Energy Valuation Insights

January 2, 2019 Marcellus and Utica Shale

Cooler Weather Could Heat Up Appalachia

As the calendar turns to 2019, we turn our attention to the Appalachia region, and not by coincidence. Cooler temperatures in the winter months tend to lead to increased natural gas prices and consumption, and the Appalachia region is the largest natural gas producer in the country.  Fourth quarter energy prices have moved in opposite directions, with crude prices declining steadily over the period while natural gas prices increased from about $3.0 to $3.5 per Mcf, peaking at over $4.8 in mid-November.

December 27, 2018 Valuation Issues

Falling Oil Prices Are Not The Only Thing Bridling Upstream Valuations

Falling oil prices have a downward pull on operator and mineral values, but they are not the only contributor. There are a host of potential operational issues that can reign in production, cash flow, investor expectations and, ultimately, valuations.

December 17, 2018 Marcellus and Utica Shale

M&A in the Marcellus-Utica Shale

The Beast in the East

The domestic natural gas market has benefitted from large expansion in recent years, and this can be largely attributed to the growth experienced in Appalachia. Despite the continued growth, transaction activity in the Marcellus-Utica in 2018 was slower than in 2017. Some companies have been moving in to capitalize on the increased demand for natural gas while others are restructuring their balance sheets in order to focus primarily on higher margin assets, such as oil.

December 10, 2018 Mineral and Royalty Rights

Before Selling Your Oil and Gas Royalty Interest, Read This

There are many reasons that you may want to sell your oil and gas royalty interest, but a lack of knowledge regarding the worth of your royalty interest could be very costly. Whether an inflow of cash would help you make ends meet or finance a large purchase; you no longer want to deal with the administrative paperwork or accounting cost of reconciling monthly revenue payments; or you would prefer to diversify your portfolio or move your investments to a less volatile industry, understanding how royalty interests are valued will ensure that you maximize the value.

December 4, 2018 Valuation Issues

Accounting for Risk in Oil and Gas Reserve Valuations

Reserve Adjustment Factors and Risk-Adjusted Discount Rates

One of the most complex aspects of oil and gas valuation is accounting for the risk associated with PDNP reserves, PUD reserves, and the less certain probables and possibles (P2 and P3 Reserves). Generally, there are three ways to account for this additional risk: (1) Using a risk-adjusted discount rate, (2) applying a reserve adjustment factor (RAF), or (3) utilizing a modified option pricing model.

November 28, 2018 Valuation Issues

Non-Operated Working Interests: Are You Investing in the Operator, the Oilfield, or Both?

Joint Ventures in Oil and Gas

Executing a successful joint venture requires a number of items working in harmony such as solid due diligence, good location, cooperation between both firms, and a degree of luck on the bet they are making.

It seems a bit contradictory that a large amount of projects are structured as joint ventures if they have such a high failure rate. This begs the question, does the success of the JV hinge on the quality of the oilfield or the technical ability of the operator? The answer, we think, lies somewhere in the middle.

November 21, 2018 Special Topics

Haynesville’s Gigantic Gas Resurgence Could Be A Winner In LNG Export Race

Where many producers are struggling to transport their product to market, companies operating in the Haynesville Shale are uniquely positioned to take advantage of the Gulf Coast LNG export resurgence.

November 14, 2018 Special Topics

Four Themes from Q3 Earnings Calls

We Read the Q3 Earnings Calls so You Don’t Have to

Improvements in technology have driven the shale revolution. Among these improvements are both cost cutting by oilfield service providers and longer laterals from E&P companies. While capacity constraints from a lack of infrastructure has led to pricing differentials (particularly in the Permian Basin), a lack of inventory in the global oil market is expected to support higher prices, while also increasing price volatility.

As we plan to do every quarter, we take a look at some of the earnings commentary of large players in the oil and gas space to gain further insight into the challenges and opportunities developing in the industry.

November 7, 2018 Special Topics

Four Key Takeaways from NARO 2018

David Harkins recently attended the 38th Annual National Association of Royalty Owners (NARO) National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Many topics were discussed, some of which could have their own blog posts devoted to them; however, this post includes four key takeaways from the conference.

November 2, 2018 Mineral and Royalty Rights

Royalty MLPs Are Devouring Mineral Assets To Fund Growing Investor Appetites

The emerging field of royalty-focused MLPs and mineral aggregation has the potential to provide growth through acquisitions, as well as distribution payments that public investors desire. Kimbell’s acquisition of Haymaker is a good example of this.