EX-99.1 2 a07-8698_1ex99d1.htm EX-99.1

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
William Kent
Director, Investor Relations
303-991-5070

STORM CAT ENERGY CORPORATION ANNOUNCES
YEAR-END 2006 RESULTS

·              Gas Production Increases 132%

·              Oil and Gas Sales Revenue Increases 124%

·              100 Wells Drilled During 2006

DENVER and CALGARY - March 19, 2007 — Storm Cat Energy Corporation (AMEX: SCU - News; TSX: SME) today announced year-end 2006 financial and operating results.

Financial Overview (all figures in U.S. Dollars)

For the year ended December 31, 2006 Storm Cat reported record oil and gas sales revenue of $9.4 million, a 124 percent increase over full-year 2005 sales.  Sales revenue is a function of sales volumes and average sales prices. Sales volumes increased 132% between year-end 2005 and year-end 2006. The volume increase resulted primarily from acquisitions and successful drilling over the past year that produced new sales volumes that offset the natural decline in production from existing wells.  The Company’s average price for natural gas decreased 3% to $5.88 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) in 2006 from $6.08 per Mcf in 2005.

The Company reported a net loss of $6.9 million, or $0.10 per share, for the full-year 2006, as compared to a net loss of $8.4 million, or $0.18 per share, for the full-year 2005.  The net loss for the year reflected a $1.9 million impairment expense, incurred in the third quarter, related to the Company’s Moose Mountain Saskatchewan Project, and higher general and administrative expenses, composed primarily of $2.8 million in non-cash employee stock compensation expense, increased Sarbanes-Oxley and audit fees of $0.3 million, increased Director and




 

Officer insurance of $0.2 million and a one-time charge of $0.5 million related to the bank credit facility entered into during the year. Net income for 2006 also reflected a tax benefit of $1.6 million related the Canadian flow through shares.

Total assets increased 96% to $112.0 million in 2006 from $57.0 million in 2005.  The book value of oil and gas properties increased 289% to $96.6 million at year-end 2006 from $24.8 million at year-end 2005.

Weighted average shares outstanding for year-end 2006 increased to 70.4 million as compared to 47.3 million at year-end 2005.  The increase in average shares outstanding is attributed to the private placement the Company completed in Canada using, in part, the flow-through share structure, as well as the exercise of outstanding warrants and options.

Keith Knapstad, acting President and Chief Executive Officer commented: “Storm Cat achieved numerous milestones in 2006. We high-graded our asset portfolio through strategic purchases in the Powder River Basin, our core producing area, as well as with acquisition of quality acreage in the Fayetteville Shale play in the Arkoma Basin.  We executed our drilling program, drilling 100 wells.  We tripled year-end production, and nearly tripled our proven reserves to 28.7 Bcf, with approximately 9.5 Bcf of developed reserve additions coming through the drill bit.  Entering 2007, Storm Cat is moving forward on the strong momentum built during 2006. We will continue an aggressive drilling program in the Powder River Basin, begin to advance our development in the Fayetteville Shale play and continue ongoing activities in Elk Valley and Canada.”

Operating Overview

Production

Since October 2004, Storm Cat has acquired a significant and highly prospective acreage portfolio targeting unconventional gas.  Through drilling and acquisitions in the Powder River Basin (PRB), net production increased 132% to 1,606.2 million cubic feet (MMcf) for the full year 2006 from 693.5 MMcf in the prior year.  For the full-year 2006, the Company reported average daily net sales production of 4.4 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) as compared to 1.9 MMcf/d for the full year 2005.  Net production from the PRB averaged 8.0 MMcf/d at year end.




 

Reserves

As previously announced, year-end 2006 proven reserves, based on SEC pricing of $4.46 per thousand British thermal units, were 25.0 Bcf, probable reserves were 5.9 Bcf and possible reserves were 26.4 Bcf. Approximately 54% of the proven reserves were classified as proved developed. The 2006 estimated quantities of proven reserves are 150% higher than year-end 2005 proven reserves of 10.0 Bcf. In addition, Storm Cat increased proved developed reserves by 244% at year-end 2006. All reserve estimates are based on an evaluation of the reserves prepared by independent reservoir engineering consultants, Netherland Sewell and Associates, Inc.

In addition to the SEC reserve report, Storm Cat estimated year end proven, possible and probable reserves using available current strip pricing. Using current strip pricing, proven reserves are 28.7 Bcf, probable reserves are 9.0 Bcf and possible reserves are 28.2 Bcf.

