Murphy Oil Corporation Announces Second Quarter 2023 Financial and Operating Results, Strategic Portfolio Repositioning

Murphy Oil Corporation (NYSE: MUR) today announced its financial and operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023, including net income attributable to Murphy of $98 million, or $0.62 net income per diluted share. Excluding discontinued operations and other items affecting comparability between periods, adjusted net income attributable to Murphy was $124 million, or $0.79 adjusted net income per diluted share.

Unless otherwise noted, the financial and operating highlights and metrics discussed in this news release exclude noncontrolling interest (NCI). ¹

Highlights for the second quarter include:

• Exceeded upper end of guidance range with production of 184 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (MBOEPD), including 99 thousand barrels of oil per day (MBOPD)
• Received government approval on Block 15-1/05 Lac Da Vang field development plan in Vietnam
• Signed production sharing contracts (PSCs) for five blocks offshore Côte d’Ivoire

Subsequent to the second quarter:

• Signed a Purchase and Sale Agreement to divest a portion of Kaybob Duvernay and Placid Montney assets for C$150 million net purchase price
• Published the fifth annual Sustainability Report with enhanced disclosures on improved environmental activities, increased community support and continuing strong governance oversight

“Murphy’s operational excellence continues to shine as our portfolio again outperformed expectations this quarter. From offshore maintenance being completed faster than scheduled to onshore wells achieving production rates above type curves, our team has done a great job executing our 2023 plan. We also have exciting opportunities ahead, including advancing the Vietnam Lac Da Vang field development plan towards project sanction as well as evaluating our new Côte d’Ivoire acreage. I look forward to progressing our capital allocation framework this year with increasing returns to shareholders and additional debt reduction, which will be supported by monetizing a non-core portion of our Canadian assets,” said Roger W. Jenkins, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Additionally, Murphy continues to operate sustainably, and we were recently recognized by Rystad Energy as the highest-scoring company in ESG performance for the 2021 reporting year across 41 operators in the United States and Canada.”

SECOND QUARTER 2023 RESULTS

The company recorded net income attributable to Murphy of $98 million, or $0.62 net income per diluted share, for the second quarter 2023. Adjusted net income, which excludes both the results of discontinued operations and certain other items that affect comparability of results between periods, was $124 million, or $0.79 adjusted net income per diluted share for the same period. Adjustments to net income total $28 million before tax. Details for second quarter results and an adjusted net income reconciliation can be found in the attached schedules.

Including NCI, second quarter 2023 exploration expense of $116 million contains three primary items: $80 million of dry hole expense for the Chinook #7 exploration well in the Gulf of Mexico, inclusive of $26 million attributable to NCI; a $17 million write-off of the previously suspended Cholula-1EXP exploration well in offshore Mexico; and $10 million in seismic costs for the Côte d’Ivoire new country entry.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) attributable to Murphy were $373 million. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortization and exploration expenses (EBITDAX) attributable to Murphy were $463 million. Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Murphy was $412 million. Adjusted EBITDAX attributable to Murphy was $485 million. Reconciliations for second quarter EBITDA, EBITDAX, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDAX can be found in the attached schedules.

In the second quarter, Murphy paid the final contingent consideration payments of $28 million related to the Gulf of Mexico acquisition that closed in 2019. This amount was primarily attributable to the one-year anniversary of achieving first oil at King’s Quay. Murphy has no remaining contingent consideration payment obligations.

Second quarter production averaged 184 MBOEPD and consisted of 54 percent oil volumes, or 99 MBOPD. Production for the quarter exceeded the upper end of the guidance range, primarily driven by 2.5 MBOEPD of strong well performance in the Gulf of Mexico, 2.1 MBOEPD in the Tupper Montney and 1.5 MBOEPD in the Eagle Ford Shale, as well as 1.4 MBOEPD attributed to lower realized royalty rates in the Tupper Montney natural gas asset. Details for second quarter production can be found in the attached schedules.

FINANCIAL POSITION

Murphy had approximately $1.1 billion of liquidity on June 30, 2023, with no borrowings on the $800 million credit facility and $369 million of cash and cash equivalents, inclusive of NCI.

On June 30, 2023, the company’s total debt was unchanged from year-end 2022 at $1.82 billion, and consisted of long-term, fixed-rate notes with a weighted average maturity of 7.2 years and a weighted average coupon of 6.1 percent.

