• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

XTO Energy Announces the Acquisition of Peak Energy Resources for $105 Million

Posted on: Thursday, 1 June 2006, 09:01 CDT

FORT WORTH, Texas, June 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- XTO Energy Inc. announced today that it has agreed to purchase privately held Peak Energy Resources Inc., a Barnett Shale producer, for equity consideration of 2.555 million shares of XTO common stock, valued at approximately $105 million. This acquisition increases the Company's reserves and leasehold acreage in the Tier 1 and Tier 2 regions of the Barnett Shale play, predominantly in Hood, Parker and eastern Erath counties of Texas. XTO Energy's internal engineers estimate proved reserves to be 64 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas, 14% of which are proved developed. Additional potential is more than 200 Bcf of natural gas. Proved reserve estimates are based on the ownership of about 37,000 gross acres (33,000 net) with new well locations spaced at 100 acres. Development costs for the proved undeveloped reserves are estimated at $1.30 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) of natural gas. The Company expects reserves of 1.0-1.5 Bcf for each new well at a cost of about $1.6 million. Production from the properties is expected to reach 10 million cubic feet per day (Mmcf/d) by the end of 2006 and more than 25 Mmcf/d in 2007.

"Our strategy for investment in the Barnett Shale reflects our commitment to low operational risk and healthy economic returns. Peak Energy offers XTO the opportunity to invest in the best non-core areas of the play where we anticipate the greatest potential," stated Bob R. Simpson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "About 30% of the Peak Energy acreage is held-by- production with no lease expiration risk and, in total, expands our holdings to almost 200,000 net acres across the Barnett Shale play. Importantly, we have hand-picked our properties where drilling and economic results favor long-term development."

"As in all of our regions, we continue to build out positions based on reservoir quality, production characteristics and attractive returns. The Peak Energy purchase provides us with solid drilling acreage based on our technical assessment of well performance to date," said Keith A. Hutton, President. "The leasehold is primarily located in a thick section of the shale reservoir, ranging from 200 feet to 250 feet, and at a shallow average drilling depth of 4,600 feet. Per-well reserves may be less than those in the Core Area, but the gas composition is 25% richer, yielding price realizations $1 to $1.50 per Mcf higher than the Core. A well-designed infrastructure to handle gas production and water disposal is already in place. In addition, new pipelines are under construction to accommodate future development. XTO currently plans to drill 300 wells on the Peak properties and looks to expand further with 50-acre drilling locations in select areas."

This transaction is expected to close on June 30, 2006. The booked acquisition cost will include customary non-cash adjustments, including a step-up for deferred income taxes. Lehman Brothers acted as the financial advisor to Peak Energy.

XTO Energy Inc. is a domestic natural gas producer engaged in the acquisition, exploitation and development of quality, long-lived oil and natural gas properties in the United States. Its properties are concentrated in Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Wyoming, Colorado, Alaska, Utah, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Statements made in this news release, including those relating to the value of stock to be delivered, proved reserves, proved developed reserves, upside reserve potential, well spacing, expected reserves per well, costs per well, production growth targets at the end of 2006 and in 2007, development costs for proved undeveloped reserves, economic returns, price realizations and number of wells to be drilled are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are based on assumptions and estimates that management believes are reasonable based on currently available information; however, management's assumptions and the Company's future performance are both subject to a wide range of business risks and uncertainties and there is no assurance that these goals and projections can or will be met. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, failure to close the acquisition, failure to obtain consents from third parties, the availability of drilling equipment, the timing and results of drilling activity and higher than expected production costs and other expenses and personnel. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. Further information on risks and uncertainties is available in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are incorporated by this reference as though fully set forth herein.

Reserve estimates and estimates of reserve potential or upside with respect to the pending acquisition were made by our internal engineers without review by an independent petroleum engineering firm. Data used to make these estimates were furnished by the seller and may not be as complete as that which is available for our owned properties. We believe our estimates of proved reserves comply with criteria provided under rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

XTO Energy Inc.

CONTACT: Louis G. Baldwin, Executive Vice President & Chief FinancialOfficer, XTO Energy Inc., +1-817-870-2800; or Gary D. Simpson, Senior VicePresident, Investor Relations & Finance, XTO Energy Inc., +1-817-870-2800

Web site: http://www.xtoenergy.com/

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

More News in this Category