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Oasis Ups Capex 13% for 2021, Production Flat; Q4/Full Year 2020 Results

Share Print Bookmark    |    Friday,February 26,2021

Oasis Petroleum Inc. announced select financial and operational results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2020 and provided its 2021 outlook.

2021 Plan

- Capex: $231-243 million - up 13% vs. 2020 levels

• D&C: $225-235 million
  

• Midstream: $6-8 million

By Play:

• Bakken: $146-165 million (65%-70%)
  

• Permian: $68-71 million (30%-35%)

- Production: 57-60 MBOEPD - flat from full year 2020 output

• Oil Production: 37.5-39.5 MBbls/d
  

- Wells Completed: 29-33 gross wells

• Bakken: 23-25 gross wells
  

• Permian: 6-8 gross wells

Oasis constructed its 2021 plan to maximize capital returns, productivity and efficiency while generating significant free cash flow at $40/bbl NYMEX WTI.

Other highlights of the 2021 plan include:

• 4Q20 CapEx is expected to be approximately 66% below original expectations as Oasis deferred activity to evaluate capital allocation options and maximize returns. These actions are expected to improve project returns, but modestly defer the 2021 volume trajectory.
• 1Q21 CapEx is expected to approximate 20% of full-year guidance.
• 2021 E&P CapEx is expected to range between $225MM and $235MM. In addition, Oasis's portion of midstream is expected to range between $6MM and $8MM.
• 1Q21 total volumes are expected to approximate 54 to 57 MBoepd (~65% oil cut), impacted by deferred activity and weather impacts. Full year volumes are expected to approximate 57 to 60 MBoepd (~66% oil cut). 4Q21 volumes are expect to range between 62 to 65 MBoepd (~67% oil cut), as normalized capital activity supports production volumes.
• Full-year 2022 volumes are expected to be flat to slightly higher with similar E&P CapEx levels as 2021.
• Approximately 74% of expected 2021 oil production hedged at an average swap price of $42/bbl WTI.
• Oasis has proactively secured alternative outlets for approximately one-third of its expected April through September Williston crude to mitigate risk associated with any potential Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) disruption.
• E&P Cash G&A was reduced to a run-rate of $49MM in May of 2020, and the Company currently expects to further reduce it to $42MM-45MM in 2021. Exiting 2021, Oasis plans to be below $37MM on a run-rate basis.

Quarterly Results

Highlights:

• Best-in-class balance sheet with leverage significantly below target of 1.0x;
• Generated significant free cash flow during 4Q20, and reduced net borrowings by approximately $80MM since November 19, 2020. Revolver borrowings below $200MM as of February 24, 2021;
• Declared a $0.375 per share dividend ($1.50/share annualized) payable on March 22, 2021 to shareholders of record as of March 8, 2021. Amended Oasis Credit Facility to allow for dividends earlier than originally structured;
• Positioned Company for long-term returns-focused success. Announced a peer-leading shareholder-aligned management compensation program, which focuses on fostering long-term value creation through returns-based awards;
• Formed a new Board capital allocation committee that developed a framework focused on systematic evaluation and screening of capital investments to ensure strong returns, which forms the foundation for the Company's budgeting process;
• Developed a compelling 2021 program with strong returns, attractive reinvestment rates (~60% at $50/bbl WTI), and strong free cash flow ($155-$175MM before dividend at $50/bbl WTI, $2.50/MMBtu NYMEX gas);
• Integrated ESG strategy into expanded Board committee now titled Nominating, Environmental, Social & Governance Committee. Developed framework to ensure that Oasis implements the right measures to respect our environment, our social fabric, and Oasis's governance;
• Generated a total of $30.5MM in cash flow from midstream ownership ($17.3MM from retained interests and $13.2MM in distributions from Oasis Midstream Partners (OMP)) in 4Q20. Please refer to OMP's press release for more details⁽¹⁾

CEO Douglas Brooks said: "Led by a newly installed, diverse Board along with our dedicated Oasis team members, we achieved outstanding operational and financial results and installed material new strategic initiatives. These results exemplify the first steps that Oasis is taking to demonstrate to our stakeholders our commitment to our new strategy of strong capital discipline and significant free cash flow generation as well as commitments to our environment, our social responsibilities and the sustainability of our enterprise. Consistent with this strategy and the commitment of the Board of Directors to shareholders, we declared our first fixed dividend.

"Oasis generated significant free cash flow during the quarter and significantly reduced its RBL revolver balance and improved liquidity. Separately, the organization has already made tremendous progress on reducing operating, capital and general and administrative costs, and the work it has done with an outside consultant will further enhance our overall cost structure." With our cash flow profile and peer leading leverage of 0.6x⁽²⁾ based on YE20 net debt and implied 2021 EBITDA guidance ($50/bbl WTI, $2.50/MMBtu NYMEX gas), Oasis is able to immediately return capital to its shareholders. Along these lines, our 2021 capital program was developed through the rigorous framework of the capital allocation committee and supports a disciplined reinvestment rate, strong returns, and sustainable distributions of capital to shareholders."

4Q20 and 2020 Highlights

• Produced 59.2 MBoepd in 4Q20, with oil volumes at 38.6 MBopd.
• E&P CapEx⁽³⁾ was between $12.6MM and $16.6MM for 4Q20, approximately 61-71% below 4Q20 guidance. FY2020 E&P CapEx was between $207MM and $211MM, approximately 64% below the original budget.

