HOUSTON, Feb. 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Evolution Petroleum Corporation (NYSE MKT: EPM) today reported operating highlights for its second quarter of fiscal 2015 (the "current quarter") ended December 31, 2014, with comparisons to first quarter ended September 30, 2014 (the "prior quarter") and the quarter ended December 31, 2013 (the "year-ago quarter"). 

Results for the Quarter Ended December 31, 2014

• Operating results include a partial quarter (two months) of Delhi working interest results due to the November 1, 2014 reversion of working interest
• Net income of $1.1 million, or $0.03 per diluted common share, a 286% increase from the year-ago quarter and a 12% increase from the prior quarter, despite a 29% drop in oil price
• Total revenues of $7.7 million, a 76% increase from the year-ago quarter and a 93% increase from the prior quarter
• Delhi production of 1,187 net barrels of oil per day ("BOPD") (5,892 BOPD gross), a 156% increase from the year-ago quarter and a 179% increase from the prior quarter
• We remain debt free

Financial results for the current quarter were positively impacted by the November 1, 2014 reversion of 23.9% working interest and associated 19.036% net revenue interest in the Delhi Field. For the two months of working interest realized in the current quarter, the Delhi field margin (revenues less operating expenses) was $1.9 million. Offsetting this income were lower realized oil prices in the current quarter, declining 29% to $70 per barrel from $99 per barrel in the prior quarter, an increase in production costs due to our proportionate share of such expenses at Delhi, increased DD&A expense for increased net volumes at Delhi and slightly higher income tax expense in the current quarter.

As previously disclosed, the Delhi operator had deferred significant capital spending in the field since early 2013 and elected to operate the field at a slightly reduced reservoir pressure. Although the lower operating pressure resulted in a reduced current rate of oil production, the projected ultimate recovery of reserves was maintained. During the current quarter, the operator resumed capital expenditures, including plugging and abandonment activities to prepare for project expansion and the recent redrill of a significant oil producer. For the longer term, the operator began detailed planning for a recycle gas processing plant projected to recover significant volumes of natural gas liquids and methane that will fuel most, if not all, field power needs, while making the flood more efficient. We expect these actions will lead to a significant step increase in production in calendar 2016 when the plant is expected to be placed into service.  Continued expansion of the flood into the eastern half of the field is expected to follow completion of the plant, leading to a projected substantial increase in field production through the end of this decade. 

Randy Keys, President and CFO, said: "We are pleased to finally realize positive financial results from our reverted working interest in Delhi, more than eight years after entering into our venture with the operator in mid-2006. Despite the decline in oil prices, the impact of substantially higher volumes and working interest should more than offset the reductions in per-unit revenue. The reversion of our working interest at Delhi is a critical milestone for the Company, and we remain diligent and focused on further developing and maximizing the value of Delhi Field with our joint venture partner, while protecting the interests of our shareholders."

Robert Herlin, Chairman and CEO, added: "Evolution is well-prepared for the current commodity price environment, given our strong, debt free balance sheet and low overhead costs. We are positioned to comfortably weather the current down cycle and our enviable financial strength empowers us to take advantage of this cycle and consider potential acquisition opportunities. Looking to the future, we remain optimistic about the prospects for the Company, including our ability to grow and create long-term value and continue returning cash to shareholders." 

Delhi Field Operations

During the second quarter, repair operations restored a well to production, which contributed to a production increase and returned gross production from the field to a level exceeding 6,000 Bbl per day.

When combined with our existing 7.405% royalty and overriding royalty revenue interest ("ORRI"), our total net revenue interest has more than tripled to 26.44%. Pursuant to the Purchase and Sale Agreement, under which the Delhi interests were conveyed, we are now responsible for paying 23.9% of the production costs and capital expenditures incurred after the reversion of our working interest in the Delhi Field.

In the quarter ending December 31, 2014, our net share of the joint interest billed capital expenditures was approximately $1.5 million. In addition, our net share of lease operating expenses in the quarter ending December 31, 2014 was approximately $2.8 million, of which $1.7 million is related to CO₂ purchases and CO₂ transportation expenses. Under our contract with the operator, purchased CO₂ is priced at 1% of the oil price per thousand cubic feet ("Mcf") plus transportation costs of $0.20 per Mcf.

On January 26, 2015, Denbury withheld payment of 2.891545% of our ORRI in the field. This unilateral suspension of a portion of Evolution's ORRI by the operator was made without consultation with the Company and, we believe, is without legal basis. Accordingly, the Company will continue to aggressively defend its property using all legal remedies and rights available to us.   

