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Last updated on May 26, 2012 at 17:19 EDT

PXP Announces 2010 First Quarter Net Income of $58.5 Million or 41 Cents Per Share on Higher Year-Over-Year Production and Commodity Prices

May 6, 2010
Repost This

HOUSTON, May 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Plains Exploration & Production Company (NYSE: PXP) (“PXP” or the “Company”) announces 2010 first quarter financial and operating results.

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

For the first quarter 2010, revenues of $384.1 million generated $58.5 million of net income, or $0.41 per diluted share compared to revenues of $228.5 million and net income of $5.2 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, for the first quarter 2009. These results include certain items affecting comparability of operating results. Those items consist of realized and unrealized gains and losses on our mark-to-market derivative contracts, which exclude the impact of the derivatives monetized in the first quarter 2009, and other items. When considering these items, net income for the first quarter 2010 was $43.5 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, compared to $10.0 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, for the first quarter 2009 (a non-GAAP measure).

For the first quarter 2010, net cash provided by operating activities was $221.8 million and operating cash flow was $226.2 million compared to net cash used in operating activities of $29.4 million and operating cash flow of $164.7 million for the first quarter 2009 (a non-GAAP measure).

A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures used in this release to comparable GAAP financial measures is included with the financial tables.

OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

Average daily sales volumes for the first quarter 2010 were 85.1 thousand barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) or 5% higher than 80.9 thousand BOE in the first quarter 2009. Oil represented approximately 53% of the first quarter 2010 daily volumes.

Total production costs per BOE were $14.37 in the first quarter 2010 or 10% lower than $15.89 per BOE in the first quarter 2009.

In California, PXP continues to expand the development of incremental Diatomite, Non-Diatomite and Miocene projects to maintain production volumes. The 2010 plan includes drilling over 100 onshore wells compared to 12 wells in 2009.

In the Haynesville Shale, first quarter average daily production increased 19% to approximately 89 million cubic feet equivalent (MMcfe) net to PXP from approximately 75 MMcfe net per day during the fourth quarter 2009. Production is expected to continue to increase to approximately 125 MMcfe net per day by year-end 2010.

In the Gulf of Mexico, an active appraisal and exploration drilling program is underway.

Gulf of Mexico – Shallow Water

The Davy Jones offset appraisal well (Davy Jones #2), operated by McMoRan Exploration Co. (NYSE: MMR) and located on South Marsh Island Block 234, is currently drilling towards a proposed total depth of approximately 29,950 feet. Davy Jones #2 is expected to test similar sections up-dip to the discovery well located on South Marsh Island Block 230. In March 2010, a production liner was set and the discovery well was temporarily abandoned until necessary equipment for the completion is available. PXP’s working interest is 27.7%.

The Blackbeard East exploration well, operated by McMoRan and located on South Timbalier Block 144, is currently drilling towards a proposed total depth of approximately 29,950 feet targeting Middle and Lower Miocene objectives. In addition to drilling the objective section previously seen below 30,000 feet in the Blackbeard West well, Blackbeard East is designed to test a younger Miocene section due to a shallower salt exit point. PXP’s working interest is 31.5%.

The Lafitte exploration well is expected to commence drilling in 2010. Lafitte, operated by McMoRan and located on Eugene Island Block 223, will target Middle and Lower Miocene objectives. PXP’s working interest is 26.25%.

The 2010 shallow water exploratory drilling plan includes sidetracking operations at Blueberry Hill and re-drilling of Hurricane Deep. The Blueberry Hill sidetrack well, operated by McMoRan and located on State Lease Block 340, is currently drilling towards a proposed total depth of 24,000 feet. PXP’s working interest is 47.9%. The Hurricane Deep sidetrack well, operated by Chevron Corporation and located on South Marsh Island Block 217, will be re-drilled during 2010. The operator encountered an underground flow in the well at approximately 18,450 feet, and PXP anticipates insurance will cover its share of costs to re-drill to 18,450 feet. PXP’s working interest is 30%.

