Form 8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


FORM 8-K

 


CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):  April 25, 2007

 


MURPHY OIL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   1-8590   71-0361522
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)   (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

200 Peach Street

P.O. Box 7000, El Dorado, Arkansas

  71731-7000
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

870-862-6411

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

Not applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 



Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition

The following information is furnished pursuant to Item 2.02, “Results of Operations and Financial Condition.”

On April 25, 2007, Murphy Oil Corporation issued a press release announcing its earnings for the first quarter that ended on March 31, 2007. The full text of this press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

  (c) Exhibits

 

  99.1 A news release dated April 25, 2007 announcing earnings for the first quarter that ended on March 31, 2007 is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.


Signature

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

MURPHY OIL CORPORATION
By:   /s/ John W. Eckart
  John W. Eckart
  Vice President and Controller

Date: April 25, 2007

 


Exhibit Index

 

  99.1     Press release dated April 25, 2007, as issued by Murphy Oil Corporation.

 

Press Release dated April 25, 2007

Exhibit 99.1

MURPHY OIL ANNOUNCES PRELIMINARY FIRST QUARTER 2007 EARNINGS

EL DORADO, Arkansas, April 25, 2007 – Murphy Oil Corporation (NYSE: MUR) announced today that net income in the first quarter of 2007 was $110.6 million ($0.58 per diluted share), compared to adjusted net income of $116.0 million ($0.61 per diluted share) in the first quarter of 2006. In 2007, increased income from the Company’s refining and marketing operations was offset by lower income in exploration and production operations. The improvement in refining and marketing results in 2007 was mostly due to income at the Meraux, Louisiana refinery that operated throughout the most recent period, while during the 2006 period, the plant was shut-down for repairs and incurred significant uninsured repair costs as a result of Hurricane Katrina. The decline in exploration and production earnings in 2007 compared to 2006 was primarily caused by lower oil and natural gas production and lower sales prices in the just completed quarter.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) Staff Position No. AUG AIR-1, Accounting for Planned Major Maintenance Activities, which became effective on January 1, 2007, no longer permits the accrual in advance of estimated costs associated with future refinery turnarounds and other planned major maintenance. The Company has chosen to use the deferral method whereby actual turnaround costs are deferred and amortized to expense over the period until the next anticipated turnaround. The adoption of this change in accounting resulted in an increase to stockholders’ equity of $68.6 million, which was recorded as of December 31, 2006. Prior period results presented have been adjusted to reflect the adoption of this new accounting method. Net income in the 2006 period increased by $2.1 million ($.01 per diluted share) due to this change in accounting principle.

Murphy’s income from exploration and production operations was $88.8 million in the first quarter of 2007 compared to $161.9 million in the same quarter of 2006. Lower production volumes and lower realized sales prices for crude oil and natural gas were the primary reasons for reduced earnings in the 2007 period. In addition, the 2006 period included a pretax benefit of $15.7 million for insurance proceeds related to Gulf of Mexico production lost in the fourth quarter 2005 after Hurricane Katrina. The Company’s worldwide crude oil and condensate sales prices averaged $47.86 per barrel for the 2007 first quarter compared to $49.11 per barrel in the 2006 first quarter. Total crude oil and gas liquids production was 84,555 barrels per day in the first quarter of 2007 compared to


98,074 barrels per day in the 2006 quarter. The decrease in crude oil volumes in 2007 was mostly attributable to lower production at the Medusa and Front Runner fields in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. North American natural gas sales prices averaged $7.28 per thousand cubic feet (MCF) in the 2007 first quarter down from $9.38 per MCF in the same quarter of 2006. Natural gas sales volumes of 61 million cubic feet per day in the first quarter of 2007 were down from 84 million cubic feet per day in the 2006 period primarily due to lower production in the 2007 period at the Medusa field in the Gulf of Mexico and onshore in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana. Exploration expense in the 2007 period was $48.4 million, down from $63.2 million in 2006. Dry hole expense was lower by $22.7 million in the 2007 period mostly in deepwater Malaysia. Geological and geophysical expense increased $6.1 million in 2007 compared to 2006 due to greater activity in the Republic of Congo.

Murphy’s refining and marketing operations generated income of $35.7 million in the 2007 quarter compared to a loss of $35.6 million in the 2006 quarter. In North America, downstream operations had income of $34.5 million in 2007 compared to a loss of $35.6 million in 2006. The North American earnings improvement was mostly due to favorable results at the Meraux refinery, which was operational during the 2007 quarter, while in the 2006 quarter, the refinery was shut-down and incurred significant repairs costs as a result of Hurricane Katrina. The Company’s Superior, Wisconsin refinery ran well during the first quarter of each year, but had improved margins in 2007 compared to the 2006 period. Margins for North American retail marketing operations were unfavorably affected by generally rising wholesale gasoline prices in the 2007 first quarter. Even so, results in this business were somewhat improved compared to the 2006 period. Refining and marketing operations in the United Kingdom generated income of $1.2 million in the first quarter of 2007, compared to break-even results in the same quarter of 2006.

