California Resources Corporation Announces Fourth Quarter 2017 and Year End Results

4Q17 Earnings Infographic (Graphic: Business Wire)

LOS ANGELES--()--California Resources Corporation (NYSE:CRC) (the Company), an independent California-based oil and gas exploration and production company, today reported a net loss attributable to common stock (CRC net loss) of $138 million, or $3.23 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2017. The adjusted net loss1 for the fourth quarter of 2017 was $14 million, or $0.33 per diluted share. For the full year of 2017, the CRC net loss was $266 million, or $6.26 per diluted share. The adjusted net loss1 for the full year of 2017 was $187 million, or $4.40 per diluted share.

Adjusted EBITDAX1 for the fourth quarter of 2017 was $222 million and $761 million for the full year of 2017. Cash provided by operating activities was $23 million for the fourth quarter of 2017 and $248 million for the full year of 2017. Capital investments for the fourth quarter of 2017 were $139 million and $371 million for the full year of 2017, of which $14 million was funded by CRC's joint venture (JV) partner Benefit Street Partners (BSP) in the fourth quarter and $96 million for the full year. For the full year of 2017, CRC was free cash flow1 neutral after working capital and excluding capital that was funded by BSP.

Quarterly Highlights Include:

  • Produced 126,000 BOE per day
  • Invested capital of $139 million, of which JV partner BSP funded $14 million
  • Drilled 37 wells with internally funded capital and 44 wells with BSP and Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) capital
  • Generated adjusted EBITDAX1 of $222 million, reflecting an adjusted EBITDAX margin1 of 39%

Full Year Highlights Include:

  • Proved reserves of 618 MMBOE, organically replacing 119% of reserves from the capital program, excluding price revisions
  • Organic F&D costs of $6.82 per BOE, excluding price revisions
  • Invested capital of $371 million, of which JV partner BSP funded $96 million
  • Drilled 110 wells with internally funded capital and 119 wells with BSP and MIRA funded capital
  • Generated adjusted EBITDAX1 of $761 million, reflecting an adjusted EBITDAX margin1 of 36%

1 See Attachment 2 for explanations of how CRC calculates and uses the non–GAAP measures of adjusted EBITDAX, adjusted EBITDAX margin, PV-10, adjusted general and administrative expenses, free cash flow, production costs (excluding the effects of production sharing-type contracts (PSC)) and adjusted net loss, and for reconciliations of the foregoing to their nearest GAAP measure as applicable. VCI is calculated by dividing the net present value of the project's expected pre-tax cash flow over its life by the net present value of the related investments, each using a 10 percent discount rate.

Todd Stevens, CRC's President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "In 2017, we followed a strategic plan to focus on projects that offered the best value creation, to live within cash flow and to emphasize disciplined growth, and I am pleased to report that we delivered on all fronts. We replaced 119% of our production, despite a limited capital program. We leveraged our portfolio flexibility through JV partnerships to accelerate and de-risk our actionable inventory. As we have done every year since our inception, we continued to live within our cash flow, investing approximately $240 million of CRC development capital in 2017 with a VCI1 of 1.7 or fully-burdened returns of 30%. In addition, we took steps to meaningfully strengthen our financial position with a new credit amendment that provides a clear runway and a path to further de-lever. In 2018, we expect to build upon this solid momentum as we extend our track record of disciplined execution into a mid-cycle commodity environment and capture the significant upside that lies ahead. By remaining dedicated to our strategy centered on optimizing CRC’s world-class resources, driving operational execution and strengthening our balance sheet, we expect to deliver meaningful value creation for our shareholders in 2018 and beyond."

Fourth Quarter 2017 Results

For the fourth quarter of 2017, the CRC net loss was $138 million, or $3.23 per diluted share, and the adjusted net loss1 was $14 million or $0.33 per diluted share. The adjusted net loss1 excluded $116 million of non-cash derivatives losses and a net $8 million charge for other unusual and infrequent items.

Total daily production volumes averaged 126,000 barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) per day for the fourth quarter of 2017. Oil volumes averaged 80,000 barrels per day, NGL volumes averaged 16,000 barrels per day and gas volumes averaged 179,000 thousand cubic feet (MCF) per day. These results reflect approximately 1,300 BOE per day of negative PSC effects due to higher realized prices in the fourth quarter compared to expected prices, as well as a 700 BOE per day quarterly impact due to the California wildfires that occurred in December 2017.

Realized crude oil prices, including the effect of settled hedges, increased by $11.44 per barrel to $56.92 per barrel from the prior year comparable period. Settled hedges decreased realized crude oil prices by $2.95 per barrel. Average realized NGL prices registered $44.03 per barrel and realized natural gas prices were $2.77 per MCF.

