Quarterlytics / Energy / Oil & Gas Exploration & Production / SM Energy Company

SM Energy Company

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Sector Energy
Industry Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
Employees 501-1000
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FY2005 Annual Report · SM Energy Company
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581cvr  3/5/06  9:15 AM  Page 1

B U I L D I N G   A   F O U N D A T I O N   F O R   G R O W T H

B U I L D I N G   A   F O U N D A T I O N   F O R   G R O W T H

The theme of our 2004 Annual Report was

Growing Through Competitive Advantages. In

2005, we continued to establish new competitive

strengths which have been the basis for our

growth. The competitive advantages established in

each of our regions have been the catalysts for

building our inventory of multi-year resource plays

that are the foundation for our future.  

A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 0 5

St. Mary Land & Exploration Company

1776 Lincoln Street

Suite 700

Denver, Colorado  80203

Telephone: (303) 861-8140

Fax: (303) 861-0934

Internet: www.stmaryland.com

In our 2005 Annual Report, we highlight five

multi-year exploration and development programs

at various stages of development. Each program

has significant unbooked reserve potential with

drilling inventories ranging from two to more than

ten years. Building on this foundation and focusing

on our competitive strengths, we will continue to

create value for our stockholders.

The growth we have experienced and the

growth we are planning are possible only because

of St. Mary’s extremely dedicated and talented

employees. The employees featured in this Annual

Report represent the many employees who spend

their professional lives making our success possible.

We want to thank all of them for the great job

they do for our company.

581cvr  3/5/06  9:15 AM  Page 1

B U I L D I N G   A   F O U N D A T I O N   F O R   G R O W T H

B U I L D I N G   A   F O U N D A T I O N   F O R   G R O W T H

The theme of our 2004 Annual Report was

Growing Through Competitive Advantages. In

2005, we continued to establish new competitive

strengths which have been the basis for our

growth. The competitive advantages established in

each of our regions have been the catalysts for

building our inventory of multi-year resource plays

that are the foundation for our future.  

A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 0 5

St. Mary Land & Exploration Company

1776 Lincoln Street

Suite 700

Denver, Colorado  80203

Telephone: (303) 861-8140

Fax: (303) 861-0934

Internet: www.stmaryland.com

In our 2005 Annual Report, we highlight five

multi-year exploration and development programs

at various stages of development. Each program

has significant unbooked reserve potential with

drilling inventories ranging from two to more than

ten years. Building on this foundation and focusing

on our competitive strengths, we will continue to

create value for our stockholders.

The growth we have experienced and the

growth we are planning are possible only because

of St. Mary’s extremely dedicated and talented

employees. The employees featured in this Annual

Report represent the many employees who spend

their professional lives making our success possible.

We want to thank all of them for the great job

they do for our company.

581cvr  3/5/06  9:15 AM  Page 2

THE COVER: a photographic overview of the resource plays

highlighted in this annual report. Starting in the upper left is a

rig drilling a well in our Bakken play. Clockwise is a wellhead

at the Elm Grove field, pipe to transport natural gas in the

Hanging Woman Basin, a crew working on a rig drilling an

Atoka/Granite Wash well in Northeast Mayfield and a drilling

rig in our Centrahoma field.

C O M P A N Y   A T   A   G L A N C E

We operate in five core areas managed from four regional
offices. The Mid-Continent, Rocky Mountain, ArkLaTex,
Gulf Coast and Permian Basin regions are operated out 
of our offices in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Billings, Montana;
Shreveport, Louisiana; and Houston, Texas. Each office is
staffed with a full complement of geologists, geophysicists,
engineers and landmen who have extensive experience 
in the region or basin where they work. Our Denver 
headquarters provides the administrative support and
oversight for the regions.

In 2006, we will operate approximately 73% of our $500
million exploration and development capital expenditures
budget. By operating such a large percentage of our budget,
we maximize the benefit of our expertise in the land, 

OPERATIONS

ACQUISITIONS

STOCKHOLDER INFORMATION

The acquisition of oil and gas assets and companies is an
important part of our growth strategy. We focus on smaller
niche acquisitions in existing core areas where we utilize
our geologic knowledge of the area, our technical 
engineering expertise and our financial flexibility. As
we shift to developing technology-driven resource plays 
at a time when the acquisition marketplace has become
overly competitive, our growth will be less dependent
upon acquisitions. 

In 2005, we spent $87.8 million on niche acquisitions.
This represented 21% of our capital expenditures program.
In 2006, we have budgeted
$100 million, 17% of our
capital expenditures budget,
for acquisitions. Over the
last five years, we have 
completed $370.8 million 
of property acquisitions.

Property Acquisitions ($ millions)

100

75

50

25

02

03

04

05

06
(budget)

FINANCIAL  STRATEGIES

St. Mary’s objective is to increase per share value in excess
of 15% per year through consistent economic growth in
reserves and production. To achieve this objective, we
believe we have to replace, on average, 200% of our annual
production and to have full cycle economics in the top
quartile of our peer group. Over the past five years, we
have replaced an average of 244% of our production with
excellent economics. Through December 31, 2005, we
have provided our stockholders, in dividends and stock
value, a compounded rate of return of 23% since we
became a public company in December 1992.  

Our strategy is also to maintain a strong balance sheet
by keeping our debt to total book capital ratio below 35%.
A strong balance sheet allows us to weather cycles of low
commodity prices and be opportunistic when capital is
not available to our peers. We are willing to become
aggressive and increase our
debt to total book capital
ratio during down cycles in
order to make strategic acqui-
sitions. As of December 31,
2005, we have a debt to total
book capital ratio of 15%.    

Proved Oil & Gas Reserves Per Share
(MCFE) 

12

10

8

6

4

2

02

03

04

05

01

INVESTOR  SERVICES

You can reach our corporate office at:
St. Mary Land & Exploration Company
1776 Lincoln Street, Suite 700
Denver, CO 80203
303-861-8140

We also have offices in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Shreveport, Louisiana;
Billings, Montana; and Houston, Texas

St. Mary Land & Exploration Company
7060 South Yale, Suite 800
Tulsa, OK 74136-5741
918-488-7600 

St. Mary Land & Exploration Company
330 Marshall Street, Suite 1200
Shreveport, LA 71101
318-424-0804

Nance Petroleum Corporation
550 N. 31st Street, Suite 500
Billings, MT 59101
406-245-6248

St. Mary Land & Exploration Company
580 Westlake Park Blvd., Suite 600
Houston, TX  77079
281-677-2800

DESIGN BY: MARK MULVANY GRAPHIC DESIGN (DENVER, COLORADO)

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: RON COPPOCK-KING (DENVER, COLORADO)

INVESTOR  RELATIONS  CONTACT

Stockholders, securities analysts or portfolio managers who have
questions or need information concerning St. Mary may contact 
Bob Hanley, Vice President – Investor Relations and Management
Reporting, at 303-863-4377. 
E-mail: bhanley@stmaryland.com

Annual Reports, 10Ks, 10Qs
To receive an information packet on St. Mary or to be added to 
our mailing list, contact Jim Robertson at 303-863-4322
E-mail:  information@stmaryland.com

Please visit our web site at: www.stmaryland.com

Stock Transfer Agent
Any stockholder with questions or inquiries regarding stock certificate
holdings, changes in registration address, lost certificates, dividend
payments and other stockholder account matters should be directed
to St. Mary Land & Exploration Company’s transfer agent at the 
following address or phone number:

Computershare Investor Services
350 Indiana Street, Suite 800
Golden, CO  80401
303-262-0600

NYSE: SM
The Company’s common stock is listed for trading on the New York
Stock Exchange under the symbol SM.

The price ranges of the Company’s common stock by quarter for 
the last two years, as adjusted for the 2-for-1 stock split in March
2005, are provided below. As of February 15, 2006 the Company
had 56,953,893 shares of common stock outstanding, net of
250,000 treasury shares owned by the Company.

Market Prices 

2005 — Quarter Ended

2004 — Quarter Ended

March 31

June 30

September 30

December 31

high

low

high

low

$26.73

$19.45

$17.07

$13.87

30.45

37.80

41.14

21.46

28.89

30.52

18.60

20.07

21.50

15.90

15.88

18.56

OTHER INFORMATION
In 2005, St. Mary submitted to the New York Stock Exchange a 
certificate of the Chief Executive Officer of St. Mary certifying that he
was not aware of any violation by St. Mary of the New York Stock
Exchange corporate governance listing standards. St. Mary has filed
with the SEC certifications of each of the Chief Executive Officer 
and the Chief Financial Officer required under Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act as exhibits to the Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005.

OUR  MISSION

St. Mary Land & Exploration Company was founded in 

1908 and incorporated in 1915. We are engaged in the

exploration, exploitation, development, acquisition and

production of natural gas and crude oil in five core areas 

in the United States.

