Edgar Filing: ST MARY LAND & EXPLORATION CO

form10q_0908.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008

Commission file number 001-31539

ST. MARY LAND & EXPLORATION COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

41-0518430

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1776 Lincoln Street, Suite 700, Denver, Colorado

(Address of principal executive offices)

80203

(Zip Code)

(303) 861-8140

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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 a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer þ	Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yeso No þ

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

As of October 28, 2008, the registrant had 62,191,539 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding.

ST. MARY LAND & EXPLORATION COMPANY

INDEX

Part I.	FINANCIAL INFORMATION		PAGE

	Item 1.	Financial Statements (Unaudited)

		Consolidated Balance Sheets September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007	3

		Consolidated Statements of Operations Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008, and 2007	4

		Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income September 30, 2008, and December 31, 2007	5

		Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008, and 2007	6

		Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements September 30, 2008	8

	Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	32

	Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk (included within the content of Item 2)	64

	Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	64

Part II.	OTHER INFORMATION

	Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	64

	Item 1A.	Risk Factors	64

	Item 6.	Exhibits	66

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ST. MARY LAND & EXPLORATION COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
(In thousands, except share amounts)

	September 30,			December 31,
ASSETS	2008			2007
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	5,396		$	43,510
Short-term investments		1,012			1,173
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts
of $16,739 in 2008 and $152 in 2007		182,598			159,149
Refundable income taxes		4,583			933
Prepaid expenses and other		18,598			14,129
Accrued derivative asset		48,155			17,836
Deferred income taxes		26,187			33,211
Total current assets		286,529			269,941

Property and equipment (successful efforts method), at cost:
Proved oil and gas properties		3,134,922			2,721,229
Less - accumulated depletion, depreciation, and amortization		(927,895	)		(804,785	)
Unproved oil and gas properties, net of impairment allowance
of $9,903 in 2008 and $10,319 in 2007		166,916			134,386
Wells in progress		149,009			137,417
Oil and gas properties held for sale less accumulated depletion,
depreciation, and amortization		25,653			76,921
Other property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation
of $13,154 in 2008 and $11,549 in 2007		9,959			9,230
		2,558,564			2,274,398

Other noncurrent assets:
Goodwill		9,452			9,452
Accrued derivative asset		6,934			5,483
Other noncurrent assets		12,049			12,406
Total other noncurrent assets		28,435			27,341

Total Assets	$	2,873,528		$	2,571,680

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	348,549		$	254,918
Accrued derivative liability		118,314			97,627
Deposit associated with oil and gas properties held for sale		-			10,000
Total current liabilities		466,863			362,545

Noncurrent liabilities:
Long-term credit facility		170,000			285,000
Senior convertible notes		287,500			287,500
Asset retirement obligation		101,346			96,432
Asset retirement obligation associated with oil and gas properties held for sale		4,087			8,744
Net Profits Plan liability		258,307			211,406
Deferred income taxes		343,046			257,603
Accrued derivative liability		224,870			190,262
Other noncurrent liabilities		8,599			8,843
Total noncurrent liabilities		1,397,755			1,345,790

Commitments and contingencies

Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value: authorized - 200,000,000 shares;
issued: 62,360,826 shares in 2008 and 64,010,832 shares in 2007;
outstanding, net of treasury shares: 62,183,839 shares in 2008
and 63,001,120 shares in 2007		624			640
Additional paid-in capital		91,503			170,070
Treasury stock, at cost: 176,987 shares in 2008 and 1,009,712 shares in 2007		(2,011	)		(29,049	)
Retained earnings		1,090,059			878,652
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(171,265	)		(156,968	)
Total stockholders' equity		1,008,910			863,345

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	$	2,873,528		$	2,571,680

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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ST. MARY LAND & EXPLORATION COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)

	For the Three Months						For the Nine Months
	Ended September 30,						Ended September 30,
	2008			2007			2008			2007
Operating revenues and other income:
Oil and gas production revenue	$	358,508		$	228,497		$	1,068,901		$	638,357
Realized oil and gas hedge gain (loss)		(53,491	)		10,173			(145,837	)		36,160
Marketed gas system revenue		24,219			7,414			65,415			31,240
Gain (loss) on sale of proved properties		(4,992	)		-			54,063			-
Other revenue		(156	)		603			590			9,090
Total operating revenues and other income		324,088			246,687			1,043,132			714,847

Operating expenses:
Oil and gas production expense		72,724			54,970			205,825			157,618
Depletion, depreciation, amortization
and asset retirement obligation liability accretion		72,362			59,061			219,070			162,677
Exploration		10,669			12,562			42,378			42,655
Impairment of proved properties		564			-			10,130			-
Abandonment and impairment of unproved properties		1,231			937			4,295			3,886
General and administrative		24,145			15,805			67,149			44,962
Bad debt expense		6,650			-			16,592			-
Change in Net Profits Plan liability		(34,867	)		3,143			46,901			6,948
Marketed gas system expense		22,960			7,278			60,918			29,454
Unrealized derivative (gain) loss		(4,429	)		(2,880	)		802			2,224
Other expense		7,753			460			9,155			1,577
Total operating expenses		179,762			151,336			683,215			452,001

Income from operations		144,326			95,351			359,917			262,846

Nonoperating income (expense):
Interest income		239			355			395			612
Interest expense		(5,359	)		(4,082	)		(15,858	)		(13,885	)

Income before income taxes		139,206			91,624			344,454			249,573
Income tax expense		(51,159	)		(33,971	)		(126,861	)		(92,735	)

Net income	$	88,047		$	57,653		$	217,593		$	156,838

Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding		62,187			63,424			62,254			61,364

Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding		63,078			64,727			63,327			64,917

Basic net income per common share	$	1.42		$	0.91		$	3.50		$	2.56

Diluted net income per common share	$	1.40		$	0.89		$	3.44		$	2.43

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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ST. MARY LAND & EXPLORATION COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(In thousands, except share amounts)

																			Accumulated
						Additional													Other			Total
	Common Stock					Paid-in			Treasury Stock						Retained				Comprehensive			Stockholders'
	Shares		Amount			Capital			Shares			Amount			Earnings				Income (Loss)			Equity

Balances, December 31, 2006	55,251,733		$	553		$	38,940			(250,000	)	$	(4,272	)	$	695,224		$	12,929		$	743,374

Comprehensive income, net of tax:
Net income	-			-			-			-			-			189,712			-			189,712
Change in derivative instrument fair value	-			-			-			-			-			-			(154,497	)		(154,497	)
Reclassification to earnings	-			-			-			-			-			-			(15,470	)		(15,470	)
Minimum pension liability adjustment	-			-			-			-			-			-			70			70
Total comprehensive income																						19,815
Cash dividends, $ 0.10 per share	-			-			-			-			-			(6,284	)		-			(6,284	)
Treasury stock purchases	-			-			-			(792,216	)		(25,957	)		-			-			(25,957	)
Issuance of common stock under Employee
Stock Purchase Plan	29,534			-			919			-			-			-			-			919
Conversion of 5.75% Senior Convertible Notes
due 2022 to common stock, including income
tax benefit of conversion	7,692,295			77			106,854			-			-			-			-			106,931
Issuance of common stock upon settlement of
RSUs following expiration of restriction period,
net of shares used for tax withholdings	302,370			3			(4,569	)		-			-			-			-			(4,566	)
Sale of common stock, including income
tax benefit of stock option exercises	733,650			7			19,011			-			-			-			-			19,018
Stock-based compensation expense	1,250			-			8,915			32,504			1,180			-			-			10,095

Balances, December 31, 2007	64,010,832		$	640		$	170,070			(1,009,712	)	$	(29,049	)	$	878,652		$	(156,968	)	$	863,345

Comprehensive income, net of tax:
Net income	-			-			-			-			-			217,593			-			217,593
Change in derivative instrument fair value	-			-			-			-			-			-			(51,474	)		(51,474	)
Reclassification to earnings	-			-			-			-			-			-			37,176			37,176
Minimum pension liability adjustment	-			-			-			-			-			-			1			1
Total comprehensive income																						203,296
Cash dividends, $ 0.10 per share	-			-			-			-			-			(6,186	)		-			(6,186	)
Treasury stock purchases	-			-			-			(2,135,600	)		(77,150	)		-			-			(77,150	)
Retirement of treasury stock	(2,945,212	)		(29	)		(103,237	)		2,945,212			103,266			-			-			-
Issuance of common stock under Employee
Stock Purchase Plan	17,626			-			579			-			-			-			-			579
Issuance of common stock upon settlement of
RSUs following expiration of restriction period,
net of shares used for tax withholdings	413,500			4			(6,484	)		-			-			-			-			(6,480	)
Sale of common stock, including income
tax benefit of stock option exercises	860,330			9			21,020			-			-			-			-			21,029
Stock-based compensation expense	3,750			-			9,555			23,113			922			-			-			10,477

Balances, September 30, 2008	62,360,826		$	624		$	91,503			(176,987	)	$	(2,011	)	$	1,090,059		$	(171,265	)	$	1,008,910

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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ST. MARY LAND & EXPLORATION COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
(In thousands)
	For the Nine Months
	Ended September 30,
	2008			2007
Cash flows from operating activities:
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided
by operating activities:
Net income	$	217,593		$	156,838
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Loss related to hurricanes		6,980			-
(Gain) loss on insurance settlement		1,600			(6,340	)
Gain on sale of proved properties		(54,063	)		-
Depletion, depreciation, amortization,
and asset retirement obligation liability accretion		219,070			162,677
Bad debt expense		16,592			-
Exploratory dry hole expense		6,583			12,714
Impairment of proved properties		10,130			-
Abandonment and impairment of unproved properties		4,295			3,886
Unrealized derivative loss		802			2,224
Change in Net Profits Plan liability		46,901			6,948
Stock-based compensation expense*		10,477			8,606
Deferred income taxes		101,231			79,289
Other		(3,496	)		(5,168	)
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(39,455	)		(208	)
Refundable income taxes		(3,650	)		4,587
Prepaid expenses and other		2,029			28,035
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		34,763			27,552
Excess tax benefit from the exercise of stock options		(10,281	)		(7,658	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		568,101			473,982

Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from insurance settlement		-			7,064
Proceeds from sale of oil and gas properties		155,203			324
Capital expenditures		(494,492	)		(500,111	)
Acquisition of oil and gas properties		(83,433	)		(32,650	)
Deposits for acquisition of oil and gas assets		-			(15,310	)
Deposits to short-term investments		161			(1,153	)
Receipts from short-term investments		-			1,450
Other		(9,984	)		29
Net cash used in investing activities		(432,545	)		(540,357	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from credit facility		832,000			553,914
Repayment of credit facility		(947,000	)		(732,914	)
Repayment of short-term note payable		-			(4,469	)
Excess tax benefit from the exercise of stock options		10,281			7,658
Net proceeds from issuance of senior convertible debt		-			280,664
Proceeds from sale of common stock		11,327			6,342
Repurchase of common stock		(77,202	)		(25,904	)
Dividends paid		(3,076	)		(3,140	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(173,670	)		82,151

Net change in cash and cash equivalents		(38,114	)		15,776
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		43,510			1,464
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	5,396		$	17,240

* Stock-based compensation expense is a component of exploration expense and general and administrative expense
on the consolidated statements of operations. During the periods ended September 30, 2008, and 2007, respectively,
approximately $3.8 million and $2.6 million of stock-based compensation expense was included in exploration expense.
During the periods ended September 30, 2008, and 2007, respectively, approximately $6.7 million and $6.0 million of
stock-based compensation expense was included in general and administrative expense.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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ST. MARY LAND & EXPLORATION COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)



Supplemental schedule of additional cash flow information and noncash investing and financing activities:

	For the Nine Months
	Ended September 30,
	2008		2007
	(in thousands)

Cash paid for interest	$	14,483	$	13,476

Cash paid or (refunded) for income taxes	$	18,943	$	(1,048	)


Dividends of approximately $3.1 million have been declared by the Company's Board of Directors, but not paid,
as of September 30, 2008.