Production costs for the fourth quarter of 2017 were $227 million, or $19.64 per BOE, compared to $17.50 per BOE in the prior year comparable period. The industry practice for reporting PSCs can result in higher production costs per barrel as gross field operating costs are matched with net production. Excluding the PSC effects, per unit production costs1 for the fourth quarter of 2017 would have been $18.31. The increase in unit based production costs was driven by an increase in energy costs, a ramp-up of downhole maintenance activity in line with stronger commodity prices and lower production volumes, but was partially offset by a more efficient use of energy. General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $68 million for the fourth quarter of 2017. Adjusted general and administrative expenses1 for the fourth quarter of 2017 were $67 million compared to $61 million in the prior year comparable period. The increase in adjusted G&A expenses1 was a result of the timing of grants coupled with the higher costs of performance-based bonus and incentive compensation plans due to better than expected results.

CRC reported taxes other than on income of $33 million and exploration expense of $5 million for the fourth quarter of 2017.

Capital investment in the fourth quarter of 2017 totaled $139 million, consisting of $125 million of internally funded capital and $14 million of BSP funded capital. Approximately $95 million was directed to drilling and capital workovers.

Cash provided by operating activities was $23 million.

Full Year 2017 Results

For the full year of 2017, the CRC net loss was $266 million, or $6.26 per diluted share. The adjusted net loss1 was $187 million, or $4.40 per diluted share, which excluded $78 million of non-cash derivative losses, $21 million of gains from asset divestitures, $4 million of net gains on early retirement of debt and a $26 million net charge from other unusual and infrequent items.

Total daily production volumes averaged 129,000 BOE per day for the full year of 2017. Oil volumes averaged 83,000 barrels per day, NGL volumes averaged 16,000 barrels per day, and gas volumes averaged 182,000 MCF per day.

Realized crude oil prices, including the effect of settled hedges, increased $9.23 per barrel to $51.24 per barrel from $42.01 per barrel in 2016. Settled hedges decreased 2017 realized crude oil prices by $0.23 per barrel compared with a $2.29 per barrel increase in 2016. Realized NGL prices increased 60% to $35.76 from $22.39 per barrel in 2016. Realized natural gas prices increased 17% to $2.67 per MCF compared with $2.28 per MCF in 2016.

Production costs for the full year of 2017 were $876 million, or $18.64 per BOE. Per unit production costs, excluding the effect of PSCs1, were $17.48 per BOE. The increase in production costs of $76 million from the prior year was driven by an increase in energy costs and a ramp-up of downhole and surface maintenance activity in line with stronger commodity prices, but were partially offset by a more efficient use of energy. While higher natural gas prices increase CRC's production costs for power and steam generation, they result in a net benefit due to higher revenue generated from natural gas sales. G&A expenses were $259 million for the full year of 2017. Adjusted G&A expenses1 for the full year of 2017 were $254 million compared to $228 million in 2016. The increase in adjusted G&A expenses1 was a result of the timing of grants coupled with the higher costs of performance-based bonus and incentive compensation plans due to better than expected results.

CRC reported taxes other than on income of $136 million and exploration expense of $22 million for the full year of 2017.

Capital investment in 2017 totaled $371 million, consisting of $275 million of CRC internally funded capital and $96 million of BSP funded capital. Approximately $266 million was directed to drilling and capital workovers. The Company's MIRA joint venture funded an additional $58 million of investment.

Cash provided by operating activities for the full year of 2017 was $248 million. The Company was free cash flow1 neutral after working capital and excluding capital that was funded by BSP.

Operational Update

CRC operated an average of nine rigs during the fourth quarter of 2017 and drilled 81 wells, including those drilled with BSP and MIRA capital, which consisted of 75 development wells (36 steamflood, 25 waterflood, 13 primary and one unconventional) and six exploration wells (five steamflood and one primary). Most of the drilling activity was directed toward steamfloods and waterfloods, which have different production profiles and longer response times than typical conventional wells. As a result, the full production contribution is not typically experienced in the same year that the well is drilled. In the San Joaquin basin, CRC operated seven rigs and produced approximately 88 MBOE per day for the fourth quarter. The Los Angeles basin had one rig directed toward waterflood projects, and contributed 26 MBOE per day of production in the fourth quarter of 2017. The impact of the production sharing agreements in Long Beach decreased production by 1,300 BOE per day in the fourth quarter due to fewer cost-recovery barrels as a result of higher oil prices than initially expected. The Ventura basin activity included one rig focused on conventional projects and produced approximately 6,000 BOE per day for the fourth quarter. The California wildfires negatively impacted production by approximately 2,200 BOE per day in December 2017 and production remained affected by approximately 1,200 BOE per day in January 2018 due to third party power and access issues related to the fires and subsequent mudslides. First quarter of 2018 production guidance reflects a 400 BOE per day reduction primarily due to these issues, a 600 BOE per day impact for PSC effects, as well as other factors. CRC had no development drilling activity in the Sacramento basin and continues to focus on oil weighted projects.

Balance Sheet Strengthening Update

During February 2018, CRC entered into a midstream joint venture with an affiliate of Ares Management, L.P. For more details on the transaction, please see CRC's press release and Form 8-K dated February 7, 2018.

