Chevron Corporation today reported earnings of $6.3 billion ($3.22 per share – diluted) for first quarter 2022, compared with $1.4 billion ($0.72 per share – diluted) in first quarter 2021. Included in the current quarter were pension settlement costs of $66 million. Foreign currency effects decreased earnings by $218 million. Adjusted earnings of $6.5 billion ($3.36 per share – diluted) in first quarter 2022 compares to adjusted earnings of $1.7 billion ($0.90 per share – diluted) in first quarter 2021.
Sales and other operating revenues in first quarter 2022 were $52 billion, compared to $31 billion in the year-ago period.
“First quarter financial performance saw return on capital employed increase to 14.7 percent and our balance sheet strengthen further,” said Mike Wirth, Chevron’s chairman and chief executive officer. The company’s debt ratio and net debt ratio declined to 16.7 and 10.8 percent, respectively.
“Chevron is doing its part to grow domestic supply with U.S. oil and gas production up 10 percent over first quarter last year,” Wirth continued. Chevron’s worldwide net oil equivalent production in the first quarter was 3.06 million barrels per day. Permian Basin unconventional production grew to a record 692,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in the first quarter, as the company raised its 2022 guidance to 700,000 – 750,000 barrels per day, an increase of over 15 percent from 2021.
“Consistent with our plans, we’re investing to grow both traditional and new energy business lines,” Wirth added. The company’s capital expenditures during the quarter increased to $2.8 billion, 10 percent higher than last year. The total of full-year capital spending and announced acquisitions is expected to be more than 50 percent higher than 2021.
Chevron accelerated plans to grow its renewable fuels business with the announced agreement to acquire Renewable Energy Group, Inc. and the signing of definitive transaction agreements with Bunge North America, Inc. The company also advanced its hydrogen, carbon capture and offsets businesses with an agreement with Iwatani Corporation of America to build 30 hydrogen fueling stations in California, an investment in Carbon Clean, a global leader in cost-effective industrial carbon capture, and an agreement with Restore the Earth Foundation, Inc. on a carbon offsets reforestation project of up to 8,800 acres in Louisiana.
The company also closed its previously announced agreement with Neste Corporation to acquire its Group III base oil business and NEXBASE™ brand on April 1, 2022, strengthening its position as a leading supplier of premium base oils.
“While we continue to respond to the energy-related challenges of today, we are deeply saddened by the tragic events in Ukraine and hope for a peaceful resolution soon,” Wirth concluded.
UPSTREAM
Worldwide net oil-equivalent production was 3.06 million barrels per day in first quarter 2022. International production decreased 8 percent, while U.S. production increased 10 percent compared to the same period a year ago.
U.S. upstream operations earned $3.24 billion in first quarter 2022, compared with $941 million a year earlier. The improvement was primarily due to higher realizations and higher sales volumes.
The company’s average sales price per barrel of crude oil and natural gas liquids was $77 in first quarter 2022, up from $48 a year earlier. The average sales price of natural gas was $4.10 per thousand cubic feet in first quarter 2022, up from $2.15 in last year’s first quarter.
Net oil-equivalent production of 1.18 million barrels per day in first quarter 2022 was up 109,000 barrels per day from a year earlier. The increase was primarily due to net production increases in the Permian Basin and the absence of impacts from winter storm Uri. The net liquids component of oil-equivalent production in first quarter 2022 increased 10 percent to 880,000 barrels per day, and net natural gas production increased 11 percent to 1.83 billion cubic feet per day, compared to last year’s first quarter.
International upstream operations earned $3.70 billion in first quarter 2022, compared with $1.41 billion a year ago. The increase in earnings was primarily due to higher realizations, which were partially offset by lower sales volumes. Foreign currency effects had an unfavorable impact on earnings of $92 million between periods.
The average sales price for crude oil and natural gas liquids in first quarter 2022 was $93 per barrel, up from $56 a year earlier. The average sales price of natural gas was $8.87 per thousand cubic feet in the first quarter, up from $4.72 in last year’s first quarter.
Net oil-equivalent production of 1.88 million barrels per day in first quarter 2022 was down 170,000 barrels per day from first quarter 2021. The decrease was primarily due to normal field declines, the absence of production following expiration of the Rokan concession in Indonesia and unfavorable entitlement effects due to higher prices, partially offset by the absence of curtailments. The net liquids component of oil-equivalent production decreased 16 percent to 856,000 barrels per day in first quarter 2022, while net natural gas production of 6.12 billion cubic feet per day was largely unchanged compared to last year’s first quarter.
DOWNSTREAM
U.S. downstream operations reported earnings of $486 million in first quarter 2022, compared with a loss of $130 million a year earlier. The increase was mainly due to higher margins on refined product sales and higher earnings from the 50 percent-owned Chevron Phillips Chemical Company.
Refinery crude oil input in first quarter 2022 increased 4 percent to 915,000 barrels per day from the year-ago period, as the company increased refinery runs in response to higher demand.
Refined product sales of 1.22 million barrels per day were up 16 percent from the year-ago period, mainly due to higher gasoline and jet fuel demand as travel restrictions associated with the pandemic continue to ease.
International Downstream
International downstream operations reported a loss of $155 million in first quarter 2022, compared with earnings of $135 million a year earlier. The decrease was mainly due to higher operating expenses, lower margins on refined product sales, and a $36 million unfavorable swing in foreign currency impacts between periods.
Refinery crude oil input of 619,000 barrels per day in first quarter 2022 increased 15 percent from the year-ago period due to higher demand.
Refined product sales of 1.33 million barrels per day in first quarter 2022 increased 5 percent from the year-ago period, mainly due to higher demand for gasoline and jet fuel as restrictions from the pandemic continue to ease.
ALL OTHER
All Other consists of worldwide cash management and debt financing activities, corporate administrative functions, insurance operations, real estate activities and technology companies.
Net charges in first quarter 2022 were $1.01 billion, compared to $978 million a year earlier. The increase in net charges between periods was mainly due to an unfavorable swing in foreign currency effects and higher employee benefit costs, partially offset by lower pension expenses.
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS
Cash flow from operations in the first three months of 2022 was $8.1 billion, compared with $4.2 billion in 2021. Excluding working capital effects, cash flow from operations in the first three months of 2022 was $9.0 billion, compared with $5.1 billion in 2021.
CAPITAL AND EXPLORATORY EXPENDITURES
Capital and exploratory expenditures in the first three months of 2022 were $2.8 billion, compared with $2.5 billion in 2021. The amounts included $725 million in 2022 and $678 million in 2021 for the company’s share of expenditures by affiliates, which did not require cash outlays by the company. Expenditures for upstream represented 88 percent of the company-wide total in 2022.
