UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Year Ended December 31, 2008
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QUESTAR MARKET RESOURCES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
STATE OF UTAH | 000-30321 | 87-0287750 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (Commission File No.) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
180 East 100 South, P.O. Box 45601, Salt Lake City, Utah 84145-0601
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant’s telephone number: (801) 324-2600
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common stock, $1.00 par value
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes [ ]
No [X]
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes [ ]
No [X]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer [ ] | Accelerated filer [ ] |
Non-accelerated filer [X] (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company [ ] |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes [ ] No [X]
State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter. (June 30, 2008): $0.
On January 31, 2009, 4,309,427 shares of the registrant’s common stock, $1.00 par value, were outstanding (all shares are owned by Questar Corporation).
Registrant meets the conditions set forth in General Instruction (I)(1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-K and is therefore filing this Form with the reduced disclosure format.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No.
Where You Can Find More Information
5
5
Glossary of Commonly Used Terms
6
Nature of Business
9
Exploration and Production – Questar E&P and Wexpro
10
Midstream Field Services – Questar Gas Management
11
Energy Marketing – Questar Energy Trading
11
Employees
11
12
15
Exploration and Production – Questar E&P and Wexpro
15
Midstream Field Services – Questar Gas Management
16
Energy Marketing – Questar Energy Trading
18
18
SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF
19
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY
19
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA (omitted)
19
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION
19
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT
27
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
30
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CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
58
58
59
Item 10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
(omitted)
59
Item 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (omitted)
59
Item 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS (omitted)
59
Item 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE (omitted)
59
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
59
EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
59
61
Where You Can Find More Information
Questar Market Resources, Inc. (Market Resources or the Company), is a wholly owned subsidiary of Questar Corporation (Questar). Both Questar and Market Resources file annual, quarterly, and current reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The public may read and copy these reports and any other materials filed with the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549-0213. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the Public Reference Room. The SEC also maintains an internet site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including Market Resources.
Investors can also access financial and other information via Questar’s web site at www.questar.com. Questar and Market Resources make available, free of charge, through the web site copies of Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to such reports. Access to these reports is provided as soon as reasonably practical after such reports are electronically filed with the SEC. Information contained on or connected to Questar’s web site which is not directly incorporated by reference into the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K should not be considered part of this report or any other filing made with the SEC.
Questar’s web site also contains Statements of Responsibility for Board Committees, Corporate Governance Guidelines and the Business Ethics and Compliance Policy.
Finally, you may request a copy of filings, other than an exhibit to a filing unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that filing, at no cost by writing or calling Market Resources, 180 East 100 South Street, P.O. Box 45601, Salt Lake City, Utah 84145-0601 (telephone number 801-324-2600).
Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report may contain or incorporate by reference information that includes or is based upon “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements give expectations or forecasts of future events. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They use words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” and other words and terms of similar meaning in
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connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. In particular, these include statements relating to future actions, prospective services or products, future performance or results of current and anticipated services or products, exploration efforts, expenses, the outcome of contingencies such as legal proceedings, trends in operations and financial results.
Any or all forward-looking statements may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many such factors will be important in determining actual future results. These statements are based on current expectations and the current economic environment. They involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. These statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Among factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are:
·
the risk factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A of this Annual Report;
·
general economic conditions, including the performance of financial markets and interest rates;
·
changes in industry trends;
·
changes in laws or regulations; and
·
other factors, most of which are beyond the Company’s control.
Market Resources undertakes no obligation to publicly correct or update the forward-looking statements in this Annual Report, in other documents, or on the web site to reflect future events or circumstances. All such statements are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
Glossary of Commonly Used Terms
B Billion.
bbl Barrel, which is equal to 42 U.S. gallons and is a common measure of volume of crude oil and other liquid hydrocarbons.
basis The difference between a reference or benchmark commodity price and the corresponding sales price at various regional sales points.
basis-only swap A derivative that “swaps” the basis (defined above) between two sales points from a floating price to a fixed price for a specified commodity volume over a specified time period. Typically used to fix the price relationship between a geographic sales point and a NYMEX reference price.
Btu One British thermal unit – a measure of the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a one-pound mass of water one degree Fahrenheit at sea level.
cash flow hedge A derivative instrument that complies with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 133, as amended, and is used to reduce the exposure to variability in cash flows from the forecasted physical sale of gas and oil production whereby the gains (losses) on the derivative transaction are anticipated to offset the losses (gains) on the forecasted physical sale.
cf Cubic foot is a common unit of gas measurement. One standard cubic foot equals the volume of gas in one cubic foot measured at standard conditions – a temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit and a pressure of 30 inches of mercury (approximately 14.7 pounds per square inch).
cfe Cubic feet of natural gas equivalents.
development well A well drilled into a known producing formation in a previously discovered field.
dewpoint A specific temperature and pressure at which hydrocarbons condense to form a liquid.
dry hole A well drilled and found to be incapable of producing hydrocarbons in sufficient quantities such that proceeds from the sale of production exceed expenses and taxes.
dth Decatherms or ten therms. One dth equals one million Btu or approximately one Mcf.
dthe Decatherms of natural gas equivalents.
equity production Production at the wellhead attributed to Questar ownership.
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exploratory well A well drilled into a previously untested geologic prospect to determine the presence of gas or oil.
frac spread The difference between the market value for NGL extracted from the gas stream and the market value of the Btu-equivalent volume of natural gas required to replace the extracted liquids.
futures contract An exchange-traded contract to buy or sell a standard quantity and quality of a commodity at a specified future date and price.
gal U.S. gallon.
gas All references to “gas” in this report refer to natural gas.
gross “Gross” natural gas and oil wells or “gross” acres are the total number of wells or acres in which the Company has a working interest.
hedging The use of derivative commodity and interest-rate instruments to reduce financial exposure to commodity-price and interest-rate volatility
.
infill development drilling Drilling wells between established producing wells; a drilling program to reduce the spacing between wells in order to increase production and/or recovery of in-place hydrocarbons.
lease operating expenses The expenses, usually recurring, which are incurred to operate the wells and equipment on a producing lease.
M Thousand.
MM Million.
natural gas equivalents Oil and NGL volumes are converted to natural gas equivalents using the ratio of one barrel of crude oil, condensate or NGL to 6,000 cubic feet of natural gas.
natural gas liquids (NGL) Liquid hydrocarbons that are extracted and separated from the natural gas stream. NGL products include ethane, propane, butane, natural gasoline and heavier hydrocarbons.
net “Net” gas and oil wells or “net” acres are determined by the sum of the fractional ownership working interest the Company has in those gross wells or acres.
net revenue interest A share of production after all burdens, such as royalties and overriding royalties, have been deducted from the working interest. It is the percentage of production that each owner actually receives.
NYMEX The New York Mercantile Exchange.
proved reserves Those quantities of natural gas, crude oil, condensate and NGL on a net revenue interest basis, which geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable under existing economic and operating conditions. See 17 C.F.R. Section 4-10(a)(2) for a complete definition.
proved developed reserves Reserves that include proved developed producing reserves and proved developed nonproducing reserves. See 17 C.F.R. Section 4-10(a)(3).
proved developed producing reserves Reserves expected to be recovered from existing completion intervals in existing wells.
proved undeveloped reserves Reserves expected to be recovered from new wells on proved undrilled acreage or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion. See 17 C.F.R. Section 4-10(a)(4).
reservoir A porous and permeable underground formation containing a natural accumulation of producible natural gas and/or oil that is confined by impermeable rock or water barriers and is individual and separate from other reservoirs.
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royalty An interest in a gas and oil lease that gives the owner the right to receive a portion of the production from the leased acreage (or of the proceeds of the sale thereof), but generally does not require the owner to pay any portion of the costs of drilling or operating the wells on the leased acreage. Royalties may be either landowner’s royalties, which are reserved by the owner of the leased acreage at the time the lease is granted, or overriding royalties, which are usually reserved by an owner of the leasehold in connection with a transfer to a subsequent owner.
seismic An exploration method of sending energy waves or sound waves into the earth and recording the wave reflections to indicate the type, size, shape and depth of a subsurface rock formation. (2-D seismic provides two-dimensional information and 3-D seismic provides three-dimensional views.)
wet gas Unprocessed natural gas that contains a mixture of heavier hydrocarbons including ethane, propane, butane and natural gasoline.
working interest An interest in a gas and oil lease that gives the owner the right to drill, produce and conduct operating activities on the leased acreage and receive a share of any production.
workover Operations on a producing well to restore or increase production.
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FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT, 2008
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS.
Nature of Business
Questar Market Resources, Inc. (Market Resources or the Company) is a natural gas-focused energy company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Questar Corporation (Questar) and Questar’s primary growth driver. Market Resources is a subholding company with three major lines of business – gas and oil exploration and production, midstream field services, and energy marketing – which are conducted through its four principal subsidiaries:
·
Questar Exploration and Production Company (Questar E&P) acquires, explores for, develops and produces natural gas, oil, and NGL;
·
Wexpro Company (Wexpro) manages, develops and produces cost-of-service reserves for gas utility affiliate, Questar Gas;
·
Questar Gas Management Company (Gas Management) provides midstream field services including natural gas-gathering and processing services for affiliates and third parties; and
·
Questar Energy Trading Company (Energy Trading) markets equity and third-party gas and oil, provides risk-management services, and owns and operates an underground gas-storage reservoir.
Market Resources operates in the Rocky Mountain and Midcontinent regions of the United States of America and is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Principal offices are located in Denver, Colorado; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Rock Springs, Wyoming.
The corporate-organization structure and major subsidiaries are summarized below:
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See Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of Part II of this Annual Report for financial information by line of business including, but not limited to, revenues from unaffiliated customers, operating income and identifiable assets. A discussion of each of the Company’s lines of business follows.
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EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION – Questar E&P and Wexpro
General: Questar’s exploration and production business is conducted through Questar E&P and Wexpro. Exploration and production generated approximately 84% of the Company’s operating income in 2008. Questar E&P operates in two core areas – the Rocky Mountain region of Wyoming, Utah and Colorado and the Midcontinent region of Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana. Questar E&P has a large inventory of identified development drilling locations, primarily on the Pinedale Anticline in western Wyoming, in the Uinta Basin of Utah and in northwestern Louisiana. Questar E&P continues to conduct exploratory drilling to determine the commerciality of its inventory of undeveloped leaseholds located primarily in the Rocky Mountain region. Questar E&P seeks to maintain geographical and geological diversity with its two core areas. Questar E&P has in the past and may in the future pursue acquisition of producing properties through the purchase of assets or c orporate entities to expand its presence in its core areas or create a new core area.
Questar E&P reported 2,218.1 Bcfe of estimated proved reserves as of December 31, 2008. Approximately 72% of Questar E&P’s proved reserves, or 1,587.3 Bcfe, were located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States, while the remaining 28%, or 630.8 Bcfe, were located in the Midcontinent region. Approximately 1,269.4 Bcfe of the proved reserves reported by Questar E&P at year-end 2008 were developed, while 948.7 Bcfe were proved undeveloped. The majority of the proved undeveloped reserves were associated with the Company’s Pinedale Anticline leasehold. Natural gas comprised about 91% of Questar E&P’s total proved reserves at year-end 2008. See Item 2 of Part I and Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of Part II of this Annual Report for more information on the Company’s proved reserves.
Wexpro manages, develops and produces cost of service reserves for gas utility affiliate Questar Gas under the terms of the Wexpro Agreement, a long-standing comprehensive agreement with the states of Utah and Wyoming. Pursuant to the Wexpro Agreement, Wexpro recovers its costs and receives an unlevered after-tax return of approximately 19-20% on its investment base. Wexpro’s investment base is its investment in commercial wells and related facilities adjusted for working capital and reduced for deferred income taxes and depreciation. The term of the Wexpro Agreement coincides with the productive life of the gas and oil properties covered therein. Wexpro’s investment base totaled $410.6 million at December 31, 2008. See Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of Part II of this Annual Report for more information on the Wexpro Agreement.
Wexpro delivers natural gas production to Questar Gas at a price equal to Wexpro’s cost-of-service. Cost-of-service gas satisfied 49% of Questar Gas supply requirements during 2008 at prices that were lower than Questar Gas paid for purchased gas. Wexpro sells crude-oil production from certain oil-producing properties at market prices with the revenues used to recover operating expenses and to provide Wexpro a return on its investment. Any operating income remaining after recovery of expenses and Wexpro’s return on investment is divided between Wexpro and Questar Gas, with Wexpro retaining 46%.
Wexpro’s cost of service operations are contractually limited to a finite set of properties set forth in the Wexpro Agreement. Advances in technology (increased density drilling and multi-stage hydraulic fracture stimulation) have unlocked significant unexploited potential on many of the subject properties. Wexpro has identified over $1 billion of additional drilling opportunities that could support high single-digit to low double-digit growth in revenues and net income over the next five to ten years while delivering cost-of-service natural gas supplies to Questar Gas at prices competitive with alternative sources.
Competition and Customers: Questar E&P faces competition in every part of its business, including the acquisition of producing properties and leasehold acreage, the marketing of gas and oil, and obtaining goods, services and labor. Its longer-term growth strategy depends, in part, on its ability to purchase reasonably-priced reserves and develop them in a low-cost and efficient manner.
Questar E&P, both directly and through Energy Trading, sells natural gas production to a variety of customers, including gas-marketing firms, industrial users and local-distribution companies. However, Questar E&P and Energy Trading do not sell natural gas to Questar Gas. Questar E&P regularly evaluates counterparty credit and may require financial guarantees from parties that fail to meet its credit criteria.
Wexpro collected 87% of its 2008 revenues from affiliated companies, primarily Questar Gas.
Regulation: Exploration and production operations are subject to various government controls and regulation at the federal, state and local levels. Questar E&P must obtain permits to drill and produce; maintain bonding requirements to drill and operate wells; submit and implement spill-prevention plans; and file notices relating to the presence, use, and release of specified contaminants incidental to gas and oil production. Questar E&P is also subject to various conservation matters, including the regulation of the size of drilling and spacing units, the number of wells that may be drilled in a unit and the unitization or pooling of gas and oil properties. Wexpro gas- and oil-development and production activities are subject to the same type of regulation as Questar E&P. In addition, the Utah Division of Public Utilities has oversight responsibility and retains an outside reservoir-engineering consultant and a financial auditor to assess the prudence of Wexpro ’s activities.
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Most Questar E&P leasehold acreage in the Rocky Mountain area is held under leases granted by the federal government and administered by federal agencies, principally the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Current federal regulations restrict activities during certain times of the year on significant portions of Market Resources leasehold due to wildlife activity and/or habitat. Market Resources has worked with federal and state officials in Wyoming to obtain authorization for limited winter-drilling activities on the Pinedale Anticline and has developed measures, such as drilling multiple wells from a single pad location, to minimize the impact of its activities on wildlife and wildlife habitat. Various wildlife species inhabit Market Resources leaseholds at Pinedale and in other areas. The presence of wildlife, including species that are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act could limit access to leases held by Market Resources on public lands.
In September 2008, the BLM issued a Record of Decision (ROD) on the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for long-term development of natural gas resources in the Pinedale Anticline Project Area (PAPA). Under the ROD, Questar E&P and Wexpro will be allowed to drill and complete wells year-round in one of five Concentrated Development Areas defined in the PAPA. The ROD contains additional requirements and restrictions on development of the PAPA.
MIDSTREAM FIELD SERVICES – Questar Gas Management
General: Gas Management generated approximately 13% of the Company’s operating income in 2008. Gas Management owns 50% of Rendezvous Gas Services, LLC, (Rendezvous), a partnership that operates gas-gathering facilities in western Wyoming. Rendezvous gathers natural gas for Pinedale Anticline and Jonah field producers for delivery to various interstate pipelines. Gas Management also owns 38% of Uintah Basin Field Services LLC (Field Services) and 50% of Three Rivers Gathering, LLC (Three Rivers) partnerships that operate gas-gathering facilities in eastern Utah. The FERC-regulated Rendezvous Pipeline Co., LLC (Rendezvous Pipeline), a wholly owned subsidiary of Gas Management, operates a 21-mile 20-inch-diameter pipeline between Gas Management’s Blacks Fork gas-processing plant and the Muddy Creek compressor station owned by Kern River Gas Transmission Co. (Kern River Pipeline).
Fee-based gathering and processing revenues were 76% of Gas Management’s net operating revenues during 2008. Approximately 35% of Gas Management’s 2008 net gas-processing revenues were derived from fee-based processing agreements. The remaining revenues were derived from natural gas processing margins from keep-whole agreements that are exposed to the frac spread. A keep-whole contract insulates producers from frac-spread risk while a fee-based contract eliminates commodity price risk for the processing plant owner. To further reduce volatility associated with keep-whole contracts, Gas Management may enter into forward-sales contracts for NGL or hedge NGL prices and equivalent gas volumes with the intent to lock in a processing margin. Under a contract with Questar Gas, Gas Management also gathers cost-of-service volumes produced from properties operated by Wexpro.
Gas Management collected 8% of its 2008 revenues from affiliated companies, primarily Questar Gas.
Competition and Customers: Gas Management provides natural gas-gathering and processing services to affiliates and third-party producers who have proved and/or producing gas fields in the Rocky Mountain region. Most of Gas Management’s gas-gathering and processing services are provided under long-term agreements.
ENERGY MARKETING – Questar Energy Trading
General: Energy Trading markets natural gas, oil and NGL and generated approximately 3% of the Company’s operating income in 2008. It combines gas volumes purchased from third parties and equity production to build a flexible and reliable portfolio. As a wholesale marketing entity, Energy Trading concentrates on markets in the Rocky Mountains, Pacific Northwest and Midcontinent that are either close to affiliate reserves and production or accessible by major pipelines. Energy Trading contracts for firm-transportation capacity on pipelines and firm-storage capacity at Clay Basin, a large baseload-storage facility owned by affiliate Questar Pipeline. Energy Trading, through its subsidiary Clear Creek Storage Company, LLC, operates an underground gas-storage reservoir in southwestern Wyoming. Energy Trading uses owned and leased-storage capacity together with firm-transportation capacity to take advantage of price differentials and arbitrage opportunities.
Competition and Customers: Energy Trading sells equity crude-oil production to refiners, remarketers and other companies, including some with pipeline facilities near company producing properties. In the event pipeline facilities are not available, Energy Trading transports crude oil by truck to storage, refining or pipeline facilities. Energy Trading uses derivatives to manage commodity price risk. Energy Trading primarily uses fixed-price swaps to secure a known price for a specific volume of production. Energy Trading does not engage in speculative hedging transactions. See Item 7A and Notes 1 and 6 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of Part II of this Annual Report for additional information relating to hedging activities.
Employees
At December 31, 2008, Market Resources had 907 employees compared with 775 a year earlier.
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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.
Investors should read carefully the following factors as well as the cautionary statements referred to in “Forward-Looking Statements” herein. If any of the risks and uncertainties described below or elsewhere in this Annual Report actually occur, the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
Risks Inherent in the Company’s Business
The future prices for natural gas, oil and NGL are unpredictable. Historically natural gas, oil and NGL prices have been volatile and will likely continue to be volatile in the future. U.S. natural gas prices in particular are significantly influenced by weather. Any significant or extended decline in commodity prices would impact the Company’s future financial condition, revenue, operating result, cash flow, return on invested capital, and rate of growth. Because approximately 91% of Market Resources’ proved reserves at December 31, 2008, were natural gas, the Company’s revenue, margin, cash flow, net income and return on invested capital are substantially more sensitive to changes in natural gas prices than to changes in oil prices.
Questar cannot predict the future price of natural gas, oil and NGL because of factors beyond its control, including but not limited to:
•
changes in domestic and foreign supply of natural gas, oil and NGL;
•
changes in local, regional, national and global demand for natural gas, oil, and NGL;
•
regional price differences resulting from available pipeline transportation capacity or local demand;
•
the level of imports of, and the price of, foreign natural gas, oil and NGL;
•
domestic and global economic conditions;
•
domestic political developments;
•
weather conditions;
•
domestic and foreign government regulations and taxes;
•
technological advances affecting energy consumption and energy supply;
•
political instability or armed conflict in oil and natural gas producing regions;
•
conservation efforts;
•
the price, availability and acceptance of alternative fuels;
•
storage levels of natural gas, oil, and NGL; and
•
the quality of gas and oil produced.
A slowdown in economic activity caused by an extended recession would likely reduce domestic and worldwide demand for energy and result in lower natural gas, oil and NGL prices. Oil prices declined from record levels in early July 2008 of over $140 per Bbl to below $40 per Bbl in January 2009, while NYMEX natural gas prices have declined from over $13 per Mcf to below $4 per Mcf over the same period. In addition, the forecasted prices for the remainder of 2009 have also declined.
The Company may not be able to economically find and develop new reserves. The Company’s profitability depends not only on prevailing prices for natural gas, oil and NGL, but also its ability to find, develop and acquire gas and oil reserves that are economically recoverable. Producing natural gas and oil reservoirs are generally characterized by declining production rates that vary depending on reservoir characteristics. Because of the high-rate production decline profile of several of the Company’s producing areas, substantial capital expenditures are required to find, develop and acquire gas and oil reserves to replace those depleted by production.
Gas and oil reserve estimates are imprecise and subject to revision. Questar E&P’s proved natural gas and oil reserve estimates are prepared annually by independent reservoir-engineering consultants. Gas and oil reserve estimates are subject to numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved reserves, projecting future rates of production and timing of development expenditures. The accuracy of these estimates depends on the quality of available data and on engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. Reserve estimates are imprecise and will change as additional information becomes available. Estimates of economically recoverable reserves and future net cash flows prepared by different engineers, or by the same engineers at different times, may vary significantly. Results of subsequent drilling, testing and production may cause either upward or downward revisions of previous estimates. In addition, the estimation process also in volves economic assumptions relating to commodity prices, production costs, severance and other taxes, capital expenditures and remedial costs. Actual results most likely will vary from the estimates. Any significant variance could reduce the estimated future net revenues from proved reserves and the present value of those reserves.
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Investors should not assume that the “standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows” from Questar E&P’s proved reserves referred to in this Annual Report is the current market value of the estimated natural gas and oil reserves. In accordance with SEC requirements, the estimated discounted future net cash flows from Questar E&P’s proved reserves is based on prices and costs in effect on the date of the estimate, holding the prices constant throughout the life of the properties. Actual future prices and costs may differ materially from those used in the current estimate, and future determinations of the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows using then current prices and costs may be significantly less than the current estimate.
