Annual Statements Open main menu

California Resources Corp - Quarter Report: 2018 June (Form 10-Q)



SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
þ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2018
OR
¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from ___________ to ___________
 
Commission file number 001-36478
_____________________
California Resources Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
46-5670947
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
 
9200 Oakdale Avenue, Suite 900
Los Angeles, California
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
91311
(Zip Code)
 
(888) 848-4754
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
_____________________

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     þ Yes   ¨ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    þ Yes   ¨ No
   
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. (See definition of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act):
Large Accelerated Filer
o
Accelerated Filer
þ
Non-Accelerated Filer
o
Smaller Reporting Company
o
Emerging Growth Company
o
 
 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)    ¨ Yes   þ No
Shares of common stock outstanding as of June 30, 2018
48,352,957




California Resources Corporation and Subsidiaries

Table of Contents
 
Page
Part I
 
 
Item 1
Financial Statements (unaudited)
 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity
 
Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Item 2
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
General
 
Business Environment and Industry Outlook
 
Seasonality
 
Joint Ventures
 
Acquisitions and Divestitures
 
Operations
 
Fixed and Variable Costs
 
Production and Prices
 
Balance Sheet Analysis
 
Statements of Operations Analysis
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
2018 Capital Program
 
Lawsuits, Claims, Contingencies and Commitments
 
Significant Accounting and Disclosure Changes
 
Safe Harbor Statement Regarding Outlook and Forward-Looking Information
Item 3
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 4
Controls and Procedures
 
 
 
Part II
 
 
Item 1
Legal Proceedings
Item 1A
Risk Factors
Item 5
Other Disclosures
Item 6
Exhibits





1



PART I    FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 

Item 1.
Financial Statements (unaudited)

CALIFORNIA RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017
(in millions, except share data)
 
June 30,
 
December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
CURRENT ASSETS
 
 
 
Cash
$
42

 
$
20

Trade receivables
282

 
277

Inventories
63

 
56

Other current assets, net
172

 
130

Total current assets
559

 
483

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
22,146

 
21,260

Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization
(15,812
)
 
(15,564
)
Total property, plant and equipment, net
6,334

 
5,696

OTHER ASSETS
47

 
28

TOTAL ASSETS
$
6,940

 
$
6,207

CURRENT LIABILITIES
 
 
 
Accounts payable
330

 
257

Accrued liabilities
563

 
475

Total current liabilities
893

 
732

LONG-TERM DEBT
5,075

 
5,306

DEFERRED GAIN AND ISSUANCE COSTS, NET
265

 
287

OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
617

 
602

MEZZANINE EQUITY
 
 
 
Redeemable noncontrolling interest
735

 

EQUITY
 
 
 
Preferred stock (20 million shares authorized at $0.01 par value) no shares outstanding at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017

 

Common stock (200 million shares authorized at $0.01 par value) outstanding shares (June 30, 2018 - 48,352,957 and December 31, 2017 - 42,901,946)

 

Additional paid-in capital
4,985

 
4,879

Accumulated deficit
(5,754
)
 
(5,670
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(20
)
 
(23
)
Total equity attributable to common stock
(789
)
 
(814
)
Noncontrolling interests
144

 
94

Total equity
(645
)
 
(720
)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
$
6,940

 
$
6,207


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

2





CALIFORNIA RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017
(in millions, except share data)

 
Three months ended
June 30,
 
Six months ended
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
REVENUES AND OTHER
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oil and gas sales
$
657

 
$
439

 
$
1,232

 
$
926

Net derivative (loss) gain from commodity contracts
(167
)
 
43

 
(205
)
 
116

Other revenue
59

 
34

 
131

 
64

Total revenues and other
549

 
516

 
1,158

 
1,106

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COSTS AND OTHER
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Production costs
231

 
216

 
443

 
427

General and administrative expenses
90

 
59

 
153

 
122

Depreciation, depletion and amortization
125

 
138

 
244

 
278

Taxes other than on income
37

 
31

 
75

 
64

Exploration expense
6

 
6

 
14

 
12

Other expenses, net
49

 
25

 
110

 
47

Total costs and other
538

 
475

 
1,039

 
950

OPERATING INCOME
11

 
41

 
119

 
156

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NON-OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest and debt expense, net
(94
)
 
(83
)
 
(186
)
 
(167
)
Net gain on early extinguishment of debt
24

 

 
24

 
4

Gain on asset divestitures
1

 

 
1

 
21

Other non-operating expenses
(5
)
 
(5
)
 
(12
)
 
(9
)
(LOSS) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
(63
)
 
(47
)
 
(54
)
 
5

Income tax

 

 

 

NET (LOSS) INCOME
(63
)
 
(47
)
 
(54
)
 
5

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(19
)
 
(1
)
 
(30
)
 

NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK
$
(82
)
 
$
(48
)
 
$
(84
)
 
$
5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net (loss) income attributable to common stock per share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic and diluted
$
(1.70
)
 
$
(1.13
)
 
$
(1.81
)
 
$
0.12


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

3





CALIFORNIA RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017
(in millions)

 
Three months ended
June 30,
 
Six months ended
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Net (loss) income
$
(63
)
 
$
(47
)
 
$
(54
)
 
$
5

Other comprehensive income items:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reclassification of realized losses on pension and postretirement benefits to income(a)
1

 

 
3

 
3

Total other comprehensive income
1

 

 
3

 
3

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(19
)
 
(1
)
 
$
(30
)
 
$

Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to common stock
$
(81
)
 
$
(48
)
 
$
(81
)
 
$
8

(a)
No associated tax for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017. See Note 11 Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans, for additional information.


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

4





CALIFORNIA RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017
(in millions)
 
Six months ended
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
Net (loss) income
$
(54
)
 
$
5

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
244

 
278

Net derivative loss (gain) from commodity contracts
205

 
(116
)
Net (payments) proceeds on settled commodity derivatives
(99
)
 
7

Net gain on early extinguishment of debt
(24
)
 
(4
)
Amortization of deferred gain
(38
)
 
(37
)
Gain on asset divestitures
(1
)
 
(21
)
Other non-cash charges to income, net
39

 
28

Dry hole expenses
4

 
1

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net
(42
)
 
(21
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
234

 
120

 
 
 
 
CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
Capital investments
(327
)
 
(132
)
Changes in capital investment accruals
22

 
26

Asset divestitures
13

 
33

Acquisitions
(512
)
 

Other
(3
)
 
(1
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(807
)
 
(74
)
 
 
 
 
CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
Proceeds from 2014 Revolving Credit Facility
1,150

 
728

Repayments of 2014 Revolving Credit Facility
(1,236
)
 
(733
)
Payments on 2014 Term Loan

 
(66
)
Debt repurchases
(119
)
 
(24
)
Debt transaction costs

 
(2
)
Contributions from noncontrolling interest holders, net
796

 
49

Distributions paid to noncontrolling interest holders
(41
)
 
(1
)
Issuance of common stock
50

 
1

Shares canceled for taxes
(5
)
 
(1
)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities
595

 
(49
)
Increase (decrease) in cash
22

 
(3
)
Cash—beginning of period
20

 
12

Cash—end of period
$
42

 
$
9


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

5





CALIFORNIA RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity
For the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017
(in millions)

 
Additional Paid-in Capital
 
Accumulated Deficit
 
Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income
 
Equity Attributable to Common Stock
 
Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest
 
Total Equity
Balance, December 31, 2016
$
4,861

 
$
(5,404
)
 
$
(14
)
 
$
(557
)
 
$

 
$
(557
)
Net income

 
5

 

 
5

 

 
5

Contribution from noncontrolling interest holders, net

 

 

 

 
49

 
49

Distributions paid to noncontrolling interest holders

 

 

 

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Other comprehensive income

 

 
3

 
3

 

 
3

Share-based compensation, net
10

 

 

 
10

 

 
10

Balance, June 30, 2017
$
4,871

 
$
(5,399
)
 
$
(11
)
 
$
(539
)
 
$
48

 
$
(491
)
 
Additional Paid-in Capital
 
Accumulated Deficit
 
Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income
 
Equity Attributable to Common Stock
 
Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest
 
Total Equity(a)
Balance, December 31, 2017
$
4,879

 
$
(5,670
)
 
$
(23
)
 
$
(814
)
 
$
94

 
$
(720
)
Net loss

 
(84
)
 

 
(84
)
 
(13
)
 
(97
)
Contribution from noncontrolling interest holders, net

 

 

 

 
82

 
82

Distributions paid to noncontrolling interest holders

 

 

 

 
(19
)
 
(19
)
Issuance of common stock(b)
101

 

 

 
101

 

 
101

Other comprehensive income

 

 
3

 
3

 

 
3

Share-based compensation, net
5

 

 

 
5

 

 
5

Balance, June 30, 2018
$
4,985

 
$
(5,754
)
 
$
(20
)
 
$
(789
)
 
$
144

 
$
(645
)
(a)
Excludes redeemable noncontrolling interest recorded in mezzanine equity. See Note 6 Joint Ventures for more information.
(b)
Includes $51 million in shares issued to Chevron in connection with our acquisition of Chevron's working interest in Elk Hills unit. See Note 7 Acquisitions and Divestitures for more information.


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

6





CALIFORNIA RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
June 30, 2018

NOTE 1    THE SPIN-OFF AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The Separation and Spin-off

We are an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company operating properties within California. We were incorporated in Delaware as a wholly owned subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum Corporation (Occidental) on April 23, 2014 and remained a wholly owned subsidiary of Occidental until November 30, 2014. On November 30, 2014, Occidental distributed shares of our common stock on a pro-rata basis to Occidental stockholders (the Spin-off). We became an independent, publicly traded company on December 1, 2014. Occidental initially retained approximately 18.5% of our outstanding shares of common stock, which were distributed to Occidental stockholders on March 24, 2016.

Except when the context otherwise requires or where otherwise indicated, all references to ‘‘CRC,’’ the ‘‘company,’’ ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to California Resources Corporation and its subsidiaries, and all references to ‘‘Occidental’’ refer to Occidental Petroleum Corporation, our former parent, and its subsidiaries.

Basis of Presentation

In the opinion of our management, the accompanying financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to fairly present our financial position as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 and the statements of operations, comprehensive income, cash flows and equity for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, as applicable. We have eliminated all significant intercompany transactions and accounts. We account for our share of oil and gas exploration and production ventures in which we have a direct working interest by reporting our proportionate share of assets, liabilities, revenues, costs and cash flows within the relevant lines on our balance sheets, statements of operations and cash flows.

We have prepared this report pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States (U.S.) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) applicable to interim financial information, which permit the omission of certain disclosures to the extent they have not changed materially since the latest annual financial statements. We believe our disclosures are adequate to make the information not misleading. This Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2018 presentation. On the statements of operations, we reclassified interest cost, expected return on assets, amortization of prior service costs and settlements/curtailments, all associated with defined benefit pension plans, from general and administrative expenses to other non-operating expenses, net in accordance with new accounting rules. See Note 2 Accounting and Disclosure Changes for more information.

NOTE 2
ACCOUNTING AND DISCLOSURE CHANGES

Recently Issued Accounting and Disclosure Changes

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued rules requiring lessees to recognize assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for the rights and obligations created by all leases with terms of more than 12 months and to include qualitative and quantitative disclosures with respect to the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. In January 2018, the FASB issued an update to the lease standard providing an optional transition approach for land easements allowing entities to evaluate only new or modified land easements. These rules will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with earlier application permitted. We have completed a preliminary analysis of our leases and will be implementing processes to ensure compliance in the second half of the year. We expect the adoption of these rules to increase both our assets and liabilities by the same amount, which could be significant.


7



Recently Adopted Accounting and Disclosure Changes

In May 2014, the FASB issued rules on the recognition of revenue that created Topic 606 (ASC 606), superseded existing revenue recognition requirements under GAAP, and required an entity to recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. The new rules required certain sales-related costs to be reported as other expense as opposed to being netted against oil and gas sales or other revenue. We adopted ASC 606 on January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method with no adjustments to opening retained earnings. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2018 are presented under ASC 606, while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported under the accounting standards in effect prior to adoption. See Note 12 Revenue Recognition for more information.

In March 2017, the FASB issued rules requiring employers that sponsor defined benefit plans for pensions and postretirement benefits to present the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost in the same income statement line item as other employee compensation costs arising from services rendered during the period. Only the service cost component will be eligible for capitalization in assets. Employers are required to present the other components of the net periodic benefit cost separately from the line item that includes the service cost and outside of any subtotal of operating income. We adopted these rules in the first quarter of 2018 with no significant impact on our financial statements. The interest cost, expected return on assets, amortization of prior service costs and settlements/curtailments have been reclassified from general and administrative expense to other non-operating expenses. We elected to use the amounts disclosed for the various components of net periodic benefit cost in the pension and postretirement benefit plans footnote as the basis of the retrospective application.

In May 2017, the FASB issued rules to simplify the guidance on the modification of share-based payment awards. The amendments provide clarity on which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting prospectively. We adopted these rules in the first quarter of 2018 with no impact on our financial statements.

In February 2018, the FASB issued rules that give entities the option to reclassify this residual difference from AOCI to retained earnings. Components of accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) are recorded net of related taxes determined using prevailing rates when the components are initially recorded. When tax rates change, a difference can arise between tax amounts recorded to AOCI as compared to the expected tax amount. Our accounting policy is to remove such residual tax effects that may remain in AOCI when the related components are ultimately settled. The change in the U.S. federal corporate tax rate in December 2017 created a residual difference. We early adopted this accounting standard in the first quarter of 2018 without reclassifying this difference.

