Black Stone Minerals, L.P. (NYSE: BSM) (“Black Stone Minerals,”
“Black Stone,” or “the Company”) today announces its financial and
operating results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2022 and
provides guidance for 2023.
Fourth Quarter 2022 Highlights
- Mineral and royalty production for the fourth quarter of 2022
equaled 40.0 MBoe/d, an increase of 7% over the prior quarter and
the highest mineral and royalty production ever reported by the
Company; total production, including working interest volumes, was
42.1 MBoe/d for the quarter
- Net income for the quarter was $183.2 million. Adjusted EBITDA
for the quarter totaled a record $131.7 million
- Distributable cash flow was $125.3 million for the fourth
quarter, which represents an 8% increase relative to the third
quarter of 2022, and also a record amount for Black Stone as a
public company
- Announced a distribution of $0.475 per unit with respect to the
fourth quarter of 2022, which represents a 6% increase from the
distribution paid with respect to the third quarter of 2022.
Distribution coverage for all units was 1.26x
- Our quarterly results represent new high-water marks in mineral
and royalty production, net income, Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable
cash flow and distributions since going public
- Total debt at the end of the quarter was $10 million; total
debt to trailing twelve-month Adjusted EBITDA was 0.02x at
year-end
Full Year Financial and Operational Highlights
- Mineral and royalty volumes in 2022 increased 4% over the prior
year to average 34.3 MBoe/d; full year 2022 production was 37.1
MBoe/d
- Reported 2022 net income and Adjusted EBITDA of $476.5 million
and $466.4 million, respectively
- Increased cash distributions by 85% from $0.945 per unit
attributable to the full year 2021 to $1.745 per unit attributable
to the full year 2022
- Reduced total outstanding debt by $79 million during 2022
Management Commentary
Thomas L. Carter, Jr., Black Stone Minerals’ Chief Executive
Officer and Chairman, commented, “Our record fourth quarter results
capped a very successful year for Black Stone Minerals. Without
issuing additional equity, we reduced our total debt and increased
royalty production through our organic growth efforts to attract
additional operator capital to our existing acreage positions. The
development programs on our Haynesville and Bossier Shelby Trough
acreage continues to ramp up with Aethon as our operating partner.
In addition, new drilling activity is continuing to increase across
numerous operators on our East Texas Austin Chalk acreage. We enter
2023 well positioned to drive further royalty production growth
while maintaining our very healthy balance sheet.”
Quarterly Financial and Operating Results
Production
Black Stone Minerals reported mineral and royalty volumes of
40.0 MBoe/d (74% natural gas) for the fourth quarter of 2022,
compared to 37.3 MBoe/d for the third quarter of 2022. Mineral and
royalty production was 35.2 MBoe/d for the fourth quarter of 2021.
Mineral and royalty production in the fourth quarter of 2022
benefited from a large number of initial payments received on wells
in the Midland and Delaware basins, as well as a one-time
adjustment to reflect the impact of higher overrides on farmed-out
Shelby Trough wells that had achieved payout.
Working interest production for the fourth quarter of 2022 was
2.1 MBoe/d, and represents a decrease of 19% from the 2.6 MBoe/d
for the quarter ended September 30, 2022 and a decrease of 46% from
the 3.9 MBoe/d for the quarter ended December 31, 2021. The
continued decline in working interest production is consistent with
the Company's decision to farm out its working-interest
participation to third-party capital providers.
Total reported production averaged 42.1 MBoe/d (95% mineral and
royalty, 74% natural gas) for the fourth quarter of 2022. Total
production was 40.0 MBoe/d and 39.1 MBoe/d for the quarters ended
September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.
Realized Prices, Revenues, and Net Income
The Company’s average realized price per Boe, excluding the
effect of derivative settlements, was $50.67 for the quarter ended
December 31, 2022. This is a decrease of 15% from $59.30 per Boe
for the third quarter of 2022 and a 15% increase compared to $44.12
for the fourth quarter of 2021.
Black Stone reported oil and gas revenue of $196.2 million (44%
oil and condensate) for the fourth quarter of 2022, a decrease of
10% from $218.0 million in the third quarter of 2022. Oil and gas
revenue in the fourth quarter of 2021 was $158.9 million.
The Company reported a gain on commodity derivative instruments
of $31.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, composed of a
$40.6 million loss from realized settlements and a non-cash $72.0
million unrealized gain due to the change in value of Black Stone’s
derivative positions during the quarter. Black Stone reported a
loss on commodity derivative instruments of $4.7 million and a gain
of $18.4 million for the quarters ended September 30, 2022 and
December 31, 2021, respectively.
