Murphy Oil has announced its financial and operating results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2020, including a net loss attributable to Murphy of $172 million, or $1.11 net loss per diluted share. Adjusted net loss, which excludes discontinued operations and other one-off items, was $14 million, or $0.09 net loss per diluted share.

• Highlights for the fourth quarter:
• Sanctioned low cost, capital efficient Tupper Montney development
• Produced 149 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day, in line with guidance
• Generated adjusted EBITDAX of $271 million, or $19.77 per barrel of oil equivalent sold
• Continued on-time and on-budget execution of major Gulf of Mexico projects

Highlights for full year 2020:

• Preserved liquidity of $1.7 billion, including $311 million of cash at year-end
• Maintained capital discipline with full year accrued capital expenditures of $712 million, excluding King’s Quay floating production system
• Decreased full year G&A costs by 40 percent from 2019, establishing a baseline for a continued lower cost structure
• Established a greenhouse gas emissions intensity reduction goal of 15 to 20 percent by 2030 from 2019 levels, excluding Malaysia
• Instituted COVID-19 protocols, resulting in an offshore infection rate at half the industry average while maintaining all project timelines
• Maintained a reserve life index of more than 11 years with 57 percent proved developed reserves

During and subsequent to the fourth quarter:

• Entered into additional crude oil hedges for 2021 and 2022, bringing the total contracted position to 45 thousand barrels of oil per day and 20 thousand barrels of oil per day, respectively
• Committed to fixed price forward sales contracts related to the Tupper Montney asset for calendar years 2021 through 2024

“We quickly responded to the major pullback in commodity prices by drastically reducing our capital budget and cost structure while adjusting our operational plans, and continued supporting capital allocation to our major offshore projects. Our efforts resulted in strong liquidity, cash on hand and paying a dividend to our shareholders,” stated Roger W. Jenkins, President and Chief Executive Officer.

FOURTH QUARTER 2020 RESULTS

The company recorded a net loss, attributable to Murphy, of $172 million, or $1.11 net loss per diluted share, for the fourth quarter 2020. Adjusted net loss, which excludes both the results of discontinued operations and certain other items that affect comparability of results between periods, was $14 million, or $0.09 net loss per diluted share for the same period. The adjusted net loss from continuing operations excludes the following primary after-tax items: $137 million mark-to-market loss on crude oil derivative contracts and $12 million mark-to-market loss on contingent consideration. Details for fourth quarter results can be found in the attached schedules.

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) from continuing operations attributable to Murphy was $246 million, or $17.96 per barrel of oil equivalent (BOE) sold. Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortization and exploration expenses (EBITDAX) from continuing operations attributable to Murphy was $271 million, or $19.77 per BOE sold. Details for fourth quarter EBITDA and EBITDAX reconciliations can be found in the attached schedules.

Fourth quarter production averaged 149 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (MBOEPD) with 55 percent oil and 62 percent liquids. Production was impacted by two subsea equipment issues in the Gulf of Mexico late in the quarter, totaling approximately 3,700 BOEPD of unplanned downtime. The subsea repairs are ongoing, with a return to full production expected during the first quarter 2021. Our onshore assets were able to offset the impact of the subsea matters due to strong well performance.

FULL YEAR 2020 RESULTS

The company recorded a net loss, attributable to Murphy, of $1.1 billion, or $7.48 net loss per diluted share, for the full year 2020. The company reported an adjusted loss, which excludes both the results of discontinued operations and certain other items that affect comparability of results between periods, of $193 million, or $1.25 net loss per diluted share. This includes after tax impairments of $854 million. Details for full year 2020 results can be found in the attached schedules.

Production for the full year averaged 164 MBOEPD and consisted of 57 percent oil and 64 percent liquids volumes.

FINANCIAL POSITION

The company had $2.8 billion of outstanding long-term, fixed-rate notes at the end of fourth quarter 2020. The fixed-rate notes had a weighted average maturity of 6.8 years and a weighted average coupon of 5.9 percent. Murphy also had $200 million drawn on the $1.6 billion senior unsecured credit facility at year-end 2020.

As of December 31, 2020, Murphy had approximately $1.7 billion of liquidity, comprised of $1.4 billion available under the $1.6 billion senior unsecured credit facility and approximately $311 million of cash and cash equivalents.

YEAR-END 2020 PROVED RESERVES

Murphy’s preliminary year-end 2020 proved reserves were 697 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBOE), consisting of 36 percent oil and 41 percent liquids. Total proved reserves were 13 percent lower than at year-end 2019 in part due to a nearly 30 percent reduction in crude oil prices. Additionally, Murphy’s focus on free cash flow generation, resulting in a lower capital allocation and flatter oil shale production over the five-year plan, has led to approximately 149 MMBOE net of Eagle Ford Shale and Kaybob Duvernay proved undeveloped reserves being reclassified as probable reserves.

These proved reserve reductions were partially offset by improved well performance in the Gulf of Mexico totaling 13 MMBOE net, as well as sanctioning the Tupper Montney development, which added more than 750 billion cubic feet equivalent (BCFE), or 126 MMBOE, of proved reserves with low subsurface risk.

The company maintained a reserve life index in excess of 11 years with 57 percent proved developed reserves.

REGIONAL OPERATIONS SUMMARY

North American Onshore

• The North American onshore business produced approximately 82 MBOEPD in the fourth quarter.
• Eagle Ford Shale – During the quarter, production averaged 31 MBOEPD with 71 percent oil volumes.
• Tupper Montney – Natural gas production averaged 234 million cubic feet per day (MMCFPD) for the quarter.
• Kaybob Duvernay – Fourth quarter production averaged 10 MBOEPD.

Global Offshore

The offshore business produced 67 MBOEPD for the fourth quarter, comprised of 79 percent oil. This excludes production from discontinued operations and noncontrolling interest. Gulf of Mexico production in the quarter averaged 63 MBOEPD, consisting of 78 percent oil. Canada offshore production averaged 4 MBOEPD, comprised of 100 percent oil.

Gulf of Mexico – The company progressed the Calliope project subsea work during the quarter and remains on schedule for second quarter 2021 production. The Khaleesi, Mormont and Samurai project advanced ahead of the 2021 drilling campaign, with first oil remaining on target for mid-2022. Construction of the King’s Quay floating production system continued and is approximately 90 percent complete, having reached a significant milestone of mating the hull and topsides.

Murphy, along with its operating partner, drilled a producer well and injector well for the St. Malo waterflood during the quarter. The company also worked with a separate operating partner to spud the Lucius #9 and Lucius #3 wells in Keathley Canyon. Completions work was initiated on the non-operated Kodiak #3 well, which is scheduled to come online in first quarter 2021.

EXPLORATION

Gulf of Mexico – The non-operated Highgarden well (Green Canyon 895) reached total depth in the fourth quarter and has been classified as a dry hole. The 20 percent working interest resulted in a final cost of $12.8 million net to Murphy.

Also in the fourth quarter, Murphy successfully bid on eight blocks in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico lease sale with a net cost of $5.3 million for 100 percent working interest. These blocks include five prospects and provide standalone and near-field opportunities with an average gross resource potential of more than 90 MMBOE. Subsequent to quarter end, these blocks were awarded to Murphy by the Bureau of Energy Management.

Murphy has farmed into an attractive play-opening trend with Chevron as operator, and the first well is planned for the Silverback prospect (Mississippi Canyon 35). The acreage is located adjacent to a large position held by Murphy and its partners.

KeyFacts Energy: Murphy Oil US country profile