MURPHY OIL CORP (MUR)
SIC breadcrumb: Mining > SIC Major Group 13 > SIC 1311 Crude Petroleum & Natural Gas
SEC company page: https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=717423. Latest filing source: 0001628280-26-011709.
Informational only - descriptive public-record data, not investment advice.
Business
Read MUR's verbatim Item 1 Business section from its latest 10-K: Business.
Risk Factors
Read MUR's verbatim Item 1A Risk Factors from its latest 10-K: Risk Factors.
Selected Fundamentals
| Metric | Value | Unit | FY | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 2,718,823,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-02-25 |
| Net income | 104,234,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-02-25 |
| Assets | 9,832,626,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-02-25 |
Financials
Annual standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-02-25. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0000717423.json. Derived margins, ratios, and free cash flow are computed from the extracted annual SEC facts.
| Metric | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 1,811,238,000 | 1,443,988,000 | 1,791,401,000 | 2,829,053,000 | 1,967,341,000 | 2,299,281,000 | 3,932,662,000 | 3,460,147,000 | 3,028,474,000 | 2,718,823,000 | ||
| Net income | -275,970,000 | -311,789,000 | 411,094,000 | 1,149,732,000 | -1,148,777,000 | -73,664,000 | 965,047,000 | 661,559,000 | 407,171,000 | 104,234,000 | ||
| Operating income | -388,903,000 | -26,319,000 | 215,587,000 | 445,293,000 | -1,362,309,000 | 281,435,000 | 1,586,710,000 | 1,042,029,000 | 602,593,000 | 301,237,000 | ||
| Diluted EPS | -1.60 | -1.81 | 2.36 | 6.98 | -7.48 | -0.48 | 6.13 | 4.22 | 2.70 | 0.72 | ||
| Operating cash flow | 3,048,639,000 | 1,183,369,000 | 600,795,000 | 1,129,675,000 | 802,708,000 | 1,422,163,000 | 2,180,244,000 | 1,748,755,000 | 1,728,990,000 | 1,247,808,000 | ||
| Dividends paid | 206,635,000 | 172,565,000 | 173,044,000 | 163,669,000 | 95,989,000 | 77,204,000 | 128,219,000 | 170,978,000 | 179,961,000 | 186,205,000 | ||
| Share buybacks | 250,000,000 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 499,924,000 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 150,022,000 | 301,350,000 | 102,620,000 | ||
| Assets | 10,295,860,000 | 9,860,900,000 | 11,052,600,000 | 11,718,500,000 | 10,620,900,000 | 10,304,900,000 | 10,309,000,000 | 9,766,700,000 | 9,667,479,000 | 9,832,626,000 | ||
| Liabilities | 5,854,945,000 | 5,913,893,000 | 6,226,705,000 | 5,984,144,000 | 5,160,059,000 | 4,217,044,000 | 4,325,636,000 | 4,595,929,000 | ||||
| Stockholders' equity | 4,916,679,000 | 4,620,191,000 | 4,829,299,000 | 5,467,460,000 | 4,214,337,000 | 4,157,311,000 | 4,994,774,000 | 5,362,794,000 | 5,194,250,000 | 5,118,380,000 | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 872,797,000 | 964,988,000 | 359,923,000 | 306,760,000 | 310,606,000 | 521,184,000 | 491,963,000 | 317,074,000 | 423,569,000 | 377,196,000 |
Ratios
| Metric | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net margin | -15.24% | -21.59% | 22.95% | 40.64% | -58.39% | -3.20% | 24.54% | 19.12% | 13.44% | 3.83% | ||
| Operating margin | -21.47% | -1.82% | 12.03% | 15.74% | -69.25% | 12.24% | 40.35% | 30.12% | 19.90% | 11.08% | ||
| Return on equity | -5.61% | -6.75% | 8.51% | 21.03% | -27.26% | -1.77% | 19.32% | 12.34% | 7.84% | 2.04% | ||
| Return on assets | -2.68% | -3.16% | 3.72% | 9.81% | -10.82% | -0.71% | 9.36% | 6.77% | 4.21% | 1.06% | ||
| Liabilities / equity | 1.21 | 1.08 | 1.48 | 1.44 | 1.03 | 0.79 | 0.83 | 0.90 | ||||
| Current ratio | 1.04 | 1.64 | 1.04 | 1.03 | 1.40 | 0.76 | 0.77 | 0.89 | 0.83 | 0.77 |
Industry Peer Context
Net margin peer context
Operating margin peer context
ROE peer context
ROA peer context
Financial Charts
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001628280-26-011709; filed 2026-02-25. Concept: Revenues. Source concepts: us-gaap:Revenues.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001628280-26-011709; filed 2026-02-25. Concept: NetIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001628280-26-011709; filed 2026-02-25. Concept: OperatingIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:OperatingIncomeLoss.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001628280-26-011709; filed 2026-02-25. Concept: EarningsPerShareDiluted. Source concepts: us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001628280-26-011709; filed 2026-02-25. Concept: NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001628280-26-011709; filed 2026-02-25. Concept: PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001628280-26-011709; filed 2026-02-25. Concept: PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001628280-26-011709; filed 2026-02-25. Concept: Assets. Source concepts: us-gaap:Assets.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001628280-26-011709; filed 2026-02-25. Concept: Liabilities. Source concepts: us-gaap:Liabilities.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001628280-26-011709; filed 2026-02-25. Concept: StockholdersEquity. Source concepts: us-gaap:StockholdersEquity.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001628280-26-011709; filed 2026-02-25. Concept: CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue. Source concepts: us-gaap:CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue.
Quarterly
Quarterly standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-05-06. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0000717423.json.
| Quarter | End Date | Revenue | Net Income | Diluted EPS | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-Q2 | 2022-06-30 | 2.23 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2022-Q3 | 2022-09-30 | 3.36 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q1 | 2023-03-31 | 1.22 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q2 | 2023-06-30 | 814,588,000 | 98,286,000 | 0.62 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2023-Q3 | 2023-09-30 | 959,645,000 | 255,342,000 | 1.63 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2023-Q4 | 2023-12-31 | 844,198,000 | 116,286,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2024-Q1 | 2024-03-31 | 796,412,000 | 90,002,000 | 0.59 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2024-Q2 | 2024-06-30 | 802,771,000 | 127,739,000 | 0.83 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2024-Q3 | 2024-09-30 | 758,331,000 | 139,094,000 | 0.93 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2024-Q4 | 2024-12-31 | 670,960,000 | 50,336,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2025-Q1 | 2025-03-31 | 665,711,000 | 73,036,000 | 0.50 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q2 | 2025-06-30 | 695,570,000 | 22,280,000 | 0.16 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q3 | 2025-09-30 | 732,985,000 | -2,973,000 | -0.02 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q4 | 2025-12-31 | 624,557,000 | 11,891,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2026-Q1 | 2026-03-31 | 733,552,000 | 52,986,000 | 0.37 | reported discrete quarter |
Quarterly Charts
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-03-31; accession 0001628280-26-031370; filed 2026-05-06. Concept: Revenues. Source concepts: us-gaap:Revenues.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-03-31; accession 0001628280-26-031370; filed 2026-05-06. Concept: NetIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-03-31; accession 0001628280-26-031370; filed 2026-05-06. Concept: EarningsPerShareDiluted. Source concepts: us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted.
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: 0001628280-26-031370.
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) should be read together with the unaudited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 included under “Item 1. Financial Statements” of this Form 10-Q and the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes and MD&A included in Item 8 and 7, respectively, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. This MD&A includes forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties. See “Forward-Looking Statements” at the end of this section.
Overview
Murphy is an independent oil and natural gas company with a multi-basin onshore and offshore portfolio and significant exploration opportunities. The Company boasts over a century of strong execution and innovative, full-cycle development capabilities, with a focus on value creation to enhance shareholder returns. The Company’s current operations include inventory located onshore in the Eagle Ford Shale, Tupper Montney and Kaybob Duvernay, as well as offshore in the Gulf of America and Canada. Murphy also strives to create long-term shareholder value through offshore exploration and development in the Gulf of America, Vietnam and Côte d’Ivoire.
The analysis and discussion in this section includes amounts attributable to the noncontrolling interest in MP GOM, unless otherwise noted.
Significant Company financial and operational highlights during the first quarter of 2026 were as follows:
•Increased production to 180,053 barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) per day (including NCI), up from 163,374 BOE per day in the first quarter of 2025;
•Drilled oil discoveries at Cello #1 (Mississippi Canyon 385) and Banjo #1 (Mississippi Canyon 385) exploration wells in the Gulf of America, and announced dry holes at Civette-1X (Block CI-502) and Caracal-1X (Block CI-102) in Côte d’Ivoire;
•Issued $500.0 million of 6.50% senior notes due 2034 (2034 Notes) and used proceeds to redeem an aggregate $227.5 million of senior notes due in 2027 and 2028;
•Upsized senior unsecured revolving credit facility from $1.35 billion to $2.0 billion and extended maturity from 2029 to 2031;
•Increased the quarterly cash dividend to $0.35 per share, which on an annualized basis would be $1.40 per share.
Subsequent to the first quarter, the Company’s offer for four exploration blocks in offshore Cameroon was accepted, with finalization of the terms pending further discussions with the Republic of Cameroon.
Murphy Oil Corporation’s net income from continuing operations, including noncontrolling interest, for the three months ended March 31, 2026, was $69.2 million compared to net income of $90.1 million for the same period in 2025. The results for 2026 were impacted by higher exploration expense ($68.3 million), higher depreciation, depletion and amortization expenses (DD&A) ($60.2 million), and higher income tax expense ($17.2 million) and were partially offset by higher revenues from production ($59.6 million), lower lease operating expenses ($61.6 million), and lower losses from derivative instruments ($9.5 million).
Higher exploration expenses in the current quarter were largely driven by higher dry hole costs related to the Civette-1X (Block CI-502) and Caracal-1X (Block CI-102) exploration wells in Côte d’Ivoire, both of which encountered non-commercial hydrocarbons. Higher DD&A in the current quarter is primarily due to higher sales volumes onshore U.S. and onshore Canada, as well as higher rates in the Gulf of America, and was partially offset by lower sales volumes offshore U.S. and offshore Canada. Higher income tax expense was primarily due to higher revenues and lower lease operating expenses during the period. In addition, certain exploration expenses did not reduce income tax expense as they were in foreign jurisdictions where no income tax benefits are currently available. Higher volumes in the Eagle Ford Shale and onshore Canada were the primary contributors to higher revenues for the period and were partially offset by lower volumes in other segments. Higher realized prices onshore U.S. and both onshore and offshore Canada also contributed to the increase but were partially offset by lower realized prices offshore U.S. Lower lease operating expenses are due to lower
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)
Overview (Continued)
workover costs in the current quarter. Lower losses from derivative instruments were due to having no open derivative contracts during the first quarter of 2026.
For the three months ended March 31, 2026, total hydrocarbon production was 180,053 barrels of oil equivalent per day, an increase of 10% compared to the first quarter of 2025. The increase was principally due to higher production in the Eagle Ford Shale and Tupper Montney, partially offset by lower offshore production in the Gulf of America. Higher production in the Eagle Ford Shale and Canada Onshore was primarily the result of new wells online in the current year at Karnes and Catarina in the U.S., and at Tupper Montney in Canada. Lower offshore U.S. production was primarily attributable to planned turnarounds at several fields and was partially offset by wells back online from workover downtime in 2025.
Murphy’s continuing operations generate revenues through the production and sale of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids in the United States and Canada. Changes in the price of crude oil and natural gas have a significant impact on the profitability of the Company. In order to make a profit and generate cash in its exploration and production business, revenue generated from the sales of oil and natural gas produced must exceed the combined costs of producing these products and expenses related to exploration, administration and capital borrowing from lending institutions and note holders. International conflicts and geopolitical uncertainty surrounding domestic and foreign governmental regulations, including effects of trade policies, tariffs and other trade restrictions, can affect the demand for crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids, as well as the cost of oil field goods and services.
At March 31, 2026, the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures price were $82.75 per barrel, whereas the crude oil futures price at the end of April 2026 was $90.56, reflecting a 9% increase in price. As of May 4, 2026 closing, the NYMEX WTI forward curve price for the remainder of 2026 was $93.58 per barrel. Changes in commodity prices will directly affect the Company’s future profits and operating cash flows.
Results of Operations
Murphy’s Net income (loss) by type of business and geographic segment is presented below:
| Income (Loss) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||
| (Millions of dollars) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||
| Exploration and production | ||||||||||
| United States | $ | 156.6 | $ | 107.9 | ||||||
| Canada | 31.7 | 41.5 | ||||||||
| Other | (82.7) | (11.2) | ||||||||
| Total exploration and production | 105.6 | 138.2 | ||||||||
| Corporate and other | (36.4) | (48.2) | ||||||||
| Income from continuing operations | 69.2 | 90.0 | ||||||||
| Discontinued operations, net of tax 1 | (0.5) | (0.6) | ||||||||
| Net income including noncontrolling interest | 68.7 | 89.4 | ||||||||
| Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest | 15.7 | 16.4 | ||||||||
| Net income attributable to Murphy | $ | 53.0 | $ | 73.0 |
1 The Company has presented its former U.K., Malaysia and U.S. refining and marketing operations as discontinued operations in its consolidated financial statements.
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Table of Contents
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)
Results of Operations (Continued)
Exploration and Production Continuing Operations
The following section of Exploration and Production (E&P) continuing operations excludes the Corporate segment unless otherwise noted.
The following is a summarized statement of operations for E&P continuing operations:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||
| Revenues and other income | ||||||||||
| Revenue from production | $ | 732.4 | $ | 672.7 | ||||||
| Other income | 1.2 | 2.5 | ||||||||
| Total revenues and other income | 733.6 | 675.2 | ||||||||
| Costs and expenses | ||||||||||
| Lease operating expenses | 143.5 | 205.1 | ||||||||
| Severance and ad valorem taxes | 13.7 | 8.7 | ||||||||
| Transportation, gathering and processing | 47.1 | 48.9 | ||||||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 252.0 | 191.8 | ||||||||
| Accretion of asset retirement obligations | 14.4 | 14.0 | ||||||||
| Exploration expenses, including undeveloped lease amortization | 82.8 | 14.5 | ||||||||
| Selling and general expenses | 15.1 | 9.9 | ||||||||
| Other | 6.2 | 4.8 | ||||||||
| Results of operations before taxes | 158.8 | 177.5 | ||||||||
| Income tax provisions | 53.2 | 39.3 | ||||||||
| Results of operations (excluding Corporate segment) 1 | $ | 105.6 | $ | 138.2 |
1 Includes results attributable to a noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
25
Table of Contents
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)
Results of Operations (Continued)
Pricing
The following table contains the weighted average sales prices for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2026 and 2025:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Weighted average sales prices) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||
| Crude oil and condensate – dollars per barrel | ||||||||||
| United States - Onshore | $ | 73.44 | $ | 71.65 | ||||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 70.97 | 72.32 | ||||||||
| Canada - Onshore 2 | 65.89 | 63.34 | ||||||||
| Canada - Offshore 2 | 78.19 | 74.36 | ||||||||
| Other 2 | 71.04 | — | ||||||||
| Natural gas liquids – dollars per barrel | ||||||||||
| United States - Onshore | 17.60 | 23.16 | ||||||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 16.45 | 27.02 | ||||||||
| Canada - Onshore 2 | 27.73 | 36.08 | ||||||||
| Natural gas – dollars per thousand cubic feet | ||||||||||
| United States - Onshore | 3.74 | 3.38 | ||||||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 5.68 | 4.33 | ||||||||
| Canada - Onshore 2 | 2.44 | 2.38 |
1 Prices include the effect of noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
2 U.S. dollar equivalent.
The following table contains benchmark prices relevant to the Company for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2026 and 2025:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Average price for the period) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||
| Oil and NGLs | ||||||||||
| WTI ($/BBL) | $ | 71.93 | $ | 71.42 | ||||||
| Natural gas | ||||||||||
| NYMEX ($/MMBTU) | 4.87 | 4.27 | ||||||||
| AECO (C$/MCF) | 2.01 | 2.17 |
26
Table of Contents
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)
Results of Operations (Continued)
Production Volumes
The following table contains hydrocarbons produced during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2026 and 2025. For further discussion on volumes, please see the “Revenues from Production” section on page 29.
[[GREPCENT_TABLE]]
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[Excerpt truncated for page length; source filing is linked above.]
Latest 10-K MD&A
Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) should be read together with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements, which are included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This MD&A includes forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties. See “Forward-Looking Statements” at the end of this section and “Risk Factors” under Item 1A. Discussion and analysis of 2023 results and year-over-year comparisons between 2024 and 2023 are not included in this Form 10-K and can be found in “Item 7” of the 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K available via the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on our website at www.murphyoilcorp.com.
Murphy Oil Corporation is a worldwide oil and natural gas E&P company with both onshore and offshore operations and properties. The Company produces oil and natural gas primarily in the U.S. and Canada and explores for crude oil, natural gas and NGLs in targeted areas worldwide. A more detailed description of the Company’s significant assets can be found in “Item 1” of this Form 10-K report.
The analysis and discussion in this section includes amounts attributable to a noncontrolling interest (NCI) in MP GOM, unless otherwise noted.
Significant Company financial and operational highlights during 2025 were as follows:
•Generated net income of $138.8 million ($104.2 million excluding NCI) and net cash provided by operating activities of $1,247.8 million;
•Produced 189 thousand BOEPD (182 thousand BOEPD excluding NCI);
•Repurchased 3.6 million shares of common stock under the share repurchase program for $100.0 million ($100.8 million including excise taxes and fees) under the capital allocation plan1;
•Achieved 101% (103% excluding NCI) total proved reserve replacement with year-end proved reserves of 730.0 million MMBOE (715.0 MMBOE excluding NCI);
•Closed the strategic acquisition of the Pioneer floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) in the Gulf of America for a gross purchase price of $125.0 million; and
•Drilled oil discoveries at the Lac Da Hong-1X (Pink Camel), Block 15-1/05 and Hai Su Vang-1X (Golden Sea Lion), Block 15-2/17 exploration wells in Vietnam.
Subsequent to year end:
•Issued $500.0 million of 6.50% senior notes due in 2034 and used proceeds to redeem an aggregate $227.5 million of senior notes due in 2027 and 2028;
•Upsized senior unsecured revolving credit facility from $1.35 billion to $2.00 billion and extended maturity from 2029 to 2031;
•Drilled oil discoveries at Cello #1 (Mississippi Canyon 385) and Banjo #1 (Mississippi Canyon 385) exploration wells in the Gulf of America, and announced a dry hole at Civette-1X (Block CI-502) and Caracal-1X (Block CI-102) in Côte d’Ivoire; and
•Increased the quarterly cash dividend to $0.35 per share, which on an annualized basis would be $1.40 per share.
1 Details of the capital allocation plan can be found as part of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 4, 2022 and Form 8-K filed on August 8, 2024. The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program whereby the Company can repurchase up to $1,100.0 million of the Company’s common stock.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Murphy’s continuing operations generate revenue by producing oil and natural gas in the U.S. and Canada and then selling these products to customers. The Company’s revenue is affected by the prices of oil and natural gas. In order to make a profit and generate cash in its E&P business, revenue generated from the sales of oil and natural gas produced must exceed the combined costs of producing these products and expenses related to exploration, administration and capital borrowing from lending institutions and note holders.
For the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company’s net income from continuing operations was $138.3 million, a decrease of $351.0 million compared to 2024. Lower net income from continuing operations was largely driven by lower revenues and other income ($309.7 million), higher depreciation, depletion and amortization expense (DD&A) ($112.0 million), higher other losses ($93.2 million), higher impairment expense ($52.1 million) and higher selling and general expenses ($27.2 million). These items were partially offset by lower lease operating expenses ($171.7 million), lower income tax expense ($33.7 million), and lower exploration expenses ($21.9 million).
Lower revenues from production were primarily driven by lower average oil prices and lower volumes in the Gulf of America due to downtime and the natural decline of new wells, and was partially offset by increased production in the Eagle Ford Shale due to new wells and improved performance, as well as higher realized natural gas prices in Canada, at the Tupper Montney. Higher DD&A was primarily due to increased production and higher rates in the Eagle Ford Shale, and higher rates in the Gulf of America, and was partially offset by lower production in the Gulf of America. Higher other losses were mainly due to unrealized losses on foreign exchange related to our Canada business and were partially offset by lower interest expenses due to no debt repayment fees in the current year. Impairment expense of $115.0 million in 2025 was related to the impairment of the Dalmatian property due to reserve reductions, as certain projects in the field were less competitive for capital allocation. Higher selling and general expenses were due to higher salary and compensation costs in 2025. Lower lease operating expenses were due to lower workovers in the current year, combined with lower operating costs related to the purchase of the Pioneer FPSO. Lower income tax expense was primarily attributable to lower taxable income and was partially offset by the non-recurrence of an income tax deduction that occurred in 2024 relating to prior years’ Australian exploration spend. Lower exploration expenses were due to lower dry hole costs in the current period, which related to the Civette-1X (Block CI-502) exploration well in Côte d’Ivoire, and was partially offset by higher exploration, geological, geophysical and other costs related to the Company’s U.S. Offshore and Côte d’Ivoire exploration programs.
For the year ended December 31, 2025, total hydrocarbon production was 188,682 BOEPD, an increase of 2% compared to 2024. The increase was principally due to higher production in the Eagle Ford Shale and Canada Onshore and was partially offset by lower production in the Gulf of America. Increased production in the Eagle Ford Shale was driven primarily by the performance of new wells online in the current year at Karnes and Catarina. Higher production in Canada Onshore related to better well performance at the Tupper Montney. Lower production in the Gulf of America related to planned and unplanned downtime and was partially offset by new wells online.
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Results of Operations
Murphy’s Net income (loss) by type of business and geographic segment is presented below:
| (Millions of dollars) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exploration and production | ||||||||||
| United States | $ | 308.5 | $ | 561.9 | $ | 905.1 | ||||
| Canada | 54.8 | 49.0 | 41.6 | |||||||
| Other International | (66.6) | (12.5) | (65.5) | |||||||
| Total exploration and production | 296.7 | 598.4 | 881.2 | |||||||
| Corporate and other | (158.4) | (109.1) | (156.0) | |||||||
| Income from continuing operations | 138.3 | 489.3 | 725.2 | |||||||
| Income (loss) from discontinued operations 1 | 0.5 | (2.8) | (1.5) | |||||||
| Net income including noncontrolling interest | 138.8 | 486.5 | 723.7 | |||||||
| Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest | 34.6 | 79.3 | 62.1 | |||||||
| Net income attributable to Murphy | $ | 104.2 | $ | 407.2 | $ | 661.6 |
1 The Company has presented its former U.K. and U.S. refining and marketing operations as discontinued operations in its consolidated financial statements.
E&P Continuing Operations: 2025 vs 2024
The following section of E&P continuing operations excludes the Corporate segment, unless otherwise noted.
Please also refer to “Schedule 6 – Results of Operations for Oil and Natural Gas Producing Activities” in the Supplemental Oil and Natural Gas Information section for additional supporting tables.
The following is a summarized statement of operations for E&P continuing operations.
| (Millions of dollars) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenues and other income | ||||||||||
| Revenue from production | $ | 2,689.8 | $ | 3,014.9 | $ | 3,376.6 | ||||
| Sales of purchased natural gas | — | 3.7 | 72.2 | |||||||
| Gain on sale of assets and other operating income | 17.6 | 6.0 | 8.0 | |||||||
| Total revenues and other income | 2,707.4 | 3,024.6 | 3,456.8 | |||||||
| Costs and Expenses | ||||||||||
| Lease operating expenses | 765.2 | 937.0 | 784.4 | |||||||
| Severance and ad valorem taxes | 39.2 | 39.2 | 42.8 | |||||||
| Transportation, gathering and processing | 199.7 | 210.8 | 233.0 | |||||||
| Costs of purchased natural gas | — | 3.1 | 51.7 | |||||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 969.4 | 856.9 | 850.5 | |||||||
| Impairments of assets | 115.0 | 62.9 | — | |||||||
| Accretion of asset retirement obligations | 57.6 | 52.4 | 46.0 | |||||||
| Total exploration expenses, including undeveloped lease amortization | 111.7 | 133.5 | 234.8 | |||||||
| Selling and general expenses | 46.2 | 23.8 | 37.7 | |||||||
| Other | 16.5 | 0.3 | 56.9 | |||||||
| Results of operations before taxes | 386.9 | 704.7 | 1,119.0 | |||||||
| Income tax expense | 90.2 | 106.3 | 237.8 | |||||||
| Results of operations (excluding Corporate segment) 1 | $ | 296.7 | $ | 598.4 | $ | 881.2 |
1 Includes results attributable to the noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Pricing
The following table contains the weighted average sales prices for the three years ended December 31, 2025:
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude oil and condensate – dollars per barrel | ||||||||||
| United States - Onshore | $ | 64.59 | $ | 75.77 | $ | 76.96 | ||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 65.69 | 76.36 | 77.38 | |||||||
| Canada - Onshore 2 | 57.16 | 67.49 | 72.84 | |||||||
| Canada - Offshore 2 | 68.77 | 82.22 | 84.20 | |||||||
| Other 2 | 69.26 | 77.59 | 86.60 | |||||||
| Natural gas liquids – dollars per barrel | ||||||||||
| United States - Onshore | 19.38 | 20.20 | 19.69 | |||||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 20.40 | 23.37 | 21.94 | |||||||
| Canada - Onshore 2 | 29.60 | 34.14 | 35.87 | |||||||
| Natural gas – dollars per thousand cubic feet | ||||||||||
| United States - Onshore | 2.91 | 1.90 | 2.26 | |||||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 3.75 | 2.40 | 2.78 | |||||||
| Canada - Onshore 2 | 1.79 | 1.59 | 2.06 |
1 Prices include the effect of the noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
2 U.S. dollar equivalent.
The following table contains benchmark prices relevant to the Company for the three years ended December 31, 2025:
| (Average price for the period) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil and NGLs | |||||||||||
| WTI ($/BBL) | $ | 64.81 | $ | 75.72 | $ | 77.62 | |||||
| Natural gas | |||||||||||
| Henry Hub ($/MMBTU) | 3.54 | 2.24 | 2.53 | ||||||||
| AECO (C$/MCF) | 1.68 | 1.46 | 2.64 |
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Production Volumes
The following table contains hydrocarbons produced during the three years ended December 31, 2025. For further discussion on volumes, please see “Revenues from Production” section on page 38.
| (Barrels per day unless otherwise noted) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net crude oil and condensate | |||||||
| United States - Onshore | 26,186 | 21,151 | 24,070 | ||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 56,797 | 63,047 | 73,473 | ||||
| Canada - Onshore | 2,958 | 2,868 | 2,937 | ||||
| Canada - Offshore | 6,981 | 7,251 | 3,020 | ||||
| Other | 275 | 219 | 250 | ||||
| Total net crude oil and condensate | 93,197 | 94,536 | 103,750 | ||||
| Net natural gas liquids | |||||||
| United States - Onshore | 5,870 | 4,442 | 4,617 | ||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 4,436 | 4,544 | 5,924 | ||||
| Canada - Onshore | 521 | 597 | 681 | ||||
| Total net natural gas liquids | 10,827 | 9,583 | 11,222 | ||||
| Net natural gas – thousands of cubic feet per day | |||||||
| United States - Onshore | 33,415 | 25,028 | 25,863 | ||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 51,793 | 57,228 | 70,239 | ||||
| Canada - Onshore | 422,742 | 398,786 | 369,906 | ||||
| Total net natural gas | 507,950 | 481,042 | 466,008 | ||||
| Total net hydrocarbons - including noncontrolling interest 2 | 188,682 | 184,293 | 192,640 | ||||
| Noncontrolling interest | |||||||
| Net crude oil and condensate – barrels per day | (5,876) | (6,358) | (6,210) | ||||
| Net natural gas liquids – barrels per day | (217) | (199) | (220) | ||||
| Net natural gas – thousands of cubic feet per day | (1,767) | (1,942) | (2,089) | ||||
| Total noncontrolling interest 2 | (6,388) | (6,881) | (6,778) | ||||
| Total net hydrocarbons - excluding noncontrolling interest 2 | 182,294 | 177,412 | 185,862 | ||||
| Estimated total proved net hydrocarbon reserves - million equivalent barrels 3 | 730.0 | 729.0 | 739.5 |
1 Includes net volumes attributable to the noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
2 Natural gas converted on an energy equivalent basis of 6:1.
3 Proved reserves at December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, include 15.0 MMBOE, 15.9 MMBOE and 15.5 MMBOE, respectively, attributable to NCI.
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Sales Volumes
The following table contains hydrocarbons sold during the three years ended December 31, 2025. For further discussion on volumes, please see “Revenues from Production” section on page 38.
| (Barrels per day unless otherwise noted) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net crude oil and condensate | |||||||
| United States - Onshore | 26,186 | 21,151 | 24,070 | ||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 56,532 | 63,612 | 73,373 | ||||
| Canada - Onshore | 2,958 | 2,868 | 2,937 | ||||
| Canada - Offshore | 7,451 | 6,445 | 2,559 | ||||
| Other | 226 | 230 | 349 | ||||
| Total net crude oil and condensate | 93,353 | 94,306 | 103,288 | ||||
| Net natural gas liquids | |||||||
| United States - Onshore | 5,870 | 4,443 | 4,617 | ||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 4,436 | 4,543 | 5,924 | ||||
| Canada - Onshore | 521 | 597 | 681 | ||||
| Total net natural gas liquids | 10,827 | 9,583 | 11,222 | ||||
| Net natural gas – thousands of cubic feet per day | |||||||
| United States - Onshore | 33,415 | 25,028 | 25,863 | ||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 51,793 | 57,228 | 70,239 | ||||
| Canada - Onshore | 422,742 | 398,786 | 369,906 | ||||
| Total net natural gas | 507,950 | 481,042 | 466,008 | ||||
| Total net hydrocarbons - including noncontrolling interest 2 | 188,838 | 184,063 | 192,178 | ||||
| Noncontrolling interest | |||||||
| Net crude oil and condensate – barrels per day | (5,837) | (6,438) | (6,200) | ||||
| Net natural gas liquids – barrels per day | (217) | (198) | (220) | ||||
| Net natural gas – thousands of cubic feet per day | (1,767) | (1,942) | (2,089) | ||||
| Total noncontrolling interest 2 | (6,349) | (6,960) | (6,768) | ||||
| Total net hydrocarbons - excluding noncontrolling interest 2 | 182,489 | 177,103 | 185,410 |
1 Includes net volumes attributable to the noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
2 Natural gas converted on an energy equivalent basis of 6:1.
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Revenues from Production
The Company’s production revenues by country and product were as follows.
| (Millions of dollars) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenues from production | ||||||||||
| United States - Oil | $ | 1,972.9 | $ | 2,364.3 | $ | 2,748.5 | ||||
| United States - Natural gas liquids | 74.5 | 71.7 | 80.6 | |||||||
| United States - Natural gas | 106.5 | 67.8 | 92.7 | |||||||
| Canada - Oil | 248.8 | 264.8 | 156.7 | |||||||
| Canada - Natural gas liquids | 5.6 | 7.4 | 8.9 | |||||||
| Canada - Natural Gas | 275.8 | 232.3 | 278.2 | |||||||
| Other - Oil | 5.7 | 6.6 | 11.0 | |||||||
| Total revenues from production | $ | 2,689.8 | $ | 3,014.9 | $ | 3,376.6 |
Revenues from production in 2025 decreased by $325.1 million compared to 2024. Lower revenues were primarily driven by lower crude oil prices, as well as decreased production in the Gulf of America due to well issues at Samurai, natural decline, and downtime for maintenance at Khaleesi. These decreases were partially offset by wells online at Mormont and Neidermeyer in the Gulf of America, improved performance, new wells, and the acquisition of additional working interests in the Eagle Ford Shale, and new wells and improved performance in the Tupper Montney. Higher realized gas pricing in the period was also an offset to the decrease in revenue.
Gain on Sale of Assets and Other Operating Income
Other income was $17.6 million in 2025, an increase of $11.6 million compared to 2024. Higher other income was primarily the result of a gain recognized on contingent consideration related to the 2022 sale of working interests in Block CA-2 in Brunei.
Lease Operating and Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses
The Company’s total lease operating expenses and transportation, gathering and processing expenses by geographic area were as follows.
| (Millions of dollars) | (Dollars per equivalent barrel) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Lease operating expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States – Onshore | $ | 125.5 | $ | 141.9 | $ | 150.3 | $ | 9.15 | $ | 13.02 | $ | 12.48 | |||||||||||
| United States – Offshore | 451.6 | 608.0 | 480.4 | 17.78 | 21.38 | 14.46 | |||||||||||||||||
| Canada – Onshore | 128.2 | 132.6 | 140.3 | 4.75 | 5.18 | 5.89 | |||||||||||||||||
| Canada – Offshore | 57.4 | 52.9 | 11.5 | 21.12 | 22.43 | 12.30 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other | 2.5 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 29.74 | 18.52 | 14.94 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total lease operating expenses | $ | 765.2 | $ | 937.0 | $ | 784.4 | $ | 11.10 | $ | 13.91 | $ | 11.18 | |||||||||||
| Transportation, gathering and processing | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States – Onshore | $ | 11.0 | $ | 9.6 | $ | 12.7 | $ | 0.81 | $ | 0.88 | $ | 1.05 | |||||||||||
| United States – Offshore | 96.0 | 121.3 | 144.3 | 3.78 | 4.27 | 4.34 | |||||||||||||||||
| Canada – Onshore | 87.0 | 75.5 | 72.2 | 3.22 | 2.95 | 3.03 | |||||||||||||||||
| Canada – Offshore | 5.7 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 2.08 | 1.85 | 4.12 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total transportation, gathering and processing | $ | 199.7 | $ | 210.8 | $ | 233.0 | $ | 2.90 | $ | 3.13 | $ | 3.32 |
Lease operating expenses and transportation, gathering and processing expenses in 2025 decreased by $171.8 million and $11.1 million, respectively, compared to 2024. Lower lease operating expenses were primarily due to lower workover costs in the Gulf of America, lower operating costs as a result of the acquisition of the Pioneer
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FPSO and lower production handling fees. In the Eagle Ford Shale, lower operating costs resulted from cost-savings initiatives, including workforce reductions at the end of 2024, lower repairs and maintenance, and equipment optimizations, and were partially offset by higher volume related costs.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Expense
The Company’s DD&A expense by geographic area was as follows.
| (Millions of dollars) | (Dollars per equivalent barrel) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States – Onshore | $ | 412.3 | $ | 319.9 | $ | 316.7 | $ | 30.02 | $ | 29.36 | $ | 26.29 | |||||||||||
| United States – Offshore | 409.8 | 389.3 | 389.3 | 16.13 | 13.69 | 11.72 | |||||||||||||||||
| Canada – Onshore | 118.1 | 123.5 | 133.4 | 4.38 | 4.82 | 5.60 | |||||||||||||||||
| Canada – Offshore | 26.7 | 22.5 | 8.8 | 9.81 | 9.55 | 9.47 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other | 2.5 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 30.23 | 20.13 | 18.05 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total depreciation, depletion and amortization expense | $ | 969.4 | $ | 856.9 | $ | 850.5 | $ | 14.06 | $ | 12.72 | $ | 12.12 |
DD&A in 2025 increased by $112.5 million compared to 2024. The increase was primarily due to higher sales volumes and higher rates in the Eagle Ford Shale, higher rates in the Gulf of America, and was partially offset by lower production in the Gulf of America.
Impairment of Assets
In the third quarter of 2025, the Company recorded impairment costs in the Gulf of America totaling $115.0 million ($92.0 million excluding NCI), related to the partial write-down of the Dalmatian field due to reserve reductions, as certain projects in the field were less competitive for capital allocation.
In 2024, the Company recorded impairment costs for two assets in the Gulf of America, totaling $62.9 million. In the first quarter, the Company recognized an impairment expense of $34.5 million for the Calliope field. In the fourth quarter, an impairment expense of $28.4 million was recorded for the Nearly Headless Nick field. Both fields were impaired as a result of operational issues that led to reserve reductions.
Exploration Expenses
The Company’s exploration expenses were as follows.
| (Millions of dollars) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exploration expenses | |||||||||||
| Dry holes and previously suspended exploration costs | $ | 30.1 | $ | 73.2 | $ | 169.8 | |||||
| Geological and geophysical | 36.0 | 27.2 | 26.1 | ||||||||
| Other exploration | 33.9 | 23.5 | 28.0 | ||||||||
| Undeveloped lease amortization | 11.7 | 9.6 | 10.9 | ||||||||
| Total exploration expenses | $ | 111.7 | $ | 133.5 | $ | 234.8 |
Exploration expenses in 2025 decreased by $21.8 million compared to 2024. In 2025, dry holes were related to the operated Civette-1X (Block CI-502) exploration well in Côte d’Ivoire. In 2024, dry holes and previously suspended exploration costs primarily related to the Sebastian #1 (Mississippi Canyon 387) exploration well, the non-operated Orange #1 (Mississippi Canyon 216) exploration well, and the previously suspended exploration well at Hoffe Park #1 (Mississippi Canyon 166) in the Gulf of America. The decrease due to lower dry hole costs was partially offset by increases to geological, geophysical and other exploration costs, related to the Company’s Gulf of America and Côte d'Ivoire exploration programs.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Selling and General Expenses
Selling and general expenses were $46.2 million in 2025, an increase of $22.4 million compared to 2024. Selling and general expenses were higher due to higher salary and long-term incentive compensation costs primarily related to a higher average share price throughout 2025.
Other Expenses
Total other losses were $16.5 million in 2025, an increase of $16.2 million compared to 2024. The increase was primarily due to no repeat of interest income on outstanding joint interest receivables that was received in 2024.
Income Taxes
Income taxes were $90.2 million in 2025, a decrease of $16.1 million compared to 2024. Lower income taxes were primarily the result of lower pretax income. This was partially offset by the non-recurrence of an income tax deduction that occurred in 2024 relating to prior years’ Australian exploration spend.
Corporate: 2025 vs 2024
Corporate activities include interest expense and income, foreign exchange effects, realized and unrealized gains/losses on derivative instruments (forward swaps to hedge the price of natural gas sold) and corporate overhead not allocated to E&P. Realized and unrealized losses on derivative instruments result from increases in market natural gas prices relating to future periods whereby the swap contracts provided the Company with a fixed price.
Corporate activities reported a loss of $158.4 million in 2025, an unfavorable variance of $49.3 million compared to 2024. The unfavorable variance was primarily due to a foreign exchange loss of $29.4 million in 2025 compared to a foreign exchange gain of $45.4 million in 2024, as a result of unrealized exchange rate changes relating to our Canadian subsidiary. This increase was partially offset by lower interest charges in 2025 due to no debt repayment fees in the current year, and a higher income tax benefit attributable to our Canadian segment as a result of larger current-period losses before income taxes, primarily as a result of foreign exchange.
Financial Condition
The Company’s primary sources of liquidity are cash on hand, net cash provided by continuing operations activities and available borrowing capacity under its Amended RCF, as described below. The Company’s liquidity requirements, both in the short-term (2026) and long-term (beyond 2026), consist primarily of capital expenditures, debt maturity, retirement and interest payments, working capital requirements, dividend payments, and, as applicable, share repurchases. The Company may, from time to time, redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire its outstanding notes through open market purchases, tender offers or pursuant to the terms of such securities. The Company believes that the primary sources of liquidity described above will be adequate to fund its liquidity needs over the next 12 months.
Cash Flows
The following table presents the Company’s cash flows for the periods presented.
| (Millions of dollars) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net cash provided by (required by): | ||||||||||
| Net cash provided by continuing operations activities | $ | 1,247.8 | $ | 1,729.0 | $ | 1,748.8 | ||||
| Net cash required by investing activities | (1,028.9) | (908.2) | (998.7) | |||||||
| Net cash required by financing activities | (264.1) | (716.5) | (923.7) | |||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | (1.2) | 2.2 | (1.2) | |||||||
| Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | $ | (46.4) | $ | 106.5 | $ | (174.8) |
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Cash Provided by Continuing Operations Activities
Net cash provided by continuing operations activities in 2025 was $481.2 million lower compared to 2024. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower revenue from production ($325.1 million), timing of non-cash working capital ($148.9 million) settlements, changes in other operating activities, net ($68.4 million), primarily due to decreased expenditures for asset retirements, and higher other expenses ($93.2 million), primarily due to Canadian foreign exchange losses, partially offset by lower lease operating expenses ($171.7 million) and lower exploration expenses $21.9 million.
The total reductions of operating cash flows for interest paid (which excludes “Early redemption of debt cost” reported in “Financing Activities”) during the two years ended December 31, 2025, and 2024 were $88.1 million and $78.8 million, respectively. Cash interest paid in 2025 was primarily due to interest payments on outstanding debt. In 2025, cash interest paid was higher than 2024, primarily due to amounts drawn on the RCF. In 2024, cash interest paid was primarily due to interest payments on outstanding debt and accelerated interest payments due to the early redemption, in part, of the 5.875% senior notes due 2027 (2027 Notes), the 6.375% senior notes due 2028 (2028 Notes), and the 7.05% senior notes due 2029 (2029 Notes) for an aggregate redemption amount of $650.1 million.
Cash Required by Investing Activities
Net cash required by investing activities in 2025 was $120.8 million higher compared to 2024. The increase was primarily due to higher property additions ($120.5 million) and higher acquisition capital ($21.0 million), partially offset by proceeds from realization of contingent consideration receivable from the 2022 sale of Brunei assets.
