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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

(Mark one)

 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019

OR

 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from            to            

Commission File Number: 001-12209

 

RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

Delaware

 

34-1312571

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

 

100 Throckmorton Street, Suite 1200, Fort Worth, Texas

 

76102

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

(817) 870-2601

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class

 

Trading Symbol

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $.01 par value

 

RRC

 

New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes       No  

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes      No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes      No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes      No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer

 

  

Smaller reporting company

 

Accelerated filer

 

  

Emerging growth company

 

Non-accelerated filer

 

  

 

 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act:  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes      No  

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates as of June 30, 2019 was $1,733,839,000. This amount is based on the closing price of registrant’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on that date. Shares of common stock held by executive officers and directors of the registrant are not included in the computation. However, the registrant has made no determination that such individuals are “affiliates” within the meaning of Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.

As of February 25, 2020, there were 254,715,325 shares of Range Resources Corporation Common Stock outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be furnished to stockholders in connection with its 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year to which this report relates, are incorporated by reference in Part II, Item 5 and Part III, Items 10-14 of this report.

 

 


 

RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION

Unless the context otherwise indicates, all references in this report to “Range,” “we,” “us” or “our” are to Range Resources Corporation and its directly and indirectly owned subsidiaries. Unless otherwise noted, all information in the report relating to natural gas, natural gas liquids and crude oil reserves and the estimated future net cash flows attributable to those reserves are based on estimates and are net to our interest. If you are not familiar with the oil and gas terms used in this report, please refer to the explanation of such terms under the caption “Glossary of Certain Defined Terms” at the end of Items 1 & 2. Business and Properties of this report.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 PART I

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

ITEMS 1 & 2.

 

Business and Properties

2

 

 

2019 Executive Summary

2

 

 

General

2

 

 

Available Information

3

 

 

Our Business Strategy

3

 

 

Significant Accomplishments in 2019

4

 

 

Industry Operating Environment

5

 

 

Segment and Geographical Information

6

 

 

Outlook for 2020

6

 

 

Production, Price and Cost History

7

 

 

Proved Reserves

8

 

 

Property Overview

10

 

 

Divestitures

12

 

 

Producing Wells

13

 

 

Drilling Activity

13

 

 

Gross and Net Acreage

14

 

 

Undeveloped Acreage Expirations

14

 

 

Title to Properties

14

 

 

Delivery Commitments

15

 

 

Employees

15

 

 

Competition

16

 

 

Marketing and Customers

16

 

 

Seasonal Nature of Business

16

 

 

Markets

17

 

 

Governmental Regulation

17

 

 

Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Matters

19

 

 

Glossary of Certain Defined Terms

24

 

 

 

 

ITEM 1A.

 

Risk Factors

26

 

ITEM 1B.

 

Unresolved Staff Comments

43

 

ITEM 3.

 

Legal Proceedings

44

 

ITEM 4.

 

Mine Safety Disclosures

44

 

PART II

 

 

ITEM 5.

 

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

45

 

 

Market for Common Stock

45

 

 

Holders of Record

45

 

 

Dividends

45

 

 

Stockholder Return Performance Presentation

46

 

ITEM 6.

 

Selected Financial Data and Proved Reserve Data

47

i


 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)

 

 

 

Page

 

ITEM 7.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

48

 

 

Overview of Our Business

48

 

 

Sources of Our Revenues

49

 

 

Principal Components of Our Cost Structure

49

 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations

50

 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition, Cash Flows, Capital Resources and Liquidity

60

 

 

Management’s Discussion of Critical Accounting Estimates

65

 

ITEM 7A.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

70

 

 

Market Risk

70

 

 

Commodity Price Risk

71

 

 

Other Commodity Risk

71

 

 

Commodity Sensitivity Analysis

72

 

 

Interest Rate Risk

72

 

ITEM 8.

 

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

F-1

 

ITEM 9.

 

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

74

 

ITEM 9A.

 

Controls and Procedures

74

 

ITEM 9B.

 

Other Information

74

 

PART III

 

 

ITEM 10.

 

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

75

 

ITEM 11.

 

Executive Compensation

75

 

ITEM 12.

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

75

 

ITEM 13.

 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

75

 

ITEM 14.

 

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

75

 

PART IV

 

 

ITEM 15.

 

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

76

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

79

 

 

 

 

ii


 

Disclosures Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”). These are statements, other than statements of historical fact, that give current expectations or forecasts of future events, including without limitation:  drilling plans; planned wells; rig count; our 2020 capital budget and the planned allocation thereof; reserve estimates; expectations regarding future economic and market conditions and their effects on us; our financial and operational outlook and ability to fulfill that outlook; our financial position, balance sheet, liquidity and capital resources and the benefits thereof. These statements typically contain words such as “may,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “plans,” “predicts,” “targets,” “projects,” “should,” “would” or similar words, indicating that future outcomes are uncertain. In accordance with “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, these statements are accompanied by cautionary language identifying important factors, though not necessarily all such factors that could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

While we believe that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we anticipate. For a description of known material factors that could cause our actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements, see other factors discussed in Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Actual results may vary significantly from those anticipated due to many factors, including:

 

conditions in the oil and gas industry, including supply and demand levels for natural gas, crude oil and natural gas liquids (“NGLs”) and the resulting impact on price;

 

 

the availability and volatility of securities, capital or credit markets and the cost of capital to fund our operation and business strategy;

 

 

accuracy and fluctuations in our reserves estimates due to regulations, reservoir performance or sustained low commodity prices;

 

 

ability to develop existing reserves or acquire new reserves;

 

 

drilling and operating risks;

 

 

well production timing;

 

 

changes in political or economic conditions in our key operating markets;

 

 

prices and availability of goods and services, including third-party infrastructure;

 

 

unforeseen hazards such as weather conditions, acts of war or terrorist acts;

 

 

electronic, cyber or physical security breaches;

 

 

changes in safety, health, environmental, tax and other regulations;

 

 

other geological, operating and economic considerations;

 

 

the ability and willingness of current or potential lenders, derivative contract counterparties, customers and working interest owners to fulfill their obligations to us or to enter into transactions with us in the future on terms that are acceptable to us; or

 

 

other factors discussed in Items 1 and 2. Business and Properties, Item 1A. Risk Factors, Item 7. Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk and elsewhere in this report.

 

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by law. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained throughout this report.

 

 

1


 

PART I

ITEMS 1 AND 2. BUSINESS AND PROPERTIES

General

Range Resources Corporation, a Delaware corporation, is a Fort Worth, Texas-based independent natural gas, NGLs and oil company, engaged in the exploration, development and acquisition of natural gas and oil properties in the United States. Our principal area of operation is the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania. Our corporate offices are located at 100 Throckmorton Street, Suite 1200, Fort Worth, Texas 76102 (telephone (817) 870-2601). We also maintain field offices in our areas of operation. Our common stock is listed and trades on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the ticker symbol “RRC.” Range Resources Corporation was incorporated in 1980. At December 31, 2019, we had 251.4 million shares outstanding.

Our 2019 production had the following characteristics:

 

average total production of 2,283.2 Mmcfe per day, an increase of 4% from 2018;

 

69% natural gas;

 

total natural gas production of 578.1 Bcf, an increase of 5% from 2018;

 

total NGLs production of 38.9 Mmbbls (including ethane), an increase of 1% from 2018;

 

total crude oil and condensate production of 3.7 Mmbbls, a decrease of 13% from 2018; and

 

90% of our total production was from the Marcellus Shale play in Pennsylvania.

At year-end 2019, our proved reserves had the following characteristics:

 

18.2 Tcfe of proved reserves;

 

67% natural gas, 31% NGLs and 2% crude oil;

 

54% proved developed;

 

almost 100% operated;

 

95% of proved reserves are in the Marcellus Shale play in Pennsylvania;

 

a reserve life index of approximately 21 years (based on fourth quarter 2019 production);

 

a pretax present value of $7.6 billion of future net cash flows, discounted at 10% per annum (“PV-10”(a)); and

 

a standardized after-tax measure of discounted future net cash flows of $6.6 billion.

(a)

PV-10 is considered a non-GAAP financial measure as defined by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). We believe that the presentation of PV-10 is relevant and useful to our investors as supplemental disclosure to the standardized measure, or after-tax amount, because it presents the discounted future net cash flows attributable to our proved reserves before taking into account future corporate income taxes and our current tax structure. While the standardized measure is dependent on the unique tax situation of each company, PV-10 is based on prices and discount factors that are consistent for all companies. Because of this, PV-10 can be used within the industry and by creditors and security analysts to evaluate estimated net cash flows from proved reserves on a more comparable basis. The difference between the standardized measure and the PV-10 amount is the discounted estimated future income tax of $932.3 million at December 31, 2019.

2019 Executive Summary

Since our production is 69% natural gas, natural gas prices generally constitute a primary variable in our operating results. Over the last few years, New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”) natural gas prices have been volatile, starting calendar year 2017 at $3.93 per mcf and falling to a low of $2.74 mcf in January 2018 then recovering to $4.72 per mcf at the end of 2018 only to again decrease to a low of $2.14 per mcf in August 2019. The prices we receive for all our products are largely based on current market prices which are beyond our control. In 2019, we continued to focus on areas that are within our control. Currently, our focus is on preservation of cash and liquidity, together with cost reductions and debt management, rather than expansion and growth. During 2019, we:

 

received asset sale proceeds of $784.9 million;

 

repurchased $201.6 million face value of our senior notes at a discount;

 

reduced borrowings on our bank credit facility by $466.0 million from December 2018;

 

increased our bank’s committed borrowing capacity from $2.0 billion to $2.4 billion;

 

spent 4% less than our initial 2019 capital budget of $756.0 million;

 

reduced 2019 general and administration expenses by $28.7 million, a reduction of 14% from 2018 reflecting our reductions in personnel and our efforts to reduce costs to enhance profitability and resilience;

2


 

 

increased proved reserves at December 31, 2019 to 18.2 Tcfe from 18.1 Tcfe at December 31, 2018, despite asset sales, which represents a 139% replacement of 2019 annual production;

 

published our first formal corporate sustainability report;

 

continued with our innovative water recycling program;

 

successfully tested and began utilizing an electric frac fleet;

 

reduced emissions in 2019 compared to 2018 and increased the frequency of leak detection inspections;

 

30% reduction in contractor OSHA recordable injuries and 50% decrease in severity of employee injuries versus 2018; and

 

15% reduction in number of preventable vehicle incidents.

Available Information

Our corporate website is available at http://www.rangeresources.com. Information contained on or connected to our website is not incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K and should not be considered part of this report or any other filing we make with the SEC. We make available, free of charge, on our website, the annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after filing such reports with the SEC. Other information such as presentations, our corporate responsibility culture, our Corporate Governance Guidelines, the charters of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Dividend Committee, the Governance and Nominating Committee, and the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics are available on our website and in print to any stockholder who provides a written request to the Corporate Secretary at 100 Throckmorton Street, Suite 1200, Fort Worth, Texas 76102. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applies to all directors, officers and employees, including our President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

The SEC maintains an internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers, including Range, that file electronically with the SEC. The public can obtain any document we file with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.

Our Business Strategy

Our overarching business objective is to build stockholder value through returns focused development of natural gas and oil properties, measured on a per share debt-adjusted basis. Our strategy to achieve our business objective is to generate consistent cash flow from reserves and production through internally generated drilling projects coupled with occasional acquisitions and divestitures of non-core, or at times, core assets. In addition, we target funding our capital spending to at or below operating cash flow. Our strategy requires us to make significant investments and financial commitments in technical staff, acreage, seismic data, drilling and completion technology and gathering and transportation arrangements to build drilling inventory and market our products. Our strategy has the following key elements:

 

commit to environmental protection and worker and community safety;

 

concentrate in our core operating area;

 

focus on cost efficiency;

 

maintain a multi-year drilling inventory;

 

maintain a long-life reserve base with a low base decline rate;

 

market our products to a large number of customers in different markets under a variety of commercial terms;

 

maintain operational and financial flexibility; and

 

provide employee equity ownership and incentive compensation.

These elements are primarily anchored by our interests in the Marcellus Shale located in Pennsylvania which has a remaining productive life in excess of 50 years. Underlying this interest is 95% of our total proved reserves as of December 31, 2019. In addition, we have natural gas, crude oil and condensate and NGLs production activities in the Lower Cotton Valley in North Louisiana.

Commit to Environmental Protection and Worker and Community Safety. We strive to implement technologies and commercial practices to minimize potential adverse impacts from the development of our properties on the environment, worker health and safety and the safety of the communities where we operate. We analyze and review performance while striving for continual improvement by working with peer companies, regulators, non-governmental organizations, industries not related to the oil and natural gas industry and other engaged stakeholders. We expect every employee to maintain safe operations, minimize environmental impact and conduct their daily business with the highest ethical standards.

3


 

Concentrate in Core Operating Areas. We currently operate in two regions:  Pennsylvania and North Louisiana. Concentrating our drilling and producing activities allows us to develop the regional expertise needed to interpret specific geological and operating conditions and develop economies of scale. Operating in our core areas allows us to pursue our goal of consistent production at attractive returns. We intend to further develop our acreage and improve our operating and financial results through the use of technology and detailed analysis of our properties. We periodically evaluate and pursue acquisition opportunities in the United States (including opportunities to acquire particular natural gas and oil properties or entities owning natural gas and oil assets) and at any given time we may be in various stages of evaluating such opportunities.

Focus on Cost Efficiency. We concentrate in areas which we believe to have sizeable hydrocarbon deposits in place that will allow economic production while controlling costs. Because there is little long-term competitive sales price advantage available to a commodity producer, the costs to find, develop, and produce a commodity are important to organizational sustainability and long-term stockholder value creation. We endeavor to control costs such that our cost to find, develop and produce natural gas, NGLs and oil is one of the lowest in the industry. We operate almost all of our total net production and believe that our extensive knowledge of the geologic and operating conditions in the areas where we operate provides us with the ability to achieve operational efficiencies.

Maintain a Multi-Year Drilling Inventory. We focus on areas with multiple prospective and productive horizons and development opportunities. We use our technical expertise to build and maintain a multi-year drilling inventory. We believe that a large, multi-year inventory of drilling projects increases our ability to efficiently plan for economic production. Currently, we have over 3,000 proven and unproven drilling locations in inventory.

Maintain a Long-Life Reserve Base with a Low Base Decline Rate. Long-life natural gas and oil reserves provide a more stable platform than short-life reserves. Long-life reserves reduce reinvestment risk as they lessen the amount of reinvestment capital deployed each year to replace production. Long-life natural gas and oil reserves also assist us in minimizing costs as stable production makes it easier to build and maintain operating economies of scale. Long-life reserves also offer upside from technology enhancements.

Market Our Products to A Large Number of Customers in Different Markets Under a Variety of Commercial Terms. We market our natural gas, NGLs, crude oil and condensate to a large number of customers in both domestic and international markets to maximize cash flow and diversify risk. We hold numerous firm transportation contracts on multiple pipelines to enable us to transport and sell natural gas and NGLs in the Midwest, Gulf Coast, Southeast, Northeast and international markets. We sell our products under a variety of price indexes and price formulas that assist us in optimizing regional price differentials and commodity price volatility.

Maintain Operational and Financial Flexibility. Because of the risks involved in drilling, coupled with changing commodity prices, we are flexible and adjust our capital budget throughout the year. If certain areas generate higher than anticipated returns, we may accelerate development in those areas and decrease expenditures elsewhere. We also believe in maintaining ample liquidity, using commodity derivatives to help stabilize our realized prices and focusing on financial discipline. We believe this provides more predictable cash flows and financial results. We regularly review our asset base to identify nonstrategic assets, the disposition of which is expected to increase capital resources available for other activities and create organizational and operational efficiencies.

Provide Employee Equity Ownership and Incentive Compensation. We want our employees to think and act like business owners. To achieve this, we reward and encourage them through equity ownership in Range. All full-time employees are eligible to receive equity grants. As of December 31, 2019, our employees and directors owned equity securities in our benefit plans (vested and unvested) that had an aggregate market value of approximately $45.9 million.

Significant Accomplishments in 2019

 

Proved reserves – Total proved reserves increased 1% in 2019, from 18.1 Tcfe to 18.2 Tcfe, despite asset sales during the year. This achievement is the result of existing quality production and efficient development. The Marcellus Shale is our largest producing region and contains our greatest concentration of reserves. We believe the quality of our technical teams and our substantial inventory of high quality drilling locations provide the basis for future proved reserves and production.

 

 

Production – In 2019, our production averaged 2,283.2 Mmcfe per day, an increase of 4% from 2018. Drilling in the Marcellus Shale play in Pennsylvania drove our production. Our capital program is designed to allocate investments based on projects that maximize returns while minimizing controllable costs associated with production activities.

 

 

Focus on financial flexibility – As of December 31, 2019, we maintained a $4.0 billion bank credit facility, with a borrowing base of $3.0 billion and committed borrowing capacity of $2.4 billion. We endeavor to maintain a strong liquidity position. In 2019, we reduced our total debt $667.6 million. Our 2019 capital budget, which was established at the beginning of the year, was $756.0 million with actual spending for 2019 approximately 4% lower. As we have done historically, we may adjust our capital program, divest of assets and use derivatives to

 

4


 

 

protect a portion of our future cash flow from commodity price volatility to reduce the risk of returns on investment and maintain ample liquidity.

 

 

Successful drilling program – In 2019, we drilled 94 gross natural gas and oil wells. We replaced 139% of our production through drilling in 2019 and our overall drilling success rate was 100%. We continue to maintain and optimize our drilling inventory which is critical to our ability to consistently sustain production each year on a cost effective and efficient basis. Controlling the costs to find, develop and produce natural gas, NGLs and oil is critical in creating long-term stockholder value. Our focus areas are characterized by large, contiguous acreage positions and multiple stacked geologic horizons. In 2019, we continued to reduce average well costs per foot drilled through faster drilling times, longer laterals and innovative completion optimizations.

 

 

Large resource potential – Maintaining an exposure to large low-cost potential resources is important. We maintained and continued to develop our shale plays in 2019. We have three large unconventional and prospective plays in Pennsylvania: the Marcellus, Utica and Upper Devonian shales. These plays cover expansive areas, provide multi-year drilling opportunities, are in many cases stacked pay and, collectively, have sustainable lower risk profiles.  

 

 

Dispositions completed – In third quarter 2019, we sold, in three separate transactions, a proportionately reduced 2.5% overriding royalty primarily covering our Washington County, Pennsylvania leases for gross proceeds of $750.0 million and we recorded a loss of $36.5 million, which represents closing adjustments and transaction fees. In second quarter 2019, we sold natural gas and oil property, primarily representing 20,000 unproved acres, for proceeds of $34.0 million and we recognized a gain of $5.9 million.

 

Industry Operating Environment

We operate entirely within the continental United States. The oil and natural gas industry is affected by many factors that we cannot control. Government regulations, particularly in the areas of taxation, energy, climate change and the environment, can have a significant impact on our operations and profitability. The impact of these factors is difficult to accurately predict or anticipate. It is difficult for us to predict the occurrence of events that may affect commodity prices or the degree to which these prices will be affected; however, the prices we receive for the commodities we produce will generally approximate current market prices in the geographic region of the production, not including the impact of our derivative program.

Significant factors that are likely to affect 2020 commodity prices include: the impact of U.S. production growth, the effect of new policies enacted by the U.S. government, fiscal challenges facing the United States federal government, expected economic growth in the U.S. and throughout the world, forecasted increased demand from Asian and European markets, supply and demand fundamentals for NGLs in the United States and the pace at which export capacity grows and the pace that natural gas storage is refilled during the year.

Natural gas prices are primarily determined by North American supply and demand and natural gas exports and are heavily influenced by weather and storage levels. The NYMEX monthly settlement prices for natural gas averaged $2.62 per mcf in 2019, with a high of $3.64 per mcf in January and a low of $2.14 per mcf in August. In 2018, monthly NYMEX settlement prices averaged $3.07 per mcf. Since the end of 2019, natural gas prices have decreased, with the monthly settlement price for natural gas decreasing from $2.47 per mcf in December 2019 to $1.88 per mcf in February 2020. Natural gas prices have come under pressure largely due to an abundant supply of natural gas caused by the high productivity of shale plays in the United States which could continue to outpace demand. While the industry has invested in initiatives designed to increase takeaway capacity, the supply has increased at a faster pace than demand. Natural gas prices are expected to remain volatile in 2020.

Significant factors that are likely to impact 2020 crude oil prices include worldwide economic conditions, the rate of production growth in the United States, political and economic developments in the Middle East, Africa and South America, demand in Asian and European markets and the extent to which members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and other oil exporting nations choose to manage oil supply through export quotas. NYMEX monthly settlement prices for oil averaged $57.21 per barrel in 2019, with a high of $63.87 per barrel in April and a low of $51.55 per barrel in January. In 2018, NYMEX monthly settlement prices for oil averaged $65.49 per barrel. Since the end of 2019, crude oil prices have declined, with the monthly settlement price for crude oil decreasing from $59.81 per barrel in December 2019 to $57.53 per barrel in January 2020. The likelihood of a sustained recovery in worldwide demand for energy is difficult to predict. As a result, we expect crude oil commodity prices will continue to be volatile in 2020.

NGLs prices are determined by North American supply and demand, and increasingly by international supply and demand. The growth of unconventional drilling has substantially increased the supply of NGLs and caused a significant decline in NGLs component prices. Additional export facilities have been built and NGLs exports are increasing along with the expansion of ethane cracking capacity. The supply of NGLs products is expected to increase during 2020 and prices are expected to remain volatile.

5


 

Natural gas, NGLs and oil prices affect:

 

our revenues, profitability and cash flow;

 

the quantity of natural gas, NGLs and oil that we can economically produce;

 

the quantity of natural gas, NGLs and oil shown as proved reserves;

 

the amount of cash flow available to us for capital expenditures; and

 

our ability to borrow and raise additional capital.

Continued or extended decline in natural gas, NGLs and oil prices could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, cash flows and access to capital. To achieve more predictable cash flows and to reduce our exposure to downward price fluctuations, we currently, and may in the future, use derivative instruments to hedge future sales prices on our natural gas, NGLs, crude oil and condensate production. The use of derivative instruments has in the past, and may in the future, prevent us from realizing the full benefit of upward price movements while also partially protecting us from declining price movements.

Segment and Geographical Information

Our operations consist of one reportable segment. We have a single, company-wide management team that administers all properties as a whole rather than by discrete operating segments. We track only basic operational data by area. We do not maintain complete separate financial statement information by area. We measure financial performance as a single enterprise and not on an area-by-area basis. Our exploration and production operations are limited to onshore United States.

Outlook for 2020

For 2020, we have established a $520.0 million capital budget for natural gas, NGLs, crude oil and condensate related activities, excluding proved property acquisitions, for which we do not budget. This budget is 98% allocated to our Appalachian division and includes $490.0 million for drilling costs, $26.0 million for acreage, $1.0 million for pipelines and facilities and $3.0 million for other expenditures. As has been our historical practice, we will periodically review our capital expenditures throughout the year and may adjust the budget based on commodity prices, drilling success and other factors. Throughout the year, we allocate capital on a project-by-project basis. Our expectation for 2020 is for our capital expenditure program to be funded within operating cash flows and, if required, with borrowings under our bank credit facility. To the extent our 2020 capital requirements might exceed our internally generated cash flow, we may reduce the capital budget or use proceeds from asset sales, draw on our committed capacity under our bank credit facility, and/or debt or equity financing may be used to fund these requirements. The prices we receive for our natural gas, NGLs and oil production are largely based on current market prices, which are beyond our control. The price risk on a portion of our forecasted natural gas, NGLs and oil production for 2020 is mitigated using commodity derivative contracts and we intend to continue to enter into these transactions.

Our primary near-term focus includes the following:

 

achieve competitive returns on investments;

 

preserve liquidity and improve financial strength;

 

focus on organic opportunities through disciplined capital investments;

 

improve operational efficiencies and economic returns;

 

target limiting capital spending to at or below cash flow; and

 

attract and retain quality employees whose efforts and incentives are aligned with stockholders’ interests.

6


 

Production, Price and Cost History

The following table sets forth information regarding natural gas, NGLs and oil production, realized prices and production costs for the last three years. The price we receive is largely a function of market supply and demand. Historically, commodity prices have been volatile and we expect that volatility to continue in the future. For more information, see Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

  

2018

 

  

2017

 

Production

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Natural gas (Mmcf)

 

578,114

 

  

 

548,085

  

  

 

490,253

  

Natural gas liquids (Mbbls)

 

38,850

 

  

 

38,325

  

  

 

35,709

  

Crude oil and condensate (Mbbls)

 

3,690

 

  

 

4,228

  

  

 

4,787

  

Total (Mmcfe) (a)

 

833,354

 

  

 

803,408

  

  

 

733,231

  

Average sales prices (excluding derivative settlements)

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Natural gas (per mcf)

$

2.40

  

  

$

3.04

  

  

$

2.75

  

Natural gas liquids (per bbl)

 

17.53

 

  

 

24.30

  

  

 

16.93

  

Crude oil and condensate (per bbl)

 

50.26

 

  

 

60.52

  

  

 

46.30

  

Total (per mcfe) (a)

 

2.71

 

  

 

3.55

  

  

 

2.97

  

Average realized prices (including all derivative settlements):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas (per mcf)

$

2.64

 

 

$

2.98

 

 

$

2.90

 

Natural gas liquids (per bbl)

 

18.85

 

 

 

22.62

 

 

 

14.88

 

Crude oil and condensate (per bbl)

 

49.74

 

 

 

51.60

 

 

 

49.49

 

Total (per mcfe) (a)

 

2.93

 

 

 

3.39

 

 

 

2.99

 

Average realized prices (including all derivative settlements and third-party transportation costs)

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Natural gas (per mcf)

$

1.36

  

  

$

1.74

  

  

$

1.82

  

Natural gas liquids (per bbl)

 

7.03

 

  

 

11.15

  

  

 

8.32

  

Crude oil and condensate (per bbl)

 

49.74

 

  

 

51.60

  

  

 

49.49

  

Total (per mcfe) (a)

 

1.49

 

  

 

1.99

  

  

 

1.95

  

Direct operating costs

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Lease operating (per mcfe) (a)

$

0.13

  

  

$

0.16

  

  

$

0.17

  

Workovers (per mcfe) (a)

 

0.03

 

  

 

0.01

  

  

 

0.01

  

Stock-based compensation (per mcfe) (a)

 

  

  

 

  

  

 

  

Total (per mcfe) (a)

$

0.16

 

 

$

0.17

 

 

$

0.18

 

(a) 

Oil and NGLs volumes are converted at the rate of one barrel equals six mcf based upon the approximate relative energy content of oil to natural gas, which is not indicative of the relationship between oil and natural gas prices.

7


 

Proved Reserves

The following table sets forth our estimated proved reserves for years ended 2019, 2018 and 2017 based on the average of prices on the first day of each month of the given calendar year, in accordance with SEC rules. Oil includes both crude oil and condensate. We have no natural gas, NGLs or oil reserves from non-traditional sources. Additionally, we do not provide optional disclosures of probable or possible reserves.

 

  

Summary of Oil and Gas Reserves as of Year-End
Based on Average Prices

 

Reserve Category

  

Natural Gas
(Mmcf)

 

  

NGLs
(Mbbls)

 

  

Oil
(Mbbls)

 

  

Total
(Mmcfe) (a)

 

  

%

 

2019:

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Proved

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Developed

  

 

6,486,211

 

 

  

535,007

 

 

 

34,369

 

 

 

9,902,468

 

 

 

54

Undeveloped

  

 

5,628,766

  

 

 

403,229

 

  

 

40,163

 

 

 

8,289,115

 

 

 

46

%

Total Proved

  

 

12,114,977

  

 

 

938,236

 

  

 

74,532

 

 

 

18,191,583

 

 

 

100

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proved

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Developed

  

 

6,451,012

 

  

 

512,318

 

 

 

38,658

 

 

 

9,756,870

 

 

 

54

Undeveloped

  

 

5,576,690

  

  

 

409,276

 

 

 

47,198

 

 

 

8,315,536

 

 

 

46

%

Total Proved

  

 

12,027,702

  

  

 

921,594

 

 

 

85,856

 

 

 

18,072,406

 

 

 

100

%

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017:

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Proved

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Developed

  

 

5,437,674

 

  

 

448,258

 

 

 

36,808

 

 

 

8,348,074

 

 

 

55

Undeveloped

  

 

4,825,975

  

  

 

315,006

 

 

 

33,046

 

 

 

6,914,287

 

 

 

45

Total Proved

  

 

10,263,649

  

  

 

763,264

 

 

 

69,854

 

 

 

15,262,361

 

 

 

100

 

(a)

Oil and NGLs volumes are converted to mcfe at the rate of one barrel equals six mcf based upon the relative energy content of oil to natural gas, which is not indicative of the relationship between oil and natural gas prices.

The following table sets forth summary information by area with respect to estimated proved reserves at December 31, 2019:

 

Reserve Volumes

 

 

PV-10 (a)

 

 

Natural Gas
(Mmcf)

 

  

NGLs
(Mbbls)

 

  

Oil
(Mbbls)

 

  

Total
(Mmcfe)

 

  

%

 

 

Amount
(In thousands)

 

  

%

 

Appalachian Region

 

11,476,601

 

 

 

906,616

 

 

 

68,127

 

 

 

17,325,055

 

  

 

95

 

$

7,426,007

 

 

 

98

North Louisiana Region

 

638,137

 

 

 

31,620

 

 

 

6,370

 

 

 

866,076

 

 

 

5

%

 

 

133,864

 

 

 

2

%

Other

 

239

 

 

 

 

 

 

35

 

 

 

452

  

  

 

 

 

961

 

 

 

Total

 

12,114,977

 

 

 

938,236

 

 

 

74,532

 

 

 

18,191,583

  

  

 

100

 

$

7,560,832

 

 

 

100

(a) 

PV-10 was prepared using the twelve-month average prices for 2019, discounted at 10% per annum. Year-end PV-10 is a non-GAAP financial measure as defined by the SEC. We believe that the presentation of PV-10 is relevant and useful to our investors as supplemental disclosure to the standardized measure, or after tax amount, because it presents the discounted future net cash flows attributable to our proved reserves prior to taking into account future corporate income taxes and our current tax structure. While the standardized measure is dependent on the unique tax situation of each company, PV-10 is based on prices and discount factors that are consistent for all companies. Because of this, PV-10 can be used within the industry and by creditors and securities analysts to evaluate estimated net cash flows from proved reserves on a more comparable basis. Our total standardized measure was $6.6 billion at December 31, 2019. The difference between the standardized measure and the PV-10 amount is the discounted estimated future income tax of $932.3 million at December 31, 2019. Included in the $7.6 billion pretax PV-10 is $5.2 billion related to proved developed reserves.

Reserve Estimation

All reserve information in this report is based on estimates prepared by our petroleum engineering staff and is the responsibility of management. We also had Wright & Company, Inc., an independent petroleum consultant, conduct an audit of our year-end 2019 reserves in Appalachia. The purpose of this audit was to provide additional assurance on the reasonableness of internally prepared reserve estimates. This engineering firm was selected for its geographic expertise and its historical experience in engineering certain properties. The proved reserve audits performed for 2019, 2018 and 2017, in the aggregate, represented 90%, 94% and 98% of our

8


 

proved reserves. The reserve audits performed for 2019, 2018 and 2017, in the aggregate represented 94%, 96% and 98% of our 2019, 2018 and 2017 associated pretax present value of proved reserves discounted at ten percent. A copy of the summary reserve report prepared by our independent petroleum consultant is included as an exhibit to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The technical person at our independent petroleum consulting firm responsible for reviewing the reserve estimates presented herein meets the requirements regarding qualifications, independence, objectivity and confidentiality as set forth in the Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers. We maintain an internal staff of petroleum engineers and geoscience professionals who work closely with our independent petroleum consultants to ensure the integrity, accuracy and timeliness of data furnished during the reserve audit process. Throughout the year, our technical team meets periodically with representatives of our independent petroleum consultants to review properties and discuss methods and assumptions. While we have no formal committee specifically designated to review reserves reporting and the reserve estimation process, our senior management reviews and approves significant changes to our proved reserves. We provide historical information to our consultants for our largest producing properties such as ownership interest, natural gas, NGLs and oil production, well test data, commodity prices and operating and development costs. Our consultants perform an independent analysis and differences are reviewed with our Senior Vice President of Reservoir Engineering and Economics. In some cases, additional meetings are held to review identified reserve differences. Our reserve auditor estimates of proved reserves and the pretax present value of such reserves discounted at 10% did not differ from our estimates by more than 10% in the aggregate. However, when compared on a lease-by-lease, field-by-field or area-by-area basis, some of our estimates may be greater than those of our auditor and some may be less than the estimates of the reserve auditor. When such differences do not exceed 10% in the aggregate, our reserve auditor is satisfied that the proved reserves and pretax present value of such reserves discounted at 10% are reasonable and will issue an unqualified opinion. Remaining differences, if any, are not resolved due to the limited cost benefit of continuing such analysis.

Historical variances between our reserve estimates and the aggregate estimates of our independent petroleum consultants have been less than 5%. All of our reserve estimates are reviewed and approved by our Senior Vice President of Reservoir Engineering and Economics, Mr. Alan Farquharson, who reports directly to our President and Chief Executive Officer. Our Senior Vice President of Reservoir Engineering and Economics holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University. Before joining Range, he held various technical and managerial positions with Amoco, Hunt Oil and Union Pacific Resources and has more than thirty-five years of engineering experience in the oil and gas industry. During the year, our reserves group may also perform separate, detailed technical reviews of reserve estimates for significant acquisitions or for properties with problematic indicators such as excessively long lives, sudden changes in performance or changes in economic or operating conditions. We did not file any reports during the year ended December 31, 2019 with any federal authority or agency with respect to our estimate of natural gas and oil reserves.

Reserve Technologies

Proved reserves are those quantities of natural gas, NGLs and oil that by analysis of geoscience and engineering data can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible from a given date forward, from known reservoirs and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations. The term “reasonable certainty” implies a high degree of confidence that the quantities of natural gas, NGLs and oil actually recovered will equal or exceed the estimate. To achieve reasonable certainty, our internal technical staff employs technologies that have been demonstrated to yield results with consistency and repeatability. The technologies and economic data used in the estimation of our proved reserves include, but are not limited to, empirical evidence through drilling results and well performance, decline curve analysis, well logs, geologic maps and available downhole and production data, seismic data, well test data, reservoir simulation modeling and implementation and application of enhanced data analytics.

Reporting of Natural Gas Liquids

We produce NGLs as part of the processing of our natural gas. The extraction of NGLs in the processing of natural gas reduces the volume of natural gas available for sale. At December 31, 2019, NGLs represented approximately 31% of our total proved reserves on an mcf equivalent basis. NGLs are products priced by the gallon (and sold by the barrel) to our customers. In reporting proved reserves and production of NGLs, we have included production and reserves in barrels. Prices for a barrel of NGLs in 2019 averaged approximately 35% of the average price for equivalent volumes of oil. We report all production information related to natural gas net of the effect of any reduction in natural gas volumes resulting from the processing of NGLs. As of December 31, 2019, we had 475.0 Mmbbls of ethane reserves (2,102 Bcfe) associated with our Marcellus Shale properties, which are included in NGLs proved reserves and represent 51% of our total NGLs reserves. We currently include ethane in our proved reserves which match volumes to be delivered under our existing long-term, extendable ethane contracts.

9


 

Proved Undeveloped Reserves (PUDs)

As of December 31, 2019, our PUDs totaled 40.2 Mmbbls of crude oil, 403.2 Mmbbls of NGLs and 5.6 Tcf of natural gas, for a total of 8.3 Tcfe. Costs incurred in 2019 relating to the development of PUDs were approximately $340.4 million. Approximately 98% of our PUDs at year-end 2019 were associated with the Marcellus Shale. All PUD drilling locations are scheduled to be drilled prior to the end of 2024. As of December 31, 2019, we have 86 Bcfe of reserves that have been reported for more than five years from their original booking date, all of which are in the process of being drilled and are expected to turn to sales in 2020. Changes in PUDs that occurred during the year were due to:

 

conversion of approximately 1.2 Tcfe of PUDs into proved developed reserves;

 

 

addition of 1.1 Tcfe new PUDs from drilling;

 

 

265.9 Bcfe net positive revision with 601.3 Bcfe of reserves reclassified to unproved because of previously planned wells not to be drilled within the original five-year development horizon more than offset by positive performance revisions of 867.2 Bcfe; and

 

 

214.6 Bcfe reduction from the sale of properties.

 

For an additional description of changes in PUDs for 2019, see Note 18 to our consolidated financial statements. We believe our PUDs reclassified to unproved can be included in our future proved reserves as these locations are added back into our five-year development plan.

Proved Reserves (PV-10)

The following table sets forth the estimated future net cash flows, excluding open derivative contracts, from proved reserves, the present value of those net cash flows discounted at a rate of 10% (PV-10), and the expected benchmark prices and average field prices used in projecting net cash flows over the past five years. Our reserve estimates do not include any probable or possible reserves (in millions, except prices):

 

 

2019

 

 

 

2018

 

 

 

2017

 

 

 

2016

 

 

 

2015

 

Future net cash flows

$

22,179

 

 

$

34,836

 

 

$

21,469

 

 

$

10,301

 

 

$

8,666

 

Present value:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before income tax

 

7,561

 

 

 

13,173

 

 

 

8,147

 

 

 

3,727

 

 

 

3,029

 

After income tax (Standardized Measure)

 

6,629

 

 

 

11,116

 

 

 

7,165

 

 

 

3,452

 

 

 

2,726

 

Benchmark prices (NYMEX):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gas price (per mcf)

 

2.58

 

 

 

3.10

 

 

 

2.98

 

 

 

2.48

 

 

 

2.59

 

Oil price (per bbl)

 

55.73

 

 

 

65.55

 

 

 

51.19

 

 

 

42.68

 

 

 

50.13

 

Wellhead prices:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gas price (per mcf)

 

2.38

 

 

 

2.98

 

 

 

2.60

 

 

 

2.07

 

 

 

2.07

 

Oil price (per bbl)

 

49.24

 

 

 

59.96

 

 

 

45.73

 

 

 

37.41

 

 

 

35.07

 

NGLs price (per bbl)

 

17.32

 

 

 

25.22

 

 

 

17.84

 

 

 

13.44

 

 

 

11.74

 

Future net cash flows represent projected revenues from the sale of proved reserves, net of production and development costs (including transportation and gathering expenses, operating expenses and production taxes). Revenues are based on a twelve-month unweighted average of the first day of the month pricing, without escalation. Future cash flows are reduced by estimated production costs, administrative costs, costs to develop and produce the proved reserves and abandonment costs, all based on current economic conditions at each year-end. There can be no assurance that the proved reserves will be produced in the future or that prices, production or development costs will remain constant. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating reserves and related information and different reservoir engineers often arrive at different estimates for the same properties.

Property Overview

Currently, our natural gas and oil operations are concentrated in the Appalachian and North Louisiana regions of the United States, primarily in the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and the Lower Cotton Valley formation in Louisiana.  Our properties consist of interests in developed and undeveloped natural gas and oil leases. These interests entitle us to drill for and produce natural gas, NGLs, crude oil and condensate from specific areas. Our interests are mostly in the form of working interests and, to a lesser extent, royalty and overriding royalty interests. We have a single company-wide management team that administers all properties as a whole. We track only basic operational data by area. We do not maintain complete separate financial statement information by area. We measure financial performance as a single enterprise and not on an area-by-area basis. The table below summarizes our operating data for the year ended December 31, 2019.

10


 

Region

 

 

Average
Daily
Production
(mcfe per day)

 

 

 

Production
(Mmcfe)

 

 

 

Percentage of
Production

 

 

 

Proved
Reserves
(Mmcfe)

 

 

 

Percentage of
Proved
Reserves

 

Appalachian

  

 

2,073,553

 

 

 

756,847

 

  

 

91

 

 

17,325,055

 

  

 

95

North Louisiana

  

 

209,496

 

 

 

76,466

  

  

 

9

 

 

866,076

  

  

 

5

Other

  

 

113

 

 

 

41

  

  

 

 

 

452

  

  

 

Total

  

 

2,283,162

 

 

 

833,354

  

  

 

100

 

 

18,191,583

  

  

 

100

The following table summarizes our costs incurred for the year ended December 31, 2019 (in thousands):

Region

 

 

 

Acreage
Purchases

 

 

 

Development
Costs

 

 

 

Exploration
Costs

 

 

 

Gathering
Facilities

 

 

 

Asset
Retirement
Obligations

 

 

 

Total

 

Appalachian

 

$

52,317

 

 

$

603,187

 

 

$

34,502

 

 

$

1,534

 

 

$

(849

 

$

690,691

 

North Louisiana

 

 

5,007

 

 

 

63,797

 

 

 

2,181

 

 

 

2,049

 

 

 

12,042

 

 

 

85,076

 

Total costs incurred

 

$

57,324

 

 

$

666,984

 

 

$

36,683

 

 

$

3,583

 

 

$

11,193

 

 

$

775,767

 

Approximately 95% of our proved reserves at December 31, 2019 is located in the Marcellus Shale in our Appalachian region. This play has a large portfolio of drilling opportunities and therefore has a significant unbooked resource potential within the Marcellus, Utica and Upper Devonian formations. The following table sets forth annual production volumes, average sales prices and production cost data for our wells in the Marcellus Shale play which, as of December 31, 2019, is our only field in which reserves are greater than 15% of our total proved reserves.

 

Marcellus Shale

 

 

2019

 

  

2018

 

  

2017

 

Production:

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Natural gas (Mmcf)

 

516,031

 

  

 

458,406

 

  

 

377,096

 

NGLs (Mbbls)

 

36,013

 

  

 

34,181

 

  

 

29,972

 

Crude oil and condensate (Mbbls)

 

3,199

 

  

 

3,452

 

  

 

3,407

 

Total Mmcfe (a)

 

751,299

 

  

 

684,205

 

  

 

577,368

 

Sales Prices: (b)

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Natural gas (per mcf)

$

1.13

 

  

$

1.77

 

  

$

1.55

 

NGLs (per bbl)

 

7.12

 

  

 

13.08

 

  

 

9.70

 

Crude oil and condensate (per bbl)

 

49.73

 

  

 

59.76

 

  

 

45.49

 

Total (per mcfe) (a)

 

1.33

 

  

 

2.14

 

  

 

1.79

 

Production Costs:

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Lease operating (per mcfe)

 $

0.11

 

  

 $

0.11

 

  

$

0.10

 

Production and ad valorem tax (per mcfe) (c)

 

0.03

 

  

 

0.05

 

  

 

0.05

 

(a) 

Oil and NGLs volumes are converted at the rate of one barrel equals six mcf based upon the approximate relative energy content of oil to natural gas, which is not indicative of the relationship between oil and natural gas prices.

(b) 

We do not record derivatives or the results of derivatives at the field level. Includes deductions for third-party transportation, gathering and compression expense.

(c) 

Includes Pennsylvania impact fee.

Appalachian Region

Our properties in this area are located in the Appalachian Basin in the northeastern United States, predominantly in Pennsylvania. Currently, our reserves are primarily in the Marcellus Shale formation but also include the Utica and Upper Devonian formations which principally produce at depths ranging from 6,000 feet to 11,500 feet. We own 1,272 net producing wells, almost all of which we operate. Our average working interest in this region is 95%. As of December 31, 2019, we have approximately 892,000 gross (833,000 net) acres under lease.

Reserves at December 31, 2019 were 17.3 Tcfe, an increase of 358.5 Bcfe, or 2%, from 2018. Drilling additions of 1.2 Tcfe and favorable reserve revisions for performance of 889.2 Bcfe were partially offset by production, negative pricing revisions, downward revisions for proved undeveloped reserves no longer in our current five-year development plan of 413.3 Bcfe and sales of 511.7 Bcfe. Annual production increased 10% from 2018. During 2019, we spent $603.2 million in this region to drill 87 (86.5 net) development

11


 

wells, all of which were productive. At December 31, 2019, we had an inventory in the Appalachian region of over 400 proven drilling locations. During the year, we drilled 73 proven locations in the Appalachian region, added 120 new proven drilling locations and deleted or sold 33 proven drilling locations with deleted reserves reclassified to unproved because of longer laterals and lower future capital spending in response to lower commodity prices. During the year, we achieved a 100% drilling success rate in the Appalachian region.

We began operations in the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania during 2004. The Marcellus Shale is an unconventional reservoir, which produces natural gas, NGLs and condensate. This has been our largest investment area over the last ten years and we continue to pursue initiatives to improve drilling and completion efficiencies and reduce costs. Our 2019 production from the Marcellus Shale increased 10% from 2018. During 2019, we had approximately 3.3 drilling rigs in the field and expect to run an average of 2.5 rigs throughout 2020.

We have long-term agreements with third parties to provide gathering and processing services and infrastructure assets in the Marcellus Shale, which includes gathering and residue gas pipelines, compression, cryogenic processing, de-ethanization and NGLs fractionation. We have an ethane sales contract in southwestern Pennsylvania whereby a third party purchases and transports ethane from the tailgate of third-party processing and fractionation facilities to the international border for further deliveries into Canada. We also have agreements to transport ethane to the Gulf Coast.

In 2012, we entered into a fifteen-year agreement to transport ethane and propane from the tailgate of a third-party processing plant to a terminal and dock facility near Philadelphia for sale to domestic and international customers. Also in 2012, we executed a fifteen-year agreement relating to ethane sales from that same terminal near Philadelphia. Propane and ethane operations from the terminal began in early 2016.

North Louisiana

We began operations in North Louisiana in September 2016 as a result of an acquisition of a business. These operations are focused on stacked-pay zones in Northern Louisiana, including the Lower Cotton Valley. The Lower Cotton Valley formation extends across East Texas, Louisiana and Southern Arkansas. The formation has been under development since the 1930s and is characterized by thick, multi-zone natural gas and oil reservoirs with well-known geologic characteristics and long-lived, predictable production profiles. We own 409 net producing wells in these locations, almost all of which we operate. Our average working interest is 72%. As of December 31, 2019, we have approximately 124,000 gross (105,000 net) acres under lease.

Total proved reserves were 866.1 Bcfe at December 31, 2019, a decrease of 22% from 2018. We spent $63.8 million in this region to drill 7 (6.1 net) development wells, all of which were productive. In 2019, we had approximately one drilling rig in the field and we currently expect no drilling activity in 2020 or 2021.

We have long-term agreements with third parties to provide gathering, processing and transportation services and infrastructure assets in North Louisiana. We have entered into an area of mutual interest and exclusivity agreement with one of these parties whereby they have the exclusive right to provide midstream services to support our current and future production within such area.

Divestitures

Over the last three years, we have divested over $1.2 billion of assets in order to increase capital resources available for other activities, reduce our unit cost structure, create organizational and operating efficiencies and increase financial flexibility. In 2019, we sold the following assets:

Pennsylvania. In third quarter 2019, we sold, in three separate transactions, a proportionately reduced 2.5% overriding royalty, primarily in our Washington County, Pennsylvania leases for gross proceeds of $750.0 million. In second quarter 2019, we sold natural gas and oil property, primarily representing 20,000 unproved acres, for proceeds of $34.0 million

Miscellaneous. During the year ended December 31, 2019, we sold miscellaneous unproved property, inventory and other assets for proceeds of $937,000.

12


 

Producing Wells

The following table sets forth information relating to productive wells at December 31, 2019. If we own both a royalty and a working interest in a well, such interest is included in the table below. Wells are classified as natural gas or crude oil according to their predominant production stream. We do not have a significant number of dual completions.

 

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Total Wells

 

Working

 

 

 

Gross

 

Net

 

Interest

 

Natural gas

 

1,908

 

1,678

 

88%

 

Crude oil

 

4

 

3

 

75%

 

Total

 

1,912

 

1,681

 

88%

 

Production wells are producing wells and wells mechanically capable of production. The day-to-day operations of natural gas and oil properties are the responsibility of the operator designated under pooling or operating agreements. The operator supervises production, maintains production records, employs or contracts for field personnel and performs other functions. An operator receives reimbursement for direct expenses incurred in the performance of its duties as well as monthly per-well producing and drilling overhead reimbursement at rates customarily charged by unaffiliated third parties. The charges customarily vary with the depth and location of the well being operated.

Drilling Activity

The following table summarizes drilling activity for the past three years. Gross wells reflect the sum of all wells in which we own an interest. Net wells reflect the sum of our working interests in gross wells. This information should not be indicative of future performance nor should it be assumed that there was any correlation between the number of productive wells and the natural gas and oil reserves generated thereby. As of December 31, 2019, we had 51 gross (50.0 net) wells in the process of drilling or active completions stage. In addition, there were 62.0 gross (61.6 net) wells waiting on completion or waiting on pipelines at year-end 2019.

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

 

Gross

 

 

Net

 

 

Gross

 

 

Net

 

 

Gross

 

 

Net

 

Development wells

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Productive

 

94.0

 

 

 

92.6

 

 

 

104.0

  

 

 

101.7

  

 

 

176.0

  

 

 

163.5

  

Dry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

Exploratory wells

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Productive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

Dry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

1.0

  

 

 

1.0

  

Total wells

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Productive

 

94.0

 

 

 

92.6

 

 

 

104.0

  

 

 

101.7

  

 

 

176.0

  

 

 

163.5

  

Dry

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

1.0

  

 

 

1.0

  

Total

 

94.0

  

 

 

92.6

  

 

 

104.0

  

 

 

101.7

  

 

 

177.0

  

 

 

164.5

  

Success ratio

 

100

 

 

100

 

 

100

 

 

100

 

 

99

 

 

99

13


 

Gross and Net Acreage

We own interests in developed and undeveloped natural gas and oil acreage. These ownership interests generally take the form of working interests in oil and natural gas leases that have varying terms. Developed acreage includes leased acreage that is allocated or assignable to producing wells or wells capable of production even though shallower or deeper horizons may not have been fully explored. Undeveloped acreage includes leased acres on which wells have not been drilled or completed to a point that would permit the production of commercial quantities of natural gas or oil, regardless of whether or not the acreage contains proved reserves. The following table sets forth certain information regarding the developed and undeveloped acreage in which we own a working interest as of December 31, 2019. Acreage related to option acreage, royalty, overriding royalty and other similar interests is excluded from this summary:

 

 

Developed Acres

 

 

 

Undeveloped Acres

 

 

 

Total Acres

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

Net

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

Net

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

Net

 

Louisiana

 

90,882

 

 

 

72,812

 

 

 

33,085

 

 

 

32,113

 

 

 

123,967

 

 

 

104,925

 

New York

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,265

 

 

 

567

 

 

 

2,265

 

 

 

567

 

Oklahoma

 

10,420

 

 

 

3,712

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,420

 

 

 

3,712

 

Pennsylvania

 

802,649

 

 

 

749,312

 

 

 

81,199

 

 

 

77,553

 

 

 

883,848

 

 

 

826,865

 

Texas

 

2,294

 

 

 

2,294

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,294

 

 

 

2,294

 

West Virginia

 

5,876

 

 

 

5,197

 

 

 

65

 

 

 

65

 

 

 

5,941

 

 

 

5,262

 

Wyoming

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,788

 

 

 

10,272

 

 

 

12,788

 

 

 

10,272

 

 

 

912,121

 

 

 

833,327

 

 

 

129,402

 

 

 

120,570

 

 

 

1,041,523

 

 

 

953,897

 

Average working interest

 

 

 

 

 

91

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

93

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

92

%

Undeveloped Acreage Expirations

The table below summarizes by year our undeveloped acreage scheduled to expire in the next five years. Over 40% of the acres scheduled to expire in 2020 and 2021 are in North Louisiana.

As of December 31,

  

Acres

  

% of Total

 

 

  

Gross

  

Net

  

Undeveloped

 

 

2020

  

15,972

 

14,572

  

 

12%

 

2021

  

45,192

 

41,675

  

 

35%

 

2022

  

22,246

 

21,355

  

 

18%

 

2023

  

21,272

 

20,537

  

 

17%

 

2024

  

12,438

 

12,003

  

 

10%

 

In all cases, the drilling of a commercial well will hold acreage beyond the lease expiration date. We have leased acreage that is subject to lease expiration if initial wells are not drilled within a specified period, generally between three and five years. However, we have in the past been able, and expect in the future to be able, to extend the lease terms of some of these leases and sell or exchange some of these leases with other companies. The expirations included in the table above do not take into account the fact that we may be able to extend the lease terms. We do not expect to lose significant lease acreage because of failure to drill due to inadequate capital, equipment or personnel. However, based on our evaluation of prospective economics, we have allowed acreage to expire and we expect to allow additional acreage to expire in the future. We currently have no proved undeveloped reserve locations scheduled to be drilled after lease expiration.

Title to Properties

We believe that we have satisfactory title to all of our producing properties in accordance with generally accepted industry standards. As is customary in the industry, in the case of undeveloped properties, often minimal investigation of record title is made at the time of lease acquisition. Investigations are made before the consummation of an acquisition of producing properties and before commencement of drilling operations on undeveloped properties. Individual properties may be subject to burdens that we believe do not materially interfere with the use, or affect the value, of the properties. Burdens on properties may include:

 

customary royalty or overriding royalty interests;

 

liens incident to operating agreements and for current taxes;

 

obligations or duties under applicable laws;

 

development obligations under oil and gas leases; or

 

net profit interests.

14


 

Delivery Commitments

For a discussion of our delivery commitments, see Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Delivery Commitments.

Employees

As of January 1, 2020, we had 655 full-time employees. All full-time employees are eligible to receive equity awards approved by the compensation committee of the board of directors. No employees are currently covered by a labor union or other collective bargaining arrangement. We believe that the relationship with our employees is excellent.

Executive Officers of the Registrant

The executive officers of Range Resources and their ages as of February 1, 2020, are as follows:

 

 

Age

 

Position

Jeffrey L. Ventura

 

62

 

Chief Executive Officer and President

Dennis L. Degner

 

47

 

Senior Vice President – Chief Operating Officer

Dori A. Ginn

 

62

 

Senior Vice President – Controller and Principal Accounting Officer

David P. Poole

 

57

 

Senior Vice President General Counsel; Corporate Secretary

Mark S. Scucchi

 

42

 

Senior Vice President – Chief Financial Officer

Jeffrey L. Ventura, chief executive officer and president, joined Range in 2003 as chief operating officer and became a director in 2005. Mr. Ventura was named President, effective May 2008 and Chief Executive Officer effective January 2012. Previously, Mr. Ventura served as president and chief operating officer of Matador Petroleum Corporation which he joined in 1997. Prior to his service at Matador, Mr. Ventura spent eight years at Maxus Energy Corporation where he managed various engineering, exploration and development operations and was responsible for coordination of engineering technology. Previously, Mr. Ventura was with Tenneco Oil Exploration and Production, where he held various engineering and operating positions. Mr. Ventura holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University. Mr. Ventura is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the National Petroleum Council and the Texas Society of Professional Engineers.

Dennis L. Degner, senior vice president of operations, joined Range in 2010. Mr. Degner was named senior vice president of operations in 2018 and Chief Operating Officer in May 2019. Previously, Mr. Degner served as vice president of Appalachia.  Mr. Degner is responsible for managing operations in both Appalachia and North Louisiana divisions. Mr. Degner has more than 20 years of oil and gas experience having worked in a variety of technical and managerial positions across the United States including Texas, Louisiana, Wyoming, Colorado and Pennsylvania. Prior to joining Range, Mr. Degner held positions with EnCana, Sierra Engineering and Halliburton. Mr. Degner is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.  Mr. Degner holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Engineering from Texas A&M University.

Dori A. Ginn, senior vice president – controller and principal accounting officer, joined Range in 2001. Ms. Ginn has held the positions of financial reporting manager, vice president and controller before being elected to principal accounting officer in September 2009. Prior to joining Range, she held various accounting positions with Doskocil Manufacturing Company and Texas Oil and Gas Corporation. Ms. Ginn received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is a certified public accountant licensed in the state of Texas.

