Denbury Reports First Quarter 2021 Results

PLANO, Texas, May 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Denbury Inc. (NYSE: DEN) (“Denbury” or the “Company”) today provided results for the first quarter of 2021, including the following key outcomes:

FIRST QUARTER 2021 HIGHLIGHTS

• Net cash provided by operating activities was $53 million; Adjusted cash flow from operations⁽¹⁾ (non-GAAP measure) was $81 million.
• Development capital expenditures totaled $20 million; Free cash flow⁽¹⁾ (non-GAAP measure) was $59 million.
• Net loss totaled $70 million, or $1.38 per diluted share. Adjusted net income⁽¹⁾ (non-GAAP measure) was $22 million, or $0.44 per diluted share⁽¹⁾ (non-GAAP measure) and Adjusted EBITDAX⁽¹⁾ (non-GAAP measure) totaled $82 million.
• Total production averaged 47,357 BOE/d, consistent with expectations. Severe winter weather reduced volumes for the quarter by approximately 1,400 BOE/d.
• Approved the initial phase of the CO₂ enhanced oil recovery (EOR) development at Cedar Creek Anticline (CCA), including the Greencore CO₂ pipeline extension from Bell Creek to CCA.
• Successfully closed the acquisition of the Big Sand Draw and Beaver Creek EOR fields in the Wind River Basin in early March 2021.
• Announced Nikulas Wood as Senior Vice President to lead the Denbury Carbon Solutions team, focused on expanding the Company’s leading Carbon Capture, Use and Storage (CCUS) position to drive future value.
• Added Cindy Yeilding to the Denbury Board of Directors. Yeilding chaired the coordinating subcommittee of the 2019 National Petroleum Council study on CCUS.

EXECUTIVE COMMENT

Chris Kendall, the Company’s President and CEO, commented, “I am pleased with our first quarter performance, and we are off to a great start to the year. Although severe winter weather temporarily impacted operations, Denbury’s low-decline and low capital-intensity asset base nonetheless delivered meaningful free cash flow in the first quarter. Looking forward to the rest of the year, we are preparing to kick off construction on our CCA CO₂ pipeline in the coming weeks. The CCA EOR development, which will produce low carbon-intensity blue oil through utilization of industrial-sourced CO₂, provides the Company with a deep inventory of resource development opportunities and decades of free cash flow.

The Denbury Carbon Solutions team continues to progress multiple agreements that we expect will advance significant growth in Denbury’s transport and storage of captured industrial-sourced CO₂. Denbury’s proven track record of partnership with industrial emitters in providing practical, reliable, and secure CO₂ transportation and storage solutions is unmatched in the industry. Considering the Company’s ideally positioned infrastructure and extensive CO₂ experience, CCUS represents an incredible value creation opportunity for our Company.”

OPERATING AND FINANCIAL RESULTS

Total revenues and other income in the first quarter of 2021 were $251 million, an increase of 27% from the fourth quarter 2020 and 4% from the prior-year first quarter. The quarterly increases were primarily a result of higher realized pre-hedge oil prices, despite lower production due to severe winter weather in the first quarter 2021, natural field decline, and Denbury’s significant reduction in capital spending in 2020 related to the COVID-19 impact on global oil demand.

Denbury’s oil and natural gas production averaged 47,357 BOE/d during first quarter 2021, consistent with expectations, considering the impact of severe winter weather (lowered first quarter 2021 volumes approximately 1,400 BOE/d), as well as the March 2021 acquisition of assets in the Wind River Basin (added 870 BOE/d for the first quarter 2021). Over 97 percent of the Company’s first quarter 2021 production was oil, with two-thirds of total volumes coming from tertiary CO₂ fields. Blue oil production, resulting from captured industrial-sourced CO₂ injection, increased to approximately 25% of total oil volumes as of the end of the first quarter.

Denbury’s first quarter 2021 average pre-hedge realized oil price was $56.28 per barrel (“Bbl”), representing a differential of $1.54 per Bbl below NYMEX WTI oil prices. The first quarter 2021 differential was on the favorable end of the Company’s expectation of between $1.50 to $2.00 per Bbl discount to WTI.

Lease operating expenses (“LOE”) in first quarter 2021 totaled $82 million, or $19.23 per BOE. LOE was lower than anticipated in the first quarter primarily due to a favorable adjustment to power costs associated with winter storm Uri, which caused significant power outages and disrupted the Company’s operations. Under certain of Denbury’s power agreements, the Company is provided compensation for reduced power usage, which resulted in a benefit of $15 million for the quarter. The net impact to Denbury from lost production and revenues due to the storm, incremental costs incurred for recovery, and the reduced power usage benefit was estimated to be a positive $6 million for the first quarter 2021.