A reconciliation of “Property additions and dry hole costs” in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows to total capital expenditures for continuing operations follows.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Property additions and dry hole costs per cash flow statements | $ | 1,020.6 | $ | 900.1 | $ | 1,066.0 | ||||
| Geophysical and other exploration expenses | 65.6 | 44.8 | 46.0 | |||||||
| Acquisition of oil and natural gas properties per the cash flow statements | 29.0 | 8.1 | 35.6 | |||||||
| Capital expenditure accrual changes and other | 102.8 | 11.8 | (9.5) | |||||||
| Total capital expenditures | $ | 1,218.0 | $ | 964.8 | $ | 1,138.1 |
Total capital expenditures categorized by E&P and corporate activities are presented below.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Capital Expenditures | ||||||||||
| Exploration and production | $ | 1,196.8 | $ | 935.7 | $ | 1,114.0 | ||||
| Corporate | 21.2 | 29.1 | 24.1 | |||||||
| Total capital expenditures | 1,218.0 | 964.8 | 1,138.1 | |||||||
| Less: acquisition of oil and natural gas properties | 29.0 | 8.1 | 35.6 | |||||||
| Total capital expenditures excluding acquisition of oil and natural gas properties | 1,189.0 | 956.7 | 1,102.5 | |||||||
| Total capital expenditures excluding acquisition of oil and natural gas properties and noncontrolling interest | $ | 1,157.0 | $ | 944.7 | $ | 1,032.3 |
Higher capital expenditures in 2025 compared to 2024 were primarily attributable to the Pioneer FPSO purchase in the Gulf of America, exploratory and development drilling in Vietnam, which included progressing the LDV-A platform jacket installation and pipe-laying campaign, and exploratory drilling in Côte d’Ivoire.
Capital expenditures of $1,218.0 million in 2025 were primarily related to development drilling ($551.4 million), field development ($400.2 million) and exploration ($221.7 million) activities. Development activities were mainly in the Gulf of America ($330.8 million), primarily related to the Cascade and Chinook, Mormont,
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Zephyrus, and Other Offshore fields, the Eagle Ford Shale ($365.4 million), the Tupper Montney and the Kaybob Duvernay ($133.9 million), and Vietnam ($98.5 million).
Exploration costs in 2025 were $221.7 million, primarily attributable to activities in Vietnam for the Lac Da Hong-1X (Pink Camel), Block 15-1/05, and Hai Su Vang-1X and Hai Su Vang-2X (Golden Sea Lion), Block 15-2/17 exploration wells, activities in the Gulf of America related to the Cello #1 (Mississippi Canyon 385) and Banjo #1 (Mississippi Canyon 385) exploration wells, and activities in Côte d’Ivoire related to the Bubale-1X (Block CI-709), Civette-1X (Block CI-502), and Caracal-1X (Block CI-102) exploration wells.
Cash Required by Financing Activities
Net cash required by financing activities in 2025 decreased by $452.4 million compared to 2024. In 2025, cash used in financing activities was principally for year-to-date cash dividends to shareholders of $1.30 per share ($186.2 million), the repurchase of common shares ($102.6 million), excluding excise tax, distributions to the noncontrolling interest in MP GOM ($63.8 million), and partially offset by net borrowings on the RCF ($100.0 million).
Liquidity
At December 31, 2025, the Company had approximately $1.6 billion of liquidity consisting of $377.2 million in cash and cash equivalents and $1,249.6 million available on its previous RCF with a major banking consortium.
The Company’s previous $1.35 billion RCF was set to expire in October 2029, and as of December 31, 2025, the Company had $100.0 million outstanding borrowings under the RCF and $0.4 million of outstanding letters of credit, which reduce the borrowing capacity of the RCF. Borrowings under the RCF were subject to certain interest rates. Please refer to Note F for further details. At December 31, 2025, the interest rate in effect on borrowings under the facility was 6.04%. At December 31, 2025, the Company was in compliance with all covenants related to the RCF. Subsequent to year end, in January, 2026, the Company entered into an Amended RCF, a credit agreement governing a $2.0 billion senior unsecured guaranteed revolving credit facility, with a maturity date in January 2031, which increased and extended the previous RCF.
Cash and invested cash are maintained in several operating locations outside the U.S. As of December 31, 2025, cash and cash equivalents held outside the U.S. included U.S. dollar equivalents of approximately $152.5 million (2024: $95.2 million), the majority of which was held in Canada ($76.5 million), Brunei ($23.7 million), Côte d’Ivoire ($21.6 million), and Vietnam ($8.5 million). In addition, approximately $7.8 million and $7.0 million of cash was held in Mexico and the U.K., respectively. In certain cases, the Company could incur cash taxes or other costs should these cash balances be repatriated to the U.S. in future periods. Canada currently collects a 5% withholding tax on any earnings repatriated to the U.S. See Note H for further information regarding potential tax expense that could be incurred upon distribution of foreign earnings back to the U.S.
Working Capital
| (Millions of dollars) | 2025 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Working capital | ||||||
| Total current assets | $ | 816.7 | $ | 785.3 | ||
| Total current liabilities | 1,062.7 | 942.8 | ||||
| Net working capital liability | $ | (246.0) | $ | (157.5) |
As of December 31, 2025, net working capital had an unfavorable decrease of $88.5 million compared to December 31, 2024. The decrease was primarily attributable to higher accounts payable ($100.0 million), higher operating lease liabilities ($25.6 million), and a lower cash balance ($46.4 million), partially offset by higher accounts receivable ($74.2 million). Higher accounts payable were primarily due to the timing of payments for certain drilling activities and ongoing workover projects. Higher operating lease liabilities were primarily due to the addition of a new drilling rig and support vessels in Vietnam, partially offset by the purchase of the Pioneer FPSO and normal amortization of leases. Higher accounts receivable were due primarily to timing of partner billing and related cash calls, partially offset by lower pricing.
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Capital Employed
A summary of capital employed as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 follows.
| December 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars) | Amount | % | Amount | % | |||||||||
| Capital employed | |||||||||||||
| Long-term debt | $ | 1,382.6 | 21.3 | % | $ | 1,274.5 | 19.7 | % | |||||
| Murphy shareholders' equity | 5,118.4 | 78.7 | % | 5,194.3 | 80.3 | % | |||||||
| Total capital employed | $ | 6,501.0 | 100.0 | % | $ | 6,468.8 | 100.0 | % |
As of December 31, 2025, long-term debt increased by $108.1 million compared to December 31, 2024, primarily as a result of amounts drawn on the RCF. As of December 31, 2025, the fixed-rate notes had a weighted average maturity of 8.3 years and a weighted average coupon of 6.1%. Refer to Note F for additional details.
Murphy’s shareholders’ equity decreased by $75.9 million in 2025 primarily due to dividends ($186.2 million) and shares repurchased ($100.8 million), including excise tax, partially offset by foreign currency translation ($74.0 million), net income ($104.2 million), and awarded restricted stock ($22.4 million). A summary of transactions in stockholders’ equity accounts is presented in the “Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity" on page 72 of this Form 10-K report.
Other Balance Sheet Activity - Long-Term Assets and Liabilities
Other significant changes in Murphy’s balance sheet at the end of 2025, compared to 2024 are discussed below.
Property, plant and equipment, net of depreciation, increased $81.7 million principally due to capital expenditures in the year, partially offset by DD&A expense ($977.8 million) and foreign exchange rates applicable for the Canadian assets. Capital expenditures are discussed above in the “Cash Required by Investing Activities” section.
Murphy had commitments for capital expenditures of approximately $551.2 million at December 31, 2025 (2024: $417.0 million). This amount primarily related to approved expenditures of $127.5 million in Vietnam for the Lac Da Vang (Golden Camel) field development project, $45.0 million for exploration activities in Côte d’Ivoire, $82.6 million in the Eagle Ford Shale, $245.3 million relating to Gulf of America interests, primarily related to Cascade and Chinook operated field and exploration activities, as well as $49.8 million relating to interests in Canada Onshore, primarily at the Kaybob Duvernay.
Operating lease assets increased $27.9 million principally due to lease additions in Vietnam, partially offset by the depreciation of these assets.
Deferred income tax liabilities increased $42.5 million due to utilization of our net operating loss, partially offset by other capital-related tax effects.
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Other Key Performance Metrics
The Company uses other operational performance and income metrics to review operational performance. Management uses adjusted net income, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), adjusted EBITDA, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and exploration expenses (EBITDAX) and adjusted EBITDAX internally to evaluate the Company’s operational performance and trends between periods and relative to its industry competitors. Adjusted net income, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDAX exclude certain items that management believes affect the comparability of results between periods. Management believes this information may be useful to investors and analysts to gain a better understanding of the Company’s financial results. Adjusted net income, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, EBITDAX and adjusted EBITDAX are non-GAAP financial measures and should not be considered a substitute for net income or cash provided by operating activities as determined in accordance with GAAP.
The following table reconciles net income attributable to Murphy to adjusted net income from continuing operations attributable to Murphy.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars, except per share amounts) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Net income attributable to Murphy (GAAP) 1 | $ | 104.2 | $ | 407.2 | $ | 661.6 | ||||
| Discontinued operations (income) loss | (0.5) | 2.8 | 1.5 | |||||||
| Net income from continuing operations | 103.7 | 410.0 | 663.1 | |||||||
| Adjustments: | ||||||||||
| Impairment of assets 1 | 92.0 | 62.9 | — | |||||||
| Foreign exchange (gain) loss | 29.4 | (45.4) | 10.9 | |||||||
| Unrealized (gain) loss on derivative instruments | (1.7) | 1.7 | — | |||||||
| Write-off of previously suspended exploration well | — | 26.1 | 17.1 | |||||||
| Unrealized loss on contingent consideration | — | — | 7.1 | |||||||
| Asset retirement obligation losses | — | — | 16.9 | |||||||
| Refinancing and early redemption of debt costs (non-cash) | — | 3.7 | — | |||||||
| Total adjustments, before taxes | 119.7 | 49.0 | 52.0 | |||||||
| Income tax (benefit) expense related to adjustments | (26.4) | (8.3) | (6.4) | |||||||
| Tax benefits on investments in foreign areas | — | (34.0) | — | |||||||
| Total adjustments, after taxes | 93.3 | 6.7 | 45.6 | |||||||
| Adjusted net income from continuing operations attributable to Murphy (Non-GAAP) | $ | 197.0 | $ | 416.7 | $ | 708.7 | ||||
| Net income from continuing operations per average diluted share | $ | 0.72 | $ | 2.72 | $ | 4.23 | ||||
| Adjusted net income from continuing operations per average diluted share (Non-GAAP) | $ | 1.37 | $ | 2.76 | $ | 4.52 |
1 Excludes amounts attributable to the noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
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The following table reconciles net income attributable to Murphy to EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, EBITDAX and adjusted EBITDAX attributable to Murphy.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Net income attributable to Murphy (GAAP) 1 | $ | 104.2 | $ | 407.2 | $ | 661.6 | ||||
| Income tax expense | 44.6 | 78.3 | 195.9 | |||||||
| Interest expense, net | 96.1 | 105.9 | 112.4 | |||||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense ¹ | 946.8 | 833.1 | 836.7 | |||||||
| EBITDA attributable to Murphy (Non-GAAP) | $ | 1,191.7 | $ | 1,424.5 | $ | 1,806.6 | ||||
| Exploration expenses 1 | 111.6 | 133.5 | 204.6 | |||||||
| EBITDAX attributable to Murphy (Non-GAAP) | $ | 1,303.3 | $ | 1,558.0 | $ | 2,011.2 | ||||
| EBITDA attributable to Murphy (Non-GAAP) | $ | 1,191.7 | $ | 1,424.5 | $ | 1,806.6 | ||||
| Impairment of asset 1 | 92.0 | 62.9 | — | |||||||
| Foreign exchange (gain) loss | 29.4 | (45.4) | 10.8 | |||||||
| Accretion of asset retirement obligations ¹ | 51.5 | 46.9 | 41.0 | |||||||
| Unrealized (gain) loss on derivative instruments | (1.7) | 1.7 | — | |||||||
| Write-off of previously suspended exploration well | — | 26.1 | 17.1 | |||||||
| Asset retirement obligation losses | — | — | 16.9 | |||||||
| Unrealized loss on contingent consideration | — | — | 7.1 | |||||||
| Discontinued operations (income) loss | (0.5) | 2.8 | 1.5 | |||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Murphy (Non-GAAP) | $ | 1,362.4 | $ | 1,519.5 | $ | 1,901.0 | ||||
| Other exploration expenses 2 | 111.6 | 107.4 | 187.5 | |||||||
| Adjusted EBITDAX attributable to Murphy (Non-GAAP) | $ | 1,474.0 | $ | 1,626.9 | $ | 2,088.5 |
1 Excludes amounts attributable to the noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
2 Other exploration expenses consist of exploration expenses as reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations excluding amounts relating to the write-off of previously suspended exploration well included in Adjusted EBITDA calculation above.
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Management uses FCF and adjusted FCF internally as additional measures of liquidity to evaluate the Company’s ability to internally generate cash, excluding the timing impacts of working capital, and to measure funds available for investing and financing activities. Management also believes this information may be useful to investors and analysts to monitor the Company’s financial health and its performance over time. FCF and adjusted FCF are non-GAAP financial measures and should not be considered a substitute for net cash provided by operating, investing, or financing activities as determined in accordance with GAAP.
The following table reconciles net cash provided by continuing operations activities to FCF and adjusted FCF.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Net cash provided by continuing operations activities (GAAP) | $ | 1,247.8 | $ | 1,729.0 | $ | 1,748.8 | ||||
| Exclude: (decrease) increase in non-cash working capital | 74.1 | (74.9) | 99.4 | |||||||
| Operating cash flow excluding working capital adjustments | 1,321.9 | 1,654.1 | 1,848.2 | |||||||
| Less: property additions and dry hole costs 1 | (1,020.6) | (900.1) | (1,066.0) | |||||||
| Free cash flow (Non-GAAP) | $ | 301.3 | $ | 754.0 | $ | 782.2 | ||||
| Less: cash dividends paid | (186.2) | (180.0) | (171.0) | |||||||
| Less: distributions to noncontrolling interest | (63.8) | (118.6) | (29.4) | |||||||
| Less: debt costs | (0.4) | (40.6) | — | |||||||
| Less: contingent consideration payment | — | — | (60.2) | |||||||
| Less: withholding tax on stock-based incentive awards | (9.8) | (25.3) | (14.3) | |||||||
| Less: acquisition of oil and natural gas properties | (29.0) | (8.0) | (35.6) | |||||||
| Adjusted free cash flow (Non-GAAP) | $ | 12.1 | $ | 381.5 | $ | 471.7 |
1 Property additions for the year ended December 31, 2025 include a payment of $125.0 million for the Pioneer FPSO in the U.S. Offshore, including amounts attributable to the noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
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Environmental, Health and Safety Matters
Murphy faces various environmental, health and safety risks that are inherent in exploring for, developing and producing hydrocarbons. To help manage these risks, the Company has established a robust health, safety and environmental governance program comprised of a worldwide policy, guiding principles, annual goals and a management system incorporating oversight at each business unit, senior leadership and board levels. The Company strives to minimize these risks by continually improving its processes through design, operation and implementation of a comprehensive asset integrity plan, auditing and assessments, and through emergency and oil spill response planning to address any credible risks. These plans are presented to, reviewed and approved by a Health, Safety, Environment and Corporate Responsibility Committee consisting of certain members of the Board.
The oil and natural gas industry is subject to numerous international, foreign, national, state, provincial and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. Murphy allocates a portion of both its capital expenditures and its general and administrative budget toward compliance with existing and anticipated environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. These requirements affect virtually all operations of the Company and increase Murphy’s overall cost of business, including its capital costs to construct, maintain and upgrade equipment and facilities as well as operating costs for ongoing compliance.
The principal environmental, health and safety laws and regulations to which Murphy is subject address such matters as the generation, storage, handling, use, disposal and remediation of petroleum products, wastewater and hazardous materials; the emission and discharge of such materials to the environment, including methane and other GHG emissions; wildlife, habitat and water protection; the placement, operation and decommissioning of production equipment; and the health and safety of our employees, contractors and communities where our operations are located. These laws and regulations also generally require permits for existing operations, as well as the construction or development of new operations and the decommissioning of facilities once production has ceased. Violations can give rise to sanctions including significant civil and criminal penalties, injunctions, construction bans and delays.
Further information on environmental, health and safety laws and regulations applicable to Murphy are contained in the “Business” section beginning page 9.
Climate Change and Emissions
The world’s population and standard of living are growing steadily along with the demand for energy. Murphy recognizes that this may generate increasing amounts of GHG, which could raise important climate change concerns. Murphy works to assess the Company’s governance, strategy, risk identification, and management and measurement of climate risks and opportunities in order to remain in alignment with the TCFD framework. While oversight of the TCFD framework has undergone changes, including relating to the role of the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation in overseeing the framework, the TCFD framework continues to inform climate-related reporting practices. Murphy’s disclosures related to its alignment with the TCFD framework are included in the Company’s 2025 Sustainability Report issued on August 6, 2025, which is not incorporated by reference hereto.
Other Matters
Impact of inflation – In 2025, inflation in the U.S. and in other countries where the Company operates began to moderate relative to the sustained higher inflation seen since 2021. However, U.S. and global trade policy is continually developing, and it is unclear whether this trend will continue or reverse as we enter 2026 and beyond. The Company’s revenues, capital and operating costs are influenced to a larger extent by specific price changes in the oil and natural gas industry and allied industries rather than by changes in general inflation. Crude oil prices generally reflect the balance between supply and demand, with crude oil prices being particularly sensitive to OPEC+ members’ production levels and/or attitudes of traders concerning supply and demand in the future. Costs for oil field goods and services are usually affected by the worldwide prices for crude oil.
To combat impacts of inflation and/or supply and demand factors, Murphy has dedicated personnel in marketing and procurement departments, focused on managing supply chain and input costs. Murphy also has certain transportation, processing and production handling services costs fixed through long-term contracts and
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commitments and therefore is partially protected from potential increases in the price of services. However, from time to time, Murphy will seek to enter new commitments, exercise options to extend contracts and retender contracts for rigs and other industry services which could expose Murphy to the impact of higher costs. Murphy continues to strive toward safely executing our work in an ever-increasingly efficient manner to mitigate potential inflationary pressures in its business.
Natural gas prices are also affected by supply and demand factors, which are often influenced by the weather and by the fact that delivery of natural gas can be restricted to specific geographic areas. Natural gas prices can also be impacted by the demand for lower-carbon energy sources.
As a result of the overall volatility of oil and natural gas prices, it is not possible to predict the Company’s future cost of oil field goods and services.
Critical Accounting Estimates – In preparing the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP, management must make a number of estimates and assumptions related to the reporting of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Application of certain of the Company’s accounting policies requires significant estimates. The most significant of these accounting policies and estimates are described below.
Oil and natural gas proved reserves – Oil and natural gas proved reserves are defined by the SEC as those quantities of oil and natural 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 before the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire (unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain). Proved developed reserves of oil and natural gas can be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods or in which the cost of the required equipment is relatively minor compared with the cost of a new well, or through installed extraction equipment and infrastructure operational at the time of the reserves estimate if the extraction is by means not involving a well.
Although the Company’s engineers are knowledgeable of and follow the guidelines for reserves as established by the SEC, the estimation of reserves requires the engineers to make a significant number of assumptions based on professional judgment. SEC rules require the Company to use an unweighted average of the oil and natural gas prices in effect at the beginning of each month of the year for determining quantities of proved reserves. These historical prices often do not approximate the average price that the Company expects to receive for its oil and natural gas production in the future. The Company often uses significantly different oil and natural gas prices and reserve assumptions when making its own internal economic property evaluations. Changes in oil and natural gas prices can lead to a decision to start up or shut in production, which can lead to revisions to reserves quantities.
Estimated reserves are subject to future revision, certain of which could be substantial, based on the availability of additional information, including reservoir performance, new geological and geophysical data, additional drilling, technological advancements, price changes and other economic factors. Reserves revisions inherently lead to adjustments of the Company’s depreciation rates and the timing of settlement of asset retirement obligation (ARO) liabilities. Downward reserves revisions can also lead to significant impairment expense. The Company cannot predict the type of oil and natural gas reserves revisions that will be required in future periods.
The Company’s proved reserves of oil and natural gas are presented on pages 111 to 120 of this Form 10-K report. Murphy’s estimations for proved reserves were generated through the integration of available geoscience, engineering, and economic data (including hydrocarbon prices, operating costs, and development costs), and commercially available technologies, to establish “reasonable certainty” of economic producibility. As defined by the SEC, reasonable certainty of proved reserves describes a high degree of confidence that the quantities will be recovered. In estimating proved reserves, Murphy uses familiar industry-accepted methods for subsurface evaluations, including performance, volumetric, and analog-based studies.
Where appropriate, Murphy includes reliable geologic and engineering technology to estimate proved reserves. Reliable geologic and engineering technology is a method or combination of methods that are field-tested and have been demonstrated to provide reasonably certain results with consistency and repeatability in the formation being evaluated or in an analogous formation. This integrated approach increases the quality of
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and confidence in Murphy’s proved reserves estimates. It was utilized in certain undrilled acreage at distances greater than the directly offsetting development spacing areas. Murphy utilized a combination of 3D seismic interpretation, core analysis, wellbore log measurements, well test data, historic production and pressure data, and commercially available seismic processing and numerical reservoir simulation programs. Reservoir parameters from analogous reservoirs were used to strengthen the reserves estimates when available.
See further discussion of proved reserves and changes in proved reserves during the three years ended December 31, 2025 beginning on pages 4 and 111 of this Form 10-K report.
Property, Plant and Equipment - impairment of long-lived assets – The Company continually monitors its long-lived assets recorded in “Property, plant and equipment” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets to ensure that they are fairly presented. The Company must evaluate its property, plant and equipment for potential impairment when circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable from undiscounted future net cash flows.
A significant amount of judgment is involved in performing these evaluations since the results are based on estimated future events. Such events include a projection of future oil and natural gas sales prices, an estimate of the amount of oil and natural gas that will be produced from a field, the timing of this future production, future costs to produce the oil and natural gas, future capital, operating and abandonment costs and future inflation levels.
The need to test a long-lived asset for impairment can be based on several factors, including, but not limited to, a significant reduction in sales prices for oil and/or natural gas, unfavorable revisions of oil or natural gas reserves, or other changes to contracts, environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, tax laws or other regulatory changes. All of these factors must be considered when evaluating a property’s carrying value for possible impairment.
Due to the volatility of world oil and natural gas markets, the actual sales prices for oil and natural gas have often been different from the Company’s projections.
Estimates of future oil and natural gas production and sales volumes are based on a combination of proved and risked probable reserves. Although the estimation of reserves and future production is uncertain, the Company believes that its estimates are reasonable; however, there have been cases where actual production volumes were higher or lower than projected and the timing was different than the original projection. The Company adjusts reserves and production estimates as new information becomes available.
The Company generally projects future costs by using historical costs adjusted for both assumed long-term inflation rates and known or expected changes in future operations. Although the projected future costs are considered to be reasonable, at times, costs have been higher or lower than originally estimated.
In 2025, the Company recognized a pretax non-cash impairment charge of $115.0 million ($92.0 million excluding NCI) to reduce the carrying value at the Dalmatian field, in the Gulf of America, as certain projects in the field were less competitive for capital allocation.
In 2024, the Company recognized pretax non-cash impairment charges of $62.9 million to reduce the carrying values at select properties. The Company recognized impairments of $34.5 million, related to the Calliope field, and $28.4 million, related to the Nearly Headless Nick field, both in the Gulf of America. Both impairment charges were due to subsurface issues that led to reserve reductions.
See also Note D for further discussion of impairment charges.
Income taxes – The Company is subject to income and other similar taxes in all areas in which it operates. When recording income tax expense, certain estimates are required because: (a) income tax returns are generally filed months after the close of its annual accounting period; (b) tax returns are subject to audit by taxing authorities and audits can often take years to complete and settle; (c) future events often impact the timing of when income tax expenses and benefits are recognized by the Company; and (d) changes to regulations may be subject to different interpretations and require future clarification from issuing authorities or others.
The Company has deferred tax assets mostly relating to U.S. net operating losses, liabilities for dismantlement, retirement benefit plan obligations and net deferred tax liabilities relating to tax and accounting basis differences for property, plant and equipment.
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The Company routinely evaluates all deferred tax assets to determine the likelihood of their realization and reduces such assets to the expected realizable amount by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In assessing the need for valuation allowances, we consider all available positive and negative evidence. Positive evidence includes projected future taxable income and assessment of future business assumptions, a history of utilizing tax assets before expiration, significant proven and probable reserves and reversals of taxable temporary differences. Negative evidence includes losses in recent years.
As of December 31, 2025 the Company had a U.S. deferred tax asset associated with net operating losses of $225.0 million. In reviewing the likelihood of realizing this asset, the Company considered the reversal of taxable temporary differences, carryforward periods and future taxable income estimates based on projected financial information which, based on currently available evidence, we believe to be reasonably likely to occur. Certain estimates and assumptions are used in the estimation of future taxable income, including (but not limited to) (a) future commodity prices for oil and natural gas, (b) estimated reserves for oil and natural gas, (c) expected timing of production, (d) estimated lease operating costs and (e) future capital requirements. In the future, the underlying actual assumptions utilized in estimating future taxable income could be different and result in different conclusions about the likelihood of the future utilization of our net operating loss carryforwards.
Accounting for retirement and postretirement benefit plans – Murphy and certain of its subsidiaries maintain defined benefit retirement plans covering certain full-time employees. The Company also sponsors health care and life insurance benefit plans covering most retired U.S. employees. The expense associated with these plans is estimated by management based on a number of assumptions and with consultation assistance from qualified third-party actuaries. The most important of these assumptions for the retirement plans involve the discount rate used to measure future plan obligations and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. For the retiree medical and insurance plans, the most important assumptions are the discount rate for future plan obligations and the health care cost trend rate. Discount rates are based on the universe of high-quality corporate bonds that are available within each country. Cash flow analyses are performed in which a spot yield curve is used to discount projected benefit payment streams for the most significant plans. The discounted cash flows are used to determine an equivalent single rate, which is the basis for selecting the discount rate within each country. Expected plan asset returns are based on long-term expectations for asset portfolios with similar investment mix characteristics. Anticipated health care cost trend rates are determined based on prior experience of the Company and an assessment of near-term and long-term trends for medical and drug costs.
Based on bond yields as of December 31, 2025, the Company has used a weighted average discount rate of 5.40% at year end 2025 for the primary U.S. plans. This weighted average discount rate is 0.2% lower than prior year, which increased the Company’s recorded liabilities for retirement plans compared to a year ago. The Company assumed a return on plan assets of 7.70% for the primary U.S. plan and periodically reconsiders the appropriateness of this and other key assumptions. The Company’s retirement and postretirement plan (health care and life insurance benefit plans) expenses in 2026 are expected to be $0.4 million lower than in 2025 primarily due to higher actual return on plan assets, partially offset by an increase in the benefit obligations at December 31, 2025 compared to the prior year.
In 2025, the Company paid $25.1 million into various retirement plans and $12.9 million into postretirement plans. In 2026, the Company is expecting to fund payments of approximately $24.5 million into various retirement plans and $4.7 million for postretirement plans. The Company could be required to make additional and more significant funding payments to retirement plans in future years. Future required payments and the amount of liabilities recorded on the balance sheet associated with the plans could be unfavorably affected if the discount rate declines, the actual return on plan assets falls below the assumed return, or the health care cost trend rate increase is higher than expected.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note B in our Consolidated Financial Statements regarding the impact or potential impact of recent accounting pronouncements upon our financial position and results of operations.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Contractual obligations and guarantees – The Company is obligated to make future cash payments under borrowing arrangements, operating leases, purchase obligations primarily associated with existing capital expenditure plans and other long-term liabilities. Total payments due after 2025 under such contractual obligations and arrangements are shown in the table below. Amounts are undiscounted and therefore may differ to those presented in the financial statements.
| (Millions of dollars) | Amount of Obligations | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 2026 | 2027 - 2028 | 2029 - 2030 | After 2030 | ||||||||||||||
| Debt, excluding finance leases and interest | $ | 1,384.8 | $ | — | $ | 227.5 | $ | 217.5 | $ | 939.8 | ||||||||
| Operating and finance leases | 1,024.8 | 318.9 | 215.8 | 123.0 | 367.1 | |||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures, drilling rigs and other ¹ | 1,648.0 | 761.1 | 252.0 | 160.2 | 474.7 | |||||||||||||
| Other long-term liabilities, including debt interest ² | 2,344.6 | 129.6 | 230.6 | 450.2 | 1,534.2 | |||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 6,402.2 | $ | 1,209.6 | $ | 925.9 | $ | 950.9 | $ | 3,315.8 |
1 Capital expenditures, drilling rigs and other includes $28.1 million, $25.4 million, $7.7 million, $1.0 million and $0.6 million in 2026 for approved capital projects in non-operated interests in the Gulf of America, the Eagle Ford Shale, Canada Offshore, Brunei, and Canada Onshore, respectively.
Also includes $72.2 million (2026), $141.1 million (2027 - 2028), $81.0 million (2029 - 2030) and $235.9 million (After 2030) for pipeline transportation commitments in Canada.
Also includes $3.7 million (2026), $7.5 million (2027 - 2028), $7.4 million (2029 - 2030) and $14.3 million (After 2030) for long-term take-or-pay commitments relating to natural gas processing in Canada.
Also includes $23.6 million (2026), $47.1 million (2027 - 2028), $48.1 million (2029 - 2030) and $176.8 million (After 2030) for the purpose of supporting future production activities in Vietnam.
2 Other long-term liabilities includes debt interest and future cash outflows for ARO liabilities.
The Company has entered into agreements to lease production facilities for various producing oil fields as well as other arrangements that require future payments as described in the following section. The Company’s share of the contractual obligations under these leases and other arrangements has been included in the table above.
In the normal course of its business, the Company is required under certain contracts with various governmental authorities and others to provide letters of credit that may be drawn upon if the Company fails to perform under those contracts. Total outstanding letters of credit were $211.8 million as of December 31, 2025.
Subsequent to the balance sheet date, the Company completed a series of transactions regarding its long-term debt arrangements and RCF. In January 2026, the Company closed a public offering of $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 6.500% senior notes due 2034 (2034 Notes), used the proceeds to redeem an aggregate $227.5 million of its outstanding 2027 Notes and 2028 Notes, repaid $100.0 million that was outstanding on the previous RCF, as of December 31, 2025, and expects to use the remaining proceeds to cover transaction-related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes. See Note F for additional information.
Material off-balance sheet arrangements – Certain U.S. transportation contracts require minimum monthly payments through 2045, while Canada Onshore transportation and processing contracts call for minimum monthly payments through 2051. Future required minimum annual payments under these arrangements are included in the contractual obligation table above.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Outlook
The oil and natural gas industry is impacted by global commodity pricing. As a result, the prices for the Company’s primary products are often volatile and are affected by the levels of supply and demand for energy. As discussed in the “Results of Operations” section on revenues, on page 38, lower average crude oil price during 2025 directly impacted the Company’s product sales revenue.
As of close on February 23, 2026, forward price curves for existing forward contracts for the remainder of 2026 and 2027 are shown in the table below.
| 2026 | 2027 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NYMEX WTI ($/BBL) | $ | 64.90 | $ | 62.02 | |||
| NYMEX Henry Hub ($/MMBTU) | 3.39 | 3.72 | |||||
| AECO (US$ Equivalent/MCF) | 1.36 | 1.90 |
In 2025, liquids from continuing operations represented approximately 55% of total hydrocarbons produced on a barrels of oil equivalent basis. In 2026, the Company’s ratio of hydrocarbon production represented by liquids is expected to be 56%. If the prices for crude oil and natural gas are lower in 2026 or beyond, this will have an unfavorable impact on the Company’s operating profits; likewise, if prices are higher, this will have a favorable impact. The Company, from time to time, may choose to use a variety of commodity hedge instruments to reduce commodity price risk, including forward sale fixed financial swaps and long-term fixed-price physical commodity sales.
The Company currently expects average daily production in 2026 to be between 173,000 and 181,000 BOEPD (including a noncontrolling interest of 6,000 BOEPD). If significant price declines occur, the Company will review the option of production curtailments to avoid incurring losses on certain produced barrels.
The oil and natural gas industry and the Company continue to observe higher costs for goods and services used in E&P operations. Murphy continues to manage input costs through its dedicated procurement department focused on managing supply chain and other costs to deliver cash flow from operations.
We cannot predict what impact economic factors (including, but not limited to, inflation, evolving trade policy, global conflicts and possible economic recession) may have on future commodity pricing. Lower prices, should they occur, will result in lower profits and operating cash flows.
The Company’s capital expenditure spend for 2026 is expected to be between $1,200 million and $1,300 million, excluding NCI. Capital and other expenditures are routinely reviewed and planned capital expenditures may be adjusted to reflect differences between budgeted and forecast cash flow during the year. Capital expenditures may also be affected by asset purchases or sales, which often are not anticipated at the time a budget is prepared. The Company will primarily fund its capital program in 2026 using operating cash flow and available cash. If oil and/or natural gas prices weaken, actual cash flow generated from operations could be reduced such that capital spending reductions are required and/or borrowings under available credit facilities might be required during the year to maintain funding of the Company’s ongoing development projects.
The Company plans to utilize surplus cash (not planned to be used by operations, investing activities, dividends or payment to noncontrolling interests), in accordance with the Company’s capital allocation plan designed to allow for additional shareholder returns and debt reduction. Details of the plan can be found in the “Capital Allocation Framework” section of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 4, 2022 and Form 8-K filed on August 8, 2024. The Board has authorized a share repurchase program whereby the Company can repurchase up to $1,100 million of the Company’s common stock. As of December 31, 2025, the Company had $550.1 million of its common stock remaining available to repurchase under the program.
Subsequent to the balance sheet date, the Company completed a series of transactions regarding its long-term debt arrangements and RCF. In January 2026, the Company closed a public offering of $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 2034 Notes, used the proceeds to redeem an aggregate $227.5 million of its outstanding 2027 Notes and 2028 Notes, repaid $100.0 million that was outstanding on the previous RCF, as of December 31, 2025, and expects to use the remaining proceeds to cover transaction-related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes. In addition, the Company entered into an amendment to its credit agreement which increased its RCF capacity from $1.35 billion to $2.0 billion and extended the term of the agreement to 2031. See Note F for additional information on these transactions.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
On January 28, 2026, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend on the Common Stock of Murphy Oil Corporation of $0.35 per share, which on an annualized basis would be $1.40 per share. The dividend is payable on March 2, 2026, to stockholders of record as of February 17, 2026.
The Company continues to monitor the impact of commodity prices on its financial position and is currently in compliance with the covenants related to the RCF (see Note F).
As of February 23, 2026, the Company has entered into forward fixed-price delivery contracts to manage risk associated with certain future oil and natural gas sales prices, as follows.
| Volumes (MMCF/D) | Price/MCF | Remaining Period | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Commodity | Type | Start Date | End Date | ||||||||
| Canada | Natural Gas | Fixed price forward sales | 50 | C$3.03 | 1/1/2026 | 3/31/2026 | ||||||
| Canada | Natural Gas | Fixed price forward sales | 78 | C$2.94 | 4/1/2026 | 6/30/2026 | ||||||
| Canada | Natural Gas | Fixed price forward sales | 78 | C$2.94 | 7/1/2026 | 9/30/2026 | ||||||
| Canada | Natural Gas | Fixed price forward sales | 59 | C$3.00 | 10/1/2026 | 12/31/2026 | ||||||
| Canada | Natural Gas | Fixed price forward sales | 9.5 | C$3.14 | 1/1/2027 | 12/31/2027 |
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Forward-Looking Statements
This Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are generally identified through the inclusion of words such as “aim”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “drive”, “estimate”, “expect”, “forecast”, “future”, “goal”, “guidance”, “intend”, “may”, “objective”, “outlook”, “plan”, “position”, “potential”, “project”, “seek”, “should”, “strategy”, “target”, “will” or variations of such words and other similar expressions. These statements, which express management’s current views concerning future events, results and plans, are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties and assumptions (many of which are beyond our control) and are not guarantees of performance. In particular, statements, express or implied, concerning the Company’s future operating results or activities and returns or the Company's ability and intent to replace or increase reserves, increase production, generate returns and rates of return, replace or increase drilling locations, reduce or otherwise control operating costs and expenditures, generate cash flows, pay down or refinance indebtedness, achieve, reach or otherwise meet initiatives, plans, goals, ambitions or targets with respect to emissions, safety matters or other environmental, social and governance matters, make capital expenditures, pay and/or increase dividends or make share repurchases and other capital allocation decisions are forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause one or more of these future events, results or plans not to occur as implied by any forward-looking statement, which consequently could cause actual results or activities to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to: macro conditions in the oil and natural gas industry, including supply and demand levels, actions taken by major oil exporters and the resulting impacts on commodity prices; geopolitical concerns; increased volatility or deterioration in the success rate of our exploration programs or in our ability to maintain production rates and replace reserves; reduced customer demand for our products due to environmental, regulatory, technological or other reasons; adverse foreign exchange movements; political and regulatory instability in the markets where we do business; the impact on our operations or markets of health pandemics and related government responses; natural hazards impacting our operations or markets; any other deterioration in our business, markets or prospects; cyber attacks and other cybersecurity risks; any failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals; the impact of current and future laws, rulings and governmental regulations; any inability to service or refinance our outstanding debt or to access debt markets at acceptable prices; or adverse developments in the U.S. or global capital markets, credit markets, banking system or economies in general, including inflation, trade policies, tariffs and other trade restrictions. For further discussion of factors that could cause one or more of these future events or results not to occur as implied by any forward-looking statement, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors”, which begins on page 13 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Investors and others should note that we may announce material information using SEC filings, press releases, public conference calls, webcasts and the investors page of our website. We may use these channels to distribute material information about the Company; therefore, we encourage investors, the media, business partners and others interested in the Company to review the information we post on our website. The information on our website is not part of, and is not incorporated into, this report. Each forward-looking statement contained in this report speaks only as of the date of this report. Except as required by applicable law, Murphy Oil Corporation undertakes no duty to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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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: 0000717423-25-000006.
Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) should be read together with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements, which are included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This MD&A includes forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties. See “Forward-Looking Statements” at the end of this section and “Risk Factors” under Item 1A. Discussion and analysis of 2022 results and year-over-year comparisons between 2023 and 2022 are not included in this Form 10-K and can be found in “Item 7” of the 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K available via the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on our website at www.murphyoilcorp.com.
Murphy Oil Corporation is a worldwide oil and natural gas exploration and production company with both onshore and offshore operations and properties. The Company produces crude oil, natural gas and NGLs primarily in the U.S. and Canada and explores for crude oil, natural gas and NGLs in targeted areas worldwide. A more detailed description of the Company’s significant assets can be found in “Item 1” of this Form 10-K report.
The analysis and discussion in this section includes amounts attributable to a noncontrolling interest (NCI) in MP GOM, unless otherwise noted.
Significant Company financial and operational highlights during 2024 were as follows:
•Generated net income of $486.5 million ($407.2 million excluding NCI and net cash provided by operating activities of $1,729.0 million;
•Produced 184 thousand BOEPD (177 thousand BOEPD excluding NCI);
•Issued $600.0 million of 6.000% senior notes due 2032, and used proceeds to redeem an aggregate $600.0 million of senior notes due 2027, 2028 and 2029;
•Entered into a new five-year, $1.35 billion senior unsecured credit facility, representing a 69% increase from previous facility size;
•Advances made under the capital allocation framework1:
◦Repurchased $50.0 million of long-term debt;
◦Repurchased 8.0 million shares of common stock under the share repurchase program for $300.0 million ($302.7 million including excise taxes and fees);
•Achieved 84% (83% excluding NCI) total proved reserve replacement with year-end proved reserves of 729.0 million MMBOE (713.1 MMBOE excluding NCI);
•Drilled an oil discovery at Hai Su Vang-1X (Golden Sea Lion) in offshore Vietnam and encountered approximately 370 feet of net oil pay from two reservoirs; and
•Drilled a discovery at the non-operated Ocotillo #1 exploration well in Mississippi Canyon 40 in the Gulf of America and found 100 feet of net pay across two zones.