Gulf of Mexico – Deepwater

The Lucius #2 appraisal well, operated by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: APC) and located on Keathley Canyon Block 875, is currently drilling towards a proposed total depth of 20,256 feet. The Lucius discovery well was announced in December 2009, followed by a successful appraisal sidetrack in late January 2010, which confirmed a major oil discovery. PXP’s working interest is 33.3%.

Gulf of Mexico – Lease Sale 213

PXP and its partners are apparent high bidders on 44 blocks on which they bid at the U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS) Central Gulf of Mexico Oil and Gas Lease Sale 213 in March 2010. PXP’s apparent high bids include interests in 16 shelf blocks and 28 deepwater blocks. The Company’s working interests on the blocks range from 25%-100%, with a net exposure of approximately $34 million. PXP and its partners expect the leases to be awarded over the next several months subject to MMS review and approval.

In the Texas Panhandle, PXP recently finished drilling and set completion liners on two Granite Wash horizontal test wells, one in the Wheeler Field and one in the Marvin Lake Field. Hydrocarbon shows during drilling operations for both wells were in-line with pre-drill expectations. PXP expects first production from these wells by the end of the second quarter. The 2010 plan includes drilling 13 Granite Wash wells from an inventory of over 100 potential locations.

In the Gulf Coast, drilling operations are underway at the Big Mac project in Southeast Texas. The proposed total depth on the first well is approximately 14,770 feet and results are expected by the end of the second quarter. PXP has approximately 30 to 40 leads, all amplitude driven, associated with its Big Mac project.

DERIVATIVE SUMMARY

As previously reported, PXP acquired crude oil put option spread contracts on 31,000 barrels of oil per day in 2011 and 40,000 barrels of oil per day in 2012. Both the 2011 and 2012 put options have a floor price of $80 with a limit of $60 per barrel. If the index price is below $80 per barrel, PXP will receive the difference between $80 and the index price up to a maximum of $20 per barrel less the option premium. If the index price is at or above $80 per barrel, PXP pays only the option premium.

PXP also acquired crude oil three-way collars that have a floor price of $80 with a limit of $60 and a ceiling price of $110 on 9,000 barrels of oil per day for 2011. If the index price is below $80 per barrel, PXP will receive the difference between $80 and the index price up to a maximum of $20 per barrel less the option premium. If the index price is greater than $110 per barrel, PXP will pay the difference between the index price and $110 per barrel plus the option premium. If the index price is at or above $80 per barrel but at or below $110 per barrel, PXP pays only the option premium.

PXP has elected not to use hedge accounting for these derivatives and consequently the derivatives will be marked-to-market each quarter with fair value gains and losses recognized currently as a gain or loss on mark-to-market derivative contracts on the income statement. A summary of PXP’s open commodity derivative positions is included with the financial tables in this release.

CONFERENCE CALL

PXP will host a conference call today, Thursday, May 6, 2010 at 8:00 a.m. Central time. Investors wishing to participate in the conference call may dial 1-800-567-9836 or 1-973-935-8460. The conference call and replay ID is: 63883713. The replay will be available through Thursday, May 20, 2010 and can be accessed by dialing 1-800-642-1687 or 1-706-645-9291. A live webcast of the conference call will be available in the Investor Information section of PXP’s website at www.pxp.com.

PXP is an independent oil and gas company primarily engaged in the activities of acquiring, developing, exploring and producing oil and gas in California, Texas, Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico. PXP is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking information regarding PXP that is intended to be covered by the safe harbor “forward-looking statements” provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that PXP expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statement. These include statements regarding:


    * reserve and production estimates,
    * oil and gas prices,
    * the impact of derivative positions,
    * production expense estimates,
    * cash flow estimates,
    * future financial performance,
    * capital and credit market conditions,
    * planned capital expenditures, and
    * other matters that are discussed in PXP's filings with the SEC.

These statements are based on our current expectations and projections about future events and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results and performance to be materially different from any future results or performance expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Please refer to our filings with the SEC, including our Form 10-K, for a discussion of these risks.

