Black Stone Minerals, L.P. Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Results; Provides Guidance for 2022
Black Stone Minerals (NYSE: BSM) reported strong financial and operational results for Q4 and full year 2021. Q4 mineral and royalty production increased by 7% to 35.2 MBoe/d. Net income was $134.2 million, significantly up from prior quarters. Full year revenue was $182 million, driven by increased realized prices, averaging $44.12 per Boe. The company reduced debt by $32 million and raised cash distributions by 70% from the previous year. Guidance for 2022 indicates stable production with a slight decline in working interest production due to past strategic decisions.
- Net income rose to $134.2 million in Q4 2021, a substantial increase from $16.2 million in Q3 2021.
- Adjusted EBITDA for Q4 2021 was $77.6 million, up from $76.5 million in Q3 2021.
- Cash distributions increased by 70% YoY, from $0.555 per unit in 2020 to $0.945 per unit in 2021.
- Reduced total debt by $32 million in 2021, with a debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio of 0.3x.
- Mineral and royalty production for Q4 2021 reached 35.2 MBoe/d, a 7% increase QoQ.
- Working interest production decreased by 22% from Q3 2021 and 44% year-over-year.
- 2022 guidance suggests a decline in expected working interest production to 3-4 MBoe/d.
Fourth Quarter 2021 Highlights
-
Mineral and royalty production for the fourth quarter of 2021 equaled 35.2 MBoe/d, an increase of
7% over the prior quarter; total production, including working interest volumes, was 39.1 MBoe/d for the quarter -
Net income and Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter were
and$134.2 million , respectively$77.6 million -
Distributable cash flow was
for the fourth quarter, resulting in distribution coverage for all units of 1.3x based on the announced cash distribution of$71.3 million per unit$0.27 -
Total debt at the end of the quarter was
; total debt to trailing twelve-month Adjusted EBITDA was 0.3x at year-end$89 million
Full Year Financial and Operational Highlights
-
Mineral and royalty volumes in 2021 decreased
2% over the prior year to average 32.9 MBoe/d; full year 2021 production was 38.0 MBoe/d -
Reported 2021 net income and Adjusted EBITDA of
and$182.0 million , respectively$292.5 million -
Increased cash distributions by
70% from per unit attributable to the full year 2020 to$0.55 5 per unit attributable to the full year 2021$0.94 5 -
Reduced total outstanding debt by
during 2021$32 million
Management Commentary
Thomas L. Carter, Jr., Black Stone Minerals’ Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, commented, “We posted another solid quarter of operational and financial results, as activity levels across much of our acreage continued to improve. The robust cash flows for the fourth quarter, combined with a healthy outlook for 2022 and our low debt levels, allowed for another increase in our distribution per unit. Our asset base is well-situated to benefit from increasing producer activity in key basins, including our significant exposure to the
Quarterly Financial and Operating Results
Production
Working interest production for the fourth quarter of 2021 was 3.9 MBoe/d, and represents a decrease of
Total reported production averaged 39.1 MBoe/d (
Realized Prices, Revenues, and Net Income
The Company’s average realized price per Boe, excluding the effect of derivative settlements, was
Black Stone reported oil and gas revenue of
The Company reported a gain on commodity derivative instruments of
Lease bonus and other income was
There was no impairment for the quarters ended
The Company reported net income of
Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow
Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2021 was
2021 Proved Reserves
Estimated proved oil and natural gas reserves at year-end 2021 were 59.8 MMBoe, an increase of
Financial Position and Activities
As of
As of
During the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company made no repurchases of units under the Board-approved
Fourth Quarter 2021 Distributions
As previously announced, the Board approved a cash distribution of
Activity Update
Rig Activity
As of
Shelby Trough Development Update
In
Shelby Trough Farmout Update
On
Austin Chalk Update
Black Stone has entered into agreements with multiple operators to drill wells using advanced fracturing and completion techniques in the areas of the Austin Chalk in
Summary 2022 Guidance
Following are the key assumptions in Black Stone Minerals’ 2022 guidance, as well as comparable results for 2021:
|
FY 2021 Actual |
|
FY |
|
Mineral and royalty production (MBoe/d) |
32.9 |
|
31 - 33 |
|
Working interest production (MBoe/d) |
5.1 |
|
3 - 4 |
|
Total production (MBoe/d) |
38.0 |
|
34 - 37 |
|
Percentage natural gas |
|
|
|
|
Percentage royalty interest |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lease bonus and other income ($MM) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lease operating expense ($MM) |
|
|
|
|
Production costs and ad valorem taxes (as % of total pre-derivative O&G revenue) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G&A - cash ($MM) |
|
|
|
|
G&A - non-cash ($MM) |
|
|
|
|
G&A - TOTAL ($MM) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DD&A ($/Boe) |
|
|
|
Black Stone expects royalty production to be consistent with or decline slightly in 2022 relative to full year 2021 levels. Factors influencing the production outlook include the expectation of increased producer activity in the Louisiana Haynesville / Bossier and West Texas Midland /
Working interest production is expected to decline in 2022 as a result of Black Stone's decision in 2017 to farm-out participation in its working interest opportunities.
