EX-99.1 2 exh80105.htm PRESS RELEASE BIRMINGHAM, Ala

EXHIBIT 99.1

 

 

 

 

 

For Immediate Release:

 

Monday, August 1, 2005

 

 

 

Contact: Julie S. Ryland

 

205-326-8421

 

 

ENERGEN ADDS TO 2006 OIL, GAS HEDGE POSITION
Earnings Guidance Range Increased 10 Cents


BIRMINGHAM, Ala -- Energen Corporation (NYSE:EGN) announced today that it has added to its 2006 hedge position and, as a result, is raising its earnings guidance for 2006 to a new range of $2.95-$3.25 per diluted share. [The Company's prior guidance range issued on July 25, 2005, was $2.85-$3.15 per diluted share].


Energen Adds 2006 Hedges

The Company has hedged an additional 5 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of its 2006 natural gas production at a NYMEX price of $8.41 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf), 149,000 barrels of its 2006 oil production at a NYMEX price of $63.30 per barrel, and 115,000 barrels of its 2006 sour oil production at a NYMEX-equivalent price of $62.81 per barrel.

 

"Energen's long-held practice is to hedge future production to take advantage of attractive commodity prices," said Mike Warren, Energen's chairman and chief executive officer. "We are not trying to be market-timers, but we do plan to lock-in the benefits of current high prices."


Energen Resources' total natural gas hedge position for 2006 now stands at approximately 32.8 Bcf at an average NYMEX-equivalent price of $7.37 per Mcf; the Company's total oil hedge position for 2006 is now approximately 2.4 million barrels (MMBbl) at an average NYMEX-equivalent price of $50.91 per barrel.


Energen Raises 2006 Earnings Guidance

With additional uncertainty associated with commodity prices removed from Energen's earnings outlook for 2006, the Company raised its guidance range for the year by 10 cents to a new level of $2.95-$3.25 per diluted share.

Embedded in Energen's 2006 earnings guidance is the assumption that average NYMEX prices applicable to its unhedged natural gas and oil production will average $7 per Mcf and $45 per barrel, respectively. The assumed average price for unhedged natural gas liquids (NGL) production in 2006 is approximately 70 cents per gallon.

 

Also included in the Company's 2006 guidance is an estimated 8 cents per diluted share from unidentified oil and gas property acquisitions of approximately $200 million each in the fourth quarters of 2005 and 2006.


Energen Resources' total current hedge position with respect to its estimated 2006 production is as follows:

Commodity

Hedge Vols.

Estimated 2006 Production

% Hedged

NYMEX-equiv. price

Natural Gas

32.8 Bcf

64.6 Bcf1

59.2 Bcf2

51%1

55%2

$7.37 per Mcf

Oil

2,424 MBbl

3,600 MBbl1

3,300 MBbl2

67%1

73%2

$50.91 per barrel

NGL

30.2 MMgal

85.1 Mgal1

79.7 MMgal2

36%1

38%2

$0.56 per gallon


1 With unidentified 4th quarter acquisition in 2005 and 2006

2 Without unidentified 4th quarter acquisition in 2005 and 2006

 

Energen Resources' 2006 natural gas hedge position by hedge type is as follows:

Hedge Type

Volumes (Bcf)

Assumed Basis Difference

Price/Mcf (NYMEX equiv)

San Juan Basin-specific

17.6

$0.80

$ 6.84

NYMEX Hedges

15.1

NA

$ 7.97

 

 

 

 

Energen Resources' 2006 oil hedge position by hedge type is as follows:

Hedge Type

Volumes (MBbl)

Assumed Sour Oil Difference

Price/Barrel (NYMEX equiv)

NYMEX Hedges

509

-

$44.78

Sour Oil (WTS)

1,915

$4.11

$52.54

Given Energen Resources' current hedge position for 2006 and assuming prices as outlined above for its unhedged production (excluding volumes from unidentified acquisitions), sensitivities to pricing changes applicable to Energen's 2006 earnings guidance are as follows:

- Every 10-cent change in the average NYMEX price of gas from $7 per Mcf represents an estimated net income impact of approximately $1,275,000 (1.7 cents per diluted share).

- Every $1.00 change in the average NYMEX price of oil from $45 per barrel represents an estimated net income impact of approximately $425,000 (0.6 cents per diluted share).

- Every 1-cent change in average price of NGL from $0.70 per gallon represents an estimated net income impact of approximately $245,000 (0.3 cents per diluted share).


Price-related events such as substantial basis differential changes could cause earnings sensitivities to be materially different from those outlined above.


Energen Corporation is a diversified energy holding company with headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama. Its two lines of business are the acquisition and development of natural gas, oil and natural gas liquids onshore in North America and natural gas distribution in central and north Alabama. Additional information on Energen is available at www.energen.com.


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This release contains statements expressing expectations of future plans, objectives and performance that constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Except as otherwise disclosed, the Company's forward-looking statements do not reflect the impact of possible or pending acquisitions, divestitures or restructurings. We undertake no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. All statements based on future expectations rather than on historical facts are forward-looking statements that are dependent on certain events, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. In addition, the Company cannot guarantee the absence of errors in input data, calculations and formulas used in its estimates, assumptions and forecasts. A more complete discussion of risks and uncertainties that could affect future results of Energen and its subsidiaries is included in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

-o0o-