Prairie Operating Co. Announces Second Quarter 2026 Results

About this update from Prairie Operating Co.

HOUSTON, Aug. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prairie Operating Co. (Nasdaq: PROP) (the "Company," "Prairie," "we," "our," or "us") – an independent energy company engaged in the development and acquisition of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids ("NGL") resources in the Denver-Julesburg (DJ) Basin – today announced its financial and operational results for the quarter ended June 30, 2026. SECOND QUARTER 2026 RESULTS SUMMARY KEY HIGHLIGHTS FOR YEAR-TO-DATE 2026 Greg Patton, Chief Executive Officer, commented: "Prairie delivered strong operational progress during the second quarter and throughout the first half of 2026. Our team continued to improve drilling performance, execute within budget and advance our development program across multiple pads in the DJ Basin, despite a planned pause in activity related to seasonal operating restrictions. We also achieved several important technical milestones, including successfully drilling our first three-mile lateral and testing a new wellbore design that demonstrated meaningful cost savings without changing the completion or production configuration." "These achievements reflect the continued improvement of our operating capabilities. As we move into the second half of the year, we remain focused on safe and consistent execution, applying proven efficiencies across our development program and allocating capital to the opportunities that generate the strongest returns. We believe this disciplined approach will support sustainable production growth, improved capital efficiency and long-term value creation for our shareholders." Michael Shelly, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, added: "Prairie continued to strengthen its financial position and generated meaningful operating cash flow while continuing to fund an active capital program, expanded our commodity hedge portfolio to provide greater visibility and coverage of our future cash flows and made important progress simplifying our capital structure and reducing potential shareholder dilution." "As we move through the remainder of the year, our financial priorities remain centered on disciplined capital allocation, building liquidity and strengthening the balance sheet. We will continue to align capital spending with operating performance, pursue opportunities to enhance financial flexibility and support the Company's development program in a manner designed to generate sustainable free cash flow through a range of commodity-price environments." Erik Thoresen, Chairman of the Board, concluded: "During the second quarter, Prairie took several important steps to strengthen its leadership, governance and financial position. We added key members to the management team and reinvigorated the Board by welcoming a new director whose experience and perspectives will enhance our oversight and strategic decision-making." "These actions reflect the Board's commitment to a strong alignment with management and shareholders. Together, we remain focused on disciplined execution, prudent capital allocation and continued cost improvement, all with the objective of creating sustainable, long-term shareholder value." Operations Update Prairie maintained strong drilling execution during the second quarter of 2026, drilling 12 wells, including two Codell and ten Niobrara wells. Eight of the 12 wells were drilled in a single run, and all wells were completed below AFE. The wells consisted of two- and three-mile laterals and averaged approximately 19,100 feet in measured depth, with an average rate of penetration of 390 feet per hour and an average spud-to-rig-release time of 6.65 days. During the quarter, Prairie successfully drilled its first three-mile lateral, a Niobrara B well, in a single run and completed drilling operations at the Burnett Pad. Drilling operations at the Castor pad were subsequently completed during the first month of the third quarter. Second-quarter drilling activity included a planned pause between the Opal Coalbank and Burnett pads to accommodate seasonal restrictions associated with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. On the Castor pad, Prairie completed two successful trials utilizing a 7-7/8-inch hole design, compared with the Company's standard 8-1/2-inch design. The trials generated realized savings and utilized the same 5-1/2-inch production casing. As such, it does not alter the delivered well configuration for completion or production purposes. Based on these results, Prairie plans to deploy the smaller hole design across a significant portion of its upcoming Niobrara development program. Year to date, Prairie has drilled 27 wells, including six Codell and 21 Niobrara wells, with 19 wells drilled in a single run. On average, the wells were delivered below AFE. Year-to-date wells averaged approximately 18,700 feet in measured depth, an average rate of penetration of 377 feet per hour and an average spud-to-rig-release time of 6.2 days. Prairie has completed drilling operations at the Elder, Opal Coalbank, Burnett and Castor pads during 2026. (1)   Excludes $12.4 million of capital costs included in accounts payable and accrued expenses as of June 30, 2026. Revenue and Production Revenue for the second quarter of 2026 was $98.9 million, including $93.5 million related to oil. Production for the second quarter of 2026 totaled 1,990 MBoe, or 21,866 Boe/d, and was comprised of approximately 50% oil and 72% liquids. Operating Costs For the second quarter of 2026, lease operating expenses were $13.6 million, or $6.85 per Boe; transportation and processing expenses were $2.4 million, or $1.22 per Boe; ad valorem and production taxes were $8.0 million, or $4.01 per Boe; and general and administrative expenses were $12.0 million, or $6.01 per Boe. Liquidity and Capital Resources As of June 30, 2026, we had a working capital deficit of approximately $125.5 million and availability of $39.0 million under the reserve based credit agreement with Citibank, N.A. (the "Credit Facility"). As of June 30, 2026, the Credit Facility had a borrowing base of $475.0 million and aggregate elected commitments of $475.0 million. During the six months ended June 30, 2026, our cash expenditures for the development of oil and natural gas properties totaled $132.6 million, with an additional $12.4 million incurred in accounts payable and accrued expenses. On August 14, 2026, we entered into an amendment to our Credit Facility agreement which, among other things, modifies the Current Ratio covenant requirement for the quarters ended June 30, 2026, through December 31, 2026. Additionally, the amendment includes a new covenant which requires our net monthly production to not fall below an average number specified in the agreement, which will be measured on a rolling three-month average, beginning September 30, 2026. After giving effect to the amendment, we are in compliance with all covenants under the Credit Facility as of June 30, 2026. Adjusting 2026 Guidance Prairie adjusts full-year guidance for 2026 as follows: (1) Adjusted EBITDA is a Non-GAAP measure, refer to "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures used throughout this press release. Commodity Hedges As of June 30, 2026, we had the following outstanding crude oil and natural gas derivative contracts in place, which settle monthly and are indexed to NYMEX West Texas Intermediate, NYMEX Henry Hub, and Mont Belvieu OPIS, respectively: Non-GAAP Financial Measures This press release contains Adjusted EBITDA which is a financial measure not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA is used by management to evaluate the performance of our business, make operational decisions, and assess our ability to generate cashflows. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA provides investors with helpful information to better understand the underlying performance trends of our business, facilitate period-to-period comparisons, and assess the company's operating results. Adjusted EBITDA is derived from net income (loss) attributable to Prairie Operating Co. and is adjusted for depreciation, depletion, and amortization, abandonment and impairment of unproved properties, non-cash stock-based compensation, interest expense, net, unrealized (gain) loss on derivatives, non-cash (gain) loss on adjustment to fair value – financial instrument liabilities, litigation and severance settlement expense, and income tax expense (benefit), all as applicable. We adjust net income (loss) attributable to Prairie Operating Co. for the items listed above to arrive at Adjusted EBITDA because these amounts can vary substantially between periods and companies within our industry depending upon accounting methods, book values of assets, capital structures, and the method by which assets were acquired. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, including that it excludes certain items that affect our reported financial results. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income calculated in accordance with GAAP or as an indicator of our operating performance or liquidity. Additionally, our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. The following table presents the reconciliation of Net income (loss) attributable to Prairie Operating Co. to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods indicated: The following table presents the reconciliation of expected full-year 2026 Net income attributable to Prairie Operating Co. to expected full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA: Cautionary Statement about Forward-Looking Statements The information included in this press release and in any oral statements made in connection herewith include "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. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding future financial performance, business strategies, expansion plans, future results of operations, estimated revenues, losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management. These forward-looking statements are based on our management's current expectations, estimates, projections and beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions concerning future events, and are not guarantees of performance. Such statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. When used in this press release, words such as "may," "should," "could," "would," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "believe," "estimate," "continue," "project" or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The forward-looking statements contained herein are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks are not exhaustive. Other sections of this press release could include additional factors that could adversely affect our business and financial performance. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for our management to predict all risk factors nor can we assess the effects of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in, or implied by, any forward-looking statements. Our Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), filings are available publicly on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, forward-looking statements in this press release should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. All forward-looking statements expressed or implied, included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Regulation FD Disclosure The Company announces material information to the public through a variety of means, including filings with the SEC, press releases, public conference calls, and the investor relations section of its website at www.prairieopco.com . In addition to these traditional channels, the Company also uses its official social media accounts as a means of disclosing information about Prairie and its business, and to comply with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. The Company's official social media accounts currently include @PrairieOpCo on X (formerly Twitter) and linkedin.com/company/prairie-operating-co on LinkedIn. Information the Company posts through these social media channels may be deemed material. Accordingly, investors, the media, and others interested in the Company should monitor these accounts in addition to following the Company's press releases, SEC filings, and public conference calls and webcasts. The Company may update the list of official social media accounts from time to time, and any such updates will be posted on the investor relations section of its website. About Prairie Operating Co. Prairie Operating Co. is a Houston-based publicly traded independent energy company engaged in the development and acquisition of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquid resources in the United States. The Company's assets and operations are concentrated in the oil and liquids-rich regions of the Denver-Julesburg (DJ) Basin, with a primary focus on the Niobrara and Codell formations. The Company is committed to the responsible development of its oil natural gas, and natural gas liquid resources and is focused on maximizing returns through consistent growth, capital discipline, and sustainable cash flow generation. More information about the Company can be found at www.prairieopco.com . Investor Relations Contact: Wobbe Ploegsma [email protected]   720-716-5415 Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information The following table presents non–cash investing and financing activities for the periods presented:

View stock analysis, news, and events for Prairie Operating Co.