In September 2008, the Company hired a new senior executive. Upon commencement of employment, the
Company issued 15,496 shares of restricted stock awards to the senior executive, of which half will vest on
December 15, 2009 and the remaining half to vest on December 15, 2010, provided on such vesting dates the
executive is employed by the Company. The total fair value of the issuance was $600,005.

In August 2008 the Company issued 465,751 Performance Share Awards to employees as equity-based
compensation pursuant to the Company's 2006 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan. The total fair value of the
issuance equaled $12.3 million.

During the first nine months of 2008 and 2007, the Company issued 427,607 and 98,664 restricted stock units to
employees as equity-based compensation, respectively, pursuant to the Company's 2006 Equity Incentive
Compensation Plan. The total fair value of the issuances were $23.3 million and $3.1 million, respectively.

As of September 30, 2008, and 2007, $159.5 million and $102.6 million, respectively, are included in the balances of
oil and gas properties and accounts payable and accrued expenses. These oil and gas property
additions are reflected in cash used in investing activities in the periods that the payables are settled.

In May 2008 and 2007 the Company issued 23,113 and 26,292 shares, respectively, of common stock from
treasury to its non-employee directors pursuant to the Company's 2006 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan.
The Company recorded compensation expense related to these issuances of approximately $922,000 and
$855,000 for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008, and 2007, respectively.

In June 2006 the Company hired a new senior executive. In February 2008 and February 2007 the Company
issued 3,750 and 1,250 shares of stock, respectively, to the senior executive, as the Company achieved certain
performance metrics. The total fair value of these issuances were $141,900 and $45,012, respectively.

In March 2007 the Company called the 5.75% Senior Convertible Notes for redemption. All of the note holders
elected to convert the 5.75% Senior Convertible Notes to common stock. As a result, the Company issued
7,692,295 shares of common stock on March 16, 2007, in exchange for the $100 million of 5.75% Senior
Convertible Notes. The conversion was executed in accordance with the conversion provisions of the original
indenture. Additionally, the conversion resulted in a $7.0 million decrease in non-current deferred income taxes
and a corresponding increase in additional paid-in capital that is a result of the recognition of the cumulative
excess tax benefit earned by the Company associated with the contingent interest feature of this note.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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ST. MARY LAND & EXPLORATION COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

September 30, 2008

Note 1 – The Company and Business

St. Mary Land & Exploration Company (“St. Mary” or the “Company”) is an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, exploitation, development, acquisition, and production of natural gas and crude oil. The Company’s operations are conducted entirely in the continental United States.

Note 2 – Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of St. Mary have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information. They do not include all information and notes required by generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for complete financial statements. However, except as disclosed herein, there has been no material change in the information disclosed in the notes to consolidated financial statements included in St. Mary’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2007. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals that are considered necessary for fair presentation of the interim financial information, have been included. Operating results for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of expected results for the full year.

Certain 2007 amounts in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to correspond to the 2008 presentation. As a result of a change in circumstances in 2007, distributions being made and accrued for under the Net Profits Interest Bonus Plan (the “Net Profits Plan”) for former employees who were involved in geologic, geophysical, or exploration activities are now classified and fully allocated to general and administrative expense rather than exploration expense. Distributions accrued or made to current employees engaged in geologic, geophysical, or exploration activities continue to be classified as exploration expense. The entire impact of this change for 2007 was recorded in the fourth quarter. The quarterly financial information presented for 2007 throughout the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements has been reclassified to reflect the change. The reclassification had no impact on total operating expenses, income from operations, income before income taxes, net income, basic net income per common share, or diluted net income per common share, as it was simply a reclassification between two line items within the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Refer to Note 14 of Part II, Item 8 within the Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2007, for further discussion.

Other Significant Accounting Policies

The accounting policies followed by the Company are set forth in Note 1 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2007, and are supplemented throughout the footnotes of this document. It is suggested that these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2007.

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Note 3 – Acquisitions, Divestitures, Variable Interest Entities, and Assets Held for Sale

Greater Green River Divestiture

In June 2008 the Company completed the divestiture of certain non-strategic oil and gas properties located in the Rocky Mountain region. The cash received at closing, net of commission costs, was $21.7 million. The final sales price is subject to normal post-closing adjustments and is expected to be finalized during the fourth quarter of 2008. The estimated gain on sale of proved properties related to the divestiture is approximately $697,000 and may be impacted by the previously mentioned post-closing adjustments. The Company determined that this sale does not qualify for discontinued operations accounting under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 03-13 (“EITF No. 03-13”).

Abraxas Divestiture

On January 31, 2008, the Company completed the divestiture of certain non-strategic oil and gas properties located primarily in the Rocky Mountain and Mid-Continent regions to Abraxas Petroleum Corporation and Abraxas Operating, LLC. The cash received at closing, net of commission costs, was $129.6 million. The final sale price is subject to normal post-closing adjustments and is expected to be finalized during the fourth quarter of 2008. The estimated gain on sale of proved properties related to the divestiture is approximately $55.7 million and may be impacted by the previously mentioned post-closing adjustments. The Company determined that this sale does not qualify for discontinued operations accounting under EITF No. 03-13. These assets were classified as assets held for sale as of December 31, 2007.

Williston Basin Acquisition

On August 13, 2008, the Company acquired oil and gas properties located in the Bakken and Three Forks formations in the Williston Basin for $20.2 million of cash. After normal purchase price adjustments, the Company allocated $3.6 million to proved oil and gas properties and $16.6 million to unproved oil and gas properties. The Company also recorded $56,000 in asset retirement obligation liability associated with the acquired properties. The acquisition was funded with cash on hand and borrowings under the Company’s existing credit facility. The final purchase price is subject to normal post-closing adjustments and is expected to be finalized during the fourth quarter of 2008.

Carthage Acquisition

On March 21, 2008, the Company acquired oil and gas properties located primarily in the Carthage Field in Panola County, Texas for $49.2 million of cash. After normal purchase price adjustments, the Company allocated $29.1 million to proved oil and gas properties, $20.6 million to unproved oil and gas properties, and a net $215,000 to other liabilities. The Company also recorded $341,000 in asset retirement obligation liability associated with the acquired properties. The acquisition was funded with cash on hand and borrowings under the Company’s existing credit facility. During the second quarter of 2008, the Company acquired additional interests in the majority of these properties for $8.0 million.

Rockford Acquisition

On October 4, 2007, the Company completed the purchase of certain oil and gas properties in the Gold River project area targeting the Olmos shallow gas formation located primarily in Webb and Dimmit Counties, Texas. The assets were purchased from Rockford Energy Partners II, LLC for $149.0 million. After normal purchase price adjustments, the Company allocated $127.3 million to proved oil and gas properties, $23.1 million to unproved oil and gas properties, and a net $292,000 to other assets. The Company also recorded $1.7 million in asset retirement obligation liability associated with the acquired properties. The acquisition was funded with cash on hand and borrowings under the Company’s existing

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credit facility. The acquired properties are adjacent to the Catarina project area. The Company hedged the equivalent of the first three years of risked natural gas production and the first two years of associated risked natural gas liquids production related to this acquisition.

Catarina Acquisition

On June 1, 2007, the Company acquired oil and gas properties located primarily in the Catarina project area in Webb County, Texas in exchange for $30.0 million of cash. After normal purchase price adjustments, the Company allocated $29.9 million to proved oil and gas properties, $535,000 to unproved oil and gas properties, and $215,000 to other assets. The Company also recorded $623,000 in asset retirement obligation liability associated with the acquired properties. The acquisition was funded with cash on hand and borrowings under the Company’s existing credit facility.

Like-Kind Exchanges and Variable Interest Entities

The Carthage acquisition described above was structured to qualify as the first step of a reverse like-kind exchange under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “IRC”) and Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Revenue Procedure 2000-37. Prior to closing on the acquisition, the Company assigned all of its rights and duties under the purchase and sale agreement to NBF Reverse Exchange, LLC, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated, which further assigned all of its rights and duties under the purchase and sale agreement to St. Mary Acquisition, LLC (“SMA, LLC”), a company unaffiliated with St. Mary. The Carthage Field assets were acquired by NBF Reverse Exchange, LLC as an exchange accommodation titleholder. On September 12, 2008, the reverse like-kind exchange was completed and SMA, LLC, became a wholly owned subsidiary of St. Mary. Subsequent to September 30, 2008, the Carthage Field assets were transferred to St. Mary by merger. As of the filing date of this report, SMA, LLC is inactive and does not hold any assets and its status with the Secretary of State of Texas has been terminated.

From the date of closing the Carthage acquisition on March 21, 2008, through October 10, 2008, the assets held by SMA, LLC, were leased by St. Mary under a triple net lease whereby St. Mary had the benefits and risks of all revenues and costs attributed to the properties. The Carthage assets were managed by St. Mary under the terms of a management agreement with SMA, LLC. The second step of the like-kind exchange was partially completed in conjunction with the divestiture of certain non-core oil and gas properties discussed above under Greater Green River Divestiture. The funds from this transaction were deposited in an account owned by Comerica Incorporated as qualified intermediary in this transaction. On September 12, 2008, the funds from this transaction were moved into the Company’s operating cash account upon completion of the like-kind exchange.

In connection with the reverse like-kind exchange described above, St. Mary loaned an amount equal to the purchase price of the assets to SMA, LLC. Based on the provision of FASB Interpretation No. 46(R), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities” (“FIN 46(R)”), the Company determined that SMA, LLC was a variable interest entity for which St. Mary was the primary beneficiary. Accordingly, SMA, LLC was consolidated into St. Mary subsequent to the completion of the purchase of oil and gas properties on March 21, 2008. As a result of the consolidation, St. Mary is recognizing all oil and gas reserves and production as well as all revenues and expenses attributed to the Carthage acquisition as of the March 21, 2008, acquisition date. The loan to SMA, LLC was repaid subsequent to September 30, 2008.

The Rockford acquisition of the Gold River assets described above was also structured to qualify as the first step of a reverse like-kind exchange under Section 1031 of the IRC, and IRS Revenue Procedure 2000-37. Prior to closing on the Rockford acquisition, the Company assigned all of its rights and duties under the purchase and sale agreement to NBF Reverse Exchange, LLC, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated, which further assigned all of its rights and duties under the purchase and sale agreement to St. Mary Land & Exploration Acquisition, LLC (“SMLEA, LLC”), a company unaffiliated with St. Mary. The Gold River assets were acquired by NBF Reverse Exchange, LLC as an

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exchange accommodation titleholder. SMLEA, LLC held the assets pursuant to a qualified exchange accommodation agreement until January 31, 2008, when the second step of the like-kind exchange was completed in conjunction with the divestiture of certain non-core oil and gas properties discussed above under Abraxas Divestiture and St. Mary acquired all of the limited liability company interests of SMLEA, LLC from NBF Reverse Exchange, LLC. As of the date of closing of the Rockford acquisition on October 4, 2007, through February 7, 2008, the assets held by SMLEA, LLC, were leased by St. Mary under a triple net lease whereby St. Mary enjoyed the benefits and risks of all revenues and costs attributed to the properties. The Gold River assets were managed by St. Mary under the terms of a management agreement with SMLEA, LLC. On February 7, 2008, the Gold River assets were transferred to St. Mary. As of this filing date SMLEA, LLC, is inactive and does not hold any assets.

In connection with the reverse like-kind exchange described above, St. Mary loaned an amount equal to the purchase price of the assets to SMLEA, LLC. Based on the provision of FIN 46(R), the Company determined that SMLEA, LLC is a variable interest entity for which St Mary is the primary beneficiary. Accordingly, SMLEA, LLC was consolidated into St. Mary subsequent to the completion of the purchase of oil and gas properties on October 4, 2007. As a result of the consolidation, St. Mary recognized all oil and gas reserves and production as well as all revenues and expenses attributed to the Rockford acquisition beginning on October 4, 2007. The loan to SMLEA, LLC was repaid on February 7, 2008.

