10-K 1 d10k.htm FORM 10-K Form 10-K
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-K

 

(Mark One)

 

x    ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004

 

OR

¨    TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from              to             .

 

Commission file number: 001-14837

 


 

QUICKSILVER RESOURCES INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   75-2756163

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

777 West Rosedale, Suite 300, Fort Worth, Texas 76104

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (817) 665-5000

 

 


 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class


 

Name of each exchange

on which registered


Common Stock, par value

$0.01 per share

  New York Stock Exchange

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (g) of the Act: None

 

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. ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes x No ¨

 

As of June 30, 2004, the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of Quicksilver Resources Inc. was approximately $993,572,897 based on the New York Stock Exchange composite trading closing price of $33.53 on June 30, 2004. Shares of the registrant’s voting stock owned by its directors, executive officers and certain Darden family members and related entities were excluded from this aggregate market value calculation; however, such exclusion does not represent a conclusion by the registrant that any or all of such directors, executive officers and certain Darden family members and related entities are affiliates of the registrant.

 

As of February 28, 2005, 50,233,180 shares of common stock of Quicksilver Resources Inc. were outstanding.

 

Documents incorporated by reference: Proxy statement of the registrant relating to the annual meeting of stockholders to be held on May 17, 2005 which is incorporated into Part III of this Form 10-K.

 



Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

INDEX TO ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

For the Year Ended December 31, 2004

PART I

ITEM  1.        Business

   3

ITEM  2.        Properties

   20

ITEM  3.        Legal Proceedings

   26

ITEM  4.        Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

   27

PART II

    

ITEM  5.        Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

   28

ITEM  6.        Selected Financial Data

   29

ITEM  7.        Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   30

ITEM  7A.     Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

   51

ITEM  8.        Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

   52

ITEM  9.        Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

   92

ITEM  9A.     Controls and Procedures

   92

ITEM  9B.     Other Information

   95

PART III

    

ITEM  10.      Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

   96

ITEM  11.      Executive Compensation

   96

ITEM  12.      Security Ownership of Certain Management and Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

   96

ITEM  13.      Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

   96

ITEM  14.      Principal Accountant Fees and Services

   96

PART IV

    

ITEM  15.      Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

   97

Signatures

   100

 

Except as otherwise specified and unless the context otherwise requires, references to the “Company,” “Quicksilver,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Quicksilver Resources Inc. and its subsidiaries.

 

All share and per share amounts have been adjusted to reflect a two-for-one stock split effected in the form of a stock dividend in June 2004.

 

Quantities of natural gas are expressed in this report in terms of thousand cubic feet (“Mcf”), million cubic feet (“MMcf”) or billion cubic feet (“Bcf”). Crude oil and natural gas liquids are quantified in terms of barrels (“Bbl”), thousands of barrels (“MBbl”) or millions of barrels (“MMBbl”). Crude oil and natural gas liquids are compared to natural gas in terms of thousands of cubic feet of natural gas equivalent (“Mcfe”), millions of cubic feet of natural gas equivalent (“MMcfe”) or billions of cubic feet of natural gas equivalent (“Bcfe”). One barrel of crude oil or natural gas liquids is the energy equivalent of six Mcf of natural gas. Natural gas volumes also may be expressed in terms of one million British thermal units (“MMBtu”), which is approximately equal to one Mcf. Daily natural gas and crude oil production is signified by the addition of the letter “d” to the end of the terms defined above. With respect to information relating to working interests in wells or acreage, “net” natural gas and crude oil wells or acreage is determined by multiplying gross wells or acreage by the working interest we own. Unless otherwise specified, all reference to wells and acres are gross.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

PART I

 

ITEM 1. Business

 

We are an independent oil and gas company engaged in the exploration, acquisition, development, production and sale of natural gas, crude oil and natural gas liquids (“NGLs”) primarily from unconventional reservoirs such as fractured shales, coal beds and tight sands. We were organized as a Delaware corporation in 1999 and became a public company in 1999 through a merger with MSR Exploration Ltd. (“MSR”). Mercury Exploration Company (“Mercury”), which made significant contributions of properties to us at the time of our formation, was founded by Frank Darden in 1963 to explore and develop conventional oil and gas properties in the United States. As of December 31, 2004, members of the Darden family, together with Mercury and another entity entirely controlled by members of the Darden family, the sons and daughter of Frank Darden, beneficially owned approximately 37% of our outstanding common stock as of December 31, 2004. Thomas Darden, Glenn Darden and Anne Darden Self serve on our Board of Directors along with four independent directors. Thomas Darden is Chairman of our Board, Glenn Darden is our President and Chief Executive Officer and Anne Darden Self is our Vice President-Human Resources.

 

Our operations are concentrated in Michigan, Indiana/Kentucky, Texas, the Rocky Mountains and the Canadian province of Alberta. At December 31, 2004, we had estimated proved reserves of 968 Bcfe. Approximately 92% of our reserves were natural gas, 77% were classified as proved developed and we operated approximately 70% of our reserves. Approximately 62% of our estimated proved reserves are located in Michigan and are characterized by long reserve lives and predictable well production profiles. For 2005, we expect to continue exploration and development of coal bed methane reserves in Alberta, Canada where approximately 27% of our proved reserves are located. We also expect to increase our exploration and development activities in the Barnett Shale of north Texas. We believe that much of our future growth will be through exploration and development of our interests in Canadian coal bed methane and north Texas Barnett Shale.

 

We intend to maintain an active capital-spending program that will focus primarily on the continued development and exploration of our coal bed methane properties in Canada and our Barnett Shale projects in north Texas. We also plan to continue the development and exploitation of our properties in Michigan and Indiana/Kentucky. For 2005, we have established a company-wide base capital budget of $235 million, with additional spending approved up to a maximum of $261 million. The discretion for additional expenditures will be based upon drilling and acreage acquisition opportunities in Texas and the success of horizontal drilling in Michigan, Indiana and Canada’s Mannville coals. The maximum Canadian capital budget is approximately $107 million, which includes drilling approximately 497 wells (275 net), as well as construction of gathering lines, facilities and acreage acquisition. Approximately of $115 million of the United States capital budget will focus on north Texas where we expect to drill approximately 40 net Barnett Shale wells, construct gas plant facilities and phase one of the Cowtown Pipeline and acquire additional acreage. We also plan to dedicate approximately $38 million of the 2005 capital budget to our fractured shale projects in Michigan and Indiana/Kentucky. In both these areas, a portion of that budget will be spent for exploration activity that is intended to expand the known productive fairways.

 

The following table presents information regarding our primary areas of operation as of December 31, 2004:

 

Areas of Operations


  

Proved
Reserves

(Bcfe)


   %
Natural
Gas


   

% Proved

Developed


   

2004

Production

(MMcfed)


Michigan

   601.3    95 %   90 %   84.8

Canada

   261.1    100 %   57 %   23.8

Indiana/Kentucky

   29.2    100 %   75 %   5.9

Texas

   36.7    60 %   53 %   0.5

Rockies

   40.0    7 %   41 %   5.9
    
  

 

 

Total

   968.3    92 %   77 %   120.9

 

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We conduct our Canadian operations through our wholly owned subsidiary, MGV Energy Inc. (“MGV”). In 2000, we entered into a joint venture with EnCana Corporation (“EnCana”) to explore for coal bed methane (“CBM”) reserves on an area of over three million acres of land. In January 2003, MGV entered into an asset rationalization agreement with EnCana that divided the assets and rights subject to the joint venture. The agreement allowed us to pursue independent operations. Assets and rights received as a result of the agreement included an interest or an option to drill and earn in approximately 667,000 acres in Alberta. We have continued to acquire additional working interests in those areas as well as other areas in Alberta, Canada where we held approximately 423,000 net acres as of December 31, 2004. We also have the opportunity to earn in approximately 68,000 additional net acres.

 

Net gas sales from our CBM development projects in Alberta, Canada averaged 21.5 MMcfd in 2004. At year-end, the exit rate production from our CBM projects was approximately 35 MMcfd. During 2004, we drilled 319.8 productive net wells and connected those wells into existing infrastructure and pipeline systems to assure the control and priority of natural gas sales. As of December 31, 2004, we had 247.9 Bcf of proved reserves from our CBM projects in addition to 13.2 Bcf of proved reserves from our other Canadian natural gas interests.

 

During 2004, we began exploration and testing of the Barnett Shale formation in north Texas. We drilled eight 100%-owned wells in 2004 and anticipate drilling an additional 43 net wells in 2005. Three of the wells completed in 2004 were tied-in and producing at year-end. These three wells and four non-operated offset wells drilled in 2004 were producing within a range of 600 Mcfd to 2.8 MMcfd. As of December 31, 2004, we had 36.6 Bcfe of proved reserves from our Barnett Shale area and a net acreage position of approximately 207,000 acres.

 

Including 35 wells drilled in Indiana and Kentucky during 2004, we have 225 total wells and 29.2 Bcf of proved reserves from our New Albany Shale area. Including sales to a local end-user, our natural gas production averaged 5.9 MMcfd from the New Albany shale area. Our 12-mile Cardinal Pipeline, which transports our Indiana/Kentucky production to the interstate pipeline market, was placed into service at the end of September 2003 and allowed us to increase our exploration and development activities in the area.

 

During the third quarter, we sold certain natural gas and crude oil properties in Wyoming and Michigan. The divestitures were primarily crude oil reserves from properties in Wyoming with estimated proved reserves of 20 Bcfe. Net proceeds were approximately $8.3 million, net of closing adjustments. Also in the third quarter, we purchased additional interests in certain of our Antrim Shale properties in Michigan with approximately 5 Bcfe of proved reserves for approximately $10.4 million.

 

Business Strategy

 

Our business strategy is designed to achieve our principal objectives of growth in reserves, production and cash flow to increase stockholder value. Key elements of our business strategy include:

 

Focus on Unconventional Natural Gas Reserves. We focus our exploration and development efforts on unconventional natural gas reservoirs. Unconventional reservoirs such as natural gas produced from fractured shales, coal beds and tight sands will not produce at commercial flow rates unless the formation is successfully stimulated with fracturing. The majority of our Michigan production is from the Antrim Shale where we, and Mercury prior to our formation, have been active drillers and producers for over fifteen years. Our Antrim Shale activities have allowed us to develop a technical and operational expertise in the acquisition, development and production of unconventional natural gas reserves. Our Canadian CBM, New Albany Shale and Barnett Shale projects represent an extension of our expertise in unconventional natural gas reserves.

 

Low-Cost Development of Existing Property Base. We attempt to increase production and reserves through aggressive management of operations and relatively low-risk development drilling. Our principal properties possess geological and reservoir characteristics that make them well suited for production increases through

 

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exploitation activities and development drilling. We perform workovers and infrastructure improvement projects to reduce operating costs and increase current and ultimate production. We regularly review operations and mechanical data on operated properties to determine if additional actions can profitably be taken to increase reserves and production.

 

Pursuit of Selective Complementary Acquisitions. We seek to acquire long-lived producing properties with a high degree of operating control that contain opportunities to profitably increase natural gas and crude oil reserves and production levels through exploitation. Our reservoir enhancement techniques include the implementation of technically advanced reservoir management and aggressive cost management of field operations. We target acreage that we believe will expose us to high potential prospects located in areas that are geologically similar to neighboring areas with large developed fields. Consistent with our primary operating strategy, our acquisition focus is on unconventional reserves, including additional interests in properties we currently operate. Our significant operating position in Michigan uniquely positions us for further consolidation in that state through acquisitions that would provide additional economies of scale.

 

Management of Commodity Price Risk. We are focused on growing our oil and gas operations while seeking to moderate the effect of commodity price swings on net income and cash flow from operations. Our commodity price risk management strategy helps to ensure a predictable base level of cash flow, which enhances our ability to execute our drilling and exploitation programs, meet debt service requirements and pursue acquisition opportunities despite price fluctuations. To help ensure a level of predictability in the prices we receive for our natural gas and crude oil production, we have entered into natural gas sales contracts with price floors and natural gas and crude oil financial hedges. The sales contracts and financial hedges covered approximately 77% and 67% of our daily natural gas and crude oil production, respectively, or 68% of our total daily production, for the fourth quarter of 2004. As our five-year fixed price natural gas swaps terminate in 2005, we have begun to modify our hedging programs. We anticipate that those programs will make use of hedges with terms generally no longer than 12 to 18 months that allow us to realize a portion of any market increases in natural gas or crude oil prices over their term. Presently, about 50% of our budgeted 2005 natural gas production is hedged using the sales contracts and financial hedges. Additionally, almost 60% of our budgeted crude oil production for 2005 is hedged using price collars.

 

Participation in Exploratory Drilling Projects. We will continue to focus the bulk of our activities on lower risk exploitation activity and development drilling, including future activities in Canada; however, we will continue additional exploratory drilling in Canada, exploration and evaluation of the Barnett Shale formation in north Texas, and to pursue additional leasehold acquisitions and joint venture opportunities aimed at providing us with opportunities to explore for unconventional gas, including fractured shales, coal beds and tight sands, to which our technical and operational expertise is well suited.