BILLINGS

Big Horn Basin

Greater Green
River Basin

Our mission is to build value by adding value at every

phase of our business. This includes prospect generation,

land acquisition, drilling, production, marketing, reservoir

engineering, finance and administration. Our goal is to 

provide a long-term return in the top quartile of our peers

while preserving underlying capital. We plan to achieve 

this by attracting, motivating and retaining a talented staff;

using appropriate technologies; and growing net asset 

value per share. While growing our company, we will not

compromise our core values of integrity, fairness, trust 

and social responsibility.

Williston Basin

Hanging Woman Basin

Powder River Basin

Wind River 
Basin

DENVER

Anadarko Basin

TULSA

Permian Basin

Arkoma Basin

ArkLaTex

SHREVEPORT

HOUSTON

Gulf Coast

geoscience and engineering disciplines. In each core 
area, we focus on deliberate, detailed land and legal 
work, disciplined geologic interpretations, reservoir 
management, efficient completion and stimulation 
techniques and the appropriate application of new 
technologies when warranted. 

581cvr  3/5/06  9:15 AM  Page 2

THE COVER: a photographic overview of the resource plays

highlighted in this annual report. Starting in the upper left is a

rig drilling a well in our Bakken play. Clockwise is a wellhead

at the Elm Grove field, pipe to transport natural gas in the

Hanging Woman Basin, a crew working on a rig drilling an

Atoka/Granite Wash well in Northeast Mayfield and a drilling

rig in our Centrahoma field.

C O M P A N Y   A T   A   G L A N C E

We operate in five core areas managed from four regional
offices. The Mid-Continent, Rocky Mountain, ArkLaTex,
Gulf Coast and Permian Basin regions are operated out 
of our offices in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Billings, Montana;
Shreveport, Louisiana; and Houston, Texas. Each office is
staffed with a full complement of geologists, geophysicists,
engineers and landmen who have extensive experience 
in the region or basin where they work. Our Denver 
headquarters provides the administrative support and
oversight for the regions.

In 2006, we will operate approximately 73% of our $500
million exploration and development capital expenditures
budget. By operating such a large percentage of our budget,
we maximize the benefit of our expertise in the land, 

OPERATIONS

ACQUISITIONS

STOCKHOLDER INFORMATION

The acquisition of oil and gas assets and companies is an
important part of our growth strategy. We focus on smaller
niche acquisitions in existing core areas where we utilize
our geologic knowledge of the area, our technical 
engineering expertise and our financial flexibility. As
we shift to developing technology-driven resource plays 
at a time when the acquisition marketplace has become
overly competitive, our growth will be less dependent
upon acquisitions. 

In 2005, we spent $87.8 million on niche acquisitions.
This represented 21% of our capital expenditures program.
In 2006, we have budgeted
$100 million, 17% of our
capital expenditures budget,
for acquisitions. Over the
last five years, we have 
completed $370.8 million 
of property acquisitions.

Property Acquisitions ($ millions)

100

75

50

25

02

03

04

05

06
(budget)

FINANCIAL  STRATEGIES

St. Mary’s objective is to increase per share value in excess
of 15% per year through consistent economic growth in
reserves and production. To achieve this objective, we
believe we have to replace, on average, 200% of our annual
production and to have full cycle economics in the top
quartile of our peer group. Over the past five years, we
have replaced an average of 244% of our production with
excellent economics. Through December 31, 2005, we
have provided our stockholders, in dividends and stock
value, a compounded rate of return of 23% since we
became a public company in December 1992.  

Our strategy is also to maintain a strong balance sheet
by keeping our debt to total book capital ratio below 35%.
A strong balance sheet allows us to weather cycles of low
commodity prices and be opportunistic when capital is
not available to our peers. We are willing to become
aggressive and increase our
debt to total book capital
ratio during down cycles in
order to make strategic acqui-
sitions. As of December 31,
2005, we have a debt to total
book capital ratio of 15%.    

Proved Oil & Gas Reserves Per Share
(MCFE) 

12

10

8

6

4

2

02

03

04

05

01

INVESTOR  SERVICES

You can reach our corporate office at:
St. Mary Land & Exploration Company
1776 Lincoln Street, Suite 700
Denver, CO 80203
303-861-8140

We also have offices in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Shreveport, Louisiana;
Billings, Montana; and Houston, Texas

St. Mary Land & Exploration Company
7060 South Yale, Suite 800
Tulsa, OK 74136-5741
918-488-7600 

St. Mary Land & Exploration Company
330 Marshall Street, Suite 1200
Shreveport, LA 71101
318-424-0804

Nance Petroleum Corporation
550 N. 31st Street, Suite 500
Billings, MT 59101
406-245-6248

St. Mary Land & Exploration Company
580 Westlake Park Blvd., Suite 600
Houston, TX  77079
281-677-2800

DESIGN BY: MARK MULVANY GRAPHIC DESIGN (DENVER, COLORADO)

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: RON COPPOCK-KING (DENVER, COLORADO)

INVESTOR  RELATIONS  CONTACT

Stockholders, securities analysts or portfolio managers who have
questions or need information concerning St. Mary may contact 
Bob Hanley, Vice President – Investor Relations and Management
Reporting, at 303-863-4377. 
E-mail: bhanley@stmaryland.com

Annual Reports, 10Ks, 10Qs
To receive an information packet on St. Mary or to be added to 
our mailing list, contact Jim Robertson at 303-863-4322
E-mail:  information@stmaryland.com

Please visit our web site at: www.stmaryland.com

Stock Transfer Agent
Any stockholder with questions or inquiries regarding stock certificate
holdings, changes in registration address, lost certificates, dividend
payments and other stockholder account matters should be directed
to St. Mary Land & Exploration Company’s transfer agent at the 
following address or phone number:

Computershare Investor Services
350 Indiana Street, Suite 800
Golden, CO  80401
303-262-0600

NYSE: SM
The Company’s common stock is listed for trading on the New York
Stock Exchange under the symbol SM.

The price ranges of the Company’s common stock by quarter for 
the last two years, as adjusted for the 2-for-1 stock split in March
2005, are provided below. As of February 15, 2006 the Company
had 56,953,893 shares of common stock outstanding, net of
250,000 treasury shares owned by the Company.

Market Prices 

2005 — Quarter Ended

2004 — Quarter Ended

March 31

June 30

September 30

December 31

high

low

high

low

$26.73

$19.45

$17.07

$13.87

30.45

37.80

41.14

21.46

28.89

30.52

18.60

20.07

21.50

15.90

15.88

18.56

OTHER INFORMATION
In 2005, St. Mary submitted to the New York Stock Exchange a 
certificate of the Chief Executive Officer of St. Mary certifying that he
was not aware of any violation by St. Mary of the New York Stock
Exchange corporate governance listing standards. St. Mary has filed
with the SEC certifications of each of the Chief Executive Officer 
and the Chief Financial Officer required under Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act as exhibits to the Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005.

OUR  MISSION

St. Mary Land & Exploration Company was founded in 

1908 and incorporated in 1915. We are engaged in the

exploration, exploitation, development, acquisition and

production of natural gas and crude oil in five core areas 

in the United States.

BILLINGS

Big Horn Basin

Greater Green
River Basin

Our mission is to build value by adding value at every

phase of our business. This includes prospect generation,

land acquisition, drilling, production, marketing, reservoir

engineering, finance and administration. Our goal is to 

provide a long-term return in the top quartile of our peers

while preserving underlying capital. We plan to achieve 

this by attracting, motivating and retaining a talented staff;

using appropriate technologies; and growing net asset 

value per share. While growing our company, we will not

compromise our core values of integrity, fairness, trust 

and social responsibility.

Williston Basin

Hanging Woman Basin

Powder River Basin

Wind River 
Basin

DENVER

Anadarko Basin

TULSA

Permian Basin

Arkoma Basin

ArkLaTex

SHREVEPORT

HOUSTON

Gulf Coast

geoscience and engineering disciplines. In each core 
area, we focus on deliberate, detailed land and legal 
work, disciplined geologic interpretations, reservoir 
management, efficient completion and stimulation 
techniques and the appropriate application of new 
technologies when warranted. 