Mr. Brooks continued, "We entered 2021 with a returns-focused, capital efficient program, which in combination with our high-quality asset base supports significant free cash flow generation. Additionally, we have made important strides in aligning the Board and management with shareholders through our peer-leading returns-focused compensation program. As we look forward, the Oasis team is focused on executing our strategic objectives while maintaining a strong ESG culture to provide value to all stakeholders. Oasis is uniquely positioned with a strong balance sheet, a quality and sustainable long-lived asset base, and a rigorous new capital discipline that should translate into long-term value creation for our shareholders."

Progress on Strategy since Emergence

• Governance: Consistent with dedication to ESG-related opportunities, shareholders have selected a diverse, experienced Board of Directors which is 83% independent. Additionally, Oasis has enacted a peer-leading executive compensation program with 75% of incentive pay tied to returns.
• Best-in-class balance sheet: Oasis is 0.6x levered (see note 2 above) on 2021 estimates (based on $50/bbl WTI and $2.50/mmBtu NYMEX gas). The Company is targeting leverage below 1.0x to ensure financial strength, sustainability of operations, and return of capital to shareholders.
• Capital allocation committee: The Board of Directors implemented a capital allocation committee, which serves as a rigorous, systematic framework for evaluating and approving projects to enhance returns. Efficiently developing Oasis's high-quality asset base is paramount to delivering sustainable returns of cash to shareholders.
• Cost reductions: Oasis has dramatically reduced its capital, operating, and overhead cost structure over the past two years. Additionally, the Company has identified significant further cost reductions and operating efficiencies through its work with a third party. These savings are incorporated into the Company's 2021 guidance and are expected to be outlined in more detail in the near-term.
• Commitment to sustainability: Oasis is dedicated to producing a cleaner, low-cost barrel, while being engaged with local communities and conscious of stakeholder interests. The Company's peer-leading gas capture through 2020 in the Williston Basin exemplifies Oasis's commitment on this front.
• Enterprise risk management: Oasis has codified an enterprise risk management system to ensure organizational reliability and to protect against possible disruptions. Oasis has implemented new systems to effectively manage processes and mitigate risk.
• Midstream optionality: Oasis is differentiated by significant ownership in OMP, a premier gathering and processing midstream company. Management believes its ownership in OMP is a source of unrecognized value and has prioritized assessing optimal structure and value creation options in the near-term.

South Nesson Dedication to OMP

Oasis Petroleum has approved an expansion of its dedication to OMP in South Nesson to now include crude oil and produced water services. OMP already received the dedication for natural gas gathering and processing as well as gas lift in 2019, and OMP expects volumes under each service offering to flow in 2022. South Nesson is located between Johnson's Corner and OMP's gas plant complex, and is one of Oasis Petroleum's top operating areas. As part of the arrangement, Oasis Petroleum agreed to assign to Bighorn DevCo, which is 100% owned by OMP, certain assets in Bobcat DevCo specifically built to support both existing third-party customers in South Nesson and future development for Oasis Petroleum. All future assets for the South Nesson project will be built at Bighorn DevCo and all future revenue from Oasis Petroleum and third parties in South Nesson will accrue to Bighorn DevCo.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

The following table depicts the Company's key balance sheet statistics and liquidity. Debt is calculated in accordance with respective credit facility definitions. The debt held at Oasis and OMP is not cross-collateralized and guarantors under the Oasis Credit Facility are not responsible for OMP debt.

Dividend Declaration

Oasis declared a $0.375 per share dividend for the fourth quarter of 2020 ($1.50/share annualized) for shareholders of record as of March 8, 2021, payable on March 22, 2021.

Hedging Activity

As of February 24, 2021, the Company had the following outstanding commodity derivative contracts, which settle monthly and are priced off of WTI for crude oil and NYMEX Henry Hub for natural gas:

The December 2020 crude oil derivative contracts settled at a net $0.4MM paid in January 2021 and will be included in the Company's 1Q21 derivative settlements.

Net Proved Reserves

The Company's estimated net proved reserves and related PV-10 at December 31, 2020 ("YE20") are based on reports prepared by DeGolyer and MacNaughton, independent reserve engineers. In preparing its reports, DeGolyer and MacNaughton evaluated properties representing all of the Company's PV-10 at YE20 in accordance with rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission applicable to companies involved in crude oil and natural gas producing activities. The following reserve information does not give any effect to or reflect Oasis's commodity hedges and utilizes an average NYMEX WTI crude oil price of $39.54 per barrel and an average natural gas price of $2.03 per MMBtu. These prices were adjusted by lease for quality, transportation fees, geographical differentials, marketing bonuses or deductions and other factors affecting the price received at the wellhead. All of the Company's estimated proved undeveloped reserves at YE20 are expected to be developed within five years. Oasis's estimated net proved crude oil and natural gas reserves at YE20 were 182.5 million barrels of oil equivalents ("MMBoe") and consisted of 119.8 million barrels of crude oil and 376.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas. The table below summarizes the Company's estimated net proved reserves and related PV-10 at YE20:

PV-10 is a non-GAAP financial measure and generally differs from Standardized Measure, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, because it does not include the effect of income taxes on discounted future net cash flows.