UNITED STATES


UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Washington, D.C.  20549


FORM 10-Q


[X]

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For the quarter ended September 30, 2008


[  ]

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For the transition period from ___ to ___


QUESTAR CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


STATE OF UTAH

001-08796

87-0407509

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

Commission File No.

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)


180 East 100 South Street, P.O. Box 45433 Salt Lake City, Utah 84145-0433

(Address of principal executive offices)


Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (801) 324-5699


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 [X]     No [  ]


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


Large accelerated filer

[X]

Accelerated filer

[   ]

Non-accelerated filer

[   ]   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company

[   ]


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

Yes [  ]     No [X]


On September 30, 2008, 173,434,716 shares of the registrant’s common stock, without par value, were outstanding.






Questar Corporation

Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2008


TABLE OF CONTENTS



Page


PART I.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION


ITEM 1.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

3


Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended

  September 30, 2008 and 2007

3


Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2008

  and December 31, 2007

4


Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended

  September 30, 2008 and 2007

5


Notes Accompanying the Consolidated Financial Statements

6


ITEM 2.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

  RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

12


ITEM 3.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

23


ITEM 4.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

26


PART II.

OTHER INFORMATION


ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS

26


ITEM 2.

UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

26


ITEM 6.

EXHIBITS

27


Signatures

27



Questar 2008 Form 10-Q

2



PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION


ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.


QUESTAR CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)


 

3 Months Ended Sept. 30,

9 Months Ended Sept. 30,

 

2008

2007

2008

2007

 

 

Restated

 

Restated

 

(in millions, except per share amounts)

REVENUES 

 

 

 

 

  Market Resources 

$601.0 

$384.6 

$1,789.6 

$1,248.2 

  Questar Pipeline 

43.8 

31.9 

131.8 

94.0 

  Questar Gas 

115.2 

92.7 

664.9 

640.9 

    Total Revenues 

760.0 

509.2 

2,586.3 

1,983.1 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES 

 

 

 

 

  Cost of natural gas and other products sold

     (excluding operating expenses shown separately)

131.2 

101.0 

761.8 

658.1 

  Operating and maintenance 

94.6 

71.5 

276.4 

221.9 

  General and administrative 

32.6 

39.6 

116.6 

118.9 

  Production and other taxes 

47.6 

21.2 

137.7 

78.2 

  Depreciation, depletion and amortization 

126.0 

89.7 

351.9 

273.4 

  Exploration 

7.4 

1.6 

14.7 

6.7 

  Abandonment and impairment 

4.1 

2.3 

20.9 

6.4 

    Total Operating Expenses 

443.5 

326.9 

1,680.0 

1,363.6 

Net gain (loss) from asset sales 

59.0 

(0.2)

62.4 

0.3 

    Operating Income 

375.5 

182.1 

968.7 

619.8 

Interest and other income 

6.7 

3.7 

17.0 

9.6 

Minority interest

(2.4)

 

(6.9)

 

Income from unconsolidated affiliates 

0.9 

2.4 

1.3 

6.8 

Net mark-to-market gain (loss) on basis-only swaps 

(22.5)

9.0 

7.5 

14.2 

Interest expense 

(32.8)

(17.3)

(90.9)

(53.0)

    Income Before Income Taxes 

325.4 

179.9 

896.7 

597.4 

Income taxes 

121.2 

66.6 

334.1 

220.8 

    Net Income 

$204.2 

$113.3 

$562.6 

$ 376.6 

 

 

 

 

 

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE 

 

 

 

 

Basic 

$  1.18 

$   0.66 

$  3.26 

$   2.19 

Diluted 

1.16 

0.64 

3.19 

2.14 

Weighted-Average Common Shares Outstanding 

 

 

 

 

Basic 

172.9 

172.2 

172.7 

171.9 

Diluted 

176.1 

175.9 

176.2 

175.8 

Dividends Per Common Share 

$0.1225 

$0.1225 

$0.3675 

$0.3625 


See notes accompanying the consolidated financial statements



Questar 2008 Form 10-Q

3


QUESTAR CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


 

Sept. 30, 2008

(Unaudited)

Dec. 31, 2007

 

(in millions)

ASSETS

 

 

Current Assets

 

 

  Cash and cash equivalents

 

$      14.2 

  Accounts receivable, net

$    289.5 

339.6 

  Unbilled-gas accounts receivable

17.6 

78.2 

  Fair value of derivative contracts

233.5 

78.1 

  Gas storage

85.4 

66.1 

  Materials and supplies

113.3 

48.9 

  Prepaid expenses and other

53.9 

33.8 

  Purchased-gas adjustment

3.0 

 

    Total Current Assets

796.2 

658.9 

Property, plant and equipment

9,670.4 

7,741.9 

Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

(2,942.0)

(2,643.3)

  Net Property, Plant and Equipment

6,728.4 

5,098.6 

Investment in unconsolidated affiliates

40.5 

52.8 

Goodwill

70.0 

70.7 

Regulatory assets

27.5 

28.4 

Fair value of derivative contracts

60.1 

7.8 

Other noncurrent assets, net

39.4 

27.0 

    Total Assets

$7,762.1 

$5,944.2 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

Current Liabilities

 

 

  Checks outstanding in excess of cash balances

$   14.2 

 

  Short-term debt

55.0 

$   260.6 

  Accounts payable and accrued expenses

578.7 

564.5 

  Fair value of derivative contracts

10.2 

9.3 

  Purchased-gas adjustment

 

58.1 

  Deferred income taxes – current

61.0 

4.9 

  Current portion of long-term debt

58.3 

101.3 

    Total Current Liabilities

777.4 

998.7 

Long-term debt, less current portion

1,995.9 

1,021.2 

Deferred income taxes

1,276.9 

942.4 

Asset retirement obligations

169.6 

149.1 

Pension and postretirement benefits

105.6 

103.5 

Fair value of derivative contracts

10.4 

22.1 

Other long-term liabilities

171.5 

129.3 

Minority interest

30.3 

 

COMMON SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

  Common stock

445.3 

429.3 

  Retained earnings

2,672.8 

2,173.9 

  Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

106.4 

(25.3)

    Total Common Shareholders’ Equity

3,224.5 

2,577.9 

    Total Liabilities and Common Shareholders’ Equity

$7,762.1 

$5,944.2 


See notes accompanying the consolidated financial statements



Questar 2008 Form 10-Q

4


QUESTAR CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)


 

9 Months Ended Sept. 30,

 

2008

2007

 

(in millions)

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

 

Net income

$  562.6 

$  376.6 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash

 

 

     provided from operating activities:

 

 

  Depreciation, depletion and amortization

357.6 

278.4 

  Deferred income taxes

297.3 

138.2 

  Share-based compensation

12.6 

9.5 

  Abandonment and impairment

20.9 

6.4 

  Dry exploratory well expense

2.3 

(0.2)

  Net (gain) from asset sales

(62.4)

(0.3)

  Minority interest

6.9 

 

  (Income) from unconsolidated affiliates

(1.3)

(6.8)

  Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates

0.4 

7.3 

  Net mark-to-market (gain) on basis-only swaps

(7.5)

(14.2)

  Other

0.9 

(0.6)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

(54.8)

54.0 

    Net Cash Provided From Operating Activities

1,135.5 

848.3 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

  Property, plant and equipment

(1,919.0)

(987.6)

  Other investments

(21.5)

(8.9)

    Total Capital Expenditures

(1,940.5)

(996.5)

Cash used in disposition of assets

(3.3)

(1.1)

Proceeds from disposition of assets

127.5 

6.9 

    Net Cash Used In Investing Activities

(1,816.3)

(990.7)

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

Common stock issued

5.0 

5.8 

Common stock repurchased

(14.5)

(8.2)

Long-term debt issued, net of issuance costs

1,616.6 

 

Long-term debt repaid

(693.0)

 

Change in short-term debt

(205.6)

150.5 

Checks outstanding in excess of cash balances

14.2 

22.2 

Distribution to minority interest

(6.3)

 

Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation

12.9 

10.0 

Dividends paid

(63.7)

(62.5)

Other

1.0 

 

    Net Cash Provided From Financing Activities

666.6 

117.8 

Change in cash and cash equivalents

(14.2)

(24.6)

Beginning cash and cash equivalents

14.2 

24.6 

Ending Cash and Cash Equivalents

$        - 

$        - 


See notes accompanying the consolidated financial statements



Questar 2008 Form 10-Q

5


QUESTAR CORPORATION

NOTES ACCOMPANYING THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


Note 1 – Nature of Business


Questar Corporation (Questar or the Company) is a natural gas-focused energy company with five major lines of business – gas and oil exploration and production, midstream field services, energy marketing, interstate gas transportation, and retail gas distribution – which are conducted through its three principal subsidiaries:

·

Questar Market Resources, Inc. (Market Resources) is a subholding company that operates through four principal subsidiaries. Questar Exploration and Production Company (Questar E&P) acquires, explores for, develops and produces natural gas, oil and NGL. Wexpro Company (Wexpro) manages, develops and produces cost-of-service reserves for gas utility affiliate Questar Gas Company. Questar Gas Management Company (Gas Management) provides midstream field services including natural gas-gathering and processing services for affiliates and third parties. Questar Energy Trading Company (Energy Trading) markets equity and third-party natural gas and oil, provides risk-management services and owns and operates an underground gas-storage reservoir.

·

Questar Pipeline Company (Questar Pipeline) provides interstate natural gas-transportation and storage and other energy services.

·

Questar Gas Company (Questar Gas) provides retail natural gas-distribution services in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho.


Questar operates in the Rocky Mountain and Midcontinent regions of the United States and is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Shares of Questar common stock trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol STR.


Note 2 – Basis of Presentation of Interim Consolidated Financial Statements


The interim consolidated financial statements contain the accounts of Questar and its majority-owned or controlled subsidiaries. The consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and with the instructions for quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Regulations S-X and S-K. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.


The consolidated financial statements reflect all normal, recurring adjustments and accruals that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of financial position and results of operations for the interim periods presented. Interim consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for audited annual consolidated financial statements. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. Certain reclassifications were made to prior-period financial statements to conform with the current presentation. Rendezvous Gas Services, an affiliate, was consolidated beginning in 2008 as a result of a step acquisition caused by disproportionate ownership.


