Avg. ~14,000 Net Bopd in April (28 Days)  

The Company's first quarter 2019 SCOOP production increased 9% over first quarter 2018, averaging 67,659 Boe per day. The Company completed 15 gross (13 net) operated wells with first production in first quarter 2019. 

Project SpringBoard oil production is growing ahead of schedule, averaging ~14,000 Bo per day in the first 28 days of April 2019. The Company has updated its SpringBoard oil production growth target to 18,000 Bo per day in third quarter 2019, compared to the initial target of 16,500 Bo per day. Cycle time improvements and higher early time well productivity are accelerating production growth and enabling the Company to achieve its objectives for 2019 with 25% fewer rigs. The Company currently has 9 rigs drilling, 33 wells waiting on completion and 39 wells producing in Project SpringBoard.

In first quarter 2019, the Company completed the first 6 Woodford wells in Project SpringBoard, which flowed at a combined initial rate of 9,960 Boe per day, averaging 1,660 Boe per day per well, which includes 1,245 Bo per day per well. These wells are currently outperforming the legacy 1.5 MMBoe Woodford legacy oil type curve.  

STACK: Continues to Deliver Outstanding Results

The Company's first quarter 2019 STACK production increased 6% over first quarter 2018, averaging 56,513 Boe per day. During the quarter, the Company completed 9 gross (5 net) operated wells with first production in 2019.  

In the over-pressured condensate window, the 5-well Tolbert unit flowed at a combined initial rate of 18,700 Boe per day, averaging 3,740 Boe per day per well, which includes 1,180 Bo per day per well. In the over-pressured oil window, the 3-well Lugene unit flowed at a combined initial rate of 9,270 Boe per day, averaging 3,090 Boe per day per well, which includes 1,540 Bo per day per well. The Tolbert unit was developed with 2-mile laterals and the Lugene unit with 1-mile laterals. The Company also completed its first 3-mile Meramec well in STACK. The Blondie 1-6-7-18XHM 3-mile lateral flowed at an initial rate of 3,400 Boe per day, which includes 2,460 Bo per day per well.

Financial Update

"Continental's capital-efficient and highly productive first quarter 2019 results underscore our commitment to delivering shareholder value in 2019. We are extremely pleased with our execution on cost metrics and the potential for favorable updates to these targets later in the year," said John Hart, Chief Financial Officer. 

As of March 31, 2019, the Company's balance sheet included approximately $264.4 million in cash and cash equivalents, $5.77 billion in total debt and $5.50 billion in net debt (non-GAAP). The Company anticipates further reducing net debt to $5 billion in 2019.

In first quarter 2019, the Company's average net sales prices excluding the effects of derivative positions were $50.05 per barrel of oil and $2.56 per Mcf of gas, or $35.56 per Boe. Production expense per Boe was $3.59 for first quarter 2019, below annual guidance of $3.75 to $4.25 per Boe. Total G&A expenses per Boe were $1.60 for first quarter 2019, also below annual guidance of $1.70 to $2.00 per Boe.

The Company's first quarter 2019 crude oil differential was $4.77 per barrel below the NYMEX daily average for the period, a 43% improvement over fourth quarter 2018 and within annual guidance of $4.50 to $5.50 per barrel. The wellhead natural gas price for first quarter 2019 was $0.60 per Mcf below the average NYMEX Henry Hub benchmark price. The Company expects further improvement to the natural gas differential in 2019.

The Company realized approximately $13 million of cash gains from natural gas hedges in the first quarter. For the balance of 2019, natural gas is hedged 577,000 MMBtus per day at an average NYMEX Henry Hub price of $2.80.

Non-acquisition capital expenditures for first quarter 2019 totaled approximately $750.2 million, including $631.1 million in exploration and development drilling and completion, $14.8 million in leasehold, $51.3 million in minerals, of which 80% was recouped from Franco-Nevada, and $53.0 million in workovers, recompletions and other. Our first quarter capital expenditures reflect an accelerated pace of development due to improved cycle times and efficiency gains which resulted in 8 more net wells being completed and 6 more net wells being spud during the quarter than budgeted while using the same number of rigs and completion crews. The Company maintains its $2.6 billion capital expenditures guidance for 2019.

The Company's full 2019 guidance remains as announced on February 13, 2019 and can be found at the conclusion of this press release.

The following table provides the Company's production results, per-unit operating costs, results of operations and certain non-GAAP financial measures for the periods presented. Average net sales prices exclude any effect of derivative transactions. Per-unit expenses have been calculated using sales volumes.