581txt  3/5/06  8:20 AM  Page 1

FINANCIAL  HIGHLIGHTS

In thousands except production, price data, and per share amounts, as adjusted for 2 for 1 split on March 31, 2005

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

Income Statement Data

Oil and gas production revenues

Gains on sales and other

Total operating revenues

Net income

$  711,005

28,585

$  739,590

$  151,936

$ 413,318

19,781

$ 433,099

$   92,479

$ 365,114

28,594

$ 393,708 

$   95,575

$ 185,670

10,635

$ 196,305

$ 27,560

$ 203,973

3,496

$ 207,469

$  40,459

Diluted earnings per share

$   

2.33

$     1.44

$      1.40

$       0.49

$      0.71

Cash dividends declared and paid per share

$       0.10

$      0.05

$    0.05

$  

0.05

$  

0.05

Diluted weighted average common

shares outstanding

66,894

66,894

71,069

56,782

57,110

Balance Sheet Data

Working capital

Total assets

Long-term debt

Stockholders’ equity

Average Net Daily Production

Gas (Mcf)

Oil (Bbls)

MCFE (6:1)

Average Sales Price

Gas (per Mcf)

Oil (per Bbl)

Reserves

Gas (Mcf)

Oil (Bbls)

MCFE (6:1)

$ 

4,937

1,268,747

99,885

569,320

141,922

16,238

239,352

$   12,035

$ 

3,101

$ 

2,050

$ 34,000

945,460

136,791

484,455

127,316

13,113

205,992

735,854

110,696

390,653

136,062

12,441

210,709

537,139

113,601

299,513

104,558

7,713

150,836

436,989

64,000

286,117

108,195

6,667

148,199

$   

7.90

$ 

50.93

$     5.52

$    32.53

$     4.89

$   26.96

$     3.00

$   25.34

$     3.73

$   23.29

417,075

62,903

794,493

319,196

56,574

658,638

307,024

47,787

593,744

274,172

36,119

490,887

241,231

23,669

383,247  

Stockholders’ Equity ($ millions)

Proved Oil & Gas Reserves (BCFE)

Oil & Gas Production Per Day (MMCFE)

600

500

400

300

200

100

800

600

400

200

300

200

100

01

02

03

04

05

01

02

03

04

05

01

02

03

04

05

06
(projected)

Oil & Gas Production Per Share (MCFE)

Operating Cash Flow (000’s)

Capital Expenditures ($ Millions)

1.50

1.25

1.00

0.75

0.50

0.25

400

300

200

100

600

500

400

300

200

100

01

02

03

04

05

01

02

03

04

05

01

02

03

04

05

06
(budget)

1

581txt  3/5/06  8:20 AM  Page 2

In 2005 we had excellent drilling results in the 

horizontal middle Bakken play in the Williston Basin
where we participated in the drilling and completion of 
26 wells in Richland County, Montana, for $34.1 million
with 100% success. We continue to evaluate the Bakken
resource in North Dakota. Because the Bakken dolomite
thins as the play moves southeast from Montana into
North Dakota, we re-entered ten existing well bores saving
approximately 60% of the cost of a new well while gaining
knowledge about this play. North Dakota has produced
mixed results that were marginally economic. We have
approximately 80,000 net acres in the middle Bakken 
fairway. Our proved and 3P reserves are 57 and 95 BCFE,
respectively, with 81 identified locations to drill. 

At the Elm Grove field in northern Louisiana, we
spent $7.6 million participating in 36 wells, with a 97%
success rate. The play has moved to the south where we
have working interests ranging from 30-37%. We have 
204 PUD locations which will allow us to deploy capital
in the field for a number of years.

We are pleased with the performance of our Hanging
Woman Basin coalbed natural gas program. As of the end
of December 2005, we have 126 wells producing and
dewatering and 71 wells at various stages of completion 
or awaiting pipeline connection. At year end, the field 
was producing 3,700 MCFD, outperforming our original
expectations. In 2005, our proved reserves grew to 25.2
BCFE from last year’s 8.2 BCFE. Our 3P reserves have
grown to 833 BCFE. We experienced some permitting and
infrastructure delays, but overall we are pleased with the
progress of this significant project.

At Centrahoma in the Arkoma Basin in southeast
Oklahoma, we are in the very early stages of applying 
horizontal drilling technology to develop resources in the
Cromwell sandstone, Woodford shale and Wapanucka
limestone formations. We control 36,000 gross acres
(20,000 net). We are encouraged by initial results in each
of these three plays. At year end, we had 40.7 BCFE of
proved and 259 BCFE of 3P reserves with 27 proved and
385 potential drilling locations. 

At Northeast Mayfield, we believe we have a large
resource play in over 24 sections in the Atoka/Granite
Wash formations. If the wells continue to exhibit historical
drainage patterns, there is potential for multiple years of
infill drilling in these sections. At year end we had 28.6
BCFE of proved and 177 BCFE of 3P reserves with 23
proved and 512 potential drilling locations in this play. 

We had several outstanding wells in 2005. We have a
well producing 45 MMCFED in southeastern Texas after
producing for over a year. An Atoka/Granite Wash well at
Northeast Mayfield is currently producing approximately

MARK A. HELLERSTEIN — CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT & CEO

TO  OUR  STOCKHOLDERS

The year 2005 was highlighted by record earnings, 
production and oil and gas prices. During 2005, we made
significant progress on five large multi-year resource plays.
These include excellent drilling results in the Bakken play
in Montana; growth in the number of drilling locations in
Elm Grove field in northern Louisiana; successful early
development at the Hanging Woman Basin coalbed natural
gas program; encouraging results at Centrahoma in the
Arkoma Basin where there are three potentially large
resource plays; and identification of a large resource play
in the Atoka/Granite Wash at Northeast Mayfield in the
Anadarko Basin. We continue to see a hyper-competitive
acquisition market, shortages of equipment and personnel
and escalating costs. We completed $87.8 million of
acquisitions in 2005. We grew our proved reserve base 
by 21% to 794.5 BCFE and our pre-tax PV10 value of
proved reserves by 66% to $2.5 billion. Our finding and
development costs for the year were $1.88 per MCFE 
with a 256% reserve replacement percentage. We replaced
199% of our production when excluding acquisitions. Our
proved, probable and possible (3P) reserves were 2.5 TCFE
at year end. Production increased 16% primarily as a
result of drilling activities and the continued extraordinary
performance of our well at the Constitution field. We
repurchased 1.2 million shares of our common stock at an
average price of $24.51 per share while we saw our stock
price increase 77% for the year to $36.81 per share.
Proved reserves per share grew 20% to 11.8 MCFE per
outstanding share. 

2

581txt  3/5/06  8:20 AM  Page 3

22 MMCFED. A horizontal well at the Spider field in
northern Louisiana had an initial rate of 12 MMCFED as 
a result of new completion and stimulation technology.
We have had continued success in our Red River play 
in the Williston Basin and the horizontal plays in the
ArkLaTex region, and are increasing activity in the Greater
Green River Basin. 

Net income for the year 2005 was $151.9 million or

$2.33 per diluted share compared to $92.5 million or $1.44
per diluted share for the prior year. Net cash provided 
by operating activities increased 73% to $409.4 million.
Production increased 16% to 87.4 BCFE. The average 
realized price increased 49% to $8.14 per MCFE. Unit
costs increased for the year as lease operating expense,
including production taxes, increased $0.37 to $1.64 per
MCFE; DD&A, including impairments, increased $0.30 to
$1.52 per MCFE; and general and administrative expense
increased $0.08 to $0.37 per MCFE. With our realized oil
and gas prices growing more rapidly than costs, our cash
margin increased 56% to $6.13 per MCFE.

To grow net asset value per share, our goal is to 
economically replace 200% of our annual production.
Over time, we have successfully achieved this goal. This
in turn has provided our stockholders a 23% compounded
return since St. Mary went public in 1992.

St. Mary again has been recognized as a top performing
company. For the third time in four years, we are listed as
one of Fortune Magazine’s 100 Fastest Growing Companies
in America. Business Week named us one of the 100 Best
Small Public Companies and Forbes named us the 14th
Best Small Company in America. ColoradoBiz Magazine
and Deloitte & Touche named St. Mary the top Energy and
Natural Resource Company in Colorado. I congratulate
our talented people for this excellent performance.

Doug York, our Chief Operating Officer and Executive

Vice-President, will be leaving the company this year.
Doug has been a tremendous part of St. Mary’s success
and its culture. He is truly a special talent. Not only is he
one of the very best business development and acquisitions
people in the business, but he is also one of the most 
talented oil and gas people in our industry. We are blessed
for such an extraordinary individual to have devoted ten
years to St. Mary’s success. We wish Doug the very best.

We enter 2006 on a positive note:

•  We are in excellent financial condition.

•  Oil and gas prices are high and the long-term 

outlook is positive. 

•  We have an outstanding inventory of prospects to drill
with multi-year plays in Northeast Mayfield in the
Anadarko Basin; the Hanging Woman Basin coalbed
natural gas development project; the Bakken and Red
River formations in the Williston Basin; Centrahoma
with the Cromwell sandstone, Woodford shale and
Wapanucka limestone formations in the Arkoma Basin;
and Elm Grove field in northern Louisiana. 

•  We have increased our capital expenditures budget 

to $600 million.

Here is our plan to build value in 2006:

•  We have a $600 million capital expenditures budget. 
Of this budget, 17% is allocated for acquisitions; 31%
for exploration and development in the Rocky Mountain
region; 29% in the Mid-Continent region; 12% for 
the Gulf Coast and Permian regions; and 11% for the
ArkLaTex region. The drilling portion of our budget
(including acreage, exploration overhead and geological
and geophysical costs) is up $166 million, representing a
49% increase over 2005. We have drilling and completion
expenditures of $66 million budgeted at Northeast
Mayfield, $50 million for the Hanging Woman Basin,
$47 million in the Bakken play, $42 million in
Centrahoma and $12 million at the Elm Grove field.

