Key Developments

• Sanctioned development of Uaru, the fifth development on the Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana, with a production capacity of approximately 250,000 gross barrels of oil per day (bopd); first oil is expected in 2026
• Extension granted for the Stabroek Block exploration license by one year to October 2027
• Oil discovery at the Pickerel-1 exploration well in the Gulf of Mexico, which will be a tieback to the Tubular Bells production facility with first oil expected in mid-2024

Second Quarter Financial and Operational Highlights

• Net income was $119 million, or $0.39 per share, compared with net income of $667 million, or $2.15 per share, in the second quarter of 2022; adjusted net income (a non-GAAP financial measure) in the second quarter of 2023 was $201 million, or $0.65 per share
• Oil and gas net production was 387,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), up 28% from 303,000 boepd, proforma for asset sold, in the second quarter of 2022
• Bakken net production was 181,000 boepd, up 29% from 140,000 boepd in the second quarter of 2022; Guyana net production was 110,000 bopd, compared with 67,000 bopd in the prior-year quarter
• E&P capital and exploratory expenditures were $933 million compared with $622 million in the prior-year quarter
• 2023 Updated Guidance:
• Full year net production is now forecast to be in the range of 385,000 boepd to 390,000 boepd, compared with previous guidance of 365,000 boepd to 375,000 boepd primarily due to strong operational performance and the expected startup of the Payara development early in the fourth quarter

Hess Corporation today reported net income of $119 million, or $0.39 per share, in the second quarter of 2023, compared with net income of $667 million, or $2.15 per share, in the second quarter of 2022. On an adjusted basis, the Corporation reported net income of $201 million or $0.65 per share in the second quarter of 2023. The decrease in adjusted after-tax results compared with the prior-year quarter reflects lower realized selling prices, partially offset by the net impact of higher production volumes in the second quarter of 2023.

CEO John Hess said: 
"We continue to successfully execute our strategy to deliver industry leading cash flow growth and financial returns to our shareholders while safely and responsibly producing oil and gas to help meet the world’s growing energy needs.”

Exploration and Production 

E&P net income was $155 million in the second quarter of 2023, compared with $723 million in the second quarter of 2022. On an adjusted basis, E&P second quarter 2023 net income was $237 million. The Corporation’s average realized crude oil selling price, including the effect of hedging, was $71.13 per barrel in the second quarter of 2023, compared with $99.16 per barrel in the prior-year quarter. The average realized natural gas liquids (NGL) selling price in the second quarter of 2023 was $17.95 per barrel, compared with $40.92 per barrel in the prior-year quarter, while the average realized natural gas selling price was $3.82 per mcf, compared with $6.45 per mcf in the second quarter of 2022.

Net production was 387,000 boepd in the second quarter of 2023, compared with 303,000 boepd, proforma for asset sold, in the second quarter of 2022, primarily due to higher production in Guyana and the Bakken.

Cash operating costs, which include operating costs and expenses, production and severance taxes, and E&P general and administrative expenses, were $13.97 per barrel of oil equivalent (boe) in the second quarter of 2023, compared with $14.56 per boe, proforma for asset sold, in the prior-year quarter. The decrease in cash operating costs reflects the higher production volumes, partially offset by higher workover activity in the Gulf of Mexico.

Operational Highlights for the Second Quarter of 2023

Bakken (Onshore U.S.): Net production from the Bakken was 181,000 boepd in the second quarter of 2023 compared with 140,000 boepd in the prior-year quarter, reflecting increased drilling and completion activity, higher NGL and natural gas volumes received under percentage of proceeds contracts due to lower commodity prices, and higher uptime after weather related shut-ins in the prior year quarter. NGL and natural gas volumes received under percentage of proceeds contracts were 22,000 boepd in the second quarter of 2023 compared with 7,000 boepd in the second quarter of 2022 due to lower realized NGL and natural gas prices increasing volumes received as consideration for gas processing fees. During the second quarter of 2023, the Corporation drilled 32 wells, completed 28 wells, and brought 30 new wells online. Bakken net production is forecast to be in the range of 175,000 boepd to 180,000 boepd for the full year 2023, up from our previous guidance range of 165,000 boepd to 170,000 boepd.

Gulf of Mexico (Offshore U.S.): Net production from the Gulf of Mexico in the second quarter of 2023 was 32,000 boepd, compared with 29,000 boepd in the prior-year quarter. 

In July 2023, the Pickerel-1 exploration well (Hess – 100%) located in Mississippi Canyon Block 727 was an oil discovery. The well encountered approximately 90 feet of net pay in high quality, oil bearing, Miocene age reservoir. Planning is underway to tie-back the well to the Tubular Bells production facility with first oil expected in mid-2024.

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 110,0002 bopd in the second quarter of 2023 compared with 67,0002 bopd in the prior-year quarter. The Liza Unity FPSO, which commenced production in February 2022, reached its production capacity of approximately 220,000 gross bopd in July 2022. In the second quarter of 2023, we sold nine cargos of crude oil from Guyana compared with six cargos in the prior-year quarter. Net production guidance for Guyana for the full year 2023 is expected to be approximately 115,000(1) bopd, compared to our previous guidance range of 105,000 bopd to 110,000 bopd.

The third development, Payara, with a production capacity of approximately 220,000 gross bopd, remains on track for startup early in the fourth quarter. The fourth development, Yellowtail, was sanctioned in April 2022 with a production capacity of approximately 250,000 gross bopd and first production expected in 2025. The fifth development, Uaru, was sanctioned in April 2023 with a production capacity of approximately 250,000 gross bopd and first production expected in 2026.

The expiration of the exploration license for the Stabroek Block was extended one year from October 2026 to October 2027, and the end of the first renewal period of the exploration license, which requires the relinquishment of 20% of the acreage not held by discoveries, was extended one year from October 2023 to October 2024, both as a result of force majeure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Southeast Asia (Offshore): Net production at North Malay Basin and JDA was 64,000 boepd in the second quarter of 2023 compared with 67,000 boepd in the prior-year quarter.

Canada (Offshore): The operator, BP Canada, drilled the Ephesus exploration well, offshore Newfoundland (Hess – 25%) in the second quarter of 2023. The well did not encounter commercial quantities of hydrocarbons and well costs incurred of $36 million were recorded to exploration expense.

Midstream

The Midstream segment had net income of $62 million in the second quarter of 2023, compared with net income of $65 million in the prior-year quarter.

During the second quarter of 2023, the Corporation received total net proceeds of $217 million from the public offering of approximately 6.4 million Hess Midstream LP (HESM) Class A shares held by the Corporation in May 2023 and the repurchase by Hess Midstream Operations LP (HESM Opco), a consolidated subsidiary of HESM, of approximately 1.7 million HESM Opco Class B units held by the Corporation in June 2023. The repurchase of the Class B units was financed by HESM Opco’s revolving credit facility. After giving effect to the above transactions, the Corporation owns approximately 38% of HESM on a consolidated basis.

Capital and Exploratory Expenditures

E&P capital and exploratory expenditures were $933 million in the second quarter of 2023 compared with $622 million in the prior-year quarter, primarily due to development activities in Guyana and higher drilling activity in the Bakken. Midstream capital expenditures were $52 million in the second quarter of 2023 and $72 million in the prior-year quarter.

(1) Net production from Guyana in the second quarter of 2023 included 13,000 bopd of tax barrels. There were no tax barrels in the second quarter of 2022. Net production guidance for Guyana for the full year 2023 includes tax barrels of approximately 15,000 bopd

KeyFacts Energy: Hess US country profile