CANADA TRANSACTION SUMMARY

Subsequent to quarter end, a subsidiary of Murphy signed a Purchase and Sale Agreement to divest a non-core portion of its operated Kaybob Duvernay assets and all of its non-operated Placid Montney assets to a private company. Under the terms of the agreement, the buyer will pay Murphy C$150 million at closing in an all-cash transaction, subject to customary closing adjustments and conditions. The transaction has a March 1, 2023 effective date, with closing anticipated to occur in the third quarter of 2023.

The assets to be divested include the Saxon and Simonette areas of the Kaybob Duvernay, where Murphy holds a 70 percent working interest as operator, as well as Murphy’s 30 percent working interest in the Placid Montney assets operated by Athabasca Oil Corporation. Also included are batteries, pipelines and the assumption of related processing and marketing contracts.

The combined assets currently produce approximately 1,700 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOEPD) net and are comprised of 39 percent oil. Net proved reserves are 5.3 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBOE) as of December 31, 2022. Also included are 250 gross drilling locations, or 138 net, across 42,000 net acres in Kaybob Duvernay and 26,000 net acres in Placid Montney. After the transaction closes, Murphy will have approximately 488 gross drilling locations with an average 75 percent oil weighting remaining in the Kaybob Duvernay, all of which are operated with a 70 percent working interest. Murphy will have no remaining position in the Placid Montney.

“This transaction brings forward the value of a small, non-core portion of our onshore Canadian portfolio, as we were not planning to develop these locations for many years. I look forward to progressing our capital allocation framework goals in Murphy 2.0 with the proceeds from this divestiture, and continuing to reward our supportive, long-term shareholders in the upcoming quarters,” said Jenkins.

OPERATIONS SUMMARY

Onshore

In the second quarter of 2023, the onshore business produced approximately 98 MBOEPD, which included 36 percent liquids volumes.

Eagle Ford Shale – Production averaged 35 MBOEPD with 76 percent oil volumes and 89 percent liquids volumes. As planned, during the second quarter Murphy brought nine Catarina and eight Tilden operated wells online. Murphy continues to see stronger performance from completion design improvements across its well locations, including promising results in its new Tilden wells with an average gross 30-day (IP30) rate of approximately 1,200 BOEPD with 85 percent oil.

Tupper Montney – Natural gas production averaged 341 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) in the second quarter, with 10 operated wells brought online. Of those wells, seven were brought on early that were originally planned for the third quarter. Production for the quarter exceeded guidance by 21 MMCFD, which included 13 MMCFD of improved well performance as Murphy realized its highest initial production rates in Tupper Montney history, as well as an 8 MMCFD benefit from a lower realized royalty rate of 2.4 percent.

“Our new onshore well completion design, developed within the last three years, is paying off with higher initial production rates,” said Jenkins. “With this new design, we have achieved continued exceptional results from new wells in both our Eagle Ford Shale and Tupper Montney assets.”

Kaybob Duvernay – During the second quarter, production averaged 4 MBOEPD with 60 percent liquids volumes. Production was minimally impacted from wildfires during the quarter, and no damage was sustained to facilities.

Offshore

Excluding NCI, the offshore business produced approximately 87 MBOEPD for the second quarter, which included 80 percent oil.

Gulf of Mexico – Production averaged approximately 84 MBOEPD, consisting of 79 percent oil during the second quarter. Facility maintenance was completed as planned during the quarter, with work at King’s Quay concluded ahead of schedule.

Canada – In the second quarter, production averaged 3 MBOEPD, consisting of 100 percent oil. The asset life extension project is progressing for the non-operated Terra Nova floating, production, storage and offloading vessel, which Murphy anticipates will return to production by year-end 2023.

Vietnam – As previously disclosed, during the second quarter Murphy received government approval of the Block 15-1/05 Lac Da Vang field development plan in the Cuu Long Basin. Murphy holds a 40 percent working interest as operator of the block. PetroVietnam Exploration Production Corporation Limited and SK Earthon Co., Ltd. hold the remaining 35 percent and 25 percent working interest, respectively. Murphy is working to advance the development project in preparation for final review and sanction in late 2023.

EXPLORATION

Côte d’Ivoire – During the second quarter, Murphy signed production sharing contracts to secure working interests as operator in five deepwater blocks in the Tano Basin offshore Côte d’Ivoire. Murphy will initially hold a 90 percent working interest in four blocks, with an 85 percent working interest in the fifth block. Société Nationale d’Opérations Pétrolières de la Côte d’Ivoire (PETROCI) holds the remaining working interest for each block.

