Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp. Reports First Quarter 2008 Results

Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp. (Amex: KOG), an oil and gas exploration and production company with assets in the Green River Basin of southwest Wyoming and Colorado and the Williston Basin of North Dakota and Montana, today reported financial and operating results for the first quarter 2008.

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    First Quarter Financial Results
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The Company reported a net loss for the quarter-ended March 31, 2008, of $2.6 million, or $0.03 per basic and diluted share, compared with a net loss of $14.5 million, or $0.17 per basic and diluted share, for the same period in 2007. The first quarter 2007 net loss included $14.0 million in non-cash charges related to an impairment of the carrying value of oil and gas properties. Net loss before the impairment charge for the first quarter 2007, a non-GAAP measure, was $0.5 million, or $0.01 per share.

Total revenues for the first quarter 2008 were $2.0 million, versus $2.1 million for the same period in 2007. Oil and gas sales were $1.9 million for the first quarter 2008, as compared to $1.6 million in 2007. First quarter 2008 interest income was approximately $0.5 million lower than in the prior-year period. Crude oil revenue accounted for approximately 75% of first quarter 2008 oil and gas sales.

Adjusted EBITDA was negatively impacted in the first quarter of 2008 by the repair work on producing oil wells described below. For the first quarter 2008, Adjusted EBITDA was approximately $2,400 as compared to $762,000 for the same period in 2007. Kodiak defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion, non-cash stock-based compensation expense, impairment charges and gains or losses on foreign currency exchange.

Reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, to net loss are included in this news release and in the Company's filing on Form 10-Q. Additional disclosure regarding the Company's use of Adjusted EBITDA are also included in the Company's filing on Form 10-Q.

Total assets were $69.9 million at March 31, 2008, as compared to $74.3 million at December 31, 2007. Stockholders' equity was $67.2 million at March 31, 2008, as compared to $68.3 million at year-end 2007. The Company's cash and cash equivalents position at March 31, 2008, was $9.9 million, and it currently has no long-term debt.

General and administrative (G&A) expense increased to $2.5 million for the first quarter 2008, from $1.3 million for the same period in 2007. Included in the G&A expense for the 2008 period is a stock-based compensation charge of $1.5 million for options issued to officers, directors and employees, as compared to $276,000 for the same period in 2007.

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    Oil and Gas Sales
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Kodiak's first quarter 2008 oil and gas sales volumes were down 18% to 26,948 barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) as compared to 32,918 BOE in the same period in 2007. Oil sales volumes were down 37% to 15,848 barrels for the first quarter 2008, as compared to 25,266 barrels in the same period in 2007. The decline in oil production was caused by the intermittent shutting in of three wells in the Elm Coulee Field producing from the Bakken Formation. The wells underwent workovers to prepare them for additional fracture stimulation procedures anticipated in the second quarter that are intended to improve flow rates while extending the productive well lives. By commodity in the first quarter, crude oil constituted 59% of the production base.

For the first quarter 2008, the average gas price received increased 7% to $6.99 per thousand cubic feet of natural gas (Mcf), as compared to the $6.52 per Mcf received in 2007. On a quarter-over-quarter basis, Kodiak enjoyed a 76% uplift in the average price received for crude oil in 2008. The Company sold its oil for $89.12 per barrel during the first quarter 2008, as compared to the $50.55 per barrel received during the prior-year period. Kodiak currently does not hedge any of its oil and gas production volumes.

During the first quarter 2008, Kodiak invested $3.1 million primarily for acreage acquisition and for the aforementioned Williston Basin oil well workover program. Subsequent to the end of the second quarter and the completion of the workover program, the Company anticipates improved daily flow rates. Aside from the workover program, the Company had no other drilling and completion activity during the quarter. The Company now has working interests in 23 gross (14.7 net) wells, of which 16 gross (11.2 net) are Kodiak-operated wells.

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    Williston Basin-Montana and North Dakota
    Bakken Projects
    >>

In addition to its existing activity in McKenzie County, N.D., Kodiak continues to add to its leasehold position in Dunn County, N.D., where the primary objective is the middle Bakken layered between the two Bakken shales at an approximate vertical depth of 10,000 feet. As of March 31, 2008, Kodiak had acquired 38,686 gross acres and 28,957 net acres on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. In addition to the approved leases Kodiak has approximately 8,800 net acres classified as pending by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Final approval of these leases, which cannot be assured by Kodiak, is awaiting the superintendent's approval.

Locations on the southern portion of the Company's leasehold are currently being permitted. The Tall Bear 16-15H location received an approved Environmental Assessment early in the second quarter 2008. Final approval from the Bureau of Land Management and the BIA is expected in early May 2008. Subject to securing a drilling contract and equipment, drilling activity should commence in this area in late second quarter of 2008.

