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Apache's Third-Quarter Production Exceeds 600,000 boe Per Day
 

HOUSTON, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Apache Corporation (NYSE, Nasdaq: APA) today reported that for the first time average worldwide production surpassed 600,000 barrels of oil equivalent (boe) per day during the third quarter, increasing 3.4 percent from the second quarter and 19 percent from the prior-year period.

"Apache's regional growth drivers put the company on track for record production and solid financial results in 2009, and we will enter 2010 with strong momentum, including two development projects in Australia that should add 40,000 barrels of oil per day to worldwide output when they commence operations in the first half," said G. Steven Farris, chairman and chief executive officer.

The company produced 607,118 boe per day in the third quarter. Liquid hydrocarbons production averaged 297,997 barrels per day, up 2 percent from the second quarter. Gas production averaged 1.85 billion cubic feet per day, up 5 percent from the second quarter.

Apache reported net income of $441 million, or $1.30 per diluted common share, compared with $1.2 billion, or $3.52 per share, in the prior-year period. Third-quarter cash from operations before changes in operating assets and liabilities* totaled $1.3 billion, compared with $2.1 billion in the prior-year period.

Apache's third-quarter adjusted earnings,* which exclude certain items that impact the comparability of operating results, totaled $534 million, or $1.58 per share, compared to adjusted earnings of $1.1 billion, or $3.19 per share, in the prior-year period.

Apache had approximately $1.4 billion in cash at the end of the third quarter. Debt was 24.7 percent of total capitalization.

Third-quarter operational highlights included:

  • The Egypt Region achieved a new record for gross operated production of 290,452 boe per day, up 6 percent from the second quarter and 27 percent from the prior-year period, driven by increased gas output from two new processing trains at the Salam Gas Plant and increased oil production from the Faghur Basin in the Khalda Offset Concession. Net production was down slightly because higher oil prices and lower capital spending reduced cost-recovery barrels under the terms of production-sharing contracts.
  • In Australia, net gas production averaged a record 225 million cubic feet (MMcf) per day.
  • At the Forties Field in the North Sea, record net production of 71,472 boe per day during the month of July contributed to the second-best quarter since Apache took over operations in 2003. Third-quarter oil output increased 13 percent from the second quarter to 67,288 barrels of oil per day on strong drilling results and increased field efficiency.
  • The deepwater Geauxpher Field at Garden Banks Block 462 in the Gulf of Mexico produced 98 MMcf per day during the third quarter; Apache's net was 39 MMcf per day.

Projects that will drive Apache's growth in 2010 include:

  • In Australia, the Ningaloo Vision floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) is expected to arrive at the Van Gogh field in the Exmouth Basin in November, with first production expected in early 2010. Van Gogh is projected to add 20,000 barrels per day to Apache's annual net oil production. Pyrenees, a second oil project in the Exmouth Basin, is projected to begin ramping up to 20,000 barrels per day (net) during the first half.
  • Production at Apache's Ootla development in the Horn River Basin shale play in northeast British Columbia is projected to ramp up during the second quarter. Apache and its joint venture partner EnCana plan to have 27 horizontal wells (gross) on production by the end of the first half.
  • Apache is planning to drill more than 20 horizontal wells in the Granite Wash play in western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle during 2010. The Hostetter #1-23H, Apache's first operated horizontal Granite Wash well, is producing 17 MMcf of natural gas and 800 barrels of liquids per day.

Apache also took steps to build its pipeline of long-term growth projects.

  • Apache and Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Co. (KUFPEC) signed an exclusive agreement to supply gas from their Julimar and Brunello discoveries and become foundation equity partners in Chevron's Wheatstone liquefied natural gas (LNG) hub in Western Australia, unlocking an estimated 2.1 trillion cubic feet of gross gas reserves from two of Apache's largest discoveries. Apache holds a 65-percent interest in the discoveries.
  • In Argentina, Apache received government approvals of new contracts to supply 50 MMcf of gas per day from two fields in Argentina's Neuquen and Rio Negro provinces at a price of $5 per million British thermal units (MMBtu). The new contracts - the first approved by the secretary of energy under the government's Gas Plus program - are scheduled to commence in January 2011, although the customer - a power plant operator - has indicated it may begin taking gas in mid-2010. Apache has submitted five additional development projects for approval under Gas Plus.

"Apache's diverse asset base comprises a mix of near-term investments with a pipeline of impactive projects that provide a foundation for solid long-term growth," Farris said.

Apache Corporation is an oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the United States, Canada, Egypt, the United Kingdom North Sea, Australia and Argentina.

*Adjusted earnings and cash from operations before changes in operating assets and liabilities are non-GAAP measures. Please see reconciliations below. Supplemental and non-GAAP financial information is available at www.apachecorp.com/financialdata.

