Centennial Resource Development Announces Third Quarter 2020 Results and Lowers Full-Year Cost Guidance

DENVER, Nov. 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Centennial Resource Development, Inc. (“Centennial” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: CDEV) today announced third quarter 2020 financial and operational results and updated 2020 operational targets.

Recent Financial and Operational Highlights

• Generated free cash flow during the quarter
• Reduced LOE per unit costs for the fourth consecutive quarter
• Lowered well cost targets and full-year unit cost guidance
• Increased full-year oil and total company production guidance
• Borrowing base reaffirmed at $700 million and repaid $15 million of credit facility borrowings
• Increased liquidity compared to the prior quarter
• Resumed drilling and completions activity with solid results
• Expect to be free cash flow positive in the fourth quarter at current strip pricing

Financial Results

For the third quarter 2020, Centennial reported a net loss of $51.5 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $3.6 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, in the prior year period. Centennial’s continued focus on cost reductions resulted in an improvement in several unit cost metrics. As a result of its lower cost structure, the Company generated net cash from operating activities of $45.7 million and free cash flow¹ of $10.5 million in the third quarter.

Total equivalent production during the third quarter 2020 averaged 68,934 barrels of oil equivalent per day (“Boe/d”) compared to 76,312 Boe/d in the prior year period. Average daily crude oil production for the quarter was 35,292 barrels of oil per day (“Bbls/d”) compared to 42,079 Bbls/d in the prior year period.

NGL volumes increased 21% to 14,885 Bbls/d compared to the second quarter 2020. The increase compared to the prior quarter was largely attributable to the Company’s primary gas processor shifting to ethane recovery during the quarter, in addition to higher gas capture rates.

“Centennial delivered a solid third quarter driven by lower operating expenses and well costs. Additionally, we increased our liquidity position organically by utilizing free cash flow to pay down debt,” said Sean R. Smith, Chief Executive Officer. “Underpinned by a significantly lower cost structure, we now expect to be free cash flow positive for the second half of 2020, assuming strip pricing and inclusive of our hedges.”

Third Quarter Operational Results

During the quarter, Centennial resumed operational activity adding one drilling rig, while achieving lower well costs. Additionally, the Company continued its successful implementation of various field-level initiatives to lower lease operating expenses (“LOE”). In July, Centennial completed the second phase of its electric substation in Reeves County, Texas, enabling it to convert more well-sites from generator power to the electrical grid, significantly reducing field emissions and equipment rental costs. Upon the pending completion of phase three, Centennial expects to reduce the number of generators from 125 in the third quarter 2019 to approximately 10 at year-end 2020. Centennial also continued its transition from electric submersible pumps to more reliable and lower cost gas lift, converting fifteen units during the quarter. As a result of these ongoing initiatives, third quarter LOE per unit decreased seven percent compared to the prior quarter.

“Our recent field-level projects have positively impacted Centennial’s economics in a number of ways. The electrification of the field and the transition to gas lift have dramatically lowered equipment rental costs, provided our well-sites with a more consistent power source and reduced the amount of workovers,” said Smith. “Combined, these programs have improved cash flow by reducing LOE costs by 36% over the past year, in addition to providing a more stable production base with lower downtime.”

Also during the quarter, Centennial completed five previously drilled but uncompleted (“DUC”) wells in Lea County, New Mexico targeting the Third Bone Spring Sand interval. The two-well Pac-Man pad (89% WI) was drilled with approximate 10,100-foot laterals and achieved an average initial 30-day production rate of 2,132 Boe/d (82% oil) per well, producing over 164,000 cumulative barrels of oil during its first sixty days online. Drilled with an average lateral length of 7,300 feet, the two-well Donkey Kong pad (100% WI) achieved an average initial 30-day production rate of 1,715 Boe/d (82% oil) per well and averaged 192 Bbls/d of oil per 1,000 foot of lateral per well. The Chimichangas well (50% WI) was completed with an approximate 9,900-foot lateral and reported an initial 30-day average production rate of 1,736 Boe/d (82% oil).

“These wells highlight the quality of our asset base with strong 30-day initial production rates, as well as 60-day initial production rates exceeding 1,200 barrels of oil per day on average,” Smith said. “Importantly, we were able to deliver these wells for an average cost of $858 per lateral foot. These results, combined with recent efficiencies and structural cost reductions, provide us with the confidence to further reduce our target well cost by 11% to approximately $800 per lateral foot.”

Total capital expenditures incurred for the quarter were $21.5 million, of which drilling and completion (“D&C”) capital expenditures totaled $19.7 million. Centennial’s facilities, infrastructure and other totaled $1.5 million, which was down significantly from prior quarters. The remaining $0.3 million was spent on land during the quarter.

