OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM CORP /DE/ (OXY)
SIC breadcrumb: Mining > SIC Major Group 13 > SIC 1311 Crude Petroleum & Natural Gas
SEC company page: https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=797468. Latest filing source: 0001628280-26-009059.
Informational only - descriptive public-record data, not investment advice.
Selected Fundamentals
| Metric | Value | Unit | FY | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 21,593,000,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-02-18 |
| Net income | 2,369,000,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-02-18 |
| Assets | 84,186,000,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-02-18 |
Financials
Annual standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-02-18. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0000797468.json. Derived margins, ratios, and free cash flow are computed from the extracted annual SEC facts.
| Metric | 2014 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 12,508,000,000 | 17,824,000,000 | 20,911,000,000 | 17,809,000,000 | 25,956,000,000 | 36,634,000,000 | 23,156,000,000 | 22,019,000,000 | 21,593,000,000 | ||
| Net income | -574,000,000 | 1,311,000,000 | 4,131,000,000 | -522,000,000 | -14,831,000,000 | 2,322,000,000 | 13,304,000,000 | 4,696,000,000 | 3,078,000,000 | 2,369,000,000 | |
| Diluted EPS | -0.75 | 1.70 | 5.39 | -1.22 | -17.06 | 1.58 | 12.40 | 3.90 | 2.44 | 1.61 | |
| Operating cash flow | 3,384,000,000 | 4,861,000,000 | 7,669,000,000 | 7,375,000,000 | 3,955,000,000 | 10,434,000,000 | 16,810,000,000 | 12,308,000,000 | 11,439,000,000 | 10,532,000,000 | |
| Capital expenditures | 2,717,000,000 | 3,599,000,000 | 4,975,000,000 | 6,367,000,000 | 2,535,000,000 | 2,870,000,000 | 4,497,000,000 | 5,696,000,000 | 6,263,000,000 | 6,427,000,000 | |
| Share buybacks | 22,000,000 | 25,000,000 | 1,248,000,000 | 237,000,000 | 12,000,000 | 8,000,000 | 3,099,000,000 | 1,798,000,000 | 27,000,000 | 0.00 | |
| Assets | 43,109,000,000 | 42,026,000,000 | 42,159,000,000 | 107,190,000,000 | 80,064,000,000 | 75,036,000,000 | 72,609,000,000 | 74,008,000,000 | 85,445,000,000 | 84,186,000,000 | |
| Stockholders' equity | 34,959,000,000 | -258,000,000 | 21,330,000,000 | 34,232,000,000 | 18,573,000,000 | 20,327,000,000 | 30,085,000,000 | 30,250,000,000 | 34,159,000,000 | 36,034,000,000 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 2,233,000,000 | 1,672,000,000 | 3,033,000,000 | 3,032,000,000 | 2,008,000,000 | 2,764,000,000 | 984,000,000 | 1,426,000,000 | 2,125,000,000 | 1,968,000,000 | |
| Free cash flow | 667,000,000 | 1,262,000,000 | 2,694,000,000 | 1,008,000,000 | 1,420,000,000 | 7,564,000,000 | 12,313,000,000 | 6,612,000,000 | 5,176,000,000 | 4,105,000,000 |
Ratios
| Metric | 2014 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net margin | 10.48% | 23.18% | -2.50% | -83.28% | 8.95% | 36.32% | 20.28% | 13.98% | 10.97% | ||
| Return on equity | 19.37% | -1.52% | -79.85% | 11.42% | 44.22% | 15.52% | 9.01% | 6.57% | |||
| Return on assets | -1.33% | 3.12% | 9.80% | -0.49% | -18.52% | 3.09% | 18.32% | 6.35% | 3.60% | 2.81% | |
| Current ratio | 1.32 | 1.12 | 1.34 | 1.15 | 1.07 | 1.23 | 1.15 | 0.92 | 0.95 | 0.94 |
Financial Charts
Quarterly
Quarterly standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-05-05. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0000797468.json.
| Quarter | End Date | Revenue | Net Income | Diluted EPS | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-Q2 | 2021-06-30 | 103,000,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2021-Q3 | 2021-09-30 | 828,000,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2021-Q4 | 2021-12-31 | 1,537,000,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | ||
| 2022-Q1 | 2022-03-31 | 4,876,000,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2022-Q2 | 2022-06-30 | 3.47 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2022-Q3 | 2022-09-30 | 2.52 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q1 | 2023-03-31 | 1.00 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q2 | 2023-06-30 | 6,702,000,000 | 0.63 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2023-Q3 | 2023-09-30 | 7,158,000,000 | 1.20 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2023-Q4 | 2023-12-31 | 7,172,000,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | ||
| 2024-Q1 | 2024-03-31 | 5,975,000,000 | 0.75 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2024-Q2 | 2024-06-30 | 6,817,000,000 | 1,170,000,000 | 1.03 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2024-Q3 | 2024-09-30 | 7,173,000,000 | 1,140,000,000 | 0.98 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2024-Q4 | 2024-12-31 | 6,760,000,000 | -120,000,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2025-Q1 | 2025-03-31 | 6,803,000,000 | 945,000,000 | 0.77 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q2 | 2025-06-30 | 6,414,000,000 | 468,000,000 | 0.26 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q3 | 2025-09-30 | 6,624,000,000 | 842,000,000 | 0.65 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q4 | 2025-12-31 | 1,752,000,000 | 114,000,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2026-Q1 | 2026-03-31 | 5,230,000,000 | 3,359,000,000 | 3.13 | reported discrete quarter |
Quarterly Charts
Macro Cross-References
- CPIAUCSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items in U.S. City Average
- UNRATE - Unemployment Rate
- FEDFUNDS - Federal Funds Effective Rate
- CES0500000003 - Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Total Private
- DFEDTARU - Federal Funds Target Range - Upper Limit
- DFEDTARL - Federal Funds Target Range - Lower Limit
- DGS3MO - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 3-Month Constant Maturity
- DGS2 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 2-Year Constant Maturity
- DGS10 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 10-Year Constant Maturity
- DGS30 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 30-Year Constant Maturity
- T10Y2Y - 10-Year Treasury Constant Maturity Minus 2-Year Treasury Constant Maturity
- CPILFESL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items Less Food and Energy
- CPIUFDSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Food
- CPIENGSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Energy
- CUSR0000SAH1 - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Shelter
- PCEPI - Personal Consumption Expenditures: Chain-type Price Index
- PCEPILFE - Personal Consumption Expenditures Excluding Food and Energy: Chain-type Price Index
- PPIACO - Producer Price Index by Commodity: All Commodities
- T10YIE - 10-Year Breakeven Inflation Rate
- U6RATE - Total Unemployed, Plus All Marginally Attached Workers Plus Total Employed Part Time for Economic Reasons
- PAYEMS - All Employees, Total Nonfarm
- CIVPART - Labor Force Participation Rate
- EMRATIO - Employment-Population Ratio
- UNEMPLOY - Unemployed
- CE16OV - Employment Level
- ICSA - Initial Claims
- JTSJOL - Job Openings: Total Nonfarm
- JTSQUR - Quits: Total Nonfarm
- GDPC1 - Real Gross Domestic Product
- A191RL1Q225SBEA - Real Gross Domestic Product: Percent Change from Preceding Period
- INDPRO - Industrial Production: Total Index
- TCU - Capacity Utilization: Total Index
- HOUST - New Privately-Owned Housing Units Started: Total Units
- PERMIT - New Privately-Owned Housing Units Authorized in Permit-Issuing Places: Total Units
- RSAFS - Advance Retail Sales: Retail Trade
- PCE - Personal Consumption Expenditures
- DSPIC96 - Real Disposable Personal Income
- PSAVERT - Personal Saving Rate
- M2SL - M2
- BOPGSTB - U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services: Balance
- MSPUS - Median Sales Price of Houses Sold for the United States
- HSN1F - New One Family Houses Sold: United States
- RHORUSQ156N - Homeownership Rate in the United States
- TTLCONS - Total Construction Spending: Total Construction in the United States
- RRVRUSQ156N - Rental Vacancy Rate in the United States
- TOTALSL - Total Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized
- REVOLSL - Revolving Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized
- DRCCLACBS - Delinquency Rate on Credit Card Loans, All Commercial Banks
- GDP - Gross Domestic Product
- GPDI - Gross Private Domestic Investment
- GCE - Government Consumption Expenditures and Gross Investment
- PCEC - Personal Consumption Expenditures
- NETEXP - Net Exports of Goods and Services
- GFDEBTN - Federal Debt: Total Public Debt
- GFDEGDQ188S - Federal Debt: Total Public Debt as Percent of Gross Domestic Product
- FYFSD - Federal Surplus or Deficit
- FGRECPT - Federal Government Current Receipts
- FGEXPND - Federal Government: Current Expenditures
- MANEMP - All Employees, Manufacturing
- USCONS - All Employees, Construction
- USTRADE - All Employees, Retail Trade
- USFIRE - All Employees, Financial Activities
- USGOVT - All Employees, Government
- AWHAETP - Average Weekly Hours of All Employees, Total Private
- DGORDER - Manufacturers' New Orders: Durable Goods
- NEWORDER - Manufacturers' New Orders: Nondefense Capital Goods Excluding Aircraft
- BUSINV - Total Business Inventories
- EXPGS - Exports of Goods and Services
- IMPGS - Imports of Goods and Services
- IR - Import Price Index (End Use): All Commodities
- PPIFIS - Producer Price Index by Commodity: Final Demand
Latest quarter (10-Q)
Latest 10-Q source: 0001628280-26-030584.
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion should be read together with the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements and the notes to the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements, which are included in this report in Part I, Item 1; the information set forth in Risk Factors under Part II, Item 1A; the Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, which are included in Part II, Item 8 of the 2025 Form 10-K; and the information set forth in Risk Factors under Part I, Item 1A of the 2025 Form 10-K.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Portions of this report contain 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. All statements other than statements of historical fact are "forward-looking statements" for purposes of federal and state securities laws, including, but not limited to: any projections of earnings, revenue or other financial items or future financial position or sources of financing; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations or business strategy; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; any statements of belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Words such as "estimate," "project," "predict," "will," "would," "should," "could," "may," "might," "anticipate," "plan," "intend," "believe," "expect," "aim," "goal," "target," "objective," "commit," "advance," "guidance," "priority," "focus," "assumption," "likely" or similar expressions that convey the prospective nature of events or outcomes are generally indicative of forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report unless an earlier date is specified. Unless legally required, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update, modify or withdraw any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Actual outcomes or results may differ from anticipated results, sometimes materially. Forward-looking and other statements regarding the Company's sustainability efforts and aspirations are not an indication that these statements are necessarily material to investors or require disclosure in the Company's filings with the SEC. In addition, historical, current and forward-looking sustainability-related statements may be based on standards for measuring progress that are still developing, internal controls and processes that continue to evolve and definitions, assumptions, data sources and estimates or measurements that are subject to change in the future, including through rulemaking or guidance. Factors that could cause results to differ from those projected or assumed in any forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions, including slowdowns and recessions, domestically or internationally; the Company’s indebtedness and other payment obligations, including the need to generate sufficient cash flows to fund operations; the Company’s ability to successfully monetize select assets and repay or refinance debt and the impact of changes in the Company’s credit ratings or future increases in interest rates; assumptions about energy markets; global and local commodity and commodity-futures pricing fluctuations and volatility; supply and demand considerations for, and the prices of, the Company’s products and services; actions by OPEC and non-OPEC oil producing countries; results from operations and competitive conditions; future impairments of the Company’s proved and unproved oil and gas properties or equity investments, or write-downs of productive assets, causing charges to earnings; unexpected changes in costs; government actions (including the effects of announced or future tariff increases and other geopolitical, trade, tariff, fiscal and regulatory uncertainties), war (including the Russia-Ukraine war and conflicts in the Middle East) and political conditions and events (such as in Latin America); inflation, its impact on markets and economic activity and related monetary policy actions by governments in response to inflation; availability of capital resources, levels of capital expenditures and contractual obligations; the regulatory approval environment, including the Company’s ability to timely obtain or maintain permits or other government approvals, including those necessary for drilling and/or development projects; the Company’s ability to successfully complete, or any material delay of, field developments, expansion projects, capital expenditures, efficiency projects, acquisitions or divestitures; risks associated with acquisitions, mergers and joint ventures, such as difficulties integrating businesses, uncertainty associated with financial projections or projected synergies, restructuring, increased costs and adverse tax consequences; uncertainties and liabilities associated with acquired and divested properties and businesses, including retained liabilities and indemnification obligations associated with the chemical business; uncertainties about the estimated quantities of oil, NGL and natural gas reserves; lower-than-expected production from development projects or acquisitions; the Company’s ability to realize the anticipated benefits from prior or future streamlining actions to reduce fixed costs, simplify or improve processes and improve the Company’s competitiveness; exploration, drilling and other operational risks; disruptions to, capacity constraints in, or other limitations on the pipeline systems that deliver the Company’s oil and natural gas and other processing and transportation considerations; volatility in the securities, capital or credit markets, including capital market disruptions and instability of financial institutions; HSE risks, costs and liability under existing or future federal, regional, state, provincial, tribal, local and international HSE laws, regulations and litigation (including related to climate change or remedial actions or assessments); legislative or regulatory changes, including changes relating to hydraulic fracturing or other oil and natural gas operations, retroactive royalty or production tax regimes, and deep-water and onshore drilling and permitting regulations; the Company’s ability to recognize intended benefits from its business strategies and initiatives, such as the OxyChem Transaction, the Company’s low-carbon ventures businesses and announced GHG emissions reduction targets or net-zero goals; changes in government grant or loan programs; potential liability resulting from pending or future litigation, government investigations and other proceedings; disruption or interruption of production or facility damage due to accidents, chemical releases, labor unrest, weather, power outages, natural disasters, cyber-attacks, terrorist acts or insurgent activity; the scope and duration of global or regional health pandemics or epidemics and actions taken by government authorities and other third parties in connection therewith; the creditworthiness and performance of the Company’s counterparties, including financial institutions, operating partners and other parties; failure of risk management; the Company’s ability to retain and hire key personnel; supply, transportation and labor constraints; reorganization or restructuring of the Company’s operations; changes in state, federal or international tax rates, deductions, incentives or credits; and actions by third parties that are beyond the Company’s control.
Additional information concerning these and other factors that may cause the Company's results of operations and financial position to differ from expectations can be found in the Company's other filings with the SEC, including the Company's 2025 Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.
25
CURRENT BUSINESS OUTLOOK
The Company's financial results are significantly influenced by oil prices and, to a lesser extent, NGL and natural gas prices and commodity market differentials. The average WTI price per barrel for the three months ended March 31, 2026 was $71.93, compared to $59.14 for the three months ended December 31, 2025 and $71.42 for the three months ended March 31, 2025.
Changes in oil prices could result in adjustments to the Company's capital investment levels and allocation, which may in turn impact production volumes. Oil prices are expected to remain volatile due to a number of factors, including heightened geopolitical risk, the evolving macroeconomic environment and its effects on global energy demand, future actions by OPEC and non-OPEC oil-producing nations, and ongoing shifts in U.S. trade policy.
The ongoing conflict with Iran has significantly disrupted global crude oil and natural gas markets. Actions impacting commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and regional energy infrastructure have resulted in the suspension of substantial supply and higher commodity prices. The duration and trajectory of the conflict remains uncertain, contributing to ongoing commodity price volatility.
Recent U.S. trade policy actions, including the introduction of tariff replacement measures, could also have implications for Occidental's business operations and financial performance. While the Company has not experienced a material impact to date, tariffs or tariff replacement measures imposed on the Company's suppliers could increase costs over time, and broader macroeconomic effects of policy changes and uncertainty could affect demand for the Company's products and its realized prices.
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
The Company is focused on delivering a unique shareholder value proposition with its portfolio of oil and gas and midstream and marketing assets, as well as its ongoing development of carbon management and sequestration solutions and GHG emissions reduction efforts. The Company conducts its operations with an emphasis on technical expertise, HSE, sustainability and social responsibility. In order to maximize shareholder returns, the Company will:
■Maintain production base to preserve asset base integrity and longevity;
■Deliver a sustainable and growing dividend;
■Prioritize excess cash flow for deleveraging until principal debt is approximately $10.0 billion, after which available cash will be allocated to further net debt reduction and/or opportunistic share repurchases; and
■Advance integrated technologies in CO2, power and midstream to enable differentiated resource recovery and value.
OXYCHEM TRANSACTION
The Company completed the sale of OxyChem on January 2, 2026 in an all-cash transaction for an adjusted purchase price of $9.5 billion, subject to additional post-closing adjustments, resulting in a gain of $3.1 billion, net of taxes. OxyChem's results of operations, cash flows and the related retained liabilities and indemnification obligations are reported as discontinued operations in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations and Cash Flows for all periods presented, with its assets and liabilities reclassified as held for sale in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2025. There are post-closing indemnification obligations for (i) such legacy environmental liabilities and (ii) pre-closing liabilities of OxyChem, including pre-closing environmental liabilities, in each case subject to certain limitations and procedures, and Occidental entered into a guaranty in favor of Berkshire Hathaway to guarantee these indemnification obligations.
See Note 1 - General in the Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for additional information regarding the OxyChem Transaction.
DE
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Latest 10-K MD&A
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion should be read together with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, which are included in this Form 10-K in Item 8 and the information set forth in Risk Factors under Part 1, Item 1A. The following sections include a discussion of results for fiscal 2025 compared to fiscal 2024 as well as certain 2023 results. The comparative results for fiscal 2024 with fiscal 2023 generally have not been included in this Form 10-K, but may be found in “Part II - Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.
| INDEX | PAGE |
|---|---|
| Current Business Outlook and Strategy | 22 |
| Oil and Gas Segment | 24 |
| Midstream and Marketing Segment | 34 |
| Segment Results of Operations and Items Affecting Comparability | 36 |
| Consolidated Results of Operations | 39 |
| Income Taxes | 42 |
| Liquidity and Capital Resources | 43 |
| Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments and Contingencies | 45 |
| Environmental Expenditures | 46 |
| Global Investments | 46 |
| Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates | 47 |
| Safe Harbor Discussion Regarding Outlook and Other Forward-Looking Data | 51 |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| OXY 2025 FORM 10-K | 21 |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| table of contents | MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
CURRENT BUSINESS OUTLOOK AND STRATEGY
GENERAL
The Company’s financial results are significantly influenced by oil prices, and to a lesser extent, NGL and natural gas prices, and commodity market differentials. Oil prices have been and are expected to remain volatile due to shifts in energy supply and demand, ongoing geopolitical factors and OPEC supply actions. In 2025, compared to 2024, the average annual WTI price per barrel decreased to $64.81 from $75.72, and the average annual Brent price per barrel decreased to $68.18 from $79.79.
The Company’s costs are influenced by inflationary trends, market conditions, the availability and cost of oilfield services, electricity, and CO₂, and other operational expenditures. In April 2025, a U.S. tariff policy was announced that imposed a 10% base tariff rate on most imports, with higher rates applied to certain countries. Since then, the U.S. has negotiated trade deals, and certain tariff rates have been adjusted or paused amid ongoing litigation. These tariffs may increase the Company’s supplier costs and affect demand and prices for its products. The Company works to manage inflation impacts by capitalizing on operational efficiencies, locking in pricing on longer-term contracts and working closely with vendors to secure the supply of critical materials. Seasonality is not a primary driver of changes in the Company’s consolidated quarterly earnings.
STRATEGY
The Company is focused on delivering a unique shareholder value proposition with its portfolio of oil and gas and midstream and marketing assets, as well as its ongoing development of carbon management and storage solutions and GHG emissions reduction efforts. The Company conducts its operations with a priority on HSE, sustainability and social responsibility. In order to maximize shareholder returns, the Company will:
■ Maintain production base to preserve asset base integrity and longevity;
■Deliver a sustainable and growing dividend;
■Prioritize excess cash flow and proceeds from divestitures, including the OxyChem Transaction, for deleveraging until principal debt is approximately $14.3 billion, after which available cash will be allocated to opportunistic share repurchases and/or further net debt reduction;
■Enhance its asset base with investments in its cash-generative oil and gas business; and
■Advance integrated technologies in CO2, power and midstream to enable differentiated resource recovery and value.
OXYCHEM TRANSACTION
In October 2025, the Company announced entry into a purchase and sale agreement with Berkshire Hathaway to sell all of the issued and outstanding equity interests in OxyChem in an all-cash transaction for $9.7 billion. The sale was completed on January 2, 2026, resulting in an estimated gain of $3.2 billion, net of taxes and subject to post-closing adjustments. As a result, OxyChem’s results of operations, cash flows and the related retained liabilities and indemnification obligations are reported as discontinued operations in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and Cash Flows for all periods presented, with its assets and liabilities reclassified as held for sale in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
An Occidental subsidiary, Environmental Resource Holdings, LLC (ERH), has retained legacy tort claims and environmental liabilities primarily associated with historical operations outside of the footprint of the operating facilities that were sold. Glenn Springs Holdings, Inc. will continue to manage the remedial activities at environmental sites on behalf of ERH. The Company expects to expend funds for remediation over many years based on the approved workplans.
CAPITAL INVESTMENT
In 2025, the Company invested $5.6 billion in high-return oil and gas assets to generate long-term free cash flow throughout the commodity cycle. In the midstream and marketing segment, the Company invested $0.7 billion before contributions from noncontrolling interest, primarily related to STRATOS.
DEBT
In 2025, the Company used proceeds from divestitures and cash on hand to repay approximately $4.0 billion of debt. Subsequent to December 31, 2025, but before the date of this filing, the Company used proceeds from the OxyChem Transaction to pay or satisfy and discharge an additional $5.4 billion of debt.
As of the date of this filing, the principal debt outstanding was approximately $15 billion, of which $24 million is due in 2026, $48 million in 2027, $14 million in 2028, $367 million in 2029 and $14.6 billion due in 2030 and thereafter.
For detailed information on the Company’s debt activity, see Note 5 - Long-Term Debt in the notes to the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 22 | OXY 2025 FORM 10-K |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| table of contents | MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
SHAREHOLDER RETURN PRIORITIES
Capital is returned to shareholders through the Company’s dividend and share repurchases. In 2025, the Company declared dividends to common shareholders of $945 million, or $0.96 per share. As of December 31, 2025, $1.2 billion remained of the Company’s $3.0 billion share repurchase program, which the Board authorized in February 2023. After using the proceeds from the OxyChem Transaction to reduce the principal of outstanding debt to approximately $15 billion, the Company’s shareholder return priorities are to continue to provide a sustainable and growing dividend and further reduce principal debt to approximately $14.3 billion. Available cash will be allocated, as appropriate, to opportunistic share repurchases and/or further debt reduction.
SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
The Company’s sustainability strategy is organized around four pillars: principles of governance, people, planet, and prosperity. The Company integrates these sustainability pillars into our strategic planning and investment decision-making processes.
In 2020, the Company was the first U.S. oil and gas company to announce goals to achieve net-zero GHG emissions for its total emissions inventory including use of sold products. These goals include achieving net-zero GHG emissions (i) from its operations and energy use before 2040, with an ambition to do so before 2035, and (ii) from its total carbon inventory, including the use of its sold products, with an ambition to do so before 2050. In 2020, the Company also set various interim targets, including 2025 carbon and methane intensity targets, and the Company was the first U.S. oil and gas company to endorse the World Bank’s initiative for zero routine flaring by 2030. In 2022, the Board of Directors adopted the Company’s updated HSE and Sustainability Principles, based on engagement with shareholders, employees and other stakeholders. The HSE and Sustainability Principles reinforce the alignment among the Company’s core values, goals and strategies, underpin its Operating Management System, and help to guide the workforce across its operations. In 2023, the Company was an original signatory to the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter, committed funding to the World Bank’s Global Flaring and Methane Reduction Partnership, and established a new, medium-term 2030 methane intensity target. In 2025, the Company established a new, medium-term 2030 CO2 equivalent intensity target.
The Company seeks to meet its sustainability and environmental goals by implementing practices and technologies to reduce operational emissions coupled with its development and commercialization of technologies that lower both GHG emissions from industrial processes and existing atmospheric concentrations of CO2. The Company believes that carbon removal technologies, including DAC and CCUS, can, with incentives necessary for their development and deployment, provide essential CO2 reductions to assist the world’s transition to a lower carbon-intensive economy. Through fiscal 2024, the Company reduced estimated methane emissions by approximately 78.6% from 2019 and 40% from 2023, along with a 28.7% reduction in CO2 equivalent emissions since 2019. The following actions helped the Company advance its low-carbon business strategy in 2025:
■Completed construction of STRATOS central processing facilities and obtained Class VI permits to sequester CO2, with operations expected to begin in 2026.
■Actively progressed its sequestration hub plans, with five sequestration hubs in various stages of development primarily in the Permian Basin and across the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast; and
■Implemented emissions reduction projects involving hundreds of facilities and wells and thousands of pieces of equipment across its oil and gas operations.
The future costs associated with emissions reduction, carbon removal and CCUS to meet the Company’s long-term net-zero GHG goals may be substantial and the execution of its plans and net-zero pathway depends on securing third-party capital investments. As reflected by the joint venture with BlackRock, the Company is pursuing multiple avenues to fund these projects including project financing, long-term carbon removal or CCUS agreements, and identifying business opportunities with stakeholders in carbon-intensive industries.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
The Company seeks to meet its strategic goals by continually measuring its success against key performance indicators that drive total stockholder return. In addition to efficient capital allocation and deployment discussed below in the section titled “Oil and Gas Segment - Business Strategy,” the Company believes its most significant performance indicators are:
OPERATIONAL
■Total spend per barrel - In 2026, the Company will continue our emphasis on controlling total costs from a per-barrel perspective. Total spend per barrel is the sum of capital spending, general and administrative expenses, other operating and non-operating expenses and oil and gas lease operating costs divided by global oil, NGL and natural gas sales volumes.
■Daily production - the Company seeks to maximize field operability and minimize production down-time.
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FINANCIAL
■CROCE - CROCE is calculated as (i) the cash flows from operating activities, before changes in working capital, plus distributions from WES classified as investing cash flows, divided by (ii) the average of the opening and closing balances of total equity plus total debt.
■FCF - FCF is calculated as the cash flows from operating activities, before changes in working capital, less the Company’s capital expenditures, net of contributions from noncontrolling interests.
■Financial Leverage- Reduce debt to achieve metrics consistent with an investment grade credit rating.
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL
■Interim targets to advance the goal of net-zero operational and energy use emissions before 2040, with an ambition to achieve before 2035.
■Milestones in specific carbon removal and CCUS projects that advance a net-zero total emissions inventory, including use of sold products, with an ambition to achieve before 2050.
■Facilitate deployment of carbon removal, CCUS and other solutions to advance total carbon impact past 2050.
OIL AND GAS SEGMENT
BUSINESS STRATEGY
The Company’s oil and gas segment focuses on long-term value creation in the key performance indicators noted above of total spend per barrel, field operability, daily production, and leadership through our HSE and sustainability initiatives. In each core operating area, the Company’s operations benefit from scale, technical expertise, decades of high-margin inventory, HSE leadership and commercial and governmental collaboration. These attributes allow the Company to bring additional production quickly to market, extend the life of mature fields at lower costs and pursue low-cost returns-driven growth opportunities with advanced technology.
The Company is one of the largest U.S. producers of liquids, which includes oil and NGL, enabling it to maximize cash margins on a per barrel basis. The Company’s robust portfolio, combined with our subsurface characterization expertise and proven ability to execute, support long-term value creation and full-cycle success. The oil and gas segment strives to maximize efficiencies to lower breakeven costs, generate excess free cash flow and maintain low development and operating costs — thereby enhancing the full-cycle value of its assets.
The oil and gas segment implements the Company’s strategy primarily by:
■Operating and developing areas where reserves are known to exist and optimizing capital intensity in the Permian Basin, Rockies, Gulf of America, and our international locations;
■Maintaining a disciplined and prudent approach to capital expenditures with a focus on high-return, short and mid-cycle, cash-flow-generating opportunities and an emphasis on creating value and further enhancing the Company’s existing positions;
■Applying the Company’s subsurface characterization and technical expertise to both conventional and unconventional resources;
■Using secondary and tertiary recovery techniques in mature fields and leveraging the Company’s EOR position, experience and infrastructure to extend U.S. unconventional resources; and
■Focusing on cost-reduction efficiencies and innovative technologies to reduce carbon emissions.
In 2025, oil and gas capital expenditures, including exploration, were approximately $5.6 billion and primarily focused on the Company’s assets in the Permian Basin, DJ Basin, Gulf of America and Oman.
OIL AND GAS PRICE ENVIRONMENT
Oil and gas prices are the major variables that drive the industry’s financial performance. The following table presents the average daily WTI and Brent prices for oil and NYMEX natural gas prices for 2025 and 2024:
| 2025 | 2024 | % Change | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WTI Oil ($/Bbl) | $ | 64.81 | $ | 75.72 | (14) | % | ||
| Brent Oil ($/Bbl) | $ | 68.18 | $ | 79.79 | (15) | % | ||
| NYMEX Natural Gas ($/Mcf) | $ | 3.55 | $ | 2.34 | 52 | % |
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The following table presents the Company’s average realized prices for continuing operations as a percentage of WTI, Brent and NYMEX for 2025 and 2024:
| 2025 | 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worldwide oil as a percentage of average WTI | 100 | % | 99 | % |
| Worldwide oil as a percentage of average Brent | 95 | % | 94 | % |
| Worldwide NGL as a percentage of average WTI | 32 | % | 28 | % |
| Worldwide NGL as a percentage of average Brent | 30 | % | 27 | % |
| Domestic natural gas as a percentage of NYMEX | 45 | % | 40 | % |
Prices and differentials can vary significantly, even on a short-term basis, making it difficult to predict realized prices with a reliable degree of certainty.
DOMESTIC INTERESTS
BUSINESS REVIEW
The Company conducts its domestic operations through land leases, subsurface mineral rights it owns, or a combination of both. The Company’s domestic oil and gas leases have a primary term ranging from one to 10 years, which is extended through the end of production once it commences. The Company has leasehold and mineral interests in 8.9 million net acres, of which approximately 51% is leased, 48% is owned subsurface mineral rights and 1% is owned land with mineral rights.
DOMESTIC ASSETS (a)
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1. Powder River Basin 2. DJ Basin 3. Permian Basin 4. Gulf of America |
(a)Map represents geographic outlines of the respective basins.
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The Permian Basin
The Permian Basin extends throughout West Texas and Southeast New Mexico and is one of the largest and most active oil basins in the United States, accounting for more than 49% of total United States oil production in 2025. In 2025, the Company sustained a leading position in the Permian Basin, producing approximately 10% of the total oil in the basin. The Company’s 2025 production in the Permian Basin was 786 Mboe/d. In 2025, the Company invested approximately $3.4 billion of development capital in the Permian Basin.
The Company manages its Permian Basin operations through two businesses: Permian Resources, which includes unconventional opportunities, and Permian EOR, which utilizes secondary and tertiary recovery techniques. By exploiting the natural synergies between Permian Resources and Permian EOR, the Company is able to deliver unique short- and long-term advantages, efficiencies and expertise across its Permian Basin operations.
The Permian Resources business is focused on developing and producing unconventional reservoir targets using horizontal drilling technology. The development programs are designed to create long-term value from primary development by maximizing the recovery of oil, utilizing sustainable practices and providing strong financial returns. In 2025, Permian Resources prioritized core development areas, focusing on maintaining the industry-leading capital intensity through optimized surface infrastructure and customized well designs. Permian Resources has 1.5 million net acres. In 2025, Permian Resources produced from approximately 6,300 gross wells and added 390 MMboe to the Company’s proved reserves through infill development projects and extensions of proved areas.
The Permian Basin’s concentration of large conventional reservoirs, strong CO2 flooding performance and the expansive CO2 transportation and processing infrastructure has resulted in decades of high-value enhanced oil production. With 34 active CO2 floods and over 50 years of experience, Permian EOR is the industry leader in Permian Basin CO2 flooding, which can increase ultimate oil recovery by 10% to 25%. Technology improvements, such as the recent trend toward vertical expansion of the CO2 flooded interval into residual oil zone targets, continue to yield more recovery from existing projects. Significant opportunities also remain to gain additional recovery by expanding the Company’s existing CO2 projects into new portions of reservoirs that have only been waterflooded. Permian EOR has 1.4 million net acres with a large inventory of future CO2 projects, which could be developed over the next 20 years or accelerated, depending on market conditions. Permian EOR produced from approximately 11,900 gross wells in 2025.
Rockies and Other Domestic
In 2025, the Company produced 284 Mboe/d and invested capital of approximately $0.8 billion in the Rockies and Other Domestic locations. Production in the DJ Basin is derived from approximately 3,500 gross wells primarily focused in the Niobrara and Codell formations. The DJ Basin comprises approximately 0.5 million total net acres and provides competitive economics, low breakeven costs and free cash flow generation through the Company’s contiguous acreage position and royalty uplift.
Operations in the DJ Basin are subject to regulations that impose siting requirements, or “setback,” on certain oil and gas drilling locations based on the distance of a proposed well pad to occupied structures. The Company has a dedicated stakeholder relations team that conducts regulatory and community outreach with respect to its permit applications and operations in Colorado with a focus on building trust and fostering open communication with those who live and work near its operations. The Company has established a steady cadence of permit approvals from various agencies, local governments and the ECMC through robust community outreach, protective site selection, thoughtful facility design and planning, and best-in-class measures to mitigate potential impacts from operations. In 2025, the Company submitted Oil and Gas Development Plans comprising approximately 100 wells to the ECMC. As of December 31, 2025, the Company has permits for over 90% of the 2026 drilling schedule and over 45% of the 2027 drilling schedule with the remaining percentage of activity pending regulatory approval or scheduled for submission in 2026. The Company continues to gain efficiencies in the permitting process and will continue to look for additional opportunities to do so in the future.
The Company has interests in approximately 0.2 million net acres in the Powder River Basin, mainly located in Converse County and Campbell County, Wyoming. The Powder River Basin contains the Turner, Niobrara, Mowry, Parkman, and Teapot formations that hold both liquids and natural gas and produces from 139 gross wells.
The Company holds approximately 4.5 million net acres in other domestic locations, which consist of acreage and fee minerals outside of the Company’s core operated areas including parts of Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Texas, West Virginia and Wyoming.
OFFSHORE DOMESTIC ASSETS
Gulf of America
The Company is the fourth-largest oil and gas producer in the deep-water Gulf of America, operating 8 strategically located deep-water floating platforms and producing from 14 active fields while owning a working interest in approximately 230 blocks, covering approximately 0.8 million net acres.
In 2025, the Company’s Gulf of America production was 132 Mboe/d from 96 gross wells. The Company’s focused production management processes and development projects resulted in increased production from the prior year. Operational efficiency focus continued in 2025, with Production Operations and Asset Integrity teams achieving world class highest platform operating efficiencies, with major equipment uptimes of over 99%.
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The Company’s Gulf of America assets continued to be among the lowest carbon emissions operations in the industry with zero routine flaring and zero cold venting.
The Company invested $0.5 billion of development capital in 2025 with a continued strategy of low risk, infill drilling opportunities and accelerated project delivery at its Horn Mountain, Constitution and Lucius facilities. Drilling and well service projects were implemented utilizing two floating drill ships and several service rigs. During 2025, all necessary regulatory permits for new wells and existing operations were obtained timely without any operational delays.
As part of its Gulf of America 2.0 program (GOA 2.0), the Company successfully implemented several state-of-the-art artificial lift projects, including down-hole gas-lift and caisson electric submersible pumps at its Horn Mountain platform in 2025, delivering some of the highest margin production in the Company’s portfolio. In addition, the Company’s asset development and facilities teams began implementation of several GOA 2.0 growth projects to significantly increase recovery from the Company’s existing producing oil and gas reservoirs with the first water injection at Marlin planned to be on stream in Summer 2026 and at Horn Mountain in 2027. Several major secondary recovery uplift projects and new horizontal/extended reach well opportunities will continue implementation in 2026 onwards.
The Company’s Gulf of America operations will conduct both development and exploration activities in 2026 using two floating drill ships and several other well service vessels and will continue to develop and expand its extensive portfolio of lease working interests through its GOA 2.0 program.
The following table shows key areas of ongoing development in the Gulf of America, along with the corresponding working interest in those areas.
| Working Interest | ||
|---|---|---|
| Horn Mountain | 100 | % |
| Holstein | 100 | % |
| Marlin | 100 | % |
| Lucius | 67 | % |
| K2 Complex | 51 | % |
| Caesar Tonga | 34 | % |
| Constellation | 33 | % |
INTERNATIONAL INTERESTS
BUSINESS REVIEW
The Company primarily conducts its international operations in two sub-regions: the Middle East and North Africa. Its activities include oil, NGL and natural gas production through direct working interests and PSCs. Under the PSCs, the Company records a share of production and reserves to recover certain development and production costs and an additional share for profit. These contracts do not transfer any right of ownership to the Company and reserves reported from these arrangements are based on the Company’s economic interest as defined in the contracts. The Company’s share of production and reserves from these contracts decreases when product prices rise and increases when prices decline. Overall, the Company’s net economic benefit from these contracts is greater when product prices are higher.
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MIDDLE EAST / NORTH AFRICA ASSETS
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1.Algeria 2.Oman 3.Qatar 4.UAE |
Algeria
The Company’s interests in Algeria consists of production rights in 18 fields within Blocks 404a and 208, both of which expire in 2048, located in the Berkine Basin in Algeria’s Sahara Desert. The Company also owns interests in 3 unitized fields within Blocks 404a and 208 (the Ourhoud Unit, the EMK Unit and the HBN Unit) as well as in 3 processing facilities (the El Merk central processing facility in Block 208 that processes produced oil, NGL and natural gas; and the Hassi Berkine South and Ourhoud central processing facilities in Block 404a that process produced oil).
In 2025, net production in Algeria was 28 Mboe/d from 219 gross wells, and annual development capital expenditures were $0.1 billion.
Oman
In Oman, the Company is the operator of Block 9, Block 27, Block 53 (Mukhaizna Field), Block 62 and Block 65 and has additional interests in Blocks 30, 51 and 72, which are under the exploration phase. The working interest and contract expiration year for each of the respective blocks are shown in the table below. The Company holds 6.0 million gross acres and has 10,000 potential well inventory locations. In 2025, the Company’s share of production was 72 Mboe/d.
| Working Interest | Block Expiration (Year) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Block 9 | 50 | % | 2030 |
| Block 27 | 65 | % | 2035 |
| Block 53 | 47 | % | 2050 |
| Block 62 | 100 | % | 2028 |
| Block 65 | 51 | % | 2037 |
| Blocks 30, 51 and 72 | 100 | % | Exploration Phase |
The Company has produced over 853 million gross barrels from Block 9 since the beginning of its operation through successful exploration, continuous drilling improvements and EOR projects. The Mukhaizna Field in Block 53 is a major pattern steam flood project for EOR that utilizes some of the largest mechanical vapor compressors ever built. Since assuming operations in the Mukhaizna Field in 2005, the Company has drilled over 3,600 new wells and has substantially increased production to deliver over 662 million gross barrels, while maintaining a strong commitment to operational excellence, environmental stewardship and community engagement. The Company signed a 15-year contract extension for Block 53 in 2025, which is expected to deliver significant value to all stakeholders. In 2025, the Company invested development capital of $0.4 billion across all of the Oman blocks to drill 120 wells and execute facilities projects to support development and EOR activities.
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Qatar
In Qatar, the Company partners in the Dolphin Energy Project, an investment that is comprised of two separate economic interests. The Company has a 24.5% interest in the upstream operations to develop and produce NGL, natural gas and condensate from Qatar’s North Field through mid-2032. The Company also has a 24.5% interest in Dolphin midstream in the UAE, which operates a pipeline and is discussed further in the midstream and marketing segment section in this Form 10-K under Pipeline. In 2025, the Company’s net share of production from Dolphin was 40 Mboe/d.
UAE
The Company has a 40% participating interest in the Shah gas field (Al Hosn Gas), in conjunction with ADNOC, the UAE’s national oil company, which expires in 2041. In 2025, the Company’s net share of production from Al Hosn Gas was 283 MMcf/d of natural gas and 42 Mbbl/d of NGL and condensate. Al Hosn Gas includes gas processing facilities which are discussed further in the midstream and marketing segment section in this Form 10-K under Gas Processing, Gathering and CO2.
In 2019 and 2020, the Company acquired 9-year exploration concessions and, subject to a declaration of commerciality, 35-year production concessions for Onshore Block 3 and Block 5, which cover a combined area of approximately 2.5 million acres, and are adjacent to Al Hosn Gas. In 2023, the Company commenced first oil production in Onshore Block 3.
PROVED RESERVES
Proved oil, NGL and natural gas reserves were estimated using the unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within the year, unless prices were defined by contractual arrangements. Oil, NGL and natural gas prices used for this purpose were based on posted benchmark prices and adjusted for price differentials including gravity, quality and transportation costs.
The following table shows the 2025, 2024 and 2023 calculated first-day-of-the-month average prices for both WTI and Brent oil prices, as well as the Henry Hub gas and Mt. Belvieu NGL prices:
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WTI Oil ($/Bbl) | $ | 65.34 | $ | 75.48 | $ | 78.22 | ||
| Brent Oil ($/Bbl) | $ | 68.42 | $ | 79.65 | $ | 82.80 | ||
| Henry Hub Natural Gas ($/MMbtu) | $ | 3.39 | $ | 2.13 | $ | 2.64 | ||
| Mt. Belvieu NGL ($/Bbl) | $ | 31.79 | $ | 33.04 | $ | 29.94 |
The Company had proved reserves from continuing operations at year-end 2025 of 4,603 MMboe, compared to the year-end 2024 proved reserves of 4,612 MMboe. Proved developed reserves represented approximately 72% and 69% of the Company’s total proved reserves as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The following table shows the Company’s proved reserves from continuing operations by commodity as a percentage of total proved reserves:
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil | 47 | % | 46 | % | ||
| NGL | 25 | % | 27 | % | ||
| Natural gas | 28 | % | 27 | % |
The Company does not have any reserves from non-traditional sources. For further information regarding the Company’s proved reserves, see the Supplemental Oil and Gas Information section in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
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CHANGES IN PROVED RESERVES
Changes in the Company’s 2025 reserves were as follows:
| MMboe | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Balance — beginning of year | 4,612 | |
| Revisions of previous estimates | 161 | |
| Improved recovery | 60 | |
| Extensions and discoveries | 340 | |
| Purchases | 10 | |
| Sales | (57) | |
| Production | (523) | |
| Balance — end of year | 4,603 |
The Company’s ability to add reserves, other than through purchases, depends on the success of infill development, extension, discovery and improved recovery projects, each of which depends on reservoir characteristics, technology improvements and oil and natural gas prices, as well as capital and operating costs. Many of these factors are outside management’s control and may negatively or positively affect the Company’s reserves.
Revisions of Previous Estimates
Revisions can include upward or downward changes to previous proved reserve estimates for existing fields due to the evaluation or interpretation of geologic, production decline or operating performance data. In addition, product price changes affect proved reserves recorded by the Company. For example, lower prices may decrease the economically recoverable reserves, particularly for domestic properties, because the reduced margin limits the expected life of the operations. Offsetting this effect, lower prices increase the Company’s share of proved reserves under PSCs because more oil is required to recover costs. Conversely, when prices rise, the Company’s share of proved reserves decreases for PSCs and economically recoverable reserves may increase for other operations. Reserve estimation rules require that estimated ultimate recoveries be much more likely to increase or remain constant than to decrease, as changes are made due to increased availability of technical data.
In 2025, the Company’s revisions of previous estimates of proved reserves were positive 161 MMboe, which were composed of positive revisions related to additions associated with infill development projects (115 MMboe), changes in economic conditions (131 MMboe), and the Oman contract extension (61 MMboe). The positive revisions were partially offset by negative revisions associated with price revisions (85 MMboe) and updates based on reservoir performance (45 MMboe).
Positive revisions related to additions associated with infill development projects of 115 MMboe were mainly in the Permian Basin (54 MMboe) and the DJ Basin (49 MMboe).
Positive revisions associated with changes in economic conditions of 131 MMboe were primarily in the Permian Basin (122 MMboe).
Negative price revisions of 85 MMboe were primarily associated with the Permian Basin (94 MMboe), which were partially offset by positive price revisions of 7 MMboe on international PSCs.
Negative revisions of 45 MMboe associated with updates based on reservoir performance were primarily related to the Permian Basin (66 MMboe), which were partially offset by positive reservoir performance updates in GOA (19 MMboe).
Improved Recovery
In 2025, the Company added proved reserves of 60 MMboe related to improved recovery in GOA (44 MMboe), Permian EOR (9 MMboe) and Oman (7 MMboe). These properties comprise conventional projects, which are characterized by the deployment of EOR development methods, largely employing application of CO2 flood, waterflood or steam flood. These types of conventional EOR development methods can be applied through existing wells, though additional drilling is frequently required to fully optimize the development configuration. Waterflooding is the technique of injecting water into the formation to displace the oil to the offsetting oil production wells. The use of either CO2 or steam flooding depends on the geology of the formation, the evaluation of engineering data, availability and cost of either CO2 or steam and other economic factors. Both techniques work similarly to lower viscosity, causing the oil to move more easily to the producing wells.
Extensions and Discoveries
The Company also added proved reserves from extensions and discoveries, which are dependent on successful exploration and exploitation programs. In 2025, extensions and discoveries added 340 MMboe primarily related to the recognition of proved reserves in the Permian Basin (336 MMboe).
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Purchases of Proved Reserves
In 2025, the Company purchased proved reserves of 10 MMboe consisting of proven reserves in the Permian Basin related to acreage trades.
Sales of Proved Reserves
In 2025, the Company sold 57 MMboe in proved reserves related to the divestitures of certain non-strategic assets in the Permian Basin and the DJ Basin.
Proved Undeveloped Reserves
The Company had PUD reserves at year-end 2025 of 1,309 MMboe, compared to the year-end 2024 amount of 1,421 MMboe.
Changes in PUD reserves were as follows:
| MMboe | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Balance — beginning of year | 1,421 | |
| Revisions of previous estimates | 46 | |
| Improved recovery | 55 | |
| Extensions and discoveries | 247 | |
| Purchases | 1 | |
| Sales | (23) | |
| Transfer to proved developed reserves | (438) | |
| Balance — end of year | 1,309 |
Revisions of previous estimates were a positive 46 MMboe. Approximately 238 MMboe of the positive revisions were associated with updates based on reservoir performance, primarily due to positive performance revisions in the Permian Basin (242 MMboe). Further positive revisions were composed of positive revisions related to additions associated with infill development projects (102 MMboe), changes in economic conditions (16 MMboe), and the Oman contract extension (11 MMboe). The positive revisions were partially offset by negative revisions of 318 MMboe associated with management changes in development plans, mainly in the Permian Basin (314 MMboe).
The positive revisions related to additions associated with infill development projects of 102 MMboe were mainly in the Permian Basin (47 MMboe) and the DJ Basin (44 MMboe). Positive revisions associated with changes in economic conditions of 16 MMboe were primarily in the Permian Basin.
Extensions and discoveries added 247 MMboe primarily related to the recognition of proved reserves in the Permian Basin (243 MMboe). Total improved recovery additions of 55 MMboe were the result of implementing secondary and tertiary projects in GOA (44 MMboe), Permian EOR (7 MMboe) and Oman (4 MMboe). In 2025, the Company purchased PUD reserves of 1 MMboe consisting of development projects in the Permian Basin related to acreage trades and sold 23 MMboe consisting of development projects primarily related to certain non-strategic assets in the Permian Basin. The 2025 additions to PUD reserves were partially offset by transfers to proved developed reserves of 438 MMboe. The transfers were primarily associated with the Permian Basin (278 MMboe), the DJ Basin (98 MMboe) and GOA (47 MMboe).
In 2025, the Company incurred approximately $2.2 billion to convert PUD reserves to proved developed reserves, and converted approximately 31% of its PUD reserves to proved developed, when adjusted for revisions and sales. As of December 31, 2025, the Company had 1,309 MMboe of PUD reserves of which 82% were associated with domestic onshore, 5% with GOA and 13% with international assets. The Company’s most active development areas are located in the Permian Basin, which represented 69% of the PUD reserves as of December 31, 2025. Overall, the Company plans to spend approximately $8.4 billion over the next five years to develop its PUD reserves in the Permian Basin.
PUD reserves are supported by a five-year detailed field-level development plan, which includes the timing, location and capital commitment of the wells to be drilled. Only PUD reserves which are reasonably certain to be drilled within five years of booking and are supported by a final investment decision to drill them are included in the development plan. A portion of the PUD reserves are expected to be developed beyond the five years and are tied to approved long-term development projects.
As of December 31, 2025, the Company had 185 MMboe of pre-2021 PUD reserves that remained undeveloped. These PUD reserves relate to approved long-term development plans, primarily associated with international development projects (168 MMboe) with physical limitations in existing gas processing capacity and related to approved long-term development plans for Permian EOR projects (17 MMboe), also with physical limitations in existing gas processing capacity. The Company remains committed to these projects and continues to actively progress the development of these volumes.
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RESERVES EVALUATION AND REVIEW PROCESS
The Company’s estimates of proved reserves and associated future net cash flows as of December 31, 2025 were made by the Company’s technical personnel and are the responsibility of management. The estimation of proved reserves is based on the requirement of reasonable certainty of economic producibility and funding commitments by the Company to develop the reserves. This process involves reservoir engineers, geoscientists, planning engineers and financial analysts. As part of the proved reserves estimation process, all reserve volumes are estimated by a forecast of production rates, operating costs and capital expenditures. Price differentials between benchmark prices (the unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within the year) and realized prices and specifics of each operating agreement are then used to estimate the net reserves. Production rate forecasts are derived by a number of methods, including estimates from decline curve analysis, type well profile analysis, computer simulation of the reservoir performance and volumetric analysis calculations that take into account the volumes of substances replacing the volumes produced and associated reservoir pressure changes supported by various technologies including seismic analysis. These reliable field-tested technologies have demonstrated reasonably certain results with consistency and repeatability in the formation being evaluated or in an analogous formation. Operating and capital costs are forecast using the current cost environment applied to expectations of future operating and development activities.
Net proved developed reserves are those volumes that are expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods for which the incremental cost of any additional required investment is relatively minor.
Net PUD reserves are those volumes that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion. PUD reserves are supported by a five-year detailed field-level development plan, which includes the timing, location and capital commitment of the wells to be drilled. The development plan is reviewed and approved annually by senior management and technical personnel. Annually, a detailed review is performed by the Company’s Corporate Reserves Group and its technical personnel on a lease-by-lease basis to assess whether PUD reserves are being converted on a timely basis within five years from the initial disclosure date. Any leases not showing timely transfers from PUD reserves to proved developed reserves are reviewed by senior management to determine if the remaining reserves will be developed in a timely manner and have sufficient capital committed in the development plan. Only PUD reserves that are reasonably certain to be drilled within five years of booking and are supported by a final investment decision to drill them are included in the development plan. A portion of the PUD reserves are expected to be developed beyond the five years and are tied to approved long-term development plans.
The current Vice President, Reserves for Oxy Oil and Gas is responsible for overseeing the preparation of reserve estimates, in compliance with SEC rules and regulations, including the internal audit and review of the Company’s oil and gas reserves data. She has over 24 years of experience in the upstream sector of the exploration and production business and has extensive experience evaluating a variety of assets in basins around the world. She is a past President of the International Executive Committee for the SPEE and a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. She is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Texas and currently serves on the SPEE Reserves Definitions Committee. She has Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
The Company has a Reserves Committee, consisting of senior corporate officers, to review and approve the Company’s oil and gas reserves. The Reserves Committee reports to the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors during the year. Since 2003, the Company has retained Ryder Scott, independent petroleum engineering consultants, to review its annual oil and gas reserve estimation processes. For additional reserves information, see Supplemental Oil and Gas Information under Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
In 2025, Ryder Scott conducted a process review of the methods and analytical procedures utilized by the Company’s engineering and geological staff for estimating the proved reserves volumes, preparing the economic evaluations and determining the reserves classifications as of December 31, 2025, in accordance with SEC regulatory standards. Ryder Scott reviewed the specific application of such methods and procedures for selected oil and gas properties considered to be a valid representation of the Company’s 2025 year-end total proved reserves portfolio. In 2025, Ryder Scott reviewed approximately 39% of the Company’s proved oil and gas reserves. Since being engaged in 2003, Ryder Scott has reviewed the specific application of the Company’s reserve estimation methods and procedures for approximately 97% of the Company’s existing proved oil and gas reserves.
Management retained Ryder Scott to provide objective third-party input on its methods and procedures and to gather industry information applicable to the Company’s reserve estimation and reporting process. Ryder Scott has not been engaged to render an opinion as to the reasonableness of reserves quantities reported by the Company. The Company has filed Ryder Scott’s independent report as an exhibit to this Form 10-K.
Based on its reviews, including the data, technical processes and interpretations presented by the Company, Ryder Scott has concluded that the overall procedures and methodologies the Company utilized in estimating the proved reserves volumes, preparing the economic evaluations and determining the reserves classifications for the reviewed properties are appropriate for the purpose thereof and comply with current SEC regulations.
OUTLOOK
The oil and gas exploration and production industry remains highly competitive and is subject to significant volatility due to various market conditions, with operations highly dependent on oil prices and, to a lesser extent, NGL and natural gas
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prices. In 2025, compared to 2024, the average daily price per barrel of WTI crude decreased to $64.81 from $75.72, the average daily Brent price per barrel decreased to $68.18 from $79.79 and the average daily NYMEX natural gas price per MMcf increased to $3.55 from $2.34.
Oil prices will continue to be affected by: (i) global supply and demand, which are generally a function of global economic conditions, inventory levels, production or supply chain disruptions, technological advances, regional market conditions and the actions of OPEC, other significant producers and governments; (ii) transportation capacity, infrastructure constraints, and associated costs in producing areas; (iii) currency exchange rates and inflation; and (iv) the impact of these variables on market sentiment. It is expected that the price of oil will be volatile for the foreseeable future given the ongoing geopolitical risks, the evolving macro-economic environment and supply activity from OPEC and non-OPEC oil producing countries. The Company does not operate or own assets in either Russia or Ukraine, or in the immediate vicinity of ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
NGL pricing is influenced by the supply and demand for the individual components of these liquids. Some are closely tied to oil prices, while others are affected by natural gas prices and the demand for chemical products that use NGLs as feedstock. In addition, regional infrastructure constraints continue to amplify pricing volatility.
Domestic natural gas prices and local differentials are primarily driven by local supply and demand fundamentals, government regulations, global LNG demand and transportation capacity from producing areas. International gas prices are generally fixed under long-term contracts.
These and other factors make it difficult to reliably forecast oil, NGL and domestic gas prices. For its current capital plan, the Company will continue to focus on allocating capital to high-return assets with the flexibility to adapt to market conditions including commodity price fluctuations, supply chain constraints, tariffs, higher interest rates, global logistics and persistent inflation, all of which disrupt global supply and demand balances. The Company’s objective is to deliver our free cash flow needs without impacting operational performance.
The timing, process and ultimate cost of transitioning to a less carbon-intensive economy remain largely uncertain; various industry forecasts indicate a growing demand for hydrocarbons for the next decade. The Company believes its operational flexibility to achieve low development and operating costs to maximize full-cycle value of its assets and its knowledge and experience in CO2 separation, transportation, use, recycling and storage position its oil and gas segment for opportunities to lower carbon intensity.
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MIDSTREAM AND MARKETING SEGMENT
BUSINESS STRATEGY
The midstream and marketing segment strives to maximize value by optimizing the use of its gathering, processing, transportation, storage and terminal commitments and by providing the oil and gas segment access to domestic and international markets. To generate returns, the segment evaluates opportunities across the value chain and uses its assets to provide services to Occidental’s subsidiaries, as well as third parties. The midstream and marketing segment operates or contracts for services on gathering systems, gas plants, and storage facilities and invests in entities that conduct similar activities.
This segment also seeks to minimize the costs of gas and power used in the Company’s operations. Also included in the midstream and marketing segment is OLCV. OLCV seeks to leverage the Company’s experience with carbon management in EOR. OLCV invests in emerging low-carbon technologies that are expected to reduce the Company’s carbon footprint and ensure the long-term sustainability of the Company’s principal business, and enable others to do the same.
Capital is employed to sustain or expand assets to improve the competitiveness of the Company’s business. In 2025, capital expenditures related to the midstream and marketing segment totaled $720 million, before contributions from noncontrolling interests, the majority of which were related to the construction of STRATOS.
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
Midstream and marketing segment earnings are primarily affected by the performance of its marketing, gathering and transportation business, as well as its gas processing business. The marketing business aggregates, markets and stores Company and third-party volumes. Marketing performance is affected primarily by commodity price changes and margins in oil and gas transportation and storage programs. The marketing business results can experience significant volatility depending on commodity prices and the Midland-to-Gulf-Coast oil spreads and Waha-to-Gulf-Coast gas spreads. The Midland-to-Gulf-Coast oil spreads have decreased to an average of $0.30 per barrel in 2025 from an average of $0.49 per barrel in 2024. The Waha-to-Gulf-Coast gas spreads have increased to an average of $2.21 per MMbtu in 2025 from an average of $1.49 per MMbtu in 2024. Gas gathering, processing and transportation results are affected by fluctuations in commodity prices and the volumes that are processed and transported through the segment’s plants, as well as the margins obtained on related services from investments in which the Company has an equity interest. Excluding items affecting comparability, midstream and marketing’s results in 2025, compared to 2024, were impacted by higher sulfur prices at Al Hosn, higher Waha-to-Gulf-Coast gas spreads, and lower long-haul crude transportation costs, partially offset by higher losses from equity method investees and higher expenses due to the increase in OLCV activities.
BUSINESS REVIEW
MARKETING
The marketing group markets substantially all of the Company’s oil, NGL and natural gas production and optimizes its transportation and storage capacity. The Company’s third-party marketing activities focus on purchasing oil, NGL and natural gas for resale from parties whose oil and gas supply is located near its transportation and storage capacity. These purchases allow the Company to aggregate volumes to better utilize and optimize its assets.
DELIVERY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITMENTS
The Company has made long-term commitments to certain refineries and other buyers to deliver oil, NGL and natural gas. The total amount contracted to be delivered is approximately 74 MMbbl of oil through 2026, 693 MMbbl of NGL through 2034 and 545 Bcf of gas through 2029. The price for these deliveries is set at the time of delivery of the product.
The Company has crude pipeline take-or-pay capacity of approximately 750 Mbbl/d to the Gulf Coast, leased crude storage capacity of approximately 9 MMbbl and capacity at the crude terminal of approximately 525 Mbbl/d.
PIPELINE
The Company’s pipeline business mainly consists of its 24.5% ownership interest in DEL. DEL owns and operates a 230-mile-long, 48-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline, known as the Dolphin Pipeline, which transports dry natural gas from Qatar to the UAE and Oman. The Dolphin Pipeline has capacity to transport up to 3.2 Bcf/d and currently transports approximately 2.0 Bcf/d and up to 2.2 Bcf/d in the summer months.
GAS PROCESSING, GATHERING AND CO2
The Company processes its own and third-party domestic wet gas to extract NGL and other gas byproducts, including CO2, and delivers dry gas to pipelines. Margins primarily result from the difference between inlet costs of wet gas and market prices for NGL.
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WES is a publicly traded limited partnership with its limited partner units traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “WES.” As of December 31, 2025, the Company owned all of the 2.2% non-voting general partner interest, 40.6% of the WES limited partner units, and a 2% non-voting limited partner interest in WES Operating, a subsidiary of WES. As of December 31, 2025, the Company’s combined share of net income from WES and its subsidiaries was 43.1%. In February 2026, in connection with certain contract amendments, the Company transferred 15.3 million units to WES; after this transfer, the combined share of net income in WES and its subsidiaries is 40.9%. See Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for more information regarding the Company’s equity method investment in WES. WES owns gathering systems, plants and pipelines and earns revenue from fee-based and service-based contracts with the Company and third parties.
The Company’s 40% participating interest in Al Hosn Gas also includes sour gas processing facilities that are designed to process 1.45 Bcf/d of natural gas and separate it into salable gas, condensate, NGL and sulfur. In 2025, the Al Hosn Gas processing facilities produced 13,000 tons per day of sulfur, of which the Company’s net share was 5,200 tons per day of sulfur.
LOW-CARBON VENTURES
OLCV capitalizes on the Company’s extensive experience in utilizing CO2 in its development of CCUS projects and providing services to third parties to facilitate the implementation of their CCUS projects. Moreover, OLCV fosters emerging technologies, including DAC and low-emissions power sources, and other business models with the potential to position the Company as a leader in the production of lower carbon intensity energy and products.
The Company expects to begin sequestering CO2 captured at STRATOS, the first commercial-scale direct air capture facility in Ector County, Texas, in 2026. The Company holds permits for Class VI CO2 injection wells in support of STRATOS. The Company has a joint venture agreement with BlackRock, through a fund managed by its Diversified Infrastructure business, for the development of STRATOS. See Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.
OLCV has acquired access to over 0.3 million acres of pore space to date, and has continued to pursue permits for Class VI CO2 injection wells with the intention of developing additional sequestration hubs. OLCV continues to explore a number of projects to capture and sequester CO2, either from the atmosphere or from industrial point sources. The profitability of sequestration projects is dependent upon the costs of developing, building and operating sequestration infrastructure, demand for sequestration services from emitters and the availability of certain tax attributes and credits generated from the capture and storage of CO2.
The Company owns a 40.3% interest in NET Power Inc., an energy technology company focused on delivering low-carbon gas power solutions. NET Power is currently traded on the NYSE under the symbol “NPWR.”
OUTLOOK
Midstream and marketing segment results can experience volatility depending on commodity price changes, demand impacting export sales, the Midland-to-Gulf-Coast oil spreads and Waha-to-Gulf-Coast gas spreads. Gas gathering, processing and transportation results are affected by fluctuations in commodity prices and the volumes that are processed and transported through the segment’s plants, as well as the margins obtained on related services from investments in which the Company has an equity interest.
OLCV is affected by elements of supply chain and economy-wide cost increases that could increase the cost of sequestration. In addition, there is still uncertainty around recent legislation, such as the IRA and OBBBA, for certain tax credits related to low carbon businesses. For more information refer to the heading Income Taxes below.
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SEGMENT RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND ITEMS AFFECTING COMPARABILITY
SEGMENT RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Segment earnings exclude income taxes, interest income, interest expense, environmental remediation expenses, unallocated corporate expenses and discontinued operations, but include gains and losses from divestitures of segment assets and income from segment equity investments. Seasonality is not a primary driver of changes in the Company’s consolidated quarterly earnings during the year.
The following table sets forth the sales and earnings of each operating segment and corporate items for the years ended December 31:
| millions, except per share amounts | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NET SALES (a,b) | ||||||||
| Oil and gas | $ | 20,902 | $ | 21,705 | $ | 21,284 | ||
| Midstream and marketing | 1,279 | 886 | 2,433 | |||||
| Eliminations | (588) | (572) | (561) | |||||
| Total | $ | 21,593 | $ | 22,019 | $ | 23,156 | ||
| SEGMENT RESULTS AND EARNINGS (b) | ||||||||
| Domestic | $ | 3,192 | $ | 3,715 | $ | 4,822 | ||
| International | 1,643 | 1,774 | 1,859 | |||||
| Exploration | (249) | (275) | (441) | |||||
| Oil and gas | 4,586 | 5,214 | 6,240 | |||||
| Midstream and marketing | 252 | 563 | (35) | |||||
| Total | $ | 4,838 | $ | 5,777 | $ | 6,205 | ||
| Unallocated corporate items | ||||||||
| Interest expense, net | (1,079) | (1,169) | (957) | |||||
| Income tax expense | (1,021) | (1,158) | (1,330) | |||||
| Other | (631) | (584) | (586) | |||||
| Income from continuing operations | $ | 2,107 | $ | 2,866 | $ | 3,332 | ||
| Discontinued operations, net | 262 | 212 | 1,364 | |||||
| Net income | 2,369 | 3,078 | 4,696 | |||||
| Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (43) | (22) | — | |||||
| Less: Preferred stock dividends and redemption premiums | (679) | (679) | (923) | |||||
| Net income attributable to common stockholders | $ | 1,647 | $ | 2,377 | $ | 3,773 | ||
| Net income attributable to common stockholders—basic | $ | 1.65 | $ | 2.59 | $ | 4.22 | ||
| Net income attributable to common stockholders—diluted | $ | 1.61 | $ | 2.44 | $ | 3.90 |
(a)Intersegment sales eliminate upon consolidation and are generally made at prices approximating those that the selling entity would be able to obtain in third-party transactions.
(b)Sales and net results related to the OxyChem Transaction are reflected in discontinued operations, net.
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ITEMS AFFECTING COMPARABILITY
OIL AND GAS SEGMENT
Results of Operations
| millions | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Segment Sales | $ | 20,902 | $ | 21,705 | $ | 21,284 | ||
| Segment Results (a) | ||||||||
| Domestic | $ | 3,192 | $ | 3,715 | $ | 4,822 | ||
| International | 1,643 | 1,774 | 1,859 | |||||
| Exploration | (249) | (275) | (441) | |||||
| Total | $ | 4,586 | $ | 5,214 | $ | 6,240 | ||
| Items affecting comparability | ||||||||
| Gains (losses) on sales of assets and other, net - domestic (b) | $ | (99) | $ | (585) | $ | 142 | ||
| Legal reserves and other (c) | $ | (105) | $ | (54) | $ | 26 | ||
| Asset impairments and related items - domestic (d) | $ | (6) | $ | (334) | $ | (209) | ||
| Gain on sales of assets and other, net - international | $ | 30 | $ | — | $ | 25 |
(a)Results included significant items affecting comparability discussed in the footnotes below.
(b)The 2024 amount included $572 million of losses primarily related to the sale of non-core onshore U.S. assets. The 2023 amount included gains on sales primarily related to certain non-strategic assets in the Permian Basin of $142 million.
(c)The 2025 amount included additions to legal reserves and inventory adjustments.
(d)The 2024 amount included a pre-tax impairment of $334 million related to certain wells in the Gulf of America whose future net cash inflows did not indicate that the asset value is recoverable. The 2023 amount included a pre-tax impairment of $180 million related to undeveloped acreage in the northern non-core area of the Powder River Basin where the Company decided not to pursue future exploration and appraisal activities as well as a $29 million impairment related to an equity method investment in Black Butte Coal Company.
Domestic oil and gas results, excluding significant items affecting comparability, decreased in 2025, compared to 2024, primarily due to lower realized oil prices, partially offset by higher oil volumes, largely driven by a full year of production in 2025 related to the CrownRock Acquisition, which closed in August 2024, and higher realized domestic gas prices. International oil and gas results, excluding significant items affecting comparability, decreased in 2025, compared to 2024, primarily due to lower oil and NGL prices, partially offset by higher oil volumes.
Average Realized Prices
The following table sets forth the average realized prices for oil, NGL and natural gas from ongoing operations for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2025, and includes a year-over-year change calculation:
| 2025 | Year over Year Change | 2024 | Year over Year Change | 2023 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average Realized Prices | ||||||||||
| Oil ($/Bbl) | ||||||||||
| United States | $ | 64.01 | (14)% | $ | 74.62 | (2)% | $ | 76.42 | ||
| International | $ | 67.93 | (12)% | $ | 77.46 | (2)% | $ | 79.03 | ||
| Total worldwide | $ | 64.60 | (14)% | $ | 75.05 | (2)% | $ | 76.85 | ||
| NGL ($/Bbl) | ||||||||||
| United States | $ | 19.96 | (3)% | $ | 20.48 | 1% | $ | 20.19 | ||
| International | $ | 25.43 | (9)% | $ | 28.00 | (5)% | $ | 29.35 | ||
| Total worldwide | $ | 20.60 | (4)% | $ | 21.38 | —% | $ | 21.32 | ||
| Natural Gas ($/Mcf) | ||||||||||
| United States | $ | 1.58 | 68% | $ | 0.94 | (54)% | $ | 2.04 | ||
| International | $ | 1.89 | —% | $ | 1.89 | 1% | $ | 1.88 | ||
| Total worldwide | $ | 1.65 | 40% | $ | 1.18 | (41)% | $ | 2.00 |
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Realized Price and Sales Volume Variance
The following table presents an analysis of the impacts of changes in average realized prices and sales volumes with regard to the Company’s domestic and international oil and gas revenue:
| Increase (Decrease) Related to | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| millions | Year ended December 31, 2024 | (a) | Price Realizations | Net Sales Volumes | Year ended December 31, 2025 | (a) | ||||||
| United States Revenue | ||||||||||||
| Oil | $ | 15,604 | $ | (2,386) | $ | 1,241 | $ | 14,459 | ||||
| NGL | 1,865 | (21) | 53 | $ | 1,897 | |||||||
| Natural gas | 514 | 498 | 5 | $ | 1,017 | |||||||
| Total | $ | 17,983 | $ | (1,909) | $ | 1,299 | $ | 17,373 | ||||
| International Revenue | ||||||||||||
| Oil | $ | 2,940 | $ | (330) | $ | 105 | $ | 2,715 | ||||
| NGL | 390 | (34) | (4) | 352 | ||||||||
| Natural gas | 361 | 3 | (12) | 352 | ||||||||
| Total | $ | 3,691 | $ | (361) | $ | 89 | $ | 3,419 |
(a) Results excluded “other” oil and gas revenue. See Note 2 - Revenue in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional information regarding other revenue.
