e10vq
Table of Contents

 
 
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
     
þ   Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2005
or
     
o   Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the transition period from ___to ___
Commission file number 1-16295
ENCORE ACQUISITION COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Delaware   75-2759650
(State or other jurisdiction   (IRS Employer
of incorporation)   Identification No.)
     
777 Main Street, Suite 1400, Fort Worth, Texas   76102
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (817) 877-9955
Not applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes þ No o
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)
Yes þ No o
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)
Yes o No þ
     Number of shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding as of November 4, 2005     49,372,655
 
 

 


ENCORE ACQUISITION COMPANY
INDEX
         
    Page  
       
       
    1  
    2  
    3  
    4  
    5  
 
       
    13  
 
       
    28  
 
       
    28  
 
       
       
 
       
    30  
    31  
 Certification of the Principal Executive Officer
 Certification of the Principal Financial Officer
 Certification of Principal Executive Officer
 Certification of the Principal Financial Officer
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
     Certain information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and other materials filed with the SEC, or in other written or oral statements made or to be made by us, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements as defined by the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements give our current expectations or forecasts of future events. You can identify our forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “should,” “forecast,” “budget” and other words and terms of similar meaning. Our actual results may differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the matters discussed in the subsection entitled “Factors That May Affect Future Results and Financial Condition” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement. We undertake no responsibility to update forward-looking statements for changes related to these or any other factors that may occur subsequent to this filing for any reason.

i


Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
ENCORE ACQUISITION COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands except shares and per share amounts)
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2005     2004  
    (unaudited)          
ASSETS
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 2,554     $ 1,103  
Hedge margin deposits
    1,600        
Accounts receivable
    69,385       43,839  
Inventory
    10,252       6,550  
Derivatives
    6,270       2,665  
Deferred taxes
    33,490       11,118  
Other
    4,899       5,842  
 
           
Total current assets
    128,450       71,117  
 
           
 
               
Properties and equipment, at cost — successful efforts method:
               
Proved properties
    1,418,591       1,134,220  
Unproved properties
    28,750       29,740  
Accumulated depletion, depreciation, and amortization
    (230,426 )     (171,691 )
 
           
 
    1,216,915       992,269  
 
           
 
               
Other property and equipment
    15,037       10,425  
Accumulated depreciation
    (4,831 )     (3,551 )
 
           
 
    10,206       6,874  
 
           
 
               
Goodwill
    37,908       37,995  
Derivatives
    11,905       1,150  
Other
    16,992       13,995  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 1,422,376     $ 1,123,400  
 
           
 
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
 
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 22,430     $ 24,375  
Derivatives
    84,483       24,270  
Accrued and other current
    76,069       38,038  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    182,982       86,683  
 
           
 
               
Derivatives
    59,920       31,477  
Future abandonment costs
    11,292       6,601  
Other
    13,482        
Deferred taxes
    169,907       146,064  
Long-term debt
    493,581       379,000  
 
           
Total liabilities
    931,164       649,825  
 
           
 
               
Commitments and contingencies
           
 
               
Stockholders’ equity:
               
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding
           
Common stock, $.01 par value, 144,000,000 authorized, 49,372,347 and 48,982,197 issued and outstanding
    494       490  
Additional paid-in capital
    324,502       314,573  
Deferred compensation
    (8,964 )     (4,603 )
Retained earnings
    265,756       199,512  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (90,576 )     (36,397 )
 
           
Total stockholders’ equity
    491,212       473,575  
 
           
 
               
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 1,422,376     $ 1,123,400  
 
           
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

1


Table of Contents

ENCORE ACQUISITION COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
                                 
    Three months ended     Nine months ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2005     2004     2005     2004  
Revenues:
                               
Oil
  $ 85,559     $ 58,243     $ 222,254     $ 157,892  
Natural gas
    42,013       21,009       96,616       50,773  
 
                       
Total revenues
    127,572       79,252       318,870       208,665  
 
                       
 
                               
Expenses:
                               
Production —
                               
Lease operations
    17,912       12,589       48,501       33,752  
Production, ad valorem, and severance taxes
    12,526       8,117       31,425       21,117  
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization
    24,222       12,750       59,943       33,262  
Exploration
    4,818       462       11,201       2,159  
General and administrative (excluding non-cash stock based compensation)
    4,030       2,858       11,236       7,616  
Non-cash stock based compensation
    1,544       796       3,323       1,413  
Derivative fair value loss
    1,612       2,301       5,713       3,424  
Loss on early redemption of debt
    19,477             19,477        
Other operating
    2,520       1,369       5,822       3,462  
 
                       
Total expenses
    88,661       41,242       196,641       106,205  
 
                       
 
                               
Operating income
    38,911       38,010       122,229       102,460  
 
                       
 
                               
Other income (expenses):
                               
Interest
    (9,264 )     (6,547 )     (23,671 )     (16,761 )
Other
    580       78       729       235  
 
                       
Total other income (expenses)
    (8,684 )     (6,469 )     (22,942 )     (16,526 )
 
                       
 
                               
Income before income taxes
    30,227       31,541       99,287       85,934  
Current income tax benefit (provision)
    2,868       (1,042 )     1,478       (3,046 )
Deferred income tax provision
    (12,241 )     (9,485 )     (34,459 )     (26,981 )
 
                       
 
                               
Net income
  $ 20,854     $ 21,014     $ 66,306     $ 55,907  
 
                       
 
                               
Net income per common share:
                               
Basic
  $ 0.43     $ 0.43     $ 1.36     $ 1.20  
Diluted
    0.42       0.43       1.34       1.18  
 
                               
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    48,703       48,446       48,659       46,611  
Diluted
    49,584       49,103       49,481       47,222  
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

2


Table of Contents

ENCORE ACQUISITION COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
September 30, 2005

(in thousands)
(unaudited)
                                                                 
                                                    Accumulated        
    Shares of             Additional                             Other     Total  
    Common     Common     Paid-In     Treasury     Deferred     Retained     Comprehensive     Stockholders’  
    Stock     Stock     Capital     Stock     Compensation     Earnings     Loss     Equity  
Balance at December 31, 2004
    48,982     $ 490     $ 314,573     $     $ (4,603 )   $ 199,512     $ (36,397 )   $ 473,575  
Exercise of stock options
    137       1       2,381                               2,382  
Purchase of treasury stock
                      (195 )                       (195 )
Cancellation of treasury stock
    (7 )           (133 )     195             (62 )            
Deferred compensation:
                                                               
Issuance of restricted Common Stock
    270       3       7,106             (7,109 )                  
Amortization to expense
                            3,323                   3,323  
Other changes
    (10 )           575             (575 )                  
Components of comprehensive income:
                                                               
Net income
                                  66,306             66,306  
Change in deferred hedge loss, net of income taxes of $32,275
                                        (54,179 )     (54,179 )
 
                                                             
 
                                                               
Total comprehensive income
                                                            12,127  
 
                                               
Balance at September 30, 2005
    49,372     $ 494     $ 324,502     $     $ (8,964 )   $ 265,756     $ (90,576 )   $ 491,212  
 
                                               
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

3


Table of Contents

ENCORE ACQUISITION COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
                 
    Nine months ended  
    September 30,  
    2005     2004  
Operating activities
               
Net income
  $ 66,306     $ 55,907  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization
    59,943       33,262  
Dry hole expense
    6,970       1,866  
Deferred taxes
    34,459       26,981  
Non-cash stock based compensation
    3,323       1,413  
Non-cash derivative fair value loss
    11,159       10,257  
Loss on early redemption of debt
    19,477        
Other non-cash
    2,799       418  
Loss on disposition of assets
    328       179  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Hedge margin deposit
    (1,600 )     (5,580 )
Accounts receivable
    (25,500 )     (8,219 )
Other current assets
    (10,735 )     (8,580 )
Other assets
    (16,359 )     (341 )
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    53,622       19,537  
 
           
Cash provided by operating activities
    204,192       127,100  
 
           
 
               
Investing activities
               
Proceeds from disposition of assets
    604       581  
Purchases of other property and equipment
    (5,663 )     (7,900 )
Deposit on acquisition of oil and natural gas properties
    (5,186 )      
Acquisition of oil and natural gas properties
    (49,770 )     (111,532 )
Acquisition of Cortez Oil & Gas, Inc. (net of cash acquired)
          (123,792 )
Development and exploration of oil and natural gas properties
    (237,003 )     (123,171 )
 
           
Cash used by investing activities
    (297,018 )     (365,814 )
 
           
 
               
Financing activities
               
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
          53,900  
Payment of offering costs of common stock
          (677 )
Proceeds from long-term debt
    311,000       240,000  
Payments on long-term debt
    (341,000 )     (204,000 )
Proceeds from issuance of 6% notes
    294,480        
Redemption of 83/8% notes
    (165,852 )      
Proceeds from issuance of 61/4% notes
          150,000  
Payments of debt issuance costs
    (739 )     (4,792 )
Cash overdrafts and other
    (3,612 )     4,944  
 
           
Cash provided by financing activities
    94,277       239,375  
 
           
 
               
Increase in cash and cash equivalents
    1,451       661  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    1,103       431  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 2,554     $ 1,092  
 
           
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

4


Table of Contents

ENCORE ACQUISITION COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2005
(unaudited)
1. Formation of Encore
     Encore Acquisition Company, a Delaware corporation (“Encore” or the “Company”), is a growing independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, development, exploitation, exploration, and production of onshore North American oil and natural gas reserves. Since the Company’s inception in 1998, Encore has sought to acquire high-quality assets with potential for upside through low-risk development drilling projects. Encore’s properties currently are located in four core areas: the Cedar Creek Anticline (“CCA”) in the Williston Basin of Montana and North Dakota; the Permian Basin of western Texas and southeastern New Mexico; the Mid-Continent area, which includes the Arkoma and Anadarko Basins of Oklahoma, the ArkLaTx region of northern Louisiana and eastern Texas and the Barnett Shale of northern Texas; and the Rockies, which includes non-CCA assets in the Williston and Powder River Basins of Montana, and the Paradox Basin of southeastern Utah.
2. Basis of Presentation
     In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Encore include all adjustments necessary to present fairly, in all material respects, our financial position as of September 30, 2005, results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004. All adjustments are of a recurring nature. These interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for an entire year.
     Certain amounts and disclosures have been condensed or omitted from these consolidated financial statements pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Therefore, these consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included in the Company’s 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
     Certain balances reported in the Company’s 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K have been reclassified to conform prior year data to the current period presentation.
Presentation of Number of Shares of Common Stock and Per Share Information
     As discussed at Note 11, “Stockholders’ Equity,” on June 15, 2005, the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved a three-for-two split of the Company’s outstanding common stock in the form of a stock dividend. The dividend was distributed on July 12, 2005, to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 27, 2005. All share and per-share information included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto for all periods presented have been adjusted to retroactively reflect the stock split.
Stock-based Compensation
     Employee stock options and restricted stock awards are accounted for under the provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB 25”). Accordingly, no compensation is recorded for stock options that are granted to employees or non-employee directors with an exercise price equal to or above the common stock price on the grant date. However, compensation expense is recorded for the fair value of the restricted stock granted to employees.
     If compensation expense for the stock based awards had been determined using the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” the Company’s net income and net income per share would have been adjusted to the pro forma amounts indicated below (in thousands, except per share amounts):