Shortages of oilfield equipment, services and qualified personnel could impact results of operations. The demand for qualified and experienced field personnel to drill wells and conduct field operations, geologists, geophysicists, engineers and other professionals in the oil and gas industry can fluctuate significantly, often in correlation with natural gas and oil prices, causing periodic shortages. There have also been regional shortages of drilling rigs and other equipment, as demand for specialized rigs and equipment has increased along with the number of wells being drilled. These factors also cause increases in costs for equipment, services and personnel. These cost increases could impact profit margin, cash flow and operating results or restrict the ability to drill wells and conduct operations, especially during periods of lower natural gas and oil prices.
Gas and oil operations involve numerous risks that might result in accidents and other operating risks and costs. Drilling is a high-risk activity. Operating risks include: fire, explosions and blow-outs; unexpected drilling conditions such as abnormally pressured formations; abandonment costs; pipe, cement or casing failures; environmental accidents such as oil spills, natural gas leaks, ruptures or discharges of toxic gases, brine or well fluids (including groundwater contamination). The Company could incur substantial losses as a result of injury or loss of life; pollution or other environmental damage; damage to or destruction of property and equipment; regulatory investigation; fines or curtailment of operations; or attorney’s fees and other expenses incurred in the prosecution or defense of litigation.
There are also inherent operating risks and hazards in the Company’s gas and oil production, gas gathering, processing, transportation and distribution operations that could cause substantial financial losses. In addition, these risks could result in loss of human life, significant damage to property, environmental pollution, impairment of operations and substantial losses. The location of pipelines near populated areas, including residential areas, commercial business centers and industrial sites could increase the level of damages resulting from these risks. Certain segments of the Company’s pipelines run through such areas. In spite of the Company’s precautions, an event could cause considerable harm to people or property, and could have a material adverse effect on the financial position and results of operations, particularly if the event is not fully covered by insurance. Accidents or other operating risks could further result in loss of service available to the Com pany’s customers. Such circumstances could adversely impact the Company’s ability to meet contractual obligations and retain customers.
As is customary in the gas and oil industry, the Company maintains insurance against some, but not all, of these potential risks and losses. Market Resources cannot assure that insurance will be adequate to cover these losses or liabilities. Losses and liabilities arising from uninsured or underinsured events could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and operations.
Disruption of, capacity constraints in, or proximity to pipeline systems could impact results of operations. Questar E&P transports gas to market by utilizing pipelines owned by others. If pipelines do not exist near producing wells, if pipeline capacity is limited or if pipeline capacity is unexpectedly disrupted, gas sales could be reduced or shut in, reducing profitability. If pipeline quality tariffs change, the company might be required to install additional processing equipment which could increase costs.
Market Resources is dependent on bank credit facilities and continued access to capital markets to successfully execute its operating strategies. Market Resources also relies on access to short-term commercial paper markets. The Company is dependent on these capital sources to provide financing for certain projects. The availability and cost of these credit sources is cyclical, and these capital sources may not remain available or the Company may not be able to obtain money at a reasonable cost in the future. Liquidity in the global-credit markets has severely contracted, making terms for certain financings less attractive, and in certain cases, resulted in the unavailability of certain types of financing. In lieu of commercial paper issuance, the Company at times has utilized back-up lines of credit with banks to meet short-term funding needs. Banks may be unable or unwilling to extend back up lines of credit in the future. All of Market Resources’ bank loans are floating-rate debt. From time to time the Company may use interest-rate derivatives to fix the rate on a portion of its variable-rate debt. The interest rates on bank loans are tied to debt credit ratings of Market Resources and its subsidiaries published by Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s. A downgrade of credit ratings could increase the interest cost of debt and decrease future availability of money from banks and other sources. While management believes it is important to maintain investment grade credit ratings to conduct the Company’s businesses, the Company may not be able to keep investment grade ratings.
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
13
The severe economic recession increases credit risk. Market Resources has significant credit exposure in outstanding accounts receivable from customers in all segments of its business. The Company is tightening its credit procedures such as requiring deposits or prepayments to help manage this risk. Market Resources also aggressively pursues collection of past-due accounts receivable.
Risks Related to Strategy
A significant portion of Market Resources production, revenue and cash flow is derived from assets that are concentrated in the Rocky Mountain region. While geographic concentration of assets provides scope and scale that can reduce operating costs and provide other operating synergies, asset concentration increases exposure to certain risks. Market Resources has extensive operations on the Pinedale Anticline and in the Greater Green River Basin of southwestern Wyoming and in the Uinta Basin of eastern Utah. Any circumstance or event that negatively impacts the operations of Questar E&P, Wexpro or Gas Management in that area could materially reduce earnings and cash flow.
Market Resources uses derivative arrangements to manage exposure to uncertain prices. Market Resources uses commodity-price derivative arrangements to reduce, or hedge, exposure to volatile natural gas, oil, and NGL prices and to protect cash flow, returns on capital, net income and credit ratings from downward commodity price movements. To the extent the Company hedges commodity price exposure, it forgoes the benefits of commodity price increases. Market Resources’ Wexpro subsidiary generates revenues that are not significantly sensitive to short-term fluctuations in commodity prices.
Market Resources enters into commodity-price derivative arrangements with creditworthy counterparties (banks and energy-trading firms) that do not require collateral deposits. The amount of credit available may vary depending on the credit ratings assigned to the Company’s debt securities. Market Resources is exposed to the risk of counterparties not performing.
Market Resources may be subject to risks in connection with acquisitions. The acquisition of gas and oil properties requires the assessment of recoverable reserves; future gas and oil sales prices and basis differentials; operating costs; and potential environmental and other liabilities. The accuracy of these assessments is inherently uncertain. In connection with these assessments, the Company performs a review of the subject properties and pursues contractual protection and indemnification generally consistent with industry practices.
Risks Related to Regulation
Market Resources is subject to complex regulations on many levels. The Company is subject to federal, state and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. Environmental laws and regulations are complex, change frequently and tend to become more onerous over time. In addition to the costs of compliance, substantial costs may be incurred to take corrective actions at both owned and previously-owned facilities. Accidental spills and leaks requiring cleanup may occur in the ordinary course of business. As standards change, the Company may incur significant costs in cases where past operations followed practices that were considered acceptable at the time but now require remedial work to meet current standards. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in fines, significant costs for remedial activities, or injunctions.
Market Resources must comply with numerous and complex regulations governing activities on federal and state lands in the Rocky Mountain region, notably the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act. Federal and state agencies frequently impose conditions on the Company’s activities. These restrictions have become more stringent over time and can limit or prevent exploration and production on the Company’s Rockies leasehold. Certain environmental groups oppose drilling on some of Market Resources’ federal and state leases. These groups sometimes sue federal and state agencies for alleged procedural violations in an attempt to stop, limit or delay natural gas and oil development on public lands.
Various federal agencies within the U.S. Department of the Interior, particularly the Minerals Management Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, along with each Native American tribe, promulgate and enforce regulations pertaining to gas and oil operations on Native American tribal lands. These regulations include such matters as lease provisions, drilling and production requirements, environmental standards and royalty considerations. In addition, each Native American tribe is a sovereign nation having the right to enforce laws and regulations independent from federal, state and local statutes and regulations. These tribal laws and regulations include various taxes, fees, requirements to employ Native American tribal members and other conditions that apply to lessees, operators and contractors conducting operations on Native American tribal lands. Lessees and operators conducting operations on tribal lands are generally subject to the Native American tribal court system. One or more of these factors may increase the Company’s costs of doing business on Native American tribal lands and have an impact on the viability of its gas and oil exploration, production, gathering, processing and transportation operations on such lands.
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
14
Regulatory authorities exercise considerable discretion in the timing and scope of permit issuance. Requirements imposed by these authorities may be costly and time consuming and may result in delays in the commencement or continuation of the Company’s exploration and production and midstream field services operations. Further, the public may comment on and otherwise engage in the permitting process, including through intervention in the courts. Accordingly, needed permits may not be issued, or if issued, may not be issued in a timely fashion, or may involve requirements that restrict Market Resources’ ability to conduct its operations or to do so profitably.
Market Resources may be exposed to certain regulatory and financial risks related to climate change. Many scientists believe that carbon dioxide emissions related to the use of fossil fuels may be causing changes in the earth’s climate. Federal and state courts and administrative agencies are considering the scope and scale of climate-change regulation under various laws pertaining to the environment, energy use and development, and greenhouse gas emissions. Market Resources’ ability to access and develop new natural gas reserves may be restricted by climate-change regulation. There are numerous bills pending in Congress that would regulate greenhouse gas emissions through a cap-and-trade system under which emitters would be required to buy allowances for offsets of emissions of greenhouse gases. In addition, several of the states in which Market Resources operates are considering various greenhouse gas registration and reduction programs. Carbon dioxide r egulation could increase the price of natural gas, restrict access to or the use of natural gas, and/or reduce natural gas demand. Federal, state and local governments may also pass laws mandating the use of alternative energy sources, such as wind power and solar energy, which may reduce demand for natural gas. While future climate-change regulation is likely, it is too early to predict how this regulation will affect Market Resources’ business, operations or financial results.
Other Risks
General economic and other conditions impact Market Resources’ results. Market Resources’ results may also be negatively affected by: changes in general economic conditions; changes in regulation; availability and economic viability of gas and oil properties for sale or exploration; creditworthiness of counterparties; rate of inflation and interest rates; assumptions used in business combinations; weather and natural disasters; changes in customers’ credit ratings; competition from other forms of energy, other pipelines and storage facilities; effects of accounting policies issued periodically by accounting standard-setting bodies; terrorist attacks or acts of war; changes in business or financial condition; changes in credit ratings; and availability of financing for Market Resources.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.
None.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.
EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION
Reserves – Questar E&P
The following table sets forth Questar E&P’s estimated proved reserves as of December 31, 2008. Questar E&P’s reserve estimates are collectively prepared by Ryder Scott Company and Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., independent reservoir-engineering consultants. Questar E&P does not have any long-term supply contracts with foreign governments or reserves of equity investees or reserves of subsidiaries with a significant minority interest. At December 31, 2008, approximately 93% of Questar E&P’s estimated proved reserves were Company operated. All reported reserves are located in the United States.
Estimated proved reserves |
|
Natural gas (Bcf) | 2,028.5 |
Oil and NGL (MMbbl) | 31.6 |
Total proved reserves (Bcfe) | 2,218.1 |
Proved developed reserves (Bcfe) | 1,269.4 |
Questar E&P’s reserve statistics for the years ended December 31, 2006 through 2008, are summarized below:
Year | Year End Reserves (Bcfe) | Proved Gas and Oil Reserves Annual Production (Bcfe) | Reserve Life (Years) |
2006 | 1,631.4 | 129.6 | 12.6 |
2007 | 1,867.6 | 140.2 | 13.3 |
2008 | 2,218.1 | 171.4 | 12.9 |
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
15
Questar E&P proved reserves by major operating areas at December 31, 2008 and 2007 follow:
| 2008 | 2007 | ||
| (Bcfe) | (% of total) | (Bcfe) | (% of total) |
Pinedale Anticline | 1,164.9 | 53 | 1,033.9 | 55 |
Uinta Basin | 258.8 | 12 | 301.2 | 16 |
Rockies Legacy | 163.6 | 7 | 158.6 | 9 |
Rocky Mountains Total | 1,587.3 | 72 | 1,493.7 | 80 |
Midcontinent | 630.8 | 28 | 373.9 | 20 |
Questar E&P Total | 2,218.1 | 100 | 1,867.6 | 100 |
Reserves – Cost-of-Service
Wexpro manages, develops and produces cost-of-service reserves for Questar Gas under the terms of the Wexpro Agreement. The following table sets forth estimated proved cost-of-service natural gas reserves and oil reserves. The estimates of cost-of-service proved reserves were made by Wexpro reservoir engineers as of December 31, 2008. All reported reserves are located in the United States.
Estimated cost-of-service proved reserves |
|
Natural gas (Bcf) | 646.9 |
Oil (MMbbl) | 4.5 |
Total proved reserves (Bcfe) | 673.9 |
Proved developed reserves (Bcfe) | 489.9 |
The gas reserves developed and produced by Wexpro are delivered to Questar Gas at cost of service. Income from oil properties remaining after recovery of expenses and Wexpro contractual return on investment under the Wexpro Agreement is divided between Wexpro and Questar Gas. Therefore, SEC guidelines with respect to standard economic assumptions are not applicable. The SEC anticipated such potential difficulty and provides that companies may give appropriate recognition to differences arising because of the effect of the ratemaking process. Accordingly, Wexpro reservoir engineers used a minimum producing rate or maximum well-life limit to determine the ultimate quantity of reserves attributable to each well.
Refer to Note 15 of the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of Part II of this Annual Report for additional information pertaining to both Questar E&P proved reserves and the Company’s cost-of-service reserves as of the end of each of the last three years.
In addition to this filing, Questar E&P and Wexpro will each file reserves estimates as of December 31, 2008, with the Energy Information Administration of the Department of Energy on Form EIA-23. Although the companies use the same technical and economic assumptions when they prepare the EIA-23, they are obligated to report reserves for all wells they operate, not for all wells in which they have an interest, and to include the reserves attributable to other owners in such wells.
Production
The following table sets forth the net production volumes, the average sales prices per Mcf of natural gas, per bbl of oil and NGL produced, and the lifting cost per Mcfe for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006. Lifting costs include labor, repairs, maintenance, materials, supplies and well workovers, administrative costs of production offices, insurance and property and severance taxes.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 |
Questar E&P |
|
|
|
Volumes produced and sold |
|
|
|
Natural gas (Bcf) | 151.9 | 121.9 | 113.9 |
Oil and NGL (MMbbl) | 3.3 | 3.0 | 2.6 |
Total production (Bcfe) | 171.4 | 140.2 | 129.6 |
Average realized price, net to the well (including hedges) |
|
|
|
Natural gas (Bcf) | $ 7.56 | $ 6.45 | $ 5.98 |
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
16
Oil and NGL (MMbbl) | 72.96 | 53.99 | 49.12 |
Lifting costs (per Mcfe) |
|
|
|
Lease operating expense | $ 0.73 | $ 0.63 | $ 0.57 |
Production taxes | 0.61 | 0.43 | 0.45 |
Total lifting costs | $ 1.34 | $ 1.06 | $ 1.02 |
Cost-of-Service |
|
|
|
Volumes produced |
|
|
|
Natural gas (Bcf) | 46.1 | 34.9 | 38.8 |
Oil and NGL (MMbbl) | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
Total production (Bcfe) | 48.6 | 37.4 | 40.9 |
Productive Wells
The following table summarizes the Company’s productive wells (including cost-of-service wells) as of December 31, 2008. All of these wells are located in the United States.
| Gas | Oil | Total |
Gross | 5,468 | 1,007 | 6,475 |
Net | 2,468 | 485 | 2,953 |
Although many wells produce both gas and oil, a well is categorized as either a gas or an oil well based upon the ratio of gas to oil produced. Each gross well completed in more than one producing zone is counted as a single well. At the end of 2008, the Company had 151 gross wells with multiple completions.
The Company also holds numerous overriding-royalty interests in gas and oil wells, a portion of which are convertible to working interests after recovery of certain costs by third parties. After converting to working interests, these overriding-royalty interests will be included in the gross and net-well count.
Leasehold Acres
The following table summarizes developed and undeveloped-leasehold acreage in which the Company owns a working interest as of December 31, 2008. “Undeveloped Acreage” includes leasehold interests that already may have been classified as containing proved undeveloped reserves and unleased mineral-interest acreage owned by the Company. Excluded from the table is acreage in which the Company’s interest is limited to royalty, overriding-royalty and other similar interests. All leasehold acres are located in the U.S.
| Developed Acres(1) | Undeveloped Acres(2) | Total Acres | |||
| Gross | Net | Gross | Net | Gross | Net |
Arkansas | 32,702 | 10,362 | 3,958 | 2,425 | 36,660 | 12,787 |
Colorado | 150,868 | 102,931 | 165,060 | 76,928 | 315,928 | 179,859 |
Kansas | 29,822 | 12,922 | 52,779 | 17,255 | 82,601 | 30,177 |
Louisiana | 46,888 | 33,788 | 13,426 | 12,702 | 60,314 | 46,490 |
Montana | 20,149 | 8,138 | 306,139 | 52,852 | 326,288 | 60,990 |
New Mexico | 97,149 | 71,224 | 32,939 | 12,618 | 130,088 | 83,842 |
North Dakota | 5,621 | 537 | 216,841 | 86,419 | 222,462 | 86,956 |
Oklahoma | 1,559,034 | 279,707 | 158,626 | 91,869 | 1,717,660 | 371,576 |
South Dakota |
|
| 204,398 | 107,151 | 204,398 | 107,151 |
Texas | 130,989 | 43,926 | 68,414 | 52,655 | 199,403 | 96,581 |
Utah | 141,497 | 109,115 | 235,955 | 136,961 | 377,452 | 246,076 |
Wyoming | 284,446 | 178,058 | 320,384 | 219,135 | 604,830 | 397,193 |
Other | 5,153 | 2,534 | 157,886 | 42,516 | 163,039 | 45,050 |
Total | 2,504,318 | 853,242 | 1,936,805 | 911,486 | 4,441,123 | 1,764,728 |
(1)Developed acreage is acreage assigned to productive wells.
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
17
(2)Undeveloped acreage is leased acreage on which wells have not been drilled or completed to a point that would permit the production of commercial quantities of natural gas and oil regardless of whether such acreage contains proved reserves.
A portion of the leases summarized in the preceding table will expire at the end of their respective primary terms unless the existing leases are renewed or production has been obtained from the acreage subject to the lease prior to that date. Leases held by production remain in effect until production ceases. The following table sets forth the gross and net acres subject to leases summarized in the preceding table that will expire during the periods indicated:
Leaseholds Expiring | Undeveloped Acres Expiring | |
| Gross | Net |
12 months ending December 31, |
| |
2009 | 77,988 | 52,514 |
2010 | 78,763 | 44,200 |
2011 | 80,310 | 53,017 |
2012 | 76,084 | 74,825 |
2013 and later | 187,987 | 171,648 |
Drilling Activity
The following table summarizes the number of development and exploratory wells drilled by Market Resources, including the cost-of-service wells drilled by Wexpro, during the years indicated.
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||
| Productive | Dry | ||||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 |
Net Wells Completed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exploratory | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 5.2 |
Development | 257.8 | 199.6 | 185.6 | 6.2 | 2.5 | 4.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross Wells Completed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exploratory | 10 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 11 |
Development | 490 | 426 | 408 | 13 | 11 | 18 |
MIDSTREAM FIELD SERVICES – Questar Gas Management
Gas Management owns 1,598 miles of gathering lines in Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado. Rendezvous Pipeline owns a 21-mile 20-inch-diameter line between Gas Management’s Blacks Fork gas-processing plant and Kern River Pipeline’s Muddy Creek compressor station that can deliver up to 300 MMcf of natural gas per day to markets in California and Nevada served by the Kern River Pipeline. In conjunction with these gathering facilities, Gas Management owns compression facilities, field-dehydration and measuring systems. Rendezvous owns an additional 330 miles of gathering lines and associated field equipment, Field Services owns 75 miles of gathering lines and associated field equipment and Three Rivers owns 55 miles of gathering lines. Gas Management owns processing plants that have an aggregate capacity of 680 MMcf of unprocessed natural gas per day.
ENERGY MARKETING – Questar Energy Trading
Energy Trading, through its wholly owned subsidiary Clear Creek Storage Company, LLC, owns and operates an underground gas-storage reservoir in southwestern Wyoming.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
Market Resources is involved in various commercial and regulatory claims and litigation and other legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of its business. Management does not believe any of them will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. A liability is recorded for a loss contingency when its occurrence is probable and damages can be reasonably estimated based on the anticipated most likely outcome. Disclosures are provided for contingencies reasonably likely to occur which would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Some of the claims involve highly complex issues relating to liability, damages
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
18
and other matters subject to substantial uncertainties and, therefore, the probability of liability or an estimate of loss cannot be reasonably determined.
Grynberg Case
In United States ex rel. Grynberg v. Questar Corp., Civil No. 99-MD-1604, consolidated as In re Natural Gas Royalties Qui Tam Litigation, Consolidated Case MDL No. 1293 (D. Wyo.), Jack Grynberg filed claims against Questar under the federal False Claims Act that were substantially similar to cases filed against other natural gas companies. The cases were consolidated for discovery and pre-trial motions in Wyoming’s federal district court. The cases involve allegations of industry-wide mismeasurement of natural gas quantities on which royalty payments are due the federal government. By order dated October 20, 2006, the district court dismissed all of Grynberg’s claims against all the defendants for lack of jurisdiction. The judge found that Grynberg was not the “original source” and therefore could not bring the action. Grynberg has appealed the case to the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, where the case is currently pending.
Environmental Claims
In United States of America v. Questar Gas Management Co., Civil No. 208CV167, filed on February 29, 2008, in Utah Federal District Court, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) alleges that Gas Management violated the federal Clean Air Act (CAA) and seeks substantial penalties and a permanent injunction involving the manner of operation of five compressor stations located in the Uinta Basin of eastern Utah. EPA further alleges that the facilities are located within the original boundaries of the former Uncompahgre Indian Reservation and are therefore within “Indian Country”. EPA asserts primary CAA jurisdiction over "Indian Country" where state CAA programs do not apply. EPA contends that the potential to emit, on a hypothetically uncontrolled basis, for Gas Management’s facilities render them “major sources” of emissions for criteria and hazardous air pollutants. Categorization of the facilities as “major sources” affects the part icular regulatory program applicable to those facilities. EPA claims that Gas Management failed to obtain the necessary major source pre-construction or modification permits, and failed to comply with hazardous air-pollutant regulations for testing and reporting, among other things. Gas Management contends that its facilities have pollution controls installed that reduce their actual air emissions below major source thresholds, rendering them subject to different regulatory requirements. Gas Management intends to vigorously defend against the EPA’s claims, and believes that the major source permitting and regulatory requirements at issue can be legally avoided by applying Utah’s CAA program or EPA's prior practice for similar facilities elsewhere in Indian Country, among other defenses. Because of the complexities and uncertainties of this legal dispute, it is difficult to predict the likely potential outcomes; however, management believes the company has accrued an appropriate liability for this c laim.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
The Company, as a wholly owned subsidiary of a reporting company under the Act, is entitled to omit the information in this Item.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.
