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…