Producers

Producers are in for a very profitable year if recent thirdquarter earnings reports are any indication. Occidental Petroleumreported a three-fold increase in third quarter earnings comparedto the same period last year, going from $126 million ($0.35 pershare) in 3Q99 to $402 million ($1.09 per share) in 3Q2000. Thesuccessful performance is mainly the result of higher commodityprices. Oxy’s earnings before special items for the third quarterwere $370 million ($1.00 per share) as opposed to last year for thesame time period when the company posted $125 million ($.35 ashare). Oxy’s oil and gas division earned $690 million beforespecial items, compared to $279 million in 3Q99. Although commoditycosts played a large part in the increase, the company also citedan increase in production volumes due to its acquisition of AlturaEnergy from Shell Exploration & Production Co. and BP duringthe second quarter of 2000. Its domestic gas production levels rosefrom 673 MMcf/d during 3Q99 to 687MMcf/d for 3Q2000, while domesticliquids (mostly crude) rose from 71,000 b/d to 210,000 b/d.

Producers are in for a very profitable year if recent third quarterearnings reports are any indication. Following on EOG’s announcementTuesday of a 250% earnings hike, Occidental Petroleum Corp. (Oxy)Wednesday reported a three-fold increase in third quarter earningscompared to the same period last year, going from $126 million ($0.35per share) in 3Q99 to $402 million ($1.09 per share) in 3Q2000 (seeDaily GPI, Oct. 18).

Houston-based Dynegy Marketing and Trade has beat out some ofthe top natural gas producers in the nation in the latest round ofbidding for Minerals Management Service’s royalty-in kind gasproduced from federal leases in the Gulf of Mexico.

Houston-based Dynegy Marketing and Trade has beat out some ofthe top natural gas producers in the nation in the latest round ofbidding for Minerals Management Service’s royalty-in kind gasproduced from federal leases in the Gulf of Mexico.

International Oil & Gas Inc. has announced it has entered into an agreement with Trans Energy Inc. of St. Marys, WV, and Jayhawk Resources LLC of Arlington, TX, to lease over 5,000 acres in West Virginia to test the Trenton and Black River formations.

For the second time this summer, Canadian natural gas producershave voted with their pocketbooks to revive northern drilling andexpectations that an Arctic pipeline will be built.

For the second time this summer, Canadian natural gas producershave voted with their pocketbooks to revive northern drilling andexpectations that an Arctic pipeline will be built.

International Oil & Gas Inc. has announced it has enteredinto an agreement with Trans Energy Inc. of St. Marys, WV, andJayhawk Resources LLC of Arlington, TX, to lease over 5,000 acresin West Virginia to test the Trenton and Black River formations.

Where once producers’ biggest worry was whether they would get adecent price for their gas, the concern now is whether they canproduce enough to meet market demands.