1 Details of the capital allocation framework can be found as part of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 4, 2022 and Form 8-K filed on August 8, 2024. The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program whereby the Company can repurchase up to $1,100.0 million of the Company’s common stock.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Murphy’s continuing operations generate revenue by producing crude oil, natural gas and NGLs in the U.S. and Canada and then selling these products to customers. The Company’s revenue is affected by the prices of crude oil, natural gas and NGLs. In order to make a profit and generate cash in its exploration and production business, revenue generated from the sales of oil and natural gas produced must exceed the combined costs of producing these products and expenses related to exploration, administration and capital borrowing from lending institutions and note holders.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company’s net income from continuing operations was $489.3 million, a decrease of $235.9 million compared to 2023. Lower net income from continuing operations was largely driven by lower revenues and other income ($431.7 million), higher lease operating expenses ($152.7 million), and higher impairment expense ($62.9 million), partially offset by lower income tax expense ($117.6 million), lower exploration expenses ($101.2 million), higher other income ($79.5 million), lower other operating expense ($35.5 million) and lower transportation, gathering and processing costs ($22.2 million). Lower revenues from production were primarily driven by mechanical and weather downtime in the Gulf of America, timing and performance of new wells at Eagle Ford Shale and lower average oil and natural gas prices, partially offset by wells brought back online at the non-operated Terra Nova field in the fourth quarter of 2023. Higher lease operating expenses were primarily due to workovers in the Gulf of America and higher production activity in Canada at the Terra Nova field, partially offset by lower production handling fees in the Gulf of America. Higher impairment expense is due to impairment of the Calliope and Nearly Headless Nick fields in the Gulf of America. The decrease in income tax expense is primarily driven by lower overall income, in addition to an income tax deduction for prior years’ Australia exploration spend. Exploration expenses in the current period was primarily due to dry hole expense recorded for multiple wells in the Gulf of America, including Sebastian #1 (Mississippi Canyon 387), non-operated Orange #1 (Mississippi Canyon 216), and for previously suspended exploration costs related to an expired lease at Hoffe Park #1 (Mississippi Canyon 166). Higher other income related to unrealized foreign exchange gains and interest income on several outstanding joint interest receivables. Lower other operating expense in 2024 is primarily driven by lower non-operated Terra Nova field start-up costs, contingency adjustments and asset retirement obligations (ARO) revisions. Lower interest expense was due to lower debt levels. Lower transportation, gathering and processing expenses related to lower production in the U.S.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, total hydrocarbon production was 184,293 BOEPD, a decrease of 4% compared to 2023. The decrease was principally due to lower production in the U.S., primarily in the Gulf of America due to downtime for wells awaiting workovers and in the Eagle Ford Shale due to timing and performance of new wells and partially offset by the restart of production at the non-operated Terra Nova field in Canada in the first quarter of 2024.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Results of Operations
Murphy’s Net income (loss) by type of business and geographic segment is presented below:
| (Millions of dollars) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exploration and production | ||||||||||
| United States | $ | 561.9 | $ | 905.1 | $ | 1,521.9 | ||||
| Canada | 49.0 | 41.6 | 134.2 | |||||||
| Other International | (12.5) | (65.5) | (77.0) | |||||||
| Total exploration and production | 598.4 | 881.2 | 1,579.1 | |||||||
| Corporate and other | (109.1) | (156.0) | (438.3) | |||||||
| Income from continuing operations | 489.3 | 725.2 | 1,140.8 | |||||||
| Loss from discontinued operations 1 | (2.8) | (1.5) | (2.1) | |||||||
| Net income including noncontrolling interest | 486.5 | 723.7 | 1,138.7 | |||||||
| Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest | 79.3 | 62.1 | 173.7 | |||||||
| Net income attributable to Murphy | $ | 407.2 | $ | 661.6 | $ | 965.0 |
1 The Company has presented its former U.K., Malaysia and U.S. refining and marketing operations as discontinued operations in its consolidated financial statements.
E&P Continuing Operations: 2024 vs 2023
The following section of Exploration and Production (E&P) continuing operations excludes the Corporate segment, unless otherwise noted.
Please also refer to “Schedule 6 – Results of Operations for Oil and Natural Gas Producing Activities” in the Supplemental Oil and Natural Gas Information section for additional supporting tables.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
The following is a summarized statement of operations for E&P continuing operations:
| (Millions of dollars) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenues and other income | ||||||||||
| Revenue from production | $ | 3,014.9 | $ | 3,376.6 | $ | 4,038.5 | ||||
| Sales of purchased natural gas | 3.7 | 72.2 | 181.7 | |||||||
| Other income | 6.0 | 8.0 | 26.7 | |||||||
| Total revenues and other income | 3,024.6 | 3,456.8 | 4,246.9 | |||||||
| Costs and Expenses | ||||||||||
| Lease operating expenses | 937.0 | 784.4 | 679.3 | |||||||
| Severance and ad valorem taxes | 39.2 | 42.8 | 57.0 | |||||||
| Transportation, gathering and processing | 210.8 | 233.0 | 212.7 | |||||||
| Costs of purchased natural gas | 3.1 | 51.7 | 172.0 | |||||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 856.9 | 850.5 | 763.9 | |||||||
| Impairments of assets | 62.9 | — | — | |||||||
| Accretion of asset retirement obligations | 52.4 | 46.0 | 46.2 | |||||||
| Total exploration expenses, including undeveloped lease amortization | 133.5 | 234.8 | 133.1 | |||||||
| Selling and general expenses | 23.8 | 37.7 | 44.5 | |||||||
| Other | 0.3 | 56.9 | 141.8 | |||||||
| Results of operations before taxes | 704.7 | 1,119.0 | 1,996.4 | |||||||
| Income tax provisions | 106.3 | 237.8 | 417.3 | |||||||
| Results of operations (excluding Corporate segment) 1 | $ | 598.4 | $ | 881.2 | $ | 1,579.1 |
1 Includes results attributable to a noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
Pricing
The following table contains the weighted average sales prices for the three years ended December 31, 2024:
| (Weighted average sales prices) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude oil and condensate – dollars per barrel | ||||||||||
| United States - Onshore | $ | 75.77 | $ | 76.96 | $ | 96.00 | ||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 76.36 | 77.38 | 94.21 | |||||||
| Canada - Onshore 2 | 67.49 | 72.84 | 89.88 | |||||||
| Canada - Offshore 2 | 82.22 | 84.20 | 107.47 | |||||||
| Other 2 | 77.59 | 86.60 | 94.37 | |||||||
| Natural gas liquids – dollars per barrel | ||||||||||
| United States - Onshore | 20.20 | 19.69 | 33.85 | |||||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 23.37 | 21.94 | 36.01 | |||||||
| Canada - Onshore 2 | 34.14 | 35.87 | 55.65 | |||||||
| Natural gas – dollars per thousand cubic feet | ||||||||||
| United States - Onshore | 1.90 | 2.26 | 6.04 | |||||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 2.40 | 2.78 | 6.97 | |||||||
| Canada - Onshore 2 | 1.59 | 2.06 | 2.76 |
1 Prices include the effect of noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
2 U.S. dollar equivalent.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
The following table contains benchmark prices relevant to the Company for the three years ended December 31, 2024:
| (Average price for the period) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil and NGLs | |||||||||||
| WTI ($/BBL) | $ | 75.72 | $ | 77.62 | $ | 94.23 | |||||
| Natural gas | |||||||||||
| NYMEX ($/MMBTU) | 2.24 | 2.53 | 6.38 | ||||||||
| AECO (C$/MCF) | 1.46 | 2.64 | 5.31 |
Production Volumes
The following table contains hydrocarbons produced during the three years ended December 31, 2024. For further discussion on volumes, please see “Revenues from Production” section on page 37.
| (Barrels per day unless otherwise noted) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net crude oil and condensate | |||||||
| United States - Onshore | 21,151 | 24,070 | 24,437 | ||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 63,047 | 73,473 | 65,411 | ||||
| Canada - Onshore | 2,868 | 2,937 | 4,005 | ||||
| Canada - Offshore | 7,251 | 3,020 | 2,812 | ||||
| Other | 219 | 250 | 700 | ||||
| Total net crude oil and condensate | 94,536 | 103,750 | 97,365 | ||||
| Net natural gas liquids | |||||||
| United States - Onshore | 4,442 | 4,617 | 5,181 | ||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 4,544 | 5,924 | 4,597 | ||||
| Canada - Onshore | 597 | 681 | 903 | ||||
| Total net natural gas liquids | 9,583 | 11,222 | 10,681 | ||||
| Net natural gas – thousands of cubic feet per day | |||||||
| United States - Onshore | 25,028 | 25,863 | 29,050 | ||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 57,228 | 70,239 | 63,380 | ||||
| Canada - Onshore | 398,786 | 369,906 | 310,230 | ||||
| Total net natural gas | 481,042 | 466,008 | 402,660 | ||||
| Total net hydrocarbons - including NCI 2,3 | 184,293 | 192,640 | 175,156 | ||||
| Noncontrolling interest | |||||||
| Net crude oil and condensate – barrels per day | (6,358) | (6,210) | (7,452) | ||||
| Net natural gas liquids – barrels per day | (199) | (220) | (280) | ||||
| Net natural gas – thousands of cubic feet per day | (1,942) | (2,089) | (2,468) | ||||
| Total noncontrolling interest 2,3 | (6,881) | (6,778) | (8,143) | ||||
| Total net hydrocarbons - excluding NCI 2,3 | 177,412 | 185,862 | 167,013 | ||||
| Estimated total proved net hydrocarbon reserves - million equivalent barrels 3,4 | 729.0 | 739.5 | 715.4 |
1 Includes net volumes attributable to a noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
2 Natural gas converted on an energy equivalent basis of 6:1.
3 NCI – noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
4 December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, include 15.9 MMBOE, 15.5 MMBOE and 18.2 MMBOE, respectively, relating to
noncontrolling interest.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Sales Volumes
The following table contains hydrocarbons sold during the three years ended December 31, 2024. For further discussion on volumes, please see “Revenues from Production” section on page 37.
| (Barrels per day unless otherwise noted) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net crude oil and condensate | |||||||
| United States - Onshore | 21,151 | 24,070 | 24,437 | ||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 63,612 | 73,373 | 64,840 | ||||
| Canada - Onshore | 2,868 | 2,937 | 4,005 | ||||
| Canada - Offshore | 6,445 | 2,559 | 3,002 | ||||
| Other | 230 | 349 | 663 | ||||
| Total net crude oil and condensate | 94,306 | 103,288 | 96,947 | ||||
| Net natural gas liquids | |||||||
| United States - Onshore | 4,443 | 4,617 | 5,181 | ||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 4,543 | 5,924 | 4,597 | ||||
| Canada - Onshore | 597 | 681 | 903 | ||||
| Total net natural gas liquids | 9,583 | 11,222 | 10,681 | ||||
| Net natural gas – thousands of cubic feet per day | |||||||
| United States - Onshore | 25,028 | 25,863 | 29,050 | ||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 57,228 | 70,239 | 63,380 | ||||
| Canada - Onshore | 398,786 | 369,906 | 310,230 | ||||
| Total net natural gas | 481,042 | 466,008 | 402,660 | ||||
| Total net hydrocarbons - including NCI 2,3 | 184,063 | 192,178 | 174,738 | ||||
| Noncontrolling interest | |||||||
| Net crude oil and condensate – barrels per day | (6,438) | (6,200) | (7,369) | ||||
| Net natural gas liquids – barrels per day | (198) | (220) | (280) | ||||
| Net natural gas – thousands of cubic feet per day | (1,942) | (2,089) | (2,468) | ||||
| Total noncontrolling interest 2,3 | (6,960) | (6,768) | (8,060) | ||||
| Total net hydrocarbons - excluding NCI 2,3 | 177,103 | 185,410 | 166,678 |
1 Includes net volumes attributable to a noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
2 Natural gas converted on an energy equivalent basis of 6:1.
3 NCI – noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
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Revenues from Production
The Company’s production revenues by country and product were as follows:
| (Millions of dollars) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenues from production | ||||||||||
| United States - Oil | $ | 2,364.3 | $ | 2,748.5 | $ | 3,085.9 | ||||
| United States - Natural gas liquids | 71.7 | 80.6 | 124.4 | |||||||
| United States - Natural gas | 67.8 | 92.7 | 225.3 | |||||||
| Canada - Oil | 264.8 | 156.7 | 249.2 | |||||||
| Canada - Natural gas liquids | 7.4 | 8.9 | 18.3 | |||||||
| Canada - Natural Gas | 232.3 | 278.2 | 312.6 | |||||||
| Other - Oil | 6.6 | 11.0 | 22.8 | |||||||
| Total revenues from production | $ | 3,014.9 | $ | 3,376.6 | $ | 4,038.5 |
Revenues from production in 2024 decreased by $361.7 million compared to 2023. Revenue was lower in the Gulf of America, mostly driven by downtime for workovers, hurricane-related downtime and timing of new wells. Eagle Ford Shale revenues decreased due to timing and performance of wells brought online. These decreases were partially offset by wells brought back online in the fourth quarter of 2023 at non-operated Terra Nova. Lower pricing across all products also contributed to the decrease during the period.
Natural gas is purchased and subsequently sold to third parties in order to provide operational flexibility and cost mitigation for transportation commitments. “Sales of purchased natural gas” is included in “Total revenues and other income” and “Costs of purchased natural gas” is included in “Costs and Expenses” in the summarized statement of operations for E&P continuing operations on page 33. Sales of purchased natural gas during 2024 were $3.7 million.
Lease Operating and Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses
The Company’s total lease operating expenses and transportation, gathering and processing expenses by geographic area were as follows:
| (Millions of dollars) | (Dollars per equivalent barrel) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Lease operating expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States – Onshore | $ | 141.9 | $ | 150.3 | $ | 137.6 | $ | 13.02 | $ | 12.48 | $ | 10.94 | |||||||||||
| United States – Offshore | 608.0 | 480.4 | 385.1 | 21.38 | 14.46 | 13.19 | |||||||||||||||||
| Canada – Onshore | 132.6 | 140.3 | 139.5 | 5.18 | 5.89 | 6.75 | |||||||||||||||||
| Canada – Offshore | 52.9 | 11.5 | 15.6 | 22.43 | 12.30 | 14.20 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 18.52 | 14.94 | 6.25 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total lease operating expenses | $ | 937.0 | $ | 784.4 | $ | 679.3 | $ | 13.91 | $ | 11.18 | $ | 10.65 | |||||||||||
| Transportation, gathering and processing | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States – Onshore | $ | 9.6 | $ | 12.7 | $ | 18.4 | $ | 0.88 | $ | 1.05 | $ | 1.47 | |||||||||||
| United States – Offshore | 121.3 | 144.3 | 123.8 | 4.27 | 4.34 | 4.24 | |||||||||||||||||
| Canada – Onshore | 75.5 | 72.2 | 65.3 | 2.95 | 3.03 | 3.16 | |||||||||||||||||
| Canada – Offshore | 4.4 | 3.8 | 5.2 | 1.85 | 4.12 | 4.76 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total transportation, gathering and processing | $ | 210.8 | $ | 233.0 | $ | 212.7 | $ | 3.13 | $ | 3.32 | $ | 3.34 |
Lease operating expenses and transportation, gathering and processing expenses in 2024 increased by $152.6 million and decreased by $22.2 million, respectively, compared to 2023. Higher lease operating expenses were primarily due to workover costs in the Gulf of America, particularly at the Samurai and Neidermeyer fields, and the restart of the non-operated Terra Nova field in Canada Offshore in the first quarter of 2024. These were
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partially offset by lower production handling fees and lower overall volumes. Lower transportation, gathering and processing expenses were primarily due to lower volumes.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Expense
The Company’s depreciation, depletion and amortization expense by geographic area was as follows:
| (Millions of dollars) | (Dollars per equivalent barrel) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States – Onshore | $ | 319.9 | $ | 316.7 | $ | 321.4 | $ | 29.36 | $ | 26.29 | $ | 25.55 | |||||||||||
| United States – Offshore | 389.3 | 389.3 | 295.6 | 13.69 | 11.72 | 10.12 | |||||||||||||||||
| Canada – Onshore | 123.5 | 133.4 | 128.1 | 4.82 | 5.60 | 6.20 | |||||||||||||||||
| Canada – Offshore | 22.5 | 8.8 | 13.4 | 9.55 | 9.47 | 12.25 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other | 1.7 | 2.3 | 5.4 | 20.13 | 18.05 | 22.19 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total depreciation, depletion and amortization expense | $ | 856.9 | $ | 850.5 | $ | 763.9 | $ | 12.72 | $ | 12.12 | $ | 11.98 |
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense (DD&A) in 2024 increased by $6.4 million compared to 2023. Higher DD&A was primarily the result of higher volumes at the non-operated Terra Nova field in Canada Offshore and higher rates at Eagle Ford Shale and in the Gulf of America, and was partially offset by lower volumes in the Gulf of America and lower rates and volumes at Kaybob Duvernay.
Impairment of Assets
In 2024 the Company recorded impairment costs for two assets in the Gulf of America, totaling $62.9 million. In the first quarter of 2024, the Company recognized an impairment expense of $34.5 million for the Calliope field. In the fourth quarter of 2024, an impairment expense of $28.4 million was recorded for the Nearly Headless Nick field. Both fields were impaired as a result of operational issues that led to reserve reductions.
There were no impairments recorded in 2023.
Exploration Expenses
The Company’s exploration expenses were as follows:
| (Millions of dollars) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exploration expenses | |||||||||||
| Dry holes and previously suspended exploration costs | $ | 73.2 | $ | 169.8 | $ | 82.1 | |||||
| Geological and geophysical | 27.2 | 26.1 | 10.4 | ||||||||
| Other exploration | 23.5 | 28.0 | 27.3 | ||||||||
| Undeveloped lease amortization | 9.6 | 10.9 | 13.3 | ||||||||
| Total exploration expenses | $ | 133.5 | $ | 234.8 | $ | 133.1 |
Exploration expenses in 2024 decreased by $101.3 million compared to 2023. In 2024, dry holes and previously suspended exploration costs primarily related to the Sebastian #1 (Mississippi Canyon 387) exploration well, the non-operated Orange #1 (Mississippi Canyon 216) exploration well, and the previously suspended exploration well at Hoffe Park #1 (Mississippi Canyon 166) in the Gulf of America. In 2023, dry holes and previously suspended exploration costs related to previously suspended exploration costs for the Cholula-1EXP well in offshore Mexico and dry hole costs for the Chinook #7 (Walker Ridge 425) exploration well and the non-operated Oso #1 (Atwater Valley 138) exploration well in the Gulf of America, both of which encountered non-commercial hydrocarbons.
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Other Expenses
Other expenses were $0.3 million in 2024, a decrease of $56.6 million compared to 2023. Other expenses were lower primarily due to the absence of other operating expenses in Canada related to the non-operated Terra Nova life extension project, lower asset retirement adjustments, no contingent consideration adjustments in the current period and higher interest income received in 2024.
Income Taxes
Income taxes were $106.3 million in 2024, a decrease of $131.5 million compared to 2023. Lower income taxes were primarily the result of lower pretax income, and an income tax deduction for prior years’ Australia exploration spend (see Note H).
Corporate: 2024 vs 2023
Corporate activities include interest expense and income, foreign exchange effects, realized and unrealized gains/losses on derivative instruments (forward swaps to hedge the price of oil sold) and corporate overhead not allocated to E&P. Realized and unrealized losses on derivative instruments result from increases in market oil and natural gas prices relating to future periods whereby the swap contracts provided the Company with a fixed price.
Corporate activities reported a loss of $109.1 million in 2024, a favorable variance of $46.9 million compared to 2023. The favorable variance was primarily due to foreign exchange gain of $45.4 million in 2024 compared to foreign exchange loss of $10.7 million in 2023, primarily as a result of unrealized exchange rate changes relating to our Canadian subsidiary. Interest charges are lower in 2024 primarily due to lower overall debt levels. The lower income tax benefit was the result of a lower current period loss before income tax.
Financial Condition
The Company’s primary sources of liquidity are cash on hand, net cash provided by continuing operations activities and available borrowing capacity under its senior unsecured RCF, as described below. The Company’s liquidity requirements, both in the short-term (2025) and long-term (beyond 2025), consist primarily of capital expenditures, debt maturity, retirement and interest payments, working capital requirements, dividend payments, and, as applicable, share repurchases. The Company may, from time to time, redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire its outstanding notes through open market purchases, tender offers or pursuant to the terms of such securities. The Company believes that the primary sources of liquidity described above will be adequate to fund its liquidity needs over the next 12 months.
Cash Flows
The following table presents the Company’s cash flows for the periods presented.
| (Millions of dollars) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net cash provided by (required by): | ||||||||||
| Net cash provided by continuing operations activities | $ | 1,729.0 | $ | 1,748.8 | $ | 2,180.2 | ||||
| Net cash required by investing activities | (908.2) | (998.7) | (1,109.4) | |||||||
| Net cash required by financing activities | (716.5) | (923.7) | (1,081.6) | |||||||
| Net cash required by discontinued operations | — | — | (14.5) | |||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | 2.2 | (1.2) | (3.9) | |||||||
| Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | $ | 106.5 | $ | (174.8) | $ | (29.2) |
Cash Provided by Continuing Operations Activities
Net cash provided by continuing operations activities in 2024 was $19.8 million lower compared to 2023. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower revenue from production ($361.7 million) and higher lease
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operating expenses costs ($152.6 million), partially offset by a decrease due to timing of non-cash working capital ($174.2 million) settlements, no contingent consideration payments related to prior Gulf of America acquisitions in 2024 (2023: $139.6 million), lower exploration expenses ($101.2 million), and changes in other operating activities, net ($56.4 million) primarily due to decreased expenditures for asset retirements.
Payments of contingent consideration in 2023 are shown both in “Operating Activities” and “Financing Activities” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; amounts considered as financing activities are those amounts paid up to the original estimated contingent consideration liability included in the purchase price allocation, at the time of acquisition. Any contingent consideration paid above the original estimated liability, included in the purchase price, are considered operating activities.
During 2023, the Company paid a total of $199.8 million in contingent consideration, of which $139.6 million is shown in “Operating Activities” and $60.2 million is shown in “Financing Activities” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. As of the end of the second quarter of 2023, the Company had no further obligation payable for contingent consideration relating to prior Gulf of America acquisitions. See Note O for further details.
The total reductions of operating cash flows for interest paid (which excludes “Early redemption of debt cost” reported in “Financing Activities”) during the two years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023 were $78.8 million and $108.9 million, respectively. Cash interest paid in 2024 was primarily due to interest payments on outstanding debt. Some of these payments related to accelerated interest payments due to the early redemption, in part, of the 5.875% senior notes due 2027 (2027 Notes), the 6.375% senior notes due 2028 (2028 Notes), and the 7.05% senior notes due 2029 (2029 Notes) in the aggregate redemption amount of $650.1 million. In 2023, cash interest paid was higher than 2024, primarily due to higher debt levels in 2023 and accelerated interest payments due to the early redemption, in whole or in part, of the 5.75% senior notes due 2025 (2025 Notes), the 2027 Notes, the 2028 Notes, and the 2029 Notes for an aggregate redemption amount of $498.2 million.
Cash Required by Investing Activities
Net cash required by investing activities in 2024 was $90.5 million lower compared to 2023. The decrease was primarily due to lower property additions and dry hole costs ($157.9 million) and lower acquisition capital ($35.6 million), partially offset by the absence of proceeds from the sale of certain non-core operated Kaybob Duvernay assets and all of the non-operated Placid Montney assets ($102.9 million).
A reconciliation of “Property additions and dry hole costs” in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows to total capital expenditures for continuing operations follows.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Property additions and dry hole costs per cash flow statements | $ | 908.2 | $ | 1,066.0 | $ | 985.5 | ||||
| Geophysical and other exploration expenses | 44.8 | 46.0 | 30.6 | |||||||
| Acquisition of oil and natural gas properties per the cash flow statements | — | 35.6 | 128.5 | |||||||
| Capital expenditure accrual changes and other | 11.8 | (9.5) | 38.6 | |||||||
| Total capital expenditures | $ | 964.8 | $ | 1,138.1 | $ | 1,183.2 |
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Total accrual basis capital expenditures are shown below.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Capital Expenditures | ||||||||||
| Exploration and production | $ | 935.7 | $ | 1,114.0 | $ | 1,161.5 | ||||
| Corporate | 29.1 | 24.1 | 21.7 | |||||||
| Total capital expenditures | 964.8 | 1,138.1 | 1,183.2 | |||||||
| Total capital expenditures excluding proved property acquisitions | 964.8 | 1,111.0 | 1,054.7 | |||||||
| Total capital expenditures excluding proved property acquisitions and NCI | $ | 952.8 | $ | 1,040.8 | $ | 1,028.8 |
Lower capital expenditures in 2024 compared to 2023 were primarily attributable to lower development expenditures at Eagle Ford Shale, Tupper Montney, and non-operated Terra Nova and lower exploration expenses in the Gulf of America, partially offset by higher exploration and development costs in offshore Vietnam.
Capital expenditures in 2024 primarily relate to development drilling and field development activities in the Gulf of America, primarily related to the Mormont, Khaleesi, Lucius, St. Malo and Samurai fields ($306.9 million), at Eagle Ford Shale ($291.8 million), at Tupper Montney and Kaybob Duvernay ($116.3 million), at other international locations ($45.1 million), and at non-operated Hibernia ($18.2 million). In addition, total exploration costs were $153.9 million.
Exploration costs in 2024 were primarily comprised of activities in the Gulf of America related to the Sebastian #1 (Mississippi Canyon 387), Orange #1 (Mississippi Canyon 216), and non-operated Oso #1 (Atwater Valley 138) exploration wells. Sebastian #1 and Orange #1 encountered non-commercial hydrocarbons during 2024. Non-operated Oso #1 encountered non-commercial hydrocarbons in 2023, and operations completed in 2024. Additional exploratory costs relate to oil discoveries, including the non-operated Ocotillo #1 (Mississippi Canyon 40) exploration well in the Gulf of America and the Hai Su Vang-1X (Golden Sea Lion), Block 15/2-17 exploration well in Vietnam, as well as other ongoing projects.
Cash Required by Financing Activities
Net cash required by financing activities in 2024 decreased by $207.2 million compared to 2023. In 2024, cash used in financing activities was principally for the repurchase of common shares ($301.4 million, excluding excise tax). In addition, the Company completed a refinancing transaction whereby new senior notes due 2032 were issued in the aggregate amount of $600.0 million and the proceeds were used for the aggregate repayment and repurchase of $600.0 million of its 2027 Notes, 2028 Notes and 2029 Notes. The Company also repurchased $50.0 million of its 2027 Notes, paid cash dividends to shareholders of $1.20 per share ($180.0 million), and distributed funds to the noncontrolling interest in MP GOM ($118.6 million).
Liquidity
At December 31, 2024, the Company had approximately $1.8 billion of liquidity consisting of $423.6 million in cash and cash equivalents and $1,349.6 million available on its committed senior unsecured RCF with a major banking consortium.
The Company’s $1.35 billion senior unsecured RCF expires in October 2029. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under the RCF and $0.4 million of outstanding letters of credit, which reduce the borrowing capacity of the senior unsecured RCF. Borrowings under the RCF are subject to certain interest rates. Please refer to Note F for further details. At December 31, 2024, the interest rate in effect on borrowings under the facility would have been 6.68%. At December 31, 2024, the Company was in compliance with all covenants related to the RCF.
Cash and invested cash are maintained in several operating locations outside the U.S. As of December 31, 2024, cash and cash equivalents held outside the U.S. included U.S. dollar equivalents of approximately $95.2 million (2023: $149 million), the majority of which was held in Canada ($58.5 million), Vietnam ($8.7 million) and Brunei ($8.5 million). In addition, approximately $7.8 million and $6.4 million of cash was held in the U.K. and Mexico, respectively. In certain cases, the Company could incur cash taxes or other costs should these cash balances be
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repatriated to the U.S. in future periods. Canada currently collects a 5% withholding tax on any earnings repatriated to the U.S. See Note H for further information regarding potential tax expense that could be incurred upon distribution of foreign earnings back to the U.S.
Working Capital
| (Millions of dollars) | December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Working capital | ||||||
| Total current assets | $ | 785.3 | $ | 752.2 | ||
| Total current liabilities | 942.8 | 846.5 | ||||
| Net working capital liability | $ | (157.5) | $ | (94.3) |
As of December 31, 2024, net working capital had an unfavorable decrease of $63.2 million compared to December 31, 2023. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower accounts receivable ($71.5 million), higher operating lease liabilities ($45.4 million), higher current ARO liabilities ($37.4 million), and higher accounts payable ($25.3 million), partially offset by a higher cash balance ($106.5 million). Lower accounts receivable were primarily due to lower sales volumes for crude oil and natural gas, and lower pricing received for all crude oil, natural gas and NGLs. Higher operating lease liabilities are primarily due to an extension of an existing drilling ship lease in the Gulf of America. Higher current ARO liabilities are primarily due to certain Gulf of America obligations to be completed in 2025. Higher accounts payable are due to the timing of payments for certain drilling activities and ongoing workover projects.
Capital Employed
A summary of capital employed as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 follows.
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars) | Amount | % | Amount | % | |||||||||
| Capital employed | |||||||||||||
| Long-term debt | $ | 1,274.5 | 19.7 | % | $ | 1,328.4 | 19.9 | % | |||||
| Murphy shareholders' equity | 5,194.3 | 80.3 | % | 5,362.8 | 80.1 | % | |||||||
| Total capital employed | $ | 6,468.8 | 100.0 | % | $ | 6,691.2 | 100.0 | % |
As of December 31, 2024, long-term debt decreased by $53.9 million compared to December 31, 2023, as a result of the repurchase of the 2027 Notes and 2028 Notes. The Company also completed a refinancing transaction whereby it issued $600.0 million of 2032 Notes, and used all of the proceeds to complete the repurchase and redemption, in whole or in part, of the 2027 Notes, 2028 Notes, and 2029 Notes. As of December 31, 2024, the fixed-rate notes had a weighted average maturity of 9.3 years and a weighted average coupon of 6.1%. Refer to Note F for additional details.
Murphy’s shareholders’ equity decreased by $168.5 million in 2024 primarily due to cash dividends paid ($180.0 million), shares repurchased ($302.7 million, including excise tax), and foreign currency translation losses ($134.7 million), partially offset by net income earned ($407.2 million). A summary of transactions in stockholders’ equity accounts is presented in the “Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity" on page 70 of this Form 10-K report.
Other Balance Sheet Activity - Long-Term Assets and Liabilities
Other significant changes in Murphy’s balance sheet at the end of 2024, compared to 2023 are discussed below.
Property, plant and equipment, net of depreciation decreased $170.5 million principally due to DD&A expense and foreign exchange rates applicable for the Canadian assets, substantially offset by capital expenditures in the year. Capital expenditures are discussed above in the “Cash Required by Investing Activities” section.
Murphy had commitments for capital expenditures of approximately $417.0 million at December 31, 2024 (2023: $209.8 million). This amount includes $220.0 million for Other Offshore, primarily related to approved expenditures for capital projects relating to interests in Vietnam for the Lac Da Vang (Golden Camel) field development project, $112.2 million at Eagle Ford Shale, primarily at the Karnes field, $53.6 million relating to
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Gulf of America interests, primarily at the Mormont and non-operated St. Malo fields, and $31.2 million relating to interests in Canada Onshore, primarily at Kaybob Duvernay.
Operating lease assets increased $32.4 million principally due to lease extensions in the Gulf of America, partially offset by the depreciation of these assets.
Long-term ARO liabilities increased $56.8 million primarily due to accretion, additions and revisions related to Gulf of America and Eagle Ford Shale operations.
Non-current operating lease liabilities decreased $14.5 million primarily due to 2024 annual payments reducing operating lease liabilities for drilling rig and vessel commitments.
Deferred income tax liabilities increased $59.1 million due to utilization of the net operating loss, partially offset by other capital-related tax effects.
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Other Key Performance Metrics
The Company uses other operational performance and income metrics to review operational performance. Management uses adjusted net income, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) and adjusted EBITDA internally to evaluate the Company’s operational performance and trends between periods and relative to its industry competitors. Adjusted net income excludes certain items that management believes affects the comparability of results between periods. Management believes this information may be useful to investors and analysts to gain a better understanding of the Company’s financial results. Adjusted net income, EBITDA, and adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures and should not be considered a substitute for net income (loss) or cash provided by operating activities as determined in accordance with GAAP.
The following table reconciles reported net income attributable to Murphy to adjusted net income from continuing operations attributable to Murphy.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Net income attributable to Murphy (GAAP) 1 | $ | 407.2 | $ | 661.6 | $ | 965.0 | ||||
| Discontinued operations loss | 2.8 | 1.5 | 2.1 | |||||||
| Net income from continuing operations attributable to Murphy | 410.0 | 663.1 | 967.1 | |||||||
| Adjustments: | ||||||||||
| Impairment of assets | 62.9 | — | — | |||||||
| Write-off of previously suspended exploration well | 26.1 | 17.1 | 22.7 | |||||||
| Foreign exchange (gain) loss | (45.4) | 10.9 | (23.0) | |||||||
| Refinancing and early redemption of debt costs (non-cash) | 3.7 | — | 10.3 | |||||||
| Mark-to-market loss (gain) on derivative instruments | 1.7 | — | (214.7) | |||||||
| Asset retirement obligation losses | — | 16.9 | 30.8 | |||||||
| Mark-to-market loss on contingent consideration | — | 7.1 | 78.3 | |||||||
| (Gain) on sale of assets | — | — | (14.5) | |||||||
| Total adjustments, before taxes | 49.0 | 52.0 | (110.1) | |||||||
| Income tax (benefit) expense related to adjustments | (8.3) | (6.4) | 23.8 | |||||||
| Tax (benefit) on investments in foreign areas | (34.0) | — | — | |||||||
| Total adjustments after taxes | 6.7 | 45.6 | (86.3) | |||||||
| Adjusted net income from continuing operations attributable to Murphy (Non-GAAP) | $ | 416.7 | $ | 708.7 | $ | 880.8 | ||||
| Net income from continuing operations per average diluted share (GAAP) | $ | 2.72 | $ | 4.23 | $ | 6.14 | ||||
| Adjusted net income from continuing operations attributable to Murphy per average diluted share (Non-GAAP) | $ | 2.76 | $ | 4.52 | $ | 5.59 |
1 Excludes amounts attributable to a noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
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The following table reconciles reported net income attributable to Murphy to EBITDA attributable to Murphy and adjusted EBITDA attributable to Murphy.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Net (loss) income attributable to Murphy (GAAP) 1 | $ | 407.2 | $ | 661.6 | $ | 965.0 | ||||
| Income tax expense | 78.3 | 195.9 | 309.5 | |||||||
| Interest expense, net | 105.9 | 112.4 | 150.8 | |||||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense 1 | 833.1 | 836.7 | 748.2 | |||||||
| EBITDA attributable to Murphy (Non-GAAP) | 1,424.5 | 1,806.6 | 2,173.5 | |||||||
| Impairment of assets 1 | 62.9 | — | — | |||||||
| Accretion of asset retirement obligations 1 | 46.9 | 41.0 | 40.9 | |||||||
| Foreign exchange (gain) loss | (45.4) | 10.8 | (23.0) | |||||||
| Write-off of previously suspended exploration well | 26.1 | 17.1 | 22.7 | |||||||
| Discontinued operations loss | 2.8 | 1.5 | 2.1 | |||||||
| Mark-to-market loss (gain) on derivative instruments | 1.7 | — | (214.7) | |||||||
| Mark-to-market loss on contingent consideration | — | 7.1 | 78.3 | |||||||
| Asset retirement obligation losses | — | 16.9 | 30.8 | |||||||
| Gain on sale of assets 1 | — | — | (14.5) | |||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Murphy (Non-GAAP) | $ | 1,519.5 | $ | 1,901.0 | $ | 2,096.1 |
1 Excludes amounts attributable to a noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
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Environmental, Health and Safety Matters
Murphy faces various environmental, health and safety risks that are inherent in exploring for, developing and producing hydrocarbons. To help manage these risks, the Company has established a robust health, safety and environmental governance program comprised of a worldwide policy, guiding principles, annual goals and a management system incorporating oversight at each business unit, senior leadership and board levels. The Company strives to minimize these risks by continually improving its processes through design, operation and implementation of a comprehensive asset integrity plan, auditing and assessments, and through emergency and oil spill response planning to address any credible risks. These plans are presented to, reviewed and approved by a Health, Safety, Environment and Corporate Responsibility Committee consisting of certain members of the Board.
The oil and natural gas industry is subject to numerous international, foreign, national, state, provincial and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. Murphy allocates a portion of both its capital expenditures and its general and administrative budget toward compliance with existing and anticipated environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. These requirements affect virtually all operations of the Company and increase Murphy’s overall cost of business, including its capital costs to construct, maintain and upgrade equipment and facilities as well as operating costs for ongoing compliance.
The principal environmental, health and safety laws and regulations to which Murphy is subject address such matters as the generation, storage, handling, use, disposal and remediation of petroleum products, wastewater and hazardous materials; the emission and discharge of such materials to the environment, including methane and other GHG emissions; wildlife, habitat and water protection; the placement, operation and decommissioning of production equipment; and the health and safety of our employees, contractors and communities where our operations are located. These laws and regulations also generally require permits for existing operations, as well as the construction or development of new operations and the decommissioning facilities once production has ceased. Violations can give rise to sanctions including significant civil and criminal penalties, injunctions, construction bans and delays.
Further information on environmental, health and safety laws and regulations applicable to Murphy are contained in the “Business” section beginning page 9.
Climate Change and Emissions
The world’s population and standard of living are growing steadily along with the demand for energy. Murphy recognizes that this may generate increasing amounts of GHG, which could raise important climate change concerns. Murphy works to assess the Company’s governance, strategy, risk identification, and management and measurement of climate risks and opportunities in order to remain in alignment with the TCFD framework. While oversight of the TCFD framework has undergone changes, including relating to the role of the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation in overseeing the framework, the TCFD framework continues to inform climate-related reporting practices. Murphy’s disclosures related to its alignment with the TCFD framework are included in the Company’s 2024 Sustainability Report issued on August 7, 2024, which is not incorporated by reference hereto.
Other Matters
Impact of inflation – In 2024, many countries worldwide continued to experience moderate inflation, including countries where the Company operates (this follows a sustained period of relatively low inflation prior to 2021). The Company’s revenues, capital and operating costs are influenced to a larger extent by specific price changes in the oil and natural gas industry and allied industries rather than by changes in general inflation. Crude oil prices generally reflect the balance between supply and demand, with crude oil prices being particularly sensitive to OPEC and certain non-OPEC members’ production levels and/or attitudes of traders concerning supply and demand in the future. Costs for oil field goods and services are usually affected by the worldwide prices for crude oil.
To combat impacts of inflation and/or supply and demand factors, Murphy has dedicated personnel in marketing and procurement departments, focused on managing supply chain and input costs. Murphy also has certain transportation, processing and production handling services costs fixed through long-term contracts and commitments and therefore is partly protected from the increasing price of services. However, from time to time,
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Murphy will seek to enter new commitments, exercise options to extend contracts and retender contracts for rigs and other industry services which could expose Murphy to the impact of higher costs. Murphy continues to strive toward safely executing our work in an ever-increasingly efficient manner to mitigate possible inflationary pressures in our business.
Natural gas prices are also affected by supply and demand, which are often affected by the weather and by the fact that delivery of natural gas can be restricted to specific geographic areas. Natural gas is also impacted by demand for lower carbon emissions.
As a result of the overall volatility of oil and natural gas prices, it is not possible to predict the Company’s future cost of oil field goods and services.
Critical Accounting Estimates – In preparing the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP, management must make a number of estimates and assumptions related to the reporting of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Application of certain of the Company’s accounting policies requires significant estimates. The most significant of these accounting policies and estimates are described below.
Oil and natural gas proved reserves – Oil and natural gas proved reserves are defined by the SEC as those quantities of oil and natural 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 before the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire (unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain). Proved developed reserves of oil and natural gas can be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods or in which the cost of the required equipment is relatively minor compared with the cost of a new well, or through installed extraction equipment and infrastructure operational at the time of the reserves estimate if the extraction is by means not involving a well.
Although the Company’s engineers are knowledgeable of and follow the guidelines for reserves as established by the SEC, the estimation of reserves requires the engineers to make a significant number of assumptions based on professional judgment. SEC rules require the Company to use an unweighted average of the oil and natural gas prices in effect at the beginning of each month of the year for determining quantities of proved reserves. These historical prices often do not approximate the average price that the Company expects to receive for its oil and natural gas production in the future. The Company often uses significantly different oil and natural gas prices and reserve assumptions when making its own internal economic property evaluations. Changes in oil and natural gas prices can lead to a decision to start up or shut in production, which can lead to revisions to reserves quantities.
Estimated reserves are subject to future revision, certain of which could be substantial, based on the availability of additional information, including reservoir performance, new geological and geophysical data, additional drilling, technological advancements, price changes and other economic factors. Reserves revisions inherently lead to adjustments of the Company’s depreciation rates and the timing of settlement of ARO liabilities. Downward reserves revisions can also lead to significant impairment expense. The Company cannot predict the type of oil and natural gas reserves revisions that will be required in future periods.
The Company’s proved reserves of crude oil, natural gas and NGLs are presented on pages 106 to 115 of this Form 10-K report. Murphy’s estimations for proved reserves were generated through the integration of available geoscience, engineering, and economic data (including hydrocarbon prices, operating costs, and development costs), and commercially available technologies, to establish “reasonable certainty” of economic producibility. As defined by the SEC, reasonable certainty of proved reserves describes a high degree of confidence that the quantities will be recovered. In estimating proved reserves, Murphy uses familiar industry-accepted methods for subsurface evaluations, including performance, volumetric, and analog-based studies.
Where appropriate, Murphy includes reliable geologic and engineering technology to estimate proved reserves. Reliable geologic and engineering technology is a method or combination of methods that are field-tested and have been demonstrated to provide reasonably certain results with consistency and repeatability in the formation being evaluated or in an analogous formation. This integrated approach increases the quality of and confidence in Murphy’s proved reserves estimates. It was utilized in certain undrilled acreage at distances
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greater than the directly offsetting development spacing areas, and in certain reservoirs developed with the application of improved recovery techniques. Murphy utilized a combination of 3D seismic interpretation, core analysis, wellbore log measurements, well test data, historic production and pressure data, and commercially available seismic processing and numerical reservoir simulation programs. Reservoir parameters from analogous reservoirs were used to strengthen the reserves estimates when available.
See further discussion of proved reserves and changes in proved reserves during the three years ended December 31, 2024 beginning on pages 4 and 106 of this Form 10-K report.
Property, Plant and Equipment - impairment of long-lived assets – The Company continually monitors its long-lived assets recorded in “Property, plant and equipment” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet to ensure that they are fairly presented. The Company must evaluate its property, plant and equipment for potential impairment when circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable from undiscounted future net cash flows.
A significant amount of judgment is involved in performing these evaluations since the results are based on estimated future events. Such events include a projection of future oil and natural gas sales prices, an estimate of the amount of oil and natural gas that will be produced from a field, the timing of this future production, future costs to produce the oil and natural gas, future capital, operating and abandonment costs and future inflation levels.
The need to test a long-lived asset for impairment can be based on several factors, including, but not limited to, a significant reduction in sales prices for oil and/or natural gas, unfavorable revisions of oil or natural gas reserves, or other changes to contracts, environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, tax laws or other regulatory changes. All of these factors must be considered when evaluating a property’s carrying value for possible impairment.
Due to the volatility of world oil and natural gas markets, the actual sales prices for oil and natural gas have often been different from the Company’s projections.
