VAALCO Energy Announces 2nd Quarter 2007 Results

HOUSTON, Aug. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- VAALCO Energy, Inc. (NYSE: EGY), today announced that its net earnings for the second quarter, ended June 30, 2007, were $3.7 million or $0.06 per diluted share, compared to $10.5 million or $0.17 per diluted share for the same period in 2006. Second-quarter revenues were $24.1 million in 2007 and $25.6 million in 2006.

"VAALCO's second quarter results are lower than a year ago, but consistent with our strategy of maximizing cash flow while preparing for the next phase of exploration in our West Africa properties," Robert L. Gerry, III, Chairman and CEO stated. "Operating cash flow remains ahead of year-ago levels, and our bank balances remain strong. Our earnings were primarily affected by non-cash items, including higher depreciation rates at Avouma and higher tax rates in Gabon this year."

VAALCO sold 351,000 net barrels of crude oil equivalent at an average price of $68.77 per barrel during the second quarter of 2007, compared to 374,000 barrels of crude oil equivalent and an average price of $68.42 per barrel in the second quarter of 2006.

Gerry said that VAALCO's new Avouma/South Tchibala development is producing water-free at approximately 7,000 barrels oil per day. The balance of the VAALCO's current production is coming from its Etame field nearby. VAALCO's June lifting from its Etame properties totaled nearly 680,000 barrels, its largest since March 2006.

Within the same Etame permit area offshore Gabon, development of the Ebouri field continues, with production likely to begin in 2008. Seismic processing of a new 400-square-kilometer 3D survey area south of Etame is nearly complete.

Onshore Gabon, VAALCO is conducting an aeromagnetic survey over its Mutamba block to firm up prospects for drilling in 2008. In Angola, VAALCO continues to develop exploration prospects for drilling in 2008 and 2009. VAALCO opened a new field office in Luanda in August.

For the first half of 2007, the Company earned $8.3 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, compared to $21.5 million or $0.36 per diluted share in the first half of 2006.

Crude oil sales for the first half of 2007 were 861,000 barrels of oil equivalent at an average price of $61.81 per barrel compared to 886,000 barrels of oil equivalent at an average $64.15 per barrel of oil equivalent for the first half of 2006.

Net cash provided by operations was $26.5 million in the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to $26.3 million in the six months ended June 30, 2006.



    Financial results:

    (Unaudited  - in thousands of dollars)

                                      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
                                           June 30,             June 30,
                                        2007      2006      2007       2006

    Revenues                           24,128    25,575    53,259     56,812
    Operating costs and expenses        8,940     5,546    25,770     11,656
    Operating Income (Loss)            15,218    20,029    27,489     45,156

    Other Income (Expense)                464       480     1,140        594
    Income tax expense                (11,329)   (8,677)  (18,521)   (20,797)
    Loss from discontinued operations     (24)      (14)      (51)      (729)
    Minority Interest in earnings
     of subsidiaries                     (582)   (1,329)   (1,785)    (2,760)

    Net Income                          3,717    10,489     8,272     21,464

    Basic Income per Common Share       $0.06     $0.18     $0.14      $0.37

    Diluted Income per Common Share     $0.06     $0.17     $0.14      $0.36



    Other financial results:

                                          Three Months Ended  Six months Ended
                                                June 30,          June 30,
     (Unaudited)                             2007     2006     2007     2006

    Net oil and gas sales (MBOE)               351      374      861      886
    Average price ($/bbl)                   $68.77   $68.42   $61.81   $64.15
    Production costs ($/bbl)                 $8.48    $7.87    $8.41    $7.07
    Depletion costs ($/bbl)                 $11.59    $3.88   $10.14    $3.72
    General and administrative costs
     ($/bbl)                                 $4.19    $1.17    $5.01    $1.28
    Capital Expenditures ($thousands)        1,740    5,059    7,772    8,477
    Debt/Proved reserves ($/BOE)                --       --    $0.72    $0.72
    Debt/Capitalization ($/$)                   --       --    $0.04    $0.05
    Cash and cash equivalents ($thousands)      --       --   72,404   65,955
    Working capital ($thousands)                --       --   72,736   72,720
    Total long term debt ($thousands)           --       --    5,000    5,000



    Basic and diluted share information:

                         Three months ended             Six months ended
    Item            June 30, 2007  June 30, 2006  June 30, 2007  June 30, 2006

    Basic weighted
     average common
     stock issued
     and outstanding  59,124,086    57,819,842      59,082,113     57,651,747
    Dilutive options   1,156,992     2,557,793       1,273,363      2,543,002
      Total diluted
       shares         60,281,078    60,377,635      60,355,476     60,194,749


The Company has scheduled a conference call on Friday, August 10, 2007 at 10:00 am CDT. Interested parties may participate in the call by dialing 1-866-868-1109 or from international locations 1-847-413-2404. Confirmation code is 18714576.

Conference Call Replay will be available beginning 1 hour after the conference is over and run through September 9, 2007 by dialing 1-877-213-9653 and entering pass code 18714576. International parties may dial 1-630-652-3041 and entering pass code 18714576.

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" as defined by the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements are those concerning VAALCO's plans, expectations, and objectives for future drilling, completion and other operations and activities. All statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that VAALCO expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These statements include future production rates, completion and production timetables and costs to complete wells. These statements are based on assumptions made by VAALCO based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond VAALCO's control. These risks include, but are not limited to, inflation, lack of availability, goods, services and capital, environmental risks, drilling risks, foreign operational risks and regulatory changes. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These risks are further described in VAALCO's annual report on form 10K/A for the year ended December 31, 2006 and other reports filed with the SEC which can be reviewed at http://www.sec.gov, or which can be received by contacting VAALCO at 4600 Post Oak Place, Suite 309, Houston, Texas 77027, (713) 623-0801.

SOURCE VAALCO Energy, Inc.