Drilling & Completions | Fourth Quarter (4Q) Update | Reserves | Financial Results | Capital Markets | Drilling Activity
Earthstone Energy Preliminary Fourth Quarter Results, Reserves
Earthstone Energy, Inc. provided an operations update, released 2022 guidance and announced its year-end 2021 estimated proved reserves.
The Company has estimated its oil and gas sales volumes for the fourth quarter of 2021 to be approximately 2.78 MMBoe or an average of approximately 30,244 Boepd (43% oil). For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company estimates its annual sales volumes grew 62% to approximately 9.06 MMBoe, or an average of approximately 24,809 Boepd (48% oil) compared to 15,276 Boepd (57% oil) reported for 2020. The Company also announced its year-end 2021 SEC total estimated proved reserves of approximately 147.6 MMBoe and $2.0 billion of PV-10 (1). Incorporating the closing of the Chisholm Acquisition and the pending Bighorn Acquisition and utilizing NYMEX strip pricing, total reserves as of year-end were 330.2 MMBoe and $3.9 billion of PV-10. (2)
Key highlights include:
- Average daily production for the fourth quarter of 2021 was 30,244 Boepd compared to 14,809 Boepd for the fourth quarter of 2020, representing an increase of 104% year over year (3)
- $51.4 million and $128.2 million of capital expenditures in the fourth quarter of 2021 and full year 2021, respectively, falling below the low end of our 2021 capital guidance
- Full year 2022 production guidance of 64,250 to 67,750 Boepd (~41% oil) and $410-440 million of capital expenditures to support a four-rig operated program
- Completed the Chisholm Acquisition on February 15, 2022
- Plan to continue operating two rigs in the Midland Basin and two rigs in the Northern Delaware Basin throughout 2022
- Stand-alone year-end 2021 SEC total estimated proved PV-10 and reserves were $2.0 billion and 147.6 MMBoe (63% Proved Developed; 41% oil), respectively (1)
- Strong balance sheet and liquidity position with the increased $825 million borrowing base and elected commitments under our senior secured credit facility (the "Credit Facility") with further commitments to increase it to $1,325 million conditioned upon the closing of the previously announced Bighorn Acquisition
Liquidity Update
As of December 31, 2021, we had $4 million in cash and $320 million of long-term debt outstanding under our Credit Facility with a borrowing base of $650 million. With the $330 million of undrawn borrowing base capacity and $4 million in cash, we had total liquidity of approximately $334 million. Subsequent to year-end, Earthstone closed on its previously announced Chisholm Acquisition. When adjusted to include the additional borrowings to fund the actual cash consideration due at the closing of the Chisholm Acquisition, we had an estimated $4 million in cash and $604 million of debt outstanding under our Credit Facility with a borrowing base of $825 million. With the $221 million of undrawn borrowing base capacity and $4 million in cash, we had total liquidity of approximately $225 million on a combined basis. Furthermore, lenders under the Credit Facility have committed to increasing the borrowing base and elected commitments by an incremental $500 million to $1,325 million conditioned upon the closing of the Bighorn Acquisition, which is anticipated to occur in mid-April.
Operational Update
We have been operating two drilling rigs in the Midland Basin since the third quarter of 2021. Currently, one rig is drilling in each of Midland and Irion Counties. The Midland County rig is drilling a four-well pad in our Hamman project area in which we hold a 70% working interest and will average 7,200-foot laterals. The Irion County rig is drilling a five-well pad in our Barnhart project area in which we hold 100% working interest and will average ~9,900-foot laterals. Including wells in progress at year-end, we spud 26 gross / 23.3 net operated wells in 2021.
In the fourth quarter of 2021, we completed four gross (3.5 net) wells on our West Hartgrove pad in Reagan County where we targeted the Upper and Lower Wolfcamp B zones with average laterals of approximately 5,700 feet. We also completed three gross (2.2 net) wells on our Hamman 30 pad in Upton County where we targeted the Wolfcamp A and Lower Wolfcamp B zones with average laterals of approximately 4,500 feet. Including these completions which were turned to sales during the fourth quarter, we brought online a total 19 gross / 15.4 net operated wells in 2021.
Additionally, we are completing five gross (5.0 net) wells on our Nickel Saloon pad in Upton County. These wells targeted the Wolfcamp A, Wolfcamp B and Wolfcamp C zones with an average lateral length of approximately 10,100 feet and we expect to have these wells online in late February 2022. There are also nine gross (8.7 net) wells that are drilled and waiting on completions in the Midland Basin.
The Company is focused on efficiently integrating the newly acquired Chisholm assets into our operations. This includes the two rigs currently operating on the Chisholm acreage in the northern Delaware Basin of New Mexico. Currently, these rigs are drilling a two-well pad in our Anaconda project area in which we hold a 42% working interest and will average 10,000-foot laterals targeting the 3rd Bone Spring, and a two-well pad in our Minis project area in which we hold a 96% working interest and will average 7,500-foot laterals targeting the 3rd Bone Spring. The first well on each pad has been drilled and is awaiting completion with the drilling of the second well on each pad expected to be finished drilling by the end of the month and with the wells expected to be online in the early fourth quarter.
There are currently two gross (1.4 net) drilled but uncompleted wells located on the Chisholm acreage and a total of five gross (3.2 net) wells turned online this year so far. These five gross wells brought online were all located in Lea County and targeted the 2nd and 3rd Bone Spring zones.
Year-End 2021 SEC Estimated Proved Reserves
Earthstone Stand-Alone Year-End 2021 Estimated Proved Reserves Highlights:
- Proved Reserves of 147.6 MMBoe with corresponding PV-10 of $2.02 billion
- Proved Reserves are 41.4% oil, 26.4% natural gas liquids, and 32.2% natural gas
- Proved Reserves are 63% Proved Developed and 37% Proved Undeveloped
More Quarterly - Preliminary News

