Empire Petroleum Announces Results for Third Quarter of 2022

Empire Petroleum (NYSE American: EP) (“Empire” or the “Company”), today reported operational and financial results for the third quarter of 2022.

KEY THIRD QUARTER 2022 HIGHLIGHTS

• Increased sales volumes by 3% to 2,232 barrels of oil equivalent per day (“Boe/d”) (60% oil, 19% natural gas and 21% natural gas liquids (“NGLs”)) from 2,158 Boe/d (62% oil, 18% natural gas and 20% NGLs) for the second quarter of 2022;
• Recorded revenue of $14.8 million that resulted in net income of $0.2 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, and Adjusted Net Income¹ of $3.7 million, or $0.16 per diluted share;
• Generated Adjusted EBITDA¹ of $4.8 million, or $23.36 per barrel of oil equivalent (“Boe”);
• Increased cash position in the third quarter by 27% to $15.7 million, reduced debt $0.4 million to $7.8 million during the quarter, and ended the period with $16.0 million of liquidity; and
• Made significant progress on the Company’s Starbuck Field Enhancement Program (the “Starbuck Program”), including beginning the waterflood conformance phase, re-perforated and stimulated productive intervals to ensure maximum hydrocarbon recovery, completed seven sidetracks, and finished certain surface facility upgrades that began in 2021. The Starbuck Program is targeted to provide a material increase in production and reserves, with the first three phases of the project expected to be completed by the end of 2022.; and
• Spudded four new non-operated Bakken wells with completion expected during the fourth quarter of 2022.
  
  

1. Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures. See “Non-GAAP Information” section later in this release for more information including reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measure.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY

Tommy Pritchard, Chief Executive Officer of Empire, commented, “We were pleased with our overall results for the third quarter, which included increased collective production levels across our portfolio of assets. While the industry saw some pull back in commodity pricing levels during the third quarter, we continue to expect pricing levels to remain strong through the fourth quarter and into next year given current and projected supply and demand dynamics. I am also pleased to report that we continue to make significant progress on our Starbuck Program. We look forward to providing the market more details on our development activities as appropriate as we move through the program.”

Mike Morrisett, President of Empire, added, “During the third quarter we remained focused on improving our financial standing, including further paydown of our outstanding debt as well as enjoying an enhanced liquidity position that increased more than 25% since the end of the second quarter that benefits our Company and its shareholders. We will continue to execute on targeted field development opportunities to organically expand our production while evaluating additional strategic opportunities to prudently expand our operational footprint and ensure our long-term success.”

FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL RESULTS FOR THIRD QUARTER 2022

Net sales for the third quarter of 2022 were 2,232 Boe/d, including 1,346 net barrels of oil per day; 2,517 thousand cubic feet per day (“Mcf/d”), or 419 Boe/d, of natural gas; and 19,625 gallons per day, or 467 Boe/d, of NGLs. Contributing to the sequential increase from the second quarter of 2022 was increased sales volumes associated with Empire’s assets in New Mexico, Texas and Louisiana. This was partially offset by transitory declines in production for the Company’s assets in the Rockies Region primarily associated with taking certain well production offline temporarily as the Company completes the execution of the Starbuck Program.

Empire reported $14.8 million of revenue for the third quarter of 2022 versus $16.5 million for the second quarter of 2022. The increase in sales volumes for all products was offset by lower realized pricing as compared to the second quarter.

Operating expenses for the third quarter of 2022 were $8.5 million, which included a $1.4 million non-cash write-off associated with the Company’s joint development agreement with Petroleum & Independent Exploration, LLC and related entities (“PIE”). Excluding the PIE write-off, operating expenses were $7.1 million compared to $5.5 million for the second quarter of 2022 primarily as a result of increased workovers and other activities executed in advance of capital development programs at our New Mexico and Rockies Region assets.

General and administrative expenses, excluding non-cash share-based compensation, was $2.0 million, or $9.93 per Boe, in the third quarter of 2022 versus $2.8 million, or $14.23 per Boe, for the second quarter of 2022. Contributing to the sequential decrease was lower professional service fees.

Other expense for the third quarter of 2022 was $1.1 million compared to $0.2 million in the second quarter of 2022. Driving the increase was a non-cash $1.4 million settlement related to the purchase of Empire’s New Mexico assets.

Net income for the third quarter was $0.2 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, versus $5.5 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2022. Contributing to the sequential decrease was lower realized pricing partially offset by higher production, the non-cash $1.4 million PIE write-off and the non-cash $1.4 million settlement related to the purchase of the Company’s New Mexico assets.

Adjusted Net Income for the third quarter was $3.7 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, versus $6.0 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2022, with the decrease substantially due to lower realized pricing partially offset by higher production.

Adjusted EBITDA was $4.8 million for the third quarter compared to $6.9 million in the second quarter of 2022, with the decrease substantially due to lower realized pricing partially offset by higher production.

CAPITAL SPENDING, BALANCE SHEET & LIQUIDITY

For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company spent approximately $500,000 on additions to oil and natural gas properties as a result of non-operated drilling, and an additional $1.0 million on capitalized additions to oil and natural gas properties. The Company anticipates additional capital expenditures in the coming quarters that will be funded with cash flows from operations, debt, and/or equity issuances.

Total liquidity at the end of the third quarter of 2022 was $16.0 million, including $15.7 million of cash and $0.3 million available on the Company’s Credit Facility. This represents a more than 25% increase in liquidity from $12.7 million as of June 30, 2022. As of September 30, 2022, the Company had total debt of $7.8 million and working capital of $11.3 million, which was a material increase from Empire’s working capital position of $1.1 million at December 31, 2021. Empire remains squarely focused on continuing to execute on its proven strategy to remain financially conservative as it evaluates additional opportunities to prudently invest in its current business and expand through targeted acquisitions that provide long-term value for its shareholders.

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

An investor conference call to review the Company’s results will be held on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern (11:00 a.m. Central). The call will be hosted by Tommy Pritchard, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, and Mike Morrisett, Empire’s President. Details for the conference call are as follows:

Date: Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Time: 12:00 p.m. Eastern (11:00 a.m. Central)

Telephone: 1-877-270-2148 (Toll free); 1-412-902-6510 (International); participants should ask to be joined into the Empire Petroleum Corporation call.

Webcast: https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=foO19cFK

Replay: A webcast replay will be available on Empire’s website (www.empirepetroleumcorp.com) under "Investors Relations" on the "Events & Presentations" page following the call or via the webcast link listed above. The replay will be available through November 15, 2023.

ABOUT EMPIRE PETROLEUM

Empire Petroleum Corporation is a publicly traded, Tulsa-based oil and gas company with current producing assets in Texas, Louisiana, North Dakota, Montana, and New Mexico. Management is focused on organic growth and targeted acquisitions of proved developed assets with synergies with its existing portfolio of wells. More information about Empire can be found at www.empirepetroleumcorp.com.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

This release contains 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. Forward-looking statements involve a wide variety of risks and uncertainties, and include, without limitations, statements with respect to the Company’s estimates, strategy and prospects. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which are disclosed in the Company’s reports filed with the SEC, including its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, and its other filings with the SEC. Readers and investors are cautioned that the Company’s actual results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the Company’s ability to acquire productive oil and/or gas properties or to successfully drill and complete oil and/or gas wells on such properties, general economic conditions both domestically and abroad, and other risks and uncertainties related to the conduct of business by the Company.

Empire Petroleum Corporation

Non-GAAP Information

Certain financial information included in Empire’s financial results are not measures of financial performance recognized by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures include “Adjusted Net Income”, “EBITDA” and “Adjusted EBITDA”. These disclosures may not be viewed as a substitute for results determined in accordance with GAAP and are not necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures which may be reported by other companies.

Adjusted Net Income is presented because the timing and amount of these items cannot be reasonably estimated and affect the comparability of operating results from period to period, and current periods to prior periods.

The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) plus net interest expense, depreciation, depletion and amortization (“DD&A”), accretion, amortization of loan issuance costs, ROU assets and discount on convertible notes, income tax (benefit) expense, and other non-cash items.

Company management believes this presentation is relevant and useful because it helps investors understand Empire’s operating performance and makes it easier to compare its results with those of other companies that have different financing, capital and tax structures. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for net income, as an indication of operating performance or cash flows from operating activities or as a measure of liquidity. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA does not represent funds available for discretionary use.

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