Pricing

The average realized sales price of natural gas was $5.88 per Mcf for the full-year 2006, down from $6.08 per Mcf in the prior year.

Storm Cat’s fixed-price natural gas hedges are summarized as follows:

Fixed-priced Financial Hedges

·          1.5 MMBtu/day

·          U.S. $7.16 Colorado Interstate Gas (CIG)

·          August 2006 through July 2009

·          2.0 MMBtu/day

·          U.S. $7.27 CIG

·          September 2006 through August 2009

·          2.4 MMBtu/day

·          U.S. $5.12 CIG

·          January 2007 through December 2007

·          1.2 MMBtu/day

·          U.S. $6.61 CIG

·          January 2008 through December 2008




 

Drilling Activities

The Company drilled and completed 100 wells in 2006, 86 of which were in the PRB.  These wells were primarily located within the Company’s Northeast Spotted Horse acreage.   Storm Cat currently has as many as three rigs running in the PRB and expects to drill approximately 150 wells on its various acreage positions during 2007.

The Company drilled and completed five wells in Elk Valley during 2006. These wells are currently on production and de-watering.  The Company expects indicative results for these wells to be available late in the third quarter of 2007.

Financial and operations tables accompany this release.  Please reference the Company’s filing on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission and with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR for important notes to the financial statements.

For further shareholder inquiries please contact Storm Cat Energy Investor Relations at 303-991-5070 or at info@stormcatenergy.com.

About Storm Cat Energy Corporation

Storm Cat Energy is an independent oil and gas company focused on the pursuit, exploration and development of large unconventional gas reserves from fractured shales, coal beds and tight sand formations. The Company has producing properties in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin, exploration and development acreage in Canada, Arkansas and Alaska. The Company’s shares trade on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol “SCU” and in Canada on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “SME.”

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements”, as defined in the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, relating to matters such as the Company’s drilling and other exploration plans and projected well economics. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “projects,” “aims,” “potential,” “goal,” “objective,” “prospective,” and similar expressions, or that events or conditions “will,” “would,” “may,” “can,” “could” or “should” occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Storm Cat’s management on the date the statements are made; including production and reserve




 

estimates, and potential benefits to Storm Cat of such acquisitions, and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Storm Cat undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to receipt of necessary approval from regulatory bodies, the failure to achieve the anticipated benefits of the acquisition, the failure to close the acquisition, the volatility of natural gas prices, the possibility that exploration efforts will not yield economically recoverable quantities of gas, accidents and other risks associated with gas exploration and development operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, the Company’s need for and ability to obtain additional financing, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company’s exploration and development plans, and the other risk factors discussed in greater detail in the Company’s various filings on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) with Canadian securities regulators and its filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.

NO STOCK EXCHANGE HAS REVIEWED OR ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.




 

SELECT OPERATING DATA

Selected Operating Data:

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Net Sales Volume:

 

 

 

 

 

Natural Gas (MMcf)

 

1,606.2

 

693.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and Gas Sales (in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Natural Gas

 

$

9,444

 

$

4,214

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average Sales Prices:

 

 

 

 

 

Natural Gas (per Mcf)

 

$

5.88

 

$

6.08

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Data (per Mcf):

 

 

 

 

 

Gathering and Transportation

 

$

1.20

 

$

1.31

 

Lease Operating Expenses

 

$

1.49

 

$

2.61

 

Ad Valorem and Property Taxes

 

$

0.65

 

$

0.78

 

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

 

$

2.22

 

$

2.28

 

General and Administrative, net of capitalization

 

$

2.55

 

$

5.20

 

Stock-based Compensation

 

$

1.73

 

$

2.76

 

 




 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Stated in U.S. Dollars and in thousands, except share amounts)

 

 

 December 31, 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

5,299

 

$

29,502

 

Accounts receivable:

 

 

 

 

 

Joint Interest Billing

 

1,932

 

703

 

Revenue Receivable

 

2,121

 

504

 

Fair Value of Derivative Instruments - Current

 

2,670

 

0

 

Prepaid Costs and Other Current Assets

 

1,445

 

445

 

Total Current Assets

 

13,467

 

31,154

 

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and gas properties:

 

 

 

 

 

Unproved Properties

 

54,873

 