NOTE 3
OTHER INFORMATION
Cash at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 included approximately $23 million and $5 million, respectively, which is restricted under our joint venture agreements.
Other current assets, net as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 consisted of the following:
 
June 30,
 
December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in millions)
Amounts due from joint interest partners
$
86

 
$
76

Derivative assets from commodities contracts
59

 
23

Prepaid expenses
25

 
19

Asset held for sale

 
12

Other
2

 

Other current assets, net
$
172

 
$
130

In the second quarter of 2018, we divested a non-core asset that was held for sale in the prior period. See Note 7 Acquisitions and Divestitures for more information.

8



Accrued liabilities as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 consisted of the following:
 
June 30,
 
December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in millions)
Derivative liabilities from commodities contracts
$
260

 
$
154

Accrued taxes other than on income
111

 
130

Accrued employee-related costs
77

 
86

Accrued interest
20

 
23

Other
95

 
82

Accrued liabilities
$
563

 
$
475

Other long-term liabilities included asset retirement obligations of $417 million and $403 million at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of cash and other on-balance sheet financial instruments, other than debt, approximate fair value.

Supplemental Cash Flow Information

We did not make U.S. federal and state income tax payments during the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017. Interest paid, net of capitalized amounts, totaled approximately $212 million and $194 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Non-cash financing activities in 2018 included 2.85 million shares of common stock (valued at $51 million) issued in connection with the Elk Hills transaction. See Note 7 Acquisitions and Divestitures for more on the Elk Hills transaction.
NOTE 4    INVENTORIES

Inventories as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 consisted of the following:
 
June 30,
 
December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in millions)
Materials and supplies
$
60

 
$
53

Finished goods
3

 
3

    Total
$
63

 
$
56



9



NOTE 5     DEBT

As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, our long-term debt consisted of the following credit agreements, second lien notes and senior notes:
 
Outstanding Principal
(in millions)
 
Interest Rate
 
Maturity
 
Security
 
June 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
Credit Agreements
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2014 Revolving Credit Facility
$
277

 
$
363

 
LIBOR plus 3.25%-4.00%
ABR plus 2.25%-3.00%
 
June 30, 2021
 
Shared First-Priority Lien
2017 Credit Agreement
1,300

 
1,300

 
LIBOR plus 4.75%
ABR plus 3.75%
 
December 31, 2022(a)
 
Shared First-Priority Lien
2016 Credit Agreement
1,000

 
1,000

 
LIBOR plus 10.375%
ABR plus 9.375%
 
December 31, 2021
 
First-Priority Lien
Second Lien Notes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Second Lien Notes
2,153

 
2,250

 
8%
 
December 15, 2022(b)
 
Second-Priority Lien
Senior Notes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5% Senior Notes due 2020
100

 
100

 
5%
 
January 15, 2020
 
Unsecured
5½% Senior Notes due 2021
100

 
100

 
5.5%
 
September 15, 2021
 
Unsecured
6% Senior Notes due 2024
145

 
193

 
6%
 
November 15, 2024
 
Unsecured
Total
$
5,075

 
$
5,306

 
 
 
 
 
 
(a)
The 2017 Credit Agreement is subject to a springing maturity of 91 days prior to the maturity of our 2016 Credit Agreement if more than $100 million on the 2017 Credit Agreement is outstanding at that time.
(b)
The Second Lien Notes require principal repayments of approximately $340 million in June 2021 and $70 million each in December 2021 and June 2022.

Deferred Gain and Issuance Costs

As of June 30, 2018, net deferred gain and issuance costs were $265 million, consisting of $377 million of a deferred gain offset by $76 million of deferred issuance costs and $36 million of original issue discount. The December 31, 2017 net deferred gain and issuance costs were $287 million, consisting of $415 million of a deferred gain offset by $92 million of deferred issuance costs and $36 million of original issue discount.

2014 Revolving Credit Facility

As of June 30, 2018, we had approximately $550 million of available borrowing capacity, before taking into account a $150 million month-end minimum liquidity requirement. The borrowing base under this facility was reaffirmed at $2.3 billion in May 2018. Our 2014 Revolving Credit Facility also includes a sub-limit of $400 million for the issuance of letters of credit. As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had letters of credit outstanding of approximately $173 million and $148 million, respectively. These letters of credit were issued to support ordinary course marketing, insurance, regulatory and other matters.


10



Repurchases

In the first quarter of 2018, we repurchased $2 million in aggregate principal amount of our 8% senior secured second-lien notes due December 15, 2022 (Second Lien Notes) for $1.6 million in cash, resulting in a $0.4 million pre-tax gain. In the second quarter of 2018, we repurchased $95 million and $48 million in aggregate principal amount of our Second Lien Notes and 6% senior notes due November 15, 2024 (2024 Notes), respectively, for $118 million in cash, resulting in a $24 million pre-tax gain, net of a $1 million reduction for deferred issuance costs.

Fair Value

We estimate the fair value of fixed-rate debt, which is classified as Level 1, based on prices from known market transactions for our instruments. The estimated fair value of our debt at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, including the fair value of variable-rate debt, was approximately $4.8 billion for both periods, compared to a carrying value of approximately $5.1 billion and $5.3 billion, respectively.

Other

At June 30, 2018, we were in compliance with all financial and other debt covenants.

All obligations under our 2014 Revolving Credit Facility, 2017 Credit Agreement and 2016 Credit Agreement (collectively, Credit Facilities) as well as our Second Lien Notes and Senior Notes are guaranteed both fully and unconditionally and jointly and severally by all of our material wholly owned subsidiaries.

Excluding our interest-rate derivative contracts, a one-eighth percent change in the variable interest rates on the borrowings under our Credit Facilities on June 30, 2018 would result in a $3 million change in annual interest expense.

For a detailed description of our Credit Facilities, Second Lien Notes and Senior Notes, please see our most recent Form 10-K.

NOTE 6
JOINT VENTURES

Noncontrolling Interests

The following table presents the changes in noncontrolling interests by joint venture partner, reported in equity and mezzanine equity on the condensed consolidated balance sheets, for the six months ended June 30, 2018 (in millions):
 
 
 
 
 
Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest
 
Mezzanine Equity - Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
 
Ares JV
 
BSP JV
 
Total
 
Ares JV
Balance, December 31, 2017
$

 
$
94

 
$
94

 
$

Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(6
)
 
(7
)
 
(13
)
 
43

Contributions from noncontrolling interest holders, net
33

 
49

 
82

 
714

Distributions to noncontrolling interest holders
(2
)
 
(17
)
 
(19
)
 
(22
)
Balance, June 30, 2018
$
25

 
$
119

 
$
144

 
$
735


11




Ares Management L.P. (Ares)

In February 2018, we entered into a midstream JV with ECR Corporate Holdings L.P. (ECR), a portfolio company of Ares Management L.P. (Ares). This JV (Ares JV) holds the Elk Hills power plant, a 550-megawatt natural gas fired power plant, and a 200 million cubic foot per day cryogenic gas processing plant. Through one of our wholly owned subsidiaries, we hold 50% of the Class A common interest and 95.25% of the Class C common interest in the Ares JV. ECR holds 50% of the Class A common interest, 100% of the Class B preferred interest and 4.75% of the Class C common interest. We received $750 million in proceeds upon entering into the Ares JV, before $3 million for transaction costs.

The Class A common and Class B preferred interests held by ECR are reported as redeemable noncontrolling interest in mezzanine equity due to an embedded optional redemption feature. The Class C common interest held by ECR is reported in equity on our condensed consolidated balance sheets.

The Ares JV is required to make monthly distributions to the Class B holders. The Class B preferred interest has a deferred payment feature whereby a portion of the monthly distributions may be deferred for the first three years to the fourth and fifth year. The deferred amounts accrue an additional return. Distributions to the Class B preferred interest holders are reported as a reduction to mezzanine equity on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Ares JV is also required to distribute its excess cash flow over its working capital requirements, on a pro-rata basis, to the Class C common interests.

We can cause the Ares JV to redeem ECR's Class A and Class B interests, in whole, but not in part, at any time by paying $750 million for the Class B interest and $60 million for the Class A interest, plus any previously accrued but unpaid preferred distributions and a make-whole payment if the redemption happens prior to five years from inception. We have the option to extend the redemption period for up to an additional two and one-half years, in which case the interests can be redeemed for $750 million for the Class B interest and $80 million for the Class A interest, plus any previously accrued but unpaid preferred distributions and a make-whole payment if the redemption happens prior to seven and one-half years from inception. If we do not exercise our option to redeem at the end of the seven and one-half year period, ECR can either sell its Class A and Class B interests or cause the sale or lease of the Ares JV assets.

Our condensed consolidated statements of operations reflect the full operations of our Ares JV, with ECR's share of net income reported in net income attributable to noncontrolling interests.

In the first quarter of 2018 and in connection with the formation of the Ares JV, an Ares-led investor group purchased approximately 2.3 million shares of our common stock in a private placement for an aggregate purchase price of $50 million.

Benefit Street Partners (BSP)

In February 2017, we entered into a joint venture with BSP (BSP JV) where BSP will contribute up to $250 million, subject to agreement of the parties, in exchange for a preferred interest in the BSP JV. BSP is entitled to preferential distributions and, if BSP receives cash distributions equal to a predetermined threshold, the preferred interest is automatically redeemed in full with no additional payment. BSP funded three $50 million tranches, before transaction costs, in March 2017, July 2017 and June 2018. The funds contributed by BSP are used to develop certain of our oil and gas properties.

The BSP JV holds net profits interests (NPI) in existing and future cash flow from certain of our properties and the proceeds from the NPI are used by the BSP JV to (1) pay quarterly minimum distributions to BSP, (2) pay for development costs within the project area, upon mutual agreement between members, and (3) make distributions to BSP until the predetermined threshold is achieved.

Our consolidated results reflect the full operations of our BSP JV, with BSP's share of net income being reported in net income attributable to noncontrolling interests on our condensed consolidated statements of operations.


12



Other

Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets Inc. (MIRA)

Our consolidated results include our working interest share in a joint venture we entered into with Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets Inc. (MIRA) in April 2017. Subject to the agreement of the parties, MIRA will invest up to $300 million to develop certain of our oil and gas properties in exchange for a 90% working interest in the related properties. MIRA will fund 100% of the development cost of such properties. Our 10% working interest increases to 75% if MIRA receives cash distributions equal to a predetermined threshold return. MIRA initially committed $160 million, which was intended to be invested over two years. In June 2018, the parties amended the joint development program to $140 million. The agreement provides for a commitment of up to 110% of the program amount. MIRA invested $58 million in 2017 and $28 million in the first half of 2018. MIRA expects to contribute the remaining $54 million for drilling projects in the second half of 2018 and through the first quarter of 2019.

NOTE 7    ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES

Acquisitions

On April 9, 2018, we acquired the remaining working, surface and mineral interests in the 47,000-acre Elk Hills unit from Chevron U.S.A., Inc. (Chevron) (the Elk Hills transaction) for approximately $518 million, including $5 million of liabilities assumed relating to asset retirement obligations and customary purchase price adjustments. We accounted for the Elk Hills transaction as a business combination. After the transaction, we hold all of the working, surface and mineral interests in the Elk Hills unit. The effective date of the transaction was April 1, 2018.

As part of the Elk Hills transaction, Chevron reduced its royalty interest in one of our oil and gas properties by half and extended the time frame to invest the remainder of our capital commitment on that property by two years, to the end of 2020. As of June 30, 2018, the remaining commitment was approximately $23 million. Any deficiency in meeting this capital investment obligation will be paid in cash. We expect to fulfill the capital investment requirement within the extended period. In addition, the parties mutually agreed to release each other from pending claims with respect to the Elk Hills field.

The following table summarizes the total consideration, including customary closing adjustments, and the allocation of the consideration based on the fair value of the assets acquired as of the acquisition date:
 
At June 30, 2018
 
(in millions)
Consideration:
 
Cash
$
462

Amounts due from Chevron
(2
)
Common stock issued (2.85 million shares)
51

Liabilities assumed
7

 
$
518

 
 
Identifiable assets acquired:
 
Proved properties
$
435

Other property and equipment
77

Materials and supplies
6

 
$
518



13



The results of operations for the Elk Hills transaction were included in our condensed consolidated financial statements subsequent to the closing date.

On April 2, 2018, we acquired an office building in Bakersfield, California for $48.4 million, which we believe is significantly less than the estimated replacement value of the property and the land. We currently have approximately 500 employees using eight different locations in Bakersfield across multiple leases. We expect that the new building will create significant value by bringing our Bakersfield employees together into a single location over the next 12 to 15 months, which will increase the efficiency, effectiveness and collaboration of these employees. This building was the only available office space in the Bakersfield area large enough to allow us to consolidate our workforce into a single location. For the initial eight months, a former owner of the building will occupy most of the space as a tenant, from which we expect to generate rental income of approximately $4 million in 2018. In December 2018, this tenant will downsize the space they are leasing, with a corresponding reduction in rent, until December 2022. The vacated space will be available to lease to other tenants to generate additional income. In addition, the unimproved land may be monetized in the future. Approximately $6 million of the purchase price was allocated to the in-place leases, which is included in other assets and will be amortized into other expenses, net.

