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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED) NOVEMBER 6, 1997
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CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
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(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)
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OKLAHOMA 1-13726 73-1395733
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer Identification No.)
of incorporation) File Number)
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6100 NORTH WESTERN AVENUE, OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA 73118
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(405) 848-8000
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(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
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INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
On November 6, 1997, Chesapeake Energy Corporation ("Chesapeake")
issued a press release reporting fiscal 1998 first quarter results, $74 million
profit from Bayard initial public offering, new Louisiana Trend completions,
and change in fiscal year end. The November 6, 1997 press release is filed
herewith as Exhibit 99 and incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
(c) Exhibits. The following exhibit is filed herewith:
99 Press Release issued by the Registrant on November 6,
1997.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
BY: /s/ MARCUS C. ROWLAND
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MARCUS C. ROWLAND,
Senior Vice President -
Chief Financial Officer
Dated: November 6, 1997
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
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99 Press Release issued by the Registrant on November 6, 1997.
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EXHIBIT 99
CONTACT: MARC ROWLAND, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
(405)848-8000, EXT. 232
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TOM PRICE, JR.,VICE PRESIDENT-
NOVEMBER 6, 1997 CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT
(405)848-8000, EXT. 257
CHESAPEAKE REPORTS FISCAL 1998 FIRST QUARTER RESULTS,
$74 MILLION PROFIT FROM BAYARD IPO, NEW LOUISIANA
TREND COMPLETIONS, AND CHANGE IN FISCAL YEAR END
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, NOVEMBER 6, 1997 -- Chesapeake Energy Corporation
today reported its financial results for the fiscal 1998 first quarter ended
September 30, 1997. For the quarter, Chesapeake reported net income of $5.5
million, or $0.08 per common share, on total revenue of $78.4 million. This is
a 33% decrease from fiscal 1997's first quarter net income of $8.2 million, or
$0.13 per common share, on total revenue of $49.8 million. Operating cash flow
for the first quarter of fiscal 1998 increased 14% to $35.2 million from $30.9
million in the first quarter of fiscal 1997.
PRODUCTION VOLUMES INCREASE
For the first quarter of fiscal 1998, Chesapeake's oil and natural gas
production totaled 19.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent (Bcfe), an
increase of 5% compared to the 18.3 Bcfe produced in the fiscal 1997 first
quarter. Average prices received were $2.12 per thousand cubic feet of natural
gas and $18.48 per barrel of oil, for a natural gas equivalent (Mcfe) price of
$2.38, compared to an average Mcfe price of $2.01 in last year's first quarter.
BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES IPO RESULTS
Earlier this week, Bayard Drilling Technologies, Inc. priced its initial public
offering of common stock at $23.00 per share. As a result, Chesapeake expects
to receive proceeds of approximately $108 million, resulting in an after tax
profit of $74 million, or $1.01 per share, upon completion of the IPO and as a
result of yesterday's exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option. The
gain will be recorded in Chesapeake's fiscal 1998 second quarter.
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LOUISIANA TREND DISCOVERIES
Chesapeake has recently completed two new discoveries in its ongoing Louisiana
Trend drilling program. In the South Brookeland area, Chesapeake's Cypress 1
tested at 27 million cubic feet of gas per day during a three day flow test
through a choke size of 28/64" with flowing tubing pressures of 7,000 psi.
Drilled as a rank wildcat, the Cypress is located approximately 100 miles east
of Navasota River and 100 miles west of Masters Creek. Construction of a gas
pipeline is underway and production from the well should begin by the end of
November. Chesapeake owns approximately 150,000 acres in the area and offset
drilling should begin in the next few weeks.
Chesapeake's second new discovery is the Labokay 26. The Labokay 26 is the
first known Masters Creek test of the upper Austin Chalk, or "A" zone, with all
previous Masters Creek wells having been drilled in the lower Austin Chalk, or
"B" zone. As to other activity in Masters Creek, Chesapeake is currently
completing the Addison 8, Wahlder 29 and Lord 1 wells and is drilling the
Blackstone 23, Giles 22, Labokay 26, Martin 11, Reickers 5, Vanply 3, and
Vanply 27. Outside of Masters Creek, Chesapeake is drilling the Clark 23 in
the St. Landry area and the Peevy 71 in the Baton Rouge area.
Tom L. Ward, Chesapeake's President and Chief Operating Officer commented,
"Tested at rates of three million cubic feet of gas equivalent production per
day, the Labokay well confirms the existence of a second reservoir target in
the Masters Creek area. We believe this "A" zone exists behind pipe in all of
our Masters Creek wells and its presence may add additional reserves to our
Masters Creek assets. We are now preparing to drill a "B" zone lateral in the
Labokay 26 and hope to commence production in 60-90 days.
Additionally, the production characteristics of the Cypress remind us of our
deep Navasota River production - high production rates, high gas to oil ratio,
and high initial flowing tubing pressures. While we are excited about the
possible significance of these discoveries, we are not able to predict the
ultimate economic benefit from these wells until we establish sustained
production and drill successful offsets."
