Unocal Corporation News

EnerSea Transport LLC (EnerSea) is advancing its efforts into the next phase of two international gas development and import project proposals for the Philippines and New Zealand using EnerSea's compressed natural gas (CNG) marine transport and storage systems and services. The two gas supply projects are being led by Unocal Corporation and Oil Search Limited, respectively. EnerSea along with Oil Search and Itochu Corporation have signed a Pre- Development Agreement to perform a comprehensive feasibility study to establish the viability of a large scale CNG transportation project to ship natural gas from Papua New Guinea (PNG) to New Zealand.

Unocal Corporation's Spirit Energy 76 unit said the appraisal well drilled on the Mad Dog prospect in Green Canyon block 782 encountered 250 ft. of oil pay in zones that appear to correspond to those penetrated by the discovery well. The appraisal well was drilled to a measured depth of 20,268 ft. about two miles north of the discovery well. A sidetrack to the main appraisal well was drilled to 21,560 ft., and the results are under evaluation. Unocal holds a 25-percent interest in the 2.5 block drilling unit encompassing most of the Mad Dog structure. BP Amoco is operator, with a 63.56-percent interest in the well. BHP owns the remaining interest.

Unocal Corporation's Spirit Energy 76 unit announced its Spirit Energy Partners, L.P., affiliate has agreed to acquire substantially all the Gulf of Mexico shelf assets of Tana Oil and Gas Corporation. The Tana acquisition includes interests in 12 proven properties and nine offshore platforms. The purchase price was not disclosed. Tana has an estimated net risked resource potential of more than 18 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBOE), including more than 10 MMBOE in proved reserves. Estimated average annual production for 2000 is more than 10,000 BOE per day. "The acquisition of the Tana assets will provide the opportunity to enhance Spirit Energy's position in areas where we already possess a strong foothold and enjoy highly profitable operations," said John T.

Unocal Corporation said continued depressed crude oil and natural gas prices, coupled with asset writedowns and restructuring costs, were major factors in the company's reporting a preliminary loss of $29 million in the fourth quarter. This compares with earnings of $142 million in the fourth quarter a year earlier. Because of continued low commodity prices, the company has projected capital expenditures of about one billion dollars for 1999, compared with $1.7 billion in 1998. Unocal has also laid out a goal of reducing annualized cash expenses by $150 million to $200 million from the 1998 level to bolster cash flow. "Our capital plan focuses on preserving our high-potential deepwater exploration and development program in the Gulf of Mexico and Indonesia…

Unocal Corporation said it expects 1999 capital spending to total between $1 billion and $1.1 billion, down from the estimated $1.7 billion in capital expenditures last year. The lower spending reflects Unocal's narrowed focus on the company's core oil and gas exploration and production program in response to lower commodity prices. The 1998 capital expenditures included significant outlays, such as the Gulf of Mexico OCS leases, to build the company's strong deepwater exploration and growth portfolio. That level of spending for leases is not expected to be repeated in 1999, accounting for about one-fourth of the reduction in the overall capital spending plan. Roger C. Beach, Unocal chairman and CEO said Unocal's actual capital spending in 1999 depends on commodity prices during the year.

Unocal Corporation's Spirit Energy 76 unit said its exploration drilling successes and aggressive development program on the Gulf of Mexico shelf area in the first half of 1999 should more than offset the natural production declines for the year. "We have a long record of low drilling and operating costs on the shelf, which enables us to enjoy returns that cannot be matched by the typical shelf operator," said Roger C. Beach, Unocal chairman and CEO. Beach noted Spirit Energy's GOM shelf prospects are predominantly natural gas and deliver production quickly, making them extremely attractive in the current capital-constrained environment.

Unocal Corporation replaced 101 percent of its worldwide crude oil and natural gas production (excluding sales and price-related revisions) during 1998 with new proved reserves as the company focused on adding value and re-energizing its domestic U.S. exploration program. "In the U.S., our Spirit Energy 76 unit recorded more than 30 discoveries in the Gulf of Mexico shelf and onshore area and added 65 MMBOE in proved reserves through discoveries and extensions, improved recovery and purchases," said Roger C. Beach, Unocal chairman and CEO. Spirit Energy 76 replaced 108 percent of its production (excluding sales and price-related revisions), particularly as a result of a 64-percent exploration success rate on the Gulf of Mexico shelf during the year.

Spirit Energy 76, Unocal Corporation's U.S. Lower 48 exploration and production unit, said the exploratory well drilling the Mirage prospect in the Gulf of Mexico deepwater is a significant oil discovery. Spirit Energy holds a 25-percent working interest. Vastar Resources, Inc. owns 75-percent working interest and is the operator. Vastar estimates the well encountered approximately 300 ft. of net pay. The company said it is too soon to estimate the extent of the discovery. Additional drilling will be conducted to further evaluate the find. The well was drilled in 3,927 ft. of water, approximately 80 miles south-southeast of Venice, La., on Mississippi Canyon block 941. It has been temporarily abandoned.

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service (MMS), in New Orleans, held a sale of offshore oil and natural gas leases in the Central Gulf of Mexico attracting $171.8 million in high bids from 67 companies. Sale 172 is the seventh lease sale held subject to the provisions of the Deep Water Royalty Relief Act, passed in 1995. The MMS received 272 bids on 207 offshore tracts. 3,806 tracts comprising approximately 20,368,385 million acres offshore Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi were offered. The total of all bids was $199.6 million. The highest bid received was $16.6 million, submitted by Marathon Oil Company and Kerr-McGee Oil and Gas Corporation for Walker Ridge, Block 121.