The preparation of the consolidated financial statements and notes in conformity with GAAP requires that management make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts of revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from estimates. The results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2008.


All dollar and share amounts in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q are in millions, except per-share information and where otherwise noted.


Note 3 – Restatement


The accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income and Note 6 – Operations by Line of Business have been restated to correct for errors related to intercompany elimination of natural gas and crude oil sales between Questar E&P and Energy Trading. The restatement did not impact net income, operating income, the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets or the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. The following table shows the amended information:


 

3 Months Ended Sept. 30,

9 Months Ended Sept. 30,

 

2007

2007

 

Restated

Originally

Reported

Restated

Originally

Reported

 

(in millions)

Consolidated Statements of Income

 

 

 

 

  Revenues – Market Resources

$384.6 

$372.8 

$1,248.2 

$1,191.3 

  Total Revenues

509.2 

497.4 

1,983.1 

1,926.2 



Questar 2008 Form 10-Q

6





  Cost of natural gas and other products sold

101.0 

89.2 

658.1 

601.2 

  Total Operating Expenses

326.9 

315.1 

1,363.6 

1,306.7 

Note 6 – Operations by Line of Business

 

 

 

 

  Revenues from Unaffiliated Customers – Energy Trading

$101.0 

$89.2 

$  391.0 

$  334.1 

  Revenues from Unaffiliated Customers – Market Resources

384.6 

372.8 

1,248.2 

1,191.3 

  Total Revenues from Unaffiliated Customers

509.2 

497.4 

1,983.1 

1,926.2 

  Revenues from Affiliated Companies – Energy Trading

99.4 

111.2 

343.6 

400.5 

  Revenues from Affiliated Companies – Market Resources

138.7 

150.5 

474.1 

531.0 

  Total Revenues from Affiliated Companies

159.0 

170.8 

537.5 

594.4 


Note 4 – Earnings Per Share (EPS)


Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted EPS includes the potential increase in the number of outstanding shares that could result from the exercise of in-the-money stock options plus an estimated number of nonvested restricted shares.


A reconciliation of the components of basic and diluted shares used in the EPS calculation follows:


 

3 Months Ended Sept. 30,

9 Months Ended Sept. 30,

 

2008

2007

2008

2007

 

(in millions)

Weighted-average basic common shares outstanding

172.9 

172.2 

172.7 

171.9 

Potential shares issuable under the Long-term Stock Incentive Plan

3.2 

3.7 

3.5 

3.9 

Average Diluted Common Shares Outstanding

176.1 

175.9 

176.2 

175.8 


Note 5 – Share-Based Compensation


Questar issues stock options and restricted shares to certain officers, employees and non-employee directors under its Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (LTSIP). Compensation expense for the first nine months was $12.6 million in 2008 compared with $9.5 million in 2007. At September 30, 2008, deferred share-based compensation was $21.2 million. Cash flow from income tax benefits in excess of recognized compensation expense for the first nine months was $12.9 million in 2008 and $10.0 million in 2007. There were 9,859,981 shares available for future grant at September 30, 2008. Nonvested stock options increased by 30,000 shares in the first nine months of 2008. The Company uses the Black-Scholes-Merton model in determining the value of stock options for accounting purposes. Stock-option transactions under the terms of the LTSIP are summarized below:


 


Options

Outstanding



Price Range

Weighted-

average

Price

Balance at Jan. 1, 2008

4,628,601 

$7.50 – $41.08 

$15.42 

Granted

30,000 

53.83 

53.83 

Exercised

(611,382)

7.50 –   17.55 

10.43 

Balance at Sept. 30, 2008

4,047,219 

$7.50 – $53.83 

$16.46 


Options Outstanding

Options Exercisable

Nonvested Options




Range of exercise

prices


Number outstanding at Sept. 30, 2008


Weighted-average remaining term in years


Weighted-average exercise price


Number exercisable at Sept. 30, 2008


Weighted-average exercise price


Number nonvested at Sept. 30, 2008


Weighted- average exercise price

$  7.50 – $ 8.50 

519,826 

1.2

$  7.75 

519,826 

$ 7.75 

 

 

11.48  –  11.98 

881,090 

3.4

11.57 

881,090 

11.57 

 

 

13.56  –  14.86 

1,962,029 

3.7

13.71 

1,962,029 

13.71 

 

 

17.55  –  24.33 

114,274 

6.2

23.48 

114,274 

23.48 

 

 

38.57  –  53.83 

570,000 

4.8

39.99 

 

 

570,000 

$39.99 

 

4,047,219 

3.5

$16.46 

3,477,219 

$12.60 

570,000 

$39.99 



Questar 2008 Form 10-Q

7






Restricted-share grants typically vest in equal installments over a three or four year period from the grant date. Several grants vest in a single installment after a specified period. The weighted-average vesting period of nonvested restricted shares at September 30, 2008, was 19 months. Transactions involving restricted shares under the terms of the LTSIP are summarized below:


 

Restricted

 

Weighted-average

 

Shares

Price Range

Price

Balance at Jan. 1, 2008

828,924 

$13.56  – $56.65 

$36.99 

Granted

350,015 

45.43  –   70.13 

54.42 

Distributed

(300,412)

13.56  –   55.42 

31.55 

Forfeited

(17,768)

25.50  –   70.13 

45.82 

Balance at Sept. 30, 2008

860,759 

$23.34  – $70.13 

$45.79 


Note 6 – Operations by Line of Business


Questar’s major lines of business include gas and oil exploration and production (Questar E&P and Wexpro), midstream field services (Gas Management), energy marketing (Energy Trading), interstate gas transportation (Questar Pipeline), and retail gas distribution (Questar Gas). Line-of-business information is presented according to senior management’s basis for evaluating performance including differences in the nature of products, services and regulation. Following is a summary of operations by line of business:


 

3 Months Ended Sept. 30,

9 Months Ended Sept. 30

 

2008

2007

2008

2007

 

 

Restated

 

Restated

 

(in millions)

Revenues from Unaffiliated Customers

 

 

Questar E&P

$381.0 

$233.2 

$ 1,030.1 

$    702.0 

Wexpro

12.0 

6.0 

28.8 

17.4 

Gas Management

73.8 

44.4 

209.1 

137.8 

Energy Trading and other

134.2 

101.0 

521.6 

391.0 

  Market Resources

601.0 

384.6 

1,789.6 

1,248.2 

Questar Pipeline

43.8 

31.9 

131.8 

94.0 

Questar Gas

115.2 

92.7 

664.9 

640.9 

Total

$760.0 

$509.2 

$2,586.3 

$1,983.1 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues from Affiliated Companies 

 

 

Wexpro

$  54.7 

$35.6 

$153.4 

$118.4 

Gas Management

6.1 

3.7 

17.4 

12.1 

Energy Trading and other

229.2 

99.4 

713.3 

343.6 

  Market Resources

290.0 

138.7 

884.1 

474.1 

Questar Pipeline

18.2 

19.1 

56.4 

59.0 

Questar Gas

1.8 

1.2 

6.1 

4.4 

Total

$310.0 

$159.0 

$946.6 

$537.5 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income (Loss)

 

 

 

 

Questar E&P

$272.4 

$120.0 

$611.2 

$357.0 

Wexpro

29.7 

22.4 

83.3 

66.3 

Gas Management

42.6 

20.2 

113.5 

61.8 

Energy Trading and other

8.9 

5.1 

28.2 

21.2 

  Market Resources

353.6 

167.7 

836.2 

506.3 

Questar Pipeline

31.6 

24.2 

87.7 

69.4 

Questar Gas

(9.7)

(9.7)

44.8 

43.1 

Corporate

 

(0.1)

 

1.0 

Total

$375.5 

$182.1 

$968.7 

$619.8 



Questar 2008 Form 10-Q

8





Net Income (Loss)

 

 

 

 

Questar E&P

$146.8 

$ 76.4 

$360.1 

$220.3 

Wexpro

20.4 

14.8 

55.4 

43.4 

Gas Management

24.5 

13.3 

64.7 

40.6 

Energy Trading and other

5.9 

4.2 

18.8 

16.0 

  Market Resources

197.6 

108.7 

499.0 

320.3 

Questar Pipeline

15.4 

12.0 

44.0 

33.2 

Questar Gas

(8.8)

(8.5)

19.8 

19.5 

Corporate

 

1.1 

(0.2)

3.6 

Total

$204.2 

$113.3 

$562.6 

$376.6 


 

Sept. 30, 2008

Dec. 31, 2007

 

(in millions)

Identifiable Assets

 

 

Questar E&P

$4,010.9 

$2,526.4 

Wexpro

554.9 

459.8 

Gas Management

787.3 

487.1 

Energy Trading and other

170.4 

207.7 

  Market Resources

5,523.5 

3,681.0 

Questar Pipeline

1,077.0 

1,092.8 

Questar Gas

1,159.4 

1,163.0 

Corporate

2.2 

7.4 

Total

$7,762.1 

$5,944.2 


Note 7 – Asset Retirement Obligations (ARO)


The Company ARO applies primarily to abandonment costs associated with gas and oil wells and certain other properties. The fair value of abandonment costs are estimated and depreciated over the life of the related assets. Revisions to estimates of the ARO result from changes in expected cash flows. The ARO liability is adjusted to present value each period through an accretion calculation using a credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate. Changes in ARO were as follows:


 

2008

2007

 

(in millions)

ARO liability at Jan. 1,

$149.1 

$132.4 

Accretion

7.2 

6.2 

Liabilities incurred

13.9 

6.1 

Revisions

1.5 

1.4 

Liabilities settled

(2.1)

(1.6)

ARO Liability at Sept. 30,

$169.6 

$144.5 


Note 8 – Employee Benefits


Questar has defined-benefit pension and postretirement medical and life insurance plans covering the majority of its employees. Questar is subject to and complies with minimum-required and maximum-allowed annual contribution levels for its qualified retirement plan as determined by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and Internal Revenue Code. Subject to these limitations, Questar seeks to fund the qualified retirement plan with an amount approximately equal to the yearly expense, which is estimated to be $12.2 million for 2008.


