Hess Corporation of USA reported net income of $545 million for the first quarter of 2012 compared with $929 million for the first quarter of 2011.
The after-tax income (loss) by major operating activity was as follows:
Exploration and Production earnings were $635 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared with $979 million in the first quarter of 2011. The Corporation’s average worldwide crude oil selling price, including the effect of hedging, was $89.92 per barrel, up from $87.22 per barrel in the same quarter a year ago. The average worldwide natural gas selling price was $6.23 per mcf in the first quarter of 2012, up from $5.84 per mcf in the first quarter of 2011. First quarter oil and gas production was 397,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day compared with 399,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in the first quarter a year ago.
Marketing and Refining earnings were $11 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared with $39 million in the same period in 2011. Marketing earnings, reflecting the impact of a mild winter on energy marketing operations, were $22 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared with $68 million in the first quarter of 2011. Refining operations incurred a loss of $6 million in the first quarter of 2012, compared with a loss of $48 million in the first quarter a year ago. Trading results were a loss of $5 million in the first quarter of 2012, compared with income of $19 million in the first quarter of last year.
The following table reflects the total after-tax income (expense) of items affecting comparability of earnings between periods:
First quarter 2012 results included a gain of $36 million related to the sale of the Corporation’s interest in the Snohvit Field, offshore Norway.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $988 million in the first quarter of 2012, compared with $1,135 million in the same quarter of 2011. Capital and exploratory expenditures were $1,986 million, of which $1,963 million related to Exploration and Production operations. Capital and exploratory expenditures for the first quarter of 2011 were $1,186 million, of which $1,173 million related to Exploration and Production operations.
At March 31, 2012, cash and cash equivalents totaled $396 million compared with $351 million at December 31, 2011. Total debt was $6,978 million at March 31, 2012 and $6,057 million at December 31, 2011. The Corporation’s debt to capitalization ratio at March 31, 2012 was 26.7 percent compared with 24.6 percent at the end of 2011.
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LNG World News Staff, April 25, 2012; Image: Hess