Whiting USA Trust II Announces Trust Quarterly Distribution
November 07 2014 - 5:31PM
Business Wire
Whiting USA Trust II (NYSE: WHZ) announced the fourth Trust
distribution in 2014, which relates to net profits generated during
the third quarterly payment period of 2014.
Unitholders of record on November 19, 2014 will receive a
distribution of $0.642014 per unit, which is payable on or before
December 1, 2014.
Volumes, average sales prices and net profits for the quarterly
payment period were:
Sales volumes: Oil (Bbl)(1) 293,376 Natural gas (Mcf)
519,617 Total (BOE) 379,979 Average sales prices: Oil
(per Bbl)(1) $ 85.10 Natural gas (per Mcf)(2) $ 5.12
Gross proceeds:
Oil sales(1) $ 24,967,006 Natural gas sales 2,659,287
Total gross proceeds $ 27,626,293 Costs: Lease operating
expenses $ 10,801,596 Production taxes 1,419,212 Development costs
1,992,303 Cash settlements on commodity derivatives(3) -
Total costs $ 14,213,111
Net profits
$ 13,413,182 Percentage allocable to Trust’s Net Profits Interest
90 %
Total cash available for the Trust
$ 12,071,864 Provision for estimated Trust expenses (250,000 )
Montana state income taxes withheld (8,811 ) Net cash
proceeds available for distribution $ 11,813,053
Trust units outstanding
18,400,000 Cash distribution per Trust unit $
0.642014 (1) Oil includes natural gas liquids.
(2) The average sales price of natural gas for the gas
production months within the distribution period exceeded the
average NYMEX gas prices for those same months within the period
due to the “liquids rich” content of a portion of the natural gas
volumes produced by the underlying properties. (3) There
were no realized gains or losses on hedge settlements during the
third quarterly payment period of 2014. All costless collar hedge
contracts terminate as of December 31, 2014, and no additional
hedges are allowed to be placed on Trust assets. Consequently, for
all distributions after the February 2015 distribution, there will
be no further cash settlements on commodity hedges, and the Trust
will have increased exposure to oil and natural gas price
volatility.
The Trust’s net profits interest represents the right to receive
90% of the net proceeds from Whiting Petroleum Corporation’s
interests in certain existing oil and natural gas properties
located primarily in the Rocky Mountains, Permian Basin, Gulf Coast
and Mid-Continent regions of the United States.
The net profits interest will terminate on the later to occur of
(1) December 31, 2021, or (2) the time when 11.79 MMBOE (10.61
MMBOE to the 90% net profits interest) have been produced from the
underlying properties and sold, and the Trust will soon thereafter
wind up its affairs and terminate, after which it will pay no
further distributions. Consequently, the market price of the Trust
units will decline to zero around or shortly after the net profits
interest termination date, which is currently estimated to be
December 31, 2021. As described in the Trust’s public filings,
since the assets of the Trust are depleting assets, a portion of
each cash distribution paid on the Trust units should be considered
by investors as a return of capital, with the remainder being
considered as a return on investment.
As of September 30, 2014, on a cumulative accrual basis, 4.26
MMBOE (40%) of the Trust’s total 10.61 MMBOE have been produced and
sold. Based on the Trust’s reserve report for the underlying
properties as of December 31, 2013, the 11.79 MMBOE of reserves
(10.61 MMBOE to the 90% net profits interest) are projected to be
produced from the underlying properties prior to December 31, 2021,
and the net profits interest would therefore terminate on December
31, 2021. Additionally, the year-end reserve report reflects an
expected annualized decline rate of approximately 8.4% between 2014
and 2021. However, cash distributions to unitholders may decline at
a faster rate than the rate of production due to fixed and
semi-variable costs attributable to the underlying properties, or
if expected future development is delayed, reduced or
cancelled.
This press release contains forward-looking statements,
including all statements made in this press release other than
statements of historical fact. No assurances can be given that such
statements will prove to be correct. The announced distributable
amount is based, in part, on the amount of cash received or
expected to be received by the Trust from Whiting Petroleum
Corporation pursuant to the net profits interest with respect to
the relevant quarterly period. Any differences in actual cash
receipts by the Trust could affect this distributable amount. Other
important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially include expenses of the Trust, fluctuations in oil and
natural gas prices, uncertainty of estimates of oil and natural gas
reserves and production, the timing of any such production, risks
inherent in the operation, production and development of oil and
gas properties, and future production and development costs.
Statements made in this press release are qualified by the
cautionary statements made in this press release. The Trustee does
not intend, and assumes no obligation, to update any of the
statements included in this press release.
Whiting USA Trust IIThe Bank of New York Mellon Trust
Company, N.A., as TrusteeMike Ulrich,
512-236-6599http://WhitingWHZ.investorhq.businesswire.com/