Included in Block CI-103 is the Paon discovery, which was appraised with multiple wells by a previous operator. The PSC for the block includes a commitment to formulate and submit a viable field development plan for this discovery by the end of 2025.

“We are excited for our new country entry as an operator in Côte d’Ivoire, and are pleased with the competitive terms and low entry cost,” said Jenkins. “These blocks offer tremendous opportunities for exploration, and we look forward to maturing geophysical studies in this area and working with PETROCI on the possible development of the Paon discovery.”

Gulf of Mexico – Following the quarter, Murphy, as operator of its subsidiary MP Gulf of Mexico, LLC, concluded drilling the Chinook #7 exploration well in Walker Ridge 425. The well encountered non-commercial hydrocarbons. Murphy plugged and abandoned the well, and approximately $80 million of the well cost before tax, inclusive of $26 million attributable to NCI, was expensed in the second quarter. Murphy holds a 66.66 percent working interest in the well.

As previously announced, during the second quarter Murphy, as operator, drilled a discovery at the Longclaw #1 exploration well. The company holds a 14.5 percent working interest in the well. The well reached a total measured depth of 25,106 feet at a net cost of approximately $6 million. The well encountered approximately 62 feet of net oil pay and is undergoing further evaluation.

Also during the quarter, Murphy was awarded five exploration blocks from the Gulf of Mexico Federal Lease Sale 259 with an average working interest of 90 percent.

Mexico – In conjunction with the July 2023 expiration of the Cholula appraisal period, Murphy wrote off previously suspended exploration well costs of $17 million.

2023 CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND PRODUCTION GUIDANCE

Second quarter accrued capital expenditures (CAPEX) of $300 million, excluding lease acquisition costs, was lower than guidance due to timing of non-operated activity. Murphy accrued a total of $32 million in acquisition-related costs during the quarter, which will be paid in third quarter 2023.

Murphy is tightening its 2023 accrued CAPEX range to $950 million to $1.025 billion, which excludes $45 million in acquisition-related CAPEX for Côte d’Ivoire and Vietnam.

The company is raising its full year 2023 production range of 180 to 186 MBOEPD, consisting of approximately 53 percent oil and 59 percent liquids volumes.

Production for third quarter 2023 is estimated to be in the range of 188 to 196 MBOEPD with 99 MBOPD, or 52 percent, oil volumes. This range includes assumed Gulf of Mexico storm downtime of 4.6 MBOEPD, as well as operated planned downtime of 2.3 MBOEPD onshore and 600 BOEPD offshore. Murphy forecasts third quarter accrued CAPEX of $215 million, excluding acquisition-related costs.

Both production and CAPEX guidance ranges exclude NCI. Production guidance will be adjusted following closing of the Canadian divestiture announced today.

Detailed guidance for the third quarter and full year 2023 is contained in the attached schedules.

FIXED PRICE FORWARD SALES CONTRACTS

Murphy maintains fixed price forward sales contracts tied to AECO pricing points to lessen its dependence on variable AECO prices. These contracts are for physical delivery of natural gas volumes at a fixed price, with no mark-to-market income adjustments. Details for the current fixed price contracts can be found in the attached schedules.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 3, 2023

Murphy will host a conference call to discuss second quarter 2023 financial and operating results on Thursday, August 3, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. EDT. The call can be accessed either via the Internet through the Investor Relations section of Murphy Oil’s website at http://ir.murphyoilcorp.com or via the telephone by dialing toll free 1-888-886-7786, reservation number 24655854.

FINANCIAL DATA

Summary financial data and operating statistics for second quarter 2023, with comparisons to the same period from the previous year, are contained in the following schedules. Additionally, a schedule indicating the impacts of items affecting comparability of results between periods, a reconciliation of EBITDA, EBITDAX, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDAX between periods, as well as guidance for the third quarter and full year 2023, are also included.

¹In accordance with GAAP, Murphy reports the 100 percent interest, including a 20 percent noncontrolling interest (NCI), in its subsidiary, MP Gulf of Mexico, LLC (MP GOM). The GAAP financials include the NCI portion of revenue, costs, assets and liabilities and cash flows. Unless otherwise noted, the financial and operating highlights and metrics discussed in this news release, but not the accompanying schedules, exclude the NCI, thereby representing only the amounts attributable to Murphy.