Production
The following table sets forth the production volumes of oil, NGL and natural gas per day for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2025, and includes a year-over-year change calculation:
| Production per Day (Mboe/d) | 2025 | Year over Year Change | 2024 | Year over Year Change | 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | |||||||||
| Permian | 786 | 18 | % | 664 | 14 | % | 584 | ||
| Rockies & Other Domestic | 284 | (8) | % | 310 | 14 | % | 271 | ||
| Gulf of America | 132 | 6 | % | 125 | (14) | % | 145 | ||
| Total | 1,202 | 9 | % | 1,099 | 10 | % | 1,000 | ||
| International | |||||||||
| Algeria & Other International | 31 | (3) | % | 32 | (9) | % | 35 | ||
| Al Hosn Gas | 89 | (2) | % | 91 | 10 | % | 83 | ||
| Dolphin | 40 | 3 | % | 39 | — | % | 39 | ||
| Oman | 72 | 9 | % | 66 | — | % | 66 | ||
| Total | 232 | 2 | % | 228 | 2 | % | 223 | ||
| Total Production (Mboe/d) (a) | 1,434 | 8 | % | 1,327 | 9 | % | 1,223 |
(a)Natural gas volumes have been converted to Boe based on energy content of six Mcf of gas to one barrel of oil. Boe equivalence does not necessarily result in price equivalence. Please refer to the Supplemental Oil and Gas Information (unaudited) section of this Form 10-K for additional information on oil and gas production and sales.
Average daily production volumes increased by 8% in 2025, compared to 2024. The increase in production was primarily driven by a full year of production in 2025 related to the CrownRock Acquisition, which closed in August 2024.
Lease Operating Expense
The following table sets forth the average lease operating expense per Boe for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2025:
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average lease operating expense per Boe | $ | 8.94 | $ | 9.75 | $ | 10.48 |
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Average lease operating expense per Boe decreased in 2025, compared to 2024, primarily due to operational efficiencies in the Permian Basin and lower energy costs in Oman.
MIDSTREAM AND MARKETING SEGMENT
| millions | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Segment Sales | $ | 1,279 | $ | 886 | $ | 2,433 | ||
| Segment Results (a) | $ | 252 | $ | 563 | $ | (35) | ||
| Items affecting comparability | ||||||||
| Gains on sales of assets and other, net (b) | $ | 301 | $ | 647 | $ | 51 | ||
| Equity method investments fair value gains | $ | 61 | $ | 27 | $ | — | ||
| Derivative losses, net | $ | (29) | $ | (32) | $ | (14) | ||
| Asset impairments and other charges, net (c) | $ | (487) | $ | (21) | $ | (60) | ||
| Acquisition-related costs (d) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (20) | ||
| Carbon Engineering fair value gain (d) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 283 |
(a)Results included significant items affecting comparability discussed in the footnotes below.
(b)The 2025 amount included a gain of $301 million resulting from pro-rata ownership reduction in WES following an acquisition by WES. The 2024 and 2023 amounts included gains on sale of $489 million and $51 million, respectively, from the sales of 19.5 million and 5.1 million limited partner units in WES, respectively. The 2024 amount also included $158 million of income from equity investments and other related to the Company’s share of WES’ gains on its asset divestitures.
(c)The 2025, 2024 and 2023 amounts primarily included the Company’s proportionate amounts from impairments and other charges recorded by its equity method investees.
(d)The 2023 amount included a gain of $283 million from the remeasurement of the noncontrolling interest held prior to the Carbon Engineering acquisition to fair value and acquisition-related costs of $20 million.
Midstream and marketing segment results, excluding items affecting comparability, increased in 2025, compared to 2024, due to higher sulfur prices at Al Hosn, higher gas margins from transportation capacity optimization in the Permian Basin, and lower long-haul crude transportation costs, partially offset by higher losses from equity method investees and higher expenses related to the increase in OLCV activities.
CORPORATE
Significant corporate items include the following:
| millions | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Items Affecting Comparability | ||||||||
| Acquisition-related costs(a) | $ | (13) | $ | (150) | $ | (6) | ||
| Early retirement plan | $ | (39) | $ | — | $ | — | ||
| Early debt extinguishment | $ | 20 | $ | — | $ | — | ||
| Gains on sales of assets and other, net | $ | — | $ | 48 | $ | — |
(a)The 2024 amount included $66 million of financing costs related to the CrownRock Acquisition and the remaining amounts were related to CrownRock transaction costs. The 2023 amount related to costs incurred for the CrownRock Acquisition.
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Significant discontinued operations items include the following:
| millions | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discontinued operations, net of taxes | $ | 262 | $ | 212 | $ | 1,364 | ||
| Items Affecting Comparability(a) | $ | (283) | $ | (622) | $ | 204 |
(a)The 2025 amount included a one-time foreign income tax charge of $101 million and adjustments to legal reserves of $142 million, net of taxes. The 2024 amount included $725 million, net of taxes, related to an increase in the DASS environmental remediation reserve retained in the OxyChem Transaction, partially offset by a gain of $182 million, net of taxes, resulting from a legal settlement related to the Andes Arbitration. The 2023 amount related to a $204 million, net of taxes, remeasurement of the valuation allowance established against the Company’s claims against Maxus. Refer to Note 11 - Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures and Note 12 - Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments and Contingencies for additional details.
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
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REVENUE AND OTHER INCOME ITEMS
| millions | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net sales | $ | 21,593 | $ | 22,019 | $ | 23,156 | ||
| Interest, dividends and other income | $ | 219 | $ | 192 | $ | 153 | ||
| Gains (losses) on sales of assets and other, net | $ | 263 | $ | (16) | $ | 522 |
NET SALES
Revenue declined from 2024 to 2025, primarily as a result of lower crude oil prices in the oil and gas segment, partially offset by increased sales volumes due to a full year of production in 2025 related to the CrownRock Acquisition, which closed in August 2024, and higher domestic natural gas prices. Additionally, midstream and marketing revenue improved year over year due to higher sulfur prices at Al Hosn and enhanced natural gas margins.
GAINS (LOSSES) ON SALES OF ASSETS AND OTHER, NET
Gains (losses) on sales of assets and other, net increased from 2024 to 2025, primarily as a result of a gain of $301 million from a fourth quarter pro-rata ownership reduction in WES following an acquisition by WES.
EXPENSE ITEMS
| millions | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil and gas operating expense | $ | 4,681 | $ | 4,738 | $ | 4,677 | ||
| Transportation and gathering expense | $ | 1,660 | $ | 1,608 | $ | 1,481 | ||
| Purchased commodities and midstream cost of sales | $ | 176 | $ | 431 | $ | 2,116 | ||
| Selling, general and administrative | $ | 986 | $ | 960 | $ | 987 | ||
| Other operating and non-operating expense | $ | 1,556 | $ | 1,319 | $ | 1,165 | ||
| Taxes other than on income | $ | 1,030 | $ | 1,039 | $ | 1,087 | ||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | $ | 7,533 | $ | 6,951 | $ | 6,449 | ||
| Asset impairments and other charges | $ | 60 | $ | 356 | $ | 209 | ||
| Acquisition-related costs | $ | 13 | $ | 84 | $ | 26 | ||
| Exploration expense | $ | 249 | $ | 275 | $ | 441 | ||
| Interest and debt expense, net | $ | 1,079 | $ | 1,169 | $ | 957 |
PURCHASED COMMODITIES AND MIDSTREAM COST OF SALES
Purchased commodities and midstream cost of sales decreased in 2025, compared to 2024, due to certain crude supply contracts which expired in 2024.
OTHER OPERATING AND NON-OPERATING EXPENSE
Other operating and non-operating expense increased in 2025, compared to 2024, primarily due to higher compensation costs, adjustments to legal reserves, and increased research and development activities.
DEPRECIATION, DEPLETION, AND AMORTIZATION
Depreciation, depletion and amortization increased in 2025, compared to 2024, primarily related to increased sales volumes due to a full year of production in 2025 related to the CrownRock Acquisition, which closed in August 2024.
ASSET IMPAIRMENTS AND OTHER CHARGES
Asset impairments in 2024 included $334 million related to certain wells in the Gulf of America whose future net cash inflows did not indicate that the asset value is recoverable.
OTHER ITEMS
| Income (expense) millions | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income from equity investments and other | $ | 76 | $ | 759 | $ | 426 | ||
| Income tax expense | $ | (1,021) | $ | (1,158) | $ | (1,330) | ||
| Discontinued operations, net | $ | 262 | $ | 212 | $ | 1,364 |
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INCOME FROM EQUITY INVESTMENTS AND OTHER
Income from equity investments and other decreased in 2025, compared to 2024, primarily due to the Company’s proportionate amount of impairments and other charges recorded by its equity method investees.
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET
Discontinued operations, net for all periods presented resulted from the OxyChem Transaction that closed on January 2, 2026. See Note 4 - Acquisitions, Divestitures and Other Transactions in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional details.
Discontinued operations, net in 2024 also included a gain of $182 million, net of taxes, from the Andes Arbitration final legal settlement. See Note 4 - Acquisitions, Divestitures and Other Transactions in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional details.
Select results for discontinued operations are reflected in the following table:
| millions | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income before income taxes | $ | 495 | $ | 285 | $ | 1,767 | ||
| Income tax expense | (233) | (73) | (403) | |||||
| Income from discontinued operations, net of tax | $ | 262 | $ | 212 | $ | 1,364 | ||
| Effective tax rate | 47 | % | 26 | % | 23 | % |
Income before income taxes increased in 2025, compared to 2024, due to a 2024 pre-tax charge related to the DASS environmental remediation reserve of $925 million, partially offset by a gain of $239 million from the Andes Arbitration legal settlement in 2024 and lower chemical sales and higher raw material costs in 2025. Income taxes and the effective tax rate for discontinued operations increased from 2024 to 2025 primarily due to international tax charges as a result of the OxyChem Transaction.
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INCOME TAXES
Total deferred tax assets, after valuation allowance, were $2.6 billion and $2.4 billion as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The Company expects to realize the recorded deferred tax assets, net of any allowances, through future operating income and reversal of temporary differences. The total deferred tax liabilities were $8.2 billion and $7.7 billion as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. See Note 9 - Income Taxes in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional details.
WORLDWIDE EFFECTIVE TAX RATE
The following table sets forth the calculation of the worldwide effective tax rate for income from continuing operations:
| millions | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income from continuing operations before taxes | $ | 3,128 | $ | 4,024 | $ | 4,662 | ||
| Income tax benefit (expense) | ||||||||
| Federal and state | (437) | (586) | (588) | |||||
| Foreign | (584) | (572) | (742) | |||||
| Total income tax expense | (1,021) | (1,158) | (1,330) | |||||
| Income from continuing operations | $ | 2,107 | $ | 2,866 | $ | 3,332 | ||
| Worldwide effective tax rate | 33% | 29% | 28% |
The Company’s worldwide effective tax rate in 2025, 2024 and 2023 was higher than the U.S. statutory rate of 21% and primarily driven by the Company’s jurisdictional mix of income from continuing operations, where international income is subject to tax at statutory rates as high as 55%. The reclassification of OxyChem, which is primarily domestic, to discontinued operations increased this impact.
LEGAL ENTITY REORGANIZATION
The IRS is currently reviewing the legal entity reorganization transaction as part of the Company’s 2022 federal tax audit. Following the acquisition of Anadarko and related divestitures, the Company reorganized its legal entities to better align with the nature of its business activities. This reorganization resulted in the Company making an adjustment to the tax basis in a portion of its operating assets, reducing deferred tax liabilities and recording a $2.7 billion tax benefit in 2022.
RECENT TAX LEGISLATION
The OBBBA was enacted on July 4, 2025 and introduced provisions expected to benefit the Company including accelerated depreciation for newly acquired and constructed assets, favorable adjustments to interest expense limitation, immediate deduction of research and development costs, and increased tax credit values for qualified CO2 projects. In accordance with ASC 740, the financial statement impact of the OBBBA was recognized beginning in the third quarter of 2025.
The OECD Pillar Two initiative proposes to apply a 15% global minimum tax on multinational entities, applied on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis. Several countries, including European Union member states, Canada and Oman, have enacted or are in the process of enacting legislation aligned with all or portions of Pillar Two. The Company continues to monitor and assess the impact of new OECD Pillar Two administrative guidance and Pillar Two compliant legislation proposed or enacted in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates. Based on developments to date, the Company does not anticipate any significant impact on the Company’s results of operations or cash flows from the enactment of Pillar Two legislation.
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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
SOURCES AND USES OF CASH
The Company currently expects its operational cash flows and cash on hand to be sufficient to meet its current debt maturities and other obligations for the next 12 months from the date of this filing. As of December 31, 2025, the Company’s sources of liquidity included $2.0 billion of cash and cash equivalents and $4.15 billion of borrowing capacity under its RCF. Subsequent to December 31, 2025, but before the date of this filing, the Company used proceeds from the OxyChem Transaction to pay or satisfy and discharge the remaining balance of the term loan of $1.3 billion, current maturities of $270 million, and long-term maturities of $3.8 billion, leaving principal debt outstanding of $15 billion. Following these repayments, $24 million is due in 2026, $48 million in 2027, $14 million in 2028, $367 million in 2029 and $14.6 billion due in 2030 and thereafter.
The Company’s RCF expires on June 30, 2028, and has a borrowing capacity of $4.15 billion. There were no borrowings outstanding on the Company’s RCF as of December 31, 2025. As of December 31, 2025, and through the date of this filing, the Company was in compliance with all covenants in its financing agreements.
The Company’s planned 2026 capital expenditures are between $5.5 billion and $5.9 billion.
The Company is party to various purchase agreements that are not accounted for as leases or otherwise accrued as liabilities as of December 31, 2025. These agreements consist primarily of obligations to secure terminal, pipeline and processing capacity, purchase services used in the normal course of business including transporting and disposing of produced water, purchase goods used in oil and gas production and agreements relating to equipment maintenance and service. Refer to the line item “Purchase Obligations” in the table below under Contractual Obligations for the amounts that will be paid for such outstanding off-balance sheet purchase obligations from 2025 and thereafter.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
The following table summarizes and cross-references the Company’s contractual obligations and indicates on- and off-balance sheet obligations as of December 31, 2025. Commitments related to discontinued operations and liabilities of held for sale assets are excluded.
| millions | Payments Due by Year | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 2026 | 2027 and 2028 | 2029 and 2030 | 2031 and thereafter | ||||||||||
| On-Balance Sheet | ||||||||||||||
| Current portion of long-term debt (Note 5) | $ | 1,575 | $ | 1,575 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||
| Long-term debt (Note 5) (a) | 18,852 | — | 2,411 | 4,373 | 12,068 | |||||||||
| Expected interest payments on debt (b) | 11,616 | 1,213 | 2,197 | 1,884 | 6,322 | |||||||||
| Leases (Note 6) (c) | 2,212 | 635 | 893 | 390 | 294 | |||||||||
| Asset retirement obligations (Note 1) | 4,553 | 381 | 535 | 677 | 2,960 | |||||||||
| Other long-term liabilities (d) | 3,057 | — | 702 | 244 | 2,111 | |||||||||
| Off-Balance Sheet | ||||||||||||||
| Purchase obligations (e) | 12,617 | 3,038 | 4,699 | 2,627 | 2,253 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 54,482 | $ | 6,842 | $ | 11,437 | $ | 10,195 | $ | 26,008 |
(a)Excluded unamortized debt premium, net, debt issuance costs and interest.
(b)As noted above, the Company has repaid or otherwise discharged $5.4 billion subsequent to December 31, 2025. Taking into account these debt repayments, expected interest payments on debt would be $934 million in 2026, $1.9 billion in 2027 and 2028, $1.8 billion in 2029 and 2030, and $6.3 billion in 2031 and thereafter, for a total of $10.9 billion.
(c)The Company is the lessee under various agreements for real estate, equipment, plants and facilities.
(d)Included long-term obligations under postretirement benefits, accrued transportation commitments, ad valorem taxes and other accrued liabilities.
(e)Amounts included payments which will become due under long-term agreements to purchase goods and services used in the normal course of business including, but not limited to, capital commitments to secure terminal, pipeline and processing capacity, CO2, drilling rigs and services, electrical power and non-lease components. Amounts excluded certain product purchase obligations related to marketing activities for which there are no minimum purchase requirements or the amounts are not fixed or determinable. Long-term purchase contracts were discounted at a 5.44% discount rate.
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GUARANTEES
The Company has entered into various commitments, indemnities and guarantees provided by the Company to third parties, mainly to provide assurance that the Company or its consolidated subsidiaries or affiliates will meet their various obligations. In addition, the Company has entered into certain covenants, indemnities and guarantees related to the OxyChem Transaction. See Note 4 - Acquisitions, Divestitures and Other Transactions in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional details.
As of the date of this filing, the Company has provided required financial assurance through a combination of cash, letters of credit and surety bonds. The Company has not issued any letters of credit under the RCF or other committed facilities. For additional information, see Risk Factors in Part I Item 1A of this Form 10-K.
CASH FLOW ANALYSIS
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
| millions | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating cash flow from continuing operations | $ | 9,606 | $ | 10,519 | $ | 10,235 | ||
| Operating cash flow from discontinued operations | 926 | 920 | 2,073 | |||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 10,532 | $ | 11,439 | $ | 12,308 |
Continuing Operations
Cash flow provided by operating activities from continuing operations decreased in 2025, compared to 2024, primarily driven by higher use of cash in working capital related to higher tax payments in 2025, as certain 2024 tax payments were deferred into 2025 under the federal disaster relief program following 2024 Hurricane Beryl, and timing of payments for accounts payable and accrued liabilities.
Discontinued Operations
Cash flow provided by operating activities from discontinued operations was $926 million, $920 million and $2.1 billion in 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively, primarily due to chemical segment income. In addition, the 2024 amount included a gain of $239 million from the Andes Arbitration legal settlement.
CASH USED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES
| millions | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital expenditures | ||||||||
| Oil and gas | $ | (5,615) | $ | (5,320) | $ | (4,960) | ||
| Midstream and marketing | (720) | (869) | (641) | |||||
| Corporate | (92) | (74) | (95) | |||||
| Total | $ | (6,427) | $ | (6,263) | $ | (5,696) | ||
| Changes in capital accrual | 32 | 100 | (22) | |||||
| Purchase of businesses, assets and equity investments, net | (280) | (9,117) | (713) | |||||
| Proceeds from sale of assets and equity investments, net | 2,278 | 1,673 | 447 | |||||
| Other investing activities, net | (286) | (214) | (479) | |||||
| Investing cash flow from continuing operations | $ | (4,683) | $ | (13,821) | $ | (6,463) | ||
| Investing cash flow from discontinued operations | (1,116) | (769) | (517) | |||||
| Net cash used by investing activities | $ | (5,799) | $ | (14,590) | $ | (6,980) |
Continuing Operations
Cash flow used by investing activities from continuing operations decreased by $9.1 billion in 2025 compared to 2024, The decrease was primarily attributable to the cash portion of the CrownRock Acquisition, which was paid in 2024.
Capital expenditures of $6.4 billion in 2025 were primarily related to continued development in the oil and gas segment, which included $3.4 billion related to the Permian Basin, $0.8 billion related to the Rockies, $0.5 billion related to GOA and the remainder to international locations. In 2024, capital expenditures of $6.3 billion were primarily related to development in
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the oil and gas segment, which included $3.1 billion related to the Permian Basin, $0.9 billion related to the Rockies, $0.8 billion related to GOA, and the remainder to international locations.
Midstream capital expenditures were primarily related to the completion of central processing facilities and continued work on Trains 3 and 4 at STRATOS.
The Company purchased $280 million of assets in 2025 primarily related to oil and gas properties, compared to $9.1 billion in 2024 of which $8.8 billion was related to the CrownRock Acquisition.
In 2025, the Company sold non-core assets for $2.3 billion, which included working interests in the Permian Basin for proceeds of approximately $800 million, non-operated proved and unproved royalty and mineral interests in the DJ Basin for proceeds of approximately $840 million and certain gas gathering assets in the Permian Basin for approximately $580 million. In 2024, the Company sold non-core assets in the Powder River Basin with near- to intermediate-term lease expirations and certain Delaware Basin assets in Texas and New Mexico for combined net proceeds of $769 million and 19.5 million of its limited partner units in WES for proceeds of $697 million. See Note 4 - Acquisitions, Divestitures and Other Transactions in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for a listing of assets and equity investments acquired and sold in 2025, 2024 and 2023.
Discontinued Operations
Cash flow used by investing activities from discontinued operations in 2025, 2024 and 2023 was $1.1 billion, $769 million and $517 million, respectively, primarily due to capital expenditures associated with OxyChem.
CASH PROVIDED (USED) BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
| millions | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proceeds from debt issuance | $ | — | $ | 9,612 | $ | (46) | ||
| Payments of debt | (3,754) | (4,514) | (22) | |||||
| Preferred stock redemption | — | — | (1,661) | |||||
| Purchases of treasury stock | — | (27) | (1,798) | |||||
| Cash dividends paid | (1,594) | (1,446) | (1,365) | |||||
| Proceeds from issuance of common stock | 966 | 584 | 135 | |||||
| Other financing activities, net | (453) | (360) | (129) | |||||
| Financing cash flow from continuing operations | (4,835) | 3,849 | (4,886) | |||||
| Financing cash flow from discontinued operations | (9) | (5) | (4) | |||||
| Net cash provided (used) by financing activities | $ | (4,844) | $ | 3,844 | $ | (4,890) |
In 2025, cash used by financing activities included payments of debt of $3.8 billion, dividends of $1.6 billion, and the final deferred payment for the Carbon Engineering acquisition of $0.4 billion. These payments were partially offset by proceeds from the issuance of stock of $1.0 billion, mainly from exercises of common stock warrants, and $200 million of contributions from noncontrolling interest related to the BlackRock joint venture for STRATOS.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $3.8 billion in 2024, which included net proceeds from debt issuance of $9.6 billion and proceeds from the issuance of common stock of $584 million primarily related to common stock warrant exercises, offset by debt repayment of $4.5 billion and cash dividends paid on common and preferred stock of $1.4 billion. See Item 5 Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities in Part II of this Form 10-K and Note 13 - Stockholders’ Equity in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional information related to the Company’s share repurchases.
LAWSUITS, CLAIMS, COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
LEGAL MATTERS
For information on the Company’s Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments and Contingencies, see the information in Note 12 - Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
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ENVIRONMENTAL EXPENDITURES
Environmental expenditures relate to the prevention, monitoring, control, treatment or abatement of waste, spills, emissions or releases to air, water or land from the Company’s operations. These activities are generally integrated with ongoing operations or development projects and therefore are estimated using definitions and guidelines established by the American Petroleum Institute. The Company estimated the environmental expenditures to be approximately $874 million in 2025 compared to $663 million in 2024. Included in these expenditures were $402 million and $222 million in 2025 and 2024, respectively, related to longer-lived improvements in properties currently operated by the Company. They also included $472 million of operating expenses in 2025 and $441 million in 2024, which are incurred on a continual basis. While the Company does not expect these costs to fluctuate significantly in the near term, changes in environmental regulations may increase these costs. The environmental expenditures do not include litigation-related costs, including fines, penalties or settlements, the Company’s investments in low-carbon ventures, costs incurred to satisfy asset retirement obligations, or remediation expenses.
The Company’s remediation expenses related to ongoing operations, which are not included in the expenditures above, were $18 million in 2025 and $20 million in 2024. For discontinued operations, these costs were $64 million in 2025 and $56 million in 2024.
For additional information on the Company’s Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures, see the information in Note 11 - Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
GLOBAL INVESTMENTS
A portion of the Company’s assets are located outside North America. The following table shows the geographic distribution of the Company’s assets as of December 31, 2025, at both the segment and consolidated level:
| millions | Oil and gas | Midstream and marketing | Corporate and other | Assets Held for Sale | Total Consolidated | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | ||||||||||||||||||
| United States | $ | 55,735 | $ | 9,229 | $ | 3,372 | $ | 6,340 | $ | 74,676 | ||||||||
| Canada | — | 1,638 | — | 85 | $ | 1,723 | ||||||||||||
| Middle East | 3,743 | 2,861 | — | — | $ | 6,604 | ||||||||||||
| North Africa and Other | 915 | 173 | — | 95 | $ | 1,183 | ||||||||||||
| Consolidated | $ | 60,393 | $ | 13,901 | $ | 3,372 | $ | 6,520 | $ | 84,186 |
In 2025, net sales outside North America totaled $4.2 billion, or approximately 19% of total net sales, excluding discontinued operations.
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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
The process of preparing financial statements in accordance with United States GAAP requires the Company’s management to make informed estimates and judgments regarding certain items and transactions. Changes in facts and circumstances or discovery of new information may result in revised estimates and judgments and actual results may differ from these estimates upon settlement, but generally not by material amounts. The selection and development of these policies and estimates have been discussed with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. The Company considers the following to be its most critical accounting policies and estimates that involve management’s judgment.
OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES
The carrying value of the Company’s PP&E represents the cost incurred to acquire or develop the asset, including any AROs and capitalized interest, net of DD&A and any impairment charges. For assets acquired in a business combination, PP&E cost is based on fair values at the acquisition date. AROs and interest costs incurred in connection with qualifying capital expenditures are capitalized and amortized over the useful lives of the related assets.
The Company uses the successful efforts method to account for its oil and gas properties. Under this method, the Company capitalizes costs of acquiring properties, costs of drilling successful exploration wells and development costs. The costs of exploratory wells are initially capitalized pending a determination of whether proved reserves have been found. If proved reserves have been found, the costs of exploratory wells remain capitalized. For exploratory wells that find reserves that cannot be classified as proved when drilling is completed, costs continue to be capitalized as suspended exploratory drilling costs if there have been sufficient reserves found to justify completion as a producing well and sufficient progress is being made in assessing the economic and operating viability of the project. At the end of each quarter, management reviews the status of all suspended exploratory drilling costs in light of ongoing exploration activities and, in particular, whether the Company is making sufficient progress in its ongoing exploration and appraisal efforts or, in the case of discoveries requiring government sanctioning, analyzing whether development negotiations are underway and proceeding as planned. If management determines that future appraisal drilling or development activities are unlikely to occur, associated suspended exploratory well costs are expensed.
The Company expenses annual lease rentals, the costs of injectants used in production and geological and geophysical costs as incurred for exploration activities.
The Company determines depreciation and depletion of oil and gas producing properties by the unit-of-production method. It amortizes leasehold acquisition costs over total proved reserves and capitalized development and successful exploration costs over proved developed reserves.
Proved oil and gas reserves are those quantities of oil and gas which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible—from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations—prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation.
Several factors could change the Company’s proved oil and gas reserves. For example, the Company receives a share of production from PSCs to recover its costs and generally an additional share for profit. The Company’s share of production and reserves from these contracts decreases when product prices rise and increases when prices decline. Generally, the Company’s net economic benefit from these contracts is greater at higher product prices. In other cases, particularly with long-lived properties, lower product prices may lead to a situation where production of a portion of proved reserves becomes uneconomical. For such properties, higher product prices typically result in additional reserves becoming economical. Estimation of future production and development costs is also subject to change partially due to factors beyond the Company’s control, such as energy costs and inflation or deflation of oilfield service costs. These factors, in turn, could lead to changes in the quantity of proved reserves. Additional factors that could result in a change of proved reserves include production decline rates and operating performance differing from those estimated when the proved reserves were initially recorded. Changes in the political and regulatory climate, including new or amended laws and regulations or changes in the interpretation of those laws and regulations, could lead to decreases in proved reserves as development horizons may be extended into the future, changes to development locations may be necessary or such changes may result in higher development or operating costs.
The Company performs impairment tests with respect to its proved properties whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of property may not be recoverable. If there is an indication the carrying amount of the asset may not be recovered due to significant and prolonged declines in current and forward prices, significant changes in reserve estimates, changes in management’s plans or other significant events, management will evaluate the property for impairment. Under the successful efforts method, if the sum of the undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value of the proved property, the carrying value is reduced to estimated fair value and reported as an impairment charge in the period. Individual proved properties are grouped on a field-by-field basis or by logical grouping of assets if there is a significant shared infrastructure. The fair value of impaired assets is typically determined based on the present value of expected future cash flows using discount rates believed to be consistent with those used by market participants. The impairment test incorporates a number of assumptions involving expectations of future cash flows which can change
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significantly over time. These assumptions include estimates of future production, product prices, contractual prices, estimates of risk-adjusted oil and gas proved and unproved reserves and estimates of future operating and development costs. It is reasonably possible that prolonged declines in commodity prices, reduced capital spending in response to lower prices, or increases in operating costs could result in impairments.
For impairment testing, unless prices are contractually fixed, the Company uses observable forward strip prices for oil and natural gas prices when projecting future cash flows. Future operating and development costs are estimated using the current cost environment applied to expectations of future operating and development activities to develop and produce oil and gas reserves. Market prices for oil, NGL and natural gas have been volatile and may continue to be volatile in the future. Changes in global supply and demand, transportation capacity, currency exchange rates, applicable laws and regulations and the effect of changes in these variables on market perceptions could impact current forecasts. Future fluctuations in commodity prices could cause estimates of future cash flows to vary significantly.
Net capitalized costs attributable to unproved properties were $7.7 billion as of December 31, 2025 and $10.2 billion as of December 31, 2024. The unproved amounts are not subject to DD&A until they are classified as proved properties. Individually insignificant unproved properties are combined and amortized on a group basis based on factors such as geographic location, lease terms, success rates and other factors to provide for full amortization upon lease expiration or abandonment.
Significant unproved properties are assessed individually for impairment and, when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of property may not be recovered, a valuation allowance is provided if an impairment is indicated. The Company periodically reviews significant unproved properties for impairments; numerous factors are considered, including, but not limited to, availability of funds for future exploration and development activities, current exploration and development plans, favorable or unfavorable exploration activity on the property or the adjacent property, geologists’ evaluation of the property, the current and projected political and regulatory climate, contractual conditions and the remaining lease term for the properties. If an impairment is indicated, the Company will first determine whether a comparable transaction for similar properties or implied acreage valuation derived from market participants is available and will adjust the carrying amount of the unproved property to its fair value using the market approach. In situations where the market approach is not observable and unproved reserves are available, undiscounted future net cash flows used in the impairment analysis are determined based on management’s risk-adjusted estimates of unproved reserves, future commodity prices and future costs to produce the reserves. If undiscounted future net cash flows are less than the carrying value of the property, the future net cash flows are discounted and compared to the carrying value for determining the amount of the impairment loss to record. The Company utilizes the same assumptions and methodology discussed above for cash flows associated with proved properties.
PROVED RESERVES
The Company estimates its proved oil and gas reserves according to the definition of proved reserves provided by the SEC’s Rule 4-10 (a) of Regulation S-X and the Financial Accounting Standards Board. Proved oil and gas reserves are those quantities of oil and gas which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible—from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations—prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation. Prices include consideration of price changes provided only by contractual arrangements and do not include adjustments based on expected future conditions. For reserves information, see the Supplemental Information on Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Activities under Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
Engineering estimates of the quantities of proved reserves are inherently imprecise and represent only approximate amounts because of the judgments involved in developing such information. The Company’s estimates of proved reserves are made using available geological and reservoir data as well as production performance data. The reliability of these estimates at any point in time depends on both the quality and quantity of the technical and economic data and the efficiency of extracting and processing the hydrocarbons. These estimates are reviewed annually by internal reservoir engineers and revised, either upward or downward, as warranted by additional data. Revisions are necessary due to changes in, among other things, development plans, reservoir performance, prices, economic conditions and government restrictions as well as changes in the expected recovery associated with infill drilling. Decreases in prices, for example, may cause a reduction in some proved reserves due to reaching economic limits at an earlier projected date. A material adverse change in the estimated volume of proved reserves could have a negative impact on DD&A and could result in property impairments.
The most significant ongoing financial statement effect from a change in the Company’s oil and gas reserves or impairment of its proved properties would be to the DD&A rate. For example, a 5% increase or decrease in the amount of oil and gas reserves would change the DD&A rate by approximately $0.65/Boe, which would increase or decrease pre-tax income by approximately $350 million annually at current production rates.
FAIR VALUES
The Company estimates fair-value of long-lived assets for impairment testing, assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination or exchanged in non-monetary transactions, pension plan assets and initial measurements of AROs.
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Accounting for the acquisition of a business requires the allocation of the purchase price to the various assets and liabilities of the acquired business and recording deferred taxes for any differences between the allocated values and tax basis of assets and liabilities. Any excess of the purchase price over the amounts assigned to assets and liabilities is recorded as goodwill. The purchase price allocation is accomplished by recording each asset and liability at its estimated fair value, which may be determined using different methods of fair value measurements, largely based on the availability and quality of market information. The Company primarily applies the market approach for recurring fair value measurements, maximizes its use of observable inputs and minimizes its use of unobservable inputs.
FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
The Company utilizes published prices or counterparty statements for valuing the majority of its financial assets and liabilities measured and reported at fair value. In addition to using market data, the Company makes assumptions in valuing its assets and liabilities, including assumptions about the risks inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. For financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value, the Company measures fair value using the following methods:
■The Company values exchange-cleared commodity derivatives using closing prices provided by the exchange as of the balance sheet date. These derivatives are classified as using quoted prices in active markets for the assets or liabilities (Level 1).
■OTC bilateral financial commodity contracts, international exchange contracts, options and physical commodity forward purchase and sale contracts are generally classified as using observable inputs other than quoted prices for the assets or liabilities (Level 2) and are generally valued using quotations provided by brokers or industry-standard models that consider various inputs, including quoted forward prices for commodities, time value, volatility factors, credit risk and current market and contractual prices for the underlying instruments, as well as other relevant economic measures. Substantially all of these inputs are observable in the marketplace throughout the full term of the instrument and can be derived from observable data or are supported by observable prices at which transactions are executed in the marketplace.
■The Company values commodity derivatives based on a market approach that considers various assumptions, including quoted forward commodity prices and market yield curves. The assumptions used include inputs that are generally unobservable in the marketplace or are observable but have been adjusted based upon various assumptions and the fair value is designated as using unobservable inputs (Level 3) within the valuation hierarchy.
■The Company values debt using market-observable information for debt instruments that are traded on secondary markets. For debt instruments that are not traded, the fair value is determined by interpolating the value based on debt with similar terms and credit risk.
NON-FINANCIAL ASSETS
The Company uses market-observable prices for assets when comparable transactions can be identified that are similar to the asset being valued. When the Company is required to measure fair value and there is not a market-observable price for the asset or for a similar asset then the cost or income approach is used depending on the quality of information available to support management’s assumptions. The cost approach is based on management’s best estimate of the current asset replacement cost. The income approach is based on management’s best assumptions regarding expectations of future net cash flows and the expected cash flows are discounted using a commensurate risk-adjusted discount rate. Such evaluations involve significant judgment. The results are based on expected future events or conditions such as sales prices, estimates of future oil and gas production or throughput, development and operating costs and the timing thereof, economic and regulatory climates and other factors, most of which are often outside of management’s control. However, assumptions used reflect a market participant’s view of long-term prices, costs and other factors and are consistent with assumptions used in the Company’s business plans and investment decisions.
ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES AND EXPENDITURES
The Company incurs environmental liabilities and expenditures with respect to both current operations and remediation of existing conditions from alleged past practices at Third-Party, Currently Operated, and Closed or Non-operated Sites, which categories may include NPL Sites. Those environmental liabilities and related charges and expenses for estimated remediation costs from alleged past practices are recorded when environmental remediation efforts are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. The Company discloses such remediation liabilities on a consolidated basis. In determining the environmental remediation liability and the range of reasonably possible additional losses, the Company refers to currently available information, including relevant past experience, remedial objectives, available technologies, applicable laws and regulations and cost-sharing arrangements. These environmental remediation liabilities are based on management’s estimate of the most likely cost to be incurred using the most cost-effective technology reasonably expected to achieve the remedial objective. The Company periodically reviews these environmental remediation liabilities and adjusts them as new information becomes available. The Company generally records reimbursements or recoveries of
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environmental remediation costs in income when received, or when receipt of recovery is highly probable.
Many factors could affect future remediation costs incurred by the Company and result in adjustments to environmental remediation liabilities and the range of reasonably possible additional losses. The most significant are: (i) cost estimates for remedial activities may vary from the initial estimate; (ii) the length of time, type or amount of remediation necessary to achieve the remedial objective may change due to factors such as site conditions, the ability to identify and control contaminant sources or the discovery of additional contamination; (iii) a regulatory agency may ultimately reject or modify proposed remedial plans; (iv) improved or alternative remediation technologies may change remediation costs; (v) laws and regulations may change remediation requirements or affect cost sharing or allocation of liability; and (vi) changes in allocation or cost-sharing arrangements may occur.
Certain sites involve multiple parties with various cost-sharing arrangements, which generally fall into the following three categories: (i) environmental proceedings that result in a negotiated or prescribed allocation of remediation costs among the Company and other alleged potentially responsible parties; (ii) oil and gas ventures in which each participant pays its proportionate share of remediation costs reflecting its working interest; or (iii) contractual arrangements, typically relating to purchases and sales of properties, in which the parties to the transaction agree to methods of allocating remediation costs. In these circumstances, the affected subsidiary evaluates the financial viability of other parties with whom it is alleged to be jointly liable, the degree of their commitment to participate and the consequences to such subsidiary of their failure to participate when estimating its ultimate share of liability. The Company records environmental remediation liabilities at their expected net cost of remedial activities. Based on these factors, except as otherwise disclosed in Note 11 - Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K, the Company believes that it will not be required to assume a share of liability of such other potentially responsible parties in an amount materially above amounts reserved.
In addition to the costs of investigations and cleanup measures, which often take in excess of 10 years at CERCLA NPL sites, the Company’s environmental remediation liabilities include estimates of the costs to operate and maintain remedial systems. If remedial systems are modified over time in response to significant changes in site-specific data, laws, regulations, technologies or engineering estimates, the Company reviews and adjusts its environmental remediation liabilities accordingly.
If the Company were to adjust the balance of their environmental remediation liabilities based on the factors described above, the amount of the increase or decrease would be recognized in earnings. For example, if the balance were increased or reduced by 10%, the Company would record a pre-tax decrease or increase, respectively, to income of approximately $190 million.
INCOME TAXES
The Company files various U.S. federal, state and foreign income tax returns. The impact of changes in tax regulations are reflected when enacted. In general, deferred federal, state and foreign income taxes are provided on temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. The Company routinely assesses the realizability of its deferred tax assets. If the Company concludes that it is more likely than not that some of the deferred tax assets will not be realized, the tax asset is reduced by a valuation allowance. The Company recognizes a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit recorded is equal to the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely to be realized through final settlement with a taxing authority. Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recognized in income tax expense (benefit). See Note 9 - Income Taxes in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
LOSS CONTINGENCIES
The Company is involved in the normal course of business, in lawsuits, claims and other legal proceedings and audits. The Company accrues reserves as appropriate for these matters when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the liability can be reasonably estimated. In addition, the Company discloses, in aggregate on a consolidated basis, exposure to loss in excess of the amount recorded on the balance sheet for these matters if it is reasonably possible that an additional material loss may be incurred. The Company reviews such loss contingencies on an ongoing basis.
Loss contingencies are based on judgments made by management with respect to the likely outcome of these matters and are adjusted as appropriate. Management’s judgments could change based on new information, changes in, or interpretations of, laws or regulations, changes in management’s plans or intentions, opinions regarding the outcome of legal proceedings or other factors. See Note 12 - Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional information.
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SAFE HARBOR DISCUSSION REGARDING OUTLOOK AND OTHER FORWARD-LOOKING DATA
Portions of this report contain 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. All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal and state securities laws, including, but not limited to: any projections of earnings, revenue or other financial items or future financial position or sources of financing; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations or business strategy; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; any statements of belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Words such as “estimate,” “project,” “predict,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “believe,” “expect,” “aim,” “goal,” “target,” “objective,” “commit,” “advance,” “guidance,” “priority,” “focus,” “assumption,” “likely” or similar expressions that convey the prospective nature of events or outcomes are generally indicative of forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report unless an earlier date is specified. Unless legally required, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update, modify or withdraw any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Actual outcomes or results may differ from anticipated results, sometimes materially. Forward-looking and other statements regarding the Company’s sustainability efforts and aspirations are not an indication that these statements are necessarily material to investors or require disclosure in Occidental’s filings with the SEC. In addition, historical, current and forward-looking sustainability-related statements may be based on standards for measuring progress that are still developing, internal controls and processes that continue to evolve and definitions, assumptions, data sources and estimates or measurements that are subject to change in the future, including through rulemaking or guidance. Factors that could cause results to differ from those projected or assumed in any forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions, including slowdowns and recessions, domestically or internationally; the Company’s indebtedness and other payment obligations, including the need to generate sufficient cash flows to fund operations; the Company’s ability to successfully monetize select assets and repay or refinance debt and the impact of changes in the Company’s credit ratings or future increases in interest rates; assumptions about energy markets; global and local commodity and commodity-futures pricing fluctuations and volatility; supply and demand considerations for, and the prices of, the Company’s products and services; actions by OPEC and non-OPEC oil producing countries; results from operations and competitive conditions; future impairments of the Company’s proved and unproved oil and gas properties or equity investments, or write-downs of productive assets, causing charges to earnings; unexpected changes in costs; government actions (including the effects of announced or future tariff increases and other geopolitical, trade, tariff, fiscal and regulatory uncertainties), war (including the Russia-Ukraine war and conflicts in the Middle East) and political conditions and events (such as in Latin America); inflation, its impact on markets and economic activity and related monetary policy actions by governments in response to inflation; availability of capital resources, levels of capital expenditures and contractual obligations; the regulatory approval environment, including the Company’s ability to timely obtain or maintain permits or other government approvals, including those necessary for drilling and/or development projects; the Company’s ability to successfully complete, or any material delay of, field developments, expansion projects, capital expenditures, efficiency projects, acquisitions or divestitures; risks associated with acquisitions, mergers and joint ventures, such as difficulties integrating businesses, uncertainty associated with financial projections or projected synergies, restructuring, increased costs and adverse tax consequences; uncertainties and liabilities associated with acquired and divested properties and businesses, including retained liabilities and indemnification obligations associated with the chemical business; uncertainties about the estimated quantities of oil, NGL and natural gas reserves; lower-than-expected production from development projects or acquisitions; the Company’s ability to realize the anticipated benefits from prior or future streamlining actions to reduce fixed costs, simplify or improve processes and improve the Company’s competitiveness; exploration, drilling and other operational risks; disruptions to, capacity constraints in, or other limitations on the pipeline systems that deliver the Company’s oil and natural gas and other processing and transportation considerations; volatility in the securities, capital or credit markets, including capital market disruptions and instability of financial institutions; HSE risks, costs and liability under existing or future federal, regional, state, provincial, tribal, local and international HSE laws, regulations and litigation (including related to climate change or remedial actions or assessments); legislative or regulatory changes, including changes relating to hydraulic fracturing or other oil and natural gas operations, retroactive royalty or production tax regimes, and deep-water and onshore drilling and permitting regulations; the Company’s ability to recognize intended benefits from its business strategies and initiatives, such as the OxyChem Transaction, the Company’s low-carbon ventures businesses and announced GHG emissions reduction targets or net-zero goals; changes in government grant or loan programs; potential liability resulting from pending or future litigation, government investigations and other proceedings; disruption or interruption of production or facility damage due to accidents, chemical releases, labor unrest, weather, power outages, natural disasters, cyber-attacks, terrorist acts or insurgent activity; the scope and duration of global or regional health pandemics or epidemics and actions taken by government authorities and other third parties in connection therewith; the creditworthiness and performance of the Company’s counterparties, including financial institutions, operating partners and other parties; failure of risk management; the Company’s ability to retain and hire key personnel; supply, transportation and labor constraints; reorganization or restructuring of the Company’s operations; changes in state, federal or international tax rates, deductions, incentives or credits; and actions by third parties that are beyond the Company’s control.
Additional information concerning these and other factors that may cause the Company’s results of operations and financial position to differ from expectations can be found in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Form 10-K, as well as in the Company’s other filings with the SEC, including the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.
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MD&A history
Prior-year 10-K MD&A spans are extracted from SEC filings with the same bounded parser used for the latest filing. The latest 10-K appears above; prior years are below.
FY 2024 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0000797468-25-000029.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion should be read together with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, which are included in this Form 10-K in Item 8 and the information set forth in Risk Factors under Part 1, Item 1A. The following sections include a discussion of results for fiscal 2024 compared to fiscal 2023 as well as certain 2022 results. The comparative results for fiscal 2023 with fiscal 2022 generally have not been included in this Form 10-K, but may be found in “Part II - Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
| INDEX | PAGE |
|---|---|
| Current Business Outlook and Strategy | 28 |
| Oil and Gas Segment | 30 |
| Chemical Segment | 39 |
| Midstream and Marketing Segment | 40 |
| Segment Results of Operations and Items Affecting Comparability | 42 |
| Income Taxes | 47 |
| Consolidated Results of Operations | 48 |
| Liquidity and Capital Resources | 49 |
| Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments and Contingencies | 51 |
| Environmental Expenditures | 52 |
| Global Investments | 52 |
| Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates | 53 |
| Safe Harbor Discussion Regarding Outlook and Other Forward-Looking Data | 57 |
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CURRENT BUSINESS OUTLOOK AND STRATEGY
GENERAL
Occidental’s operations, financial condition, cash flows and levels of expenditures are highly dependent on oil prices and, to a lesser extent, NGL and natural gas prices, Midland-to-Gulf-Coast oil spreads, chemical product prices and inflationary pressures in the macro-economic environment. In 2024, compared to 2023, the average annual WTI price per barrel decreased to $75.72 from $77.64, and the average annual Brent price per barrel decreased to $79.79 from $82.25. It is expected that the price of oil will be volatile for the foreseeable future given the current geopolitical risks, impact of the evolving macro-economic environment on energy demand, future actions by OPEC and non-OPEC oil producing countries, geopolitical risks, and the U.S. Government's management of the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Seasonality is not a primary driver of changes in Occidental's consolidated quarterly earnings.
Occidental works to manage inflation impacts by capitalizing on operational efficiencies, locking in pricing on longer term contracts and working closely with vendors to secure the supply of critical materials. As of December 31, 2024, approximately 89% of Occidental's outstanding debt was fixed rate.
STRATEGY
Occidental is focused on delivering a unique shareholder value proposition with its portfolio of oil and gas, chemicals and midstream and marketing assets as well as its ongoing development of carbon management and storage solutions and GHG emissions reduction efforts. Occidental conducts its operations with a priority on HSE, sustainability and social responsibility. In order to maximize shareholder returns, Occidental will:
■ Maintain production base to preserve asset base integrity and longevity;
■ Deliver a sustainable and growing dividend;
■ Enhance its asset base and reserves with investments in its cash-generative oil and gas and chemical businesses;
■ Advance technologies and decarbonization solutions to develop a sustainable low-carbon business; and
■ Prioritize excess cash flow and the proceeds from asset divestitures for deleveraging until principal debt is below $15 billion.
CAPITAL INVESTMENT
In 2024, Occidental invested $7.0 billion in high-return assets to generate long-term free cash flow throughout the commodity cycle. In addition, Occidental completed its $12.4 billion acquisition of CrownRock. In 2025, Occidental intends to complete the full integration of CrownRock assets, personnel and systems, as well as make progress towards the completion of asset divestitures announced in conjunction with the CrownRock Acquisition.
DEBT
As of December 31, 2024, principal debt outstanding was $24.4 billion, of which $1.0 billion is due in in 2025, $4.1 billion in 2026, $1.5 billion in 2027, $0.9 billion in 2028, and $16.9 billion due in 2029 and thereafter.
In connection with the CrownRock Acquisition, Occidental issued $9.7 billion in new debt in July 2024 and assumed $1.2 billion of existing CrownRock debt in August 2024. Occidental's credit ratings were reaffirmed by credit agencies concurrent with issuance of new debt. In 2024, Occidental used proceeds from divestitures and cash on hand to repay $4.5 billion of debt, which included the satisfaction and discharge of the 5.000% senior notes due 2029 that were assumed with the CrownRock Acquisition. For information on Occidental's debt activity, see Note 6 - Long-Term Debt in the notes to the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional information.
SHAREHOLDER RETURN PRIORITIES
Capital is returned to shareholders through Occidental’s dividend and share repurchases. In 2024, Occidental declared dividends to common shareholders of $814 million, or $0.88 per share. As of December 31, 2024, $1.2 billion remained of Occidental’s $3.0 billion share repurchase program, which the Board authorized in February 2023. Following the CrownRock Acquisition, Occidental’s shareholder return priorities are to provide a sustainable and growing dividend and reduce the principal of outstanding debt below $15 billion, before resuming share repurchases.
SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
Occidental’s sustainability strategy is organized around four pillars: principles of governance, people, planet, and prosperity. Occidental integrates these sustainability pillars into our strategic planning and investment decision-making processes.
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In 2020, Occidental was the first U.S. oil and gas company to announce goals to achieve net-zero GHG emissions for its total emissions inventory including use of sold products. These goals include achieving net-zero GHG emissions (i) from its operations and energy use before 2040, with an ambition to do so before 2035, and (ii) from its total carbon inventory, including the use of its sold products, with an ambition to do so before 2050. In 2020, Occidental also set various interim targets, including 2025 carbon and methane intensity targets, and Occidental was the first U.S. oil and gas company to endorse the World Bank’s initiative for zero routine flaring by 2030. In 2022, the Board of Directors adopted Occidental’s updated HSE and Sustainability Principles, based on engagement with shareholders, employees and other stakeholders. The Principles reinforce the alignment among Occidental’s core values, goals and strategies, underpin its Operating Management System, and help to guide the workforce across its businesses. In 2023, Oxy was an original signatory to the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter, committed funding to the World Bank’s Global Flaring and Methane Reduction Partnership, and established a new, medium-term 2030 methane intensity target.
Occidental seeks to meet its sustainability and environmental goals through its development and commercialization of technologies that lower both GHG emissions from industrial processes and existing atmospheric concentrations of CO2. Occidental believes that carbon removal technologies, including DAC and CCUS, can, with incentives necessary for their development and deployment, provide essential CO2 reductions to assist the world’s transition to a less carbon-intensive economy. Through fiscal year 2023, Occidental reduced estimated methane emissions by approximately 65% from 2019 and 16% from 2022, along with a 20% reduction in CO2 equivalent emissions since 2019. The following actions helped Occidental advance its low-carbon business strategy in 2024:
■STRATOS construction is progressing on schedule, with commissioning and start-up of operations expected in mid-2025;
■Actively progressed its sequestration hub plans, including drilling stratigraphic data wells at multiple sequestration hub site locations, submitting 21 cumulative Class VI CO2 injection well permit applications across its five proposed hub sites by year-end 2024, and signing award contracts in 2024 with the DOE for two of Occidental’s sequestration hubs that were awarded grants under the DOE’s Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise Initiative in 2023; and
■Achieved a global 80% reduction in routine flaring of gas in 2024 from its 2020 baseline through a rich gas injection project that recovers flared gas for injection for enhanced oil production and commissioning additional compression in Oman in 2024 while U.S. oil and gas operations sustained zero routine flaring.
The future costs associated with emissions reduction, carbon removal and CCUS to meet Occidental’s long-term net-zero GHG goals may be substantial and the execution of its plans and net-zero pathway depends on securing third-party capital investments. As reflected by the joint venture with BlackRock, Occidental is pursuing multiple avenues to fund these projects including project financing, long-term carbon removal or CCUS agreements, and identifying business opportunities with stakeholders in carbon-intensive industries.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Occidental seeks to meet its strategic goals by continually measuring its success against key performance indicators that drive total stockholder return. In addition to efficient capital allocation and deployment discussed below in the section titled “Oil and Gas Segment - Business Strategy”, Occidental believes its most significant performance indicators are:
OPERATIONAL
■Total spend per barrel - In 2025, Occidental will continue to focus on controlling total costs from a per-barrel perspective. Total spend per barrel is the sum of capital spending, general and administrative expenses, other operating and non-operating expenses and oil and gas lease operating costs divided by global oil, NGL and natural gas sales volumes.
■Daily production - Occidental seeks to maximize field operability and minimize production down-time.
FINANCIAL
■CROCE - CROCE is calculated as (i) the cash flows from operating activities, before changes in working capital, plus distributions from WES classified as investing cash flows, divided by (ii) the average of the opening and closing balances of total equity plus total debt.
■Credit rating - Improve financial leverage to a level well within investment grade credit metrics.
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL
■Specific interim emissions reduction and emissions intensity targets to advance the goal of net-zero operational and energy use emissions before 2040, with an ambition to achieve before 2035.
■Milestones in specific carbon removal and CCUS projects that advance a net-zero total emissions inventory, including use of sold products, with an ambition to achieve before 2050.
■Facilitate deployment of carbon removal, CCUS and other solutions to advance total carbon impact past 2050.
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OIL AND GAS SEGMENT
BUSINESS STRATEGY
Occidental’s oil and gas segment focuses on long-term value creation in the key performance indicators noted above of total spend per barrel, field operability, daily production, and leadership through our HSE and sustainability initiatives. In each core operating area, Occidental’s operations benefit from scale, technical expertise, decades of high-margin inventory, HSE leadership and commercial and governmental collaboration. These attributes allow Occidental to bring additional production quickly to market, extend the life of older fields at lower costs and provide low-cost returns-driven growth opportunities with advanced technology.
Occidental is one of the largest U.S. producers of liquids, which includes oil and NGL, enabling it to maximize cash margins on a per barrel basis. The advantages that Occidental’s portfolio provides, coupled with its advanced subsurface characterization expertise and the proven ability to execute, position it for full-cycle success in the years ahead. The oil and gas segment maximizes efficiencies to deliver lower breakeven costs and generate excess free cash flow and also strives to achieve low development and operating costs to maximize full-cycle value of the assets.
The oil and gas segment implements Occidental’s strategy primarily by:
■Operating and developing areas where reserves are known to exist and optimizing capital intensity in core areas, primarily in the Permian Basin, DJ Basin, Gulf of America, Algeria, Oman, Qatar and the UAE;
■Maintaining a disciplined and prudent approach to capital expenditures with a focus on high-return, short and mid-cycle, cash-flow-generating opportunities and an emphasis on creating value and further enhancing Occidental’s existing positions;
■Focusing Occidental’s subsurface characterization and technical activities on both conventional and unconventional resources;
■Using secondary and tertiary recovery techniques in mature fields; and
■Focusing on cost-reduction efficiencies and innovative technologies to reduce carbon emissions.
In 2024, oil and gas capital expenditures, including exploration, were approximately $5.3 billion and primarily focused on Occidental’s assets in the Permian Basin, DJ Basin, Gulf of America and Oman. In 2025, Occidental plans to spend $5.8 billion to $6.0 billion to develop its oil and gas assets.
In August 2024, Occidental acquired CrownRock for total consideration of $12.4 billion, consisting of $9.4 billion of cash consideration (inclusive of certain working capital and other customary purchase price adjustments), 29.6 million shares of common stock of Occidental, and the assumption of $1.2 billion of existing debt of CrownRock, adding to Occidental's oil and gas portfolio in the Permian Basin.
OIL AND GAS PRICE ENVIRONMENT
Oil and gas prices are the major variables that drive the industry’s financial performance. The following table presents the average daily WTI and Brent prices for oil and NYMEX natural gas prices for 2024 and 2023:
| 2024 | 2023 | % Change | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WTI Oil ($/Bbl) | $ | 75.72 | $ | 77.64 | (2) | % | ||
| Brent Oil ($/Bbl) | $ | 79.79 | $ | 82.25 | (3) | % | ||
| NYMEX Natural Gas ($/Mcf) | $ | 2.34 | $ | 2.94 | (20) | % |
The following table presents Occidental’s average realized prices for continuing operations as a percentage of WTI, Brent and NYMEX for 2024 and 2023:
| 2024 | 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worldwide oil as a percentage of average WTI | 99 | % | 99 | % |
| Worldwide oil as a percentage of average Brent | 94 | % | 93 | % |
| Worldwide NGL as a percentage of average WTI | 28 | % | 27 | % |
| Worldwide NGL as a percentage of average Brent | 27 | % | 26 | % |
| Domestic natural gas as a percentage of NYMEX | 40 | % | 69 | % |
Prices and differentials can vary significantly, even on a short-term basis, making it difficult to predict realized prices with a reliable degree of certainty.
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DOMESTIC INTERESTS
BUSINESS REVIEW
Occidental conducts its domestic operations through land leases, subsurface mineral rights it owns, or a combination of both. Occidental’s domestic oil and gas leases have a primary term ranging from one to 10 years, which is extended through the end of production once it commences. Occidental has leasehold and mineral interests in 9.3 million net acres, of which approximately 51% is leased, 48% is owned subsurface mineral rights and 1% is owned land with mineral rights. Approximately $5.0 billion of Occidental’s worldwide capital budget is expected to be allocated to its domestic oil and gas operations in 2025.
DOMESTIC ASSETS (a)
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1. Powder River Basin 2. DJ Basin 3. Permian Basin 4. Gulf of America |
(a)Map represents geographic outlines of the respective basins.
The Permian Basin
The Permian Basin extends throughout West Texas and Southeast New Mexico and is one of the largest and most active oil basins in the United States, accounting for more than 47% of total United States oil production in 2024. Occidental had a leading position in the Permian Basin, and produced approximately 10% of the total oil in the basin in 2024. In 2024, Occidental’s production in the Permian Basin was 664 Mboe/d. In 2024, Occidental spent approximately $2.7 billion of development capital in the Permian Basin, of which 88% was spent on Permian Resources assets.
Occidental manages its Permian Basin operations through two businesses: Permian Resources, which includes unconventional opportunities, and Permian EOR, which utilizes secondary and tertiary recovery techniques. By exploiting the natural synergies between Permian Resources and Permian EOR, Occidental is able to deliver unique short- and long-term advantages, efficiencies and expertise across its Permian Basin operations.
The Permian Resources business is focused on developing and producing unconventional reservoir targets using horizontal drilling technology. The development programs are designed to create long-term value from primary development by maximizing the recovery of oil, utilizing sustainable practices and providing strong financial returns. Occidental strengthened its oil and gas portfolio through the acquisition of CrownRock’s well-positioned assets in the Permian Basin. Occidental’s unconventional oil and gas operations in Permian Resources include approximately 1.5 million net acres. In 2024, Occidental’s activities were focused in the core development areas with emphasis on maintaining the industry leading capital intensity through optimized surface infrastructure and customized well designs. In 2024, Permian Resources produced from approximately 6,100 gross wells and added 356 MMboe to Occidental’s proved reserves through infill development projects and extensions of proved areas.
The Permian Basin’s concentration of large conventional reservoirs, strong CO2 flooding performance and the expansive CO2 transportation and processing infrastructure has resulted in decades of high-value enhanced oil production.
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With 33 active CO2 floods and over 50 years of experience, Permian EOR is the industry leader in Permian Basin CO2 flooding, which can increase ultimate oil recovery by 10% to 25%. Technology improvements, such as the recent trend toward vertical expansion of the CO2 flooded interval into residual oil zone targets, continue to yield more recovery from existing projects. Significant opportunities also remain to gain additional recovery by expanding Occidental’s existing CO2 projects into new portions of reservoirs that have only been waterflooded. Permian EOR has 1.4 million net acres with a large inventory of future CO2 projects, which could be developed over the next 20 years or accelerated, depending on market conditions. Permian EOR produced from approximately 12,600 gross wells in 2024.
Rockies and Other Domestic
In 2024, Occidental produced 310 Mboe/d and spent development capital of approximately $0.8 billion in the Rockies and Other Domestic locations. Production in the DJ Basin is derived from approximately 3,700 wells primarily focused in the Niobrara and Codell formations. The DJ Basin, including the North DJ Basin, comprises approximately 0.6 million total net acres and provides competitive economics, low breakeven costs and free cash flow generation through Occidental’s contiguous acreage position and royalty uplift.
Operations in the DJ Basin are subject to regulations that impose siting requirements, or “setback,” on certain oil and gas drilling locations based on the distance of a proposed well pad to occupied structures. Occidental has dedicated stakeholder relations team that conducts regulatory and community outreach with respect to its permit applications and operations in Colorado with a focus on building trust and fostering open communication with those who live and work near its operations. Occidental has established a steady cadence of permit approvals from various agencies, local governments and the ECMC through robust community outreach, protective site selection, thoughtful facility design and planning, and best-in-class measures to mitigate potential impacts from operations. In 2024, Occidental submitted Oil and Gas Development Plans comprising approximately 200 wells to the ECMC. As of December 31, 2024, Occidental has permits for over 90% of the 2025 drilling schedule and over 70% of the 2026 drilling schedule with the remaining percentage of activity largely submitted and pending approval. Occidental continues to gain efficiencies in the permitting process and will continue to look for additional opportunities to do so in the future.
Occidental has interests in approximately 0.1 million net acres in the Powder River Basin, mainly located in Converse County and Campbell County, Wyoming. The field contains the Turner, Niobrara, Mowry and Parkman formations that hold both liquids and natural gas.
Occidental holds approximately 4.6 million net acres in other domestic locations, which consist of acreage and fee minerals outside of Occidental’s core operated areas including parts of Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Texas, West Virginia and Wyoming.
OFFSHORE DOMESTIC ASSETS
Gulf of America
The Gulf of America accounts for more than 14% of total United States oil production. Occidental is the fourth-largest oil and gas producer in the deepwater Gulf of America, operating 8 strategically located deepwater floating platforms and producing from 16 active fields while owning a working interest in approximately 300 blocks, covering approximately 1.1 million net acres.
In 2024, Occidental’s Gulf of America production was 125 Mboe/d from 82 gross wells. Occidental’s focused production management and artificial lift projects successfully reduced reservoir declines for a consecutive fifth year. Operational efficiency focus continued in 2024, with Production Operations and Asset Integrity teams continuing to achieve world class platform operating efficiencies, with major equipment uptimes of over 98%. Multiple platform seasonal shut-ins were planned and executed safely, resulting in an 80% reduction in the number of annual planned shut-in days compared to 2019.
Occidental’s Gulf of America assets continued to be among the lowest carbon emissions operations in the industry with zero routine flaring and zero cold venting.
Occidental invested $0.7 billion of development capital in 2024 with a continued strategy of low risk, infill drilling opportunities and accelerated project delivery at its Horn Mountain, Lucius, and Marco Polo facilities. Drilling and well service activities were ramped up using two floating drill ships and several service rigs. During 2024, all necessary regulatory permits for new wells and existing operations were obtained timely without any operational delays. Occidental was further awarded 45 new leases from the BOEM’s Lease Sale 261.
Occidental’s Asset Development teams made significant progress in developing new plans to significantly expand the recovery from Occidental’s producing oil and gas reservoirs. Several major secondary recovery uplift projects, as well as new horizontal/extended reach well opportunities, will be ready to begin implementation in 2025 onwards.
Occidental is also implementing several state-of-the-art artificial lift projects, including down-hole gas-lift and caisson electric submersible pumps at its Horn Mountain platform. These projects are expected to deliver some of the highest margin production in Occidental’s portfolio coming online beginning in the third quarter of 2025. Occidental plans to conduct development and exploration activities in 2025 using two floating drill ships and several other well service vessels and continue to optimize its extensive portfolio of lease working interests.
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The following table shows key areas of ongoing development in the Gulf of America, along with the corresponding working interest in those areas.
| Working Interest | ||
|---|---|---|
| Horn Mountain | 100 | % |
| Holstein | 100 | % |
| Marlin | 100 | % |
| Lucius | 67 | % |
| K2 Complex | 51 | % |
| Caesar Tonga | 34 | % |
| Constellation | 33 | % |
INTERNATIONAL INTERESTS
BUSINESS REVIEW
Occidental primarily conducts its ongoing international operations in two sub-regions: the Middle East and North Africa. Its activities include oil, NGL and natural gas production through direct working interests and PSCs. Under the PSCs, Occidental records a share of production and reserves to recover certain development and production costs and an additional share for profit. These contracts do not transfer any right of ownership to Occidental and reserves reported from these arrangements are based on Occidental’s economic interest as defined in the contracts. Occidental’s share of production and reserves from these contracts decreases when product prices rise and increases when prices decline. Overall, Occidental’s net economic benefit from these contracts is greater when product prices are higher. Approximately $0.6 billion of Occidental’s worldwide capital budget is expected to be allocated to its international operations in 2025.
MIDDLE EAST / NORTH AFRICA ASSETS
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1.Algeria 2.Oman 3.Qatar 4.UAE |
Algeria
Occidental’s interests in Algeria consists of production rights in 18 fields within Blocks 404a and 208 located in the Berkine Basin in Algeria’s Sahara Desert. Occidental also owns interests in 3 unitized fields with Blocks 404a and 208 (the Ourhoud Unit, the EMK Unit and the HBN Unit) as well as in 3 processing facilities (the El Merk central processing facility in Block 208 that processes produced oil, NGL, and natural gas; and the Hassi Berkine South and Ourhoud central processing facilities in Block 404a that process produced oil).
In 2024, net production in Algeria was 28 Mboe/d, from 205 gross wells, and annual development capital expenditures were $0.1 billion.
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Oman
In Oman, Occidental is the operator of Block 9, Block 27, Block 53 (Mukhaizna Field), Block 62 and Block 65 and has additional interests in Blocks 30, 51 and 72, which are under the Exploration phase. The working interest and contract expiration year for each of the respective blocks are shown in the table below. Occidental holds 6.0 million gross acres and has 10,000 potential well inventory locations. In 2024, Occidental’s share of production was 66 Mboe/d.
| Working Interest | Block Expiration (Year) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Block 9 | 50 | % | 2030 |
| Block 27 | 65 | % | 2035 |
| Block 53 | 47 | % | 2035 |
| Block 62 | 100 | % | 2028 |
| Block 65 | 51 | % | 2037 |
| Blocks 30, 51 and 72 | 100 | % | Exploration Phase |
Occidental has produced over 823 million gross barrels from Block 9 since the beginning of its operation through successful exploration, continuous drilling improvements and EOR projects. The Mukhaizna Field in Block 53 is a major pattern steam flood project for EOR that utilizes some of the largest mechanical vapor compressors ever built. Since assuming operations in the Mukhaizna Field in 2005, Occidental has drilled over 3,600 new wells and has produced over 634 million gross barrels. In 2024, Occidental invested development capital of $0.4 billion across all of the Oman blocks to drill 95 wells and execute facilities projects to support development and EOR activities.
In 2025, Occidental will continue to enhance production by adding extended and dual laterals, stimulating wells with the OXY JETTINGTM wellbore stimulation system, and expanding thermal conformance. Occidental will also continue to execute projects in Oman targeting emissions reductions.
Qatar
In Qatar, Occidental partners in the Dolphin Energy Project, an investment that is comprised of two separate economic interests. Occidental has a 24.5% interest in the upstream operations to develop and produce NGL, natural gas and condensate from Qatar’s North Field through mid-2032. Occidental also has a 24.5% interest in DEL, which operates a pipeline and is discussed further in the midstream and marketing segment section in this Form 10-K under Pipeline. In 2024, Occidental’s net share of production from Dolphin was 39 Mboe/d.
UAE
Occidental has a 40% participating interest in the Shah gas field (Al Hosn Gas), in conjunction with ADNOC, the UAE’s national oil company, which expires in 2041. In 2024, Occidental’s net share of production from Al Hosn Gas was 293 MMcf/d of natural gas and 42 Mbbl/d of NGL and condensate. Al Hosn Gas includes gas processing facilities which are discussed further in the midstream and marketing segment section in this Form 10-K under Gas Processing, Gathering and CO2.