General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses were $32 million in first quarter 2021, in line with expectations. G&A included $18 million of non-cash expense for stock-based compensation, of which $15 million is non-recurring as the performance measures underlying those awards were achieved in the first quarter.

Commodity derivatives expense was $116 million in the first quarter of 2021, a result of the strengthening of oil prices during the period. Cash payments on hedges that settled in the first quarter totaled $38 million (representing $9.28 per Bbl), with the remaining amount representing the mark-to-market change in the value of the Company’s hedging portfolio.

Adjustments to net loss for the quarter included the $77 million mark-to-market change on hedging and a $14 million full-cost ceiling test impairment. The full-cost ceiling test impairment resulted primarily from the difference in recording the book value of acquired properties at a higher oil price than the 12-month look-back oil price used in the ceiling test.

Depletion, depreciation, and amortization was $39 million during first quarter 2021, or $9.26 per BOE. The Company’s effective tax rate for the first quarter 2021 was negligible, due primarily to a valuation allowance on its federal and state deferred tax assets which offsets the tax benefit generated from the pre-tax loss.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

First quarter 2021 development capital expenditures, which excluded acquisitions and capitalized interest, totaled $20 million, less than eight percent of the Company’s annual capital budget. Acquisitions of oil & natural gas properties totaled nearly $11 million for the first quarter 2021, primarily representing the net purchase price of the Big Sand Draw and Beaver Creek fields in the Wind River Basin.

FINANCIAL STRENGTH AND BANK CREDIT FACILITY

The Company’s total debt balance as of the end of the first quarter 2021 was $126 million, down $12 million from the end of 2020. Denbury had $75 million of outstanding borrowings drawn on its senior secured bank credit facility at the end of the quarter. Including unrestricted cash, total liquidity at the end of the first quarter was $483 million, after consideration of outstanding letters of credit.

The borrowing base for the Company’s $575 million senior secured bank credit facility was reaffirmed with its lending group at the end of April 2021.

HEDGING UPDATE

The Company has added new oil hedges for 2022, including certain swaps and collars to secure additional cash flows at improved prices. Details of the Company’s current hedging positions are included below:

REAFFIRMED ANNUAL GUIDANCE

As expected, first quarter 2021 capital spending and production were low relative to annual guidance levels. The Company’s production outlook for the year remains unchanged at a range of 47,500 to 51,500 BOE/d. Considering a full quarter’s production impact from the asset acquisition and recovery from first quarter 2021 winter storms, Denbury anticipates quarterly production volumes will increase in the second quarter 2021.

Development capital expenditures for 2021 are still expected to range from $250 million to $270 million. Second quarter capital expenditures should step up meaningfully with tertiary field work at the Oyster Bayou and Tinsley fields, as well as initial spending for construction of the extension of the Greencore CO₂ pipeline and EOR development at CCA. Capital levels are expected to increase throughout the year in line with planned development activities.

Additional guidance details are available in the Company’s supplemental first quarter 2021 earnings presentation, which is available in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website www.denbury.com.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST INFORMATION

Denbury will host a conference call and webcast to review and discuss first quarter 2021 financial and operating results and outlook today, Thursday, May 6, at 11:00 a.m. Central Time. Additionally, Denbury will post presentation materials on its website before market open today. The presentation webcast will be available, both live and for replay, on the Investor Relations page of the Company’s website at www.denbury.com. Individuals who would like to participate in the conference call should dial the following numbers shortly before the scheduled start time: 877.705.6003 or 201.493.6725 with confirmation number 13696087.

Denbury is an independent energy company with operations and assets focused on Carbon Capture, Use and Storage (CCUS) and Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) in the Gulf Coast and Rocky Mountain regions. For over two decades, the Company has maintained a unique strategic focus on utilizing CO₂ in its EOR operations and since 2012 has also been active in CCUS through the injection of captured industrial-sourced CO₂. The Company currently injects over three million tons of captured industrial-sourced CO₂ annually, and its objective is to fully offset its Scope 1, 2, and 3 CO₂ emissions within this decade, primarily through increasing the amount of captured industrial-sourced CO₂ used in its operations. For more information about Denbury, visit www.denbury.com.

