(Adds details and 2016 revenue, production forecast)
Feb 9 (Reuters) - Oil and gas producer Warren Resources Inc
WRES.O warned it would have to seek bankruptcy protection if
talks to reach a debt restructuring agreement fails.
Warren, which on Tuesday also cut its 2016 revenue and
production forecasts, had deferred a $7.5 million semi-annual
interest payment that was due on Feb. 1 to reach a deal with its
creditors.
The company has a 30-day grace period for negotiations with
noteholders, since deferring interest payment on Feb. 1.
Several oil producers, whose cash flows have been squeezed
by a 70 percent fall in oil prices since June 2014, are in talks
with creditors to defer payments and improve liquidity.
"These are very difficult times for Warren and its industry
peers," Chief Executive James Watt said in a statement, adding
that the company needed further concessions from debt holders
and vendors to survive a prolonged downturn in oil prices.
Warren, which has tapped Jefferies LLC to help with a
potential restructuring, forecast total revenue to fall 31.7
percent to $61.1 million in 2016, from a year earlier.
The company said it expects oil production to fall about 18
percent and natural gas production to decline about 20 percent
this year.
Warren's first lien creditors held $235 million in
principal, second lien creditors $51 million and investors $167
million in unsecured senior notes, as of Dec. 31.
The company had $26.8 million in cash at the end of 2015,
Warren said on Tuesday.