Corporate functions reflected a loss of $13.9 million in the 2007 first quarter compared to a loss of $10.3 million in 2006. The Company capitalized most of its interest expense to oil and natural gas development projects in the first quarter of both years.

Claiborne P. Deming, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Our Kikeh development offshore Sabah continues on schedule with first production targeted for the third quarter this year. Crude oil sales prices have risen since the end of the first quarter, and our worldwide production volumes are expected to average about 88,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in the second quarter. Margins at the Company’s two U.S. refineries have been robust so far in April due to a combination of tight refining capacity, lower product inventories and strong fuel demand. The effect of higher wholesale fuel prices have resulted in tight U.S. retail fuel margins. We currently expect earnings in the second quarter to be between $0.75 and $0.95 per diluted share. Results could vary based on commodity prices, drilling results, timing of oil sales and refining and marketing margins.”


The public is invited to access the Company’s conference call to discuss first quarter 2007 results on Thursday, April 26, at 12:00 p.m. CDT either via the Internet through the Investor Relations section of Murphy’s website at http://www.murphyoilcorp.com/ir or via the telephone by dialing 1-800-219-6110. The telephone reservation number for the call is 11087949. Replays of the call will be available through the same address on the Murphy website, and a recording of the call will be available through May 2 at 1-800-405-2236.

Summary financial data and operating statistics for the first quarter 2007 with comparisons to 2006 are contained in the attached tables.

The forward-looking statements reflected in this release are made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. No assurance can be given that the results discussed herein will be attained, and certain important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially are contained in Murphy’s January 15, 1997 Form 8-K report on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

#####


MURPHY OIL CORPORATION

FUNCTIONAL RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)

(Millions of dollars)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31, 2007
    Three Months Ended
March 31, 2006*
 
     Revenues     Income     Revenues     Income  

Exploration and production

        

United States

   $ 93.9     10.7     197.9     86.4  

Canada

     202.5     65.5     192.9     68.3  

United Kingdom

     37.5     12.1     52.8     24.2  

Malaysia

     44.1     9.8     54.0     (16.9 )

Ecuador

     25.4     4.1     26.4     7.7  

Other

     1.1     (13.4 )   1.2     (7.8 )
                          
     404.5     88.8     525.2     161.9  
                          

Refining and marketing

        

North America

     2,820.5     34.5     2,261.7     (35.6 )

United Kingdom

     226.1     1.2     215.3     —    
                          
     3,046.6     35.7     2,477.0     (35.6 )
                          
     3,451.1     124.5     3,002.2     126.3  

Intersegment transfers elimination

     (23.1 )   —       (15.1 )   —    
                          
     3,428.0     124.5     2,987.1     126.3  

Corporate

     6.9     (13.9 )   4.2     (10.3 )
                          

Total revenues/net income

   $ 3,434.9     110.6     2,991.3     116.0  
                          

 

* Results for 2006 have been adjusted to reflect the adoption of FSP AUG AIR-1, Accounting for Planned Major Maintenance Activities.


MURPHY OIL CORPORATION

OIL AND GAS OPERATING RESULTS (Unaudited)

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2007 AND 2006

 

(Millions of dollars)    United
States
   Canada    United
King-
dom
   Malaysia     Ecuador    Other     Synthetic
Oil –
Canada
   Total

Three Months Ended March 31, 2007

                     

Oil and gas sales and other operating revenues

   $ 93.9    135.5    37.5    44.1     25.4    1.1     67.0    404.5

Production expenses

     26.2    20.2    5.9    7.1     9.1    —       31.5    100.0

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     16.7    35.4    5.8    8.3     8.5    .1     5.8    80.6

Accretion of asset retirement obligations

     .8    1.0    .5    .7     —      .2     .2    3.4

Exploration expenses

                     

Dry holes

     13.2    1.0    —      —       .2    —       —      14.4

Geological and geophysical

     9.8    2.8    —      4.8     —      7.4     —      24.8

Other

     .5    .1    .1    —       —      2.1     —      2.8
                                           
     23.5    3.9    .1    4.8     .2    9.5     —      42.0

Undeveloped lease amortization

     4.5    1.5    —      —       —      .4     —      6.4
                                           

Total exploration expenses

     28.0    5.4    .1    4.8     .2    9.9     —      48.4
                                           

Selling and general expenses

     5.5    4.1    1.0    3.8     .2    4.0     .2    18.8
                                           

Results of operations before taxes

     16.7    69.4    24.2    19.4     7.4    (13.1 )   29.3    153.3

Income tax provisions

     6.0    23.5    12.1    9.6     3.3    .3     9.7    64.5
                                           

Results of operations (excluding corporate overhead and interest)

