In this Annual Report on Form 10-K, references to “we,” “our” or “the Company” refer to Matador Resources Company and its subsidiaries before the completion of our corporate reorganization on August 9, 2011 and Matador Holdco, Inc. and its subsidiaries after the completion of our corporate reorganization on August 9, 2011. Prior to August 9, 2011, Matador Holdco, Inc. was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Matador Resources Company, now known as MRC Energy Company. Pursuant to the terms of our corporate reorganization, former Matador Resources Company became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Matador Holdco, Inc. and changed its corporate name to MRC Energy Company, and Matador Holdco, Inc. changed its corporate name to Matador Resources Company.
Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “common stock” refers to shares of our common stock after the conversion of our Class B common stock into Class A common stock upon the consummation of our initial public offering on February 7, 2012, as the Class A common stock then became the only class of common stock authorized, and the term “Class A common stock” refers to shares of our Class A common stock prior to the automatic conversion of our Class B common stock into Class A common stock upon the consummation of our initial public offering.
For certain oil and natural gas terms used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, see the “Glossary of Oil and Natural Gas Terms” included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
General
We are an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, development, production and acquisition of oil and natural gas resources in the United States, with a particular emphasis on oil and natural gas shale plays and other unconventional resource plays. Our current operations are focused primarily on the oil and liquids rich portion of the Eagle Ford shale play in South Texas and in the Haynesville shale play in Northwest Louisiana. In 2012, more than 90% of our total capital expenditures of $334.6 million were directed to our operations in South Texas, primarily in the Eagle Ford shale, as we sought to transition to a more balanced commodity portfolio through the drilling of wells that were prospective for oil and liquids. For the year ended December 31, 2012, approximately 37% of our total production by volume (using a conversion ratio of one Bbl of oil per 6 Mcf of natural gas) and 79% of our total oil and natural gas revenues were attributable to oil production, primarily from the Eagle Ford shale. In 2013, we expect that approximately 82% of our estimated capital expenditures of $310.0 million will be directed to increasing our oil production and oil reserves in South Texas, primarily in the Eagle Ford shale play. Although we did not drill any operated Haynesville shale natural gas wells during 2012, we directed approximately 3% of our capital expenditures to the Haynesville shale in 2012 to participate in several non-operated wells. In addition to these primary operating areas, we have a growing acreage position in Southeast New Mexico and West Texas where we plan to drill three exploratory wells to test the Wolfcamp and Bone Spring plays during 2013. We also have a large exploratory leasehold position in Southwest Wyoming and adjacent areas in Utah and Idaho where we are testing the Meade Peak shale.
We are a Texas corporation founded in July 2003 by Joseph Wm. Foran, Chairman, President and CEO. Mr. Foran began his career as an oil and natural gas independent in 1983 when he founded Foran Oil Company with $270,000 in contributed capital from 17 friends and family members. Foran Oil Company was later contributed to Matador Petroleum Corporation upon its formation by Mr. Foran in 1988. Mr. Foran served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of that company from its inception until it was sold in June 2003 to Tom Brown, Inc., in an all cash transaction for an enterprise value of approximately $388.5 million.