Viper Energy Partners LP, a Subsidiary of Diamondback Energy, Inc., Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Financial and Operating Results

FOURTH QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

Q4 2022 average production of 19,978 bo/d (34,935 boe/d), an increase of 1% from Q3 2022 and 9% year over year; highest in Company history
Received $17.3 million in lease bonus income
Q4 2022 consolidated net income (including non-controlling interest) of $145.2 million; net income attributable to Viper Energy Partners LP of $21.7 million, or $0.29 per common unit
Q4 2022 cash available for distribution to Viper’s common units (as defined and reconciled below) of $66.4 million, or $0.91 per common unit
Q4 2022 base cash distribution of $0.25 per common unit; implies a 3.3% annualized yield based on the February 17, 2023 unit closing price of $30.03
Q4 2022 variable cash distribution of $0.24 per common unit; total base-plus-variable distribution of $0.49 per common unit implies a 6.5% annualized yield based on the February 17, 2023 unit closing price of $30.03
Repurchased 1.0 million common units in Q4 2022 for $31.7 million (average price of $32.40 per unit)
Total Q4 2022 return of capital to LP unitholders of $49.8 million, or $0.68 per common unit, represents 75% of cash available for distribution from unit repurchases and the declared base-plus-variable distribution
272 total gross (4.6 net 100% royalty interest) horizontal wells turned to production on Viper’s acreage during Q4 2022 with an average lateral length of 10,630 feet
Divested entire acreage position in the Eagle Ford Shale consisting of 681 net royalty acres of third party operated acreage for net proceeds of $53.8 million; estimated 2023 production of approximately 250 bo/d (500 boe/d)

FULL YEAR 2022 HIGHLIGHTS

Full year 2022 average production of 19,444 bo/d (33,649 boe/d)
Received $27.8 million in lease bonus income
Full year 2022 consolidated net income (including non-controlling interest) of $655.0 million; net income attributable to Viper Energy Partners LP of $151.7 million, or $2.00 per common unit
Declared distributions of $2.46 per common unit during the full year 2022
Repurchased 5.4 million common units during the full year 2022 for $150.6 million (average price of $27.91 per unit)
Generated full year 2022 consolidated adjusted EBITDA (as defined and reconciled below) of $772.0 million
Proved reserves as of December 31, 2022 of 148,900 Mboe (72% PDP, 79,004 Mbo), up 16% year over year with oil up 14% from year end 2021
1,000 total gross (18.8 net 100% royalty interest) horizontal wells turned to production on Viper’s acreage during 2022 with an average lateral length of 10,516 feet
Acquired 375 net royalty acres, 254 of which are operated by Diamondback, for an aggregate net purchase price of $65.9 million
Generated $113.0 million in net proceeds from non-core asset sales

2023 OUTLOOK

Initiating average daily production guidance for the first half of 2023 of 19,750 to 20,750 bo/d (34,000 to 35,750 boe/d)
Initiating full year 2023 average daily production guidance of 20,000 to 22,000 bo/d (34,500 to 38,000 boe/d), the midpoint of which implies 8% year over year growth
As of January 18, 2023, there were approximately 477 gross horizontal wells in the process of active development on Viper’s acreage in which Viper expects to own an average 2.2% net royalty interest (10.3 net 100% royalty interest wells)
Approximately 501 gross (13.7 net 100% royalty interest) line-of-sight wells on Viper’s acreage that are not currently in the process of active development, but for which Viper has visibility to the potential of future development in coming quarters, based on Diamondback’s current completion schedule and third party operators’ permits

“The fourth quarter topped off a record year for Viper with quarterly oil production setting a Company record on both an absolute and per unit basis for the third consecutive quarter. Additionally, as a result of our strong production and continued best-in-class margins, further supported by our disciplined capital allocation approach, we were able to deliver on multiple return of capital and financial initiatives during the quarter. During the fourth quarter, we reduced net debt by $100 million quarter over quarter, repurchased roughly 1 million units, and are scheduled to pay a distribution that provides a greater than 6% annualized yield,” stated Travis Stice, Chief Executive Officer of Viper’s General Partner.

