St. Mary Reports Results for Third Quarter of 2009

St. Mary Land & Exploration Company (NYSE: SM) today reports financial results from the third quarter of 2009. In addition, a new presentation for third quarter earnings and an operations update has been posted on the home page of the Company’s website at stmaryland.com. This presentation will be referenced in the conference call scheduled for 8:00 a.m. Mountain time (10:00 a.m. Eastern time) on November 3, 2009. The detailed information for the earnings call can be found below.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY

Tony Best, CEO and President, remarked, “St. Mary posted another solid quarter in 2009. We achieved our production target for the quarter and our cost performance was within or below guidance. We have maintained the strength of our balance sheet and continue to invest within cash flow. The Company is executing very well on the business plan we set out for ourselves this year. We are in a great position both operationally and financially to focus on the successes we are seeing in our growing inventory of resource plays.”

THIRD QUARTER 2009 RESULTS

St. Mary posted a net loss for the third quarter of 2009 of ($4.4 million), a loss of ($0.07) per diluted share. This compares to net income of $87 million, or $1.38 per diluted share, for the same period in 2008. Adjusted net income for the quarter, which adjusts for significant non-recurring or unusual non-cash items, was $14.7 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, versus $75.5 million, or $1.20 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2008. A summary of the adjustments made to arrive at adjusted net income (loss) is presented in the table below.

* On January 1, 2009, the Company adopted FASB ASC Topic 470-20, "Debt with Conversion and Other Options" ("ASC Topic 470") which required retrospective application. As result, prior period balances presented have been adjusted to reflect the period-specific effects of applying ASC Topic 470.

Discretionary cash flow decreased to $99.9 million for the third quarter of 2009 from $195.8 million in the same period last year. Net cash provided by operating activities decreased to $111.3 million for the third quarter of 2009 from $252.3 million in the same period in 2008. A major driver of the decrease year over year in each of these metrics was the significant decrease in oil and natural gas prices between those periods which is described in more detail below.

Adjusted net income and discretionary cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures – please refer to the respective reconciliation in the accompanying Financial Highlights section at the end of this release.

St. Mary reported quarterly production of 26.4 BCFE for the third quarter of 2009, which was within the guidance range of 25.5 to 27.0 BCFE. Production for the same period last year was 27.7 BCFE, which included 0.8 BCFE of production from assets that were later disposed of in 2008. Sequentially, production in the third quarter of 2009 was down from the preceding quarter as a result of lower levels of capital investment in prior quarters and Management’s stated objective to invest within cash flow this year.

Revenues for the quarter were $185.8 million compared to $324.1 million for the same period in 2008. In the third quarter of 2009, the Company’s average equivalent price per MCFE, net of hedging, was $6.86 per MCFE, which is a decrease of 38% from the $11.01 per MCFE realized in the comparable period in 2008. Average realized prices, excluding hedging activities, were $3.37 per Mcf of natural gas and $61.93 per barrel of oil during the quarter. These prices were 66% and 45% lower, respectively, than those in the third quarter of 2008. Average realized prices, inclusive of hedging activities, were $4.95 per Mcf of natural gas and $62.65 per barrel of oil in the third quarter of 2009, which is a decrease of 48% and 25%, respectively, from the same period a year ago.

Lease operating expense of $1.30 per MCFE in the third quarter of 2009 was below the Company’s guidance of $1.35 to $1.40 per MCFE. This represents a 17% decrease from the $1.57 per MCFE in the comparable period last year. Sequentially, lease operating expense increased 3% or $0.04 per MCFE in the third quarter of 2009 from the second quarter. In absolute terms, the Company’s lease operating expense was moderately down $1.3 million on a sequential basis.

Transportation expense of $0.20 per MCFE in the third quarter of 2009 was within the guidance range of $0.15 to $0.20 per MCFE. The reported per unit expense was a decrease from $0.24 per MCFE for the comparative period in 2008. Transportation expense was up $0.04 per MCFE from the second quarter of 2009.

Significant commodity price decreases over the past year for both oil and natural gas resulted in year over year declines in production taxes, both on a per MCFE basis and in absolute dollars. Between the third quarters of 2009 and 2008, production taxes on a per MCFE basis decreased 58% from $0.81 to $0.34. Sequentially, production taxes remained essentially flat with the preceding quarter. The Company’s results for the third quarter were below the guidance range of $0.38 to $0.43 per MCFE provided for the quarter.