OTHER ACTIVITY
In other operating areas, Chesapeake is drilling with four rigs in Texas, seven
rigs in Oklahoma, two rigs in New Mexico, and one rig in North Dakota. Of
particular significance is the company's ongoing success in the Lovington, New
Mexico area. During the past 18 months, the company has drilled 12 Strawn
exploratory wells using its 3-D seismic data and all have been completed
successfully. Prior to Chesapeake's use of 3-D seismic in this area,
exploratory success rates were less than 40%. Well costs have averaged $1
million and reserves per well have averaged approximately two billion cubic
feet of gas equivalent. Chesapeake expects to drill 25-40 new wells in this
area during the next two years.
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Chesapeake's two proprietary 3-D surveys in the Tuscaloosa Trend of Louisiana
are underway and the Wharton County, Texas 3-D survey with Coastal and Seagull
is also in progress. All of these 3-D surveys should be completed in early
1998 with drilling activities to commence thereafter.
MANAGEMENT COMMENT
Aubrey K. McClendon, Chesapeake's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
concluded, "Our recent Louisiana Trend drilling results indicate significant
additional drillbit opportunities for our company. We believe the addition of
a second prospective zone in Masters Creek and the discovery of a new area in
South Brookeland enhances the value of our Louisiana Trend assets. The three
wells announced on October 22 and the two today highlight the potential of our
current Louisiana Trend drilling strategy.
We are also very pleased with the price we received for our Bayard stock. In
less than one year, we earned a $74 million profit on a $34 million investment,
a 218% gain. Bayard has a bright future and we are proud to have assisted
Bayard's management in building one of the premier onshore drilling companies
in the U.S. The Bayard transaction also significantly enhances our balance
sheet. Pro forma for the Bayard, DLB and AnSon transactions, Chesapeake's
stockholders equity will increase to almost $500 million and our cash and
investments will exceed $200 million.
Finally, the company has decided to change its year end to December 31 in order
to make our financial results more easily comparable to those of our peer
group."
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Chesapeake Energy Corporation is an independent oil and natural gas producer
headquartered in Oklahoma City which specializes in utilizing advanced seismic,
drilling and completion technologies to develop new reserves of oil and natural
gas. The company's operations are focused on exploratory and developmental
drilling in major onshore producing areas of the United States.
The information in this release includes certain forward-looking statements
that are based on assumptions that in the future may prove not to have been
accurate. Those statements, and Chesapeake Energy Corporation's business and
prospects, are subject to a number of risks, including production variances
from expectations, volatility of oil and gas prices, the need to develop and
replace its reserves, the substantial capital expenditures required to fund its
operations, environmental risks, drilling and operating risks, risks related to
exploratory and developmental drilling, uncertainties about estimates of
reserves, competition, government regulation, and the ability of the company to
implement its business strategy. These and other risks are described in the
company's documents and reports that are available from the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission.
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THREE MONTHS ENDED: SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 SEPTEMBER 30, 1996
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$ $/MCFE $ $/MCFE
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REVENUES:
Oil and gas sales 45,667 2.38 36,753 2.01
Oil and gas marketing sales 26,865 1.40 12,184 0.66
Interest and other 5,878 0.31 848 0.05
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Total revenues 78,410 4.09 49,785 2.72
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EXPENSES:
Production expenses and taxes 5,180 0.27 2,530 0.14
Oil and gas marketing expenses 26,690 1.39 11,866 0.65
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization
of oil and gas properties 28,550 1.49 17,029 0.93
Depreciation and amortization of other assets 1,142 0.06 952 0.05
General and administrative 2,760 0.14 1,671 0.09
Interest 8,575 0.45 2,817 0.15
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Total expenses 72,897 3.80 36,865 2.01
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INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 5,513 0.29 12,920 0.71
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES - - 4,716 0.26
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NET INCOME 5,513 0.29 8,204 0.45
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EARNINGS PER COMMON AND
COMMON EQUIVALENT SHARE:
PRIMARY 0.08 - 0.13 -
FULLY DILUTED 0.08 - 0.13 -
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WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON AND COMMON
EQUIVALENT SHARES OUTSTANDING (IN 000'S):
PRIMARY 72,699 - 64,258 -
FULLY DILUTED 73,243 - 64,338 -
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OPERATING CASH FLOWS (1) 35,205 1.84 30,901 1.69
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PRODUCTION AND PRICING DATA:
THOUSANDS OF BARRELS OF OIL (MBBL) 870 + 75% 498
MILLIONS OF CUBIC FEET OF GAS (MMCF) 13,941 - 9% 15,324
MILLIONS OF CUBIC FEET OF GAS EQUIVALENTS (MMCFE) 19,161 + 5% 18,312
AVERAGE PRICE/BARREL $ 18.48 - 13% $ 21.19
AVERAGE PRICE/MCF $ 2.12 + 24% $ 1.71
AVERAGE GAS EQUIVALENT PRICE/MCFE $ 2.38 + 18% $ 2.01
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(1) Income before depreciation, depletion and amortization and income tax.
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SEPTEMBER 30 SEPTEMBER 30
1997 1996
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Cash and short-term investments $131,260 $5,356
Other current assets 64,513 57,894
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Total current assets 195,773 63,250
Property and equipment, net 689,299 520,336
Other assets 46,597 11,965
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TOTAL ASSETS $931,669 $595,551
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Current liabilities $123,949 $109,657
Long-term liabilities 516,512 299,237
Stockholders' equity 291,208 186,657
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TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $931,669 $595,551
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