Mr. Stice continued, “Looking ahead to 2023, Viper is uniquely positioned to continue to return substantial amounts of capital as we can offer organic production growth with almost zero exposure to inflationary cost pressures. We have initiated average production guidance for the full year that implies 8% year over year growth, even as Diamondback and most other Permian operators maintain roughly flat activity levels, as Diamondback continues to focus their development on Viper’s high concentration royalty acreage.”

FINANCIAL UPDATE

Viper’s fourth quarter 2022 average unhedged realized prices were $83.30 per barrel of oil, $3.74 per Mcf of natural gas and $25.65 per barrel of natural gas liquids, resulting in a total equivalent realized price of $57.92/boe.

Viper’s fourth quarter 2022 average hedged realized prices were $82.71 per barrel of oil, $3.03 per Mcf of natural gas and $25.65 per barrel of natural gas liquids, resulting in a total equivalent realized price of $56.66/boe.

During the fourth quarter of 2022, the Company recorded total operating income of $203.6 million and consolidated net income (including non-controlling interest) of $145.2 million. For the full year 2022, Viper generated $866.5 million in operating income and $655.0 million in consolidated net income.

As of December 31, 2022, the Company had a cash balance of $18.2 million and total long-term debt outstanding (excluding debt issuance, discounts and premiums) of $582.4 million, resulting in net debt (as defined and reconciled below) of $564.2 million. Viper’s outstanding long-term debt as of December 31, 2022 consisted of $430.4 million in aggregate principal amount of its 5.375% Senior Notes due 2027 and $152.0 million in borrowings on its revolving credit facility, leaving $348.0 million available for future borrowings and $366.2 million of total liquidity.

FOURTH QUARTER 2022 CASH DISTRIBUTION & CAPITAL RETURN PROGRAM

Viper announced today that the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Viper Energy Partners General Partner declared a base distribution of $0.25 per common unit for the fourth quarter of 2022 payable on March 10, 2023 to eligible common unitholders of record at the close of business on March 3, 2023.

The Board also declared a variable cash distribution of $0.24 per common unit for the fourth quarter of 2022 payable on March 10, 2023 to eligible common unitholders of record at the close of business on March 3, 2023.

During the fourth quarter of 2022, Viper repurchased 1.0 million common units for an aggregate purchase price of $31.7 million (average price of $32.40 per unit). In total, since the initiation of Viper’s common unit repurchase program through December 31, 2022, the Company repurchased 10.1 million common units for an aggregate of $220.6 million, reflecting an average price of $21.95 per unit.

On November 25, 2022, Viper made a cash distribution to its common unitholders and subsequently has reasonably estimated that a portion of that distribution, as well as a portion of the distribution payable on March 10, 2023, should not constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Rather, approximately 50% of distributions that have been paid, or which are expected to be paid, related to 2022 are estimated to constitute non-taxable reductions to the tax basis of each distribution recipient’s ownership interest in Viper. The Form 8937 containing additional information may be found on www.viperenergy.com under the “Investor Relations” section of the site.

OPERATIONS UPDATE

During the fourth quarter of 2022, Viper estimates that 272 gross (4.6 net 100% royalty interest) horizontal wells with an average royalty interest of 1.7% were turned to production on its acreage position with an average lateral length of 10,630 feet. Of these 272 gross wells, Diamondback is the operator of 42 gross wells, with an average royalty interest of 5.4%, and the remaining 230 gross wells, with an average royalty interest of 1.0%, are operated by third parties.

Additionally, during the fourth quarter of 2022, Viper acquired 200 net royalty acres for an aggregate net purchase price of $24.4 million, subject to certain customary post-closing adjustments. Of the acquired properties, approximately 143 net royalty acres are operated by Diamondback.

Also during the fourth quarter of 2022, Viper divested its entire position in the Eagle Ford Shale consisting of 681 net royalty acres of third party operated acreage for net proceeds of $53.8 million, subject to certain customary post-closing adjustments.

For the full year 2022, Viper acquired 375 net royalty acres for an aggregate net purchase price of approximately $65.9 million, subject to certain customary post-closing adjustments. Of the acquired properties, approximately 254 net royalty acres are operated by Diamondback. During the year, Viper also divested 1,099 net royalty acres of non-core assets for an aggregate net sales price of $113.0 million, subject to certain customary post-closing adjustments.