5


Table of Contents

                                 
    Three months ended     Nine months ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2005     2004     2005     2004  
As Reported:
                               
Non-cash stock based compensation (net of taxes)
  $ 968     $ 494     $ 2,082     $ 876  
Net income
    20,854       21,014       66,306       55,907  
Basic net income per common share
    0.43       0.43       1.36       1.20  
Diluted net income per common share
    0.42       0.43       1.34       1.18  
 
                               
Pro Forma:
                               
Non-cash stock based compensation (net of taxes)
  $ 1,715     $ 814     $ 3,333     $ 1,738  
Net income
    20,107       20,694       65,055       55,045  
Basic net income per common share
    0.41       0.43       1.34       1.18  
Diluted net income per common share
    0.41       0.42       1.31       1.17  
     There were 641,102 shares of restricted stock outstanding at September 30, 2005, of which 269,555 shares were granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2005. During the first nine months of 2005, 9,070 shares of restricted stock were forfeited. There were 1,496,438 stock options outstanding at September 30, 2005, of which 978,423 options were exercisable at September 30, 2005. There were 115,269 stock options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2005.
New Accounting Standards
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment”
     In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment.” SFAS No. 123R is a revision of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock Based Compensation,” and supersedes APB 25. SFAS No. 123R eliminates the option of using the intrinsic value method of accounting previously available, and requires companies to recognize in the financial statements the cost of employee services received in exchange for awards of equity instruments based on the grant date fair value of those awards. The effective date of SFAS No. 123R is January 1, 2006 for calendar year companies.
     SFAS No. 123R permits companies to adopt its requirements using either a “modified prospective” method, or a “modified retrospective” method. Under the “modified prospective” method, compensation cost is recognized in the financial statements beginning with the effective date, based on the requirements of SFAS No. 123R, for all share-based payments granted after that date, and for all unvested awards granted prior to the effective date of SFAS No. 123R. Under the “modified retrospective” method, the requirements are the same as under the “modified prospective” method, but it also permits entities to restate financial statements of previous periods based on pro-forma disclosures made in accordance with SFAS No. 123. The Company plans to adopt the requirements of SFAS No. 123R using the the “modified prospective” method.
     The Company currently utilizes a standard option pricing model (i.e., Black-Scholes) to measure the fair value of stock options when calculating the pro forma effect of applying the fair value provisions of SFAS No. 123 as disclosed above under “Stock-based Compensation.” While SFAS No. 123R permits entities to continue to use such a model, the standard also permits the use of a “lattice” model. The Company plans to continue using a Black-Scholes option pricing model to measure the fair value of employee stock options upon the adoption of SFAS No. 123R.
     Under SFAS No. 123R, the pro forma disclosures previously permitted under SFAS No. 123 and presented above will no longer be an alternative to financial statement recognition.
     SFAS No. 123R also requires that the benefits associated with the tax deductions in excess of recognized compensation cost be reported as a financing cash flow. This requirement will reduce net operating cash flows and increase net financing cash flows in periods after the effective date. These future amounts cannot be estimated because they depend on, among other things, when employees exercise stock options and the Company’s stock price at that time.
     The Company has not yet determined the financial statement impact of adopting SFAS No. 123R for periods beyond 2005 because they depend on, among other things, the number of options granted in the future and the Company’s future stock price.

6


Table of Contents

FASB Interpretation No. 47, “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations”
     In March 2005, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 47, “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations.” The interpretation clarifies the requirement to record abandonment liabilities stemming from legal obligations when the retirement depends on a conditional future event. FIN No. 47 requires that the uncertainty about the timing or method of settlement of a conditional retirement obligation be factored into the measurement of the liability when sufficient information exists. FIN No. 47 is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2005. The Company does not expect FIN No. 47 to have a material impact on its results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections, a replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and FASB Statement No. 3”
     In May 2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections, a replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and FASB Statement No. 3. SFAS No. 154 requires retrospective application to prior period financial statements for changes in accounting principle, unless it is impracticable to determine either the period-specific effects or the cumulative effect of the change. SFAS No. 154 also requires that retrospective application of a change in accounting principle be limited to the direct effects of the change. Indirect effects of a change in accounting principle should be recognized in the period of the accounting change. SFAS No. 154 will become effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2006. The impact of SFAS No. 154 will depend on the nature and extent of any voluntary accounting changes and correction of errors after the effective date, but management does not currently expect SFAS No. 154 to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.
Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue 04-13 “Accounting for Purchases and Sales of Inventory with the Same Counterparty”
     The Emerging Issues Task Force considered Issue No. 04-13 in its May 17, 2005 and June 16, 2005 meetings to discuss inventory sales to another entity in the same line of business from which it also purchases inventory. The Task Force reached consensus on the issue that purchases and sales of inventory with the same counterparty should be combined as a single nonmonetary transaction (net) and noted factors that may indicate that transactions were entered into in contemplation of one another. The Task Force also concluded that transfers of finished goods inventory in exchange for work-in-progress or raw materials should be recognized at fair value and prescribes additional disclosures. The Task Force ratified Issue No. 04-13 at its September 28, 2005 meeting, which should be applied to new arrangements entered into in the first interim or annual reporting period beginning after March 15, 2006. The Company has previously reported transactions of this nature on a net basis; therefore, the Company does not expect Issue No. 04-13 to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.
3. Inventories
     Inventories are comprised principally of materials and supplies and oil in pipelines, which are stated at the lower of cost (determined on an average basis) or market. Oil produced at the lease which resides unsold in pipelines is carried at an amount equal to its operating costs to produce. Oil in pipelines purchased from third parties is carried at average purchase price. The Company’s inventories consisted of the following as of the dates indicated (amounts in thousands):
                 
    September 30, 2005     December 31, 2004  
Warehouse inventory
  $ 7,208     $ 6,321  
Oil in pipelines (purchased)
    3,044        
Oil in pipelines (produced)
          229  
 
           
 
  $ 10,252     $ 6,550  
 
           
4. Cortez Acquisition and Goodwill
     On April 14, 2004, the Company purchased all of the outstanding capital stock of Cortez Oil & Gas, Inc. (“Cortez”), a privately held, independent oil and natural gas company, for a total purchase price of $127.0 million, which includes cash paid to Cortez’ former shareholders of $85.8 million, the repayment of $39.4 million of Cortez’ debt, and transaction costs of $1.8 million.

7


Table of Contents

     The acquired oil and natural gas properties are located primarily in the Cedar Creek Anticline (“CCA”) of Montana, the Permian Basin of West Texas and Southeastern New Mexico and in the Mid-Continent area, including the Anadarko and Arkoma Basins of Oklahoma and the Barnett Shale north of Fort Worth, Texas. Cortez’ operating results are included in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations beginning in April 2004.
     The purchase price allocation resulted in $37.9 million of goodwill primarily as the result of the difference between the fair value of acquired oil and natural gas properties and their lower carryover tax basis, which resulted in deferred taxes of $36.9 million. Management believes the goodwill will be recovered through operating synergies resulting from the close proximity of the properties acquired to existing operations, particularly the additional interest in the CCA and Permian properties. None of the goodwill is deductible for income tax purposes.
5. Derivative Financial Instruments
     The following tables summarize the Company’s open commodity derivative instruments designated as hedges as of September 30, 2005:
Oil Derivative Instruments at September 30, 2005
                                                         
    Daily     Floor     Daily     Cap     Daily     Swap     Fair  
    Floor Volume     Price     Cap Volume     Price     Swap Volume     Price     Value  
Period   (Bbls)     (per Bbl)     (Bbls)     (per Bbl)     (Bbls)     (per Bbl)     (000s)  
Oct – Dec 2005
    12,500     $ 27.84       2,500     $ 31.07       1,000     $ 25.12     $ (11,837 )
Jan – June 2006
    13,500       44.07       1,000       29.88       2,000       25.03       (18,867 )
July – Dec 2006
    13,000       45.00       1,000       29.88       2,000       25.03       (16,058 )
Jan – Dec 2007
    4,000       55.00                   2,000       25.11       (19,536 )
Natural Gas Derivative Instruments at September 30, 2005
                                                         
    Daily     Floor     Daily     Cap     Daily     Swap     Fair  
    Floor Volume     Price     Cap Volume     Price     Swap Volume     Price     Value  
Period   (Mcf)     (per Mcf)     (Mcf)     (per Mcf)     (Mcf)     (per Mcf)     (000s)  
Oct – Dec 2005
    17,500     $ 5.12       5,000     $ 5.97       12,500     $ 4.99     $ (11,441 )
Jan – Dec 2006
    32,500       6.17       5,000       5.68       12,500       5.08       (36,372 )
Jan – Dec 2007
    12,500       6.53                   10,000       4.99       (13,193 )
     Encore recognizes the following in its Consolidated Statements of Operations: (1) derivative fair value gains and losses related to changes in the mark-to-market value of basis swaps and certain other commodity derivatives that are not designated for hedge accounting; (2) ineffectiveness of commodity futures contracts designated as hedges; and (3) changes in the mark-to-market value of its interest rate swap.
     In order to more effectively hedge the cash flows received on oil and natural gas production, the Company enters into financial instruments, commonly called basis swaps, whereby Encore swaps certain per Bbl or per Mcf floating market indices for a fixed amount. These market indices are a component of the price the Company is paid on its actual production and by fixing this component of the Company’s marketing price, Encore is able to realize a net price with a more consistent differential to NYMEX. Since NYMEX is the basis of all the Company’s derivative oil hedging contracts and some of the Company’s natural gas contracts, a more consistent differential results in more effective hedges. However, management has elected not to use hedge accounting for certain of these contracts. Instead, the Company marks these contracts to market each quarter through ‘Derivative fair value (gain) loss’ in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Thus, as these contracts do not change the Company’s overall hedged volumes, average prices presented in the table above are exclusive of any effect of these non-hedge instruments. As of September 30, 2005, the mark-to-market value of these basis swap contracts is $1.1 million.
     The actual gains or losses the Company realizes from derivative transactions may vary significantly from the deferred loss amount recorded in stockholders’ equity at September 30, 2005 due to fluctuation of prices in the commodities markets.
     The Company recorded $17.8 million of derivative premiums payable at September 30, 2005. The premiums relate to various oil and natural gas floor contracts and are payable on a monthly basis from January 2006 to December 2007. The long-term portion of the derivatives premiums payable is $12.2 million and is recorded in ‘Other’ long-term liabilities on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet.

