HOUSTON, February 6, 2008 – Swift Energy Company
(NYSE: SFY) announced today that its year-end 2007 reserves
total a record 150.1 million barrels of oil equivalent (“MMboe”)
(900.7 Billion cubic feet equivalent of natural gas (“Bcfe”)),
an increase of 10 percent over year-end 2006 levels. Swift
Energy’s 2007 total production increased to 12.0 MMboe (72.0
Bcfe), also a record, and a 3% increase over 2006 levels, with
approximately 10.6 MMboe (63.7 Bcfe) produced domestically and
1.4 MMboe (8.3 Bcfe) produced in New Zealand.
The Company also announced today that given the pending sale of its New
Zealand assets its New Zealand activities are being accounted for as
“discontinued operations” in 2007. As announced in mid-December, Swift Energy
executed definitive agreements to sell certain of Swift Energy’s New Zealand
assets for a minimum of $87.8 million effective December 1, 2007, representing
the major portion of its assets there. This sale is anticipated to close before
March 31, 2008. This asset sale will result in a non-cash charge of $131 million
charge (net of tax-effects) in the fourth quarter of 2007, based on the
difference between the recorded value of these New Zealand assets and the
expected sales proceeds from their sale. As previously announced, Swift Energy
expects to realize total cash proceeds of between $100 and $110 million from the
sale of all of its New Zealand assets and any additional proceeds beyond this
initial $87.8 million will be reflected as a gain from discontinued operations
upon the execution of definitive agreements, anticipated to be in place later
this year. All future corporate results will be of Swift Energy’s continuing
domestic operations, and New Zealand results will be reclassified into
discontinued operations for all periods presented.
Terry Swift, Chairman and CEO, commented “Swift Energy has completed another
successful year with record reserves and production for 2007. More importantly,
we have continued to focus our efforts in Louisiana and Texas, which have been
driving strong domestic results for the Company over the past several years. We
have also built a diversified portfolio of opportunities in our core regions
where Swift Energy can continue to enhance the value of our producing assets for
our shareholders.”
Swift Energy’s year-end 2007 reserves consist of 133.8 MMboe (802.7 Bcfe) of
domestic reserves and 16.3 MMboe (98.0 Bcfe) of New Zealand reserves. This
compares to 2006 year-end reserves of 118.4 MMboe (710.5 Bcfe) domestically and
17.7 MMboe (106.4 bcfe) in New Zealand. Swift Energy’s proved reserves are
prepared by internal engineers and are audited annually by its outside
engineering firm, H. J. Gruy and Associates. Swift Energy’s year-end 2007
domestic proved reserves were valued at approximately $3.8 billion of present
value discounted at 10% per year (PV-10), compared to $2.4 billion for the
Company’s 2006 year-end domestic reserves. Domestic pricing for reserves and
PV-10 calculations utilized $93.24 per barrel for crude oil and $6.65 per Mcfe
for natural gas in 2007, compared to $60.07 per barrel and $5.84 per Mcfe at
year-end 2006.
Swift Energy’s domestic reserves are 48% proved developed and are comprised
44% of crude oil, 43% of natural gas and 13% of natural gas liquids. Swift
Energy’s 2007 domestic capital spending is expected to be reported at $703.2
million, which implies a domestic 2007 finding and development cost of $27.00
per Boe. Finding and development costs for 2007 were calculated by dividing the
sum of development, exploration and acquisition capital costs by the sum of
reserve extensions, discoveries, acquisitions and revisions for the year.
Consistent with industry practice, future capital costs to develop proved
undeveloped reserves were not included in calculating costs incurred.
Fourth quarter 2007 production totaled approximately 3.1 MMboe (18.6 Bcfe)
virtually the same as the 3.1 MMboe (18.6 Bcfe) produced in the fourth quarter
of 2006. Fourth quarter 2007 production consisted of 2.8 MMboe (16.7 Bcfe)
domestically, which increased 7 percent, and 0.3 MMboe (1.8 Bcfe) produced in
New Zealand, a 38% decline both as compared to fourth quarter 2006 levels. In
the fourth quarter 2007, Swift Energy reduced the choke-size of several wells in
the Newport area to preserve reservoir pressure, as previously announced, and in
anticipation of the pressure maintenance program that will commence with the
Westside facility start-up in the Lake Washington field by mid-year 2008.
Compounded by abnormally low water temperatures along with increased drag in
flow lines, fourth quarter 2007 production at our Lake Washington field was
0.261 MMboe lower than in the prior year’s fourth quarter production. The
Westside facility and related planned activities for 2008 are expected to
improve the majority of these production constraints.
Swift Energy Company, founded in 1979 and headquartered in Houston, engages
in developing, exploring, acquiring and operating oil and gas properties, with a
focus on oil and natural gas reserves in the onshore and inland waters of
Louisiana and Texas. Over the Company’s 28-year history, Swift Energy has shown
long-term growth in its proved oil and gas reserves, production and cash flow
through a disciplined program of acquisitions and drilling, while maintaining a
strong financial position.
SWIFT ENERGY COMPANY
Reconciliation of PV-10 Value to Standardized Measure of Discounted Future
Net Cash Flows
December 31, 2007
(Unaudited)
(In Millions)
| |
Domestic |
| PV-10 Value |
$ 3,789 |
| Future Income Taxes (discounted at 10%
per year) |
(1,211) |
| Asset Retirement Obligation (discounted
at 10% per year) |
(38) |
| Standardized Measure of Discounted Future
Net |
------------ |
| Cash Flows relating to oil and gas
reserves |
$2,540 |
| |
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This material includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The opinions, forecasts,
projections, or other statements other than statements of historical fact, are
forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations
reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no
assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Certain risks
and uncertainties inherent in the Company’s business are set forth in the
filings of the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.