General
This Report may contain statements relating to the future results of the Company that are considered “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “PSLRA”). In addition, certain statements may be contained in the Company’s future filings with the SEC, in press releases, and in oral and written statements made by or with the approval of the Company that are not statements of historical fact and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the PSLRA. Such forward-looking statements, in addition to historical information, which involve risk and uncertainties, are based on the beliefs, assumptions and expectations of management of the Company. Words such as “expects”, ‘believes”, “should”, “plans”, “anticipates”, “will”, “potential”, “could”, “intend”, “may”, “outlook”, “predict”, “project”, “would”, “estimates”, “assumes”, “likely” “and variations of such similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties and are based on a number of assumptions that could ultimately prove inaccurate and, therefore, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be accurate. Actual results and outcomes may vary materially from what is expressed or forecast in such statements due to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the possibility of drilling cost overruns and technical difficulties, volatility of oil and gas prices, competition, risks inherent in the Company’s oil and gas operations, the inexact nature of interpretation of seismic and other geological and geophysical data, imprecision of reserve estimates, and the Company’s ability to replace and expand oil and gas reserves. Accordingly, stockholders and potential investors are cautioned that certain events or circumstances could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. The forward looking statements are made as of the date of this Report and other than as required by the federal securities laws, the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statement or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements.
PrimeEnergy Corporation (the “Company”) was organized in March, 1973, under the laws of the State of Delaware.
We are an independent oil and natural gas company engaged in acquiring, developing and producing oil and natural gas. We presently own producing and non-producing properties located primarily in Texas, Oklahoma, West Virginia, the Gulf of Mexico, New Mexico, Colorado and Louisiana. All of our oil and gas properties and interests are located in the United States. Through our subsidiaries Prime Operating Company, Southwest Oilfield Construction Company, Eastern Oil Well Service Company and EOWS Midland Company, we act as operator and provide well servicing support operations for many of the onshore oil and gas wells in which we have an interest, as well as for third parties. We own and operate properties in the Gulf of Mexico through our subsidiary Prime Offshore L.L.C., formerly F-W Oil Exploration L.L.C. We are also active in the acquisition of producing oil and gas properties through joint ventures with industry partners. Our subsidiary, PrimeEnergy Management Corporation (“PEMC”), acts as the managing general partner of eighteen oil and gas limited partnerships (the “Partnerships”), and acts as the managing trustee of two asset and income business trusts (“the Trusts”).
Exploration, Development and Recent Activities
The Company’s activities include development and exploratory drilling. Our strategy is to develop a balanced portfolio of drilling prospects that includes lower risk wells with a high probability of success and higher risk wells with greater economic potential.
As of December 31, 2011, we had net capitalized costs related to proved oil and gas properties of $137 million. Total expenditures for the acquisition, exploration and development of our properties during 2011 were $40 million of which $38 thousand related to exploration costs expensed during 2011. Proved reserves as of December 31, 2011, were 17,752 thousand barrels of oil equivalent (“Mboe”) which consisted of 77% proved developed reserves and 23% proved undeveloped reserves.
Significant 2011 activity
During 2011, we participated in drilling a total of 36 gross (22.32 net) wells, of which 35 (21.98 net) were successful completions. This included 24 development wells in our West Texas drilling program and the drilling of 6 wells in our Mid-Continent region.
We reduced debt by $23.3 million from $93.1 million at December 31, 2010 to $69.8 million as of December 31, 2011. As of December 31, 2011 we have $55.2 million available for future borrowings.
| PrimeEnergy Corporation | ||
| By: | /s/ CHARLES E. DRIMAL, JR. | |
| Charles E. Drimal, Jr. | ||
| Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President | ||