A pair of prominent oil and gas companies active in the Denver-Julesburg Basin (DJ) are keeping capital expenditures (capex) in check while posting modest upticks in sales volumes.

Bonanza Creek Energy Inc. and Highpoint Resources Corp., both based in Denver, reported substantial second-quarter losses, however, dinged by lower sales prices in the wake of the crash in crude oil prices earlier this year.

Bonanza reported average sales volumes of 24,900 boe/d for the second quarter – with oil accounting for 56% of total volumes – up 2% from a year earlier. The company provided full-year production guidance of 24,500 boe/d at the midpoint, up from earlier guidance of 24,000 boe/d.

“During the quarter, we had the opportunity to acquire working interest in over 25 wells that...