8


Table of Contents

6. Asset Retirement Obligations
     The Company’s primary asset retirement obligations relate to future plugging and abandonment expenses on oil and natural gas properties and related facilities disposal. The Company does not provide for a market risk premium associated with asset retirement obligations because a reliable estimate cannot be determined. The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s future abandonment liability recorded in ‘Future abandonment costs’ on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet for the period from January 1, 2005 through September 30, 2005 (in thousands):
         
    Nine months ended  
    September 30, 2005  
Future abandonment liability at January 1, 2005
  $ 6,601  
Wells drilled
    858  
Accretion expense
    366  
Plugging and abandonment costs incurred
    (600 )
Revision of estimates
    4,067  
 
     
Future abandonment liability at September 30, 2005
  $ 11,292  
 
     
     During the first nine months of 2005, the Company increased its discounted estimate of future plugging liability by $4.1 million as actual plugging costs experienced during the first quarter of 2005 increased due to plugging cost escalations (which outpaced inflation), increased cost of outside services, and changes in various state regulations.
7. Capitalization of Exploratory Well Costs
     The Company adopted FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) 19-1 “Accounting for Suspended Well Costs” on July 1, 2005. FSP 19-1 amends SFAS No. 19, Financial Accounting and Reporting by Oil and Gas Producing Companies,” to permit the continued capitalization of exploratory well costs beyond one year if the well found a sufficient quantity of reserves to justify its completion as a producing well and the Company is making sufficient progress assessing the reserves and the economic and operating viability of the project. Upon the adoption of FSP 19-1, the Company evaluated all existing capitalized exploratory well costs and determined that there was no impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows. At September 30, 2005, the Company had $1.2 million of capitalized exploratory drilling costs. All of the costs are related to wells in progress or wells for which drilling has been completed for less than one year.
8. Debt
     The Company’s long-term debt consisted of the following as of the dates indicated (amounts in thousands):
                 
    September 30, 2005     December 31, 2004  
Revolving credit facility
  $ 49,000     $ 79,000  
83/8% Senior subordinated notes
          150,000  
61/4% Senior subordinated notes
    150,000       150,000  
6% Senior subordinated notes, net of unamortized discount of $5,419
    294,581        
 
           
 
  $ 493,581     $ 379,000  
 
           
Issuance of 6% Senior Subordinated Notes
     On July 13, 2005, the Company issued $300.0 million of its 6% senior subordinated notes due July 15, 2015 (the “6% Notes”). The offering was made through a private placement and the notes were resold by the initial purchasers pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S. The Company received net proceeds of approximately $294.5 million from the private placement and used approximately $165.9 million of the net proceeds to redeem all of the Company’s outstanding 83/8% senior subordinated notes due 2012. The remaining net proceeds were used to reduce the balance outstanding under the Company’s revolving credit facility.
     The Company paid a premium of $15.9 million to redeem the outstanding 83/8% senior subordinated notes. Combined with the unamortized balance of the related debt issuance costs, the Company incurred a loss on early redemption of the debt of $19.5 million, which the Company recognized in earnings for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005.

9


Table of Contents

     The Company filed an exchange offer registration statement on Form S-4 on August 8, 2005, under which the 6% Notes would be exchanged for registered notes with substantially identical terms. The exchange offer was completed on October 7, 2005 and 100% of the notes were exchanged.
     The notes mature July 15, 2015 and require semi-annual interest payments on April 15 and October 15. The indenture governing the notes contains certain affirmative and negative covenants, including, without limitation, limitations on our ability to incur additional debt, sell assets, incur liens, make investments and consolidate, merge or transfer assets.
Revolving Credit Facility
     On April 29, 2005, the Company amended its existing credit facility to increase the borrowing base from $400.0 million to $500.0 million. Other changes to the facility include a change in the definition of EBITDA to add back exploration expense (EBITDAX), and an increase in the availability of letters of credit from 15% of the borrowing base to 20%.
     Upon the issuance of the 6% Notes on July 13, 2005 (see above), the Company’s borrowing base was reduced from $500.0 million to $450.0 million according to the terms of the credit facility.
Letters of Credit
     The Company had $75.1 million of outstanding letters of credit at September 30, 2005. These letters of credit are posted primarily with two counterparties to the Company’s hedging contracts and are used in lieu of cash margin deposits with those counterparties. Any outstanding letters of credit reduce the availability under the Company’s revolving credit facility. As a result, the Company’s availability under its revolving credit facility was reduced to $325.9 million at September 30, 2005.
9. Income Taxes
     Reconciliation of income tax expense with tax at the Federal statutory rate is as follows (in thousands):
                 
    Nine months ended  
    September 30,  
    2005     2004  
Income before income taxes
  $ 99,287     $ 85,934  
 
           
Tax at statutory rate
    34,750       30,077  
State income taxes, net of federal benefit
    1,911       2,578  
Section 43 credits generated
    (2,664 )     (2,507 )
Permanent differences and other
    (1,016 )     (121 )
 
           
Income tax provision
  $ 32,981     $ 30,027  
 
           
10. Earnings Per Share (EPS)
     The following table sets forth basic and diluted EPS computations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 (in thousands, except per share data):
                                 
    Three months ended     Nine months ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2005     2004     2005     2004  
Numerator:
                               
Net income
  $ 20,854     $ 21,014     $ 66,306     $ 55,907  
 
                       
 
                               
Denominator:
                               
Denominator for basic earnings per share – Weighted average shares outstanding
    48,703       48,446       48,659       46,611  
Effect of dilutive options and dilutive restricted stock (a)
    881       657       822       611  
 
                       
 
                               
Denominator for diluted earnings per share
    49,584       49,103       49,481       47,222  
 
                       
 
                               
Net income per common share:
                               
Basic
  $ 0.43     $ 0.43     $ 1.36     $ 1.20  
Diluted
  $ 0.42     $ 0.43     $ 1.34     $ 1.18  
 
(a)   There were no shares of antidilutive outstanding employee stock options for the quarter ended September 30, 2005. For the quarter ended September 30, 2004, outstanding employee stock options of 37,500 were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share because their effect would have been antidilutive.

10


Table of Contents

11. Stockholders’ Equity
     On June 15, 2005, the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved a three-for-two split of the Company’s outstanding common stock in the form of a stock dividend. The dividend was distributed on July 12, 2005, to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 27, 2005 (the “Record Date”). In lieu of issuing fractional shares, the Company paid cash for such fractional shares based on the closing price of the common stock on the Record Date.
     The pro forma effect of the stock split on the December 31, 2004 balance sheet is to reduce additional paid-in-capital by $0.2 million and increase common stock by $0.2 million. The balances of additional paid-in-capital and common stock at December 31, 2004 have been adjusted accordingly and all share and per-share information included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto for all periods presented have been adjusted to retroactively reflect the stock split.
     On May 3, 2005, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the authorized number of shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, from 60 million to 144 million.
12. Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Components of comprehensive income (loss), net of related tax, are as follows (in thousands):
                                 
    Three months ended     Nine months ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2005     2004     2005     2004  
Net income
  $ 20,854     $ 21,014     $ 66,306     $ 55,907  
Change in unrealized loss on derivative hedged instruments
    (23,708 )     (22,107 )     (53,864 )     (39,644 )
Change in deferred gain on interest rate swap
    (53 )     68       (315 )     294  
 
                       
Comprehensive income
  $ (2,907 )   $ (1,025 )   $ 12,127     $ 16,557  
 
                       
The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of related tax, are as follows (in thousands):
                 
    September 30, 2005     December 31, 2004  
Unrealized loss on derivative hedged instruments
  $ (90,705 )   $ (36,841 )
Deferred gain on interest rate swap
    129       444  
 
           
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
  $ (90,576 )   $ (36,397 )
 
           
13. Financial Statements of Subsidiary Guarantors
     As of September 30, 2005, all of the Company’s subsidiaries were subsidiary guarantors of the Company’s outstanding 61/4% and 6% notes. Since (i) each subsidiary guarantor is 100% owned by the Company, (ii) the Company has no assets or operations that are independent of its subsidiaries, (iii) the subsidiary guarantees are full and unconditional and joint and several and (iv) all of the Company’s subsidiaries are subsidiary guarantors, the Company has not included the financial statements of each subsidiary in this report. The subsidiary guarantors may, without restriction, transfer funds to the Company in the form of cash dividends, loans, and advances.
14. Related Party Transactions
     The Company paid to Hanover Compressor Company $0.8 million and $0.1 million in the first nine months of 2005 and 2004, respectively, for field compression services. Mr. I. Jon Brumley, the Company’s Chairman and CEO, also serves as a director of Hanover Compressor Company.

11


Table of Contents

15. Subsequent Events
Crusader Acquisition
     On October 14, 2005, the Company completed the acquisition of Crusader Energy Corporation, a privately held, independent oil and natural gas company, for a purchase price of approximately $93.5 million. Encore funded the purchase price by drawing on its revolving credit facility.
Kerr-McGee Acquisition
     On October 19, 2005, the Company entered into an agreement with Kerr-McGee Corporation to acquire oil and natural gas properties for $104.0 million. The transaction is expected to close at the end of November 2005. Encore expects to fund the purchase price through internally generated cash flow and borrowings under its revolving credit facility.