Assets Held for Sale

As of September 30, 2008, the Company is engaged in marketing for sale certain non-core oil and gas properties located in the Rocky Mountain, Gulf Coast, and Mid-Continent regions. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”, these properties have been separately presented in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at the lower of carrying value or fair value less the cost to sell. The accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2008, presents $25.7 million of assets held for sale, net of accumulated depletion, depreciation and amortization. Assets held for sale were measured at carrying value, which was less than fair value less cost to sell as of September 30, 2008. Subsequent changes to fair value less the cost to sell will impact the measurement of assets held for sale if the fair value is determined to be less than the carrying value of the assets. Asset retirement obligation liabilities of $4.1 million related to these properties have also been reclassified to liabilities associated with oil and gas properties held for sale on the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2008. The Company determined that these sales do not qualify for discontinued operations accounting under EITF No. 03-13.

Note 4 – Earnings per Share

Basic net income per common share of stock is calculated by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average basic common shares outstanding for the respective period. The shares represented by vested restricted stock units (“RSUs”) are included in the calculation of the weighted-average basic common shares outstanding. The earnings per share calculations reflect the impact of any repurchases of shares of common stock made by the Company.

Diluted net income per common share of stock is calculated by dividing adjusted net income by the weighted-average of diluted common shares outstanding, which includes the effect of potentially dilutive securities. Potentially dilutive securities for the diluted earnings per share calculations consist of unvested RSUs, in-the-money outstanding options to purchase the Company’s common stock, Performance Share Awards (“PSAs”), and shares into which the 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes due 2027 (the “3.50% Senior Convertible Notes”) are convertible.

The restricted shares underlying the grants of RSUs are included in the basic and diluted earnings per share calculations as described above. Following the lapse of the restriction periods, the shares

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underlying the units will be issued and therefore will be included in the number of issued and outstanding shares.

Prior to the March 16, 2007, conversion of the Company’s 5.75% Senior Convertible Notes due 2022 (the “5.75% Senior Convertible Notes”), potentially dilutive shares associated with this instrument were accounted for using the if-converted method for the determination of diluted earnings per share. Adjusted net income used in the if-converted method was derived by adding interest expense paid on the 5.75% Senior Convertible Notes back to net income and then adjusting for nondiscretionary items that are based on net income and would have changed had the 5.75% Senior Convertible Notes been converted at the beginning of the period. The 5.75% Senior Convertible Notes were called for redemption by the Company on March 16, 2007, and all of the note holders elected to convert the notes to shares of the Company’s common stock. The Company issued 7.7 million common shares in connection with the conversion of the 5.75% Senior Convertible Notes. Upon conversion, these shares were included in the calculation of weighted-average common shares outstanding. There were no potentially dilutive shares related to the 5.75% Senior Convertible Notes included in the diluted earnings per share calculation for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008. Approximately 2.1 million potentially dilutive shares related to the 5.75% Senior Convertible Notes were included in the diluted earnings per share calculation for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007. There were no potentially dilutive shares related to the 5.75% Senior Convertible Notes included in the diluted earnings per share calculation for the three-month period ended September 30, 2007.

The Company’s 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes, which were issued April 4, 2007, have a net-share settlement right whereby each $1,000 principal amount of notes may be surrendered for conversion for cash in an amount equal to the principal amount and, if applicable, shares of common stock for the amount in excess of the principal amount. The treasury stock method is used to measure the potentially dilutive impact of shares associated with that conversion feature. The 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes have not been dilutive for any reporting period that they have been outstanding and therefore do not impact the diluted earnings per share calculation for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008, and 2007.

On August 1, 2008, the Company granted 465,751 PSAs for the three-year performance period ended July 31, 2011. At the end of each grant’s three-year performance period, a multiplier will be applied to all vested PSAs to determine the number of common shares issued. The number of common shares issued is contingent upon the satisfaction of certain market conditions. The number of potentially dilutive shares related to the PSAs is based on the number of shares, if any, which would be issuable if the end of the reporting period were the end of the contingency period. There were no potentially dilutive shares related to the PSAs included in the diluted earnings per share calculation for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008. We refer you to Note 5 – Compensation Plans for additional information regarding PSAs.

The treasury stock method is used to measure the dilutive impact of stock options, RSUs, and PSAs. The dilutive effect of stock options and unvested RSUs is considered in the detailed calculation below. The RSU transitional awards granted on June 30, 2008, are anti-dilutive for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2008. There were no anti-dilutive securities related to stock options, RSUs, or PSAs for the three-month period ended September 30, 2008, and the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007.

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The following table sets forth the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2008		2007		2008		2007
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)

Net Income	$	88,047	$	57,653	$	217,593	$	156,838
Adjustments to net income for dilution:
Add: interest expense not incurred if 5.75% Convertible Notes converted		-		-		-		1,284
Less: other adjustments		-		-		-		(13	)
Less: income tax effect of adjustment items		-		-		-		(471	)
Net income adjusted for the effect of dilution	$	88,047	$	57,653	$	217,593	$	157,638

Basic weighted-average common stock outstanding		62,187		63,424		62,254		61,364
Add: dilutive effect of stock options and unvested RSUs		891		1,303		1,073		1,471
Add: dilutive effect of 5.75% Convertible Notes using if-converted method		-		-		-		2,082
Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding		63,078		64,727		63,327		64,917

Basic net income per common share	$	1.42	$	0.91	$	3.50	$	2.56
Diluted net income per common share	$	1.40	$	0.89	$	3.44	$	2.43

Note 5 – Compensation Plans

Cash Bonus Plan

The Company has a cash bonus plan, under which the Company has established a performance measure framework whereby selected employee participants can be awarded an annual cash bonus. As amended by the Board of Directors on March 28, 2008, the plan document provides that no participant may receive an annual bonus under the plan of more than 200 percent of his or her base salary. As the plan is currently administered, any awards under the plan are based on Company and regional performance, and are then further refined by individual performance. The Company accrues cash bonus expense based upon the current year’s performance. In February 2008 the Company paid $3.5 million for cash bonuses earned in the 2007 performance year and in February 2007 paid $1.8 million earned in the 2006 performance year. Included in the general and administrative and exploration expense line items in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations is the cash bonus expense related to the specific performance year of $2.7 million and $1.3 million for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2008, and 2007, respectively. Total cash bonus expense for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008, and 2007, was $7.2 million, and $3.8 million, respectively.

Equity Incentive Compensation Plan

There are several components to equity compensation that are described in this section. Varying types of equity awards have been granted by the Company in different periods.

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Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), “Share Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123(R)”) using the modified-prospective transition method. Under the transition method, compensation expense recognized in 2007 and 2008, includes: (a) compensation cost for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not yet vested as of January 1, 2006, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provision of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”, and (b) compensation cost for all share-based payments granted subsequent to January 1, 2006, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provision of SFAS No. 123(R).

As of September 30, 2008, approximately 1.5 million shares of common stock remained available for grant under the 2006 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2006 Equity Plan”). The 2006 Equity Plan serves as the successor to the St. Mary Land & Exploration Company Stock Option Plan, the St. Mary Land & Exploration Company Incentive Stock Option Plan, the St. Mary Land & Exploration Company Restricted Stock Plan, and the St. Mary Land & Exploration Company Non-Employee Director Stock Compensation Plan (collectively referred to as the “Predecessor Plans”). An amendment and restatement of the 2006 Equity Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders at the 2008 annual stockholders’ meeting held on May 21, 2008. For an issuance of a direct share benefit such as an outright grant of common stock, a grant of a restricted share, or a restricted stock unit (“RSU”) grant, each direct share benefit issued counts as two shares against the number of shares available to be granted under the 2006 Equity Plan. The issuance of a PSA is considered a direct share benefit under the 2006 Equity Plan. At the end of each grant’s three-year performance period a multiplier ranging between zero and two is applied to each performance share so that each performance share granted has the potential to result in the issuance of two shares of common stock. Consequently, each performance share granted counts as four shares against the number of shares available to be granted under the 2006 Equity Plan. Stock options granted count as one share for each instruments issued against the number of shares available to be granted under the 2006 Equity Plan.

The Company does have outstanding stock option grants under the Predecessor Plans and RSU awards under both the Predecessor Plans and the 2006 Equity Plan. The following sections describe the details of RSU grants, stock options, and PSAs outstanding as of September 30, 2008.

Performance Share Awards

In late 2007 St. Mary transitioned to PSA grants as the primary form of long-term equity incentive compensation for eligible employees in place of grants of RSUs and the awarding of interests in the Net Profits Plan. On August 1, 2008, the Company granted 465,751 PSAs. PSAs represent the right to receive, upon settlement of the PSAs after the completion of three-year performance period ending July 31, 2011, a number of shares of the Company’s common stock that may be from zero to two times the number of PSAs granted on the award date. The number of shares issued depends on the extent to which the Company’s performance criteria have been achieved and the extent to which the PSAs have vested. The performance criteria for the PSAs are based on a combination of the Company’s cumulative total shareholder return (“TSR”) for the performance periods and the relative measure of the Company’s TSR compared with the cumulative TSR of certain peer companies for the performance period. The PSAs will vest 1/7th on August 1, 2009, 2/7 ths August 1, 2010, and 4/7ths on August 1, 2011.

Total stock-based compensation expense related to PSAs for both the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008, was $789,000. There was no stock-based compensation expense related to PSAs for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007.

In measuring compensation expense related to the grant of PSAs, SFAS No. 123(R) requires companies to estimate the fair value of the award on the grant date. The fair value of PSAs has been measured under a stochastic process method using the Geometric Brownian Motion Model (“GBM Model”). A stochastic process is a mathematically defined equation that can create a series of outcomes over time. These outcomes are not deterministic in nature, which means that by iterating the equations

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multiple times, different results will be obtained for those iterations. In the case of the Company’s PSAs, the Company cannot predict with certainty the path its stock price or the stock price of its peers will take over the three-year performance period. By using a stochastic simulation the Company can create multiple prospective stock pathways, statistically analyze these simulations, and ultimately make inferences to the most likely path the stock price will take. As such, because future stock prices are stochastic, or probabilistic with some direction in nature, the stochastic method, specifically the GBM Model, is deemed an appropriate method by which to determine the fair value of the PSAs. The fair value of the Company’s PSAs granted on August 1, 2008, was $12.3 million.

A summary of the status and activity of PSAs for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2008, is presented in the following table.

	PSAs		Weighted- Average Grant-Date Fair Value
At January 1, 2008	-		$	-
Granted	465,751		$	26.48
Vested	-		$	-
Forfeited	(518	)	$	26.48
At September 30, 2008	465,233		$	26.48

Restricted Stock Incentive Program Under the Equity Incentive Compensation Plan

The Company historically had a long-term incentive program whereby grants of restricted stock or RSUs were awarded to eligible employees, consultants, and members of the Board of Directors. Restrictions and vesting periods for the awards were determined at the discretion of the Board of Directors and were set forth in the award agreements. Each RSU represents a right for one share of the Company’s common stock to be delivered upon settlement of the award at the end of a specified period. These grants were determined annually based on a formula consistent with the cash bonus plan.

St. Mary issued 158,744 RSUs on February 28, 2008, related to 2007 performance and 78,657 RSUs on February 28, 2007, related to 2006 performance. The total fair value associated with these issuances was $6.0 million in 2008 and $2.5 million in 2007 as measured on the respective grant dates. The granted RSUs vest 25 percent immediately upon grant and 25 percent on each of the first three anniversary dates of the grant.

St. Mary also issued 18,986 and 20,007 RSUs for various grants to certain employees during the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008, and 2007, respectively. These grants have various vesting periods. The total fair value associated with these issuances was $726,000 in 2008 and $643,000 in 2007 as measured on the respective grant dates.