Our forecast for 2006:

•  Production is forecast to grow to 96 – 98 BCFE, up from
87.4 BCFE in 2005. Based on year end NYMEX strip
prices of $65.54 per Bbl and $9.84 per Mcf, we would
realize approximately $9.26 per MCFE, after hedges.
Lease operating expenses, including taxes, are currently
forecast at $1.73 – $1.84 per MCFE, G&A is forecast 
at $0.45 – $0.50 per MCFE and DD&A is forecast at
$1.92 – $1.98 per MCFE. 

March 1, 2006

MARK A. HELLERSTEIN
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

3

581txt  3/5/06  8:20 AM  Page 4

OPERATIONS  OVERVIEW

We made significant progress this year building a foundation
of long-life development programs that will provide a
drilling inventory for many years. In addition to the more
significant resource plays highlighted in this annual report,
we have other prospects and fields in our inventory to
drill over several years. We constantly search for new ideas
that can lead to exploration and development programs,
and we will evaluate potential new plays in 2006. 

Resource plays are driven by technologies. In each of
our resource programs, we design and utilize technologies
specific to that play that will result in acceptable economics
that are repeatable over a large acreage position.Technologies
such as horizontal drilling, fracture stimulation, 3-D seismic
and state-of-the-art completion techniques, including multi-
zone completions, are used when appropriate to develop
oil and gas reserves that were previously uneconomic. 
Our success in developing multi-year development
programs has reduced our dependence on acquisitions. A
goal ingrained in our company is to replace 200% of our
production. In 2005, we replaced 256% of our production,
with 199% achieved through drilling. In a very competitive
acquisition market, we closed $87.8 million of property
acquisitions, which represented approximately 21% of our
2005 capital expenditures. Historically, we have allocated
35% to 40% of our capital expenditures to acquisitions,
but in 2006 we are reducing our allocation to 17% or
$100 million. We will focus our acquisition efforts primarily
on smaller niche acquisitions in our core areas where we
have proprietary information that will allow us to add
value developing the assets acquired.

As we move forward one of our more significant 
challenges is to retain and add to our excellent technical
staff. The aging of our industry’s workforce and the limited
number of trained professionals entering the industry has
been discussed for many years. In 2005, we experienced
the most competitive environment seen in a generation for
quality and experienced geoscientists, engineers, field
operations personnel and land professionals. During 2005,
we lost very few technical employees to competitors 
and were able to add quality personnel throughout the
company. We attribute our ability to attract and retain new
employees to our “St. Mary culture” and to our unique
performance-based incentive programs. The combination
of performance-based cash bonus, restricted stock and net

4

profit incentive plans align our employees’ interests with
those of our stockholders and create a win-win situation
for St. Mary. We are confident we will be able to meet 
the challenge of growing our technical staffs in these 
competitive times. 

During 2005, we operated 12 to 15 rigs. Where we
have continuous drilling programs, we have maintained
control of the rigs drilling on our properties. In other
areas, we have experienced fierce competition for rigs.
Costs rose in all of our areas of operation. In 2006 we
plan to continue operating the same number of rigs, with
the possibility of adding one or two rigs to our resource
plays if they become available. We estimate drilling and
service costs rose 30% in 2005, and we anticipate a 20%
cost increase in 2006. Our budget economics were based
on $7.00 per Mcf natural gas and $45.00 per Bbl oil. 
We will monitor our economics throughout the year as
changes in commodity prices and costs occur.

We were pleased with our reserve growth in 2005.

Our proved reserves increased 21% to 794.5 BCFE, of
which 82% are classified as proved developed. At year end
2005, 53% of our reserves were natural gas and 47% were
oil. Our 2005 finding and development costs were $1.88
per MCFE. The growth of our 3P reserves to 2.5 TCFE 
is a reflection of the growth of our resource programs.   

We are budgeting $600 million for capital expenditures

in 2006. This amount represents a 42% increase over the
$421.5 million spent in 2005. Exploration and development
expenditures are projected at $500 million and $100 
million is budgeted for acquisitions. We will operate
approximately 73% of our capital expenditures budget in
2006. With our strong balance sheet, we have the financial
strength to pursue large opportunities should they 
become available. 

We begin 2006 with the largest inventory of drilling

prospects in the history of our company. Our large 
land inventory of 1,139,000 net acres, 64% of which is
undeveloped, provides a foundation for growth. We are
optimistic about our future and look forward to growing
the value of our company.  

Additional information follows about the operations

in each of our core areas and our plans for 2006.

581txt  3/5/06  8:20 AM  Page 5

From operating deep, high pressure natural gas wells in the Anadarko Basin (above) to operating
oil wells in the Williston Basin (below), each region requires specialized expertise.

Capital Expenditures Budget By Region

17%

1%

8%

23%

11%

29%

11%

■ Mid-Continent   ■ ArkLaTex   ■ Gulf   
■ Rocky Mountain   ■ Hanging Woman Basin   
■ Permian   ■ Acquisitions

Reserve Base By Region

3%

6%

22%

51%

14%

4%

5

581txt  3/5/06  8:20 AM  Page 6

ROCKY  MOUNTAIN  REGION

PROVED  RESERVES

PROVED  DEVELOPED  RESERVES

%  OF  TOTAL  PROVED  RESERVES

GAS/OIL  MIX

3P  RES ERVES

TOTAL  NET  LEASED  ACRES

NET  UNDEVELOPED  LEASED  ACRES

CAPITAL  EXPENDITURES  BUDGET: 

NON  CBM

HANGING  WOMAN  BASIN

427.9  BCFE

89%

54%

26%  /  74%

1 ,43 5   BCFE

872,000

74%

$141  MILLION

$50  MILLION 

Nance Petroleum Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary,
manages our operations in the Rocky Mountain region.
The office in Billings, Montana, has a 95-person staff.
Nance has managed our interests in the Williston Basin
since 1991, initially under a partnership arrangement and
as a wholly owned subsidiary since June 1, 1999. Since
1999, the Nance office has also managed our interests in
other Rocky Mountain basins.

Our Rocky Mountain region includes the Williston

Basin in eastern Montana and western North Dakota, the
Powder River Basin in Montana and Wyoming and the
Greater Green River, Wind River and Big Horn Basins in
Wyoming.  Initiated in 2001, our Hanging Woman Basin
coalbed natural gas project is located in the northwestern
portion of the Powder River Basin.

Our Rocky Mountain region experienced significant

growth in 2005. The region’s proved reserves increased
17%, production increased 21% and we increased our 
net acreage position to 872,000 acres, 74% of which is
undeveloped. Our Rocky Mountain 3P reserves at year
end 2005 were 1,435 BCFE. The Rocky Mountain region
represents 54% of our proved reserves, 58% of our 3P
reserves and 43% of our 2005 production.  

Its most active drilling programs in 2005 were the

horizontal middle Bakken play in the Williston Basin
(which is highlighted on this page), our expanding drilling
program in the Greater Green River Basin and our Hanging
Woman Basin coalbed natural gas play highlighted on
page 8. In 2005 the Rocky Mountain region completed 101
conventional wells, with a 95% success rate, and drilled
131 coalbed natural gas wells. The region spent $197.0
million, including $62.8 million for acquisitions, which
represented 47% of our total 2005 capital expenditures.  

In 2005, we grew our presence in the Wind River and

Powder River Basins with the acquisition of properties
from Wold Oil Properties, Inc. This acquisition was the
latest in a series of acquisitions (Choctaw in 2001, Flying
J in 2003 and Goldmark in 2004) that increased our 
presence in the southern Rockies.

6

M I D D L E   B A K K E N   P L A Y

Development of the middle Bakken through horizontal drilling
continues to be our most active drilling program in the Williston
Basin. Centered in Richland County, Montana, and Billings and
McKenzie Counties, North Dakota, we participated in our first
middle Bakken wells in 2003. Through 2005 we participated in
61 completed wells without a dry hole in this multi-year play.  
Using geologic data, we have mapped our interpretation of
the middle Bakken fairway throughout Richland, Billings and
McKenzie Counties. We have approximately 80,000 net leased
acres within or adjacent to this fairway. We have concentrated our
initial efforts in Richland County, where wells typically produce
at initial rates of 300 to 600 barrels of oil per day and reserves
per well are estimated from 350,000 to 500,000 barrels of oil.
Of the 61 wells completed to date, 49 have been in Montana.  
In late 2004 we began our exploration efforts in the North
Dakota portion of the play. The middle Bakken dolomite porosity
trend thins and narrows to the southeast in North Dakota. Our
initial efforts have been to re-enter existing well bores in order to
minimize costs while evaluating the area’s reserve and production
potential. In addition to the wells we have re-entered and drilled,
we are also evaluating the drilling results of other operators in
the  area.  We  will  continue  to  implement  new  technology  to
enhance our results and improve our economics in this area.  
At  year  end  2005,  we  estimated  our  Bakken  acreage 
contains 9.5 MMBOE of proved and 6.2 MMBOE of probable and
possible reserves. We estimate we have 81 proved undeveloped,
probable and possible well locations left to drill in the play. 
In  2006,  we  intend  to  drill  ten  operated  wells  in  Montana, 
participate in 14 non-operated wells in Montana and drill three
grassroots  and  three  re-entry  wells  in  North  Dakota.  With 
additional  locations  remaining  to  be  drilled  beyond  2006, 
development of this play should continue for several more years.