David P. Poole, senior vice president – general counsel and corporate secretary, joined Range in June 2008. Mr. Poole has over 30 years of legal experience. From May 2004 until March 2008 he was with TXU Corp., serving last as executive vice president – legal, and general counsel. Prior to joining TXU, Mr. Poole spent 16 years with Hunton & Williams LLP and its predecessor, where he was a partner and last served as the managing partner of the Dallas office. Mr. Poole graduated from Texas Tech University with a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering and received a J.D. magna cum laude from Texas Tech University School of Law.

Mark S. Scucchi, senior vice president – chief financial officer.  Mr. Scucchi was named senior vice president – chief financial officer in 2018.   Mr. Scucchi joined Range in 2008. Previously, Mr. Scucchi served as vice president – finance & treasurer. Prior to joining Range, Mr. Scucchi was with JPMorgan Securities providing commercial and investment banking services to small and mid-cap technology companies. Before joining JPMorgan Securities, Mr. Scucchi spent a number of years at Ernst & Young LLP in the audit practice. Mr. Scucchi earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgetown University and a Master of Science in Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame. Mr. Scucchi is a CFA Charterholder and a licensed certified public accountant in the state of Texas.

15


 

Competition

Competition exists in all sectors of the oil and gas industry and in particular, we encounter substantial competition in developing and acquiring natural gas and oil properties, securing and retaining personnel, conducting drilling and field operations and marketing production. Competitors in exploration, development, acquisitions and production include the major oil and gas companies as well as numerous independent oil and gas companies, individual proprietors and others. Although our sizable acreage position and core area concentration provide some competitive advantages, many competitors have financial and other resources substantially exceeding ours. Therefore, competitors may be able to pay more for desirable leases and evaluate, bid for and purchase a greater number of properties or prospects than our financial or personnel resources allow. We face competition for pipeline and other services to transport our product to markets, particularly in the Northeastern portion of the United States. Competitive advantage is gained in the oil and gas exploration and development industry by employing well-trained and experienced personnel who make prudent capital investment decisions based on management direction, embrace technological innovation and are focused on price and cost management. We have a team of dedicated employees who represent the professional disciplines and sciences that we believe are necessary to allow us to maximize the long-term profitability and net asset value inherent in our physical assets. For more information, see Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Marketing and Customers

We market the majority of our natural gas, NGLs, crude oil and condensate production from the properties we operate for our interest, and that of the other working interest owners. We pay our royalty owners from the sales attributable to our working interest. Natural gas, NGLs and oil purchasers are selected on the basis of price, credit quality and service reliability. For a summary of purchasers of our natural gas, NGLs and oil production that accounted for 10% or more of consolidated revenue, see Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements. Because alternative purchasers of natural gas and oil are usually readily available, we believe that the loss of any of these purchasers would not have a material adverse effect on our operations. Production from our properties is marketed using methods that are consistent with industry practice. Sales prices for natural gas, NGLs and oil production are negotiated based on factors normally considered in the industry, such as index or spot price, distance from the well to the pipeline, commodity quality and prevailing supply and demand conditions. Our natural gas production is sold to utilities, marketing and midstream companies and industrial users. Our NGLs production is typically sold to petrochemical end users (both domestically and internationally) and, to a lesser extent, NGLs distributors and natural gas processors. Our oil and condensate production is sold to crude oil processors, transporters and refining and marketing companies in the area.

We enter into derivative transactions with unaffiliated third parties for a varying portion of our production to achieve more predictable cash flows and to reduce our exposure to short-term fluctuations in natural gas, NGLs and oil prices. For a more detailed discussion, see Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

We incur gathering and transportation expense to move our production from the wellhead, tanks and processing plants to purchaser-specified delivery points. These expenses vary and are primarily based on volume, distance shipped and the fee charged by the third-party gatherers and transporters. We also have contracts based on percent of proceeds. Transportation capacity on these gathering and transportation systems and pipelines is occasionally constrained. Our Appalachian production is transported on third-party pipelines on which, in most cases, we hold long-term contractual capacity. We attempt to balance sales, storage and transportation positions, which can include purchase of commodities from third parties for resale, to satisfy transportation commitments. In Louisiana, we sell substantially all of our production, which is transported on third-party pipelines, to a variety of purchasers. We also have entered into gas processing agreements that have volumetric requirements.

We have not experienced significant difficulty to date in finding a market for all of our production as it becomes available or in transporting our production to those markets; however, there is no assurance that we will always be able to transport and market all of our production or obtain favorable prices.

We have entered into several ethane agreements to sell or transport ethane from our Marcellus Shale area. Initial deliveries commenced in late 2013 and deliveries under our most recent agreement began in early 2017. For more information, see Item 1A. Risk Factors – Our business depends on natural gas and oil transportation and NGLs processing facilities, most of which are owned by others and we rely on our ability to contract with those parties.

Seasonal Nature of Business

Generally, but not always, the demand for natural gas and propane decreases during the spring and fall months and increases during the winter months and, in some areas, also increases during the summer months. Seasonal anomalies such as mild winters or hot summers also may impact this demand. In addition, pipelines, utilities, local distribution companies and industrial end-users utilize natural gas storage facilities and purchase some of their anticipated winter requirements during the summer. This can also impact the seasonality of demand.

16


 

Markets

Our ability to produce and market natural gas, NGLs and oil profitably depends on numerous factors beyond our control. The effect of these factors cannot be accurately predicted or anticipated. Although we cannot predict the occurrence of events that may affect commodity prices or the degree to which commodity prices will be affected, the prices for any commodity that we produce will generally approximate current market prices in the geographic region of the production.

Governmental Regulation

Enterprises that sell securities in public markets are subject to regulatory oversight by federal agencies such as the SEC. The NYSE, a private stock exchange, also requires us to comply with listing requirements for our common stock. This regulatory oversight imposes on us the responsibility for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting, and ensuring that the financial statements and other information included in submissions to the SEC do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made in such submissions not misleading. Failure to comply with the NYSE listing rules and regulations of the SEC could subject us to litigation from public or private plaintiffs. Failure to comply with the rules of the NYSE could result in the de-listing of our common stock, which could have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock. Compliance with some of these rules and regulations is costly and regulations are subject to change or reinterpretation.

Exploration and development and the production and sale of oil and gas are subject to extensive federal, state and local regulations, mandates and trade agreements. Governmental policies affecting the energy industry, such as taxes, tariffs, duties, price controls, subsidies, incentives, foreign exchange rates and import and export restrictions, can influence the viability and volume of production of certain commodities, the volume and types of imports and exports, whether unprocessed or processed commodity products are traded, and industry profitability. For example, the decision of the United States government to impose tariffs on certain Chinese imports and the resulting retaliation by the Chinese government imposing a twenty-five percent tariff on United States’ liquefied natural gas exports have disrupted certain aspects of the energy market. Despite a new trade agreement with China announced in January 2020, China’s twenty-five percent tariff on imports of United States liquified natural gas are expected to remain in place for now, but eventually could be eased if ongoing discussions progress to a second phase agreement. Disruption and uncertainty of this sort can affect the price of oil and natural gas and may cause us to change our plans for exploration and production levels. An overview of relevant federal, state and local regulations is set forth below. We believe we are in substantial compliance with currently applicable laws and regulations, and the continued substantial compliance with existing requirements will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, cash flows or results of operations. However, current regulatory requirements may change, currently unforeseen environmental incidents may occur, or past non-compliance with environmental laws or regulations may be discovered. See Item 1A. Risk Factors The natural gas and oil industry is subject to extensive regulation. We do not believe we are affected differently by these regulations than others in the industry.

General Overview. Our oil and gas operations are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations. Generally speaking, these regulations relate to matters that include, but are not limited to:

 

leases;

 

acquisition of seismic data;

 

location of wells, pads, roads, impoundments, facilities, rights of way;

 

size of drilling and spacing units or proration units;

 

number of wells that may be drilled in a unit;

 

unitization or pooling of oil and gas properties;

 

 

drilling, casing and completion of wells;

 

 

issuance of permits in connection with exploration, drilling, production, gathering, processing and transportation;

 

 

well production, maintenance, operations and security;

 

 

spill prevention and containment plans;

 

 

emissions permitting or limitations;

 

 

protection of endangered species;

 

 

use, transportation, storage and disposal of hazardous waste, fluids and materials incidental to oil and gas operations;

 

 

surface usage and the restoration of properties upon which wells have been drilled;

 

17


 

 

calculation and disbursement of royalty payments and production taxes;

 

 

plugging and abandoning of wells;

 

 

hydraulic fracturing;

 

 

water withdrawal;

 

 

operation of underground injection wells to dispose of produced water and other liquids;

 

 

the marketing of production;

 

 

transportation of production; and

 

 

health and safety of employees and contract service providers.

 

In August 2005, the United States Congress (“Congress”) enacted the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (“EPAct 2005”). Among other matters, EPAct 2005 amends the Natural Gas Act (“NGA”) to make it unlawful for “any entity,” including otherwise non-jurisdictional producers such as Range, to use any deceptive or manipulative device or contrivance in connection with the purchase or sale of natural gas or the purchase or sale of transportation services subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (the “FERC”), in contravention of rules prescribed by the FERC. In January 2006, the FERC issued rules implementing this provision. The rules make it unlawful in connection with the purchase or sale of natural gas subject to the jurisdiction of the FERC, or the purchase or sale of transportation services subject to the jurisdiction of the FERC, for any entity, directly or indirectly, to use or employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud; to make any untrue statement of material fact or omit any such statement necessary to make the statements not misleading; or to engage in any act or practice that operates as a fraud or deceit upon any person. EPAct 2005 also gives the FERC authority to impose civil penalties for violations of the NGA. On January 2, 2020, FERC issued a final rule increasing the maximum civil penalty for violations of the NGA from $1,291,894 per day per violation to $1,269,500 per day per violation to account for inflation pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Improvement Act of 2015. The anti-manipulation rule does not apply to activities that relate only to intrastate or other non-jurisdictional sales or gathering, but does apply to activities or otherwise non-jurisdictional entities to the extent the activities are conducted “in connection with” gas sales, purchases or transportation subject to the FERC’s jurisdiction which includes the reporting requirements under Order 704 (as defined and described below). Therefore, EPAct 2005 was a significant expansion of the FERC’s enforcement authority. Range has not been affected differently than any other producer of natural gas by this act. Failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations with respect to EPAct 2005 could result in substantial penalties and the regulatory burden on the industry increases the cost of doing business and affects profitability. Although we believe we are in substantial compliance with all applicable laws and regulations with respect to EPAct 2005, such laws and regulations are frequently amended or reinterpreted. Therefore, we are unable to predict the future costs or impact of compliance. Additional proposals and proceedings that affect the oil and natural gas industry are regularly considered by Congress, the states, the FERC, other federal regulatory entities and the courts. We cannot predict when or whether any such proposals may become effective.

In December 2007, the FERC issued a final rule on the annual natural gas transaction reporting requirements, as amended by subsequent orders on rehearing (“Order 704”). Under Order 704, wholesale buyers and sellers of more than 2.2 million MMBtus of physical natural gas in the previous calendar year, including natural gas gatherers and marketers, are required to report to the FERC, on May 1 of each year, aggregate volumes of natural gas purchased or sold at wholesale in the prior calendar year to the extent such transactions utilize, contribute to, or may contribute to the formation of price indices. It is the responsibility of the reporting entity to determine which individual transactions should be reported based on the guidance of Order 704. Order 704 also requires market participants to indicate whether they report prices to any index publishers and, if so, whether their reporting complies with the FERC’s policy statement on price reporting.

Intrastate gas pipeline transportation rates are subject to regulation by state regulatory commissions. The basis for intrastate gas pipeline regulation, and the degree of regulatory oversight and scrutiny given to intrastate gas pipeline rates, varies from state to state. Additional proposals and proceedings that might affect the gas industry are considered from time to time by Congress, FERC, state regulatory bodies and the courts. We cannot predict when or if any such proposals might become effective or their impact, if any, on our operations. We believe that the regulation of intrastate gas pipeline transportation rates will not affect our operations in any way that is materially different from its effects on similarly situated competitors.

Natural gas processing. We depend on gas processing operations owned and operated by third parties. There can be no assurance that these processing operations will continue to be unregulated in the future. However, although the processing facilities may not be directly related, other laws and regulations may affect the availability of gas for processing, such as state regulation of production rates and maximum daily production allowable from gas wells, which could impact our processing.

Gas gathering. Section 1(b) of the NGA exempts gas gathering facilities from FERC jurisdiction. We believe that our gathering facilities meet the tests FERC has traditionally used to establish a pipeline system’s status as a non-jurisdictional gatherer. There is, however, no bright-line test for determining the jurisdictional status of pipeline facilities. Moreover, the distinction between FERC-regulated transmission services and federally unregulated gathering services is the subject of litigation from time to time, so the

18


 

classification and regulation of some of our gathering facilities may be subject to change based on future determinations by the FERC and the courts. Thus, we cannot guarantee that the jurisdictional status of our gas gathering facilities will remain unchanged.

While we own or operate some gas gathering facilities, we also depend on gathering facilities owned and operated by third parties to gather from our properties, and therefore we are affected by the rates charged by these third parties for gathering services. To the extent that changes in federal or state regulations affect the rates charged for gathering services at any of these third-party facilities, we may also be affected by these changes. We do not anticipate that we would be affected differently than similarly situated gas producers.

Regulation of transportation and sale of oil and NGLs. Intrastate liquids pipeline transportation rates, terms and conditions are subject to regulation by numerous federal, state and local authorities and, in a number of instances, the ability to transport and sell such products on interstate pipelines is dependent on pipelines that are also subject to FERC jurisdiction under the Interstate Commerce Act (the “ICA”). We do not believe these regulations affect us differently than other producers.

The ICA requires that pipelines maintain a tariff on file with the FERC. The tariff sets forth the established rates as well as the rules and regulations governing the service. The ICA requires, among other things, that rates and terms and conditions of service on interstate common carrier pipelines be “just and reasonable.” Such pipelines must also provide jurisdictional service in a manner that is not unduly discriminatory or unduly preferential. Shippers have the power to challenge new and existing rates and terms and conditions of service before the FERC.

The FERC currently regulates rates of interstate liquids pipelines, primarily through an annual indexing methodology, under which pipelines increase or decrease their rates in accordance with an index adjustment specified by the FERC. For the five-year period beginning in July 2016, the FERC established an annual index adjustment equal to the change in the producer price index for finished goods plus 1.23 percent. This adjustment is subject to review every five years. Under the FERC’s regulations, a liquids pipeline can request a rate increase that exceeds the rate obtained through application of the indexing methodology by using a cost-of-service approach, but only after the pipeline establishes that a substantial divergence exists between the actual costs experienced by the pipeline and the rates resulting from application of the indexing methodology. Increases in liquids transportation rates may result in lower revenue and cash flow.

In addition, due to common carrier regulatory obligations of liquids pipelines, capacity must be prorated among shippers in an equitable manner in the event there are nominations in excess of capacity by current shippers or capacity requests are received from a new shipper. Therefore, new shippers or increased volume by existing shippers may reduce the capacity available to us. Any prolonged interruption in the operation or curtailment of available capacity of the pipelines that we rely upon for liquids transportation could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Matters

Our operations are subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations governing occupational health and safety, the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to environmental protection, some of which carry substantial administrative, civil and criminal penalties for failure to comply. These laws and regulations may include but are not limited to:  

 

the acquisition of a permit before construction commences;

 

 

restriction of the types, quantities and concentrations of various substances that can be released into the environment in connection with drilling, production and transporting through pipelines;

 

 

governing the sourcing and disposal of water used in the drilling and completion process;

 

 

limiting or prohibiting drilling activities on certain lands lying within wilderness, wetlands, frontier and other protected areas;

 

 

requiring some form of remedial action to prevent or mitigate pollution from existing and former operations such as plugging abandoned wells or closing earthen impoundments; and

 

 

imposing substantial liabilities for pollution resulting from operations or failure to comply with regulatory filings.

 

These laws and regulations also may restrict the rate of production. Moreover, changes in environmental laws and regulations often occur, and any changes that result in more stringent and costly well construction, drilling, water management or completion activities or more restrictive waste handling, storage, transport, disposal or cleanup requirements for any substances used or produced in our operations could materially adversely affect our operations and financial position, as well as those of the oil and natural gas industry in general.

Oil and gas activities have increasingly faced opposition from environmental organizations and, in certain areas, have been, restricted or banned by governmental authorities in response to concerns regarding the prevention of pollution or the protection of the

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environment. Moreover, some environmental laws and regulations may impose strict liability regardless of fault or knowledge, which could subject us to liability for conduct that was lawful at the time it occurred or conduct or conditions caused by prior operators or third parties at sites we currently own or where we have sent wastes for disposal. To the extent future laws or regulations are implemented or other governmental action is taken that prohibits, restricts or materially increases the costs of drilling, or imposes environmental protection requirements that result in increased costs to the oil and gas industry in general, our business and financial results could be adversely affected. The following is a summary of some of the environmental laws to which our operations are subject.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as amended (“CERCLA”), also known as the “Superfund” law and comparable state laws impose liability, without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct, on certain classes of persons who are considered to be responsible for the release or threatened release of a “hazardous substance” into the environment. These persons may include owners or operators of the disposal site or sites where the hazardous substance release occurred and companies that disposed of or arranged for the disposal of the hazardous substances at the site where the release occurred. Under CERCLA, all of these persons may be subject to joint and several liability for the costs of cleaning up the hazardous substances that have been released into the environment, for damages to natural resources and for the costs of certain health studies. In addition, it is not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third parties, pursuant to environmental statutes, common law or both, to file claims for personal injury and property damages allegedly caused by the release of hazardous substances or other pollutants into the environment. Although petroleum, including crude oil and natural gas, is not a “hazardous substance” under CERCLA, at least two courts have ruled that certain wastes associated with the production of crude oil may be classified as “hazardous substances” under CERCLA and that releases of such wastes may therefore give rise to liability under CERCLA. While we generate materials in the course of our operations that may be regulated as hazardous substances, we have not received notification that we may be potentially responsible for cleanup costs under CERCLA. In addition, certain state laws also regulate the disposal of oil and natural gas wastes. New state and federal regulatory initiatives that could have a significant adverse impact on us may periodically be proposed and enacted.

Waste handling. We also may incur liability under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended (“RCRA”) and comparable state laws, which impose requirements related to the handling and disposal of non-hazardous solid wastes and hazardous wastes. Drilling fluids, produced waters, and other wastes associated with the exploration, development or production of crude oil, natural gas or geothermal energy are currently regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and state agencies under RCRA’s less stringent non-hazardous solid waste provisions. It is possible that these solid wastes could in the future be reclassified as hazardous wastes, whether by amendment of RCRA or adoption of new laws, which could significantly increase our costs to manage and dispose of such wastes. Moreover, ordinary industrial wastes, such as paint wastes, waste solvents, laboratory wastes and waste compressor oils, may be regulated as hazardous wastes. Although the costs of managing wastes classified as hazardous waste may be significant, we do not expect to experience more burdensome costs than similarly situated companies in our industry. In December 2016, the EPA agreed in a consent decree to review its regulation of oil and gas waste. As a result, on April 23, 2019 the EPA decided to retain its current position on the regulation of oil and gas waste pursuant to RCRA. Nevertheless, any future changes in the laws and regulations could have a material adverse effect on our capital expenditures and operating expenses.

We currently own or lease, and have in the past owned or leased, properties that have been used for many years for the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas. Petroleum hydrocarbons or wastes may have been disposed of or released on or under the properties owned or leased by us, or on or under other locations where such materials have been taken for disposal. In addition, some of these properties have been operated by third parties whose treatment and disposal or release of petroleum hydrocarbons and wastes was not under our control. These properties and the materials disposed or released on them may be subject to CERCLA, RCRA and comparable state laws and regulations. Under such laws and regulations, we could be required to remove or remediate previously disposed wastes or property contamination, or to perform remedial activities to prevent future contamination.

Water discharges and use. The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended (the “CWA”), and comparable state laws impose restrictions and strict controls regarding the discharge of pollutants, including produced waters and other oil and natural gas wastes, into federal and state waters. The discharge of pollutants into regulated waters is prohibited, except in accordance with the terms of a permit issued by the EPA or the state. These laws also prohibit the discharge of dredge and fill material in regulated waters, including wetlands, unless authorized by permit. These laws and any implementing regulations provide for administrative, civil and criminal penalties for any unauthorized discharges of oil and other substances in reportable quantities and may impose substantial potential liability for the costs of removal, remediation and damages. Pursuant to these laws and regulations, we may be required to obtain and maintain approvals or permits for the discharge of wastewater or storm water and are required to develop and implement spill prevention, control and countermeasure plans, also referred to as “SPCC plans,” in connection with on-site storage of greater than threshold quantities of oil. We regularly review our natural gas and oil properties to determine the need for new or updated SPCC plans and, where necessary, we will be developing or upgrading such plans, the costs of which are not expected to be substantial.

The Oil Pollution Act of 1990, as amended (“OPA”), contains numerous requirements relating to the prevention of and response to oil spills into waters of the United States. The OPA subjects owners of facilities to strict, joint and several liability for all containment and cleanup costs and certain other damages arising from an oil spill, including, but not limited to, the costs of

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responding to a release of oil to surface waters. While we believe we have been in substantial compliance with OPA, noncompliance could result in varying civil and criminal penalties and liabilities.

The Underground Injection Control Program authorized by the Safe Drinking Water Act prohibits any underground injection unless authorized by a permit. In connection with our operations, Range may dispose of produced water in underground wells, which are designed and permitted to place the water into deep geologic formations, isolated from fresh water sources. However, because some states have become concerned that the disposal of produced water could, under certain circumstances, contribute to seismicity, they have adopted or are considering adopting additional regulations governing such disposal. For example, in February 2018, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, the state’s oil and gas industry regulator, promulgated more stringent injection well regulations aimed at reducing seismicity in the SCOOP and STACK shale play. Similarly, in February 2019, Ohio lawmakers proposed new legislation that would specifically ban oil and gas injection wells altogether by prohibiting the injection of brine or other waste substances resulting from, obtained from or produced in connection with oil or gas drilling exploration or production into an underground formation. Should similar onerous regulations or bans relating to underground wells be placed in effect in areas where Range has significant operations, there could be an impact on Range’s ability to operate.

Hydraulic fracturing.  Hydraulic fracturing, which has been used by the industry for over 60 years, is an important and common practice to stimulate production of natural gas and/or oil from dense subsurface rock formations. The hydraulic fracturing process involves the injection of water, sand and chemicals under pressure into targeted subsurface formations to fracture the surrounding rock and stimulate production. We routinely apply hydraulic fracturing techniques as part of our operations. This process is typically regulated by state environmental agencies and oil and natural gas commissions; however, several federal agencies have asserted regulatory authority over certain aspects of the process. For example, the EPA has issued final Clean Air Act (as defined below) regulations governing performance standards, including standards for the capture of air emissions released during hydraulic fracturing; proposed effluent limit guidelines that wastewater from shale gas extraction operations must meet before discharging to a treatment plant; and issued in May 2014 a prepublication of its Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding Toxic Substances Control Act reporting of the chemical substances and mixtures used in hydraulic fracturing. Additionally, while the Federal Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) released a final rule setting forth disclosure requirements and other regulatory mandates for hydraulic fracturing on federal lands in March 2015, on December 29, 2017, the U.S. Department of Interior rescinded the 2015 rule that would have set new environmental limitations on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, on public lands because it believed the 2015 rule imposed administrative burdens and compliance costs that were not justified. Moreover, from time to time, Congress has considered adopting legislation intended to provide for federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing and to require disclosure of the chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process. In addition to any actions by Congress, certain states in which we operate, including Pennsylvania, have adopted, and other states are considering adopting, regulations imposing or that could impose new or more stringent permitting, public disclosure or well construction requirements on hydraulic fracturing operations. States could also elect to prohibit hydraulic fracturing altogether, such as in the states of New York, Vermont and Maryland. Local governments also may seek to adopt ordinances within their jurisdiction regulating the time, place or manner of drilling activities in general or hydraulic fracturing activities in particular. If new or more stringent federal, state or local legal restrictions relating to the hydraulic fracturing process are adopted in areas where we currently or in the future plan to operate, we may incur additional, more significant, costs to comply with such requirements. As a result, we could also become subject to additional permitting requirements and experience added delays or curtailment in the pursuit of exploration, development, or production activities.

In addition, certain government reviews are underway that focus on environmental aspects of hydraulic fracturing practices. In December 2016, the EPA issued its final report on the potential of hydraulic fracturing to impact drinking water resources through water withdrawals, spills, fracturing directly into such resources, underground migration of liquids and gases, and inadequate treatment and discharge of wastewater which did not find evidence that these mechanisms have led to widespread, systematic impacts on drinking water resources. However, the EPA’s report did identify future efforts that could be taken to further understand the potential of hydraulic fracturing to impact drinking water resources, including ground water and surface water monitoring in areas with hydraulically fractured oil and gas production wells. Based on the EPA’s study, existing regulations and our practices, we do not believe our hydraulic fracturing operations are likely to impact drinking water resources, but the EPA study could result in initiatives to further regulate hydraulic fracturing under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act or other regulatory mechanisms.

We believe that our hydraulic fracturing activities follow applicable industry practices and legal requirements for groundwater protection and that our hydraulic fracturing operations have not resulted in material environmental liabilities. We do not maintain insurance policies intended to provide coverage for losses solely related to hydraulic fracturing operations; however, we believe our existing insurance policies would cover any alleged third-party bodily injury and property damage caused by hydraulic fracturing including sudden and accidental pollution coverage.

Air emissions. The Clean Air Act of 1963 (as amended, the “Clean Air Act”), and comparable state laws restrict the emission of air pollutants from many sources, including compressor stations. These laws and any implementing regulations may require us to obtain pre-approval for the construction or modification of certain projects or facilities expected to produce air emissions, impose stringent air permit requirements, or use specific equipment or technologies to control emissions. We may be required to incur certain capital expenditures in the next few years for air pollution control equipment in connection with maintaining or obtaining operating permits and approvals for emissions of pollutants. For example, pursuant to then President Obama’s Strategy to Reduce Methane

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Emissions in August 2015, the EPA proposed new regulations that would set methane emission standards for new and modified oil and natural gas production and natural gas processing and transmission facilities as part of the Obama Administration’s efforts to reduce methane emissions from the oil and natural gas sector by up to 45 percent from 2012 levels by 2025. The EPA finalized these new regulations on June 3, 2016 to be effective August 2, 2016; however, on June 12, 2017, the EPA announced a proposed two-year stay on these fugitive emissions standards “while the agency reconsiders them.” On September 24, 2019, the EPA determined in a proposed rule that some of the requirements under the 2016 regulations and other prior rules, are inappropriate because they affect sources that are not appropriately identified as part of the regulated source category and are unnecessary because they impose redundant requirements. As a result, the EPA proposed to rescind the inappropriate and redundant requirements while maintaining health and environmental protections from appropriately identified emission sources within the regulated source category. The date when and if these standards may become implemented and exactly what they will require is still not known. In another example, in October 2015, the EPA enacted a final rule that revised the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone to 70 parts per billion for both the 8-hour primary and secondary standards. Also, in June 2018, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (“PDEP”) adopted heightened permitting conditions for all newly permitted or modified natural gas compressor stations, processing plants and transmission stations constructed, modified, or operated in Pennsylvania in an effort to regulate emissions of the GHG methane at such sites. In furtherance of the PDEP’s mission to regulate methane emissions, in December 2019, the PDEP proposed a plan to regulate emissions of volatile organic compounds (including methane) at existing well sites and compressor stations, which, among other obligations, would require natural gas operators to perform quarterly leak detection and remediation. The proposed plan will be reviewed by the Pennsylvania office of the Attorney General followed by a sixty day comment period that is expected to begin in January 2020. Since this proposed plan is not final, the impact on us is uncertain at this time. Compliance with these or any similar subsequently enacted regulatory initiatives could directly impact us by requiring installation of new emission controls on some of our equipment, resulting in longer permitting timelines, and significantly increasing our capital expenditures and operating costs, which could adversely impact our business.

Climate change. In 2009, the EPA published its findings that emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases (“GHGs”) present a danger to public health and the environment because emissions of such gases are, according to the EPA, contributing to warming of the Earth’s atmosphere and other climatic conditions. Based on these findings, the EPA adopted regulations under the existing Clean Air Act establishing Title V and Prevention of Significant Deterioration (“PSD”) permitting reviews for GHG emissions from certain large stationary sources that already are potential major sources of certain principal, or criteria, pollutant emissions. We could become subject to these Title V and PSD permitting reviews and be required to install “best available control technology” to limit emissions of GHGs from any new or significantly modified facilities that we may seek to construct in the future if such facilities emitted volumes of GHGs in excess of threshold permitting levels. The EPA has also adopted rules requiring the reporting of GHG emissions from specified emission sources in the United States on an annual basis, including certain oil and natural gas production facilities, which include several of our facilities. We believe that our monitoring activities and reporting are in substantial compliance with applicable obligations.

Congress has from time to time considered legislation to reduce emissions of GHGs and there have been a number of federal regulatory initiatives to address GHG emissions in recent years, such as the establishing of Title V and PSD permitting reviews for GHG emissions, as described in more detail above. Additionally, a number of state and regional efforts have emerged that are aimed at tracking and/or reducing GHG emissions by means of cap and trade programs that typically require major sources of GHG emissions, such as electric power plants, to acquire and surrender emission allowances in return for emitting those GHGs.

Although it is not possible at this time to predict how legislation or new regulations that may be adopted to address GHG emissions would impact our business, any such future federal or state laws and regulations, or international compacts could require us to incur increased operating costs, such as costs to purchase and operate emissions control systems, to acquire emission allowances or comply with new regulatory or reporting requirements. On an international level, the United States was one of almost 200 nations that, in December 2015, agreed to an international climate change agreement in Paris, France that calls for countries to set their own GHG emissions targets and be transparent about the measures each country will use to achieve its GHG emissions targets, which agreement formally entered into force on November 4, 2016. While the United States formally accepted that agreement in September 2016, on June 1, 2017, President Trump determined to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement. Under the terms of the Paris Agreement, the earliest possible effective date for withdrawal by the United States is November 4, 2020, four years after the agreement came into effect. On November 4, 2019, the United States gave formal notice of its intent to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on November 4, 2020. The United States’ adherence to the exit process is uncertain and the terms on which the United States may re-enter the Paris Agreement or a separately negotiated agreement are unclear at this time. As a result of this uncertainty, it is not possible to determine how the Paris Agreement or any separately negotiated agreement could impact us.

Any legislation or regulatory programs to address GHG emissions in light of the planned withdrawal of the Paris Agreement could also increase the cost of consumption, and thereby could reduce demand for the oil and natural gas that we produce. However, President Trump has taken certain actions since taking office that have begun to establish a national policy in favor of energy independence and economic growth. For example, on March 28, 2017, President Trump issued an Executive Order for the purpose of facilitating the development of United States energy resources and reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens associated with the development of those resources. Through the Executive Order, President Trump has directed agencies to review existing regulations

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that potentially burden the development of domestic energy resources, and appropriately suspend, revise, or rescind regulations that unduly burden the development of United States energy resources beyond what is necessary to protect the public interest or otherwise comply with the law. Finally, it should be noted that some scientists have concluded that increasing concentrations of GHGs in the Earth’s atmosphere may produce climate changes that have significant physical effects, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, droughts and floods and other climatic events. If any such effects were to occur, they could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Activities on federal lands. Oil and natural gas exploration, development and production activities on federal lands, including Indian lands and lands administered by the BLM, are subject to the National Environmental Policy Act, as amended (“NEPA”). NEPA requires federal agencies, including the BLM, to evaluate major agency actions having the potential to significantly impact the environment. In the course of such evaluations, an agency will prepare an environmental assessment that assesses the potential direct, indirect and cumulative impacts of a proposed project and, if necessary, will prepare a more detailed Environmental Impact Statement that may be made available for public review and comment. However, on January 9, 2020, President Trump announced proposed significant changes to NEPA aimed at easing regulatory restrictions that impeded infrastructure development. For example, the changes to NEPA, if adopted, would create a new category of federal projects described as having “minimal federal funding or involvement” and allow such projects to proceed without any environmental assessment. In addition, President Trump’s proposed changes would also eliminate the need to consider the “cumulative impacts” of projects, which courts have said includes analyzing the global warming consequences of emitting additional GHGs. Finally, the proposed changes would establish hard deadlines of one year to complete environmental assessments on smaller projects and two years on larger projects. Currently, we have minimal exploration and production activities on federal lands. However, for those current activities as well as for future or proposed exploration and development plans on federal lands, we will be required to obtain governmental permits or authorizations that are subject to the requirements of NEPA. This process has the potential to delay or limit, or increase the cost of, the development of oil and natural gas projects. Authorizations under NEPA are also subject to protest, appeal or litigation, any or all of which may delay or halt projects.

Endangered species. The federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (the “ESA”), restricts activities that may affect endangered and threatened species or their habitats. If endangered species are located in an area where we wish to conduct seismic surveys, development activities or abandonment operations, or are located in an area where new pipelines are planned, the work could be prohibited or delayed or expensive mitigation may be required. Moreover, the designation of previously unidentified endangered or threatened species could cause us to incur additional costs or become subject to operating restrictions or bans in the affected areas. As a result of a settlement approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in September 2011, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS”) was required to make a determination on the listing of numerous species as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act prior to the completion of the agency’s 2017 fiscal year. For example, while the lesser prairie chicken is not currently designated as threatened or endangered, in November 2016 the FWS issued its 90-day findings in response to a petition to reclassify the lesser prairie chicken under the ESA. In those findings, FWS found that the petition presented substantial information that the petitioned action may be warranted, prompting a thorough status review. FWS has agreed to make a determination about the lesser prairie chicken’s status as threatened or endangered on or before May 26, 2021, although we cannot predict the outcome of this review process. The designation of currently unprotected species, including the lesser prairie chicken, as threatened or endangered in areas where we operate could cause us to incur increased costs arising from species protection measures or could result in limitations on our exploration and production activities that could have an adverse impact on our ability to develop and produce reserves.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (“MBTA”) implements various treaties and conventions between the United States and certain other nations for the protection of migratory birds. In accordance with this law, the taking, killing or possessing of migratory birds covered under this act is unlawful without a permit. While the U.S. Department of Interior stated in a solicitor’s opinion that it will no longer prosecute oil and gas, wind and solar operators that accidentally kill birds, in June 2019, a discussion draft of the Migratory Bird Protection Act of 2019 was proposed in a subcommittee meeting of the U.S. House of Representatives reaffirming the imposition of strict liability for the incidental killing of migratory birds as a result of commercial activity, including oil and gas operations. If there is the potential to adversely affect migratory birds as a result of our operations, we may be required to obtain necessary permits to conduct those operations, which may result in specified operating restrictions on a temporary, seasonal, or permanent basis in affected areas and an adverse impact on our ability to develop and produce our reserves.

We believe we are in substantial compliance with currently applicable environmental laws and regulations. Although we have not experienced any material adverse effect from compliance with environmental requirements, there is no assurance that this will continue. We did not have any material capital or other non-recurring expenditures in connection with complying with environmental laws or environmental remediation matters in 2019, nor do we anticipate that such expenditures will be material in 2020. However, we regularly incur expenditures to comply with environmental laws and we anticipate those costs will continue to be incurred in the future.

Occupational health and safety. We are also subject to the requirements of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, as amended (“OSHA”), and comparable state laws that regulate the protection of the health and safety of employees. In addition, OSHA’s hazard communication standard requires that information be maintained about hazardous materials used or produced in our operations and that this information be provided to employees, state and local government authorities and citizens. We believe that our operations are in substantial compliance with the OSHA requirements.

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GLOSSARY OF CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS

The terms defined in this glossary are used in this report.

bbl. One stock tank barrel, or 42 U.S. gallons liquid volumes, used herein in reference to crude oil or other liquid hydrocarbons.

bcf. One billion cubic feet of gas.

bcfe. One billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalents, based on a ratio of 6 mcf for each barrel of oil or NGLs, which reflects relative energy content.

btu. One British thermal unit, an energy equivalence measure. A British thermal unit is the heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water from 58.5 to 59.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

Development well. A well drilled within the proved area of an oil or natural gas reservoir to the depth of a stratigraphic horizon known to be productive.

Dry hole. A well found to be incapable of producing oil or natural gas in sufficient economic quantities.

Exploratory well. A well drilled to find oil or gas in an unproved area, to find a new reservoir in an existing field previously found to be productive of oil and gas in another reservoir or to extend a known reservoir.

Gross acres or gross wells. The total acres or wells, as the case may be, in which a working interest is owned.

Henry Hub price. A natural gas benchmark price quoted at settlement date average.

mbbl. One thousand barrels of crude oil or other liquid hydrocarbons.

mcf. One thousand cubic feet of gas.

mcf per day. One thousand cubic feet of gas per day.

mcfe. One thousand cubic feet of natural gas equivalents, based on a ratio of 6 mcf for each barrel of oil or NGLs, which reflects relative energy content.

mmbbl. One million barrels of crude oil or other liquid hydrocarbons.

mmbtu. One million British thermal units.

mmcf. One million cubic feet of gas.

mmcfe. One million cubic feet of gas equivalents.

NGLs. Natural gas liquids, which are naturally occurring substances found in natural gas, including ethane, butane, isobutane, propane and natural gasoline that can be collectively removed from produced natural gas, separated into these substances and sold.

Net acres or Net wells. The sum of the fractional working interests owned in gross acres or gross wells.

NYMEX. New York Mercantile Exchange.

Present Value (PV). The present value of future net cash flows, using a 10% discount rate, from estimated proved reserves, using constant prices and costs in effect on the date of the report (unless such prices or costs are subject to change pursuant to contractual provisions). The after tax present value is the Standardized Measure.

Productive well. A well that is producing oil or gas or that is capable of production.

Proved developed non-producing reserves. Reserves that consist of (i) proved reserves from wells which have been completed and tested but are not producing due to lack of market or minor completion problems which are expected to be corrected and (ii) proved

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reserves currently behind the pipe in existing wells and which are expected to be productive due to both the well log characteristics and analogous production in the immediate vicinity of the wells.

Proved developed reserves. Proved reserves that can be expected to be recovered (i) through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods or in which the cost of the required equipment is relatively minor compared to the cost of a new well and (ii) through installed extracting equipment and infrastructure operational at the time of the reserve estimate if the extraction is by means not involving a well.

Proved reserves. The quantities of crude oil, natural gas and NGLs that geological and engineering data can estimate with reasonable certainty to be economically producible within a reasonable time from known reservoirs under existing economic, operating and regulatory conditions prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain.

Proved undeveloped reserves. Proved reserves that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion.

Recompletion. The completion for production of an existing well bore in another formation from that in which the well has been previously completed.

Reserve life index. Proved reserves at a point in time divided by the then production rate (annually or quarterly).

Royalty acreage. Acreage represented by a fee mineral or royalty interest which entitles the owner to receive free and clear of all production costs a specified portion of the oil and gas produced or a specified portion of the value of such production.

Royalty interest. An interest in an oil and gas property entitling the owner to a share of oil and natural gas production free of costs of production.

Standardized Measure. The present value, discounted at 10%, of future net cash flows from estimated proved reserves after income taxes, calculated holding prices and costs constant at amounts in effect on the date of the report (unless such prices or costs are subject to change pursuant to contractual provisions) and otherwise in accordance with the Commission’s rules for inclusion of oil and gas reserve information in financial statements filed with the Commission.

tcfe. One trillion cubic feet of natural gas equivalents, with one barrel of NGLs or crude oil being equivalent to 6,000 cubic feet of natural gas.

Unproved properties. Properties with no proved reserves.

Working interest. The operating interest that gives the owner the right to drill, produce and conduct operating activities on the property and a share of production, subject to all royalties, overriding royalties and other burdens, and to all costs of exploration, development and operations, and all risks in connection therewith.

Unconventional play. A term used in the oil and gas industry to refer to a play in which the targeted reservoirs generally fall into one of three categories: (1) tight sands, (2) coal beds or (3) shales. The reservoirs tend to cover large areas and lack the readily apparent traps, seals and discrete hydrocarbon-water boundaries that typically define conventional reservoirs. These reservoirs generally require fracture stimulation or other special recovery processes in order to achieve economic flow rates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

We are subject to various risks and uncertainties in the course of our business. The following summarizes the known material risks and uncertainties that may adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. When considering an investment in our securities, you should carefully consider the risk factors included below as well as those matters referenced in foregoing pages under “Disclosures Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and other information included and incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K. These risks are not the only risks we face. Our business could also be impacted by additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial.

Risks Related to Our Business

Volatility of natural gas, NGLs and oil prices significantly affects our cash flow and capital resources and could hamper our ability to operate economically. Natural gas, NGLs and oil prices are volatile, and a decline in prices adversely affects our profitability and financial condition. The oil and gas industry is typically cyclical and we expect the volatility to continue. Between 2016 and 2019, the average NYMEX monthly settlement price of natural gas has been as high as $4.72 per Mmbtu and as low as $1.71 per Mmbtu. During that same time frame, the average NYMEX monthly oil settlement price was as high as $70.76 per barrel and as low as $30.62 per barrel. Over the past few months, natural gas and oil prices have continued their volatility with the average NYMEX monthly settlement price for natural gas for February 2020 decreasing to $1.88 per Mmbtu and the monthly settlement for crude oil decreasing to $57.53 per barrel in January 2020. NGLs have also suffered recent declines in realized prices. NGLs are made up of ethane, propane, isobutane, normal butane and natural gasoline, all of which have different uses and different pricing characteristics, which adds further volatility to the pricing of NGLs. A further or extended decline in commodity prices could materially and adversely affect our business, cash flow, financial condition and results of operations. Natural gas prices are likely to affect us more than oil prices because approximately 67% of our proved reserves were natural gas as of December 31, 2019.

Natural gas, NGLs and oil prices fluctuate in response to changes in supply and demand, market uncertainty and other factors that are beyond our control. Long-term supply and demand for natural gas, NGLs and oil is uncertain and subject to a myriad of factors such as:

 

events that impact domestic and foreign supply of, and demand for, natural gas, NGLs and oil, including impacts from global health pandemics and related concerns;

 

 

domestic and world-wide economic conditions;

 

 

the level and effect of trading in commodity futures markets, including commodity price speculators and others;

 

 

weather conditions;

 

 

technological advances affecting energy consumption and production;

 

 

the price and level of foreign imports;

 

 

U.S. domestic and worldwide economic conditions;

 

 

the availability, proximity and capacity of transportation facilities, processing and storage and refining facilities;

 

 

the price and availability of, and demand for, alternative fuels;

 

 

the effect of worldwide energy conservation efforts;

 

 

the ability of the members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and other exporting nations that work together to agree and maintain oil price and production controls;

 

 

expansion of U.S. exports of oil, NGLs and/or liquefied natural gas;

 

 

military, economic and political conditions in natural gas and oil producing regions;

 

 

the cost of exploring for, developing, producing, transporting and marketing natural gas, NGLs and oil; and

 

 

domestic (federal, state and local) and foreign governmental regulations and taxation, including environmental regulations.

 

Lower natural gas, NGLs and oil prices may not only decrease our revenues and cash flow on a per unit basis but also may reduce the amount of natural gas, NGLs and oil that we can economically produce. A reduction in production could result in a shortfall in expected cash flows and require a reduction in capital spending or additional borrowing. Without the ability to fund capital expenditures, we would be unable to replace reserves which would negatively affect our future rate of growth. Lower natural gas, NGLs and oil prices may also result in a reduction in the borrowing base under our bank credit facility, taking into account the value of our estimated proved reserves, which is adversely affected by declines in natural gas, NGLs and oil prices. The borrowing base

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under our bank credit facility, which is determined by our lenders at their discretion, is subject to redetermination annually by each May and for event driven unscheduled redeterminations.

Producing natural gas, NGLs and oil may involve unprofitable efforts. As of December 31, 2019, the relationship between the price of oil and the price of natural gas continues to be at a wide spread. NGLs production is a by-product of natural gas production. At times, we and other producers may choose to sell natural gas at below cost, or otherwise dispose of natural gas to allow for the profitable sale of only oil, NGLs and condensate. The prices of NGLs can be unpredictable. For example, over the past four years, the average Mont Belvieu NGL composite price has been as high as $0.87 per gallon and as low as $0.30 per gallon. Such volatility in the pricing of NGLs complicates such decisions and may materially and adversely affect the profitability of such decisions.

Information concerning our reserves and future net cash flow estimates is uncertain. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved natural gas and oil reserves and their values, including many factors beyond our control. Estimates of proved reserves are by their nature uncertain and depend on many assumptions relating to current and further economic conditions and commodity prices. To the extent we experience a sustained period of reduced commodity prices, there is a risk that a portion of our proved reserves could be deemed uneconomic and no longer be classified as proved. Although we believe these estimates are reasonable, actual production, revenues and costs to develop will likely vary from estimates and these variances could be material.

Reserve estimation is a subjective process that involves estimating volumes to be recovered from underground accumulations of natural gas and oil that cannot be directly measured. As a result, different petroleum engineers, each using industry-accepted geologic and engineering practices and scientific methods, may calculate different estimates of reserves and future net cash flows based on the same available data. Because of the subjective nature of natural gas, NGLs and oil reserve estimates, each of the following items may differ materially from the amounts or other factors estimated:

 

the amount and timing of natural gas, NGLs and oil production;

 

the revenues and costs associated with that production;

 

the amount and timing of future development expenditures; and

 

future commodity prices.

The discounted future net cash flows from our proved reserves included in this report should not be considered as the market value of the reserves attributable to our properties. As required by United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”), the estimated discounted future net revenues from our proved reserves are based on a twelve month average price (first day of the month) while cost estimates are based on current year-end economic conditions. Actual future prices and costs may be materially higher or lower. In addition, the ten percent discount factor that is required to be used to calculate discounted future net cash flows for reporting purposes under U.S. GAAP is not necessarily the most appropriate discount factor based on the cost of capital in effect from time to time and risks associated with our business and the oil and gas industry in general.

If natural gas, NGLs and oil prices remain depressed or drilling efforts are unsuccessful, we may be required to record write downs of our proved natural gas and oil properties. We have been required to write down the carrying value of certain of our natural gas and oil properties in the past and there is a risk that we will be required to take additional write downs in the future. For example, in fourth quarter 2019, we recorded a $1.1 billion proved property impairment related to our natural gas and oil properties in North Louisiana. In first quarter 2018, we recorded a $7.3 million proved property impairment in Northern Oklahoma. In third quarter 2017, we recorded a $63.7 million proved property impairment related to our natural gas and oil properties in the Texas Panhandle and Northern Oklahoma. These impairments were due to a shift in business strategy employed by management, declines in commodity prices and the potential sale of certain of these properties. Write downs may occur in the future when natural gas and oil prices are low, or if we have downward adjustments to our estimated proved reserves, increases in our estimates of operating or development costs, deterioration in our drilling results or mechanical problems with wells where the cost to redrill or repair is not supported by the expected economics. Because our reserves are predominately natural gas, changes in natural gas prices have a more significant impact on our financial results.

Accounting rules require that the carrying value of natural gas and oil properties be periodically reviewed for possible impairment. Impairment is recognized for the excess of book value over fair value when the book value of a proven property is greater than the expected undiscounted future net cash flows from that property and on acreage when conditions indicate the carrying value is not recoverable. We may be required to write down the carrying value of a property based on natural gas and oil prices at the time of the impairment review, or as a result of continuing evaluation of drilling results, production data, economics, divestiture activity, and other factors. A write down constitutes a non-cash charge to earnings and does not impact cash or cash flows from operating activities; however, it reflects our long-term ability to recover an investment, reduces our reported earnings and increases certain leverage ratios.

We evaluate our unproved oil and gas properties for impairment and could be required to recognize non-cash charges in the earnings of future periods. At December 31, 2019, our unproved natural gas and oil properties carrying value was $868.2 million.

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Our analysis of these costs is affected by the results of exploration activities, commodity price outlooks, potential shifts in business strategy employed by management, planned future sales or expiration of all or a portion of the leases. Impairment of a significant portion of our unproved properties is assessed and amortized on an aggregate basis based on our average holding period, expected forfeiture rate and anticipated drilling success. We have been required to write down the carrying value of our unproved property in the past and there is a risk that we will be required to take additional write downs in the future. We have recorded abandonment and impairment expense related to unproved properties of $1.2 billion in 2019 compared to $515.0 million in 2018 and $269.7 million in 2017.

Significant capital expenditures are required to replace our reserves. Our exploration, development and acquisition activities require substantial capital expenditures. Historically, we have funded our capital expenditures through a combination of cash flow from operations, our bank credit facility and debt and equity issuances. We have also engaged in asset monetization transactions. Future cash flows are subject to a number of variables, such as the level of production from existing wells, prices of natural gas, NGLs and oil and our success in developing and producing new reserves. If our access to capital were limited as a result of various factors, which could include a decrease in revenues due to lower natural gas, NGLs and oil prices or decreased production or deterioration of the credit and capital markets, we would have a reduced ability to replace our reserves. We may not be able to incur additional bank debt, issue debt or equity, engage in asset monetization or access other methods of financing on an economic basis to meet our reserve replacement requirements.

The amount available for borrowing under our bank credit facility is subject to a borrowing base, which is determined by our lenders, at their discretion, taking into account our estimated proved reserves and is subject to periodic redeterminations based on pricing models determined by the lenders at such time. Declines in natural gas, NGLs and oil prices adversely impact the value of our estimated proved reserves and, in turn, the market values used by our lenders to determine our borrowing base and could result in a determination to lower our borrowing base. A further or extended decline in commodity prices could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our future success depends on our ability to replace reserves that we produce. Because the rate of production from natural gas and oil properties generally declines as reserves are depleted, our future success depends upon our ability to economically find or acquire and produce additional natural gas, NGLs and oil reserves. Unless we acquire additional properties containing proved reserves, conduct successful exploration and development activities or, through engineering studies, identify additional behind-pipe zones or secondary recovery reserves, our proved reserves will decline as reserves are produced. Future natural gas, NGLs and oil production, therefore, is highly dependent upon our level of success in acquiring or finding additional reserves that are economically recoverable. We cannot be certain that we will be able to find or acquire and develop additional reserves at an acceptable cost.

We acquire significant amounts of unproved property to further our development efforts. Development and exploratory drilling and production activities are subject to many risks, including the risk that no commercially productive reservoirs will be discovered. We acquire both producing and unproved properties as well as lease undeveloped acreage that we believe will enhance growth potential and increase our earnings over time. However, we cannot be certain that all prospects will be economically viable or that we will not abandon our initial investments. Additionally, there can be no assurance that unproved property acquired by us or undeveloped acreage leased by us will be profitably developed, that new wells drilled by us in prospects that we pursue will be productive or that we will recover all or any portion of our investment in such unproved property or wells. Low commodity prices may cause us to delay our drilling plans and as a result, we may lose our right to develop the related property.

Drilling is an uncertain and costly activity. The cost of drilling, completing, and operating a well is often uncertain, and many factors can adversely affect the economics of a well. Our efforts will be uneconomical if we drill dry holes or wells that are productive but do not produce enough natural gas, NGLs and oil to be commercially viable after drilling, operating and other costs. There is no way to conclusively know in advance of drilling and testing whether any particular prospect will yield natural gas, NGLs or oil in commercially viable quantities. Furthermore, our drilling and producing operations may be curtailed, delayed, or canceled as a result of a variety of factors, including, but not limited to:

 

increases in the costs, shortages or delivery delays of drilling rigs, equipment, water for hydraulic fracturing services, labor, or other services;

 

 

unexpected operational events and drilling conditions;

 

 

reductions in natural gas, NGLs and oil prices;

 

 

limitations in the market for natural gas, NGLs and oil;

 

 

adverse weather conditions and changes in weather patterns;

 

 

facility or equipment malfunctions or operator error;

 

 

equipment failures or accidents;

 

 

loss of title and other title-related issues;

 

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pipe or cement failures and casing collapses;

 

 

compliance with, or changes in, environmental, tax and other governmental requirements;

 

 

environmental hazards, such as natural gas leaks, oil spills, pipeline and tank ruptures, and unauthorized discharges of toxic gases;

 

 

lost or damaged oilfield drilling and service tools;

 

 

unusual or unexpected geological formations;

 

 

loss of drilling fluid circulation;

 

 

pressure or irregularities in formations;

 

 

fires;

 

 

natural disasters;

 

 

surface craterings and explosions;

 

 

uncontrollable flows of oil, natural gas or well fluids;

 

 

availability and timely issuance of required governmental permits and licenses; and

 

 

civil unrest or protest activities.

 

If any of these factors were to occur, we could lose all or a part of our investment, or we could fail to realize the expected benefits, either of which could materially and adversely affect our revenue and profitability.

Our operations involve utilizing drilling and completion techniques as developed by us and our service providers. Risks that we face while drilling horizontal wells include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

landing the wellbore in the desired drilling zone;

 

staying in the desired drilling zone while drilling horizontally through the formation;

 

running casing the entire length of the wellbore; and

 

being able to run tools and other equipment consistently through the horizontal wellbore.

Risks that we face while completing horizontal wells include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

the ability to fracture stimulate the planned number of stages;

 

the ability to run tools the entire length of the wellbore during completion operations; and

 

the ability to successfully clean out the wellbore after completion of the final fracture stimulation stage.

Drilling in emerging areas is more uncertain than drilling in areas that are more developed and have a longer history of established drilling operations. New discoveries and emerging formations have limited or no production history and, consequently, we are more limited in assessing future drilling results in these areas. If our drilling results are worse than anticipated, the return on investment for a particular project may not be as attractive as anticipated and we may recognize non-cash impairment charges to reduce the carrying value of unproved properties in those areas.

Our identified drilling locations are scheduled out over multiple years, making them susceptible to uncertainties that could materially alter the occurrence or timing of their drilling. Our management team has specifically identified and scheduled certain drilling locations as an estimation of our future multi-year drilling activities on our existing acreage. These drilling locations represent a significant part of our development strategy. Our ability to drill and develop these locations depends on a number of uncertainties, including natural gas and oil prices, the availability and cost of capital, drilling and production costs, availability of drilling services and equipment, drilling results, lease expirations, transportation constraints, regulatory and zoning approvals and other factors. Because of these uncertain factors, we do not know if the numerous drilling locations we have identified will ever be drilled. In addition, unless production is established within the spacing units covering the undeveloped acres on which some of the drilling locations are obtained, the leases for such acreage will expire. These risks are greater at times and in areas where the pace of our exploration and development activity slows. As such, our actual drilling activities may materially differ from those presently identified. In addition, we will require significant additional capital over a prolonged period in order to pursue the development of these locations, and we may not be able to raise or generate the capital required to do so. Any drilling activities we are able to conduct on these locations may not be successful or result in our ability to add additional proved reserves to our overall proved reserves or may

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result in a downward revision of our estimated proved reserves, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

We may incur losses as a result of title defects in the properties in which we invest. It is our practice in acquiring oil and natural gas leases or interests not to incur the expense of retaining lawyers to examine the title to the mineral interest. Rather, we rely upon the judgment of oil and gas lease brokers or landmen who perform the fieldwork in examining records in the appropriate governmental office before attempting to acquire a lease in a specific mineral interest. The existence of a material title deficiency can render a lease worthless and can adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Prior to the drilling of an oil or natural gas well, however, it is the normal practice in our industry for the person or company acting as the operator of the well to obtain a preliminary title review to ensure there are no obvious defects in title to the well. Frequently, as a result of such examinations, certain curative work must be done to correct defects in the marketability of the title and such curative work entails expense. Our failure to cure any title defects may delay or prevent us from utilizing the associated mineral interest, which may adversely impact our ability in the future to increase production and reserves. Additionally, undeveloped acreage has greater risk of title defects than developed acreage. If there are any title defects or defects in the assignment of leasehold rights in properties in which we hold an interest, we will suffer a financial loss.