Total general and administrative expense for the third quarter of 2009 was $0.79 per MCFE, representing a 9% decrease from the $0.87 per MCFE recognized in the comparable quarter a year ago. The decrease year over year relates primarily to smaller payments to participants in the legacy Net Profits Plan, which was affected by lower commodity prices realized in the third quarter of 2009. The guidance range for total G&A expense for the quarter was $0.64 to $0.71 per MCFE. The variance from guidance is largely the result of higher cash NPP payments as a result of higher commodity prices and lower operating costs than had been assumed by the Company. Additionally, the exploration allocation percentages for compensation were reduced to reflect current job functions by the company’s technical staff. This resulted in a higher amount of expense being retained in general and administrative expense.

Depletion and depreciation expense was $2.54 per MCFE in the third quarter of 2009, which was within the Company’s guidance range of $2.40 to $2.60 per MCFE. DD&A in the comparable period of 2008 was $2.61 per MCFE. Sequentially, DD&A in the third quarter of 2009 was essentially flat with the preceding quarter.

During the quarter, St. Mary recognized a loss on divestiture activities of $11.3 MM. This loss was largely related to our Atlantic Rim CBM properties in the Rocky Mountain regions. The properties were part of the Rocky Mountain natural gas package that was marketed earlier this year and remain unsold. As a result they were re-characterized from assets held for sale to assets held and used, and the Company recorded a loss on divestiture activities.

St. Mary recognized $4.8 million before income taxes in non-cash impairments for unproved properties in the third quarter of 2009, compared to $1.2 million in the same period in 2008. The largest portion of the unproved property impairments is related to lease expirations of non-core leasehold in the Mid-Continent and ArkLaTex regions. The Company also recognized an impairment of materials inventory for $2.1 million related to the write-down of equipment and materials based on updated pricing.

Exploration expense of $15.7 million was recognized in the third quarter of 2009, compared to $10.7 million in the same period in 2008. The increase year over year reflects higher levels of geological and geophysical spending, including seismic and increased technical staff, primarily in our Eagle Ford and Haynesville resource plays.

In the third quarter of 2009, St. Mary recognized a pre-tax non-cash charge of $6.8 million as a result of the increase in the Net Profits Plan liability, compared to a benefit of $34.9 million in the third quarter of 2008. This periodic expense is a reflection of change in the liability during the respective periods. This liability is a significant management estimate and is highly sensitive to a number of assumptions including future commodity prices, production rates, and operating costs. The last pool created under this legacy compensation plan was in 2007.

FINANCIAL POSITION AND LIQUIDITY

As of September 30, 2009, St. Mary had total long-term debt of $499.8 million. The long-term credit facility was down $40 million from June 30, 2009, to $235.0 million and the balance on the 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes was $264.8 million, net of debt discount. The credit facility matures in July of 2012 and the Senior Convertible Notes cannot be put to the Company until April of 2012. The Company’s debt-to-book capitalization ratio was 33% as of the end of the quarter.

The borrowing base for the long-term credit facility was reaffirmed by St. Mary’s bank group on September 29, 2009, and remains unchanged at an amount of $900 million. The Company has a commitment amount of $678 million from the 12 banks that comprise our bank group. As of October 27, 2009, St. Mary had $215.0 million drawn on the revolver and had $462.4 million in unused borrowing capacity.

EARNINGS CALL INFORMATION

The Company has scheduled a teleconference to discuss the third quarter results on November 3, 2009, at 8:00 a.m. Mountain time (10:00 a.m. Eastern time). The call participation number is 888-811-1227. An audio replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the call at 800-642-1687, conference number 31930252. International participants can dial 706-679-9922 to take part in the conference call and can access a replay of the call at 706-645-9291, conference number 31930252. Replays can be accessed through November 10, 2009.

In addition, the call will be webcast live and can be accessed at St. Mary’s website at stmaryland.com. An audio recording of the conference call will be available at that site through November 10, 2009.

A presentation to be referred to during the earnings call will be available on the home page of St. Mary’s website at stmaryland.com prior to the earnings call.