References to quantities of oil or natural gas may include amounts that the Company believes will ultimately be produced, but that are not yet classified as “proved reserves” under SEC definitions.

All forward-looking statements in this report are made as of the date hereof, and you should not place undue reliance on these statements without also considering the risks and uncertainties associated with these statements and our business that are discussed in this report and our other filings with the SEC. Moreover, although we believe the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that we will attain these expectations or that any deviations will not be material. Except as required by law, we do not intend to update these forward-looking statements and information.

    Plains Exploration & Production Company
    Consolidated Statements of Income
    (in thousands, except per share data)
                                                      Three Months Ended
                                                          March 31,
                                                          ---------
                                                      2010             2009
                                                      ----             ----
                                                         (Unaudited)
    Revenues
      Oil sales                                   $276,004         $156,614
      Gas sales                                    107,739           71,264
      Other operating revenues                         307              634
                                                       ---              ---
                                                   384,050          228,512
                                                   -------          -------
    Costs and Expenses
      Lease operating expenses                      62,503           70,884
      Steam gas costs                               19,663           15,557
      Electricity                                   10,034           10,942
      Production and ad valorem taxes                8,447           11,621
      Gathering and transportation expenses          9,419            6,647
      General and administrative                    37,390           37,093
      Depreciation, depletion and amortization     122,393           88,114
      Accretion                                      4,411            3,531
      Legal recovery                                (8,423)               -
      Other operating (income) expense                (569)           4,457
                                                      ----            -----
                                                   265,268          248,846
                                                   -------          -------

    Income (Loss) from Operations                  118,782          (20,334)
    Other (Expense) Income
      Interest expense                             (21,053)         (21,997)
      Debt extinguishment costs                       (728)         (10,243)
      Gain on mark-to-market derivative
       contracts                                     7,856           88,139
      Other income (expense)                         1,306             (707)
                                                     -----             ----
    Income Before Income Taxes                     106,163           34,858
      Income tax (expense) benefit
        Current                                     (4,738)         (55,791)
        Deferred                                   (42,897)          26,131
                                                   -------           ------
    Net Income                                     $58,528           $5,198
                                                   =======           ======
    Earnings Per Share
      Basic                                          $0.42            $0.05
      Diluted                                        $0.41            $0.05
    Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
      Basic                                        139,741          107,755
                                                   =======          =======
      Diluted                                      141,940          108,224
                                                   =======          =======

    Plains Exploration & Production Company
    Operating Data (Unaudited)
                                                   Three Months Ended
                                                        March 31,
                                                        ---------
                                                    2010              2009
                                                    ----              ----
    Daily Average Volumes
      Oil and liquids sales (Bbls)                45,217            49,394
      Gas (Mcf)
        Production                               244,594           195,943
        Used as fuel                               5,313             7,175
        Sales                                    239,281           188,768
      BOE
        Production                                85,983            82,052
        Sales                                     85,097            80,856
    Unit Economics (in dollars)
      Average NYMEX Prices
        Oil                                       $78.88            $43.31
        Gas                                         5.27              4.87
      Average Realized Sales Price Before
       Derivative Transactions
        Oil (per Bbl)                             $67.82            $35.23
        Gas (per Mcf)                               5.00              4.19
        Per BOE                                    50.11             31.31
      Cash Margin per BOE (1)
        Oil and gas revenues                      $50.11            $31.31
        Costs and expenses
           Lease operating expenses                (8.16)            (9.74)
           Steam gas costs                         (2.57)            (2.14)
           Electricity                             (1.31)            (1.50)
           Production and ad valorem taxes         (1.10)            (1.60)
           Gathering and transportation            (1.23)            (0.91)
           Oil and gas related DD&A               (15.33)           (11.49)
                                                  ------            ------
        Gross margin (GAAP)                        20.41              3.93
          Oil and gas related DD&A                 15.33             11.49
          Realized (losses) gains on derivative
           instruments(2)                          (1.62)            12.34
                                                   -----             -----
        Cash margin (Non-GAAP)                    $34.12            $27.76
                                                  ======            ======