In 2019 and 2020, Occidental acquired 9-year exploration concessions and, subject to a declaration of commerciality, 35-year production concessions for Onshore Block 3 and Block 5, which cover an area approximately 1.5 million acres and 0.8 million acres, respectively, and are adjacent to Al Hosn Gas. In 2023, Occidental commenced first oil production in Onshore Block 3. In 2025, Occidental will continue further exploration and appraisal activities in Onshore Block 3 and Block 5.
PROVED RESERVES
Proved oil, NGL and natural gas reserves were estimated using the unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within the year, unless prices were defined by contractual arrangements. Oil, NGL and natural gas prices used for this purpose were based on posted benchmark prices and adjusted for price differentials including gravity, quality and transportation costs.
The following table shows the 2024, 2023 and 2022 calculated first-day-of-the-month average prices for both WTI and Brent oil prices, as well as the Henry Hub gas prices:
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WTI Oil ($/Bbl) | $ | 75.48 | $ | 78.22 | $ | 93.67 | ||
| Brent Oil ($/Bbl) | $ | 79.65 | $ | 82.80 | $ | 97.77 | ||
| Henry Hub Natural Gas ($/MMbtu) | $ | 2.13 | $ | 2.64 | $ | 6.36 | ||
| Mt. Belvieu NGL ($/Bbl) | $ | 33.04 | $ | 29.94 | $ | 47.81 |
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Occidental had proved reserves from continuing operations at year-end 2024 of 4,612 MMboe, compared to the year-end 2023 proved reserves of 3,982 MMboe. Proved developed reserves represented approximately 69% of Occidental’s total proved reserves at year-end 2024 and 2023. The following table shows Occidental’s proved reserves from continuing operations by commodity as a percentage of total proved reserves:
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil | 46 | % | 49 | % | ||
| NGL | 27 | % | 24 | % | ||
| Natural gas | 27 | % | 27 | % |
Occidental does not have any reserves from non-traditional sources. For further information regarding Occidental’s proved reserves, see the Supplemental Oil and Gas Information section in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
CHANGES IN PROVED RESERVES
Changes in Occidental’s 2024 reserves were as follows:
| MMboe | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Balance — beginning of year | 3,982 | |
| Revisions of previous estimates | 170 | |
| Improved recovery | 47 | |
| Extensions and discoveries | 326 | |
| Purchases | 623 | |
| Sales | (50) | |
| Production | (486) | |
| Balance — end of year | 4,612 |
Occidental’s ability to add reserves, other than through purchases, depends on the success of infill development, extension, discovery and improved recovery projects, each of which depends on reservoir characteristics, technology improvements and oil and natural gas prices, as well as capital and operating costs. Many of these factors are outside management’s control and may negatively or positively affect Occidental’s reserves.
Revisions of Previous Estimates
Revisions can include upward or downward changes to previous proved reserve estimates for existing fields due to the evaluation or interpretation of geologic, production decline or operating performance data. In addition, product price changes affect proved reserves recorded by Occidental. For example, lower prices may decrease the economically recoverable reserves, particularly for domestic properties, because the reduced margin limits the expected life of the operations. Offsetting this effect, lower prices increase Occidental’s share of proved reserves under PSCs because more oil is required to recover costs. Conversely, when prices rise, Occidental’s share of proved reserves decreases for PSCs and economically recoverable reserves may increase for other operations. Reserve estimation rules require that estimated ultimate recoveries be much more likely to increase or remain constant than to decrease, as changes are made due to increased availability of technical data.
In 2024, Occidental’s revisions of previous estimates of proved reserves were positive 170 MMboe, which were composed of 112 MMboe of positive revisions related to additions associated with infill development projects and updates based on reservoir performance of 152 MMboe. The positive revisions were partially offset by negative revisions of 87 MMboe associated with management changes in development plans. Further negative revisions of 29 MMboe were associated with negative price revisions.
The positive revisions related to additions associated with infill development projects of 112 MMboe were mainly in the DJ Basin (55 MMboe), the Permian Basin (45 MMboe) and international assets (8 MMboe).
Positive revisions associated with updates based on reservoir performance of 152 MMboe were primarily due to positive performance revisions in the DJ Basin (81 MMboe), GOA (41 MMboe), international assets (32 MMboe) and the Powder River Basin (11 MMboe).
The negative revisions of 87 MMboe associated with management changes in development plans were primarily related to the Permian Basin (53 MMboe), Oman (19 MMboe) and GOA (13 MMboe).
Negative price revisions of 29 MMboe were mainly associated with the Permian Basin.
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Improved Recovery
In 2024, Occidental added proved reserves of 47 MMboe related to improved recovery in Permian EOR (40 MMboe) and Oman (7 MMboe). These properties comprise conventional projects, which are characterized by the deployment of EOR development methods, largely employing application of CO2 flood, waterflood or steam flood. These types of conventional EOR development methods can be applied through existing wells, though additional drilling is frequently required to fully optimize the development configuration. Waterflooding is the technique of injecting water into the formation to displace the oil to the offsetting oil production wells. The use of either CO2 or steam flooding depends on the geology of the formation, the evaluation of engineering data, availability and cost of either CO2 or steam and other economic factors. Both techniques work similarly to lower viscosity causing the oil to move more easily to the producing wells.
Extensions and Discoveries
Occidental also added proved reserves from extensions and discoveries, which are dependent on successful exploration and exploitation programs. In 2024, extensions and discoveries added 326 MMboe primarily related to the recognition of proved reserves in the Permian Basin (313 MMboe).
Purchases of Proved Reserves
In 2024, Occidental purchased proved reserves of 623 MMboe primarily consisting of proved reserves in the Permian Midland Basin related to the CrownRock Acquisition.
Sales of Proved Reserves
In 2024, Occidental sold 50 MMboe in proved reserves related to the divestitures of certain non-strategic assets primarily in the Permian Basin.
Proved Undeveloped Reserves
Occidental had PUD reserves at year-end 2024 of 1,421 MMboe, compared to the year-end 2023 amount of 1,232 MMboe.
Changes in PUD reserves were as follows:
| MMboe | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Balance — beginning of year | 1,232 | |
| Revisions of previous estimates | (44) | |
| Improved recovery | 43 | |
| Extensions and discoveries | 234 | |
| Purchases | 305 | |
| Sales | (17) | |
| Transfer to proved developed reserves | (332) | |
| Balance — end of year | 1,421 |
Revisions of previous estimates were a negative 44 MMboe. Approximately 87 MMboe of the negative revisions were associated with management changes in development plans, mainly in the Permian Basin (53 MMboe), Oman (19 MMboe), and GOA (13 MMboe). Further negative revisions of 49 MMboe were primarily associated with updates based on reservoir performance, primarily due to negative performance revisions in the Permian Basin (46 MMboe) and international assets (31 MMboe) that were partially offset by positive performance revisions in GOA (33 MMboe). The negative revisions were partially offset by positive revisions of 81 MMboe primarily due to additions associated with infill development projects, mainly in the DJ Basin (49 MMboe) and the Permian Basin (29 MMboe), as well as positive revisions of 10 MMboe primarily associated with updates based on interest related revisions.
Extensions and discoveries added 234 MMboe primarily related to the recognition of proved reserves in the Permian Basin (227 MMboe). Total improved recovery additions of 43 MMboe were the result of implementing secondary and tertiary projects in Permian EOR (40 MMboe) and Oman (3 MMboe). In 2024, Occidental purchased PUD reserves of 305 MMboe primarily consisting of development projects in the Permian Midland Basin related to the CrownRock Acquisition. The 2024 additions to PUD reserves were partially offset by transfers to proved developed reserves of 332 MMboe. The transfers were primarily associated with the DJ Basin (141 MMboe), the Permian Basin (135 MMboe), GOA (24 MMboe), and the UAE (19 MMboe).
In 2024, Occidental incurred approximately $2.1 billion to convert PUD reserves to proved developed reserves, and in 2024 Occidental converted approximately 27% of its PUD reserves to proved developed, when adjusted for revisions and sales. As of December 31, 2024, Occidental had 1,421 MMboe of PUD reserves of which 83% were associated with domestic onshore, 5% with GOA and 12% with international assets. Occidental’s most active development areas are located in the Permian Basin, which represented 68% of the PUD reserves as of December 31, 2024. Occidental’s total planned
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2025 capital expenditures for oil and gas are between $5.8 billion and $6.0 billion. Overall, Occidental plans to spend approximately $8.7 billion over the next five years to develop its PUD reserves in the Permian Basin.
PUD reserves are supported by a five-year detailed field-level development plan, which includes the timing, location and capital commitment of the wells to be drilled. Only PUD reserves which are reasonably certain to be drilled within five years of booking and are supported by a final investment decision to drill them are included in the development plan. A portion of the PUD reserves are expected to be developed beyond the five years and are tied to approved long-term development projects.
As of December 31, 2024, Occidental had 167 MMboe of pre-2020 PUD reserves that remained undeveloped. These PUD reserves relate to approved long-term development plans, primarily associated with international development projects (129 MMboe) with physical limitations in existing gas processing capacity and related to approved long-term development plans for Permian EOR projects (34 MMboe), also with physical limitations in existing gas processing capacity. Occidental remains committed to these projects and continues to actively progress the development of these volumes. In addition to the above, Occidental has 29 MMboe of PUD reserves that are scheduled to be developed more than five years from their initial date of booking. These PUD reserves are related to approved long-term development plans, primarily associated with international development projects.
RESERVES EVALUATION AND REVIEW PROCESS
Occidental’s estimates of proved reserves and associated future net cash flows as of December 31, 2024 were made by Occidental’s technical personnel and are the responsibility of management. The estimation of proved reserves is based on the requirement of reasonable certainty of economic producibility and funding commitments by Occidental to develop the reserves. This process involves reservoir engineers, geoscientists, planning engineers and financial analysts. As part of the proved reserves estimation process, all reserve volumes are estimated by a forecast of production rates, operating costs and capital expenditures. Price differentials between benchmark prices (the unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within the year) and realized prices and specifics of each operating agreement are then used to estimate the net reserves. Production rate forecasts are derived by a number of methods, including estimates from decline curve analysis, type well profile analysis, computer simulation of the reservoir performance, volumetric analysis and material balance calculations that take into account the volumes of substances replacing the volumes produced and associated reservoir pressure changes supported by various technologies including seismic analysis. These reliable field-tested technologies have demonstrated reasonably certain results with consistency and repeatability in the formation being evaluated or in an analogous formation. Operating and capital costs are forecast using the current cost environment applied to expectations of future operating and development activities.
Net proved developed reserves are those volumes that are expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods for which the incremental cost of any additional required investment is relatively minor.
Net PUD reserves are those volumes that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion. PUD reserves are supported by a five-year, detailed, field-level development plan, which includes the timing, location and capital commitment of the wells to be drilled. The development plan is reviewed and approved annually by senior management and technical personnel. Annually, a detailed review is performed by Occidental’s Corporate Reserves Group and its technical personnel on a lease-by-lease basis to assess whether PUD reserves are being converted on a timely basis within five years from the initial disclosure date. Any leases not showing timely transfers from PUD reserves to proved developed reserves are reviewed by senior management to determine if the remaining reserves will be developed in a timely manner and have sufficient capital committed in the development plan. Only PUD reserves that are reasonably certain to be drilled within five years of booking and are supported by a final investment decision to drill them are included in the development plan. A portion of the PUD reserves are expected to be developed beyond the five years and are tied to approved long-term development plans.
The current Vice President, Reserves for Oxy Oil and Gas is responsible for overseeing the preparation of reserve estimates, in compliance with SEC rules and regulations, including the internal audit and review of Occidental's oil and gas reserves data. She has over 23 years of experience in the upstream sector of the exploration and production business and has extensive experience evaluating a variety of assets in basins around the world. She is a past President of the International Executive Committee for the SPEE and a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. She is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Texas and currently serves on the SPEE Reserves Definitions Committee. She has Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Occidental has a Reserves Committee, consisting of senior corporate officers, to review and approve Occidental’s oil and gas reserves. The Reserves Committee reports to the Audit Committee of Occidental’s Board of Directors during the year. Since 2003, Occidental has retained Ryder Scott, independent petroleum engineering consultants, to review its annual oil and gas reserve estimation processes. For additional reserves information, see Supplemental Oil and Gas Information under Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
In 2024, Ryder Scott conducted a process review of the methods and analytical procedures utilized by Occidental’s engineering and geological staff for estimating the proved reserves volumes, preparing the economic evaluations and determining the reserves classifications as of December 31, 2024, in accordance with SEC regulatory standards. Ryder Scott reviewed the specific application of such methods and procedures for selected oil and gas properties considered to be
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a valid representation of Occidental’s 2024 year-end total proved reserves portfolio. In 2024, Ryder Scott reviewed approximately 34% of Occidental’s proved oil and gas reserves. Since being engaged in 2003, Ryder Scott has reviewed the specific application of Occidental’s reserve estimation methods and procedures for approximately 86% of Occidental’s existing proved oil and gas reserves.
Management retained Ryder Scott to provide objective third-party input on its methods and procedures and to gather industry information applicable to Occidental’s reserve estimation and reporting process. Ryder Scott has not been engaged to render an opinion as to the reasonableness of reserves quantities reported by Occidental. Occidental has filed Ryder Scott’s independent report as an exhibit to this Form 10-K.
Based on its reviews, including the data, technical processes and interpretations presented by Occidental, Ryder Scott has concluded that the overall procedures and methodologies Occidental utilized in estimating the proved reserves volumes, preparing the economic evaluations and determining the reserves classifications for the reviewed properties are appropriate for the purpose thereof and comply with current SEC regulations.
OUTLOOK
The oil and gas exploration and production industry is highly competitive, is subject to significant volatility due to various market conditions and operations are highly dependent on oil prices and, to a lesser extent, NGL and natural gas prices. All commodity prices decreased in 2024. In 2024, compared to 2023, the average daily price per barrel of WTI crude decreased to $75.72 from $77.64, the average daily Brent price per barrel decreased to $79.79 from $82.25 and the average daily NYMEX natural gas price per MMcf decreased to $2.34 from $2.94.
Oil prices will continue to be affected by: (i) global supply and demand, which are generally a function of global economic conditions, inventory levels, production or supply chain disruptions, technological advances, regional market conditions and the actions of OPEC, other significant producers and governments; (ii) transportation capacity, infrastructure constraints, and costs in producing areas; (iii) currency exchange rates and inflation rates; and (iv) the effect of changes in these variables on market perceptions. It is expected that the price of oil will be volatile for the foreseeable future given the current geopolitical risks, the ongoing global impact of geopolitical risks, the evolving macro-economic environment and supply activity from OPEC and non-OPEC oil producing countries and U.S. Government management of the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Occidental does not operate or own assets in either Russia or Ukraine, or in the immediate vicinity of ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
NGL prices are related to the supply and demand for the components of products making up these liquids. Some of them more typically correlate to the price of oil while others are affected by natural gas prices as well as the demand for certain chemical products for which they are used as feedstock. In addition, infrastructure constraints magnify the pricing volatility from region to region.
Domestic natural gas prices and local differentials are strongly affected by local supply and demand fundamentals, as well as government regulations, global LNG demand and availability of transportation capacity from producing areas. International gas prices are generally fixed under long-term contracts.
These and other factors make it difficult to predict the future direction of oil, NGL and domestic gas prices reliably. For purposes of the current capital plan, Occidental will continue to focus on allocating capital to high-return assets with the flexibility to adjust based on fluctuations in commodity prices, current economic conditions, such as supply chain constraints, higher interest rates, global logistics and high inflation, which has continued to disrupt global supply and demand balances, with the goal of keeping returns well above its cost of capital.
The timing, process and ultimate cost to transition to a less carbon-intensive economy remains largely unknown; various industry forecasts indicate a growing demand for hydrocarbons for the remainder of the current decade. Occidental believes its operational flexibility to achieve low development and operating costs to maximize full-cycle value of its assets and its knowledge and experience in CO2 separation, transportation, use, recycling and storage position its oil and gas segment to support Occidental’s transition to net zero as well as create opportunities in a low-carbon future.
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CHEMICAL SEGMENT
BUSINESS STRATEGY
OxyChem concentrates on the chlorovinyls chain, beginning with the co-production of caustic soda and chlorine. Caustic soda and chlorine are marketed to external customers. In addition, chlorine, together with ethylene, is converted through a series of intermediate products into PVC. OxyChem seeks to be a low-cost producer in order to generate cash flow in excess of its normal capital expenditure requirements and achieve above-cost-of-capital returns. OxyChem’s focus on chlorovinyls allows it to maximize the benefits of integration and take advantage of economies of scale. Capital is employed to sustain production capacity and to focus on projects and developments designed to improve the competitiveness of segment assets. Acquisitions and plant development opportunities may be pursued when they are expected to enhance the existing core chlor-alkali and PVC businesses or take advantage of other specific opportunities. The expansion and conversion of the Battleground chlor-alkali plant to membrane technology continued in 2024 with completion expected in 2026. In 2024, capital expenditures for OxyChem totaled $685 million.
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
Although the United States economic growth was higher than that of 2023, depressed growth in China continues to negatively impact the global market. While domestic demand increased for most products during 2024, product prices declined due to impacts of global supply exceeding demand, especially on chlorine and chlorinated derivatives products, including PVC. With the downward pressure on chlorinated product prices and margins, caustic soda prices increased across the year.
BUSINESS REVIEW
BASIC CHEMICALS
Chlor-alkali operating rates increased in 2024 as global demand for most products returned to modest levels of growth. Despite the demand growth, global supply continued to exceed global demand on most products; therefore pricing and margins continued to decline across 2024.
VINYLS
Domestic PVC demand realized appreciable 8% growth in 2024. U.S. Gulf Coast exports also increased year over year by 3%. Industry utilization rates averaged 85% in 2024, resulting in a net production gain of 1.2 billion pounds year over year. Given the high interest rate environment, housing starts continued to decline for the third consecutive year. Construction markets have largely offset the housing market segment and resulted in year over year demand gains. PVC exports continue to be an important outlet for PVC production and represented 34% of overall demand across 2024.
OUTLOOK
Industry performance will depend on the health of the global economy. Lingering inflationary impacts will continue to impact the domestic housing and construction sectors during 2025, while overall global demand will be impacted by the rate of China’s economic recovery. Product margins will depend on the resulting supply and demand balances and the regionally comparative level of energy costs. Potential tariffs could have an impact on global trade flow, particularly on PVC. Approximately $0.9 billion of Occidental’s worldwide capital budget is expected to be allocated to OxyChem in 2025.
BASIC CHEMICALS
Demand for basic chemicals is expected to improve modestly in 2025 following the continuing slow growth trend of the general economy. Demand for chlorine and derivatives should show moderate growth in all key market segments in 2025, while demand for alkali products should continue to demonstrate stronger growth in core segments of alumina and pulp and paper.
VINYLS
Single family housing starts have held steady throughout 2024, offset by a multi-family housing market that continues to erode. Total housing starts are expected to be flat to slightly improved in 2025, which will have a modestly positive impact to domestic PVC demand in 2025. However, domestic infrastructure projects and increasing global demand will drive domestic PVC demand growth year over year in 2025. Domestic PVC expansions came online during 2024, which had a negative impact on 2024 year-end prices as the new production was targeted for a bearish PVC market.
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MIDSTREAM AND MARKETING SEGMENT
BUSINESS STRATEGY
The midstream and marketing segment strives to maximize value by optimizing the use of its gathering, processing, transportation, storage and terminal commitments and by providing the oil and gas segment access to domestic and international markets. To generate returns, the segment evaluates opportunities across the value chain and uses its assets to provide services to Occidental’s subsidiaries, as well as third parties. The midstream and marketing segment operates or contracts for services on gathering systems, gas plants, co-generation facilities and storage facilities and invests in entities that conduct similar activities.
This segment also seeks to minimize the costs of gas and power used in Occidental’s various businesses. Also included in the midstream and marketing segment is OLCV. OLCV seeks to leverage Occidental’s experience with carbon management in EOR, major projects development and OxyChem plant operations to further the development of CCUS projects. OLCV invests in emerging low-carbon technologies that are expected to reduce Occidental’s carbon footprint and ensure the long-term sustainability of Occidental’s core businesses, and enable others to do the same.
Capital is employed to sustain or expand assets to improve the competitiveness of Occidental’s businesses. In 2024, capital expenditures related to the midstream and marketing segment totaled $880 million, before contributions from noncontrolling interests, the majority of which were related to the construction of STRATOS.
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
Midstream and marketing segment earnings are affected by the performance of its various businesses, including its marketing, gathering and transportation, gas processing and power-generation assets. The marketing business aggregates, markets and stores Occidental and third-party volumes. Marketing performance is affected primarily by commodity price changes and margins in oil and gas transportation and storage programs. The marketing business results can experience significant volatility depending on commodity prices and the Midland-to-Gulf-Coast oil spreads and Waha-to-Gulf-Coast gas spreads. The Midland-to-Gulf-Coast oil spreads have increased to an average of $0.49 per barrel in 2024 from an average of $0.21 per barrel in 2023. A $0.25 change in the Midland-to-Gulf-Coast oil spreads impacts 2024 operating cash flows by approximately $65 million. The Waha-to-Gulf-Coast gas spreads have increased to an average of $1.49 per MMbtu in 2024 from an average of $0.54 per MMbtu in 2023. Gas gathering, processing and transportation results are affected by fluctuations in commodity prices and the volumes that are processed and transported through the segment’s plants, as well as the margins obtained on related services from investments in which Occidental has an equity interest.
BUSINESS REVIEW
MARKETING
The marketing group markets substantially all of Occidental’s oil, NGL and natural gas production and optimizes its transportation and storage capacity. Occidental’s third-party marketing activities focus on purchasing oil, NGL and natural gas for resale from parties whose oil and gas supply is located near its transportation and storage capacity. These purchases allow Occidental to aggregate volumes to better utilize and optimize its assets. In 2024, compared to 2023, marketing results were impacted by higher gas marketing margin from transportation capacity optimization and higher equity method investment income from WES, partially offset by higher activities in the OLCV business.
DELIVERY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITMENTS
Occidental has made long-term commitments to certain refineries and other buyers to deliver oil, NGL and natural gas. The total amount contracted to be delivered is approximately 49 MMbbl of oil through 2025, 794 MMbbl of NGL through 2034 and 674 Bcf of gas through 2029. The price for these deliveries is set at the time of delivery of the product.
Occidental has crude pipeline take-or-pay capacity of approximately 850 Mbbl/d to the Gulf Coast, leased crude storage capacity of approximately 9 MMbbl and capacity at the crude terminal of approximately 525 Mbbl/d. Certain of Occidental's crude pipeline take-or-pay agreements expire in 2025 and its Midstream business is well-positioned to benefit from potential reductions in crude oil transportation rates from the Permian to the Gulf Coast.
PIPELINE
Occidental’s pipeline business mainly consists of its 24.5% ownership interest in DEL. DEL owns and operates a 230-mile-long, 48-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline, known as the Dolphin Pipeline, which transports dry natural gas from Qatar to the UAE and Oman. The Dolphin Pipeline has capacity to transport up to 3.2 Bcf/d and currently transports approximately 2.0 Bcf/d and up to 2.2 Bcf/d in the summer months.
GAS PROCESSING, GATHERING AND CO2
Occidental processes its own and third-party domestic wet gas to extract NGL and other gas byproducts, including CO2, and delivers dry gas to pipelines. Margins primarily result from the difference between inlet costs of wet gas and market prices for NGL.
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WES is a publicly traded limited partnership with its limited partner units traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “WES.” As of December 31, 2024, Occidental owned all of the 2.3% non-voting general partner interest, 43.5% of the WES limited partner units, and a 2% non-voting limited partner interest in WES Operating, a subsidiary of WES. As of December 31, 2024, Occidental's combined share of net income from WES and its subsidiaries was 46.0%. See Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for more information regarding Occidental’s equity method investment in WES. WES owns gathering systems, plants and pipelines and earns revenue from fee-based and service-based contracts with Occidental and third parties.
Occidental’s 40% participating interest in Al Hosn Gas also includes sour gas processing facilities that are designed to process 1.45 Bcf/d of natural gas and separate it into salable gas, condensate, NGL and sulfur. In 2024, the project produced 732 MMcf/d of natural gas, 106 Mbbl/d of NGL and condensate, and 13,800 tons/d of sulfur, of which Occidental’s net share was 293 MMcf/d of natural gas, 42 Mbbl/d of NGL and condensate and 5,520 tons/d of sulfur.
POWER GENERATION FACILITIES
Earnings from power and steam generation facilities are derived from sales to affiliates and third parties.
LOW-CARBON VENTURES
OLCV was formed to capitalize on Occidental’s extensive experience in utilizing CO2 in its development of CCUS projects and providing services to third parties to facilitate the implementation of their CCUS projects. Moreover, OLCV is fostering emerging technologies, including DAC and low-carbon power sources, and other business models with the potential to position Occidental as a leader in the production of low-carbon energy and products.
In 2024, Occidental continued the construction of STRATOS, the first commercial scale direct air capture facility in Ector County, Texas. The facility is expected to begin start-up operations in mid-2025. Occidental has a joint venture agreement with BlackRock, through a fund managed by its Diversified Infrastructure business, for the development of STRATOS. The agreement provides $550 million of committed investment from BlackRock's fund.
Occidental helped develop standards and protocols recognized by the EPA for monitoring, reporting and verifying the amount, safety and permanence of CO2 stored through secure geologic sequestration. Occidental holds four EPA-approved monitoring, reporting and verification plans for geologic sequestration through EOR production. OLCV has acquired access to over 370,000 acres of pore space to date, and has continued to pursue permits of Class VI CO2 injection wells with the intention of developing six sequestration hubs. OLCV is also currently conducting front-end engineering design work and feasibility studies on a number of projects to capture and sequester CO2, either from the atmosphere or from industrial point sources. The profitability of sequestration projects is dependent upon the costs of developing, building and operating sequestration infrastructure, demand for sequestration services from emitters and the availability of certain tax attributes and credits generated from the capture and storage of CO2.
Occidental owns a 41.6% interest in NET Power, which is developing a low-cost, natural gas electric power system that generates near-zero emissions and inherently captures all CO2. NET Power Inc. is currently traded on the NYSE under the symbol “NPWR.” NET Power expects its first utility scale plant, located in the Permian, to begin power generation in the second half of 2027 or the first half of 2028.
OUTLOOK
Midstream and marketing segment results can experience volatility depending on commodity price changes, demand impacting export sales, the Midland-to-Gulf-Coast oil spreads and Waha-to-Gulf-Coast gas spreads. Gas gathering, processing and transportation results are affected by fluctuations in commodity prices and the volumes that are processed and transported through the segment’s plants, as well as the margins obtained on related services from investments in which Occidental has an equity interest.
Recently, economy-wide cost increases affected various elements of the supply chain. Further increases could increase the cost of sequestration and other low-carbon projects. In 2024, increased interest from third parties in providing sequestration services or purchasing carbon credits indicated a growing market for OLCV products and services.
In August 2022, Congress passed the IRA which contains, among other provisions, certain tax incentives related to climate change and clean energy. Since the enactment of the IRA, the Treasury has released a substantial amount of regulatory and sub-regulatory guidance. However, much of this guidance remains unfinalized, and significant questions persist regarding its application. On January 20, 2025, the Trump Administration issued an executive order that pauses the disbursement of funds appropriated under the IRA. The ultimate impact of the IRA on Occidental’s emerging low-carbon businesses and net-zero pathway will depend on several factors, including the Treasury's statutory interpretations in the final regulatory guidance pending issuance and potential changes to the IRA incentives in future tax legislation.
Approximately $0.8 billion of Occidental’s worldwide capital budget, before contributions from noncontrolling interests, are expected to be allocated to its midstream and marketing operations in 2025.
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SEGMENT RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND ITEMS AFFECTING COMPARABILITY
SEGMENT RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Segment earnings exclude income taxes, interest income, interest expense, environmental remediation expenses, unallocated corporate expenses and discontinued operations, but include gains and losses from divestitures of segment assets and income from the segments’ equity investments. Seasonality is not a primary driver of changes in Occidental’s consolidated quarterly earnings during the year.
The following table sets forth the sales and earnings of each operating segment and corporate items for the years ended December 31:
| millions, except per share amounts | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NET SALES (a) | ||||||||
| Oil and gas | $ | 21,705 | $ | 21,284 | $ | 27,165 | ||
| Chemical | 4,923 | 5,321 | 6,757 | |||||
| Midstream and marketing | 962 | 2,551 | 4,136 | |||||
| Eliminations | (865) | (899) | (1,424) | |||||
| Total | $ | 26,725 | $ | 28,257 | $ | 36,634 | ||
| SEGMENT RESULTS AND EARNINGS | ||||||||
| Domestic | $ | 3,715 | $ | 4,822 | $ | 10,439 | ||
| International | 1,774 | 1,859 | 2,580 | |||||
| Exploration | (275) | (441) | (216) | |||||
| Oil and gas | 5,214 | 6,240 | 12,803 | |||||
| Chemical | 1,124 | 1,531 | 2,508 | |||||
| Midstream and marketing | 580 | 24 | 273 | |||||
| Total | $ | 6,918 | $ | 7,795 | $ | 15,584 | ||
| Unallocated corporate items | ||||||||
| Interest expense, net | (1,175) | (945) | (1,030) | |||||
| Income tax expense | (1,174) | (1,733) | (813) | |||||
| Other | (1,673) | (421) | (437) | |||||
| Income from continuing operations | $ | 2,896 | $ | 4,696 | $ | 13,304 | ||
| Discontinued operations, net | 182 | — | — | |||||
| Net income | 3,078 | 4,696 | 13,304 | |||||
| Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (22) | — | — | |||||
| Less: Preferred stock dividends and redemption premiums | (679) | (923) | (800) | |||||
| Net income attributable to common stockholders | $ | 2,377 | $ | 3,773 | $ | 12,504 | ||
| Net income attributable to common stockholders—basic | $ | 2.59 | $ | 4.22 | $ | 13.41 | ||
| Net income attributable to common stockholders—diluted | $ | 2.44 | $ | 3.90 | $ | 12.40 |
(a)Intersegment sales eliminate upon consolidation and are generally made at prices approximating those that the selling entity would be able to obtain in third-party transactions.
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ITEMS AFFECTING COMPARABILITY
OIL AND GAS SEGMENT
Results of Operations
| millions | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Segment Sales | $ | 21,705 | $ | 21,284 | $ | 27,165 | ||
| Segment Results (a) | ||||||||
| Domestic | $ | 3,715 | $ | 4,822 | $ | 10,439 | ||
| International | 1,774 | 1,859 | 2,580 | |||||
| Exploration | (275) | (441) | (216) | |||||
| Total | $ | 5,214 | $ | 6,240 | $ | 12,803 | ||
| Items affecting comparability | ||||||||
| Gains (losses) on sales of assets and other, net - domestic (b) | $ | (585) | $ | 142 | $ | 148 | ||
| Gain on sales of assets and other, net - international (c) | $ | — | $ | 25 | $ | 55 | ||
| Asset impairments and related items - domestic (d) | $ | (334) | $ | (209) | $ | — | ||
| Legal settlements | $ | (54) | $ | 26 | $ | — |
(a)Results included significant items affecting comparability discussed in the footnotes below.
(b)The 2024 amount included $572 million of losses primarily related to the sale of non-core onshore U.S. assets. The 2023 and 2022 amounts included gains on sales primarily related to certain non-strategic assets in the Permian Basin of $142 million and $148 million, respectively.
(c)The 2023 and 2022 amounts of $25 million and $55 million, respectively, included post-closing consideration earned as a result of certain production and pricing targets being met as well as the closing of the sale of certain assets that were negotiated with the 2020 Colombia divestiture.
(d)The 2024 amount included a pre-tax impairment of $334 million related to certain wells in the Gulf of America whose future net cash inflows did not indicate that the asset value is recoverable. The 2023 amount included a pre-tax impairment of $180 million related to undeveloped acreage in the northern non-core area of the Powder River Basin where Occidental decided not to pursue future exploration and appraisal activities as well as a $29 million impairment related to an equity method investment in Black Butte Coal Company.
Domestic oil and gas results, excluding significant items affecting comparability, decreased in 2024, compared to 2023, primarily due to lower realized oil and natural gas prices, partially offset by higher sales volumes across all commodities, largely driven by the CrownRock Acquisition. International oil and gas results, excluding significant items affecting comparability, decreased in 2024, compared to 2023, primarily due to lower oil and NGL prices and higher lease operating costs, partially offset by higher sales volumes.
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Average Realized Prices
The following table sets forth the average realized prices for oil, NGL and natural gas from ongoing operations for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, and includes a year-over-year change calculation:
| 2024 | Year over Year Change | 2023 | Year over Year Change | 2022 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average Realized Prices | ||||||||||
| Oil ($/Bbl) | ||||||||||
| United States | $ | 74.62 | (2)% | $ | 76.42 | (19)% | $ | 94.12 | ||
| International | $ | 77.46 | (2)% | $ | 79.03 | (17)% | $ | 95.46 | ||
| Total worldwide | $ | 75.05 | (2)% | $ | 76.85 | (19)% | $ | 94.36 | ||
| NGL ($/Bbl) | ||||||||||
| United States | $ | 20.48 | 1% | $ | 20.19 | (43)% | $ | 35.69 | ||
| International | $ | 28.00 | (5)% | $ | 29.35 | (14)% | $ | 34.09 | ||
| Total worldwide | $ | 21.38 | —% | $ | 21.32 | (40)% | $ | 35.48 | ||
| Natural Gas ($/Mcf) | ||||||||||
| United States | $ | 0.94 | (54)% | $ | 2.04 | (63)% | $ | 5.48 | ||
| International | $ | 1.89 | 1% | $ | 1.88 | (1)% | $ | 1.89 | ||
| Total worldwide | $ | 1.18 | (41)% | $ | 2.00 | (56)% | $ | 4.51 |
Realized Price and Sales Volume Variance
The following table presents an analysis of the impacts of changes in average realized prices and sales volumes with regard to Occidental's domestic and international oil and gas revenue:
| Increase (Decrease) Related to | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| millions | Year ended December 31, 2023 | (a) | Price Realizations | Net Sales Volumes | Year ended December 31, 2024 | (a) | ||||||
| United States Revenue | ||||||||||||
| Oil | $ | 14,893 | $ | (384) | $ | 1,095 | $ | 15,604 | ||||
| NGL | 1,619 | 81 | 165 | 1,865 | ||||||||
| Natural gas | 970 | (572) | 116 | 514 | ||||||||
| Total | $ | 17,482 | $ | (875) | $ | 1,376 | $ | 17,983 | ||||
| International Revenue | ||||||||||||
| Oil (b) | $ | 3,057 | $ | (42) | $ | (75) | $ | 2,940 | ||||
| NGL | 372 | (15) | 33 | 390 | ||||||||
| Natural gas | 335 | (7) | 33 | 361 | ||||||||
| Total | $ | 3,764 | $ | (64) | $ | (9) | $ | 3,691 |
(a) Results excluded "other" oil and gas revenue. See Note 2 - Revenue in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional information regarding other revenue.
(b) Results included the impact of international production sharing contracts, along with the net sales volume impact from the new Algeria development agreement which took effect May 3, 2023.
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Production
The following table sets forth the production volumes of oil, NGL and natural gas per day for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, and includes a year-over-year change calculation:
| Production per Day, Ongoing Operations (Mboe/d) | 2024 | Year over Year Change | 2023 | Year over Year Change | 2022 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | |||||||||
| Permian | 664 | 14 | % | 584 | 14 | % | 513 | ||
| Rockies & Other Domestic | 310 | 14 | % | 271 | (2) | % | 277 | ||
| Gulf of America | 125 | (14) | % | 145 | (1) | % | 147 | ||
| Total | 1,099 | 10 | % | 1,000 | 7 | % | 937 | ||
| International | |||||||||
| Algeria & Other International | 32 | (9) | % | 35 | (26) | % | 47 | ||
| Al Hosn Gas | 91 | 10 | % | 83 | 14 | % | 73 | ||
| Dolphin | 39 | — | % | 39 | 5 | % | 37 | ||
| Oman | 66 | — | % | 66 | 2 | % | 65 | ||
| Total | 228 | 2 | % | 223 | — | % | 222 | ||
| Total Production (Mboe/d) (a) | 1,327 | 9 | % | 1,223 | 6 | % | 1,159 |
(a)Natural gas volumes have been converted to Boe based on energy content of six Mcf of gas to one barrel of oil. Boe equivalence does not necessarily result in price equivalence. Please refer to the Supplemental Oil and Gas Information (unaudited) section of this Form 10-K for additional information on oil and gas production and sales.
Average daily production volumes from ongoing operations increased by 9% in 2024, compared to 2023. The increase in production was primarily related to increased U.S. onshore production, including volumes from the CrownRock
Acquisition closed on August 1, 2024, higher DJ basin production from new development activities and higher Al Hosn Gas production, as the Al Hosn Gas expansion project was completed in the second quarter of 2023.
Lease Operating Expense
The following table sets forth the average lease operating expense per Boe from ongoing operations for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024:
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average lease operating expense per Boe | $ | 9.75 | $ | 10.48 | $ | 9.52 |
Average lease operating expense per Boe decreased in 2024, compared to 2023, primarily due to lower operational costs as a result of the CrownRock Acquisition and operational efficiencies.
CHEMICAL SEGMENT
| millions | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Segment Sales | $ | 4,923 | $ | 5,321 | $ | 6,757 | ||
| Segment Results | $ | 1,124 | $ | 1,531 | $ | 2,508 | ||
| Items affecting comparability | ||||||||
| Legal Settlements | $ | (16) | $ | — | $ | — |
Chemical segment results decreased in 2024, compared to 2023, driven primarily by lower realized pricing across most product lines, partially offset by improved demand across most product lines and lower energy costs.
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MIDSTREAM AND MARKETING SEGMENT
| millions | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Segment Sales | $ | 962 | $ | 2,551 | $ | 4,136 | ||
| Segment Results (a) | $ | 580 | $ | 24 | $ | 273 | ||
| Items affecting comparability | ||||||||
| Gains on sales of assets and other, net (b) | $ | 647 | $ | 51 | $ | 98 | ||
| TerraLithium fair value gain | $ | 27 | $ | — | $ | — | ||
| Derivative losses, net (c) | $ | (32) | $ | (14) | $ | (259) | ||
| Asset impairments and other charges, net (c) | $ | (21) | $ | (60) | $ | — | ||
| Acquisition-related costs (d) | $ | — | $ | (20) | $ | — | ||
| Carbon Engineering fair value gain (d) | $ | — | $ | 283 | $ | — |
(a)Results included significant items affecting comparability discussed in the footnotes below.
(b)The 2024, 2023 and 2022 amounts included gains on sale of $489 million, $51 million and $62 million, respectively, from the sales of 19.5 million, 5.1 million and 10.0 million limited partner units in WES, respectively. The 2024 amount also included $158 million of income from equity investments and other related to Occidental's share of WES' gains on its asset divestitures.
(c)The 2023 amount included amounts from income from equity investments and other in the Consolidated Condensed Statement of Operations.
(d)The 2023 amount included a gain of $283 million from the remeasurement of the noncontrolling interest held prior to the Carbon Engineering acquisition to fair value and acquisition-related costs of $20 million.
Midstream and marketing segment results, excluding items affecting comparability, increased in 2024, compared to 2023, due to higher income in the gas marketing business as a result of higher gas transportation spreads from the Permian to the Gulf Coast and higher equity method investment income from WES, partially offset by higher activities in OLCV.
CORPORATE
Significant corporate items include the following:
| millions | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Items Affecting Comparability | ||||||||
| Passaic environmental reserve(a) | $ | (925) | $ | — | $ | — | ||
| Environmental receivable valuation allowance adjustment(a) | $ | (84) | $ | 260 | $ | (22) | ||
| Acquisition-related costs(b) | $ | (150) | $ | (6) | $ | (89) | ||
| Gains on sales of assets and other, net | $ | 48 | $ | — | $ | — | ||
| Interest rate swap gains, net | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 317 | ||
| Early debt extinguishment | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 149 |
(a)See Note 13 - Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional information.
(b)The 2024 amount included $66 million of financing costs related to the CrownRock Acquisition and the remaining amounts were related to CrownRock transaction costs. The 2023 amount related to costs incurred for the CrownRock Acquisition and the 2022 amount related to the Anadarko Acquisition.
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INCOME TAXES
Total deferred tax assets, after valuation allowance, were $2.4 billion and $2.0 billion as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Occidental expects to realize the recorded deferred tax assets, net of any allowances, through future operating income and reversal of temporary differences. The total deferred tax liabilities were $7.7 billion as of December 31, 2024 and 2023. See more discussion below.
WORLDWIDE EFFECTIVE TAX RATE
The following table sets forth the calculation of the worldwide effective tax rate for income from continuing operations:
| millions | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income from continuing operations before taxes | $ | 4,070 | $ | 6,429 | $ | 14,117 | ||
| Income tax benefit (expense) | ||||||||
| Federal and state | (589) | (975) | 248 | |||||
| Foreign | (585) | (758) | (1,061) | |||||
| Total income tax expense | (1,174) | (1,733) | (813) | |||||
| Income from continuing operations | $ | 2,896 | $ | 4,696 | $ | 13,304 | ||
| Worldwide effective tax rate | 29% | 27% | 6% |
Occidental’s worldwide effective tax rate in 2024 and 2023 was higher than the U.S. statutory rate of 21% and primarily driven by Occidental's jurisdictional mix of income, where international income is subject to tax at statutory rates as high as 55%. The 2022 worldwide effective tax rate was impacted by a legal entity reorganization, as described below.
LEGAL ENTITY REORGANIZATION
To align Occidental’s legal entity structure with the nature of its business activities after completing the Anadarko Acquisition and subsequent large scale post-acquisition divestiture program, management undertook a legal entity reorganization that was completed in the first quarter of 2022.
As a result of this legal entity reorganization, management made an adjustment to the tax basis in a portion of its operating assets, thus reducing Occidental’s deferred tax liabilities. Accordingly, in 2022, Occidental recorded a tax benefit of $2.7 billion in connection with this reorganization. The timing of any reduction in Occidental’s future cash taxes as a result of this legal entity reorganization will be dependent on a number of factors, including prevailing commodity prices, capital activity level and production mix. The legal entity reorganization transaction is currently under IRS review as part of the Company’s 2022 federal tax audit.
INFLATION REDUCTION ACT AND PILLAR TWO
In August 2022, Congress passed the IRA that contains, among other provisions, certain tax incentives related to climate change and clean energy. Since the enactment of the IRA, the Treasury has released a substantial amount of regulatory and sub-regulatory guidance. However, much of this guidance remains unfinalized, and significant questions persist regarding its application. On January 20, 2025, the Trump Administration issued an executive order that pauses the disbursement of funds appropriated under the IRA. The ultimate impact of the IRA on Occidental’s businesses depends on several factors, including the Treasury's statutory interpretations in the final regulatory guidance pending issuance and potential changes to the IRA incentives in future tax legislation.
Approximately 140 countries have agreed to support the OECD Pillar Two initiative that proposes to apply a 15% global minimum tax on multinational entities, applied jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction. Several countries, including European Union member states, Canada, and Oman, have enacted or are in the process of enacting legislation aligned with all, or portions of, Pillar Two. Widespread implementation of Pillar Two is anticipated in 2025.
As the legislation becomes effective in countries in which Occidental operates, the Company’s cash tax could increase, and its effective tax rate could be negatively impacted. In January 2025, the Trump Administration issued an executive order indicating that any commitments made by the prior U.S. administration regarding Pillar Two “have no force or effect in the United States”. The order also suggested the U.S. will consider retaliatory measures against countries that attempt to apply extraterritorial taxes on U.S. companies.
Occidental will continue to monitor the developments in the U.S., in addition to the status of legislation and guidance issued by both the OECD and the jurisdictions in which the Company operates, to assess the impact on the Company’s tax position. Occidental does not expect the global minimum tax provisions to have a material impact on its results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.
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CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE AND OTHER INCOME ITEMS
| millions | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net sales | $ | 26,725 | $ | 28,257 | $ | 36,634 | ||
| Interest, dividends and other income | $ | 171 | $ | 139 | $ | 153 | ||
| Gains (losses) on sales of assets and other, net | $ | (16) | $ | 522 | $ | 308 |
NET SALES
Price and volume changes generally represent the majority of the change in the oil and gas and chemical segments sales. Midstream and marketing sales generally represent the margins earned by the marketing business as it strives to optimize the use of its transportation, storage and terminal commitments to provide access to domestic and international markets and, to a lesser extent, NGL and sulfur revenues from the gas processing business.
The decrease in net sales in 2024, compared to 2023, was primarily due to the expiration of crude supply contracts in the midstream and marketing segment at the end of 2023, which also decreased purchased commodities for the same periods, lower domestic natural gas and oil prices in the oil and gas segment and lower realized prices across most products in the chemical segment, partially offset by higher oil volumes, largely related to the CrownRock Acquisition in the oil and gas segment.
GAINS (LOSSES) ON SALES OF ASSETS AND OTHER, NET
Gains (losses) on sales of assets and other, net for 2024 included the sale of non-core assets in the Powder River Basin with near to intermediate term lease expirations and certain Delaware Basin assets in Texas and New Mexico for combined net proceeds of $769 million. Occidental recognized a pre-tax loss of $479 million on the asset sales. These and other losses were partially offset by the pre-tax gain of $489 million resulting from the sale of 19.5 million of Occidental’s limited partner units in WES for proceeds of $697 million.
EXPENSE ITEMS
| millions | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil and gas operating expense | $ | 4,738 | $ | 4,677 | $ | 4,028 | ||
| Transportation and gathering expense | $ | 1,608 | $ | 1,481 | $ | 1,475 | ||
| Chemical and midstream cost of sales | $ | 3,121 | $ | 3,116 | $ | 3,273 | ||
| Purchased commodities | $ | 337 | $ | 2,009 | $ | 3,287 | ||
| Selling, general and administrative | $ | 1,062 | $ | 1,083 | $ | 945 | ||
| Other operating and non-operating expense | $ | 1,581 | $ | 1,084 | $ | 1,271 | ||
| Taxes other than on income | $ | 1,039 | $ | 1,087 | $ | 1,548 | ||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | $ | 7,371 | $ | 6,865 | $ | 6,926 | ||
| Asset impairments and other charges | $ | 1,281 | $ | 209 | $ | — | ||
| Acquisition-related costs | $ | 84 | $ | 26 | $ | 89 | ||
| Exploration expense | $ | 275 | $ | 441 | $ | 216 | ||
| Interest and debt expense, net | $ | 1,175 | $ | 945 | $ | 1,030 |
PURCHASED COMMODITIES
Purchased commodities decreased in 2024, compared to 2023, due to lower volumes on third-party crude purchases as certain crude supply contracts expired in 2023 in the midstream and marketing segment.
OTHER OPERATING AND NON-OPERATING EXPENSE
Other operating and non-operating expense increased in 2024, compared to 2023, primarily due to changes in the receivable valuation allowance related to environmental remediation, which was reduced by $260 million for the Maxus Liquidating Trust in 2023, as well as higher compensation costs and increased research and development activities in OLCV in 2024.
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DEPRECIATION, DEPLETION, AND AMORTIZATION
Depreciation, depletion and amortization increased in 2024, compared to 2023, primarily related to increased sales volumes in the Permian Basin and Rockies.
ASSET IMPAIRMENTS AND OTHER CHARGES
Asset impairments and other charges in 2024, included $925 million Passaic reserve adjustment as well as a pre-tax impairment of $334 million related to certain wells in the Gulf of America whose future net cash inflows did not indicate that the asset value is recoverable. See Note 13 - Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional information. Asset impairments in 2023 included a pre-tax impairment of $180 million related to undeveloped acreage in the northern non-core area of the Powder River Basin and a $29 million impairment related to an equity method investment in the Black Butte Coal Company.
INTEREST AND DEBT EXPENSE, NET
Interest and debt expense increased in 2024, compared to 2023, due to increased debt related to the CrownRock Acquisition.
OTHER ITEMS
| Income (expense) millions | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gains on interest rate swaps, net | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 317 | ||
| Income from equity investments and other | $ | 862 | $ | 534 | $ | 793 | ||
| Income tax expense | $ | (1,174) | $ | (1,733) | $ | (813) | ||
| Discontinued operations, net | $ | 182 | $ | — | $ | — |
INCOME FROM EQUITY INVESTMENTS AND OTHER
Income from equity investments and other increased in 2024, compared to 2023, primarily due to gains on sales of assets and higher operating income recognized by WES in 2024.
INCOME TAX EXPENSE
Income tax expense decreased in 2024, compared to 2023, primarily as a result of lower net income. See Note 10 - Income Taxes in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional details.
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET
Discontinued operations, net in 2024 resulted from the Andes Arbitration final legal settlement. See Note 5 - Acquisitions, Divestitures and Other Transactions and Note 13 - Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional details.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
SOURCES AND USES OF CASH
Occidental currently expects its operational cash flows and cash on hand to be sufficient to meet its current debt maturities and other obligations for the next 12 months from the date of this filing. As of December 31, 2024, Occidental’s sources of liquidity included $2.1 billion of cash and cash equivalents, $4.15 billion of borrowing capacity under its RCF, and $600 million of available borrowing capacity under its receivables securitization facility.
In February 2024, Occidental entered into a Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement for the RCF extending the maturity date to June 30, 2028, and in May 2024, Occidental amended the RCF to increase its borrowing capacity by an additional $150 million to $4.15 billion. In July 2024, Occidental amended and extended the maturity date of its existing receivables securitization facility to July 30, 2027, maintaining $600 million of available borrowing capacity. There were no borrowings outstanding on Occidental’s RCF or receivables securitization facility as of December 31, 2024.
Occidental’s planned 2025 capital expenditures are between $7.6 billion to $7.8 billion, before contributions from noncontrolling interests of $200 million.
As of December 31, 2024, and through the date of this filing, Occidental was in compliance with all covenants in its financing agreements. As of December 31, 2024, Occidental had $1.0 billion in current maturities of long-term debt which are due in 2025, and $4.1 billion in long-term obligations due in 2026. As of December 31, 2024, Occidental had non-cancelable lease payments of $582 million due in 2025, and $425 million due in 2026. Occidental’s final payment for the Carbon Engineering acquisition of approximately $415 million is due in November 2025.
Occidental is party to various purchase agreements that are not accounted for as leases or otherwise accrued as liabilities as of December 31, 2024. These agreements consist primarily of obligations to secure terminal, pipeline and processing capacity, purchase services used in the normal course of business including transporting and disposing of
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produced water, purchase goods used in the production of finished goods including certain chemical raw materials and power and agreements relating to equipment maintenance and service. Refer to the line item “Purchase Obligations” in the table below under Contractual Obligations for the amounts that will be paid for such outstanding off-balance sheet purchase obligations from 2025 and thereafter.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
The following table summarizes and cross-references Occidental’s contractual obligations and indicates on- and off-balance sheet obligations as of December 31, 2024. Commitments related to held for sale assets are excluded.
| millions | Payments Due by Year | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 2025 | 2026 and 2027 | 2028 and 2029 | 2030 and thereafter | ||||||||||
| On-Balance Sheet | ||||||||||||||
| Current portion of long-term debt (Note 6) (a) | $ | 1,003 | $ | 1,003 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||
| Long-term debt (Note 6) (a) | 23,388 | — | 5,653 | 2,761 | 14,974 | |||||||||
| Expected interest payments on debt | 13,179 | 1,451 | 2,459 | 2,050 | 7,219 | |||||||||
| Leases (Note 7) (b) | 2,021 | 582 | 706 | 331 | 402 | |||||||||
| Asset retirement obligations (Note 1) | 4,430 | 388 | 893 | 571 | 2,578 | |||||||||
| Other long-term liabilities (c) | 3,339 | — | 896 | 209 | 2,234 | |||||||||
| Off-Balance Sheet | ||||||||||||||
| Purchase obligations (d) | 12,808 | 3,414 | 4,361 | 2,598 | 2,435 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 60,168 | $ | 6,838 | $ | 14,968 | $ | 8,520 | $ | 29,842 |
(a)Excluded unamortized debt premium, net, debt issuance costs and interest.
(b)Occidental is the lessee under various agreements for real estate, equipment, plants and facilities.
(c)Included long-term obligations under postretirement benefits, accrued transportation commitments, ad valorem taxes and other accrued liabilities.
(d)Amounts included payments which will become due under long-term agreements to purchase goods and services used in the normal course of business to secure terminal, pipeline and processing capacity, CO2, drilling rigs and services, electrical power, non-lease components, steam and certain chemical raw materials including but not limited to capital commitments. Amounts excluded certain product purchase obligations related to marketing activities for which there are no minimum purchase requirements or the amounts are not fixed or determinable. Long-term purchase contracts were discounted at a 5.51% discount rate.
GUARANTEES
Occidental has entered into various guarantees, indemnities and commitments provided by Occidental to third parties, mainly to provide assurance that Occidental or its consolidated subsidiaries or affiliates will meet their various obligations.
As of the date of this filing, Occidental has provided required financial assurance through a combination of cash, letters of credit and surety bonds. Occidental has not issued any letters of credit under the RCF or other committed facilities. For additional information, see Risk Factors in Part I Item 1A of this Form 10-K.
CASH FLOW ANALYSIS
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
| millions | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating cash flow from continuing operations | $ | 11,739 | $ | 12,308 | $ | 16,810 | ||
| Operating cash flow from discontinued operations, net of taxes | (300) | — | — | |||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 11,439 | $ | 12,308 | $ | 16,810 |
Cash flow provided by operating activities decreased in 2024, compared to 2023, primarily from lower realized pricing across most product lines in the chemical segment, lower realized oil and domestic gas prices in the oil and gas segment, and the final settlement related to the Andes Arbitration, partially offset by higher sales volumes in both the chemical and oil and gas segments.
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CASH USED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES
| millions | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital expenditures | ||||||||
| Oil and gas | $ | (5,320) | $ | (4,960) | $ | (3,844) | ||
| Chemical | (685) | (535) | (322) | |||||
| Midstream and marketing | (880) | (656) | (268) | |||||
| Corporate | (133) | (119) | (63) | |||||
| Total | $ | (7,018) | $ | (6,270) | $ | (4,497) | ||
| Changes in capital accrual | 96 | 25 | 147 | |||||
| Purchase of businesses, assets and equity investments, net | (9,129) | (713) | (990) | |||||
| Proceeds from sale of assets and equity investments, net | 1,673 | 448 | 584 | |||||
| Other investing activities, net | (212) | (470) | (116) | |||||
| Net cash used by investing activities | $ | (14,590) | $ | (6,980) | $ | (4,872) |
Cash flows used by investing activities increased by $7.6 billion in 2024 compared to 2023. In 2024, Occidental continued the construction of STRATOS in OLCV, increased domestic development activities in the oil and gas segment, and continued the expansion and conversion activities of OxyChem’s Battleground chlor-alkali plant, which increased capital expenditures in 2024, compared to 2023.
In 2024, purchase of businesses, assets and equity investments, net included the CrownRock Acquisition consisting of $8.8 billion of net cash consideration (inclusive of cash acquired, certain working capital and other customary purchase price adjustments). In 2023, purchase of businesses, assets and equity investments, net primarily included the purchase of Carbon Engineering.
In 2024, Occidental sold non-core assets in the Powder River Basin with near to intermediate term lease expirations and certain Delaware Basin assets in Texas and New Mexico for combined net proceeds of $769 million and 19.5 million of its limited partner units in WES for proceeds of $697 million. In 2023, Occidental sold certain non-core proved and unproved properties in the Permian Basin for proceeds of $202 million and 5.1 million of its limited partner units in WES for proceeds of $128 million. See Note 5 - Acquisitions, Divestitures and Other Transactions in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for a listing of assets and equity investments acquired and sold in 2024, 2023 and 2022.
CASH PROVIDED (USED) BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
| millions | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net cash provided (used) by financing activities | $ | 3,844 | $ | (4,890) | $ | (13,715) |
Net cash provided by financing activities was $3.8 billion in 2024, which included net proceeds from debt issuance of $9.6 billion and proceeds from the issuance of common stock of $584 million primarily related to common stock warrant exercises, offset by debt repayment of $4.5 billion and cash dividends paid on common and preferred stock of $1.4 billion. See Item 5 Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities in Part II of this Form 10-K and Note 14 - Stockholders' Equity in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional information related to Occidental’s share repurchases.
LAWSUITS, CLAIMS, COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
LEGAL MATTERS
For information on Occidental’s Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments and Contingencies, see the information in Note 13 - Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
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ENVIRONMENTAL EXPENDITURES
Environmental expenditures relate to the prevention, monitoring, control, treatment or abatement of waste, emissions or releases to air, water or land from operations of Occidental’s subsidiaries. These activities are generally integrated with ongoing operations or development projects and therefore are estimated using definitions and guidelines established by the American Petroleum Institute. Although these expenditures may be significant to the results of operations in any single period, the Company does not presently expect them to have a material adverse effect on the Company's liquidity or financial position. Occidental estimated the environmental expenditures to be approximately $812 million in 2024 compared to $736 million in 2023. Included in these expenditures were $253 million and $206 million as of 2024 and 2023, respectively, related to longer-lived improvements in properties currently operated by Occidental. They also include $559 million of operating expenses in 2024 and $530 million in 2023, which are incurred on a continual basis. While Occidental does not expect these costs to fluctuate significantly in the near term, changes in environmental regulations may increase these costs. The environmental expenditures do not include litigation-related costs, including fines, penalties or settlements, Occidental’s investments in low-carbon ventures or costs incurred to satisfy asset retirement obligations.
Remediation expenses of Occidental’s subsidiaries, which are not included in the expenditures above, relate to existing conditions from alleged past practices and were $76 million in 2024 and $79 million in 2023.
For additional information on Occidental’s Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures, see the information in Note 12 - Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
GLOBAL INVESTMENTS
A portion of Occidental’s assets are located outside North America. The following table shows the geographic distribution of Occidental’s assets as of December 31, 2024, at both the segment and consolidated level, related to Occidental’s ongoing operations:
| millions | Oil and gas | Chemical | Midstream and marketing | Corporate and other | Total Consolidated | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | ||||||||||||||||||
| United States | $ | 59,089 | $ | 4,921 | $ | 9,022 | $ | 3,086 | $ | 76,118 | ||||||||
| Canada | — | 100 | 1,550 | — | 1,650 | |||||||||||||
| Middle East | 3,632 | — | 2,936 | — | 6,568 | |||||||||||||
| North Africa and Other | 875 | 101 | 133 | — | 1,109 | |||||||||||||
| Consolidated | $ | 63,596 | $ | 5,122 | $ | 13,641 | $ | 3,086 | $ | 85,445 |
In 2024, net sales outside North America totaled $4.3 billion, or approximately 16% of total net sales.
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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
The process of preparing financial statements in accordance with United States GAAP requires Occidental’s management to make informed estimates and judgments regarding certain items and transactions. Changes in facts and circumstances or discovery of new information may result in revised estimates and judgments and actual results may differ from these estimates upon settlement but generally not by material amounts. The selection and development of these policies and estimates have been discussed with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. Occidental considers the following to be its most critical accounting policies and estimates that involve management’s judgment.
OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES
The carrying value of Occidental’s PP&E represents the cost incurred to acquire or develop the asset, including any AROs and capitalized interest, net of DD&A and any impairment charges. For assets acquired in a business combination, PP&E cost is based on fair values at the acquisition date. AROs and interest costs incurred in connection with qualifying capital expenditures are capitalized and amortized over the useful lives of the related assets.
Occidental uses the successful efforts method to account for its oil and gas properties. Under this method, Occidental capitalizes costs of acquiring properties, costs of drilling successful exploration wells and development costs. The costs of exploratory wells are initially capitalized pending a determination of whether proved reserves have been found. If proved reserves have been found, the costs of exploratory wells remain capitalized. For exploratory wells that find reserves that cannot be classified as proved when drilling is completed, costs continue to be capitalized as suspended exploratory drilling costs if there have been sufficient reserves found to justify completion as a producing well and sufficient progress is being made in assessing the economic and operating viability of the project. At the end of each quarter, management reviews the status of all suspended exploratory drilling costs in light of ongoing exploration activities and in particular, whether Occidental is making sufficient progress in its ongoing exploration and appraisal efforts or, in the case of discoveries requiring government sanctioning, analyzing whether development negotiations are underway and proceeding as planned. If management determines that future appraisal drilling or development activities are unlikely to occur, associated suspended exploratory well costs are expensed.
Occidental expenses annual lease rentals, the costs of injectants used in production and geological and geophysical costs as incurred for exploration activities.
Occidental determines depreciation and depletion of oil and gas producing properties by the unit-of-production method. It amortizes leasehold acquisition costs over total proved reserves and capitalized development and successful exploration costs over proved developed reserves.
Proved oil and gas reserves are those quantities of oil and gas which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible—from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations—prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation.
Several factors could change Occidental’s proved oil and gas reserves. For example, Occidental receives a share of production from PSCs to recover its costs and generally an additional share for profit. Occidental’s share of production and reserves from these contracts decreases when product prices rise and increases when prices decline. Generally, Occidental’s net economic benefit from these contracts is greater at higher product prices. In other cases, particularly with long-lived properties, lower product prices may lead to a situation where production of a portion of proved reserves becomes uneconomical. For such properties, higher product prices typically result in additional reserves becoming economical. Estimation of future production and development costs is also subject to change partially due to factors beyond Occidental’s control, such as energy costs and inflation or deflation of oil field service costs. These factors, in turn, could lead to changes in the quantity of proved reserves. Additional factors that could result in a change of proved reserves include production decline rates and operating performance differing from those estimated when the proved reserves were initially recorded. Changes in the political and regulatory climate, including new or amended laws and regulations or changes in the interpretation of those laws and regulations, could lead to decreases in proved reserves as development horizons may be extended into the future, changes to development locations are necessary or the changes result in higher development or operating costs.
Occidental performs impairment tests with respect to its proved properties whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of property may not be recoverable. If there is an indication the carrying amount of the asset may not be recovered due to significant and prolonged declines in current and forward prices, significant changes in reserve estimates, changes in management’s plans or other significant events, management will evaluate the property for impairment. Under the successful efforts method, if the sum of the undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value of the proved property, the carrying value is reduced to estimated fair value and reported as an impairment charge in the period. Individual proved properties are grouped on a field-by-field basis or by logical grouping of assets if there is a significant shared infrastructure. The fair value of impaired assets is typically determined based on the present value of expected future cash flows using discount rates believed to be consistent with those used by market participants. The impairment test incorporates a number of assumptions involving expectations of future cash flows which can change
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significantly over time. These assumptions include estimates of future production, product prices, contractual prices, estimates of risk-adjusted oil and gas proved and unproved reserves and estimates of future operating and development costs. It is reasonably possible that prolonged declines in commodity prices, reduced capital spending in response to lower prices or increases in operating costs could result in impairments.
For impairment testing, unless prices are contractually fixed, Occidental uses observable forward strip prices for oil and natural gas prices when projecting future cash flows. Future operating and development costs are estimated using the current cost environment applied to expectations of future operating and development activities to develop and produce oil and gas reserves. Market prices for oil, NGL and natural gas have been volatile and may continue to be volatile in the future. Changes in global supply and demand, transportation capacity, currency exchange rates, applicable laws and regulations and the effect of changes in these variables on market perceptions could impact current forecasts. Future fluctuations in commodity prices could cause estimates of future cash flows to vary significantly.
Net capitalized costs attributable to unproved properties were $10.2 billion as of December 31, 2024, and $10.2 billion as of December 31, 2023. The unproved amounts are not subject to DD&A until they are classified as proved properties. Individually insignificant unproved properties are combined and amortized on a group basis based on factors such as geographic location, lease terms, success rates and other factors to provide for full amortization upon lease expiration or abandonment.
Significant unproved properties are assessed individually for impairment and, when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of property may not be recovered, a valuation allowance is provided if an impairment is indicated. Occidental periodically reviews significant unproved properties for impairments; numerous factors are considered, including, but not limited to, availability of funds for future exploration and development activities, current exploration and development plans, favorable or unfavorable exploration activity on the property or the adjacent property, geologists’ evaluation of the property, the current and projected political and regulatory climate, contractual conditions and the remaining lease term for the properties. If an impairment is indicated, Occidental will first determine whether a comparable transaction for similar properties or implied acreage valuation derived from domestic onshore market participants is available and will adjust the carrying amount of the unproved property to its fair value using the market approach. In situations where the market approach is not observable and unproved reserves are available, undiscounted future net cash flows used in the impairment analysis are determined based on management’s risk-adjusted estimates of unproved reserves, future commodity prices and future costs to produce the reserves. If undiscounted future net cash flows are less than the carrying value of the property, the future net cash flows are discounted and compared to the carrying value for determining the amount of the impairment loss to record. Occidental utilizes the same assumptions and methodology discussed above for cash flows associated with proved properties.
PROVED RESERVES
Occidental estimates its proved oil and gas reserves according to the definition of proved reserves provided by the SEC’s Rule 4-10 (a) of Regulation S-X and the Financial Accounting Standards Board. Proved oil and gas reserves are those quantities of oil and gas which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible—from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations—prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation. Prices include consideration of price changes provided only by contractual arrangements and do not include adjustments based on expected future conditions. For reserves information, see the Supplemental Information on Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Activities under Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
Engineering estimates of the quantities of proved reserves are inherently imprecise and represent only approximate amounts because of the judgments involved in developing such information. Occidental’s estimates of proved reserves are made using available geological and reservoir data as well as production performance data. The reliability of these estimates at any point in time depends on both the quality and quantity of the technical and economic data and the efficiency of extracting and processing the hydrocarbons. These estimates are reviewed annually by internal reservoir engineers and revised, either upward or downward, as warranted by additional data. Revisions are necessary due to changes in, among other things, development plans, reservoir performance, prices, economic conditions and government restrictions as well as changes in the expected recovery associated with infill drilling. Decreases in prices, for example, may cause a reduction in some proved reserves due to reaching economic limits at an earlier projected date. A material adverse change in the estimated volume of proved reserves could have a negative impact on DD&A and could result in property impairments.
The most significant ongoing financial statement effect from a change in Occidental’s oil and gas reserves or impairment of its proved properties would be to the DD&A rate. For example, a 5% increase or decrease in the amount of oil and gas reserves would change the DD&A rate by approximately $0.65/Bbl, which would increase or decrease pre-tax income by approximately $345 million annually at current production rates.
FAIR VALUES
Occidental estimates fair-value of long-lived assets for impairment testing, assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination or exchanged in non-monetary transactions, pension plan assets and initial measurements of AROs.
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Accounting for the acquisition of a business requires the allocation of the purchase price to the various assets and liabilities of the acquired business and recording deferred taxes for any differences between the allocated values and tax basis of assets and liabilities. Any excess of the purchase price over the amounts assigned to assets and liabilities is recorded as goodwill. The purchase price allocation is accomplished by recording each asset and liability at its estimated fair value, which may be determined using different methods of fair value measurements, largely based on the availability and quality of market information. Occidental primarily applies the market approach for recurring fair value measurements, maximizes its use of observable inputs and minimizes its use of unobservable inputs.
FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
Occidental utilizes published prices or counterparty statements for valuing the majority of its financial assets and liabilities measured and reported at fair value. In addition to using market data, Occidental makes assumptions in valuing its assets and liabilities, including assumptions about the risks inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. For financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value, Occidental measures fair value using the following methods:
■Occidental values exchange-cleared commodity derivatives using closing prices provided by the exchange as of the balance sheet date. These derivatives are classified as using quoted prices in active markets for the assets or liabilities (Level 1).
■OTC bilateral financial commodity contracts, international exchange contracts, options and physical commodity forward purchase and sale contracts are generally classified as using observable inputs other than quoted prices for the assets or liabilities (Level 2) and are generally valued using quotations provided by brokers or industry-standard models that consider various inputs, including quoted forward prices for commodities, time value, volatility factors, credit risk and current market and contractual prices for the underlying instruments, as well as other relevant economic measures. Substantially all of these inputs are observable in the marketplace throughout the full term of the instrument and can be derived from observable data or are supported by observable prices at which transactions are executed in the marketplace.
■Occidental values commodity derivatives based on a market approach that considers various assumptions, including quoted forward commodity prices and market yield curves. The assumptions used include inputs that are generally unobservable in the marketplace or are observable but have been adjusted based upon various assumptions and the fair value is designated as using unobservable inputs (Level 3) within the valuation hierarchy.
■Occidental values debt using market-observable information for debt instruments that are traded on secondary markets. For debt instruments that are not traded, the fair value is determined by interpolating the value based on debt with similar terms and credit risk.
