Rob Mckee News

Conoco Inc. and Maritrans Inc. are jointly developing advanced shuttle tanker technologies to safely transport newly discovered deepwater Gulf of Mexico crude oil reserves to U.S. refineries more economically than current pipeline alternatives. Technologies being evaluated have the potential to greatly reduce the time between discovery and production of deepwater crude reserves. "The industry is actively exploring for the 10 billion barrels of crude oil reserves that are estimated to be contained in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico," said Rob McKee, Conoco executive vice president for exploration production. "Operations in deepwater are expensive, and we are continuously seeking ways to improve the economics of our deepwater program.

Conoco Inc. and Maritrans Inc. are jointly developing advanced shuttle tanker technologies to safely transport newly discovered deepwater Gulf of Mexico crude oil reserves to U.S. refineries more economically than current pipeline alternatives. Technologies being evaluated have the potential to greatly reduce the time between discovery and production of deepwater crude reserves. "The industry is actively exploring for the 10 billion barrels of crude oil reserves that are estimated to be contained in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico," said Rob McKee, Conoco executive vice president for exploration production. "Operations in deepwater are expensive, and we are continuously seeking ways to improve the economics of our deepwater program.

Conoco announced an agreement with Exxon Corporation to exchange interest in 59 deepwater blocks in the Gulf of Mexico. Conoco acquired a 50-percent interest in 29 of Exxon's blocks, while Exxon acquired a 50-percent interest in 30 of Conoco's blocks. Conoco was the sole lessee of its 30 blocks and will retain a 50-percent interest in each. The acreage is in Green Canyon, Garden Banks, Walker Ridge and Keathley Canyon areas in the Gulf of Mexico. "The Gulf of Mexico continues to be one of the great growth opportunities for oil and gas in the U.S., and these newly acquired interests are perfectly aligned with our exploration strategy to focus on deepwater," said Rob McKee, Conoco executive vice-president, exploration production.

Conoco Inc. and Unocal Corp. discovered oil with their K2 exploration well in the Green Canyon Block 562 in deep water in the Gulf of Mexico, Conoco said. Work on the well, located about 180 miles (290 km) south of New Orleans, has been suspended to study the significance of the find, a company spokesperson said. The K2 well, started May 17 in 3,900 ft. of water, was suspended to "allow us to plan a safe and cost effective appraisal of the hydrocarbon zone we have encountered, as well as continue to explore the deeper objectives," said Conoco Executive Vice President Rob McKee. McKee also said the well had encountered oil in a high-quality reservoir and the company was encouraged by the results to date, although the commercial significance is yet to be determined.

Conoco Inc., the sixth-largest U.S. oil company, painted a bright picture of its third-quarter results, saying higher crude oil and natural gas prices should help it beat analysts' current earnings estimates. Chief Executive Archie Dunham told analysts that earnings would be about four to seven cents higher than the consensus of 33 cents a share given by analysts surveyed by First Call/Thomson Financial. "We are very pleased by these results that reflect continued improvement in the business environment and - more importantly - our own operational success," Dunham said in a meeting with analysts in Houston. Coupled with continued growth in oil and gas production…

R&B Falcon Drilling has received a letter of intent from for Petroleo Brasiliero S.A. (Petrobas) for a two-year contract for DP drillship Deepwater Frontier, for operations offshore Brazil in up to approximately 8,900 ft. of water. Deepwater Frontier, capable of drilling in up to 10,000 ft. of water, is owned 60 percent by R&B Falcon Corp. and 40 percent by Conoco. The vessel will sail to Brazil upon completion of its current one-well commitment in West Africa. Operations for Petrobras are expected to commence in November 1999. The current well underway in West Africa and the Petrobras work, will essentially complete all of the R&B Falcon's 2.5-year drilling contract obligation with respect to the rig sharing agreement with Conoco. Conoco Inc. and Unocal Corp.

Conoco and Unocal announced a discovery on their K2 exploration well in the Gulf of Mexico on Green Canyon Block 562, about 180 miles south of New Orleans. It is the second consecutive deepwater discovery made this year by the Deepwater Pathfinder drillship. "The sidetracked well has encountered oil in a high-quality reservoir," said Conoco executive vice-president Rob McKee. The well was spudded on May 17 and drilled in 3,900 ft. of water. "We also plan to penetrate some deeper objectives with a different well configuration," McKee said. "We have decided to temporarily suspend the well, which will allow us to plan a safe and cost effective appraisal of the hydrocarbon zone we have encountered, as well as continue to explore the deeper objectives.

Conoco said higher crude oil and natural gas prices, as well as continued growth in oil and natural gas production volumes, will result in earnings appreciably higher than current analysts' estimates for the third quarter. Conoco Chairman, President and CEO Archie W. Dunham said earnings would be in a range of about four to seven cents higher than First Call's current consensus estimate of 33 cents of underlying earnings per share for the third quarter. "We're on target to produce production growth of about 10 percent in 1999, in line with earlier estimates," he said. Conoco Executive Vice-President for worldwide upstream Rob McKee said the added production was primarily due to increased volumes from the giant U.K.