 

Marketing

 

We sell natural gas and crude oil to a variety of customers, including utilities, major oil and gas companies or their affiliates, industrial companies, large trading and energy marketing companies, refineries and other users of petroleum products, and we are not dependent upon one purchaser or a small group of purchasers. Accordingly, the loss of a single purchaser in areas in which we sell natural gas or crude oil would not materially affect our sales. During 2004, the two largest purchasers of our total consolidated natural gas and crude oil sales were Encana Corporation and CoEnergy Trading Company.

 

Competition

 

We encounter substantial competition in acquiring oil and gas leases and properties, marketing natural gas and crude oil, securing personnel and conducting our drilling and field operations. Many competitors have financial and other resources, which substantially exceed ours. Our competitors in development, exploration, acquisitions and production include the major oil and gas companies as well as numerous independents and

 

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Index to Financial Statements

individual proprietors. Resources of our competitors may enable them to pay more for desirable leases and to evaluate, bid for and purchase a greater number of properties or prospects. Our ability to replace and expand our reserve base is dependent upon our ability to select and acquire suitable producing properties and prospects for future drilling.

 

Our acquisitions and exploration and drilling programs have been financed primarily through the issuance of debt and equity and internally generated cash flow. There is competition for capital to finance oil and gas acquisitions and drilling. Our ability to obtain such financing is uncertain and can be affected by numerous factors beyond our control. The inability to raise capital in the future could have an adverse effect on our business.

 

Governmental Regulation

 

Our operations are affected from time to time in varying degrees by political developments and United States and Canadian federal, state, provincial and local laws and regulations. In particular, natural gas and crude oil production and related operations are, or have been, subject to price controls, taxes and other laws and regulations relating to the industry. Failure to comply with such laws and regulations can result in substantial penalties. The regulatory burden on the industry increases our cost of doing business and affects our profitability. Although we believe we are in substantial compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, such laws and regulations are frequently amended or reinterpreted so we are unable to predict the future cost or impact of complying with such laws and regulations.

 

Environmental Matters

 

Our natural gas and crude oil exploration, development, production and pipeline gathering operations are subject to stringent United States and Canadian federal, state, provincial and local laws governing the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to environmental protection. Numerous governmental agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), issue regulations to implement and enforce such laws, and compliance is often difficult and costly. Failure to comply may result in substantial costs and expenses, including possible civil and criminal penalties. These laws and regulations may:

 

    require the acquisition of a permit before drilling commences;

 

    restrict the types, quantities and concentrations of various substances that can be released into the environment in connection with drilling, production, processing and pipeline gathering activities;

 

    limit or prohibit drilling activities on certain lands lying within wilderness, wetlands, frontier and other protected areas;

 

    require remedial action to prevent pollution from former operations such as plugging abandoned wells; and

 

    impose substantial liabilities for pollution resulting from operations.

 

In addition, these laws, rules and regulations may restrict the rate of natural gas and crude oil production below the rate that would otherwise exist. The regulatory burden on the industry increases the cost of doing business and consequently affects our profitability. Changes in environmental laws and regulations occur frequently, and any changes that result in more stringent and costly waste handling, disposal or clean-up requirements could adversely affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. While we believe that we are in substantial compliance with current applicable environmental laws and regulations, and we have not experienced any materially adverse effect from compliance with these environmental requirements, we cannot assure you that this will continue in the future.

 

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), also known as the “Superfund” law, imposes liability, without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct, on

 

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certain classes of persons who are considered to be responsible for the release of a “hazardous substance” into the environment. These persons include the present or past owners or operators of the disposal site or sites where the release occurred and the companies that transported or arranged for the disposal of the hazardous substances at the site where the release occurred. Under CERCLA, such persons may be subject to joint and several liability for the costs of cleaning up the hazardous substances that have been released into the environment, for damages to natural resources and for the costs of certain health studies. It is not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third parties to file claims for personal injury and property damages allegedly caused by the release of hazardous substances or other pollutants into the environment. Furthermore, although petroleum, including natural gas and crude oil, is exempt from CERCLA, at least two courts have ruled that certain wastes associated with the production of crude oil may be classified as “hazardous substances” under CERCLA and thus such wastes may become subject to liability and regulation under CERCLA. State initiatives to further regulate the disposal of crude oil and natural gas wastes are also pending in certain states, and these various initiatives could have adverse impacts on us.

 

Stricter standards in environmental legislation may be imposed on the industry in the future. For instance, legislation has been proposed in Congress from time to time that would reclassify certain exploration and production wastes as “hazardous wastes” and make the reclassified wastes subject to more stringent handling, disposal and clean-up restrictions. Compliance with environmental requirements generally could have a materially adverse effect upon our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Although we have not experienced any materially adverse effect from compliance with environmental requirements, we cannot assure you that this will continue in the future.

 

The Federal Water Pollution Control Act (“FWPCA”) imposes restrictions and strict controls regarding the discharge of produced waters and other petroleum wastes into navigable waters. Permits must be obtained to discharge pollutants into state and federal waters. The FWPCA and analogous state laws provide for civil, criminal and administrative penalties for any unauthorized discharges of crude oil and other hazardous substances in reportable quantities and may impose substantial potential liability for the costs of removal, remediation and damages. Federal effluent limitations guidelines prohibit the discharge of produced water and sand, and some other substances related to the natural gas and crude oil industry, into coastal waters. Although the costs to comply with zero discharge mandated under federal or state law may be significant, the entire industry will experience similar costs and we believe that these costs will not have a materially adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations. Some oil and gas exploration and production facilities are required to obtain permits for their storm water discharges. Costs may be incurred in connection with treatment of wastewater or developing storm water pollution prevention plans.

 

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”), generally does not regulate most wastes generated by the exploration and production of natural gas and crude oil. RCRA specifically excludes from the definition of hazardous waste “drilling fluids, produced waters, and other wastes associated with the exploration, development, or production of crude oil, natural gas or geothermal energy.” However, these wastes may be regulated by the EPA or state agencies as solid waste. Moreover, ordinary industrial wastes, such as paint wastes, waste solvents, laboratory wastes and waste compressor oils, are regulated as hazardous wastes. Although the costs of managing solid hazardous waste may be significant, we do not expect to experience more burdensome costs than would be borne by similarly situated companies in the industry.

 

In addition, the U.S. Oil Pollution Act (“OPA”) requires owners and operators of facilities that could be the source of an oil spill into “waters of the United States,” a term defined to include rivers, creeks, wetlands and coastal waters, to adopt and implement plans and procedures to prevent any spill of oil into any waters of the United States. OPA also requires affected facility owners and operators to demonstrate that they have at least $35 million in financial resources to pay for the costs of cleaning up an oil spill and compensating any parties damaged by an oil spill. Substantial civil and criminal fines and penalties can be imposed for violations of OPA and other environmental statutes.

 

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In Canada, the oil and gas industry is currently subject to environmental regulation pursuant to provincial and federal legislation. Environmental legislation provides for restrictions and prohibitions on releases or emissions of various substances produced or utilized in association with certain oil and gas industry operations. In addition, legislation requires that well and facility sites be constructed, abandoned and reclaimed to the satisfaction of provincial authorities. A breach of such legislation may result in substantial cash expenses, including possible fines and penalties.

 

In Alberta, environmental compliance has been governed by the Alberta Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (“AEPEA”) since September 1, 1993. AEPEA imposes environmental responsibilities on oil and gas operators in Alberta and also imposes penalties for violations.

 

Employees

 

As of March 1, 2005, we had 331 full time employees and 11 part time employees. There are no collective bargaining agreements in effect.

 

Executive Officers

 

The following information is provided with respect to our officers.

 

Name


  

Age


  

Position(s) Held With Quicksilver


Thomas F. Darden

   51    Chairman of the Board

Glenn Darden

   49    President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Bill Lamkin

   59    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Jeff Cook

   48    Senior Vice President—Operations

Mark D. Whitley

   53    Vice President—Operations

Robert N. Wagner

   41    Vice President—Reserve Group

D. Wayne Blair

   48    Vice President and Controller

John C. Cirone

   54    Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Anne Darden Self

   47    Vice President—Human Resources and Director

J. Michael Gatens

   46    Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer—MGV Energy Inc.

George W. Voneiff

   43    President—MGV Energy Inc.

Dana W. Johnson

   45    Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer—MGV Energy Inc.

MarLu Hiller

   42    Treasurer

 

The following biographies describe the business experience of our executive officers and the other officers named above.

 

THOMAS F. DARDEN has served on our Board of Directors since December 1997. He also served at that time as President of Mercury Exploration Company. During his term as President of Mercury, Mercury developed and acquired interests in over 1,200 producing wells in Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico and Texas. Mr. Darden graduated from Tulane University with a BA in Economics in 1975. Prior to joining us, Mr. Darden was employed by Mercury or its parent corporation, Mercury Production Company, for 22 years. He became a director and the President of MSR on March 7, 1997. On January 1, 1998, he was named Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of MSR. He was elected our President when we were formed and then Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer on March 4, 1999, the date of our acquisition of MSR. He served as our Chief Executive Officer until November 1999.

 

GLENN DARDEN has served on our Board of Directors since December 1997. Prior to that time, he served with Mercury for 18 years, and for the last five of those 18 years was the Executive Vice President of

 

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Mercury. Prior to working for Mercury, Mr. Darden worked as a geologist for Mitchell Energy Corporation. He graduated from Tulane University in 1979 with a BA in Earth Sciences. Mr. Darden became a director and Vice President of MSR on March 7, 1997, and was named President and Chief Operating Officer of MSR on January 1, 1998. He served as our Vice-President until he was elected President and Chief Operating Officer on March 4, 1999. Mr. Darden became our Chief Executive Officer in November 1999.

 

BILL LAMKIN is a Certified Management Accountant and a Certified Cash Manager with over 20 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. He graduated from Texas Wesleyan University with a BBA in Accounting in 1968. He served as Controller/Chief Financial Officer at Whittaker Corporation and Sargeant Industries, Inc. between 1970 and 1978. He worked as Treasurer, Controller, and Director of Financial Services at Union Pacific Resources from 1978 until he became our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer when he joined us in June 1999.

 

JEFF COOK became our Senior Vice President Operations in July 2000. From 1979 to 1981, he held the position of operations supervisor with Western Company of North America. In 1981, he became a District Production Superintendent for Mercury and became Vice President of Operations in 1991 and Executive Vice President in 1998 before joining us. Mr. Cook graduated from Texas Christian University with a BA in Finance in 1979.

 

MARK D. WHITLEY became our Vice President Operations in August 2003. He has more than 28 years of oil and gas production and operations experience including 20 years with Mitchell Energy Company LP, as its Vice President and General Manager of North Texas Production prior to its 2002 merger with Devon Energy. While at Devon from January 2002 to October 2002, Mr. Whitley served as Operations Manager – Fort Worth Basin and directed the production and operations activity in the exploration of the Fort Worth Basin’s Barnett Shale gas play. After leaving Devon, he was an independent consultant until joining us. He graduated with a MS in chemical engineering from the University of Kentucky in 1975 after receiving his undergraduate degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

 

ROBERT N. WAGNER was named as our Vice President Reserve Group in December 2002. He had served as our Vice President-Engineering since July 1999. From January 1999 to July 1999, he was our manager of eastern region field operations. From November 1995 to January 1999, Mr. Wagner held the position of district engineer with Mercury. Prior to 1995, he was with Mesa, Inc. for over eight years and served as both drilling engineer and production engineer. Mr. Wagner received a BS in Petroleum Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado in 1986.

 

D. WAYNE BLAIR is a Certified Public Accountant with over 25 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1979 with a BBA in Accounting. He was employed by Sabine Corporation from 1980 through 1988 where he held the position of Assistant Controller. From 1988 through 1994, he served as Controller for a group of private businesses involved in the oil and gas industry. Prior to joining us in April 2000 as Vice President and Controller, he was the Controller for Mercury from 1996.

 

JOHN C. CIRONE was named as our Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary on July 1, 2002. He graduated from St. Louis University School of Law in 1974 and was employed by Union Pacific Resources from 1978 to 2000. During that time, he served in various positions in the Law Department and from 1997 to 2000 he was the Manager of Land and Negotiations. In 2000, he was promoted to the position of Assistant General Counsel of Union Pacific Resources. After leaving Union Pacific Resources in August 2000, Mr. Cirone was engaged in the private practice of law prior to joining us.

 

ANNE DARDEN SELF has served on our board of directors since September 1999, and she became our Vice President-Human Resources in July 2000. She is also currently President of Mercury, where she has worked since 1992 as its Vice President Human Resources. From 1988 to 1991, she was with Banc PLUS Savings Association in Houston, Texas. She was employed as Marketing Director and then spent three years as Vice

 

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President of Human Resources. She worked from 1987 to 1988 as an Account Executive for NW Ayer Advertising Agency. Prior to 1987, she spent several years in real estate management. She attended Sweet Briar College and graduated from the University of Texas in Austin in 1980 with a BA in history.