Estimates of future oil and natural gas production and sales volumes are based on a combination of proved and risked probable reserves. Although the estimation of reserves and future production is uncertain, the Company believes that its estimates are reasonable; however, there have been cases where actual production volumes were higher or lower than projected and the timing was different than the original projection. The Company adjusts reserves and production estimates as new information becomes available.
The Company generally projects future costs by using historical costs adjusted for both assumed long-term inflation rates and known or expected changes in future operations. Although the projected future costs are considered to be reasonable, at times, costs have been higher or lower than originally estimated.
In 2024, the Company recognized pretax non-cash impairment charges of $62.9 million to reduce the carrying values at select properties. In the first quarter of 2024, the Company recognized $34.5 million related to the Calliope field, in the Gulf of America, and in the fourth quarter of 2024, the Company recognized $28.4 million related to the Nearly Headless Nick field, in the Gulf of America. Both of the impairment charges were due to subsurface issues that led to reserve reductions. There were no impairments recognized in 2023.
See also Note D for further discussion of impairment charges.
Income taxes – The Company is subject to income and other similar taxes in all areas in which it operates. When recording income tax expense, certain estimates are required because: (a) income tax returns are generally filed months after the close of its annual accounting period; (b) tax returns are subject to audit by taxing authorities and audits can often take years to complete and settle; (c) future events often impact the timing of when income tax expenses and benefits are recognized by the Company; and (d) changes to regulations may be subject to different interpretations and require future clarification from issuing authorities or others.
The Company has deferred tax assets mostly relating to U.S. net operating losses, liabilities for dismantlement, retirement benefit plan obligations and net deferred tax liabilities relating to tax and accounting basis differences for property, plant and equipment.
The Company routinely evaluates all deferred tax assets to determine the likelihood of their realization and reduces such assets to the expected realizable amount by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In assessing the need for valuation allowances,
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we consider all available positive and negative evidence. Positive evidence includes projected future taxable income and assessment of future business assumptions, a history of utilizing tax assets before expiration, significant proven and probable reserves and reversals of taxable temporary differences. Negative evidence includes losses in recent years.
As of December 31, 2024 the Company had a U.S. deferred tax asset associated with net operating losses of $289.6 million. In reviewing the likelihood of realizing this asset, the Company considered the reversal of taxable temporary differences, carryforward periods and future taxable income estimates based on projected financial information which, based on currently available evidence, we believe to be reasonably likely to occur. Certain estimates and assumptions are used in the estimation of future taxable income, including (but not limited to) (a) future commodity prices for crude oil, natural gas and NGLs, (b) estimated reserves for crude oil, natural gas and NGLs, (c) expected timing of production, (d) estimated lease operating costs and (e) future capital requirements. In the future, the underlying actual assumptions utilized in estimating future taxable income could be different and result in different conclusions about the likelihood of the future utilization of our net operating loss carryforwards.
Accounting for retirement and postretirement benefit plans – Murphy and certain of its subsidiaries maintain defined benefit retirement plans covering certain full-time employees. The Company also sponsors health care and life insurance benefit plans covering most retired U.S. employees. The expense associated with these plans is estimated by management based on a number of assumptions and with consultation assistance from qualified third-party actuaries. The most important of these assumptions for the retirement plans involve the discount rate used to measure future plan obligations and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. For the retiree medical and insurance plans, the most important assumptions are the discount rate for future plan obligations and the health care cost trend rate. Discount rates are based on the universe of high-quality corporate bonds that are available within each country. Cash flow analyses are performed in which a spot yield curve is used to discount projected benefit payment streams for the most significant plans. The discounted cash flows are used to determine an equivalent single rate, which is the basis for selecting the discount rate within each country. Expected plan asset returns are based on long-term expectations for asset portfolios with similar investment mix characteristics. Anticipated health care cost trend rates are determined based on prior experience of the Company and an assessment of near-term and long-term trends for medical and drug costs.
Based on bond yields as of December 31, 2024, the Company has used a weighted average discount rate of 5.63% at year-end 2024 for the primary U.S. plans. This weighted average discount rate is 0.5% higher than prior year, which decreased the Company’s recorded liabilities for retirement plans compared to a year ago. The Company assumed a return on plan assets of 7.60% for the primary U.S. plan and periodically reconsiders the appropriateness of this and other key assumptions. The Company’s retirement and postretirement plan (health care and life insurance benefit plans) expenses in 2025 are expected to be $5.3 million lower than in 2024 primarily due to the decrease in the benefit obligations at December 31, 2024 compared to the prior year, which decreases the interest cost recognized in net periodic benefit costs.
In 2024, the Company paid $35.5 million into various retirement plans and $13.0 million into postretirement plans. In 2025, the Company is expecting to fund payments of approximately $26.4 million into various retirement plans and $4.2 million for postretirement plans. The Company could be required to make additional and more significant funding payments to retirement plans in future years. Future required payments and the amount of liabilities recorded on the balance sheet associated with the plans could be unfavorably affected if the discount rate declines, the actual return on plan assets falls below the assumed return, or the health care cost trend rate increase is higher than expected.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note B in our Consolidated Financial Statements regarding the impact or potential impact of recent accounting pronouncements upon our financial position and results of operations.
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Contractual obligations and guarantees – The Company is obligated to make future cash payments under borrowing arrangements, operating leases, purchase obligations primarily associated with existing capital expenditure plans and other long-term liabilities. Total payments due after 2024 under such contractual obligations and arrangements are shown in the table below. Amounts are undiscounted and therefore may differ to those presented in the financial statements.
| (Millions of dollars) | Amount of Obligations | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 2025 | 2026 - 2027 | 2028 - 2029 | After 2029 | ||||||||||||||
| Debt, excluding interest | $ | 1,284.8 | $ | — | $ | 78.9 | $ | 266.2 | $ | 939.7 | ||||||||
| Operating and finance leases | 1,009.6 | 291.7 | 192.5 | 118.0 | 407.4 | |||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures, drilling rigs and other ¹ | 1,294.4 | 469.8 | 339.2 | 160.2 | 325.2 | |||||||||||||
| Other long-term liabilities, including debt interest ² | 2,618.0 | 197.2 | 262.0 | 194.9 | 1,963.9 | |||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 6,206.8 | $ | 958.7 | $ | 872.6 | $ | 739.3 | $ | 3,636.2 |
1 Capital expenditures, drilling rigs and other includes $25.3 million, $13.7 million, $7.3 million and $1.1 million, in 2025 for approved capital projects in non-operated interests in the Gulf of America, U.S. Onshore, Canada Offshore and Other Offshore, respectively. Capital expenditures, drilling rigs and other includes $4.7 million in 2026 for approved capital projects in non-operated interests in the Gulf of America.
Also includes $73.1 million (2025), $138.4 million (2026 - 2027), $114.0 million (2028 - 2029) and $256.5 million (After 2029) for pipeline transportation commitments in Canada.
Also includes $3.6 million (2025), $7.1 million (2026 - 2027), $7.1 million (2028 - 2029) and $17.2 million (After 2029) for long-term take or pay commitments relating to natural gas processing in Canada.
Also includes approximately $7.2 million (2025), $25.5 million (2026 - 2027), $25.3 million (2028 - 2029) and $120.0 million (After 2029) for Other Offshore for the purpose of supporting future development activities in Vietnam.
2 Other long-term liabilities, including debt interest, includes future cash outflows for ARO liabilities.
The Company has entered into agreements to lease production facilities for various producing oil fields as well as other arrangements that require future payments as described in the following section. The Company’s share of the contractual obligations under these leases and other arrangements has been included in the table above.
In the normal course of its business, the Company is required under certain contracts with various governmental authorities and others to provide letters of credit that may be drawn upon if the Company fails to perform under those contracts. Total outstanding letters of credit were $189.7 million as of December 31, 2024.
Material off-balance sheet arrangements – Certain U.S. transportation contracts require minimum monthly payments through 2045, while Canada Onshore transportation and processing contracts call for minimum monthly payments through 2051. Future required minimum annual payments under these arrangements are included in the contractual obligation table above.
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Outlook
The oil and natural gas industry is impacted by global commodity pricing. As a result, the prices for the Company’s primary products are often volatile and are affected by the levels of supply and demand for energy. As discussed in the “Results of Operations” section on revenues, on page 37, lower average crude oil price during 2024 directly impacted the Company’s product sales revenue.
As of close on February 25, 2025, forward price curves for existing forward contracts for the remainder of 2025 and 2026 are shown in the table below:
| 2025 | 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WTI ($/BBL) | 67.60 | 64.93 | ||
| NYMEX ($/MMBTU) | 4.44 | 4.21 | ||
| AECO (US$ Equivalent/MCF) | 1.49 | 2.21 |
In 2024, liquids from continuing operations represented approximately 56% of total hydrocarbons produced on a barrels of oil equivalent basis. In 2025, the Company’s ratio of hydrocarbon production represented by liquids is expected to be 57%. If the prices for crude oil and natural gas are lower in 2025 or beyond, this will have an unfavorable impact on the Company’s operating profits; likewise, if prices are higher, this will have a favorable impact. The Company, from time to time, may choose to use a variety of commodity hedge instruments to reduce commodity price risk, including forward sale fixed financial swaps and long-term fixed-price physical commodity sales.
The Company currently expects average daily production in 2025 to be between 181,100 and 189,100 BOEPD (including a noncontrolling interest of 6,600 BOEPD). If significant price declines occur, the Company will review the option of production curtailments to avoid incurring losses on certain produced barrels.
Similar to the overall inflation and higher interest rates in the wider economy, the oil and natural gas industry and the Company are observing higher costs for goods and services used in E&P operations. Murphy continues to manage input costs through its dedicated procurement department focused on managing supply chain and other costs to deliver cash flow from operations.
We cannot predict what impact economic factors (including, but not limited to, inflation, global conflicts and possible economic recession) may have on future commodity pricing. Lower prices, should they occur, will result in lower profits and operating cash flows.
The Company’s capital expenditure spend for 2025 is expected to be between $1,135 million and $1,285 million, excluding noncontrolling interest. Capital and other expenditures are routinely reviewed and planned capital expenditures may be adjusted to reflect differences between budgeted and forecast cash flow during the year. Capital expenditures may also be affected by asset purchases or sales, which often are not anticipated at the time a budget is prepared. The Company will primarily fund its capital program in 2025 using operating cash flow and available cash. If oil and/or natural gas prices weaken, actual cash flow generated from operations could be reduced such that capital spending reductions are required and/or borrowings under available credit facilities might be required during the year to maintain funding of the Company’s ongoing development projects.
The Company plans to utilize surplus cash (not planned to be used by operations, investing activities, dividends or payment to noncontrolling interests), in accordance with the Company’s capital allocation framework designed to allow for additional shareholder returns and debt reduction. Details of the framework can be found in the “Capital Allocation Framework” section of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 4, 2022 and Form 8-K filed on August 8, 2024. The Board has authorized a share repurchase program whereby the Company can repurchase up to $1,100 million of the Company’s common stock. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $650.1 million of its common stock remaining available to repurchase under the program.
Subsequent to year end, as of February 25, 2025, the Company repurchased 3.4 million shares of its common stock in open-market transactions for $95.1 million, excluding taxes and fees. As of this date, the Company had $555.0 million of its common stock remaining available to repurchase under the program.
In addition, subsequent to the balance sheet date, on January 30, 2025, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend on the Common Stock of Murphy Oil Corporation of $0.325 per share, or $1.30 per
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share on an annualized basis. The dividend is payable on March 3, 2025, to stockholders of record as of February 18, 2025.
The Company continues to monitor the impact of commodity prices on its financial position and is currently in compliance with the covenants related to the RCF (see Note F).
As of February 25, 2025, the Company has entered into forward fixed-price delivery contracts to manage risk associated with certain future oil and natural gas sales prices, as follows:
| Volumes (MMCF/d) | Price/MCF | Remaining Period | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Commodity | Type | Start Date | End Date | ||||||||
| Canada | Natural Gas | Fixed price forward sales | 40 | C$2.75 | 1/1/2025 | 12/31/2025 | ||||||
| Canada | Natural Gas | Fixed price forward sales | 50 | C$3.03 | 1/1/2026 | 12/31/2026 |
| Volumes (MMCF/d) | Price/MCF | Remaining Period | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Commodity | Type | Start Date | End Date | ||||||||
| United States | Natural Gas | Fixed price derivative swap | 40 | US$3.58 | 2/1/2025 | 6/30/2025 | ||||||
| United States | Natural Gas | Fixed price derivative swap | 60 | US$3.65 | 7/1/2025 | 9/30/2025 | ||||||
| United States | Natural Gas | Fixed price derivative swap | 60 | US$3.74 | 10/1/2025 | 12/31/2025 |
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Forward-Looking Statements
This Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are generally identified through the inclusion of words such as “aim”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “drive”, “estimate”, “expect”, “expressed confidence”, “forecast”, “future”, “goal”, “guidance”, “intend”, “may”, “objective”, “outlook”, “plan”, “position”, “potential”, “project”, “seek”, “should”, “strategy”, “target”, “will” or variations of such words and other similar expressions. These statements, which express management’s current views concerning future events, results and plans, are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties and assumptions (many of which are beyond our control) and are not guarantees of performance. In particular, statements, express or implied, concerning the Company’s future operating results or activities and returns or the Company's ability and decisions to replace or increase reserves, increase production, generate returns and rates of return, replace or increase drilling locations, reduce or otherwise control operating costs and expenditures, generate cash flows, pay down or refinance indebtedness, achieve, reach or otherwise meet initiatives, plans, goals, ambitions or targets with respect to emissions, safety matters or other ESG (environmental/social/governance) matters, make capital expenditures or pay and/or increase dividends or make share repurchases and other capital allocation decisions are forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause one or more of these future events, results or plans not to occur as implied by any forward-looking statement, which consequently could cause actual results or activities to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to: macro conditions in the oil and natural gas industry, including supply/demand levels, actions taken by major oil exporters and the resulting impacts on commodity prices; geopolitical concerns; increased volatility or deterioration in the success rate of our exploration programs or in our ability to maintain production rates and replace reserves; reduced customer demand for our products due to environmental, regulatory, technological or other reasons; adverse foreign exchange movements; political and regulatory instability in the markets where we do business; the impact on our operations or market of health pandemics such as COVID-19 and related government responses; other natural hazards impacting our operations or markets; any other deterioration in our business, markets or prospects; any failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals; any inability to service or refinance our outstanding debt or to access debt markets at acceptable prices; or adverse developments in the U.S. or global capital markets, credit markets, banking system or economies in general, including inflation and trade policies. For further discussion of factors that could cause one or more of these future events or results not to occur as implied by any forward-looking statement, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors”, which begins on page 13 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Investors and others should note that we may announce material information using SEC filings, press releases, public conference calls, webcasts and the investors page of our website. We may use these channels to distribute material information about the Company; therefore, we encourage investors, the media, business partners and others interested in the Company to review the information we post on our website. The information on our website is not part of, and is not incorporated into, this report. Murphy Oil Corporation undertakes no duty to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.
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FY 2023 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0000717423-24-000008.
Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) should be read together with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements, which are included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This MD&A includes forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties. See Forward-Looking Statements at the end of this section and Risk Factors under Item 1A. Discussion and analysis of 2021 results and year-over-year comparisons between 2022 and 2021 are not included in this Form 10-K and can be found in Item 7 of the 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K available via the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on our website at www.murphyoilcorp.com.
Murphy Oil Corporation is a worldwide oil and gas exploration and production company with both onshore and offshore operations and properties. The Company produces crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids primarily in the U.S. and Canada and explores for crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids in targeted areas worldwide. A more detailed description of the Company’s significant assets can be found in Item 1 of this Form 10-K report.
The analysis and discussion in this section includes amounts attributable to a noncontrolling interest in MP GOM, unless otherwise noted.
Significant Company financial and operational highlights during 2023 were as follows:
•Generated net income of $661.6 million and net cash provided by operating activities of $1,748.8 million;
•Produced 193 thousand barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) per day (186 thousand excluding noncontrolling interest, NCI);
•Sanctioned the Lac Da Vang field development project in Vietnam;
•Enhanced exploration portfolio with signing production sharing contracts for five blocks in Côte d’Ivoire;
•Drilled a discovery at the Longclaw #1 operated exploration well in Green Canyon 433 in the Gulf of Mexico;
•Acquired an 8% working interest in the non-operated Zephyrus discovery in the Gulf of Mexico for a purchase price of approximately $13 million, net of closing adjustments;
•Resumed operations at non-operated Terra Nova field in offshore Canada during the fourth quarter of 2023, with production ramping up through first quarter 2024;
•Advances made under the capital allocation framework1:
◦Early debt retirement of approximately $500 million, a 27% debt reduction in the year
◦Repurchased shares of common stock under the share repurchase program for $150 million, excluding excise taxes, commissions and fees
◦Increased cash dividends by 10% since the fourth quarter of 2022 to $0.275 per share, or $1.10 per share annualized
•Achieved 134% (139% excluding NCI) total proved reserve replacement with year-end proved reserves of 739.5 million barrels of oil equivalent (724.0 million excluding NCI).
1 Details of the capital allocation framework can be found as part of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 4, 2022. On October 30, 2023, the initial share repurchase program of $300 million of the Company’s common stock was increased by an additional $300 million, bringing the total amount allowed to be repurchased under the program to $600 million.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Murphy’s continuing operations generate revenue by producing crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas in the United States and Canada and then selling these products to customers. The Company’s revenue is affected by the prices of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. In order to make a profit and generate cash in its exploration and production business, revenue generated from the sales of oil and natural gas produced must exceed the combined costs of producing these products and expenses related to exploration, administration and capital borrowing from lending institutions and note holders.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company’s net income from continuing operations was $725.2 million, a decrease of $415.6 million compared to 2022. Lower net income from continuing operations was largely driven by lower revenues and other income ($472.5 million), higher lease operating expenses ($105.1 million) and higher exploration expenses ($101.6 million), partially offset by lower other operating expense ($91.0 million) and lower income tax expense ($113.5 million). Lower revenues and other income resulted from overall lower pricing partially offset by overall higher sales volumes and lower losses on derivative instruments. Higher lease operating expenses were related to higher sales volumes as well as additional costs for workover and maintenance activities at Gulf of Mexico operations. Higher exploration costs were the result of dry hole expense for the Chinook #7 (Walker Ridge 425) and Oso #1 (Atwater Valley 138) exploration wells, that did not find commercial hydrocarbons in the Gulf of Mexico, the purchase of seismic data for Côte d’Ivoire, and the expensing of previously suspended exploration costs for the Cholula-1EXP well in Mexico. No losses were recorded in 2023 on derivative instruments as no fixed price derivative swaps or collar contracts were in effect during the period. Lower other expenses were due to lower contingent consideration adjustments relating to prior acquisitions in the Gulf of Mexico. Lower income tax expense was the result of lower pre-tax income.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, total hydrocarbon production was 192,640 barrels of oil equivalent per day, an increase of 10% compared to 2022. The increase was principally due to new well production volumes in the Gulf of Mexico from the Khaleesi, Mormont, Samurai field development project, new well production from Tupper Montney and lower royalty rates, partially offset by lower production volumes at other fields in the Gulf of Mexico due to additional downtime.
Results of Operations
Murphy’s Net income (loss) by type of business and geographic segment is presented below.
| (Millions of dollars) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exploration and production | ||||||||||
| United States | $ | 905.1 | $ | 1,521.9 | $ | 766.3 | ||||
| Canada | 41.6 | 134.2 | (16.1) | |||||||
| Other International | (65.5) | (77.0) | (33.5) | |||||||
| Total exploration and production | 881.2 | 1,579.1 | 716.7 | |||||||
| Corporate and other | (156.0) | (438.3) | (668.0) | |||||||
| Income from continuing operations | 725.2 | 1,140.8 | 48.7 | |||||||
| Loss from discontinued operations 1 | (1.5) | (2.1) | (1.2) | |||||||
| Net income including noncontrolling interest | 723.7 | 1,138.7 | 47.5 | |||||||
| Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest | 62.1 | 173.7 | 121.2 | |||||||
| Net income attributable to Murphy | $ | 661.6 | $ | 965.0 | $ | (73.7) |
1 The Company has presented its former U.K. and U.S. refining and marketing operations as discontinued operations in its consolidated financial statements.
E&P Continuing Operations: 2023 vs 2022
The following section of Exploration and Production (E&P) continuing operations excludes the Corporate segment, unless otherwise noted.
Please also refer to Schedule 6 – Results of Operations for Oil and Natural Gas Producing Activities in the Supplemental Oil and Natural Gas Information section for additional supporting tables.
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The following are summarized income statements for E&P continuing operations.
| (Millions of dollars) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenues and other income | ||||||||||
| Revenue from production | $ | 3,376.6 | $ | 4,038.5 | $ | 2,801.2 | ||||
| Sales of purchased natural gas | 72.2 | 181.7 | – | |||||||
| Other income | 8.0 | 26.7 | 17.5 | |||||||
| Total revenues and other income | 3,456.8 | 4,246.9 | 2,818.7 | |||||||
| Cost and Expenses | ||||||||||
| Lease operating expenses | 784.4 | 679.3 | 539.5 | |||||||
| Severance and ad valorem taxes | 42.8 | 57.0 | 41.2 | |||||||
| Transportation, gathering and processing | 233.0 | 212.7 | 187.0 | |||||||
| Costs of purchased natural gas | 51.7 | 172.0 | – | |||||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 850.5 | 763.9 | 782.1 | |||||||
| Impairments of assets | – | – | 189.3 | |||||||
| Accretion of asset retirement obligations | 46.0 | 46.2 | 46.6 | |||||||
| Total exploration expenses | 234.8 | 133.1 | 69.0 | |||||||
| Selling and general expenses | 37.7 | 44.5 | 43.6 | |||||||
| Other | 56.9 | 141.8 | 31.0 | |||||||
| Results of operations before taxes | 1,119.0 | 1,996.4 | 889.4 | |||||||
| Income tax provisions | 237.8 | 417.3 | 172.7 | |||||||
| Results of operations (excluding Corporate segment) 1 | $ | 881.2 | $ | 1,579.1 | $ | 716.7 |
1 Includes results attributable to a noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
Pricing
The following table contains the weighted average sales prices for the three years ended December 31, 2023.
| (Weighted average sales prices) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude oil and condensate – dollars per barrel | ||||||||||
| United States - Onshore | $ | 76.96 | $ | 96.00 | $ | 66.90 | ||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 77.38 | 94.21 | 66.93 | |||||||
| Canada - Onshore 2 | 72.84 | 89.88 | 61.79 | |||||||
| Canada - Offshore 2 | 84.20 | 107.47 | 71.39 | |||||||
| Other 2 | 86.60 | 94.37 | 69.21 | |||||||
| Natural gas liquids – dollars per barrel | ||||||||||
| United States - Onshore | $ | 19.69 | $ | 33.85 | $ | 26.97 | ||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 21.94 | 36.01 | 29.14 | |||||||
| Canada - Onshore 2 | 35.87 | 55.65 | 40.18 | |||||||
| Natural gas – dollars per thousand cubic feet | ||||||||||
| United States - Onshore | $ | 2.26 | $ | 6.04 | $ | 3.83 | ||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 2.78 | 6.97 | 3.67 | |||||||
| Canada - Onshore 2 | 2.06 | 2.76 | 2.43 |
1 Prices include the effect of noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
2 U.S. dollar equivalent.
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The following table contains benchmark prices relevant to the Company for the three years ended December 31, 2023.
| (Average price for the period) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil and NGLs | |||||||||||
| WTI ($/BBL) | $ | 77.62 | $ | 94.23 | $ | 67.91 | |||||
| Natural gas | |||||||||||
| NYMEX ($/MMBTU) | 2.53 | 6.38 | 3.84 | ||||||||
| AECO (C$/MCF) | 2.64 | 5.31 | 3.63 |
Production Volumes
The following table contains hydrocarbons produced during the three years ended December 31, 2023. For further discussion on volumes, please see Revenues from Production section on page 37.
| (Barrels per day unless otherwise noted) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net crude oil and condensate | |||||||
| United States - Onshore | 24,070 | 24,437 | 25,655 | ||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 73,473 | 65,411 | 60,717 | ||||
| Canada - Onshore | 2,937 | 4,005 | 5,312 | ||||
| Canada - Offshore | 3,020 | 2,812 | 3,765 | ||||
| Other | 250 | 700 | 256 | ||||
| Total net crude oil and condensate | 103,750 | 97,365 | 95,705 | ||||
| Net natural gas liquids | |||||||
| United States - Onshore | 4,617 | 5,181 | 5,092 | ||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 5,924 | 4,597 | 4,176 | ||||
| Canada - Onshore | 681 | 903 | 1,117 | ||||
| Total net natural gas liquids | 11,222 | 10,681 | 10,385 | ||||
| Net natural gas – thousands of cubic feet per day | |||||||
| United States - Onshore | 25,863 | 29,050 | 28,565 | ||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 70,239 | 63,380 | 61,240 | ||||
| Canada - Onshore | 369,906 | 310,230 | 277,790 | ||||
| Total net natural gas | 466,008 | 402,660 | 367,595 | ||||
| Total net hydrocarbons - including NCI 2,3 | 192,640 | 175,156 | 167,356 | ||||
| Noncontrolling interest | |||||||
| Net crude oil and condensate – barrels per day | (6,210) | (7,452) | (8,623) | ||||
| Net natural gas liquids – barrels per day | (220) | (280) | (303) | ||||
| Net natural gas – thousands of cubic feet per day | (2,089) | (2,468) | (3,236) | ||||
| Total noncontrolling interest 2,3 | (6,778) | (8,143) | (9,465) | ||||
| Total net hydrocarbons - excluding NCI 2,3 | 185,862 | 167,013 | 157,891 | ||||
| Estimated total proved net hydrocarbon reserves - million equivalent barrels 3,4 | 739.5 | 715.4 | 716.9 |
1 Includes net volumes attributable to a noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
2 Natural gas converted on an energy equivalent basis of 6:1.
3 NCI – noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
4 December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, include 15.5 MMBOE, 18.2 MMBOE and 18.4 MMBOE, respectively, relating to
noncontrolling interest.
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Sales Volumes
The following table contains hydrocarbons sold during the three years ended December 31, 2023. For further discussion on volumes, please see Revenues from Production section on page 37.
| (Barrels per day unless otherwise noted) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net crude oil and condensate | |||||||
| United States - Onshore | 24,070 | 24,437 | 25,655 | ||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 73,373 | 64,840 | 60,544 | ||||
| Canada - Onshore | 2,937 | 4,005 | 5,312 | ||||
| Canada - Offshore | 2,559 | 3,002 | 3,559 | ||||
| Other | 349 | 663 | 195 | ||||
| Total net crude oil and condensate | 103,288 | 96,947 | 95,265 | ||||
| Net natural gas liquids | |||||||
| United States - Onshore | 4,617 | 5,181 | 5,092 | ||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 5,924 | 4,597 | 4,176 | ||||
| Canada - Onshore | 681 | 903 | 1,117 | ||||
| Total net natural gas liquids | 11,222 | 10,681 | 10,385 | ||||
| Net natural gas – thousands of cubic feet per day | |||||||
| United States - Onshore | 25,863 | 29,050 | 28,565 | ||||
| United States - Offshore 1 | 70,239 | 63,380 | 61,240 | ||||
| Canada - Onshore | 369,906 | 310,230 | 277,790 | ||||
| Total net natural gas | 466,008 | 402,660 | 367,595 | ||||
| Total net hydrocarbons - including NCI 2,3 | 192,178 | 174,738 | 166,916 | ||||
| Noncontrolling interest | |||||||
| Net crude oil and condensate – barrels per day | (6,200) | (7,369) | (8,605) | ||||
| Net natural gas liquids – barrels per day | (220) | (280) | (303) | ||||
| Net natural gas – thousands of cubic feet per day | (2,089) | (2,468) | (3,236) | ||||
| Total noncontrolling interest 2,3 | (6,768) | (8,060) | (9,447) | ||||
| Total net hydrocarbons - excluding NCI 2,3 | 185,410 | 166,678 | 157,469 |
1 Includes net volumes attributable to a noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
2 Natural gas converted on an energy equivalent basis of 6:1.
3 NCI – noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
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Revenues from Production
The Company’s production revenues by country and product were as follows:
| (Millions of dollars) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenues from production | ||||||||||
| United States - Oil | $ | 2,748.5 | $ | 3,085.9 | $ | 2,105.2 | ||||
| United States - Natural gas liquids | 80.6 | 124.4 | 94.6 | |||||||
| United States - Natural gas | 92.7 | 225.3 | 121.7 | |||||||
| Canada - Oil | 156.7 | 249.2 | 212.5 | |||||||
| Canada - Natural gas liquids | 8.9 | 18.3 | 16.4 | |||||||
| Canada - Natural Gas | 278.2 | 312.6 | 245.9 | |||||||
| Other - Oil | 11.0 | 22.8 | 4.9 | |||||||
| Total revenues from production | $ | 3,376.6 | $ | 4,038.5 | $ | 2,801.2 |
Revenues from production in 2023 decreased by $661.9 million compared to 2022. Lower revenues from U.S. E&P was primarily attributable to lower realized prices in 2023 compared to 2022, partially offset by higher overall sales volumes from the Gulf of Mexico. Higher sales volumes were driven by new well performance from the Khaleesi, Mormont, Samurai field development project, and were partially offset by lower sales volumes at other fields. Lower revenues from Canadian E&P was primarily attributable to lower realized prices and lower sales volumes at Kaybob Duvernay partially offset by higher sales volumes at Tupper Montney. Lower sales volumes at Kaybob Duvernay were primarily due to the divestment of certain non-core operated Kaybob Duvernay assets and all of the non-operated Placid Montney assets, as well as natural declines. Higher sales volumes at Tupper Montney were the result of new wells coming online in 2023, improved well performance, and lower royalty rates.
Natural gas is purchased and subsequently sold to third parties in order to provide operational flexibility and cost mitigation for transportation commitments. Sales of purchase natural gas is included in “Total revenues and other income” and cost to purchase natural gas is included in “Costs and Expenses” in the summarized income statements for E&P continuing operations on page 34.
Other Income
Other income was $8.0 million in 2023, a decrease of $18.7 million compared to 2022. Lower other income was primarily the result of a gain on sale of the Thunder Hawk field in the third quarter of 2022.
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Lease Operating and Transportation, Gathering and Processing Expenses
The Company’s total lease operating expenses and transportation, gathering and processing expenses by geographic area were as follows:
| (Millions of dollars) | (Dollars per equivalent barrel) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Lease operating expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States – Onshore | $ | 150.3 | $ | 137.6 | $ | 115.7 | $ | 12.48 | $ | 10.94 | $ | 8.93 | |||||||||||
| United States – Offshore | 480.4 | 385.1 | 290.7 | 14.46 | 13.19 | 10.63 | |||||||||||||||||
| Canada – Onshore | 140.3 | 139.5 | 119.4 | 5.89 | 6.75 | 6.20 | |||||||||||||||||
| Canada – Offshore | 11.5 | 15.6 | 16.9 | 12.30 | 14.20 | 13.04 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other | 1.9 | 1.5 | (3.2) | 14.94 | 6.25 | (44.94) | |||||||||||||||||
| Total lease operating expenses | $ | 784.4 | $ | 679.3 | $ | 539.5 | $ | 11.18 | $ | 10.65 | $ | 8.86 | |||||||||||
| Transportation, gathering and processing | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States – Onshore | $ | 12.7 | $ | 18.4 | $ | 26.1 | $ | 1.05 | $ | 1.47 | $ | 2.02 | |||||||||||
| United States – Offshore | 144.3 | 123.8 | 100.4 | 4.34 | 4.24 | 3.67 | |||||||||||||||||
| Canada – Onshore | 72.2 | 65.3 | 57.4 | 3.03 | 3.16 | 2.98 | |||||||||||||||||
| Canada – Offshore | 3.8 | 5.2 | 3.1 | 4.12 | 4.76 | 2.36 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total transportation, gathering and processing | $ | 233.0 | $ | 212.7 | $ | 187.0 | $ | 3.32 | $ | 3.34 | $ | 3.07 |
Lease operating expenses and transportation, gathering and processing expenses in 2023 increased by $105.1 million and $20.3 million, respectively, compared to 2022. Higher lease operating expenses and increased transportation, gathering and processing expenses from U.S. E&P were primarily due to increased sales volumes and higher operating expenses for additional workover and maintenance activities from the Gulf of Mexico operations.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Expense
The Company’s depreciation, depletion and amortization expense by geographic area were as follows:
| (Millions of dollars) | (Dollars per equivalent barrel) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States – Onshore | $ | 316.7 | $ | 321.4 | $ | 356.4 | $ | 26.29 | $ | 25.55 | $ | 27.50 | |||||||||||
| United States – Offshore | 389.3 | 295.6 | 260.1 | 11.72 | 10.12 | 9.51 | |||||||||||||||||
| Canada – Onshore | 133.4 | 128.1 | 147.2 | 5.60 | 6.20 | 7.64 | |||||||||||||||||
| Canada – Offshore | 8.8 | 13.4 | 16.6 | 9.47 | 12.25 | 12.80 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other | 2.3 | 5.4 | 1.8 | 18.05 | 22.19 | 26.78 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total depreciation, depletion and amortization expense | $ | 850.5 | $ | 763.9 | $ | 782.1 | $ | 12.12 | $ | 11.98 | $ | 12.84 |
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense (DD&A) in 2023 increased by $86.6 million compared to 2022. Higher DD&A was primarily the result of higher sales volumes and higher rates from the Gulf of Mexico. DD&A from Canadian E&P increased at Tupper Montney due to higher sales volumes and higher rates, substantially offset by lower sales volumes and lower rates at Kaybob Duvernay.
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Exploration Expenses
The Company’s exploration expenses were as follows:
| (Millions of dollars) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exploration expenses | |||||||||||
| Dry holes and previously suspended exploration costs | $ | 169.8 | $ | 82.1 | $ | 17.3 | |||||
| Geological and geophysical | 26.1 | 10.4 | 11.8 | ||||||||
| Other exploration | 28.0 | 27.3 | 21.0 | ||||||||
| Undeveloped lease amortization | 10.9 | 13.3 | 18.9 | ||||||||
| Total exploration expenses | $ | 234.8 | $ | 133.1 | $ | 69.0 |
Exploration expenses in 2023 increased by $101.7 million compared to 2022. Higher dry holes and previously suspended exploration costs primarily relate to the dry hole expense of Chinook #7 (Walker Ridge 425) and Oso #1 (Atwater Valley 138) exploration wells in the Gulf of Mexico, which encountered non-commercial hydrocarbons, and the write-off of previously suspended exploration costs for the Cholula-1EXP well in Mexico. Higher geological and geophysical expenses in 2023 relate to the purchased seismic data for Côte d’Ivoire. In 2022, dry holes and previously suspended exploration costs primarily relate to expensed costs for the Cutthroat-1 exploration well in block SEAL-M-428 in offshore Brazil and the Tulum-1EXP exploration well in Block 5 in offshore Mexico that did not encounter commercial hydrocarbons.
Other Expenses
Other expenses were $56.9 million in 2023, a decrease of $84.9 million compared to 2022. Other expenses were lower primarily due to a lower unfavorable contingent consideration adjustment of $7.1 million in 2023 (2022: $78.3 million), as a result of reaching contractual thresholds or time limitations that ended in 2022 (see Note O). In addition, there were lower asset retirement adjustments related to non-producing fields of $18.2 million in 2023 (2022: $35.0 million).
Income Taxes
Income taxes were $237.8 million in 2023, a decrease of $179.5 million compared to 2022. Lower income taxes were primarily the result of lower pre-tax income (see Note H).
Corporate: 2023 vs 2022
Corporate activities include interest expense and income, foreign exchange effects, realized and unrealized gains/losses on derivative instruments (forward swaps and collars to hedge the price of oil sold) and corporate overhead not allocated to E&P. Realized and unrealized losses on derivative instruments would result from increases in market oil prices relating to future periods whereby the swap contracts provided the Company with a fixed price, and the collar contracts provided for a minimum (floor) and a maximum (ceiling) price, with variability in between the floor and ceiling.
Corporate activities reported a loss of $156.0 million in 2023, a favorable variance of $282.2 million compared to 2022. The favorable variance was primarily due to no current period losses on derivative instruments in 2023, compared to a loss for the same period in 2022 ($320.4 million) and lower interest expense ($38.6 million), partially offset by lower income tax benefits ($66.0 million) and foreign exchange loss of $10.7 million in 2023 compared to foreign exchange gain of $23.0 million in 2022. Interest charges are lower in 2023 primarily due to lower overall debt levels as the Company reduced debt by $498.2 million and $647.7 million during 2023 and 2022, respectively. During 2023 and as of December 31, 2023, the Company did not enter into or have any fixed price derivative swaps or collar contracts outstanding. Lower income tax benefit was a result of lower pre-tax losses.
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Financial Condition
The Company’s primary sources of liquidity are cash on hand, net cash provided by continuing operations activities and available borrowing capacity under its senior unsecured RCF. The Company’s liquidity requirements consist primarily of capital expenditures, debt maturity, retirement and interest payments, working capital requirements, dividend payments, and, as applicable, share repurchases.
Cash Flows
The following table presents the Company’s cash flows for the periods presented.
| (Millions of dollars) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net cash provided by (required by): | ||||||||||
| Net cash provided by continuing operations activities | $ | 1,748.8 | $ | 2,180.2 | $ | 1,422.2 | ||||
| Net cash required by investing activities | (998.7) | (1,109.4) | (417.7) | |||||||
| Net cash required by financing activities | (923.7) | (1,081.6) | (794.5) | |||||||
| Net cash required by discontinued operations | – | (14.5) | – | |||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | (1.2) | (3.9) | 0.6 | |||||||
| Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | $ | (174.8) | $ | (29.2) | $ | 210.6 |
Cash Provided by Continuing Operations Activities
Net cash provided by continuing operations activities in 2023 was $431.4 million lower compared to 2022. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower revenue from production ($661.9 million), higher payments of contingent consideration related to prior Gulf of Mexico acquisitions ($139.6 million), higher lease operating expenses ($105.1 million) and timing of working capital settlements ($33.6 million), partially offset by lower realized losses on derivative instruments ($535.2 million). Payments of contingent consideration are shown both in “Operating Activities” and “Financing Activities” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; amounts considered as financing activities are those amounts paid up to the original estimated contingent consideration liability included in the purchase price allocation, at the time of acquisition. Any contingent consideration paid above the original estimated liability, included in the purchase price, are considered operating activities. During 2023, the Company paid a total of $199.8 million in contingent consideration, of which $139.6 million is shown in “Operating Activities” and $60.2 million is shown in “Financing Activities” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. As of the end of the second quarter of 2023, the Company had no further obligation payable for contingent consideration relating to prior Gulf of Mexico acquisitions. See Note O for further details.
The total reductions of operating cash flows for interest paid (which excludes debt redemption costs reported in “Financing Activities”) during the two years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 were $108.9 million and $150.0 million, respectively. Lower cash interest paid in 2023 was primarily due to the early redemption, in whole or in part, of the 5.75% senior notes due 2025 (2025 Notes), the 5.875% senior notes due 2027 (2027 Notes), the 6.375% senior notes due 2028 (2028 Notes), and the 7.050% senior notes due 2029 (2029 Notes) in the aggregate amount of $498.2 million.
Cash Required by Investing Activities
Net cash required by investing activities in 2023 was $110.7 million lower compared to 2022. The decrease was primarily due to the proceeds from the sale of certain non-core operated Kaybob Duvernay assets and all of the non-operated Placid Montney assets ($102.9 million) and lower acquisition capital ($93.0 million), partially offset by higher property additions and dry hole costs ($80.6 million).
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A reconciliation of “Property additions and dry hole costs” in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows to total capital expenditures for continuing operations follows.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
| Property additions and dry hole costs per cash flow statements 1 | $ | 1,066.0 | $ | 985.5 | $ | 650.2 | ||||
| Geophysical and other exploration expenses | 46.0 | 30.6 | 26.9 | |||||||
| Acquisition of oil properties per the cash flow statements 1 | 35.6 | 128.5 | 20.3 | |||||||
| Capital expenditure accrual changes and other | (9.5) | 38.6 | (3.9) | |||||||
| Property additions King's Quay Floating Production System (FPS) per cash flow statements | – | – | 17.7 | |||||||
| Total capital expenditures | $ | 1,138.1 | $ | 1,183.2 | $ | 711.2 |
1 Certain prior-period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.
Total accrual basis capital expenditures are shown below.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
| Capital Expenditures | ||||||||||
| Exploration and production | $ | 1,114.0 | $ | 1,161.5 | $ | 690.1 | ||||
| Corporate | 24.1 | 21.7 | 21.1 | |||||||
| Total capital expenditures | 1,138.1 | 1,183.2 | 711.2 | |||||||
| Total capital expenditures excluding proved property acquisitions | 1,111.0 | 1,054.7 | 711.2 | |||||||
| Total capital expenditures excluding proved property acquisitions and NCI | $ | 1,040.8 | $ | 1,028.8 | $ | 688.2 |
Lower capital expenditures in 2023 compared to 2022 were primarily attributable to lower development expenditures at the Khaleesi, Mormont, Samurai field development project, lower spend at the Kodiak and Lucius fields and lower acquisition capital, partially offset by higher exploratory drilling and higher development expenditures at the Dalmatian and St. Malo fields. Capital expenditures in 2023 primarily relate to development drilling and field development activities in the Eagle Ford Shale ($361.5 million); development activities in the Gulf of Mexico, primarily related to St. Malo, Dalmatian, Samurai and Marmalard fields ($310.1 million); development drilling and field development activities at the Tupper Montney field ($142.0 million); field development at Terra Nova for the asset life extension project ($44.7 million); and total exploration costs of $214.3 million. Exploration costs were primarily for activities at Chinook #7 (Walker Ridge 425), Oso #1 (Atwater Valley 138) and Longclaw #1 (Green Canyon 433) within the Gulf of Mexico and activities at Côte d’Ivoire. Costs of $169.8 million primarily associated with Chinook #7 (Walker Ridge 425) and Oso #1 (Atwater Valley 138) were expensed to dry hole costs in 2023 as the Company determined there were non-commercial hydrocarbons present.
