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Southwestern Energy Company

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Industry Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
Employees 1001-5000
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FY2015 Annual Report · Southwestern Energy Company
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A ST RONG 
BR IDG E FORWAR D

SWN 2015
ANNU AL RE PORT

1

2015

INTEGRATED NEW SOUTHWEST 
APPALACHIA ASSETS 

FINALIZED PERMANENT 
FINANCING FOR ACQUISITION 

The Company successfully 
integrated its new acreage in West 
Virginia and southwest Pennsylvania 
into the portfolio and built a strong 
operational team to deliver results 
quickly. Well results have been 
encouraging, materially 
outperforming other wells 

in the area.

In early 2015, the Company 
successfully completed permanent 
financing of its Southwest 
Appalachia acquisition with 
$2.3 billion in equity issuances, $2.2 
billion in debt issuances and over 
$700 million in asset divestitures.

SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED DRILLING 
AND COMPLETION COSTS

Through negotiations with 
third-party vendors and a focus on 
optimizations associated with 
drilling and completion techniques, 
the Company was able to once again 
drive down costs, delivering 
on its commitment to remain one 

of the lowest cost operators.

ACHIEVED RECORD ANNUAL 
PRODUCTION VOLUMES, 
27% HIGHER THAN 2014 

The Company experienced 
significant production growth driven 
by its Appalachia acreage, where 
Northeast Appalachia production 
volumes grew by 42% and the 
newly acquired acreage in 
Southwest Appalachia produced 
143 Bcfe in its first year in 

the portfolio.

ENHANCED LIQUIDITY IN 2015  

Additionally, the Company 
completed a $750 million term loan 
in November, improving its 
year-end liquidity to $1.9 billion 
with no significant near-term 
debt maturities. 

®

The Right People doing the Right Things, 
wisely investing the cash flow from 

the underlying Assets will create Value+ ®

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Page 7

Page 9

Page 11

Northeast
Appalachia

Southwest
Appalachia

Fayetteville
Shale

“I believe in the opportunities 
we have in front of us, 
and most of all, I believe in 
Southwestern Energy.”

Dear Fellow Shareholders: 
 A Strong Bridge Forward

The dramatic drop in commodity 
prices has significantly impacted 
our industry and has once again 
forced many organizations to 
re-think their strategies and plans 
for creating value. At Southwestern 
Energy, our strategy is built on a solid 
foundation of strong core values and is 
inspired by our Formula that has stood 
–
the test of many difficult times.           –  
The Right People doing the Right Things, 
wisely investing the cash flow from the 
underlying Assets will create Value+.  

For us, Value+ means an unwavering 
discipline to only invest in projects that 
deliver $1.30 discounted at 10% for 
every dollar we invest. We call this 
ratio “Present Value Index” or PVI of 
1.3. What remains true today, no matter 
the challenges, is that we have premier 
assets, are a low cost operator amongst 
our peers, have a relentless pursuit for 
innovation and have the best people 
in the industry working safely on our 
behalf. Inspired by an impressive list of 
significant accomplishments in 2015, we 
are sharply concentrated on 2016 and 
beyond. We approach each day with a 
bold determination to manage through 
volatile times and strengthen our bridge 
to the future with an intense focus 

on creating significant long-term 
value for our shareholders.

I believe that credibility with our investors 
and stakeholders is only derived through 
delivering on our commitments. Further, 
I believe in our people and their ability 
to persevere, innovate, find efficiencies 
and safely deliver results. I believe 
in the opportunities we have in front 
of us, and most of all, I believe in 
Southwestern Energy.  

With our strong foundation firmly in 
place, throughout 2016, we are 
focused on driving through the current 
commodity market and on further 
strengthening our bridge to the future.  
Specifically, we will shore up our balance 
sheet, enhance margins and optimize 
our portfolio of premier assets.

Build on Strong Liquidity to Further 
Strengthen the Balance Sheet 

Our substantial liquidity position 
differentiates Southwestern from 
others, and when combined with our  
high quality portfolio of assets, 
Southwestern is positioned well for a 
strong future. Due to our low cost 
structure, significant production base 
and diverse transportation portfolio, 

the Company continues to generate 
positive cash flow from our operations in 
this challenging price environment. 

In 2016, we are committed to 
strengthening our balance sheet by 
actively pursuing opportunities to reduce 
our debt and to preserve our liquidity 
by executing on an operating plan that 
aligns our capital investment program 
with cash flows generated from 
operations. Our priority is to generate 
solid returns over low-value growth. 
Reducing our liquidity to invest in wells 
that have marginal economics in 
today’s price environment does not 
make sense to us. 

