OKLAHOMA CITY, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Continental Resources, Inc. (NYSE: CLR) (the Company) today announced second quarter operating and financial results. Continental reported a net loss of $63.6 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2017.

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The Company's net loss includes certain items typically excluded by the investment community in published estimates, the result of which is referred to as "adjusted net loss." In second quarter 2017, these typically excluded items in aggregate represented $61.8 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, of Continental's reported net loss. Adjusted net loss for the second quarter was $1.8 million, or $0.00 per diluted share.

Net cash provided by operating activities for second quarter 2017 was $446.4 million. EBITDAX for second quarter 2017 was $479.5 million. Definitions and reconciliations of adjusted net income and net loss, adjusted net income and net loss per share, EBITDAX and cash G&A expense to the most directly comparable U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) financial measures are provided in the supporting tables and 2017 guidance summary at the conclusion of this press release.

"Continental remained disciplined and strategic with its capital spending during the quarter," said Harold Hamm, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "The results have been exceptional, raising our production guidance for 2017 and lowering our guidance for operating costs. We now expect to exit 2017 with production up 24% to 31% over the fourth quarter of 2016, with a lower range of capital expenditures for the year targeting cash neutrality between $45 and $51 WTI."

Mr. Hamm noted the Company recently surpassed a significant production milestone, with individual days of output of 250,000 Boe per day. "We're bringing on a lot of pad projects. Looking ahead, given the anticipated timing of additional pad projects in the Bakken and STACK, we expect third quarter 2017 production will average 240,000 to 250,000 Boe per day, with 58% of production being crude oil," he said.

"The continuous improvements we are achieving position Continental for even better results in 2018."

Improved 2017 Guidance Reflects Superior Assets, Efficiency Gains and Disciplined Capital Program 

The Company now expects annual production will be in a higher range of 230,000 to 240,000 Boe per day, compared to its previous guidance of 220,000 to 230,000 Boe per day. Continental expects to exit the year with production between 260,000 and 275,000 Boe per day, compared to the previous exit-rate guidance of 250,000 to 260,000 Boe per day. Continental is also adjusting its capital expenditures for 2017 to a range between $1.75 billion and $1.95 billion. This level of capital expenditure is expected to maintain cash neutrality at WTI prices between $45 and $51 per barrel for the year. Adjustments to capital expenditures will be accomplished primarily by reducing completion crews and rigs. The rig count for the second half of the year is projected to average 18, with 14 in Oklahoma and four in Bakken. The Company has reduced its Bakken completion crew count to four and has six crews in Oklahoma. As a result, the Company expects to exit 2017 with a drilled but uncompleted (DUC) inventory in the Bakken of approximately 160 gross operated wells, including approximately 35 already stimulated with first production expected in 2018, providing a strong catalyst for further oil focused production growth in 2018.

Continental reduced 2017 guidance for production expense per Boe, which is now expected to be in a range of $3.50 to $3.90 per Boe for the year, down from $3.50 to $4.00 per Boe.

The Company also reduced its G&A guidance for 2017, following lower G&A expense per Boe in the second quarter. Total G&A expense, which is comprised of cash and non-cash G&A expense, is expected to be $1.85 to $2.35 per Boe for 2017. Of this total, cash G&A expense is expected to be $1.35 to $1.75 per Boe for 2017, a reduction from the previous $1.50 to $2.00 per Boe. Non-cash equity compensation is expected to be $0.50 to $0.60 per Boe, a reduction from the previous $0.60 to $0.70 per Boe.

Continental also reduced 2017 guidance for DD&A to $18.00 to $20.00 per Boe for the year, down approximately 7% from the previous range.

Finally, the Company improved its outlook for oil price differentials, reflecting the impact of additional pipeline capacity in the Bakken and continued infrastructure improvements in Oklahoma. Average crude oil price differential for 2017 companywide is expected to be in a range of $5.50 to $6.50 per barrel of oil (Bo), $1.00 below the previous guidance of $6.50 to $7.50. The Company expects further improvements to its crude oil price differential in 2018. The Company also adjusted its outlook for natural gas price differentials, reflecting continued natural gas liquids price weakness. The differential is now expected to be a negative $0.10 to a negative $0.50 per Mcf.

The Company's full 2017 guidance is stated in a table at the conclusion of this release.

"The superior quality of our assets and operations continues to translate to the bottom line," said Jack Stark, President.  "As our historical performance and updated guidance show, Continental is one of the lowest cost operators in the industry, delivering some of the best margins and recycle ratios among our peers." 

Production

Second quarter 2017 net production totaled 20.6 million Boe, or 226,213 Boe per day, up 12,458 Boe per day from first quarter 2017, or approximately 6%. 

Total net production for second quarter 2017 included 125,381 Bo per day (55% of production) and 605 million cubic feet (MMcf) of natural gas per day (45% of production).  

The following table provides the Company's average daily production by region for the periods presented.  

