MIDLAND, Texas, May 02, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diamondback Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: FANG) (“Diamondback” or the “Company”) today announced financial and operating results for the first quarter March 31, 2022.
FIRST QUARTER 2022 HIGHLIGHTS
- Average production of 222.8 MBO/d (381.4 MBOE/d)
- Cash flow from operating activities of $1,252 million; Operating Cash Flow Before Working Capital Changes (as defined and reconciled below) of $1,411 million
- Cash capital expenditures of $437 million; Q1 2022 activity-based capital expenditures incurred of approximately $444 million
- Free Cash Flow (as defined and reconciled below) of $974 million
- Increasing annual base dividend by 17% to $2.80 per share; declared Q1 2022 base cash dividend of $0.70 per share payable on May 23, 2022; implies a 2.2% annualized yield based on the April 29, 2022 closing share price of $126.23
- Announcing a variable cash dividend of $2.35 per share payable on May 23, 2022; total base-plus-variable dividend of $3.05 implies a 9.7% annualized yield based on April 29, 2022 closing share price of $126.23
- Repurchased 57,300 shares of common stock in Q1 2022 for ~$6.7 million (at a weighted average price of approximately $117.34/share)
- Total return of capital of $555 million; represents 57% of Q1 2022 Free Cash Flow (as defined and reconciled below) and 50% of Adjusted Free Cash Flow (as defined and reconciled below) from stock repurchases and the declared Q1 2022 base-plus-variable dividend
- As previously announced, Diamondback fully redeemed the $1,000 million outstanding 2.875% Senior Notes due 2024 and the $500 million outstanding 4.750% Senior Notes due 2025 with cash on hand and the net proceeds from the issuance of its new 4.25% Senior Notes due 2052 in the aggregate principal amount of $750 million
- Closed the acquisition of approximately 6,200 net acres in Ward County, Texas for a gross purchase price of $230 million
Oil & Gas Permit Download
Diamondback Wells Drilled Last 12 Months
Diamondback Air Permits
“In February, Russia launched an unprovoked invasion of the sovereign nation of Ukraine. We strongly condemn Russia’s actions and in March announced a $10 million commitment to support various non-profit entities that have risen to meet the humanitarian needs of the millions of men, women, and children affected by this unjust war. We hope and pray for a peaceful resolution to this conflict,” stated Travis Stice, Chief Executive Officer of Diamondback.
Mr. Stice continued, “Russia’s actions have increased the volatility in our sector, creating significant swings in commodity prices as a result of uncertainty around global oil supply. At Diamondback, we are proud to have grown our production from just under 3,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day (“BOE/d”) exactly a decade ago, to over 380,000 BOE/d this quarter. This production growth, along with material growth from many of our peers across the United States and in the Permian Basin, has significantly lowered our Country’s relative cost of energy and contributed to our energy security, the strength of our currency and our Country’s geopolitical position on the world stage.
Today, Diamondback is committed to maintaining our current production levels, providing a significant supply of energy to our Country and the world. While we believe that efficiently growing our production base is achievable over the long-term, we do not feel that today is the appropriate time to begin spending dollars that would not equate to additional barrels until multiple quarters from today given the uncertainty and volatility currently in the market.
Like many other industries, we are operating in a challenging environment. We are seeing inflationary pressure across all facets of our business, with labor and materials shortages now present across the supply-chain. We are fortunate to have secured the necessary equipment, personnel and materials to run our capital program, but increasing activity today would result in capital efficiency degradation and would not meaningfully contribute to the global supply and demand imbalance in the oil market today.
Therefore, we are focused on maintaining our operational excellence and producing one of the lowest cost and environmentally friendly barrels in the world. By doing so, we expect to continue generating differentiated returns, hitting our production and capital targets and returning at least 50% of our Free Cash Flow to our stockholders.”