Lease bonus and other income was $2.8 million for the fourth
quarter of 2022, primarily related to leasing activity in Austin
Chalk, the Bakken Three Forks and Haynesville plays. Lease bonus
and other income for the quarters ended September 30, 2022 and
December 31, 2021 was $3.2 million and $2.1 million,
respectively.
There was no impairment for the quarters ended December 31,
2022, September 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021.
The Company reported net income of $183.2 million for the
quarter ended December 31, 2022, compared to net income of $168.5
million in the preceding quarter. For the quarter ended December
31, 2021, net income was $134.2 million.
Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow
Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2022 was $131.7
million, which compares to $123.1 million in the third quarter of
2022 and $77.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2021. Distributable
cash flow for the quarter ended December 31, 2022 was $125.3
million. For the quarters ended September 30, 2022 and December 31,
2021, Distributable cash flow was $116.5 million and $71.3 million,
respectively. The reported Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable cash
flow are both record levels for Black Stone as a public
company.
2022 Proved Reserves
Estimated proved oil and natural gas reserves at year-end 2022
were 64.1 MMBoe, an increase of 7% from 59.8 MMBoe at year-end
2021, and were approximately 70% natural gas and 91% proved
developed producing. The standardized measure of discounted future
net cash flows was $1,665.0 million at the end of 2022, as compared
to $972.1 million at year-end 2021.
Netherland, Sewell and Associates, Inc., an independent,
third-party petroleum engineering firm, evaluated Black Stone
Minerals’ estimate of its proved reserves and PV-10 at December 31,
2022. These estimates were prepared using reference prices of
$94.14 per barrel of oil and $6.36 per MMBTU of natural gas in
accordance with the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (as compared to prompt month prices of $77.10 per barrel
of oil and $2.275 per MMBTU of natural gas as of February 17,
2023). These prices were adjusted for quality and market
differentials, transportation fees, and, in the case of natural
gas, the value of natural gas liquids. A reconciliation of proved
reserves is presented in the summary financial tables following
this press release.
Financial Position and Activities
As of December 31, 2022, Black Stone Minerals had $4.3 million
in cash and $10.0 million outstanding under its credit facility.
The Company paid down $50 million of debt during the fourth quarter
of 2022 and $79 million of debt during the full year. The ratio of
total debt at year-end to 2022 Adjusted EBITDA was 0.02x. The
Company’s borrowing base at December 31, 2022 was $550 million, and
total commitments under the credit facility were $375 million. The
Company's next regularly scheduled borrowing base redetermination
is set for April 2023. Black Stone is in compliance with all
financial covenants associated with its credit facility.
As of February 17, 2023, no debt was outstanding under the
credit facility and the Company had $57.3 million in cash.
During the fourth quarter of 2022, the Company made no
repurchases of units under the Board-approved $75 million unit
repurchase program.
Fourth Quarter 2022 Distributions
As previously announced, the Board approved a cash distribution
of $0.475 for each common unit attributable to the fourth quarter
of 2022. The quarterly distribution coverage ratio attributable to
the fourth quarter of 2022 was approximately 1.26x. These
distributions will be paid on February 23, 2023 to unitholders of
record as of the close of business on February 16, 2023.
Activity Update
Rig Activity
As of December 31, 2022, Black Stone had 108 rigs operating
across its acreage position, a 17% increase to rig activity on the
Company's acreage as of September 30, 2022 and 14% higher as
compared to the 95 rigs operating on the Company's acreage as of
December 31, 2021 driven by increased rig activity in the Midland
and Delaware basins.
Shelby Trough Development Update
In Angelina County, Texas, ten wells are currently producing
under Black Stone’s development agreement with Aethon, and another
ten wells are being drilled or completed. Under a separate
development agreement with Aethon in San Augustine Texas, four
wells are currently producing and another six wells are either
drilling or awaiting completion operations.
Austin Chalk Update
The Company owns a large mineral position in the Brookeland
Austin Chalk play in East Texas. To date, eighteen new generation,
multi-stage completion wells have turned to sales across the Polk,
Jasper, Newton area. Production results have proven that new
completion technology can improve well performance in play. Black
Stone expects additional drilling by multiple operators over this
area in the future.
Summary 2023 Guidance
Following are the key assumptions in Black Stone Minerals’ 2023
guidance, as well as comparable results for 2022:
FY 2022
Actual
FY 2023
Est.