Divestitures

During the six months ended June 30, 2018, we divested a non-core asset resulting in $13 million of proceeds and a $1 million gain.

During the six months ended June 30, 2017, we divested non-core assets resulting in $33 million of proceeds and a $21 million gain.

NOTE 8    LAWSUITS, CLAIMS, COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

We, or certain of our subsidiaries, are involved, in the normal course of business, in lawsuits, environmental and other claims and other contingencies that seek, among other things, compensation for alleged personal injury, breach of contract, property damage or other losses, punitive damages, civil penalties, or injunctive or declaratory relief.

We accrue reserves for currently outstanding lawsuits, claims and proceedings when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the liability can be reasonably estimated. Reserve balances at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were not material to our condensed consolidated balance sheets as of such dates. We also evaluate the amount of reasonably possible losses that we could incur as a result of these matters. We believe that reasonably possible losses that we could incur in excess of reserves accrued would not be material to our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

We, our subsidiaries, or both, have indemnified various parties against specific liabilities those parties might incur in the future in connection with the Spin-off, purchases and other transactions that they have entered into with us. These indemnities include indemnities made to Occidental against certain tax-related liabilities that may be incurred by Occidental relating to the Spin-off and liabilities related to operation of our business while it was still owned by Occidental. As of June 30, 2018, we are not aware of material indemnity claims pending or threatened against the company.

NOTE 9    DERIVATIVES

General

We use a variety of derivative instruments to protect our cash flow, operating margin and capital program from the cyclical nature of commodity prices. These derivatives are intended to help us maintain adequate liquidity and improving our ability to comply with the covenants of our Credit Facilities in case of price deterioration. We will continue to be strategic and opportunistic in implementing our hedging program as market conditions permit. Derivatives are carried at fair value and on a net basis when a legal right of offset exists with the same counterparty.


14



Commodity Contracts

As of June 30, 2018, we did not have any derivatives designated as hedges. Unless otherwise indicated, we use the term "hedge" to describe derivative instruments that are designed to achieve our hedging program goals, even though they are not necessarily accounted for as cash-flow or fair-value hedges. As part of our hedging program, we entered into a number of derivative transactions that resulted in the following Brent-based crude oil contracts as of June 30, 2018:
 
Q3
2018
 
Q4
2018
 
Q1
2019
 
Q2
2019
 
Q3
2019
 
Q4
2019
 
FY
2020
 
FY
2021
Sold Calls:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Barrels per day
6,127

 
16,086

 
16,057

 
6,023

 
991

 
961

 
503

 

Weighted-average price per barrel
$
60.24

 
$
58.91

 
$
65.75

 
$
67.01

 
$
60.00

 
$
60.00

 
$
60.00

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchased Calls:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Barrels per day

 

 
2,000

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average price per barrel
$

 
$

 
$
71.00

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchased Puts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Barrels per day
6,922

 
1,851

 
34,793

 
31,733

 
11,676

 
1,623

 
1,506

 
574

Weighted-average price per barrel
$
61.31

 
$
51.70

 
$
62.77

 
$
66.21

 
$
62.79

 
$
49.58

 
$
47.97

 
$
45.00

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sold Puts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Barrels per day
24,000

 
19,000

 
35,000

 
25,000

 
10,000

 

 

 

Weighted-average price per barrel
$
46.04

 
$
45.00

 
$
50.71

 
$
54.00

 
$
50.00

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Swaps:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Barrels per day
48,000

 
29,000(1)

 
7,000(2)

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average price per barrel
$
60.35

 
$
60.50

 
$
67.71

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

Note:
Additional hedges for 2019 were put in place after June 30, 2018 that are not included in the table above.
(1)
Certain of our counterparties have options to increase swap volumes by up to 19,000 barrels per day at a weighted-average Brent price of $60.13 for the fourth quarter of 2018.
(2)
Certain of our counterparties have options to increase swap volumes by up to 5,000 barrels per day at a weighted-average Brent price of $70.00 for the first quarter of 2019.

As of June 30, 2018, a small portion of the crude oil derivatives in the table above were entered into by the BSP JV, including all of the 2020 and 2021 hedges. This joint venture also entered into natural gas swaps for insignificant volumes for periods through May 2021.

The outcomes of the derivative instruments are as follows:

Sold calls – we make settlement payments for prices above the indicated weighted-average price per barrel.
Purchased calls – we receive settlement payments for prices above the indicated weighted-average price per barrel.
Purchased puts – we receive settlement payments for prices below the indicated weighted-average price per barrel.
Sold puts – we make settlement payments for prices below the indicated weighted-average price per barrel.

From time to time, we may use combinations of these and other derivative instruments to increase the efficacy of our commodity hedging program.


15



Interest-Rate Contracts

In May 2018, we entered into derivative contracts that limit our interest rate exposure with respect to $1.3 billion of our variable-rate indebtedness.  These interest-rate contracts reset monthly and require the counterparties to pay any excess interest owed on such amount in the event the one-month LIBOR exceeds 2.75% for any monthly period prior to May 4, 2021.

Fair Value of Derivatives
Our derivative contracts are measured at fair value using industry-standard models with various inputs, including quoted forward prices, and are classified as Level 2 in the required fair value hierarchy for the periods presented. We recognize fair value changes on derivative instruments in each reporting period. The changes in fair value result from new positions and settlements that occurred during the period, as well as the relationship between contract prices or interest rates and the associated forward curves.
Commodity Contracts
The following table presents the fair values (at gross and net) of our outstanding commodity derivatives as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (in millions):
June 30, 2018
Balance Sheet Classification
 
Gross Amounts Recognized at Fair Value
 
Gross Amounts Offset in the Balance Sheet
 
Net Fair Value Presented in the Balance Sheet
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Other current assets
 
$
59

 
$

 
$
59

  Other assets
 
7

 

 
7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Accrued liabilities
 
(260
)
 

 
(260
)
  Other long-term liabilities
 
(6
)
 

 
(6
)
Total derivatives
 
$
(200
)
 
$

 
$
(200
)
December 31, 2017
Balance Sheet Classification
 
Gross Amounts Recognized at Fair Value
 
Gross Amounts Offset in the Balance Sheet
 
Net Fair Value Presented in the Balance Sheet
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Other current assets
 
$
39

 
$
(16
)
 
$
23

  Other assets
 
1

 

 
1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Accrued liabilities
 
(170
)
 
16

 
(154
)
  Other long-term liabilities
 
(3
)
 

 
(3
)
Total derivatives
 
$
(133
)
 
$

 
$
(133
)

Interest-Rate Contracts

As of June 30, 2018, we reported the fair value of our interest rate derivatives of $8 million in other assets on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. For both the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, we reported a $1 million loss on these contracts in other non-operating expense on our condensed consolidated statements of operations.


16



NOTE 10    EARNINGS PER SHARE

We compute basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS) using the two-class method required for participating securities. Certain of our restricted and performance stock awards are considered participating securities because they have non-forfeitable dividend rights at the same rate as our common stock.

Under the two-class method, undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities are subtracted from net income attributable to common stock in determining net income available to common stockholders. In loss periods, no allocation is made to participating securities because participating securities do not share in losses. For basic EPS, the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding excludes outstanding shares related to unvested restricted stock awards. For diluted EPS, the basic shares outstanding are adjusted by adding all potentially dilutive securities.

The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted EPS for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017:
 
Three months ended
June 30,
 
Six months ended
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in millions, except per-share amounts)
Net (loss) income
$
(63
)
 
$
(47
)
 
$
(54
)
 
$
5

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
(19
)
 
(1
)
 
(30
)
 

Net (loss) income attributable to common stock
(82
)
 
(48
)
 
(84
)
 
5

Less: net income allocated to participating securities

 

 

 

Net (loss) income available to common stockholders
$
(82
)
 
$
(48
)
 
$
(84
)
 
$
5

Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic
48.2

 
42.4

 
46.3

 
42.4

Basic EPS
$
(1.70
)
 
$
(1.13
)
 
$
(1.81
)
 
$
0.12

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net (loss) income
$
(63
)
 
$
(47
)
 
$
(54
)
 
$
5

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
(19
)
 
(1
)
 
(30
)
 

Net (loss) income attributable to common stock
(82
)
 
(48
)
 
(84
)
 
5

Less: net income allocated to participating securities

 

 

 

Net (loss) income available to common stockholders
$
(82
)
 
$
(48
)
 
$
(84
)
 
$
5

Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic
48.2

 
42.4

 
46.3

 
42.4

Dilutive effect of potentially dilutive securities

 

 

 
0.3

Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted
48.2

 
42.4

 
46.3

 
42.7

Diluted EPS
$
(1.70
)
 
$
(1.13
)
 
$
(1.81
)
 
$
0.12

Weighted-average anti-dilutive shares
3.0

 
2.7

 
2.9

 
1.8



17



NOTE 11    PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

The following table sets forth the components of the net periodic benefit costs for our defined benefit pension and postretirement benefit plans:
 
Three months ended June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
Pension
Benefit
 
Postretirement
Benefit
 
Pension
Benefit
 
Postretirement
Benefit
 
(in millions)
Service cost
$

 
$
1

 
$

 
$
1

Interest cost
1

 
1

 
1

 
1

Expected return on plan assets
(1
)
 

 
(1
)
 

Recognized actuarial loss

 

 
1

 

Settlement loss
2

 

 

 

Total
$
2

 
$
2

 
$
1

 
$
2

 
Six months ended June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
Pension
Benefit
 
Postretirement
Benefit
 
Pension
Benefit
 
Postretirement
Benefit
 
(in millions)
Service cost
$

 
$
2

 
$

 
$
2

Interest cost
1

 
2

 
1

 
2

Expected return on plan assets
(1
)
 

 
(1
)
 

Recognized actuarial loss
1

 

 
1

 

Settlement loss
4

 

 
3

 

Total
$
5

 
$
4

 
$
4

 
$
4


We contributed $1 million to our defined benefit pension plans in each of the three-month periods ended June 30, 2018 and 2017. We contributed $2 million and $5 million, respectively, to our defined benefit pension plans in the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017. We expect to satisfy minimum funding requirements with contributions of $2 million to our defined benefit pension plans during the remainder of 2018. The 2018 and 2017 settlements were associated with early retirements.

NOTE 12    REVENUE RECOGNITION

We account for revenue in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which we adopted on January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective method, which was applied to all contracts that were not completed as of that date. Prior period results were not adjusted and continue to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for the prior period. The new standard did not affect the timing of our revenue recognition and did not impact net income; accordingly, we did not record an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings.

We derive substantially all of our revenue from sales of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs), with the remaining revenue generated from marketing activities related to storage and managing excess pipeline capacity and sales of power.

The following is a description of our principal activities from which we generate revenue. Revenues are recognized when control of promised goods is transferred to our customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for those goods.


18



Commodity Sales Contracts

We recognize revenue from the sale of our oil, natural gas and NGL production when delivery has occurred and control passes to the customer. Our commodity contracts are short term, typically less than a year. We consider our performance obligations to be satisfied upon transfer of control of the commodity. In certain instances, transportation and processing fees are incurred by us prior to control being transferred to customers. These costs were previously offset against oil and gas sales. Upon adoption of ASC 606, we are recording these costs as a component of other expenses, net on our condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Our commodity sales contracts are indexed to a market price or an average index price. We recognize revenue in the amount that we have a right to invoice once we are able to adequately estimate the consideration (i.e., when market prices are known). Our contracts with customers typically require payment within 30 days following invoicing.

Electricity

The electrical output of our Elk Hills power plant that is not used in our operations is sold to the grid through wholesale power marketing entities and to a utility under a power purchase and sales agreement, which includes a capacity payment. Revenue is recognized when obligations under the terms of a contract with our customer are satisfied; generally, this occurs upon delivery of the electricity. We report electricity sales as other revenue on our condensed consolidated statements of operations. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration we expect to receive based on average index pricing with payment due the month following the delivery of our product. Capacity payments are based on a fixed annual amount per kilowatt hour and monthly rates vary based on seasonality, which is consistent with how we earn the capacity payment. Capacity payments are settled monthly. We consider our performance obligations to be satisfied upon delivery of electricity or as the contracted amount of energy is made available to the customer in the case of capacity payments.

Marketing

Marketing revenues represent our activities associated with storing and transporting our production and other marketing revenue. With respect to our NGLs, we may enter into contracts, typically with durations of one year or less, for refrigerated storage services that assist us in managing the seasonality of our products.

To transport our natural gas, we have entered into firm pipeline commitments. Depending on market conditions, we may have excess capacity, in which case we may enter into natural gas purchase and sale agreements with third parties. We consider our performance obligations to be satisfied upon transfer of control of the commodity.

We report our marketing activities on a gross basis with purchases and costs reported in other expenses, net and sales recorded in other revenue on our condensed consolidated statements of operations.


