Chesapeake Energy Corporation, founded in 1989 and headquartered in Oklahoma City, is an independent exploration and production company focused on acquiring, exploring, and developing properties to produce natural gas, oil, and NGL from underground reservoirs. As of December 31, 2023, the company owned interests in approximately 5,000 natural gas wells, primarily in the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and the Haynesville/Bossier Shales in Louisiana. In 2023, Chesapeake Energy completed its exit from the Eagle Ford Shale through three separate divestiture transactions, with aggregate proceeds exceeding $3.5 billion.
Financially, the company saw significant changes and developments in 2023. It entered into an all-stock merger agreement with Southwestern on January 10, 2024, and completed several acquisitions and divestitures, including the sale of its Powder River Basin assets for $450 million and the sale of its Eagle Ford assets for approximately $3.5 billion. Chesapeake Energy also announced an LNG export deal, entered into an agreement with Momentum Sustainable Ventures LLC for a new natural gas gathering pipeline and carbon capture project, and secured a new senior secured reserve-based revolving credit agreement providing for a $3.5 billion borrowing base and $2.0 billion in aggregate commitments. The company also repurchased approximately 16.0 million shares of its common stock and paid dividends of approximately $487 million during the 2023 period.
In terms of market conditions, Chesapeake Energy faced volatility in natural gas, oil, and NGL prices due to instability and conflict in Europe and the Middle East, as well as a mild winter in 2023 and historically higher inventory levels. The company's 2024 estimated cash flow is partially protected from commodity price volatility due to its current hedge positions that cover approximately 60% of projected natural gas volumes for 2024. Additionally, the industry experienced inflationary pressures, including increased demand for oilfield service equipment, rising fuel costs, and labor shortages, which resulted in observed increases to operating and capital costs.
Despite these challenges, Chesapeake Energy emerged from Chapter 11 as a stronger company, reducing its total indebtedness by $9.4 billion and strengthening its balance sheet. As of December 31, 2023, the company had $3.1 billion of liquidity available, including $1.1 billion of cash on hand and $2.0 billion of aggregate unused borrowing capacity under the New Credit Facility. It also continues to focus on improving margins through operating efficiencies and financial discipline, improving its ESG performance, and seeking opportunities to reduce cash costs through operational efficiencies.
In summary, Chesapeake Energy Corporation has undergone significant changes in its business operations and financial position, including divestitures, acquisitions, and a merger agreement, while navigating market volatility and inflationary pressures. The company's focus remains on creating shareholder value through the responsible development of its resource plays and providing affordable, reliable, lower carbon energy to markets in need.
As a result of these announcements, the company's shares have moved 7.1% on the market, and are now trading at a price of $83.16. For more information, read the company's full 10-K submission here.