Mineral and royalty production
(MBoe/d)
34.3
35 - 37
Working interest production (MBoe/d)
2.8
2 - 3
Total production (MBoe/d)
37.1
37 - 39
Percentage natural gas
74%
72%
Percentage royalty interest
92%
94%
Lease bonus and other income ($MM)
$13.1
$10 - $12
Lease operating expense ($MM)
$12.4
$12 - $13
Production costs and ad valorem taxes (as
% of total pre-derivative O&G revenue)
9%
9% - 11%
G&A - cash ($MM)
$36.3
$42 - $44
G&A - non-cash ($MM)
$17.4
$12 - $14
G&A - TOTAL ($MM)
$53.7
$54 - $58
DD&A ($/Boe)
$3.53
$3.50 - $3.75
Black Stone expects royalty production to increase by
approximately 5% in 2023 relative to full year 2022 levels,
primarily due to increasing development pace in the Shelby Trough
by Aethon in the area and continued development in the Austin
Chalk.
Working interest production is expected to decline in 2023 as a
result of Black Stone's decision in 2017 to farm-out participation
in its working interest opportunities.
The Partnership expects general and administrative expenses to
be slightly higher in 2023 as a result of inflationary costs and
selective hires made to support Black Stone’s ability to evaluate,
market and manage its undeveloped acreage positions to potential
operators.
Hedge Position
Black Stone has commodity derivative contracts in place covering
portions of its anticipated production for 2023 and 2024, including
derivative contracts put in place after the end of the year. The
Company's hedge position as of February 17, 2023, is summarized in
the following tables:
Oil Swap Contracts
Volume
MBbl
$/Bbl
4Q22
220,000
$66.47
1Q23
630,000
$79.44
2Q23
540,000
$80.80
3Q23
540,000
$80.80
4Q23
540,000
$80.80
Natural Gas Swap Contracts
Volume
MMcf
$/Mcf
1Q23
9,000,000
$5.07
2Q23
8,190,000
$5.15
3Q23
8,280,000
$5.15
4Q23
8,280,000
$5.15
1Q24
3,640,000
$3.67
2Q24
3,640,000
$3.67
3Q24
3,680,000
$3.67
4Q24
3,680,000
$3.67
More detailed information about the Company's existing hedging
program can be found in the Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is
expected to be filed on or around February 22, 2023.
Conference Call
Black Stone Minerals will host a conference call and webcast for
investors and analysts to discuss its results for the fourth
quarter and full year of 2022 on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at
9:00 a.m. Central Time. Black Stone recommends participants who do
not anticipate asking questions to listen to the call via the live
broadcast available at http://investor.blackstoneminerals.com.
Analysts and investors who wish to ask questions should dial (800)
343-5172 for domestic participants and (203) 518-9856 for
international participants. The conference ID for the call is
BSMQ422. A recording of the conference call will be available on
Black Stone's website.
About Black Stone Minerals, L.P.
Black Stone Minerals is one of the largest owners of oil and
natural gas mineral interests in the United States. The Company
owns mineral interests and royalty interests in 41 states in the
continental United States. Black Stone believes its large,
diversified asset base and long-lived, non-cost-bearing mineral and
royalty interests provide for stable to growing production and
reserves over time, allowing the majority of generated cash flow to
be distributed to unitholders.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes forward-looking statements. All
statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in
this news release that address activities, events or developments
that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur
in the future are forward-looking statements. Terminology such as
“will,” “may,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “project,”
“intend,” “estimate,” “believe,” “target,” “continue,” “potential,”
the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology often
identify forward-looking statements. Except as required by law,
Black Stone Minerals undertakes no obligation and does not intend
to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or
circumstances occurring after this news release. You are cautioned
not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements,
which speak only as of the date of this news release. All
forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by these
cautionary statements. These forward-looking statements involve
risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of
Black Stone Minerals, which may cause the Company’s actual results
to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the
forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those
summarized below, as wells as the Risk Factors section in our most
recent annual report on Form 10-K:
- the Company’s ability to execute its business strategies;
- the conflict in Ukraine and actions taken, and that may in the
future be taken, against Russia or otherwise as a result;
- the availability of U.S. liquefied natural gas ("LNG") export
capacity and the level of demand for LNG exports;
- the volatility of realized oil and natural gas prices;
- the level of production on the Company’s properties;
- overall supply and demand for oil and natural gas, as well as
regional supply and demand factors, delays, or interruptions of
production;
- conservation measures, technological advances, and general
concern about the environmental impact of the production and use of
fossil fuels;
- the Company’s ability to replace its oil and natural gas
reserves;
- the Company’s ability to identify, complete, and integrate
acquisitions;
- general economic, business, or industry conditions;
- cybersecurity incidents, including data security breaches or
computer viruses;
- competition in the oil and natural gas industry;
- the unavailability, high cost, or shortages of rigs, equipment,
raw materials, supplies, or personnel to develop and operate our
properties; and
- the level of drilling activity by the Company's operators,
particularly in areas such as the Shelby Trough where the Company
has concentrated acreage positions.
