Evolution Petroleum Reports Fiscal 2010 First Quarter Operational and Financial Results

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Thu Nov 12, 2009 6:15am EST

Evolution Petroleum Reports Fiscal 2010 First Quarter Operational and
Financial Results
-- Production increases by 11% sequentially







HOUSTON, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Evolution Petroleum Corporation
(NYSE Amex : EPM)  today reported financial and operating results for the
three months ended September 30, 2009, the first quarter of the Company's
fiscal year ("Q1-10"). 

Oil and gas volumes in Q1-10 increased 3% to 35,004 barrels of oil equivalent
("BOE"), or 380 BOE per day, compared to the three months ended September 30,
2008 ("Q1-09"). Revenues in Q1-10 were $1.2 million compared to $2.9 million
for Q1-09, due to a 61% decline in blended oil and gas prices from $85.51 per
BOE to $33.43 per BOE, partially offset by the increased sales volumes. The
increase in volumes was the result of drilling and work-over operations in the
Giddings Field in central Texas, primarily the drilling of two re-entry wells
in January 2009.  

Sequentially compared to Q4-09, volumes were 11% higher and revenues 19%
higher for Q1-10, in large part due to lower natural gas production in Q4-09
resulting from problems with the gas purchaser's compressor serving the
company's most significant well, the Pearson. That issue has been corrected,
returning the well to a normal production profile for most of the quarter. 
The sequential revenue increase was also due to a 7% improvement in product
prices realized in Q1-10 versus Q4-09.  

Net loss in Q1-10 was $0.7 million, or $(0.03) per share, compared to net
income in Q1-09 of $148,437, or $0.01 per diluted share.  Results for both
periods included $0.62 million and $0.64 million, respectively, in non-cash
depreciation, depletion and amortization, plus non-cash stock-based
compensation expense of approximately $0.39 million and $0.52 million charged
in Q1-10 and Q1-09, respectively.  Cash flows from operations were $324,250
during Q1-10 compared to $2.2 million during Q1-09.

Working capital was $6.6 million on September 30, 2009, as compared to $7.6
million at June 30, 2009.  The $1.0 million decrease was primarily due to
investments of $1.1 million in oil and natural gas properties.  Working
capital at the end of Q1-10 included $5.1 million of cash, cash equivalents
and short-term certificates of deposit, and $2.1 million of income taxes that
are recoverable through a tax loss carry-back against income taxes paid for
the year ended June 30, 2007.  The company ended the fiscal first quarter with
no outstanding debt.  All capital expenditures during the quarter were funded
from working capital.  

Robert Herlin, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are very
pleased to have reached this important milestone in the development of our
enhanced oil recovery project at Delhi, advancing our 13.6 million net barrels
of probable oil reserves toward production.  The operator announced last week
that the Delta CO2 Pipeline has been completed and fully pressured with CO2,
and that CO2 injection is scheduled to begin by the end of this week.  First
oil production response is expected by mid-calendar 2010." 

Mr. Herlin further added "We initiated field operations in our first Neptune
oil project in the Lopez Field of South Texas by drilling and completing our
first well and drilling to total depth our second well.  We expect first field
production and the drilling and completion of a third well by the end of our
second fiscal quarter.  One of these wells will be utilized for pressure
maintenance through re-injection of produced water. Establishing production
here will not only add oil production, but potentially allow us to upgrade
additional reserves to the proved category.  Furthermore, we increased our net
acreage position in the Lopez Field by 14% to 1,710 net acres on very
favorable terms, potentially adding 10-13 additional drilling locations to our
previous inventory of approximately 100 potential drilling locations."   

All of the Giddings wells appear to have completed their initial period of
steep production declines, and net production increased during the first
quarter to 380 net BOE per day compared to 371 BOE per day in Q1-09. 
Consequently, net production is expected during the second quarter to exhibit
a relatively mild decline.   In particular, the Pearson, the Company's best
well, has stabilized at a productive gross rate of 1.3 MMCFE per day of high
BTU gas that is very close to its initial production rate in January 2009. EPM
also completed a water disposal well in the Giddings Field that is expected to
reduce operating expenses by about $40,000 per month. The approved capital
budget for fiscal 2010 provides for a number of well workovers to maintain or
increase production, several of which are scheduled for the second quarter.