Cash Required by Financing Activities
Net cash required by financing activities in 2023 decreased by $157.9 million compared to 2022. In 2023, cash used in financing activities was principally for the redemption of the remaining $248.7 million principal outstanding on its 2025 Notes and the tendering of $249.5 million of its 2027 Notes, 2028 Notes and 2029 Notes. In addition, the Company repurchased common shares ($150.0 million, excluding accrued excise tax), paid contingent consideration related to prior Gulf of Mexico acquisitions ($60.2 million) as discussed in the ‘Cash Provided by Continuing Operating Activities’ section, paid cash dividends to shareholders of $1.10 per share ($171.0 million), and distributed funds to the noncontrolling interest in the Gulf of Mexico ($29.4 million).
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Liquidity
At December 31, 2023, the Company had approximately $1.1 billion of liquidity consisting of $317.1 million in cash and cash equivalents and $796.2 million available on its committed senior unsecured RCF with a major banking consortium.
The Company’s $800 million senior unsecured RCF expires in November 2027 and as of December 31, 2023, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under the RCF and $3.8 million of outstanding letters of credit, which reduce the borrowing capacity of the senior unsecured RCF. Borrowings under the RCF are subject to certain interest rates, please refer to Note F for further details. At December 31, 2023, the interest rate in effect on borrowings under the facility would have been 7.70%. At December 31, 2023, the Company was in compliance with all covenants related to the RCF.
Cash and invested cash are maintained in several operating locations outside the U.S. As of December 31, 2023, cash and cash equivalents held outside the U.S. included U.S dollar equivalents of approximately $148.9 million (2022: $147.7 million), the majority of which was held in Canada ($105.2 million) and Mexico ($18.1 million). In addition, approximately $9.6 million and $8.3 million of cash was held in the U.K. and Spain, respectively. In certain cases, the Company could incur cash taxes or other costs should these cash balances be repatriated to the U.S. in future periods. Canada currently collects a 5% withholding tax on any earnings repatriated to the U.S. See Note H for further information regarding potential tax expense that could be incurred upon distribution of foreign earnings back to the United States.
Working Capital
| (Millions of dollars) | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Working capital | ||||||
| Total current assets | $ | 752.2 | $ | 972.3 | ||
| Total current liabilities | 846.5 | 1,257.8 | ||||
| Net working capital liability | $ | (94.3) | $ | (285.5) |
As of December 31, 2023, net working capital had a favorable increase of $191.2 million compared to December 31, 2022. The favorable increase was primarily attributable to lower other accrued liabilities ($302.8 million) and lower accounts payable ($96.9 million), partially offset by lower accounts receivable ($47.2 million) and a lower cash balance ($174.9 million). Lower accrued liabilities were primarily due to payments made for contingent consideration obligations from prior Gulf of Mexico acquisitions, payments for abandonment activities and incentive payments made in 2023. Lower accounts payable were primarily due to decreases in unrealized losses on derivative instruments (commodity price swaps and collars), decreases in royalties payable due to lower revenues, payments made for abandonment activities and drilling and completions activities. Lower unrealized losses on derivative instruments were as a result of no commodity derivative instrument contracts entered into or outstanding during 2023. Lower accounts receivable were primarily due to lower sales volumes for crude oil and natural gas liquids and lower pricing received for all crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas.
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Capital Employed
A summary of capital employed as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 follows.
| December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars) | Amount | % | Amount | % | |||||||||
| Capital employed | |||||||||||||
| Long-term debt | $ | 1,328.4 | 19.9 | % | $ | 1,822.4 | 26.7 | % | |||||
| Murphy shareholders' equity | 5,362.8 | 80.1 | % | 4,994.8 | 73.3 | % | |||||||
| Total capital employed | $ | 6,691.2 | 100.0 | % | $ | 6,817.2 | 100.0 | % |
As of December 31, 2023, long-term debt decreased by $494.0 million compared to December 31, 2022, as a result of the redemption and early redemption of, in whole or in part, the 2025 Notes, 2027 Notes, 2028 Notes, and 2029 Notes. The fixed-rate notes had a weighted average maturity of 8.1 years and a weighted average coupon of 6.2%.
Murphy’s shareholders’ equity increased by $368.0 million in 2023 primarily due to net income earned ($661.6 million), partially offset by cash dividends paid ($171.0 million) and shares repurchased ($150.0 million, including excise tax). A summary of transactions in stockholders’ equity accounts is presented in the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity on page 69 of this Form 10-K report.
Other Balance Sheet Activity - Long-Term Assets and Liabilities
Other significant changes in Murphy’s balance sheet at the end of 2023, compared to 2022 are discussed below.
Property, plant and equipment, net of depreciation, decreased $2.8 million principally due to DD&A expense ($861.6 million) and divestment of certain non-core operated Kaybob Duvernay assets and all of the non-operated Placid Montney assets, substantially offset by capital expenditures in the year and foreign exchange rates applicable for the Canadian assets. Capital expenditures are discussed above in the ‘Cash Required for Investing Activities’ section.
Murphy had commitments for capital expenditures of approximately $209.8 million at December 31, 2023 (2022: $282.4 million). This amount includes $75.1 million for approved expenditures for capital projects relating to non-operated interests in deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico, principally at St. Malo ($61.7 million), non-operated Canada interests, mainly offshore ($11.6 million), non-operated Lucius ($13.3 million) and non-operated Eagle Ford Shale ($11.8 million).
Operating lease assets decreased $201.2 million principally due to depreciation on these assets.
Deferred Income tax assets decreased by $117.5 million as a result of the decrease in the U.S. net operating loss carryforward from $2.1 billion at year-end 2022 to $1.7 billion at year-end 2023.
Long term asset retirement obligations increased $86.8 million primarily due to accretion and additions and revisions related to Gulf of Mexico and Eagle Ford Shale operations.
Non-current operating lease liabilities decreased $190.8 million primarily due to 2023 annual payments reducing operating lease liabilities for drilling rig and vessel commitments.
Deferred income tax liabilities increased $61.7 million due to capital related tax deductions.
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Other Key Performance Metrics
The Company uses other operational performance and income metrics to review operational performance. Management uses adjusted net income, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA internally to evaluate the Company’s operational performance and trends between periods and relative to its industry competitors. Adjusted net income also excludes certain items that management believes affect the comparability of results between periods. Management believes this information may be useful to investors and analysts to gain a better understanding of the Company’s financial results. Adjusted net income, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and are non-GAAP financial measures and should not be considered a substitute for net income (loss) or cash provided by operating activities as determined in accordance with GAAP.
The following table reconciles reported net income attributable to Murphy to adjusted net income from continuing operations attributable to Murphy.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
| Net income attributable to Murphy (GAAP) 1 | $ | 661.6 | $ | 965.0 | $ | (73.7) | ||||
| Discontinued operations loss | 1.5 | 2.1 | 1.2 | |||||||
| Net income from continuing operations attributable to Murphy | 663.1 | 967.1 | (72.5) | |||||||
| Adjustments 2: | ||||||||||
| Write-off of previously suspended exploration wells | 17.1 | 22.7 | – | |||||||
| Asset retirement obligation losses (gains) | 16.9 | 30.8 | (71.8) | |||||||
| Foreign exchange loss (gain) | 10.9 | (23.0) | (1.0) | |||||||
| Mark-to-market loss on contingent consideration | 7.1 | 78.3 | 63.2 | |||||||
| Mark-to-market (gain) loss on derivative instruments | – | (214.7) | 112.1 | |||||||
| (Gain) on sale of assets | – | (14.5) | – | |||||||
| Early redemption of debt cost | – | 10.3 | 43.9 | |||||||
| Impairment of assets | – | – | 196.3 | |||||||
| Tax benefits on investments in foreign areas | – | – | (8.9) | |||||||
| Charges related to Kings Quay transaction | – | – | 4.9 | |||||||
| Unutilized rig charges | – | – | 8.7 | |||||||
| Total adjustments, before taxes | 52.0 | (110.1) | 347.4 | |||||||
| Income tax (benefit) expense related to adjustments | (6.4) | 23.8 | (75.2) | |||||||
| Total adjustments after taxes | 45.6 | (86.3) | 272.2 | |||||||
| Adjusted net income from continuing operations attributable to Murphy (Non-GAAP) | $ | 708.7 | $ | 880.8 | $ | 199.7 | ||||
| Net income from continuing operations per average diluted share (GAAP) | $ | 4.23 | $ | 6.14 | $ | (0.47) | ||||
| Adjusted net income from continuing operations per average diluted share (Non-GAAP) | $ | 4.52 | $ | 5.59 | $ | 1.29 |
1 Excludes amounts attributable to a noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
2 Certain prior-period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.
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The following table reconciles reported net income attributable to Murphy to EBITDA attributable to Murphy and adjusted EBITDA attributable to Murphy.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
| Net (loss) income attributable to Murphy (GAAP) 1 | $ | 661.6 | $ | 965.0 | $ | (73.7) | ||||
| Income tax expense | 195.9 | 309.5 | (5.9) | |||||||
| Interest expense, net | 112.4 | 150.8 | 221.8 | |||||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense 2 | 836.7 | 748.2 | 760.6 | |||||||
| EBITDA attributable to Murphy (Non-GAAP) | 1,806.6 | 2,173.5 | 902.8 | |||||||
| Accretion of asset retirement obligations 2 | 41.0 | 40.9 | 41.1 | |||||||
| Write-off of previously suspended exploration well | 17.1 | 22.7 | – | |||||||
| Asset retirement obligation loss (gain) | 16.9 | 30.8 | (71.8) | |||||||
| Foreign exchange loss (gain) | 10.8 | (23.0) | (1.0) | |||||||
| Mark-to-market loss gain on contingent consideration | 7.1 | 78.3 | 63.2 | |||||||
| Mark-to-market (gain) loss on derivative instruments | – | (214.7) | 112.1 | |||||||
| Discontinued operations loss | 1.5 | 2.1 | 1.2 | |||||||
| Gain on sale of assets 2 | – | (14.5) | – | |||||||
| Impairment of assets 2 | – | – | 196.3 | |||||||
| Unutilized rig charges | – | – | 8.7 | |||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Murphy (Non-GAAP) | $ | 1,901.0 | $ | 2,096.1 | $ | 1,252.6 |
1 Excludes amounts attributable to a noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
2 Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, impairment of assets, loss (gain) on sale of sale of assets and accretion of asset retirement obligations used in the computation of adjusted EBITDA exclude the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.
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Environmental, Health and Safety Matters
Murphy faces various environmental, health and safety risks that are inherent in exploring for, developing and producing hydrocarbons. To help manage these risks, the Company has established a robust health, safety and environmental governance program comprised of a worldwide policy, guiding principles, annual goals and a management system incorporating oversight at each business unit, senior leadership and board levels. The Company strives to minimize these risks by continually improving its processes through design, operation and implementation of a comprehensive asset integrity plan, and through emergency and oil spill response planning to address any credible risks. These plans are presented to, reviewed and approved by a Health, Safety, Environment and Corporate Responsibility Committee consisting of certain members of the Board.
The oil and gas industry is subject to numerous international, foreign, national, state, provincial and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. Murphy allocates a portion of both its capital expenditures and its general and administrative budget toward compliance with existing and anticipated environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. These requirements affect virtually all operations of the Company and increase Murphy’s overall cost of business, including its capital costs to construct, maintain and upgrade equipment and facilities as well as operating costs for ongoing compliance.
The principal environmental, health and safety laws and regulations to which Murphy is subject address such matters as the generation, storage, handling, use, disposal and remediation of petroleum products, wastewater and hazardous materials; the emission and discharge of such materials to the environment, including GHG emissions; wildlife, habitat and water protection; the placement, operation and decommissioning of production equipment; and the health and safety of our employees, contractors and communities where our operations are located. These laws and regulations also generally require permits for existing operations, as well as the construction or development of new operations and the decommissioning facilities once production has ceased. Violations can give rise to sanctions including significant civil and criminal penalties, injunctions, construction bans and delays.
Further information on environmental, health and safety laws and regulations applicable to Murphy are contained in the Business section beginning page 10.
Climate Change and Emissions
The world’s population and standard of living is growing steadily along with the demand for energy. Murphy recognizes that this may generate increasing amounts of GHG, which could raise important climate change concerns. Murphy works to assess the Company’s governance, strategy, risk identification, and management and measurement of climate risks and opportunities in order to remain in alignment with the TCFD core elements. The TCFD was created by the Financial Stability Board to focus on climate-related financial disclosures to improve and increase reporting of climate-related financial information. Murphy’s disclosures related to its alignment with the TCFD are included in the Company’s 2023 Sustainability Report issued on August 2, 2023, which is not incorporated by reference hereto.
Other Matters
Impact of inflation – In 2023, many countries worldwide continued to experience a rise in inflation, including countries where the Company operates (this follows a sustained period of relatively low inflation prior to 2021). In the U.S., inflation continued as a result of ongoing supply constraints and increasing demand for goods and services as countries continue their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company’s revenues, capital and operating costs are influenced to a larger extent by specific price changes in the oil and gas industry and allied industries rather than by changes in general inflation. Crude oil prices generally reflect the balance between supply and demand, with crude oil prices being particularly sensitive to OPEC+ production levels and/or attitudes of traders concerning supply and demand in the future. Costs for oil field goods and services are usually affected by the worldwide prices for crude oil.
To combat impacts of inflation and/or supply and demand factors, Murphy has dedicated personnel in marketing and procurement departments, focused on managing supply chain and input costs. Murphy also has certain transportation, processing and production handling services costs fixed through long-term contracts and commitments and therefore is partly protected from the increasing price of services. However, from time to time, Murphy will seek to enter new commitments, exercise options to extend contracts and retender contracts for rigs
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and other industry services which could expose Murphy to the impact of higher costs. Murphy continues to strive toward safely executing our work in an ever-increasing efficient manner to mitigate possible inflationary pressures in our business.
Natural gas prices are also affected by supply and demand, which are often affected by the weather and by the fact that delivery of natural gas can be restricted to specific geographic areas. Natural gas demand is also impacted by demand driven by lower carbon emissions and a view that natural gas is one option to transition from higher carbon emitting fuels.
As a result of the overall volatility of oil and natural gas prices, it is not possible to predict the Company’s future cost of oil field goods and services.
Critical Accounting Estimates – In preparing the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP, management must make a number of estimates and assumptions related to the reporting of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Application of certain of the Company’s accounting policies requires significant estimates. The most significant of these accounting policies and estimates are described below.
Oil and natural gas proved reserves – Oil and natural gas proved reserves are defined by the SEC as those quantities of oil and natural 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 before the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire (unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain). Proved developed reserves of oil and natural gas can be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods or in which the cost of the required equipment is relatively minor compared with the cost of a new well, or through installed extraction equipment and infrastructure operational at the time of the reserves estimate if the extraction is by means not involving a well.
Although the Company’s engineers are knowledgeable of and follow the guidelines for reserves as established by the SEC, the estimation of reserves requires the engineers to make a significant number of assumptions based on professional judgment. SEC rules require the Company to use an unweighted average of the oil and natural gas prices in effect at the beginning of each month of the year for determining quantities of proved reserves. These historical prices often do not approximate the average price that the Company expects to receive for its oil and natural gas production in the future. The Company often uses significantly different oil and natural gas prices and reserve assumptions when making its own internal economic property evaluations. Changes in oil and natural gas prices can lead to a decision to start-up or shut-in production, which can lead to revisions to reserves quantities.
Estimated reserves are subject to future revision, certain of which could be substantial, based on the availability of additional information, including reservoir performance, new geological and geophysical data, additional drilling, technological advancements, price changes and other economic factors. Reserves revisions inherently lead to adjustments of the Company’s depreciation rates and the timing of settlement of asset retirement obligations. Downward reserves revisions can also lead to significant impairment expense. The Company cannot predict the type of oil and natural gas reserves revisions that will be required in future periods.
The Company’s proved reserves of crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas are presented on pages 103 to 112 of this Form 10-K report. Murphy’s estimations for proved reserves were generated through the integration of available geoscience, engineering, and economic data (including hydrocarbon prices, operating costs, and development costs), and commercially available technologies, to establish ‘reasonable certainty’ of economic producibility. As defined by the SEC, reasonable certainty of proved reserves describes a high degree of confidence that the quantities will be recovered. In estimating proved reserves, Murphy uses familiar industry-accepted methods for subsurface evaluations, including performance, volumetric, and analog-based studies.
Where appropriate, Murphy includes reliable geologic and engineering technology to estimate proved reserves. Reliable geologic and engineering technology is a method or combination of methods that are field-tested and have demonstrated to provide reasonably certain results with consistency and repeatability in the formation being evaluated or in an analogous formation. This integrated approach increases the quality of and confidence in Murphy’s proved reserves estimates. It was utilized in certain undrilled acreage at distances
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greater than the directly offsetting development spacing areas, and in certain reservoirs developed with the application of improved recovery techniques. Murphy utilized a combination of 3D seismic interpretation, core analysis, wellbore log measurements, well test data, historic production and pressure data, and commercially available seismic processing and numerical reservoir simulation programs. Reservoir parameters from analogous reservoirs were used to strengthen the reserves estimates when available.
See further discussion of proved reserves and changes in proved reserves during the three years ended December 31, 2023 beginning on pages 4 and 103 of this Form 10-K report.
Property, Plant and Equipment - impairment of long-lived assets – The Company continually monitors its long-lived assets recorded in “Property, plant and equipment” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet to ensure that they are fairly presented. The Company must evaluate its property, plant and equipment for potential impairment when circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable from future cash flows.
A significant amount of judgment is involved in performing these evaluations since the results are based on estimated future events. Such events include a projection of future oil and natural gas sales prices, an estimate of the amount of oil and natural gas that will be produced from a field, the timing of this future production, future costs to produce the oil and natural gas, future capital, operating and abandonment costs and future inflation levels.
The need to test a long-lived asset for impairment can be based on several factors, including, but not limited to, a significant reduction in sales prices for oil and/or natural gas, unfavorable revisions of oil or natural gas reserves, or other changes to contracts, environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, tax laws or other regulatory changes. All of these factors must be considered when evaluating a property’s carrying value for possible impairment.
Due to the volatility of world oil and natural gas markets, the actual sales prices for oil and natural gas have often been different from the Company’s projections.
Estimates of future oil and natural gas production and sales volumes are based on a combination of proved and risked probable reserves. Although the estimation of reserves and future production is uncertain, the Company believes that its estimates are reasonable; however, there have been cases where actual production volumes were higher or lower than projected and the timing was different than the original projection. The Company adjusts reserves and production estimates as new information becomes available.
The Company generally projects future costs by using historical costs adjusted for both assumed long-term inflation rates and known or expected changes in future operations. Although the projected future costs are considered to be reasonable, at times, costs have been higher or lower than originally estimated.
There were no impairments recognized in 2023 or 2022.
Income taxes – The Company is subject to income and other similar taxes in all areas in which it operates. When recording income tax expense, certain estimates are required because: (a) income tax returns are generally filed months after the close of its annual accounting period; (b) tax returns are subject to audit by taxing authorities and audits can often take years to complete and settle; (c) future events often impact the timing of when income tax expenses and benefits are recognized by the Company; and (d) changes to regulations may be subject to different interpretations and require future clarification from issuing authorities or others.
The Company has deferred tax assets mostly relating to U.S net operating losses, liabilities for dismantlement, retirement benefit plan obligations and net deferred tax liabilities relating to tax and accounting basis differences for property, plant and equipment.
The Company routinely evaluates all deferred tax assets to determine the likelihood of their realization and reduce such assets to the expected realizable amount by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In assessing the need for valuation allowances, we consider all available positive and negative evidence. Positive evidence includes projected future taxable income and assessment of future business assumptions, a history of utilizing tax assets before expiration, significant proven and probable reserves and reversals of taxable temporary differences. Negative evidence includes losses in recent years.
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As of December 31, 2023 the Company had a U.S. deferred tax asset associated with net operating losses of $357.5 million. In reviewing the likelihood of realizing this asset, the Company considered the reversal of taxable temporary differences, carryforward periods and future taxable income estimates based on projected financial information which, based on currently available evidence, we believe to be reasonably likely to occur. Certain estimates and assumptions are used in the estimation of future taxable income, including (but not limited to) (a) future commodity prices for crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas, (b) estimated reserves for crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas, (c) expected timing of production, (d) estimated lease operating costs and (e) future capital requirements. In the future, the underlying actual assumptions utilized in estimating future taxable income could be different and result in different conclusions about the likelihood of the future utilization of our net operating loss carryforwards.
Accounting for retirement and postretirement benefit plans – Murphy and certain of its subsidiaries maintain defined benefit retirement plans covering certain full-time employees. The Company also sponsors health care and life insurance benefit plans covering most retired U.S. employees. The expense associated with these plans is estimated by management based on a number of assumptions and with consultation assistance from qualified third-party actuaries. The most important of these assumptions for the retirement plans involve the discount rate used to measure future plan obligations and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. For the retiree medical and insurance plans, the most important assumptions are the discount rate for future plan obligations and the health care cost trend rate. Discount rates are based on the universe of high-quality corporate bonds that are available within each country. Cash flow analyses are performed in which a spot yield curve is used to discount projected benefit payment streams for the most significant plans. The discounted cash flows are used to determine an equivalent single rate which is the basis for selecting the discount rate within each country. Expected plan asset returns are based on long-term expectations for asset portfolios with similar investment mix characteristics. Anticipated health care cost trend rates are determined based on prior experience of the Company and an assessment of near-term and long-term trends for medical and drug costs.
Based on bond yields as of December 31, 2023, the Company has used a weighted average discount rate of 5.15% at year-end 2023 for the primary U.S. plans. This weighted average discount rate is 0.3% lower than prior year, which increased the Company’s recorded liabilities for retirement plans compared to a year ago. The Company assumed a return on plan assets of 8.00% for the primary U.S. plan, it periodically reconsiders the appropriateness of this and other key assumptions. The Company’s retirement and postretirement plan (health care and life insurance benefit plans) expenses in 2024 are expected to be $0.7 million higher than in 2023 primarily due to the increase in the benefit obligations at December 31, 2023 compared to the prior year, which increases the interest cost recognized in net periodic benefit costs. Cash contributions to all plans are anticipated to be $2.9 million higher in 2024.
In 2023, the Company paid $37.5 million into various retirement plans and $2.0 million into postretirement plans. In 2024, the Company is expecting to fund payments of approximately $38.0 million into various retirement plans and $4.4 million for postretirement plans. The Company could be required to make additional and more significant funding payments to retirement plans in future years. Future required payments and the amount of liabilities recorded on the balance sheet associated with the plans could be unfavorably affected if the discount rate declines, the actual return on plan assets falls below the assumed return, or the health care cost trend rate increase is higher than expected.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note B in our Consolidated Financial Statements regarding the impact or potential impact of recent accounting pronouncements upon our financial position and results of operations.
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Contractual obligations and guarantees – The Company is obligated to make future cash payments under borrowing arrangements, operating leases, purchase obligations primarily associated with existing capital expenditure plans and other long-term liabilities. Total payments due after 2023 under such contractual obligations and arrangements are shown in the table below. Amounts are undiscounted and therefore may differ to those presented in the financial statements.
| (Millions of dollars) | Amount of Obligations | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 2024 | 2025 - 2026 | 2027 - 2028 | After 2028 | ||||||||||||||
| Debt, excluding interest | $ | 1,334.9 | $ | – | $ | – | $ | 815.4 | $ | 519.5 | ||||||||
| Operating leases and other leases ¹ | 1,019.3 | 245.7 | 148.4 | 125.4 | 499.8 | |||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures, drilling rigs and other ² | 1,289.6 | 434.4 | 264.2 | 197.9 | 393.1 | |||||||||||||
| Other long-term liabilities, including debt interest ³ | 2,379.0 | 98.9 | 197.6 | 139.4 | 1,943.1 | |||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 6,022.8 | $ | 779.0 | $ | 610.2 | $ | 1,278.1 | $ | 3,355.5 |
1 Other leases refers to a finance lease in Brunei (see Note T).
2 Capital expenditures, drilling rigs and other includes $51.6 million, $11.8 million, $11.6 million and $4.0 million, in 2024 for approved capital projects in non-operated interests in U.S. Gulf of Mexico, U.S. Onshore, Canada Offshore and Other Foreign Offshore, respectively. Capital expenditures, drilling rigs and other includes $23.5 million in 2025 for approved capital projects in non-operated interests in U.S. Gulf of Mexico.
Also includes $74.6 million (2024), $145.3 million (2025 - 2026), $140.2 million (2027 - 2028) and $308.1 million (After 2028) for pipeline transportation commitments in Canada.
Also includes $4.1 million (2024), $7.7 million (2025 - 2026), $7.7 million (2027 - 2028) and $22.5 million (After 2028) for long term take or pay commitments relating to natural gas processing in Canada.
3 Other long-term liabilities, including debt interest, includes future cash outflows for asset retirement obligations.
The Company has entered into agreements to lease production facilities for various producing oil fields as well as other arrangements that require future payments as described in the following section. The Company’s share of the contractual obligations under these leases and other arrangements has been included in the table above.
In the normal course of its business, the Company is required under certain contracts with various governmental authorities and others to provide letters of credit that may be drawn upon if the Company fails to perform under those contracts. Total outstanding letters of credit were $200.6 million as of December 31, 2023.
Material off-balance sheet arrangements – Certain U.S. transportation contracts require minimum monthly payments through 2045, while Onshore Canada transportation and processing contracts call for minimum monthly payments through 2051. Future required minimum annual payments under these arrangements are included in the contractual obligation table above.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Outlook
The oil and gas industry is impacted by global commodity pricing and as a result the prices for the Company’s primary products are often volatile and are affected by the levels of supply and demand for energy. As discussed in the Results of Operations section discussing revenues, on page 37, lower average crude oil price during in 2023 directly impacted the Company’s product sales revenue.
As of close on February 21, 2024, forward price curves for existing forward contracts for the remainder of 2024 and 2025 are shown in the table below:
| 2024 | 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WTI ($/BBL) | 75.63 | 70.84 | ||
| NYMEX ($/MMBTU) | 2.41 | 3.38 | ||
| AECO (US$ Equivalent/MCF) | 1.39 | 2.38 |
In 2023, liquids from continuing operations represented approximately 60% of total hydrocarbons produced on an energy equivalent basis. In 2024, the Company’s ratio of hydrocarbon production represented by liquids is expected to be 59%. If the prices for crude oil and natural gas are lower in 2024 or beyond, this will have an unfavorable impact on the Company’s operating profits; likewise, if prices are higher, this will have a favorable impact. The Company, from time to time, may choose to use a variety of commodity hedge instruments to reduce commodity price risk, including forward sale fixed financial swaps and long-term fixed-price physical commodity sales.
The Company currently expects average daily production in 2024 to be between 187,100 and 195,100 barrels of oil equivalent per day (including noncontrolling interest of 7,100 BOEPD). If significant price declines occur, the Company will review the option of production curtailments to avoid incurring losses on certain produced barrels.
Similar to the overall inflation and higher interest rates in the wider economy, the oil and gas industry and the Company are observing higher costs for goods and services used in E&P operations. Murphy continues to manage input costs through its dedicated procurement department focused on managing supply chain and other costs to deliver cash flow from operations.
We cannot predict what impact economic factors (including, but not limited to, inflation, global conflicts and possible economic recession) may have on future commodity pricing. Lower prices, should they occur, will result in lower profits and operating cash flows.
The Company’s capital expenditure spend for 2024 is expected to be between $920 million and $1,020 million, excluding noncontrolling interest. Capital and other expenditures are routinely reviewed and planned capital expenditures may be adjusted to reflect differences between budgeted and forecast cash flow during the year. Capital expenditures may also be affected by asset purchases or sales, which often are not anticipated at the time a budget is prepared. The Company will primarily fund its capital program in 2024 using operating cash flow and available cash. If oil and/or natural gas prices weaken, actual cash flow generated from operations could be reduced such that capital spending reductions are required and/or borrowings under available credit facilities might be required during the year to maintain funding of the Company’s ongoing development projects.
The Company plans to utilize surplus cash (not planned to be used by operations, investing activities, dividends or payment to noncontrolling interests), in accordance with the Company’s capital allocation framework designed to allow for additional shareholder returns and debt reduction. Details of the framework can be found in the “Capital Allocation Framework” section of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 4, 2022. During 2023, the Board authorized a $300 million increase to the original share repurchase program announced in the Capital Allocation Framework, bringing the total amount allowed to be repurchased under the program to $600 million. As of December 31, 2023, the Company has $450 million remaining available to repurchase.
The Company continues to monitor the impact of commodity prices on its financial position and is currently in compliance with the covenants related to the revolving credit facility (see Note F).
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As of February 21, 2024, the Company has entered into forward fixed-price delivery contracts to manage risk associated with certain future oil and natural gas sales prices as follows:
| Volumes (MMcf/d) | Price/MCF | Remaining Period | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Commodity | Type | Start Date | End Date | |||||||||
| Canada | Natural Gas | Fixed price forward sales | 162 | C$2.39 | 1/1/2024 | 12/31/2024 | |||||||
| Canada | Natural Gas | Fixed price forward sales | 25 | US$1.98 | 1/1/2024 | 10/31/2024 | |||||||
| Canada | Natural Gas | Fixed price forward sales | 15 | US$1.98 | 11/1/2024 | 12/31/2024 |
Forward-Looking Statements
This Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are generally identified through the inclusion of words such as “aim”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “drive”, “estimate”, “expect”, “expressed confidence”, “forecast”, “future”, “goal”, “guidance”, “intend”, “may”, “objective”, “outlook”, “plan”, “position”, “potential”, “project”, “seek”, “should”, “strategy”, “target”, “will” or variations of such words and other similar expressions. These statements, which express management’s current views concerning future events, results and plans, are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties and assumptions (many of which are beyond our control) and are not guarantees of performance. In particular, statements, express or implied, concerning the Company’s future operating results or activities and returns or the Company's ability and decisions to replace or increase reserves, increase production, generate returns and rates of return, replace or increase drilling locations, reduce or otherwise control operating costs and expenditures, generate cash flows, pay down or refinance indebtedness, achieve, reach or otherwise meet initiatives, plans, goals, ambitions or targets with respect to emissions, safety matters or other ESG (environmental/social/governance) matters, make capital expenditures or pay and/or increase dividends or make share repurchases and other capital allocation decisions are forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause one or more of these future events, results or plans not to occur as implied by any forward-looking statement, which consequently could cause actual results or activities to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to: macro conditions in the oil and gas industry, including supply/demand levels, actions taken by major oil exporters and the resulting impacts on commodity prices; geopolitical concerns; increased volatility or deterioration in the success rate of our exploration programs or in our ability to maintain production rates and replace reserves; reduced customer demand for our products due to environmental, regulatory, technological or other reasons; adverse foreign exchange movements; political and regulatory instability in the markets where we do business; the impact on our operations or market of health pandemics such as COVID-19 and related government responses; other natural hazards impacting our operations or markets; any other deterioration in our business, markets or prospects; any failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals; any inability to service or refinance our outstanding debt or to access debt markets at acceptable prices; or adverse developments in the U.S. or global capital markets, credit markets, banking system or economies in general, including inflation. For further discussion of factors that could cause one or more of these future events or results not to occur as implied by any forward-looking statement, see Item 1A. Risk Factors, which begins on page 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Investors and others should note that we may announce material information using SEC filings, press releases, public conference calls, webcasts and the investors page of our website. We may use these channels to distribute material information about the Company; therefore, we encourage investors, the media, business partners and others interested in the Company to review the information we post on our website. The information on our website is not part of, and is not incorporated into, this report. Murphy Oil Corporation undertakes no duty to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.
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FY 2022 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0000717423-23-000015.
Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Murphy Oil Corporation is a worldwide oil and natural gas exploration and production company. A more detailed description of the Company’s significant assets can be found in Item 1 of this Form 10-K report.
In 2022, a combination of demand recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical uncertainty and market disruption from the Russia/Ukraine conflict and lack of investment in the exploration and production sector contributed to increased crude oil and natural gas benchmark prices compared to 2021. Prices declined in the second half of 2022, due to increased supply related to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve oil release and ongoing concerns related to a possible economic slowdown and demand from China.
Similar to the overall inflation in the wider economy, the oil and gas industry, and hence the Company, is observing higher costs for goods and services used in exploration and production operations. Murphy continues to manage input costs through its dedicated procurement department focused on managing supply chain and other costs.
Significant Company operating and financial highlights during and at the end of 2022 were as follows:
•Generated net income of $965 million and $2,180.2 million of net cash provided by operating activities and $1,070.8 million of adjusted cash flow1;
•Produced 175 thousand barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) per day (167 thousand excluding noncontrolling interest, NCI) and completed the Khaleesi, Mormont, Samurai field development project in the Gulf of Mexico with seven wells brought online;
•Acquired additional working interest in non-operated Lucius and Kodiak fields in the Gulf of Mexico for $128.5 million;
•Announced capital allocation framework 2 and reduced total debt by approximately $650 million, a 26% debt reduction in the year;
•Doubled the cash dividend since the fourth quarter of 2021 to $1.00 per share annualized; and
•Achieved 98% total proved reserve replacement with year-end proved reserves of 715.4 million barrels of oil equivalent (697.2 million excluding NCI).
1 Adjusted cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure calculated as cash flow from operations less capital expenditures ($1,109.4 million). Management believes adjusted cash flow is important to provide as it is used by management to evaluate the Company’s ability to generate additional cash from business operations after providing for capital investments. Adjusted cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure and should not be considered a substitute for other financial measures as determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Additionally, our definition of adjusted cash flow is limited and does not represent residual cash flows available for other discretionary expenditures as the measure does not deduct the payments required for debt service and other obligations. Therefore, we believe it is important to view adjusted cash flow as supplemental to our entire statement of cash flows.
2 Details of the capital allocation framework can be found as part of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 4, 2022.
Throughout this section, the term, ‘excluding noncontrolling interest’ or ‘excluding NCI’ refers to amounts attributable to Murphy. Unless noted, amounts include noncontrolling interest.
Murphy’s continuing operations generate revenue by producing crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGL) and natural gas in the United States and Canada and then selling these products to customers. The Company’s revenue is affected by the prices of crude oil, natural gas and NGL. In order to make a profit and generate cash in its exploration and production business, revenue generated from the sales of oil and natural gas produced must exceed the combined costs of producing these products and expenses related to exploration, administration and for capital borrowed from lending institutions and note holders.
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Changes in the price of crude oil and natural gas have a significant impact on the profitability of the Company. In 2022, liquids from continuing operations represented approximately 62% of total hydrocarbons produced on an energy equivalent basis. In 2023, the Company’s ratio of hydrocarbon production represented by liquids is expected to be 63%. If the prices for crude oil and natural gas are lower in 2023 or beyond, this will have an unfavorable impact on the Company’s operating profits; likewise, if prices are higher, this will have a favorable impact. The Company, from time to time, may choose to use a variety of commodity hedge instruments to reduce commodity price risk, including forward sale fixed financial swaps and long-term fixed-price physical commodity sales.
Oil prices were higher in 2022 compared to the 2021 and 2020 periods. The sales price of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil averaged $94.23 in 2022, $67.91 in 2021 and $39.40 in 2020. In 2023, the WTI price has thus far been below the comparable period in 2022, however, higher than the comparable period 2021.
WTI average price for 2022 increased 39% over the prior year principally as a result of demand recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical uncertainty and market disruption following the Russia/Ukraine conflict and market concerns over supply shortfalls as discussed above.
The most common crude oil indices used to price the Company’s crude include Mars, WTI Houston (MEH), Heavy Louisiana Sweet (HLS) and Brent.
The New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) natural gas price per million British Thermal Units (MMBTU) averaged $6.38 in 2022, $3.84 in 2021 and $1.99 in 2020. The 2022 NYMEX natural gas price was higher compared to 2021 and NYMEX prices in 2023 have thus far been below the comparable period in 2022.
Results of Operations
Murphy Oil’s results of operations, with associated diluted earnings per share (EPS), for the last three years are presented in the following table.
| Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars, except EPS) | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
| Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes | $ | 1,450.3 | $ | 42.9 | $ | (1,549.0) | ||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to Murphy | 965.0 | (73.7) | (1,148.8) | |||||||
| Diluted EPS | 6.13 | (0.48) | (7.48) | |||||||
| Income (Loss) from continuing operations attributable to Murphy | 967.1 | (72.4) | (1,141.6) | |||||||
| Diluted EPS | 6.14 | (0.47) | (7.43) | |||||||
| (Loss) income from discontinued operations | (2.1) | (1.2) | (7.2) | |||||||
| Diluted EPS | (0.01) | (0.01) | (0.05) |
For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company produced 175 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (including noncontrolling interest) from continuing operations. The Company invested $1,183.2 million in capital expenditures (on a value of work done basis) for the year ended December 31, 2022, which included $25.9 million attributable to noncontrolling interest and $128.5 million for capital acquisitions. The Company reported net income from continuing operations of $1,140.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. This amount includes income attributable to noncontrolling interest of $173.7 million, after-tax gains on unrealized mark to market revaluations on commodity price swap and collar positions of $169.6 million and after-tax losses on contingent consideration (see Note P) of $61.6 million.
In 2022, the Company achieved first production from the Khaleesi, Mormont, Samurai field development project in the Gulf of Mexico and acquired a 3.4% working interest in the Lucius field and an 11.0% working interest in the Kodiak field in the Gulf of Mexico, with both acquisitions having no noncontrolling interests.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company produced 167 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (including noncontrolling interest) from continuing operations. The Company invested $711.2 million in capital expenditures (on a value of work done basis) for the year ended December 31, 2021, which included $23.0 million attributable to noncontrolling interest and $17.3 million to fund the development of the King’s Quay
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floating production system (FPS). The Company reported net income from continuing operations of $48.8 million (which included post tax impairment charges of $151.5 million and income attributable to noncontrolling interest of $121.2 million) for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Other Key Performance Metrics
The Company uses other operational performance and income metrics to review operational performance. The table below presents Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) and adjusted EBITDA. Management uses EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA internally to evaluate the Company’s operational performance and trends between periods and relative to its industry competitors. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures and should not be considered a substitute for Net income (loss) or Cash provided by operating activities as determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also presented below is adjusted EBITDA per barrel of oil equivalent sold. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA per barrel of oil equivalent sold to evaluate the Company’s profitability of one barrel of oil equivalent sold in the period. Adjusted EBITDA per barrel of oil equivalent sold is a non-GAAP financial metric.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars, except per barrel of oil equivalents sold) | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
| Net (loss) income attributable to Murphy (GAAP) | $ | 965.0 | $ | (73.7) | $ | (1,148.8) | ||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | 309.5 | (5.9) | (293.7) | |||||||
| Interest expense, net | 150.8 | 221.8 | 169.4 | |||||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense ¹ | 748.2 | 760.6 | 932.6 | |||||||
| EBITDA attributable to Murphy (Non-GAAP) | 2,173.5 | 902.8 | (340.5) | |||||||
| Mark-to-market (gain) loss on derivative instruments | (214.7) | 112.1 | 69.3 | |||||||
| Mark-to-market loss (gain) on contingent consideration | 78.3 | 63.2 | (13.8) | |||||||
| Foreign exchange (gain) loss | (23.0) | (1.0) | 0.7 | |||||||
| Loss (gain) on sale of assets ¹ | (14.5) | — | — | |||||||
| Accretion of asset retirement obligations ¹ | 40.9 | 41.1 | 42.1 | |||||||
| Write-off of previously suspended exploration wells | 22.7 | — | — | |||||||
| Asset retirement obligation losses (gains) | 30.8 | (71.8) | (2.8) | |||||||
| Discontinued operations loss | 2.1 | 1.2 | 7.2 | |||||||
| Impairment of assets 1 | — | 196.3 | 1,072.5 | |||||||
| Unutilized rig charges | — | 8.7 | 16.0 | |||||||
| Restructuring expenses | — | — | 50.0 | |||||||
| Inventory loss | — | — | 8.3 | |||||||
| Insurance Proceeds | — | — | (1.7) | |||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Murphy (Non-GAAP) | $ | 2,096.1 | $ | 1,252.6 | $ | 907.3 | ||||
| Total barrels of oil equivalents sold from continuing operations attributable to Murphy (thousands of barrels) | 60,837 | 57,476 | 60,189 | |||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA per barrel of oil equivalents sold | $ | 34.45 | $ | 21.79 | $ | 15.07 |
1 Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, impairment of assets, loss (gain) on sale of sale of assets and accretion of asset retirement obligations used in the computation of adjusted EBITDA exclude the portion attributable to the non-controlling interest.
Segment Results – In the following table, the Company’s results of operations for the three years ended December 31, 2022, are presented by segment. More detailed reviews of operating results for the Company’s exploration and production and other activities follow the table.