581txt  3/5/06  8:20 AM  Page 7

RICH LAND  COUN TY

M O N T A N A

BA KKEN  FA IRWAY A CTIVITY

PR OD UCING  WELL

PU D L OCAT ION

PR OB  LOCATIO N

N O R T H   D A K O T A

McKEN ZIE COUNTY

BILLINGS COUNTY

THE HORIZONTAL MIDDLE BAKKEN CONTINUES TO BE THE MOST ACTIVELY DRILLED PLAY IN THE WILLISTON BASIN.

Gary Evertz, Vice President and manager of our
northern Rockies region, has managed operations
in the Williston Basin for over 25 years. The rig
in the background is drilling the Qualley 4-8H, 
a horizontal Bakken well completed at an initial
rate of 370 BOE per day.

7

581txt  3/5/06  8:20 AM  Page 8

The Rocky Mountain region’s 2006 capital expenditures

budget is $191 million, or 38% of our company’s total
$500 million budget for exploration and development.
$47 million, or 25% of the region’s capital expenditures
budget, is allocated to the Bakken drilling program in the
Williston Basin. We plan to drill four wells in the Red
River formation in the Williston Basin where we will 
continue to identify and match structure and porosity
development using 3-D seismic, to which we attribute 
our 82% success rate drilling non-Bakken wells in the
Williston Basin. Seven 3-D seismic surveys targeting the
Red River formation are planned for 2006, which is an
increase over our 2005 activity. 

In 2006, we will initiate a horizontal drilling program

focused on certain Mississippian age reservoirs in the
Williston Basin. Our capital expenditures budget includes
$24 million for drilling 26 horizontal wells targeting the
Ratcliffe and Mission Canyon formations. We continue to
grow our activity in the Greater Green River Basin. In the
Wamsutter area, we plan to participate in eight operated
and 16 non-operated wells during 2006 with a budget of
$11.5 million. We plan to significantly increase our efforts

ROCKY  MOUNTAIN  REGION

Capital Expenditures ($ millions)

Proved Reserves (BCFE)

200

150

100

50

500

400

300

200

100

01

02

03

04

05

01

02

03

04

05

■ Acquisitions
■ Exploration & Development 

to enhance production in the mature oil fields included in
our recent Goldmark and Wold acquisitions. In addition
to recompletions and workovers in these fields, we plan to
drill 11 infill Tensleep formation wells during 2006 for an
estimated cost of $9 million. We will use 3-D seismic to
aid in the continuing evaluation of these fields’ stratigraphic
complexities and development. 

Of our Rocky Mountain region’s $191 million capital
expenditures budget for 2006, $50 million is allocated to
drilling, permitting and infrastructure costs in our Hanging
Woman Basin coalbed natural gas program. We have 
budgeted to drill roughly 260 wells in 2006, as well as
increase our permitting efforts on account of development
expanding into Montana and provide the infrastructure to
support production anticipated from these new wells. The
Hanging Woman Basin program is highlighted on this page.

8

H A N G I N G   W O M A N   B A S I N

The Hanging Woman Basin (HWB) located in northern Wyoming
and southern Montana is a sub-basin of the Powder River Basin.
Since  2000  we  have  accumulated  approximately  154,000  net
acres of leases in the HWB for coalbed natural gas development.
We  initially  conducted  two  pilot  programs  during  2002  to 
evaluate the coalbed natural gas potential of the area. After
extensive study and modeling of the project using the results 
of  our  pilot  projects  and  two  existing  coalbed  natural  gas 
programs operating west of our project area, we made the 
decision in 2003 to proceed with development.  

In 2004 a pipeline was built into the project area connecting
the HWB to several natural gas markets. Natural gas from the
project area can be transported north into either the Northern
Border system or the Williston Basin Interstate system. Natural
gas can also be transported south to Glenrock, Wyoming,
where it can be sold into various Mid-Continent markets. At
year  end  2005,  126  wells  had  been  placed  on  production.
Although the wells are in their dewatering phase, production
at year end was 3,700 MCFED.

Development of the HWB is a multi-year project. At year
end  2005,  Netherland,  Sewell  &  Associates,  an  independent
petroleum  engineering  firm,  estimated  total  proved,  probable
and possible (3P) reserves in our HWB project to be 833 BCFE
net to St. Mary. At year end 2005, 25.2 BCFE was booked as
proved reserves. The reserves are primarily in three packages
of  coal  at  varying  depths  with  each  package  containing  three
separate coal seams (nine total coal seams). Each of the three
packages of coal must be developed separately, either through an
individual well or by recompleting uphole seams once deeper
seams are depleted. There are approximately 3,000 wells remain-
ing to be drilled on our HWB acreage. In 2006 we estimate we
will  drill  approximately  260  wells  in  the  HWB.  Although  we
anticipate we will be able to increase our level of drilling activity
over time, it will take many years to develop our HWB project.

581txt  3/5/06  8:20 AM  Page 9

Pinnacle
Coal Creek & 
Dietz PODS

Fidelity CX Field
Expansion

D EVE L OP ED
A REA

D EVE L OP ED
A REA

2006
Development Areas

Powder River Gas
Castle Rock-Stevens

OPERATED FIELDS
Producing or Completing

Remington
Unit

River 1
Area

M O N T A N A

W Y O M I N G

J.M. Huber & CH4 
Bow and Arrow & Pee Gee

DEVELOPED
AREA

J.M. Huber
& Pennaco

Windsor

Continental

OUR LARGE, MOSTLY CONTIGUOUS LEASE POSITION IN HANGING WOMAN BASIN ALLOWS US TO DEVELOP THE PROPERTIES IN AN EFFICIENT, ORDERLY MANNER.

Duane Zimmerman manages our Hanging Woman Basin
coalbed natural gas project. Behind Duane are 114 producing
coalbed natural gas wells and 18 reservoirs that collect 
produced water from the wells.

9

581txt  3/5/06  8:20 AM  Page 10

MID-CONTINENT  REGION

PROVED  RESERVES

PROVED  DEVELOPED  RESERVES

%  OF  TOTAL  PROVED  RESERVES

GAS/OIL  MIX

3P  RESERVES

TOTAL  NET  LEASED  ACRES

NET  UNDEVELOPED  LEASED  ACRES

175.4  BCFE

79%

22%

95%  /  5%

592  BCFE

114,000

24%

CAPITAL  EXPENDITURES  BUDGET

$172  MILLION

Our Mid-Continent region primarily includes our operations
in the Anadarko and Arkoma Basins in Oklahoma and
Texas. The region, where we have been operating since
1973, is managed out of our Tulsa, Oklahoma, office by 
a 45-person staff.

Our Mid-Continent region rebounded from a 
disappointing year in 2004, which resulted from the
drilling in Northeast Mayfield becoming more exploratory
in nature.  The knowledge gained from the 2004 drilling
year led to very good results in 2005. We transitioned
from drilling deep Morrow wells to drilling shallower
Atoka/Granite Wash wells. In addition, we initiated a 
horizontal drilling program in a field in the Arkoma Basin
where for the past several years we have been drilling 
vertical wells to multiple formations. We completed several
significant wells in 2005 on our large acreage position.
Each of these areas represents the beginning of a multi-year
resource play that we believe will provide long-term
reserve and production growth to St. Mary. The Centrahoma
project is highlighted on this page and the Atoka/Granite
Wash program is discussed on page 12.

In 2005, the Mid-Continent region drilled 91 wells;
96% were successful. Proved reserves in the region grew
29% from 135.7 BCFE to 175.4 BCFE and represented
22% of our company’s reserves in 2005.  As of year end
2005, we estimated the Mid-Continent region 3P reserves
to be 592 BCFE, 96% natural gas. The region spent $135.6
million in 2005, including $27.5 million for acquisitions,
or 32% of the region’s 2005 capital expenditures.
Acquisitions included Arkoma Basin properties from the
Agate Petroleum, Inc. acquisition. Production for the

MID-CONTINENT  REGION

Capital Expenditures ($ millions)

Proved Reserves (BCFE)

150

100

50

200

150

100

50

01

02

03

04

05

01

02

03

04

05

■ Acquisitions
■ Exploration & Development 

10

M C I N T O S H

St. Mary
Leasehold

P I T T S B U R G

H U G H E S

C O A L

A T O K A

P U S H M A T A H A

C E N T R A H O M A   P R O J E C T

For several years we have been acquiring acreage and drilling
vertical wells in the Cromwell sandstone, Wapanucka limestone
and Woodford shale formations in the Centrahoma field in the
Arkoma Basin of Oklahoma. In 2005 we drilled our first horizontal
well in the Cromwell formation. The Mowdy #1 (SM 100% WI)
was completed at an initial rate of 3,000 MCFED. The well was
drilled for approximately twice the cost of a vertical well and is
expected  to  produce  approximately  three  times  the  reserves.
Since the Mowdy #1, we have drilled three horizontal wells in the
Cromwell with initial production rates ranging from 670 – 1,300
MCFED. These wells represent our continuing effort to determine
the most efficient method to drill the Cromwell, while achieving
maximum ultimate reserve recoveries.