NOTE: Apache will conduct a conference call to discuss its third-quarter results at 1 p.m. Central time on Thursday, Oct. 29. The call will be webcast from Apache's Web site,http://www.apachecorp.com. The webcast replay and podcast will be archived on Apache's Web site. The conference call will be available for playback by telephone for one week beginning at approximately 3 p.m. on Oct. 29. To access the telephone playback, dial (719) 457-0820 and provide Apache's confirmation code, 9353473.

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including, without limitation, expectations, beliefs, plans and objectives regarding production and exploration activities. Any matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking and, accordingly, involve estimates, assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, on our Web site and in our other public filings and press releases. There is no assurance that Apache's expectations will be realized, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. We assume no duty to update these statements as of any future date.

                               APACHE CORPORATION
                             FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                     (In thousands, except per share data)

                                For the Quarter       For the Nine Months
                               Ended September 30,    Ended September 30,
                               -------------------    -------------------
                                 2009       2008        2009         2008
                                 ----       ----        ----         ----
    REVENUES AND OTHER:
      Oil and gas
       production revenues   $2,325,705 $3,368,882  $6,003,663  $10,450,949
      Other                       6,726     (3,998)     55,971        1,867
                                  -----     ------      ------        -----
                              2,332,431  3,364,884   6,059,634   10,452,816
                              ---------  ---------   ---------   ----------

    COSTS AND EXPENSES:
      Depreciation,
       depletion and
       amortization
          Recurring             625,898    600,887   1,779,874    1,849,044
          Additional                  -          -   2,818,161            -
      Asset retirement
       obligation accretion      26,053     24,970      79,274       77,146
      Lease operating
       expenses                 445,535    488,166   1,248,297    1,389,542
      Gathering and
       transportation            36,232     42,375     103,050      123,118
      Taxes other than
       income                   183,931    304,280     387,211      845,406
      General and
       administrative            82,492     57,561     258,443      218,856
      Financing costs, net       61,684     33,291     181,426      116,594
                                 ------     ------     -------      -------
                              1,461,825  1,551,530   6,855,736    4,619,706
                              ---------  ---------   ---------    ---------

    INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE
     INCOME TAXES               870,606  1,813,354    (796,102)   5,833,110
      Current income tax
       provision                262,430    305,735     483,171    1,495,641
      Deferred income tax
       provision (benefit)      166,160    316,794    (409,069)     679,902
                                -------    -------    --------      -------

    NET INCOME (LOSS)           442,016  1,190,825    (870,204)   3,657,567
      Preferred stock
       dividends                  1,420      1,420       4,260        4,260
                                  -----      -----       -----        -----

    INCOME (LOSS)
     ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON
     STOCK                     $440,596 $1,189,405   $(874,464)  $3,653,307
                               ======== ==========   =========   ==========

    NET INCOME (LOSS) PER
     COMMON SHARE:
      Basic                       $1.31      $3.55      $(2.61)      $10.93
                                  =====      =====      ======       ======
      Diluted                     $1.30      $3.52      $(2.61)      $10.84
                                  =====      =====      ======       ======

    WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON
     SHARES OUTSTANDING         336,159    334,825     335,637      334,145
                                =======    =======     =======      =======



                                APACHE CORPORATION
                               FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                       (In thousands, except per share data)

                                  For the Quarter        For the Nine Months
                                Ended September 30,      Ended September 30,
                                -------------------      -------------------
                                  2009         2008       2009         2008
                                  ----         ----       ----         ----
    FINANCIAL DATA:
      Revenues and other       $2,332,431   $3,364,884 $6,059,634  $10,452,816
                               ==========   ========== ==========  ===========

      Income (Loss)
       Attributable to
       Common Stock              $440,596   $1,189,405  $(874,464)  $3,653,307
                                 ========   ==========  =========   ==========

      Basic Net Income
       (Loss) Per Common
       Share                        $1.31        $3.55     $(2.61)      $10.93
                                    =====        =====     ======       ======

      Diluted Net Income
       (Loss) Per Common
       Share                        $1.30        $3.52     $(2.61)      $10.84
                                    =====        =====     ======       ======

      Weighted Average
       Common Shares
       Outstanding                336,159      334,825    335,637      334,145
                                  =======      =======    =======      =======

      Diluted Shares
       Outstanding                337,872      337,894    335,637      337,151
                                  =======      =======    =======      =======



                              September 30, December 31,
                                  2009         2008
                                  ----         ----
    BALANCE SHEET DATA:
      Cash and Cash
       Equivalents             $1,357,364   $1,181,450
      Short-term
       Investments                      -      791,999
      Other Current Assets      2,662,338    2,477,525
      Property and
       Equipment, net          22,545,531   23,958,517
      Restricted Cash                   -       13,880
      Goodwill                    189,252      189,252
      Other Assets                471,011      573,862
                                  -------      -------
      Total Assets            $27,225,496  $29,186,485
                              ===========  ===========

