EX-99.1 8 nfg-9302020xexhibit991.htm EX-99.1 Document
Exhibit 99.1
[Letterhead of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.]

October 22, 2020


Mr. John McGinnis
Seneca Resources Company, LLC
1201 Louisiana Street, Suite 2600
Houston, Texas 77002

Dear Mr. McGinnis:

In accordance with your request, we have audited the estimates prepared by Seneca Resources Company, LLC (Seneca), as of September 30, 2020, of the proved reserves and future revenue to the Seneca interest in certain oil and gas properties located in the United States. It is our understanding that the proved reserves estimates shown herein constitute all of the proved reserves owned by Seneca. We have examined the estimates with
respect to reserves quantities, reserves categorization, future producing rates, future net revenue, and the present value of such future net revenue, using the definitions set forth in U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Regulation S-X Rule 4-10(a). The estimates of reserves and future revenue have been prepared in accordance with the definitions and regulations of the SEC and, with the exception of the exclusion of future income taxes, conform to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 932, Extractive Activities—Oil and Gas. We completed our audit on October 22, 2020. This report has been prepared for Seneca's use in filing with the SEC; in our opinion the assumptions, data, methods, and procedures used in the preparation of this report are appropriate for such purpose.

The following table sets forth Seneca's estimates of the net reserves and future net revenue, as of September 30, 2020, for the audited properties:
All Properties
Net ReservesFuture Net Revenue (M$)
OilGasPresent Worth
Category(MBBL)(MMCF)Totalat 10%
Proved Developed22,1002,773,8232,589,5011,369,692
Proved Undeveloped0551,262252,32624,292
   Total Proved22,1003,325,0852,841,8281,393,983

Totals may not add because of rounding.

For the purposes of this audit, the properties were divided into East Coast and West Coast Divisions. The following tables set forth Seneca's estimates of the net reserves and future net revenue by division, as of September 30, 2020, for the audited properties:
East Coast Division
Net ReservesFuture Net Revenue (M$)
OilGasPresent Worth
Category(MBBL)(MMCF)Totalat 10%
Proved Developed
122,744,8512,152,5521,114,143
Proved Undeveloped
0551,262252,32624,292
Total Proved
123,296,1132,404,8781,138,436

Totals may not add because of rounding.







West Coast Division
Net ReservesFuture Net Revenue (M$)
OilGasPresent Worth
Category(MBBL)(MMCF)Totalat 10%
Proved Developed
22,08928,972436,949255,548
Proved Undeveloped
0000
Total Proved
22,08928,972436,949255,548

In addition, the East Coast Division was subdivided into Marcellus, Utica, and Other Fields. The following table sets forth Seneca's estimates of the net reserves and future net revenue by field, as of September 30, 2020, for the audited East Coast properties:
East Coast Division – By Field
Net Reserves
Future Net Revenue(1) (M$)
OilGasPresent Worth
Field/Category(MBBL)(MMCF)Totalat 10%
Marcellus
Proved Developed
02,070,1261,575,569800,544
Proved Undeveloped
0286,566132,74519,471
Total Proved
02,356,6911,708,314820,014
Utica
Proved Developed
0663,468580,876317,557
Proved Undeveloped
0264,696119,5804,821
Total Proved
0928,165700,456322,379
Other
Proved Developed
1211,257-3,892-3,957
Proved Undeveloped
0000
Total Proved
1211,257-3,892-3,957

Totals may not add because of rounding.

(1) Future net revenue is after deducting estimated abandonment costs.

The oil volumes shown include crude oil and condensate. Oil volumes are expressed in thousands of barrels (MBBL); a barrel is equivalent to 42 United States gallons. Gas volumes are expressed in millions of cubic feet (MMCF) at standard temperature and pressure bases.

When compared on a lease-by-lease basis, some of the estimates of Seneca are greater and some are less than the estimates of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. (NSAI). However, in our opinion the estimates shown herein of Seneca's reserves and future revenue are reasonable when aggregated at the proved level and have been prepared in accordance with the Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE Standards). Additionally, these estimates are within the recommended 10 percent tolerance threshold set forth in the SPE Standards. We are satisfied with the methods and procedures used by Seneca in preparing the September 30, 2020, estimates of reserves and future revenue, and we saw nothing of an unusual nature that would cause us to take exception with the estimates, in the aggregate, as prepared by Seneca.



Reserves categorization conveys the relative degree of certainty; reserves subcategorization is based on development and production status. The estimates of reserves and future revenue included herein have not been adjusted for risk. Seneca's estimates do not include probable or possible reserves that may exist for these properties, nor do they include any value for undeveloped acreage beyond those tracts for which undeveloped reserves have been estimated.

