DELTA PETROLEUM CORPORATION

Aleron H. Larson, Jr., Chairman

Roger A. Parker, President and CEO

Kevin K. Nanke, CFO

475 17th Street, Suite 1400

Denver, Colorado 80202

 

For Immediate Release

 

 

DELTA PETROLEUM CORPORATION REPORTS HIGHER REVENUE, EARNINGS AND EBITDAX FOR SECOND QUARTER OF FY2004

 

COMPANY ANNOUNCES NEW $50 MILLION BANK FACILITY

 

DENVER, Colorado (February 4, 2004) -- Delta Petroleum Corporation (NASDAQ: DPTR); (FRANKFURT STOCK EXCHANGE: DPE), an independent energy exploration and development company, today reported its operating results for the second quarter and first half of fiscal 2004. The Company also announced the December 30, 2003 signing of a new bank credit facility, which depending on its available base, will allow the Company to borrow up to $50 million.

 

For the three months ended December 31, 2003, total revenue increased 48% to $8.0 million, compared with $5.4 million in the second quarter of the previous fiscal year.  The Company reported net income of $652,000, or $0.03 per share, in the most recent quarter, for a gain of 52% when compared with net income of $428,000, or $0.02 per share, in the prior-year period.  EBITDAX (defined in a note at the end of this release) improved 78% to $3,7 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2004, compared with $2.1 million in the quarter ended December 31, 2002.  Increases in revenues, earnings and EBITDAX primarily reflect contributions from acquisitions completed during fiscal 2003 and 2004, along with higher oil and gas prices.  The increase in revenues also benefited from higher production resulting from the Company’s drilling activities.

 

The average price realized for oil in the second quarter of fiscal 2004 approximated $29.91 per barrel (Bbl) onshore and $19.94 per Bbl offshore, versus $27.56 per Bbl onshore and $19.23 per Bbl offshore in the year-earlier quarter.  The average price realized for natural gas approximated $4.60 per Mcf in the most recent quarter, compared with $4.38 per Mcf in the quarter ended December 31, 2002.

 

For the six months ended December 31, 2003, total revenues increased 43% to $15.2 million, compared with $10.6 million in the first half of fiscal 2003.  Net income increased 270% to $2.0 million, or $0.08 per share, during the first half of fiscal 2004, compared with net income of $545,000, or $0.02 per share, in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.  Ebitdax increased 68% to $7.4 million in the first six months of fiscal 2004, versus $4.4 million in the six months ended December 31, 2002.

 

 

 

The average price realized for oil in the first half of fiscal 2004 approximated $29.54 per Bbl onshore and $19.98 per Bbl offshore, versus $26.66 per Bbl onshore and $19.66 per Bbl offshore in the prior year period.  The average price realized for natural gas approximated $4.72 per Mcf in the six months ended December 31, 2003, compared with $3.77 per Mcf in the first half of  fiscal 2003. 

 

“The Company significantly accelerated its drilling activities in a number of geographic areas during the second quarter of Fiscal 2004,” stated Roger A. Parker, President and Chief Executive Officer of Delta Petroleum Corporation.  “We are very pleased with the overall results of such drilling activities, and the impact of new wells upon our revenues, earnings and EBITDAX should be more apparent in the third and fourth quarters of our fiscal year.”  A more detailed review of the Company’s recent drilling activities will be provided in an 8-K to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

In addition, on December 30, 2003 Delta entered into a new $50 million credit facility.  The banking group has been expanded to include the Bank of Oklahoma, US Bank National Association and Hibernia National Bank.  “We are very pleased with our new banking group, which was chosen in anticipation of continued growth,” continued Parker.  “The lending capability of each bank will allow us to increase drilling and acquisition activity.”  The maximum amount available under the new facility is $50 million, with a current borrowing base of $32.85 million.

 

Delta Petroleum Corporation is an oil and gas exploration and development company based in Denver, Colorado. The Company has producing properties in 15 states and interests in one producing federal unit and four undeveloped units located in federal waters offshore California near Santa Barbara. Its common stock is traded on NASDAQ under the symbol ``DPTR'' and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol ``DPE.''

 

Forward-looking statements in this announcement are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainty, including without limitation, the costs of exploring and developing new oil and natural gas reserves, the price for which such reserves can be sold, environmental concerns effecting the drilling of oil and natural gas wells, as well as general market conditions, competition and pricing.  Please refer to the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings for additional information.

For further information contact the Company at (303) 293-9133 or via email at info@deltapetro.com

OR

RJ Falkner & Company, Inc., Investor Relations Counsel at (800) 377-9893 or via email at info@rjfalkner.com

SOURCE:        Delta Petroleum Corporation

(Financial Highlights Follow)


 

DELTA PETROLEUM CORPORATION                          

AND SUBSIDIARIES                           

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                                                                                        December 31,             June 30,

                                                                                                               2003                       2003

                                                                                                       ------------------           -----------

                                                        ASSETS                                    (Unaudited)

 

Current Assets:                          

   Cash and cash equivalents                                                           $      711,000           $ 2,271,000                                            

   Marketable securities available for sale                                               768,000                 662,000                     

   Trade accounts receivable, net of

allowance for doubtful accounts of $50,000 at

December 31, 2003 and June 30, 20034,629,000                      4,410,000                               

   Prepaid assets                                                                                 1,438,000                  764,000           

   Other current assets                                                                           475,000                  560,000                     

                                                                                                        -----------------         ---------------

         Total current assets                                                                    8,021,000              8,667,000                 

                                                                                                        -----------------         ---------------

Property and Equipment:

   Oil and gas properties, at cost (using

      the successful efforts method

      of accounting):                                                                           112,605,000            90,487,000                    