St. Mary issued 265,373 RSUs on June 30, 2008, as a transitional award between the old RSU program and the new PSA program. The total fair value associated with this issuance was $17.2 million as measured on the grant date. One third of the granted RSUs vests on December 15th in 2008, 2009, and 2010, respectively. Compensation expense is recorded monthly over the vesting period of the award. For RSUs awarded prior to 2006, vested shares of common stock underlying the RSU grants were issued on the third anniversary of the grant, at which time the shares carried no further restrictions. For all awards subsequent to the 2005 RSU grant, St. Mary has eliminated the restriction period that extends beyond the vesting period so shares are now issued without restriction upon vesting, rather than on the third anniversary of the award. This change was effected for existing awards in 2007 within the safe harbor adoption provisions of the newly enacted U.S. Treasury regulations interpreting the IRC provisions governing deferred compensation. A mutual election of the employee and the Company was required to

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effect this change for each outstanding award. Essentially all of the awards were modified by mutual election, and as such the incremental value associated with the removal of this restriction period is being amortized over the remaining service period for these awards. For grants made beginning with the 2006 grant period, the Company is using the accelerated amortization method as described in FASB Interpretation No. 28, “Accounting for Stock Appreciation Rights and Other Variable Stock Option or Award Plans – an interpretation of APB Opinions No. 15 and 25,” whereby approximately 48 percent of the total estimated compensation expense is recognized in the first year of the vesting period. As of September 30, 2008, a total of 500,942 RSUs were outstanding, of which 7,091 were vested. The total RSU compensation expense for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2008, and 2007, was $3.2 million and $2.1 million, respectively, and the total RSU compensation expense for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008, and 2007, was $9.3 million and $7.1 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2008, there was $15.7 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested RSU awards. The unrecognized compensation expense is being amortized through 2011.

During the first three quarters of 2008, the Company has converted 587,437 RSUs, which relate to those awards granted in 2008, 2007, and 2006, into common stock based on the amended terms of the RSU awards. The Company and the majority of the grant participants mutually agreed to net share settle the awards to cover income and payroll tax withholdings as provided for in the plan document and the award agreements. As a result, the Company issued net 413,500 shares of common stock associated with these grants. The remaining 173,937 shares were withheld to satisfy income and payroll tax withholding obligations that occurred upon the delivery of the shares underlying those RSUs.

During the first three quarters of 2007, the Company converted 427,059 RSUs, which related to the awards granted in 2004, into common stock. The Company and the majority of the grant participants mutually agreed to net share settle the awards to cover income and payroll tax withholdings as provided for in the plan document and the award agreements. As a result, the Company issued net 302,370 shares of common stock associated with these grants. The remaining 124,689 shares were withheld to satisfy income and payroll tax withholding obligations that occurred upon the delivery of the shares underlying those RSUs.

In measuring compensation expense related to the grant of RSUs, SFAS No. 123(R) requires companies to estimate the fair value of the award on the grant date. For grants prior to January 1, 2008, the Company had a restriction period beyond vesting. Therefore, the fair value of the RSUs was inherently less than the market value of an unrestricted share of St. Mary’s common stock. The fair value of RSUs had been measured using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Company’s computation of expected volatility was based on the historic volatility of St. Mary’s common stock. The Company’s computation of expected life was determined based on historical experience of similar awards, giving consideration to the contractual terms of the awards, vesting schedules, and expectations of future employee behavior. The interest rate for periods within the contractual life of the award was based on the U.S. Treasury constant maturity yield at the time of grant.

The fair values of RSU awards granted in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007 were estimated using the following weighted-average assumptions:

	September 30, 2007
Risk free interest rate:	4.6%
Dividend yield:	0.3%
Volatility factor of the market price of the Company’s common stock:	32.2%
Expected life of the awards (in years):	3

Beginning January 1, 2008, RSU awards no longer have a restriction beyond vesting. Therefore fair value of an RSU award is equal to the market value of the underlying stock on the date of the grant.

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Stock Awards Under the Equity Incentive Compensation Plan

As part of hiring a new senior executive in the second quarter of 2006, St. Mary granted a special stock award whereby the employee could earn an additional 5,000 shares over a four-year period, beginning in 2006, and an additional 15,000 shares if certain net asset value growth targets are met over that period. The fair value of this award is being recorded as compensation expense over the vesting period. In February 2008 and February 2007 the Company issued 3,750 and 1,250 shares of stock, respectively, to the senior executive. The total fair value of these issuances was $141,900 and $45,012 respectively.

A summary of the status and activity of non-vested RSUs for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2008, is presented in the following table.

	RSUs		Weighted- Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Non-vested, at January 1, 2008	289,385		$	32.26
Granted	443,103		$	53.87
Vested	(200,899	)	$	32.43
Forfeited	(37,738	)	$	37.62
Non-vested, at September 30, 2008	493,851		$	50.97

Stock Option Grants Under the Equity Incentive Compensation Plan

The Company previously granted stock options under the St. Mary Land & Exploration Company Stock Option Plan and Incentive Stock Option Plan. The last issuance of stock options was December 31, 2004. Options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock had been issued to eligible employees and members of the Board of Directors. All options granted to date under the option plans were granted at exercise prices equal to the respective closing market price of the Company’s underlying common stock on the grant dates, which generally occurred on the last date of a fiscal period. All stock options granted under the option plans are exercisable for a period of up to ten years from the date of grant.

There was no stock-based compensation expense for the three-month period ended September 30, 2008, related to stock options that were outstanding and unvested as of January 1, 2006. Total stock-based compensation related to these stock options equaled $27,000 for the three-month period ended September 30, 2007. The total stock-based compensation expense related to stock options for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008, and 2007, was $17,000 and $409,000, respectively. There was no cumulative effect adjustment for the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R). As of September 30, 2008, there were no unvested stock options outstanding.

Prior to adopting SFAS No. 123(R), all tax benefits resulting from the exercise of stock options were presented as operating cash flows in the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows. SFAS No. 123(R) requires cash flows resulting from excess tax benefits to be classified as part of cash flows from financing activities. Excess tax benefits are realized tax benefits from tax deductions for exercised options in excess of the deferred tax asset attributable to stock compensation costs for such options. The Company has recorded $10.3 million and $7.7 million of excess tax benefits for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008, and 2007, respectively, as cash inflows from financing activities. Cash received from option exercises for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008, and 2007, equaled $10.7 million and $5.9 million, respectively.

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The following table summarizes the nine-month activity for stock options outstanding as of September 30, 2008:

	Options		Weighted-Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (In years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value (In thousands)

Outstanding, beginning of period	2,385,500		$	12.62
Exercised	(860,330	)	$	12.49
Forfeited	-		$	-
Outstanding, end of period	1,525,170		$	12.69	3.89	$	35,024
Vested, or expect to vest end of period	1,525,170					$	35,024
Exercisable, end of period	1,525,170		$	12.69	3.89	$	35,024

As of September 30, 2008, there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock option awards.

Net Profits Plan

Under the Company’s Net Profits Plan, all oil and gas wells that were completed or acquired during a year were designated within a specific pool. Key employees recommended by senior management and designated as participants by the Company’s Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors and employed by the Company on the last day of that year became entitled to payments under the Net Profits Plan after the Company has received net cash flows returning 100 percent of all costs associated with that pool. Thereafter, ten percent of future net cash flows generated by the pool are allocated among the participants and distributed at least annually. The portion of net cash flows from the pool to be allocated among the participants increases to 20 percent after the Company has recovered 200 percent of the total costs for the pool, including payments made under the Net Profits Plan at the ten percent level. The Net Profits Plan was an active compensation program from 1991 through 2007. Pool years prior to and including 2005 are fully vested. The 2006 and 2007 pool years are subject to a vesting schedule and include a cap whereby the maximum benefits to participants from a particular year’s pool is limited to 300 percent of a participating individual’s adjusted base salary paid during the year to which the pool relates. In December 2007 the Board approved a restructuring of the Company’s incentive compensation programs. The change in the incentive compensation structure was designed to replace the RSU and Net Profits Plan programs with a single long-term equity incentive compensation program utilizing performance shares. As a result, the 2007 Net Profits Plan pool was the last pool established by the Company.

The Company records changes in the present value of estimated future payments under the Net Profits Plan as a separate item in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The change in the estimated liability is recorded as a non-cash expense or benefit in the current period. The amount recorded as an expense or benefit associated with the change in the estimated liability is not allocated to general and administrative expense or exploration expense because it is associated with the future net cash flows from oil and gas properties in the respective pools rather than with results realized in the current period. The table below presents the estimated allocation of the expense related to the change in the Net Profits Plan liability if the Company did allocate the adjustment to these specific functional line items based on the current allocation of actual distributions being made by the Company. Of the payments made under the Net Profits Plan, 11 percent and 23 percent would have been classified as exploration expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2008, and 2007, respectively. Of the payments made under the Net Profits Plan, 33 percent and 22 percent would have been classified as exploration expense in the accompanying consolidated

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statements of operations for the nine-month periods September 30, 2008, and 2007, respectively. As time progresses, less of the distribution relates to prospective exploration efforts as more of the distributions are made to employees who have terminated employment and therefore do not provide ongoing exploration support.

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,					For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2008			2007		2008		2007
	(In thousands)

General and administrative expense	$	(30,965	)	$	2,406	$	31,347	$	5,431
Exploration expense		(3,902	)		737		15,554		1,517
Total	$	(34,867	)	$	3,143	$	46,901	$	6,948

Note 6 – Income Taxes

Income tax expense for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008, and 2007, differs from the amount that would be provided by applying the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate to income before income taxes as a result of the estimated effect of the domestic production activities deduction, percentage depletion, the effect of state income taxes, and other permanent differences.

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2008		2007		2008		2007
	(In thousands)
Current portion of income tax expense:
Federal	$	5,415	$	6,512	$	24,155	$	11,494
State		509		627		1,475		1,952
Deferred portion of income tax expense:		45,235		26,832		101,231		79,289
Total income tax expense	$	51,159	$	33,971	$	126,861	$	92,735
Effective tax rates		36.8%		37.1%		36.8%		37.2%

A change in the Company’s tax rates between reported periods will generally reflect differences in its estimated highest marginal state tax rate due to changes in the composition of income between state tax jurisdictions resulting from Company activities. Changes in the effects of estimates for the domestic production activities deduction, percentage depletion, and the possible impact of permanent differences related to state income tax calculations caused in part by fluctuating commodity prices can also cause the rates to vary.

The Company or its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and in various states. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal or state income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2004. The Internal Revenue Service completed audits for the 2000, 2002, and 2003 tax years during the quarter ended March 31, 2007. There was no change to the provision for income tax as a result of these examinations.

In 2007 the Company received a $3.1 million refund of income tax and interest from a carryback of net operating losses to the 2000 tax year. An additional $980,000 was received in the first quarter of 2008 for income tax refunds and accrued interest resulting from a carry-over of minimum tax credits to the 2003 tax year. These amounts have been previously recognized by the Company. The Internal Revenue Service initiated an audit of the Company’s 2005 tax year that began on April 24, 2008, and is ongoing.