12


Table of Contents

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
     This document contains forward-looking statements, which give our current expectations or forecasts of future events. Actual results may differ materially from those discussed in our forward-looking statements due to many factors, including, but not limited to, those set forth under “FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT FUTURE RESULTS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION” contained in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, in Encore’s 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in this document and Encore’s 2004 Form 10-K.
Introduction
This management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is intended to provide investors with an understanding of the Company’s recent performance, its financial condition and its prospects. The following will be discussed and analyzed:
    Third Quarter 2005 Highlights
 
    Results of Operations
  -   Comparison of Quarter Ended September 30, 2005 to Quarter Ended September 30, 2004
 
  -   Comparison of Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005 to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004
    Capital Resources
 
    Capital Commitments
 
    Liquidity
Third Quarter 2005 Highlights
Our financial and operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2005 included the following highlights:
    During the third quarter of 2005, we had oil and natural gas revenues of $127.6 million. This represents a 61% increase over the $79.2 million of oil and natural gas revenues reported for the third quarter of 2004.
 
    We reported net income of $20.9 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, in the three months ended September 30, 2005. This represents a marginal decrease from the $21.0 million of net income, or $0.43 per diluted share, reported for the third quarter of 2004. The reduction in net income was due to a one-time $19.5 million loss on early redemption of debt related to redemption premiums and the expensing of unamortized debt issuance costs related to the 83/8% senior subordinated notes.
 
    Our realized average oil price, including the effects of hedging, increased $16.57 per Bbl in the third quarter of 2005 over the same period in 2004. Our realized average natural gas price, including the effects of hedging, increased $2.48 per Mcf in the third quarter of 2005 over the same period in 2004.
 
    Production volumes for the quarter increased 9% to 28,202 BOE per day (2.6 MMBOE for the quarter), compared with third quarter 2004 production of 25,779 BOE per day (2.4 MMBOE for the quarter). The rise in production volumes was attributable to the continued success of our drilling program, uplift from our HPAI tertiary recovery project on the CCA, and acquisitions completed in 2004. Oil represented 65% and 71% of our total production volumes in the third quarter of 2005 and 2004, respectively.
 
    On July 13, 2005, the Company issued $300.0 million of 6% senior subordinated notes due 2015. The Company received net proceeds of approximately $294.5 million from the issuance and used approximately $165.9 million of the net proceeds to redeem all of the outstanding principal and related accrued interest of the Company’s 83/8% senior subordinated notes. The remaining proceeds were used to reduce our indebtedness under our revolving credit facility.
 
    We invested $125.0 million in oil and natural gas activities during the third quarter of 2005 (excluding development-related asset retirement obligations). We invested $92.6 million in development, exploitation, expanding our HPAI program in the CCA, and exploration activities, which yielded 84 gross (56.1 net) wells. We also invested $32.4

13


Table of Contents

      million in acquiring proved properties and undeveloped leases. We are currently investing capital in an eleven-rig operated drilling program on the onshore continental United States, with four rigs in Montana, two rigs in East Texas, two rigs in West Texas, and three rigs in the Mid-Continent area.
 
    We were able to fund $86.7 million of our investments in oil and natural gas activities using operating cash flows generated during the quarter. The remaining $38.3 million was funded through borrowings under our existing revolving credit facility. Long-term debt at September 30, 2005 increased to $493.6 million from $379.0 million at December 31, 2004.
Results of Operations
Comparison of Quarter Ended September 30, 2005 to Quarter Ended September 30, 2004
Below is a comparison of our operations during the third quarter of 2005 with the third quarter of 2004.
     Revenues and Production. The following table illustrates the primary components of oil and natural gas revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, as well as each quarter’s respective oil and natural gas volumes (in thousands, except per unit and per day amounts):
                                 
    Three months ended     Increase /  
    September 30,     (Decrease)  
    2005     2004     $     %  
Revenues:
                               
Oil wellhead
  $ 97,563     $ 68,484     $ 29,079          
Oil hedges
    (12,004 )     (10,241 )     (1,763 )        
 
                         
Total Oil Revenues
  $ 85,559     $ 58,243     $ 27,316       47 %
 
                         
 
                               
Natural gas wellhead
  $ 46,515     $ 21,551     $ 24,964          
Natural gas hedges
    (4,502 )     (542 )     (3,960 )        
 
                         
Total Natural Gas Revenues
  $ 42,013     $ 21,009     $ 21,004       100 %
 
                         
 
                               
Combined wellhead
  $ 144,078     $ 90,035     $ 54,043          
Combined hedges
    (16,506 )     (10,783 )     (5,723 )        
 
                         
Total Combined Revenues
  $ 127,572     $ 79,252     $ 48,320       61 %
 
                         
 
                               
Revenues ($/Unit):
                               
Oil wellhead
  $ 58.09     $ 40.41     $ 17.68          
Oil hedges
    (7.15 )     (6.04 )     (1.11 )        
 
                         
Total Oil Revenues
  $ 50.94     $ 34.37     $ 16.57       48 %
 
                         
 
                               
Natural gas wellhead
  $ 8.47     $ 5.30     $ 3.17          
Natural gas hedges
    (0.82 )     (0.13 )     (0.69 )        
 
                         
Total Natural Gas Revenues
  $ 7.65     $ 5.17     $ 2.48       48 %
 
                         
 
                               
Combined wellhead
  $ 55.52     $ 37.97     $ 17.55          
Combined hedges
    (6.35 )     (4.55 )     (1.80 )        
 
                         
Total Combined Revenues
  $ 49.17     $ 33.42     $ 15.75       47 %
 
                         
 
                               
Total production volumes:
                               
Oil (Bbls)
    1,680       1,695       (15 )        
Natural gas (Mcf)
    5,489       4,063       1,426          
Combined (BOE)
    2,595       2,372       223       9 %
 
                               
Daily production volumes:
                               
Oil (Bbls/day)
    18,257       18,419       (162 )        
Natural gas (Mcf/day)
    59,666       44,160       15,506          
Combined (BOE/day)
    28,202       25,779       2,423       9 %
 
                               
NYMEX Prices:
                               
Oil (per Bbl)
  $ 63.19     $ 43.92     $ 19.27       44 %
Natural gas (per Mcf)
    9.64       5.56       4.08       73 %

14


Table of Contents

     Oil revenues increased from third quarter 2004 to third quarter 2005 by $27.3 million, due primarily to a higher realized average oil price. Our realized average oil price increased $16.57 per Bbl in the third quarter of 2005 over the same period in 2004 as a result of an increase in our average wellhead price of $17.68 per Bbl, offset by an increase in hedging payments of $1.11 per Bbl. The increase in our average wellhead price and hedging payments resulted from the increase in the overall market price for oil as reflected in the increase in the average NYMEX price from $43.92 for the third quarter of 2004 to $63.19 for the third quarter of 2005.
     Natural gas revenues increased by $21.0 million, or $2.48 per Mcf, in the third quarter of 2005 from the third quarter of 2004 due to an increase in volumes and an increase in our realized average natural gas price. Production volumes increased 1,426 MMcf in the third quarter of 2005 as compared to the third quarter of 2004 due to drilling activities. The $2.48 per Mcf increase in our realized average natural gas price was due to the $3.17 per Mcf increase in the wellhead price for our natural gas from the third quarter of 2004 to the third quarter of 2005, offset by an increase in hedging payments of $0.69 per Mcf. The average NYMEX price for natural gas increased from $5.56 for the third quarter of 2004 to $9.64 for the third quarter of 2005.
     The table below illustrates the relationship between oil and natural gas wellhead prices as a percentage of average NYMEX prices for the quarters ended September 30, 2005 and 2004. Management uses the wellhead to NYMEX margin analysis to analyze trends in our oil and natural gas revenues.
                 
    Three months ended  
    September 30,  
    2005     2004  
Oil wellhead ($/Bbl)
  $ 58.09     $ 40.41  
Average NYMEX ($/Bbl)
  $ 63.19     $ 43.92  
Differential to NYMEX
  $ (5.10 )   $ (3.51 )
Oil wellhead to NYMEX percentage
    92 %     92 %
 
           
 
               
Natural gas wellhead ($/Mcf)
  $ 8.47     $ 5.30  
Average NYMEX ($/Mcf)
  $ 9.64     $ 5.56  
Differential to NYMEX
  $ (1.17 )   $ (0.26 )
Natural gas wellhead to NYMEX percentage
    88 %     95 %
 
           
     As indicated above, our differential to the average NYMEX price of oil increased on a per unit basis while our oil wellhead price as a percentage of the average NYMEX price remained consistent from the third quarter of 2004 to the third quarter of 2005
     Our natural gas wellhead price as a percentage of the average NYMEX price decreased from the third quarter of 2004 to the third quarter of 2005. The decrease is primarily due to regional natural gas spot prices lagging the significant increases in the NYMEX price during the third quarter of 2005.

15


Table of Contents

     Expenses. The following table summarizes our expenses for the quarters ended September 30, 2005 and 2004:
                                 
    Three months ended     Increase /  
    September 30,     (Decrease)  
    2005     2004     $     %  
Expenses (in thousands):
                               
Production —
                               
Lease operations
  $ 17,912     $ 12,589     $ 5,323          
Production, ad valorem, and severance taxes
    12,526       8,117       4,409          
 
                         
Total production expenses
    30,438       20,706       9,732       47 %
Other —
                               
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization
    24,222       12,750       11,472          
Exploration
    4,818       462       4,356          
General and administrative (excluding non-cash stock based compensation)
    4,030       2,858       1,172          
Non-cash stock based compensation
    1,544       796       748          
Derivative fair value loss
    1,612       2,301       (689 )        
Loss on early redemption of debt
    19,477             19,477          
Other operating
    2,520       1,369       1,151          
 
                         
Total operating
    88,661       41,242       47,419       115 %
Interest
    9,264       6,547       2,717          
Current and deferred income tax provision
    9,373       10,527       (1,154 )        
 
                         
Total expenses
  $ 107,298     $ 58,316     $ 48,982       84 %
 
                         
 
                               
Expenses (per BOE):
                               
Production —
                               
Lease operations
  $ 6.90     $ 5.31     $ 1.59          
Production, ad valorem, and severance taxes
    4.83       3.42       1.41          
 
                         
Total production expenses
    11.73       8.73       3.00       34 %
Other —
                               
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization
    9.34       5.38       3.96          
Exploration
    1.86       0.19       1.67          
General and administrative (excluding non-cash stock based compensation)
    1.55       1.21       0.34          
Non-cash stock based compensation
    0.59       0.34       0.25          
Derivative fair value loss
    0.62       0.97       (0.35 )        
Loss on early redemption of debt
    7.51             7.51          
Other operating
    0.97       0.58       0.39          
 
                         
Total operating
    34.17       17.40       16.77       96 %
Interest
    3.57       2.76       0.81          
Current and deferred income tax provision
    3.61       4.44       (0.83 )        
 
