PetroQuest Energy, Inc. Announces 2002 Year-End and Fourth Quarter Results

LAFAYETTE, La., Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PetroQuest Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq: PQUE - News) announced today net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2002 of $1,466,000, or $0.03 per share, as compared to fourth quarter 2001 net income of $1,142,000, or $0.03 per share. Net cash flow from operations before working capital changes for the fourth quarter of 2002 increased 26% to $10,984,000, or $0.26 per share, as compared to $8,684,000, or $0.25 per share, for the comparable 2001 period. For the year ended December 31, 2002, net income was $2,307,000, or $0.06 per share, and net cash flow from operations before working capital changes totaled $32,813,000, or $0.82 per share. Net income and net cash flow from operations before working capital changes for the year ended December 31, 2001 were $11,645,000 or $0.34 per share, and $42,317,000 or $1.23 per share, respectively.

Oil and gas sales during the fourth quarter of 2002 increased 21% to $15,056,000 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2001. For the year ended December 31, 2002, sales were $48,141,000 compared to $54,967,000 for the year ended December 31, 2001. Stated on a Mcfe basis, unit prices received during the fourth quarter were 51% higher and prices received during the year ended December 31, 2002 were 10% lower than the prices received during the comparable 2001 periods.

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the oil and gas operations of the Company for the three-month periods and years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001:

                               Three Months Ended      Twelve Months Ended
                                  December 31,             December 31,
                                2002        2001        2002         2001
    Production:
      Oil (Bbls)                240,380     191,332      929,181      791,405
      Gas (Mcf)               2,001,427   3,150,098    7,765,142    9,025,240
      Total Production
       (Mcfe)                 3,443,707   4,298,090   13,340,228   13,773,670

    Sales:
      Total oil sales       $ 6,562,031 $ 4,098,533 $ 23,294,514 $ 20,171,659
      Total gas sales       $ 8,494,108 $ 8,321,954 $ 24,846,723 $ 34,794,876

    Average sales prices:
      Oil (per Bbl)              $27.30      $21.42       $25.07       $25.49
      Gas (per Mcf)               $4.24       $2.64        $3.20        $3.86
      Per Mcfe                    $4.37       $2.89        $3.61        $3.99

    The following is guidance for the first quarter of 2003:

                                                                Guidance for
    Description                                               1st Quarter 2003

    Production volumes (MMcfe/d)                                    33-35

    Percent gas                                                      60 %

    Expenses:
        Lease operating expenses (per Mcfe)                      $1.00-$1.10
        Production taxes (per Mcfe)                               $.06-$.08
        Depreciation, depletion and amortization (per Mcfe)      $2.55-$2.65
        General and administrative (in millions)                  $1.4-$1.6
        Interest expense (in millions)                           $.100-$.125

    Effective tax rate (all deferred)                                35 %

PetroQuest Energy Inc. is an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, development, acquisition and production of oil and natural gas reserves in the Gulf Coast Basin, both onshore and in shallow waters offshore.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Among those risks, trends and uncertainties are our estimate of the sufficiency of our existing capital sources, our ability to raise additional capital to fund cash requirements for future operations, the uncertainties involved in estimating quantities of proved oil and natural gas reserves, in prospect development and property acquisitions and in projecting future rates of production, the timing of development expenditures and drilling of wells, and the operating hazards attendant to the oil and gas business. In particular, careful consideration should be given to cautionary statements made in the various reports PetroQuest has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. PetroQuest undertakes no duty to update or revise these forward-looking statements.

                           PETROQUEST ENERGY, INC.
                    Consolidated Statements of Operations
                (Amounts in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)


                                       Three Months Ended  Twelve Months Ended
                                             December 31,     December 31,
                                            2002     2001     2002     2001
                                             (unaudited)
    Revenues:
        Oil and gas sales                 $ 15,056 $ 12,420 $ 48,141 $ 54,967
        Interest and other income                1      (48)    (461)     314
                                            15,057   12,372   47,680   55,281

    Expenses:
        Lease operating expenses             2,748    2,032    9,988    7,172
        Production taxes                       173      274      614    1,096
        Depreciation, depletion and
         amortization                        8,559    7,681   28,196   23,094
        General and administrative           1,251    1,573    5,009    4,752
        Interest expense                        25      429      278    2,111
                                            12,756   11,989   44,085   38,225

    Income from operations                   2,301      383    3,595   17,056

        Income tax expense (benefit)           835     (759)   1,288    5,411

    Net income (loss)                     $  1,466 $  1,142 $  2,307 $ 11,645

    Earnings (loss) per common share:
        Basic                             $   0.04 $   0.04 $   0.06 $   0.37
        Diluted                           $   0.03 $   0.03 $   0.06 $   0.34

    Weighted average number of common
     shares:
        Basic                               41,005   32,526   37,871   31,818
        Diluted                             42,920   34,935   39,997   34,271



Source: PetroQuest Energy, Inc.



Contact:

PetroQuest Energy Inc.
Robert R. Brooksher, 337/232-7028

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