 

J. MICHAEL GATENS is Chairman/CEO of MGV Energy Inc., which he co-founded in September 1997 in Calgary, Alberta. MGV became a wholly owned subsidiary of Quicksilver Resources Inc. in December 2000. Mr. Gatens is also Chairman of the Canadian Society for Unconventional Gas, and is MGV’s liaison with the Coal Association of Canada and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. Prior to starting MGV in 1997, he worked for S.A. Holditch & Associates, Inc. for 15 years, leaving as Director and Vice President of the Eastern Division in Pittsburgh. Mr. Gatens received BS and MS degrees in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1980 and 1987.

 

GEORGE W. VONEIFF co-founded MGV Energy Inc. in Calgary, Alberta in September 1997 to pursue unconventional gas opportunities, primarily in Western Canada. MGV became a wholly owned subsidiary of Quicksilver Resources Inc. in December 2000 and Mr. Voneiff continued in his role as President and Chief Operating Officer until January 2005 when he relinquished the role of Chief Operating Officer. Prior to founding MGV, he was with the petroleum consulting firm S.A. Holditch & Associates, Inc. from 1991 to 1997 and worked for Enserch Exploration Inc. from 1984 to 1990. Mr. Voneiff received BS and MS degrees in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1983 and 1991.

 

DANA W. JOHNSON became Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of MGV Energy Inc. in January 2005. He joined us as U.S. Eastern Region Manager in early 2004 after serving 22 years in a variety of managerial, business development and engineering positions with Shell Exploration & Production Company. Mr. Johnson received a BS in Metallurgical Engineering from California Polytechnic State University in 1982 and a MBA from the University of Houston in 1992.

 

MARLU HILLER is a Certified Public Accountant with over 15 years of experience in public and oil and gas accounting. She graduated from Baylor University with a BBA in Accounting in 1985, and was with Ernst & Young for three years before joining Union Pacific Resources. At Union Pacific Resources, she served in various capacities, including financial reporting, financial system implementations, and manager of accounting for Union Pacific Fuels, which was Union Pacific Resources’ marketing company. Ms. Hiller joined us in August of 1999 as Director of Financial Reporting and Planning and was named Treasurer in May of 2000.

 

 

Risk Factors

 

You should be aware that the occurrence of any of the events described in this Risk Factors section and elsewhere in this annual report or in any other of our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows. In evaluating us, you should consider carefully, among other things, the factors and the specific risks set forth below, and in documents we incorporate by reference. This annual report contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.

 

We have a substantial amount of debt and the cost of servicing that debt could adversely affect our business; and such risk could increase if we incur more debt.

 

We have a substantial amount of indebtedness. At December 31, 2004, we had total consolidated debt of $399.5 million. Subject to the limits contained in the loan agreements governing our senior secured revolving credit facilities and our second lien mortgage notes, we may incur additional debt. Our ability to borrow under our senior secured revolving credit facilities is subject to the quantity of proved reserves attributable to our natural gas and crude oil properties. One of our senior secured revolving credit facilities enables us to borrow significant amounts in Canadian dollars to fund and support our operations in Canada. Such indebtedness

 

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Index to Financial Statements

exposes us to currency exchange risk associated with the Canadian dollar. If we incur additional indebtedness or fail to increase the quantity of proved reserves attributable to our natural gas and crude oil properties, the risks that we now face as a result of our indebtedness could intensify.

 

We have demands on our cash resources in addition to interest expense on our indebtedness, including, among others, operating expenses and interest and principal payments under our senior secured revolving credit facilities and our second lien mortgage notes. Our level of indebtedness relative to our proved reserves and these significant demands on our cash resources could have important effects on our business and on your investment in Quicksilver. For example, they could:

 

    make it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to our debt;

 

    require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on our debt, thereby reducing the amount of our cash flow available for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;

 

    require us to make principal payments under our senior secured revolving credit facilities if the quantity of proved reserves attributable to our natural gas and crude oil properties are insufficient to support our level of borrowings under such credit facilities;

 

    limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in the oil and gas industry;

 

    place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have lower debt service obligations and significantly greater operating and financing flexibility than we do;

 

    limit, along with the financial and other restrictive covenants applicable to our indebtedness, among other things, our ability to borrow additional funds;

 

    Increase our vulnerability to foreign exchange risk associated with Canadian dollar denominated indebtedness and international operations in Canada;

 

    increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions; and

 

    result in an event of default upon a failure to comply with financial covenants contained in our senior secured revolving credit facilities or second lien mortgage notes which, if not cured or waived, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

Our ability to pay principal and interest on our long-term debt and to satisfy our other liabilities will depend upon our future performance and our ability to refinance our debt as it comes due. Our future operating performance and ability to refinance will be affected by prevailing economic conditions at that time and financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond our control.

 

If we are unable to service our indebtedness and fund our operating costs, we will be forced to adopt alternative strategies that may include:

 

    reducing or delaying capital expenditures;

 

    seeking additional debt financing or equity capital;

 

    selling assets; or

 

    restructuring or refinancing debt.

 

There can be no assurance that any such strategies could be implemented on satisfactory terms, if at all.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

Our senior secured revolving credit facilities and second lien mortgage notes restrict our ability and the ability of some of our subsidiaries to engage in certain activities that require the maintenance of specified financial ratios.

 

    incur additional debt:

 

    pay dividends on or redeem or repurchase capital stock;

 

    make certain investments;

 

    incur or permit to exist certain liens;

 

    enter into transactions with affiliates;

 

    merge, consolidate or amalgamate with another company; and

 

    transfer or otherwise dispose of assets, including capital stock of subsidiaries.

 

The loan agreements for our senior secured revolving credit facilities and second lien mortgage notes contain certain covenants, which, among other things, require the maintenance of a minimum current ratio, a minimum collateral coverage ratio, a minimum earnings (before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization, non-cash income and expense, and exploration costs) to interest expense ratio, and a minimum earnings (before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization, non-cash income and expense and exploration costs) to fixed charges ratio. Our ability to borrow under our senior secured revolving credit facilities and second lien mortgage notes is dependent upon the quantity of proved reserves attributable to our natural gas and crude oil properties. Our ability to meet these covenants or requirements may be affected by events beyond our control, and we cannot assure you that we will satisfy such covenants and requirements.

 

The covenants contained in the agreements governing our debt may affect our flexibility in planning for, and reacting to, changes in business conditions. In addition, a breach of the restrictive covenants in our loan agreements or our inability to maintain the financial ratios described above could result in an event of default under our senior secured revolving credit facilities and/or our second lien mortgage notes. Upon the occurrence of such an event of default, the applicable lenders could, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable security agreement, elect to declare all amounts outstanding under the applicable facility or notes, together with accrued interest, to be immediately due and payable. If we were unable to repay those amounts, the lenders could proceed against the collateral granted to them to secure such indebtedness. If our lenders accelerate the payment of our indebtedness, there can be no assurance that our assets would be sufficient to repay in full such indebtedness and our other indebtedness. The above restrictions could limit our ability to obtain future financing and may prevent us from taking advantage of attractive business opportunities.

 

Because we have a limited operating history in certain areas, our future operating results are difficult to forecast, and our failure to sustain profitability in the future could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

 

We cannot assure you that we will maintain the current level of revenues, natural gas and crude oil reserves or production we now attribute to the properties contributed to us when we were formed and those developed and acquired since our formation. Any future growth of our natural gas and crude oil reserves, production and operations could place significant demands on our financial, operational and administrative resources. Our failure to sustain profitability in the future could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

 

Natural gas and crude oil prices fluctuate widely, and low prices could have a material adverse impact on our business.

 

Our revenues, profitability and future growth depend in part on prevailing natural gas and crude oil prices. Prices also affect the amount of cash flow available for capital expenditures and our ability to borrow and raise

 

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Index to Financial Statements

additional capital. The amount we can borrow under our credit facility is subject to periodic redetermination based in part on changing expectations of future prices. Lower prices may also reduce the amount of natural gas and crude oil that we can economically produce.

 

While prices for natural gas and crude oil may be favorable at any point in time, they fluctuate widely. For example, the wholesale price of natural gas rose from approximately $2.00 per thousand cubic feet in January of 2002 to over $10.00 in February of 2003. Among the factors that can cause this fluctuation are:

 

    the level of consumer product demand;

 

    weather conditions;

 

    domestic and foreign governmental regulations;

 

    the price and availability of alternative fuels;

 

    political conditions in oil and gas producing regions;

 

    the domestic and foreign supply of oil and gas;

 

    the price of foreign imports; and

 

    overall economic conditions.

 

Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The reported financial results and disclosures were developed using certain significant accounting policies, practices and estimates, which are discussed in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section in this annual report. We employ the full cost method of accounting whereby all costs associated with acquiring, exploring for, and developing natural gas and crude oil reserves are capitalized and accumulated in separate country cost centers. These capitalized costs are amortized based on production from the reserves for each country cost center. Each capitalized cost pool cannot exceed the net present value of the underlying natural gas and crude oil reserves. A write down of these capitalized costs could be required if natural gas and/or crude oil prices were to drop precipitously at a reporting period end. Future price declines or increased operating and capitalized costs without incremental increases in natural gas and crude oil reserves could also require us to record a write down.

 

Reserve estimates depend on many assumptions that may turn out to be inaccurate and any material inaccuracies in these reserve estimates or underlying assumptions may materially affect the quantities and present value of our reserves.

 

The process of estimating natural gas and crude oil reserves is complex. It requires interpretations of available technical data and various assumptions, including assumptions relating to economic factors. Any significant inaccuracies in these interpretations or assumptions could materially affect the estimated quantities and present value of reserves disclosed in this annual report.

 

In order to prepare these estimates, we and independent reserve engineers engaged by us must project production rates and timing of development expenditures. We and the engineers must also analyze available geological, geophysical, production and engineering data, and the extent, quality and reliability of this data can vary. The process also requires economic assumptions such as natural gas and crude oil prices, drilling and operating expenses, capital expenditures, taxes and availability of funds. Therefore, estimates of natural gas and crude oil reserves are inherently imprecise.

 

Actual future production, natural gas and crude oil prices, revenues, taxes, development expenditures, operating expenses and quantities of recoverable natural gas and crude oil reserves most likely will vary from our estimates. Any significant variance could materially affect the estimated quantities and present value of reserves disclosed in this annual report. In addition, we may adjust estimates of proved reserves to reflect production

 

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Index to Financial Statements

history, results of exploration and development, prevailing natural gas and crude oil prices and other factors, many of which are beyond our control.

 

At December 31, 2004, approximately 23% of our estimated proved reserves were undeveloped. Undeveloped reserves, by their nature, are less certain. Recovery of undeveloped reserves requires significant capital expenditures and successful drilling operations. Our reserve data assumes that we will make significant capital expenditures to develop our reserves. Although we have prepared estimates of our natural gas and crude oil reserves and the costs associated with these reserves in accordance with industry standards, we cannot assure you that the estimated costs are accurate, that development will occur as scheduled or that the actual results will be as estimated.

 

You should not assume that the present value of future net revenues disclosed in this annual report is the current market value of our estimated natural gas and crude oil reserves. In accordance with SEC requirements, the estimated discounted future net cash flows from proved reserves are generally based on prices and costs as of the date of the estimate. Actual future prices and costs may be materially higher or lower than the prices and costs as of the date of the estimate. Any changes in consumption by natural gas and crude oil purchasers or in governmental regulations or taxation will also affect actual future net cash flows. The timing of both the production and the expenses from the development and production of natural gas and crude oil properties will affect the timing of actual future net cash flows from proved reserves and their present value. In addition, the 10% discount factor, which is required by the SEC to be used in calculating discounted future net cash flows for reporting purposes, is not necessarily the most accurate discount factor. A more accurate discount factor will take into consideration effective interest rates at the time of the valuation, estimated future prices and costs and consider the risks associated with us, our oil and gas reserves and the oil and gas industry in general.

 

Our key assets are concentrated in a small geographic area.

 

Approximately 70% of our 2004 production was from Michigan and approximately 20% was from Alberta, Canada. Because of our concentration in these geographic areas, any regional events that increase costs, reduce availability of equipment or supplies, reduce demand or limit production, including weather and natural disasters, may impact us more than if our operations were more geographically diversified.

 

If our production levels were significantly reduced to levels below those for which we have entered into contractual delivery commitments, we would be required to purchase natural gas at market prices to fulfill our obligation under certain long-term contracts. This could adversely affect our cash flow to the extent any such shortfall related to our sales contracts with floor pricing.

 

Our Canadian operations present unique risks and uncertainties, different from or in addition to those we face in our domestic operations.

