HOUSTON, May 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Harvest Natural Resources, Inc. (NYSE: HNR) today announced 2012 fourth quarter and year-end earnings.� 

Harvest posted a fourth quarter net loss of $23.1 million, or $0.59 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $44.3 million, or $1.30 per diluted share, for the 2011 fourth quarter.�  For the year ended December 31, 2012, Harvest's net loss was $12.2 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, compared to net income of $56.0 million, or $1.64 per diluted share, for 2011.� 

The fourth quarter results include exploration charges of $3.6 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, impairment expense relating to Oman and China blocks of $9.3 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, unrealized gain on warrant derivatives of $0.4 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, debt conversion expense of $0.3 million, or $0.01 per diluted share and a loss on extinguishment of debt of $5.4 million, or $0.14 per diluted share.�  Adjusted for these non-cash items, Harvest's fourth quarter net loss was $4.9 million, or $0.12 per diluted share.

The 2012 results include exploration charges of $9.1 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, impairment expense relating to Oman and China blocks of $9.3 million, or $0.25 per diluted share and dry hole expense related to the Oman and Indonesian wells of $5.6 million, or $0.15 per diluted share.�  The current year results also included an unrealized loss on warrant derivatives of $0.6 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, debt conversion expense of $3.6 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, loss on extinguishment of debt of $5.4 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, and other non-operating expenses relating to our strategic alternatives of $2.9 million, or $0.08 per diluted share.�  Adjusted for these non-cash items, Harvest's 2012 earnings would have been $24.3 million, or $0.65 per diluted share.

Petrodelta, S.A. (Petrodelta), Harvest's Venezuelan affiliate, reported fourth quarter operating income, before taxes and non-operating items, of $44.4 million ($14.2 million net to Harvest's 32 percent equity interest under International Financial Reporting Standards [IFRS]).�  Petrodelta reported a fourth quarter net loss of $84.2 million ($26.9 million net to Harvest's 32 percent equity interest under IFRS).�  After adjustments to Petrodelta's IFRS earnings, primarily to conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (USGAAP), Harvest's 32 percent share of Petrodelta's earnings was $6.2 million.

Petrodelta reported operating income, before taxes and non-operating items for the year of $296.1 million ($94.8 million net to Harvest's 32 percent equity interest under IFRS).�  Petrodelta reported net income of $86.0 million ($27.5 million net to Harvest's 32 percent equity interest, under IFRS).�  After adjustments to Petrodelta's IFRS earnings, primarily to conform to USGAAP, Harvest's 32 percent share of Petrodelta's earnings were $54.2 million, a six percent decrease over 2011.

VENEZUELA

During the three months ended December 31, 2012, Petrodelta sold approximately 3.4 MMBO for a daily average of 36,600 BOPD, an increase of 12 percent over the same period in 2011 and 4 percent lower than the previous quarter.�  Petrodelta sold 0.6 billion cubic feet (BCF) of natural gas for a daily average of 6.9 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD), decreasing 17 percent over the same period in 2011, and increasing 54 percent over the previous quarter.�  Petrodelta's current production rate is approximately 38,000 BOPD.

During the fourth quarter of 2012, Petrodelta drilled and completed two development wells in the El Salto field.�  Currently, Petrodelta is operating four drilling rigs and one workover rig and is continuing with infrastructure enhancement projects in the El Salto and Temblador fields.

Two new drilling rigs are rigging up, the PDV-48 in the Isle�o field and the PDV-87 in Temblador field; they are expected to begin drilling operations by mid June 2013.�  The current production from the Isle�o field is approximately 2,455 BOPD and is being handled through a pipeline connection that recently started operations between the Isle�o field and the main production facility at the Uracoa field.

The average sales price for crude oil produced during the quarter was approximately $87.95 per barrel, compared to $102.75 per barrel during the fourth quarter of 2011.

During the twelve months ended December 31, 2012, Petrodelta drilled and completed 12 successful development wells compared to 15 development wells in 2011.�  Petrodelta produced approximately 13.17 MMBO in 2012 compared to 11.39 MMBO during 2011, an increase of 16 percent year over year.�  In addition, Petrodelta sold 2.17 billion cubic feet (BCF) of natural gas versus 2.26 BCF of natural gas, a decrease of 4 percent over the same period in 2011.�  Petrodelta produced an average of 35,990 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) during the twelve months ended December 31, 2012.�  Capital expenditures for development drilling and infrastructure were $184.2 million in 2012 compared to $137.5 million in 2011.

