HIGHLIGHTS 

• Delaware Basin acquisition includes acreage and proposed wells in Lea County, NM operated by EOG Resources 
• Northern expects monthly peak production from the acquisition of approximately 1,400 barrels of oil equivalent (“Boe”) per day in mid-2021 
• Northern expects the transaction to be accretive to EV / EBITDA, corporate return on capital employed, earnings per share, and free cash flow metrics in 2021 and beyond 
• Northern is providing an operations update, adjusting Q3 2020 production guidance upward to 25,000 – 30,000 Boe per day 

Northern Oil and Gas has announced an acquisition in the Delaware Basin. 

DELAWARE BASIN ACQUISITION 

Northern has acquired non-operated interests in the Delaware Basin from an undisclosed seller consisting of approximately 66 net acres, on which 1.1 initial net wells have been proposed. The proposed wells are expected to be spud in late 2020 and/or early 2021 and turned in line beginning in the second quarter of 2021. The underlying acreage carries additional future development upside. The assets are operated by EOG Resources and located in Lea County, NM. 

Total acquisition costs plus the initial development costs on the 1.1 net wells are expected to be approximately $11.9 million. Northern expects approximately 54% of this capital to be incurred in 2020, all of which would be within Northern’s previously stated 2020 capital budget. 

Northern expects monthly peak production of approximately 1,400 Boe per day on the initial wells late in the second quarter of 2021. Upon turning in line, Northern expects these assets to be accretive to EV / EBITDA, corporate return on capital employed, earnings per share, and free cash flow metrics in 2021 and beyond. 

OPERATIONS UPDATE 

Northern has seen steady and marked improvement in operations throughout the third quarter of 2020. Realized oil pricing differentials have narrowed from wide levels experienced in the second quarter. Northern also expects a significant reduction in per unit lease operating expenses in the third quarter compared to the second quarter. Operators have continued to return shut-in and curtailed production to sales at a steady rate, at or above Northern’s internal forecasts. Northern is adjusting its third quarter of 2020 production guidance upward from 22,500 – 30,000 Boe per day to 25,000 – 30,000 Boe per day, an increase of 1,250 Boe per day at the midpoint. Inclusive of today’s announced acquisition, Northern continues to be well within its stated capital budget of $175 – 200 million for 2020 and does not currently anticipate accessing its $50 million reserve budget for accelerated completions. 

“We have been actively building data in the Permian Basin for two years,” commented Nick O’Grady, Chief Executive Officer of Northern. “The 2020 downturn in the energy sector has made the Permian Basin competitive for the first time, inclusive of acreage costs, on a full cycle return basis with our Williston Basin program. Coupled with Northern’s Ground Game acquisitions in the Williston, this increased opportunity set should add additional breadth to our strategy as the natural consolidator of non-operated working interests. Returns matter: the capital markets continue to ignore our stellar capital allocation process that has led to the highest return on capital employed of any public oil-centric E&P. With this deal, we continue to carefully invest countercyclically in high return future cash flows and inventory to capture upside, while ongoing operations continue to improve.” 

“Northern continues to execute on its active management strategy adhering to our strict return on capital requirements,” commented Adam Dirlam, Chief Operating Officer of Northern. “Northern’s unique business model can add significant high quality, high return inventory and development, regardless of current activity levels. Additionally, after patiently building data over the past several years, our technical ability has allowed us to expand this strategy further, as demonstrated by our first deal in the Permian Basin.” 

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: Northern Oil and Gas