 

We conduct our Canadian operations through MGV. At December 31, 2004 we estimated our proved Canadian reserves to be 261.1 Bcf. We expect MGV to continue the current pace of its scheduled activities, expand into other areas and increase its capital expenditures. Capital expenditures relating to MGV’s operations are budgeted to be approximately $107 million in 2005, constituting approximately 41% of our total 2005 budgeted capital expenditures.

 

If our revenues decrease as a result of lower natural gas or crude oil prices or otherwise, we may have limited ability to maintain this level of capital expenditures. In the event additional capital resources are unavailable to us, we may curtail our acquisition, development drilling and other activities outside of Canada in order to keep pace with Canadian drilling activities. While our results to date indicate that net recoverable reserves on CBM lands could be substantial, we can offer you no assurance that development will occur as scheduled or that actual results will be in accordance with estimates.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

Other risks of our operations in Canada include, among other things, increases in taxes and governmental royalties, changes in laws and policies governing operations of foreign-based companies, currency restrictions and exchange rate fluctuations. Laws and policies of the United States affecting foreign trade and taxation may also adversely affect our Canadian operations.

 

We may have difficulty financing our planned growth.

 

We have experienced and expect to continue to experience substantial capital expenditure and working capital needs, particularly as a result of our property drilling and acquisition activities. In the future, we will most likely require additional financing in addition to cash generated from our operations to fund our planned growth. If revenues decrease as a result of lower natural gas or crude oil prices or otherwise, we may have limited ability to expend the capital necessary to replace our reserves or to maintain production at current levels, resulting in a decrease in production over time. If our cash flow from operations is not sufficient to satisfy our capital expenditure requirements, we cannot be certain that additional financing will be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. In the event additional capital resources are unavailable, we may curtail our acquisition, development drilling and other activities or be forced to sell some of our assets on an untimely or unfavorable basis.

 

We are vulnerable to operational hazards, transportation dependencies, regulatory risks and other uninsured risks associated with our activities.

 

The oil and gas business involves operating hazards such as well blowouts, explosions, uncontrollable flows of crude oil, natural gas or well fluids, fires, formations with abnormal pressures, treatment plant “downtime”, pipeline ruptures or spills, pollution, releases of toxic gas and other environmental hazards and risks, any of which could cause us to experience substantial losses. Also, the availability of a ready market for our natural gas and crude oil production depends on the proximity of reserves to, and the capacity of, natural gas and crude oil gathering systems, treatment plants, pipelines and trucking or terminal facilities.

 

United States and Canadian federal, state and provincial regulation of oil and gas production and transportation, tax and energy policies, changes in supply and demand and general economic conditions could adversely affect our ability to produce and market our natural gas and crude oil. In addition, we may be liable for environmental damage caused by previous owners of properties purchased or leased by us.

 

As a result of operating hazards, regulatory risks and other uninsured risks, we could incur substantial liabilities to third parties or governmental entities, the payment of which could reduce or eliminate funds available for exploration, development or acquisitions. According to customary industry practices, we maintain insurance against some, but not all, of such risks and losses. Generally, environmental risks are not fully insurable. The occurrence of an event that is not covered, or not fully covered, by insurance could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We may be unable to make additional acquisitions of producing properties or successfully integrate them into our operations.

 

A portion of our growth in recent years has been due to acquisitions of producing properties. We expect to continue to evaluate and, where appropriate, pursue acquisition opportunities on terms our management considers to be favorable to us. We cannot assure you that we will be able to identify suitable acquisitions in the future, or that we will be able to finance these acquisitions on favorable terms or at all. In addition, we compete against other companies for acquisitions, and we cannot assure you that we will be successful in the acquisition of any material producing property interests. Further, we cannot assure you that any future acquisitions that we make will be integrated successfully into our operations or will achieve desired profitability objectives.

 

The successful acquisition of producing properties requires an assessment of recoverable reserves, exploration potential, future natural gas and crude oil prices, operating costs, potential environmental and other

 

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Index to Financial Statements

liabilities and other factors beyond our control. These assessments are necessarily inexact and their accuracy inherently uncertain, and such a review may not reveal all existing or potential problems, nor will it necessarily permit us to become sufficiently familiar with the properties to fully assess their merits and deficiencies. Inspections may not always be performed on every well, and structural and environmental problems are not necessarily observable even when an inspection is undertaken.

 

In addition, significant acquisitions can change the nature of our operations and business depending upon the character of the acquired properties, which may be substantially different in operating and geological characteristics or geographic location than existing properties. While our current operations are located primarily in Michigan, Indiana/Kentucky, Texas, the Rocky Mountains and Alberta, Canada, we cannot assure you that we will not pursue acquisitions of properties in other locations.

 

The failure to replace our reserves could adversely affect our production and cash flows.

 

Our future success depends upon our ability to find, develop or acquire additional natural gas and crude oil reserves that are economically recoverable. Our proved reserves, which are primarily in the mature Michigan basin, will generally decline as reserves are depleted, except to the extent that we conduct successful exploration or development activities or acquire properties containing proved reserves, or both. In order to increase reserves and production, we must continue our development drilling and recompletion programs or undertake other replacement activities. Our current strategy is to maintain our focus on low-cost operations while increasing our reserve base, production and cash flow through development and exploration of our existing properties and acquisitions of producing properties where we can utilize our experience as a low-cost operator. We cannot assure you, however, that our planned exploration and development projects and acquisition activities will result in significant additional reserves or that we will have continuing success drilling productive wells at low finding and development costs. Furthermore, while our revenues may increase if prevailing natural gas and crude oil prices increase significantly, our finding costs for additional reserves also could increase.

 

We cannot control the activities on properties we do not operate.

 

As of December 31, 2004, other companies operated properties that included approximately 27% of our proved reserves. As a result, we have a limited ability to exercise influence over operations for these properties or their associated costs. Our dependence on the operator and other working interest owners for these projects and our limited ability to influence operations and associated costs could materially adversely affect the realization of our targeted returns on capital in drilling or acquisition activities. As a result, the success and timing of our drilling and development activities on properties operated by others depend upon a number of factors that are outside of our control, including:

 

    timing and amount of capital expenditures;

 

    the operator’s expertise and financial resources;

 

    approval of other participants in drilling wells; and

 

    selection of technology.

 

We cannot control the operations of gas processing and transportation facilities we do not own or operate.

 

At December 31, 2004, other companies owned processing plants and pipelines that delivered approximately 63% of our natural gas production to market in Michigan. In addition, all of our Canadian natural gas production is transported through third party pipelines. As a result, we have no influence over the operation of these facilities and must depend upon the owners of these facilities to minimize any loss of processing and transportation capacity. This risk was highlighted in 2003 by the shutdown of CMS Energy Inc. and Michigan Consolidated Gas Co. processing plants in Michigan that resulted in an approximate 725 Mmcf decrease in our 2003 production.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

The loss of key personnel could adversely affect our ability to operate.

 

Our operations are dependent on a relatively small group of key management and technical personnel. We cannot assure you that these individuals will remain with us for the immediate or foreseeable future. The unexpected loss of the services of one or more of these individuals could have a detrimental effect on us.

 

Competition in our industry is intense, and we are smaller and have a more limited operating history than most of our competitors.

 

We compete with major and independent oil and gas companies for property acquisitions. We also compete for the equipment and labor required to operate and develop these properties. Many of our competitors have substantially greater financial and other resources than we do. In addition, larger competitors may be able to absorb the burden of any changes in federal, state, provincial and local laws and regulations more easily than we can, which would adversely affect our competitive position. These competitors may be able to pay more for exploratory prospects and productive natural gas and crude oil properties and may be able to define, evaluate, bid for and purchase a greater number of properties and prospects than we can. Our ability to explore for natural gas and crude oil prospects and to acquire additional properties in the future will depend on our ability to conduct operations, to evaluate and select suitable properties and to complete transactions in this highly competitive environment. Furthermore, the oil and gas industry competes with other industries in supplying the energy and fuel needs of industrial, commercial, and other consumers.

 

Several companies have entered into purchase contracts with us for a significant portion of our production and if they default on these contracts, we could be materially and adversely affected.

 

Our long-term natural gas contracts, which extend through March 2009, accounted in 2004 for the sale of approximately 28% of our natural gas production and for a significant portion of our total revenues. We cannot assure you that the other parties to these contracts will continue to perform under the contracts. If the other parties were to default after taking delivery of our natural gas, it could have a material adverse effect on our cash flows for the period in which the default occurred. A default by the other parties prior to taking delivery of our natural gas could also have a material adverse effect on our cash flows for the period in which the default occurred depending on the prevailing market prices of natural gas at the time compared to the contractual prices.

 

Hedging our production may result in losses.

 

To reduce our exposure to fluctuations in the prices of natural gas and crude oil, we have entered into long-term natural gas and crude oil hedging arrangements. These hedging arrangements expose us to risk of financial loss in some circumstances, including the following:

 

    our production could be materially less than expected; or

 

    the other parties to the hedging contracts could fail to perform their contractual obligations.

 

In addition, these hedging arrangements may limit the benefit we would receive from increases in the prices for natural gas and crude oil in the following instances:

 

    there is a change in the expected difference between the underlying price in the hedging agreement and actual prices received; or

 

    a sudden unexpected event materially impacts natural gas or crude oil prices.

 

The result of natural gas and crude oil market prices exceeding our swap prices requires us to make payment for the settlement of our hedge derivatives on the fifth day of the production month for natural gas hedges and the fifth day after the production month for crude oil hedges. We do not receive market price cash payments from our customers until 25 to 60 days after the production month’s end. This could have a material adverse effect on our cash flows for the period between hedge settlement and payment for revenues earned.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

If we choose not to engage in hedging arrangements in the future, we may be more adversely affected by changes in natural gas and crude oil prices than our competitors who engage in hedging arrangements.

 

Our activities are regulated by complex laws and regulations, including environmental regulations that can adversely affect the cost, manner or feasibility of doing business.

 

Natural gas and crude oil operations are subject to various United States and Canadian federal, state, provincial and local government laws and regulations that may be changed from time to time in response to economic or political conditions. Matters that are typically regulated include:

 

    discharge permits for drilling operations;

 

    drilling permits and bonds;

 

    reports concerning operations;

 

    spacing of wells;

 

    unitization and pooling of properties;

 

    environmental protection; and

 

    taxation.

 

From time to time, regulatory agencies have imposed price controls and limitations on production by restricting the rate of flow of natural gas and crude oil wells below actual production capacity to conserve supplies of natural gas and crude oil. We also are subject to changing and extensive tax laws, the effects of which cannot be predicted.

 

The development, production, handling, storage, transportation and disposal of natural gas and crude oil, by-products and other substances and materials produced or used in connection with natural gas and crude oil operations are also subject to laws and regulations primarily relating to protection of human health and the environment. The discharge of natural gas, crude oil or pollutants into the air, soil or water may give rise to significant liabilities on our part to the government and third parties and may result in the assessment of civil or criminal penalties or require us to incur substantial costs of remediation.

 

Legal and tax requirements frequently are changed and subject to interpretation, and we are unable to predict the ultimate cost of compliance with these requirements or their effect on our operations. We cannot assure you that existing laws or regulations, as currently interpreted or reinterpreted in the future, or future laws or regulations, will not materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

A small number of existing stockholders control our company, which could limit your ability to influence the outcome of stockholder votes.

 

Members of the Darden family, together with Mercury and Quicksilver Energy, L.P., entities primarily owned by members of the Darden family, beneficially own on the date of this annual report approximately 37% of our common stock. As a result, these entities and individuals will generally be able to control the outcome of stockholder votes, including votes concerning the election of directors, the adoption or amendment of provisions in our charter or bylaws and the approval of mergers and other significant corporate transactions.

 

A large number of our outstanding shares and shares to be issued upon exercise of our outstanding options may be sold into the market in the future, which could cause the market price of our common stock to drop significantly, even if our business is doing well.

 

Our shares that are eligible for future sale may have an adverse effect on the price of our stock. There were 50,122,360 shares of our common stock outstanding at December 31, 2004, including 172,626 shares issuable

 

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upon exchange of exchangeable shares issued by MGV. Approximately 30,608,710 of these shares are freely tradable without substantial restriction or the requirement of future registration under the Securities Act. In addition, at December 31, 2004 we had the following options outstanding to purchase shares of our common stock:

 

    Options to purchase 325,424 shares at $1.844 per share;

 

    Options to purchase 47,536 shares at $4.90 per share;

 

    Options to purchase 80,556 shares at $8.02 per share;

 

    Options to purchase 8,800 shares at $8.25 per share;

 

    Options to purchase 55,436 shares at $8.51 per share;

 

    Options to purchase 55,486 shares at $11.04 per share;

 

    Options to purchase 32,336 shares at $12.05 per share;

 

    Options to purchase 561,430 shares at $16.515 per share;

 

    Options to purchase 15,384 shares at $23.75 per share;

 

    Options to purchase 1,183,422 shares at $31.27 per share; and

 

    Options to purchase 69,760 shares at $35.75 per share.