The Company also has a nonqualified pension plan for eligible employees that provides a benefit in addition to the benefit limit defined by the Internal Revenue Service for qualified pension plans. The nonqualified pension plan is unfunded. Claims are paid from the Company general funds. The 2008 expense is estimated to be $2.2 million.


Components of the qualified and nonqualified pension expense included in the determination of net income are listed below:



Questar 2008 Form 10-Q

9



 

3 Months Ended Sept. 30,

9 Months Ended Sept. 30,

 

2008

2007

2008

2007

 

(in millions)

Service cost

$ 2.5 

$ 2.5 

$ 7.3 

$ 7.8 

Interest cost

6.6 

6.6 

19.8 

18.5 

Expected return on plan assets

(6.6)

(6.0)

(20.2)

(18.1)

Prior service and other costs

0.3 

0.3 

0.9 

0.9 

Recognized net-actuarial loss

0.9 

2.4 

2.5 

5.4 

Settlement costs

0.3 

0.1 

0.3 

0.4 

  Pension Expense

$ 4.0 

$ 5.9 

$10.6 

$ 14.9 


The Company currently estimates a $4.5 million expense for postretirement benefits other than pensions in 2008. Expense components are listed below:


 

3 Months Ended Sept. 30,

9 Months Ended Sept. 30,

 

2008

2007

2008

2007

 

(in millions)

Service cost

$ 0.2 

$ 0.2 

$ 0.6 

$ 0.7 

Interest cost

1.1 

1.0 

3.5 

3.3 

Expected return on plan assets

(0.9)

(1.0)

(2.6)

(2.5)

Amortization of transition obligation

0.5 

0.5 

1.4 

1.4 

Amortization of losses

 

 

 

0.1 

Accretion of regulatory liability

0.2 

0.2 

0.6 

0.6 

  Postretirement Benefits Expense

$ 1.1 

$ 0.9 

$ 3.5 

$ 3.6 


Note 9 – Fair-Value Measures


Beginning in 2008, Questar adopted the effective provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 157 “Fair-Value Measures.” SFAS 157 defines fair value in applying GAAP, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair-value measurements. SFAS 157 does not change existing guidance as to whether or not an instrument is carried at fair value. Also, the new standard establishes a fair-value hierarchy. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. In February 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Staff Position Financial Accounting Standard 157-2 “Partial Deferral of the Effective Date of Statement 157,” which delays the effective date for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except those recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis. For Questar, the delayed provisions of SFAS 157 go into effect in the first quarter of 2009. The adoption of SFAS 157 did not have a significant effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.


The Company enters into commodity-price derivative arrangements that do not require collateral deposits. The fair value of these derivative contracts is based on market prices posted on the NYMEX. At September 30, 2008, counterparties under the derivative contracts were banks and energy-trading firms with investment-grade credit ratings. The following table discloses the Level 2 fair value of derivative contracts at September 30, 2008.


Level 2

 

 

Sept. 30, 2008

 

(in millions)

Assets

 

Fair value of derivative contracts - short term

$    233.5 

Fair value of derivative contracts - long term

60.1 

Liabilities

 

Fair value of derivative contracts - short term

10.2 

Fair value of derivative contracts - long term

10.4 



Questar 2008 Form 10-Q

10





Note 10 – Questar E&P Property Acquisitions and Divestitures


On February 29, 2008, Questar E&P acquired natural gas development properties in northwest Louisiana for an aggregate purchase price of $652.1 million, subject to customary post-closing adjustments based on an effective date of January 1, 2008. The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase and, accordingly, the results of operations of the properties were included in net income from the closing date of the acquisition. After recording deferred income taxes of $13.1 million, the purchase price allocated to proved properties was $570.9 million and to unproved properties was $81.2 million. The transaction was initially funded with short-term bank debt.


In conjunction with the acquisition of the Louisiana properties, the company identified certain outside-operated producing properties and leaseholds in the Gulf Coast region of south Texas for divestiture. These properties contributed 2.8 Bcfe to Questar E&P net production in the first nine months of 2008. For income tax purposes, the company structured a portion of the purchase of the Louisiana properties and the July 31, 2008, sale of the south Texas properties as a reverse like-kind exchange of property under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. In the third quarter of 2008, the company recognized a pre-tax gain on the sale of the Texas properties of approximately $58.7 million.


Note 11 – Financings


In March 2008, Market Resources filed a shelf registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to sell up to $700 million of debt securities and to use the net proceeds to repay bank borrowings and to finance certain capital expenditures as well as for general corporate purposes, including working capital. In April 2008, Market Resources sold $450 million of 10-year notes with a 6.8% interest rate. In March 2008, Market Resources also entered into a new $800 million five-year revolving-credit facility. The net proceeds from the sale of the notes and funds borrowed under the revolving-credit facility were used to reduce short-term bank debt described in Note 10. In an October 2008 filing with the SEC, Market Resources increased the unused portion of its March 2008 shelf registration from $250 million to $300 million. Timing of any future offering under the expanded shelf registration will depend on conditions in the financial markets.


In November 2007, Questar Pipeline filed a shelf registration with the SEC to sell up to $200 million of debt securities with intent to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities to repay intercompany demand notes as well as for general corporate purposes, including working capital and capital expenditures. In January 2008, Questar Pipeline sold $200 million of 10-year notes with a 5.83% interest rate.


In February 2008, Questar Gas filed a shelf registration with the SEC to sell up to $150 million of debt securities and to use the net proceeds to repay intercompany demand notes, to repay debt maturing in early 2008 and to finance certain capital expenditures as well as for general corporate purposes, including working capital. In March 2008, Questar Gas sold $50 million of 10-year notes with a 6.3% interest rate and $100 million of 30-year notes with a 7.2% interest rate.


Note 12 – Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs


Net changes in capitalized exploratory well costs are as follows and exclude amounts that were capitalized and subsequently expensed in the period:


 

2008

 

(in millions)

Balance at Jan. 1,

$ 1.5 

Capitalized exploratory well costs charged to expense

(1.5)

Balance at Sept. 30,

$  - 


Note 13 – Comprehensive Income


Comprehensive income is the sum of net income as reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) includes changes in the market value of gas- and oil-price derivatives and recognition of the under-funded position of pension and other postretirement benefit plans. Comprehensive income (loss) is shown below:


 

3 Months Ended Sept. 30,

9 Months Ended Sept. 30,

 

2008

2007

2008

2007

 

(in millions)

Net income

$   204.2 

$113.3 

$562.6 

$376.6 



Questar 2008 Form 10-Q

11





Other comprehensive (loss)

 

 

 

 

  Net unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives

1,024.4 

69.9 

211.9 

(45.6)

  Income taxes

(388.1)

(26.5)

(80.2)

17.1 

  Net Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

636.3 

43.4 

131.7 

(28.5)

    Total Comprehensive Income

$   840.5 

$156.7 

$694.3 

$348.1 


The components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes, shown on the Consolidated Balance Sheets are as follows:


 

Sept. 30,

Dec. 31,

 

 

2008

2007

Change

 

(in millions)

Net unrealized gain on derivatives

$162.7

$ 31.0 

$131.7

Pension liability

(47.5)

(47.5)

 

Postretirement benefits liability

(8.8)

(8.8)

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

$106.4

($25.3)

$131.7


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


The following information updates the discussion of Questar’s financial condition provided in its 2007 Form 10-K filing, and analyzes the changes in the results of operations between the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007. For definitions of commonly used gas and oil terms found in this report on Form 10-Q, please refer to the “Glossary of Commonly Used Terms” provided in Questar’s 2007 Form 10-K.


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


Following are comparisons of net income (loss) by line of business:


 

3 Months Ended Sept. 30,

9 Months Ended Sept. 30,

 

2008

2007

Change

2008

2007

Change

 

(in millions, except per share amounts)

Exploration and Production

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Questar E&P

$146.8 

$ 76.4 

 $70.4 

 $360.1 

 $220.3 

 $139.8 

  Wexpro

20.4 

14.8 

 5.6 

 55.4 

 43.4 

 12.0 

Midstream Field Services -– Gas Management

24.5 

13.3 

 11.2 

 64.7 

 40.6 

 24.1 

Energy Marketing – Energy Trading and other

5.9 

4.2 

 1.7 

 18.8 

 16.0 

 2.8 

  Market Resources Total

197.6 

108.7 

 88.9 

 499.0 

 320.3 

 178.7 

Interstate Gas Transportation – Questar Pipeline

15.4 

12.0 

 3.4 

 44.0 

 33.2 

 10.8 

Retail Gas Distribution – Questar Gas

(8.8)

(8.5)

 (0.3)

 19.8 

 19.5 

 0.3 

Corporate

 

1.1 

(1.1)

(0.2)

3.6 

(3.8)

  Net Income

$204.2 

$113.3 

$90.9 

$562.6 

$376.6 

$186.0 

Earnings per diluted share

$  1.16 

$  0.64 

$0.52 

$  3.19 

$  2.14 

$  1.05 

Average diluted shares

176.1 

175.9 

 0.2 

 176.2 

 175.8 

 0.4 


EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION


Questar E&P

Following is a summary of Questar E&P financial and operating results:



Questar 2008 Form 10-Q

12



 

3 Months Ended Sept. 30,

9 Months Ended Sept. 30,

 

2008

2007

Change

2008

2007

Change

 

(in millions)

Operating Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

REVENUES

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Natural gas sales

$308.4 

$188.9 

$119.5 

$832.8 

$583.9 

$248.9 

  Oil and NGL sales

71.2 

43.1 

28.1 

193.0 

114.2 

78.8 

  Other

1.4 

1.2 

0.2 

4.3 

3.9 

0.4 

    Total Revenues

381.0 

233.2 

147.8 

1,030.1 

702.0 

328.1 

OPERATING EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Operating and maintenance

32.3 

22.3 

10.0 

90.5 

65.0 

25.5 

  General and administrative

11.5 

14.9 

(3.4)

41.8 

42.9 

(1.1)

  Production and other taxes

27.6 

11.9 

15.7 

86.6 

42.7 

43.9 

  Depreciation, depletion and amortization

84.4 

59.3 

25.1 

232.6 

179.0 

53.6 

  Exploration

7.4 

1.6 

5.8 

14.7 

6.7 

8.0 

  Abandonment and impairment

4.1 

2.3 

1.8 

10.3 

6.4 

3.9 

  Natural gas purchases

 

