Search the web
Welcome, Guest
[Sign Out, My Account]
EDGAR_Online

Quotes & Info
Enter Symbol(s):
e.g. YHOO, ^DJI
Symbol Lookup | Financial Search
EP > SEC Filings for EP > Form 8-K on 4-Feb-2009All Recent SEC Filings

Show all filings for EL PASO CORP/DE | Request a Trial to NEW EDGAR Online Pro

Form 8-K for EL PASO CORP/DE


4-Feb-2009

Results of Operations and Financial Condition


Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On February 3, 2009, El Paso Corporation issued a press release announcing certain information regarding its proved reserves and non-proved resources as of December 31, 2008 and full-cost ceiling test and impairment charges that it expects to take in the fourth quarter of 2008. The press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. Item 8.01. Other Events.
On February 3, 2009, El Paso Corporation reported that its estimated proved natural gas and oil reserves at December 31, 2008 totaled 2.3 Tcfe, excluding 222 Bcfe related to its 48.8 percent interest in Four Star Oil & Gas Company (Four Star).
Below is a reconciliation of consolidated proved reserves from December 31, 2007 to December 31, 2008, and a summary of El Paso's proportionate interest in Four Star proved reserves at December 31, 2008.

         Consolidated Proved Reserves (Bcfe)*
         Proved Reserves at Dec. 31, 2007                           2,853
         Production                                                  (272 )
         Sales of Reserves in Place                                  (303 )
         Extensions and Discoveries**                                 577
         Purchases of Reserves in Place                                18
         Revisions Due to Price                                      (476 )
         Revisions Other than Price                                   (72 )
         Proved Reserves at Dec. 31, 2008                           2,325

         El Paso's Interest in Four Star Proved Reserves (Bcfe)
         Four Star at December 31, 2008                               222

* Year end reserve estimates are based on $5.71 per MMBtu natural gas (Henry Hub) and $44.60 per barrel (WTI) oil prices

** 128 Bcfe of
reserve
extensions
and
discoveries
related to
our Altamont
oil
properties
were based
upon a $70
per barrel
(WTI) oil
prices, but
were
ultimately
eliminated
due to
price-related
revisions at
year end.

Approximately 74 percent of the December 31, 2008 proved reserves are proved developed, and 92 percent are natural gas. Approximately 85 percent of price-related revisions are attributable to the decline in oil and NGL prices. Of the price-related revisions, approximately 300 Bcfe were domestic, the largest portion of which was related to the company's Altamont oil properties. In addition, El Paso did not book any reserves from the Camarupim (Bia) project in Brazil due to the sharp drop in oil prices.


El Paso E&P's oil and gas 2008 capital expenditures were approximately $1.7 billion, which includes approximately $50 million for acquisitions of producing properties and approximately $200 million for international expenditures.
El Paso Corporation expects to take a fourth quarter after-tax full-cost ceiling test charge of $1.9 billion and a $0.1 billion impairment of its investment in Four Star. Approximately $1.4 billion of the full-cost ceiling test charge is attributable to the domestic full-cost pool and $0.5 billion to the Brazilian full-cost pool. The company uses the full-cost method of accounting for its oil and natural gas properties. The carrying value of these assets, net of related deferred income taxes, is evaluated on a quarterly basis and is limited to the present value of estimated net revenues of proved reserves using a 10-percent discount rate based on prices and costs at the end of the quarter plus the cost of unevaluated oil and natural gas properties (i.e. a cost center ceiling). A ceiling test charge occurs when the carrying value of the natural gas and oil assets exceeds the cost center ceiling.
El Paso has derivative positions that are intended to manage the price risk of its natural gas and oil production for 2009 and beyond. They are recorded on a mark-to-market basis and therefore were not included in the ceiling test calculation. These positions had a net asset value of approximately $700 million at December 31, 2008.
The ceiling test and impairment charges are non-cash items that do not impact any of the covenants on the debt obligations of El Paso Corporation or its subsidiaries.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits. The following exhibit is furnished with this Current Report on Form 8-K.

                 Exhibit
                 Number                 Description
                  99.A     Press Release dated February 3, 2009.


  Add EP to Portfolio     Set Alert         Email to a Friend  
Get SEC Filings for Another Symbol: Symbol Lookup
Quotes & Info for EP - All Recent SEC Filings
Sign Up for a Free Trial to the NEW EDGAR Online Pro
Detailed SEC, Financial, Ownership and Offering Data on over 12,000 U.S. Public Companies.
Actionable and easy-to-use with searching, alerting, downloading and more.
Request a Trial      Sign Up Now


Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service
SEC Filing data and information provided by EDGAR Online, Inc. (1-800-416-6651). All information provided "as is" for informational purposes only, not intended for trading purposes or advice. Neither Yahoo! nor any of independent providers is liable for any informational errors, incompleteness, or delays, or for any actions taken in reliance on information contained herein. By accessing the Yahoo! site, you agree not to redistribute the information found therein.