SANTA CLARITA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--California Resources Corporation (NYSE: CRC), an independent oil and natural gas company committed to energy transition in the sector, today reported fourth quarter and full year 2021 operational and financial results.

"2021 was a transformative year for CRC. We optimized our portfolio, maintained operational excellence, generated record free cash flow and advanced our Carbon Management Business," said Mac McFarland, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our strong execution throughout the year and excellent financial results have allowed us to continue to demonstrate our commitment to shareholder returns. I am pleased to announce that the Board has authorized a $100 million, or 40%, increase to our share repurchase program and extended the term through 2022. Operationally, we plan to sustain our oil and gas operations with a four drilling rig program throughout 2022. We expect to exit 2022 with net production of ~58,000 barrels of oil per day, similar to the rate that we exited 2021, even after the divestitures of the remaining Ventura assets and our non-operated Lost Hills working interest. Given this outlook, we expect to generate significant free cash flow¹ in 2022 after fully funding our plans to deploy approximately $85 million into our Carbon Management Business."

Mr. McFarland continued, "CRC continues to see robust interest and incredible need for our Carbon Management Business. In 2022, we continue to target emitter contracts and are filing additional permit applications for our Carbon TerraVault projects. CRC remains focused on safely, responsibly and sustainably meeting California’s energy demand today, and leveraging its position to help decarbonize California in the future.”

Primary Highlights

• Reported net income attributable to common stock of $612 million, or $7.37 per diluted share. When adjusted for items analysts typically exclude from estimates including the release of the tax valuation allowance, noncash mark-to-market losses and gains on asset divestitures, the Company’s adjusted net income¹ was $506 million, or $6.10 per diluted share
• Generated net cash provided by operating activities of $660 million, adjusted EBITDAX¹ of $860 million and free cash flow¹ of $466 million in 2021
• Produced approximately 60,000 barrels of oil per day, with total capital expenditures of $194 million in 2021
• Declared a quarterly dividend of $0.17 per share of common stock, totaling $13 million payable on March 16, 2022, to shareholders of record on March 7, 2022, with subsequent quarterly dividends subject to final determination and Board approval
• Repurchased an aggregate 5,023,188 shares for $188 million through February 18, 2022, under the share repurchase program for an average price of $37.29 per share
• In 2022, increased the share repurchase program by $100 million to $350 million in aggregate and extended the term of the program through December 31, 2022. After the repurchases through February 18, 2022, and the $100 million increase, CRC has $162 million available for future repurchases
• Sold non-operated working interest in certain horizons within the Lost Hills field for cash proceeds of $55 million

Fourth Quarter 2021 Highlights

Financial

• Reported net income attributable to common stock of $714 million, or $8.71 per diluted share. When adjusted for items analysts typically exclude from estimates including the release of the tax valuation allowance, noncash mark-to-market losses and gains on asset divestitures, the Company's adjusted net income¹ was $175 million, or $2.13 per diluted share
• Generated net cash provided by operating activities of $204 million, adjusted EBITDAX¹ of $260 million and free cash flow¹ of $138 million
• Closed the quarter with $305 million of cash on hand, an undrawn credit facility and $672 million of liquidity²

Operations

• Produced an average of 97,000 net barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) per day, including 59,000 barrels per day of oil, with quarterly capital expenditures of $66 million
• Operated three drilling rigs in the San Joaquin Basin and one drilling rig in the Los Angeles Basin; drilled 39 wells (35 online in 4Q21)
• Operated 34 maintenance rigs

2022 Production Guidance & Capital Program³

During the first quarter of 2022, CRC's Elk Hills cryogenic gas plant (CGP1) will undergo maintenance that will result in a shut down for approximately six to eight weeks. CGP1 is approaching a 10-year inspection and CRC elected to pursue the plant turnaround in the first quarter to benefit from lower costs of materials and to optimize commodity yields throughout the summer of 2022. As a result of this turnaround, CRC expects a decrease in production of approximately 6,000 BOE per day (56% NGLs) in the first quarter of 2022, returning to pre-turnaround production levels in the second quarter of 2022. CRC also estimates a decrease in total daily production of ~2,000 BOE per day in 2022.

In February 2022, CRC sold its non-operated working interest in certain horizons within the Lost Hills field which had full year 2021 net production of approximately 1,900 barrels of oil per day (100% oil). See Acquisitions and Divestitures for additional information on this transaction.

CRC expects to produce between 90,000 and 93,000 BOE per day³ (~62% oil) in 2022. This range takes into account the full impact of the CGP1 turnaround as well as the Ventura and Lost Hills divestitures.

CRC's 2022 capital program³ targets a range of $330 to $375 million. The program includes $300 to $335 million for oil and gas operations, representing a ~64% increase over 2021 at the midpoint, and $30 to $40 million for carbon management projects. This level of expected spending is consistent with CRC's strategy of investing up to approximately 50% of its operating cash flow back into its exploration and production business.

