ConocoPhillips
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   2002 Annual Report     previous arhome next

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Oil and Gas Operations (Unaudited)
Exploration and Production

In accordance with SFAS No. 69, “Disclosures about Oil and Gas Producing Activities,” and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the company is making certain supplemental disclosures about its oil and gas exploration and production operations. While this information was developed with reasonable care and disclosed in good faith, it is emphasized that some of the data is necessarily imprecise and represents only approximate amounts because of the subjective judgments involved in developing such information. Accordingly, this information may not necessarily represent the current financial condition of the company or its expected future results.

ConocoPhillips’ disclosures by geographic areas include the United States (U.S.), Norway, the United Kingdom (U.K.), Canada and Other Areas. Other Areas include Nigeria, China, Australia, the Timor Sea, Indonesia, Vietnam, United Arab Emirates, Ecuador and other countries. When the company uses equity accounting for operations that have proved reserves, these oil and gas operations are shown separately and designated as Equity Affiliates. In 2002, these consisted of two heavy-oil projects in Venezuela, an oil development project in northern Russia and a heavy-oil project in Canada. In 2001 and 2000 this consisted of a heavy-oil project in Venezuela.

Amounts in 2000 were impacted by ConocoPhillips’ purchase of all of Atlantic Richfield Company’s (ARCO) Alaska businesses in late April 2000. Amounts in 2002 were impacted by the merger of Conoco and Phillips (the merger) in late August 2002.

Proved Reserves Worldwide
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blksq.gif Purchases in 2002 were primarily related to the merger. Other Areas in 2002 includes 1 million barrels related to an operation that was classified as discontinued following the merger, and was sold by year-end. The amount for this operation was not included in the schedule of sources of change in discounted future net cash flows, or as a part of the company’s per-unit finding and development cost calculation.
blksq.gif At the end of 2000 and 1999, Other Areas included 2 million and 14 million barrels, respectively, of reserves in Venezuela in which the company had an economic interest through risk-service contracts. These properties were sold in June 2001. Net production to the company was approximately 400,000 barrels in 2001; 1,200,000 barrels in 2000; and 600,000 barrels in 1999.
blksq.gif In addition to conventional crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGL) proved reserves, ConocoPhillips has proven oil sands reserves in Canada, associated with a Syncrude project totaling 272 million barrels at the end of 2002. For internal management purposes, ConocoPhillips views these reserves and their development as part of its total exploration and production operations. However, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission regulations define these reserves as mining related. Therefore, they are not included in the company’s tabular presentation of proved crude oil, natural gas and NGL reserves. These oil sand reserves are also not included in the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to proved oil and gas reserve quantities.

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blksq.gif Natural gas production may differ from gas production (delivered for sale) in the company’s statistics disclosure, primarily because the quantities above include gas consumed at the lease, but omit the gas equivalent of liquids extracted at any ConocoPhillips-owned, equity-affiliate, or third-party processing plant or facility.
blksq.gif Purchases in 2002 were related to the merger. Other Areas in 2002 includes 161 billion cubic feet related to an operation that was classified as discontinued following the merger, and was sold by year-end. The amount for this operation was not included in the schedule of sources of change in discounted future net cash flows, or as a part of the company’s per-unit finding and development cost calculation.
blksq.gif Extensions and discoveries in Other Areas in 2002 were primarily in Nigeria.
blksq.gif Sales in Other Areas in 2002 were for a discontinued operation. See note on purchases above.
blksq.gif Natural gas reserves are computed at 14.65 pounds per square inch absolute and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

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blksq.gif Natural gas liquids reserves include estimates of natural gas liquids to be extracted from ConocoPhillips’ leasehold gas at gas processing plants or facilities. Estimates are based at the wellhead and assume full extraction. Production above differs from natural gas liquids production per day delivered for sale primarily due to:
(1) Natural gas consumed at the lease.
(2) Natural gas liquids production delivered for sale includes only natural gas liquids extracted from ConocoPhillips’ leasehold gas and sold by ConocoPhillips’ Exploration and Production (E&P) segment, whereas the production above also includes natural gas liquids extracted from ConocoPhillips’ leasehold gas at equity-affiliate or third-party facilities.
blksq.gif Purchases in 2002 were related to the merger.

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