19



Disaggregation of Revenue

The following table provides disaggregated revenue for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 (in millions):
 
Three months ended
June 30, 2018
 
Six months ended
June 30, 2018
Oil and gas sales:
 
 
 
Oil
$
553

 
$
1,019

NGLs
61

 
124

Natural gas
43

 
89

 
657

 
1,232

Other revenue:
 
 
 
Electricity
21

 
45

Marketing
38

 
85

Interest income

 
1

 
59

 
131

Net derivative loss from commodity contracts
(167
)
 
(205
)
Total revenues and other
$
549

 
$
1,158


The impact of the adoption of ASC 606 on our condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 was as follows (in millions):
 
Three months ended
June 30, 2018
 
Six months ended
June 30, 2018
 
As Reported
ASC 606
 
Previous
U.S. GAAP
 
Change
 
As Reported
ASC 606
 
Previous
U.S. GAAP
 
Change
REVENUES AND OTHER
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oil and gas sales
$
657

 
$
652

 
$
5

 
$
1,232

 
$
1,220

 
$
12

Net derivative loss from commodity contracts
(167
)
 
(167
)
 

 
(205
)
 
(205
)
 

Other revenue
59

 
28

 
31

 
131

 
65

 
66

Total revenues and other
549

 
513

 
36

 
1,158

 
1,080

 
78

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COSTS AND OTHER
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Production costs
231

 
231

 

 
443

 
443

 

General and administrative expenses
90

 
90

 

 
153

 
153

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization
125

 
125

 

 
244

 
244

 

Taxes other than on income
37

 
37

 

 
75

 
75

 

Exploration expenses
6

 
6

 

 
14

 
14

 

Other expenses, net
49

 
13

 
36

 
110

 
32

 
78

Total costs and other
538

 
502

 
36

 
1,039

 
961

 
78

OPERATING INCOME
11

 
11

 

 
119

 
119

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NON-OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest and debt expense, net
(94
)
 
(94
)
 

 
(186
)
 
(186
)
 

Net gain on early extinguishment of debt
24

 
24

 

 
24

 
24

 

Gain on asset divestitures
1

 
1

 

 
1

 
1

 

Other non-operating expenses
(5
)
 
(5
)
 

 
(12
)
 
(12
)
 

LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES
(63
)
 
(63
)
 

 
(54
)
 
(54
)
 

Income tax

 

 

 

 

 

NET LOSS
(63
)
 
(63
)
 

 
(54
)
 
(54
)
 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(19
)
 
(19
)
 

 
(30
)
 
(30
)
 

NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK
$
(82
)
 
$
(82
)
 
$

 
$
(84
)
 
$
(84
)
 
$



20



The adoption of ASC 606 did not have an impact on our condensed consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

NOTE 13    INCOME TAXES
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, we did not provide any current or deferred tax provision or benefit. The difference between our statutory tax rate and our effective tax rate of zero for the periods presented is primarily related to an increase in our valuation allowance based on the expectation of a tax loss for each year. Given our recent and anticipated future earnings trends, we have recorded a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax asset. However, the amount of the net deferred tax assets considered realizable could be adjusted if estimates change.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law on December 22, 2017 and included significant changes to corporate tax provisions such as a reduction in the corporate tax rate, limitations on certain corporate deductions and favorable capital recovery provisions. The California Franchise Tax Board released its summary of Federal Income Tax Changes for 2017 on April 19, 2018, which identified how these U.S. federal changes interact with California law. California law was not conformed to the corporate provisions that are the most significant to our business.

NOTE 14    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Our Credit Facilities, Second Lien Notes and Senior Notes are guaranteed both fully and unconditionally and jointly and severally by our material wholly owned subsidiaries (Guarantor Subsidiaries). Certain of our subsidiaries do not guarantee our Credit Facilities, Second Lien Notes and Senior Notes (Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries) either because they hold assets that are less than 1% of our total consolidated assets or because they are not considered a "subsidiary" under the applicable financing agreement. The following condensed consolidating balance sheets as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 and the condensed consolidating statements of operations and statements of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 reflect the condensed consolidating financial information of our parent company, CRC (Parent), our combined Guarantor Subsidiaries, our combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries and the elimination entries necessary to arrive at the information for CRC on a consolidated basis.

The financial information may not necessarily be indicative of results of operations, cash flows or financial position had the Guarantor Subsidiaries operated as independent entities.

21



Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
 
Parent
 
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
As of June 30, 2018
(in millions)
Total current assets
$
14

 
$
468

 
$
85

 
$
(8
)
 
$
559

Total property, plant and equipment, net
22

 
5,761

 
551

 

 
6,334

Investments in consolidated subsidiaries
5,625

 
141

 

 
(5,766
)
 

Other assets
9

 
24

 
14

 

 
47

TOTAL ASSETS
$
5,670

 
$
6,394

 
$
650

 
$
(5,774
)
 
$
6,940

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total current liabilities
102

 
788

 
11

 
(8
)
 
893

Long-term debt
5,075

 

 

 

 
5,075

Deferred gain and issuance costs, net
265

 

 

 

 
265

Other long-term liabilities
155

 
454

 
8

 

 
617

Amounts due to (from) affiliates
862

 
(862
)
 

 

 

Mezzanine equity

 

 
735

 

 
735

Total equity
(789
)
 
6,014

 
(104
)
 
(5,766
)
 
(645
)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
$
5,670

 
$
6,394

 
$
650

 
$
(5,774
)
 
$
6,940

As of December 31, 2017
 
Total current assets
$
13

 
$
464

 
$
12

 
$
(6
)
 
$
483

Total property, plant and equipment, net
24

 
5,580

 
92

 

 
5,696

Investments in consolidated subsidiaries
5,105

 
606

 

 
(5,711
)
 

Other assets

 
27

 
1

 

 
28

TOTAL ASSETS
$
5,142

 
$
6,677

 
$
105

 
$
(5,717
)
 
$
6,207

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total current liabilities
122

 
613

 
3

 
(6
)
 
732

Long-term debt
5,306

 

 

 

 
5,306

Deferred gain and issuance costs, net
287

 

 

 

 
287

Other long-term liabilities
154

 
445

 
3

 

 
602

Amounts due to (from) affiliates
87

 
(87
)
 

 

 

Total equity
(814
)
 
5,706

 
99

 
(5,711
)
 
(720
)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
$
5,142

 
$
6,677

 
$
105

 
$
(5,717
)
 
$
6,207



22



Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
 
Parent
 
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the three months ended June 30, 2018
(in millions)
Total revenues and other
$

 
$
526

 
$
94

 
$
(71
)
 
$
549

Total costs and other
64

 
499

 
46

 
(71
)
 
538

Non-operating loss
(74
)
 

 

 

 
(74
)
NET (LOSS) INCOME
(138
)
 
27

 
48

 

 
(63
)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 
(19
)
 

 
(19
)
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK
$
(138
)
 
$
27

 
$
29

 
$

 
$
(82
)
For the three months ended June 30, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total revenues and other
$
18

 
$
515

 
$
4

 
$
(21
)
 
$
516

Total costs and other
54

 
439

 
3

 
(21
)
 
475

Non-operating (loss) income
(88
)
 

 

 

 
(88
)
NET (LOSS) INCOME
(124
)
 
76

 
1

 

 
(47
)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 
(1
)
 

 
(1
)
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK
$
(124
)
 
$
76

 
$

 
$

 
$
(48
)

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
 
Parent
 
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the six months ended June 30, 2018
(in millions)
Total revenues and other
$
1

 
$
1,111

 
$
159

 
$
(113
)
 
$
1,158

Total costs and other
107

 
960

 
85

 
(113
)
 
1,039

Non-operating loss
(173
)
 

 

 

 
(173
)
NET (LOSS) INCOME
(279
)
 
151

 
74

 

 
(54
)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 
(30
)
 

 
(30
)
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK
$
(279
)
 
$
151

 
$
44

 
$

 
$
(84
)
For the six months ended June 30, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total revenues and other
$
17

 
$
1,105

 
$
5

 
$
(21
)
 
$
1,106

Total costs and other
107

 
859

 
5

 
(21
)
 
950

Non-operating (loss) income
(169
)
 
18

 

 

 
(151
)
NET (LOSS) INCOME
(259
)
 
264

 

 

 
5

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK
$
(259
)
 
$
264

 
$

 
$

 
$
5



23



 Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
 
Parent
 
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the six months ended June 30, 2018
(in millions)
Net cash (used) provided by operating activities
$
(334
)
 
$
480

 
$
88

 
$

 
$
234

Net cash used in investing activities
(1
)
 
(776
)
 
(30
)
 

 
(807
)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities
334

 
293

 
(32
)
 

 
595

(Decrease) increase in cash
(1
)
 
(3
)
 
26

 

 
22

Cash—beginning of period
7

 
8

 
5

 

 
20

Cash—end of period
$
6

 
$
5

 
$
31

 
$

 
$
42

For the six months ended June 30, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net cash (used) provided by operating activities
$
(319
)
 
$
437

 
$
2

 
$

 
$
120

Net cash used in investing activities
(1
)
 
(26
)
 
(47
)
 

 
(74
)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities
321

 
(417
)
 
47

 

 
(49
)
Increase (decrease) in cash
1

 
(6
)
 
2

 

 
(3
)
Cash—beginning of period

 
12

 

 

 
12

Cash—end of period
$
1

 
$
6

 
$
2

 
$

 
$
9


24



Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

General

We are an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company operating properties within California. We are incorporated in Delaware and became a publicly traded company on December 1, 2014. Except when the context otherwise requires or where otherwise indicated, all references to ‘‘CRC,’’ the ‘‘company,’’ ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to California Resources Corporation and its subsidiaries.

Business Environment and Industry Outlook
 
Our operating results and those of the oil and gas industry as a whole are heavily influenced by commodity prices. Oil and gas prices and differentials may fluctuate significantly as a result of numerous market-related variables. These and other factors make it impossible to predict realized prices reliably.

Much of the global exploration and production industry has been challenged in the low-commodity price cycle in recent years, putting pressure on the industry's ability to generate positive cash flow and access capital. Global oil prices were higher in the second quarter and the first six months of 2018 compared to the same periods of 2017. Prices for natural gas liquids (NGLs) have improved relative to crude oil prices due to tighter local supplies and higher contract prices across the NGL spectrum. Natural gas prices in the U.S. were lower in the second quarter and the first six months of 2018 than the comparable periods of 2017 due to higher natural gas production, which has outpaced demand.

The following table presents the average daily Brent, WTI and NYMEX prices for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017:
 
Three months ended
June 30,
 
Six months ended
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Brent oil ($/Bbl)
$
74.90

 
$
50.92

 
$
71.04

 
$
52.79

WTI oil ($/Bbl)
$
67.88

 
$
48.29

 
$
65.37

 
$
50.10

NYMEX gas ($/MMBtu)
$
2.75

 
$
3.14

 
$
2.81

 
$
3.20


We currently sell all of our crude oil into the California refining market, which offers relatively favorable pricing compared to other U.S. regions for similar grades. California is heavily reliant on imported sources of energy, with approximately 73% of the oil consumed in the first half of 2018 imported from outside the state. A vast majority of the imported oil arrives via supertanker, mostly from foreign locations. As a result, California refiners have typically purchased crude oil at international waterborne-based prices. We believe that the limited crude transportation infrastructure from other parts of the U.S. into California will continue to contribute to higher realizations than most other U.S. oil markets for comparable grades. Additionally, our differentials improved against Brent during 2017, continuing into the first half of 2018, in response to strong demand for California crude oil to optimize local refinery yields as well as a decline in overall California crude oil production.
 
Prices and differentials for NGLs are related to the supply and demand for the products making up these liquids. Some of them more typically correlate to the price of oil while others are affected by natural gas prices as well as the demand for certain chemical products for which they are used as feedstock. In addition, infrastructure constraints and seasonality can magnify pricing volatility.

Natural gas prices and differentials are strongly affected by local market fundamentals, as well as availability of transportation capacity from producing areas. Transportation capacity influences prices because California imports over 90% of its natural gas from other states and Canada. As a result, we typically enjoy favorable pricing relative to out-of-state producers since we can deliver our gas for lower transportation costs. Due to our much lower natural gas production compared to our oil production, the changes in natural gas prices have a smaller impact on our operating results.


25



In addition to selling natural gas, we also use gas for our steamfloods and power generation. As a result, the positive impact of higher natural gas prices is partially offset by higher operating costs, but higher prices still have a net positive effect on our operating results. Conversely, lower natural gas prices generally have a net negative effect on our results, but lower the cost of our steamflood projects and power generation.

Our earnings are also affected by the performance of our processing and power-generation assets. We process our wet gas to extract NGLs and other natural gas byproducts. We then deliver dry gas to pipelines and separately sell the NGLs. The efficiency with which we extract liquids from the wet gas stream affects our operating results. Additionally, we use part of the electricity from the Elk Hills power plant to reduce operating costs at our Elk Hills and nearby fields and increase reliability. The remaining electricity is sold to the grid and a utility under a power purchase and sales agreement that includes a capacity payment. The price obtained for excess power impacts our earnings but generally by an insignificant amount.

We believe the improvement of oil prices over the past year, coupled with management actions, such as the 2017 Credit Agreement in November 2017, the Ares JV in February 2018 and the Elk Hills transaction in April 2018, contributed to our stock price increase by 430% from $8.55 at June 30, 2017 to $45.44 as of June 30, 2018. As a result, our market capitalization increased from $366 million to $2.2 billion during this period.

Tariffs of 25% for steel and 10% for aluminum on foreign imports were made effective in the first quarter of 2018. We procure tubular goods and equipment from multiple vendors. We do not expect these tariffs and currently proposed additional tariffs to have a material impact on our costs in the foreseeable future.