During the first quarter of 2022, Diamondback drilled 47 gross horizontal wells in the Midland Basin and 14 gross horizontal wells in the Delaware Basin. The Company turned 54 operated horizontal wells to production in the Midland Basin and 15 operated horizontal wells to production in the Delaware Basin. The average lateral length for the wells completed during the first quarter was 9,658 feet. Operated completions during the first quarter consisted of 19 Lower Spraberry wells, 15 Wolfcamp A wells, 11 Jo Mill wells, 10 Middle Spraberry wells, six Wolfcamp B wells, six Second Bone Spring wells, one Third Bone Spring well and one Barnett well.
DELAWARE BASIN ACQUISITION
In January 2022, the Company acquired approximately 6,200 net acres from an undisclosed seller in Ward County, Texas for a gross purchase price of $230 million. During the first quarter of 2022, the average daily production was 1.3 MBO/d (2.3 MBOE/d) and the amount of production that contributed to Diamondback’s first quarter of 2022 was approximately 1.0 MBO/d (1.9 MBOE/d). The acquisition includes 58 estimated gross (43 net) horizontal locations with an average lateral length of over 10,300 feet. The acreage is 100% operated with an average 74% working interest and 66% net revenue interest (85% effective net revenue interest). The acquisition was funded with cash on hand. Kirkland & Ellis served as legal advisor to Diamondback.
ENVIRONMENTAL UPDATE
Diamondback’s 2021 Scope 1 GHG intensity and methane intensity decreased by 15% and 21%, respectively, from 2020. Diamondback uses the American Exploration and Production Council’s ESG Metrics Framework to calculate GHG and methane intensity.
Diamondback’s 2021 gross operated BOE production increased by approximately 24% from 2020, while absolute Scope 1 GHG emissions increased 5% from 2020, to approximately 1.26 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents. Absolute methane emissions in 2021 decreased to approximately five thousand tons of methane, or 2% lower than 2020. During the first quarter of 2022, Diamondback flared approximately 1.5% of gross natural gas production. As promised in our Net Zero Now pledge announced in early 2021, Diamondback will retire approximately 1.26 million carbon offsets for its 2021 Scope 1 emissions.
As of April 30, 2022 Diamondback has installed Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems that cover approximately 70% of our operated oil production and monitor methane emissions, carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in real time. Diamondback is committed to increasing this monitoring effort to cover over 90% of operated oil production by the end of 2023.
FINANCIAL UPDATE
Diamondback’s first quarter 2022 net income was $779 million, or $4.36 per diluted share. Adjusted net income (a non-GAAP financial measure as defined and reconciled below) was $929 million, or $5.20 per diluted share.
First quarter 2022 Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA (as defined and reconciled below) was $1,600 million. Adjusted EBITDA net of non-controlling interest was $1,551 million.
First quarter 2022 average unhedged realized prices were $97.03 per barrel of oil, $3.61 per Mcf of natural gas and $40.36 per barrel of natural gas liquids (“NGLs”), resulting in a total equivalent unhedged realized price of $69.60 per BOE.
Diamondback’s cash operating costs for the first quarter of 2022 were $11.36 per BOE, including lease operating expenses (“LOE”) of $4.34 per BOE, cash general and administrative (“G&A”) expenses of $0.61 per BOE, production and ad valorem taxes of $4.69 per BOE and gathering and transportation expenses of $1.72 per BOE.
As of March 31, 2022, Diamondback had $103 million in standalone cash and no borrowings outstanding under its revolving credit facility, with approximately $1.6 billion available for future borrowing under the facility and approximately $1.7 billion of total liquidity.
During the first quarter of 2022, Diamondback spent $374 million on operated drilling and completion and non-operated properties, $44 million on infrastructure and $19 million on midstream, for total cash capital expenditures of $437 million.
DIVIDEND DECLARATIONS
Diamondback announced today that the Company’s Board of Directors declared a base cash dividend of $0.70 per common share for the first quarter of 2022 payable on May 23, 2022, to stockholders of record at the close of business on May 12, 2022.
The Company’s Board of Directors also declared a variable cash dividend of $2.35 per common share for the first quarter of 2022 payable on May 23, 2022, to stockholders of record at the close of business on May 12, 2022.
Future base and variable dividends remain subject to review and approval at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors.