0.6 

(0.6)

0.5 

2.0 

(1.5)

    Total Operating Expenses

167.3 

112.9 

54.4 

477.0 

344.7 

132.3 

Net gain (loss) from asset sales

58.7 

(0.3)

59.0 

58.1 

(0.3)

58.4 

    Operating Income

$272.4 

$120.0 

$152.4 

$611.2 

$357.0 

$254.2 

Operating Statistics

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production volumes

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Natural gas (Bcf)

40.4 

29.2 

11.2 

111.0 

91.0 

20.0 

  Oil and NGL (MMbbl)

0.8 

0.8 

 

2.4 

2.2 

0.2 

  Total production (Bcfe)

45.3 

33.9 

11.4 

125.4 

104.3 

21.1 

  Average daily production (MMcfe)

492.1 

368.6 

123.5 

457.6 

382.2 

75.4 

Average realized price, net to the well (including hedges)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Natural gas (per Mcf)

$7.64 

$6.47 

$1.17 

$7.50 

$6.42 

$1.08 

  Oil and NGL (per bbl)

$87.34 

$54.95 

$32.39 

$80.41 

$51.51 

$28.90 


Questar E&P reported net income of $146.8 million in the third quarter of 2008, up 92% from $76.4 million in the 2007 quarter. Net income for the first nine months of 2008 rose 63% to $360.1 million compared to $220.3 million a year earlier. Higher realized natural gas, crude oil and NGL prices and growing production more than offset an 18% increase in year-to-date average production costs.


Questar E&P production volumes totaled 45.3 Bcfe in the third quarter of 2008, a 34% increase compared to the year-earlier period. For the first nine months of 2008 production volumes increased to 125.4 Bcfe, a 20% increase compared to the year-earlier period. Natural gas is Questar E&P’s primary focus and comprised approximately 89% of 2008 production on an energy-equivalent basis. A comparison of natural gas-equivalent production by major operating area is shown in the following table:


 

3 Months Ended Sept. 30,

9 Months Ended Sept. 30,

 

2008

2007

Change

2008

2007

Change

 

(in Bcfe)

Pinedale Anticline

15.4 

11.4 

4.0 

41.2 

35.0 

6.2 

Uinta Basin

6.9 

6.1 

0.8 

19.7 

18.7 

1.0 

Rockies Legacy

5.1 

3.8 

1.3 

15.0 

13.2 

1.8 

  Rocky Mountain Total

27.4 

21.3 

6.1 

75.9 

66.9 

9.0 

Midcontinent

17.9 

12.6 

5.3 

49.5 

37.4 

12.1 

  Total Questar E&P

45.3 

33.9 

11.4 

125.4 

104.3 

21.1 




Questar 2008 Form 10-Q

13


Questar E&P production from the Pinedale Anticline in western Wyoming grew 18% to 41.2 Bcfe in the first nine months of 2008 as a result of ongoing development drilling. Historically, Pinedale seasonal access restrictions imposed by the Bureau of Land Management have limited the ability to drill and complete wells during the mid-November to early May period.


In the Uinta Basin, year-to-date net production grew 5% to 19.7 Bcfe in 2008 as the Company completed and turned 39 new wells to sales in 2008. Third quarter production volumes were adversely impacted by connection of new, deep, high-pressure wells to the existing gathering infrastructure. Connection of the new deep wells resulted in high gathering-system pressure that negatively impacted production from existing shallower and lower producing-pressure Wasatch/Mesaverde wells. Gathering infrastructure improvements are underway to address the situation, but right-of-way permitting issues could delay installation until early 2009.


Rockies Legacy production for the first nine months of 2008 was 15.0 Bcfe, 1.8 Bcfe higher than the year-ago period. Increased production volumes were driven by new wells and the acquisition of additional interests in the Wamsutter area of the Green River Basin in Wyoming, and increased production from outside-operated oil wells in the Williston Basin in North Dakota. Questar E&P Rockies Legacy properties include all Rocky Mountain region properties except the Pinedale Anticline and the Uinta Basin.


Production in the Midcontinent was 49.5 Bcfe for the first nine months of 2008, a 32% increase over the 2007 period. Midcontinent production growth was driven by the first quarter 2008 acquisition of new natural gas development properties in northwest Louisiana, ongoing infill-development drilling in the Elm Grove field in northwest Louisiana, continued development of the Granite Wash/Atoka/Morrow play in the Texas Panhandle, and production from new outside-operated Woodford Shale horizontal gas wells in the Anadarko Basin in central Oklahoma.


Realized prices for natural gas, oil and NGL at Questar E&P were higher when compared to the prior year. In the first nine months of 2008, the weighted-average realized natural gas price for Questar E&P (including the impact of hedging) was $7.50 per Mcf compared to $6.42 per Mcf for the same period in 2007, a 17% increase. Realized oil and NGL prices in the first nine months of 2008 averaged $80.41 per bbl, compared with $51.51 per bbl during the prior year period, a 56% increase. A regional comparison of average realized prices, including hedges, is shown in the following table:


 

3 Months Ended Sept. 30,

9 Months Ended Sept. 30,

 

2008

2007

Change

2008

2007

Change

Natural gas (per Mcf)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rocky Mountains

$  7.03 

$  5.86 

$  1.17 

$  6.91 

$  5.85 

$  1.06 

Midcontinent

8.55 

7.47 

1.08 

8.42 

7.41 

1.01 

  Volume-weighted average

7.64 

6.47 

1.17 

7.50 

6.42 

1.08 

Oil and NGL (per bbl)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rocky Mountains

$86.64 

$54.89 

$31.75 

$81.46 

$51.72 

$29.74 

Midcontinent

88.59 

55.06 

33.53 

78.87 

51.09 

27.78 

  Volume-weighted average

87.34 

54.95 

32.39 

80.41 

51.51 

28.90 


Questar may hedge up to 100% of forecasted production from proved reserves to lock in acceptable returns on invested capital and to protect cash flow and net income from a decline in commodity prices. Also, Questar E&P uses basis-only swaps to protect cash flows and net income from widening natural gas-price basis differentials that may result from capacity constraints on regional gas pipelines. Questar E&P hedged or pre-sold approximately 82% of gas production in the first nine months of 2008 and hedged or pre-sold 73% of gas production in the comparable 2007 period. Hedging decreased Questar E&P gas revenues by $12.6 million in the first nine months of 2008 and increased revenues $174.1 million for the same period in 2007. Approximately

51% of 2008 and 62% of 2007 Questar E&P oil production was hedged or pre-sold through the first nine months of each year. Oil hedges reduced oil revenues by $37.0 million in 2008 and $6.2 million in 2007. The mark-to-market effect of basis-only swaps is reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income after operating income. Derivative positions as of September 30, 2008, are summarized in Item 3 of Part I in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.


Questar E&P production costs (the sum of depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, lease-operating expense, general and administrative expense, allocated interest expense and production taxes) per Mcfe of production increased 12% to $3.79 per Mcfe in the third quarter of 2008 versus $3.38 per Mcfe in 2007. Year-to-date production costs per Mcfe increased $0.60 or 18% in 2008 compared to the 2007 period. Questar E&P production costs are summarized in the following table:


 

3 Months Ended Sept. 30,

9 Months Ended Sept. 30,

 

2008

2007

Change

2008

2007

Change

 

(per Mcfe)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

$1.86 

$1.75 

$0.11 

$1.86 

$1.72 

$0.14 



Questar 2008 Form 10-Q

14





Lease operating expense

0.71 

0.66 

0.05 

0.72 

0.62 

0.10 

General and administrative expense

0.25 

0.44 

(0.19)

0.33 

0.41 

(0.08)

Allocated interest expense

0.35 

0.18 

0.17 

0.34 

0.18 

0.16 

Production taxes

0.62 

0.35 

0.27 

0.69 

0.41 

0.28 

  Total Production Costs

$3.79 

$3.38 

$0.41 

$3.94 

$3.34 

$0.60 


Production volume-weighted average depreciation, depletion and amortization per Mcfe (DD&A rate) increased due to higher costs for drilling, completion and related services, increased cost of steel casing, other tubulars and wellhead equipment. The DD&A rate also increased due to the ongoing depletion of older, lower-cost reserves and the increasing component of Questar E&P production derived from recently acquired, higher-cost fields in the Midcontinent. Lease operating expense per Mcfe increased due to higher costs of materials and consumables, increased produced-water disposal costs and increased well-workover activity. General and administrative expense per Mcfe decreased as a result of increased production and lower expenses due primarily to reduced legal costs. Allocated interest expense per Mcfe of production increased primarily due to financing costs related to the first quarter 2008 acquisition of natural gas development properties in northwest Louisiana. Production taxes per Mcfe were higher due to higher natural gas and oil sales prices in the 2008 periods. Production taxes are based on a percentage of sales prices before the impact of hedges.


Questar E&P exploration expense increased $5.8 million or 363% in the third quarter of 2008 compared to 2007. Abandonment and impairment expense increased $1.8 million, or 78% in 2008 compared to 2007. For the first nine months of 2008, Questar E&P exploration expense increased $8.0 million or 119% compared to 2007. Abandonment and impairment expense increased $3.9 million, or 61% in 2008 compared to 2007.


In the third quarter of 2008, Questar E&P sold certain outside-operated producing properties and leaseholds in the Gulf Coast region of south Texas and recognized a pre-tax gain of approximately $58.7 million. These properties contributed 2.8 Bcfe to Questar E&P net production in the first nine months of 2008.


Major Questar E&P Operating Areas


Pinedale Anticline

As of September 30, 2008, Market Resources (including both Questar E&P and Wexpro) operated and had working interests in 312 producing wells on the Pinedale Anticline compared to 237 at September 30, 2007. Of the 312 producing wells, Questar E&P has working interests in 290 wells, overriding royalty interests in an additional 21 Wexpro-operated wells, and no interest in one well operated by Wexpro. Wexpro has working interests in 98 of the 312 producing wells.


