Conoco reported record results for the third quarter, as strongprices and margins for refined products and record refinerythroughputs produced net income of $523 million, or $0.83 perdiluted share, double that of third quarter 1999. “Earnings were atrecord levels for the third consecutive quarter, and majordiscoveries were made in Vietnam and the deep-water Gulf ofMexico,” said CEO Archie W. Dunham. “In the North Sea, we completedthe Norsk Hydro producing properties acquisition and broughtonstream the Vixen natural gas field. We also announced agroundbreaking 20-year supply contract to deliver Indonesiannatural gas to Malaysia. Great strides are being achieved inexploration. We are extremely encouraged by the Magnolia appraisalwell currently being drilled in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, weunveiled the industry’s most powerful exploration supercomputerthat allows more cost-effective seismic data analysis. In a relatedstep, we began a massive geophysical survey over 2,000 deep-waterblocks in the Gulf of Mexico, using gravity gradiometry technologyonce used exclusively by the military,” he said. The company’s U.S.gas production was down 2% from 3Q99 levels to 826 MMcf/d. Itstotal net worldwide production was down 4% to 619 Mboe/d.
Produced
Articles from Produced
PECO and Unicom Mum on Merger Possibility
The rumor mill produced some major headlines yesterday withseveral dominant players in the energy industry apparently inmerger talks. Unicom Corp., parent of Commonwealth Edison, and PECOEnergy Co. were reported to be in discussions about forming a”merger of equals,” while Chevron now has its eye on Phillips.
Rule Issued for Royalty Valuation on Indian Lands
The Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) hasissued a final rule for determining royalties for natural gasproduced on Indian lands. Under the new rule, which was publishedin the Aug. 10 Federal Register, Indian leases would have theoption to either compute royalties on wellhead gas using apublished price index, continue using the existing gross-proceedsmethod for arms-length contracts, or use the current MMS benchmarksystem for non-arms-length sales. If gas is processed, Indiantribes then would adopt a “dual accounting” method under whichroyalties would be based on whichever has the greater value for gas- before processing or after processing. In most cases, it’s thelatter.
Rule Issued for Royalty Valuation on Indian Lands
The Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) hasissued a final rule for determining royalties for natural gasproduced on Indian lands. Under the new rule, which was publishedin Tuesday’s Federal Register, Indian leases would have the optionto either direct producers to compute royalties on wellhead gasusing a published price index, continue using the existinggross-proceeds method for arms-length contracts, or use the currentMMS benchmark system for non-arms-length sales. If gas isprocessed, Indian tribes then could adopt a “dual accounting”method under which royalties would be based on whichever stage hasthe greater value for gas – before processing or after processing.In most cases, it’s the latter.
Chesapeake Shows 2Q Improvement
For the first time in the last eight quarters, Chesapeake EnergyCorp. of Oklahoma City, OK, turned a profit. The improvement was inspite of decreased production.
Futures, Options Vie for Traders’ Attention and Market Direction
Frenetic activity continued in the natural gas pit yesterday ina see-saw battle that produced two rallies, two dips and oneenormous 11.5-cent trading range. By the time the dust had settledand the orders were processed, the battle-weary August contractmanaged a 3.2-cent advance to settle at $2.574 on its penultimatetrading day.
Power Generation, Marketing Boost Dynegy Earnings
Dynegy’s merchant power “leveraging” strategy, utilizinggeneration plants added over the last year, produced a whopper of afirst quarter. The company posted a 127% increase in net incomeafter special items to $28.1 million, or $0.17/share, from $12.3million, or $0.07/share in 1Q98. Recurring net income increased 20%to $22.3 million.
MMS Claims Treasury Loss in RIK Plan
A House bill proposing a nationwide royalty in-kind (RIK) schemefor collecting royalties on oil and natural gas produced on federallands would result in a net revenue loss of $141 million to $367million to the federal government during the first 8 1/2 years ofits implementation.