    Oil and gas capital expenditures (in
     thousands) (3)                             $223,416          $350,358
    (1)  Cash margin per BOE (a non-GAAP measure) is calculated by
    adjusting gross margin per BOE (a GAAP measure) to include realized
    gains and losses on derivative instruments and to exclude DD&A.
    Management believes this presentation may be helpful to investors as
    it represents the cash generated by our oil and gas production that
    is available for, among other things, capital expenditures and debt
    service.  PXP management  uses this information to analyze operating
    trends for comparative purposes within the industry.  This measure
    is not intended to replace the GAAP statistic but rather to provide
    additional information that may be helpful in evaluating trends and
    performance.
    (2)  The 2009 realized gain excludes all cash settlements for the
    $106 crude oil puts and the $54 crude oil swaps monetized in the
    first quarter of 2009. Cash receipts on these instruments were
    $121.4 million prior to the $1.1 billion monetization in the first
    quarter 2009.
    (3)  Additions to oil and gas properties reported in our consolidated
    statement of cash flows differ from the accrual basis amounts
    reflected above due to the timing of cash payments.  Excludes
    acquisitions.

    Plains Exploration & Production Company
    Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measure
                                           Three Months Ended March 31,
                                                        2010
                                                        ----
                                      Oil             Gas             BOE
                                      ---             ---             ---
                                   (per Bbl)       (per Mcf)

     Average Realized Sales
      Price
     Average realized price
      before derivative
      instruments (GAAP) (1)          $67.82           $5.00           $50.11
       Realized (losses) gains on
        derivative instruments         (4.29)           0.24            (1.62)
                                       -----            ----            -----

     Realized cash price
      including derivative
      settlements (non-GAAP)          $63.53           $5.24           $48.49
                                      ======           =====           ======

                                        Three Months Ended March 31,
                                                        2009
                                                        ----
                                      Oil             Gas             BOE
                                      ---             ---             ---
                                   (per Bbl)       (per Mcf)

     Average Realized Sales
      Price
     Average realized price
      before derivative
      instruments (GAAP) (1)          $35.23           $4.19           $31.31
       Realized gains on
        derivative instruments (2)      5.73            3.79            12.34
                                        ----            ----            -----

     Realized cash price
      including derivative
      settlements (non-GAAP)          $40.96           $7.98           $43.65
                                      ======           =====           ======
    (1)  Excludes the impact of production costs and expenses and DD&A.
    (2)  The 2009 realized gain excludes all cash settlements for the
    $106 crude oil puts and the $54 crude oil swaps monetized in the
    first quarter of 2009. Cash receipts on these instruments were
    $121.4 million prior to the $1.1 billion monetization in the first
    quarter 2009.

    Plains Exploration & Production Company
    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
    (in thousands of dollars)
                                                   Three Months Ended
                                                       March 31,
                                                       ---------
                                                    2010                2009
                                                    ----                ----
                                                      (Unaudited)
    CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
    Net income                                   $58,528              $5,198
    Items not affecting cash flows from
     operating activities
      Depreciation, depletion, amortization and
       accretion                                 126,804              91,645
      Deferred income tax expense (benefit)       42,897             (26,131)
      Debt extinguishment costs                      728              10,243
      Gain on mark-to-market derivative
       contracts                                  (7,856)            (88,139)
      Noncash compensation                        16,900              14,499
      Other noncash items                          1,371               1,826
    Change in assets and liabilities from
     operating activities                        (17,594)            (38,492)
                                                 -------             -------
    Net cash provided by (used in) operating
     activities                                  221,778             (29,351)
                                                 -------             -------
    CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
    Additions to oil and gas properties         (267,015)           (416,350)
    Acquisition of oil and gas properties (1)     51,065                   -
    Derivative settlements                        (9,460)          1,294,157
    Additions to other property and equipment     (2,137)             (5,819)
                                                  ------              ------
    Net cash (used in) provided by investing
     activities                                 (227,547)            871,988
                                                --------             -------
    CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
    Borrowings from revolving credit
     facilities                                  625,935           2,240,090
    Repayments of revolving credit facilities   (855,935)         (3,545,090)
    Proceeds from issuance of Senior Notes       300,000             337,161
    Costs incurred in connection with
     financing arrangements                       (5,344)             (6,541)
    Derivative settlements                             -               1,392
                                                     ---               -----
    Net cash provided by (used in) financing
     activities                                   64,656            (972,988)
                                                  ------            --------
    Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
     equivalents                                  58,887            (130,351)
    Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of
     period                                        1,859             311,875
                                                   -----             -------
    Cash and cash equivalents, end of period     $60,746            $181,524
                                                 =======            ========
    (1)  Cash inflow in 2010 is associated with an adjustment to the
    final settlement of the $1.1 billion payment in September 2009
    related to the prepayment of the Haynesville drilling carry.