The Company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes," on January 1, 2007. There was no financial statement adjustment required as a result of

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adoption. At adoption, the Company had a long-term liability for an unrecognized tax benefit of $1.0 million and an accumulated interest liability of $92,000. The entire amount of unrecognized tax benefit would affect the Company’s effective tax rate if recognized. Interest expense associated with income tax is recorded as interest expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Penalties associated with income tax are recorded in general and administrative expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

Note 7 – Long-term Debt

Revolving Credit Facility

The Company’s revolving credit facility has a maturity date of April 7, 2010. Borrowings under the facility are secured by a pledge, in favor of the lenders, of collateral that includes the majority of the Company’s oil and gas properties and the common stock of any material subsidiaries of the Company. The borrowing base under the credit facility as authorized by the bank group as of the date of this filing is $1.4 billion and is subject to regular semi-annual redeterminations. The borrowing base redetermination process considers the value of St. Mary’s oil and gas properties and other assets, as determined by the bank syndicate. The Company has elected an aggregate commitment amount of $500 million under the credit facility. The Company must comply with certain financial and non-financial covenants under the terms of its credit facility agreement, including the limitation of the Company’s annual dividend rate to no more than $0.25 per share. The Company is in compliance with all financial and non-financial covenants under the credit facility. Interest and commitment fees are accrued based on the borrowing base utilization percentage table below. Eurodollar loans accrue interest at London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus the applicable margin from the utilization table, and Alternative Base Rate (“ABR”) loans accrue interest at Prime plus the applicable margin from the utilization table. Commitment fees are accrued on the unused portion of the $500 million aggregate commitment amount and are included in interest expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

Borrowing base
Utilization percentage	<50%	>50%<75%	>75%<90%	>90%
Eurodollar loans	1.000%	1.250%	1.500%	1.750%
ABR loans	0.000%	0.000%	0.250%	0.500%
Commitment fee rate	0.250%	0.300%	0.375%	0.375%

The Company had $170.0 million and $198.0 million outstanding under its revolving credit agreement as of September 30, 2008, and October 28, 2008, respectively. The Company had $330 million and $302 million of available borrowing capacity under this facility as of September 30, 2008, and October 28, 2008, respectively.

5.75% Senior Convertible Notes Due 2022

The Company called for redemption of its 5.75% Senior Convertible Notes on March 16, 2007. The call for redemption resulted in the note holders electing to convert the notes to common stock in accordance with the conversion provision in the original indenture. The 5.75% Senior Convertible Note holders converted all $100 million of the 5.75% Senior Convertible Notes to common shares at a conversion price of $13.00 per share. The Company issued 7.7 million common shares in connection with the conversion.

3.50% Senior Convertible Notes Due 2027

On April 4, 2007, the Company issued $287.5 million aggregate principal amount of 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes. The 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes mature on April 1, 2027, unless converted prior to maturity, redeemed, or purchased by the Company. The 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes are unsecured

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senior obligations and rank equal in right of payment with all of the Company’s existing and any future unsecured senior debt and senior in right of payment to any future subordinated debt.

Holders may convert their notes based on a conversion rate of 18.3757 shares of the Company’s common stock per $1,000 principal amount of the 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes (which is equal to an initial conversion price of approximately $54.42 per share), subject to adjustment, contingent upon and only under the following circumstances: (1) if the closing price of the Company’s common stock reaches specified thresholds or the trading price of the notes falls below specified thresholds, (2) if the notes are called for redemption, (3) if specified distributions to holders of the Company’s common stock are made or specified corporate transactions occur, (4) if a fundamental change occurs, or (5) during the ten trading days prior to, but excluding, the maturity date. The notes and underlying shares have been registered under a shelf registration statement. If the Company becomes involved in a material transaction or corporate development, it may suspend trading of the 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes as provided by the prospectus. In the event the suspension period exceeds 45 days within any three-month period or 90 days within any twelve-month period, the Company will be required to pay additional interest to all holders of the 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes, not to exceed a rate per annum of 0.50 percent of the issue price of the 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes; provided that no such additional interest shall accrue after April 4, 2009.

Upon conversion of the 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes, holders will receive cash or common stock or any combination thereof as elected by the Company. At any time prior to the maturity date of the notes, the Company has the option to unilaterally and irrevocably elect to net share settle its obligations upon conversion of the notes in cash, and if applicable, shares of common stock. If the Company makes this election, then the Company will pay the following to holders for each $1,000 principal amount of notes converted in lieu of shares of common stock: (1) an amount in cash equal to the lesser of (i) $1,000 or (ii) the conversion value determined in the manner set forth in the indenture for the 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes, and (2) if the conversion value exceeds $1,000, the Company will also deliver, at its election, cash or common stock or a combination of cash and common stock with respect to the remaining value deliverable upon conversion. Currently, it is the Company’s intention to net share settle the 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes. However, the Company has not made this a formal legal irrevocable election and thereby reserves the right to settle the 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes in any manner allowed under the offering memorandum as business conditions warrant.

If a holder elects to convert the notes in connection with certain events that constitute a change of control before April 1, 2012, the Company will pay, to the extent described in the related indenture, a make-whole premium by increasing the conversion rate applicable to the 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes. In addition, the Company will pay contingent interest in cash, commencing with any six-month period beginning on or after April 1, 2012, if the average trading price of a note for the five trading days ending on the third trading day immediately preceding the first day of the relevant six-month period equals 120 percent or more of the principal amount of the 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes.

On or after April 6, 2012, the Company may redeem for cash all or a portion of the 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes at a redemption price equal to 100 percent of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, up to but excluding the applicable redemption date. Holders of the 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes may require the Company to purchase all or a portion of their notes on each of April 1, 2012, April 1, 2017, and April 1, 2022, at a purchase price equal to 100 percent of the principal amount of the notes to be repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, up to but excluding the applicable purchase date. On April 1, 2012, the Company may pay the purchase price in cash, in shares of common stock, or in any combination of cash and common stock. On April 1, 2017, and April 1, 2022, the Company must pay the purchase price in cash. Based on the market price of the 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes, the estimated fair value of the notes was approximately $271 million as of September 30, 2008.

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Weighted-Average Interest Rate Paid and Capitalized Interest Costs

The weighted-average interest rates paid for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2008, and 2007, were 4.4 percent and 5.1 percent, respectively, including commitment fees paid on the unused portion of the credit facility aggregate commitment, amortization of deferred financing costs, amortization of the contingent interest embedded derivative associated with the 5.75% Senior Convertible Notes for 2007, and the effect of interest rate swaps. The weighted-average interest rates paid for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008, and 2007, were 4.7 percent and 5.9 percent, respectively. The outstanding loan balance as of September 30, 2008, increased in comparison to the outstanding loan balances as of September 30, 2007, while the three-month and nine-month period rates associated with the balances decreased. The decrease is attributed to significantly lower LIBOR and Prime rates for the specified periods in 2008 compared to 2007. Capitalized interest costs for the three-month period ended September 30, 2008, and 2007, were $751,000 and $1.2 million, respectively. Additionally, capitalized interest costs for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2008, and 2007, were $2.8 million and $3.8 million, respectively.

Note 8 – Derivative Financial Instruments

Oil and Natural Gas Commodity Hedges

To mitigate a portion of the potential exposure to adverse market changes, the Company has entered into various derivative contracts. The Company’s derivative contracts in place include swap and collar arrangements for the sale of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. Refer to the tables under Summary of oil and gas production hedges in place in Part I, Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, for details regarding the Company’s hedged volumes and associated prices. As of September 30, 2008, the Company has hedge contracts in place through 2011 for a total of approximately 9 million Bbls of anticipated crude oil production, 64 million MMBtu of anticipated natural gas production, and 1 million Bbls of anticipated natural gas liquids production.

The Company attempts to qualify its oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids derivative instruments as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“SFAS No. 133”), and related pronouncements. The Company formally documents all relationships between the derivative instruments and the hedged production, as well as the Company’s risk management objective and strategy for the particular derivative contracts. This process includes linking all derivatives that are designated as cash flow hedges to the specific forecasted sale of oil, natural gas, or natural gas liquids at its physical location. The Company also formally assesses (both at the derivative’s inception and on an ongoing basis) whether the derivatives being utilized have been highly effective at offsetting changes in the cash flows of hedged production and whether those derivatives may be expected to remain highly effective in future periods. If it is determined that a derivative has ceased to be highly effective as a hedge, the Company will discontinue hedge accounting prospectively. If hedge accounting is discontinued and the derivative remains outstanding, the Company will recognize all subsequent changes in its fair value on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations for the period in which the change occurs. As of September 30, 2008, all oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquid derivative instruments qualified as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes. The Company anticipates that all forecasted transactions will occur by the end of their originally specified periods. All contracts are entered into for other than trading purposes.

The fair value of oil and natural gas derivative contracts designated and qualifying as cash flow hedges under SFAS No. 133 was a net liability balance of $288.1 million at September 30, 2008. The Company realized a net loss of $53.5 million and a net gain of $10.2 million from its oil and natural gas derivative contracts for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2008, and 2007, respectively. The Company realized a net loss of $145.8 million and a net gain of $36.2 million from its oil and natural gas derivative contracts for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008, and 2007, respectively.

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At September 30, 2008, the Company had no margin collateral deposits with hedge counterparties. As of December 31, 2007, the Company had $2.0 million on deposit with a hedge counterparty. Generally, the Company’s hedge liability to its counterparties is secured under the terms of the Company’s credit facility agreement. One counterparty to the Company’s hedges is not a participant in the Company’s credit facility agreement, and this counterparty requires a dollar for dollar margin to be posted as collateral for mark-to-market liabilities that exceed a certain limit.

After-tax changes in the fair value of derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, to the extent they are effective in offsetting cash flows attributable to the hedged risk, are recorded in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings upon the sale of the hedged production. As of September 30, 2008, the amount of unrealized loss, net of unrealized gains and net of deferred income taxes, to be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to oil and natural gas production operating revenues in the next twelve months is equal to $64.9 million.

Any change in fair value resulting from ineffectiveness is recognized currently in unrealized derivative gain (loss) in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Unrealized derivative gain (loss) for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2008, and 2007, includes net gains of $4.4 million and $2.9 million respectively, from ineffectiveness related to oil and natural gas derivative contracts. Unrealized derivative gain (loss) for both the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008, and 2007, includes net losses of $800,000 and $2.2 million, respectively, from ineffectiveness related to oil and natural gas derivative contracts.

Gains or losses from the settlement of oil and gas derivative contracts are reported in the total operating revenues section of the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

The following table summarizes derivative instrument gain (loss) activity:

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2008			2007			2008			2007
	(In thousands)

Derivative contract settlements included in oil and gas hedge gain (loss)	$	(53,491	)	$	10,173		$	(145,837	)	$	36,160
Ineffective portion of hedges qualifying for hedge accounting included in derivative gain (loss)		4,429			4,336			(802	)		(889	)
Non-qualifying derivative contracts included in derivative gain (loss)		-			(1,456	)		-			(1,335	)
Interest rate derivative contract settlements included in interest expense		(476	)		-			(1,017	)		(283	)
Total gain (loss)	$	(49,538	)	$	13,053		$	(147,656	)	$	33,653

Interest Rate and Convertible Note Derivative Instruments

In relation to the Company’s 5.75% Senior Convertible Notes converted in March 2007, the Company entered into a fixed-to-floating interest rate swap on $50 million of principal in October 2003, and entered into a floating-to-fixed rate swap for the same notional amount of $50 million in April 2005 in order to effectively offset the initial fixed-to-floating interest rate swap. The Company recorded a net derivative loss in interest expense of $283,000 for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007. There was no net derivative loss recorded in interest expense for the three-month period ended September 30, 2007.

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In September 2007 the Company entered into a one year floating-to-fixed interest rate derivative contract for a notional amount of $75 million. Under the agreement, the Company paid a fixed rate of 4.9 percent and was paid a variable rate based on the one-month LIBOR rate. The interest rate derivative contract was measured at fair value using quoted prices in active markets. The interest rate swap was a highly liquid, non-complex, non-structured instrument. This derivative qualified for cash flow hedge treatment under SFAS No. 133 and related pronouncements. The Company recorded net derivative losses in interest expense of $476,000 and $1.0 million in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008, respectively, related to the interest rate derivative contract. This instrument was settled in the third quarter of 2008.

The contingent interest provision of the 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes is a derivative instrument. As of September 30, 2008, the value of the derivative was determined to be immaterial.

Note 9 – Pension Benefits

The Company has a non-contributory pension plan covering substantially all employees who meet age and service requirements (the “Qualified Pension Plan”). The Company also has a supplemental non-contributory pension plan covering certain management employees (the “Nonqualified Pension Plan”).