CAPITAL ALLOCATION FRAMEWORK

This news release contains references to the company’s capital allocation framework and adjusted free cash flow. As previously disclosed, the capital allocation framework defines Murphy 1.0 as when long-term debt exceeds $1.8 billion. At such time, adjusted free cash flow is allocated to long-term debt reduction while the company continues to support the quarterly dividend. The company reaches Murphy 2.0 when long-term debt is between $1.0 billion and $1.8 billion. At such time, approximately 75 percent of adjusted free cash flow is allocated to debt reduction, with the remaining 25 percent distributed to shareholders through share buybacks and potential dividend increases. When long-term debt is at or below $1.0 billion, the company is in Murphy 3.0 and begins allocating 50 percent of adjusted free cash flow to the balance sheet, with a minimum of 50 percent of adjusted free cash flow allocated to share buybacks and potential dividend increases.

Adjusted free cash flow is defined as cash flow from operations before working capital change, less capital expenditures, distributions to NCI and projected payments, quarterly dividend and accretive acquisitions.

ABOUT MURPHY OIL CORPORATION

As an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company, Murphy Oil Corporation believes in providing energy that empowers people by doing right always, staying with it and thinking beyond possible. Murphy challenges the norm, taps into its strong legacy and uses its foresight and financial discipline to deliver inspired energy solutions. Murphy sees a future where it is an industry leader who is positively impacting lives for the next 100 years and beyond. Additional information can be found on the company’s website at www.murphyoilcorp.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are generally identified through the inclusion of words such as “aim”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “drive”, “estimate”, “expect”, “expressed confidence”, “forecast”, “future”, “goal”, “guidance”, “intend”, “may”, “objective”, “outlook”, “plan”, “position”, “potential”, “project”, “seek”, “should”, “strategy”, “target”, “will” or variations of such words and other similar expressions. These statements, which express management’s current views concerning future events, results and plans, are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties and assumptions (many of which are beyond our control) and are not guarantees of performance. In particular, statements, express or implied, concerning the company’s future operating results or activities and returns or the company's ability and decisions to replace or increase reserves, increase production, generate returns and rates of return, replace or increase drilling locations, reduce or otherwise control operating costs and expenditures, generate cash flows, pay down or refinance indebtedness, achieve, reach or otherwise meet initiatives, plans, goals, ambitions or targets with respect to emissions, safety matters or other ESG (environmental/social/governance) matters, make capital expenditures or pay and/or increase dividends or make share repurchases and other capital allocation decisions are forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause one or more of these future events, results or plans not to occur as implied by any forward-looking statement, which consequently could cause actual results or activities to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to: macro conditions in the oil and gas industry, including supply/demand levels, actions taken by major oil exporters and the resulting impacts on commodity prices; increased volatility or deterioration in the success rate of our exploration programs or in our ability to maintain production rates and replace reserves; reduced customer demand for our products due to environmental, regulatory, technological or other reasons; adverse foreign exchange movements; political and regulatory instability in the markets where we do business; the impact on our operations or market of health pandemics such as COVID-19 and related government responses; other natural hazards impacting our operations or markets; any other deterioration in our business, markets or prospects; any failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals; any inability to service or refinance our outstanding debt or to access debt markets at acceptable prices; or adverse developments in the U.S. or global capital markets, credit markets, banking system or economies in general. For further discussion of factors that could cause one or more of these future events or results not to occur as implied by any forward-looking statement, see “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and any subsequent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Current Report on Form 8-K that we file, available from the SEC’s website and from Murphy Oil Corporation’s website at http://ir.murphyoilcorp.com. Investors and others should note that we may announce material information using SEC filings, press releases, public conference calls, webcasts and the investors page of our website. We may use these channels to distribute material information about the company; therefore, we encourage investors, the media, business partners and others interested in the company to review the information we post on our website. The information on our website is not part of, and is not incorporated into, this report. Murphy Oil Corporation undertakes no duty to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This news release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures that management believes are useful tools for internal use and the investment community in evaluating Murphy Oil Corporation’s overall financial performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are broadly used to value and compare companies in the crude oil and natural gas industry. Not all companies define these measures in the same way. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures are not a substitute for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP and should therefore be considered only as supplemental to such GAAP financial measures. Please see the attached schedules for reconciliations of the differences between the non-GAAP financial measures used in this news release and the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.