Hess Reports Estimated Results for the Second Quarter of 2020

An audio webcast replay of the Hess second quarter 2020 earnings call is available here through August 13, 2020.

Second Quarter Financial and Operational Highlights:

• Net loss was $320 million, or $1.05 per common share, compared with a net loss of $6 million, or $0.02 per common share (adjusted net loss1 of $28 million, or $0.09 per common share) in the second quarter of 2019
• Oil and gas net production, excluding Libya, averaged 334,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), up from 273,000 boepd in the second quarter of 2019; Bakken net production was 194,000 boepd, up 39% from 140,000 boepd in the prior-year quarter
• Crude oil put option contracts are in place for more than 80% of forecast net oil production in the second half of 2020 with a fair value of approximately $450 million at June 30, 2020; realized settlements on crude oil put option contracts during the first half of the year were approximately $500 million
• Exploration and Production (E&P) capital and exploratory expenditures were $453 million, compared with $664 million in the prior-year quarter
• Cash and cash equivalents, excluding Midstream, were $1.64 billion at June 30, 2020 

2020 Revised Full Year Guidance: 

• Net production guidance, excluding Libya, increased to approximately 330,000 boepd, up from the previous guidance of approximately 320,000 boepd

• Bakken net production guidance increased to approximately 185,000 boepd, up from the previous guidance of approximately 175,000 boepd due to year to date performance and the deferral of the planned maintenance turnaround at the Tioga Gas Plant from the third quarter of 2020 until 2021

Hess today reported a net loss of $320 million, or $1.05 per common share, in the second quarter of 2020, compared with a net loss of $6 million, or $0.02 per common share, in the second quarter of 2019. On an adjusted basis, the second quarter 2019 net loss was $28 million, or $0.09 per common share. The decrease in after-tax results
compared with adjusted results in the prior-year period primarily reflects lower realized selling prices.

1. “Adjusted net income (loss)” is a non-GAAP financial measure. The definition of this non-GAAP measure and a reconciliation to its nearest GAAP equivalent measure appears on pages 6 to 8.

As previously announced, the Corporation chartered three very large crude carriers (VLCCs) to load a total of approximately 6 million barrels of oil during May, June and July to enhance 2020 cash flow and maximize value from its Bakken production. During the second quarter, the Corporation loaded 3.7 million barrels of crude oil on VLCCs and plans to load an additional 2.3 million barrels during the third quarter. The first VLCC cargo of 2 million barrels has been sold for delivery in China in September at a premium to Brent prices. The additional 4 million barrels of oil are expected to be sold in Asia in the fourth quarter of 2020.

“Our company’s long term strategy has enabled us to build a high quality and diversified portfolio that is resilient in a low price environment,” CEO John Hess said. “With multiple phases of low cost oil developments in Guyana, we are well positioned to deliver industry leading cash flow growth and increasing financial returns in the years ahead.”

 After-tax income (loss) by major operating activity was as follows:

Exploration and Production:

     E&P net loss was $249 million in the second quarter of 2020, compared with net income of $68 million in the second quarter of 2019. On an adjusted basis, E&P’s second quarter 2019 net income was $46 million. The Corporation’s average realized crude oil selling price, excluding the effect of hedging, was $20.63 per barrel in the second quarter of 2020, compared with $61.37 per barrel in the prior-year quarter, reflecting a decrease in benchmark oil prices and widening of crude differentials realized as a result of reduced demand caused by the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In addition, a higher proportion of Bakken and Guyana production was sold in April and May which had lower prices than the month of June. Realized gains from crude oil hedging activities improved after-tax results by $228 million in the second quarter of 2020 and reduced after-tax results by $14 million in the second quarter of 2019. Including hedging, the Corporation’s average realized crude oil selling price was $39.03 per barrel in the second quarter of 2020, compared with $60.45 per barrel in the year-ago quarter. The average realized natural gas liquids (NGL) selling price in the second quarter of 2020 was $7.32 per barrel, compared with $12.18 per barrel in the prior-year quarter, while the average realized natural gas selling price was $2.41 per mcf, compared with $3.92 per mcf in the second quarter of 2019.

     Net production, excluding Libya, was 334,000 boepd in the second quarter of 2020, up 22% from second quarter 2019 net production of 273,000 boepd. The improved performance primarily resulted from a 39% increase in Bakken production and production from the Liza Field, offshore Guyana, which commenced in December 2019. There was no net production for Libya in the second quarter of 2020 due to the declaration of force majeure by the Libyan National Oil Corporation. Net production for Libya was 20,000 boepd in the second quarter of 2019.

     Cash operating costs, which include operating costs and expenses, production and severance taxes, and E&P general and administrative expenses, were $8.81 per barrel of oil equivalent (boe) in the second quarter of 2020, down 27% from $12.11 per boe in the prior-year quarter due to the increased production volumes, lower production and severance taxes and the impact of cost-reduction initiatives.