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

The following table presents the components of the net periodic cost for both the Qualified Pension Plan and the Nonqualified Pension Plan:

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2008			2007			2008			2007
	(In thousands)

Service cost	$	460		$	478		$	1,379		$	1,433
Interest cost		222			198			665			595
Expected return on plan assets		(168	)		(135	)		(503	)		(405	)
Amortization of net actuarial loss		40			55			121			164
Net Periodic benefit cost	$	554		$	596		$	1,662		$	1,787

Prior service costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period of active participants. Gains and losses in excess of ten percent of the greater of the benefit obligation or the market-related value of assets are amortized over the average remaining service period of active participants.

Contributions

The Company has contributed $2.5 million to the Qualified Pension Plan during the first three quarters of 2008. Presently, the Company believes it will contribute an additional $300,000 to the Nonqualified Pension Plan during the remainder of the year.

Note 10 – Asset Retirement Obligations

The Company recognizes an estimated liability for future costs associated with the abandonment of its oil and gas properties. A liability for the fair value of an asset retirement obligation and a corresponding increase to the carrying value of the related long-lived asset are recorded at the time a well is completed or acquired. The increase in carrying value is included in proved oil and gas properties in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The Company depletes the amount added to proved oil and gas property costs and recognizes expense in connection with the accretion of the discounted liability over the remaining

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estimated economic lives of the respective oil and gas properties. Cash paid to settle asset retirement obligations is included in the operating section of the Company’s accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows.

The Company’s estimated asset retirement obligation liability is based on estimated economic lives, historical experience in abandoning wells, estimated cost to abandon the wells in the future, and federal and state regulatory requirements. The liability is discounted using a credit-adjusted risk-free rate estimated at the time the liability is incurred or revised. The credit-adjusted risk-free rates used to discount the Company’s abandonment liabilities range from 6.50 percent to 7.25 percent. Revisions to the liability could occur due to changes in estimated abandonment costs or well economic lives, or if federal or state regulators enact new requirements regarding the abandonment of wells.

A reconciliation of the Company’s asset retirement obligation liability is as follows:

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2008			2007			2008			2007
	(In thousands)

Beginning asset retirement obligation	$	106,486		$	90,554		$	108,284		$	77,242
Liabilities incurred		1,073			2,702			7,162			7,443
Liabilities settled		(4,039	)		(3,380	)		(16,509	)		(4,678	)
Accretion expense		1,954			1,465			5,337			4,215
Revision to estimated cash flow		6,373			651			7,573			7,770
Ending asset retirement obligation	$	111,847		$	91,992		$	111,847		$	91,992

Accounts payable and accrued expenses contain $6.4 million and $6.9 million related to the Company’s current asset retirement obligation liability as of September 30, 2008, and 2007, respectively. Accounts payable and accrued expenses contain $3.1 million related to the Company’s current asset retirement obligation liability as of December 31, 2007. As of September 30, 2008, September 30, 2007, and December 31, 2007, the accounts payable and accrued expenses balances include amounts for the estimated retirement costs associated with an off-shore platform that was destroyed during Hurricane Rita in 2005. Retirement of the platform was substantially completed as of September 30, 2008. Please refer to Note 13 – Insurance Settlement for additional details. Additionally, the September 30, 2008, amount includes an accrual in excess of the Company’s maximum insurance policy limit for the remediation of the Vermilion 281platform and other properties damaged in Hurricane Ike in September 2008.

Note 11 – Fair Value Measurements

Effective January 1, 2008, the Company partially adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS No. 157”) for all financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The statement establishes a framework for measuring fair value and requires enhanced disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exact price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The statement establishes market or observable inputs as the preferred sources of values, followed by assumptions based on hypothetical transactions in the absence of market inputs. The statement establishes a hierarchy for grouping these assets and liabilities, based on the significance level of the following inputs:

· Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities

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· Level 2 – Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable

· Level 3 – Significant inputs to the valuation model are unobservable

The following is a listing of the Company’s assets and liabilities required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis and where they are classified within the hierarchy as of September 30, 2008:

	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Accrued derivative	$	-	$	55,089	$	-
Liabilities:
Accrued derivative	$	-	$	343,184	$	-
Net Profits Plan	$	-	$	-	$	258,307

A financial asset or liability is categorized within the hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used by the Company as well as the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the hierarchy.

Derivatives

The Company uses Level 2 inputs to measure the fair value of oil and gas hedges and the interest rate swap. Fair values are based upon interpolated data. The Company derives internal valuation estimates taking into consideration the counterparties’ credit ratings, the Company’s credit rating, and the time value of money and then compares that to the counterparties’ mark-to-market statements. The considered factors result in an estimated exit-price for each asset or liability under a market place participant’s view. Management believes that this approach provides a reasonable, non-biased, verifiable, and consistent methodology for valuing derivative instruments.

Counterparty credit valuation adjustments are necessary when the market price of an instrument is not indicative of the fair value due to the credit quality of the counterparty. Generally, market quotes assume that all counterparties have near zero, or low, default rates and have equal credit quality. Therefore, an adjustment may be necessary to reflect the credit quality of a specific counterparty to determine the fair value of the instrument. The Company monitors the counterparties’ credit ratings and may ask counterparties to post collateral if their ratings deteriorate. In some instances the Company will attempt to novate the trade with a more stable counterparty.

Valuation adjustments are necessary to reflect the effect of the Company’s credit quality on the fair value of any liability position with a counterparty. This adjustment takes into account any credit enhancements, such as collateral margin that the Company may have posted with a counterparty, as well as any letters of credit between the parties. The methodology to determine this adjustment is consistent with how the Company evaluates counterparty credit risk, taking into account the Company’s credit rating, current credit spreads, and any change in such spreads since the last measurement date. The majority of the Company’s derivative counterparties are members of St. Mary’s secured bank syndicate. The Company is currently in a net liability position with all of its counterparties as of September 30, 2008.

The methods described above may result in a fair value estimate that may not be indicative of net realizable value or may not be reflective of future fair values and cash flows. While the Company believes that the valuation methods utilized are appropriate and consistent with the requirements of SFAS No. 157 and with other marketplace participants, the Company recognizes that third parties may use different

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methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments that could result in a different estimate of fair value at the reporting date.

Commodity Derivative Assets and Liabilities – The Company has a variety of derivatives including commodity swaps and collars for the sale of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. Standard oil and gas activities expose the Company to varying degrees of commodity price risk. To mitigate a portion of this risk, the Company may enter into natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids derivatives to lower the commodity price risk associated with an acquisition or when market conditions are favorable. The Company values these derivatives using index prices, mark-to-market statements received from counterparties, the Company’s credit adjusted borrowing rate, and also factors in the time value of money. As the value is derived from numerous factors, all of the Company’s commodity derivative assets and liabilities are classified as having Level 2 inputs.

Interest Rate Derivative Assets and Liabilities – The Company had one interest rate swap agreement in place for the notional amount of $75 million, which was settled in the third quarter of 2008. This instrument effectively caused a portion of the Company’s floating rate debt to become fixed rate debt and was held with a major financial institution. A mark-to-market valuation that took into consideration anticipated cash flows from the transaction using quoted market prices, other economic data and assumptions, and pricing indications used by other market participants was used to value the swap. Given the degree of varying assumptions used to value the swap, it was deemed to use Level 2 inputs.

Net Profits Plan

The Net Profits Plan is a standalone liability for which there is no available market price, principal market, or market participants. The inputs available for this instrument are unobservable, and therefore classified as Level 3 inputs. The Company employs the income approach, which converts future amounts to a single present value amount. This technique uses the estimate of future cash payments, expectations of possible variations in the amount and/or timing of cash flows, the time value of money, the risk premium, and nonperformance risk to calculate the fair value. There is a direct correlation between performance and the Net Profits Plan liability. If performance is substandard, the liability is reduced or eliminated.

The Company records the estimated fair value of the long-term liability for estimated future payments under the Net Profits Plan based on the discounted value of estimated future payments associated with each individual pool. The calculation of this liability is a significant management estimate. For a predominate number of the pools, a discount rate of 12 percent is used to calculate this liability. This rate is intended to represent the best estimate of the present value of expected future payments under the Net Profits Plan.

The Company’s estimate of its liability is highly dependent on commodity price and cost assumptions and the discount rates used in the calculations. The commodity price assumptions are formulated by applying the price that is derived from a rolling average of actual prices realized of the prior 24 months together with adjusted New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”) strip prices for the ensuing 12 months. This average price is adjusted to include the effect of hedge prices for the percentage of forecasted production hedged in the relevant periods. The forecasted non-cash expense associated with this significant management estimate is highly volatile from period to period due to fluctuations that occur in the crude oil and natural gas commodity markets. Higher commodity prices experienced in recent years have moved more pools into payout status. The Company continually evaluates the assumptions used in this calculation in order to consider the current market environment for oil and gas prices, costs, discount rate, and overall market conditions.

As noted above, the calculation of the estimated liability for the Net Profits Plan is also highly sensitive to price estimates and discount rate assumptions. For example, if the commodity prices used in the calculation changed by five percent, the liability recorded at September 30, 2008, would differ by approximately $30 million. A one percentage point decrease in the discount rate would result in an increase

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to the liability of approximately $15 million, while a one percentage point increase in the discount rate would result in a decrease to the liability of approximately $14 million. Actual cash payments to be made to participants in future periods are dependent on realized actual production, prices, and costs associated with the properties in each individual pool of the Net Profits Plan. Consequently, actual cash payments are inherently different from the amounts estimated.

No published market quotes exist on which to base the Company’s estimate of fair value of the Net Profits Plan liability. As such, the recorded fair value is based entirely on the management estimates that are described within this footnote. While some inputs to the Company’s calculation of the fair value of the Net Profits Plan’s future payments are from published sources, others, such as the discount rate and the expected future cash flows, are derived from the Company’s own calculations and estimates. The following table reflects the activity for the liabilities measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008:

	For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2008			For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008
	(In thousands)

Beginning balance	$	293,174		$	211,406
Net increase (decrease) in liability(a)		(24,451	)		92,832
Net settlements (a)(b)		(10,416	)		(45,931	)
Transfers in (out) of Level 3		-			-
Ending balance	$	258,307		$	258,307

(a) Net changes in the Net Profits Plan liability are shown in the Change in Net Profits Plan liability line item of the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

(b) Settlements represent cash payments made or accrued for under the Net Profits Plan.

Refer to Note 8 – Derivative Financial Instruments, and Note 5 – Compensation Plans, for more information regarding the Company’s hedging instruments and the Net Profits Plan, respectively. Additionally, refer to Note 7 – Long-term Debt for the disclosure of the September 30, 2008, fair value of the 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes Due 2027.

Note 12 – Repurchase and Retirement of Common Stock

Stock Repurchase Program

During the first quarter of 2008 St. Mary repurchased 2,135,600 shares of its outstanding common stock in the open market at a weighted-average price of $36.13 per share, including commissions, for a total of $77.1 million. As of the date of this filing, the Company has Board authorization to repurchase up to 3,072,184 additional shares of common stock. The shares may be repurchased from time to time in open market transactions or in privately negotiated transactions, subject to market conditions and other factors, including certain provisions of St. Mary’s existing credit facility agreement and compliance with securities laws. Stock repurchases may be funded with existing cash balances, internal cash flow, and borrowings under the revolving credit facility. Additionally, in March 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a resolution to retire 2,945,212 shares of treasury stock. St. Mary did not repurchase any shares of common stock under the program during the second or third quarters of 2008.

St. Mary repurchased 790,816 shares of common stock under the program during the third quarter of 2007 at a weighted-average price of $32.76 per share, including commissions, for a total of $25.9 million. St. Mary did not repurchase any shares of common stock under the program during the first half of 2007.