Gas Assisted Rod Pump (GARP^®)

During the quarter, we completed the last of an initial five-well package of installations of our patented Gas Assisted Rod Pump ("GARP^®") technology under the current agreement with a customer. The technology has generated positive production responses from four of the five wells under this agreement. However, due to operating costs, low commodity prices and a very low net-back from gas processing under the customer's pre-existing gas sales contract, our contractual net profits interest has resulted in minimal service fee revenues to date. Given the current low commodity price environment, the Company and the operator have mutually agreed to not proceed with the remaining five wells contemplated by this contract, and any future installations are expected to be subject to a new fixed price agreement.  

Artificial lift financial results continue to be adversely affected by unplanned workover expenses on our Company-operated wells, which temporarily suspended production for significant portions of the quarter and substantially reduced GARP^® revenues in the period.

We are presently working on two additional GARP^® patents that will address the following issues:

• Wells with inadequate gas supply;
• Solids settling on down-hole equipment;
• Additional gas and solid separation.

In the interim, the GARP^® marketing and business development efforts continue, and include participation in oilfield service and industry trade shows and one-on-one meetings with E&P operators of all sizes. 

Other Properties

In the current quarter, we closed on the sale of our remaining leasehold interests and assets in the Mississippi Lime project in Oklahoma for cash proceeds of $389,000, net of customary closing adjustments. This transaction completes the process of divesting all of our non-core oil and gas properties.  

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At December 31, 2014, the Company had total liquidity of $25.6 million, which includes $20.6 million of working capital and $5.0 million of availability on a revolving unsecured credit line. At quarter end December 31, 2014, the Company remained debt-free. We believe that current liquidity combined with expected operating cash flows will be more than sufficient to fund the Company's capital budget for fiscal years 2015 and 2016.

Dividends

Payment of free cash flow in excess of our operating and capital requirements through cash dividends on our common stock remains a priority of our financial strategy, and it is our long term goal to increase our dividends over time as appropriate. The Board of Directors and management instituted this strategy over a year ago due to our belief that high commodity prices at the time limited attractive oil and gas investment opportunities.

However, due to the potential to pursue other opportunities at discounted prices during the current industry downturn combined with the anticipated cost of building and installing the Delhi recycle gas processing plant during calendar 2015 and 2016 and Denbury's recent suspension of a portion of our overriding royalty interest revenues at Delhi, the Dividend Committee believes it is prudent to adjust the current dividend rate.

Based on their recommendation, the Board of Directors has approved a cash dividend to common shareholders in the amount of $0.05 per share, payable on March 31, 2015 to shareholders of record as of March 16, 2015. The reduction in the dividend rate will allow the Company to conserve cash for additional financial flexibility to pursue opportunities while continuing to reward shareholders with a yield near 2.5% at current stock price levels.

Conference Call

As previously announced, Evolution Petroleum will host a conference call on Thursday, February 5, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern (9:00 a.m. Central) to discuss results. To access the call, please dial 1-888-348-6428 (U.S.), 1-412-902-4237 (International) or 1-855-669-9657 (Canada).

To listen live or hear a rebroadcast, please go to http://www.evolutionpetroleum.com. A replay will be available one hour after the end of the conference call through February 13, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time by calling 1-877-870-5176 (U.S.) or 1-858-384-5517 (Canada and International) and providing the replay pin number of 10059665. The webcast will also be archived on the Company's website.

Expected Tax Treatment of Dividends

Based on our current projections for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, we expect preferred stock dividends will be treated as qualified dividend income and that a portion of our cash dividends on common stock will be treated as a return of capital and the remainder as qualified dividend income. We will make a final determination regarding the tax treatment of dividends for the current fiscal year when we report this information to recipients.

About Evolution Petroleum

Evolution Petroleum Corporation develops incremental petroleum reserves and share­holder value by applying conventional and specialized technology to known oil and gas resources, onshore in the United States. Principal assets include interests in a CO₂-EOR project in Louisiana's Delhi Field and a patented technology designed to extend the life and increase ultimate recoveries of depletion drive oil and gas wells. Additional information, including the Company's annual report on Form 10-K and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, is available on its website at www.evolutionpetroleum.com. Additional information regarding GARP^® is available on the www.garplift.com website.

Cautionary Statement

All statements contained in this press release regarding potential results and future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include, but are not limited to, those factors that are disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in our documents filed from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory authorities. Statements regarding our ability to complete transactions, successfully apply technology applications in the re-development of oil and gas fields, realize future production volumes, realize success in our drilling and development activity and forecasts of legal claims, prices, future revenues, income, cash flows, dividends and other statements that are not historical facts contain predictions, estimates and other forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its goals will be achieved and these statements will prove to be accurate. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements.

Company Contact: Randy Keys, President and CFO
(713) 935-0122
rkeys@evolutionpetroleum.com