On June 21, 2012, we announced that we and our wholly-owned subsidiary, HNR Energia, had entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) with PT Pertamina (Persero), a state-owned limited liability company existing under the laws of Indonesia (Buyer) under which HNR Energia agreed to sell, indirectly through subsidiaries, all of its interests in Venezuela for a cash purchase price of $725.0 million, subject to adjustment as described in the SPA.�  After receiving notice from Buyer that Buyer's sole shareholder, the Government of Indonesia, had decided not to approve the transaction described in the SPA, on February 19, 2013, HNR Energia exercised its right to terminate the SPA in accordance with its terms.

The reserve report for the period ending December 31, 2012, has been completed. � Total proved plus probable reserves on December 31, 2012, net to Harvest's 32 percent share of Petrodelta, were 100.23 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBOE), a decrease of 3 percent from 2011.�  Harvest net interest of Petrodelta's total proved reserves at year end 2012 was 38.40 MMBOE which was a decline of 11 percent from 2011, reflecting 2.97 MMBOE of production in 2012 and the reclassification of 1.71 MMBOE (4 percent) from proved to probable in compliance with the Securities and Exchange Commission's "5 year rule from the date of original booking".�  Without the reclassification of the 1.71 MMBOE to probable, the proved reserves in Venezuela would have decreased 7 percent to 40.11 MMBOE.�  All of the reclassified reserves are scheduled to be drilled by 2018.�  Net probable reserves in Venezuela of 61.83 MMBOE are 2 percent higher than 2011. � A summary of the report is provided in Harvest's 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

EXPLORATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES

Dussafu Project � Gabon (Dussafu PSC)

In 2012, the Company entered into the third exploration phase of the Dussafu PSC, commenced drilling operations on the exploration well DTM-1 and subsequently drilled an appraisal sidetrack DTM- 1ST1. � These wells were drilled with the Saipem Scarabeo 3 semi-submersible drilling unit in a water depth of 380 feet.

The DTM-1 well was spud on November 19, 2012, and drilled to test the potential of the pre-salt Gamba and Dentale Formations of the Tortue Prospect. � The DTM-1 well reached a vertical depth of 11,260 feet within the Dentale Formation. � Log evaluation and pressure data indicate that Harvest discovered approximately 42 feet of pay in a 72 foot oil column within the Gamba Formation and 123 feet of pay in stacked reservoirs within the Dentale Formation.

The Tortue discovery is the second consecutive discovery made by Harvest and the fourth oil discovery on the block along with Ruche, Walt Whitman and Moubenga. � The core and fluid data has been shipped from Gabon for laboratory analysis and the wireline data is being integrated with the seismic in on-going subsurface studies. � Specifically, these studies include velocity modeling and depth conversion uncertainty modeling, reservoir characterization and dynamic modeling studies. � Our current interpretation of the Tortue discovery indicates a preliminary range of contingent resources between 5 and 45 MMBBL.

This most recent discovery brings the combined mean estimate for contingent resources for the block to 45 MMBBL, including the three other existing oil discoveries in Ruche, Walt Whitman and Moubenga.

A program of subsurface and conceptual engineering studies has commenced with the objective of evaluating the commerciality of Tortue and the other oil discoveries to determine the optimum development options for the block.

In other parts of the block, activities during 2012 included completion in July of the Pre-Stack Time Migration (PSTM) processing of 545 square kilometers of Central 3-D seismic, which was acquired in the fourth quarter of 2011.�  Pre-Stack Depth processing and reprocessing of the new Central 3-D together with the 2005 Inboard 3-D seismic, approximately 1,300 square kilometers, commenced in June 2012.�  The Pre-Stack Depth processing of the merged 3-D project is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2013.

On May 28, 2012, the Dussafu PSC partners entered into the third exploration phase of the PSC for a four year period through May 27, 2016.�  The third exploration phase of the PSC has $7.0 million ($4.7 million net to our 66.667 per cent interest) work commitment over the four year period, which has been exceeded by the 2012 operations.

Harvest operates the Dussafu PSC, holding a 66.667 percent interest.

Indonesia

Operational activities during the year ended 2012 included a review of geological and geophysical data obtained from the drilling of the LG-1 and KD-1 wells to upgrade the prospectivity of the block and to define a prospect for potential drilling in 2013. � Based on multiple oil and gas shows encountered in both LG-1 and KD-1, we are working on an exploration program targeting the Pliocene and Miocene sands encountered in the previous two wells.�  We have completed remapping of both the Lariang and Karama Basins with eight leads in the Lariang Basin and five leads in the Karama Basin having been identified in the Pliocene, Middle-Late Miocene and Eocene sands.�  In September 2012, the operator of the Budong PSC, on behalf of us and the other co-venturer, submitted a request to BPMIGAS under the terms of the Budong PSC for a four-year extension of the initial six-year exploration term of the Budong PSC.�  In January 2013, we received written approval from SKK Migas of the four-year extension of the initial six-year exploration term.