                         
Total expenses
  $ 41.35     $ 24.60     $ 16.75       68 %
 
                         
     Production expenses (Lease operations and production, ad valorem, and severance taxes). Total production expenses for the third quarter of 2005 increased $9.7 million as compared to the third quarter of 2004. This increase resulted from an increase in total production volumes, as well as a $3.00 increase in production expenses per BOE in the third quarter of 2005 as compared to the third quarter of 2004. The $3.00 increase in production expenses per BOE in the third quarter of 2005 represents a 34% increase over the third quarter of 2004. The 34% increase in total production expenses per BOE is less than the 47% increase in revenues per BOE over the same period, resulting in a higher production margin.
     The production expense attributable to lease operations for the third quarter of 2005 increased as compared to the third quarter of 2004 by $5.3 million. The increase in total lease operations expense resulted from: (1) an increase in production volumes as a result of our 2005 drilling program and our high-pressure air injection (“HPAI”) program; (2) an increase in prices paid for outside services in the current higher price environment, increased operational activity to maximize production, and the operation of higher operating cost wells as lower margin wells become more attractive in the current higher price environment; and (3) the expensing of HPAI production costs attributable to Little Beaver Phase I that previously were being capitalized during the pressurization phase.
     The production expense attributable to production, ad valorem, and severance taxes for the third quarter of 2005 increased as compared to the same period in 2004 by approximately $4.4 million due to an increase in total revenues. As a percentage of oil and natural gas revenues (excluding the effects of hedges), production, ad valorem, and severance taxes for the third quarter of 2005 decreased to 8.7% from 9.0% in the third quarter of 2004 as a result of higher production levels in states with lower production, ad valorem, and severance taxes. The effect of hedges is excluded from oil and natural gas revenues in the calculation of these percentages because this method more closely reflects the method used to calculate actual production, ad valorem, and severance taxes paid to taxing authorities.

16


Table of Contents

     Depletion, depreciation, and amortization (“DD&A”) expense. DD&A expense for the third quarter of 2005 increased by $11.5 million as compared to the third quarter of 2004, due to a $3.96 per BOE increase and an increase in production. This per BOE rate increase was due to the development of proved undeveloped reserves from the 2004 acquisitions and higher drilling costs per BOE of reserves than our historical DD&A rate in certain areas.
     Exploration expense. Exploration expense was $4.8 million in the third quarter of 2005, while it was $0.5 million in the third quarter of 2004. During the third quarter of 2005, we expensed 21 exploratory dry holes totaling $3.6 million. Out of the 21 exploratory dry holes expensed, one was drilled in the CCA and twenty were drilled in the shallow gas area of Montana. In the third quarter of 2004, we did not expense any dry holes. The following table details our exploration-related expenses for the third quarter of 2005 and 2004 (in thousands):
                         
    Three months ended        
    September 30,     Increase /  
    2005     2004     (Decrease)  
Exploration expenses:
                       
Dry hole
  $ 3,604     $     $ 3,604  
Geological and geophysical
    305       64       241  
Seismic
    352       18       334  
Delay rental
    169       40       129  
Impairment of undeveloped leasehold
    388       340       48  
 
                 
Total
  $ 4,818     $ 462     $ 4,356  
 
                 
     General and administrative (“G&A”) expense. G&A expense (excluding non-cash stock based compensation) increased $1.2 million for the third quarter of 2005 as compared to the third quarter of 2004. The overall increase, as well as the $0.34 increase in the per BOE rate, is a result of increased staffing to manage our larger asset base and higher activity levels. Additionally, we have experienced increased competition for human resources from other companies within the industry that has increased the cost to hire and retain experienced industry personnel.
     Non-cash stock based compensation expense. Non-cash stock based compensation expense for the third quarter of 2005 increased $0.7 million as compared to the same period in 2004. This expense represents the amortization of deferred compensation recorded in equity related to restricted stock granted under the 2000 Incentive Stock Plan. Amortization of deferred compensation increased from the same period in 2004 primarily due to third quarter 2005 amortization related to 269,555 shares of restricted stock granted in the nine months ended September 30, 2005. In addition, certain restricted stock grants contain performance vesting provisions, which require us to recognize periodic expense based on the Company’s current stock price, rather than the stock price at the day of grant. As a result, the Company’s higher stock price has also resulted in increased amortization expense.
     Derivative fair value loss. During the third quarter of 2005 we recorded a $1.6 million derivative fair value loss as compared to the $2.3 million loss recorded in the third quarter of 2004. This derivative fair value loss represents the ineffective portion of the mark-to-market loss on our derivative hedging instruments, settlements received on our fixed-to-floating interest rate swap, (gains) losses related to commodity derivatives not designated as hedges, and changes in the mark-to-market value of our fixed–to-floating interest rate swap.
     The components of the derivative fair value (gain) loss reported in the third quarter of 2005 and 2004 are as follows (in thousands):
                         
    Three months ended        
    September 30,     Increase /  
    2005     2004     (Decrease)  
Designated cash flow hedges:
                       
Ineffectiveness – Commodity contracts
  $ 2,211     $ 2,740     $ (529 )
Undesignated derivative contracts:
                       
Mark-to-market (gain) loss – Interest rate swap
          (383 )     383  
Mark-to-market (gain) loss – Commodity contracts
    (599 )     (56 )     (543 )
 
                 
Derivative fair value loss
  $ 1,612     $ 2,301     $ (689 )
 
                 
     Ineffectiveness loss related to our derivative commodity contracts decreased $0.5 million due primarily to fewer loss positions on our natural gas contracts offset by an increased oil wellhead differential on our production in the CCA. We currently do not have any interest rate swap contracts outstanding as our fixed-to-floating interest rate swap expired in June 2005. The gain related to undesignated commodity contracts increased $0.5 million from the prior year three month period due to changes in the fair value of certain natural gas basis swaps.

17


Table of Contents

     Loss on early redemption of debt. In the third quarter of 2005, we recorded a one-time $19.5 million loss on early redemption of debt related to the redemption premium and the expensing of unamortized debt issuance costs of the 83/8% senior subordinated notes. We redeemed the 83/8% notes with proceeds received from the issuance of our $300.0 million 6% senior subordinated notes in July 2005.
     Other operating expense. Other operating expense for the third quarter of 2005 increased by $1.2 million when compared to the same period in 2004. This increase is mainly due to an increase in third party natural gas transportation costs attributable to higher production volumes for the third quarter of 2005 over the same period in 2004.
     Interest expense. Interest expense increased $2.7 million in the third quarter of 2005 compared to the third quarter of 2004. The increase is primarily due to the issuance of $300.0 million of 6% senior subordinated notes in July 2005. The increase is offset by the redemption of $150.0 million of 83/8% senior subordinated notes in August 2005. The weighted average interest rate, net of hedges, for the quarter ended September 30, 2005 was 6.9% compared to 7.1% for the quarter ended September 30, 2004. This lower weighted average interest rate is the result of the issuance of 6% notes which has a rate lower than our historical average rate.
     The following table illustrates the components of interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 (in thousands):
                         
    Three months ended        
    September 30,     Increase /  
    2005     2004     (Decrease)  
83/8% notes due 2012
  $ 1,570     $ 3,141     $ (1,571 )
61/4% notes due 2014
    2,344       2,344        
6% notes due 2015
    3,937             3,937  
Revolving credit facility
    675       467       208  
Letters of credit
    219       77       142  
Interest rate hedges (1)
    (94 )     109       (203 )
Debt issuance cost
    255       248       7  
Banking fees and other
    358       161       197  
 
                 
Total
  $ 9,264     $ 6,547     $ 2,717  
 
                 
 
(1)   Amount represents non-cash amortization of the deferred (gain) loss on interest rate swaps from other comprehensive income to interest expense. This deferred (gain) loss relates to previously outstanding interest rate swaps. We have since cash settled these interest rate swaps and the swaps are no longer outstanding.
     Income taxes. Income tax expense for the third quarter of 2005 decreased $1.2 million over the same period in 2004. This decrease is due in part to a decrease of $1.3 million in income before income taxes, resulting from a one-time loss on early redemption of debt of $19.5 million recorded in the third quarter of 2005. In addition, various permanent differences and adjustments to state tax rates in the third quarter of 2005 increased from the third quarter of 2004, resulting in a decrease in our effective tax rate from 33.4% for the third quarter of 2004 to 31.0% for the third quarter of 2005.
     Included in net income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2005 is a current income tax benefit of $2.9 million which is driven primarily by the generation of net operating tax losses on the Company’s 2004 income tax returns filed during the third quarter of 2005. The Company expects these tax losses to offset previously expected 2005 taxable income, minimizing any current year income tax liabilities.

18


Table of Contents

Comparison of Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005 to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004
Below is a comparison of our operations during the first nine months of 2005 with the first nine months of 2004.
     Revenues and Production. The following table illustrates the primary components of oil and natural gas revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, as well as each period’s respective oil and natural gas volumes (in thousands, except per unit amounts and per day amounts):
                                 
    Nine months ended     Increase /  
    September 30,     (Decrease)  
    2005     2004     $     %  
Revenues:
                               
Oil wellhead
  $ 254,461     $ 181,500     $ 72,961          
Oil hedges
    (32,207 )     (23,608 )     (8,599 )        
 
                         
Total Oil Revenues
  $ 222,254     $ 157,892     $ 64,362       41 %
 
                         
 
                               
Natural gas wellhead
  $ 104,639     $ 52,420     $ 52,219          
Natural gas hedges
    (8,023 )     (1,647 )     (6,376 )        
 
                         
Total Natural Gas Revenues
  $ 96,616     $ 50,773     $ 45,843       90 %
 
                         
 
                               
Combined wellhead
  $ 359,100     $ 233,920     $ 125,180          
Combined hedges
    (40,230 )     (25,255 )     (14,975 )        
 
                         
Total Combined Revenues
  $ 318,870     $ 208,665     $ 110,205       53 %
 
                         
 
                               
Revenues ($/Unit):
                               
Oil wellhead
  $ 50.07     $ 36.35     $ 13.72          
Oil hedges
    (6.34 )     (4.73 )     (1.61 )        
 
                         
Total Oil Revenues
  $ 43.73     $ 31.62     $ 12.11       38 %
 
                         
 
                               
Natural gas wellhead
  $ 7.04     $ 5.35     $ 1.69          
Natural gas hedges
    (0.54 )     (0.17 )     (0.37 )        
 