EPM continues to successfully test its proprietary lift technology, which was
first installed in June to demonstrate substantially improved fluid production
in an otherwise fully depleted reservoir.  The Company is installing this
technology on a second EPM well in the Giddings Field and has initiated
discussions to install the technology on third party wells.

EPM is continuing its test program in the shallow Woodford and Caney gas
shales in Wagoner County, Oklahoma.  Initial tests have demonstrated that both
the Woodford and Caney gas shales are productive.  Accordingly, EPM has
scheduled larger hydraulic fracs with the addition of proppant in two wells,
separately testing the Woodford and Caney reservoirs to determine peak initial
production rates and decline profiles.  The results should allow the Company
to design the appropriate development program, facilities and gathering
system. Later in the fiscal year, market conditions permitting, EPM plans to
re-enter a well in its mid-depth project in Haskell County, OK to begin
testing the Woodford and Caney Shale reservoirs between 4,000' and 5,000'
depth.

Production Volumes and Prices:

Net volumes for Q1-10 were 16,441 barrels ("Bbl") of oil, condensate and
natural gas liquids ("NGL") and 111.4 million cubic feet of natural gas
("MMCF"), or 35,004 BOE.  This is an increase of 3% over volumes for Q1-09 of
23,898 Bbls of oil, condensate and NGLs and 61.1 MMCF of natural gas, or
34,089 BOE.   The average realized price of oil fell 46% to $66.46 per barrel
in Q1-10 from $123.03 per barrel in Q1-09, while the average realized price of
NGLs fell 53% in Q1-10 to $32.16 per barrel from $68.29 per barrel in Q1-09. 
The average realized price of natural gas fell 64% to $3.43 per Mcf in Q1-10
versus $9.49 per Mcf in Q1-09.  On a BOE basis, the blended effective price
received declined 61% to $33.43 in Q1-10 from $85.51 in Q1-09, due in part to
Q1-10 sales including a higher portion of natural gas.  

Costs and Expenses

Lease operating expenses ("LOE"), including production severance taxes, for
Q1-10 were declined 9% to $0.38 million ($10.95 per BOE) compared to $0.42
million ($12.38 per BOE) for Q1-09, due primarily to lower production taxes. 
Depreciation, Depletion & Amortization Expense ("DD&A") was $0.62 million
($17.17 per BOE) for Q1-10 compared to $0.64 million ($18.63 per BOE) in
Q1-09, due primarily to a reduction in projected capital expenditures
associated with proved undeveloped locations that more than offset reduced
proved reserves resulting from lower gas prices reported in the July 1, 2009
reserves report. Going forward, LOE should reflect the cost savings from the
recently completed water disposal well in the Giddings Field, partially offset
by the operating costs of new wells in the Lopez Field and in Wagoner County,
OK.

General and administrative ("G&A") expenses declined to $1.3 million for
Q1-10, as compared to $1.5 million for Q1-09, due to a decrease in non-cash
stock-based compensation expense, which was $0.39 million (31% of total G&A)
and $0.52 million (36% of total G&A) for Q1-10 and Q1-09, respectively, and a
15% reduction in full-time employees.  Settlement of litigation related to the
Delhi Field during Q4-09 should positively impact G&A expenses going forward.

Conference Call

Evolution Petroleum will host a conference call today at 11:00 a.m. Eastern
Time (10:00 a.m. Central) to discuss its fiscal first quarter 2010 results. To
access the call, please dial 480-629-9820 and ask for the Evolution Petroleum
call at least 10 minutes prior to the start time. The conference call will
also be broadcast live via the Internet and can be accessed through the
investor relations section of Evolution's corporate website,
www.evolutionpetroleum.com, where it will also be archived for replay. A
telephonic replay of the conference call will be available until November 19,
2009 and may be accessed by calling 303-590-3030 and using the pass code
4181633#.  For more information, please contact Donna Washburn at DRG&E at
(713) 529-6000 or email at dmw@drg-e.com.