BLACK STONE MINERALS,
L.P.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per unit
amounts)
Three Months Ended December
31,
Year Ended December
31,
2022
2021
2022
2021
REVENUE
Oil and condensate sales
$
85,920
$
75,743
$
336,287
$
235,771
Natural gas and natural gas liquids
sales
110,254
83,134
434,945
255,671
Lease bonus and other income
2,790
2,097
13,052
14,292
Revenue from contracts with customers
198,964
160,974
784,284
505,734
Gain (loss) on commodity derivative
instruments
31,415
18,449
(120,680
)
(146,474
)
TOTAL REVENUE
230,379
179,423
663,604
359,260
OPERATING (INCOME) EXPENSE
Lease operating expense
3,124
3,252
12,380
13,056
Production costs and ad valorem taxes
14,924
14,340
66,233
49,809
Exploration expense
1
2
193
1,082
Depreciation, depletion, and
amortization
12,786
14,666
47,804
61,019
General and administrative
14,326
11,387
53,652
48,746
Accretion of asset retirement
obligations
245
210
861
1,073
(Gain) loss on sale of assets, net
—
—
(17
)
(2,850
)
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSE
45,406
43,857
181,106
171,935
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS
184,973
135,566
482,498
187,325
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest and investment income
31
1
53
1
Interest expense
(2,022
)
(1,441
)
(6,286
)
(5,638
)
Other income (expense)
237
68
215
299
TOTAL OTHER EXPENSE
(1,754
)
(1,372
)
(6,018
)
(5,338
)
NET INCOME (LOSS)
183,219
134,194
476,480
181,987
Distributions on Series B cumulative
convertible preferred units
(5,250
)
(5,250
)
(21,000
)
(21,000
)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE
GENERAL PARTNER AND COMMON UNITS
$
177,969
$
128,944
$
455,480
$
160,987
ALLOCATION OF NET INCOME (LOSS):
General partner interest
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
—
Common units
177,969
128,944
455,480
160,987
$
177,969
$
128,944
$
455,480
$
160,987
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO LIMITED
PARTNERS PER COMMON UNIT:
Per common unit (basic)
$
0.85
$
0.62
$
2.18
$
0.77
Per common unit (diluted)
$
0.82
$
0.60
$
2.12
$
0.77
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON UNITS
OUTSTANDING:
Weighted average common units outstanding
(basic)
209,406
208,665
209,382
208,181
Weighted average common units outstanding
(diluted)
224,756
224,069
224,446
208,290
The following table shows the Company’s production, revenues,
realized prices, and expenses for the periods presented.
Three Months Ended December
31,
Year Ended December
31,
2022
2021
2022
2021
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except
for realized prices)
Production:
Oil and condensate (MBbls)
1,017
1,036
3,591
3,646
Natural gas (MMcf)1
17,130
15,392
59,778
61,445
Equivalents (MBoe)
3,872
3,601
13,554
13,887
Equivalents/day (MBoe)
42.1
39.1
37.1
38.0
Realized prices, without
derivatives:
Oil and condensate ($/Bbl)
$
84.48
$
73.11
$
93.65
$
64.67
Natural gas ($/Mcf)1
6.44
5.40
7.28
4.16
Equivalents ($/Boe)
$
50.66
$
44.12
$
56.90
$
35.39
Revenue:
Oil and condensate sales
$
85,920
$
75,743
$
336,287
$
235,771
Natural gas and natural gas liquids
sales1
110,254
83,134
434,945
255,671
Lease bonus and other income
2,790
2,097
13,052
14,292
Revenue from contracts with customers
198,964
160,974
784,284
505,734
Gain (loss) on commodity derivative
instruments
31,415
18,449
(120,680
)
(146,474
)
Total revenue
$
230,379
$
179,423
$
663,604
$
359,260
Operating expenses:
Lease operating expense
$
3,124
$
3,252
$
12,380
$
13,056
Production costs and ad valorem taxes
14,924
14,340
66,233
49,809
Exploration expense
1
2
193
1,082
Depreciation, depletion, and
amortization
12,786
14,666
47,804
61,019
General and administrative
14,326
11,387
53,652
48,746
Other expense:
Interest expense
2,022
1,441
6,286
5,638
Per Boe:
Lease operating expense (per working
interest Boe)
$
16.02
$
8.96
$
12.13
$
7.00
Production costs and ad valorem taxes
3.85
3.98
4.89
3.59
Depreciation, depletion, and
amortization
3.30
4.07
3.53
4.39
General and administrative
3.70
3.16
3.96
3.51
1 As a mineral-and-royalty-interest owner, Black Stone Minerals
is often provided insufficient and inconsistent data on natural gas
liquid ("NGL") volumes by its operators. As a result, the Company
is unable to reliably determine the total volumes of NGLs
associated with the production of natural gas on its acreage.