Operating Efficiently and 
Enhancing Margins 

We will continue to operate efficiently 
and strive to find more ways to drive 
costs out of our operations to enhance 
our margins. We are critically looking at 
everything we do, every day. As a result, 
we have already taken steps to lower 
costs through a number of organizational 
and operational activities. 

In my experience, challenging times like 
the ones we are experiencing, are 

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A ST RONG 
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SWN 2015
ANNU AL RE PORT

3

Page 13

Midstream
Services.

V+ Development
Solutions.

Page 15

“With our strong foundation firmly 
in place, throughout 2016, we are 
focused on driving through the current 
commodity market and on further 
 strengthening our bridge to the future.”

often when companies deliver the 
brightest ideas that take our industry to 
the next level. And I can tell you, we plan 
to be a big part of that future and a 
big part of unlocking ideas and value 
from our curiosity and learning.

in each area of our operations that 
will allow us to pivot from our current 
activity level to value-adding growth 
when commodity prices and cash flow 
support an increase in activity.

Optimize the Portfolio 

Our current production base and our 
entire resource base sets us up to 
benefit in a tremendous way as pricing 
improves. Today, we are focused on how 
to maximize the production from our 
existing wells through innovation, new 
technologies and efficiencies.

With the Company’s differentiating 
focus on project returns, the Northeast 
and Southwest Appalachia areas are 
positioned to be the growth drivers for 
years to come, with the Fayetteville 
Shale E&P and Midstream businesses 
providing a base of cash flows that will 
fund this growth activity. 

We are prepared for a prolonged 
low-price environment, but we remain 
equipped with the flexibility and 
liquidity to ramp activity quickly when 
prices improve. We have the core DNA

During 2015, we demonstrated our 
ability to maneuver through these 
challenging market conditions. We 
delivered record drilling results, record 
well performance, material well cost 
savings and terrific results from our base 
production enhancement efforts.

We remained flexible throughout the 
year, and accordingly, we reduced 
activity to align with market realities and 
focused on maintaining a strong liquidity 
position. We efficiently integrated the 
Southwest Appalachia asset into SWN 
during 2015 and it has exceeded our 
expectations in every operational aspect 
as compared to our acquisition model. 

I am confident that we will deliver 
on our priorities in 2016 and beyond. 
Our company will prosper in any 
environment when we focus on 
optimizing our superior assets and 
combine that focus with disciplined 
investing and a relentless pursuit 
of innovation. Importantly, underlying 
all of our efforts, we are grateful for 
the continued support and hard work 

of our dedicated employees, 
who are truly the Right People and 
the drivers of our success.  

We look forward to a future when the 
natural gas market begins to improve 
because we have the core assets 
and skills to cross the bridge and deliver 
rock-solid results and value to you, 
our shareholders.  

In conclusion, I want to thank you, our 
shareholders, for your support of our 
strategy. I also want to thank our 
devoted and innovative employees 
whom I am honored and privileged to 
lead and who work diligently to 
strengthen the bridge which will bring 
value-added growth to you.  

Sincerely,

WILLIAM J. WAY
PRESIDENT & 
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

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A ST RONG 
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SWN 2015
ANNU AL RE PORT

5

Financial
Highlights

Adjusted
Net Income
(in Millions) 
(1)

Adjusted
EBITDA
(in Millions) 
(1)

Adjusted Diluted 
Earnings 
Per Share

(1)

’15    $71

’15    $1,440

’15    $0.19

’14    $801
’13    $704
’12    $487
’11    $634

’14    $2,320
’13    $1,998
’12    $1,638
’11    $1,774

’14    $2.27
’13    $2.00
’12    $1.39
’11    $1.81

Production
Costs
($/Mcfe) 

(3)

Average Realized
Gas Price
($/Mcf)

’15    $2.37

’14    $3.72
’13    $3.65
’12    $3.44
’11    $4.18

Capital
Investments
(in Millions) 

(2)

Production
(Bcfe) 

Reserves
(Bcfe)