In 2005, the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (WOGCC) approved 10-acre-density drilling for Lance Pool wells on about 12,700 acres of Market Resources 18,208-acre (gross) Pinedale leasehold. The area approved for increased density corresponds to the currently estimated productive limits of Market Resources core acreage in the field. At December 31, 2007, Questar E&P had booked 355 proved undeveloped locations on a combination of 10- and 20-acre density and reported estimated net proved reserves at Pinedale of 1,033.9 Bcfe, or 55% of Questar E&P total proved reserves. The Company continues to evaluate development on five-acre density at Pinedale. In January 2008, the WOGCC approved five-acre-density drilling for Lance Pool wells on about 4,200 gross acres of Market Resources Pinedale leasehold. If five-acre-density development is appropriate for a majority of its leasehold, the Company currently estimates up to 1,500 additional wells will be required to fully develop the Lance Pool on its acreage.


On September 12, 2008, the United States Bureau of Land Management issued a Record of Decision (ROD) on the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) for long-term development of natural gas resources in the Pinedale Anticline Project Area (PAPA). Under the FSEIS ROD, Questar E&P and Wexpro will be allowed to drill and complete wells year-round in one of the five Concentrated Development Areas in the PAPA. The ROD contains additional requirements and restrictions on development of the PAPA.


Uinta Basin

As of September 30, 2008, Questar E&P had an operating interest in 895 gross producing wells in the Uinta Basin of eastern Utah, compared to 846 at September 30, 2007. At December 31, 2007, Questar E&P had booked 123 proved undeveloped locations and reported estimated net proved reserves in the Uinta Basin of 301.2 Bcfe or 16% of Questar E&P total proved reserves. Uinta Basin proved reserves are found in a series of vertically stacked, laterally discontinuous reservoirs at depths of 5,000 feet to deeper than 18,000 feet. Questar E&P owns interests in over 250,000 gross leasehold acres in the Uinta Basin.


Rockies Legacy

The remainder of Questar E&P Rocky Mountain region leasehold interests, productive wells and proved reserves are distributed over a number of fields and properties managed as the company Rockies Legacy division. Most of the properties are located in



Questar 2008 Form 10-Q

15


the Greater Green River Basin of western Wyoming. In aggregate, Rockies Legacy properties comprised 158.6 Bcfe or 9% of Questar E&P total proved reserves at December 31, 2007. Exploration and development activity for 2008 includes wells in the San Juan, Paradox, Powder River, Green River, Vermillion and Williston Basins.


Midcontinent

Questar E&P Midcontinent properties are distributed over a large area, including the Anadarko Basin of Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle, the Arkoma Basin of Oklahoma and western Arkansas, and the Ark-La-Tex region of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. With the exception of northwest Louisiana and the Granite Wash play in the Texas Panhandle and the emerging Woodford Shale play in western Oklahoma, Questar E&P Midcontinent leasehold interests are fragmented, with no significant concentration of property interests. In aggregate, Midcontinent properties comprised 373.9 Bcfe or 20% of Questar E&P total proved reserves at December 31, 2007.


Questar E&P continues infill-development drilling in northwest Louisiana and as of September 30, 2008, had 13 operated rigs drilling in the project area. As of September 30, 2008, Questar E&P operated or had working interests in 463 producing wells in northwest Louisiana compared to 302 at September 30, 2007.


Wexpro

Wexpro reported net income of $20.4 million in the third quarter of 2008 compared to $14.8 million in the 2007 quarter, a 38% increase. For the first nine months of 2008, net income was $55.4 million compared to $43.4 million a year earlier. Wexpro results benefited from a higher average investment base compared to the prior-year period. Pursuant to the Wexpro Agreement, Wexpro recovers its costs and receives an unlevered after-tax return of approximately 19% to 20% on its investment in commercial wells and related facilities – adjusted for working capital and reduced for deferred income taxes and depreciation (investment base). The Wexpro investment base at September 30, 2008, was $374.9 million, an increase of $90.3 million or 32% since September 30, 2007.


MIDSTREAM FIELD SERVICES – Questar Gas Management

Following is a summary of Gas Management financial and operating results:


 

3 Months Ended Sept. 30,

9 Months Ended Sept. 30,

 

2008

2007

Change

2008

2007

Change

 

(in millions)

Operating Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

REVENUES

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Gathering

$41.7 

$26.7 

$15.0 

$112.5 

$83.1 

$29.4 

  Processing

38.2 

21.4 

16.8 

114.0 

66.8 

47.2 

    Total Revenues

79.9 

48.1 

31.8 

226.5 

149.9 

76.6 

OPERATING EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Operating and maintenance

24.8 

18.6 

6.2 

76.1 

61.8 

14.3 

  General and administrative

4.6 

4.2 

0.4 

15.3 

11.4 

3.9 

  Production and other taxes

0.9 

0.2 

0.7 

1.7 

0.9 

0.8 

  Depreciation, depletion and amortization

7.0 

4.9 

2.1 

19.9 

14.0 

5.9 

    Total Operating Expenses

37.3 

27.9 

9.4 

113.0 

88.1 

24.9 

    Operating Income

$42.6 

$20.2 

$22.4 

$113.5 

$61.8 

$51.7 

Operating Statistics

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas gathering volumes (in millions of MMBtu)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  For unaffiliated customers

57.6 

43.1 

14.5 

163.6 

127.0 

36.6 

  For affiliated customers

46.4 

28.3 

18.1 

121.7 

97.2 

24.5 

    Total Gas Gathering Volumes

104.0 

71.4 

32.6 

285.3 

224.2 

61.1 

  Gas gathering revenue (per MMBtu)

$0.31 

$0.32 

($0.01)

$0.31 

$0.31 

$ - 

Natural gas processing volumes

 

 

 

 

 

 

  NGL sales (MMgal)

19.7 

16.5 

3.2 

65.9 

54.5 

11.4 

  NGL sales price (per gal)

$1.53 

$1.00 

$0.53 

$1.38 

$0.94 

$0.44 

  Fee-based processing volumes (in millions of MMBtu)

 

 

 

 

 

 

    For unaffiliated customers

27.9 

14.2 

13.7 

70.3 

34.9 

35.4 



Questar 2008 Form 10-Q

16





    For affiliated customers

29.6 

19.5 

10.1 

80.6 

62.8 

17.8 

      Total Fee-Based Processing Volumes

57.5 

33.7 

23.8 

150.9 

97.7 

53.2 

  Fee-based processing (per MMBtu)

$0.14 

$0.14 

$ - 

$0.14 

$0.15 

($0.01)


Gas Management, which provides gas-gathering and processing-services, grew net income 84% to $24.5 million in the third quarter of 2008 compared to $13.3 million in the same period of 2007. Net income was $64.7 million in the first nine months of 2008 compared to $40.6 million in the 2007 period. Net income growth was driven by higher gathering and processing margins.


Total gathering margins (revenues minus direct gathering expenses) for the third quarter of 2008 increased 94% to $31.3 million compared to $16.1 million in 2007 and for the first nine months of 2008 increased 74% to $87.1 million compared to $50.2 million in 2007. Gathering volumes increased 32.6 million MMBtu, or 46% to 104.0 million MMBtu in the third quarter of 2008 and 61.1 million MMBtu, or 27% to 285.3 million MMBtu in the first nine months of 2008 compared to the 2007 periods. Rendezvous Gas Services, formerly an unconsolidated affiliate, was consolidated with Gas Management beginning in 2008 and accounted for 8.8 million MMBtu in the third quarter and 28.8 million MMBtu in the first nine months of the increased volumes. Rendezvous Gas Services provides gas gathering services for the Pinedale and Jonah producing areas of Wyoming. Expanding Pinedale production, new projects serving third parties in the Uinta Basin and the consolidation of Rendezvous Gas Services contributed to a 29% increase in third-party volumes in the first nine months of 2008.


Total processing margins (revenues minus direct plant expenses and processing plant-shrink) for the third quarter of 2008 increased 77% to $23.7 million compared to $13.4 million in 2007 and for the nine months of 2008 increased 67% to $63.2 million compared to $37.8 million in the first nine months of 2007. Fee-based gas processing volumes were 57.5 million MMBtu in the third quarter of 2008, a 71% increase compared to the 2007 quarter and 150.9 million MMBtu in the first nine months of 2008, a 54% increase compared to the first nine months of 2007. For the third quarter of 2008, fee-based gas processing revenues increased 66% or $3.1 million, while frac spread from keep-whole processing increased 68% or $7.4 million. Fee-based gas processing revenues increased 49% or $7.0 million in the first nine month comparison, while frac spread from keep-whole processing increased 62% or $18.1 million. Approximately 74% of Gas Management’s net operating revenue (revenue minus processing plant-shrink) for the first nine months of 2008 was derived from fee-based contracts, down from 77% in the 2007 period.


Gas Management may use forward sales contracts to reduce margin volatility associated with keep-whole contracts. Forward sales contracts reduced NGL revenues by $1.4 million in the first nine months 2008 and by $1.6 million in 2007 period.


ENERGY MARKETING – Questar Energy Trading

Energy Trading net income was $5.9 million in the third quarter of 2008, an increase of 40% compared to the year-earlier period. Higher natural gas-price volatility combined with higher marketing margins led to the increase from the 2007 quarter. For the first nine months of 2008, net income was $18.8 million, an 18% increase compared to the first nine months of 2007. Higher marketing margins related to gas-price volatility in the Rockies during the first quarter of 2008 drove the increase in net income in the first nine months of 2008. The marketing margin (gross revenues less costs for gas and oil purchases, transportation and gas storage) for the first nine months totaled $28.3 million for 2008 compared to $24.7 million for the 2007 period, a 15% increase. The marketing margin for the third quarter of 2008 was $9.2 million, a 42% increase from the 2007 period. Revenues from unaffiliated customers were $521.6 million in the first nine months of 2008 compared to $391.0 million in the 2007 period, a 33% increase, primarily the result of higher natural gas prices. The weighted-average natural gas sales price increased 68% in 2008 to $7.22 per MMBtu, compared to $4.29 per MMBtu for the 2007 period.