      Current Liabilities      $1,986,949   $2,520,435
      Long-Term Debt            5,010,030    4,808,975
      Deferred Credits and
       Other Noncurrent
       Liabilities              4,873,195    5,348,354
      Shareholders' Equity     15,355,322   16,508,721
                               ----------   ----------
      Total Liabilities
       and Shareholders'
       Equity                 $27,225,496  $29,186,485
                              ===========  ===========

      Common shares
       outstanding at end
       of period                  336,174      334,710



                                  For the Quarter        For the Nine Months
                                 Ended September 30,     Ended September 30,
                                 -------------------     -------------------
                                  2009         2008       2009         2008
                                  ----         ----       ----         ----
    COSTS INCURRED (1):
      North America
       exploration and
       development               $415,314     $960,624 $1,297,127   $2,505,259
      International
       exploration and
       development                394,188      641,028  1,387,199    1,932,257
                                  -------      -------  ---------    ---------
                                 $809,502   $1,601,652 $2,684,326   $4,437,516
                                 ========   ========== ==========   ==========

      Oil and gas property
       acquisitions               $15,123       $4,863   $263,628     $155,658
                                  =======       ======   ========     ========

      (1) Includes noncash
       asset retirement costs
       and capitalized interest
       as follows:
          Capitalized
           interest               $14,344      $18,674    $45,325      $53,730
          Asset retirement
           costs                 $127,760     $178,866   $221,463     $350,372



                                APACHE CORPORATION
                              FINANCIAL INFORMATION


                                        For the Quarter   For the Nine Months
                                      Ended September 30, Ended September 30,
                                      ------------------- -------------------
                                         2009      2008      2009      2008
                                         ----      ----      ----      ----

    PRODUCTION AND PRICING DATA:
      OIL VOLUME - Barrels per day
      Gulf Coast                         51,440    41,888    50,778    54,908
      Central                            36,773    38,396    37,057    38,714
                                         ------    ------    ------    ------
        United States                    88,213    80,284    87,835    93,622
      Canada                             14,595    16,655    15,586    17,247
                                         ------    ------    ------    ------
        North America                   102,808    96,939   103,421   110,869
                                        -------    ------   -------   -------
      Egypt                              93,550    64,803    90,848    64,082
      Australia                          10,849     7,083     9,732     8,286
      North Sea                          67,288    60,856    62,515    58,740
      Argentina                          11,026    12,729    11,799    12,342
                                         ------    ------    ------    ------
        International                   182,713   145,471   174,894   143,450
                                        -------   -------   -------   -------
          Total                         285,521   242,410   278,315   254,319
                                        =======   =======   =======   =======

      AVERAGE OIL PRICE PER BARREL
      Gulf Coast                         $66.70   $124.91    $55.07   $115.40
      Central                             60.59    106.06     49.22    101.11
        United States (1)                 64.57     93.69     54.89     91.48
      Canada                              63.79    111.81     51.95    108.10
        North America (1)                 64.46     96.80     54.45     94.07
      Egypt                               65.64    105.60     56.67    110.01
      Australia                           73.70     99.66     58.74    111.86
      North Sea                           65.76    113.56     56.68    110.08
      Argentina                           48.53     50.95     47.29     48.76
        International                     65.13    103.86     56.15    104.88
          Total (1)                       64.89    101.04     55.52    100.17

      NATURAL GAS VOLUME - Mcf per day
      Gulf Coast                        401,094   326,028   359,787   410,388
      Central                           297,968   309,863   298,720   302,141
                                        -------   -------   -------   -------
        United States                   699,062   635,891   658,507   712,529
      Canada                            371,516   349,000   367,562   355,834
                                        -------   -------   -------   -------
        North America                 1,070,578   984,891 1,026,069 1,068,363
                                      ---------   ------- --------- ---------
      Egypt                             372,312   287,231   355,824   254,786
      Australia                         225,349    54,726   176,457   124,888
      North Sea                           2,983     2,697     2,771     2,604
      Argentina                         183,504   217,091   189,303   193,257
                                        -------   -------   -------   -------
        International                   784,148   561,745   724,355   575,535
                                        -------   -------   -------   -------
          Total                       1,854,726 1,546,636 1,750,424 1,643,898
                                      ========= ========= ========= =========

      AVERAGE NATURAL GAS PRICE PER MCF
      Gulf Coast                          $3.59    $11.19     $4.03    $10.39
      Central                              3.71      9.53      3.60      9.39
        United States (1)                  3.99      9.96      4.13      9.64
      Canada (1)                           3.61      8.70      4.04      8.63
        North America (1)                  3.86      9.51      4.10      9.30
      Egypt                                3.86      5.62      3.78      5.68
      Australia                            2.04      2.36      1.85      2.18
      North Sea                           14.89     27.17     11.66     21.88
      Argentina                            1.89      1.41      1.92      1.53
        International                      2.92      3.78      2.85      3.60
          Total (1)                        3.46      7.43      3.58      7.30

