HOUSTON, Aug. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Riviera Resources, Inc. (OTCQX: RVRA) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Blue Mountain Midstream LLC announces financial and operating results for the second quarter 2020 and provides a strategic update.
The Company highlights the following accomplishments:
- Returned approximately $355 million to shareholders in the last eight months:
- Cash distribution of $4.25 per share paid to shareholders on December 12, 2019
- Cash distribution of $1.00 per share paid to shareholders on April 24, 2020
- Cash distribution of $0.75 per share paid to shareholders on May 12, 2020
- Signed definitive agreements to sell the remaining North Louisiana assets for a contract price of $26.5 million, and interests in certain properties located in the Anadarko Basin in Oklahoma for a contract price of approximately $16 million
- Proceeds will be added to the Company’s existing cash on the balance sheet, and allow the option to return more capital in the future
- Engaged EnergyNet to help sell the remaining upstream assets
- Ended the second quarter with a consolidated cash balance of ~$56 million and ~$75 million drawn on the Blue Mountain Midstream LLC (“Blue Mountain”) senior secured revolving loan facility (the “Blue Mountain Credit Facility”)
- Reduced general and administrative expenses, excluding share-based compensation expenses and severance expenses, by $3.6 million, a decrease of 31% from the first quarter 2020, through cost reduction initiatives, including combining upstream and Blue Mountain management teams
- Continued ongoing engagement with Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. to explore a potential sale or merger for Blue Mountain
Blue Mountain highlights:
- Continued expansion of the water gathering system, connecting 6 pads in the second quarter of 2020
- Averaged 81% of gathered water on pipe in the second quarter of 2020, with approximately 92% disposed in company owned or working interest salt water disposal (“SWD”) wells
- Invested majority of capital through July 31, 2020, with approximately $3 million left to spend in 2020
Riviera Upstream highlights:
- Outperformed second quarter upstream guidance with respect to Adjusted EBITDAX, with higher oil and gas production, lower capital, and operating expenses in line with guidance ranges
David Rottino, Riviera’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “In the second quarter, the Company outperformed upstream Adjusted EBITDAX guidance and returned approximately $105 million to shareholders through two separate distributions. Furthermore, we significantly reduced operating and general and administrative costs during the second quarter by consolidating management of Blue Mountain within the Company’s existing executive management team. So far in 2020, we have closed four transactions for approximately $69 million, recently announced the sale of our interest in properties located in North Louisiana and the Anadarko Basin in Oklahoma for a combined contract price of $42.3 million and have engaged EnergyNet to market our remaining upstream assets. Once we close these remaining transactions, it will result in a complete exit from the upstream business. In addition, we continue to work closely with Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co to explore a potential sale or merger for Blue Mountain.”
Asset SalesThus far in 2020, the Company has closed four transactions generating aggregate proceeds of approximately $69 million. The four transactions include the sale of properties located in the Uinta Basin (closed January 2020), the sale of properties located in East Texas (Overton field closed January 2020 and Personville field closed February 2020), and the Oklahoma City Office building (closed February 2020).
The Company announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its interest in certain properties located in the Anadarko Basin in Oklahoma. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2020 for a contract price of $15.8 million. The properties are located in 14 counties throughout central and northwest Oklahoma, and consist of approximately 2,100 wells with average second quarter net production of approximately 28 Mmcfe/d. As previously announced, the Company has signed a definitive agreement to sell its North Louisiana assets for a contract price of $26.5 million that is expected to close in the third quarter of 2020. These transactions are subject to satisfactory completion of due diligence, as well as the satisfaction of closing conditions.
The Company has engaged EnergyNet to help sell its remaining upstream assets, with plans to close in the fourth quarter of 2020. After closing these transactions, the Company will completely exit the upstream business. Riviera will continue to own Blue Mountain Midstream LLC. Given the announced and planned sales, the Company has chosen not to provide guidance for its Upstream business.