INTERSTATE GAS TRANSPORTATION – Questar Pipeline

Questar Pipeline, which provides interstate natural gas-transportation and storage services, reported third quarter 2008 net income of $15.4 million compared with $12.0 million in 2007. For the first nine months of 2008, net income was $44.0 million, compared with $33.2 million in 2007. Operating income increased $7.4 million, or 31%, in the third quarter 2008 compared to the year-earlier quarter. For the first nine months of 2008, operating income was 26% higher compared to the year-earlier period, due primarily to transportation-system expansions that were placed in service in late 2007. Following is a summary of Questar Pipeline financial and operating results:


 

3 Months Ended Sept. 30,

9 Months Ended Sept. 30,

 

2008

2007

Change

2008

2007

Change

 

(in millions)

Operating Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

REVENUES

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Transportation

$42.0 

$31.3 

$10.7 

$129.4 

$93.5 

$35.9 

  Storage

9.3 

9.4 

(0.1)

28.2 

28.4 

(0.2)



Questar 2008 Form 10-Q

17





  NGL sales

5.3 

2.6 

2.7 

12.7 

6.7 

6.0 

  Energy services

3.9 

4.1 

(0.2)

11.7 

12.4 

(0.7)

  Gas processing   

0.9 

2.4 

(1.5)

3.6 

6.5 

(2.9)

  Other

0.6 

1.2 

(0.6)

2.6 

5.5 

(2.9)

    Total Revenues

62.0 

51.0 

11.0 

188.2 

153.0 

35.2 

OPERATING EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Operating and maintenance

11.2 

8.4 

2.8 

32.1 

27.2 

4.9 

  General and administrative    

6.2 

7.0 

(0.8)

22.4 

21.9 

0.5 

  Depreciation and amortization

10.6 

8.6 

2.0 

31.9 

25.8 

6.1 

  Asset impairment

 

 

 

10.6 

 

10.6 

  Other taxes

2.0 

1.8 

0.2 

6.3 

5.9 

0.4 

  Cost of goods sold

0.7 

1.1 

(0.4)

1.5 

3.4 

(1.9)

    Operating Expenses

30.7 

26.9 

3.8 

104.8 

84.2 

20.6 

Net gain from asset sales

0.3 

0.1 

0.2 

4.3 

0.6 

3.7 

    Operating Income

$31.6 

$24.2 

$7.4 

$87.7 

$69.4 

$18.3 

Operating Statistics

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas-transportation volumes (MMdth)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  For unaffiliated customers

167.4 

90.8 

76.6 

454.9 

251.7 

203.2 

  For Questar Gas

15.1 

14.2 

0.9 

88.4 

81.7 

6.7 

  For other affiliated customers

2.8 

3.3 

(0.5)

5.2 

11.9 

(6.7)

    Total Transportation

185.3 

108.3 

77.0 

548.5 

345.3 

203.2 

  Transportation revenue (per dth)

$0.23 

$0.29 

($0.06)

$0.24 

$0.27 

($0.03)

Firm daily transportation demand at Sept. 30 (Mdth)

3,150 

2,247 

903 

 

 

 

Natural gas processing

 

 

 

 

 

 

  NGL sales (MMgal)

2.4 

2.2 

0.2 

6.4 

6.1 

0.3 

  NGL sales price (per gal)

$2.21 

$1.22 

$0.99 

$1.98 

$1.11 

$0.87 


Revenues

Following is a summary of major changes in Questar Pipeline revenues for the third quarter and first nine months of 2008 compared with the same periods in 2007:


 

Change in Revenues

 

3 Months Ended Sept. 30, 2008

9 Months Ended Sept. 30, 2008

 

(in millions)

Transportation

 

 

  New capacity lease

$  7.7

$23.4

  New transportation contracts

5.9

13.7

  Expired transportation contracts

(3.3)

(5.9)

  Other

0.4

4.7

NGL sales

2.7

6.0

Energy services

(0.2)

(0.7)

Gas processing

(1.5)

(2.9)

Other

(0.7)

(3.1)

    Increase

$11.0

$35.2


As of September 30, 2008, Questar Pipeline had firm-transportation contracts of 3,150 Mdth per day compared with 2,247 Mdth per day as of September 30, 2007. Questar Pipeline has expanded its transportation system in response to growing regional natural gas production and transportation demand. In November 2007, Questar Pipeline placed an expansion of its southern system in service. The southern system expansion increased Questar Pipeline first-nine month 2008 firm-transport demand by 175 Mdth per day and first-nine month 2008 revenues by $12.4 million compared to the year-earlier period. In December 2007, Questar Overthrust Pipeline placed the Wamsutter expansion project into service. The Wamsutter expansion increased Questar



Questar 2008 Form 10-Q

18


Overthrust Pipeline firm-transport demand by 750 Mdth per day and revenues by $23.4 million in the first nine months of 2008 compared to the year-earlier period.


Questar Gas is Questar Pipeline’s largest transportation customer with contracts for 901 Mdth per day. The majority of the Questar Gas transportation contracts extend through mid 2017.


Questar Pipeline owns and operates the Clay Basin underground storage complex in eastern Utah. This facility is 100% subscribed under long-term contracts. In addition to Clay Basin, Questar Pipeline also owns and operates three smaller aquifer gas storage facilities. Questar Gas has contracted for 26% of firm-storage capacity at Clay Basin for terms extending from one to 12 years and 100% of the firm-storage capacity at the aquifer facilities for terms extending for 11 years.


Questar Pipeline charges FERC-approved transportation and storage rates that are based on straight-fixed-variable rate design. Under this rate design, all fixed costs of providing service including depreciation and return on investment are recovered through the demand charge. About 95% of Questar Pipeline costs are fixed and recovered through these demand charges. Questar Pipeline’s earnings are driven primarily by demand revenues from firm shippers. Since only about 5% of operating costs are recovered through volumetric charges, changes in transportation volumes do not have a significant impact on earnings.


NGL sales doubled in the third quarter of 2008 and were 90% higher in the first nine months of 2008 over the same periods in 2007 due primarily to higher NGL prices.


Expenses

Operating and maintenance expenses increased by 33% in the third quarter of 2008 and 18% in the first nine months of 2008 compared to the same periods in 2007. The increase was a result of system expansions and higher labor and service costs. General and administrative expenses decreased by 11% to $6.2 million in the third quarter and increased 2% to $22.4 million in the first nine months of 2008. Operating, maintenance, general and administrative expenses per dth transported declined to $0.10 in the first nine months of 2008 compared with $0.14 in the first nine months of 2007 because transportation volumes increased 59%. Operating, maintenance, general and administrative expenses include processing and storage costs.


Depreciation expense increased 23% in the third quarter of 2008 and 24% in the first nine months of 2008 compared to the 2007 periods due to investment in pipeline expansions.


Sale of processing plant and gathering lines

Questar Transportation Services, a subsidiary of Questar Pipeline, sold a carbon dioxide processing plant and some associated gathering facilities in the second quarter of 2008. The net investment in these facilities was $20.0 million. The transaction closed in April 2008 and resulted in a pre-tax gain of $3.9 million.


Salt cavern storage project impairment

Questar Pipeline impaired the entire $10.6 million investment in a potential salt cavern storage project located in southwestern Wyoming in the second quarter of 2008 based on a technical and economic evaluation of the project.


RETAIL GAS DISTRIBUTION – Questar Gas

Questar Gas, which provides retail natural gas distribution services in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho, reported a net loss of $8.8 million in the third quarter of 2008 compared with a loss of $8.5 million in the third quarter of 2007. Net income was $19.8 million in the first nine months of 2008 compared with $19.5 million in the first nine months of 2007. Operating income was the same in the third quarter of 2008 as the third quarter of 2007. Operating income for the first nine months of 2008 increased $1.7 million due primarily to higher revenues from new-customer growth. Following is a summary of Questar Gas financial and operating results:


 

3 Months Ended Sept. 30,

9 Months Ended Sept. 30,

 

2008

2007

Change

2008

2007

Change

 

(in millions)

Operating Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

REVENUES

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Residential and commercial sales

$94.7 

$80.4 

$14.3 

$612.7 

$600.8 

$11.9 

  Industrial sales

2.9 

2.1 

0.8 

8.9 

7.2 

1.7 

  Transportation for industrial customers

2.3 

2.4 

(0.1)

6.7 

7.0 

(0.3)

  Service

1.2 

1.3 

(0.1)

4.4 

4.7 

(0.3)

  Other

15.9 

7.7 

8.2 

38.3 

25.6 

12.7 

    Total Revenues

117.0 

93.9 

23.1 

671.0 

645.3 

25.7 



Questar 2008 Form 10-Q

19





  Cost of natural gas sold

83.8 

62.6 

21.2 

493.4 

475.0 

18.4 

    Margin

33.2 

31.3 

1.9 

177.6 

170.3 

7.3 

Other operating expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Operating and maintenance

20.3 

18.3 

2.0 

61.6 

55.6 

6.0 

  General and administrative

8.4 

9.5 

(1.1)

29.4 

32.1 

(2.7)

  Depreciation and amortization

10.4 

9.7 

0.7 

30.9 

28.8 

2.1 

  Other taxes

3.8 

3.5 

0.3 

10.9 

10.7 

0.2 

    Total Other Operating Expenses

42.9 

41.0 

1.9 

132.8 

127.2 

5.6 

    Operating Income (Loss)

($ 9.7)

($9.7)

$ - 

$  44.8 

$  43.1 

$  1.7 

Operating Statistics

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas volumes (MMdth)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Residential and commercial sales

9.3 

9.1 

0.2 

78.4 

70.1 

8.3 

  Industrial sales

0.4 

0.3 

0.1 

1.3 

1.1 

0.2 

  Transportation for industrial customers

16.4 

14.0 

2.4 

45.8 

34.9 

10.9 

    Total Industrial

16.8 

14.3 

2.5 

47.1 

36.0 

11.1 

    Total Deliveries

26.1 

23.4 

2.7 

125.5 

106.1 

19.4 

Natural gas revenue (per dth)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Residential and commercial sales

$10.18 

$8.83 

$1.35 

$7.82 

$8.57 

($0.75)

  Industrial sales

7.59 

6.03 

1.56 

7.01 

6.28 

0.73 

  Transportation for industrial customers

$0.14 

$0.17 

($0.03)

$0.15 

$0.20 

($0.05)

Colder (warmer) than normal temperatures

(49%)

6%

(55%)

14%

14%

Temperature-adjusted usage per customer (dth)

8.3 

7.8 

0.5 

73.9 

73.2 

0.7 

Customers at Sept. 30 (thousands)

880.1 

861.0 

19.1 

 

 

 


Margin Analysis

Questar Gas margin (revenues less gas costs) increased $1.9 million in the third quarter of 2008 compared to the third quarter of 2007 and $7.3 million in the first nine months of 2008 compared to the first nine months of 2007. Following is a summary of major changes in Questar Gas margin:


 

Change in Margin

 

3 Months Ended Sept. 30, 2008

9 Months Ended Sept. 30, 2008

 

(in millions)

New customers

$0.6 

$3.4 

Conservation-enabling tariff

(0.8)

(3.1)

Change in usage per customer

1.1 

3.8 

Demand-side management cost recovery

0.7 

2.3 

Change in rates

0.7 

0.7 

Other

(0.4)

0.2 

  Increase

$1.9 

$7.3 


At September 30, 2008, Questar Gas served 880,059 customers, up from 861,036 at September 30, 2007. New-customer growth increased margin by $3.4 million in the first nine months of 2008.