All of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock, $1.00 par value, are owned by Questar. Information concerning the dividends paid on such stock and the ability to pay dividends is reported in the Statements of Consolidated Shareholder’s Equity and the notes accompanying the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of Part II of this Annual Report.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.
The Company, as a wholly owned subsidiary of a reporting company under the Act, is entitled to omit the information in this Item.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION.
SUMMARY
Market Resources net income increased 39% in 2008 compared to 2007 and 18% in 2007 over 2006 primary due to higher realized natural gas, crude oil and NGL prices, higher gathering and processing margins at Gas Management and an increased investment base at Wexpro.
Following are comparisons of net income by line of business:
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
19
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2008 vs. 2007 | 2007 vs. 2006 |
| (in millions) | ||||
Exploration and Production |
|
|
|
|
|
Questar E&P | $408.0 | $285.5 | $253.9 | $122.5 | $31.6 |
Wexpro | 73.9 | 59.2 | 50.0 | 14.7 | 9.2 |
Midstream Field Services – Gas Management | 81.5 | 55.3 | 42.6 | 26.2 | 12.7 |
Energy Marketing – Energy Trading, and other | 22.1 | 20.8 | 9.6 | 1.3 | 11.2 |
Net Income | $585.5 | $420.8 | $356.1 | $164.7 | $64.7 |
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION
Questar E&P
Following is a summary of Questar E&P financial and operating results:
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2008 vs. 2007 | 2007 vs. 2006 |
| (in millions) | ||||
Operating Income |
|
|
|
|
|
REVENUES |
|
|
|
|
|
Natural gas sales | $1,147.7 | $786.9 | $681.6 | $360.8 | $105.3 |
Oil and NGL sales | 237.5 | 164.2 | 128.6 | 73.3 | 35.6 |
Other | 6.9 | 4.9 | 5.5 | 2.0 | (0.6) |
Total Revenues | 1,392.1 | 956.0 | 815.7 | 436.1 | 140.3 |
OPERATING EXPENSES |
|
|
|
|
|
Operating and maintenance | 125.4 | 87.9 | 73.6 | 37.5 | 14.3 |
General and administrative | 55.8 | 56.3 | 42.4 | (0.5) | 13.9 |
Production and other taxes | 104.0 | 60.1 | 58.3 | 43.9 | 1.8 |
Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 330.9 | 243.5 | 185.7 | 87.4 | 57.8 |
Exploration | 29.3 | 22.0 | 34.4 | 7.3 | (12.4) |
Abandonment and impairment | 44.6 | 10.8 | 7.6 | 33.8 | 3.2 |
Natural gas purchases | 0.5 | 2.2 | 2.8 | (1.7) | (0.6) |
Total Operating Expenses | 690.5 | 482.8 | 404.8 | 207.7 | 78.0 |
Net gain (loss) from asset sales | 60.4 | (0.6) | 24.3 | 61.0 | (24.9) |
Operating Income | $ 762.0 | $472.6 | $435.2 | $289.4 | $ 37.4 |
|
|
|
| ||
Operating Statistics |
|
|
|
|
|
Production Volumes |
|
|
|
|
|
Natural gas (Bcf) | 151.9 | 121.9 | 113.9 | 30.0 | 8.0 |
Oil and NGL (MMbbl) | 3.3 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 0.4 |
Total production (Bcfe) | 171.4 | 140.2 | 129.6 | 31.2 | 10.6 |
Average daily production (MMcfe) | 468.3 | 384.1 | 355.2 | 84.2 | 28.9 |
Average realized price, net to the well (including hedges) |
|
|
|
|
|
Natural gas (per Mcf) | $ 7.56 | $ 6.45 | $ 5.98 | $ 1.11 | $ 0.47 |
Oil and NGL (per bbl) | 72.96 | 53.99 | 49.12 | 18.97 | 4.87 |
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
20
Questar E&P reported net income of $408.0 million in 2008, up 43% from $285.5 million in 2007 and $253.9 million in 2006. Higher realized natural gas, crude oil and NGL prices and growing production more than offset a 17% increase in 2008 average production costs. Net mark-to-market losses on natural gas basis-only hedges decreased pre-tax income $79.2 million in 2008 compared to net pre-tax gains of $5.7 million a year-earlier. Net gains from sales of assets at Questar E&P increased pre-tax income $60.4 million in 2008 compared to a net pre-tax loss of $0.6 million in the year-earlier period.
Questar E&P production volumes totaled 171.4 Bcfe in 2008 compared to 140.2 Bcfe in 2007 and 129.6 Bcfe in 2006. On an energy-equivalent basis, natural gas comprised approximately 89% of Questar E&P 2008 production. A comparison of natural gas-equivalent production by major operating area is shown in the following table:
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2008 vs. 2007 | 2007 vs. 2006 |
| (in Bcfe) | ||||
Pinedale Anticline | 56.8 | 47.4 | 39.5 | 9.4 | 7.9 |
Uinta Basin | 26.9 | 25.4 | 25.1 | 1.5 | 0.3 |
Rockies Legacy | 19.9 | 16.4 | 18.3 | 3.5 | (1.9) |
Rocky Mountain total(a) | 103.6 | 89.2 | 82.9 | 14.4 | 6.3 |
Midcontinent | 67.8 | 51.0 | 46.7 | 16.8 | 4.3 |
Total Questar E&P | 171.4 | 140.2 | 129.6 | 31.2 | 10.6 |
(a)Questar E&P temporarily shut in approximately 1.4 Bcfe of net production in 2008 and 10.3 Bcfe in 2007 in the Rocky Mountain region in response to low natural gas prices.
Questar E&P net production from the Pinedale Anticline in western Wyoming grew 20% to 56.8 Bcfe in 2008 as a result of ongoing development drilling. Historically, Pinedale seasonal access restrictions imposed by the Bureau of Land Management have limited the ability to drill and complete wells during the mid-November to early May period. In September 2008, the BLM issued a Record of Decision (ROD) on the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for long-term development of natural gas resources in the Pinedale Anticline Project Area (PAPA). Under the ROD, Questar E&P and Wexpro will be allowed to drill and complete wells year-round in one of the five Concentrated Development Areas defined in the PAPA. The ROD contains additional requirements and restrictions on development of the PAPA.
In the Uinta Basin, Questar E&P’s net production grew 6% to 26.9 Bcfe in 2008. Production volumes were adversely impacted by connection of new, deep, high-pressure wells to the existing gathering infrastructure. Connection of the new deep wells resulted in high gathering-system pressure that negatively impacted production from existing shallower and lower pressure Wasatch/Mesaverde wells. Gathering infrastructure improvements are underway to address the situation, but right-of-way permitting issues could delay installation until mid 2009.
Rockies Legacy net production in 2008 grew 21% to 19.9 Bcfe, 3.5 Bcfe higher than the year-ago period. Increased production volumes were driven by new wells and the acquisition of additional interests in the Wamsutter area of the Green River Basin in Wyoming, and increased production from outside-operated oil wells in the Williston Basin in North Dakota. Questar E&P Rockies Legacy properties include all Rocky Mountain region properties except the Pinedale Anticline and the Uinta Basin.
Net production in the Midcontinent grew 33% to 67.8 Bcfe in 2008, 16.8 Bcfe higher than 2007. Midcontinent production growth was driven by the first quarter 2008 acquisition of new natural gas development properties in northwest Louisiana, ongoing infill-development drilling in the Elm Grove field in northwest Louisiana, continued development of the Granite Wash/Atoka/Morrow play in the Texas Panhandle, and production from new outside-operated Woodford Shale horizontal gas wells in the Anadarko Basin in central Oklahoma.
Realized prices for natural gas, oil and NGL at Questar E&P were higher when compared to the prior year. In 2008, the weighted-average realized natural gas price for Questar E&P (including the impact of hedging) was $7.56 per Mcf compared to $6.45 per Mcf in 2007, a 17% increase. Realized oil and NGL prices in 2008 averaged $72.96 per bbl, compared with $53.99 per bbl during the prior year, a 35% increase. A regional comparison of average realized prices, including hedges, is shown in the following table:
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
21
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2008 vs. 2007 | 2007 vs. 2006 |
Natural gas (per Mcf) |
|
|
|
|
|
Rocky Mountains | $6.85 | $5.90 | $5.70 | $0.95 | $0.20 |
Midcontinent | 8.63 | 7.42 | 6.46 | 1.21 | 0.96 |
Volume-weighted average | 7.56 | 6.45 | 5.98 | 1.11 | 0.47 |
Oil and NGL (per bbl) |
|
|
|
|
|
Rocky Mountains | $73.05 | $53.51 | $46.62 | $19.54 | $6.89 |
Midcontinent | 72.82 | 54.85 | 54.93 | 17.97 | (0.08) |
Volume-weighted average | 72.96 | 53.99 | 49.12 | 18.97 | 4.87 |
Questar E&P may hedge up to 100% of forecasted production from proved reserves to lock in acceptable returns on invested capital and to protect cash flow and net income from a decline in commodity prices. Also, Questar E&P may use basis-only swaps to protect cash flows and net income from widening natural gas-price basis differentials that may result from capacity constraints on regional gas pipelines. Questar E&P hedged or pre-sold approximately 82% of gas production in 2008 and hedged or pre-sold 75% of gas production in 2007. Hedging increased Questar E&P gas revenues by $125.8 million in 2008 and increased revenues $245.7 million in 2007. Approximately 50% of 2008 and 61% of 2007 Questar E&P oil production was hedged or pre-sold. Oil hedges reduced oil revenues by $31.9 million in 2008 and $17.2 million in 2007. The net mark-to-market effect of basis-only swaps is reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income below operating income. Derivative positions as of December 31, 2008, are summarized in Item 7A of Part II in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Questar E&P production costs (the sum of depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, lease operating expense, general and administrative expense, allocated-interest expense and production taxes) per Mcfe of production increased 17% to $3.94 per Mcfe in 2008 versus $3.38 per Mcfe in 2007. Questar E&P production costs are summarized in the following table:
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2008 vs. 2007 | 2007 vs. 2006 |
| (per Mcfe) | ||||
Depreciation, depletion and amortization | $1.93 | $1.74 | $1.43 | $0.19 | $0.31 |
Lease operating expense | 0.73 | 0.63 | 0.57 | 0.10 | 0.06 |
General and administrative expense | 0.33 | 0.40 | 0.33 | (0.07) | 0.07 |
Allocated interest expense | 0.34 | 0.18 | 0.21 | 0.16 | (0.03) |
Production taxes | 0.61 | 0.43 | 0.45 | 0.18 | (0.02) |
Total Production Costs | $3.94 | $3.38 | $2.99 | $0.56 | $0.39 |
Production volume-weighted average depreciation, depletion and amortization per Mcfe (DD&A rate) increased due to higher costs for drilling, completion and related services, increased cost of steel casing, other tubulars and wellhead equipment. The DD&A rate also increased due to the ongoing depletion of older, lower-cost reserves and the increasing component of Questar E&P production derived from recently acquired, higher-cost fields in the Midcontinent. Lease operating expense per Mcfe increased due to higher costs of materials and consumables, increased produced-water disposal costs and increased well-workover activity. General and administrative expense per Mcfe decreased as a result of increased production. Allocated interest expense per Mcfe of production increased primarily due to financing costs related to the first quarter 2008 acquisition of natural gas development properties in northwest Louisiana. Production taxes per Mcfe increased in 2008 as the result higher n atural gas and oil sales prices. The company pays production taxes based on a percentage of sales prices excluding the impact of hedges.
Questar E&P exploration expense increased $7.3 million or 33% in 2008 compared to 2007. Abandonment and impairment expense increased $33.8 million or 313% in 2008 compared to 2007. Abandonment and impairment expense increased $29.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared with the same period of 2007. Lower year-end 2008 gas and oil prices triggered impairment testing of long-lived assets. Future cash flows using estimated forward-looking commodity prices were sufficient to recover the investment of a majority of the long-lived assets. A combination of poor production performance, higher production costs and negative reserve revisions resulted in the impairment of certain gas and oil assets in 2008.
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
22
In the third quarter of 2008, Questar E&P sold certain outside-operated producing properties and leaseholds in the Gulf Coast region of south Texas and recognized a pre-tax gain of approximately $61.2 million. These properties contributed 2.8 Bcfe to Questar E&P net production in 2008. In 2006, Questar E&P sold certain proved reserves and undeveloped leasehold interests in western Colorado and recognized a pre-tax gain of $22.7 million.
Major Questar E&P Operating Areas
Pinedale Anticline
As of December 31, 2008, Market Resources (including both Questar E&P and Wexpro) operated and had working interests in 331 producing wells on the Pinedale Anticline compared to 250 at December 31, 2007. Of the 331 producing wells, Questar E&P has working interests in 309 wells, overriding royalty interests in an additional 21 Wexpro-operated wells, and no interest in one well operated by Wexpro. Wexpro has working interests in 107 of the 331 producing wells.
In 2005, the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (WOGCC) approved 10-acre-density drilling for Lance Pool wells on about 12,700 acres of Market Resources 17,872-acre (gross) Pinedale leasehold. The area approved for increased density corresponds to the currently estimated productive limits of Market Resources core acreage in the field. At December 31, 2008, Questar E&P had booked 400 proved undeveloped locations on a combination of 5-, 10- and 20-acre density and reported estimated net proved reserves at Pinedale of 1,164.9 Bcfe, or 53% of Questar E&P total proved reserves. The Company continues to evaluate development on five-acre density at Pinedale. In January 2008, the WOGCC approved five-acre-density drilling for Lance Pool wells on about 4,200 gross acres of Market Resources Pinedale leasehold. If five-acre-density development is appropriate for a majority of its leasehold, the Company currently estimates up to 1,500 additional wells will be required to fully devel op the Lance Pool on its acreage.
Uinta Basin
As of December 31, 2008, Questar E&P had an operating interest in 909 gross producing wells in the Uinta Basin of eastern Utah, compared to 857 at December 31, 2007. At December 31, 2008, Questar E&P had booked 114 proved undeveloped locations and reported estimated net proved reserves in the Uinta Basin of 258.8 Bcfe or 12% of Questar E&P total proved reserves. Uinta Basin reserves declined 14% due to lower year-end 2008 gas and oil prices and a price-related slow down in development drilling. Uinta Basin proved reserves are found in a series of vertically stacked, laterally discontinuous reservoirs at depths of 5,000 feet to deeper than 18,000 feet. Questar E&P owns interests in over 252,000 gross leasehold acres in the Uinta Basin.
Rockies Legacy
The remainder of Questar E&P Rocky Mountain region leasehold interests, productive wells and proved reserves are distributed over a number of fields and properties managed as the company Rockies Legacy division. Most of the properties are located in the Greater Green River Basin of western Wyoming. In aggregate, Rockies Legacy properties comprised 163.6 Bcfe or 7% of Questar E&P total proved reserves at December 31, 2008. Exploration and development activity for 2008 includes wells in the San Juan, Paradox, Powder River, Green River, Vermillion and Williston Basins.
Midcontinent
Questar E&P Midcontinent properties are distributed over a large area, including the Anadarko Basin of Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle, the Arkoma Basin of Oklahoma and western Arkansas, and the Ark-La-Tex region of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. With the exception of northwest Louisiana, the Granite Wash play in the Texas Panhandle and the emerging Woodford Shale play in western Oklahoma, Questar E&P Midcontinent leasehold interests are fragmented, with no significant concentration of property interests. In aggregate, Midcontinent properties comprised 630.8 Bcfe or 28% of Questar E&P total proved reserves at December 31, 2008.
Questar E&P has approximately 31,000 net acres of Haynesville Shale lease rights in northwest Louisiana. The depth of the top of the Haynesville Shale ranges from approximately 10,500 feet to 12,500 feet across Questar E&P’s leasehold and is below the Hosston and Cotton Valley formations that Questar E&P has been developing in northwest Louisiana for over a decade. Questar E&P continues infill-development drilling in the Cotton Valley and Hosston formations in northwest Louisiana and intends to drill or participate in up to 35 horizontal Haynesville Shale wells in 2009. As of December 31, 2008, Questar E&P had 11 operated rigs drilling in the project area and operated or had working interests in 539 producing wells in northwest Louisiana compared to 463 at December 31, 2007.
Wexpro
Wexpro reported net income of $73.9 million in 2008 compared to $59.2 million in 2007, a 25% increase and $50.0 million in 2006. Wexpro 2008 results benefited from a higher average investment base compared to the prior-year period. Pursuant to the Wexpro Agreement, Wexpro recovers its costs and receives an unlevered after-tax return of approximately 19-20% on its
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
23
investment base. Wexpro’s investment base is its investment in commercial wells and related facilities adjusted for working capital and reduced for deferred income taxes and depreciation. Wexpro’s investment base totaled $410.6 million at December 31, 2008, an increase of $110.2 million or 37% since December 31, 2007. Wexpro produced 46.1 Bcf of cost-of-service gas in 2008.
MIDSTREAM FIELD SERVICES – Questar Gas Management
Following is a summary of Gas Management financial and operating results:
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | ||||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2008 vs. 2007 | 2007 vs. 2006 | |
| (in millions) | |||||
Operating Income |
|
|
|
|
| |
REVENUES |
|
|
|
|
| |
Gathering | $153.2 | $111.4 | $ 89.2 | $ 41.8 | $ 22.2 | |
Processing | 137.0 | 94.9 | 94.7 | 42.1 | 0.2 | |
Total Revenues | 290.2 | 206.3 | 183.9 | 83.9 | 22.4 | |
OPERATING EXPENSES |
|
|
|
|
| |
Operating and maintenance | 95.0 | 83.6 | 92.4 | 11.4 | (8.8) | |
General and administrative | 23.7 | 17.2 | 12.2 | 6.5 | 5.0 | |
Production and other taxes | 2.6 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.8 | |
Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 28.7 | 19.1 | 15.3 | 9.6 | 3.8 | |
Abandonment and impairments | 0.8 | 0.4 |
| 0.4 | 0.4 | |
Total Operating Expenses | 150.8 | 121.7 | 120.5 | 29.1 | 1.2 | |
Net gain from asset sales |
|
| 1.0 |
| (1.0) | |
Operating Income | $139.4 | $ 84.6 | $ 64.4 | $ 54.8 | $ 20.2 | |
|
|
|
| |||
Operating Statistics |
|
|
|
|
| |
Natural gas gathering volumes (in millions of MMBtu) |
|
|
|
|
| |
For unaffiliated customers | 224.0 | 162.1 | 124.1 | 61.9 | 38.0 | |
For affiliated customers | 168.5 | 128.1 | 150.0 | 40.4 | (21.9) | |
Total Gas Gathering Volumes | 392.5 | 290.2 | 274.1 | 102.3 | 16.1 | |
Gas gathering revenue (per MMBtu) | $0.31 | $0.32 | $0.29 | ($0.01) | $0.03 | |
Natural gas processing volumes |
|
|
|
|
| |
NGL sales (MMgal) | 89.5 | 76.5 | 88.1 | 13.0 | (11.6) | |
NGL sales price (per gal) | $1.18 | $0.98 | $0.88 | 0.20 | 0.10 | |
Fee-based processing volumes (in millions of MMBtu) |
|
|
|
|
| |
For unaffiliated customers | 87.4 | 44.1 | 37.5 | 43.3 | 6.6 | |
For affiliated customers | 114.1 | 82.5 | 82.9 | 31.6 | (0.4) | |
Total Fee-Based Processing Volumes | 201.5 | 126.6 | 120.4 | 74.9 | 6.2 | |
Fee-based processing (per MMBtu) | $0.14 | $0.15 | $0.14 | ($0.01) | $0.01 | |
Gas Management grew net income 47% to $81.5 million in 2008 compared to $55.3 million in 2007 and $42.6 million in 2006. Net income growth was driven by higher gathering and processing margins.
Total gathering margins (revenues minus direct gathering expenses) in 2008 increased 74% to $116.9 million compared to $67.1 million in 2007. Expanding Pinedale production, new projects serving third parties in the Uinta Basin and the consolidation of Rendezvous contributed to a 38% increase in third-party volumes in 2008. Gathering volumes increased 102.3 million MMBtu, or 35% to 392.5 million MMBtu in 2008. Rendezvous, formerly an unconsolidated affiliate, was consolidated with Gas Management beginning in 2008 and accounted for 39.0 million MMBtu. Rendezvous provides gas gathering services for the Pinedale and Jonah producing areas of Wyoming.
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
24
Total processing margins (revenues minus direct plant expenses and processing plant-shrink) in 2008 increased 41% to $78.1 million compared to $55.4 million in 2007. Fee-based gas processing volumes were 201.5 million MMBtu in 2008, a 59% increase compared to 2007. In 2008, fee-based gas processing revenues increased 57% or $10.6 million, while the frac spread from keep-whole processing increased 28% or $12.4 million. Approximately 76% of Gas Management’s net operating revenue (revenue minus processing plant-shrink) in 2008 was derived from fee-based contracts, up from 74% in 2007.
Gas Management may use forward sales contracts to reduce margin volatility associated with keep-whole contracts. Forward sales contracts reduced NGL revenues by $1.4 million in 2008 and $5.9 million in 2007.
ENERGY MARKETING – Questar Energy Trading
Energy Trading net income was $22.1 million in 2008, an increase of 6% compared to 2007 net income of $20.8 million and 2006 net income of $9.6 million as a result of increased revenues from liquids produced from Clear Creek gas-storage facility and higher total marketing fees. Revenues from unaffiliated customers were $608.1 million in 2008 compared to $504.4 million in 2007, a 21% increase, primarily the result of higher natural gas prices. The weighted-average natural gas sales price increased 51% in 2008 to $6.34 per MMBtu, compared to $4.21 per MMBtu in 2007.
Consolidated Results below Operating Income
Interest and Other Income
Interest and other income increased $4.9 million or 51% in 2008 compared with 2007 $5.6 million or 137% in 2007 compared with 2006. In 2008, gains from inventory sales accounted for the majority of the increase, while the 2007 increase was the result of higher 2007 interest income and a $1.7 million loss from a 2006 early extinguishment of debt.
