Question
ConocoPhillipss (COP) Natural Gas and Gas Products Department (NG&GP) manages all of the companys activities relating to the gathering, purchasing, processing, and sale of natural
ConocoPhillipss (COP) Natural Gas and Gas Products Department (NG&GP) manages all of the companys activities relating to the gathering, purchasing, processing, and sale of natural gas and gas liquids. Chris Simpkins, a recent graduate, was recently hired as a financial analyst to support the NG&GP department. One of Chriss first assignments was to review the projections for a proposed gas purchase project that were made by one of the firms field engineers. The cash flow projections for the ten-year project are found in Exhibit P3-12.1 and are based on the following assumptions and projections:
The investment required for the project consists of two components: First, there is the cost to lay the natural gas pipeline of $1,200,000. The project is expected to have a ten-year life and is depreciated over seven years using a seven-year modified accelerated cost recovery system (MACRS).20 Second, the project will require a $145,000 increase in net working capital that is assumed to be recovered at the termination of the project.
20 Modified accelerated cost recovery system (MACRS) uses a shorter depreciable life for assets, thus giving businesses larger tax deductions and cash flows in the earlier years of the project life relative to those of straight-line depreciation.
The well is expected to produce 900,000 cubic feet (900 MCF) per day of natural gas during year 1 and then decline over the remaining nine-year period (365 operating days per year). The natural gas production is expected to decline at a rate of 20% per year after year 1.
In addition to the initial expenditures for the pipeline and additional working capital, two more sets of expenses will be incurred. First, a fee consisting of 50% of the wellhead natural gas market price must be paid to the producer. In other words, if the wellhead market price is $6.00 per MCF, 50% (or $3.00 per MCF) is paid to the producer. Second, gas processing and compression costs of $0.65 per MCF will be incurred.
There is no salvage value for the equipment at the end of the natural gas lease.
The natural gas price at the wellhead is currently $6.00 per MCF.
The cost of capital for this project is 15%.
Year | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Investment | $ 1,200,000 | |||
Increase in NWC | 145,000 | |||
MACRS depreciation rate (7 years) | 0.1429 | 0.2449 | 0.1749 | |
Natural gas wellhead price (per MCF) | $ 6.00 | $ 6.00 | $ 6.00 | |
Volume (MCF/day) | 900 | 720 | 576 | |
Days per year | 365 | |||
Fee to producer of natural gas (per MCF) | $ 3.00 | $ 3.00 | $ 3.00 | |
Compression and processing costs (per MCF) | 0.65 | 0.65 | 0.65 | |
Cash Flow Calculations | ||||
Natural gas wellhead price revenue | $ 1,971,000 | $ 1,576,800 | $1,261,400 | |
Lease fee expense | 985,500 | 788,400 | 630,720 | |
Compression and processing costs | 213,525 | 170,820 | 136,656 | |
Depreciation expenses | 171,480 | 293,880 | 209,880 | |
Net operating profit | 600,495 | 323,700 | 284,184 | |
Less taxes (40%) | (240,198) | (129,480) | (113,674) | |
Net operating profit after tax (NOPAT) | 360,297 | 194,220 | 170,510 | |
Plus depreciation | 171,480 | 293,880 | 209,880 | |
Return of net working capital | ||||
Project free cash flow | $(1,345,000) | $ 531,777 | $ 488,100 | $ 380,390 |
Alternate View
4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0.1249 | 0.0893 | 0.0893 | 0.0893 | 0.0445 | ||
$ 6.00 | $ 6.00 | $ 6.00 | $ 6.00 | $ 6.00 | $ 6.00 | $ 6.00 |
461 | 369 | 295 | 236 | 189 | 151 | 121 |
$ 3.00 | $ 3.00 | $ 3.00 | $ 3.00 | $ 3.00 | $ 3.00 | $ 3.00 |
0.65 | 0.65 | 0.65 | 0.65 | 0.65 | 0.65 | 0.65 |
$1,009,152 | $807,322 | $645,857 | $516,686 | $413,349 | $330,679 | $264,543 |
504,576 | 403,661 | 322,929 | 258,343 | 206,674 | 165,339 | 132,272 |
109,325 | 87,460 | 69,968 | 55,974 | 44,779 | 35,824 | 28,659 |
149,880 | 107,160 | 107,160 | 107,160 | 53,400 | ||
245,371 | 209,041 | 145,801 | 95,209 | 108,495 | 129,516 | 103,613 |
(98,148) | (83,616) | (58,320) | (38,083) | (43,398) | (51,806) | (41,445) |
147,223 | 125,425 | 87,480 | 57,125 | 65,097 | 77,710 | 62,168 |
149,880 | 107,160 | 107,160 | 107,160 | 53,400 | ||
145,000 | ||||||
$ 297,103 | $232,585 | $194,640 | $164,285 | $118,497 | $ 77,710 | $207,168 |
NPV = $280,051
IRR= 22.43%
Question:
Should Chris recommend that the project be undertaken?
Explain your answer. What reservations, if any, should Chris have about recommending the project to his boss?
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