BP Could Operate as Going Concern Even if Brent Fell to Zero -- Energy Comment
November 02 2021 - 7:38AM
Dow Jones News
BP PLC on Tuesday reported market-beating third quarter earnings
and said that it could operate as a going concern for the next year
even if the price of Brent fell to zero. Here's what the FTSE
100-listed oil major had to say:
On upstream production:
"Relative to the second quarter, upstream reported production
rose by 4%, hydrocarbon plant reliability increased to 95% and
refining availability increased to 96%."
On oil prices:
"Oil prices have continued to increase, and inventories have
reduced back towards pre-pandemic levels."
On going concern:
"Reverse stress tests indicated that the group will continue to
operate as a going concern for at least 12 months from the date of
approval of the interim financial statements even if the Brent
price fell to zero."
On gas markets:
"Gas markets were very strong in the quarter and we expect they
will remain tight during the period of peak winter demand."
On guidance:
"Looking ahead, we expect fourth quarter reported upstream
production to be higher than the third quarter reflecting major
project ramp-up, mainly in gas regions, recovery from seasonal
maintenance activity and continuing impacts from Hurricane Ida on
our non-operated production in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico."
"In our customer businesses, we expect lower product demand due
to seasonal impacts and continued base oil tightness and additive
supply shortages in Castrol."
"In products, refining margins are expected to be lower in the
fourth quarter driven by seasonal demand and we expect energy
prices to remain under pressure and maintenance activity to remain
high."
"We expect upstream underlying production to be slightly higher
than 2020 with the ramp-up of major projects, primarily in gas
regions, partly offset by the impacts of reduced capital investment
and decline in lower-margin gas assets."
"For full year 2021 we continue to expect reported upstream
production to be lower than 2020 due to the impact of the ongoing
divestment program. However, we expect upstream underlying
production to be slightly higher than 2020 with the ramp-up of
major projects, primarily in gas regions, partly offset by the
impacts of reduced capital investment and decline in lower-margin
gas assets."
"BP continues to expect capital expenditure, including inorganic
capital expenditure, of around $13 billion in 2021."
"Depreciation, depletion and amortization is still expected to
be at a similar level to 2020."
"Gulf of Mexico oil spill payments for the year are still
expected to be around $1.5 billion pre-tax."
"The other businesses & corporate underlying annual charge
is still expected to be in the range of $1.2-1.4 billion for 2021.
The quarterly charges may vary from quarter to quarter."
Write to Ian Walker at ian.walker@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 02, 2021 07:23 ET (11:23 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2021 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Bp (LSE:BP.)
Historical Stock Chart
From Aug 2024 to Sep 2024
Bp (LSE:BP.)
Historical Stock Chart
From Sep 2023 to Sep 2024