Updated 2020 Operational Plans and Targets

Centennial recommenced drilling activity during the quarter and plans to continue operating a one-rig program for the remainder of the year. Based on recent operational performance, Centennial increased its 2020 oil production target by one percent to 36,000 Bbls/d and total company production target by two percent to 67,000 Boe/d. The Company also slightly reduced its full-year capital expenditure budget, as a result of lower facilities and infrastructure capital. Due to recent cost reduction initiatives, Centennial lowered its full-year 2020 guidance range for LOE per unit, in addition to G&A, DD&A, and severance & ad valorem taxes. Furthermore, the Company adjusted its estimates for operated wells spud and completed during the full-year.

“Based on enhanced operating margins and structural well cost improvements, we expect to generate incremental free cash flow in the fourth quarter, assuming strip pricing,” Smith said.

(For a detailed table summarizing Centennial’s updated 2020 operational and financial guidance, please see the Appendix of this press release.)

Capital Structure and Liquidity

As previously announced, the Company’s $700.0 million borrowing base was reaffirmed by its bank group. During the quarter, the Company used a portion of its operating cash flow to pay down $15.0 million in borrowings under its credit facility. As of September 30, 2020, Centennial had approximately $5.2 million in cash on hand and $355.0 million of borrowings outstanding under its revolving credit facility. As a result, Centennial’s pro forma total liquidity position increased by $16.9 million compared to the prior quarter to $314.1 million, based on its $700.0 million borrowing base, the availability blocker of $31.8 million and $4.3 million in current letters of credit outstanding, plus cash on hand. The Company’s current letters of credit represent a $4.5 million reduction compared to $8.8 million outstanding, as of September 30, 2020.

Hedge Position

For the fourth quarter of 2020, Centennial has 16,000 Bbls/d of oil hedged, consisting of approximately 80% fixed price swaps, at a weighted average floor price of $38.97 per barrel WTI. Centennial recently entered into additional oil and natural gas hedges primarily for 2021 in order to further protect against potential volatility in commodity prices. For 2021, the Company currently has 5,718 Bbls/d of oil hedged at weighted average fixed prices of $42.59 per barrel WTI and $47.79 per barrel Brent. In addition, Centennial has certain crude oil basis swaps and natural gas hedges in place for the remainder of 2020 and in 2021. Subject to market conditions, the Company expects to implement additional oil and natural gas hedges for 2021 over time. (For a summary table of Centennial’s derivative contracts as of October 31, 2020, please see the Appendix to this press release.)

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q

Centennial’s financial statements and related footnotes will be available in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, which is expected to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on November 3, 2020.

Conference Call and Webcast

Centennial will host an investor conference call on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. Mountain (10:00 a.m. Eastern) to discuss third quarter 2020 operating and financial results. Interested parties may join the webcast by visiting Centennial’s website at www.cdevinc.com and clicking on the webcast link or by dialing (800) 789-3525, or (442) 268-1041 for international calls, (Conference ID: 3692456) at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call. A replay of the call will be available on Centennial’s website or by phone at (855) 859-2056 (Conference ID: 3692456) for a 14-day period following the call.

About Centennial Resource Development, Inc.

Centennial Resource Development, Inc. is an independent oil and natural gas company focused on the development of unconventional oil and associated liquids-rich natural gas reserves in the Permian Basin. The Company’s assets and operations, which are held and conducted through Centennial Resource Production, LLC, are concentrated in the Delaware Basin, a sub-basin of the Permian Basin. For additional information about the Company, please visit www.cdevinc.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this press release, regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the words “could,” “may,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “goal”, “plan”, “target” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events.

Forward-looking statements may include statements about:

• volatility of oil, natural gas and NGL prices or a prolonged period of low oil, natural gas or NGL prices and the effects of actions by, or disputes among or between, members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”), such as Saudi Arabia, and other oil and natural gas producing countries, such as Russia, with respect to production levels or other matters related to the price of oil;
• the effects of excess supply of oil and natural gas resulting from reduced demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the actions taken in response by certain oil and natural gas producing countries;
• our business strategy and future drilling plans;
• our reserves and our ability to replace the reserves we produce through drilling and property acquisitions;
• our drilling prospects, inventories, projects and programs;
• our financial strategy, liquidity and capital required for our development program;
• our realized oil, natural gas and NGL prices;
• the timing and amount of our future production of oil, natural gas and NGLs;
• our hedging strategy and results;
• our competition and government regulations;
• our ability to obtain permits and governmental approvals;
• our pending legal or environmental matters;
• the marketing and transportation of our oil, natural gas and NGLs;
• our leasehold or business acquisitions;
• cost of developing our properties;
• our anticipated rate of return;
• general economic conditions;
• credit markets;
• uncertainty regarding our future operating results;
• our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions contained in this press release that are not historical; and
• the other factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, and any updates to those factors set forth in our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K.