Year-End 2017 Reserves and PV-10 Value1

CRC's proved reserves totaled 618 MMBOE as of the end of 2017, up from 568 MMBOE at year-end 2016. Excluding positive price revisions, the Company organically replaced 119% of proved reserves. This strong reserve replacement ratio (RRR)** was achieved with a limited, well executed capital program for the year, in addition to positive performance revisions primarily in Huntington Beach and Buena Vista Area. A total of approximately 34 MMBOE of additions were related to extensions and discoveries in several CRC fields and another 22 MMBOE was added through positive performance revisions. All-in 2017 Finding and Development (F&D) costs were $3.94 per BOE in 2017, including price revisions. Organic F&D costs were $6.82 per BOE in 2017, which exclude price revisions.

Summary of Changes in Proved Reserves Based on the SEC Price Deck* (Million BOE)

       
Balance at December 31, 2016   568
 
Revisions Related to Performance 22
Extensions and Discoveries 34
Sales (8 )
Revisions Related to Price 49
Production (47 )
 
Balance at December 31, 2017   618  
     
2017 Organic Finding and Development Cost**   $ 6.82  

*Calculated using the first-day-of-the-month twelve-month average Brent oil price of $54.42 per barrel and NYMEX natural gas price of $2.98 per Million British Thermal Units (MMBTU), before adjustments for gravity, quality and transportation costs, in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules and regulations.
** See calculation of RRR and F&D on Attachment 3.

The present value of CRC's proved reserves as of December 31, 2017 was approximately $4.5 billion on a pre-tax basis, discounted at 10% (PV-101).

2018 Capital Budget

With stronger expected cash flows, CRC estimates its 2018 capital program will range from $425 million to $450 million, which includes approximately $100 to $150 million in JV capital. CRC's 2018 capital program may grow further through the use of cash on the balance sheet, additional tranches from existing JVs as well as potential new JVs. CRC’s direct investment level will be largely directed to waterflood and steamflood investments which will drive enhanced production into 2019.

Credit Facility Amendment

CRC entered into its seventh amendment of the 2014 Credit Facility in November 2017. This amendment received unanimous approval from all 29 lenders and financial institutions and became effective after the closing of a new $1.3 billion first lien secured term loan facility (“2017 Term Loan”). Net proceeds were used to pay the $559 million remaining balance of the 2014 Term Loan, reduce the balance of the 2014 Revolving Credit Facility and pay accrued interest. The amendment extended the maturity date of the 2014 Revolving Credit Facility to June 30, 2021 and modified some of its covenants. Subsequent to the amendment, CRC was able to eliminate the springing maturity features related to the 5% notes due January 15, 2020 and the 5 ½% notes due September 15, 2021 by buying back $65 million of principal of the 5% Notes and $35 million in principal of the 5 ½% Notes. For more details on the amendment, please see the Company's Form 8-K disclosure dated November 17, 2017.

Conference Call Details

To participate in today’s conference call scheduled for 5:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, either dial (877) 328-5505 (International calls please dial +1 (412) 317-5421) or access via webcast at www.crc.com, fifteen minutes prior to the scheduled start time to register. Participants may also pre-register for the conference call at http://dpregister.com/10115435. A digital replay of the conference call will be archived for approximately 30 days and supplemental slides for the conference call will be available online in the Investor Relations section of www.crc.com.

About California Resources Corporation

California Resources Corporation is the largest oil and natural gas exploration and production company in California on a gross-operated basis. The Company operates its world-class resource base exclusively within the State of California, applying complementary and integrated infrastructure to gather, process and market its production. Using advanced technology, California Resources Corporation focuses on safely and responsibly supplying affordable energy for California by Californians.

Forward-Looking Statements

This presentation contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could materially affect CRC's expected results of operations, liquidity, cash flows and business prospects. Such statements include those regarding the Company's expectations as to future:

  • financial position, liquidity, cash flows and results of operations
  • business prospects
  • transactions and projects
  • operating costs
  • operations and operational results including production, hedging, capital investment and expected value creation index (VCI)
  • budgets and maintenance capital requirements
  • reserves
  • type curves

Actual results may differ from anticipated results, sometimes materially, and reported results should not be considered an indication of future performance. While CRC believes the assumptions or bases underlying our expectations are reasonable and make them in good faith, they almost always vary from actual results, sometimes materially. Factors (but not necessarily all the factors) that could cause results to differ include:

  • commodity price changes
  • debt limitations on its financial flexibility
  • insufficient cash flow to fund planned investment
  • inability to enter desirable transactions including asset sales and joint ventures
  • legislative or regulatory changes, including those related to drilling, completion, well stimulation, operation, maintenance or abandonment of wells or facilities, managing energy, water, land, greenhouse gases or other emissions, protection of health, safety and the environment, or transportation, marketing and sale of our products
  • unexpected geologic conditions
  • changes in business strategy
  • inability to replace reserves
  • insufficient capital, including as a result of lender restrictions, unavailability of capital markets or inability to attract potential investors
  • inability to enter efficient hedges
  • equipment, service or labor price inflation or unavailability
  • availability or timing of, or conditions imposed on, permits and approvals
  • lower-than-expected production, reserves or resources from development projects or acquisitions or higher-than-expected decline rates
  • disruptions due to accidents, mechanical failures, transportation or storage constraints, natural disasters, labor difficulties, cyber attacks or other catastrophic events
  • factors discussed in “Risk Factors” in CRC's Annual Report on Form 10-K available on its website at www.crc.com.

Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "goal," "intend," "likely," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "project," "seek," "should," "target," "will" or "would" and similar words that reflect the prospective nature of events or outcomes typically identify forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made and the Company undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Attachment 1
SUMMARY OF RESULTS        
Fourth Quarter   Twelve Months  
($ and shares in millions, except per share amounts) 2017   2016   2017   2016  
 

Statement of Operations Data:

Revenues and Other
Oil and gas net sales $ 549 $ 464 $ 1,936 $ 1,621
Net derivative losses (141 ) (49 ) (90 ) (206 )
Other revenue 47   37   160   132  
Total revenues and other 455   452   2,006   1,547  
 
Costs and Other
Production costs 227 217 876 800
General and administrative expenses 68 62 259 248
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 132 137 544 559
Taxes other than on income 33 26 136 144
Exploration expense 5 10 22 23
Other expenses, net 30   3   106   79  
Total costs and other 495   455   1,943   1,853  
 
Operating (Loss) Income (40 ) (3 ) 63 (306 )
 
Non-Operating (Loss) Income
Interest and debt expense, net (91 ) (85 ) (343 ) (328 )
Net gains on early extinguishment of debt 12 4 805
(Losses) gains on asset divestitures (1 ) 21 30
Other non-operating expense (4 )   (7 )  
 
(Loss) Income Before Income Taxes (135 ) (77 ) (262 ) 201
Income tax benefit       78  
Net (Loss) Income (135 ) (77 ) (262 ) 279
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest (3 )   (4 )  
Net (Loss) Income Attributable to Common Stock $ (138 ) $ (77 ) $ (266 ) $ 279  
 
Net (loss) income attributable to common stock per share - basic and diluted $ (3.23 ) $ (1.83 ) $ (6.26 ) $ 6.76
 
Adjusted net loss $ (14 ) $ (74 ) $ (187 ) $ (317 )
Adjusted net loss per diluted share $ (0.33 ) $ (1.76 ) $ (4.40 ) $ (7.85 )
 
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted 42.7 42.1 42.5 40.4
 
Adjusted EBITDAX $ 222 $ 168 $ 761 $ 616
Effective tax rate 0 % 0 % 0 % (39 )%
 

Cash Flow Data:

Net cash provided (used) by operating activities $ 23 $ (15 ) $ 248 $ 130
Net cash used in investing activities $ (139 ) $ (30 ) $ (313 ) $ (61 )
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities $ 108 $ 47 $ 73 $ (69 )
 

Balance Sheet Data:

December 31, December 31,
2017   2016  
Total current assets $ 483 $ 425
Total property, plant and equipment, net $ 5,696 $ 5,885
Current maturities of long-term debt $ $ 100
Other current liabilities $ 732 $ 626
Long-term debt, principal amount $ 5,306 $ 5,168
Total equity $ (720 ) $ (557 )
 
Outstanding shares as of 42.9 42.5
 
Attachment 2
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RECONCILIATIONS
 
Our results of operations can include the effects of unusual, out-of-period and infrequent transactions and events affecting earnings that vary widely and unpredictably in nature, timing, amount and frequency. Therefore, management uses measures called adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted general and administrative expenses, both which exclude those items. These measures are not meant to disassociate items from management's performance, but rather are meant to provide useful information to investors interested in comparing our performance between periods. Reported earnings are considered representative of management's performance over the long term. Adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted general and administrative expenses are not considered to be alternatives to net income (loss) or general and administrative expenses, respectively, reported in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
 
We define adjusted EBITDAX as earnings before interest expense; income taxes; depreciation, depletion and amortization; exploration expense; other unusual, out-of-period and infrequent items and other non-cash items. We believe adjusted EBITDAX provides useful information in assessing our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and is widely used by the industry, the investment community and our lenders. While adjusted EBITDAX is a non-GAAP measure, the amounts included in the calculation of adjusted EBITDAX were computed in accordance with GAAP. This measure is a material component of certain of our financial covenants under our 2014 revolving credit facility and is provided in addition to, and not as an alternative for, income and liquidity measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Certain items excluded from adjusted EBITDAX are significant components in understanding and assessing our financial performance, such as our cost of capital and tax structure, as well as the historic cost of depreciable and depletable assets. Adjusted EBITDAX should be read in conjunction with the information contained in our financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.
 
