Apco Reports Net Income for 2010

TULSA, Okla., March 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Apco Oil and Gas International Inc. (Nasdaq: APAGF) today announced that it generated net income attributable to Apco of $25.8 million, or $0.88 cents per share in 2010, compared with net income of $23.5 million, or $0.80 cents per share in 2009.

Higher average sales prices and greater equity income from Argentine investments in 2010 led to the increase in net income compared with 2009.  These favorable variances were partially offset by greater costs and operating expenses and higher income tax expense.  

Compared with 2009, total operating revenues increased by $15.1 million. The increase in operating revenues was primarily the result of higher average sales prices during 2010. A 3 percent increase in total sales volumes of 2.5 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) for the year applicable to Apco's consolidated interest also contributed to higher operating revenues in 2010.

Total costs and operating expenses for the year increased by $13.1 million, primarily from higher production costs including depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, greater exploration expense, and higher provincial production taxes.

In 2010, Apco increased its exploration activity including significant seismic acquisition investments in Argentina and Colombia compared with minimal activity in 2009.  The increase in exploration activity resulted in Apco incurring $5.1 million more exploration expense than in the prior year.  

"Our core asset in the Neuquen basin continued to deliver solid development and exploration results in 2010, while the improved commodity price environment has enabled us to increase exploration activities to grow our company outside of our core area," said Ralph Hill, Apco's chairman and chief executive officer.

"We're very pleased with our 2010 exploration discoveries in the Coiron Amargo exploration block – also located in the Neuquen basin – and we hope to continue that success as we explore in that block and in Colombia in 2011," Hill added.

In addition to higher operating income in 2010, Apco experienced higher equity income from its 40.803 percent interest in Petrolera Entre Lomas S.A. (Petrolera).  For 2010, equity income from Argentine investments increased by $2.0 million compared with 2009.  

Petrolera's net income was greater primarily due to higher average sales prices for all of its products.  These favorable variances were partially offset by greater production costs attributable to operations in the Entre Lomas, Bajada del Palo and Charco del Palenque concessions.  

Total sales volumes applicable to Apco's equity interest in Petrolera were 2.1 million BOE, reflecting an increase compared to 2.0 million BOE in 2009.

2010 and 2011 Capital Programs

Capital expenditures during 2010 were $33.8 million.  The major component of Apco's capital program was development drilling in its Neuquen, Austral and Northwest basin properties. Additional activities included exploration drilling in the Agua Amarga and Coiron Amargo exploration permits.

Exploration drilling in the Agua Amarga exploration permit resulted in a successful hydrocarbon discovery on the Jarilla Quemada prospect. A long-term production test will be required to evaluate its full potential.  

In December, Apco announced that the first two wells drilled under the farm-in agreement in the Coiron Amargo exploration permit were successful exploration discoveries and that Apco exercised its option to drill an additional two wells in 2011 to increase its interest to a total of 45 percent.  

"The Coiron Amargo exploration block in the Neuquen basin – adjacent to our core area – was a natural fit to leverage our experience in the basin and successfully position our company for the future," said Thomas Bueno, Apco's president and chief operating officer.

"After our expenditure commitment to investigate the Tordillo formation is complete, we and our partners also plan to investigate the Vaca Muerta shale in the future.

"In 2011, our capital program is designed to continue developing our core area, while increasing our exploration efforts in Argentina.

"In Colombia, we are optimistic about our drilling prospects for the year, given the encouraging results of exploration wells drilled by our competitors in the Llanos basin. We continue to make progress with the interpretations of seismic data acquired in 2010 and anticipate spudding our first exploration well in Colombia by mid-2011," Bueno added.

About Apco Oil and Gas International Inc. (NASDAQ: APAGF)

Apco Oil and Gas International Inc. is an international oil and gas exploration and production company with interests in eight oil and gas concessions and two exploration permits in Argentina, and three exploration and production contracts in Colombia. More information is available at www.apcooilandgas.com. Go to http://www.b2i.us/irpass.asp?BzID=1671&to=ea&s=0 to join our e-mail list.

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• Availability of supplies (including the uncertainties inherent in assessing, estimating, acquiring and developing future oil and natural gas reserves), market demand, volatility of prices, and the availability and cost of capital;
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In addition to causing our actual results to differ, the factors listed above may cause our intentions to change from those statements of intention set forth in this announcement. Such changes in our intentions may also cause our results to differ. We may change our intentions, at any time and without notice, based upon changes in such factors, our assumptions, or otherwise. Investors are urged to closely consider the disclosures and risk factors in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q available from our offices or from our website at www.apcooilandgas.com.

SOURCE Apco Oil and Gas International