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Thursday, 24 July, 2008, 10:40 GMT | more prices >>

Gas prices bite Chesapeake



By Upstream staff 

Chesapeake Energy today reported a 34% decline in third-quarter earnings as natural gas prices fell from a year-ago and offset a jump in production.

Net income available to common shareholders in the quarter fell to $346 million, or 72 cents per diluted share, from $523 million, or $1.13 per share, in the year-ago quarter.

Excluding a one-time gain related to hedging, adjusted net income was 69 cents per share.

Analysts surveyed by Reuters Estimates on average had expected a profit of 61 cents a share.

Average daily production for the Oklahoma City company climbed 27% to 2.03 billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent.

The company said its average realised price for natural gas fell to $7.41 per thousand cubic feet from $8.39 per thousand cubic feet in the same quarter a year earlier.

Citing better-than-expected results from the company's drilling program, Chesapeake raised its prior forecast for total 2007 production growth to 21% to 23% from 18% to 22%.

For 2008, Chesapeake said it now sees production growth of 18% to 22%, up from its prior growth forecast of 14% to 18%.

In September, Chesapeake said it planned to sell some producing assets and cut back production, citing lower natural gas prices.

Even so, the company was able to raise its forecasts because production growth during most of 2007 topped its targets.

Shares of Chesapeake rose 2.6%, or $1.03, to $40.67 on the New York Stock Exchange.


Tuesday, 06 November, 2007, 23:18 GMT  | last updated: Tuesday, 06 November, 2007, 23:18 GMT

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