We opportunistically seek strategic hedging transactions to help protect our cash flow, operating margin and capital program from both the cyclical nature of commodity prices and interest rate movements while maintaining adequate liquidity and improving our ability to comply with our debt covenants in case of price deterioration. We are building our 2019 commodity hedge positions to protect our downside risk without significantly limiting our upside potential. We can give no assurances that our hedges will be adequate to accomplish our objectives. Unless otherwise indicated, we use the term "hedge" to describe derivative instruments that are designed to achieve our hedging program goals, even though they are not accounted for as cash-flow or fair-value hedges.

We respond to economic conditions by adjusting the amount and allocation of our capital program, aligning the size of our workforce with our level of activity and continuing to identify efficiencies, some of which are achieved from data tools, and cost savings. The reductions in our capital program in 2015 and 2016 negatively impacted our 2017 production levels. With our increased capital program in 2017, our oil production stabilized in early 2018 and started showing sequential increases in the first two quarters of the year, excluding the impact of our PSC-type contracts and the additional Elk Hills interest acquired in the second quarter of 2018. With our 2018 program, we expect further oil production growth in the second half of the year from strong well performance as well as the acceleration of workover activity and expect to exit the year with higher production than the beginning of the year. Volatility in oil prices may materially affect the quantities of oil and gas reserves we can economically produce over the longer term.

Seasonality
 
While certain aspects of our operations are affected by seasonal factors, such as electricity costs, overall, seasonality has not been a material driver of changes in our quarterly results during the year.

Joint Ventures

Development Joint Ventures

In line with our strategy, we have entered into a number of joint ventures (JVs) which allow us to accelerate the development of our assets while providing us with operational and financial flexibility as well as near term production benefits.


26



In February 2017, we entered into a joint venture with Benefit Street Partners (BSP) where BSP will contribute up to $250 million, subject to agreement of the parties, in exchange for a preferred interest in the BSP joint venture (BSP JV). BSP is entitled to preferential distributions and, if BSP receives cash distributions equal to a predetermined threshold, the preferred interest is automatically redeemed in full with no additional payment. BSP funded three $50 million tranches, before transaction costs, in March 2017, July 2017 and June 2018. The funds contributed by BSP are used to develop certain of our oil and gas properties.

The BSP JV holds net profits interests (NPI) in existing and future cash flow from certain of our properties and the proceeds from the NPI are used by the BSP JV to (1) pay quarterly minimum distributions to BSP, (2) pay for development costs within the project area, upon mutual agreement between members, and (3) make distributions to BSP until the predetermined threshold is achieved. Our consolidated results reflect the full operations of our BSP JV, with BSP's share of net income being reported in net income attributable to noncontrolling interests on our condensed consolidated statements of operations.

In April 2017, we entered into a JV with Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets Inc. (MIRA) under which MIRA will invest up to $300 million, subject to agreement of the parties, to develop certain of our oil and gas properties in exchange for a 90% working interest in the related properties (MIRA JV). MIRA will fund 100% of the development cost of such properties. Our 10% working interest increases to 75% if MIRA receives cash distributions equal to a predetermined threshold return. MIRA initially committed $160 million, which was intended to be invested over two years. In June 2018, the parties amended the joint development program to $140 million. The agreement provides for a commitment of up to 110% of the program amount. MIRA invested $58 million in 2017 and $28 million in the first half of 2018. MIRA expects to contribute the remaining $54 million for drilling projects in the second half of 2018 and through the first quarter of 2019. Our consolidated results reflect only our working interest share in our MIRA JV.

Midstream Joint Venture

In February 2018, we entered into a midstream JV with ECR Corporate Holdings L.P. (ECR), a portfolio company of Ares Management L.P. (Ares). This JV (Ares JV) holds the Elk Hills power plant, a 550-megawatt natural gas fired power plant, and a 200 million cubic foot per day cryogenic gas processing plant. Through one of our wholly owned subsidiaries, we hold 50% of the Class A common interest and 95.25% of the Class C common interest in the Ares JV. ECR holds 50% of the Class A common interest, 100% of the Class B preferred interest and 4.75% of the Class C common interest. We received $750 million in proceeds upon entering into the Ares JV, before $3 million for transaction costs.

The Class A common and Class B preferred interests held by ECR are reported as redeemable noncontrolling interest in mezzanine equity due to an embedded optional redemption feature. The Class C common interest held by ECR is reported in equity on our condensed consolidated balance sheets.

The Ares JV is required to make monthly distributions to the Class B holders. The Class B preferred interest has a deferred payment feature whereby a portion of the monthly distributions may be deferred for the first three years to the fourth and fifth year. The deferred amounts accrue an additional return. Distributions to the Class B preferred interest holders are reported as a reduction to mezzanine equity on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Ares JV is also required to distribute its excess cash flow over its working capital requirements, on a pro-rata basis, to the Class C common interests.

We can cause the Ares JV to redeem ECR's Class A and Class B interests, in whole, but not in part, at any time by paying $750 million for the Class B interest and $60 million for the Class A interest, plus any previously accrued but unpaid preferred distributions and a make-whole payment if the redemption happens prior to five years from inception. We have the option to extend the redemption period for up to an additional two and one-half years, in which case the interests can be redeemed for $750 million for the Class B interest and $80 million for the Class A interest, plus any previously accrued but unpaid preferred distributions and a make-whole payment if the redemption happens prior to seven and one-half years from inception. If we do not exercise our option to redeem at the end of the seven and one-half year period, ECR can either sell its Class A and Class B interests or cause the sale or lease of the Ares JV assets.

Our condensed consolidated statements of operations reflect the full operations of our Ares JV, with ECR's share of net income reported in net income attributable to noncontrolling interests.


27



Acquisitions and Divestitures

Acquisitions

On April 9, 2018, we acquired the remaining working, surface and mineral interests in the 47,000-acre Elk Hills unit from Chevron U.S.A., Inc. (Chevron) (the Elk Hills transaction) for approximately $518 million, including $5 million of liabilities assumed relating to asset retirement obligations and customary purchase price adjustments. We accounted for the Elk Hills transaction as a business combination and allocated $435 million to proved properties, $77 million to other property, plant and equipment and $6 million to materials and supplies. The consideration paid consisted of $462 million in cash and 2.85 million shares of CRC common stock issued at the close of the transaction (valued at $51 million). After the transaction, we hold all of the working, surface and mineral interests in the Elk Hills unit. The effective date of the transaction was April 1, 2018. Since the acquisition we have implemented approximately $15 million in annualized synergies by streamlining operations and consolidating infrastructure. We have identified additional cost saving opportunities and expect to exceed our target of $20 million in annualized synergies over 18 months. Chevron has sold all of the shares of CRC common stock it acquired in the Elk Hills transaction.

As part of the Elk Hills transaction, Chevron reduced its royalty interest in one of our oil and gas properties by half and extended the time frame to invest the remainder of our capital commitment on that property by two years, to the end of 2020. As of June 30, 2018, the remaining commitment was approximately $23 million. Any deficiency in meeting this capital investment obligation will be paid in cash. We expect to fulfill the capital investment requirement within the extended period. In addition, the parties mutually agreed to release each other from pending claims with respect to the Elk Hills field.

On April 2, 2018, we acquired an office building in Bakersfield, California for $48.4 million, which we believe is significantly less than the estimated replacement value of the property and the land. We currently have approximately 500 employees using eight different locations in Bakersfield across multiple leases. We expect that the new building will create significant value by bringing our Bakersfield employees together into a single location over the next 12 to 15 months, which will increase the efficiency, effectiveness and collaboration of these employees. This building was the only available office space in the Bakersfield area large enough to allow us to consolidate our workforce in a single location. For the initial eight months, a former owner of the building will occupy most of the space as a tenant, from which we expect to generate rental income of approximately $4 million in 2018. In December 2018, this tenant will downsize the space they are leasing, with a corresponding reduction in rent, until December 2022. The vacated space will be available to lease to other tenants to generate additional income. In addition, the unimproved land may be monetized in the future. Approximately $6 million of the purchase price was allocated to the in-place leases, which is included in other assets and will be amortized into other expenses, net.

Divestitures

During the six months ended June 30, 2018, we divested a non-core asset resulting in $13 million of proceeds and a $1 million gain.

During the six months ended June 30, 2017, we divested non-core assets resulting in $33 million of proceeds and a $21 million gain.

Operations

We conduct our operations on properties that we hold through fee interests, mineral leases and other contractual arrangements. We believe we are the largest private oil and natural gas mineral acreage holder in California, with interests in approximately 2.3 million net mineral acres, approximately 60% of which we hold in fee and approximately 15% of which is held by production. Our oil and gas leases have primary terms ranging from one to ten years, which are extended through the end of production once commenced. We also own a network of strategically placed infrastructure that is integrated with, and complementary to, our operations, including gas plants, oil and gas gathering systems, power plants and other related assets, which we use to maximize the value generated from our production.


28



Our share of production and reserves from operations in the Wilmington field is subject to contractual arrangements similar to production-sharing contracts (PSCs) that are in effect through the economic life of the assets. Under such contracts we are obligated to fund all capital and production costs. We record a share of production and reserves to recover a portion of such capital and production costs and an additional share for profit. Our portion of the production represents volumes: (i) to recover our partners’ share of capital and production costs that we incur on their behalf, (ii) for our share of contractually defined base production, and (iii) for our share of remaining production thereafter. We recover our share of capital and production costs, and generate returns through our defined share of production from (ii) and (iii) above. These contracts do not transfer any right of ownership to us and reserves reported from these arrangements are based on our economic interest as defined in the contracts. Our share of production and reserves from these contracts decreases when product prices rise and increases when prices decline, assuming comparable capital investment and production costs. However, our net economic benefit is greater when product prices are higher. The contracts represented approximately 15% of our production for the quarter ended June 30, 2018.

In addition, we report 100% of operating costs under the PSC-type contracts in our consolidated statements of operations as opposed to reporting only our share of those costs, which is in line with industry practice for reporting PSC-type contracts. We report the proceeds from production designed to recover our partners' share of such costs (cost recovery) in our revenues. Our reported production volumes reflect only our share of the total volumes produced, including cost recovery, which is less than the total volumes produced under the PSC-type contracts. This difference in reporting full operating costs but only our net share of production inflates our operating costs per barrel, with an equal corresponding increase in revenues, and has no effect on our net results.

With our significant land holdings in California, we have undertaken new initiatives to unlock additional value from our real estate. Our real estate development initiatives include exploring renewable energy opportunities on our land such as solar energy projects; agricultural activities such as the production of fruits and nuts; and commercial real estate. We are also exploring carbon dioxide capture and storage projects and reclaimed water opportunities.

Fixed and Variable Costs
Our total production costs consist of variable costs that tend to vary depending on production levels, and fixed costs that typically do not vary with changes in production levels or well counts, especially in the short term. The substantial majority of our near-term fixed costs become variable over the longer term because we manage them based on the field’s stage of life and operating characteristics. For example, portions of labor and material costs, energy, workovers and maintenance expenditures correlate to well count, production and activity levels. Portions of these same costs can be relatively fixed over the near term; however, they are managed down as fields mature in a manner that correlates to production and commodity price levels. While a certain amount of costs for facilities, surface support, surveillance and related maintenance can be regarded as fixed in the early phases of a program, as the production from a certain area matures, well count increases and daily per well production drops, such support costs can be reduced and consolidated over a larger number of wells, reducing costs per operating well. Further, many of our other costs, such as property taxes and oilfield services, are variable and will respond to activity levels and tend to correlate with commodity prices. Overall, we believe approximately one-third of our operating costs are fixed over the life cycle of our fields. We actively manage our fields to optimize production and costs. When we see growth in a field we increase capacities, and similarly when a field nears the end of its economic life we manage the costs while it remains economically viable to produce.


29



Production and Prices

The following table sets forth our average production volumes of oil, NGLs and natural gas per day for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017:
 
Three months ended
June 30,
 
Six months ended
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Oil (MBbl/d)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      San Joaquin Basin
54

 
52

 
52

 
52

      Los Angeles Basin
25

 
26

 
24

 
27

      Ventura Basin
4

 
5

 
4

 
5

      Sacramento Basin

 

 

 

          Total
83

 
83

 
80

 
84

NGLs (MBbl/d)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      San Joaquin Basin
15

 
15

 
15

 
15

      Los Angeles Basin

 

 

 

      Ventura Basin
1

 
1

 
1

 
1

      Sacramento Basin

 

 

 

          Total
16

 
16

 
16

 
16

Natural gas (MMcf/d)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      San Joaquin Basin
172

 
141

 
157

 
141

      Los Angeles Basin
1

 

 
1

 
1

      Ventura Basin
8

 
8

 
7

 
8

      Sacramento Basin
29

 
33

 
31

 
33

          Total
210

 
182

 
196

 
183

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Production (MBoe/d)(a)
134

 
129

 
129

 
131

Note:
MBbl/d refers to thousands of barrels per day; MMcf/d refers to millions of cubic feet per day; MBoe/d refers to thousands of barrels of oil equivalent per day.
(a)
Natural gas volumes have been converted to Boe based on the equivalence of energy content between six Mcf of natural gas and one barrel of oil. Barrels of oil equivalence does not necessarily result in price equivalence.

