Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc.
2001 Annual Report
 

No estimates of proved reserves comparable to those included herein have been included in reports to any federal agency other than the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").

   There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating oil and natural gas reserves and their estimated values, including many factors beyond the control of the producer. The reserve data set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K represent only estimates. Reservoir engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of oil and natural gas that cannot be measured in an exact manner. Estimates of economically recoverable oil and natural gas reserves and of future net cash flows necessarily depend upon a number of variable factors and assumptions, such as historical production from the area compared with production from other producing areas, the assumed effects of regulations by governmental agencies and assumptions concerning future oil and natural gas prices, future operating costs, severance and excise taxes, development costs and workover and remedial costs, all of which may in fact vary considerably from actual results. For these reasons, estimates of the economically recoverable quantities of oil and natural gas attributable to any particular group of properties, classifications of such reserves based on risk of recovery, and estimates of the future net cash flows expected therefrom prepared by different engineers or by the same engineers but at different times may vary substantially and such reserve estimates may be subject to downward or upward adjustment based upon such factors. Actual production, revenues and expenditures with respect to the Company's reserves will likely vary from estimates, and such variances may be material. In addition, the 10 percent discount factor, which is required by the Commission to be used in calculating discounted future net cash flows for reporting purposes, is not necessarily the most appropriate discount factor based on interest rates in effect from time to time and risks associated with the Company or the oil and natural gas industry in general.

   In general, the volume of production from oil and natural gas properties declines as reserves are depleted, with the rate of decline depending on reservoir characteristics. Except to the extent the Company conducts successful exploration and development activities or acquires properties containing proved reserves, or both, the proved reserves of the Company will decline as reserves are produced. The Company's future oil and natural gas production is, therefore, highly dependent upon its level of success in finding or acquiring additional reserves. The business of exploring for, developing or acquiring reserves is capital intensive. To the extent cash flow from operations is reduced and external sources of capital become limited or unavailable, the Company's ability to make the necessary capital investment to maintain or expand its asset base of oil and natural gas reserves would be impaired. The failure of an operator of the Company's wells to adequately perform operations, or such operator's breach of the applicable agreements, could adversely impact the Company. In addition, there can be no assurance that the Company's future exploration, development and acquisition activities will result in additional proved reserves or that the Company will be able to drill productive wells at acceptable costs. Furthermore, although the Company's revenues could increase if prevailing prices for oil and natural gas increase significantly, the Company's finding and development costs could also increase. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."

VOLUMES, PRICES AND OIL & GAS OPERATING EXPENSE

   The following table sets forth certain information regarding the production volumes of, average sales prices received for and average production costs associated with the Company's sales of oil and natural gas for the periods indicated. The table includes the cash impact of hedging activities and the effect of certain hedge positions with an affiliate of Enron Corp. reclassified as derivatives during November 2001.

(1) Includes direct lifting costs (labor, repairs and maintenance, materials and supplies), workover costs and the administrative costs of production offices, insurance and property and severance taxes.
9