At this level of spending, CRC expects to maintain oil production from exit to exit despite asset sales. CRC plans to run four drilling rigs in the Mount Poso, Elk Hills, Buena Vista and Wilmington fields, and will focus on high return opportunities and build off of the success of the 2021 drilling program.

Acquisitions and Divestitures

CRC divested the vast majority of its Ventura basin assets in the second half of 2021 and recognized a gain of $120 million during the year ended December 31, 2021. CRC expects to divest its remaining assets in the Ventura basin during the first half of 2022.

In February 2022, CRC sold its 50% non-operated working interest in certain horizons of the Lost Hills field located in the San Joaquin Basin for cash proceeds of $55 million (before transaction costs and purchase price adjustments) which will be used for general corporate purposes. CRC retained an option to capture, transport and store 100% of the carbon emissions from steam generators across the Lost Hills field for future carbon management projects. CRC also retained 100% of the deep rights and related seismic data.

Sustainability Update

In December 2021, CRC was recognized at the Leadership Level ranking for 2021 climate disclosure by CDP for the third year in a row. Once again, CRC received the highest ranking among all U.S. oil and gas companies, tying for first with one other U.S.-based E&P with global operations. Scoring at CDP’s Leadership Level for three years in a row further highlights CRC’s value of ESG leadership in its transparent environmental reporting and disclosure practices as it values being a differentiated and reputable low carbon intensity E&P producer in California.

CRC also continues to prioritize its ESG initiatives and making progress toward its Full-Scope Net Zero goal by 2045. CRC defines Full-Scope Net Zero as achieving permanent storage of captured or removed carbon emissions in a volume equal to all of its scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions by 2045. CRC intends to achieve this goal by targeting investing approximately 25% of its operating cash flows in carbon management projects. These projects include Carbon TerraVault, which is in the early stages of permitting and developing several carbon capture and permanent storage projects in suitable reservoirs. Separately, CRC is evaluating the feasibility of its CalCapture project which utilizes the Elk Hills power plant as the emissions source for CO₂ enhanced oil recovery in its Elk Hills field. The Company is also pursuing multiple front-of-the-meter and behind-the-meter solar projects. CRC remains committed to advancing emissions reducing projects that are aligned with the state of California's 2045 net zero ambitions and puts it ahead of the net zero goals in the Paris Agreement. The Company believes that its Full-Scope Net Zero goal and its cash flow prioritization are a significant ESG differentiator.

During 2022, CRC plans to apply for additional permits to meet the near-term focus of 200 million metric tons of permanent CO₂ storage target for Carbon TerraVault projects. The Company expects to provide additional details about these ongoing permitting efforts and Carbon TerraVault project participants by the end of 2022. Additionally, CRC continues to progress its behind-the-meter solar projects for a total capacity of ~39 megawatts. These solar projects are expected to begin commercial operations sometime in 2023.

Board Enhancement

On December 14, 2021, CRC's Board of Directors elected one new Board member, Alejandra (Ale) Veltmann. Ms. Veltmann will serve as the Chair of the Audit Committee of the Board and qualifies as an independent director and audit committee financial expert.

Ms. Veltmann has over 28 years of experience as a global financial leader of publicly traded entities, private entrepreneurial companies and global accounting firms. Since 2018, she has served as founder, CEO and sole director of ESG Lynk, a leading sustainability reporting company. From 2010 to 2018, she worked in various roles including Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer and Corporate Controller. Prior to that, Ms. Veltmann worked in various capacities at KPMG LLP from 1995 to 2002 and before that at Arthur Andersen LLP from 1992 to 1995. Since 2021, she has served as a director and chair of the Audit Committee for Structural Integrity Associates, a provider of life cycle engineering solutions. Ms. Veltmann has served as a Board member of The University of New Mexico Robert O. Anderson School of Management since 2018, and as an Advisory Council member of the K.B. Hutchison Center for Energy, Law & Business at The University of Texas at Austin since 2019. Please see www.crc.com for more details.

Fresh Start Accounting and Predecessor and Successor Periods

CRC qualified for and adopted fresh start accounting upon its emergence from bankruptcy on October 27, 2020, at which point CRC became a new entity for financial reporting purposes. CRC adopted an accounting convenience date of October 31, 2020, for the application of fresh start accounting. As a result of the application of fresh start accounting and the effects of the implementation of the joint plan of reorganization, the financial statements after October 31, 2020, may not be comparable to the financial statements prior to that date. Accordingly, “black-line” financial statements are presented to distinguish between the Predecessor and Successor companies. References to "Predecessor” refer to the Company for periods ending on or prior to October 31, 2020, and references to “Successor” refer to the Company for periods subsequent to October 31, 2020.