The Partnership expects general and administrative expenses to be slightly higher in 2022 as a result of selective hires made to enhance Black Stone’s ability to evaluate and market its undeveloped acreage positions to potential operators.
Hedge Position
Black Stone has commodity derivative contracts in place covering portions of its anticipated production for 2022 and 2023, including derivative contracts put in place after the end of the year. The Company's hedge position as of
Crude Oil Swaps |
||||
Period |
Volume |
Weighted Avg
|
||
|
MBbl |
$/Bbl |
||
4Q21 |
220 |
|
||
1Q22 |
540 |
|
||
2Q22 |
660 |
|
||
3Q22 |
660 |
|
||
4Q22 |
660 |
|
||
1Q23 |
180 |
|
||
Natural Gas Swaps |
|
|
||
Period |
Volume |
Weighted Avg
|
||
|
MMcf |
$/Mcf |
||
1Q22 |
8,230 |
|
||
2Q22 |
8,910 |
|
||
3Q22 |
9,000 |
|
||
4Q22 |
9,000 |
|
||
1Q23 |
2,700 |
|
||
2Q23 |
1,820 |
|
||
3Q23 |
1,840 |
|
||
4Q23 |
1,840 |
|
More detailed information about the Company's existing hedging program can be found in the Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is expected to be filed on or around
Conference Call
About
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this news release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Terminology such as “will,” “may,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “project,” “intend,” “estimate,” “believe,” “target,” “continue,” “potential,” the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology often identify forward-looking statements. Except as required by law,
- the Company’s ability to execute its business strategies;
- the scope and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and actions taken by government authorities and other parties in response to the pandemic
- the volatility of realized oil and natural gas prices;
- the level of production on the Company’s properties;
- overall supply and demand for oil and natural gas, as well as regional supply and demand factors, delays, or interruptions of production;
- conservation measures, technological advances, and general concern about the environmental impact of the production and use of fossil fuels;
- the Company’s ability to replace its oil and natural gas reserves;
- the Company’s ability to identify, complete, and integrate acquisitions;
- general economic, business, or industry conditions;
- cybersecurity incidents, including data security breaches or computer viruses;
- competition in the oil and natural gas industry; and
- the level of drilling activity by the Company's operators, particularly in areas such as the Shelby Trough where the Company has concentrated acreage positions.
