Range Reports 3Q Production Update

Fort Worth-based Range Resources Corporation ( RRC - Analyst Report ) reported its third quarter 2012 production results, preliminary realized prices and an update on its hedging position. The company registered record output - thanks to the continued success of its drilling program in the Marcellus and horizontal Mississippian oil plays.

On an equivalent basis, production volumes were higher than the upper end of the third quarter production guidance range, which averaged around 790 million cubic feet equivalent (MMcfe) net per day, up 47% from the year-ago quarter and 10% sequentially.

The initial third quarter average net production volumes of oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs) and natural gas were 7,748 barrels per day (bpd), 20,040 bpd and 623.3 MMcf per day, respectively. This constituted 79%, 15% and 6% of natural gas, NGL and crude oil, respectively. The annual rise in oil, NGLs and natural gas output was a respective 36%, 30% and 52%.

Range also reported its preliminary third quarter 2012 commodity price realizations (including the impact of hedges and derivative settlements) of $4.88 per thousand cubic feet equivalent (Mcfe) versus $6.41 per Mcfe for the year-ago quarter and $4.74 per Mcfe for the second quarter of 2012. Realized prices for each commodity, per the preliminary third quarter estimates were, natural gas – $3.88 per Mcf, natural gas liquids – $38.79 per barrel and crude oil – $84.86.

Range also announced its plans of not proceeding with the drilling operations on the last remaining Barnett undeveloped leasehold, which had been retained by the company during the Barnett assets sale in 2011. This is likely to result in an increase of the non-cash unproved property impairment provision by $20 million for the quarter.

Range also reported about its hedging position through which it realized a gain of about $80 million in the third quarter. As of September 30, 2012, the company expects to derive about $145 million as future hedging gains, of which approximately 40% is likely to be realized in the last quarter of 2012, 56% in 2013, and the remaining 4% in 2014.

Range, which recently became the anchor shipper on the Mariner East Project - venture between Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. ( SXL - Analyst Report ) and MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P. ( MWE - Analyst Report ) , retains a Zacks #3 Rank, which is equivalent to a Hold rating for a period of one to three months. For the long term, we maintain our Neutral recommendation.