QEP Bakken Production Increases in Q4 2013, Despite Adverse Weather Conditions

February 26, 2014 Kirk Eggleston

QEP Resources Bakken Three Forks Acreage Map

QEP Resources grew its Bakken and Three Forks production in the fourth-quarter, despite adverse weather conditions, achieving net average production of 27,700 boe/d (96% liquids). That's a 30% increase over third-quarter 2013 production, which was 21,300 boe/d.

The company brought 26 operated wells to sales in the fourth-quarter, with good initial production rates. 17 of those wells were in the South Antelope, and their average 24-hour initial production (IP) rate was ~3,025 boe/d. The other nine wells were in the Fort Berthold Reservation, with an average 24-hour initial production (IP) rate of 1,850 boe/d.

In 2013, QEP also saw the value of its South Antelope property rise to $2.8 billion from a $1.14 billion investment. Production from this asset grew throughout the year.

“QEP Energy’s capital investment program resulted in a 62% increase in crude oil production over last year driven by a 133% increase in production from the Williston Basin. Crude oil volumes represented 20% of QEP Energy’s production in 2013, a substantial increase from 12% in 2012 and 8% in 2011,” said Chuck Stanley, CEO, QEP Resources.”

QEP Outside Operated Bakken and Three Forks Wells

QEP Resources also participated in 22 outside-operated Bakken or Three Forks wells that were completed and turned to sales during the fourth-quarter. These wells had an average working interest of 7%.

At the end of 2013, QEP had interests in 31 outside-operated wells in the process of being drilled, with an average working interest of 10%. Five outside-operated wells were waiting to be completed with an average working interest of 5%.

QEP Bakken Rigs Running at End of Year

At the end of the fourth-quarter, eight rigs were operating in the Williston Basin. Six of those rigs were located in the South Antelope, and two were in the Fort Berthold Reservation. QEP also had eight operated wells waiting on completion, with an average working interest of 94%.

QEP Resources South Antelope Bakken Properties Valued at $2.8 Billion at Year-end 2013

February 11, 2014 Kirk Eggleston

QEP Resources acquired its South Antelope Properties in the fall of 2012 for ~$1.4 billion.

Since the acquisition, QEP's value estimate for those properties has increased to $2.8 billion based on probable reserve estimates.

QEP Bakken South Antelope Properties

Since the acquisition of its South Antelope properties, QEP has lowered its development costs and increased production.

Current gross completed well costs have decreased by more than $1 million from estimated costs at the time of acquisition.

In spite of delays due to downstream and weather-related issues, current South Antelope oil production grew in 2013.

“Our South Antelope acquisition is a great example of our sound and stringent capital allocation process,” commented Stanley. “We are pleased to see that the assumptions made in our South Antelope acquisition have proven to be accurate and conservative.”

QEP Production and Proved Reserves for 2013

QEP total equivalent production in 2013 was 309 bcfe and oil production was 10.2 million bbl. Natural gas and NGL production was 218.9 bcf and 4.8 million bbl respectively.

2013 year end total proved reserves were 2.55 tcf of natural gas, 148.6 million bbl of crude oil and 102.6 million bbl of NGL. That's a 37% increase of total proved reserves at year end 2013 compared to 2012.

At the end of 2013, QEP's Williston Basin proved reserves were estimated at 797.5 bcfe or ~140 million boe.

Highlights

QEP Resources South Antelope property valued at $2.8 billion
QEP total equivalent production in 2013 was 309 bcfe and oil production was 10.2 million bbl
Proved crude oil reserves at 149 million barrels. Up 25% from prior year
37% increase in total proved reserves
Williston Basin contributed more than 140 million boe in reserves

* Extensions and Discoveries: As to any period, the increases to proved reserves from all sources other than the acquisition of proved properties or revisions of previous estimates.

QEP Resources Bakken & Three Forks Production Surpasses 21,000 boe/d

November 14, 2013 R.T. Dukes

QEP Resources Fort Berthold Bakken Well Results

QEP Resources Bakken and Three Forks production grew a little less than 1,000 boe/d in the third quarter to average 21,300 boe/d.