Operational Highlights for the Second Quarter of 2020:

     Bakken (Onshore U.S.): Net production from the Bakken increased to 194,000 boepd from 140,000 boepd in the prior-year quarter, with net oil production up 26% to 108,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) from 86,000 bopd, primarily due to increased wells online and improved well performance. Natural gas and NGL production also increased from higher wells online, additional natural gas captured and processed at the Little Missouri 4 natural gas processing plant that commenced operations in July 2019, and additional volumes received under percentage of proceeds contracts resulting from lower prices. The Corporation reduced the number of rigs operating in the Bakken from six rigs in the first quarter to one rig in May as part of its previously announced capital expenditure reduction plans and drilled 17 wells, completed 31 wells, and brought 40 new wells online during the second quarter of 2020. The planned maintenance turnaround at the Tioga Gas Plant originally scheduled for the third quarter of 2020 will be deferred until 2021 to ensure safe and timely execution in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

     Gulf of Mexico (Offshore U.S.): Net production from the Gulf of Mexico was 68,000 boepd, compared with 65,000 boepd in the prior-year quarter. The Esox-1 well, which commenced production in February, is expected to reach its gross peak rate of approximately 17,000 boepd, or 9,000 boepd net to Hess in the third quarter, and is expected to average approximately 5,000 boepd net to Hess in 2020. The Corporation is participating in the BP-operated Galapagos Deep exploration well (Hess – 25%) which is a hub-class, Cretaceous-aged opportunity in the Mississippi Canyon area.  The well spud in May and is still drilling.

     Guyana (Offshore): On the Stabroek Block (Hess – 30%), the Corporation’s net production from the Liza Field, which commenced in December 2019, averaged 22,000 bopd in the second quarter of 2020. The operator, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, is currently commissioning water injection equipment and bringing natural gas injection fully online that should enable the Liza Destiny floating production, offloading, and storage vessel (FPSO) to reach its capacity of 120,000 gross bopd in August. Phase two of the Liza Field development, which will utilize the Liza Unity FPSO with an expected capacity of 220,000 gross bopd, remains on target to achieve first oil in early 2022. As previously announced, some activities for a third development, Payara, with expected production capacity of 220,000 gross bopd, have been deferred pending government approval of the project creating a potential delay in production startup of six to twelve months.

     As a result of COVID-19 related travel restrictions in Guyana, the operator temporarily idled two drillships but both drillships resumed drilling operations by the end of the second quarter. The Stena Carron rig recently completed appraisal drilling at Yellowtail-2, located 1 mile southeast of Yellowtail-1. The well identified two additional high quality reservoirs, one adjacent to, and the other below the Yellowtail Field, further demonstrating the world class quality of this basin. This additional resource is currently being evaluated and will help form the basis for a potential future development. The Noble Don Taylor commenced drilling of the Redtail exploration well, which is 1.25 miles northwest of Yellowtail-1, in July. The other two drillships, the Noble Bob Douglas and the Noble Tom Madden, are drilling and completing Liza Phase 1 and Phase 2 development wells.

     South East Asia (Offshore): Net production at the North Malay Basin and JDA was 44,000 boepd, compared with 59,000 boepd in the prior-year quarter, reflecting reduced natural gas nominations caused by COVID-19 impacts on economic activity in Malaysia.

Midstream:

     The Midstream segment had net income of $51 million in the second quarter of 2020, compared with net income of $35 million in the prior-year quarter. The improved second quarter 2020 results are primarily driven by higher throughput volumes.

Corporate, Interest and Other:

     After-tax expense for Corporate, Interest and Other was $122 million in the second quarter of 2020, compared with $109 million in the second quarter of 2019. Interest expense increased $16 million compared with the prior-year quarter due to interest on a new $1.0 billion three year term loan entered into in March 2020 and lower capitalized interest.

Capital and Exploratory Expenditures:

     E&P capital and exploratory expenditures were $453 million in the second quarter of 2020, down from $664 million in the prior-year quarter. The decrease is primarily driven by the lower rig count in the Bakken and reduced development drilling in the Gulf of Mexico during the second quarter of 2020. For full year 2020, the Corporation is maintaining E&P capital and exploratory expenditures guidance at approximately $1.9 billion.

     Midstream capital expenditures were $79 million in the second quarter of 2020, up from $69 million in the prior-year quarter.

Liquidity:

     Excluding the Midstream segment, Hess Corporation had cash and cash equivalents of $1.64 billion and debt and finance lease obligations totaling $6.6 billion at June 30, 2020. In the second quarter of 2020, the Corporation successfully syndicated its $1.0 billion three year term loan originally underwritten in the first quarter of 2020. The Corporation’s debt to capitalization ratio as defined in its debt covenants was 44.3% at June 30, 2020 and 39.6% at December 31, 2019. The Corporation has no debt maturities until 2023 when the three year term loan comes due. At June 30, 2020, the fair value of crude oil put option hedge contracts, which cover more than 80% of the Corporation’s forecasted oil production for the second half of 2020, was approximately $450 million. Realized settlements on closed contracts during the first half of the year were approximately $500 million, which include deferred gains associated with the 3.7 million barrels loaded on VLCCs.

     The Midstream segment had cash and cash equivalents of $3 million and total debt of $1.8 billion at June 30, 2020.

