Murphy is planning 2022 capital expenditures (CAPEX) to be in the range of $840 million to $890 million with full year 2022 production to be in the range of 164 to 172 MBOEPD, comprised of approximately 52 percent oil and 57 percent total liquids volumes. Production for first quarter 2022 is estimated to be in the range of 136 to 142 MBOEPD with 53 percent oil volumes. This range is impacted by planned downtime, comprised of the following: 2.7 MBOEPD of operated offshore downtime, 2.6 MBOEPD of non-operated offshore downtime and 3 MBOEPD of onshore downtime. Both production and CAPEX guidance ranges exclude Gulf of Mexico noncontrolling interest (NCI).

“Our 2022 budget is higher than 2021, with capital designated toward finalizing key development projects in the Gulf of Mexico while maintaining oil volumes across the portfolio. In addition, we forecast an additional $300 million in long-term debt reduction assuming a $65 oil price in 2022, which will be increased with stronger oil prices. This plan also allows Murphy the ability to generate ample free cash flow in order to increase our quarterly dividend by 20 percent to $0.15 per diluted share for the first quarter 2022, as recently approved by our Board of Directors,” said Jenkins. “As we continue our plan to delever, we forecast generating additional free cash flow, which will give us optionality in returning cash to shareholders and supporting future exploration success.”

Murphy plans to spend approximately $330 million, or 38 percent, of 2022 capital to the Gulf of Mexico for development drilling and field development projects. This includes bringing the major Khaleesi, Mormont, Samurai project online with first oil scheduled to flow in the second quarter, as well as advancing the non-operated St. Malo waterflood project prior to its completion in 2023. Other plans include drilling an operated development well at Dalmatian with production scheduled to come online in 2023 and executing subsea tiebacks at non-operated Lucius.

Murphy has allocated $220 million, or 25 percent, of 2022 spending to the Eagle Ford Shale, which is $50 million higher than in 2021 due to increased drilling as a result of minimal uncompleted operated wells from 2021 activity. This includes $150 million for drilling 29 and bringing online 27 operated wells in the company’s Karnes and Catarina acreage, as well as drilling 23 and bringing online 32 non-operated wells in Karnes and Tilden acreage. The remaining $70 million of 2022 spending in this area is to support field development.

The company plans to spend 16 percent, or $140 million, of its 2022 capital plan in Canada onshore across the Tupper Montney and Kaybob Duvernay operations. Approximately $120 million of which is allocated to the Tupper Montney to drill 23 and bring online 20 operated wells. The remaining $20 million is primarily allocated to Kaybob Duvernay to bring online 3 operated wells in the Two Creeks area and for field development.

KeyFacts Energy: Murphy US Gulf of Mexico country profile