                         
Total Natural Gas Revenues
  $ 6.50     $ 5.18     $ 1.32       25 %
 
                         
 
                               
Combined wellhead
  $ 47.49     $ 35.30     $ 12.19          
Combined hedges
    (5.32 )     (3.81 )     (1.51 )        
 
                         
Total Combined Revenues
  $ 42.17     $ 31.49     $ 10.68       34 %
 
                         
 
                               
Total production volumes:
                               
Oil (Bbls)
    5,082       4,994       88          
Natural gas (Mcf)
    14,874       9,796       5,078          
Combined (BOE)
    7,561       6,626       935       14 %
 
                               
Daily production volumes:
                               
Oil (Bbls/day)
    18,616       18,226       390          
Natural gas (Mcf/day)
    54,482       35,751       18,731          
Combined (BOE/day)
    27,697       24,184       3,513       15 %
 
                               
NYMEX Prices:
                               
Oil (per Bbl)
  $ 55.40     $ 39.13     $ 23.20       59 %
Natural gas (per Mcf)
    7.69       5.78       2.87       50 %
     Oil revenues increased from the first nine months of 2004 to the first nine months of 2005 by $64.4 million, due primarily to a higher realized average oil price. Our realized average oil price increased $12.11 per Bbl in the nine months ended September 30, 2005 over the same period in 2004 as a result of an increase in our average wellhead price of $13.72 per Bbl, offset by an increase in hedging payments of $1.61 per Bbl. The increase in our average wellhead price and hedging payments resulted from the increase in the overall market price for oil as reflected in the increase in the average NYMEX price from $39.13 for the first nine months of 2004 to $55.40 to the first nine months of 2005.
     Natural gas revenues increased by $45.8 million, or $1.32 per Mcf, in the first nine months of 2005 from the first nine months of 2004 due to an increase in volumes and an increase in our realized average natural gas price. Production volumes increased 5,078 MMcf in the nine months ended September 30, 2005 as compared to the same period in 2004 due to our drilling activities and the 2004 Overton and Cortez acquisitions. The $1.32 per Mcf increase in our realized average natural gas price was due to the $1.69 per Mcf increase in the wellhead price for our natural gas from the first nine months of 2004 to the same period in

19


Table of Contents

2005, offset by an increase in hedging payments of $0.37 per Mcf. The average NYMEX price for natural gas increased from $5.78 for the first nine months of 2004 to $7.69 to the first nine months of 2005.
     The table below illustrates the relationship between oil and natural gas wellhead prices as a percentage of average NYMEX prices for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004. Management uses the wellhead to NYMEX margin analysis to analyze trends in our oil and natural gas revenues.
                 
    Nine months ended  
    September 30,  
    2005     2004  
Oil wellhead ($/Bbl)
  $ 50.07     $ 36.35  
Average NYMEX ($/Bbl)
  $ 55.40     $ 39.13  
Differential to NYMEX
  $ (5.33 )   $ (2.78 )
Oil wellhead to NYMEX percentage
    90 %     93 %
 
           
 
               
Natural gas wellhead ($/Mcf)
  $ 7.04     $ 5.35  
Average NYMEX ($/Mcf)
  $ 7.69     $ 5.78  
Differential to NYMEX
  $ (0.65 )   $ (0.43 )
Natural gas wellhead to NYMEX percentage
    92 %     93 %
 
           
     As indicated above, our differentials to the average NYMEX price increased on a per unit basis while our wellhead prices as a percentage of the average NYMEX prices remained fairly consistent from the first nine months of 2004 to the first nine months of 2005.

20


Table of Contents

     Expenses. The following table summarizes our expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004:
                                 
    Nine months ended     Increase /  
    September 30,     (Decrease  
    2005     2004     $     %  
Expenses (in thousands):
                               
Production —
                               
Lease operations
  $ 48,501     $ 33,752     $ 14,749          
Production, ad valorem, and severance taxes
    31,425       21,117       10,308          
 
                         
Total production expenses
    79,926       54,869       25,057       46 %
Other —
                               
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization
    59,943       33,262       26,681          
Exploration
    11,201       2,159       9,042          
General and administrative (excluding non-cash stock based compensation)
    11,236       7,616       3,620          
Non-cash stock based compensation
    3,323       1,413       1,910          
Derivative fair value loss
    5,713       3,424       2,289          
Loss on early redemption of debt
    19,477             19,477          
Other operating
    5,822       3,462       2,360          
 
                         
Total operating
    196,641       106,205       90,436       85 %
Interest
    23,671       16,761       6,910          
Current and deferred income tax provision
    32,981       30,027       2,954          
 
                         
Total expenses
  $ 253,293     $ 152,993     $ 100,300       66 %
 
                         
 
                               
Expenses (per BOE):
                               
Production —
                               
Lease operations
  $ 6.41     $ 5.09     $ 1.32          
Production, ad valorem, and severance taxes
    4.16       3.19       0.97          
 
                         
Total production expenses
    10.57       8.28       2.29       28 %
Other —
                               
Depletion, depreciation, and amortization
    7.93       5.02       2.91          
Exploration
    1.48       0.33       1.15          
General and administrative (excluding non-cash stock based compensation)
    1.49       1.15       0.34          
Non-cash stock based compensation
    0.44       0.21       0.23          
Derivative fair value loss
    0.75       0.52       0.23          
Loss on early redemption of debt
    2.58             2.58          
Other operating
    0.77       0.52       0.25          
 
                         
Total operating
    26.01       16.03       9.98       62 %
Interest
    3.13       2.53       0.60          
Current and deferred income tax provision
    4.36       4.53       (0.17 )        
 
                         
Total expenses
  $ 33.50     $ 23.09     $ 10.41       45 %
 
                         
     Production expenses (Lease operations and production, ad valorem, and severance taxes). Production expenses for the first nine months of 2005 increased $25.1 million as compared to the same period in 2004. This increase resulted from an increase in total production volumes, as well as a $2.29 increase in production expenses per BOE in the first nine months of 2005 as compared to the first nine months of 2004. The $2.29 increase in production expenses per BOE represents a 28% increase over the nine months ended September 30, 2004. The 28% increase in total production expenses per BOE is less than the 34% increase in revenues per BOE over the same period, resulting in a higher production margin.
     The production expense attributable to lease operations for the first nine months of 2005 increased as compared to the same period in 2004 by $14.7 million. The increase in total lease operations expense resulted from an increase in production volumes as a result of our 2005 drilling program; the 2004 acquisitions, which closed at various times in the first nine months of 2004; and our high-pressure air injection program. The increase in our average per BOE rate was attributable to increases in prices paid for outside services due to a current higher price environment, increased operational activity to maximize production, and the operation of higher operating cost wells as lower margin wells become more attractive in the current higher price environment.

21


Table of Contents

     The production expense attributable to production, ad valorem, and severance taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 increased as compared to the same period in 2004 by approximately $10.3 million due to an increase in total revenues. As a percentage of oil and natural gas revenues (excluding the effects of hedges), production, ad valorem, and severance taxes for the first nine months of 2005 decreased slightly from 9.0% in the first nine months of 2004 to 8.8% in the first nine months of 2005. The effect of hedges is excluded from oil and natural gas revenues in the calculation of these percentages because this method more closely reflects the method used to calculate actual production, ad valorem, and severance taxes paid to taxing authorities.
     Depletion, depreciation, and amortization (“DD&A”) expense. DD&A expense for the first nine months of 2005 increased by $26.7 million as compared to the same period in 2004, due to a $2.91 per BOE increase and an increase in production. This per BOE rate increase was due to the development of proved undeveloped reserves from the 2004 acquisitions and higher drilling costs per BOE of reserves than our historical DD&A rate in certain areas.
     Exploration expense. Exploration expense increased $9.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2005 as compared to the same period in 2004. During the first nine months of 2005, we expensed 38 exploratory dry holes totaling $6.9 million. Of the 38 exploratory dry holes expensed, one was drilled in the Permian Basin, 35 were drilled in the shallow gas area of Montana, and two were drilled in the CCA. In the first nine months of 2004, we had one dry hole drilled in the Barnett Shale area that was spud by Cortez and acquired in the Cortez acquisition. The following table details our exploration-related expenses (in thousands):
                         
    Nine months ended        
    September 30,     Increase /  
    2005     2004     (Decrease)  
Exploration expenses:
                       
Dry hole
  $ 6,935     $ 1,436     $ 5,499  
Geological and geophysical
    934       149       785  
Seismic
    1,441       19       1,422  
Delay rental
    545       65       480  
Impairment of undeveloped leasehold
    1,346       490       856  
 
                 
Total
  $ 11,201     $ 2,159     $ 9,042  
 
                 
     General and administrative (“G&A”) expense. G&A expense (excluding non-cash stock based compensation) increased $3.6 million for the first nine months of 2005 as compared to the same period in 2004. The overall increase, as well as the $0.34 increase in the per BOE rate, is a result of increased staffing to manage our larger asset base and higher activity levels. Additionally, we have experienced increased competition for human resources from other companies within the industry that has increased the cost to hire and retain experienced industry personnel.
     Non-cash stock based compensation expense. Non-cash stock based compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 increased $1.9 million as compared to the same period in 2004. This expense represents the amortization of deferred compensation recorded in equity related to restricted stock granted under the 2000 Incentive Stock Plan. Amortization of deferred compensation increased from the same period in 2004 primarily due to amortization recorded in the first nine months of 2005 related to 269,555 shares of restricted stock granted in the nine months ended September 30, 2005. In addition, certain restricted stock grants contain performance vesting provisions which require us to recognize periodic expense based on the Company’s current stock price, rather than the stock price at the day of grant. As a result, the Company’s higher stock price has also resulted in increased amortization expense.
     Derivative fair value loss. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we recorded a $5.7 million derivative fair value loss as compared to a $3.4 million loss recorded in the same period in 2004. This derivative fair value loss represents the ineffective portion of the mark-to-market loss on our derivative hedging instruments, settlements received on our fixed-to-floating interest rate swap, (gains) losses related to commodity derivatives not designated as hedges, and changes in the mark-to-market value of our fixed-to-floating interest rate swap. The components of the derivative fair value (gain) loss reported in the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 are as follows (in thousands):
                         
    Nine months ended        
    September 30,     Increase /  
    2005     2004     (Decrease)  
Designated cash flow hedges:
                       
Ineffectiveness – Commodity contracts
  $ 6,878     $ 3,195     $ 3,683  
Undesignated derivative contracts:
                       