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    Management Comment
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Commenting on Williston Basin activities, Kodiak's President and CEO Lynn Peterson said: "We believe the Bakken shale play will continue to develop into one of the most prolific, regionally extensive oil discoveries in the lower 48 states in a number of years. Kodiak's methodical leasing procedures for the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation lands have taken considerable time and dedication by our entire staff. However, based upon our geological model, we felt the Reservation provided a unique opportunity for a company of our size to develop significant reserves. By working with the Tribe and regulatory agencies, we are able to expose Kodiak and its shareholders to a large, contiguous acreage block where we will operate most of the future wells to be drilled. We hope to see the results of these efforts when proposed drilling activity commences here later this year."

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    Vermillion Basin-Wyoming
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The Company has commenced its 2008 program under the previously announced Exploration Agreement with Devon Energy. Drilling should begin during the second quarter and will be initially focused on the western acreage block in the Horseshoe Basin Unit. The 2008 drilling program attempts to extend the fractured Baxter reservoir that was discovered in the Horseshoe Basin #5-3 well in late 2007. Pipeline facilities to hook up the well should be completed in the second quarter. At least two wells are anticipated in the Unit along with one exploratory test on the northern block of Kodiak's acreage. Kodiak is carried for the majority of the anticipated costs associated with the Baxter shale play during 2008.

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    Teleconference Call
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In conjunction with Kodiak's release of its results, investors, analysts and other interested parties are invited to listen to a conference call with management on Friday, May 9, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

Date: Friday, May 9, 2008

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    Time:      11:00 a.m. EDT
               10:00 a.m. CDT
               9:00 a.m. MDT
               8:00 a.m. PDT
    >>

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    Call:      (877) 257-3168 (US/Canada) and (706) 643-3820 (International)
               Passcode 44575964
    >>

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    Internet:  Live and rebroadcast over the Internet
               http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=47897
               or at: http://www.kodiakog.com
    >>

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    Replay:    Available through Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at (800) 642-1687
               (US/Canada) and (706) 645-9291 (International) using passcode
               44575964 and for 30 days at http://www.kodiakog.com
    About Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp.
    >>

Kodiak Oil & Gas, Denver-based, is an independent energy exploration and development company focused on exploring, developing and producing oil and natural gas in the Williston and Green River Basins in the U.S. Rocky Mountains. For further information, please visit http://www.kodiakog.com. The Company's common shares are listed for trading on the American Stock Exchange "KOG."

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    Forward-Looking Statements
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This press release includes statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements, usually containing the words "believe," "estimate," "project," "expect" or similar expressions. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," 'projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this document include statements regarding the Company's exploration, drilling and development plans, the Company's expectations regarding the timing and success of such programs, the Company's expectations regarding the timing and amount of future revenues and the Company's expectations regarding the future production of its oil & gas properties. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in the prices of oil and gas, uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of oil and gas reserves and projecting future rates of production and timing of development activities, competition, operating risks, acquisition risks, liquidity and capital requirements, the effects of governmental regulation, adverse changes in the market for the Company's oil and gas production, dependence upon third-party vendors, and other risks detailed in the Company's periodic report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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                            KODIAK OIL & GAS CORP.
                    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    >>

(Unaudited) (Audited)

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                                                    March 31,    December 31,
                                                      2008           2007
                      ASSETS
    Current Assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                    $9,904,019    $13,015,318
      Accounts receivable
        Trade                                       1,099,043      1,373,843
        Accrued sales revenues                        799,611        789,652
      Prepaid expenses and other                      118,458        198,996
           Total Current Assets                    11,921,131     15,377,809
    Property and equipment (full cost method),
     at cost:
      Proved oil and gas properties                77,791,640     77,272,437
      Unproved oil and gas properties              21,666,305     21,904,737
      Wells in progress                               309,278        414,074
      Less-accumulated depletion,
       depreciation, amortization,
       accretion, and asset impairment           (42,347,333)   (41,204,821)
      Net oil and gas properties                   57,419,890     58,386,427
    Other property and equipment, net of
     accumulated depreciation of $198,204
     in 2008 and of $176,458 in 2007                  299,043        312,017
    Restricted investments                            258,272        255,068
    Total Assets                                  $69,898,336    $74,331,321
    >>

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       LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Current Liabilities:
      Accounts payable and accrued liabilities     $1,975,800     $5,163,457
    >>

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    Noncurrent Liabilities:
      Asset retirement obligation                     742,396        874,498
           Total Liabilities                        2,718,196      6,037,955
    >>

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    Commitments and Contingencies
    Stockholders' Equity:
      Common stock, no par value; unlimited
       authorized
      Contributed surplus                         116,613,733    115,094,923
      Accumulated deficit                        (49,433,593)   (46,801,557)
    >>

Total Stockholders' Equity 67,180,140 68,293,366

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    Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity    $69,898,336    $74,331,321
    >>

The notes accompanying the financial statements are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements and can be found in Kodiak's filing on Form

10-Q dated May 8, 2008.

