EX-99 16 dex99.htm ENGINEERS' AUDIT LETTER Engineers' Audit Letter

Exhibit 99

January 19, 2011

Mr. Chris Miller

CONSOL Energy Inc.

1000 CONSOL Energy Drive

Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317

Dear Mr. Miller:

In accordance with your request, we have audited the estimates prepared by CONSOL Energy Inc. (CONSOL), as of December 31, 2010, of the proved reserves and future revenue to the CONSOL interest in certain oil and gas properties located in the United States. It is our understanding that the proved reserves estimates shown herein constitute all of the proved reserves owned by CONSOL. We have examined the estimates with respect to reserves quantities, reserves categorization, future producing rates, future net revenue, and the present value of such future net revenue, using the definitions set forth in U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Regulation S-X Rule 4-10(a). The estimates of reserves and future revenue have been prepared in accordance with the definitions and guidelines of the SEC and, with the exception of the exclusion of future income taxes, conform to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 932, Extractive Activities—Oil and Gas. We completed our audit on January 19, 2011. This report has been prepared for CONSOL’s use in filing with the SEC; in our opinion the assumptions, data, methods, and procedures used in the preparation of this report are appropriate for such purpose.

The following table sets forth CONSOL’s estimates of the net reserves and future net revenue, as of December 31, 2010, for the audited properties:

 

     Net Reserves        Future Net Revenue (M$)  

Category

   Oil
(MBBL)
       Gas
(MMCF)
       Total        Present Worth
at 10%
 

Proved Developed Producing

     1,205.9           1,843,263.6           5,081,630.0           2,224,064.3   

Proved Developed Non-Producing

     0.0           80,772.8           260,835.2           129,191.3   

Proved Undeveloped

     0.0           1,800,324.6           3,485,147.5           426,869.1   
                                         

Total Proved

     1,205.9           3,724,361.3           8,827,613.0           2,780,124.3   

Totals may not add because of rounding.

The oil reserves shown include crude oil and condensate. Oil volumes are expressed in thousands of barrels (MBBL); a barrel is equivalent to 42 United States gallons. Gas volumes are expressed in millions of cubic feet (MMCF) at standard temperature and pressure bases. The table following this letter sets forth CONSOL’s estimates of net reserves and future revenue by reserves category.

When compared on an area-by-area basis, some of the estimates of CONSOL are greater and some are less than the estimates of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. (NSAI). However, in our opinion the estimates of CONSOL’s proved reserves and future revenue shown herein are, in the aggregate, reasonable and have been prepared in accordance with the Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE Standards). Additionally, these estimates are within the recommended 10 percent tolerance threshold set forth in the SPE Standards. We are satisfied with the methods and procedures used by CONSOL in preparing the December 31, 2010, estimates of reserves and


future revenue, and we saw nothing of an unusual nature that would cause us to take exception with the estimates, in the aggregate, as prepared by CONSOL.

The estimates shown herein are for proved reserves. CONSOL’s estimates do not include probable or possible reserves that may exist for these properties, nor do they include any value for undeveloped acreage beyond those tracts for which undeveloped reserves have been estimated. Reserves categorization conveys the relative degree of certainty; reserves subcategorization is based on development and production status. The estimates of reserves and future revenue included herein have not been adjusted for risk.

Prices used by CONSOL are based on the 12-month unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for the period January through December 2010. For oil volumes, the average West Texas Intermediate (Cushing) cash/spot price of $79.43 per barrel is adjusted for quality, transportation fees, and a regional price differential. For gas volumes, the average Henry Hub spot price of $4.376 per MMBTU is adjusted by lease for energy content, transportation fees, and regional price differentials. All prices are held constant throughout the lives of the properties. The average adjusted product prices weighted by production over the remaining lives of the properties are $74.43 per barrel of oil and $4.466 per MCF of gas. CONSOL has included economic projections in the proved developed producing category to account for the incremental income received from certain gas price hedge contracts currently in place.

Lease and well operating costs used by CONSOL are based on historical operating expense records. These costs include the per-well overhead expenses allowed under joint operating agreements along with estimates of costs to be incurred at and below the district and field levels. Headquarters general and administrative overhead expenses of CONSOL are included to the extent that they are covered under joint operating agreements for the operated properties. Lease and well operating costs are held constant throughout the lives of the properties. CONSOL’s estimates of capital costs are included as required for workovers, new development wells, production equipment, and abandonment. The future capital costs are held constant to the date of expenditure.