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A summary of Net income (loss) is presented in the following table.
| (Millions of dollars) | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exploration and production – continuing operations | ||||||||||
| United States | $ | 1,521.9 | $ | 766.3 | $ | (1,014.3) | ||||
| Canada | 134.2 | (16.1) | (35.0) | |||||||
| Other International | (77.0) | (33.5) | (85.6) | |||||||
| Total exploration and production – continuing operations | 1,579.1 | 716.7 | (1,134.9) | |||||||
| Corporate and other | (438.3) | (668.0) | (120.3) | |||||||
| Income (loss) from continuing operations | 1,140.8 | 48.7 | (1,255.2) | |||||||
| (Loss) income from discontinued operations | (2.1) | (1.2) | (7.2) | |||||||
| Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest | 1,138.7 | 47.5 | (1,262.4) | |||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest | 173.7 | 121.2 | (113.7) | |||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to Murphy | $ | 965.0 | $ | (73.7) | $ | (1,148.7) |
A summary of oil and natural gas revenues is presented in the following table.
| (Millions of dollars) | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Oil and natural gas liquids | $ | 3,210.3 | $ | 2,199.7 | $ | 1,335.8 | ||||
| Natural gas | 225.2 | 121.7 | 69.4 | ||||||||
| Canada | Oil and natural gas liquids | 267.5 | 228.9 | 174.0 | |||||||
| Natural gas | 312.6 | 245.9 | 170.6 | ||||||||
| Other | Oil | 22.8 | 4.9 | 1.8 | |||||||
| Total oil and natural gas revenues | $ | 4,038.4 | $ | 2,801.1 | $ | 1,751.6 |
Exploration and Production
Please refer to Schedule 6 – Results of Operations for Oil and Natural Gas Producing Activities in the Supplemental Oil and Natural Gas Information section for supporting tables.
2022 vs 2021
The results of operations in this section include amounts attributable to a noncontrolling interest in MP GOM (a subsidiary of Murphy Expro USA, operating and developing properties in the Gulf of Mexico) and exclude discontinued operations, unless otherwise noted.
Exploration and production (E&P) from continuing operations recorded earnings of $1,579.1 million in 2022 compared to earnings of $716.7 million million in 2021. Results were favorable $862.4 million in 2022 compared to 2021 primarily due to higher oil, natural gas liquid and natural gas prices and volumes, lower impairment charges and lower depreciation, depletion and amortization (DD&A) expense, partially offset by higher lease operating expenses (LOE), other operating expense, exploration expenses, transportation, gathering and processing, severance and ad valorem taxes and income tax charges. See below for further details.
E&P crude oil price realizations averaged $94.89 per barrel in 2022 compared to $66.80 per barrel in 2021, an increase of 42% year over year. U.S. natural gas realized price per thousand cubic feet (MCF) averaged $6.68 in the current year compared to $3.71 per MCF in 2021, an increase of 80% year over year. Canada natural gas realized price per MCF averaged U.S. $2.76 in 2022compared to U.S. $2.43 per MCF in 2021, an increase of 14% year over year. E&P oil and natural gas LOE and severance and ad valorem taxes (production costs), on a per-unit basis, were $11.55 in 2022 (2021: $9.53). The increase in per-unit production costs in 2022 was primarily attributable to cost increases from inflationary pressures related to the onshore business and higher production from the Khaleesi and Mormont assets.
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United States E&P operations reported earnings of $1,521.9 million in 2022 compared to earnings of $766.3 million in 2021. Results were favorable $755.6 million in 2022 compared to the 2021 period driven by higher total revenues ($1,123.7 million), partially offset by higher LOE ($116.3 million), income tax expense ($186.9 million), other operating expense ($26.9 million), severance and ad valorem taxes ($16.1 million) and transportation, gathering and processing costs ($15.7 million).
Higher revenues are primarily attributable to higher realized prices in 2022 compared to 2021 and higher sales volumes (4,026 barrels of oil equivalent per day higher) which includes additional sales volumes from the Khaleesi, Mormont, Samurai field development project in the Gulf of Mexico. Higher LOE relates to higher production volumes, cost increases from inflationary pressures related to the onshore business and higher production handling fees at the Khaleesi and Mormont assets. Higher income tax expense is a result of higher pre-tax income. Increases in other operating expenses is primarily due to a higher asset retirement adjustments related to non-producing fields, ($37.2 million) and higher unfavorable mark to market revaluation on contingent consideration ($15.1 million) from prior Gulf of Mexico acquisitions. Higher severance and ad valorem taxes are due to higher revenues at Eagle Ford Shale and higher transportation, gathering and processing costs are due to higher sales volumes at the Gulf of Mexico.
Canadian E&P operations reported earnings of $134.2 million in 2022 compared to a loss of $16.1 million in 2021. Results were favorable $150.3 million compared to 2021 primarily due to higher revenue from production ($105.1 million), no impairment charges in 2022 (2021:$171.3 million) and lower DD&A ($22.3 million), partially offset by higher other operating expense ($78.6 million), higher income tax charges ($45.3 million), higher LOE ($18.8 million) and higher transportation, gathering and processing ($10.0 million).
Higher revenue is primarily attributable to higher realized prices and higher gas volumes (new wells added in 2022). Lower impairment and higher other operating expense in 2022 was the result of the 2021 impairment charge for Terra Nova. The impairment charge was recorded in the first quarter of 2021 following notice from the operator of asset abandonment at Terra Nova at the time of the assessment, which was later partially offset with a credit of $71.8 million in the third quarter of 2021 which was reported in ‘other operating expense’ as a result of the deferral of an asset retirement obligation at Terra Nova following the sanction of an asset life extension project and reversal of the asset abandonment decision. Higher income tax expense is a result of higher pre-tax income. Higher LOE is due to higher gas volumes and higher processing rates at Tupper Montney. Increased transportation, gathering and processing expense is due to higher sales volumes and an increase in transportation rates at Tupper Montney.
Other international E&P operations reported a loss from continuing operations of $77.0 million in 2022 compared to a loss of $33.5 million in 2021. Results were unfavorable $43.5 million in 2022 compared to 2021 and were largely driven by higher exploration expenses ($57.7 million) and higher income tax charges ($12.4 million), partially offset by lower impairment charges ($18.0 million) and higher revenues ($17.9 million). Exploration expenses in 2022 primarily relate to the Cutthroat-1 exploration well in block SEAL-M-428 in the Sergipe-Alagoas Basin offshore Brazil and the Tulum-1EXP exploration well in Block 5 in the Salina Basin offshore Mexico that failed to encounter commercial hydrocarbons.
2021 vs 2020
The results of operations in this section include amounts attributable to a noncontrolling interest in MP GOM (a subsidiary of Murphy Expro USA, operating and developing properties in the Gulf of Mexico) and exclude discontinued operations, unless otherwise noted.
E&P from continuing operations recorded a earnings of $716.7 million in 2021 compared to a loss of $1,134.9 million in 2020. Results were favorable $1,851.6 million in 2021 compared to 2020 primarily due to higher oil, natural gas liquid and natural gas prices, significantly lower impairment charges, lower DD&A, lower LOE, lower exploration expenses and lower general and administrative (G&A) expenses, partially offset by higher transportation, gathering and processing and income tax charges. See below for further details.
Crude oil price realizations averaged $66.80 per barrel in 2021 compared to $38.02 per barrel in 2020, a price increase of 76% year over year. U.S. natural gas realized price per MCF averaged $3.71 in 2021 compared to $2.02 per MCF in 2020, an increase of 84% year over year. Canada natural gas realized price per MCF averaged U.S. $2.43 in 2021 compared to U.S. $1.79 per MCF in 2020, an increase of 36% year over year. Oil and natural gas production costs, on a per-unit basis, were $9.53 in 2021 (2020: $9.81). The decrease in per-unit production
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costs in 2021 was primarily attributable to reduced costs associated with well workovers and concerted efficiency efforts.
United States E&P operations reported earnings of $766.3 million in 2021 compared to a loss of $1,014.3 million in 2020. Results were favorable $1,780.6 million in 2021 compared to the 2020 period primarily due to no impairment charges in 2021 (2020: $1,152.5 million), higher total revenues ($925.7 million), lower DD&A ($132.9 million) and lower LOE ($70.5 million), partially offset by higher income tax expense ($428.1 million) and higher other operating expense ($77.9 million). The impairment charge in 2020 was primarily the result of lower forecast future prices as of March 31, 2020, as a result of lower oil demand (COVID-19 impact) and abundant oil supply at the time of the assessment.
Higher revenues were primarily due to higher realized prices (oil and condensate, natural gas and NGLs) year over year, partially offset by lower sales volume (7,514 barrels of oil equivalent per day lower) as a result of lower capital expenditures in 2020. Lower DD&A primarily resulted from the prior year impairment charge reducing the depreciable asset base. Lower LOE was primarily due to higher Gulf of Mexico workover costs in the prior year at Cascade ($51.3 million) and Dalmatian ($20.5 million). Higher income tax expense was a result of higher pre-tax income principally due to higher oil price and lower DD&A and LOE. Higher other operating expense was primarily due to an unfavorable mark-to-market revaluation on contingent consideration ($63.2 million; as a result of higher commodity prices) from prior Gulf of Mexico acquisitions.
Canadian E&P operations reported a loss of $16.1 million in 2021 compared to a loss of $35.0 million in 2020. Results were favorable $18.9 million compared to 2020 primarily due to higher revenue ($130.5 million) and lower DD&A ($49.4 million), partially offset by an impairment charge ($171.3 million), higher LOE ($14.7 million), transportation, gathering and processing ($15.8 million) and income tax charges ($19.7 million). 2021 results included an impairment charge ($171.3 million) recorded in the first quarter following notice from the operator of asset abandonment at Terra Nova at the time of the assessment and a partially offsetting credit of $71.8 million as of September 30, 2021 reported in ‘other operating expense’ as a result of the deferral of an asset retirement obligation at Terra Nova following the sanction of an asset life extension project and reversal of the asset abandonment decision.
Higher revenue was primarily attributable to higher natural gas prices and volumes at Tupper Montney and higher oil prices at Hibernia and Kaybob Duvernay. Lower DD&A was primarily due to lower production volumes at Kaybob Duvernay following reduced capital expenditures throughout 2020. Higher LOE and transportation, gathering and processing costs were due to the cost of higher gas processing and downstream transportation capacity, which are expected to be utilized by growth at Tupper Montney in the future.
Other international E&P operations reported a loss from continuing operations of $33.5 million in 2021 compared to a loss of $85.6 million in 2020. Results were favorable $52.1 million in 2021 compared to 2020 primarily due to lower impairment charges ($21.7 million), lower income tax charges ($11.6 million), lower exploration expenses ($5.9 million) primarily in Brazil and Mexico and lower LOE ($4.8 million).
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Cost per equivalent barrel sold for these production-related expenses are shown by geographical area in the following table.
| (Dollars per equivalent barrel) | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continuing operations | ||||||||||
| United States – Eagle Ford Shale | ||||||||||
| Lease operating expense | $ | 10.97 | $ | 8.96 | $ | 9.08 | ||||
| Severance and ad valorem taxes | 4.27 | 2.91 | 2.06 | |||||||
| DD&A expense | 25.61 | 27.59 | 26.22 | |||||||
| United States – Gulf of Mexico 1 | ||||||||||
| Lease operating expense | $ | 13.19 | $ | 10.63 | $ | 11.95 | ||||
| Severance and ad valorem taxes | 0.07 | 0.07 | — | |||||||
| DD&A expense | 10.12 | 9.51 | 13.48 | |||||||
| Canada – Onshore | ||||||||||
| Lease operating expense | $ | 6.75 | $ | 6.20 | $ | 4.63 | ||||
| Severance and ad valorem taxes | 0.06 | 0.09 | 0.07 | |||||||
| DD&A expense | 6.20 | 7.64 | 9.93 | |||||||
| Canada – Offshore | ||||||||||
| Lease operating expense | $ | 14.20 | $ | 13.04 | $ | 17.86 | ||||
| DD&A expense | 12.25 | 12.80 | 12.01 | |||||||
| Total E&P continuing operations | ||||||||||
| Lease operating expense | $ | 10.65 | $ | 8.86 | $ | 9.34 | ||||
| Severance and ad valorem taxes | 0.89 | 0.68 | 0.44 | |||||||
| DD&A expense | 12.18 | 13.05 | 15.36 | |||||||
| Total oil and natural gas continuing operations – excluding noncontrolling interest | ||||||||||
| Lease operating expense | $ | 10.50 | $ | 8.65 | $ | 9.10 | ||||
| Severance and ad valorem taxes | 0.93 | 0.71 | 0.47 | |||||||
| DD&A expense | 12.30 | 13.23 | 15.49 |
1 Includes results attributable to a noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
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Corporate
2022 vs 2021
Corporate activities, which include interest expense and income, foreign exchange effects, realized and unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments (forward swaps and collars to hedge the price of oil sold) and corporate overhead not allocated to Exploration and Production, reported a loss of $438.3 million in 2022 compared to a loss of $668.0 million in 2021. The $229.7 million favorable variance is principally due to lower net losses on derivative instruments in 2022 compared to 2021 (2022: $320.4 million loss; 2021: $525.9 million loss), lower interest expense ($71.0 million) and higher foreign exchange gains ($26.0 million), partially offset by a lower tax benefit ($70.8 million). Realized and unrealized losses on derivative instruments are due to an increase in market pricing in future periods whereby the swap contracts provide the Company with a fixed price and the collar contracts provide for a minimum (floor) and a maximum (ceiling) price, with variability in between the floor and ceiling. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had no fixed price derivative swaps or collars contracts outstanding. Interest charges are lower in 2022 primarily due to lower overall debt and lower debt redemption costs ($8.3 million in 2022; $39.3 million in 2021) incurred by the Company. The Company reduced debt by $649.7 million in 2022. Lower income tax benefit is a result of lower pre-tax losses.
2021 vs 2020
Corporate activities, which include interest expense and income, foreign exchange effects, realized and unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments (forward swaps and collars to hedge the price of oil sold) and corporate overhead not allocated to Exploration and Production, reported a loss of $668.0 million in 2021 compared to a loss of $120.3 million in 2020. The $547.7 million unfavorable variance was principally due to higher net losses on derivative instruments in 2021 compared to the 2020 period (2021: $525.9 million loss; 2020: $202.7 million gain) and higher interest expense ($53.0 million), partially offset by a higher tax benefit ($148.3 million), lower restructuring charges ($48.8 million), lower G&A expenses ($12.9 million) and lower impairment charges ($7.1 million). Realized and unrealized losses on derivative instruments were due to an increase in market pricing in future periods whereby the swap contracts provided the Company with a fixed price and the collar contracts provided for a minimum (floor) and a maximum (ceiling) price, with variability in between the floor and ceiling. Higher interest costs were principally due to debt redemption costs on the 2022 notes and $550.0 million issuance of new notes in March 2021 that bear interest at a rate of 6.375% and mature on July 15, 2028. Higher income tax benefit was the result of higher pre-tax loss driven by the higher realized and unrealized losses on derivative instruments. Lower restructuring charges and G&A were due to the 2020 cost reduction efforts which included closing the Company’s previous headquarters office in El Dorado, Arkansas, its office in Calgary, Alberta and consolidating all worldwide staff activities to its existing office location in Houston, Texas.
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Production Volumes and Prices
2022 vs 2021
Total hydrocarbon production from all E&P continuing operations averaged 175,156 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2022, and represents a 5% increase from the 167,356 barrels per day produced in 2021. The increase is principally due to the Khaleesi, Mormont, Samurai field development project that started production in the second quarter of 2022, new wells at Tupper Montney and lower weather related downtime in 2022.
Average crude oil and condensate production from continuing operations was 97,365 barrels per day in 2022 compared to 95,705 barrels per day in 2021. The increase of 1,660 barrels per day is principally due to increased production in the Gulf of Mexico (4,694 barrels per day) with new production from Khaleesi, Mormont, Samurai field development project, partially offset by normal declines at other fields in the Gulf of Mexico. Eagle Ford Shale production is lower (1,202 barrels per day) due to lower capital expenditures in 2020 and 2021, partially offset by new wells in 2022. Canada production is lower (2,260 barrels per day) due to normal field decline at Kaybob Duvernay and Hibernia, as well as a turnaround at Hibernia. On a worldwide basis, the Company’s crude oil and condensate prices average $94.89 per barrel in 2022 compared to $66.80 per barrel in the 2021 period, an increase of 42% year over year.
Total production of natural gas liquids (NGL) from continuing operations was 10,681 barrels per day in 2022 compared to 10,385 barrels per day in 2021. The average sales price for U.S. NGL was $34.87 per barrel in 2022 compared to $27.97 per barrel in 2021. The average sales price for NGL in Canada was $55.65 per barrel in 2022 compared to $40.18 per barrel in 2021. NGL prices are higher in Canada due to the higher value of product produced at the Kaybob Duvernay and Placid Montney assets.
Natural gas sales volumes from continuing operations averaged 403 MMCFD in 2022 compared to 368 MMCFD in 2021. The increase of 35 MMCFD was primarily the result of higher volumes in Canada (32.4 MMCFD) and higher volumes in the Gulf of Mexico (2.1 MMCFD). The higher natural gas volumes in Canada was the result of new wells on production in 2022. Natural gas prices for the total Company averaged $3.66 per MCF in 2022, versus $2.74 per MCF average in the same period of 2021. Average realized natural gas prices in the U.S. and Canada in 2022 were $6.68 and $2.76 per MCF, respectively. Average realized natural gas prices in Canada are lower as a result of certain fixed price sales volume contracts.
2021 vs 2020
Total hydrocarbon production from all E&P continuing operations averaged 167,356 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2021, which represented a 4% decrease from the 174,636 barrels per day produced in 2020.
Average crude oil and condensate production from continuing operations was 95,705 barrels per day in 2021 compared to 103,966 barrels per day in 2020. The decrease of 8,261 barrels per day was principally due to lower volumes in the Gulf of Mexico (2,703 barrels per day primarily due to reservoir decline), lower volumes at Kaybob Duvernay (2,272 barrels per day due to well decline) and lower Eagle Ford Shale production (765 barrels per day). On a worldwide basis, the Company’s crude oil and condensate prices averaged $66.80 per barrel in 2021 compared to $38.02 per barrel in 2020, an increase of 76% year over year.
Total production of natural gas liquids (NGL) from continuing operations was 10,385 barrels per day in 2021 compared to 11,541 barrels per day in 2020. The average sales price for U.S. NGL was $27.97 per barrel in 2021 compared to $11.29 per barrel in 2020. The average sales price of NGL in Canada was $40.18 per barrel in 2021 compared to $18.54 per barrel in 2020. NGL prices were higher in Canada due to the higher value of product produced at the Kaybob Duvernay and Placid Montney assets.
Natural gas sales volumes from continuing operations averaged 368 MMCFD in 2021 compared to 355 MMCFD in 2020. The increase of 13 MMCFD was a primarily the result of higher volumes in Canada due to bringing online 14 new wells at Tupper Montney in 2021. Higher volumes at Tupper Montney were partially offset by lower natural gas volumes in the Gulf of Mexico.
Natural gas prices for the total Company averaged $2.74 per MCF in 2021, versus $1.85 per MCF average in 2020. Average realized natural gas prices in the U.S. and Canada in 2021 were $3.71 and $2.43 per MCF, respectively.
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The following table contains hydrocarbons produced during the three years ended December 31, 2022.
| (Barrels per day unless otherwise noted) | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continuing operations | ||||||||
| Net crude oil and condensate | ||||||||
| United States | Onshore | 24,437 | 25,655 | 26,420 | ||||
| Gulf of Mexico 1 | 65,411 | 60,717 | 64,680 | |||||
| Canada | Onshore | 4,005 | 5,312 | 7,888 | ||||
| Offshore | 2,812 | 3,765 | 4,893 | |||||
| Other | 700 | 256 | 85 | |||||
| Total net crude oil and condensate - continuing operations | 97,365 | 95,705 | 103,966 | |||||
| Net natural gas liquids | ||||||||
| United States | Onshore | 5,181 | 5,092 | 5,248 | ||||
| Gulf of Mexico 1 | 4,597 | 4,176 | 4,978 | |||||
| Canada | Onshore | 903 | 1,117 | 1,315 | ||||
| Total net natural gas liquids - continuing operations | 10,681 | 10,385 | 11,541 | |||||
| Net natural gas – thousands of cubic feet per day | ||||||||
| United States | Onshore | 29,050 | 28,565 | 27,985 | ||||
| Gulf of Mexico 1 | 63,380 | 61,240 | 66,105 | |||||
| Canada | Onshore | 310,230 | 277,790 | 260,683 | ||||
| Total net natural gas - continuing operations | 402,660 | 367,595 | 354,773 | |||||
| Total net hydrocarbons - continuing operations including NCI 2,3 | 175,156 | 167,356 | 174,636 | |||||
| Noncontrolling interest | ||||||||
| Net crude oil and condensate – barrels per day | (7,452) | (8,623) | (9,962) | |||||
| Net natural gas liquids – barrels per day | (280) | (303) | (416) | |||||
| Net natural gas – thousands of cubic feet per day 2 | (2,468) | (3,236) | (3,843) | |||||
| Total noncontrolling interest | (8,143) | (9,465) | (11,019) | |||||
| Total net hydrocarbons produced - continuing and discontinued operations, excluding NCI 2,3 | 167,013 | 157,891 | 163,617 | |||||
| Estimated total proved net hydrocarbon reserves - million equivalent barrels 3,4 | 715.4 | 716.9 | 714.9 |
1 Includes net volumes attributable to a noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
2 Natural gas converted on an energy equivalent basis of 6:1.
3 NCI – noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
4 December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, include 18.2 MMBOE, 18.4 MMBOE and 17.4 MMBOE, respectively, relating to
noncontrolling interest.
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The following table contains hydrocarbons sold during the three years ended December 31, 2022.
| (Barrels per day unless otherwise noted) | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continuing operations | ||||||||
| Net crude oil and condensate | ||||||||
| United States | Onshore | 24,437 | 25,655 | 26,420 | ||||
| Gulf of Mexico 1 | 64,840 | 60,544 | 65,621 | |||||
| Canada | Onshore | 4,005 | 5,312 | 7,888 | ||||
| Offshore | 3,002 | 3,559 | 4,958 | |||||
| Other | 663 | 195 | 78 | |||||
| Total net crude oil and condensate - continuing operations | 96,947 | 95,265 | 104,965 | |||||
| Net natural gas liquids | ||||||||
| United States | Onshore | 5,181 | 5,092 | 5,248 | ||||
| Gulf of Mexico 1 | 4,597 | 4,176 | 4,978 | |||||
| Canada | Onshore | 903 | 1,117 | 1,315 | ||||
| Total net natural gas liquids - continuing operations | 10,681 | 10,385 | 11,541 | |||||
| Net natural gas – thousands of cubic feet per day | ||||||||
| United States | Onshore | 29,050 | 28,565 | 27,985 | ||||
| Gulf of Mexico 1 | 63,380 | 61,240 | 66,105 | |||||
| Canada | Onshore | 310,230 | 277,790 | 260,683 | ||||
| Total net natural gas - continuing operations | 402,660 | 367,595 | 354,773 | |||||
| Total net hydrocarbons - continuing operations including NCI 2,3 | 174,738 | 166,916 | 175,635 | |||||
| Noncontrolling interest | ||||||||
| Net crude oil and condensate – barrels per day | (7,369) | (8,605) | (10,127) | |||||
| Net natural gas liquids – barrels per day | (280) | (303) | (416) | |||||
| Net natural gas – thousands of cubic feet per day 2 | (2,468) | (3,236) | (3,843) | |||||
| Total noncontrolling interest | (8,060) | (9,447) | (11,184) | |||||
| Total net hydrocarbons sold - continuing and discontinued operations, excluding NCI 2,3 | 166,678 | 157,469 | 164,451 |
1 Includes net volumes attributable to a noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
2 Natural gas converted on an energy equivalent basis of 6:1.
3 NCI – noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
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The following table contains the weighted average sales prices excluding transportation cost deduction for the three years ended December 31, 2022.
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Weighted average Exploration and Production sales prices) | |||||||||||
| Continuing operations | |||||||||||
| Crude oil and condensate – dollars per barrel | |||||||||||
| United States | Onshore | $ | 96.00 | $ | 66.90 | $ | 36.54 | ||||
| Gulf of Mexico 1 | 94.21 | 66.93 | 39.15 | ||||||||
| Canada 2 | Onshore | 89.88 | 61.79 | 32.42 | |||||||
| Offshore | 107.47 | 71.39 | 39.40 | ||||||||
| Other | 94.37 | 69.21 | 63.51 | ||||||||
| Natural gas liquids – dollars per barrel | |||||||||||
| United States | Onshore | $ | 33.85 | $ | 26.97 | $ | 11.67 | ||||
| Gulf of Mexico 1 | 36.01 | 29.14 | 10.84 | ||||||||
| Canada 2 | Onshore | 55.65 | 40.18 | 18.54 | |||||||
| Natural gas – dollars per thousand cubic feet | |||||||||||
| United States | Onshore | $ | 6.04 | $ | 3.83 | $ | 1.95 | ||||
| Gulf of Mexico 1 | 6.97 | 3.67 | 2.04 | ||||||||
| Canada 2 | Onshore | 2.76 | 2.43 | 1.79 |
1 Prices include the effect of noncontrolling interest share for MP GOM.
2 U.S. dollar equivalent.
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Financial Condition
The Company’s primary sources of liquidity are cash on hand, net cash provided by continuing operations activities and available borrowing capacity under its senior unsecured revolving credit facility. The Company’s liquidity requirements consist primarily of capital expenditures, debt maturity, retirement and interest payments, working capital requirements, dividend payments and, as applicable, share repurchases. See below for additional discussion and analysis of the Company’s cash flows.
Cash Provided by Operating Activities
Net cash provided by continuing operating activities was $2,180.2 million in 2022 compared to $1,422.2 million in 2021. The increased cash provided by continuing operating activities of $758.0 million is primarily attributable to higher revenue from sales from production ($1,237.2 million), partially offset by higher LOE ($139.8 million), higher realized losses on derivative instruments ($121.5 million) and the change in receivable and payable working capital balances ($65.7 million). Higher revenues were primarily due to higher commodity prices driven by demand recovery from COVID-19 and geopolitical uncertainty and market disruption resulting from the Russia/Ukraine conflict.
Net cash provided by continuing operating activities was $619.5 million higher in 2021 than in 2020 due to higher revenue from sales from production ($1,049.5 million), the positive effect of movements on payable and receivable working capital balances ($118.5 million), lower lease operating expenses ($60.5 million) and lower general and administrative and cash restructuring expenses ($50.7 million), partially offset by higher cash payments made on forward swap commodity contracts (2021: realized loss of $413.7 million; 2020: realized gain of $272.0 million). Higher revenues were primarily due to higher commodity prices driven by OPEC+ supply constraints and the increase in demand.
The total reductions of operating cash flows for interest paid (which excludes debt redemption costs reported in Financing activities) during the three years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 were $150.0 million, $165.7 million and $191.6 million, respectively. Lower cash interest paid in 2022 was primarily due to the early redemption of $649.7 million of the 2024 notes, 2025 notes, 2028 notes and the 2042 notes. Lower cash interest paid in 2021 was due to the repayment of the $200 million outstanding on the revolving credit facility, the early redemption of the 2022 notes and the early redemption of $300 million of the 2024 notes, partially offset by interest paid on the issuance of 2028 notes in the first quarter of 2021.
Cash Used for Investing Activities
Net cash required by investing activities were $1,109.5 million and $417.7 million in 2022 and 2021, respectively. In 2022, the Company acquired additional working interest in Kodiak (11.0%) and Lucius (3.4%) for $50.0 million and $78.5 million, respectively (also see Note D). Property additions and dry hole costs (excluding King’s Quay FPS), which include amounts expensed, were $985.5 million and $650.2 million in 2022 and 2021, respectively. In 2021, the Company received sales proceeds for the King’s Quay FPS of $267.7 million and also acquired additional interests in the proved property Lucius for $19.9 million. In 2020, cash used by investing activities included $113 million used to fund the development of the King’s Quay FPS.
The accrual (value of work done) basis capital expenditures were as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars) | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
| Capital Expenditures | ||||||||||
| Exploration and production | $ | 1,161.5 | $ | 690.1 | $ | 813.3 | ||||
| Corporate | 21.7 | 21.1 | 13.3 | |||||||
| Total capital expenditures | 1,183.2 | 711.2 | 826.6 | |||||||
| Total capital expenditures excluding proved property acquisitions | 1,054.7 | 711.2 | 826.6 | |||||||
| Total capital expenditures excluding proved property acquisitions and NCI | $ | 1,028.8 | $ | 688.2 | $ | 804.9 |
A reconciliation of property additions and dry hole costs in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows to total capital expenditures for continuing operations follows.
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| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars) | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
| Property additions and dry hole costs per cash flow statements 1 | $ | 985.5 | $ | 650.2 | $ | 759.8 | ||||
| Property additions King's Quay FPS per cash flow statements | — | 17.7 | 113.0 | |||||||
| Geophysical and other exploration expenses | 30.6 | 26.9 | 32.3 | |||||||
| Capital expenditure accrual changes and other | 38.6 | (3.9) | (78.5) | |||||||
| Acquisition of oil properties per the cash flow statements 1 | 128.5 | 20.3 | — | |||||||
| Total capital expenditures | $ | 1,183.2 | $ | 711.2 | $ | 826.6 |
1 Certain prior-period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.
Capital expenditures in the exploration and production business in 2022 compared to 2021 have increased and is primarily attributable to expenditures related to the Kodiak and Lucius acquisitions in the Gulf of Mexico ($128.5 million), Cutthroat-1 exploration well in Brazil ($38.4 million),Tulum-1EXP exploration well in Mexico ($21.6 million), higher capital invested at the Khaleesi, Mormont, Samurai field development project in the Gulf of Mexico, higher development drilling activities in Eagle Ford Shale and Tupper Montney assets and higher expenditures related to the asset life extension at Terra Nova.
Capital expenditures in the exploration and production business in 2021 compared to 2020 have decreased as result of capital expenditure reductions to support generating free cash flow.
Cash Used by and Provided by Financing Activities
Net cash required by financing activities was $1,081.6 million in 2022 compared to $794.5 million in 2021. In 2022, the cash required by financing activities was principally due to the early redemption of $647.7 million (excluding non cash gain of $2.0 million) of the 2024 notes, 2025 notes, 2028 notes and the 2042 notes, costs associated with early redemption ($8.3 million), distributions to noncontrolling interest ($183.0 million), dividends paid ($128.2 million) and payment of contingent consideration related to prior Gulf of Mexico acquisitions ($81.7 million). The Company anticipates the final payments for the contingent consideration liability, related to the Gulf of Mexico acquisitions, to be paid in the first half of 2023. See Note P for further details.
The primary sources of the Company’s liquidity are internally generated funds, access to outside financing and working capital. The Company generally uses its internally generated funds to finance its capital and operating expenditures, but it also maintains lines of credit with banks and will borrow as necessary to meet spending requirements. As of December 31, 2022, the Company has a $800 million senior unsecured guaranteed credit facility (RCF) with a major banking consortium, which expires in November 2027. At December 31, 2022, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under the RCF and $57.6 million of outstanding letters of credit, which reduce the borrowing capacity of the RCF. If required, this provides the Company approximately $742 million availability on its RCF to fund investing activities from borrowings.
In 2021, the cash required by financing activities was principally due to the repayment of the balance outstanding on the revolving credit facility ($200.0 million), the early redemption of the remainder of the 2022 notes ($576.4 million), the early redemption of a portion of the 2024 notes ($300.0 million), costs associated with early redemption ($39.3 million), dividends paid ($77.2 million) and distributions to noncontrolling interest ($137.5 million), partially offset by issuance of 2028 notes ($541.9 million)
In 2020, net cash provided by financing activities of $39.7 million was principally from borrowings on the Company’s RCF ($200.0 million), partially offset by dividends paid ($96.0 million) and distributions to noncontrolling interest ($43.7 million).
Working Capital
At the end of 2022, working capital (total current assets less total current liabilities, excluding assets and liabilities held for sale) amounted to a net working capital liability of $285.5 million (2021: net working capital liability of $298.9 million). The total working capital liability decrease of $13.4 million in 2022 is primarily attributable to higher accounts receivable, net ($133.0 million) and lower accounts payable ($79.3 million), partially offset by higher other accrued liabilities ($82.7 million), higher operating lease liabilities ($81.0 million) and lower cash and cash equivalents ($29.2 million). Higher accounts receivable are principally due to higher
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crude oil and natural gas pricing. Lower accounts payable is primarily due to the decrease in unrealized losses on derivative instruments (commodity price swaps and collars) which matured at the end of 2022, partially offset by higher revenue payables principally due to higher crude oil and natural gas pricing and higher trades payable related to timing of Gulf of Mexico activities. Higher other accrued liabilities are associated with higher short-term contingent consideration obligations (from prior Gulf of Mexico acquisitions) due to a reclassification from long-term liabilities. Higher operating lease liabilities are associated with a rig contract to support the Khaleesi, Mormont, Samurai field development project.
Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2022 totaled $492.0 million (2021: $521.2 million). There were no borrowings from the RCF outstanding at the end of the 2022 or 2021.
Cash and invested cash are maintained in several operating locations outside the U.S. As of December 31, 2022, cash and cash equivalents held outside the U.S. included U.S dollar equivalents of approximately $147.7 million (2021: $242.9 million), the majority of which was held in Canada ($83.3 million) and Mexico ($27.7 million). In addition, approximately $12.3 million and $6.1 million of cash was held in the U.K. and Brazil, respectively. In certain cases, the Company could incur cash taxes or other costs should these cash balances be repatriated to the U.S. in future periods. Canada currently collects a 5% withholding tax on any earnings repatriated to the U.S. See Note I for further information regarding potential tax expense that could be incurred upon distribution of foreign earnings back to the United States.
Capital Employed
As of December 31, 2022, long-term debt of $1,822.4 million had decreased by $643.0 million compared to December 31, 2021, as a result the early redemption, in whole or in part, of the 2024 notes, 2025 notes, 2028 notes and the 2042 notes. The fixed-rate notes had a weighted average maturity of 7.7 years and a weighted average coupon of 6.2%.
A summary of capital employed as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 follows.
| December 31, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars) | Amount | % | Amount | % | |||||||||
| Capital employed | |||||||||||||
| Long-term debt | $ | 1,822.4 | 26.7 | % | $ | 2,465.4 | 37.2 | % | |||||
| Murphy shareholders' equity | 4,994.8 | 73.3 | % | 4,157.3 | 62.8 | % | |||||||
| Total capital employed | $ | 6,817.2 | 100.0 | % | $ | 6,622.7 | 100.0 | % |
Murphy shareholders’ equity was $4.99 billion at the end of 2022 (2021: $4.16 billion). Shareholders’ equity increased in 2022 primarily due to 2022 net income ($965.0 million) and a favorable revaluation of pension assets and liabilities ($99.4 million), partially offset by dividends paid ($128.2 million) and foreign currency translation losses, net of income taxes ($106.3 million). A summary of transactions in stockholders’ equity accounts is presented in the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity on page 71 of this Form 10-K report.
Other Balance Sheet Activity - Long-Term Assets and Liabilities
Other significant changes in Murphy’s balance sheet at the end of 2022, compared to 2021 are discussed below.
Property, plant and equipment, net of depreciation increased $100.2 million principally due to capital expenditures in the year, partially offset by DD&A expense ($776.8 million) and foreign exchange rates applicable for our Canadian assets. Capital expenditures are discussed above in the ‘Cash Used for Investing Activities’ section.
Murphy had commitments for capital expenditures of approximately $282.4 million at December 31, 2022 (2021: $520.1 million). This amount includes $103.5 million for approved expenditure for capital projects relating to non-operated interests in deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico, principally at St. Malo ($98.9 million), non-operated Canada interests, mainly offshore ($33.3 million), non-operated Eagle Ford Shale ($13.3 million) and Brunei ($1.0 million).
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Operating lease assets increased $65.0 million principally due to additions for drilling rig lease extensions, partially offset by depreciation and a decrease related to changes in foreign exchange rates applicable for our Canadian assets.
Deferred Income tax assets decreased by $267.6 million as a result of the decrease in the U.S. net operating loss carryforward of $2.10 billion at year-end 2022, down from $2.75 billion at year-end 2021.
Deferred credits and other liabilities decreased $265.6 million primarily as a result reclassification of amounts to current, a favorable pension fair value remeasurement and cash pension contributions to the plan in 2022.
At December 31, 2022, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under the RCF and $57.6 million of outstanding letters of credit, which reduce the borrowing capacity of the RCF. Borrowings under the RCF are subject to certain interest rates, please refer to Note G for further details. At December 31, 2022, the interest rate in effect on borrowings under the facility would have been 6.96%. At December 31, 2022, the Company was in compliance with all covenants related to the RCF.
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Environmental, Health and Safety Matters
Murphy faces various environmental, health and safety risks that are inherent in exploring for, developing and producing hydrocarbons. To help manage these risks, the Company has established a robust health, safety and environmental governance program comprised of a worldwide policy, guiding principles, annual goals and a management system incorporating oversight at each business unit, senior leadership and board levels. The Company strives to minimize these risks by continually improving its processes through design, operation and implementation of a comprehensive asset integrity plan, and through emergency and oil spill response planning to address any credible risks. These plans are presented to, reviewed and approved by a Health, Safety, Environmental and Corporate Responsibility Committee consisting of certain members of Murphy’s Board of Directors.
The oil and gas industry is subject to numerous international, foreign, national, state, provincial and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. Murphy allocates a portion of both its capital expenditures and its general and administrative budget toward compliance with existing and anticipated environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. These requirements affect virtually all operations of the Company and increase Murphy’s overall cost of business, including its capital costs to construct, maintain and upgrade equipment and facilities as well as operating costs for ongoing compliance.
The principal environmental, health and safety laws and regulations to which Murphy is subject address such matters as the generation, storage, handling, use, disposal and remediation of petroleum products, wastewater and hazardous materials; the emission and discharge of such materials to the environment, including GHG emissions; wildlife, habitat and water protection; the placement, operation and decommissioning of production equipment; and the health and safety of our employees, contractors and communities where our operations are located. These laws and regulations also generally require permits for existing operations, as well as the construction or development of new operations and the decommissioning facilities once production has ceased. Violations can give rise to sanctions including significant civil and criminal penalties, injunctions, construction bans and delays.
Further information on environmental, health and safety laws and regulations applicable to Murphy are contained in the Business section beginning page 10.
Climate Change and Emissions
The world’s population and standard of living is growing steadily along with the demand for energy. Murphy recognizes that this may generate increasing amounts of GHG, which could raise important climate change concerns. Murphy works to assess the Company’s governance, strategy, risk identification, and management and measurement of climate risks and opportunities in order to remain in alignment with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) core elements. The TCFD was created by the Financial Stability Board to focus on climate-related financial disclosures to improve and increase reporting of climate-related financial information. Murphy’s disclosures related to its alignment with the TCFD are included in the Company’s 2022 Sustainability Report issued on August 4, 2022, which is not incorporated by reference hereto.
Other Matters
Impact of inflation – In 2022, many countries worldwide continued to experience a rise in inflation, including countries where the Company operates (this follows a sustained period of relatively low inflation prior to 2021). In the U.S., inflation continued as a result of ongoing supply constraints and increasing demand of goods and services as countries continue their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company’s revenues, capital and operating costs are influenced to a larger extent by specific price changes in the oil and gas industry and allied industries rather than by changes in general inflation. Crude oil prices generally reflect the balance between supply and demand, with crude oil prices being particularly sensitive to OPEC+ production levels and/or attitudes of traders concerning supply and demand in the future. Costs for oil field goods and services are usually affected by the worldwide prices for crude oil.
As a result of increasing commodity prices for oil and natural gas, since the start of 2022, higher costs for goods and services in the oil and gas industry are being observed. Murphy has a dedicated procurement department focused on managing supply chain and input costs. Murphy also has certain transportation, processing and production handling services costs fixed through long-term contracts and commitments and therefore is partly
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protected from the increasing price of services. However, from time to time, Murphy will seek to enter new commitments, exercise options to extend contracts and retender contracts for rigs and other industry services which could expose Murphy to the impact of higher costs. Murphy continues to strive toward safely executing our work in an ever-increasing efficient manner to mitigate possible inflationary pressures in our business.
Natural gas prices are also affected by supply and demand, which are often affected by the weather and by the fact that delivery of natural gas can be restricted to specific geographic areas. Natural gas demand is also impacted by demand driven by lower carbon emission and a view that natural gas is one option to transition from higher carbon emitting fuels.
As a result of the overall volatility of oil and natural gas prices, it is not possible to predict the Company’s future cost of oil field goods and services.
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Critical Accounting Estimates – In preparing the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, management must make a number of estimates and assumptions related to the reporting of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Application of certain of the Company’s accounting policies requires significant estimates. The most significant of these accounting policies and estimates are described below.
Oil and natural gas proved reserves – Oil and natural gas proved reserves are defined by the SEC as those quantities of oil and natural 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 before the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire (unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain). Proved developed reserves of oil and natural gas can be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods or in which the cost of the required equipment is relatively minor compared with the cost of a new well, or through installed extraction equipment and infrastructure operational at the time of the reserves estimate if the extraction is by means not involving a well.
Although the Company’s engineers are knowledgeable of and follow the guidelines for reserves as established by the SEC, the estimation of reserves requires the engineers to make a significant number of assumptions based on professional judgment. SEC rules require the Company to use an unweighted average of the oil and natural gas prices in effect at the beginning of each month of the year for determining quantities of proved reserves. These historical prices often do not approximate the average price that the Company expects to receive for its oil and natural gas production in the future. The Company often uses significantly different oil and natural gas price and reserve assumptions when making its own internal economic property evaluations. Changes in oil and natural gas prices can lead to a decision to start-up or shut-in production, which can lead to revisions to reserves quantities.
Estimated reserves are subject to future revision, certain of which could be substantial, based on the availability of additional information, including reservoir performance, new geological and geophysical data, additional drilling, technological advancements, price changes and other economic factors. Reserves revisions inherently lead to adjustments of the Company’s depreciation rates and the timing of settlement of asset retirement obligations. Downward reserves revisions can also lead to significant impairment expense. The Company cannot predict the type of oil and natural gas reserves revisions that will be required in future periods.
