Kosmos Energy Announces Second Quarter 2013 Results

Kosmos Energy Announces Second Quarter 2013 Results

Company Provides Operational Update

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Kosmos Energy Ltd. ("Kosmos") (NYS: KOS) announced today financial and operating results for the second quarter of 2013, which included a net loss of $71 million, or $0.19 per basic and diluted share. These results include the previously announced Sipo-1 charge of $76 million net. For the second quarter of 2012, Kosmos reported a net loss of $25 million, or $0.07 per basic and diluted share.

Brian F. Maxted, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Our second quarter achievements continued to build the strategic foundation that is designed to deliver substantial value to our shareholders. During the quarter the Plan of Development for our second major oil development in Ghana, the Tweneboa-Enyenra-Ntomme (TEN) Project, was approved, which paves the way for anticipated first oil production in 2016. In addition, we continued to mature our existing exploration assets in preparation for a multi-year drilling campaign scheduled to begin early next year."

Oil and gas revenue in the second quarter of 2013 was $193 million on the sale of approximately two million barrels of oil versus $112 million in the second quarter of 2012 on the sale of nearly one million barrels of oil. The increase in sales volumes was the result of the successful Jubilee production enhancement programs executed during the second half of 2012. Realized pricing was $99.51 per barrel of oil sold in the second quarter of 2013 versus $112.60 per barrel of oil sold in the second quarter of 2012.

Forecasted capital expenditures for 2013 are expected to increase slightly to $560 million, which reflects the acceleration of the Ireland seismic program, moving it from 2014 to 2013.

Production expense, which included certain well workover and rig equipment maintenance costs, was $23 million in the second quarter of 2013 versus $20 million in the second quarter of 2012. Production expense excluding well workover and rig equipment maintenance costs was $6.54 per barrel of oil sold in the second quarter of 2013 and $9.37 per barrel of oil sold in the second quarter of 2012. The per-barrel price reduction in the second quarter of 2013 primarily reflected an efficiency gain associated with increased field production.

Exploration expenses in the second quarter of 2013 totaled $93 million, which included the Sipo-1 well charge and ongoing seismic acquisition, processing, and interpretation expenditures. Exploration expense was $17 million in the second quarter of 2012.

General and administrative expenses in the second quarter of 2013 were $43 million versus $35 million in the second quarter of 2012. The increase over the 2012 quarter was largely related to staffing growth. Depletion and depreciation expense was $59 million, or $30.13 per barrel of oil sold. The per-barrel rate represents a nine percent decline from the second quarter 2012 rate, primarily the result of the reclassification of proved undeveloped reserves as proved developed reserves at the end of 2012.

Derivative gains for the second quarter of 2013 were $13 million, which primarily represented the unrealized favorable change in the valuation of the Company's oil derivative contracts. Income tax expense for the second quarter of 2013 was $46 million; the majority of the amount was related to the Company's operations in Ghana.

Operational Update:

The Jubilee Field operator has advised its decision to extend the planned shutdown of the Jubilee production facility for routine maintenance at the end of the third quarter 2013. Additionally, the operator has revised its production forecast for Jubilee to approximately 95,000 barrels of oil per day gross for the full year 2013.

During the second quarter of 2013, gross Jubilee Field production averaged approximately 106,000 barrels of oil per day. Phase 1A drilling and completion operations continued with two production wells and one injection well associated with the Phase 1A campaign currently online. The rig-less well intervention program was successfully executed during the quarter with acid stimulation programs performed on five production wells.

The Jubilee Field co-venturers continue work on enhancing the gas handling capabilities associated with the Jubilee floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel through improved compressor performance in conjunction with a third gas injection well that is scheduled to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2013. With these enhancements, Kosmos is targeting a Jubilee year-end 2013 production rate of more than 120,000 barrels of oil per day gross.

The Plan of Development for the TEN Project, now approved by the Government of Ghana, is expected to deliver first oil production in 2016 with production staged up to a facilities-designed plateau production rate of 80,000 barrels of oil per day. The gross project cost is now estimated at $4.9 billion excluding FPSO lease costs.

Darrell McKenna, Chief Operating Officer, commented, "Second quarter Jubilee Field production remained stable, and we expect the Phase 1A drilling and completion campaign to continue through the remainder of the year. Approval of the TEN Project was a major milestone. We are pleased to have secured a long-term rig agreement for the Atwood Achiever and have executed a letter of intent for an additional rig slot that will support first quarter 2014 drilling operations offshore Morocco. We now have the rig resources required to fulfill the Company's activities in Morocco, as well as our long-term exploration strategy."

The Moroccan acreage farm-out process progressed during the second quarter of 2013 with its finalization expected during the second half of the year.

In April, Kosmos announced the Company had entered into two farm-in agreements in the Porcupine Basin offshore western Ireland that cover three licensed areas. Approval was received from the Irish government in early July to convert these areas to frontier exploration licenses. A 3D seismic survey is currently underway, which will encompass the three areas.

A 6,300 kilometer 2D seismic survey was completed in the second quarter of 2013 over Kosmos' acreage positions C8, C12, and C13 offshore Mauritania. Based on encouraging initial results of the 2D data, a 3D seismic program was accelerated and the survey area expanded to 10,000 square kilometers. The 3D survey, which covers portions of the C8 and C12 licenses, commenced in June and is scheduled to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2013.

As previously announced, the Sipo-1 exploration well drilled in the Ndian River Block, onshore Cameroon was plugged and abandoned after the well failed to encounter commercial reservoirs.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Kosmos will host a conference call and webcast to discuss second quarter 2013 financial and operating results today at 10:00 a.m. Central time (11:00 a.m. Eastern time). A live webcast of the event can be accessed on the Investors page of Kosmos' website at www.kosmosenergy.com. The dial-in telephone number for the call is +1.877.407.3982. Callers outside the United States should dial +1.201.493.6780. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Investors page of Kosmos' website for approximately 90 days following the event.

About Kosmos Energy

Kosmos Energy is a leading independent oil and gas exploration and production company focused on frontier and emerging areas along the Atlantic Margin. The Company's asset portfolio includes existing production and other major development projects offshore Ghana, as well as exploration licenses with significant hydrocarbon potential offshore Ireland, Mauritania, Morocco and Suriname. Kosmos is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is traded under the ticker symbol KOS. For additional information, visit www.kosmosenergy.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that Kosmos expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Kosmos' estimates and forward-looking statements are mainly based on its current expectations and estimates of future events and trends, which affect or may affect its businesses and operations. Although Kosmos believes that these estimates and forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, they are subject to several risks and uncertainties and are made in light of information currently available to Kosmos. When used in this press release, the words "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "expect," "plan," "will" or other similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Kosmos, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. Further information on such assumptions, risks and uncertainties is available in Kosmos' Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings.Kosmos undertakes no obligation and does not intend to update or correct these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release, except as required by applicable law. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.