 

Sales of substantial amounts of common stock, or a perception that such sales could occur, and the existence of options to purchase shares of common stock at prices that may be below the then current market price of the common stock, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and could impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of our equity securities.

 

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, restated bylaws and stockholder rights plan contain provisions that could discourage an acquisition or change of control without our board of directors’ approval.

 

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and restated bylaws contain provisions that could discourage an acquisition or change of control without our board of directors’ approval, such as:

 

    our board of directors is authorized to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval;

 

    our board of directors is classified; and

 

    advance notice is required for director nominations by stockholders and actions to be taken at annual meetings at the request of stockholders.

 

In addition, we have adopted a stockholder rights plan. The provisions, described above and the stockholder rights plan could impede a merger, consolidation, takeover or other business combination involving us or discourage a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to take control of us, even if that change of control might be beneficial to stockholders, thus increasing the likelihood that incumbent directors will retain their positions. In certain circumstances, the fact that corporate devices are in place that will inhibit or discourage takeover attempts could reduce the market value of our common stock.

 

Internet Website

 

We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s public reference room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the SEC’s public reference room in

 

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Washington, D.C. by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, we make available free of charge through our Internet website at http://www.qrinc.com, our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC.

 

Additionally, charters for the committees of our Board of Directors and our Corporate Governance Guidelines and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics can be found on our Internet website at http://www.qrinc.com under the heading “Corporate Governance.” Stockholders may request copies of these documents by writing to the Investor Relations Department at 777 West Rosedale Street, Suite 300, Fort Worth, Texas 76104.

 

ITEM 2. Properties

 

We own significant natural gas and crude oil production interests in the following geographic areas:

 

Michigan

 

Producing Formation


  

Proved
Reserves

(Bcfe)


   % Gas

   

% Proved

Developed


   

2004

Production

(MMcfed)


Antrim Shale

   522.8       100 %        91 %     59.7

Non-Antrim

   78.5    65 %   82 %   25.1
    
  

 

 

All Formations

   601.3    95 %   90 %   84.8

 

Michigan has favorable natural gas supply/demand characteristics as the state has been importing an increasing percentage of its natural gas and currently imports approximately 75% of its demand. This supply/demand situation generally allows Michigan producers to sell their natural gas at a slight premium to typical industry benchmark prices.

 

The Antrim Shale underlies a large percentage of our Michigan acreage and is fairly homogeneous in terms of reservoir quality; wells tend to produce relatively predictable amounts of natural gas. Subsurface fracturing can increase reserves and production attributable to any particular well. On average, Antrim Shale wells have a total productive life of more than 20 years. As new wells produce and the de-watering process takes place, they tend to reach a maximum production level in six to 12 months, remaining at these levels for one to two years, then declining at 8% to 10% per year thereafter. The wells tend to produce the best economic results when drilled in large numbers in a fairly concentrated area. This well concentration provides for a more rapid de-watering of a specific area, which decreases the time to natural gas production and increases the amount of natural gas production. It also enables us to maximize the use of existing production infrastructure, which decreases per unit operating costs. Since reserve quantities and production levels over a large number of wells are fairly predictable, maximizing per well recoveries and minimizing per unit production costs through a sizeable well-engineered drilling program are the keys to profitable Antrim development.

 

At December 31, 2004, we owned working interests in 2,956 producing Antrim wells and operated 50% of those wells. Since 1998, we have drilled 479 Antrim wells and successfully completed 473 for a success rate of 99%. In 2004, we drilled and successfully completed 44.3 (net) Antrim wells. For 2005, we have budgeted for the drilling of 51 (net) Antrim wells, including several horizontal wells.

 

Our non-Antrim reserves include interests in several reservoirs that include the Prairie du Chien (“PdC”), Garfield Richfield, Detroit River Zone III (DRZ3”) and Niagaran pinnacle reefs. Our PdC wells produce from several Ordovician age reservoirs with the majority being in the 1,000 feet to 1,200 feet thick PdC Group that has three major sands: the Lower PdC, Middle PdC and Upper PdC. Many of these wells also can produce from the

 

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St. Peter sandstone and the Glenwood formations, both of which lie directly above the PdC. Some of the wells are producing from two or more of these zones. Depending upon the area and the particular zone, the PdC will produce dry gas, gas and condensate or oil with associated gas. Our PdC production is well established, and three development wells were drilled in 2003 and 2004 to increase production from existing fields. At year-end we had 32 gross (25.9 net) PdC wells producing. There are numerous proved non-producing zones in existing well bores that provide recompletion opportunities, allowing us to maintain or, in some cases, increase production from our PdC wells as currently producing reservoirs deplete.

 

Our Richfield/Detroit River wells are located in Kalkaska and Crawford counties in the Garfield and Beaver Creek fields. The Richfield zone consists of seven dolomite reservoirs spread over a 200-foot interval. The Garfield Richfield has seven wells producing under primary solution gas drive. Additional potential exists in the Garfield Richfield either by secondary waterflood and/or improved oil recovery with CO2 injection. The potential upside is under evaluation and has not been included in our booked reserves. The Beaver Creek Richfield is currently being waterflooded, with 96 producing wells and 58 water injection wells.

 

The Detroit River Zone III (“DRZ3”) at Beaver Creek lies approximately 200 feet above the Richfield. The DRZ3 is a six-foot dolomite zone that covers approximately 10,000 acres on the Beaver Creek structure. We had 28 producing wells as of December 31, 2004. While there is the opportunity for improving production and proved reserve quantities, we have determined that our resources are better allocated to continued exploration and development of our many unconventional gas projects.

 

Our Niagaran wells produce from numerous Silurian-age Niagaran pinnacle reefs located in nine counties in Northern Michigan. The depth of these wells range from 3,400 feet to 7,800 feet with reservoir thickness from 300 feet to 600 feet. Depending upon the location of the specific reef in the pinnacle reef belt of the northern shelf area, the Niagaran reefs will produce dry gas, gas and condensate or oil with associated gas. As of December 31, 2004, we had 68 gross (31.7 net) producing Niagaran wells.

 

Canada

 

In 2000, we began to focus on the potential of Canadian CBM through MGV. In late 2000, we entered into a joint venture with EnCana to explore for and develop CBM reserves initially in the West Palliser block in the province of Alberta. By January 2003, the joint venture had drilled 175 exploratory, pilot and development wells. In January 2003, we entered into an asset rationalization agreement with EnCana that divided the assets and rights subject to the joint venture and allowed us to pursue independent operations. Since that time, we have drilled 468.3 successful net wells, most as operator, including significant developments in the Gayford and Beiseker areas. By December 31, 2004, we had proved reserves of 247.9 Bcf from our CBM projects and had ongoing field operations in all our joint ventures.

 

During 2005, we expect to drill 497 wells (275 net) and install nine new CBM facilities. Each plant will be capable of processing five to ten MMcfd of natural gas production. A portion of our 2005 capital budget of $107 million will be committed to CBM drilling including testing of the Mannville coals.

 

Including its interests in other conventional natural gas properties located in southern Alberta, MGV held interests in 1,266 gross (572.3 net) wells as of December 31, 2004. Our total Canadian proved reserves at December 31, 2004 were estimated to be 261.1 Bcf including 13.2 Bcf from our conventional gas properties. Our average daily production in Canada for 2004 was 23.8 MMcfd. As of December 31, 2004, however, we had increased total Canadian production to approximately 38 MMcfd.

 

Indiana/Kentucky

 

In 2000, we acquired a 100% working interest in 36 New Albany Shale producing wells. Included with the acquisition of these producing wells, we also acquired the eight-mile 12-inch GTG gas pipeline that runs from

 

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southern Indiana to northern Kentucky. We acquired 35 wells in 2003. At December 31, 2004, we had 192 producing wells in Indiana/Kentucky. In September 2003, we commenced transportation of New Albany production through a pipeline extension that connects to the Texas Gas Pipeline in northern Kentucky. Natural gas sales from our properties in the area averaged 5.9 MMcfd during 2004.

 

Texas

 

During 2004, we began testing and exploration in the Barnett Shale of north Texas. As of December 31, 2004, we had completed drilling on eight 100%-owned wells and owned non-working interests in four others wells. Initial production rates from the first wells completed ranged from 600 Mcfd to 1.8 MMcfd. Modifications to the fracturing techniques have resulted in improvements in each successive well drilled. Initial rates from the last four operated wells have ranged from 2.0 to 2.8 MMcfd. As of December 31, 2004, our production from the Barnett Shale was approximately 1 MMcfd. Our wells are spread over an area stretching from northwest Johnson County to southeastern Hood County, approximately 20 miles in a north-south direction and we held approximately 207,000 net acres in the Barnett Shale play as of year-end.

 

Our plans for 2005 include drilling approximately 40 net wells in the Barnett Shale and beginning on construction of the initial phase of the Cowtown Pipeline in the second quarter of 2005. This pipeline will transport both Quicksilver and third party volumes. In addition, we plan to install a natural gas liquids extraction plant that will be operational in the fourth quarter of 2005.

 

Rocky Mountain Region

 

Our Rocky Mountain properties are located in Montana and Wyoming. Production from those properties is primarily crude oil that is from well-established producing formations at depths ranging from 1,000 feet to 17,000 feet. As of December 31, 2004, our Rocky Mountain proved reserves were 6.0 MMbbls of crude oil and 4.0 Bcfe of natural gas and NGLs for total equivalent reserves of 40.0 Bcfe after our third quarter divestiture of properties with reserves of approximately 3.4 MMbbls of crude oil and 0.2 Bcfe of natural gas. In 2004, our daily production averaged 5.9 MMcfed. After the sale of most of our Wyoming properties in the third quarter of 2004, fourth quarter production averaged 3.4 MMcfed.

 

Oil and Gas Reserves

 

The following reserve quantity and future net cash flow information concerns our proved reserves that are located in the United States and Canada. Independent petroleum engineers with Schlumberger Data and Consulting Services, LaRoche Petroleum Consultants, Ltd. and Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. prepared our reserve estimates. Proved oil and gas reserves, as defined by SEC Regulation S-X Rule 4-10(a) 2(i), 2(ii), 2(iii), (3) and (4), are the estimated quantities of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids which geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions (i.e., prices and costs as of the date the estimate is made). Prices include consideration of changes in existing prices provided only by contractual arrangements, but not on escalations based upon future conditions. Prices do not include the effect of derivative instruments we have entered into. Future production and development costs include production and property taxes.

 

Proved developed oil and gas reserves are reserves that can be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods. Additional oil and gas expected to be obtained through the application of fluid injection or other improved recovery techniques for supplementing the natural forces and mechanisms of primary recovery are included as proved developed reserves only after testing by a pilot project or after the operation of an installed program has confirmed through production response that increased recovery will be achieved.

 

Proved undeveloped oil and gas reserves are reserves that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for re-completion.

 

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Reserves on undrilled acreage are limited to those drilling units offsetting productive units that are reasonably certain of production when drilled. Proved reserves for other undrilled units are claimed only where it can be demonstrated with certainty that there is continuity of production from the existing productive formation.

 

The reserve data set forth in this document represents only estimates and is subject to inherent uncertainties. The determination of oil and gas reserves is based on estimates that are highly complex and interpretive. Reserve engineering is a subjective process that is dependent on the quality of available data and on engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. Although we believe the reserve estimates contained in this document are reasonable, reserve estimates are imprecise and are expected to change, as additional information becomes available.

 

The following table summarizes our proved reserves and the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows attributable to them at December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002.

 

     Years Ended December 31,

   Years Ended December 31,

     Total Proved Reserves

   Proved Developed Reserves

     2004

   2003

   2002

   2004

   2003

   2002

Natural gas (MMcf)

                             

United States

   627,676    643,520    637,983    556,999    569,979    550,889

Canada

   261,077    146,632    53,602    149,453    83,698    22,750
    
  
  
  
  
  

Total

   888,753    790,152    691,585    706,452    653,677    573,639
    
  
  
  
  
  

Crude oil (MBbl)

                             

United States

   9,067    13,173    16,002    4,587    8,734    10,722

Canada

   —      —      —      —      —      —  
    
  
  
  
  
  

Total

   9,067    13,173    16,002    4,587    8,734    10,722
    
  
  
  
  
  

NGL (MBbl)

                             

United States

   4,187    1,918    2,216    2,464    1,405    1,524

Canada

   —      —      —      —      —      —  
    
  
  
  
  
  

Total

   4,187    1,918    2,216    2,464    1,405    1,524
    
  
  
  
  
  

Total (MMcfe)

   968,276    880,696    800,893    748,762    714,511    647,115
    
  
  
  
  
  

 

     Year Ended December 31,

     2004

   2003

   2002

Representative crude oil and natural gas prices: (1)

                    

Natural gas—Henry Hub Spot

   $ 6.18    $ 5.97    $ 4.74

Natural gas—AECO

     5.18      5.32      2.92

Crude oil—WTI Cushing

     43.36      32.55      31.20

Present values (in thousands): (2)

                    

Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows,
before income tax

   $ 1,344,278    $ 1,200,650    $ 867,748

Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows, after
income tax

   $ 970,731    $ 848,741    $ 614,851

(1)   The natural gas and crude oil prices as of each respective year-end were based, respectively, on NYMEX Henry Hub prices per MMBtu and NYMEX prices per Bbl, with these representative prices adjusted by local differentials to arrive at the appropriate corporate net price.
(2)   Determined based on year-end unescalated prices and costs in accordance with the guidelines of the SEC, discounted at 10% per annum.