Income from unconsolidated affiliates
Income from unconsolidated affiliates was $1.7 million in 2008 compared to $8.9 million in 2007 and $7.5 million in 2006. Rendezvous Gas Services, which accounted for the majority of income from unconsolidated affiliates in 2007 and 2006, was consolidated beginning in 2008.
Net mark-to-market gain (loss) on basis-only swaps
The Company uses basis-only swaps to protect cash flows and net income from widening natural gas-price basis differentials that may result from capacity constraints on regional gas pipelines. The Company recognized a pre-tax net mark-to-market loss of $79.2 million on natural gas basis-only swaps in 2008 compared to a $5.7 million pre-tax gain in 2007 and a $1.9 million pre-tax loss in 2006.
Interest expense
Interest expense rose 75% in 2008 compared to 2007 due primarily to financing activities associated with the purchase of natural gas development properties in northwest Louisiana. Interest rates on the Questar’s commercial-paper borrowings spiked in September 2008 and later retreated reflecting increased liquidity pressures and turmoil generally experienced by financial markets. Questar maintains committed credit lines with banks to provide liquidity when commercial-paper markets are illiquid. Interest expense increased 5% in 2007 compared to 2006.
Income taxes
The effective combined federal and state income tax rate was 35.7% in 2008 compared with 36.4% in 2007 and 36.7% in 2006.
Investing Activities
Capital spending in 2008 amounted to $2,280.5 million. The details of capital expenditures in 2008 and 2007 and a forecast for 2009 are shown in the table below:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||
| 2009 Forecast | 2008 | 2007 |
| (in millions) | ||
Drilling and other exploration | $ 790.1 | $1,136.4 | $678.7 |
Reserve acquisitions |
| 727.8 | 46.1 |
Wexpro development drilling | 114.5 | 144.8 | 109.4 |
Midstream field services | 149.1 | 394.5 | 128.1 |
Energy Trading and other | 40.2 | 1.6 | 2.0 |
Capital expenditure accruals |
| (124.6) | (20.4) |
Total | $1,093.9 | $2,280.5 | $943.9 |
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
25
Market Resources’ capital expenditures increased in 2008 compared to 2007 due to property acquisitions, an expanded drilling program and higher investments in gathering and processing facilities in the Rockies. In February 2008, Questar E&P acquired natural gas development properties in northwest Louisiana for an aggregate purchase price of $652.1 million. During 2008, Market Resources participated in 697 wells (267.2 net), resulting in 260.1 net successful gas and oil wells and 7.1 net dry or abandoned wells. The 2008 net drilling-success rate was 97.3%. There were 182 gross wells in progress at year-end.
Gas Management increased its investment in midstream gathering and processing-services business to expand capacity in both western Wyoming and eastern Utah in response to growing equity and third-party production volumes.
Standard & Poor’s Resolves Credit Ratings for Questar and its subsidiaries
On February 25, 2009, Standard & Poor’s affirmed both Questar’s commercial-paper rating of A2 and Market Resources’ BBB+ long-term debt rating, both with stable outlooks. This action followed Standard & Poor’s earlier announcement on October 15, 2008, that it had placed Questar and its subsidiaries on CreditWatch with negative implications and was initiating a review of Questar’s ratings. Standard & Poor’s review considered Questar’s increasing capital spending and the resulting higher proportion of operating income from gas and oil exploration and production activities, in addition to the volatility of gas and oil prices. Current ratings of senior-unsecured debt are as follows:
| Moody’s | Standard & Poor’s |
Market Resources | Baa3 | BBB+ |
Questar commercial paper | P2 | A2 |
Contractual Cash Obligations and Other Commitments
In the course of ordinary business activities, Market Resources enters into a variety of contractual cash obligations and other commitments. The following table summarizes the significant contractual cash obligations as of December 31, 2008:
| Payments Due by Year | ||||||
| Total | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | After 2013 |
| (in millions) | ||||||
Fixed-rate long-term debt | $1,300.0 |
|
| $150.0 |
| $450.0 | $700.0 |
Interest on fixed-rate long-term debt | 423.4 | $57.0 | $57.0 | 47.6 | $45.7 | 45.7 | 170.4 |
Drilling contracts | 182.7 | 109.5 | 49.1 | 20.9 | 3.2 |
|
|
Transportation contracts | 61.5 | 9.4 | 8.6 | 8.3 | 6.4 | 4.4 | 24.4 |
Operating leases | 22.8 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 3.8 | 3.0 | 2.2 |
Total | $1,990.4 | $180.3 | $119.4 | $231.5 | $59.1 | $503.1 | $897.0 |
The Company had $450.0 million of variable-rate long-term debt outstanding due 2013 with an interest rate of 1.6% at December 31, 2008.
Critical Accounting Policies, Estimates and Assumptions
Gas and Oil Reserves
Gas and oil reserve estimates require significant judgments in the evaluation of all available geological, geophysical, engineering and economic data. The data for a given field may change substantially over time as a result of numerous factors including, but not limited to, additional development activity, production history, and economic assumptions relating to commodity prices, production costs, severance and other taxes, capital expenditures and remediation costs. The subjective judgments and variances in data for various fields make these estimates less precise than other estimates included in the financial statement disclosures. For 2008, revisions of reserve estimates, other than revisions related to Pinedale increased-density, resulted in a 152.9 Bcfe decrease in Questar E&P’s proved reserves and a 20.2 Bcfe decrease in cost-of-service proved reserves. Revisions associated with Pinedale increased-density drilling added 161.8 Bcfe to Questar E&P’s estimated prov ed reserves at December 31, 2008, and 68.2 Bcfe of additional cost-of-service proved reserves. See Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of Part II of this Annual Report for more information on the Company’s estimated proved reserves.
Successful Efforts Accounting for Gas and Oil Operations
The Company follows the successful efforts method of accounting for gas- and oil-property acquisitions, exploration, development and production activities. Under this method, the acquisition costs of proved and unproved properties, successful
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
26
exploratory wells and development wells are capitalized. Other exploration costs, including geological and geophysical costs, the delay rental and administrative costs associated with unproved property and unsuccessful exploratory well costs are expensed. Costs to operate and maintain wells and field equipment are expensed as incurred.
The capitalized costs of unproved properties are generally combined and amortized over the expected holding period for such properties. Individually significant unproved properties are periodically reviewed for impairment. Capitalized costs of unproved properties are reclassified as proved property when related proved reserves are determined or charged against the impairment allowance when abandoned.
Capitalized proved-property-acquisition costs are amortized by field using the unit-of-production method based on proved reserves. Capitalized exploratory-well and development costs are amortized similarly by field based on proved developed reserves. The calculation takes into consideration estimated future equipment dismantlement, surface restoration and property-abandonment costs, net of estimated equipment-salvage values. Other property and equipment are generally depreciated using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives or the unit-of-production method for certain processing plants. A gain or loss is generally recognized only when an entire field is sold or abandoned, or if the unit-of-production amortization rate would be significantly affected.
Questar E&P engages independent reservoir-engineering consultants to prepare estimates of the proved gas and oil reserves. Reserve estimates are based on a complex and highly interpretive process that is subject to continuous revision as additional production and development-drilling information becomes available.
Long-lived assets are assessed for impairment whenever changes in facts and circumstances indicate a possible significant deterioration in the future cash flows expected to be generated on a field-by-field basis. Impairment is indicated when a triggering event occurs and the sum of estimated undiscounted future net cash flows of the evaluated asset is less than the asset’s carrying value. The asset value is written down to estimated fair value, which is determined using discounted future net cash flows.
Accounting for Derivative Contracts
The Company uses derivative contracts, typically fixed-price swaps, to hedge against a decline in the realized prices of its gas and oil production. Accounting rules for derivatives require marking these instruments to fair value at the balance-sheet reporting date. The change in fair value is reported either in net income or comprehensive income depending on the structure of the derivatives. The Company has structured virtually all energy-derivative instruments as cash-flow hedges as defined in SFAS 133 as amended. Changes in the fair value of cash-flow hedges are recorded on the balance sheet and in comprehensive income or loss until the underlying gas or oil is produced. When a derivative is terminated before its contract expires, the associated gain or loss is recognized in income over the life of the previously hedged production.
Revenue Recognition
Revenues are recognized in the period that services are provided or products are delivered. Questar E&P uses the sales method of accounting whereby revenue is recognized for all gas, oil and NGL sold to purchasers. Revenues include estimates for the two most recent months using published commodity-price indexes and volumes supplied by field operators. A liability is recorded to the extent that Questar E&P has an imbalance in excess of its share of remaining reserves in an underlying property. Energy Trading presents revenues on a gross-revenue basis. Energy Trading does not engage in speculative hedging transactions, nor does it buy and sell energy contracts with the objective of generating profits on short-term differences in prices.
Recent Accounting Developments
Refer to Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of Part II of this Annual Report for a discussion of recent accounting developments.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
Market Resources’ primary market-risk exposure arises from changes in the market price for natural gas, oil and NGL, and volatility in interest rates. Energy Trading has long-term contracts for pipeline capacity and is obligated to pay for transportation services with no guarantee that it will be able to recover the full cost of these transportation commitments.
Commodity-Price Risk Management
Market Resources uses gas- and oil-price-derivatives in the normal course of business to reduce, or hedge, the risk of adverse commodity-price movements. However, these same arrangements typically limit future gains from favorable price movements. Derivative contracts are currently in place for a significant share of Questar E&P-owned gas and oil production and a portion of Energy Trading gas- and oil-marketing transactions
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
27
Market Resources has established policies and procedures for managing commodity-price risks through the use of derivatives. These policies and procedures are reviewed periodically by the Finance and Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. Market Resources hedges natural gas and oil prices to support rate of return and cash-flow targets and protect earnings from downward movements in commodity prices. The volume of hedged production and the mix of derivative instruments are regularly evaluated and adjusted by management in response to changing market conditions. Market Resources may hedge up to 100% of forecast production from proved reserves when prices meet earnings and cash-flow objectives. Market Resources does not enter into derivative arrangements for speculative purposes.
Market Resources uses fixed-price swaps to realize a known price for a specific volume of production delivered into a regional sales point. A fixed-price swap is a derivative instrument that exchanges or “swaps” the “floating” or daily price of a specified volume of natural gas, oil or NGL, over a specified period, for a fixed price for the specified volume over the same period (typically three months or longer). In the normal course of business, the Company sells its equity natural gas, oil and NGL production to third parties at first-of-the-month or daily “floating” prices related to indices reported in industry publications. The fixed-price swap price is reduced by gathering costs and adjusted for product quality to determine the net-to-the-well price. Swap agreements do not require the physical transfer of gas between the parties at settlement. Swap transactions are settled in cash with one party paying the other for the net difference in prices, multip lied by the relevant volume, for the settlement period.
Market Resources enters into commodity-price derivative arrangements that do not have margin requirements or collateral provisions that would require funding prior to the scheduled cash settlement dates. The amount of credit available under these arrangements may vary depending on the credit ratings assigned to Market Resources’ debt. Derivative-arrangement counterparties are normally banks and energy-trading firms with investment-grade credit ratings. The Company regularly monitors counterparty exposure, credit worthiness and performance.
Generally, derivative instruments are matched to equity gas and oil production, thus qualifying as cash-flow hedges. Changes in the fair value of cash-flow hedges are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until the underlying gas or oil is produced. Gas hedges are typically structured as fixed-price swaps into regional pipelines, locking in basis and hedge effectiveness. The ineffective portion of cash-flow hedges is immediately recognized in the determination of net income.
Market Resources uses natural gas basis-only swaps to manage the risk of widening-basis differentials in the Rocky Mountains. These contracts are marked to market with any change in the valuation recognized in the determination of net income.
A summary of the Market Resources derivative positions for equity production as of December 31, 2008, is shown below:
|
| Rocky |
|
|
| Rocky |
|
|
Time Periods | Mountains | Midcontinent | Total |
| Mountains | Midcontinent | Total | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Estimated | ||
|
| Gas (Bcf) Fixed-price Swaps |
| Average price per Mcf, net to the well | ||||
2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First half | 34.5 | 29.5 | 64.0 |
| $7.24 | $8.12 | $7.65 | |
Second half | 35.0 | 30.0 | 65.0 |
| 7.24 | 8.12 | 7.65 | |
12 months | 69.5 | 59.5 | 129.0 |
| 7.24 | 8.12 | 7.65 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First half | 6.7 | 26.2 | 32.9 |
| $6.88 | $8.09 | $7.84 | |
Second half | 6.8 | 26.6 | 33.4 |
| 6.88 | 8.09 | 7.84 | |
12 months | 13.5 | 52.8 | 66.3 |
| 6.88 | 8.09 | 7.84 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Estimated | ||
|
| Gas (Bcf) Basis-only Swaps |
| Average basis per Mcf, net to the well | ||||
2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First half | 9.3 | 3.3 | 12.6 |
| $2.94 | $1.22 | $2.49 | |
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
28
Second half | 9.4 | 3.4 | 12.8 |
| 2.94 | 1.22 | 2.49 | |
12 months | 18.7 | 6.7 | 25.4 |
| 2.94 | 1.22 | 2.49 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First half | 30.2 | 6.6 | 36.8 |
| $3.39 | $0.95 | $2.95 | |
Second half | 30.7 | 6.8 | 37.5 |
| 3.39 | 0.95 | 2.95 | |
12 months | 60.9 | 13.4 | 74.3 |
| 3.39 | 0.95 | 2.95 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First half | 45.3 | 6.9 | 52.2 |
| $2.29 | $0.79 | $2.09 | |
Second half | 46.1 | 6.9 | 53.0 |
| 2.29 | 0.79 | 2.09 | |
12 months | 91.4 | 13.8 | 105.2 |
| 2.29 | 0.79 | 2.09 | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Estimated | ||
|
| Oil (Mbbl) Fixed-price Swaps |
| Average price per bbl, net to the well | ||||
2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First half | 217 | 145 | 362 |
| $60.55 | $66.55 | $62.95 | |
Second half | 221 | 147 | 368 |
| 60.55 | 66.55 | 62.95 | |
12 months | 438 | 292 | 730 |
| 60.55 | 66.55 | 62.95 | |
As of December 31, 2008, Market Resources held commodity-price hedging contracts covering about 234.4 million MMBtu of natural gas, 0.7 million barrels of oil and basis-only swaps on an additional 204.9 Bcf of natural gas. A year earlier Market Resources hedging contracts covered 245.0 million MMBtu of natural gas, 2.0 million barrels of oil, 5.0 million gallons of NGL and natural gas basis-only swaps on an additional 40.8 Bcf. Changes in the fair value of derivative contracts from December 31, 2007 to December 31, 2008, are presented below:
| Fixed-price | Basis-only |
|
| Swaps | Swaps | Total |
| (in millions) | ||
Net fair value of gas- and oil-derivative contracts outstanding at Dec. 31, 2007 | $ 50.7 | $ 3.8 | $ 54.5 |
Contracts realized or otherwise settled | (7.5) | (0.2) | (7.7) |
Change in gas and oil prices on futures markets | 241.0 | 2.4 | 243.4 |
Contracts added | 273.6 | (95.7) | 177.9 |
Contracts redesignated as fixed-price swaps | (14.2) | 14.2 |
|
Net Fair Value Of Gas- and Oil-Derivative Contracts Outstanding at Dec. 31, 2008 | $543.6 | ($75.5) | $468.1 |
A table of the net fair value of gas- and oil-derivative contracts as of December 31, 2008, is shown below. About 92% of the contracts will settle in the next 12 months and the fair value of cash-flow hedges will be reclassified from other comprehensive income:
| Fixed-price | Basis-only |
|
| Swaps | Swaps | Total |
| (in millions) | ||
Contracts maturing by Dec. 31, 2009 | $431.2 | ($0.4) | $430.8 |
Contracts maturing between Jan. 1, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2010 | 112.4 | (60.4) | 52.0 |
Contracts maturing between Jan. 1, 2011 and Dec. 31, 2011 |
| (14.7) | (14.7) |
Net Fair Value Of Gas- and Oil-Derivative Contracts Outstanding at Dec. 31, 2008 | $543.6 | ($75.5) | $468.1 |
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
29
The following table shows sensitivity of fair value of gas- and oil-derivative contracts and basis-only swaps to changes in the market price of gas and oil and basis differentials:
| At December 31, | |
| 2008 | 2007 |
| (in millions) | |
Net fair value – asset (liability) | $468.1 | $ 54.5 |
Value if market prices of gas and oil and basis differentials decline by 10% | 590.4 | 217.7 |
Value if market prices of gas and oil and basis differentials increase by 10% | 345.9 | (108.8) |
Credit Risk
Market Resources requests credit support and, in some cases, prepayment from companies with unacceptable credit risks. Market Resources five largest customers are Sempra Energy Trading Corp., Enterprise Products Operating, Chevron USA Inc., Occidental Energy Marketing Inc. and Nevada Power Company. Sales to these companies accounted for 20% of Market Resources revenues before elimination of intercompany transactions in 2008, and their accounts were current at December 31, 2008.
Interest-Rate Risk
The fair value of fixed-rate debt is subject to change as interest rates fluctuate. The Company’s ability to borrow and the rates quoted by lenders have been adversely affected by the illiquid credit markets as described in Item 1A. Risk Factors of Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company had $850.0 million of fixed-rate long-term debt with a fair value of $730.9 million at December 31, 2008. A year earlier the Company had $400.0 million of fixed-rate long-term debt with a fair value of $403.1 million. If interest rates had declined 10%, fair value would increase to $767.8 million in 2008 and $416.2 million in 2007. The fair value calculations do not represent the cost to retire the debt securities.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.
Financial Statements:
Page No.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
31
Consolidated Statements of Income, three years ended December 31, 2008
32
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2008 and 2007
33
Consolidated Statements of Common Shareholder’s Equity, three years ended
December 31, 2008
34
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, three years ended December 31, 2008
36
Notes Accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements
37
Financial Statement Schedules:
For the three years ended December 31, 2008
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
58
All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or the required information
is shown in the Consolidated Financial Statements or Notes thereto.
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
30
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Shareholder of
Questar Market Resources
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Questar Market Resources as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholder’s equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 8. These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement present ation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Questar Market Resources at December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, Questar Market Resources adopted FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, effective January 1, 2007.