    Plains Exploration & Production Company
    Consolidated Balance Sheets
    (in thousands of dollars)
                                                  March 31,   December 31,
                                                        2010           2009
                                                        ----           ----
          ASSETS                                (Unaudited)
    Current Assets
      Cash and cash equivalents                      $60,746         $1,859
      Accounts receivable                            193,368        258,585
      Commodity derivative contracts                  24,728         11,952
      Inventories                                     17,871         19,934
      Prepaid expenses and other current assets       25,626         14,305
                                                      ------         ------
                                                     322,339        306,635
                                                     -------        -------
    Property and Equipment, at cost
      Oil and natural gas properties -full cost
       method
        Subject to amortization                    9,403,577      9,044,146
        Not subject to amortization                3,143,352      3,279,537
      Other property and equipment                   127,804        125,667
                                                     -------        -------
                                                  12,674,733     12,449,350
      Less allowance for depreciation,
       depletion, amortization and impairment     (5,736,965)    (5,616,628)
                                                  ----------     ----------
                                                   6,937,768      6,832,722
                                                   ---------      ---------
    Goodwill                                         535,237        535,237
                                                     -------        -------
    Other Assets                                      61,314         60,137
                                                      ------         ------
                                                  $7,856,658     $7,734,731
                                                  ==========     ==========

          LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Current Liabilities
      Accounts payable                              $196,662       $248,454
      Commodity derivative contracts                  54,322         59,176
      Royalties and revenues payable                  77,351         78,590
      Interest payable                                50,542         45,743
      Deferred income taxes                          109,126        153,473
      Other current liabilities                       87,320         97,115
                                                      ------         ------
                                                     575,323        682,551
                                                     -------        -------
    Long-Term Debt                                 2,720,962      2,649,689
                                                   ---------      ---------

    Other Long-Term Liabilities
      Asset retirement obligation                    218,634        214,231
      Other                                           50,578         55,531
                                                      ------         ------
                                                     269,212        269,762
                                                     -------        -------
    Deferred Income Taxes                          1,020,719        933,748
                                                   ---------        -------
    Stockholders'  Equity
      Common stock                                     1,439          1,439
      Additional paid-in capital                   3,361,383      3,381,566
      Retained earnings                              106,517         51,204
      Treasury stock, at cost                       (198,897)      (235,228)
                                                    --------       --------
                                                   3,270,442      3,198,981
                                                   ---------      ---------
                                                  $7,856,658     $7,734,731
                                                  ==========     ==========

    Plains Exploration & Production Company
    Summary of Open Derivative Positions
    At April 30, 2010

                       Instrument             Daily
      Period (1)          Type               Volumes
    Sales of Crude
     Oil
     Production
    2010
      Apr - Dec        Put options        40,000 Bbls
    2011
      Jan - Dec     Put options (4)       31,000 Bbls
                        Three-way
      Jan - Dec        collars (5)         9,000 Bbls

    2012
      Jan - Dec     Put options (4)       40,000 Bbls

    Sales of
     Natural Gas
     Production
    2010
                        Three-way
      Apr - Dec        collars (6)        85,000 MMBtu


