bsm-20230731
0001621434FALSE00016214342023-07-312023-07-31

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
8-K
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO
SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 31, 2023
Black Stone Minerals, L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
001-37362
47-1846692
(State or other jurisdiction(Commission File Number)(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
 
1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2020
 
Houston,
Texas
77002
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

 Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

(713)
445-3200

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading Symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Units Representing Limited Partner Interests
BSM
New York Stock Exchange




The information included in this Current Report, including the exhibit attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, is being furnished and shall not be deemed "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. That information shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as otherwise expressly stated in such filing.

Item 2.02  Results of Operations and Financial Condition
 
On July 31, 2023, Black Stone Minerals, L.P. (“Black Stone Minerals”) issued a press release that announced its second quarter 2023 financial and operating results. A copy of the press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure

On July 31, 2023, Black Stone Minerals provided an update to its summary guidance for 2023. This information is contained in the press release included in this report as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)    Exhibits
Exhibit NumberDescription
Black Stone Minerals, L.P. Press Release, dated July 31, 2023

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SIGNATURES
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 BLACK STONE MINERALS, L.P.
   
 By:Black Stone Minerals GP, L.L.C.,
its general partner
   
Date: July 31, 2023By:/s/ Steve Putman
  Steve Putman
  Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary

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Exhibit Index
 
Exhibit Number Description
 Black Stone Minerals, L.P. Press Release, dated July 31, 2023

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Document

https://cdn.kscope.io/9259c2d3bb5ffd5462c77b77313707a6-gb5vcvwhah10000001a03a.jpg
Exhibit 99.1
 
 
News
For Immediate Release
 
Black Stone Minerals, L.P. Reports Second Quarter Results




HOUSTON - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Black Stone Minerals, L.P. (NYSE: BSM) ("Black Stone Minerals," "Black Stone," or "the Company") today announces its financial and operating results for the second quarter of 2023.

Financial and Operational Highlights

Mineral and royalty production for the second quarter of 2023 equaled 33.6 MBoe/d, a decrease of 9% over the prior quarter; total production, including working-interest volumes, was 36.2 MBoe/d for the quarter.
Net income for the second quarter was $78.4 million. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter totaled $109.2 million.
Distributable cash flow was $103.6 million for the second quarter and the fifth consecutive quarter above $100 million.
Black Stone announced a distribution of $0.475 per unit with respect to the second quarter of 2023, representing an increase of 13% over the common distribution paid for the second quarter of 2022. Distribution coverage for all units was 1.04x.
Total outstanding debt at the end of the second quarter was zero; as of July 28, 2023, total debt remained at zero with $81.4 million of cash.

Management Commentary

Thomas L. Carter, Jr., Black Stone Minerals’ Chief Executive Officer and Chairman commented, “We continue to execute on our plans for the year and are starting to see increased volumes in the Shelby Trough as Aethon continues to ramp up production consistent with our development agreements. While prices pulled back in the second quarter, we continue working with operators to drive additional drilling activity on our acreage and maintain a strong balance sheet to create long-term value to our unitholders through various commodity cycles.”

Quarterly Financial and Operating Results

Production

Black Stone Minerals reported mineral and royalty volume of 33.6 MBoe/d (74% natural gas) for the second quarter of 2023, compared to 36.8 MBoe/d for the first quarter of 2023 and 30.3 MBoe/d for the second quarter of 2022. The decrease was primarily driven by lower volumes in the Louisiana Haynesville where rig count and activity have pulled back in response to lower natural gas prices. This was partially offset by increased oil volumes compared to the first quarter which was led by several high interest properties coming online in the Bakken.

Working-interest production for the second quarter of 2023 was 2.6 MBoe/d, representing an increase of 8% from the levels generated in the quarter ended March 31, 2023, and a decrease of 19% from the quarter ended June 30, 2022. The continued decline year over year in working-interest volumes is consistent with the Company's decision to farm out its working-interest participation to third-party capital providers.