   Less accumulated depreciation and depletion                               (16,226,000)         (12,669,000)          

                                                                                                        -----------------         ---------------                                                                                                                           

         Net property and equipment                                                  96,379,000             77,818,000                    

                                                                                                         -----------------        ---------------

Long term assets:

   Investment in LNG project                                                                     1,015,000                       -

   Deferred financing costs                                                                     141,000                   117,000                        

   Partnership net assets                                                                         198,000                   245,000                                  

                                                                                                        -----------------          ---------------

         Total long term assets                                                                  1,354,000                 362,000                       

                                                                                                        -----------------         ---------------

                                                                                                        $105,754,000          $86,847,000                           

                                                                                                        ==========        =========

         LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current Liabilities:

   Current portion of long‑term debt                                               $    7,945,000          $10,039,000                   

   Accounts payable                                                                              6,428,000              3,604,000           

   Derivative instruments                                                                         143,000                  468,000           

   Current foreign tax payable                                                                  703,000                  703,000           

   Other accrued liabilities                                                                        546,000               1,087,000           

                                                                                                        -----------------          ---------------

         Total current liabilities                                                               15,765,000             15,901,000                             

                                                                                                        -----------------           ---------------

Long-term Liabilities:

   Asset retirement obligation                                                                1,060,000                  868,000                           

   Long-term debt, net                                                                          28,000,000             22,175,000                

                 ----------------            ---------------

            Total long-term liabilities                                                        29,060,000              23,043,000                           

 

Stockholders' Equity:

   Preferred stock, $.10 par value;

      authorized 3,000,000 shares, none issued                                                                            

   Common stock, $.01 par value;                                                                       -                             -                            

      authorized 300,000,000 shares, issued

      25,412,000 shares at December 31, 2003

      and 23,286,000 at June 30, 2003                                                       254,000                    233,000          

   Additional paid‑in capital                                                                86,200,000               75,642,000                    

   Accumulated other comprehensive loss                                                 55,000                   (376,000)                                  

   Accumulated deficit                                                                       (25,580,000)             (27,596,000)                         

                                                                                                        ----------------               ---------------

         Total stockholders' equity                                                         60,929,000                47,903,000                             

                                                                                                        ----------------               ---------------

                                                                                                        $105,754,000               $86,847,000

                                                                                                         =========               =========                                                  

 

Commitments

 

 

 

 

 

DELTA PETROLEUM CORPORATION                          

AND SUBSIDIARIES                          

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS                          

 

 

                                                                                                                                Three Months Ended

 

                                                                                                                           December 31,   December 31,

                                                                                                                              2003                        2002                           

                                                                                                                       -----------------         -----------------                        

 

Revenue:

   Oil and gas sales                                                                                              $8,074,000              $    5,808,000                 

   Realized loss on derivative instruments, net                                                         (68,000)                     (387,000)                                                

                                                                                                                            --------------               --------------              

      Total revenue                                                                                                  8,006,000                  5,421,000                             

 

Operating expenses:

   Lease operating expenses                                                                                    2,341,000                  2,303,000                               

   Depreciation and depletion                                                                                  2,306,000                  1,101,000                           

   Exploration expenses                                                                                             138,000                       40,000 

   Dry hole costs                                                                                                        177,000                       43,000

   Professional fees                                                                                                     308,000                     142,000                               

   General and administrative (includes stock

   option expense of $3,000 and $35,000 for the three months ended

   December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.)                                                       1,528,000                     871,000                              

                                                                                                                              --------------             ----------------

        Total operating expense                                                                                 6,798,000                  4,500,000                             

 

Income from operations                                                                                         1,208,000                     921,000             

                             

Other income and (expense):                             

   Other income                                                                                                          15,000                        10,000                     

   Interest and financing costs                                                                                  (576,000)                   (432,000)                 

                                                                                                                              --------------             ----------------          

      Total other expense                                                                                          (561,000)                   (422,000)                 

                                                                                                                              --------------             ----------------      

Income before discontinued operations                                                                              647,000                     499,000             

 

Discontinued operations:

  Income (loss) from operations of properties sold, net                                                33,000                     (71,000)   

  Loss on sale of properties                                                                                         (28,000)                              -

                                                                                                                                -------------              ---------------             

    

     Net income                                                                                                      $   652,000              $     428,000           

                                                                                                                                 ========                =========                  

 

Basic income per common share:           

   Income before discontinued operations                                                              $           .03               $            .02

   Discontinued operations                                                                                                     -*                               -*                                

                                                                                                                                  ========                =========               

   Net income                                                                                                        $           .03              $             .02                   

                                                                                                                                  ========                =========  

Diluted income per common share:

   Income before discontinued operations                                                              $           .03               $            .02

   Discontinued operations                                                                                                    -*                                -*                                

                                                                                                                                   ========                =========               

   Net income                                                                                                        $           .03               $             .02                   

                                                                                                                                   ========                =========  

 

 

 

*   less than $.01 per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DELTA PETROLEUM CORPORATION                          

AND SUBSIDIARIES                           

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS                          

 

 

                                                                                                                                Six Months Ended

 

                                                                                                                        December 31,          December 31,

                                                                                                                              2003                        2002                          

                                                                                                                       -----------------         -----------------                        

 

Revenue:

   Oil and gas sales                                                                                            $ 15,572,000           $  11,062,000                 

   Realized loss on derivative instruments, net                                                         (380,000)                 (420,000)                                                

                                                                                                                        ----------------             ---------------              

      Total revenue                                                                                               15,192,000               10,642,000                            

 

Operating expenses:

   Lease operating expenses                                                                                   4,550,000                 4,273,000                              

   Depreciation and depletion                                                                                 3,948,000                 2,706,000