Our producing properties are largely concentrated in the Appalachian Basin, making us vulnerable to risks associated with operating in a significant geographic area. Our producing properties are geographically concentrated in the Appalachian Basin in Pennsylvania. At December 31, 2019, 95% of our total estimated proved reserves were attributable to properties located in Pennsylvania. As a result of this concentration, we may be disproportionately exposed to the impact of regional supply and demand factors, delays or interruptions of production from wells in this area caused by governmental regulation, litigation, state politics, processing or transportation capacity constraints, market limitations, availability of equipment and personnel, water shortages or interruption of the processing or transportation of crude oil, condensate, natural gas or NGLs.

New technologies may cause our current exploration and drilling methods to become obsolete. There have been rapid and significant advancements in technology in the natural gas and oil industry, including the introduction of new products and services using new technologies. As competitors use or develop new technologies, we may be placed at a competitive disadvantage, and competitive pressures may force us to implement new technologies at a substantial increase in cost. Further, competitors may obtain patents which might prevent us from implementing new technologies. In addition, competitors may have greater financial, technical and personnel resources that allow them to enjoy technological advantages and may in the future allow them to implement new technologies before we can. One or more of the technologies that we currently use or that we may implement in the future may become obsolete. We cannot be certain that we will be able to implement technologies on a timely basis or at a cost that is acceptable to us. If we are unable to maintain technological advancements consistent with industry standards, our results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.

Our indebtedness could limit our ability to successfully operate our business. We are leveraged and our exploration and development program will require substantial capital resources depending on the level of drilling and the expected cost of services. Our existing operations will also require ongoing capital expenditures. In addition, if we decide to pursue additional acquisitions, our capital expenditures may increase, both to complete such acquisitions and to explore and develop any newly acquired properties.

The degree to which we are leveraged could have other important consequences, including the following:

 

we may be required to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flows from operations to the payment of our indebtedness, reducing the funds available for our operations;

 

 

a portion of our borrowings is at variable rates of interest, making us vulnerable to increases in interest rates;

 

 

we may be more highly leveraged than some of our competitors, which could place us at a competitive disadvantage;

 

 

our degree of leverage may make us more vulnerable to a downturn in our business or the general economy;

 

 

we are subject to numerous financial and other restrictive covenants contained in our existing debt agreements, that restrict our ability to engage in certain activities and could limit our growth, and the breach of such covenants could materially and adversely impact our financial performance;

 

 

our debt level could limit our flexibility to grow the business and plan for, or react to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate; and

 

 

we may have difficulties borrowing money in the future.

 

The risks described above may further increase in the event we incur additional debt. In addition to those risks above, we may not be able to obtain funding on acceptable terms.

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Any failure to meet our debt obligations could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. We expect our earnings and cash flow to fluctuate from year to year due to the cyclical nature of our business. If our cash flow and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt obligations, we may be forced to sell assets, seek additional equity or restructure our debt. Our ability to restructure our debt will depend on the condition of the capital markets and our financial condition at such time. Any restructuring of debt could be at higher interest rates and may require us to comply with more onerous covenants, which could further restrict our operations. The terms of existing or future debt instruments may restrict us from adopting some of these alternatives. In addition, any failure to make scheduled payments of interest and principal on our outstanding indebtedness would likely result in a reduction of our credit rating, which could harm our ability to incur additional indebtedness on acceptable terms. Our cash flow and capital resources may be insufficient for payment of interest on, and principal of, our debt in the future and any such alternative measures may be unsuccessful or may not permit us to meet scheduled debt service obligations, which could cause us to default on our obligations and impair our liquidity.

We receive debt ratings from the major credit rating agencies in the United States. Factors that may impact our credit ratings include debt levels, planned asset purchases or sales and near-term and long-term growth opportunities. Liquidity, asset quality, cost structure, product mix and commodity pricing levels are also considered by the rating agencies. A ratings downgrade could adversely impact our ability to access debt markets in the future, increase the cost of future debt and potentially require us to post letters of credit or other forms of collateral for certain obligations. Both Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s downgraded our ratings during 2019 as a result of the natural gas downturn and its effects on our financial results.  We cannot provide assurance that our current ratings will remain in effect for any given period of time or that a rating will not be further downgraded.

As a result of cross-default provisions in our borrowing arrangements, we may be unable to satisfy all of our outstanding obligations in the event of a default on our part. The terms of our senior indebtedness, including our revolving credit facility, contain cross-default provisions which provide that we will be in default under such agreements in the event of certain defaults under our indentures or other loan agreements. Accordingly, should an event of default above certain thresholds occur under any of those agreements, we face the prospect of being in default under all of our debt agreements, obligated in such instance to satisfy all of our outstanding indebtedness and unable to satisfy all of our outstanding obligations simultaneously. In such an event, we might not be able to obtain alternative financing or, if we are able to obtain such financing, we might not be able to obtain it on terms acceptable to us, which would negatively affect our ability to implement our business plan, make capital expenditures and finance our operations.

We are subject to financing and interest rate exposure risks. Our business and operating results can be harmed by factors such as the availability, terms of and cost of capital, increases in interest rates or a reduction in our credit rating. These changes could cause our cost of doing business to increase, limit our ability to pursue acquisition opportunities, reduce cash flow used for drilling and place us at a competitive disadvantage. For example, at December 31, 2019, approximately 85% of our debt is at fixed interest rates with the remaining 15% subject to variable interest rates.

In addition, the U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that it intends to phase out LIBOR by the end of 2021. The U.S. Federal Reserve has begun publishing a Secured Overnight Funding Rate (“SOFR”), which is intended to replace U.S. dollar LIBOR plans and alternative reference rates for other currencies have also been announced. At this time, we cannot predict how markets will respond to these proposed alternative rates or the effect of any changes to or the discontinuation of LIBOR.  If LIBOR is no longer available or if our lenders have increased costs due to changes in LIBOR, we may experience potential increases in interest rates on our variable rate debt, which could adversely impact our interest expense, results of operations and cash flows.

Disruptions or volatility in the global finance markets may lead to a contraction in credit availability impacting our ability to finance our operations. We require continued access to capital. A significant reduction in cash flows from operations or the availability of credit could materially and adversely affect our ability to achieve our planned growth and operating results. We are exposed to some credit risk related to our bank credit facility to the extent that one or more of our lenders may be unable to provide necessary funding to us under our existing revolving line of credit if it experiences liquidity problems.

A financial downturn or negative credit market conditions may have lasting effects on our liquidity, business and financial condition that we cannot predict. Liquidity is essential to our business. Our liquidity could be substantially negatively affected by an inability to obtain capital in the long-term or short-term debt markets, or equity capital markets or an inability to access bank financing. A prolonged credit crisis or turmoil in the domestic or global financial systems could materially affect our liquidity, business and financial condition. These conditions have adversely impacted financial markets and created substantial volatility and uncertainty previously and, with the related negative impact on global economic activity and the financial markets, could do so again. Negative credit market conditions could materially affect our liquidity and may inhibit our lenders from fully funding our bank credit facility or cause them to make the terms of our bank credit facility costlier and more restrictive. We are subject to annual reviews, as well as unscheduled reviews, of our borrowing base under our bank credit facility, and we do not know the results of future redeterminations or the effect of then-current oil and natural gas prices on that process. A weak economic environment could also adversely affect the collectability of our trade receivables or performance by our suppliers or other third parties whom we contract with to operate our properties or provide facilities. Additionally, negative economic conditions could lead to reduced demand or lower prices for natural gas, NGLs and oil, which could have a negative impact on our revenues.

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Derivative transactions may limit our potential gains and involve other risks. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Act”), enacted in July 2010, established federal oversight and regulation of the over-the-counter derivatives market and entities, including Range, that participate in that market. The Act requires the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) and the SEC to promulgate rules and regulations implementing the Act. Although the CFTC has finalized certain regulations, others remain to be finalized or implemented and it is not possible at this time to predict when this will be accomplished.

The CFTC has designated certain interest rate swaps and credit default swaps for mandatory clearing and the associated rules will also require us to comply with clearing and trade-execution requirements or take steps to qualify for an exemption to such requirements in connection with covered derivative activities. The CFTC has not yet proposed rules designating any other classes of swaps, including physical commodity swaps, for mandatory clearing. Although we qualify for the end-user exception from the mandatory clearing requirements for swaps entered to hedge our commercial risks, the application of the mandatory clearing and trade execution requirements to other market participants, such as swap dealers, may change the cost and availability of the swaps that we use for hedging. In addition, the Act requires that regulators establish margin rules for uncleared swaps. Rules that require end-users to post initial or variation margin could impact our liquidity and reduce cash available to us for capital expenditures, thereby reducing our ability to execute hedges to reduce risk and protect cash flows.

To manage our exposure to price risk, we currently, and may in the future, enter into derivative arrangements, utilizing commodity derivatives with respect to a portion of our future production. Such hedges are designed to lock in prices so as to limit volatility and increase the predictability of cash flow. These transactions limit our potential gains if natural gas, NGLs and oil prices rise above the price established by the hedge. In addition, derivative transactions may expose us to the risk of financial loss in certain circumstances, including instances in which:

 

our production is less than expected;

 

 

the counterparties to our futures contracts fail to perform on their contract obligations; or

 

 

an event materially impacts natural gas, NGLs or oil prices or the relationship between the hedged price index and the natural gas or oil sales price.

 

We cannot be certain that any derivative transaction we may enter into will adequately protect us from declines in the prices of natural gas, NGLs or oil. Furthermore, where we choose not to engage in derivative transactions in the future, we may be more adversely affected by changes in natural gas, NGLs or oil prices than our competitors who engage in derivative transactions. Lower natural gas, NGLs and oil prices may also negatively impact our ability to enter into derivative contracts at favorable prices.

We are exposed to a risk of financial loss if a counterparty fails to perform under a derivative contract. We are unable to predict sudden changes in a counterparty’s creditworthiness or ability to perform. Even if we do accurately predict sudden changes, our ability to mitigate the risk may be limited depending upon market conditions. Furthermore, the bankruptcy of one or more of our hedge providers, or some other similar proceeding or liquidity constraint, might make it unlikely that we would be able to collect all or a significant portion of amounts owed to us by the distressed entity or entities. During periods of falling commodity prices, our derivative receivable positions increase, which increases our exposure. If the creditworthiness of our counterparties deteriorates and results in their nonperformance, we could incur a significant loss.

Many of our current and potential competitors have greater resources than we have and we may not be able to successfully compete in acquiring, exploring and developing new properties. We face competition in every aspect of our business, including, but not limited to, acquiring reserves and leases, obtaining goods, services and employees needed to operate and manage our business and marketing natural gas, NGLs or oil. Competitors include multinational oil companies, independent production companies and individual producers and operators. Many of our competitors have greater financial and other resources than we do. As a result, these competitors may be able to address these competitive factors more effectively than we can or withstand industry downturns more easily than we can. For more discussion regarding competition, see Items 1 & 2. Business and Properties – Competition.

Strategic determinations, including the allocation of capital and other resources to strategic opportunities, are challenging, and our failure to appropriately allocate capital and resources among our strategic opportunities may adversely affect our financial condition. Our future growth prospects are dependent upon our ability to identify optimal strategies for investing our capital resources to produce rates of return. In developing our business plan, we consider allocating capital and other resources to various aspects of our business including well development (primarily drilling), reserve acquisitions, exploratory activity, corporate items and other alternatives. We also consider our likely sources of capital, including cash generated from operations and borrowings under our credit facility. Notwithstanding the determinations made in the development of our business plan, business opportunities not previously identified periodically come to our attention, including possible acquisitions and dispositions. If we fail to identify optimal business strategies, or fail to optimize our capital investment and capital raising opportunities and the use of our other resources in furtherance of our business strategies, our financial condition and future growth may be adversely affected. Moreover, economic or other circumstances may change from those contemplated by our business plan and our failure to recognize or respond to those changes may limit our ability to achieve our objectives.

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The natural gas and oil industry is subject to extensive regulation. The natural gas and oil industry is subject to various types of regulations in the United States by local, state and federal agencies. Legislation affecting the industry is under constant review for amendment or expansion, frequently increasing our regulatory burden. Numerous departments and agencies, both state and federal, are authorized by statute to issue rules and regulations binding on participants in the natural gas and oil industry. Compliance with such rules and regulations often increases our cost of doing business, delays our operations and, in turn, decreases our profitability.

Our operations are subject to numerous and increasingly strict federal, state and local laws, regulations and enforcement policies relating to the environment. We may incur significant costs and liabilities in complying with existing or future environmental laws, regulations and enforcement policies and may incur costs arising out of property or natural resource damage or injuries to employees and other persons. Some of these environmental laws and regulations may impose strict, joint and several liability regardless of fault or knowledge, which could subject us to liability for conduct that was lawful at the time it occurred or conditions caused by prior owners or operators or which relate to third-party sites where we have taken materials for recycling or disposal. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in the occurrence of delays, cancellations or restrictions in permitting or performance of our projects or other operations and subject us to administrative, civil and criminal penalties, corrective action orders and orders enjoining some or all of our operations in affected areas, among other things. Matters subject to regulation include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

the amounts and types of substances and materials that may be released into the environment, including greenhouse gas emissions;

 

responding to unexpected releases to the environment;

 

the sourcing and disposal of water used in the well drilling and completion process;

 

reports and permits concerning exploration, drilling, production and other regulated activities;

 

the location and spacing of wells;

 

unitization and pooling of properties;

 

calculating royalties on oil and gas produced under federal and state leases; and

 

taxation.

Under such laws and regulations, we could be liable for personal injuries, property damages, oil spills, discharges of hazardous materials, remediation and clean-up costs, natural resource damages and other environmental damages. We also could be required to install expensive pollution control measures or limit or cease activities on lands located within wilderness, wetlands or other environmentally or politically sensitive areas. If we incur these costs or damages it may reduce or eliminate funds available for exploration, development or acquisitions or cause us to incur losses. Moreover, environmental laws and regulations are subject to change in the future, possibly resulting in more stringent legal requirements. For example, in 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) issued a final rule under the federal Clean Air Act, lowering the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ground-level ozone from 75 parts per billion to 70 parts per billion under both the primary and secondary standards to provide requisite protection of public health and welfare, respectively. Since that time, the EPA has issued area designations with respect to ground-level ozone and final requirements that apply to state, local, and tribal air agencies for implementing these 2015 standards for ground-level ozone. State implementation of these revised standards could, among other things, require installation of new emission controls on some of our equipment, result in longer permitting timelines and significantly increase our capital expenditures and operating costs arising from our operations.

The subject of climate change continues to receive attention from scientists, legislators, governmental agencies and the general public. There is an ongoing debate as to the extent to which our climate is changing, the potential causes of this change and its potential impacts. Some attribute climate change to increased levels of GHGs, including carbon dioxide and methane, which has led to a series of regulatory, political, litigation and financial risk associated with the production of fossil fuels and emission of GHGs.

Congress has from time to time considered legislation to reduce emissions of GHGs and there have been a number of federal regulatory initiatives to address GHG emissions in recent years. These include the establishing of Title V and PSD permitting reviews for GHG emissions from certain large stationary sources that are already major potential sources of certain principal, or criteria, pollutant emissions, and the implementation of a GHG monitoring and reporting program for certain sectors of the natural gas and oil industry, including onshore production, which includes certain of our operations. Additionally, a number of state and regional efforts have emerged that are aimed at tracking and/or reducing GHG emissions by means of cap and trade programs, in which major sources of GHG emissions acquire and surrender emission allowances in return for emitting those GHGs. The outcome of federal and state actions to address global climate change could result in a variety of regulatory programs including potential new regulations to control or restrict emissions, taxes or other charges to deter emissions of GHGs, energy efficiency requirements to reduce demand, or other regulatory actions. For example, the EPA finalized new regulations in 2016 that would set volatile organic compound (“VOC”) and methane emission standards for new and modified oil and gas production and natural gas processing and transmission facilities; those

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standards regulate GHGs through limitations on emissions of methane. However, in August 2019, the EPA proposed amendments to the 2016 regulations that, among other things, would remove sources in the transmission and storage segment from the oil and natural gas source category and rescind the methane-specific requirements applicable to sources in the production and processing segments of the industry. As an alternative, the EPA is also proposing to rescind the methane-specific requirements that apply to all sources in the oil and natural gas industry, without removing the transmission and storage sources from the current source category. Under either alternative, the EPA plans to retain emission limits for VOCs. The EPA proposed rulemaking indicates that the controls to reduce VOC emissions also reduce methane at the same time, so separate methane limitations for these segments of the industry are redundant. The date when and if these amended standards may become implemented and exactly what they will require is still not known. Notwithstanding these federal standards, state regulations with respect to emissions of GHGs could continue to become more restrictive regardless of the decreased burdens under federal regulations. For example, in June 2018 the PDEP adopted heightened permitting conditions for all newly permitted or modified natural gas compressor stations, processing plants and transmission stations constructed, modified, or operated in Pennsylvania in an effort to regulate emissions of the GHG methane at such sites. Then, in December 2019, the PDEP proposed a plan to regulate emissions of VOCs (including methane) at existing well sites and compressor stations. The proposed plan would, among other obligations, require natural gas operators to perform quarterly leak detection and remediation. This plan has advanced to the proposal stage, with the PDEP’s Environmental Quality Board voting on December 17, 2019 to seek public comment in early 2020 on a proposed rulemaking incorporating plan requirements. If these or any other actions to address GHG emissions do become implemented in the future, they could:

 

result in increased costs associated with our operations;

 

increase other costs to our business;

 

require us to install new emissions controls in some of our equipment;

 

affect the demand for natural gas; and

 

impact the prices we charge our customers.

Governmental, scientific, and public concern over the threat of climate change arising from GHG emissions has resulted in increasing political risks in the United States, including climate change-related pledges made by certain candidates seeking the office of the President of the United States in 2020. Critical declarations made by one or more candidates include proposals to ban hydraulic fracturing of oil and natural gas wells and ban new leases for production of minerals on federal properties, including onshore lands and offshore waters. While our operations involve the use of hydraulic fracturing activities, none of our production is on federal properties. Other actions that could be pursued by presidential candidates may include more restrictive requirements for the establishment of pipeline infrastructure or the permitting of liquefied natural gas export facilities, as well as the reversal of the United States’ withdrawal in November 2020 from participation in the Paris Agreement, which seeks to limit GHG emissions on an international level. Litigation risks are also increasing, as a number of cities, local governments and other plaintiffs have sought to bring suit against the largest oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in state or federal court, alleging, among other things, that such companies created public nuisances by producing fuels that contributed to global warming effects, such as rising sea levels, and therefore are responsible for roadway and infrastructure damages as a result. Such suits have also alleged that the companies have been aware of the adverse effects of climate change for some time but defrauded their investors by failing to adequately disclose those impacts.

There are also increasing financial risks for fossil fuel producers as stockholders or bondholders currently invested in fossil fuel energy companies concerned about the potential effects of climate change may elect in the future to shift some or all of their investments into non fossil fuel energy related sectors. Institutional lenders who provide financing to fossil fuel energy companies also have been more attentive to sustainable lending practices and some of them may elect not to provide funding for fossil fuel energy companies. Additionally, the lending practices of institutional lenders have been the subject of intensive lobbying efforts in recent years, oftentimes public in nature, by environmental activists, proponents of the international Paris Agreement and foreign citizenry concerned about climate change not to provide funding for fossil fuel producers. Limitation of investments in and financings for fossil fuel energy companies could result in the restriction, delay or cancellation of drilling programs or development or production activities.

Adoption of additional federal, regional or state requirements mandating a reduction in GHG emissions or the use of alternative energy could have far-reaching and significant impacts on the fossil fuel energy industry and the U.S. economy. Additionally, GHG emissions-related political, litigation and financial risks may result in our reduction or halting of oil and gas production activities, incurrence of liability for infrastructure damage as a result of climate changes, or impairment on our ability to continue to operate in an economic manner. We cannot predict the potential impact of such laws, regulations, and international compacts, or any such political, litigation and financial risks, on our future consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. For more information regarding the environmental regulation of our business, see Items 1 & 2. Business and Properties—Environment and Occupational Health and Safety Matters in our 2019 Form 10-K.

Additionally, we are subject to the requirements of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, as amended, and comparable state statutes, whose purpose is to protect the health and safety of workers. In addition, the U.S. Occupational Safety and

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Health Administration hazard communication standard, the EPA community right-to-know regulations under Title III of the federal Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act, as amended, and comparable state statutes require that information be maintained concerning hazardous materials used or produced in our operations and that this information be provided to employees, state and local government authorities and citizens.

Pollution and property contamination arising from our operations could expose us to significant costs and liabilities. The performance of our operations may result in significant environmental costs and liabilities relating to the handling of petroleum hydrocarbons and wastes, air emissions and wastewater or other fluid discharges related to operations, historical industry operations and waste disposal practices. Spills or other unauthorized releases of hazardous or regulated substances by us or resulting from our operations could expose us to material losses, expenditures and liabilities under environmental laws and regulations, and we are currently and have in the past been involved in investigation, remediation and monitoring activities. Certain of the properties upon which we conduct operations were acquired from third parties, whose actions with respect to the management and disposal or release of hydrocarbons, hazardous substances or wastes at or from such properties were not under our control. Moreover, certain of these laws may impose strict, joint and several liability, which means that in some situations we could be exposed to liability as a result of our conduct that was lawful at the time it occurred or the conduct of, or conditions caused by, prior owners or operators or other third parties. Neighboring landowners and other third parties may file claims against us for personal injury or property damage allegedly caused by the release of pollutants into the environment. New laws and regulations, amendments of existing laws and regulations, reinterpretation of legal requirements or increased governmental enforcement relating to environmental requirements may occur, resulting in the occurrence of restrictions, delays or cancellations in the permitting or performance of new or expanded projects, or more stringent or costly well drilling, construction, completion or water management activities or waste handling, storage, transport, disposal or cleanup requirements. For example, while drilling, fluids, produced water and most of the other wastes associated with the exploration, development and production of oil or natural gas, if properly handled, are currently exempt from regulation as hazardous waste under RCRA, and instead, are regulated under RCRA’s less stringent non-hazardous waste provisions. It is possible that the EPA may in the future propose rulemaking for revised oil and natural gas waste regulations that provides that these wastes be treated as hazardous waste instead of non-hazardous waste. Any future loss of such RCRA exemption could require us to make significant expenditures to attain and maintain compliance and may otherwise have a material adverse effect on the oil and natural gas exploration and production industry in general, in addition to our own results of operations, competitive position or financial condition.

Our business is subject to operating hazards that could result in substantial losses or liabilities that may not be fully covered under our insurance policies. Natural gas, NGLs and oil operations are subject to many risks, including well blowouts, craterings, explosions, uncontrollable flows of oil, natural gas or well fluids, fires, pipe or cement failures, pipeline ruptures or spills, vandalism, pollution, releases of toxic gases, adverse weather conditions or natural disasters and other environmental hazards and risks. If any of these hazards occur, we could sustain substantial losses as a result of:

 

injury or loss of life;

 

severe damage to or destruction of property, natural resources and equipment;

 

pollution or other environmental damage;

 

investigatory and cleanup responsibilities;

 

regulatory investigations and penalties or lawsuits;

 

suspension of operations; and

 

repairs to resume operations.

We maintain insurance against many, but not all, potential losses or liabilities arising from our operations in accordance with what we believe are customary industry practices and in amounts and at costs that we believe to be prudent and commercially practicable. Our insurance includes deductibles that must be met prior to recovery, as well as sub-limits and/or self-insurance. Additionally, our insurance is subject to exclusions and limitations. Our insurance does not cover every potential risk associated with our operations, including the potential loss of significant revenues. We can provide no assurance that our coverage will adequately protect us against liability from all potential consequences, damages and losses.

We currently have insurance policies covering our operations that include coverage for general liability, excess liability, physical damage to our oil and gas properties, operational control of wells, oil pollution, third-party liability, workers’ compensation and employer’s liability and other coverages. Our insurance policies provide coverage for losses or liabilities relating to pollution, but are largely limited to coverage for sudden and accidental occurrences. For example, we maintain operator’s extra expense coverage for obligations, expenses or claims that we may incur from a sudden incident that results in negative environmental effects, including obligations, expenses or claims related to seepage and pollution, cleanup and containment, evacuation expenses and control of the well (subject to policy terms and conditions). In the specific event of a well blowout or out-of-control well resulting in negative

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environmental effects, such operator’s extra expense coverage would be our primary source of coverage, with the general liability and excess liability coverage referenced above also providing certain coverage.

We may elect not to obtain insurance if we believe that the cost of available insurance is excessive relative to the risks presented. Some forms of insurance may become unavailable in the future or unavailable on terms that we believe are economically acceptable. No assurance can be given that we will be able to maintain insurance in the future at rates that we consider reasonable, and we may elect to maintain minimal or no insurance coverage. If we incur substantial liability from a significant event and the damages are not covered by insurance or are in excess of policy limits, then we would have lower revenues and funds available to us for our operations, that could, in turn, have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Additionally, we rely to a large extent on facilities owned and operated by third parties and damage to, or destruction of, those third-party facilities could affect our ability to process, transport and sell our production. To a limited extent, we maintain business interruption insurance related to a third-party processing plant in Pennsylvania where we are insured for potential losses from the interruption of production caused by loss of or damage to the processing plant.

A change in the jurisdictional characterization of some of our assets by federal, state or local regulatory agencies or a change in policy by those agencies may result in increased regulation of our assets, which may cause our revenues to decline and operating expenses to increase. Section 1(b) of the NGA exempts natural gas gathering facilities from regulation by the FERC as a natural gas company under the NGA. We believe that the natural gas pipelines in our gathering systems meet the traditional tests the FERC has used to establish a pipeline’s status as a gatherer not subject to regulation as a natural gas company. However, we have not received a declaratory order from the FERC regarding our natural gas gathering pipelines and the distinction between FERC-regulated transmission services and federally unregulated gathering services is the subject of ongoing litigation. As a result, the classification and regulation of our gathering facilities are subject to change based on future determinations by the FERC, the courts and/or Congress.

While we believe our natural gas gathering operations are generally exempt from FERC regulation under the NGA, our gas gathering operations may be subject to certain FERC reporting and posting requirements in a given year. The FERC requires certain participants in the natural gas market, including certain gathering facilities and natural gas marketers that engage in a minimum level of natural gas sales or purchases, to submit annual reports to the FERC on the aggregate volumes of natural gas purchased or sold at wholesale in the prior calendar year to the extent such transactions utilize, contribute to, or may contribute to, the formation of price indices.

Other FERC regulations may indirectly impact our operations and the markets for products derived from these operations. The FERC’s policies and practices across the range of its natural gas regulatory activities, including, for example, its policies on open access transportation, gas quality, ratemaking, capacity release and market-center promotion, may indirectly affect the intrastate natural gas market. In recent years, the FERC has pursued pro-competitive policies in its regulation of interstate natural gas pipelines. However, we cannot be certain that the FERC will continue this approach as it considers matters such as pipeline rates, rules and policies that may affect rights of access to transportation capacity. For more information regarding the regulation of our operations, see Items 1 & 2. Business and Properties – Governmental Regulation.

Should we fail to comply with all applicable FERC administered statutes, rules, regulations and orders, we could be subject to substantial penalties and fines. Under EPAct 2005, the FERC has civil penalty authority under the NGA, which can include both monetary penalties and disgorgement of profits associated with any violation. On January 2, 2020, FERC issued a final rule increasing the maximum monetary civil penalty for violations of the NGA from $1,269,500 per day per violation to $1,291,894 per day per violation to account for inflation pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. While our operations have not been regulated as a natural gas company by the FERC under the NGA, the FERC has adopted regulations that may subject certain of our otherwise non-FERC jurisdictional facilities to the FERC annual reporting requirements. We also must comply with the anti-market manipulation rules enforced by the FERC. Additional rules and legislation pertaining to those and other matters may be considered or adopted by the FERC from time to time. Failure to comply with those regulations in the future could subject Range to civil penalty liability. For more information regarding the regulation of our operations, see Items 1 & 2. Business and Properties – Governmental Regulation.

Certain federal income tax deductions currently available with respect to natural gas and oil exploration and development may be eliminated or postponed and additional federal or state taxes or fees on natural gas extraction may be imposed, as a result of future legislation. Legislation has been previously proposed that would, if enacted into law, make significant changes to U.S. federal income tax laws, including the elimination of certain U.S. federal income tax benefits currently available to oil and gas exploration and production companies. Such changes include, but are not limited to, (i) the repeal of percentage depletion allowance for oil and natural gas properties; (ii) the elimination of current deductions for intangible drilling and development costs and; (iii) an extension of the amortization period for certain geological and geophysical expenditures. However, it is unclear, whether any such changes will be enacted and if enacted, how soon any such changes would be effective. Additionally, legislation could be enacted that imposes new fees or increases the taxes on oil and natural gas extraction, which could result in increased operating costs and/or reduced consumer demand for our products. The passage of any such legislation or any other similar change in U.S. federal income

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tax law could eliminate or postpone certain tax deductions that are currently available with respect to natural gas and oil exploration and development, or could increase costs and any such changes could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. As of December 31, 2019, we had a tax basis of $1.1 billion related to prior years’ capitalized intangible drilling costs, which will be amortized over the next five years.

The legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “2017 Tax Act”) was signed into law in December 2017 by President Trump. The 2017 Tax Act provided significant changes to the United States corporate income tax system. The changes that were effective beginning in 2018 included a federal corporate rate reduction from 35% to 21%, the elimination or reduction of certain domestic deductions, credits and limitations on the deductibility of interest expense and executive compensation, and the transition of United States international taxation from a worldwide tax system to a territorial tax system. The 2017 Tax Act also limits the utilization of net operating loss carryforwards for losses arising in tax years beginning after 2017 to 80% of taxable income. Our net deferred tax assets and liabilities were revalued at the newly-enacted U.S. corporate rate and the impact was recognized in tax expense in 2017.

In February 2012, the state legislature of Pennsylvania passed legislation creating a natural gas impact fee applicable to production in Pennsylvania. As noted above, the majority of our acreage in the Marcellus Shale is located in Pennsylvania. The legislation imposes an annual fee on natural gas and oil operators for each well drilled for a period of fifteen years. Much like a severance tax, the fee is on a sliding scale set by the Public Utility Commission and is based on two factors: changes in the Consumer Price Index and the average NYMEX natural gas prices on the last day of each month. The impact fee increases the financial burden on our operations in the Marcellus Shale. There can be no assurance that the impact fee will remain as currently structured or that additional taxes will not be imposed. From time to time, the Pennsylvania Governor and various Pennsylvania state lawmakers have proposed legislation to enact a severance tax in substitution for, or as an addition to, the impact fee already in place, which could be based on the volume of gas produced rather than on a per-well basis. In addition, a recent court case in Pennsylvania addressed the constitutionality of the 2007 net operating loss deduction (“NOLD”) limitation under the Uniformity Clause of the Pennsylvania Constitution, which limited the use of NOLDs to the greater of $3 million or 12.5 percent of taxable income. In October 2017, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania issued its decision on this case holding that the NOLD limitation as applied to the 2007 taxable year at issue violated the Uniformity Clause of the Pennsylvania Constitution and struck the $3 million flat cap limitation, but not the percentage of taxable income limitation. Shortly after the Supreme Court Case, the Pennsylvania Governor signed a bill that removed the flat cap NOLD limitation and increased the percentage of taxable income limitation. For 2019, the net operating loss carryforward is limited to 40 percent of taxable income.

Changes in laws or regulations relating to hydraulic fracturing could result in increased costs and additional operating restrictions or delays and adversely affect our production. The use of hydraulic fracturing is necessary to produce commercial quantities of natural gas and oil from many reservoirs, especially shale formations such as the Marcellus Shale. The process is typically regulated by state environmental agencies and oil and gas commissions. However, several federal agencies have asserted regulatory authority over certain aspects of the process. For example, the EPA has issued final Clean Air Act regulations governing performance standards, including standards for the capture of air emissions released during hydraulic fracturing; proposed effluent limit guidelines that wastewater from shale gas extraction operations must meet before discharging to a treatment plant; and issued in May 2014 a prepublication of its Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding Toxic Substances Control Act reporting of the chemical substances and mixtures used in hydraulic fracturing. Additionally, in 2015 the BLM enacted a new rule setting forth disclosure requirements and other regulatory mandates for hydraulic fracturing on federal lands; however, in December 2017, the U.S. Department of the Interior rescinded the 2015 rule because it believed the 2015 rule imposed administrative burdens and compliance costs that were not justified.

From time to time, legislation has been introduced, but not enacted, in Congress to provide for federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing and to require disclosure of the chemicals used in the fracturing process. Certain states in which we operate, including Pennsylvania, have adopted, and other states are considering adopting, regulations that could impose new or more stringent permitting, disclosure or well-construction requirements on hydraulic fracturing operations. States could elect to prohibit hydraulic fracturing altogether, such as the states of New York, Vermont and Maryland have already done. Local land use restrictions, such as city ordinances, may restrict or prohibit drilling in general and/or hydraulic fracturing in particular. In the event federal, state or local restrictions or prohibitions are adopted in areas where we conduct operations, we may incur significant costs to comply with such requirements or we may experience delays or curtailment in the pursuit of exploration, development, or production activities, and possibly be precluded from the drilling of wells or limited in the amounts that we are ultimately able to produce from our reserves. Moreover, a number of federal entities are analyzing a variety of environmental issues associated with hydraulic fracturing. For example, in December 2016, the EPA released its final report on the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. The final report concluded that “water cycle” activities associated with hydraulic fracturing may impact drinking water resources “under some circumstances,” noting that the following hydraulic fracturing water cycle activities and local-or regional-scale factors are more likely than others to result in more frequent or more severe impacts: water withdrawals for fracturing in times or areas of low water availability; surface spills during the management of fracturing fluids, chemicals or produced water, injection of fracturing fluids into wells with inadequate mechanical integrity; injection of fracturing fluids directly into groundwater resources; discharge of inadequately treated fracturing wastewater to surface waters; and disposal or storage of fracturing wastewater in unlined

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pits. Since the report did not find a direct link between hydraulic fracturing itself and contamination of groundwater resources, we do not believe that this multi-year study and subsequent report provides any basis for further regulation of hydraulic fracturing at the federal level. However, the EPA’s report did identify future efforts that could be taken to further understand the potential of hydraulic fracturing impact to drinking water resources, including groundwater and surface water monitoring in areas with hydraulically fractured oil and gas production wells.

We use a significant amount of water in our hydraulic fracturing operations. Our inability to locate sufficient amounts of water, or dispose of or recycle water used in our operations, could adversely impact our operations. Moreover, new environmental initiatives and regulations could include restrictions on our ability to conduct certain operations such as hydraulic fracturing or disposal of waste, including, but not limited to, produced water, drilling fluids and other wastes associated with the exploration, development or production of natural gas. In recent history, public concern surrounding increased seismicity has heightened focus on our industry’s use of water in operations. Compliance with environmental regulations and permit requirements governing the withdrawal, storage and use of surface water or groundwater necessary for hydraulic fracturing of wells may increase our operating costs and cause delays, interruptions or termination of our operations, the extent of which cannot be predicted, and all of which could have an adverse effect on our operations and financial condition.

Legislation or regulatory initiatives intended to address seismic activity could restrict our drilling and production activities, as well as our ability to dispose of produced water gathered from such activities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. State and federal regulatory agencies have recently focused on a possible connection between hydraulic fracturing related activities, particularly the underground injection of wastewater into disposal wells and the increased occurrence of seismic activity, and regulatory agencies at all levels are continuing to study the possible linkage between oil and gas activity and induced seismicity. In addition, a number of lawsuits have been filed in some states, including in Oklahoma, alleging that disposal well operations have caused damage to neighboring properties or otherwise violated state and federal rules regulating waste disposal. In response to these concerns, regulators in some states are seeking to impose additional requirements including requirements regarding the permitting of produced water disposal wells or otherwise to assess the relationship between seismicity and the use of such wells. For example, in February 2018, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, the state’s oil and gas industry regulator, promulgated more stringent injection well regulations aimed at reducing increased seismicity in the SCOOP and STACK shale play. Similarly, in February 2019, Ohio lawmakers proposed new legislation that would specifically ban oil and gas injection wells altogether by prohibiting the injection of brine or other waste substances resulting from, obtained from or produced in connection with oil or gas drilling, exploration or production into an underground formation.

We dispose of large volumes of produced water gathered from our drilling and production operations in our Louisiana fields by injecting it into wells pursuant to permits issued to us by governmental authorities overseeing such disposal activities. While these permits are issued pursuant to existing laws and regulations, these legal requirements are subject to change, which could result in the imposition of more stringent operating constraints or new monitory and reporting requirements, owing to, among other things, concerns of the public or governmental authorities regarding such gathering or disposal activities. The adoption and implementation of any new laws or regulations that restrict our ability to use hydraulic fracturing or dispose of water gathered from our drilling and production activities by our own disposal wells, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Laws and regulations pertaining to threatened and endangered species could delay or restrict our operations and cause us to incur substantial costs. Various federal and state statutes prohibit certain actions that adversely affect endangered or threatened species and their habitats, migratory birds, wetlands and natural resources. These statutes include, without limitation, the ESA, the MBTA, the CWA and CERCLA. The FWS may designate critical habitat and suitable habitat areas that it believes are necessary for survival of threatened or endangered species. A critical habitat or suitable habitat designation could result in further material restrictions to federal land use and private land use and could delay or prohibit land access or oil and gas development. If harm to species or damages to wetlands, habitat or natural resources occur or may occur, government entities or, at times, private parties may act to prevent oil and gas exploration or development activities, seek damages for harm to species, habitat or natural resources resulting from drilling or construction or releases of oil, wastes, hazardous substances or other regulated materials, and, in some cases, may seek criminal penalties. Moreover, as a result of a settlement approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in September 2011, the FWS was required to consider listing numerous species as endangered or threatened under the ESA before completion of the agency’s 2017 fiscal year. While none of the species that the FWS listed as threatened or endangered materially affect our operations, the future designation of previously unprotected species as threatened or endangered in areas where we conduct operations could cause us to incur increased costs arising from species protection measures or could result in limitations on our exploration and production activities which could have an adverse effect on our ability to develop and produce reserves.

Additionally, if damages to wetlands or other environmentally-sensitive lands occur or may occur, government entities may act to prevent oil and gas exploration or development activities or seek damages for harm to the wetlands or other environmentally-sensitive lands resulting from drilling or construction or releases of oil, wastes, hazardous substances or other regulated materials. In 2015, the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps”) released a final rule outlining federal jurisdictional reach under the Clean Water Act over waters of the United States, including wetlands. In 2017, the EPA and Corps agreed to reconsider the 2015 rule and,

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thereafter, in October 2019, the agencies published a final rule to rescind the 2015 rule and recodify the regulatory text that governed waters of the United States prior to promulgation of the 2015 rule. This final rule became effective on December 23, 2019. The recodified regulatory text will govern waters of the United States until such time as the EPA and Corps issue a final rule re-defining the Clean Water Act’s jurisdiction over waters of the United States in replacement of the 2015 rule but, to date, the two agencies have only published a proposed rulemaking on re-defining such jurisdiction in February 2019. The 2015 final rule is being challenged by various factions in federal district court, with the 2015 rule currently being in force in twenty-two states, including Pennsylvania, but not Louisiana, where we conduct operations; however, with the December 2019 effectiveness of the rule rescinding the 2015 rule, it is expected that those challenges will become moot unless additional legal actions challenging this 2019 rule arise. To the extent that any final rule is adopted that expands the Clean Water Act’s jurisdiction over waters of the United States, we could incur increased costs and restrictions, delays or cancellations in permitting or projects, which developments could result in significant costs and liabilities.

Our business depends on natural gas and oil transportation and NGLs processing facilities, most of which are owned by others and depends on our ability to contract with those parties. Our ability to sell our natural gas, NGLs and oil production depends in part on the availability, proximity and capacity of pipeline systems and processing facilities owned by third parties and our ability to contract with those third parties. The lack of available capacity on these systems and facilities could result in the shut-in of producing wells or the delay or discontinuance of development plans for properties. Although we have some contractual control over the transportation of our products, material changes in these business relationships, including the financial condition of these third parties, could materially affect our operations. In some cases, we do not purchase firm transportation on third-party facilities and as a result, our production transportation can be interrupted by those having firm arrangements. In other cases, we have entered into firm transportation arrangements, particularly in the Marcellus Shale where we are obligated to pay fees on minimum volumes regardless of actual volume throughput. If production decreases due to developmental activities, taking into consideration the current commodity price environment, production related difficulties or otherwise, we may be unable to meet our obligations under existing firm transportation contracts, resulting in fees which may be significant and may have a material adverse effect on our operations. We have also entered into long-term agreements with third parties to provide natural gas gathering and processing services in the Marcellus Shale. In some cases, the capacity of gathering systems and transportation pipelines may be insufficient to accommodate potential production from existing and new wells. Federal and state regulation of natural gas and oil production and transportation, tax and energy policies, changes in supply and demand, pipeline pressures, damage to or destruction of pipelines and general economic conditions could adversely affect our ability to produce, gather and transport natural gas, NGLs and oil. If any of these third-party pipelines or other facilities become partially or fully unavailable to transport or process our product, or if the natural gas quality specifications for a natural gas pipeline or facility changes so as to restrict our ability to transport natural gas on those pipelines or facilities, our revenues could be adversely affected.

The disruption of third-party facilities due to maintenance, mechanical failures, accidents, weather and/or other reasons could negatively impact our ability to market and deliver our products. In particular, the disruption of certain third-party natural gas processing facilities in the Marcellus Shale could materially affect our ability to market and deliver natural gas production in that area. We have no control over when or if such facilities are restored and generally have no control over what prices will be charged. A total shut-in of production could materially affect us due to a lack of cash flow, and if a substantial portion of the production is hedged at lower than market prices, those financial hedges would have to be paid from borrowings absent sufficient cash flow.

In North Louisiana, we have contracts with midstream providers for gathering and processing services with minimum volume delivery commitments. We are obligated to pay fees on minimum volumes to midstream service providers regardless of actual volume throughput. These fees could be significant and may have a material adverse effect on our operations.

Acquisitions are subject to the risks and uncertainties of evaluating reserves and potential liabilities and may be disruptive and difficult to integrate into our business. We could be subject to significant liabilities related to our acquisitions. It is generally not feasible to review in detail every individual property included in an acquisition. Ordinarily, a review is focused on higher-valued properties. However, even a detailed review of all properties and records may not reveal existing or potential problems in all of the properties, nor will it permit us to become sufficiently familiar with the properties to assess fully their deficiencies and capabilities. Initial estimates of reserves may be subject to revisions following an acquisition which may materially and adversely affect the desired benefits of the acquisition.

In addition, there is intense competition for acquisition opportunities in our industry. Competition for acquisitions may increase the cost of, or cause us to refrain from, completing acquisitions. Our acquisition strategy is dependent upon, among other things, our ability to obtain debt and equity financing and, in some cases, regulatory approvals. Our ability to pursue an acquisition strategy may be hindered if we are unable to obtain financing on terms acceptable to us or regulatory approvals.

Acquisitions often pose integration risks and difficulties. In connection with prior and future acquisitions, the process of integrating acquired operations into our existing operations may result in unforeseen operating difficulties and may require significant management attention and financial resources that would otherwise be available for the ongoing development or expansion of existing operations. Future acquisitions could result in our incurring additional debt, contingent liabilities, expenses and diversion of resources, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results.

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Significant acquisitions present potential risks, including:

 

difficulties in operating a larger combined organization and integrating additional operations into ours;

 

 

difficulties in the assimilation of the assets and operations of the acquired businesses, especially if the assets acquired are in a new business segment or geographical area;

 

 

the loss of customers or key employees from the acquired businesses;

 

 

the diversion of management’s attention from other existing business concerns;

 

 

the failure to realize expected synergies and cost savings;

 

 

difficulties in coordinating geographically disparate organizations, systems and facilities;

 

 

difficulties in integrating personnel from diverse business backgrounds and organizational cultures; and

 

 

difficulties in consolidating corporate and administrative functions.

 

We may be limited in our use of net operating losses and tax credits. As noted in the financial statements included with this Form 10-K, we have substantial net operating losses (“NOLs”). Utilization of these NOLs depends on many factors, including the company’s future taxable income, which cannot be predicted with any accuracy. In addition, Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 382”), generally imposes an annual limitation on the amount of an NOL that may be used to offset taxable income when a corporation has undergone an “ownership change” (as determined under Section 382). An ownership change generally occurs if one or more stockholders (or groups of stockholders) change their ownership by more than 50 percentage points over their lowest ownership percentage within a rolling three-year period, taking into account for this purpose only those stockholders (or groups of stockholders) who are deemed to own at least 5% of the corporation’s stock. In the event that an ownership change has occurred—or were to occur—with respect to a corporation following its recognition of an NOL, utilization of this NOL would be subject to an annual limitation under Section 382, generally determined by multiplying the value of the corporation’s stock at the time of the ownership change by the applicable long-term tax-exempt rate as defined in Section 382. However, this annual limitation would be increased under certain circumstances by recognized built-in gains of the corporation existing at the time of the ownership change. Any unused annual limitation with respect to an NOL generally may be carried over to later years, subject to the expiration of the NOL twenty years after it arose.

If Range is determined to have undergone an ownership change in the future, we may be unable to fully utilize our NOLs prior to their expiration. To the extent we are not able to offset future taxable income with our NOLs, operating results and cash flows may be adversely affected.

We may be unable to dispose of nonstrategic assets on attractive terms and may be required to retain liabilities for certain matters. We regularly review our property base for the purpose of identifying nonstrategic assets, the disposition of which would increase capital resources available for other activities and create organizational and operational efficiencies. We also occasionally sell interests in certain core assets for the purpose of accelerating development and increasing efficiencies in other core assets. Various factors could materially affect our ability to dispose of nonstrategic assets or complete announced dispositions, including the availability of purchasers willing to purchase the nonstrategic assets at prices acceptable to us. Sellers typically retain liabilities for certain matters. The magnitude of any such retained liability or indemnification obligation may be difficult to quantify at the time of the transaction and ultimately may be material. Also, third parties are often unwilling to release us from guarantees or other credit support provided prior to the sale of the divested assets. As a result, after a sale, we may remain secondarily liable for the obligations guaranteed or supported to the extent that the buyer of the assets fails to perform these obligations.

Our success depends on key members of our management and our ability to attract and retain experienced technical and other professional personnel. Our success is highly dependent on our management personnel and none of them is currently subject to an employment contract. The loss of one or more of these individuals could have a material adverse effect on our business. Furthermore, competition for experienced technical and other professional personnel remains strong. If we cannot retain our current personnel or attract additional experienced personnel, our ability to compete could be adversely affected. Also, the loss of experienced personnel could lead to a loss of technical expertise.

We are involved in legal proceedings that could result in substantial liabilities and materially and adversely impact our financial condition. Like many oil and gas companies, we are involved in various legal proceedings, including threatened claims, such as title, royalty, and contractual disputes. The cost to settle legal proceedings (asserted or unasserted) or satisfy any resulting judgment against us in such proceedings could result in a substantial liability or the loss of interests, which could materially and adversely impact our cash flows, operating results and financial condition. Judgments and estimates to determine accruals or range of losses related to legal proceedings could change from one period to the next, and such changes could be material. Current accruals may be insufficient to satisfy any such judgments. Legal proceedings could also result in negative publicity about Range. In addition, legal proceedings distract management and other personnel from their primary responsibilities.

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Our business could be negatively affected by security threats, including cybersecurity threats and other disruptions. As a natural gas and oil producer, we face various security threats, including:

 

cybersecurity threats to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information or to render data or systems unusable;

 

 

threats to the security of our facilities and infrastructure or third-party facilities and infrastructure, such as processing plants and pipelines; or

 

 

threats from terrorist acts.

 

Computers and telecommunication systems are used to conduct our exploration, development and production activities and have become an integral part of our business. We use these systems to analyze and store financial and operating data and to communicate internally and with outside business partners. Cyber-attacks could compromise our computer and telecommunications systems and result in disruptions to our business operations or the loss of our data and proprietary information. In addition, computers control oil and gas production, processing equipment, and distribution systems globally and are necessary to deliver our production to market. A cyber-attack against these operating systems, or the networks and infrastructure on which they rely, could damage critical production, distribution and/or storage assets, delay or prevent delivery to markets, cause accidental discharge and/or make it difficult or impossible to accurately account for production and settle transactions. A cyber-attack on a vendor or a service provider could result in supply chain disruptions, which could delay or halt development projects. A cyber-attack on our accounting system could expose us to liability if personal information is obtained.

Security threats have subjected our operations to increased risks that could have a material adverse effect on our business. In particular, our implementation of various procedures and controls to monitor and mitigate security threats and to increase security for our personnel, information, facilities and infrastructure may result in increased capital and operating costs. Moreover, there can be no assurance that such procedures and controls will be sufficient to prevent security breaches from occurring. If any of these security breaches were to occur, they could lead to harm to our employees or losses of sensitive information, losses of critical infrastructure or capabilities essential to our operations and could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, financial position, and results of operations or cash flows. Cyber-attacks in particular are becoming more sophisticated and include, but are not limited to, malicious software, phishing, ransomware, attempts to gain unauthorized access to data, and other electronic security breaches that could lead to disruptions in critical systems, unauthorized release of confidential or otherwise protected information, and corruption of data. These events could damage our reputation and lead to financial losses from unauthorized disbursement of funds, remedial actions, loss of business and/or potential liability. While we have not suffered any material losses relating to such attacks, there can be no assurance that we will not suffer such losses in the future.

Terrorist attacks and the threat of terrorist attacks, whether domestic or foreign attacks, as well as military or other actions taken in response to these acts, could cause instability in the global financial and energy markets. Continued hostilities in the Middle East and the occurrence or threat of terrorist attacks in the United States or other countries could adversely affect the global economy in unpredictable ways, including the disruption of energy supplies and markets, increased volatility in commodity prices or the possibility that the infrastructure on which we rely could be a direct target or an indirect casualty of an act of terrorism and, in turn, could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.

We may face various risk associated with the long-term trend toward increased activism against oil and gas exploration and development activities. Opposition toward oil and gas drilling and development activity has been growing globally. Companies in the oil and gas industry are often the target of activist efforts from both individuals and non-governmental organizations regarding safety, environmental compliance and business practices. Anti-development activists are working to, among other things, reduce access to federal and state government lands and delay or cancel certain projects such as the development of oil and gas shale plays. For example, environmental activists continue to advocate for increased regulations or bans on shale drilling and hydraulic fracturing in the United States, even in jurisdictions that are among the most stringent in their regulation of the industry. Future activist efforts could result in the following:

41


 

 

delay or denial of drilling permits;

 

 

shortening of lease terms and reduction in lease size;

 

 

restrictions on installation or operation of production, gathering or processing facilities;

 

 

restrictions on the use of certain operating practices, such as hydraulic fracturing, or the disposal of related waste materials, such as hydraulic fracturing fluids and produced water;

 

 

increased severance and/or other taxes;

 

 

cyber-attacks;

 

 

legal challenges or lawsuits;

 

 

negative publicity about our business or the oil and gas industry in general;

 

 

increased costs of doing business;

 

 

reduction in demand for our products; and

 

 

other adverse effects on our ability to develop our properties and expand production.

 

We may need to incur significant costs associated with responding to these initiatives. Complying with any resulting additional legal or regulatory requirements that are substantial could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.

Conservation measures and technological advances could reduce demand for oil and natural gas. Fuel conservation measures, alternative fuel requirements, governmental requirements for renewable energy resources, increasing consumer demand for alternatives to oil and natural gas, technological advances in fuel economy and energy generation devices could reduce demand for oil and natural gas. The impact of the changing demand for oil and natural gas services and products may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

We could experience periods of higher costs if commodity prices rise. These increases could reduce our profitability, cash flow and ability to complete development activities as planned. Historically, our capital and operating costs have risen during periods of increasing oil, NGLs and gas prices. These cost increases result from a variety of factors beyond our control, such as increases in the cost of electricity, steel and other raw materials that we and our vendors rely upon; increased demand for labor, services and materials as drilling activity increases; and increased taxes. Increased levels of drilling activity in the natural gas and oil industry could lead to increased costs of some drilling equipment, materials and supplies. Such costs may rise faster than increases in our revenue, thereby negatively impacting our profitability, cash flow and ability to complete development activities as scheduled and on budget.

Higher natural gas, NGLs and oil prices generally stimulate demand for ancillary services. Similarly, lower natural gas, NGLs and oil prices generally result in a decline in service costs due to reduced demand for drilling and completion services. If the current market changes and commodity prices continue to recover, we may face shortages of field personnel, drilling rigs or other equipment and supplies which could delay or adversely affect our operations.

Our financial statements are complex. Due to U.S. GAAP and the nature of our business, our financial statements continue to be complex, particularly with reference to derivatives, asset retirement obligations, equity awards, deferred taxes, long-lived assets and the accounting for our deferred compensation plans. We expect such complexity to not only continue but possibly increase.

Risks Related to Our Common Stock

Common stockholders will be diluted if additional shares are issued. Our ability to repurchase securities for cash is limited by our bank credit facility. We also issue restricted stock and performance share units to our employees and directors as part of their compensation. In addition, we may issue additional shares of common stock, additional subordinated notes or other securities or debt convertible into common stock to extend maturities or fund capital expenditures, including acquisitions.

42


 

Dividend limitations. Limits on the payment of dividends and other restricted payments, as defined, are imposed under our bank credit facility. These limitations may, in certain circumstances, limit or prevent the payment of dividends. In January 2020, we announced that the board of directors suspended the dividend on our common stock.

Our stock price may be volatile and you may not be able to resell shares of our common stock at or above the price you paid. The price of our common stock fluctuates significantly, which may result in losses for investors. The market price of our common stock has been volatile. From January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019, the price of our common stock reported by the New York Stock Exchange ranged from a low of $3.27 per share to a high of $36.40 per share. We expect our stock to continue to be subject to fluctuations as a result of a variety of factors, including factors beyond our control. These factors include:

 

changes in natural gas, NGLs and oil prices;

 

variations in quarterly drilling, recompletions, acquisitions and operating results;

 

changes in governmental regulation and/or taxation;

 

changes in financial estimates by securities analysts;

 

changes in market valuations of comparable companies;

 

expectations regarding our capital program, including any existing or potential future share repurchase programs and any future dividend payments that may be declared by our board of directors, or any determination to cease repurchasing stock or paying dividends;

 

additions or departures of key personnel; or

 

future sales of our stock and changes in our capital structure.

We may fail to meet expectations of our stockholders or of securities analysts at some time in the future and our stock price could decline as a result.

There is no guarantee that we will repurchase shares of our common stock under our recently announced stock repurchase program at a level anticipated by our stockholders, which could reduce returns to our stockholders. In October 2019, our board of directors approved a stock repurchase program to acquire up to $100.0 million of our outstanding common stock. The repurchase program does not require us to acquire any specific number of shares. Decisions to repurchase our common stock will be at the discretion of our board of directors based upon a review of relevant considerations. From October 2019 through December 2019, we repurchased $6.9 million or 1.8 million shares of our outstanding common stock. An aggregate of $93.1 million remains available for future stock repurchases under the stock repurchase program. Our board of directors’ determination to repurchase shares of our common stock under our new stock repurchase program will depend upon market conditions, applicable legal requirements, contractual obligations and other factors that the board of directors deems relevant. Based on an evaluation of these factors, our board of directors may determine not to repurchase shares or to repurchase shares at reduced levels from those anticipated by our stockholders, any or all of which could reduce returns to our stockholders.

Our certificate of incorporation, bylaws, some of our arrangements with employees and Delaware law contain provisions that could discourage an acquisition or change of control of us. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that may make it more difficult to effect a change of control, to acquire us or to replace incumbent management, including, for example, limitations on shareholders’ ability to remove directors, call special meetings and to propose and nominate directors or otherwise propose actions for approval at stockholder meetings, as well as the ability of our board of directors to amend our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and to issue and set the terms of preferred stock without the approval of our stockholders. In addition, our change of control severance plan, change of control severance agreements with certain officers and our omnibus stock plans and deferred compensation plans contain provisions that provide for severance payments and accelerated vesting of benefits, including accelerated vesting of equity awards and acceleration of deferred compensation, upon a change of control. Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law also imposes restrictions on mergers and other business combinations between us and any holder of 15% or more of our outstanding common stock. These provisions could discourage or prevent a change of control, even if it may be beneficial to our stockholders, or could reduce the price our stockholders receive in an acquisition of us.