In December 2012, we signed a farmout agreement with the operator of the Budong PSC to acquire an additional 7.1 percent participating interest increasing our participating ownership interest in the Budong PSC to 71.5 percent with our cost sharing interest becoming 72 percent until first commercial production and to become operator of the Budong PSC.�  We assumed the role of interim operator effective January 16, 2013 and officially became operator on March 25, 2013.�  The consideration for this recent acquisition is that we will fund 100 percent of the costs of the first exploration well of the four-year extension to the Budong PSC.�  If the exploration well is not drilled within 18 months of the date of approval from the Government of Indonesia of this transaction, our partner has the right to give notice that the consideration be paid in cash in the amount of $3.2 million.�  The acquisition of the additional participating interest was approved by the Government of Indonesia on April 9, 2013.

We have satisfied all work commitments for the current exploration phase of the Budong PSC.�  However, the extension of the initial exploration term includes an exploration well, which if not drilled by January 2016, results in the termination of the Budong PSC.

WAB 21, South China Sea

Due to a lack of activity and the ongoing border dispute between People's Republic of China and Socialist Republic of Vietnam over the WAB-21 contract area, the Company expensed $2.9 million which represented the book value of the block as of the end of December 31, 2012.�  Harvest maintains its interest in the block and continues as the operator.

Corporate and Financial Reporting

Debt

In October 2012, we announced the sale of $79.8 million aggregate principal amount of 11 percent senior unsecured notes due October 11, 2014, and warrants to purchase up to 0.8 million shares of our common stock with an exercise price of $10.00 per share.�  The net cash proceeds of the offering were approximately $63.5 million after deducting the issuance discount, placement fees, and other transaction costs.

Controls, Procedures, and Restatements

Certain material weaknesses resulted in errors which required the restatement of our annual consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2011 and the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for all quarters in 2011 and the first three quarters of 2012 and also resulted in recorded audit adjustments for the fourth quarter and annual period ended December 31, 2012.�  The net impact of the non-cash adjustments are provided below:

During the December 31, 2012 year end audit process, the following material weaknesses were identified.�  None of these material weaknesses had a cash impact to the Company.�  Due to these weaknesses, errors were identified and adjustments will be made in current and previous Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings.�  For a list of these material weaknesses and the remediation plan see section Item 9A Control and Procedures of Harvest's 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The Company intends to file amendments to its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q/A for each fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2012, June 30, 2012 and September 30, 2012, which will also include amendments to the quarters ended March 31, 2011, June 30, 2011, and September 30, 2011. � The Company expects to file with the SEC as soon as reasonably practicable to correct the accounting treatment for the items discussed above.

To provide sufficient time to allow our equity affiliate in Venezuela, Petrodelta, S.A., to close its financial records and prepare the required financial statements for the first quarter of 2013 in the wake of efforts required to complete the 2012 annual report, the Company may be required to file a Form 12b-25 with the SEC to obtain additional time to complete Harvest's first quarter Form 10-Q due on May 10, 2013.

Going Concern

The Company's financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012 have been prepared under the assumption that Harvest will continue as a going concern.�  Our audit report includes an explanatory paragraph expressing substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

Reserves Disclosure

The proved, probable and possible reserves included herein were prepared by Ryder Scott and conform to the definitions as set forth in the SEC'S Regulations Part 210.4-10(a).�  The hydrocarbon prices used are based on SEC price parameters using the average prices during the 12-month period prior to the ending date of the reserve report, determined as the unweighted arithmetic averages of the prices in effect on the first day of the month for each month within such period, unless prices were defined by contractual arrangements.�  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."�  All reserve estimates involve an assessment of the uncertainty relating to the likelihood that the actual remaining quantities recovered will be greater or less than the estimated quantities determined as of the date the estimate is made.�  The uncertainty depends chiefly on the amount of reliable geologic and engineering data available at the time of the estimate and the interpretation of these data.�  The relative degree of uncertainty may be conveyed by placing reserves into one of two principal classifications, either proved or unproved.�  Unproved reserves are less certain to be recovered than proved reserves and may be further sub-classified as probable and possible reserves to denote progressively increasing uncertainty in their recoverability.� 

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.�  If deterministic methods are used, the SEC has defined reasonable certainty for proved reserves as a "high degree of confidence that the quantities will be recovered."�  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 as not to be recovered."�  Possible reserves are "those additional reserves which are less certain to be recovered than probable reserves" and thus the probability of achieving or exceeding the proved plus probable plus possible reserves is low.