ADJUSTED NET LOSS
The following table presents a reconciliation of the GAAP financial measure of net income (loss) attributable to common stock to the non-GAAP financial measure of adjusted net loss:
  Fourth Quarter   Twelve Months
($ millions, except per share amounts) 2017 2016 2017   2016
Net (loss) income attributable to common stock $ (138 ) $ (77 ) $ (266 ) $ 279
Unusual and infrequent items:
Non-cash derivative losses (gains), excluding noncontrolling interest 116 40 78 283
Early retirement, severance and other costs 1 1 5 20
Losses (gains) on asset divestitures 1 (21 ) (30 )
Net gains on early extinguishment of debt (12 ) (4 ) (805 )
Other 7   (27 ) 21   (13 )
Total unusual and infrequent items 124 3 79 (545 )
 
Deferred debt issuance costs write-off 12
Reversal of valuation allowance for deferred tax assets (a)       (63 )
Adjusted net loss $ (14 ) $ (74 ) $ (187 ) $ (317 )
 
Net (loss) income attributable to common stock per diluted share $ (3.23 ) $ (1.83 ) $ (6.26 ) $ 6.76
Adjusted net loss per diluted share $ (0.33 ) $ (1.76 ) $ (4.40 ) $ (7.85 )
 
(a) Amount represents the out-of-period portion of the valuation allowance reversal.
           
DERIVATIVES GAINS AND LOSSES
Fourth Quarter Twelve Months
($ millions) 2017 2016 2017 2016
Non-cash derivative losses, excluding noncontrolling interest $ (116 ) $ (40 ) $ (78 ) $ (283 )
Non-cash derivative losses for noncontrolling interest (3 ) (5 )
Cash (payments) proceeds from settled derivatives (22 ) (9 ) (7 ) 77  
Net derivative losses $ (141 ) $ (49 ) $ (90 ) $ (206 )
 
                 
FREE CASH FLOW
Fourth Quarter Twelve Months
($ millions) 2017 2016 2017 2016
 
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities $ 23 $ (15 ) $ 248 $ 130
Capital investment (139 ) (31 ) (371 ) (75 )
Changes in capital accruals 1   (1 ) 27   (6 )
Free cash flow, after working capital (115 ) (47 ) (96 ) 49
BSP funded capital investment 14     96    
Free cash flow, excluding BSP funded capital $ (101 ) $ (47 ) $   $ 49  
 
         
ADJUSTED GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
Fourth Quarter Twelve Months
($ millions) 2017 2016 2017 2016
 
General and administrative expenses $ 68 $ 62 $ 259 $ 248
Early retirement and severance costs (1 ) (1 ) (5 ) (20 )
Adjusted general and administrative expenses $ 67   $ 61   $ 254   $ 228  
                 
ADJUSTED EBITDAX
The following tables present a reconciliation of the GAAP financial measures of net income (loss) attributable to common stock and net cash provided (used) by operating activities to the non-GAAP financial measure of adjusted EBITDAX:
 
Fourth Quarter Twelve Months
($ millions) 2017 2016 2017 2016
Net (loss) income attributable to common stock $ (138 ) $ (77 ) $ (266 ) $ 279
Interest and debt expense, net 91 85 343 328
Income tax benefit (78 )
Depreciation, depletion and amortization, excluding noncontrolling interest 129 137 535 559
Exploration expense 5 10 22 23
Unusual and infrequent items (c) 124 3 79 (545 )
Other non-cash items 11   10   48   50  
Adjusted EBITDAX (A) $ 222   $ 168   $ 761   $ 616  
 
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities $ 23 $ (15 ) $ 248 $ 130
Cash interest 145 140 396 384
Exploration expenditures 4 7 20 20
Changes in operating assets and liabilities 43 63 76 95
Other, net 7   (27 ) 21   (13 )
Adjusted EBITDAX (A) $ 222   $ 168   $ 761   $ 616  
 
(c) See Adjusted Net Loss reconciliation.
                 
ADJUSTED EBITDAX MARGIN
Fourth Quarter Twelve Months
($ millions) 2017 2016 2017 2016
Total Revenues $ 455 $ 452 $ 2,006 $ 1,547
Non-cash derivative losses 119   40   83   283  
Adjusted revenues (B) $ 574   $ 492   $ 2,089   $ 1,830  
Adjusted EBITDAX Margin (A)/(B) 39 % 34 % 36 % 34 %
 
                         
PRODUCTION COSTS PER BOE            
Fourth Quarter Twelve Months

($ per BOE)

  2017 2016 2017 2016
Production Costs

$

19.64

$ 17.50 $ 18.64 $ 15.61
Costs attributable to PSC type contracts   (1.33 ) (1.21 ) (1.16 ) (0.92 )
Production Costs, excluding the effects of PSC type contracts