The following table sets forth the average realized prices for our products for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017:
 
Three months ended
June 30,
 
Six months ended
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Oil prices with hedge ($ per Bbl)
$
64.11

 
$
47.98

 
$
63.47

 
$
49.12

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oil prices without hedge ($ per Bbl)
$
73.19

 
$
46.95

 
$
70.35

 
$
48.70

NGLs prices ($ per Bbl)
$
42.13

 
$
30.08

 
$
42.63

 
$
32.20

Natural gas prices ($ per Mcf)(a)
$
2.25

 
$
2.47

 
$
2.51

 
$
2.68

(a)
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, the realized gas price was impacted by the adoption of new accounting rules on revenue recognition and would have been $2.06 and $2.28 per Mcf, respectively, under prior accounting standards.


30



The following table presents our average price realizations as a percentage of Brent, WTI and NYMEX for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017:
 
Three months ended
June 30,
 
Six months ended
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Oil with hedge as a percentage of Brent
86
%
 
94
%
 
89
%
 
93
%
Oil with hedge as a percentage of WTI
94
%
 
99
%
 
97
%
 
98
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oil without hedge as a percentage of Brent
98
%
 
92
%
 
99
%
 
92
%
Oil without hedge as a percentage of WTI
108
%
 
97
%
 
108
%
 
97
%
NGLs as a percentage of Brent
56
%
 
59
%
 
60
%
 
61
%
NGLs as a percentage of WTI
62
%
 
62
%
 
65
%
 
64
%
Natural gas as a percentage of NYMEX(a)
82
%
 
79
%
 
89
%
 
84
%
(a)
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, the gas price realization as a percentage of NYMEX was impacted by the adoption of new accounting rules on revenue recognition and would have been 75% and 81%, respectively, under prior accounting standards.

Balance Sheet Analysis

The changes in our balance sheet from December 31, 2017 to June 30, 2018 are discussed below:
 
June 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
(in millions)
Cash
$
42

 
$
20

Trade receivables
$
282

 
$
277

Inventories
$
63

 
$
56

Other current assets, net
$
172

 
$
130

Property, plant and equipment, net
$
6,334

 
$
5,696

Other assets
$
47

 
$
28

Accounts payable
$
330

 
$
257

Accrued liabilities
$
563

 
$
475

Long-term debt
$
5,075

 
$
5,306

Deferred gain and issuance costs, net
$
265

 
$
287

Other long-term liabilities
$
617

 
$
602

Mezzanine equity
$
735

 
$

Equity attributable to common stock
$
(789
)
 
$
(814
)
Equity attributable to noncontrolling interests
$
144

 
$
94


Cash at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 included approximately $23 million and $5 million, respectively, that is restricted under our joint venture agreements. See Liquidity and Capital Resources for our cash flow analysis.

The increase in other current assets, net primarily reflected increases in the value of certain derivative contracts resulting from higher Brent prices between periods, amounts due from joint interest partners and prepaid power plant major maintenance expenses, partially offset by the sale of a non-core asset. The increase in property, plant and equipment primarily reflected proved reserves acquired in connection with the Elk Hills transaction and our Bakersfield building as well as capital investments for the period, partially offset by depreciation, depletion and amortization (DD&A). The increase in other assets was primarily due to fair value changes in our long-term derivative assets from our commodity and interest-rate contracts.


31



The increase in accounts payable for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 was primarily due to the timing of payments and reflected the increase in activity between periods. The increase in accrued liabilities was primarily due to the change in value of certain derivative positions due to higher Brent prices between periods. This increase was partially offset by payments made for greenhouse gas obligations and lower accrued employee-related costs, primarily resulting from employee bonus payments in the first quarter of 2018. The decrease in long-term debt primarily reflected a reduction in amounts outstanding under our 2014 Revolving Credit Facility and repurchases of our Second Lien Notes and our 2024 Notes in the first half of the year. The decrease in deferred gain and issuance costs, net, reflected the amortization of deferred gains, partially offset by the amortization of deferred issuance costs.

Mezzanine equity reflected the carrying amount of the Class A common and Class B preferred interests held by ECR in our Ares JV. The increase in equity attributable to common stock primarily reflected the issuance of common stock in connection with the Ares JV and the Elk Hills transaction, partially offset by our net loss for the period. Equity attributable to noncontrolling interest reflected contributions from and distributions to ECR's Class C common interest and BSP's preferred interest as well as their respective share of net loss for the period. See Note 6 Joint Ventures in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I of this Form 10-Q for more information.

Statements of Operations Analysis

Results of Oil and Gas Operations

The following represents key operating data for our oil and gas operations, excluding certain corporate items, on a per Boe basis:
 
Three months ended
June 30,
 
Six months ended
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Production costs
$
18.93

 
$
18.34

 
$
19.01

 
$
18.02

Production costs, excluding effects of PSC-type contracts(a)
$
17.41

 
$
17.18

 
$
17.44

 
$
16.92

Field general and administrative expenses(b)
$
1.07

 
$
0.76

 
$
0.90

 
$
0.76

Field depreciation, depletion and amortization(b)
$
9.18

 
$
10.95

 
$
9.40

 
$
11.01

Field taxes other than on income(b)
$
2.38

 
$
2.12

 
$
2.53

 
$
2.19

(a)
As described in the Operations section, the reporting of our PSC-type contracts creates a difference between reported production costs, which are for the full field, and reported volumes, which are only our net share, inflating the per barrel production costs. These amounts represent the production costs for the company after adjusting for this difference.
(b)
Excludes corporate amounts.

32



Consolidated Results of Operations

The following represents key operating data for consolidated operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017:
 
Three months ended
June 30,
 
Six months ended
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in millions)
Oil and gas sales(a)
$
657

 
$
439

 
$
1,232

 
$
926

Net derivative (loss) gain
(167
)
 
43

 
(205
)
 
116

Other revenue(a)
59

 
34

 
131

 
64

Production costs
(231
)
 
(216
)
 
(443
)
 
(427
)
General and administrative expenses(b)
(90
)
 
(59
)
 
(153
)
 
(122
)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
(125
)
 
(138
)
 
(244
)
 
(278
)
Taxes other than on income
(37
)
 
(31
)
 
(75
)
 
(64
)
Exploration expense
(6
)
 
(6
)
 
(14
)
 
(12
)
Other expenses, net(a)
(49
)
 
(25
)
 
(110
)
 
(47
)
Interest and debt expense, net
(94
)
 
(83
)
 
(186
)
 
(167
)
Net gain on early extinguishment of debt
24

 

 
24

 
4

Gain on asset divestitures
1

 

 
1

 
21

Other non-operating expenses(b)
(5
)
 
(5
)
 
(12
)
 
(9
)
(Loss) income before income taxes
(63
)
 
(47
)
 
(54
)
 
5

Income tax

 

 

 

Net (loss) income
(63
)
 
(47
)
 
(54
)
 
5

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(19
)
 
(1
)
 
(30
)
 

Net (loss) income attributable to common stock
$
(82
)
 
$
(48
)
 
$
(84
)
 
$
5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted net loss
$
(14
)
 
$
(78
)
 
$
(6
)
 
$
(121
)
Adjusted EBITDAX
$
245

 
$
161

 
$
495

 
$
361

Effective tax rate
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
(a)
We adopted the new revenue recognition standard on January 1, 2018 which required certain sales-related costs to be reported as expense as opposed to being netted against revenue. The adoption of this standard does not affect net income. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2018 are presented under the new accounting standard while prior periods are not adjusted and continue to be reported under accounting standards in effect for the prior period. Under prior accounting standards, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, total oil and gas sales would have been $652 million and $1,220 million, respectively, other revenue would have been $28 million and $65 million, respectively, and other expenses, net would have been $13 million and $32 million, respectively. See Note 12 Revenue Recognition in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I of this Form 10-Q for more information.
(b)
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, certain pension benefit costs of $2 million and $6 million, respectively, have been reclassified to other non-operating expenses to conform to the current year presentation in accordance with new accounting rules adopted on January 1, 2018 related to the presentation of net periodic benefit costs for pension and postretirement benefits in the Statements of Operations. See Note 2 Accounting and Disclosure Changes in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I of this Form 10-Q for more information.

Stock-Based Compensation

Our consolidated results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 include the effects of our significantly higher stock price for certain long-term incentive plans. We have stock-based compensation plans under which we annually grant stock-based awards to executives, non-executive employees and directors that are payable in shares of our common stock or phantom shares that are ultimately settled in cash and are generally paid out over a three-year time period. Our Board of Directors instituted these cash-settled long-term incentive awards for non-executives near the bottom of the price cycle to limit share dilution. Accounting rules require that we adjust our obligation for all vested but unpaid cash-settled awards under our long-term incentive program to the amount that would be paid using our stock price as of the end of each quarter. Conversely, stock-based compensation cost for our equity-settled awards are not similarly adjusted for changes in stock price.


33



Our stock price increased $36.89 or over 430% from $8.55 as of June 30, 2017 to $45.44 as of June 30, 2018. Due to our stock price increase, we must accrue and mark-to-market the cash-settled long-term incentive awards based on the stock price each quarter, which has introduced volatility to our income statement. In the second quarter of 2018, we recognized a significant increase in stock-based compensation expense that is included in both general and administrative expenses and production costs as shown in the following table:
 
Three months ended
June 30,
 
Six months ended
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in millions)
General and administrative expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash-settled awards
$
19

 
$

 
$
22

 
$
1

Equity-settled awards
4

 
4

 
7

 
7

   Total stock-based compensation in G&A
$
23

 
$
4

 
$
29

 
$
8

   Total stock-based compensation in G&A per Boe
$
1.89

 
$
0.34

 
$
1.24

 
$
0.34

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Production costs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash-settled awards
$
5

 
$

 
$
6

 
$

Equity-settled awards
1

 
1

 
2

 
2

 Total stock-based compensation in production costs
$
6

 
$
1

 
$
8

 
$
2

   Total stock-based compensation in production costs per Boe
$
0.49

 
$
0.08

 
$
0.34

 
$
0.08

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total company stock-based compensation
$
29

 
$
5

 
$
37

 
$
10

Total company stock-based compensation per Boe
$
2.38

 
$
0.42

 
$
1.58

 
$
0.42


Three months ended June 30, 2018 vs. 2017

Oil and gas sales increased 50%, or $218 million, for the three months ended June 30, 2018, compared to the same period of 2017, due to increases of approximately $197 million and $18 million from higher oil and NGL realized prices, respectively, and $6 million and $2 million from higher natural gas and oil production, respectively. These increases were partially offset by the effects of lower natural gas realized prices of $4 million and lower NGL production of $1 million. The higher realized oil prices reflected the significant increase in global oil prices and improved differentials.

Our total daily production volumes averaged 134 MBoe per day in the three months ended June 30, 2018, compared with 129 MBoe per day in the comparable period of 2017, representing a year-over-year increase of 4%. Our total daily production volumes included the Elk Hills transaction in the second quarter of 2018. PSC-type contracts negatively impacted our second quarter 2018 production by 2 MBoe per day compared to the prior year quarter, without which the year-over-year production increase would have been 5%.

Net derivative loss was $167 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018, compared to a net gain of $43 million in the comparable period of 2017, representing an overall change of $210 million. We made cash payments of $68 million in the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to receiving $8 million in the prior year primarily due to the upward movement of Brent prices compared to the strike price on our derivative contracts. The non-cash change of $134 million reflected changes in the commodity price curves based on our derivative positions at the end of each of the respective periods.

The increase in other revenue of $25 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018, compared to the same period of 2017, was the result of the adoption of new accounting rules on the recognition of revenue on January 1, 2018 while the prior comparative period was not adjusted. The increase resulting from the accounting change was offset by an increase in other expenses, net with no effect on net income.


34



Production costs for the three months ended June 30, 2018 increased $15 million to $231 million or $18.93 per Boe, compared to $216 million or $18.34 per Boe for the same period of 2017, resulting in a 7% increase on an absolute dollar basis. Without the effect of the Elk Hills transaction and stock-based compensation, which added $12 million and $5 million, respectively, to the 2018 costs, our production costs decreased by $2 million. The Elk Hills unit production costs are lower than the average company-wide production cost per barrel. As a result, the Elk Hills transaction had a favorable effect on production costs per barrel. Second quarter 2018 production costs also reflect cost savings achieved following the Elk Hills transaction of $4 million.

Our general and administrative (G&A) expenses increased $31 million to $90 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. Our stock-based compensation expense for cash-settled awards increased $19 million due to the increase in our stock price as noted in the stock-based compensation table above. Additionally, the Elk Hills transaction contributed $3 million to G&A in the current quarter. The rest of the year-over-year increase was due to higher bonus accruals related to better-than-expected performance as well as the timing of certain expenses.

DD&A expense decreased by $13 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018, compared to the same period of 2017, primarily resulting from the decrease in the DD&A rate due to increased reserves at higher SEC pricing, partially offset by higher volumes from the Elk Hills transaction.

Taxes other than on income increased 19% for the three months ended June 30, 2018, compared to the same period of 2017, largely due to higher property taxes resulting from the increase in commodity prices.

The increase in other expenses of $24 million to $49 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018, compared to $25 million in the same period of 2017, was largely the result of the adoption of new accounting rules on revenue recognition that impact the current period but not the prior period. The increase resulting from the accounting change was offset by an increase in oil and gas sales and other revenue with no effect on net income.

Interest and debt expense, net, increased to $94 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018, compared to $83 million in the same period of 2017, primarily due to higher interest on our variable-rate debt, partially offset by lower interest due to paying off our 2014 Term Loan and repurchases of our Second Lien Notes and Senior Notes.