Bakken: Type Curve ROR Doubled to 82%

Continental's Bakken net production averaged 119,861 Boe per day in second quarter 2017. The Company had 100 gross (38 net) operated and non-operated Bakken wells completed during second quarter 2017. At June 30, 2017, the Company had 205 gross operated DUCs.

In the second quarter, the Company had 19 gross operated wells with first production with an average 24-hour initial production (IP) rate of 1,606 Boe per day (82% oil). Five of the second quarter wells rank in the Company's top 10 all-time producing Bakken wells, based on 30 days of production. Also during the quarter, Continental expanded the success of its optimized completions 40 miles south of existing activity in northeast McKenzie County to central Dunn County.

Based on the success of its optimized completions, the Company announced a 12% increase in its type curve EUR to 1,100 MBoe per well with a 24-hour IP of approximately 1,500 Boe. At an estimated completed well cost of $7.5 million for a 2-mile lateral well, a 1,100 MBoe EUR Bakken well will yield an 82% ROR at $50 per barrel WTI and $3.25 per Mcf of gas. This is more than double the ROR compared to the previous 980 MBoe Bakken type curve. Cumulative production at 180 days is approximately 64,000 Boe higher compared to the 980 MBoe type curve, generating over $2 million more revenue in the first six months. The new 1,100 MBoe type curve has a quicker estimated payout period of 1.25 years, compared to 2.5 years for wells with the previous type curve.

"In 2017 our Bakken team has doubled our rate of return and reduced the payout period by 50%, based on our new type curve," said Gary Gould, Senior Vice President of Production and Resource Development. "This is a step-change improvement in Bakken economics."

STACK: The Company Announces Record Well and Initial Type Curve with 80% ROR for Condensate Window

Continental's STACK net production averaged 31,934 Boe per day in second quarter 2017. The Company had 36 gross (12 net) operated and non-operated STACK wells completed during second quarter 2017. By the end of August, the Company will have nine operated rigs in the play, with seven rigs targeting the Meramec formation and two targeting the Woodford formation.

The Company reported six operated standalone wells in the STACK Meramec over-pressured oil and condensate windows. Initial 24-hour production test rates for these six wells averaged 1,915 Boe per day (45% oil) from an average 6,860-foot lateral.

In early August the Company completed a record well in STACK. The Tres C FIU 1-35-2XH flowed an impressive 1,021 Bo and 29.6 MMcf of gas (5,953 Boe) in its initial 24-hour test, with flowing casing pressure of 6,500 pounds per square inch from a 9,748-foot lateral. Adding an additional 1,978 barrels of anticipated natural gas liquids post-processing, Continental estimates the initial 24-hour IP rate for the Tres C would be a record 7,442 Boe (40% liquids) on a three-stream basis.

The Company also announced a type curve EUR of 2,400 MBoe (14% oil) for wells in the STACK over-pressured condensate window. At a targeted completed well cost of $10 million, a 9,800-foot lateral condensate well would generate an 80% ROR at $50 per barrel WTI and $3.25 per Mcf of natural gas.

The Company recently began flowing back the third of seven Meramec density tests it has in process to establish proper well spacing for future development of the Meramec reservoirs. The Blurton unit was an 8-well density test, with three new wells in the upper Meramec and four new wells and the existing parent well in the lower Meramec. Average lateral length was approximately 10,000 feet per well. The unit is still in the early stages of flowing back and has not reached peak production rates. To date the combined 24-hour initial rate recorded from the eight wells is 10,514 Boe per day, with 78% of production being oil. Including estimated post-processing natural gas liquids, the combined 24-hour IP rate would have been approximately 11,883 Boe per day. The Company continues to monitor the flowback of these wells and will incorporate the results from the Blurton with those of other density tests to guide future development in STACK.

SCOOP: Springer Shines

In second quarter 2017, SCOOP net production averaged 61,107 Boe per day (27% oil). Continental had 8 gross (2 net) operated and non-operated wells completed during second quarter 2017. Continental currently has five operated drilling rigs working in SCOOP, targeting the Springer, Sycamore and Woodford formations.

During the quarter, Continental announced one SCOOP Springer well, the Robinson 2-15-10XHS. The initial 24-hour production test rate was 1,636 Boe per day (82% oil) from a 7,700-foot lateral. The Robinson outperformed the Company's historical 940 MBoe Springer type curve by 89% in the first 60 days on production.

Last quarter, the Company announced the completion of the Cash 1-26H, an optimized Springer producing well. At 90 days the Cash outperformed the Company's 940 MBoe type curve by 82%. At a cost of $7.6 million and an estimated EUR of 1,160 MBoe, the Cash well has an estimated rate of return of over 100% and pays out in 12 months, assuming $50 per barrel WTI and $3.25 per Mcf of gas. Longer laterals, combined with shorter drill times and optimized completions, are improving Springer well economics.