Mark-to-market (gain) loss – Interest rate swap
    150       37       113  
Mark-to-market (gain) loss – Commodity contracts
    (1,315 )     192       (1,507 )
 
                 
Derivative fair value loss
  $ 5,713     $ 3,424     $ 2,289  
 
                 

22


Table of Contents

     Ineffectiveness loss related to our derivative commodity contracts increased $3.7 million due primarily to an increase in oil wellhead differentials on our production in the CCA. We currently do not have any interest rate swap contracts outstanding as our fixed-to-floating interest rate swap expired in June 2005. The ineffectiveness loss is offset by a $1.3 million gain related to undesignated commodity contracts which increased due to changes in the fair value of certain natural gas basis swaps.
     Loss on early redemption of debt. In the third quarter of 2005, we recorded a one-time $19.5 million loss on early redemption of debt related to the redemption premium and the write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs of the 83/8% senior subordinated notes. We redeemed the 83/8% notes with proceeds received from the issuance of our $300.0 million 6% senior subordinated notes in July 2005.
     Other operating expense. Other operating expense for the first nine months of 2005 increased by $2.4 million when compared to the same period in 2004. This increase is mainly due to an increase in third party natural gas transportation costs attributable to higher production volumes for the first nine months of 2005 over the same period in 2004.
     Interest expense. Interest expense increased $6.9 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2005 from the nine months ended September 30, 2004. The increase is primarily due to the issuance of $300.0 million of 6% senior subordinated notes in July 2005 and $150.0 million of 61/4% senior subordinated notes in April 2004. These increases are offset by the redemption of $150.0 million of 83/8% senior subordinated notes in August 2005. The weighted average interest rate, net of hedges, for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 was 7.5% compared to 7.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2004. This lower weighted average interest rate is the result of the debt issuances which haves rates lower than our historical average rate.
     The following table illustrates the components of interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 (in thousands):
                         
    Nine months ended        
    September 30,     Increase /  
    2005     2004     (Decrease)  
83/8% notes due 2012
  $ 7,851     $ 9,422     $ (1,571 )
61/4% notes due 2014
    7,031       4,661       2,370  
6% notes due 2015
    3,937             3,937  
Revolving credit facility
    2,972       908       2,064  
Letters of credit
    473       99       374  
Interest rate hedges (1)
    (126 )     475       (601 )
Debt issuance cost
    783       706       77  
Banking fees and other
    750       490       260  
 
                 
Total
  $ 23,671     $ 16,761     $ 6,910  
 
                 
 
(1)   Amount represents non-cash amortization of the deferred (gain) loss on interest rate swaps from other comprehensive income to interest expense. This deferred (gain) loss relates to previously outstanding interest rate swaps. We have since cash settled these interest rate swaps and the swaps are no longer outstanding.
     Income taxes. Income tax expense for the first nine months of 2005 increased $3.0 million over the same period in 2004. This increase is due primarily to an increase of $13.4 million in income before income taxes, offset by a decrease in our effective tax rate from 34.9% for the first nine months of 2004 to 33.2% for the first nine months of 2005, resulting from an increase in various permanent differences and state tax rate adjustments in the third quarter of 2005.

23


Table of Contents

Capital Resources
     Our primary capital resources are as follows:
    Cash Flows from Operating Activities
 
    Cash Flows from Financing Activities
 
    Current Capitalization
     Cash Flows from Operating Activities. Cash provided by operating activities increased $77.1 million from $127.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 to $204.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. This increase resulted mainly from increases in revenues due to increased volumes and increased commodity prices. Our production volumes increased 935 MBOE from 6,626 MBOE in the first nine months of 2004 to 7,561 MBOE in the first nine months of 2005. Our oil prices received increased $12.11 per Bbl from $31.62 per Bbl in the first nine months of 2004 to $43.73 in the same period in 2005, and our realized natural gas prices increased $1.32 per Mcf from $5.18 in the nine months ended September 30, 2004 to $6.50 in the nine months ended September 30, 2005. Oil and natural gas prices are expected to remain higher than historical averages through the end of 2005 due to limited offshore production resulting from hurricanes and a general increase in worldwide demand for oil and natural gas.
     Cash Flows from Financing Activities. Our cash flows from financing activities consist primarily of proceeds from and payments on long-term debt. During the first nine months of 2005, we received net cash of $94.3 million from financing activities.
     On July 13, 2005, we issued $300.0 million of 6% senior subordinated notes. We received net proceeds of approximately $294.4 million from the issuance and used approximately $165.8 million of the net proceeds to redeem all of the outstanding principal of the Company’s 83/8% senior subordinated notes and to pay related early redemption premiums.
     The remaining proceeds from the 6% senior subordinated notes were used to reduce our indebtedness under our revolving credit facility, resulting in an overall decrease in the outstanding balance of $30.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2005.
     Current Capitalization. At September 30, 2005, Encore had total assets of $1.4 billion. Total capitalization as of September 30, 2005 was $984.8 million, of which 50% was represented by stockholders’ equity and 50% by long-term debt. At December 31, 2004, we had total assets of $1.1 billion. Total capitalization as of December 31, 2004 was $852.6 million, of which 56% was represented by stockholders’ equity and 44% by senior debt. We expect the percentage of our capitalization represented by stockholders’ equity to decrease and the percentage of our capitalization represented by debt to increase as a result of debt financed acquisitions in the fourth quarter of 2005.
Capital Commitments
     Our primary needs for cash are as follows:
    Development, exploitation, and exploration of our existing oil and natural gas properties
 
    High-pressure air injection programs on our CCA properties
 
    Acquisitions of oil and natural gas properties and leasehold and acreage costs
 
    Other general property and equipment
 
    Funding of necessary working capital
 
    Payment of contractual obligations

24


Table of Contents

     Development, Exploitation, and Exploration of Existing Properties. The following table summarizes our costs incurred (excluding asset retirement obligations) related to development, exploitation, and exploration activities during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 (in thousands):
                                                 
    Three months ended             Nine months ended        
    September 30,     Increase/     September 30,     Increase/  
    2005     2004     (Decrease)     2005     2004     (Decrease)  
Development, Exploitation, and Exploration Expenditures:
                                               
Development and exploitation
  $ 67,181     $ 32,659     $ 34,522     $ 168,065     $ 80,814     $ 87,251  
Exploration
    16,359       10,751       5,608       44,762       16,427       28,335  
HPAI
    9,854       9,286       568       27,095       26,199       896  
 
                                   
Total
  $ 93,394     $ 52,696     $ 40,698     $ 239,922     $ 123,440     $ 116,482  
 
                                   
     Development, Exploitation, and Exploration. Our expenditures for development and exploitation investments primarily relate to drilling development and infill wells, workovers of existing wells, and field related facilities (excluding development-related asset retirement obligations).
     Our development and exploitation capital for the three months ended September 30, 2005 included a total of 61 gross (36.4 net) successful wells. We did not drill any development dry holes during the third quarter of 2005.
     Our development drilling capital for the first nine months of 2005 included 196 gross (121.6 net) successful development wells, and 5 gross (1.1 net) developmental dry holes. We currently have 11 operated rigs drilling on the onshore continental United States with 4 rigs in Montana, 2 rigs in East Texas, 2 rigs in West Texas, and 3 rigs running in the Mid Continent area.
     Our expenditures for exploration investments primarily relate to drilling exploratory wells, seismic, delay rentals, and geological and geophysical costs. During the three months ended September 30, 2005, our exploration capital included 2 (1.2 net) exploratory wells that are productive and 21 gross (18.5 net) exploratory dry holes.
     During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, our exploration capital yielded 22 (15.9 net) exploratory wells which are productive and 36 gross (31.3 net) exploratory dry holes.
     The total exploratory drilling capital incurred was $15.5 million and $41.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, respectively, excluding $.08 million and $2.9 million in seismic, delay rentals, and geological and geophysical costs.
     For the remainder of 2005, we expect to invest $88.0 million in development, exploitation, and exploration activities.
     High-Pressure Air Injection Programs. High-pressure air injection in the Little Beaver unit of the CCA was initiated in late 2003, and full implementation of the project was completed in the fourth quarter of 2004. We continue to see positive production response in line with expectations with a 225 barrel per day increase over the forecasted production decline prior to the initiation of the project.
     In the Pennel and Coral Creek area of the CCA, where we have been operating a successful HPAI appraisal project (Phase 1) for nearly three years, we have continued to expand the Phase 2 portion of the HPAI project. We have been injecting air in the Phase 2 project area since April 2005, and expect full implementation of the Phase 2 HPAI project to be completed by year-end 2005.
     For the remainder of 2005, we expect to invest $7.0 million for high-pressure air injection capital, primarily related to our Pennel program.

25


Table of Contents

     Acquisitions, Leasehold and Acreage Costs. The following table summarizes our costs incurred (excluding asset retirement obligations) for oil and natural gas proved property acquisitions during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 (in thousands):
                                                 
    Three months ended             Nine months ended        
    September 30,     Increase/     September 30,     Increase/  
    2005     2004     (Decrease)     2005     2004     (Decrease)  
Acquisitions, Leasehold and Acreage Costs:
                                               
Acquisitions
  $ 28,890     $ (7,960 )   $ 36,850     $ 39,547     $ 203,636     $ (164,089 )
Leasehold and acreage costs
    3,502       20,876       (17,374 )     10,224       30,433       (20,209 )
 
                                   
Total
  $ 32,392     $ 12,916     $ 19,476     $ 49,771     $ 234,069     $ (184,298 )
 