First Quarter Earnings Conference Call

The Company plans to host a conference call to discuss first quarter 2019 results on Tuesday, April 30, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. CT). Those wishing to listen to the conference call may do so via the Company's website at www.CLR.com or by phone:

A replay of the call will be available for 14 days on the Company's website or by dialing:

The Company plans to publish a first quarter 2019 summary presentation to its website at www.CLR.com prior to the start of its conference call on April 30, 2019. 

About Continental Resources

Continental Resources (NYSE: CLR) is a top 10 independent oil producer in the U.S. Lower 48 and a leader in America's energy renaissance. Based in Oklahoma City, Continental is the largest leaseholder and the largest producer in the nation's premier oil field, the Bakken play of North Dakota and Montana. The Company also has significant positions in Oklahoma, including its SCOOP Woodford and SCOOP Springer discoveries and the STACK plays. With a focus on the exploration and production of oil, Continental has unlocked the technology and resources vital to American energy independence and our nation's leadership in the new world oil market. In 2019, the Company will celebrate 52 years of operations. For more information, please visit www.CLR.com.

Cautionary Statement for the Purpose of the "Safe Harbor" Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements included in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including, but not limited to, forecasts or expectations regarding the Company's business and statements or information concerning the Company's future operations, performance, financial condition, production and reserves, schedules, plans, timing of development, rates of return, budgets, costs, business strategy, objectives, and cash flows are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the words "could," "may," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "project," "budget," "target," "plan," "continue," "potential," "guidance," "strategy," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words.

Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and assumptions about future events and currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Although the Company believes these assumptions and expectations are reasonable, they are inherently subject to numerous business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control. No assurance can be given that such expectations will be correct or achieved or that the assumptions are accurate. The risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, commodity price volatility; the geographic concentration of our operations; financial market and economic volatility; the inability to access needed capital; the risks and potential liabilities inherent in crude oil and natural gas drilling and production and the availability of insurance to cover any losses resulting therefrom; difficulties in estimating proved reserves and other reserves-based measures; declines in the values of our crude oil and natural gas properties resulting in impairment charges; our ability to replace proved reserves and sustain production; the availability or cost of equipment and oilfield services; leasehold terms expiring on undeveloped acreage before production can be established; our ability to project future production, achieve targeted results in drilling and well operations and predict the amount and timing of development expenditures; the availability and cost of transportation, processing and refining facilities; legislative and regulatory changes adversely affecting our industry and our business, including initiatives related to hydraulic fracturing; increased market and industry competition, including from alternative fuels and other energy sources; and the other risks described under Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors and elsewhere in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, registration statements and other reports filed from time to time with the SEC, and other announcements the Company makes from time to time.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which such statement is made. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described in this press release occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, the Company's actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly correct or update any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances after the date of this report, or otherwise.

Readers are cautioned that initial production rates are subject to decline over time and should not be regarded as reflective of sustained production levels. In particular, production from horizontal drilling in shale oil and natural gas resource plays and tight natural gas plays that are stimulated with extensive pressure fracturing are typically characterized by significant early declines in production rates.

We use the term "EUR" or "estimated ultimate recovery" to describe potentially recoverable oil and natural gas hydrocarbon quantities. We include these estimates to demonstrate what we believe to be the potential for future drilling and production on our properties. These estimates are by their nature much more speculative than estimates of proved reserves and require substantial capital spending to implement recovery. Actual locations drilled and quantities that may be ultimately recovered from our properties will differ substantially. EUR data included herein remain subject to change as more well data is analyzed.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Non-GAAP adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share attributable to Continental

Our presentation of adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share that exclude the effect of certain items are non-GAAP financial measures. Adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share represent net income and diluted net income per share determined under U.S. GAAP without regard to non-cash gains and losses on derivative instruments, property impairments, and gains and losses on asset sales. Management believes these measures provide useful information to analysts and investors for analysis of our operating results. In addition, management believes these measures are used by analysts and others in valuation, comparison and investment recommendations of companies in the oil and gas industry to allow for analysis without regard to an entity's specific derivative portfolio, impairment methodologies, and property dispositions. Adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income or diluted net income per share as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. The following table reconciles net income and diluted net income per share as determined under U.S. GAAP to adjusted net income and adjusted diluted net income per share for the periods presented.