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                            KODIAK OIL & GAS CORP.
               CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                 (UNAUDITED)
    >>

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                                                        For the Three
                                                    Months Ended March 31,
                                                   2008               2007
    Revenues:
      Gas production                             $465,865           $299,498
      Oil production                            1,412,306          1,277,319
      Interest                                     83,366            563,710
        Total revenue                           1,961,537          2,140,527
    >>

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    Cost and expenses:
      Oil and gas production                      982,951            390,775
      Depletion, depreciation,
       amortization and accretion               1,097,299          1,039,246
      Asset impairment                                  -         14,000,000
      General and administrative                2,495,042          1,262,960
      (Gain)/loss on currency exchange             18,281           (97,621)
         Total costs and expenses               4,593,573         16,595,360
    >>

Net loss $(2,632,036) $(14,454,833)

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    Basic & diluted weighted-average
     common shares outstanding                 87,992,931         87,549,815
    >>

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    Basic & diluted net loss per common
     share                                        $(0.03)            $(0.17)
    >>

The notes accompanying the financial statements are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements and can be found in Kodiak's filing on Form

10-Q dated May 8, 2008.

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                            KODIAK OIL & GAS CORP.
                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASHFLOWS
                                 (UNAUDITED)
    >>

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                                                        For the Three
                                                     Months Ended March 31,
                                                    2008               2007
    Cash flows from operating activities:
       Net loss                                $(2,632,036)      $(14,454,833)
    Reconciliation of net loss to net cash
     (used in) operating activities:
        Depletion, depreciation,
         amortization and accretion               1,097,299         1,039,246
        Asset impairment                                  -        14,000,000
        Stock-based compensation                  1,518,810           275,580
      Changes in current assets and
       liabilities:
        Accounts receivable-trade                   274,800           520,389
        Accounts receivable-accrued sales
         revenues                                   (9,958)          (99,852)
        Prepaid expenses and other                   60,350            38,983
        Accounts payable and accrued
         liabilities                            (2,738,207)       (4,415,048)
     Net cash (used in) operating activities    (2,428,942)       (3,095,535)
    >>

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    Cash flows from investing activities:
      Oil and gas properties                    (3,128,461)      (13,341,387)
      Sale of oil and gas properties              2,437,892                 -
      Equipment                                      11,416          (26,840)
      Restricted investment                         (3,204)                 -
    >>

Net cash (used in) investing activities (682,357) (13,368,227)

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    Cash flows from financing activity:
      Proceeds from the issuance of shares                -            27,000
    >>

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    Net cash provided by financing
     activities                                           -            27,000
    >>

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    Net change in cash and cash equivalents     (3,111,299)      (16,436,762)
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning
     of the period                               13,015,318        58,469,263
    >>

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    Cash and cash equivalents at end of the
     period                                      $9,904,019       $42,032,501
    >>

The notes accompanying the financial statements are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements and can be found in Kodiak's filing on Form

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    10-Q dated May 8, 2008.
    Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
    >>

In evaluating its business, Kodiak considers earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion, amortization, gain on foreign currency and stock-based compensation ("Adjusted EBITDA") as a key indicator of financial operating performance and as a measure of the ability to generate cash for operational activities and future capital expenditures. Adjusted EBITDA is not a Generally Accepted Accounting Principle ("GAAP") measure of performance. The Company uses this non-GAAP measure primarily to compare its performance with other companies in the industry that make a similar disclosure and as a measure of its current liquidity. The Company believes that this measure may also be useful to investors for the same purpose and for an indication of the Company's ability to generate cash flow at a level that can sustain or support our operations and capital investment program. Investors should not consider this measure in isolation or as a substitute for operating income or loss, cash flow from operations determined under GAAP, or any other measure for determining the Company's operating performance that is calculated in accordance with GAAP. In addition, because EBITDA is not a GAAP measure, it may not necessarily be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies.

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                            KODIAK OIL & GAS CORP.
                      Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA
    >>

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                                                      For the Three
                                                  Months Ended March 31,
                                                 2008              2007
    >>

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    Net Loss                                 $(2,632,036)     $(14,454,833)
      Add back:
        Asset impairment                                -        14,000,000
    Net loss before impairment charge        $(2,632,036)         (454,833)
      Add back:
        Depreciation, depletion, amortization
         and abandonment liability accretion
         expense                                1,097,299         1,039,246
        (Gain) / loss on foreign
         currency exchange                         18,281          (97,621)
        Stock based compensation
         expense                                1,518,810           275,580
    >>

Adjusted EBITDA $2,354 $762,372

SOURCE: Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp.

Mr. Lynn A. Peterson, CEO and President of Kodiak  Oil & Gas Corp.,
+1-303-592-8075; or Mr. David P. Charles of Sierra Partners  LLC, +1-303-757-2510,
ext. 11, for Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp. Web Site: http://www.sierrapartners.us

Copyright (C) 2008 CNW Group. All rights reserved

News Provided by COMTEX


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