/s/Ernst & Young LLP
Salt Lake City, Utah
February 24, 2009
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
31
QUESTAR MARKET RESOURCES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
| Year Ended December 31, | ||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 |
| (in millions) | ||
REVENUES |
|
|
|
From unaffiliated customers | $2,297.2 | $1,671.3 | $1,659.4 |
From affiliated companies | 232.9 | 172.1 | 176.4 |
Total Revenues | 2,530.1 | 1,843.4 | 1,835.8 |
|
|
|
|
OPERATING EXPENSES |
|
|
|
Cost of natural gas and other products sold (excluding operating expenses shown separately) | 575.1 | 474.7 | 652.6 |
Operating and maintenance | 243.6 | 187.9 | 180.4 |
General and administrative | 91.7 | 91.3 | 69.2 |
Production and other taxes | 144.6 | 81.6 | 89.4 |
Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 410.0 | 295.1 | 235.0 |
Exploration | 29.3 | 22.0 | 34.4 |
Abandonment and impairment | 45.4 | 11.2 | 7.6 |
Wexpro Agreement-oil income sharing | 6.1 | 4.9 | 5.5 |
Total Operating Expenses | 1,545.8 | 1,168.7 | 1,274.1 |
Net gain (loss) from asset sales | 60.2 | (1.3) | 25.2 |
OPERATING INCOME | 1,044.5 | 673.4 | 586.9 |
Interest and other income | 14.6 | 9.7 | 4.1 |
Minority interest | (9.0) |
|
|
Income from unconsolidated affiliates | 1.7 | 8.9 | 7.5 |
Net mark-to-market gain (loss) on basis-only swaps | (79.2) | 5.7 | (1.9) |
Interest expense | (62.2) | (35.6) | (33.9) |
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES | 910.4 | 662.1 | 562.7 |
Income taxes | 324.9 | 241.3 | 206.6 |
NET INCOME | $ 585.5 | $ 420.8 | $ 356.1 |
See notes accompanying the consolidated financial statements
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
32
QUESTAR MARKET RESOURCES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
| December 31, | |
| 2008 | 2007 |
| (in millions) | |
ASSETS |
|
|
Current Assets |
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 20.3 |
|
Notes receivable from Questar |
| $ 103.2 |
Federal income taxes recoverable | 11.1 | 4.6 |
Accounts receivable, net | 265.2 | 246.1 |
Accounts receivable from affiliates | 28.1 | 18.3 |
Fair value of derivative contracts | 431.3 | 78.1 |
Inventories, at lower of average cost or market |
|
|
Gas and oil storage | 23.6 | 23.2 |
Materials and supplies | 86.8 | 33.2 |
Prepaid expenses and other | 28.0 | 18.2 |
Total Current Assets | 894.4 | 524.9 |
Property, Plant and Equipment – successful efforts method of accounting for gas and oil properties |
|
|
Questar E&P |
|
|
Proved properties | 4,912.6 | 3,306.9 |
Unproved properties, not being depleted | 193.2 | 55.6 |
Support equipment and facilities | 35.6 | 23.3 |
Wexpro | 911.5 | 766.1 |
Gas Management | 976.6 | 516.5 |
Energy Trading and other | 41.3 | 39.9 |
| 7,070.8 | 4,708.3 |
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization |
|
|
Questar E&P | 1,421.8 | 1,114.3 |
Wexpro | 374.9 | 331.4 |
Gas Management | 159.3 | 115.3 |
Energy Trading and other | 8.4 | 6.7 |
| 1,964.4 | 1,567.7 |
Net Property, Plant and Equipment | 5,106.4 | 3,140.6 |
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates | 40.8 | 52.8 |
Other Assets |
|
|
Goodwill | 60.2 | 60.9 |
Contract receivable from Questar Gas | 3.6 | 3.9 |
Fair value of derivative contracts | 106.3 | 7.8 |
Other noncurrent assets | 22.7 | 15.5 |
Total Other Assets | 192.8 | 88.1 |
Total Assets | $6,234.4 | $3,806.4 |
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
33
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY
| December 31, | |
| 2008 | 2007 |
| (in millions) | |
Current Liabilities |
|
|
Notes payable to Questar | $ 89.4 | $ 118.9 |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
|
|
Accounts and other payables | 411.7 | 303.7 |
Accounts payable to affiliates | 14.1 | 13.0 |
Production and other taxes | 46.2 | 40.9 |
Interest | 19.5 | 9.3 |
Total accounts payable and accrued expenses | 491.5 | 366.9 |
Fair value of derivative contracts | 0.5 | 9.3 |
Deferred income taxes – current | 138.1 | 13.3 |
Total Current Liabilities | 719.5 | 508.4 |
|
|
|
Long-term debt | 1,299.1 | 499.3 |
Deferred income taxes | 1,138.3 | 731.4 |
Asset retirement obligations | 171.2 | 145.3 |
Fair value of derivative contracts | 69.0 | 22.1 |
Other long-term liabilities | 57.9 | 39.8 |
Commitments and Contingencies – Note 9 |
|
|
Minority interest | 29.5 |
|
|
|
|
COMMON SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY |
|
|
Common stock – par value $1 per share; |
|
|
25.0 shares authorized; 4.3 shares issued and outstanding | 4.3 | 4.3 |
Additional paid-in capital | 141.9 | 130.9 |
Retained earnings | 2,262.1 | 1,693.9 |
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 341.6 | 31.0 |
Total Common Shareholder’s Equity | 2,749.9 | 1,860.1 |
|
|
|
Total Liabilities and Common Shareholder’s Equity | $6,234.4 | $3,806.4 |
See notes accompanying the consolidated financial statements
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
34
QUESTAR MARKET RESOURCES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMMON SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY
|
|
|
| Accumulated |
|
|
| Additional |
| Other | Comprehensive |
| Common | Paid-in | Retained | Comprehensive | Income |
| Stock | Capital | Earnings | Income (Loss) | (Loss) |
| (in millions) | ||||
Balance at January 1, 2006 | $4.3 | $116.0 | $951.6 | ($198.1) |
|
2006 net income |
|
| 356.1 |
| $356.1 |
Dividends paid |
|
| (17.3) |
|
|
Share-based compensation |
| 6.0 |
|
|
|
Other comprehensive income |
|
|
|
|
|
Change in unrealized fair value of derivatives |
|
|
| 524.9 | 524.9 |
Income taxes |
|
|
| (198.7) | (198.7) |
Total comprehensive income |
|
|
|
| $682.3 |
Balance at December 31, 2006 | 4.3 | 122.0 | 1,290.4 | 128.1 |
|
2007 net income |
|
| 420.8 |
| $420.8 |
Dividends paid |
|
| (17.3) |
|
|
Share-based compensation |
| 8.9 |
|
|
|
Other comprehensive income |
|
|
|
|
|
Change in unrealized fair value of derivatives |
|
|
| (156.1) | (156.1) |
Income taxes |
|
|
| 59.0 | 59.0 |
Total comprehensive income |
|
|
|
| $323.7 |
Balance at December 31, 2007 | 4.3 | 130.9 | 1,693.9 | 31.0 |
|
2008 net income |
|
| 585.5 |
| $585.5 |
Dividends paid |
|
| (17.3) |
|
|
Share-based compensation |
| 11.0 |
|
|
|
Other comprehensive income |
|
|
|
|
|
Change in unrealized fair value of derivatives |
|
|
| 494.0 | 494.0 |
Income taxes |
|
|
| (183.4) | (183.4) |
Total comprehensive income |
|
|
|
| $896.1 |
Balance at December 31, 2008 | $4.3 | $141.9 | $2,262.1 | $341.6 |
|
See notes accompanying the consolidated financial statements
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
35
QUESTAR MARKET RESOURCES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
| Year Ended December 31, | ||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 |
| (in millions) | ||
OPERATING ACTIVITIES |
|
|
|
Net income | $585.5 | $420.8 | $356.1 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash |
|
|
|
provided from operating activities: |
|
|
|
Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 411.5 | 296.0 | 236.8 |
Deferred income taxes | 335.3 | 183.0 | 110.7 |
Abandonment and impairment | 45.4 | 11.2 | 7.6 |
Share-based compensation | 11.0 | 8.9 | 6.0 |
Dry exploratory well expenses | 9.7 | 12.3 | 26.3 |
Net (gain) loss from asset sales | (60.2) | 1.3 | (25.2) |
Income from unconsolidated affiliates | (1.7) | (8.9) | (7.5) |
Distribution from unconsolidated affiliates | 0.5 | 10.4 | 7.1 |
Net mark-to-market (gain) loss on basis-only swaps | 79.2 | (5.7) | 1.9 |
Minority interest | 9.0 |
|
|
Other | 1.0 | (1.0) | 1.8 |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
Accounts receivable | (28.9) | (6.7) | 32.7 |
Inventories | (54.0) | 5.8 | 0.7 |
Prepaid expenses | (9.8) | 4.3 | 0.9 |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 14.4 | (34.0) | (28.0) |
Federal income taxes | (6.5) | (3.2) | 12.7 |
Other | 12.7 | 1.0 | (12.2) |
NET CASH PROVIDED FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | 1,354.1 | 895.5 | 728.4 |
|
|
|
|
INVESTING ACTIVITIES |
|
|
|
Capital expenditures |
|
|
|
Property, plant and equipment | (2,249.3) | (916.8) | (720.1) |
Dry exploratory well expenses | (9.7) | (12.3) | (26.3) |
Other investments | (21.5) | (14.8) | (6.3) |
Total capital expenditures | (2,280.5) | (943.9) | (752.7) |
Proceeds from disposition of assets | 103.4 | 4.6 | 31.3 |
Affiliated-company property, plant and equipment transfers |
|
| (2.3) |
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES | (2,177.1) | (939.3) | (723.7) |
|
|
|
|
FINANCING ACTIVITIES |
|
|
|
Change in notes receivable from Questar | 103.2 | (33.4) | 19.3 |
Change in notes payable to Questar | (29.5) | (23.7) | (38.2) |
Long-term debt issued, net of issue costs | 1,395.2 | 100.0 | 247.0 |
Long-term debt repaid | (600.0) |
| (200.0) |
Distribution to minority interest | (9.3) |
|
|
Dividends paid | (17.3) | (17.3) | (17.3) |
Other | 1.0 |
| (1.7) |
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
36
NET CASH PROVIDED FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | 843.3 | 25.6 | 9.1 |
Change in cash and cash equivalents | 20.3 | (18.2) | 13.8 |
Beginning cash and cash equivalents |
| 18.2 | 4.4 |
Ending cash and cash equivalents | $ 20.3 | $ | $ 18.2 |
|
|
|
|
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Paid During the Year for: |
|
|
|
Interest | $55.9 | $34.5 | $31.9 |
Income taxes | 2.5 | 64.9 | 81.1 |
See notes accompanying the consolidated financial statements
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
37
QUESTAR MARKET RESOURCES, INC.
NOTES ACCOMPANYING CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of Business
Questar Market Resources, Inc. (Market Resources or the Company) is a natural gas-focused energy company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Questar Corporation (Questar) and Questar’s primary growth driver. Market Resources is a subholding company with three major lines of business – gas and oil exploration and production, midstream field services, and energy marketing – which are conducted through its four principal subsidiaries:
·
Questar Exploration and Production Company (Questar E&P) acquires, explores for, develops and produces natural gas, oil, and NGL;
·
Wexpro Company (Wexpro) manages, develops and produces cost-of-service reserves for gas utility affiliate, Questar Gas;
·
Questar Gas Management Company (Gas Management) provides midstream field services including natural gas-gathering and processing services for affiliates and third parties; and
·
Questar Energy Trading Company (Energy Trading) markets equity and third-party gas and oil, provides risk-management services, and owns and operates an underground gas-storage reservoir.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements contain the accounts of Market Resources and its majority-owned or controlled subsidiaries. The consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and with the instructions for annual reports on Form 10-K and Regulations S-X and S-K. Rendezvous Gas Services, an affiliate, was consolidated beginning in 2008 as a result of a step acquisition caused by disproportionate ownership. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliates
Market Resources uses the equity method to account for investment in unconsolidated affiliates where it does not have control, but has significant influence. Generally, the investment in unconsolidated affiliates on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets equals the Company’s proportionate share of equity reported by the unconsolidated affiliates. Investment is assessed for possible impairment when events indicate that the fair value of the investment may be below the Company’s carrying value. When such a condition is deemed to be other than temporary, the carrying value of the investment is written down to its fair value, and the amount of the write-down would be included in the determination of net income.
The principal unconsolidated affiliates and Market Resources’ ownership percentage as of December 31, 2008, were Uintah Basin Field Services, LLC, a limited liability corporation (38%) and Three Rivers Gathering, a limited liability corporation (50%). These entities are engaged in gathering and compressing natural gas.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements and notes in conformity with GAAP requires management to formulate estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
Revenue Recognition
Market Resources subsidiaries recognize revenues in the period that services are provided or products are delivered. Revenues reflect the impact of price-hedging instruments. Revenues associated with the production of gas and oil are accounted for using the sales method, whereby revenue is recognized as gas and oil is sold to purchasers. A liability is recorded to the extent that the company has sold volumes in excess of its share of remaining gas and oil reserves in an underlying property. Market Resources imbalance obligations at December 31, was $3.1 million in 2008 and $2.7 million in 2007.
Energy Trading reports revenues on a gross basis because, in the judgment of management, the nature and circumstances of its marketing transactions are consistent with guidance for gross revenue reporting. Market Resources is primarily engaged in gas and oil exploration and production and midstream field services. Energy Trading markets equity natural gas, oil and NGL and third-party volumes. Energy Trading uses derivatives to secure a known price for a specific volume over a specific time period. Energy Trading does not engage in speculative hedging transactions, nor does it buy and sell energy contracts with the objective of generating profits on short-term differences in price. Energy Trading has not engaged in buy/sell arrangements, as described in EITF 04-13 “Accounting for Purchases and Sales of Inventory with the Same Counterparty.”
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
38
Wexpro Agreement – Oil Income Sharing
Oil income sharing represents payments made to Questar Gas for its share of the income from oil and NGL products associated with cost-of-service properties pursuant to the Wexpro Agreement. See Note 12 for more information on the Wexpro Agreement.
Regulation of Underground Storage
Market Resources through Clear Creek Storage Company, LLC, operates a gas-storage facility under the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The FERC establishes rates for the storage of natural gas. The FERC also regulates, among other things, the extension and enlargement or abandonment of jurisdictional natural gas facilities. Regulation is intended to permit the recovery, through rates, of the cost of service, including a return on investment.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents consist principally of repurchase agreements with maturities of three months or less. In almost all cases, the repurchase agreements are highly liquid investments in overnight securities made through commercial-bank accounts that result in available funds the next business day.
Notes Receivable from Questar
Notes receivable from Questar represent interest bearing demand notes for cash loaned to Questar until needed in the Company’s operations. The funds are centrally managed by Questar and earn an interest rate that is identical to the interest rate paid by the Company for borrowings from Questar.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment balances are stated at historical cost. Maintenance and repair costs are expensed as incurred.
Gas and oil properties
Questar E&P uses the successful efforts method to account for gas and oil properties. The costs of acquiring leaseholds, drilling development wells, drilling successful exploratory wells, purchasing related support equipment and facilities are capitalized and depreciated on a field basis using the unit-of-production method and the estimated proved developed gas and oil reserves. Costs of geological and geophysical studies and other exploratory activities are expensed as incurred. Costs of production and general corporate activities are expensed in the period incurred. A gain or loss is generally recognized only when an entire field is sold or abandoned, or if the unit-of-production depreciation, depletion and amortization rate would be significantly affected.
Capitalized costs of unproved properties are generally combined and amortized over the expected holding period for such properties. Capitalized costs of unproved properties are reclassified as proved property when related proved reserves are determined or charged against the impairment allowance when abandoned.
Capitalized exploratory well costs
The Company capitalizes exploratory-well costs until it determines whether the well is commercial or noncommercial. If the Company deems the well commercial, capitalized costs are depreciated on a field basis using the unit-of-production method and the estimated proved developed gas and oil reserves. If the Company concludes that the well is noncommercial, well costs are immediately charged to exploration expense. Exploratory-well costs capitalized for a period greater than one year since the completion of drilling are expensed unless the Company remains engaged in substantial activities to assess whether the well is commercial.
Cost-of-service gas and oil operations
The successful efforts method of accounting is used for “cost-of-service” reserves, managed, developed and produced by Wexpro for gas utility affiliate Questar Gas. Cost-of-service reserves are properties for which the operations and return on investment are subject to the Wexpro Agreement (see Note 13). In accordance with the agreement, production from the gas properties operated by Wexpro is delivered to Questar Gas at Wexpro’s cost of providing this service including a return on Wexpro’s investment. Wexpro sells crude-oil production from certain oil-producing properties at market prices with the revenues used to recover operating expenses and to provide Wexpro a return on its investment. Any operating income remaining after recovery of expenses and Wexpro’s return on investment is divided between Wexpro and Questar Gas, with Wexpro retaining 46%. Amounts received by Questar Gas from the sharing of Wexpro’s oil income are used to reduce natural-gas costs to utility customers.
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
Capitalized proved leasehold costs are depleted on a field-by-field basis using the unit-of-production method and the estimated proved gas and oil reserves. Oil and NGL volumes are converted to natural gas equivalents using the ratio of one barrel of crude oil, condensate or NGL to 6,000 cubic feet of natural gas. Capitalized costs of exploratory wells that have found proved gas and oil reserves and capitalized development costs are depreciated using the unit-of-production method based on estimated
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
39
proved developed reserves on a field basis. The Company capitalizes an estimate of the fair value of future abandonment costs. Future abandonment costs, less estimated future salvage values, are depreciated over the life of the related asset using a unit-of-production method. The following rates per Mcfe represent the volume-weighted average depreciation, depletion and amortization rates of the Company’s capitalized costs:
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 |
Gas and oil properties, per Mcfe | $1.93 | $1.74 | $1.43 |
Cost-of-service gas and oil properties, per Mcfe | 1.27 | 1.09 | $1.04 |
Depreciation, depletion and amortization for the remaining Company properties is based upon rates that will systematically charge the costs of assets against income over the estimated useful lives of those assets using either a straight-line or unit-of-production method. Investment in gas-gathering and processing fixed assets is charged to expense using either the straight-line or unit-of-production method depending upon the facility.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Proved gas and oil properties are evaluated on a field-by-field basis for potential impairment. Other properties are evaluated on a specific-asset basis or in groups of similar assets, as applicable. Impairment is indicated when a triggering event occurs and the sum of the estimated undiscounted future net cash flows of an evaluated asset is less than the asset’s carrying value. Triggering events could include, but are not limited to, an impairment of gas and oil reserves caused by mechanical problems, faster-than-expected decline of reserves, lease-ownership issues, other-than-temporary decline in gas and oil prices and changes in the utilization of pipeline assets. If impairment is indicated, fair value is calculated using a discounted-cash-flow approach. Cash-flow estimates require forecasts and assumptions for many years into the future for a variety of factors, including commodity prices and operating costs.
The Company also performs periodic assessments of individually significant unproved gas and oil properties for impairment and recognizes a loss at the time of impairment. In determining whether a significant unproved property is impaired the Company considers numerous factors including, but not limited to, current exploration plans, favorable or unfavorable exploration activity on adjacent leaseholds, in-house geologists’ evaluations of the lease, and the remaining lease term.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill represents the excess of the amount paid by Questar E&P over the fair value of net assets acquired in a business combination and is not subject to amortization. Goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets are tested for impairment at a minimum of once a year or when a triggering event occurs. If a triggering event occurs, the undiscounted net cash flows of the intangible asset or entity to which the goodwill relates are evaluated. Impairment is indicated if undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying value of the assets. The amount of the impairment is measured using a discounted-cash-flow model considering future revenues, operating costs, a risk-adjusted discount rate and other factors.
Capitalized Interest and Allowance for Funds Used During Construction (AFUDC)
The Company capitalizes interest costs when applicable. Interest expense was reduced by $4.9 million in 2008. The Wexpro Agreement requires capitalization of AFUDC on cost-of-service construction projects. AFUDC on equity funds amounted to $3.1 million in 2008, $1.3 million in 2007 and $0.9 million in 2006 and increased interest and other income in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Derivative Instruments
The Company may elect to designate a derivative instrument as a hedge of exposure to changes in fair value or cash flows. If the hedged exposure is a fair-value exposure, the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is recognized in earnings in the period of the change together with the offsetting gain or loss from the change in fair value of the hedged item. If the hedged exposure is a cash-flow exposure, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported initially as a component of other comprehensive income and subsequently reclassified into earnings when the forecasted transaction affects earnings. Any amount excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness, as well as the ineffective portion of the gain or loss, is reported in the current period income statement. A derivative instrument qualifies as a cash-flow hedge if all of the following tests are met:
·
The item to be hedged exposes the Company to price risk.
·
The derivative reduces the risk exposure and is designated as a hedge at the time the Company enters into the contract.
·
At the inception of the hedge and throughout the hedge period, there is a high correlation between changes in the market value of the derivative instrument and the fair value of the underlying hedged item.
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
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When the designated item associated with a derivative instrument matures, is sold, extinguished or terminated, derivative gains or losses are included in income in the same period that the underlying production or other contractual commitment is delivered. When a derivative instrument is associated with an anticipated transaction that is no longer probable, the gain or loss on the derivative is reclassified from other comprehensive income and recognized currently in the results of operations. When a derivative is terminated before its contract expires, the associated gain or loss is recognized in income over the life of the previously hedged production.
Basis-Only Swaps
Basis-only swaps are used to manage the risk of widening basis differentials. These contracts are marked to market monthly with any change in the valuation recognized in the determination of net income.
Physical Contracts
Physical-hedge contracts have a nominal quantity and a fixed price. Contracts representing both purchases and sales settle monthly based on quantities valued at a fixed price. Purchase contracts fix the purchase price paid and are recorded as cost of sales in the month the contracts are settled. Sales contracts fix the sales price received and are recorded as revenues in the month they are settled. Due to the nature of the physical market, there is a one-month delay for the cash settlement. Market Resources accrues for the settlement of contracts in the current month’s revenues and cost of sales.
Financial Contracts
Financial contracts are contracts that are net settled in cash without delivery of product. Financial contracts also have a nominal quantity and exchange an index price for a fixed price, and are net settled with the brokers as the price bulletins become available. Financial contracts are recorded in cost of sales in the month of settlement.
Credit Risk
The Rocky Mountain and Midcontinent regions constitute the Company’s primary market areas. Exposure to credit risk may be affected by the concentration of customers in these regions due to changes in economic or other conditions. Customers include individuals and numerous commercial and industrial enterprises that may react differently to changing conditions. Management believes that its credit-review procedures, loss reserves, customer deposits and collection procedures have adequately provided for usual and customary credit-related losses. Commodity-based hedging arrangements also expose the Company to credit risk. The Company monitors the creditworthiness of its counterparties, which generally are major financial institutions and energy companies. Loss reserves are periodically reviewed for adequacy and may be established on a specific case basis. Market Resources requests credit support and, in some cases, fungible collateral from companies with unacceptable credit risks. The C ompany has master-netting agreements with some counterparties that allow the offsetting of receivables and payables in a default situation.
Bad debt expense amounted to $0.4 million in 2008, $0.1 million in 2007 and $1.4 million in 2006. The allowance for bad debt expenses was $2.7 million at December 31, 2008, and $3.3 million at December 31, 2007.
Income Taxes
Questar and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return. Market Resources accounts for income tax expense on a separate-return basis and records tax benefits as they are generated. The Company receives payments from Questar for such tax benefits as they are utilized on the consolidated income tax return. Deferred income taxes have been provided for temporary differences caused by differences between the book and tax-carrying amounts of assets and liabilities. These differences create taxable or tax deductible amounts for future periods. Interest earned on refunds is recorded in interest and other income. Interest expense charged on tax deficiencies is recorded in interest expense.
In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (FIN 48). The interpretation applies to all tax positions related to income taxes subject to SFAS 109 “Accounting for Income Taxes.” FIN 48 provides guidance for the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes by prescribing a minimum recognition threshold for a tax position to be reflected in the financial statements. If recognized, the tax benefit is measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that is more-likely-than-not to be realized upon ultimate settlement. Questar adopted the provisions of FIN 48 effective January 1, 2007. Management has considered the amounts and the probabilities of the outcomes that could be realized upon ultimate settlement and believes that it is more-likely-than-not that the Company’s recorded income tax benefits will be fully realized. There were no unrecognized tax benefits at the beginning or at the end of the twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2008 and 2007. Income tax returns for 2005 and subsequent years are subject to examination. As of the date of adoption, there were no amounts accrued for penalties or interest related to unrecognized tax benefits.
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
41
Share-Based Compensation
Questar issues stock options and restricted shares to certain officers, employees and non-employee directors under its Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (LTSIP). Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company accounted for share-based compensation using the intrinsic value method prescribed by Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APBO) 25 “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” and related interpretations. No compensation cost was recorded for stock options issued because the exercise price equaled the market price on the date of grant. The granting of restricted shares resulted in recognition of compensation cost measured at the grant-date market price.
The Company implemented Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 123R “Share Based Payment,” (SFAS 123R) effective January 1, 2006, and chose the modified prospective phase-in method. The modified prospective phase-in method requires recognition of compensation costs for all share-based payments granted, modified or settled after January 1, 2006, as well as for any awards that were granted prior to the implementation date for which the required service has not yet been performed. Questar uses an accelerated method in recognizing share-based compensation costs with graded-vesting periods. See Note 2 for further discussion on share-based compensation.
Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income is the sum of net income as reported in the Consolidated Statement of Income and other comprehensive income transactions reported in the Consolidated Statement of Common Shareholder’s Equity. Other comprehensive income or loss is the result of changes in the market value of gas and oil cash-flow derivatives. These transactions are not the culmination of the earnings process, but result from periodically adjusting historical balances to fair value. Income or loss is realized when the underlying energy product is sold.
Business Segments
Line of business information is presented according to senior management’s basis for evaluating performance considering differences in the nature of products, services and regulation. Certain intersegment sales include intercompany profit.