About Evolution Petroleum

Evolution Petroleum Corporation (http://www.evolutionpetroleum.com) acquires
known, onshore oil and gas resources and applies conventional and specialized
technology to accelerate production and develop incremental reserves and
value.  The Company is well positioned to continue its development projects in
CO2 based EOR, bypassed resources and low cost shale gas. Principal assets as
of July 1, 2009 include 3.9 MMBOE of proved and probable reserves in the
Giddings Field of Central Texas, 0.5 MMBO of proved and unproved reserves with
90+ additional locations in South Texas, 13.6 MMBO of probable reserves in the
Delhi CO2-EOR project in northeast Louisiana, 17,600 net acres of leases in
shallow gas shale in Eastern Oklahoma and our proprietary artificial lift
technology.  

Additional information, including the Company's annual report on Form 10-K and
its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, can be accessed on its website.

Cautionary Statement 
All statements contained in this press release regarding potential results and
future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements that
involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such
statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events
could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company
undertakes no obligation to update or review any forward-looking statement,
whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our
expectations include, but are not limited to, those factors that are disclosed
under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in our documents filed from
time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and
other regulatory authorities. Statements regarding our ability to complete
transactions, successfully apply technology applications in the re-development
of oil and gas fields, realize future volumes, realize success in our drilling
and development activity, prices, future revenues and income and cash flows
and other statements that are not historical facts contain predictions,
estimates and other forward- looking statements. Although the Company believes
that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no
assurance that its goals will be achieved and these statements will prove to
be accurate. Important factors could cause actual results to differ materially
from those included in the forward-looking statements.


Tables to Follow   -


                  Evolution Petroleum Corporation and Subsidiaries
                       Consolidated Statements of Operations
                                   (Unaudited)




                                                Three Months Ended
                                                   September 30,
                                                ------------------
                                              2009              2008
                                              ----              ----
    Revenues
     Crude oil                            $503,122        $1,579,070
     Natural gas liquids                   285,311           755,445
     Natural gas                           381,594           580,471
                                           -------           -------
      Total revenues                     1,170,027         2,914,986
                                         ---------         ---------

    Operating Costs
     Lease operating expenses              364,846           335,904
     Production taxes                       18,367            85,996
     Depreciation, depletion and
      amortization                         617,757           644,882
     Accretion of asset retirement
      obligations                           14,338             5,737
     General and administrative
      expenses *                         1,253,116         1,464,840
                                         ---------         ---------
      Total operating costs              2,268,424         2,537,359
                                         ---------         ---------

    (Loss) income from operations       (1,098,397)          377,627

    Other income
     Interest income                        15,224            73,646
                                            ------            ------

    Net (loss) income before
     income tax benefit
     (provision)                        (1,083,173)          451,273

    Income tax benefit
     (provision)                           378,348          (302,836)
                                           -------          --------

    Net (loss) income                    $(704,825)         $148,437
                                         =========          ========

    (Loss) earnings per common
     share
    Basic and Diluted                       $(0.03)            $0.01
                                            ======             =====

    Weighted average number of
     common shares
     Basic                              26,646,022        26,892,311
     Diluted                            26,646,022        29,254,273

    *General and administrative expenses for the year ended September 30, 2009
    and 2008 included non cash stock-based compensation expense of $391,636
    and $523,725, respectively.