$

18.31

  $ 16.29   $ 17.48   $ 14.69  
 
         
PV-10 AND STANDARDIZED MEASURE    
The following table presents a reconciliation of the GAAP financial measure of standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows to the non-GAAP financial measure of PV-10:
 
($ millions) 2017
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows $ 3,765
Present value of future income taxes discounted at 10% 780
PV-10 of proved reserves (1) $ 4,545
 
(1) PV-10 is a non-GAAP financial measure and represents the year-end present value of estimated future cash inflows from proved oil and natural gas reserves, less future development and production costs, discounted at 10% per annum to reflect the timing of future cash flows and using SEC prescribed pricing assumptions for the period. PV-10 differs from Standardized Measure because Standardized Measure includes the effects of future income taxes on future net cash flows. Neither PV-10 nor Standardized Measure should be construed as the fair value of our oil and natural gas reserves. Standard Measure is prescribed by the SEC as an industry standard asset value measure to compare reserves with consistent pricing, costs and discount assumptions. PV-10 facilitates the comparisons to other companies as it is not dependent on the tax-paying status of the entity.
 
Attachment 3
 

Organic Reserve Replacement Ratio (1)

  2017
Organic proved reserves added - MMBOE
Extensions and discoveries 34
Revisions related to performance 22  

Total (A)

56  
 
Production in 2017 - MMBOE (B) 47
Organic reserve replacement ratio (A)/(B) 119 %
 
(1) The organic reserve replacement ratio is calculated for a specified period using the proved oil-equivalent additions from extensions and discoveries and performance-related revisions, divided by oil-equivalent production. There is no guarantee that historical sources of reserves additions will continue as many factors fully or partially outside management's control, including commodity prices, availability of capital and the underlying geology, affect reserves additions. Management uses this measure to gauge the results of its capital program. Other oil and gas producers may use different methods to calculate replacement ratios, which may affect comparability.
 
 

Finding and Development Costs(2)

2017
Costs incurred - in millions (A) $ 382
 
Organic proved reserves added - MMBOE (B) 56
Organic finding and development costs - $/BOE (A)/(B) $ 6.82 (3)
 
Proved reserves added including price related revisions, net - MMBOE (C) 97
All in finding and development costs - $/BOE (A)/(C) $ 3.94 (4)
 
(2) We believe that reporting our finding and development costs can aid investors in their evaluation of our ability to add proved reserves at a reasonable cost but is not a substitute for required GAAP disclosures. Various factors, primarily timing differences and effects of commodity price changes, can cause finding and development costs associated with a particular period's reserves additions to be imprecise. For example, we will need to make more investments in order to develop the proved undeveloped reserves added during the year and any future revisions may change the actual measure from that presented above. In addition, part of the 2017 costs were incurred to convert proved undeveloped reserves from prior years to proved developed reserves. In our calculations, we have not estimated future costs to develop proved undeveloped reserves added in 2017 or removed costs related to proved undeveloped reserves added in prior periods. Our calculations of finding and development costs may not be comparable to similar measures provided by other companies.
 
(3) We calculate organic finding and development costs by dividing the costs incurred for the year from the capital program (including development, exploration costs and asset retirement obligations) by the amount of oil-equivalent proved reserves added in the same year from extensions and discoveries and performance-related revisions.
 
(4) We calculate all-in finding and development costs by dividing the costs incurred for the year from the capital program (including development, exploration costs and asset retirement obligations) by the amount of oil-equivalent proved reserves added in the same year from extensions and discoveries, performance-related revisions and price-related revisions less the amount of oil-equivalent proved reserves sold in the same year.
 
Attachment 4
ADJUSTED NET INCOME / (LOSS) VARIANCE ANALYSIS
($ millions)  
 
2016 4th Quarter Adjusted Net Loss $ (74 )
 
Price - Oil 93
Price - NGLs 21
Price - Natural Gas
Volume (31 )
Production cost (10 )
DD&A (3 )
Exploration expense 5
Interest expense (6 )
Adjusted general & administrative expenses (6 )
All others (3 )
 
2017 4th Quarter Adjusted Net Loss $ (14 )
 
 
2016 Twelve-Month Adjusted Net Loss $ (317 )
 
Price - Oil 308
Price - NGLs 78
Price - Natural Gas 29
Volume (136 )
Production cost (76 )
DD&A (30 )
Exploration expense 1
Interest expense (27 )
Adjusted general & administrative expenses (26 )
Income tax (15 )
All others 24
 
2017 Twelve-Month Adjusted Net Loss $ (187 )
 
 
Attachment 5
CAPITAL INVESTMENTS                
Fourth Quarter Twelve Months
($ millions) 2017   2016 2017   2016
 
Internally Funded Capital Investments $ 125 $ 31 $ 275 $ 75
 
BSP Funded Capital 14 96
       
Consolidated Reported Capital $ 139   $ 31   $ 371   $ 75
 
MIRA Funded Capital 20 58
       
Total Capital Program $ 159   $ 31   $ 429   $ 75
 
       
                Attachment 6
PRODUCTION STATISTICS
   
Fourth Quarter Twelve Months
Net Oil, NGLs and Natural Gas Production Per Day 2017 2016 2017 2016
 