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Note 13 – Insurance Settlement

In April 2007 the Company reached a global insurance settlement for reimbursement of damages sustained during Hurricane Rita in 2005. St. Mary’s net amount of the final settlement was approximately $33 million. As a result of this settlement, the company recorded a gain of $6.3 million in other revenue in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. The Company experienced significant weather-related and other delays in its retirement efforts and consequently incurred additional retirement costs for the offshore platform. As of September 30, 2008, the Company has recorded a gain of $3.6 million associated with the insurance settlement. The Company’s retirement efforts are substantially complete as of the date of this filing and the Company expects adjustments to the gain to be completed during the fourth quarter of 2008. Any variation between actual and estimated retirement costs will impact the final determination of the gain associated with the insurance settlement.

Note 14 – SemGroup Bankruptcy

On July 22, 2008, SemGroup, L.P. and certain of its North American subsidiaries (collectively referred to herein as “SemGroup”) filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Certain SemGroup entities purchase a portion of the Company’s crude oil production. As a result of the SemGroup bankruptcy filing the Company recorded an allowance for doubtful accounts and bad debt expense of $16.6 million as of September 30, 2008, of which $6.7 million was recognized as bad debt expense during the three-month period ended September 30, 2008, and $9.9 million was recognized during the three-month period ended June 30, 2008. The Company believes that it has fully allowed for all potential uncollectible amounts and believes that it has no remaining exposure resulting from this bankruptcy. In an effort to maximize its recovery, the Company has filed the appropriate pleadings and is participating in certain adversary proceedings in the SemGroup bankruptcy case to establish the Company’s secured and priority claims. The matter does not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity or overall financial position.

Note 15 – Hurricanes Gustav and Ike

During the third quarter of 2008, assets in which the Company has an interest were impacted by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. The Company incurred damage to two wells and to its production facilities located at Goat Island in Galveston Bay and minor damages to several other properties. The Vermilion 281 production platform was lost in Hurricane Ike. The Company currently estimates that it will incur $26 million associated with the clean up, assessment of damages, and remediation associated with this platform.

The Company maintains insurance that it expects to utilize with regard to the lost platform and damage to several other properties. Due to the severe damage caused by the hurricane, the Company currently expects the total storm related costs to exceed the maximum insurance policy limit. During the third quarter of 2008, the Company wrote off the carrying value of the Vermilion 281 platform, as well as the carrying value associated with the production facility assets located at Goat Island. Additionally, the Company established an accrual for the estimate of the remediation and various other property damage repair costs the Company expects to incur in excess of its maximum insurance policy limit. As a result, the Company has recorded a $7.0 million loss, which is included in other expense in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for the third quarter of 2008. Any variation between actual and estimated storm related costs will impact the final determination of the loss.

Note 16 – Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2006 the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. Where applicable, this statement simplifies and codifies fair value related guidance previously issued within

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generally accepted accounting principles. SFAS No. 157 was effective for the Company on January 1, 2008. The Company partially adopted SFAS No. 157 pursuant to FASB Staff Position No. FAS 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157” (“FSP No. FAS 157-2”), which delayed the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for all nonrecurring fair value measurements of nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities until fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. FSP No. FAS 157-2 states that a measurement is recurring if it happens at least annually and defines nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities as all assets and liabilities other than those meeting the definition of a financial asset or financial liability in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“SFAS No. 159”). The statement also notes that if SFAS No. 157 is not applied in its entirety, the Company must disclose (1) that it has only partially adopted SFAS No. 157 and (2) that categories of assets and liabilities recorded or disclosed at fair value to which the statement was not applied.

The Company adopted FSP No. 157-2 as of January 1, 2008, electing to partially adopt SFAS No. 157. The Company did not apply SFAS No. 157 to nonrecurring fair value measurements of nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, including nonfinancial long-lived assets measured at fair value for an impairment assessment under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-lived Assets”, and asset retirement obligations initially measured at fair value under the statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations”. The Company is still required to apply SFAS No. 157 to recurring financial and non-financial instruments, which affects the fair value disclosure of the Company’s financial derivatives within the scope of SFAS No. 133. The partial adoption of SFAS No. 157 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Please refer to Note 11 – Fair Value Measurements.

In February 2007 the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, which expands the use of fair value accounting but does not affect existing standards that require assets or liabilities to be carried at fair value. SFAS No. 159 allows entities to choose, at specified election dates, to use fair value to measure eligible financial assets and liabilities that are not otherwise required to be measured at fair value. If a company elects the fair value option for an eligible item, changes in that item’s fair value in subsequent reporting periods must be recognized in current earnings. SFAS No. 159 also establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to draw comparisons between entities that elect different measurement attributes for similar assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 159 was effective for the Company on January 1, 2008. The Company did not elect the fair value option. There was no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In December 2007 the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141(R), “Business Combinations” (SFAS No. 141(R)”), which requires the acquiring entity in a business combination to recognize and measure all assets and liabilities assumed in the transaction and any non-controlling interest in the acquiree at fair value as of the acquisition date. The statement also establishes guidance for the measurement of the acquirer shares issued in consideration for a business combination, the recognition of contingent consideration, the accounting treatment for pre-acquisition gain and loss contingencies, the treatment of acquisition related transaction costs, and the recognition of changes in the acquirer’s income tax valuation allowance and deferred taxes. SFAS No. 141(R) is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and is to be applied prospectively as of the beginning of the fiscal year in which the statement is applied. Early adoption is not permitted. SFAS No. 141(R) will be effective for the Company beginning with the 2009 fiscal year. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of SFAS No. 141(R) on its consolidated financial statements, but the nature and magnitude of the specific effects will depend upon the nature, terms, and size of the acquisitions the Company consummates after the effective date.

In December 2007 the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment of ARB No. 51” (SFAS No. 160”), which establishes accounting and reporting standards that require noncontrolling interests to be reported as a component of equity. The statement also requires that changes in a parent’s ownership

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interest while the parent retains its controlling interest be accounted for as equity transactions and that any retained noncontrolling equity investment upon the deconsolidation of a subsidiary be initially measured at fair value. SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and is to be applied prospectively as of the beginning of the fiscal year in which the statement is applied. The Company will be required to adopt SFAS No. 160 beginning with its 2009 fiscal year. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of the adoption of SFAS No. 160 on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2008 the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities – an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133” (“SFAS No. 161”), which requires that objectives for using derivative instruments be disclosed in terms of underlying risk and accounting designation. The statement requires fair value disclosures of derivative instruments and their gains and losses to be in tabular format, the potential effect on the entity’s liquidity from the credit-risk-related contingent features to be disclosed, and cross-referencing within the footnotes. SFAS No. 161 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. The Company will be required to adopt SFAS No. 161 beginning with its 2009 fiscal year. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of the adoption of SFAS No. 161 on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position APB 14-1, “Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May Be Settled in Cash Upon Conversion (Including Partial Cash Settlement)” (FSP APB 14-1), which establishes bifurcation accounting for convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion. FSP APB 14-1 states that such instruments should be valued without the conversions feature and should be classified as debt and that the remaining proceeds should be recorded as equity to represent the cash settlement option. For instruments within the scope of FSP APB 14-1, debt discounts shall be amortized over the expected life of a similar liability that does not have an associated equity component. Amortization of the debt discount will result in increased interest expense in the statement of operations. FSP APB 14-1 will also yield lower earnings per share dilution than typical convertible bonds. FSP APB 14-1 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The Company will be required to adopt FSP APB 14-1 beginning with its 2009 fiscal year, and early adoption is not permitted. FSP APB 14-1 must be applied retrospectively to all periods presented for any instrument within the scope of FSP APB 14-1 that was outstanding during any of the periods presented. FSP APB 14-1 changes the accounting treatment for the Company’s 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes, and will increase the Company’s non-cash interest expense for its past and future reporting periods. In addition, it will reduce the Company’s long-term debt and increase the Company’s stockholders’ equity for past reporting periods. The Company is currently evaluating the full impact of FSP APB 14-1 on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2008 the FASB issues SFAS No. 162, “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles”(“SFAS No. 162”), which identifies a consistent framework for selecting accounting principles to be used in preparing financial statements for nongovernmental entities that are presented in conformity with United States GAAP. The current GAAP hierarchy was criticized due to its complexity, ranking position of FASB Statements of Financial Accounting Concepts, and the fact that it is directed at auditors rather than entities. SFAS No. 162 is effective November 15, 2008. The FASB does not expect that SFAS No. 162 will cause a change in current practice, and the Company does not believe that SFAS No. 162 will have an impact on its financial statements, financial position, and results of operations or cash flows.

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

This discussion contains forward-looking statements. Refer to “Cautionary Information about Forward-Looking Statements” at the end of this item for an explanation of these types of statements.

Overview of the Company

General Overview

We are an independent energy company focused on the exploration, exploitation, development, acquisition, and production of natural gas and crude oil in the United States. Our recurring revenues and cash flows are generated almost entirely from the sale of produced natural gas and crude oil. Our oil and gas reserves and operations are located primarily in the following areas:

· Various Rocky Mountain basins, including the Williston, Big Horn, Wind River, Powder River, and Greater Green River Basins

· The Anadarko and Arkoma basins of the Mid-Continent

· The Permian Basin

· East Texas and North Louisiana

· The greater Maverick Basin in South Texas

· The onshore Gulf Coast and offshore Gulf of Mexico

We have developed a balanced and diverse portfolio of proved reserves, development drilling opportunities, and unconventional resource projects.

Our primary objective is growing our net asset value per share. Over the long term we believe that growing net asset value per share leads to superior stock price performance. A focus on net asset value per share provides us the flexibility to pursue a variety of projects that we believe will create value. We also believe that our regional diversity and the balance between oil and natural gas in our reserves are advantages we can leverage to build value for our stockholders.

Financial Standing and Liquidity

During and subsequent to the third quarter of 2008, specific issues related to the financial sector have rippled through the broader economy. The failure or takeovers of several large financial institutions has adversely impacted the wider equity, debt, and credit markets. Financial standing and liquidity have become increasingly important as concerns have been raised regarding the pace of drilling activity in the exploration and production industry and the ability of companies to fund their planned activity. In addition, fears of global recession have resulted in a significant decline in oil and natural gas prices. Our planned exploration and production capital expenditures budget of $758 million for 2008 is expected to be near our discretionary cash flow for the year. Moreover, we are currently in the process of budgeting for our 2009 exploration and development program, and we expect that program will be at or within our discretionary cash flow for 2009. Accordingly, we do not currently expect to require additional amounts of financing to execute our plans for the remainder of 2008 or during 2009, and we do not anticipate accessing the equity or public debt markets for the remainder of 2008 or during 2009. We have spent $83.4 million on acquisitions and $77.2 million for share repurchases in 2008. However, these have largely been offset by divestitures of non-strategic properties that have provided $155.2 million in proceeds.

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We continue to believe we have adequate liquidity available to us through our credit facility. On October 1, 2008, the lending group redetermined our reserve-backed borrowing base under the credit facility at an amount of $1.4 billion. Based on our expected needs, we have elected a $500 million commitment amount. These terms are identical to the terms which were in place in the previous six months prior to the redetermination. We had $170.0 million and $198.0 million, respectively, drawn on the credit facility at September 30, 2008, and October 28, 2008. Management believes that the current commitment is sufficient and that if necessary we could request a higher commitment amount from the lending group, although it would likely be at different terms and interest rates than are currently in place. To date, we have experienced no issues drawing upon our credit facility and all eleven participating banks have continued to fund. No individual bank participating in the credit facility represents more than 11 percent of the lending commitments under the credit facility. We are monitoring the borrowing environment closely and have frequent discussions with the lending group to ensure we are aware of the latest developments. One of the co-lead banks in the credit facility, Wachovia, has agreed to be acquired by the other co-lead bank, Wells Fargo. The transaction is expected to close by year-end, but is not anticipated to result in any changes to the terms of our credit facility.