Total reported production averaged 36.2 MBoe/d (93% mineral and royalty, 74% natural gas) for the second quarter of 2023 compared to 39.3 MBoe/d and 33.5 MBoe/d for the quarters ended March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2022, respectively.

Realized Prices, Revenues, and Net Income

The Company’s average realized price per Boe, excluding the effect of derivative settlements, was $31.35 for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. This is a decrease of 6% from $33.47 per Boe in the first quarter of 2023 and a 53% decrease from $67.41 in the second quarter of 2022. Natural gas realizations benefited from new production that came online in the second half of 2022.

Black Stone reported oil and gas revenue of $103.2 million (60% oil and condensate) for the second quarter of 2023, a decrease of 13% from $118.3 million in the first quarter of 2023. Oil and gas revenue in the second quarter of 2022 was $205.5 million.




The Company reported a gain on commodity derivative instruments of $11.3 million for the second quarter of 2023, composed of a $28.2 million gain from realized settlements and a non-cash $16.9 million unrealized loss due to the change in value of Black Stone’s derivative positions during the quarter. Black Stone reported a gain of $52.3 million and a loss of $27.3 million on commodity derivative instruments for the quarters ended March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2022, respectively.

Lease bonus and other income was $2.5 million for the second quarter of 2023, primarily related to leasing activity in the Bakken and Haynesville/Bossier. Lease bonus and other income for the quarters ended March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2022 was $4.0 million and $2.2 million, respectively.

The Company reported net income of $78.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to net income of $134.4 million in the preceding quarter. For the quarter ended June 30, 2022, the Company reported net income of $131.8 million.

Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow

Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2023 was $109.2 million, which compares to $109.9 million in the first quarter of 2023 and $112.8 million in the second quarter of 2022. Distributable cash flow for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 was $103.6 million. For the quarters ended March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2022, distributable cash flow was $104.1 million and $106.6 million, respectively.

Financial Position and Activities

As of June 30, 2023, Black Stone Minerals had $46.7 million in cash and no amount was drawn under its credit facility. At the end of July, the Company had approximately $81.4 million in cash, and no debt was outstanding under the credit facility. Interest expense for the second quarter of 2023 was $0.6 million, a decrease from $0.8 million in the first quarter. The decrease was attributable to lower borrowings under the credit facility during the period, which was partially offset by higher interest rates.

Effective April 27, 2023, Black Stone's borrowing base was reaffirmed at $550 million and total commitments were $375 million. Black Stone is in compliance with all financial covenants associated with its credit facility.

During the second quarter of 2023, the Company made no repurchases of units under the Board-approved $75 million unit repurchase program.

Second Quarter 2023 Distributions

As previously announced, the Board approved a cash distribution of $0.475 for each common unit attributable to the second quarter of 2023. The quarterly distribution coverage ratio attributable to the second quarter of 2023 was approximately 1.04x. These distributions will be paid on August 18, 2023 to unitholders of record as of the close of business on August 11, 2023.

Activity Update

Rig Activity

As of June 30, 2023, Black Stone had 73 rigs operating across its acreage position, a decrease relative to the 78 rigs on the Company's acreage as of March 31, 2023 and the 81 rigs operating on the Company's acreage as of June 30, 2022. The decrease in rigs at the end of the second quarter was driven primarily by a reduction in the Wolfcamp and was consistent with overall U.S. rig count trends as a response to pricing pressures.

Shelby Trough Development Update

Aethon continues to perform with drilling and completing wells according to our development agreements. Aethon has five rigs currently on Black Stone acreage in the Shelby Trough. Aethon has successfully turned 16 wells to sales and has commenced operations on 18 additional wells under the development agreement covering Angelina County. Aethon has successfully turned six wells to sales and has another nine wells awaiting completion operations under the separate development agreement covering San Augustine County. Additionally, XTO Energy has turned four wells to sales in the second quarter and has two wells currently awaiting completion operations.