INFORMATION ABOUT FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of securities laws, including forecasts and projections. The words “will,” “believe,” “budget,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “forecast,” and “expect” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, which may cause St. Mary’s actual results to differ materially from results expressed or implied by the forward looking statements. These risks include such factors as the volatility and level of oil and natural gas prices, the uncertain nature of the expected benefits from the acquisition and divestiture of oil and gas properties, the pending nature of reported divestiture plans for certain non-core oil and gas properties as well as the ability to complete divestiture transactions and the uncertain nature of the amount of proceeds that may be received from divestitures, uncertainties inherent in projecting future rates of production from drilling activities and acquisitions, the ability of purchasers of production to pay for those sales, the availability of debt and equity financing, the ability of the banks in the Company’s credit facility to fund requested borrowings, the ability of hedge counterparties to settle hedges in favor of the Company, the imprecise nature of estimating oil and gas reserves, the availability of additional economically attractive exploration, development, and property acquisition opportunities for future growth and any necessary financings, unexpected drilling conditions and results, unsuccessful exploration and development drilling, drilling and operating service availability, the risks associated with the Company’s hedging strategy, and other such matters discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of St. Mary’s 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports filed on Form 10-Q. Although St. Mary may from time to time voluntarily update its prior forward looking statements, it disclaims any commitment to do so except as required by securities laws.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

St. Mary Land & Exploration Company is an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, exploitation, development, acquisition, and production of natural gas and crude oil. St. Mary routinely posts important information about the Company on its website. For more information about St. Mary, please visit its website at stmaryland.com.

NOTE: On January 1, 2009, new authoritative accounting guidance under FASB ASC Topic 470-20, “Debt with Conversion and Other Options” (“ASC Topic 470”) required retrospective application. As a result, prior period balances presented have been adjusted to reflect the period-specific effects of applying ASC Topic 470.

* Stock-based compensation expense is a component of exploration expense and general and administrative expense on the consolidated statements of operations. For the three months ended September 30, 2009, and 2008, respectively, approximately $1.5 million and $1.6 million of stock based compensation was included in exploration expense. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, and 2008, respectively, approximately $4.4 million and $3.8 million of stock-based compensation expense was included in exploration expense. For the three months ended September 30, 2009, and 2008, respectively, approximately $4.0 million and $1.8 million of stock-based compensation was included in general and administrative expense. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, and 2008, respectively approximately $8.6 million and $6.7 million of stock-based compensation expense was included in general and administrative expense.

(1) The loss related to hurricanes is included within line item other expense on the consolidated statements of operations.

(2) Adjusted net income is calculated as net income (loss) adjusted for significant non-cash and non-recurring items. Non-cash charges and adjustments include change in the Net Profits Plan liability, unrealized derivative (gain) loss, impairment of proved properties, abandonment and impairment of unproved properties, and impairment of materials inventory. Non-recurring items include (gain) loss on divestiture activities, loss related to hurricanes, loss on insurance settlement, and bad debt expense associated with Sem Group, L.P. The non-GAAP measure of adjusted net income is presented because management believes it provides useful additional information to investors for analysis of St. Mary’s fundamental business on a recurring basis. In addition, management believes that adjusted net income is widely used by professional research analysts and others in the valuation, comparison, and investment recommendations of companies in the oil and gas exploration and production industry, and many investors use the published research of industry research analysts in making investment decisions. Adjusted net income should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income, income from operations, cash provided by operating activities or other income, profitability, cash flow, or liquidity measures prepared under GAAP. Since adjusted net income excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income and may vary among companies, the adjusted net income amounts presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

(3) Beginning in the third quarter of 2009 the Company changed its definition of discretionary cash flow. Prior periods have been conformed to the current definition and the change in the definition did not result in a material variance to results under the prior definition. Discretionary cash flow is computed as net cash provided by operating activities adjusted for changes in current assets and liabilities and exploration benefit (expense), less exploratory dry hole expense, and stock-based compensation expense included in exploration. The non-GAAP measure of discretionary cash flow is presented because management believes that it provides useful additional information to investors for analysis of St. Mary's ability to internally generate funds for exploration, development, and acquisitions. In addition, discretionary cash flow is widely used by professional research analysts and others in the valuation, comparison, and investment recommendations of companies in the oil and gas exploration and production industry, and many investors use the published research of industry research analysts in making investment decisions. Discretionary cash flow should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income, income from operations, net cash provided by operating activities or other income, profitability, cash flow, or liquidity measures prepared under GAAP. Since discretionary cash flow excludes some, but not all items that affect net income and net cash provided by operating activities and may vary among companies, the discretionary cash flow amounts presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. See the consolidated statements of cash flows herein for more detailed cash flow information.