The reserves shown in this report are estimates only and should not be construed as exact quantities. Proved reserves are those quantities of oil and gas which, by analysis of engineering and geoscience data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible. Estimates of reserves may increase or decrease as a result of market conditions, future operations, changes in regulations, or actual reservoir performance. In addition to the primary economic assumptions discussed herein, estimates of CONSOL and NSAI are based on certain assumptions including, but not limited to, that the properties will be developed consistent with current development plans, that the properties will be operated in a prudent manner, that no governmental regulations or controls will be put in place that would impact the ability of CONSOL to recover the reserves, and that projections of future production will prove consistent with actual performance. If the reserves are recovered, the revenues therefrom and the costs related thereto could be more or less than the estimated amounts. Because of governmental policies and uncertainties of supply and demand, the sales rates, prices received for the reserves, and costs incurred in recovering such reserves may vary from assumptions made while preparing these estimates.

It should be understood that our audit does not constitute a complete reserves study of the audited oil and gas properties. Our audit consisted primarily of substantive testing, wherein we conducted a detailed review of all properties. In the conduct of our audit, we have not independently verified the accuracy and completeness of information and data furnished by CONSOL with respect to ownership interests, oil and gas production, well test data, historical costs of operation and development, product prices, or any agreements relating to current and future operations of the properties and sales of production. However, if in the course of our examination something came to our attention that brought into question the validity or sufficiency of any such information or data, we did not rely on such information or data until we had satisfactorily resolved our questions relating thereto or had independently verified such information or data. Our audit did not include a review of CONSOL’s overall reserves management processes and practices.


We used standard engineering and geoscience methods, or a combination of methods, including performance analysis, volumetric analysis, and analogy, that we considered to be appropriate and necessary to establish the conclusions set forth herein. As in all aspects of oil and gas evaluation, there are uncertainties inherent in the interpretation of engineering and geoscience data; therefore, our conclusions necessarily represent only informed professional judgment.

Supporting data documenting this audit, along with data provided by CONSOL, are on file in our office. The technical persons responsible for conducting this audit meet the requirements regarding qualifications, independence, objectivity, and confidentiality set forth in the SPE Standards. We are independent petroleum engineers, geologists, geophysicists, and petrophysicists; we do not own an interest in these properties nor are we employed on a contingent basis.

 

    Sincerely,
   

NETHERLAND, SEWELL & ASSOCIATES, INC.

Texas Registered Engineering Firm F-002699

     

By:

  /s/ C.H. (Scott) Rees III
        C.H. (Scott) Rees III, P.E.
        Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
   
By:   /s/ Richard B. Talley, Jr.    

By:

  /s/ David E. Nice
  Richard B. Talley, Jr., P.E. 102425       David E. Nice, P.G. 346
  Vice President       Vice President
Date Signed: January 19, 2011     Date Signed: January 19, 2011

RBT:SBG


SUMMARY OF NET RESERVES AND FUTURE REVENUE

CONSOL ENERGY INC. INTEREST

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2010

 

     Net Reserves      Future
Gross
Revenue
(M$)
     Operating
Expense
(M$)
     Production
Tax
(M$)
     Ad  Valorem
Tax
(M$)
     Investment
Including

Abandonment
(M$)
     Future Net Revenue(M$)  

Category

   Oil
(MBBL)
     Gas
(MMCF)
                    Total      Discounted
At 10%
 

Proved Developed Producing

     1,205.9         1,843,263.6         8,148,658.7         2,584,177.3         239,174.2         74,576.8         266,342.3         4,984,010.7         2,134,339.8   

Gas Contract Revenue

     0.0         0.0         97,619.3         0.0         0.0         0.0         0.0         97,619.3         89,724.5   
                                                                                

Total Proved Developed Producing

     1,205.9         1,843,263.6         8,246,278.0         2,584,177.3         239,174.2         74,576.8         266,342.3         5,081,630.0         2,224,064.3   

Proved Developed Non-Producing

     0.0         80,772.8         364,268.3         91,211.2         7,285.5         1,726.4         3,210.0         260,835.2         129,191.3   

Proved Undeveloped

     0.0         1,800,324.6         8,113,249.0         1,974,240.4         160,077.2         43,093.9         2,450,690.3         3,485,147.5         426,869.1   
                                                                                

Total Proved

     1,205.9         3,724,361.3         16,723,795.0         4,649,628.5         406,537.0         119,397.1         2,720,242.3         8,827,613.0         2,780,124.3   

Totals may not add because of rounding.