Key Developments:

• Continued exploration success in 2023 on the Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana, with a significant new oil discovery at the Fangtooth SE-1 well located approximately 8 miles southeast of the original Fangtooth-1 discovery
• The Fangtooth SE-1 well encountered approximately 200 feet of oil bearing sandstone reservoirs
• Fangtooth adds to the block’s gross discovered recoverable resource estimate of more than 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) and has the potential to underpin a future oil development
• The development plan for Uaru, the fifth development on the Stabroek Block, was submitted to the Government of Guyana for approval in the fourth quarter; the project is expected to have a capacity of approximately 250,000 gross barrels of oil per day (bopd) with first oil anticipated at the end of 2026
• Entered into an agreement with the Government of Guyana for the purchase of high quality REDD+ carbon credits for a minimum of $750 million from 2022 through 2032; the long-term strategic partnership with the Government of Guyana aims to prevent deforestation and support sustainable development in Guyana
• Completed the sale of the Corporation's interest in Libya for net proceeds of $150 million
• Total cash returned to stockholders was $405 million in the quarter through dividends and share repurchases of $310 million

Fourth Quarter Financial and Operational Highlights:

• Net income was $624 million, or $2.03 per common share, compared with net income of $265 million, or $0.85 per common share, in the fourth quarter of 2021; adjusted net income(1) was $548 million, or $1.78 per common share, in the fourth quarter of 2022
• Oil and gas net production, excluding Libya, was 376,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), up 27 percent from 295,000 boepd in the fourth quarter of 2021
• E&P capital and exploratory expenditures were $818 million compared with $593 million in the prior-year quarter
• Cash and cash equivalents, excluding Midstream, were $2.48 billion at December 31, 2022
• Year-end proved reserves are estimated to be 1.26 billion boe; organic reserve replacement was 144 percent at a finding and development cost of approximately $14.80 per boe

2023 Guidance:

• Net production is forecast to be in the range of 355,000 boepd to 365,000 boepd, which is an approximate 10 percent increase from 2022, proforma for assets sold
• E&P capital and exploratory expenditures are expected to be approximately $3.7 billion, of which more than 80 percent will be allocated to Guyana and the Bakken

1. “Adjusted net income” is a non-GAAP financial measure. 

Hess Corporation today reported net income of $624 million, or $2.03 per common share, in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared with net income of $265 million, or $0.85 per common share, in the fourth quarter of 2021. On an adjusted basis, the Corporation had net income of $548 million or $1.78 per common share in the fourth quarter of 2022. The improvement in adjusted after-tax earnings compared with the prior-year period was primarily due to increased sales volumes in Guyana in the fourth quarter of 2022.

“Our strategy is to grow our resource base, deliver a low cost of supply and generate industry leading cash flow growth – and at the same time maintain our industry leadership in environmental, social and governance performance and disclosure,” CEO John Hess said. “Our successful execution of this strategy has uniquely positioned our company to deliver significant value to shareholders by both growing intrinsic value and growing cash returns.”

Exploration and Production:

E&P net income was $667 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with $309 million in the fourth quarter of 2021. On an adjusted basis, fourth quarter 2022 E&P net income was $591 million. The Corporation’s average realized crude oil selling price, including the effect of hedging, was $76.07 per barrel in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with $71.04 per barrel in the prior-year quarter. The average realized natural gas liquids (NGL) selling price in the fourth quarter of 2022 was $26.93 per barrel, compared with $36.47 per barrel in the prior-year quarter, while the average realized natural gas selling price was $5.17 per mcf, compared with $4.77 per mcf in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Net production, excluding Libya, was 376,000 boepd in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with 295,000 boepd in the fourth quarter of 2021, primarily due to higher production in Guyana.

Cash operating costs, which include operating costs and expenses, production and severance taxes, and E&P general and administrative expenses, were $12.49 per boe (excluding Libya: $12.72 per boe) in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with $12.17 per boe (excluding Libya: $12.84 per boe) in the prior-year quarter.

Oil and Gas Reserves Estimates:

Oil and gas proved reserves at December 31, 2022, which are subject to final review, were 1.26 billion boe, compared with 1.31 billion boe at December 31, 2021. Proved reserve additions and net revisions in 2022 totaled 184 million boe, primarily from Guyana, which included sanctioning of the Yellowtail development, and the Bakken. Asset sales during 2022 reduced proved reserves by 109 million boe.

Excluding asset sales, the Corporation replaced 144 percent of its 2022 production at a finding and development cost of approximately $14.80 per boe.

Operational Highlights for the Fourth Quarter of 2022:

Bakken (Onshore U.S.): Net production from the Bakken of 158,000 boepd in the fourth quarter was impacted by unplanned production shut-ins caused by severe winter weather in December. Net production in the fourth quarter of 2021 was 159,000 boepd. The Corporation added a fourth drilling rig in July 2022, and drilled 19 wells, completed 14 wells, and brought 15 new wells online during the fourth quarter. Net production is forecast to be in the range of 165,000 boepd to 170,000 boepd in 2023.

Gulf of Mexico (Offshore U.S.): Net production from the Gulf of Mexico was 35,000 boepd in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with 39,000 boepd in the prior-year quarter.

Guyana (Offshore): At the Stabroek Block (Hess – 30%), net production from the Liza Destiny and the Liza Unity floating production, storage and offloading vessels (FPSOs) totaled 116,0002 bopd in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared with 31,000 bopd2 in the prior-year quarter. The Liza Unity FPSO, which commenced production in February 2022, reached its production capacity of 220,000 gross bopd in July 2022. In the fourth quarter, we sold ten cargos of crude oil from Guyana compared with three cargos in the prior year quarter. Net production is forecast to be approximately 100,0002 bopd in 2023.

The third development, Payara, will utilize the Prosperity FPSO with an expected capacity of 220,000 gross bopd, with first production expected by the end of 2023. The fourth development, Yellowtail, was sanctioned in April 2022 and will utilize the ONE GUYANA FPSO with an expected capacity of 250,000 gross bopd, with first production expected in 2025. A fifth development, Uaru, was submitted for approval to the Government of Guyana in the fourth quarter. Pending Government approvals and project sanctioning, the project is expected to have a capacity of approximately 250,000 gross bopd with first oil anticipated at the end of 2026.

The Corporation today announced a significant oil discovery at the Fangtooth SE-1 well on the Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana. The Fangtooth SE-1 well encountered approximately 200 feet of oil bearing sandstone reservoirs.  The well was drilled in 5,397 feet of water by the Stena Carron and is located approximately 8 miles southeast of the original Fangtooth-1 well, which had encountered approximately 164 feet of oil bearing sandstone reservoirs.  Further appraisal activities are underway.  Fangtooth will add to the block's gross discovered recoverable resource estimate of more than 11 billion boe and has the potential to underpin a future oil development on the Stabroek Block.

Southeast Asia (Offshore): Net production at North Malay Basin and JDA was 67,000 boepd in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared with 66,000 boepd in the prior-year quarter.

Libya (Onshore): In November 2022, the Corporation completed the sale of its 8% interest in the Waha Concession for net proceeds of $150 million. Net production from Libya was 10,000 boepd in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared with 21,000 boepd in the prior-year quarter.

Midstream:

The Midstream segment had net income of $64 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with net income of $74 million in the prior-year quarter.

Capital and Exploratory Expenditures:

E&P capital and exploratory expenditures were $818 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared with $593 million in the prior-year quarter, primarily due to higher drilling and development activities in the Bakken and Guyana. Midstream capital expenditures were $63 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 and $54 million in the prior-year quarter.

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