Antero Resources, one of the biggest drillers in the Marcellus, released their second quarter 2016 update in August which showed natgas production was up 19% over 2Q15 (see Antero Resources Production Up 19% in 2Q16, but Loses $596M). However, the company also reported production was essentially flat (the same as) production during the first quarter of 2016. But in September the company revised its 2016 production estimates–up–because they are using more sand in their fracking (see Antero Feels Good, Increases Production Estimates for 2016). How’s that working out? Yesterday Antero released their third quarter 2016 results. Production is up 25% in 3Q16 over 3Q15, and up 6% over 2Q16. In other words, more sand is working. The other important thing to note about Antero is that the company is perhaps the top Marcellus/Utica driller that makes use of hedging–locking in long-term prices for the gas it produces. Instead of having to sell its gas at whatever the daily market price is (right now averaging $1.35 per thousand cubic feet, or Mcf, in the Marcellus/Utica), they sell it at a locked-in price that’s much higher. For 3Q16, Antero’s average sale price was a whopping $3.96/Mcf! Smart financial folks working at Antero. Here’s the full Antero update…