   $ 10.7    45.9    12.1    9.8     4.1    (13.4 )   19.6    88.8
                                           

Three Months Ended March 31, 2006*

                     

Oil and gas sales and other operating revenues

   $ 197.9    138.1    52.8    54.0     26.4    1.2     54.8    525.2

Production expenses

     15.6    19.8    4.5    8.3     6.6    —       30.2    85.0

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     23.4    29.4    6.7    12.7     5.5    .1     3.5    81.3

Accretion of asset retirement obligations

     .7    1.0    .4    .1     —      .2     .1    2.5

Exploration expenses

                     

Dry holes

     2.6    —      —      29.9     1.1    3.5     —      37.1

Geological and geophysical

     11.7    .1    —      6.3     —      .6     —      18.7

Other

     .5    .1    —      .2     —      1.2     —      2.0
                                           
     14.8    .2    —      36.4     1.1    5.3     —      57.8

Undeveloped lease amortization

     4.1    .9    —      —       —      .4     —      5.4
                                           

Total exploration expenses

     18.9    1.1       36.4     1.1    5.7     —      63.2
                                           

Net costs associated with hurricanes

     .5    —      —      —       —      —       —      .5

Selling and general expenses

     5.5    2.5    .9    2.6     .2    2.8     .2    14.7
                                           

Results of operations before taxes

     133.3    84.3    40.3    (6.1 )   13.0    (7.6 )   20.8    278.0

Income tax provisions

     46.9    29.8    16.1    10.8     5.3    .2     7.0    116.1
                                           

Results of operations (excluding corporate overhead and interest)

   $ 86.4    54.5    24.2    (16.9 )   7.7    (7.8 )   13.8    161.9
                                           

 

* Results for 2006 Canadian Synthetic oil have been adjusted to reflect the adoption of FSP AUG AIR-1, Accounting for Planned Major Maintenance Activities.


MURPHY OIL CORPORATION

SUMMARIZED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)

(Thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2007     2006*  

Revenues

   $ 3,434,884     2,991,263  
              

Costs and expenses

    

Crude oil and product purchases

     2,724,384     2,307,496  

Operating expenses

     296,483     228,867  

Exploration expenses

     48,336     63,163  

Selling and general expenses

     52,989     40,375  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     107,987     97,358  

Net costs associated with hurricanes

     —       35,722  

Accretion of asset retirement obligations

     3,462     2,500  

Interest expense

     15,489     10,563  

Interest capitalized

     (14,657 )   (9,589 )

Minority interest

     26     —    
              
     3,234,499     2,776,455  
              

Income before income taxes

     200,385     214,808  

Income tax expense

     89,751     98,825  
              

Net income

   $ 110,634     115,983  
              

Net income per Common share

    

– Basic

   $ .59     .62  

– Diluted

     .58     .61  

Cash dividends per Common share

   $ .15     .1125  

Average Common shares outstanding (thousands)

    

– Basic

     187,148     185,714  

– Diluted

     189,789     188,636  

 

* Results have been adjusted to reflect the adoption of FSP AUG AIR-1, Accounting for Planned Major Maintenance Activities.

 


MURPHY OIL CORPORATION

SUMMARIZED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

(Thousands of dollars)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2007     2006*  

Operating Activities

    

Net income

   $ 110,634     115,983  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities

    

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     107,987     97,358  

Amortization of deferred major repair costs

     5,550     4,271  

Expenditures for asset retirement obligations

     (2,778 )   (1,139 )

Dry holes

     14,447     37,081  

Amortization of undeveloped leases

     6,375     5,430  

Accretion of asset retirement obligations

     3,462     2,500  

Deferred and noncurrent income tax charges

     10,534     1,779  

Pretax (gains) losses from disposition of assets

     (353 )   1,264  

Net increase in operating working capital other than cash and cash equivalents

     (32,445 )   (79,901 )

Other

     8,591     5,382  
              

Net cash provided by operating activities

     232,004     190,008  
              

Investing Activities

    

Property additions and dry holes

     (300,276 )   (279,474 )

Expenditures for major repairs

     (33 )   (6,218 )

Proceeds from sale of assets

     16,726     4,732  

Other—net

     (2,751 )   (2,738 )
              

Net cash required by investing activities

     (286,334 )   (283,698 )
              

Financing Activities

    

Increase (decrease) in notes payable

     129,957     (11 )

Proceeds from exercise of stock options and employee stock purchase plans

     12,220     6,743  

Excess tax benefits related to exercise of stock options

     6,732     3,792  

Cash dividends paid

     (28,176 )   (20,993 )
              

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     120,733     (10,469 )
              

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (113 )   (269 )
              

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     66,290     (104,428 )

Cash and cash equivalents at January 1

     543,390     585,333  
              

Cash and cash equivalents at March 31

   $ 609,680     480,905  
              

 

* Results have been adjusted to reflect the adoption of FSP AUG AIR-1, Accounting for Planned Major Maintenance Activities.