     Net cash provided by operating activities was $266 million in the second quarter of 2020, down from $675 million in the second quarter of 2019 primarily due to lower realized crude oil selling prices and the impact on cash flows from deferring sales for the 3.7 million barrels loaded on VLCCs in the quarter.

     Net cash provided by operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities2 was $301 million in the second quarter of 2020, compared with $560 million in the prior-year quarter. Changes in operating assets and liabilities in the second quarter of 2020 were a net outflow of $35 million compared with a net inflow of $115 million in the second quarter of 2019.

Items Affecting Comparability of Earnings Between Periods:

     The following table reflects the total after-tax income (expense) of items affecting comparability of earnings between periods:

     Second Quarter 2019: E&P results included an after-tax gain of $22 million ($22 million pre-tax) associated with the sale of our remaining acreage in the Utica shale play.

Reconciliation of U.S. GAAP to Non-GAAP measures:

     The following table reconciles reported net income (loss) attributable to Hess Corporation and adjusted net income (loss):

The following table reconciles reported net cash provided by (used in) operating activities from net cash provided by (used in) operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Hess Corporation will review second quarter financial and operating results and other matters on a webcast at 10 a.m. today (EDT). For details about the event, refer to the Investor Relations section of our website at www.hess.com.

Hess Corporation is a leading global independent energy company engaged in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas. More information on Hess Corporation is available at www.hess.com.

Forward-looking Statements
This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “could,” “may,” “should,” “would,” “believe,” “intend,” “project,” “plan,” “predict,” “will,” “target” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which are not historical in nature. Our forward-looking statements may include, without limitation: our future financial and operational results; our business strategy; estimates of our crude oil and natural gas reserves and levels of production; benchmark prices of crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas and our associated realized price differentials; our projected budget and capital and exploratory expenditures; expected timing and completion of our development projects; and future economic and market conditions in the oil and gas industry.
Forward-looking statements are based on our current understanding, assessments, estimates and projections of relevant factors and reasonable assumptions about the future. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our current projections or expectations of future results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The following important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements: fluctuations in market prices of crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas and competition in the oil and gas exploration and production industry, including as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic; potential disruption or interruption of our operations due to catastrophic events, such as accidents, severe weather, geological events, shortages of skilled labor, cyber-attacks or health measures related to COVID-19; reduced demand for our products, including due to the global COVID-19 pandemic or the outbreak of any other public health threat or due to the impact of competing or alternative energy products and political conditions and events, such as instability, changes in governments, armed conflict, and economic sanctions; potential failures or delays in increasing oil and gas reserves, including as a result of unsuccessful exploration activity, drilling risks and unforeseen reservoir conditions; potential failures or delays in achieving expected production levels given inherent uncertainties in estimating quantities of proved reserves; changes in tax, property, contract and other laws, regulations and governmental actions applicable to our business, including legislative and regulatory initiatives regarding environmental concerns, such as measures to limit greenhouse gas emissions and well fracking bans; the ability of our contractual counterparties to satisfy their obligations to us, including the operation of joint ventures under which we may not control; unexpected changes in technical requirements for constructing, modifying or operating exploration and production facilities and/or the inability to timely obtain or maintain necessary permits; availability and costs of employees and other personnel, drilling rigs, equipment, supplies and other required services; any limitations on our access to capital or increase in our cost of capital as a result of weakness in the oil and gas industry or negative outcomes within commodity and financial markets; liability resulting from litigation, including heightened risks associated with being a general partner of Hess Midstream LP; and other factors described in Item 1A—Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and any additional risks described in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
As and when made, we believe that our forward-looking statements are reasonable. However, given these risks and uncertainties, caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements since such statements speak only as of the date when made and there can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will occur and actual results may differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement we make. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether
because of new information, future events or otherwise.

Non-GAAP financial measures
The Corporation has used non-GAAP financial measures in this earnings release. “Adjusted net income (loss)” presented in this release is defined as reported net income (loss) attributable to Hess Corporation excluding items identified as affecting comparability of earnings between periods. “Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities” presented in this release is defined as Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities excluding changes in operating assets and liabilities. Management uses adjusted net income (loss) to evaluate the Corporation’s operating performance and believes that investors’ understanding of our performance is enhanced by disclosing this measure, which excludes certain items that management believes are not directly related to ongoing operations and are not indicative of future business trends and operations. Management believes that net cash provided by (used in) operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities demonstrates the Corporation’s ability to internally fund capital expenditures, pay dividends and service debt. These measures are not, and should not be viewed as, a substitute for U.S. GAAP net income (loss) or net cash provided by (used in) operating activities. A reconciliation of reported net income (loss) attributable to Hess Corporation (U.S. GAAP) to adjusted net income (loss), and a reconciliation of net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (U.S. GAAP) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities are provided in the release.

Cautionary Note to Investors
We use certain terms in this release relating to resources other than proved reserves, such as unproved reserves or resources. Investors are urged to consider closely the oil and gas disclosures in Hess Corporation’s Form 10-K, File No. 1-1204, available from Hess Corporation, 1185 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036 c/o Corporate Secretary and on our website at www.hess.com. You can also obtain this form from the SEC on the EDGAR system.