      NGL VOLUME - Barrels per day
      Gulf Coast                          5,045     3,721     4,096     5,035
      Central                             1,974     1,729     1,716     1,601
                                          -----     -----     -----     -----
        United States                     7,019     5,450     5,812     6,636
      Canada                              2,166     2,034     2,110     2,046
                                          -----     -----     -----     -----
        North America                     9,185     7,484     7,922     8,682
      Argentina                           3,291     3,005     3,174     2,877
                                          -----     -----     -----     -----
          Total                          12,476    10,489    11,096    11,559
                                         ======    ======    ======    ======

      AVERAGE NGL PRICE PER BARREL
      Gulf Coast                         $33.95    $75.01    $29.49    $65.21
      Central                             31.27     68.10     27.39     62.22
        United States                     33.20     72.82     28.87     64.49
      Canada                              24.22     63.77     23.03     58.62
        North America                     31.08     70.36     27.32     63.11
      Argentina                           15.44     36.63     16.13     38.81
          Total                           26.96     60.70     24.12     57.06


      (1)  Prices reflect the impact of financial derivative hedging
           activities.



                            APACHE CORPORATION
                           FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                   (In thousands, except per share data)

    NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES:

    Reconciliation of income attributable to common stock to adjusted
    earnings:
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The press release discusses Apache's adjusted earnings.  Adjusted earnings
    exclude certain items that management believes affect the comparability of
    operating results and are meaningful for the following reasons:

    -  Management uses adjusted earnings to evaluate the company's operational
       trends and performance relative to other oil and gas producing
       companies.

    -  Management believes this presentation may be useful to investors who
       follow the practice of some industry analysts who adjust reported
       company earnings for items that may obscure underlying fundamentals
       and trends.

    -  The reconciling items below are the types of items management believes
       are frequently excluded by analysts when evaluating the operating
       trends and comparability of the company's results.


                          For the Quarter        For the Nine Months
                         Ended September 30,     Ended September 30,
                         -------------------     -------------------
                           2009        2008        2009        2008
                           ----        ----        ----        ----

    Income (Loss)
     Attributable to
     Common Stock
     (GAAP)              $440,596  $1,189,405   $(874,464) $3,653,307

    Adjustments:
      Foreign
       currency
       fluctuation
       impact on
       deferred tax
       expense             93,089    (113,169)    116,172    (125,248)
      Additional
       depletion, net
       of tax                   -           -   1,981,398           -
                              ---         ---   ---------         ---
    Adjusted
     Earnings  (Non-
     GAAP)               $533,685  $1,076,236  $1,223,106  $3,528,059
                         ========  ==========  ==========  ==========

    Adjusted Earnings
     Per Share (Non-GAAP)
        Basic               $1.59       $3.21       $3.64      $10.56
                            =====       =====       =====      ======
        Diluted             $1.58       $3.19       $3.62      $10.46
                            =====       =====       =====      ======

    Average Number
     of Common Shares
        Basic             336,159     334,825     335,637     334,145
                          =======     =======     =======     =======
        Diluted           337,872     337,894     337,417     337,151
                          =======     =======     =======     =======



    Reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to cash from
    operations before changes in operating assets and liabilities:
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The press release discusses Apache's cash from operations before changes
    in operating assets and liabilities.  It is presented because management
    believes the information is useful for investors because it is used
    internally and widely accepted by those following the oil and gas
    industry as a financial indicator of a company's ability to generate
    cash to internally fund exploration and development activities, fund
    dividend programs, and service debt.  It is also used by research
    analysts to value and compare oil and gas exploration and production
    companies, and is frequently included in published research when
    providing investment recommendations.  Cash from operations before
    changes in operating assets and liabilities, therefore, is an additional
    measure of liquidity, but is not a measure of financial performance
    under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to cash flows
    from operating, investing, or financing activities.


    The following table reconciles net cash provided by operating
    activities to cash from operations before changes in operating assets
    and liabilities.

                          For the Quarter        For the Nine Months
                         Ended September 30,     Ended September 30,
                           2009        2008        2009        2008
                           ----        ----        ----        ----
    Net cash provided
     by operating
     activities        $1,312,742  $2,290,655  $2,679,471  $6,028,568
    Changes in
     operating assets
     and liabilities      (16,822)   (167,074)    859,092     259,446
                          -------    --------     -------     -------
    Cash from operations
     before changes in
     operating assets
     and liabilities   $1,295,920  $2,123,581  $3,538,563  $6,288,014
                       ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========

APA-F


SOURCE Apache Corporation