Talos Details Preliminary Q2 Estimates; 65 MBOEPD in Production
Talos Energy Inc. provided select estimated operational and financial results for the second quarter of 2022. Preliminary 2Q Estimated Results: Average daily production between 65.0 and 65.5 MBOEPD,…

Ring Energy Details Preliminary 1Q22 Results; Production Beats Expectations
Ring Energy, Inc. provided an operational and financial update for the Company's first quarter 2022 sales, drilling program and further debt repayment. Highlights and Recent Key Items: Reported…

HighPeak Energy Preliminary Fourth Quarter Results, Reserve Update
HighPeak Energy, Inc. announced an operational update, 2021 year-end proved reserves, 2022 guidance update, the entry into agreements with various sellers to purchase oil and gas assets and…

Ring Energy Details Preliminary 4Q21 Results, Hedging Update
Ring Energy, Inc. provided an update concerning the Company's fourth quarter and full year 2021 sales volumes, further paydown of debt, commencement of the 2022 drilling program, and…

Range Resources Details Preliminary 4Q21 Results; Production, Spending
Range Resources Corp. announced that fourth quarter 2021 production averaged approximately 2,198 Mmcfe per day, and fourth quarter 2021 all-in capital spending totaled $92.3 million. In addition, Range…
Gulf Coast News

Why $90 Oil Isn’t Bringing Back the Rigs
Higher oil prices are not translating cleanly into a drilling response across U.S. shale, and company disclosures are starting to show why. The issue is not simply capital…

These Three Companies Will Increase Drilling & Completion Over The Next 3 Year
In the span of fifteen months, three Japanese energy companies committed more than $10.3 billion to U.S. natural gas production assets — a buying spree that has transferred…

Q1 A&D Transactions Jump to $30B , While Deal Flow Was Down 40%
The first quarter of 2026 has officially defined the "Barbell Era" of American oil and gas. While the total number of deals plummeted by 46% YoY (dropping to…

Wright to U.S. Oil Industry: The Price Signal Is Telling You to Drill
Energy Secretary Chris Wright stood in front of the largest gathering of oil executives in the world this morning and delivered a message that was equal parts market…

Apa Corp : Doing More With Less
APA's 2025 narrative was one of operational surprise. The company came in beating production guidance every single quarter while spending below plan, capturing over $300MM in cost savings…
Permian News

Permian Resources to Grow Production 6% in 2026
Permian Resources exited 2025 as the largest pure-play Delaware Basin operator with ~480,000 net acres and >105,000 net royalty acres. The company averaged 392.6 MBoe/d in 2025, including…

Battalion Oil Closes ~$60M West Quito Draw Asset Sale
Battalion Oil Corporation has closed the sale of its West Quito Draw assets in the Southern Delaware Basin to MCM Delaware Resources LLC, a subsidiary of MCM Energy…

Deal Rumor: ConocoPhillips Exploring $2B Permian Asset Sale
ConocoPhillips is reportedly exploring the potential sale of certain Permian Basin assets in a transaction valued at approximately $2 billion, according to Reuters, citing sources familiar with the…

An Eagle Ford Team That Cashed Out Is Back for Another Cycle
Houston — January 15, 2026 — Lime Rock Partners, a Houston-based private investment firm specializing in upstream oil and gas, has completed an equity commitment to Athena Energy…

Silver Hill Expands South Texas Footprint with Acquisition of 1776 Energy Assets
Silver Hill Energy Partners has acquired 100 percent of 1776 Energy’s South Texas oil and gas assets, significantly expanding its operated footprint across the Eagle Ford and Austin…