Recent Accounting Developments
SFAS 141(R) “Business Combinations”
SFAS 141(R) requires the acquiring entity in a business combination to recognize the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the transaction; establishes the acquisition-date fair value as the measurement objective for all assets acquired and liabilities assumed; and requires the acquirer to disclose to investors and other users all of the information they need to evaluate and understand the nature and financial effect of the business combination. SFAS 141(R) is effective beginning January 1, 2009 and will be applied to business combinations occurring after the effective date.
SFAS 160 “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an amendment of ARB No. 51”
SFAS 160 requires ownership interests in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent be clearly identified, labeled, and presented in the consolidated balance sheets within shareholders’ equity, but separate from the parent’s equity; the amount of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest be clearly identified and presented on the consolidated statements of income; changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling financial interest in its subsidiary be accounted for consistently; and any retained noncontrolling equity investment in the former subsidiary be initially measured at fair value. SFAS 160 is effective beginning January 1, 2009 and is to be applied prospectively to all noncontrolling interests including any that arose before the effective date.
SFAS 161 “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”
This statement, issued by the FASB in March 2008, requires more detailed information on hedging transactions including the location and effect on the primary financial statements. The addition disclosure is required for interim and annual periods beginning after November 15, 2008. SFAS 161 does not change the accounting for derivative instruments and hedging activities. The Company will supply the new disclosure information as required by SFAS 161 beginning in 2009 and does not expect the new rules to impact the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
SEC “Modernization of Oil and Gas Reporting Requirements”
In December 2008, the SEC issued a final rule on its revised oil and gas reserve estimation and reporting requirements. The new rule expands the definition of oil and gas reserves to include, among other things, non-traditional sources, optional disclosure of probable and possible reserves and economic producibility based on modified pricing assuming a 12-month average when estimating reserves. The new rule is effective for annual reports on Form 10-K filed for years ending December 31, 2009, and early adoption is not permitted. The SEC is coordinating with the FASB to obtain the revisions necessary to SFAS 19, “Financial Reporting and Reporting by Oil and Gas Producing Companies”, and SFAS 69, “Disclosures about Oil and Gas Producing Activities” to provide consistency with the new rule. In the event that consistency is not achieved in time for
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42
companies to comply with the new rule, the SEC will consider delaying the compliance date. The Company is evaluating the effect of the SEC’s rule changes on future oil and gas disclosures, income, cash flow and the balance sheet.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications were made to prior-year consolidated financial statements to conform with the 2008 presentation.
All dollar and share amounts in this annual report on Form 10-K are in millions, except per-share information and where otherwise noted.
Note 2 – Share-Based Compensation
Questar issues stock options and restricted shares to certain officers and employees of Market Resources under its LTSIP and recognizes expense over time as the stock options or restricted shares vest. The Company uses an accelerated method in recognizing share-based compensation costs with graded-vesting periods. Share-based compensation expense amounted to $11.0 million in 2008 compared with $8.9 million in 2007 and $6.0 million in 2006.
The Company uses the Black-Scholes-Merton mathematical model in estimating the fair value of stock options for accounting purposes. Fair-value calculations rely upon subjective assumptions used in the mathematical model and may not be representative of future results. The Black-Scholes-Merton model was intended for measuring the value of options traded on an exchange. The calculated fair value of options granted and major assumptions used in the model at the date of grant are listed below:
|
| October 2008 | February 2007 |
Fair value of options at grant date |
| $28.58 | $41.08 |
Risk-free interest rate |
| 3.20% | 4.77% |
Expected price volatility |
| 32.3% | 22.4% |
Expected dividend yield |
| 1.72% | 1.14% |
Expected life in years |
| 5.0 | 5.2 |
Unvested stock options increased by 287,500 shares to 547,500 in 2008. Stock-option transactions under the terms of the LTSIP for the three years ended December 31, 2008, are summarized below:
| Options Outstanding | Price Range | Weighted- Average Price |
Balance at January 1, 2006 | 1,802,638 | $7.50 – $38.57 | $15.09 |
Exercised | (364,496) | 7.50 – 17.55 | 11.57 |
Balance a December 31, 2006 | 1,438,142 | 7.50 – 38.57 | 15.97 |
Granted | 60,000 | 41.08 | 41.08 |
Exercised | (157,464) | 7.50 – 17.55 | 12.71 |
Employee transferred | (16,064) | 10.69 | 10.69 |
Forfeited | (1,000) | 14.01 | 14.01 |
Balance at December 31, 2007 | 1,323,614 | 7.50 – 41.08 | 17.57 |
Granted | 287,500 | 28.58 | 28.58 |
Exercised | (82,454) | 7.50 – 17.55 | 11.44 |
Employee transferred | (58,210) | 7.50 – 14.01 | 12.39 |
Balance at December 31, 2008 | 1,470,450 | $7.50 – $28.58 | $20.16 |
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
43
| Options Outstanding | Options Exercisable | Nonvested Options | ||||
Range of exercise prices | Number outstanding at Dec. 31, 2008 | Weighted-average remaining term in years | Weighted-average exercise price | Number exercisable at Dec. 31, 2008 | Weighted-average exercise price | Number nonvested at Dec. 31, 2008 | Weighted-average exercise price |
$ 7.50 - $ 8.50 | 119,116 | 0.9 | $ 7.81 | 119,116 | $ 7.81 |
|
|
11.48 - 11.98 | 366,842 | 3.1 | 11.71 | 366,842 | 11.71 |
|
|
13.56 - 17.55 | 436,992 | 3.8 | 13.78 | 436,992 | 13.78 |
|
|
$28.58 - $41.08 | 547,500 | 3.5 | 33.60 |
|
| 547,500 | $33.60 |
| 1,470,450 | 3.3 | $20.16 | 922,950 | $12.19 | 547,500 | $33.60 |
Restricted shares are valued at the grant-date market price and amortized to expense over the vesting period. Most restricted share grants vest in equal installments over a three or four year period from the grant date. The weighted average vesting period of unvested restricted shares at December 31, 2008, was 16 months. Transactions involving restricted shares under the terms of the LTSIP for the three years ended December 31, 2008, are summarized below:
| Restricted Shares Outstanding | Price Range | Weighted-Average Price |
Balance at January 1, 2006 | 354,482 | $13.56 - $43.02 | $20.64 |
Granted | 231,580 | 35.20 - 44.77 | 37.10 |
Distributed | (121,326) | 13.56 - 43.02 | 17.85 |
Forfeited | (4,990) | 14.36 - 38.00 | 31.14 |
Balance at December 31, 2006 | 459,746 | 14.36 – 44.77 | 29.54 |
Granted | 290,740 | 38.96 – 55.42 | 46.02 |
Distributed | (160,606) | 14.36 – 49.98 | 23.40 |
Forfeited | (26,702) | 18.45 – 49.97 | 35.22 |
Balance at December 31, 2007 | 563,178 | 14.36 – 55.42 | 39.40 |
Granted | 239,490 | 25.12 – 70.13 | 53.95 |
Distributed | (175,209) | 17.45 – 56.65 | 34.36 |
Employee transferred | (866) | 17.45 – 36.75 | 26.92 |
Forfeited | (26,916) | 25.50 – 70.13 | 47.30 |
Balance at December 31, 2008 | 599,677 | $14.36 – $70.13 | $46.35 |
Note 3 – Questar E&P Property Acquisitions and Divestitures
In February 2008, Questar E&P acquired natural gas development properties in northwest Louisiana for an aggregate purchase price of $652.1 million effective January 1, 2008. The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase and, accordingly, the results of operations of the properties were included in net income from the closing date of the acquisition. After recording deferred income taxes of $13.1 million, the purchase price allocated to proved properties was $570.9 million and to unproved properties was $81.2 million. The transaction was initially funded with short-term bank debt.
In conjunction with the acquisition of the Louisiana properties, the Company identified certain outside-operated producing properties and leaseholds in the Gulf Coast region of south Texas for divestiture. These properties contributed 2.8 Bcfe to Questar E&P net production in 2008. For income tax purposes, the Company structured a portion of the purchase of the Louisiana properties and the July 31, 2008, sale of the south Texas properties as a reverse like-kind exchange of property under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The Company recognized a pre-tax gain on the sale of the Texas properties of approximately $61.2 million.
Questar E&P abandonment and impairment expense increased $33.8 million or 313% in 2008 compared to 2007. Abandonment and impairment expense increased $29.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared with the same period of 2007. Lower year-end 2008 gas and oil prices triggered impairment testing of long-lived assets. Future cash flows using estimated forward-looking commodity prices were sufficient to recover the investment of a majority of the long-lived assets. A combination of
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
44
poor production performance, higher production costs and negative reserve revisions resulted in the impairment of certain gas and oil assets in 2008.
Note 4 – Asset Retirement Obligations (ARO)
Market Resources recognizes ARO in accordance with SFAS 143 “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations.” SFAS 143 addresses the financial accounting and reporting of the fair value of legal obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets. The Company’s ARO applies primarily to plugging and abandonment costs associated with gas and oil wells and certain other properties. The fair value of abandonment costs are estimated and depreciated over the life of the related assets. Revisions to estimates of the ARO result from changes in expected cash flows. The ARO liability is adjusted to present value each period through an accretion calculation using a credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate. Changes in ARO were as follows:
| 2008 | 2007 |
| (in millions) | |
ARO liability at January 1, | $145.3 | $128.3 |
Accretion | 9.4 | 8.1 |
Liabilities incurred | 17.2 | 8.9 |
Revisions | 1.5 | 1.5 |
Liabilities settled | (2.2) | (1.5) |
ARO liability at December 31, | $171.2 | $145.3 |
Wexpro activities are governed by the Wexpro Agreement. The accounting treatment of reclamation activities associated with ARO for properties administered under the Wexpro Agreement is spelled out in a guideline letter between Wexpro and the Utah Division of Public Utilities and the staff of the Public Service Commission of Wyoming. Accordingly, Wexpro collects from Questar Gas and deposits in trust funds related to estimated ARO costs. The funds are used to satisfy retirement obligations as the properties are abandoned. At December 31, 2008, approximately $9.9 million was held in this trust invested primarily in a short-term bond index fund.
Note 5 – Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs
Net changes in capitalized exploratory well costs are presented in the table below and exclude amounts that were capitalized and subsequently expensed in the period. All of these costs have been capitalized for less than one year.
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 |
| (in millions) | ||
Balance at January 1, | $ 1.5 | $ 10.5 | $ 16.5 |
Additions to capitalized exploratory well costs pending the |
|
|
|
determination of proved reserves | 17.0 | 1.5 | 10.5 |
Reclassifications to property, plant and equipment after the |
|
|
|
determination of proved reserves |
|
| (5.0) |
Capitalized exploratory well costs charged to expense | (1.5) | (10.5) | (11.5) |
Balance at December 31, | $17.0 | $ 1.5 | $ 10.5 |
Note 6 – Fair-Value Measures, Financial Instruments and Risk Management
Beginning in 2008, Market Resources adopted the effective provisions of SFAS 157 “Fair-Value Measures.” SFAS 157 defines fair value in applying GAAP, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair-value measurements. SFAS 157 does not change existing guidance as to whether or not an instrument is carried at fair value. Also, the new standard establishes a fair-value hierarchy. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position Financial Accounting Standard 157-2 “Partial Deferral of the Effective Date of Statement 157,” which delays the effective date for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except those recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring
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45
basis. For Market Resources, the delayed provisions of SFAS 157 go into effect in the first quarter of 2009. The adoption of SFAS 157 did not have a significant effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
The following table discloses carrying value and fair value of financial instruments:
| Carrying | Estimated | Carrying | Estimated |
| Value | Fair Value | Value | Fair Value |
| December 31, 2008 | December 31, 2007 | ||
| (in millions) | |||
Financial assets |
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 20.3 | $ 20.3 |
|
|
Notes receivable from Questar |
|
| $103.2 | $103.2 |
Fair value of derivative contracts- short term | 431.3 | 431.3 | 78.1 | 78.1 |
Fair value of derivative contracts- long term | 106.3 | 106.3 | 7.8 | 7.8 |
Financial liabilities |
|
|
|
|
Notes payable to Questar | 89.4 | 89.4 | 118.9 | 118.9 |
Fair value of derivative contracts- short term | 0.5 | 0.5 | 9.3 | 9.3 |
Long-term debt | 1,300.0 | 1,180.9 | 500.0 | 503.1 |
Fair value of derivative contracts – long-term | 69.0 | 69.0 | 22.1 | 22.1 |
Cash and cash equivalents and short-term debt – the carrying amount approximates fair value.
Long-term debt – the carrying amount of variable-rate debt approximates fair value. The fair value of fixed-rate debt is based on the discounted present value of cash flows using the Company’s current borrowing rates.
Derivative contracts – the Company enters into commodity-price derivative arrangements that do not require collateral deposits. The fair value of these derivative contracts is based on market prices posted on the NYMEX and considered Level 2 under the provisions of SFAS 157. At December 31, 2008, counterparties under the derivative contracts were banks and energy-trading firms with investment-grade credit ratings. Gas derivatives are structured as fixed-price swaps into regional pipelines, locking in basis and hedge effectiveness. As of December 31, 2008, Market Resources held gas-price-derivative instruments covering the price exposure for about 234.4 million MMBtu of natural gas, 0.7 million barrels of oil and basis-only swaps on an additional 204.9 Bcf of natural gas. About $430.8 million of the fair value of all contracts as of December 31, 2008, will settle and be reclassified from other comprehensive income in the next 12 months. A year earlier Market Resources derivatives covered the price exposure for 245.0 million MMBtu of natural gas, 2.0 million barrels of oil, 5.0 million gallons of NGL and basis-only swaps on an additional 40.8 Bcf of natural gas.
At December 31, 2008, the Company reported the fair value of fixed-price derivative assets, net of liabilities, of $543.6 million. The offset to the net derivative assets, net of income taxes, was a $341.6 million unrealized gain on derivatives recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income in the Common Shareholders’ Equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets. During 2008, $21.7 million of fair value associated with fixed-price derivatives settled and was reclassified into income. The ineffective portion of derivative transactions recognized in earnings was $1.0 million loss in 2008. The fair-value calculation of gas- and oil-price derivatives does not consider changes in the fair value of the corresponding scheduled equity physical transactions, (i.e., the correlation between index price and the price realized for the physical delivery of gas or oil).
Note 7 – Debt
Questar makes loans to Market Resources under a short-term borrowing arrangement. Short-term notes payable to Questar are subordinated to obligations under the revolving credit agreement. Short-term notes payable to Questar amounted to $89.4 million with an interest rate of 3.39% December 31, 2008, and $118.9 million with an interest rate of 5.36% at December 31, 2007.
All long-term notes and the term-bank loan are unsecured obligations and rank equally with all other unsecured liabilities. Market Resources’ revolving-credit facility had $450.0 million outstanding and a weighted-average interest rate of 1.60% at December 31, 2008. This credit agreement carries an annual commitment fee of 0.115% of the unused balance. At December 31, 2008, Market Resources could pay dividends of $891.0 million without violating the terms of its debt covenants.
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In March 2008, Market Resources filed a shelf registration with the SEC to sell up to $700.0 million of debt securities and to use the net proceeds to repay bank borrowings and to finance certain capital expenditures as well as for general corporate purposes, including working capital. In April 2008, Market Resources sold $450.0 million of 10-year notes with a 6.8% interest rate. In March 2008, Market Resources also entered into a new $800.0 million five-year revolving-credit facility. The net proceeds from the sale of the notes and funds borrowed under the revolving-credit facility were used to reduce short-term bank debt described in Note 3. In an October 2008 filing with the SEC, Market Resources increased the unused portion of its March 2008 shelf registration from $250.0 million to $300.0 million.
The details of long-term debt are as follows:
| December 31, | |
| 2008 | 2007 |
| (in millions) | |
Revolving-credit facility, 1.60% at December 31, 2008, due 2013 | $ 450.0 |
|
Revolving term loan, 5.55% at December 31, 2007, due 2012 |
| $ 100.0 |
7.50% notes due 2011 | 150.0 | 150.0 |
6.05% notes due 2016 | 250.0 | 250.0 |
6.80% notes due 2018 | 450.0 |
|
Total long-term debt outstanding | 1,300.0 | 500.0 |
Less unamortized-debt discount | (0.9) | (0.7) |
Total long-term debt outstanding | $1,299.1 | $499.3 |
The Company’s 7.5% notes and revolving term facility are scheduled to be repaid within five years following December 31, 2008.
Note 8 – Income Taxes
Details of Market Resources income tax expense and deferred income taxes are provided in the following tables. The components of income tax expense were as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 |
| (in millions) | ||
Federal |
|
|
|
Current | ($ 7.6) | $ 56.4 | $ 89.3 |
Deferred | 322.9 | 166.1 | 98.5 |
State |
|
|
|
Current | (2.8) | 1.9 | 6.6 |
Deferred | 12.4 | 16.9 | 12.2 |
| $324.9 | $241.3 | $206.6 |
The difference between the statutory federal income tax rate and the Company’s effective income tax rate is explained as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 |
Federal income tax statutory rate | 35.0% | 35.0% | 35.0% |
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit | 0.7 | 1.8 | 2.2 |
Domestic production benefit |
| (0.3) | (0.4) |
Other |
| (0.1) | (0.1) |
Effective income tax rate | 35.7% | 36.4% | 36.7% |
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
47
Significant components of the Company’s deferred income taxes were as follows:
| December 31, | |
| 2008 | 2007 |
| (in millions) | |
Deferred tax liabilities |
|
|
Property, plant and equipment | $1,132.3 | $744.7 |
Energy-price derivatives | 13.6 |
|
Total deferred tax liabilities | 1,145.9 | 744.7 |
Deferred tax assets |
|
|
Energy-price derivatives |
| 6.0 |
Employee benefits and compensation costs | 7.6 | 7.3 |
Total deferred tax assets | 7.6 | 13.3 |
Net deferred income taxes | $1,138.3 | $731.4 |
Deferred income taxes – current liability |
|
|
Energy-price derivatives | $160.4 | $ 26.2 |
Other | (22.3) | (12.9) |
Deferred income taxes – current liability | $138.1 | $ 13.3 |
Note 9 – Commitments and Contingencies
Market Resources is involved in various commercial and regulatory claims and litigation and other legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of its business. Management does not believe any of them will have a material-adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. A liability is recorded for a loss contingency when its occurrence is probable and damages can be reasonably estimated based on the anticipated most likely outcome. Disclosures are provided for contingencies reasonably likely to occur which would have a material-adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Some of the claims involve highly complex issues relating to liability, damages and other matters subject to substantial uncertainties and, therefore, the probability of liability or an estimate of loss cannot be reasonably determined.
Environmental Claims
In United States of America v. Questar Gas Management Co., filed on February 29, 2008, in Utah Federal District Court, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) alleges that Gas Management violated the federal Clean Air Act (CAA) and seeks substantial penalties and a permanent injunction involving the manner of operation of five compressor stations located in the Uinta Basin of eastern Utah. EPA further alleges that the facilities are located within the original boundaries of the former Uncompahgre Indian Reservation and asserts primary CAA jurisdiction. Gas Management intends to vigorously defend against the EPA’s claims, and believes that the major source permitting and regulatory requirements at issue can be legally resolved. Because of the complexities and uncertainties of this legal dispute, it is difficult to predict the likely potential outcomes; however, management believes the company has accrued an appropriate liability for this claim.
Commitments
Subsidiaries of Market Resources have contracted for firm-transportation services with various third-party pipelines through 2028. Market conditions and competition may prevent full recovery of the cost. Annual payments and the years covered are as follows:
| (in millions) |
2009 | $ 9.4 |
2010 | 8.6 |
2011 | 8.3 |
2012 | 6.4 |
2013 | 4.4 |
2014 through 2028 | 24.4 |
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
48
Market Resources rents office space throughout its scope of operations from third-party lessors and leases space in an office building located in Salt Lake City, Utah from an affiliated company that expires January 12, 2012. Rental expense amounted to $4.0 million in 2008, $3.0 million in 2007 and $2.5 million in 2006. The minimum future payments under the terms of long-term operating leases for the Company’s primary office locations for the six years following December 31, 2008, are as follows:
| (in millions) | |
2009 | $4.4 | |
2010 | 4.7 | |
2011 | 4.7 | |
2012 | 3.8 | |
2013 | 3.0 | |
2014 | 2.2 | |
Note 10 – Employee Benefits
Pension Plan
Certain Market Resources employees are covered by Questar’s defined benefit pension plan. Benefits are generally based on the employee’s age at retirement, years of service and highest earnings in a consecutive 72 semimonthly pay period during the 10 years preceding retirement. Questar is subject to and complies with minimum required and maximum allowed annual contribution levels mandated by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and by the Internal Revenue Code. Subject to the above limitations, Questar intends to fund the qualified pension plan approximately equal to the yearly expense. Questar also has a nonqualified pension plan that covers certain management employees in addition to the qualified pension plan. The nonqualified pension plan provides for defined benefit payments upon retirement of the management employee, or to the spouse upon death of the management employee above the benefit limit defined by the Internal Revenue Service for the qualified plan. The no nqualified pension plan is unfunded. Claims are paid from the Company’s general funds. Qualified pension plan assets consist principally of equity securities and corporate and U.S. government debt obligations. A third-party consultant calculates the pension plan projected benefit obligation. Pension expense was $3.8 million, $4.6 million in 2007 and $4.9 million in 2006.
Market Resources portion of plan assets and benefit obligations cannot be determined because the plan assets are not segregated or restricted to meet the Company’s pension obligations. If the Company were to withdraw from the pension plan, the pension obligation for the Company’s employees would be retained by the pension plan. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, Questar’s projected benefit obligation exceeded the fair value of plan assets.
Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions
Eligible Market Resources employees participate in Questar’s postretirement benefits other than pensions plan. Postretirement health care benefits and life insurance are provided only to employees hired before January 1, 1997. The Company pays a portion of the costs of health care benefits, based on an employee’s years of service, and generally limits payments to 170% of the 1992 contribution. Plan assets consist of equity securities and corporate and U.S. government debt obligations. A third party consultant calculates the projected benefit obligation. The cost of postretirement benefits other than pensions was $1.3 million in 2008, 2007 and 2006.
