Low float SGY moving: Huge deals > Stone Energy Corporation (NYSE: SGY) today announced the termination of an existing long term deep water rig commitment and the execution of a new interim Appalachian midstream contract.
Stone and Ensco have agreed to terminate Stone's current contract with Ensco for total consideration of $20 million, approximately $5 million of which was a deposit previously provided to Ensco pursuant to the drilling services contract. Further, Stone agreed to provide Ensco the opportunity to perform certain drilling services commenced before December 31, 2019, and Stone paid Ensco a $5 million deposit to be used as a credit against future drilling activities initiated before March 31, 2017, subject to extension in certain circumstances. The ENSCO 8503 deep water rig contract was at a day rate of $341,000 and was scheduled to expire in August 2017.
Separately, Stone entered into an interim gas gathering and processing agreement with Williams at the Mary field in Appalachia. The mutually beneficial interim agreement provides near-term relief for Stone by permitting Stone to resume production at the Mary field, thereby providing greater volume to Williams. Volumes from the Mary field are now at approximately 45 MMcfe per day and are expected to climb to over 60 MMcfe per day in July and then over 100 MMcfe per day in August. These volumes are in addition to the approximately 20 MMcfe per day producing from the Heather and Buddy fields. The effects of this agreement on annual guidance, including production volumes and associated costs, are still being assessed. Updates to annual guidance will be provided in Stone's second quarter 2016 press release.
Chairman, President and CEO David Welch stated, "We are very pleased to reach agreement with both Ensco and Williams on these two important contracts. The termination of the Ensco contract eliminates a long term obligation, which provides Stone with additional financial flexibility. The interim contract with Williams allows us to resume profitable production and positive cash flow at our Mary field in West Virginia. We appreciate Ensco's and Williams' willingness to work with Stone during this difficult period of sustained low commodity prices."
Stone Energy is an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana with additional offices in New Orleans, Houston and Morgantown, West Virginia. Stone is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of properties in the Gulf of Mexico and Appalachian basins. For additional information, contact Kenneth H. Beer, Chief Financial Officer, at 337-521-2210 phone, 337-521-9880 fax or via e-mail at CFO@StoneEnergy.com
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