Additional  candidates  for  horizontal  development  are  the
Woodford shale and the Wapanucka limestone formations. We
drilled our first successful horizontal well in the Woodford shale
in 2005 and are currently drilling a second Woodford well. We
recently successfully completed our first horizontal well in the
Wapanucka and additional wells are planned in 2006 to further
define the potential of the Woodford and Wapanucka formations.
St.  Mary  owns  approximately  36,000  gross  and  20,000
net contiguous acres in Centrahoma. Developing three separate
plays in this large acreage block will require multiple rigs over
a multi-year period. At year end 2005 our 3P reserves for the
three formations were estimated at 259 BCFE with 40.7 BCFE of
the reserves booked as proved. To fully develop the field, we
estimate roughly 385 wells will be drilled. We currently have
two  rigs  working  in  the  field  that  are  anticipated  to  drill  19 
wells in 2006. During 2006 we plan to test various horizontal
drilling  and  completion  techniques  to  maximize  production
rates and reserve recoveries. We anticipate we will be able to
increase our level of drilling activity as we refine our drilling and
completion procedures.

581txt  3/5/06  8:21 AM  Page 11

Don Kentner is the Exploration Manager of our Mid-Continent region.  Don has 23 years of work experience
in the Arkoma Basin and manages our geological efforts in the Mid-Continent region.

IN  CENTRAHOMA  WE  HAVE  THREE  SEPARATE  RESOURCE  PLAYS  UNDER  THE  SAME  LEASEHOLD.

Various drilling and completion techniques will
be tested in order to maximize reserve recoveries
and production rates.

11

581txt  3/5/06  8:21 AM  Page 12

region grew 19% to 26.5 BCFE, which represented 30% of
our total 2005 production. 

The 2006 capital expenditures budget for the 
Mid-Continent region is $172 million, which is 34% of
our total $500 million of anticipated exploration and
development expenditures. The Atoka/Granite Wash 
program in Northeast Mayfield represents approximately
38% of the region’s budget or $66 million. We plan to 
participate in 46 Atoka/Granite Wash wells in 2006. We
anticipate operating 22 of the wells with the three drilling
rigs we have working in the area. We also plan to drill 19
operated horizontal wells in our Arkoma Basin drilling
program in 2006. We have allocated $42 million, or 24%
of the region’s budget, to drill eight Woodford, six
Cromwell and five Wapanucka wells with the two drilling
rigs dedicated to this program. The balance of our
planned expenditures in the Mid-Continent region are for
continued exploration and development of the Cottage
Grove, Osborne, Cleveland and Red Fork formations in
the Anadarko Basin. We anticipate participating in
approximately 20 wells to test and develop our prospects
in these areas.

ARKLATEX  REGION

PROVED  RESERVES

PROVED  DEVELOPED  RESERVES

%  OF  TOTAL  PROVED  RESERVES

GAS/OIL  MIX

3P  RESERVES

TOTAL  NET  LEASED  ACRES

NET  UNDEVELOPED  LEASED  ACRES

NET  MINERAL  SERVITUDE  ACRES

111.3  BCFE

56%

14%

95%  /  5%

153  BCFE

55,000

36%

9,868

CAPITAL  EXPENDITURES  BUDGET

$66  MILLION

Our ArkLaTex region includes our properties in eastern
Texas, northern Louisiana, southern Arkansas and southern
Mississippi. Our 21-person office in Shreveport, Louisiana,
manages the region where we have operated since 1992.
This region has grown through a combination of niche
acquisitions, new field discoveries and field extensions.
Our ArkLaTex region had excellent results in 2005.

The region increased its proved reserves 47% and its 
production 23% over 2004. The ArkLaTex region’s 3P
reserves at year end 2005 were 154 BCFE. The ArkLaTex
region represents 14% of our proved reserves, 6% of our
3P reserves and 12% of our 2005 production. During the
year, the region participated in 63 wells, of which 92% were
successfully completed. The region’s capital expenditures
were $44.0 million in 2005. Production from the region
was 10.8 BCFE.

12

Marlon Wells is the Operations Manager in our Tulsa office. Marlon
manages our drilling operations for the Mid-Continent region where
he has worked for St. Mary for over seven years.

A T O K A / G R A N I T E   W A S H

We have been exploring for oil and gas in Northeast Mayfield in
the Anadarko Basin in western Oklahoma since 1996. Our initial
drilling targeted a single Morrow Crook sand and grew into a
multi-pay area. We continued to expand the area by acquiring
leases in 68 sections in the field. In addition to identifying 18
Morrow sands, in 2002 we began to complete wells in the
uphole  Atoka  interval  and  have  identified  five  productive 
Atoka zones. In 2004 the deeper Morrow play became more
exploratory and results were unsatisfactory. In early 2005 we
reduced  our  Morrow  drilling  program  and  began  to  focus  on
the  Atoka/Granite  Wash  potential  in  the  field.  Mapping  of  the
Atoka/Granite Wash showed pay zones present over more than
24 sections where we have leases held by existing production.
Our average working interest in the area is approximately 30%.
Typical wells completed in the Atoka/Granite Wash forma-
tions  have  excellent  economics  with  natural  gas  prices  over
$5.50 per mcf at the ANR-OK index. The wells have relatively
high initial production rates and pay out the well costs in two 
to  three  years.  To  ensure  excellent  economics  from  this  play,
we  have  hedged  approximately  two-thirds  of  our  2006
Atoka/Granite Wash production at prices ranging from $8.10 per
MMBTU to $12.15 per MMBTU, indexed to the ANR-OK index.  
Development of the Atoka/Granite Wash will take place over
a multi-year period. At year end 2005 we estimated Atoka/Granite
Wash 3P reserves of 177 BCFE of which 28.6 BCFE was booked
as proved. If wells continue to exhibit historical drainage patterns,
it could possibly take over 500 additional wells to fully develop
the  Atoka/Granite  Wash  reserves.  In  2006  we  are  planning  to
participate  in  46  Atoka/Granite  Wash  wells,  of  which  we  will
operate 22. We operate three drilling rigs in this field.

581txt  3/5/06  8:21 AM  Page 13

A T O K A  / G R A N I T E   W A S H   L E A S E H O L D

2 0 0 6   B U D G E T E D   L O C A T I O N S

THE  ATOKA/GRANITE  WASH  WAS  MAPPED  USING  GEOLOGIC  DATA  ACQUIRED  FROM  DRILLING  DEEPER  MORROW  WELLS.

We operate three rigs in Northeast Mayfield and participate in wells drilled by other operators
in the field.

13

581txt  3/5/06  8:21 AM  Page 14

We had continued success in 2005 drilling horizontal

wells in the James Lime formation with five successful
wells in our Spider field. We successfully completed our
first stimulated horizontal well in the Spider field in
December 2005. This success creates additional development
opportunities. We also participated in the development of
the Elm Grove field in northern Louisiana. Our interest in
the Elm Grove field was acquired in a transaction that

ARKLATEX  REGION

Capital Expenditures ($ millions)

Proved Reserves (BCFE)

75

50

25

125

100

75

50

25

01

02

03

04

05

01

02

03

04

05

■ Acquisitions
■ Exploration & Development 

closed in December 2004. At Elm Grove, 35 of 36 wells
were successfully completed in 2005 with one well being
abandoned before the setting of surface casing due to
mechanical problems during drilling. We estimate we have
an interest in roughly 250 remaining wells to be drilled in
the field. The Elm Grove field is highlighted on this page.  
The ArkLaTex region’s 2006 capital expenditures

budget is $66 million or 13% of our total $500 million
budget for exploration and development. The horizontal
Limes program has a budget of $23 million with 13 
operated wells targeting the Glen Rose, Rodessa, Pettet and
James formations planned for 2006. We plan to participate
in 48 wells in the Elm Grove field at a cost of $12 million.
We will direct the balance of the 2006 capital program 
to continued development of Garrison, Terryville, Box
Church and other existing fields as well as additional
opportunities in the region.  

14

E L M   G R O V E   F I E L D

We acquired a non-operated interest in the Elm Grove field in
December 2004. The field, located just 15 miles south of our
Shreveport, Louisiana, office is undergoing an active redevelop-
ment and extension of the thick pay sands of the Cotton Valley
and Hosston formations. This is a tight gas play where wells are
typically completed with two to three stages of fracture stimu-
lation. The 640 acre proration units are being infilled on a 40 acre
well spacing pattern. The wells have minimal dry hole risk and
yield excellent economic returns at current commodity prices.
Although we normally prefer to be the operator, we have
confidence in the operators in the field and value their access
to drilling rigs in today’s limited rig environment.