Fourth Quarter 2021 Results

Full Year 2021 Results

Review of Operating and Financial Results

Total daily net production volumes decreased 6% from 103,000 BOE per day for the combined fourth quarter of 2020 to 97,000 BOE per day for the fourth quarter of 2021. Total daily net production volumes decreased 10% from 111,000 BOE per day for the combined year ended December 31, 2020 to 100,000 BOE per day for the same period in 2021. The decrease for both periods was largely a result of natural production declines. CRC suspended its drilling activity in the first quarter of 2020 and temporarily shut-in production in the second quarter of 2020 in response to the economic conditions at that time. CRC increased its capital investment and re-started its drilling program during 2021. PSCs at CRC's Long Beach assets negatively impacted oil production by approximately 3,000 barrels per day in both the quarter and the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to the same prior-year periods. CRC divested the vast majority of its assets in the Ventura basin which resulted in a decrease of 2,000 BOE per day beginning in the fourth quarter of 2021. This decrease was partially offset by improved operational results from CRC's 2021 drilling program and its acquisition of the working interests in certain joint venture wells held by Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets Inc. (MIRA) in the third quarter of 2021 which increased oil production by 1,000 barrels per day. See Attachment 3 for further information on production.

Realized oil prices, including the effect of settled hedges, increased by $16.61 per barrel from $44.39 per barrel in the combined fourth quarter of 2020 to $61.00 per barrel in the fourth quarter of 2021. For the year ended December 31, 2021, realized oil prices, including the effect of settled hedges, increased by $12.52 to $56.05 from $43.53 in the same period of 2020. Realized oil prices were higher in the fourth quarter and full year of 2021 compared to the same prior-year periods as oil demand was bolstered by the re-opening of economies and the easing of mobility restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prices also increased due to a rise in domestic demand and lower supply caused by reduced investment in the U.S. upstream oil and gas sector as well as supply management by OPEC members. See Attachment 4 for further information on prices.

Adjusted EBITDAX¹ for the fourth quarter of 2021 and for the year ended December 31, 2021, was $260 million and $860 million, respectively. See table below for further information on the Company's net cash provided by operating activities, capital investments and free cash flow¹ during the same periods.

The following table presents key operating data for CRC's oil and gas operations, on a per BOE basis, for the periods presented below. Energy operating costs consist of purchases of natural gas used to generate electricity, purchased electricity and internal costs to generate electricity used in CRC's operations. Non-energy operating costs equal total operating costs less energy and gas processing costs. However, non-energy operating costs include the costs of purchasing natural gas to generate steam for its steamfloods.

Energy operating costs for the three months ended December 31, 2021, were $5.47 per BOE, which was an increase of $1.08 per BOE or 25% from $4.39 per BOE for the same period of 2020. Energy operating costs for the year ended December 31, 2021, were $5.09 per BOE, which was an increase of $1.14 per BOE or 29% from $3.95 per BOE for the same period of 2020. This increase was primarily a result of higher prices for purchased natural gas, which CRC used to generate electricity for its operations, and for purchased electricity.

Non-energy operating costs for the three months ended December 31, 2021, were $14.57 per BOE, which was an increase of $2.13 per BOE, or 17%, from $12.44 per BOE for the same period of 2020. Non-energy operating costs for the year ended December 31, 2021, were $13.76 per BOE, which was an increase of $2.81 per BOE, or 26%, from $10.95 per BOE for the same period of 2020. This increase was primarily a result of higher downhole maintenance activity in 2021 which was deferred in 2020 as CRC shut-in wells and suspended surface maintenance activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, non-energy operating costs increased in 2021 due to higher prices for natural gas which CRC uses to generate steam for its steamfloods. Partially offsetting these increases were lower labor-related costs from headcount reductions in late 2020 and early 2021 and reduced employee benefits beginning in the second quarter of 2021. Although higher natural gas prices in 2021 increased CRC's operating costs, higher prices have a net positive effect on its operating results due to higher revenue from sales of this commodity which it also produces.

General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $53 million for the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to $59 million in the same prior-year period. The decrease in G&A expenses for the fourth quarter is due to changes to the variable portion of our incentive compensation program from the prior year as well as lower labor-related costs as a result of workforce reductions that occurred in the first quarter of 2021 and employee benefit reductions in the second quarter of 2021. For the year ended December 31, 2021, G&A expenses were $200 million compared to $252 million in the same prior-year period. The decrease in G&A expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021, reflects lower labor-related costs as a result of workforce reductions that occurred in the second half of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021 as well as employee benefit reductions in the second quarter of 2021. The remaining decrease was also due to lower spending across a number of cost categories. The decreases from the fourth quarter and the year ended December 31, 2021, were partially offset by an increase in compensation expense related to equity-settled awards granted to executives and directors in 2021.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity Update

CRC's aggregate commitment under the Revolving Credit Facility was set at $492 million as of December 31, 2021. The borrowing base for the Revolving Credit Facility, currently $1.2 billion, will be redetermined semi-annually each April and October.

As of December 31, 2021, CRC had liquidity of $672 million, which consisted of $305 million in cash and $367 million of available borrowing capacity under its Revolving Credit Facility.

Joanna Park (Investor Relations)
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Richard Venn (Media)
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