                                   
     Acquisitions. Our capital expenditures for proved oil and natural gas properties during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 totaled $39.5 million as compared to $203.6 million in the same period in 2004. The $39.5 million of acquisition capital in the first nine months of 2005 was invested primarily in additional working interests in our ArkLaTx region and the Williston Basin, while the $203.6 million in the first nine months of 2004 was invested primarily in our Cortez and Overton acquisitions.
     Fourth Quarter 2005 Acquisitions. On October 14, 2005, we completed the acquisition of Crusader Energy Corporation, a privately held, independent oil and natural gas company for a purchase price of approximately $93.5 million. On October 9, 2005, we entered into an agreement with Kerr-McGee Corporation to acquire oil and natural gas properties for a purchase price of approximately $104.0 million. The transaction is expected to close at the end of November 2005. We do not budget for acquisitions but we will continue to evaluate acquisition opportunities as they arise in 2005 with the same disciplined commitment to acquire assets that fit our portfolio and create value. We will continue to pursue acquisitions of properties with similar upside potential to our current producing properties portfolio.
     Leasehold and Acreage Costs. For the remainder of 2005, we expect to invest an additional $0.5 million for leasehold and acreage costs.
     Other General Property and Equipment. Our capital expenditures for other general property and equipment during the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 totaled $0.5 million and $1.3 million, respectively. The decrease was due primarily due to higher levels of field equipment purchased in 2004 in anticipation of our expected increased development activities. The $0.5 million incurred for the third quarter of 2005 primarily relate to the purchase of data processing equipment.
     Our capital expenditures for other general property and equipment during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 totaled $4.6 million and $7.9 million, respectively. The decrease was due primarily due to higher levels of field equipment purchased in 2004 in anticipation of our expected increased development activities. The $4.6 million incurred for the first nine months of 2005 primarily relate to leasehold improvements, field equipment, and data processing equipment purchased.
     Funding of Necessary Working Capital. At September 30, 2005, our working capital was $(54.5) million while at December 31, 2004, our working capital was $(15.6) million, a decrease of $38.9 million. The decrease is primarily attributable to changes in the fair value of outstanding derivative contracts, net of the deferred tax effect of marking these contracts to market.
     For the remainder of 2005, we expect working capital to remain negative. Negative working capital is expected mainly due to fair values of our derivative contracts, which hedge settlements will be offset by cash flows from hedged production. We anticipate cash reserves to be close to zero as we use available cash to fund capital obligations, with any excess cash being used to pay down our existing credit facility. We do not plan to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. The overall 2005 commodity prices for oil and natural gas will be the largest variable driving the different components of working capital. Our operating cash flow is determined in a large part by commodity prices. Assuming moderate to high commodity prices, our operating cash flow should remain positive for the foreseeable future. For the full year 2005, Encore’s Board of Directors has approved an increase in development and exploration and other capital to $326.0 million, reflecting an increase in activity levels and the current industry cost environment. The level of these and other future expenditures is largely discretionary, and the amount of funds devoted to any particular activity may increase or decrease significantly, depending on available opportunities, timing of projects, and market conditions. We plan to finance our ongoing expenditures using internally generated cash flow, cash on hand, and our existing credit agreement.

26


Table of Contents

     Contractual Obligations. The following table illustrates our contractual obligations and commercial commitments outstanding at September 30, 2005 (in thousands):
                                         
Contractual Obligations   Payments Due by Period  
and Capital Commitments   Total     2005     2006 – 2007     2008 – 2009     Thereafter  
61/4% notes (a)
  $ 234,375     $ 4,687     $ 18,750     $ 18,750     $ 192,188  
6% notes (a)
    480,000             36,000       36,000       408,000  
Revolving credit facility (a)
    57,554       663       5,261       51,630        
Derivative obligations (b) (e)
    164,707       26,884       137,823              
Operating leases (c)
    11,572       340       2,932       2,902       5,398  
Asset retirement obligations (d)
    82,512       542       1,084       1,084       79,802  
 
                             
Totals
  $ 1,030,720     $ 33,116     $ 201,850     $ 110,366     $ 685,388  
 
                             
 
(a)   Amounts included in the table above include both principal and projected interest payments.
 
(b)   Derivative obligations represent liabilities for derivatives that were valued as of September 30, 2005. The ultimate settlement amounts of the remaining portions of our derivative obligations are unknown because they are subject to continuing market risk.
 
(c)   Operating leases represent office space and equipment obligations that have remaining non-cancelable lease terms in excess of one year.
 
(d)   Asset retirement obligations represent the undiscounted future plugging and abandonment expenses on oil and natural gas properties and related facilities disposal at the completion of field life.
 
(e)   Subsequent to September 30, 2005, we entered into several additional oil and natural gas derivative contracts related to the expected production from recent acquisitions. We purchased oil swap contracts with total volumes of 1,000 barrels a day at fixed prices between $57.53 and $62.09 for various periods between January 2006 and June 2008. We purchased oil floor contracts with total volumes of 2,000 barrels a day with a floor price of $55.00 for the calendar year 2007. In addition, we purchased natural gas floor contracts with total volumes of 10,000 Mcf a day with floor prices between $7.40 and $7.70 for the calendar year 2007. The effects of these contracts are not included in the above table.
     Other Contingencies and Commitments. In order to facilitate ongoing sales of our oil production in the CCA, we ship a portion of our production on pipelines downstream and sell to purchasers at major U.S. market hubs. From time to time, shipping delays or purchaser stipulations may require that we sell our oil production in periods subsequent to the period in which it is produced. In such case, the deferred sale would have an adverse effect in the prior period on reported production volumes, revenues, and costs as measured on a unit-of-production basis.
     The sale of our CCA oil production is dependent on transportation through Butte Pipeline to markets in Guernsey, Wyoming area. To a lesser extent, our production also depends on transportation through Platte Pipeline to Wood River, Illinois as well as other pipelines connected to the Guernsey, Wyoming area. Any restrictions on the available capacity to transport oil through these pipelines could have a material adverse effect on price received, production volumes, and revenues.
     Letters of Credit. As of September 30, 2005, we had $75.1 million in letters of credit posted with two of our commodity derivative contract counterparties. At any point in time, we have hedge margin deposits and letters of credit equal to the amount by which the current mark-to-market liability of our commodity derivative contracts exceeds the margin maintenance thresholds we have negotiated with our counterparties. Once a margin threshold is reached, we are required to maintain cash reserves in an account with the counterparty or post letters of credit in lieu of cash to ensure future settlement is made pursuant to our contracts. These funds are released back to us as our mark-to-market liability decreases due to either a drop in the futures price of oil and natural gas or due to the passage of time as settlements are made. As of November 1, 2005, we had $75.1 million of outstanding letters of credit posted in lieu of cash margin deposits.
Liquidity
     Cash on hand, internally generated cash flows and the borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility are our major sources of liquidity. We also have the ability to adjust our level of capital expenditures. We may use other sources of capital, including the issuance of additional debt securities or equity securities, to fund any major acquisitions we might secure in the future and to maintain our financial flexibility.
     Internally Generated Cash Flows. Our internally generated cash flows, results of operations and financing for our operations are dependent on oil and gas prices. Realized oil and gas prices for the first nine months of 2005 were 47% and 34% percent higher, respectively, compared to the first nine months of 2004. These prices have historically fluctuated widely in response to changing market forces. For the first nine months of 2005, approximately 67% of our production was oil. We believe that our cash flows and unused availability under our revolving credit facility are sufficient to fund our planned capital expenditures for the foreseeable future. To the extent oil and gas prices decline, our earnings, cash flows from operations, and availability under

27


Table of Contents

our revolving credit facility may be adversely impacted. Prolonged periods of low oil and gas prices could cause us to not be in compliance with maintenance covenants under our revolving credit facility and thereby affect our liquidity.
     Revolving Credit Facility. Our principal source of short-term liquidity is our revolving credit facility. We amended and restated our revolving credit facility on August 19, 2004. Borrowings under the facility are secured by a first priority lien on our proved oil and natural gas reserves. Availability under the facility is determined through semi-annual borrowing base determinations and may be increased or decreased. The initial borrowing base was $400.0 million and may be increased to up to $750.0 million. On April 29, 2005, we amended the credit facility to increase the borrowing base to $500.0 million. In addition, the facility was amended to include a change in the definition of EBITDA to add back exploration expense (EBITDAX), and an increase in the availability of letters of credit from 15% of the borrowing base to 20%. Upon the issuance of our $300.0 million 6% senior subordinated notes due July 15, 2015, the borrowing base was decreased according to the terms of the facility to $450.0 million. The amended and restated credit facility matures on August 19, 2009.
     On September 30, 2005, we had $49.0 million outstanding under the credit facility. On October 14, 2005, Encore completed the acquisition of Crusader Energy Corporation and funded the purchase price of approximately $93.5 million with borrowings from our credit facility. As a result, we had $149.0 million outstanding under the credit facility at November 1, 2005. On October 19, 2005, Encore entered into an agreement with Kerr-McGee to purchase oil and natural gas properties for a purchase price of $104.0 million. We expect to close the transaction at the end of November 2005 and fund the purchase price with internally generated cash flow and borrowings from our available credit facility.
Description of Critical Accounting Estimates
     Please read “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Description of Critical Accounting Estimates” in Encore’s 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information. There have been no material changes to our critical accounting estimates since December 31, 2004.
New Accounting Pronouncements
     The effects of new accounting pronouncements are discussed in Note 2 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
     The information included in “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” in Encore’s 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated herein by reference. Such information includes a description of Encore’s potential exposure to market risks, including commodity price risk and interest rate risk. The Company’s outstanding derivative contracts as of September 30, 2005 are discussed in Note 5 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements. As of September 30, 2005, the fair value of our open commodity derivative contracts was a liability of $126.2 million.
     At September 30, 2005, we had total long-term debt of $493.6 million. Included in this amount is $300.0 million senior subordinated debt and $150.0 million senior subordinated debt that bears interest at fixed rates of 6% and 61/4%, respectively. The $300.0 million debt is recorded net of a related discount of $5.4 million. In addition, we had $49.0 million outstanding under our revolving credit facility that bears interest at a fluctuating rate that is linked to LIBOR.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
     In accordance with Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2005 to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

28


Table of Contents

     There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended September 30, 2005 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.

29


Table of Contents

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 6. Exhibits
     
Exhibits    
 
3.1.1
  Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2001, filed with the SEC on November 7, 2001).
 
   
3.1.2
  Certificate of Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1.2 to the Company Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2005, filed with the SEC on May 5, 2005).
 
   
3.2
  Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2001, filed with the SEC on November 7, 2001).
 
   
4.1
  Indenture dated as of July 13, 2005 among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association with respect to the 6% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 13, 2005).
 
   
4.2
  Form of 6% Senior Subordinated Note due 2015 (included Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.1 above).
 
   
4.3
  Registration Rights Agreement dated as of July 13, 2005 among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and Credit Suisse First Boston LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 13, 2005).
 
   
31.1
  Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification (Principal Executive Officer)
 
   
31.2
  Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification (Principal Financial Officer)
 
   
32.1
  Section 1350 Certification (Principal Executive Officer)
 
   
32.2
  Section 1350 Certification (Principal Financial Officer)

30


Table of Contents

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 thereunto duly authorized.
         
     
Date: November 7, 2005  By:   /s/ Robert C. Reeves    
  Robert C. Reeves   
  Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer   

31