The  Elm  Grove  field  provides  us  a  multi-year  drilling
inventory  in  a  rich  resource  base.  At  year  end  2005  we 
estimated  3P  reserves  of  59  BCFE,  of  which  48.9  BCFE  were
booked as proved. Of the estimated 250 wells remaining to be
drilled on our acreage in the field, we plan to participate in 48
wells in 2006. If additional rigs become available, the number
of wells to drill in 2006 could increase.

581txt  3/5/06  8:21 AM  Page 15

E L M   G R O V E   F I E L D

P R O V E D   D E V E L O P E D

P R O V E D   U N D E V E L O P E D

P R O B A B L E

P O S S I B L E

IN ELM GROVE, THE COTTON VALLEY AND HOSSTON FORMATIONS ARE BEING DEVELOPED USING MULTI-STAGE FRACTURE STIMULATIONS.

Paul Veatch is a St. Mary Vice President and
the Regional Manager of our ArkLaTex region
which includes the Elm Grove field.

15

 
 
 
 
581txt  3/5/06  8:21 AM  Page 16

GULF  COAST  AND  PERMIAN  BASIN  REGIONS

G U L F   C O A S T   R E G I O N

PROVED  RESERVES

PROVED  DEVELOPED  RESERVES

%  OF  TOTAL  PROVED  RESERVES

GAS/OIL  MIX

3P  RESERVES

TOTAL  NET  LEASED  ACRES

NET  UNDEVELOPED  LEASED  ACRES

FEE  ACRES

30.0  BCFE

87%

4%

93%  /  7%

93  BCFE

53,000

31%

24,914

CAPITAL  EXPENDITURES  BUDGET

$67  MILLION

Our Gulf Coast region includes properties in the Gulf of
Mexico and the onshore Gulf Coast of Louisiana and
Texas. Our 18-person office in Houston, Texas, manages
our operations in the region in addition to our operations
in the Permian Basin. Our presence in south Louisiana
dates back to the early 1900s when our founders acquired
a franchise property in St. Mary Parish on the shoreline of
the Gulf of Mexico. We have received oil and gas royalty
income from these 24,914 acres of fee lands since 1938.
Income from our fee lands will increase in 2006 as we have
a 21% royalty interest in the SM 24-1 ST well completed
in 2005 that went on production in 2006 and is currently
producing 15 MMCFED. The fee lands represent a small
portion of our production, but still yielded $3.4 million 

of oil and gas royalty revenue to St. Mary in 2005. The
onshore Gulf Coast and Gulf of Mexico became a core area
in 1999 with the acquisition of King Ranch Energy, Inc.

At year end 2005, the Gulf Coast region, including our

Permian Basin properties, represented 10% of our proved
reserves and 11% of our 3P reserves. Production from the
Gulf Coast region, including our Permian Basin properties,
was 12.3 BCFE or 14% of our total production in 2005.  

The Gulf Coast region’s 2006 capital expenditures
budget, including our Permian Basin properties, is $71
million or 14% of our total $500 million budget for 
exploration and development expenditures in 2006. The
Gulf Coast region is focused on exploration and exploitation
opportunities. Approximately 65% of this budget, or $46
million, is for exploratory drilling. This exploration is
directed toward low and moderate-risk opportunities with
a direct hydrocarbon indicator (DHI) or areas where we
have niche expertise. We plan to participate in eight onshore
and five offshore DHI prospects in 2006.  

In 2005, we participated as a non-operator in our first

well in the intermediate deep water. This successful well
logged 114 net feet of productive pay. Depending on rig
availability, the completion is scheduled for 2006 with first
production set to begin in late 2007. This completion, as
well as our participation in two additional DHI exploration
prospects and the anticipated seismic and land costs 

We have received royalty income from our fee lands in St. Mary Parish,
Louisiana since 1938.

16

581txt  3/5/06  8:21 AM  Page 17

associated with a new exploration joint venture for the
intermediate deep water are included in the remaining 
$28 million budgeted for the region in 2006.

We continue to participate in the successful development

of the Judge Digby field located in Point Coupee Parish
outside Baton Rouge, Louisiana. We own an 11.5% working
interest in two wells that we are drilling and will complete
in early 2006. We also will participate in the recompletion
of several wells in Judge Digby field during the year.
Because of the multiple potential pay zones in each of the
wells in the field, we anticipate recompletion activity to
continue in the Judge Digby field for many more years. 

P E R M I A N   B A S I N   R E G I O N

PROVED  RESERVES

PROVED  DEVELOPED  RESERVES

%  OF  TOTAL  PROVED  RESERVES

GAS/OIL  MIX

3P  RESERVES

TOTAL  NET  LEASED  ACRES

NET  UNDEVELOPED  LEASED  ACRES

49.9  BCFE

86%

6%

14%  /  86%

81  BCFE

11,000

40%

CAPITAL  EXPENDITURES  BUDGET

$4  MILLION

Our properties in the Permian Basin are in eastern New
Mexico and western Texas. Our activity in the Basin during
2005 was directed primarily toward continued development
of our waterflood projects at Parkway and East Shugart in
Lea and Eddy Counties, New Mexico.  During 2005, we
completed seven wells in the Parkway Delaware Unit. We
initiated waterflood operations in 1999 when production
was 605 Bbls per day.  Production exited 2005 at 1,620
Bbls per day. During the year, we drilled seven wells,
including six infill wells, in the East Shugart Delaware
Unit.  This waterflood unit is an analog to the Parkway
Delaware Unit. Oil production increased 14% as the 
formation continued to respond to water injection.  

We have allocated $4 million to the Permian Basin
region’s 2006 capital expenditures program, including 
$2 million for our west Texas HJSA program to drill 
six development wells, two exploitation/exploration 
wells and ten recompletions. Work is also planned in 
the Parkway Delaware and Shugart Delaware units 
to optimize waterflood performance.

GULF  COAST/PERMIAN  BASIN  REGIONS

Capital Expenditures ($ millions)

Proved Reserves (BCFE)

50

40

30

20

10

100

80

60

40

20

01

02

03

04

05

01

02

03

04

05

■ Acquisitions
■ Exploration & Development 

We continue to develop the Parkway and East Shugart waterflood projects
in Lea and Eddy Counties, New Mexico.

17

581txt  3/5/06  8:21 AM  Page 18

DIRECTORS

OFFICERS

INFORMATION ABOUT RESERVES

Barbara M. Baumann (1),(3),(4)
Denver, Colorado
President
Cross Creek Energy Corporation

Larry W. Bickle (2),(4)
Houston, Texas
Managing Director
Haddington Ventures, L.L.C.

Thomas E. Congdon (1)
Denver, Colorado
Former Chairman
St. Mary Land & Exploration Company

William J. Gardiner (1),(3)
Houston, Texas
Chief Financial Officer
King Ranch Inc.

Mark A. Hellerstein (1)
Denver, Colorado
Chairman, President and 
Chief Executive Officer
St. Mary Land & Exploration Company

John M. Seidl (2),(3)
Aspen, Colorado

William D. Sullivan (2),(4)
The Woodlands, Texas
Former Executive Vice President
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation

(1) Executive Committee

(2) Nominating and Corporate 

Governance Committee

(3) Audit Committee

(4) Compensation Committee

118

Mark A. Hellerstein
Chairman, President and 
Chief Executive Officer

Douglas W. York
Executive Vice President and 
Chief Operating Officer

Robert L. Nance
Senior Vice President, President and
CEO of Nance Petroleum Corporation

Jerry R. Schuyler
Senior Vice President and 
Regional Manager, Gulf Coast

Kevin E. Willson
Senior Vice President and 
Regional Manager, Mid-Continent

Robert T. Hanley
Vice President – Investor Relations
and Management Reporting

W. David Hart
Vice President – Geology, ArkLaTex

David W. Honeyfield
Vice President – Chief Financial
Officer, Secretary and Treasurer 

Milam Randolph Pharo
Vice President – Land and Legal,
Assistant Secretary

Paul M. Veatch
Vice President and
Regional Manager, ArkLaTex 

Garry A. Wilkening
Vice President – Administration 
and Controller

Linda A. Ditsworth
Assistant Vice President – 
Land and Assistant Secretary

Michael F. Roach
Assistant Vice President – 
Director of Taxation

Mark T. Solomon
Assistant Vice President – 
Assistant Controller

David J. Whitcomb
Assistant Vice President – 
Gas Marketing

The SEC permits oil and gas companies to 
disclose only proved reserves in their public filings
with the SEC. These are reserve estimates that
geological and engineering data demonstrate with
reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future
years from known reservoirs under existing 
economic and operating conditions. In portions of
this annual report which are not publicly filed with
the SEC, St. Mary uses the terms “probable,”
“possible” and “3P” reserves, which terms SEC
guidelines prohibit from being included in public
filings with the SEC. Probable reserves are
unproved reserves which analysis of geological
and engineering data suggests are more likely
than not to be recoverable. Possible reserves are
unproved reserves which are less likely to be
recoverable than probable reserves. Estimates of
probable and possible reserves included in 3P
reserves which may potentially be recoverable
through additional drilling or recovery techniques
are by their nature more uncertain than estimates
of proved reserves and accordingly are subject 
to substantially greater risk of not actually 
being realized by the Company. In addition, our
production forecasts and expectations for future
periods are dependent upon many assumptions,
including estimates of production decline rates
from existing wells and the undertaking and 
outcome of future drilling and acquisition activity,
which may be affected by significant commodity
price declines or drilling cost increases.

INFORMATION ABOUT FORWARD
LOOKING STATEMENTS

This annual report contains forward looking 
statements within the meaning of securities laws,
including forecasts and projections for future
periods. The words “will,” “believe,” “anticipate,”
“intend,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “plan” 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 discussed in the “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary
Information about Forward Looking Statements”
sections of the accompanying 2005 Annual Report
on Form 10-K. 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.

581cvr  3/5/06  9:15 AM  Page 2

THE COVER: a photographic overview of the resource plays

highlighted in this annual report. Starting in the upper left is a

rig drilling a well in our Bakken play. Clockwise is a wellhead

at the Elm Grove field, pipe to transport natural gas in the

Hanging Woman Basin, a crew working on a rig drilling an

Atoka/Granite Wash well in Northeast Mayfield and a drilling

rig in our Centrahoma field.

C O M P A N Y   A T   A   G L A N C E

We operate in five core areas managed from four regional
offices. The Mid-Continent, Rocky Mountain, ArkLaTex,
Gulf Coast and Permian Basin regions are operated out 
of our offices in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Billings, Montana;
Shreveport, Louisiana; and Houston, Texas. Each office is
staffed with a full complement of geologists, geophysicists,
engineers and landmen who have extensive experience 
in the region or basin where they work. Our Denver 
headquarters provides the administrative support and
oversight for the regions.

In 2006, we will operate approximately 73% of our $500
million exploration and development capital expenditures
budget. By operating such a large percentage of our budget,
we maximize the benefit of our expertise in the land, 

OPERATIONS

ACQUISITIONS

STOCKHOLDER INFORMATION

The acquisition of oil and gas assets and companies is an
important part of our growth strategy. We focus on smaller
niche acquisitions in existing core areas where we utilize
our geologic knowledge of the area, our technical 
engineering expertise and our financial flexibility. As
we shift to developing technology-driven resource plays 
at a time when the acquisition marketplace has become
overly competitive, our growth will be less dependent
upon acquisitions. 

In 2005, we spent $87.8 million on niche acquisitions.
This represented 21% of our capital expenditures program.
In 2006, we have budgeted
$100 million, 17% of our
capital expenditures budget,
for acquisitions. Over the
last five years, we have 
completed $370.8 million 
of property acquisitions.

Property Acquisitions ($ millions)

100

75

50

25

02

03

04

05

06
(budget)

FINANCIAL  STRATEGIES

St. Mary’s objective is to increase per share value in excess
of 15% per year through consistent economic growth in
reserves and production. To achieve this objective, we
believe we have to replace, on average, 200% of our annual
production and to have full cycle economics in the top
quartile of our peer group. Over the past five years, we
have replaced an average of 244% of our production with
excellent economics. Through December 31, 2005, we
have provided our stockholders, in dividends and stock
value, a compounded rate of return of 23% since we
became a public company in December 1992.  

Our strategy is also to maintain a strong balance sheet
by keeping our debt to total book capital ratio below 35%.
A strong balance sheet allows us to weather cycles of low
commodity prices and be opportunistic when capital is
not available to our peers. We are willing to become
aggressive and increase our
debt to total book capital
ratio during down cycles in
order to make strategic acqui-
sitions. As of December 31,
2005, we have a debt to total
book capital ratio of 15%.    

Proved Oil & Gas Reserves Per Share
(MCFE) 

12

10

8

6

4

2

02

03

04

05

01

INVESTOR  SERVICES

You can reach our corporate office at:
St. Mary Land & Exploration Company
1776 Lincoln Street, Suite 700
Denver, CO 80203
303-861-8140

We also have offices in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Shreveport, Louisiana;
Billings, Montana; and Houston, Texas

St. Mary Land & Exploration Company
7060 South Yale, Suite 800
Tulsa, OK 74136-5741
918-488-7600 

St. Mary Land & Exploration Company
330 Marshall Street, Suite 1200
Shreveport, LA 71101
318-424-0804

Nance Petroleum Corporation
550 N. 31st Street, Suite 500
Billings, MT 59101
406-245-6248

St. Mary Land & Exploration Company
580 Westlake Park Blvd., Suite 600
Houston, TX  77079
281-677-2800

DESIGN BY: MARK MULVANY GRAPHIC DESIGN (DENVER, COLORADO)

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: RON COPPOCK-KING (DENVER, COLORADO)

INVESTOR  RELATIONS  CONTACT

Stockholders, securities analysts or portfolio managers who have
questions or need information concerning St. Mary may contact 
Bob Hanley, Vice President – Investor Relations and Management
Reporting, at 303-863-4377. 
E-mail: bhanley@stmaryland.com

Annual Reports, 10Ks, 10Qs
To receive an information packet on St. Mary or to be added to 
our mailing list, contact Jim Robertson at 303-863-4322
E-mail:  information@stmaryland.com

Please visit our web site at: www.stmaryland.com

Stock Transfer Agent
Any stockholder with questions or inquiries regarding stock certificate
holdings, changes in registration address, lost certificates, dividend
payments and other stockholder account matters should be directed
to St. Mary Land & Exploration Company’s transfer agent at the 
following address or phone number:

Computershare Investor Services
350 Indiana Street, Suite 800
Golden, CO  80401
303-262-0600

NYSE: SM
The Company’s common stock is listed for trading on the New York
Stock Exchange under the symbol SM.

The price ranges of the Company’s common stock by quarter for 
the last two years, as adjusted for the 2-for-1 stock split in March
2005, are provided below. As of February 15, 2006 the Company
had 56,953,893 shares of common stock outstanding, net of
250,000 treasury shares owned by the Company.

Market Prices 

2005 — Quarter Ended

2004 — Quarter Ended

March 31

June 30

September 30

December 31

high

low

high

low

$26.73

$19.45

$17.07

$13.87

30.45

37.80

41.14

21.46

28.89

30.52

18.60

20.07

21.50

15.90

15.88

18.56

OTHER INFORMATION
In 2005, St. Mary submitted to the New York Stock Exchange a 
certificate of the Chief Executive Officer of St. Mary certifying that he
was not aware of any violation by St. Mary of the New York Stock
Exchange corporate governance listing standards. St. Mary has filed
with the SEC certifications of each of the Chief Executive Officer 
and the Chief Financial Officer required under Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act as exhibits to the Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005.

OUR  MISSION

St. Mary Land & Exploration Company was founded in 

1908 and incorporated in 1915. We are engaged in the

exploration, exploitation, development, acquisition and

production of natural gas and crude oil in five core areas 

in the United States.

BILLINGS

Big Horn Basin

Greater Green
River Basin

Our mission is to build value by adding value at every

phase of our business. This includes prospect generation,

land acquisition, drilling, production, marketing, reservoir

engineering, finance and administration. Our goal is to 

provide a long-term return in the top quartile of our peers

while preserving underlying capital. We plan to achieve 

this by attracting, motivating and retaining a talented staff;

using appropriate technologies; and growing net asset 

value per share. While growing our company, we will not

compromise our core values of integrity, fairness, trust 

and social responsibility.

Williston Basin

Hanging Woman Basin

Powder River Basin

Wind River 
Basin

DENVER

Anadarko Basin

TULSA

Permian Basin

Arkoma Basin

ArkLaTex

SHREVEPORT

HOUSTON

Gulf Coast

geoscience and engineering disciplines. In each core 
area, we focus on deliberate, detailed land and legal 
work, disciplined geologic interpretations, reservoir 
management, efficient completion and stimulation 
techniques and the appropriate application of new 
technologies when warranted. 

581cvr  3/5/06  9:15 AM  Page 1

B U I L D I N G   A   F O U N D A T I O N   F O R   G R O W T H

B U I L D I N G   A   F O U N D A T I O N   F O R   G R O W T H

The theme of our 2004 Annual Report was

Growing Through Competitive Advantages. In

2005, we continued to establish new competitive

strengths which have been the basis for our

growth. The competitive advantages established in

each of our regions have been the catalysts for

building our inventory of multi-year resource plays

that are the foundation for our future.  

A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 0 5

St. Mary Land & Exploration Company

1776 Lincoln Street

Suite 700

Denver, Colorado  80203

Telephone: (303) 861-8140

Fax: (303) 861-0934

Internet: www.stmaryland.com

In our 2005 Annual Report, we highlight five

multi-year exploration and development programs

at various stages of development. Each program

has significant unbooked reserve potential with

drilling inventories ranging from two to more than

ten years. Building on this foundation and focusing

on our competitive strengths, we will continue to

create value for our stockholders.

The growth we have experienced and the

growth we are planning are possible only because

of St. Mary’s extremely dedicated and talented

employees. The employees featured in this Annual

Report represent the many employees who spend

their professional lives making our success possible.

We want to thank all of them for the great job

they do for our company.