Oil (MBbl/d)
San Joaquin Basin 50 55 52 57
Los Angeles Basin 26 27 27 29
Ventura Basin 4 5 4 5
Sacramento Basin      
Total 80 87 83 91
 
NGLs (MBbl/d)
San Joaquin Basin 15 14 15 15
Los Angeles Basin
Ventura Basin 1 1 1 1
Sacramento Basin      
Total 16 15 16 16
 
Natural Gas (MMcf/d)
San Joaquin Basin 138 152 140 150
Los Angeles Basin 1 1 1 3
Ventura Basin 7 8 8 8
Sacramento Basin 33   34   33   36
Total 179 195 182 197
       
Total Production (MBoe/d) (a) 126   135   129   140
 
 
(a) Natural gas volumes have been converted to BOE based on the equivalence of energy content between six Mcf of natural gas and one Bbl of oil. Barrels of oil equivalence does not necessarily result in price equivalence.
 
       
                Attachment 7
PRICE STATISTICS            
Fourth Quarter Twelve Months
2017 2016 2017 2016
Realized Prices
Oil with hedge ($/Bbl) $ 56.92 $ 45.48 $ 51.24 $ 42.01
Oil without hedge ($/Bbl) $ 59.87 $ 46.60 $ 51.47 $ 39.72
 
NGLs ($/Bbl) $ 44.03 $ 28.99 $ 35.76 $ 22.39
 
Natural gas ($/Mcf) $ 2.77 $ 2.79 $ 2.67 $ 2.28
 
Index Prices
Brent oil ($/Bbl) $ 61.54 $ 51.13 $ 54.82 $ 45.04
WTI oil ($/Bbl) $ 55.40 $ 49.29 $ 50.95 $ 43.32
NYMEX gas ($/MMBtu) $ 3.00 $ 2.95 $ 3.09 $ 2.42
 
Realized Prices as Percentage of Index Prices
Oil with hedge as a percentage of Brent 92 % 89 % 93 % 93 %
Oil without hedge as a percentage of Brent 97 % 91 % 94 % 88 %
 
Oil with hedge as a percentage of WTI 103 % 92 % 101 % 97 %
Oil without hedge as a percentage of WTI 108 % 95 % 101 % 92 %
 
NGLs as a percentage of Brent 72 % 57 % 65 % 50 %
NGLs as a percentage of WTI 79 % 59 % 70 % 52 %
 
Natural gas as a percentage of NYMEX 92 % 95 % 86 % 94 %
 
         
                    Attachment 8
FOURTH QUARTER DRILLING ACTIVITY
San Joaquin Los Angeles Ventura Sacramento
Wells Drilled (Gross) Basin Basin Basin Basin Total
 
Development Wells
Primary 11 2 13
Waterflood 20 5 25
Steamflood 36 36
Unconventional 1 1
Total 68 5 2 75
 
Exploration Wells
Primary 1 1
Waterflood
Steamflood 5 5
Unconventional
Total 5 1 6
         
Total Wells 73 5 2 1 81
         
CRC Wells Drilled (a) 29 5 2 1 37
         
BSP Wells Drilled (a) 20 20
         
MIRA Wells Drilled 24 24
 
(a) Includes steam injectors and drilled but uncompleted wells, which would not be included in the SEC definition of wells drilled.
 
         
                    Attachment 9
FULL YEAR DRILLING ACTIVITY
San Joaquin Los Angeles Ventura Sacramento
Wells Drilled (Gross) Basin Basin Basin Basin Total
 
Development Wells
Primary 28 2 30
Waterflood 50 16 66
Steamflood 115 115
Unconventional 12 12

Total

205 16 2 223
 
Exploration Wells
Primary 1 1
Waterflood
Steamflood 5 5
Unconventional
Total 5 1 6
         
Total Wells 210 16 2 1 229
         
CRC Wells Drilled (a) 91 16 2 1 110
         
BSP Wells Drilled (a) 45 45
         
MIRA Wells Drilled 74 74
 
(a) Includes steam injectors, water injectors and drilled but uncompleted wells, which would not be included in the SEC definition of wells drilled.
 