|
||||||||||||||||
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS |
||||||||||||||||
(Unaudited) |
||||||||||||||||
(In thousands, except per unit amounts) |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
Year Ended |
||||||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
||||||||
REVENUE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Oil and condensate sales |
|
$ |
75,743 |
|
|
$ |
36,786 |
|
|
$ |
235,771 |
|
|
$ |
148,631 |
|
Natural gas and natural gas liquids sales |
|
|
83,134 |
|
|
|
42,866 |
|
|
|
255,671 |
|
|
|
138,926 |
|
Lease bonus and other income |
|
|
2,097 |
|
|
|
1,414 |
|
|
|
14,292 |
|
|
|
9,083 |
|
Revenue from contracts with customers |
|
|
160,974 |
|
|
|
81,066 |
|
|
|
505,734 |
|
|
|
296,640 |
|
Gain (loss) on commodity derivative instruments |
|
|
18,449 |
|
|
|
(3,640 |
) |
|
|
(146,474 |
) |
|
|
46,111 |
|
TOTAL REVENUE |
|
|
179,423 |
|
|
|
77,426 |
|
|
|
359,260 |
|
|
|
342,751 |
|
OPERATING (INCOME) EXPENSE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Lease operating expense |
|
|
3,252 |
|
|
|
3,742 |
|
|
|
13,056 |
|
|
|
14,022 |
|
Production costs and ad valorem taxes |
|
|
14,340 |
|
|
|
11,637 |
|
|
|
49,809 |
|
|
|
43,473 |
|
Exploration expense |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1,082 |
|
|
|
29 |
|
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization |
|
|
14,666 |
|
|
|
19,820 |
|
|
|
61,019 |
|
|
|
82,018 |
|
Impairment of oil and natural gas properties |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
51,031 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
11,387 |
|
|
|
10,245 |
|
|
|
48,746 |
|
|
|
42,983 |
|
Accretion of asset retirement obligations |
|
|
210 |
|
|
|
295 |
|
|
|
1,073 |
|
|
|
1,131 |
|
(Gain) loss on sale of assets, net |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(2,850 |
) |
|
|
(24,045 |
) |
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
|
|
43,857 |
|
|
|
45,740 |
|
|
|
171,935 |
|
|
|
210,642 |
|
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS |
|
|
135,566 |
|
|
|
31,686 |
|
|
|
187,325 |
|
|
|
132,109 |
|
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Interest and investment income |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
35 |
|
Interest expense |
|
|
(1,441 |
) |
|
|
(1,353 |
) |
|
|
(5,638 |
) |
|
|
(10,408 |
) |
Other income (expense) |
|
|
68 |
|
|
|
12 |
|
|
|
299 |
|
|
|
83 |
|
TOTAL OTHER EXPENSE |
|
|
(1,372 |
) |
|
|
(1,341 |
) |
|
|
(5,338 |
) |
|
|
(10,290 |
) |
NET INCOME (LOSS) |
|
|
134,194 |
|
|
|
30,345 |
|
|
|
181,987 |
|
|
|
121,819 |
|
Distributions on Series B cumulative convertible preferred units |
|
|
(5,250 |
) |
|
|
(5,250 |
) |
|
|
(21,000 |
) |
|
|
(21,000 |
) |
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE GENERAL PARTNER AND COMMON UNITS |
|
$ |
128,944 |
|
|
$ |
25,095 |
|
|
$ |
160,987 |
|
|
$ |
100,819 |
|
ALLOCATION OF NET INCOME (LOSS): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
General partner interest |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Common units |
|
|
128,944 |
|
|
|
25,095 |
|
|
|
160,987 |
|
|
|
100,819 |
|
|
|
$ |
128,944 |
|
|
$ |
25,095 |
|
|
$ |
160,987 |
|
|
$ |
100,819 |
|
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO LIMITED PARTNERS PER COMMON UNIT: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Per common unit (basic) |
|
$ |
0.62 |
|
|
$ |
0.12 |
|
|
$ |
0.77 |
|
|
$ |
0.49 |
|
Weighted average common units outstanding (basic) |
|
|
208,665 |
|
|
|
206,748 |
|
|
|
208,181 |
|
|
|
206,705 |
|
Per common unit (diluted) |
|
$ |
0.60 |
|
|
$ |
0.12 |
|
|
$ |
0.77 |
|
|
$ |
0.49 |
|
Weighted average common units outstanding (diluted) |
|
|
224,069 |
|
|
|
207,206 |
|
|
|
208,290 |
|
|
|
206,819 |
|
The following table shows the Company’s production, revenues, realized prices, and expenses for the periods presented.