                    Evolution Petroleum Corporation and Subsidiaries
                              Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                     (Unaudited)



                                          September 30,        June 30,
                                              2009               2009
                                          ------------       ------------
                Assets
    Current assets
     Cash and cash equivalents            $2,973,314         $3,891,764
     Certificates of deposit               2,166,359          2,059,147
     Receivables
     Oil and natural gas sales               510,063            532,318
     Income taxes                                  -                  -
     Other                                   100,110            172,314
    Income taxes recoverable               2,094,628          2,055,802
    Prepaid expenses and other
     current assets                          120,690            162,441
                                             -------            -------
      Total current assets                 7,965,164          8,873,786
                                           ---------          ---------

    Property and equipment, net
     of depreciation, depletion,
     and amortization
     Oil and natural gas
      properties - full-cost
      method of accounting, of
      which $10,163,615 and
      $9,819,465 at September 30,
      2009 and June 30, 2009,
      respectively, were excluded
      from amortization.                  29,322,754         28,751,178
     Other property and equipment            134,070            150,697
                                             -------            -------
      Total property and equipment        29,456,824         28,901,875
                                          ----------         ----------

    Other assets                              54,566             53,162
                                              ------             ------

      Total assets                       $37,476,554        $37,828,823
                                         ===========        ===========

       Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
    Current liabilities
     Accounts payable                       $799,853           $690,639
     Accrued compensation                     45,319             71,427
     Royalties payable                       253,819            218,477
     State taxes payable                     157,736            157,736
     Other current liabilities               102,558             99,625
                                             -------             ------
      Total current liabilities            1,359,285          1,237,904

    Long term liabilities
     Deferred income taxes                 3,381,795          3,721,317
     Asset retirement obligations            737,827            664,710
     Stock bonus                                   -            370,440
     Accrued compensation                    105,000                  -
     Deferred rent                            78,802             77,858
                                              ------             ------

      Total liabilities                    5,662,709          6,072,229
                                           ---------          ---------

    Commitments and contingencies

    Stockholders' equity
     Preferred stock, par value
      $0.001; 5,000,000 shares
      authorized; no shares issued
      or outstanding                               -                  -
     Common stock; par value
      $0.001; 100,000,000 shares
      authorized; issued
      27,781,338 shares and
      27,318,517 shares as of
      September 30, 2009 and June
      30, 2009, respectively;
      outstanding 26,993,138
      shares and 26,530,317 shares
      as of September 30, 2009 and
      June 30, 2009, respectively.            27,781             27,318
     Additional paid-in capital           17,186,481         16,424,868
     Retained earnings                    15,481,605         16,186,430
                                          ----------         ----------
                                          32,695,867         32,638,616
    Treasury stock, at cost,
     788,200 shares as of
     September 30, 2009 and June
     30, 2009.                              (882,022)          (882,022)
                                            --------           --------

      Total stockholders' equity          31,813,845         31,756,594
                                          ----------         ----------

      Total liabilities and
       stockholders' equity              $37,476,554        $37,828,823
                                         ===========        ===========






                   Evolution Petroleum Corporation and Subsidiaries
                        Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow
                                    (Unaudited)


                                                Three Months Ended
                                                  September 30,
                                                ------------------
                                               2009              2008
                                               ----              ----
    Cash flows from operating
     activities
     Net (loss) income                     (704,825)         $148,437
     Adjustments to reconcile net
      (loss) income to net cash
      provided by operating
      activities:
      Depreciation, depletion and
       amortization                         617,757           644,882
      Stock-based compensation              391,636           523,725
      Accretion of asset retirement
       obligations                           14,338             5,737
      Deferred income taxes                (339,522)          302,836
      Deferred rent                             944               944
      Other                                 103,596             1,559
      Changes in operating assets
       and liabilities
       Receivables from oil and
        natural gas sales                    22,256         1,167,557
       Receivables from income taxes
        and other                            33,378           265,798
       Prepaid expenses and other
        current assets                       41,751          (238,650)
       Accounts payable and accrued
        expenses                            107,600          (466,478)
       Royalties payable                     35,342          (135,857)
                                             ------          --------
        Net cash provided by
         operating activities               324,250         2,220,490
                                            -------         ---------

