Murphy Oil Corporation today announced its financial and operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024, including net income attributable to Murphy of $128 million, or $0.83 net income per diluted share. Excluding discontinued operations and other items affecting comparability between periods, adjusted net income attributable to Murphy was $124 million, or $0.81 adjusted net income per diluted share.

Unless otherwise noted, the financial and operating highlights and metrics discussed in this commentary exclude noncontrolling interest (NCI).(1)

Highlights for the second quarter include:

• Produced 181 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (MBOEPD), with 91 thousand barrels of oil per day (MBOPD)
• Achieved record high peak gross production rate of 496 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) in Tupper Montney
• Drilled a discovery at the non-operated Ocotillo #1 exploration well in Mississippi Canyon 40 in the Gulf of Mexico
• Repurchased $56 million of stock, or 1.4 million shares, at an average price of $41.03 per share
• Repurchased $50 million of senior notes due 2027 and 2028 in open market transactions
• Maintained quarterly dividend of $0.30 per share or $1.20 per share annualized

Subsequent to the second quarter:

• Revised capital allocation framework, progressing to Murphy 3.0, which increases shareholder returns while maintaining $1.0 billion total long-term debt goal
• Repurchased $44 million of stock, or 1.1 million shares, at an average price of $38.62 per share
• Increased share repurchase authorization by $500 million, with $800 million currently remaining
• Published the company’s sixth annual sustainability report

“We have made incredible progress advancing our priorities of Delever, Execute, Explore, Return since they were first announced more than three years ago. From outperformance across our onshore assets to continued execution offshore in the second quarter, we have generated ample cash flow to fund our operations and repurchase more than $50 million of stock and $50 million of long-term debt. I am pleased with our recent exploration success at the non-operated Ocotillo well in the Gulf of Mexico, and I look forward to drilling our two exploration wells in Vietnam beginning in the third quarter,” said Roger W. Jenkins, Chief Executive Officer. “Further, I am excited to announce today that we are moving into Murphy 3.0 of our capital allocation framework so that we may increase our shareholder returns primarily through share repurchases, while remaining focused on achieving our $1.0 billion total long-term debt goal.”

SECOND QUARTER 2024 RESULTS

The company recorded net income attributable to Murphy of $128 million, or $0.83 net income per diluted share, for the second quarter 2024. Adjusted net income, which excludes both the results of discontinued operations and certain other items that affect comparability of results between periods, was $124 million, or $0.81 adjusted net income per diluted share for the same period. Details for second quarter results and an adjusted net income reconciliation can be found in the attached schedules.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) attributable to Murphy were $389 million. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortization and exploration expenses (EBITDAX) attributable to Murphy were $431 million. Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Murphy was $396 million. Adjusted EBITDAX attributable to Murphy was $438 million. Reconciliations for second quarter EBITDA, EBITDAX, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDAX can be found in the attached schedules.

Second quarter production averaged 181 MBOEPD and included 50 percent oil volumes, or 91 MBOPD. Onshore production was approximately 5.4 MBOEPD above guidance for the quarter primarily due to stronger well performance. This offset 2.4 MBOEPD of unplanned downtime in the Gulf of Mexico and 2.4 MBOEPD of additional downtime at non-operated Terra Nova.

Accrued capital expenditures (CAPEX) for second quarter 2024 totaled $292 million, excluding NCI. Details for second quarter production and CAPEX can be found in the attached schedules.

OPERATIONS SUMMARY

Onshore

In the second quarter of 2024, the onshore business produced approximately 99 MBOEPD, which included 28 percent liquids volumes.

Eagle Ford Shale – Production averaged 28 MBOEPD with 71 percent oil volumes and 86 percent liquids volumes in the second quarter, which exceeded guidance by 1,700 BOEPD primarily due to wells producing above expectation. Murphy brought online 11 operated wells in Catarina and four non-operated wells in Tilden during the quarter.

Tupper Montney – During the second quarter, natural gas production averaged 400 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD), which exceeded guidance by 20 MMCFD primarily due to improved well performance. As planned, Murphy brought online 13 wells during the quarter, completing its 2024 program. During the quarter, Murphy achieved a record high peak gross production rate of 496 MMCFD.

Kaybob Duvernay – Production averaged 4 MBOEPD with 72 percent liquids volumes in the second quarter. Murphy brought online three operated wells in the second quarter as planned.

Offshore

Excluding NCI, in the second quarter of 2024, the offshore business produced approximately 81 MBOEPD, which included 83 percent oil.

Gulf of Mexico – Production averaged approximately 74 MBOEPD, consisting of 82 percent oil during the second quarter. Murphy drilled the operated Mormont #3 (Green Canyon 478) well, and brought online the operated Khaleesi #4 (Green Canyon 389) well and non-operated Lucius #11 (Keathley Canyon 919) well as planned during the quarter. The company also progressed the operated Neidermeyer #1 (Mississippi Canyon 208) sidetrack well and the non-operated Kodiak #3 (Mississippi Canyon 727) well workover, and both wells were brought online in the third quarter.

Canada – In the second quarter, production averaged 8 MBOEPD, consisting of 100 percent oil.

Vietnam – Murphy advanced its Lac Da Vang field development project during the second quarter and awarded facilities and pipeline contracts. The remaining major contracts are expected to be awarded by year-end 2024. The project remains on schedule to achieve first oil in late 2026.

EXPLORATION

Gulf of Mexico – During the quarter, Murphy drilled a discovery at the non-operated Ocotillo #1 (Mississippi Canyon 40) exploration well and found 100 feet of net pay across two zones. Murphy holds a 33.33 percent working interest in the well.

Also during the quarter, Murphy concluded drilling the non-operated Orange #1 (Mississippi Canyon 216) exploration well. The well encountered non-commercial hydrocarbons and has been plugged and abandoned. Approximately $26 million of the net well cost before tax was expensed in the second quarter. Murphy holds a 50 percent working interest in the well.

2024 CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND PRODUCTION GUIDANCE

Murphy maintains its 2024 accrued CAPEX range of $920 million to $1.02 billion. The company also maintains its full year 2024 production range of 180 to 188 MBOEPD, consisting of approximately 95 MBOPD oil and 105 MBOEPD liquids volumes, equating to 52 percent oil and 57 percent liquids volumes, respectively. Currently the company expects to be at the lower end of the production range due to operational impacts in the Gulf of Mexico. The development plan of an operated well in the Samurai field was altered to a single zone to maximize total field recovery. Additionally, extended operations at the planned Neidermeyer #1 sidetrack well delayed the rig from commencing a well workover in the Dalmatian field.

Production for third quarter 2024 is estimated to be in the range of 181.5 to 189.5 MBOEPD with 91.5 MBOPD, or approximately 50 percent, oil volumes. This range is impacted by 9.4 MBOEPD of total downtime, comprised of 3.9 MBOEPD of assumed Gulf of Mexico storm downtime, 2.9 MBOEPD of planned onshore downtime and 2.6 MBOEPD of planned Gulf of Mexico downtime. Both production and CAPEX guidance ranges exclude NCI.

KeyFacts Energy: Murphy Oil US country profile