                                 Average
      Period (1)                Price (2)
    Sales of Crude
     Oil
     Production
    2010
      Apr - Dec                  $55.00 Strike price
    2011
      Jan - Dec     $80.00 Floor with a $60.00 Limit
      Jan - Dec     $80.00 Floor with a $60.00 Limit
                                     $110.00 Ceiling
    2012
      Jan - Dec     $80.00 Floor with a $60.00 Limit

    Sales of
     Natural Gas
     Production
    2010
      Apr - Dec       $6.12 Floor with a $4.64 Limit
                                       $8.00 Ceiling


                         Average
                         Deferred
      Period (1)         Premium            Index
    Sales of Crude
     Oil
     Production
    2010
      Apr - Dec     $5.00 per Bbl (3)        WTI
    2011
      Jan - Dec        $5.023 per Bbl        WTI
      Jan - Dec         $1.00 per Bbl        WTI

    2012
      Jan - Dec        $6.087 per Bbl        WTI

    Sales of
     Natural Gas
     Production
    2010
                                            Henry
      Apr - Dec      $0.034 per MMBtu         Hub

    (1)  All of our derivative instruments are settled monthly.
    (2)  The average strike prices do not reflect the cost to purchase
    the put options or collars.
    (3)  In addition to the deferred premium, a premium averaging $3.86
    per barrel was paid upon entering into these derivative contracts.
    (4)  If the index price is less than the $80 per barrel floor, we
    receive the difference between the $80 per barrel floor and the
    index price up to a maximum of $20 per barrel less the option
    premium. If the index price is at or above $80 per barrel, we pay
    only the option premium.
    (5)  If the index price is less than the $80 per barrel floor, we
    receive the difference between the $80 per barrel floor and the
    index price up to a maximum of $20 per barrel less the option
    premium. We pay the difference between the index price and $110 per
    barrel plus the option premium if the index price is greater than
    the $110 per barrel ceiling. If the index price is at or above $80
    per barrel but at or below $110 per barrel, we pay only the option
    premium.
    (6)  If the index price is less than the $6.12 per MMBtu floor, we
    receive the difference between the $6.12 per MMBtu floor and the
    index price up to a maximum of $1.48 per MMBtu less the option
    premium.  We pay the difference between the index price and $8.00
    per MMBtu plus the option premium if the index price is greater than
    the $8.00 ceiling.

Plains Exploration & Production Company

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measure

The following table reconciles net income (GAAP) to adjusted net income (non-GAAP) for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009. Adjusted net income excludes certain items affecting the comparability of operating results and the related tax effects. Management believes this presentation may be helpful to investors. PXP management uses this information to analyze operating trends and for comparative purposes within the industry. This measure is not intended to replace the GAAP statistic but rather to provide additional information that may be helpful in evaluating the Company’s operational trends and performance.


                                                     Three Months Ended
                                                         March 31,
                                                         ---------
                                                      2010            2009
                                                      ----            ----
                                                   (millions of dollars)

     Net income (GAAP)                               $58.5            $5.2
      Unrealized gain on mark-to-
       market                                           (7.9)          (88.1)
        derivative contracts
      Realized (loss) gain on mark-to-
       market                                        (12.4)           89.8
        derivative contracts (1) (2)
      Legal recovery                                  (8.4)              -
      Adjust income taxes (3)                         13.7             3.1
                                                      ----             ---

     Adjusted net income (non-
      GAAP)                                          $43.5           $10.0
                                                     =====           =====

    (1)  The 2009 realized gain excludes all cash settlements
     for the $106 crude oil puts and the $54 crude oil swaps
     monetized in the first quarter of 2009. Cash receipts on
     these instruments were $121.4 million prior to the $1.1
     billion monetization in the first quarter 2009.
    (2)  The amounts presented in the above table differ from
     the adjustments reflected in the calculation of operating
     cash flow on the following page due to the accrued amounts
     reflected in the income statement versus the actual cash
     received or paid reflected in the consolidated statement
     of cash flows.
    (3)  Tax rates assumed based upon adjusted earnings are 44%
     and 73% for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and
     2009, respectively. Tax rates exclude the effects of
     nonrecurring tax related expenses and benefits.