The Company’s portion of plan assets and benefit obligations related to post-retirement medical and life insurance benefits cannot be determined because the plan assets are not segregated or restricted to meet the Company’s obligations. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, Questar’s accumulated benefit obligation exceeded the fair value of plan assets.
Employee Investment Plan
Market Resources subsidiaries participate in Questar’s Employee Investment Plan (EIP).The EIP allows eligible employees to purchase shares of Questar common stock or other investments through payroll deduction at the current fair market value on the transaction date. The Company currently contributes an overall match of 100% of employees’ pre-tax purchases up to a maximum of 6% of their qualifying earnings. In addition, the Company contributes $200 annually to the EIP for each eligible employee. Beginning in 2005, the EIP trustee has purchased Questar shares on the open market as cash contributions are received. The Company’s expense equaled its matching contribution of $4.1 million in 2008, $3.5 million in 2007and $2.4 million in 2006.
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
49
Note 11 – Related Party Transactions
Market Resources receives a portion of its revenues from services provided to affiliate, Questar Gas. The Company received $232.8 million in 2008, $171.6 million in 2007 and $176.4 million in 2006 for operating cost-of-service gas properties, gathering gas and supplying a portion of gas for resale, among other services provided to Questar Gas. Operation of cost-of-service gas properties is described in Wexpro Agreement (Note 12).
Market Resources pays Questar for certain administrative services. These payments were included in operating expenses and amounted to $10.7 million in 2008, $16.8 million in 2007 and $11.5 million in 2006. Questar allocates the costs based on each affiliate’s proportional share of revenues, net of gas costs; property, plant and equipment; and payroll. Management believes that the allocation method is reasonable.
Market Resources contracted for transportation and storage services with affiliate Questar Pipeline and was charged $2.1 million in 2008, $2.8 million in 2007 and $3.7 million in 2006 for these services.
Market Resources has a lease with Questar for space in an office building located in Salt Lake City, Utah, that expires January 12, 2012. The building is owned by a third party. The third party has a lease arrangement with Questar, which in turn sublets office space to affiliated companies. Market Resources was charged $1.1 million in 2008, $1.0 million in 2007 and $0.7 million in 2006.
The Company loaned cash to affiliated companies and received interest income of $0.5 million in 2008, $4.5 million in 2007, and $3.4 million in 2006. Market Resources borrowed cash from affiliated companies and was charged interest expense of $3.8 million in 2008, $6.8 million in 2007 and $4.4 million in 2006.
Note 12 – Wexpro Agreement
Wexpro’s operations are subject to the terms of the Wexpro Agreement. The agreement was effective August 1, 1981, and sets forth the rights of Questar Gas utility operations to receive certain benefits from Wexpro’s operations. The agreement was approved by the PSCU and PSCW in 1981 and affirmed by the Supreme Court of Utah in 1983. Major provisions of the agreement are as follows.
a. Wexpro conducts gas-development drilling on a finite group of productive gas properties, as defined in the agreement, and bears any costs of dry holes. Natural gas produced from successful drilling on these properties is delivered to Questar Gas. Wexpro is reimbursed for the costs of producing the natural gas plus a return on its investment in successful wells. The after-tax return allowed Wexpro is adjusted annually and is approximately 20.6%.
b. Wexpro operates certain natural gas properties for Questar Gas. Wexpro is reimbursed for its costs of operating these properties, including a rate of return on any investment it makes. This after-tax rate of return is adjusted annually and is approximately 12.6%.
c. Crude-oil production from certain oil-producing properties is sold at market prices with the revenues used to recover operating expenses and to provide Wexpro a return on its investment. The after-tax rate of return on investments in these properties is adjusted annually and is approximately 12.6%. Any operating income remaining after recovery of expenses and Wexpro’s return on investment is divided between Wexpro and Questar Gas, with Wexpro retaining 46%.
d. Wexpro conducts developmental-oil drilling on productive oil properties and bears any costs of dry holes. Oil discovered from these properties is sold at market prices with the revenues used to recover operating expenses and to give Wexpro a return on its investment in successful wells. The after-tax rate of return is adjusted annually and is approximately 17.6%. Any operating income remaining after recovery of expenses and Wexpro’s return on investment is divided between Wexpro and Questar Gas with Wexpro retaining 46%.
e. Amounts received by Questar Gas from the sharing of Wexpro’s oil income are used to reduce natural-gas costs to utility customers. Questar Gas received oil-income sharing of $6.1 million in 2008, $4.9 million in 2007 and $5.5 million in 2006.
Wexpro’s investment base, net of depreciation and deferred income taxes, and the yearly average rate of return for 2008 and the previous two years are shown in the table below:
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
50
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 |
Wexpro’s net investment base (in millions) | $410.6 | $300.4 | $260.6 |
Average annual rate of return (after tax) | 19.9% | 19.9% | 19.9% |
Note 13 – Operations by Line of Business
Market Resources’ major lines of business include gas and oil exploration and production (Questar E&P and Wexpro), midstream field services (Gas Management) and energy marketing (Energy Trading). Line of business information is presented according to senior management’s basis for evaluating performance including differences in the nature of products, services and regulation. Following is a summary of operations by line of business for the three years ended December 31, 2008:
| Market Resources Consolidated | Interco. Transactions | Questar E&P | Wexpro | Gas Management | Energy Trading | |||
| |||||||||
| (in millions) | ||||||||
2008 |
| ||||||||
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
From unaffiliated customers | $2,297.2 |
| $1,392.1 | $31.1 | $265.9 | $608.1 | |||
From affiliated companies | 232.9 | ($835.8) |
| 209.9 | 24.3 | 834.5 | |||
Total Revenues | 2,530.1 | (835.8) | 1,392.1 | 241.0 | 290.2 | 1,442.6 | |||
Operating expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Cost of natural gas and other products sold | 575.1 | (829.8) | 0.5 |
|
| 1,404.4 | |||
Operating and maintenance | 243.6 | (1.5) | 125.4 | 23.5 | 95.0 | 1.2 | |||
General and administrative | 91.7 | (4.5) | 55.8 | 13.7 | 23.7 | 3.0 | |||
Production and other taxes | 144.6 |
| 104.0 | 37.7 | 2.6 | 0.3 | |||
Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 410.0 |
| 330.9 | 48.5 | 28.7 | 1.9 | |||
Other operating expenses | 80.8 |
| 73.9 | 6.1 | 0.8 |
| |||
Total operating expenses | 1,545.8 | (835.8) | 690.5 | 129.5 | 150.8 | 1,410.8 | |||
Net gain (loss) from asset sales | 60.2 |
| 60.4 | (0.2) |
|
| |||
Operating income | 1,044.5 |
| 762.0 | 111.3 | 139.4 | 31.8 | |||
Interest and other income | (73.6) | (68.6) | (71.7) | 6.6 | (9.0) | 69.1 | |||
Income from unconsolidated affiliates | 1.7 |
| 0.5 |
| 1.2 |
| |||
Interest expense | (62.2) | 68.6 | (58.3) | (2.7) | (3.6) | (66.2) | |||
Income tax expense | (324.9) |
| (224.5) | (41.3) | (46.5) | (12.6) | |||
Net income | $ 585.5 |
| $ 408.0 | $ 73.9 | $ 81.5 | $ 22.1 | |||
Identifiable assets | $6,234.4 |
| $4,508.0 | $595.3 | $917.6 | $213.5 | |||
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates | 40.8 |
|
|
| 40.8 |
| |||
Capital expenditures | 2,280.5 |
| 1,777.3 | 143.8 | 357.9 | 1.5 | |||
Goodwill | 60.2 |
| 60.2 |
|
|
| |||
2007 |
| ||||||||
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
From unaffiliated customers | $1,671.3 |
| $ 956.0 | $ 21.6 | $189.3 | $504.4 | |||
From affiliated companies | 172.1 | ($484.7) |
| 155.7 | 17.0 | 484.1 | |||
Total Revenues | 1,843.4 | (484.7) | 956.0 | 177.3 | 206.3 | 988.5 | |||
Operating expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Cost of natural gas and other products sold | 474.7 | (482.8) | 2.2 |
|
| 955.3 | |||
Operating and maintenance | 187.9 | (1.1) | 87.9 | 16.5 | 83.6 | 1.0 | |||
General and administrative | 91.3 | (0.8) | 56.3 | 14.7 | 17.2 | 3.9 | |||
Production and other taxes | 81.6 |
| 60.1 | 20.0 | 1.4 | 0.1 | |||
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
51
Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 295.1 |
| 243.5 | 31.2 | 19.1 | 1.3 | |||
Other operating expenses | 38.1 |
| 32.8 | 4.9 | 0.4 |
| |||
Total operating expenses | 1,168.7 | (484.7) | 482.8 | 87.3 | 121.7 | 961.6 | |||
Net (loss) from asset sales | (1.3) |
| (0.6) | (0.7) |
|
| |||
Operating income | 673.4 |
| 472.6 | 89.3 | 84.6 | 26.9 | |||
Interest and other income | 15.4 | (26.9) | 6.2 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 34.0 | |||
Income from unconsolidated affiliates | 8.9 |
| 0.4 |
| 8.5 |
| |||
Interest expense | (35.6) | 26.9 | (25.2) | (2.0) | (6.9) | (28.4) | |||
Income tax expense | (241.3) |
| (168.5) | (30.0) | (31.1) | (11.7) | |||
Net income | $ 420.8 |
| $ 285.5 | $ 59.2 | $ 55.3 | $ 20.8 | |||
Identifiable assets | $3,806.4 |
| $2,524.5 | $481.1 | $494.2 | $306.6 | |||
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates | 52.8 |
|
|
| 52.8 |
| |||
Capital expenditures | 943.9 |
| 708.5 | 105.0 | 128.3 | 2.1 | |||
Goodwill | 60.9 |
| 60.9 |
|
|
| |||
2006 |
| ||||||||
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
From unaffiliated customers | $1,659.4 |
| $ 815.7 | $ 19.7 | $168.0 | $ 656.0 | |||
From affiliated companies | 176.4 | ($687.8) |
| 150.5 | 15.9 | 697.8 | |||
Total Revenues | 1,835.8 | (687.8) | 815.7 | 170.2 | 183.9 | 1,353.8 | |||
Operating expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Cost of natural gas and other products sold | 652.6 | (686.0) | 2.8 |
|
| 1,335.8 | |||
Operating and maintenance | 180.4 | (1.1) | 73.6 | 14.7 | 92.4 | 0.8 | |||
General and administrative | 69.2 | (0.7) | 42.4 | 11.3 | 12.2 | 4.0 | |||
Production and other taxes | 89.4 |
| 58.3 | 30.3 | 0.6 | 0.2 | |||
Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 235.0 |
| 185.7 | 33.1 | 15.3 | 0.9 | |||
Other operating expenses | 47.5 |
| 42.0 | 5.5 |
|
| |||
Total operating expenses | 1,274.1 | (687.8) | 404.8 | 94.9 | 120.5 | 1,341.7 | |||
Net gain (loss) from asset sales | 25.2 |
| 24.3 | (0.1) | 1.0 |
| |||
Operating income | 586.9 |
| 435.2 | 75.2 | 64.4 | 12.1 | |||
Interest and other income (expense) | 2.2 | (27.0) | (3.7) | 1.3 |
| 31.6 | |||
Income from unconsolidated affiliates | 7.5 |
| 0.4 |
| 7.1 |
| |||
Interest expense | (33.9) | 27.0 | (27.1) | (0.5) | (4.7) | (28.6) | |||
Income tax expense | (206.6) |
| (150.9) | (26.0) | (24.2) | (5.5) | |||
Net income | $ 356.1 |
| $ 253.9 | $ 50.0 | $ 42.6 | $ 9.6 | |||
Identifiable assets | $3,249.6 |
| $2,169.9 | $397.1 | $377.1 | $305.5 | |||
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates | 37.5 |
|
|
| 37.3 | 0.2 | |||
Capital expenditures | 752.7 |
| 586.3 | 82.7 | 82.2 | 1.5 | |||
Goodwill | 60.9 |
| 60.9 |
|
|
| |||
Note 14 – Unaudited Quarterly Financial Information
The quarterly information for the first, second and third quarters of 2007 was restated to correct for errors related to intercompany elimination of natural gas and crude oil sales between Questar E&P and Energy Trading. The restatements did not impact net income, operating income, the Consolidated Balance Sheets or the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The Company filed amended Forms 10-Q in 2008 explaining the corrections. Following is a summary of quarterly financial information:
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
52
| First | Second | Third | Fourth |
|
| Quarter | Quarter | Quarter | Quarter | Year |
| (in millions) | ||||
2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues | $617.5 | $680.5 | $661.4 | $570.7 | $2,530.1 |
Operating income | 222.7 | 259.9 | 353.6 | 208.3 | 1,044.5 |
Net income | 139.3 | 162.1 | 197.6 | 86.5 | 585.5 |
2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues as reported | $478.7 | $430.6 | $411.8 | $522.3 | $1,843.4 |
Revenues as restated | 502.8 | 451.6 | 423.6 | 465.4 | 1,843.4 |
Operating income | 165.5 | 173.1 | 167.7 | 167.1 | 673.4 |
Net income | 109.5 | 102.1 | 108.7 | 100.5 | 420.8 |
Note 15 – Supplemental Gas and Oil Information (Unaudited)
In accordance with SFAS 69 and Regulation S-X, the Company is making the following supplemental disclosures of gas and oil producing activities.
The Company uses the successful efforts accounting method for its gas and oil exploration and development activities and for cost-of-service gas and oil properties.
Questar E&P Activities
The following information is provided with respect to Questar E&P’s gas and oil exploration and production activities, which are all located in the United States.
Capitalized Costs
The aggregate amounts of costs capitalized for gas and oil exploration and development activities and the related amounts of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization are shown below:
| December 31, | |
| 2008 | 2007 |
| (in millions) | |
Proved properties | $ 4,912.6 | $ 3,306.9 |
Unproved properties | 193.2 | 55.6 |
Support equipment and facilities | 35.6 | 23.3 |
| 5,141.4 | 3,385.8 |
Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization | (1,421.8) | (1,114.3) |
| $ 3,719.6 | $ 2,271.5 |
Costs Incurred
The costs incurred in gas and oil exploration and development activities are displayed in the table below. The development costs include expenditures to develop a portion of the proved undeveloped reserves reported at the end of the prior year. These costs were $219.9 million in 2008, $125.8 million in 2007 and $109.2 million in 2006.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 |
| (in millions) | ||
Property acquisition |
|
|
|
Unproved | $ 125.1 | $ 1.0 | $ 8.8 |
Proved | 602.7 | 45.1 | 20.6 |
Leaseholds | 42.2 | 27.9 | 13.7 |
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
53
Exploration (capitalized and expensed) | 60.1 | 25.4 | 34.5 |
Development | 1,059.8 | 641.7 | 581.2 |
| $1,889.9 | $741.1 | $658.8 |
Results of Operation
Following are the results of operation of Questar E&P gas and oil exploration and development activities, before corporate overhead and interest expenses.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 |
| (in millions) | ||
Revenues | $1,392.1 | $956.0 | $815.7 |
Production expenses | 229.4 | 148.0 | 131.9 |
Exploration expenses | 29.3 | 22.0 | 34.4 |
Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 330.9 | 243.5 | 185.7 |
Abandonment and impairment | 44.6 | 10.8 | 7.6 |
Total expenses | 634.2 | 424.3 | 359.6 |
Revenues less expenses | 757.9 | 531.7 | 456.1 |
Income taxes | (269.1) | (197.3) | (170.1) |
Results of operation before corporate overhead and interest expenses | $ 488.8 | $334.4 | $286.0 |
Estimated Quantities of Proved Gas and Oil Reserves
Estimates of the Company’s proved gas and oil reserves have been prepared by Ryder Scott Company and Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., independent reservoir engineers, in accordance with the SEC’s Regulation S-X and SFAS 69 “Disclosures about Oil and Gas Producing Activities.” The table below summarizes the changes in the estimated net quantities of proved natural gas, oil and NGL reserves for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008. The quantities reported are based on existing economic and operating conditions at the time the estimates were made. All gas and oil reserves reported are located in the United States. The Company does not have any long-term supply contracts with foreign governments or reserves of equity investees.
|
|
| Natural Gas |
| Natural Gas | Oil and NGL | Equivalents |
| (Bcf) | (MMbbl) | (Bcfe)(a) |
Proved Reserves |
|
|
|
Balance at January 1, 2006 | 1,324.8 | 25.9 | 1,480.4 |
Revisions - |
|
|
|
Previous estimates | (38.9) | 2.6 | (23.8) |
Pinedale increased-density(b) | 163.0 | 1.2 | 170.4 |
Extensions and discoveries | 119.1 | 1.2 | 126.6 |
Purchase of reserves in place | 9.8 | 0.1 | 10.2 |
Sale of reserves in place | (2.7) |
| (2.8) |
Production | (113.9) | (2.6) | (129.6) |
Balance at December 31, 2006 | 1,461.2 | 28.4 | 1,631.4 |
Revisions - |
|
|
|
Previous estimates | 26.3 | 3.3 | 46.2 |
Pinedale increased-density(b) | 120.6 | 1.0 | 126.8 |
Extensions and discoveries | 172.6 | 3.3 | 192.7 |
Purchase of reserves in place | 16.0 | 0.2 | 17.1 |
Sale of reserves in place | (6.3) |
| (6.4) |
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
54
Production | (121.9) | (3.0) | (140.2) |
Balance at December 31, 2007 | 1,668.5 | 33.2 | 1,867.6 |
Revisions - |
|
|
|
Previous estimates | (128.5) | (4.0) | (152.9) |
Pinedale increased-density(b) | 154.5 | 1.2 | 161.8 |
Extensions and discoveries | 208.0 | 5.2 | 239.1 |
Purchase of reserves in place | 289.8 | 0.4 | 292.4 |
Sale of reserves in place | (11.9) | (1.1) | (18.5) |
Production | (151.9) | (3.3) | (171.4) |
Balance at December 31, 2008 | 2,028.5 | 31.6 | 2,218.1 |
Proved-Developed Reserves |
|
|
|
Balance at January 1, 2006 | 792.0 | 21.4 | 920.5 |
Balance at December 31, 2006 | 852.0 | 23.1 | 990.7 |
Balance at December 31, 2007 | 987.4 | 26.7 | 1,147.4 |
Balance at December 31, 2008 | 1,128.1 | 23.6 | 1,269.4 |
(a)Natural Gas Equivalents – oil volumes are converted to natural gas equivalents using the ratio of one barrel of crude oil, condensate or NGL to 6,000 cubic feet of natural gas.
(b)Estimates of the quantity of proved reserves from the Company’s Pinedale Anticline leasehold in western Wyoming have changed substantially over time as a result of numerous factors including, but not limited to, additional development drilling activity, producing well performance and an improved understanding of Lance Pool reservoir characteristics. The continued analysis of new data has led to progressive increases in estimates of original gas-in-place in the Lance Pool reservoirs at Pinedale and to a better understanding of the appropriate well density to maximize the economic recovery of the in-place volumes. The Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (WOGCC) has approved 10-acre-density drilling for Lance Pool wells on about 12,700 (gross) of the Company’s 17,872 acre (gross) Pinedale leasehold. The area approved for increased density corresponds to the estimated productive limits of the Company’s core acreage in the field. In January 2008, t he WOGCC approved five-acre-density drilling for Lance Pool wells on about 4,200 gross acres of Market Resources Pinedale leasehold. If five-acre-density development is appropriate for a majority of its leasehold, the Company currently estimates up to an additional 1,600 wells will be required to fully develop the Lance Pool on its acreage. The Company will continue to disclose future revisions to proved reserves associated with Pinedale increased density drilling separately.
Standardized Measure of Future Net Cash Flows Relating to Proved Reserves
Future net cash flows were calculated at December 31 using year-end prices and known contract-price changes. The year-end prices do not include any impact of hedging activities. The average year-end price per Mcf of proved natural gas reserves was $4.62 in 2008, $6.01 in 2007 and $4.47 in 2006. The average year-end price per barrel of proved oil and NGL reserves combined was $28.41 in 2008, $80.86 in 2007 and $51.49 in 2006. Year-end production costs, development costs and appropriate statutory income tax rates, with consideration of future tax rates already legislated, were used to compute the future net cash flows. All cash flows were discounted at 10% to reflect the time value of cash flows, without regard to the risk of specific properties. The estimated future costs to develop booked proved undeveloped reserves are $438.4 million in 2009, $421.7 million in 2010 and $298.7 million in 2011. At the end of this three-year period the Company expects to have evaluated about 56% of the cu rrent booked proved undeveloped reserves.
The assumptions used to derive the standardized measure of future net cash flows are those required by accounting standards and do not necessarily reflect the Company’s expectations. The usefulness of the standardized measure of future net cash flows is impaired because of the reliance on reserve estimates and production schedules that are inherently imprecise.
Management considers a number of factors when making investment and operating decisions. They include estimates of probable and proved reserves and varying price and cost assumptions considered more representative of a range of anticipated economic conditions.
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
55
| Year Ended December 31, | |||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | |
| (in millions) | |||
Future cash inflows | $10,263.4 | $12,704.3 | $ 7,985.1 | |
Future production costs | (2,717.6) | (2,863.4) | (2,133.0) | |
Future development costs | (1,884.0) | (1,232.4) | (1,026.9) | |
Future income tax expenses | (1,241.3) | (2,668.8) | (1,396.2) | |
Future net cash flows | 4,420.5 | 5,939.7 | 3,429.0 | |
10% annual discount to reflect timing of net cash flows | (2,418.6) | (3,105.7) | (1,861.2) | |
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows | $ 2,001.9 | $ 2,834.0 | $ 1,567.8 | |
The principal sources of change in the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows were:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 |
| (in millions) | ||
Balance at January 1, | $2,834.0 | $1,567.8 | $2,707.1 |
Sales of gas and oil produced, net of production costs | (1,162.7) | (808.0) | (683.8) |
Net changes in prices and production costs | (1,306.1) | 1,554.6 | (1,994.3) |
Extensions and discoveries, less related costs | 438.7 | 523.6 | 233.1 |
Revisions of quantity estimates | 16.3 | 470.0 | 269.9 |
Net purchases and sales of reserves in place | 625.0 | 41.8 | (7.5) |
Cost to develop proved undeveloped reserves | 219.9 | 125.8 | 109.2 |
Change in future development | (662.6) | (214.5) | (259.6) |
Accretion of discount | 410.7 | 221.0 | 411.0 |
Net change in income taxes | 711.2 | (635.0) | 760.8 |
Other | (122.5) | (13.1) | 21.9 |
Net change | (832.1) | 1,266.2 | (1,139.3) |
Balance at December 31, | $2,001.9 | $2,834.0 | $1,567.8 |
Cost-of-Service Activities
The following information is provided with respect to cost-of-service gas and oil properties managed and developed by Wexpro and governed by the Wexpro Agreement. Information on the standardized measure of future net cash flows has not been included for cost-of-service activities because the operations of and return on investment for such properties are regulated by the Wexpro Agreement.