Return of Capital to Shareholders
In 2020, the Company has returned approximately $107 million of capital to shareholders through a $1.00 per share cash distribution paid to shareholders on April 24, 2020, a $0.75 per share cash distribution paid to shareholders on May 12, 2020, and share repurchases.
The Board and management will consider using the proceeds from announced asset sales to make additional cash distributions to shareholders.
General and Administrative Cost Reduction Initiatives
The Company remains focused on finding ways to continue to reduce general and administrative costs. During the second quarter of 2020, we consolidated management of Blue Mountain with the Company’s existing executive management team, while continuing to maintain separate capital structures for each entity.
In the second quarter of 2020, Riviera Upstream’s general and administrative expenses, excluding share-based compensation expenses and severance expenses, were approximately $6.0 million, a decrease of 29% from the first quarter 2020.
In the second quarter of 2020, Blue Mountain’s general and administrative expenses, excluding share-based compensation expenses and severance expenses, were approximately $1.8 million, a decrease of 38% from the first quarter 2020.
Upstream Business Update
Second Quarter 2020 Activity
Riviera’s production for the second quarter averaged approximately 52 MMcfe/d, exceeding the high end of our guidance range. The Company performed in line with expectations in the second quarter with respect to its upstream capital and operating expenses. Upstream capital expenditures were approximately $0.7 million, operating expenses were approximately $5.2 million and adjusted general and administrative expenses were approximately $6.0 million.
Operating Expenses
The Company has taken several proactive steps to significantly reduce lease operating expenses, including a reduction in workforce, optimizing compression and well workover programs, and negotiating lower overall service costs. As a result, lease operating costs in the second quarter of 2020 were approximately $2.9 million.
Blue Mountain Business Update
Second Quarter 2020 Activity
In the second quarter of 2020, natural gas throughput on Blue Mountain’s system averaged 97 MMcf/d, an 18% decline compared to the first quarter of 2020. Starting in April, due to consistently low commodity prices, certain producers elected to shut-in portions of their production resulting in the lower throughput.
With respect to its water business, Blue Mountain continues to make considerable progress on the buildout of its water gathering system. During the first quarter, Blue Mountain managed 3.5 million barrels of water, or approximately 38,075 barrels per day. Of that total, the Company moved over 31,000 barrels per day on pipe (up 33% from first quarter 2020), representing 81% of managed water on Blue Mountain pipe.
Blue Mountain began construction of its crude oil gathering system in October 2019. The initial segments on its South system were placed in service on February 1, 2020 and the initial segments on its North system were placed in service on March 2, 2020. In the second quarter, Blue Mountain averaged 3,600 barrels per day on its crude gathering system.
In the second quarter of 2020, approximately $6 million of capital was reclassed as inventory, primarily related to compression purchased for the gas gathering system. Blue Mountain’s capital was approximately $13 million in the first half of 2020, with the majority of capital invested in water and crude oil gathering pipelines. Blue Mountain expects full year 2020 capital of approximately $19 million.
Given the dynamic environment, drilling uncertainty in the Mid-Continent region, and on-going strategic process, the Company has chosen not to provide third quarter guidance for Blue Mountain.
Balance Sheet and Liquidity
Riviera and Blue Mountain have established separate credit facilities. As of June 30, 2020, Riviera held approximately $55 million of cash, and there were no borrowings outstanding on Riviera’s revolving credit facility (the “Riviera Credit Facility”). Riviera had borrowing commitments of up to $30 million with available borrowing capacity of approximately $29 million, inclusive of outstanding letters of credit.
As of June 30, 2020, Blue Mountain held approximately $1 million of cash, and had approximately $75 million drawn on its revolving credit facility. Blue Mountain had borrowing commitments of up to $200 million with available borrowing capacity of approximately $115 million, including outstanding letters of credit, subject to covenant restrictions in the Blue Mountain Credit Facility.
As of July 31, 2020, there were no borrowings on the Riviera Credit Facility, and $76 million drawn on the Blue Mountain Credit Facility.