As a result, Viper’s footprint of mineral and royalty interests was 26,315 net royalty acres as of December 31, 2022.

The following table summarizes Viper’s gross well information:

(1) Average lateral length of 10,630 feet.
(2) Average lateral length of 10,516 feet.

The 477 gross wells currently in the process of active development are those wells that have been spud and are expected to be turned to production within approximately the next six to eight months. Further in regard to the active development on Viper’s asset base, there are currently 44 gross rigs operating on Viper’s acreage, 13 of which are operated by Diamondback. The 501 line-of-sight wells are those that are not currently in the process of active development, but for which Viper has reason to believe that they will be turned to production within approximately the next 15 to 18 months. The expected timing of these line-of-sight wells is based primarily on permitting by third party operators or Diamondback’s current expected completion schedule. Existing permits or active development of Viper’s royalty acreage does not ensure that those wells will be turned to production.

YEAR END RESERVES UPDATE

Viper’s proved oil and natural gas reserve estimates and their associated future net cash flows were prepared by Viper’s internal reservoir engineers and audited by Ryder Scott Company, L.P., independent petroleum engineers as of December 31, 2022. Reference prices of $93.67 per barrel of oil and natural gas liquids and $6.36 per MMbtu of natural gas were used in accordance with applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Realized prices with applicable differentials were $95.04 per barrel of oil, $5.74 per Mcf of natural gas and $38.95 per barrel of natural gas liquids.

Proved reserves at year-end 2022 of 148,900 Mboe (79,004 Mbo) represent a 16% increase over year-end 2021 reserves. The year-end 2022 proved reserves have a PV-10 value (as defined and reconciled below) of approximately $4.1 billion and a standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows of $3.5 billion.

Proved developed reserves increased by 18% year over year to 107,291 Mboe (54,817 Mbo) as of December 31, 2022, reflecting continued horizontal development by the operators of Viper’s acreage.

Net proved reserve additions of 33,294 Mboe resulted in a reserve replacement ratio of 271% (defined as the sum of extensions, discoveries, revisions, purchases and divestitures, divided by annual production). The organic reserve replacement ratio was 280% (defined as the sum of extensions, discoveries and revisions, divided by annual production).

Extensions and discoveries of 25,858 Mboe are primarily attributable to the drilling of 636 new wells and from 199 new proved undeveloped locations added. The Company’s total positive revisions of previous estimated quantities of 8,477 Mboe were due to positive revisions of 15,484 MBOE attributable to price and performance revisions which were largely offset by PUD downgrades of 7,007 MBOE. The purchase of reserves in place of 1,006 Mboe resulted from multiple acquisitions of certain mineral and royalty interests.

As the owner of mineral and royalty interests, Viper incurred no exploration and development costs during the year ended December 31, 2022.

GUIDANCE UPDATE

Below is Viper’s guidance for the full year 2023, as well as average production guidance for the first half of 2023.

(1) Assumes $430.0 million in principal of senior notes and current revolver balance.
(2) Includes production taxes of 4.6% for crude oil and 7.5% for natural gas and natural gas liquids and ad valorem taxes.
(3) Pre-tax income attributable to Viper Energy Partners LP is reconciled below.
(4) Attributable to Viper Energy Partners LP.

CONFERENCE CALL

Viper will host a conference call and webcast for investors and analysts to discuss its results for the fourth quarter of 2022 on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. CT. Access to the live audio-only webcast, and replay which will be available following the call, may be found here. The live webcast of the earnings conference call will also be available via Viper’s website at www.viperenergy.com under the “Investor Relations” section of the site.

About Viper Energy Partners LP

Viper is a limited partnership formed by Diamondback to own, acquire and exploit oil and natural gas properties in North America, with a focus on owning and acquiring mineral and royalty interests in oil-weighted basins, primarily the Permian Basin. For more information, please visit www.viperenergy.com.

About Diamondback Energy, Inc.