 
Attachment 10
HEDGES - CURRENT              
 
1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q 2Q - 4Q FY
2018 2018 2018 2018 2019 2019   2020
Crude Oil
Sold Calls:
Barrels per day 9,000 6,200 16,100 16,100 1,100 1,000 500
Weighted-average Brent price per barrel $ 59.58 $ 60.24 $ 58.91 $ 58.91 $ 60.00 $ 60.00 $ 60.00
 
Purchased Calls:
Barrels per day 2,000
Weighted-average Brent price per barrel $ $ $ $ $ 71.00 $ $
 
Purchased Puts:
Barrels per day 1,200 1,200 6,100 1,100 14,100 1,000 500
Weighted-average Brent price per barrel $ 45.82 $ 45.83 $ 61.48 $ 45.85 $ 58.93 $ 45.85 $ 43.91
 
Sold Puts:
Barrels per day 29,000 29,000 24,000 19,000 10,000
Weighted-average Brent price per barrel $ 45.00 $ 45.00 $ 46.04 $ 45.00 $ 47.50 $ $
 
Swaps:
Barrels per day 38,300 34,000 19,000 19,000 7,000
Weighted-average Brent price per barrel $ 60.03 $ 60.00 $ 60.13 $ 60.13 $ 67.71 $ $
 
A small portion of the derivatives in the table above were entered into by the BSP JV, including some of the 2019 and all of the 2020 positions. The BSP JV also entered into natural gas swaps for insignificant volumes for the period of February 2018 to July 2020.
 
 
Certain of our counterparties have options to increase swap volumes by up to:
 
- 19,000 barrels per day at a weighted-average Brent price of $60.00 for the second quarter of 2018;
- 29,000 barrels per day at a weighted-average Brent price of $60.50 for the second half of 2018 and
- 5,000 barrels per day at a weighted-average Brent price of $70.00 for the first quarter of 2019.
 
       
                Attachment 11
RESERVES  
San Joaquin Los Angeles Ventura Sacramento

As of December 31, 2017

Basin   Basin   Basin   Basin   Total
Oil Reserves (in millions of barrels)
Proved Developed Reserves 176 104 24 304
Proved Undeveloped Reserves 89   39   10     138
Total 265 143 34 442
 
NGLs Reserves (in millions of barrels)
Proved Developed Reserves 43 2 45
Proved Undeveloped Reserves 13         13
Total 56 2 58
 
Natural Gas Reserves (in billions of cubic feet)
Proved Developed Reserves 447 6 20 70 543
Proved Undeveloped Reserves 138   4   6   15   163
Total 585 10 26 85 706
 
Total Reserves (in millions of barrels of oil equivalent)*
Proved Developed Reserves 294 105 29 12 440
Proved Undeveloped Reserves 125   40   11   2   178
Total 419 145 40 14 618
 
 
*Natural gas volumes have been converted to BOE based on the equivalence of energy content between six Mcf of natural gas and one Bbl of oil. Barrels of oil equivalence does not necessarily result in price equivalence.
 
 
Attachment 12
2018 FIRST QUARTER GUIDANCE  
 
Anticipated Realizations Against the Prevailing Index Prices for Q1 2018 (a)
Oil 92% to 96% of Brent
NGLs 62% to 66% of Brent
Natural Gas 88% to 92% of NYMEX
 
2018 First Quarter Production, Capital and Income Statement Guidance
Production 120 to 125 MBOE per day
Capital $115 million to $135 million
Production costs $19.25 to $20.75 per BOE
Adjusted general and administrative expenses $6.05 to $6.35 per BOE
Depreciation, depletion and amortization $10.50 to $10.80 per BOE
Taxes other than on income $36 million to $40 million
Exploration expense $6 million to $10 million
Interest expense (b) $89 million to $93 million
Cash Interest (b) $58 million to $62 million
Income tax expense rate 0%
Cash tax rate 0%
 
 
Pre-tax 2018 First Quarter Price Sensitivities (c)
$1 change in Brent index - Oil (d) $1.7 million
$1 change in Brent index - NGLs $0.8 million
$0.50 change in NYMEX - Gas $3.5 million
 
 
2018 First Quarter Production Sensitivities (e)
Production Production Costs
Brent at $75.00 119 to 124 MBOE per day $19.50 to $21.00 per BOE
Brent at $65.00 120 to 125 MBOE per day $19.25 to $20.75 per BOE
Brent at $55.00 123 to 128 MBOE per day $19.00 to $20.50 per BOE
 
 
(a) Realizations exclude hedge effects.
(b) Interest expense includes the amortization of deferred financing costs and the deferred gain that resulted from the December 2015 debt exchange. Cash interest for the quarter is lower than interest expense due to the timing of interest payments.
(c) Due to our tax position there is no difference between the impact on our income and cash flows.
(d) Amount reflects the sensitivity with respect to unhedged barrels at a Brent index price exceeding $60.00 per barrel and includes the effect of production sharing type contracts at our Wilmington field operations in Long Beach.
(e) Reflects the effect of price changes on our share of production for the production sharing type contracts at our Wilmington field operations in Long Beach.
 

Contacts

California Resources Corporation
Scott Espenshade (Investor Relations)
818-661-6010
Scott.Espenshade@crc.com
or
Margita Thompson (Media)
818-661-6005
Margita.Thompson@crc.com

Contacts

California Resources Corporation
Scott Espenshade (Investor Relations)
818-661-6010
Scott.Espenshade@crc.com
or
Margita Thompson (Media)
818-661-6005
Margita.Thompson@crc.com