Net gain on early extinguishment of debt for the three months ended June 30, 2018 consisted of the gain on open-market repurchases during the quarter. No debt was repurchased during the comparable period of the prior year.

Gain on asset divestitures reflected a non-core asset sale during the three months ended June 30, 2018.

Six months ended June 30, 2018 vs. 2017

Oil and gas sales increased 33%, or $306 million, for the six months ended June 30, 2018, compared to the same period of 2017, due to increases of approximately $330 million and $31 million from higher oil and NGL realized prices, respectively, and an increase of $7 million from higher natural gas production. These increases were partially offset by $54 million and $2 million from lower oil and NGL production, respectively, and the effects of lower natural gas realized prices of $6 million. The higher realized oil prices reflected the significant increase in global oil prices and improved differentials.

Our total daily production volumes averaged 129 MBoe in the six months ended June 30, 2018, compared with 131 MBoe in the comparable period of 2017, representing a year-over-year decline rate of 2%. Our total daily production volumes included the Elk Hills transaction in the second quarter of 2018. Our PSC-type contracts negatively impacted our 2018 production by 2 MBoe per day compared with the prior year period, without which production would have been the same in both periods.

Net derivative loss was $205 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, compared to a gain of $116 million in the comparable period of 2017, representing an overall change of $321 million. We made cash payments of $99 million in the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to receiving $7 million in the prior year primarily due to the upward movement of Brent prices compared to the strike price on our derivative contracts. The non-cash change of $215 million reflected changes in the commodity price curves based on our derivative positions at the end of each of the respective periods.


35



The increase in other revenue of $67 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, compared to the same period of 2017, was largely the result of the adoption of new accounting rules on the recognition of revenue in the six months ended June 30, 2018 while the prior comparative period was not adjusted. The increase resulting from the accounting change was offset in its entirety by an increase in other expenses, net with no effect on net income.

Production costs for the six months ended June 30, 2018 increased $16 million to $443 million or $19.01 per Boe, compared to $427 million or $18.02 per Boe for the same period of 2017, resulting in a 4% increase on an absolute dollar basis. Without the Elk Hills transaction and our stock-based compensation, our production costs decreased by $2 million. The Elk Hills unit production costs are lower than the average company-wide production cost per barrel. As a result, the Elk Hills transaction had a favorable effect on production costs per barrel.

Our G&A expenses increased $31 million to $153 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, compared to the same period of 2017. Our stock-based compensation increased $21 million due to the increase in our stock price as noted in the stock-based compensation table above. Additionally, the Elk Hills transaction contributed $3 million to G&A in the current year. The rest of increase was due to higher bonus accruals related to better-than-expected performance as well as the timing of certain expenses.

DD&A expense decreased by $34 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, compared to the same period of 2017, primarily resulting from lower DD&A rates due to increased reserves at higher SEC pricing.

Taxes other than on income increased 17% for the six months ended June 30, 2018, compared to the same period of 2017, largely due to higher property taxes and greenhouse gas allowance costs.

The increase in other expenses of $63 million to $110 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, compared to $47 million in the same period of 2017, was largely the result of the adoption of new accounting rules on revenue recognition that impact the current period but not the prior period. The increase resulting from the accounting change was offset by an increase in oil and gas sales and other revenue with no effect on net income.

Interest and debt expense, net, increased to $186 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, compared to $167 million in the same period of 2017, primarily due to higher interest on our variable-rate debt, partially offset by lower interest due to paying off our 2014 Term Loan and repurchases of our Second Lien Notes and Senior Notes.

Net gain on early extinguishment of debt consisted of the gain on open-market repurchases for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017.

Gain on asset divestitures reflected non-core asset sales during the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017.

Other non-operating expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 reflected transaction costs related to our JVs as well as net periodic benefit costs related to our defined benefit pension plans.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Our results of operations can include the effects of unusual, out-of-period and infrequent transactions and events affecting earnings that vary widely and unpredictably (in particular certain non-cash items such as derivative gains and losses) in nature, timing, amount and frequency. Therefore, management uses a measure called adjusted net loss which excludes those items. This measure is not meant to disassociate items from management's performance, but rather is meant to provide useful information to investors interested in comparing our performance between periods. Reported earnings are considered representative of management's performance over the long term. Adjusted net loss is not considered to be an alternative to net income (loss) reported in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).


36



We define Adjusted EBITDAX as earnings before interest expense; income taxes; depreciation, depletion and amortization; exploration expense; other unusual, out-of-period and infrequent items; and other non-cash items. We believe Adjusted EBITDAX provides useful information in assessing our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and is widely used by the industry, the investment community and our lenders. While Adjusted EBITDAX is a non-GAAP measure, the amounts included in the calculation of Adjusted EBITDAX were computed in accordance with GAAP. A version of this measure is a material component of certain of our financial covenants under our 2014 Revolving Credit Facility and is provided in addition to, and not as an alternative for, income and liquidity measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Certain items excluded from Adjusted EBITDAX are significant components in understanding and assessing our financial performance, such as our cost of capital and tax structure, as well as the historic cost of depreciable and depletable assets. Adjusted EBITDAX should be read in conjunction with the information contained in our financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.

The following table presents a reconciliation of the GAAP financial measure of net (loss) income attributable to common stock to the non-GAAP financial measure of adjusted net loss and presents the GAAP financial measure of net (loss) income attributable to common stock per diluted share and the non-GAAP financial measure of adjusted net loss per diluted share:
 
Three months ended
June 30,
 
Six months ended
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in millions)
Net (loss) income attributable to common stock
$
(82
)
 
$
(48
)
 
$
(84
)
 
$
5

Unusual, infrequent and other items:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-cash derivative loss (gain), excluding noncontrolling interest
92

 
(35
)
 
99

 
(110
)
Early retirement and severance costs
2

 

 
4

 
3

Net gain on early extinguishment of debt
(24
)
 

 
(24
)
 
(4
)
Gain on asset divestitures
(1
)
 

 
(1
)
 
(21
)
Other, net
(1
)
 
5

 

 
6

Total unusual, infrequent and other items
68

 
(30
)
 
78

 
(126
)
Adjusted net loss
$
(14
)
 
$
(78
)
 
$
(6
)
 
$
(121
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net (loss) income attributable to common stock per diluted share
$
(1.70
)
 
$
(1.13
)
 
$
(1.81
)
 
$
0.12

Adjusted net loss per diluted share
$
(0.29
)
 
$
(1.83
)
 
$
(0.13
)
 
$
(2.85
)


37



The following table presents a reconciliation of the GAAP financial measure of net (loss) income to the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted EBITDAX:
 
Three months ended
June 30,
 
Six months ended
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in millions)
Net (loss) income
$
(63
)
 
$
(47
)
 
$
(54
)
 
$
5

Interest and debt expense, net
94

 
83

 
186

 
167

Interest income
(1
)
 

 
(1
)
 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization
125

 
138

 
244

 
278

Exploration expense
6

 
6

 
14

 
12

Unusual, infrequent and other items
68

 
(30
)
 
78

 
(126
)
Other non-cash items
16

 
11

 
28

 
25

Adjusted EBITDAX
$
245

 
$
161

 
$
495

 
$
361


The following table sets forth a reconciliation of the GAAP measure of net cash provided by operating activities to the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted EBITDAX:
 
Six months ended
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in millions)
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
234

 
$
120

Cash interest
215

 
195

Exploration expenditures
10

 
11

Changes in operating assets and liabilities
37

 
29

Other, net
(1
)
 
6

Adjusted EBITDAX
$
495

 
$
361


The following table presents the components of our net derivative (loss) gain from commodity contracts:
 
Three months ended
June 30,
 
Six months ended
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in millions)
Non-cash derivative (loss) gain, excluding noncontrolling interest
$
(92
)
 
$
35

 
$
(99
)
 
$
110

Non-cash derivative loss included in noncontrolling interest
(7
)
 

 
(7
)
 
(1
)
Net (payments) proceeds on settled commodity derivatives
(68
)
 
8

 
(99
)
 
7

Net derivative (loss) gain from commodity contracts
$
(167
)
 
$
43

 
$
(205
)
 
$
116




38



Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Cash Flow Analysis
 
Six months ended
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in millions)
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
234

 
$
120

Net cash used in investing activities:
 
 
 
Capital investments, net of accruals
$
(305
)
 
$
(106
)
Acquisitions, divestitures and other
$
(502
)
 
$
32

Net cash provided (used) by financing activities
$
595

 
$
(49
)
Adjusted EBITDAX
$
495

 
$
361


Our net cash provided by operating activities is sensitive to many variables, including market changes in commodity prices. Commodity price sensitivity also leads to changes in other variables in our business including our level of capital workover activity and adjustments to our capital program. Our operating cash flow increased 95%, or $114 million, to $234 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 from $120 million in the same period of 2017 due to higher realized prices, including the effect of hedges, on lower volumes.
Cash interest increased by $20 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 due to higher interest rates on our variable-rate debt. Taxes other than on income increased $11 million from the six months ended June 30, 2017 primarily due to higher property taxes and greenhouse gas costs. In 2018, changes in working capital reduced our operating cash flow by $42 million compared to a reduction of $21 million in 2017.
Our net cash used in investing activities of $807 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 included approximately $512 million of acquisition costs primarily related to the Elk Hills transaction and our new building in Bakersfield. Cash used in investing activities also included $305 million of capital investments (net of $22 million in capital-related accruals), of which $18 million was funded by BSP. These increases were partially offset by $13 million in proceeds from the sale of a non-core asset. Our net cash used in investing activities of $74 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 primarily included $106 million of capital investments (net of $26 million in capital-related accruals), of which $52 million was funded by BSP. This overall increase was partially offset by $33 million in proceeds from asset divestitures.

Our net cash provided by financing activities of $595 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 primarily comprised $796 million in net contributions related to our Ares JV and BSP JV and $50 million from the issuance of common stock to an Ares-led investor group in connection with the Ares JV, partially offset by $119 million used for debt repurchases on our Second Lien Notes and 2024 Notes, $86 million of net payments on our 2014 Revolving Credit Facility and $41 million of distributions paid to our JV partners. For the six months ended June 30, 2017, our net cash used in financing activities of $49 million primarily included approximately $66 million of payments on the 2014 Term Loan, $26 million of debt repurchases and transaction costs and $5 million of net payments on our 2014 Revolving Credit Facility, partially offset by $49 million in net contributions related to our BSP JV.

Our primary sources of liquidity and capital resources are cash flow from operations and available borrowing capacity under our 2014 Revolving Credit Facility. We also rely on other sources such as JV funding to supplement our capital program. In February 2018, we entered into the Ares JV where we received $747 million in net proceeds and raised $50 million in a private placement of our common stock with an Ares-led investor group. The net proceeds from the Ares JV were used to pay off the then outstanding balance on our 2014 Revolving Credit Facility. During 2017, we closed two key JV transactions with BSP and MIRA. Under these arrangements, our JV partners have invested approximately $200 million in our drilling programs from inception through June 30, 2018, some of which is not included in our consolidated results. In April 2018, we acquired the remaining working, surface and mineral interests in the Elk Hills unit for $462 million in cash and 2.85 million shares of CRC common stock in the Elk Hills transaction. As a result of the transaction, we expect to add operating cash flow in excess of $100 million per year, at about current prices.


39



Significant changes in oil and natural gas prices have a material impact on our liquidity. Declining commodity prices negatively affect our operating cash flow but lower natural gas prices have a positive indirect effect on operating expenses. The inverse is also true during periods of rising commodity prices. To mitigate some of the risk inherent in oil prices, we have utilized various derivative instruments to hedge price risk. We have historically matched our development and exploration capital programs with our cash flow from operations, and we currently expect to fund our portion of the planned 2018 capital programs with cash flow from operations and funds available under our revolving credit facility as needed.

Given our net operating loss carryforwards from prior periods, we do not expect to pay cash taxes for the foreseeable future.

As of June 30, 2018, our long-term debt consisted of the following credit agreements, second lien notes and senior notes:
 
Outstanding Principal
(in millions)
 
Interest Rate
 
Maturity
 
Security
Credit Agreements
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2014 Revolving Credit Facility
$
277

 
LIBOR plus 3.25%-4.00%
ABR plus 2.25%-3.00%
 
June 30, 2021
 
Shared First-Priority Lien
2017 Credit Agreement
1,300

 
LIBOR plus 4.75%
ABR plus 3.75%
 
December 31, 2022(a)
 
Shared First-Priority Lien
2016 Credit Agreement
1,000

 
LIBOR plus 10.375%
ABR plus 9.375%
 
December 31, 2021
 
First-Priority Lien
Second Lien Notes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Second Lien Notes
2,153

 
8%
 
December 15, 2022(b)
 
Second-Priority Lien
Senior Notes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5% Senior Notes due 2020
100

 
5%
 
January 15, 2020
 
Unsecured
5½% Senior Notes due 2021
100

 
5.5%
 
September 15, 2021
 
Unsecured
6% Senior Notes due 2024
145

 
6%
 
November 15, 2024
 
Unsecured
Total
$
5,075

 
 
 
 
 
 
(a)
The 2017 Credit Agreement is subject to a springing maturity of 91 days prior to the maturity of our 2016 Credit Agreement if more than $100 million on the 2017 Credit Agreement is outstanding at that time.
(b)
The Second Lien Notes require principal repayments of approximately $340 million in June 2021 and $70 million each in December 2021 and June 2022.