 

ITEM  1B.

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

 

43


 

ITEM 3.

We are the subject of, or party to, a number of pending or threatened legal actions and claims arising in the ordinary course of our business. While many of these matters involve inherent uncertainty, we believe that the amount of the liability, if any, ultimately incurred with respect to proceedings or claims will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position as a whole or on our liquidity, capital resources or future annual results of operations. We will continue to evaluate our litigation quarterly and will establish and adjust any litigation reserves as appropriate to reflect our assessment of the then-current status of litigation.

Environmental Proceedings

Our subsidiary, Range Resources – Appalachia, LLC, was notified by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (“DEP”) that it intends to assess a civil penalty under the Clean Streams Law and the 2012 Oil and Gas Act in connection with one well in Lycoming County. The DEP has directed us to prevent methane and other substances from escaping from this gas well into groundwater and a stream. We have considerable evidence that this well is not leaking and pre-drill testing of surrounding water wells showed the presence of methane in the water before commencement of our operations. While we intend to vigorously assert this position with the DEP, resolution of this matter may nonetheless result in monetary sanctions of more than $100,000.

ITEM  4.

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

 

 

44


 

PART II

ITEM 5.

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Market for Common Stock

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “RRC”. During 2019, trading volume averaged approximately 10.1 million shares per day.

Holders of Record

Pursuant to the records of our transfer agent, as of February 25, 2020, there were approximately 948 holders of record of our common stock.

Dividends

The payment of dividends is subject to declaration by the board of directors and depends on earnings, capital expenditures and various other factors. The board of directors declared quarterly dividends of $0.02 per common share for each of the four quarters of 2019, 2018 and 2017. The bank credit facility allows for the payment of common and preferred dividends, subject to certain limitations. In January 2020, we announced that the board of directors suspended the dividend on our common stock. The determination of the amount of future dividends, if any, to be declared and paid is at the sole discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon among other things, our earnings, financial condition, capital requirements, levels of indebtedness and other considerations our board of directors deems relevant. For more information, see Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to the 2020 Proxy Statement, which will be filed with the SEC not later than 120 days subsequent to December 31, 2019.

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

Purchases of our common stock are as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended December 31, 2019

 

Period

 

 

Total Number

of Shares

Purchased

 

 

 

Average Price

Paid Per Share

 

 

 

Total Number

of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly

Announced Plans

or Programs

 

 

 

Approximate Dollar Amount of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under Plans or Programs (a)

 

October 2019

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

$

100,000,000

 

November 2019

 

 

1,500,000

 

 

$

3.93

 

 

 

1,500,000

 

 

$

94,110,156

 

December 2019

 

 

300,000

 

 

$

3.40

 

 

 

300,000

 

 

$

93,091,586

 

 

 

 

1,800,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,800,000

 

 

 

 

 

(a) In October 2019, our board of directors authorized a $100 million common stock repurchase program.

45


 

Stockholder Return Performance Presentation*

The following graph is included in accordance with the SEC’s executive compensation disclosure rules. This historic stock price performance is not necessarily indicative of future stock performance. The graph compares the change in the cumulative total return of Range’s common stock, the ISE Revere Natural Gas Index, the Dow Jones U.S. Exploration and Production Index, the S&P 400 Mid Cap Index and the S&P Small Cap 600 Index for the five years ended December 31, 2019. The graph assumes that $100 was invested in the Company’s common stock and each index on December 31, 2014 and that dividends were reinvested.

 

2014

 

  

2015

 

  

2016

 

  

2017

 

  

2018

 

  

2019

 

Range Resources Corporation

$

100

  

  

$

46

  

  

$

65

  

  

$

32

  

  

$

18

 

  

$

9

  

S&P Mid Cap 400 Index

 

100

 

  

 

98

 

  

 

118

 

  

 

137

 

  

 

122

 

  

 

154

 

S&P Small Cap 600 Index

 

100

 

  

 

98

 

  

 

124

 

  

 

140

 

  

 

128

 

  

 

157

 

Dow Jones U.S. Exploration & Production

 

100

 

 

 

76

 

 

 

95

 

 

 

96

 

 

 

79

 

 

 

88

 

ISE Revere Natural Gas Index

 

100

 

 

 

40

 

 

 

48

 

 

 

43

 

 

 

28

 

 

 

24

 

*The performance graph and the information contained in this section is not “soliciting material,” is being “furnished” not “filed” with the SEC and is not to be incorporated by reference into any of our filings under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing.

 

46


 

ITEM 6.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA AND PROVED RESERVE DATA

The following table shows selected financial information as of and for the five years ended December 31, 2019. Significant producing property acquisitions and dispositions may affect the comparability of year-to-year financial and operating data. In third quarter 2019, we sold, in three separate transactions, a proportionately reduced 2.5% overriding royalty primarily in our Washington County, Pennsylvania leases for proceeds of $750.0 million. In fourth quarter 2018, we sold a proportionately reduced 1% overriding royalty in our Washington County, Pennsylvania leases for proceeds of $300.0 million. In September 2016, we completed an acquisition of a business with properties in North Louisiana. In first quarter 2016, we sold our non-operated interest in certain wells and gathering facilities in northeast Pennsylvania for cash proceeds of $111.5 million. In fourth quarter 2015, we sold the majority of our Virginia and West Virginia properties for cash proceeds of $876.0 million, before closing adjustments. This information should be read in conjunction with Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report (in thousands except per share or per mcfe data).

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

 

2018

 

 

 

2017

 

 

 

2016

 

 

 

2015

 

Statements of Operations Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas, NGLs and oil sales

$

2,255,425

 

 

$

2,851,577

 

 

$

2,176,287

 

 

$

1,197,215

 

 

$

1,089,644

 

Total revenues and other income

 

2,827,615

 

 

 

3,282,645

 

 

 

2,611,030

 

 

 

1,099,939

 

 

 

1,598,068

 

Total costs and expenses (a)

 

5,044,203

 

 

 

5,059,615

 

 

 

2,528,910

 

 

 

1,902,077

 

 

 

2,650,430

 

Net (loss) income

 

(1,716,297

)

 

 

(1,746,481

)

 

 

333,146

 

 

 

(521,388

)

 

 

(713,685

)

Net (loss) income per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

–Basic

 

(6.92

)

 

 

(7.10

)

 

 

1.34

 

 

 

(2.75

)

 

 

(4.29

)

–Diluted

 

(6.92

)

 

 

(7.10

)

 

 

1.34

 

 

 

(2.75

)

 

 

(4.29

)

 

Costs per mcfe: (b)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct operating expense

$

0.16

 

 

$

0.17

 

 

$

0.18

 

 

$

0.17

 

 

$

0.27

 

Production and ad valorem tax expense

 

0.05

 

 

 

0.06

 

 

 

0.06

 

 

 

0.05

 

 

 

0.07

 

General and administrative expense

 

0.22

 

 

 

0.26

 

 

 

0.32

 

 

 

0.33

 

 

 

0.38

 

Interest expense

 

0.23

 

 

 

0.26

 

 

 

0.27

 

 

 

0.30

 

 

 

0.33

 

Depletion, depreciation and amortization expense

 

0.66

 

 

 

0.79

 

 

 

0.85

 

 

 

0.93

 

 

 

1.14

 

 

$

1.32

 

 

$

1.54

 

 

$

1.68

 

 

$

1.78

 

 

$

2.19

 

Average Daily Production:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas (mcf)

 

1,583,875

 

 

 

1,501,604

 

 

 

1,343,160

 

 

 

1,026,807

 

 

 

993,662

 

NGLs (bbls)

 

106,439

 

 

 

105,001

 

 

 

97,834

 

 

 

76,026

 

 

 

55,770

 

Oil (bbls)

 

10,109

 

 

 

11,585

 

 

 

13,115

 

 

 

9,861

 

 

 

11,189

 

Total mcfe (c)

 

2,283,162

 

 

 

2,201,117

 

 

 

2,008,852

 

 

 

1,542,132

 

 

 

1,395,419

 

 

Balance Sheet Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets (d)

$

427,802

 

 

$

602,185

 

 

$

429,234

 

 

$

281,883

 

 

$

439,074

 

Current liabilities (e)

 

566,544

 

 

 

754,811

 

 

 

755,473

 

 

 

702,653

 

 

 

351,720

 

Natural gas and oil properties, net

 

6,041,035

 

 

 

9,023,185

 

 

 

9,566,737

 

 

 

9,256,337

 

 

 

6,361,305

 

Total assets

 

6,612,403

 

 

 

9,708,154

 

 

 

11,728,841

 

 

 

11,282,245

 

 

 

6,900,031

 

Bank debt

 

464,319

 

 

 

932,018

 

 

 

1,208,467

 

 

 

876,428

 

 

 

86,427

 

Senior notes

 

2,659,844

 

 

 

2,856,166

 

 

 

2,851,754

 

 

 

2,848,591

 

 

 

738,101

 

Senior subordinated notes

 

48,774

 

 

 

48,677

 

 

 

48,585

 

 

 

48,498

 

 

 

1,826,775

 

Stockholders’ equity

 

2,347,488

 

 

 

4,059,431

 

 

 

5,774,272

 

 

 

5,408,368

 

 

 

2,759,658

 

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding

 

247,970

 

 

 

246,171

 

 

 

245,458

 

 

 

189,868

 

 

 

166,389

 

Cash dividends declared per common share

 

0.08

 

 

 

0.08

 

 

 

0.08

 

 

 

0.08

 

 

 

0.16

 

 

Statements of Cash Flows Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided from operating activities

$

681,843

 

 

$

990,690

 

 

$

816,254

 

 

$

387,068

 

 

$

691,402

 

Net cash provided from (used in) investing activities

 

39,478

 

 

 

(695,434

)

 

 

(1,139,057

)

 

 

(308,835

)

 

 

(218,772

)

Net cash (used in) provided from financing activities

 

(721,320

)

 

 

(295,159

)

 

 

322,937

 

 

 

(78,390

)

 

 

(472,607

)

 

Proved Reserves Data (at end of period):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas (Bcf)

 

12,115

 

 

 

12,028

 

 

 

10,264

 

 

 

7,870

 

 

 

6,278

 

NGLs (Mmbbls)

 

938

 

 

 

922

 

 

 

763

 

 

 

630

 

 

 

549

 

Oil and condensate (Mmbbls)

 

75

 

 

 

86

 

 

 

70

 

 

 

70

 

 

 

53

 

Total proved reserves (Bcfe)

 

18,192

 

 

 

18,072

 

 

 

15,262

 

 

 

12,072

 

 

 

9,892

 

(a) 

Total costs and expenses include the following non-recurring items:

 

 

2019:  $2.3 billion non-cash impairment related to our North Louisiana assets.

 

 

2018:  Goodwill non-cash impairment of $1.6 billion and unproved non-cash impairment of $436.0 million related to our

 

North Louisiana assets.

(b) 

These are costs we believe fluctuate on a unit-of-production or per mcfe basis.

 

(c) 

Oil and NGLs are converted to mcfe at the rate of one barrel equals six mcf based upon the approximate energy content of oil and natural gas, which is not indicative of the relationship between oil and natural gas prices.

 

(d) 

2019 includes $136.8 million of derivative assets compared to $88.0 million of derivative assets in 2018, $58.6 million in 2017, $13.3 million in 2016 and $281.5 million in 2015.

 

(e) 

2019 includes $13.1 million of derivative liabilities compared to $4.1 million in 2018, $44.2 million in 2017, $165.0 million in 2016 and $1.1 million in 2015.

 

47


 

ITEM 7.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion is intended to assist you in understanding our business and results of operations together with our present financial condition and should be read in conjunction with the information under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data and other financial information found elsewhere in this Form 10-K. See also matters referenced in the foregoing pages under “Disclosures Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

The following tables and discussions set forth key operating and financial data for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018. For similar discussions of the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to December 31, 2017 results, refer to Item 7. “Managements’ Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” under Part II of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 which was filed with the SEC on February 25, 2019.

Overview of Our Business

We are an independent natural gas, natural gas liquids (“NGLs,”) crude oil and condensate company engaged in the exploration, development and acquisition of natural gas and crude oil properties located primarily in the Appalachian and North Louisiana regions of the United States. We operate in one segment and have a single company-wide management team that administers all properties as a whole rather than by discrete operating segments. We track only basic operational data by area. We do not maintain complete separate financial statements information by area. We measure financial performance as a single enterprise and not on an area-by-area basis.

Our overarching business objective is to build stockholder value through returns focused development, measured on a per share debt adjusted basis. Our strategy to achieve our business objective is to generate consistent cash flow from reserves and production through internally generated drilling projects occasionally coupled with complementary acquisitions and divestitures of non-core or, at times, core assets. Our revenues, profitability and future growth depend substantially on prevailing prices for natural gas, NGLs, crude oil and condensate and on our ability to economically find, develop, acquire and produce natural gas, NGLs and oil reserves.

Commodity prices have been and are expected to remain volatile. We believe we are well-positioned to manage the challenges presented in such a volatile pricing environment by:

 

exercising discipline in our capital program as we target funding our capital spending within operating cash flows and, if required, with borrowing under our bank credit facility;

 

continuing to optimize drilling, completion and operational efficiencies;

 

continuing to manage price risk by hedging our production; and

 

continuing to manage our balance sheet.

Prices for natural gas, NGLs, crude oil and condensate fluctuate widely and affect:

 

our revenues, profitability and cash flow;

 

the quantity of natural gas, NGLs and oil that we can economically produce;

 

the quantity of natural gas, NGLs and oil shown as proved reserves;

 

the amount of cash flow available to us for capital expenditures; and

 

our ability to borrow and raise additional capital.

We prepare our financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, which require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect our reported results of operations and the amount of our reported assets, liabilities and proved natural gas, NGLs and oil reserves. We use the successful efforts method of accounting for our natural gas, NGLs and oil activities. Our corporate headquarters is located in Fort Worth, Texas.

Potential for Future Impairments

We have in the past, and may incur in the future, impairments of proved and unproved property. As discussed elsewhere in this Form 10-K, we recorded both proved and unproved impairments of our North Louisiana properties at December 31, 2019. Through acquisition accounting, acquired asset values are recorded at their estimated fair market value at the time of closing. In 2016, when we acquired our North Louisiana properties, commodity prices were significantly higher when compared to the current environment. Our impairment assessment as of December 31, 2019 indicated the carrying amounts of our Marcellus properties were not impaired and that estimated undiscounted cash flows significantly exceeded their carrying value.

 

48


 

Sources of Our Revenues

We derive our revenues from the sale of natural gas, NGLs, crude oil and condensate that is produced from our properties. Revenues from product sales are a function of the volumes produced, prevailing market prices, product quality, gas Btu content and transportation costs. Our revenues are generally recognized when control of the product is transferred to the customer and collectability is reasonably assured. Cash settlements of derivative contracts are included in derivative fair value in the accompanying statements of operations. Brokered natural gas, marketing and other revenues include revenue we receive as a result of selling natural gas that is not our production (brokered), revenue from the release of transportation capacity where we have taken capacity ahead of our production and marketing fees we receive from third parties.

Principal Components of Our Cost Structure

 

Direct operating. These are day-to-day costs incurred to bring hydrocarbons out of the ground along with the daily costs incurred to maintain our producing properties. Such costs include compensation of our field employees, maintenance, repairs and workover expenses related to our natural gas and oil properties. The majority of these costs are expected to remain a function of supply and demand. Direct operating expenses also include stock-based compensation expense (non-cash) associated with the amortization of equity grants as part of the compensation of our field employees.

 

 

Transportation, gathering, processing and compression. Under some of our sales arrangements, we sell natural gas and NGLs at a specific delivery point, pay transportation, gathering, processing and compression costs to a third party and receive proceeds from the purchaser with no deduction. Transportation, gathering, processing and compression expense represents costs paid by Range to third parties under these arrangements.

 

 

Production and ad valorem taxes. Production taxes are paid on produced natural gas and oil based on a percentage of sales revenue (excluding derivatives) or at fixed rates established by the applicable federal, state or local taxing authorities. In Louisiana, ad valorem tax assessments are based on capital costs, well age, depth and production. The Pennsylvania impact fee on unconventional natural gas and oil production, which includes the Marcellus Shale, is also included in this category.

 

 

Brokered natural gas and marketing. These expenses are gas purchases for brokered natural gas that is not part of our production that we buy and sell plus the overhead, including payroll and benefits for our marketing staff. These expenses also include costs related to transportation capacity we have taken ahead of our production. Brokered natural gas and marketing expenses also include stock-based compensation expense (non-cash) associated with the amortization of equity grants as part of our marketing staff compensation.

 

 

Exploration. These costs are geological and geophysical costs, such as payroll and benefits for the geological and geophysical staff, seismic costs, delay rentals and the costs of unsuccessful exploratory dry holes. Exploration expenses also include stock-based compensation expense (non-cash) associated with the amortization of equity grants as part of the compensation of our exploration staff.

 

 

Abandonment and impairment of unproved properties. This category includes unproved property impairment expense associated with oil and gas lease expirations, shifts in business strategy which may impact our number of drilling locations or changing economic factors. Impairment on a majority of our unproved properties is assessed and amortized on an aggregate basis based on average holding period, expected forfeiture rate and anticipated drilling success.

 

 

General and administrative. These costs include overhead, such as payroll and benefits for our corporate staff, costs of maintaining our headquarters, costs of managing our production and development operations, franchise taxes, audit and other professional fees, legal compliance and legal settlements. Included in this category are overhead expense reimbursements we receive from working interest owners of properties, for which we serve as the operator. These reimbursements are received during both the drilling and operational stages of a property’s life. General and administrative expenses also include stock-based compensation expense (non-cash) associated with the amortization of equity grants as part of the compensation of our corporate staff and our non-employee directors.

 

 

Deferred compensation plan. These costs relate to the increase or decrease in the value of the liability associated with our deferred compensation plan. Our deferred compensation plan gives directors, officers and key employees the ability to defer all or a portion of their salaries and bonuses and invest in our common stock or make other investments at the individual’s discretion. The assets of this plan are held in a grantor trust, are funded on the grant date and are available to satisfy the claims of our creditors in the event of bankruptcy or insolvency. We do not maintain a defined benefit retirement plan for any of our employees. However, in fourth quarter 2017, we implemented a succession plan enhancement for officers which includes a post-retirement benefit plan to assist in providing health care to officers who are active employees and have met certain age and service requirements. These benefits are provided up to age 65 or on the date they become eligible for Medicare.

 

49


 

 

Interest. We have typically financed a portion of our cash requirements with borrowings under our bank credit facility and with longer-term debt securities. Also included in our interest expense are administrative fees associated with our bank credit facility and the amortization of deferred financing costs. As a result, we incur interest expense that is affected by both fluctuations in interest rates and our financing decisions. We currently have no capitalized interest.

 

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization. This category of expenses includes the systematic expensing of the capitalized costs incurred to acquire, explore and develop natural gas, NGLs and oil. As a successful efforts company, we capitalize all costs associated with our acquisition and development efforts and all successful exploration efforts, and apportion these costs to each unit of production through depreciation, depletion and amortization expense. This expense also includes the systematic, monthly accretion of the future abandonment costs of tangible assets such as wells, service assets, pipelines and other facilities.

 

 

Income tax. We are subject to state and federal income taxes but are currently not in a cash taxpaying position for federal income taxes, primarily due to the current deductibility and/or accelerated amortization of intangible drilling costs (“IDC”). At this time, we generally do not pay significant state income taxes due to our state net operating loss carryovers and our ability to follow the federal treatment of deducting IDC in most of the states in which we operate. Currently, all of our federal taxes are deferred. As of December 31, 2019, we have federal valuation allowances of $32.5 million and state valuation allowances of $158.3 million. For more information, see Item 1A. Risk Factors-Certain federal income tax deductions currently available with respect to natural gas and oil exploration and development may be eliminated or postponed and additional federal or state taxes on natural gas extraction may be imposed, as a result of future legislation.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations

Commodity prices have remained volatile. Natural gas, oil and NGLs benchmarks decreased in 2019 compared to 2018. As a result, we experienced significant decreases in our price realizations. While operating in this lower commodity price environment, we had many operational, financial and strategic successes in 2019. During 2019, we continued our focus on enhancing margins and returns, driving operational efficiencies, simplifying our portfolio and maintaining liquidity. We believe we have positioned ourselves for long-term success through the natural gas and oil business cycle. In summary, we exited 2019 with operational momentum, investment flexibility and a robust financial liquidity position, which we expect to carry over to 2020.

Overview of 2019 Results

For the year ended December 31, 2019, we experienced a decrease in revenue from the sale of natural gas, NGLs and oil due to 25% decrease in net realized prices (average prices including all derivative settlements and third-party transportation costs paid by us) partially offset by 4% higher production volumes when compared to 2018. Daily production in 2019 averaged 2.3 Bcfe compared to 2.2 Bcfe in 2018 as a result of drilling and completions in Pennsylvania. Average natural gas differentials were below NYMEX while operating costs were lower when compared to 2018.

During 2019, we recognized net loss of $1.7 billion, or $6.92 per diluted common share compared to net loss of $1.7 billion, or $7.10 per diluted common share during 2018. The year ended 2019 includes a $1.1 billion impairment of proved property compared to a $1.6 billion goodwill impairment in the prior year, significantly higher abandonment and impairment of unproved property and lower realized prices.

During 2019, we achieved the following financial and operating performance results:

 

received $784.9 million of proceeds, primarily from the sale, in three separate transactions, of a proportionately reduced 2.5% overriding royalty primarily in our Washington County, Pennsylvania properties where we received proceeds of $750.0 million;

 

 

repurchased $201.6 million face value of our senior notes at a discount and recorded a gain on early extinguishment of debt;

 

 

achieved 4% production growth from 2018;

 

 

achieved 1% annual proved reserve growth, despite our royalty sales, with a 40% decrease in the standardized after-tax measure of discounted future net cash flows when compared to 2018 primarily due to lower prices;

 

 

capital spending was 4% lower than original 2019 budget;

 

 

drilled 92.6 net wells with a 100% success rate;

 

 

continued expansion of our activities in the Marcellus Shale by growing production, proving up acreage and acquiring additional unproved acreage;

 

 

reduced general and administrative expenses per mcfe 15% from 2018;

 

 

reduced interest expense per mcfe 12% from 2018;

 

50


 

 

reduced our DD&A rate per mcfe 16% from 2018;

 

 

reduced total debt by $667.6 million;

 

 

achieved a debt per mcfe of proved reserves of $0.18 compared to $0.21 in 2018;

 

 

entered into additional commodity-based derivative contracts for 2020 and 2021;

 

 

realized $681.8 million of cash flow from operating activities; and

 

 

ended the year with stockholders’ equity of $2.3 billion.

 

In 2019, operationally we continued to focus on flexibility, efficiencies and controlling costs. As evidenced by history and our current industry environment, the prices at which we sell our production are volatile and we have little control over them. Therefore, to improve our profitability, we focus our efforts on improving operating efficiency. We continue to focus on material reductions in unit costs. As reservoirs are depleted and production rates decline, per unit production costs will generally increase. To lessen this effect, we concentrate our production in core areas with low base decline rates where we can achieve economies of scale to help manage our operating costs.

We generated $681.8 million of cash flow from operating activities in 2019, a decrease of $308.8 million from 2018 which reflects significantly lower realized prices partially offset by higher production volumes and lower comparative working capital outflows ($2.5 million inflow during 2019 compared to $8.2 million outflow in 2018). We ended 2019 with $1.7 billion of available committed borrowing capacity, with an additional $600.0 million in borrowing base capacity available.

Acquisitions

During 2019, we spent $57.3 million to acquire unproved acreage compared to $62.4 million in 2018. We continue selective acreage leasing and lease renewals to consolidate our acreage positions in the Marcellus Shale play in Pennsylvania.

Divestitures

Pennsylvania. In third quarter 2019, we sold, in three separate transactions, a proportionately reduced 2.5% overriding royalty primarily in our Washington County, Pennsylvania leases for gross proceeds of $750.0 million and we recorded a loss of $36.5 million which represents closing adjustments and transaction fees. In second quarter 2019, we sold natural gas and oil property, primarily representing over 20,000 unproved acres, for proceeds of $34.0 million and recognized a gain of $5.9 million. In fourth quarter 2018, we sold a proportionately reduced 1% overriding royalty in our Washington County, Pennsylvania leases for gross proceeds of $300.0 million and we recorded a loss of $10.2 million which represents closing adjustments and transaction fees.

Oklahoma. In 2018, we sold various properties in Northern Oklahoma for proceeds of $23.3 million and we recognized a net loss of $39,000, after closing adjustments.

2020 Outlook

As we enter 2020, we believe we are positioned for sustainable long-term success. For 2020, our board of directors approved a $520.0 million capital budget for natural gas, NGLs, crude oil and condensate related activities, excluding proved property acquisitions, for which we do not budget. Our 2020 capital budget is 98% allocated to our Appalachian division. As has been our historical practice, we will periodically review our capital expenditures throughout the year and may adjust the budget based on commodity prices, drilling success and other factors. We expect our 2020 capital budget to achieve production similar to our 2019 production, as we target limiting our capital spending to at or below cash flow and, if required, with borrowings under our bank credit facility. Our 2020 capital budget is designed to focus on continuing to improve corporate returns and generating free cash flow. To the extent commodity prices decline, we may reduce the capital budget with the intent of limiting capital spending to at or below cash flow. The prices we receive for our natural gas, NGLs and oil production are largely based on current market prices, which are beyond our control. The price risk on a portion of our forecasted natural gas, NGLs and oil production for 2020 is mitigated by entering into commodity derivative contracts and we intend to continue to enter into these types of contracts. We believe it is likely that commodity prices will continue to be volatile during 2020.

Market Conditions

Prices for various quantities of natural gas, NGLs and oil that we produce significantly impact our revenues and cash flows. Prices for commodities, such as hydrocarbons, are inherently volatile. Significant commodity price declines decreased our average realized prices. Recently, natural gas prices have decreased, when compared to December 2019, with the average NYMEX monthly settlement price for natural gas decreasing to $1.88 per mcf for February 2020. Crude oil prices have also decreased, when compared to December 2019, to $57.53 per barrel in January 2020. The following table lists related benchmarks for natural gas, oil and NGLs composite prices for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.

51


 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

  

2018

 

Benchmarks:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average NYMEX prices (a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas (per mcf)

$

2.62

 

 

$

3.07

 

Oil (per bbl)

$

57.21

 

 

$

65.49

 

Mont Belvieu NGL composite (per gallon) (b)

$

0.45

 

 

$

0.67

 

(a) Based on average of bid week prompt month prices on the New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”).

(b) Based on our estimated NGLs product composition per barrel.

Our price realizations (not including the impact of our derivatives) may differ from the benchmarks for many reasons, including quality, location, or production being sold at different indices.

Natural Gas, NGLs and Oil Sales, Production and Realized Price Calculations

Our revenues vary from year to year as a result of changes in realized commodity prices and production volumes. For more information, see “Sources of Our Revenues” above. In 2019, natural gas NGLs and oil sales decreased 21% from 2018 with a 4% increase in production and a 24% decrease in realized prices (excluding cash settlements on our derivatives). The following table illustrates the primary components of natural gas, NGLs, crude oil and condensate sales for the last two years (in thousands):

 

2019

 

  

2018

 

Natural gas, NGLs and Oil sales

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Natural gas

$

1,388,838

  

  

$

1,663,832

  

NGLs

 

681,134

 

  

 

931,360

  

Oil and condensate

 

185,453

  

  

 

255,885

  

Total natural gas, NGLs and oil sales

$

2,255,425

  

  

$

2,851,077

  

Our production continues to grow through drilling success as we place new wells on production which is partially offset by the natural decline of our natural gas and oil reserves through production and asset sales. For 2019, our production increased 10% in our Appalachian region when compared to 2018. Production from our North Louisiana properties was 76.5 Bcfe in 2019 compared to 110.6 Bcfe in 2018. Our production for the last two years is set forth in the following table:

 

 

2019

 

 

 

2018

 

Production (a)

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Natural gas (mcf)

 

578,114,351

 

  

 

548,085,437

  

NGLs (bbls)

 

38,850,130

 

  

 

38,325,251

  

Crude oil and condensate (bbls)

 

3,689,805

  

  

 

4,228,439

  

Total (mcfe) (b)

 

833,353,961

  

  

 

803,407,577

  

Average daily production (a)

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Natural gas (mcf)

 

1,583,875

 

  

 

1,501,604

  

NGLs (bbls)

 

106,439

 

  

 

105,001

  

Crude oil and condensate (bbls)

 

10,109

  

  

 

11,585

  

Total (mcfe) (b)

 

2,283,162

  

  

 

2,201,117

  

(a)

Represents volumes sold regardless of when produced.

 

(b) 

Oil and NGLs volumes are converted to mcfe at the rate of one barrel equals six mcf based upon the approximate relative energy content of oil and natural gas, which is not indicative of the relationship between oil and natural gas prices.

 

52


 

Our average realized price (including all derivative settlements and third-party transportation costs paid by Range) received during 2019 was $1.49 per mcfe compared to $1.99 per mcfe in 2018. Because we record transportation costs on two separate bases, as required by U.S. GAAP, we believe computed final realized prices should include the impact of transportation, gathering, processing and compression expense. Average sales prices (excluding derivative settlements) do not include any derivative settlements or third-party transportation costs which are reported in transportation, gathering and compression expense on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Average sales prices (excluding derivative settlements) do include transportation costs where we receive net proceeds from the purchaser. Our average realized price (including all derivative settlements and third-party transportation costs paid by Range) calculation includes all cash settlements for derivatives. Average realized price calculations for the last two years are shown below:

 

2019

 

  

2018

 

Average Prices

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Average sales prices (excluding derivative settlements):

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Natural gas (per mcf)

$

2.40

  

  

$

3.04

  

NGLs (per bbl)

 

17.53

 

  

 

24.30

  

Crude oil (per bbl)

 

50.26

 

  

 

60.52

  

Total (per mcfe) (a)

 

2.71

 

  

 

3.55

  

Average realized prices (including all derivative settlements):

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Natural gas (per mcf)

$

2.64

  

  

$

2.98

  

NGLs (per bbl)

 

18.85

 

  

 

22.62

  

Crude oil (per bbl)

 

49.74

 

  

 

51.60

  

Total (per mcfe) (a)

 

2.93

 

  

 

3.39

  

Average realized prices (including all derivative settlements
and third-party transportation costs paid by Range):

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Natural gas (per mcf)

$

1.36

  

  

$

1.74

  

NGLs (per bbl)

 

7.03

 

  

 

11.15

  

Crude oil (per bbl)

 

49.74

 

  

 

51.60

  

Total (per mcfe) (a)

 

1.49

 

  

 

1.99

  

(a)

Oil and NGLs volumes are converted at the rate of one barrel equals six mcf based upon the approximate relative energy content of oil to natural gas, which is not indicative of the relationship between oil and natural gas prices.

Realized prices include the impact of basis differentials and gains or losses realized from our basis hedging. The prices we receive for our natural gas can be more or less than the NYMEX price because of adjustments for delivery location, relative quality and other factors. The following table provides this impact on a per mcf basis:

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

 

2018

 

Average natural gas differentials below NYMEX

$

(0.22

)

 

$

(0.03

)

Realized gains (losses) on basis hedging

$

0.03

 

 

$

(0.02

)

The following tables reflect our production and average realized commodity prices (excluding derivative settlements and third-party transportation costs paid by Range) (in thousands, except prices):

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

2018

 

 

 

Price

Variance

 

 

 

Volume

Variance

 

 

 

2019

 

 

Natural gas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Price (per mcf)

$

3.04

 

 

$

(0.64

)

 

$

 

 

$

2.40

 

 

Production (Mmcf)

 

548,085

 

 

 

 

 

 

30,029

 

 

 

578,114

 

 

Natural gas sales

$

1,663,832

 

 

$

(366,154

)

 

$

91,160

 

 

$

1,388,838

 

 

 

53


 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

2018

 

 

 

Price

Variance

 

 

 

Volume

Variance

 

 

 

2019

 

 

NGLs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Price (per bbl)

$

24.30

 

 

$

(6.77

)

 

$

 

 

$

17.53

 

 

Production (Mbbls)

 

38,325

 

 

 

 

 

 

525

 

 

 

38,850

 

 

NGLs sales

$

931,360

 

 

$

(262,981

)

 

$

12,755

 

 

$

681,134

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

2018

 

 

 

Price

Variance

 

 

 

Volume

Variance

 

 

 

2019

 

 

Crude oil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Price (per bbl)

$

60.52

 

 

$

(10.26

)

 

$

 

 

$

50.26

 

 

Production (Mbbls)

 

4,228

 

 

 

 

 

 

(538

)

 

 

3,690

 

 

Crude oil sales

$

255,885

 

 

$

(37,836

)

 

$

(32,596

)

 

$

185,453

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

2018

 

 

 

Price

Variance

 

 

 

Volume

Variance

 

 

 

2019

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Price (per mcfe)

$

3.55

 

 

$

(0.84

)

 

$

 

 

$

2.71

 

 

Production (Mmcfe)

 

803,408

 

 

 

 

 

 

29,946

 

 

 

833,354

 

 

Total natural gas, NGLs and oil sales

$

2,851,077

 

 

$

(701,923

)

 

$

106,271

 

 

$

2,255,425

 

 

Transportation, gathering, processing and compression expense was $1.2 billion in 2019 compared to $1.1 billion in 2018. These third-party costs are higher due to our production growth in the Marcellus Shale where we have third-party gathering, compression, processing and transportation agreements. Additionally, we experienced higher costs resulting from new in-service pipelines, higher NGLs costs due to higher production and higher NGLs expense in North Louisiana due to fully utilizing amounts that were previously accrued for as capacity commitments. We have included these costs in the calculation of average realized prices (including all derivative settlements and third-party transportation expenses paid by Range). The following table summarizes transportation, gathering, processing and compression expense for the last two years (in thousands) and on a per mcf and per barrel basis:

 

2019

 

  

2018

 

Natural gas

$

740,061

  

  

$

678,489

  

NGLs

 

459,236

 

  

 

439,327

  

Total

 $

1,199,297

 

  

 $

1,117,816

  

Natural gas (per mcf)

 $

1.28

 

  

 $

1.24

 

NGLs (per bbl)

 $

11.82

  

  

 $

11.46

  

Derivative fair value income (loss) was income of $226.7 million in 2019 compared to loss of $51.2 million in 2018. All of our derivatives are accounted for using the mark-to-market accounting method. Mark-to-market accounting treatment creates volatility in our revenues as unrealized gains and losses from derivatives are included in total revenues. As commodity prices increase or decrease, such changes will have an opposite effect on the mark-to-market value of our derivatives. Gains on our derivatives generally indicate lower wellhead revenues in the future while losses indicate higher future wellhead revenues. At December 31, 2019, our commodity derivative contracts were recorded at their fair value, which was a net derivative asset of $126.7 million, an increase of $45.8 million from the $80.9 million net derivative asset recorded as of December 31, 2018. We have also entered into basis swap agreements to limit volatility caused by changing differentials between NYMEX and regional prices received. These basis swaps are marked to market and we recognized a net derivative asset of $9.4 million as of December 31, 2019 compared to a net derivative asset of $4.8 million as of December 31, 2018. As of December 31, 2019, we have propane basis swaps to limit the volatility caused by changing differentials between Mont Belvieu and international propane indexes which are recognized as a net derivative liability of $14.1 million as of December 31, 2019 compared to a net derivative asset of $117,000 as of December 31, 2018. In connection with our international propane swaps, we also have freight swap contracts which lock in the freight rate for a specific trade route on the Baltic Exchange which are recognized as a net derivative asset of $1.5 million compared to a net derivative liability of $561,000 as of December 31, 2018. The following table summarizes the impact of our commodity derivatives for the last two years (in thousands):

54


 

 

 

2019

 

 

 

2018

 

Derivative fair value income (loss) per consolidated statements of operations

$

226,681

 

 

$

(51,192

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-cash fair value gain (loss): (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas derivatives

$

135,012

 

 

$

(84,889

)

Oil derivatives

 

(35,950

)

 

 

57,149

 

NGLs derivatives

 

(62,856

)

 

 

108,908

 

Freight derivatives

 

2,091

 

 

 

(838

)

Total non-cash fair value gain (1)

$

38,297

 

 

$

80,330

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash receipt (payment) on derivative settlements:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas derivatives

$

139,253

 

 

$

(29,291

)

Oil derivatives

 

(1,937

)

 

 

(37,709

)

NGLs derivatives

 

51,068

 

 

 

(64,522

)

Total net cash receipt (payment)

$

188,384

 

 

$

(131,522

)

 

(1)

Non-cash fair value adjustments on commodity derivatives is a non-GAAP measure. Non-cash fair value adjustments on commodity derivatives only represent the net change between periods of the fair market values of commodity derivative positions and exclude the impact of settlements on commodity derivatives during the period. We believe that non-cash fair value adjustments on commodity derivatives is a useful supplemental disclosure to differentiate non-cash fair market value adjustments from settlements on commodity derivatives during the period. Non-cash fair value adjustments on commodity derivatives is not a measure of financial or operating performance under GAAP, nor should it be considered a substitute for derivative fair value income or loss as reported in our consolidated statements of operations.

Brokered natural gas, marketing and other revenue was $345.5 million in 2019 compared to $482.8 million in 2018. We enter into purchase transactions with third parties and separate sale transactions with third parties at different times to satisfy unused pipeline capacity commitments. The 2019 period includes $332.0 million of revenue from the sale of natural gas that is not related to our production (brokered) and $1.7 million of revenue from the sale of NGLs that is not related to our production. These revenues both decreased compared to 2018 due to lower brokered volumes and lower sales prices. Fourth quarter 2018 also included a production volume shortfall due to third-party processing facility plant repairs with additional volumes being purchased and sold to satisfy our commitments.

Costs and Expenses per mcfe

We believe some of our expense fluctuations are best analyzed on a unit-of-production, or per mcfe, basis. The following presents information about certain of our expenses on a per mcfe basis for the last two years:

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

Change

 

 

%
Change

 

Direct operating expense

$

0.16

 

 

$

0.17

  

  

$

(0.01

)

 

 

(6

%)

Production and ad valorem tax expense

 

0.05

 

 

 

0.06

  

  

 

(0.01

)

 

 

(17

%)

General and administrative expense

 

0.22

 

 

 

0.26

  

  

 

(0.04

)

 

 

(15

%)

Interest expense

 

0.23

 

 

 

0.26

  

  

 

(0.03

)

 

 

(12

%)

Depletion, depreciation and amortization expense

 

0.66

  

 

 

0.79

  

  

 

(0.13

)

 

 

(16

%)

Direct operating expense was $136.3 million in 2019 compared to $139.5 million in 2018. Direct operating expenses include normally recurring expenses to operate and produce our wells, non-recurring workovers and repair-related expenses. On an absolute basis, our direct operating expenses for 2019 decreased 2% from the prior year primarily due to lower water hauling/handling costs, utilities, equipment rentals and pumper costs and the impact from the sale of our Northern Oklahoma properties in the prior year partially offset by higher workover costs. We incurred $24.3 million of workover costs in 2019 compared to $9.8 million of workover costs in 2018.

55


 

On a per mcfe basis, operating expense for 2019 decreased $0.01, or 6% from the same period of 2018, with the decrease due to the impact from the sale of certain non-core assets in 2018 and lower water hauling/handling costs partially offset by higher workover costs. We have experienced lower costs per mcfe as we have increased production from our Marcellus Shale wells due to their lower operating cost relative to our other operating areas. Stock-based compensation expense represents the amortization of equity grants as part of the compensation of field employees. The following table summarizes direct operating expenses per mcfe for the last two years:

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

Change

 

 

%
Change

 

Lease operating expense

$

0.13

  

  

$

0.16

  

  

$

(0.03

)

  

 

(19

%)

Workovers

 

0.03

 

  

 

0.01

  

  

 

0.02

 

  

 

200

Stock-based compensation (non-cash)

  

 

  

 

  

  

 

 

  

 

Total direct operating expense

$

0.16

  

  

$

0.17

  

  

$

(0.01

)

  

 

(6

%)

Production and ad valorem taxes are paid based on market prices, not hedged prices. This expense category also includes the Pennsylvania impact fee. In February 2012, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania enacted an “impact fee” on unconventional natural gas and oil production which includes the Marcellus Shale. The impact fee is based upon the year wells are drilled and the fee varies, like a severance tax, based upon natural gas prices. The year ended December 31, 2019 includes a $25.9 million impact fee compared to $32.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2018 with the decline primarily due to lower natural gas prices. Production and ad valorem taxes (excluding the impact fee) were $12.0 million in 2019 compared to $13.7 million in 2018 with the decline also due to lower natural gas prices. The following table summarizes production and ad valorem taxes per mcfe for the last two years:

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

Change

 

 

%
Change

 

Production taxes

$

0.01

 

 

$

0.01

 

 

$

 

  

 

%

Ad valorem taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

%

Impact fee

 

0.04

 

 

 

0.05

 

 

 

(0.01

  

 

(20

%)

Total production and ad valorem

$

0.05

 

 

$

0.06

 

 

$

(0.01

  

 

(17

%)

General and administrative expense was $181.1 million for 2019 compared to $209.8 million for 2018. The decrease in 2019, when compared to 2018, is primarily due to lower stock-based compensation of $8.7 million, lower legal costs (including settlements) of $14.4 million, lower salaries and benefits of $8.0 million and lower technology costs which were partially offset by higher bad debt expenses of $5.3 million and higher franchise taxes.

On a per mcfe basis, general and administrative expense for 2019 decreased 15% from the same period of 2018, with the decrease due to lower salaries and benefits and lower legal costs (including settlements). Stock-based compensation expense represents the amortization of stock-based compensation awards granted to our employees and our non-employee directors as part of their compensation. The following table summarizes general and administrative expenses per mcfe for the last two years:

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

Change

 

 

%
Change

 

General and administrative

$

0.18

 

 

$

0.21

 

 

$

(0.03

)

 

 

(14

%)

Stock-based compensation (non-cash)

 

0.04

 

 

 

0.05

 

 

 

(0.01

)

 

 

(20

%)

Total general and administrative expense

$

0.22

 

 

$

0.26

 

 

$

(0.04

)

 

 

(15

%)

 

 

56


 

Interest expense was $194.3 million for 2019 compared to $210.2 million for 2018. The following table presents information about interest expense per mcfe for the last two years:

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Bank credit facility

$

0.04

  

  

$

0.06

  

Senior notes

 

0.18

 

 

 

0.19

 

Amortization of deferred financing costs and other

 

0.01

  

  

 

0.01

  

Total interest expense

$

0.23

  

  

$

0.26

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average debt outstanding (in thousands)

$

3,640,819

 

 

$

4,182,340

 

Average interest rate (a)

 

5.1

%

 

 

4.9

%

 

(a)

Includes commitment fees but excludes amortization of debt issue costs and amortization of discount.

On an absolute basis, the decrease in interest expense for 2019 from the same period of 2018 was primarily due to lower average outstanding debt balances partially offset by slightly higher average interest rates. See Note 8 to our consolidated financial statements for additional information. Average debt outstanding on the bank credit facility for 2019 was $772.1 million compared to $1.3 billion for 2018 and the weighted average interest rate on the bank credit facility was 3.8% for 2019 compared to 3.7% in 2018.

Depletion, depreciation and amortization (“DD&A”) was $548.8 million in 2019 compared to $635.5 million in 2018. The decrease in 2019 when compared to 2018 is due to a 16% decrease in depletion rates partially offset by a 4% increase in production volumes.

On a per mcfe basis, DD&A decreased to $0.66 in 2019 compared to $0.79 in 2018. Depletion expense, the largest component of DD&A, was $0.63 per mcfe in 2019 compared to $0.75 per mcfe in 2018. We have historically adjusted our depletion rates in the fourth quarter of each year based on our year-end reserve report and at other times during the year when circumstances indicate there has been a significant change in reserves or costs. We currently expect our DD&A rate to be approximately $0.50 per mcfe in 2020, based on our current production estimates. In areas where we are actively drilling, such as the Marcellus Shale area, our fourth quarter adjusted 2019 depletion rates were lower than the fourth quarter 2018 and 2017 depletion rates. Depletion rates in new plays tend to be higher in the beginning as increased initial outlays are amortized over proved reserves based on early stages of evaluations. The decrease in DD&A per mcfe in 2019 when compared to 2018 is due to the mix of our production from our properties with lower depletion rates. The following table summarizes DD&A expenses per mcfe for the last two years:

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

  

2018

 

  

Change

 

  

%
Change

 

Depletion and amortization

$

0.63

  

  

$

0.75

  

  

$

(0.12

)

  

 

(16

%)

Depreciation

 

0.01

 

  

 

0.01

  

  

 

 

  

 

%

Accretion and other

 

0.02

  

  

 

0.03

  

  

 

(0.01

)  

  

 

(33

%)  

Total DD&A expenses

$

0.66

  

  

$

0.79

  

  

$

(0.13

)

  

 

(16

%)

Other Operating Expenses

Our total operating expenses also include other expenses that generally do not trend with production. These expenses include stock-based compensation, brokered natural gas and marketing, exploration expense, abandonment and impairment of unproved properties, termination costs, deferred compensation plan expenses, gain on early extinguishment of debt, impairment of proved properties and impairment of goodwill.

The following table details stock-based compensation that is allocated to functional expense categories for the last two years (in thousands):

 

2019

 

  

2018

 

Direct operating expense

$

1,928

  

  

$

2,109

  

Brokered natural gas and marketing expense

 

1,856

 

  

 

1,452

 

Exploration expense

 

1,566

 

  

 

1,921

 

Exploration expense – one-time acceleration

 

 

 

 

 

General and administrative expense

 

35,061

  

  

 

43,806

  

General and administrative expense – one-time acceleration

 

 

 

 

 

Termination costs

 

1,971

 

 

 

 

Total stock-based compensation

$

42,382

  

  

$

49,288

  

57


 

Stock-based compensation includes the amortization of restricted stock and PSUs grants.

Brokered natural gas and marketing expense was $359.9 million in 2019 compared to $496.0 million in 2018. We enter into purchase transactions with third parties and separate sale transactions with third parties at different times to satisfy unused capacity commitments. The decrease in these costs reflects lower broker purchase volumes and lower purchase prices. Fourth quarter 2018 also included a production shortfall due to a third-party processing facility plant repairs with additional volumes being purchased and sold to satisfy our commitments. The following table details our brokered natural gas, marketing and other net margin which includes the net effect of these third-party transactions for the two-year period ended December 31, 2019 (in thousands):

 

2019

 

  

2018

 

Brokered natural gas sales

$

332,006

  

  

$

460,349

  

Brokered NGLs sales

 

1,661

 

  

 

9,018

 

Other marketing revenue

 

11,842

 

  

 

13,393

 

Brokered natural gas purchases and transportation

 

(347,448

)  

  

 

(477,962

)  

Brokered NGLs purchases

 

(1,592

)

 

 

(7,727

)

Other marketing expense

 

(10,852

)

 

 

(10,358

)

Net brokered natural gas and marketing net margin

$

(14,383

)  

  

$

(13,287

)  

Exploration expense was $36.7 million in 2019 compared to $34.1 million in 2018. Exploration expense in 2019 was higher compared to the prior year due to higher delay rentals and other costs somewhat offset by lower personnel costs. Stock-based compensation represents the amortization of equity stock grants as part of the compensation of our exploration staff. The following table details our exploration related expenses for the last two years (in thousands):

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

Change

 

 

%
Change

 

Seismic

$

(482

 

$

67

 

 

$

(549

)

 

 

(819

%)

Delay rentals and other

 

26,137

 

 

 

19,742

 

 

 

6,395

 

 

 

32

%

Personnel expense

 

9,473

 

 

 

12,383

 

 

 

(2,910

)

 

 

(23

%)

Stock-based compensation expense

 

1,566

 

 

 

1,921

 

 

 

(355

)

 

 

(18

%)

Exploratory dry hole expense

 

(11

 

 

4

 

 

 

(15

)

 

 

(375

%)

Total exploration expense

$

36,683

 

 

$

34,117

 

 

$

2,566

 

 

 

8

%

Abandonment and impairment of unproved properties was $1.2 billion in 2019 compared to $515.0 million in 2018. Impairment of individually insignificant unproved properties is assessed and amortized on an aggregate basis based on our average holding period, expected forfeiture rate and anticipated drilling success. We assess individually significant unproved properties for impairment on a quarterly basis and recognize a loss where circumstances indicate impairment in value. In determining whether a significant unproved property is impaired we consider numerous factors including, but not limited to, current exploration plans, favorable or unfavorable activity on the property being evaluated and/or adjacent properties, our geologists’ evaluation of the property and the remaining months in the lease term for the property. In certain circumstances, our future plans to develop acreage may accelerate our impairment. In 2019, an impairment of $1.2 billion was recorded in relation to North Louisiana unproved property value allocated to previously acquired probable and possible reserves that we no longer have the intent to drill based on a shift in capital allocation which materially impacted our drilling inventory compared to a similar impairment in North Louisiana of $436.0 million in 2018. As we continue to review our acreage positions and high grade our drilling inventory based on the price environment or for other operational changes, additional leasehold impairments and abandonments may be recorded.

Termination costs in 2019 include $7.5 million of estimated severance costs and $2.0 million of accelerated vesting of equity grants compared to favorable severance accrual adjustments of $373,000 in 2018. In 2019, we continued to implement work force reductions in response to the lower commodity price environment including the closing of our Houston office.

Deferred compensation plan expense was a gain of $15.5 million in 2019 compared to $18.6 million in 2018. Our stock price decreased to $4.85 at December 31, 2019 from $9.57 at December 31, 2018. This non-cash item relates to the increase or decrease in value of the liability associated with our common stock that is vested and held in our deferred compensation plan. The deferred compensation liability is adjusted to fair value by a charge or a credit to deferred compensation plan expense. Common shares are placed in the deferred compensation plan when granted.

Gain on early extinguishment of debt was $5.4 million in 2019. We repurchased $201.6 million face value of our 5.75% senior notes due 2021, our 5.875% senior notes due 2022 and our 5.00% senior notes due 2022. We repurchased these notes at a discount and recorded a gain on early extinguishment after transaction costs and expensing the remaining deferred financing costs.

58


 

Impairment of proved properties increased to $1.1 billion in 2019 compared to $22.6 million in 2018. We assess our long-lived assets whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. Fair value is generally determined using an income approach based on internal estimates of future production levels, prices, drilling and operating costs and discount rates. In some cases, we may also use a market approach, based on either anticipated sales proceeds less costs to sell or a market comparable sales price. See Note 11 to our consolidated financial statements for details. The year ended 2019 included an impairment related to our North Louisiana assets due to a shift in business strategy employed by management and the possibility of a divestiture of these assets. As a result of our impairment assessments, we recorded non-cash impairment charges to reduce the carrying values of oil and gas properties as follows:

 

2019:  North Louisiana assets ($1.1 billion)

 

2018:  Northwest Pennsylvania shallow legacy assets ($15.3 million)

 

2018:  Oklahoma assets ($7.3 million)

Impairment of goodwill was $1.6 billion in 2018. During fourth quarter 2018, due to the significant decline in our stock price, we performed a quantitative impairment assessment of our goodwill. Fair value was estimated based on a combination of a market and an income approach. Goodwill is related to the excess purchase price over amounts assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business acquisition. Our estimate of fair value required us to use significant unobservable inputs including assumptions for commodity prices, production, forward pricing curves, operating and development costs and other factors. Based on this analysis, we determined the fair value of goodwill was zero and goodwill was fully impaired.

Income tax benefit was $500.3 million in 2019 compared to $30.5 million in 2018. The 2019 increase reflects a $439.6 million additional loss before income taxes when compared to 2018. The year ended December 31, 2018 included a goodwill impairment of $1.6 billion that was not benefited for tax. The effective tax rate was 22.6% in 2019 compared to 1.7% in 2018. The 2019 and 2018 effective tax rates were different than the statutory tax rate due to state income taxes and other discrete tax items which are detailed below. For each of the two years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, current income tax expense relates to state income taxes. The following table summarizes our tax activity for the last two years (in thousands):

 

 

2019

 

 

 

2018

 

 

Total (loss) income before income taxes

$

(2,216,588

)

 

$

(1,776,970

)

 

U.S. federal statutory rate

 

21

%

 

 

21

%

 

Total tax (benefit) expense at statutory rate

 

(465,483

)

 

 

(373,164

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal rate change

 

 

 

 

 

 

State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit

 

(83,348

)

 

 

4,427

 

 

State rate and law change

 

(40,574

)

 

 

(17,231

)

 

Non-deductible goodwill impairment

 

 

 

 

344,651

 

 

Non-deductible executive compensation

 

474

 

 

 

759

 

 

Tax less than book equity compensation

 

4,625

 

 

 

2,095

 

 

Change in valuation allowances:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal valuation allowances & other

 

27,922

 

 

 

20

 

 

State valuation allowances & other

 

56,925

 

 

 

7,638

 

 

Permanent differences and other

 

(832

)

 

 

316

 

 

Total benefit for income taxes

$

(500,291

)

 

$

(30,489

)

 

Effective tax rate

 

22.6

%

 

 

1.7

%

 

We estimate our ability to utilize our deferred tax assets by analyzing the reversal patterns of our temporary differences, our loss carryforward periods and the Pennsylvania and Louisiana net operating loss carryforward limitations. Uncertainties such as future commodity prices can affect our calculations and the expiration of loss carryforwards prior to utilization can result in recording a partial as opposed to a full valuation allowance.

 

59


 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition, Cash Flows, Capital Resources and Liquidity

Cash Flows

The following table presents sources and uses of cash and cash equivalents for the last two years (in thousands):

 

 

2019

 

 

 

2018

 

Sources of cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

$

681,843

 

 

$

990,690

 

Disposal of assets

 

784,937

 

 

 

324,549

 

Borrowing on credit facility

 

2,311,000

 

 

 

2,070,000

 

Other

 

22,672

 

 

 

58,937

 

Total sources of cash and cash equivalents

$

3,800,452

 

 

$

3,444,176

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uses of cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additions to natural gas and oil properties

$

(687,277

)

 

$

(960,916

)

Acreage purchases

 

(59,986

)

 

 

(60,603

)

Other property

 

(1,162

)

 

 

(1,477

)

Repayments on credit facility

 

(2,777,000

)

 

 

(2,338,000

)

Repayment of senior notes

 

(195,432

)

 

 

 

Dividends paid

 

(20,070

)

 

 

(19,940

)

Repurchases of treasury stock

 

(6,908

)

 

 

 

Other

 

(52,616

)

 

 

(63,143

)

Total uses of cash and cash equivalents

$

(3,800,451

)

 

$

(3,444,079

)

Cash flows from operating activities are primarily affected by production volumes and commodity prices, net of the effects of settlements of our derivatives. Our cash flows from operating activities are also impacted by changes in working capital. We generally maintain low cash and cash equivalent balances because we use available funds to reduce our bank debt. Short-term liquidity needs are satisfied by borrowings under our bank credit facility. Because of this, and because our principal source of operating cash flows (proved reserves to be produced in the following year) cannot be reported as working capital, we often have low or negative working capital. We sell a portion of our production at the wellhead under floating market contracts. From time to time, we enter into various derivative contracts to provide an economic hedge of our exposure to commodity price risk associated with anticipated future natural gas, NGLs and oil production. The production we hedge has and will continue to vary from year to year depending on, among other things, our expectation of future commodity prices. Since year-end 2019, we have entered into additional natural gas and NGLs hedges for 2020 and 2021. Any payments due to counterparties under our derivative contracts should ultimately be funded by prices received from the sale of our production. However, production receipts often lag payments to the counterparties. Any interim cash needs are funded by borrowings under the bank credit facility. As of December 31, 2019, we have entered into derivative agreements covering 387.2 Bcfe for 2020 and 20.4 Bcfe for 2021, not including our basis swaps.

