EOG's capital plan is custom-designed each year to increase returns and capital efficiencies. In 2019, EOG is allocating more capital to opportunistic, high quality new drilling potential and somewhat less capital to drilling in established areas. The company's disciplined growth strategy emphasizes generating free cash flow while lowering well costs and per-unit operating expenses and driving improvement in well productivity. Retaining high-quality equipment and crews during the fourth quarter of 2018 positioned the company to further improve efficiencies and returns in 2019. 

EOG expects to grow U.S. crude oil production by 12 to 16 percent, fund capital investment and pay the dividend with net cash from operating activities in 2019 at $50 oil. Exploration and development expenditures for 2019 are expected to range from $6.1 to $6.5 billion, including facilities and gathering, processing and other expenditures, excluding acquisitions and non-cash exchanges.

EOG expects to complete approximately 740 net wells in 2019 compared to 763 net wells in 2018. Activity will remain focused in EOG's highest rate-of-return oil assets in the Delaware Basin, Eagle Ford, Rockies, Woodford and Bakken. The company's investment in new potential areas in the United States includes spending for leasing and related infrastructure to drill wells in a number of new prospects in 2019. 

"EOG's disciplined 2019 capital plan delivers improved capital efficiency and strong high-return growth while making investments in new organic high-quality drilling potential to improve the future performance of the company," Thomas said. "Our focus on innovation and operational execution, as well as our investment in new drilling potential, will continue to increase the quality of EOG's premium portfolio. EOG is poised to further improve its position as one of the lowest cost oil producers in the global market, able to create shareholder value through commodity price cycles."

Operating Highlights

EOG completed 262 net wells in the Delaware Basin and increased crude oil production 47% to 126,800 Bopd in 2018. The company made significant progress during 2018 in improving well productivity and reducing well costs. EOG refined spacing and development patterns, reduced drilling days and applied new completion technology designed to lower costs and improve well productivity. 

EOG continues to drive growth and operating efficiencies in its premier South Texas Eagle Ford asset. In 2018, the company grew crude oil production 9% to 171,000 Bopd. Of the 304 net wells completed in 2018, EOG drilled a total of 65 wells with lateral lengths greater than 10,000 feet. These wells included the Slytherin C#3H, which, at 13,500 feet, was a company record in the Eagle Ford. 

EOG's Powder River Basin and Wyoming DJ Basin activity both contributed to the company's 2018 crude oil production growth. In the Powder River Basin, the company brought eight wells on line during the fourth quarter targeting the Turner, Mowry and Parkman formations. The company plans to add infrastructure and further delineate the field and test additional targets in 2019 to be positioned to execute a more robust development program in the Niobrara and Mowry in 2020 and beyond. In the Wyoming DJ Basin, EOG generated further cost reductions during 2018 through efficiency improvements in drilling, completion and production operations. The company brought 20 wells to sales in the fourth quarter, all targeting the Codell formation. EOG expects further crude oil production growth from its high rate of return drilling in the DJ Basin in 2019.

EOG continued development of its premium play in the Eastern Anadarko Basin Woodford Oil Window, where it brought five wells on line in the fourth quarter. The company made significant progress in reducing well costs during 2018, and, as a result, has lowered its 2019 well cost target to $7.6 million.

In the Williston Basin, EOG realized significant operational improvements in 2018. The company drilled 20 net wells with an average treated lateral length of 9,500 feet per well. Efficient drilling performance delivered, on average, an additional 1,000 feet of lateral length per well in 2018 for the same cost as 2017. EOG's Austin 45-1113H well set a company record in the basin with a spud-to-total depth time of 8.4 days. 

Reserves

At year-end 2018, total company net proved reserves were 2,928 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBoe), an increase of 16 percent compared to year-end 2017. Net proved reserve additions from all sources, excluding revisions due to price, replaced 238 percent of EOG's 2018 production at a finding and development cost of $9.33 per barrel of oil equivalent. Revisions due to price increased net proved reserves by 35 MMBoe and asset divestitures decreased net proved reserves by 11 MMBoe.

For the 31st consecutive year, internal reserves estimates were within five percent of estimates independently prepared by DeGolyer and MacNaughton.

Production

In the fourth quarter 2018, EOG exceeded the high end of its target range for U.S. crude oil volumes by producing 430,300 Bopd, an increase of 17 percent compared to the same prior year period.

KeyFacts Energy US Onshore country page