NON-FINANCIAL ASSETS
Occidental uses market-observable prices for assets when comparable transactions can be identified that are similar to the asset being valued. When Occidental is required to measure fair value and there is not a market-observable price for the asset or for a similar asset then the cost or income approach is used depending on the quality of information available to support management’s assumptions. The cost approach is based on management’s best estimate of the current asset replacement cost. The income approach is based on management’s best assumptions regarding expectations of future net cash flows and the expected cash flows are discounted using a commensurate risk-adjusted discount rate. Such evaluations involve significant judgment. The results are based on expected future events or conditions such as sales prices, estimates of future oil and gas production or throughput, development and operating costs and the timing thereof, economic and regulatory climates and other factors, most of which are often outside of management’s control. However, assumptions used reflect a market participant’s view of long-term prices, costs and other factors and are consistent with assumptions used in Occidental’s business plans and investment decisions.
ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES AND EXPENDITURES
Certain subsidiaries of Occidental incur environmental liabilities and expenditures that relate to current operations and are expensed or capitalized by such subsidiaries as appropriate. Certain subsidiaries also incur environmental liabilities and expenditures with respect to remediation of existing conditions from alleged past practices at Third-Party, Currently Operated, and Closed or Non-operated Sites, which categories may include NPL Sites. Those environmental liabilities and related charges and expenses for estimated remediation costs from alleged past practices are recorded when environmental remediation efforts are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Occidental discloses such remediation liabilities on a consolidated basis. In determining the environmental remediation liability and the range of reasonably possible additional losses, Occidental refers to currently available information, including relevant past experience, remedial objectives, available technologies, applicable laws and regulations and cost-sharing arrangements. These environmental remediation liabilities are based on management’s estimate of the most likely cost to be incurred using the most cost-effective technology reasonably expected to achieve the remedial objective. Occidental periodically reviews these environmental remediation liabilities and adjusts them as new information becomes available. Occidental’s subsidiaries
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generally record reimbursements or recoveries of environmental remediation costs in income when received, or when receipt of recovery is highly probable.
Many factors could affect future remediation costs incurred by Occidental’s subsidiaries and result in adjustments to environmental remediation liabilities and the range of reasonably possible additional losses. The most significant are: (i) cost estimates for remedial activities may vary from the initial estimate; (ii) the length of time, type or amount of remediation necessary to achieve the remedial objective may change due to factors such as site conditions, the ability to identify and control contaminant sources or the discovery of additional contamination; (iii) a regulatory agency may ultimately reject or modify proposed remedial plans; (iv) improved or alternative remediation technologies may change remediation costs; (v) laws and regulations may change remediation requirements or affect cost sharing or allocation of liability; and (vi) changes in allocation or cost-sharing arrangements may occur.
Certain sites involve multiple parties with various cost-sharing arrangements, which generally fall into the following three categories: (i) environmental proceedings that result in a negotiated or prescribed allocation of remediation costs among Occidental’s affected subsidiary and other alleged potentially responsible parties; (ii) oil and gas ventures in which each participant pays its proportionate share of remediation costs reflecting its working interest; or (iii) contractual arrangements, typically relating to purchases and sales of properties, in which the parties to the transaction agree to methods of allocating remediation costs. In these circumstances, the affected subsidiary evaluates the financial viability of other parties with whom it is alleged to be jointly liable, the degree of their commitment to participate and the consequences to such subsidiary of their failure to participate when estimating its ultimate share of liability. Occidental subsidiaries record environmental remediation liabilities at their expected net cost of remedial activities. Based on these factors, except as otherwise disclosed in Note 12 - Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K, Occidental’s subsidiaries believe that they will not be required to assume a share of liability of such other potentially responsible parties in an amount materially above amounts reserved.
In addition to the costs of investigations and cleanup measures, which often take in excess of 10 years at CERCLA NPL sites, Occidental subsidiaries’ environmental remediation liabilities include estimates of the costs to operate and maintain remedial systems. If remedial systems are modified over time in response to significant changes in site-specific data, laws, regulations, technologies or engineering estimates, Occidental’s subsidiaries review and adjust their environmental remediation liabilities accordingly.
If Occidental or its subsidiaries were to adjust the balance of their environmental remediation liabilities based on the factors described above, the amount of the increase or decrease would be recognized in earnings. For example, if the balance were reduced by 10%, Occidental would record a pre-tax increase to income of approximately $190 million. If the balance were increased by 10%, Occidental would record an additional remediation expense of approximately $190 million.
INCOME TAXES
Occidental and its subsidiaries file various U.S. federal, state and foreign income tax returns. The impact of changes in tax regulations are reflected when enacted. In general, deferred federal, state and foreign income taxes are provided on temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Occidental routinely assesses the realizability of its deferred tax assets. If Occidental concludes that it is more likely than not that some of the deferred tax assets will not be realized, the tax asset is reduced by a valuation allowance. Occidental recognizes a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit recorded is equal to the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely to be realized through final settlement with a taxing authority. Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recognized in income tax expense (benefit). See Note 10 - Income Taxes in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
LOSS CONTINGENCIES
Occidental or certain of its subsidiaries are involved, in the normal course of business, in lawsuits, claims and other legal proceedings and audits. Occidental or its affected subsidiaries, as appropriate, accrues reserves for these matters when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the liability can be reasonably estimated. In addition, Occidental discloses, in aggregate on a consolidated basis, exposure to loss in excess of the amount recorded on the balance sheet for these matters if it is reasonably possible that an additional material loss may be incurred. Occidental reviews such loss contingencies on an ongoing basis.
Loss contingencies are based on judgments made by management with respect to the likely outcome of these matters and are adjusted as appropriate. Management’s judgments could change based on new information, changes in, or interpretations of, laws or regulations, changes in management’s plans or intentions, opinions regarding the outcome of legal proceedings or other factors. See Note 13 - Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional information.
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SAFE HARBOR DISCUSSION REGARDING OUTLOOK AND OTHER FORWARD-LOOKING DATA
Portions of this report contain 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. All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal and state securities laws, including, but not limited to: any projections of earnings, revenue or other financial items or future financial position or sources of financing; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations or business strategy; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; any statements of belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Words such as “estimate,” “project,” “predict,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “believe,” “expect,” “aim,” “goal,” “target,” “objective,” "commit," "advance," “likely” or similar expressions that convey the prospective nature of events or outcomes are generally indicative of forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report unless an earlier date is specified. Unless legally required, Occidental does not undertake any obligation to update, modify or withdraw any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Actual outcomes or results may differ from anticipated results, sometimes materially. Forward-looking and other statements regarding Occidental's sustainability efforts and aspirations are not an indication that these statements are necessarily material to investors or require disclosure in Occidental's filings with the SEC. In addition, historical, current and forward-looking sustainability-related statements may be based on standards for measuring progress that are still developing, internal controls and processes that continue to evolve and definitions, assumptions, data sources and estimates or measurements that are subject to change in the future, including through rulemaking or guidance. Factors that could cause results to differ from those projected or assumed in any forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions, including slowdowns and recessions, domestically or internationally; Occidental’s indebtedness and other payment obligations, including the need to generate sufficient cash flows to fund operations; Occidental’s ability to successfully monetize select assets and repay or refinance debt and the impact of changes in Occidental’s credit ratings or future increases in interest rates; assumptions about energy markets; global and local commodity and commodity-futures pricing fluctuations and volatility; supply and demand considerations for, and the prices of, Occidental’s products and services; actions by OPEC and non-OPEC oil producing countries; results from operations and competitive conditions; future impairments of Occidental's proved and unproved oil and gas properties or equity investments, or write-downs of productive assets, causing charges to earnings; unexpected changes in costs; inflation, its impact on markets and economic activity and related monetary policy actions by governments in response to inflation; availability of capital resources, levels of capital expenditures and contractual obligations; the regulatory approval environment, including Occidental's ability to timely obtain or maintain permits or other government approvals, including those necessary for drilling and/or development projects; Occidental's ability to successfully complete, or any material delay of, field developments, expansion projects, capital expenditures, efficiency projects, acquisitions or divestitures; risks associated with acquisitions, mergers and joint ventures, such as difficulties integrating businesses, uncertainty associated with financial projections or projected synergies, restructuring, increased costs and adverse tax consequences; uncertainties and liabilities associated with acquired and divested properties and businesses; uncertainties about the estimated quantities of oil, NGL and natural gas reserves; lower-than-expected production from development projects or acquisitions; Occidental’s ability to realize the anticipated benefits from prior or future streamlining actions to reduce fixed costs, simplify or improve processes and improve Occidental’s competitiveness; exploration, drilling and other operational risks; disruptions to, capacity constraints in, or other limitations on the pipeline systems that deliver Occidental’s oil and natural gas and other processing and transportation considerations; volatility in the securities, capital or credit markets, including capital market disruptions and instability of financial institutions; government actions (including geopolitical, trade, tariff and regulatory uncertainties), war (including the Russia-Ukraine war and conflicts in the Middle East) and political conditions and events; HSE risks, costs and liability under existing or future federal, regional, state, provincial, tribal, local and international HSE laws, regulations and litigation (including related to climate change or remedial actions or assessments); legislative or regulatory changes, including changes relating to hydraulic fracturing or other oil and natural gas operations, retroactive royalty or production tax regimes and deep-water and onshore drilling and permitting regulations; Occidental's ability to recognize intended benefits from its business strategies and initiatives, such as Occidental's low-carbon ventures businesses or announced GHG emissions reduction targets or net-zero goals; potential liability resulting from pending or future litigation, government investigations and other proceedings; disruption or interruption of production or manufacturing or facility damage due to accidents, chemical releases, labor unrest, weather, power outages, natural disasters, cyber-attacks, terrorist acts or insurgent activity; the scope and duration of global or regional health pandemics or epidemics, and actions taken by government authorities and other third parties in connection therewith; the creditworthiness and performance of Occidental's counterparties, including financial institutions, operating partners and other parties; failure of risk management; Occidental’s ability to retain and hire key personnel; supply, transportation and labor constraints; reorganization or restructuring of Occidental’s operations; changes in state, federal or international tax rates; and actions by third parties that are beyond Occidental's control.
Additional information concerning these and other factors that may cause Occidental’s results of operations and financial position to differ from expectations can be found in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Form 10-K, as well as in Occidental’s other filings with the SEC, including Occidental’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.
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FY 2023 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0000797468-24-000034.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion should be read together with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, which are included in this Form 10-K in Item 8 and the information set forth in Risk Factors under Part 1, Item 1A. The following sections include a discussion of results for fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022 as well as certain 2021 results. The comparative results for fiscal 2022 with fiscal 2021 generally have not been included in this Form 10-K, but may be found in “Part II - Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.
| INDEX | PAGE |
|---|---|
| Current Business Outlook and Strategy | 30 |
| Oil and Gas Segment | 32 |
| Chemical Segment | 42 |
| Midstream and Marketing Segment | 43 |
| Segment Results of Operations and Items Affecting Comparability | 45 |
| Income Taxes | 50 |
| Consolidated Results of Operations | 51 |
| Liquidity and Capital Resources | 52 |
| Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments and Contingencies | 55 |
| Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures | 56 |
| Global Investments | 56 |
| Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates | 57 |
| Safe Harbor Discussion Regarding Outlook and Other Forward-Looking Data | 61 |
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CURRENT BUSINESS OUTLOOK AND STRATEGY
GENERAL
Occidental’s operations, financial condition, cash flows and levels of expenditures are highly dependent on oil prices and, to a lesser extent, NGL and natural gas prices, Midland-to-Gulf-Coast oil spreads, chemical product prices and inflationary pressures in the macro-economic environment. In 2023, as compared to 2022, the average annual price per barrel of WTI crude decreased to $77.64 from $94.23, and the average annual Brent price per barrel decreased to $82.25 from $98.83. The macroeconomic softening of major world economies as inflation pressures are being mitigated with higher interest rates have resulted in a decrease in benchmark oil prices year-over-year. It is expected that the price of oil will be volatile for the foreseeable future given the current geopolitical risks, evolving macro-economic environment that impacts energy demand, future supply actions by OPEC and non-OPEC oil producing countries, the Russia-Ukraine war and conflicts in the Middle East, and the Biden Administration's management of the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Occidental does not operate or own assets in Russia or Ukraine, or in the immediate vicinity of ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
Occidental works to manage inflation impacts by capitalizing on operational efficiencies, locking in pricing on longer term contracts and working closely with vendors to secure the supply of critical materials. As of December 31, 2023, substantially all of Occidental's outstanding debt was fixed rate.
STRATEGY
Occidental is focused on delivering a unique shareholder value proposition with its portfolio of oil and gas, chemicals and midstream and marketing assets and its ongoing development of carbon management and storage solutions and GHG emissions reduction efforts. Occidental conducts its operations with a priority on HSE, sustainability and social responsibility. Occidental aims to maximize shareholder returns through a combination of:
■Delivering a sustainable and growing dividend;
■Enhancing its asset base with new investments in its cash-generative energy and chemical businesses as well as emerging low-carbon businesses;
■Advancing technologies and business solutions to help drive a sustainable low-carbon future;
■Further reducing long-term financial leverage; and
■Strengthening Occidental’s U.S. onshore portfolio with premier Permian Basin assets through the CrownRock Acquisition, which is expected to be immediately cash flow accretive.
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND CAPITAL EFFICIENCY
Occidental's operational priorities for 2023 were to maximize operational efficiencies by investing $5.0 billion in high return upstream assets to generate long-term free cash flow that will provide cash flow stability throughout the commodity cycle. Occidental set new operational records and efficiency benchmarks in the Permian, Rockies, Gulf of Mexico, Oman and UAE. Despite a softer market, OxyChem generated its third-highest year of earnings. With favorable commodity prices and Occidental’s success with operational efficiencies, Occidental’s generated cash flow enabled share repurchases and the commencement of preferred equity redemption, advancing its shareholder return framework.
DEBT
As of December 31, 2023, future principal payments of debt were less than $18.0 billion, of which $1.1 billion is due in in 2024, $1.2 billion in 2025, $1.4 billion in 2026, $0.9 billion in 2027, and $13.3 billion due in 2028 and thereafter.
In connection with entering into an agreement to acquire CrownRock, Occidental secured a fully-committed $5.3 billion bridge loan facility, a $2.0 billion 364-day term loan, and a $2.7 billion two-year term loan. Prior to or concurrent with the closing of the acquisition, Occidental plans to issue new debt comprised of a combination of the term loans and senior unsecured notes. In addition, Occidental plans to refinance a majority of the $1.2 billion of CrownRock’s existing debt assumed in the acquisition. Occidental intends to repay at least $4.5 billion of debt within twelve months of closing the acquisition with proceeds from the divestiture program and excess cash flows.
DEBT RATINGS
As of the date of this filing, Occidental’s long-term debt was rated Baa3 by Moody’s Investors Service, BBB- by Fitch Ratings and BB+ by Standard and Poor’s. Occidental's credit rating was upgraded to investment grade by Moody's Investors Service in March 2023 and by Fitch Ratings in May 2023. Any downgrade in credit ratings could impact Occidental's ability to access capital markets and increase its cost of capital. A non-investment grade debt rating may require Occidental or its subsidiaries to provide financial assurance in the form of cash, letters of credit, surety bonds or other acceptable support under certain contractual arrangements.
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SHAREHOLDER RETURN PRIORITIES
Capital is returned to shareholders through Occidental’s dividend and share repurchases. In 2023, Occidental declared dividends to common shareholders of $646 million, or $0.72 per share, and repurchased 29.1 million common shares at an average price of $61.09 per share under the $3.0 billion share repurchase program announced in February 2023. In February 2024, Occidental’s Board declared an increased dividend rate of $0.22 per share per quarter or $0.88 on an annualized basis. Additional free cash flows from the CrownRock Acquisition are expected to support the increase of the quarterly dividend to $0.22 per share. As of December 31, 2023, $1.2 billion remained of Occidental’s $3.0 billion share repurchase program, which the Board authorized in February 2023.
In 2023, Occidental redeemed preferred stock with a face value of $1.5 billion, and incurred $151 million in redemption premiums as its trailing 12-month distributions to common shareholders were above $4.00 per share. As of December 31, 2023, $8.5 billion face value of the preferred stock remains outstanding. In light of the CrownRock Acquisition, Occidental’s shareholder return priorities aim to provide a growing sustainable dividend and reduce outstanding debt principal to below $15 billion before resuming share repurchases.
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP STRATEGY
In 2020, Occidental was the first U.S. oil and gas company to announce goals to achieve net-zero GHG emissions for its total emissions inventory including use of sold products. These goals include achieving net-zero GHG emissions (i) from its operations and energy use before 2040, with an ambition to do so before 2035, and (ii) from its total carbon inventory, including the use of its sold products, with an ambition to do so before 2050. In 2020, Occidental also set various interim targets, including 2025 carbon and methane intensity targets, and Occidental was the first U.S. oil and gas company to endorse the World Bank’s initiative for zero routine flaring by 2030. In 2022, the Board of Directors adopted Occidental’s updated HSE and Sustainability Principles, based on engagement with shareholders, employees and other stakeholders. The Principles reinforce the alignment among Occidental’s core values, goals and strategies, underpin its Operational Management System, and help to guide the workforce across its businesses.
Occidental seeks to meet its sustainability and environmental goals through its development and commercialization of technologies that lower both GHG emissions from industrial processes and existing atmospheric concentrations of CO2. Occidental believes that carbon removal technologies, including DAC and CCUS, can, with incentives necessary for their development and deployment, provide essential CO2 reductions to assist the world’s transition to a less carbon-intensive economy. As a result of these initiatives, Occidental has completed the following actions, among others, toward advancing its low-carbon strategy:
■Acquired full ownership of DAC technology developer Carbon Engineering, Ltd;
■Reduced estimated methane emissions by approximately 58% from 2019 and 40% from 2021, along with CO2 reductions;
■Entered into a joint venture agreement with BlackRock, through a fund managed by its Diversified Infrastructure business, for the development of STRATOS, Occidental’s first large-scale Direct Air Capture plant in Ector County, Texas, which provides $550 million of committed investment from BlackRock's fund;
■STRATOS construction progressed on schedule;
■South Texas DAC Hub selected for a U.S. Department of Energy DAC demonstration grant, with funding to be announced in 2024, and commenced front-end engineering and design;
■Achieved global 67% reduction in routine flaring of gas in 2023 from its 2020 baseline through commissioning additional compression in Oman while its U.S. oil and gas operations sustained zero routine flaring;
■Removed or converted all remaining high-bleed pneumatic control devices found in Occidental’s U.S. onshore oil and operations; and
■Original signatory to the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter and committed funding to the World Bank’s Global Flaring and Methane Reduction Partnership, both announced at the UN’s COP28 Climate Change Conference.
The future costs associated with emissions reduction, carbon removal and CCUS to meet its long-term net-zero GHG goals may be substantial and execution of Occidental’s plans and net-zero pathway depends on securing third-party capital investments. As reflected by the joint venture with BlackRock, Occidental is pursuing multiple pathways to fund these projects including project financing, long-term carbon removal or CCUS agreements, and identifying business opportunities with stakeholders in carbon-intensive industries.
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KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Occidental seeks to meet its strategic goals by continually measuring its success against key performance indicators that drive total stockholder return. In addition to efficient capital allocation and deployment discussed below in the section titled Oil and Gas Segment - Business Strategy, Occidental believes its most significant performance indicators are:
OPERATIONAL
■Total spend per barrel - In 2024, Occidental will continue to focus on controlling total costs from a per-barrel perspective. Total spend per barrel is the sum of capital spending, general and administrative expenses, other operating and non-operating expenses and oil and gas lease operating costs divided by global oil, NGL and natural gas sales volumes.
■Daily production - Occidental seeks to maximize field operability and minimize production down-time.
FINANCIAL
■CROCE - CROCE is calculated as (i) the cash flows from operating activities, before changes in working capital, plus distributions from WES classified as investing cash flows, divided by (ii) the average of the opening and closing balances of total equity plus total debt.
■Credit rating - Maintain and improve financial leverage to a level consistent with investment grade credit metrics.
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL
■Specific interim emissions reduction and emissions intensity targets to advance the goal of net-zero operational and energy use emissions before 2040, with an ambition to achieve before 2035.
■Milestones in specific carbon removal and CCUS projects that advance a net-zero total emissions inventory, including use of sold products, with an ambition to achieve before 2050.
■Facilitate deployment of carbon removal, CCUS and other solutions to advance total carbon impact past 2050.
OIL AND GAS SEGMENT
BUSINESS STRATEGY
Occidental’s oil and gas segment focuses on long-term value creation and leadership in sustainability, health, safety and the environment. In each core operating area, Occidental’s operations benefit from scale, technical expertise, decades of high-margin inventory, environmental and safety leadership and commercial and governmental collaboration. These attributes allow Occidental to bring additional production quickly to market, extend the life of older fields at lower costs and provide low-cost returns-driven growth opportunities with advanced technology.
Occidental is one of the largest U.S. producers of liquids, which includes oil and NGL, allowing Occidental to maximize cash margins on a per barrel basis. The advantages that Occidental’s portfolio provides, coupled with its advanced subsurface characterization ability and the proven ability to execute, position Occidental for full-cycle success in the years ahead. The oil and gas segment maximizes efficiencies to deliver lower breakeven costs and generate excess free cash flow. The oil and gas segment strives to achieve low development and operating costs to maximize full-cycle value of the assets.
The oil and gas business implements Occidental’s strategy primarily by:
■Operating and developing areas where reserves are known to exist and optimizing capital intensity in core areas, primarily in the Permian Basin, DJ Basin, Gulf of Mexico, UAE, Oman and Algeria;
■Maintaining a disciplined and prudent approach to capital expenditures with a focus on high-return, short and mid-cycle, cash-flow-generating opportunities and an emphasis on creating value and further enhancing Occidental’s existing positions;
■Focusing Occidental’s subsurface characterization and technical activities on both conventional and unconventional resources in the Permian Basin, Rockies, Gulf of Mexico and International;
■Using secondary and tertiary recovery techniques in mature fields; and
■Focusing on cost-reduction efficiencies and innovative technologies to reduce carbon emissions.
In 2023, oil and gas capital expenditures were approximately $5.0 billion and primarily focused on Occidental’s assets in the Permian Basin, DJ Basin, Gulf of Mexico and Oman. In 2024, Occidental plans to spend $4.8 billion to $5.0 billion to develop its oil and gas assets, excluding amounts associated with the CrownRock Acquisition.
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In December 2023, Occidental entered into an agreement to purchase CrownRock L.P. for total consideration of $12.0 billion. Occidental intends to finance the purchase with the issuance of $9.1 billion of new debt, the issuance of approximately $1.7 billion of common equity and the assumption of CrownRock’s $1.2 billion of existing debt. Occidental believes the CrownRock Acquisition will deliver immediate and significant free cash flow accretion and improve scale in the Midland Basin, along with a unique opportunity to add to Occidental’s high-grade U.S. onshore asset portfolio. This free cash flow accretion will also enable Occidental to increase its dividend in the near term, and provides high-margin inventory that will support the sustainable growth over time.
On January 19, 2024, Occidental and the Sellers each received a Second Request from the FTC in connection with the FTC’s review of the CrownRock Acquisition. A Second Request extends the waiting period imposed by the HSR Act until 30 days after each of Occidental and the Sellers have substantially complied with the Second Request issued to them, unless that period is extended voluntarily by Occidental and the Sellers or terminated sooner by the FTC. Occidental and the Sellers continue to work constructively with the FTC in its review of the CrownRock Acquisition, which Occidental expects will close in the second half of 2024.
OIL AND GAS PRICE ENVIRONMENT
Oil and gas prices are the major variables that drive the industry’s financial performance. The following table presents the average daily WTI and Brent prices for oil and NYMEX natural gas prices for 2023 and 2022:
| 2023 | 2022 | % Change | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WTI Oil ($/Bbl) | $ | 77.64 | $ | 94.23 | (18) | % | ||
| Brent Oil ($/Bbl) | $ | 82.25 | $ | 98.83 | (17) | % | ||
| NYMEX Natural Gas ($/Mcf) | $ | 2.94 | $ | 6.35 | (54) | % |
The following table presents Occidental’s average realized prices for continuing operations as a percentage of WTI, Brent and NYMEX for 2023 and 2022:
| 2023 | 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worldwide oil as a percentage of average WTI | 99 | % | 100 | % |
| Worldwide oil as a percentage of average Brent | 93 | % | 95 | % |
| Worldwide NGL as a percentage of average WTI | 27 | % | 38 | % |
| Worldwide NGL as a percentage of average Brent | 26 | % | 36 | % |
| Domestic natural gas as a percentage of NYMEX | 69 | % | 86 | % |
Prices and differentials can vary significantly, even on a short-term basis, making it difficult to predict realized prices with a reliable degree of certainty.
DOMESTIC INTERESTS
BUSINESS REVIEW
Occidental conducts its domestic operations through land leases, subsurface mineral rights it owns, or a combination of both. Occidental’s domestic oil and gas leases have a primary term ranging from one to 10 years, which is extended through the end of production once it commences. Occidental has leasehold and mineral interests in 9.3 million net acres, of which approximately 51% is leased, 48% is owned subsurface mineral rights and 1% is owned land with mineral rights. Approximately $4.1 billion to $4.3 billion of Occidental’s worldwide capital budget is expected to be allocated to its domestic operations in 2024, before the impact of the CrownRock Acquisition.
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DOMESTIC ASSETS (a)
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1. Powder River Basin 2. DJ Basin 3. Permian Basin 4. Gulf of Mexico |
(a)Map represents geographic outlines of the respective basins.
The Permian Basin
The Permian Basin extends throughout West Texas and Southeast New Mexico and is one of the largest and most active oil basins in the United States, accounting for more than 45% of total United States oil production in 2023. Overall in 2023, Occidental’s production in the Permian Basin was approximately 584 Mboe/d.
Occidental manages its Permian Basin operations through two businesses: Permian Resources, which includes unconventional opportunities, and Permian EOR, which utilizes secondary and tertiary recovery techniques. Occidental had a leading position in the Permian Basin, producing approximately 9% of the total oil in the basin in 2023. By exploiting the natural synergies between Permian Resources and Permian EOR, Occidental is able to deliver unique short- and long-term advantages, efficiencies and expertise across its Permian Basin operations.
The Permian Resources unconventional business is focused on developing and producing unconventional reservoir targets using horizontal drilling technology. The development programs are designed to create long-term value from primary development by maximizing the recovery of oil, utilizing sustainable practices and providing strong financial returns. Occidental’s unconventional oil and gas operations in Permian Resources include approximately 1.4 million net acres. In 2023, Occidental’s activities were focused in the core development areas with emphasis on maintaining the industry leading capital intensity through optimized surface infrastructure and customized well designs. Overall, in 2023, Permian Resources produced from approximately 4,520 gross wells and added 265 MMboe to Occidental’s proved reserves through infill development projects and extensions of proved areas.
The Permian Basin’s concentration of large conventional reservoirs, strong CO2 flooding performance and the expansive CO2 transportation and processing infrastructure has resulted in decades of high-value enhanced oil production. With 34 active CO2 floods and over 50 years of experience, Occidental is the industry leader in Permian Basin CO2 flooding, which can increase ultimate oil recovery by 10% to 25%. Technology improvements, such as the recent trend toward vertical expansion of the CO2 flooded interval into residual oil zone targets, continue to yield more recovery from existing projects. Significant opportunities also remain to gain additional recovery by expanding Occidental’s existing CO2 projects into new portions of reservoirs that have only been waterflooded. Permian EOR has 1.4 million net acres with a large inventory of future CO2 projects, which could be developed over the next 20 years or accelerated, depending on market conditions. Permian EOR produced from approximately 13,000 gross wells in 2023. In 2023, Occidental spent approximately $2.8 billion of capital in the Permian Basin, of which 88% was spent on Permian Resources assets.
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| 34 | OXY 2023 FORM 10-K |
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| MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
Rockies and Other Domestic
In 2023, Occidental produced approximately 271 Mboe/d net and spent capital of approximately $0.7 billion in the Rockies and Other Domestic locations. Production in the DJ Basin is derived from approximately 4,050 wells primarily focused in the Niobrara and Codell formations. The DJ Basin, including the North DJ Basin, comprises approximately 0.7 million total net acres and provides competitive economics, low breakeven costs and free cash flow generation through Occidental’s contiguous acreage position and royalty uplift.
Operations in the DJ Basin are subject to regulations that impose siting requirements, or “setback,” on certain oil and gas drilling locations based on the distance of a proposed well pad to occupied structures. Occidental has dedicated stakeholder relations team that conducts regulatory and community outreach with respect to its permit applications and operations in Colorado with a focus on building trust and fostering open communication with those that live and work near its operations. Through thoughtful planning, Occidental has established a steady cadence of permit approvals through various agencies, local governments and the ECMC through the demonstration of best-in-class operations mitigations, robust community outreach and protective site selection. In 2023, Occidental submitted Oil and Gas Development Plans comprising over 200 wells to the ECMC. Additionally, during the third quarter of 2022, Occidental became the first oil and gas operator in Colorado to obtain ECMC approval for the first Comprehensive Area Plan under the new ECMC rules. This comprehensive plan will support nine well pads (approximately 140 new wells) and will provide for substantial future development in a geographically remote are on Colorado’s eastern plains. It is anticipated that the first Oil and Gas Development Plan associated with the comprehensive plan will be heard by the ECMC Professional Commission during the first quarter of 2024. As of December 31, 2023, Occidental was permitted, or had submitted permit applications to applicable regulatory agencies, for nearly all planned 2024 drilling and completions activity in the DJ Basin. Occidental continues to gain efficiencies in the permitting process and will continue to look for additional opportunities to do so in the year ahead.
Occidental has interest in over 0.3 million net acres in the Powder River Basin, mainly located in Converse County and Campbell County, Wyoming. The field contains the Turner, Niobrara, Mowry and Parkman formations that hold both liquids and natural gas.
Occidental holds approximately 4.6 million net acres in other domestic locations, which consist of acreage and fee minerals outside of Occidental’s core operated areas including parts of Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Texas, West Virginia and Wyoming.
OFFSHORE DOMESTIC ASSETS
Gulf of Mexico
Occidental is the fourth-largest oil and gas producer in the deep-water Gulf of Mexico, operating 10 strategically located deep-water floating platforms, the highest number among all the deep water operators, and producing from 18 active fields while owning a working interest across 261 blocks, including approximately 0.9 million net acres.
Occidental further operates two marine shore-bases in Galveston, Texas, and Port Fourchon, Louisiana, as well as two helicopter bases in Louisiana, providing back-up and redundancy to support its Gulf operations. A central logistics base and an integrated training center is located in Broussard, Louisiana, and Gulf of Mexico operations and development are managed and supported with engineering and technical staff located in The Woodlands, Texas.
Development projects continued with the strategy of accelerated delivery at Horn Mountain, Lucius, and Holstein facilities. Drilling and well services also ramped up activities, using one floating drill ship, one platform rig and several service rigs, with a second drillship being contracted in the last two months of the year, initially for well workovers. The Marco Polo K2 Subsea Pumping project was successfully started up four months ahead of schedule, enabling increased production and future well development. In 2023, Occidental spent $400 million of capital on development projects.
OBN seismic projects were further expanded in 2023, including at the K2 field, setting up a runway of future development opportunities. Asset development switched to a focus of assessing growth potential from all of its current inventory using secondary recovery techniques and expects to propose new development opportunities beginning around 2025.
In 2023, Occidental increased net production to 145 Mboe/d from 85 gross wells. Occidental focused base production management and artificial lift projects, which successfully reduced reservoir declines. Operational excellence and efficiency continued as a core objective in 2023. Occidental’s Gulf of Mexico Production Operations and Asset Integrity teams continued achieving world class platform operating efficiencies and major equipment uptime in 2023, with major platform and equipment uptimes increasing from 90% to 98%. Multiple platform seasonal shut-ins were planned and executed safely and efficiently in 2023 delivering a 40% reduction in numbers of shut-in days as compared to 2019 and steering on course to implement planned shut-ins only once each two years for each facility. In the fourth quarter of 2023, at the request of the Main Pass Oil Gathering system operator, Occidental temporarily halted certain operations in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. These operations are expected to be restarted in early 2024.
During 2023, all necessary regulatory permits for new wells and existing operations were obtained timely without any operational delays. Occidental was further awarded 11 new leases from BOEM’s Lease Sale 259. Occidental participated in Lease Sale 261, held on December 20, 2023 and was the apparent high bidder on 49 of 57 total blocks.
Occidental’s Gulf of Mexico assets continued to be among the lowest carbon emissions operations in the industry with zero routine flaring and zero cold venting. Occidental’s Gulf of Mexico operations were also recognized by the Center of Offshore Safety for its industry award winning 2023 Heat Stress Program and its continued dedication to improving HSE.
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The following table shows key areas of ongoing development in the Gulf of Mexico, along with the corresponding working interest in those areas.
| Working Interest | ||
|---|---|---|
| Horn Mountain | 100 | % |
| Holstein | 100 | % |
| Marlin | 100 | % |
| Lucius | 67 | % |
| K2 Complex | 42 | % |
| Caesar Tonga | 34 | % |
| Constellation | 33 | % |
In 2024, Occidental expects to commence new expansions using advanced recovery techniques as well as continuing development of its existing assets across the Gulf of Mexico that deliver some of the highest margin production in its portfolio. Occidental plans to conduct development and exploration activities in 2024 using two floating drill ships and several other well service vessels and continue to optimize its extensive portfolio of lease working interests.
INTERNATIONAL INTERESTS
BUSINESS REVIEW
Occidental conducts its ongoing international operations in two sub-regions: the Middle East and North Africa. Its activities include oil, NGL and natural gas production through direct working-interests, PSAs and PSCs. Under the PSCs, Occidental records a share of production and reserves to recover certain development and production costs and an additional share for profit. These contracts do not transfer any right of ownership to Occidental and reserves reported from these arrangements are based on Occidental’s economic interest as defined in the contracts. Occidental’s share of production and reserves from these contracts decreases when product prices rise and increases when prices decline. Overall, Occidental’s net economic benefit from these contracts is greater when product prices are higher. Approximately $0.5 billion of Occidental’s worldwide capital budget is expected to be allocated to its international operations in 2024.
MIDDLE EAST / NORTH AFRICA ASSETS
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1.Algeria 2.Oman 3.Qatar 4.UAE |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 36 | OXY 2023 FORM 10-K |
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| MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
Algeria
Occidental’s interest in Algeria involves development and production rights in 18 fields within Blocks 404a and 208, which are located in the Berkine Basin in Algeria’s Sahara Desert and are governed by an agreement amongst Occidental, Sonatrach and other partners. Occidental is responsible for 35% of the development and production costs. The El Merk central processing facility in Block 208 processes produced oil, NGL and natural gas, while the Hassi Berkine South and Ourhoud central processing facilities in Block 404a process produced oil. The rights to produce from the Block 404a and Block 208 fields under the new development agreement commenced May 3, 2023 and will continue until 2048.
In 2023, net production in Algeria was 32 Mboe/d, two gross development wells were drilled and annual net capital expenditures were $30 million.
Oman
In Oman, Occidental is the operator of Block 9, Block 27, Block 53 (Mukhaizna Field), Block 62 and Block 65 and has additional interests in Blocks 30, 51 and 72, which are under the Exploration phase. The working interest and contract expiration year for each of the respective blocks are shown in the table below. Occidental holds 6.0 million gross acres and has 10,000 potential well inventory locations. In 2023, Occidental’s share of production was 66 Mboe/d.
| Working Interest | Block Expiration (Year) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Block 9 | 50 | % | 2030 |
| Block 27 | 65 | % | 2035 |
| Block 53 | 47 | % | 2035 |
| Block 62 | 100 | % | 2028 |
| Block 65 | 51 | % | 2037 |
| Blocks 30, 51 and 72 | 100 | % | Exploration Phase |
Occidental has produced over 789 million gross barrels from Block 9 since the beginning of its operation through successful exploration, continuous drilling improvements and EOR projects. The Mukhaizna Field in Block 53 is a major pattern steam flood project for EOR that utilizes some of the largest mechanical vapor compressors ever built. Since assuming operations in the Mukhaizna Field in 2005, Occidental has drilled close to 3,600 new wells and has produced over 607 million gross barrels. In 2023, Occidental invested capital of $374 million across all of the Oman blocks to drill 97 wells and execute facilities projects to support development and EOR activities.
In 2024, Occidental will continue to enhance production by adding extended and dual laterals, stimulating wells with the OXY JETTINGTM wellbore stimulation system, and expanding thermal conformance. Occidental will also continue to execute projects in Oman targeting emissions reductions.
Qatar
In Qatar, Occidental partners in the Dolphin Energy Project, an investment that is comprised of two separate economic interests. Occidental has a 24.5% interest in the upstream operations to develop and produce NGL, natural gas and condensate from Qatar’s North Field through mid-2032. Occidental also has a 24.5% interest in DEL, which operates a pipeline and is discussed further in the midstream and marketing segment section in this Form 10-K under Pipeline. In 2023, Occidental’s net share of production from Dolphin was 39 Mboe/d.
UAE
Occidental has a 40% participating interest in the Shah gas field (Al Hosn Gas), joining with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, which expires in 2041. In 2023, Occidental’s net share of production from Al Hosn Gas was 267 MMcf/d of natural gas and 38 Mbbl/d of NGL and condensate. Al Hosn Gas includes gas processing facilities which are discussed further in the midstream and marketing segment section in this Form 10-K under Gas Processing, Gathering and CO2. In 2023, Occidental completed an expansion project that commenced in 2022 to increase the production capacity of the Al Hosn Gas processing facilities from 1.28 Bcf/d to 1.45 Bcf/d.
In 2019 and 2020, Occidental acquired 9-year exploration concessions and, subject to a declaration of commerciality, 35-year production concessions for Onshore Block 3 and Block 5, which cover an area approximately 1.5 million acres and 1.0 million acres, respectively, and are adjacent to Al Hosn Gas. In 2023, Occidental commenced first oil production in Onshore Block 3. In 2024, Occidental will continue further exploration and appraisal activities in Onshore Block 3 and Block 5.
PROVED RESERVES
Proved oil, NGL and natural gas reserves were estimated using the unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within the year, unless prices were defined by contractual arrangements. Oil, NGL and
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natural gas prices used for this purpose were based on posted benchmark prices and adjusted for price differentials including gravity, quality and transportation costs.
The following table shows the 2023, 2022 and 2021 calculated first-day-of-the-month average prices for both WTI and Brent oil prices, as well as the Henry Hub gas prices:
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WTI Oil ($/Bbl) | $ | 78.22 | $ | 93.67 | $ | 66.56 | ||
| Brent Oil ($/Bbl) | $ | 82.80 | $ | 97.77 | $ | 69.24 | ||
| Henry Hub Natural Gas ($/MMbtu) | $ | 2.64 | $ | 6.36 | $ | 3.60 | ||
| Mt. Belvieu NGL ($/Bbl) | $ | 29.94 | $ | 47.81 | $ | 44.22 |
Occidental had proved reserves from continuing operations at year-end 2023 of 3,982 MMboe, compared to the year-end 2022 amount of 3,817 MMboe. Proved developed reserves represented approximately 69% and 71% of Occidental’s total proved reserves at year-end 2023 and 2022, respectively. The following table shows the breakout of Occidental’s proved reserves from continuing operations by commodity as a percentage of total proved reserves:
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil | 49 | % | 50 | % | ||
| NGL | 24 | % | 22 | % | ||
| Natural gas | 27 | % | 28 | % |
Occidental does not have any reserves from non-traditional sources. For further information regarding Occidental’s proved reserves, see the Supplemental Oil and Gas Information section in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
CHANGES IN PROVED RESERVES
Changes in Occidental’s 2023 reserves were as follows:
| MMboe | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Revisions of previous estimates | 406 | |
| Improved recovery | 23 | |
| Extensions and discoveries | 153 | |
| Purchases | 31 | |
| Sales | (2) | |
| Production | (446) | |
| Total | 165 |
Occidental’s ability to add reserves, other than through purchases, depends on the success of infill development, extension, discovery and improved recovery projects, each of which depends on reservoir characteristics, technology improvements and oil and natural gas prices, as well as capital and operating costs. Many of these factors are outside management’s control and may negatively or positively affect Occidental’s reserves.
Revisions of Previous Estimates
Revisions can include upward or downward changes to previous proved reserve estimates for existing fields due to the evaluation or interpretation of geologic, production decline or operating performance data. In addition, product price changes affect proved reserves recorded by Occidental. For example, lower prices may decrease the economically recoverable reserves, particularly for domestic properties, because the reduced margin limits the expected life of the operations. Offsetting this effect, lower prices increase Occidental’s share of proved reserves under PSCs because more oil is required to recover costs. Conversely, when prices rise, Occidental’s share of proved reserves decreases for PSCs and economically recoverable reserves may increase for other operations. Reserve estimation rules require that estimated ultimate recoveries be much more likely to increase or remain constant than to decrease, as changes are made due to increased availability of technical data.
In 2023, Occidental’s revisions of previous estimates of proved reserves were positive 406 MMboe. These revisions were primarily due to 303 MMboe of positive revisions related to additions associated with infill development projects, mainly in the DJ Basin (138 MMboe), the Permian Basin (132 MMboe) and Algeria (26 MMboe). Further positive revisions of 192 MMboe were primarily associated with updates based on operating cost models (120 MMboe), reservoir performance (47
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MMboe), and the Algeria contract extension (44 MMboe). The positive revisions were partially offset by negative revisions associated with management changes in development plans and interest related revisions (16 MMboe).
This was partially offset by 89 MMboe of negative price revisions. The negative price revisions were primarily associated with the Permian Basin (91 MMboe) and the DJ Basin (5 MMboe), which were partially offset by positive price revisions of 13 MMboe on international PSCs.
Improved Recovery
In 2023, Occidental added proved reserves of 23 MMboe related to improved recovery in Oman (14 MMboe) and Permian EOR (9 MMboe). These properties comprise conventional projects, which are characterized by the deployment of EOR development methods, largely employing application of CO2 flood, waterflood or steam flood. These types of conventional EOR development methods can be applied through existing wells, though additional drilling is frequently required to fully optimize the development configuration. Waterflooding is the technique of injecting water into the formation to displace the oil to the offsetting oil production wells. The use of either CO2 or steam flooding depends on the geology of the formation, the evaluation of engineering data, availability and cost of either CO2 or steam and other economic factors. Both techniques work similarly to lower viscosity causing the oil to move more easily to the producing wells.
Extensions and Discoveries
Occidental also added proved reserves from extensions and discoveries, which are dependent on successful exploration and exploitation programs. In 2023, extensions and discoveries added 153 MMboe primarily related to the recognition of proved reserves in the Permian Basin (133 MMboe) and Gulf of Mexico (11 MMboe).
Purchases of Proved Reserves
In 2023, Occidental purchased proved reserves of 31 MMboe primarily consisting of proved reserves in the DJ Basin.
Sales of Proved Reserves
In 2023, Occidental sold 2 MMboe in proved reserves related to the divestitures of certain non-strategic assets in the Permian Basin.
Proved Undeveloped Reserves
Occidental had PUD reserves at year-end 2023 of 1,232 MMboe, compared to the year-end 2022 amount of 1,119 MMboe.
Changes in PUD reserves were as follows:
| MMboe | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Revisions of previous estimates | 242 | |
| Improved recovery | 8 | |
| Extensions and discoveries | 96 | |
| Purchases | 25 | |
| Sales | — | |
| Transfer to proved developed reserves | (258) | |
| Total | 113 |
Revisions of previous estimates were a positive 242 MMboe. Approximately 275 MMboe of the positive revisions were related to additions associated with infill development projects located primarily in the DJ Basin (125 MMboe), the Permian Basin (119 MMboe) and Algeria (25 MMboe). The positive revisions were partially offset by negative other revisions associated primarily with management changes in development plans and the Algeria contract extension (19 MMboe). Additionally, the revisions included negative price revisions of 14 MMboe. The negative price revisions were primarily associated with the Permian Basin.
Extensions and discoveries added 96 MMboe primarily related to the recognition of proved reserves in the Permian Basin (80 MMboe) and Gulf of Mexico (10 MMboe). Total improved recovery additions of 8 MMboe were the result of implementing secondary and tertiary projects in international assets. The 2023 additions to PUD reserves were partially offset by transfers to proved developed reserves of 258 MMboe. The transfers were primarily associated with the Permian Basin (151 MMboe), the DJ Basin (62 MMboe) and UAE (29 MMboe).
In 2023, Occidental incurred approximately $1.6 billion to convert PUD reserves to proved developed reserves, and in 2023 Occidental converted approximately 23% of its PUD reserves to proved developed, when adjusted for revisions and sales. As of December 31, 2023, Occidental had 1,232 MMboe of PUD reserves of which 75% were associated with domestic onshore, 5% with Gulf of Mexico and 20% with international assets. Occidental’s most active development areas are located in the Permian Basin, which represented 50% of the PUD reserves as of December 31, 2023. Occidental’s total
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planned 2024 capital expenditures for oil and gas are between $4.8 billion and $5.0 billion. Overall, Occidental plans to spend approximately $5.5 billion over the next five years to develop its PUD reserves in the Permian Basin.
PUD reserves are supported by a five-year detailed field-level development plan, which includes the timing, location and capital commitment of the wells to be drilled. Only PUD reserves which are reasonably certain to be drilled within five years of booking and are supported by a final investment decision to drill them are included in the development plan. A portion of the PUD reserves are expected to be developed beyond the five years and are tied to approved long-term development projects.
As of December 31, 2023, Occidental had 212 MMboe of pre-2019 PUD reserves that remained undeveloped. These PUD reserves relate to approved long-term development plans, 165 MMboe of which are primarily associated with international development projects with physical limitations in existing gas processing capacity and 47 MMboe of which are related to approved long-term development plans for Permian EOR projects, also with physical limitations in existing gas processing capacity. Occidental remains committed to these projects and continues to actively progress the development of these volumes. In addition to the above, Occidental has 29 MMboe of PUD reserves that are scheduled to be developed more than five years from their initial date of booking. These PUD reserves are related to approved long-term development plans, 18 MMboe of which are associated with international development projects and 11 MMboe with the Gulf of Mexico projects.
RESERVES EVALUATION AND REVIEW PROCESS
Occidental’s estimates of proved reserves and associated future net cash flows as of December 31, 2023, were made by Occidental’s technical personnel and are the responsibility of management. The estimation of proved reserves is based on the requirement of reasonable certainty of economic producibility and funding commitments by Occidental to develop the reserves. This process involves reservoir engineers, geoscientists, planning engineers and financial analysts. As part of the proved reserves estimation process, all reserve volumes are estimated by a forecast of production rates, operating costs and capital expenditures. Price differentials between benchmark prices (the unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within the year) and realized prices and specifics of each operating agreement are then used to estimate the net reserves. Production rate forecasts are derived by a number of methods, including estimates from decline curve analysis, type well profile analysis, computer simulation of the reservoir performance, volumetric analysis and material balance calculations that take into account the volumes of substances replacing the volumes produced and associated reservoir pressure changes supported by various technologies including seismic analysis. These reliable field-tested technologies have demonstrated reasonably certain results with consistency and repeatability in the formation being evaluated or in an analogous formation. Operating and capital costs are forecast using the current cost environment applied to expectations of future operating and development activities.
Net proved developed reserves are those volumes that are expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods for which the incremental cost of any additional required investment is relatively minor.
Net PUD reserves are those volumes that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion. PUD reserves are supported by a five-year, detailed, field-level development plan, which includes the timing, location and capital commitment of the wells to be drilled. The development plan is reviewed and approved annually by senior management and technical personnel. Annually, a detailed review is performed by Occidental’s Corporate Reserves Group and its technical personnel on a lease-by-lease basis to assess whether PUD reserves are being converted on a timely basis within five years from the initial disclosure date. Any leases not showing timely transfers from PUD reserves to proved developed reserves are reviewed by senior management to determine if the remaining reserves will be developed in a timely manner and have sufficient capital committed in the development plan. Only PUD reserves that are reasonably certain to be drilled within five years of booking and are supported by a final investment decision to drill them are included in the development plan. A portion of the PUD reserves associated with international operations are expected to be developed beyond the five years and are tied to approved long-term development plans.
The current Senior Vice President, Reserves for Oxy Oil and Gas is responsible for overseeing the preparation of reserve estimates, in compliance with SEC rules and regulations, including the internal audit and review of Occidental’s oil and gas reserves data. He has over 40 years of experience in the upstream sector of the exploration and production business and has held various assignments in North America, Asia and Europe. He is a three-time past Chair of the Society of Petroleum Engineers Oil and Gas Reserves Committee. He is an AAPG Certified Petroleum Geologist and currently serves on the AAPG Committee on Resource Evaluation. He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers, the Colorado School of Mines Potential Gas Committee and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Expert Group on Resource Management. He has Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in geology from Emory University in Atlanta.
Occidental has a Reserves Committee, consisting of senior corporate officers, to review and approve Occidental’s oil and gas reserves. The Reserves Committee reports to the Audit Committee of Occidental’s Board of Directors during the year. Since 2003, Occidental has retained Ryder Scott, independent petroleum engineering consultants, to review its annual oil and gas reserve estimation processes. For additional reserves information, see Supplemental Oil and Gas Information under Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
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In 2023, Ryder Scott conducted a process review of the methods and analytical procedures utilized by Occidental’s engineering and geological staff for estimating the proved reserves volumes, preparing the economic evaluations and determining the reserves classifications as of December 31, 2023, in accordance with SEC regulatory standards. Ryder Scott reviewed the specific application of such methods and procedures for selected oil and gas properties considered to be a valid representation of Occidental’s 2023 year-end total proved reserves portfolio. In 2023, Ryder Scott reviewed approximately 44% of Occidental’s proved oil and gas reserves. Since being engaged in 2003, Ryder Scott has reviewed the specific application of Occidental’s reserve estimation methods and procedures for approximately 97% of Occidental’s existing proved oil and gas reserves.
Management retained Ryder Scott to provide objective third-party input on its methods and procedures and to gather industry information applicable to Occidental’s reserve estimation and reporting process. Ryder Scott has not been engaged to render an opinion as to the reasonableness of reserves quantities reported by Occidental. Occidental has filed Ryder Scott’s independent report as an exhibit to this Form 10-K.
Based on its reviews, including the data, technical processes and interpretations presented by Occidental, Ryder Scott has concluded that the overall procedures and methodologies Occidental utilized in estimating the proved reserves volumes, preparing the economic evaluations and determining the reserves classifications for the reviewed properties are appropriate for the purpose thereof and comply with current SEC regulations.
OUTLOOK
The oil and gas exploration and production industry is highly competitive, is subject to significant volatility due to various market conditions and operations are highly dependent on oil prices and, to a lesser extent, NGL and natural gas prices. Oil prices decreased in 2023. In 2023, as compared to 2022, the average annual price per barrel of WTI crude decreased to $77.64 from $94.23, the average annual Brent price per barrel decreased to $82.25 from $98.83 and the average annual NYMEX natural gas price per mmcf decreased to $2.94 from $6.35.
Oil prices will continue to be affected by: (i) global supply and demand, which are generally a function of global economic conditions, inventory levels, production or supply chain disruptions, technological advances, regional market conditions and the actions of OPEC, other significant producers and governments; (ii) transportation capacity, infrastructure constraints, and costs in producing areas; (iii) currency exchange rates and inflation rates; and (iv) the effect of changes in these variables on market perceptions. It is expected that the price of oil will be volatile for the foreseeable future given the current geopolitical risks, the ongoing global impact of the Russia-Ukraine war and conflicts in the Middle East, the evolving macro-economic environment and supply activity from OPEC and non-OPEC oil producing countries and the Biden Administration’s releases from the U.S, Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Occidental does not operate or own assets in either Russia or Ukraine, or in the immediate vicinity of ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
NGL prices are related to the supply and demand for the components of products making up these liquids. Some of them more typically correlate to the price of oil while others are affected by natural gas prices as well as the demand for certain chemical products for which they are used as feedstock. In addition, infrastructure constraints magnify the pricing volatility from region to region.
Domestic natural gas prices and local differentials are strongly affected by local supply and demand fundamentals, as well as government regulations, global LNG demand and availability of transportation capacity from producing areas.
These and other factors make it difficult to predict the future direction of oil, NGL and domestic gas prices reliably. For purposes of the current capital plan, Occidental will continue to focus on allocating capital to high return assets with the flexibility to adjust based on fluctuations in commodity prices. International gas prices are generally fixed under long-term contracts. Occidental continues to adjust capital expenditures in line with current economic conditions, such as supply chain constraints, rising interest rates, global logistics and high inflation, which has continued to disrupt global supply and demand balances, with the goal of keeping returns well above its cost of capital.
The timing, process and ultimate cost to transition to a less carbon-intensive economy remains largely unknown; various industry forecasts indicate a growing demand for hydrocarbons for the remainder of the current decade. Occidental believes its operational flexibility to achieve low development and operating costs to maximize full-cycle value of its assets and its knowledge and experience in CO2 separation, transportation, use, recycling and storage position its oil and gas segment to support Occidental’s transition to net zero as well as create opportunities in a low-carbon future.
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CHEMICAL SEGMENT
BUSINESS STRATEGY
OxyChem concentrates on the chlorovinyls chain, beginning with the co-production of caustic soda and chlorine. Caustic soda and chlorine are marketed to external customers. In addition, chlorine, together with ethylene, is converted through a series of intermediate products into PVC. OxyChem seeks to be a low-cost producer in order to generate cash flow in excess of its normal capital expenditure requirements and achieve above-cost-of-capital returns. OxyChem’s focus on chlorovinyls allows it to maximize the benefits of integration and take advantage of economies of scale. Capital is employed to sustain production capacity and to focus on projects and developments designed to improve the competitiveness of segment assets. Acquisitions and plant development opportunities may be pursued when they are expected to enhance the existing core chlor-alkali and PVC businesses or take advantage of other specific opportunities. The expansion and conversion of the Battleground chlor-alkali plant to membrane technology commenced in 2023 with completion expected in 2026. In 2023, capital expenditures for OxyChem totaled $535 million.
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
Although the United States economic growth was slightly higher than that of 2022, demand for domestically produced products decreased, including liquid caustic soda and PVC. High global inflationary pressures resulted in slowing demand for many products, as ethylene and energy costs remained advantaged over global pricing. Caustic soda prices were lower in 2023 and PVC pricing decreased slightly in 2023 after moving downward significantly during the second half of 2022, as supply chain constraints, high interest rates, global logistics and high inflation continued to disrupt global supply and demand balances.
BUSINESS REVIEW
BASIC CHEMICALS
Chlor-alkali operating rates decreased in 2023 as global demand weakened in the face of inflationary pressures. As a result of weakening demand in most segments, pricing and margins declined across the year, and most notably on alkali products.
VINYLS
Domestic PVC demand softened for a second consecutive year in 2023, resulting in a 13% year over year decrease in demand. To offset domestic losses and maintain utilization rates, USGC export volume increased by 30% compared to 2022. Year over year industry operating rates were down 1% in 2023 due to weak global market conditions. High interest rates, slowing housing starts, and inflation continue to keep a ceiling on domestic PVC demand. PVC exports represented 36% of total North American sales in 2023 compared to 27% in 2022.
OUTLOOK
Industry performance will depend on the health of the global economy. Response to inflation will continue to control the housing and construction sectors during 2024. Product margins will depend on market supply and demand balances, feedstock and energy prices, supply chain interruptions, labor constraints and inflation. Sustained strong performance in the petroleum industry should strengthen the demand and margins for some of Occidental’s products that are consumed by industry participants. U.S. commodity export markets could be impacted by the relative strength of the U.S. dollar. Approximately $0.7 billion of Occidental’s worldwide capital budget is expected to be allocated to OxyChem in 2024.
BASIC CHEMICALS
Demand for basic chemicals is expected to improve moderately in 2024. Demand in most market segments is expected to follow the trend of the general economy throughout 2024. Demand for chlorine and derivatives should show gradual improvement across the year as both domestic and international growth slowly returns in most segments. Demand for alkali products should increase in 2024, as demand rebounds in all major segments, including pulp and paper, industrial, and alumina markets.
VINYLS
Single family housing starts steadily improved throughout 2023, offset by a declining multi-family housing market. Total housing starts are expected to be relatively flat next year, which will have little positive impact to domestic PVC demand in 2024. However, domestic infrastructure projects and recovering global demand are expected to slightly boost overall PVC demand year over year in 2024. New domestic PVC capacity will come online during 2024, which may have a negative impact on prices as the new production is placed into a bearish PVC market.
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MIDSTREAM AND MARKETING SEGMENT
BUSINESS STRATEGY
The midstream and marketing segment strives to maximize value by optimizing the use of its gathering, processing, transportation, storage and terminal commitments and by providing the oil and gas segment access to domestic and international markets. To generate returns, the segment evaluates opportunities across the value chain and uses its assets to provide services to Occidental’s subsidiaries, as well as third parties. The midstream and marketing segment operates or contracts for services on gathering systems, gas plants, co-generation facilities and storage facilities and invests in entities that conduct similar activities.
This segment also seeks to minimize the costs of gas and power used in Occidental’s various businesses. Also included in the midstream and marketing segment is OLCV. OLCV seeks to leverage Occidental’s carbon management expertise through the development of CCUS projects, and invests in emerging low-carbon technologies that are expected to reduce Occidental’s carbon footprint and enable others to do the same. Capital is employed to sustain or expand assets to improve the competitiveness of Occidental’s businesses. In 2023, capital expenditures related to the midstream and marketing segment totaled $656 million, the majority of which were related to the construction of STRATOS.
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
Midstream and marketing segment earnings are affected by the performance of its various businesses, including its marketing, gathering and transportation, gas processing and power-generation assets. The marketing business aggregates, markets and stores Occidental and third-party volumes. Marketing performance is affected primarily by commodity price changes and margins in oil and gas transportation and storage programs. The marketing business results can experience significant volatility depending on commodity prices and the Midland-to-Gulf-Coast oil spreads. The Midland-to-Gulf-Coast oil spreads have decreased from an average of $0.36 per barrel in 2022 to $0.21 per barrel in 2023. A $0.25 change in the Midland-to-Gulf-Coast oil spreads impacts total year operating cash flows by approximately $65 million. Gas gathering, processing and transportation results are affected by fluctuations in commodity prices and the volumes that are processed and transported through the segment’s plants, as well as the margins obtained on related services from investments in which Occidental has an equity interest.
BUSINESS REVIEW
MARKETING
The marketing group markets substantially all of Occidental’s oil, NGL and natural gas production and optimizes its transportation and storage capacity. Occidental’s third-party marketing activities focus on purchasing oil, NGL and natural gas for resale from parties whose oil and gas supply is located near its transportation and storage capacity. These purchases allow Occidental to aggregate volumes to better utilize and optimize its assets. In 2023, compared to the prior year, marketing results were impacted by the timing of crude oil sales, partially offset by higher gas marketing margin from transportation capacity optimization.
DELIVERY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITMENTS
Occidental has made long-term commitments to certain refineries and other buyers to deliver oil, NGL and natural gas. The total amount contracted to be delivered is approximately 58 MMbbl of oil through 2025, 795 MMbbl of NGL through 2034 and 812 Bcf of gas through 2029. The price for these deliveries is set at the time of delivery of the product.
Occidental has crude pipeline take-or-pay capacity of approximately 850 Mbbl/d to the Gulf Coast, leased crude storage capacity of approximately 10 MMbbl and capacity at the crude terminal of approximately 525 Mbbl/d. Certain of Occidental's crude pipeline take-or-pay agreements expire in 2025 and its Midstream business is well-positioned to benefit from potential reductions in crude oil transportation rates from the Permian to the Gulf Coast.
PIPELINE
Occidental’s pipeline business mainly consists of its 24.5% ownership interest in DEL. DEL owns and operates a 230-mile-long, 48-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline, known as the Dolphin Pipeline, which transports dry natural gas from Qatar to the UAE and Oman. The Dolphin Pipeline has capacity to transport up to 3.2 Bcf/d and currently transports approximately 2.0 Bcf/d and up to 2.2 Bcf/d in the summer months.
GAS PROCESSING, GATHERING AND CO2
Occidental processes its own and third-party domestic wet gas to extract NGL and other gas byproducts, including CO2 and delivers dry gas to pipelines. Margins primarily result from the difference between inlet costs of wet gas and market prices for NGL.
WES is a publicly traded limited partnership with its limited partner units traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “WES.” As of December 31, 2023, Occidental owned all of the 2.3% non-voting general partner interest, 48.8% of the WES limited partner units, and a 2% non-voting limited partner interest in WES Operating, a subsidiary of WES. As of December 31, 2023, Occidental's combined share of net income from WES and its subsidiaries was 51.0%. See Note 1 - Summary of
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Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for more information regarding Occidental’s equity method investment in WES. WES owns gathering systems, plants and pipelines and earns revenue from fee-based and service-based contracts with Occidental and third parties.
Occidental’s 40% participating interest in Al Hosn Gas also includes sour gas processing facilities that are designed to process 1.45 Bcf/d of natural gas and separate it into salable gas, condensate, NGL and sulfur. In 2023, the project produced 666 MMcf/d of natural gas, 95 Mbbl/d of NGL and condensate, and 12,450 tons/d of sulfur, of which Occidental’s net share was 267 MMcf/d of natural gas, 38 Mbbl/d of NGL and condensate and 4,980 tons/d of sulfur.
In 2023, compared to the prior year, gas processing, gathering and CO2 results decreased primarily due to lower sulfur and NGL prices.
POWER GENERATION FACILITIES
Earnings from power and steam generation facilities are derived from sales to affiliates and third parties.
LOW-CARBON VENTURES
OLCV was formed to execute on Occidental’s vision to reduce global emissions and provide a more sustainable future through the development of low-carbon energy and products. OLCV capitalizes on Occidental’s extensive experience in utilizing CO2 in its development of CCUS projects and providing services to third parties to facilitate the implementation of their CCUS projects. Moreover, OLCV is fostering emerging technologies, including DAC and low-carbon power sources, and other business models with the potential to position Occidental as a leader in the production of low-carbon energy and products.
Occidental has developed standards and protocols recognized by the EPA for monitoring, reporting and verifying the amount, safety and permanence of CO2 stored through secure geologic sequestration. Occidental holds four EPA-approved monitoring, reporting and verification plans for geologic sequestration through EOR production. OLCV has acquired access to over 300,000 acres of pore space to date, and has commenced permitting of Class VI CO2 sequestration wells with the EPA with the intention of developing five sequestration hubs on this acreage.
In March 2019, OLCV acquired an interest in NET Power, then a limited liability company based in Durham, North Carolina. NET Power is developing a low-cost, natural gas electric power system that generates near-zero emissions and inherently captures all CO2, unlocking the potential to produce electricity at a lower cost than existing power plants. In June 2023, OLCV invested an additional $351 million in NET Power as part of NET Power’s merger with a special purpose acquisition company. NET Power Inc. is currently traded on the NYSE under the symbol “NPWR.”
In May 2023, Occidental began the construction of STRATOS, the world’s largest direct air capture plant in Ector County, Texas. The facility, which uses Carbon Engineering’s technology, is expected to be commercially operational in mid-2025. In November 2023, Occidental entered into a joint venture agreement with BlackRock, through a fund managed by its Diversified Infrastructure business, for the development of STRATOS. The agreement provides $550 million of committed investment from BlackRock's fund.
In August 2023, Occidental entered into an agreement with Carbon Engineering Ltd., its equity method investee, to purchase the remaining 68% interest not already owned by Occidental or its affiliates for total cash consideration of approximately $1.1 billion, resulting in Carbon Engineering becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Occidental. Because Occidental acquired control of Carbon Engineering in the 2023 purchase, Occidental remeasured its previously held 32% equity interest at its acquisition-date fair value and recognized a gain of $283 million. The purchase price will be made in three approximately equal annual payments, with the first payment made at closing. This transaction closed on November 3, 2023, and Occidental made the first payment of $349 million. The remaining two payments will be paid on the first and second anniversaries of closing. With this purchase Occidental intends to accelerate technological innovation and cost reductions in Carbon Engineering's direct air capture technology. The transaction qualifies as a business combination and was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting.
OLCV is also currently conducting front-end engineering design work and feasibility studies on a number of projects to capture and sequester CO2, either from the atmosphere or from industrial point sources. The profitability of sequestration projects is dependent upon the costs of developing, building and operating sequestration infrastructure, demand for sequestration services from emitters and the availability of certain tax attributes and credits generated from the capture and storage of CO2.
In August 2022, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act that contains, among other provisions, certain tax incentives related to climate change and clean energy. These incentives may attract more third-party investment of OLCV’s projects which may help accelerate certain projects. The ultimate impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on Occidental’s emerging low-carbon businesses and net-zero pathway will depend on a number of factors, interpretations and assumptions as well as additional regulatory guidance.
OUTLOOK
Midstream and marketing segment results can experience volatility depending on commodity price changes, demand impacting export sales and the Midland-to-Gulf-Coast oil spreads. Gas gathering, processing and transportation results are affected by fluctuations in commodity prices and the volumes that are processed and transported through the segment’s plants, as well as the margins obtained on related services from investments in which Occidental has an equity interest.
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Throughout 2023, the U.S. experienced economy-wide cost increases, which could increase the cost of sequestration and other low-carbon projects. In 2023, increased interest from third parties in providing sequestration services or purchasing carbon credits indicated a growing market for OLCV products and services. Additionally, grants, credits and other tax-advantaged low-carbon attributes continue to be actively discussed at both state and federal levels. These trends of increasing interest from third parties and funding at state and federal levels are expected to continue, which Occidental believes will enhance the economics of CCUS projects.
Approximately $0.8 billion of Occidental’s worldwide capital budget is expected to be allocated to its midstream and marketing operations in 2024.
SEGMENT RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND ITEMS AFFECTING COMPARABILITY
SEGMENT RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Segment earnings exclude income taxes, interest income, interest expense, environmental remediation expenses, unallocated corporate expenses and discontinued operations, but include gains and losses from divestitures of segment assets and income from the segments’ equity investments. Seasonality is not a primary driver of changes in Occidental’s consolidated quarterly earnings during the year.
The following table sets forth the sales and earnings of each operating segment and corporate items for the years ended December 31:
| millions, except per share amounts | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NET SALES (a) | ||||||||
| Oil and gas | $ | 21,284 | $ | 27,165 | $ | 18,941 | ||
| Chemical | 5,321 | 6,757 | 5,246 | |||||
| Midstream and marketing | 2,551 | 4,136 | 2,863 | |||||
| Eliminations | (899) | (1,424) | (1,094) | |||||
| Total | $ | 28,257 | $ | 36,634 | $ | 25,956 | ||
| SEGMENT RESULTS AND EARNINGS | ||||||||
| Domestic | $ | 4,822 | $ | 10,439 | $ | 2,900 | ||
| International | 1,859 | 2,580 | 1,497 | |||||
| Exploration | (441) | (216) | (252) | |||||
| Oil and gas | 6,240 | 12,803 | 4,145 | |||||
| Chemical | 1,531 | 2,508 | 1,544 | |||||
| Midstream and marketing | 24 | 273 | 257 | |||||
| Total | $ | 7,795 | $ | 15,584 | $ | 5,946 | ||
| Unallocated corporate items | ||||||||
| Interest expense, net | (945) | (1,030) | (1,614) | |||||
| Income tax expense | (1,733) | (813) | (915) | |||||
| Other | (421) | (437) | (627) | |||||
| Income from continuing operations | $ | 4,696 | $ | 13,304 | $ | 2,790 | ||
| Discontinued operations, net | — | — | (468) | |||||
| Net income | 4,696 | 13,304 | 2,322 | |||||
| Less: Preferred stock dividends and redemption premiums | (923) | (800) | (800) | |||||
| Net income attributable to common stockholders | $ | 3,773 | $ | 12,504 | $ | 1,522 | ||
| Net income attributable to common stockholders—basic | $ | 4.22 | $ | 13.41 | $ | 1.62 | ||
| Net income attributable to common stockholders—diluted | $ | 3.90 | $ | 12.40 | $ | 1.58 |
(a)Intersegment sales eliminate upon consolidation and are generally made at prices approximating those that the selling entity would be able to obtain in third-party transactions.