 

 

 


MURPHY OIL CORPORATION

OTHER FINANCIAL DATA

(Unaudited, except for December 31, 2006)

(Millions of dollars)

 

     March 31,
2007
   Dec. 31,
2006
 

Total current assets

   $ 2,403.4    2,107.1  

Total current liabilities

     1,543.3    1,311.1  

Total assets

     8,079.1    7,483.2 1

Long-term debt

     

Notes payable

     962.2    833.1  

Nonrecourse debt

     7.2    7.2  

Stockholders' equity

     4,234.4    4,121.3 1

 

1

Balances have been adjusted to reflect the adoption of FSP AUG AIR-1, Accounting for Planned Major Maintenance Activities.

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
         2007    2006    

Capital expenditures

     

Exploration and production

     

United States

   $ 66.5    49.5

Canada

     52.4    57.3

Malaysia

     157.2    120.7

Other international

     45.6    40.3
           
     321.7    267.8
           

Refining and marketing

     

North America

     34.5    28.0

International

     3.3    2.6
           
     37.8    30.6
           

Corporate

     1.4    1.8
           

Total capital expenditures

     360.9    300.2
           

Charged to exploration expenses2

     

United States

     23.5    14.8

Canada

     3.9    0.2

Malaysia

     4.8    36.4

Other international

     9.8    6.4
           

Total charged to exploration expenses

     42.0    57.8
           

Total capitalized

   $ 318.9    242.4
           

 

2

Excludes amortization of undeveloped leases of $6.4 million in 2007 and $5.4 million in 2006.

 


MURPHY OIL CORPORATION

STATISTICAL SUMMARY

 

     Three Months
Ended March 31,
     2007    2006

Net crude oil, condensate and gas liquids produced – barrels per day

   84,555    98,074

United States

   14,096    26,499

Canada – light

   527    413

– heavy

   12,913    15,181

– offshore

   18,477    18,481

– synthetic

   12,725    10,137

United Kingdom

   6,315    8,098

Malaysia

   10,405    10,942

Ecuador

   9,097    8,323

Net crude oil, condensate and gas liquids sold – barrels per day

   84,468    100,809

United States

   14,096    26,499

Canada – light

   527    413

– heavy

   12,913    15,181

– offshore

   18,580    19,566

– synthetic

   12,725    10,137

United Kingdom

   6,489    7,801

Malaysia

   9,912    13,594

Ecuador

   9,226    7,618

Net natural gas sold – thousands of cubic feet per day

   61,119    83,590

United States

   43,321    59,577

Canada

   9,457    10,101

United Kingdom

   8,341    13,912

Total net hydrocarbons produced – equivalent barrels per day*

   94,742    112,006

Total net hydrocarbons sold – equivalent barrels per day*

   94,655    114,741

 

* Natural gas converted on an energy equivalent basis of 6:1.

 

 


MURPHY OIL CORPORATION

STATISTICAL SUMMARY (Continued)

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31,

     2007    2006

Weighted average sales prices

     

Crude oil, condensate and gas liquids – dollars per barrel (1)

     

United States

   $ 50.52    54.09

Canada (2) – light

     49.25    55.72

– heavy (3)

     32.32    17.67

– offshore

     54.62    59.64

– synthetic

     58.46    60.03

United Kingdom

     55.84    60.86

Malaysia (4)

     49.25    50.39

Ecuador (5)

     30.43    38.50

Natural gas – dollars per thousand cubic feet

     

United States (1)

   $ 7.35    9.53

Canada (2)

     6.96    8.52

United Kingdom (2)

     6.89    7.92

Refinery inputs – barrels per day

     179,928    64,059

North America

     150,166    33,443

United Kingdom

     29,762    30,616

Petroleum products sold – barrels per day

     422,001    336,378

North America

     387,430    304,389

Gasoline

     274,719    246,794

Kerosine

     3,425    4,243

Diesel and home heating oils

     88,235    47,189

Residuals

     15,355    2,691

Asphalt, LPG and other

     5,696    3,472

United Kingdom

     34,571    31,989

Gasoline

     12,165    11,832

Kerosine

     3,154    3,301

Diesel and home heating oils

     12,401    9,557

Residuals

     3,069    3,135

LPG and other

     3,782    4,164

 

(1) Includes intracompany transfers at market prices.
(2) U.S. dollar equivalent.
(3) Includes the effects of the Company's hedging program in 2006.
(4) Prices are net of payments under the terms of the production sharing contract for Block SK 309.
(5) The three-month price in 2007 is adversely affected by revenue sharing with the Ecuadorian government that became effective in April 2006.