8,249

 

Proved Property, net of impairments

 

46,446

 

18,071

 

Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion

 

(4,764

)

(1,502

)

Oil and gas properties, net

 

96,555

 

24,818

 

Fixed Assets

 

1,057

 

911

 

Accumulated Depreciation

 

(408

)

(106

)

Total other property, net

 

649

 

805

 

Total property and equipment, net

 

97,204

 

25,623

 

Restricted Investments

 

511

 

176

 

Fair Value of Derivative Instruments - Long Term

 

782

 

0

 

 

 

1,293

 

176

 

Total Assets

 

$

111,964

 

$

56,953

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts Payable

 

$

7,302

 

$

3,815

 

Revenue Payable

 

2,063

 

313

 

Accrued & Other Liabilities

 

10,011

 

7,850

 

Flow-Through Shares Liability

 

1,233

 

731

 

Notes Payable — Current

 

7,500

 

0

 

Interest Payable

 

952

 

0

 

Total Current Liabilities

 

29,061

 

12,709

 

Asset Retirement Obligation

 

1,871

 

793

 

Notes Payable-Long Term

 

19,350

 

0

 

 

 

21,221

 

793

 

Total Liabilities

 

50,282

 

13,502

 

Commitments and Contingencies

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock, without par value, unlimited common shares authorized, issued and outstanding: 80,429,820 at December 31, 2006 and 65,654,388 at December 31, 2005

 

69,518

 

50,858

 

Contributed Surplus

 

4,910

 

2,204

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

 

3,877

 

151

 

Accumulated Deficit

 

(16,623

)

(9,762

)

Total Stockholders’ Equity

 

61,682

 

43,451

 

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

$

111,964

 

$

56,953

 

 




 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Stated in U.S. Dollars and in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

OPERATING REVENUES:

 

 

 

 

 

Oil and gas revenue

 

$

9,444

 

$

4,214

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPENSES:

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Costs

 

 

 

 

 

Gathering & transportation

 

1,921

 

906

 

Operating expenses

 

3,443

 

2,354

 

General & administrative expenses

 

6,880

 

5,520

 

(Gain) loss on property sales

 

(185

)

56

 

Accretion expense

 

213

 

65

 

Depreciation, depletion, & amortization

 

3,703

 

1,583

 

Impairment

 

2,027

 

2,125

 

Total Operating Expenses

 

18,002

 

12,609

 

Operating loss

 

(8,558

)

(8,395

)

OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME)

 

 

 

 

 

Loss (Gain) on foreign exchange

 

11

 

98

 

Interest and other misc. income

 

(184

)

(125

)

Net loss before taxes

 

(8,385

)

(8,368

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recovery of future income tax asset

 

(1,524

)

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET LOSS

 

$

(6,861

)

$

(8,368

)

Basic and diluted loss per share

 

$

(0.10

)

$

(0.18

)

Weighted average number of shares outstanding

 

70,429,219

 

47,321,481

 

 




 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(Stated in U.S. Dollars and in thousands, except share amounts)

 

 

For the Year Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net Loss

 

$

(6,861

)

$

(8,368

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Recovery of future tax asset

 

(1,524

)

 

Stock-based compensation

 

2,707

 

1,914

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

3,564

 

1,572

 

Impairments

 

1,975

 

2,125

 

Asset retirement obligation

 

213

 

65

 

Gain on disposition of properties

 

(185

)

(56

)

Changes in operating working capital:

 

 

 

 

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

(3,180

)

(1,099

)

Other current assets

 

(666

)

(360

)

Accounts payable

 

(3,331

)

509

 

Other current liabilities

 

4,601

 

1,426

 

Net cash used in operating activities

 

(2,687

)

(2,272

)

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted investments

 

(335

)

(150

)

Capital expenditures - oil and gas properties

 

(71,258

)

(14,766

)

Proceeds from sale

 

1,000

 

 

Other capital expenditures

 

(145

)

(817

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(70,738

)

(15,733

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of shares of stock for cash

 

18,660

 

44,189

 

Flow-through shares

 

2,755

 

731

 

Bank debt

 

35,032

 

 

Repayment of bank debt

 

(7,500

)

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

48,947

 

44,920

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

 

275

 

(78

)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

(24,203

)

26,837

 

Cash and cash equivalents and beginning of period

 

29,502

 

2,665

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

5,299

 

$

29,502