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ITEMS AFFECTING COMPARABILITY
OIL AND GAS SEGMENT
Results of Operations
| millions | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Segment Sales | $ | 21,284 | $ | 27,165 | $ | 18,941 | ||
| Segment Results (a) | ||||||||
| Domestic | $ | 4,822 | $ | 10,439 | $ | 2,900 | ||
| International | 1,859 | 2,580 | 1,497 | |||||
| Exploration | (441) | (216) | (252) | |||||
| Total | $ | 6,240 | $ | 12,803 | $ | 4,145 | ||
| Items affecting comparability | ||||||||
| Asset sale gains, net - domestic (b) | $ | 142 | $ | 148 | $ | 27 | ||
| Asset sale gains, net - international (c) | $ | 25 | $ | 55 | $ | 43 | ||
| Asset impairments and related items - domestic (d) | $ | (209) | $ | — | $ | (282) | ||
| Oil, natural gas and CO2 mark-to-market losses | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (280) | ||
| Legal settlement gain | $ | 26 | $ | — | $ | — |
(a)Results included significant items affecting comparability discussed in the footnotes below.
(b)The 2023 and 2022 amounts included gains on sales primarily related to certain non-strategic assets in the Permian Basin of $142 million and $148 million, respectively. The 2021 amount included $27 million in post-closing consideration earned from 2020 asset sales as a result of certain production and pricing targets being met.
(c)The 2023, 2022 and 2021 amounts of $25 million, $55 million and $43 million, respectively, included post-closing consideration earned as a result of certain production and pricing targets being met as well as the closing of the sale of certain assets that were negotiated with the 2020 Colombia divestiture.
(d)The 2023 amount includes a pre-tax impairment of $180 million related to undeveloped acreage in the northern non-core area of the Powder River Basin where Occidental decided not to pursue future exploration and appraisal activities as well as a $29 million impairment related to an equity method investment in Black Butte Coal Company. The 2021 amount included $282 million of asset impairments primarily related to undeveloped leases that either expired or were set to expire in the near term where Occidental had no plans to pursue exploration activities.
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Domestic oil and gas results, excluding significant items affecting comparability, decreased in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily due to lower realized oil, NGL and natural gas prices and higher lease operating costs partially offset by higher sales volumes across all commodities. International oil and gas results, excluding significant items affecting comparability, decreased in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily due to lower oil prices.
Average Realized Prices
The following table sets forth the average realized prices for oil, NGL and natural gas from ongoing operations for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and includes a year-over-year change calculation:
| 2023 | Year over Year Change | 2022 | Year over Year Change | 2021 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average Realized Prices | ||||||||||
| Oil ($/Bbl) | ||||||||||
| United States | $ | 76.42 | (19)% | $ | 94.12 | 42% | $ | 66.39 | ||
| International | $ | 79.03 | (17)% | $ | 95.46 | 47% | $ | 65.08 | ||
| Total worldwide | $ | 76.85 | (19)% | $ | 94.36 | 43% | $ | 66.14 | ||
| NGL ($/Bbl) | ||||||||||
| United States | $ | 20.19 | (43)% | $ | 35.69 | 17% | $ | 30.62 | ||
| International | $ | 29.35 | (14)% | $ | 34.09 | 30% | $ | 26.13 | ||
| Total worldwide | $ | 21.32 | (40)% | $ | 35.48 | 18% | $ | 30.01 | ||
| Natural Gas ($/Mcf) | ||||||||||
| United States | $ | 2.04 | (63)% | $ | 5.48 | 66% | $ | 3.30 | ||
| International | $ | 1.88 | (1)% | $ | 1.89 | 12% | $ | 1.69 | ||
| Total worldwide | $ | 2.00 | (56)% | $ | 4.51 | 57% | $ | 2.87 |
Realized Price and Sales Volume Variance
The following table presents an analysis of the impacts of changes in average realized prices and sales volumes with regard to Occidental's domestic and international oil and gas revenue:
| Increase (Decrease) Related to | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| millions | Year ended December 31, 2022 | (a) | Price Realizations | Net Sales Volumes | Year ended December 31, 2023 | (a) | |||||||||
| United States Revenue | |||||||||||||||
| Oil | $ | 17,421 | $ | (3,454) | $ | 926 | $ | 14,893 | |||||||
| NGL | 2,631 | (1,239) | 227 | 1,619 | |||||||||||
| Natural gas | 2,422 | (1,629) | 177 | 970 | |||||||||||
| Total | $ | 22,474 | $ | (6,322) | $ | 1,330 | $ | 17,482 | |||||||
| International Revenue | |||||||||||||||
| Oil (b) | $ | 3,935 | $ | (411) | $ | (467) | $ | 3,057 | |||||||
| NGL | 421 | (52) | 3 | 372 | |||||||||||
| Natural gas | 311 | (1) | 25 | 335 | |||||||||||
| Total | $ | 4,667 | $ | (464) | $ | (439) | $ | 3,764 |
(a) Excludes "other" oil and gas revenue. See Note 2 - Revenue in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional information regarding other revenue.
(b) Includes the impact of international production sharing contracts, along with the net sales volume impact from the new Algeria development agreement which took affect May 3, 2023.
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Production
The following table sets forth the production volumes of oil, NGL and natural gas per day from ongoing operations for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and includes a year-over-year change calculation:
| Production per Day, Ongoing Operations (Mboe/d) | 2023 | Year over Year Change | 2022 | Year over Year Change | 2021 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | |||||||||
| Permian | 584 | 14 | % | 513 | 5 | % | 487 | ||
| Rockies & Other Domestic | 271 | (2) | % | 277 | (8) | % | 302 | ||
| Gulf of Mexico | 145 | (1) | % | 147 | 2 | % | 144 | ||
| Total | 1,000 | 7 | % | 937 | — | % | 933 | ||
| International | |||||||||
| Algeria & Other International | 35 | (26) | % | 47 | 7 | % | 44 | ||
| Al Hosn Gas | 83 | 14 | % | 73 | (4) | % | 76 | ||
| Dolphin | 39 | 5 | % | 37 | (8) | % | 40 | ||
| Oman | 66 | 2 | % | 65 | (12) | % | 74 | ||
| Total | 223 | — | % | 222 | (5) | % | 234 | ||
| Total Production from Ongoing Operations | 1,223 | 6 | % | 1,159 | (1) | % | 1,167 | ||
| Operations exited (a) | — | — | % | — | (100) | % | 16 | ||
| Total Production (Mboe/d) (b) | 1,223 | 6 | % | 1,159 | (2) | % | 1,183 |
(a)Operations exited include the Ghana assets (sold in October 2021).
(b)Natural gas volumes have been converted to Boe based on energy content of six Mcf of gas to one barrel of oil. Boe equivalent does not necessarily result in price equivalency. Please refer to the Supplemental Oil and Gas Information (unaudited) section of this Form 10-K for additional information on oil and gas production and sales.
Average daily production volumes from ongoing operations increased by 6% in 2023 as compared to 2022. The increase in production was primarily due to increased development activity in the Permian Basin, and the completion of the expansion project that increased the production capacity of the Al Hosn Gas processing facilities from 1.28 Bcf/d to 1.45 Bcf/d. which was partially offset by a decrease in oil production in Algeria resulting from new development agreement fiscal terms, which took effect May 3, 2023.
Lease Operating Expense
The following table sets forth the average lease operating expense per Boe from ongoing operations for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023:
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average lease operating expense per Boe | $ | 10.48 | $ | 9.52 | $ | 7.58 |
Average lease operating expense per Boe increased in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily as a result of higher workover and maintenance activity in Occidental’s domestic operations.
CHEMICAL SEGMENT
| millions | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Segment Sales | $ | 5,321 | $ | 6,757 | $ | 5,246 | ||
| Segment Results | $ | 1,531 | $ | 2,508 | $ | 1,544 |
Chemical segment results decreased in 2023 compared to 2022, driven primarily by lower realized PVC pricing as well as lower sales volumes due to decreased demand across most product lines, partially offset by lower ethylene and energy costs.
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MIDSTREAM AND MARKETING SEGMENT
| millions | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Segment Sales | $ | 2,551 | $ | 4,136 | $ | 2,863 | ||
| Segment Results (a) | $ | 24 | $ | 273 | $ | 257 | ||
| Items affecting comparability | ||||||||
| Asset sales gains and others, net (b) | $ | 51 | $ | 98 | $ | 124 | ||
| Derivative losses, net (c) | $ | (14) | $ | (259) | $ | (252) | ||
| Asset impairments and other charges, net (c) | $ | (60) | $ | — | $ | (21) | ||
| Acquisition-related costs | $ | (20) | $ | — | $ | — | ||
| Carbon Engineering fair value gain(d) | $ | 283 | $ | — | $ | — |
(a)Results included significant items affecting comparability discussed in the footnotes below.
(b)The 2023, 2022 and 2021 amounts included gains on sale of $51 million, $62 million and $102 million, respectively, from the sales of 5.1 million, 10.0 million and 11.5 million limited partner units in WES, respectively, The 2022 amount also included a $36 million gain on sale of a joint venture.
(c)The 2023 amount included derivative losses and charges reported under income from equity investments and other in the Consolidated Condensed Statement of Operations.
(d)The 2023 amount included a gain of $283 million from the remeasurement of the non-controlling interest held prior to the Carbon Engineering acquisition to fair value and acquisition-related costs of $20 million.
Midstream and marketing segment results, excluding items affecting comparability, decreased in 2023 compared to 2022, and was primarily driven by lower crude margins due to the timing of crude sales in the marketing business and lower NGL and sulfur prices impacting gas processing, increased activities in the low-carbon ventures businesses, and lower equity method investment income from WES.
CORPORATE
Significant corporate items include the following:
| millions | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Items Affecting Comparability | ||||||||
| Maxus environmental reserve adjustment(a) | $ | 260 | $ | (22) | $ | — | ||
| Acquisition-related costs(b) | $ | (6) | $ | (89) | $ | (153) | ||
| Interest rate swap gains, net (c) | $ | — | $ | 317 | $ | 122 | ||
| Early debt extinguishment | $ | — | $ | 149 | $ | (118) |
(a)The 2023 amount related to a $260 million remeasurement of the valuation allowance established against Occidental’s claims against Maxus.
(b)The 2023 amount related to costs incurred for the CrownRock acquisition and 2022 and 2021 amounts related to Anadarko acquisition.
(c)See Note 8 - Derivatives in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for more information.
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INCOME TAXES
Total deferred tax assets, after valuation allowance, were $2.0 billion and $2.2 billion as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Occidental expects to realize the recorded deferred tax assets, net of any allowances, through future operating income and reversal of temporary differences. The total deferred tax liabilities were $7.7 billion as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. See more discussion below.
WORLDWIDE EFFECTIVE TAX RATE
The following table sets forth the calculation of the worldwide effective tax rate for income from continuing operations:
| millions | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEGMENT RESULTS | ||||||||
| Oil and gas | $ | 6,240 | $ | 12,803 | $ | 4,145 | ||
| Chemical | 1,531 | 2,508 | 1,544 | |||||
| Midstream and marketing | 24 | 273 | 257 | |||||
| Unallocated corporate items | (1,366) | (1,467) | (2,241) | |||||
| Income from continuing operations before taxes | $ | 6,429 | $ | 14,117 | $ | 3,705 | ||
| Income tax benefit (expense) | ||||||||
| Federal and state | (975) | 248 | (247) | |||||
| Foreign | (758) | (1,061) | (668) | |||||
| Total income tax expense | (1,733) | (813) | (915) | |||||
| Income from continuing operations | $ | 4,696 | $ | 13,304 | $ | 2,790 | ||
| Worldwide effective tax rate | 27% | 6% | 25% |
In 2023, Occidental’s worldwide effective tax rate was 27%, which was higher than the U.S. statutory rate of 21% and primarily driven by Occidental's jurisdictional mix of income, where international income is subject to tax at statutory rates as high as 55%.
LEGAL ENTITY REORGANIZATION
To align Occidental’s legal entity structure with the nature of its business activities after completing the Anadarko Acquisition and subsequent large scale post-acquisition divestiture program, management undertook a legal entity reorganization that was completed in the first quarter of 2022.
As a result of this legal entity reorganization, management made an adjustment to the tax basis in a portion of its operating assets, thus reducing Occidental’s deferred tax liabilities. Accordingly, in 2022, Occidental recorded a tax benefit of $2.7 billion in connection with this reorganization. The timing of any reduction in Occidental’s future cash taxes as a result of this legal entity reorganization will be dependent on a number of factors, including prevailing commodity prices, capital activity level and production mix. The legal entity reorganization transaction is currently under IRS review as part of the Company’s 2022 federal tax audit.
INFLATION REDUCTION ACT AND PILLAR TWO
In August 2022, Congress passed the IRA that contains, among other provisions, a corporate book minimum tax on financial statement income, an excise tax on stock buybacks, a methane emissions fee and certain tax incentives related to climate change and clean energy. Occidental is currently evaluating the guidance and proposed regulations released in 2023. The ultimate impact of the IRA to Occidental will depend on a number of factors including future commodity prices, interpretations and assumptions as well as additional regulatory guidance.
Approximately 140 countries have agreed to a statement in support of the OECD Pillar Two initiative that proposes a 15% global minimum tax on a jurisdiction by jurisdiction basis. A number of countries, including European Union member states, the United Kingdom, and Canada have enacted or are expected to enact legislation to be effective as early as 2024, with widespread implementation of a global minimum tax expected by 2025. As the legislation becomes effective in countries in which Occidental operates, its cash tax could increase and its effective tax rate could be negatively impacted. Occidental will continue to monitor proposed legislation and guidance issued by both the OECD as well as the jurisdictions in which it operates to assess the impact on its tax position.
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CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE AND OTHER INCOME ITEMS
| millions | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net sales | $ | 28,257 | $ | 36,634 | $ | 25,956 | ||
| Interest, dividends and other income | $ | 139 | $ | 153 | $ | 166 | ||
| Gains on sale of assets, net | $ | 522 | $ | 308 | $ | 192 |
NET SALES
Price and volume changes generally represent the majority of the change in the oil and gas and chemical segments sales. Midstream and marketing sales generally represent the margins earned by the marketing business as it strives to optimize the use of its transportation, storage and terminal commitments to provide access to domestic and international markets and, to a lesser extent, NGL and sulfur revenues from the gas processing business.
The decrease in net sales in 2023 compared to 2022 was primarily due to lower worldwide crude oil, domestic NGL and domestic natural gas commodity prices in the oil and gas segment, lower realized PVC and caustic sales prices and lower sales volumes across most product lines in the chemical segment and lower sales in the marketing business, partially offset by higher domestic sales volumes in the oil and gas segment.
EXPENSE ITEMS
| millions | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil and gas operating expense | $ | 4,677 | $ | 4,028 | $ | 3,160 | ||
| Transportation and gathering expense | $ | 1,481 | $ | 1,475 | $ | 1,419 | ||
| Chemical and midstream cost of sales | $ | 3,116 | $ | 3,273 | $ | 2,772 | ||
| Purchased commodities | $ | 2,009 | $ | 3,287 | $ | 2,308 | ||
| Selling, general and administrative | $ | 1,083 | $ | 945 | $ | 863 | ||
| Other operating and non-operating expense | $ | 1,084 | $ | 1,271 | $ | 1,065 | ||
| Taxes other than on income | $ | 1,087 | $ | 1,548 | $ | 1,005 | ||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | $ | 6,865 | $ | 6,926 | $ | 8,447 | ||
| Asset impairments and other charges | $ | 209 | $ | — | $ | 304 | ||
| Acquisition-related costs | $ | 26 | $ | 89 | $ | 153 | ||
| Exploration expense | $ | 441 | $ | 216 | $ | 252 | ||
| Interest and debt expense, net | $ | 945 | $ | 1,030 | $ | 1,614 |
OIL AND GAS OPERATING EXPENSE
Oil and gas operating expense increased in 2023 compared to 2022, primarily as a result of higher workover and maintenance activity in Occidental’s domestic operations.
CHEMICAL AND MIDSTREAM COST OF SALES
Chemical and midstream cost of sales decreased in 2023 compared to 2022, primarily as a result of lower ethylene and energy cost in the chemical segment and lower power generation cost of sales in the midstream and marketing segment.
PURCHASED COMMODITIES
Purchased commodities decreased in 2023 compared to 2022, due to lower volumes and prices on third-party crude purchases in the midstream and marketing segment.
SELLING, GENERAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE
Selling, General, and Administrative increased in 2023 compared to 2022, due to increased employee and technology costs.
OTHER OPERATING AND NON-OPERATING EXPENSE
Other operating and non-operating expense decreased in 2023 compared to 2022, primarily due to the $260 million adjustment of the valuation allowance for the Maxus Liquidating Trust.
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TAXES OTHER THAN ON INCOME
Taxes other than on income in 2023 decreased compared to 2022, primarily due to decreases in production taxes and Rockies ad valorem taxes, which are directly tied to revenues.
ASSET IMPAIRMENTS AND OTHER CHARGES
Asset impairments in 2023 included a pre-tax impairment of $180 million related to undeveloped acreage in the northern non-core area of the Powder River Basin and a $29 million impairment related to an equity method investment in the Black Butte Coal Company.
EXPLORATION EXPENSE
Exploration expense increased in 2023 compared to 2022, primarily due to higher dry hole expense in the Gulf of Mexico.
INTEREST AND DEBT EXPENSE, NET
Interest and debt expense decreased in 2023 compared to 2022, due to lower outstanding debt as a result of $9.5 billion of debt repayments in 2022, partially offset by early debt extinguishment costs incurred in 2022.
OTHER ITEMS
| Income (expense) millions | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gains on interest rate swaps and warrants | $ | — | $ | 317 | $ | 122 | ||
| Income from equity investments and other | $ | 534 | $ | 793 | $ | 631 | ||
| Income tax expense | $ | (1,733) | $ | (813) | $ | (915) | ||
| Loss from discontinued operations, net | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (468) |
INCOME FROM EQUITY INVESTMENTS AND OTHER
Income from equity investments and other decreased in 2023 compared to 2022, primarily due to lower equity income from WES and charges recorded by NET Power in relation to their public offering.
INCOME TAX EXPENSE
Income tax expense increased in 2023 compared to 2022, primarily as a result of a $2.7 billion tax benefit taken in 2022 related to a legal entity reorganization.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
CASH ON HAND
As of December 31, 2023, Occidental had approximately $1.4 billion in cash and cash equivalents. A substantial majority of this cash is held and available for use in the United States.
SOURCES AND USES OF CASH
Occidental currently expects its operational cash flows and cash on hand along with the committed CrownRock Acquisition financing to be sufficient to meet its current debt maturities and other obligations for the next 12 months from the date of this filing. Occidental’s $4.0 billion RCF, receivables securitization facility and access to capital markets are available to meet its ongoing capital needs, purchase obligations, near-term debt maturities and other liabilities and financial obligations, if required.
The RCF maturity date is June 30, 2025. In February 2024, Occidental entered into a Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with the same committed borrowing capacity as above, but extended the maturity date to June 30, 2028. No amounts were drawn under the facility as of December 31, 2023.
Occidental’s planned 2024 capital expenditures are between $6.4 billion and $6.6 billion.
As of December 31, 2023, Occidental had $1.1 billion in current maturities of long-term debt which are due in 2024, and an additional $1.2 billion in long-term obligations due in 2025.
As of December 31, 2023, Occidental had $599 million in non-cancelable lease payments due in 2024, and an additional $427 million in non-cancelable lease payments due in 2025.
Dividends paid to common and preferred shareholders were $1.4 billion in 2023.
Occidental is party to various purchase agreements that are not accounted for as leases or otherwise accrued as liabilities as of December 31, 2023. These agreements consist primarily of obligations to secure terminal, pipeline and processing capacity, purchase services used in the normal course of business including transporting and disposing of produced water, purchase goods used in the production of finished goods including certain chemical raw materials and power and agreements relating to equipment maintenance and service. Refer to the line item “Purchase Obligations” in the
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table below under Contractual Obligations for the amounts that will be paid for such outstanding off-balance sheet purchase obligations from 2024 and thereafter.
CROWNROCK ACQUISITION FINANCING
In connection with the planned CrownRock Acquisition, Occidental has secured a fully-committed $5.3 billion bridge loan facility, a $2.0 billion 364-day term loan, and a $2.7 billion two-year term loan. Prior to or concurrent with the closing of the acquisition, Occidental plans to issue new debt comprised of a combination of the one and two-year term loans and senior unsecured notes. In addition, Occidental plans to refinance a majority of the $1.2 billion of CrownRock’s existing debt assumed in the acquisition. Occidental intends to repay at least $4.5 billion of debt within 12 months of closing the CrownRock Acquisition with proceeds from the divestiture program and excess cash flows.
DIVESTITURE PROGRAM
In the fourth quarter of 2023, Occidental announced a divestiture program between $4.5 billion and $6.0 billion, which Occidental expects to complete within 18 months of closing the CrownRock Acquisition.
SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM
In February 2023, the Board authorized a new share repurchase program of up to $3.0 billion of Occidental’s shares of common stock. During 2023, Occidental purchased a total of 29.1 million shares under the share repurchase program for $1.8 billion and the value remaining as of December 31, 2023 was $1.2 billion.
PREFERRED REDEMPTIONS
In connection with the Anadarko Acquisition, Occidental issued 100,000 shares of series A preferred stock, with a face value of $100,000 per share and a liquidation preference of $105,000 per share plus unpaid accrued dividends. Prior to August 2029, a mandatory redemption provision obligates Occidental to redeem preferred stock at a 10% premium to face value on a dollar-for-dollar basis for every dollar distributed to common shareholders (either via common stock dividends or share repurchases) above $4.00 per share, on a trailing 12-month basis. Preferred redemptions can settle between 30 and 60 days from the date Berkshire Hathaway is notified of the redemption obligation and accrued unpaid dividends are paid up to but not including the redemption date. Occidental cannot voluntarily redeem preferred stock before August 2029. After August 2029, Occidental can voluntarily redeem preferred stock at a 5% premium to face value.
Dividends on the preferred stock accrue on the face value at a rate per annum of 8%, but will be paid only when, as and if declared by Occidental’s Board of Directors. At any time, when such dividends have not been paid in full, the unpaid amounts will accrue dividends, compounded quarterly, at a rate per annum of 9%. Following the payment in full of any accrued but unpaid dividends, the dividend rate will remain at 9% per annum. If preferred dividends are not paid in full, Occidental is prohibited from paying dividends on common stock. Occidental paid $762 million in preferred stock dividends in 2023.
In 2023, Occidental redeemed preferred stock with a face value of $1.5 billion, and incurred $151 million in redemption premiums. To the extent Occidental's trailing 12-month distributions to common shareholders is above $4.00 per share, Occidental is required to match any common shareholder distributions with preferred stock redemptions. As of the date of this filing approximately $8.5 billion face value of the preferred stock remains outstanding.
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CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
The following table summarizes and cross-references Occidental’s contractual obligations and indicates on- and off-balance sheet obligations as of December 31, 2023. Commitments related to held for sale assets are excluded.
| millions | Payments Due by Year | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 2024 | 2025 and 2026 | 2027 and 2028 | 2029 and thereafter | ||||||||||
| On-Balance Sheet | ||||||||||||||
| Current portion of long-term debt (Note 6) (a) | $ | 1,056 | $ | 1,056 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||
| Long-term debt (Note 6) (a) | 16,899 | — | 2,656 | 1,809 | 12,434 | |||||||||
| Expected interest payments on long-term debt | 10,308 | 1,018 | 1,904 | 1,642 | 5,744 | |||||||||
| Leases (Note 7) (b) | 2,162 | 599 | 747 | 370 | 446 | |||||||||
| Asset retirement obligations (Note 1) | 4,075 | 193 | 797 | 647 | 2,438 | |||||||||
| Other long-term liabilities (c) | 2,768 | — | 1,147 | 228 | 1,393 | |||||||||
| Off-Balance Sheet | ||||||||||||||
| Purchase obligations (d) | 12,407 | 3,218 | 4,101 | 2,469 | 2,619 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 49,675 | $ | 6,084 | $ | 11,352 | $ | 7,165 | $ | 25,074 |
(a)Excluded unamortized debt discount and interest.
(b)Occidental is the lessee under various agreements for real estate, equipment, plants and facilities.
(c)Included long-term obligations under postretirement benefits, accrued transportation commitments, ad valorem taxes and other accrued liabilities.
(d)Amounts included payments which will become due under long-term agreements to purchase goods and services used in the normal course of business to secure terminal, pipeline and processing capacity, CO2, electrical power, non-lease components, steam and certain chemical raw materials including but not limited to capital commitments. Amounts excluded certain product purchase obligations related to marketing activities for which there are no minimum purchase requirements or the amounts are not fixed or determinable. Long-term purchase contracts were discounted at a 5.10% discount rate.
GUARANTEES
Occidental has entered into various guarantees, indemnities and commitments provided by Occidental to third parties, mainly to provide assurance that Occidental or its consolidated subsidiaries or affiliates will meet their various obligations.
As of the date of this filing, Occidental has provided required financial assurance through a combination of cash, letters of credit and surety bonds. Occidental has not issued any letters of credit under the RCF or other committed facilities. For additional information, see Risk Factors in Part I Item 1A of this Form 10-K.
CASH FLOW ANALYSIS
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
| millions | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating cash flow from continuing operations | $ | 12,308 | $ | 16,810 | $ | 10,253 | ||
| Operating cash flow from discontinued operations, net of taxes | — | — | 181 | |||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 12,308 | $ | 16,810 | $ | 10,434 |
Cash provided by operating activities decreased in 2023 compared to 2022, primarily due to lower commodity prices in the oil and gas segment, as average WTI and Brent prices decreased by 18% and 17%, respectively, and NYMEX natural gas prices decreased by 54%. Cash provided by operating activities were also impacted by the decrease in realized prices for PVC and caustic soda. The overall decrease in cash provided by operating activities was partially offset by a change in working capital related to a decrease in receivables, due to lower commodity prices.
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CASH USED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES
| millions | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital expenditures | ||||||||
| Oil and gas | $ | (4,960) | $ | (3,844) | $ | (2,409) | ||
| Chemical | (535) | (322) | (308) | |||||
| Midstream and marketing | (656) | (268) | (106) | |||||
| Corporate | (119) | (63) | (47) | |||||
| Total | $ | (6,270) | $ | (4,497) | $ | (2,870) | ||
| Changes in capital accrual | 25 | 147 | 97 | |||||
| Purchase of businesses, assets and equity investments, net | (713) | (990) | (431) | |||||
| Proceeds from sale of assets and equity investments, net | 448 | 584 | 1,624 | |||||
| Other investing activities, net | (470) | (116) | 406 | |||||
| Investing cash flows from continuing operations | $ | (6,980) | $ | (4,872) | $ | (1,174) | ||
| Investing cash flows from discontinued operations | — | — | (79) | |||||
| Net cash used by investing activities | $ | (6,980) | $ | (4,872) | $ | (1,253) |
Cash flows used by investing activities increased by $2.1 billion in 2023 compared to 2022. In 2023, Occidental increased capital spending as a result of increased activity in the Permian, Rockies and Gulf of Mexico as well as increased capital spending on STRATOS in OLCV and on the Battleground chlor-alkali plant in OxyChem. In 2023, Occidental sold certain non-core proved and unproved properties in the Permian Basin for proceeds of $202 million as well as sold WES 5.1 million of its limited partner units owned by Occidental for proceeds of $128 million. Purchase of businesses, assets and equity investments, net primarily included the purchase of Carbon Engineering. Also included in cash flow used by investing activities is Occidental's additional investment in NET Power, for $351 million. See Note 5 - Acquisitions, Divestitures and Other Transactions in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for a listing of assets and equity investments acquired and sold in 2023, 2022 and 2021.
CASH USED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
| millions | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financing cash flows from continuing operations | $ | (4,890) | $ | (13,715) | $ | (8,564) | ||
| Financing cash flows from discontinued operations | — | — | (8) | |||||
| Net cash used by financing activities | $ | (4,890) | $ | (13,715) | $ | (8,572) |
Cash used by financing activities decreased by $8.8 billion compared to 2022. In 2023, cash used by financing activities reflected common share repurchases of $1.8 billion and redemptions of preferred stock with a face value of $1.5 billion, with $151 million in redemption premiums and dividend payments of $1.4 billion on preferred and common stock. See Item 5 Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities in Part II of this Form 10-K and Note 14 - Stockholders' Equity in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional information related to Occidental’s share repurchases.
LAWSUITS, CLAIMS, COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
LEGAL MATTERS
For information on Occidental’s Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments and Contingencies, see the information in Note 13 - Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
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ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES AND EXPENDITURES
ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS
Environmental costs relate to the prevention, monitoring, control, treatment or abatement of waste, emissions or releases to air, water or land from operations of Occidental’s subsidiaries. These activities are generally integrated with ongoing operations or development projects, so the costs in this table include estimates. The environmental costs in the table do not include litigation-related costs, including fines, penalties or settlements, Occidental’s investments in low-carbon ventures or cost incurred to satisfy asset retirement obligations. Occidental’s environmental costs are presented below for each segment for each of the years ended December 31:
| millions | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||
| Oil and gas | $ | 409 | $ | 304 | $ | 267 | ||
| Chemical | 113 | 115 | 88 | |||||
| Midstream and marketing | 8 | 6 | 6 | |||||
| Total | $ | 530 | $ | 425 | $ | 361 | ||
| Capital Expenditures | ||||||||
| Oil and gas | $ | 154 | $ | 110 | $ | 87 | ||
| Chemical | 40 | 53 | 66 | |||||
| Midstream and marketing | 12 | 5 | 1 | |||||
| Total | $ | 206 | $ | 168 | $ | 154 | ||
| Remediation Expenses | ||||||||
| Corporate | $ | 79 | $ | 65 | $ | 28 |
Operating expenses are incurred on a continual basis. Capital expenditures relate to longer-lived improvements in properties currently operated by Occidental. Remediation expenses relate to existing conditions from past operations of Occidental or its subsidiaries.
For additional information on Occidental’s Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures, see the information in Note 12 - Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
GLOBAL INVESTMENTS
A portion of Occidental’s assets are located outside North America. The following table shows the geographic distribution of Occidental’s assets as of December 31, 2023, at both the segment and consolidated level, related to Occidental’s ongoing operations:
| millions | Oil and gas | Chemical | Midstream and marketing | Corporate and other | Total Consolidated | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | ||||||||||||||||||
| United States | $ | 49,294 | $ | 4,494 | $ | 8,603 | $ | 2,208 | $ | 64,599 | ||||||||
| Canada | — | 108 | 1,533 | — | 1,641 | |||||||||||||
| Middle East | 3,637 | — | 3,047 | — | 6,684 | |||||||||||||
| North Africa and Other | 855 | 80 | 144 | 5 | 1,084 | |||||||||||||
| Consolidated | $ | 53,786 | $ | 4,682 | $ | 13,327 | $ | 2,213 | $ | 74,008 |
In 2023, net sales outside North America totaled $4.4 billion, or approximately 16% of total net sales.
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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
The process of preparing financial statements in accordance with United States GAAP requires Occidental’s management to make informed estimates and judgments regarding certain items and transactions. Changes in facts and circumstances or discovery of new information may result in revised estimates and judgments and actual results may differ from these estimates upon settlement but generally not by material amounts. The selection and development of these policies and estimates have been discussed with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. Occidental considers the following to be its most critical accounting policies and estimates that involve management’s judgment.
OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES
The carrying value of Occidental’s PP&E represents the cost incurred to acquire or develop the asset, including any AROs and capitalized interest, net of DD&A and any impairment charges. For assets acquired in a business combination, PP&E cost is based on fair values at the acquisition date. AROs and interest costs incurred in connection with qualifying capital expenditures are capitalized and amortized over the useful lives of the related assets.
Occidental uses the successful efforts method to account for its oil and gas properties. Under this method, Occidental capitalizes costs of acquiring properties, costs of drilling successful exploration wells and development costs. The costs of exploratory wells are initially capitalized pending a determination of whether proved reserves have been found. If proved reserves have been found, the costs of exploratory wells remain capitalized. For exploratory wells that find reserves that cannot be classified as proved when drilling is completed, costs continue to be capitalized as suspended exploratory drilling costs if there have been sufficient reserves found to justify completion as a producing well and sufficient progress is being made in assessing the economic and operating viability of the project. At the end of each quarter, management reviews the status of all suspended exploratory drilling costs in light of ongoing exploration activities and in particular, whether Occidental is making sufficient progress in its ongoing exploration and appraisal efforts or, in the case of discoveries requiring government sanctioning, analyzing whether development negotiations are underway and proceeding as planned. If management determines that future appraisal drilling or development activities are unlikely to occur, associated suspended exploratory well costs are expensed.
Occidental expenses annual lease rentals, the costs of injectants used in production and geological and geophysical costs as incurred for exploration activities.
Occidental determines depreciation and depletion of oil and gas producing properties by the unit-of-production method. It amortizes leasehold acquisition costs over total proved reserves and capitalized development and successful exploration costs over proved developed reserves.
Proved oil and gas reserves are those quantities of oil and gas which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible—from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations—prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation.
Several factors could change Occidental’s proved oil and gas reserves. For example, Occidental receives a share of production from PSCs to recover its costs and generally an additional share for profit. Occidental’s share of production and reserves from these contracts decreases when product prices rise and increases when prices decline. Generally, Occidental’s net economic benefit from these contracts is greater at higher product prices. In other cases, particularly with long-lived properties, lower product prices may lead to a situation where production of a portion of proved reserves becomes uneconomical. For such properties, higher product prices typically result in additional reserves becoming economical. Estimation of future production and development costs is also subject to change partially due to factors beyond Occidental’s control, such as energy costs and inflation or deflation of oil field service costs. These factors, in turn, could lead to changes in the quantity of proved reserves. Additional factors that could result in a change of proved reserves include production decline rates and operating performance differing from those estimated when the proved reserves were initially recorded. Changes in the political and regulatory climate, including new or amended laws and regulations or changes in the interpretation of those laws and regulations, could lead to decreases in proved reserves as development horizons may be extended into the future, changes to development locations are necessary or the changes result in higher development or operating costs.
Occidental performs impairment tests with respect to its proved properties whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of property may not be recoverable. If there is an indication the carrying amount of the asset may not be recovered due to significant and prolonged declines in current and forward prices, significant changes in reserve estimates, changes in management’s plans or other significant events, management will evaluate the property for impairment. Under the successful efforts method, if the sum of the undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value of the proved property, the carrying value is reduced to estimated fair value and reported as an impairment charge in the period. Individual proved properties are grouped for impairment purposes at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows unless observable and comparable transactions are available. The fair value of impaired assets is typically determined based on the present value of expected future cash flows using discount rates believed to be consistent with those used by market participants. The impairment test incorporates a number of assumptions involving expectations of
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future cash flows which can change significantly over time. These assumptions include estimates of future production, product prices, contractual prices, estimates of risk-adjusted oil and gas proved and unproved reserves and estimates of future operating and development costs. It is reasonably possible that prolonged declines in commodity prices, reduced capital spending in response to lower prices or increases in operating costs could result in impairments.
For impairment testing, unless prices are contractually fixed, Occidental uses observable forward strip prices for oil and natural gas prices when projecting future cash flows. Future operating and development costs are estimated using the current cost environment applied to expectations of future operating and development activities to develop and produce oil and gas reserves. Market prices for oil, NGL and natural gas have been volatile and may continue to be volatile in the future. Changes in global supply and demand, transportation capacity, currency exchange rates, applicable laws and regulations and the effect of changes in these variables on market perceptions could impact current forecasts. Future fluctuations in commodity prices could result in estimates of future cash flows to vary significantly.
Net capitalized costs attributable to unproved properties were $10.2 billion as of December 31, 2023, and $12.6 billion as of December 31, 2022. The unproved amounts are not subject to DD&A until they are classified as proved properties. Individually insignificant unproved properties are combined and amortized on a group basis based on factors such as geographic location, lease terms, success rates and other factors to provide for full amortization upon lease expiration or abandonment.
Significant unproved properties are assessed individually for impairment and when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of property may not be recovered a valuation allowance is provided if an impairment is indicated. Occidental periodically reviews significant unproved properties for impairments; numerous factors are considered, including but not limited to, availability of funds for future exploration and development activities, current exploration and development plans, favorable or unfavorable exploration activity on the property or the adjacent property, geologists’ evaluation of the property, the current and projected political and regulatory climate, contractual conditions and the remaining lease term for the properties. If an impairment is indicated, Occidental will first determine whether a comparable transaction for similar properties or implied acreage valuation derived from domestic onshore market participants is available and will adjust the carrying amount of the unproved property to its fair value using the market approach. In situations where the market approach is not observable and unproved reserves are available, undiscounted future net cash flows used in the impairment analysis are determined based on managements’ risk adjusted estimates of unproved reserves, future commodity prices and future costs to produce the reserves. If undiscounted future net cash flows are less than the carrying value of the property, the future net cash flows are discounted and compared to the carrying value for determining the amount of the impairment loss to record. Occidental utilizes the same assumptions and methodology discussed above for cash flows associated with proved properties.
PROVED RESERVES
Occidental estimates its proved oil and gas reserves according to the definition of proved reserves provided by the SEC’s Rule 4-10 (a) of Regulation S-X and Financial Accounting Standards Board. Proved oil and gas reserves are those quantities of oil and gas which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible—from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations—prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation. Prices include consideration of price changes provided only by contractual arrangements and do not include adjustments based on expected future conditions. For reserves information, see the Supplemental Information on Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Activities under Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
Engineering estimates of the quantities of proved reserves are inherently imprecise and represent only approximate amounts because of the judgments involved in developing such information. Occidental’s estimates of proved reserves are made using available geological and reservoir data as well as production performance data. The reliability of these estimates at any point in time depends on both the quality and quantity of the technical and economic data and the efficiency of extracting and processing the hydrocarbons. These estimates are reviewed annually by internal reservoir engineers and revised, either upward or downward, as warranted by additional data. Revisions are necessary due to changes in, among other things, development plans, reservoir performance, prices, economic conditions and government restrictions as well as changes in the expected recovery associated with infill drilling. Decreases in prices, for example, may cause a reduction in some proved reserves due to reaching economic limits at an earlier projected date. A material adverse change in the estimated volume of proved reserves could have a negative impact on DD&A and could result in property impairments.
The most significant ongoing financial statement effect from a change in Occidental’s oil and gas reserves or impairment of its proved properties would be to the DD&A rate. For example, a 5% increase or decrease in the amount of oil and gas reserves would change the DD&A rate by approximately $0.65/Bbl, which would increase or decrease pre-tax income by approximately $290 million annually at current production rates.
FAIR VALUES
Occidental estimates fair-value of long-lived assets for impairment testing, assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination or exchanged in non-monetary transactions, pension plan assets and initial measurements of AROs.
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| 58 | OXY 2023 FORM 10-K |
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| MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
Accounting for the acquisition of a business requires the allocation of the purchase price to the various assets and liabilities of the acquired business and recording deferred taxes for any differences between the allocated values and tax basis of assets and liabilities. Any excess of the purchase price over the amounts assigned to assets and liabilities is recorded as goodwill. The purchase price allocation is accomplished by recording each asset and liability at its estimated fair value, which may be determined using different methods of fair value measurements, largely based on the availability and quality of market information. Occidental primarily applies the market approach for recurring fair value measurements, maximizes its use of observable inputs and minimizes its use of unobservable inputs.
FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
Occidental utilizes published prices or counterparty statements for valuing the majority of its financial assets and liabilities measured and reported at fair value. In addition to using market data, Occidental makes assumptions in valuing its assets and liabilities, including assumptions about the risks inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. For financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value, Occidental measures fair value using the following methods:
■Occidental values exchange-cleared commodity derivatives using closing prices provided by the exchange as of the balance sheet date. These derivatives are classified as using quoted prices in active markets for the assets or liabilities (Level 1).
■OTC bilateral financial commodity contracts, international exchange contracts, options and physical commodity forward purchase and sale contracts are generally classified as using observable inputs other than quoted prices for the assets or liabilities (Level 2) and are generally valued using quotations provided by brokers or industry-standard models that consider various inputs, including quoted forward prices for commodities, time value, volatility factors, credit risk and current market and contractual prices for the underlying instruments, as well as other relevant economic measures. Substantially all of these inputs are observable in the marketplace throughout the full term of the instrument and can be derived from observable data or are supported by observable prices at which transactions are executed in the marketplace.
■Occidental values commodity derivatives based on a market approach that considers various assumptions, including quoted forward commodity prices and market yield curves. The assumptions used include inputs that are generally unobservable in the marketplace or are observable but have been adjusted based upon various assumptions and the fair value is designated as using unobservable inputs (Level 3) within the valuation hierarchy.
■Occidental values debt using market-observable information for debt instruments that are traded on secondary markets. For debt instruments that are not traded, the fair value is determined by interpolating the value based on debt with similar terms and credit risk.
NON-FINANCIAL ASSETS
Occidental uses market-observable prices for assets when comparable transactions can be identified that are similar to the asset being valued. When Occidental is required to measure fair value and there is not a market-observable price for the asset or for a similar asset then the cost or income approach is used depending on the quality of information available to support management’s assumptions. The cost approach is based on management’s best estimate of the current asset replacement cost. The income approach is based on management’s best assumptions regarding expectations of future net cash flows and the expected cash flows are discounted using a commensurate risk-adjusted discount rate. Such evaluations involve significant judgment. The results are based on expected future events or conditions such as sales prices, estimates of future oil and gas production or throughput, development and operating costs and the timing thereof, economic and regulatory climates and other factors, most of which are often outside of management’s control. However, assumptions used reflect a market participant’s view of long-term prices, costs and other factors and are consistent with assumptions used in Occidental’s business plans and investment decisions.
ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES AND EXPENDITURES
Certain subsidiaries of Occidental incur environmental liabilities and expenditures that relate to current operations and are expensed or capitalized by such subsidiaries as appropriate. Certain subsidiaries also incur environmental liabilities and expenditures with respect to remediation of existing conditions from alleged past practices at Third-Party, Currently Operated, and Closed or Non-operated Sites, which categories may include NPL sites. Those environmental liabilities and related charges and expenses for estimated remediation costs from past operations are recorded when environmental remediation efforts are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Occidental discloses such remediation liabilities on a consolidated basis. In determining the environmental remediation liability and the range of reasonably possible additional losses, Occidental refers to currently available information, including relevant past experience, remedial objectives, available technologies, applicable laws and regulations and cost-sharing arrangements. These environmental remediation liabilities are based on management’s estimate of the most likely cost to be incurred, using the most cost-effective technology reasonably expected to achieve the remedial objective. Occidental periodically reviews these environmental remediation liabilities and adjusts them as new information becomes available. Occidental’s subsidiaries generally record reimbursements or recoveries of environmental remediation costs in income when received, or when receipt of recovery is highly probable.
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| OXY 2023 FORM 10-K | 59 |
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| MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
Many factors could affect future remediation costs incurred by Occidental’s subsidiaries and result in adjustments to environmental remediation liabilities and the range of reasonably possible additional losses. The most significant are: (1) cost estimates for remedial activities may vary from the initial estimate; (2) the length of time, type or amount of remediation necessary to achieve the remedial objective may change due to factors such as site conditions, the ability to identify and control contaminant sources or the discovery of additional contamination; (3) a regulatory agency may ultimately reject or modify proposed remedial plans; (4) improved or alternative remediation technologies may change remediation costs; (5) laws and regulations may change remediation requirements or affect cost sharing or allocation of liability; and (6) changes in allocation or cost-sharing arrangements may occur.
Certain sites involve multiple parties with various cost-sharing arrangements, which generally fall into the following three categories: (1) environmental proceedings that result in a negotiated or prescribed allocation of remediation costs among the affected Occidental’s subsidiary and other alleged potentially responsible parties; (2) oil and gas ventures in which each participant pays its proportionate share of remediation costs reflecting its working interest; or (3) contractual arrangements, typically relating to purchases and sales of properties, in which the parties to the transaction agree to methods of allocating remediation costs. In these circumstances, the affected subsidiary evaluates the financial viability of other parties with whom it is alleged to be jointly liable, the degree of their commitment to participate and the consequences to such subsidiary of their failure to participate when estimating its ultimate share of liability. Occidental subsidiaries record environmental remediation liabilities at their expected net cost of remedial activities. Based on these factors, except as otherwise disclosed in Note 12 - Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K, Occidental’s subsidiaries believe that they will not be required to assume a share of liability of such other potentially responsible parties in an amount materially above amounts reserved.
In addition to the costs of investigations and clean-up measures, which often take in excess of 10 years at CERCLA NPL sites, Occidental subsidiaries’ environmental remediation liabilities include estimates of the costs to operate and maintain remedial systems. If remedial systems are modified over time in response to significant changes in site-specific data, laws, regulations, technologies or engineering estimates, Occidental’s subsidiaries review and adjust their environmental remediation liabilities accordingly.
If Occidental or its subsidiaries were to adjust the balance of their environmental remediation liabilities based on the factors described above, the amount of the increase or decrease would be recognized in earnings. For example, if the balance were reduced by 10%, Occidental would record a pre-tax increase to income of $102 million. If the balance were increased by 10%, Occidental would record an additional remediation expense of $102 million.
INCOME TAXES
Occidental and its subsidiaries file various U.S. federal, state and foreign income tax returns. The impact of changes in tax regulations are reflected when enacted. In general, deferred federal, state and foreign income taxes are provided on temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Occidental routinely assesses the realizability of its deferred tax assets. If Occidental concludes that it is more likely than not that some of the deferred tax assets will not be realized, the tax asset is reduced by a valuation allowance. Occidental recognizes a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit recorded is equal to the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely to be realized through final settlement with a taxing authority. Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recognized in income tax expense (benefit). See Note 10 - Income Taxes in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
LOSS CONTINGENCIES
Occidental or certain of its subsidiaries are involved, in the normal course of business, in lawsuits, claims and other legal proceedings and audits. Occidental or its affected subsidiaries, as appropriate, accrues reserves for these matters when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the liability can be reasonably estimated. In addition, Occidental discloses, in aggregate on a consolidated basis, exposure to loss in excess of the amount recorded on the balance sheet for these matters if it is reasonably possible that an additional material loss may be incurred. Occidental reviews such loss contingencies on an ongoing basis.
Loss contingencies are based on judgments made by management with respect to the likely outcome of these matters and are adjusted as appropriate. Management’s judgments could change based on new information, changes in, or interpretations of, laws or regulations, changes in management’s plans or intentions, opinions regarding the outcome of legal proceedings or other factors. See Note 13 - Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional information.
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| 60 | OXY 2023 FORM 10-K |
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| MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
SAFE HARBOR DISCUSSION REGARDING OUTLOOK AND OTHER FORWARD-LOOKING DATA
Portions of this report contain 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. All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal and state securities laws, including, but not limited to: any projections of earnings, revenue or other financial items or future financial position or sources of financing; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations or business strategy; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; any statements of belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Words such as “estimate,” “project,” “predict,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “believe,” “expect,” “aim,” “goal,” “target,” “objective,” "commit," "advance," “likely” or similar expressions that convey the prospective nature of events or outcomes are generally indicative of forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report unless an earlier date is specified. Unless legally required, Occidental does not undertake any obligation to update, modify or withdraw any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Actual outcomes or results may differ from anticipated results, sometimes materially. Forward-looking and other statements regarding Occidental's sustainability efforts and aspirations are not an indication that these statements are necessarily material to investors or require disclosure in Occidental's filings with the SEC. In addition, historical, current and forward-looking sustainability-related statements may be based on standards for measuring progress that are still developing, internal controls and processes that continue to evolve and assumptions that are subject to change in the future, including future rulemaking. Factors that could cause results to differ from those projected or assumed in any forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions, including slowdowns and recessions, domestically or internationally; Occidental’s indebtedness and other payment obligations, including the need to generate sufficient cash flows to fund operations; Occidental’s ability to successfully monetize select assets and repay or refinance debt and the impact of changes in Occidental’s credit ratings or future increases in interest rates; assumptions about energy markets; global and local commodity and commodity-futures pricing fluctuations and volatility; supply and demand considerations for, and the prices of, Occidental’s products and services; actions by OPEC and non-OPEC oil producing countries; the scope and duration of global or regional health pandemics or epidemics, and actions taken by government authorities and other third parties in connection therewith; results from operations and competitive conditions; future impairments of Occidental's proved and unproved oil and gas properties or equity investments, or write-downs of productive assets, causing charges to earnings; unexpected changes in costs; inflation, its impact on markets and economic activity and related monetary policy actions by governments in response to inflation; availability of capital resources, levels of capital expenditures and contractual obligations; the regulatory approval environment, including Occidental's ability to timely obtain or maintain permits or other government approvals, including those necessary for drilling and/or development projects; Occidental's ability to successfully complete, or any material delay of, field developments, expansion projects, capital expenditures, efficiency projects, acquisitions or divestitures, including the CrownRock Acquisition; risks associated with acquisitions, mergers and joint ventures, such as difficulties integrating businesses, uncertainty associated with financial projections, projected synergies, restructuring, increased costs and adverse tax consequences; uncertainties and liabilities associated with acquired and divested properties and businesses; uncertainties about the estimated quantities of oil, NGL and natural gas reserves; lower-than-expected production from development projects or acquisitions; Occidental’s ability to realize the anticipated benefits from prior or future streamlining actions to reduce fixed costs, simplify or improve processes and improve Occidental’s competitiveness; exploration, drilling and other operational risks; disruptions to, capacity constraints in, or other limitations on the pipeline systems that deliver Occidental’s oil and natural gas and other processing and transportation considerations; volatility in the securities, capital or credit markets, including capital market disruptions and instability of financial institutions; government actions, war (including the Russia-Ukraine war and conflicts in the Middle East) and political conditions and events; HSE risks, costs and liability under existing or future federal, regional, state, provincial, tribal, local and international HSE laws, regulations, and litigation (including related to climate change or remedial actions or assessments); legislative or regulatory changes, including changes relating to hydraulic fracturing or other oil and natural gas operations, retroactive royalty or production tax regimes and deep-water and onshore drilling and permitting regulations; Occidental's ability to recognize intended benefits from its business strategies and initiatives, such as Occidental's low-carbon ventures businesses or announced GHG emissions reduction targets or net-zero goals; potential liability resulting from pending or future litigation, government investigations and other proceedings; disruption or interruption of production or manufacturing or facility damage due to accidents, chemical releases, labor unrest, weather, power outages, natural disasters, cyber-attacks, terrorist acts or insurgent activity; the creditworthiness and performance of Occidental's counterparties, including financial institutions, operating partners and other parties; failure of risk management; Occidental’s ability to retain and hire key personnel; supply, transportation, and labor constraints; reorganization or restructuring of Occidental’s operations; changes in state, federal or international tax rates; and actions by third parties that are beyond Occidental's control.
Additional information concerning these and other factors that may cause Occidental’s results of operations and financial position to differ from expectations can be found in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Form 10-K, as well as in Occidental’s other filings with the SEC, including Occidental’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.
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| OXY 2023 FORM 10-K | 61 |
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| QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES |
FY 2022 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0000797468-23-000011.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion should be read together with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, which are included in this Form 10-K in Item 8 and the information set forth in Risk Factors under Part 1, Item 1A. The following sections include a discussion of results for fiscal 2022 compared to fiscal 2021 as well as certain 2020 results. The comparative results for fiscal 2021 with fiscal 2020 generally have not been included in this Form 10-K, but may be found in “Part II - Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
| INDEX | PAGE |
|---|---|
| Current Business Outlook and Strategy | 25 |
| Oil and Gas Segment | 27 |
| Chemical Segment | 37 |
| Midstream and Marketing Segment | 38 |
| Segment Results of Operations and Items Affecting Comparability | 40 |
| Income Taxes | 45 |
| Consolidated Results of Operations | 46 |
| Liquidity and Capital Resources | 47 |
| Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments and Contingencies | 49 |
| Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures | 50 |
| Global Investments | 50 |
| Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates | 51 |
| Safe Harbor Discussion Regarding Outlook and Other Forward-Looking Data | 55 |
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| 24 | OXY 2022 FORM 10-K |
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| MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
CURRENT BUSINESS OUTLOOK AND STRATEGY
GENERAL
Occidental’s operations, financial condition, cash flows and levels of expenditures are highly dependent on oil prices and, to a lesser extent, NGL and natural gas prices, the Midland-to-Gulf-Coast oil spreads, chemical product prices and inflationary pressures in the macro-economic environment. In 2022, as compared to 2021, the average annual price per barrel of WTI crude increased to $94.23 from $67.91 and the average annual Brent price per barrel increased to $98.83 from $70.78. The return of oil demand to its pre-pandemic levels, the ongoing global impact of the Russia-Ukraine war and the limited increase in supply in 2022 have resulted in an increase in benchmark oil prices year-over-year. Occidental does not operate or own assets in either Russia or Ukraine. It is expected that the price of oil will be volatile for the foreseeable future given the current geopolitical risks, the ongoing global impact of the Russia-Ukraine war, and uncertainty around the global economy, oil demand in China as it emerges from its zero-COVID policy, production levels in OPEC and non-OPEC oil producing countries and further releases from or additions to the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Occidental works to manage inflation impacts by capitalizing on operational efficiencies, locking in pricing on longer term contracts and working closely with vendors to secure the supply of critical materials. As of December 31, 2022, substantially all of Occidental's outstanding debt is fixed rate.
STRATEGY
Occidental is focused on delivering a unique shareholder value proposition with its portfolio of oil and gas, chemicals and midstream and marketing assets and its ongoing development of carbon management and storage solutions and GHG emissions reduction efforts. Occidental conducts its operations with a priority on HSE, sustainability and social responsibility. Occidental aims to maximize shareholder returns through a combination of:
■Returning capital to shareholders, while redeeming a portion of preferred equity to continue improving Occidental’s financial position;
■Enhancing its existing asset base with new investments in its core cash-generative oil and gas and chemical businesses as well as emerging low-carbon businesses with a focus on its net-zero pathway;
■Advancing technologies and business solutions to help drive a sustainable low-carbon future; and
■Further reducing long-term financial leverage.
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND CAPITAL EFFICIENCY
Occidental's operational priorities for 2022 were to maximize operational efficiencies by investing $4.5 billion in high return assets to generate long-term sustainable free cash flow that will provide cash flow stability throughout the commodity cycle. Occidental set new operational records and efficiency benchmarks in the Permian, Rockies, Gulf of Mexico, Oman and UAE. OxyChem generated record earnings, beating its previous record set in 2021. With the increase in commodity prices and Occidental’s focus on its operational efficiencies, Occidental’s higher cash flow allowed it to reduce its leverage and advance its shareholder return framework.
DEBT AND INTEREST RATE SWAPS
Strong cash flow in 2022 allowed Occidental to continue its deleveraging efforts. In 2022, Occidental reduced its debt principal by more than $10.5 billion, leaving less than $18.0 billion outstanding as of December 31, 2022, and meeting its near-term debt reduction goal. As of December 31, 2022, Occidental had debt maturities of approximately $22 million in 2023, $1.1 billion in 2024 and $1.2 billion in 2025. The current maturity of $22 million was paid in January 2023, leaving no debt maturing in 2023.
Occidental’s $673 million Zero Coupons can be put to Occidental in October of each year, in whole or in part, for the then accreted value of the outstanding Zero Coupons. The Zero Coupons can next be put to Occidental in October 2023, which, if put in whole, would require a payment of approximately $344 million at such date. Occidental currently has the intent and ability to meet this obligation, including, if necessary, using amounts available under the RCF should the put right be exercised.
In the year ended December 31, 2022, Occidental settled all outstanding interest rate swaps with $255 million in cash and the application of $144 million collateral, leaving none outstanding as of December 31, 2022.
DEBT RATINGS
As of the date of this filing, Occidental’s long-term debt was rated BB+ by Fitch Ratings, Ba1 by Moody’s Investors Service and BB+ by Standard and Poor’s. Occidental believes the deleveraging performed to date may lead to future ratings upgrades, but cannot determine the timing of any potential ratings change. Any downgrade in credit ratings could impact Occidental's ability to access capital markets and increase its cost of capital. Occidental’s non-investment grade debt rating may require Occidental or its subsidiaries to provide financial assurance in the form of cash, letters of credit, surety bonds or other acceptable support under certain contractual arrangements.
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| OXY 2022 FORM 10-K | 25 |
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| MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
SHAREHOLDER RETURN FRAMEWORK
Capital is returned to shareholders through Occidental’s dividend and share repurchases. Occidental’s current dividend is $0.18 per share per quarter, or $0.72 on an annualized basis. During the fourth quarter of 2022, Occidental completed its $3.0 billion share repurchase program. In February 2023, the Board authorized a new share repurchase program of up to $3.0 billion of Occidental’s shares of common stock. Occidental anticipates that a higher percentage of excess free cash flow is expected to be allocated to shareholder returns in 2023 with the intention to begin redeeming the preferred stock. Occidental’s preferred stock includes a mandatory redemption provision that obligates Occidental to redeem the preferred at 110% of the par value on a dollar-for-dollar basis for every dollar distributed to common shareholders above $4.00 per share, on a trailing 12-month basis.
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP STRATEGY
In 2020, Occidental was the first U.S. oil and gas company to announce goals to achieve net-zero GHG emissions for its total emissions inventory including use of sold products. These goals include achieving net-zero GHG emissions (i) from its operations and energy use before 2040, with an ambition to do so before 2035, and (ii) from its total carbon inventory, including the use of its sold products, with an ambition to do so before 2050. In 2020, Occidental also set various interim targets, including 2025 carbon and methane intensity targets, and Occidental was the first U.S. oil and gas company to endorse the World Bank’s initiative for zero routine flaring by 2030. In 2022, the Board of Directors adopted Occidental’s updated HSE and Sustainability Principles, based on engagement with shareholders, employees and other stakeholders. The Principles reinforce the alignment among Occidental’s core values, goals and strategies, underpin our operational management system, and help to guide our workforce across our businesses.
Occidental seeks to meet its sustainability and environmental goals through its development and commercialization of technologies that lower both GHG emissions from industrial processes and existing atmospheric concentrations of CO2. Occidental believes that carbon removal technologies, including DAC and CCUS, can, with incentives necessary for their development and deployment, provide essential CO2 reductions to assist the world’s transition to a less carbon-intensive economy. During 2022, Occidental undertook the following actions, among others, toward advancing its low-carbon strategy:
■Achieved zero routine flaring of gas across its U.S. oil and gas operations, 8 years ahead of the World Bank’s 2030 target;
■Reduced estimated methane emissions by 33% from the 2020 baseline;
■Began construction activities for DAC 1 in the Permian;
■Acquired interests in approximately 265,000 net acres of pore space access along the U.S. Gulf Coast; and
■Invested approximately $530 million in low-carbon businesses, technologies, and net-zero pathway advancements, including the aforementioned pore space.
The future costs associated with emissions reduction, carbon removal and CCUS to meet its long-term net-zero GHG goals may be substantial and execution of its plans and net-zero pathway depends on securing third-party capital investments. Occidental is pursuing multiple pathways to fund these projects including project financing, long-term carbon removal or CCUS agreements, and identifying business opportunities with stakeholders in carbon-intensive industries
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Occidental seeks to meet its strategic goals by continually measuring its success against key performance indicators that drive total stockholder return. In addition to efficient capital allocation and deployment discussed below in the section titled Oil and Gas Segment - Business Strategy, Occidental believes its most significant performance indicators are:
OPERATIONAL
■Total spend per barrel - In 2023, Occidental will continue to focus on controlling total costs from a per-barrel perspective. Total spend per barrel is the sum of capital spending, general and administrative expenses, other operating and non-operating expenses and oil and gas lease operating costs divided by global oil, NGL and natural gas sales volumes.
■Daily production - Occidental seeks to maximize field operability and minimize production down-time.
FINANCIAL
■CROCE - CROCE is calculated as (i) the cash flows from operating activities, before changes in working capital, plus distributions from WES classified as investing cash flows, divided by (ii) the average of the opening and closing balances of total equity plus total debt.
■Maintain and improve financial leverage to a level consistent with investment grade credit metrics.
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL
■Specific interim emissions reduction and emissions intensity targets to advance our goal of net-zero operational and energy use emissions before 2040, with an ambition to achieve before 2035.
■Milestones in specific carbon removal and CCUS projects that advance our net-zero total emissions inventory, including use of sold products, with an ambition to achieve before 2050.
■Facilitate deployment of carbon removal, CCUS and other solutions to advance total carbon impact past 2050.
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| MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
OIL AND GAS SEGMENT
BUSINESS STRATEGY
Occidental’s oil and gas segment focuses on long-term value creation and leadership in sustainability, health, safety and the environment. In each core operating area, Occidental’s operations benefit from scale, technical expertise, decades of high-margin inventory, environmental and safety leadership and commercial and governmental collaboration. These attributes allow Occidental to bring additional production quickly to market, extend the life of older fields at lower costs and provide low-cost returns-driven growth opportunities with advanced technology.
Occidental is one of the largest U.S. producers of liquids, which includes oil and NGL, allowing Occidental to maximize cash margins on a per barrel basis. The advantages that Occidental’s portfolio provides, coupled with its advanced subsurface characterization ability and the proven ability to execute, position Occidental for full-cycle success in the years ahead. The oil and gas segment maximizes efficiencies to deliver lower breakeven costs and generate excess free cash flow. The oil and gas segment strives to achieve low development and operating costs to maximize full-cycle value of the assets.
The oil and gas business implements Occidental’s strategy primarily by:
■Operating and developing areas where reserves are known to exist and optimizing capital intensity in core areas, primarily in the Permian Basin, DJ Basin, Gulf of Mexico, UAE, Oman and Algeria;
■Maintaining a disciplined and prudent approach to capital expenditures with a focus on high-return, short and mid-cycle, cash-flow-generating opportunities and an emphasis on creating value and further enhancing Occidental’s existing positions;
■Focusing Occidental’s subsurface characterization and technical activities on unconventional opportunities, primarily in the Permian Basin and Rockies;
■Using secondary and tertiary recovery techniques in mature fields; and
■Focusing on cost-reduction efficiencies and innovative technologies to reduce carbon emissions.
In 2022, oil and gas capital expenditures were approximately $3.8 billion and primarily focused on Occidental’s assets in the Permian Basin, DJ Basin, Gulf of Mexico and Oman. In 2023, Occidental plans to spend $4.3 billion to $4.7 billion to develop its oil and gas assets.
OIL AND GAS PRICE ENVIRONMENT
Oil and gas prices are the major variables that drive the industry’s financial performance. The following table presents the average daily WTI and Brent prices for oil and NYMEX natural gas prices for 2022 and 2021:
| 2022 | 2021 | % Change | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WTI Oil ($/Bbl) | $ | 94.23 | $ | 67.91 | 39 | % | |||||
| Brent Oil ($/Bbl) | $ | 98.83 | $ | 70.78 | 40 | % | |||||
| NYMEX Natural Gas ($/Mcf) | $ | 6.35 | $ | 3.61 | 76 | % |
The following table presents Occidental’s average realized prices for continuing operations as a percentage of WTI, Brent and NYMEX for 2022 and 2021:
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worldwide oil as a percentage of average WTI | 100 | % | 97 | % | ||
| Worldwide oil as a percentage of average Brent | 95 | % | 93 | % | ||
| Worldwide NGL as a percentage of average WTI | 38 | % | 44 | % | ||
| Worldwide NGL as a percentage of average Brent | 36 | % | 42 | % | ||
| Domestic natural gas as a percentage of NYMEX | 86 | % | 91 | % |
Prices and differentials can vary significantly, even on a short-term basis, making it difficult to predict realized prices with a reliable degree of certainty.
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| OXY 2022 FORM 10-K | 27 |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
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DOMESTIC INTERESTS
BUSINESS REVIEW
Occidental conducts its domestic operations through land leases, subsurface mineral rights it owns, or a combination of both. Occidental’s domestic oil and gas leases have a primary term ranging from one to 10 years, which is extended through the end of production once it commences. Occidental has leasehold and mineral interests in 9.5 million net acres, of which approximately 52% is leased, 47% is owned subsurface mineral rights and 1% is owned land with mineral rights. Approximately $3.6 billion to $4.0 billion of Occidental’s worldwide capital budget is expected to be allocated to its domestic operations in 2023.
DOMESTIC ASSETS (a)
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1. Powder River Basin 2. DJ Basin 3. Permian Basin 4. Gulf of Mexico |
(a)Map represents geographic outlines of the respective basins.
The Permian Basin
The Permian Basin extends throughout West Texas and Southeast New Mexico and is one of the largest and most active oil basins in the United States, accounting for more than 43% of total United States oil production in 2022. Overall in 2022, Occidental’s production in the Permian Basin was approximately 513 Mboe/d.
Occidental manages its Permian Basin operations through two businesses: Permian Resources, which includes unconventional opportunities, and Permian EOR, which utilizes secondary and tertiary recovery techniques. Occidental had a leading position in the Permian Basin, producing approximately 8% of the total oil in the basin in 2022. By exploiting the natural synergies between Permian Resources and Permian EOR, Occidental is able to deliver unique short- and long-term advantages, efficiencies and expertise across its Permian Basin operations.
The Permian Resources unconventional business is focused on developing and producing unconventional reservoir targets using horizontal drilling technology. The development programs are designed to create long-term value from primary development by maximizing the recovery of oil, utilizing sustainable practices and providing strong financial returns. Occidental’s unconventional oil and gas operations in Permian Resources include approximately 1.4 million net acres. In 2022, our activities were focused in the core development areas with emphasis on maintaining the industry leading capital intensity through optimized surface infrastructure and customized well designs. Overall, in 2022, Permian Resources produced from approximately 3,300 gross wells and added 387 MMboe to Occidental’s proved reserves through development and extensions of proved areas.
The Permian Basin’s concentration of large conventional reservoirs, strong CO2 flooding performance and the expansive CO2 transportation and processing infrastructure has resulted in decades of high-value enhanced oil production. With 34 active CO2 floods and over 50 years of experience, Occidental is the industry leader in Permian Basin CO2 flooding, which can increase ultimate oil recovery by 10% to 25%. Technology improvements, such as the recent trend toward vertical
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| 28 | OXY 2022 FORM 10-K |
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| MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
expansion of the CO2 flooded interval into residual oil zone targets, continue to yield more recovery from existing projects, and Permian EOR produced from approximately 13,000 gross wells in 2022.
Significant opportunities also remain to gain additional recovery by expanding Occidental’s existing CO2 projects into new portions of reservoirs that have only been waterflooded. Permian EOR has a large inventory of future CO2 projects, which could be developed over the next 20 years or accelerated, depending on market conditions.
In 2022, Occidental spent approximately $2.3 billion of capital in the Permian Basin, of which approximately 93% was spent on Permian Resources assets.
Rockies and Other Domestic
In 2022, Occidental produced approximately 277 Mboe/d net in the Rockies and Other Domestic locations. Production in the DJ Basin is derived from 2,000 operated vertical wells and 2,400 operated horizontal wells primarily focused in the Niobrara and Codell formations. The DJ Basin, including the North DJ Basin, comprises approximately 800,000 total net acres and provides competitive economics, low breakeven costs and free cash flow generation through Occidental’s contiguous acreage position and royalty uplift.
In the DJ Basin, horizontal drilling results in the field continue to be strong, with improved operational efficiencies in drilling and completions. In 2022, Occidental drilled 68 operated horizontal wells and completed 54 operated horizontal wells.
Occidental is focusing on obtaining the necessary state, local and federal permits required to construct facilities and drill and complete wells in the DJ Basin. In January 2021, the COGCC adopted new regulations that impose siting requirements, or “setbacks,” on certain oil and gas drilling locations based on the distance of a proposed well pad to occupied structures. Under these new regulations and through thoughtful surface location planning, Occidental obtained COGCC approval for five Oil and Gas Development Plans, inclusive of 12 well pad and facility locations and approximately 150 wells. In addition to the approximately 150 wells approved through the Oil and Gas Development Plan process, during the third quarter of 2022, Occidental became the first oil and gas operator in Colorado to obtain COGCC approval for the first Comprehensive Area Plan under the new COGCC rules. This comprehensive plan will support nine well pads and approximately 140 new wells and will provide for substantial future development in a geographically remote area on Colorado’s eastern plains. Oil and Gas Development Plans associated with the Comprehensive Area Plan will be submitted in 2023.
As of December 31, 2022, Occidental is permitted, or had permit applications submitted to applicable regulatory agencies, for nearly all planned 2023 drilling and completions activity in the DJ Basin. In 2023, Occidental plans to submit state and local permits with the goal of building operational inventory and maintaining its social license to operate in Colorado. Occidental has a dedicated stakeholder relations team that conducts regulatory and community outreach with respect to its permit applications and operations in Colorado with a focus on building trust and fostering open communication with those that live and work near our operations.