 

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Volumes, Sales Prices and Oil and Gas Production Expense

 

The following table sets forth certain information regarding production, average unit prices and costs for the periods indicated:

 

     Years Ended December 31,

     2004

   2003

   2002

Production:

                    

Natural gas (MMcf)

                    

United States

     30,644      31,612      31,910

Canada

     8,707      2,924      935
    

  

  

Total natural gas

     39,351      34,536      32,845

Crude oil (MBbl)

                    

United States

     689      807      905

Canada

     —        1      —  
    

  

  

Total crude oil

     689      808      905

NGL (MBbl)

                    

United States

     128      133      156

Canada

     1      2      —  
    

  

  

Total NGL

     129      135      156

Total production (Mmcfe)

     44,257      40,192      39,209

Average Prices (including impact of hedges):

                    

Natural gas—per Mcf

                    

United States

   $ 3.52    $ 3.32    $ 2.77

Canada

     4.92      3.98      2.13

Consolidated

     3.83      3.38      2.75

Crude oil—per Bbl

                    

United States

   $ 33.07    $ 24.23    $ 21.74

Canada

     —        24.46      —  

Consolidated

     33.07      24.23      21.74

NGL—per Bbl

                    

United States

   $ 28.55    $ 21.45    $ 14.97

Canada

     22.18      26.01      —  

Consolidated

     28.52      21.50      14.97

Average Prices (excluding impact of hedges):

                    

Natural gas—per Mcf

                    

United States

   $ 4.86    $ 4.50    $ 2.99

Canada

     4.98      4.15      2.22

Consolidated

     4.89      4.47      2.97

Crude oil—per Bbl

                    

United States

   $ 36.53    $ 26.69    $ 21.86

Canada

     —        24.46      —  

Consolidated

     36.53      26.69      21.86

NGL—per Bbl

                    

United States

   $ 28.55    $ 21.45    $ 14.97

Canada

     22.18      26.01      —  

Consolidated

     28.52      21.50      14.97

Production cost (per Mcfe)(1)

                    

United States

   $ 1.54    $ 1.29    $ 1.06

Canada

     1.19      1.35      1.84

Consolidated

     1.47      1.30      1.08

(1)   Includes production taxes.

 

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Drilling Activity

 

During the periods indicated, the Company drilled or participated in the drilling of the following exploratory and development wells:

 

     Years Ended December 31,

     2004

   2003

   2002

     Gross

   Net

   Gross

   Net

   Gross

   Net

Development:

                             

United States

                             

Productive

   73.0    55.5    102.0    74.3    106.0    81.2

Non-productive

   —      —      —      —      1.0    1.0

Canada

                             

Productive

   356.0    110.1    32.0    32.0    17.0    17.0

Non-productive

   —      —      —      —      —      —  
    
  
  
  
  
  

Total

   429.0    165.6    134.0    106.3    124.0    99.2
    
  
  
  
  
  

Exploratory:

                             

United States

                             

Productive

   38.0    34.2    76.0    73.3    24.0    22.9

Non-productive

   1.0    1.0    1.0    1.0    3.0    3.0

Canada

                             

Productive

   274.0    209.7    152.0    116.5    44.0    26.2

Non-productive

   10.0    9.8    1.0    0.4    —      —  
    
  
  
  
  
  

Total

   323.0    254.7    230.0    191.2    71.0    52.1
    
  
  
  
  
  

Total:

                             

Productive

   741.0    409.5    362.0    296.1    191.0    147.3

Non-productive

   11.0    10.8    2.0    1.4    4.0    4.0
    
  
  
  
  
  

Total

   752.0    420.3    364.0    297.5    195.0    151.3
    
  
  
  
  
  

 

Acquisition, Exploration and Development Capital Expenditures

 

     United
States


   Canada

   Consolidated

     (in thousands)

2004

                    

Proved acreage

   $ 11,907    $ 2,942    $ 14,849

Unproved acreage

     31,857      7,144      39,001

Development costs

     45,213      71,094      116,307

Exploration costs

     25,673      22,631      48,304
    

  

  

Total

   $ 114,650    $ 103,811    $ 218,461
    

  

  

2003

                    

Proved acreage

   $ 3,215    $ 3,388    $ 6,603

Unproved acreage

     24,063      6,739      30,802

Development costs

     37,682      41,820      79,502

Exploration costs

     9,411      17,066      26,477
    

  

  

Total

   $ 74,371    $ 69,013    $ 143,384
    

  

  

2002

                    

Proved acreage

   $ 32,199    $ —      $ 32,199

Unproved acreage

     550      5,422      5,972

Development costs

     34,178      938      35,116

Exploration costs

     5,925      8,659      14,584
    

  

  

Total

   $ 72,852    $ 15,019    $ 87,871
    

  

  

 

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Productive Oil and Gas Wells

 

The following table summarizes productive oil and gas wells attributable to our direct interests as of December 31, 2004:

 

     As of December 31, 2004
Productive Wells


     Natural Gas

   Crude Oil

     Gross

   Net

   Gross

   Net

United States

   4,996    1,658.8    406    367.6

Canada

   1,263    572.2    3    0.1
    
  
  
  

Total

   6,259    2,231.0    409    367.7
    
  
  
  

 

Oil and Gas Acreage

 

Our principal natural gas and crude oil properties consist of non-producing and producing natural gas and crude oil leases, including reserves of natural gas and crude oil in place. The following table indicates our interest in developed and undeveloped acreage held directly by us. Developed acres are defined as acreage spaced or allocated to wells that are producing or capable of producing. Undeveloped acres are acres on which wells have not been drilled or completed to a point that would permit the production of commercial quantities of oil or gas, regardless of whether or not such acreage contains proved reserves. Gross acres are the total number of acres in which we have a working interest. Net acres are the sum of our fractional interests owned in the gross acres.

 

     As of December 31, 2004

     Developed Acreage

   Undeveloped Acreage

     Gross

   Net

   Gross

   Net

Michigan

   584,856    240,944    65,568    46,030

Indiana/Kentucky

   42,288    42,160    228,686    222,399

Texas

   7,665    4,675    306,172    266,296

Rockies

   109,934    100,921    176,378    133,631
    
  
  
  

United States

   744,743    388,700    776,804    668,356

Canada

   149,181    90,992    451,597    331,274
    
  
  
  

Total

   893,924    479,692    1,228,401    999,630
    
  
  
  

 

ITEM 3. Legal Proceedings

 

In August 2001, a group of royalty owners, Athel E. Williams et al., brought suit against us and three of our subsidiaries in the Circuit Court of Otsego County, Michigan. The suit alleges that Terra Energy Ltd, one of our subsidiaries, underpaid royalties or overriding royalties to the 13 named plaintiffs and to a class of plaintiffs who have yet to be determined. The pleadings of the plaintiffs seek damages in an unspecified amount and injunctive relief against future underpayments. The court heard arguments on class certification on November 8, 2002, and on December 6, 2002 the court issued a memorandum opinion granting class certification in part and denying it in part. On December 20, 2002, we filed a motion for clarification and reconsideration of the court’s order. That motion was denied on March 9, 2003. After an extended delay resulting from the retention of new counsel by the plaintiffs and the initiation of settlement discussions, on January 21, 2005, the Circuit Court issued an order certifying certain claims to proceed on behalf of a class. The Circuit Court also entered a scheduling order setting trial for January 2007, and declined Defendants’ request to stay proceedings in that court pending an appeal of the certification order.

 

Defendants have sought leave to appeal the certification order by filing an Application for Leave to Appeal on February 11, 2005 with the Michigan Court of Appeals. Defendants have also requested that the Court of Appeals stay proceedings in the Circuit Court pending the consideration of its appeal, and have requested that the Court of Appeals consider all matters in an expedited manner. We are currently awaiting a ruling from that court on the application and the requests for stay and immediate consideration.

 

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Based on information currently available to us, we believe that the final resolution of this matter will not have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

ITEM 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

There were no matters submitted to a stockholder vote during the fourth quarter of 2004.

 

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PART II.

 

ITEM 5. Market For Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchase of Equity Securities

 

Market Information

 

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “KWK.”

 

The following table sets forth the quarterly high and low sales prices of our common stock for the periods indicated below.

 

     HIGH

   LOW

2004 (1)

             

Fourth Quarter

   $ 37.88    $ 28.97

Third Quarter

     36.12      25.29

Second Quarter

     33.70      18.73

First Quarter

     21.35      16.04

2003 (1)

             

Fourth Quarter

   $ 16.83    $ 12.20

Third Quarter

     13.08      11.47

Second Quarter

     13.06      11.23

First Quarter

     12.22      9.77

(1)   Stock prices been have adjusted to reflect a two-for-one stock split effected in the form of a stock dividend in June 2004.

 

As of February 28, 2005, there were approximately 488 common stockholders of record.

 

We have not paid dividends on our common stock and intend to retain our cash flow from operations for the future operation and development of our business. In addition, our senior secured credit facility prohibits payments of dividends on our common stock.

 

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ITEM 6. Selected Financial Data

 

The following tables set forth, as of the dates and for the periods indicated, our selected financial information. Our financial information is derived from our audited consolidated financial statements for such periods. The information should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in this document. The following information is not necessarily indicative of our future results.

 

Selected Financial Data

(in thousands, except for per share data)

 

     Years Ended December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

    2002

    2001

    2000

 

Consolidated Statements of Income Data:

                                        

Total revenues

   $ 179,729     $ 140,949     $ 121,979     $  141,963     $ 118,392  

Income before income taxes

     45,446       28,502       21,333       30,110       27,731  

Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     31,272       18,505       13,835       19,310       17,618  

Net income

     31,272       16,208       13,835       19,310       17,618  

Earnings—per share before accounting change (1)

                                        

Basic

   $ 0.63     $ 0.41     $ 0.35     $ 0.52     $ 0.48  

Diluted

     0.62       0.41       0.34       0.50       0.48  

Earnings—per share (1)

                                        

Basic

   $ 0.63     $ 0.36     $ 0.35     $ 0.52     $ 0.48  

Diluted

     0.62       0.35       0.34       0.50       0.48  

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Data:

                                        

Net cash provided by (used in):

                                        

Operating activities

   $ 99,449     $ 59,280     $ 44,198     $ 57,921     $ 47,691  

Investing activities

     (220,500 )     (147,422 )     (83,659 )     (67,227 )     (195,518 )

Financing activities

     134,389       79,369       40,050       5,199       158,103  

Capital expenditures

   $ 231,757     $ 148,488     $ 88,965     $ 67,566     $ 194,507  

Consolidated Balance Sheets Data:

                                        

Working capital (deficit) (2)

   $ (17,255 )   $ (30,803 )   $ (23,678 )   $ (19,141 )   $ 935  

Properties—net

     802,610       604,576       470,078       412,455       374,099  

Total assets

     888,334       666,934       529,538       471,884       440,111  

Long-term debt

     399,134       249,097       248,493       248,425       239,986  

Stockholders’ equity

     304,276       241,816       128,905       94,387       86,758  

(1)   Per share amounts have been adjusted to reflect a two-for-one stock split effected in the form of a stock dividend in June 2004.
(2)   Working capital includes the current portion of assets and liabilities, which reflect estimated fair value of derivative obligations.

 

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ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) is intended to help the reader understand Quicksilver Resources Inc. MD&A is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, the other sections of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including “Item 1. Business”, “Item 2. Properties”, “Item 6. Selected Financial Data”, and “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.” Our MD&A includes the following sections:

 

    Overview—a general description of our business; the value drivers of our business; measurements; and opportunities, challenges and risks.

 

    Financial Risk Management—information about debt financing and financial risk management.

 

    Application of critical accounting policies—a discussion of accounting policies that require critical judgments and estimates.

 

    Results of Operations—an analysis of our consolidated results of operations for the three years presented in our financial statements. We operate in one business – exploration, development and production of natural gas, crude oil and NGLs. Except to the extent those differences between our two geographic operating segments are material to an understanding of our business as a whole, we present the discussion to this MD&A on a consolidated basis.

 

    Liquidity and Capital Resources—an analysis of our cash flows, sources and uses of cash, contractual obligations and commercial commitments.

 

    Forward-Looking Statements—cautionary information about forward-looking statements and a description of certain risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our historical results or our current expectations or projections.

 

OVERVIEW

 

We are an independent oil and gas company engaged in the exploration, acquisition, development, production and sale of natural gas, crude oil and natural gas liquids primarily from unconventional reservoirs such as fractured shales, coal beds and tight sands. We generate revenue, income and cash flows by producing and selling natural gas, crude oil and natural gas liquids. We produce these products in quantities and at prices that, in addition to generating operating income, allow us to conduct exploration, development and acquisition activities to replace the reserves that have been produced.

 

At December 31, 2004, approximately 92% of our proved reserves were natural gas. Our Michigan reserves make up approximately 62% of those reserves. Our Michigan activities in the Antrim shale have allowed us to develop a technical and operational expertise in the acquisition, development and production of unconventional natural gas reserves. Consistent with one of our business strategies, we have applied our expertise gained in our Michigan activities to our Canadian coal bed methane (“CBM”) projects in Alberta, Canada. Our Canadian reserves made up about 27% of our proved reserves at December 31, 2004. Our Indiana/Kentucky New Albany Shale and Texas Barnett Shale projects represent additional extensions of that expertise.

 

For 2005, we plan to continue our focus on the exploration and development of CBM properties in Alberta, Canada and our Barnett Shale acreage in Texas. We expect budgeted capital expenditures in 2005 to be as much as $261 million, of which about $107 million is allocated to our Canadian CBM projects and approximately $115 million is allocated to our Barnett Shale position in north Texas. The remainder is allocated to our fractured shale projects in Michigan and Indiana/Kentucky.

 

Our Company focuses on three key value drivers:

 

    reserve growth;

 

    production growth; and

 

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    improving the Company’s cash flows.

 

The Company’s reserve growth is dependent upon our ability to apply the Company’s technical and operational expertise in our exploration and development of unconventional natural gas reservoirs. We strive to increase reserves and production through aggressive management of operations and relatively low-risk development drilling. We will also continue to identify high potential exploratory projects with higher levels of financial risk. Both our low-risk development programs and exploratory projects are aimed at providing the Company with opportunities to explore for, and develop, unconventional natural gas reservoirs to which our technical and operational expertise is well suited.

 

Our principal properties are well suited for production increases through exploitation activities and development drilling. We perform workover and infrastructure projects to reduce operating costs and increase current and future production. We regularly review operations on operated properties to determine if steps can be taken to profitably increase reserves and production.

 

As these elements are implemented, our results are measured through these key measurements: earnings; cash flow from operating activities; production and overhead costs per unit of production; production volumes; reserve growth; and finding costs per unit of reserve addition.

 

     Years Ended December 31,

     2004

   2003

   2002

     (in thousands)

Operating income

   $ 60,693    $ 48,498    $ 40,702

Cash flow from operations

     99,449      59,280      44,198

Production cost per mcfe (1)

   $ 1.24    $ 1.08    $ 0.94

General and administrative cost per mcfe

     0.29      0.20      0.19

Production (MMcfe)

     44,257      40,192      39,209

(1)   Excludes production taxes.

 

The possibility of decreasing prices received for production is among the several risks that we face. We seek to manage this risk by entering into natural gas sales contracts with price floors and natural gas and crude oil financial hedges. Our use of pricing collars and, to a lesser degree, fixed price swaps for both natural gas and crude oil helps to ensure a predictable base level of cash flow while allowing Quicksilver to participate in all, or a portion, of any favorable price increases. This commodity price strategy enhances our ability to execute our drilling and exploration programs, meet debt service requirements and pursue acquisition opportunities despite price fluctuations. If our revenues were to decrease significantly as a result of presently unexpected declines in natural gas prices or otherwise, we could be forced to curtail our development and exploratory drilling and acquisition activities. We might also be forced to sell some of our assets on an untimely or unfavorable basis.

 

Natural gas prices were favorable throughout 2004 and 2003 and industry analysts expect them to remain favorable for the foreseeable future. With continued favorable gas prices, the expiration of our remaining fixed price natural gas hedges in April 2005 and increasing natural gas production, we expect to fund more of our capital expenditures with cash flow from operations; however, we do not expect our cash flow from operations to be sufficient to satisfy our total budgeted capital expenditures. We plan to use cash flows from operations, credit facility utilization and possible issuance of debt or equity securities to fund our total budgeted capital expenditures in 2005.

 

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FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT

 

We have established policies and procedures for managing risk within our organization, including internal controls. The level of risk assumed by us is based on our objectives and capacity to manage risk.

 

Our primary risk exposure is related to natural gas and crude oil commodity prices. We have mitigated the downside risk of adverse price movements through the use of long-term sales contracts, swaps and collars; however, in doing so, we have also limited future gains from favorable price movements.

 

Commodity Price Risk

 

We sell approximately 25,000 Mcfd and 10,000 Mcfd of natural gas under long-term contracts with floor prices of $2.49 per Mcf and $2.47 per Mcf, respectively, through March 2009. Approximately 5,300 Mcfd sold under these contracts in 2004 were third party volumes controlled by us. We also enter into financial contracts to hedge our exposure to commodity price risk associated with anticipated future natural gas and crude oil production. These contracts have included price ceilings and floors, no-cost collars and fixed price swaps.

 

Natural gas sales volumes of 30,000 Mcfd are hedged for the first four months of 2005 using fixed price swap agreements entered into in May 2000. The weighted average price for natural gas volumes under those agreements is $2.79. Natural gas price collars hedge approximately 20,000 Mcfd of our budgeted natural gas sales volumes for the first quarter of 2005. Natural gas price collars hedge nearly 33,000 Mcfd of our budgeted natural gas sales volumes for the remainder of 2005. Additionally, price collars hedge approximately 750 Bbld of our 2005 budgeted crude oil sales.

 

The following table summarizes our open financial derivative positions as of December 31, 2004 related to natural gas and crude oil production.

 

Product

  Type

  Contract Period

  Volume

 

Weighted Avg
Price Per

Mcf or Bbl


      Fair Value    

 
                    (in thousands)  
Gas   Swap   Jan 2005-Apr 2005   10,000 Mcfd   $ 2.79   $ (4,016)  
Gas   Swap   Jan 2005-Apr 2005   10,000 Mcfd     2.79     (4,025 )
Gas   Swap   Jan 2005-Apr 2005   10,000 Mcfd     2.79     (4,025 )
Gas   Collar   Jan 2005-Mar 2005   5,000 Mcfd     5.50-9.60     62  
Gas   Collar   Jan 2005-Mar 2005   10,000 Mcfd     5.50-9.63             115  
Gas   Collar   Jan 2005-Mar 2005   5,000 Mcfd     5.50-9.90     86  
Gas   Collar   Apr 2005-Oct 2005   5,000 Mcfd     5.50-6.75     (109 )
Gas   Collar   Apr 2005-Oct 2005   10,000 Mcfd     5.50-6.75     (219 )
Gas   Collar   May 2005-Oct 2005   15,000 Mcfd     5.50-7.15     (15 )
Gas   Collar   May 2005-Oct 2005   5,000 Mcfd     6.50-8.15     624  
Gas   Collar   May 2005-Oct 2005   5,000 Mcfd     6.50-8.22     632  
Gas   Collar   Nov 2005-Mar 2006   10,000 Mcfd     6.50-11.20     779  
Gas   Collar   Nov 2005-Mar 2006   10,000 Mcfd     6.50-11.20     779  
Gas   Collar   Apr 2006-Oct 2006   5,000 Mcfd     5.50-8.10     332  
Gas   Collar   Apr 2006-Oct 2006   5,000 Mcfd     5.50-8.25     339  
Oil   Collar   Jan 2005-Jun 2005   500 Bbld     40.00-52.80     93  
Oil   Collar   Jan 2005-Jun 2005   500 Bbld     40.00-46.75     (5 )
Oil   Collar   Jul 2005-Dec 2005   250 Bbld      38.00-47.75     13  
                     


            Net open positions   $ (8,560 )
                     


 

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Utilization of our financial hedging program may result in realization of natural gas and crude oil prices that vary from the actual prices that we receive from the sale of natural gas and crude oil. As a result of the hedging programs, revenues from production were lower than if the hedging programs had not been in effect by $43.9 million in 2004, $39.8 million in 2003 and $7.4 million in 2002.

 

Commodity price fluctuations affect our remaining natural gas and crude oil volumes as well as our NGL volumes. Up to 4,500 Mcfd of natural gas is committed at market price through May 2005. Additional natural gas volumes of 16,500 Mcfd are committed at market price through September 2008. During 2004, approximately 6,400 Mcfd of our natural gas production was sold under these contracts. The remaining Mcfd contractual volumes were third-party volumes controlled by us.

 

Based on our 2004 average production and long-term natural gas sales contracts with floor prices of $2.49 per Mcf and $2.47 per Mcf, and our 2004 average production, each $1.00 per Mcf increase/decrease in the price of natural gas would increase/decrease our revenue by approximately $28.1 million. Should additional revenue of $28.1 million be realized, approximately $3.6 million would be required for settlement of our remaining fixed price hedges.

 

We have entered into various financial contracts to hedge exposure to commodity price risk associated with future contractual natural gas sales and purchases with derivative instruments. These contracts include either fixed and floating price sales to, or purchases from, third parties. As a result of these firm sale and purchase commitments and associated financial price swaps, the hedge derivatives qualified as fair value hedges for accounting purposes. Marketing revenues were $0.5 million and $0.3 million higher and lower by $2.2 million as a result of our hedging activities in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Hedge ineffectiveness resulted in $118,000 of net losses, $188,000 of net gains and $26,000 net losses recorded to other revenue for 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

The following table summarizes our open financial derivative positions and hedged firm commitments as of December 31, 2004 related to natural gas marketing.

 

Contract Period


   Volume

  

Weighted Avg

Price per Mcf


       Fair Value    

 
               (in thousands)  

Natural Gas Sales Contracts

                    

Jan 2005

   2,262 Mcfd    $ 7.74    $ 104  

Feb 2005

   3,935 Mcfd    $ 7.53      136  

Mar 2005

   1,935 Mcfd    $ 7.58      74  
                


                 $ 314  

Natural Gas Financial Derivatives

                    

Jan 2005-Mar 2005

   1,333 Mcfd      Floating Price    $ (171 )

Jan 2005-Mar 2005

   333 Mcfd      Floating Price      (44 )

Jan 2005

   645 Mcfd      Floating Price      (35 )

Feb 2005

   1,428 Mcfd      Floating Price      (43 )

Feb 2005

   714 Mcfd      Floating Price      (17 )

Mar 2005

   323 Mcfd      Floating Price      (12 )
                


                   (322 )
                


            Total-net    $ (8 )
                


 

The fair value of fixed price and floating price natural gas and crude oil derivatives and associated firm commitments as of December 31, 2004 was estimated based on published market prices of natural gas and crude oil for the periods covered by the contracts. The net differential between the prices in each derivative and commitment and market prices for future periods, as adjusted for estimated basis, has been applied to the

 

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volumes stipulated in each contract to arrive at an estimated future value. This estimated future value was discounted on each contract at rates commensurate with federal treasury instruments with similar contractual lives. As a result, the fair value of our derivatives and commitments does not necessarily represent the value a third party would pay to assume our contract positions.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

We manage our exposure associated with interest rates by entering into interest rate swaps. As of December 31, 2004, the interest payments for $75.0 million notional variable-rate debt are hedged with an interest rate swap that converts a floating three-month LIBOR base to a 3.74% fixed-rate through March 31, 2005. Our liability associated with the swap was $0.2 million at December 31, 2004 and $2.0 million at December 31, 2003.

 

On September 10, 2003, we entered into an interest rate swap to hedge the $40.0 million of fixed-rate second lien notes issued on June 27, 2003. The swap converted the debt’s 7.5% fixed-rate debt to a floating six-month LIBOR base. In January 2004, the swap position was cancelled, and we received a cash settlement of $0.3 million that is being recognized over the original term for the swap, which ends December 31, 2006. A deferred gain of $0.2 million remains at December 31, 2004.

 

Interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 was $0.8 million, $1.4 million and $2.6 million higher, respectively, as a result of the interest rate swaps.

 

If interest rates on our variable interest-rate debt of $112.8 million, as of February 28, 2004, and $75 million of variable rate debt hedged through March 31, 2005 increase or decrease by one percentage point, our annual pretax income will decrease or increase by $1.7 million.

 

Credit Risk

 

Credit risk is the risk of loss as a result of non-performance by counterparties of their contractual obligations. We sell a portion of our natural gas production directly under long-term contracts with the remainder of our natural gas and crude oil production sold at spot or short-term contract prices. All our natural gas and crude oil production is sold to large trading companies and energy marketing companies, refineries and other users of petroleum products. We also enter into hedge derivatives with financial counterparties. We monitor exposure to counterparties by reviewing credit ratings, financial statements and credit service reports. Exposure levels are limited and parental guarantees and collateral to support the obligations of our counterparty are required according to our established policy. Each customer and/or counterparty is reviewed as to credit worthiness prior to the extension of credit and on a regular basis thereafter. In this manner, we reduce credit risk.