Diamondback is an independent oil and natural gas company headquartered in Midland, Texas focused on the acquisition, development, exploration and exploitation of unconventional, onshore oil and natural gas reserves primarily in the Permian Basin in West Texas. For more information, please visit www.diamondbackenergy.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, which involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding Viper’s: future performance; business strategy; future operations; estimates and projections of operating income, losses, costs and expenses, returns, cash flow, and financial position; production levels on properties in which Viper has mineral and royalty interests, developmental activity by other operators; reserve estimates and Viper’s ability to replace or increase reserves; anticipated benefits of strategic transactions (such as acquisitions or divestitures); and plans and objectives of (including Diamondback’s plans for developing Viper’s acreage and Viper’s cash distribution policy and common unit repurchase program) are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, the words “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “guidance,” “intend,” “may,” “model,” “outlook,” “plan,” “positioned,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions (including the negative of such terms) as they relate to Viper are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Although Viper believes that the expectations and assumptions reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, they involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and, in many cases, beyond its control. Accordingly, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of Viper’s future performance and the actual outcomes could differ materially from what Viper expressed in its forward-looking statements.

Factors that could cause the outcomes to differ materially include (but are not limited to) the following: changes in supply and demand levels for oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids, and the resulting impact on the price for those commodities; the impact of public health crises, including epidemic or pandemic diseases such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and any related company or government policies or actions; actions taken by the members of OPEC and Russia affecting the production and pricing of oil, as well as other domestic and global political, economic, or diplomatic developments, including any impact of the ongoing war in Ukraine on the global energy markets and geopolitical stability; concerns over economic slowdown or potential recession; rising interest rates and their impact on the cost of capital; regional supply and demand factors, including delays, curtailment delays or interruptions of production on Viper’s mineral and royalty acreage, or governmental orders, rules or regulations that impose production limits on such acreage; federal and state legislative and regulatory initiatives relating to hydraulic fracturing, including the effect of existing and future laws and governmental regulations; physical and transition risks relating to climate change and the risks and other factors disclosed in Viper’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, which can be obtained free of charge on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s web site at http://www.sec.gov.

In light of these factors, the events anticipated by Viper’s forward-looking statements may not occur at the time anticipated or at all. Moreover, the new risks emerge from time to time. Viper cannot predict all risks, nor can it assess the impact of all factors on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by any forward-looking statements it may make. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements made in this news release. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release or, if earlier, as of the date they were made. Viper does not intend to, and disclaim any obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements unless required by applicable law.

(1) Bbl equivalents are calculated using a conversion rate of six Mcf per one Bbl.
(2) Realized price net of all deducts for gathering, transportation and processing.
(3) Hedged prices reflect the impact of cash settlements of our matured commodity derivative transactions on our average sales prices.
(4) Excludes non-cash unit-based compensation expense for the respective periods presented.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURESAdjusted EBITDA is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure that is used by management and external users of our financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies. Viper defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) attributable to Viper Energy Partners LP plus net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest (“net income (loss)”) before interest expense, net, non-cash unit-based compensation expense, depletion expense, non-cash (gain) loss on derivative instruments, (gain) loss on extinguishment of debt and provision for (benefit from) income taxes, if any. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of net income as determined by United States’ generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Management believes Adjusted EBITDA is useful because it allows them to more effectively evaluate Viper’s operating performance and compare the results of its operations from period to period without regard to its financing methods or capital structure. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income, royalty income, cash flow from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented as determined in accordance with GAAP. Certain items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing a company’s financial performance, such as a company’s cost of capital and tax structure, as well as the historic costs of depreciable assets, none of which are components of Adjusted EBITDA.

Viper defines cash available for distribution generally as an amount equal to its Adjusted EBITDA for the applicable quarter less cash needed for income taxes payable, debt service, contractual obligations, fixed charges and reserves for future operating or capital needs that the Board may deem appropriate, lease bonus income, distribution equivalent rights payments and preferred distributions, if any. Management believes cash available for distribution is useful because it allows them to more effectively evaluate Viper’s operating performance excluding the impact of non-cash financial items and short-term changes in working capital. Viper’s computations of Adjusted EBITDA and cash available for distribution may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies or to such measure in its credit facility or any of its other contracts. Viper further defines cash available for variable distribution as 75 percent of cash available for distribution less base distributions declared and repurchased units as part of unit buyback for the applicable quarter.