Occidental has gained efficiencies in the permitting process and will continue to look for additional opportunities to do so. As discussed above, Occidental does not anticipate significant near-term changes to our development program in the DJ Basin based on these regulations. However, if Occidental is unable to obtain new drilling permits to develop a significant portion of the company’s undeveloped acreage in the DJ Basin, the company’s DJ Basin assets may be subject to testing for impairment, and if deemed to be impaired, such impairment could be material to our financial statements.
Occidental has interest in over 300,000 net acres in the Powder River Basin, mainly located in Converse County and Campbell County, Wyoming. The field contains the Turner, Niobrara, Mowry and Parkman formations that hold both liquids and natural gas. In 2022, Occidental drilled 19 operated horizontal wells and completed 14 horizontal wells in the Powder River Basin. The company plans to run one continuous operated drilling rig in 2023 with targeted completion activity throughout the year.
Occidental holds approximately 4.6 million net acres in other domestic locations, which consist of legacy acreage and fee minerals outside of Occidental’s core operated areas including parts of Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Texas, West Virginia and Wyoming.
OFFSHORE DOMESTIC ASSETS
Gulf of Mexico
Occidental is the fourth-largest oil and gas producer in the deep-water Gulf of Mexico, operating 10 strategically located deep-water floating platforms, the highest number among all the deep water operators, and producing from 18 active fields while owning a working interest across 252 blocks, including approximately 1.0 million net acres. Occidental’s position is one of the largest portfolios in the Gulf of Mexico.
Occidental further operates two marine shore-bases in Galveston, Texas, and Port Fourchon, Louisiana, as well as two helicopter bases in Louisiana that all provide back up and redundancy to each other to support the Gulf operations. A central logistics base with an integrated training center is located in Broussard, Louisiana, and the Gulf of Mexico operations and development are managed and supported with engineering and technical staff from The Woodlands, Texas, office tower.
In 2022, Occidental increased net production to 147 Mboe/d from approximately 88 gross wells, investing over $450 million in capital, including exploration capital, primarily directed towards drilling activity in its new Horn Mountain West subsea development, Lucius and Holstein facilities, drilling five wells using one floating drill ship, one platform rig and several service rigs. Occidental successfully and safely initiated first production from its new Horn Mountain West field and tied back to the Horn Mountain facility, increasing production at the platform by over 34 Mboe/d from three subsea oil wells,
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| OXY 2022 FORM 10-K | 29 |
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on budget and three months ahead of schedule. In the fourth quarter of 2022, the new Caesar-Tonga Subsea Expansion project was also started several months ahead of schedule, debottlenecking the prolific giant Caesar-Tonga field and thus enabling future field expansion projects. Major subsea-pumping projects supporting the Marco Polo/K2 field and the Marlin/King field were progressed as well as extensive 4D seismic shoots in the Holstein field and elsewhere, setting up a runway of future development opportunities.
Operational excellence and efficiency continued as the prime objective in 2022 and gathered further momentum, reducing overall base production decline rates through the implementation of several successful well stimulations and artificial lift projects. Platform operating efficiencies were significantly improved and machinery uptimes were increased all through subordinated focus and condition monitoring initiatives as well as multiple upgrade projects. Continued optimum sequencing of annual platform turn-arounds provided further operational efficiencies, avoiding around two hundred days per year of shut-ins.
During 2022, all necessary regulatory permits for new wells and existing operations were obtained timely without any operational delays. Occidental was further awarded 30 new leases from BOEM’s Lease Sale 257 and was the second most successful bidder.
Occidental’s Gulf of Mexico assets continued to be among the lowest carbon emissions operations in the industry with zero routine flaring and zero cold venting.
The following table shows key areas of ongoing development in the Gulf of Mexico, along with the corresponding working interest in those areas.
| Working Interest | ||
|---|---|---|
| Horn Mountain | 100 | % |
| Holstein | 100 | % |
| Marlin | 100 | % |
| Lucius | 67 | % |
| K2 Complex | 42 | % |
| Caesar Tonga | 34 | % |
| Constellation | 33 | % |
In 2023, Occidental expects to continue development and expansion of its existing assets across the Gulf of Mexico, to safely deliver high-margin production while continuing to add to its drill well inventory on existing leases through expansion and infrastructure led exploration opportunities around existing infrastructure. Occidental plans to conduct development and exploration activities in 2023 using one to two floating drill ships, one platform rig and several other well service vessels and continue to optimize its extensive portfolio of lease working interests.
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|---|---|
| 30 | OXY 2022 FORM 10-K |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
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| MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
INTERNATIONAL INTERESTS
BUSINESS REVIEW
Occidental conducts its ongoing international operations in two sub-regions: the Middle East and North Africa. Its activities include oil, NGL and natural gas production through direct working-interests, PSAs and PSCs. Under the PSCs, Occidental records a share of production and reserves to recover certain development and production costs and an additional share for profit. These contracts do not transfer any right of ownership to Occidental and reserves reported from these arrangements are based on Occidental’s economic interest as defined in the contracts. Occidental’s share of production and reserves from these contracts decreases when product prices rise and increases when prices decline. Overall, Occidental’s net economic benefit from these contracts is greater when product prices are higher. Approximately $0.5 billion of Occidental’s worldwide capital budget is expected to be allocated to its international operations in 2023.
MIDDLE EAST / NORTH AFRICA ASSETS
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1.Algeria 2.Oman 3.Qatar 4.UAE |
Algeria
Occidental’s interest in Algeria involves development and production rights in 18 fields within Blocks 404a and 208, which are located in the Berkine Basin in Algeria’s Sahara Desert and are governed by an agreement amongst Occidental, Sonatrach and other partners. Occidental is responsible for 24.5% of the development and production costs. The El Merk central processing facility in Block 208 processes produced oil, NGL and natural gas, while the Hassi Berkine South and Ourhoud central processing facilities in Block 404a process produced oil. The rights to produce from the Block 404a fields expire between May 2023 and 2036, and the rights to produce from the Block 208 fields expire in 2032.
In 2022, net production in Algeria was 45 Mbbl/d, two gross development wells were drilled and annual net capital expenditures were $25 million.
In July 2022, Occidental signed a new PSC with Sonatrach and other partners which, upon approval by the Algerian government, will be for a new 25-year term for all of the fields under the current hydrocarbon agreement. With respect to the new PSC, Occidental is responsible for 35% of the development and production costs, and government approval is expected in the first half of 2023.
Oman
In Oman, Occidental is the operator of Block 9, Block 27, Block 53 (Mukhaizna Field), Block 62 and Block 65 and has additional interests in Blocks 30, 51 and 72, which are under the Exploration phase. The working interest and contract expiration year for each of the respective blocks are shown in the table below. Occidental holds 6.0 million gross acres and has 10,000 potential well inventory locations. In 2022, Occidental’s share of production was 65 Mboe/d.
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|---|---|
| OXY 2022 FORM 10-K | 31 |
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|---|---|---|
| MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
| Working Interest | Block Expiration (Year) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Block 9 | 50 | % | 2030 |
| Block 27 | 65 | % | 2035 |
| Block 53 | 47 | % | 2035 |
| Block 62 | 100 | % | 2028 |
| Block 65 | 51 | % | 2037 |
| Blocks 30, 51 and 72 | 100 | % | Exploration Phase |
Occidental has produced over 754 million gross barrels from Block 9 since the beginning of its operation through successful exploration, continuous drilling improvements and EOR projects. The Mukhaizna Field in Block 53 is a major pattern steam flood project for EOR that utilizes some of the largest mechanical vapor compressors ever built. Since assuming operations in the Mukhaizna Field in 2005, Occidental has drilled close to 3,580 new wells and has produced over 575 million gross barrels. In 2022, Occidental declared commerciality for Block 65 and invested capital of $362 million across all of the Oman blocks to drill 92 wells and execute facilities projects to support development and EOR activities.
In 2023, Occidental will continue to enhance production by adding extended and dual laterals, stimulating wells with the OXY JETTINGTM wellbore stimulation system, and expanding thermal conformance. Occidental will also continue to execute projects in Oman targeting emissions reductions.
Qatar
In Qatar, Occidental partners in the Dolphin Energy Project, an investment that is comprised of two separate economic interests. Occidental has a 24.5% interest in the upstream operations (Dolphin) to develop and produce NGL, natural gas and condensate from Qatar’s North Field through mid-2032. Occidental also has a 24.5% interest in DEL, which operates a pipeline and is discussed further in the midstream and marketing segment section in this Form 10-K under Pipeline. In 2022, Occidental’s net share of production from Dolphin was 37 Mboe/d.
UAE
In 2011, Occidental acquired a 40% participating interest in the Shah gas field (Al Hosn Gas), joining with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, which expires in 2041. In 2022, Occidental’s net share of production from Al Hosn Gas was 227 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) of natural gas and 35 Mbbl/d of NGL and condensate. Al Hosn Gas includes gas processing facilities which are discussed further in the midstream and marketing segment section in this Form 10-K under Gas Processing, Gathering and CO2.
In 2019 and 2020, Occidental acquired 9-year exploration concessions and, subject to a declaration of commerciality, 35-year production concessions for Onshore Block 3 and Block 5, which cover an area approximately 1.5 million acres and 1.0 million acres, respectively, and are adjacent to Al Hosn Gas. In 2022 and 2021, Occidental announced multi-zone oil and gas discoveries in Onshore Block 3.
In 2023, Occidental plans to complete an expansion project that commenced in 2022 to increase the production capacity of the Al Hosn Gas processing facilities from 1.28 Bcf/d to 1.45 Bcf/d and continue further exploration and appraisal activities in Onshore Block 3 and Block 5.
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| 32 | OXY 2022 FORM 10-K |
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| MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
PROVED RESERVES
Proved oil, NGL and natural gas reserves were estimated using the unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within the year, unless prices were defined by contractual arrangements. Oil, NGL and natural gas prices used for this purpose were based on posted benchmark prices and adjusted for price differentials including gravity, quality and transportation costs.
The following table shows the 2022, 2021 and 2020 calculated first-day-of-the-month average prices for both WTI and Brent oil prices, as well as the Henry Hub gas prices measured in MMbtu:
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WTI Oil ($/Bbl) | $ | 93.67 | $ | 66.56 | $ | 39.57 | |||||
| Brent Oil ($/Bbl) | $ | 97.77 | $ | 69.24 | $ | 43.41 | |||||
| Henry Hub Natural Gas ($/MMbtu) | $ | 6.36 | $ | 3.60 | $ | 1.98 | |||||
| Mt. Belvieu NGL ($/Bbl) | $ | 47.81 | $ | 44.22 | $ | 18.74 |
Occidental had proved reserves from continuing operations at year-end 2022 of 3,817 MMboe, compared to the year-end 2021 amount of 3,512 MMboe. Proved developed reserves represented approximately 71% and 75% of Occidental’s total proved reserves at year-end 2022 and 2021, respectively. The following table shows the breakout of Occidental’s proved reserves from continuing operations by commodity as a percentage of total proved reserves:
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil | 50 | % | 50 | % | ||
| NGL | 22 | % | 22 | % | ||
| Natural gas | 28 | % | 28 | % |
Occidental does not have any reserves from non-traditional sources. For further information regarding Occidental’s proved reserves, see the Supplemental Oil and Gas Information section in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
CHANGES IN PROVED RESERVES
Changes in Occidental’s 2022 reserves were as follows:
| MMboe | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| Revisions of previous estimates | 474 | |
| Improved recovery | 89 | |
| Extensions and discoveries | 176 | |
| Purchases | 10 | |
| Sales | (21) | |
| Production | (423) | |
| Total | 305 |
Occidental’s ability to add reserves, other than through purchases, depends on the success of infill development, extension, discovery and improved recovery projects, each of which depends on reservoir characteristics, technology improvements and oil and natural gas prices, as well as capital and operating costs. Many of these factors are outside management’s control and may negatively or positively affect Occidental’s reserves.
Revisions of Previous Estimates
Revisions can include upward or downward changes to previous proved reserve estimates for existing fields due to the evaluation or interpretation of geologic, production decline or operating performance data. In addition, product price changes affect proved reserves recorded by Occidental. For example, lower prices may decrease the economically recoverable reserves, particularly for domestic properties, because the reduced margin limits the expected life of the operations. Offsetting this effect, lower prices increase Occidental’s share of proved reserves under PSCs because more oil is required to recover costs. Conversely, when prices rise, Occidental’s share of proved reserves decreases for PSCs and economically recoverable reserves may increase for other operations. Reserve estimation rules require that estimated ultimate recoveries be much more likely to increase or remain constant than to decrease, as changes are made due to increased availability of technical data.
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| OXY 2022 FORM 10-K | 33 |
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In 2022, Occidental’s revisions of previous estimates of proved reserves were positive 474 MMboe. These revisions were primarily due to 335 MMboe of positive revisions related to additions associated with infill development projects, mainly in the Permian Basin (232 MMboe) and the DJ Basin (94 MMboe). An additional 136 MMboe of positive revisions were related price revisions. The positive price revisions were primarily associated with the Permian Basin (147 MMboe), the Gulf of Mexico (8 MMboe) and the DJ Basin (4 MMboe), which were partially offset by negative price revisions of 29 MMboe on international PSCs.
Further positive revisions of 93 MMboe were associated with updates based on reservoir performance and 5 MMBoe were associated with management changes in development plans. The positive revisions were offset by negative revisions associated with various other cost and interest related revisions (95 MMboe).
Improved Recovery
In 2022, Occidental added proved reserves of 89 MMboe related to improved recovery, primarily in the Permian EOR, which accounted for 87% of the improved recovery reserve additions. These properties comprise conventional projects, which are characterized by the deployment of EOR development methods, largely employing application of CO2 flood, waterflood or steam flood. These types of conventional EOR development methods can be applied through existing wells, though additional drilling is frequently required to fully optimize the development configuration. Waterflooding is the technique of injecting water into the formation to displace the oil to the offsetting oil production wells. The use of either CO2 or steam flooding depends on the geology of the formation, the evaluation of engineering data, availability and cost of either CO2 or steam and other economic factors. Both techniques work similarly to lower viscosity causing the oil to move more easily to the producing wells. The remaining improved recovery additions were due to secondary and tertiary projects for certain international assets.
Extensions and Discoveries
Occidental also added proved reserves from extensions and discoveries, which are dependent on successful exploration and exploitation programs. In 2022, extensions and discoveries added 176 MMboe primarily related to the recognition of proved reserves in the Permian Basin (155 MMboe) and Powder River Basin (7 MMboe).
Purchases of Proved Reserves
In 2022, Occidental purchased proved reserves of 10 MMboe primarily consisting of proved reserves in the Permian Basin.
Sales of Proved Reserves
In 2022, Occidental sold 21 MMboe in proved reserves related to the divestitures of certain non-strategic assets in the Permian Basin.
Proved Undeveloped Reserves
Occidental had PUD reserves at year-end 2022 of 1,119 MMboe, compared to the year-end 2021 amount of 865 MMboe.
Changes in PUD reserves were as follows:
| MMboe | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| Revisions of previous estimates | 270 | |
| Improved recovery | 49 | |
| Extensions and discoveries | 107 | |
| Purchases | 1 | |
| Sales | (10) | |
| Transfer to proved developed reserves | (163) | |
| Total | 254 |
Revisions of previous estimates were a positive 270 MMboe. Approximately 263 MMboe of the positive revisions were related to additions associated with infill development projects in the Permian Basin (170 MMboe) and the DJ Basin (93 MMboe). Additionally, the revisions included positive price revisions of 24 MMboe. The positive price revisions were primarily associated with the Permian Basin. The remaining positive revisions were associated with various updates based on reservoir performance. The positive revisions were offset by negative revisions associated with various other cost and interest related revisions (21 MMboe).
Extensions and discoveries added 107 MMboe primarily related to the recognition of proved reserves in the Permian Basin (100 MMboe). Total improved recovery additions of 49 MMboe were primarily the result of conventional projects in the Permian EOR (44 MMboe) and secondary and tertiary projects in international assets (5 MMboe). The 2022 additions to
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| 34 | OXY 2022 FORM 10-K |
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PUD reserves were partially offset by transfers to proved developed reserves of 163 MMboe. The transfers were primarily associated with the Permian Basin (89 MMboe), the DJ Basin (40 MMboe) and Gulf of Mexico (21 MMboe).
In 2022, Occidental incurred approximately $1.2 billion to convert PUD reserves to proved developed reserves, and in 2022 Occidental converted approximately 19% of its PUD reserves to proved developed, when adjusted for revisions and sales. As of December 31, 2022, Occidental had 1,119 MMboe of PUD reserves of which 73% were associated with domestic onshore, 4% with Gulf of Mexico and 23% with international assets. Occidental’s most active development areas are located in the Permian Basin, which represented 54% of the PUD reserves as of December 31, 2022. Occidental’s total planned 2023 capital expenditures are between $5.4 billion and $6.2 billion. Overall, Occidental plans to spend approximately $4.6 billion over the next five years to develop its PUD reserves in the Permian Basin.
PUD reserves are supported by a five-year detailed field-level development plan, which includes the timing, location and capital commitment of the wells to be drilled. Only PUD reserves which are reasonably certain to be drilled within five years of booking and are supported by a final investment decision to drill them are included in the development plan. A portion of the PUD reserves are expected to be developed beyond the five years and are tied to approved long-term development projects.
As of December 31, 2022, Occidental had 241 MMboe of pre-2018 PUD reserves that remained undeveloped. These PUD reserves relate to approved long-term development plans, 175 MMboe of which are primarily associated with international development projects with physical limitations in existing gas processing capacity and 66 MMboe of which are related to approved long-term development plans for Permian EOR projects, also with physical limitations in existing gas processing capacity. Occidental remains committed to these projects and continues to actively progress the development of these volumes. In addition to the above, Occidental has 57 MMboe of PUD reserves that are scheduled to be developed more than five years from their initial date of booking. These PUD reserves are related to approved long-term development plans, 41 MMboe of which are associated with international development projects and 16 MMboe with the Gulf of Mexico projects.
RESERVES EVALUATION AND REVIEW PROCESS
Occidental’s estimates of proved reserves and associated future net cash flows as of December 31, 2022, were made by Occidental’s technical personnel and are the responsibility of management. The estimation of proved reserves is based on the requirement of reasonable certainty of economic producibility and funding commitments by Occidental to develop the reserves. This process involves reservoir engineers, geoscientists, planning engineers and financial analysts. As part of the proved reserves estimation process, all reserve volumes are estimated by a forecast of production rates, operating costs and capital expenditures. Price differentials between benchmark prices (the unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within the year) and realized prices and specifics of each operating agreement are then used to estimate the net reserves. Production rate forecasts are derived by a number of methods, including estimates from decline curve analysis, type well profile analysis, computer simulation of the reservoir performance, volumetric analysis and material balance calculations that take into account the volumes of substances replacing the volumes produced and associated reservoir pressure changes supported by various technologies including seismic analysis. These reliable field-tested technologies have demonstrated reasonably certain results with consistency and repeatability in the formation being evaluated or in an analogous formation. Operating and capital costs are forecast using the current cost environment applied to expectations of future operating and development activities.
Net proved developed reserves are those volumes that are expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods for which the incremental cost of any additional required investment is relatively minor.
Net PUD reserves are those volumes that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion. PUD reserves are supported by a five-year, detailed, field-level development plan, which includes the timing, location and capital commitment of the wells to be drilled. The development plan is reviewed and approved annually by senior management and technical personnel. Annually, a detailed review is performed by Occidental’s Corporate Reserves Group and its technical personnel on a lease-by-lease basis to assess whether PUD reserves are being converted on a timely basis within five years from the initial disclosure date. Any leases not showing timely transfers from PUD reserves to proved developed reserves are reviewed by senior management to determine if the remaining reserves will be developed in a timely manner and have sufficient capital committed in the development plan. Only PUD reserves that are reasonably certain to be drilled within five years of booking and are supported by a final investment decision to drill them are included in the development plan. A portion of the PUD reserves associated with international operations are expected to be developed beyond the five years and are tied to approved long-term development plans.
The current Senior Vice President, Reserves for Oxy Oil and Gas is responsible for overseeing the preparation of reserve estimates, in compliance with SEC rules and regulations, including the internal audit and review of Occidental’s oil and gas reserves data. He has over 40 years of experience in the upstream sector of the exploration and production business and has held various assignments in North America, Asia and Europe. He is a three-time past Chair of the Society of Petroleum Engineers Oil and Gas Reserves Committee. He is an AAPG Certified Petroleum Geologist and currently serves on the AAPG Committee on Resource Evaluation. He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers, the Colorado School of Mines Potential Gas Committee and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Expert
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Group on Resource Management. He has Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in geology from Emory University in Atlanta.
Occidental has a Reserves Committee, consisting of senior corporate officers, to review and approve Occidental’s oil and gas reserves. The Reserves Committee reports to the Audit Committee of Occidental’s Board of Directors during the year. Since 2003, Occidental has retained Ryder Scott, independent petroleum engineering consultants, to review its annual oil and gas reserve estimation processes. For additional reserves information, see Supplemental Oil and Gas Information under Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
In 2022, Ryder Scott conducted a process review of the methods and analytical procedures utilized by Occidental’s engineering and geological staff for estimating the proved reserves volumes, preparing the economic evaluations and determining the reserves classifications as of December 31, 2022, in accordance with SEC regulatory standards. Ryder Scott reviewed the specific application of such methods and procedures for selected oil and gas properties considered to be a valid representation of Occidental’s 2022 year-end total proved reserves portfolio. In 2022, Ryder Scott reviewed approximately 42% of Occidental’s proved oil and gas reserves. Since being engaged in 2003, Ryder Scott has reviewed the specific application of Occidental’s reserve estimation methods and procedures for approximately 92% of Occidental’s existing proved oil and gas reserves.
Management retained Ryder Scott to provide objective third-party input on its methods and procedures and to gather industry information applicable to Occidental’s reserve estimation and reporting process. Ryder Scott has not been engaged to render an opinion as to the reasonableness of reserves quantities reported by Occidental. Occidental has filed Ryder Scott’s independent report as an exhibit to this Form 10-K.
Based on its reviews, including the data, technical processes and interpretations presented by Occidental, Ryder Scott has concluded that the overall procedures and methodologies Occidental utilized in estimating the proved reserves volumes, preparing the economic evaluations and determining the reserves classifications for the reviewed properties are appropriate for the purpose thereof and comply with current SEC regulations.
INDUSTRY OUTLOOK
The oil and gas exploration and production industry is highly competitive, is subject to significant volatility due to various market conditions and operations are highly dependent on oil prices and, to a lesser extent, NGL and natural gas prices. Oil prices increased significantly in 2022. During 2022, as compared to 2021, the average annual $/Bbl of WTI crude increased to $94.23 from $67.91 and the average annual Brent price per barrel increased to $98.83 from $70.78.
Oil prices will continue to be affected by: (i) global supply and demand, which are generally a function of global economic conditions, inventory levels, production or supply chain disruptions, technological advances, regional market conditions and the actions of OPEC, other significant producers and governments; (ii) transportation capacity, infrastructure constraints, and costs in producing areas; (iii) currency exchange rates and inflation rates; and (iv) the effect of changes in these variables on market perceptions. The ongoing global impact of the Russia-Ukraine war and whether the oil industry will be able to sustain a continued supply response have resulted in an increase in benchmark oil prices year-over-year. Occidental does not operate or own assets in either Russia or Ukraine. It is expected that the price of oil will be volatile for the foreseeable future given the current geopolitical risks, the ongoing global impact of the Russia-Ukraine war, the evolving macro-economic environment and supply activity (as a result of COVID-19) from OPEC and non-OPEC oil producing countries and the Biden Administration’s releases from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
NGL prices are related to the supply and demand for the components of products making up these liquids. Some of them more typically correlate to the price of oil while others are affected by natural gas prices as well as the demand for certain chemical products for which they are used as feedstock. In addition, infrastructure constraints magnify the pricing volatility from region to region.
Domestic natural gas prices and local differentials are strongly affected by local supply and demand fundamentals, as well as government regulations, global LNG demand and availability of transportation capacity from producing areas.
We expect that oil prices in the near term will continue to be influenced by the duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting impact on oil and gas supply and demand.
These and other factors make it difficult to predict the future direction of oil, NGL and domestic gas prices reliably. For purposes of the current capital plan, Occidental will continue to focus on allocating capital to high return assets with the flexibility to adjust based on fluctuations in commodity prices. International gas prices are generally fixed under long-term contracts. Occidental continues to adjust capital expenditures in line with current economic conditions, such as supply chain constraints, rising interest rates, global logistics and high inflation, which has continued to disrupt global supply and demand balances, with the goal of keeping returns well above its cost of capital.
The timing, process and ultimate cost to transition to a less carbon-intensive economy remains largely unknown; various industry forecasts indicate a growing demand for hydrocarbons for the remainder of the current decade. Occidental believes its operational flexibility to achieve low development and operating costs to maximize full-cycle value of its assets and its knowledge and experience in CO2 separation, transportation, use, recycling and storage position its oil and gas segment to support Occidental’s transition to net zero as well as create opportunities in a low-carbon future.
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CHEMICAL SEGMENT
BUSINESS STRATEGY
OxyChem concentrates on the chlorovinyls chain, beginning with the co-production of caustic soda and chlorine. Caustic soda and chlorine are marketed to external customers. In addition, chlorine, together with ethylene, is converted through a series of intermediate products into PVC. OxyChem seeks to be a low-cost producer in order to generate cash flow in excess of its normal capital expenditure requirements and achieve above-cost-of-capital returns. OxyChem’s focus on chlorovinyls allows it to maximize the benefits of integration and take advantage of economies of scale. Capital is employed to sustain production capacity and to focus on projects and developments designed to improve the competitiveness of segment assets. Acquisitions and plant development opportunities may be pursued when they are expected to enhance the existing core chlor-alkali and PVC businesses or take advantage of other specific opportunities. The conversion of the Battleground chlor-alkali plant to membrane technology is expected to commence in 2023 with completion expected in 2026. In 2022, capital expenditures for OxyChem totaled $322 million.
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
Although the United States economic growth lagged significantly behind that of 2021, demand for domestically produced products remained high, including liquid caustic soda and PVC. Lockdowns in China, along with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine increased the demand for U.S. produced products in 2022, as ethylene and energy costs remained advantaged over global pricing. Caustic soda prices were significantly higher in 2022 and PVC pricing trended downward during the second half of 2022, as supply chain constraints, rising interest rates, global logistics and high inflation continued to disrupt global supply and demand balances.
BUSINESS REVIEW
BASIC CHEMICALS
Despite the slower U.S. economic growth in 2022, chlor-alkali operating rates increased compared to 2021 as the U.S. maintained its competitive advantage in energy and feedstock costs. Pricing and margins for most products were higher in 2022 due to strong demand in most market segments, and weather events and other supply disruptions restricted supply.
VINYLS
PVC demand softened in 2022 from record highs in 2021 resulting in a 7% decrease in domestic PVC demand. Export demand strengthened in 2022 by 46% compared to 2021. Year over year operating rates were flat in 2022 due to a softening PVC market during the second half of 2022 that was offset by the weather-related events experienced in early 2021. Higher interest rates, lower housing starts, and inflation contributed to the lower domestic PVC demand and US producers shifted available volumes to the export markets. PVC exports represented 27% of total North American production in 2022 compared to 19% in 2021.
INDUSTRY OUTLOOK
Industry performance will depend on the health of the global economy. Response to inflation will continue to control the housing and construction sectors during 2023. Automotive markets are expected to improve as semiconductor supply normalizes and demand responds. Product margins will depend on market supply and demand balances, feedstock and energy prices, supply chain interruptions, labor constraints and rising inflation rates. Further recovery in the petroleum industry should strengthen the demand and margins for some of Occidental’s products that are consumed by industry participants. U.S. commodity export markets could be impacted by the relative strength of the U.S. dollar.
BASIC CHEMICALS
Demand for basic chemicals is expected to decline from the robust levels of 2022. Demand in most market segments is expected to follow the trend of the general economy throughout 2023. Demand for chlorine and derivatives should gradually improve across the year as international growth returns and the domestic housing, general construction and automotive markets begin to stabilize. Demand for alkali products, particularly caustic soda, may decline moderately with lower demand in the pulp and paper, industrial and alumina markets. Chlor-alkali operating rates should remain relatively flat overall in comparison with 2022 due to continued globally advantaged energy and raw material pricing as compared to global feedstock costs.
VINYLS
Domestic PVC demand is expected to remain neutral to lower in 2023. Residential construction spending is expected to be lower in 2023, while new domestic infrastructure projects and recovering global demand is expected to offset the domestic decline. New domestic PVC capacity came online in 2022 but is not expected to have a material impact on PVC production rates.
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MIDSTREAM AND MARKETING SEGMENT
BUSINESS STRATEGY
The midstream and marketing segment strives to maximize value by optimizing the use of its gathering, processing, transportation, storage and terminal commitments and by providing the oil and gas segment access to domestic and international markets. To generate returns, the segment evaluates opportunities across the value chain and uses its assets to provide services to Occidental’s subsidiaries, as well as third parties. The midstream and marketing segment operates or contracts for services on gathering systems, gas plants, co-generation facilities and storage facilities and invests in entities that conduct similar activities.
This segment also seeks to minimize the costs of gas and power used in Occidental’s various businesses. Capital is employed to sustain or expand assets to improve the competitiveness of Occidental’s businesses. In 2022, capital expenditures related to the midstream and marketing segment totaled $268 million.
Also included in the midstream and marketing segment is OLCV. OLCV seeks to leverage Occidental’s carbon management expertise through the development of CCUS projects, and invests in emerging low-carbon technologies that are expected to reduce our carbon footprint and enable others to do the same.
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
Midstream and marketing segment earnings are affected by the performance of its various businesses, including its marketing, gathering and transportation, gas processing and power-generation assets. The marketing business aggregates, markets and stores Occidental and third-party volumes. Marketing performance is affected primarily by commodity price changes and margins in oil and gas transportation and storage programs. The marketing business results can experience significant volatility depending on commodity prices and the Midland-to-Gulf-Coast oil spreads. The Midland-to-Gulf-Coast oil spreads have decreased from an average of $0.48 per barrel in 2021 to $0.36 per barrel for the year ended December 31, 2022. A $0.25 change in the Midland-to-Gulf-Coast oil spreads impacts total year operating cash flows by approximately $65 million. Gas gathering, processing and transportation results are affected by fluctuations in commodity prices and the volumes that are processed and transported through the segment’s plants, as well as the margins obtained on related services from investments in which Occidental has an equity interest.
BUSINESS REVIEW
MARKETING
The marketing group markets substantially all of Occidental’s oil, NGL and natural gas production and optimizes its transportation and storage capacity. Occidental’s third-party marketing activities focus on purchasing oil, NGL and natural gas for resale from parties whose oil and gas supply is located near its transportation and storage capacity. These purchases allow Occidental to aggregate volumes to better utilize and optimize its assets. In 2022, compared to the prior year, marketing results were impacted by the timing of crude oil sales, partially offset by higher gas marketing margin from transportation capacity optimization.
DELIVERY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITMENTS
Occidental has made long-term commitments to certain refineries and other buyers to deliver oil, NGL and natural gas. The total amount contracted to be delivered is approximately 80 MMbbl of oil through 2025, 567 MMbbl of NGL through 2029 and 845 Bcf of gas through 2029. The price for these deliveries is set at the time of delivery of the product.
Occidental has crude pipeline take-or-pay capacity of approximately 850 Mbbl/d to the Gulf Coast, leased crude storage capacity of approximately 10 MMbbl and capacity at the crude terminal of approximately 525 Mbbl/d. Certain of Occidental’s crude pipeline take-or-pay agreements expire in 2025 and take-or-pay commitments will reduce by two thirds by 2027.
PIPELINE
Occidental’s pipeline business mainly consists of its 24.5% ownership interest in DEL. DEL owns and operates a 230-mile-long, 48-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline, known as the Dolphin Pipeline, which transports dry natural gas from Qatar to the UAE and Oman. The Dolphin Pipeline has capacity to transport up to 3.2 Bcf/d and currently transports approximately 2.0 Bcf/d and up to 2.2 Bcf/d in the summer months.
GAS PROCESSING, GATHERING AND CO2
Occidental processes its own and third-party domestic wet gas to extract NGL and other gas byproducts, including CO2 and delivers dry gas to pipelines. Margins primarily result from the difference between inlet costs of wet gas and market prices for NGL.
As of December 31, 2022, Occidental owned all of the 2.3% non-voting general partner interest and 49.5% of the limited partner units in WES. On a combined basis, with its 2% non-voting limited partner interest in WES Operating, Occidental's total effective economic interest in WES and its subsidiaries was 51.7%. See Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for more information regarding
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Occidental’s equity method investment in WES. WES owns gathering systems, plants and pipelines and earns revenue from fee-based and service-based contracts with Occidental and third parties.
Occidental’s 40% participating interest in Al Hosn Gas also includes sour gas processing facilities that are designed to process 1.33 Bcf/d of natural gas and separate it into salable gas, condensate, NGL and sulfur. In 2022, the project produced 568 MMcf/d of natural gas, 88 Mbbl/d of NGL and condensate, and 10,700 tons/d of sulfur, of which Occidental’s net share was 227 MMcf/d of natural gas, 35 Mbbl/d of NGL and condensate and 4,280 tons/d of sulfur.
In 2022, compared to the prior year, gas processing, gathering and CO2 results increased primarily due to higher sulfur and NGL prices.
POWER GENERATION FACILITIES
Earnings from power and steam generation facilities are derived from sales to affiliates and third parties.
LOW-CARBON VENTURES
OLCV was formed to execute on Occidental’s vision to reduce global emissions and provide a more sustainable future through the development of low-carbon energy and products. OLCV capitalizes on Occidental’s extensive experience in utilizing CO2 in its development of CCUS projects and providing services to third parties to facilitate the implementation of their CCUS projects. Moreover, OLCV is fostering emerging technologies, including DAC and low-carbon power sources, and other business models with the potential to position Occidental as a leader in the production of low-carbon energy and products.
Occidental has developed standards and protocols recognized by the EPA for monitoring, reporting and verifying the amount, safety and permanence of CO2 stored through secure geologic sequestration. Occidental holds the nation’s first two EPA-approved monitoring, reporting and verification plans for geologic sequestration through EOR production and obtained a third monitoring, reporting and verification plan in 2021. In 2022, OLCV acquired approximately three hundred thousand acres of pore space. In 2022, Occidental also commenced EPA Class 6 permitting with the intention of developing five sequestration hubs.
OLCV commenced construction on the world’s largest DAC facility in 2022, which is expected to be online in 2025. OLCV is also currently conducting front-end engineering design work and feasibility studies on a number of projects to capture and sequester CO2, either from the atmosphere or from industrial point sources. In 2023, OLCV plans to invest between $100 million and $500 million, dependent upon potential partner participation, to pursue various projects.
The profitability of sequestration projects is dependent upon the costs of developing, building and operating sequestration infrastructure, demand for sequestration services from emitters and the availability of certain tax attributes and credits generated from the capture and storage of CO2.
In August 2022, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act that contains, among other provisions, certain tax incentives related to climate change and clean energy. These incentives may attract more third-party investment of OLCV’s projects which may help accelerate certain projects. The ultimate impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on Occidental’s emerging low-carbon businesses and net-zero pathway will depend on a number of factors, interpretations and assumptions as well as additional regulatory guidance.
INDUSTRY OUTLOOK
Midstream and marketing segment results can experience volatility depending on commodity price changes, demand impacting export sales and the Midland-to-Gulf-Coast oil spreads. Gas gathering, processing and transportation results are affected by fluctuations in commodity prices and the volumes that are processed and transported through the segment’s plants, as well as the margins obtained on related services from investments in which Occidental has an equity interest.
Throughout 2022, the U.S. experienced economy-wide cost increases, which could increase the cost of sequestration projects. Occidental saw increased interest from third parties in providing sequestration services during the year. Additionally, grants, credits and other tax-advantaged low-carbon attributes continue to be actively discussed at both state and federal levels. These trends are expected to continue, which Occidental believes will enhance the economics of sequestration projects.
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SEGMENT RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND ITEMS AFFECTING COMPARABILITY
SEGMENT RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Segment earnings exclude income taxes, interest income, interest expense, environmental remediation expenses, unallocated corporate expenses and discontinued operations, but include gains and losses from divestitures of segment assets and income from the segments’ equity investments. Seasonality is not a primary driver of changes in Occidental’s consolidated quarterly earnings during the year.
The following table sets forth the sales and earnings of each operating segment and corporate items for the years ended December 31:
| millions, except per share amounts | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NET SALES (a) | |||||||||||
| Oil and gas | $ | 27,165 | $ | 18,941 | $ | 13,066 | |||||
| Chemical | 6,757 | 5,246 | 3,733 | ||||||||
| Midstream and marketing | 4,136 | 2,863 | 1,768 | ||||||||
| Eliminations | (1,424) | (1,094) | (758) | ||||||||
| Total | $ | 36,634 | $ | 25,956 | $ | 17,809 | |||||
| SEGMENT RESULTS AND EARNINGS | |||||||||||
| Domestic | $ | 10,439 | $ | 2,900 | $ | (8,758) | |||||
| International | 2,580 | 1,497 | (742) | ||||||||
| Exploration | (216) | (252) | (132) | ||||||||
| Oil and gas | 12,803 | 4,145 | (9,632) | ||||||||
| Chemical | 2,508 | 1,544 | 664 | ||||||||
| Midstream and marketing | 273 | 257 | (4,175) | ||||||||
| Total | $ | 15,584 | $ | 5,946 | $ | (13,143) | |||||
| Unallocated corporate items | |||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | (1,030) | (1,614) | (1,424) | ||||||||
| Income tax benefit (expense) | (813) | (915) | 2,172 | ||||||||
| Other | (437) | (627) | (1,138) | ||||||||
| Income (loss) from continuing operations | $ | 13,304 | $ | 2,790 | $ | (13,533) | |||||
| Discontinued operations, net | — | (468) | (1,298) | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) | 13,304 | 2,322 | (14,831) | ||||||||
| Less: Preferred stock dividends | (800) | (800) | (844) | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders | $ | 12,504 | $ | 1,522 | $ | (15,675) | |||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders—basic | $ | 13.41 | $ | 1.62 | $ | (17.06) | |||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders—diluted | $ | 12.40 | $ | 1.58 | $ | (17.06) |
(a)Intersegment sales eliminate upon consolidation and are generally made at prices approximating those that the selling entity would be able to obtain in third-party transactions.
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ITEMS AFFECTING COMPARABILITY
OIL AND GAS SEGMENT
Results of Operations
| millions | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Segment Sales | $ | 27,165 | $ | 18,941 | $ | 13,066 | |||||
| Segment Results (a) | |||||||||||
| Domestic | $ | 10,439 | $ | 2,900 | $ | (8,758) | |||||
| International | 2,580 | 1,497 | (742) | ||||||||
| Exploration | (216) | (252) | (132) | ||||||||
| Total | $ | 12,803 | $ | 4,145 | $ | (9,632) | |||||
| Items affecting comparability | |||||||||||
| Asset sale gains (losses), net - domestic (b) | $ | 148 | $ | 27 | $ | (1,275) | |||||
| Asset sale gains (losses), net - international (c) | $ | 55 | $ | 43 | $ | (353) | |||||
| Asset impairments and related items - domestic (d) | $ | — | $ | (282) | $ | (5,904) | |||||
| Asset impairments and related items - international (e) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (1,195) | |||||
| Oil, natural gas and CO2 mark-to-market gains (losses) | $ | — | $ | (280) | $ | 1,090 | |||||
| Rig terminations and other - domestic | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (59) | |||||
| Rig terminations and other - international | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (13) |
(a)Results included significant items affecting comparability discussed in the footnotes below.
(b)The 2022 amount included $148 million of gains, primarily related to the sale of certain non-strategic assets in the Permian Basin. The 2021 amount included $27 million in post-closing consideration earned from 2020 asset sales as a result of certain production and pricing targets being met. The 2020 amount included a $440 million loss on the sale of Occidental’s mineral and fee surface acres in Wyoming, Colorado and Utah and losses of $820 million related to the sale of non-core, largely non-operated acreage in the Permian Basin.
(c)The 2022 amount included $55 million related to post-closing consideration earned from 2020 asset sales as a result of certain production and pricing targets being met as well as the closing of the sale of certain assets that were negotiated with the 2020 Colombia divestiture. The 2021 amount primarily included $55 million in post-closing consideration earned from 2020 asset sales as a result of certain production and pricing targets being met. The 2020 amount included a loss on the sale of Occidental’s Colombia assets of $353 million.
(d)The 2021 amount included $282 million of asset impairments primarily related to undeveloped leases that either expired or were set to expire in the near term where Occidental had no plans to pursue exploration activities. The 2020 amount included pre-tax impairments of $4.5 billion primarily related to domestic onshore unproved acreage as well as $1.3 billion primarily related to other domestic onshore assets and the Gulf of Mexico.
(e)The 2020 amount included $1.2 billion of impairment and related charges associated with Occidental’s proved properties in Algeria and Oman.
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Average Realized Prices
The following table sets forth the average realized prices for oil, NGL and natural gas from ongoing operations for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022, and includes a year-over-year change calculation:
| 2022 | Year over Year Change | 2021 | Year over Year Change | 2020 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average Realized Prices | |||||||||||||||||
| Oil ($/Bbl) | |||||||||||||||||
| United States | $ | 94.12 | 42 | % | $ | 66.39 | 82 | % | $ | 36.39 | |||||||
| International | $ | 95.46 | 47 | % | $ | 65.08 | 57 | % | $ | 41.50 | |||||||
| Total worldwide | $ | 94.36 | 43 | % | $ | 66.14 | 77 | % | $ | 37.34 | |||||||
| NGL ($/Bbl) | |||||||||||||||||
| United States | $ | 35.69 | 17 | % | $ | 30.62 | 156 | % | $ | 11.98 | |||||||
| International | $ | 34.09 | 30 | % | $ | 26.13 | 61 | % | $ | 16.22 | |||||||
| Total worldwide | $ | 35.48 | 18 | % | $ | 30.01 | 139 | % | $ | 12.58 | |||||||
| Natural Gas ($/Mcf) | |||||||||||||||||
| United States | $ | 5.48 | 66 | % | $ | 3.30 | 180 | % | $ | 1.18 | |||||||
| International | $ | 1.89 | 12 | % | $ | 1.69 | 1 | % | $ | 1.67 | |||||||
| Total worldwide | $ | 4.51 | 57 | % | $ | 2.87 | 119 | % | $ | 1.31 |
Domestic oil and gas results, excluding significant items affecting comparability, increased in 2022 compared to 2021 primarily due to higher realized oil, NGL and natural gas prices and lower DD&A rates, partially offset by higher lease operating costs.
International oil and gas results, excluding significant items affecting comparability, increased in 2022 compared to 2021 primarily due to higher oil prices.
Realized Price and Sales Volume Variance
The following table presents an analysis of the impacts of changes in average realized prices and sales volumes with regard to Occidental's domestic and international oil and gas revenue:
| Increase (Decrease) Related to | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| millions | Year Ended December 31, 2021 | (a) | Price Realizations | Net Sales Volumes | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | (a) | |||||||||
| United States Revenue | |||||||||||||||
| Oil | $ | 12,072 | $ | 5,118 | $ | 231 | $ | 17,421 | |||||||
| NGL | 2,203 | 332 | 96 | 2,631 | |||||||||||
| Natural gas | 1,524 | 969 | (71) | 2,422 | |||||||||||
| Total | $ | 15,799 | $ | 6,419 | $ | 256 | $ | 22,474 | |||||||
| International Revenue | |||||||||||||||
| Oil (b) | $ | 2,844 | $ | 902 | $ | 189 | $ | 3,935 | |||||||
| NGL | 325 | 85 | 11 | 421 | |||||||||||
| Natural gas | 291 | 23 | (3) | 311 | |||||||||||
| Total | $ | 3,460 | $ | 1,010 | $ | 197 | $ | 4,667 |
(a) Excludes "other" oil and gas revenue. See Note 2 - Revenue in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional information regarding other revenue.
(b) Includes the impact of international production sharing contracts.
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Production
The following table sets forth the production volumes of oil, NGL and natural gas per day from ongoing operations for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022, and includes a year-over-year change calculation:
| Production per Day, Ongoing Operations (Mboe/d) | 2022 | Year over Year Change | 2021 | Year over Year Change | 2020 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | ||||||||||||||
| Permian | 513 | 5 | % | 487 | (15) | % | 575 | |||||||
| Rockies & Other Domestic | 277 | (8) | % | 302 | (9) | % | 332 | |||||||
| Gulf of Mexico | 147 | 2 | % | 144 | 11 | % | 130 | |||||||
| Total | 937 | 0 | % | 933 | (10) | % | 1,037 | |||||||
| International | ||||||||||||||
| Algeria & Other International | 47 | 7 | % | 44 | (2) | % | 45 | |||||||
| Al Hosn Gas | 73 | (4) | % | 76 | (3) | % | 78 | |||||||
| Dolphin | 37 | (8) | % | 40 | (9) | % | 44 | |||||||
| Oman | 65 | (12) | % | 74 | (13) | % | 85 | |||||||
| Total | 222 | (5) | % | 234 | (7) | % | 252 | |||||||
| Total Production from Ongoing Operations | 1,159 | (1) | % | 1,167 | (9) | % | 1,289 | |||||||
| Operations exited (a) | — | (100) | % | 16 | (72) | % | 58 | |||||||
| Total Production (Mboe/d) (b) | 1,159 | (2) | % | 1,183 | (12) | % | 1,347 |
(a)Operations exited include the Ghana assets (sold in October 2021) and the Colombia onshore assets (sold in December 2020).
(b)Natural gas volumes have been converted to Boe based on energy content of six Mcf of gas to one barrel of oil. Boe equivalent does not necessarily result in price equivalency. Please refer to the Supplemental Oil and Gas Information (unaudited) section of this Form 10-K for additional information on oil and gas production and sales.
Average daily production volumes from ongoing operations remained materially consistent in 2022 as compared to 2021. Production increased in the Permian Basin due to increased development activity, which was partially offset by a decrease in production, especially natural gas, in the DJ Basin reflecting reduced capital investment and the impact of rising commodity prices that reduce Occidental's share of production under international production sharing contracts.
Lease Operating Expense
The following table sets forth the average lease operating expense per Boe from ongoing operations for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022:
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average lease operating expense per Boe | $ | 9.52 | $ | 7.58 | $ | 6.38 |
Average lease operating expense per Boe increased in 2022 compared to 2021 primarily as a result of inflationary pressures which led to higher workover, support and maintenance costs in the Permian Basin, Rockies and Other and Gulf of Mexico, as well as higher purchase injectant costs in the Permian Basin.
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CHEMICAL SEGMENT
| millions | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Segment Sales | $ | 6,757 | $ | 5,246 | $ | 3,733 | |||||
| Segment Results | $ | 2,508 | $ | 1,544 | $ | 664 |
Chemical segment results increased in 2022 compared to 2021 due to improved demand and stronger realized prices across most product lines, including caustic soda, partially offset by higher raw material costs, primarily energy costs.
MIDSTREAM AND MARKETING SEGMENT
| millions | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Segment Sales | $ | 4,136 | $ | 2,863 | $ | 1,768 | |||||
| Segment Results (a) | $ | 273 | $ | 257 | $ | (4,175) | |||||
| Items affecting comparability | |||||||||||
| Asset sales gains (losses) and others, net (b) | $ | 98 | $ | 124 | $ | (46) | |||||
| Derivative gains (losses), net | $ | (259) | $ | (252) | $ | 97 | |||||
| Goodwill impairments and other charges (c) | $ | — | $ | (21) | $ | (4,194) |
(a)Results included significant items affecting comparability discussed in the footnotes below.
(b)The 2022 amount included $62 million relating to a gain on the sale of 10 million limited partner units in WES and a $36 million gain on the sale of a joint venture. The 2021 amount included a $102 million gain from the sale of 11.5 million limited partner units in WES. The 2020 amount represented a loss on the exchange of WES common units to retire a $260 million note.
(c)The 2020 amount included a $2.7 billion other-than-temporary impairment of the equity investment in WES and $1.4 billion of impairments related to the write-off of goodwill and a loss from an equity investment related to WES’ write-off of its goodwill.
Midstream and marketing segment results, excluding items affecting comparability, increased in 2022 compared to 2021, primarily due to higher equity income from WES, improved gas marketing margin from transportation capacity optimization and improved sulfur prices at Al Hosn Gas, partially offset by the timing impact of crude oil sales in the marketing business.
CORPORATE
Significant corporate items include the following:
| millions | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Items Affecting Comparability | |||||||||||
| Anadarko acquisition-related costs | $ | (89) | $ | (153) | $ | (339) | |||||
| Interest rate swap gains (losses), net (a) | $ | 317 | $ | 122 | $ | (428) | |||||
| Maxus environmental reserve adjustment | $ | (22) | $ | — | $ | — | |||||
| Early debt extinguishment | $ | 149 | $ | (118) | $ | — | |||||
| Acquisition-related pension & termination benefits | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 114 | |||||
| Warrants gains, net (a) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 5 |
(a)See Note 8 - Derivatives in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for more information.
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INCOME TAXES
Total deferred tax assets, after valuation allowance, were $2.2 billion and $3.5 billion as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Occidental expects to realize the recorded deferred tax assets, net of any allowances, through future operating income and reversal of temporary differences. The total deferred tax liabilities were $7.7 billion and $10.5 billion as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The decrease in net deferred tax liability in 2022 compared to 2021 was primarily driven by the legal entity reorganization that Occidental undertook in the first quarter of 2022. See more discussion below.
WORLDWIDE EFFECTIVE TAX RATE
The following table sets forth the calculation of the worldwide effective tax rate for income from continuing operations:
| millions | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEGMENT RESULTS | ||||||||||
| Oil and gas | $ | 12,803 | $ | 4,145 | $ | (9,632) | ||||
| Chemical | 2,508 | 1,544 | 664 | |||||||
| Midstream and marketing | 273 | 257 | (4,175) | |||||||
| Unallocated corporate items | (1,467) | (2,241) | (2,562) | |||||||
| Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes | $ | 14,117 | $ | 3,705 | $ | (15,705) | ||||
| Income tax benefit (expense) | ||||||||||
| Federal and state | 248 | (247) | 2,607 | |||||||
| Foreign | (1,061) | (668) | (435) | |||||||
| Total income tax benefit (expense) | (813) | (915) | 2,172 | |||||||
| Income (loss) from continuing operations | $ | 13,304 | $ | 2,790 | $ | (13,533) | ||||
| Worldwide effective tax rate | 6% | 25 | % | 14% |
In 2022, Occidental’s worldwide effective tax rate was 6%, which was impacted by a tax benefit associated with Occidental's legal entity reorganization, as further described below.
In 2021, Occidental’s worldwide effective tax rate was 25%, which was higher than the U.S. statutory rate of 21% due to higher tax rates in the foreign jurisdictions in which Occidental operates, partially offset by the tax impact of business credits, state tax revaluations and other domestic tax benefits.
In 2020, Occidental’s worldwide effective tax rate was 14%, which was largely a result of the impairment of the WES goodwill and certain international assets for which Occidental received no tax benefit and higher-taxed international operations which generally caused Occidental’s tax rate to vary significantly from the U.S. corporate tax rate.
LEGAL ENTITY REORGANIZATION
To align Occidental’s legal entity structure with the nature of its business activities after completing the Anadarko Acquisition and subsequent large scale post-acquisition divestiture program, management undertook a legal entity reorganization that was completed in the first quarter of 2022.
As a result of this legal entity reorganization, management made an adjustment to the tax basis in a portion of its operating assets, thus reducing Occidental’s deferred tax liabilities. Accordingly, in 2022, Occidental recorded a tax benefit of $2.7 billion in connection with this reorganization. The timing of any reduction in Occidental’s future cash taxes as a result of this legal entity reorganization will be dependent on a number of factors, including prevailing commodity prices, capital activity level and production mix. The legal entity reorganization transaction is currently under IRS review as part of the Company’s 2022 federal tax audit.
INFLATION REDUCTION ACT
In August 2022, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act that contains, among other provisions, a corporate book minimum tax on financial statement income, an excise tax on stock buybacks, a methane emissions fee and certain tax incentives related to climate change and clean energy. Occidental is currently evaluating the provisions of this act. The ultimate impact of the act is yet to be determined and will depend on additional regulatory guidance and interpretations.
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CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE AND OTHER INCOME ITEMS
| millions | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net sales | $ | 36,634 | $ | 25,956 | $ | 17,809 | |||||
| Interest, dividends and other income | $ | 153 | $ | 166 | $ | 118 | |||||
| Gains (losses) on sale of assets, net | $ | 308 | $ | 192 | $ | (1,666) |
NET SALES
Price and volume changes generally represent the majority of the change in the oil and gas and chemical segments sales. Midstream and marketing sales generally represent the margins earned by the marketing business at it strives to optimize the use of its transportation, storage and terminal commitments to provide access to domestic and international markets and, to a lesser extent, NGL and sulfur revenues from the gas processing business.
The increase in net sales in 2022 compared to 2021 was primarily due to higher realized commodity prices in the oil and gas segment. Chemical sales increased primarily due to higher prices and volumes across all product lines. The increase in midstream and marketing sales was due to higher crude oil prices impacting the marketing businesses.
EXPENSE ITEMS
| millions | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil and gas operating expense | $ | 4,028 | $ | 3,160 | $ | 3,065 | |||||
| Transportation and gathering expense | $ | 1,475 | $ | 1,419 | $ | 1,600 | |||||
| Chemical and midstream cost of sales | $ | 3,273 | $ | 2,772 | $ | 2,408 | |||||
| Purchased commodities | $ | 3,287 | $ | 2,308 | $ | 1,395 | |||||
| Selling, general and administrative | $ | 945 | $ | 863 | $ | 864 | |||||
| Other operating and non-operating expense | $ | 1,271 | $ | 1,065 | $ | 884 | |||||
| Taxes other than on income | $ | 1,548 | $ | 1,005 | $ | 622 | |||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | $ | 6,926 | $ | 8,447 | $ | 8,097 | |||||
| Asset impairments and other charges | $ | — | $ | 304 | $ | 11,083 | |||||
| Anadarko Acquisition-related costs | $ | 89 | $ | 153 | $ | 339 | |||||
| Exploration expense | $ | 216 | $ | 252 | $ | 132 | |||||
| Interest and debt expense, net | $ | 1,030 | $ | 1,614 | $ | 1,424 |
OIL AND GAS OPERATING EXPENSE
Oil and gas operating expense increased in 2022 from the prior year, primarily as a result of higher workovers, supports and maintenance costs in the Permian Basin, Rockies and Other and Gulf of Mexico, as well as higher purchase injectant costs in the Permian Basin.
CHEMICAL AND MIDSTREAM COST OF SALES
Chemical and midstream cost of sales increased in 2022 from the prior year, primarily due to higher raw material costs in the chemical segment, primarily energy costs, and increased power generation costs in the midstream and marketing segment.
PURCHASED COMMODITIES
Purchased commodities increased in 2022 from the prior year, largely as a result of higher prices on third-party crude purchases related to the midstream and marketing segment.
OTHER OPERATING AND NON-OPERATING EXPENSE
Other operating and non-operating expense increased in 2022 from the prior year, primarily due to increases in employee related costs and environmental remediation expenses.
DEPRECIATION, DEPLETION AND AMORTIZATION
DD&A expense decreased in 2022 from the prior year, primarily as a result of lower per Boe DD&A rates due to higher proved reserves as a result of positive program adds during 2021.
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ASSET IMPAIRMENTS AND OTHER CHARGES
There were no asset impairments in 2022. In 2021, asset impairments and other charges of $304 million were mainly comprised of the impairment of undeveloped leases that either expired or were set to expire in the near term where Occidental had no plans to pursue exploration activities.
TAXES OTHER THAN ON INCOME
Taxes other than on income in 2022 increased from the prior year, primarily due to higher production taxes, which are directly tied to revenues, and higher ad valorem taxes.
INTEREST AND DEBT EXPENSE, NET
Interest and debt expense decreased in 2022 from the prior year, due to lower outstanding debt as a result of debt repayments.
OTHER ITEMS
| Income (expense) millions | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gains (losses) on interest rate swaps and warrants | $ | 317 | $ | 122 | $ | (423) | |||||
| Income from equity investments | $ | 793 | $ | 631 | $ | 370 | |||||
| Income tax benefit (expense) | $ | (813) | $ | (915) | $ | 2,172 | |||||
| Loss from discontinued operations, net | $ | — | $ | (468) | $ | (1,298) |
LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET
There were no discontinued operations in 2022. In 2021, discontinued operations, net primarily included a $437 million after-tax loss contingency associated with Occidental’s former operations in Ecuador, see Note - 13 Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for more information. In addition, discontinued operations, net was associated with operations in Ghana which were sold in October 2021.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
CASH ON HAND
As of December 31, 2022, Occidental had approximately $1.0 billion in cash and cash equivalents. A substantial majority of this cash is held and available for use in the United States.
SOURCES AND USES OF CASH
Occidental currently expects its operational cash flows and cash on hand to be sufficient to meet its current debt maturities and other obligations for the next 12 months from the date of this filing. Should commodity prices return to their 2020 lows, Occidental’s $4.0 billion RCF, receivables securitization facility and access to capital markets are available to meet its ongoing capital needs, purchase obligations, near-term debt maturities and other liabilities and financial obligations, if required.
Occidental’s planned 2023 capital expenditures are between $5.4 billion and $6.2 billion, of which only a small percentage is allocated to non-cancellable commitments.
As of December 31, 2022, Occidental had $22 million in current maturities of long-term debt which were paid in January 2023, and an additional $1.1 billion in long-term obligations due in 2024.
As of December 31, 2022, Occidental had $433 million in non-cancelable lease payments due in 2023, and an additional $335 million in non-cancelable lease payments due in 2024.
Dividends paid to common and preferred shareholders were $1.2 billion for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Occidental is party to various purchase agreements that are not accounted for as leases or otherwise accrued as liabilities as of December 31, 2022. These agreements consist primarily of obligations to secure terminal, pipeline and processing capacity, purchase services used in the normal course of business including transporting and disposing of produced water, purchase goods used in the production of finished goods including certain chemical raw materials and power and agreements relating to equipment maintenance and service. The amounts that will be paid for such outstanding off-balance sheet purchase obligations as of December 31, 2022 are $3.0 billion in 2023, $4.2 billion in 2024 and 2025, $2.5 billion in 2026 and 2027 and $2.2 billion in 2028 and thereafter.
SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM
Under the $3.0 billion share repurchase program announced and completed in 2022, Occidental purchased approximately 47.7 million shares. In February 2023, the Board authorized a new share repurchase program of up to $3.0 billion of Occidental’s shares of common stock.
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CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
The following table summarizes and cross-references Occidental’s contractual obligations and indicates on- and off-balance sheet obligations as of December 31, 2022. Commitments related to held for sale assets are excluded.
| millions | Payments Due by Year | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 2023 | 2024 and 2025 | 2026 and 2027 | 2028 and thereafter | ||||||||||||||
| On-Balance Sheet | ||||||||||||||||||
| Current portion of long-term debt (Note 6) (a) | $ | 22 | $ | 22 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||
| Long-term debt (Note 6) (a) | 17,936 | — | 2,264 | 2,351 | 13,321 | |||||||||||||
| Expected interest payments on long-term debt | 11,400 | 1,060 | 2,042 | 1,754 | 6,544 | |||||||||||||
| Leases (Note 7) (b) | 1,818 | 433 | 538 | 320 | 527 | |||||||||||||
| Asset retirement obligations (Note 1) | 3,805 | 169 | 1,124 | 961 | 1,551 | |||||||||||||
| Other long-term liabilities (c) | 2,594 | 11 | 851 | 253 | 1,479 | |||||||||||||
| Off-Balance Sheet | ||||||||||||||||||
| Purchase obligations (d) | 11,963 | 2,983 | 4,246 | 2,510 | 2,224 | |||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 49,538 | $ | 4,678 | $ | 11,065 | $ | 8,149 | $ | 25,646 |
(a)Excluded unamortized debt discount and interest.
(b)Occidental is the lessee under various agreements for real estate, equipment, plants and facilities.
(c)Included long-term obligations and current portions of long-term obligations under postretirement benefits, accrued transportation commitments, ad valorem taxes and other accrued liabilities.
(d)Amounts included payments which will become due under long-term agreements to purchase goods and services used in the normal course of business to secure terminal, pipeline and processing capacity, CO2, electrical power, steam and certain chemical raw materials including but not limited to capital commitments. Amounts excluded certain product purchase obligations related to marketing activities for which there are no minimum purchase requirements or the amounts are not fixed or determinable. Long-term purchase contracts were discounted at a 5.03% discount rate.
DEBT ACTIVITY
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, Occidental repaid debt with a face value of more than $10.5 billion, reducing the face value of Occidental’s debt to less than $18.0 billion. The net book value of the full year repayments was $9.8 billion, which resulted in a gain of $149 million.
See Note 6 - Long-Term Debt in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for more information related to Occidental’s debt issuance and repayments.
GUARANTEES
Occidental has entered into various guarantees, indemnities and commitments provided by Occidental to third parties, mainly to provide assurance that Occidental or its consolidated subsidiaries or affiliates will meet their various obligations.
As of the date of this filing, Occidental has provided required financial assurance through a combination of cash, letters of credit and surety bonds. Occidental has not issued any letters of credit under the RCF or other committed facilities. For additional information, see Risk Factors in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K.
CASH FLOW ANALYSIS
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
| millions | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating cash flow from continuing operations | $ | 16,810 | $ | 10,253 | $ | 3,842 | |||||
| Operating cash flow from discontinued operations, net of taxes | — | 181 | 113 | ||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 16,810 | $ | 10,434 | $ | 3,955 |
Cash provided by operating activities increased in 2022 compared to 2021, primarily due to higher commodity prices, as average WTI and Brent prices increased by 39% and 40%, respectively and NYMEX natural gas prices increased by 76%. The chemical segment also generated substantial operating cash flows largely due to higher prices for most chemical products, especially caustic soda, compared to 2021.
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CASH USED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES
| millions | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital expenditures | |||||||||||
| Oil and gas | $ | (3,844) | $ | (2,409) | $ | (2,208) | |||||
| Chemical | (322) | (308) | (255) | ||||||||
| Midstream and marketing | (268) | (106) | (50) | ||||||||
| Corporate | (63) | (47) | (22) | ||||||||
| Total | $ | (4,497) | $ | (2,870) | $ | (2,535) | |||||
| Changes in capital accrual | 147 | 97 | (519) | ||||||||
| Purchase of businesses, assets and equity investments, net | (990) | (431) | (114) | ||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of assets and equity investments, net | 584 | 1,624 | 2,281 | ||||||||
| Other investing activities, net | (116) | 406 | 109 | ||||||||
| Investing cash flows from continuing operations | $ | (4,872) | $ | (1,174) | $ | (778) | |||||
| Investing cash flows from discontinued operations | — | (79) | (41) | ||||||||
| Net cash used by investing activities | $ | (4,872) | $ | (1,253) | $ | (819) |
Cash flows used by investing activities increased by $3.6 billion in 2022 compared to 2021. In 2022, Occidental increased capital spending as a result of increased activity in the Permian. Occidental acquired additional primarily producing assets in the Permian Basin for approximately $400 million and additional interests in emerging low-carbon businesses and net-zero pathway for approximately $350 million. Occidental sold certain strategic assets in the Permian Basin for approximately $190 million. See Note 5 - Acquisitions, Divestitures and Other Transactions in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for a listing of assets and equity investments acquired and sold in 2022, 2021 and 2020. In addition in 2022, Occidental sold 10 million limited partner units of WES for proceeds of approximately $250 million.
CASH USED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
| millions | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financing cash flows from continuing operations | $ | (13,715) | $ | (8,564) | $ | (4,508) | |||||
| Financing cash flows from discontinued operations | — | (8) | (8) | ||||||||
| Net cash used by financing activities | $ | (13,715) | $ | (8,572) | $ | (4,516) |
Cash used by financing activities increased by $5.1 billion compared to 2021 primarily due to the 2022 debt tenders and repayments and treasury share repurchase activity. See Note 6 - Long-Term Debt in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for more information related to Occidental’s debt repayments and see Item 5 Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities in Part II of this Form 10-K and Note 14 - Stockholders' Equity in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional information related to Occidental’s share repurchases. In addition, cash used by financing activities reflected cash dividend payments of $1.2 billion on preferred and common stock and $111 million, related to net interest rate swap settlements and collateral activity.
LAWSUITS, CLAIMS, COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
LEGAL MATTERS
For information on Occidental’s Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments and Contingencies, see the information in Note 13 - Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
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ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES AND EXPENDITURES
ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS
Environmental costs relate to the prevention, monitoring, control, treatment or abatement of waste, emissions or releases to air, water or land from operations of Occidental’s subsidiaries. These activities are generally integrated with ongoing operations or development projects, so the costs in this table include estimates. The environmental costs in the table do not include litigation-related costs, including fines, penalties or settlements, or Occidental’s investments in low-carbon ventures. Occidental’s environmental costs are presented below for each segment for each of the years ended December 31:
| millions | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating Expenses | |||||||||||
| Oil and gas | $ | 304 | $ | 267 | $ | 176 | |||||
| Chemical | 115 | 88 | 73 | ||||||||
| Midstream and marketing | 6 | 6 | 4 | ||||||||
| Total | $ | 425 | $ | 361 | $ | 253 | |||||
| Capital Expenditures | |||||||||||
| Oil and gas | $ | 110 | $ | 87 | $ | 74 | |||||
| Chemical | 53 | 66 | 40 | ||||||||
| Midstream and marketing | 5 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| Total | $ | 168 | $ | 154 | $ | 115 | |||||
| Remediation Expenses | |||||||||||
| Corporate | $ | 65 | $ | 28 | $ | 36 |
Operating expenses are incurred on a continual basis. Capital expenditures relate to longer-lived improvements in properties currently operated by Occidental. Remediation expenses relate to existing conditions from past operations of Occidental or its subsidiaries.
For additional information on Occidental’s Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures, see the information in Note 12 - Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
GLOBAL INVESTMENTS
A portion of Occidental’s assets are located outside North America. The following table shows the geographic distribution of Occidental’s assets as of December 31, 2022, at both the segment and consolidated level related to Occidental’s ongoing operations:
| millions | Oil and gas | Chemical | Midstream and marketing | Corporate and other | Total Consolidated | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | ||||||||||||||||||
| United States | $ | 49,786 | $ | 4,323 | $ | 8,701 | $ | 1,917 | $ | 64,727 | ||||||||
| Canada | — | 111 | 104 | — | 215 | |||||||||||||
| Middle East | 3,602 | — | 3,133 | — | 6,735 | |||||||||||||
| North Africa and Other | 670 | 124 | 138 | — | 932 | |||||||||||||
| Consolidated | $ | 54,058 | $ | 4,558 | $ | 12,076 | $ | 1,917 | $ | 72,609 |
For the year ended December 31, 2022, net sales outside North America totaled $5.5 billion, or approximately 15% of total net sales.
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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
The process of preparing financial statements in accordance with United States GAAP requires Occidental’s management to make informed estimates and judgments regarding certain items and transactions. Changes in facts and circumstances or discovery of new information may result in revised estimates and judgments and actual results may differ from these estimates upon settlement but generally not by material amounts. The selection and development of these policies and estimates have been discussed with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. Occidental considers the following to be its most critical accounting policies and estimates that involve management’s judgment.
OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES
The carrying value of Occidental’s PP&E represents the cost incurred to acquire or develop the asset, including any AROs and capitalized interest, net of DD&A and any impairment charges. For assets acquired in a business combination, PP&E cost is based on fair values at the acquisition date. AROs and interest costs incurred in connection with qualifying capital expenditures are capitalized and amortized over the useful lives of the related assets.
Occidental uses the successful efforts method to account for its oil and gas properties. Under this method, Occidental capitalizes costs of acquiring properties, costs of drilling successful exploration wells and development costs. The costs of exploratory wells are initially capitalized pending a determination of whether proved reserves have been found. If proved reserves have been found, the costs of exploratory wells remain capitalized. For exploratory wells that find reserves that cannot be classified as proved when drilling is completed, costs continue to be capitalized as suspended exploratory drilling costs if there have been sufficient reserves found to justify completion as a producing well and sufficient progress is being made in assessing the economic and operating viability of the project. At the end of each quarter, management reviews the status of all suspended exploratory drilling costs in light of ongoing exploration activities and in particular, whether Occidental is making sufficient progress in its ongoing exploration and appraisal efforts or, in the case of discoveries requiring government sanctioning, analyzing whether development negotiations are underway and proceeding as planned. If management determines that future appraisal drilling or development activities are unlikely to occur, associated suspended exploratory well costs are expensed.
