FORT WORTH, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
The San Juan Basin Royalty Trust (NYSE:SJT) (the "Trust"), today announced the capital project plan for 2017 as delivered to it by Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company LP ("Burlington"). Capital expenditures for 2017 for properties subject to the Trust’s royalty interest are estimated to be $1.7 million.
The principal asset of the Trust is a 75% net overriding royalty interest carved out of certain oil and gas leasehold and royalty interests in properties owned by Burlington (the “Subject Interests”) located in the San Juan Basin and more particularly in San Juan, Rio Arriba and Sandoval counties of northwestern New Mexico. Burlington is the operator of the majority of the Subject Interests.
Burlington’s announced 2017 plan for the Subject Interests includes 10 miscellaneous facilities projects and three well recompletions. No new drilling activity is planned for 2017. Of the $1.7 million, approximately $0.64 million will be allocated to 10 maintenance and facilities projects attributable to the capital budgets for 2016 and prior years. Burlington will be the operator of all the projects included in the 2017 plan.
In light of the challenged price environment for natural gas and natural gas liquids, Burlington plans to continue the suspension of its drilling program in the San Juan Basin in 2017. Existing wells will continue to be operated. Burlington reports that based on its actual capital requirements, the pace of regulatory approvals, the mix of projects and swings in the price of natural gas, the current estimated capital expenditures for 2017 are subject to change.
Capital expenditures of approximately $1.38 million were included in calculating royalty income paid to the Trust in calendar year 2016. Approximately $0.64 million covered 20 maintenance and facilities projects budgeted for prior years. The $0.74 million balance for 2016 expenditures was allocated to eight miscellaneous facilities projects and one well recompletion.
As stated above, the capital expenditures reported by Burlington in calculating royalty income for 2016 included approximately $0.64 million attributable to the capital budgets for prior years. This occurs because capital expenditures are deducted in calculating royalty income in the month they are accrued, and projects within a given year's budget often extend into subsequent years. Further, Burlington's accounting period for capital expenditures runs through November 30 of each calendar year, such that capital expenditures incurred in December of each year are actually accounted for as part of the following year's capital expenditures. Also, for wells not operated by Burlington, Burlington's share of capital expenditures may not actually be paid by it until the year or years after those expenses were incurred by the operator.
Except for historical information contained in this news release, the statements in this news release are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements and the business prospects of San Juan Basin Royalty Trust are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results in future periods to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, volatility of oil and gas prices, governmental regulation or action, litigation, and uncertainties about estimates of reserves. These and other risks are described in the Trust’s reports and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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