A notable second quarter well in the SCOOP Woodford oil window was the Romanoff 1-25-24-13XH in eastern Grady County, which had a 24-hour IP rate of 1,188 Bo and 2.3 MMcf (1,563 Boe) from a 14,900-foot lateral. This was the Company's first 3-mile lateral well in SCOOP. At 30 days, the well was outperforming offset wells by over 25%, when normalized to a 7,500-foot lateral, and had an average 30-day production rate of 1,424 Boe per day (75% oil).

Two other recent completions in the SCOOP Woodford condensate window were the Renea 1-23-14XH and Cottonwood East 1-25-24XH wells. The Renea's 24-hour IP was 2,322 Boe per day (18% oil) from a 10,160-foot lateral. The Cottonwood East's 24-hour IP was 1,918 (34% oil) from a 7,800-foot lateral. The Renea and Cottonwood outperformed legacy offset wells by 80% to 90% during their first 30 days. They are located in an area of Stephens County where the Company has not been active for the past two years.

Company Agrees to Sell Non-Strategic Leasehold and Property for $147.5 Million 

Continental announced today it has signed two definitive purchase and sale agreements with undisclosed buyers to sell 6,590 net acres of non-core leasehold in the oil window of STACK in northern Blaine County, Oklahoma for $72.5 million, and 26,000 net acres of leasehold in the Arkoma Basin located in Atoka, Coal, Hughes and Pittsburg counties, Oklahoma for $68.0 million. The leaseholds are non-strategic and include minimal proved reserves. The agreements provide for customary closing conditions and adjustments. The Company is also selling oil-loading facilities in Oklahoma for $7.0 million. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the sales to reduce outstanding debt and noted that it has other opportunities for non-core asset sales.

Financial Update

"Continental's results through the first half of the year reflect strong outperformance and continued operating cost and capital expenditure discipline," said John Hart, Chief Financial Officer. "We are raising our production estimates while lowering guidance for operating costs. The updated guidance metrics are expected to be achieved while targeting cash neutrality between $45 and $51 WTI with capital expenditures ranging from $1.75 billion to $1.95 billion.

"Oil production was 55% of total production for second quarter, slightly lower than consensus primarily due to working interest adjustments. For third quarter we are projecting production to be 58% oil as additional Bakken and Springer wells are completed."

In second quarter 2017, Continental's average realized sales price excluding the effects of derivative positions was $41.91 per barrel of oil and $2.63 per Mcf of gas, or $30.31 per Boe. Based on realizations without the effect of derivatives, the Company's second quarter 2017 oil differential was $6.31 per barrel below the NYMEX daily average for the period, $0.78 better than the first quarter differential. The realized wellhead natural gas price for the quarter was on average $0.56 per Mcf below the average NYMEX Henry Hub benchmark price.      

Production expense per Boe was $3.99 for second quarter 2017. Other select operating costs and expenses for second quarter 2017 included production taxes of 6.7% of oil and natural gas sales, DD&A of $19.14 per Boe, and total G&A of $1.89 per Boe.

Non-acquisition capital expenditures for second quarter 2017 totaled approximately $551.9 million. Non-acquisition capital expenditures for the quarter included $471.0 million in exploration and development drilling, $51.6 million in leasehold and seismic, and $29.3 million in workovers, recompletions and other. 

As of June 30, 2017, Continental's balance sheet included approximately $17.2 million in cash and cash equivalents and $6.56 billion in long-term debt, essentially in-line with first quarter 2017.

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

Second Quarter Earnings Conference Call

Continental plans to host a conference call to discuss second quarter results on Wednesday, August 9, 2017, at 12 p.m. ET (11 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:

Continental plans to publish a second quarter 2017 summary presentation to its website at www.CLR.com prior to the start of its earnings conference call on August 9, 2017. 

Upcoming Conferences

Members of Continental's management team plan to participate in the following investment conferences:

About Continental Resources

Continental Resources (NYSE: CLR) is a top 15 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 one of the largest producers 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, SCOOP Springer and SCOOP Sycamore 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 2017, the Company will celebrate 50 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," "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 December 31, 2016, 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

EBITDAX

We use a variety of financial and operational measures to assess our performance. Among these measures is EBITDAX. 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. EBITDAX is not a measure of net income (loss) 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 (loss) 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 (loss) 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 loss 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.

Adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per share

Our presentation of adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per share that exclude the effect of certain items are non-GAAP financial measures. Adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per share represent earnings and diluted earnings per share determined under U.S. GAAP without regard to non-cash gains and losses on derivative instruments, property impairments, gains and losses on asset sales, and losses on extinguishment of debt. 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 earnings and adjusted earnings per share should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for earnings or diluted earnings 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 earnings and diluted earnings per share as determined under U.S. GAAP to adjusted earnings and adjusted diluted earnings per share for the periods presented.

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.  

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SOURCE Continental Resources