This press release, other than historical information, contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including estimated 2021 production and capital expenditures, and other risks and uncertainties detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Denbury’s most recent report on Form 10-K. These risks and uncertainties are incorporated by this reference as though fully set forth herein. These statements are based on financial and market, engineering, geological and operating assumptions that management believes are reasonable based on currently available information; however, management’s assumptions and the Company’s future performance are both subject to a wide range of risks, and there is no assurance that these goals and projections can or will be met. Actual results may vary materially. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent the Company’s estimates only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing its estimates as of any future date. Denbury assumes no obligation to update its forward-looking statements.

FINANCIAL AND STATISTICAL DATA TABLES AND RECONCILIATION SCHEDULES

The following tables include selected unaudited financial and operational information for the comparative three-month periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020. References to “Successor” refer to the new Denbury reporting entity after the Company’s emergence from bankruptcy on September 18, 2020, and references to “Predecessor” refer to the Denbury entity prior to emergence from bankruptcy. All production volumes and dollars are expressed on a net revenue interest basis with gas volumes converted to equivalent barrels at 6:1.

DENBURY INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

The following information is based on GAAP reporting earnings (along with additional required disclosures) included or to be included in the Company’s periodic reports:

DENBURY INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

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OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS (UNAUDITED)

All production volumes and dollars are expressed on a net revenue interest basis with gas volumes converted to equivalent barrels at 6:1.

DENBURY INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (UNAUDITED)

Reconciliation of net income (loss) (GAAP measure) to adjusted net income (non-GAAP measure)

Adjusted net income is a non-GAAP measure provided as a supplement to present an alternative net income (loss) measure which excludes expense and income items (and their related tax effects) not directly related to the Company’s ongoing operations. Management believes that adjusted net income may be helpful to investors by eliminating the impact of noncash and/or special or unusual items not indicative of the Company’s performance from period to period, and is widely used by the investment community, while also being used by management, in evaluating the comparability of the Company’s ongoing operational results and trends. Adjusted net income should not be considered in isolation, as a substitute for, or more meaningful than, net income (loss) or any other measure reported in accordance with GAAP, but rather to provide additional information useful in evaluating the Company’s operational trends and performance.

DENBURY INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (UNAUDITED)

Reconciliation of net income (loss) (GAAP measure) to Adjusted EBITDAX (non-GAAP measure)

Adjusted EBITDAX is a non-GAAP measure which management uses and is calculated based upon (but not identical to) a financial covenant related to “Consolidated EBITDAX” in the Company’s senior secured bank credit facility, which excludes certain items that are included in net income (loss), the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Items excluded include interest, income taxes, depletion, depreciation, and amortization, and items that the Company believes affect the comparability of operating results such as items whose timing and/or amount cannot be reasonably estimated or are nonrecurring. Management believes Adjusted EBITDAX may be helpful to investors in order to assess the Company’s operating performance as compared to that of other companies in the industry, without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical costs basis. It is also commonly used by third parties to assess leverage and the Company’s ability to incur and service debt and fund capital expenditures. Adjusted EBITDAX should not be considered in isolation, as a substitute for, or more meaningful than, net income (loss), cash flow from operations, or any other measure reported in accordance with GAAP. The Company’s Adjusted EBITDAX may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of another company because all companies may not calculate Adjusted EBITDAX, EBITDAX or EBITDA in the same manner.  The following table presents a reconciliation of the Company’s net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDAX.

DENBURY INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (UNAUDITED)

Reconciliation of cash flows from operations (GAAP measure) to adjusted cash flows from operations (non-GAAP measure) and free cash flow (non-GAAP measure)

Adjusted cash flows from operations is a non-GAAP measure that represents cash flows provided by operations before changes in assets and liabilities, as summarized from the Company’s Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Adjusted cash flows from operations measures the cash flows earned or incurred from operating activities without regard to the collection or payment of associated receivables or payables. Free cash flow is a non-GAAP measure that represents adjusted cash flows from operations less interest treated as debt reduction, development capital expenditures and capitalized interest, but before acquisitions. Management believes that it is important to consider these additional measures, along with cash flows from operations, as it believes the non-GAAP measures can often be a better way to discuss changes in operating trends in its business caused by changes in production, prices, operating costs and related factors, without regard to whether the earned or incurred item was collected or paid during that period. Adjusted cash flows from operations and free cash flow are not measures of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to cash flows from operations, investing, or financing activities, nor as a liquidity measure or indicator of cash flows.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE SUMMARY (UNAUDITED)⁽¹⁾