Temperature-adjusted usage per customer increased 6% in the third quarter of 2008 and increased 1% in the first nine months of 2008 compared to the same periods of 2007. The impact on the company margin from changes in usage per customer has been mitigated by a pilot conservation-enabling tariff (CET) that was approved by the PSCU beginning 2006. The CET resulted in a margin decrease of $3.1 million in the first nine months of 2008, partially offsetting the $3.8 million increase in margin resulting from usage per customer.


Weather, as measured in degree days, was 49% warmer than normal in the third quarter of 2008 and 14% colder than normal in the first nine months of 2008. A weather-normalization adjustment on customer bills generally offsets financial impacts of moderate temperature variations.



Questar 2008 Form 10-Q

20



In December 2007, Questar Gas filed a general rate case in Utah requesting an increase in rates of $27.0 million, including an authorized return on equity of 11.25%. The company subsequently modified its request to $22.2 million to reflect a change in test year ordered by the PSCU and the impact of tax law changes on rate base. In the second quarter of 2008, Questar Gas received an order from the PSCU increasing rates by $12.0 million. The PSCU reduced Questar Gas’s allowed return on equity from 11.2% to 10%. The new rates went into effect in mid-August 2008 and increased the margin by $0.7 million in the third quarter of 2008.


Expenses

Cost of natural gas sold increased 34% in the third quarter of 2008 compared with the third quarter of 2007 due to increased sales volumes. Cost of natural gas sold increased 4% in the first nine months of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007. Lower gas cost per dth partially offset a 12% increase in volumes sold in the first nine months of 2008. Questar Gas accounts for purchased-gas costs in accordance with procedures authorized by the PSCU and the PSCW. Purchased-gas costs that are different from those provided for in present rates are accumulated and recovered or credited through future rate changes. As of September 30, 2008, Questar Gas had a $3.0 million under-collected balance in the purchased-gas adjustment account representing costs incurred that exceeded costs recovered from customers.


Operating and maintenance expenses increased 11% in both the third quarter of 2008 and the first nine months of 2008 compared to the same periods of 2007. Higher operating and maintenance expense was due primarily to higher bad-debt costs and labor costs. General and administrative expenses decreased 12% in the third quarter of 2008 and 8% in the first nine months of 2008 due to lower labor and legal costs. Operating, maintenance, general and administrative expenses per customer were $103 in the first nine months of 2008 compared to $102 in the year earlier period.


Depreciation expense increased 7% in both the third quarter of 2008 and the first nine months of 2008 compared to the 2007 periods. The increase in depreciation expense was primarily the result of plant additions from customer growth and system expansion.


Consolidated Results after Operating Income


Interest and other income

In the third quarter of 2008, Questar Pipeline received the final cash payment on a note receivable resulting from the May 2005 sale of a business. Gain on collection of the note receivable and related interest amounted to $3.7 million.


Interest expense

Interest expense rose 90% in the third quarter of 2008 and 72% in the first nine months of 2008 compared to a year earlier periods due primarily to financing activities associated with the purchase of natural gas development properties in northwest Louisiana and pipeline expansions. Interest rates on the Company’s commercial-paper borrowings increased during the last half of September 2008 reflecting increased liquidity pressures generally experienced by financial markets. The Company maintains committed credit lines with banks to provide liquidity when commercial markets are illiquid.


Net mark-to-market gain on basis-only swaps

The Company uses basis-only swaps to protect cash flows and net income from widening natural gas-price basis differentials that may result from capacity constraints on regional gas pipelines. The Company recognized a pre-tax net mark-to-market gain of $7.5 million on natural gas basis-only swaps in the first nine months of 2008 compared to a $14.2 million pre-tax gain in the first nine months of 2007.


Income taxes

The effective combined federal and state income tax rate was 37.3% in the first nine months of 2008 compared with 37.0% in the 2007 period.


LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES


Operating Activities

Net cash provided from operating activities increased 34% in the first nine months of 2008 compared to the first nine months of 2007 due to higher net income and noncash adjustments to net income. Noncash adjustments to net income consist primarily of depreciation, depletion and amortization, and deferred income taxes. Cash sources from operating assets and liabilities were lower in 2008 primarily due to changes in the purchase-gas adjustment account. Net cash provided from operating activities is presented below:



Questar 2008 Form 10-Q

21



 

9 Months Ended Sept. 30,

 

2008

2007

Change

 

(in millions)

Net income

$  562.6 

$376.6 

$186.0 

Noncash adjustments to net income

627.7 

417.7 

210.0 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

(54.8)

54.0 

(108.8)

Net Cash Provided From Operating Activities

$1,135.5 

$848.3 

$287.2 


Investing Activities

A comparison of capital expenditures for the first nine months of 2008 and 2007 plus a forecast for calendar year 2008 are presented below:


 

 

 

 

Forecast

 

9 Months Ended Sept. 30,

12 Months Ending Dec. 31,

 

2008

2007

Change

2008

 

(in millions)

Questar E&P

$1,401.3 

$496.8 

$904.5 

$1,883.7 

Wexpro

103.3 

61.8 

41.5 

135.0 

Gas Management

268.3 

94.2 

174.1 

400.0 

Questar Pipeline

50.5 

248.5 

(198.0)

104.6 

Questar Gas

114.6 

93.5 

21.1 

136.4 

Other

2.5 

1.7 

0.8 

2.7 

  Total

$1,940.5 

$996.5 

$944.0 

$2,662.4 


Property acquisitions and associated expanded drilling increased Questar E&P capital expenditures for the first nine months of 2008 compared to the 2007 period.


Financing Activities

In the first nine months of 2008, net cash used in investing activities of $1,816.3 million exceeded net cash flow from operating activities of $1,135.5 million. The $680.8 million difference was primarily the result of the February 2008 $652.1 million acquisition of natural gas development properties in northwest Louisiana. Long-term debt increased by a net change of $923.6 million and short-term debt decreased by a net change of $205.6 million in the first nine months of 2008.


In March 2008, Market Resources entered into a new $800 million five-year revolving-credit facility and in April 2008, sold $450 million of 10-year notes with a 6.8% coupon interest rate. Proceeds from the sale of the notes and funds available under the revolving-credit facility were used to repay short-term bank debt.


In January 2008, Questar Pipeline sold $200 million of 10-year notes with a 5.83% coupon interest rate and used the proceeds to repay maturing long-term debt and short-term intercompany debt. In March 2008, Questar Gas sold $50 million of 10-year notes with a 6.3% coupon interest rate and $100 million of 30-year notes with a 7.2% coupon interest rate. Proceeds from the Questar Gas borrowings were used to repay maturing long-term debt and short-term intercompany debt.


Liquidity in the global-credit markets has been severely contracted, making terms for certain financings less attractive, and in certain cases, has resulted in the unavailability of certain types of financing. In lieu of commercial paper issuance, the Company at times has utilized back-up lines of credit with banks to meet short-term funding needs.


Combined short-term and long-term debt was 40% of total capital at September 30, 2008. The Company had $365 million of short-term lines of credit available to support Questar’s commercial paper program. There was $55.0 million of commercial paper outstanding on September 30, 2008. Market Resources had unused capacity of $475 million on a long-term revolving-credit facility with banks at September 30, 2008.


S&P Places Questar and its Subsidiaries On CreditWatch with Negative Implications

On October 15, 2008, Standard & Poor’s placed Questar and its subsidiaries on CreditWatch with negative implications. The rating actions resulted from Standard & Poor’s reassessment of Questar’s increasing proportion of operating income and capital spending from gas and oil exploration and production activities combined with the volatility of gas and oil prices. Standard &



Questar 2008 Form 10-Q

22


Poor’s identified Questar’s A-2 rated short-term debt, Market Resources’ BBB+ rated long-term debt, Questar Pipeline’s A- rated long-term debt and Questar Gas’s A- rated long-term debt in the CreditWatch announcement.


ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.


Questar’s primary market-risk exposure arises from changes in the market price for natural gas, oil and NGL, and volatility in interest rates. Energy Trading has long-term contracts for pipeline capacity and is obligated to pay for transportation services with no guarantee that it will be able to recover the full cost of these transportation commitments.


Commodity-Price Risk Management

Market Resources uses gas- and oil-price-derivatives in the normal course of business to reduce, or hedge, the risk of adverse commodity-price movements. However, these same arrangements typically limit future gains from favorable price movements. Derivative contracts are currently in place for a significant share of Questar E&P-owned gas and oil production and a portion of Energy Trading gas- and oil-marketing transactions


Market Resources has established policies and procedures for managing commodity-price risks through the use of derivatives. These policies and procedures are reviewed periodically by the Finance and Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. Market Resources hedges natural gas and oil prices to support rate of return and cash-flow targets and protect earnings from downward movements in commodity prices. The volume of hedged production and the mix of derivative instruments are regularly evaluated and adjusted by management in response to changing market conditions. Market Resources may hedge up to 100% of forecast production from proved reserves when prices meet earnings and cash-flow objectives. Market Resources does not enter into derivative arrangements for speculative purposes.