Prices used by Seneca are based on the 12-month unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month in the period October 2019 through September 2020. For oil volumes, the average regional posted prices are adjusted by field for quality, transportation fees, and market differentials. For gas volumes, the average Henry Hub spot price of $1.967 per MMBTU is adjusted by field for energy content, transportation fees, and market differentials. All prices are held constant throughout the lives of the properties. The average adjusted product prices weighted by production over the remaining lives of the properties are $46.427 per barrel of oil and $1.646 per MCF of gas. By division, these average adjusted prices are $42.396 per barrel of oil and $1.627 per MCF of gas for the East Coast properties and $46.429 per barrel of oil and $3.750 per MCF of gas for the West Coast properties. Average index oil prices for each division are shown in the following table:
Pricing
Index
Average Posted Price
Division($/Barrel)
East CoastARG-Group 1 (OH/PA/NY)42.400
West CoastCA Buena Vista Oil Average Calculation48.151
CA Midway Sunset Oil Average Calculation43.408
ConocoPhillips 66 West Texas Intermediate40.016

Operating costs used by Seneca are based on historical operating expense records. These costs include the per-well overhead expenses allowed under joint operating agreements along with estimates of costs to be incurred at and below the district and field levels. Operating costs have been divided into per-well costs and per-unit-of-production costs. Headquarters general and administrative overhead expenses of Seneca are included to the extent that they are covered under joint operating agreements for the operated properties. Capital costs used by Seneca are based on authorizations for expenditure and actual costs from recent activity. Capital costs are included as required for workovers, new development wells, and production equipment. Abandonment costs used are Seneca's estimates of the costs to abandon the wells and production facilities, net of any salvage value. Operating, capital, and abandonment costs are not escalated for inflation.

The reserves shown in this report are estimates only and should not be construed as exact quantities. Proved reserves are those quantities of oil and gas which, by analysis of engineering and geoscience data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible; probable and possible reserves are those additional reserves which are sequentially less certain to be recovered than proved reserves. Estimates of reserves may increase or decrease as a result of market conditions, future operations, changes in regulations, or actual reservoir performance. In addition to the primary economic assumptions discussed herein, estimates of Seneca and NSAI are based on certain assumptions including, but not limited to, that the properties will be developed consistent with current development plans as provided to us by Seneca, that the properties will be operated in a prudent manner, that no governmental regulations or controls will be put in place that would impact the ability of the interest owner to recover the reserves, and that projections of future production will prove consistent with actual performance. If the reserves are recovered, the revenues therefrom and the costs related thereto could be more or less than the estimated amounts. Because of governmental policies and uncertainties of supply and demand, the sales rates, prices received for the reserves, and costs incurred in recovering such reserves may vary from assumptions made while preparing these estimates.

It should be understood that our audit does not constitute a complete reserves study of the audited oil and gas properties. Our audit consisted primarily of substantive testing, wherein we conducted a detailed review of all properties. In the conduct of our audit, we have not independently verified the accuracy and completeness of information and data furnished by Seneca with respect to ownership interests, oil and gas production, well test data, historical costs of operation and development, product prices, or any agreements relating to current and future operations of the properties and sales of production. However, if in the course of our examination



something came to our attention that brought into question the validity or sufficiency of any such information or data, we did not rely on such information or data until we had satisfactorily resolved our questions relating thereto or had independently verified such information or data. Our audit did not include a review of Seneca's overall reserves management processes and practices.

We used standard engineering and geoscience methods, or a combination of methods, including performance analysis, volumetric analysis, analogy, and material balance, that we considered to be appropriate and necessary to establish the conclusions set forth herein. As in all aspects of oil and gas evaluation, there are uncertainties inherent in the interpretation of engineering and geoscience data; therefore, our conclusions necessarily represent only informed professional judgment.

Supporting data documenting this audit, along with data provided by Seneca, are on file in our office. We are independent petroleum engineers, geologists, geophysicists, and petrophysicists; we do not own an interest in these properties nor are we employed on a contingent basis.

QUALIFICATIONS         

NSAI performs consulting petroleum engineering services under Texas Board of Professional Engineers Registration No. F-2699. We provide a complete range of geological, geophysical, petrophysical, and engineering services, and we have the technical expertise and ability to perform these services in any oil and gas producing area in the world. The staff are familiar with the recognized industry reserves and resources definitions, specifically those promulgated by the SEC, by the Alberta Securities Commission, and by the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers, World Petroleum Council, and American Association of Petroleum Geologists. The technical persons primarily responsible for conducting this audit meet the requirements regarding qualifications, independence, objectivity, and confidentiality set forth in the SPE Standards.

This audit has been led by Mr. Steven W. Jansen and Mr. Edward C. Roy III. Mr. Jansen and Mr. Roy are Vice Presidents in the firm's Houston office at 1301 McKinney Street, Suite 3200, Houston, Texas 77010. Mr. Jansen is a Licensed Professional Engineer (Texas Registration No. 112973). He has been practicing consulting petroleum engineering at NSAI since 2011 and has over 4 years of prior industry experience. Mr. Roy is a Licensed Professional Geoscientist (Texas Registration No. 2364). He has been practicing consulting petroleum geoscience at NSAI since 2008 and has over 11 years of prior industry experience.
Sincerely,
NETHERLAND, SEWELL & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Texas Registered Engineering Firm F-2699
/s/ C.H. (Scott) Rees III
By:
C.H. (Scott) Rees III, P.E.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
/s/ Steven W. Jansen/s/ Edward C. Roy III
By:By:
Steven W. Jansen, P.E. 112973Edward C. Roy III, P.G. 2364
Vice PresidentVice President
Date Signed: October 22, 2020Date Signed: October 22, 2020

SWJ:JDK
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