Net cash provided from operating activities in 2019 was $681.8 million compared to $990.7 million in 2018. The decrease in cash provided from operating activities is the result of a 25% decrease in realized prices partially offset by a 4% increase in production volumes. Net cash provided from operating activities is also affected by working capital changes or the timing of cash receipts and disbursements. Changes in working capital (as reflected in our consolidated statements of cash flows) for 2019 was an inflow of $2.5 million compared to an outflow of $8.2 million for 2018.

Disposal of assets in 2019 included proceeds of $750.0 million from the sale, in three separate transactions, of a proportionately reduced 2.5% overriding royalty in our Washington County, Pennsylvania leases and $34.0 million of proceeds from the sale of unproved property in Pennsylvania. In 2018, we received proceeds of $300.0 million from the sale of a proportionately reduced 1% overriding royalty in our Washington County, Pennsylvania leases and $23.3 million of proceeds from the sale of certain properties in Northern Oklahoma.

60


 

Additions to natural gas and oil properties are our most significant use of cash and cash equivalents. These cash outlays are associated with our drilling and completion capital budget program. The following table shows capital expenditures by region and reconciles to additions to natural gas and oil properties as presented on our consolidated statements of cash flows for the last two years (in thousands):

 

 

2019

 

 

 

2018

 

 

Appalachian

$

604,721

 

 

$

715,690

 

 

North Louisiana

 

65,846

 

 

 

131,188

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

(561

)

 

Total

 

670,567

 

 

 

846,317

 

 

Change in capital expenditure accrual for proved properties

 

16,710

 

 

 

114,599

 

 

Additions to natural gas and oil properties

$

687,277

 

 

$

960,916

 

 

Repayment of senior notes for 2019 includes open market purchases of $101.8 million principal amount of our 5.75% senior notes due 2021, $68.1 million principal amount of our 5.00% senior notes due 2022 and $31.6 million principal amount of our 5.875% senior notes due 2022.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our main sources of liquidity and capital resources are internally generated cash flow from operating activities, a bank credit facility with uncommitted and committed availability, asset sales and access to the debt and equity capital markets. In April 2018, we entered into an amended and restated bank credit facility with a maturity date of April 13, 2023. We must find new and develop existing reserves to maintain and grow our production and cash flows. We accomplish this primarily through successful drilling programs which require substantial capital expenditures. Lower prices for natural gas, NGLs and oil may reduce the amount of natural gas, NGLs and oil we can economically produce and can also affect the amount of cash flow available for capital expenditures and our ability to borrow or raise additional capital.

We currently believe that net cash generated from operating activities, unused committed borrowing capacity under our bank credit facility and proceeds from asset sales combined with our natural gas, NGLs and oil derivatives currently in place will be adequate to satisfy near-term financial obligations and liquidity needs. While our expectation is to operate within our internally generated cash flow, to the extent our capital requirements exceed our internally generated cash flow and proceeds from asset sales, we will use borrowings under our credit facility or debt or equity may be issued to fund these requirements. Long-term cash flows are subject to a number of variables including the level of production and prices as well as various economic conditions that have historically affected the natural gas and oil business. We establish a capital budget at the beginning of each calendar year and review it during the course of the year. Our 2020 capital budget is $520.0 million. Actual capital expenditure levels may vary due to many factors, including drilling results, natural gas, NGLs, crude oil and condensate prices, industry conditions, the prices and availability of goods and services and the extent to which properties are acquired or assets are sold.

Commodity prices have remained volatile. We have adjusted and must continue to adjust our business through efficiencies and cost reductions to compete in the current price environment which also requires reductions in overall debt levels over time. We plan to continue to work towards profitable growth within our cash flows. We would expect to monitor the market and look for opportunities to refinance or reduce debt based on market conditions. We believe we are well-positioned to manage the challenges presented in a low commodity price environment and that we can endure continued volatility in current and future commodity prices by:

 

exercising discipline in our capital program with our goal to target funding our capital spending within operating cash flows and, if required, with borrowings under our bank credit facility;

 

 

continuing to optimize our drilling, completion and operational efficiencies;

 

 

continuing to manage price risk by hedging our production volumes; and

 

 

continuing to manage our balance sheet.

 

We believe that we will have adequate capital resources and liquidity for the foreseeable future because (1) we have significant borrowing capacity under our bank credit facility with a maturity in 2023 (2) we have commodity derivatives in place which cover a portion of our 2020 and 2021 production (3) we can reduce our capital expenditures for extended periods of time if necessary and (4) as of December 31, 2019, the maturity of our senior and senior subordinated notes extend one year or more and such notes carry attractive fixed interest rates ranging from 4.875% to 5.875%. In January 2020, we issued $550.0 million aggregate principal amount of 9.25% senior notes due 2026 for an estimated net proceeds of $541.6 million. On the closing of the 9.25% senior notes, we used the proceeds to redeem $324.1 million of our 5.75% senior notes due 2021 and $175.9 million of our 5.875% senior notes due 2022, which was completed in February 2020. For additional information, see Note 8 to our consolidated financial statements.

From time to time, we may seek to retire or purchase our outstanding debt through cash purchases and/or exchanges for other debt or equity securities, in open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. Such repurchases or exchanges, if

61


 

any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors. The amounts may be material.

Credit Arrangements

Long-term debt at December 31, 2019 totaled $3.2 billion, including $477.0 million of bank credit facility debt, $2.7 billion of senior notes and $49.0 million of senior subordinated notes. As of December 31, 2019, we maintain a bank credit facility with a borrowing base of $3.0 billion and aggregate lender commitments of $2.4 billion. As of December 31, 2019, we also have $250.2 million of undrawn letters of credit. The bank credit facility is secured by substantially all of our assets and has a maturity date of April 13, 2023. Availability under the bank credit facility, during a non-investment grade period, is subject to a borrowing base set by the lenders annually (at their discretion) with an option to reset the borrowing base more often in certain circumstances. Availability under the bank credit facility during an investment grade period is limited to the aggregate lender commitments. The borrowing base is dependent on a number of factors, but primarily the lenders’ assessments of future cash flows. Redeterminations of the borrowing base to maintain or reduce the amount thereof require approval of two-thirds of the lenders and increases require 95% approval of the lenders.

Our bank credit facility imposes limitations on the payment of dividends and other restricted payments (as defined under the debt agreements for our bank debt). The debt agreements also contain customary covenants relating to debt incurrence, liens, investments and financial ratios. We were in compliance with all covenants at December 31, 2019.

Proved Reserves

To maintain and grow production and cash flow, we must continue to develop existing proved reserves and locate or acquire new natural gas, NGLs and oil reserves. The following is a discussion of proved reserves, reserve additions and revisions and future net cash flows from proved reserves.

 

Year End December 31,

 

 

2019

 

  

2018

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

(Mmcfe)

 

Proved Reserves:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning of year

 

18,072,406

 

  

 

15,262,361

 

Reserve additions

 

1,161,274

 

  

 

3,143,898

 

Reserve revisions

 

303,068

 

  

 

731,735

 

Purchases

 

 

  

 

 

Sales

 

(511,811

)

  

 

(262,180

)

Production

 

(833,354

)

  

 

(803,408

)

End of year

 

18,191,583

 

  

 

18,072,406

 

 

Proved Developed Reserves:

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Beginning of year

 

9,756,870

 

  

 

8,348,074

 

End of year

 

9,902,467

 

  

 

9,756,870

 

Our proved reserves at year-end 2019 were 18.2 Tcfe compared to 18.1 Tcfe at year-end 2018. Natural gas comprised approximately 67% of our proved reserves at year-end 2019, 2018 and 2017.

Reserve Additions and Revisions. During 2019, we added 1.2 Tcfe of proved reserves from drilling activities and evaluation of proved areas primarily in the Marcellus Shale. Approximately 83% of 2019 reserve additions was attributable to natural gas. Included in 2019 proved reserves is a total of 475.0 Mmbbls of ethane reserves (2,102 Bcfe) in the Marcellus Shale, which represents reserves that match volumes delivered under our existing long-term, extendable contracts. Revisions of previous estimates of 303.1 Bcfe includes positive performance revisions of 922.2 Bcfe somewhat offset by 601.3 Bcfe reserves reclassified to unproved due to drilling plans and negative pricing revisions of 17.8 Bcfe.

During 2018, we added 3.1 Tcfe of proved reserves from drilling activities and evaluation of proved areas primarily in the Marcellus Shale. Approximately 72% of 2018 reserve additions was attributable to natural gas. Included in 2018 proved reserves is a total of 468.9 Mmbbls of ethane reserves (2,074 Bcfe) in the Marcellus Shale, which represents reserves that match volumes delivered under our existing long-term, extendable contracts. Revisions of previous estimates of 731.7 Bcfe include positive pricing revisions of 11.0 Bcfe, improved recovery for our Marcellus Shale properties of 154.0 Bcfe and positive performance revisions of 945.5 Bcfe somewhat offset by 378.8 Bcfe reserves reclassified to unproved due to drilling plans.

Sales. In 2019, we sold 511.8 Bcfe of reserves in Pennsylvania. In 2018, we sold 143.6 Bcfe of reserves in Pennsylvania and 118.2 Bcfe of reserves in Oklahoma.

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Future Net Cash Flows. At December 31, 2019, the present value (discounted at 10%) of estimated future net cash flows from our proved reserves was $7.6 billion. The present value of our estimated future net cash flows at December 31, 2018 was $13.2 billion. This present value was calculated based on the unweighted average first-day-of-the-month oil and gas prices for the prior twelve months held flat for the life of the reserves, in accordance with SEC rules. At December 31, 2019, the after-tax present value of estimated future net cash flows from our proved reserves was $6.6 billion compared to $11.1 billion at December 31, 2018.

The present value of future net cash flows does not purport to be an estimate of the fair market value of our proved reserves. An estimate of fair value would also take into account, among other things, anticipated changes in future prices and costs, the expected recovery of reserves in excess of proved reserves and a discount factor more representative of the time value of money to the evaluating party and the perceived risks inherent in producing oil and gas.

Capitalization and Dividend Payments

As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, our total debt and capitalization were as follows (in thousands):

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Bank debt

$

464,319

  

 

$

932,018

  

Senior notes

 

2,659,844

 

 

 

2,856,166

 

Senior subordinated notes

 

48,774

  

 

 

48,677

  

Total debt

 

3,172,937

 

 

 

3,836,861

  

Stockholders’ equity

 

2,347,488

 

 

 

4,059,431

  

Total capitalization

$

5,520,425

  

 

$

7,896,292

  

Debt to capitalization ratio

 

57.5

%

 

 

48.6

The amount of future dividends is subject to declaration by the board of directors and primarily depends on earnings, capital expenditures and various other factors. In 2019, we paid $20.1 million in dividends to our stockholders ($0.02 per share per quarter) compared to $19.9 million in 2018 ($0.02 per share per quarter). In January 2020, we announced that the board has suspended the dividend.

Cash Contractual Obligations

Our contractual obligations include long-term debt, operating leases, derivative obligations, asset retirement obligations, and transportation, gathering and processing commitments. As of December 31, 2019, we do not have any capital leases or any significant off-balance sheet debt or other such unrecorded obligations and we have not guaranteed any debt of any unrelated party. As of December 31, 2019, we had a total of $250.2 million of letters of credit outstanding under our bank credit facility. The table below provides estimates of the timing of future payments that we are obligated to make based on agreements in place at December 31, 2019. In addition to the contractual obligations listed on the table below, our consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2019 reflects accrued interest payable on our bank debt of $2.2 million, which is payable in first quarter 2020. We expect to make interest payments through the end of each note maturity, based upon the amounts outstanding at December 31, 2019, of $23.0 million per year on our 5.75% senior and senior subordinated notes, $64.0 million per year on our 5.0% senior and senior subordinated notes, $36.6 million per year on our 4.875% senior notes and $17.5 million on our 5.875% senior notes.

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The following summarizes our contractual financial obligations at December 31, 2019 and their future maturities. We expect to fund these contractual obligations with cash generated from operating activities, borrowings under our bank credit facility, additional debt issuances and proceeds from asset sales (in thousands).

 

Payment due by period

 

 

2020

 

  

2021

 

  

2022

 

  

2023
and 2024

 

  

Thereafter

 

  

Total

 

Debt:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bank debt due 2023 (a)

$

  

  

$

  

  

$

  

  

 $

477,000

 

  

$

  

  

 $

477,000

 

5.75% senior subordinated notes due 2021

 

  

  

 

22,214

  

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

22,214

 

5.0% senior subordinated notes due 2022

 

  

  

 

  

  

 

19,054

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

19,054

 

5.0% senior subordinated notes due 2023

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

7,712

 

  

 

 

  

 

7,712

 

5.75% senior notes due 2021

 

 

 

 

374,139

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

374,139

 

5.00% senior notes due 2022

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

511,886

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

511,886

 

5.00% senior notes due 2023

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

741,531

 

  

 

 

  

 

741,531

 

5.875% senior notes due 2022

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

297,617

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

297,617

 

4.875% senior notes due 2025

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

750,000

 

  

 

750,000

 

Other obligations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating leases, net

 

31,245

  

  

 

14,252

  

  

 

7,023

 

  

 

12,968

 

  

 

15,262

 

  

 

80,750

 

Software licenses and other

 

3,966

 

 

 

524

 

 

 

226

 

 

 

226

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,942

 

Transportation and gathering commitments (b)

 

945,392

  

  

 

949,126

  

  

 

905,920

 

  

 

1,723,519

 

  

 

5,154,987

 

  

 

9,678,944

 

Asset retirement obligation liability (c)

 

2,394

 

 

 

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

250,986

 

 

 

253,391

 

Total contractual obligations (d)

$

982,997

 

 

$

1,360,255

 

 

$

1,741,737

 

 

$

2,962,956

 

 

$

6,171,235

 

 

$

13,219,180

 

(a) 

Due at termination date of our bank credit facility. Interest paid on our bank credit facility would be approximately $14.3 million each year assuming no change in the interest rate or outstanding balance.

(b)

Amounts included transportation and gathering commitments after 2024 will decline as follows:  $764.0 million in 2025; $688.0 million in 2026; $618.0 million in 2027; $580.0 million in 2028; $500.0 million in 2029; declining to $167.0 million in 2033 until the final year of $7.0 million in 2039.

(c) 

The ultimate settlement amount and timing cannot be precisely determined in advance. See Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements.

(d) 

This table excludes the liability for the deferred compensation plans since these obligations will be funded with existing plan assets.

In addition to the amounts included in the above table, we have entered into additional agreements which are contingent on certain pipeline modifications and/or construction for natural gas volumes of 25,000 mcf per day, which is expected to begin in 2022 and has a six-year term.

Delivery Commitments

We have various volume delivery commitments that are related to our Marcellus Shale and North Louisiana areas. We expect to be able to fulfill our contractual obligations from our own production; however, we may purchase third-party volumes to satisfy our commitments or pay demand fees for commitment shortfalls, should they occur. As of December 31, 2019, our delivery commitments through 2031 were as follows:

Year Ending

                     December 31,                    

  

Natural Gas
(mmbtu per day)

 

 

 

 

Ethane and Propane

(bbls per day)

2020

  

 

528,607

 

 

 

 

81,000

2021

  

 

491,313

 

 

 

 

65,932

2022

  

 

370,179

 

 

 

 

43,000

2023

  

 

167,970

 

 

 

 

35,000

2024 - 2028

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

 

35,000

2029

  

 

100,000

 

 

 

 

20,000

2030 - 2031

 

 

 

 

 

 

20,000

In addition to the amounts included in the above table, we have contracted with a pipeline company through 2035 to deliver ethane production volumes from our Marcellus Shale wells. These agreements and related fees, which are contingent upon pipeline construction and/or modification, are for 3,000 bbls per day starting in 2021 and increasing to 10,000 bbls per day through 2035. In addition, we have agreements in place to deliver natural gas volumes from our Marcellus Shale wells, which are also contingent upon pipeline construction and/or modification, for 35,000 mcf per day starting late 2020, increasing to 50,000 mcf per day in 2021 and decreasing to 15,000 mcf per day in 2025.

 

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Other

We have various midstream service agreements in North Louisiana for gathering, processing and transporting of natural gas and NGLs. Pursuant to the gas processing agreement, we must pay a quarterly deficiency payment based on the firm-commitment fixed fee if the cumulative minimum volume commitment as of the end of a quarter exceeds the sum of (i) the cumulative volumes processed under the processing agreement as of the end of the quarter plus (ii) volumes corresponding to deficiency payments incurred prior to each quarter.  In the event these properties are sold in the future and any or all of these charges are retained by us, we would recognize and accrue these future divestiture-related charges, which could be significant.

We lease acreage that is generally subject to lease expiration if initial wells are not drilled within a specified period, generally between three and five years. We do not expect to lose significant lease acreage because of failure to drill due to inadequate capital, equipment or personnel. However, based on our evaluation of prospective economics, including the cost of infrastructure to connect production, we have allowed acreage to expire and will allow additional acreage to expire in the future. To date, our expenditures to comply with environmental or safety regulations have not been a significant component of our cost structure and are not expected to be significant in the future. However, new regulations, enforcement policies, claims for damages, or other events could result in significant future costs.

Hedging – Natural Gas, Oil and NGLs Prices

We use commodity-based derivative contracts to help manage exposures to commodity price fluctuations. We do not enter into these arrangements for speculative or trading purposes. We do not utilize complex derivatives as we typically utilize commodity swaps, swaptions and calls to (1) reduce the effect of price volatility on the commodities we produce and sell and (2) support our annual capital budget and expenditure plans. In addition, we may utilize basis contracts to hedge the differential between NYMEX and those of our physical pricing points or between Mont Belvieu and international propane indexes. For more discussion of our derivative activities, see Management’s Discussion of Critical Accounting Estimates – Natural Gas and Oil Derivatives below and Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk Commodity Price Risk and Other Commodity Risk. For more information regarding the accounting for our derivatives, see the discussion in Notes 2, 10 and 11 to our consolidated financial statements. While there is a risk that the financial benefit of rising natural gas, NGLs and oil prices may not be captured, we believe the benefits of stable and predictable cash flow are more important. Among these benefits are a more efficient utilization of existing personnel and planning for future staff additions, the flexibility to enter into long-term projects requiring substantial committed capital, smoother and more efficient execution of our ongoing development drilling and production enhancement programs, more consistent returns on invested capital and better access to bank and other credit markets.

Interest Rates

At December 31, 2019, we had $3.2 billion of debt outstanding. Of this amount, $2.7 billion bears interest at fixed rates averaging 5.2%. Bank debt totaling $477.0 million bears interest at floating rates, which averaged 3.0% at year-end 2019. The 30-day LIBOR rate on December 31, 2019 was 1.8%. A 1% increase in short-term interest rates on the floating-rate debt outstanding at December 31, 2019 would cost us approximately $4.8 million in additional annual interest expense.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not currently utilize any off-balance sheet arrangements with unconsolidated entities to enhance our liquidity or capital resources position. However, as is customary in the natural gas and oil industry, we have various contractual work commitments which are described above under cash contractual obligations.

Inflation and Changes in Prices

Our revenues, the value of our assets and our ability to obtain bank loans or additional capital on attractive terms have been and will continue to be affected by changes in natural gas, NGLs and oil prices and the costs to produce our reserves. Natural gas, NGLs and oil prices are subject to significant fluctuations that are beyond our ability to control or predict. Although certain of our costs and expenses are affected by general inflation, inflation does not normally have a significant effect on our business. We expect costs in 2020 to continue to be a function of supply and demand. Natural gas and oil prices have remained depressed. We continue to experience a decline in our cost structure.

Management’s Discussion of Critical Accounting Estimates

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of our financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at year-end and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the year. Accounting estimates are considered to be critical if (1) the nature of the estimates and assumptions is material due to the levels of subjectivity and judgment necessary to account for highly uncertain matters or the susceptibility of such matters to changes; and

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(2) the impact of the estimates and assumptions on financial condition or operating performance is material. Actual results could differ from the estimates and assumptions used.

Estimated Quantities of Net Reserves

We use the successful efforts method of accounting for natural gas and oil producing activities as opposed to the alternate acceptable full cost method. We believe that net assets and net income are more conservatively measured under the successful efforts method of accounting than under the full cost method, particularly during periods of active exploration. One difference between the successful efforts method of accounting and the full cost method is that under the successful efforts method, all exploratory dry holes and geological and geophysical costs are charged against earnings during the periods they occur; whereas, under the full cost method of accounting, such costs are capitalized as assets, pooled with the costs of successful wells and charged against earnings of future periods as a component of depletion expense. Under the successful efforts method of accounting, successful exploration drilling costs and all development costs are capitalized and these costs are systematically charged to expense using the units of production method based on proved developed natural gas and oil reserves as estimated by our engineers and audited by independent engineers. Costs incurred for exploratory wells that find reserves that cannot yet be classified as proved are capitalized on our balance sheet if (1) the well has found a sufficient quantity of reserves to justify its completion as a producing well and (2) we are making sufficient progress assessing the reserves and the economic and operating viability of the project. Proven property leasehold costs are amortized to expense using the units of production method based on total proved reserves. Properties are assessed for impairment as circumstances warrant (at least annually) and impairments to value are charged to expense. The successful efforts method inherently relies upon the estimation of proved reserves, which includes proved developed and proved undeveloped volumes.

Proved reserves are defined by the SEC as those volumes of natural gas, NGLs, condensate and crude oil that geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty are recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions. Proved developed reserves are volumes expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods. Proved undeveloped reserves include reserves for which a development plan has been adopted indicating each location is scheduled to be drilled within five years from the date it was booked as proved reserves, unless specific circumstances justify a longer time. Although our engineers are knowledgeable of and follow the guidelines for reserves established by the SEC, the estimation of reserves requires engineers to make a significant number of assumptions based on professional judgment. Reserve estimates are updated at least annually and consider recent production levels and other technical information. Estimated reserves are often subject to future revisions, which could be substantial, based on the availability of additional information, including reservoir performance, new geological and geophysical data, additional drilling, technological advancements, price and cost changes and other economic factors. Changes in natural gas, NGLs and oil prices can lead to a decision to start up or shut in production, which can lead to revisions to reserve quantities. Reserve revisions in turn cause adjustments in our depletion rates. We cannot predict what reserve revisions may be required in future periods. Reserve estimates are reviewed and approved by our Senior Vice President of Reservoir Engineering and Economics, who reports directly to our President and Chief Executive Officer. To further ensure the reliability of our reserve estimates, we engage independent petroleum consultants to audit our estimates of proved reserves. Estimates prepared by third parties may be higher or lower than those included herein. Independent petroleum consultants audited approximately 90% of our reserves in 2019 compared to 94% in 2018. Historical variances between our reserve estimates and the aggregate estimates of our consultants have been less than 5%. The reserves included in this report are those reserves estimated by our petroleum engineering staff. For additional discussion, see Items 1 & 2. Business and Properties – Proved Reserves.

Depletion rates are determined based on reserve quantity estimates and the capitalized costs of producing properties. As the estimated reserves are adjusted, the depletion expense for a property will change, assuming no change in production volumes or the capitalized costs. While total depletion expense for the life of a property is limited to the property’s total cost, proved reserve revisions result in a change in the timing of when depletion expense is recognized. Downward revisions of proved reserves may result in an acceleration of depletion expense, while upward revisions tend to lower the rate of depletion expense recognition. Based on proved reserves at December 31, 2019, we estimate that a 1% change in proved reserves would increase or decrease 2020 depletion expense by approximately $4.0 million (based on current production estimates). Estimated reserves are used as the basis for calculating the expected future cash flows from property asset groups, which are used to determine whether that property may be impaired. Reserves are also used to estimate the supplemental disclosure of the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to natural gas and oil producing activities and reserve quantities in Note 18 to our consolidated financial statements. Changes in the estimated reserves are considered a change in estimate for accounting purposes and are reflected on a prospective basis. It should not be assumed that the standardized measure is the current market value of our estimated proved reserves.

Fair Value Estimates

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. There are three approaches for measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities:  the market approach, the income approach and the cost approach, each of which includes multiple valuation techniques. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities. The income approach uses valuation techniques to measure fair value by converting future amounts, such as cash flows or earnings, into a single present value, or range of present values, using current market expectations about those future amounts. The cost approach is based on the amount that would currently be required to replace the service capacity of an asset. This is often referred

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to as current replacement cost. The cost approach assumes that the fair value would not exceed what it would cost a market participant to acquire or construct a substitute asset of comparable utility, adjusted for obsolescence.

The fair value accounting standards do not prescribe which valuation technique should be used when measuring fair value and does not prioritize among the techniques. These standards establish a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used in applying the various valuation techniques. Inputs broadly refer to the assumptions that market participants use to make pricing decisions, including assumptions about risk. Level 1 inputs are given the highest priority in the fair value hierarchy, while Level 3 inputs are given the lowest priority. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

 

Level 1-Observable inputs that reflect unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets as of the measurement date. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

 

 

Level 2-Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data. These are inputs other than quoted prices in active markets included in Level 1, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the measurement date.

 

 

Level 3-Unobservable inputs for which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability being measured. These inputs reflect management’s best estimates of the assumptions market participants would use in determining fair value. Our Level 3 measurements consist of instruments using standard pricing models and other valuation methods that utilize unobservable pricing inputs that are significant to the overall value.

 

Valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs are favored. Assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest priority level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the placement of assets and liabilities within the levels of the fair value hierarchy. See Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements for disclosures regarding our fair value measurements.

Impairment Assessments of Natural Gas and Oil Properties

Long-lived assets in use are assessed for impairment whenever changes in facts and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable, including a significant reduction in prices of natural gas, oil, condensate and NGLs, reductions to our capital budget, unfavorable adjustments to reserves, significant changes in the expected timing of production and other changes to contracts or changes in the regulatory environment in which a property is located.  For purposes of an impairment evaluation, long-lived assets must be grouped at the lowest level for which independent cash flows can be identified, which generally is field-by-field, in certain instances, by logical grouping of assets if there is significant shared infrastructure or contractual terms that cause economic interdependency amongst separate, discrete fields. If the sum of the undiscounted estimated cash flows from the use of the asset group and its eventual disposition is less than the carrying value of an asset group, the carrying value is written down to the estimated fair value. During 2019, a change in business strategy employed by management in North Louisiana and the possibility of a divestiture of these assets triggered an assessment of these long-lived assets for impairment. We estimated the fair values using a discounted net cash flow model or an income approach and we recognized an impairment. As of December 31, 2019, our estimated undiscounted cash flows relating to our remaining long-lived assets significantly exceeded their carrying values. See Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements for discussion of impairments recorded in 2019, 2018 and 2017 and the related fair value measurements.

Fair value calculated for the purpose of testing our natural gas and oil properties for impairment is estimated using the present value of expected future cash flows method and comparative market prices when appropriate. Significant judgment is involved in performing these fair value estimates since the results are based on forecasted assumptions. Significant assumptions include:

 

Future crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas prices. Our estimates of future prices are based on market information including published futures prices. Although these commodity prices may experience extreme volatility in any given year, we believe long-term industry prices are driven by market supply and demand. The prices we use in our fair value estimates are consistent with those used in our planning and capital investment reviews. There has been significant volatility in crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas prices and estimates of such future prices are inherently imprecise. See Item 1A. Risk Factors for further discussion on commodity prices.

 

Estimated quantities of crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas. Such quantities are based on risk adjusted proved and probable reserves and resources such that the combined volumes represent the most likely expectation of recovery. See Item 1A. Risk Factors for further discussion on reserves.

 

Expected timing of production. Production forecasts are the outcome of engineering studies which estimate reserves, as well as expected capital programs. The actual timing of the production could be different than the projection. Cash flows realized later in the projection period are less valuable than those realized earlier due to the time value of money. The expected timing of production that we use in our fair value estimates is consistent with that used in our planning and capital investment reviews.

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Discount rate commensurate with the risks involved. We apply a discount rate to our expected cash flows based on a variety of factors, including market and economic conditions, operational risk, regulatory risk and political risk. A higher discount rate decreases the net present value of cash flows.

 

Future capital requirements. Our estimates of future capital requirements consider the assumptions utilized by management for internal planning and budgeting.

We base our fair value estimates on projected financial information which we believe to be reasonably likely to occur. An estimate of the sensitivity to changes in assumptions in our undiscounted cash flow calculations is not practicable, given the numerous assumptions (e.g. reserves, pace and timing of development plans, commodity prices, capital expenditures, operating costs, drilling and development costs, inflation and discount rates) that can materially affect our estimates. Unfavorable adjustments to some of the above listed assumptions would likely be offset by favorable adjustments in other assumptions. For example, the impact of sustained reduced commodity prices on future undiscounted cash flows would likely be partially offset by lower costs.

We also evaluate our unproved property investment periodically for impairment. The majority of these costs generally relate to the acquisition of leaseholds and allocated probable and possible reserve value resulting from acquisitions. The costs are capitalized and evaluated (at least quarterly) as to recoverability based on changes brought about by economic factors and potential shifts in business strategy employed by management. Impairment of a significant portion of our unproved properties is assessed and amortized on an aggregate basis based on our average holding period, expected forfeiture rate and anticipated drilling success. Potential impairment of individually significant unproved property is assessed on a property-by-property basis considering a combination of time, geologic and engineering factors. A portion of unproved property may relate to probable and possible reserves whose recoverability is evaluated based on management expectations and ability to drill these locations. In certain circumstances, our future plans to develop acreage may accelerate our impairment. In 2019, a $1.2 billion impairment was recorded associated with our North Louisiana assets where we no longer have the intent to drill locations based on a shift in capital allocation which materially impacted our drilling inventory. We have recorded abandonment and impairment expense related to unproved properties of $1.2 billion in 2019 compared to $515.0 million in 2018.

Natural Gas, NGLs and Oil Derivatives

All derivative instruments are recorded on our consolidated balance sheets as either an asset or a liability measured at its fair value. Fair value measurements for all of our derivatives are based upon, among other things, option pricing models, futures, volatility, time to maturity and credit risk and are discussed in Note 11 to our consolidated financial statements. Additional information about derivatives and their valuation may be found in Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

Asset Retirement Obligations

We have significant obligations to remove tangible equipment and restore the surface at the end of natural gas and oil production operations. Removal and restoration obligations are primarily associated with plugging and abandoning wells. Estimating the future asset removal costs is difficult and requires us to make estimates and judgments because most of the removal obligations are many years in the future and contracts and regulations often have vague descriptions of what constitutes removal. Asset removal technologies and costs are constantly changing, as are regulatory, political, environmental, safety and public relations considerations.

Inherent in the fair value calculation are numerous assumptions and judgments including the ultimate retirement costs, inflation factors, credit-adjusted discount rates, timing of retirement, and changes in the legal, regulatory, environmental and political environments. To the extent future revisions to these assumptions impact the present value of the existing asset retirement obligation (“ARO”), a corresponding adjustment is made to the natural gas and oil property balance. For example, as we analyze actual plugging and abandonment information, we may revise our estimate of current costs, the assumed annual inflation of the costs and/or the assumed productive lives of our wells. During 2019, we increased our existing ARO by $7.1 million or approximately 2% of the ARO balance at December 31, 2018 primarily related to increases in our estimated costs to plug and abandon wells in North Louisiana. During 2018, we increased our existing ARO by $12.0 million or approximately 4% of the ARO balance at December 31, 2017 primarily related to an increase in our estimated costs to plug and abandon wells in Pennsylvania. See Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements for disclosures regarding our asset retirement obligation estimates. In addition, increases in the discounted ARO resulting from the passage of time are reflected as accretion expense, a component of depletion, depreciation and amortization in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Because of the subjectivity of assumptions and the relatively long lives of most of our wells, the costs to ultimately retire our wells may vary significantly from prior estimates. An estimate of the sensitivity to operating results of other assumptions that had been used in recording these liabilities is not practical because of the number of obligations that must be assessed, the number of underlying assumptions and the wide range of possible assumptions.

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Income Taxes

We are subject to income and other taxes in all areas in which we operate. For financial reporting purposes, we provide taxes at rates applicable for the appropriate tax jurisdictions. Estimates of amounts of income tax involve interpretation of complex tax laws, including the 2017 Tax Act.

Our consolidated balance sheets include deferred tax assets. Deferred tax assets arise when expenses are recognized in the financial statements before they are recognized in the tax returns or when income items are recognized in the tax returns before they are recognized in the financial statements. Deferred tax assets also arise when operating losses or tax credits are available to offset tax payments due in future years. Ultimately, realization of a deferred tax asset depends on the existence of sufficient taxable income within the future periods to absorb future deductible temporary differences, loss carryforwards or credits.

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management must consider whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Management considers all available evidence (both positive and negative) in determining whether a valuation allowance is required. Such evidence includes the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment and judgment is required in considering the relative weight of negative and positive evidence. We continue to monitor facts and circumstances in the reassessment of the likelihood that operating loss carryforwards, credits and other deferred tax assets will be utilized prior to their expiration. As a result, we may determine that an additional deferred tax asset valuation allowance should be established.

In assessing facts and circumstances surrounding the realizability of our deferred tax assets, we are required to apply judgment to determine the weight of both positive and negative evidence in order to conclude whether the valuation allowance is necessary to net operating loss carryforwards and other deferred tax assets. In determining whether a valuation allowance is required for our deferred tax asset balances, we consider, among other factors, current financial position, results of operations, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies and new legislation. Significant judgment is involved in this determination as we are required to make assumptions about future commodity prices, projected production, development activities, profitability of future business strategies and forecasted economics in the oil and gas industry. Additionally, changes in the effective tax rate resulting from changes in tax law and our level of earnings may limit utilization of deferred tax assets and will affect valuation of deferred tax balances in the future. Changes in judgment regarding future realization of deferred tax assets may result in a reversal of all or a portion of the valuation allowance. In the period that determination is made, our net income will benefit from a lower effective tax rate.

We believe our net deferred tax assets, after valuation allowances, will ultimately be realized. During 2019, we increased our valuation allowances against our state net operating loss carryforwards, basis differences and credits from $101.4 million as of December 31, 2018 to $158.3 million as of December 31, 2019. The federal valuation allowances increased from $19.0 million as of December 31, 2018 to $32.5 million as of December 31, 2019. See Note 6 to our consolidated financial statements for further information concerning our income taxes.

An estimate of the sensitivity to changes in our assumptions resulting in future income calculations is not practical, given the numerous assumptions that can materially affect our estimates. Unfavorable adjustments to some of the assumptions would likely be offset by favorable adjustments in other assumptions. For example, the impact of sustained reduced commodity prices on future taxable income would likely be partially offset by lower capital expenditures.

We may be challenged by taxing authorities over the amount and/or timing of recognition of revenues and deductions in our various income tax returns. Although we believe that we have adequately provided for all taxes, income or losses could occur in the future due to changes in estimates or resolution of outstanding tax matters.

Contingent Liabilities

A provision for legal, environmental and other contingent matters is charged to expense when the loss is probable and the cost or range of cost can be reasonably estimated. Judgment is often required to determine when expenses should be recorded for legal, environmental and contingent matters. In addition, we often must estimate the amount of such losses. In many cases, our judgment is based on the input of our legal advisors and on the interpretation of laws and regulations, which can be interpreted differently by regulators and/or the courts. Actual costs can differ from estimates for many reasons. We monitor known and potential legal, environmental and other contingent matters and make our best estimate of when to record losses for these matters based on available information. Although we continue to monitor all contingencies closely, particularly our outstanding litigation, we currently have no material accruals for contingent liabilities. We generally record losses related to these type of contingencies as general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of operations.

69


 

Stock-based Compensation Arrangements

The fair value of performance-based share awards (where the performance condition is based on market conditions) is estimated on the date of grant using a Monte Carlo simulation method. A Monte Carlo simulation model utilizes multiple input variables that determine the probability of satisfying the market condition stipulated in the award grant. The fair value of restricted stock awards and performance-based awards where the performance condition is based on internal performance metrics is determined based on the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant.

We recognize stock-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award. The expense we recognize is net of estimated forfeitures. We estimate our forfeiture rate based on prior experience and adjust it as circumstances warrant. See Note 12 to our consolidated financial statements for more information.

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

Refer to Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements for a discussion of new accounting pronouncements that may affect us in the future.

ITEM 7A.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The primary objective of the following information is to provide forward-looking quantitative and qualitative information about our potential exposure to market risks. The term “market risk” refers to the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in natural gas, NGLs and oil prices and interest rates. The disclosures are not meant to be precise indicators of expected future losses, but rather indicators of reasonably possible losses. This forward-looking information provides indicators of how we view and manage our ongoing market-risk exposure. All of our market-risk sensitive instruments were entered into for purposes other than trading. All accounts are U.S. dollar denominated.

Market Risk

We are exposed to market risks related to the volatility of natural gas, NGLs and oil prices as the volatility of these prices continues to impact our industry. We expect commodity prices to remain volatile and unpredictable in the future. We employ various strategies, including the use of commodity derivative instruments, to manage the risks related to these price fluctuations. These derivative instruments apply to a varying portion of our production and provide only partial price protection. These arrangements limit the benefit to us of increases in prices but offer protection in the event of price declines. Further, if our counterparties defaulted, this protection might be limited as we might not receive the benefits of the derivatives. We are at risk for changes in the fair value of all of our derivative instruments; however, such risk should be mitigated by price changes related to the underlying commodity transaction. While the use of derivative instruments could materially affect our results of operations in a particular quarter or annual period, we believe that the use of these instruments will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or liquidity. Realized prices are primarily driven by worldwide prices for oil and spot market prices for North American natural gas production. Natural gas and oil prices have been volatile and unpredictable for many years. Natural gas prices affect us more than oil prices because approximately 67% of our December 31, 2019 proved reserves were natural gas. We are also exposed to market risks related to changes in interest rates. These risks did not change materially from December 31, 2018 to December 31, 2019.

70


 

Commodity Price Risk

We use commodity-based derivative contracts to manage exposures to commodity price fluctuations. We do not enter into these arrangements for speculative or trading purposes. At times, certain of our derivatives are swaps where we receive a fixed price for our production and pay market prices to the counterparty. Our derivatives program may also include collars, which establish a minimum floor price and a predetermined ceiling price. We have also entered into combined natural gas derivative instruments containing a fixed price swap and a sold option to extend the term or expand the volume (which we refer to as a swaption). The swap price is a fixed price determined at the time of the swaption contract. If the option is exercised, the contract will become a swap treated consistently with our fixed-price swaps. At December 31, 2019, our derivatives program includes swaps, swaptions and calls. These contracts expire monthly through December 2021. Their fair value, represented by the estimated amount that would be realized upon immediate liquidation as of December 31, 2019, approximated a net derivative asset of $126.7 million compared to a net derivative asset of $80.9 million at December 31, 2018. This change is primarily related to the settlements of derivative contracts during 2019 and to the natural gas, NGLs and oil futures prices as of December 31, 2019 in relation to the new commodity derivative contracts we entered into during 2019 for 2020 and 2021. At December 31, 2019, the following commodity derivative contracts were outstanding, excluding our basis swaps which are discussed below:

Period

 

Contract Type

 

Volume Hedged

 

Weighted
Average Hedge Price

 

Fair Market
Value

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

(in thousands)

 

Natural Gas

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

 

2020

 

Swaps

 

1,000,984 Mmbtu/day

 

$ 2.64 (1)

 

$

129,212

 

2021

 

Swaps

 

50,000 Mmbtu/day

 

$ 2.62 (1)

 

$

3,495

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude Oil

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

 

2020

 

Swaps

 

7,995 bbls/day

 

$ 58.27 (1)

 

$

(1,265

)

2021

 

Swaps

 

1,000 bbls/day

 

$ 55.00 (1)

 

$

344

 

April-September, 2020

 

Calls

 

500 bbls/day

 

$ 59.00

 

$

(349

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NGLs (NC4-Normal Butane)

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

 

January-March, 2020

 

Swaps

 

659 bbls/day

 

$ 0.73/gallon

 

$

167

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NGLs (C5-Natural Gasoline)

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

 

January-March, 2020

 

Swaps

 

4,297 bbls/day

 

$ 1.21/gallon

 

$

(67

)

(1) We also sold natural gas call swaptions of 140,000 Mmbtu/day for March-December 2020 at a weighted average price of $2.53 and 100,000 Mmbtu per day for 2021 at a weighted average price of $2.69. In addition, we sold crude oil call swaptions of 3,000 bbls per day for 2021 at a weighted average price of $56.50. The fair market value of these swaptions at December 31, 2019 was a net derivative liability of $4.8 million.

In our Marcellus Shale operations, propane is a large product component of our NGLs production and we believe NGLs prices are somewhat seasonal. Therefore, the percentage of NGLs prices to NYMEX WTI (or West Texas Intermediate) will vary due to product components, seasonality and geographic supply and demand. We sell NGLs in several regional and international markets. If we are not able to sell or store NGLs, we may be required to curtail production or shift our drilling activities to dry gas areas.

Currently, the Appalachian region has limited local demand and infrastructure to accommodate ethane. We have agreements wherein we have contracted to either sell or transport ethane from our Marcellus Shale area. If we are not able to sell ethane under at least one of our agreements, we may be required to curtail production which will adversely affect our revenues and cash flow. However, as we have done in the past, we also may be able to purchase or divert natural gas to blend with our rich residue gas.

Other Commodity Risk

We are impacted by basis risk as natural gas transaction prices are frequently based on industry reference prices that may vary from prices experienced in local markets. If commodity price changes in one region are not reflected in other regions, derivative commodity instruments may no longer provide the expected hedge, resulting in increased basis risk. In addition to the swaps above, we have entered into natural gas basis swap agreements. The price we receive for our natural gas production can be more or less than the NYMEX price because of adjustments for delivery location (“basis”), relative quality and other factors; therefore, we have entered into basis swap agreements that effectively lock in the basis adjustments. The fair value of the natural gas basis swaps, which expire monthly through December 2021, was a net derivative asset of $9.4 million at December 31, 2019 and the volumes are for 114,882,500 Mmbtu.

As of December 31, 2019, we also had propane spread swap contracts which lock in the differential between Mont Belvieu and international propane indices. These contracts settle monthly in 2020 and the fair value of these contracts was a net derivative liability of $14.1 million on December 31, 2019.

71


 

In connection with our international propane swaps, at December 31, 2019, we had freight swap contracts which lock in the freight rate for a specific trade route on the Baltic Exchange. These contracts settle monthly and cover 4,000 metric tons in first quarter 2020, increasing to 14,000 metric tons per month for the remainder of 2020 and 10,000 metric tons in 2021 with a fair value net derivative asset of $1.5 million on December 31, 2019.

Commodity Sensitivity Analysis

The following table shows the fair value of our swaps and basis swaps and the hypothetical change in fair value that would result from a 10% and a 25% change in commodity prices at December 31, 2019. We remain at risk for possible changes in the market value of commodity derivative instruments; however, such risks should be mitigated by price changes in the underlying physical commodity (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

Hypothetical Change
in Fair Value

 

 

Hypothetical Change
in Fair Value

 

 

 

 

 

Increase in
Commodity Price of

 

 

Decrease in
Commodity Price of

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

10%

 

 

25%

 

 

10%

 

 

25%

 

Swaps

$

131,886

 

 

$

(91,857

)

 

$

(229,642

)

 

$

91,857

 

 

$

229,642

 

Swaptions

 

(4,848

)

 

 

(26,259

)

 

 

(78,790

)

 

 

20,169

 

 

 

45,608

 

Calls

 

(349

)

 

 

(368

)

 

 

(1,027

)

 

 

244

 

 

 

339

 

Basis swaps

 

(4,732

)

 

 

(837

)

 

 

(2,093

)

 

 

837

 

 

 

2,093

 

Freight swaps

 

1,529

 

 

 

1,524

 

 

 

3,810

 

 

 

(1,524

)

 

 

(3,810

)

Counterparty Risk

Our commodity-based contracts expose us to the credit risk of non-performance by the counterparty to the contracts. Our exposure is diversified among major investment grade financial institutions and commodity traders and we have master netting agreements with the majority of our counterparties that provide for offsetting payables against receivables from separate derivative contracts. Our derivative contracts are with multiple counterparties to minimize our exposure to any individual counterparty. At December 31, 2019, our derivative counterparties include twenty financial institutions, of which all but three are secured lenders in our bank credit facility. Counterparty credit risk is considered when determining the fair value of our derivative contracts. While counterparties are major investment grade financial institutions and large commodity traders, the fair value of our derivative contracts have been adjusted to account for the risk of non-performance by certain of our counterparties, which was immaterial. Our propane sales from the Marcus Hook facility near Philadelphia are short-term and are to a single purchaser. Ethane sales from Marcus Hook are to a single international customer bearing a credit rating similar to Range.

Interest Rate Risk

We are exposed to interest rate risk on our bank debt. We attempt to balance variable rate debt, fixed rate debt and debt maturities to manage interest costs, interest rate volatility and financing risk. This is accomplished through a mix of fixed rate publicly traded debt and variable rate bank debt. At December 31, 2019, we had $3.2 billion of debt outstanding. Of this amount, $2.7 billion bears interest at a fixed rate averaging 5.2%. Bank debt totaling $477.0 million bears interest at floating rates, which was 3.0% at December 31, 2019. On December 31, 2019, the 30-day LIBOR rate was 1.8%. A 1% increase in short-term interest rates on the floating-rate debt outstanding at December 31, 2019 would cost us approximately $4.8 million in additional annual interest expense.  See Note 8 to our consolidated financial statements for more information about our new senior notes.

72


 

The fair value of our senior and subordinated debt is based on year-end December 2019 quoted market prices. The following table presents information on these fair values (in thousands):

  

Carrying
Value

 

  

Fair
Value

 

Fixed rate debt:

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Senior Subordinated Notes due 2021

$

22,214

 

  

$

21,539

 

(The interest rate is fixed at a rate of 5.75%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Subordinated Notes due 2022

 

19,054

 

  

 

17,011

 

(The interest rate is fixed at a rate of 5.00%)

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Senior Subordinated Notes due 2023

 

7,712

 

  

 

7,654

 

(The interest rate is fixed at a rate of 5.00%)

 

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

Senior Notes due 2021

 

374,139

 

  

 

375,909

 

(The interest rate is fixed at a rate of 5.75%)

 

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

Senior Notes due 2022

 

511,886

 

  

 

501,582

 

(The interest rate is fixed at a rate of 5.00%)

 

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

Senior Notes due 2022

 

298,207

 

  

 

295,349

 

(The interest rate is fixed at a rate of 5.875%)

 

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

Senior Notes due 2023

 

741,531

 

 

 

683,291

 

(The interest rate is fixed at a rate of 5.00%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Notes due 2025

 

750,000

  

  

 

645,098

 

(The interest rate is fixed at a rate of 4.875%)

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

$

2,724,743

  

  

$

2,547,433

  

 

 

 

73


 

Item 8. financial statements and supplementary data

RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Page

Number

 

 

 

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

F2

 

 

 

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

F3

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2019 and 2018

F6

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017

F7

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017

F8

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017

F9

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017

F10

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

F11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

F-1


 

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

To the Stockholders of Range Resources Corporation:

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13(a)-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and presentation of consolidated financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements and even when determined to be effective, can only provide reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019. In making this assessment, which was conducted under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013). Based on our assessment, we believe that, as of December 31, 2019, our internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.

Ernst and Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited our financial statements included in this annual report, has issued an attestation report on our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019. This report appears on the following page.

By:

  

/s/  JEFFREY L. VENTURA

 

By:

 

/s/  Mark S. scucchi 

 

  

Jeffrey L. Ventura

  

 

  

Mark S. Scucchi

 

  

Chief Executive Officer and President

  

 

  

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Fort Worth, Texas

February 27, 2020

 

 

 

F-2


 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Range Resources Corporation:

Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

We have audited Range Resources Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Range Resources Corporation (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of Range Resources Corporation as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive (loss) income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019, and the related notes and our report dated February 27, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Fort Worth, Texas

February 27, 2020

 

 

 

F-3


 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Range Resources Corporation:

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Range Resources Corporation (the Company) as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated February 27, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

 

Adoption of ASU No. 2014-09

As discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed its method of accounting for revenue in 2018 due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), and the related amendments.

 

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

F-4


 

 

Description of the Matter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit

Depletion, depreciation, and amortization of proved natural gas and oil properties

At December 31, 2019, the net book value of the Company’s proved natural gas and oil properties totaled $9.4 billion and depletion, depreciation and amortization expense (“DD&A”) was $549 million for the year then ended. As described in Note 2, proved natural gas and oil properties are accounted for under the successful efforts method of accounting. DD&A for proved properties, including other property and equipment such as gathering lines related to natural gas and oil producing activities, is provided using the units of production method based on proved natural gas and oil reserves, as estimated by the Company’s petroleum engineering staff. Proved natural gas and oil reserve estimates are based on geological and engineering evaluations of in-place hydrocarbon volumes. Significant judgment is required by the Company’s petroleum engineering staff in evaluating geological and engineering data when estimating proved natural gas and oil reserves. Estimating reserves also requires the selection of inputs, including natural gas and oil price assumptions, future operating and capital costs assumptions and tax rates by jurisdiction, among others. Because of the complexity involved in estimating natural gas and oil reserves, management used independent petroleum consultants to audit approximately 90% of the proved reserve estimates prepared by the Company’s petroleum engineering staff as of December 31, 2019.  

Auditing the Company’s DD&A calculation is especially complex because of the use of the work of the petroleum engineering staff and the independent petroleum consultants and the evaluation of management’s determination of the inputs described above used by the engineers in estimating proved natural gas and oil reserves.

 

We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of the Company’s controls over its process to calculate DD&A, including management’s controls over the completeness and accuracy of the financial data provided to the engineers for use in estimating proved natural gas and oil reserves.

 

Our audit procedures included, among others, evaluating the professional qualifications and objectivity of the individual primarily responsible for overseeing the preparation of the reserve estimates by the petroleum engineering staff and the independent petroleum consultants used to audit the estimates. In addition, in assessing whether we can use the work of the engineers, we evaluated the completeness and accuracy of the financial data and inputs described above used by the engineers in estimating proved natural gas and oil reserves by agreeing them to source documentation and we identified and evaluated corroborative and contrary evidence. For proved undeveloped reserves, we evaluated management’s development plan for compliance with the SEC rule that undrilled locations are scheduled to be drilled within five years, unless specific circumstances justify a longer time, by assessing consistency of the development projections with the Company’s drill plan and the availability of capital relative to the drill plan. We also tested the mathematical accuracy of the DD&A calculations, including comparing the proved natural gas and oil reserve amounts used to the Company’s reserve report.

 

Description of the Matter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit

Impairment of proved natural gas and oil properties

As described in Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company recorded an impairment of $1.1 billion for the year ended December 31, 2019 related to its natural gas and oil properties in North Louisiana. A shift in business strategy employed by management and the possibility of a divestiture of these assets triggered an assessment of these long-lived assets for impairment in the fourth quarter of 2019. The Company evaluated the North Louisiana proved property asset group for recoverability and determined the asset group’s carrying value was not recoverable through its undiscounted future cash flows. As a result, the Company recognized an impairment loss, which is the amount by which the asset group’s carrying value exceeded its estimated fair value.

Auditing the Company's impairment measurement was complex and judgmental as the determination of fair value was based on assumptions about future market and economic conditions. Significant assumptions used in the Company’s fair value estimate included (i) estimates of the future cash flows from the asset group, including future production levels based on risk adjusted proved and probable natural gas and oil reserves as estimated by the Company’s petroleum engineering staff, forward looking natural gas and oil prices and estimates of future costs and (ii) the discount rate.

We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design, and tested the operating effectiveness of controls over the Company's process to determine the fair value of the assets and measure the impairment. This included controls over management's review of the significant assumptions underlying the fair value determination and of the completeness and accuracy of the data used in the determination of the fair value.  

Our audit procedures included, among others, evaluating the significant assumptions and testing the completeness and accuracy of underlying data used in the calculation of the fair value, including identifying corroborative and contrary evidence, performing sensitivity analyses of the significant assumptions to evaluate the change in the fair value estimate that would result from changes in the assumptions and recalculating management's estimate. We considered the professional qualifications and objectivity of the individual primarily responsible for overseeing the preparation of the risk adjusted reserve estimates used in the valuation by the petroleum engineering staff. We also involved valuation specialists to assist in our evaluation of the valuation methodologies applied and the significant assumptions used to determine the fair value of the asset group, including the discount rate, forward looking commodity prices and future operating and capital cost assumptions.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2003.