Plains Exploration & Production Company

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measure

The following tables reconcile Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities (GAAP) to Operating Cash Flow (non-GAAP) for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009. Management believes this presentation may be useful to investors. PXP management uses this information for comparative purposes within the industry and as a means of measuring the Company’s ability to fund capital expenditures and service debt. This measure is not intended to replace the GAAP statistic but rather to provide additional information that may be helpful in evaluating the Company’s operational trends and performance.

Operating cash flow is calculated by adjusting net income to add back certain non-cash and non-operating items, including unrealized gains on mark-to-market derivative contracts, to include derivative cash settlements for realized gains and losses on mark-to-market derivative contracts that are classified as either investing or financing activities for GAAP purposes and to exclude certain items.


                                                   Three Months Ended
                                                       March 31,
                                                       ---------
                                                    2010            2009
                                                    ----            ----
                                                 (millions of dollars)
     Net income                                    $58.5            $5.2
     Items not affecting operating cash flows
       Depreciation, depletion, amortization and
        accretion                                  126.8            91.6
       Deferred income tax expense (benefit)        42.9           (26.1)
       Debt extinguishment costs                     0.7            10.2
       Unrealized gain on mark-to-market
        derivative contracts                        (7.8)          (88.1)
       Noncash compensation                         16.9            14.5
       Other noncash items                           1.4             1.8
       Realized (loss) gain on mark-to-market
        derivatives contracts (1)                   (9.5)           99.8
       Other income items                           (8.4)              -
       Current income taxes attributable to
        derivative contracts                         4.7            55.8
                                                     ---            ----

     Operating cash flow (non-GAAP)               $226.2          $164.7
                                                  ======          ======

     Reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP measure
       Operating cash flow (non-GAAP)             $226.2          $164.7
       Other income items                            8.4               -
       Changes in assets and liabilities from
        operating activities                       (17.6)          (38.5)
       Realized loss (gain) on mark-to-market
        derivative contracts (1)                     9.5           (99.8)
       Current income taxes attributable to
        derivative contracts                        (4.7)          (55.8)
                                                    ----           -----

     Net cash provided by (used in) operating
      activities (GAAP)                           $221.8          $(29.4)
                                                  ======          ======
    (1)  The 2009 realized gain excludes all cash settlements for the
    $106 crude oil puts and the $54 crude oil swaps monetized in the
    first quarter of 2009. Cash receipts on these instruments were
    $121.4 million prior to the $1.1 billion monetization in the first
    quarter 2009.

    Plains Exploration & Production Company
    Derivative Settlements
    (in thousands of dollars)
    The following tables reflect cash (payments) receipts for
     derivatives attributable to the stated
    production periods.

                                                Three Months Ended
                                                    March 31,
                                                    ---------
                                                 2010              2009
                                                 ----              ----

          Oil sales (1)                      $(17,466)          $25,492
          Natural gas sales                     5,089            64,312

                                             $(12,377)          $89,804
                                             ========           =======

      Amortization of monetized
       derivatives (2)                           2010              2009
                                                 ----              ----
        First quarter                        $123,730           $57,211
        Second quarter                        125,105           167,943
        Third quarter                         126,479           169,788
        Fourth quarter                        126,479           169,788
                                              -------           -------
                                             $501,793          $564,730
                                             ========          ========
    (1)  Excludes all cash settlements for the $106 crude oil puts and
    the $54 crude oil swaps monetized in the first quarter of 2009. Cash
    receipts on these instruments were $121.4 million prior to the $1.1
    billion monetization in the first quarter 2009.
    (2)  Represents the net receipts for derivatives monetized in the
    first quarter of 2009 attributable to these production periods, net
    of accrued interest on our deferred premiums.

SOURCE Plains Exploration & Production Company


Source: newswire