Stone Energy 2Q15: Increased % Ownership in Marcellus JV Wells

|
Stone Energy, an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company (E&P) headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana drills mainly in the Gulf of Mexico but also has a presence in the Marcellus/Utica Shale. Earlier this year the company released the one active Marcellus rig they were running and said they would not resume drilling in the northeast until receiving a hybrid rig in late 2015/early 2016 that can drill both Marcellus and Utica wells (see Stone Energy 1Q15: No New Marcellus Drilling, But More Production). Stone issued their second quarter 2015 results yesterday. Interestingly, some of Stone's joint venture partners elected not to exercise rights to own more of the wells drilled by Stone, leaving Stone with a higher percentage ownership for a number of Marcellus wells. Stone said they expect production in the Marcellus region (currently 144 MMcfe per day) to tapper off over the rest of the year because they aren't drilling or completing any new wells. Even so, they expect 2015 production to exceed 2014 production in the northeast. Despite cost-cutting measures, Stone's net income (which includes expenses), like that of so many other drillers across the country, took a dive in 2Q15--going from $4.4 million net income in 2Q14 to minus $152.9 million in 2Q15...

To view this content, log into your member account. (Not a member? Join Today!)