The company expects to spend approximately $400 million on technology in 2008, primarily to progress such technologies as reservoir imaging, steam-assisted gravity drainage, coal gasification, carbon capture and sequestration, cellulosic ethanol conversion, and refining processes.
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) held its annual analyst meeting today in New York. The company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jim Mulva outlined how ConocoPhillips’ strategic objectives and operating plans will enable the company to utilize its portfolio of high-quality assets in delivering growth and enhancing value for shareholders, while overcoming a variety of challenges inherent to the current business environment.
“We have a strong portfolio of opportunities, and development plans are under way so that we can fully capitalize on their potential,” Mulva said. “We are benefiting from our talented work force and ongoing focus on capital discipline and project execution, financial optimization, operating excellence, and safety and environmental stewardship. As a result, we believe ConocoPhillips is well positioned to operate successfully in the business environment we foresee for 2008 and beyond &ndash one that seems likely to be characterized by strong energy demand. Although we face intense competition for access to new resources and the prospect of legislation on climate change, we have taken steps to enable ConocoPhillips to operate effectively and deliver value as we manage the challenges ahead.”
Mulva noted that ConocoPhillips’ 2007 total shareholder return of 25.4 percent was above the peer group average, and that the company’s three-, five- and 10-year returns led the peer group. He reaffirmed ConocoPhillips’ intent to fund a capital program of $15.3 billion in 2008, to continue select asset sales that facilitate ongoing renewal of its portfolio, and to continue pursuing efficiency in executing its development projects, drilling programs and base operations.
In pointing out that efficiency, Mulva said, “In terms of cash contribution per barrel of oil equivalent, our performance leads our peers in both the E&P and R&M segments. This ability to generate cash enables us to enhance distributions to our shareholders, such as the recently announced 15 percent increase in our dividend, and it should enable us to complete the $10 billion in share repurchases authorized for 2008.”
In its Exploration and Production (E&P) segment, the company outlined its strategic plans to advance an asset portfolio that is resource-rich, with more than 50 billion barrels of oil equivalent of existing resources, including 10.6 billion barrels of proved reserves at year-end 2007. ConocoPhillips has leading positions in both natural gas production and heavy-oil acreage in North America, a legacy asset position in the North Sea, and strong growth prospects in the Asia Pacific, Russia and Caspian, and Middle East regions. Major near- and long-term development projects are under way in all these regions. The company expects to sustain a long-term, average production growth rate of 2 percent and a five-year reserve replacement average of 100 percent or more. ConocoPhillips also anticipates new opportunities to emerge from its business development efforts and from a replenished exploration program that is increasing the company’s exposure to high-potential prospects.
In Refining and Marketing (R&M), ConocoPhillips is committed to maintaining its segment-leading performance in U.S. refining, a strong refining position in Europe and an advantaged position in Asia. The company expects to sustain its leadership position by delivering safe, reliable and environmentally responsible operations, while holding base operating costs generally flat. ConocoPhillips also plans to capitalize on opportunities in the market by improving its clean products yields and enhancing the integration of its downstream, upstream and commercial businesses, while increasing operating margins through key investments in refining conversion capacity. In addition, the company is engaged with foreign partners in studying opportunities to expand its global portfolio.
Updates also were provided on the company’s strategic partnership with LUKOIL, the upstream and downstream business ventures with EnCana Corporation, and the DCP Midstream and Chevron Phillips Chemical Company joint ventures.
In addition, Mulva addressed the important role technology would play in helping ConocoPhillips achieve its plans. “We have a rich history in technological development devoted to the recovery of conventional resources, and we believe that further research is the key to unlocking the value of our non-conventional resources and advancing the development of alternative energy sources.”
The company expects to spend approximately $400 million on technology in 2008, primarily to progress such technologies as reservoir imaging, steam-assisted gravity drainage, coal gasification, carbon capture and sequestration, cellulosic ethanol conversion, and refining processes. This also includes more than $150 million for research efforts focused on the development of non-conventional oil and gas resources and the development of new energy sources, such as alternatives and renewables. Additionally, ConocoPhillips plans to build both a state-of-the-art global technology center and a best-in-class corporate learning center on land recently purchased in Colorado.
“Further, we are investing strongly in our people by enhancing our efforts to recruit, retain and develop a highly capable, demographically balanced and diverse work force,” Mulva said. “We are making good progress, and our plans to develop both a technology center and a corporate learning center will help ensure our employees attain their maximum potential.”
Discussing other issues, Mulva said that, “To ensure that our business remains sustainable over the long term, we must operate safely and with environmental care, while also helping address the key challenges facing society. For example, society clearly needs to achieve energy supply security, as well as address the challenge of climate change caused by carbon emissions. We believe these issues are interrelated and must be solved together. Therefore, ConocoPhillips supports enactment of a comprehensive U.S. energy policy, and a mandatory national framework to reduce carbon emissions. Also, we are working to conserve and recycle more of the water used in our operations, and are funding research into new techniques that could utilize the water produced in association with oil and natural gas for agricultural and industrial applications.”
More information, including presentation materials and a recorded webcast of the meeting, is available at www.conocophillips.com/investor.
ConocoPhillips is an international, integrated energy company with interests around the world. For more information, go to www.conocophillips.com.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE "SAFE HARBOR" PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Forward-looking statements relate to future events and anticipated results of operations, business strategies, and other aspects of our operations or operating results. In many cases you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "anticipate," "estimate,believe,continue,could,intend,may,plan," "potential,predict,should,will,expect,objective," "projection,forecast,goal,guidance,outlook,effort," "target" and other similar words. However, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. Where, in any forward-looking statement, the company expresses an expectation or belief as to future results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. However, there can be no assurance that such expectation or belief will result or be achieved. The actual results of operations can and will be affected by a variety of risks and other matters including, but not limited to, crude oil and natural gas prices; refining and marketing margins; potential failure to achieve, and potential delays in achieving expected reserves or production levels from existing and future oil and gas development projects due to operating hazards, drilling risks, and the inherent uncertainties in interpreting engineering data relating to underground accumulations of oil and gas; unsuccessful exploratory drilling activities; lack of exploration success; potential disruption or unexpected technical difficulties in developing new products and manufacturing processes; potential failure of new products to achieve acceptance in the market; unexpected cost increases or technical difficulties in constructing or modifying company manufacturing or refining facilities; unexpected difficulties in manufacturing, transporting or refining synthetic crude oil; international monetary conditions and exchange controls; potential liability for remedial actions under existing or future environmental regulations; potential liability resulting from pending or future litigation; general domestic and international economic and political conditions, as well as changes in tax and other laws applicable to our business. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements include other economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting our business generally as set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Unless legally required, ConocoPhillips undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors -- The SEC permits oil and gas companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only proved reserves that a company has demonstrated by actual production or conclusive formation tests to be economically and legally producible under existing economic and operating conditions. Production is distinguished from oil and gas production because SEC regulations define Syncrude as mining-related and not part of conventional oil and natural gas reserves. The company uses certain terms in this release, such as "including Canadian Syncrude," and “resources” that the SEC's guidelines strictly prohibit us from including in filings with the SEC. U.S. investors are urged to consider closely the disclosures in the company’s periodic filings with the SEC, available from the company at 600 North Dairy Ashford Road, Houston, Texas 77079 and the company’s Web site at www.conocophillips.com/investor/sec. This information also can be obtained from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.