COMMON STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM
On September 15, 2021 the Board of Directors of Diamondback authorized the Company to acquire up to $2.0 billion of common stock. During the first quarter of 2022, Diamondback repurchased 57,300 shares of common stock at an average share price of $117.34 for a total cost of approximately $6.7 million. Diamondback intends to purchase common stock under the common stock repurchase program opportunistically with cash on hand, free cash flow from operations and proceeds from potential liquidity events such as the sale of assets. This repurchase program has no time limit and may be suspended from time to time, modified, extended or discontinued by the Board at any time. Purchases under the repurchase program may be made from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions in compliance with Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and will be subject to market conditions, applicable legal requirements and other factors. Any common stock purchased as part of this program will be retired.
FULL YEAR 2022 GUIDANCE
Below is Diamondback’s guidance for the full year 2022, which includes second quarter production and capital guidance. As a result of the increase in commodity prices, Diamondback is increasing its expected cash tax rate to 10% – 15% of pre-tax income from 6% – 11% previously.
| 2022 Guidance | 2022 Guidance | ||
| Diamondback Energy, Inc. | Viper Energy Partners LP | ||
| Total net production – MBOE/d | 369 – 376 | 30.50 – 32.75 | |
| Oil production – MBO/d | 218 – 222 | 18.00 – 19.25 | |
| Q2 2022 oil production – MBO/d (total – MBOE/d) | 218 – 222 (369 – 376) | ||
| Unit costs ($/BOE) | |||
| Lease operating expenses, including workovers | $4.00 – $4.50 | ||
| G&A | |||
| Cash G&A | $0.65 – $0.80 | $0.60 – $0.80 | |
| Non-cash equity-based compensation | $0.40 – $0.50 | $0.10 – $0.20 | |
| DD&A | $8.75 – $9.75 | $9.75 – $10.75 | |
| Interest expense (net of interest income) | $1.10 – $1.30 | $3.25 – $3.75 | |
| Gathering and transportation | $1.60 – $1.80 | ||
| Production and ad valorem taxes (% of revenue)(a) | 7% – 8% | 7% – 8% | |
| Corporate tax rate (% of pre-tax income) | 23 | % | |
| Cash tax rate (% of pre-tax income) | 10% – 15% | 10% – 15% | |
| Capital Budget ($ – million) | |||
| Drilling, completion, capital workovers, and non-operated properties | $1,560 – $1,670 | ||
| Midstream (ex. equity method investments) | $80 – $100 | ||
| Infrastructure and environmental | $110 – $130 | ||
| 2022 Capital expenditures | $1,750 – $1,900 | ||
| Q2 2022 Capital expenditures | $435 – $475 | ||
| Gross horizontal wells drilled (net) | 270 – 290 (248 – 267) | ||
| Gross horizontal wells completed (net) | 260 – 280 (240 – 258) | ||
| Average lateral length (Ft.) | ~10,200′ | ||
| Midland Basin well costs per lateral foot | $520 – $580 | ||
| Delaware Basin well costs per lateral foot | $700 – $780 | ||
| Midland Basin net lateral feet (%) | ~80% | ||
| Delaware Basin net lateral feet (%) | ~20% |
(a) Includes production taxes of 4.6% for crude oil and 7.5% for natural gas and NGLs and ad valorem taxes.
Diamondback Energy News
Diamondback to boost oil production while cutting Permian drilling rigs following Endeavor megadeal
U.S. shale drillers to reduce Permian drilling emissions, increase reliability with nuclear reactors
Diamondback Energy, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial and Operating Results
Diamondback Energy, Inc. and Endeavor Energy Resources, L.P. to Merge to Create a Premier Permian Independent Oil and Gas Company
Diamondback Energy, Inc. Announces Q3 2023 Financial and Operating Results
Diamondback Energy, Inc. and Five Point Energy LLC Form Deep Blue Midland Basin LLC
Diamondback Energy, Inc. Second Quarter 2023 Operating Results
Diamondback Seeks Buyers For Permian Assets
