DELTA PETROLEUM CORPORATION

Roger A. Parker, President and CEO

Aleron H. Larson, Jr., Chairman

Kevin K. Nanke, CFO

475 17th Street, Suite 1400

Denver, Colorado 80202

 

For Immediate Release

 

 

DELTA PETROLEUM CORPORATION ANNOUNCES

FIRST QUARTER FISCAL 2005 RESULTS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2004

 

 

DENVER, Colorado (November 8, 2004) -- Delta Petroleum Corporation (NASDAQ: DPTR); (FRANKFURT STOCK EXCHANGE: DPE), an independent energy exploration and development company, today reported its operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2004.

 

For the quarter ended September 30, 2004, total revenue from continuing operations increased 186% to $19.3 million, compared with $6.8 million in the same period a year earlier.  Net income rose 189% to $3.9 million or $0.09 per diluted share, versus net income of $1.4 million, or $0.05 per diluted share for the same period a year earlier.  EBITDAX (see reconciliation table at the end of this release) increased 252% to $12.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2004, compared with $3.6 million for the same period a year earlier.

 

The increases in revenue and net income were primarily due to an 81% increase in production and higher oil and natural gas prices.  Total production for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 reached 3.33 Bcfe (billion cubic feet equivalent).  This compared with total production of 1.84 Bcfe for the same period a year earlier.  The production increase can primarily be attributed to the Alpine acquisition which we completed on June 29, 2004.

 

The average price realized for oil for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 approximated $42.27 per barrel (Bbl) onshore and $30.90 per Bbl offshore, compared with $27.26 per Bbl onshore and $20.13 per Bbl offshore for the same period a year earlier.  The average price realized for natural gas approximated $5.45 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) for the quarter ended September 30, 2004, versus $4.19 per Mcf for the same period a year earlier. 

 

Production costs were approximately $1.34 per Mcf equivalent and depletion, depreciation and amortization (“DDA”) were $1.49 per Mcf equivalent.  As expected production costs per Mcf equivalent went down and DDA per Mcf equivalent went up from year end results, both of which are directly related to Gulf Coast type production acquired in the Alpine Resources transaction completed on June 29, 2004.


On November 5, 2004, we entered into a new $200 million credit facility, with JP Morgan/Bank One, NA as the new agent bank, our other banks, Bank of Oklahoma, N.A.; U.S. Bank National Association and Hibernia National Bank will continue as participating banks.  The borrowing base associated with this facility is, $75 million, of which $70 million is currently outstanding.

 

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


DELTA PETROLEUM CORPORATION                          

AND SUBSIDIARIES                          

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                                                                                                                            September 30,               June 30,

                                                                                                                                                      2004                        2004     

                                                                                                                                                              (In thousands)

ASSETS

 

Current Assets:

        Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                          $                225        $             2,078

        Marketable securities available for sale                                                                                        960                          912            Trade accounts receivable, net                                                                                                                                  10,036                       9,092

        Prepaid assets                                                                                                                            1,449                       1,136

        Inventory                                                                                                                                   2,869                       1,350

        Other current assets                                                                                                                      357                          385

                    Total current assets                                                                                                     15,896                     14,953

 

Property and Equipment:

        Oil and gas properties, successful efforts method of accounting                                          282,045                   272,892

        Drilling and trucking equipment                                                                                                5,110                       3,965

        Other                                                                                                                                          1,308                       1,147

                    Total property and equipment                                                                                  288,463                   278,004

        Less accumulated depreciation and depletion                                                                         (26,556)                   (21,665)

                    Net property and equipment                                                                                     261,907                   256,339

 

Long term assets:

        Investment in LNG project                                                                                                       1,022                       1,022

        Deferred financing costs                                                                                                                 90                          131

        Partnership net assets                                                                                                                   218                          259

                    Total long term assets                                                                                                    1,330                       1,412

 

                                                                                                                                            $         279,133        $         272,704

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

Current Liabilities:

        Current portion of long-term debt                                                                              $                125        $                109

        Accounts payable                                                                                                                    13,364                     12,326

        Other accrued liabilities                                                                                                             1,101                       1,855

        Derivative liabilities                                                                                                                      587                               -

                    Total current liabilities                                                                                                 15,177                     14,290

 

Long-term Liabilities:

        Bank debt, net                                                                                                                          60,491                     69,375

        Asset retirement obligation                                                                                                        2,371                       2,542

        Other debt, net                                                                                                                              268                          255

                    Total long-term liabilities                                                                                             63,130                     72,172

 

Minority Interest                                                                                                                                  315                          245

 

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 39,337,000 shares at September 30, 2004 and 38,447,000

            at June 30, 2004                                                                                                                        393                          384

        Additional paid-in capital                                                                                                      218,911                   207,811

        Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)                                                                       (197)                         342

        Accumulated deficit                                                                                                                (18,596)                   (22,540)

                    Total stockholders' equity                                                                                         200,511                   185,997

 

Commitments                                                                                                                     $         279,133        $         272,704

 

 

 


 DELTA PETROLEUM CORPORATION                          

AND SUBSIDIARIES                          

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

                                                                                                                                                      Three Months Ended

                                                                                                                                                            September 30,

                                                                                                                                                      2004                        2003     

                                                                                                                                              (In thousands except per share data)

Revenue:

 

        Oil and gas sales                                                                                                           $           19,219        $             7,067

        Drilling and trucking                                                                                                                      119                               -

        Realized loss on derivative instruments, net                                                                                        -                         (312)

 

                    Total revenue                                                                                                               19,338                       6,755

 

Operating expenses:

        Production costs                                                                                                                         4,212                       2,123

        Depreciation and depletion                                                                                                         4,981                       1,551

        Exploration expense                                                                                                                      536                            76

        Dry hole costs                                                                                                                             2,254                               -

        Drilling and trucking operations                                                                                                     436                               -

        Professional fees                                                                                                                            346                          304

        General and administrative                                                                                                          2,590                       1,167

 

                    Total operating expenses                                                                                              15,355                       5,221

 

Income from continuing operations                                                                                                    3,983                       1,534

 

Other income and (expense):

        Other income                                                                                                                                   34                            20

        Minority interest                                                                                                                             81                               -

        Interest and financing costs                                                                                                           (883)                        (509)

 

                    Total other expense                                                                                                          (768)                        (489)

 

Income before discontinued operations                                                                                               3,215                       1,045

 

Discontinued operations:

        Income (loss) from operations of properties sold, net                                                                    729                          319

        Gain on sale of properties                                                                                                                   -                               -

 

        Net income                                                                                                                  $             3,944        $             1,364

 

Basic income per common share:

        Income before discontinued operations                                                                        $                  .08       $                 .05

        Discontinued operations                                                                                                                  .02                          .01

        Net income                                                                                                                  $                  .10       $                 .06

 

Diluted income per common share:

        Income before discontinued operations                                                                        $                  .07       $                 .04

        Discontinued operations                                                                                                                   .02                          .01

        Net income                                                                                                                  $                  .09       $                 .05

 


Delta Petroleum Corporation

Unaudited Reconciliation of Net Cash Provided by

Operating Activities to “EBITDAX”

 

 

                                                                                    Three Months Ended

                                                                                          September 30,

                                                                              2004                               2003        

                                                                                          (In thousands)

EBITDAX                                                                       

Net cash provided by operating activities               $     3,333                        $     4,952     

Adjustments:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

   Changes in other assets and liabilities                        6,886                             (1,664)     

 

   Stock option expense                                                     -                               (105)                 

 

   Interest net of financing amortization                           806                                  382                 

 

   Exploration expense                                                   536                                    76                             

 

   Dry hole costs, net                                                 1,165                                      -                 

 

   Minority interest                                                          81                                      -     

 

EBITDAX                                                         $    12,807                        $     3,641     

 

 

      Note: “EBITDAX” is a non-GAAP financial measure equal to net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, adjusted for changes in other assets and liabilities, stock option expense, interest net of financing amortization, exploration costs and minority interest.  This reconciliation is provided in accordance with applicable rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.  “EBITDAX” is not a measure of performance under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and should not be considered in isolation or construed as a substitute for net income or other operations data or cash flow data prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for purposes of analyzing our profitability or liquidity.  In addition, not all funds depicted by “EBITDAX” are available for management’s discretionary use but are subject to contractual restrictions and functional requirements to pay debt service, fund necessary capital expenditures and meet other commitments as described in more detail in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the year ended September 30, 2004 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  “EBITDAX” as calculated above may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.