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
Year Ended |
||||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
||||||
|
|
(Unaudited) |
||||||||||||
(Dollars in thousands, except for realized prices) |
||||||||||||||
Production: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Oil and condensate (MBbls) |
|
|
1,036 |
|
|
915 |
|
|
|
3,646 |
|
|
|
3,895 |
Natural gas (MMcf)1 |
|
|
15,392 |
|
|
16,023 |
|
|
|
61,445 |
|
|
|
67,945 |
Equivalents (MBoe) |
|
|
3,601 |
|
|
3,586 |
|
|
|
13,887 |
|
|
|
15,219 |
Equivalents/day (MBoe) |
|
|
39.1 |
|
|
39.0 |
|
|
|
38.0 |
|
|
|
41.6 |
Realized prices, without derivatives: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Oil and condensate ($/Bbl) |
|
$ |
73.11 |
|
$ |
40.20 |
|
|
$ |
64.67 |
|
|
$ |
38.16 |
Natural gas ($/Mcf)1 |
|
|
5.40 |
|
|
2.68 |
|
|
|
4.16 |
|
|
|
2.04 |
Equivalents ($/Boe) |
|
$ |
44.12 |
|
$ |
22.21 |
|
|
$ |
35.39 |
|
|
$ |
18.89 |
Revenue: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Oil and condensate sales |
|
$ |
75,743 |
|
$ |
36,786 |
|
|
$ |
235,771 |
|
|
$ |
148,631 |
Natural gas and natural gas liquids sales1 |
|
|
83,134 |
|
|
42,866 |
|
|
|
255,671 |
|
|
|
138,926 |
Lease bonus and other income |
|
|
2,097 |
|
|
1,414 |
|
|
|
14,292 |
|
|
|
9,083 |
Revenue from contracts with customers |
|
|
160,974 |
|
|
81,066 |
|
|
|
505,734 |
|
|
|
296,640 |
Gain (loss) on commodity derivative instruments |
|
|
18,449 |
|
|
(3,640 |
) |
|
|
(146,474 |
) |
|
|
46,111 |
Total revenue |
|
$ |
179,423 |
|
$ |
77,426 |
|
|
$ |
359,260 |
|
|
$ |
342,751 |
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Lease operating expense |
|
$ |
3,252 |
|
$ |
3,742 |
|
|
$ |
13,056 |
|
|
$ |
14,022 |
Production costs and ad valorem taxes |
|
|
14,340 |
|
|
11,637 |
|
|
|
49,809 |
|
|
|
43,473 |
Exploration expense |
|
|
2 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1,082 |
|
|
|
29 |
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization |
|
|
14,666 |
|
|
19,820 |
|
|
|
61,019 |
|
|
|
82,018 |
Impairment of oil and natural gas properties |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
51,031 |
General and administrative |
|
|
11,387 |
|
|
10,245 |
|
|
|
48,746 |
|
|
|
42,983 |
Other expense: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Interest expense |
|
|
1,441 |
|
|
1,353 |
|
|
|
5,638 |
|
|
|
10,408 |
Per Boe: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Lease operating expense (per working interest Boe) |
|
$ |
8.96 |
|
$ |
5.84 |
|
|
$ |
7.00 |
|
|
$ |
4.69 |
Production costs and ad valorem taxes |
|
|
3.98 |
|
|
3.25 |
|
|
|
3.59 |
|
|
|
2.86 |
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization |
|
|
4.07 |
|
|
5.53 |
|
|
|
4.39 |
|
|
|
5.39 |
General and administrative |
|
|
3.16 |
|
|
2.86 |
|
|
|
3.51 |
|
|
|
2.82 |
1 As a mineral-and-royalty-interest owner, |
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow are supplemental non-GAAP financial measures used by Black Stone's management and external users of the Company's financial statements such as investors, research analysts, and others, to assess the financial performance of its assets and our ability to sustain distributions over the long term without regard to financing methods, capital structure, or historical cost basis.
The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before interest expense, income taxes, and depreciation, depletion, and amortization adjusted for impairment of oil and natural gas properties, accretion of asset retirement obligations, unrealized gains and losses on commodity derivative instruments, non-cash equity-based compensation, and gains and losses on sales of assets. Black Stone defines Distributable cash flow as Adjusted EBITDA plus or minus amounts for certain non-cash operating activities, cash interest expense, and restructuring charges.
Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable cash flow should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income (loss), income (loss) from operations, cash flows from operating activities, or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") in
Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable cash flow have important limitations as analytical tools because they exclude some but not all items that affect net income (loss), the most directly comparable
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
Year Ended
|
||||||||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
||||||||
|
|
(Unaudited) |
||||||||||||||
(In thousands, except per unit amounts) |
||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
134,194 |
|
|
$ |
30,345 |
|
|
$ |
181,987 |
|
|
$ |
121,819 |
|
Adjustments to reconcile to Adjusted EBITDA: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization |
|
|
14,666 |
|
|
|
19,820 |
|
|
|
61,019 |
|
|
|
82,018 |
|
Impairment of oil and natural gas properties |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
51,031 |
|
Interest expense |
|
|
1,441 |
|
|
|
1,353 |
|
|
|
5,638 |
|
|
|
10,408 |
|
Income tax expense (benefit) |
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
(135 |
) |
|
|
8 |
|
Accretion of asset retirement obligations |
|
|
210 |
|
|
|
295 |
|
|
|
1,073 |
|
|
|
1,131 |
|
Equity-based compensation |
|
|
2,513 |
|
|
|
2,322 |
|
|
|
12,218 |
|
|
|
3,727 |
|
Unrealized (gain) loss on commodity derivative instruments |
|
|
(75,387 |
) |
|
|
18,195 |
|
|
|
33,528 |
|
|
|
35,238 |
|
(Gain) loss on sale of assets, net |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(2,850 |
) |
|
|
(24,045 |
) |
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
|
77,633 |
|
|
|
72,331 |
|
|
|
292,478 |
|
|
|
281,335 |
|
Adjustments to reconcile to Distributable cash flow: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Change in deferred revenue |
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
|
(76 |
) |
|
|
(18 |
) |
|
|
(391 |
) |
Cash interest expense |
|
|
(1,094 |
) |
|
|
(1,091 |
) |
|
|
(4,059 |
) |
|
|
(9,364 |
) |
Preferred unit distributions |
|
|
(5,250 |
) |
|
|
(5,250 |
) |
|
|
(21,000 |
) |
|
|
(21,000 |
) |
Restructuring charges1 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4,815 |
|
Distributable cash flow |
|
$ |
71,287 |
|
|
$ |
65,914 |
|
|
$ |
267,401 |
|
|
$ |
255,395 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Total units outstanding2 |
|
|
209,118 |
|
|
|
207,266 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Distributable cash flow per unit |
|
|
0.341 |
|
|
|
0.318 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
1 Restructuring charges include non-recurring costs associated with broad workforce reduction in the first quarter of 2020. |
||||||||||||||||
2 The distribution attributable to the quarter ended |
Proved Oil & Gas Reserve Quantities
A reconciliation of proved reserves is presented in the following table:
|
Crude Oil |
|
Natural Gas |
|
Total |
||||
(MBbl) |
(MMcf) |
(MBoe) |
|||||||
Net proved reserves at |
15,952 |
|
|
240,211 |
|
|
55,987 |
|
|
Revisions of previous estimates |
4,817 |
|
|
38,537 |
|
|
11,240 |
|
|
Purchases of minerals in place |
272 |
|
|
216 |
|
|
308 |
|
|
Sales of minerals in place |
(135 |
) |
|
(6,194 |
) |
|
(1,167 |
) |
|
Extensions, discoveries, and other additions |
1,911 |
|
|
32,592 |
|
|
7,343 |
|
|
Production |
(3,646 |
) |
|
(61,445 |
) |
|
(13,887 |
) |
|
Net proved reserves at |
19,171 |
|
|
243,917 |
|
|
59,824 |
|
|
Net Proved Developed Reserves |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
15,952 |
|
|
230,411 |
|
|
54,354 |
|
|
|
19,111 |
|
|
224,222 |
|
|
56,481 |
|
|
Net Proved Undeveloped Reserves |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
— |
|
|
9,800 |
|
|
1,633 |
|
|
|
60 |
|
|
19,695 |
|
|
3,343 |
|
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220221005289/en/
President and Chief Financial Officer
Vice President, Finance and Investor Relations
Telephone: (713) 445-3200
investorrelations@blackstoneminerals.com
Source:
FAQ
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