Austin Chalk Update

Black Stone has entered into agreements with multiple operators to drill wells in the areas of the Austin Chalk in East Texas, where the Company has significant acreage positions. The results of the 2021 three well test program in the Brookeland Field
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demonstrated that modern completion technology has the potential to greatly improve production rates and increase reserves when compared to the vintage, unstimulated wells in the Austin Chalk formation. Eight operators are actively engaged in redevelopment of the field. Black Stone has also reached an agreement with one of these operators to drill 10 wells in the field over the next two years. To date, 26 wells with modern completions are now producing in the field, and an additional three wells are currently either being drilled or completed.

Update to 2023 Guidance

The Company expects full year 2023 production volumes to be within the original guidance range of 37 - 39 MBoe/d. Management anticipates that production volumes will ramp up throughout the remainder of the year, driven primarily by the increases in drilling activity in the Shelby Trough and Austin Chalk plays as discussed above.
Original Guidance
Revised Guidance
Mineral and royalty production (MBoe/d)
35 - 37
35 - 37
Working-interest production (MBoe/d)
2 - 3
2 - 3
Total production (MBoe/d)
37 - 39
37 - 39
Percentage natural gas
72%
74%
Percentage royalty interest
94%
93%
Lease bonus and other income ($MM)
$10 - $12
$10 - $12
Lease operating expense ($MM)
$12 - $13
$11 - $12
Production costs and ad valorem taxes (as % of total pre-derivative O&G revenue)
9% - 11%
10% - 12%
G&A - cash ($MM)
$42 - $44
$42 - $44
G&A - non-cash ($MM)
$12 - $14
$11 - $13
G&A - TOTAL ($MM)
$54 - $58
$53 - $57
DD&A ($/Boe)
$3.50 - $3.75
$3.25 - $3.50

Update to Hedge Position

Black Stone has commodity derivative contracts in place covering portions of its anticipated production for 2023 and 2024. The Company's hedge position as of July 28, 2023 is summarized in the following tables:
Oil Hedge Position
Oil SwapOil Swap Price
MBbl$/Bbl
3Q23540$80.80
4Q23540$80.80
1Q24450$68.98
2Q24450$68.98
3Q24450$68.98
4Q24450$68.98

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Natural Gas Hedge Position
Gas SwapGas Swap Price
BBtu$/MMbtu
3Q238,280$5.15
4Q238,280$5.15
1Q2410,010$3.57
2Q2410,010$3.57
3Q2410,120$3.57
4Q2410,120$3.57

More detailed information about the Company's existing hedging program can be found in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the second quarter of 2023, which is expected to be filed on or around August 1, 2023.

Conference Call

Black Stone Minerals will host a conference call and webcast for investors and analysts to discuss its results for the second quarter of 2023 on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. Central Time. Black Stone recommends participants who do not anticipate asking questions to listen to the call via the live broadcast available at http://investor.blackstoneminerals.com. Analysts and investors who wish to ask questions should dial (800) 245-3047 for domestic participants and (203) 518-9765 for international participants, the conference ID for the call is BSMQ223. A recording of the conference call will be available on Black Stone's website.

About Black Stone Minerals, L.P.
Black Stone Minerals is one of the largest owners of oil and natural gas mineral interests in the United States. The Company owns mineral interests and royalty interests in 41 states in the continental United States. Black Stone believes its large, diversified asset base and long-lived, non-cost-bearing mineral and royalty interests provide for stable to growing production and reserves over time, allowing the majority of generated cash flow to be distributed to unitholders.


Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this news release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Terminology such as “will,” “may,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “project,” “intend,” “estimate,” “believe,” “target,” “continue,” “potential,” the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology often identify forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, Black Stone Minerals undertakes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after this news release. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Black Stone Minerals, which may cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those summarized below:
the Company’s ability to execute its business strategies;
the volatility of realized oil and natural gas prices;
the level of production on the Company’s properties;
overall supply and demand for oil and natural gas, as well as regional supply and demand factors, delays, or interruptions of production;
conservation measures, technological advances, and general concern about the environmental impact of the production and use of fossil fuels;
the Company’s ability to replace its oil and natural gas reserves;
general economic, business, or industry conditions;
cybersecurity incidents, including data security breaches or computer viruses;
competition in the oil and natural gas industry; and
the availability, high cost, or shortages of rigs, equipment, raw materials, supplies, or personnel to develop and operate our properties; and
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the level of drilling activity by the Company's operators, particularly in areas such as the Shelby Trough where the Company has concentrated acreage positions.

Black Stone Minerals, L.P. Contacts

Evan Kiefer
Interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Telephone: (713) 445-3200
investorrelations@blackstoneminerals.com

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BLACK STONE MINERALS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per unit amounts)
Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
 2023202220232022
REVENUE 
Oil and condensate sales$61,551 $94,296 $122,460 $170,127 
Natural gas and natural gas liquids sales41,619 111,181 99,042 186,935 
Lease bonus and other income2,527 2,244 6,502 7,103 
Revenue from contracts with customers105,697 207,721 228,004 364,165 
Gain (loss) on commodity derivative instruments11,303 (27,349)63,574 (147,369)
TOTAL REVENUE117,000 180,372 291,578 216,796 
OPERATING (INCOME) EXPENSE 
Lease operating expense2,866 3,199 5,534 6,360 
Production costs and ad valorem taxes12,844 19,504 25,511 33,453 
Exploration expense182 
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization10,421 11,893 21,568 22,810 
General and administrative11,854 12,519 24,502 26,282 
Accretion of asset retirement obligations250 205 495 407 
(Gain) loss on sale of assets, net— (17)— (17)
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSE38,239 47,305 77,618 89,477 
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS78,761 133,067 213,960 127,319 
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest and investment income373 530 
Interest expense(645)(1,362)(1,459)(2,571)
Other income (expense)(97)81 (196)36 
TOTAL OTHER EXPENSE(369)(1,279)(1,125)(2,533)
NET INCOME (LOSS)78,392 131,788 212,835 124,786 
Distributions on Series B cumulative convertible preferred units(5,250)(5,250)(10,500)(10,500)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE GENERAL PARTNER AND COMMON UNITS$73,142 $126,538 $202,335 $114,286 
ALLOCATION OF NET INCOME (LOSS):  
General partner interest$— $— $— $— 
      Common units$73,142 $126,538 $202,335 $114,286 
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO LIMITED PARTNERS PER COMMON UNIT:   
Per common unit (basic)$0.35 $0.60 $0.96 $0.55 
Per common unit (diluted)$0.35 $0.59 $0.95 $0.55 
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON UNITS OUTSTANDING:
Weighted average common units outstanding (basic)209,967 209,397 209,954 209,360 
Weighted average common units outstanding (diluted)209,967 224,366 224,923 209,360 














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The following table shows the Company’s production, revenues, pricing, and expenses for the periods presented:

 
 Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
 2023202220232022
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except for realized prices and per Boe data)
Production:  
Oil and condensate (MBbls)
846 899 1,639 1,730 
Natural gas (MMcf)1
14,670 12,895 31,121 25,654 
Equivalents (MBoe)3,291 3,048 6,826 6,006 
Equivalents/day (MBoe)36.2 33.5 37.7 33.2 
Realized prices, without derivatives:
Oil and condensate ($/Bbl)$72.76 $104.89 $74.72 $98.34 
Natural gas ($/Mcf)1
2.84 8.62 3.18 7.29 
Equivalents ($/Boe)$31.35 $67.41 $32.45 $59.45 
Revenue:
Oil and condensate sales$61,551 $94,296 $122,460 $170,127 
Natural gas and natural gas liquids sales1
41,619 111,181 99,042 186,935 
Lease bonus and other income2,527 2,244 6,502 7,103 
Revenue from contracts with customers105,697 207,721 228,004 364,165 
Gain (loss) on commodity derivative instruments11,303 (27,349)63,574 (147,369)
Total revenue$117,000 $180,372 $291,578 $216,796 
Operating expenses:
Lease operating expense$2,866 $3,199 $5,534 $6,360 
Production costs and ad valorem taxes12,844 19,504 25,511 33,453 
Exploration expense182 
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization10,421 11,893 21,568 22,810 
General and administrative11,854 12,519 24,502 26,282 
Other expense:
Interest expense645 1,362 1,459 2,571 
Per Boe:
Lease operating expense (per working-interest Boe)$12.46 $11.03 $12.30 $10.89 
Production costs and ad valorem taxes3.90 6.40 3.74 5.57 
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization3.17 3.90 3.16 3.80 
General and administrative3.60 4.11 3.59 4.38 
1 As a mineral-and-royalty-interest owner, Black Stone Minerals is often provided insufficient and inconsistent data on natural gas liquid ("NGL") volumes by its operators. As a result, the Company is unable to reliably determine the total volumes of NGLs associated with the production of natural gas on its acreage. Accordingly, no NGL volumes are included in reported production; however, revenue attributable to NGLs is included in natural gas revenue and the calculation of realized prices for natural gas.


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Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable cash flow are supplemental non-GAAP financial measures used by Black Stone's management and external users of the Company's financial statements such as investors, research analysts, and others, to assess the financial performance of its assets and ability to sustain distributions over the long term without regard to financing methods, capital structure, or historical cost basis.
The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before interest expense, income taxes, and depreciation, depletion, and amortization adjusted for impairment of oil and natural gas properties, if any, accretion of asset retirement obligations, unrealized gains and losses on commodity derivative instruments, non-cash equity-based compensation, and gains and losses on sales of assets, if any. Black Stone defines Distributable cash flow as Adjusted EBITDA plus or minus amounts for certain non-cash operating activities, cash interest expense, distributions to preferred unitholders, and restructuring charges, if any.
Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable cash flow should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income (loss), income (loss) from operations, cash flows from operating activities, or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") in the United States as measures of the Company's financial performance.
Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable cash flow have important limitations as analytical tools because they exclude some but not all items that affect net income (loss), the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure. The Company's computation of Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable cash flow may differ from computations of similarly titled measures of other companies.
 Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
 2023202220232022
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per unit amounts)
Net income (loss)$78,392 $131,788 $212,835 $124,786 
Adjustments to reconcile to Adjusted EBITDA:
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization10,421 11,893 21,568 22,810 
Interest expense645 1,362 1,459 2,571 
Income tax expense (benefit)139 (14)286 89 
Accretion of asset retirement obligations250 205 495 407 
Equity–based compensation2,517 2,724 4,635 7,275 
Unrealized (gain) loss on commodity derivative instruments16,881 (35,103)(22,105)53,673 
(Gain) loss on sale of assets, net— (17)— (17)
Adjusted EBITDA109,245 112,838 219,173 211,594 
Adjustments to reconcile to Distributable cash flow:  
Change in deferred revenue(2)(6)(7)(15)
Cash interest expense(387)(1,015)(946)(1,877)
Preferred unit distributions(5,250)(5,250)(10,500)(10,500)
Distributable cash flow$103,606 $106,567 $207,720 $199,202 
Total units outstanding1
209,979 209,402 
Distributable cash flow per unit$0.493 $0.509 
1 The distribution attributable to the three months ended June 30, 2023 is estimated using 209,979,196 common units as of July 28, 2023; the exact amount of the distribution attributable to the three months ended June 30, 2023 will be determined based on units outstanding as of the record date of August 11, 2023. Distributions attributable to the three months ended June 30, 2022 were calculated using 209,401,737 common units as of the record date of August 12, 2022.
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