    Cash flows from investing
     activities
     Development of oil and
      natural gas properties             (1,090,298)       (2,836,572)
     Acquisitions of oil and
      natural gas properties                (45,190)       (1,111,640)
     Capital expenditures for
      other equipment                             -           (25,509)
     Purchases of certificates of
      deposit                              (107,212)                -
                                           --------               ---
      Net cash used in investing
       activities                        (1,242,700)       (3,973,721)
                                         ----------        ----------

    Cash flows from financing
     activities
     Proceeds from the issuance of
      common stock                                -                 -
                                                ---               ---
      Net cash provided by
       financing activities                       -                 -
                                                ---               ---

    Net decrease in cash and cash
     equivalents                           (918,450)       (1,753,231)

    Cash and cash equivalents,
     beginning of period                  3,891,764        11,272,280
                                          ---------        ----------

    Cash and cash equivalents,
     end of period                       $2,973,314        $9,519,049
                                         ==========        ==========






Our supplemental disclosures of cash flow information for the three months
ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 are as follows:

                                                Three Months Ended
                                                   September 30,
                                                ------------------
                                             2009               2008
                                             ----               ----
    Income taxes paid                    $      -            $15,000

    Income tax refunds received          $      -            322,869

    Non-cash transactions
     Increase (decrease) in
      accounts payable used to
      acquire oil and natural gas
      leasehold interests and
      develop oil and natural gas
      properties:                        $(21,561)       $(1,509,789)
     Oil and natural gas
      properties incurred through
      recognition of asset
      retirement
      obligations:                        $58,779           $107,751
     Common stock issued in lieu
      of a portion of 2008 cash
      bonus accrued at June 30, 2008:    $      -           $168,462








                 Evolution Petroleum Corporation and Subsidiaries
                           Condensed Operating Data
                                (Unaudited)


                         Three Months Ended
                            September 30
                         ------------------                       %
                             2009       2008       Variance     change
                             ----       ----       --------     ------

    Sales Volumes, net
     to the Company:

    Crude oil (Bbl)         7,570     12,835        (5,265)     (41) %

    NGLs (Bbl)              8,871     11,063         (2192)     (20) %

    Natural gas (Mcf)     111,380     61,146        50,234       82  %
                          -------     ------        ------       --
    Crude oil, NGLs
     and natural gas
     (BOE)                 35,004     34,089           915        3  %

    Revenue data:

    Crude oil            $503,122 $1,579,070   $(1,075,948)     (68) %

    NGLs                  285,311    755,445      (470,134)     (62) %

    Natural gas           381,594    580,471      (198,877)     (34) %
                          -------    -------      --------     ----
    Total revenues     $1,170,027 $2,914,986   $(1,744,959)     (60) %

    Average price:
    Crude oil (per
     Bbl)                  $66.46    $123.03       $(56.57)     (46) %
    NGLs (per Bbl)          32.16      68.29        (36.13)     (53) %
    Natural gas (per
     Mcf)                    3.43       9.49         (6.06)     (64) %
                             ----       ----         -----     ----
     Crude oil, NGLs
      and natural gas
      (per BOE)            $33.43     $85.51       $(52.08)     (61) %

    Expenses (per BOE)
    Lease operating
     expenses and
     production taxes      $10.95     $12.38        $(1.43)     (12) %
    Depletion expense
     - oil and natural
     gas properties(a)     $17.17     $18.63        $(1.46)      (8) %

    (a) Excludes depreciation of office equipment, furniture and fixtures,
        and other of $16,627 and $9,824, for the three months ended
        September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.




    Company Contact:
    Sterling McDonald, VP & CFO
    (713) 935-0122
    smcdonald@evolutionpetroleum.com

    Lisa Elliott / lelliott@drg-e.com
    Jack Lascar / jlascar@drg-e.com
    DRG&E / 713-529-6600





SOURCE  Evolution Petroleum Corporation

Sterling McDonald, VP & CFO, Evolution Petroleum Corporation, +1-713-935-0122,
smcdonald@evolutionpetroleum.com; Lisa Elliott, lelliott@drg-e.com, Jack
Lascar, jlascar@drg-e.com, both of  DRG&E,  +1-713-529-6600
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