Oil and Gas Prices

Oil and natural gas prices reached significant highs during June and early July of 2008 and have declined significantly since that time. The results of our operations and financial condition are significantly affected by oil and natural gas commodity prices, which can fluctuate dramatically. We sell a majority of our natural gas under contracts that use first of the month index pricing, which means that gas produced in that month is sold at the first of the month price regardless of the spot price on the day the gas is produced. Our crude oil is sold using contracts that pay us the average of either the NYMEX West Texas Intermediate daily settlement or the average of alternative posted prices for the periods in which the crude oil is produced, adjusted for quality, transportation, and location differentials. The following table is a summary of commodity price data for the third and second quarters of 2008 and the third quarter of 2007.

	For the Three Months Ended
	September 30, 2008		June 30, 2008		September 30, 2007

Crude Oil (per Bbl):
NYMEX price	$	117.98	$	123.98	$	75.38
Realized price, before the effects of hedging	$	111.97	$	120.20	$	71.68
Net realized price, including the effects of hedging	$	83.30	$	88.40	$	67.56

Natural Gas (per Mcf):
NYMEX price	$	10.09	$	10.80	$	6.13
Realized price, before the effects of hedging	$	9.96	$	10.83	$	5.98
Net realized price, including the effects of hedging	$	9.51	$	9.97	$	7.03

Average quarterly NYMEX crude oil prices decreased five percent from the second quarter of 2008 to the third quarter of 2008 from $123.98 per barrel to $117.98 per barrel. The price of crude oil is decreasing as a result of a forecasted decrease in global demand, which is a consequence of a broader economic slowdown stemming from the financial turmoil that has taken place in recent months. The 36-month forward strip price for crude oil at the end of the second quarter of 2008 was $139.34 per barrel. At the end of the third quarter of 2008, the 36-month forward contract had decreased by 26 percent to $103.72 per barrel. By October 28, 2008, the 36-month forward strip price had declined an additional 32 percent to $70.40 per barrel.

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Average quarterly NYMEX natural gas prices decreased seven percent from the second quarter of 2008 to the third quarter of 2008 from $10.80 per Mcf to $10.09 per Mcf. The 36-month forward strip price for natural gas at the end of the second quarter of 2008 was $11.91 per MMBtu. At the end of the third quarter of 2008, the 36-month forward contract had decreased 30 percent to $8.36 per MMBtu. As of October 28, 2008, the 36-month forward strip price had declined an additional 12 percent to $7.39 per MMBtu. Natural gas prices have been pressured downward in recent months as a result of a forecasted decrease in global demand and over concerns of forecasted excess gas supply that will be generated from significant activity in the exploration and production industry, specifically the ramp up in the number of horizontal wells planned in a number of new shale plays across the United States.

While changes in quoted NYMEX oil and Henry Hub natural gas prices are generally used as a basis for comparison within our industry, the price we receive for oil and natural gas is affected by quality, energy content, location, and transportation differential for these products. We refer to this price as our realized price, which excludes the effects of hedging. We are beginning to see wider differentials for both oil and natural gas in recent months in regions that have high levels of industry activity. In particular, differentials for oil in the Williston Basin have been pressured as activity in the area has accelerated in recent months and differentials for natural gas in the Mid-Continent have widened as regional demand has not kept pace with the growth in supply generated by several successful shale plays in the general vicinity. Our realized price is further impacted by the result of our hedging contracts that are settled in the respective periods. We refer to this price as our net realized price. Our net natural gas price realization for the three months ended September 30, 2008, was negatively impacted by $8.1 million of realized hedge losses and our net oil price realization was negatively impacted by $45.4 million of realized hedge losses. On a percentage basis, we currently have hedged more forecasted crude oil production than forecasted natural gas production using a combination of swaps and costless collars.

Effects of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike

During the third quarter of 2008, assets in which we have an interest were impacted by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. We lost the Vermilion 281 producing platform in the Gulf of Mexico and incurred damage to our production facilities in Galveston Bay. The most impactful damage caused by the storm was to power and processing facilities and infrastructure in the Gulf Coast area, causing us to shut-in production throughout the Gulf Coast region. Production from certain Gulf Coast properties continues to be shut-in as of the date of this report. Many of the facilities damaged by these storms are involved in the processing and transporting of natural gas and oil produced in areas other than the Gulf Coast or Gulf of Mexico. As a result, we have experienced production disruptions in the Permian, Mid-Continent, and Gulf Coast regions while damaged facilities were repaired. The overall impact from the recent hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

As mentioned above, the Vermilion 281 production platform was lost in Hurricane Ike. Our net production from Vermilion 281 was approximately 263 MCFED before the storm, and we had an estimated 382 MMCFE of proved reserves as of September 1, 2008. We are in the process of assessing and remediating the damage related to the Vermilion 281 platform. As of the filing date of this report, we estimate that we will incur $26 million associated with the clean up, assessment of damages, and remediation associated with this platform.

Hurricane Ike caused damage to two wells and our production facilities located at Goat Island in Galveston Bay. Restoration is largely dependent on repairs to our transportation, storage, and processing facilities. As of the filing date of this report, we currently estimate that we will incur a net $1 million to rebuild the production facilities.

We also incurred minor damage to outside-operated properties from the hurricanes. Restoration of the remaining shut-in production is largely dependent on repairs to transportation and processing facilities which are owned and operated by other operators and facility owners.

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We maintain insurance that we expect to utilize with regard to the lost platform and repairs to various other properties. Due to the severe damage caused by the hurricane, we currently expect the remediation costs related to the platform and the repairs to various other properties will exceed the maximum insurance policy limit. During the third quarter of 2008, we wrote off the carrying value of the Vermilion 281 platform, as well as the carrying value associated with the production facility assets located at Goat Island. Additionally, we established an accrual for our estimate of the remediation and various other property damage repair costs we expect to incur in excess of our maximum insurance policy limit. As a result, we recorded a $7.0 million loss for the third quarter of 2008, which is included in other expense in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. Any variation between actual and estimated remediation and damage repair costs will impact the final determination of the loss.

Hedging Activities

We have a hedging program that has been built primarily on hedges related to acquisitions where we hedge the first two to five years of an acquisition’s risked production. We also occasionally hedge a portion of our existing forecasted production on a discretionary basis. Taking into account all oil and natural gas production hedge contracts in place through September 30, 2008, we have hedged approximately 9 million Bbls of oil, 64 million MMBtu of natural gas, and 1 million Bbls of natural gas liquids for anticipated future production through the year 2011. No additional hedges have been entered into between September 30, 2008, and the filing date of this report. As of October 28, 2008, the approximate fair value of oil and natural gas derivative contracts designated and qualifying as cash flow hedges under SFAS No. 133 was a net asset balance of $32 million.

Recent events in the financial sector have increased the awareness of potential risks associated with hedge counterparties. As of September 30, 2008, we were in a net liability position with all of the counterparties with whom we hedge. As of October 28, 2008, we are in a net asset position with five of our counterparties and a net liability position with four of our counterparties. We have performed a financial and credit review of those specific counterparties and currently believe we will not have any material issues regarding collectability of any net receivables that may arise in the future. The majority of the counterparties with whom we hedge are also participants in our credit facility. Under this arrangement, these counterparties do not require us to post margin collateral for potential hedging liabilities since they are secured by our oil and natural gas assets and the common stock of our material subsidiaries furnished as collateral under our credit facility. We were not required to post margin with any hedge counterparties as of September 30, 2008, and through the filing date of this report. Refer to Note 8 – Derivative Financial Instruments in Part I, Item 1 of this report for additional information regarding our oil and gas hedges, and see the caption, Summary of oil and gas production hedges in place, later in this section.

Net Profits Plan

Payments made for cash distributions under the Net Profits Plan are recorded as either general and administrative expense or exploration expense. These payments totaled $10.4 million and $45.9 million for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008. The actual cash payments we make are dependent on actual production, realized prices, and operating and capital costs associated with the properties in each individual pool. Actual cash payments will be inherently different from the estimated long-term liability amount. Additional discussion is included in the analysis in the Comparison of Financial Results and Trends sections below. An increasing percentage of the costs associated with payments for the Net Profits Plan are recorded as general and administrative expense compared to exploration expense. This is a function of the normal departure of employees who previously contributed to exploration efforts. We determined that all of the payments to individuals no longer employed by St. Mary should be recorded as general and administrative expense beginning in 2007.

With respect to the accounting estimate of the liability associated with future estimated payments from our Net Profits Plan, we decreased the long-term liability associated with this item to $258.3 million

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as of September 30, 2008, which resulted in a benefit of $34.9 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2008. This decrease is related to a decrease in the estimated future net revenues used to calculate the liability, driven by overall commodity price decreases from the prior quarter. We expect approximately $55 million of cash payments to be made or accrued during 2008. However, it is not possible to predict this with a high degree of certainty due to the sensitivity of the liability to commodity prices and reserve estimates. The Company will not be adding new Net Profits Plan pools prospectively as this compensation program has been replaced with a different long-term incentive compensation program, as described in Note 5 in Part I, Item 1 of this report. Beginning in 2008, regular annual grants from the restricted stock units program and the Net Profits Plan are being replaced with grants of PSAs under our 2006 Equity Plan. The Company will continue to make payments from the existing Net Profits Plan pools and will continue to make prospective adjustments to the long-term Net Profits Plan liability as necessary.

The calculation of the estimated liability associated with the Net Profits Plan requires management to prepare an estimate of future amounts payable from the plan. On a monthly basis, we calculate estimates of the payments to be made for each individual pool. The underlying principal factors for our estimates are forecasted oil and gas production from the properties that comprise each individual pool, price assumptions, cost assumptions, and discount rate. In most cases, the cash flow streams used in these calculations will span more than 20 years. Commodity prices impact the calculated cash flows during periods after payout and can dramatically affect the timing of the estimated date of payout of the individual pools. Our commodity price assumptions are currently determined from a rolling average of actual prices realized over the prior 24 months together with adjusted NYMEX strip prices for the ensuing 12 months for a total of 36 months of data. This average is supplemented by including the effect of anticipated hedge prices for the percentage of forecasted hedged production in the relevant future periods.

The calculation of the estimated liability for the Net Profits Plan is highly sensitive to our price estimates and discount rate assumption. For example, if we changed the commodity prices in our calculation by five percent, the liability recorded on the balance sheet at September 30, 2008, would differ by approximately $30 million. A one percentage point decrease in the discount rate would result in an increase to the liability of approximately $15 million, while a one percentage point increase in the discount rate would result in a decrease to the liability of approximately $14 million. We frequently re-evaluate the assumptions used in our calculation and consider the possible impacts stemming from the current market environment including current and future oil and gas prices, discount rates, and overall market conditions.

Performance Share Plan

During the fourth quarter of 2007 we made the decision to grant PSAs in place of RSUs as the primary form of long-term equity incentive compensation for certain employees. Our Board of Directors approved an amendment and restatement of the 2006 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan on March 28, 2008, and the amended plan was approved by stockholders at our annual stockholders’ meeting on May 21, 2008. We granted the first award of performance shares on August 1, 2008. The fair value associated with this grant equaled $12.3 million. PSAs provide target awards that are earned over a three-year performance period. We believe this new long-term incentive plan is more transparent and will be more widely understood by our employees and our stockholders. Target awards will be made at the beginning of the performance measurement period and will have a back-end weighted vesting schedule and a multiplier factor based on total stockholder return (TSR) and performance relative to our peers. At the conclusion of the three-year performance measurement period, our TSR will be measured and compared against a pre-established performance index consisting of companies similar to us. Depending on the results of that measurement, the actual award made to a participant will be between zero and two times the target award. The only market or performance condition that results in an early payout determination is a change of control. This plan and the cash bonus plan will be widely utilized within the organization, ensuring that the performance of all eligible employees and executives is measured against consistent performance conditions.

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