’15    $1,828

’15    976

’15    6,215

’15    $1.02

’14    $2,440
’13    $2,235
’12    $2,081
’11    $2,207

’14    768
’13    657
’12    565
’11    500

’14    10,747
’13    6,976
’12    4,018
’11    5,893

’14    $1.02
’13    $0.96
’12    $0.89
’11    $0.94

Footnotes

(1) For the Company’s reconciliation of adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share and 
adjusted EBITDA to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, see “Non-GAAP Reconciliations” on the 
inside back cover   (2) Excludes acquisition costs and post-closing adjustments for the Appalachia 
transactions that closed in December 2014 and January 2015   (3) Production cost per Mcfe includes lease 
operating expenses and production taxes   (4) Finding and development cost is a non-GAAP measure 
and excludes price revisions, acquisitions and the impact of capitalizing interest and portions of G&A in 
accordance with full cost accounting

3-Year Finding 
& Development 
Cost is 

$0.62/Mcfe (4)

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A ST RONG 
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SWN 2015
ANNU AL RE PORT

7

Northeast Appalachia
The Company’s Northeast Appalachia division drove its 
overall production growth in 2015, with gross operated production 
reaching 1.3 Bcf per day at year-end 2015 compared to 1.0 Bcf 
per day at year-end 2014. Production was 360 Bcf in 2015, up 42% 
from 254 Bcf in 2014. Total proved reserves were approximately 
2,319 Bcf, compared to 3,192 Bcf in 2014. The net decrease in 
reserves included downward price revisions of 2,315 Bcf and 
production of 360 Bcf, partially offset by upward reserve revisions due 
to well performance of 1,383 Bcf, reserve additions of 340 Bcf and 
acquisitions of 79 Bcf.  /  In 2015, the division’s operated horizontal 
wells had an average completed well cost of $5.4 million per well, 
average horizontal lateral length of 5,403 feet and an average of 11 
fracture stimulation stages. This compares to an average completed 
operated well cost of $6.1 million per well, average horizontal lateral 
length of 4,752 feet and an average of 15 fracture stimulation stages in 
2014.  /  The 2.3 Tcf of total proved reserves at year-end 2015 
attributable to Northeast Appalachia were from 826 locations, of which 
767 were proved developed producing, 23 were proved developed 
non-producing and 36 were proved undeveloped. The average gross 
proved reserves for the undeveloped wells included in year-end 
reserves for 2015 was approximately 10.4 Bcf per well. 

®

Northeast Appalachia achieved 
significant production growth in 2015, 
surpassing cumulative gross 
operated production of 1 Tcf

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A ST RONG 
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SWN 2015
ANNU AL RE PORT

9

Southwest Appalachia
In late 2014 and early 2015, the Company closed two 
transactions to acquire oil and natural gas assets in West Virginia 
and southwest Pennsylvania for approximately $5.4 billion. This 
acreage has at least three drilling objectives, namely the Marcellus, 
Utica and Upper Devonian shales. As of December 31, 2015, the 
Company had approximately 425,098 net acres in Southwest 
Appalachia.  /  In 2015, SWN invested $857 million in Southwest 
Appalachia, which included $337 million in acquisition costs and 
post-closing adjustments for the Appalachia transactions that closed in 
December 2014 and January 2015. Net production from 
Southwest Appalachia was 143 Bcfe in 2015 and total proved 
reserves were approximately 611 Bcfe.  /  Southwest Appalachia had 
a total of 318 horizontal and 676 vertical wells that the Company 
operated and were on production as of December 31, 2015. 
Additionally, there were 43 horizontal wells in progress at the end 
of 2015, of which 21 were waiting on pipeline or production 
facilities.  /  In 2015, Southwest Appalachia drilled 48 wells with 
an average lateral length of 6,544 feet and placed 47 wells on 
production. Compared to historical offsets, the Company 
is achieving better results by drilling in a tighter target interval, 
enhancing the completion design and utilizing pressure drawdown 
management. The Southwest Appalachia Division set company 
records including longest completed lateral, most proppant in a 
single well, most pounds of sand per foot and most stages per well. 

®

In its first year in the portfolio, 
Southwest Appalachia 
achieved multiple milestones, setting 
a number of operational records

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SWN 2015
ANNU AL RE PORT

Fayetteville Shale
As of December 31, 2015, the Fayetteville Shale division 
had spud 4,737 wells since commencement of activities in 2004, 
of which 4,157 were operated by the Company and 580 were 
outside operated wells.  /  Approximately 3.3 Tcf or 53% of total 
reserves were attributable to the Fayetteville Shale, while 2015 
production was 465 Bcf, compared to 494 Bcf in 2014. Gross 
operated gas production in the Fayetteville Shale was approximately 
1.8 Bcf per day at the end of 2015 compared to approximately 
2.1 Bcf per day at the end of 2014.  /  In 2015, SWN invested 
approximately $565 million in the Fayetteville Shale, which included 
approximately $481 million to spud 155 wells, all of which the 
Company operates. The Company placed 261 operated wells on 
production during 2015 with average initial production rates of 
4,280 Mcf per day, compared to 4,430 Mcf per day in 2014. During 
2015, SWN placed 74 operated wells on production with initial 
production rates that exceeded 5.0 MMcf per day.

®

The Fayetteville Shale is 
economically advantaged due 
to its proximity to the 
nation’s growing demand centers

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SWN 2015
ANNU AL RE PORT

Midstream Services
The Company’s Midstream business continues to provide a 
stable source of cash flow from the gathering and marketing of its 
gas volumes and third-party gas volumes. SWN’s operating income 
from this segment was $306 million in 2015, excluding a $277 million 
net gain related to the sale of its northeast Pennsylvania and East 
Texas gathering assets, compared to $361 million in 2014. 
Adjusted EBITDA generated by the Company’s Midstream Services 
segment was $368 million in 2015, compared to $418 million in 2014.  
/  During 2015, Southwestern gathered approximately 750 Bcf of 
natural gas in the Fayetteville Shale area, including 55 Bcf of natural 
gas from third-party operated wells. At the end of 2015, the Company 
had approximately 2,044 miles of pipe from the individual wellheads to 
the transmission lines and compression equipment representing in 
aggregate approximately 502,555 horsepower had been installed at 58 
central point gathering facilities in the field.  /  SWN’s marketing 
activities allow the Company to capture downstream opportunities 
related to the marketing and transportation of natural gas, oil and 
NGLs. Additionally, the Company also manages portfolio and basis 
risk, acquires transportation rights on third-party pipelines and in limited 
circumstances, purchases third-party natural gas. During 2015, 
Southwestern marketed 1,127 Bcfe of natural gas, oil and 
NGLs, compared to 904 Bcf in 2014.   

®

The Midstream business 
enhances cash flow through its 
rate based revenues and 
flexible transportation portfolio

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20

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SWN 2015
ANNU AL RE PORT

V+ Development Solutions
V+ Development Solutions helps lead SWN’s culture of 
Corporate Responsibility. While SWN maintains focus on creating Value+ for 
its shareholders through operational efficiency, innovation, and continuous improvement,  
the Company also works to provide a safe and healthy workplace for its people, act with 
integrity, maintain its reputation as a respected member of the communities in which SWN 
operates, and protect the environment by helping to solve challenges such as water 
quality and availability and minimizing the Company’s impacts on water resources, air 
 quality and climate.  /  Southwestern’s strong focus on safety led to a breakthrough year of 
improvement in 2015. SWN recorded a new low total recordable injury rate (TRIR) of 0.65 
 for the year, an improvement of 43% over 2014.  /  Also in 2015, the Company achieved 
“freshwater neutral” in the Fayetteville Shale–meaning that for each gallon of fresh water 
used, the Company offset an equivalent amount through water conservation projects. SWN 
 achieved this by first reducing the water used per well by more than 30% between 2012  
and 2015 and reducing overall fresh water used by more than 65% in the same time  
period, and also by implementing conservation projects with The Nature Conservancy, 
Ducks Unlimited and Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. In Northeast Appalachia, the  
Company completed work on the Fall Brook acid mine drainage remediation project, in  
cooperation with the Tioga County Conservation District and Pennsylvania Department of  
Environmental Protection, which will improve water quality in the Tioga River and 
 Susquehanna River Basin. SWN is on track to achieve fresh water neutral across the entire 
 company before the end of 2016.  /  Southwestern’s commitment to the voluntary  
reduction of methane emissions continued to advance in 2015 not only within its own 
 operating divisions but also in cooperation with other companies in the broader natural gas 
 value chain. The ONE Future coalition, which the Company co-founded in 2014 was  
recognized by both the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Pennsylvania  
DEP as a viable approach to achieving meaningful methane emission reductions.

®

See our 2014-2015 Corporate 
Responsibility Report 
(www.swn.com/cr) for more detail on 
these and other initiatives

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DIRECTORS

As shown from left to right:  William J. Way (*), President and Chief Executive Officer  /  Catherine A. Kehr (4), Retired–The Capital Group Companies  /  
Steven L. Mueller (6), Chairman of the Board–Southwestern Energy Company  /  Kenneth R. Mourton (21), Managing Partner–Ball and Mourton, Ltd., PLLC  /  
John D. Gass (3), Retired –Chevron Corporation  /  Alan H. Stevens (5), Retired–Southwestern Energy Company  /  
Vello A. Kuuskraa (13), President –Advanced Resources  /  Greg D. Kerley (5), Retired–Southwestern Energy Company  /  
Elliott Pew (3), Retired–Common Resources  /  Terry W. Rathert (1), Retired–Newfield Exploration Company

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

William J. 
Way (4)
President and 
Chief Executive 
Officer

Mark K. 
Boling (14)
President –V+ 
Development 
Solutions

Jeffrey B. 
Sherrick (7)
Executive Vice 
President–
Corporate 
Development

R. Craig 
Owen (7)
Senior Vice 
President and 
Chief Financial 
Officer

Jennifer N. 
McCauley (6)
Senior Vice 
President–Human 
Resources

James W.
Vick (4)
Senior Vice 
President–
Business 
Information 
Services

John C. 
Ale (2)
Senior Vice
President–
General Counsel 
and Corporate 
Secretary

J. Alan
Stubblefield (18)
Senior Vice 
President–
Operations

Randall D. 
Ponder (11)
Senior Vice 
President–
Exploration

Jim R.
Dewbre (18)
Senior Vice
President–Land

John E. “Jack” 
Bergeron, Jr. (8)
Senior Vice 
President –
Northeast 
Appalachia 
Division

Paul W. 
Geiger (1)
Senior Vice
President–
Southwest 
Appalachia 
Division

Randy L. 
Curry (1)
Senior Vice
President–
Midstream

Douglas H. Van
Slambrouck (16)
Senior Vice
President–
Fayetteville 
Shale Division

Jennifer E. 
Stewart (5)
Senior Vice
President–Tax 
and Treasury

CORPORATE OFFICERS

William J. Way (4)
President and Chief
Executive Officer

Mark K. Boling (14)
President –V+  
Development Solutions

Jeffrey B. Sherrick (7)
Executive Vice President
–Corporate Development

R. Craig Owen (7)
Senior Vice President
and Chief 
Financial Officer

John C. Ale (2)
Senior Vice President –
General Counsel and
Corporate Secretary

Jennifer N.
McCauley (6)
Senior Vice President–
Human Resources

James W. Vick (4)
Senior Vice President– 
Business Information 
Services

Mark L. Colassaco (3)
Vice President–
Business Information 
Services

Josh C. Anders (6)
Vice President
and Controller

Jennifer E.
Stewart (5)
Senior Vice President–
Tax and Treasury

Randall L. Barron (13)
Vice President–
Treasury

Danny W. 
Ferguson (11)
Vice President–
Government and
Community Relations

Roy D. Hartstein (8)
Vice President–
Strategic Solutions

John C. Gargani (22)
Vice President–
Strategy, Performance
and Innovation

OPERATING 
SUBSIDIARY OFFICERS  

J. Alan 
Stubblefield (18)
Senior Vice 
President–Operations

Randall D. Ponder (11) 
Senior Vice President–
Exploration

Jim R. Dewbre (18)
Senior Vice 
President–Land

John E. “Jack” 
Bergeron, Jr. (8)
Senior Vice President– 
Northeast 
Appalachia Division

Paul W. Geiger (1)
Senior Vice President– 
Southwest 
Appalachia Division

For Executive Officers, years with the Company are shown on this page in parentheses.
For Directors, years served on the Board of Directors are shown on this page in parentheses, 
and an asterisk (*) indicates less than one year of service.

Douglas H. Van 
Slambrouck (16)
Senior Vice President–
Fayetteville 
Shale Division

Randy L. Curry (1)
Senior Vice 
President–Midstream 

C. Greg Stoute (10)
Vice President–
Health, Safety and
Environmental

David A. Dell’Osso (10)
Vice President– 
Commercial
Development

Harry H. “Sonny” 
Bryan, (15)
Vice President– 
Drilling and 
Completions

George A. Sheffer (11)
Vice President–
Operations, Fayetteville
Shale Division

Stephen M. Guidry (8)
Vice President–
Land, Southwest
Appalachia Division

James N. Perkins (15)
Vice President–Land,
New Ventures

Martin D. Carley (10)
Vice President– 
SWN Drilling Company

John R. Lee III (6)
Vice President– 
Midstream 
Field Operations

R. Jason Kurtz (18)
Vice President– 
Marketing 
and Transportation

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