The Company’s proved reserves of crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas are presented on pages 110 to 119 of this Form 10-K report. Murphy’s estimations for proved reserves were generated through the integration of available geoscience, engineering, and economic data (including hydrocarbon prices, operating costs, and development costs), and commercially available technologies, to establish ‘reasonable certainty’ of economic producibility. As defined by the SEC, reasonable certainty of proved reserves describes a high degree of confidence that the quantities will be recovered. In estimating proved reserves, Murphy uses familiar industry-accepted methods for subsurface evaluations, including performance, volumetric, and analog-based studies.
Where appropriate, Murphy includes reliable geologic and engineering technology to estimate proved reserves. Reliable geologic and engineering technology is a method or combination of methods that are field-tested and have demonstrated to provide reasonably certain results with consistency and repeatability in the formation being evaluated or in an analogous formation. This integrated approach increases the quality of and confidence in Murphy’s proved reserves estimates. It was utilized in certain undrilled acreage at distances greater than the directly offsetting development spacing areas, and in certain reservoirs developed with the application of improved recovery techniques. Murphy utilized a combination of 3D seismic interpretation, core analysis, wellbore log measurements, well test data, historic production and pressure data, and commercially available seismic processing and numerical reservoir simulation programs. Reservoir parameters from analogous reservoirs were used to strengthen the reserves estimates when available.
See further discussion of proved reserves and changes in proved reserves during the three years ended December 31, 2022 beginning on pages 4 and 110 of this Form 10-K report.
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Property, Plant and Equipment - impairment of long-lived assets – The Company continually monitors its long-lived assets recorded in “Property, plant and equipment” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet to make sure that they are fairly presented. The Company must evaluate its property, plant and equipment for potential impairment when circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable from future cash flows.
A significant amount of judgment is involved in performing these evaluations since the results are based on estimated future events. Such events include a projection of future oil and natural gas sales prices, an estimate of the amount of oil and natural gas that will be produced from a field, the timing of this future production, future costs to produce the oil and natural gas, future capital, operating and abandonment costs and future inflation levels.
The need to test a long-lived asset for impairment can be based on several factors, including, but not limited to, a significant reduction in sales prices for oil and/or natural gas, unfavorable revisions of oil or natural gas reserves, or other changes to contracts, environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, tax laws or other regulatory changes. All of these factors must be considered when evaluating a property’s carrying value for possible impairment.
Due to the volatility of world oil and natural gas markets, the actual sales prices for oil and natural gas have often been different from the Company’s projections.
Estimates of future oil and natural gas production and sales volumes are based on a combination of proved and risked probable and possible reserves. Although the estimation of reserves and future production is uncertain, the Company believes that its estimates are reasonable; however, there have been cases where actual production volumes were higher or lower than projected and the timing was different than the original projection. The Company adjusts reserves and production estimates as new information becomes available.
The Company generally projects future costs by using historical costs adjusted for both assumed long-term inflation rates and known or expected changes in future operations. Although the projected future costs are considered to be reasonable, at times, costs have been higher or lower than originally estimated.
There were no impairments recognized in 2022. In 2021, the Company recognized pretax noncash impairment charges of $196.3 million to reduce the carrying values at select properties. In 2021, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $171.3 million for Terra Nova due to the status, including agreements with the partners, of operating and production plans and $25.0 million for assets reported as Assets held for sale in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
See also Note D for further discussion of impairment charges.
Income taxes – The Company is subject to income and other similar taxes in all areas in which it operates. When recording income tax expense, certain estimates are required because: (a) income tax returns are generally filed months after the close of its annual accounting period; (b) tax returns are subject to audit by taxing authorities and audits can often take years to complete and settle; (c) future events often impact the timing of when income tax expenses and benefits are recognized by the Company; and (d) changes to regulations may be subject to different interpretations and require future clarification from issuing authorities or others.
The Company has deferred tax assets mostly relating to U.S net operating losses, liabilities for dismantlement, retirement benefit plan obligations and net deferred tax liabilities relating to tax and accounting basis differences for property, plant and equipment.
The Company routinely evaluates all deferred tax assets to determine the likelihood of their realization and reduce such assets to the expected realizable amount by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In assessing the need for valuation allowances, we consider all available positive and negative evidence. Positive evidence includes projected future taxable income and assessment of future business assumptions, a history of utilizing tax assets before expiration, significant proven and probable reserves and reversals of taxable temporary differences. Negative evidence includes losses in recent years.
As of December 31, 2022 the Company had a U.S. deferred tax asset associated with net operating losses of $442.7 million. In reviewing the likeliness of realizing this asset the Company considered the reversal of taxable temporary differences, carryforward periods and future taxable income estimates based on projected financial
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information which, based on currently available evidence, we believe to be reasonably likely to occur. Certain estimates and assumptions are used in the estimation of future taxable income, including (but not limited to) (a) future commodity prices for crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas, (b) estimated reserves for crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas, (c) expected timing of production, (d) estimated lease operating costs and (e) future capital requirements. In the future, the underlying actual assumptions utilized in estimating future taxable income could be different and result in different conclusions about the likelihood of the future utilization of our net operating loss carryforwards.
Accounting for retirement and postretirement benefit plans – Murphy and certain of its subsidiaries maintain defined benefit retirement plans covering certain full-time employees. The Company also sponsors health care and life insurance benefit plans covering most retired U.S. employees. The expense associated with these plans is estimated by management based on a number of assumptions and with consultation assistance from qualified third-party actuaries. The most important of these assumptions for the retirement plans involve the discount rate used to measure future plan obligations and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. For the retiree medical and insurance plans, the most important assumptions are the discount rate for future plan obligations and the health care cost trend rate. Discount rates are based on the universe of high-quality corporate bonds that are available within each country. Cash flow analyses are performed in which a spot yield curve is used to discount projected benefit payment streams for the most significant plans. The discounted cash flows are used to determine an equivalent single rate which is the basis for selecting the discount rate within each country. Expected plan asset returns are based on long-term expectations for asset portfolios with similar investment mix characteristics. Anticipated health care cost trend rates are determined based on prior experience of the Company and an assessment of near-term and long-term trends for medical and drug costs.
Based on bond yields as of December 31, 2022, the Company has used a weighted average discount rate of 5.42% at year-end 2022 for the primary U.S. plans. This weighted average discount rate is 2.6% higher than prior year, which decreased the Company’s recorded liabilities for retirement plans compared to a year ago. The Company assumed a return on plan assets of 6.60% for the primary U.S. plan, it periodically reconsiders the appropriateness of this and other key assumptions. The Company’s retirement and postretirement plan (health care and life insurance benefit plans) expenses in 2023 are expected to be $6.4 million higher than 2022 primarily due to the increase in the discount rate assumption for U.S. pension plan, which increases the amount of interest cost recognized in net periodic benefit expense. Cash contributions to all plans are anticipated to be $6.2 million lower in 2023.
In 2022, the Company paid $41.1 million into various retirement plans and $2.1 million into postretirement plans. In 2023, the Company is expecting to fund payments of approximately $32.2 million into various retirement plans and $4.8 million for postretirement plans. The Company could be required to make additional and more significant funding payments to retirement plans in future years. Future required payments and the amount of liabilities recorded on the balance sheet associated with the plans could be unfavorably affected if the discount rate declines, the actual return on plan assets falls below the assumed return, or the health care cost trend rate increase is higher than expected.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note B our Consolidated Financial Statements regarding the impact or potential impact of recent accounting pronouncements upon our financial position and results of operations.
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Contractual obligations and guarantees – The Company is obligated to make future cash payments under borrowing arrangements, operating leases, purchase obligations primarily associated with existing capital expenditure plans and other long-term liabilities. Total payments due after 2022 under such contractual obligations and arrangements are shown in the table below. Amounts are undiscounted and therefore may differ to those presented in the financial statements.
| (Millions of dollars) | Amount of Obligations | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 2023 | 2024 - 2025 | 2026 - 2027 | After 2027 | ||||||||||||||
| Debt, excluding interest | $ | 1,833.6 | $ | — | $ | 248.7 | $ | 543.2 | $ | 1,041.7 | ||||||||
| Operating leases and other leases ¹ | 1,268.6 | 271.9 | 323.6 | 123.6 | 549.5 | |||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures, drilling rigs and other ² | 1,230.5 | 552.3 | 245.9 | 151.2 | 281.1 | |||||||||||||
| Other long-term liabilities, including debt interest ³ | 2,508.4 | 124.4 | 362.6 | 430.2 | 1,591.2 | |||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 6,841.1 | $ | 948.6 | $ | 1,180.8 | $ | 1,248.2 | $ | 3,463.5 |
1 Other leases refers to a finance lease in Brunei (see Note U to the financial statements).
2 Capital expenditures, drilling rigs and other includes $67.6 million, $33.3 million, $13.3 million and $1.1 million, in 2023 for approved capital projects in non-operated interests in U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Canada Offshore, U.S. Onshore and Other Foreign Offshore, respectively. Capital expenditures, drilling rigs and other includes $35.9 million in 2024 for approved capital projects in non-operated interests in U.S. Gulf of Mexico.
Also includes $66.5 million (2023), $105.5 million (2024 - 2025), $87.5 million (2026 - 2027) and $183.7 million (After 2027) for pipeline transportation commitments in Canada.
Also includes $5.0 million (2023), $9.8 million (2024 - 2025), $9.2 million (2026 - 2027) and $25.8 million (After 2027) for long term take or pay commitments relating to gas processing in Canada.
3 Other long-term liabilities, including debt interest includes future cash outflows for asset retirement obligations.
The Company has entered into agreements to lease production facilities for various producing oil fields as well as other arrangements that require future payments as described in the following section. The Company’s share of the contractual obligations under these leases and other arrangements has been included in the table above.
In the normal course of its business, the Company is required under certain contracts with various governmental authorities and others to provide letters of credit that may be drawn upon if the Company fails to perform under those contracts. Total outstanding letters of credit were $232.4 million as of December 31, 2022.
Material off-balance sheet arrangements – Certain U.S. transportation contracts require minimum monthly payments through 2045, while onshore Canada processing contracts call for minimum monthly payments through 2051. Future required minimum annual payments under these arrangements are included in the contractual obligation table above.
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Outlook
Prices for the Company’s primary products are often volatile. The price of crude oil is primarily affected by the levels of supply and demand for energy. Anticipated future variances between the predicted demand for crude oil and the projected available supply can lead to significant movement in the price of crude oil. As of close on February 23, 2023, the NYMEX WTI forward curve price for the remainder of 2023 and 2024 were $75.05 and $71.85 per barrel, respectively; however we cannot predict what impact economic factors (including inflation, the Russia/Ukraine conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic) may have on future commodity pricing. Lower prices, should they occur, will result in lower profits and operating cash-flows.
The Company’s capital expenditure spend for 2023 is expected to be between $875 million and $1025 million, excluding the amount attributable to noncontrolling interest. Capital and other expenditures are routinely reviewed and planned capital expenditures may be adjusted to reflect differences between budgeted and forecast cash flow during the year. Capital expenditures may also be affected by asset purchases or sales, which often are not anticipated at the time a budget is prepared. The Company will primarily fund its capital program in 2023 using operating cash flow and available cash. If oil and/or natural gas prices weaken, actual cash flow generated from operations could be reduced such that capital spending reductions are required and/or borrowings under available credit facilities might be required during the year to maintain funding of the Company’s ongoing development projects.
The Company currently expects average daily production in 2023 to be between 182,700 and 190,700 barrels of oil equivalent per day (including noncontrolling interest of 7,200 BOEPD). If significant price declines occur, the Company will review the option of production curtailments to avoid incurring losses on certain produced barrels.
The Company plans to utilize surplus cash (not planned to be used by operations, investing activities, dividends or payment to noncontrolling interests) in accordance with the Company’s capital allocation framework. Details of the framework can be found in the “Capital Allocation Framework” section of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 4, 2022.
The Company continues to monitor the impact of commodity prices on its financial position and is currently in compliance with the covenants related to the revolving credit facility (see Note G).
The Company has entered into derivative or forward fixed-price delivery contracts to manage risk associated with certain future oil and natural gas sales prices as follows:
| Volumes (MMcf/d) | Price/MCF | Remaining Period | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Commodity | Type | Start Date | End Date | |||||||||
| Canada | Natural Gas | Fixed price forward sales | 269 | C$2.36 | 1/1/2023 | 3/31/2023 | |||||||
| Canada | Natural Gas | Fixed price forward sales | 250 | C$2.35 | 4/1/2023 | 12/31/2023 | |||||||
| Canada | Natural Gas | Fixed price forward sales | 162 | C$2.39 | 1/1/2024 | 12/31/2024 | |||||||
| Canada | Natural Gas | Fixed price forward sales | 25 | US$1.98 | 1/1/2023 | 10/31/2024 | |||||||
| Canada | Natural Gas | Fixed price forward sales | 15 | US$1.98 | 11/1/2024 | 12/31/2024 |
Forward-Looking Statements
This Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are generally identified through the inclusion of words such as “aim”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “drive”, “estimate”, “expect”, “expressed confidence”, “forecast”, “future”, “goal”, “guidance”, “intend”, “may”, “objective”, “outlook”, “plan”, “position”, “potential”, “project”, “seek”, “should”, “strategy”, “target”, “will” or variations of such words and other similar expressions. These statements, which express management’s current views concerning future events, results and plans, are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties and assumptions (many of which are beyond our control) and are not guarantees of performance. In particular, statements, express or implied, concerning the Company’s future operating results or activities and returns or the Company's ability and decisions to replace or increase reserves, increase production, generate returns and rates of return, replace or increase drilling locations, reduce or otherwise control operating costs and expenditures, generate cash flows, pay down or refinance indebtedness, achieve, reach or otherwise meet initiatives, plans, goals, ambitions or targets with respect to emissions, safety matters or other ESG matters, or pay and/or increase dividends or make share repurchases and other capital allocation decisions, are all forward-
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looking statements. Factors that could cause one or more of these future events, results or plans not to occur as implied by any forward-looking statement, which consequently could cause actual results or activities to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to: macro conditions in the oil and gas industry, including supply/demand levels, actions taken by major oil exporters and the resulting impacts on commodity prices; increased volatility or deterioration in the success rate of our exploration programs or in our ability to maintain production rates and replace reserves; reduced customer demand for our products due to environmental, regulatory, technological or other reasons; adverse foreign exchange movements; political and regulatory instability in the markets where we do business; the impact on our operations or market of health pandemics such as COVID-19 and related government responses; other natural hazards impacting our operations or markets; any other deterioration in our business, markets or prospects; any failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals; any inability to service or refinance our outstanding debt or to access debt markets at acceptable prices; or adverse developments in the U.S. or global capital markets, credit markets or economies in general. For further discussion of factors that could cause one or more of these future events or results not to occur as implied by any forward-looking statement, see Item 1A. Risk Factors, which begins on page 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Murphy undertakes no duty to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
FY 2021 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0000717423-22-000019.
Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Murphy Oil Corporation is a worldwide oil and natural gas exploration and production company. A more detailed description of the Company’s significant assets can be found in Item 1 of this Form 10-K report.
In 2021, a combination of the global availability of vaccines and a relaxation of certain government-imposed lockdowns in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to an improving global economic outlook and subsequently increased demand for oil and gas. Several COVID-19 variants, such as Delta and Omicron, temporarily created uncertainty in the outlook; however, vaccines remained effective and therefore demand for oil and gas has remained resilient in the second half of 2021 and early 2022. The demand resilience has revealed an oil supply shortage, and hence is applying upward pressure to current and future oil and gas prices.
The OPEC+ group continues to target increasing supply by 0.4 million barrels per day (bpd) a month, with aims to fully phase out prior cuts by September 2022, at the current rate of OPEC+ supply increases. In 2020, OPEC+ cut production by 10 million bpd following the COVID-19 demand reduction. It has gradually reinstated supply so that the curtailments were approximately 5.8 million bpd at the end of 2021. However, some members of the OPEC+ are not meeting their commitments to reinstate supply.
Overall, the combination of OPEC+ supply constraints and the increase in demand driven by the global COVID-19 vaccine roll out and the relaxation of certain government-imposed lockdowns has provided upward pressure to the oil price which directly impacts the Company’s product revenue from sales compared to one year ago.
Significant Company operating and financial highlights during and at the end of 2021 were as follows:
•Produced 167 thousand barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) per day (158 thousand excluding noncontrolling interest, NCI)
•Maintained capital discipline with full year accrued capital expenditures of $711.2 million, including noncontrolling interest ($23.0 million) and King’s Quay Floating Production System (FPS) of $17.3 million (which was sold in the first quarter of 2021)
•Generated $1,422.2 million of net cash provided by operating activities and $734.0 million of adjusted cash flow 1, which includes a working capital inflow of $118.5 million
•Reduced Lease operating expense per barrel of oil equivalent by 5% year-over-year
•Preserved liquidity of $2.1 billion, including $521.2 million of cash as of December 31, 2021 and $1.6 billion available on an unsecured revolving credit facility
•Decreased full year Selling, general and administrative costs by 13% from 2020
•Repaid approximately $530 million of total debt, a 17% debt reduction in the year
•Achieved 103% total proved reserve replacement with year-end proved reserves of 716.9 million barrels of oil equivalent
Throughout this section, the term, ‘excluding noncontrolling interest’ or ‘excluding NCI’ refers to amounts attributable to Murphy. Unless noted, amounts include noncontrolling interest.
Murphy’s continuing operations generate revenue by producing crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGL) and natural gas in the United States, Gulf of Mexico and Canada and then selling these products to customers. The Company’s revenue is affected by the prices of crude oil, natural gas and NGL. In order to make a profit and generate cash in its exploration and production business, revenue generated from the sales of oil and natural gas produced must exceed the combined costs of producing these products and expenses related to exploration, administration, and for capital borrowed from lending institutions and note holders.
1 Adjusted cash flow is calculated as cash flow from operations less capital expenditures ($688.2 million).
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Changes in the price of crude oil and natural gas have a significant impact on the profitability of the Company. In 2021, liquids from continuing operations represented 62% of total hydrocarbons produced on an energy equivalent basis. In 2022, the Company’s ratio of hydrocarbon production represented by liquids is expected to be 59%. If the prices for crude oil and natural gas are lower in 2022 or beyond, this will have an unfavorable impact on the Company’s operating profits; likewise, if prices are higher, this will have a favorable impact. The Company, from time to time, may choose to use a variety of commodity hedge instruments to reduce commodity price risk, including forward sale fixed financial swaps and long-term fixed-price physical commodity sales.
Oil prices recovered in 2021 compared to the 2020 period and were higher compared to 2019. The sales price of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil averaged $67.91 in 2021, $39.40 in 2020, and $57.03 in 2019. In 2022, the WTI price has thus far been above those in the comparable period in 2021.
The WTI index increased 72% over the prior year principally as a result of OPEC+ supply constraints and the increase in demand driven by the global COVID-19 vaccine roll out as discussed above.
The most common crude oil indices used to price the Company’s crude include WTI Houston (MEH), Heavy Louisiana Sweet (HLS), Mars and Brent.
The NYMEX natural gas price per million British Thermal Units (MMBTU) averaged $3.84 in 2021, $1.99 in 2020 and $2.52 in 2019. The 2021 NYMEX natural gas price was higher compared to the 2020 price and natural gas prices in North America in 2022 have thus far been above those in the comparable period in 2021.
Results of Operations
Murphy Oil’s results of operations, with associated diluted earnings per share (EPS), for the last three years are presented in the following table.
| Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars, except EPS) | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||
| Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes | $ | 42.9 | (1,549.0) | 203.5 | ||||
| Net (loss) income attributable to Murphy | (73.7) | (1,148.8) | 1,149.7 | |||||
| Diluted EPS | (0.48) | (7.48) | 6.98 | |||||
| (Loss) income from continuing operations attributable to Murphy | (72.4) | (1,141.6) | 85.2 | |||||
| Diluted EPS | (0.47) | (7.43) | 0.52 | |||||
| (Loss) income from discontinued operations | (1.2) | (7.2) | 1,064.5 | |||||
| Diluted EPS | (0.01) | (0.05) | 6.46 |
For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company produced 167 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (including noncontrolling interest) from continuing operations. The Company invested $711.2 million in capital expenditures (on a value of work done basis) for the year ended December 31, 2021, which included $23.0 million attributable to noncontrolling interest and $17.3 million to fund the development of the King’s Quay FPS (which was subsequently sold). The Company reported net income from continuing operations of $48.8 million (which included post tax impairment charges of $151.5 million and income attributable to noncontrolling interest of $121.2 million) for the year ended December 31, 2021.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company produced 175 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (including noncontrolling interest) from continuing operations. The Company invested $826.6 million in capital expenditures (on a value of work done basis) for the year ended December 31, 2020, which included $21.7 million attributable to noncontrolling interest and $92.8 million to fund the development of the King’s Quay FPS. The Company reported net loss from continuing operations of $1,255.3 million (which included post tax impairment charges of $854.2 million and loss attributable to noncontrolling interest of $113.7 million) for the year ended December 31, 2020.
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Other Key Performance Metrics
The Company uses other operational performance and income metrics to review operational performance. The table below presents Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) and adjusted EBITDA. Management uses EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA internally to evaluate the Company’s operational performance and trends between periods and relative to its industry competitors. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures and should not be considered a substitute for Net income (loss) or Cash provided by operating activities as determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also presented below is adjusted EBITDA per barrel of oil equivalent sold. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA per barrel of oil equivalent sold to evaluate the Company’s profitability of one barrel of oil equivalent sold in the period. Adjusted EBITDA per barrel of oil equivalent sold is a non-GAAP financial metric.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars, except per barrel of oil equivalents sold) | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||
| Net (loss) income attributable to Murphy (GAAP) | $ | (73.7) | (1,148.8) | 1,149.7 | ||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | (5.9) | (293.7) | 14.7 | |||||
| Interest expense, net | 221.8 | 169.4 | 219.3 | |||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense ¹ | 760.6 | 932.6 | 1,076.5 | |||||
| EBITDA attributable to Murphy (Non-GAAP) | 902.8 | (340.5) | 2,460.2 | |||||
| Impairment of assets ¹ | 196.3 | 1,072.5 | — | |||||
| Mark-to-market loss (gain) on crude oil derivative contracts | 112.1 | 69.3 | 33.4 | |||||
| Asset retirement obligation (gains) losses | (71.8) | (2.8) | — | |||||
| Mark-to-market loss (gain) on contingent consideration | 63.2 | (13.8) | 8.7 | |||||
| Accretion of asset retirement obligations ¹ | 41.1 | 42.1 | 40.5 | |||||
| Unutilized rig charges | 8.7 | 16.0 | — | |||||
| Discontinued operations loss (income) | 1.2 | 7.2 | (1,064.5) | |||||
| Foreign exchange losses (gains) | (1.0) | 0.7 | 6.4 | |||||
| Restructuring expenses | — | 50.0 | — | |||||
| Inventory loss | — | 8.3 | — | |||||
| Seal insurance proceeds | — | (1.7) | (8.0) | |||||
| Business development transaction costs | — | — | 24.4 | |||||
| Write-off of previously suspended exploration wells | — | — | 13.2 | |||||
| Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Murphy (Non-GAAP) | $ | 1,252.6 | 907.3 | 1,514.3 | ||||
| Total barrels of oil equivalents sold from continuing operations attributable to Murphy (thousands of barrels) | 57,476 | 60,189 | 63,128 | |||||
| Adjusted EBITDA per barrel of oil equivalents sold | $ | 21.79 | 15.07 | 23.99 |
1 Depreciation, depletion, and amortization expense, impairment of assets and accretion of asset retirement obligations used in the computation of adjusted EBITDA exclude the portion attributable to the non-controlling interest.
Segment Results – In the following table, the Company’s results of operations for the three years ended December 31, 2021, are presented by segment. More detailed reviews of operating results for the Company’s exploration and production and other activities follow the table.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
A summary of Net (loss) income is presented in the following table.
| (Millions of dollars) | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exploration and production – continuing operations | ||||||||
| United States | $ | 766.3 | (1,014.3) | 518.4 | ||||
| Canada | (16.1) | (35.0) | (4.3) | |||||
| Other International | (33.5) | (85.6) | (53.5) | |||||
| Total exploration and production – continuing operations | 716.7 | (1,134.9) | 460.6 | |||||
| Corporate and other | (668.0) | (120.3) | (271.8) | |||||
| Income (loss) from continuing operations | 48.7 | (1,255.2) | 188.8 | |||||
| (Loss) income from discontinued operations | (1.2) | (7.2) | 1,064.5 | |||||
| Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest | 47.5 | (1,262.4) | 1,253.3 | |||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest | 121.2 | (113.7) | 103.6 | |||||
| Net (loss) income attributable to Murphy | $ | (73.7) | (1,148.7) | 1,149.7 |
A summary of oil and natural gas revenues is presented in the following table.
| (Millions of dollars) | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Oil and natural gas liquids | $ | 2,199.7 | 1,335.8 | 2,285.8 | ||||
| Natural gas | 121.7 | 69.4 | 73.9 | ||||||
| Canada | Oil and natural gas liquids | 228.9 | 174.0 | 287.4 | |||||
| Natural gas | 245.9 | 170.6 | 158.4 | ||||||
| Other | Oil | 4.9 | 1.8 | 11.6 | |||||
| Total oil and natural gas revenues | $ | 2,801.1 | 1,751.6 | 2,817.1 |
Exploration and Production
Please refer to Schedule 6 – Results of Operations for Oil and Natural Gas Producing Activities in the Supplemental Oil and Natural Gas Information section for supporting tables.
2021 vs 2020
All amounts include amounts attributable to a noncontrolling interest in MP GOM (a subsidiary of Murphy Expro USA, operating and developing properties in the Gulf of Mexico) and exclude discontinued operations, unless otherwise noted.
Exploration and production (E&P) from continuing operations recorded earnings of $716.7 million in 2021 compared to a loss of $1,134.9 million in 2020. Results were favorable $1,851.6 million in 2021 compared to 2020 primarily due to higher oil, natural gas liquid and natural gas prices, lower impairment charges, lower depreciation, depletion and amortization (DD&A), lower lease operating expenses (LOE), lower exploration expenses and lower general and administrative (G&A) expenses, partially offset by higher transportation, gathering and processing and income tax charges. See below for further details.
Crude oil price realizations averaged $66.80 per barrel in the current year compared to $38.02 per barrel in 2020, a price increase of 76% year over year. U.S. natural gas realized price per thousand cubic feet (MCF) averaged $3.71 in the current year compared to $2.02 per MCF in 2020, a price increase of 84% year over year. Canada natural gas realized price per MCF averaged U.S. $2.43 in the current year compared to U.S. $1.79 per MCF in 2020, a price increase of 36% year over year. Oil and natural gas production costs, including associated production taxes, on a per-unit basis, were $9.53 in 2021 excluding transportation, gathering and processing (TGP) (2020: $9.81). The favorable decrease in per-unit production costs in 2021 was primarily attributable to reduced costs associated with well workovers and concerted efficiency efforts.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Exploration and Production (Contd.)
United States E&P operations reported earnings of $766.3 million in 2021 compared to a loss of $1,014.3 million in 2020. Results were favorable $1,780.6 million in 2021 compared to the 2020 period primarily due to no impairment charges in 2021 (2020: $1,152.5 million), higher total revenues ($925.7 million), lower DD&A ($132.9 million), and lower LOE ($70.5 million), partially offset by higher income tax expense ($428.1 million) and higher other operating expense ($77.9 million). The impairment charge in the prior year was primarily the result of lower forecast future prices as of March 31, 2020, as a result of lower oil demand (COVID-19 impact) and abundant oil supply at the time of the assessment.
Higher revenues were primarily due to higher realized prices (oil and condensate, natural gas and NGLs) year over year, partially offset by lower sales volume (7,514 barrels of oil equivalent per day lower) as a result of lower capital expenditures in 2020. Lower DD&A is a result of the prior year impairment charge reducing the depreciable asset base. Lower lease operating expenses were primarily due to higher GOM workover costs in the prior year at Cascade ($51.3 million) and Dalmatian ($20.5 million). Higher income tax expense is a result of higher pre-tax income principally due to higher oil price and lower DD&A and LOE. Higher other operating expense is primarily due to an unfavorable mark-to-market revaluation on contingent consideration ($63.2 million; as a result of higher commodity prices) from prior GOM acquisitions.
Canadian E&P operations reported a loss of $16.1 million in 2021 compared to a loss of $35.0 million in 2020. Results were favorable $18.9 million compared to 2020 primarily due to higher revenue ($130.5 million) and lower DD&A ($49.4 million), partially offset by an impairment charge ($171.3 million), higher lease operating expense ($14.7 million), transportation, gathering and processing ($15.8 million) and income tax charges ($19.7 million). 2021 results include an impairment charge ($171.3 million) recorded in the first quarter following notice from the operator of asset abandonment at Terra Nova at the time of the assessment and a partially offsetting credit of $71.8 million as of September 30, 2021 reported in ‘other operating expense’ as a result of the deferral of an asset retirement obligation at Terra Nova following the sanction of an asset life extension project and reversal of the asset abandonment decision.
Higher revenue is primarily attributable to higher natural gas prices and volumes at Tupper Montney and higher oil prices at Hibernia and Kaybob Duvernay. Lower DD&A is primarily due to lower production volumes at Kaybob Duvernay following reduced capital expenditures throughout 2020. Higher lease operating expenses and transportation, gathering and processing costs are due to higher gas processing and downstream transportation capacity, which are expected to be utilized by growth at Tupper Montney in the future.
Other international E&P operations reported a loss from continuing operations of $33.5 million in 2021 compared to a loss of $85.6 million in 2020. Results were favorable $52.1 million in 2021 compared to 2020 primarily due to lower impairment charges ($21.7 million), lower income tax charges ($11.6 million), lower exploration expenses ($5.9 million) primarily in Brazil and Mexico and lower LOE ($4.8 million).
2020 vs 2019
All amounts include amounts attributable to a noncontrolling interest in MP GOM (a subsidiary of Murphy Expro USA, operating and developing properties in the Gulf of Mexico) and exclude discontinued operations, unless otherwise noted.
E&P from continuing operations recorded a loss of $1,134.9 million in 2020 compared to earnings of $460.6 million in 2019. The results for 2020 were unfavorably impacted by impairment charges and lower oil and natural gas liquid prices and volumes, partially offset by lower depreciation and accretion expenses, G&A expenses, exploration expenses and taxes.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and certain major global suppliers announcing crude oil supply increases in the first quarter of 2020, commodity prices were generally lower in 2020 vs 2019. Crude oil price realizations averaged $38.02 per barrel in 2020 compared to $60.27 per barrel in 2019, a price decrease of 37% year over year. U.S. natural gas realized price per MCF averaged $2.02 in 2020 compared to $2.45 per MCF in 2019, a price decrease of 18% year over year. Canada natural gas realized price per MCF averaged U.S. $1.79 in 2020 compared to U.S. $1.60 per MCF in 2019, a price increase of 12% year over year. Oil and natural gas production costs, including associated production taxes, on a per-unit basis, were $9.81 in 2020 excluding TGP (2019: $9.66). The increase in production costs in 2020 was primarily attributable to costs associated with well workovers at Cascade and Dalmatian in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Exploration and Production (Contd.)
United States E&P operations reported a loss of $1,014.3 million in 2020 compared to earnings of $518.4 million in 2019. Results were $1,532.7 million unfavorable in 2020 compared to the 2019 period primarily due to higher impairment charges ($1,152.5 million), lower revenues ($955.2 million) and higher lease operating expenses ($15.4 million), partially offset by lower income tax expense ($359.8 million), depreciation, depletion and amortization (DD&A) ($129.3 million), G&A ($49.7 million), other operating expenses ($27.2 million) and transportation, gathering, and processing ($13.1 million). The impairment charge was primarily the result of lower future prices at the time of calculation, as a result of decreased oil demand.
Lower revenues were primarily due to lower commodity prices year over year and lower volumes in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico (as a result of shut-ins related to hurricanes and storms and lower capital expenditures). Higher lease operating expenses were due primarily to Gulf of Mexico well workovers at Cascade ($51.3 million) and Dalmatian ($20.5 million). Lower income tax expense was a result of pre-tax losses driven by the impairment charge and lower commodity prices. Lower other operating expense was primarily due to a favorable mark-to-market revaluation on contingent consideration (as a result of lower commodity prices) from prior Gulf of Mexico (GOM) acquisitions ($13.8 million). Lower G&A was due to cost reductions and lower headcount as a result of restructuring (primarily closing the El Dorado and Calgary offices).
Canadian E&P operations reported a loss of $35.0 million in 2020 compared to income of $4.3 million in 2019. Results were unfavorable $30.7 million compared to 2019 primarily due to lower revenue ($101.2 million) partially offset by lower DD&A ($29.8 million), lease operating expense ($20.8 million), income tax charges ($18.5 million) and G&A ($12.9 million). Lower revenues were due to lower oil and condensate prices versus the prior year and a shut-in at Terra Nova for Asset Integrity work (starting in December 2019 and expected to continue until 2022). Lower DD&A and lease operating expenses were a result of lower sales. Lower income tax expense was a result of pre-tax losses. Lower G&A was due to cost reductions and lower headcount as a result of restructuring.
Other international E&P operations reported a loss from continuing operations of $85.6 million in 2020 compared to a loss of $53.5 million in the prior year. The 2020 results included an impairment charge of $39.7 million and lower revenues of $9.8 million in Brunei.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Cost per equivalent barrel sold for these production-related expenses are shown by geographical area in the following table.
| (Dollars per equivalent barrel) | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continuing operations | ||||||||
| United States – Eagle Ford Shale | ||||||||
| Lease operating expense | $ | 8.96 | 9.08 | 8.70 | ||||
| Severance and ad valorem taxes | 2.91 | 2.06 | 2.82 | |||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization (DD&A) expense | 27.59 | 26.22 | 24.19 | |||||
| United States – Gulf of Mexico | ||||||||
| Lease operating expense | 10.63 | 11.95 | 10.89 | |||||
| Severance and ad valorem taxes | 0.07 | — | — | |||||
| DD&A expense | 9.51 | 13.48 | 16.43 | |||||
| Canada – Onshore | ||||||||
| Lease operating expense | 6.20 | 4.63 | 5.49 | |||||
| Severance and ad valorem taxes | 0.09 | 0.07 | 0.07 | |||||
| DD&A expense | 7.64 | 9.93 | 10.94 | |||||
| Canada – Offshore | ||||||||
| Lease operating expense | 13.04 | 17.86 | 14.95 | |||||
| DD&A expense | 12.80 | 12.01 | 13.07 | |||||
| Total oil and natural gas continuing operations | ||||||||
| Lease operating expense | 8.86 | 9.34 | 8.95 | |||||
| Severance and ad valorem taxes | 0.68 | 0.44 | 0.71 | |||||
| DD&A expense | 13.05 | 15.36 | 16.98 | |||||
| Total oil and natural gas continuing operations – excluding noncontrolling interest | ||||||||
| Lease operating expense | 8.65 | 9.10 | 8.81 | |||||
| Severance and ad valorem taxes | 0.71 | 0.47 | 0.76 | |||||
| DD&A expense | 13.23 | 15.49 | 17.05 | |||||
| Discontinued Operations | ||||||||
| Malaysia | ||||||||
| Lease operating expense | — | — | 16.49 | |||||
| DD&A expense | — | — | 4.60 |
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Corporate
2021 vs 2020
Corporate activities, which include interest expense and income, foreign exchange effects, realized and unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments (forward swaps and collars to hedge the price of oil sold) and corporate overhead not allocated to Exploration and Production, reported a loss of $668.0 million in 2021 compared to a loss of $120.3 million in 2020. The $547.7 million unfavorable variance is principally due to higher net losses on derivative instruments in 2021 compared to the 2020 period (2021: $525.9 million loss; 2020: $202.7 million gain) and higher interest expense ($53.0 million), partially offset by a higher tax benefit ($148.3 million), lower restructuring charges ($48.8 million), lower G&A expenses ($12.9 million), and lower impairment charges ($7.1 million). Realized and unrealized losses on derivative instruments are due to an increase in market pricing in future periods whereby the swap contracts provide the Company with a fixed price and the collar contracts provide for a minimum (floor) and a maximum (ceiling) price, with variability in between the floor and ceiling. Higher interest costs are principally due to debt redemption costs on the 2022 notes and $550.0 million issuance of new notes in March 2021 that bear interest at a rate of 6.375% and mature on July 15, 2028. Higher income tax benefit is a result of higher pre-tax loss driven by the higher realized and unrealized losses on derivative instruments. Lower restructuring charges and G&A are due to the 2020 cost reduction efforts which included closing the Company’s previous headquarters office in El Dorado, Arkansas, its office in Calgary, Alberta, and consolidating all worldwide staff activities to its existing office location in Houston, Texas.
2020 vs 2019
In 2020, the Company announced that it was closing its headquarters office in El Dorado, Arkansas, its office in Calgary, Alberta, and consolidating all worldwide staff activities to its existing office location in Houston, Texas. As a result, certain directly attributable costs and charges were recognized and reported as Restructuring charges as part of net loss in 2020. These costs included severance, relocation, IT costs, pension curtailment and a write-off of the right of use asset lease associated with the Canada office. Further, the office building in El Dorado was classified as held for sale.
Corporate activities, which include interest expense and income, foreign exchange effects, realized and unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments and corporate overhead not allocated to Exploration and Production, reported a loss of $120.3 million in 2020 compared to a loss of $271.8 million in 2019. The $151.5 million favorable variance was primarily due to higher realized gains on forward swap commodity contracts ($239.5 million), lower interest charges ($50.2 million), lower G&A ($14.5 million), and partially offset by higher tax charges ($55.3 million), restructuring charges ($48.8 million) related to the closure of the El Dorado and Calgary offices, and impairment charges ($14.1 million). Higher realized gains on forward swap commodity contracts were due to lower market pricing whereby the contract provides the Company with a fixed price. Interest charges were lower primarily due to 2019 temporary borrowings on the Company’s revolving credit facility (RCF) to fund the LLOG acquisition (the RCF borrowings were repaid in the third quarter 2019 following the divestment of the Malaysia business) and gains from the buy-back of debt in the second quarter 2020. As of December 31, 2020, the average forward NYMEX WTI prices for 2021 and 2022 were $48.34 and $46.76, respectively (versus fixed hedge prices of $42.77 and $44.88).
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Production Volumes and Prices
2021 vs 2020
Total hydrocarbon production from all E&P continuing operations averaged 167,356 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2021, which represented a 4% decrease from the 174,636 barrels per day produced in 2020.
Average crude oil and condensate production from continuing operations was 95,705 barrels per day in 2021 compared to 103,966 barrels per day in 2020. The decrease of 8,261 barrels per day was principally due to lower volumes in the Gulf of Mexico (2,703 barrels per day primarily due to reservoir decline), lower volumes at Kaybob Duvernay (2,272 barrels per day due to well decline) and lower Eagle Ford Shale production (765 barrels per day). On a worldwide basis, the Company’s crude oil and condensate prices averaged $66.80 per barrel in 2021 compared to $38.02 per barrel in the 2020 period, an increase of 76% year over year.
Total production of natural gas liquids (NGL) from continuing operations was 10,385 barrels per day in 2021 compared to 11,541 barrels per day in the 2020 period. The average sales price for U.S. NGL was $27.97 per barrel in 2021 compared to $11.29 per barrel in 2020. The average sales price for NGL in Canada was $40.18 per barrel in 2021 compared to $18.54 per barrel in 2020. NGL prices are higher in Canada due to the higher value of product produced at the Kaybob and Placid assets.
Natural gas sales volumes from continuing operations averaged 368 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) in 2021 compared to 355 MMCFD in 2020. The increase of 13 MMCFD was primarily the result of higher volumes in Canada. Higher natural gas volumes in Canada are primarily due to bringing online 14 new wells at Tupper Montney in 2021. Higher volumes at Tupper Montney were partially offset by lower gas volumes in the Gulf of Mexico.
Natural gas prices for the total Company averaged $2.74 per thousand cubic feet (MCF) in 2021, versus $1.85 per MCF average in the same period of 2020. Average realized natural gas prices in the US and Canada in 2021 were $3.71 and $2.43 per MCF, respectively.
2020 vs 2019
Total hydrocarbon production from continuing operations averaged 174,636 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2020, which represented a 6% decrease from the 185,649 barrels per day produced in 2019. Production in the Gulf of Mexico was significantly impacted by a record breaking hurricane year which resulted in shut-ins and loss of approximately 6.4 MBOED of production in 2020. Lower volumes in the Eagle Ford Shale volumes were due to lower capital expenditures.
Average crude oil and condensate production from continuing operations was 103,966 barrels per day in 2020 compared to 114,742 barrels per day in 2019. The decrease of 10,776 barrels per day was principally due to lower Eagle Ford Shale production (8,158 barrels per day) and lower volumes in the Gulf of Mexico (2,143 barrels per day) as stated above. On a worldwide basis, the Company’s crude oil and condensate prices averaged $38.02 per barrel in 2020 compared to $60.27 per barrel in 2019, a decrease of 37% year over year, resulting from the global downturn triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Total production of natural gas liquids (NGL) from continuing operations was 11,541 barrels per day in 2020 compared to 11,888 per day in 2019. The average sales price for U.S. NGL was $11.29 per barrel in 2020 compared to $14.85 per barrel in 2019. The average sales price of NGL in Canada was $18.54 per barrel in 2020 compared to $26.04 per barrel in 2019. NGL prices are higher in Canada due to the higher value of product produced at the Kaybob Duvernay and Placid Montney assets.
Natural gas sales volumes from continuing operations averaged 355 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) in 2020 compared to 354 MMCFD in 2019. The increase of 1 MMCFD was a primarily the result of higher volumes in the Gulf of Mexico (14 MMCFD) due to a full year contribution from the assets associated with the LLOG transaction.
