Exco Resources Inc., (NYSE: XCO) the Dallas-based energy producer whose market value has dropped by more than half since 2010, agreed to buy Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE: CHK) assets in the Eagle Ford and Haynesville shale formations for about $1 billion.
Exco is adding the equivalent of 6,100 barrels of oil production a day in the Eagle Ford and 114 million cubic feet of natural gas in the Haynesville, the company said in a statement. The transaction, expected to close this month, includes 55,000 net acres in Texas and 9,600 net acres in Louisiana, Exco said.
“These acquisitions are consistent with our strategy of targeting opportunities in both existing core areas and new plays,” Exco chairman and chief executive officer Douglas H. Miller said in the statement. Exco’s proved reserves declined 24% last year and its stock fell 35%.
Production in the Eagle Ford rose 54% in April from the same month a year earlier, the Texas Railroad Commission reported June 20. Exco has been seeking acquisitions this year as gas prices in New York have rebounded from a 10-year low in April 2012.
“Our emphasis is going to be on acquisitions,” Miller said on a May 1 conference call with analysts. “Our defensive days are over.”
The transaction brings Chesapeake’s year-to-date asset sales to about $3.6 billion, which enables the Oklahoma City- based company to fully fund its capital spending for 2013. Chesapeake has been selling assets to fund operations and reduce debt piled up under former chairman and CEO Aubrey McClendon.
BG Group Plc has has a right to buy half of the Haynesville properties, Exco said. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has committed to replace an existing credit agreement and include a bridge loan tranche to fund the Eagle Ford purchase. KKR & Co. funds have agreed to pay for about half, or $133 million, of the development costs in certain parts of the Eagle Ford, Exco said.
Jefferies Group LLC advised Chesapeake on the transaction.
Recommended Reading
Aethon Cuts Rigs but Wants More Western Haynesville Acreage
2024-03-28 - Private gas E&P Aethon Energy has drilled some screamers in its far western Haynesville Shale play—and the company wants to do more in the area.
Energy Transition in Motion (Week of March 28, 2024)
2024-03-28 - Here is a look at some of this week’s renewable energy news, including proposals submitted to develop about 6.8 gigawatts of wind projects offshore Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
SLB to Acquire Majority Stake in Aker Carbon Capture
2024-03-28 - SLB and Aker Carbon Capture plan to combine their technology portfolios, expertise and operations platforms to bring carbon capture technologies to market faster and more economically, SLB said in a news release.
CERAWeek: Tecpetrol CEO Touts Argentina Conventional, Unconventional Potential
2024-03-28 - Tecpetrol CEO Ricardo Markous touted Argentina’s conventional and unconventional potential saying the country’s oil production would nearly double by 2030 while LNG exports would likely evolve over three phases.
DUG GAS+: Chesapeake in Drill-but-don’t-turn-on Mode
2024-03-28 - COO Josh Viets said Chesapeake is cutting costs and ready to take advantage once gas prices rebound.