Market Resources uses fixed-price swaps to realize a known price for a specific volume of production delivered into a regional sales point. A fixed-price swap is a derivative instrument that exchanges or “swaps” the “floating” or daily price of a specified volume of natural gas, oil or NGL, over a specified period, for a fixed price for the specified volume over the same period (typically three months or longer). In the normal course of business, the Company sells its equity natural gas, oil and NGL production to third parties at first-of-the-month or daily “floating” prices related to indices reported in industry publications. The fixed-price swap price is reduced by gathering costs and adjusted for product quality to determine the net-to-the-well price. Swap agreements do not require the physical transfer of gas between the parties at settlement. Swap transactions are settled in cash with one party paying the other for the net difference in prices, multiplied by the relevant volume, for the settlement period.


Market Resources enters into commodity-price derivative arrangements that do not have margin requirements or collateral provisions that would require funding prior to the scheduled cash settlement dates. The amount of credit available under these arrangements may vary depending on the credit ratings assigned to Market Resources’ debt. Derivative-arrangement counterparties are normally banks and energy-trading firms with investment-grade credit ratings. The Company regularly monitors counterparty exposure, credit worthiness and performance.


Generally, derivative instruments are matched to equity gas and oil production, thus qualifying as cash-flow hedges. Changes in the fair value of cash-flow hedges are recorded on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until the underlying gas or oil is produced. Gas hedges are typically structured as fixed-price swaps into regional pipelines, locking in basis and hedge effectiveness. The ineffective portion of cash-flow hedges is immediately recognized in the determination of net income.


Market Resources uses natural gas basis-only swaps to manage the risk of widening-basis differentials in the Rocky Mountains. These contracts are marked to market with any change in the valuation recognized in the determination of net income.


A summary of the Market Resources derivative positions for equity production as of September 30, 2008, is shown below:


 

 

Rocky

 

 

 

Rocky

 

 

Time Periods

Mountains

Midcontinent

Total

 

Mountains

Midcontinent

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

Estimated

 

 

Gas (Bcf) fixed-price swaps

 

Average price per Mcf, net to the well

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fourth quarter

20.5

13.2

33.7

 

$7.05

$8.32

$7.55

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Questar 2008 Form 10-Q

23



2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First half

34.5

29.5

64.0

 

$7.24

$8.12

$7.65

Second half

35.0

30.0

65.0

 

7.24

8.12

7.65

12 months

69.5

59.5

129.0

 

7.24

8.12

7.65

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First half

6.7

26.2

32.9

 

$6.88

$8.09

$7.84

Second half

6.8

26.6

33.4

 

6.88

8.09

7.84

12 months

13.5

52.8

66.3

 

6.88

8.09

7.84

 

 

 

 

 

 

Estimated

 

 

Gas (Bcf) basis-only swaps

 

Average basis per Mcf vs. NYMEX

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fourth quarter

0.9

 

0.9

 

$1.83

 

$1.83

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First half

9.3

1.7

11.0

 

$2.94

$1.08

$2.66

Second half

9.4

1.7

11.1

 

2.94

1.08

2.66

12 months

18.7

3.4

22.1

 

2.94

1.08

2.66

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First half

30.2

5.0

35.2

 

$3.39

$0.96

$3.05

Second half

30.7

5.1

35.8

 

3.39

0.96

3.05

12 months

60.9

10.1

71.0

 

3.39

0.96

3.05

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First half

45.3

 

45.3

 

$2.29

 

$2.29

Second half

46.1

 

46.1

 

2.29

 

2.29

12 months

91.4

 

91.4

 

2.29

 

2.29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Estimated

 

 

Oil (Mbbl) fixed-price swaps

 

Average price per bbl, net to the well

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fourth quarter

212

110

322

 

$67.39

$70.77

$68.55

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First half

217

145

362

 

$60.55

$66.55

$62.95

Second half

221

147

368

 

60.55

66.55

62.95

12 months

438

292

730

 

60.55

66.55

62.95


As of September 30, 2008, Market Resources held commodity-price hedging contracts covering about 281.2 million MMBtu of natural gas, 1.1 million barrels of oil and basis-only swaps on an additional 185.4 Bcf of natural gas. A year earlier the Market Resources hedging contracts covered 252.5 million MMBtu of natural gas, 1.8 million barrels of oil, 14.5 million gallons of NGL and natural gas basis-only swaps on an additional 50.2 Bcf. Changes in the fair value of derivative contracts from December 31, 2007 to September 30, 2008 are presented below:



Questar 2008 Form 10-Q

24



 

Fixed-price

Basis-only

 

 

Swaps

Swaps

Total

 

(in millions)

Net fair value of gas- and oil-derivative contracts

  outstanding at Dec. 31, 2007

$   50.7 

$  3.8 

$   54.5 

Contracts realized or otherwise settled 

(15.1)

0.5 

(14.6)

Change in gas and oil prices on futures markets 

143.8 

4.0 

147.8 

Contracts added since Dec. 31, 2007

96.9 

(11.6)

85.3 

Contracts redesignated as fixed-price swaps

(14.6)

14.6 

 

Net Fair Value Of Gas- and Oil-Derivative Contracts

  Outstanding at Sept. 30, 2008

$261.7 

$11.3 

$273.0 


A table of the net fair value of gas- and oil-derivative contracts as of September 30, 2008, is shown below. About 82% of the contracts will settle in the next 12 months and the fair value of cash-flow hedges will be reclassified from other comprehensive income:


 

Fixed-price

Basis-only

 

 

Swaps

Swaps

Total

 

(in millions)

Contracts maturing by Sept. 30, 2009

$211.8 

$11.5 

$223.3 

Contracts maturing between Oct. 1, 2009 and Sept. 30, 2010

48.3 

(18.2)

30.1 

Contracts maturing between Oct. 1, 2010 and Sept. 30, 2011

1.6 

20.9 

22.5 

Contracts maturing between Oct. 1, 2011 and Sept. 30, 2012

 

(2.9)

(2.9)

Net Fair Value Of Gas- and Oil-Derivative Contracts

  Outstanding at Sept. 30, 2008

$261.7 

$11.3 

$273.0 


The following table shows sensitivity of fair value of gas- and oil-derivative contracts and basis-only swaps to changes in the market price of gas and oil and basis differentials:


 

Sept. 30,

 

2008

2007

 

(in millions)

Net fair value – asset (liability)

$273.0 

$172.9 

Fair value if market prices of gas and oil and basis differentials decrease by 10% 

443.9 

326.1 

Fair value if market prices of gas and oil and basis differentials increase by 10% 

102.0 

19.0 


Interest-Rate Risk Management

As of September 30, 2008, Questar had $1,730.5 million of fixed-rate long-term debt and $325.0 million of variable-rate long-term debt.


Forward-Looking Statements

This quarterly report may contain or incorporate by reference information that includes or is based upon “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements give expectations or forecasts of future events. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They use words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. In particular, these include statements relating to future actions, prospective services or products, future performance or results of current and anticipated services or products, exploration efforts, expenses, the outcome of contingencies such as legal proceedings, trends in operations and financial results.


Any or all forward-looking statements may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many such factors will be important in determining actual future results. These statements are based on current expectations and the current economic environment. They involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. These statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Among factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are:



Questar 2008 Form 10-Q

25



·

the risk factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007;

·

general economic conditions, including the performance of financial markets and interest rates;

·

changes in industry trends;

·

changes in laws or regulations; and

·

other factors, most of which are beyond the Company’s control.


Questar undertakes no obligation to publicly correct or update the forward-looking statements in this quarterly report, in other documents, or on the Web site to reflect future events or circumstances. All such statements are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.


ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.


Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.

In connection with the restatement discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have re-evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of September 30, 2008. They concluded, notwithstanding the restatement, that as of September 30, 2008, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in alerting them on a timely basis to material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, required to be included in the Company’s reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act. They also concluded that the procedures are effective and ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management including its principal executive and financial officers or persons performing similar functions as appropriate. They further conclude that such information allows timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In reaching this conclusion, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer considered that the restatement did not impact net income, operating income, the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets or the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and that the significant deficiency was identified internally.


Changes in Internal Controls.

The Company has revised its procedures for valuing intercompany elimination of revenues and expenses in response to the significant deficiency noted above. There were no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2008, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.


PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION


ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS.


Recent disruptions in the financial markets could affect Questar’s ability to obtain financing or refinance existing indebtedness on reasonable terms and may have other adverse effects. Widely-documented commercial-credit market disruptions have resulted in a tightening of credit markets in the United States. Liquidity in the global-credit markets has been severely contracted by these market disruptions making terms for certain financings less attractive, and in certain cases, have resulted in the unavailability of certain types of financing. As a result of ongoing credit-market turmoil, Questar or its subsidiaries may not be able to obtain debt financing, or refinance existing indebtedness on favorable terms, which could affect operations and financial performance


ITEM 2.  UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.


The following table sets forth the Company’s purchases of common stock registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2008:





2008



Number of Shares Purchased*



Average Price per Share

Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans

Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans

July

418

$63.53

-

-

August

8,358

48.75

-

-

September

3,086

48.43

-

-

Total

11,862

$49.19

-

-



Questar 2008 Form 10-Q

26






*The numbers include any shares purchased in conjunction with tax-payment elections under the Company Long-term Stock Incentive Plan and rollover shares used in exercising stock options. They exclude any fractional shares purchased from terminating participants in the Questar Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan and any shares of restricted stock forfeited when failing to satisfy vesting conditions.


ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS.


The following exhibits are being filed as part of this report:


Exhibit No.

Exhibits


     31.1.

Certification signed by Keith O. Rattie, Questar’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.


     31.2.

Certification signed by S. E. Parks, Questar’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.


     32.

Certification signed by Keith O. Rattie and S. E. Parks, Questar’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, respectively, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.



SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


QUESTAR CORPORATION

(Registrant)



October 30, 2008

/s/Keith O. Rattie

Keith O. Rattie,

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer



October 30, 2008

/s/S. E. Parks

S. E. Parks,

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


Exhibits List

Exhibits


     31.1.

Certification signed by Keith O. Rattie, Questar Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.


     31.2.

Certification signed by S. E. Parks, Questar Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.


     32.

Certification signed by Keith O. Rattie and S. E. Parks, Questar Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, respectively, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.




Questar 2008 Form 10-Q

27