Fort Worth, Texas

February 27, 202

 

F-5


 

RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share data)

 

 

December 31,

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

546

 

 

$

545

 

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $8,784 and $6,118

 

272,900

 

 

 

490,723

 

Derivative assets

 

136,848

 

 

 

87,953

 

Other current assets

 

17,508

 

 

 

22,964

 

Total current assets

 

427,802

 

 

 

602,185

 

Derivative assets

 

706

 

 

 

4,842

 

Natural gas and oil properties, successful efforts method

 

10,213,737

 

 

 

13,085,206

 

Accumulated depletion and depreciation

 

(4,172,702

)

 

 

(4,062,021

)

 

 

6,041,035

 

 

 

9,023,185

 

Other property and equipment

 

102,083

 

 

 

111,908

 

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

(96,708

)

 

 

(102,132

)

 

 

5,375

 

 

 

9,776

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

 

62,053

 

 

 

 

Other assets

 

75,432

 

 

 

68,166

 

Total assets

$

6,612,403

 

 

$

9,708,154

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

$

155,341

 

 

$

227,344

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

2,393

 

 

 

5,485

 

Accrued liabilities

 

356,392

 

 

 

475,848

 

Accrued interest

 

39,299

 

 

 

41,990

 

Derivative liabilities

 

13,119

 

 

 

4,144

 

Total current liabilities

 

566,544

 

 

 

754,811

 

Bank debt

 

464,319

 

 

 

932,018

 

Senior notes

 

2,659,844

 

 

 

2,856,166

 

Senior subordinated notes

 

48,774

 

 

 

48,677

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

160,196

 

 

 

666,668

 

Derivative liabilities

 

949

 

 

 

3,462

 

Deferred compensation liabilities

 

64,070

 

 

 

67,542

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

41,068

 

 

 

 

Asset retirement obligations and other liabilities

 

259,151

 

 

 

319,379

 

Total liabilities

 

4,264,915

 

 

 

5,648,723

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders' Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $1 par 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.01 par 475,000,000 shares authorized, 251,438,936 issued

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

at December 31, 2019 and 249,519,687 issued at December 31, 2018

 

2,514

 

 

 

2,495

 

Common stock held in treasury, at cost, 1,808,133 shares at December 31, 2019 and 9,665

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

shares at December 31, 2018

 

(7,236

)

 

 

(391

)

Additional paid-in capital

 

5,659,832

 

 

 

5,628,447

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(788

)

 

 

(658

)

Retained deficit

 

(3,306,834

)

 

 

(1,570,462

)

Total stockholders' equity

 

2,347,488

 

 

 

4,059,431

 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

6,612,403

 

 

$

9,708,154

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 

F-6


 

 

RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF operations

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues and other income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas, NGLs and oil sales

$

2,255,425

 

 

$

2,851,077

 

 

$

2,176,287

 

Derivative fair value income (loss)

 

226,681

 

 

 

(51,192

)

 

 

213,350

 

Brokered natural gas, marketing and other

 

345,509

 

 

 

482,760

 

 

 

221,393

 

Total revenues and other income

 

2,827,615

 

 

 

3,282,645

 

 

 

2,611,030

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct operating

 

136,276

 

 

 

139,531

 

 

 

134,252

 

Transportation, gathering, processing and compression

 

1,199,297

 

 

 

1,117,816

 

 

 

761,183

 

Production and ad valorem taxes

 

37,967

 

 

 

46,149

 

 

 

42,882

 

Brokered natural gas and marketing

 

359,892

 

 

 

496,047

 

 

 

220,311

 

Exploration

 

36,683

 

 

 

34,117

 

 

 

53,662

 

Abandonment and impairment of unproved properties

 

1,235,342

 

 

 

514,994

 

 

 

269,725

 

General and administrative

 

181,109

 

 

 

209,812

 

 

 

233,406

 

Termination costs

 

9,506

 

 

 

(373

)

 

 

3,770

 

Deferred compensation plan

 

(15,472

)

 

 

(18,631

)

 

 

(50,915

)

Interest

 

194,285

 

 

 

210,209

 

 

 

195,679

 

Gain on early extinguishment of debt

 

(5,415

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depletion, depreciation and amortization

 

548,843

 

 

 

635,467

 

 

 

624,992

 

Impairment of proved properties and other assets

 

1,095,634

 

 

 

22,614

 

 

 

63,679

 

Impairment of goodwill

 

 

 

 

1,641,197

 

 

 

 

Loss (gain) on the sale of assets

 

30,256

 

 

 

10,666

 

 

 

(23,716

)

Total costs and expenses

 

5,044,203

 

 

 

5,059,615

 

 

 

2,528,910

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) income before income taxes

 

(2,216,588

)

 

 

(1,776,970

)

 

 

82,120

 

Income tax (benefit) expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current

 

6,147

 

 

 

 

 

 

17

 

Deferred

 

(506,438

)

 

 

(30,489

)

 

 

(251,043

)

 

 

(500,291

)

 

 

(30,489

)

 

 

(251,026

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

$

(1,716,297

)

 

$

(1,746,481

)

 

$

333,146

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (loss) income per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$

(6.92

)

 

$

(7.10

)

 

$

1.34

 

Diluted

$

(6.92

)

 

$

(7.10

)

 

$

1.34

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

247,970

 

 

 

246,171

 

 

 

245,091

 

Diluted

 

247,970

 

 

 

246,171

 

 

 

245,458

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 

F-7


 

RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME

(In thousands)

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

Net (loss) income

$

(1,716,297

)

 

$

(1,746,481

)

 

$

333,146

 

Other comprehensive loss:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Postretirement benefits:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actuarial (loss) gain

 

(532

)

 

 

526

 

 

 

 

Prior service cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,769

)

Amortization of prior service costs

 

369

 

 

 

369

 

 

 

 

Income tax benefit (expense)

 

33

 

 

 

(221

)

 

 

437

 

Total comprehensive (loss) income

$

(1,716,427

)

 

$

(1,745,807

)

 

$

331,814

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-8


 

RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

$

(1,716,297

)

 

$

(1,746,481

)

 

$

333,146

 

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided from

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred income tax benefit

 

(506,438

)

 

 

(30,489

)

 

 

(251,043

)

Depletion, depreciation and amortization and impairment of proved properties

 

1,644,477

 

 

 

658,081

 

 

 

688,671

 

Impairment of goodwill

 

 

 

 

1,641,197

 

 

 

 

Exploration dry hole and impairment costs

 

(11

)

 

 

4

 

 

 

9,172

 

Abandonment and impairment of unproved properties

 

1,235,342

 

 

 

514,994

 

 

 

269,725

 

Derivative fair value (income) loss

 

(226,681

)

 

 

51,192

 

 

 

(213,350

)

Cash settlements on derivative financial instruments

 

188,384

 

 

 

(131,522

)

 

 

13,117

 

Allowance for bad debt

 

4,341

 

 

 

(1,000

)

 

 

1,550

 

Amortization of deferred financing costs and other

 

6,455

 

 

 

2,515

 

 

 

5,445

 

Deferred and stock-based compensation

 

24,891

 

 

 

29,757

 

 

 

30,706

 

Loss (gain) on the sale of assets

 

30,256

 

 

 

10,666

 

 

 

(23,716

)

Gain on early extinguishment of debt

 

(5,415

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes in working capital:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

214,196

 

 

 

(142,381

)

 

 

(102,866

)

Inventory and other

 

4,520

 

 

 

138

 

 

 

(2,979

)

Accounts payable

 

(60,374

)

 

 

(4,274

)

 

 

45,912

 

Accrued liabilities and other

 

(155,803

)

 

 

138,293

 

 

 

12,764

 

Net cash provided from operating activities

 

681,843

 

 

 

990,690

 

 

 

816,254

 

Investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additions to natural gas and oil properties

 

(687,277

)

 

 

(960,916

)

 

 

(1,148,613

)

Additions to field service assets

 

(1,162

)

 

 

(1,477

)

 

 

(5,710

)

Acreage purchases

 

(59,986

)

 

 

(60,603

)

 

 

(58,213

)

Proceeds from disposal of assets

 

784,937

 

 

 

324,549

 

 

 

72,468

 

Purchases of marketable securities held by the deferred compensation plan

 

(19,039

)

 

 

(46,177

)

 

 

(88,167

)

Proceeds from the sales of marketable securities held by the deferred

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

compensation plan

 

22,005

 

 

 

49,190

 

 

 

89,178

 

Net cash provided from (used in) investing activities

 

39,478

 

 

 

(695,434

)

 

 

(1,139,057

)

Financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Borrowings on credit facilities

 

2,311,000

 

 

 

2,070,000

 

 

 

2,041,000

 

Repayments on credit facilities

 

(2,777,000

)

 

 

(2,338,000

)

 

 

(1,712,000

)

Repayment of senior or senior subordinated notes

 

(195,432

)

 

 

 

 

 

(500

)

Dividends paid

 

(20,070

)

 

 

(19,940

)

 

 

(19,839

)

Treasury stock purchases

 

(6,908

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt issuance costs

 

(4,446

)

 

 

(8,220

)

 

 

(403

)

Taxes paid for shares withheld

 

(3,384

)

 

 

(3,183

)

 

 

(6,983

)

Change in cash overdrafts

 

(25,747

)

 

 

(5,563

)

 

 

17,180

 

Proceeds from the sales of common stock held by the deferred compensation plan

 

667

 

 

 

9,747

 

 

 

4,482

 

Net cash (used in) provided from financing activities

 

(721,320

)

 

 

(295,159

)

 

 

322,937

 

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

1

 

 

 

97

 

 

 

134

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

545

 

 

 

448

 

 

 

314

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

$

546

 

 

$

545

 

 

$

448

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

F-9


 

RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

other

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock

 

 

held in

 

 

Additional paid-

 

 

Retained

 

 

comprehensive

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Par value

 

 

treasury

 

 

in capital

 

 

(deficit)/earnings

 

 

loss

 

 

Total

 

Balance as of December 31, 2016

 

247,175

 

 

$

2,471

 

 

$

(1,209

)

 

$

5,524,423

 

 

$

(117,317

)

 

$                            

 

 

$

5,408,368

 

Issuance of common stock

 

969

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,977

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,987

 

Stock-based compensation

   expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

50,942

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

50,942

 

Cash dividends paid

   ($0.08 per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(19,839

)

 

 

 

 

 

(19,839

)

Treasury stock issuance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

610

 

 

 

(610

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,332

)

 

 

(1,332

)

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

333,146

 

 

 

 

 

 

333,146

 

Balance as of December 31, 2017

 

248,144

 

 

 

2,481

 

 

 

(599

)

 

 

5,577,732

 

 

 

195,990

 

 

 

(1,332

)

 

 

5,774,272

 

Issuance of common stock

 

1,374

 

 

 

14

 

 

 

 

 

 

13,682

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13,696

 

Issuance of common stock upon

   vesting of PSUs

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31

 

 

 

(31

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation

   expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

37,210

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

37,210

 

Cash dividends paid

   ($0.08 per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(19,940

)

 

 

 

 

 

(19,940

)

Treasury stock issuance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

208

 

 

 

(208

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

674

 

 

 

674

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,746,481

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,746,481

)

Balance as of December 31, 2018

 

249,520

 

 

 

2,495

 

 

 

(391

)

 

 

5,628,447

 

 

 

(1,570,462

)

 

 

(658

)

 

 

4,059,431

 

Issuance of common stock

 

1,919

 

 

 

19

 

 

 

 

 

 

323

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

342

 

Issuance of common stock upon

   vesting of PSUs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

(5

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation

   expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31,120

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31,120

 

Cash dividends paid

   ($0.08 per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(20,070

)

 

 

 

 

 

(20,070

)

Treasury stock issuance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

63

 

 

 

(63

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treasury stock repurchased

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6,908

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6,908

)

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(130

)

 

 

(130

)

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,716,297

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,716,297

)

Balance as of December 31, 2019

 

251,439

 

 

$

2,514

 

 

$

(7,236

)

 

$

5,659,832

 

 

$

(3,306,834

)

 

$

(788

)

 

$

2,347,488

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-10


 

RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(1) Summary of Organization and Nature of Business

Range Resources Corporation (“Range,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a Fort Worth, Texas-based independent natural gas, natural gas liquids (“NGLs”), crude oil and condensate company primarily engaged in the exploration, development and acquisition of natural gas and oil properties in the Appalachian and North Louisiana regions of the United States. Our objective is to build stockholder value through returns focused development of natural gas and oil properties, measured on a per share debt-adjusted basis. Range is a Delaware corporation with our common stock listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RRC”.

(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements, including the notes, have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and include the accounts of all of our subsidiaries. All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current period’s presentation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from these estimates and changes in these estimates are recorded when known.

Estimated quantities of natural gas, NGLs, crude oil and condensate reserves is a significant estimate that requires judgment. All of the reserve data included in this Form 10-K are estimates. Reservoir engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of natural gas, NGLs, crude oil and condensate. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved natural gas, NGLs, crude oil and condensate reserves. The accuracy of any reserves estimate is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. As a result, reserves estimates may be different from the quantities of natural gas, NGLs and crude oil and condensate that are ultimately recovered. See Note 18 for further detail.

Other items subject to estimates and assumptions include the carrying amounts of property, plant and equipment, asset retirement obligations, valuation of derivative instruments and valuation allowances for deferred income tax assets, among others. Although we believe these estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from these estimates.

Business Segment Information

We have evaluated how we are organized and managed and have identified only one operating segment, which is the exploration and production of natural gas, NGLs, crude oil and condensate in the United States. We consider our gathering, processing and marketing functions as integral to our natural gas, crude oil and condensate producing activities. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise that engage in activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses for which separate operational financial information is available and this information is regularly evaluated by the chief operating decision maker for the purpose of allocating resources and assessing performance.

We have a single company-wide management team that administers all properties as a whole rather than by discrete operating segments. We track only basic operational data by area. We do not maintain complete separate financial statement information by area. We measure financial performance as a single enterprise and not on a geographical or area-by-area basis. Throughout the year, we allocate capital resources on a project-by-project basis, across our entire asset base to optimize returns without regard to individual areas.

Revenue Recognition, Accounts Receivable and Gas Imbalances

Natural gas, NGLs and oil sales revenues are recognized when control of the product is transferred to the customer and collectability is reasonably assured. See a more detailed summary of our product types below.

Natural Gas and NGLs Sales

Under our gas processing contracts, we deliver natural gas to a midstream processing entity at the wellhead or the inlet of the midstream processing entity’s system. The midstream processing entity processes the natural gas and remits proceeds to us for the resulting sales of NGLs and residue gas. In these scenarios, we evaluate whether we are the principal or the agent in the transaction. For those contracts that we have concluded that we are the principal, the ultimate third party is our customer and we recognize revenue on a gross basis, with gathering, compression, processing and transportation fees presented as an expense. Alternatively, for those

F-11


 

contracts that we have concluded that we are the agent, the midstream processing entity is our customer and we recognize revenue based on the net amount of the proceeds received from the midstream processing entity.

In certain natural gas processing agreements, we may elect to take our residue gas and/or NGLs in kind at the tailgate of the midstream entity’s processing plant and subsequently market the product on our own. Through the marketing process, we deliver product to the ultimate third-party purchaser at a contractually agreed-upon delivery point and receive a specified index price from the purchaser. In this scenario, we recognize revenue when control transfers to the purchaser at the delivery point based on the index price received from the purchaser. The gathering, processing and compression fees attributable to the gas processing contract, as well as any transportation fees incurred to deliver the product to the purchaser are presented as transportation, gathering, processing and compression expense.

Oil Sales

Our oil sales contracts are generally structured in one of the following ways:

 

We sell oil production at the wellhead and collect an agreed-upon index price, net of transportation incurred by the purchaser (that is, a netback arrangement). In this scenario, we recognize revenue when control transfers to the purchaser at the wellhead at the net price received.

 

 

We deliver oil to the purchaser at a contractually agreed-upon delivery point at which the purchaser takes custody, title, and risk of loss of the product. Under this arrangement, we pay a third party to transport the product and receive a specified index price from the purchaser with no deduction. In this scenario, we recognize revenue when control transfers to the purchaser at the delivery point based on the price received from the purchaser. The third-party costs are recorded as transportation, gathering, processing and compression expense.

 

Brokered Natural Gas, Marketing and Other

We realize brokered margins as a result of buying natural gas or NGLs utilizing separate purchase transactions, generally with separate counterparties, and subsequently selling that natural gas or NGLs under our existing contracts to fill our contract commitments or use existing infrastructure contracts to economically fulfill available capacity. In these arrangements, we take control of the natural gas purchased prior to delivery of that gas under our existing gas contracts with a separate counterparty. Revenues and expenses related to brokering natural gas are reported gross as part of revenues and expenses in accordance with applicable accounting standards. Our net brokered margin was a loss of $14.2 million in 2019 compared to a loss of $16.3 million in 2018 and a loss of $5.7 million in 2017.

The recognition of gains or losses on derivative instruments is not considered revenue from contracts with customers. We may use financial or physical contracts accounted for as derivatives as economic hedges to manage price risk associated with normal sales or in limited cases may use them for contracts we intend to physically settle but that do not meet all of the criteria to be treated as normal sales.

Accounts Receivable

Our accounts receivable consist mainly of receivables from oil and gas purchasers and joint interest owners on properties we operate. Although receivables are concentrated in the oil and gas industry, we do not view this as an unusual credit risk. However, this concentration has the potential to impact our overall exposure to credit risk in that our customers may be similarly affected by changes in economic and financial conditions, commodity prices or other conditions. We provide for an allowance for doubtful accounts for specific receivables judged unlikely to be collected based on the age of the receivable, our experience with the debtor, potential offsets to the amount owed and economic conditions. In certain instances, we require purchasers to post stand-by letters of credit. For receivables from joint interest owners, we may have the ability to withhold future revenue disbursements to recover any non-payment of joint interest billings. We have allowances for doubtful accounts relating to exploration and production receivables of $8.8 million at December 31, 2019 compared to $6.1 million at December 31, 2018. We recorded bad debt expense of $4.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to income of $1.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2018 and expense of $1.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2017.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and on deposit and investments in highly liquid debt instruments with maturities of three months or less. Outstanding checks in excess of funds on deposit are included in accounts payable on the consolidated balance sheets and the change in such overdrafts is classified as a financing activity on the consolidated statements of cash flows.

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Marketable Securities

Investments in unaffiliated equity securities held in our deferred compensation plans qualify as trading securities and are recorded at fair value. Investments held in the deferred compensation plans consist of various publicly-traded mutual funds. These funds include equity securities and money market instruments and are reported in other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

Natural Gas and Oil Properties

Property Acquisition Costs. We use the successful efforts method of accounting for natural gas and oil producing activities. Costs to drill exploratory wells that do not find proved reserves, geological and geophysical costs, delay rentals and costs of carrying and retaining unproved properties are expensed. Costs incurred for exploratory wells that find reserves that cannot yet be classified as proved are capitalized if (a) the well has found a sufficient quantity of reserves to justify its completion as a producing well and (b) we are making sufficient progress assessing the reserves and the economic and operating viability of the project.

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization. Depreciation, depletion and amortization of proved properties, including other property and equipment such as gathering lines related to natural gas and oil producing activities, is provided on the units of production method. Historically, we have adjusted our depletion rates in the fourth quarter of each year based on the year-end reserve report and at other times during the year when circumstances indicate there has been a significant change in reserves or costs. In the year ended December 31, 2015, the fair value of our natural gas and oil properties in Northwest Pennsylvania was determined to be zero. As a result, any future adjustments to the asset retirement liability for these properties represents an impairment expense and we have elected to record such expense in depreciation, depletion and amortization. In the year ended December 31, 2019, additional expense of $213,000 was recorded related to these costs compared to $9.8 million of additional expense in the year ended December 31, 2018 and $158,000 of additional expense in the year ended December 31, 2017. As of December 31, 2019, we executed an agreement to sell these Northwest Pennsylvania assets, pending certain state governmental approval for change in operatorship.

Impairments. Our proved natural gas and oil properties are reviewed for impairment annually and periodically as events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. These assets are reviewed for potential impairment at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows that are largely independent of other groups of assets which is the level at which depletion is calculated. The review is done by determining if the historical cost of proved properties less the applicable accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization is less than the estimated expected undiscounted future net cash flows. The expected future net cash flows are estimated based on our plans to produce and develop reserves. Expected future net cash inflow from the sale of produced reserves is calculated based on estimated future prices and estimated operating and development costs. We estimate prices based upon market-related information including published futures prices. The estimated future level of production, which is based on proved and risk adjusted probable and possible reserves, as appropriate, has assumptions surrounding the future levels of prices and costs, field decline rates, market demand and supply and the economic and regulatory climate. In certain circumstances, we also consider potential sales of properties to third parties in our estimates of cash flows. When the carrying value exceeds the sum of undiscounted future net cash flows, an impairment loss is recognized for the difference between the estimated fair market value as determined by discounted future net cash flows using a discount rate similar to that used by market participants, or comparable market value if available and the carrying value of the asset. A significant amount of judgment is involved in performing these evaluations since the results are based on estimated future events. Such events include a projection of future natural gas and oil prices, an estimate of the ultimate amount of recoverable natural gas and oil reserves that will be produced from an asset group, the timing of future production, future production costs, future abandonment costs and future inflation. We cannot predict whether impairment charges may be required in the future. If natural gas, NGLs and oil prices decrease or drilling efforts are unsuccessful, we may be required to record additional impairments. For additional information regarding proved property impairments, see Note 11.

We evaluate our unproved property investment periodically for impairment. The majority of these costs generally relate to the acquisition of leasehold costs and allocated probable and possible reserves value resulting from acquisitions. The costs are capitalized and evaluated (at least quarterly) as to recoverability based on changes brought about by economic factors and potential shifts in business strategy employed by management which could impact the number of drilling locations we intend to drill. Impairment of a significant portion of our unproved properties is assessed and amortized on an aggregate basis based on our average holding period, expected forfeiture rate and anticipated drilling success. Information such as reservoir performance or future plans to develop acreage is also considered. Impairment of individually significant unproved property is assessed on a property-by-property basis considering a combination of time, geologic and engineering factors. In certain circumstances, our future plans to develop acreage may accelerate our impairment. A significant portion of our unproved property is related to probable and possible reserves whose recoverability is evaluated based on management’s expectations and ability to drill these locations. Unproved properties had a net book value of $868.2 million as of December 31, 2019 compared to $2.1 billion in 2018. Unproved properties as of December 31, 2019 are all within Pennsylvania. We have recorded abandonment and impairment expense related to unproved properties of $1.2 billion in the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to $515.0 million in 2018 and $269.7 million in 2017. Abandonment and impairment expense in 2019 includes $1.2 billion compared to $436.0 million in 2018 related to probable and possible reserves in North Louisiana where we no longer have the intent to drill.

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Dispositions. Proceeds from the disposal of natural gas and oil producing properties that are part of an amortization base are credited to the net book value of the amortization group with no immediate effect on income. However, gain or loss is recognized if the disposition is significant enough to materially impact the depletion rate of the remaining properties in the amortization base. Dispositions are accounted for as a sale of assets. For additional information regarding our dispositions, see Note 4.

Other Property and Equipment

Other property and equipment includes assets such as buildings, furniture and fixtures, field equipment, leasehold improvements and data processing and communication equipment. These items are generally depreciated by individual components on a straight-line basis over their economic useful life, which is generally from three to ten years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of their economic useful lives or the underlying terms of the associated leases. Depreciation expense was $5.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to $6.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2018 and $7.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2017.

Leases

We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception of the arrangement. To the extent that we determine an arrangement represents a lease, we classify that lease as an operating lease or a finance lease. We currently do not have any finance leases. We capitalize our operating leases on our consolidated balance sheets through a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and a corresponding lease liability. ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Short-term leases that have an initial term of one year or less are not capitalized but are disclosed. Short-term lease costs exclude expenses related to leases with a lease term of one month or less.

Our operating leases are reflected as operating lease ROU assets, accrued liabilities-current and operating lease liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date of an arrangement based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. In addition to the present value of lease payments, the operating lease ROU asset also includes any lease payments made to the lessor prior to lease commencement less any lease incentives and initial direct costs incurred. Lease expense for operating lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Our leased assets may be used in joint oil and gas operations with other working interest owners.  We recognize lease liabilities and ROU assets only when we are the signatory to a contract as an operator of joint properties.  Such lease liabilities and ROU assets are determined and disclosed based on gross contractual obligations.  Our lease costs are also presented on a gross basis.

Nature of Leases

We lease certain office space, field equipment, vehicles and other equipment under cancelable and non-cancelable leases to support our operations. A more detailed description of our significant lease types is included below.

Office Agreements and Subleases. We rent office space from third parties for our corporate and field locations. Our office agreements are typically structured with non-cancelable terms of one to fifteen years. We have concluded our office agreements represent operating leases with a lease term that equals the primary non-cancelable contract term. Upon completion of the primary term, both parties have substantive rights to terminate the lease. As a result, enforceable rights and obligations do not exist under the rental agreements subsequent to the primary term.

We also sublease some of our office space to third parties. All of our subleases have terms that end in 2020 or 2022. The sublease agreements are non-cancelable through the end of the term and both parties have substantive rights to terminate the lease when the term is complete. Our sublease agreements are not capitalized and are recorded as sublease income (as a component of lease costs) in the period the rent is received. As of December 31, 2019, these subleases total $3.1 million through the beginning of 2022.

Field Equipment. We rent compressors and coolers from third parties in order to facilitate the downstream movement of our production to market. Our compressor and cooler arrangements are typically structured with a non-cancelable primary term of one to two years and continue thereafter on a month-to-month basis subject to termination by either party with thirty days notice. We have concluded that our compressor and cooler rental agreements represent operating leases with a lease term that equals the primary non-cancelable contract term. Upon completion of the primary term, both parties have substantive rights to terminate the lease. As a result, enforceable rights and obligations do not exist under the rental agreement subsequent to the primary term.

Vehicles. We rent our vehicle fleet for our drilling and operations personnel from a third party. Our vehicle agreements are non-cancelable for a minimum term of one year and a maximum term of four to eight years depending on the type of vehicle. However, we have assumed a term of three years based on the period covered by options to terminate that we are reasonably certain to exercise. We have concluded our vehicle commitments are operating leases.

Other Equipment. We utilize a dedicated natural gas fueled, electric driven frac fleet to support our drilling activities. This arrangement is structured with a non-cancellable primary term of eighteen months, with two optional extension periods of six months

F-14


 

each. We have concluded that this arrangement is an operating lease with a lease term that equals the primary non-cancelable contract term. Upon completion of the primary term, both parties have substantive rights to terminate the lease. As a result, enforceable rights and obligations do not exist under the rental agreement subsequent to the primary term.

We enter into daywork contracts for drilling rigs with third parties to support our drilling activities. Our drilling rig arrangements are typically structured with a term that is in effect until drilling operations are completed on a contractually specified well or well pad. Upon mutual agreement with the contractor, we typically have the option to extend the contract term for additional wells or well pads by providing thirty days’ notice prior to the end of the original contract term. We have concluded that our drilling rig arrangements represent short-term operating leases. The accounting guidance requires us to make an assessment at contract commencement if we are reasonably certain that we will exercise the option to extend the term. Due to the continuously evolving nature of our drilling schedules and the potential volatility in commodity prices in an annual period, our strategy to enter into shorter term drilling rig arrangements allows us the flexibility to respond to changes in our operating and economic environment. We exercise our discretion in choosing to extend or not extend contracts on a rig-by-rig basis depending on the conditions present at the time the contract expires. At the time of contract commencement, we have determined we cannot conclude with reasonable certainty if we will choose to extend the contract beyond its original term. Pursuant to the successful efforts method of accounting, these costs are capitalized as part of natural gas and oil properties on our consolidated balance sheets when paid.

Transportation, Gathering and Processing Arrangements. We engage in various types of transactions in which midstream entities transport, gather and/or process our product leveraging integrated systems and facilities wholly owned and operated by the midstream counterparty. Under most of these arrangements, we do not utilize substantially all of the third party’s underlying pipeline, gathering system or processing facilities, and thus, we have concluded that those underlying assets do not meet the definition of an identified asset. However, in limited circumstances, we do utilize substantially all of the capacity of a portion of the midstream system under our transportation, gathering and/or processing service contract. These arrangements require judgment to determine whether our capacity of the underlying midstream asset represents a lease. Under all of these arrangements, we have concluded that (i) the midstream entity maintains control of and has the ability to optimize and/or expand the underlying system throughout the duration of the contract term and (ii) the portion of the system or facility we utilize is highly integrated and interconnected to a broader system servicing a diverse set of customers. Consequently, the transportation, gathering and/or processing contract does not represent a lease of the underlying portion of the midstream system or facilities. We currently have not identified any of these commitments as leases.

Discount Rate

Our leases typically do not provide an implicit rate. Accordingly, we are required to use our incremental borrowing rate in determining the present value of lease payments based on the information available at commencement date. Our incremental borrowing rate reflects the estimated rate of interest that we would pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term in an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. We use the implicit rate in the limited circumstances in which that rate is readily determinable.

Practical Expedients and Accounting Policy Elections

Certain of our lease agreements include lease and non-lease components. For all existing asset classes with multiple component types, we have utilized the practical expedient that exempts us from separating lease components from non-lease components. Accordingly, we account for the lease and non-lease components in an arrangement as a single lease component.

In addition, for all of our existing asset classes, we have made an accounting policy election not to apply the lease recognition requirements to our short-term leases (that is, a lease that, at commencement, has a lease term of 12 months or less and does not include an option to purchase the underlying asset that we are reasonably certain to exercise). Accordingly, we recognize lease payments related to our short-term leases in our statements of operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term which has not changed from our prior recognition. To the extent that there are variable lease payments, we recognize those payments in our statements of operations in the period in which the obligation for those payments is incurred. Refer to “Nature of Leases” above for further information regarding those asset classes that include material short-term leases.

Other Assets

Other assets at December 31, 2019 include $62.0 million of marketable securities held in our deferred compensation plans and $9.6 million of other investments including surface acreage. Other assets at December 31, 2018 include $57.3 million of marketable securities held in our deferred compensation plans and $9.1 million of other investments, including surface acreage.

Stock-based Compensation Arrangements

We account for stock-based compensation under the fair value method of accounting. We grant various types of stock-based awards including restricted stock and performance-based awards. The fair value of our restricted stock awards and our performance-based awards (where the performance condition is based on internal performance metrics) is based on the market value of our common stock on the date of grant. The fair value of our performance-based awards where the performance condition is based on

F-15


 

market conditions is estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation method.

We recognize stock-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award. The expense we recognize is net of estimated forfeitures. We estimate our forfeiture rate based on prior experience and adjust it as circumstances warrant. If actual forfeitures are different than expected, adjustments to recognize expense may be required in future periods. To the extent possible, we limit the amount of shares to be issued for these awards by satisfying tax withholding requirements with cash. All awards have been issued at prevailing market prices at the time of grant and the vesting of these awards is based on an employee’s continued employment with us, with the exception of employment termination due to death, disability or retirement. For additional information regarding stock-based compensation, see Note 12.

Derivative Financial Instruments

All of our derivative instruments are issued to manage the price risk attributable to our expected natural gas, NGLs and oil production. While there is risk that the financial benefit of rising natural gas, NGLs and oil prices may not be captured, we believe the benefits of stable and predictable cash flow are more important. Among these benefits are more efficient utilization of existing personnel and planning for future staff additions, the flexibility to enter into long-term projects requiring substantial committed capital, smoother and more efficient execution of our ongoing development drilling and production enhancement programs, more consistent returns on invested capital and better access to bank and other capital markets. All unsettled derivative instruments are recorded in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as either an asset or a liability measured at their fair value. In most cases, our derivatives are reflected on our consolidated balance sheets on a net basis by brokerage firm when they are governed by master netting agreements. Changes in a derivative’s fair value are recognized in earnings. Cash flows from derivative contract settlements are reflected in operating activities in the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows.

All realized and unrealized gains and losses on derivatives are accounted for using the mark-to-market accounting method. We recognize all unrealized and realized gains and losses related to these contracts in each period in derivative fair value in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Certain of our derivatives are swaps where we receive a fixed price for our production and pay market prices to the counterparty. We also have collars which establish a minimum floor price and a predetermined ceiling price. We also have entered into basis swap agreements. The price we receive for our natural gas production can be more or less than the NYMEX price because of adjustments for delivery location (“basis”), relative quality and other factors; therefore, we have entered into natural gas basis swap agreements that effectively fix our basis adjustments. We have also entered into propane basis swaps which lock in the differential between Mont Belvieu and international propane indexes. Beginning in third quarter 2017, we entered into combined natural gas derivative instruments containing a fixed price swap and a sold option to extend the term or expand the volume (which we refer to as a swaption). The swap price is a fixed price determined at the time of the swaption contract. If the option is exercised, the contract will become a swap treated consistently with our fixed-price swaps. For additional information regarding our derivatives, see Note 10.

From time to time, we may enter into derivative contracts and pay or receive premium payments at the inception of the derivative contract which represent the fair value of the contract at its inception. These amounts would be included within the net derivative asset or liability on our consolidated balance sheets. The amounts paid or received for derivative premiums reduce or increase the amount of gains and losses that are recorded in the earnings each period as the derivative contracts settle. During 2019, we did not materially modify any existing derivative contracts.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

As of December 31, 2019, our primary concentrations of credit risk are the risks of collecting accounts receivable and the risk of counterparties’ failure to perform under derivative contracts. Most of our receivables are from a diverse group of companies, including major energy companies, pipeline companies, local distribution companies, financial institutions, commodity traders and end-users in various industries and such receivables are generally unsecured. The nature of our customer’s businesses may impact our overall credit risk, either positively or negatively, in that these entities may be similarly affected by changes in economic or other conditions. To manage risks of collecting accounts receivable, we monitor our counterparties’ financial strength and/or credit ratings and where we deem necessary, we obtain parent company guarantees, prepayments, letters of credit or other credit enhancements to reduce risk of loss. We do not anticipate a material impact on our financial results due to non-performance by third parties.

For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, we had one customer that accounted for 10% or more of total natural gas, NGLs and oil sales. We believe that the loss of any one customer would not have an adverse effect on our ability to sell our natural gas, NGLs and oil production.

We have executed International Swap Dealers Association Master Agreements (“ISDA Agreements”) with counterparties for the purpose of entering into derivative contracts. To manage counterparty risk associated with our derivatives, we select and monitor counterparties based on assessment of their financial strength and/or credit ratings. We may also limit the level of exposure with any single counterparty. Additionally, the terms of our ISDA Agreements provide us and our counterparties with netting rights such that we may offset payables against receivables with a counterparty under separate derivative contracts. Our ISDA Agreements also

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generally contain set-off rights such that, upon the occurrence of defined acts of default by either us or a counterparty to a derivative contract, the non-defaulting party may set-off receivables owed under all derivative contracts against payables from other agreements with that counterparty. None of our derivative contracts have a margin requirement or collateral provision that would require us to fund or post additional collateral prior to the scheduled cash settlement date.

At December 31, 2019, our derivative counterparties included twenty financial institutions and commodity traders, of which all but three are secured lenders in our bank credit facility. At December 31, 2019, our net derivative liability includes a payable to the counterparties not included in our bank credit facility totaling $6.7 million, which includes a payable to one counterparty of $12.6 million and a receivable from the remaining two counterparties of $5.9 million. In determining fair value of derivative assets, we evaluate the risk of non-performance and incorporate factors such as amounts owed under other agreements permitting set-off, as well as pricing of credit default swaps for the counterparty. Net derivative liabilities are determined in part by using our market based credit spread to incorporate our theoretical risk of non-performance.

Asset Retirement Obligations

The fair value of asset retirement obligations is recognized in the period they are incurred, if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. Asset retirement obligations primarily relate to the abandonment of natural gas and oil producing facilities and include costs to dismantle and relocate or dispose of production platforms, gathering systems, wells and related structures. Estimates are based on historical experience of plugging and abandoning wells, estimated remaining lives of those wells based on reserve estimates, external estimates of the cost to plug and abandon the wells in the future and federal and state regulatory requirements. We are required to operate and maintain our natural gas pipeline systems and intend to do so as long as supply and demand for natural gas exists, which we expect for the foreseeable future. Therefore, these assets have indeterminate lives. Depreciation of capitalized asset retirement costs will generally be determined on a units-of-production basis while accretion to be recognized will escalate over the life of the producing assets. See Note 9 for additional information.

Contingencies

We are subject to legal proceedings, claims, and liabilities and environmental matters that arise in the ordinary course of business. We accrue for losses when such losses are considered probable and the amounts can be reasonably estimated. See Note 15 for a more detailed discussion regarding our contingencies.

Environmental Costs

Environmental expenditures are capitalized if the costs mitigate or prevent future contamination or if the costs improve environmental safety or efficiency of the existing assets. Expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations that have no future economic benefits are expensed.

Deferred Taxes

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax bases as reported in our filings with the respective taxing authorities. Deferred tax assets are recorded when it is more likely than not that they will be realized. The realization of deferred tax assets is assessed periodically based on several interrelated factors. These factors may include our expectation to generate sufficient taxable income in the periods before tax credits and operating loss carryforwards expire. All deferred taxes are classified as long-term on the balance sheets.

Treasury Stock

Treasury stock purchases are recorded at cost. Upon reissuance, the cost of treasury shares held is reduced by the average purchase price per share of the aggregate treasury shares held.

(3) Accounting Standards

Recently Adopted

Lease Accounting Standard

In February 2016, an accounting standards update was issued that requires an entity to recognize a ROU asset and lease liability for all leases. Classification of leases as either a finance or operating lease determines the recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses. This accounting standards update also required certain quantitative and qualitative disclosures about leasing arrangements.

The new standard was effective for us in first quarter 2019 and we adopted the new standard using a modified retrospective approach, with the date of initial application effective on January 1, 2019. Consequently, upon transition, we recognized a ROU asset (or operating lease right-of-use asset) and a lease liability with no retained earnings impact. We are applying the following practical

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expedients as provided in the standards update which provide elections to:

 

not apply the recognition requirements to short-term leases (a lease that at commencement date has a lease term of 12 months or less and does not contain a purchase option);

 

 

not reassess whether a contract contains a lease, lease classification and initial direct costs; and

 

 

not reassess certain land easements in existence prior to January 1, 2019.

 

Through our implementation process, we evaluated each of our lease arrangements and enhanced our systems to track and calculate additional information required upon adoption of this standards update. Our adoption did not have a material impact on our consolidated balance sheet as of January 1, 2019, with the primary impact relating to the recognition of ROU assets and operating lease liabilities for operating leases which represents approximately a 1% change to total assets and total liabilities. The impact of adoption of this new standards update was as follows (in thousands):

 

 

January 1, 2019

 

 

 

Adoption

 

 

 

Reclassification (1)

 

 

 

Total Adjustment

 

Balance Sheet:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

$

59,300

 

 

$

(7,925

)

 

$

51,375

 

Accrued liabilities – current

$

(14,811

)

 

$

 

 

$

(14,811

)

Operating lease liabilities – long-term

$

(44,489

)

 

$

 

 

$

(44,489

)

Asset retirement obligations and other liabilities

$

 

 

$

7,925

 

 

$

7,925

 

 

(1)

As of December 31, 2018, we had $7.9 million of operating lease liabilities recorded as part of purchase price accounting for building leases acquired because we did not expect to occupy the space or receive payments from our subleases. Lease incentives related to other buildings were also included. Upon adoption of the new standards update, these leases were included as part of our adoption. The ROU asset is reduced because we do not expect to use the asset.

Adoption of the new standard did not impact our consolidated statements of operations, cash flows or stockholders’ equity. Leases acquired to explore for or use minerals, oil or natural gas resources, including the right to explore for those natural resources and rights to use the land in which those natural resources are contained, are not within the scope of the standards update.

Pension Accounting Standard

In March 2017, an accounting standards update was issued which provides additional guidance on the presentation of net benefit cost in the statement of operations. Employers are to present the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost in the same consolidated results of operations line item as other employee compensation costs arising from services rendered during the period. This new standards update was effective for annual reporting periods in first quarter 2018 and must be applied retrospectively. We adopted this standards update in first quarter 2018. The adoption did not impact our consolidated results of operations, financial position, cash flows or disclosures. We had no service cost recorded prior to 2018 due to the implementation of our post retirement benefit plan at the end of 2017. In 2019 and 2018, our service cost is recorded in general and administrative expense.

Modification of Share – Based Awards

In May 2017, an accounting standards update was issued which clarifies what constitutes a modification of a share-based award. This standards update was intended to provide clarity and reduce both diversity in practice and cost and complexity to a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. We adopted this standards update in first quarter 2018. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations, financial position, cash flows or disclosures.

Revenue Recognition Standard

In May 2014, an accounting standards update was issued that superseded the existing revenue recognition requirements. This standard included a five-step revenue recognition model to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which we expect to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Among other things, the standard also eliminated industry-specific revenue guidance, required enhanced disclosures about revenue, provided guidance for transactions that were not previously addressed comprehensively and improved guidance for multiple-element arrangements. This standard was effective for us in first quarter 2018 and we adopted the new standards update using the modified retrospective method to all open contracts as of January 1, 2018. Our implementation of this standard did not result in a cumulative-effect adjustment on date of adoption; however, our financial statement presentation related to revenue received from certain gas processing contracts changed. Based on previous accounting guidance, certain of our gas processing contracts were reported in revenue at a net price (net of processing costs) we receive. Upon adoption of this accounting standards update, these contracts are now reported as a gross price received at a delivery point and separate transportation, marketing and processing expense.

F-18


 

Not Yet Adopted

Financial Instruments – Credit Losses

In June 2016, an accounting standards update was issued that changes the impairment model for trade receivables, net investments in leases, debt securities, loans and certain other instruments. The standards update requires the use of a forward-looking “expected loss” model as opposed to the current “incurred loss” model. This standards update is effective for us in first quarter 2020 and will be adopted on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the adoption period. We have evaluated the provisions of this accounting standards update and are assessing the impact, if any, it may have on our consolidated results of operations, financial position and financial disclosures. From the evaluation of our current credit portfolio, which includes receivables for commodity sales, joint interest billings due from partners and other receivables, historical credit losses have been de minimis and we believe that our expected future credit losses would not be significant. As such, we do not believe adoption of this standard will have a material impact on our financial statements.

Fair Value Measurement

In August 2018, an accounting standards update was issued which provides additional disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. This new standards update eliminates the requirement to disclose transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy and provides for additional disclosures for Level 3 fair value measurements. This new standards update is effective for us in first quarter 2020 and will be adopted on a prospective or retrospective basis depending on the changes that apply. We do not believe adoption of this standard will have a material impact on our financial disclosures.

(4)

Dispositions

We recognized a pretax net loss on the sale of assets of $30.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to a pretax loss of $10.7 million in 2018 and a pretax gain of $23.7 million in 2017. The following describes the significant divestitures that are included in our consolidated results of operations for each of three years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

2019 Dispositions

Pennsylvania. In third quarter 2019, we sold, in three separate transactions, a proportionately reduced 2.5% overriding royalty, primarily in our Washington County, Pennsylvania leases for gross proceeds of $750.0 million. We recorded a pretax loss of $36.5 million related to this sale which represents closing adjustments and transaction fees. In second quarter 2019, we sold natural gas and oil property, primarily representing over 20,000 unproved acres, for proceeds of $34.0 million and recognized a pretax gain of $5.9 million.

Other. In 2019, we sold miscellaneous proved property, inventory, equipment and other assets for proceeds of $938,000 resulting in a pretax gain of $337,000.

2018 Dispositions

Pennsylvania. In fourth quarter 2018, we sold a proportionately reduced 1% overriding royalty in our Washington County, Pennsylvania leases for gross proceeds of $300.0 million. We recorded a pretax loss of $10.2 million related to this sale which represents closing adjustments and transaction fees.

Northern Oklahoma. In third quarter 2018, we sold properties in Northern Oklahoma for proceeds of $23.3 million and we recorded a pretax net loss of $39,000 related to this sale, after closing adjustments.

Other. In 2018, we sold miscellaneous proved property, inventory and other assets for proceeds of $1.2 million, resulting in a pretax loss of $448,000.

2017 Dispositions

Texas Panhandle. In fourth quarter 2017, we sold various properties in the Texas Panhandle for proceeds of $40.4 million and we recorded a pretax loss of $989,000 related to this sale, after closing adjustments.

Western Oklahoma. In 2017, we sold certain properties in Oklahoma for proceeds of $30.8 million and we recorded a pretax gain of $23.8 million related to this sale, after closing adjustments and transaction fees.

Other. In 2017, we sold miscellaneous unproved property, inventory and surface property for proceeds of $1.3 million resulting in a pretax gain of $870,000.

F-19


 

(5)

Revenues from Contracts with Customers

Disaggregation of Revenue

We have identified three material revenue streams in our business: natural gas sales, NGLs sales, crude oil and condensate sales. Brokered revenue attributable to each product sales type is included here because the volume of product that we purchase is subsequently sold to separate counterparties in accordance with existing sales contracts under which we also sell our production. Revenue attributable to each of our identified revenue streams is disaggregated below (in thousands):

 

 

Year Ended

December 31,

 

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Natural gas sales

 

$

1,388,838

 

$

1,663,832

 

NGLs sales

 

 

681,134

 

 

931,360

 

Oil sales

 

 

185,453

 

 

255,885

 

Total natural gas, NGLs and oil sales

 

 

2,255,425

 

 

2,851,077

 

Sales of purchased natural gas

 

 

332,006

 

 

459,634

 

Sales of purchased NGLs

 

 

1,661

 

 

9,017

 

Other marketing revenue

 

 

11,842

 

 

14,109

 

Total

 

$

2,600,934

 

$

3,333,837

 

Principal versus Agent

We engage in various types of transactions in which midstream entities process our wet gas and, in some scenarios, subsequently market the resulting NGLs and residue gas to third-party customers on our behalf. These types of transactions require judgment to determine whether we are the principal or the agent in the contract and, as a result, whether revenues are recorded gross or net.

Transaction Price Allocated to Remaining Performance Obligations

A significant number of our product sales are short-term in nature with a contract term of one year or less. For those contracts, we have utilized the practical expedient allowed in the new revenue accounting standard that exempts us from disclosure of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations if the performance obligation is part of a contract that has an original expected duration of one year or less.

For our product sales that have a contract term greater than one year, we have also utilized the practical expedient that states that we are not required to disclose the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations if the variable consideration is allocated entirely to a wholly unsatisfied performance obligation. Under these sales contracts, each unit of product generally represents a separate performance obligation; therefore, future volumes are wholly unsatisfied and disclosure of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations is not required. Currently, our product sales that have a contractual term greater than one year have no long-term fixed consideration.

Contract Balances

Under our sales contracts, we invoice customers once our performance obligations have been satisfied, at which point payment is unconditional. Accordingly, our product sales contracts do not give rise to contract assets or liabilities. Accounts receivable attributable to our revenue contracts with customers was $237.0 million at December 31, 2019 and $438.3 million at December 31, 2018.

Prior−Period Performance Obligations

We record revenue in the month production is delivered to the purchaser. However, settlement statements for certain gas and NGLs sales may be received for 30 to 90 days after the date production is delivered, and as a result, we are required to estimate the amount of production that was delivered to the purchaser and the price that will be received for the sale of the product. We record the differences between our estimates and the actual amounts for product sales in the month that payment is received from the purchaser. We have internal controls in place for our estimation process and any identified differences between our revenue estimates and actual revenue received historically have not been significant. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, revenue recognized in the reporting period related to performance obligations satisfied in prior reporting periods was not material.

F-20


 

(6)

Income Taxes

Our income tax benefit was $500.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to $30.5 million in 2018 and $251.0 million in 2017. Reconciliation between the statutory federal income tax rate and our effective income tax rate is as follows:

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

Federal statutory tax rate

21.0

%

 

21.0

%

 

 

35.0

%

Federal rate change

 

 

 

 

 

(406.7

)

State

3.8

 

 

(0.3

)

 

 

(0.7

)

State rate and law change

1.8

 

 

0.9

 

 

 

(1.3

)

Non-deductible executive compensation

 

 

 

 

 

0.7

 

Valuation allowances

(3.8

)

 

(0.4

)

 

 

36.8

 

Equity compensation

(0.2

)

 

(0.1

)

 

 

30.2

 

Goodwill impairment

 

 

(19.4

)

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

0.3

 

Consolidated effective tax rate

22.6

%

 

1.7

%

 

 

(305.7

%)

Income tax (benefit) expense attributable to (loss) income before income taxes consists of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

2019

 

 

 

2018

 

 

 

2017

 

 

 

 

Current

 

 

Deferred

 

 

Total

 

 

Current

 

 

Deferred

 

 

Total

 

 

Current

 

 

Deferred

 

 

Total

 

U.S. federal

 

$

 

 

$

(434,585

)

 

$

(434,585

)

 

$

 

 

$

(25,322

)

 

$

(25,322

)

 

$

 

 

$

(302,507

)

 

$

(302,507

)

U.S. state and local

 

 

6,147

 

 

 

(71,853

)

 

 

(65,706

)

 

 

 

 

 

(5,167

)

 

 

(5,167

)

 

 

17

 

 

 

51,464

 

 

 

51,481

 

Total

 

$

6,147

 

 

$

(506,438

)

 

$

(500,291

)

 

$

 

 

$

(30,489

)

 

$

(30,489

)

 

$

17

 

 

$

(251,043

)

 

$

(251,026

)

Significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:

 

December 31,

 

 

2019

 

  

2018

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Deferred tax assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net operating loss carryforward

$

581,324

 

 

$

542,847

 

Deferred compensation

 

16,815

 

 

 

19,844

 

Equity compensation

 

7,188

 

 

 

8,152

 

AMT credits and other credits

 

 

 

 

3,296

 

Asset retirement obligation

 

60,064

 

 

 

78,126

 

Interest expense carryover

 

18,035

 

 

 

19,444

 

Lease deferred tax assets

 

16,450

 

 

 

 

Other

 

11,072

 

 

 

11,048

 

Valuation allowances:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

(32,530

)

 

 

(18,975

)

State, net of federal benefit

 

(158,296

)

 

 

(101,372

)

Total deferred tax assets

 

520,122

 

 

 

562,410

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and depletion

 

(639,581

)

 

 

(1,207,784

)

Cumulative mark-to-market gain

 

(25,957

)

 

 

(21,294

)

Lease deferred tax liabilities

 

(14,780

)

 

 

 

Total deferred tax liabilities

 

(680,318

)

 

 

(1,229,078

)

Net deferred tax liability

$

(160,196

)

 

$

(666,668

)

F-21


 

At December 31, 2019, deferred tax liabilities exceeded deferred tax assets by $160.2 million. As of December 31, 2019, we have a state valuation allowance of $158.3 million related to state tax attributes in Louisiana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia. As of December 31, 2019, we have federal valuation allowances of $32.5 million primarily related to our federal net operating loss carryforward, federal basis differences and charitable contribution carryforward. See the table below for activity related to these valuation allowances.

The changes in our deferred tax asset valuation allowances are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

2019

 

 

 

2018

 

 

 

2017

 

Balance at the beginning of the year

$

(120,347

)

 

$

(125,134

)

 

$

(107,174

)

Charged to provision for income taxes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State net operating loss carryforwards

 

(25,710

)

 

 

(23,926

)

 

 

(11,612

)

Federal net operating loss carryforwards

 

13,780

 

 

 

11,716

 

 

 

15,385

 

Non-recoverable deferred tax assets

 

(28,208

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other state valuation allowances

 

(31,214

)

 

 

16,380

 

 

 

(23,790

)

Other federal valuation allowances

 

346

 

 

 

494

 

 

 

(247

)

Other

 

527

 

 

 

123

 

 

 

2,304

 

Balance at the end of the year

$

(190,826

)

 

$

(120,347

)

 

$

(125,134

)

At December 31, 2019, we had federal net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards of $2.1 billion. This includes $1.4 billion that expires between 2020 and 2037 and also includes $712.8 million of NOL carryforwards generated after 2017 that do not expire. We have state NOL carryforwards in Pennsylvania of $856.3 million that expire between 2027 and 2038 and in Louisiana, we have state NOL carryforwards of $561.1 million that expire between 2034 and 2039. We file consolidated tax returns in the United States federal jurisdiction. We file separate company state income tax returns in Louisiana and Pennsylvania and file consolidated or unitary state income tax returns in Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia. We are subject to U.S. federal income tax examinations for the years 2016 and after and we are subject to various state tax examinations for years 2015 and after. We have not extended the statute of limitation period in any income tax jurisdiction. Our policy is to recognize interest related to income tax expense in interest expense and penalties in general and administrative expense. We do not have any accrued interest or penalties related to tax amounts as of December 31, 2019. Throughout 2019 and 2018, our unrecognized tax benefits were not material.

(7)

Net Income (Loss) per Common Share

Basic income or loss per share attributable to common stockholders is computed as (i) income or loss attributable to common stockholders (ii) less income allocable to participating securities (iii) divided by weighted average basic shares outstanding. Diluted income or loss per share attributable to common stockholders is computed as (i) basic income or loss attributable to common stockholders (ii) plus diluted adjustments to income allocable to participating securities (iii) divided by weighted average diluted shares outstanding. Diluted net income (loss) per share is calculated under both the two class method and the treasury stock method and the more dilutive of the two calculations is presented. The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net income or loss to basic income or loss attributable to common stockholders and to diluted income or loss attributable to common stockholders (in thousands except per share amounts):

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

Net (loss) income, as reported

$

(1,716,297

)

 

 

$

(1,746,481

)

 

$

333,146

 

Participating basic earnings (a)

 

(251

)

 

 

 

(245

)

 

 

(3,751

)

Basic net (loss) income attributed to common stockholders

 

(1,716,548

)

 

 

 

(1,746,726

)

 

 

329,395

 

Reallocation of participating earnings (a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

 

Diluted net (loss) income attributed to common stockholders

$

(1,716,548

)

 

 

$

(1,746,726

)

 

$

329,400

 

Net (loss) income per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$

(6.92

)

 

 

$

(7.10

)

 

$

1.34

 

Diluted

$

(6.92

)

 

 

$

(7.10

)

 

$

1.34

 

 

(a) 

Restricted stock Liability Awards represent participating securities because they participate in nonforfeitable dividends or distributions with common equity owners. Income allocable to participating securities represents the distributed and undistributed earnings attributable to the participating securities. Participating securities, however, do not participate in undistributed net losses.

 

 

F-22


 

The following table provides a reconciliation of basic weighted average common shares outstanding to diluted weighted average common shares outstanding (in thousands):

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic

 

247,970

 

 

 

246,171

 

 

 

245,091

 

Effect of dilutive securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Director and employee restricted stock and performance-based equity awards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

367

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted

 

247,970

 

 

 

246,171

 

 

 

245,458

 

Weighted average common shares – basic excludes 3.1 million shares of restricted stock Liability Awards held in our deferred compensation plans (although all awards are issued and outstanding upon grant) for the period ending December 31, 2019 compared to 3.1 million shares for the period ending December 31, 2018 and 2.8 million shares for the period ending December 31, 2017. Due to our net loss for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, we excluded all outstanding equity grants from the computation of diluted net loss per share because the effect would have been anti-dilutive to the computations. Equity grants of 702,000 for the year ended December 31, 2017 were outstanding but not included in the computations of diluted net income per share because the grant prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares and would be anti-dilutive to the computations. For purposes of calculating diluted weighted average common shares for the year ended December 31, 2017, nonvested restricted stock and performance based equity awards are included in the computation using the treasury stock method with the deemed proceeds equal to the average unrecognized compensation during the period.

(8) Indebtedness

We had the following debt outstanding as of the dates shown below (in thousands) (bank debt interest rate at December 31, 2019 is shown parenthetically). The expenses of issuing debt are capitalized and included as a reduction to debt in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. These costs are amortized over the expected life of the related instruments. When debt is retired before maturity, or modifications significantly change the cash flows, the related unamortized costs are expensed. No interest was capitalized during 2019, 2018, and 2017.

 

 

December 31,

2019

 

 

 

December 31,

2018

 

Bank debt (3.0%)

$

477,000

 

 

$

943,000

 

Senior notes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.875% senior notes due 2025

 

750,000

 

 

 

750,000

 

5.00% senior notes due 2023

 

741,531

 

 

 

741,531

 

5.00% senior notes due 2022

 

511,886

 

 

 

580,032

 

5.75% senior notes due 2021

 

374,139

 

 

 

475,952

 

5.875% senior notes due 2022

 

297,617

 

 

 

329,244

 

Other senior notes due 2022

 

590

 

 

 

590

 

Total senior notes

 

2,675,763

 

 

 

2,877,349

 

Senior subordinated notes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.00% senior subordinated notes due 2023

 

7,712

 

 

 

7,712

 

5.00% senior subordinated notes due 2022

 

19,054

 

 

 

19,054

 

5.75% senior subordinated notes due 2021

 

22,214

 

 

 

22,214

 

Total senior subordinated notes

 

48,980

 

 

 

48,980

 

Total debt

 

3,201,743

 

 

 

3,869,329

 

Unamortized premium

 

3,013

 

 

 

4,741

 

Unamortized debt issuance costs

 

(31,819

)

 

 

(37,209

)

Total debt (net of debt issuance costs)

$

3,172,937

 

 

$

3,836,861

 

Bank Debt

In April 2018, we entered into an amended and restated revolving bank facility, which we refer to as our bank debt or our bank credit facility, which is secured by substantially all of our assets. The bank credit facility has a maximum facility amount of $4.0 billion. As of December 31, 2019, the facility had a borrowing base of $3.0 billion and bank commitments of $2.4 billion. The bank credit facility provides for a borrowing base subject to redeterminations annually by each May and for event-driven unscheduled redeterminations. Our current bank group is comprised of twenty-seven financial institutions, with no one bank holding more than

F-23


 

7.0% of the total facility. The borrowing base may be increased or decreased based on our request and sufficient proved reserves, as determined by the bank group. The commitment amount may be increased to the borrowing base, subject to payment of a mutually acceptable commitment fee to those banks agreeing to participate in the facility increase. The commitment matures on April 13, 2023. As of December 31, 2019, the outstanding balance under the bank credit facility was $477.0 million with $250.2 million of undrawn letters of credit leaving $1.7 billion of borrowing capacity available under the commitment amount. During a non-investment grade period, borrowings under the bank facility can either be at the alternate base rate (“ABR,” as defined in the bank credit agreement) plus a spread ranging from 0.25% to 1.25% or LIBOR borrowings at the LIBOR Rate (as defined in the bank credit agreement) plus a spread ranging from 1.25% to 2.25%. The applicable spread is dependent upon borrowings relative to the borrowing base. We may elect, from time to time, to convert all or any part of our LIBOR loans to ABR loans or to convert all or any part of our ABR loans to LIBOR loans. The weighted average interest rate was 3.8% for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to 3.7% for the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2.7% for the year ended December 31, 2017. A commitment fee is paid on the undrawn balance based on an annual rate of 0.30% to 0.375%. At December 31, 2019, the commitment fee was 0.30%, the interest rate margin was 1.25% on our LIBOR loans and 0.25% on our ABR.

At any time during which we have an investment grade debt rating from Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and we have elected, at our discretion, to effect the investment grade rating period, certain collateral security requirements, including the borrowing base requirement and restrictive covenants will cease to apply, certain other restrictive covenants will become less restrictive and an additional financial covenant (as defined in the bank credit facility) will be temporarily imposed. During the investment grade period, borrowings under the bank credit facility can either be at the ABR plus a spread ranging from 0.125% to 0.75% or LIBOR Rate plus a spread ranging from 1.125% to 1.75% depending on our debt rating. The commitment fee paid on the undrawn balance ranges from 0.15% to 0.30%. We currently do not have an investment grade rating.