Credit Agreements

For a detailed description of our credit agreements, second lien notes and senior notes, please see our most recent Form 10-K.

2014 Revolving Credit Facility

As of June 30, 2018, we had approximately $550 million of available borrowing capacity, before taking into account a $150 million month-end minimum liquidity requirement. Our ability to borrow funds is limited by the terms and conditions of the facility and our ability to comply with its covenants. The borrowing base under this facility was reaffirmed at $2.3 billion in May 2018. Our $1 billion senior revolving loan facility (2014 Revolving Credit Facility) also includes a sub-limit of $400 million for the issuance of letters of credit. As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had letters of credit outstanding of approximately $173 million and $148 million, respectively. These letters of credit were issued to support ordinary course marketing, insurance, regulatory and other matters.


40



Repurchases

In the first quarter of 2018, we repurchased $2 million in aggregate principal amount of our 8% senior secured second-lien notes due December 15, 2022 (Second Lien Notes) for $1.6 million in cash, resulting in a $0.4 million pre-tax gain. In the second quarter of 2018, we repurchased $95 million and $48 million in aggregate principal amount of our Second Lien Notes and 6% notes due November 15, 2024 (2024 Notes), respectively, for $118 million in cash, resulting in a $24 million pre-tax gain, net of a $1 million write-off of deferred issuance costs.

Other

At June 30, 2018, we were in compliance with all financial and other debt covenants.

All obligations under our 2014 Revolving Credit Facility, 2017 Credit Agreement and 2016 Credit Agreement (collectively, Credit Facilities) as well as our Second Lien Notes and Senior Notes are guaranteed both fully and unconditionally and jointly and severally by all of our material wholly owned subsidiaries.

Excluding our interest-rate derivative contracts, a one-eighth percent change in the variable interest rates on the borrowings under our Credit Facilities on June 30, 2018 would result in a $3 million change in annual interest expense.


41



Derivatives

Commodity Contracts

Our strategy for protecting our cash flow, operating margin and capital program, while maintaining adequate liquidity, also includes our hedging program. We currently have the following Brent-based crude oil contracts, including contracts entered into subsequent to June 30, 2018:
 
Q3
2018
 
Q4
2018
 
Q1
2019
 
Q2
2019
 
Q3
2019
 
Q4
2019
 
FY
2020
 
FY
2021
Sold Calls:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Barrels per day
6,127

 
16,086

 
16,057

 
6,023

 
991

 
961

 
503

 

Weighted-average price per barrel
$
60.24

 
$
58.91

 
$
65.75

 
$
67.01

 
$
60.00

 
$
60.00

 
$
60.00

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchased Calls:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Barrels per day

 

 
2,000

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average price per barrel
$

 
$

 
$
71.00

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchased Puts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Barrels per day
6,922

 
1,851

 
34,793

 
36,733

 
31,676

 
21,623

 
1,506

 
574

Weighted-average price per barrel
$
61.31

 
$
51.70

 
$
62.77

 
$
67.40

 
$
70.50

 
$
73.09

 
$
47.97

 
$
45.00

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sold Puts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Barrels per day
24,000

 
19,000

 
35,000

 
30,000

 
30,000

 
20,000

 

 

Weighted-average price per barrel
$
46.04

 
$
45.00

 
$
50.71

 
$
55.00

 
$
56.67

 
$
60.00

 
$

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Swaps:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Barrels per day
48,000

 
29,000(1)

 
7,000(2)

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average price per barrel
$
60.35

 
$
60.50

 
$
67.71

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

(1)
Certain of our counterparties have options to increase swap volumes by up to 19,000 barrels per day at a weighted-average Brent price of $60.13 for the fourth quarter of 2018.
(2)
Certain of our counterparties have options to increase swap volumes by up to 5,000 barrels per day at a weighted-average Brent price of $70.00 for the first quarter of 2019.

As of June 30, 2018, a small portion of the crude oil derivatives in the table above were entered into by the BSP JV, including all of the 2020 and 2021 hedges. This joint venture also entered into natural gas swaps for insignificant volumes for periods through May 2021.

Refer to Note 9 Derivatives in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I of this Form 10-Q for more information on the outcomes of our derivative instruments.

Interest-Rate Contracts

In May 2018, we entered into derivative contracts that limit our interest rate exposure with respect to $1.3 billion of our variable-rate indebtedness. The interest rate contracts reset monthly and require the counterparties to pay any excess interest owed on such amount in the event the one-month LIBOR exceeds 2.75% for any monthly period prior to May 4, 2021.


42



2018 Capital Program

With stronger expected cash flows from commodity price improvements and increased production from the Elk Hills transaction, combined with synergies resulting from the transaction, we increased our planned 2018 capital program to a range of $650 million to $700 million (including approximately $100 million or more of JV capital) subject to further adjustments based on commodity prices in the second half of the year and other developments. The additional capital will primarily be deployed to drilling, workovers and facilities in the San Joaquin, Los Angeles and Ventura basins. The following table presents our currently expected 2018 program by category (in millions):
Drilling
$
315

47
%
Development facilities
140

21
%
Capital workovers
90

13
%
Exploration
20

3
%
Corporate and other
10

1
%
   Total internally funded capital
575

 
Joint venture capital
100

15
%
   Total capital
$
675



We are focusing our 2018 capital on oil projects, which provide high margins and low decline rates that we believe will generate cash flow to fund increasing capital budgets that will grow production. Our approach to our 2018 drilling program is consistent with our stated strategy to remain financially disciplined. We continue to deploy our partners' capital as part of our BSP and MIRA joint ventures and opportunistically pursue additional strategic relationships. We will deploy capital to projects that help continue to stabilize our production, develop our long-term resources and return our production to a growth profile. Our current drilling inventory comprises a diversified portfolio of oil and natural gas locations that are economically viable in a variety of operating and commodity price conditions and includes our core fields: Elk Hills, Wilmington, Kern Front, Huntington Beach and the continued delineation and appraisal of our assets which offer future value driven growth such as the Buena Vista, and the fields in the Ventura and southern San Joaquin areas.

Our 2018 drilling program includes development of conventional and unconventional resources. The depth of our primary conventional wells is expected to range from 2,000 to 15,000 feet. With a significant reduction in our drilling costs since 2014, many of our deep conventional and unconventional wells have become more competitive. We expect to use 62% of our total capital (including JV capital) on drilling projects. In the second half of the year, our program will focus on conventional drilling across our primary assets, including Wilmington, Huntington Beach, Kern Front, Mount Poso and fields in the southern San Joaquin areas.

We also plan to use 13% of our 2018 capital program for capital workovers on existing well bores. Capital workovers are some of the highest Value Creation Index (VCI) projects in our portfolio and generally include well deepenings, recompletions, changes of lift methods and other activities designed to add incremental productive intervals and reserves.

Further, approximately 21% of our 2018 capital program is intended for development facilities for our newer projects, including pipeline and gathering line interconnections, gas compression, water management systems and associated safety and environmental controls, and about 5% is intended to be used to maintain the mechanical integrity, safety and environmental performance of existing systems and for exploration.

Lawsuits, Claims, Contingencies and Commitments

We are involved, in the normal course of business, in lawsuits, environmental and other claims and other contingencies that seek, among other things, compensation for alleged personal injury, breach of contract, property damage or other losses, punitive damages, civil penalties, or injunctive or declaratory relief.


43



We accrue reserves for currently outstanding lawsuits, claims and proceedings when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the liability can be reasonably estimated. Reserve balances at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were not material to our condensed consolidated balance sheets as of such dates. We also evaluate the amount of reasonably possible losses that we could incur as a result of these matters. We believe that reasonably possible losses that we could incur in excess of reserves accrued would not be material to our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

We, our subsidiaries, or both, have indemnified various parties against specific liabilities those parties might incur in the future in connection with the Spin-off, purchases and other transactions that they have entered into with us. These indemnities include indemnities made to Occidental against certain tax-related liabilities that may be incurred by Occidental relating to the Spin-off and liabilities related to operation of our business while it was still owned by Occidental. As of June 30, 2018, we are not aware of material indemnity claims pending or threatened against us.

Significant Accounting and Disclosure Changes

See Note 2 Accounting and Disclosure Changes in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I of this Form 10-Q for a discussion of new accounting matters.

Safe Harbor Statement Regarding Outlook and Forward-Looking Information

The information in this document includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could materially affect our expected results of operations, liquidity, cash flows and business prospects. Such statements specifically include our expectations as to our future financial position, liquidity, cash flows, results of operations and business prospects, budgets, drilling and workover program, maintenance capital requirements, production, costs, operations, reserves, hedging activities, transactions and capital investments and other guidance. Actual results may differ from anticipated results, sometimes materially, and reported results should not be considered an indication of future performance. You can typically identify forward-looking statements by words such as aim, anticipate, believe, budget, continue, could, effort, estimate, expect, forecast, goal, guidance, intend, likely, may, might, objective, outlook, plan, potential, predict, project, seek, should, target, will or would and other similar words that reflect the prospective nature of events or outcomes. For any such forward-looking statement that includes a statement of the assumptions or bases underlying such forward-looking statement, we caution that, while we believe such assumptions or bases to be reasonable and make them in good faith, assumed facts or bases almost always vary from actual results, sometimes materially. Material risks that may affect our results of operations and financial position appear in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors of the 2017 Form 10-K.

Factors (but not necessarily all the factors) that could cause results to differ include: commodity price fluctuations; the effect of our debt on our financial flexibility; insufficient capital or changes to our capital plan, including as a result of lender restrictions or reductions in our borrowing base, lower-than-expected operating cash flow, unavailability of capital markets or inability to attract investors; equipment, service or labor price inflation or unavailability; inability to replace reserves; inability to timely obtain government permits and approvals; inability to monetize selected assets or enter into favorable joint ventures; effects of PSC-type contracts on production and unit production costs; the effect of stock price on costs associated with incentive compensation; restrictions imposed by regulations including those related to drilling, completion, well stimulation, operation, maintenance or abandonment of wells or facilities, managing energy, water, land, greenhouse gases or other emissions, protection of health, safety and the environment, or transportation, marketing and sale of our products; risks of drilling; unexpected geologic conditions; tax law changes; changes in business strategy; competition with larger, better funded competitors for and costs of oilfield equipment, services, qualified personnel and acquisitions; incorrect estimates of reserves and related future net cash flows; risks related to our disposition, joint venture and acquisition activities and our ability to achieve expected synergies; the recoverability of resources; the effects of hedging transactions and limitations on our ability to enter into such transactions; steeper-than-expected production decline rates; lower-than-expected production, reserves or resources from development projects or acquisitions; the effects of litigation; insufficient insurance against and concentration of exposure in California to accidents, mechanical failures, transportation or storage constraints, labor difficulties, cyber attacks or other catastrophic events.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no responsibility to publicly release the result of any revision of our forward-looking statements after the date they are made.


44



All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, included in this report are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that we or persons acting on our behalf may issue.


45



Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, there were no material changes in the information required to be provided under Item 305 of Regulation S-K included under the caption Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Incorporating Item 7A) – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk in the 2017 Form 10-K, except as discussed below.
Commodity Price Risk
As of June 30, 2018, we had a net derivative liability of $200 million carried at fair value, as determined from prices provided by external sources that are not actively quoted, which expire in 2018 and 2019. See additional hedging information in Item 2 – Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources.

Counterparty Credit Risk
Our credit risk relates primarily to trade receivables and derivative financial instruments. Credit exposure for each customer is monitored for outstanding balances and current activity. For derivative instruments entered into as part of our hedging program, we are subject to counterparty credit risk to the extent the counterparty is unable to meet its settlement commitments. We actively manage this credit risk by selecting counterparties that we believe to be financially strong and continuing to monitor their financial health. Concentration of credit risk is regularly reviewed to ensure that counterparty credit risk is adequately diversified.

As of June 30, 2018, the substantial majority of the credit exposures related to our business was with investment-grade counterparties. We believe exposure to credit-related losses related to our business at June 30, 2018 was not material and losses associated with credit risk have been insignificant for all years presented.

Item 4.
Controls and Procedures

Our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer supervised and participated in our evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based upon that evaluation, our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of June 30, 2018.
There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

46



PART II    OTHER INFORMATION
 

Item 1.
Legal Proceedings

For information regarding legal proceedings, see Note 8 Lawsuits, Claims and Contingencies in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I of this Form 10-Q, Part II, Item 1, Legal Proceedings in the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 and Part I, Item 3, Legal Proceedings in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Item 1.A.
Risk Factors

We are subject to various risks and uncertainties in the course of our business. A discussion of such risks and uncertainties may be found under the heading Risk Factors in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Item 5.
Other Disclosures

None.


47



Item 6.
Exhibits
 
4.1*
 
 
4.2*
 
 
4.3
 
 
12*
 
 
31.1*
 
 
31.2*
 
 
32.1*
 
 
101.INS*
XBRL Instance Document.
 
 
101.SCH*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
 
 
101.CAL*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
 
 
101.LAB*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
 
 
101.PRE*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
 
 
101.DEF*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
* - Filed herewith

48



SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



 
CALIFORNIA RESOURCES CORPORATION
 


DATE:  
August 2, 2018
/s/ Roy Pineci
 
 
 
Roy Pineci
 
 
 
Executive Vice President - Finance
 
 
 
(Principal Accounting Officer)
 


49