Unocal Corporation replaced 101 percent of its worldwide crude oil and natural gas production (excluding sales and price-related revisions) during 1998 with new proved reserves as the company focused on adding value and re-energizing its domestic U.S. exploration program. "In the U.S., our Spirit Energy 76 unit recorded more than 30 discoveries in the Gulf of Mexico shelf and onshore area and added 65 MMBOE in proved reserves through discoveries and extensions, improved recovery and purchases," said Roger C. Beach, Unocal chairman and CEO. Spirit Energy 76 replaced 108 percent of its production (excluding sales and price-related revisions), particularly as a result of a 64-percent exploration success rate on the Gulf of Mexico shelf during the year.

Many oil companies reported a decrease in net income for the second quarter, compared to the previous year's results, although - in most cases - the second quarter still outperformed the first. While the decreases ranged in percentage, only a few companies' results were virtually unchanged from the previous year's performance. However, higher crude oil prices resulted in many companies' exploration and production net income actually increasing over the previous year. "I am encouraged second-quarter operating earnings, although down from year-ago levels, were more than six times higher than in the first quarter, reflecting the impact of higher crude oil and natural gas prices…

Many oil companies reported a decrease in net income for the second quarter, compared to the previous year's results, although - in most cases - the second quarter still outperformed the first. While the decreases ranged in percentage, only a few companies' results were virtually unchanged from the previous year's performance. However, higher crude oil prices resulted in many companies' exploration and production net income actually increasing over the previous year. "I am encouraged second-quarter operating earnings, although down from year-ago levels, were more than six times higher than in the first quarter, reflecting the impact of higher crude oil and natural gas prices…

A Federal offshore natural gas and oil lease sale in the Western Gulf of Mexico received $94.7 million in high bids. The U.S. Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service (MMS) received 177 bids totaling $104.2 million at the sale held in New Orleans. The 41 participating companies bid on 153 tracts in the Western Gulf of Mexico, offshore Texas and in deeper waters offshore Louisiana. "The results of the sale are about what we expected," said MMS Gulf of Mexico Regional Director Chris Oynes. "It is reflective of the large inventory of tracts already under lease. MMS officials said 86 tracts receiving bids are in water depths of 656 ft. or more. The highest bid on a tract was $11.3 million, submitted by Kerr-McGee Oil & Gas Corporation for NG15-02 Garden Banks 877.

The third quarter proved to be a prosperous one for oil companies, as most of our sampling realized substantial gains in net income and net operating income for the period, as compared to 1998's third quarter. A higher average worldwide crude oil price was chiefly responsible for the increases, although in some cases, cost-cutting measures also contributed heavily to the financial results. Exploration and production net operating income was up, nearly across the board. However, for the first nine months of 1999, earnings and net income are still down from the same period in 1998. Phillips Petroleum Company reported third-quarter net income of $221 million up from $46 million for the same period last year. Total revenues were $3.8 billion, versus $2.9 billion a year ago.

Unocal Corporation's Spirit Energy 76 unit said a wildcat exploration well in 240 ft. of water on its 100-percent owned Ship Shoal block 295 offshore Louisiana has discovered a significant new natural gas field with an ultimate discovery volume of as much as 130 billion cubic feet (bcf). Spirit Energy also said its net production reached 175,000 boepd at the end of 1999. The company expects continued production strength into 2000 due to increased development activities and exploration success resulting from higher capital spending in the last six months of 1999. "A discovery of this size in shallow water that can be brought on production quickly at high rates has extremely attractive economics," said Timothy H.

Unocal Corporation said it expects the company's worldwide average net crude oil and natural gas production to rise 44 percent to nearly 700,000 boepd by 2004. The updated outlook reflects a 7.6-percent annual growth in net worldwide production from an estimated 485,000 boepd in 1999. Earlier, the company's forecast profile was for 2004 production of 918,000 boepd. This earlier forecast was heavily weighted toward increases in the years 2002 to 2004. "We have revised our production forecast as a result of a change in our philosophy, especially with respect to the later year projections, as well as to reflect factors that may delay certain projects," said Roger C. Beach, Unocal chairman and CEO.

Unocal Corporation's Spirit Energy 76 unit announced its Spirit Energy Partners, L.P., affiliate has agreed to acquire substantially all the Gulf of Mexico shelf assets of Tana Oil and Gas Corporation. The Tana acquisition includes interests in 12 proven properties and nine offshore platforms. The purchase price was not disclosed.

Once again, quarter and year-end earnings reported in the offshore market reflected a familiar trend: oil majors saw gains - sometimes significant; while oilfield service companies continued to struggle, compared to the year-earlier marks. Unocal Corporation reported fourth quarter 1999 preliminary unaudited net earnings of $97 million and adjusted net earnings (excluding special items) of $77 million. The fourth quarter results compare with a reported loss of $29 million for the same period a year ago. Adjusted net earnings for the fourth quarter 1998 were $28 million. The fourth quarter earnings reflect higher oil and gas prices, offset partially by lower net oil and gas sales volumes and a higher international tax rate.

Unocal Corporation's Spirit Energy 76 unit said its 100 percent owned Vermilion 39 field recently set a new all-time production record. A redevelopment program that began last year allowed production from the 50-year-old field to reach 17,500 boepd at year end. In addition, the program allowed more than seven million boe in new reserves to be added to Spirit's 1999 ledger. The year-end rate was 10,000 boepd higher than when the redevelopment program began in April 1999, and production rates from the field are expected to continue to climb in the first quarter of 2000. Vermilion 39 (VE 39) is the second-oldest field in the Gulf of Mexico and has produced more than 285 million boe since production began there in 1951.