New Senior Notes

In January 2020, we issued $550.0 million aggregate principal amount of 9.25% senior notes due 2026 (the “9.25% Notes”) for an estimated net proceeds of $541.6 million after underwriting discounts and commissions of $8.4 million. The notes were issued at par. The 9.25% Notes were offered to qualified institutional buyers and to non-U.S. persons outside the United States in compliance with Rule 144A and Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Interest due on the 9.25% Notes is payable semi-annually in February and August and is unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by all of our subsidiary guarantors. On or after February 1, 2025, we may redeem the 9.25% Notes, in whole or in part and from time to time, at 100% of the principal amounts plus accrued and unpaid interest. We may redeem the notes prior to their maturity at redemption prices based on a premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest as described in the indenture governing the 9.25% Notes.  Upon occurrence of certain changes in control, we must offer to repurchase the 9.25% Notes. The 9.25% Notes are unsecured and are subordinated to all of our existing and future secured debt, rank equally with all of our existing and future unsecured debt and rank senior to all of our existing and future subordinated debt. On the closing of the 9.25% Notes, we used the proceeds to redeem $324.1 million of our 5.75% senior notes due 2021 and $175.9 million of our 5.875% senior notes due 2022 with the remainder applied to our borrowings under our bank credit facility.

Early Extinguishment of Debt

In third and fourth quarter 2019, we purchased in the open market $101.8 million principal amount of our 5.75% senior notes due 2021, $31.6 million principal amount of our 5.875% senior notes due 2022 and $68.1 million principal amount of our 5.00% senior notes due 2022. We recognized a gain on early extinguishment of debt, including transaction costs and the expensing of the remaining deferred financing costs on the repurchased debt.

In January 2020, we purchased for cash $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 5.75% senior notes due 2021 and our 5.875% senior notes due 2022. An early cash tender of $15.1 million was paid to note holders who tendered their notes within the ten business day early offer period. The cash tender offer and early cash tender premium were financed from the issuance of our new 9.25% Notes.  See New Senior Notes above.

Senior Notes and Senior Subordinated Notes

If we experience a change of control, noteholders may require us to repurchase all or a portion of our senior subordinated notes and our senior notes at 101% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. All of the senior subordinated notes and the guarantees by our subsidiary guarantors are general, unsecured obligations and are subordinated to our bank debt and are subordinated to existing and future senior debt that we or our subsidiary guarantors are permitted to incur.

Guarantees

Range Resources Corporation is a holding company which owns no operating assets and has no significant operations independent of its subsidiaries. The guarantees by our wholly-owned subsidiaries, which are directly or indirectly owned by Range, of our senior notes, our senior subordinated notes and our bank credit facility are full and unconditional and joint and several, subject to

F-24


 

certain customary release provisions. A subsidiary guarantor may be released from its obligations under the guarantee:

 

in the event of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the subsidiary guarantor or a sale or other disposition of all the capital stock of the subsidiary guarantor, to any corporation or other person (including an unrestricted subsidiary of Range) by way of merger, consolidation, or otherwise; or

 

 

if Range designates any restricted subsidiary that is a guarantor to be an unrestricted subsidiary in accordance with the terms of the indenture.

 

Debt Covenants and Maturity

Our bank credit facility contains negative covenants that limit our ability, among other things, to pay cash dividends, incur additional indebtedness, sell assets, enter into certain hedging contracts, change the nature of our business or operations, merge, consolidate, or make certain investments. In addition, we are required to maintain a ratio of EBITDAX (as defined in the credit agreement) to cash interest expense of equal to or greater than 2.5 and a current ratio (as defined in the credit agreement) of no less than 1.0. In addition, the ratio of the present value of proved reserves (as defined in the credit agreement) to total debt must be equal to or greater than 1.5 until Range has two investment grade ratings. We were in compliance with applicable covenants under the bank credit facility at December 31, 2019.

The following is the principal maturity schedule for our long-term debt outstanding as of December 31, 2019 (in thousands):

 

Year Ended
December 31,

 

2020

$

 

2021

 

396,353

 

2022

 

829,147

 

2023

 

1,226,243

 

2024

 

 

Thereafter

 

750,000

 

 

$

3,201,743

 

 

(9)

Asset Retirement Obligations

Our asset retirement obligations (“ARO”) primarily represent the present value of the estimated amounts we will incur to plug, abandon and remediate our producing properties at the end of their productive lives. Significant inputs used in determining such obligations include estimates of plugging and abandonment costs, estimated future inflation rates and well lives. The inputs are calculated based on historical data as well as current estimated costs. The following is a reconciliation of our liability for plugging and abandonment costs as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands):

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

Beginning of period

$

312,754

 

 

$

276,855

 

Liabilities incurred

 

4,063

 

 

 

3,376

 

Acquisitions

 

 

 

 

13,438

 

Liabilities settled

 

(5,953

)

 

 

(5,052

)

Disposition of wells

 

(82,576

)

 

 

(13,332

)

Accretion expense

 

15,658

 

 

 

25,456

 

Change in estimate

 

7,130

 

 

 

12,013

 

End of period

 

251,076

 

 

 

312,754

 

 

Less current portion

 

(2,393

)

 

 

(5,485

)

 

Long-term asset retirement obligations (a)

$

248,683

 

 

$

307,269

 

(a) In fourth quarter 2019, we entered into an agreement to sell our legacy assets in Northwest Pennsylvania. Final approval from the state governmental authorities for a change in operatorship is expected by mid-2020, at which time we will reduce this liability by approximately $125.5 million and recognize a gain on sale of these assets.

Accretion expense is recognized as an increase to depreciation, depletion and amortization expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

F-25


 

(10)

Derivative Activities

We use commodity-based derivative contracts to manage exposure to commodity price fluctuations. We do not enter into these arrangements for speculative or trading purposes. We do not utilize complex derivatives as we typically utilize commodity swap, calls, swaptions or collar contracts to (1) reduce the effect of price volatility of the commodities we produce and sell and (2) support our annual capital budget and expenditure plans. Every derivative instrument is required to be recorded on our consolidated balance sheets as either an asset or a liability measured at its fair value. Their fair value, which is represented by the estimated amount that would be realized upon termination, based on a comparison of the contract price and a reference price (generally NYMEX for natural gas and crude oil or Mont Belvieu for NGLs), approximated a net derivative asset of $126.7 million at December 31, 2019. These contracts expire monthly through December 2021. The following table sets forth the derivative volumes by year as of December 31, 2019, excluding our basis and freight swaps which are discussed separately below:

 

Period

  

Contract Type

  

Volume Hedged

  

Weighted
Average Hedge Price

Natural Gas

  

 

  

 

  

 

2020

 

Swaps

 

1,000,984 Mmbtu/day

 

$ 2.64 (1)

2021

 

Swaps

 

50,000 Mmbtu/day

 

$ 2.62 (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude Oil

  

 

  

 

  

 

2020

 

Swaps

 

7,995 bbls/day

 

$ 58.27 (1)

2021

 

Swaps

 

1,000 bbls/day

 

$ 55.00 (1)

April-September, 2020

 

Calls

 

500 bbls/day

 

$ 59.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NGLs (NC4-Normal Butane)

  

 

  

 

  

 

January-March, 2020

 

Swaps

 

659 bbls/day

 

$ 0.73/gallon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NGLs (C5-Natural Gasoline)

  

 

  

 

  

 

January-March, 2020

 

Swaps

 

4,297 bbls/day

 

$ 1.21/gallon

(1) We also sold natural gas call swaptions of 140,000 Mmbtu/day for March-December 2020 at a weighted average price of $2.53 and 100,000 Mmbtu per day for 2021 at a weighted average price of $2.69. In addition, we sold call swaptions of 3,000 bbls per day for 2021 at a weighted average price of $56.50.

Basis Swap Contracts

In addition to the swaps, collars and swaptions above, at December 31, 2019, we had natural gas basis swap contracts which lock in the differential between NYMEX and certain of our physical pricing points in Appalachia. These contracts settle monthly through December 2021 and include a total volume of 114,882,500 Mmbtu. The fair value of these contracts was a net derivative asset of $9.4 million on December 31, 2019.

At December 31, 2019, we also had propane spread swap contracts which lock in the differential between Mont Belvieu and international propane indexes. The contracts settle monthly in 2020. The fair value of these contracts was a net derivative liability of $14.1 million on December 31, 2019.

Freight Swap Contracts

In connection with our international propane sales, we utilize propane swaps. To further hedge our propane price, at December 31, 2019, we had freight swap contracts which lock in the freight rate for a specific trade route on the Baltic Exchange. These contracts settle monthly and cover 4,000 metric tons per month in first quarter 2020, increasing to 14,000 metric tons per month for the remainder of 2020 and 10,000 metric tons per month in 2021 with a fair value net derivative asset of $1.5 million on December 31, 2019.

Derivative Assets and Liabilities

The combined fair value of derivatives included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 is summarized below (in thousands). As of December 31, 2019, we are conducting derivative activities with twenty counterparties, of which all but three are secured lenders in our bank credit facility. We believe all of these counterparties are acceptable credit risks. At times, such risks may be concentrated with certain counterparties. The credit worthiness of our counterparties is subject to periodic review. The assets and liabilities are netted where derivatives with both gain and loss positions are held by a single counterparty and we have master netting arrangements.

 

F-26


 

 

 

  

December 31, 2019

 

 

 

  

Gross

Amounts of

Recognized

Assets

 

  

Gross Amounts

Offset in the Balance Sheet

 

  

Net Amounts of

Assets Presented in the

Balance Sheet

 

Derivative assets:

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Natural gas

–swaps

  

$

134,364

 

  

$

(2,913

)

  

$

131,451

 

 

–swaptions

 

 

 

 

 

(1,325

)

 

 

(1,325

)

 

–basis swaps

 

 

10,766

 

 

 

(1,092

)

 

 

9,674

 

Crude oil

–swaps

 

 

3,893

 

 

 

(4,794

)

 

 

(901

)

 

–swaptions

 

 

 

 

 

(1,597

)

 

 

(1,597

)

 

–calls

 

 

 

 

 

(349

)

 

 

(349

)

NGLs

–C3 propane spread swaps

 

 

1,913

 

 

 

(1,913

)

 

 

 

 

–NC4 butane swaps

  

 

167

 

 

 

 

  

 

167

 

 

–C5 natural gasoline swaps

 

 

60

 

 

 

(127

)

 

 

(67

)

Freight

–swaps

 

 

1,529

 

 

 

(1,028

)

 

 

501

 

 

 

  

$

152,692

 

  

$

(15,138

)

  

$

137,554

 

 

 

 

  

December 31, 2019

 

 

 

  

Gross

Amounts of 

Recognized (Liabilities)

 

  

Gross Amounts
Offset in the
Balance Sheet

 

 

Net Amounts of

(Liabilities) Presented in the

Balance Sheet

 

Derivative (liabilities):

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas

–swaps

 

$

(1,657

)

 

$

2,913

 

 

$

1,256

 

 

–swaptions

 

 

(2,594

)

 

 

1,325

 

 

 

(1,269

)

 

–basis swaps

 

 

(1,371

)

 

 

1,092

 

 

 

(279

)

Crude oil

–swaps

 

 

(4,814

)

 

 

4,794

 

 

 

(20

)

 

–swaptions

 

 

(2,254

)

 

 

1,597

 

 

 

(657

)

 

–calls

 

 

(349

)

 

 

349

 

 

 

 

NGLs

–C3 propane spread swaps

 

 

(16,040

)

 

 

1,913

 

 

 

(14,127

)

 

–C5 natural gasoline swaps

 

 

(127

)

 

 

127

 

 

 

 

Freight

–swaps

 

 

 

 

 

1,028

 

 

 

1,028

 

 

 

 

$

(29,206

)

 

$

15,138

 

 

$

(14,068

)

 

 

 

  

December 31, 2018

 

 

 

  

Gross

Amounts of

Recognized

Assets

 

  

Gross Amounts

Offset in the Balance Sheet

 

  

Net Amounts of

Assets Presented in the

Balance Sheet

 

Derivative assets:

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Natural gas

–swaps

  

$

20,834

 

  

$

(11,748

)

  

$

9,086

 

 

–swaptions

 

 

5,200

 

 

 

(3,883

)

 

 

1,317

 

 

–basis swaps

 

 

6,468

 

 

 

(2,822

)

 

 

3,646

 

Crude oil

–swaps

 

 

26,481

 

 

 

(651

)

 

 

25,830

 

 

–collars

 

 

5,945

 

 

 

(707

)

 

 

5,238

 

NGLs

–C3 propane swaps

 

 

18,719

 

 

 

(589

)

 

 

18,130

 

 

–C3 propane collars

 

 

8,538

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,538

 

 

–C3 propane spread swaps

 

 

8,984

 

 

 

(8,868

)

 

 

116

 

 

–NC4 butane swaps

  

 

4,084

 

 

 

 

  

 

4,084

 

 

–C5 natural gasoline swaps

 

 

17,371

 

 

 

 

 

 

17,371

 

Freight

–swaps

 

 

 

 

 

(561

)

 

 

(561

)

 

 

  

$

122,624

 

  

$

(29,829

)

  

$

92,795

 

F-27


 

 

 

 

  

December 31, 2018

 

 

 

  

Gross

Amounts of 

Recognized (Liabilities)

 

  

Gross Amounts
Offset in the
Balance Sheet

 

 

Net Amounts of

(Liabilities) Presented in the

Balance Sheet

 

Derivative (liabilities):

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas

–swaps

 

$

(18,332

)

 

$

11,748

 

 

$

(6,584

)

 

–swaptions

 

 

(7,972

)

 

 

3,883

 

 

 

(4,089

)

 

–basis swaps

 

 

(1,702

)

 

 

2,822

 

 

 

1,120

 

Crude oil

–swaps

 

 

 

 

 

651

 

 

 

651

 

 

–collars

 

 

 

 

 

707

 

 

 

707

 

NGLs

–C3 propane swaps

 

 

 

 

 

589

 

 

 

589

 

 

–C3 propane spread swaps

 

 

(8,868

)

 

 

8,868

 

 

 

 

Freight

–swaps

 

 

(561

)

 

 

561

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

(37,435

)

 

$

29,829

 

 

$

(7,606

)

 

The effects of our derivatives on our consolidated statements of operations for the last three years are summarized below (in thousands).

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

Derivative Fair Value

(Loss) Income

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

Commodity swaps

 

$

219,968

 

 

$

(57,950

)

 

$

181,095

 

Swaptions

 

 

333

 

 

 

(6,556

)

 

 

6,534

 

Collars

 

 

(3,903

)

 

 

17,583

 

 

 

18,132

 

Basis swaps

 

 

6,661

 

 

 

(1,104

)

 

 

(4,647

)

Puts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,929

 

Calls

 

 

(349

)

 

 

(2,653

)

 

 

987

 

Freight swaps

 

 

3,971

 

 

 

(512

)

 

 

320

 

Total

 

$

226,681

 

 

$

(51,192

)

 

$

213,350

 

 

(11)

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. There are three approaches for measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities: the market approach, the income approach and the cost approach, each of which includes multiple valuation techniques. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities. The income approach uses valuation techniques to measure fair value by converting future amounts, such as cash flows or earnings, into a single present value amount using current market expectations about those future amounts. The cost approach is based on the amount that would currently be required to replace the service capacity of an asset. This is often referred to as current replacement cost. The cost approach assumes that the fair value would not exceed what it would cost a market participant to acquire or construct a substitute asset of comparable utility, adjusted for obsolescence.

The fair value accounting standards do not prescribe which valuation technique should be used when measuring fair value and does not prioritize among the techniques. These standards establish a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used in applying the various valuation techniques. Inputs broadly refer to the assumptions that market participants use to make pricing decisions, including assumptions about risk. Level 1 inputs are given the highest priority in the fair value hierarchy, while Level 3 inputs are given the lowest priority. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

 

Level 1 – Observable inputs that reflect unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets as of the reporting date. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

 

 

Level 2 – Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data. These are inputs other than quoted prices in active markets included in Level 1, which are either

 

F-28


 

 

directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date.

 

 

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs for which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability being measured. These inputs reflect management’s best estimates of the assumptions market participants would use in determining fair value. Our Level 3 measurements consist of instruments using standard pricing models and other valuation methods that utilize unobservable pricing inputs that are significant to the overall value.

 

Valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs are favored. Assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest priority level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the placement of assets and liabilities within the levels of the fair value hierarchy. When transfers between levels occur, it is our policy to assume the transfer occurred at the date of the event or change in circumstances that caused the transfer.

Fair Values-Recurring

We use a market approach for our recurring fair value measurements and endeavor to use the best information available. Accordingly, valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable impacts are favored. The following tables present the fair value hierarchy table for assets and liabilities measured at fair value, on a recurring basis (in thousands):

 

Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2019 Using:

 

 

Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)

 

  

Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)

 

  

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)

 

  

Total
Carrying
Value as of
December 31,
2019

 

Trading securities held in the deferred compensation plans

$

62,009

  

  

$

  

  

$

  

  

$

62,009

  

Derivatives

–swaps

 

  

  

 

131,886

 

  

 

  

  

 

131,886

 

 

–calls

 

 

 

 

(349

)

 

 

 

 

 

(349

)

 

–basis swaps

 

  

  

 

(4,732

)  

  

 

  

  

 

(4,732

)  

 

–freight swaps

 

 

 

 

1,529

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,529

 

 

–swaptions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(4,848

)

 

 

(4,848

)

 

 

Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2018 Using:

 

 

Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)

 

  

Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)

 

  

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)

 

  

Total
Carrying
Value as of
December 31,
2018

 

Trading securities held in the deferred compensation plans

$

57,293

  

  

$

  

  

$

  

  

$

57,293

  

Derivatives

–swaps

 

  

  

 

69,156

 

  

 

  

  

 

69,156

 

 

–collars

 

 

 

 

5,945

 

 

 

8,538

 

 

 

14,483

 

 

–basis swaps

 

  

  

 

4,883

  

  

 

  

  

 

4,883

  

 

–freight swaps

 

 

 

 

(561

)

 

 

 

 

 

(561

)

 

–swaptions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,772

)

 

 

(2,772

)

 

Our trading securities in Level 1 are exchange-traded and measured at fair value with a market approach using December 31, 2019 market values. Derivatives in Level 2 are measured at fair value with a market approach using third-party pricing services, which have been corroborated with data from active markets or broker quotes. As of December 31, 2019, a portion of our natural gas derivative instruments contain swaptions where the counterparty has the right, but not the obligation, to enter into a fixed price swap on a predetermined date. Derivatives in Level 3 are measured at fair value with a market approach using third-party pricing services, which have been corroborated with data from active markets or broker quotes. Subjectivity in the volatility factors utilized can cause a significant change in the fair value measurement of our swaptions. The following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for derivative instruments classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy (in thousands):

F-29


 

 

 

Year Ended

December 31,

2019

 

Balance at the beginning of period

$

5,766

 

Total gains (losses):

 

 

 

Included in earnings

 

 

Settlements received

 

(7,692

Transfers in and/or out of Level 3

 

(2,922

)

Balance at end of period

$

(4,848

 

Our trading securities held in the deferred compensation plan are accounted for using the mark-to-market accounting method and are included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. We elected to adopt the fair value option to simplify our accounting for the investments in our deferred compensation plan. Interest, dividends, and mark-to-market gains/losses are included in deferred compensation plan expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. For the year ended December 31, 2019, interest and dividends were $1.1 million and mark-to-market was a gain of $8.5 million. For the year ended December 31, 2018, interest and dividends were $1.1 million and mark-to-market was a loss of $7.9 million. For the year ended December 31, 2017, interest and dividends were $4.1 million and mark-to-market was a gain of $4.2 million.

Fair Values-Non recurring

Due to declines in commodity prices and estimated reserves over the last three years, there were indications that the carrying values of certain of our natural gas and oil properties may be impaired and undiscounted future cash flows attributed to these assets indicated their carrying amounts were not expected to be recovered. Their fair value is generally measured using an income approach based upon internal estimates of future production levels, prices, drilling and operating costs and discount rates, which are Level 3 inputs. In some cases, we also considered the potential sale of these properties and comparable market value, if available. In fourth quarter 2019, there were indicators that the carrying value of our North Louisiana properties may be impaired due to a shift in business strategy employed by management and also the possibility of a divestiture of these assets. As a result of the impairment evaluation, where we used an income approach, also referred to as a discounted cash flow model, to assess fair value and we recorded an impairment of $1.1 billion. An additional guideline transaction market approach was also utilized to corroborate the estimated fair value. The expected future net cash flows used published future prices and were discounted using an annual rate of twelve percent to determine fair value. We have a gas processing agreement that extends through 2030 in North Louisiana where we must pay a quarterly deficiency payment if the minimum volume commitment is not met. In the event these properties are sold in the future and any or all of these charges are retained by us, we would recognize and accrue these future divestiture-related charges, which could be significant. For fourth quarter 2019, our deficiency charges were approximately $14.0 million. During 2018, we increased our interest in certain properties in our shallow legacy oil and natural gas assets in Northwest Pennsylvania for a minimal dollar amount for which the fair value was previously determined to be zero. As a result, in 2018 we recorded additional impairment of $15.3 million related to these properties. In early 2018, there were indicators that the carrying value of certain of our oil and gas properties in Oklahoma may be impaired and undiscounted future cash flows attributed to these assets indicated their carrying amounts were not expected to be recovered. We recorded non-cash impairment charges of $7.3 million related to these properties. We recorded non-cash impairment charges during the year ended 2017 of $63.7 million related to certain of our oil and gas properties in Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle. The following table presents the value of these assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at the time impairment was recorded (in thousands):

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

  

2018

 

  

2017

 

 

Fair Value

  

Impairment

  

Fair Value

 

  

Impairment

 

  

Fair Value

 

  

Impairment

 

Natural gas and oil properties

$

370,500

 

 

$

1,093,531

 

 

$

32,516

 

 

$

22,614

 

 

$

85,597

 

 

$

63,679

 

 

Fair Value-Goodwill

During 2016, we recorded goodwill associated with a business acquisition, which represented the cost of the acquired entity over the net amounts assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Goodwill is assessed for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that impairment of the carrying value of goodwill is likely, but no less often than annually. As of November 1, 2018, we performed our annual qualitative assessment of goodwill to determine whether it was more likely than not that the fair value of our reporting unit was less than its carrying amount. Based on the results of this assessment, we determined it was not likely that goodwill was impaired. However, since that qualitative assessment at November 1, 2018, our stock price declined significantly through December 31, 2018, at which time our stock price closed at $9.57 per share. At that time, we undertook a quantitative goodwill assessment. In this assessment, fair value is estimated based on a combination of a market capitalization and an income

F-30


 

approach. The income approach is based on internal estimates of future production levels, prices, drilling and operating costs and discount rates, which are Level 3 inputs. The estimated market capitalization approach utilized a 20 day weighted average stock price and our common shares outstanding as of December 31, 2018. Management utilized the assistance of a third-party valuation expert to determine the fair value of our business. Two additional market approaches, the guideline public company multiple and the guideline transaction method were also utilized to corroborate the estimated fair value. As a result of this measurement, we recorded a $1.6 billion impairment of goodwill during fourth quarter 2018.

Fair Values-Reported

The following table presents the carrying amounts and the fair values of our financial instruments as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands):

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

 

December 31, 2018

 

 

 

Carrying
Value

 

 

Fair
Value

 

 

Carrying
Value

 

 

Fair
Value

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity swaps, options and basis swaps

 

$

137,554

 

 

$

137,554

 

 

$

92,795

 

 

$

92,795

 

Marketable securities (a)

 

 

62,009

 

 

 

62,009

 

 

 

57,293

 

 

 

57,293

 

(Liabilities):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity swaps, options and basis swaps

 

 

(14,068

)

 

 

(14,068

)

 

 

(7,606

)

 

 

(7,606

)

Bank credit facility (b)

 

 

(477,000

)

 

 

(477,000

)

 

 

(943,000

)

 

 

(943,000

)

5.75% senior notes due 2021 (b)

 

 

(374,139

)

 

 

(375,909

)

 

 

(475,952

)

 

 

(455,972

)

5.00% senior notes due 2022 (b)

 

 

(511,886

)

 

 

(501,582

)

 

 

(580,032

)

 

 

(519,343

)

5.875% senior notes due 2022 (b)

 

 

(297,617

)

 

 

(294,757

)

 

 

(329,244

)

 

 

(305,989

)

Other senior notes due 2022 (b)

 

 

(590

)

 

 

(592

)

 

 

(590

)

 

 

(581

)

5.00% senior notes due 2023 (b)

 

 

(741,531

)

 

 

(683,291

)

 

 

(741,531

)

 

 

(654,683

)

4.875% senior notes due 2025 (b)

 

 

(750,000

)

 

 

(645,098

)

 

 

(750,000

)

 

 

(616,313

)

5.75% senior subordinated notes due 2021 (b)

 

 

(22,214

)

 

 

(21,539

)

 

 

(22,214

)

 

 

(21,638

)

5.00% senior subordinated notes due 2022 (b)

 

 

(19,054

)

 

 

(17,011

)

 

 

(19,054

)

 

 

(17,072

)

5.00% senior subordinated notes due 2023 (b)

 

 

(7,712

)

 

 

(7,654

)

 

 

(7,712

)

 

 

(6,690

)

Deferred compensation plan (c)

 

 

(74,472

)

 

 

(74,472

)

 

 

(80,092

)

 

 

(80,092

)

(a)

Marketable securities, which are held in our deferred compensation plans, are actively traded on major exchanges.

(b)

The book value of our bank debt approximates fair value because of its floating rate structure. The fair value of our senior notes and our senior subordinated notes is based on end of period market quotes which are Level 2 inputs.

(c)

The fair value of our deferred compensation plan is updated at the closing price on the balance sheet date which is a Level 1 input.

Our current assets and liabilities contain financial instruments, the most significant of which are trade accounts receivables and payables. We believe the carrying values of our current assets and liabilities approximate fair value. Our fair value assessment incorporates a variety of considerations, including (1) the short-term duration of the instruments and (2) our historical incurrence of and expected future insignificance of bad debt expense.

(12)

Stock-Based Compensation Plans

Description of the Plans

We have two active equity-based stock plans, our 2005 Equity Based Compensation Plan, which we refer to as the 2005 Plan and the new 2019 Equity-Based Compensation Plan, which was approved by our stockholders in May 2019. Under these plans, the compensation committee of the board of directors may grant, among other things, stock options, SARs, PSUs and restricted stock awards to non-employee directors and employees. Shares issued as a result of awards granted are generally new common shares but can be funded out of treasury shares, if available.

F-31


 

Total Stock-Based Compensation Expense

Stock-based compensation expense represents amortization of restricted stock and performance units. The following table details the amount of stock-based compensation that is allocated to functional expense categories for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2019 (in thousands):

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

  

2017(1)

 

Direct operating expense

$

1,928

  

 

$

2,109

  

  

$

2,060

  

Brokered natural gas and marketing expense

 

1,856

 

 

 

1,452

 

  

 

1,437

 

Exploration expense

 

1,566

 

 

 

1,921

 

  

 

2,742

 

General and administrative expense

 

35,061

  

 

 

43,806

 

  

 

74,873

 

Termination costs

 

1,971

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,664

 

Total

$

42,382

  

 

$

49,288

  

  

$

82,776

  

 

(1)

Includes $30.8 million accelerated vesting of equity grants.

In fourth quarter 2017, the compensation committee approved a new post-retirement benefit plan (See Other Post Retirement Benefits below). Along with establishing the new health care benefit plan for certain officers that have met the required age and service requirements and with the intention of improving our management succession plan, those officers who qualify for the new post-retirement health care plan were fully vested in all equity grants. The one-time impact of the acceleration of these equity grants was $30.8 million in fourth quarter 2017. Effective October 2018, officers who qualify for the new post-retirement health care plan are required to provide reasonable notice of retirement and, beginning in 2019, are fully vested after one year of service after grant date.

Unlike the other forms of stock-based compensation expense mentioned above, the mark-to-market of the liability related to the vested restricted stock held in our deferred compensation plans is directly tied to the change in our stock price and not directly related to the functional expenses. Therefore, the liability related to the vested restricted stock held in our deferred compensation plans is not allocated to the functional categories and is reported as deferred compensation plan expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

In 2019, we recorded $3.4 million additional tax expense for the tax effect of excess financial accounting expense over the corporate income tax deduction for equity compensation vested in the year compared to $3.6 million in 2018 and $5.3 million in 2017.

Stock-Based Awards

Restricted Stock Awards. We grant restricted stock units under our equity-based stock compensation plans. These restricted stock units, which we refer to as restricted stock Equity Awards, generally vest over a three-year period and are contingent on the recipient’s continued employment. These awards are net settled by withholding shares to satisfy income tax withholding payments due upon vesting. The remaining shares are remitted to individual brokerage accounts. The grant date fair value of the Equity Awards is based on the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. Shares to be delivered upon vesting are made available from authorized but unissued shares or shares held as treasury stock.

The compensation committee also grants restricted stock to certain employees and non-employee directors of the board of directors as part of their compensation. We also grant restricted stock to certain employees for retention purposes. Compensation expense is recognized over the balance of the vesting period, which is typically three years for employee grants and immediate vesting for non-employee directors. All restricted stock awards are issued at prevailing market prices at the time of the grant and the vesting is based upon an employee’s continued employment with us. Prior to vesting, all restricted stock awards have the right to vote such stock (by the trustee) and receive dividends thereon. Upon grant of these restricted shares, which we refer to as restricted stock Liability Awards, the majority of these shares are generally placed in our deferred compensation plan and, upon vesting, withdrawals are allowed in either cash or in stock. These Liability Awards are classified as a liability and are remeasured at fair value each reporting period. This mark-to-market amount is reported in deferred compensation plan expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Historically, we have used authorized but unissued shares of stock when restricted stock is granted. However, we also may utilize treasury shares when available.

Stock-Based Performance Units. We grant three types of performance share awards:  two of which are based on performance conditions measured against internal performance metrics (Production Growth Awards or “PG-PSUs” and Reserve Growth Awards or “RG-PSUs”) and one based on market conditions measured based on Range’s performance relative to a predetermined peer group (TSR Award or “TSR-PSUs”).

At grant date, each unit represents the value of one share of our common stock. These units are settled in stock and the amount of the payout is based on (1) the vesting percentage, which can be from zero to 200% based on the performance achieved and (2) the value of our common stock on the date vesting is determined by the compensation committee. Dividend equivalents may accrue

F-32


 

during the performance period and would be paid in stock at the end of the performance period. The performance period is a three-year period.

Restricted Stock – Equity Awards

In 2019, we granted 2.8 million restricted stock Equity Awards to employees which generally vest over a three-year period compared to 1.8 million in 2018 and 888,000 in 2017. We recorded compensation expense for these awards of $22.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to $24.2 million in 2018 and $23.4 million in 2017. As of December 31, 2019, there was $24.9 million of unrecognized compensation related to Equity Awards expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years. Restricted stock Equity Awards are not issued to employees until such time as they are vested and the employees do not have the option to receive cash.

Restricted Stock – Liability Awards

In 2019, we granted 1.2 million shares of restricted stock Liability Awards as compensation to directors and employees at an average price of $10.16. These grants included 183,000 shares issued to non-employee directors, which vest immediately, and 1.0 million shares to employees with vesting generally over a three-year period. In 2018, we granted 891,000 shares of restricted stock Liability Awards as compensation to directors and employees at an average price of $15.30. This grant included 146,000 issued to non-employee directors, which vest immediately, and 745,000 shares to employees with vesting generally over a three-year period. In 2017, we granted 543,000 shares of restricted stock Liability Awards as compensation to directors and employees at an average price of $25.91. These grants included 90,000 shares issued to non-employee directors, which vest immediately, and 453,000 shares to employees with vesting generally over a three-year period. We recorded compensation expense for these Liability Awards of $9.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to $11.7 million in 2018 and $30.4 million in 2017. Accelerated vesting compensation expense of $15.4 million is included in the year ended December 31, 2017. As of December 31, 2019, there was $4.5 million of unrecognized compensation related to restricted stock Liability Awards expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.5 years. The majority of all of these awards are held in our deferred compensation plan, are classified as a liability and are remeasured at fair value each reporting period. This mark-to-market amount is reported as deferred compensation expense in our consolidated statements of operations (see additional discussion below). The proceeds received from the sale of stock held in our deferred compensation plan were $667,000 in 2019 compared to $9.7 million in 2018 and $4.5 million in 2017. The following is a summary of the status of our non-vested restricted stock outstanding at December 31, 2019:

 

 

Restricted Stock
Equity Awards

 

  

Restricted Stock
Liability Awards

 

 

Shares

 

 

Weighted
Average Grant
Date Fair Value

 

  

Shares

 

 

Weighted
Average Grant
Date Fair Value

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2016

 

765,971

 

 

 $

33.62

  

  

 

425,018

 

 

 $

43.48

  

Granted

 

888,326

 

 

 

32.61

 

  

 

543,438

 

 

 

25.91

 

Vested

 

(698,563

)

 

 

34.82

 

  

 

(908,912

)

 

 

33.71

 

Forfeited

 

(122,676

)

 

 

32.91

  

  

 

(4,342

)

 

 

31.10

  

Outstanding at December 31, 2017

 

833,058

 

 

 

31.64

 

 

 

55,202

 

 

 

32.26

  

Granted

 

1,834,883

 

 

 

16.98

 

 

 

891,350

 

 

 

15.30

 

Vested

 

(1,037,501

)

 

 

23.57

 

 

 

(738,073

)

 

 

16.34

 

Forfeited

 

(244,352

)

 

 

21.59

 

 

 

(23,900

)

 

 

19.76

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2018

 

1,386,088

 

 

 

20.04

 

 

 

184,579

 

 

 

15.65

 

Granted

 

2,792,438

 

 

 

10.59

 

 

 

1,214,038

 

 

 

10.16

 

Vested

 

(1,608,075

)

 

 

15.72

 

 

 

(987,491

)

 

 

10.86

 

Forfeited

 

(568,212

)

 

 

13.03

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2019

 

2,002,239

 

 

$

12.32

 

 

 

411,126

 

 

$

10.94

 

F-33


 

Stock-Based Performance Units

Production Growth and Reserve Growth Awards. The PG-PSUs and RG-PSUs vest at the end of the three-year performance period. The performance metrics for each year are set by the compensation committee no later than March 31 of such year. If the performance metric for the applicable period is not met, then that portion is considered forfeited. The following is a summary of our non-vested PG/RG-PSUs awards outstanding at December 31, 2019:

 

 

 

 

 

Number of
Units

 

 

 

Weighted
Average
Grant Date Fair
Value
of Range Stock

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2016

 

 

 

$

 

Units granted

 

122,921

 

 

 

25.53

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2017

 

122,921

 

 

 

25.53

 

Units granted (a)

 

440,938

 

 

 

15.22

 

Forfeited (b)

 

(27,061

)

 

 

23.03

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2018

 

536,798

 

 

 

15.61

 

Units granted (a)

 

345,202

 

 

 

10.32

 

Forfeited

 

(427

)

 

 

15.65

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2019

 

881,573

 

 

$

11.70

 

(a) Amounts granted reflect the number of performance units granted; however, the actual payout of shares will be between zero and 200% depending on achievement of specifically identified performance targets.

(b) The first of three tranches of PG-PSUs granted in 2017 was forfeited as the performance metric was not met.  

 

We recorded PG/RG-RSUs compensation expense of $3.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to $5.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2018 and $1.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2017. Accelerated vesting compensation expense of $1.5 million is included in the year ended December 31, 2017. As of December 31, 2019, there was $933,000 of unrecognized compensation related these PSU awards to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.0 years.

TSR Awards. TSR-PSUs granted are earned, or not earned, based on the comparative performance of Range’s common stock measured against a predetermined group of companies in the peer group over a three-year performance period. The fair value of the TSR-PSUs is estimated on the date of grant using a Monte Carlo simulation model which utilizes multiple input variables that determine the probability of satisfying the market condition stipulated in the award grant and calculates the fair value of the award. The fair value is recognized as stock-based compensation expense over the three-year performance period. Expected volatilities utilized in the model were estimated using a combination of a historical period consistent with the remaining performance period of three years and option implied volatilities. The risk-free interest rate was based on the United States Treasury rate for a term commensurate with the life of the grant. The following assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of the TSR-PSUs granted during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017:

 

  

Year Ended December 31, 2019

 

 

  

2019

 

  

2018

 

 

2017

 

Risk-free interest rate

 

 

2.44

%

 

 

2.42

%

 

 

1.49

%

Expected annual volatility

 

 

46

%

 

 

48

%

 

 

44

%

Grant date fair value per unit

 

$

11.34

 

 

$

18.51

 

 

$

26.26

 

F-34


 

The following is a summary of our non-vested TSR PSUs award activities:

 

 


Number of Units

 

 

Weighted
Average
Grant Date Fair Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2016

 

 

871,299

 

 

$

55.29

 

Granted (a)

 

 

358,519

 

 

 

26.26

 

Vested and issued (b)

 

 

(85,461

)

 

 

86.23

 

Forfeited

 

 

(134,515

)

 

 

85.24

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2017

 

 

1,009,842

 

 

 

38.38

 

Granted (a)

 

 

329,486

 

 

 

18.51

 

Vested and issued (c)

 

 

(73,985

)

 

 

56.81

 

Forfeited

 

 

(197,457

)

 

 

55.46

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2018

 

 

1,067,886

 

 

 

27.81

 

Granted (a)

 

 

314,152

 

 

 

11.34

 

Vested and issued (d)

 

 

(12,283

)

 

 

30.47

 

Forfeited

 

 

(376,303

)

 

 

37.25

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2019

 

 

993,452

 

 

$

19.00

 

(a) These amounts reflect the number of performance units granted. The actual payout of shares may be between zero and 150% (for TSR-PSUs granted in 2017) and may be between zero and 200% (for TSR-PSUs granted in 2018 and 2019) of the performance units granted depending on the total shareholder return ranking compared to our peer companies at the vesting date.

(b) Includes 85,461 TSR-PSU awards issued related to the 2014 performance period where the return on our common stock was the 67th percentile for the February 2014 grant and 56th percentile for the May 2014 grant. The remaining 2014 awards are considered to be forfeited.

(c) Includes 73,985 TSR-PSUs awards issued related to the 2015 performance period where the return on our common stock was the 46th percentile for the February 2015 grant and the 36th percentile for the May 2015 grant. The remaining 2015 awards are considered to be forfeited.

(d) Includes 12,283 TSR-PSUs awards issued related to 2016 performance where the return on our common stock was in the 20th percentile for the February 2016 grant. The remaining February 2016 awards are considered to be forfeited. The May 2016 awards were 100% forfeited as the performance was not achieved.

We recorded TSR-PSU compensation expense of $3.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to $6.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2018 and $24.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2017. Accelerated vesting compensation expense of $13.0 million is included in the year ended December 31, 2017. As of December 31, 2019, there was $1.5 million of unrecognized compensation related to these PSU awards to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.2 years.

401(k) Plan

We maintain a 401(k) benefit plan that allows employees to contribute up to 75% of their salary (subject to Internal Revenue Service limitations) on a pretax basis. We match up to 6% of salary in cash and vesting of those contributions is immediate. In 2019, we contributed $5.4 million to the 401(k) Plan compared to $5.8 million in 2018 and $5.1 million in 2017. Employees have a variety of investment options in the 401(k) benefit plan.

Deferred Compensation Plan

Our deferred compensation plan gives directors, officers and key employees the ability to defer all or a portion of their salaries and bonuses and invest in Range common stock or make other investments at the individual’s discretion. Range provides a partial matching contribution which vests over three years. The assets of the plans are held in a grantor trust, which we refer to as the Rabbi Trust, and are therefore available to satisfy the claims of our creditors in the event of bankruptcy or insolvency. Our stock held in the Rabbi Trust is treated as a liability award as employees are allowed to take withdrawals from the Rabbi Trust either in cash or in Range stock. The liability for the vested portion of the stock held in the Rabbi Trust is reflected in the deferred compensation liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and is adjusted to fair value each reporting period by a charge or credit to deferred compensation plan expense on our consolidated statements of operations. The assets of the Rabbi Trust, other than our common stock, are invested in marketable securities and reported at their market value in other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The deferred compensation liability reflects the vested market value of the marketable securities and Range stock held in the Rabbi Trust. Changes in the market value of the marketable securities and changes in the fair value of the deferred compensation plan liability are charged or credited to deferred compensation plan expense each quarter. We recorded mark-to-market gain of $15.5 million in 2019 compared to $18.6 million in 2018 and $50.9 million in 2017. The Rabbi Trust held 3.2 million shares (2.7 million of vested shares) of Range stock at December 31, 2019 compared to 2.6 million (2.4 million of vested shares) at December 31, 2018.

F-35


 

Other Post Retirement Benefits

Effective fourth quarter 2017, we implemented a post retirement benefit plan to assist in providing health care to officers who are active employees (including their spouses) and have met certain age and service requirements. These benefits are not funded in advance and are provided up to age 65 or on the date they become eligible for Medicare, subject to various cost-sharing features. The change in our post-retirement benefit obligation is as follows (in thousands):

 

 Change in Benefit Obligation:

 


2019

 

 


2018

 

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

 

 $

1,355

 

 

 $

1,769

 

Prior service cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost

 

 

88

 

 

 

94

 

Interest cost

 

 

68

 

 

 

58

 

Actuarial loss (gain)

 

 

532

 

 

 

(526

)

Benefits paid

 

 

(86

)

 

 

(40

)

Benefit obligation at end of year

 

$

1,957

 

 

$

1,355

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term liabilities

 

$

1,957

 

 

$

1,355

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Components of Net Periodic Post Retirement Benefit Cost:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost

 

$

88

 

 

$

94

 

Interest cost

 

 

68

 

 

 

58

 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

 

369

 

 

 

369

 

Net periodic post retirement costs (recognized in general and administrative expense)

 

$

525

 

 

$


521

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Changes in Benefit Obligations in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss (gain)

 

$

532

 

 

$

(526

)

Prior service cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

 

(369

)

 

 

(369

)

Total recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)

 

$

163

 

 

$

(895

)

Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income (loss)

 

$

688

 

 

$

(374

)

 

The following summarizes the assumptions used to determine the benefit obligation at December 31, 2019 and 2018:

 

 

December 31,

2019

 

 

 

December 31,

2018

 

Weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit obligation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discount rate

 

 

2.9

%

 

 

 

4.0

%

Assumed weighted average healthcare cost trend rates:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Initial healthcare trend rate

 

 

6.5

%

 

 

 

6.5

%

Ultimate trend rate

 

 

4.5

%

 

 

 

5.0

%

Year ultimate trend rate reached

 

 

2023

 

 

 

 

2028

 

 

The expected future benefit payments under our post retirement benefit plan for the next ten years is $1.1 million for the five year period 2020 through 2024 and $433,000 for the five year period 2025 through 2029. The estimated prior service cost that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income into our statements of operations in 2020 is $369,000.

F-36


 

(13)

Capital Stock

We have authorized capital stock of 485.0 million shares, which includes 475.0 million shares of common stock and 10.0 million shares of preferred stock. The following is a schedule of changes in the number of common shares outstanding since the beginning of 2017:

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2017

 

 

Beginning balance

 

249,510,022

 

 

 

248,129,430

 

 

 

247,144,356

 

Restricted stock grants

 

1,186,290

 

 

 

865,095

 

 

 

539,096

 

Restricted stock units vested

 

720,212

 

 

 

434,046

 

 

 

344,937

 

Performance stock units issued

 

12,747

 

 

 

76,149

 

 

 

85,461

 

Treasury shares

 

(1,798,468

)

 

 

5,302

 

 

 

15,580

 

Ending balance

 

249,630,803

 

 

 

249,510,022

 

 

 

248,129,430

 

Common Stock Dividends

The board of directors declared quarterly dividends of $0.02 per common share for each of the four quarters of 2019, 2018 and 2017. In January 2020, we announced that the board has suspended the dividend. The determination of the amount of future dividends, if any, to be declared and paid is at the sole discretion of the board of directors and will depend on our financial condition, earnings, capital requirements, levels of indebtedness, our future business prospects and other matters our board of directors deem relevant. Our bank credit facility and our senior subordinated notes allow for the payment of common dividends, with certain limitations, as described in the indentures governing each of our notes.

Stock Repurchase Program

In October 2019, the board of directors approved a new stock purchase program to acquire up to $100 million of our outstanding stock. The following is a schedule of change in treasury shares since the beginning of 2017:

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

  

2017

 

Beginning balance

 

9,665

 

 

 

14,967

 

 

 

30,547

 

Rabbi trust shares distributed and/or sold

 

(1,532

)

 

 

(5,302

)

 

 

(15,580

)

Shares repurchased

 

1,800,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ending balance

 

1,808,133

 

 

 

9,665

 

 

 

14,967

 

 

 

(14)

Supplemental Cash Flow Information

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

  

2017

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Net cash provided from operating activities included:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income taxes refunded from taxing authorities

$

 

 

$

7,521

 

 

$

1,024

 

Interest paid

 

(189,443

)

 

 

(207,433

)

 

 

(179,431

)

Non-cash investing and financing activities included:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asset retirement costs capitalized, net

 $

11,193

 

 

 $

28,826

 

 

$

20,245

 

(Decrease) increase in accrued capital expenditures

 

(20,104

)

 

 

(119,021

)

 

 

71,739

 

 

F-37


 

(15)

Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation

We are the subject of, or party to, a number of pending or threatened legal actions and administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business including, but not limited to, royalty claims, contract claims and environmental claims. While many of these matters involve inherent uncertainty, we believe that the amount of the liability, if any, ultimately incurred with respect to proceedings or claims will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position as a whole or on our liquidity, capital resources or future annual results of operations.

When deemed necessary, we established reserves for certain legal proceedings. The establishment of a reserve is based on an estimation process that include the advice of legal counsel and subjective judgment of management. While management believes these reserves to be adequate, it is reasonably possible we could incur additional losses with respect to those matters in which reserves have been established. We will continue to evaluate our litigation on a quarterly basis and will establish and adjust any litigation reserves as appropriate to reflect our assessment of the then current status of litigation.

We have incurred and will continue to incur capital, operating and remediation expenditures as a result of environmental laws and regulations. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, liabilities for remediation were not material. We are not aware of any environmental claims existing as of December 31, 2019 that have not been provided for or would otherwise have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations. Environmental liabilities normally involve estimates that are subject to revision until final resolution, settlement or remediation occurs.

Lease Commitments

The components of our total lease expense for the year ended December 31, 2019, the majority of which is included in general and administrative expense, are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

Year Ended

December 31,

 

 

 

 

2019

 

Operating lease cost

 

$

15,536

 

Variable lease expense (1)

 

 

6,916

 

Short-term lease expense (2)

 

 

2,965

 

Sublease income

 

 

(3,496

)

Total lease expense

 

$

21,921

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term lease costs (3)

 

$

29,126

 

(1)   Variable lease payments that are not dependent on an index or rate are not included in the lease liability or ROU assets.

(2)   Short-term lease expense represents expense related to leases with a contract term of one year or less.

(3)   These short-term lease costs are related to leases with a contract term of one year or less and the majority of which are related to drilling rigs and are capitalized as part of natural gas and oil properties on our consolidated balance sheets and may fluctuate based on the number of drilling rigs being utilized.

F-38


 

Supplemental cash flow information related to our operating leases is included in the table below (in thousands):

 

 

 

Year Ended

December 31,

2019

 

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities

$

18,700

 

ROU assets added in exchange for lease obligations (since adoption)

$

24,839

 

Supplemental balance sheet information related to our operating leases is included in the table below (in thousands):

 

 

December 31,

2019

 

Operating lease ROU assets

$

62,053

 

Accrued liabilities – current

$

(27,856

)

Operating lease liabilities – long-term

$

(41,068

)

As part of our ongoing effort to reduce general and administrative expenses due to the lower commodity price environment, we announced the closing of our Houston office in fourth quarter 2019. We have recorded an impairment related to our Houston office lease ROU asset of $2.1 million which is included in impairment of proved property and other assets in our consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Our weighted average remaining lease term and weighted average discount rate for our operating leases are as follows:

 

 

December 31,

2019

 

Weighted average remaining lease term

 

4.6 years

 

Weighted average discount rate

 

6.0%

 

Our lease liabilities with enforceable contract terms that are greater than one year mature as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Operating

Leases

 

2020

$

31,245

 

2021

 

14,252

 

2022

 

7,023

 

2023

 

6,500

 

2024

 

6,468

 

Thereafter

 

15,262

 

Total lease payments

 

80,750

 

Less effects of discounting

 

(11,826

)

Total lease liability

$

68,924

 

F-39


 

Transportation, Gathering and Processing Contracts

We have entered into firm transportation and gathering contracts with various pipeline carriers for the future transportation and gathering of natural gas, NGLs and oil production from our properties in Pennsylvania and North Louisiana. Under these contracts, we are obligated to transport, process or gather minimum daily natural gas volumes, or pay for any deficiencies at a specified reservation fee rate. In some cases, our production committed to these pipelines is expected to exceed the minimum daily volumes provided in the contracts. See Note 11 for additional information regarding deficiencies in North Louisiana.  As of December 31, 2019, future minimum transportation, processing and gathering fees under our commitments are as follows (in thousands):

 

Transportation,
Gathering and Processing
Contracts (a)

 

2020

$

945,392

  

2021

 

949,126

  

2022

 

905,920

  

2023

 

870,062

  

2024

 

853,457

 

Thereafter

 

5,154,987

  

 

$

9,678,944

  

(a) The amounts in this table represent the gross amounts that we are committed to pay; however, we will record in our financial statements our proportionate share of costs based on our working interest which can vary based on volumes produced.

In addition to the amounts included in the above table, we have entered into additional agreements which are contingent on certain pipeline modifications and/or construction for natural gas volumes of 25,000 mcf per day, which is expected to begin in 2022 and has a six-year term.

Delivery Commitments

We have various volume delivery commitments that are related to our Marcellus Shale and North Louisiana areas. We expect to be able to fulfill our contractual obligations from our own production; however, we may purchase third-party volumes to satisfy our commitments or pay demand fees for commitment shortfalls, should they occur. As of December 31, 2019, our delivery commitments through 2031 were as follows:

 Year Ending December 31,

  

Natural Gas
(mmbtu per day)

 

 

Ethane and Propane

(bbls per day)

 

2020

 

 

528,607

 

81,000

 

2021

 

 

491,313

 

65,932

 

2022

 

 

370,179

 

43,000

 

2023

 

 

167,970

 

35,000

 

2024-2028

 

 

100,000

 

35,000

 

2029

 

 

100,000

 

20,000

 

2030-2031

 

 

 

20,000

 

In addition to the amounts included in the above table, we have contracted with a pipeline company through 2035 to deliver ethane production volumes from our Marcellus Shale wells. These agreements and related fees, which are contingent upon pipeline construction and/or modification, are for 3,000 bbls per day starting in 2021 and increasing to 10,000 bbls per day through 2035. In addition, we have agreements in place to deliver natural gas volumes from our Marcellus Shale wells, which are also contingent upon pipeline construction and/or modification, for 35,000 mcf per day starting in late 2020, increasing to 50,000 mcf per day in late 2021 and decreasing to 15,000 mcf per day in 2025 through 2026.

Other

We also have lease acreage that is generally subject to expiration if initial wells are not drilled within a specified period, generally between three and five years. We do not expect to lose significant lease acreage because of failure to drill due to inadequate capital, equipment or personnel. However, based on our evaluation of prospective economics, we have allowed acreage to expire and will allow additional acreage to expire in the future. To date, our expenditures to comply with environmental or safety regulations have not been a significant component of our cost structure and are not expected to be significant in the future. However, new regulations, enforcement policies, claims for damages or other events could result in significant future costs.

F-40


 

(16)

Termination Costs

As part of a continuing effort to reduce our general and administrative expenses due to the lower commodity price environment, additional accruals for severance of $7.5 million and accelerated vesting of stock-based compensation of $2.0 million were recorded in the year ended December 31, 2019. See Note 15 for information related to an impairment of an office lease. The following table details the accrued liability as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 (in thousands):

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

Beginning balance

$

 

$

1,855

 

 

Accrued severance costs

 

7,535

 

 

(356

)

 

Accrued building rent

 

 

 

(17

)

 

Payments

 

(2,843

)

 

(1,482

)

 

Ending balance

$

4,692

 

$

 

 

The following summarizes our termination costs for three years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

 

 

2017

 

Severance costs

$

7,535

 

$

(356

)

 

$

2,176

 

Building lease

 

 

 

(17

)

 

 

(70

)

Stock-based compensation

 

1,971

 

 

 

 

 

1,664

 

Total termination costs

$

9,506

 

$

(373

)

 

$

3,770

 

 

 

F-41


 

(17)

Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

The following tables set forth unaudited financial information on a quarterly basis for each of the last two years. Fourth quarter 2019 includes proved and unproved impairment expense of $2.3 billion related to our North Louisiana assets. Fourth quarter 2018 includes goodwill impairment expense of $1.6 billion and unproved impairment expense of $441.8 million related to our North Louisiana assets.  