The following tables present a reconciliation of the GAAP financial measure of net income (loss) to the non-GAAP financial measures of Adjusted EBITDA, cash available for distribution and cash available for variable distribution:

(1) Does not take into account special income allocation consideration.
(2) Reflects amounts attributable to the common unitholders’ ownership interest in Viper Energy Partners LP.

The following table presents a reconciliation of the GAAP financial measure of income (loss) before income taxes to the non-GAAP financial measure of pre-tax income attributable to Viper Energy Partners LP. Management believes this measure is useful to investors given it provides the basis for income taxes payable by Viper Energy Partners LP, which is an adjustment to reconcile Adjusted EBITDA to cash available for distribution to Viper Energy Partners LP unitholders.

Adjusted net income (loss) is a non-GAAP financial measure equal to net income (loss) attributable to Viper Energy Partners, LP plus net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest adjusted for non-cash (gain) loss on derivative instruments, (gain) loss on extinguishment of debt, if any, and related income tax adjustments. The Company’s computation of adjusted net income may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies or to such measure in our credit facility or any of our other contracts. Management believes adjusted net income helps investors in the oil and natural gas industry to measure and compare the Company’s performance to other oil and natural gas companies by excluding from the calculation items that can vary significantly from company to company depending upon accounting methods, the book value of assets and other non-operational factors.

The following table presents a reconciliation of the GAAP financial measure of net income (loss) attributable to Viper Energy Partners LP to the non-GAAP financial measure of adjusted net income (loss):

(a) The Partnership’s earnings (loss) per diluted unit amount has been computed using the two-class method in accordance with GAAP. The two-class method is an earnings allocation which reflects the respective ownership among holders of common units and participating securities. Diluted earnings per share using the two-class method is calculated as (i) net income attributable to Viper Energy Partners LP, (ii) plus the reallocation of $0.1 million in earnings attributable to participating securities, divided by (iii) diluted weighted average common shares outstanding.

RECONCILIATION OF LONG-TERM DEBT TO NET DEBT

The Company defines net debt as debt (excluding debt issuance costs, discounts and premiums) less cash and cash equivalents. Net debt should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, total debt, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Management uses net debt to determine the Company’s outstanding debt obligations that would not be readily satisfied by its cash and cash equivalents on hand. The Company believes this metric is useful to analysts and investors in determining the Company’s leverage position because the Company has the ability to, and may decide to, use a portion of its cash and cash equivalents to reduce debt.

(1) Excludes debt issuance costs, discounts & premiums.

PV-10

PV-10 is the Company’s estimate of the present value of the future net revenues from proved oil and natural gas reserves after deducting estimated production and ad valorem taxes, future capital costs and operating expenses, but before deducting any estimates of future income taxes. The estimated future net revenues are discounted at an annual rate of 10% to determine their “present value.” The Company believes PV-10 to be an important measure for evaluating the relative significance of its oil and natural gas properties and that the presentation of the non-GAAP financial measure of PV-10 provides useful information to investors because it is widely used by professional analysts and investors in evaluating oil and natural gas companies. Because there are many unique factors that can impact an individual company when estimating the amount of future income taxes to be paid, the Company believes the use of a pre-tax measure is valuable for evaluating the Company. The Company believes that PV-10 is a financial measure routinely used and calculated similarly by other companies in the oil and natural gas industry.

The following table reconciles the Company’s standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows, a GAAP financial measure to PV-10, a non-GAAP financial measure. PV-10 should not be considered as an alternative to the standardized measure as computed under GAAP.

Derivatives

As of the filing date, the Company had the following outstanding derivative contracts. The Company’s derivative contracts are based upon reported settlement prices on commodity exchanges, with crude oil derivative settlements based on New York Mercantile Exchange West Texas Intermediate pricing and Crude Oil Brent. When aggregating multiple contracts, the weighted average contract price is disclosed.

Investor Contact:

Austen Gilfillian
+1 432.221.7420
[email protected]

Source: Viper Energy Partners LP; Diamondback Energy, Inc.