Occidental expenses annual lease rentals, the costs of injectants used in production and geological and geophysical costs as incurred for exploration activities.
Occidental determines depreciation and depletion of oil and gas producing properties by the unit-of-production method. It amortizes leasehold acquisition costs over total proved reserves and capitalized development and successful exploration costs over proved developed reserves.
Proved oil and gas reserves are those quantities of oil and gas which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible—from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations—prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation.
Several factors could change Occidental’s proved oil and gas reserves. For example, Occidental receives a share of production from PSCs to recover its costs and generally an additional share for profit. Occidental’s share of production and reserves from these contracts decreases when product prices rise and increases when prices decline. Generally, Occidental’s net economic benefit from these contracts is greater at higher product prices. In other cases, particularly with long-lived properties, lower product prices may lead to a situation where production of a portion of proved reserves becomes uneconomical. For such properties, higher product prices typically result in additional reserves becoming economical. Estimation of future production and development costs is also subject to change partially due to factors beyond Occidental’s control, such as energy costs and inflation or deflation of oil field service costs. These factors, in turn, could lead to changes in the quantity of proved reserves. Additional factors that could result in a change of proved reserves include production decline rates and operating performance differing from those estimated when the proved reserves were initially recorded. Changes in the political and regulatory climate could lead to decreases in proved reserves as development horizons may be extended into the future.
Occidental performs impairment tests with respect to its proved properties whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of property may not be recoverable. If there is an indication the carrying amount of the asset may not be recovered due to significant and prolonged declines in current and forward prices, significant changes in reserve estimates, changes in management’s plans or other significant events, management will evaluate the property for impairment. Under the successful efforts method, if the sum of the undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value of the proved property, the carrying value is reduced to estimated fair value and reported as an impairment charge in the period. Individual proved properties are grouped for impairment purposes at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows unless observable and comparable transactions are available. The fair value of impaired assets is typically determined based on the present value of expected future cash flows using discount rates believed to be consistent with those used by market participants. The impairment test incorporates a number of assumptions involving expectations of future cash flows which can change significantly over time. These assumptions include estimates of future production, product prices, contractual prices, estimates of risk-adjusted oil and gas proved and unproved reserves and estimates of
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future operating and development costs. It is reasonably possible that prolonged declines in commodity prices, reduced capital spending in response to lower prices or increases in operating costs could result in impairments.
For impairment testing, unless prices are contractually fixed, Occidental uses observable forward strip prices for oil and natural gas prices when projecting future cash flows. Future operating and development costs are estimated using the current cost environment applied to expectations of future operating and development activities to develop and produce oil and gas reserves. Market prices for oil, NGL and natural gas have been volatile and may continue to be volatile in the future. Changes in global supply and demand, transportation capacity, currency exchange rates, applicable laws and regulations and the effect of changes in these variables on market perceptions could impact current forecasts. Future fluctuations in commodity prices could result in estimates of future cash flows to vary significantly.
Net capitalized costs attributable to unproved properties were $12.6 billion as of December 31, 2022, and $14.8 billion as of December 31, 2021. The unproved amounts are not subject to DD&A until they are classified as proved properties. Individually insignificant unproved properties are combined and amortized on a group basis based on factors such as lease terms, success rates and other factors to provide for full amortization upon lease expiration or abandonment.
Significant unproved properties, primarily as a result of the Anadarko Acquisition, are assessed individually for impairment and when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of property may not be recovered a valuation allowance is provided if an impairment is indicated. Occidental periodically reviews significant unproved properties for impairments; numerous factors are considered, including but not limited to, availability of funds for future exploration and development activities, current exploration and development plans, favorable or unfavorable exploration activity on the property or the adjacent property, geologists’ evaluation of the property, the current and projected political and regulatory climate, contractual conditions and the remaining lease term for the properties. If an impairment is indicated, Occidental will first determine whether a comparable transaction for similar properties or implied acreage valuation derived from domestic onshore market participants is available and will adjust the carrying amount of the unproved property to its fair value using the market approach. In situations where the market approach is not observable and unproved reserves are available, undiscounted future net cash flows used in the impairment analysis are determined based on managements’ risk adjusted estimates of unproved reserves, future commodity prices and future costs to produce the reserves. If undiscounted future net cash flows are less than the carrying value of the property, the future net cash flows are discounted and compared to the carrying value for determining the amount of the impairment loss to record. Occidental utilizes the same assumptions and methodology discussed above for cash flows associated with proved properties.
PROVED RESERVES
Occidental estimates its proved oil and gas reserves according to the definition of proved reserves provided by the SEC’s Rule 4-10 (a) of Regulation S-X and Financial Accounting Standards Board. Proved oil and gas reserves are those quantities of oil and gas which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible—from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations—prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation. Prices include consideration of price changes provided only by contractual arrangements and do not include adjustments based on expected future conditions. For reserves information, see the Supplemental Information on Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Activities under Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
Engineering estimates of the quantities of proved reserves are inherently imprecise and represent only approximate amounts because of the judgments involved in developing such information. Occidental’s estimates of proved reserves are made using available geological and reservoir data as well as production performance data. The reliability of these estimates at any point in time depends on both the quality and quantity of the technical and economic data and the efficiency of extracting and processing the hydrocarbons. These estimates are reviewed annually by internal reservoir engineers and revised, either upward or downward, as warranted by additional data. Revisions are necessary due to changes in, among other things, development plans, reservoir performance, prices, economic conditions and governmental restrictions as well as changes in the expected recovery associated with infill drilling. Decreases in prices, for example, may cause a reduction in some proved reserves due to reaching economic limits at an earlier projected date. A material adverse change in the estimated volume of proved reserves could have a negative impact on DD&A and could result in property impairments.
The most significant ongoing financial statement effect from a change in Occidental’s oil and gas reserves or impairment of its proved properties would be to the DD&A rate. For example, a 5% increase or decrease in the amount of oil and gas reserves would change the DD&A rate by approximately $0.60/Bbl, which would increase or decrease pre-tax income by approximately $270 million annually at current production rates.
FAIR VALUES
Occidental estimates fair-value of long-lived assets for impairment testing, assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination or exchanged in non-monetary transactions, pension plan assets and initial measurements of AROs.
Accounting for the acquisition of a business requires the allocation of the purchase price to the various assets and liabilities of the acquired business and recording deferred taxes for any differences between the allocated values and tax basis of assets and liabilities. Any excess of the purchase price over the amounts assigned to assets and liabilities is
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recorded as goodwill. The purchase price allocation is accomplished by recording each asset and liability at its estimated fair value, which may be determined using different methods of fair value measurements, largely based on the availability and quality of market information. Occidental primarily applies the market approach for recurring fair value measurements, maximizes its use of observable inputs and minimizes its use of unobservable inputs.
FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
Occidental utilizes published prices or counterparty statements for valuing the majority of its financial assets and liabilities measured and reported at fair value. In addition to using market data, Occidental makes assumptions in valuing its assets and liabilities, including assumptions about the risks inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. For financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value, Occidental measures fair value using the following methods:
■Occidental values exchange-cleared commodity derivatives using closing prices provided by the exchange as of the balance sheet date. These derivatives are classified as using quoted prices in active markets for the assets or liabilities (Level 1).
■OTC bilateral financial commodity contracts, international exchange contracts, options and physical commodity forward purchase and sale contracts are generally classified as using observable inputs other than quoted prices for the assets or liabilities (Level 2) and are generally valued using quotations provided by brokers or industry-standard models that consider various inputs, including quoted forward prices for commodities, time value, volatility factors, credit risk and current market and contractual prices for the underlying instruments, as well as other relevant economic measures. Substantially all of these inputs are observable in the marketplace throughout the full term of the instrument and can be derived from observable data or are supported by observable prices at which transactions are executed in the marketplace.
■Occidental values commodity derivatives based on a market approach that considers various assumptions, including quoted forward commodity prices and market yield curves. The assumptions used include inputs that are generally unobservable in the marketplace or are observable but have been adjusted based upon various assumptions and the fair value is designated as using unobservable inputs (Level 3) within the valuation hierarchy.
■Occidental values debt using market-observable information for debt instruments that are traded on secondary markets. For debt instruments that are not traded, the fair value is determined by interpolating the value based on debt with similar terms and credit risk.
NON-FINANCIAL ASSETS
Occidental uses market-observable prices for assets when comparable transactions can be identified that are similar to the asset being valued. When Occidental is required to measure fair value and there is not a market-observable price for the asset or for a similar asset then the cost or income approach is used depending on the quality of information available to support management’s assumptions. The cost approach is based on management’s best estimate of the current asset replacement cost. The income approach is based on management’s best assumptions regarding expectations of future net cash flows and the expected cash flows are discounted using a commensurate risk-adjusted discount rate. Such evaluations involve significant judgment. The results are based on expected future events or conditions such as sales prices, estimates of future oil and gas production or throughput, development and operating costs and the timing thereof, economic and regulatory climates and other factors, most of which are often outside of management’s control. However, assumptions used reflect a market participant’s view of long-term prices, costs and other factors and are consistent with assumptions used in Occidental’s business plans and investment decisions.
ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES AND EXPENDITURES
Certain subsidiaries of Occidental incur environmental liabilities and expenditures that relate to current operations and are expensed or capitalized by such subsidiaries as appropriate. Certain subsidiaries also incur environmental liabilities and expenditures with respect to remediation of existing conditions from alleged past practices at Third-Party, Currently Operated, and Closed or Non-operated Sites. Those environmental liabilities and related charges and expenses for estimated remediation costs from past operations are recorded when environmental remediation efforts are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Occidental discloses such remediation liabilities on a consolidated basis. In determining the environmental remediation liability and the range of reasonably possible additional losses, Occidental refers to currently available information, including relevant past experience, remedial objectives, available technologies, applicable laws and regulations and cost-sharing arrangements. These environmental remediation liabilities are based on management’s estimate of the most likely cost to be incurred, using the most cost-effective technology reasonably expected to achieve the remedial objective. Occidental periodically reviews these environmental remediation liabilities and adjusts them as new information becomes available. Occidental’s subsidiaries generally record reimbursements or recoveries of environmental remediation costs in income when received, or when receipt of recovery is highly probable.
Many factors could affect future remediation costs incurred by Occidental’s subsidiaries and result in adjustments to environmental remediation liabilities and the range of reasonably possible additional losses. The most significant are: (1) cost estimates for remedial activities may vary from the initial estimate; (2) the length of time, type or amount of remediation necessary to achieve the remedial objective may change due to factors such as site conditions, the ability to identify and
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control contaminant sources or the discovery of additional contamination; (3) a regulatory agency may ultimately reject or modify proposed remedial plans; (4) improved or alternative remediation technologies may change remediation costs; (5) laws and regulations may change remediation requirements or affect cost sharing or allocation of liability; and (6) changes in allocation or cost-sharing arrangements may occur.
Certain sites involve multiple parties with various cost-sharing arrangements, which generally fall into the following three categories: (1) environmental proceedings that result in a negotiated or prescribed allocation of remediation costs among the affected Occidental’s subsidiary and other alleged potentially responsible parties; (2) oil and gas ventures in which each participant pays its proportionate share of remediation costs reflecting its working interest; or (3) contractual arrangements, typically relating to purchases and sales of properties, in which the parties to the transaction agree to methods of allocating remediation costs. In these circumstances, the affected subsidiary evaluates the financial viability of other parties with whom it is alleged to be jointly liable, the degree of their commitment to participate and the consequences to such subsidiary of their failure to participate when estimating its ultimate share of liability. Occidental subsidiaries record environmental remediation liabilities at their expected net cost of remedial activities. Based on these factors, except as otherwise disclosed in Note 12 - Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K, Occidental’s subsidiaries believe that they will not be required to assume a share of liability of such other potentially responsible parties in an amount materially above amounts reserved.
In addition to the costs of investigations and clean-up measures, which often take in excess of 10 years at CERCLA NPL sites, Occidental subsidiaries’ environmental remediation liabilities include estimates of the costs to operate and maintain remedial systems. If remedial systems are modified over time in response to significant changes in site-specific data, laws, regulations, technologies or engineering estimates, Occidental’s subsidiaries review and adjust their environmental remediation liabilities accordingly.
If Occidental or its subsidiaries were to adjust the balance of their environmental remediation liabilities based on the factors described above, the amount of the increase or decrease would be recognized in earnings. For example, if the balance were reduced by 10%, Occidental would record a pre-tax increase to income of $105 million. If the balance were increased by 10%, Occidental would record an additional remediation expense of $105 million.
INCOME TAXES
Occidental and its subsidiaries file various U.S. federal, state and foreign income tax returns. The impact of changes in tax regulations are reflected when enacted. In general, deferred federal, state and foreign income taxes are provided on temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Occidental routinely assesses the realizability of its deferred tax assets. If Occidental concludes that it is more likely than not that some of the deferred tax assets will not be realized, the tax asset is reduced by a valuation allowance. Occidental recognizes a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit recorded is equal to the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely to be realized through final settlement with a taxing authority. Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recognized in income tax expense (benefit). See Note 10 - Income Taxes in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
LOSS CONTINGENCIES
Occidental or certain of its subsidiaries are involved, in the normal course of business, in lawsuits, claims and other legal proceedings and audits. Occidental or its affected subsidiaries, as appropriate, accrues reserves for these matters when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the liability can be reasonably estimated. In addition, Occidental discloses, in aggregate on a consolidated basis, exposure to loss in excess of the amount recorded on the balance sheet for these matters if it is reasonably possible that an additional material loss may be incurred. Occidental reviews such loss contingencies on an ongoing basis.
Loss contingencies are based on judgments made by management with respect to the likely outcome of these matters and are adjusted as appropriate. Management’s judgments could change based on new information, changes in, or interpretations of, laws or regulations, changes in management’s plans or intentions, opinions regarding the outcome of legal proceedings or other factors. See Note 13 - Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional information.
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SAFE HARBOR DISCUSSION REGARDING OUTLOOK AND OTHER FORWARD-LOOKING DATA
Portions of this report contain 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. All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal and state securities laws, and they include, but are not limited to: any projections of earnings, revenue or other financial items or future financial position or sources of financing; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations, business strategy or financial position; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; any statements of belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Words such as “estimate,” “project,” “predict,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “believe,” “expect,” “aim,” “goal,” “target,” “objective,” "commit," "advance," “likely” or similar expressions that convey the prospective nature of events or outcomes are generally indicative of forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. Unless legally required, Occidental does not undertake any obligation to update, modify or withdraw any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Although Occidental believes that the expectations reflected in any of its forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results may differ from anticipated results, sometimes materially. In addition, historical, current and forward-looking sustainability-related statements may be based on standards for measuring progress that are still developing, internal controls and processes that continue to evolve and assumptions that are subject to change in the future. Factors that could cause results to differ from those projected or assumed in any forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions, including slowdowns and recessions, domestically or internationally; Occidental’s indebtedness and other payment obligations, including the need to generate sufficient cash flows to fund operations; Occidental’s ability to successfully monetize select assets and repay or refinance debt and the impact of changes in Occidental’s credit ratings; the scope and duration of the global or regional health pandemics or epidemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing actions taken by governmental authorities and other third parties in response to the pandemic; assumptions about energy markets; global and local commodity and commodity-futures pricing fluctuations and volatility; supply and demand considerations for, and the prices of, Occidental’s products and services; actions by OPEC and non-OPEC oil producing countries; results from operations and competitive conditions; future impairments of Occidental's proved and unproved oil and gas properties or equity investments, or write-downs of productive assets, causing charges to earnings; unexpected changes in costs; inflation, its impact on markets and economic activity and related monetary policy actions by governments in response to inflation; availability of capital resources, levels of capital expenditures and contractual obligations; the regulatory approval environment, including Occidental's ability to timely obtain or maintain permits or other governmental approvals, including those necessary for drilling and/or development projects; Occidental's ability to successfully complete, or any material delay of, field developments, expansion projects, capital expenditures, efficiency projects, acquisitions or dispositions; risks associated with acquisitions, mergers and joint ventures, such as difficulties integrating businesses, uncertainty associated with financial projections, projected synergies, restructuring, increased costs and adverse tax consequences; uncertainties and liabilities associated with acquired and divested properties and businesses; uncertainties about the estimated quantities of oil, NGL and natural gas reserves; lower-than-expected production from development projects or acquisitions; Occidental’s ability to realize the anticipated benefits from prior or future streamlining actions to reduce fixed costs, simplify or improve processes and improve Occidental’s competitiveness; exploration, drilling and other operational risks; disruptions to, capacity constraints in, or other limitations on the pipeline systems that deliver Occidental’s oil and natural gas and other processing and transportation considerations; volatility in the securities, capital or credit markets; governmental actions, war (including the Russia-Ukraine war) and political conditions and events; environmental risks and liability under federal, regional, state, provincial, tribal, local and international environmental laws, and regulations, and litigation (including the potential liability for remedial actions or assessments under existing or future laws, regulations and litigation); legislative or regulatory changes, including changes relating to hydraulic fracturing or other oil and natural gas operations, retroactive royalty or production tax regimes, deep-water and onshore drilling and permitting regulations and environmental regulations (including regulations related to climate change); Occidental's ability to recognize intended benefits from its business strategies and initiatives, such as Occidental's low carbon ventures businesses or announced greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets or net-zero goals; potential liability resulting from pending or future litigation; disruption or interruption of production or manufacturing or facility damage due to accidents, chemical releases, labor unrest, weather, power outages, natural disasters, cyber-attacks, terrorist acts or insurgent activity; the creditworthiness and performance of Occidental's counterparties, including financial institutions, operating partners and other parties; failure of risk management; Occidental’s ability to retain and hire key personnel; supply, transportation, and labor constraints; reorganization or restructuring of Occidental’s operations; changes in state, federal or international tax rates; and actions by third parties that are beyond Occidental's control.
Additional information concerning these and other factors that may cause Occidental’s results of operations and financial position to differ from expectations can be found in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Form 10-K, as well as in Occidental’s other filings with the SEC, including Occidental’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.
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FY 2021 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0000797468-22-000008.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (MD&A)
The following discussion should be read together with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, which are included in this Form 10-K in Item 8 and the information set forth in Risk Factors under Part 1, Item 1A.
| INDEX | PAGE |
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| Current Business Outlook and Strategy | 22 |
| Oil and Gas Segment | 25 |
| Chemical Segment | 34 |
| Midstream and Marketing Segment | 35 |
| Segment Results of Operations and Items Affecting Comparability | 37 |
| Income Taxes | 41 |
| Consolidated Results of Operations | 42 |
| Liquidity and Capital Resources | 44 |
| Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments and Contingencies | 47 |
| Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures | 48 |
| Global Investments | 50 |
| Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates | 51 |
| Safe Harbor Discussion Regarding Outlook and Other Forward-Looking Data | 55 |
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CURRENT BUSINESS OUTLOOK AND STRATEGY
GENERAL
Occidental’s operations, financial condition, cash flows and levels of expenditures are highly dependent on oil prices and, to a lesser extent, NGL and natural gas prices, the Midland-to-Gulf-Coast oil spreads and the prices it receives for its chemical products. During 2021, as compared to 2020, the average annual price per barrel ($/Bbl) of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude increased to $67.91 from $39.40 and the average annual Brent price per barrel increased to $70.78 from $43.21. While the worldwide economy continues to be impacted by the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and emergence and spread of new variants of the virus, demand for oil has returned to near pre-pandemic levels. Current uncertainty of whether oil supply will be able to sustain a continued supply response, as well as geopolitical risks, have resulted in a significant increase to benchmark oil prices. In addition, current oil prices could be negatively impacted by the emergence of new COVID-19 variants, slow vaccine distribution in developing economies or the recurrence or tightening of travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders.
STRATEGY
Occidental is focused on delivering a unique shareholder value proposition with its integrated portfolio of oil and gas, chemicals and midstream and marketing assets and its commitment to implement carbon management and storage solutions and reduce GHG emissions. Occidental conducts its operations with a focus on sustainability, health, safety, and environmental and social responsibility. Occidental aims to maximize shareholder returns through a combination of:
■Enhancing capital and operational efficiency to sustain 2021 production levels and free cash flow;
■Reducing financial leverage while maintaining a robust liquidity position;
■Returning additional capital to shareholders while continuing to reduce debt and improve Occidental’s financial position; and
■Advancing technologies and business solutions to help drive a sustainable low-carbon future.
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND CAPITAL EFFICIENCY
Occidental's operational priorities for 2021 were to sustain production in-line with its 2020 fourth quarter rate by investing $2.9 billion in capital and maintaining a majority of the cost savings achieved in 2020. Occidental adhered to its capital budget and exceeded its original 2021 production guidance by 27 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (Mboe/d). Occidental set new operational records and efficiency benchmarks in the Permian, Rockies, Gulf of Mexico and Oman. Additionally, OxyChem recorded its highest earnings in 30 years, largely as a result of stronger realized pricing and margins across most product lines with improved demand. With the increase in commodity prices and Occidental’s focus on its cash costs and operational efficiencies, Occidental’s higher cash flow allowed it to reduce its leverage and improve its liquidity position.
DEBT AND INTEREST RATE SWAPS
Occidental used its excess cash flow generated during 2021, coupled with divestiture proceeds, to continue to strengthen its balance sheet by reducing its debt and other financial obligations. In 2021, Occidental reduced total borrowings at face value of over $6.7 billion and retired interest rate swaps with a notional value of $750 million. The 2021 balance sheet improvement efforts have significantly reduced debt maturities in the near and medium terms, which will allow Occidental more operational flexibility and the ability to pay down additional debt in the future with a more opportunistic approach. As of December 31, 2021, Occidental had debt maturities of approximately $101 million in 2022, $465 million in 2023 and $1.7 billion in 2024. In January 2022, Occidental paid off its last 2022 maturity for $101 million.
Occidental’s $2.3 billion Zero Coupon senior notes due 2036 (Zero Coupons) can be put to Occidental in October of each year, in whole or in part, for the then accreted value of the outstanding Zero Coupons. The Zero Coupons can next be put to Occidental in October 2022, which, if put in whole, would require a payment of approximately $1.1 billion at such date. Occidental currently has the intent and ability to meet this obligation, including, if necessary, using amounts available under the revolving credit facility (RCF) should the put right be exercised.
The remaining interest rate swaps with a fair value of $428 million, net of collateral, as of December 31, 2021, have mandatory termination dates in September 2022 and 2023. The interest rate swaps’ fair value, and cash required to settle them on their termination dates, will continue to fluctuate with changes in interest rates through the mandatory termination dates.
As of December 31, 2021, all of Occidental’s Brent-priced sold calls and two way natural gas collars have expired. See Note 8 - Derivatives in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for further discussion.
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DEBT RATINGS
As of the date of this filing, Occidental’s long-term debt was rated BB+ by Fitch Ratings, Ba2 by Moody’s Investors Service and BB+ by Standard and Poor’s. In January, 2022, Standard and Poor’s upgraded Occidental’s credit rating to BB+. Any downgrade in credit ratings could impact Occidental's ability to access capital markets and increase its cost of capital. Occidental’s non-investment grade debt rating may require Occidental to provide financial assurance in the form of cash, letters of credit, surety bonds or other acceptable support under certain contractual arrangements.
As of the date of this filing, Occidental has provided required financial assurance through a combination of cash, letters of credit and surety bonds. Occidental has not issued any letters of credit under the RCF or other committed facilities. For additional information, see Risk Factors in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K.
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP STRATEGY
In 2020, Occidental was the first U.S. oil and gas company to announce goals to achieve net-zero GHG emissions for its total emissions inventory including use of sold products. These goals include achieving net-zero GHG emissions (i) from its operations and energy use before 2040, with an ambition to do so before 2035, and (ii) from the use of its sold products with an ambition to do so before 2050. In 2020, Occidental also set various interim targets, including 2025 carbon and methane intensity targets, and Occidental was also the first U.S. oil and gas company to endorse the World Bank’s initiative for zero routine flaring by 2030. In 2021, Occidental made progress on these sustainability commitments and established additional interim targets toward its net-zero goals to advance a low-carbon future.
Occidental seeks to meet its sustainability and environmental goals through its development and commercialization of technologies that lower both GHG emissions from industrial processes and existing atmospheric concentrations of CO2. Occidental believes that carbon removal technologies, including DAC and CCUS, can, with incentives necessary for their development and deployment, provide essential CO2 reductions in the medium term, while the world transitions to a lower carbon intensive economy. Occidental has undertaken the following actions, among others, toward advancing its low-carbon strategy:
■Incorporated specific GHG emissions reduction targets in its RCF and receivables securitization facility, which can impact its costs related to its borrowing facilities;
■Invested in a third party to develop a zero-emission natural gas generation demonstration facility and license the underlying technology;
■Initiated a front end engineering and design study on an industrial scale DAC facility;
■Implemented multiple programs to reduce emissions and the routine flaring of gas;
■Delivered the world’s first cargo of carbon-neutral oil in January 2021;
■Formed teams to specifically advance Occidental’s environmental, social and governance goals and associated accounting, and report to executive management; and
■Provided technical advisory services to third parties regarding their CCUS projects.
In 2022, OLCV plans to invest approximately $300 million in the development and commercialization of new technologies and low-carbon business models. In addition, Occidental plans to invest approximately $83 million in emissions reduction capital projects at its existing oil and gas, chemical and other midstream operations in 2022, such as retrofitting facilities to reduce CO2, methane and other air emissions. The future costs associated with emissions reduction, carbon removal and CCUS to meet its long-term net-zero GHG goals may be substantial and execution of its plans depends on securing financing. Occidental is pursuing multiple pathways to finance these projects including:
■Project financing with long-term carbon removal or CCUS agreements;
■Identifying business opportunities with stakeholders in carbon-intensive industries; and
■Occidental self-funding with excess cash flow.
LIQUIDITY
Occidental exited 2021 with cash and cash equivalents of $2.8 billion and total borrowings at face value of $28.5 billion. Occidental undertook the following actions to improve its liquidity position beyond the improvements provided by 2021’s strong cash flows:
■Maintained its 2021 capital budget of $2.9 billion while exceeding production guidance;
■Maintained the majority of cost savings achieved in prior years;
■Completed its large-scale asset divestiture program;
■Amended and extended the RCF to June 2025 with a fully committed borrowing capacity of $4.0 billion. The amended facility is now a Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) priced, sustainability linked loan with no material change to existing covenants; and
■Amended and extended the receivables securitization facility to December 2024 with a borrowing capacity as of the date of this filing of $400 million. The amended facility is now a SOFR-priced, sustainability linked loan.
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| MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
In the current commodity price environment, Occidental intends to continue strengthening its financial position while returning additional cash to shareholders through an increase in the common dividend and a reactivated share repurchase program. Occidental expects to fund its return of capital to shareholders as well as its operational and capital requirements with cash flows from operations. Occidental will continue to evaluate the economic environment, as well as the commodity price environment, and may make further adjustments to its future levels of capital expenditures and operating and corporate costs. However, lower oil and gas prices as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic or reduced demand may result in the short or long-term reduction of Occidental’s capital expenditures and production profile. Occidental believes the long-term sustainability of the increased dividend rate, even in a lower oil and gas price environment, will be enhanced by continued deleveraging and the reactivated share repurchase program.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Occidental seeks to meet its strategic goals by continually measuring its success against key performance indicators that drive total stockholder return. In addition to efficient capital allocation and deployment discussed below in the section titled Oil and Gas Segment - Business Strategy, Occidental believes the following are its most significant performance indicators:
SAFETY
■Injury Incidence Rate (IIR) and Days Away Restricted Transfer (DART) rate - Occidental’s combined employee and contractor IIR is determined by multiplying the total number of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recordable injuries and illnesses by 200,000 and dividing that result by the total number of hours worked by all employees and contractors. The DART rate is calculated in the same manner as IIR, but uses the number of incidents that resulted in days away from work, job transfer or restricted job duties instead of the number of recordable injuries or illnesses.
OPERATIONAL
■Total spend per barrel - In 2022, Occidental will continue to focus on controlling total costs from a per-barrel perspective. Total spend per barrel is the sum of capital spending, general and administrative expenses, other operating and non-operating expenses and oil and gas lease operating costs divided by global oil, NGL and natural gas sales volumes.
■Daily production - Occidental seeks to maintain 2021 production levels.
FINANCIAL
■Cash returns on capital employed (CROCE) - CROCE is calculated as (i) the cash flows from operating activities, before changes in working capital, plus distributions from WES classified as investing cash flows, divided by (ii) the average of the opening and closing balances of total equity plus total debt.
■Reduce financial leverage.
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL
■Specific emissions reduction, emissions intensity and zero routine flaring targets to advance our goal of net-zero operational and energy use emissions before 2040, with an ambition to achieve before 2035.
■Milestones in specific carbon removal and CCUS projects that advance our net-zero total emissions inventory, including use of sold products, with an ambition to achieve before 2050.
■Water recycling targets to reduce the use of fresh water resources and the disposal of surplus produced water.
■Facilitate deployment of carbon removal, CCUS and other solutions to advance total carbon impact past 2050.
IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Occidental continues to focus on protecting the health and safety of its employees and contractors during the COVID-19 pandemic. New workplace safety protocols and procedures were implemented by Occidental for its offices and work sites in response to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and any related variants. Occidental has not incurred material costs or significant disruptions to its day-to-day operations related to the COVID-19 pandemic to date; however, the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic could adversely affect Occidental's business, results of operations and financial condition will depend on future developments, which remain uncertain.
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OIL AND GAS SEGMENT
BUSINESS STRATEGY
Occidental’s oil and gas segment focuses on long-term value creation and leadership in sustainability, health, safety and the environment. In each core operating area, Occidental’s operations benefit from scale, technical expertise, decades of high-margin inventory, environmental and safety leadership and commercial and governmental collaboration. These attributes allow Occidental to bring additional production quickly to market, extend the life of older fields at lower costs and provide low-cost returns-driven growth opportunities with advanced technology.
With the completion of the Acquisition, Occidental became one of the largest U.S. producers of liquids, which includes oil and NGL, allowing Occidental to maximize cash margins on a Bbl basis. Since the Acquisition, Occidental initially focused on its divestiture program to pay down near-term debt maturities; however, the advantages that Occidental’s portfolio provides, coupled with unmatched subsurface characterization ability and the proven ability to execute, position Occidental for full-cycle success in the years ahead. The oil and gas segment has realized synergies to deliver lower breakeven costs and generate excess free cash flow and, with the late 2021 sale of the Ghana assets, Occidental has completed its large scale asset divestiture program.
Occidental’s assets are strategically positioned to provide a future portfolio of projects that are flexible and have a mix of short-cycle and mid-cycle investment paybacks. Together with Occidental’s technical capabilities, the oil and gas segment strives to achieve low development and operating costs to maximize full-cycle value of the assets.
The oil and gas business implements Occidental’s strategy primarily by:
■Operating and developing areas where reserves are known to exist and optimizing capital intensity in core areas, primarily in the Permian Basin, DJ Basin, Gulf of Mexico, UAE, Oman and Algeria;
■Maintaining a disciplined and prudent approach to capital expenditures with a focus on high-return, short-cycle, cash-flow-generating opportunities and an emphasis on creating value and further enhancing Occidental’s existing positions;
■Focusing Occidental’s subsurface characterization and technical activities on unconventional opportunities, primarily in the Permian Basin;
■Using EOR techniques, such as CO2, water and steam floods in mature fields; and
■Focusing on cost-reduction efficiencies and innovative technologies to reduce carbon emissions.
In 2021, oil and gas capital expenditures were approximately $2.4 billion and primarily focused on Occidental’s assets in the Permian Basin, DJ Basin, Gulf of Mexico and Oman.
OIL AND GAS PRICE ENVIRONMENT
Oil and gas prices are the major variables that drive the industry’s financial performance. The following table presents the average daily WTI and Brent prices for oil and New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) natural gas prices for 2021 and 2020:
| 2021 | 2020 | % Change | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WTI Oil ($/Bbl) | $ | 67.91 | $ | 39.40 | 72 | % | |||||
| Brent Oil ($/Bbl) | $ | 70.78 | $ | 43.21 | 64 | % | |||||
| NYMEX Natural Gas ($/Mcf) | $ | 3.61 | $ | 2.11 | 71 | % |
The following table presents Occidental’s average realized prices for continuing operations as a percentage of WTI, Brent and NYMEX for 2021 and 2020:
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worldwide oil as a percentage of average WTI | 97 | % | 95 | % | ||
| Worldwide oil as a percentage of average Brent | 93 | % | 86 | % | ||
| Worldwide NGL as a percentage of average WTI | 44 | % | 32 | % | ||
| Worldwide NGL as a percentage of average Brent | 42 | % | 29 | % | ||
| Domestic natural gas as a percentage of NYMEX | 91 | % | 56 | % |
/
Prices and differentials can vary significantly, even on a short-term basis, making it difficult to predict realized prices with a reliable degree of certainty.
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DOMESTIC INTERESTS
BUSINESS REVIEW
Occidental conducts its domestic operations through land leases, subsurface mineral rights it owns, or a combination of both. Occidental’s domestic oil and gas leases have a primary term ranging from one to 10 years, which is extended through the end of production once it commences. Occidental has leasehold and mineral interests in 9.5 million net acres, of which approximately 52% is leased, 24% is owned subsurface mineral rights and 24% is owned land with mineral rights.
DOMESTIC ASSETS (a)
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1. Powder River Basin 2. DJ Basin 3. Permian Basin 4. Gulf of Mexico |
(a)Map represents geographic outlines of the respective basins.
The Permian Basin
The Permian Basin extends throughout West Texas and Southeast New Mexico and is one of the largest and most active oil basins in the United States, accounting for more than 41% of total United States oil production in 2021. Overall in 2021, Occidental’s share of production in the Permian Basin was approximately 487 Mboe/d.
Occidental manages its Permian Basin operations through two business units: Permian Resources, which includes unconventional opportunities, and Permian EOR, which utilizes EOR techniques such as CO2 floods and waterfloods. Occidental has a leading position in the Permian Basin, producing approximately 9% of total oil in the basin throughout 2021. By exploiting the natural synergies between Permian Resources and Permian EOR, Occidental is able to deliver unique short- and long-term advantages, efficiencies and expertise across its Permian Basin operations.
Permian Resources unconventional oil development projects provide very short-cycle investment payback, averaging less than two years. These investments contribute cash flow, while increasing long-term value and sustainability through higher return on capital employed. Occidental’s oil and gas operations in Permian Resources include approximately 1.5 million net acres. In 2021, well design processes, technologies and logistics improvements drove increased operational efficiencies, which helped lower the overall well cost while improving recovery. Overall in 2021, Permian Resources produced from approximately 6,000 gross wells and added 222 MMboe to Occidental’s proved reserves through development and extensions of proved area.
The Permian Basin’s concentration of large conventional reservoirs, favorable CO2 flooding performance and the expansive CO2 transportation and processing infrastructure has resulted in decades of high-value enhanced oil production. With 35 active CO2 floods and over 50 years of experience, Occidental is the industry leader in Permian Basin CO2 flooding, which can increase ultimate oil recovery by 10% to 25%. Technology improvements, such as the recent trend toward vertical expansion of the CO2 flooded interval into residual oil zone targets, continue to yield more recovery from existing projects, and Permian EOR produced from approximately 14,100 gross wells in 2021.
Significant opportunities also remain to gain additional recovery by expanding Occidental’s existing CO2 projects into new portions of reservoirs that have only been water-flooded. Permian EOR has a large inventory of future CO2 projects,
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| MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
which could be developed over the next 20 years or accelerated, depending on market conditions. In addition, OLCV continues making progress towards supplying anthropogenic CO2 for the purpose of CCUS in Occidental’s Permian EOR operations.
In 2021, Occidental spent approximately $1.1 billion of capital in the Permian Basin, of which approximately 93% was spent on Permian Resources assets. Also in 2021, Occidental divested of certain non-strategic assets in the Permian Resources business unit, as well as acquired additional working interests in certain assets in our Permian EOR business unit. In 2022, Occidental expects to allocate approximately $1.7 billion to $1.9 billion, or almost half of its worldwide capital budget to the Permian Basin.
Rockies and Other Domestic
Occidental was Colorado’s top oil and gas producer in 2021, with interests in approximately 600,000 net acres and net production of approximately 302 Mboe/d in 2021 in our Rockies and Other Domestic locations. Production in Colorado is derived from 2,200 operated vertical wells and 2,300 operated horizontal wells primarily focused in 400,000 net acres in the Niobrara and Codell formations. The DJ Basin provides competitive economics, low breakeven costs and free cash flow generation through Occidental’s contiguous acreage position and royalty uplift.
In the DJ Basin, horizontal drilling results in the field continue to be strong, with improved operational efficiencies in drilling and completions. In 2021, Occidental drilled 72 operated horizontal wells and completed 163 operated horizontal wells. Also, in 2021, Occidental divested of certain non-operated assets in the DJ Basin. In 2022, Occidental plans to deploy approximately $0.4 billion in total net capital spending in the Rockies and Other Domestic.
In January 2021, the COGCC adopted new regulations that impose siting requirements, or “setbacks,” on certain oil and gas drilling locations based on the distance of a proposed well pad to occupied structures. Other state agencies, including the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission, have also updated their regulations regarding oil and gas operations. As of December 31, 2021, Occidental is fully permitted, or has submitted permit applications to applicable regulatory agencies, for all planned 2022 drilling and completions activity in the DJ Basin. As of year-end 2021, Occidental had not been denied any permits and received its first Oil & Gas Development Plan permit approval under the new COGCC regulations in the fourth quarter of 2021. Occidental has a dedicated, multidisciplinary stakeholder relations team that conducts regulatory and community outreach with respect to its permit applications and operations in Colorado. Occidental continues to have development optionality by flexing resources between the DJ Basin and other high rate-of-return projects in the Permian or Powder River Basin. Occidental’s focus for 2022 in Colorado is continuing to proactively implement Colorado’s new and updated regulatory processes and build operational inventory.
Occidental has gained efficiencies in the permitting process and will continue to look for additional opportunities to do so. As discussed above, Occidental does not anticipate significant near-term changes to our development program in the DJ Basin based on these regulations. However, if Occidental is unable to obtain new drilling permits to develop a significant portion of the company’s undeveloped acreage in the DJ Basin, the company’s DJ Basin assets may be subject to testing for impairment, and if deemed to be impaired, such impairment could be material to our financial statements.
Occidental holds approximately 5.0 million net acres in other domestic locations, which includes the Powder River Basin, North DJ Basin and Wyoming.
OFFSHORE DOMESTIC ASSETS
Gulf of Mexico
Occidental is the fourth-largest oil and gas producer in the deep-water Gulf of Mexico, operating 10 strategically located deep-water floating platforms, producing from 17 active fields while owning a working interest in 180 blocks – one of the largest portfolios in the Gulf of Mexico. Occidental further operates marine shore-bases in Galveston, Texas, and Port Fourchon, Louisiana, as well as two helicopter bases in Louisiana that are configured to support the western and eastern Gulf operations, which are located across the 600-mile platform spread as well as providing back up and redundancy to each other. A central supply chain base, with a training center, is located in Broussard, Louisiana, and the operations are supported and managed with engineering and technical staff from The Woodlands, Texas, offices.
In 2021, Occidental increased net production to 144 Mboe/d from approximately 78 gross wells, investing over $300 million in capital, primarily directed towards drilling activity in its Horn Mountain West subsea development, Lucius and Holstein facilities, using one floating drill ship and one platform rig. Occidental also progressed and accelerated key infrastructure facility projects for Horn Mountain West, Caesar-Tonga Subsea Expansion as well as initiating a major subsea-pumping project supporting the K2 Complex.
Operational excellence and efficiency was a prime initiative in 2021 for both drilling and well performance, including the implementation of several stimulations and artificial lift projects, together with optimum sequencing of platform turn-arounds, to reduce both planned and unplanned downtime for a third consecutive year. Hazard and operability studies of all 10 platforms were completed in 2021 and implementation of the resulting risk reduction projects was commenced. During 2021, all necessary regulatory permits for new wells and for existing operations were obtained timely.
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The following table shows areas of continuing development in the Gulf of Mexico, along with the corresponding working interest in those areas.
| Working Interest | ||
|---|---|---|
| Horn Mountain | 100 | % |
| Holstein | 100 | % |
| Marlin | 100 | % |
| Lucius | 64 | % |
| K2 Complex | 42 | % |
| Caesar Tonga | 34 | % |
| Constellation | 33 | % |
In 2022, Occidental expects to allocate approximately $0.5 billion in capital expenditures to continue to leverage its strategically advantaged infrastructure across the Gulf of Mexico to deliver high-margin production while seeking expansion and exploration opportunities. Occidental plans to conduct production adding activities with one floating drillship, one-to-two platform rigs with several other well service vessels. Horn Mountain West first production is scheduled for summer 2022, with Caesar-Tonga Subsea Expansion ready for first production before spring 2023. Several seismic acquisition programs are planned in 2022 to delineate and de-risk development opportunities as well as generate new opportunities that support the strategy of continued long-term production from the Gulf of Mexico.
INTERNATIONAL INTERESTS
BUSINESS REVIEW
Occidental conducts its ongoing international operations in two sub-regions: the Middle East and North Africa. Its activities include oil, NGL and natural gas production through direct working-interests, production sharing agreements (PSA) and production sharing contracts (PSC). Under the PSCs, Occidental records a share of production and reserves to recover certain development and production costs and an additional share for profit. These contracts do not transfer any right of ownership to Occidental and reserves reported from these arrangements are based on Occidental’s economic interest as defined in the contracts. Occidental’s share of production and reserves from these contracts decreases when product prices rise and increases when prices decline. Overall, Occidental’s net economic benefit from these contracts is greater when product prices are higher. Approximately $0.5 billion of Occidental’s worldwide capital budget is expected to be allocated to its international operations in 2022.
MIDDLE EAST / NORTH AFRICA ASSETS
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1.Algeria 2.Oman 3.Qatar 4.UAE |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
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| MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
Algeria
Operations in Algeria involve production and development activities in 18 fields within Blocks 404A and 208, which are located in the Berkine Basin in Algeria’s Sahara Desert and are governed by an agreement between Occidental, Sonatrach and other partners. Occidental is responsible for 24.5% of the development and production costs. The El Merk Central Processing Facility (CPF) in Block 208 processes produced oil and NGL, while the Hassi Berkine South and Ourhoud CPFs in Block 404A processes produced oil. The rights to produce from the Block 404 fields expire between December 2022 and 2036 and the rights to produce from the Block 208 fields expire in 2032. In 2021, net production in Algeria was 43 Mbbl/d. Also, in 2021, Occidental signed a Heads of Agreement with Sonatrach and other partners to discuss a new 25-year PSA that would align the expiration date for all 18 fields. Discussions regarding the potential new PSA are ongoing. In the first quarter of 2022, the joint venture plans to commence a drilling program of four wells.
Oman
In Oman, Occidental is the operator of Block 9 with a 50% working interest, Block 27 with a 65% working interest, Block 53 (Mukhaizna Field) with a 47% working interest and Block 62 with a 100% working interest. Occidental additionally has interests in Blocks 30, 51, 65 and 72. Occidental holds 6.0 million gross acres and has 10,000 potential well inventory locations. In 2021, Occidentals share of production was 74 Mboe/d.
The Block 9 contract expires in 2030 and the Block 27 contract expires in 2035. Occidental’s share of production for Blocks 9 and 27 was 25 Mboe/d and 6 Mboe/d, respectively, in 2021. Occidental has produced over 718 million gross barrels from Block 9 since the beginning of its operation through successful exploration, continuous drilling improvements and EOR projects. The Mukhaizna Field contract expires in 2035 and is a major pattern steam flood project for EOR that utilizes some of the largest mechanical vapor compressors ever built. Since assuming operations in the Mukhaizna Field in 2005, Occidental has drilled over 3,560 new wells and has increased gross production by over 15-fold. Occidental’s share of production for Mukhaizna Field was 30 Mboe/d in 2021. The Block 62 contract expires in 2028 and Occidental delivered production of 12 Mboe/d in 2021. Block 65 is under the exploration phase with a 73% working interest and Occidental’s share of production in 2021 was one Mboe/d based on three oil discoveries. In 2021, Occidental invested capital of $363 million to drill 111 wells and execute facilities projects to support development and EOR activities.
In 2022, Occidental plans to invest over $0.3 billion of capital to drill 128 wells and execute required facilities projects. Occidental will continue to enhance production by adding extended and dual laterals, stimulating wells with OXY JETTING, an in-house developed stimulation technique, and expanding thermal conformance. Occidental will continue to execute projects in Oman targeting emissions reductions. Based on the successful exploration results in Block 65 for 2021, the block’s Declaration of Commerciality is planned for 2022.
Qatar
In Qatar, Occidental partners in the Dolphin Energy Project, an investment that is comprised of two separate economic interests. Occidental has a 24.5% interest in the upstream operations (Dolphin) to develop and produce NGL, natural gas and condensate from Qatar’s North Field through mid-2032. Occidental also has a 24.5% interest in DEL, which operates a pipeline and is discussed further in the midstream and marketing segment section in this Form 10-K under Pipeline. In 2021, Occidental’s net share of production from Dolphin was 40 Mboe/d.
UAE
In 2011, Occidental acquired a 40% participating interest in the Shah gas field (Al Hosn Gas), joining with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, which expires in 2041. In 2021, Occidental’s share of production from Al Hosn Gas was 234 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) of natural gas and 37 Mbbl/d of NGL and condensate. Al Hosn Gas includes gas processing facilities which are discussed further in the midstream and marketing segment section in this Form 10-K under Gas Processing, Gathering and CO2.
In 2019 and 2020, Occidental acquired 9-year exploration concessions and, subject to a declaration of commerciality, 35-year production concessions for Onshore Block 3 and Block 5, which cover an area approximately 1.5 million acres and 1.0 million acres, respectively, and are adjacent to Al Hosn Gas. In 2021, Occidental announced a multi-zone oil and gas discovery in Block 3.
In 2022, Occidental plans to continue work on an expansion project that will increase the production capacity of the Al Hosn Gas processing facilities from the current 1.28 Bcf/d to 1.45 Bcf/d in 2023 and continue further exploration activities in Onshore Block 3 and Block 5.
Ghana - Discontinued Operations
In October 2021, Occidental completed the sale of its Ghana assets. Prior to the divestiture, Ghana operations included production and development activities located offshore in the West Cape Three Point Block and the Deepwater Tano Block. Occidental’s net share of production in 2021 was 16 Mboe/d.
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PROVED RESERVES
Proved oil, NGL and natural gas reserves were estimated using the unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within the year, unless prices were defined by contractual arrangements. Oil, NGL and natural gas prices used for this purpose were based on posted benchmark prices and adjusted for price differentials including gravity, quality and transportation costs.
The following table shows the 2021, 2020 and 2019 calculated first-day-of-the-month average prices for both WTI and Brent oil prices, as well as the Henry Hub gas prices measured in million British thermal units (MMbtu):
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WTI Oil ($/Bbl) | $ | 66.56 | $ | 39.57 | $ | 55.69 | |||||
| Brent Oil ($/Bbl) | $ | 69.24 | $ | 43.41 | $ | 63.03 | |||||
| Henry Hub Natural Gas ($/MMbtu) | $ | 3.60 | $ | 1.98 | $ | 2.58 | |||||
| Mt. Belvieu NGL ($/Bbl) (a) | $ | 44.22 | $ | 18.74 | N/A |
(a)Mt. Belvieu pricing was added as an NGL benchmark beginning in 2020. Prior to 2020, WTI oil was used as a benchmark for NGL.
Occidental had proved reserves from continuing operations at year-end 2021 of 3,512 MMboe, compared to the year-end 2020 amount of 2,911 MMboe. Proved developed reserves represented approximately 75% and 78% of Occidental’s total proved reserves at year-end 2021 and 2020, respectively. The following table shows the breakout of Occidental’s proved reserves from continuing operations by commodity as a percentage of total proved reserves:
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil | 50 | % | 51 | % | ||
| NGL | 22 | % | 20 | % | ||
| Natural gas | 28 | % | 29 | % |
Occidental does not have any reserves from non-traditional sources. For further information regarding Occidental’s proved reserves, see the Supplemental Oil and Gas Information section in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
CHANGES IN PROVED RESERVES
Occidental’s total proved reserves from continuing operations increased 601 MMboe in 2021, which was primarily driven by price and other revisions of 829 MMboe and extensions and discoveries of 145 MMboe. These increases were partially offset by production of 426 MMboe and asset divestitures of 11 MMboe. Changes in reserves were as follows:
| MMboe | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|
| Revisions of previous estimates | 829 | |
| Improved recovery | 20 | |
| Extensions and discoveries | 145 | |
| Purchases | 44 | |
| Sales | (11) | |
| Production | (426) | |
| Total | 601 |
Occidental’s ability to add reserves, other than through purchases, depends on the success of infill development, extension, discovery and improved recovery projects, each of which depends on reservoir characteristics, technology improvements and oil and natural gas prices, as well as capital and operating costs. Many of these factors are outside management’s control and may negatively or positively affect Occidental’s reserves.
Revisions of Previous Estimates
Revisions can include upward or downward changes to previous proved reserve estimates for existing fields due to the evaluation or interpretation of geologic, production decline or operating performance data. In addition, product price changes affect proved reserves recorded by Occidental. For example, lower prices may decrease the economically recoverable reserves, particularly for domestic properties, because the reduced margin limits the expected life of the operations. Offsetting this effect, lower prices increase Occidental’s share of proved reserves under PSCs because more oil is required to recover costs. Conversely, when prices rise, Occidental’s share of proved reserves decreases for PSCs and economically
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recoverable reserves may increase for other operations. Reserve estimation rules require that estimated ultimate recoveries be much more likely to increase or remain constant than to decrease, as changes are made due to increased availability of technical data.
In 2021, Occidental’s revisions of previous estimates of proved reserves were positive 829 MMboe, of which approximately 421 MMboe were positive price revisions. The positive price revisions were primarily associated with the Permian Basin (380 MMboe) and the DJ Basin (51 MMboe), which were partially offset by negative price revisions of 35 MMboe on international PSCs.
An additional 208 MMboe of positive revisions were related to additions associated with infill development projects, primarily in the Permian Basin (103 MMboe) and the DJ Basin (90 MMboe).
Further positive revisions of 101 MMboe were associated with updates based on reservoir performance.
The remaining revisions were associated with various other cost related revisions (57 MMboe) and management changes in development plans primarily due to higher average commodity prices compared to the prior year (42 MMboe).
Improved Recovery
In 2021, Occidental added proved reserves of 20 MMboe related to improved recovery primarily due to secondary and tertiary projects, mainly in certain international assets which accounted for approximately two-thirds of the reserve additions. These properties comprise conventional projects, which are characterized by the deployment of EOR development methods, largely employing application of CO2 flood, waterflood or steam flood. These types of conventional EOR development methods can be applied through existing wells, though additional drilling is frequently required to fully optimize the development configuration. Waterflooding is the technique of injecting water into the formation to displace the oil to the offsetting oil production wells. The use of either CO2 or steam flooding depends on the geology of the formation, the evaluation of engineering data, availability and cost of either CO2 or steam and other economic factors. Both techniques work similarly to lower viscosity causing the oil to move more easily to the producing wells.
Extensions and Discoveries
Occidental also added proved reserves from extensions and discoveries, which are dependent on successful exploration and exploitation programs. In 2021, extensions and discoveries added 145 MMboe primarily related to the recognition of proved reserves in the Permian Basin (120 MMboe) and Gulf of Mexico (10 MMboe).
Purchases of Proved Reserves
In 2021, Occidental purchased proved reserves of 44 MMboe primarily consisting of proved reserves in the Permian EOR.
Sales of Proved Reserves
In 2021, Occidental sold 11 MMboe in proved reserves, primarily related to the divestitures of certain non-strategic assets in the Permian Basin.
Proved Undeveloped Reserves
Occidental had PUD reserves at year-end 2021 of 865 MMboe, compared to the year-end 2020 amount of 645 MMboe.
Changes in PUD reserves were as follows:
| MMboe | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|
| Revisions of previous estimates | 280 | |
| Improved recovery | 10 | |
| Extensions and discoveries | 60 | |
| Purchases | 6 | |
| Sales | — | |
| Transfer to proved developed reserves | (136) | |
| Total | 220 |
Revisions of previous estimates were a positive 280 MMboe. Approximately 203 MMboe of the positive revisions were related to additions associated with infill development projects, primarily in the Permian Basin (99 MMboe) and the DJ Basin (90 MMboe). Additionally, the revisions included positive price revisions of 50 MMboe. The positive price revisions were primarily associated with the Permian Basin (48 MMboe) and the DJ Basin (8 MMboe). Further, 38 MMboe of positive revisions were related to management changes in development plans. The remaining revisions were associated with various updates based on reservoir performance.
Extensions and discoveries added 60 MMboe primarily related to the recognition of proved reserves in the Permian Basin (45 MMboe) and Gulf of Mexico (10 MMboe). Total improved recovery additions of 10 MMboe were primarily the result
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of secondary and tertiary projects in international assets (9 MMboe). The 2021 additions to PUD reserves were offset by transfers to proved developed reserves. Transfers to proved developed reserves were a total of 136 MMboe. The transfers were primarily associated with the DJ Basin (70 MMboe), the Permian Basin (41 MMboe), and Gulf of Mexico (18 MMboe).
PUD reserves are supported by a five-year detailed field-level development plan, which includes the timing, location and capital commitment of the wells to be drilled. Only PUD reserves which are reasonably certain to be drilled within five years of booking and are supported by a final investment decision to drill them are included in the development plan. A portion of the PUD reserves associated with international operations are expected to be developed beyond the five years and are tied to approved long-term development projects.
In 2021, Occidental incurred approximately $0.6 billion to convert PUD reserves to proved developed reserves, and in 2021 Occidental converted approximately 15% of its PUD reserves to proved developed, when adjusted for revisions and sales. As of December 31, 2021, Occidental had 865 MMboe of PUD reserves of which 60% were associated with domestic onshore, 8% with Gulf of Mexico and 32% with international assets. Occidental’s most active development areas are located in the Permian Basin, which represented 45% of the PUD reserves as of December 31, 2021. Almost half of Occidental’s 2022 capital program of $3.9 billion to $4.3 billion is allocated to the development program in the Permian Basin. Overall, Occidental plans to spend approximately $3.0 billion over the next five years to develop its PUD reserves in the Permian Basin.
As of December 31, 2021, Occidental had 192 MMboe of pre-2017 PUD reserves that remained undeveloped. These PUD reserves relate to approved long-term development plans, 187 MMboe of which are associated with international development projects with physical limitations in existing gas processing capacity. Occidental remains committed to these projects and continues to actively progress the development of these volumes. In addition to the above, Occidental has 112 MMboe of PUD reserves that are scheduled to be developed more than five years from their initial date of booking. These PUD reserves are primarily related to approved long-term development plans with physical limitations in existing gas processing capacity, 63 MMboe of which are associated with other Permian EOR projects and 38 MMboe associated with international development projects.
RESERVES EVALUATION AND REVIEW PROCESS
Occidental’s estimates of proved reserves and associated future net cash flows as of December 31, 2021, were made by Occidental’s technical personnel and are the responsibility of management. The estimation of proved reserves is based on the requirement of reasonable certainty of economic producibility and funding commitments by Occidental to develop the reserves. This process involves reservoir engineers, geoscientists, planning engineers and financial analysts. As part of the proved reserves estimation process, all reserve volumes are estimated by a forecast of production rates, operating costs and capital expenditures. Price differentials between benchmark prices (the unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within the year) and realized prices and specifics of each operating agreement are then used to estimate the net reserves. Production rate forecasts are derived by a number of methods, including estimates from decline curve analysis, type curve analysis, material balance calculations that take into account the volumes of substances replacing the volumes produced and associated reservoir pressure changes, seismic analysis and computer simulation of the reservoir performance. These reliable field-tested technologies have demonstrated reasonably certain results with consistency and repeatability in the formation being evaluated or in an analogous formation. Operating and capital costs are forecast using the current cost environment applied to expectations of future operating and development activities.
Net proved developed reserves are those volumes that are expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods for which the incremental cost of any additional required investment is relatively minor.
Net PUD reserves are those volumes that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion. PUD reserves are supported by a five-year, detailed, field-level development plan, which includes the timing, location and capital commitment of the wells to be drilled. The development plan is reviewed and approved annually by senior management and technical personnel. Annually, a detailed review is performed by Occidental’s Worldwide Reserves Group and its technical personnel on a lease-by-lease basis to assess whether PUD reserves are being converted on a timely basis within five years from the initial disclosure date. Any leases not showing timely transfers from PUD reserves to proved developed reserves are reviewed by senior management to determine if the remaining reserves will be developed in a timely manner and have sufficient capital committed in the development plan. Only PUD reserves that are reasonably certain to be drilled within five years of booking and are supported by a final investment decision to drill them are included in the development plan. A portion of the PUD reserves associated with international operations are expected to be developed beyond the five years and are tied to approved long-term development plans.
The current Senior Vice President, Reserves for Oxy Oil and Gas is responsible for overseeing the preparation of reserve estimates, in compliance with SEC rules and regulations, including the internal audit and review of Occidental’s oil and gas reserves data. He has over 40 years of experience in the upstream sector of the exploration and production business and has held various assignments in North America, Asia and Europe. He is a three-time past Chair of the Society of Petroleum Engineers Oil and Gas Reserves Committee. He is an American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) Certified Petroleum Geologist and currently serves on the AAPG Committee on Resource Evaluation. He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers, the Colorado School of Mines Potential Gas Committee and the United Nations
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Economic Commission for Europe Expert Group on Resource Management. He has Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in geology from Emory University in Atlanta.
Occidental has a Corporate Reserves Review Committee (Reserves Committee), consisting of senior corporate officers, to review and approve Occidental’s oil and gas reserves. The Reserves Committee reports to the Audit Committee of Occidental’s Board of Directors during the year. Since 2003, Occidental has retained Ryder Scott Company, L.P. (Ryder Scott), independent petroleum engineering consultants, to review its annual oil and gas reserve estimation processes. For additional reserves information, see Supplemental Oil and Gas Information under Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
In 2021, Ryder Scott conducted a process review of the methods and analytical procedures utilized by Occidental’s engineering and geological staff for estimating the proved reserves volumes, preparing the economic evaluations and determining the reserves classifications as of December 31, 2021, in accordance with SEC regulatory standards. Ryder Scott reviewed the specific application of such methods and procedures for selected oil and gas properties considered to be a valid representation of Occidental’s 2021 year-end total proved reserves portfolio. In 2021, Ryder Scott reviewed approximately 36% of Occidental’s proved oil and gas reserves. Since being engaged in 2003, Ryder Scott has reviewed the specific application of Occidental’s reserve estimation methods and procedures for approximately 91% of Occidental’s existing proved oil and gas reserves.
Management retained Ryder Scott to provide objective third-party input on its methods and procedures and to gather industry information applicable to Occidental’s reserve estimation and reporting process. Ryder Scott has not been engaged to render an opinion as to the reasonableness of reserves quantities reported by Occidental. Occidental has filed Ryder Scott’s independent report as an exhibit to this Form 10-K.
Based on its reviews, including the data, technical processes and interpretations presented by Occidental, Ryder Scott has concluded that the overall procedures and methodologies Occidental utilized in estimating the proved reserves volumes, preparing the economic evaluations and determining the reserves classifications for the reviewed properties are appropriate for the purpose thereof and comply with current SEC regulations.
INDUSTRY OUTLOOK
The oil and gas exploration and production industry is highly competitive, is subject to significant volatility due to various market conditions and operations are highly dependent on oil prices and, to a lesser extent, NGL and natural gas prices. Oil prices increased significantly in 2021. During 2021, as compared to 2020, the average annual $/Bbl of WTI crude increased to $67.91 from $39.40 and the average annual Brent price per barrel increased to $70.78 from $43.21.
Oil prices will continue to be affected by: (i) global supply and demand, which are generally a function of global economic conditions, inventory levels, production or supply chain disruptions, technological advances, regional market conditions and the actions of OPEC, other significant producers and governments; (ii) transportation capacity, infrastructure constraints, and costs in producing areas; (iii) currency exchange rates and inflation rates; and (iv) the effect of changes in these variables on market perceptions.
NGL prices are related to the supply and demand for the components of products making up these liquids. Some of them more typically correlate to the price of oil while others are affected by natural gas prices as well as the demand for certain chemical products for which they are used as feedstock. In addition, infrastructure constraints magnify the pricing volatility from region to region.
Domestic natural gas prices and local differentials are strongly affected by local supply and demand fundamentals, as well as government regulations, global LNG demand and availability of transportation capacity from producing areas.
We expect that oil prices in the near-term will continue to be influenced by the duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting impact on oil and gas supply and demand.
These and other factors make it difficult to predict the future direction of oil, NGL and domestic gas prices reliably. For purposes of the current capital plan, Occidental will continue to focus on allocating capital to its highest-return assets with the flexibility to adjust based on fluctuations in commodity prices. International gas prices are generally fixed under long-term contracts. Occidental continues to adjust capital expenditures in line with current economic conditions with the goal of keeping returns well above its cost of capital.
The timing, process and ultimate cost to transition to a lower carbon intensive economy remains largely unknown; various industry forecasts indicate a growing demand for hydrocarbons for the remainder of the current decade. Occidental believes its operational flexibility regarding its mix of short-cycle and mid-cycle projects and its knowledge and experience in CO2 separation, transportation, use, recycling and storage means that its oil and gas segment is well positioned to support Occidental’s transition to net zero as well as create opportunities in a low-carbon future.
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CHEMICAL SEGMENT
BUSINESS STRATEGY
OxyChem concentrates on the chlorovinyls chain, beginning with the co-production of caustic soda and chlorine. Caustic soda and chlorine are marketed to external customers. In addition, chlorine, together with ethylene, is converted through a series of intermediate products into PVC. OxyChem seeks to be a low-cost producer in order to generate cash flow in excess of its normal capital expenditure requirements and achieve above-cost-of-capital returns. OxyChem’s focus on chlorovinyls allows it to maximize the benefits of integration and take advantage of economies of scale. Capital is employed to sustain production capacity and to focus on projects and developments designed to improve the competitiveness of segment assets. Acquisitions and plant development opportunities may be pursued when they are expected to enhance the existing core chlor-alkali and PVC businesses or take advantage of other specific opportunities. In 2021, capital expenditures for OxyChem totaled $308 million.
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
In 2021, the United States economic growth, estimated to be 5.6%, was significantly higher than the 3.4% contraction experienced in 2020, which resulted in higher demand for most products including caustic soda and PVC. Pricing for PVC continued to remain strong in 2021 due to increased domestic demand and record high pricing in global markets. Caustic soda prices were significantly higher in 2021, partially offset by higher energy costs.
BUSINESS REVIEW
BASIC CHEMICALS
The U.S. economic growth resulted in higher domestic demand as chlor-alkali operating rates increased compared to 2020. Liquid caustic soda and chlorine prices/margins were higher in 2021 due to strong demand in most market segments, which was partially offset by higher energy prices. Increases in prices/margins for caustic, chlorine and chlorine derivatives in 2021 versus 2020 was driven by strong demand, weather events and other supply disruptions.
VINYLS
Strong demand from the second half of 2020 continued into 2021, resulting in an 11% increase in domestic PVC demand. Housing starts, construction projects and low mortgage rates were the main catalyst driving the growth. During 2021, PVC producers were confronted with extended production outages, weather events and supply chain interruptions while PVC converters also experienced challenges due to shortages of labor, parts and raw materials. As with 2020, higher U.S. demand limited PVC availability for export markets. 2021 PVC export volume was down 32% year over year. PVC exports represented 19% of total North American production in 2021 compared to 28% in 2020.
INDUSTRY OUTLOOK
Industry performance will depend on the health of the global economy and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The housing, construction and automotive markets are expected to remain strong throughout 2022. Product margins will depend on market supply and demand balances, feedstock and energy prices, supply chain interruptions, labor constraints and rising inflation rates. Further recovery in the petroleum industry should strengthen the demand/margins for some of Occidental’s products that are consumed by industry participants. U.S. commodity export markets could be impacted by the relative strength of the U.S. dollar.
BASIC CHEMICALS
Demand for basic chemicals is expected to further improve in 2022 over 2021 levels. Improvement in most market segments is expected with the anticipated improvement in the overall economy and recovering supply chains. Demand for chlorine and derivatives will improve with continued growth in the housing, general construction and automotive markets. Demand for alkali products, particularly caustic soda, will improve with growth in the pulp and paper, industrial and alumina markets. Chlor-alkali operating rates should improve moderately with higher demand and continued competitive energy and raw material pricing as compared to global feedstock costs.
VINYLS
Domestic PVC demand is expected to remain strong with further year-over-year growth in 2022. Residential construction spending and expected new infrastructure projects are forecasted to drive domestic growth in 2022. New domestic PVC capacity is expected to fully enter the market in 2022 but is not expected to have a material impact on PVC production rates due to domestic and export growth expectations.
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MIDSTREAM AND MARKETING SEGMENT
BUSINESS STRATEGY
The midstream and marketing segment strives to maximize value by optimizing the use of its gathering, processing, transportation, storage and terminal commitments and by providing the oil and gas segment access to domestic and international markets. To generate returns, the segment evaluates opportunities across the value chain and uses its assets to provide services to Occidental’s subsidiaries, as well as third parties. The midstream and marketing segment operates or contracts for services on gathering systems, gas plants, co-generation facilities and storage facilities and invests in entities that conduct similar activities.
This segment also seeks to minimize the costs of gas and power used in Occidental’s various businesses. Capital is employed to sustain or expand assets to improve the competitiveness of Occidental’s businesses. In 2021, capital expenditures related to the midstream and marketing segment totaled $106 million.
Also included in the midstream and marketing segment is OLCV. OLCV seeks to leverage Occidental’s carbon management expertise through the development of CCUS projects, and invests in innovative low-carbon technologies that are expected to reduce our carbon footprint and enable others to do the same.
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
Midstream and marketing segment earnings are affected by the performance of its various businesses, including its marketing, gathering and transportation, gas processing and power-generation assets. The marketing business aggregates, markets and stores Occidental and third-party volumes. Marketing performance is affected primarily by commodity price changes and margins in oil and gas transportation and storage programs. The marketing business results can experience significant volatility depending on commodity prices and the Midland-to-Gulf-Coast oil spreads. In 2021, Permian to Gulf Coast transportation capacity increased as new third-party pipelines were completed. This, along with reduction in Permian Basin production, reduced the Midland-to-Gulf-Coast oil spreads. The Midland-to-Gulf-Coast oil spreads have decreased from an average of $1.43 per barrel in 2020 to $0.48 per barrel for the year ended December 31, 2021. A $0.25 change in the Midland-to-Gulf-Coast oil spreads impacts total year operating cash flows by approximately $65 million. Gas gathering, processing and transportation results are affected by fluctuations in commodity prices and the volumes that are processed and transported through the segment’s plants, as well as the margins obtained on related services from investments in which Occidental has an equity interest. The 2021 increases in NGL prices and sulfur prices positively impacted the gas processing business.
BUSINESS REVIEW
MARKETING
The marketing group markets substantially all of Occidental’s oil, NGL and natural gas production and optimizes its transportation and storage capacity. Occidental’s third-party marketing activities focus on purchasing oil, NGL and gas for resale from parties whose oil and gas supply is located near its transportation and storage assets. These purchases allow Occidental to aggregate volumes to better utilize and optimize its assets. In 2021, compared to the prior year, marketing results were favorable due to the rising crude oil price environment and its impact on export sales.
DELIVERY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITMENTS
Occidental has made long-term commitments to certain refineries and other buyers to deliver oil, NGL and natural gas. The total amount contracted to be delivered is approximately 92 MMbbl of oil through 2025, 731 MMbbl of NGL through 2029 and 764 Bcf of gas through 2029. The price for these deliveries is set at the time of delivery of the product.
Occidental has pipeline take-or-pay capacity of approximately 800 thousand barrels per day (Mbbl/d) to the Gulf Coast, leased storage capacity of approximately 10 MMbbl and capacity at the Ingleside Crude terminal of approximately 525 Mbbl/d.
PIPELINE
Occidental’s pipeline business mainly consists of its 24.5% ownership interest in DEL. DEL owns and operates a 230-mile-long, 48-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline (Dolphin Pipeline), which transports dry natural gas from Qatar to the UAE and Oman. The Dolphin Pipeline has capacity to transport up to 3.2 Bcf/d and currently transports approximately 2.0 Bcf/d and up to 2.2 Bcf/d in the summer months.
