Epsilon Energy Ltd. reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full-year ended December 31, 2020.
Epsilon’s highlights for 2020 and material subsequent events following year end through the date of this release include:
Michael Raleigh, CEO, commented, “Epsilon managed to achieve excellent results in 2020 despite a very challenged natural gas price environment and increased our produced volumes by 40% over the prior period in 2019. Natural gas prices rebounded in the first two months of 2021, but have subsequently weakened as natural gas supply appears to be adequate in the short term. We expect Northeast natural gas production to remain flat for the remainder of 2021 which should be supportive of more constructive prices as natural gas storage levels are currently 7% below the five year average and 21% below 2020 levels.
For the first quarter of 2021 we anticipate net gas production of 26- 28 MMcf/d (30 – 32 MMcfpd gross working interest production) and $4.7 – 5.3 million in EBITDA. Epsilon participated with the operator in the drilling of one gross well (.22 Net) in the Auburn Gas Gathering System during the first quarter. It is currently planned for this well to be completed and turned to production in the third quarter. In late 2020, Epsilon filed for and received four well permits from the PA DEP. Epsilon intends to pursue its plans to develop these locations as expeditiously as possible.”
Financial and Operating Results
Twelve months ended December 31, | ||||||||
2020 |
2019 |
|||||||
Revenue by product – total period ($000) | ||||||||
Natural gas revenue ($000) | $ | 15,207 | $ | 16,945 | ||||
Volume (MMcfe) | 11,204 | 7,757 | ||||||
Avg. Price ($/Mcfe) | $ | 1.36 | $ | 2.18 | ||||
Exit Rate (MMcfepd) | 32.8 | 30.5 | ||||||
Oil and other liquids revenue ($000) | $ | 338 | $ | 425 | ||||
Volume (MBOE) | 15 | 15 | ||||||
Avg. Price ($/Bbl) | $ | 22.66 | $ | 29.24 | ||||
Midstream gathering system revenue ($000) | $ | 8,880 | $ | 9,320 | ||||
Total Revenue | $ | 24,425 | $ | 26,690 | ||||
Capital Expenditures
Epsilon’s development capital expenditures were $3.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. A total of $1.3 million was spent on lagging completion costs during 2020 for four gross (1.18 Net) wells developed in 2019 in Pennsylvania. An additional $1.7 million was spent participating in the drilling and completing of nine gross (0.22 Net) wells during 2020 in Pennsylvania. The Auburn Gas Gathering system required maintenance capital of $0.7 million. Remaining capital expenditures were related to lease acquisition, permitting new wells to be drilled in Pennsylvania and drill planning.
During the first quarter of 2021, Epsilon participated with the operator in the drilling of one extended lateral well (.22 Net) in the Auburn GGS targeting both the upper and lower Marcellus. The well has been drilled to target depth and is awaiting completion operations. In addition, Epsilon has received four well permits from the PA DEP and is proceeding with well planning for the development of these wells as expeditiously as possible.
Fourth Quarter Results
Epsilon generated revenues of $5.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020 compared to $6.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019. The Company’s net revenue interest production was 2.60 Bcf in the fourth quarter primarily in Pennsylvania.
Realized natural gas prices averaged $1.45 per Mcf in the fourth quarter of 2020. Operating expenses for Marcellus Upstream operations in the fourth quarter were $1.6 million.
The Auburn Gas Gathering system delivered 15.3 Bcf of natural gas during the quarter as compared to 22.7 Bcf during the fourth quarter of 2019. Primary gathering volumes decreased 8.9% quarter over quarter from 14.6 Bcf to 13.3 Bcf. Imported cross-flow volumes decreased 75% from 8.0 Bcf to 2.0 Bcf.
Epsilon reported a net after tax income of $1.4 million attributable to shareholders or $0.06 per basic and diluted shares outstanding for the three months ended December 31, 2020, compared to net income of $2.0 million, and $0.08 per basic and diluted shares outstanding for the three months ended December 31, 2019.
For the three months ended December 31, 2020, Epsilon’s Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Income Taxes, Depreciation, Amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) was $4.0 million as compared to $4.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019. The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to the decrease in upstream revenue due to the lower natural gas prices.
Adjusted EBITDA
Epsilon defines Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before (1) net interest expense, (2) taxes, (3) depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion expense, (4) impairments of natural gas and oil properties, (5) non-cash stock compensation expense, (6) gain or loss on derivative contracts net of cash received or paid on settlement, and (7) other income. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance as determined under U.S. GAAP and should not be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for net income or cash flow measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP or as a measure of profitability or liquidity.
Additionally, Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. Epsilon has included Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental disclosure because its management believes that EBITDA provides useful information regarding its ability to service debt and to fund capital expenditures. It further provides investors a helpful measure for comparing operating performance on a “normalized” or recurring basis with the performance of other companies, without giving effect to certain non-cash expenses and other items. This provides management, investors and analysts with comparative information for evaluating the Company in relation to other natural gas and oil companies providing corresponding non-U.S. GAAP financial measures or that have different financing and capital structures or tax rates. These non-U.S. GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, measures for financial performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
About Epsilon
Epsilon Energy Ltd. is a North American on-shore focused independent exploration and production company engaged in the acquisition, development, gathering and production of oil and gas reserves. Our primary area of operation is the Marcellus basin in northeast Pennsylvania. Our assets are concentrated in areas with known hydrocarbon resources, which are conducive to multi-well, repeatable drilling programs. For more information, please visit www.epsilonenergyltd.com, where we routinely post announcements, updates, events, investor information, presentations and recent news releases.
Contact Information:
281-670-0002
Michael Raleigh
Chief Executive Officer
Michael.Raleigh@EpsilonEnergyLTD.com