Natural gas prices for the total Company averaged $1.85 per thousand cubic feet (MCF) in 2020, versus $1.8 per MCF average in 2019. Average prices in the U.S. and Canada in 2020 were $2.02 and $1.79 respectively.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
The following table contains hydrocarbons produced during the three years ended December 31, 2021.
| Barrels per day unless otherwise noted | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continuing operations | ||||||||
| Net crude oil and condensate | ||||||||
| United States | Onshore | 25,655 | 26,420 | 34,578 | ||||
| Gulf of Mexico 1 | 60,717 | 64,680 | 66,823 | |||||
| Canada | Onshore | 5,312 | 7,888 | 6,329 | ||||
| Offshore | 3,765 | 4,893 | 6,543 | |||||
| Other | 256 | 85 | 469 | |||||
| Total net crude oil and condensate - continuing operations | 95,705 | 103,966 | 114,742 | |||||
| Net natural gas liquids | ||||||||
| United States | Onshore | 5,092 | 5,248 | 5,731 | ||||
| Gulf of Mexico 1 | 4,176 | 4,978 | 4,894 | |||||
| Canada | Onshore | 1,117 | 1,315 | 1,263 | ||||
| Total net natural gas liquids - continuing operations | 10,385 | 11,541 | 11,888 | |||||
| Net natural gas – thousands of cubic feet per day | ||||||||
| United States | Onshore | 28,565 | 27,985 | 30,692 | ||||
| Gulf of Mexico 1 | 61,240 | 66,105 | 52,068 | |||||
| Canada | Onshore | 277,790 | 260,683 | 271,355 | ||||
| Total net natural gas - continuing operations | 367,595 | 354,773 | 354,115 | |||||
| Total net hydrocarbons - continuing operations including NCI 2,3 | 167,356 | 174,636 | 185,649 | |||||
| Noncontrolling interest | ||||||||
| Net crude oil and condensate – barrels per day | (8,623) | (9,962) | (11,226) | |||||
| Net natural gas liquids – barrels per day | (303) | (416) | (507) | |||||
| Net natural gas – thousands of cubic feet per day 2 | (3,236) | (3,843) | (3,965) | |||||
| Total noncontrolling interest | (9,465) | (11,019) | (12,394) | |||||
| Total net hydrocarbons - continuing operations excluding NCI 2,3 | 157,891 | 163,617 | 173,255 | |||||
| Discontinued operations | ||||||||
| Net crude oil and condensate – barrels per day | — | — | 12,215 | |||||
| Net natural gas liquids – barrels per day | — | — | 325 | |||||
| Net natural gas – thousands of cubic feet per day 2 | — | — | 50,758 | |||||
| Total discontinued operations | — | — | 21,000 | |||||
| Total net hydrocarbons produced excluding NCI 2,3 | 157,891 | 163,617 | 194,255 | |||||
| Estimated net hydrocarbon reserves - million equivalent barrels 3,4 | 716.9 | 714.9 | 825.0 |
1 Includes net volumes attributable to a noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
2 Natural gas converted on an energy equivalent basis of 6:1.
3 NCI – noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
4 December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, include 18.4 MMBOE, 17.4 MMBOE and 24.6 MMBOE, respectively, relating to noncontrolling interest.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
The following table contains hydrocarbons sold during the three years ended December 31, 2021.
| Barrels per day unless otherwise noted | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continuing operations | ||||||||
| Net crude oil and condensate | ||||||||
| United States | Onshore | 25,655 | 26,420 | 34,578 | ||||
| Gulf of Mexico 1 | 60,544 | 65,621 | 66,272 | |||||
| Canada | Onshore | 5,312 | 7,888 | 6,329 | ||||
| Offshore | 3,559 | 4,958 | 6,722 | |||||
| Other | 195 | 78 | 427 | |||||
| Total net crude oil and condensate - continuing operations | 95,265 | 104,965 | 114,328 | |||||
| Net natural gas liquids | ||||||||
| United States | Onshore | 5,092 | 5,248 | 5,731 | ||||
| Gulf of Mexico 1 | 4,176 | 4,978 | 4,894 | |||||
| Canada | Onshore | 1,117 | 1,315 | 1,263 | ||||
| Total net natural gas liquids - continuing operations | 10,385 | 11,541 | 11,888 | |||||
| Net natural gas – thousands of cubic feet per day | ||||||||
| United States | Onshore | 28,565 | 27,985 | 30,692 | ||||
| Gulf of Mexico 1 | 61,240 | 66,105 | 52,068 | |||||
| Canada | Onshore | 277,790 | 260,683 | 271,355 | ||||
| Total net natural gas - continuing operations | 367,595 | 354,773 | 354,115 | |||||
| Total net hydrocarbons - continuing operations including NCI 2,3 | 166,916 | 175,635 | 185,235 | |||||
| Noncontrolling interest | ||||||||
| Net crude oil and condensate – barrels per day | (8,605) | (10,127) | (11,115) | |||||
| Net natural gas liquids – barrels per day | (303) | (416) | (507) | |||||
| Net natural gas – thousands of cubic feet per day 2 | (3,236) | (3,843) | (3,965) | |||||
| Total noncontrolling interest | (9,447) | (11,184) | (12,283) | |||||
| Total net hydrocarbons - continuing operations excluding NCI 2,3 | 157,469 | 164,451 | 172,952 | |||||
| Discontinued operations | ||||||||
| Net crude oil and condensate – barrels per day | — | — | 12,100 | |||||
| Net natural gas liquids – barrels per day | — | — | 296 | |||||
| Net natural gas – thousands of cubic feet per day 2 | — | — | 50,758 | |||||
| Total discontinued operations | — | — | 20,856 | |||||
| Total net hydrocarbons sold excluding NCI 2,3 | 157,469 | 164,451 | 193,808 |
1 Includes net volumes attributable to a noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
2 Natural gas converted on an energy equivalent basis of 6:1.
3 NCI – noncontrolling interest in MP GOM.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
The following table contains the weighted average sales prices excluding transportation cost deduction for the three years ended December 31, 2021. Comparative periods are conformed to current presentation.
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weighted average Exploration and Production sales prices | |||||||||
| Continuing operations | |||||||||
| Crude oil and condensate – dollars per barrel | |||||||||
| United States | Onshore | $ | 66.90 | 36.54 | 59.45 | ||||
| Gulf of Mexico 1 | 66.93 | 39.15 | 61.09 | ||||||
| Canada 2 | Onshore | 61.79 | 32.42 | 50.29 | |||||
| Offshore | 71.39 | 39.40 | 64.91 | ||||||
| Other | 69.21 | 63.51 | 74.70 | ||||||
| Natural gas liquids – dollars per barrel | |||||||||
| United States | Onshore | 26.97 | 11.67 | 14.60 | |||||
| Gulf of Mexico 1 | 29.14 | 10.84 | 15.10 | ||||||
| Canada 2 | Onshore | 40.18 | 18.54 | 26.04 | |||||
| Natural gas – dollars per thousand cubic feet | |||||||||
| United States | Onshore | 3.83 | 1.95 | 2.47 | |||||
| Gulf of Mexico 1 | 3.67 | 2.04 | 2.43 | ||||||
| Canada 2 | Onshore | 2.43 | 1.79 | 1.60 | |||||
| Discontinued operations | |||||||||
| Crude oil and condensate – dollars per barrel | |||||||||
| Malaysia 3 | Sarawak | — | — | 70.39 | |||||
| Block K | — | — | 65.75 | ||||||
| Natural gas liquids – dollars per barrel | |||||||||
| Malaysia 3 | Sarawak | — | — | 48.23 | |||||
| Natural gas – dollars per thousand cubic feet | |||||||||
| Malaysia 3 | Sarawak | — | — | 3.60 | |||||
| Block K | — | — | 0.24 |
1 Prices include the effect of noncontrolling interest share for MP GOM.
2 U.S. dollar equivalent.
3 Prices are net of payments under the terms of the respective production sharing contracts.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Financial Condition
Cash Provided by Operating Activities
Net cash provided by continuing operating activities was $1,422.2 million in 2021 compared to $802.7 million in 2020. The increased cash provided by continuing operating activities of $619.5 million is primarily attributable to higher revenue from sales to customers ($1,049.5 million), positive effect of movements on payable and receivable working capital balances ($118.5 million), lower lease operating expenses ($60.5 million), lower general and administrative and cash restructuring expenses ($50.7 million), partially offset by higher cash payments made on forward swap commodity contracts (2021: realized loss of $413.7 million; 2020: realized gain of $272.0 million). Higher revenues were primarily due to higher commodity prices driven by OPEC+ supply constraints and the increase in demand.
Cash flow provided by continuing operations was $686.4 million lower in 2020 than in 2019 primarily due to lower revenues, partially offset by higher cash payments received on forward swap commodity contracts. Lower revenues were primarily due to lower commodity prices resulting from lower demand triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and lower volumes (due to reduced capital expenditures).
The total reductions of operating cash flows for interest paid (which excludes debt redemption costs reported in Financing activities) during the three years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019 were $165.7 million, $191.6 million, and $179.7 million, respectively. Lower cash interest paid in 2021 was due to the repayment of the $200 million outstanding on the revolving credit facility, the early redemption of the 2022 notes and the early redemption of $300 million of the 2024 notes, partially offset by interest paid on the issuance of 2028 notes in the first quarter of 2021. Higher cash interest paid in 2020 was due to the new 2027 notes paying interest at 5.875% and revolver borrowing during the year.
Cash Used for Investing Activities
Cash used for property additions and dry holes, which includes amounts expensed, were $688.2 million and $872.8 million in 2021 and 2020, respectively. These amounts include $17.7 million and $113.0 million used to fund the development of the King’s Quay FPS in 2021 and 2020. In March 2021, the King’s Quay FPS was sold to ArcLight Capital Partners, LLC (ArcLight) for proceeds of $267.7 million, which reimbursed the Company for previously incurred capital expenditures. 2021 also includes proved property acquisitions for an additional interest in the Lucius property of $19.9 million. Lower property additions in 2021 are principally due to lower capital spending at Eagle Ford Shale and lower spend on King’s Quay.
In 2019, property additions included $1,261.1 million for the LLOG acquisition.
The accrual (value of work done) basis of capital expenditures were as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars) | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||
| Capital Expenditures | ||||||||
| Exploration and production | $ | 690.1 | 813.3 | 2,683.2 | ||||
| Corporate | 21.1 | 13.3 | 15.0 | |||||
| Total capital expenditures | $ | 711.2 | 826.6 | 2,698.2 | ||||
| Total capital expenditures excluding proved property acquisitions | $ | 711.2 | 826.6 | 1,437.1 | ||||
| Total capital expenditures excluding proved property acquisitions and NCI | $ | 688.2 | 804.9 | 1,402.3 |
A reconciliation of property additions and dry hole costs in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows to total capital expenditures for continuing operations follows.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Financial Condition (Contd.)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars) | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||
| Property additions and dry hole costs per cash flow statements | $ | 670.5 | 759.8 | 1,244.1 | ||||
| Property additions King's Quay per cash flow statements | 17.7 | 113.0 | 100.2 | |||||
| Geophysical and other exploration expenses | 26.9 | 32.3 | 48.5 | |||||
| Capital expenditure accrual changes and other | (3.9) | (78.5) | 93.1 | |||||
| Acquisition of oil properties per the cash flow statements | — | — | 1,212.3 | |||||
| Total capital expenditures | $ | 711.2 | 826.6 | 2,698.2 |
Capital expenditures in the exploration and production business in 2021 compared to 2020 have decreased as a result of capital expenditure reductions to support generating free cash flow.
Cash Used by and Provided by Financing Activities
Net cash required by financing activities was $794.5 million in 2021 compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $39.7 million during 2020. In 2021, the cash required by financing activities was principally due to the repayment of the balance outstanding on the revolving credit facility ($200.0 million), the early redemption of the remainder of the 2022 notes ($576.4 million), the early redemption of a portion of the 2024 notes ($300.0 million), costs associated with early redemption ($39.3 million), dividends paid ($77.2 million) and distributions to noncontrolling interest ($137.5 million), partially offset by issuance of 2028 notes ($541.9 million).
The primary sources of the Company’s liquidity are internally generated funds, access to outside financing and working capital. The Company generally uses its internally generated funds to finance its capital and operating expenditures, but it also maintains lines of credit with banks and will borrow as necessary to meet spending requirements. As of December 31, 2021, the Company has a $1.6 billion senior unsecured guaranteed credit facility (RCF) with a major banking consortium, which expires in November 2023. As of December 31, 2021 and in the event it is required to fund investing activities from borrowings, the Company has approximately $1.6 billion available on its committed revolving credit facility.
In 2020, net cash provided by financing activities of $39.7 million was principally from borrowings on the Company’s RCF ($200.0 million), partially offset by dividends paid ($96.0 million) and distributions to noncontrolling interest ($43.7 million).
In 2019, net cash required by financing activities of $1,130.0 million consisted of $548.0 million to redeem a portion of the 2022 notes, $499.9 million to buy back issued ordinary shares, $325.0 million to repay the RCF, $163.7 million to pay dividends, and $128.2 million to cover distributions to noncontrolling interest, net of proceeds of $542.4 million from the issuance of the 2027 notes.
Working Capital
At the end of 2021, working capital (total current assets less total current liabilities, excluding assets and liabilities held for sale) amounted to a net working capital liability of $298.9 million (2020: net working capital liability of $29.4 million). The total working capital liability increase of $269.5 million in 2021 is primarily attributable to higher accounts payable ($216.0 million) and higher other accrued liabilities ($210.3 million), partially offset by higher cash and cash equivalents ($210.6 million). The higher accounts payable is due to the increase in unrealized losses on derivative instruments (commodity swap and collar) maturing in the next 12 months. The higher other accrued liabilities are principally due to higher liabilities associated with current asset retirement obligations, and contingent consideration liabilities related to prior GOM acquisitions.
Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2021 totaled $521.2 million (2020: $310.6 million). There were no borrowings from the RCF outstanding at the end of the year (2020: $200.0 million). Cash in the year benefited from a positive working capital inflow of $118.5 million principally due to increasing liabilities associated with a major U.S. Offshore capital project expected to begin production mid-2022.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Financial Condition (Contd.)
Cash and invested cash are maintained in several operating locations outside the U.S. As of December 31, 2021, Cash and cash equivalents held outside the U.S. included U.S dollar equivalents of approximately $242.9 million (2020: $119.3 million), the majority of which was held in Canada ($175.0 million). In addition, approximately $26.2 million and $14.0 million of cash was held in Brazil and the U.K., respectively. In certain cases, the Company could incur cash taxes or other costs should these cash balances be repatriated to the U.S. in future periods. Canada currently collects a 5% withholding tax on any earnings repatriated to the U.S. See Note I – Income Taxes for further information regarding potential tax expense that could be incurred upon distribution of foreign earnings back to the United States.
Capital Employed
As of December 31, 2021, long-term debt of $2,465.4 million had decreased by $522.7 million compared to December 31, 2020, as a result the net repayment of the $200.0 million outstanding on the revolving credit facility December 31, 2020, the early redemption of the 2022 notes and the early redemption of $300.0 million of the 2024 notes, partially offset by issuance of 2028 notes. The fixed-rate notes had a weighted average maturity of 7.5 years and a weighted average coupon of 6.2%.
A summary of capital employed as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 follows.
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Millions of dollars) | Amount | % | Amount | % | |||||||||
| Capital employed | |||||||||||||
| Long-term debt | $ | 2,465.4 | 37.2 | % | $ | 2,988.1 | 41.5 | % | |||||
| Murphy shareholders' equity | 4,157.3 | 62.8 | % | 4,214.3 | 58.5 | % | |||||||
| Total capital employed | $ | 6,622.7 | 100.0 | % | $ | 7,202.4 | 100.0 | % |
Murphy shareholders’ equity was $4.16 billion at the end of 2021 (2020: $4.21 billion). Shareholders’ equity decreased in 2021 primarily due to dividends paid ($77.2 million) and a 2021 net loss ($73.7 million), partially offset by a favorable revaluation of pension assets and liabilities ($59.8 million). A summary of transactions in stockholders’ equity accounts is presented in the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity on page 72 of this Form 10-K report.
Other Balance Sheet Activity - Long-Term Assets and Liabilities
Other significant changes in Murphy’s balance sheet at the end of 2021, compared to 2020 are discussed below.
Property, plant and equipment, net of depreciation decreased $141.2 million principally due to an annual charge of depreciation, depletion and amortization ($795.1 million) of these balances and impairment charges ($196.3 million), offset by capital expenditures in the year. Capital expenditures are discussed above in the ‘Cash Used for Investing Activities’ section. An impairment charge of $171.3 million was triggered when the operator at Terra Nova provided notice of abandonment in the first quarter of 2021, before a commercial resolution in the third quarter of 2021 led Murphy to acquire an additional 7.525% in a commercial settlement with the other partners. The commercial resolution would have meant the Terra Nova impairment charge was not required. In the fourth quarter of 2021, a further impairment charge of $25.0 million was recorded on non-core assets.
Murphy had commitments for capital expenditures of approximately $520.1 million at December 31, 2021 (2020: $747.0 million). This amount includes $175.9 million for approved expenditure for capital projects relating to non-operated interests in deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico, principally at St. Malo ($173.0 million), non-operated Canada interests, mainly offshore ($84.7 million), non-operated Eagle Ford Shale ($18.1 million), Brazil ($16.3 million), Vietnam ($6.1 million), and Brunei ($2.6 million).
Assets held for sale of $15.5 million decreased $312.3 million due to the March 2021 sale of King’s Quay FPS to ArcLight Capital Partners, LLC (ArcLight) for proceeds of $267.7 million.
Operating lease assets ($881.4 million) and liabilities ($900.6 million) decreased $46.3 million principally due to an annual charge of depreciation, depletion and amortization and 2021 annual payments reducing the operating lease liabilities.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Financial Condition (Contd.)
Long-term asset retirement obligations increased $23.5 million to $839.8 million, principally due to inflationary pressures from higher oil prices and associated demand for services.
Deferred credits and other liabilities decreased $110.0 million primarily as a result of the pension fair value remeasurement and cash pension contributions to the plan in 2021.
At December 31, 2021, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under the RCF and $31.4 million of outstanding letters of credit, which reduce the borrowing capacity of the RCF. Borrowings under the RCF bear interest at rates, based, at the Company’s option, on the “Alternate Base Rate” of interest in effect plus the “ABR Spread” or the “Adjusted LIBOR Rate,” which is a periodic fixed rate based on LIBOR with a term equivalent to the interest period for such borrowing, plus the “Eurodollar Spread.” The “Alternate Base Rate” of interest is the highest of (i) the Wall Street Journal prime rate, (ii) the New York Federal Reserve Bank Rate plus 0.50%, and (iii) one-month LIBOR plus 1.00%. Note that in July 2017, the Financial Conduct Authority in the U.K. announced a desire to phase out LIBOR as a benchmark by the end of 2021. Some USD LIBOR tenors (overnight, 1-month, 3-month, 6-month and 12-month) will continue to be published until June 30, 2023. See “Risk Factors – Financial Risk Factors – Capital Financing” for further discussion. The “Eurodollar Spread” ranges from 1.075% to 2.10% per annum based upon the Corporation’s senior unsecured long-term debt securities credit ratings (the “Credit Ratings”). A facility fee accrues and is payable quarterly in arrears at a rate ranging from 0.175% to 0.40% per annum (based upon the Company’s Credit Ratings) on the aggregate commitments under the 2018 facility. At December 31, 2021, the interest rate in effect on borrowings under the facility was 1.78%. At December 31, 2021, the Company was in compliance with all covenants related to the RCF.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Environmental, Health and Safety Matters
Murphy faces various environmental, health and safety risks that are inherent in exploring for, developing and producing hydrocarbons. To help manage these risks, the Company has established a robust health, safety and environmental governance program comprised of a worldwide policy, guiding principles, annual goals and a management system incorporating oversight at each business unit, senior leadership and board levels. The Company strives to minimize these risks by continually improving its processes through design, operation and implementation of a comprehensive asset integrity plan, and through emergency and oil spill response planning to address any credible risks. These plans are presented to, reviewed and approved by a Health, Safety, Environmental and Corporate Responsibility Committee consisting of certain members of Murphy’s Board of Directors.
The oil and natural gas industry is subject to numerous international, foreign, national, state, provincial and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. Murphy allocates a portion of both its capital expenditures and its general and administrative budget toward compliance with existing and anticipated environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. These requirements affect virtually all operations of the Company and increase Murphy’s overall cost of business, including its capital costs to construct, maintain and upgrade equipment and facilities as well as operating costs for ongoing compliance.
The principal environmental, health and safety laws and regulations to which Murphy is subject address such matters as the generation, storage, handling, use, disposal and remediation of petroleum products, wastewater and hazardous materials; the emission and discharge of such materials to the environment, including GHG emissions; wildlife, habitat and water protection; the placement, operation and decommissioning of production equipment; and the health and safety of our employees, contractors and communities where our operations are located. These laws and regulations also generally require permits for existing operations, as well as the construction or development of new operations and the decommissioning facilities once production has ceased. Violations can give rise to sanctions including significant civil and criminal penalties, injunctions, construction bans and delays.
Further information on environmental, health and safety laws and regulations applicable to Murphy are contained in the Business section beginning page 11.
Climate Change and Emissions
The world’s population and standard of living is growing steadily along with the demand for energy. Murphy recognizes that this may generate increasing amounts of greenhouse gases, which raise important climate change concerns. Murphy works to assess the Company’s governance, strategy, risk identification, and management and measurement of climate risks and opportunities in order to remain in alignment with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) core elements. The TCFD was created by the Financial Stability Board to focus on climate-related financial disclosures to improve and increase reporting of climate-related financial information. Murphy’s disclosures related to its alignment with the TCFD are included in the Company’s 2021 Sustainability Report issued on August 5, 2021, which is not incorporated by reference hereto.
During 2021 the Company made significant strides in our sustainability efforts, including:
•Setting a goal to achieve zero routine flaring by 2030;
•Obtaining third-party assurance of our 2020 Scope 1 and 2 gross-operated GHG emissions;
•Decreasing our 2020 Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions intensity by 10% from our 2019 baseline;
•Publishing our estimated Scope 3, Category 11 - Use of Sold Products GHG emissions;
•Updating our 2008 established climate change position;
•Adding an annual GHG emissions intensity goal as a performance metric, to the already established safety and spills metrics, in our Company’s renumeration policy; and
•Including processes to stress-test our GHG emissions under various portfolio scenarios.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Environmental, Health and Safety Matters (Contd.)
During 2020, the Company:
•Established a goal of reducing our GHG emissions intensity 15% to 20% by 2030 from our 2019 levels, excluding divested assets from the 2019 baseline, for an aggregate of 35% to 40% reduction from our reported 2019 levels;
•Expanded our GHG, air quality, climate risk management and biodiversity management public disclosures;
•Expanded the purview of our Health, Safety, Environmental and Corporate Responsibility Committee to include sustainability issues; and
•Created a Director of Sustainability role
Other Matters
Impact of inflation – In 2021, data indicates a sharp rise in inflation globally in most countries where the Company operates (this follows a sustained period of relatively low inflation prior to 2021). In the U.S. (and other parts of the globe), inflation has been triggered by constrained supplies and increasing demand of certain goods and services as recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic begins. The Company’s revenues, capital and operating costs are influenced to a larger extent by specific price changes in the oil and natural gas industry and allied industries rather than by changes in general inflation. Crude oil prices generally reflect the balance between supply and demand, with crude oil prices being particularly sensitive to OPEC+ production levels and/or attitudes of traders concerning supply and demand in the future. Prices for oil field goods and services are usually affected by the worldwide prices for crude oil.
As a result of increasing commodity prices for oil and natural gas, in 2021 and at the start of 2022, higher costs for goods and services in the oil and gas natural gas industry are being observed. Murphy has a dedicated procurement department focused on managing supply chain and input costs. Murphy also has certain transportation, processing and production handling services costs fixed through long-term contracts and commitments and therefore is partly protected from increasing price of services. However, from time to time, Murphy will seek to enter new commitments, exercise options to extend contracts and retender contracts for rigs and other industry services which could expose Murphy to the impact of higher prices. Murphy continues to strive toward safely executing our work in an ever increasing efficient manner to mitigate possible inflationary pressures in our business.
In 2020, some downward service cost relief was observed during a year of depressed commodity prices.
Natural gas prices are also affected by supply and demand, which are often affected by the weather and by the fact that delivery of natural gas can be restricted to specific geographic areas. Natural gas demand is also impacted by demand driven by lower carbon emission and a view that natural gas is one option to transition from higher carbon emitting fuels.
As a result of the overall volatility of oil and natural gas prices, it is not possible to predict the Company’s future cost of oil field goods and services.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Critical Accounting Estimates – In preparing the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, management must make a number of estimates and assumptions related to the reporting of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Application of certain of the Company’s accounting policies requires significant estimates. The most significant of these accounting policies and estimates are described below.
Oil and natural gas proved reserves – Oil and natural gas proved reserves are defined by the SEC as those quantities of oil and natural 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 before the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire (unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain). Proved developed reserves of oil and natural gas can be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods or in which the cost of the required equipment is relatively minor compared with the cost of a new well, or through installed extraction equipment and infrastructure operational at the time of the reserves estimate if the extraction is by means not involving a well.
Although the Company’s engineers are knowledgeable of and follow the guidelines for reserves as established by the SEC, the estimation of reserves requires the engineers to make a significant number of assumptions based on professional judgment. SEC rules require the Company to use an unweighted average of the oil and natural gas prices in effect at the beginning of each month of the year for determining quantities of proved reserves. These historical prices often do not approximate the average price that the Company expects to receive for its oil and natural gas production in the future. The Company often uses significantly different oil and natural gas price and reserve assumptions when making its own internal economic property evaluations. Changes in oil and natural gas prices can lead to a decision to start-up or shut-in production, which can lead to revisions to reserves quantities.
Estimated reserves are subject to future revision, certain of which could be substantial, based on the availability of additional information, including reservoir performance, new geological and geophysical data, additional drilling, technological advancements, price changes and other economic factors. Reserves revisions inherently lead to adjustments of the Company’s depreciation rates and the timing of settlement of asset retirement obligations. Downward reserves revisions can also lead to significant impairment expense. The Company cannot predict the type of oil and natural gas reserves revisions that will be required in future periods.
The Company’s proved reserves of crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas are presented on pages 110 to 119 of this Form 10-K report. Murphy’s estimations for proved reserves were generated through the integration of available geoscience, engineering, and economic data, and commercially available technologies, to establish ‘reasonable certainty’ of economic producibility. As defined by the SEC, reasonable certainty of proved reserves describes a high degree of confidence that the quantities will be recovered. In estimating proved reserves, Murphy uses familiar industry-accepted methods for subsurface evaluations, including performance, volumetric, and analog-based studies.
Where appropriate, Murphy includes reliable geologic and engineering technology to estimate proved reserves. Reliable geologic and engineering technology is a method or combination of methods that are field-tested and have demonstrated to provide reasonably certain results with consistency and repeatability in the formation being evaluated or in an analogous formation. This integrated approach increases the quality of and confidence in Murphy’s proved reserves estimates. It was utilized in certain undrilled acreage at distances greater than the directly offsetting development spacing areas, and in certain reservoirs developed with the application of improved recovery techniques. Murphy utilized a combination of 3D seismic interpretation, core analysis, wellbore log measurements, well test data, historic production and pressure data, and commercially available seismic processing and numerical reservoir simulation programs. Reservoir parameters from analogous reservoirs were used to strengthen the reserves estimates when available.
See further discussion of proved reserves and changes in proved reserves during the three years ended December 31, 2021 beginning on pages 4 and 110 of this Form 10-K report.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Critical Accounting Estimates (Contd.)
Property, Plant & Equipment - impairment of long-lived assets – The Company continually monitors its long-lived assets recorded in Property, plant and equipment (PPE) in the Consolidated Balance Sheet to make sure that they are fairly presented. The Company must evaluate its PPE for potential impairment when circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable from future cash flows.
A significant amount of judgment is involved in performing these evaluations since the results are based on estimated future events. Such events include a projection of future oil and natural gas sales prices, an estimate of the amount of oil and natural gas that will be produced from a field, the timing of this future production, future costs to produce the oil and natural gas, future capital, operating and abandonment costs, and future inflation levels.
The need to test a long-lived asset for impairment can be based on several factors, including, but not limited to, a significant reduction in sales prices for oil and/or natural gas, unfavorable revisions of oil or natural gas reserves, or other changes to contracts, environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, tax laws or other regulatory changes. All of these factors must be considered when evaluating a property’s carrying value for possible impairment.
Due to the volatility of world oil and natural gas markets, the actual sales prices for oil and natural gas have often been different from the Company’s projections.
Estimates of future oil and natural gas production and sales volumes are based on a combination of proved and risked probable and possible reserves. Although the estimation of reserves and future production is uncertain, the Company believes that its estimates are reasonable; however, there have been cases where actual production volumes were higher or lower than projected and the timing was different than the original projection. The Company adjusts reserves and production estimates as new information becomes available.
The Company generally projects future costs by using historical costs adjusted for both assumed long-term inflation rates and known or expected changes in future operations. Although the projected future costs are considered to be reasonable, at times, costs have been higher or lower than originally estimated.
In 2021 and 2020, the Company recognized pretax noncash impairment charges of $196.3 million and $1,206.3 million, respectively, to reduce the carrying values at select properties. In 2021, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $171.3 million for Terra Nova due to the status, including agreements with the partners, of operating and production plans and $25.0 million for assets reported as Assets held for sale in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
In 2020, declines in future oil and natural gas prices (principally driven by reduced commodity demand in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and increased supply in the first quarter of 2020 from foreign oil producers) led to impairments in certain of the Company’s U.S. Offshore and Other Foreign properties and assets.
See also Note D – Property, Plant and Equipment for further discussion of impairment charges.
Income taxes – The Company is subject to income and other similar taxes in all areas in which it operates. When recording income tax expense, certain estimates are required because: (a) income tax returns are generally filed months after the close of its annual accounting period; (b) tax returns are subject to audit by taxing authorities and audits can often take years to complete and settle; (c) future events often impact the timing of when income tax expenses and benefits are recognized by the Company; and (d) changes to regulations may be subject to different interpretations and require future clarification from issuing authorities or others.
The Company has deferred tax assets mostly relating to U.S net operating losses, liabilities for dismantlement, retirement benefit plan obligations and net deferred tax liabilities relating to tax and accounting basis differences for property, plant & equipment.
The Company routinely evaluates all deferred tax assets to determine the likelihood of their realization and reduce such assets to the expected realizable amount by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In assessing the need for valuation allowances, we consider all available positive and negative evidence. Positive evidence includes projected future taxable income and assessment of future business assumptions, a history of utilizing tax assets before expiration, significant proven and probable reserves and reversals of taxable temporary differences. Negative evidence includes losses in recent years.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Critical Accounting Estimates (Contd.)
As of December 31, 2021 the Company had a U.S. deferred tax asset associated with net operating losses of $577.5 million. In reviewing the likeliness of realizing this asset the Company considered the reversal of taxable temporary differences, carryforward periods, and future taxable income estimates based on projected financial information which, based on currently available evidence, we believe to be reasonably likely to occur. Certain estimates and assumptions are used in the estimation of future taxable income, including (but not limited to) (a) future commodity prices for crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas, (b) estimated reserves for crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas, (c) expected timing of production, (d) estimated lease operating costs, and (e) future capital requirements. In the future, the underlying actual assumptions utilized in estimating future taxable income could be different and result in different conclusions about the likelihood of the future utilization of our net operating loss carryforwards.
Accounting for retirement and postretirement benefit plans – Murphy and certain of its subsidiaries maintain defined benefit retirement plans covering certain full-time employees. The Company also sponsors health care and life insurance benefit plans covering most retired U.S. employees. The expense associated with these plans is estimated by management based on a number of assumptions and with consultation assistance from qualified third-party actuaries. The most important of these assumptions for the retirement plans involve the discount rate used to measure future plan obligations and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. For the retiree medical and insurance plans, the most important assumptions are the discount rate for future plan obligations and the health care cost trend rate. Discount rates are based on the universe of high-quality corporate bonds that are available within each country. Cash flow analyses are performed in which a spot yield curve is used to discount projected benefit payment streams for the most significant plans. The discounted cash flows are used to determine an equivalent single rate which is the basis for selecting the discount rate within each country. Expected plan asset returns are based on long-term expectations for asset portfolios with similar investment mix characteristics. Anticipated health care cost trend rates are determined based on prior experience of the Company and an assessment of near-term and long-term trends for medical and drug costs.
Based on bond yields as of December 31, 2021, the Company has used a weighted average discount rate of 2.83% at year-end 2021 for the primary U.S. plans. This weighted average discount rate is 0.4% higher than prior year, which decreased the Company’s recorded liabilities for retirement plans compared to a year ago. The Company presently assumes a return on plan assets of 5.25% for the primary U.S. plan, it periodically reconsiders the appropriateness of this and other key assumptions. The Company’s retirement and postretirement plan (health care and life insurance benefit plans) expenses in 2022 are expected to be $9.9 million lower than 2021 primarily due to the increase in expected return assumptions for the US pension plan from 5.25% in 2021 to 6.60% in 2022, coupled with the impact of 2021 pension plan gain on reducing the amount of accumulated loss to be amortized as expense. Cash contributions to all plans are anticipated to be $5.5 million higher in 2022.
In 2021, the Company paid $36.5 million into various retirement plans and $1.1 million into postretirement plans. In 2022, the Company is expecting to fund payments of approximately $38.2 million into various retirement plans and $4.9 million for postretirement plans. The Company could be required to make additional and more significant funding payments to retirement plans in future years. Future required payments and the amount of liabilities recorded on the balance sheet associated with the plans could be unfavorably affected if the discount rate declines, the actual return on plan assets falls below the assumed return, or the health care cost trend rate increase is higher than expected.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note B – New Accounting Principles and Recent Accounting Pronouncements our Consolidated Financial Statements regarding the impact or potential impact of recent accounting pronouncements upon our financial position and results of operations.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Contractual obligations and guarantees – The Company is obligated to make future cash payments under borrowing arrangements, operating leases, purchase obligations primarily associated with existing capital expenditure plans, and other long-term liabilities. Total payments due after 2021 under such contractual obligations and arrangements are shown in the table below. Amounts are undiscounted and therefore may differ to those presented in the financial statements.
| (Millions of dollars) | Amount of Obligations | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 2022 | 2023 - 2024 | 2025 - 2026 | After 2026 | ||||||||||
| Debt, excluding interest | $ | 2,483.3 | — | 242.4 | 548.7 | 1,692.2 | ||||||||
| Operating leases and other leases ¹ | 1,258.5 | 185.9 | 272.5 | 148.9 | 651.2 | |||||||||
| Capital expenditures, drilling rigs and other ² | 1,572.9 | 704.2 | 340.1 | 172.2 | 356.4 | |||||||||
| Other long-term liabilities, including debt interest ³ | 2,747.2 | 195.7 | 353.8 | 456.0 | 1,741.7 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 8,061.9 | 1,085.8 | 1,208.8 | 1,325.8 | 4,441.5 |
1 Other leases refers to a finance lease in Brunei (see Note U – Leases to the financial statements).
2 Capital expenditures, drilling rigs and other includes $175.9 million, $84.7 million, $24.9 million, and $18.1 million in 2022 for approved capital projects in non-operated interests in U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Canada Offshore, Other Foreign Offshore, and U.S. Onshore, respectively.
Also includes $72.0 million (2022), $129.5 million (2023 - 2024), $98.2 million (2025 - 2026) and $227.7 million (After 2026) for pipeline transportation commitments in Canada.
Also includes $4.5 million (2022), $10.7 million (2023 - 2024), $10.3 million (2025 - 2026) and $32.3 million (After 2026) for long term take or pay commitments relating to gas processing in Canada.
3 Other long-term liabilities, including debt interest includes future cash outflows for asset retirement obligations.
The Company has entered into agreements to lease production facilities for various producing oil fields as well as other arrangements that call for future payments as described in the following section. The Company’s share of the contractual obligations under these leases and other arrangements has been included in the table above.
In the normal course of its business, the Company is required under certain contracts with various governmental authorities and others to provide letters of credit that may be drawn upon if the Company fails to perform under those contracts. Total outstanding letters of credit were $223.5 million as of December 31, 2021.
Material off-balance sheet arrangements – Certain U.S. transportation contracts require minimum monthly payments through 2045, while Western Canada processing contracts call for minimum monthly payments through 2051. Future required minimum annual payments under these arrangements are included in the contractual obligation table above.
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Outlook
Prices for the Company’s primary products are often volatile. The price of crude oil is primarily affected by the levels of supply and demand for energy. Anticipated future variances between the predicted demand for crude oil and the projected available supply can lead to significant movement in the price of crude oil. As of close on February 24, 2022, the NYMEX WTI forward curve price for the remainder of 2022 and 2023 were $86.31 and $77.72 per barrel, respectively; however we cannot predict what impact economic factors (including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and OPEC+ decisions) may have on future commodity pricing. Lower prices, should they occur, will result in lower profits and operating cash-flows.
The Company’s capital expenditure spend for 2022 is expected to be between $840.0 million and $890.0 million, excluding the amount attributable to noncontrolling interest. Capital and other expenditures are routinely reviewed and planned capital expenditures may be adjusted to reflect differences between budgeted and forecast cash flow during the year. Capital expenditures may also be affected by asset purchases or sales, which often are not anticipated at the time a budget is prepared. The Company will primarily fund its capital program in 2022 using operating cash flow and available cash. If oil and/or natural gas prices weaken, actual cash flow generated from operations could be reduced such that capital spending reductions are required and/or borrowings under available credit facilities might be required during the year to maintain funding of the Company’s ongoing development projects.
The Company currently expects average daily production in 2022 to be between 172,600 and 180,600 barrels of oil equivalent per day (including noncontrolling interest of 8,600 BOEPD). If significant price declines occur, the Company will review the option of production curtailments to avoid incurring losses on certain produced barrels.
The Company plans to utilize surplus cash (not planned to be used by operations, investing activities, or payment to noncontrolling interests) to repay outstanding debt and return to shareholders through dividends.
The Company continues to monitor the impact of commodity prices on its financial position and is currently in compliance with the covenants related to the revolving credit facility (see Note G – Financing Arrangements and Debt). The Company continues to monitor the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and is encouraged by the increase in oil and natural gas demand through 2021 and into 2022.
The Company has entered into derivative or forward fixed-price delivery contracts to manage risk associated with certain future oil and natural gas sales prices as follows:
| Volumes (MMcf/d) | Price/Mcf | Remaining Period | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Commodity | Type | Start Date | End Date | |||||||||
| Montney | Natural Gas | Fixed price forward sales | 186 | C$2.36 | 1/1/2022 | 1/31/2022 | |||||||
| Montney | Natural Gas | Fixed price forward sales | 176 | C$2.34 | 2/1/2022 | 4/30/2022 | |||||||
| Montney | Natural Gas | Fixed price forward sales | 205 | C$2.34 | 5/1/2022 | 5/31/2022 | |||||||
| Montney | Natural Gas | Fixed price forward sales | 247 | C$2.34 | 6/1/2022 | 10/31/2022 | |||||||
| Montney | Natural Gas | Fixed price forward sales | 266 | C$2.36 | 11/1/2022 | 12/31/2022 | |||||||
| Montney | Natural Gas | Fixed price forward sales | 269 | C$2.36 | 1/1/2023 | 3/31/2023 | |||||||
| Montney | Natural Gas | Fixed price forward sales | 250 | C$2.35 | 4/1/2023 | 12/31/2023 | |||||||
| Montney | Natural Gas | Fixed price forward sales | 162 | C$2.39 | 1/1/2024 | 12/31/2024 | |||||||
| Montney | Natural Gas | Fixed price forward sales | 45 | US$2.05 | 1/1/2022 | 12/31/2022 | |||||||
| Montney | Natural Gas | Fixed price forward sales | 25 | US$1.98 | 1/1/2023 | 10/31/2024 | |||||||
| Montney | Natural Gas | Fixed price forward sales | 15 | US$1.98 | 11/1/2024 | 12/31/2024 |
| Commodity | Type | Volumes (Bbl/d) | Price (USD/Bbl) | Remaining Period | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Start Date | End Date | ||||||||||||
| United States | WTI ¹ | Fixed price derivative swap | 20,000 | $44.88 | 1/1/2022 | 12/31/2022 |
| Volumes (Bbl/d) | Average Put (USD/Bbl) | Average Call (USD/Bbl) | Remaining Period | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Commodity | Type | Start Date | End Date | |||||||||||||
| United States | WTI ¹ | Derivative collars | 25,000 | $63.24 | $75.20 | 1/1/2022 | 12/31/2022 |
1 West Texas Intermediate
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Continued
Forward-Looking Statements
This Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements, which express management’s current views concerning future events or results, are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are generally identified through the inclusion of words such as “aim”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “drive”, “estimate”, “expect”, “expressed confidence”, “forecast”, “future”, “goal”, “guidance”, “intend”, “may”, “objective”, “outlook”, “plan”, “position”, “potential”, “project”, “seek”, “should”, “strategy”, “target”, “will” or variations of such words and other similar expressions. These statements, which express management’s current views concerning future events or results, are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause one or more of these future events or results not to occur as implied by any forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to: macro conditions in the oil and gas industry, including supply/demand levels, actions taken by major oil exporters and the resulting impacts on commodity prices; increased volatility or deterioration in the success rate of our exploration programs or in our ability to maintain production rates and replace reserves; reduced customer demand for our products due to environmental, regulatory, technological or other reasons; adverse foreign exchange movements; political and regulatory instability in the markets where we do business; the impact on our operations or market of health pandemics such as COVID-19 and related government responses; other natural hazards impacting our operations or markets; any other deterioration in our business, markets or prospects; any failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals; any inability to service or refinance our outstanding debt or to access debt markets at acceptable prices; or adverse developments in the U.S. or global capital markets, credit markets or economies in general. For further discussion of factors that could cause one or more of these future events or results not to occur as implied by any forward-looking statement, see Item 1A. Risk Factors, which begins on page 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Murphy undertakes no duty to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.