GAS PROCESSING, GATHERING AND CO2
Occidental processes its and third-party domestic wet gas to extract NGL and other gas byproducts, including CO2 and delivers dry gas to pipelines. Margins primarily result from the difference between inlet costs of wet gas and market prices for NGL.
As of December 31, 2021, Occidental owned all of the 2.2% non-voting general partner interest and 49.7% of the limited partner units in WES. On a combined basis, with its 2% non-voting limited partner interest in Western Midstream Operating, LP (WES Operating), Occidental's total effective economic interest in WES and its subsidiaries was 51.8%. See Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form
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10-K for more information regarding Occidental’s equity method investment in WES. WES owns gathering systems, plants and pipelines and earns revenue from fee-based and service-based contracts with Occidental and third parties.
Occidental’s 40% participating interest in Al Hosn Gas also includes sour gas processing facilities that are designed to process 1.28 Bcf/d of natural gas and separate it into salable gas, condensate, NGL and sulfur. In 2021, the project produced 640 MMcf/d of natural gas, 100 Mbbl/d of NGL and condensate, and 11,700 tons/d of sulfur, of which Occidental’s net share was 256 MMcf/d of natural gas, 40 Mbbl/d of NGL and condensate and 4,700 tons/d of sulfur.
In 2021, compared to the prior year, gas processing, gathering and CO2 results increased primarily due to higher sulfur and NGL prices.
POWER GENERATION FACILITIES
Earnings from power and steam generation facilities are derived from sales to affiliates and third parties.
LOW-CARBON VENTURES
OLCV was formed to execute on Occidental’s vision to reduce global emissions and provide a more sustainable future through the development of low-carbon energy and products. OLCV capitalizes on Occidental’s extensive experience in utilizing CO2 in its development of CCUS projects and providing services to third parties to facilitate the implementation of their CCUS projects. Moreover, OLCV is fostering new technologies, including DAC and low-carbon power sources, and business models with the potential to position Occidental as a leader in the production of low-carbon oil and products.
Occidental has developed standards and protocols recognized by the EPA for monitoring, reporting and verifying the amount, safety and permanence of CO2 stored through secure geologic sequestration. Occidental holds the nation’s first two EPA-approved monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) plans for geologic sequestration through EOR production and obtained a third MRV plan in 2021.
OLCV is currently conducting front-end engineering design work and feasibility studies on a number of projects to capture and sequester CO2, either from the atmosphere or from industrial point sources. In 2022, OLCV plans to invest approximately $300 million to pursue various projects.
The profitability of sequestration projects is dependent upon the costs of developing, building and operating sequestration infrastructure, demand for sequestration services from emitters and the availability of certain tax attributes and credits generated from the capture and storage of CO2.
INDUSTRY OUTLOOK
Midstream and marketing segment results can experience volatility depending on the Midland-to-Gulf-Coast oil spreads, commodity price changes and demand impacting export sales. To a lesser extent, declines in commodity prices, including NGL and sulfur prices, reduce the results for the gas processing business.
At the end of 2021, the U.S. experienced economy-wide cost increases, which could increase the cost of sequestration projects. Occidental saw increased interest from third parties in providing sequestration services during the year. Additionally, grants, credits and other tax-advantaged low-carbon attributes continue to be actively discussed at both state and federal levels. These trends are expected to continue, which Occidental believes will enhance the economics of sequestration projects.
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SEGMENT RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND ITEMS AFFECTING COMPARABILITY
SEGMENT RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Segment earnings exclude income taxes, interest income, interest expense, environmental remediation expenses, unallocated corporate expenses and discontinued operations, but include gains and losses from divestitures of segment assets and income from the segments’ equity investments. Seasonality is not a primary driver of changes in Occidental’s consolidated quarterly earnings during the year.
The following table sets forth the sales and earnings of each operating segment and corporate items for the years ended December 31:
| millions, except per share amounts | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NET SALES (a) | |||||||||||
| Oil and gas | $ | 18,941 | $ | 13,066 | $ | 13,941 | |||||
| Chemical | 5,246 | 3,733 | 4,102 | ||||||||
| Midstream and marketing | 2,863 | 1,768 | 4,132 | ||||||||
| Eliminations | (1,094) | (758) | (1,264) | ||||||||
| Total | $ | 25,956 | $ | 17,809 | $ | 20,911 | |||||
| SEGMENT RESULTS AND EARNINGS | |||||||||||
| Domestic | $ | 2,900 | $ | (8,758) | $ | 838 | |||||
| International | 1,497 | (742) | 1,851 | ||||||||
| Exploration | (252) | (132) | (169) | ||||||||
| Oil and gas | 4,145 | (9,632) | 2,520 | ||||||||
| Chemical | 1,544 | 664 | 799 | ||||||||
| Midstream and marketing | 257 | (4,175) | 241 | ||||||||
| Total | $ | 5,946 | $ | (13,143) | $ | 3,560 | |||||
| Unallocated corporate items | |||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | (1,614) | (1,424) | (1,002) | ||||||||
| Income tax benefit (expense) | (915) | 2,172 | (861) | ||||||||
| Other | (627) | (1,138) | (2,204) | ||||||||
| Income (loss) from continuing operations | $ | 2,790 | $ | (13,533) | $ | (507) | |||||
| Discontinued operations, net | (468) | (1,298) | (15) | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) | 2,322 | (14,831) | (522) | ||||||||
| Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | — | — | (145) | ||||||||
| Less: Preferred stock dividends | (800) | (844) | (318) | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders | $ | 1,522 | $ | (15,675) | $ | (985) | |||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders—basic | $ | 1.62 | $ | (17.06) | $ | (1.22) | |||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders—diluted | $ | 1.58 | $ | (17.06) | $ | (1.22) |
(a)Intersegment sales eliminate upon consolidation and are generally made at prices approximating those that the selling entity would be able to obtain in third-party transactions.
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ITEMS AFFECTING COMPARABILITY
OIL AND GAS SEGMENT
Results of Operations
| millions | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Segment Sales | $ | 18,941 | $ | 13,066 | $ | 13,941 | |||||
| Segment Results (a) | |||||||||||
| Domestic | $ | 2,900 | $ | (8,758) | $ | 838 | |||||
| International | 1,497 | (742) | 1,851 | ||||||||
| Exploration | (252) | (132) | (169) | ||||||||
| Total | $ | 4,145 | $ | (9,632) | $ | 2,520 | |||||
| Items affecting comparability | |||||||||||
| Asset impairments and related items - domestic (b) | $ | (282) | $ | (5,904) | $ | (288) | |||||
| Asset impairments and related items - international (c) | $ | — | $ | (1,195) | $ | (39) | |||||
| Asset sale gains (losses), net - domestic (d) | $ | 27 | $ | (1,275) | $ | 475 | |||||
| Asset sale losses, net - international (e) | $ | 43 | $ | (353) | $ | — | |||||
| Oil, natural gas and CO2 mark-to-market gains (losses) | $ | (280) | $ | 1,090 | $ | (15) | |||||
| Rig terminations and other - domestic | $ | — | $ | (59) | $ | — | |||||
| Rig terminations and other - international | $ | — | $ | (13) | $ | — |
(a)Results included significant items affecting comparability discussed in the footnotes below.
(b)The 2021 amount included $282 million of asset impairments primarily related to undeveloped leases that either expired or were set to expire in the near-term where Occidental had no plans to pursue exploration activities. The 2020 amount included pre-tax impairments of $4.5 billion primarily related to domestic onshore unproved acreage as well as $1.3 billion primarily related to other domestic onshore assets and the Gulf of Mexico. The 2019 amount included $285 million of impairment and related charges associated with domestic undeveloped leases that were set to expire in the near-term, where Occidental had no plans to pursue exploration activities.
(c)The 2020 amount included $1.2 billion of impairment and related charges associated with Occidental’s proved properties in Algeria and Oman. The 2019 amount related to Occidental’s mutually agreed early termination of certain Qatar concessions.
(d)The 2021 amount included $27 million in post-closing consideration earned from 2020 asset sales as a result of certain production and pricing targets being met. The 2020 amount included a $440 million loss on the sale of Occidental’s mineral and fee surface acres in Wyoming, Colorado and Utah and losses of $820 million related to the sale of non-core, largely non-operated acreage in the Permian Basin. The 2019 amount included gain on the sale of a portion of Occidental’s joint venture with ECOPETROL S.A. (Ecopetrol) and a loss on sale of real estate assets.
(e)The 2021 amount primarily included $55 million in post-closing consideration earned from 2020 asset sales as a result of certain production and pricing targets being met, The 2020 amount included a loss on the sale of Occidental’s Colombia assets of $353 million.
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The following table sets forth the average realized prices for oil, NGL and natural gas from ongoing operations for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and includes a year-over-year change calculation:
| 2021 | Year over Year Change | 2020 (a) | Year over Year Change | 2019 (a) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average Realized Prices | |||||||||||||||||
| Oil ($/Bbl) | |||||||||||||||||
| United States | $ | 66.39 | 82 | % | $ | 36.39 | (33) | % | $ | 54.31 | |||||||
| International | $ | 65.08 | 57 | % | $ | 41.50 | (33) | % | $ | 62.00 | |||||||
| Total worldwide | $ | 66.14 | 77 | % | $ | 37.34 | (34) | % | $ | 56.26 | |||||||
| NGL ($/Bbl) | |||||||||||||||||
| United States | $ | 30.62 | 156 | % | $ | 11.98 | (25) | % | $ | 16.03 | |||||||
| International | $ | 26.13 | 61 | % | $ | 16.22 | (26) | % | $ | 21.85 | |||||||
| Total worldwide | $ | 30.01 | 139 | % | $ | 12.58 | (27) | % | $ | 17.20 | |||||||
| Natural Gas ($/Mcf) | |||||||||||||||||
| United States | $ | 3.30 | 180 | % | $ | 1.18 | (10) | % | $ | 1.31 | |||||||
| International | $ | 1.69 | 1 | % | $ | 1.67 | 1 | % | $ | 1.66 | |||||||
| Total worldwide | $ | 2.87 | 119 | % | $ | 1.31 | (10) | % | $ | 1.45 |
(a)2020 and 2019 average realized prices have been adjusted to reflect the exclusion of Colombia, which was sold in 2020.
Domestic oil and gas results, excluding significant items affecting comparability, increased in 2021 compared to 2020 primarily due to higher realized oil, NGL and natural gas prices, partially offset by higher DD&A rates and overall lower oil volumes, primarily in the Permian Basin and DJ Basin.
International oil and gas results, excluding significant items affecting comparability, increased in 2021 compared to 2020 primarily due to higher oil prices partially offset by lower oil volumes.
Production
The following table sets forth the production volumes of oil, NGL and natural gas per day from ongoing operations for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and includes a year-over-year change calculation:
| Production per Day, Ongoing Operations (Mboe/d) | 2021 | Year over Year Change | 2020 | Year over Year Change | 2019 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | ||||||||||||||
| Permian | 487 | (15) | % | 575 | 13 | % | 509 | |||||||
| Rockies & Other Domestic | 302 | (9) | % | 332 | 126 | % | 147 | |||||||
| Gulf of Mexico | 144 | 11 | % | 130 | 124 | % | 58 | |||||||
| Total | 933 | (10) | % | 1,037 | 45 | % | 714 | |||||||
| International | ||||||||||||||
| Algeria & Other International | 44 | (2) | % | 45 | 88 | % | 24 | |||||||
| Al Hosn Gas | 76 | (3) | % | 78 | (5) | % | 82 | |||||||
| Dolphin | 40 | (9) | % | 44 | 5 | % | 42 | |||||||
| Oman | 74 | (13) | % | 85 | (4) | % | 89 | |||||||
| Total | 234 | (7) | % | 252 | 6 | % | 237 | |||||||
| Total Production from Ongoing Operations | 1,167 | (9) | % | 1,289 | 36 | % | 951 | |||||||
| Operations exited (a) | 16 | (72) | % | 58 | (26) | % | 78 | |||||||
| Total Production (Mboe/d) (b) | 1,183 | (12) | % | 1,347 | 31 | % | 1,029 |
(a)Operations exited include the Ghana assets (sold in October 2021), the Colombia onshore assets (sold in December 2020) and the Qatar Idd El Shargi Fields (exited in 2019).
(b)Natural gas volumes have been converted to Boe based on energy content of six Mcf of gas to one barrel of oil. Boe equivalent does not necessarily result in price equivalency. Please refer to the Supplemental Oil and Gas Information (unaudited) section of this Form 10-K for additional information on oil and gas production and sales.
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Average daily production volumes from ongoing operations decreased in 2021 compared to 2020 primarily due to maintaining capital expenditures at a level to sustain production at the rate Occidental exited 2020.
Lease Operating Expense
The following table sets forth the average lease operating expense per Boe from ongoing operations for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021:
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average lease operating expense per Boe | $ | 7.58 | $ | 6.38 | $ | 9.07 |
Average lease operating expense per Boe increased in 2021 compared to 2020 primarily as a result of higher maintenance, support and workover costs in the Gulf of Mexico, including additional costs associated with platforms reaching the end of their useful life, as well as higher energy and purchase injectant costs in the Permian, partially offset by continued operational efficiencies which decreased down hole maintenance and workover and support costs in the Permian.
CHEMICAL SEGMENT
| millions | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Segment Sales | $ | 5,246 | $ | 3,733 | $ | 4,102 | |||||
| Segment Results | $ | 1,544 | $ | 664 | $ | 799 |
Chemical segment results increased in 2021 compared to 2020 due to improved demand due to improved U.S. economic growth and higher prices across most product lines, including caustic soda and PVC, partially offset by higher raw material costs, primarily ethylene and energy.
MIDSTREAM AND MARKETING SEGMENT
| millions | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Segment Sales | $ | 2,863 | $ | 1,768 | $ | 4,132 | |||||
| Segment Results (a) | $ | 257 | $ | (4,175) | $ | 241 | |||||
| Items affecting comparability | |||||||||||
| Asset sales gains (losses) and others, net (b) | $ | 124 | $ | (46) | $ | 114 | |||||
| Goodwill impairments and other charges (c) | $ | (21) | $ | (4,194) | $ | (1,002) | |||||
| Derivative gains (losses), net (d) | $ | (252) | $ | 97 | $ | (184) |
(a)Results included significant items affecting comparability discussed in the footnotes below.
(b)The 2021 amount included a $102 million gain from the sale of 11.5 million limited partner units in WES. The 2020 amount represented a loss on the exchange of WES common units to retire a $260 million note. The 2019 amount represented a $114 million gain on the sale of an equity investment in Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. and Plains GP Holdings, L.P. (together, Plains).
(c)The 2020 amount included a $2.7 billion other-than-temporary impairment of the equity investment in WES and $1.4 billion of impairments related to the write-off of goodwill and a loss from an equity investment related to WES’ write-off of its goodwill. The 2019 amount included a $1 billion charge as a result of recording Occidental’s investment in WES at fair value as of December 31, 2019 upon the loss of control.
(d)The 2019 amount represented a $30 million mark-to-market gain on an interest rate swap for WES and other derivative mark-to-market activity.
Midstream and marketing segment results, excluding items affecting comparability, increased in 2021 compared to 2020, primarily due to improved marketing results from higher crude oil prices and higher sulfur prices at Al Hosn Gas.
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| 40 | OXY 2021 FORM 10-K |
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| MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
CORPORATE
Significant corporate items include the following:
| millions | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Items Affecting Comparability | |||||||||||
| Anadarko acquisition-related costs (a) | $ | (153) | $ | (339) | $ | (1,647) | |||||
| Bridge loan financing fees (a) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (122) | |||||
| Acquisition-related pension & termination benefits (a) | $ | — | $ | 114 | $ | 37 | |||||
| Interest rate swap gains (losses), net (b) | $ | 122 | $ | (428) | $ | 122 | |||||
| Early debt extinguishment expenses and other | $ | (118) | $ | — | $ | (22) | |||||
| Warrants gains, net (b) | $ | — | $ | 5 | $ | 81 |
(a)See Note 5 - Acquisitions, Divestitures and Other Transactions in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for more information.
(b)See Note 8 - Derivatives in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for more information.
INCOME TAXES
Total deferred tax assets, after valuation allowance, were $3.5 billion and $4.3 billion as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Occidental expects to realize the recorded deferred tax assets, net of any allowances, through future operating income and reversal of temporary differences. The total deferred tax liabilities were $10.5 billion and $11.4 billion as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The decrease in net deferred tax liability in 2021 compared to 2020 was primarily driven by the impact of lower capital spending and domestic asset impairments for which Occidental does not receive an immediate tax benefit, partially offset by the utilization of net operating losses and other tax attributes.
LEGAL ENTITY REORGANIZATION
In order to align Occidental’s legal entity structure with the nature of its business activities after completing the acquisition of Anadarko and subsequent large scale post-Acquisition divestiture program, management has undertaken a legal entity reorganization that is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2022.
As a result of this legal entity reorganization, management will make an adjustment to the tax basis in a portion of its operating assets, thus reducing Occidental’s deferred tax liabilities. Accordingly, in the first quarter of 2022, Occidental will record a one-time non-cash tax benefit that is currently estimated not to exceed $2.6 billion, in connection with this reorganization. The timing of any reduction in Occidental’s future cash taxes as a result of this legal entity reorganization will be dependent on a number of factors, including prevailing commodity prices, capital activity level and production mix. Occidental will complete its review of its tax basis calculations, fair value assessments and other information and will finalize the adjustment to its deferred tax liabilities during the first quarter of 2022.
WORLDWIDE EFFECTIVE TAX RATE
The following table sets forth the calculation of the worldwide effective tax rate for income from continuing operations:
| millions | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEGMENT RESULTS | |||||||||||
| Oil and gas | $ | 4,145 | $ | (9,632) | $ | 2,520 | |||||
| Chemical | 1,544 | 664 | 799 | ||||||||
| Midstream and marketing | 257 | (4,175) | 241 | ||||||||
| Unallocated corporate items | (2,241) | (2,562) | (3,206) | ||||||||
| Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes | $ | 3,705 | $ | (15,705) | $ | 354 | |||||
| Income tax benefit (expense) | |||||||||||
| Federal and state | (247) | 2,607 | 34 | ||||||||
| Foreign | (668) | (435) | (895) | ||||||||
| Total income tax benefit (expense) | (915) | 2,172 | (861) | ||||||||
| Income (loss) from continuing operations | $ | 2,790 | $ | (13,533) | $ | (507) | |||||
| Worldwide effective tax rate | 25 | % | 14 | % | 243 | % |
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| MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
In 2021, Occidental’s worldwide effective tax rate was 25%, which was higher than the U.S. statutory rate of 21% due to higher tax rates in the foreign jurisdictions in which Occidental operates, partially offset by the tax impact of business credits, state tax revaluations and other domestic tax benefits.
In 2020, Occidental’s worldwide effective tax rate was 14%, which was largely a result of the impairment of the WES goodwill and certain international assets for which Occidental received no tax benefit and higher-taxed international operations which generally caused Occidental’s tax rate to vary significantly from the U.S. corporate tax rate.
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE AND OTHER INCOME ITEMS
| millions | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net sales | $ | 25,956 | $ | 17,809 | $ | 20,911 | |||||
| Interest, dividends and other income | $ | 166 | $ | 118 | $ | 217 | |||||
| Gains (losses) on sale of assets, net | $ | 192 | $ | (1,666) | $ | 622 |
NET SALES
Price and volume changes generally represent the majority of the change in the oil and gas and chemical segments sales. Midstream and marketing sales generally represent the margins earned by the marketing business at it strives to optimize the use of its transportation, storage and terminal commitments to provide access to domestic and international markets and, to a lesser extent, NGL and sulfur revenues from the gas processing business.
The increase in net sales in 2021 compared to 2020 was primarily due to higher realized commodity prices, which were partially offset by lower oil volumes. Chemical sales increased primarily due to higher prices and volumes across all product lines, specifically PVC, VCM and caustic due to increased domestic demand and record high pricing in global markets. Midstream and marketing sales improved due to the rising crude oil price environment and its impact on export sales and higher realized sulfur prices at Al Hosn Gas.
GAINS (LOSSES) ON SALE OF ASSETS, NET
The 2021 gains on sales of assets, net, was primarily comprised of a gain from the sale of limited partner units of WES in the first quarter of 2021 as well as post-closing consideration earned on 2020 asset sales as a result of certain production and pricing targets being met. Losses on asset sales in 2020 included $820 million related to the sale of certain non-core, largely non-operated acreage in the Permian Basin, $440 million related to the sale of 4.5 million mineral acres and 1 million fee surface acres located in Wyoming, Colorado and Utah, $353 million related to the sale of the Colombia onshore assets and a loss of $46 million related to an exchange of 27.9 million WES limited partner units to retire a $260 million note payable to WES.
EXPENSE ITEMS
| millions | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil and gas operating expense | $ | 3,160 | $ | 3,065 | $ | 3,282 | |||||
| Transportation and gathering expense | $ | 1,419 | $ | 1,600 | $ | 635 | |||||
| Chemical and midstream cost of sales | $ | 2,772 | $ | 2,408 | $ | 2,791 | |||||
| Purchased commodities | $ | 2,308 | $ | 1,395 | $ | 1,679 | |||||
| Selling, general and administrative | $ | 863 | $ | 864 | $ | 893 | |||||
| Other operating and non-operating expense | $ | 1,065 | $ | 884 | $ | 1,421 | |||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | $ | 8,447 | $ | 8,097 | $ | 6,140 | |||||
| Asset impairments and other charges | $ | 304 | $ | 11,083 | $ | 1,361 | |||||
| Taxes other than on income | $ | 1,005 | $ | 622 | $ | 840 | |||||
| Anadarko Acquisition-related costs | $ | 153 | $ | 339 | $ | 1,647 | |||||
| Exploration expense | $ | 252 | $ | 132 | $ | 247 | |||||
| Interest and debt expense, net | $ | 1,614 | $ | 1,424 | $ | 1,066 |
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| MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
OIL AND GAS OPERATING EXPENSE
Oil and gas operating expense increased in 2021 from the prior year, primarily as a result of higher maintenance, support and workover costs in the Gulf of Mexico, including additional costs associated with platforms reaching the end of their useful life, as well as higher energy and purchase injectant costs in the Permian, partially offset by continued operational efficiencies which decreased down hole maintenance and workover and support costs in the Permian.
TRANSPORTATION AND GATHERING EXPENSE
Transportation and gathering expense decreased in 2021 from the prior year, primarily as a result of lower domestic oil and gas production volumes.
CHEMICAL AND MIDSTREAM COST OF SALES
Chemical and midstream cost of sales increased in 2021 from the prior year, primarily due to higher ethylene and energy costs in the chemical segment and higher energy costs in the midstream segment.
PURCHASED COMMODITIES
Purchased commodities increased in 2021 largely as a result of higher crude oil prices on third-party crude purchases related to the midstream and marketing segment.
OTHER OPERATING AND NON-OPERATING EXPENSE
Other operating and non-operating expense increased in 2021 from the prior year, primarily due to a net gain in 2020 related to the settlement, curtailment and special termination benefits on pension plans acquired in the Acquisition.
DEPRECIATION, DEPLETION AND AMORTIZATION
Depreciation, depletion and amortization (DD&A) expense increased in 2021 from the prior year, primarily due to higher DD&A rates primarily in the onshore U.S. domestic assets. As a result of Occidental's mid-year reserve review undertaken in the second quarter of 2021, DD&A rates for the second half of 2021 were lower compared to the first half of 2021 due to increased proved reserves primarily related to positive price revisions. Proved oil, NGL and natural gas reserves were estimated during this mid-year review using the unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month for the twelve months ended June 30, 2021, unless prices were defined by contractual arrangements.
ASSET IMPAIRMENTS AND OTHER CHARGES
In 2021, asset impairments and other charges of $304 million were mainly comprised of the impairment of undeveloped leases that either expired or were set to expire in the near-term where Occidental had no plans to pursue exploration activities. In 2020, asset impairments and other charges included pre-tax impairments of $4.5 billion primarily related to domestic onshore unproved acreage as well as $1.3 billion primarily related to other domestic onshore assets and the Gulf of Mexico. In addition there were $931 million of impairment and related charges associated with Occidental’s proved properties in Algeria to remeasure the Algeria oil and gas properties to their fair value. Also for the midstream and marketing segment, there were pre-tax impairment charges of $2.7 billion other-than-temporary impairment of the equity investment in WES and $1.2 billion of impairments related to the write-off of goodwill. In 2021, impairments included $276 million related to undeveloped leases that either expired or were set to expire in the near-term, where Occidental had no plans to pursue exploration activities.
TAXES OTHER THAN ON INCOME
Taxes other than on income in 2021 increased from the prior year, primarily due to higher production taxes, which are directly tied to higher commodity prices.
OTHER ITEMS
| Income (expense) millions | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gains (losses) on interest rate swaps and warrants | $ | 122 | $ | (423) | $ | 233 | |||||
| Income from equity investments | $ | 631 | $ | 370 | $ | 373 | |||||
| Income tax benefit (expense) | $ | (915) | $ | 2,172 | $ | (861) |
GAINS (LOSSES) ON INTEREST RATE SWAPS AND WARRANTS
Gains on interest rate swaps in 2021 were due to an increase in the floating reference rate of interest rate swaps.
INCOME FROM EQUITY INVESTMENTS
Income from equity investments in 2021 increased as a result of higher earnings from WES as income from equity earnings in 2020 included a loss of $240 million related to WES’s write-off of its goodwill.
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|---|---|
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| MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
INCOME TAX BENEFIT (EXPENSE)
Income tax expense increased in 2021 from the prior year, as a result of higher pre-tax income, which was primarily related to higher commodity prices.
LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET
Discontinued operations, net, primarily included a $437 million after-tax loss contingency associated with Occidental’s former operations in Ecuador, see Note - 13 Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part ii Item 8 of this Form 10-K for more information. In addition, discontinued operations, net was associated with operations in Ghana which were sold in October 2021.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
CASH ON HAND
As of December 31, 2021, Occidental had approximately $2.8 billion in cash and cash equivalents. A substantial majority of this cash is held and available for use in the United States.
SOURCES AND USES OF CASH
In the current commodity price environment, Occidental expects to fund its operational and capital requirements as well as return capital to its shareholders via an increase in common dividends and a reactivated share repurchase program with cash flows from operations. Sustained strength in commodity prices and the resultant cash flow generated will also allow Occidental to continue to strengthen its balance sheet by reducing debt and other financial obligations. Occidental currently expects its operational cash flows and cash on hand to be sufficient to meet its current debt maturities and other obligations for the next 12 months from the date of this filing. Should commodity prices return to their 2020 lows, Occidental’s $4.0 billion RCF, receivables securitization facility and access to capital markets are available to meet its ongoing capital needs, purchase obligations, near-term debt maturities and other liabilities and financial obligations, if required.
Occidental’s 2022 capital budget is $3.9 billion to $4.3 billion, of which only a small percentage is allocated to non-cancellable commitments.
As of December 31, 2021, Occidental had $101 million in current maturities of long-term debt through December 31, 2022, and an additional $465 million in long-term obligations due in 2023. The current maturities of long-term debt were paid in January 2022.
As of December 31, 2021, Occidental had $268 million in non-cancelable lease payments due in 2022, and an additional $212 million in non-cancelable lease payments due in 2023.
Dividends on common and preferred stock were $839 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Occidental is party to various purchase agreements that are not accounted for as leases or otherwise accrued as liabilities as of December 31, 2021. These agreements consist primarily of obligations to secure terminal, pipeline and processing capacity, purchase services used in the normal course of business including transporting and disposing of produced water, purchase goods used in the production of finished goods including certain chemical raw materials and power and agreements relating to equipment maintenance and service. The amounts that will be paid for such outstanding off-balance sheet purchase obligations as of December 31, 2021 are $3.0 billion in 2022, $4.3 billion in 2023 and 2024, $2.6 billion in 2025 and 2026 and $2.6 billion in 2027 and thereafter.
SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM
On February 10, 2022, the Board of Directors authorized a new share repurchase program with a maximum dollar limit of $3 billion and no set term limits, which supersedes the previously authorized share repurchase program.
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|---|---|---|
| MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
The following table summarizes and cross-references Occidental’s contractual obligations and indicates on- and off-balance sheet obligations as of December 31, 2021. Commitments related to held for sale assets are excluded.
| millions | Payments Due by Year | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 2022 | 2023 and 2024 | 2025 and 2026 | 2027 and thereafter | ||||||||||||||
| On-Balance Sheet | ||||||||||||||||||
| Current portion of long-term debt (Note 6) (a) | $ | 101 | $ | 101 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||
| Long-term debt (Note 6) (a) | 28,392 | — | 2,191 | 5,264 | 20,937 | |||||||||||||
| Expected interest payments on long-term debt | 17,087 | 1,448 | 2,835 | 2,513 | 10,291 | |||||||||||||
| Leases (Note 7) (b) | 1,560 | 268 | 393 | 297 | 602 | |||||||||||||
| Asset retirement obligations (Note 1) | 4,026 | 339 | 906 | 569 | 2,212 | |||||||||||||
| Other long-term liabilities (c) | 3,183 | 1 | 861 | 299 | 2,022 | |||||||||||||
| Off-Balance Sheet | ||||||||||||||||||
| Purchase obligations (d) | 12,463 | 3,033 | 4,291 | 2,571 | 2,568 | |||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 66,812 | $ | 5,190 | $ | 11,477 | $ | 11,513 | $ | 38,632 |
(a)Excluded unamortized debt discount and interest.
(b)Occidental is the lessee under various agreements for real estate, equipment, plants and facilities.
(c)Included long term obligations and current portions of long term obligations under postretirement benefits, accrued transportation commitments, ad valorem taxes and other accrued liabilities.
(d)Amounts included payments which will become due under long-term agreements to purchase goods and services used in the normal course of business to secure terminal, pipeline and processing capacity, CO2, electrical power, steam and certain chemical raw materials including but not limited to capital commitments. Amounts excluded certain product purchase obligations related to marketing activities for which there are no minimum purchase requirements or the amounts are not fixed or determinable. Long-term purchase contracts were discounted at a 4.99% discount rate.
DEBT ACTIVITY
Occidental recently completed its large scale asset divestiture program and used the net proceeds from asset sales and free cash flow to repay near and medium-term debt maturities. During 2021, through repayments and cash tenders Occidental reduced its face value of borrowings by $6.7 billion from $35.2 billion as of December 31, 2020, to $28.5 billion as of December 31, 2021.
In January 2022, Occidental used cash on hand to repay of $101 million in outstanding 2.600% senior notes due April 2022, which were called in December 2021. Subsequent to the repayment of this note, there are no remaining 2022 debt maturities.
In the fourth quarter of 2021, Occidental completed a cash tender offer for outstanding senior notes with a face value of $1.5 billion and maturities ranging from 2024 to 2049 and called and repaid $627 million of senior notes due 2022. In the third quarter of 2021, Occidental completed a cash tender for outstanding senior notes with a face value of $3.0 billion and maturities ranging from 2022 through 2026, paid $224 million of senior notes upon maturity and fully retired $1.1 billion of floating interest rate notes due August 2022. In the first quarter of 2021, Occidental repaid $174 million of debt upon maturity.
In December 2021, Occidental entered into the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement on its existing $5.0 billion RCF in which the total commitment was decreased to $4.0 billion, the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) benchmark was changed to SOFR, an environmental key performance indicator was added with regard to scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions from worldwide operated assets, making this a sustainability-linked loan, and the facility maturity date was extended to June 30, 2025. As of December 31, 2021, under the most restrictive covenants of its financing agreements, Occidental had substantial capacity for additional unsecured borrowings, the payment of cash dividends and other distributions on, or acquisitions of, Occidental common stock.
See Note 6 - Long-Term Debt in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for more information related to Occidental’s debt issuance and repayments.
GUARANTEES
Occidental has entered into various guarantees, indemnities and commitments provided by Occidental to third parties, mainly to provide assurance that Occidental or its consolidated subsidiaries or affiliates will meet their various obligations.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| OXY 2021 FORM 10-K | 45 |
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| MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
CASH FLOW ANALYSIS
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
| millions | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating cash flow from continuing operations | $ | 10,253 | $ | 3,842 | $ | 7,336 | |||||
| Operating cash flow from discontinued operations, net of taxes | 181 | 113 | 39 | ||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 10,434 | $ | 3,955 | $ | 7,375 |
Cash provided by operating activities increased in 2021 compared to 2020, primarily due to higher commodity prices, especially for oil, as average WTI and Brent prices increased by 72% and 64%, respectively. The chemical segment also generated substantial operating cash flows largely due to higher demand for most chemical products including caustic soda and PVC and higher pricing relative to 2020. The overall increase in operating cash flows was partially offset by an increase in working capital related to receivables, which increased largely as a result of higher commodity prices.
CASH USED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES
| millions | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital expenditures | |||||||||||
| Oil and gas | $ | (2,409) | $ | (2,208) | $ | (5,512) | |||||
| Chemical | (308) | (255) | (267) | ||||||||
| Midstream and marketing | (106) | (50) | (461) | ||||||||
| Corporate | (47) | (22) | (127) | ||||||||
| Total | $ | (2,870) | $ | (2,535) | $ | (6,367) | |||||
| Changes in capital accrual | 97 | (519) | (249) | ||||||||
| Purchase of businesses and assets, net | (431) | (114) | (28,088) | ||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of assets and equity investments, net | 1,624 | 2,281 | 6,143 | ||||||||
| Other investing activities, net | 406 | 109 | (291) | ||||||||
| Investing cash flows from continuing operations | $ | (1,174) | $ | (778) | $ | (28,852) | |||||
| Investing cash flows from discontinued operations | (79) | (41) | (175) | ||||||||
| Net cash used by investing activities | $ | (1,253) | $ | (819) | $ | (29,027) |
Cash flows used by investing activities increased by $434 million in 2021 compared to 2020. In 2020, Occidental reduced capital spending in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and targeted its capital spend in 2021 to maintain Q4 production and other maintenance capital for operating segments. Additionally, Occidental completed its major divestiture plans, reducing proceeds from asset sales year over year. See Note 5 - Acquisitions, Divestitures and Other Transactions in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for a listing of assets and equity investments sold in 2021, 2020 and 2019. In addition, Occidental received a $450 million return of investment from DEL, which is being presented in other investing activities, net, and acquired an additional working interests in certain assets in the Permian Basin and the Gulf of Mexico for approximately $360 million.
CASH PROVIDED (USED) BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
| millions | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financing cash flows from continuing operations | $ | (8,564) | $ | (4,508) | $ | 22,196 | |||||
| Financing cash flows from discontinued operations | (8) | (8) | (3) | ||||||||
| Net cash provided (used) by financing activities | $ | (8,572) | $ | (4,516) | $ | 22,193 |
Cash used by financing activities increased by $4.0 billion compared to 2020 primarily due to the 2021 debt tenders and repayments. See Note 6 - Long-Term Debt in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for more information related to Occidental’s debt issuance and repayments. In addition, cash used by financing activities reflected cash dividend payments of $839 million on preferred and common stock and $815 million paid in advance of the mandatory termination dates of interest rate swaps during the third quarter of 2021.
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|---|---|
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| MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
LAWSUITS, CLAIMS, COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
LEGAL MATTERS
Occidental or certain of its subsidiaries are involved, in the normal course of business, in lawsuits, claims and other legal proceedings that seek, among other things, compensation for alleged personal injury, breach of contract, property damage or other losses, punitive damages, civil penalties or injunctive or declaratory relief. Occidental or certain of its subsidiaries also are involved in proceedings under Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and similar federal, state, local and international environmental laws. These environmental proceedings seek funding or performance of remediation and, in some cases, compensation for alleged property damage, punitive damages, civil penalties and injunctive relief. Usually Occidental or such subsidiaries are among many companies in these environmental proceedings and have to date been successful in sharing response costs with other financially sound companies. Further, some lawsuits, claims and legal proceedings involve acquired or disposed assets with respect to which a third party or Occidental retains liability or indemnifies the other party for conditions that existed prior to the transaction.
In accordance with applicable accounting guidance, Occidental accrues reserves for outstanding lawsuits, claims and proceedings when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the liability can be reasonably estimated. Reserves for matters, other than for environmental remediation and the arbitration award disclosed below, that satisfy this criteria as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, were not material to Occidental’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
In 2016, Occidental received payments from the Republic of Ecuador of approximately $1.0 billion pursuant to a November 2015 arbitration award for Ecuador’s 2006 expropriation of Occidental’s Participation Contract for Block 15. The awarded amount represented a recovery of 60% of the value of Block 15. In 2017, Andes Petroleum Ecuador Ltd. (Andes) filed a demand for arbitration, claiming it is entitled to a 40% share of the judgment amount obtained by Occidental. Occidental contends that Andes is not entitled to any of the amounts paid under the 2015 arbitration award because Occidental’s recovery was limited to Occidental’s own 60% economic interest in the block. On March 26, 2021, the arbitration tribunal issued an award in favor of Andes and against Occidental Exploration and Production Company (OEPC) in the amount of $391 million plus interest. In June 2021, OEPC filed a motion to vacate the award due to concerns regarding the validity of the award. In addition, OEPC has made a demand for significant additional claims not addressed by the arbitration tribunal that OEPC has against Andes relating to Andes' 40% share of costs, liabilities, losses and expenses due under the farmout agreement and joint operating agreement to which Andes and OEPC are parties. In December 2021, the U.S. District Court Southern District of New York confirmed the arbitration award, plus prejudgment interest, in the aggregate amount of $558 million. OEPC has appealed the judgement.
In August 2019, Sanchez Energy Corporation and certain of its affiliates (Sanchez) filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. Sanchez is a party to agreements with Anadarko as a result of its 2017 purchase of Anadarko's Eagle Ford Shale assets. Sanchez attempted to reject some of the agreements related to the purchase of Anadarko’s Eagle Ford Shale assets (the Bankruptcy Litigation). If Sanchez was permitted to reject certain of those agreements, then Anadarko may owe deficiency payments to various third parties. In December 2021, Occidental and certain of its affiliates entered into an agreement to resolve the Bankruptcy Litigation. Occidental recorded a contingency reserve as of September 30, 2021, associated with the settlement.
If unfavorable outcomes of these matters were to occur, future results of operations or cash flows for any particular quarterly or annual period could be materially adversely affected. Occidental’s estimates are based on information known about the legal matters and its experience in contesting, litigating and settling similar matters. Occidental reassesses the probability and estimability of contingent losses as new information becomes available.
TAX MATTERS
During the course of its operations, Occidental is subject to audit by tax authorities for varying periods in various federal, state, local and international tax jurisdictions. Tax years through 2017 for U.S. federal income tax purposes have been audited by the IRS pursuant to its Compliance Assurance Program and subsequent taxable years are currently under review. Tax years through 2012 have been audited for state income tax purposes. Significant audit matters in international jurisdictions have been resolved through 2010. During the course of tax audits, disputes have arisen and other disputes may arise as to facts and matters of law.
For Anadarko, its taxable years through 2014 and tax year 2016 for U.S. federal tax purposes have been audited by the IRS. Tax years through 2008 have been audited for state income tax purposes. There is one outstanding significant tax matter in an international jurisdiction related to a discontinued operation. As stated above, during the course of tax audits, disputes have arisen and other disputes may arise as to facts and matters of law.
Other than the matter discussed below, Occidental believes that the resolution of these outstanding tax matters would not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position or results of operations.
Anadarko received an $881 million tentative refund in 2016 related to its $5.2 billion Tronox Adversary Proceeding settlement payment in 2015. In September 2018, Anadarko received a statutory notice of deficiency from the IRS disallowing the net operating loss carryback and rejecting Anadarko’s refund claim. As a result, Anadarko filed a petition with the U.S. Tax Court to dispute the disallowances in November 2018. The case was in the IRS appeals process until the second
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quarter of 2020; however, it has since been returned to the U.S. Tax Court, where a trial date has been set for July 2022 and Occidental expects to continue pursuing resolution.
In accordance with ASC 740’s guidance on the accounting for uncertain tax positions, Occidental has recorded no tax benefit on the tentative cash tax refund of $881 million. As a result, should Occidental not ultimately prevail on the issue, there would be no additional tax expense recorded relative to this position for financial statement purposes other than future interest. However, in that event, Occidental would be required to repay approximately $1 billion in federal taxes, $27 million in state taxes and accrued interest of $314 million. A liability for this amount plus interest is included in deferred credits and other liabilities-other.
INDEMNITIES TO THIRD PARTIES
Occidental, its subsidiaries, or both, have indemnified various parties against specified liabilities those parties might incur in the future in connection with purchases and other transactions that they have entered into with Occidental. These indemnities usually are contingent upon the other party incurring liabilities that reach specified thresholds. As of December 31, 2021, Occidental is not aware of circumstances that it believes would reasonably be expected to lead to indemnity claims that would result in payments materially in excess of reserves.
ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES AND EXPENDITURES
Occidental’s operations are subject to stringent federal, state, local and international laws and regulations related to improving or maintaining environmental quality. The laws that require or address environmental remediation, including CERCLA and similar federal, state, local and international laws, may apply retroactively and regardless of fault, the legality of the original activities or the current ownership or control of sites. Occidental or certain of its subsidiaries participate in or actively monitor a range of remedial activities and government or private proceedings under these laws with respect to alleged past practices at operating, closed and third-party sites. Remedial activities may include one or more of the following: investigation involving sampling, modeling, risk assessment or monitoring; cleanup measures including removal, treatment or disposal; or operation and maintenance of remedial systems. The environmental proceedings seek funding or performance of remediation and, in some cases, compensation for alleged property damage, punitive damages, civil penalties, injunctive relief and government oversight costs.
ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION
As of December 31, 2021, Occidental participated in or monitored remedial activities or proceedings at 165 sites. The following table presents Occidental’s current and non-current environmental remediation liabilities as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the current portion of which is included in accrued liabilities ($155 million in 2021 and $123 million in 2020) and the remainder in deferred credits and other liabilities - environmental remediation liabilities ($0.9 billion in 2021 and $1.0 billion in 2020).
Occidental’s environmental remediation sites are grouped into four categories: National Priorities List (NPL) sites listed or proposed for listing by the EPA on the CERCLA NPL and three categories of non-NPL sites — third-party sites, Occidental-operated sites and closed or non-operated Occidental sites.
| 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| millions, except number of sites | Number of Sites | Remediation Balance | Number of Sites | Remediation Balance | |||||||||
| NPL sites | 30 | $ | 427 | 35 | $ | 447 | |||||||
| Third-party sites | 69 | 273 | 69 | 293 | |||||||||
| Occidental-operated sites | 15 | 122 | 17 | 144 | |||||||||
| Closed or non-operated Occidental sites | 51 | 277 | 49 | 267 | |||||||||
| Total | 165 | $ | 1,099 | 170 | $ | 1,151 |
As of December 31, 2021, Occidental’s environmental liabilities exceeded $10 million each at 20 of the 165 sites described above and 96 of the sites had liabilities from $0 to $1 million each. As of December 31, 2021, two sites — the Maxus Energy Corporation (Maxus)-indemnified Diamond Alkali Superfund Site and a landfill in Western New York — accounted for 96% of its liabilities associated with NPL sites. 14 of the 30 NPL sites are indemnified by Maxus.
Five of the 69 third-party sites — a Maxus-indemnified chrome site in New Jersey, a former copper mining and smelting operation in Tennessee, a former oil field and a landfill in California and an active refinery in Louisiana where Occidental reimburses the current owner for certain remediation activities — accounted for 75% of Occidental’s liabilities associated with these sites. Nine of the 69 third-party sites are indemnified by Maxus.
Four sites — oil and gas operations in Colorado and chemical plants in Kansas, Louisiana and Texas — accounted for 69% of the liabilities associated with the Occidental-operated sites. Ten other sites — a landfill in Western New York, a
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former refinery in Oklahoma, former chemical plants in California, Delaware, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Tennessee and Washington, and a closed coal mine in Pennsylvania — accounted for 75% of the liabilities associated with closed or non-operated Occidental sites.
Environmental remediation liabilities vary over time depending on factors such as acquisitions or divestitures, identification of additional sites and remedy selection and implementation. Occidental recorded environmental remediation expenses of $28 million, $36 million and $112 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Environmental remediation expenses primarily relate to changes to existing conditions from past operations. Based on current estimates, Occidental expects to expend funds corresponding to approximately 40% of the year-end remediation balance over the next three to four years with the remainder over the subsequent 10 or more years. Occidental believes its range of reasonably possible additional losses beyond those amounts currently recorded for environmental remediation for all of its environmental sites could be up to $1.3 billion.
MAXUS ENVIRONMENTAL SITES
When Occidental acquired Diamond Shamrock Chemicals Company (DSCC) in 1986, Maxus, a subsidiary of YPF S.A., agreed to indemnify Occidental for a number of environmental sites, including the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site (Site) along a portion of the Passaic River. On June 17, 2016, Maxus and several affiliated companies filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Federal District Court in the State of Delaware. Prior to filing for bankruptcy, Maxus defended and indemnified Occidental in connection with clean-up and other costs associated with the sites subject to the indemnity, including the Site.
In March 2016, the EPA issued a Record of Decision (ROD) specifying remedial actions required for the lower 8.3 miles of the Lower Passaic River. The ROD does not address any potential remedial action for the upper nine miles of the Lower Passaic River or Newark Bay. During the third quarter of 2016, and following Maxus’s bankruptcy filing, Occidental and the EPA entered into an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) to complete the design of the proposed clean-up plan outlined in the ROD with an estimated cost of $165 million. The EPA announced that it will pursue similar agreements with other potentially responsible parties.
Occidental has accrued a reserve relating to its estimated allocable share of the costs to perform the design and remediation called for in the AOC and the ROD, as well as for certain other Maxus-indemnified sites. Occidental's accrued estimated environmental reserve does not consider any recoveries for indemnified costs. Occidental’s ultimate share of this liability may be higher or lower than the reserved amount, and is subject to final design plans and the resolution of Occidental's allocable share with other potentially responsible parties. Occidental continues to evaluate the costs to be incurred to comply with the AOC and the ROD and to perform remediation at other Maxus-indemnified sites in light of the Maxus bankruptcy and the share of ultimate liability of other potentially responsible parties. In June 2018, Occidental filed a complaint under CERCLA in Federal District Court in the State of New Jersey against numerous potentially responsible parties for reimbursement of amounts incurred or to be incurred to comply with the AOC and the ROD, or to perform other remediation activities at the Site.
In September 2021, the EPA issued a ROD with an estimated cost of $441 million for an interim remedy plan for the upper nine miles of the Lower Passaic River. At this time, Occidental’s role or responsibilities under this ROD, and those of other potentially responsible parties, have not been determined with the EPA. Discussions between Occidental and the EPA are ongoing about this ROD.
In June 2017, the court overseeing the Maxus bankruptcy approved a Plan of Liquidation (Plan) to liquidate Maxus and create a trust to pursue claims against current and former parents YPF and each of its respective subsidiaries and affiliates (YPF) and Repsol, S.A. and each of its respective subsidiaries and affiliates (Repsol), as well as others to satisfy claims by Occidental and other creditors for past and future cleanup and other costs. In July 2017, the court-approved Plan became final and the trust became effective. The trust is pursuing claims against YPF, Repsol and others and is expected to distribute assets to Maxus' creditors in accordance with the trust agreement and Plan. In June 2018, the trust filed its complaint against YPF and Repsol in Delaware bankruptcy court asserting claims based upon, among other things, fraudulent transfer and alter ego. During 2019, the bankruptcy court denied Repsol's and YPF's motions to dismiss the complaint as well as their motions to move the case away from the bankruptcy court. Discovery remains ongoing.
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ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS
Occidental’s environmental costs, some of which include estimates, are presented below for each segment for each of the years ended December 31:
| millions | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating Expenses | |||||||||||
| Oil and gas | $ | 267 | $ | 176 | $ | 174 | |||||
| Chemical | 88 | 73 | 80 | ||||||||
| Midstream and marketing | 6 | 4 | 12 | ||||||||
| Total | $ | 361 | $ | 253 | $ | 266 | |||||
| Capital Expenditures | |||||||||||
| Oil and gas | $ | 87 | $ | 74 | $ | 109 | |||||
| Chemical | 66 | 40 | 34 | ||||||||
| Midstream and marketing | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||||||||
| Total | $ | 154 | $ | 115 | $ | 147 | |||||
| Remediation Expenses | |||||||||||
| Corporate | $ | 28 | $ | 36 | $ | 112 |
Operating expenses are incurred on a continual basis. Capital expenditures relate to longer-lived improvements in properties currently operated by Occidental. Remediation expenses relate to existing conditions from past operations.
GLOBAL INVESTMENTS
A portion of Occidental’s assets are located outside North America. The following table shows the geographic distribution of Occidental’s assets as of December 31, 2021, at both the segment and consolidated level related to Occidental’s ongoing operations:
| millions | Oil and gas | Chemical | Midstream and marketing | Corporate and other | Total Consolidated | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | ||||||||||||||||||
| United States | $ | 51,805 | $ | 4,465 | $ | 7,761 | $ | 3,101 | $ | 67,132 | ||||||||
| Canada | — | 121 | 62 | — | 183 | |||||||||||||
| Middle East | 3,475 | — | 3,205 | — | 6,680 | |||||||||||||
| North Africa and Other | 852 | 85 | 104 | — | 1,041 | |||||||||||||
| Consolidated | $ | 56,132 | $ | 4,671 | $ | 11,132 | $ | 3,101 | $ | 75,036 |
For the year ended December 31, 2021, net sales outside North America totaled $4.2 billion, or approximately 16% of total net sales.
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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
The process of preparing financial statements in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) requires Occidental’s management to make informed estimates and judgments regarding certain items and transactions. Changes in facts and circumstances or discovery of new information may result in revised estimates and judgments and actual results may differ from these estimates upon settlement but generally not by material amounts. The selection and development of these policies and estimates have been discussed with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. Occidental considers the following to be its most critical accounting policies and estimates that involve management’s judgment.
OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES
The carrying value of Occidental’s property, plant and equipment (PP&E) represents the cost incurred to acquire or develop the asset, including any asset retirement obligations (AROs) and capitalized interest, net of DD&A and any impairment charges. For assets acquired in a business combination, PP&E cost is based on fair values at the acquisition date. AROs and interest costs incurred in connection with qualifying capital expenditures are capitalized and amortized over the useful lives of the related assets.
Occidental uses the successful efforts method to account for its oil and gas properties. Under this method, Occidental capitalizes costs of acquiring properties, costs of drilling successful exploration wells and development costs. The costs of exploratory wells are initially capitalized pending a determination of whether proved reserves have been found. If proved reserves have been found, the costs of exploratory wells remain capitalized. For exploratory wells that find reserves that cannot be classified as proved when drilling is completed, costs continue to be capitalized as suspended exploratory drilling costs if there have been sufficient reserves found to justify completion as a producing well and sufficient progress is being made in assessing the economic and operating viability of the project. At the end of each quarter, management reviews the status of all suspended exploratory drilling costs in light of ongoing exploration activities, in particular, whether Occidental is making sufficient progress in its ongoing exploration and appraisal efforts or, in the case of discoveries requiring government sanctioning, analyzing whether development negotiations are underway and proceeding as planned. If management determines that future appraisal drilling or development activities are unlikely to occur, associated suspended exploratory well costs are expensed.
Occidental expenses annual lease rentals, the costs of injectants used in production and geological and geophysical costs as incurred for exploration activities.
Occidental determines depreciation and depletion of oil and gas producing properties by the unit-of-production method. It amortizes leasehold acquisition costs over total proved reserves and capitalized development and successful exploration costs over proved developed reserves. As a result of Occidental's mid-year reserve review undertaken in the second quarter of 2021, DD&A rates for the second half of 2021 were lower compared to the first half of 2021 due to increased proved reserves primarily related to positive price revisions. Proved oil, NGL and natural gas reserves were estimated during this mid-year review using the unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month for the twelve months ended June 30, 2021, unless prices were defined by contractual arrangements.
Proved oil and gas reserves are those quantities of oil and gas which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible—from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations—prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation.
Several factors could change Occidental’s proved oil and gas reserves. For example, Occidental receives a share of production from PSCs to recover its costs and generally an additional share for profit. Occidental’s share of production and reserves from these contracts decreases when product prices rise and increases when prices decline. Generally, Occidental’s net economic benefit from these contracts is greater at higher product prices. In other cases, particularly with long-lived properties, lower product prices may lead to a situation where production of a portion of proved reserves becomes uneconomical. For such properties, higher product prices typically result in additional reserves becoming economical. Estimation of future production and development costs is also subject to change partially due to factors beyond Occidental’s control, such as energy costs and inflation or deflation of oil field service costs. These factors, in turn, could lead to changes in the quantity of proved reserves. Additional factors that could result in a change of proved reserves include production decline rates and operating performance differing from those estimated when the proved reserves were initially recorded. Changes in the political and regulatory climate could lead to decreases in proved reserves as development horizons may be extended into the future.
Occidental performs impairment tests with respect to its proved properties whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of property may not be recoverable. If there is an indication the carrying amount of the asset may not be recovered due to significant and prolonged declines in current and forward prices, significant changes in reserve estimates, changes in management’s plans or other significant events, management will evaluate the property for impairment. Under the successful efforts method, if the sum of the undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value of the proved property, the carrying value is reduced to estimated fair value and reported as an impairment charge in the
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period. Individual proved properties are grouped for impairment purposes at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows unless observable and comparable transactions are available. The fair value of impaired assets is typically determined based on the present value of expected future cash flows using discount rates believed to be consistent with those used by market participants. The impairment test incorporates a number of assumptions involving expectations of future cash flows which can change significantly over time. These assumptions include estimates of future production, product prices, contractual prices, estimates of risk-adjusted oil and gas proved and unproved reserves and estimates of future operating and development costs. It is reasonably possible that prolonged declines in commodity prices, reduced capital spending in response to lower prices or increases in operating costs could result in impairments.
For impairment testing, unless prices are contractually fixed, Occidental uses observable forward strip prices for oil and natural gas prices when projecting future cash flows. Future operating and development costs are estimated using the current cost environment applied to expectations of future operating and development activities to develop and produce oil and gas reserves. Market prices for oil, NGL and natural gas have been volatile and may continue to be volatile in the future. Changes in global supply and demand, transportation capacity, currency exchange rates, applicable laws and regulations and the effect of changes in these variables on market perceptions could impact current forecasts. Future fluctuations in commodity prices could result in estimates of future cash flows to vary significantly.
Net capitalized costs attributable to unproved properties were $14.8 billion as of December 31, 2021, and $18.6 billion as of December 31, 2020. The unproved amounts are not subject to DD&A until they are classified as proved properties. Individually insignificant unproved properties are combined and amortized on a group basis based on factors such as lease terms, success rates and other factors to provide for full amortization upon lease expiration or abandonment.
Significant unproved properties, primarily as a result of the Acquisition, are assessed individually for impairment and when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of property may not be recovered a valuation allowance is provided if an impairment is indicated. Occidental periodically reviews significant unproved properties for impairments; numerous factors are considered, including but not limited to, availability of funds for future exploration and development activities, current exploration and development plans, favorable or unfavorable exploration activity on the property or the adjacent property, geologists’ evaluation of the property, the current and projected political and regulatory climate, contractual conditions and the remaining lease term for the properties. If an impairment is indicated, Occidental will first determine whether a comparable transaction for similar properties or implied acreage valuation derived from domestic onshore market participants is available and will adjust the carrying amount of the unproved property to its fair value using the market approach. In situations where the market approach is not observable and unproved reserves are available, undiscounted future net cash flows used in the impairment analysis are determined based on managements’ risk adjusted estimates of unproved reserves, future commodity prices and future costs to produce the reserves. If undiscounted future net cash flows are less than the carrying value of the property, the future net cash flows are discounted and compared to the carrying value for determining the amount of the impairment loss to record. Occidental utilizes the same assumptions and methodology discussed above for cash flows associated with proved properties.
PROVED RESERVES
Occidental estimates its proved oil and gas reserves according to the definition of proved reserves provided by the SEC and Financial Accounting Standards Board. This definition includes oil, NGL and natural gas that geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be economically producible in future periods from known reservoirs under existing economic conditions, operating methods, government regulations, etc. (at prices and costs as of the date the estimates are made). Prices include consideration of price changes provided only by contractual arrangements and do not include adjustments based on expected future conditions. For reserves information, see the Supplemental Information on Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Activities under Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
Engineering estimates of the quantities of proved reserves are inherently imprecise and represent only approximate amounts because of the judgments involved in developing such information. Occidental’s estimates of proved reserves are made using available geological and reservoir data as well as production performance data. The reliability of these estimates at any point in time depends on both the quality and quantity of the technical and economic data and the efficiency of extracting and processing the hydrocarbons. These estimates are reviewed annually by internal reservoir engineers and revised, either upward or downward, as warranted by additional data. Revisions are necessary due to changes in, among other things, development plans, reservoir performance, prices, economic conditions and governmental restrictions as well as changes in the expected recovery associated with infill drilling. Decreases in prices, for example, may cause a reduction in some proved reserves due to reaching economic limits at an earlier projected date. A material adverse change in the estimated volume of proved reserves could have a negative impact on DD&A and could result in property impairments.
The most significant ongoing financial statement effect from a change in Occidental’s oil and gas reserves or impairment of its proved properties would be to the DD&A rate. For example, a 5% increase or decrease in the amount of oil and gas reserves would change the DD&A rate by approximately $0.65/Bbl, which would increase or decrease pre-tax income by approximately $275 million annually at current production rates.
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FAIR VALUES
Occidental estimates fair-value of long-lived assets for impairment testing, assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination or exchanged in non-monetary transactions, pension plan assets and initial measurements of AROs.
Accounting for the acquisition of a business requires the allocation of the purchase price to the various assets and liabilities of the acquired business and recording deferred taxes for any differences between the allocated values and tax basis of assets and liabilities. Any excess of the purchase price over the amounts assigned to assets and liabilities is recorded as goodwill. The purchase price allocation is accomplished by recording each asset and liability at its estimated fair value.
Occidental primarily applies the market approach for recurring fair value measurements, maximizes its use of observable inputs and minimizes its use of unobservable inputs. When estimating the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, Occidental must apply various assumptions.
FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
Occidental utilizes published prices or counterparty statements for valuing the majority of its financial assets and liabilities measured and reported at fair value. In addition to using market data, Occidental makes assumptions in valuing its assets and liabilities, including assumptions about the risks inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. For financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value, Occidental measures fair value using the following methods:
■Occidental values exchange-cleared commodity derivatives using closing prices provided by the exchange as of the balance sheet date. These derivatives are classified as using quoted prices in active markets for the assets or liabilities (Level 1).
■Over-the-Counter (OTC) bilateral financial commodity contracts, international exchange contracts, options and physical commodity forward purchase and sale contracts are generally classified as using observable inputs other than quoted prices for the assets or liabilities (Level 2) and are generally valued using quotations provided by brokers or industry-standard models that consider various inputs, including quoted forward prices for commodities, time value, volatility factors, credit risk and current market and contractual prices for the underlying instruments, as well as other relevant economic measures. Substantially all of these inputs are observable in the marketplace throughout the full term of the instrument and can be derived from observable data or are supported by observable prices at which transactions are executed in the marketplace.
■Occidental values commodity derivatives based on a market approach that considers various assumptions, including quoted forward commodity prices and market yield curves. The assumptions used include inputs that are generally unobservable in the marketplace or are observable but have been adjusted based upon various assumptions and the fair value is designated as using unobservable inputs (Level 3) within the valuation hierarchy.
■Occidental values debt using market-observable information for debt instruments that are traded on secondary markets. For debt instruments that are not traded, the fair value is determined by interpolating the value based on debt with similar terms and credit risk.
NON-FINANCIAL ASSETS
Occidental uses market-observable prices for assets when comparable transactions can be identified that are similar to the asset being valued. When Occidental is required to measure fair value and there is not a market-observable price for the asset or for a similar asset then the cost or income approach is used depending on the quality of information available to support management’s assumptions. The cost approach is based on management’s best estimate of the current asset replacement cost. The income approach is based on management’s best assumptions regarding expectations of future net cash flows and the expected cash flows are discounted using a commensurate risk-adjusted discount rate. Such evaluations involve significant judgment. The results are based on expected future events or conditions such as sales prices, estimates of future oil and gas production or throughput, development and operating costs and the timing thereof, economic and regulatory climates and other factors, most of which are often outside of management’s control. However, assumptions used reflect a market participant’s view of long-term prices, costs and other factors and are consistent with assumptions used in Occidental’s business plans and investment decisions.
ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES AND EXPENDITURES
Environmental expenditures that relate to current operations are expensed or capitalized as appropriate. Occidental records environmental liabilities and related charges and expenses for estimated remediation costs that relate to existing conditions from past operations when environmental remediation efforts are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. In determining the environmental remediation liability and the range of reasonably possible additional losses, Occidental refers to currently available information, including relevant past experience, remedial objectives, available technologies, applicable laws and regulations and cost-sharing arrangements. Occidental bases its environmental remediation liabilities on management’s estimate of the most likely cost to be incurred, using the most cost-effective technology reasonably expected to achieve the remedial objective. Occidental periodically reviews its environmental remediation liabilities and adjusts them as new information becomes available. Occidental generally records reimbursements or recoveries of environmental remediation costs in income when received, or when receipt of recovery is
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highly probable.
Many factors could affect Occidental’s future remediation costs and result in adjustments to its environmental remediation liabilities and the range of reasonably possible additional losses. The most significant are: (1) cost estimates for remedial activities may vary from the initial estimate; (2) the length of time, type or amount of remediation necessary to achieve the remedial objective may change due to factors such as site conditions, the ability to identify and control contaminant sources or the discovery of additional contamination; (3) a regulatory agency may ultimately reject or modify Occidental’s proposed remedial plan; (4) improved or alternative remediation technologies may change remediation costs; (5) laws and regulations may change remediation requirements or affect cost sharing or allocation of liability; and (6) changes in allocation or cost-sharing arrangements may occur.
Certain sites involve multiple parties with various cost-sharing arrangements, which fall into the following three categories: (1) environmental proceedings that result in a negotiated or prescribed allocation of remediation costs among Occidental and other alleged potentially responsible parties; (2) oil and gas ventures in which each participant pays its proportionate share of remediation costs reflecting its working interest; or (3) contractual arrangements, typically relating to purchases and sales of properties, in which the parties to the transaction agree to methods of allocating remediation costs. In these circumstances, Occidental evaluates the financial viability of other parties with whom it is alleged to be jointly liable, the degree of their commitment to participate and the consequences to Occidental of their failure to participate when estimating Occidental’s ultimate share of liability. Occidental records its environmental remediation liabilities at its expected net cost of remedial activities and, based on these factors, believes that it will not be required to assume a share of liability of such other potentially responsible parties in an amount materially above amounts reserved.
In addition to the costs of investigations and cleanup measures, which often take in excess of 10 years at CERCLA NPL sites, Occidental’s environmental remediation liabilities include management’s estimates of the costs to operate and maintain remedial systems. If remedial systems are modified over time in response to significant changes in site-specific data, laws, regulations, technologies or engineering estimates, Occidental reviews and adjusts its environmental remediation liabilities accordingly.
If Occidental were to adjust the balance of its environmental remediation liabilities based on the factors described above, the amount of the increase or decrease would be recognized in earnings. For example, if the balance were reduced by 10%, Occidental would record a pre-tax gain of $110 million. If the balance were increased by 10%, Occidental would record an additional remediation expense of $110 million.
INCOME TAXES
Occidental files various U.S. federal, state and foreign income tax returns. The impact of changes in tax regulations are reflected when enacted. In general, deferred federal, state and foreign income taxes are provided on temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Occidental routinely assesses the realizability of its deferred tax assets. If Occidental concludes that it is more likely than not that some of the deferred tax assets will not be realized, the tax asset is reduced by a valuation allowance. Occidental recognizes a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit recorded is equal to the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely to be realized through final settlement with a taxing authority. Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recognized in income tax expense (benefit). See Note 10 - Income Taxes in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
LOSS CONTINGENCIES
Occidental is involved, in the normal course of business, in lawsuits, claims and other legal proceedings and audits. Occidental accrues reserves for these matters when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the liability can be reasonably estimated. In addition, Occidental discloses, in aggregate, its exposure to loss in excess of the amount recorded on the balance sheet for these matters if it is reasonably possible that an additional material loss may be incurred. Occidental reviews its loss contingencies on an ongoing basis.
Loss contingencies are based on judgments made by management with respect to the likely outcome of these matters and are adjusted as appropriate. Management’s judgments could change based on new information, changes in, or interpretations of, laws or regulations, changes in management’s plans or intentions, opinions regarding the outcome of legal proceedings or other factors. See Note 13 - Lawsuits, Claims, Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional information.
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SAFE HARBOR DISCUSSION REGARDING OUTLOOK AND OTHER FORWARD-LOOKING DATA
Portions of this report contain 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. All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal and state securities laws, and they include, but are not limited to: any projections of earnings, revenue or other financial items or future financial position or sources of financing; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations or business strategy; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; any statements of belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Words such as “estimate,” “project,” “predict,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “believe,” “expect,” “aim,” “goal,” “target,” “objective,” "commit," "advance," “likely” or similar expressions that convey the prospective nature of events or outcomes are generally indicative of forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. Unless legally required, Occidental does not undertake any obligation to update, modify or withdraw any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Although Occidental believes that the expectations reflected in any of its forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results may differ from anticipated results, sometimes materially. In addition, historical, current and forward-looking sustainability-related statements may be based on standards for measuring progress that are still developing, internal controls and processes that continue to evolve and assumptions that are subject to change in the future. Factors that could cause results to differ from those projected or assumed in any forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to: the scope and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing actions taken by governmental authorities and other third parties in response to the pandemic; Occidental’s indebtedness and other payment obligations, including the need to generate sufficient cash flows to fund operations; Occidental’s ability to successfully monetize select assets and repay or refinance debt and the impact of changes in Occidental’s credit ratings; assumptions about energy markets; global and local commodity and commodity-futures pricing fluctuations; supply and demand considerations for, and the prices of, Occidental’s products and services; actions by OPEC and non-OPEC oil producing countries; results from operations and competitive conditions; future impairments of our proved and unproved oil and gas properties or equity investments, or write-downs of productive assets, causing charges to earnings; unexpected changes in costs; availability of capital resources, levels of capital expenditures and contractual obligations; the regulatory approval environment, including Occidental's ability to timely obtain or maintain permits or other governmental approvals, including those necessary for drilling and/or development projects; Occidental's ability to successfully complete, or any material delay of, field developments, expansion projects, capital expenditures, efficiency projects, acquisitions or dispositions; risks associated with acquisitions, mergers and joint ventures, such as difficulties integrating businesses, uncertainty associated with financial projections, projected synergies, restructuring, increased costs and adverse tax consequences; uncertainties and liabilities associated with acquired and divested properties and businesses; uncertainties about the estimated quantities of oil, NGL and natural gas reserves; lower-than-expected production from development projects or acquisitions; Occidental’s ability to realize the anticipated benefits from prior or future streamlining actions to reduce fixed costs, simplify or improve processes and improve Occidental’s competitiveness; exploration, drilling and other operational risks; disruptions to, capacity constraints in, or other limitations on the pipeline systems that deliver Occidental’s oil and natural gas and other processing and transportation considerations; general economic conditions, including slowdowns, domestically or internationally, and volatility in the securities, capital or credit markets; inflation; governmental actions, war and political conditions and events; legislative or regulatory changes, including changes relating to hydraulic fracturing or other oil and natural gas operations, retroactive royalty or production tax regimes, deep-water and onshore drilling and permitting regulations and environmental regulation (including regulations related to climate change); environmental risks and liability under federal, regional, state, provincial, tribal, local and international environmental laws and regulations (including remedial actions); Occidental's ability to recognize intended benefits from its business strategies and initiatives, such as OLCV or announced GHG emissions reduction targets or net-zero goals; potential liability resulting from pending or future litigation; disruption or interruption of production or manufacturing or facility damage due to accidents, chemical releases, labor unrest, weather, power outages, natural disasters, cyber-attacks or insurgent activity; the creditworthiness and performance of Occidental's counterparties, including financial institutions, operating partners and other parties; failure of risk management; Occidental’s ability to retain and hire key personnel; supply, transportation, and labor constraints; reorganization or restructuring of Occidental’s operations; changes in state, federal or international tax rates; and actions by third parties that are beyond Occidental's control.
Additional information concerning these and other factors that may cause Occidental’s results of operations and financial position to differ from expectations can be found in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Form 10-K, as well as in Occidental’s other filings with the SEC, including Occidental’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.
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| OXY 2021 FORM 10-K | 55 |
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| QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES |