LINN Energy, LLC LINE
and LinnCo, LLC LNCO ("LinnCo") announced
today that LINN has signed a definitive agreement to trade a portion of its
Permian Basin properties to Exxon Mobil Corporation XOM and its wholly
owned subsidiary XTO Energy Inc. (collectively, "ExxonMobil") for operating
interests in the Hugoton Basin. The transaction is expected to close in the
third quarter of 2014 with an effective date of June 1, 2014.
LinnCo logo
LINN will receive a portion of ExxonMobil's interest in its Hugoton Field,
which is currently producing approximately 85 MMcfe/d (80 percent natural gas
and 20 percent NGL) with a shallow base decline of approximately six percent.
Total reserves are estimated to be approximately 700 Bcfe (80 percent natural
gas and 78 percent PDP). The field is comprised of more than 500,000 net acres
and has approximately 2,300 operated wells. LINN has identified more than 400
future drilling locations, doubling the Company's inventory in the Hugoton
Field.
In exchange, ExxonMobil will receive approximately 25,000 net acres in the
Midland Basin, which are located primarily in Midland, Martin, Upton and
Glasscock Counties. ExxonMobil will obtain approximately 2.0 MBoe/d of current
production, and LINN will retain approximately 3.0 MBoe/d of production from
the aforementioned acreage. Additionally, ExxonMobil will receive
approximately 1,000 acres in Lea County, New Mexico.
"Today's trade announcement with ExxonMobil is a strategic portfolio
improvement for LINN that reinforces our commitment to mature, long-lived oil
and natural gas assets with low and predictable decline rates," said Mark E.
Ellis, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We believe this trade
unlocks value for LINN, and are extremely excited to add assets that we
believe are an ideal fit for our already sizeable position in the Hugoton
Basin. We also expect this transaction to be accretive to excess of net cash
provided by operating activities after distributions to unitholders."
Significant characteristics LINN expects to receive from the ExxonMobil trade:
* Excellent mature assets with a decline rate of approximately six percent
and reserve life of approximately 22 years;
* Approximately 400 future drilling locations, doubling the Company's
inventory in Hugoton Field;
* LINN becomes the largest producer in Hugoton Basin;
* Potential future synergies from additional throughput into LINN's Jayhawk
natural gas processing plant;
* Tax efficient exchange of assets; and
* Credit positive from increased cash flow, production and reserves.
"Following the closing of this transaction with ExxonMobil, LINN will have
remaining production of approximately 15 MBoe/d and approximately 30,000 net
acres in the Midland Basin that is prospective for horizontal Wolfcamp
drilling," Mr. Ellis noted. "We continue to see strong interest in the market
for a trade or sale of these remaining assets and believe there is significant
additional value for our unitholders."
The transaction with ExxonMobil is subject to satisfactory completion of title
and environmental due diligence, as well as the satisfaction of closing
conditions. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2014
with an effective date of June 1, 2014.
Supplemental information regarding the Hugoton and Midland Basin Permian trade
is posted at www.linnenergy.com.
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