We caution you that these forward-looking statements are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control, incident to the development, production, gathering and sale of oil and natural gas. These risks include, but are not limited to, commodity price volatility, inflation, lack of availability of drilling and production equipment and services, environmental risks, drilling and other operating risks, regulatory changes, the uncertainty inherent in estimating oil and gas reserves and in projecting future rates of production, cash flow and access to capital, the timing of development expenditures and the other risks described in our filings with the SEC.

Reserve engineering is a process of estimating underground accumulations of oil and natural gas that cannot be measured in an exact way. The accuracy of any oil and gas reserve estimate depends on the quality of available data, the interpretation of such data, and price and cost assumptions made by reserve engineers. In addition, the results of drilling, testing and production activities may justify revisions of estimates that were made previously. If significant, such revisions would change the schedule of any further production and development drilling. Accordingly, reserve estimates may differ significantly from the quantities of oil and natural gas that are ultimately recovered.

Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described in this press release occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that we or persons acting on our behalf may issue.

Except as otherwise required by applicable law, we disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

1)  Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP financial measure. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” included within the Appendix of this press release for related disclosures and calculations.

Contact:
Hays Mabry
Director, Investor Relations
(832) 240-3265
[email protected]

Details of our updated 2020 operational and financial guidance are presented below:

Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash presented on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the periods presented:

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to disclosing financial results calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), our earnings release contains non-GAAP financial measures as described below.

Adjusted EBITDAX

Adjusted EBITDAX is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure that is used by management and external users of our consolidated financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies. We define Adjusted EBITDAX as net income before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization, exploration and other expenses, impairment and abandonment expenses, non-cash gains or losses on derivatives, stock-based compensation, gain on exchange of debt, gains and losses from the sale of assets, transaction costs and nonrecurring workforce reduction severance payments. Adjusted EBITDAX is not a measure of net income as determined by GAAP.

Our management believes Adjusted EBITDAX is useful as it allows them to more effectively evaluate our operating performance and compare the results of our operations from period to period and against our peers without regard to our financing methods or capital structure. We exclude the items listed above from net income in arriving at Adjusted 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. Adjusted EBITDAX should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income as determined in accordance with GAAP or as an indicator of our operating performance or liquidity. Certain items excluded from Adjusted 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 Adjusted EBITDAX. Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDAX should not be construed as an inference that our results will be unaffected by unusual or nonrecurring items. Our computations of Adjusted EBITDAX may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDAX to net income, our most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP:

Free Cash Flow (Deficit)

Free cash flow (deficit) is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure that is used by management and external users of our consolidated financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies. We define free cash flow (deficit) as net cash provided by operating activities before changes in working capital, less incurred capital expenditures.

Our management believes free cash flow (deficit) is a useful indicator of the Company’s ability to internally fund its exploration and development activities and to service or incur additional debt, without regard to the timing of settlement of either operating assets and liabilities or accounts payable related to capital expenditures. The Company believes that this measure, as so adjusted, presents a meaningful indicator of the Company’s actual sources and uses of capital associated with its operations conducted during the applicable period. Our computations of free cash flow (deficit) may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. Free cash flow (deficit) should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, cash provided by operating activities as determined in accordance with GAAP or as indicator of our operating performance or liquidity.

Free cash flow (deficit) is not a financial measure that is determined in accordance with GAAP. Accordingly, the following table presents a reconciliation of free cash flow (deficit) to net cash provided by operating activities, our most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP:

Net Debt / Book Capitalization Ratio

Net debt / book capitalization ratio is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure that is used by management and external users of our consolidated financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies. We define net debt / book capitalization ratio as net debt divided by book capitalization (non-GAAP). Net debt is defined as long-term debt, net, plus unamortized debt discount and issuance costs on Senior Notes minus cash and cash equivalents. Book capitalization (non-GAAP) is defined as long-term debt, net, plus unamortized debt discount and debt issuance costs on Senior Notes, plus total equity. Net debt / book capitalization ratio is not a measure calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Our management believes net debt / book capitalization ratio is useful as it allows them to more effectively evaluate our capital structure and liquidity and compare the results against our peers. Net debt / book capitalization ratio should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, debt / book capitalization (GAAP) as determined in accordance with GAAP or as an indicator of our operating performance or liquidity. Our computations of net debt / book capital ratio may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

The following table presents a reconciliation of our net debt / book capitalization ratio to our most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP:

The following table summarizes the approximate volumes and average contract prices of swap contracts the Company had in place as of September 30, 2020 and additional contracts entered into through October 31, 2020: