In the field of exploration and production - or more specifically in the field of upstream crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids - the news is hunky dory.
This quarter is expected to have generated around 1.59 million BOE per day. This increase has been the result of various factors, which include seasonality, new wells in Vietnam and lower maintenance activity overall.
In fact, the total figure could have been higher but for "operating interruptions" in Venezuela, Alaska and Indonesia, about which ConocoPhillips did not elaborate further.
It did, however, declare that "higher international natural gas prices are expected to be largely offset by lower U.S. prices [and] exploration expenses for the full year are expected to be approximately $600 million."
On the corporate front, ConocoPhillips announced that its expenses from continuing operations remain relatively consistent between the third and fourth quarter. However, this does include losses on what it terms "early redemption of debt" and the sale of The Circle K Corp. To that extent, the company's fourth quarter balance sheet debt level is expected to show a figure of around US$17.8 billion, a figure that represents about a US$900 million in debt reduction.
There was mixed news on the company's Midstream/Chemicals elements with "higher natural gas liquids sales prices in Midstream" but overall chemical results and takings remaining relatively unchanged. It was in refining and marketing that the company posted its "could have been better" marks on its fourth quarter report card.
It admits that its US refining margins will be significantly lower than that of the third quarter. It also admits that it's "realised crack spreads" will continue to be negatively affected. This has been due to the higher crude oil prices on co-product margins.
Furthermore, ConocoPhillips's domestic wholesale and retail margins are expected to go down with turnaround costs expected to reduce its earnings to around US$40 million post-tax.
"The company's average crude oil refining capacity utilisation rate for the fourth quarter is expected to be in the low 90% range, in part due to the negative impact of increased turnaround activity during the quarter," said the company.