 

 

2019

 

 

March

 

 

June

 

 

September

 

 

December

 

  

Total

 

Revenues and other income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas, NGLs and oil sales

$

671,654

 

 

$

563,579

 

 

$

474,754

 

 

$

545,438

 

 

$

2,255,425

 

Derivative fair value (loss) income

 

(61,731

)

 

 

195,245

 

 

 

74,676

 

 

 

18,491

 

 

 

226,681

 

Brokered natural gas, marketing and other

 

138,214

 

 

 

92,605

 

 

 

73,015

 

 

 

41,675

 

 

 

345,509

 

Total revenue and other income

 

748,137

 

 

 

851,429

 

 

 

622,445

 

 

 

605,604

 

 

 

2,827,615

 

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct operating

 

33,227

 

 

 

33,981

 

 

 

35,276

 

 

 

33,792

 

 

 

136,276

 

Transportation, gathering, processing and compression

 

302,655

 

 

 

301,219

 

 

 

295,912

 

 

 

299,511

 

 

 

1,199,297

 

Production and ad valorem taxes

 

11,310

 

 

 

9,889

 

 

 

7,805

 

 

 

8,963

 

 

 

37,967

 

Brokered natural gas and marketing

 

132,305

 

 

 

101,117

 

 

 

79,938

 

 

 

46,532

 

 

 

359,892

 

Exploration

 

8,211

 

 

 

8,109

 

 

 

11,013

 

 

 

9,350

 

 

 

36,683

 

Abandonment and impairment of unproved properties

 

12,659

 

 

 

12,770

 

 

 

16,202

 

 

 

1,193,711

 

 

 

1,235,342

 

General and administrative

 

46,638

 

 

 

50,631

 

 

 

41,047

 

 

 

42,793

 

 

 

181,109

 

Termination costs

 

 

 

 

2,206

 

 

 

819

 

 

 

6,481

 

 

 

9,506

 

Deferred compensation plan

 

3,581

 

 

 

(11,142

)

 

 

(8,871

)

 

 

960

 

 

 

(15,472

)

Interest

 

51,537

 

 

 

51,727

 

 

 

46,997

 

 

 

44,024

 

 

 

194,285

 

Gain on early extinguishment of debt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,985

)

 

 

(2,430

)

 

 

(5,415

)

Depletion, depreciation and amortization

 

138,718

 

 

 

141,505

 

 

 

137,751

 

 

 

130,869

 

 

 

548,843

 

Impairment of proved properties and other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,095,634

 

 

 

1,095,634

 

Loss (gain) on sale of assets

 

189

 

 

 

(5,867

)

 

 

36,341

 

 

 

(407

)

 

 

30,256

 

Total costs and expenses

 

741,030

 

 

 

696,145

 

 

 

697,245

 

 

 

2,909,783

 

 

 

5,044,203

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

7,107

 

 

 

155,284

 

 

 

(74,800

)

 

 

(2,304,179

)

 

 

(2,216,588

)

Income tax expense (benefit):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Current

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,079

 

 

 

2,068

 

 

 

6,147

 

     Deferred

 

5,688

 

 

 

40,099

 

 

 

(51,298

)

 

 

(500,927

)

 

 

(506,438

)

 

 

5,688

 

 

 

40,099

 

 

 

(47,219

)

 

 

(498,859

)

 

 

(500,291

)

Net income (loss)

$

1,419

 

 

$

115,185

 

 

$

(27,581

)

 

$

(1,805,320

)

 

$

(1,716,297

)

 

Net income (loss) per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$

0.01

 

 

$

0.46

 

 

$

(0.11

)

 

$

(7.27

)

 

$

(6.92

)

Diluted

$

0.01

 

 

$

0.46

 

 

$

(0.11

)

 

$

(7.27

)

 

$

(6.92

)

F-42


 

 

 

2018

 

 

March

 

 

June

 

 

September

 

 

December

 

  

Total

 

Revenues and other income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas, NGLs and oil sales

$

696,629

 

 

$

661,390

 

 

$

736,431

 

 

$

756,627

 

 

$

2,851,077

 

Derivative fair value (loss) income

 

(14,009

)

 

 

(103,290

)

 

 

(34,591

)

 

 

100,698

 

 

 

(51,192

)

Brokered natural gas, marketing and other

 

59,979

 

 

 

98,084

 

 

 

109,385

 

 

 

215,312

 

 

 

482,760

 

Total revenue and other income

 

742,599

 

 

 

656,184

 

 

 

811,225

 

 

 

1,072,637

 

 

 

3,282,645

 

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct operating

 

38,122

 

 

 

35,088

 

 

 

30,926

 

 

 

35,395

 

 

 

139,531

 

Transportation, gathering, processing and compression

 

244,628

 

 

 

269,910

 

 

 

304,562

 

 

 

298,716

 

 

 

1,117,816

 

Production and ad valorem taxes

 

9,926

 

 

 

10,140

 

 

 

9,427

 

 

 

16,656

 

 

 

46,149

 

Brokered natural gas and marketing

 

55,594

 

 

 

102,747

 

 

 

116,080

 

 

 

221,626

 

 

 

496,047

 

Exploration

 

7,719

 

 

 

7,499

 

 

 

8,299

 

 

 

10,600

 

 

 

34,117

 

Abandonment and impairment of unproved properties

 

11,773

 

 

 

54,922

 

 

 

6,549

 

 

 

441,750

 

 

 

514,994

 

General and administrative

 

68,417

 

 

 

47,583

 

 

 

43,722

 

 

 

50,090

 

 

 

209,812

 

Termination costs

 

(37

)

 

 

 

 

 

(336

)

 

 

 

 

 

(373

)

Deferred compensation plan

 

(7,397

)

 

 

6,615

 

 

 

223

 

 

 

(18,072

)

 

 

(18,631

)

Interest

 

52,385

 

 

 

53,862

 

 

 

54,801

 

 

 

49,161

 

 

 

210,209

 

Depletion, depreciation and amortization

 

162,266

 

 

 

161,026

 

 

 

164,266

 

 

 

147,909

 

 

 

635,467

 

Impairment of proved properties and other

 

7,312

 

 

 

15,302

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22,614

 

Impairment of goodwill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,641,197

 

 

 

1,641,197

 

(Gain) loss on sale of assets

 

(23

)

 

 

(156

)

 

 

30

 

 

 

10,815

 

 

 

10,666

 

Total costs and expenses

 

650,685

 

 

 

764,538

 

 

 

738,549

 

 

 

2,905,843

 

 

 

5,059,615

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

91,914

 

 

 

(108,354

)

 

 

72,676

 

 

 

(1,833,206

)

 

 

(1,776,970

)

Income tax expense (benefit):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Current

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Deferred

 

42,676

 

 

 

(28,518

)

 

 

24,137

 

 

 

(68,784

)

 

 

(30,489

)

 

 

42,676

 

 

 

(28,518

)

 

 

24,137

 

 

 

(68,784

)

 

 

(30,489

)

Net income (loss)

$

49,238

 

 

$

(79,836

)

 

$

48,539

 

 

$

(1,764,422

)

 

$

(1,746,481

)

 

Net income (loss) per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$

0.20

 

 

$

(0.32

)

 

$

0.19

 

 

$

(7.15

)

 

$

(7.10

)

Diluted

$

0.20

 

 

$

(0.32

)

 

$

0.19

 

 

$

(7.15

)

 

$

(7.10

)

 

(18)

Supplemental Information on Natural Gas and Oil Exploration, Development and Production Activities (Unaudited)

Our natural gas and oil producing activities are conducted onshore within the continental United States and all of our proved reserves are located within the United States.

Capitalized Costs and Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (a)

 

December 31,

 

 

2019

 

  

2018

 

 

2017

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Natural gas and oil properties:

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Properties subject to depletion

$

9,345,557

 

  

$

10,974,929

 

 

$

10,572,453

 

Unproved properties

 

868,180

 

  

 

2,110,277

 

 

 

2,644,000

 

Total

 

10,213,737

 

  

 

13,085,206

 

 

 

13,216,453

 

Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

(4,172,702

)

  

 

(4,062,021

)

 

 

(3,649,716

)

Net capitalized costs

$

6,041,035

 

  

$

9,023,185

 

 

$

9,566,737

 

(a)

Includes capitalized asset retirement costs and the associated accumulated amortization.

F-43


 

Costs Incurred for Property Acquisition, Exploration and Development (a)

 

December 31,

 

 

2019

 

  

2018

 

  

2017

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Acquisitions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acreage purchases

$

57,324

 

 

$

62,390

 

 

$

62,075

 

Oil and gas properties

 

 

 

 

1,683

 

 

 

18,269

 

Development

 

666,984

 

 

 

834,552

 

 

 

1,177,526

 

Exploration:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drilling

 

 

 

 

1,380

 

 

 

2,030

 

Expense

 

35,117

 

 

 

32,196

 

 

 

50,920

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

1,566

 

 

 

1,921

 

 

 

2,742

 

Gas gathering facilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Development

 

3,583

 

 

 

10,218

 

 

 

15,097

 

Subtotal

 

764,574

 

 

 

944,340

 

 

 

1,328,659

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

11,193

 

 

 

28,826

 

 

 

20,245

 

Total costs incurred

$

775,767

 

 

$

973,166

 

 

$

1,348,904

 

 

(a)

Includes cost incurred whether capitalized or expensed.

Reserve Audit

All reserve information in this report is based on estimates prepared by our petroleum engineering staff. At year-end 2019, Wright & Company, Inc., an independent petroleum consultant, conducted an audit of our 2019 reserves in Appalachia. These engineers were selected for their geographic expertise and their historical experience in engineering certain properties. At December 31, 2019, our consultant audited approximately 90% of our proved reserves. Copies of the summary reserve reports prepared by our independent petroleum consultant is included as an exhibit to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The technical professional at our independent petroleum consulting firm responsible for reviewing the reserve estimates presented herein meets the requirements regarding qualifications, independence, objectivity and confidentiality set forth in the Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers. We maintain an internal staff of petroleum engineers and geoscience professionals who work closely with our independent petroleum consultants to ensure the integrity, accuracy and timeliness of data furnished during the reserves audit process. Throughout the year, our technical team meets periodically with representatives of our independent petroleum consultants to review properties and discuss methods and assumptions. While we have no formal committee specifically designated to review reserves reporting and the reserves estimation process, our senior management reviews and approves any significant changes to our proved reserves. We provide historical information to our consultants for our largest producing properties such as ownership interest, natural gas, NGLs and oil production, well test data, commodity prices and operating and development costs. The consultants perform an independent analysis and differences are reviewed with our Senior Vice President of Reservoir Engineering and Economics. In some cases, additional meetings are held to review identified reserve differences. The reserve auditor estimates of proved reserves and the pretax present value of such reserves discounted at 10% did not differ from our estimates by more than 10% in the aggregate. However, when compared lease-by-lease, field-by-field or area-by-area basis, some of our estimates may be greater and some may be less than the estimates of our reserve auditor. When such differences do not exceed 10% in the aggregate, our reserve auditor is satisfied that the proved reserves and pretax present value of such reserves discounted at 10% are reasonable and will issue an unqualified opinion. Remaining differences are not resolved due to the limited cost benefit of continuing such analysis.

Historical variances between our reserve estimates and the aggregate estimates of our independent petroleum consultants have been less than 5%. All of our reserve estimates are reviewed and approved by our Senior Vice President of Reservoir Engineering and Economics, who reports directly to our President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Alan Farquharson, our Senior Vice President of Reservoir Engineering and Economics, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University. Before joining Range, he held various technical and managerial positions with Amoco, Hunt Oil and Union Pacific Resources and has more than thirty-five years of engineering experience in the oil and gas industry. During the year, our reserves group may also perform separate, detailed technical reviews of reserve estimates for significant acquisitions or for properties with problematic indicators such as excessively long lives, sudden changes in performance or changes in economic or operating conditions.

Estimated Quantities of Proved Oil and Gas Reserves

Reserves of natural gas, NGLs, crude oil and condensate are estimated by our petroleum engineering staff and are adjusted to reflect contractual arrangements and royalty rates in effect at the end of each year. Many assumptions and judgmental decisions are required to estimate reserves. Reported quantities are subject to future revisions, some of which may be substantial, as additional

F-44


 

information becomes available from reservoir performance, new geological and geophysical data, additional drilling, technological advancements, price changes, production taxes and other economic factors.

The SEC defines proved reserves as those volumes of natural gas, NGLs, crude oil and condensate that geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty are recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions. Proved developed reserves are those proved reserves which can be expected to be recovered from existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods. Proved undeveloped reserves are volumes expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion. Reserves on undrilled acreage shall be limited to those drilling units offsetting productive units that are reasonably certain of production when drilled. Proved reserves for other undrilled units can be claimed only where it can be demonstrated with certainty that there is continuity of production from the existing productive formation. Proved undeveloped reserves can only be assigned to acreage for which improved recovery technology is contemplated when such techniques have been proven effective by actual tests in the area and in the same reservoir. Undrilled locations can be classified as having undeveloped reserves only if a development plan has been adopted indicating each location is scheduled to be drilled within five years from the date it was booked as proved reserves, unless specific circumstances justify a longer time.

The reported value of proved reserves is not necessarily indicative of either fair market value or present value of future net cash flows because prices, costs and governmental policies do not remain static, appropriate discount rates may vary, and extensive judgment is required to estimate the timing of production. Other logical assumptions would likely have resulted in significantly different amounts.

The average realized prices used at December 31, 2019 to estimate reserve information were $49.24 per barrel of oil, $17.32 per barrel of NGLs and $2.38 per mcf for gas using a benchmark (NYMEX) of $55.73 per barrel and $2.58 per Mmbtu. The average realized prices used at December 31, 2018 to estimate reserve information were $59.96 per barrel of oil, $25.22 per barrel of NGLs and $2.98 per mcf for gas using a benchmark (NYMEX) of $65.55 per barrel and $3.10 per Mmbtu. The average realized prices used at December 31, 2017 to estimate reserve information were $45.73 per barrel of oil, $17.84 per barrel of NGLs and $2.60 per mcf for gas using a benchmark (NYMEX) of $51.19 per barrel and $2.98 per Mmbtu.

F-45


 

 

 

Natural Gas

 

 

NGLs

 

 

Crude Oil and Condensate

 

 

Natural Gas
Equivalents

 

 

(Mmcf)

 

 

(Mbbls)

 

 

(Mbbls)

 

 

(Mmcfe) (a)

 

Proved developed and undeveloped reserves:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2016

 

7,870,416

 

 

 

630,066

 

 

 

70,252

 

 

 

12,072,322

 

Revisions

 

70,222

 

 

 

83,338

 

 

 

(10,555

)

 

 

506,919

 

Extensions, discoveries and additions

 

2,866,103

 

 

 

87,572

 

 

 

15,997

 

 

 

3,487,519

 

Purchases

 

7,738

 

 

 

330

 

 

 

66

 

 

 

10,116

 

Property sales

 

(60,278

)

 

 

(2,356

)

 

 

(1,121

)

 

 

(81,133

)

Production

 

(490,552

)

 

 

(35,686

)

 

 

(4,785

)

 

 

(733,382

)

 

Balance, December 31, 2017

 

10,263,649

 

 

 

763,264

 

 

 

69,854

 

 

 

15,262,361

 

Revisions

 

178,595

 

 

 

84,993

 

 

 

7,197

 

 

 

731,735

 

Extensions, discoveries and additions

 

2,269,427

 

 

 

128,436

 

 

 

17,309

 

 

 

3,143,898

 

Purchases

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property sales

 

(135,884

)

 

 

(16,774

)

 

 

(4,276

)

 

 

(262,180

)

Production

 

(548,085

)

 

 

(38,325

)

 

 

(4,228

)

 

 

(803,408

)

 

Balance, December 31, 2018

 

12,027,702

 

 

 

921,594

 

 

 

85,856

 

 

 

18,072,406

 

Revisions

 

33,122

 

 

 

57,311

 

 

 

(12,320

)

 

 

303,068

 

Extensions, discoveries and additions

 

959,901

 

 

 

26,505

 

 

 

7,057

 

 

 

1,161,274

 

Property sales

 

(327,634

)

 

 

(28,324

)

 

 

(2,371

)

 

 

(511,811

)

Production

 

(578,114

)

 

 

(38,850

)

 

 

(3,690

)

 

 

(833,354

)

 

Balance, December 31, 2019

 

12,114,977

 

 

 

938,236

 

 

 

74,532

 

 

 

18,191,583

 

 

Proved developed reserves:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2017

 

5,437,674

 

 

 

448,258

 

 

 

36,808

 

 

 

8,348,074

 

December 31, 2018

 

6,451,012

 

 

 

512,318

 

 

 

38,658

 

 

 

9,756,870

 

December 31, 2019

 

6,486,211

 

 

 

535,007

 

 

 

34,369

 

 

 

9,902,468

 

 

Proved undeveloped reserves:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2017

 

4,825,975

 

 

 

315,006

 

 

 

33,046

 

 

 

6,914,287

 

December 31, 2018

 

5,576,690

 

 

 

409,276

 

 

 

47,198

 

 

 

8,315,536

 

December 31, 2019

 

5,628,766

 

 

 

403,229

 

 

 

40,163

 

 

 

8,289,115

 

(a) 

Oil and NGLs volumes are converted to mcfe at the rate of one barrel equals six mcf based upon the approximate relative energy content of oil to natural gas, which is not indicative of the relationship between oil and natural gas prices.

During 2019, we added approximately 1.2 Tcfe of proved reserves from drilling activities and evaluation of proved areas in the Marcellus Shale. Approximately 83% of the 2019 reserve additions are attributable to natural gas. Included in 2019 proved reserves is a total of 475.0 Mmbbls of ethane reserves (2,102 Bcfe) in the Marcellus Shale. Revisions of previous estimates of 303 Bcfe include positive performance revisions of 922.2 Bcfe which were partially offset by 601.3 Bcfe reclassified to unproved and negative pricing revisions of 17.8 Bcfe.

During 2018, we added approximately 3.1 Tcfe of proved reserves from drilling activities and evaluation of proved areas primarily in the Marcellus Shale. Approximately 72% of the 2019 reserve additions are attributable to natural gas. Included in 2018 proved reserves is a total of 468.9 Mmbbls of ethane reserves (2,075 Bcfe) in the Marcellus Shale. Revisions of previous estimates of 732 Bcfe include positive pricing and performance revisions of 957 Bcfe and unproved recoveries of 154 Bcfe which were partially offset by 379 Bcfe reclassified to unproved for previously planned wells not to be drilled within the original five-year development horizon.

During 2017, we added approximately 3.5 Tcfe of proved reserves from drilling activities and evaluation of proved areas primarily in the Marcellus Shale. Approximately 82% of the 2017 reserve additions are attributable to natural gas. Included in 2017 proved reserves is a total of 360.6 Mmbbls of ethane reserves (1,596 Bcfe) in the Marcellus Shale. Revisions of previous estimates of 507 Bcfe include positive performance revisions of 532 Bcfe, improved recoveries of 597 Bcfe, positive pricing revisions of 46 Bcfe partially offset by 668 Bcfe reclassified to unproved for previously planned wells not to be drilled within the original five-year development horizon. Purchases of reserves in 2017 reflects reserves added in North Louisiana.

F-46


 

The following details the changes in proved undeveloped reserves for 2019 (Mmcfe):

Beginning proved undeveloped reserves at December 31, 2018

 

8,315,536

 

Undeveloped reserves transferred to developed

 

(1,215,684

)

Revisions (a)

 

265,947

 

Sales

 

(214,637

)

Extension and discoveries

 

1,137,953

 

Ending proved undeveloped reserves at December 31, 2019

 

8,289,115

 

(a) Includes 601 Bcfe of proved undeveloped reserves removed and deferred due to the five-year rule which can be included in our future proved reserves as these locations are added back to our five-year development plan.

During 2019, we spent approximately $340.4 million in development costs related to proved undeveloped reserves that were transferred to developed reserves. Estimated future development costs of proved undeveloped reserves are projected to be approximately $2.9 billion over the next five years. As of December 31, 2019, we have 86 Bcfe that have been reported for more than five years from their original date of booking, all of which are in the process of being drilled and are expected to turn to sales in 2020. All of our recorded proved undeveloped drilling locations are scheduled to be drilled within five years of initial disclosure. All proved undeveloped drilling locations are scheduled to be drilled prior to the end of 2024.

Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows Relating to Proved Oil and Gas Reserves (Unaudited)

The following summarizes the policies we used in the preparation of the accompanying natural gas, NGLs, crude oil and condensate reserve disclosures, standardized measures of discounted future net cash flows from proved natural gas, NGLs and oil reserves and the reconciliations of standardized measures from year to year. The information disclosed is an attempt to present the information in a manner comparable with industry peers.

The information is based on estimates of proved reserves attributable to our interest in natural gas and oil properties as of December 31 of the years presented. These estimates were prepared by our petroleum engineering staff. Proved reserves are estimated quantities of natural gas, NGLs, crude oil and condensate, which geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions.

The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows from production of proved reserves was developed as follows:

 

1.

Estimates are made of quantities of proved reserves and future amounts expected to be produced based on current year-end economic conditions.

 

 

2.

For the years ended 2019, 2018 and 2017, estimated future cash inflows are calculated by applying a twelve-month average price of natural gas, NGLs and oil relating to our proved reserves to the quantities of those reserves produced in each future year.

 

 

3.

Future cash flows are reduced by estimated production costs, administrative costs, costs to develop and produce the proved reserves and abandonment costs, all based on current year-end economic conditions. Future income tax expenses are based on current year-end statutory tax rates giving effect to the remaining tax basis in the natural gas, NGLs and oil properties, other deductions, credits and allowances relating to our proved natural gas and oil reserves.

 

 

4.

The resulting future net cash flows are discounted to present value by applying a discount rate of 10%.

 

The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows does not purport, nor should it be interpreted, to present the fair value of our natural gas, NGLs and oil reserves. An estimate of fair value would also take into account, among other things, the recovery of reserves not presently classified as proved, anticipated future changes in prices and costs and a discount factor more representative of the time value of money and the risks inherent in reserve estimates.

F-47


 

The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to proved natural gas, NGLs, crude oil and condensate reserves is as follows and excludes cash flows associated with derivatives outstanding at each of the respective reporting dates. Future cash inflows are net of third-party transportation, gathering and compression expense.

 

As of December 31,

 

 

2019

 

  

2018

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Future cash inflows

$

48,718,733

 

  

$

64,287,737

 

Future costs:

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Production

 

(23,320,477

)

  

 

(25,626,373

)

Development (a)

 

(3,219,349

)

  

 

(3,824,936

)

 

Future net cash flows before income taxes

 

22,178,907

 

  

 

34,836,428

 

 

Future income tax expense

 

(4,179,297

)

 

 

(7,285,274

)

 

Total future net cash flows before 10% discount

 

17,999,610

 

  

 

27,551,154

 

 

10% annual discount

 

(11,371,037

)

  

 

(16,435,560

)

 

Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows

$

6,628,573

 

  

$

11,115,594

 

(a) 2019 includes $339.1 million of undiscounted future asset retirement costs estimated as of December 31, 2019, using current estimates of future abandonment costs.

The following table summarizes changes in the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows.

 

December 31,

 

 

2019

 

  

2018

 

 

2017

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Revisions of previous estimates:

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes in prices and production costs

$

(6,560,107

)

  

$

2,959,488

 

 

$

2,615,825

 

Revisions in quantities

 

(12,741

)

  

 

667,763

 

 

 

445,667

 

Changes in future development and abandonment costs

 

104,585

 

  

 

(686,632

)

 

 

(814,215

)

Net change in income taxes

 

1,125,639

 

  

 

(1,075,867

)

 

 

(706,531

)

Accretion of discount

 

1,317,349

 

 

 

814,725

 

 

 

372,743

 

Purchases of reserves in place

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

6,173

 

Additions to proved reserves from extensions, discoveries and improved recovery

 

552,710

 

  

 

2,543,296

 

 

 

2,128,135

 

Natural gas, NGLs and oil sales, net of production costs

 

(881,883

)

  

 

(1,547,580

)

 

 

(1,237,970

)

Actual development costs incurred during the period

 

676,520

 

  

 

851,188

 

 

 

1,202,618

 

Sales of reserves in place

 

(688,937

)

  

 

(226,953

)

 

 

(32,946

)

Timing and other

 

(120,156

)

  

 

(349,048

)

 

 

(266,214

)

Net change for the year

 

(4,487,021

)

  

 

3,950,380

 

 

 

3,713,285

 

Beginning of year

 

11,115,594

 

  

 

7,165,214

 

 

 

3,451,929

 

End of year

$

6,628,573

 

  

$

11,115,594

 

 

$

7,165,214

 

 

 

F-48


 

ITEM 9.

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

ITEM 9A.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. As required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act, we have evaluated, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-K. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC. Based upon the evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2019 at the reasonable assurance level.

Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting. There have been no changes in our system of internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2019 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. See “Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting” and “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” which appear on pages F-2 and F-3, respectively, under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

ITEM 9B.

OTHER INFORMATION

None.


74

 


 

PART III

 

ITEM 10.

DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Information required in response to this item will be set forth in the Range Proxy Statement for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in May 2020 and is incorporated herein by reference.

See “Executive Officers of the Registrant” under Item 1 of this Form 10-K for the information about our executive officers.

Code of Ethics

Code of Ethics. We have adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, or persons performing similar functions (as well as our directors and all other employees). A copy is available on our website, www.rangeresources.com and a copy in print will be provided to any person without charge, upon request. Such requests should be directed to the Corporate Secretary, 100 Throckmorton Street, Suite 1200, Fort Worth, Texas 76102 or by calling (817) 870-2601. We intend to disclose any amendments to or waivers of the Code of Ethics on behalf of our President and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Controller and persons performing similar functions on our website, under the Corporate Governance caption, promptly following the date of such amendment or waiver.

ITEM  11.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to the Range Proxy Statement for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

ITEM  12.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

Information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to the Range Proxy Statement for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

ITEM  13.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to the Range Proxy Statement for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

ITEM  14.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to the Range Proxy Statement for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.


75

 


 

 

PART IV

ITEM 15.

EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a)

1. and 2. Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules.

The financial statements and financial statement schedules listed in the Index to Financial Statements in Item 8 are filed as part of this Form 10-K:

3.

Exhibits

 

The exhibits listed in the accompanying Exhibits Index are filed as part of this Form 10-K.

Exhibit

Number

  

Exhibit Description

 

2.1

  

 

Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Range Resources Corporation, Medina Merger Sub, Inc. and Memorial Resource Development Corp., dated as of May 15, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on May 19, 2016)

 

3.1

  

 

Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Range Resources Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1.1 to our Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on May 5, 2004) as amended by the Certificate of First Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Range Resources Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on July 28, 2005 and the Certificate of Second Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Range Resources Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on July 24, 2008)

 

3.2

  

 

Amended and Restated By-laws of Range (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on May 19, 2016)

 

4.1*

 

 

Description of Registrant’s Securities

 

4.2

  

 

Form of 5.75% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.2 on Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on May 25, 2011)

 

4.3

  

 

Indenture dated May 25, 2011 by and among Range, as issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined therein), as guarantors and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 on our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on May 25, 2011)

 

4.4

  

 

Form of 5.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.1 on our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on March 9, 2012)

 

4.5

  

 

Indenture dated March 9, 2012 by and among Range, as issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined therein), as guarantors and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 on our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on March 9, 2012)

 

4.6

 

 

Form of 5.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.1 on our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on March 19, 2013)

 

4.7

 

 

Indenture dated March 18, 2013 among Range Resources Corporation, as issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined therein) as guarantors and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 on our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on March 19, 2013)

 

4.8

 

 

Form of 4.875% Senior Notes due 2025 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.1 on Form 8-K (File No. 001-12009) as filed with the SEC on May 14, 2015)

 

4.8

 

 

Indenture dated May 14, 2015 among Range Resources Corporation, as issuer, the Initial Guarantors (as defined therein) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 on our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on May 14, 2015)

 

4.10

 

 

Second Supplemental Indenture, by and among Range Resources Corporation, the guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., dated as of August 23, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on August 25, 2016)

76

 


 

Exhibit

Number

  

Exhibit Description

 

4.11

 

 

Second Supplemental Indenture, by and among Range Resources Corporation, the guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., dated as of August 23, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on August 25, 2016)

 

4.12

 

 

First Supplemental Indenture, by and among Range Resources Corporation, the guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association, dated as of August 23, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on August 25, 2016)

 

4.13

 

 

Form of 5.75% Senior Notes due 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 on our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on September 19, 2016)

 

4.14

 

 

Indenture dated September 16, 2016 among Range Resources Corporation, as issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined therein) as guarantors and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 on our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on September 19, 2016)

 

4.15

 

 

Form of 5.00% Senior Notes due 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on September 19, 2016)

 

4.16

 

 

Indenture dated September 16, 2016 among Range Resources Corporation, as issuer the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined therein) as guarantors and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 on our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on September 19, 2016)

 

4.17

 

 

Form of 5.00% Senior Notes due 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 on our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on September 19, 2016)

 

4.18

 

 

Indenture dated September 16, 2016 among Range Resources Corporation, as issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined therein) as guarantors and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 on our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on September 19, 2016)

 

4.19

 

 

Form of 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 on our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on September 19, 2017)

 

4.20

 

 

Indenture dated September 16, 2016 among Range Resources Corporation, as issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined therein) as guarantors and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 on our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on September 19, 2016)

 

4.21

 

 

Form of 9.25% Senior Notes due 2026 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 on our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on January 24, 2020)

 

4.22

 

 

Indenture dated January 24, 2020 among Range Resources Corporation, as issuer, the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined therein) as guarantors and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 on our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on January 24, 2020)

 

4.23

 

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated January 24, 2020, among Range Resources Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors named therein and the Initial Purchasers (as defined therein) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 on our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on January 24, 2020)

 

10.01

 

 

Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated April 13, 2018 among Range Resources Corporation (as borrower) and the institutions named therein as lenders and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Administrative Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on April 16, 2018)

 

10.02

 

 

 

First Amendment to the Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2019 among Range Resources Corporation (as borrowers) and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Administrative Agent and the other lenders and agents party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on October 23, 2019)

 

10.03

  

 

Amended and Restated Range Resources Corporation 2004 Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors and Select Employees effective December 31, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on December 5, 2008)

 

10.04

 

 

Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Range Resources Corporation 2004 Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors and Select Employees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Form 10-Q (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on April 25, 2018)

 

10.05

  

 

Range Resources Corporation Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Based Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on June 4, 2009)

77

 


 

Exhibit

Number

  

Exhibit Description

 

10.06

  

 

First Amendment to the Range Resources Corporation Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Based Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on May 20, 2010)

 

10.07

  

 

Second Amendment to the Range Resources Corporation Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Based Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on May 19, 2011)

 

10.08

 

 

 

Range Resources Corporation 2019 Equity – Based Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as field with the SEC on May 16, 2019

 

10.09

  

 

Range Resources Corporation 401(k) Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to our Form S-4 (File No. 333-108516) as filed with the SEC on September 4, 2003)

 

10.10

  

 

Amended and Restated Range Resources Corporation Executive Change in Control Severance Benefit Plan effective December 31, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on December 5, 2008)

 

10.11

 

  

 

Supplement No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Executive Change in Control Severance Benefit Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on February 12, 2020)

 

10.12

  

 

Form of Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on February 17, 2009)

 

10.13

  

 

Voting Support and Nomination Agreement, dated as of July 9, 2018, by and among Range Resources Corporation, SailingStone Capital Partners LLC, SailingStone Holdings LLC, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on July 10, 2018)

 

10.14

 

 

Purchase Agreement, dated January 9, 2020, by and among Range Resources Corporation, Range Louisiana Operating, LLC, Range Production Company, LLC, Range Resources—Appalachia, LLC, Range Resources—Louisiana, Inc. Range Resources—Midcontinent, LLC, Range Resources—Pine Mountain, Inc. and BofA Securities, Inc., as representative of the Initial Purchasers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 on our Form 8-K (File No. 001-12209) as filed with the SEC on January 10, 2020)

 

21.1*

 

 

Subsidiaries of Registrant

 

23.1*

 

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

23.2*

 

 

Consent of Wright & Company Inc., independent consulting engineers

 

31.1*

 

 

Certification by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Range Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

31.2*

 

 

Certification by the Chief Financial Officer of Range Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

32.1**

 

 

Certification by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Range Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

32.2**

 

 

Certification by the Chief Financial Officer of Range Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

99.1*

 

 

Report of Wright & Company Inc., independent consulting engineers

 

101.INS*

 

 

XBRL Instance Document

 

101.SCH*

 

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema

 

101.CAL*

 

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

 

101.DEF*

 

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

 

101.LAB*

 

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

 

101.PRE*

 

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

*

Filed herewith.

 

**

Furnished herewith.

 

78

 


 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION

 

By:

/s/ JEFFrey L. VENTURA

 

 

Jeffrey L. Ventura

 

 

Chief Executive Officer and President

(principal executive officer)

Dated:  February 27, 2020

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacity and on the dates indicated.

Signature

 

Capacity

 

Date

 

/s/  Jeffrey L. Ventura

 

 

Chief Executive Officer and President

 

February 27, 2020

Jeffrey L. Ventura

 

(principal executive officer)

 

 

 

/s/  mark s. scucchi

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

February 27, 2020

Mark S. Scucchi

 

(principal financial officer)

 

 

 

/s/  DORI A. GINN

 

Senior Vice President, Controller and Principal Accounting Officer

 

February 27, 2020

Dori A. Ginn

 

(principal accounting officer)

 

 

 

/s/  Greg G. maxwell

 

Chairman of the Board

 

February 27, 2020

Greg G. Maxwell

 

 

 

 

 

/s/  BRENDA A. CLINE

 

Director

 

February 27, 2020

Brenda A. Cline

 

 

 

 

 

/s/  Anthony V. Dub

 

Director

 

February 27, 2020

Anthony V. Dub

 

 

 

 

 

/s/  James M. Funk

 

Director

 

February 27, 2020

James M. Funk

 

 

 

 

 

/s/  STEVEN D. GRAY

 

Director

 

February 27, 2020

Steven D. Gray

 

 

 

 

 

/s/  STEFFEN E. PALKO

 

Director

 

February 27, 2020

Steffen E. Palko

 

 

 

 

 

/s/  MARGARET K. DORMAN

 

Director

 

February 27, 2020

Margaret K. Dorman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

79

 

rrc-ex41_6.htm

 

EXHIBIT 4.1

DESCRIPTION OF THE REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES

REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

As of the date of the Annual Report on Form 10-K of which this exhibit is a part, Range Resources Corporation (the “Company”) has one class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) which is our common stock.

Description of Common Stock

The following description of our common stock is a summary and does not purport to be complete. It is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our Annual and Restated Certified of Incorporation, as amended (the “charter”) and our Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “bylaws”), each of which are incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of which this exhibit is a part. We encourage you to read our charter, our bylaws and the applicable provisions of Delaware General Corporation Law for additional information.

Authorized Capital Stock

At December 31, 2019, our authorized and outstanding capital stock consisted of:

 

10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share, of which, no shares are issued and outstanding; and

 

475,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which 251,438,936 shares were outstanding.

Common Stock

 

Dividends. Common stockholders may receive dividends when declared by the board of directors. Dividends may be paid in cash, stock or other form. In certain cases, common stockholders may not receive dividends until we have satisfied our obligations to any preferred stockholders. Certain of our debt instruments limit the payment of cash dividends.

 

Voting Rights. Each share of our common stock is entitled to one vote in the election of directors and other matters. Common stockholders are not entitled to cumulative voting rights.

 

Other Rights. Common stockholders are not entitled to preemptive rights. If we liquidate, dissolve or wind-up our business, either voluntarily or not, common stockholders will share equally in the assets remaining after we pay our creditors and preferred stockholders, if any.

 

Listing. Our outstanding shares of common stock are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “RRC.” Any additional common stock we issue will also be listed on the NYSE.

Business Combination Under of Delaware Law

We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a public Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

a)

before that person became an interested stockholder, the corporation’s board of directors approved the transaction in which the interested stockholder or approved the business combination;

 

b)

upon completion of the transaction that resulted in the interested stockholder’s becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owns at least 85% of the voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced (excluding stock held by directors who are also officers of the corporation and by

 


 

 

employee stock plans that do not provide employees with the right to determine confidentially whether share held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer); or

 

c)

following the transaction in which that person became an interested stockholder, the business combination is approved by the corporation’s board of directors and authorized at a meeting of stockholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of at lease two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

Under Section 203, these restrictions also do not apply to certain business combinations proposed by an interested stockholder following the announcement or notification of one of certain extraordinary transactions involving the corporation and a person who was not an interested stockholder during the previous three years or who became an interested stockholder with the approval of a majority of the corporation’s directors, if that extraordinary transaction is approved or not opposed by a majority of the directors before any person became an interested stockholder in the previous three years or who were recommended for election or elected to succeed such directors by a majority of such directors then in office. “Business combination” included mergers, assets sales and other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the stockholder. “Interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or, in some cases within three years prior, did own) 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock.

Anti-Takeover Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

The provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws we summarize below may have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, defer or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a shareholder might consider in his or her best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for our common stock.

Any action by our stockholders must be taken at an annual or special meeting of stockholders. Special meetings of the stockholders may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board, the President or the Board, and shall be called by the Chairman of the Board, the President, a Vice President or the Secretary on the written request stockholders owning at least a majority in amount of the entire capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote.

Additionally, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that stockholders seeking to present proposals before a meeting of stockholders or to nominate candidates for election as directors at a meeting of stockholders must provide timely notice in writing, and also specify requirements as to the form of the stockholder's notice.  Our bylaws further provide that a stockholder, or group of not more than 20 stockholders, who has owned continuously for at least three years shares of common stock representing an aggregate of at least 3% of the Company's outstanding shares of common stock, may nominate and include in the Company's proxy materials director nominees not to exceed the greater of (i) two and (ii) 20% of the Company's board of directors in office as of the proxy access notice date, provided that the stockholder(s) and nominee(s) otherwise satisfy the requirements in the bylaws.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Computershare Investor Services, L.L.C. is the transfer agent and registrar for our common stock.

Quotation of Common Stock

Our common stock is traded on the NYSE under the symbol “RRC.”

 

rrc-ex211_7.htm

EXHIBIT 21.1

RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION

Subsidiaries of Registrant

Name

 

Jurisdiction of

Incorporation

 

Percentage of Voting

Securities Owned by

Immediate Parent

 

 

 

 

 

Range Resources—Appalachia, LLC

 

Delaware

 

100%

Range Resources—Pine Mountain, Inc.

 

Delaware

 

100%

Range Production Company, LLC

 

Delaware

 

100%

Range Resources—Midcontinent, LLC

 

Delaware

 

100%

Range Resources—Louisiana, Inc.

 

Delaware

 

100%

Range Louisiana Operating, LLC

 

Delaware

 

100%

 

rrc-ex231_8.htm

EXHIBIT 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-3 (Nos. 333-219827) of Range Resources Corporation, Form S-8 (No. 333-231834) pertaining to the 2019 Equity-Based Compensation Plan, Form S-8 (Nos. 333-159951, 333-167199 and 333-175098) pertaining to the Range Resources Amended and Restated 2005 Equity-Based Compensation Plan and Form S-8 (Nos. 333-209830 and 333-233391) pertaining to the Amended and Restated Range Resources Corporation 2004 Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors and Select Employees and in the related Prospectuses, of our reports dated February 27, 2020, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Range Resources Corporation and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Range Resources Corporation included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2019.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Fort Worth, Texas

February 27, 2020

 

rrc-ex232_9.htm

EXHIBIT 23.2

CONSENT OF WRIGHT & COMPANY, INC.

We hereby consent to the incorporation, by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-3 (Numbers 333-219827) of Range Resources Corporation, Form S-8 (No. 333-231834) pertaining to the 2019 Equity-Based Compensation Plan, Form S-8  (Nos. 333-159951, 333-167199 and 333-175098) pertaining to the Range Resources Corporation Amended and Restated 2005 Equity-Based Compensation Plan and Form S-8 (Nos. 209830 and 333-233391) pertaining to the Amended and Restated Range Resources Corporation 2004 Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors and Select Employees and in the related Prospectuses, of our report dated January 9, 2020, prepared for Range Resources Corporation and included in the Range Resources Corporation Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2019.

 

 

WRIGHT & COMPANY, INC.

TX Firm Registration No. F-12302

 

Brentwood, Tennessee

By:

/s/ D. Randall Wright

January 9, 2020

 

D. Randall Wright

 

 

President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

rrc-ex311_11.htm

 

EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

I, Jeffrey L. Ventura, certify that:

 

1.

I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Range Resources Corporation (the “registrant”);

 

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.

The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a)

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d)

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.

The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a)

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b)

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 Date:

February 27, 2020

/s/ JEFFREY L. VENTURA

 

 

Jeffrey L. Ventura

 

 

Chief Executive Officer and President

 

 

rrc-ex312_12.htm

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

I, Mark S. Scucchi, certify that:

 

1.

I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Range Resources Corporation (the “registrant”);

 

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.

The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a)

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d)

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.

The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a)

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b)

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date:

February 27, 2020

/s/ MARK S. SCUCCHI

 

 

Mark S. Scucchi

 

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

rrc-ex321_13.htm

 

EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION OF

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

OF RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION

PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350 AS ADOPTED

PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2019 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”) and pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, I, Jeffrey L. Ventura, Chief Executive Officer and President of Range Resources Corporation (the “Company”), hereby certify that, to my knowledge:

 

1.

The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

2.

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

By:

 

/s/ JEFFREY L. VENTURA

 

 

Jeffrey L. Ventura

 

 

February 27, 2020

 

 

rrc-ex322_14.htm

 

EXHIBIT 32.2

CERTIFICATION OF

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

OF RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION

PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350 AS ADOPTED

PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2019 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”) and pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, I, Mark S. Scucchi, Chief Financial Officer of Range Resources Corporation (the “Company”), hereby certify that, to my knowledge:

 

1.

The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

2.

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

By:

 

/s/ MARK S. SCUCCHI

 

 

Mark S. Scucchi

 

 

February 27, 2020

 

 

rrc-ex991_15.htm

EXHIBIT 99.1

 

 

 

 

January 9, 2020

 

 

Range Resources Corporation

100 Throckmorton Street

Suite 1200

Fort Worth, TX  76102

 

Attention:  Mr. Alan W. Farquharson

 

SUBJECT:Reserves Audit of Internally Assigned

Oil and Gas Reserves to the Interests of

Range Resources – Appalachia, LLC

In Certain Properties Located in Pennsylvania

Pursuant to the Requirements of the

Securities and Exchange Commission

Effective January 1, 2020

Job 19.2071

 

At the request of Range Resources Corporation (Range), Wright & Company, Inc. (Wright) has performed a reserves audit to estimate proved oil, gas, and natural gas liquids (NGL) reserves and associated cash flow and economics from certain properties to the subject interests.  This evaluation was authorized by Mr. Alan W. Farquharson of Range.  Projections of the reserves and cash flow to the evaluated interests were based on specified economic parameters, operating conditions, and government regulations considered applicable at the effective date and are pursuant to the financial reporting requirements of the United States (U.S.) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as specified in Regulation S-X, Rule 4-10(a) and Regulation S-K, Rule 1202(a)(8) and (a)(9).  It is the understanding of Wright that the purpose of this reserves audit was to opine as to the reasonableness of Range’s internal projections, in the aggregate, of the evaluated properties and for inclusion in relevant registration statements or other filings to the SEC for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.  The effective date of this report is January 1, 2020.  The report was completed January 9, 2020.

 

The Marcellus Shale properties evaluated in this report are located in southwestern Pennsylvania.  According to Range the total proved reserves subject to this evaluation and reasonableness opinion represent approximately 90 percent of Range’s reported total proved reserves.

 

Range provided to Wright their internal total summaries for the certain evaluated properties by reserves category.  Range estimated net reserves, future net cash flows, and discounted net cash flows as of January 1, 2020, the results of which are summarized in the following table.

 

Twelve Cadillac Drive  l  Suite 260

Brentwood, TN  37027

(615) 370-0755    Fax (615) 370-0756

www.wrightandcompany.com


Mr. Alan W. Farquharson

Range Resources Corporation

January 9, 2020

Page 2

 

 

Range Resources – Appalachia, LLC

Pursuant to SEC

Proved Developed

Total Proved Developed

(PDP & PNP)

Proved Undeveloped

(PUD)

Total Proved

(PDP, PNP & PUD)

Producing

(PDP)

Nonproducing (PNP)

Net Reserves to the

 

 

 

 

 

Evaluated Interests

 

 

 

 

 

Oil, Mbbl:

29,381

757

30,138

37,980

68,118

Gas, MMcf:

5,363,666

114,923

5,478,589

5,078,680

10,557,269

NGL, Mbbl:

491,309

17,629

508,938

397,650

906,588

Gas Equivalent, MMcfe:

8,487,802

225,241

8,713,043

7,692,461

16,405,503

(1 bbl = 6 Mcfe)

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flow (BTAX), M$

 

 

 

 

 

Undiscounted:

11,868,452

274,057

12,142,505

8,468,996

20,611,502

Discounted at 10%

 

 

 

 

 

Per Annum:

4,879,228

114,636

4,993,864

2,086,239

7,080,101

Please note numbers in table may not add due to rounding techniques in the ARIES® petroleum software program.

 

 

Wright’s projections of the net reserves and cash flow to the evaluated interests in the certain evaluated properties are summarized in the following table by reserves category, effective January 1, 2020.

 

Wright & Company, Inc.

Pursuant to SEC

Proved Developed

Total Proved Developed

(PDP & PNP)

Proved Undeveloped

(PUD)

Total Proved

(PDP, PNP & PUD)

Producing

(PDP)

Nonproducing (PNP)

Net Reserves to the

 

 

 

 

 

Evaluated Interests

 

 

 

 

 

Oil, Mbbl:

25,355

675

26,029

29,300

55,329

Gas, MMcf:

5,111,367

111,599

5,222,966

4,935,474

10,158,440

NGL, Mbbl:

479,886

17,589

497,475

408,789

906,264

Gas Equivalent, MMcfe:

8,142,809

221,184

8,363,992

7,564,007

15,928,001

(1 bbl = 6 Mcfe)

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flow (BTAX), M$

 

 

 

 

 

Undiscounted:

11,266,719

260,563

11,527,283

7,757,849

19,285,131

Discounted at 10%

 

 

 

 

 

Per Annum:

4,681,344

108,216

4,789,559

1,884,139

6,673,700

Please note numbers in table may not add due to rounding techniques in the ARIES® petroleum software program.

 

Comparing the results found in the previous tables, Wright’s independent reserves estimates are 2.9 percent less than Range’s total net proved reserves estimates in the aggregate, based on net gas equivalent volumes.  It is Wright’s conclusion that Range’s estimates of proved reserves are, in the aggregate, reasonable.

 

Proved oil and gas reserves are those quantities of oil and gas which can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations.  As specified by the SEC regulations, when calculating economic producibility, the base product price must be the 12-month average price, calculated as the unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within the prior 12-month period.  The benchmark base prices used for this evaluation were $55.73 per barrel for West Texas Intermediate oil at Cushing, Oklahoma, and $2.58 per Million British thermal units (MMBtu) for natural gas at Henry

 


Mr. Alan W. Farquharson

Range Resources Corporation

January 9, 2020

Page 3

 

Hub, Louisiana.  These benchmark prices were adjusted for energy content, quality and basis differential, as appropriate.  With the appropriate adjustments applied, the resultant average adjusted product prices are approximately $48.73 per barrel of oil, $2.39 per Mcf of gas, and $17.31 per barrel of NGL.  The product prices and adjustments were held constant for the life of the properties.  

 

Oil and other liquid hydrocarbon volumes are expressed in thousands of U.S. barrels (Mbbl), one barrel equaling 42 U.S. gallons.  Gas volumes are expressed in millions of standard cubic feet (MMcf) at 60 degrees Fahrenheit and at the legal pressure base that prevails in the state in which the reserves are located.  For purposes of this report, quantities of barrels of oil and NGL are converted into equivalent quantities of natural gas at the ratio of 1 bbl = 6 Mcfe.  No adjustment of the individual gas volumes to a common pressure base has been made.

 

Net income to the evaluated interests is the cash flow after consideration of royalty revenue payable to others, state and county taxes, state fees, operating expenses, investments, salvage values, and abandonment costs, as applicable.  The cash flow is before federal income tax (BTAX) and excludes consideration of any encumbrances against the properties if such exist.  The cash flow (BTAX) was discounted continuously at an annual rate of 10.0 percent in accordance with the reporting requirements of the SEC.

 

The estimates of reserves contained in this report were determined by accepted industry methods and the procedures used in this evaluation are appropriate for the purpose served by the report.  Where sufficient production history and other data were available, reserves for producing properties were determined by extrapolation of historical production or sales trends.  Analogy to similar producing properties was used for development projects and for those properties that lacked sufficient production history to yield a definitive estimate of reserves.  When appropriate, Wright may have also considered volumetric calculations, log correlations, target zone, and geosteering in the determination of estimated ultimate recovery (EUR).  These calculations are often based upon limited log and/or core analysis data and incomplete formation fluid and rock data.  Since these limited data must frequently be extrapolated over an assumed drainage area, subsequent production performance trends or material balance calculations may cause the need for significant revisions to the estimates of reserves.  Wright has used all methods and procedures it considered necessary under the circumstances to prepare this report.

 

Oil, gas, and other liquid hydrocarbon reserves were evaluated for the proved developed producing (PDP), proved developed nonproducing (PNP) and proved undeveloped (PUD) reserves categories.  The summary classification of total proved developed reserves combines the PDP and PNP categories, and the summary classification of total proved reserves combines the total proved developed and PUD categories.  In preparing this evaluation, no attempt has been made to quantify the element of uncertainty associated with any category.  Reserves were assigned to each category as warranted.  Wright is not aware of any local, state, or federal regulations that would preclude Range from continuing to produce from currently active wells or to fully develop those properties included in this report.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Mr. Alan W. Farquharson

Range Resources Corporation

January 9, 2020

Page 4

 

There are significant uncertainties inherent in estimating reserves, future rates of production, and the timing and amount of future costs. The estimation of oil and gas reserves must be recognized as a subjective process that cannot be measured in an exact way and estimates of others might differ materially from those of Wright.  The accuracy of any reserves estimate is a function of quantity and quality of available data and of subjective interpretations and judgments.  It should be emphasized that production data subsequent to the date of these estimates, or changes in the analogous properties, may warrant revisions of such estimates.  Accordingly, reserves estimates are often different from the quantities of oil and gas that are ultimately recovered.

 

All data utilized in the preparation of this report were provided by Range.  No inspection of the properties was made as this was not considered to be within the scope of this evaluation.  Wright has not independently verified the accuracy and completeness of information and data furnished by Range with respect to ownership interests, oil and gas production or sales, historical costs of operation and development, product prices, or agreements relating to current and future operations and sales of production.  Wright requested and received detailed information allowing Wright to check and confirm any calculations provided by Range with regard to product pricing, appropriate adjustments, lease operating expenses, and capital investments for drilling the undeveloped locations.  Furthermore, if in the course of Wright’s examination something came to our attention that brought into question the validity or sufficiency of any information or data, Wright did not rely on such information or data until we had satisfactorily resolved our questions relating thereto or independently verified such information or data.  In accordance with the requirements of the SEC, all operating costs were held constant for the life of the properties.

 

In accordance with the instructions of Range, abandonment costs net of salvage values were included as appropriate.  Wright has not performed a detailed study of the abandonment costs nor the salvage values and offers no opinion as to Range’s calculations.  

 

Wright is not aware of any potential environmental liabilities that may exist concerning the properties evaluated.  There are no costs included in this evaluation for potential property restoration, liability, or clean up of damages, if any, that may be necessary due to past or future operating practices.

 

Wright is an independent petroleum consulting firm founded in 1988 and owns no interests in the oil and gas properties covered by this report.  No employee, officer, or director of Wright is an employee, officer, or director of Range, nor does Wright or any of its employees have direct financial interest in Range.  Neither the employment of nor the compensation received by Wright is contingent upon the values assigned or the opinions rendered regarding the properties covered by this report.

 

This report was prepared for the information of Range, its shareholders, and for the information and assistance of its independent public accountants in connection with their review of and report upon the financial statements of Range and for reporting disclosures as required by the SEC.  This report is also intended for public disclosure as an exhibit in filings made to the SEC by Range.

 


Mr. Alan W. Farquharson

Range Resources Corporation

January 9, 2020

Page 5

 

In compliance with the definitions of reserves audit referenced in item 1202(a)(9) of Regulation S-K, Wright has reviewed the pertinent facts interpreted and the assumptions underlying the reserves estimates prepared by Range.  It is Wright’s opinion that the methodologies employed, the adequacy and quality of the data relied upon, the depth and thoroughness of the reserves estimation process, the classification of reserves based on the relevant definitions used, and the reasonableness of the estimated reserves quantities are appropriate for the purpose served by the report and are in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the SEC.

 

The professional qualifications of the petroleum consultants responsible for the evaluation of the reserves and economics information presented in this report meet the standards of Reserves Auditor as defined in the Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information as promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

 

It has been a pleasure to serve you by preparing this evaluation.  All related data will be retained in our files and are available for your review.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

Wright & Company, Inc.

TX Reg. No. F-12302

 

By:

/s/ D. Randall Wright

 

President

 

 

 

 

 

DRW/RS/SLM/ts

01_SEC Audit Letter, RRC, 19.2071

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 


EXHIBIT 99.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Professional Qualifications

D. Randall Wright

President

 

 

I, D. Randall Wright, am the primary technical person in charge of the estimates of reserves and associated cash flow and economics on behalf of Wright & Company, Inc. (Wright) for the results presented in this report to Range Resources Corporation.  I have a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tennessee Technological University.

 

I am a qualified Reserves Estimator as set forth in the “Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information” promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers.  This qualification is based on more than 46 of practical experience in the estimation and evaluation of petroleum reserves with Texaco, Inc., First City National Bank of Houston, Sipes, Williamson & Associates, Inc., Williamson Petroleum Consultants, Inc., and Wright which I founded in 1988.

 

I am a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Texas (TBPE #43291), granted in 1978, a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and a member of the Order of the Engineer.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ D. Randall Wright

 

D. Randall Wright, P.E.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Twelve Cadillac Drive  l  Suite 260

Brentwood, TN  37027

(615) 370-0755    Fax (615) 370-0756

www.wrightandcompany.com


EXHIBIT 99.1

 

 

 

DEFINITIONS OF OIL AND GAS RESERVES

 

Wright & Company, Inc. frequently prepares estimates of oil and gas reserves.  Such reserves estimates usually include quantities which are represented as “proved” and, depending upon the data base and/or the desire of the client, may include additional reserves which are classified as “unproved”.  The scope of the analyses may also incorporate “contingent resources”.  These definitions as presented are an abridged version of the disclosure guidelines as set forth by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Rule 4-10(a) (1)-(32) of Regulation S-X and the Modernization of Oil and Gas Reporting, Final Rule dated January 14, 2009 in the Federal Register.  The definitions of oil and gas reserves used by Wright & Company, Inc. are briefly set forth below.

 

RESERVES are estimated remaining quantities of oil and gas and related substances anticipated to be economically producible as of a given date, by application of development projects to known accumulations.  In addition, there must exist, or there is a reasonable expectation that there will exist, the legal right to produce or a revenue interest in the production, installed means of delivering oil and gas or related substances to market, and all permits and financing required to implement project.

 

PROVED OIL AND GAS RESERVES are those quantities of oil and gas, which by analysis of geoscience and engineering data can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible from a given date forward from known reservoirs and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulation.  The area of the reservoir considered as proved includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the area identified by drilling and limited by fluid contacts, if any, and adjacent undrilled portions of the reservoir that can, with reasonable certainty, be judged to be continuous with it and to contain economically producible oil or gas on the basis of available geoscience and engineering data.

 

In the absence of data on fluid contacts, proved quantities in a reservoir are limited by the lowest known hydrocarbons unless geoscience, engineering, or performance data and reliable technology establish a lower contact with reasonable certainty.

 

Reserves that can be produced economically through application of improved recovery techniques are included in the proved classification when both the following occur:  (i) successful testing by a pilot in an area of the reservoir with properties no more favorable than in the reservoir as a whole, or the operation of an installed program in the reservoir or an analogous reservoir, or other evidence using reliable technology establishes the reasonable certainty of the engineering analysis on which the project or program is based and, (ii) the project has been approved for development by all necessary parties and entities, including governmental entities.

 

Existing economic conditions include prices and costs at which the economic producibility of a reservoir is to be determined.  The base product price shall be the 12-month average price, calculated as the unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within the prior 12-month period, unless prices are defined by contractual arrangements, excluding escalations based upon future conditions.

 

PROVED DEVELOPED OIL AND GAS RESERVES are proved reserves that can be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods or in which the cost of the required equipment is relatively minor compared to the cost of a new well or through installed extraction equipment and infrastructure operational at the time of the reserves estimate if the extraction is by means not involving a well.

 

PROVED UNDEVELOPED OIL AND GAS RESERVES are proved reserves that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion.  Reserves on undrilled acreage shall be limited to those offsetting development spacing areas that are reasonably certain of production when drilled, unless evidence using reliable technology exists that establishes reasonable certainty of economic producibility at greater distances.  Undrilled locations can be classified as having undeveloped reserves only if a development plan has been adopted indicating that they are scheduled to be drilled within five years, unless the specific circumstances justify a longer time.

 

ANALOGOUS RESERVOIRS have similar rock and fluid properties, reservoir conditions and drive mechanisms, but one typically at a more advanced stage of development than the reservoir of interest and this may provide concepts to assist in the interpretation of more limited data and estimation recovery.

 

REASONABLE CERTAINTY means a higher degree of confidence that the quantities will be recovered.  A high degree of confidence exists if the quantity is much more likely to be achieved than not and, as changes due to increased availability of geoscience (geological, geophysical, and geomechanical), engineering, and economic data are made to estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) with time, reasonably certain EUR is much more likely to increase or remain constant than to decrease.

 

RELIABLE TECHNOLOGY is a grouping of one or more technologies (including computerized methods) that have been field tested and have demonstrated to provide reasonably certain results with consistency and repeatability in the formation being evaluated or in an analogous formation.

 

UNPROVED PROBABLE reserves are those additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than proved reserves but which, together with proved reserves, are as likely to be recovered as not.  Probable reserves estimates also include potential incremental quantities associated with a greater percentage recovery of the hydrocarbons in place than assumed for proved reserves.

 

UNPROVED POSSIBLE reserves are those additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than probable reserves.  Portions of the reservoir that do not meet the reasonable certainty criterion may be assigned probable and possible oil and gas reserves based on reservoir fluid properties and pressure gradient interpretations.

 

Wright & Company, Inc. may separate proved developed reserves into proved developed producing and proved developed non-producing reserves.  This is to identify proved developed producing reserves as those to be recovered from actively producing wells.  Proved developed nonproducing reserves are those to be recovered from wells or intervals within wells, which are completed but shut-in waiting on equipment or pipeline connections, or wells where a relatively minor expenditure is required for recompletion to another zone.

Twelve Cadillac Drive  l  Suite 260

Brentwood, TN  37027

(615) 370-0755    Fax (615) 370-0756

www.wrightandcompany.com