QEP brought 21 operated wells to production with impressive initial production rates. Ten wells in the South Antelope area came online with a 24-hour initial production (IP) rate of 3,412 boe/d and 11 wells in the Fort Berthold area came online with IPs of 2,588 boe/d. Many of those wells were drilled and completed on mult-well pads.

Production didn't grow quite as much as expected due to midstream bottlenecks and shut-ins required by drilling operations. I suspect we'll see relatively strong growth in the fourth quarter.

At the end of the third quarter, QEP had drilling operations active on eight well pads (3 at South Antelope and 5 at Fort Berthold). QEP also has an interest in 24 outside operated wells being drilled and is awaiting completion on 22 operated and non-operated wells.

“In the Williston Basin, we brought on 21 new QEP-operated wells in the third quarter compared to a total of 27 operated completions in the first half of the year. Production results from our South Antelope wells continue to confirm our pre-drill EUR expectations. Despite some delayed well completions — in part due to bottlenecks in third-party downstream crude oil systems — and shut-ins of existing wells for offset completions, we expect to grow oil production at an enviable rate of 60 percent over 2012.”

— Chuck Stanley, CEO

On QEP's Fort Berthold acreage alone, the company estimates potential for 420 gross Bakken and Three Forks wells at 160-acre spacing. EURs in the Bakken range from 400-650 mboe and wells in the Three Forks are expected to yield 350-600 mboe. That equates to resource potential of 121-202 million barrels of oil equivalent (net) from QEP's Fort Berthold assets alone.

Read the full press release at qepres.com

QEP Grows Bakken Production 20% In The Second Quarter

August 6, 2013 R.T. Dukes

QEP Resources has grown oil production 82% over the past year and that is largely attributable to assets in the Williston Basin. Bakken and Three Forks production grew to average 20,400 boe/d in the second quarter. That's up from 17,000 boe/d in the first quarter.

QEP drilled and completed 15 wells in the quarter. Nine wells were completed in the Fort Berthold area and six were completed in the South Antelope area.

The company's first well pad in the South Antelope area saw four wells come online at a total of more than 15,000 boe/d.

“The second quarter was one of steady progress at QEP,” commented Chuck Stanley, CEO. “We continued to increase activity in the Williston Basin and brought on 15 new operated wells in the quarter. Individual well performance has been in line with or ahead of expectations, and we continue to make progress on lowering well costs.”

QEP also participated in 18 non-operated wells. At the end of the quarter, the company had 11 operated wells awaiting completion, 10 non-operated wells being drilled, and 28 non-operated wells awaiting completion. The average working interest in the company's non-operated properties is less than 6%.

QEP Resources has an interest in 116,000 net acres in the region and is running 8 rigs. Development is primarily focused in the Fort Berthold and South Antelope areas.

In the South Antelope area, the company drills 5,000-12,500 ft laterals and expects ultimate recoveries from each well will reach to more than 1 million boe. In the Fort Berthold area, QEP also drills 5,00-12,500 ft laterals and expects ultimate recoveries per well to range from 300,000 to 900,000 boe

Read the company's full press release at qepres.com

QEP Resources Bakken Well Pad Surpasses 15,000 Barrels Per Day!

June 11, 2013 R.T. Dukes

QEP Resources Bakken production was down in the first quarter due to the company's transition to pad drilling. That was quickly reversed as the company brought its first four well pad online on its South Antelope acreage in the second quarter.

The four wells had a 24-hr, initial production rate that eclipsed 15,000 boe/d or 3,929 boe/d per well after processing when added together. That's after QEP produced just 17,000 boe/d in the first quarter of 2013.

The first two wells actually eclipsed 4,500 boe/d each and that is from the first two wells the company has drilled in the area. QEP Resources acquired its South Antelope acreage from Helis for $1.3 billion in late 2012.

“I am pleased with QEP`s strong operational results this quarter and I am encouraged by the very strong well results from our first operated multi-well pad on the South Antelope Acquisition,” commented Chuck Stanley, Chairman, President and CEO of QEP Resources. “As anticipated, it has taken some time to transition to pad development, where multiple wells are drilled and cased before completion activity commences.”

QEP operates 8 rigs targeting the Bakken and Three Forks in the region.

Watch for lumpy production rates as operators shift to pad drilling. This is perfect example of how significant volumes can come online all at once.

Read the full operations update at qepresources.com