Capitalized Costs
Capitalized costs for cost-of-service gas and oil properties net of the related accumulated depreciation and amortization are shown below.
| December 31, | |
| 2008 | 2007 |
| (in millions) | |
Wexpro | $536.6 | $434.7 |
Questar Gas | 11.2 | 12.2 |
| $547.8 | $446.9 |
Costs Incurred
Costs incurred by Wexpro for cost-of-service gas and oil-producing activities were $148.0 million in 2008, $110.7 million in 2007 and $100.3 million in 2006.
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
56
Results of Operation
Following are the results of operation of cost-of-service gas and oil-development activities, before corporate overhead and interest expenses:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 |
| (in millions) | ||
Revenues |
|
|
|
From unaffiliated companies | $ 31.1 | $ 21.6 | $ 19.7 |
From affiliates(a) | 209.9 | 155.7 | 150.5 |
Total revenues | 241.0 | 177.3 | 170.2 |
Production expenses | 67.3 | 41.4 | 50.5 |
Depreciation and amortization | 48.5 | 31.2 | 33.1 |
Total expenses | 115.8 | 72.6 | 83.6 |
Revenues less expenses | 125.2 | 104.7 | 86.6 |
Income taxes | (44.9) | (35.2) | (29.6) |
Results of operation before corporate overhead and interest expense | $ 80.3 | $ 69.5 | $ 57.0 |
(a)Primarily represents revenues received from Questar Gas pursuant to the Wexpro Agreement.
Estimated Quantities of Cost-of-Service Proved Gas and Oil Reserves
Because gas reserves managed, developed and produced by Wexpro are delivered to Questar Gas at cost-of-service, SEC guidelines with respect to standard economic assumptions are not applicable. The SEC anticipated this potential difficulty and provides that companies may give appropriate recognition to differences arising because of the effect of the ratemaking process. Accordingly, Wexpro uses a minimum-producing rate or maximum well-life limit to determine the ultimate quantity of reserves attributable to each well. The following estimates were made by the Wexpro’s reservoir engineers:
|
|
| Natural Gas |
| Natural Gas | Oil and NGL | Equivalents |
| (Bcf) | (MMbbl) | (Bcfe)(a) |
Proved Reserves |
|
|
|
Balance at January 1, 2006 | 497.3 | 3.9 | 520.5 |
Revisions- |
|
|
|
Previous estimates | 22.3 | (0.1) | 21.5 |
Pinedale increased-density(b) | 100.0 | 0.8 | 104.6 |
Extensions and discoveries | 39.8 | 0.2 | 41.3 |
Production | (38.8) | (0.4) | (40.9) |
Balance at December 31, 2006 | 620.6 | 4.4 | 647.0 |
Revisions- |
|
|
|
Previous estimates | (29.9) |
| (30.0) |
Pinedale increased-density(b) | 24.6 | 0.2 | 25.9 |
Extensions and discoveries | 35.5 | 0.1 | 36.4 |
Production | (34.9) | (0.4) | (37.4) |
Balance at December 31, 2007 | 615.9 | 4.3 | 641.9 |
Revisions- |
|
|
|
Previous estimates | (19.6) | (0.1) | (20.2) |
Pinedale increased-density(b) | 65.1 | 0.5 | 68.2 |
Extensions and discoveries | 31.6 | 0.2 | 32.6 |
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
57
Production | (46.1) | (0.4) | (48.6) |
Balance at December 31, 2008 | 646.9 | 4.5 | 673.9 |
|
|
|
|
Proved Developed Reserves |
|
|
|
Balance at January 1, 2006 | 406.6 | 3.1 | 425.2 |
Balance at December 31, 2006 | 440.6 | 2.9 | 458.2 |
Balance at December 31, 2007 | 439.4 | 2.9 | 456.9 |
Balance at December 31, 2008 | 471.4 | 3.1 | 489.9 |
(a)Natural Gas Equivalents – oil volumes are converted to natural gas equivalents using the ratio of one barrel of crude oil, condensate or NGL to 6,000 cubic feet of natural gas.
(b)The area approved by the WOGCC for 10-acre-density drilling of Lance Pool wells corresponds to the estimated productive limits of the Company’s core acreage in the field. The Company will continue to disclose future revisions to proved reserves associated with Pinedale increased-density drilling separately.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
The Company has not changed its independent auditors or had any disagreement with them concerning accounting matters and financial statement disclosures within the last 24 months.
ITEM 9A(T). CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as of December 31, 2008. Based on such evaluation, such officers have concluded that, as of December 31, 2008, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in alerting them on a timely basis to material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, required to be included in the Company’s reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer also concluded that the controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management including its principal executive and financial officers or persons performing similar functions as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Controls
There were no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2008, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
58
Management’s Assessment of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Market Resources management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e). The Company’s management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008. The criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control – Integrated Framework were used to make this assessment. Management believes that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, is effective based on those criteria.
This Annual Report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this Annual Report.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION.
None.
PART III
The Company, as a wholly owned subsidiary of a reporting company under the Act, is entitled to omit all information requested in Part III, Items 10-13.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES.
Ernst & Young, LLP, serves as the independent registered public accounting firm for Questar and its subsidiaries including the Company. The following table lists the fees billed by Ernst & Young to Questar for services and the fees billed directly to the Company or allocated to the Company as a member of Questar’s consolidated group:
| 2008 | 2007 |
Audit Fees | $1,277,387 | $1,187,720 |
Market Resources Portion | 713,019 | 674,035 |
Audit-related Fees | 100,000 | 95,000 |
Market Resources Portion | 49,779 | 54,839 |
Tax Fees | 3,570 | 10,113 |
Market Resources Portion | 2,129 | 5,814 |
All Other Fees | 237,879 | 295,455 |
Market Resources Portion | 184,484 | 7,280 |
PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
Financial statements and financial statement schedules filed as part of this report are listed in the index included in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of this report.
(b) Exhibits. The following is a list of exhibits required to be filed as a part of this report in Item 15(b).
Exhibit No.
Description
1.1.*
Purchase Agreement, dated May 11, 2006, by and among Questar Market Resources, Inc., and named Underwriters. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 11, 2006.)
1.2.*
Purchase Agreement, dated April 1, 2008, by and among Questar Market Resources Inc., and the Underwriters named on Schedule A thereto. (Exhibit No. 1.1. to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 1, 2008.)
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
59
3.1.*
Articles of Incorporation dated April 27, 1988, for Utah Entrada Industries, Inc. (Exhibit No. 3.1. to the Company’s Form 10 dated April 12, 2000.)
3.2.*
Articles of Merger dated May 20, 1988, of Entrada Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation and Utah Entrada Industries, Inc, a Utah corporation. (Exhibit No. 3.2. to the Company’s Form 10 dated April 12, 2000.)
3.3.*
Articles of Amendment dated August 31, 1998, changing the name of Entrada Industries, Inc. to Questar Market Resources, Inc. (Exhibit No. 3.3. to the Company’s Form 10 dated April 12, 2000.)
3.4.*
Bylaws, as amended effective February 8, 2005, (Exhibit No. 3.4. to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2004.)1
4.1.*1
Indenture dated as of March 1, 2001, between Questar Market Resources, Inc. and Bank One, NA, as Trustee for the Company’s Notes. (Exhibit No. 4.01. to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 6, 2001.)
4.2.*
Credit Agreement dated March 19, 2004, by and among the Company, Bank of America, N.A. and other lenders. (Exhibit No. 4.4. to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2003.)
4.3.*
Form of the Registrant’s 6.05% Notes due 2016. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 11, 2006.)
4.4.*
Form of Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the 6.05% Notes. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 11, 2006.)
4.5.*
Term Credit Agreement dated February 15, 2008, by and among the Company and Bank of America, N.A. (Exhibit 4.5 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2007,)
4.6.*
Credit Agreement dated March 11, 2008 by and among Questar Market Resources, Inc., Bank of America, N.A. and other lenders. (Exhibit No. 4.1. to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2008.)
10.1.*
Stipulation and Agreement dated October 14, 1981, executed by Mountain Fuel Supply Company [Questar Gas Company]; Wexpro Company; the Utah Department of Business Regulations, Division of Public Utilities; the Utah Committee of Consumer Services; and the staff of the Public Service Commission of Wyoming. (Exhibit No. 10(a) to Questar Gas Company’s Form 10-K Annual Report for 1981.)
10.2.*
First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated October 25, 2004, by and among the Company, Bank of America, N.A. and other lenders. (Exhibit No. 4.5. to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2004.)
10.3.*
Second Amendment to Credit Agreement dated August 9, 2005, by and among Questar Market Resources, Inc., Bank of America, N.A. and other lenders. (Exhibit No. 4.4. to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2005.)
10.4.*
Third Amendment to Credit Agreement dated September 20, 2005, by and among Questar Market Resources, Inc., Bank of America, N.A. and other lenders. (Exhibit No. 4.5. to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2005.)
10.5.*
Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement dated July 27, 2006, by and among Questar Market Resources, Inc., Bank of America, N.A. and other lenders. (Exhibit No. 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for Quarter Ended June 30, 2006.)
10.6.*
Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement dated July 25, 2007, by and among Questar Market Resources, Inc., Bank of America, N.A. and other lenders. (Exhibit No. 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for Quarter Ended June 30, 2007.)
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
60
10.7.*
Purchase and Sale Agreement dated January 25, 2008, by and among Will-Drill Resources, Inc. and other sellers party thereto and Questar Exploration and Production Company. (Exhibit No. 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K date February 29, 2008.)
12.
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges.
21.
Subsidiary Information.
23.1.
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
23.2
Consent of Independent Petroleum Engineers and Geologists.
23.3
Consent of Independent Petroleum Engineers and Geologists.
24.
Power of Attorney.
31.1.
Certification signed by Charles B. Stanley, Questar Market Resources, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2.
Certification signed by S. E. Parks, Questar Market Resources, Inc. Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.
Certification signed by Charles B. Stanley and S. E. Parks, Questar Market Resources, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, respectively, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
*Exhibits so marked have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of the referenced filing and are incorporated herein by reference.
1Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. serves as the successor trustee.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on the 27th day of February, 2009.
QUESTAR MARKET RESOURCES, INC.
(Registrant)
By:
/s/C. B. Stanley
C. B. Stanley
President and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
/s/C. B. Stanley
President and Chief Executive Officer
C. B. Stanley
Director (Principal Executive Officer)
/s/S. E. Parks
Vice President and Chief Financial
S. E. Parks
Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
/s/Kurtis Watts
Vice President and Controller
B. Kurtis Watts
(Principal Accounting Officer)
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
61
*Keith O. Rattie
Chairman of the Board; Director
*Phillips S. Baker, Jr.
Director
*Teresa Beck
Director
*R. D. Cash
Director
*L. Richard Flury
Director
*James A. Harmon
Director
*Robert E. McKee III
Director
*M. W. Scoggins
Director
*C. B. Stanley
Director
February 27, 2009
*By
/s/C. B. Stanley
Date
C. B. Stanley, Attorney in Fact
Exhibits List
Exhibit No.
Description
1.1.*
Purchase Agreement, dated May 11, 2006, by and among Questar Market Resources, Inc., and named Underwriters. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 11, 2006.)
1.2.*
Purchase Agreement, dated April 1, 2008, by and among Questar Market Resources Inc., and the Underwriters named on Schedule A thereto. (Exhibit No. 1.1. to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 1, 2008.)
3.1.*
Articles of Incorporation dated April 27, 1988, for Utah Entrada Industries, Inc. (Exhibit No. 3.1. to the Company’s Form 10 dated April 12, 2000.)
3.2.*
Articles of Merger dated May 20, 1988, of Entrada Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation and Utah Entrada Industries, Inc, a Utah corporation. (Exhibit No. 3.2. to the Company’s Form 10 dated April 12, 2000.)
3.3.*
Articles of Amendment dated August 31, 1998, changing the name of Entrada Industries, Inc. to Questar Market Resources, Inc. (Exhibit No. 3.3. to the Company’s Form 10 dated April 12, 2000.)
3.4.*
Bylaws, as amended effective February 8, 2005, (Exhibit No. 3.4. to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2004.)
1
4.1.*1
Indenture dated as of March 1, 2001, between Questar Market Resources, Inc. and Bank One, NA, as Trustee for the Company’s Notes. (Exhibit No. 4.01. to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 6, 2001.)
4.2.*
Credit Agreement dated March 19, 2004, by and among the Company, Bank of America, N.A. and other lenders. (Exhibit No. 4.4. to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2003.)
4.3.*
Form of the Registrant’s 6.05% Notes due 2016. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 11, 2006.)
4.4.*
Form of Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the 6.05% Notes. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 11, 2006.)
4.5.*
Term Credit Agreement dated February 15, 2008, by and among the Company and Bank of America, N.A. (Exhibit 4.5 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2007,)
4.6.*
Credit Agreement dated March 11, 2008 by and among Questar Market Resources, Inc., Bank of America, N.A. and other lenders. (Exhibit No. 4.1. to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2008.)
10.1.*
Stipulation and Agreement dated October 14, 1981, executed by Mountain Fuel Supply Company [Questar Gas Company]; Wexpro Company; the Utah Department of Business Regulations, Division of Public
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
62
Utilities; the Utah Committee of Consumer Services; and the staff of the Public Service Commission of Wyoming. (Exhibit No. 10(a) to Questar Gas Company’s Form 10-K Annual Report for 1981.)
10.2.*
First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated October 25, 2004, by and among the Company, Bank of America, N.A. and other lenders. (Exhibit No. 4.5. to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2004.)
10.3.*
Second Amendment to Credit Agreement dated August 9, 2005, by and among Questar Market Resources, Inc., Bank of America, N.A. and other lenders. (Exhibit No. 4.4. to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2005.)
10.4.*
Third Amendment to Credit Agreement dated September 20, 2005, by and among Questar Market Resources, Inc., Bank of America, N.A. and other lenders. (Exhibit No. 4.5. to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2005.)
10.5.*
Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement dated July 27, 2006, by and among Questar Market Resources, Inc., Bank of America, N.A. and other lenders. (Exhibit No. 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for Quarter Ended June 30, 2006.)
10.6.*
Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement dated July 25, 2007, by and among Questar Market Resources, Inc., Bank of America, N.A. and other lenders. (Exhibit No. 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for Quarter Ended June 30, 2007.)
10.7.*
Purchase and Sale Agreement dated January 25, 2008, by and among Will-Drill Resources, Inc. and other sellers party thereto and Questar Exploration and Production Company. (Exhibit No. 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K date February 29, 2008.)
12.
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges.
21.
Subsidiary Information.
23.1.
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
23.2
Consent of Independent Petroleum Engineers and Geologists.
23.3
Consent of Independent Petroleum Engineers and Geologists.
24.
Power of Attorney.
31.1.
Certification signed by Charles B. Stanley, Questar Market Resources, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2.
Certification signed by S. E. Parks, Questar Market Resources, Inc. Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.
Certification signed by Charles B. Stanley and S. E. Parks, Questar Market Resources, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, respectively, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
*Exhibits so marked have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of the referenced filing and are incorporated herein by reference.
1Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. serves as the successor trustee.
Questar Market Resources 2008 Form 10-K
63
Exhibit 12.
Questar Market Resources, Inc.
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
| Year Ended December 31, | ||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 |
| (dollars in millions) | ||
Earnings |
|
|
|
Income before income taxes | $910.4 | $662.1 | $562.7 |
Less Company’s share of earnings of |
|
|
|
equity investees | (1.7) | (8.9) | (7.5) |
Plus distributions from equity investees | 0.5 | 10.4 | 7.1 |
Plus interest expense | 62.2 | 35.6 | 33.9 |
Plus capitalized interest | 4.9 |
|
|
Plus interest portion of rental expense | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.2 |
| $978.3 | $700.7 | $597.4 |
|
|
|
|
Fixed Charges |
|
|
|
Interest expense | $ 62.2 | $ 35.6 | $ 33.9 |
Plus capitalized interest | 4.9 |
|
|
Plus interest portion of rental expense | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.2 |
| $ 69.1 | $ 37.1 | $ 35.1 |
|
|
|
|
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges | 14.2 | 18.9 | 17.0 |
For purposes of this presentation, earnings represent income before income taxes adjusted for fixed charges, earnings and distributions of equity investees. Income before income taxes includes Market Resources’ share of pretax earnings of equity investees. Fixed charges consist of total interest charges (expensed and capitalized), amortization of debt issuance costs, and the interest portion of rental expense estimated at 50%.
Exhibit 21.
SUBSIDIARY INFORMATION
Registrant Questar Market Resources has the following subsidiaries: Wexpro Company, Questar Exploration and Production Company, Questar Energy Trading Company, Questar Gas Management Company and Questar Employee Services, Inc. Questar Exploration and Production Company is a Texas corporation. The other listed companies are incorporated in Utah.
Questar Exploration and Production Company has two wholly owned subsidiaries: Questar URC Company, a Delaware corporation and Rippy Energy, Inc., a Texas corporation. Questar Exploration and Production Company also does business under the names Universal Resources Corporation, Questar Energy Company and URC Corporation
Questar Energy Trading Company has two subsidiaries: URC Canyon Creek Compression Company; and Questar Oil and Gas Company. Both are Utah corporations.
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements (Form S-3 No. 333-153818 and Form S-3 No. 333-149589) of Questar Market Resources and in the related Prospectus of our report dated February 24, 2009, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Questar Market Resources included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2008.
/s/Ernst & Young, LLP
Salt Lake City, Utah
February 24, 2009
Exhibit 23.2.
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM ENGINEERS AND GEOLOGISTS
As independent petroleum engineers, we hereby consent to the reference of our appraisal reports for Questar Exploration and Production Company in the Form 10-K of Questar Corporation and Questar Market Resources, Inc. as of years ended December 31, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 incorporated herein by reference into Questar Corporation’s Registration Statements Nos. 33-04436, 33-15149, 33-40800, 33-40801, 33-48169, 333-04913, 333-04951, 333-67658, 333-89486 and 333-09643 on Form S-8. We also hereby consent to the reference of our appraisal reports for Questar Exploration and Production Company in Questar Market Resources, Inc.’s Registration Statements Nos. 333-149589 and 333-153818 on Form S-3.
/s/Ryder Scott Company, L.P
.
RYDER SCOTT COMPANY, L.P.
Denver, Colorado
February 26, 2009
Exhibit 23.3.
Consent of Independent Petroleum Engineers and Geologists
As independent petroleum engineers, we hereby consent to the inclusion of the information included in the Form 10-K of Questar Corporation and Questar Market Resources, Inc. with respect to the oil and gas reserves of Questar Exploration and Production Company as of years ended December 31, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. We hereby further consent to all references to our firm included in this Form 10-K. We also further consent to the inclusion of the information included in the Form 10-K with respect to the oil and gas reserves of Questar Exploration and Production Company in Questar Corporation’s Registration Statements Nos. 33-04436, 33-15149, 33-40800, 33-40801, 33-48169, 333-04913, 333-04951, 333-67658, 333-89486, 333-09643 on Form S-8 and Questar Market Resources, Inc.’s Registration Statements Nos. 333-149589 and 333-153818 on Form S-3.
NETHERLAND, SEWELL & ASSOCIATES, INC.
By: /s/C. H. (Scott) Rees III, P.E.
C. H. (Scott) Rees III, P.E.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Dallas, Texas
February 26, 2009
Exhibit 24.
POWER OF ATTORNEY
We, the undersigned directors of Questar Market Resources, Inc., hereby severally constitute C. B. Stanley and S. E. Parks, and each of them acting alone, our true and lawful attorneys, with full power to them and each of them to sign for us, and in our names in the capacities indicated below, the Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2008 and any and all amendments to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Questar Market Resources, Inc., hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed by the attorneys appointed herein to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2008 and any and all amendments to such Report.
Witness our hands on the respective dates set forth below.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/
Chairman of the Board
02/10/09
K. O. Rattie
/s/
President and
02/10/09
C. B. Stanley
Chief Executive Officer
/s/
Director
02/10/09
Phillips S. Baker
/s/
Director
02/10/09
R. D. Cash
/s/
Director
02/10/09
L. Richard Flury
/s/
Director
02/10/09
James A. Harmon
/s/
Director
02/10/09
Robert E. McKee
/s/
Director
02/10/09
M. W. Scoggins
BOARD\MEETING\09\FEB 9-10\POA QMR.DOC
Exhibit 31.1.
CERTIFICATION
I, Charles B. Stanley, certify that:
1.
I have reviewed this report of Questar Market Resources, Inc. on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2008;
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and we have:
a)
designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b)
designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c)
evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d)
disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):
a)
all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b)
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
February 27, 2009
/s/ C. B. Stanley
C. B. Stanley
President and Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit 31.2.
CERTIFICATION
I, S. E. Parks, certify that:
1.
I have reviewed this report of Questar Market Resources, Inc. on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2008;
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and we have:
a)
designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b)
designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c)
evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d)
disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):
a)
all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b)
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
February 27, 2009
/s/S. E. Parks
S. E. Parks
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Exhibit No. 32.
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with this report of Questar Market Resources, Inc. (the Company) on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2008, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the Report), C. B. Stanley, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and S. E. Parks, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, each hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of his knowledge:
(1)
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2)
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
QUESTAR MARKET RESOURCES, INC.
February 27, 2009
/s/C. B. Stanley
C. B. Stanley
President and Chief Executive Officer
February 27, 2009
/s/S. E. Parks
S. E. Parks
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer