SM Energy Company (SM): Eagle Ford Shale Update

By Andrea: http://oilshalegas.com

SM Energy Company (SM) recently released an update on its position in the Eagle Ford Shale located in LaSalle County and Dimmit County, TX.

SM Energy Company has entered into an agreement with a subsidiary of Mitsui & Co., Ltd. concerning a 12.5% working interest in its non-operated Eagle Ford shale position. The Company will be carried on 90% of its drilling and completion costs (excluding costs associated with construction of mid-stream gathering assets) in this acreage until $680 million has been expended for the benefit of SM Energy. The purchaser will also reimburse SM Energy for the purchaser's share of capital expenditures and other costs, net of revenues, related to the period between the effective date of March 1, 2011, and the closing date. These reimbursed costs (net of revenues), estimated to range between $20 and $40 million, will be payable to SM Energy at closing and the Company will apply these funds to the remaining 10% of SM Energy's drilling and completion costs in this acreage. As a result, the Company will effectively be 100% carried until this reimbursement amount is exhausted. Once the reimbursement dollars have been expended, the Company will remain 90% carried until the remaining portion of the $680 million carry has been spent. The purchaser will also reimburse SM Energy for 50% of the Company's total capital investment expenditures in the related mid-stream assets in which the purchaser is acquiring an interest. This reimbursement is estimated to range between $20 and $30 million. The use of the reimbursement proceeds related to the mid-stream assets is not restricted and the proceeds will be treated as proceeds from divestitures in the Company's consolidated financial statements. Closing is anticipated to occur during the third quarter of 2011 and is subject to customary closing conditions and transaction fees.

After the closing of this transaction, SM Energy will have approximately 46,000 net acres in the non-operated portion of its Eagle Ford shale position, down from roughly 85,000 net acres. The Company's average working interest in this acreage will be reduced from approximately 27% to 14.5%. Reported average daily production from the Company's total non-operated Eagle Ford shale position at the end of the first quarter was 43.5 MMCFE/D (42% oil, 36% natural gas, and 22% NGLs). Proved reserves associated with the Company's total non-operated Eagle Ford shale position as of December 31, 2010 were 52 BCFE (52% proved undeveloped).

SM Energy will have roughly 196,000 net acres in the Eagle Ford shale, of which approximately 75% will be operated by the Company, after this transaction and the previously announced divestiture of Eagle Ford assets in LaSalle and Dimmit Counties, Texas are consummated. The size and timing of these transactions vary from the assumptions made in the Company's issued guidance, as these transactions are expected to close later in the year than originally anticipated and SM Energy is retaining a larger position in the Eagle Ford than was originally assumed. As a result, reported production and capital expenditures for the year will exceed the Company's currently published guidance. The Company will provide full capital, production, and cost guidance updates for the remainder of 2011, as well as preliminary capital and production guidance for 2012 in its second quarter earnings release.

SM Energy was advised on the transaction by Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Tony Best, President and CEO, remarked, "I am pleased to announce the final phase of our planned Eagle Ford sell down effort. Combined with our previously announced LaSalle and Dimmit Counties Eagle Ford divestiture, we are generating nearly $1 billion in funds that will allow us to further develop our Eagle Ford assets while locking in some solid returns and maintaining a strong balance sheet. This specific transaction allows us to continue participating in the development of high value Eagle Ford assets, while providing us more control over our capital investment decisions."

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