Accordingly, no NGL volumes are included in our reported
production; however, revenue attributable to NGLs is included in
natural gas revenue and the calculation of realized prices for
natural gas.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable cash flow are supplemental
non-GAAP financial measures used by Black Stone's management and
external users of the Company's financial statements such as
investors, research analysts, and others, to assess the financial
performance of its assets and its ability to sustain distributions
over the long term without regard to financing methods, capital
structure, or historical cost basis.
The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before
interest expense, income taxes, and depreciation, depletion, and
amortization adjusted for impairment of oil and natural gas
properties, if any, accretion of asset retirement obligations,
unrealized gains and losses on commodity derivative instruments,
non-cash equity-based compensation, and gains and losses on sales
of assets, if any. Black Stone defines Distributable cash flow as
Adjusted EBITDA plus or minus amounts for certain non-cash
operating activities, cash interest expense, and restructuring
charges, if any.
Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable cash flow should not be
considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income
(loss), income (loss) from operations, cash flows from operating
activities, or any other measure of financial performance presented
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
("GAAP") in the United States as measures of the Company's
financial performance.
Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable cash flow have important
limitations as analytical tools because they exclude some but not
all items that affect net income (loss), the most directly
comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure. The Company's computation
of Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable cash flow may differ from
computations of similarly titled measures of other companies.
Three Months Ended
Year Ended
December 31,
December 31,
2022
2021
2022
2021
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per unit
amounts)
Net income (loss)
$
183,219
$
134,194
$
476,480
$
181,987
Adjustments to reconcile to Adjusted
EBITDA:
Depreciation, depletion, and
amortization
12,786
14,666
47,804
61,019
Interest expense
2,022
1,441
6,286
5,638
Income tax expense (benefit)
(171
)
(4
)
58
(135
)
Accretion of asset retirement
obligations
245
210
861
1,073
Equity-based compensation
5,579
2,513
17,388
12,218
Unrealized (gain) loss on commodity
derivative instruments
(72,014
)
(75,387
)
(82,486
)
33,528
(Gain) loss on sale of assets, net
—
—
(17
)
(2,850
)
Adjusted EBITDA
131,666
77,633
466,374
292,478
Adjustments to reconcile to Distributable
cash flow:
Change in deferred revenue
(7
)
(2
)
(30
)
(18
)
Cash interest expense
(1,059
)
(1,094
)
(4,282
)
(4,059
)
Preferred unit distributions
(5,250
)
(5,250
)
(21,000
)
(21,000
)
Distributable cash flow
$
125,350
$
71,287
$
441,062
$
267,401
Total units outstanding1
209,684
209,118
Distributable cash flow per unit
0.598
0.341
1 The distribution attributable to the quarter ended December
31, 2022 is calculated using 209,683,640 common units as of the
record date of February 16, 2023. Distributions attributable to the
quarter ended December 31, 2021 were calculated using 209,118,081
common units as of the record date of February 16, 2022.
Proved Oil & Gas Reserve Quantities
A reconciliation of proved reserves is presented in the
following table:
Crude Oil
Natural Gas
Total
(MBbl)
(MMcf)
(MBoe)
Net proved reserves at December 31,
2021
19,171
243,917
59,824
Revisions of previous estimates
1,422
6,455
2,498
Extensions, discoveries, and other
additions
2,182
78,992
15,347
Production
(3,591
)
(59,778
)
(13,554
)
Net proved reserves at December 31,
2022
19,184
269,586
64,115
Net Proved Developed Reserves
December 31, 2021
19,111
224,222
56,481
December 31, 2022
19,184
236,529
58,606
Net Proved Undeveloped Reserves
December 31, 2021
60
19,695
3,343
December 31, 2022
—
33,057
5,509
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230221005849/en/
Black Stone Minerals, L.P. Contacts Evan Kiefer Vice
President, Finance and Investor Relations Telephone: (713) 445-3200
investorrelations@blackstoneminerals.com
Grafico Azioni Black Stone Minerals (NYSE:BSM)
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Grafico Azioni Black Stone Minerals (NYSE:BSM)
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