Non-GAAP Net Debt

Net debt is a non-GAAP measure. We define net debt as total debt less cash and cash equivalents as determined under U.S. GAAP. Net debt should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, total debt, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Management uses net debt to determine the Company's outstanding debt obligations that would not be readily satisfied by its cash and cash equivalents on hand. We believe this metric is useful to analysts and investors in determining the Company's leverage position since the Company has the ability to, and may decide to, use a portion of its cash and cash equivalents to reduce debt. This metric is sometimes presented as a ratio with EBITDAX in order to provide investors with another means of evaluating the Company's ability to service its existing debt obligations as well as any future increase in the amount of such obligations. At March 31, 2019, the Company's total debt was $5.77 billion and its net debt amounted to $5.50 billion, representing total debt of $5.77 billion less cash and cash equivalents of $264.4 million. From time to time the Company provides forward-looking net debt forecasts; however, the Company is unable to provide a quantitative reconciliation of the forward-looking non-GAAP measure to the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP measure of total debt because management cannot reliably quantify certain of the necessary components of such forward-looking GAAP measure. The reconciling items in future periods could be significant.

Non-GAAP EBITDAX

We use a variety of financial and operational measures to assess our performance. Among these measures is EBITDAX, a non-GAAP measure. We define EBITDAX as earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion, property impairments, exploration expenses, non-cash gains and losses resulting from the requirements of accounting for derivatives, non-cash equity compensation expense, and losses on extinguishment of debt as applicable. EBITDAX is not a measure of net income or net cash provided by operating activities as determined by U.S. GAAP.

Management believes EBITDAX is useful because it allows us to more effectively evaluate our operating performance and compare the results of our operations from period to period without regard to our financing methods or capital structure. Further, we believe EBITDAX is a widely followed measure of operating performance and may also be used by investors to measure our ability to meet future debt service requirements, if any. We exclude the items listed above from net income and net cash provided by operating activities in arriving at EBITDAX because these amounts can vary substantially from company to company within our industry depending upon accounting methods and book values of assets, capital structures and the method by which the assets were acquired.

EBITDAX should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income or net cash provided by operating activities as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP or as an indicator of a company's operating performance or liquidity. Certain items excluded from EBITDAX are significant components in understanding and assessing a company's financial performance, such as a company's cost of capital and tax structure, as well as the historic costs of depreciable assets, none of which are components of EBITDAX. Our computations of EBITDAX may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

The following table provides a reconciliation of our net income to EBITDAX for the periods presented.

The following table provides a reconciliation of our net cash provided by operating activities to EBITDAX for the periods presented.

Non-GAAP Net Sales Prices

Revenues and transportation expenses associated with production from our operated properties are reported separately. For non-operated properties, we receive a net payment from the operator for our share of sales proceeds which is net of costs incurred by the operator, if any. Such non-operated revenues are recognized at the net amount of proceeds received. As a result, the separate presentation of revenues and transportation expenses from our operated properties differs from the net presentation from non-operated properties. This impacts the comparability of certain operating metrics, such as per-unit sales prices, when such metrics are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP using gross presentation for some revenues and net presentation for others.

In order to provide metrics prepared in a manner consistent with how management assesses the Company's operating results and to achieve comparability between operated and non-operated revenues, we may present crude oil and natural gas sales net of transportation expenses, which we refer to as "net crude oil and natural gas sales," a non-GAAP measure.  Average sales prices calculated using net crude oil and natural gas sales are referred to as "net sales prices," a non-GAAP measure, and are calculated by taking revenues less transportation expenses divided by sales volumes, whether for crude oil or natural gas, as applicable. Management believes presenting our revenues and sales prices net of transportation expenses is useful because it normalizes the presentation differences between operated and non-operated revenues and allows for a useful comparison of net realized prices to NYMEX benchmark prices on a Company-wide basis.

The following table presents a reconciliation of crude oil and natural gas sales (GAAP) to net crude oil and natural gas sales and related net sales prices (non-GAAP) for the periods presented.

Non-GAAP Cash General and Administrative Expenses per Boe

Our presentation of cash general and administrative ("G&A") expenses per Boe is a non-GAAP measure. We define cash G&A per Boe as total G&A determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP less non-cash equity compensation expenses, expressed on a per-Boe basis. We report and provide guidance on cash G&A per Boe because we believe this measure is commonly used by management, analysts and investors as an indicator of cost management and operating efficiency on a comparable basis from period to period. In addition, management believes cash G&A per Boe is used by analysts and others in valuation, comparison and investment recommendations of companies in the oil and gas industry to allow for analysis of G&A spend without regard to stock-based compensation programs which can vary substantially from company to company. Cash G&A per Boe should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, total G&A per Boe as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

The following table reconciles total G&A per Boe as determined under U.S. GAAP to cash G&A per Boe for the periods presented.

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SOURCE Continental Resources