The reserves included herein were estimated using deterministic methods and presented as incremental quantities.�  Under the deterministic incremental approach, discrete quantities of reserves are estimated and assigned separately as proved, probable or possible based on their individual level of uncertainty.�  Because of the differences in uncertainty, caution should be exercised when aggregating quantities of oil and gas from different reserves categories.�  Furthermore, the reserves and income quantities attributable to the different reserve categories that are included herein have not been adjusted to reflect these varying degrees of risk associated with them and thus are not comparable.

Reserve estimates will generally be revised only as additional geologic or engineering data become available or as economic conditions change.�  For proved reserves, the SEC states that "as changes due to increased availability of geoscience (geological, geophysical, and geochemical), engineering, and economic data are made to the estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) with time, reasonably certain EUR is much more likely to increase or remain constant than to decrease."�  Moreover, estimates of proved, probable and possible reserves may be revised as a result of future operations, effects of regulation by governmental agencies or geopolitical or economic risks.�  Therefore, the proved, probable and possible reserves included in this report are estimates only and should not be construed as being exact quantities, and if recovered, the revenues therefrom, and the actual costs related thereto, could be more or less than the estimated amounts.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

These measures are included due to the significant nature of Petrodelta's earnings to Harvest.�  In this press release, Petrodelta's adjusted EBITDA disclosure is not presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) and Petrodelta's financials are not intended to be used in lieu of GAAP presentations of net income or cash flows from operating activities.�  Adjusted EBITDA is presented because we believe it provides additional information with respect to both the performance of our fundamental business activities as well as our ability to internally fund our future capital expenditures and working capital requirements.�  We also believe that financial analysts commonly use adjusted EBITDA to analyze Petrodelta's performance.� 

The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before interest expense, investment earnings, current income taxes, and certain non-cash items in the Company's statements of operations, including depreciation, depletion and amortization, accretion of asset retirement obligations, deferred income taxes, certain employee compensation charges and gains or losses from foreign exchange.�  Although we present selected items that we consider in evaluating our performance, you should also be aware that the items presented do not represent all items that affect comparability between the periods presented.�  Variations in our operating results are also caused by changes in volumes, prices, exchange rates and numerous other factors.�  These types of variations are not separately identified in this release, but will be discussed, as applicable, in management's discussion and analysis of operating results in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

A reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to net income and cash flows from operating activities for the periods presented is included in the tables attached to this release.

Conference Call

Harvest will hold a conference call at 10:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time on Friday, May 3, 2013, during which management will discuss Harvest's 2012 fourth quarter and year end results. The conference leader will be James A. Edmiston, President and Chief Executive Officer. To access the conference call, dial 785-830-7979 or 800-344-6698, five to ten minutes prior to the start time. At that time you will be asked to provide the conference number, which is 8306810. A recording of the conference call will also be available for replay at 719-457-0820, passcode 8306810, through May 7, 2013.

The conference call will also be transmitted over the internet through the Company's website at www.harvestnr.com.�  To listen to the live webcast, enter the website fifteen minutes before the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software.�  For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a replay of the webcast will be available beginning shortly after the call and will remain on the website for approximately 90 days.

About Harvest Natural Resources:

Harvest Natural Resources, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is an independent energy company with principal operations in Venezuela, exploration assets in Indonesia, West Africa, and China and business development offices in Singapore and the United Kingdom.�  For more information visit the Company's website at www.harvestnr.com.

CONTACT:
Stephen C. Haynes
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
(281) 899-5716

This press release may contain projections and other forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. They include estimates and timing of expected oil and gas production, oil and gas reserve projections of future oil pricing, future expenses, planned capital expenditures, anticipated cash flow and our business strategy. All statements other than statements of historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements. Although Harvest believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Actual results may differ materially from Harvest's expectations as a result of factors discussed in Harvest's 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K and other public filings.

Harvest may use certain terms such as resource base, contingent resources, prospective resources, probable reserves, possible reserves, non-proved reserves or other descriptions of volumes of reserves.�  These estimates are by their nature more speculative than estimates of proved reserves and accordingly, are subject to substantially greater risk of being actually realized by the Company.

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SOURCE Harvest Natural Resources