 

While we follow our credit policies at the time we enter into sales contracts, the credit worthiness of counterparties could change over time. The credit ratings of the parent companies of the two counterparties to our long-term gas contracts were downgraded in early 2003 and remain below the credit ratings required for the extension of credit to new customers. Please see “Item 1. Business—Risk Factors.”

 

Performance Risk

 

Performance risk results when a financial counterparty fails to fulfill its contractual obligations such as commodity pricing or volume commitments. Typically, such risk obligations are defined within the trading agreements. We manage performance risk through management of credit risk. Each customer and/or counterparty is reviewed as to credit worthiness prior to the extension of credit and on a regular basis thereafter.

 

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Foreign Currency Risk

 

Our Canadian subsidiary uses the Canadian dollar as its functional currency. To the extent that business transactions in Canada are not denominated in Canadian dollars, we are exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risk. During October and November 2004, Quicksilver loaned MGV approximately $11.4 million. To reduce its exposure to exchange rate risk, MGV entered into a forward contract that fixed the Canadian-to-US exchange rate. The balance of the loan was repaid at the end of November and upon settlement of the forward contract, MGV recognized a gain of $0.2 million.

 

While cross-currency transactions are minimized, the result of a ten percent change in the Canadian-U.S. exchange rate would increase or decrease equity by approximately $6.4 million at December 31, 2004.

 

APPLICATION OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Management discusses with our Audit Committee the development, selection and disclosure of our critical accounting policies and estimates and the application of these policies and estimates. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. We believe our accounting policies are appropriately selected and applied.

 

Use of Estimates

 

In preparing the financial statements, our management makes informed judgments and estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and affect the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, management reviews its estimates, including asset retirement obligations, litigation, income taxes and determination of proved reserves. Changes in facts and circumstances may result in revised estimates and actual results may differ from these estimates.

 

Oil and Gas Properties

 

We employ the full cost method of accounting for our oil and gas properties. Under the full cost method, all costs associated with the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and gas properties are capitalized and accumulated in cost centers on a country-by-country basis. This includes any internal costs that are directly related to exploration and development activities, but does not include any costs related to production, general corporate overhead or similar activities. Effective with the adoption of SFAS No. 143 in 2003, the carrying amount of oil and gas properties also includes estimated asset retirement costs recorded based on the fair value of the asset retirement obligation when incurred. Gain or loss on the sale or other disposition of oil and gas properties is not recognized, unless the gain or loss would significantly alter the relationship between capitalized costs and proved reserves of oil and natural gas attributable to a country. The application of the full cost method of accounting for oil and gas properties generally results in higher capitalized costs and higher depletion rates compared to the successful efforts method of accounting for oil and gas properties. The sum of net capitalized costs and estimated future development and dismantlement costs for each cost center is depleted on the equivalent unit-of-production basis using proved oil and gas reserves as determined by independent petroleum engineers.

 

Net capitalized costs are limited to the lower of unamortized cost net of related deferred tax or the cost center ceiling. The cost center ceiling is defined as the sum of (i) estimated future net revenues, discounted at 10% per annum, from proved reserves, based on unescalated year-end prices and costs, adjusted for contract provisions, financial derivatives that hedge our oil and gas revenue and asset retirement obligations; (ii) the cost of properties not being amortized; (iii) the lower of cost or market value of unproved properties included in the costs being amortized less (iv) income tax effects related to differences between the book and tax basis of the oil and gas properties. Such limitations are imposed separately for the U.S. and Canadian cost centers.

 

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Oil and Gas Reserves

 

Proved oil and gas reserves, as defined by SEC Regulation S-X Rule 4-10(a) 2(i), 2(ii), 2(iii), (3) and (4), are the estimated quantities of crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs that geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions (i.e., prices and costs as of the date the estimate is made). Prices include consideration of changes in existing prices provided only by contractual arrangements, which include financial derivatives that hedge our oil and gas revenue.

 

The Company’s estimates of proved reserves are made using available geological and reservoir data as well as production performance data. These estimates, made by the Company’s engineers, are reviewed annually and revised, either upward or downward, as warranted by additional data. Revisions are necessary due to changes in, among other things, reservoir performance, prices, economic conditions and governmental restrictions. Decreases in prices, for example, may cause a reduction in some proved reserves due to reaching economic limits sooner. A material change in the estimated volumes of reserves could have an impact on the DD&A rate calculation and the financial statements.

 

Ceiling Test

 

Companies that use the full cost method of accounting for oil and gas properties are required to perform the ceiling test each quarter. The ceiling is an impairment test performed on a country-by-country basis as prescribed by SEC Regulation S-X Rule 4-10. The test determines a limit, or ceiling, on the book value of oil and gas properties. That limit is basically the after-tax value of the future net cash flows from proved natural gas and crude oil reserves, including the effect of cash flow hedges, discounted at ten percent per annum. This ceiling is compared to the net book value of the oil and gas properties reduced by the related net deferred income tax liability and asset retirement obligations. If the net book value reduced by the related net deferred income tax liability and asset retirement obligations exceeds the ceiling, an impairment or noncash writedown is required. A ceiling test impairment can give the Company a significant loss for a particular period; however, future depletion expense would be reduced.

 

The ceiling test is affected by a decrease in net cash flow from reserves due to higher operating or capital costs or reduction in market prices for natural gas and crude oil. These changes can reduce the amount of economically producible reserves. At December 31, 2004, capitalized costs, inclusive of future development costs, for U.S. and Canadian reserves were $1.18 per Mcfe and $0.78 per Mcfe, respectively.

 

Derivative Instruments

 

We enter into financial derivative instruments to hedge risk associated with the prices received from natural gas and crude oil production and marketing. We also utilize financial derivative instruments to hedge the risk associated with interest rates on our debt outstanding. We account for our derivative instruments under the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounts Standard (“SFAS”) No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. Under this statement, derivative instruments, other than those that meet the normal purchases and sales exception, are recorded on our balance sheet as either assets or liabilities measured at fair value determined by reference to published future market prices and interest rates. The cash settlement of all derivative instruments is recognized as income or expense in the period in which the hedged transaction is recognized. Gains or losses on derivative instruments terminated prior to their original expiration date are deferred and recognized as income or expense in the period in which the hedged transaction is recognized. The ineffective portion of hedges is recognized currently in earnings.

 

Portions of our hedge derivatives were classified as current based upon the maturity of the derivative instruments. Based upon the estimated fair values of those hedge derivatives as of December 31, 2004, our revenues for 2005 will decrease approximately $10.2 million and interest expense will increase approximately

 

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$0.2 million. Net income, after income taxes, will be approximately $6.8 million lower. These amounts will be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income in 2005.

 

Asset Retirement Obligations

 

We have significant obligations to remove equipment and restore land at the end of oil and gas production operations. Our removal and restoration obligations are primarily associated with plugging and abandoning wells and associated production facilities. We adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (“SFAS”) No. 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations” effective January 1, 2003. Under SFAS No. 143, the estimated fair value of a liability for legal obligations associated with the retirement obligations of tangible long-lived assets is recorded in the periods in which it is incurred. When the liability is recorded, we increase the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. The liability is accreted to the fair value at the time of the settlement over the useful life of the asset, and the capitalized cost is depleted or depreciated over the useful life of the related asset.

 

The fair value of the liability associated with these retirement obligations is determined using significant assumptions, including current estimates of the plugging and abandonment or retirement, annual inflation of these costs, the productive life of the asset and our risk adjusted costs to settle such obligations discounted using our risk-adjusted interest rate. Changes in any of these assumptions can result in significant revisions to the estimated asset retirement obligation. Revisions to the asset obligation are recorded with an offsetting change to the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset, resulting in prospective changes to depreciation, depletion and amortization expense and accretion of discount. Because of the subjectivity of assumptions and the relatively long life of most of our oil and gas assets, the costs to ultimately retire these assets may vary significantly from previous estimates.

 

Income Taxes

 

Deferred income taxes are established for all temporary differences between the book and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. In addition, deferred tax balances must be adjusted to reflect tax rates that will be in effect in years in which the temporary differences are expected to reverse. MGV, the Company’s Canadian subsidiary, computes taxes at rates in effect in Canada. U.S. deferred tax liabilities are not recognized on profits that are expected to be permanently reinvested by MGV and thus are not considered available for distribution to the parent Company.

 

Included in our net deferred tax liability are $51.8 million of future tax benefits from prior unused tax losses. Realization of these tax assets depends on sufficient future taxable income before the benefits expire. We believe we will have sufficient future taxable income to utilize the loss carry forward benefits before they expire; however, if not, we could be required to recognize a loss for some or all of these tax assets. Net operating loss carry forwards and other deferred tax assets are reviewed annually for recoverability, and are recorded, net of a valuation allowance, if necessary.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements within the meanings of Item 303(a)(4) of SEC Regulation S-K.

 

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Summary Financial Data

Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

 

     Years Ended December 31,

     2004

   2003

   2002

     (in thousands)

Total operating revenues

   $ 179,729    $ 140,949    $ 121,979

Total operating expenses

     120,214      93,782      81,477

Operating income

     60,693      48,498      40,702

Income before accounting change

     31,272      18,505      13,835

Net income

     31,272      16,208      13,835

 

Net income for each of the years ending December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 was $31.3 million ($0.62 per diluted share), $16.2 million ($0.35 per diluted share) and $13.8 million ($0.34 per diluted share), respectively. Included in 2003 was a $2.3 million charge ($0.05 per diluted share), net of tax, for the adoption of SFAS No. 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations, as of January 1, 2003. The 2003 period also included a $3.8 million pre-tax charge ($2.5 million after tax) to interest expense as a result of our early redemption of $53 million in principal amount of our subordinated notes payable.

 

Operating Revenues

 

Our 2004 revenues were $179.7 million as compared to $141.0 million for 2003, primarily as a result of additional Canadian revenue in 2004. The additional Canadian revenue was from a 5,776,000 net Mcfe increase in Canadian production from coal bed methane (“CBM”) projects and a 24% increase in realized prices. U.S. production revenue increased by approximately 5% over 2003 revenue with an 11% increase in realized prices being partially offset by a decrease in production of 1,711,000 Mcfe.

 

Total revenues for 2003 were $141.0 million, a $19.0 million increase from the $122.0 million reported in 2002. Higher realized prices and additional sales volumes increased revenue $26.7 million. The increase was primarily the result of sales volumes added from our Canadian CBM development projects and an 84% increase in Canadian realized sales prices. Additionally, U.S. realized prices increased approximately 19%. Additional revenue associated with U.S. prices increases was partially offset by an approximately 1,000,000 Mcfe decrease in U.S. sales volumes. Other revenue for 2003 was $7.8 million lower from the prior year. Revenue of $5.1 million was recognized from the sale of Section 29 tax credits in 2002. The tax credits expired in 2002. In 2003, a $0.5 million decrease in other revenue was the result of the completion of our negotiations to purchase the tax credit properties.

 

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Gas, Oil and NGL Sales

 

Our sales volumes, revenues and average prices for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 are as follows:

 

     Years Ended December 31,

     2004

   2003

   2002

Average daily sales volume

                    

Natural gas—Mcfd

                    

United States

     83,727      86,608      87,425

Canada

     23,789      8,011      2,563
    

  

  

Total

     107,516      94,619      89,988

Crude oil—Bbld

                    

United States

     1,882      2,212      2,479

Canada

     —        1      —  
    

  

  

Total

     1,882      2,213      2,479

NGL—Bbld

                    

United States

     351      365      426

Canada

     1      4      —  
    

  

  

Total

     352      369      426

Total sales—Mcfed

                    

United States

     97,120      102,073      104,858

Canada

     23,802      8,042      2,563
    

  

  

Total

     120,922      110,115      107,421
     Years Ended December 31,

     2004

   2003

   2002

Natural gas, oil and NGL sales (in thousands)

                    

United States

   $ 134,268    $ 127,339    $ 110,263

Canada

     42,905      11,698      2,033
    

  

  

Total natural gas, oil and NGL sales

   $ 177,173    $ 139,037    $ 112,296
    

  

  

Product sale revenues (in thousands)

                    

Natural gas sales

   $ 150,716    $ 116,563    $ 90,289

Crude oil sales

     22,782      19,576      19,679

NGL sales

     3,675      2,898      2,328
    

  

  

Total oil, gas and NGL sales

   $ 177,173    $ 139,037    $ 112,296
    

  

  

Unit prices—including impact of hedges

                    

Natural gas—per Mcf

                    

United States

   $ 3.52    $ 3.32    $ 2.77

Canada

     4.92      3.98      2.13

Consolidated

     3.83      3.38      2.75

Crude oil—per Bbl

                    

United States

   $ 33.07    $ 24.23    $ 21.74

Canada

     —        24.46      —  

Consolidated

     33.07      24.23      21.74

NGL—per Bbl

                    

United States

   $ 28.55    $ 21.45    $ 14.97

Canada

     22.18      26.01