Chesapeake Energy has reported 2018 fourth-quarter results, operational update

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Chesapeake Energy Corporation has reported selected financial and operational results for the 2018 fourth-quarter. Highlights include:

• Estimated average 2018 fourth-quarter production range of approximately 462,000 boed to 464,000 boed
• Estimated average 2018 fourth-quarter oil production range of approximately 86,000 bopd to 87,000 bopd of oil per day; divested Utica oil volumes have been completely replaced by oil volume growth in the Powder River Basin and Eagle Ford Shale in the two months following the sale
• Achieved year-end 2018 Powder River Basin net production exit rate of approximately 38,500 boed (approximately 47% oil)
• Estimated 2018 fourth-quarter capital expenditures of approximately $545 million, including $50 million of capitalized interest and Utica investments
• Utica Shale divestment and debt refinancing eliminated approximately $2.6 billion in secured leverage, positioning the company with ample liquidity and no significant near-term debt maturities; debt balance as of Dec. 31, 2018 of approximately $8.2 billion including $419 million drawn on revolving credit facility

Doug Lawler, Chesapeake's President and CEO, commented, "Chesapeake continues to advance our strategic priorities of improving margins, reducing debt and achieving sustainable cash flow neutrality. In 2018, asset divestitures generated more than $2 billion in net proceeds which facilitated the retirement of our term loan and senior secured second lien debt.  Total debt was reduced by approximately $1.8 billion from year-end 2017. Importantly, the divested daily oil volumes associated with the Utica sale, which represented 10% of our third quarter oil production, were replaced in the last two months of the year through our legacy South Texas and emerging Powder River Basin oil engines.

"Looking forward to 2019, we are confident in our ability to drive further competitive performance through the quality of our investments and our capital and operating discipline. We have secured a strong hedge position for gas and oil which provides stability and certainty in our cash generating capability. We plan to reduce our 2019 capital expenditures by lowering our rig count by approximately 20%, expecting to average 14 rigs versus our current rig count of 18. Further, we expect our capital efficiency to improve in 2019 as total net capital per rig line is projected to decrease by 15% to 20% compared to 2018. The improvement in our capital efficiency, along with our focus on our high-margin oil investments, should result in higher operating cash flow and stronger margins in 2019 compared to 2018.

"We look forward to consummating the merger with WildHorse Resources and further strengthening our portfolio and competitiveness with another strong oil growth asset. We plan to provide detailed capital guidance for the combined company later in the 2019 first quarter, but at present we anticipate operating four rigs on the WildHorse acreage in 2019. We look forward to further building on our track record of performance in 2019 and are excited to continue demonstrating our leadership and differential competitiveness."